Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

Is Your Smile Scary?

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Morning Walk time!Hank & I were on our morning walk today and ran into a dog from the neighborhood. This puppy has grown up fast and is super cute, but still in training so the owner often crosses the street when we’re walking so the dog won’t get distracted. This morning though the owner had the dog move to the side of the sidewalk and sit. And then he started to smile and show ALL his teeth, kind of in a Cujo way…So, I pulled Hank a little closer and we walked towards the dog, but the new dog didn’t bark, and when Hank couldn’t help himself (and I couldn’t hold him back) he went over to sniff the dog and it was JUST FINE.

How often do we have a “scary smile” in our business that shows all our teeth and scares off the competition when all you’re trying to do is win them over? Scary Smiles can be all kinds of things:

  • Selling yourself too hard to a prospective client in the first meeting
  • Immediately following and interacting on ALL social media (one at a time please…)
  • Asking for a coffee appointment when you don’t explain well what the purpose is
  • Pushing for the sales
  • Over-follow up

Sure as we get closer we realize you won’t bite or growl, but taking it down a notch may help us from crossing the street.

Fundraising Done Right

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ROL_page_bannerOn Monday I attended the Hopelink Luncheon. It was a great event with 1500 people and they raised just under $1 million dollars! And why do I know that? Because on Tuesday (yes, the very next day) I had a postcard in the mail box thanking me for attending, and included was the amount the raised, AND my address, both hand written. I also received a voicemail yesterday thanking me for my donation and for attending the luncheon.

Thanking donors is something that most nonprofits do well. I have received voicemail and postcard thank you’s for fundraisers I’ve attended in the past, but the efficiency and organization of the event and especially of the follow-up gives me confidence these folks know what they’re doing and that my donation is in good hands.

When I work with clients I often suggest that they have follow-up emails written BEFORE the event. You get back to your office after a speaking engagement, plug-in email addresses and hit send on that follow-up note. Make it easy on your self. Plan ahead, be organized, have the resources you need (often an admin) and be efficient. It pays off.

Don’t Do Stuff You Suck At

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imagesLast week at the eWomen luncheon my friend Jessica Butts spoke on “Live Your Business Life From The Front Seat” which was a GREAT topic that I needed to hear.

One thing she said that was a great reminder, is Don’t Do Stuff You Suck At. It’s so true folks. Three months ago I finally hired a virtual assistant to handle my invoicing. I can do it, but it tedious and I screw up something half the time. I now pay someone to do this, it take her a third of the time it took me and I’m WAY happier on the first of each month.

What stuff are you doing in your business that you suck at and need to outsource? Your website? Data entry? Billing? Your newsletter? Social Media? Accounting?

What stuff do you like to do but don’t have the time for? What would you do if you had the time not doing the stuff that makes you so frustrated and angry? Make a list, start asking for introductions to these folks, and figure out if the cost is worth it for you. Trust me, it is.