Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Building Your Own Business but Wary of the ‘S’ Word?
Building Your Own Business but Wary of the ‘S’ Word?
My guess is that you’re an independent sort. You like running your own show, creating your own hours, and making things happen! I’ll bet you thrive on building connections…connections that get you where you want to go.
While our businesses may offer different products or services, they are all about filling a need for people. The key word here is “people”…our businesses are all about “people”. People thrive on connection. They like being listened to and courted and chosen.
Selling is about forming connections, finding commonalities, enjoying conversations, figuring out what’s missing, helping to clarify what’s needed, and partnering to find solutions.
Let’s create a plan that will help you to embrace your professional selling self.
Step 1
Know yourself. Who are you? What makes your business tick? What makes you unique? What characteristics do you have that would attract someone to partner with you?
Step 2
Get clear on who you want to attract. Who would you really like to connect with? What qualities do those individuals have? Why do they need you? How would your business thrive if those types of people became aware of your product or services? Create a “My Favorite Client” profile. Keep it in full sight.
Step 3
Look for “My Favorite Clients” everywhere. It’s like a treasure hunt. Where do they hang out? What do they read? What radio stations do they listen to? Where might you run into them?
How might you reach them?
Step 4
Create an image for these individuals to see! How will you portray your business to these people? What can you send them that will make them curious about you? If you were them, what would make you reach out to you?
Step 5
Imagine yourself conversing with exactly the type of Client you seek. If you could talk with your favorite prospective Client, what would you like to find out about them? What would you like to share? How would you introduce yourself? What would you like them to know about you?
Step 6
Be a conversation starter. Remember, people love to talk about themselves. Ask an “open-ended” question. Listen to the response. Listen some more. Come from curiosity. What does this person have to teach you? How might you two connect? What are the commonalities of experience? Is this someone you’d like to know more?
Step 7
Move it forward. Are you eager to share the “good news” about your business with others? Are you excited about what you do? Are you comfortable in your own skin….even if it’s new? Just be yourself. Share what turns you on. Tell a fun story. Move the relationship forward
Step 8
Watch for the “magic click”. Are you feeling on the same wave length with this person? Does it just feel “good” to talk with them? Is the conversation “flowing”? Enjoy the connection!
Step 9
Enjoy the new relationship for what it is right now. Be sure to be clear about what you do and why you love it. Invite your new acquaintance to “try you on”. Nurture this new connection. Be there when they’re ready to learn more.
Step 10
Be ready for them when they’re ready for you. When the time is right for them, be easy to find. Build on this wonderful, new relationship. Strengthen it with intimacy, caring, and skill.
So this, my friends, is selling! How much fun is this! You have opportunity after opportunity to connect with people, share your worth, and build your business…just what you signed on for.
Don’t forget to keep the conversation going for a long, long time. Ask your new client to give you feedback on how your business feels to them. Give them an outstanding experience. When they’re delighted by the results, ask them to spread the good word. If they forget, ask them again. Stay in touch.
Many franchise owners buy their business because they like the concept. So, food lovers may buy into the Foster's Grille franchise system while carpet installers may buy into the Carpet Network franchise system. And...
As food and oil prices soar more people are turning to the internet searching for legitimate home based business ideas to find ways to supplement their incomes. This leads to online consumers as well as visitors bec...
It's absolutely essential that you find a way to differentiate your business in a meaningful way. I know I talk about this all the time, but it's that important.
Back in the days of FDR, Lever Brothers asked its employees for suggestions to improve the sales of their shampoo (a new product back then). One employee suggested they add one word at the end of the instructions on...
Leanne Hoagland Smith
Are you or your business where you want to be? Are you facing constant struggles in business or life in general? Would you like to "unlock" those obstacles keeping you from greater business or personal success? As your results partner, we can work together to unlock those desired results by achieving tomorrow's solutions today. Let’s use your strengths for real change through proven and affordable solutions where the real problems are identified. Are you seeking loyal customers, great attitudes, increased sales, improved profitability or just some sleep filled nights? Then we should talk because my clients have experienced exactly those types of results. Learn more about customer loyalty at http://www.processspec ialist.com/customer-loyalty.htm Give me a call 219.759.5601 for a free strategy session. I look forward to speaking with you. P.S. If you are seeking a motivational speaker, sales trainer or small business expert that will leave your audience smiling and remembering, please feel free to contact me at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland Smith's Website
The Evan Elite Authors program is currently in beta phase. For details please contact us.
Flo Schell
(Visit Flo's Website)
Flo Schell, EdM, Former VP of Franchise
Sales, Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. is
Founder of Franchise Coaching Systems
and can be found at www.FloSchell.c
om. She holds distinction as a
Certified Coach from the Thomas Leonard
School of Coaching. Flo is adept at the
nuts and bolts of selling and at helping
sales professionals to deal with the ups
and downs of their work. She is author of
the new business book, Stop Selling Start
Clicking, available at
www.StopSellingStartClicking.com. Sign
on to her website for free Tele-Gatherings
on topics related to selling and
franchising.
Flo Schell Video - This is a live chat with Flo Schell, Author of the highly acclaimed new business book, Stop Selling: Start Clicking! Flo knows how hard it can be for small business owners to sell themselves and their services. Bringing 20 years of sales experience and featured in Success Magazine, Certified Coach Flo Schell, bases her process on the human connection that she calls the magic click. Listen in as Flo describes why we must master the art of selling...and exactly how to create the magic click.
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
It's absolutely essential that you find a way to differentiate your business in a meaningful way. I know I talk about this all the time, but it's that important.
“Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none,” said Franklin. 
