SoloSavvy Blog for Solo Entrepreneurs » Laura Howard West

Joyful Business Spotted: H J Kramer Inc, Publisher

Laura Howard West — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:29 +0000

I bought Sanaya Roman’s book, Creating Money, over the weekend. Her book kept coming to mind as I was cleaning out my “Success Library” bookshelves.

When I opened the book, imagine my surprise and delight to find a note from the publishers, Hal and Linda Kramer, sharing their mission or what I like to call their “movement” for their company. V-e-r-y Inspiring!

Their note:

To Our Readers

The books we publish are our contribution to an emerging world based on cooperation rather than on competition, on affirmation of the human spirit rather than on self-doubt, and on the certainty that all humanity is connected. Our goal is to touch as many lives as possible with a message of hope for a better world.

-Hal and Linda Kramer, Publishers

THAT moved me, and I haven’t even dived into the book yet!

It’s so powerful when you put your mission, your movement, your purpose right out in front! It’s vulnerable. Some people won’t like it. Some won’t agree. That’s ok. They aren’t part of your tribe of people you are meant to influence and support. But the ones who feel the alignment – talk about “raving fans”! You’ll open up a deeper and more real conversation and connection with them.

That’s authentic and powerful marketing!

Break Out of Your Business Box! Fresh Ideas to Inspire You!

Laura Howard West — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:00:53 +0000

When I was a VP of Marketing for shopping centers (over 50 major shopping malls around the country – probably a big one near you) one of the things we always did was go to other places for inspiration and ideas. I’d go to Vegas to check out the creative retail concepts where they always featured leading edge retail ideas. New York City, Mall of America in Minneapolis and even neighboring malls in a local small towns. You could always find at least one thing someone was doing differently and it always inspired a new thought or idea.

We were always looking at how did they fit the lastest Limited store (big in the 90’s ) into this size space or this type of mall or community.

We didn’t stop there – we would go to museums, shows (like Cirque du Soleil), new stadiums, everywhere is a new idea or an old idea being done differently. Lighting, fixtures, merchandising, automatition, new types of signage, new retail concepts, new kiosks structures for seasonal retailers, and of course, there were marketing materials/concepts/campaigns galore!

We couldn’t just stare at our own shopping centers and hope a creative idea would come. We needed stimulation, conversation, ideas, inspiration and it would lead us to think differently about one of our centers or marketing campaigns.

This thirst and curiously for new ideas works for any type of business – even yours – even a service oriented business.

How can you bust out of your business box?

Read new things: new websites, new ezines, new magazine..

Go to Barnes & Noble and look through different magazines. I love looking at magazines on design, travel, scrapbooking, women, news, entertainment and seeing the different conversations….the values, the “movements” happening within each publication. Thinking about how I can apply it to my clients, my business or my clients businesses.

Spend some time just surfing the net (do we still say surfing? It’s such a way of life that I don’t think we surf anymore)…anyway, just get curious. Look at different websites – in your industry, out of your industry or in totally different industries.

One of my favorite ezines is Springwise – they showcase daily trends in small businsses. Today I read about “renting vegetable gardens”, “birthing suites in NYC for those who want to birth babies on US soil” and “toy rentals for toys in waiting rooms in Dr’s offices”.

It’s fresh, fun and stimulates new thinking.

This day and age we need that.

It may just provide a relief from looking at the same old types of websites in your industry. It may just give you a new thought, a new solution, a new product idea, article idea or just a break…just reading something new can shift a perspective. I know from today…I felt like I lifted my head up and realized that there’s a whole big world out there of possibilities and I SO love that energy!

A breathe of fresh air…and inspired this blog posting!

Just Let Go

Laura Howard West — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:30:51 +0000

If you are like me, as a woman entrepreneur I know there are times in your business or in your life when you get yourself in a bunch, you start going in circles, chasing your tail, second guessing, doubting…. It still happens to me but with practice it doesn’t happen as much anymore. I can get myself out of the “tailspin” quicker and usually with more grace.

There are times where people have told me over the years. “Laura, just let go.” Let go. Let go and what? Note: If someone is telling you to let go – that means you are holding on tight. It can be hard to just let go. There needs to be a second part to “let go and ….”. And then what do I do? (I know, you enlightened souls will say…let go and just be….but sometimes when you’re “in it” you need a more specific redirect).

So here’s mine…( I share it so that it might help you..should you ever find yourself in the need)

Let Go AND…

Stop Doing what you are doing

Do Something Different

Breathe – In and Out

Do the Opposite of what you think you’re *supposed* to do

Do Something Crazy, Fun, or Creative

Go for a walk, take a nap or a shower (my 3 favs – insert yours)

Ask your Higher Self: “What would ______ Do” (I’ll ask Jezzie – she’s my Spirit Doll)

Do what you think you can’t possibly do

Take a Step and Lead

Love Yourself

I hope this list will help you …in those moments when you need to let go and….

En-JOY!

Yes, You Can Easily Create a Compelling Sales Page Filled with Heart. Here’s How…

Laura Howard West — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:00:44 +0000

Over my ten years in business, I’ve become more and more clear that “my movement” is to help women be more successful in their business! That’s why I work with women entrepreneurs to blend the smart business tactics with the more feminine and spiritual way of being in the world.

For heart-centered, women entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get caught up in your passion and purpose, and maybe not spend so much time on the business and marketing side of your business. To help you bridge the two with ease, grace and more success, I’m creating the Business Goddess’s Guide to…. series of information products to give you practical tools to help bring your message into the world in a bigger way with authentic marketing.

I am pleased to announce my newest product to help you: Business Goddess’s Guide To Creating Powerful Sales Pages with Ease, Authenticity, and Heart.

Creating sales pages will help you get your work in the world in a bigger way, and they are the foundation of online marketing.

Sales pages don’t have to have an “ick” feel or be overwhelming. I can teach you how to create sales pages easily that are full of beauty, connection, and realness AND will showcase your service or product in such a way that people want it and will be compelled to buy it.

The best part is that the Business Goddess’s Guide To Creating Powerful Sales Pages with Ease, Authenticity, and Heart is a system, which means you can use it over and over again. For every program, preview teleclass, teleseries, telesummit, package, info product, self-study system, you name it that you offer… you need a sales page.

If you want a system to easily create sales pages so you can create trust, connection, and authenticity – that have a greater impact than what you’re already experiencing – you’ll want to check this out.

Just the bonuses are already getting rave reviews, and women entrepreneurs are putting the information to use all around. When you pre-order now, you get INSTANT ACCESS to my 45-point Checklist for Sales Page Success, my Guided Visualization, AND MORE!

To find out more and how you can get your copy of the Business Goddess’s Guide to Creating Powerful Sales Pages with Ease, Authenticity, and Heart, visit http://bit.ly/cGNSta.

I can’t wait to share this with you and make your business more successful!

P.S. There is no product out there that helps women create sales pages to promote their business authentically and with heart. Get your copy now! You get INSTANT ACCESS to the valuable checklists, my visualization, and interviews with experts in the field. You can get started applying this information and these tools RIGHT AWAY.

Business Goddess Audio Marketing Tip #7: Women Don’t Flourish Alone

Laura Howard West — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:17:35 +0000

Today’s Business Goddess Audio Marketing Tip is women don’t flourish alone.