Issue #80 - May, 4  2001 <<Business Building Tips: Be Visible!>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
brought to you by Laurie Riddell Geary, M.Ed., PCC.
Coaching you to get your life IN GEAR by making shifts, getting
unstuck, finding balance, accelerating your growth, and mapping
the best route to your chosen destination: a life filled with
passion and purpose.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<In this issue:
        1. Welcome!
        2. Weekly Article:  <<More Business Building Tips>>
        3. Recommended Tasks
                4. Recommended Books
                5. Upcoming  Teleclasses  and local Workshops
                6. Subscription information
 

1. WELCOME!

Welcome to <GEAR UP FOR SUCCESS!> and a warm welcome to all
my new subscribers!  I really appreciate your forwarding my newsletter
to all your friends and colleagues. I now have over 500 subscribers!
Your recommendations help me grow and develop as a coach. Anyone
can subscribe by going to my website @ www.ingearcoaching.com.
Thank you so much for your support!
 
 

2.  **Weekly Article:  <<BUSINESS BUILDING TIPS>>

        As many of my readers are coaches or entrepreneurs, and many of
my clients are new coaches building their business, this month's newsletter
is devoted to business building techniques I have used successfully in
building my own coaching and training business over the past 5 years.
Last week's issue dealt with GETTING STARTED in your business building.

<<More TOP TEN TIPS for BUILDING Your BUSINESS - BE VISIBLE!>>

1 - Use the INTERNET - Develop your WEBSITE:
        Your website shows the world who you are and what you have to offer;
use it to your best advantage!  Make sure your metatags draw the Search
Engines to your site.  Make sure people want to keep returning to your site
by offering free "stuff" like assessments, articles, quotes/poems,screen savors,
tips, services; keep the web content fresh and up-to-date; be interactive.
You want your visitors to contact you!
 Some ideas to consider for your website:
        a. Special Offers...limited time offers..make them valuable and change
                them frequently to create interest.
        b. Take Polls (people love to see how other opinions compare to theirs)
        c. Assessments: offer personal or business assessments that may
            require professional interpretation (by you)
        d. Articles:  post interesting, timely articles, written by you or by others.
        e. Newsletters: if you publish a newsletter, include past issues...and
                include subscription information.
        f. Links: provide helpful links to other interesting websites.
        g. Bibliography: List your favorite books (with a link to Amazon)
        h. Books/Workbooks/Tapes -  if you have written any books/workbooks
                or published a tape, your website is a place to sell these,
                providing a passive income stream.
        i. Create a Chat Line: an interactive format for people with similar interests.
        j. Bio page: Tell people about you: your professional services as well as
                your personal interests.  Include lots of testimonials
        k. Pictures: include pictures of you at work/at play to create a  more
                personal touch.
        l. Information about your services/products: be sure to have lots of information
                about what you have to offer and why they would want to hire you!
        m. Contact information - be sure to provide a way for your web visitors
                to easily contact you.
        n. Work with a web wizard to keep your website fresh and fun!

2. NETWORKING:
        Go to as many networking events as possible: Chamber of Commerce
meetings, professional organizational meetings, professional development
conferences/meetings/trainings; Be visible: get on professional Boards,
volunteer and take a leadership role, give talks; Be consistent: develop a
relationship with people over time.
        Use e - mail to network: contact people frequently announcing your
services, new products, courses....mention these in your signature file
along with your contact information.
        Join professional e-groups and be sure to send out professional
announcements, articles of interest...be visible.

3. RADIO - T.V. - MEDIA:
        Local radio and television programs often are looking for interesting
people to have on their shows.  Develop an interesting program, find the
contacts.
        Local Newspapers are always interesting in unique and timely topics
to write feature articles; or you can learn to write a press release and how
to send it out (see www.coachfederation.org for information on writing a
press release).

4. WORKSHOPS - COURSES - TRAININGS - SPEECHES:
        Develop and deliver workshops/courses/speeches related to the
service you provide.  Take advantage of these occasions to showcase
your services, provide value, give out free (or fee) materials/goods;
build your data base of potential clients by having sign up sheets for
your offers of complimentary/fee services or requests for information.

5. BOOKS - WORKBOOKS - PAMPHLETS - TAPES - VIDEOS:
        Create and market these materials to offer/sell during workshops
(see above) or to sell off your website or to mention in your other written
material (brochure, handouts, announcements).
        Write a book with a selected group of people from your profession.

6. Weekly E-NEWSLETTER or daily TIPS sheet.
        Create and send out a weekly e-newsletter or daily Tips sheet that offer
valuable and unique information to subscribers...which also includes mention
of your services, new offerings and products.
        and/or mail out a paper newsletter which can include attractive
graphics/pictures and which can be displayed on tables at networking events.

7.  TELECLASSES:
        Learn how to lead a teleclass and use this new, exciting modality to
market your services.  (see newsletter issue #14 for information on the value
of teleclasses; see www.teleclassinternational.com for teleclass leader training,
and see www.teleclass.com and www.womensu.com and www.teleclass4U.com
for listings of lots of free/fee teleclasses)

8. ADVERTISE:
        Pay to have your services listed in traditional avenues for advertising
your services/product: newspapers, magazines, yellow pages, professional
journals/newsletters/directories.
        Post your business card or one-page contact sheet on professional
or local bulletin boards.
        SILENT AUCTIONS for fund-raising events are excellent places to market
your services/product.
        Create tangible, valuable MATERIALS such as book markers, pens,
buttons, key rings, T-shirts, hats...to either sell or give away..that include your
contact information.

9. ADD VALUE:
        Always think about ways you can add value to your clients: what are
the extras you can give that will create a favorable impression and a reason
why people would want to hire YOU?!  Give away free stuff...free services..
client extras; be creative with the ways you can add value to keep your clients
happy.  Send out birthday cards or gifts, offer free trainings/workshops/teleclasses,
give them one of your products.

10. CLIENTS:  Keep in touch with your past clients ...through a newsletter,
or frequent letter/email or phone calls or in-person events .....Satisfied
former clients may become current clients once again or they may make
referrals to friends/family/colleagues.  Former clients have been found
to be your best resource.

**copyright: all rights reserved: Laurie R. Geary, April, 2001

===== Do you have any business-building tips?  My readers and I would really appreciate
                hearing them.  Please send them to me.  Thank you! ================
 
 

3. Recommended TASKS:

1. Follow any or all of the above steps for Getting Started in Building your Business.

2. Call or email me for a complimentary half-hour COACHING session to help you
 in building your business.
 Voice:617-494-1422;  email: laurie@ingearcoaching.com

3. Go to my Website www.ingearcoaching.com for back issues of my newsletter to read
 more articles on taking risks, building self esteem, finding your passion, resolving conflict,
coaching...and much more

4. Read one of the books recommended below related to business building.
 
 

4. Recommended BOOKS:

<SELLING the INVISIBLE: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing> by Harry Beckwith
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0-446-52094-2/gearupforsuccela

*<The E-MYTH REVISITED: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and
What to Do About It> by Michael Gerber
http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0887307280/gearupforsuccela

<Success is Not an Accident>  by Tommy Newberry
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451167724/gearupforsuccela

<Life Strategies> by Philip McGraw
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786884592/gearupforsuccela

Order my new workbook:
<RISK TO GROW! CREATE the LIFE YOU WANT through RESPONSIBLE RISK-TAKING>
a collection of articles, top tens, models, poems & quotes, and exercises on Risk-Taking....
or
 order my other booklet on experiential activities for trainers: 75 of my favorite activities
learned from years of working as an instructor for Outward Bound Professional Development
Programs.
 <GAMES & INITIATIVES for NETWORKING, ENERGIZING, & TEAM-BUILDING>.

Both booklets now available...hard copy ($20) or pdf. file ($15)
Send check to Laurie Geary, 4 Canal Park, PH9, Cambridge, MA 02141;
email request to: laurie@ingearcoaching.com or
order at my website: www.ingearcoaching.com
 

5. UPCOMING <TELECLASSES> AND <LOCAL WORKSHOPS>:

<TELECLASSES>

* RISK TO GROW! Create the Life You Want through Responsible Risk-Taking.
Learn the 3-Step Risk-Taking Process. Identify Risking Motivators & Blocks,
Resources and more.
Tuesday, May 15th @ 9pm - also: Wednesday, June 13th @ 9pm EST

*BUILDING YOUR SELF ESTEEM with the 8-A SYSTEM
North Shore Community College
 4 Thursdays, September 6-13-20-27 @ 8pmEST

<LOCAL WORKSHOPS>:

RISK-TAKING: The Path to Personal Growth:
*Boston Center for Adult Education
Thursday, June 7th from 6:30-9:30 pm
*North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 12th from 9-3pm

BE A PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COACH
*Boston Center for Adult Education
  6:30-9:30 pm; Tuesday, June 5, 2001
*North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 19th, from 9-3pm

BUILDING YOUR SELF ESTEEM with the 8-A SYSTEM
North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 26th from 9-3pm

MBTI - Myers Briggs Type Indicator
Beverly Hospital
August 2, 12-4pm

TEAM BUILDING TRAINING
Bevery Hospital
Friday, May 18th, 9-12
 
 

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