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3 Tips to Earning the Big Bucks - The Value of Presentation

Written by: Suzanne Muusers

Article Overview: The way entrepreneurs present themselves is an important part of how we value them. If you want to earn the big bucks you have to present yourself the right way. You have to create a brand through presentation.

3 Tips to Earning the Big Bucks - The Value of Presentation

The way entrepreneurs present themselves is an important part of how we value them. If you want to earn the big bucks you have to present yourself the right way. You have to create a brand through presentation.

Have you ever gone to Home Depot on the weekend in your grubby clothes and felt a distinct difference in how you were perceived versus when you have attended a business meeting in regular attire? How we feel about ourselves and how others view us has a direct impact on our income.

It always surprises me when someone comments that they are not attracting high quality clients. I can take one look at them, their marketing materials, and how they present themselves and tell them why they have to work so hard for so little.

One of my attractive female clients told me that she was having difficulty establishing credibility with male prospects and that she was unable to charge a fair price for her services. She observed that while she had no trouble making appointments with the opposite gender, getting them to take her seriously was another issue.

When I asked her what she thought she could change in order to be taken seriously, she was quiet for a moment. In her former corporate life she wore a suit to meetings. In her entrepreneurial life she felt that she could now dress more casually in slacks and lacy tops. What she was doing was devaluing herself in the eyes of her target clients. Her impressive credentials were ignored over her very obvious outward appearance. After changes in her dress and price structure, three months later she had turned it around. Not only was she being taken seriously, she was also earning more.

Follow these 3 tips if you want to earn the big bucks and attract quality clients into your life:

1. Professional Dress: Does a world-class Chef present his delicacies on a paper plate? Does a sommelier serve wine in plastic cups? Does the CEO of a Fortune 500 company go to a board meeting in jeans and a t-shirt? I am a huge proponent of targeting mid to high end prospects. One ways to do this is to dress well. Wear whatever you want during your free time, but when meeting with prospects, dress the part. You know what I mean. Wear a suit. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed. You are on the right track when your clients comment on how nice you look.

2. Corporate Identity: Quality design of your company identity translates into dollars almost immediately. This is an investment in your business and helps to position your company as a successful entity. Do you really think you'll get quality business with a standard five page website template or a template business card? Custom design of your business cards, website, brochure, and vehicle signage is essential to attracting the big bucks.

3. The Client Experience: How does it feel to walk into Starbucks and order your favorite coffee? Are you willing to pay more for a cup of coffee at Starbucks over McDonalds? What image are you portraying when clients walk into your office? How are they treated? Do they have to park in a dungeon? Are they offered something cold to drink? Go out into the parking lot and pretend you are your target client arriving at your office. Create a step by step client experience that will make your prospects feel welcome in your office.

What will you have in your life if you improve these things? How will this affect your business? Through these changes you will change the perception in the mind of the consumer. You will have credibility you didn't have before. You will position your company to go after quality clients. This means being able to charge more which translates into working less and taking that dream vacation.

©Copyright 2007- Suzanne Muusers - All Rights Reserved

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long the article is printed in its entirety including the about the author information, you leave all the links active, and you do not edit the article in any way, and include the copyright statement.

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Article Tags: board meeting, business meeting, delicacies, distinct difference, entrepreneurial life, establishing credibility, female clients, fortune 500 company, grubby clothes, home depot, impressive credentials, marketing materials, plastic cups, price structure, professional dress, quality clients, slacks, t shirt, target clients, world class chef



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