Trying To Move On

A few days ago, my assistant was looking into toll free number services. After researching the websites of two companies, she called in frustration:

• The websites were a jumble of confusing facts and figures.
• When she called the companies, she got different answers from different people.

I bet you've had this same experience with at least one company.

Has anyone had this experience with you?

In their struggle to get clients and customers quickly, many self-employed business owners make the same mistakes again and again and wonder why no one's calling.

Here's a look at just a few of them:

1. Confusing marketing with sales.

Before asking someone to purchase your services, you need to educate them on what you do and how you do it. By first building a relationship through education (marketing), you'll find the sales take care of themselves.

2. Participating in price competition.

Are you the lowest price in town? Do you check out everyone else's offerings and deliberately undercut them to try and get clients?

If so, you're undervaluing your skills and, through your pricing, telling prospects that you're "bargain basement" -- a sure way to turn away customers. In order to charge what you're worth, you need to differentiate yourself from the masses: you're a boutique, not Wal-Mart.

3. Lack of systems and misusing/underusing technology.

In order to have a successful business, you need processes and systems which are clear and, whenever possible, can be automated, delegated or both.

I see so many business owners who are constantly recreating the wheel in their business and their marketing efforts when, by implementing systems for your prospects, customers and clients to follow, you ensure that everyone has the same experience with the least amount of your personal involvement.

While I've listed three common mistakes above, there are several more and all can be solved by implementing processes within your business. By taking the time to create AND implement processes and systems, you set yourself up for a "lifestyle" business -- one which allows you to work less while earning more.

Your Coaching Challenge

Do you recognize yourself in any of the scenarios above? If so, it's time to take a hard stand to re-invent your business -- otherwise you will continue working in the "job" you've created with little chance of experiencing real success.

For the past 5 years, Sandra Martini has been showing self-employed business owners how to get more clients consistently by implementing processes and systems to put their marketing on autopilot. Visit Sandra at http://www.SandraMartini.com for details, compelling client testimonials and her free audio series "5 Simple and Easy Steps to Put Your Marketing on Autopilot".

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