Persevering in Business

You should never be short-sighted when it comes to business; you need a long-term approach to growing it.  While your weekly goals are important, it’s also key to recognize that persevering today will pay off down the road.  Having that kind of outlook is a quality others in your industry will recognize, appreciate and admire.  It even builds trust.  Perseverance is powerful.  “It’s more than steady follow-up, it is also belief in yourself and the product or service you provide.”  So how to preserve in business?

Project a positive outcome.  If success was easy to attain, everyone would have it but it’s not – you have to keep moving forward through the challenges and tough times and I can guarantee you that you will face them as you start a new venture.  Your efforts matter.  “Often smart, talented, hard-working people give up too soon and embrace failure, while not so talented or hardworking people have become successful simply because they kept going.”  There’s a difference between these two groups:  the first lacks patience and commitment while the second believe in themselves and their potential.  They understand that dreams don’t just come true overnight.  You have to work hard to achieve them.  If you keep working, you’ll eventually reach your goal.

Ask and then ask again.  Sometimes perseverance means doing what you need to do to get what you want even when other people are telling you that you can’t have it.  If a client or customer says no to you, try again.  Follow up and follow through.  Don’t give up on them.  Give them a second chance to see why they should indeed take a chance on you.  That is the true definition of perseverance.

Follow up when you say you will or in essence, follow up on time.  If you say you’re going to do something on a certain day at a certain time, do it!  People appreciate perseverance and it makes them feel important and makes you appear to be responsible and in control of your own destiny.  By following through on your promises, you make a long lasting impression that breeds trust and gives your clients and customers a sense that they can depend on you.

Consider all different approaches.  If you feel you are not making progress one way, try it a different way.  For example, if you’re trying to book an appointment with someone and they keep shrugging you off, try inviting them to something else like a lecture you’re giving or send them news-worthy information so that they’ll keep you fresh in their minds.

Give extra attention.  Clients and customers love to know that they come first.  Send them an email or card once in a while.  Invite them to networking events.  Persevere by showing them you want their business at any cost.

Don’t be discouraged by setbacks.  Don’t sit around and dwell on what didn’t happen; go out and make something new happen.  “An object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest.”  If you spend all your time thinking about what you could have done differently, then you are just wasting your time.  Think about ways to do things differently.  Isn’t that what perseverance is all about?

“Remember that [your] agenda is not everyone else’s priority.”  Clients and customers might not be as responsive as you’d like or return phone calls or emails right away.  Sometimes they need time to make decisions and give them that time but don’t give up on them.  If you’re persistent, though, in the end, you’ll get their attention, their respect and eventually they’re business.  “The power of perseverance will make you as successful as [you] want to be!”

Here are some articles you might want to check out about persevering in business:

“How to Build Perseverance in Business”: http://www.ehow.com/how_12098213_build-perseverance-business.html

“Persevere If You Want to Succeed in Business”: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/edmunds/2011-05-11-perseverance_n.htm

“Harness the Power of Perseverance to Unlock the Door to Success”: http://www.resiliencyfirst.com/2012/09/04/harness-the-power-of-perseverance-to-unlock-the-door-to-success/

“Entrepreneurs Persevere: There are No Overnight Successes”: http://under30ceo.com/entrepreneurs-persevere-there-are-no-overnight-successes/

Until next time…

Using Twitter for Business

While Twitter can be great fun on a personal level and a way to reconnect with friends and meet new people, it can also be used for a lot more than just broadcasting the mundane things you’ve done for the day.  Twitter is actually a very valuable asset in growing brand awareness for your business – you can land clients, customers, market, network and gain free publicity, all in 140 characters or less!  Savvy entrepreneurs recognize Twitter for the powerful social media tool that it really is and use it to their benefit.  So how to use Twitter for business growth?

Think about sharing expertise from your own pool of knowledge to be seen as a thought leader in your industry.  Help others with problems.  Share tips related to your business.  Provide networking leads.  Report industry and other world news.  Think of Twitter as a commentary on information awareness.  Post links to articles that you think are of interest to your industry.  Tweet original thoughts and topics.

Grow your network and add value.  When someone asks a question, provide the answer quickly.  Share links.  Participate in Twitter chats related to your industry or business on a regular basis. 

Research prospects before meeting them – you can gain a lot of valuable information just from scanning others tweets, reading their profiles and exploring who they follow and who follows them.

Stay in touch with friends and colleagues.  Give referrals.  Get referrals.  Recommend other Twitter users to you network including reasons to follow them – by helping others gain recognition via Twitter, you’ll gain it in return.

Use the search feature to find topics and keywords that might help you connect with others in your industry.  Use hashtags to create a conversation.

Spread your tweets out throughout the day.  While you don’t want to over-post, think about tweeting every hour or two.  Don’t just tweet in the morning or evening as people go on Twitter all throughout the day.  You never know who you’ll reach.  The more regularly you tweet, the more likely you are to reach a broader audience.

Use Twitter to market your brand.  Don’t just rely on your website alone.  Use Twitter to drive traffic to your website.  Give regular updates on Twitter about the product your selling or the promotions your business is running.  Try holding contests via Twitter to gain more followers and customers. 

Avoid hard-sell tactics; focus on relationship building.  Tweet honest and valuable content.  You might want to think about mentioning when you’re attending or speaking at an upcoming event.  Announce the publication of any articles, blogs or newsletters you’ve written or been quoted in.  Announce job openings to find qualified talent.

Try to make your Twitter posts a fun and interactive experience for your followers.  Share information that is useful for prospective clients or customers to enhance your reputation.  Respect the fact that others might not agree with you.  Don’t respond to negative comments.  Thank people for their follow or retweets.

Remember, Twitter is viral!  Popularity on Twitter can lead to growing your business.  It’s a great way to share and gain knowledge on your industry and the clients and customers you are looking to service.

Twitter can help you increase sales and gain brand loyalty.  If you’re tweeting out useful information to your followers, they’ll be more likely to retweet you and help spread awareness of your brand and the message you’re promoting.

Twitter is also a great way to keep track of the competition.  You can see what they’re tweeting, the information they’re offering and the products they’re selling.  Don’t think about it as spying; think about it as a way to get a leg up in your industry.

Be aware of what your followers want.  Give your customers information that adds value to their lives and will make them want to purchase what you’re selling.

Twitter is also a great way to get customer feedback.  Start a conversation with your customers and clients.  Ask them what they want and if the information you’re providing them is helpful.  Think of Twitter as an easy way to better service your customer.

I’ll leave you with this last thought:  “People go on Twitter to share what they know and learn in return.”  Twitter users are starved for new ideas, information, services, products and opportunities.  If you’re business isn’t part of this exchange, you’re missing a huge opportunity to grow and improve your business.  Recognize the power of Twitter as a branding and marketing tool.  After all, it is an $8 billion dollar company!  Twitter is one of the most valuable social media platforms out there and can open up a world of opportunity for your business.  Don’t miss out!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about using Twitter for business:

“16 Creative Ways to Use Twitter for Business” http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/twitter-for-business/

“Why Use Twitter for Business?”: http://blog.supermedia.com/why-use-twitter-for-business/

“How to Use Twitter for Business”: http://blog.supermedia.com/how-to-use-twitter-for-business/

“Using Twitter for Business – Tweeting Your Way to the Top”: http://assistsocialmedia.com/using-twitter-for-business/

Until next time…

Setting Goals in Business

Just like in life, setting goals in business is to key to making a successful go of it.  There’s no hype to setting goals; in fact, it’s very important.  How will you get where you want to go without a set itinerary?  Goals tell you where you’re going, how you’re going to get there and what you’ll do once you’ve arrived at your destination.  So how to set goals in business?

First off, decide what you want.  Setting goals requires focus and also requires you to re-evaluate and make decisions about what you actually want.  You need to make goal setting a core principle of your business values.  You need to set a deadline and outline a plan to achieving said goals.  While suggestions are always welcome, don’t let outside influencers get in the way of truly thinking about what you want out of your business. “Goal setting is the opposite of floating through life letting things happen to you.”

Start small.  Goals don’t necessarily have to be all-encompassing at first.  They don’t have to be big and grand.  If you set your goals too high, you might find it overwhelming and time consuming which might lead you to give up instead of staying focused and really achieving what you’ve set out to achieve.  Goal setting isn’t all about success; there will be setbacks along the way (that I can guarantee) but keep your eye focused on the prize.  Small goals in business are preferable because you can measure achievement step by step in small increments.  Think about dates, times, amounts and details of your business goals.  “By breaking down goals in smaller, workable units, you are more likely to make them come true.”

Match your goals to relevant areas of your life.  Think about them as aspirations to things you want to achieve with broad intent.  By detailing your goals into specific realms of your business, you’ll gain more control and a sense of purpose over them.  Assign goals to different areas of your business – i.e., marketing, branding, customer retention, etc.

Be positive when stating your goals and keep a clear head about you.  “Stating your goal positively will help you view it as a good thing to do and not as a by-product of what you have to avoid.”  Don’t let goal setting overwhelm you.  Remember the benefits it will bring and the ways it will help you grow your business, stay on target and stay on track to success.

Don’t underestimate yourself.  Sometimes fear of failure can cause you to set your goals too low.  You don’t need to shoot for the moon right off the bat but that doesn’t mean you can’t set meaningful goals that are achievable.  It’s tempting to slack off at times if you feel too pressured to make your goals a reality.  Cut yourself some slack and take things step by step, day by day.  Remember, sometimes your fears are unfounded.  Don’t think about the negatives or all the roadblocks in your path.  Find a way to persevere.

Write your goals down and keep track of them and the progress you are making towards achieving them.  “Putting your goals down on paper is more than just memorizing it.  You are actually confirming your willingness to make it come true.”  A written list of goals is an effective reminder of what you need to do to reach them and will help you stay organized and on-track.  It will help you set a vision for where you want to go.   Think of setting up a goal sheet on your bulletin board or using a dry erase board where you can lay out concrete goals and visualize them – this might help you better organize your thoughts.

Affirm your goals.  Do the little things to make them come true.  Stay on a steady course.  Set goals every day and move forward little by little with confidence.  Tell yourself that you can achieve your goals and you will!  Don’t let detractors scare you off or run you off course.  Keep a strong focus.

Stop procrastinating and be proactive.  Setting goals can seem scary but if you just go for it and put fear out of your head, you’ll be on the right path to achieving them in no time.  Try to set a schedule for each goal you want to meet and reward yourself when you do.

See the challenge of goal setting as a positive not a negative.  Allow yourself to have great thoughts; don’t underestimate your capabilities.  Substitute shallow thinking when goal setting.  Think of goals that will add value to your business.  It’s not all about the goals that help you make money; it’s about the goals that make you see the bigger picture and what’s really important. 

Lastly and most importantly, now that you’ve set your goals, go out and make them a reality!  Review your progress along the way and remind yourself that what you’ve set out to achieve is indeed possible!

While setting goals in business can seem daunting and tedious at times, it really is something you can’t afford to ignore.  If you don’t know where you’re headed, how will you get there?  Do the little things every day that will lead you on the path to great things!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about setting goals in business:

“How to Set Business Goals”: http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/06/setting-business-goals.html

“A Guide to Goal Setting”: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/188454

“The Ten Commandments of Goal Setting”: http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/goalset.htm

“How to Set Goals for a Business”: http://www.ehow.com/how_2305175_set-business-goals.html

Until next time…

How to Negotiate in Business

“Today in business you don’t get what you ask for – you get what you negotiate.”  For some people, negotiating is second nature but for the rest of us it may not be.  It’s essential to carefully study and learn negotiating strategies and tactics so that you don’t end up on the losing end of a business deal.  Everybody always wants to know: “What’s in it for me?”  And if you want to indeed find out what’s in it for you, you need to become a master negotiator.  So how do to that?

First off, learn to recognize and see both sides of the deal or maybe it might be better to say, the argument.  Know what you want and what they want.  You always need to know what it is that you specifically want out of a negotiation.  Determine what your position is right off the bat.  Don’t wait for the other side to do so first.  Your position shouldn’t be influenced by theirs.  Write down a wish list of things you want before you start negotiating – think about what you’re willing to compromise on and what you’re not.  You don’t want to be coerced into accepting terms that don’t meet your desired goals.  Be very specific in terms of dollars, percentages and timetables. 

While you might be eager to go after what you want, don’t forget to be patient.  “Lack of patience can make you look like an amateur and kill a deal.”  Don’t let the other side see you sweat.  Don’t make known how important your timetable is to making a deal.  If they see you want to make it right away, they might not be willing to concede on certain issues – in essence, lack of patience puts the other side at an advantage.  Bottom line: Never accept a first offer.

Know when it’s time to walk away from the table.  Know your limits and don’t let the other side push you beyond them.  Ask yourself what’s the minimum amount you’re willing to accept.  It’s not an auction.  Don’t let yourself get swept up in the frenzy and outbid yourself due to over-excitement.

With all this said, you will always have to make concessions in a negotiation, if for no other reason than to make the other party feel that they’ve gotten something out of it too.  Decide in advance what’s really important to you and what you’re willing to compromise on and what you’re not.  Don’t price yourself out of a good deal.  Ask yourself what your limits and “deal killers” are.

Additionally, you have to be willing to add value to those at the other side of the negotiating table or they won’t agree to your terms.  Don’t expect anyone to give you anything for free.  Look for common ground.  Show the other side how giving you what you want (and sometimes that’s some not all) will add value to the deal and be beneficial to them as well.  Look at how the negotiation can bring positives to both sides of the table.  Seek win-win opportunities.  Everyone at the table has different needs and wants so ask how so ask how the negotiation can be advantageous to both sides.  Always give a little.  Remember what’s important to the other side as well.  

Never undercut your value.  “If you are willing to take a hit to your bottom line in exchange for nothing, your credibility goes to zero, now and in the future.”  If you do it once, it becomes expected and you might look weak to the opposition – they might be able to pull one over on you.  Don’t let that happen!

Stick to your guns!  If you’ve offered a good proposal and you know it, stand by it!  “Don’t let fear, condescension from your counterparts, or chiding language make you back off from your position.”  Put the ball in the other side’s court.  Ask them to show you what they think is wrong with the deal you’ve put forth.  Engage them.  Make them think.  Go on the offensive; don’t play defense.  Don’t back down.  Remember, you must always be willing to walk away no matter how painful.

Lastly and most importantly, document the deal on the spot!  Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted or at least the most important parts of it, set it in stone.  Get it on paper ASAP!  The other side’s memory could vanish quickly if you give them a day or so to mull it over.  While you don’t want to look overambitious or let the other side see you sweat, make it known that the deal has to go through right away and that there’s a statute of limitations on how long you’re willing to wait to put the deal in place.

While negotiating can seem daunting if you haven’t done it much or aren’t really a pro at it, follow my advice above and you’ll see you’re a lot stronger than you originally thought and might just walk away from the table a winner!

Here are some articles you might want to check out on how to negotiate in business:

“How to Negotiate: Using Business Communication and Interpersonal Skills to Get What You Want”: http://www.briantracy.com/blog/business-success/how-to-negotiate-using-business-communication-and-interpersonal-skills/

“10 Ways to Negotiate Better”: http://www.startupnation.com/business-articles/9579/1/how-to-negotiate-10-ways.htm

“7 Essential Business Negotiation Tactics”: http://www.csoonline.com/article/595564/7-essential-business-negotiation-tactics

“The Art of Negotiating”: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/203168

Until next time…

The Benefits of Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business

While LinkedIn is a great way to promote your career by highlighting your work experience, it is also a powerful tool that an entrepreneur can use to promote his or her business.  Businesses can use the social networking site to promote their companies as well and reach a broader target market.  LinkedIn can be used strategically to help grow your business and expand your operations.  By promoting your company via LinkedIn, you can be seen as a thought leader in your industry.  If you haven’t already created a LinkedIn profile for your business, now is the time to do so!  So how can you help influence your industry and grow your business via LinkedIn?

First off, you can network through groups.  LinkedIn has thousands of groups that you can join to meet and chat with other industry professionals and get the word out about your business.  Try joining highly trafficked groups that have several postings each day on topics that are related to what your business does and the goals you are trying to achieve.  This is a great was to share information by both giving it and gaining it.  Begin interacting with other members and offer useful and informative tips, insights and posts.

LinkedIn also allows you to give back to the business community.  By participating in groups and networking on LinkedIn, you’re not only growing your business but you can start to be seen as an expert in your industry by others.  The higher the quality of advice you offer, the more you will be perceived as a go-to source for information.  This will put your business in a position of power and helps to develop your reputation as a leader in your industry.

You can also use LinkedIn to launch new products and services that your business provides.  “While you don’t want to overtly market to your groups, you can use your profile, news feed and relationships within the LinkedIn community to help launch or advertise your products and services.”  This can be very helpful in gaining strategic alliances and forming partnerships with other companies who can assist you in promoting your business and brand.

Another benefit of using LinkedIn for your business is that it increases your discoverability in the marketplace.  Your posts and profiles become search engine friendly.  Your LinkedIn page will show up in searches on the Internet and helps make it easy for future customers to locate you and learn more about what you have to offer.  Search engines such as Google love high profile, well-established websites like LinkedIn.

LinkedIn also allows you to connect with other industry professionals.  You can use the site to recruit new talent to your company or connect with other business partners or vendors.  You can search LinkedIn by specific types of companies which will enable you to connect with others that can help you grow your brand in the broader marketplace.

Amongst popular social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, LinkedIn is another great place to post content about your company and the industry you are a part of.  The more places you are able to post high-quality content about your business, the better your chances that people seeking products or services your company offers will read it  Because LinkedIn has such a unique user base, your business with be able to market its message in front of a new and targeted market.  “Also, by creating content specifically for LinkedIn, you will be able to drive targeted traffic into your lead nurturing system.”  This can turn into high quality leads for your business. 

LinkedIn might be one of the most overlooked social media networks by small businesses and it shouldn’t be.  Most small businesses assume LinkedIn is used by individuals looking to expand their resume.  However, the real honest truth is that LinkedIn can be an excellent resource to promote your own business and brand.  As I’ve discussed above LinkedIn can help you gain exposure in search engines, allow you to connect with likeminded professionals, businesses and organizations and become a thought leader in your industry – all which can help you grow and thrive as a young business in the marketplace.

Here are some articles you might want to check out about the benefits of using LinkedIn for business:

“3 Reasons Your Business Will Benefit from LinkedIn”: http://nuancedmedia.com/3-reasons-your-business-will-benefit-from-linkedin/

“The Ten Reasons Your Business Should Be on LinkedIn”: http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2012/08/24/reasons-business-should-be-on-linkedin.html?page=all

“10 Reasons Your Business Should Be on LinkedIn, Part 1”: http://blog.straightnorth.com/10-reasons-your-business-should-be-on-linkedin-%E2%80%93-part-1/

“10 Reasons Your Business Should Be on LinkedIn, Part 2”: http://blog.straightnorth.com/10-reasons-your-business-should-be-on-linkedin-part-2/

 Until next time...