Targeted Resumes - How to Target Your Resume to the Job You Want1. Determine what you are trying to accomplish.Make sure you have a clear goal in mind. Hiring managers are too busy to try to figure out what you want to accomplish.Writing a general, one-size fits all resume won’t cut it in today’s competitive job market. You have to make an effort to stand apart from everyone else.If you don’t know what you want to do, STOP and figure it out. You cannot create an awesome, knock-your-socks-off resume without a goal. If you are struggling with this, enlist the help of someone to brainstorm with you.2. Find out the industry keywords that are “hot” in your career field and put them into your resume.Why do this? Because more and more companies are using automated databases to store resumes. When they need to hire someone, they find potential candidates by utilizing key word phrases (sort of how you search on google using a keyword). If you are using the right keywords, your resume will be included in the top contenders.You can find the keyword phrases by searching monster.com or hotjobs.com for the job you want to apply to. Read several postings from all regions of the county and look for the qualifications and duties.For instance, I looked up “executive assistant” and found the following phrases that seemed to be repeating:“Microsoft office proficient”“Setting up appointments”“travel arrangements”“correspondence, presentations, and reports”“Prepare/edit executive PowerPoint presentations”“arranging travel, scheduling meetings”“prepare high quality presenta
Ask for (and use) testimonials.
What’s better – me telling you how wonderful I am with your cat or your neighbor raving about the outstanding care and loving service I provided to her cat? I thought so. Your clients should all be raving fans – you planned it that way, right? So anytime they send you a note or email or make a phone call singing your praises, ask them if you can use their testimonial in your marketing materials. Also make sure you can use their first and last name and some identifying material (like city, or company). If you haven’t gotten many unsolicited pieces of praise, don’t worry, simply make a call or send an email requesting testimonials to a few of your favorite clients.
16. Always carry business cards.
And make sure your business card is a fabulous representation of you. Make sure the logo is clear and enticing, your name and contact information are easy to find and your website address is obvious. Don’t overlook the valuable real estate on the back of the card either. You’ll want to have a call to action there too. Now, whenever you’re having a great conversation with someone whose pet-care problems you can solve, you’ll have a great little “leave behind” when they ask “Hey, do you have a card?” For more info on business card etiquette, check out my marketing section in the Home Study System...
17. Chat with the person next to you.
Have you ever had to stand in line? At the grocery store, the Social Security office or the post office? Me too. These are great opportunities to make a new friend. During your chat, why not ask some of those great questions you’ve thought up? At the very least you’ll pass time in a pleasant fashion, and at best you’ll meet a potential new client. Never miss the opportunity to find out how you can serve your neighbor’s better.
18. Gain experience.
Look at each marketing endeavor as an opportunity to learn what you’re great at.
6 Tips Every Entrepreneur Should Know for Living With Life Change While Running A Small BusinessA little over seven months ago my life started changing in a really radical way. In the beginning I thought it had nothing to do with my business and that I’d be able to keep my personal problems out of the business. Soon I realized that because I’d started my business with the intent of integrating my life and my work, that some of my work was going to change for a while.As my marriage waned and ended, I bought and moved into a new home. The transition has taken more energy than I’d imagined. There were days when I just “didn’t have it in me” to do more than the very basics. However, I had to keep my business running so income would continue during the transition.While I’m hoping you don’t have to go through a major life change like mine, the odds are good that at some point in your entrepreneurial career the Universe is going to throw you a curve ball. Whether it’s a messy marriage, an ailing relative, or a new baby, you’re life is going to change. Here are six tips to help you ensure that your business doesn’t have to suffer as you adapt.1. Be prepared. I know, it’s a clich?, but during the past 7 months the fact that I had spent so much time preparing my business to essentially run without me was a lifesaver! Every day ask yourself what would happen if you weren’t at the helm of your business. Keep track of tasks that you can outsource and things you can do to prepare others to help you out. Do one thing every day to ensure you’re prepared.2. Work on your business, not in it. I’m not sure I’d still be in business if I were the only person working in it. During the months that
1. Define them – from their shoes to their underwear.
Knowing who you can serve best saves you time and money. When you’ve clearly defined the customer who is going to be the perfect fit for you and your service, you’ll stop marketing to everyone, wearing down your shoes and your smiles by going everywhere, talking to anyone and advertising everyplace. You’ll be able to focus on a specific brand of client and build your brand and reputation as you go.
2. Go where they go.
Because you know the inner workings of your perfect clients (hint: they are going to be a LOT like you) you’ll be able to take yourself to the places they congregate. I’m not saying you should be a predator (or a stalker) but I’m saying, you’re naturally going to find the clients you want to work with if you go where they go (whether it’s the Whole Foods® down the street or the doggy gymnastic center that opened up down the block.
3. Find others like them and ask for referrals.
Okay, you’re clear on who your perfect client is. You head to places they would go and you’re meeting folks like them. While you’re busy making friends be sure to ask if they know anyone who could benefit from your service. This is a great opportunity to use your benefit statement – and not a sales pitch.
4. Use your email signature line to do the work for you.
NEVER send an email that doesn’t give a great commercial for you and your business. It should be professional, have all the contact information anyone would need to find you again, and an enticing offer that encourages the recipient to take action. I’ve got ideas and samples about what kind of ‘enticements’ you can add to your emails signatures in my Home Study System – available in the fall of 2006.
5. Give more than is expected (contracted/promised).
No matter what you say you’ll do, people remember what you REALLY did. So, if you tell someone you’ll follow up by next Monday, you darn well better follow up by then. Better yet, why not shoot an email this afternoon and send them some information that is useful while not at all related to what you do. Maybe you’ve met a great prospect and you had a discussion about his daughter’s little league team needing new uniforms. When you get back to your office you remember that you’ve got a contact that sponsors local teams and they own an embroidery company. Call your potential sponsor, tell him about the team and then send an email to the prospect with the contact info for the potential sponsor. Oh, and be sure your email signature line has all your company contact information!
6. Say no to anyone that you can’t serve best.
Yep, I’m a rebel. I’ve learned that I’m just not everyone’s cup of tea. That means that it’s okay to realize that not everyone is my cup of tea either. I’ve got a specific style of working and systems and rules that just don’t please everyone. The ways that I work with people and pets are highly evolved and specific to my strengths. So when I find that I’m not able to make some folks happy, I take it as a sign that I’m not their best fit and I make a referral to a company that is likely to be a better service provider for them. Ultimately I work for raving fans only – if I don’t think I’m going to be able to make them rave, I say no.
7. Ask great questions.
This one is so basic that it’s easy to see why it’s overlooked. No one I know really wants to feel sales-y – so they miss the big openings to ask good questions that can often times lead to a sale. Questions get folks talking about themselves and educating you about their specific experiences with pets, pet-care providers and other related topics. You should never leave the house without some good open-ended questions. Want to see some good ones? There’s a list of great ones in the Home Study System…set to be released in fall 2006.
8. Educate them.
Since you’ve been asking questions and getting honest answers, you can use that data to provide great information to your target audience. Be their human “search engine” for all things related to your area of expertise. Be the resource that they go to first for information, whether it’s how to introduce a new kitty to the household or what to do to be prepared for an emergency. You can educate them one-on-one, in group settings like seminars or networking groups, or by writing articles and providing email assistance.
9. Write articles they’ll read.
This is a top-notch way to become the expert. Stick to your niche and start writing. You can write a tip sheet like the one you’re reading now in less than a couple of hour’s time. You can write articles for your local paper, for the publications your target audience is most likely to read and for the web. The bottom line is start writing. If you’re worried about your grammar and syntax, why not hire a college student who’s majoring in English or Journalism to edit your final product?
10. Speak to their groups.
This is just another way of educating your target clients. Whenever you meet new people who would be great clients find out what groups they belong to. Then find out if they have outside speakers come in (most have a programming committee that is DYING to find someone to come in to their meetings) and provide an entertaining presentation. Contact the programming chair and offer to speak to their group about your specialty. Make sure you’ve got a way to collect contact information and plenty of business cards. Want more info in using public speaking to get more great clients? Make sure you check out the speaking section of the new Home Study System.
11. Solve their problems.
Because you’ve been listening when you were asking questions, you’re now really aware of the specific concerns and problems your potential clients have when it comes to their pet care. Set yourself up to be their problem solver. More than providing dog-walking, you provide midday relief for aging dogs who don’t have as much control of their bladder, and you provide guilt-free work days for the owners. See what I mean?
12. Get out of the house.
Hey, we’ve all done it…convinced ourselves that we can get new business strictly by tweaking our website, or submitting articles on line. Or doing anything but getting out there in the public eye – and I dare say there’s a hundred and one hucksters who will try to convince you of just that. But aside from needing to go out to conduct your pet-care visits, you need to get out of your chair and about your town to meet and greet potential clients and their friends. This means being presentable, having business cards and a smile.
13. Spend half your work hours marketing.
My coach and mentor Fabienne Fredrickson is the Client Attraction expert and she taught me that there are only two activities an entrepreneur should be doing every business day. The first is whatever it is you do to earn your money (in your case, pet-sitting) the other is marketing. And she goes so far as to mandate you spend 50% of your work hours on each of these tasks. I’d have to agree. If you want a clear and concise way to make that happen, I recommend you get with Fabienne and work through her Client Attraction System. It’s done wonders for me.
14. Create a system that works for you.
Systems make the life of an entrepreneur a happy one. Putting your marketing activities on auto-pilot set you on course to keep the clients coming. For instance plug all your networking events into your calendar for the year, same with your talks, your writing deadlines and your client interactions. Make it a habit to stick to the calendar and plan for those deadlines ahead of time. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish each day.
15. Ask for (and use) testimonials.
What’s better – me telling you how wonderful I am with your cat or your neighbor raving about the outstanding care and loving service I provided to her cat? I thought so. Your clients should all be raving fans – you planned it that way, right? So anytime they send you a note or email or make a phone call singing your praises, ask them if you can use their testimonial in your marketing materials. Also make sure you can use their first and last name and some identifying material (like city, or company). If you haven’t gotten many unsolicited pieces of praise, don’t worry, simply make a call or send an email requesting testimonials to a few of your favorite clients.
16. Always carry business cards.
And make sure your business card is a fabulous representation of you. Make sure the logo is clear and enticing, your name and contact information are easy to find and your website address is obvious. Don’t overlook the valuable real estate on the back of the card either. You’ll want to have a call to action there too. Now, whenever you’re having a great conversation with someone whose pet-care problems you can solve, you’ll have a great little “leave behind” when they ask “Hey, do you have a card?” For more info on business card etiquette, check out my marketing section in the Home Study System...
17. Chat with the person next to you.
Have you ever had to stand in line? At the grocery store, the Social Security office or the post office? Me too. These are great opportunities to make a new friend. During your chat, why not ask some of those great questions you’ve thought up? At the very least you’ll pass time in a pleasant fashion, and at best you’ll meet a potential new client. Never miss the opportunity to find out how you can serve your neighbor’s better.
18. Gain experience.
Look at each marketing endeavor as an opportunity to learn what you’re great at.
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you darn well better follow up by then. Better yet, why not shoot an email this afternoon and send them some information that is useful while not at all related to what you do. Maybe you’ve met a great prospect and you had a discussion about his daughter’s little league team needing new uniforms. When you get back to your office you remember that you’ve got a contact that sponsors local teams and they own an embroidery company. Call your potential sponsor, tell him about the team and then send an email to the prospect with the contact info for the potential sponsor. Oh, and be sure your email signature line has all your company contact information!
6. Say no to anyone that you can’t serve best.
Yep, I’m a rebel. I’ve learned that I’m just not everyone’s cup of tea. That means that it’s okay to realize that not everyone is my cup of tea either. I’ve got a specific style of working and systems and rules that just don’t please everyone. The ways that I work with people and pets are highly evolved and specific to my strengths. So when I find that I’m not able to make some folks happy, I take it as a sign that I’m not their best fit and I make a referral to a company that is likely to be a better service provider for them. Ultimately I work for raving fans only – if I don’t think I’m going to be able to make them rave, I say no.
7. Ask great questions.
This one is so basic that it’s easy to see why it’s overlooked. No one I know really wants to feel sales-y – so they miss the big openings to ask good questions that can often times lead to a sale. Questions get folks talking about themselves and educating you about their specific experiences with pets, pet-care providers and other related topics. You should never leave the house without some good open-ended questions. Want to see some good ones? There’s a list of great ones in the Home Study System…set to be released in fall 2006.
8. Educate them.
Since you’ve been asking questions and getting honest answers, you can use that data to provide great information to your target audience. Be their human “search engine” for all things related to your area of expertise. Be the resource that they go to first for information, whether it’s how to introduce a new kitty to the household or what to do to be prepared for an emergency. You can educate them one-on-one, in group settings like seminars or networking groups, or by writing articles and providing email assistance.
9. Write articles they’ll read.
This is a top-notch way to become the expert. Stick to your niche and start writing. You can write a tip sheet like the one you’re reading now in less than a couple of hour’s time. You can write articles for your local paper, for the publications your target audience is most likely to read and for the web. The bottom line is start writing. If you’re worried about your grammar and syntax, why not hire a college student who’s majoring in English or Journalism to edit your final product?
10. Speak to their groups.
This is just another way of educating your target clients. Whenever you meet new people who would be great clients find out what groups they belong to. Then find out if they have outside speakers come in (most have a programming committee that is DYING to find someone to come in to their meetings) and provide an entertaining presentation. Contact the programming chair and offer to speak to their group about your specialty. Make sure you’ve got a way to collect contact information and plenty of business cards. Want more info in using public speaking to get more great clients? Make sure you check out the speaking section of the new Home Study System.
11. Solve their problems.
Because you’ve been listening when you were asking questions, you’re now really aware of the specific concerns and problems your potential clients have when it comes to their pet care. Set yourself up to be their problem solver. More than providing dog-walking, you provide midday relief for aging dogs who don’t have as much control of their bladder, and you provide guilt-free work days for the owners. See what I mean?
12. Get out of the house.
Hey, we’ve all done it…convinced ourselves that we can get new business strictly by tweaking our website, or submitting articles on line. Or doing anything but getting out there in the public eye – and I dare say there’s a hundred and one hucksters who will try to convince you of just that. But aside from needing to go out to conduct your pet-care visits, you need to get out of your chair and about your town to meet and greet potential clients and their friends. This means being presentable, having business cards and a smile.
13. Spend half your work hours marketing.
My coach and mentor Fabienne Fredrickson is the Client Attraction expert and she taught me that there are only two activities an entrepreneur should be doing every business day. The first is whatever it is you do to earn your money (in your case, pet-sitting) the other is marketing. And she goes so far as to mandate you spend 50% of your work hours on each of these tasks. I’d have to agree. If you want a clear and concise way to make that happen, I recommend you get with Fabienne and work through her Client Attraction System. It’s done wonders for me.
14. Create a system that works for you.
Systems make the life of an entrepreneur a happy one. Putting your marketing activities on auto-pilot set you on course to keep the clients coming. For instance plug all your networking events into your calendar for the year, same with your talks, your writing deadlines and your client interactions. Make it a habit to stick to the calendar and plan for those deadlines ahead of time. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish each day.
15. Ask for (and use) testimonials.
What’s better – me telling you how wonderful I am with your cat or your neighbor raving about the outstanding care and loving service I provided to her cat? I thought so. Your clients should all be raving fans – you planned it that way, right? So anytime they send you a note or email or make a phone call singing your praises, ask them if you can use their testimonial in your marketing materials. Also make sure you can use their first and last name and some identifying material (like city, or company). If you haven’t gotten many unsolicited pieces of praise, don’t worry, simply make a call or send an email requesting testimonials to a few of your favorite clients.
16. Always carry business cards.
And make sure your business card is a fabulous representation of you. Make sure the logo is clear and enticing, your name and contact information are easy to find and your website address is obvious. Don’t overlook the valuable real estate on the back of the card either. You’ll want to have a call to action there too. Now, whenever you’re having a great conversation with someone whose pet-care problems you can solve, you’ll have a great little “leave behind” when they ask “Hey, do you have a card?” For more info on business card etiquette, check out my marketing section in the Home Study System...
17. Chat with the person next to you.
Have you ever had to stand in line? At the grocery store, the Social Security office or the post office? Me too. These are great opportunities to make a new friend. During your chat, why not ask some of those great questions you’ve thought up? At the very least you’ll pass time in a pleasant fashion, and at best you’ll meet a potential new client. Never miss the opportunity to find out how you can serve your neighbor’s better.
18. Gain experience.
Look at each marketing endeavor as an opportunity to learn what you’re great at.
The Help, The Words: Resume Writing ServicesThe idea of a resume is a, seemingly, simple one; we all understand the purpose. The problem doesn't appear until you actually start writing it. Then, the purpose seems to fade away in a series of clich?s and odd phrases. Few people can write a good resume. Most can craft a serviceable one and some... They cannot craft anything. For those unable to create anything remotely resembling a resume, the best hope for success is to use a resume writing service.A resume writing service can provide anything form helpful tips to actually forming your resume. They offer professional staff members, ones accustomed to catching the attention of employers. These men and women understand how difficult it is to stand out amongst the mass of applicants, so they help you create a resume that is the ideal showcase for your talents.Of course, there are two disadvantages to using resume writing services. One is obvious: it is a service and, therefore, costs money. Some can be expensive, especially if you have them create your resume. The other is less obvious: you set yourself up to be scammed. Yes, even resume writing services have their problems. You must be certain that a deal that sounds too good to be true.... isn't. This requires research. Be sure that, before
you commit to any site or business, you understand what you are getting for the charge.A resume writing service can be a helpful thing; it can also be an expensive one. Rates vary and cost changes from service to service, but the basic principle remains: you are not going to get something worthwhile for a little price. This is business, something you--as
m.
Since you’ve been asking questions and getting honest answers, you can use that data to provide great information to your target audience. Be their human “search engine” for all things related to your area of expertise. Be the resource that they go to first for information, whether it’s how to introduce a new kitty to the household or what to do to be prepared for an emergency. You can educate them one-on-one, in group settings like seminars or networking groups, or by writing articles and providing email assistance.
9. Write articles they’ll read.
This is a top-notch way to become the expert. Stick to your niche and start writing. You can write a tip sheet like the one you’re reading now in less than a couple of hour’s time. You can write articles for your local paper, for the publications your target audience is most likely to read and for the web. The bottom line is start writing. If you’re worried about your grammar and syntax, why not hire a college student who’s majoring in English or Journalism to edit your final product?
10. Speak to their groups.
This is just another way of educating your target clients. Whenever you meet new people who would be great clients find out what groups they belong to. Then find out if they have outside speakers come in (most have a programming committee that is DYING to find someone to come in to their meetings) and provide an entertaining presentation. Contact the programming chair and offer to speak to their group about your specialty. Make sure you’ve got a way to collect contact information and plenty of business cards. Want more info in using public speaking to get more great clients? Make sure you check out the speaking section of the new Home Study System.
11. Solve their problems.
Because you’ve been listening when you were asking questions, you’re now really aware of the specific concerns and problems your potential clients have when it comes to their pet care. Set yourself up to be their problem solver. More than providing dog-walking, you provide midday relief for aging dogs who don’t have as much control of their bladder, and you provide guilt-free work days for the owners. See what I mean?
12. Get out of the house.
Hey, we’ve all done it…convinced ourselves that we can get new business strictly by tweaking our website, or submitting articles on line. Or doing anything but getting out there in the public eye – and I dare say there’s a hundred and one hucksters who will try to convince you of just that. But aside from needing to go out to conduct your pet-care visits, you need to get out of your chair and about your town to meet and greet potential clients and their friends. This means being presentable, having business cards and a smile.
13. Spend half your work hours marketing.
My coach and mentor Fabienne Fredrickson is the Client Attraction expert and she taught me that there are only two activities an entrepreneur should be doing every business day. The first is whatever it is you do to earn your money (in your case, pet-sitting) the other is marketing. And she goes so far as to mandate you spend 50% of your work hours on each of these tasks. I’d have to agree. If you want a clear and concise way to make that happen, I recommend you get with Fabienne and work through her Client Attraction System. It’s done wonders for me.
14. Create a system that works for you.
Systems make the life of an entrepreneur a happy one. Putting your marketing activities on auto-pilot set you on course to keep the clients coming. For instance plug all your networking events into your calendar for the year, same with your talks, your writing deadlines and your client interactions. Make it a habit to stick to the calendar and plan for those deadlines ahead of time. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish each day.
15. Ask for (and use) testimonials.
What’s better – me telling you how wonderful I am with your cat or your neighbor raving about the outstanding care and loving service I provided to her cat? I thought so. Your clients should all be raving fans – you planned it that way, right? So anytime they send you a note or email or make a phone call singing your praises, ask them if you can use their testimonial in your marketing materials. Also make sure you can use their first and last name and some identifying material (like city, or company). If you haven’t gotten many unsolicited pieces of praise, don’t worry, simply make a call or send an email requesting testimonials to a few of your favorite clients.
16. Always carry business cards.
And make sure your business card is a fabulous representation of you. Make sure the logo is clear and enticing, your name and contact information are easy to find and your website address is obvious. Don’t overlook the valuable real estate on the back of the card either. You’ll want to have a call to action there too. Now, whenever you’re having a great conversation with someone whose pet-care problems you can solve, you’ll have a great little “leave behind” when they ask “Hey, do you have a card?” For more info on business card etiquette, check out my marketing section in the Home Study System...
17. Chat with the person next to you.
Have you ever had to stand in line? At the grocery store, the Social Security office or the post office? Me too. These are great opportunities to make a new friend. During your chat, why not ask some of those great questions you’ve thought up? At the very least you’ll pass time in a pleasant fashion, and at best you’ll meet a potential new client. Never miss the opportunity to find out how you can serve your neighbor’s better.
18. Gain experience.
Look at each marketing endeavor as an opportunity to learn what you’re great at.
Career Advice for Women: Girls - Flirt Your Way to the Top!We've all heard about the 'casting couch' and most of us wouldn't go as far as sleeping our way to the top, but is there really any harm in fluttering a few eyelashes and the odd provocative comment to get ourselves noticed at work?Well, as viewers of tonight's opening episode of the new UK series of The Apprentice will find out, you can actually end up doing yourself more harm than good.Women have battled with sexism in the workplace for long enough, without encouraging sexual attention at work. Apart from annoying other people and alienating your female colleagues, you can find yourself passed over for promotion simply because male bosses don't want to be perceived as giving you any 'special favours'.So what can you do?
Keep conversations at work on a strictly business level and keep conversations about extra-curricular activities clean!
Don't get drawn into office banter that has sexual undertones (it's better to be thought a prude than the opposite)
When dressing for work, think stylish rather than sexy
Leave the short skirts, tight tops and high heels to the weekendYes, you may have worked hard to get the figure you have and may strongly believe in Girl Power, but surely it's better to get ahead based on your merits than how you look or who you flirt with.
comes to their pet care. Set yourself up to be their problem solver. More than providing dog-walking, you provide midday relief for aging dogs who don’t have as much control of their bladder, and you provide guilt-free work days for the owners. See what I mean?
12. Get out of the house.
Hey, we’ve all done it…convinced ourselves that we can get new business strictly by tweaking our website, or submitting articles on line. Or doing anything but getting out there in the public eye – and I dare say there’s a hundred and one hucksters who will try to convince you of just that. But aside from needing to go out to conduct your pet-care visits, you need to get out of your chair and about your town to meet and greet potential clients and their friends. This means being presentable, having business cards and a smile.
13. Spend half your work hours marketing.
My coach and mentor Fabienne Fredrickson is the Client Attraction expert and she taught me that there are only two activities an entrepreneur should be doing every business day. The first is whatever it is you do to earn your money (in your case, pet-sitting) the other is marketing. And she goes so far as to mandate you spend 50% of your work hours on each of these tasks. I’d have to agree. If you want a clear and concise way to make that happen, I recommend you get with Fabienne and work through her Client Attraction System. It’s done wonders for me.
14. Create a system that works for you.
Systems make the life of an entrepreneur a happy one. Putting your marketing activities on auto-pilot set you on course to keep the clients coming. For instance plug all your networking events into your calendar for the year, same with your talks, your writing deadlines and your client interactions. Make it a habit to stick to the calendar and plan for those deadlines ahead of time. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish each day.
15. Ask for (and use) testimonials.
What’s better – me telling you how wonderful I am with your cat or your neighbor raving about the outstanding care and loving service I provided to her cat? I thought so. Your clients should all be raving fans – you planned it that way, right? So anytime they send you a note or email or make a phone call singing your praises, ask them if you can use their testimonial in your marketing materials. Also make sure you can use their first and last name and some identifying material (like city, or company). If you haven’t gotten many unsolicited pieces of praise, don’t worry, simply make a call or send an email requesting testimonials to a few of your favorite clients.
16. Always carry business cards.
And make sure your business card is a fabulous representation of you. Make sure the logo is clear and enticing, your name and contact information are easy to find and your website address is obvious. Don’t overlook the valuable real estate on the back of the card either. You’ll want to have a call to action there too. Now, whenever you’re having a great conversation with someone whose pet-care problems you can solve, you’ll have a great little “leave behind” when they ask “Hey, do you have a card?” For more info on business card etiquette, check out my marketing section in the Home Study System...
17. Chat with the person next to you.
Have you ever had to stand in line? At the grocery store, the Social Security office or the post office? Me too. These are great opportunities to make a new friend. During your chat, why not ask some of those great questions you’ve thought up? At the very least you’ll pass time in a pleasant fashion, and at best you’ll meet a potential new client. Never miss the opportunity to find out how you can serve your neighbor’s better.
18. Gain experience.
Look at each marketing endeavor as an opportunity to learn what you’re great at.
Fall In Love With Learning How To Carry And Use Your Marbles At All Times!You must become a business developer!
Fall in love with learning how to carry
and use your marbles at all times!
Children under eleven years old ask first, then they tell because they are cute. Twelve years and older are not cute anymore.
Now you have to give someone a reason first, then ask. Your tell & ask should not be more than 30 seconds.
A TV commercial is 30 seconds. The Challenge is to use your imagination and give them a reason to give you what you want.
The best tellers are the best sellers. You can always improve on, your tell, your reason.Carry three marbles at all times. The marbles remind you to A-s-k and you shall receive most of the time. Before you ask, (give) tell them a reason you should get what you want to serve humanity with humility. Telling is not selling; asking for what you really want is selling.90% of what you want, you must tell & ask one to three people.
10% of what you want, you must tell & ask four to 500 people.
Because is a reason. Please is also a reason.In your tell and ask, you must establish
1. Friendliness.
2. Know that you are practicing your tell & ask.
Doctors practice, Lawyers practice etc.
3. Prove that you are not afraid to tell & ask everyone and anyone on the planet. The response to your request will be.
Yes= 1. Yes- or 2. Tell me more
No = 1. I’m Too Busy, 2. It’s Too expensive, too much trouble, (both or the same issue.) 3. I want to think about it
If yes is a promise. No is also a promise, not a rejection.
Every time you do not ask,
Ask for (and use) testimonials.
What’s better – me telling you how wonderful I am with your cat or your neighbor raving about the outstanding care and loving service I provided to her cat? I thought so. Your clients should all be raving fans – you planned it that way, right? So anytime they send you a note or email or make a phone call singing your praises, ask them if you can use their testimonial in your marketing materials. Also make sure you can use their first and last name and some identifying material (like city, or company). If you haven’t gotten many unsolicited pieces of praise, don’t worry, simply make a call or send an email requesting testimonials to a few of your favorite clients.
16. Always carry business cards.
And make sure your business card is a fabulous representation of you. Make sure the logo is clear and enticing, your name and contact information are easy to find and your website address is obvious. Don’t overlook the valuable real estate on the back of the card either. You’ll want to have a call to action there too. Now, whenever you’re having a great conversation with someone whose pet-care problems you can solve, you’ll have a great little “leave behind” when they ask “Hey, do you have a card?” For more info on business card etiquette, check out my marketing section in the Home Study System...
17. Chat with the person next to you.
Have you ever had to stand in line? At the grocery store, the Social Security office or the post office? Me too. These are great opportunities to make a new friend. During your chat, why not ask some of those great questions you’ve thought up? At the very least you’ll pass time in a pleasant fashion, and at best you’ll meet a potential new client. Never miss the opportunity to find out how you can serve your neighbor’s better.
18. Gain experience.
Look at each marketing endeavor as an opportunity to learn what you’re great at. When you feel awkward, or unsuccessful, use it as an opportunity to figure out what would make it work better. If you feel it’s completely a no-go, drop it and try something new. Each new bit of experience adds to your ability to market to your perfect customer as well as redefine who that customer is.
19. Create a list of folks you want to meet and go for it
This is your personal “celebrity hit parade.” Create a list of the movers and shakers in your community whom you would like to meet. These can include your mayor and other elected officials, the owner of the largest automobile franchise or the popular proprietor of the local eatery. Getting to know the movers and shakers in your realm adds to your level of recognition in your community. You’ll be the go-to person for the local celebrities and all your other potential clients will take notice. Make sure you maintain your grounded personality and keep all confidences and privacy considerations in check. But do recognize that someone’s got to be their pet’s caregiver – why not you?
20. Be prepared.
Obviously I was never a boy scout, but I always liked their motto. Being prepared means anticipating various scenarios – from a flood in a client’s basement to a dog slipping from his collar – and knowing what you’ll do when it happens. Spend time thinking through all the best and worst scenarios that can happen in this industry and then create your plans. Some may even prompt you to create an extra page in your client welcome packet (we’ve got a form asking who will be the caregiver if the client is incapacitated). Knowing that you’re prepared for most scenarios gives you an air of confidence and professionalism that you just can’t fake. Trust me, the best clients know.
21. Give back to the community.
We’re service oriented people; otherwise we would not be pet-care providers. It’s important to find ways to invest in your community and ensure it stays a great place to live and work. This keeps great clients in your service area and attracts great workers. Find one or two causes that are near and dear to you (whether it’s the after-school program, the garden society or an animal rescue group is inconsequential) and set goals for your participation each year. Feel free to submit press releases and write articles about your and your company’s support of these organizations.
22. Set business hours and stick to them.
Professionals respect professionals and setting business hours creates your legitimacy in the eyes of great clients. Obviously, you’ll have an emergency back up plan (see #20 be prepared), but you have every right to take days off and stick to them. Great clients keep to schedules and respect yours, as long as you do.
23. Stand out from the crowd.
Don’t be afraid to do things your way. Doing everything exactly the way everyone else in your industry does isn’t a step on the road to greatness. Simply asserting “my goal is to have the best customer service in pet-sitting” is NOT setting you apart. Find ways that you can be different. Sometimes it’s taking a stand that’s contrary to your colleagues, sometimes it’s adding an extra bonus or specializing in a specific niche. The difference is up to you, but as they say, Vive la difference!
Starting a concierge service is a great way to become your own boss and take command of your financial future. A growing number of people believe that self-employment is part of the American Dream and offers the best job security a person can hope for in these uncertain times. Therefore, while not for everyone, a concierge service can be a fun and profitable way to make a living as the rest of us slave away in offices doing the weekly grind. Here is some useful information for anyone thinking about starting a concierge service and living the American Dream.
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One of the biggest business problems we face across all industries is our lack of top-notch communication skills. We all want better business results, yet most don't know how to get them.
To get results you might have to consider some new skills.