Don't
forget to tell all your friends and business associates
about this informative newsletter!
You don't want to be the only smart one in your group,
do you?
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1. Finding a Mentor
A few months ago I wrote about mentorship. You learned what
a mentor was, and what a mentor can do for you. If you
missed that, you can read it here:
What Can a Mentor Do for You?
Now I'd like to dig a little deeper. Identifying and
recruiting a mentor may seem like a daunting task, but it
doesn't have to be.
If you work in a big company, there may be a formal program
already set up for you. Here's the route I'd use to find the
right mentor if I worked in such a company.
First, I'd ask my boss if there's a formal program within
the company and how I could become part of it. If she didn't
know of one, then I'd go to the Human Resources
department and talk to the human resources manager.
If there's no program, I would have a
couple of options. I could try to develop one (which would
be an excellent learning experience, as well as a way to
showcase my organizational and team-building qualities), or
I could create an informal relationship with someone I
admired and knew I could learn from within the company.
If I chose to simply find a mentor without creating a whole
program, I'd take a look at everyone "above" me in the
company. Specifically, I'd want someone who:
- Was at least two levels further up the corporate ladder than I was.
- Was a good, easy-to-understand communicator.
- Was really good at his job.
- Had the confidence of his superiors.
- Was willing to teach me the ropes, and who I could help
somewhat, too (perhaps by doing research or writing for
him).
- Had mentored others in the past (if possible--I suggest
you get a recommendation).
I know that lots of my subscribers are self-employed. So how do YOU find the right mentor? Here's what I did to find mine (and I believe in having more than one mentor):
- I decided what I needed to learn.
- I watched who was posting on discussion forums and who has authored books or articles on topics I needed to learn.
- I subscribed to their newsletters and visited their websites.
- I checked out the potential mentors -- meaning I tried to
learn about their reputation, and I listened to seminars they gave and read books and articles written by my prospective mentors to see how they might help me.
- I looked to see if they had a formal mentoring program in which I could participate.
- I spoke to my prospective mentors to see if they were interested in working with me. (Sometimes I simply ask questions without trying to make it a formal thing, however.)
YOU can benefit from what I've learned and am continuing to learn about Internet marketing, PR and marketing in general simply by signing up for my Marketing Success Mentoring Program. Then, the next time you have a problem, you'll have someone to help you through it. And the best thing is...this program will make you accountable.
Just think of all you can accomplish.
Read all about it and join my new Marketing Success Mentor
Program! It has lots of benefits, like FREE membership in
the Success Secrets Forum, attendance at all my teleseminars
FREE, 2 hours of one-on-one consulting with me, and more.
Read all about it and subscribe here.
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JOIN WOMEN'S FORUM NOW
As a New Year's gift to you, I want to remind you of the
introductory membership rate for joining my new Success
Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs Private Online Forum. In the
forum you'll find women (and possibly a few men) business
owners who would love to be part of your community and help
you through your business challenges. It's like having your
own Mastermind Group. Plus, when you subscribe, you'll have
immediate access to several ebooks FREE. I've decided to continue to include my ebook, "Marketing Plan Essentials:
Online & Off," as one of the free gifts when you become a
paid subscriber. So there are 8 ebooks waiting for you!
You can subscribe to the forum for a LIFETIME rate of just
$12.95 per month (or sign up for 3-month, 6-month, or 12-
month membership and save even more) if you do it before
February 15.
Don't miss this chance... Here's the link to join.
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SUBSCRIBE
TO SUCCESS SECRETS EZINE
If you want the inside secrets of how women
just like you
propelled their businesses to levels they never dreamed
possible, sign up for my new "Success Secrets of Women
Business Owners" ezine, which started a few weeks ago.
Each
issue profiles one successful woman business owner and
includes her top five (or more) tips for creating a
successful business.
When
you sign up for "Success Secrets of Women Business
Owners Ezine," I'll give you a free special
report, "Build
Website Traffic by Writing Articles: Top 10 Sites to Publish
Your Articles" ($9 Value)! Subscribe
here.
Read
the first three profiles here.
Starting in 2005, "Success Secrets of Women Business
Owners Ezine" will be published the first and third
Wednesdays of each month. Watch for a new issue this week.
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2. New Teleseminars Coming!
Many of you have begged me to do teleseminars and I’m hosting the first one in February. If the times are inconvenient for you, don't worry. I’m recording all teleseminars and if you sign up to attend, you get a CD FREE. Or, you can buy the CDs afterward even if you don't sign up.
Many of you have let me know that your biggest challenges
are getting clients, making a profit and getting publicity.
Therefore, the first three teleseminars will focus on these
issues.
For the first teleseminar, I've already recruited Lynn Terry
of Turning Ideas Into Dollars and Self-Starters Weekly Tips.
Lynn is a master a creating passive income. That's
generating income from affiliate commissions, AdSense ads,
and similar methods.
So mark Wednesday, February 9, at 2:00 Eastern down and plan to attend this teleseminar. We're still talking about what the seminar will cover, so watch for more details next week and be ready to sign up.
Adam Urbanski, The Marketing Mentors, will join me for the second one. Adam is an
expert at helping solopreneurs, speakers, coaches and
service professionals get clients.
Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, is on my short list, too.
We're still working out the details for the seminars so I'll
tell you more about them next week. And in the meantime, how
about taking this short survey to let me know what you'd
like to learn?
Take the Teleseminar Survey now.
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FREE Sales Course
Subscribe to Marketing Idea Shop's 3-Day Sales
Course...totally FREE. You'll get one email each day for 3
days in a row. It's quick, full of great ideas to help you
become a better salesperson, and takes just 5 minutes to
read. Click here to subscribe.
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3. Publicizing a New Company
Last week I asked for suggestions for one of my new
subscribers, who is starting a new design company. She asked
how to get publicity for her company. And three people sent
ideas.
From Meredith Hamilton of Expert Communications:
Your best source of business is the people you already know.
First, create a tagline (not a slogan) that describes
exactly what you do (and for whom, if applicable). Use this
tagline below your name/company name on everything--your
stationery, business card, advertising, etc.
Be able to succinctly state what you do and make sure that
everyone in your circle -- your accountant, dry cleaner,
babysitter, brother-in-law, neighbor, kid’s coach, piano
teacher, etc. -- clearly understands what your business is
about. Leave business cards with them, if appropriate.
These should be the first entries in your contact database,
which you will expand as your business grows, and which
could become your most valuable asset.
From Robert Grede of The Grede Company:
One of the best ways I have found is to focus on the new
company's clients. If your reader has started a new design
firm, she likely has a few clients already, and one or two
who may have "star" value.
For instance, when I started my consulting business, my
first client was a McDonald's restaurant owner/operator. As
a single-unit entity, my client wasn't large, but the
McDonald's name is well known. I submitted a press
release to the local papers about how McDonald's owner, Joe
Dokes, had chosen The Grede Company as their marketing
services firm.
Whenever I land a new client, large or small, I send out a
press release publicizing the acquisition. Not all get published. But those that do serve as a testimonial for my
firm. And it further benefits my clients, who find their
name in print as well.
(Editor's note: Be sure to get
approval/permission from your client before you send out a
release with their name in it.)
From K. Hinzmann of Wall Whimsy Mural Co. in Menasha, WI:
I have found if it's a small business like mine, where
upfront cash is minimal, donating your service(s) can help
get the word out.
There are often local fundraisers that welcome donations
such as baskets or gift certificates for a service from area
businesses. You aren't out any marketing dollars -- just
your time -- and you feel great doing it! Usually there is a
silent auction and a list of donating businesses, so even if
they don't bid on your particular donation, your name will
be seen by many -- especially if you find a few different
charities to work with. Then whoever wins your prize will
hopefully be a repeat customer and bring you referrals! Also
the people putting on the event are so thankful, they'll
remember you and call you for themselves or friends.
Another way I've found is getting into a local small-business-owners group. It's a good way to share ideas,
information and possible referrals with the other members.
Also find a compatible business with a similar target market
and see if you can help "advertise" each other by displaying
each other's business cards in your respective offices.
And Lois says...
Don't forget about writing articles for local publications
and online sources. Create expert status by showing off your
knowledge. If you can't write, you can always hire a
freelancer to ghost-write the articles for you. That way you
get the PR and the freelancer gets a new, paying
client...you!
For more ideas on how to create good PR and word of mouth
advertising on a shoestring budget, pick up a copy of my
ebook, Public Relations 101 for Service Professionals,
Solopreneurs, Coaches and Speakers. Read more about it or
download it and be reading it in just minutes here:
Public Relations 101
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4. Quote
of the Week
""Success is having the time and resources to do what you
wish."
Glen Wood
No BS Zone
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AND NOW,
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS...
What's your definition of success?
Email your comments to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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5. Book Reviews
Lots of folks are sending me books to review lately. I can't
read them all and review them, but I have managed to read a
couple that I'd like to share with you.
Women For Hire's Get Ahead Guide to Career Success
by Tory Johnson & Robyn Freedman Spizman
(Published by Perigee Trade Paperback Original, September
2004, $10.85 at Amazon) This is a basic guide for defining
your own view of success, using networking to get the job of
your dreams, and how to move up the corporate ladder. It's
written in an easy-to-read format and is especially good for
someone just getting into the job market.
Buy it from Amazon
Be Your Own Mentor: Strategies from Top Women
on the Secrets of Success
by Sheila Wellington and Catalyst
(Published by Random House, 2001, $17.13) This is an
excellent book that every woman in business should own. It
not only gives tips for getting ahead in the corporate
world, it helps women to understand how men think and how to
communicate with them successfully. If you are new to
business, this book is the one to buy. I liked it so much, I bought it for my daughter Erin for Christmas.
Buy it from Amazon
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6. A
Little Fun
Thanks to Web Marketing Ezine for this one:
A Built-In Target Audience
A visiting customer is taken on a tour of a latex products
factory by the factory's marketing manager.
At the first stop, he's shown the machine that manufactures
baby-bottle nipples. The machine makes a loud hiss-pop!
noise.
"The hiss is the rubber being injected into the mold,"
explains the marketer. "The popping sound is a needle poking
a hole in the end of the nipple."
Later, the tour reaches the part of the factory where
condoms are manufactured.
The machine makes a noise: "Hiss. Hiss. Hiss. Hiss-pop!"
"Wait a minute!" says the customer. "I understand what the
'hiss, hiss,' is, but what's that 'pop!' every so often?"
"Oh, it's just the same as in the baby-bottle nipple
machine," says the guide. "It pokes a hole in every fourth
condom."
"Well, that can't be good for the condoms!"
"Yeah, but it's great for the baby-bottle nipple business!"
Help
keep the smiles coming ... please send me your marketing,
PR or sales
jokes. I'll be happy to give you credit and list your website!
Email
me.
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Is Your Business Suffering From a Lack of Capital?
2004 Venture Funding For Women Entrepreneurs is available.
Need to grow? Not enough capital? No angels in your family?
Find them with this 400-page downloadable ebook, where
you'll have all the contact information for 200 venture
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companies that are women-owned or women-led. You'll also
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companies that received funding. This is a wonderful tool
for you. Read more about it or buy it here.
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7. Smell the Coffee...
Well, my sister Nancy arrived from Milwaukee, safe and sound
on Saturday, bringing the cold weather with her. Brrr. It's
gone from unseasonably warm (80 degrees last week!) to
unseasonably cold (7 degrees today). The ski resort is back
in business, and we even got a little bit of natural snow a
couple days ago.
But you have to hear this...
Nancy arrived at Washington Dulles Airport three hours late
because she missed her first flight out of Milwaukee. It
wasn't her fault. She was there in plenty of time.
Unfortunately, the travel crate she put her Quaker parrot in
was too large to fit under the seat. So the airlines gave
her a loaner crate and she successfully transferred her bird
to it.
However, the next security guard (same airport) insisted on
opening up the crate, which had no door and had to be
completely opened to check inside it. So the bird escaped
and Nancy had to catch it and put it back in the cage. By
the time she got the bird back, it was too late to get on
the plane.
She said, "It's a good thing Buddy didn't have a flight
plan! He just flew to the nearest table and started looking
around so I was able to catch him." (Even birds have to file
their flight plans today ;-)
Luckily, there were no other mishaps and she arrived in time
for supper on Saturday. My nieces are very excited about
having their mom living near them.
I'd appreciate it if you would all continue to hold our
family in the Light as we make this family transition.
Peace & Light,
Lois
Back to Top
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Published by:
Lois Carter Fay,
APR
Marketing Guru, Marketing
Idea Shop, LLC
411 Rainier Road, Massanutten, VA USA 22840
Voice 540.289.3840 or 800.203.8660
©
2004 Marketing Idea Shop. All rights reserved.
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