You know it’s the key to more success but there are certain strategies that could make it more effective for you.
In my seminar last week, “Double Your Networking Results” I laid out 7 tips for powerful networking.
The key message was this. Networking is about building relationships. If you become a resource for others by being helpful and connecting people you’ll double your networking results.
With that said, let’s look at a simple strategy for targeted networking. Targeted networking means choosing an industry (outside of your own) to serve.
I gave an example of a web designer who targeted the construction industry and soon became the “go to guy” for web design in that industry.
Is there an industry your business could focus on and become known as the best resource for your area of speciality?
If you need help defining your target audience call me for a free 30 min Discovery Session.
About Yoon Cannon: Top business coach Yoon Cannon has helped thousands of small business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants and sales teams achieve dramatic results in growing your business. Over the past 20 years Yoon has started 4 successful companies and sold 3 of them. She offers fresh insights as a seasoned business growth expert. Yoon delivers proven process for your sales, marketing and management development. Grab free valuable gifts and resources at https://www.ParamountBusinessCoach.com To book Yoon to speak at your next event email: YoonCannon@ParamountBusinessCoach.com To schedule a complimentary business coaching consultation call (215) 292-4947.
Time is money. Nobody understands this better than a small business owner. You wear many hats (or worse, all the hats), so there’s never quite enough time to get it all done. You might feel like you’re under an avalanche of never ending to-do’s that all scream NOW leaving you feeling overwhelmed, stressed and discouraged.
Time can be both an asset and a liability. If you keep your head down and utilize your time to the fullest, you can leap over your competition. If you delegate responsibilities poorly and don’t think your business activities through wisely, time can become your worst enemy
There is a middle ground – one that promises a good return on your efforts and leaves you with enough breathing space to attend to personal commitments. Time management – a phrase we hear so often but don’t always know what to make of.
How can you manage time and make the most of it, so you can get the right things done in your business to quickly grow the business? Here are 4 time management tips for small business owners:
1. Segment your tasks each day on a calendar.
Get an estimate of how much time you spend online, exclusively on your company website, at your storefront, on your mobile phone, in administrative tasks and employee-related responsibilities and map them out onto a calendar week. It’s also easier to see how your tasks are segmented if you color code them right on your calendar. (more…)
You love what you do. You love being your own boss and having full control of your day to day and your future. As a business owner you also understand that business can go up and down. So, what can you do when business is down and you find yourself with little or no prospects in your pipeline? Here are 4 strategies for struggling businesses that you can do right now to attract more clients and increase your sales.
1) Define your VALUE – Differentiate your product or service from the competition. Customers purchase products or services to obtain more value than they currently have. Clearly communicate what the specific, positive impact to them will be when they hire you or purchase your products. What is it they are really buying to help them get what they are missing right now? If your service saves them time, the customer is really buying more time. You can then define the value to that customer as the measurable results they can achieve with the extra time they bought. Other values include saving money or leveraging your knowledge to gain speed to market. Gaining greater status is also another common value.
2) Troubleshoot the ISSUE – Identify where the gap is in your business. There could be a multitude of reasons for your low profit levels. The following are some key questions that should be defined in your business plan. Creating or updating your business plan is an excellent way to help you gain clarity for troubleshooting the issue. You want to answer questions like:
Is your product or service in low demand?
Are there advancements in technology overshadowing your product?
Is there high competition?
Is your target market poorly defined?
Do you have the right talent on your team?
Are you profit margins enough to sustain your business?
Are you employing the right marketing strategy that yields high sales conversion? (more…)
How’s your business going? If you were asked this question would you know at any moment whether profits are up or down? Would you know by what percentage or by what amount your profits have increased or decreased? Why should you care to know these answers? Because not knowing is costing you time and money. Why spend all year chasing business that’s actually costing your more than it’s helping your bottom line? If you don’t know, you’re not alone. The harsh truth however is you should know. Why most entrepreneurs don’t know is that they aren’t working on the business regularly to do the critical small business planning. The good news is these steps are not things you have to do every week or month. You can do these steps just once a year, but make sure you refer to the plan throughout the year. (more…)
Here are two of my must have app recommendations for busy entrepreneurs
1. The SIM Reminder.
I downloaded a free app for my iPhone called the SIM Reminder. As a busy Entrepreneur and mother there’s so much to keep track of and remember. In addition to staying on top of my clients’ needs at https://www.ParamountBusinessCoach.com. I have to remember all those to-do items that come flooding in every day from each of my 3 children’s teachers, soccer coaches, tutors, school nurses, birthday party invitation rsvp’s and of course, wish lists submitted by my kids.
I have tried other reminder apps as well as the alert bell on my calendar, but they only beep one at the allotted time.
With the SIM reminder what I like it that it automatically keeps ringing every few minutes until I either check off that it’s done or I can delay it 10 min, or in hour chunks or choose a new day and time at a quick touch of a button.
When there are to-do items that are truly time sensitive for me to have to remember to get done I put it into my SIM because I n eed the constant reminder it gives me that I don’t get with other apps or calendar alerts.
2. SecureSafe
Manaing your business and life online sure does make things a lot easier. You no longer have to be buried under an avalanche of papers to sift through and organize. You have instant access to your accounts and status reports that we used to have to grab the manual way by using the telephone or waiting for postal mail to send our info to us.
The only downside for me to having upwards of 50+ online accounts is that I have a terrible memory for what I actually created at the time as my user name and password — let alone remember the correct url address for my accounts!
Well, this problems has gotten eliminated with one simple app I love and use almost every day. What I love about Secure Safe is that I only have to remember one password.. and that’s to get into this app. Once I’m in every online account is jus t one tap away and in alphabetical order.
If you hate selling, you’ll love my 6 tips on how you can attract, engage and convert new clients.
Why prospect? Why solicit? Why cold call? Why not instead attract prospects who are already actively looking to work with someone like you?
Watch my short video on 6 tips to implement right now that will get your target market calling you. Please share your comments and questions on the video. (more…)
Time is money. Nobody understands this better than a small business owner. You wear many hats (or worse, all the hats), so there’s never quite enough time to get it all done. You might feel like you’re under an avalanche of never ending to-do’s that all scream NOW leaving you feeling overwhelmed, stressed and discouraged.
