"How to Use a Blog to Gain Expert Status"
The Blog Squad: Patsi Krakoff, Psy.D. and Denise Wakeman
 One of the most important things a professional and business owner needs in order to successfully market their service, product, a book or get speaking gigs, is a ready-made audience and systems for marketing their work. If you want to build an audience, attract the media and sell more products and services, blogging is one of the very best and least expensive platform-building and marketing strategies.
On our Nov. 20th Prosperity Café call you'll learn:
- 6 reasons you need to have a blog for your business
- How to begin a great blog
- How to use your blog to build your platform- get speaking engagements, build your list, sell your books, get media appearances
- How to drive traffic to your blog
- What content works the best on a business blog
- And MUCH more!
About The Blog Squad:
Business Blogging experts Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman are The Blog Squad(TM). With two decades of business and marketing experience, Patsi and Denise help professionals set up and optimize blogs that support their business objectives as well as learn best blogging practices. Patsi and Denise offer pragmatic, no-nonsense, how-to guidance and are committed to helping professionals attract, sell and profit by integrating blogs with other online marketing tools like social networking, newsletters and ecommerce systems. The Blog Squad regularly publishes on five blogs, leads dozens of teleclasses annually and frequently speak at writing, marketing and blogging conferences.
The Blog Squad's website: http://www.BlogSquad.biz
The Blog Squad's blog about business blogging: http://www.BuildABetterBlog.com
Free report on Better Business Blogging: http://www.betterbizblogging.com
This call is FREE for Prosperity Café members - and you can join for the NEW Sales Diva Recession Proof Price of $37! (And remember - it's in Canadian dollars!) And you receive a FREE month when you sign up (how cool is that!)
Click Here To Learn More: http://salesdivas.com/Sales-Prosperity.php
Collecting From Your Customers -
Are You A Failing Grade?
Quick! Grab your pen! Hey lady - please check off all of the following that apply to you. You're going to LOVE this...
In the past year you've:
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Prospected for clients at tradeshows
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Advertised for clients
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Networked at local events for clients - heck you've even traveled to do it!
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Invested in products or services
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Created marketing materials that attract customers in
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Sent direct mail, thank you cards
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Blogged
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Sent out an e-zine
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Had client meetings in person, or on the phone
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Spent hours on email
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Hired staff to work with customers
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Blah, Blah
OK - now that you've probably checked off the BULK of the LIST - let me ask you a question.
Are You Letting Customers Off The Hook And They Owe You Money??
An old sales manager of mine taught me something years ago. It's pretty simple.
He said:
"It's not a sale until you're paid."
And believe me - he made sure I UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY that I was a 22 year old sales rep on 100% commission. If I didn't sell (and collect the money) - I didn't eat.
Pretty simple formula.
And for the most part - over 20 years of selling - I have worked as a straight commission sales person. So NO ONE can talk to me about "Ooooh Kim - collecting is tough."
Trust me - I've lived it and I still am. As a business owner - if I don't collect the money - it hits me in the wallet. Just like YOU. And I don't want you to have a FAILING GRADE when it comes to collecting the cash.
And with confidence I can tell you I've rarely been burned by a client for the cash. (For the few that did - they are now in the Black Hole - forever blacklisted by yours truly)
So here's the deal. Why are you working SO HARD to make money and then allowing customers to NOT PAY?
I'm not talking about all of your customers. Most of your customers pay in a timely manner and they are fabulous, send you thousands of dollars in referrals - all good.
But then there are the OTHERS -you're constantly chasing them for payment and you have "burned" by them. Or you have outstanding invoices with them that are so cold and old you've almost given up hope?
Doesn't THAT feel nice?
Here's The Great News!
Most people want to pay their bills. They really do. So in order to get paid when you want and want you want - then follow these next 5 Rules.
The 5 Rules Of Collecting The Money, Honey:
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Establish The Terms For Payment Upfront. Look - if a client doesn't want to pay within 30 days - you need to know that. And so do they. Why? They may need 60 day terms - or not. So don't guess. Find out right away and also be clear on what you can and can't do.
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Get Deposits. This doesn't apply to every person or every product. As a speaker I ask for a 50% deposit up front for speaking engagements. Why? I'm selling a date and creativity - 2 things I can't turn around and quickly sell to another client on short notice
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Stay In Touch. Poor communication will kill your collecting efforts. Have you goofed up somehow? Why isn't your client paying? Have they been hit by an unexpected expense? Work with your clients and you'll have a relationship much stronger than being just a vendor/supplier. 
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Don't Be Afraid. I know - you think you're playing good cop/bad cop. But you're not. You provided a product or service and as long as everything met your client's expectations - you deserve to be paid. But don't avoid BEING THE COLLECTOR - it is a necessary part of selling and it certainly doesn't have to be disrespectful or nasty.
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Don't Give Up. Exceptional sales people don't give up. Don't be so quick to "write-off" money that someone owes you. I have a problem with that. You worked for it - then stick to it. Be willing to take it all the way - especially if it is for a large amount of money.
Don't Reward Bad Behavior
I bet you have many wonderful clients who pay your rate without a quibble. And then there are others who grind your rate and then take forever to pay. So why do the losers get all the breaks from you??
Remember - reward those who are loyal to you, who refer to you, who choose your services on a consistent basis and who you LOVE working with.
DO NOT - I repeat DO NOT - keep accepting business from "customers" who don't pay.
Because remember - without MONEY - you don't have a business - just an expensive hobby.
So there.
Love From Your Bossy Sales Diva,
Kim
P.S. If you loved this article, can you please pass it on to 3 of your sassy friends?
They'll receive my FREE Report: The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make as well as my savvy and sassy sales tips each week. All they have to do is sign up at http://www.salesdivas.com
Thanks a million!
YAHOO!
We Made The Top 20 On The W Television Network!
 The voting and judging is in - The W Network (Canada's national television network for women) had a HUGE contest search for experts - over 400 videos were submitted. And YES! My friend Cidnee Stephen and I made The Top 20! We submitted a quirky show idea that is based on providing sales and marketing advice to women entrepreneurs.
So now we're preparing for video clip #2. The W Network is flying from Toronto to come shoot us for a half-day and THEN - you guessed it - The Top 20 videos will be posted on their website for the final round of voting. (I feel like I'm on American Idol!)
Thank you for all your support and comments - keep watch for ROUND 2 (the final round) as we'll definitely need YOUR HELP again.
I'm In The New Top Dog Sales Book!
 I'm so excited - Top Dog Sales asked me to write brand new material for my own chapter in their NEW sales book - I had a blast!
Successful sellers makers take matters into their own hands. They don't sit around waiting for the next sale to walk through the door.
They know the number one mistake salespeople make is delaying or neglecting their own ongoing sales education.
That's why I am recommending an excellent sales advice book written by 50 leading experts. It costs a whopping 25 bucks, so the publisher has thrown in 3 grand in complimentary sales tools for you from top sales and business growth leaders, including me!
I think you'll find this well worth investigating. See it here
Thank You To All My High Speed Sales Stiletto Ladies!!
Wow - what a week this has been! The High Speed Sales Stiletto Camp was a SMASHING SUCCESS - the emails and testimonials have been rolling through the door - faster than I can keep up with!! We had an amazing 2 days together - and my 3 wonderful speakers:
Debbie Mrazek - The Sales Company http://www.The-Sales-Company.com
Laurie Taylor - Flashpoint http://www.igniteyourbiz.com
Karen Luniw - The Podcast Queen http://www.podcasterqueen.com/
...all did a MARVELOUS JOB! (I love these women)
A BIG Sales Diva HUG to all my fabulous Diva-ettes (I create new words all the time) - thank you for registering for the Stiletto Camp!
PLUS - we recorded the full 2-days and we'll be editing it and getting ready to launch the NEWEST and WILDEST version of The High Speed Sales Stiletto Camp in January, 2009!
Here's what one of the fabulous attendees had to say about last weeks Camp:
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I Had About 40 A-Ha Moments!!
 "I can honestly say that this was the most amazing, motivating, and compelling course I have ever taken. Not only was Kim informative, genuine and personable, the course itself was so much fun(!), yes I said fun! The evening of the first day, I couldn't sleep as my mind was buzzing with ideas and I couldn't wait to get back the next day. I actually wanted to roll out of bed at 6:00 in the morning to get back to join Kim and all of the other wonderful women in business!
I want to thank Kim for such an amazing experience and I would recommend to any women that is in sales (and we all are in some way!), to take this camp or pick up any learning materials that Kim puts out. I learned so much and now have the tools to really get my business on track. I am now ready succeed, as I have gained the confidence and inspiration that I needed to become "expert"! "
Tricia Andres McDonald,
Owner Belo Sol Swimwear
http://www.belosol.ca |
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50-52039 RR 213 Sherwood Park, AB T8G 1B4 Canada | 