Every year I evaluate which marketing and business skills I’ve mastered and make a list of the areas that I need to learn more about to keep my business thriving and growing.

While it’s not possible to be an expert in everything (who would even want to be) if you’re serious about growing your business you definitely need to master certain skills. The good news is that once learned, what you can then do is yours for life.

As with all things, fads come and go but happily, there are certain key topics that are tried and true and will serve you all the years you are in business.

Which is why I’m sharing a checklist of my top skills anyone can — and must — master to make your new year start profitably and continue giving you a steady stream of income, month after month.

How To Market And Give Client-Attracting Discovery Sessions

Even highly leveraged businesses (those that focus on teleseminars, group programs, information products and workshops) still require 1-on-1 conversations. Why? Because the bottom line of any successful business isn’t just the profits it posts, but the people you connect with. Knowing how to conduct Discovery sessions is a skill you’ll use when meeting with new clients, potential joint venture partners and more.

How To Market And Deliver Lucrative, In-Person And Virtual VIP Days

My favorite strategy for giving any business a quick income boost is to offer VIP Days. These are so surprisingly simple to design, market and deliver that most of our clients are collecting their first VIP Day client deposits within just a few days of learning how they work. Even better, VIP Days are perfect if you’re in the early stages of growing your list or you don’t have a website.

How To Deliver Profitable Workshops Of Any Size

You may have noticed the proliferation of workshops being offered by entrepreneurs in a wide variety of areas. That’s because there’s no substitute for connecting with prospective clients than being with them live, as you deliver your magic.

And when you present your workshop participants with a juicy offer to work with you more closely, such as in a private or group program, you create the perfect “big pay day” for you, and an awesome opportunity for your clients to get your specialized help for an extended period of time. While I recommend starting with delivering small events (10-25 people) these can still be amazing pay days for you once you know the ins-and-outs of marketing and filling your live event.

How To Charge What You’re Worth

As long as you’re in business you’ll need to know how to appropriately set your fees so that you’re maximizing your time and not under charging. Be sure to follow a system that takes the guesswork out of figuring out your fees, so that you don’t run the risk of picking a number out of thin air.

How To Make Sure You’re Maximizing The Potential Of Your Niche

Would you be surprised to know that even after building a multi 7-figure business, we still re-evaluate our niche each year? Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, it’s wise to give your niche a check-up, ensuring that you’re keeping up with new trends your clients are experiencing, and that you’re uniquely positioning yourself within your market.

No matter which skill set you choose to focus on this year, make sure you get step by step help and expert training. This way, you’ll shortcut your path to success and you’ll see the results you want, sooner.

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• Email Like It’s 2012, Not 1999

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 at 10:30 pm and is filed under Business Building, Marketing Essentials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.