The first cut is always the funniest and most genuine, anything after that [...]]]> What Not to-do when filming!

Over the years I have had some great moments in front of and behind the camera. Thankfully I have saved quite a few of those blunders, all so that you can benefit from my hard learned lessons.

The first cut is always the funniest and most genuine, anything after that looks like it is rehearsed. With Youtube’s Improv style of filming it is the best way.

Video with my Top Video Mistakes

Top Tips for Creating Great Videos

• Have a camera person, someone who gets what you are doing and how you will be doing it. Make sure they have a steady hand for camera work.
• Make sure you have proper lighting and sound quality.
• Wear the right clothing for the situation. Have someone you trust who can help you with proper wardrobing.
• Be in the shot, if you are recording voice only it gets confusing for the viewer. Again back to the point of having a camera person.
• If you are interviewing someone and there is a substantial height difference, sit for the interview.
• To avoid getting creepy fetish people commenting on your videos refrain from highlighting specific body parts…I know this one from first hand (no pun intended) experience…..ewwww
• Hair and Make up really make all the difference, especially for the ladies. Look your best.
• Mute all potential noise issues like phones, children, pets and visitors.
• Make sure all the people involved; camera, interviewee and any one else who may be in the shot are in the know.
• Never open a segment with a challenging sentence.

My last and favourite tip…have willing participants. The end of that video even cracks me up.

What if you had a formula for attracting clients that made it easier for them to know that they are your “Ideal” client. What if you were a Client magnet? 

The first [...]]]> A copy of my latest article for the St Croix Courier.

Do you go out searching for clients or do they find you?

What if you had a formula for attracting clients that made it easier for them to know that they are your “Ideal” client. What if you were a Client magnet? 

The first step to making this attraction happen is to get clear about what you don’t want in a client. This may seem a bit backwards but it a necessary part of the formula.

Take some focused time, ask and honestly answer these questions about your clients.

• What don’t I like about the last few clients I had? Were they pushy, demanding or hard to please?
• Who are they? Citing real examples makes the process of clarity easier, think of REAL people.
• How did it feel when I was working with them? Did it feel awkward or was it like a seamless dance?
• When did the specific experience happen, in a certain situation and perhaps at specific times? Was it at a time when cash flow was tight and stress levels high? Was it the afternoon when you were tired, hungry and cranky?

Now that you know what you don’t like or want in a client. The question is?????

Why are they your clients?

Is it just about the money or do you really enjoy working with these hard to get along with people?

Next set of questions.

• What are the best client experiences you have had recently?
• Why did they stand out?
• Who are these “Ideal” clients? A specific person or maybe several people who fit a similar demographic.
• How did these clients become clients?

This exercise points out the obvious…not all clients are the same.

In order to reach the clients you WANT to work with, you need to be clear about who this “Ideal” Client  is.

By creating an ideal client statement or demographic profile it will make the work of marketing your business easier and lighter on the pocket book and ultimately save you valuable time.

The most interesting part of this exercise of organizing thought around who an Ideal client is and how to attract them is that these people are usually just like you. They have common interests with you. Think about where you go to network, what are your interests, what events do you attend, where do you volunteer.

Wherever you are hanging out your Ideal client is probably there too.

Here is the formula for getting clear about your “Ideal” Client. Please fill in the blanks.

“My ideal client is a (age, gender, status) who (what do they do for a living) and lives or works in (geographic specifics).  He/she wants my expertise in (my areas of specialty) so I can help them achieve their goals of (insert client goals). They have the ability to pay me what I am worth; they pay on time and are grateful for what they have accomplished.”

Finish this and keep it where you can see it as a reminder of who you want to work with.

By focusing on what you DO want you have created a flow of intention and energy

Statistically 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients. So who would be on that 20% list? The cream at the top, the people you love to work with and most likely the reason you got into business. What would happen if you stopped spending your valuable time on the 80% that is not really adding to your business bottom line?  You would have time for the clients that do matter and you would probably have more of them.

IDEAL clients  + Happy Business Owner = more profitable business

I encountered this limiting belief this past week…it was brought to my attention by some gals that are participating in a mentoring program I am facilitating.

Not only was this revelation a huge AHA moment for [...]]]> It’s not that people won’t pay you for your product-service-widget…the truth is that people you KNOW won’t pay you!

I encountered this limiting belief this past week…it was brought to my attention by some gals that are participating in a mentoring program I am facilitating.

Not only was this revelation a huge AHA moment for the participants it was a big AHA for me. Seriously if you look through your portfolio of clients you may find a few acquaintances but seriously…most of the people who are hiring you are people that you have probably met recently. Now some of them may become friends after they have hired you and you have created a relationship, but you were not close to them before they paid for your product-service-widget.

Now I am not saying to exclude everyone you know from being a potential client…but there are people that  you know that will never pull out their wallet for what you are offering….so seriously…stop expecting them to do so and move on.

Imagine preparing your sales pitch…pulling the words together that explain what you do, how you do it and lastly the price you charge for that thing you do….then heading over to visit your friend who has known you forever and knows everything about you and  pitching it to them….I can hear the words now…”You charge that for what you do-sell-etc…are you crazy”!

Now imagine taking that same professional presentation to your Ideal client, that person who you know needs the product-service-widget and will benefit from what you have to offer. They are interested right from the get go…they ask questions and are genuinely interested in what you have to say…and do they question the fact that you would charge what you charge for the thing you are offering…I think not!

Let’s get this elephant out of the room right now so your friends won’t feel like they are going to get your next sales pitch and you won’t feel disappointed that they did not  purchase.

A limiting belief is just that…a belief that limits you. Sometimes we can’t eliminate the belief but perhaps we can find a way around it!

I may be totally off base on this…please share your thoughts and opinions.

You go back to the business basics….the thing that you did when you started…the thing that required your expertise…the thing that started it all.

Over the past month I have been working with 6 amazing women who [...]]]> So what does one do when the economy is scraping its belly on the floor of a recession?

You go back to the business basics….the thing that you did when you started…the thing that required your expertise…the thing that started it all.

Over the past month I have been working with 6 amazing women who want to start their own businesses. Now in this economic climate you might think they are a bit bonkers but I am an optimistic.

I think that setting up the foundation of their companies when times are tough will position them for the time when the economy is healthy once again.

While going through the process I have been revisiting all the things that I did 7 years ago when I started my business and I forgot how much fun some of those things can be.

Here are some of the back to business basics I am soooo excited about revisiting:

• Networking with local business owners at events like the International Women’s day event I attended this week.
• Creating attractive flyers to post on local bulletin boards to promote my business.
• Renting a booth at a local market to sell my Home Organizing Videos ,we usually sell these as a download but I think making hard copies and getting out and chatting with people and selling copies locally will be a blast.
• Hands on organizing with people who need to clear the clutter to make way for future possibilities.
• Lunch and learns…these are so much fun, and with small groups of 10 or less you can really get into it.

I hope that I have given you some food for thought and provided some inspiration to get your business flowing in this tough economy.