Imagine having a full appointment book, lots of clients, a business that makes money while you still have time for fun?

Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 7 at 10am Australian EST or download the replay for your convenience. – Register now for access to The Healthy Marketing Telesummit FREE – and we’ll send you all of the updates. 

10 leading mentors will show you what to do to fill your appointment book, consistently attract and convert new clients, and leverage your time, money and energy!

Register here for free for the HEALTHY MARKETING TELESUMMIT

• Learn how to get more clients and better results, even if you have a limited budget
• Discover how to build your business using strategic alliances and joint ventures
• Gain insight on how to use your personal stories as a powerful magnet for new clients
• Uncover strategies for creating directory listings that get new clients to pick up the phone to book an appointment with you
• Learn how to turn your passion into profit by turning your knowledge into products to leverage your time, add value to your clients, and profit to your bottom line
• Master the art of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to duplicate your message, build your profile and attract clients
• Find out what to do to get media coverage and create your own publicity opportunities
• Learn how to implement systems into your business to attract and convert clients and maximise your profits

Register here for free for the HEALTHY MARKETING TELESUMMIT

Have you found niching your business difficult? It needn’t be. There is often a fear that narrowing your target market reduces your opportunities, when the opposite is true!

When you clarify your audience it makes it easier to speak on their terms and about their interests. It reduces your competition, as you are not competing in as many market places. Niching works in your favour, positioning you as someone that can truly assist with the problem your audience is concerned with.

Last week I discovered a fantastic example of this in my local library, which will clarify how you might begin go uncover your niche. You’ll be amazed at the niching possiblities you’ll find. Check out this on site video! Then let me know your thoughts in the comments below….

Are these mistakes costing you money and clients?

Healthy marketing is just as much about ‘undoing’ as it is about ‘doing’. I see a great deal of common mistakes that will waste your time, cost you loads of money and lose potential clients. Here are 7 of the most common. If you eliminate these you will be well on your way to building a solid client base.

 What do you think? I’d love to hear your feedback, so please post your comments below.

The first mistake: trying to be everything to everyone

Setting out to meet EVERYONES needs will tire you out! Not only that, it is an ineffective way to promote your business, because it is difficult for people to connect with your message. You will be left tired and frustrated and wonder why you aren’t getting as many bookings as you want. The key is to find a target group with specific needs to focus on. This leverages your time more effectively, and helps prospects to understand clearly on how you can help, so that they’ll want to pick up the phone and call. Targeting your cards, flyers and promotion to a specific problem, is a better way to spend your hard earned dollars for a measurable result.

The second mistake: promoting your ‘modalities’ as your product

Okay, so you offer a range of services. The list could be quite long – NLP, hypnotherapy, counselling, massage, energy healing, reflexology, aromatherapy, Bowen therapy, myotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, remedial, lymphatic…need I go on? Now, I understand that you have spent a lot of time, money and energy learning these wonderful skills. But you know what? Your clients are more interested in WHAT’S IN IT FOR THEM, rather than HOW you do it. So make sure you talk in what’s in it for them terms. What ‘pain’ or ‘problem’ do you solve; how will they feel after seeing you? That is what needs to be clear in your headlines and marketing messages. The rest (including your logo) is secondary.

 The third mistake: ignoring opportunities for free promotion

More often than not I see therapists and coaches get hung up on “getting the brochure done”.  A great deal of time, creative energy and pondering are spent to create these paper gems, and a lot of money.  Also “getting an ad in” is a common catch cry. More often than not, especially in the early stages, these can result in little results. More so, if the messages are vague and unspecific. Whilst paid promotion has a place (if written for your audience and strategically positioned), there are many opportunities for free promotion. Good examples include article submission in the local paper and online, joint ventures with other businesses, social media such as facebook, and speaking at community events or to local groups, and networking. Hiding behind a brochure won’t work – be seen!

The fourth mistake: sounding like everyone else

If you want people to recognise you can help them, it is important to stand out in a crowd. If you are using generic terms such as “empower people to be the best they can be” or other clichés, it is unlikely that you will be noticed. Or, as previously mentioned, listing your modalities, makes you sound like everyone else, as well as increases the number of competitors you have.  Create a unique phrase that is not being used by your competitors that speaks directly to your target market.

The fifth mistake: ignoring what you have in your hand  

Studies have shown that 68% of clients go elsewhere because of indifference. Working with the clients you already have is by far the most cost-effective way to increase your profitability, through customer retention, and referrals or word of mouth. Stay in touch with phone calls, newsletters, through social events, and birthday and celebration cards. Think of new ways to encourage repeat business by keeping clients up to date with new offers and educate them about additional services you provide they may not now about.  The 80/20 rule is also really useful when working with your existing client base. You will find that 80% or your business comes from 20% of your clients, so focus extra attention there. Increasing the lifetime value of your client base will dramatically increase your annual turnover.  

The sixth mistake: not knowing where your clients and leads are coming from

If you are in business, it’s very important to test and measure. This includes both the time, and money you spend on marketing activities. Costs for advertising, printing, letterbox drops, networking and any other activities can all be taken into consideration. Then you can make sound decisions around what activities to keep, and what to discard, so that your time will be spent where it’s most productive.

The seventh mistake: losing focus and giving up

When I read this – my heart breaks! I see it a lot, and quite often, people give up right at the last moment, when all they need to do is step off the precipice, but they freeze! There’s fear of failure, fear of success, personal sabotage, and plain apathy. It really is about mindset much of the time. My greatest advice is to remember why you chose to do the work you do, and to keep going. Get help. Seek the right mentors. Have a plan. Surround yourself with positive role models and steer clear of naysayers as much as possible (those who tell you it can’t be done!) Because quite frankly – it can!

Most importantly TAKE ACTION – A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. Kahlil Gibran

Lately it seems that everyone is blogging, or at least thinking about it. Have you wondered if blogging is for you?

What is a blog? A blog is a web log of thoughts, ideas, images, audios or videos that appear in the order they are posted and can be viewed online. A bit like an online diary.

Why blog? A blog allows people to get to know you and what you stand for. It’s quick to set up; doesn’t cost anything (or very little); helps your Google ranking; can be used to send traffic to your website; allows people to engage with you using comments and feedback; can educate and drive change; can be used to test ideas; is not spam; you can lilnk it to your facebook and twitter pages in both directions; you can promote your products and services; it’s an easy alternative to newsletters and attracts targeted subscribers! Not bad eh!

Why not blog? You have the writing skill of a gnat, your time restraints don’t allow it, you don’t want to build relationships (you may want to inform, but not necessarily engage).

What are some alternatives to creating your own blog? If you don’t want to commit to a regular blog (it’s important to post regularly for them to be found), you can comment on other peoples blog; do a newsletter; create facebook notes or use twitter (mini blogs of 140 characters).

What kind of things can you blog about?

• Information that people want to know
• Interesting stories and adventures
• Recipes and tidbits
• Reviews of other peoples stuff that adds value to your readership
• Your articles
• Product and workshop announcements
• You tube videos
• Audios

Top 10 tips for good blogging

1. Know who your audience is
2. Write with your audience in mind
3. Keep it simple and on topic
4. Write regulary (the search engines love this and there is nothing worse than a dead blog!)
5. Communicate with your readers – encourage comments and feedback, ask questions, do polls.
6. Use sub headings to break up the content
7. Link to your website to generate traffic
8. Include a signup box if you would like leads for other products and services
9. Intergrate into your website if possible. This is incredibly valueable if you would like your website to rank well
10. Include an RSS feed so that people can be updated when new content is posted.

I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts about blogging, or any extra tips you can share to help new bloggers.

Happy blogging!

Krishna