http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning.shtml Expert Articles on Marketing Planning covering writing a marketing plan, marketing methods, launching a new product, designing marketing materials, market testing, marketing systems, and measuring marketing results. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:23:53 -0400 en-us http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/successful-marketing-starts-by-identifying-your-ideal-client-5257.shtml Articles I'm sure you can remember a time when you've had a less than ideal client. Spend a moment and get an image of that person in your head - that person who completely drains you; that person you have to "keep selling" to remain involved; that person you're literally dragging and pulling along; and that person who leaves you feeling bad after every interaction. The truth is not everyone is your ideal client and you absolutely have a choice with whom you work. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:23:53 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/successful-marketing-starts-by-identifying-your-ideal-client-5257.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/marketing-your-business----the-line-between-effective-and-annoying-5253.shtml Articles In marketing your business, there's a line *out there* between what's effective for your ideal clients and what's just plain annoying. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:13:15 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/marketing-your-business----the-line-between-effective-and-annoying-5253.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/are-you-making-these-6-marketing-mistakes-5252.shtml Articles Many business owners, especially online, preach about "marketing with integrity" and "marketing authentically" and then immediately do things which, in my opinion, are exactly the opposite of what they preach. Here's just a few marketing mistakes I've seen recently which make me cringe. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:07:39 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/are-you-making-these-6-marketing-mistakes-5252.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/how-to-grow-your-own-community-of-raving-fans-quickly-without-losing-the-personal-touch-5244.shtml Articles Have you heard marketers say: The value of your business is in the size of your List – meaning your list of subscribers (prospects and clients)? When people hear how I built a Six figure Income based on what is regarded as a TINY list in marketing circles, they are amazed, and quite frankly, sometimes so am I. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:06:52 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/how-to-grow-your-own-community-of-raving-fans-quickly-without-losing-the-personal-touch-5244.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/3-reasons-why-leaving-my-office-and-attending-live-trainings-and-masterminds-makes-me-more-money-5249.shtml Articles When students ask me what's my secret to "getting ahead" in life and business my answer could easily turn into a weekend seminar. But one of the things I credit for my success is spending less time in the office. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:58:53 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/3-reasons-why-leaving-my-office-and-attending-live-trainings-and-masterminds-makes-me-more-money-5249.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/3-important-marketing-lessons-5248.shtml Articles Here are three marketing and sales lessons every service professional, business owner, and information marketer should never forget. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:52:30 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/3-important-marketing-lessons-5248.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/three-shifts-in-your-marketing-to-attract-more-affluent-clients-5223.shtml Articles How often do you hear “I’d love to work with you but I can’t afford it” from your clients? If you think it’s too often then chances are you are not marketing your services to the right people, those that can actually afford it and those that are affluent enough not to have to be out shopping for the lowest prices. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:43:13 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/three-shifts-in-your-marketing-to-attract-more-affluent-clients-5223.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/you-gotta-leave-the-house--5213.shtml Articles The single fastest way to get clients and grow your business is to get in front of people and get in front of them IN PERSON! There is nothing like a one-on-one connection to build the know, like, and trust factor, as well as hold someone's captive attention. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:44:30 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/you-gotta-leave-the-house--5213.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/words-to-use-and-words-to-avoid-5208.shtml Articles As a sales professional, you want to convey confidence and authority. You always want your prospect or your customer to see you as an expert in your field, as someone who is credible and someone who is knowledgeable. Sometimes, the words you use or the way you use them get in the way. What do the words that you use say about you? Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:01:34 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/words-to-use-and-words-to-avoid-5208.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/are-you-giving-away-too-much-for-free--5193.shtml Articles I’ll be the first to admit that I love what I do so much that I could do it for free. While it’s great to love what you do, all businesses are set up to create revenue and giving away the farm certainly doesn’t accomplish that goal. In this article, I’ll share how to check whether you’re indeed giving away too much for free (and what to do about it), plus a couple of surprising realities around giving away too much of your services for free. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:49:27 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/are-you-giving-away-too-much-for-free--5193.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/how-to-consistently-get-clients-5191.shtml Articles As a small business coach, I see the question of how to sell services and how to consistently get clients more often than any other. In this article, learn the 5-part formula that creates clients and cash flow with unrivaled consistency. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:26:18 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/how-to-consistently-get-clients-5191.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/how-to-make-your-marketing-much-easier-5189.shtml Articles Ever find yourself sitting in front of your computer, unable to write that promo email? Or sorting through the paper clips instead of making those JV calls you intended? Or putting off drafting this week’s blog post? These three of my best tips will make it easy for you to boost your zest for marketing. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:58:34 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/how-to-make-your-marketing-much-easier-5189.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/top-7-tips-for-producing-a-tv-ad-or-video-5188.shtml Articles Producing a television ad can seem a daunting and expensive task. Fortunately, with today's easy access to TV production tools, creating a TV spot is well within your reach. Here are 7 steps to producing your TV ad. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:44:50 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/top-7-tips-for-producing-a-tv-ad-or-video-5188.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/marketing-with-the-power-of-one-5177.shtml Articles Could one phone call change your life? What about one article submitted to the right publication, or meeting one person at an event? Here are three simple tips for using the power of one to help you rev up your marketing, increase your leads and, as a bonus, connect you to your source of power. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:01:21 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/marketing-with-the-power-of-one-5177.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/5-marketing-mantras-for-entrepreneurs-5159.shtml Articles Sometimes business owners make marketing more complicated than it needs to be. Follow these five mantras and you'll go a long way toward simplifying the path to closing that all-important sale. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:59:02 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/5-marketing-mantras-for-entrepreneurs-5159.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/facebook-how-to-set-up-a-fan-page-5156.shtml Articles Facebook is a fun way to keep in touch with your buddies and family and to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with. AND, it’s also a powerful marketing tool if you use it right. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:45:06 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/facebook-how-to-set-up-a-fan-page-5156.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/14-bootstrapping-ideas-build-your-small-business-on-a-budget-5152.shtml Articles The sluggish economy has every small or solo business owner figuring out how they can get the biggest “bang for their buck”. Bootstrapping needs to be part of your small business planning. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:15:07 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/14-bootstrapping-ideas-build-your-small-business-on-a-budget-5152.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/creating-your-online-marketing-flow-in-3-simple-steps-5136.shtml Articles Being clear on how your different marketing strategies all fit together is crucial for the long-term success of your online marketing plan. You should be looking at how your system flows and brings new subscribers into your funnel and how you can market to them. Your online marketing system is a key system in the long-term growth of your business, so you need to be clear what it is your marketing plan is achieving. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:37:05 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/creating-your-online-marketing-flow-in-3-simple-steps-5136.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/lead-generation-the-easiest-way-to-write-yourself-a-check--5146.shtml Articles If you’re in any kind of business at all then you must always be thinking of ways to attract your ideal, high-paying clients to you. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a service based business or in a retail business, if you don’t have clients (or customers) then you don’t have a business at all. You only have a hobby. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:11:51 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/lead-generation-the-easiest-way-to-write-yourself-a-check--5146.shtml http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/6-key-questions-to-ask-yourself-that-will-help-you-generate-more-leads-and-clients-5145.shtml Articles A question I’ll often ask my clients and students is “Why should your Ideal, High-Paying Clients do business with you?” Very often they’ll think for a while and say something like “Well, I’m good at what I do.” It’s a very important question that you must be able to answer clearly and decisively for you to attract your Ideal, High-Paying Clients to you in a big way. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:59:41 -0400 http://www.solo-e.com/library/articles/marketing-basics/marketing-planning/6-key-questions-to-ask-yourself-that-will-help-you-generate-more-leads-and-clients-5145.shtml