With the worldwide reach of the Internet, what often gets forgotten is growing locally. The politicians had it right with that famous saying that “all politics is local.” It doesn’t matter how they rank nationally; politicians need their hometown votes to stay in office. That logic makes sense for most businesses, too. Local clients and customers tend to be the most loyal, because they know you personally.

Since the inception of the Internet, every year there are more people on line searching for the product or the service they need. More than ever, their focus is local, right down to getting directions from Mapquest.com or using a Google map to find their way to the most conveniently located source.

To make your business stand out locally, include your business name, location, zip code and hours in all Internet directories. Key search words are important, but so is letting consumers in your immediate vicinity know that you are right next door.

To make it personal, get personal by inviting individuals and organizations to meet with you. Go to individuals and organizations within a 25-mile radius to meet with them. It works.

6 Smart Ways to Think Local and Grow Your Business Fast

1. Get your business listed free. There are several Internet search engines that provide opportunities to set up free listing accounts. There may be a company 1,000 miles away or overseas that offers what you do, but listing yourself as the closest local provider makes you the convenient choice. Here are a few places to start in setting up free accounts: Google Local at http://www.google.com/local/add/login?hl=en_US, Yahoo Local at http://listings.local.yahoo.com and YellowPages.com at http://www.yellowpages.com/sp/contact/update.jsp.

2. Follow the 25-mile rule. Get out a local map and draw a circle around a 25-mile radius from your front door. Target local consumers and businesses within that 25-mile radius that are your potential customers. Visit a local Chamber of Commerce directory on line to hone your search. Get out there in your local area some afternoon and look for businesses that don’t belong with the local Chamber of Commerce. Instead of spending huge sums on direct mail that might bring you only a very limited return, invest in a targeted direct mail campaign focusing on those 10 to 100 potential customers within the 25-mile radius.

3. Host an event. Using the names and addresses of potential customers inside your 25-mile radius, create an invitation list to an event that will allow potential customers to meet you personally. Offer a free gift or service as an incentive. If you are a solo entrepreneur with limited or no space (and limited funds), partner up with another business or even a nonprofit organization to co-host an event. Both you and your partner should give away a freebie so that there are plenty of incentives for your affair. To get some ideas, look in your local paper for local happenings. Circle those that are co-hosted by similar and also dissimilar organizations for ideas.

4. Follow up. Send personalized thank-you notes to those who attend your event, and include a flier describing your services. Include a special offer of a personal invitation or an opportunity to subscribe free to your newsletter that will get their attention. Your personal touch tells your future clients that you are willing to get personal to meet their needs. For a smart guide to how to write business thank-you letters, go to http://www.ehow.com/how_1378_write-business-thank.html.

5. Get out there! Set aside one afternoon or morning each week to meet with potential clients (and partners for future events). Search your local newspaper or http://www.craigslist..org for local events, and show up in person to say hello. Offer to be a guest speaker, and choose a general-interest topic that will sell yourself first, and then your product or service.

6. Participate. Join a nonprofit group for a good cause, and bring plenty of business cards with you. Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, and include your business title and business name. More than 90 percent of all businesses are small businesses. Your perspective on small businesses is important, because your perspective is personal. For smart tips on writing letters to the editor from the Humane Society of the United States, go to http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/citizen_lobbyist_center/lobbying_101/tips_on_writing_letters_to_the_editor.html.

Because the Internet has brought untold convenience and immediacy to our lives, growing locally by using the Internet, so that our local, hometown resources can find us is a great way to market yourself virtually.

About the Author

Ruth Klein is an award-winning business owner, best-selling author and marketing and time management consultant whose clients range from solo entrepreneurs to the Fortune 500. Sign up to receive Ruth’s 7 Part Mini-Course on Branding and Productivity. http://tinyurl.com/25tqo5

“How to…” are two words that end up in search engines quite frequently. The Internet is 100 percent information transmission — someone has something to share, and others have things they want to gain. The how-to phenomenon exemplifies this dynamic like few other events can. People no longer have to go out to the store to get a book on car maintenance or pot roast recipes — they just hop online and grab the information for free.

Ah, but that’s not to say there’s no money in how-tos. How-to celebs like Kimberly Clayton Blaine and Michelle Phan have made substantial headway in the world of how-to videos, with their once quiet video sites gaining major cooperation from organizations like Lancôme and Yahoo! as a result of their rapidly-growing popularity.

But what exactly makes a good, solid how-to video? What parts need to be included in a proper series in order to encourage people to keep coming back for view after view?

Part 1: Choose a Topic People Care About

It might seem like a given, but a lot of marketers seem to forget that people have emotions and minds of their own, and they can tell when someone isn’t giving their all. Someone who is obviously “phoning in” a performance is likely to get dismissed out of hand compared to someone who obviously is knowledgeable and passionate about their chosen topic.

There are a lot of ways for a presenter to show they care about a topic. Great how-to artists — and when done well, it truly is an art — like to diverge from the main discussion to give a very short aside, such as a recipe specialist sharing an anecdote about mixing up salt and sugar in an icing recipe. Others might offer tips about how to circumvent official channels for acquiring supplies and share knowledge about secondary, less expensive sources. In short, the great ones don’t just share the hard details, they also behind-the-scenes information to help spark their audience’s interest.

Part 2: Ensure Purity of Purpose

That said, small asides that showcase personal interest in the topic are good, but the stress must be on “small” or short. The average attention span of most web users is not terrifically long — there’s so much to see, do and learn, so a how-to video must capture interest and hold it without fail for the duration. Thus, make sure that every element included in the video is absolutely necessary to the message being conveyed and/or to capturing the audience’s hearts and minds.

If a small aside illustrates a more personal interest and helps the viewer connect, great — keep that in. If, on the other hand, it’s just kind of funny, nix it. Focus on the details and make sure that everything in the video is bent to the task of fulfilling the how-to process. Always remember that the viewer is present for a reason: to learn what information is available.

Part 3: Allow for Style

Each person has his or her own style, without question. Style is a complicated thing: It’s composed of accent, pattern of speaking, physical mannerisms, personal attire and more. Does the presenter actually show up in the video, or does the video conceal his or her face? Is the video shot in real time, edited for sectional content or does it use a stop-motion process so that the presenter is never visible throughout?

No one style is appropriate to every venue, and styles can be stretched to odd degrees. One might find it odd to adopt an exceptionally formal tone when presenting a how-to on baked beans and cornbread. On the other hand, this kind of style might be exaggerated for comedic effect, and this human element of irony might keep the viewers coming back. In short, don’t be afraid to experiment with a few different styles, possibly under alternative accounts, until finding one that works.

Step 4: Take the Time Needed; No More and No Less

YouTube is a popular venue for video how-tos, for obvious reasons. The default length for most videos is 10 minutes, which provides a reasonable benchmark for simpler how-to guides. It also has become a benchmark for video tolerance in general simply because of the sheer number of users growing accustomed to videos based around this length. That said, YouTube recently increased its maximum video length to 15 minutes, so be sure to keep an eye on viewers’ habits.

Indeed, the issue of time can be a bit tricky for a how-to. Ideally, unless the procedure is a particularly long one, the how-to should be kept to a single video. This may mean taking multiple shoots to see how various treatment lengths work for the project. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to let the video expand to several “episodes” if the how-to in question is large enough. Something as complicated and involved as building a backyard deck can reasonably be expected to require several videos to encompass.

Step 5: Cross Promote

The currency of the web is reputation. If people think poorly of a site, it gets poor views. Having a good attitude and a cooperative spirit is often the best way to get a good promotion off the ground, and this includes how-to videos.

For example, a site might consider promoting a fellow though unaffiliated how-to expert if their videos cover a gap in the site’s own knowledge. A cooking site whose patrons ask about a type of cooking none of the site’s staff specialize in could refer them to a colleague who just happens to know what he’s talking about. Additionally, one might promote webzines and non-how-to sites that cover similar topics.

About the Author

Enzo F. Cesario is an online brand specialist and co-founder of Brandsplat, a digital content agency. Brandsplat creates blogs, articles, videos and social media in the “voice” of our client’s brand. It makes sites more findable and brands more recognizable. For the free Brandcasting Report go to Brandsplat.com or visit our blog at http://www.ibrandcasting.com

When folks learn what I do for work they often ask me the same thing, “What’s the best way to obtain new clients?”

That’s not an easy question to answer. There’s no one answer. Whole books have been penned on that topic. It’s dependant on the type of practice you have, where you’re located, where you’re trying to take your firm, and of course, your character. Each firm needs to craft a marketing scheme appropriate to the talents of it’s people but I’ll give you a short, generic, abstract to kick-start you.

There’s almost no immediate benefit to networking, but get started on it right out of the gates anyway.

Networking may be the life’s blood of any successful firm, but it’s a long term strategy. Take the time to cultivate prospects. At first the time will feel wasted. It will likely seem to be frustrating and senseless at the start, but as the years pass and quality prospects start contacting you you’ll be glad you did it. The most thoughtful, wisest business people rely on networking to find their accountants. Period.

In the meantime there are a lot of rank and file clients to be had, but there are also a lot of accountants competing for them. When you first get started these people will form the bulk of your client base. These clients are what used to be called “walk-ins”.

Ten years ago direct marketing was very effective, but times have changed. Direct marketing is pretty much useless these days. You could track down recent business licenses in your area and try to contact the owners by phone. For many years I made a a good living out of this strategy. It just doesn’t work any more, though. I don’t recommend it.

Get yourself some business cards (with web address and tag line) and network your butt off. Give them to everyone. And don’t forget the tag line. Every time you hand someone your card give them a reason to visit your site. Don’t be shy. Get cards. Just ask for them. Get phone numbers and email addresses. Once you have them, cultivate them. Sign them up for your newsletter. Send them an Email wishing them a happy thanksgiving.

In my admittedly biased opinion the internet is one of the best sources of clients. Get a good website and a monthly email newsletter. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a lot of work and very slow and expensive, but it’s also an AWESOME prospect magnet. For the long term it’s worth investing in. For short term just buy ad space on Google using Google Adwords. Also, get your business on Google Maps and optimize your site for Google Places (Local search). This will probably also require some investment on your part, but local search is a let cheaper and easier to get a good ranking in than old-school SEO. Expect a one-time cost of about $500.

So how can websites help accountants network?

The basic strategy of networking is to identify a prospects need, then to offer a solution to fill that need. It’s all about demonstrating the benefit of your service to the prospect. As an accountant you’re in a unique position to offer solutions to problems that really matter to people. Perhaps they’re buying or selling a house. Maybe they’re saving for their children’s education, or retirement, or maybe they’re not certain if they should buy or lease an expensive piece of equipment for their business.

Don’t misunderstand the purpose of this kind of marketing. Prospects will almost never be so impressed with that value that they’ll fire their CPA and hire you right there on the spot. It won’t rack up billable hours for your firm. Networking is a long term marketing strategy. The goal of your networking efforts is to demonstrate your value to the prospect. You’re trying to put your brand in front of the prospect and keep it there so that in a year, or two, or five; when the prospect is ready to switch accountants; yours will be the first name they think of.

A well designed accountant’s website can significantly impact your networking power. Online financial calculators and a libraray of financial articles will bring visitors back to your website over and over. As we’ve already established, when networking your job is to figure out what that persons needs are and demonstrate your value by presenting a solution. Your website can help with that. Next time you hand a prospect your business card you can offer a solution that takes them to your website, complete with your brand at the top of the page and your phone number at the bottom.

Learn the art of the Tag Line. Nobody is going to call you or even visit your website unless you give them a compelling reason to.

These “walk-ins” will pretty much take care of themselves if you do a good job setting up your website. Just pop into your adwords account from time to time and make sure you’re not getting outbid by too many competitors.

It’s time to get busy networking again.

Learn to use online social networks too. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook…

Then network your butt off. Everyone is a potential prospect. Parents, friends, vendors, everyone. Be careful not to judge prospects. That’s a trap. Nobody is too poor for a business card. In 5 or 6 years they may well be standing someplace very different.

About the Author

Brian O’Connell is the CEO and founder of CPA Site Solutions, one of the country’s leading web design companies dedicated entirely to websites for accountants. His firm presently provides websites for more than 4000 CPA, accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation firms.

“9 Highly Effective Spa Marketing and Salon Marketing Tips!”

Spa and Salon Marketing & Advertising Strategies

Here are 9 low-cost but highly effective spa and salon marketing tips to help you boost your sales and profits fast.

Tip 1: Look for some low-cost ways you can strengthen the perceived value of your spa products or treatments. You can easily do this by adding in other treatments and products by packaging your offers. Then test raising your price. Don’t be surprised if both your sales and your profit margin go up!

Tip 2: Try to limit your customer’s decision making to either “Yes. I’ll buy.” or “No. I won’t buy.” Don’t risk losing them by including “which one” decisions. The more options you offer the client, the more likely some customers will procrastinate and never make the decision… causing you to lose a sale needlessly.

Tip 3: You can demonstrate a low cost for your salon products or hair services by breaking down the price to its lowest time increment. For example, “Enjoy all of this for less than 90 cents a day” (for something priced at $325 a year like your salon membership program).

Tip 4: Add an unanticipated bonus to every sales transaction just before completing the sale. It prevents customers from developing any last minute hesitation… and changing their minds about buying.

Tip 5: Print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your local targeted area. Postcards are dog cheap and easy to use. Most recipients who ignore other types of advertising will read a brief ad when it’s delivered to them via a postcard.

Tip 6: Prospects who ask questions are typically close to buying. Take advantage of this. Don’t just answer their question. Include a reason for them to buy your spa treatments as part of your answer. Then ask for the sale… or tell them exactly what to do to place their order. i.e. “We accept Visa, MasterCard, Amex or cash, which would you prefer?”

Tip 7: Collect testimonials from your clients and use them in all your spa marketing efforts. Testimonials provide grounds that your spa products or treatments deliver the results you promise. For maximum impact, use only testimonials that describe specific results the customer enjoyed.

Tip 8: Include “benefit rich” headlines on all your salon marketing material including your website! Many visitors arrive at a web page then immediately click away… unless something instantly catches their attention and keeps them from leaving. A headline accomplishes this!

Tip 9: Continually test and evaluate everything you use or do to promote your spa business and salon. Allocate 80 percent of your spa marketing budget to proven promotions. Use the other 20 percent for testing new variations. Most salon businesses using this system continue growing – even in highly competitive markets.

Bonus Tip: Handle client complaints quickly and with a positive attitude. Strive to preserve your relationship with them instead of your immediate profit from the transaction. They will reward you with repeat sales and referrals… instead of punishing you by telling everybody they know about their unhappy experience using your day spa or salon and causing you to lose future clients.

Each of these spa marketing and salon marketing tips provides a simple, low-cost way for you to boost your sales and profits quickly. All you have to do is take ACTION!

Dedicated To Multiplying Your Revenues…

About the Author

Since 1994, John Uhrig has successfully used the Internet to effectively convey and market information. Recently, John decided to create a beauty salon, day spa & salon marketing system where he shares his experience and information for proper marketing. This System can be found at: http://www.spamarketing.ca

Today there are many eco-friendly options for trade show stands. Exhibitors across the U.S. and even the world are leaning toward making their trade show exhibits more ‘green’ out of a personal desire to do so. There are a variety of environmentally-conscious event giveaway options on the market, as well as other ways that exhibit staff can reduce their impact on the environment. Now, it’s easier than ever to hold trade events without feeling guilty about the materials used to produce them.

General Eco-Friendly Trade Booth Ideas

Broadly speaking, the best way to limit one’s impact on the environment is to reduce the amount of materials used and choose materials that are renewable and reusable. Staffers at trade show stands should keep these basic principles in mind. Reduce the amount of paper used. This can be done by printing on both sides of the sheet and by printing on recycled paper. Use LED lighting to illuminate the trade show exhibits. Consolidate your drayage to be shipped in as little shipments as possible, since shipping weight and costs make up the large majority of each exhibitor’s carbon footprint.

Green Giveaway Suggestions Consider unique giveaway ideas at trade show stands that have little impact on the environment. What about little plants or seedlings in a pot with your company’s name on it? Every time someone sees it in their garden or on their desk, they will think of your company. You also might offer t-shirts made out of bamboo, or organic cotton and even reusable bags with your name or logo on it. Instead of the plastic bags traditionally given out, these bags will be able to be used time and time again, and they will serve as constant visual reminders of your business. Promotional flash drives encourage less paper use and are a very handy gadget.

Your company also might consider giving out reusable plastic water bottles (also emblazoned with the company’s logo, of course). Encourage attendees to get out of the habit of using regular bottled water and wasting huge volumes of plastic. Portable reusable water bottles not only constantly remind the attendee at trade show stands of your company, but other people in their vicinity at work or play will see their water bottle with your logo on it as well.

More Green Ideas

There are other simple ways to reduce your impact on the environment at trade show exhibits. Pack drayage in as little material as possible while still ensuring the products arrive safely and unbroken. Reuse the Styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap to pack things up after the show, or offer it to other companies who could use it. Consider stacking empty product boxes to use as exhibit tables – why shell out for a different exhibit table? If your company offers a product that is reusable, try stacking a pile of disposable ones somewhere in your exhibit to demonstrate how much waste will be avoided by switching to the renewable alternative.

Staff at these events should follow these tips for running greener trade show exhibits that have less of an impact on the world around us.

About the Author

Chris Harmen writes for the specialists in New York trade show stands, Skyline. For the best in trade show exhibits, New York Skyline offers quality rentals, refurbishing, supplies, accessories, and more.

Have you branded yourself? No, I am not referring to how the farmers brand their livestock. That would hurt. My skin in not that tough.

I am referring to, if someone googles your name, do you get lots of sites showing up, or are you a missing link?

Google Barb Ross and see what you get? It’s not a lot of stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised at the results.

To brand yourself, you need to always use the same name. Don’t make up a different nickname for each site you join. Try to keep it the same. If that’s not always possible, then try and keep your second name the same when you need to use it.

Then add a picture of yourself. Put your pictures on all the adds you use that allows it. Make up your own splash pages so you can have your picture showing.

Eventually people are going to see your picture and your name and say, “Wow!!! I have seen him/her somewhere else. I remember a site I joined that they were promoting that I really liked.”

People have to gain a trust in you and therefore will trust what you promote.

Make a blog about you. Put your picture on it. Talk about your family, your hobbies, let them know you are human. Not some robot just shooting out ads about any old site.

You can put some of your favorites on your blog. Just don’t fill it up with lots of business sites. It will loose it’s meaning of being about you.

Think about how it is when you are seeing sites. How do you feel when you start seeing the same person over and over again. Do they gain your interest?

Online marketing is a tricky business. We never really get to know the real person behind the ad. By branding yourself, you have given them some information on yourself that maybe others aren’t.

Barb Ross

About the Author

I am busy with quite a few different things these days. Getting so well known on the internet that people are asking for my help. I have found a forum that has really helped me get the word out and make money doing surveys at the same time. For more helpful hints, visit my blog.

Your business cards and print letterheads are the very tools that help you make a good impression for your identity. They are the first tools that will help you build lasting relationships with your clients who will keep you growing and successful in your business. With a little imagination and creativity, you can turn your regular business cards and letterhead printing into effective marketing tools that can keep the mill running no matter the economic environment.

Here’s how:

Identify and establish your identity. This is an essential process if you want to be known in your industry. You have to determine and identify what image you would want to be known by your target clients and customers. Use your graphics and copy in your business cards and print letterheads to show your prospects and clients who you are. As these customized stationery will go with your other marketing tools, keep them as clean and as consistent to your overall theme always.

Consider a “logoless logo”. One expert marketer suggests that if you don’t have the budget to design a custom logo for your business, try doing your logo the logolesss way. This can be done by combining two simple clip arts or graphic images to form one logo symbol. Just remember to choose images that identify well with the message you would want to put across your target readers. The wrong clip art can give a different meaning that might create a bad impression for your business.

Always feature the benefits. Taglines and slogans are standards in limited spaces such as that in your business card and letterhead printing. A simple statement that explains what you do and how your business can benefit your target clients can go a long way in keeping your marketing tools working hard even after the first contact is established.

Turn your marketing tools into a mini version of your brochure. Just include a headline and brief text on what you do exactly, in addition to your basic contact information. And you will already have a marketing tool that not only introduces you to your target clients, but also provides them with information to encourage them to take your offer.

Use your marketing tools to break down the stranger barrier. Of course, this is the first time that your target clients would ever hear of you. It’s not surprising that a barrier would be visible when you approach your target clients. Your business card and letterhead printing alone would not be enough to break down the barrier. A personal letter or telephone call can make it easy for your target clients to accept you by the time your marketing tool gets into their hands.

With these tips, you can have a smart marketing strategy that would help you provide a memorable identity for a very long time.

About the Author

Visit this site to know more about letterhead printing and print letterheads

Builders and Contractors are you doing anything different in these hard times to increase your business? Or are you doing the same ole same ole? There is an old saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Is that you?

What I’m trying to say is the old ways no longer work. In by gone days all a contractor had to do was give the customer good quality and good service and he/she would be set. Then set back and let your customers do your selling for you. They would tell a friend and then that friend would tell a friend. Your phone would be ringing off the hook. I remember as an Architectural designer some days I would have up to four people wanting to schedule appointments for designs. That was the good ole days. But now!

There are problems. Most of us in the construction industry we’re not prepared for what happened. We never marketed ourselves,
never had to. So what do we do. Answer: start by doing the basics. Below are a few simple but powerful must does marketing.

*You must Brand your name. That means you have to become known in your town. Think of insurance company’s. There might be
50 insurance company’s in your area but there is always a few that are known by name. Example: “All Davis, State farm” see what I
mean, make your name synonymous with building.

*Become easier to find. “The phone never rings”,boo hoo hoo. Well why would it? Customers don’t mysteriously know who you are
or what you do. If they are looking for your service they will use the internet to find you. You have to have a Website.

*Easy payments. This day and time credit still is king! You have to have the ability to get customers financed or at the very least take credit cards. It is just the way the world does business.

The above are just a few of the things you have to be doing to survive in the building industry. As you can see they are not hard but you do have to take action.

If you would like more tip’s and help you can follow my news letter the Construction Times

About the Author

George Michaels has spent his entire life in the construction industry. He currently is editor of the the Construction Times a weekly ezine dedicated to the help and support to the Building Contractor

Transparency. It has become the norm with social networking and online marketing. We each have our own barometer between too much information and not enough revealed.

Wikipedia states: “transparency in a social context more generally, implies openness, communication, and accountability. It is a metaphorical extension of the meaning a “transparent” object is one that can be seen through.”

Weaving transparency is important for an effective marketing message and branding. How much though is too much? This has been one of the most challenging areas I have wrestled with in social networking.

My training as a therapist has always reinforced the necessity to “remain a blank wall,” allowing the client to create her own picture about me. I always prided myself on sharing as little personal information as possible with my clients unless it benefitted them in some way. My clients knew I deeply cared about them; they just never knew much about me or my personal life.

So here comes social networking. Transparency is the “name of the game.” Well, I was immediately out of my comfort zone because it went against everything I had been doing in my counseling practice. My beliefs were getting in the way of progress.

Professional tenets, began to be questioned. Slowly I experimented with sharing parts of my life. At first I wasn’t sure what to say. That unease was probably reflected in my message.

I continue to explore how much to share about me and my life. My coach continues to encourage me to reveal more. There were suggestions I resisted, but after letting them simmer for awhile I always gave it a shot. I trust her and know she wants the best for me.

Revealing parts about my life was uncomfortable. I felt very vulnerable. I had always been a private person. Connecting to others through social networking was more important to me than firmly holding onto my beliefs. Now was the time to step out of my comfort zone.

Okay, I was ready to do what was necessary. Of course, I made mistakes along the way. Sometimes I can be very opinionated. Other times I was resistant. Using video was one of the biggest hurdles to get past.

There are some people who I feel are way over the top. They share TMI (too much information). This was actually helpful for figuring out what I felt was inappropriate. At an event where Mari Smith spoke she helped me determine the difference between personal and private. Basically if I was not comfortable with something being a headline on the New York Times, then it was private. Okay. I could work with that.

Social networking and your marketing campaign is designed to build relationships. There is value to allowing people to catch a glimpse behind the curtain. Transparency helps to foster the relationship.

People buy from someone they know, like and trust. If I don’t know someone providing a service I need, then I will ask my friends and associates if they know of someone. That feels much more comfortable than picking someone out of a phone book or Google.

In order to reach your ideal client, you must take that first step in creating a relationship. As they know, like and trust you they will begin to see you as a resource and the person to help solve their problem. Isn’t that what you wanted all along?

Activity: So think about where you might be holding yourself back. Do you know why? Is it because it is uncomfortable for you? You feel vulnerable? There is always the possibility someone might disagree with you. I know you will be judged by others. That is just a matter of fact.

About the Author

And now I would like to invite you to claim your FREE E-course “Step Into Your Greatness” available at: => http://mindsetformarketingsuccess.com

Click here to get everything you need and begin clearing the obstacles to the next level of your success.

From Loren Fogelman, the success expert, founder of Mindset for Marketing Success.

You probably know that many personal trainers make the mistake of doing all of the work themselves. That can cause you to lose money and opportunities in building your business.Please pay attention because this is vital…

One night I was at my favorite movie theater watching a great release…

Then, I saw a couple sitting on the far left whispering while I was trying to watch the movie. All of this was bugging me, but I noticed how the woman paid attention to her partner’s every word.

The guy was talking about his life, work, goals, and accomplishments as if he had traveled the world before this night. It was amazing in the beginning, but I never heard the lady say a word. In a way, the guy tried to control the whole conversation without letting her join in with her opinion or personal experiences. Basically he thought the movie and the girl he was with was less important than himself.

Now, I was curious of why the lady just sat there listening to him go on and on about his life. All of this drew me to the fact they met over the internet and were at their first movie together. His problem was the inability to listen to her when she wanted to speak.

With this in mind, how many fitness professionals go on and on about their accomplishments without listening to their clients? The list is utterly ridiculous and your ability to listen is probably the reason your clients quit their programs.

If you want to build your business, you have to listen to your clients. Any personal trainer trying to build a reputation needs to understand what their client wants so they can create programs to do just that. Never take the initiative to change your client – your client has to want the same thing if you want to keep them long-term.

Stop and think about this….

You have to LISTEN to them if you want to make money.

No matter what kind of personal trainer marketing strategies you use. You have to know what’s going on in their minds and hearts or else you will lose their respect.

Build a relationship by providing WHAT THEY WANT.

Then create workout programs to match their goals in a realistic manner.

I have not met one customer that cared about a trainers certifications, degress, or years of experience more important than their ability to focus on their needs. What does your client want to achieve in their workouts? How can you emphasize on that and build a stronger presence in their hearts? The ball is in your court on whether you listen or not.

The 23 year old college graduate wants to hear about her losing her love handles… so you give her compliments once she overcomes each milestone.

The 41 year old entrepreneur wants to know how great his golf swing has improved so you create programs to help his swing improve over time. You have to focus on how he needs to increase his stamina and energy to make more money so he can have more time to focus on his game. Not only will your workouts make his golfing better, but it will also make him a better businessman to build a strong financial future.

Now, what makes you think YOU are the answer to making more money? It’s not you or your personal trainer marketing strategies – it’s your ability to listen to your client’s every need and the ability to try to fulfill it.

All of your clients want to achieve their goals by working with you, but you have to step out of the picture so they can grow into their own level of success.

Just as I mentioned in the beginning, the two at the movies were only a simple example. Imagine how bad it could be for you if you were on that date. If it were your choice, would you go out with that guy again? Or would you choose someone who wants to listen?

About the Author

Steve Hochman is a personal training marketing expert and gives away tons of his proven client getting tips for free. Check out his Personal Trainer Marketing Tips here