SmartWomanGuides.com » Vicki Flaugher

The Role of Verbal Abuse in Business

Vicki Flaugher — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:12:49 +0000

Verbal abuse is destructive. Verbal abuse in business, or life, or really anywhere, is hurtful. And, it’s debilitating. Allowing someone to degrade you, insult you, demean you (with and/or without physical contact) has long term, insidious impact. It’s certainly not something we’d want to teach our daughters, yet many of us remain in relationships that include this abuse. We feel trapped and we know, deep inside, that it’s not the best way to live.

I have lived through a verbally abusive marriage. I tolerated my husband’s caustic words because I thought I was supposed to accept, tolerate, and endure. My self esteem was very low. I thought I was just supposed to tough it out, turn the other cheek, and ignore the insults. I turned off my emotions and slogged through, doing the best I could to put on a happy face and not stick out too much.

At a certain point, it was all just too much. I had a moment of epiphany that changed everything. And, I got out. It was a long, painful process, but I got out. You can listen here to me describing that epiphany moment if you wish:

Now, I have healed enough to accept my own role in the situation and to make better choices going forward. I don’t blame anyone else. But, as someone who has felt the sting of this issue, I now see examples of it everywhere. And, I am committed to awareness.

Let’s think about the places verbal abuse exists now – why do we allow the media to casually banter about the words stupid, idiot and Nazi? Why do we tell young boys to toughen up and learn to fight back to the bully on the playground? Why do we think that a boss yelling at us is just part of the job? Why do we stifle our dreams because we are told we’re crazy, an unrealistic dreamer, or worse too screwed up to ever follow through on something that important because we’ve never done anything right before.

We tend to look past these every day examples, explaining it as “how it is”. I have seen both sides of this and I can tell you, it’s not how it is. It’s how we choose it to be. We all have the power to begin to ratchet down the histrionics and choose differently – choose more kindly. When we accept our role in pervasive verbal abuse, we can begin to shift away from it. The massive amounts of energy being used to defend and protect ourselves begins to become available for creativity and fun. The change starts with us.

So, next time you write an email subject line like “You’d be crazy not to take this offer” or you decide that fear based marketing “Do it now or you’ll always be a loser” is the best approach, I am asking you to reconsider your technique. The next time you call someone a moron because they don’t agree with your political position, check yourself. Imagine a man calling your daughter an idiot. Imagine her making the choice to tolerate the insults because she saw you participating in that. See it forward and I suspect you will reconsider your need to spew.

Hiding Isn’t Noble – The Importance of PR

Vicki Flaugher — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:08:38 +0000

Some of the most inspiring women in this world have what I call a “hidden light” syndrome. They have so much to give, so much creativity to share, and they don’t let others know about it. They shy away from the spotlight and are hesitant to be out front. They keep their brilliance a secret.

For those of you who are actually introverted, I am not pushing you to change your basic personality. I am classified, per all the psychological personality tests I’ve taken, a gregarious introvert. I know it sounds like a oxymoron, but it’s how I feel. I am able to interact fairly easily with someone once I get to know them, but I get energized being in small groups or by myself. Large crowds don’t work as well for me. I enjoy solitude and quiet time. I am a recovering recluse, too, but that’s a different story. What I mean to emphasize is that being an introvert is not a disease or a mistake. If it’s how you are, fine. Feeling shy or introverted is ok.

But, if you are actually not shy but are playing shy and hiding because of a lack of perspective and self-confidence, I am begging you to stop it today, because, contrary to some social programming, hiding isn’t noble. False humility is not honorable, hiding your gifts does not make you more pure, and pretending that people should simply read your mind and know how fabulous you are is a losing business proposition.

Harsh words, I know. I’m sorry if they pinch. But, let’s come to terms with the difference between arrogance and confidence. You don’t have to go out into the market place and hype yourself all up, making inflated promises, hawking your wares like circus goods. You do have to state, with an aware sense of service, what benefits you provide and how your unique expertise can help your clients.

Yes, there is a fine line between being enthusiastic about what you do and how you do it and pushing too hard with empty promises. That’s the key – the word empty. If you can actually do what you claim to do, it’s not empty. It’s not dishonest so you don’t have to approach it like it’s dirty. The thing to remember is that the more people who know about you, the more your message gets proliferated, the more people you can help. It’s not a popularity contest but rather an opportunity to serve more, to do more good. Good PR is not about satisfying your ego – it’s about reaching people who need you.

How can you help create better PR if you are not yet comfortable with being in the spotlight? Here are some tips:

1. Ask for testimonials from your clients and other professionals.

Let others speak the words that you feel are too egotistical to say yourself. It’s a great way to be in touch with your previous clients, maybe get some referrals, but also to let someone else toot the horn for you. Ask for feedback on your service, your expertise, your creative problem solving, your pricing, your unique offerings. It might surprise you just how powerful reading that feedback will be for you. It’s touching to know that you affect people’s lives and it’s a very effective marketing technique to use on your website, in your newsletter, in your promotional materials.

2. Hire a copywriter.

The best marketing includes keywords, benefits, to the point copy, plus graphical emphasis like bullet points and short, direct sentences. Instead of being hindered by a lack of confidence, a hired gun will have a 3rd person, more objective viewpoint to start with. Most copywriters will work to pull out of you everything they can use to featue you in the best light. Let them. Find someone who understands your vision and where you want to go in your business and let them work their magic with words.

3. Practice.

Sending out press releases or developing a strong introduction ditty (your “elevator speech”) can be a challenge, but it does get easier with practice. Devote some time to learn about promotional strategies, ask your social media network for advice, read some books. For PR opportunities, visit HARO to start offering yourself up as an expert to media. The media is hungry for new points of view and have a 24/7 news cycle to fulfill. Develop a decent PR release using this Press Release Builder template, and just do it. The funny itchy feeling will go away and you will get more business.

Please know that I have every confidence that you deserve to be recogized for your greatness. Hiding just isn’t the answer, so reach out, speak out, and let your light shine! Today, ok?

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me on Twitter: SmartWoman

What Women Did So YOU Can Vote!

Vicki Flaugher — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:58:57 +0000

I received this email from a dear friend and had to share. I am not advocating one candidate over another in this post. I am simply in tearful awe of these women who went before. It’s a strong message, so if you are easily offended by becoming fully aware of the sacrifices women before us made on our behalf so we can vote, then click away now.

This is the story of our Mothers and Grandmothers who lived only 90 years ago.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for

picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.
Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden’s blessing went on a rampage

against the 33 women wrongly convicted of ‘obstructing sidewalk traffic.’

(Lucy Burns)
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above
her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping
for air.

(Dora Lewis)
They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her
head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate,
Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,
beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the ‘Night of Terror’ on Nov. 15, 1917,
when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his
guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because
they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson’s White House for the right
to vote.
For weeks, the women’s only water came from an open pail. Their
food–all of it colorless slop–was infested with worms.

(Alice Paul)
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike,

they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured

liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks

until word was smuggled out to the press.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf
So, refresh my memory. Some women won’t vote this year because-
-why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work?
Our vote doesn’t matter? It’s raining?

(Mrs. Pauline Adams in the prison garb she wore while serving a sixty-day sentence.)

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO’s new
movie ‘Iron Jawed Angels.’ It is a graphic depiction of the battle
these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling
booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

(Miss Edith Ainge, of Jamestown, New York)
All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the
actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote.
Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.
Sometimes it was inconvenient.

(Berthe Arnold, CSU graduate)
My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women’s history,
saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk
about it, she looked angry. She was–with herself. ‘One thought
kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,’ she said.
‘What would those women think of the way I use, or don’t use,
my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just
younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.’ The
right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her ‘all over again.’

HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history,
social studies and government teachers would include the movie in
their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere
else women gather. I realize this isn’t our usual idea of socializing,
but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think
a little shock therapy is in order.

(Conferring over ratification [of the 19th Amendment to the?U.S.?Constitution] at [National Woman's Party] headquarters,

Jackson Pl[ace] [Washington,?D.C.]. L-R Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, Anita Pollitzer, Alice Paul,

Florence Boeckel, Mabel Vernon (standing, right))

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist

to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized.

And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave.

That didn’t make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: ‘Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.’

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by

these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party – remember to vote.

(Helena Hill Weed, Norwalk, Conn. Serving 3 day sentence in D.C. prison for carrying banner,

‘Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.’

Both Canada and the United States have very important elections this year.

Get out and vote !!

Using Feedback To Become A Better Entrepreneur

Vicki Flaugher — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:05:08 +0000

By Vicki Flaugher, CEO of SmartWoman Guides

Last week I had the honor of having SmartWoman Guides critiqued by a high level professional blogger. I will be sharing that audio interview with you very soon, but I wanted to share some of my take-aways from it. It was a little scary, but very helpful.

Much of what was said during my blog critique felt uncomfortable. I was encouraged to take a more prominent position in my niche marketplace, to become a full-fledged voice in the female entrepreneur community. I was, in the language of my beloved mother, encouraged to stop hiding my light under a bushel. Let it shine, he told me, let it shine!

I was also told that my current blogging approach and layout is unlikely to actually accomplish my mission of empowering and facilitating the beginning female entrepreneur. Ouch. My mystery blogger friend said my content is great, but the attention path of my blog is too unfocused to walk a new entrepreneur through an organized learning process. Okay, praising the quality of the content made it sting a little less, but still….ouch.

Am I the only one who squirms when they have to put themselves “out there”? Am I the only one who chooses to hide behind community building rather than become a pronounced leader? Am I the only one who desires something so passionately yet doesn’t relish the idea of being so forward?

The greater question, is this – am I going to let my discomfort stop me from achieving my mission? And, I can say definitely, NO. My website design is already under way, including development of a custom, SmartWoman product series, and I am using what I was told to grow and improve.

What about you? Are you open to honest feedback? When you get it, do you linger in the negative, hurtful side of truth telling, or do you use it to improve? Oh, we all say that we’re open, but do you take action on your newfound insights? Or do you perhaps say that you are going to keep doing what you’re doing, hoping for a different result.

Action is the true litmus test of whether you take feedback and use it effectively. To be able to take action on the feedback you receive, there are a few important things to consider.

First, you need to work with someone you trust as an authority, who is compassionate and respectful. Feedback doesn’t come out of a bashing session. Helpful feedback reflects the upside of what you are doing and highlights ways to improve. Anyone who berates your personality, ridicules your ideas, or fails to recognize and encourage the quality of your efforts and sincerity is not a coach – they’re an abuser and need to be avoided. “No pain, no gain” doesn’t really apply. Sure, you might feel some emotional discomfort because your familiar comfort zones are being examined, but the feedback should not be outright painful.

Second, you need to listen to and trust your own intuition. If the suggestions you’re given don’t quite resonate, try to distill down the essential idea out of the suggested solution and find another way to implement it. Creativity can do wonders if you are open to alternatives. Rejecting a thought out of hand just because the approach isn’t quite how you’d do it shuts down creativity. Strive to respond to new ideas with more of a “That’s interesting…how could I best apply that idea?” mindset.

Third, take action! Use momentum in your favor. A body in motion tends to continue moving, so get moving! Talking and thinking about it must lead to doing. Don’t waste time examining why you didn’t think of that, or how you could have missed something so obvious, or any of that second guessing we all tend to do to ouselves. Take the feedback gift you’ve been given and let it help you. Allow it to change you.

I will publish the audio as soon as I get it and reveal my mystery blogger friend. Until then, enjoy your business and enjoy your life! Watch for the new SmartWoman Guides redesign coming soon.

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

Follow me at http://twitter.com/smartwoman

Putting a Voice To Your Passion: How To Quantify Your Vision

Vicki Flaugher — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:39:51 +0000

As an emerging entrepreneur, you are probably driven by a passionate desire. Whatever idea is burning inside of you, it’s something that runs deep. And it feels very important to you. It gives you motivation, happiness, and inspiration. It’s the thing you want, when your time on earth is through, to be in your accomplishment column.

Even with so much on the line, and maybe especially with so much on the line, it’s can seem hard to really put words to your vision. You know what “it” is, but being able to communicate that passion is crucial to getting the exposure you need, the help and financing you need, and the depth, width, and reach within the community you desire to serve. Money and influence are your friends in this venture, so it’s very important that people understand your goal. Marketing is also your friend, so you have to tell your story so it resonates and attracts like minded others.

How do you do that? How do you put words and maybe a face to your meaningful work? You do this by fully understanding your target audience and their needs and how you intend to fill those needs.

To help you get started, ask and answer the following questions:

Who are you serving?
What are their day to day concerns?
What problem are you solving or opportunity are you providing to that audience?
How does that solution provide value to your target audience?
What stories could you tell that put an emotional context to your mission?
Why are you doing what you are doing?
What is your personal story in relationship to your mission?
How would you feel to be successful in achieving your goal?
How would you feel if you failed in achieving your goal?
What unique skills do you bring forth to serve your target audience?
What do you have in common with your audience?
What do you know that they want to know?
Why here?
Why now?
Why not?
What will your target audience lose (or not gain) if you (and they) don’t act?

Get as specific as you can. I, for instance, have identified 35-55 year old beginning female entrepreneurs worldwide as my target audience. I desire to empower and inspire this group to take action toward living a passionate life doing their unique meaningful work. In my heart, I firmly and fully believe that this group of women is the single most influential group in the world, with the power to revolutionize our society, eradicate poverty and illiteracy, and enable a more peaceful and equitable world to become manifest. I want to provide them the tools they need - products, advice, encouragement, connections – to fully embody their magnificent power.

I care about this group because I AM that woman. I am the one who woke up one day, after years of reflection and inaction, and said “enough”. I walked away from a difficult marriage, a high stress job, and a stifled, uncreative existence to find my true passion. I know the doubt, the fear, the uncertainty and the intense difficulties of getting to the other side. I know, too, the rewards – the insight, the joy, the friendships, the contribution, and the peaceful satisfaction. And, those things are what drives me to do all I can to help other women find themselves also. It’s like a bell I can’t unring, so instead I ring it again, every day.

So, give it a shot – answer those questions as clearly and explicitly as you can – and you will be amazed at the clarity you will begin to demonstate. That clarity will enliven you and motivate others to join in. And, the rewards will start to flow. What have you got to gain? Your very happiness.

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me on Twitter: SmartWoman

Amazing Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide

Vicki Flaugher — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:52:07 +0000

It’s time to visit the stories of our sisters worldwide who are working and dreaming and doing great things. Enjoy the stories and if you happen to know an amazing woman entrepreneur whose story you’d like to share here, please do so!

A big WOO HOO to Anamazing and Isabelle Rorke – Endeavor winners!
By jo
Hailed by NYT columnist Thomas Friedman as the “mentor capitalist” model, Endeavor identifies entrepreneurs leading high-growth, innovative companies in emerging markets. Endeavor breaks down barriers that prevent emerging-market, …
Femtrepreneurs – http://femtrepreneurs.com

Summerside businesswoman wins plum appointment
Journal Pioneer – Summerside,Prince Edward Island,Canada
With Guptill’s appointment she automatically became a member of this much larger organization where she now belongs to its women’s entrepreneurship group. …
See all stories on this topic

Poor women transforming themselves as tourism entrepreneurs
Economic Times – Gurgaon,Haryana,India
… women from the weaker sections of society in Kerala are transforming themselves as entrepreneurs, supplying a range of products to hotels and resorts. …
See all stories on this topic

Women entrepreneurs making their mark
Economic Times – Gurgaon,Haryana,India
India has certainly emerged as the testing ground for budding Indian women entrepreneurs. Indian women are not only educated, talented, confident, …
See all stories on this topic

Dutch Black Business Female Entrepreneurs
By BWIE
With the cooperation of several European female network organisations, with a common membership of more than 5000 women, the organisation tries to create greater accessibility for all black women in business across the world, …
Black Women in Europe Blog – http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com

Indian women rule the boardroom
Newstrack India – Delhi,India
According to Betty Maina, CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), “There are more than 200 Indian women entrepreneurs. There could be many more …
See all stories on this topic

Women creating work, local backbone
Turkish Daily News (subscription) – Ankara,Turkey
The Web site’s founder, Sezer Aksoy, said Kadineliyle.com, meaning “made by women’s hands”, is the first of its kind in Turkey helping women entrepreneurs …
See all stories on this topic

Micro-finance helps women to become self-earners
By noreply@blogger.com (Kale)
Not only micro credit, ASA is doing their job for the development in small business and industrial area of Bangladesh with their Small Entrepreneur Lending (SEL) loan, Small business loan and agro-business development loan program. …
Poverty News Blog – http://povertynewsblog.blogspot.com/

Women Tipped to be Next Big Entrepreneurs
Khaleej Times – Dubai,United Arab Emirates
JEDDAH — Saudi women have achieved a first by forming a 10-member executive council for young businesswomen at the Asharqia Chamber in the Eastern Province, …
See all stories on this topic

Malvern entrepreneur to get award
Chester DailyLocal.com – PA, USA
Rubin, a Philadelphia Inquirer foreign affairs columnist, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors the overall accomplishments of a female …
See all stories on this topic

Every day I read stories like these and am encouraged and inspired. Go out and make your own wonderful story come true!

Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me on Twitter: SmartWoman

How Responsible Are You In Your Business Planning?

Vicki Flaugher — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:19:10 +0000

With the big government “bail out” of the financial markets looming, the question comes up about personal responsibility and ethics. On one hand, the individuals who overextended themselves with a mortgage that was too much to handle are responsible. They got themselves in too deep. Maybe they based their ability to pay on faith in a revenue stream that faltered, or didn’t act conservatively enough by allowing extra room in the budget for rising costs, things like the price of gas. No one expects to lose their job, get sick, or be impacted so heavily by outside circumstances, generally speaking, right? You have to live somewhere, right? Yes, you do.

On the other hand, these individuals were granted a mortgage, often at high rate, by businesses that were doing the same thing – banking on future revenues that didn’t happen, lending money that didn’t allow for continguencies. Some would argue that the corporations were even cognizant that they were swimming in dangerous waters, but took the risk anyway, because the payoff would be so large. A business should aggressively pursue profits, right? A business should do all that’s allowed by law to grow, right? Of course.

What does this whole scenario have to do with you running your entrepreneurial business? First, part of planning includes continguencies for extreme circumstance. If you are so highly leveraged, with no downside protection to cover catastrophe, you will get pinched. Review what would happen if the worst actually did happen and plan to cover that worst case scenario. Get life insurance, get disability insurance, get fire and lost revenue insurance and don’t leveage yourself with debt so heavily that you will be out of business if one little detail goes astray.

Second, another part of planning is budgeting. Entrepreneurs tend to overstate revenue projections and understate expense projections. This is exactly opposite of what you should do. You aren’t being positive minded by doing this, you are being foolish. Yes, keep a positive outlook, but do so intelligently. Just like remodeling your home, things happen – it will probably take twice as long and cost twice a much. Allow for this and you will be fine. Hope is not a business strategy.

Lastly, business planning includes using a calm, observant point of view. I know how deeply important your business is to you. I know how personally invested you are in seeing it through. But, the future brings changes. Be aware of your market, know the trends in your industry, and let go of the products and services that are no longer relevant in your field. Be forward thinking. Do you know how hard hit the pager industry was when phones added a walkie-talkie feature? It was bad. Hardly anyone was buying or using pagers and the industry, which had not allowed for this technological advance, were counting on continuing revenues that, well, did not continue. Most of these revolutions don’t happen overnight, so stay attuned to the changing needs of your clients and the changing face of your industry.

Being a responsible business person goes beyond following the law. It means being involved, engaged, and aware, allowing for downside while planning for good times. Don’t get caught without a roof over your head, because it’s an unknown whether anyone will be there to bail you out. You deserve better than that, so you need to plan better than that.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

Easy and Fast Ways to Create New Revenue Streams

Vicki Flaugher — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:36:20 +0000

When I started my “30 in 30″ project on Sept. 1st, I set out to create a new revenue stream every day for 30 days. At first, it seemed so daunting, but I knew if I could get the flow going, it would pay off. And, although I have quit reporting it on the post, it continues. It’s working.

My hesitations before I started, ones you may relate to, were many. One, did I have it in me, the creative juice to come up with that many ideas? Two, would my focus on revenue distract me away from my passionate mission? Three, would it work to actually bring in more revenue, or was it a silly exercise in busy-ness?

I can tell you that it has been working, solidly evidenced by the fact that I had “inbox” money waiting for me from an overnight sale from one of the streams I set up. Cool. And, several readers have suggested that I create an e-book about it as one of the streams, so that others could have a step by step guide to doing it too -more on that later this month – yes, I am doing it. In the meantime, pre-release of that upcoming e-book, here are some simple ideas to maybe get you started adding revenue opportunities to your online presence too.

1. Affiliate products

This is where you sign up with a company to be a commissioned sales person for their products. The process is normally free (I don’t join any that aren’t) and the company normally provides banner ads, links, email templates, and just about anything else you need to promote a product. You fill out your contact info and they give you a unique affiliate ID# which is embedded in the code they provide you. They do most of the heavy lifting on the set-up.

You can promote affiliate products as simply as doing a book review and including a text based link on the book title that leads to your Amazon.com affiliate link. Subtle, helpful, and easy. You can find products that you use that you can recommend in good conscience and add a link to those, or review them in a blog post. It’s important that you don’t just sell things to sell them, as your customers will hold you responsible for their experience. Only support things that you believe in and you’ll be fine.

2. Sell something you are already doing for free

If you have a talent of writing, for example, then put a price on that and offer it. If it’s congruent with your overall business model, offer introductory services that will allow you to get a customer and collect a fee to start a relationship with them. You don’t have to charge full market price on it, especially if you only offer it for a limited time or to a restricted access audience, but quit giving your talent away.

Think of it as positive cashflow advertising. Normally you pay to advertise. This way at least you collect a little something and you give your potential clients a sample taste for a sample price to allow them to get to know you and your work. If you continue to develop other offerings that leads that satisfied client to the next level, you can stand to make quite a bit on that lifetime relationship. Start charging for what you already are doing for free.

3. Repurpose and re-release previous material

First off, please understand that I am not suggesting that you recycle poor quality work. But, just because a product you create isn’t made from completely new ideas today doesn’t mean it’s not useful. Sometimes, packaging together material into a kit, perhaps adding an update to bring it all together, is very profitable. Making an audio recording and/or a video demonstration of a pdf report you created works great. Pulling together a series of blog posts into a book or special report can be successful.

The main idea is that you understand that because it’s old to you doesn’t mean it’s not of use to someone’s audience. As an expert, we sometimes get jaded that our beginning material doesn’t speak to our evolving audience, but just remember that every day a new beginner is born and they need help bridging their knowledge from zero to where you are. Even if you do not attract a beginner audience, find someone who does and let them sell it for you. Share some of the money and you’re set.

I hope some of these ideas will spur you to get creative. Use what you already have, the things you already believe in, and the things you already do to lead you to fun and easy ways to generate revenue. Even if your main goal is to communicate/educate rather than make money, you still have costs to pay. Get some help with that by giving more and sharing more. Besides, you can always choose to give any money generated to your favorite charity. It’s so needed and so worthwhile!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

Follow me on Twitter: SmartWoman

Tips on Social Networking To Build Your Business

Vicki Flaugher — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:04:55 +0000

I am challenged by making small talk. When I go to social gatherings, I have to force myself to circulate, introduce myself, and keep a conversation going past “What do you do?”. I find that I want to go deeper, to get to the know the person more, to move past social niceties and really talk about something meaningful and real. So often, social networking events seem pitchy and fake, and I just don’t enjoy that.

I know there are books about networking, and I’ve read many of them, but I have not yet gotten over the discomfort of the whole thing. Earlier this year, I decided I would do it anyway, get myself out there, and simply connect. I’m here to say, it’s been so totally worth it. And, since I know I am not the only one who faces this challenge, here are some tips that I use to make it all work.

Be willing to go alone to the event.
It’s easy, especially if you’re nervous, to use the person you already know, that comes with you to an event, as a crutch. Make the mental note that your new friends, the ones you don’t know yet, are there waiting for you. Being alone at a party also attracts the kind people, the ones who naturally reach out to others, to come say hello to you. Those are the types you want to meet.
Ask questions.
You don’t want to come off as an FBI secret agent interrogator, but when you don’t know what to say, ask a question. Getting people to talk about themselves is flattering and will give you further information on what you can talk about next. Notice the words a person uses, the speed of their speech, their preferences, but don’t ever quit listening to what they are saying. Hear them with directed attention. Don’t just be formulating your next question. Really care about the answer and you will garner friends. And, when they come back with their own questions, be ready to talk about something interesting, memorable and personal. Be transparent, and talk about things you value. Your business card has all your business info on it – people need to meet YOU. Let them get to know you.
Attend physical meetups of your online social communities.
Be sure to have your social media contact info on your business card. Give people who know you via email, Twitter, Facebook, forums, and other social online communities a way to connect your online persona with the real live you. My name is Vicki Flaugher when I introduce myself at gatherings, but I am SmartWoman online. Connect the dots so people will realize who you are. The ability to make a deeper connection more quickly and easily is just one more reason to have a current picture on your online profiles, too. I’ve been recognized in public from that and I had an immediate rapport with the person who recognized me because of our online history together. Because of that, we didn’t have to start from square one building our relationship further.
Connect with connectors.
One of the easiest and fastest ways to build a stong network is to seek out and meet connectors, people who are the center of influence for a larger group. Mavens who naturally facilitate connections for others can be an amazing resource and are usually personable, easy to get to know, and extremely helpful. It’s in their blood, and it’s something they do naturally. If that doesn’t describe you, then make friends with a maven. They will do some of the heavy lifting for you in making great connections. One word of caution: Don’t try to be friends with people you don’t like. If you don’t click with someone, even if they have thousands of uber powerful friends, don’t force a relationship. It will come back to bite you and you will end up on a black list somewhere. Let your natural energetic attractiveness help draw the right individuals to you – it will feel right, you’ll enjoy the interaction, and it will work. If it doesn’t, there’s a good reason. Move on to someone else. Your perfect connector is out there.
If there’re not any events happening, host one.
One of the best ways to network is to host an event. People seek you out to thank you, they introduce themselves, and they appreciate your service. You don’t hardly have to reach out at all, and you can use the guise of checking on your guests to interject yourself into smaller group conversations. Do this skillfully and you will begin being seen as a connector, and others will be drawn to network with you. Working the mojo from both angles is very effective. Giving to others, being charitable with your time, being willing to host an event, will come back to you in goodwill.

I hope these tips help you. If you have others, please post them in the comments section.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me at http://twitter.com/smartwoman

Promote Your Business By Giving Away Bonuses For Book Launches

Vicki Flaugher — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:12:08 +0000

Everyone knows that it’s important for people to know who you are, to see your website, to understand what you do. But, how do you get more eyes on your business? How do you attract interest in what you do? And, how do you make sure that the eyes you’re attracting are the ones that will likely be interested in what you offer and likely to want to continue with a longer term relationship with you and your business?

One way is offering bonuses for book launches.

Let’s start the explanation from the publishing author’s point of view. Basically, in the newer approaches to book publishing, authors are creating launch websites and generating “buzz” around their book releases with bonus packages. They solicit free bonuses and offers from other like-minded people, individuals who provide products and services that would be of interest to their target audience. The idea is that when you purchase the book, you also get all this free bounty as a thank you gift, as a bonus to your purchase. It’s an inducement to buy, as you often get hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of stuff if you lay down $15 for a book. Sweet deal, right?

Here’s an example of Joe Vitale’s The Attractor Factor launch, active now:
Joe Vitale’s Attractor Factor Book Launch Bonus Page

If you were a spiritual topic author, like Joe Vitale in the above example, you would want to include bonuses from people who offer spiritual focused products – meditation, life purpose, coaching, etc. You’ll notice when you look at the listing of people he has and the description of what’s offered, that they are in alignment, congruent with his message. This is important to consider. You will have more success, both as a publishing author, and as a bonus provider, if the bonuses are attractive to the book’s target audience.

Here’s another example, this time of Eldon Taylor’s Choices and Illusions release, active now:
Eldon Taylor’s Choices and Illusions Book Launch Bonus and Charity Event

Same idea on congruence with Eldon’s choices. You wouldn’t necessarily add something about, say, automobile repair for this crowd, right? Well, maybe the Zen of Motorcycle Repair, but you get the point.

To find people who do book launches, look to publishing houses, publicists, agents, authors, and the promotional houses that run the book launch campaigns you see. It’s easy to google to get a list once you start looking. Asking and offering is the key. (I’ll make a to-do note to myself to list the ones I know of here at SmartWoman Guides, ok?)

Now you might be asking at this point, “How do I make money giving my products and services away?”. You do this by developing a list of people, via email, who are interested in what you do and what you have to offer. Like going to Sam’s Club and sample tasting some of their treats, these potential clients get an opportunity to experience you, to get to know you, to decide if they’d like to go forward in learning more about you. Once you have this list, you can promote yourself to them on what’s termed the “back end”, presenting compelling offers that you believe are of interest to your audience.

Some words of caution here: Don’t hold back on your free offering. This is your first impression chance to seduce your customer. Don’t give away something that’s worthless, or not a good reflection on you. Free doesn’t mean low quality. You want to give high quality as a good faith offering to a future relationship. Give with an open spirit, a generous mindset and make it something juicy, something you’re proud of selling, let alone giving.

Also, don’t innundate your new prospect with pitchy, pushy sales follow up after they’ve signed on. Treat this new relationship just like you would a new friendship, because that’s what it is. Everybody knows what happens to psycho stalkers – people call the police on them, not buy stuff from them. Be gentle, be consistent, and continue to build value and trust. Soon, you’ll have a solid base of loyal fans who love what you do and recommend you to their friends. That’s when the money starts rolling in!

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher, the original SmartWoman

follow me on Twitter: @Smartwoman