Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

Guest Post: The Same Goals Get the Same Results

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goal without plan is just wishToday’s guest post is from one of my favorite people, and my business coach, Debbie Page. Trust her wisdom, heed her advice, she’s the real deal folks. 

It’s the time of the year where e v e r y o n e is talking about goals. Asking if you’ve set ‘em, and what’s different than last year?

Do you ever find yourself with goal shame?

You’re not alone. Many of the people who I work with come to me with goal shame and fatigue. They’ve been setting the same goals again and again because they never hit their marks. Stuck in this cycle of set – not reach – repeat they are horrified at the thought of downsizing their goals. Because you just don’t do that, right? Wrong. You can. It’s your business. Downsizing a goal to the right size is a strategic business move.

As a business coach to women one of the first things I do with a new client is ask them how they set their goals for their business. Often times the answers start with, “I picked numbers that seemed reasonable.”

Ok, and then what? (Insert cricket sound here…)

Often underestimated by entrepreneurs is the fact that goal setting is a process that requires several hours of evaluation and projection. It is a process.

These are 3 ways to get your goals right this year:

  1. Gather your data – Gather it all. All your inquiries, where they came from, your conversions your sales cycle time, your average sale, your average revenue per sale. Each of these provide invaluable information for you to understand where you’ve been in order to determine where you are going.
  2. Look for inconsistencies in execution – What are your real marketing numbers? If networking was to be one of your initiatives to grow your business, how many events did you attend and how often. If you only attend when business is slow you will not get sustained results. Consistency in marketing is a critical factor in your success.
  3. Constantly measure, review and adjust when needed – time on your calendar must be scheduled to regularly adjust and modify as needed.

Goal setting for results is possible. It’s not necessary to repeat the same goals year after year hoping you’ll get a different result. To get something different you have to do something different.

If you are ready to do something different I have two resources for you to consider:

Request access to my 6 Days to Ultimate Business Success Challenge. A challenge where you will ultimately determine what you really want in business, how to navigate your business fears and take confident action, develop a higher money consciousness and how to pay yourself first.

Join my Free Facebook Group, The Women’s Business Profit Lab where you can find a library of nearly 50 video trainings as well as access to nearly 800 women business owners from around the world who share ideas and best practices on running and scaling their businesses.

About Debbie: I’ve been a business owner and entrepreneur for more than 22 years now…and yup – it freaks me out to say that – because in my mind I’m still 26…anyhoo. I might be like you. I’m an accidental entrepreneur.  I said yes to one opportunity, and then another. I’m the leading authority on cash flow and profitability for women in business and a systems and process nut and love teaching people how to leverage and scale their business.

Guest Post: Six Organized Strategies to Help You Get Back into a Routine

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This week’s guest blog post is from my friend and fabulous professional organizer, Debbie Rosemont of Simply Placed.  Debbie has some great strategies as we head into the final quarter of 2018 to get your routine back in place.

Six Organized Strategies to Help You Get Back into a RoutineAs much as we might not like it, fall has set in and the lazy, hazy days of summer are behind us. Many people have a “looser” schedule over the summer months, both personally and professionally. It is refreshing to take a break from our routine now and then and live a less scheduled life. It is also comforting and productive for many of us to return to a routine after such a break.

Here are six simple strategies to help you re-establish some routine in your life so that you can get more done, focus on your priorities AND have time for what matters most to you.

  1. Establish the habit of getting enough sleep each night.  Everyone needs a different amount of sleep to feel rested, rejuvenated and ready to be productive, but studies show that for most adults, between seven to nine hours is ideal. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day – yes, even on the weekend. Follow a familiar bedtime routine, limiting “before bed” activities, especially screen time, to things that relax you and help you wind down. You’ll enjoy the benefits of more energy and when you are well-rested, you’ll be more productive the following day.
  2. Plan out your week.  Both at work and at home, end your week by reviewing what you accomplished and look ahead to the next week to see what the priorities will be. Make sure you have time allotted on your calendar for these priorities. Take time over the weekend to prepare. This will help you eliminate surprises and stress.
  3. Do what you can the night before.  Set the coffee pot on a timer so it is brewed when you come down for breakfast. Pack a healthy lunch. Pack up your gym bag the night before if you plan to work out.  Place any other items you need for activities or errands the next day right by the door. Lay out your clothing for the next morning. These evening efforts will make your morning less hectic and provide a smoother launch into the day.
  4. Prioritize your day.  Once you arrive at your office (or if you work from home, once your workday begins), immediately plan and prioritize your day. Alternatively, this can also be done at the end of the day so that you can and hit the ground running the next day. Focus on high-priority activities first.  Eliminate distractions (email, phone, etc.) for periods of time so that you can really dig in, uninterrupted and make great progress on those priority tasks and projects. You’ll feel very accomplished!
  5. De-clutter.  Take a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy your workspace or your home. Put items back where they belong so you can find them the next time they’re needed.
  6. Schedule appointments with yourself.  Block off time on your calendar to regularly de-clutter and organize. If you don’t schedule time to do this, it won’t happen. Make this a weekly habit. Likewise, block off and protect chunks of time on your calendar for high priority activities. If you know there’s something you want to get done in a given day, make an appointment with yourself and then honor that time. Seeing the appointment visibly can also make it easier to say “no” to something or someone else that might serve as a barrier to your productivity on the priority.

Could you use some help establishing a routine that will help you to be more organized and productive either at work or at home? Do you want more time for the things that are really important in life? Our “It’s About Time” Virtual Productivity Program can teach you strategies to work smarter, not harder, and give you back time for the things that matter most.

Here’s to your organized and productive life!

Debbie Rosemont, Certified Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant, started Simply Placed in 2003 to help clients increase productivity, maximize efficiency and bring balance and control into their work, homes and lives. Simply Placed associates work with individuals and businesses to create effective organizational systems, clear clutter, successfully manage time, focus on priorities and achieve goals.

3 Tips to Boost Your Brand Visibility

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Today’s blog is a guest post from one of my favorite small business experts – Maria Ross of Red Slice!

Maria Ross is a brand strategist, speaker and author who believes cash flow and creativity are not mutually exclusive. She is the creator of Red Slice, a brand consultancy for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses and author of Branding Basics for Small Business: How to Create an Irresistible Brand on Any Budget, (2nd Edition) and a mini-eBook series, The Juicy Guides for Entrepreneurs, as well as her powerful personal memoir, Rebooting My Brain. Maria is a dynamic keynote speaker on both business and inspirational topics and has shared her insights in numerous media outlets, including MSNBC, ABC News, Forbes.com, and Entrepreneur Magazine. She currently writes for Entrepreneur.com Maria lives with her husband, preschool son and frisky Black Lab in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more at www.red-slice.com

Picture this:

  • You walk into a crowded networking event and as soon as you pin on your nametag, a smiling woman makes a beeline for you. “I thought I recognized you! I’ve been reading your blog and forwarding your articles to my clients for years!”
  • You pop into Pinterest to check your analytics. You discover that while you’ve been drinking your coffee on the patio and walking the dog, 247 people have pinned your most recent blog post.
  • You sit down for lunch with a potential client. As you wait for the entrees, he tells you “I’ve heard your name everywhere and I keep seeing your articles pop up in my LinkedIn feed. So I thought it was time to meet you and figure out how we could work together.”

Sounds amazing, right? Right.

Gaining visibility for your brand and your work isn’t nearly as complicated as you might think. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on advertising or learn to use a new social media platform.

You just need to take a few surprisingly easy steps on a consistent basis.

  1. Pitch yourself as a podcast guest

What if you could get your ideas and expertise in front of thousands of potential customers for zero dollars and about 60 minutes of effort?
Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? It’s not. This is exactly what happens when you’re a guest on a podcast!
How do you go about securing podcast spots? Start with some simple googling for podcasts in your niche: The Best Health And Fitness Podcasts, The 11 Best Self Improvement Podcasts To Supercharge Your Growth, 10 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter With Your Money. You can also check out different categories on iTunes and Stitcher.

I also like to keep a running spreadsheet of the podcasts that interview my friends. You’ll often see your friends mention their guest spots on social media, so when you see that, take note!Pop that information into you spreadsheet and do a bit of research to determine if you’d be a good fit for that podcast. Of course, it’s much easier to get a guest spot if you can get an introduction from a friend and former guest. Here’s a helpful link for how to pitch yourself as a podcast guest.

  1. Post articles beyond your blog

Your blog is fantastic! And if you’ve been writing blog posts with SEO-friendly titles and updating it regularly, you’ve probably found some devoted readers.
But the internet is filled with potential customers who’ve never encountered you and your work. Increase your visibility by repurposing and reformatting your content and getting it in front of new people.

Publish your archived blog posts on Linkedin or Medium. Turn your best content into a podcast or create a series of Instagram Stories.

Pitch a contributed article to an online site in your niche; they’re always looking for good free content.

And while Elizabeth kindly approached me to write this guest blog here on her site, you can also pitch yourself to trusted colleagues to do the same thing. It’s more visibility for you and it gives them ready-made valuable content for their audience. Win Win.

Any of these are a great way for people to discover you and then go back to your site to check you out–and join your email list.

  1. Go ‘live’ on a consistent basis

Eeeep! I know live video can feel a little nerve-wracking. What if the dog barks? What if this is the moment your UPS package finally arrives and you need to sign for it?
I get it. And so do your viewers! At this point, we’ve all seen enough live video to know that stuff happens. Honestly, a little bit of ‘real life’ humanizes you and makes you more relatable to your viewers.

Not only does live video increase your visibility literally (because we can see your sweet face and hear your wonderful voice) it increases your brand’s visibility on social media.

The Facebook algorithm favors live video and if you have a big Instagram following, you can go live there, too. I even know people who film a Facebook Live from their computer and an Instagram Live from their phone simultaneously.

Struggling for live video ideas?

  • Create a live video version of one of your most popular blog posts or offer a “Tip of the Week” to showcase your expertise or something interesting related to your field.
  • Do a video that ties together something topical + timely and your area of expertise, like relating your work to a new study, news headline or relevant event. If you can tie your work into trending pop culture, such as new movies, music or celebrity happenings, try that to keep things entertaining.

If you’re a health coach and it’s summer, do a live video about healthy recipes that everyone at the neighborhood BBQ will love. If you’re an accountant and it’s April, do a live video about tax deductions people forget about. You get the idea!

  • Ask your followers what they’d like to learn about. But rather than asking an open-ended question, give them 3-5 options and let them vote. Otherwise you run the risk of having them all request a live video topic you’re not particularly interested in.
  • If you’re a brick and mortar business, give your viewers a behind-the-scenes tour. Show them the kitchen where you make your salads or the workshop where your products are assembled.

For even more tips on how to boost your visibility and create an irresistible brand, please sign up for your free brand guide, 7 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Visibility. And if you’re ready to end your marketing overwhelm and make all the right marketing moves that will get you more visibility, clients and sales, check out MOMENTUM Pro. This is my self-study digital version of my popular live coaching program, self-guided and stress-free just for you. Each lesson gives you one actionable step to take to do everything from grow your email list to write great sales page copy to network more effectively. Enjoy this special offer: $100 off the regular price.   Click here to learn more and see how it’s helped other savvy entrepreneurs supercharge their businesses!