Are you a coach, a public speaker, an internet marketer or a small business owner who want to create your own product but just don’t know how to start?

And Much, Much More…

Are you one of those people who say that they don’t judge a book by it’s cover?But are you really being honest with yourself?

How do you act when you meet somebody for the first time?
Do you pay attention to his/her general look? I do!

Do you know that in life and more importantly in business you have only 30 seconds to make the right first impression when you meet somebody for the first time?

Yes, in just 30 seconds people will subconsciously make a decision on whether they want to work with you or not. So make that first contact count.
How you dress influences what people think about you?

Working with small business owners for years in France and for the last four years in New York, and now specializing in networking, I have to say that I am always surprised to see how some people dress for networking events or business meetings.

Those who do not dress in suitable business attire are usually the ones who are surprised that their business doesn’t take off.

How do you act when you buy a product in a store?
Let’s say that you are looking at a printer and you have the choice between two brands. The product inside the boxes has the same exact characteristics. So how do you make your choice? Do you choose the one with the less attractive package or with the most attractive package? Do you choose the one which highlights the characteristics and benefits of buying this product? Or the one which presents the product in a regular, white box without any information?

If you are able to impress them with the way you dress and the way you look, they will pay more attention to what you have to say.

It seems unfair, I know, but remember that you are judged every day, simply on the way you look.

1- Create an image to impress!
Your image is what people see long before you even get the chance to speak. Choose a wardrobe that works for you and your business. But you need to be yourself, don’t try to copy somebody, follow what you see in a magazine, or follow some fashion trends, because if your image doesn’t reflect your personality, people will see it immediately.Don’t try to fake it, be yourself.
Create an image that fits your business. Have the right attitude. Be consistent with your image. The image you reflect, good or bad, has a direct impact on how other perceive your business.
In other words, have a professional look. Respect yourself and others will respect you.

2 – Dress with Confidence When you look your best and act with self-confidence, others will see you that way too.
Keep it simple. Wear traditional colors like blue, grey or black.
Pay attention to your shoes, sloppy shoes can completely damage your image. Choose shoes that improve your silhouette. Make sure to clean your shoes before your leave the house.

Treat your hands like your best friend. When you meet somebody and hand out your business card, people will have a look at your hands. So have neat nails, well polished, if you are a woman and remember to change your nail polish on a regular basis, if you wear some. Never, never go out with your nail polish half effaced.

I read once in a magazine that when a woman dates a man for the first time, the first two things he notices are her hands and her shoes. So consider the same thing for business.

You don’t need to spend lots of money to look great, business-like and confident.
I work with many start-up businesses and very often my clients tell me that since they have a limited budget for their business, how can they possibly have a budget for a new wardrobe.

One of my best clients, who lives in Paris, is an image consultant and a personal shopper and I partner with her to help some of my clients. She is truly incredible, she is able to find a complete outfit with accessories, including a handbag, for less than a $100. And the items are of a very good quality.
Yes, you heard me, for less than a $100. So learn how to shop. Shop during the sales, at the end of the season, or go to outlets. You will find a lot of great deals.

Don’t buy clothes that will go out of style at the end of the season. Buy a few new tops, ties, or accessories that will make the difference. Sometimes just by changing one item from your outfit, you will look totally different. So you don’t need hundreds of clothes. Just learn how to put everything together.
Think of yourself as a brand.

As a small business owner, you spend a lot of time trying to perfect and improve your offering. So treat yourself as your most important product or service. Go back to your marketing plan. How did you brand you product? How can you do the same for yourself? What makes you different? How can your image make an impact compared to your competitors?

Still need help to create your professional image? Learn more about “Power of Networking Secrets”. In this 5 step program, you will find everything you need on how to maximize your networking results. You can read more about it at www.powerofnetworkingsecrets.com

I started my sale career in 1984 as a sale representative for a famous French appliance supply company. For just under two years I managed their booth at the Galleries Lafayette in Paris. That was long time ago and so many things have changed ever since. But that is another story.
 
I started working with absolutely no sales experience. Previously I studied law for two years, but didn’t really liked it so ended up taking the first job I found. No one taught me how to sell, but the brand was so famous that I didn’t really have to work hard. People came to the booth, I explained how the product worked and it sold itself. I had some competition, but because of the brand recognition I was always the one with the biggest sales number. After my first sales job I became a sale representative for an office supplies company. This time I had some sales training. Although, selling pens, pencils, papers or inks is really not complicated.

My clients were corporations; they needed and used supplies every month. I just had to visit them on a regular basis and take the orders. It was so easy that after about a year after I built my clientele, I was working only 4 hours a day, 4 days a week and the money was pouring in.

A few years later even though the money was great, I got bored to being a sales rep. I wanted more responsibility and I wanted to focus on something that interested me. I became the sales manager for a smaller company where I felt I could make a difference. Since this company was smaller and had more competition and didn’t have the extensive advertising budget I had been accustomed to, I had to work harder. Even though I had to work harder, I realized that everywhere I went, people were always telling me the same thing: they liked my style compared to other sales people, because I never tried to push a sale but always advised them on what they should order.

In 1998, I started my own business, this time I was not selling a product, but services – my telemarketing services. I had to find a strategy to show the differences between my services and my competitors.
I kept the same strategy: advise, but never push a sale. This perspective works because customers don’t feel pressured; they know I’m confident and that I’m capable of getting the job done. My job is to promote their businesses. The clients understand I will use the same strategy promoting their products and will get the same results. Clients will buy their products because of the way I was presenting them and not pushing them.

In 2003, I started my second business teaching clients how to grow their businesses by networking and organizing events. Once again, I didn’t have any networking training when I started but I learned how to adapt my previous business strategies to get the same results.

To this day, this is exactly what I do, I advise people instead of selling to people. I teach people how to use proven strategies to attract clients instead of chasing clients. Don’t try to sell your product or service.

Promote your free offer instead. What goes through your mind when you go to a networking event and someone that you just met three minutes ago tries to sell you something; You don’t like it, right! You don’t know the salesman’s reputation, product or service and no one referred him to you. You can’t rely on testimonials about the benefits of his goods or services as you haven’t had time to check. So think about it when you are the one tying to sell to others. It has the same effect, they don’t like it.

On the other hand, if you offer a sample of your services to your new contacts or prospects; if you offer them a free report, free CD, or free consultation, they have time to get to know you and your products: . Who you are, what you do, how you do it. They have time to check your references and decide if your product or service is right for them. They will be very confident with you, or they will refer people to you, because they know you and trust you.

I have 25 year’s ’sales’ experience, but I’ve never liked to sell. I inform, guide and teach people about the products or services I have to offer. I much prefer to have people coming to me to buy my products or services than trying to push them or to beg them to buy my services. The level of relationship is very important; it is crucial.

Once you have set up your free offer, don’t expect people to buy from you the next day. You need a follow-up system to keep in touch with them on a regular basis. You must continue to deliver free advice, for example: articles, free tips on your newsletters to further build the relationship. Show people what you can do for them and people who can use your product or service will begin to purchase within few weeks, or few months but for others it might take a few years. People will buy from you when they will be ready, and when they will need your product or service – They won’t buy just because you want them to buy. If you have a follow-up system in good working order, clients will buy from you instead of from someone who doesn’t communicate with them on a regular basis. Keep your customer base informed over and over. It is your job to keep reminding people about your services and not their job to remember about you and your business. Try it. Promote your free offer to bring people into your marketing funnel, build the relationship and you will attract a lot more clients.

Need help attracting new clients?
Then get a copy of “Power of Networking Secrets”. I’ve outlined each strategy step-by-step, so you too can implement them right away to get results. I’ve included a workbook with an assignment after each strategy, just follow the program one step at a time, so you won’t get lost and will attract more clients.You can get yours at www.powerofnetworkingsecrets.com

(c) 2009 Biba F. Pédron

Attracting new clients in this economy can be a challenge. You need to be creative and change or adapt the way you get those new clients.You heard it before “if you always do the same things, you will always get the same results.

I have a simple, easy to implement strategy you can use to see instant results:

Package your product or service to respond to your market without the obstacle of price. Lots of small business owners struggle to sell their products because they are afraid or unconformable speaking about price. I can relate I was one of them few years ago.

When I started my French consulting business, helping French people start their businesses in the US, at first I didn’t really know how much to charge for my services. I could not price compare because no one else was offering the same service. I decided to start my with a price of $99 based on my assumption that people wouldn’t be willing to pay more. During my consultations, when asked about price, I would shyly state the price of $99, but quickly state that if that was too much, there was still room to negotiate. Surprisingly, even though I thought the price was very low, I was struggling to get clients. Then with the help of one of my coaches, I learned to become more confident. I was a sales person selling other peoples products for years, but for the first time I had to sell my own services and it was a complete different story.

I was offering services that would save them time and money so if I could package my services the value would be understood. And if the value is understood, I have to speak about price. That is exactly what I did and I raised my fees from $99 to $1000 within two years. And today my higher priced package is around $10.000 and I have absolutely no problem to getting clients.

Why?

I know the exact value of my experience and what I can offer my clients. I don’t have to promote my services, my clients are doing it for me. Testimonials have much more value than any ad in a newspaper. Plus I found a way to do consultation without ever mentioning price. I offer a 30-minute free consultation, to study the clients cases, and give them information on what to do and how to do it. During those 30 minutes the new clients get a chance to know more about me and the services I can offer; they can see that I know what I am talking about and that I am their problem solver. In fact, I was in their shoes few years ago – a foreigner staring a business in the US. I worked my way through with success and taught hundreds of people to do the same and I can teach them exactly what to do. At the end of the consultation, when they ask me for my price. I don’t mentioned any number, I just tell them that I will send them a report with all the steps they will need to start their business, including the various packages I offer.

We do not discuss price during the first consultation. If I haven’t heard back after the consultation, I wait a couple of weeks and then call back and ask if they have any questions about the report or additional questions about their business. Once again, I still don’t mention any price. They have already received the offers; they know the cost of my services and are ready to start the process, again because they realize during this free consultation the value of my one-stop-stop service and how much time and money they will save by having me guide them.

If you speak about the price right away, you may lose clients because of the fees, therefore, change the way you present your services. If you offer various packages, your potential clients will always find one that fits their needs. If they don’t have a big budget, they will get the basic package, and if they want more they will take or upgrade to your premium or silver or gold packages.

The most important is to attract them to your funnel, and have various products or services to upsell to bring them to the next level, which means more money for you and more products for them.

Using this strategy, you never have to mention any price, so you can concentrate more on the value that you are providing. If you are passionate about your business, you won’t have any problem explaining the value and the benefit of working with you.

Repackage your products or services and make at least three different offers so that the price will never be an issue again. By using this strategy, I don’t have to take my shy voice, and I don’t negotiate any of my prices anymore. I know about the value of my services, and I am very confident about them. If someone does not see the value, they are not the right client for me. Read my article “The Power of NO to Attract More Clients” to learn how to attract only the right clients for your business, even if you have to say no and refuse clients some time.

To learn more strategies like this one, on How To Turn More Networking Contacts Into Business Boosting Clients In 7 Simple Steps check my program Power of Networking Secrets

Join me on October 26th for a special FREE teleclass, as I will be a guest expert on the EnergyRICH® Expert Panel that ispart of this very special call. So tune in for the words of wisdom I will be sharing during this call.

 

But this is not the truth …

The Truth is this shift is poised for major light. And I’ll tell you how I know this …
It’s always my intention to serve you fully and completely on your path of success and growth for your business and this is why I MUST share this with you …
My good friend and colleague, Heather Dominick – EnergyRICH® Entrepreneur Success and Master Coach, has a very clear answer to what’s currently plaguing the planet – It all comes down to a personal decision. This is the Universal Law of Free Will, the most powerful energetic principles that you can activate at any given time. And Heather has a powerful plan to help you to be able to do this in the most prosperous way. Just imagine …

… completing your very own EnergyRICH® Core Business Building Success Template right on a teleclass! So by the end of the call you walk away VERY clear about what’s missing in your mission and your marketing and how to step into 6-figure (and Beyond) success that’s aligned with who you are and that will have you fast-tracked into modern marketing rather than relying on old-out-dated-past-paradigm marketing methods (so you can prosperously serve the world)
This shift into light is about YOU stepping out and up to be the magnificent person that you are naturally coded to be.

And Heather is going to give you an inner and outer plan that will show you EXACTLY how to do this on her next EnergyRICH®, revolutionary teleclass:
“The ULTIMATE Marketing Plan You Must Have to UNLEASH Your True Money Success in 2010 (and years to come!)”

Date: October 26th
Time: 8.00pm EDT
Reserve Your Seat NOW

I am so confident of the high-value, high-impact information you will receive on this call. In addition to her incredible, inspirational energy Heather is known for her impeccable, easy to understand and implement information. I truly see this as a gift for you and highly recommend that you reserve your spot on this revolutionary interactive-training teleclass now:

It’s time for you to step into your highest self.
It’s time for you to serve those that you are meant to serve.
It’s time for you to receive your most prosperous reward.

Be sure to be on this call that is going to give you the exact foundational formula you need to be able to do this no matter what is happening for anyone else around you.

Your time is now.

AND – I’ll be there, too! I will be a guest expert on the EnergyRICH® Expert Panel that is part of this very special call. So tune in for the words of wisdom I will be sharing during this call.

This is a must be there teleclass. RSVP NOW and See you on this very special, unique call.

Biba Pedron
P.S. I almost forgot, you will also be receiving access to some of the most successful visionaries of today when you register for this call so be sure to reserve your seat. I know this is going to be a “full-house” call:
Reserve Your Seat NOW

The end of the year is at just around corner. Did you reach your goals? Are you on track? There is still time to finish the year successfully.

Planning ahead, taking action, and using systems are 3 easy ways to grow your business by being proactive.

My rule in my business is to work on something new once and then systematize it, not because I am lazy but because then I have more time to work on something else and I am not wasting my time doing the same thing over and over.

In order to systematize, you first need to plan ahead.
What are you everyday tasks? Could you make a list of everythingyou need to do every day and see how you could systematize the process. What are the priority tasks and the secondary tasks? Is there anything on your list that you could simplyremove because it doesn’t bring any positive action to yourday? Is there anything that you could delegate, so you will spend less time on it? Maybe something you are not good at, but somebody else is and will do it in a record time, while you will have more time to concentrate on your business, your marketing or communication plan, your follow-up, yoursales etc…

Delete all tasks that you can eliminate or consolidate, because doing them yourself wont bring anything positive toyou or your business.

Could you plan ahead even before problems arise? Define the problems that you encounter on a regular basis and get thesolution once for all. Ask others if they have the same problems and how they fixed them. As small business owners,we tend to work so much that sometimes we miss the obvioussolution. Don’t shy away from asking for help. Join a mastermind or start your own group, with close friends orother entrepreneurs so you can exchange ideas and solutionson a regular basis.

Prioritize your tasks – For example, use the A-B-C listsystem. A for more very important – needs to be done duringthe day. B for important – needs to be done after the A list is completed. C for less important- do it if you have time or reschedule for tomorrow. Your C list wont bring anyspecific energy to your business, is not related to clients or the bottom line, but needs to be done at some point. See how you can delegate your C list. Always eliminate any task sthat are unnecessary.

Take action – put your new system in place. Then at the end of the week or after a short period of time, check what works and what does not. Make changes, improvements, adapt your system. Evaluate again after a month: How many hoursdid you save in a day? How could you improve it even more? Can you delegate more tasks? How long is your list now? Did you save time to work on a new program or product? Do you have more time to spend with your clients?

Track everything at first, even is this will take you sometime, it is very important and will save you a lot of time in the long run. Get organized. Become a pro at time management.

Systematize everything you can.

Put your website on auto-pilot, use auto-responders to welcome all your new visitors and subscribers. Systematize your newsletter to send it on a weekly basis without spending hours on it. Use software like Act to create automatic tasks, so the only thing you need to do it enter your prospect name the day you meet him or her, the software will do the rest and tell you what to do and whento do it, so a year or two from now, you will still be incontact with this person.

Using these 3 easy strategies will help you to have moredone in a day, so you will be able to concentrate on yourreal goals and get your business to the next level. Don’twait, do it now. Be proactive. Become a successful entrepreneur and skyrocket your business goals!

Check Out Power of Networking Secrets for more strategies

Read more…

One of the biggest mistakes people are making is that they are spending lot of time going to networking events. It’s not the going to events that is the problem; it’s about collecting business cards, getting information, speaking with the right people and then not following up. You’ve got the information, but information doesn’t do anything on it’s own. If you don’t have a follow-up system in place, you are wasting your time by not doing anything about these new contacts.

The only purpose of attending a live event is to get exposure, meet people and build a relationship. If you try to make a sale on the spot you are making a big mistake. You must build a relationship first. You can’t do that if you see people only once and never follow-up with them.

It is the same in marketing, if you send one piece of mail or one postcard and expect people to buy from you immediately, you will be very disappointed. People don’t buy when you want them to buy, they buy when they are ready. And to catch them when they are ready, it is your job to follow-up with them consistently until they take action. It is not their job to remember you when they are ready. If you follow-up consistently you will make a sale, otherwise, your competitor will make the sale.

1. Automate your system to keep in touch on a regular basis with your network;

2. Create a 7 contact follow-up plan. Sending just one email, one brochure or one postcard won’t convert your contacts into clients.

3. Create a series of communication tools. Set up a series of emails that you will send once a week via autoresponders. (I use and recommend 1shoppingcart) and a series of a minimum of 3 postcards to send over a period of maximum 3 months. Use the same design so people will recognize your logo and branding, but don’t send the exact same message. Mention new benefits of your product or service each time. Make sure to emphasize your message on how it will help them to solve their problems.

4. Send greeting cards for special occasions: birthday, holidays, welcome, nice meeting you, etc… You have the choice, any occasion is good to send a greeting card. Even if you don’t find any specific occasion, just send a card to say “Hi”. People appreciate the personal attention. (I use Sendoutcards for the past 4 years and it works for me).

5. Make a personal connection. After you sent various communication tools, don’t hesitate to call your contacts to check if they received your emails or cards. Don’t call to ask them if they are ready to buy but ask how you can help them. Remember you are still building the relationship.

Using those 5 simple, yet effective, strategies you will definitely build relationships and turn your contacts into paying clients instead of chasing clients at networking events, with no result.

If you are one of those who network like crazy but don’t get the results that you are expecting and/or if you don’t have a follow-up system yet, take some time this week to find a way to implement those 5 techniques to your business and reconnect with all of your contacts.

Creating a follow-up system is an integral part of Power of Networking Secrets. You will discover step-by-step how to integrate and customize those simple but effective strategies to your business and to put your follow-up system on auto-pilot, so you will work once, then your system will work for you. You can learn more about Power of Networking Secrets here.