Women In Business-Ask for Referrals...It's Not That Hard!

Whenever a client or prospect says "thank you for all your work", most sales people say "my pleasure...blah blah blah". You can fill in anything with blah blah blah, but I will give you the correct  general response....you are very welcome...this is my passion and I love what I do....and, because you feel this way, can you give me three names of people you know who would appreciate the same client experience? At that point, you can add....my ideal client is just like you, with the same needs, (fill in the rest)....

This is not intended to encompass the entire conversation, but at this point, the client will feel compelled and obligated to give you 3 "qualified" names. One example of how to make them accountable is to ask for name, email and phone number by email introduction with their referral cc'd. Of course the client will probably ask permission of their friends or family they refer first, and they should ask permission of those people! Nobody wants to be blindsided and transparency is the best policy.

It's really that simple. While many in sales think this is awkward, remember... your client's expect you to ask for referrals, as they know this is a standard in business. Bottom line is if you were able to close the business, you should be courageous enough to ask for referrals. Need I say timing is everything???

Hope you enjoy my blogs...comments welcome...
donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru

Women In Business-Are We Ready To Take On Small Business As A Society?

Now is the time for women in business to excel and thrive in the small business world! We are poised to seriously move forward as a gender related society in small business. Women are everywhere, from politics to corporate leadership, but small business is where women have ample opportunity to excel and thrive now and into the next decade!

In my experience as a coach, I wonder if women are really ready to proceed as leaders in small business? I encounter resistance, insecurity, and passive characteristics with some clients and prospects. I feel they are almost ready, but not quite there yet. They have distrust for other people in small business, and wonder what's in it for them.

However, I also encounter women of great strength, courage, tenacity, and a feeling of indescribable unity (amongst all women in small business). Many women have identified the significance of their role and leadership in business, and I see the spirit of connectedness making a serious effort to advocate and advance women in all roles for the next few decades.

So, are we ready to take on small business as a society? Yes....and no is the correct answer. This is evolutionary, exciting, and scary. We are making progress and have ample opportunity for future market share, and the fear and anxiety we feel can only amplify our spirit to greatness.

Women in business.... let us seize the moment, unify in masses, and come forward to for all women everywhere, and for the strength of the women of the future!

Thanks and hope you enjoyed this message. Comments welcome. Contact me at   donnaslater@women4womenclub.us

Women In Business-Small Business Sales Tip: Seek Qualified Prospects

Small business owners instinctively know sales is paramount to their business. Because of this, finding "qualified prospects" is imperative to business owners more than ever before. Moreover, small business owners lack the time to delve deep into all their prospects. You've heard of "suspects" and "prospects" as a description of whom is in your sales pipeline. Tip: delete your suspects, and focus your energy honing in on your "qualified prospects".

A prospect is not qualified until you have a solution for the issue they need addressed! A qualified prospect must acknowledge you have what they want, whether it is a product or service. You must communicate your solution in such a way that you enter the conversation going on in the mind of your prospect, and help them understand why you are the person or resource they need to invest in.

A tool to help you make the most of the time you put into sales is Pareto's 80/20 rule. If you set aside 2 hours today for sales and prospecting, 80% of your efforts should be directed towards "qualified clients", and 20% can be directed to those prospects, which can eventually become qualified. Suspects are nothing more than energy suckers, and the revenue you receive from them is usually insignificant.

I would be remiss if I didn't also suggest that if you work 10 hours today, 80% of your time should be focused on everything to do with implementing sales and marketing strategies, and 20% of your time can be focused on other tasks. Out-source if you need to, but manage your time for optimal revenue!

Comments welcome... donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru
www.women4womenclub.guru

Thanks for tuning in today.

Small Business Owners - "Outsourcing" vs. "Building A Team Of Professionals"

I am pretty sure we all agree small business owners need to outsource some of the skills and resources they don't possess themselves. Perhaps they don't have the time to complete all the tasks!

I see a trend of small business owners just hiring anyone who answers their call and reacts to their problem. As a coach, I see more "just call someone and fix the problem" than building a team of professionals (around you)  which you can count on and they will return your calls, share ideas with you, collaborate with you, and refer client's and other professionals to each other because you share a mutual trust and respect for each other.

My message is to build relationships with the professionals you work with, share the same values and goals, feel a connection, and create a working partnership, which is a win-win for all. More and more "accountability partners" come out of this relationship building.

The creation of a professional team evolves over the life of your business, creating a static environment of constant re-assessment and re-evaluation of your vision and mission statements.

If you want to take this further, you can create an "affiliate program" to pay and receive business and revenue, as a result of your outgoing referrals or referrals sent to you (by someone on your professional team). This subject is easier discussed over the phone or in person, than through a blog. 

Look for my article about this subject with more information and solutions in the next week.

Hope you enjoy my blogs and contact me with feedback:    donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru

Women In Business- I Challenge All Baby Bloomers To Mentor A Millenial In 2015

I have little doubt that in the next future decades, the millennial women of today will help advance and advocate for women in small business of the future.While the journey for women in small business is evolutionary, millennial women are best positioned to move and grow right now! So let's support them the best way we know how!

 This article explains the millennial characteristics very well..... http://talent.linkedin.com/blog/index.php/2013/12/8-millennials-traits-you-should-know-about-before-you-hire-them

I am a self-described baby boomer who has over 25 years in business. I admit I do not have many characteristics the millennial of today possesses. However, as long as I have capacity (lol), I can still learn, and learning is what I've done to start my business. Thanks to the millennial, and those who preceded them, there is not one thing you can't do on the internet.

The only thing I and other baby boomers have left for a millennial woman is to mentor her, advocate for her, and leave her with a positive influence. Who gets value like that? I can speak for many baby boomers who did not have a female mentor, advocate, and positive influence in business. Certainly not like our male counterparts did.....

So, my challenge is to women baby boomers.....seek a female millennial who you think you can influence and help prepare her for the future of women in small business. 

Please share if you commit to this challenge with other women you know and me at  donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru 

Why Having A Sales Plan Is An Essential Component To Your Marketing Plan

Author: Donna Slater

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Donna_Slater

Women In Business - Join Me In "Living Outside The Box"

You know that old saying "think outside the box"? Seriously, can we let it go already? Not only are we thinking outside the box, we are "living outside the box". What does this mean? There is no box anymore....

As a business coach, what I experience a lot is small business owners acting as if they begin to "think outside the box" they are more intelligent than their competition, and create this huge edge in business. Memo to those business owners: NO, NO, NO.

Everyday your priorities should change from the prior day. Tip: Making a list and sticking to it is not going to align your activities with your sales, revenue, marketing plan, and sales objectives. However, making a list and always evolving that list every day can align with all your objectives, as long as you apply the correct strategies.

Now, if you're a small business owner and your priorities are not changing daily, I have to deduct your business is either not making enough money, failing, or pretty much gone. Tip: analyze what you do every day and if you're not generating 80% of your time to sales growth, revenue growth, and lead generation, then your priorities and activities need to be adjusted.

The good news is that is OK. You are a business owner and your business, your leadership, and your management will always evolve throughout your career. It never ends, just like your evolving priorities.

Success can be measured by those tiny, sometimes insignificant moments we perceive as nothing, if we allow ourselves to feel them...

Hope you enjoyed. Send comments, topics, and feedback to donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru

How Do We Build A Culture Of Empathy & Compassion Within Women In Business?

Women in business have thrived over the last decade, no one can deny that. But, isn't there always a but?? But, the journey is long and arduous, while gratifying and relevant. Isn't everything a double edged sword in business, especially for women?

Every day, I experience women who are amazing, inspiring, driven, adventurous, and kind. These experiences fuel my desire to learn new things, be curious about the things that interest me, and follow the trends these things result in. These women keep me going through thick and thin.

In contrast, remember the female culture in grade school? That person learned and was programmed to be competitive of other women, and grew that culture over time through their teens. Warning: this is not a discussion of blame, or what went wrong, or why we're not there. Blame and re-generating the past is futile.

The message and opportunity in this discussion is take action to change the culture over time, because this will always be a journey, but one we can affect change in, and advance of women.

My hope is that women everywhere reflect on their relationships with their female colleagues, friends, family, acquaintances, client's, or saleswomen, and ask themselves:

Are my relationships with all women I interact with daily that of compassion and empathy, or do I compete with those women with less desirable behavior?

Only one answer to this question is the correct answer!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! I welcome all comments.

Why Having A Sales Plan Is An Essential Component To Your Marketing Plan In Small Business by Donna Slater

Why is it that people in small business do not generally create and implement a written "marketing plan"? And, why is it that people in small business also do not generally implement a "sales plan" to compliment the marketing plan? Even if your plan is in your head, how are you tracking your activities? These are questions I ponder as I talk with small business owners every day. If your perspective of what exactly a "marketing plan" is and the value which it brings to your business is not aligned, you should take a step back and re-visit your goals, vision, and mission statements.

Your marketing plan is optimal when you're tracking your sales activities, which tie back to your marketing plan and who your ideal client is, what they want, and how they want it! The main key is to utilize strategy marketing vs. tactical marketing. Knowing your client's hot buttons, accessibility needs, what they are thinking, and how you differ from the last coach they spoke to, will give you the leverage you need to find qualified clients. Try to enter the thought process going on in your client's head during their decision process.

A sales plan is absolutely necessary to supplement your marketing efforts and implementation. This will determine whether you run your business with a revenue or expense focus. The no-brainer is we all should absolutely focus on revenue. (Another day, we'll talk about the Pareto's 80/20 rule, which is very interesting when you break down your daily activities). If you are a visual person, mind mapping is an effective way to create your sales process. Creating a sales process, while it sounds administrative, is actually a sales tool, rather than something to be perceived as negative.

Reflect on the following questions as it relates to your sales and marketing plans simultaneously:
1. Do I have a written marketing plan and is it effectively aligned with the values of my mission and vision statements? Are my daily activities reflective of the actions needed to support my vision and mission statements?
2. Am I meeting my financial expectations? Is the business making money? Could I take on more clients? What do I need to do to increase business, sales, and revenue?
3. Do I have different methods that separate me, or a bold statement I can back up with action?
4. Do I have opportunity to raise prices based on demand, my competitors, and the marketplace?

The common thread with small business growth is a well-thought marketing and sales plan. Once you have these in place and implemented, your "ideal client" will be obvious to you and your prospects. This is when you define who your "qualified client" and focus on those prospects 80% of your time. You and your client will have a win-win experience.
Finally, the questions above create great discussion points in any coaching, consulting, or general business. Thank you.

I will give anyone who enjoys this, my first article, a Comprehensive Business Assessment ($1,000 valued) for free for the remainder of January.. Comments are also welcome. Email donnaslater@women4womenclub.guru, or fill in your contact information at http://www.women4womenclub.guru/contact Alternatively, give me a call at 925-822-8519 for a free consultation.

About Me & What to Expect in Future Blogs

A little bit about me...

Hi, my name is Donna Slater. I am the founder and owner of Women4WomenClub. I created my company with passion and purpose, having identified a need and support for women in business. I spent the last 30 years in the corporate world, in some of the most fascinating roles, and learning valuable lessons and skills every day of my career.

What I have found through careful research and reflection, is I have a larger opportunity to grow with and impact other women in business, one on one in the small business arena, rather than working the masses in the corporate arena. The revelation in which I had greater opportunities as a woman, working and connecting with women, and providing all women in business a forum to mentor and collaborate, was a passionate cause, in which I was willing to commit the rest of my career.

As for my work history, I possess a finance background, with a focus on sales, revenue growth, lead generation, and analytics. Additionally, I incorporated leadership, coaching, operational processes, sales & marketing strategies, and coaching into my skillset, as a result of learning and growing every day.

I have worked at some of the most fascinating companies, where I was encouraged to grow, such as Wells Fargo NA, Morgan Stanley, and Balboa Thrift and Loan.

I am humbled talking about myself, as my real purpose and passion is to help and serve women in business find their own passion. I chose the gender association with women as a result of my experience in the corporate world, and the differences I witnessed with gender equality. I hesitate to state the obvious, but as a woman, I, therefore feel compelled to help and support other women in business create their own successes.

Committed to your success,

Donna

Future blogs will feature women's advancement & advocacy, sales and marketing strategies, women's issues, sales ideas. I will be real and transparent about my views, opinions, and non-judgements. If you like my blog, forward on to another women, who might enjoy the same content.

My Blog's Purpose...

I write this blog to allow women in business a platform to connect on many levels.....life, work, spiritual, creative, and business to find their passion. My passion in life and work is to help women, particularly in small business, manifest big ideas into reality. You see, as a female in business for many years, I am compelled to encourage and advocate, and help advance women in business. This is my life's purpose and I will use my blog to achieve my passion, purpose, goals, and life's work.

As for today, remember nothing in life and business is your personal status quo. Every day your priorities change, you face new challenges, and you have
opportunities to choose your moments of peace, grace, and humility. Your perception on how you view the last statement is how your path then plays out into reality. Think about how you view events in your day and try to view these events with a clean slate of consciousness, rather than judging as good or bad, right or wrong.