 There’s no denying it – starting something new, like a business, is scary. It’s nice to imagine the success and income that comes along with a well-executed plan … but the process of putting yourself out there and taking a risk? It’s enough to make you quit before you even get started. That’s why it’s so critical that you learn ways to overcome your fears, get out of your comfort zone and pave your own path to success. Not sure how to do any of that? Follow these 4 steps: Step #1: Take One Step at a Time All types of fears can bubble up when you decide to start a new business. The fear of not being good enough, fear of the unknown, and the fear of not having enough clients are just a few that can bring your progress to a screeching halt. To overcome these fears, take one step at a time. For example, if you’re afraid of “not being good enough,” commit yourself to develop a quality product or service, not a perfect one. This way, you’ll feel good about putting out something of value without the stress that comes with shooting for perfection. You can always go back and refine the product or service once you’ve attracted clients, but you must take tiny steps forward to gain the confidence to take a more significant leap later down the road. Step #2: Embrace Uncomfortable Situations To truly thrive and reach new levels – you must force yourself outside of your comfort zone and into the unknown. See, you already know you can thrive in your comfort zones, and because you know this, it makes you fearful about stepping outside of it. But the reality is that new and uncomfortable experiences are what pushes you to grow, adapt and become better than who you are today. The experiences you have in those “uncomfortable situations” are what will change you to level up and embrace opportunities you’d normally shy away from. Step #3: Stop Letting Perfection Paralyze Your Progress Getting outside of your comfort zone isn’t easy, and it’s tempting to wait for the right moment to get started. Yet, the truth is there is no such thing as the perfect time. Only allowing yourself to make big moves when the time is right is just an excuse to put something off because you’re nervous about how it’ll play out. The reality is that waiting around until everything feels right won’t get you any closer to where you want to be. So, today, do at least one thing out of your comfort zone and help yourself move closer to your ultimate goal. Every little move you make will add up to big results down the line. Step #4: Choose to Make Yourself Happy First Ultimately, you should focus on doing things and working toward goals that make you truly happy. If you’re putting energy into tasks that don’t make you feel fulfilled or bring you joy, you’ll never gain the motivation you need to level up. The lesson here is do what you love, not what the world says you should do. ________________ Learning to be comfortable with discomfort is the key to living a truly fulfilled and successful life. Want more insight on how to achieve your BOSS goals? Go here: www.bossdivas.org
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FAQ: What Business Should I Start? Essentially, you need to figure out which business will provide you with a purpose. So many people are quick to jump into business to leave their 9-5 job, but end up dreading the business they're running because it turns out to be more work than their original 9-5. You have to realize that running a business is not as glorious as people make it out to be. This is why it is important that even when you are not making money, the business still fuels you in other ways (purpose). Write down a list of all the businesses you would like to start. Write down the different ways you would make money from each business. Write down what it would look like in a day of running the business. Would you like to do this every single day? Would this make you happy? Will this fuel your energy? How much money can you make from each business? How fast will you be able to scale each business? Will each business allow you to live the work from anywhere lifestyle (if that is something you're aiming for)? What is the lifestyle you want to have? Which business can help you get there? ^ These are just a few questions to answer to help you decide which venture to pursue. Alternatively, when deciding which business to start, look into the supply and demand in your community. What product or service is in HIGH DEMAND? Do you find that a tax service business is in DEMAND amongst your community? Is a home cleaning business in demand? Keep in mind that the business you start does not have to be a full-time gig. You can start and run a business as a side hustle for extra income if that is your business objective. 🤗 Hey Boss babes!!!!! A few days ago I posted a Q&A thread on my Instagram page asking our followers what questions they had about running a business. After responding to over 50 comments, I realized that sooooo many entrepreneurs are struggling with the same problems. So, I decided to create a slide summarizing why majority of businesses are failing. 8 Reasons Your Business is Failing on Instagram:  💎 1. GENERIC BIO - Avoid generic bios that will leave you fighting to stand out in saturated markets. Your Instagram Bio should be descriptive telling your audience who you are, what you offer, how they can purchase, where and how. Essentially, your IG bio is your digital business card. Use emojis and spacing to make your Instagram bio visually pleasing. *TIP: Use your brand voice. It's imperative that your page attracts people to stay on your page + hit the follow button!
💎 2. NO CREDIBILITY - Credibility is the quality of being trusted and believed in. It is your job as a business owner to convince your audience of the value of your products, to make them believe that you will deliver on your promises. An effective way to gain credibility is by sharing social proof (reviews, before & after photos, celebrity/influencer endorsements, sharing customer orders, reposting social media mentions, sharing milestones, etc). 💎 3. INCONSISTENCY - Your Instagram page should not be a mess of reposted memes, quotes, and images form other IG accounts. This is a quick way to appear as a spam account, sending your followers to shop with another business. Create a solid BRAND identity to stand out from the crowd and display professionalism. Remember, consistency is key. *TIP: Your brand colors, fonts, and look should be transparent throughout all social media accounts and website. Use Adobe Color CC and Canva to create dope content. 💎 4. NO RELATIONSHIP - Before you even think about selling, you need to build a KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST factor. Interact with your audience, don't be scared to be the face of your business. Get your audience to fall in love with your personality and brand. Once they know that your business exists, like your products, and trust your brand, they will buy. Take the time to learn what your followers like and are interested in. When you interact with them they will engage with you. Business is about developing a solid relationship with your audience. 💎 5. USING STOCK PHOTOS - Using stock photos from your supplier are a NO NO! Take your own stock photos. Not only will this demonstrate trust and show your customer that you physically have inventory, but will also set you apart from all the other businesses using the same standard stock photos. The key to selling is to sell a lifestyle. Look at FashionNova vs. Rainbow. It's been said that they sell the same items or use the same manufacturers, the difference between both companies are their imagery and brand. It's hard enough for consumers to purchase certain products online without physical contact. Show your audience how your products actually look by showcasing several photos (different angles, models, environments). Example: For hair businesses, take photos of the exterior and interior of a wig, on different models of different races, skin complexions, and heights. 💎 6. NO WEBSITE - Expecting people to DM you to find out the price of an item or place an order is ludicrous. Let a website do the work for you! Websites are great because they are up and running 24/7, even if your business is not. A website can collect payment and orders (no need to ask each customer to Cash App you). Allow customers to conveniently shop with your business via your website. *TIP: You can set up a website within hours using an ecommerce platform like Shopify, BigCartel, Wix, Weebly, or BigCommerce. 💎 7. LACK OF CAPTIONS - Captions explain your posts and provides information to your audience. They should be detailed just as product descriptions on a website. Always include a call to action (CTA) in your captions. Don't just assume that your audience will preform the action you would like, TELL THEM to. Example: double tap photo, comment below, tap link in bio to purchase, send us direct message. *TIP: Your captions should contain this formula: DETAILED INFO + CTA 💎 8. POOR USE OF HASHTAGS - Hashtags turn words into a searchable link. They are similar to Google keywords, but used via social media. Through the use of hashtags you can increase your business' visibility and reach. By using hashtags, you allow people to find relevance in your business and posts. *TIP: Use hashtags that are specific and relate to your business and individual post. Generic hashtags will attract bots and spam to your page. The more specific = the better. After reviewing the 8 reasons why your business is failing on Instagram, I hope you were able to pin point which areas your business is lacking. However, just realizing where your business is struggling is not enough to get the ball rolling. To start seeing a difference in sales and your business in general, you need to not only realize what's wrong with your business, but make the change. You see, I didn't grow my business to near 100,000 followers on Instagram. I didn't increase my engagement by over 150% by just reviewing and learning all the Instagram tricks and studying the algorithm. To see a change, you need to make a change. I know you want to get your business off the ground so you can start having consistent sales and eventually quit your 9-5 so you can be your own boss. So many people have been asking to 'pick my brain' and ask me a million gazillion business questions. So guess what? I packaged all your business questions and struggles into a 4-step business system to help you get your business thang going. To get instant access to the download link, click here to access more resources. Stop struggling sis! Let me help you get your business 'ish together. After getting my 'ish together, I managed to make over $15,000 in sales from Instagram alone. Imagine what you can do and what results you can get!!! 💡 Download your business workbooks here: https://bossdivas.samcart.com/products/bo-up-babe-bundle-deal-pdf/ 😍🤗 Before you jump into marketing, you need to first be clear on who you will be marketing to. You should have a concrete understanding of who your target audience is so you'll know where to find them. Many business owners make the mistake of trying to market to everyyyyone as opposed to marketing to a specific audience. I created this graphic to help you define your target audience. Use the information to create a detailed customer profile for a specific customer. Refer back to the customer profile as you develop your business. If you are not clear on who your audience is, it makes it harder to effectively engage and attract your target audience. The more you know about your customers, the easier it will be to engage with them, interact with them, and of course, sell to them.  Your target audience should not be generic. Your target audience should be specific. Example: Woman aged 25-40 who want to start an online business. ⠀⠀⠀ vs. Example: African American woman between the ages of 25-34 who already have a business started and are looking to grow it. These woman live in Atlanta, Houston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, California, Chicago, and Detroit. They are either a single parent or newly married. They enjoy reality tv and celebrity gossip. They want to create generational wealth... etc. ⠀ Keep in mind that just because you TARGET a specific audience, this does not mean that your business is not open to serve people outside of your target audience. Targeting an audience simply helps you clarify who your business is for, who you are trying to reach, and what your business offers. You can have more than one target audience depending on your business and the products you offer.  With Instagram’s ever-changing algorithm, some posts are no longer getting the amount of exposure they would of normally received without the algorithm changes. Currently, Instagram’s algorithm is mainly based on engagement (number of likes, comments, video views, saves, shared posts, etc) and therefor prioritizes posts with high engagement. With the new algorithm, it’s important that your posts contribute towards your brand’s purpose and to build a stronger relationship with your audience. Don’t let the algorithm overwhelm or scare you! In order to beat the algorithm and get your posts to be seen, you have to stay relevant and make sure that you posting are intriguing to your audience. Post for them —not just for the sake of just posting! In order to get your posts to be seen and understand how the algorithm works, be sure to incorporate the following when posting: 1) Post Attracting Photos & Videos Content should be eye-catching and visually pleasing. Create content that your audience will want to engage with as opposed to ignore and continue scrolling. 2) Develop a Strong Visual Brand Create a distinctive style for your Instagram page that reflects your brand. This will attract followers to want to view all of the posts on your page —having them scroll as far back as your first post. 3) Use Engaging Captions Create captions that include a question or call to action. Get your audience to engage with your page by asking them a question, making them want to comment to reply. Create a call to action requesting your audience to tag their friends, comment an emoji, etc. 4) Interact With Your Audience To receive engagement, you have to give it! By replying to comments you are interacting with your audience which can help to increase the visibility of your posts. 5) Post Frequent Instagram Stories Instagram stories offers a variety of engagement opportunities. Get creative and incorporate the different features stories offer (such as gifs and polls). 6) Use Live Video Strengthen the bond between your business and your audience by getting on live and interacting with your audience in real time. This is a great way to help get on the explore page and be seen by people who aren’t following you. 7) Add a Spark to Current Trends Whether it be a new hashtag, challenge, viral meme, or any other trend, this is a great way to relate with your audience. Choose trends that are applicable to your brand and find ways to align them with your business and audience. 8) Post During Peak Hours Schedule posts when your followers are most active. When your followers engage with your posts closer to when it was posted, this can help your post to be seen quicker by others which will then help to increase your overall engagement. 9) Promote Popular Posts To further increase engagement, promote your most popular pots through Instagram ads to help increase awareness for your overall page which will them bring awareness to your other posts. 10) Create Anticipation When you become consistent with the type of posts you upload on your page, your followers will begin to consistently check up on your page to ensure they haven’t missed any posts. Make your followers want to keep up-to-date with your posts by uploading useful content (e.g. free tips, informative information, motivational quotes, business stats/updates, contest winners, etc). Instagram's Algorithm will continue to update as the network expands, don't let this hinder your business. Continue to be genuine with your audience and build a deeper connection to attract the attention of your audience. Hope these tips were helpful for you. To learn exactly how to use Instagram to increase sales for your business, check out our Instagram Success workbook.  Surprisingly, a lot of business owners who run their business either on/offline do not have a website. How do you run a professional business without a website? Whether you're selling products online or not, you should have a website as a business owner. It doesn't matter what industry of business you're in. Whether you're a photographer, restaurant owner, coach, publicist, marketer, or even fitness enthusiast, you should definitely have a website. A website will help spread awareness for your business, increase leads & sales, and increase your business reach. Even if your business only operates on a domestic level, gaining international recognition will increase your business. For example, if you own a restaurant prospective customers will want to visit your restaurant when they're in the area or will even go out of their way to make the commute to visit it! If you're a fitness enthusiast and only operate domestically, you may want to consider opening doors for your business by offering online programs and training. I've personally witnessed a fitness owner have clients fly in just to be able to participate in her programs. Anything is possible with social media and the internet! 🖥 Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Have A Website: #1) FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT. EVERYONE JUDGES BY WHAT THEY SEE. The popular saying "Don't judge a book by a cover" suggests that one shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. However, living in a world that's so obsessed with physical appearance, first impressions matter. Alongside your logo, a website will display professionalism and credibility. Even if you have no intention of selling products on your site you should still have one. A website is sort of like a virtual business card. #2) YOUR BUSINESS WILL GAIN CREDIBILITY More and more people are using the internet to make purchases and shop for items they want. By having a website potential customers are able to gain an insight of your business. Your website will give them an opportunity to get to know who you are, what you sell, and what your business purpose is. A website will help connect people to your brand. A website will also help promote your products (whether tangible or intangible) and will help increase sales. #3) A WEBSITE IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS TO MAKE A PURCHASE Some people still conduct business today by manually sending invoices to each and every customer who wants to make a purchase. While this may work for businesses who sell custom items and services, this can also be a huge time eater and inconvenience. When customers are ready to make a purchase they want to make it on their time, at their convenience. That means not having to request an invoice and not having to wait for the invoice to be sent. Customers should be able to easily make a purchase by simply clicking a button. #4) A WEBSITE HELPS YOU SAVE TIME Repeating the same information over and over again to new potential customers can be quite tedious and annoying. Having a website can help you easily display and describe your products. Since a website is available indefinitely, customers can browse your website and easily find the information their seeking (such as contact information, hours of operation, product descriptions, etc). #5) IT'S EASY TO CREATE AND MANAGE Thankfully, due to technology, it's becoming easier and easier to create your very own website. With so many website platforms that offer you free and premium templates, you can create your very own website in as little as just a few hours! There's absolutely no excuse for your website to look unprofessional or sloppy with access to hundreds of templates to choose from on the web. Check out "The Ultimate Workbook To Creating a Money Making Website" for a list of the best platforms to use for your website. #6) YOUR WEBSITE IS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR BUSINESS CARD The internet has replaced phonebooks, newspapers, and the yellow pages. While some people still use them, it's not what it used to be. Almost everyone uses the internet to seek information. Potential customers are searching their phones at this very moment for a product or service your business offers!!! Instead of these potential customers being redirected to another business, you want them directed to your business. With simple search engine optimization (SEO) you can get your business to be recognized by big search engines like Google and Yahoo. Our 74 paged workbook covers SEO in detail. #7) A WEBSITE HELPS YOU TO EASILY COLLECT DATA FROM PROSPECTS It's easier to get data from prospects on your website than it is in person. Easily collect email addresses, demographics, and much more from each person who enters your website. Use this information to create a bond with prospects through sending email newsletters to turn these people into customers. #8) YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL EXPECT IT How many times have you heard someone ask you for the name of your website and you replied with "It's not launched yet.. It's under construction.... I'm looking into one... I don't have one". Errrrkkss!!! This is equivalent to putting up your "closed" sign in a business window. You can lose out on a lot of sales and interest from people by not having a website. Having a website allows people to check out your business at their convenience. People will expect and ask you for your website. Be ready to give it to them the next time they ask! #9) ECOMMERCE SPENDING IS INCREASING EACH YEAR Online sales reached over $394 billion last year. Did you read that correctly? Over $394 BILLION! With that being said, don't miss out on your share of the online market!!!! Each year, more and more people are spending money online. Reach those people who like to conduct business on the web by having your own website. #10) NO WEBSITE MEANS MISSING OUT ON MORE MONEY Stop missing out on opportunities and stop leaving money on the table. If you want to start collecting every dollar possible for your business, it's imperative that your business has a website. If you don't have a website, it's time you create one for your business. You deserve all the money and recognition for your business. If you already have a website and it's not bringing in the sales you want to see, it's time to revamp it!
CLICK HERE to grab your step by step blueprint workbook right now!   You’re going to have days when people don’t believe in you. Heck - you’ll even have days when you don’t believe in “you”. Family members will tell you to stop wasting your time. Then, they’ll love your products and ask you for discounts 🤔. You’ll have days when you just want to give up, forget you even started, and want to throw all your ideas down the drain. You’ll have days when you just want to say “screw it” and go back to working for someone else.
You’ll have days when sales are pouring in, and days that aren’t so great. You’ll have days when you go above and beyond for your customers, only to have them try and steal from you. They say they want your help, need your help, and will do everything for your help, except honestly pay. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You’ll have people who’ll steal your ideas. Envy your success. You’ll have people who praise you and continue to motivate you. You’ll have days when you realize it’s all worth it; struggles and all. … Just remember; someone you don’t even know is rooting for you. Someone you don’t even know needs you, and looks up to. The entrepreneurship journey can be a crazy ride, but just know that in the end it will all be worth it. Trust in the process and never give up. Continue to strive and reach for success - your success. 💕 If you need a mentor or coach to hold you accountable for your actions in order to get your business on track, contact us today to get started. Are you wondering how free products can benefit your business as well as your customers? Are you debating whether or not to even give away free products? Are you not sure if this marketing tactic will work for your business? Continue reading to find out why free products are a win and how they can help increase your businesses sales. Have you ever went to a grocery store and been offered free samples of a new product? Do you remember the brand ambassador describing the product and answering any questions you may have had? Do you remember the ambassador asking you if you wanted to make a purchase and maybe even offering a special discount? When you go to a store and are offered free food, you're not offered the food to simply fill your stomach, but to make a purchase! You're receiving a free sample in hopes of a purchase being made or in hopes of providing feedback. Have you ever attended a pop up shop, or visited your dentist and received free products such as a free water bottle, a keychain, or even a free pen with the company's name/logo embalmed on it? What these companies have done is branded their products and given them away for free in order to increase brand awareness. When you're walking around with a company embalmed water bottle, you're promoting the company by bringing awareness to it. How free products can benefit your business: - Free products will create engagement for your business! Free products will help you attract your target audiene and increase sales! - More engagement brings more energy to you as an entrepreneur!!! Positive feedback, reviews, and engagement will help you bond with your audience as well as it will drive more passion to your business. - Free products create awareness for your business. Somewhere out there, there is someone who wants your products, however they don't know that your business exsists. The more people who are aware about your business, the more sales you will have. - Free products = free reviews/feedback. Whether positive or negative; as an entrepreneur you need to figure out what your audience likes and dislikes. Free products will give you an incite on what your customers expect for your business. Before officically launching a product, give it away for free. Anaylze the feedback you receive and change whatever is needed to improve the product. They only way to know what exactly your customers want/expect is to ask. This will help you perfect your product. - Free products will help you consider whether or not there is a need in the market for your products. How free products can benefit your target audience: - When you offer free products, you are giving your target audience and potential customers a change to sample your product before they purchase. Your audience will get to decide whether or not they want to buy, as well as which product they want to purchase. If you offer different skues (syles, scent, flavour, packages, etc), you audience will be able to decide which one if best to suite their needs. If your audience likes the free sample they receive, they will be inclined to purchase when they run out/when they want more! - Online purchases sometimes pushes consumers away when they aren't able to physically experience a product. By giving away a free sample you are able to instill trust and credibility between the consumer and your business. What can you give away for free? Do you have a new product that you want to "test the waters" with before you launch? Download our FREE worksheet and let us know how free products benefited your business.
 In order to have a successful business account on IG you need to setup your Instagram account accordingly. Why should people follow your page? Why should people scroll through your images? Why should someone care about your business? What wants/need does your business offer? Who is your target audience and what can you do for them? These customers SHOULD all be answered in your Instagram bio. Attract your target audience to your page and make them want to fit that "FOLLOW" button. Read below to find out how to setup your Instagram account for success:
1) Icon Does your Instagram icon reflect your brand? Use your logo, or an image that represents your brand. Keep in mind that this image is small and you want it to be easily visible. You can change this image as often as you like so never feel obligated to have to stick with which ever image you initially choose. 2) Contact Information If applicable, be sure to include an email address or contact number for your customers to reach you. Depending on your business you may want to include business hours/hours of operation. 3) Website URL Provide a link for your audience to click on. Keep in mind the exact URL of where you want your audience to be pointed. This can be your home page or another page. If you’re having a promotion on one of your products or services, provide the direct link for your audience to purchase/receive more info. If you want your audience to be redirected to a special sign up page, direct them there. For example, when we were launching the early bird tickets for the branding bootcamp, we had the direct link to the sign up page. When we had a sale on our branding workbooks we had a direct link available for users to purchase by simply clicking on the link which led to the checkout page. Keep in mind that a lot of people on Instagram do not like always like to read and do not like to have to search for information. The less work your audience has to do, the easier and faster it will be for them to purchase your items. This will equate to less questions and less confusion for you audience. 4) Bio Insert your condensed mission statement. Provide information on your brand’s purpose. Let your audience clearly know the purpose for your business. If you have space available in your bio section create a call to action for your audience to actually want to click on the URL you posted. We will cover call in actions more in detail in webinar #4. A call to action is an instruction to your audience to provoke an immediate response, usually a verb such as “call now, find out more, visit our store today, click here to start shopping, join our workshop today”. 5) Images Make sure your images clearly reinstate the reason for your brand’s existence. Be consistent with colours and have a set theme. Click HERE to download your free printable worksheet!  The first step to building a six figure empire and even million dollar brand is to create a Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
What is a USP? It's the factor/consideration presented by a a seller as the reason that one product is different from and better than that of the competition. Before you begin to sell you product to anyone else, you have to sell yourself on it. This is especially important when your product is similar to those around you. Very few businesses are one-of-a-kind. Just look around you, how many online clothing boutiques, consignment boutiques, and human hair extensions are truly unique? The key to effective selling is having a "unique selling proposition". Unless you can pinpoint what makes your business unique in a world of homogenous competitors, you cannot target your sale efforts successfully. Businesses offering nothing, nothing unique, no benefit and logical reason for someone to buy, other than hope wrapped in a cheap price, will equate to a failing business. Your USP is the anchor to your brand. What makes your company different from the rest? What sets it apart? What will compel a customer to make a purchase from your business as opposed to from another business? Creating a USP will compensate for higher prices and even an inferior product. Here are some examples of USPs: - Pizza Pizza: Free Pizza if your order is not delivered within 40 minutes - FedEx: Have a packaged delivered overnight Solve a problem, brand it, and the rest is history! Once you have your USP, you can then apply the icing on the cake (branding and marketing)!!!! Need help creating your USP? 1. Uncover the benefits of your product. When starting a business it must always be for the right reason: solving a problem, a want, or a need. What is the greatest benefit of your product(s) that sets it apart from competitors? Distinguish your customer's needs and what they want. 2. Be Unique. When compared to other businesses yours must be able to stand out in a saturated market. What is the logical reason for someone to choose your business over another? 3. Be Specific/Give Evidence Eliminate any skepticism to your business by providing detailed evidence of your business promise. Don't be shy to share customer testimonials, feedback, and results. 4. Keep your USP short, clear, and concise. Paragraphs explaining your differentiations and uniqueness will not quickly get your customers on board. Keep your USP short and sweet. 5. Integrate your USP in all marketing materials. This includes promotional materials, business cards, letterheads, signs, brochures, flyers, your website, email signature, voice mail system, etc. 6. Make your USP real. Your USP must be strong enough to convince people to buy, or even switch businesses. You must capture your audience's attention. You must deliver on what you say and all promises and guarantees you make. Fraudulent USPS will get exposed, ruining your reputation and business.  Giving away gift certificates to use in your store is a simple and fun way to get new customers. Gift certificates are basically coupons on steroids. They're significantly more powerful than coupons for two specific reasons: 1. The quality of the gesture
2. People treat coupons like trash; they treat gift certificates like cash
Why Coupons Don't Always Work People see coupons as a thinly veiled sales pitch. They judge the quality of the coupon based on the quality of the offer: "20% off? oh great... I have to spend money to get a discount off a purchase, who said I even wanted to spend in the first place? People throw away coupons daily. They see no true value in a coupon. It doesn't always intrigue people to spend. If someone gave you a bunch of coupons for your birthday what would you think? How would you feel? I'm sure if someone gave you a gift card for your birthday you would be thrilled and anxious to spend! Giving away gift certificates is a really smart way to acquire customers at a very low cost with little risk! It costs you almost nothing to give away them and may not even cost you anything if they aren't use. You only pay for the customers you actually acquire! Here are some idea on the different ways you can distribute gift certificates:
You may be wondering, what's the right dollar amount for my gift certificates? A good rule of thumb is to make your gift certificates between 25% and 50% of your average sale. Test your market. Try giving away gift certificates for various amounts and compare the redemption rate. Don't assume that the bigger denomination is always better. I've had clients who've tested both $5 and $10 gift certificates, and most clients actually got a better response with the $5 ones.   So you're at your desk thinking, "I don't want to be here at work anymore, I can't wait to run my OWN business. I have a great idea, and I know exactly what type of business I want to start, I just don't have the time." *deep sigh*
I am so SO tired of hearing people say "I don't have time!". There is never going to be the PERFECT time to start your business. Instead of complaining, ranting, and repeating yourself over and over, do something about your situation. Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day. We all CHOOSE how we utilize each day. The result of our choices in life are the result of where we stand today. I understand how busy us female divas can be. I mean, between raising a child, having a job, going to the gym, cooking dinner, grocery shopping, and so on... we are very busy people! However, all of us choose how we utilize each hour, each minute, and each second throughout our days. When you maximize your time, you maximize your wealth. When it comes to starting and running a business, consistency is key. Attach your new business venture with existing activities to start 'killing two birds with one stone'. I'm sure if you have a full time job you have breaks and/or lunch. Start using your lunch time to: read, research, and work on your business. What books can you read that provide knowledge or motivation to you? What can you research, learn, and apply to your business today? Here are a few ways you can maximize your time with current day to day activities:
Those are just a FEW of the many ways you can use to maximize your time. I know that many of you reading this, make appointments to maintain yourself (hair, nails, skin, etc). Why can't you schedule in time daily to work on building your future? Do you have a daily planner or notepad you use to keep track of tasks? If you haven't yet already, download our FREE daily printable. If you're reading this blog post, you're already maximizing your time. Continue by choosing a topic that interests you. Do you want to learn SEO to drive more traffic to your website? Do you want to register your business but don't know which business structure to choose? Do you want to grow your clothing website by adding apparel from new vendors? Grab a pen right now, and jot down what you want to learn today and throughout the week. Go to the library to rent a book, buy a book, use Google to research topics, sign up for online training course, signup for webinars, join online forums, attend networking events... do SOMETHING, whatever it takes to start or grow your business TODAY. The more knowledge you consume, the wiser you become, and the closer your get towards living your dreams. You are all destined for greater, and by the hard work you put in, YOU WILL SUCCEED. Chant it with me "This day is my day. I am in control and there is nothing that will overwhelm me. God has give me all that I need, this day, to accomplish what is set before me". Now get started divas!  How do you expect your business to grow if you're not putting in work?
When was the last time you read a book pertaining to your field of business? When was the last time you enrolled in an online course? HAVE YOU EVEN DONE ANY OF THE ABOVE????? Did you know that 80% of new businesses fail within their first year of operating. Investing in your business is the most crucial thing you can do to expand growth. How do you expect to master the trades of your field if you don't even know the trade? In order to master something, you must first learn and understand it. Stop wasting your time doing absolutely nothing! Go from overlooked to overbooked by investing in yourself today! Join our 4 week branding boot camp. This online course includes weekly homework assignments, action plans, webinar lessons, and work guides to lift your business off the ground! Space is limited. Reserve your seat 👉 Invest In Your Business! 👈  Over the past few weeks we've been reviewing a lot of businesses, for those who purchased the business audit and strategic plan (If you haven't had your business audited yet, you can still request one - Just click here).
The most common reasons why your business may be failing: 1. You start your business for the wrong reasons. What's the main reason why you're starting or want to start a business? Is it solely for money? Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you have a BETTER product or service than the ones currently out? Do you bring something unique to the market? Most small businesses fail because business owner are only focusing on the money. Money means a lot, YES of course, but money should not be the sole reason for running a business. If you have no passion for the business you are trying to run, you will not get far. Why are you going to want to go out of your way to do things for your business if you have no interest in it? Furthermore, why should PEOPLE pay for your product/service if you don't even like or care for it. Online clothing store and hair extension boutiques seem to be the the most popular business people want to run these days. Are you jumping on a bandwagon? Do you just want the title of a business owner or do you actually want to build an empire? 2. Poor Management. New business owners frequently lack relevant business and management expertise in areas such as finance, purchasing, selling, production, and hiring and managing employees. Unless they recognize what they don't do well, and seek help, business owners may soon face disaster. Most business owners are finally realizing how important it is to stay educated in their field of business and invest in online coaching. 3. Lack of Planning. Anyone who has ever been in charge of a successful major event knows that were it not for their careful, methodical, strategic planning -- and hard work -- success would not have followed. The same could be said of most business successes. It is critical for all businesses to have a business plan or some type of outline to organize business goals and plans. Many small businesses fail because of fundamental shortcomings in their business planning. Most bankers request a business plan if you are seeking to secure addition capital for your company. 4. No website. In the U.S. alone, the number of internet users (approximately 77 percent of the population) and e-commerce sales ($165.4 billion in 2010, according to the US Department of Commerce) continue to rise and are expected to increase with each passing year. Social media apps are great for gaining customer customer engagement and creating brand awareness, however you can't receive payment via such apps. I website is critical to not only maintaining payment and sales, but also to maintain professionalism. 5. Failure to market online. If you're not marketing online, you're not selling as much as you could be. According to Invesp, 80% of Internet users have used the Internet to make a purchase. Additionally, 81% of Internet users research products online before making a purchase. In order for your business to thrive, your business must be visible to consumers doing their online research and shopping. SEO work, social media marketing, and cross-selling between all communication channels are all absolutely crucial to increasing online visibility. 6. Failing to track and measure your marketing efforts. Web analytic tools can provide you with valuable market research and insight. Use Google Analytics to see which activities generate traffic to your business, which campaigns generate the most income, locate which countries your visitors or from, how long visitors stay on your website, which page on your website generates the most visitors, and so much more! Being able to measure your online business in action allows you to improve user experience, discover trends among your customers, and boost your numbers. 7. Failing to listen to your customers. Give your customers an easy and immediate way to interact with you online. They can give you feedback about your product, pricing, and business practices. In turn, you give them a "chat level" of response that can turn into an ongoing relationship. Your quick and helpful responses to your customers' feedback and reviews will impress both your current customers and potential customers--those who are looking into online reviews to determine if they want to use your business. By eliminating these seven risk factors, you're well on your way to success without falling victim to the intimidating 80% fail rate of small businesses in their first year of operation. Have you experienced any of these practices in your own business? How did you resolve them?  1. Write a Note - Customers love personalization and customization. Nobody wants to be treated as ordinary. Go the extra mile and spend the extra time to distribute personal thank you cards to customers.
2. Share facts/tips - Use blogs, posts, pod-casts, webinars, coaching, etc to share important and valuable information with your customers. Be the 'go to' person for quick facts/tips. Build trust and creditable by showing your customers you are an expertise in a niche market. 3.Send a gift - Send free gift cards, flyers, cookies, etc to your customers. Be creative and do research to find out what your customers interests are. 4. Offer a surprise upgrade - Pick a few orders and add extra items or services to their order. Did one of your customers choose the cheapest service you offer? Upgrade their service free of charge. 5. Honor an Achievement - Do you sell fitness clothes? Are you a make up artist? Celebrate a client who recently reached their fitness goal or a client who recently passed a cosmetology exam. 6. Celebrate a Major Milestone - Have you reached a certain amount of followers? Hit a large number of page views. Celebrate with the public! Let customers know you appreciate their support.  (This image is not our property. Image from:http://ffffound.com/image/b6a787a5ce1393d9930ee3f5082bf5e274b87b49) When you think about your brand, you really want to think about your entire customer experience…everything from your logo, your website, your social media experiences, your invoices, etc. Your brand is basically the theme of your business. Its what sets you apart from others and what makes you stand out.
It's essential to have a plan to create the brand experience you want to give for your business. A good brand doesn't just happen… it is a well thought out and strategic plan. Ok divas, so now you know what a brand is. Now you may be wondering why branding is so important. Well, here's why: Branding promotes recognition. People tend to do business with companies they are familiar with. If your branding is consistent and easy to recognize, it can help people feel more at ease purchasing your products or services. Your brand also helps set you apart from the competition. How do you stand out from the thousands or millions of similar businesses around the world? Your brand tells people about your business DNA. Your full brand experience, from the visual elements like the logo to the way that your phones are answered, tell your customer about the kind of company that you are. Are all of these points of entry telling the right story? Your brand provides motivation and direction for your staff. A clear brand strategy provides the clarity that your staff needs to be successful. It tells them how to act, how to win, and how to meet the organization's goals. A strong brand generates referrals. People love to tell others about the brands they like. People wear brands, eat brands, listen to brands, and they’re constantly telling others about the brands they love. On the flip side, you can’t tell someone about a brand you can’t remember. A strong brand is critical to generating referrals or viral traffic. A strong brand helps customers know what to expect. A brand that is consistent and clear puts the customer at ease, because they know exactly what to expect each and every time they experience the brand. Your brand represents you and your promise to your customer. It is important to remember that your brand represents you…you are the brand, your staff is the brand, your marketing materials are the brand. What do they say about you, and what do they say about what you’re going to deliver (promise) to the customer? Your brand helps you create clarity and stay focused. It’s very easy to wander around from idea to idea with nothing to guide you…it doesn't take long to be a long way from your original goals or plans. A clear brand strategy helps you stay focused on your mission and vision as an organization. Your brand can help you be strategic and will guide your marketing efforts saving time and money. Your brand helps you connect with your customers emotionally. A good brand connects with people at an emotional level, they feel good when they buy the brand. Purchasing is an emotional experience and having a strong brand helps people feel good at an emotional level when they engage with the company. A strong brand provides your business value. A strong brand will provide value to your organization well beyond your physical assets. Think about the brands that you purchase from (Coca-Cola, Wrangler, Apple, Ford, Chick-Fil-A, QuikTrip)… are these companies really worth their equipment, their products, their warehouses, or factories? No, these companies are worth much more than their physical assets…their brand has created a value that far exceeds their physical value. The best branding is built on a strong idea… an idea that you and your staff can hold on to, can commit to, and can deliver upon. Your brand needs to permeate your entire organization. When your organization is clear on the brand and can deliver on the promise of the brand, you will see tremendous fruit while building brand loyalty among your customer base. If you need assistance creating your brand from scratch, download the 'Recipe to Creating a Bangin Brand'.  So you have a bunch of subscribers who signed up for your newsletter, now what? Now you need to turn the list of email subscribers you have into buyers! What good is a list of emails if you don't know how to utilize them. Try these free tips to turn email subscribers into buyers:
 1. Focus on a specific product/service
Sometimes simplicity is key. Instead of trying to please everyone, try to focus on a specific audience. Create a community for your customers. Offer less products/services on your homepage with a detailed description describing them. List your other products/services in your main store page. Many companies find a rise in sales when they offer less skues/variations. Have you ever been to a wing joint that had wayy too many options and felt overwhelmed to choose a flavor? Put yourself in the position of your clients? How would you feel if you were a client viewing all the products/services your company offers. Remember that clients love options, but remember to simply things when you can. 2. Reposition your newsletter and build a bigger list of loyal subscribers Your 'newsletter signup' is your tool for gathering your client's email address which allows you to reach out to subscribers, build relationships, and sell your products/services. Where your 'newsletter signup' appears on your website can have a huge impact on the amount of subscribers you attract. Test out different areas of your website by changing the location of where your 'newsletter signup'. Try the top right corner of your homepage (this is where visitor's eyes are often drawn to first). Rather than using the traditional 'sign up for our newsletter', try offering free tips and advice to your customers (ie. styling tips, gardening tips, weekly facts, different ways to use a product, etc). 3. Rewrite your header and website copywritting Your header is often the first thing visitors see on your website. Your header must immediately grab their attention and compel them to stay on your site. Your header should highlight a problem your target audience faces and the solution your business solves. Don't just tell your visitors what your product is, tell them what is can do for them. #1 Tip: Don't just sell a product, sell the solution your product solves. Example: Before: Buy our new stylish ripped jeans. After: Feel your most comfortable while looking your sexiest! Stylish ripped jeans now in stock! Edit all your product descriptions and website copywrite. Remember to keep your client's wants/needs in mind. Tap into their feelings. Make them feel the need to have your product/services. 4. Focus on your visitors-not yourself The most successful sales pitch focuses on the client and not the company. Think about what you would like to read if you were the customer. Use more "YOU's" and less "I's" or "WEs". Your customers don't care as much as you do about your company. Make it a company goal to focus on your customers emotions as much as possible. Drill down into their head and figure out what they want and need. 5. Convince customers that they need to buy now! Why would customers rush to make a purchase when the item will always be available on your website? Instill a sense of urgency in your visitors by: offering a limited time discount price, giving away bonuses if they buy within a certain time frame, or try offering a limited available quantity. |
