Tales of the Coaching Queen

The Power of the Press

2008-04-18T15:54:00.002-05:00

I went to a networking event yesterday -(yes, I am doing my follow up today and tomorrow) - and met an interesting consultant who talked about the POWER OF THE PRESS. She gave a talk at our table about the importance of the press and just validated what I had thought and hoped other media and marketing consultants would agree on. The way news outlets and online, cable, blogs, ezines, etc., are hungry for CONTENT - you may never have thought that your niche in your industry or marketplace may be of interest. May I ask you to reconsider your previous reluctance to use the press to help you get your message into the mainstream marketplace.

I have always been a big fan of PRESS RELEASES and have experiences that they are a great way to BUILD a STORY and to allow yourself the EXPERT STATUS you so richly deserve when you own your own business.

Are you aware of the Power of the Press? Let me tell you a story about one of my clients - a manufacturer of a food product with an unusual name. I wrote and distributed a Press Release for him a few weeks ago.

The press picked up on it - and within a week, my client was on a NEW YORK NEWS report - and what followed was the story being picked up by CNN - and several radio interviews.

How much did the distribution of the report cost - and his total investment? Well, I wrote the PR for him and distributed it for him for a few hundred dollars and the press coverage brought him thousands of inquiries and new customers and ORDERS.

Can anyone guarantee that would happen to your business if we published a press release about your company?
No - but what I can guarantee is that IF YOU NEVER write and distribute a press release - you have little chance to ever get the type of exposure he received.

Even if your news is not exciting to you - you never know where a press release will end up - what "hot button" you might be find for the right buyer at the right time -- oh, and don't forgot about the Search Engines picking it up as well and helping your website and your name come up in the rankings when being searched. You may be saying, "Melissa, what do I have to say that is so important?" Well, let me help you carve out the news and newsworthy from what you are doing or have done. Sometimes we are too busy working our business to LOOK AT OUR BUSINESS - and that is where I can be of some assistance.

Just a thought -- give me a call or email me -- can we get your message out and stir some excitement in YOUR INDUSTRY? YES! Have a great weekend.

Melissa
The Coaching Queen

Follow Up on Networking

2008-04-16T13:26:00.002-05:00

Today I am following up from a networking event I attended last week - I am LATE with my follow up and I am feeling badly about it.

Research tells us that if we follow up within 24 to 72 hours, contacts are more likely to recall what we look like, what our "pitch" was, and be inclined to respond to our follow up.

I often talk with clients who say they only follow up with contacts that they feel an immediate connection with - or see some synergy in the types of businesses each represents. I feel this is a mistake. If someone is an insurance agent - but you don't need insurance, your follow up may spark the fact that at the time they met you, they thought you would be a perfect fit for their brother-in-law's business. If you don't take the time to follow up with the insurance agent (no, I am not singling out insurance agents, you can fill in your own blanks here as to who it is you were not going to follow up with) you never know what type of network she/he has and where you might fit in.

I often hear that clients feel they are harassing or haranguing these connections by even following up -- after all, if they were that interested, wouldn't they call us? Again, that is not always the case. I think business professionals want to have the chance to gauge your persistance and see how serious you are to be included in their circle. Take the extra few minutes to drop them a note, an email, a phone call - your time is valuable, YES, but the connections made by and through other connections is what will help build your own contact network.

The social networking sites are all about deepening the levels of connections and the number of connections we can touch. You are your own best advertisement - and your own best representation. Follow up on networking contacts is an important part of building a business and a referral system. The Queen has Spoken!

Have a great SPRING day - Melissa

The Tax Man Cometh - Is He Who You Really Fear?

2008-04-15T08:09:00.003-05:00

Today is Income Tax Day - probably the most dreaded day of the year! I am also involved in a professional outsourcing company (accounting, marketing, etc.) and we are still getting calls on filing -

The truth is that we tend to hide our head in the sand - if the news is bad, we never want to hear it or face it. I am no different that most in this regard. I have swept so many things under the rug, the rug doesn't really lie on the floor anymore - it is more like a beach - squishy under my toes!

But when you are a small business or entrepreneur, the thing that is hardest to do - harder than facing the Tax Man - is to look objectively at your business and realize that you may not be hitting the mark. It may be time to call in a coach, a mentor, to join a mastermind group, get more education - so that your business can thrive!

I work with clients all over the country who are at first hesitant to admit that The Coaching Queen can help them. But in reality, what I offer is a set of skills - tool kit - that they may have not had access to before. I help analyze their business, and I give them the benefit of over 27 years of experience in business, the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly! I want to help them avoid the pitfalls and failures I have faced - but learned from. I am here to serve and help them succeed.

So as much as we look at the deadline for taxes - we need to look at the deadline of when we will make the call, send the email - ask for help. I worked with a wonderful author, M. Nora Klaver, who wrote a book MAYDAY - ASKING FOR HELP. I read her book and could see myself in so many of the situations and stories of those afraid to ask for help - our pride, our sense of being expected to do it all - know it all - just stops us cold when asking for help.

But in her book, Nora points our that it is when we ask for help, we are taking steps to success and more control in our lives. We DON'T have to do it all - know it all. We are always learning, tinkering, trying new things.

So whether it is you and I who are destined to walk the path together, or you and someone you have thought of starting a journey with to help you achieve greater success, I wish you all the best and ask you to throw out the fear of asking for help as surely as you throw the fear of the tax man out the window every April 16 -- Yes, tomorrow is Another Day!

Melissa

The Link to My Press Release -

2008-04-13T18:39:00.001-05:00

Guess I didn't get the link in there for the actual Press Release -- here it is:
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200804/1208124770.html

Hope you enjoy it!

See you Tomorrow......

Back From Vacation and Back to Powerwork

2008-04-13T17:31:00.002-05:00

I took a few weeks off for the Spring Holiday - and since I have been back, I have been completely swamped. The Coaching Queen has launched in a bigger way than I even imagined a few months ago.

I have been working with clients all over the United States - and had the pleasure of becoming a Coach for Media and Marketing for a client who manufactures a lozenge that eliminates the effects of alcohol, tobacco and pungent foods from the breath - entirely. This has cause some stir since Police Officials feel that the product will mask alcohol odor and allow suspected drunk drivers of slipping through the cracks. The product has no effect on breathalyzers or field sobriety tests - but the name AH - that is the rub -- AntiPoleez.... Get it?

Well, I wrote a press release for my client talking about the pros and cons - and he received HUGE Media Attention - a piece on Fox News (Both New York Station and Nationally), CNN Headline News, Fox affiliates all over the country. Mancow in the Morning, Jonathan Brandmier, Rock Amato - plus being picked up on The Chicago Tribune and most of the major newspapers.

I have been doing the radio interviews - my client does not feel comfortable talking with the press. I decided to do a Press Release for Coaching Queen - and you can link to it at: Free Press Release

I would love to work with more of my potential clients and current clients to help them see the value of Press Releases in establishing a critical part of long-term successful marketing of their name and company.

I would like to hear your opinion on this - let me know! Happy Sunday.

The Power of Consistent Client Communications

2008-03-18T12:40:00.003-05:00

Did you ever get a call from someone that you had not heard from for months or years and wonder "what the issue or problem" might be? Has a long-lost relative surfaced and you look at that person with some trepidation and suspicion about what this sudden communication may mean?

Sometimes if we don't keep a consistent communications with our prospects and customers - and then try to touch base after a long period of time has passed with a special buying offer, our customer/client may begin to believe that they are only contacted when we need a sale!

The way to avoid that type of suspicion and distrust is to insure that you maintain continued and consistent communications with your ENTIRE client/customer and prospect base. If you don't have an established schedule for these communications, then you run the risk of losing touch with the lifeline of your business - your clients.

If you are unsure of how to establish these types of communications or feel you don't have the time to insure consistency in this type of marketing, let's talk about some of the easy to implement and cost-effective ways to keep your clients and prospects in YOUR COMMUNICATION LOOP. If these people are the recipients of consistent and well-planned commuications, then they will always come back to you when it is time to purchase products or services!

A Little Bit of Luck Even When It's Not St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T15:32:00.003-05:00

I am someone who believes in being in the right place at the right time. I have very good things happen to me at some of the most unusual times in my life - when there was no indication that anything positive would occur from a meeting, a call, a networking event, etc. I don't know if this is LUCK or destiny or the Law of Attraction in action - but when it happens, I often wonder if the planets are in alliance or if an angel is sitting on my shoulder, and I am sure happy for the outcome.

I also believe we often make our own LUCK. If we enter into a situation dreading the worst, fearing rejection, unsure of ourselves and our product or services, maybe we are giving out bad karma and uncertainty. Does this negate LUCK and spell doom and disaster for our situation?

Let's delve further into an examination of luck and destiny and attraction as we go on in the next few weeks. In the meantime - keep a shamrock in your pocket, and if you happen to see a leprechan, hold on to him until he relinquishes HIS Pot of Gold!

The Ides of March - Reflections on Personal Power

2008-03-15T14:31:00.003-05:00

Today is March 15 - the Ides of March. I am reminded of Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar and the theme of the play - power!

Do we realize the power that each of us possess? Personal Power is often allowed to be subjugated by "perceived authority" in our lives -- our boss, our spouse, our parents. Children often do not realize their boundaries and exercise their own personal power - but over time, they are reigned in and their ability to feel comfortable with their power starts to diminish. Once they go to school, teachers and administrators further take personal power away from students under the guise of maintaining order. And many times the loss of personal power is replaced with FEAR - fear of being an individualist, marching to the beat of a different drummer.

This all makes perfect sense and parents and educators alike need children and students to portray behavior that is socially acceptable - but isn't there a time when each of us -- reaching adulthood -- must reclaim our personal power in order to go out successfully in the world?

I meet with many smart and savvy people who have the intellect and the desire to start their own business, but they do not take that step - they have lost their personal power somewhere along the way and do not have the skill set needed to reclaim that power that will allow them to easily break out and make the move to personal and financial success and freedom. They have the desire but not the tools!

I am not advocating anarchy 0r chaos - but maybe we need to be more mindful that while we need to control personal power - we should not instill fear in its place. I have seen the effects of fear and it can be devastating!

FREE REPORT on LEADERSHIP at WEBSITE

2008-03-13T16:09:00.002-05:00

For those who have been reading this blog - and I do appreciate the emails and the contacts - I am offering a FREE REPORT on LEADERSHIP - The Magic Tool for Success in Your Company.

You can either visit our website at: www.coachingqueen.com
or to call at 847-392-6886 and request the downloadable pdf e-report!

Waiting to Hear from YOU soon.....

The Coaching Queen

Dispelling the Fear of Affiliate Marketing

2008-03-13T15:59:00.002-05:00

If you are "an expert" (we discussed that earlier this week) and looking to align yourself with experts in other fields, there is a great way to consumate the referral - and to still be able to profit from the referral - affiliate marketing or joint venture marketing!

Don't be afraid of this nomenclature - affiliate marketing is a legitimate way to insure that your clients and prospects have access to industry experts that are complimentary to the skills that you offer to your base.

It is critical that you investigate the "experts" that you feel can offer something unique and decide that you would want them to have access to your clients, customers, and prospects!

If you are unsure how to find and determine who these "experts" are and what they have to offer and how they might benefit your business, please contact me.

I am currently offering a FREE COACHING SESSION (30 minutes) to give you content and information on this topic - it is so near and dear to my heart and has helped me to achieve greater respect from my entrepreneurs and business owners.

When you offer the name of an expert that YOU believe in -- Your clients and customers and prospects will see you in greater terms of being interested in helping them with their business - and ultimately that is what you are trying to do.

Visit my site at www.coachingqueen.com

Go to the contact page and request a free coaching session - let's get your business to the next level of success and growth!

Tales of the Coaching Queen: Corporate Tax Filings Due - March 15

2008-03-11T15:42:00.000-05:00

Tales of the Coaching Queen: Corporate Tax Filings Due - March 15

Corporate Tax Filings Due - March 15

2008-03-11T15:33:00.002-05:00

If your business is a coporation of any kind (which it most definitely should be), your Federal Tax Filing deadline is March 15.

Due to the fact that March 15 this year falls on a Saturday, you have until Monday, March 17 to file.

This brings up the importance of "record keeping" in order to be able to insure that all the deductions and business expenses you have incurred in the last fiscal year are well accounted for. As part of our teleseminar on BUSINESS ESSENTIALS we discuss the importance of keeping your personal and business expenses separate -- it is easier to disallow a personal expense from a business account than to prove a business expense from a personal account!

So - if you have not prepared your return for the corporate filing (Chapter S corps won't need to be filed until April 15 - but you have to do the prelimary K-filing) contact your accountant, tax man, bookkeeper, financial advisor or get the forms ready for filing on Monday!

How Do You Become a Recognized Expert?

2008-03-10T10:46:00.000-05:00

This is indeed the age of specialization - and if you are an entrepreneur with your own business or a business owner, you have to let the world know - I AM AN EXPERT!

No matter what your industry or marketplace - by being in business, you are an expert - but if you don't let people know that you are, you may be loosing out on possibilities for more business and more exposure.

There are 3-4 very easy ways to do this: I have not only established these protocols in the growth of MY own business, but I work with Entrepreneurs and Business Owners every day to help them realize "expert status" in their field.

Be open to the idea - it is not arrogant or bragging. Doesn't everyone want to be affiliated with "the expert" in the field? Well, if your prospects and clients don't think it is YOU who is the expert, you may lose these relationships if someone else comes along with that claim.

You are an EXPERT - and I can help you become RECOGNIZED for your Expertise. Drop me a line and let me begin to help you on this very easy but fruitful quest!

Happy Monday, Expert!

Have You Considered "Multiple Streams of Income" in Your Business Plan?

2008-03-07T19:05:00.000-06:00

Do you often worry about billing and cash flow? Are you desperately seeking customers? Are you ever in a panic about making the monthly bills?

Maybe you need to consider Affiliate Marketing and Network Marketing as MULTIPLE STREAMS of INCOME as you are building your business.

I have a few different streams of passive income that help me over the times when I am not able to keep the "pipeline" filled with clients and customers.

There are many reputable affiliate programs - and network marketing has been called the NEXT GENERATION of direct and indirect selling.

No - Network Marketing is NOT pyramid schemes (those are illegal). If you want more information on any of the research that I have done and some of the companies that I have investigated for both Affiliate Marketing opportunities and Network Marketing Programs, just shoot me an email, and I will gladly share my knowledge with you!

Happy Weekend -- Don't forget to SPRING AHEAD this weekend -- time to turn the clocks up an hour, Sunday, March 9, 2008!

Thank Gosh It's THURSDAY???

2008-03-06T20:09:00.000-06:00

Today is Thursday - and this is my "whew" day. I know I still have one more day to get all my projects and proposals and phone calls that I had scheduled for the week completed.

When I was working in the telecom company - Friday was a big day in our office - and TGIF was the "employee mentality" that many people in the organization had. I never bought into that - as COO of the company, I tried to keep the staff focued even on Fridays.

But now that I have my own business (3 actually) Thursday is the day I focus on to make sure that I am on track for the commitments and deadlines of the week. And if I am running behind (as I am 95 percent of the time) then I have Friday to make it happen -- and I do (95 percent of the time).

So as you approach the end of Thursday - give yourself a break - you still have that glorious day tomorrow -- and then you can celebrate TGIF!

Look for the SILVER LINING......

2008-03-05T07:48:00.001-06:00

Sometimes after all the hard work, the proposal, the presentation, the follow up calls, we hear the final customer decision -- "No." It is at that point that we usually ask ourselves, "What went wrong?"

Maybe instead of asking that question, we need to ask ourselves, "What went RIGHT?" After all, even though the client or customer already had a vendor for the product or service we offer, they were impressed with our offering to take a meeting, look at a presentation, request a proposal. And after that, we did the proper amount of follow-up via phone and email so that the client did not feel harangued by our desire to push the process along. And when the client told us NO - we used that moment to ask for a referral - and THEY GAVE IT TO US (one of the best times to ask is if we are turned down) and there is our SILVER LINING. And when the referral was happy to become our client or customer, we went back to the giver of the referral and drop them a card, send over a small token of appreciation - and that kept us in their mind for the future. That is RELATIONSHIP MARKETING.....

I have had many of these SILVER LININGS in my career - and what I have learned is that NO sometimes can be seen as a YES and a MAYBE for future business and growth - and those are some of the times for learning and growth!

Look for the Silver Lining......

2008-03-05T07:39:00.000-06:00

Relationship Marketing Magic - Networking

2008-03-04T09:58:00.000-06:00

I am often asked about "Relationship Marketing" and how it differs from "normal" marketing.

Relationship Marketing is based on the premise that by establishing and nurtuing "relationships" with your clients and prospects, there is a greater opportunity for a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between marketeer and marketee!

Now how exactly can you intitiate relationship marketing into your business?

There are many aspects of relationship marketing - and today we are going to talk about one of the easiest to implement -- NETWORKING.

For Solo Entrepreneurs and Business Owners of emerging businesses, Networking can be one of the best ways to expand your business. There are so many formal and informal networking opportunities throughout the business communities. Do a "google" search and locate a chapter of one of the national networking communities -- LeTip, BNI, NAWBO, etc.

If you feel you are "geographically challenged" or don't feel comfortable in face-to-face networking situations, there are online "networking" sites that are well established and can provide you a forum for talking about your expertise. These sites include: FastPitch, LinkedIn, etc.

I cannot over emphasize the results you can glean from networking -- you will meet other professionals who may have similar business challenges as you have - you will meet business owners and entrepreneurs who can use your services or purchase your products, and you will be INVOLVED!

If you have any comments or questions about NETWORKING, please contact me! I would love to hear about your experiences........

Marketing - The Power in Your Business Engine!

2008-03-03T10:44:00.000-06:00

So many times, business owners and entrepreneurs ask me about the value of marketing. They assume that a good reputation and word-of-mouth referrals is all they will need to be successful in their industry.

Unfortunately, you may be the best-organized organization and have the greatest product since the "widget" was invented, but if a limited number of people know about you, your products and services, it is very difficult to grow and expand your marketshare. This is where targeted, well-planned and executed marketing campaigns are the quickest and most effective way to achieve the growth and success you desire and DESERVE.

Another important part of marketing is "client retention!" How often are you in touch with clients who you have not done a project for or sold a product to in more than 90 days? If you aren't in touch with your clients - you might be losing business to a competitor who is aggressively marketing to prospects - and those prospects may include YOUR CLIENTS and CUSTOMERS.

Let's really look at marketing as a MISSION-CRITICAL TOOL for business success! No, it doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming, but it just might be the key to your future growth and expansion......

What Stops You from Success??

2008-02-29T14:36:00.000-06:00

It is the end of the month -- a special month and a special day. Why is is a special month? We are past the "new year" excitement of January - and perhaps we are starting to realize that we don't quite have the impetus or knowledge to put into action the "goals" we set on January 1!

It is a special day because we are getting an extra day for 2008 - and February 29 is that Special Day. For some of us - we have one more day of success and fulfillment to enjoy this year. For those who are having a problem realizing their professional dreams, having one more day to agonize or procrastinate is not a gift, but a sentence!

As we all embark on March 2008, it is a good time to "take stock" of what has been occurring in our dream of launcing our business or expanding our business. Are we putting new strategies into action - have we taken the steps necessary to get the business off the ground?

Thoughts for the weekend - and we will discuss more during the month of March!

Melissa

Increase Your Marketing Dollars by 5 Percent!

2008-02-28T14:43:00.000-06:00

Marketing is CRITICAL to getting your message to your client base and prospect base. Those who use the mail to deliver their content and offers should plan on a mailing before the First Class rates go up from .41 to .43 on May 12, 2008.

Now you might be saying: "Melissa, what is .02! It depends on how you look at it. If you are mailing a considerable amount of First Class mail - either for Marketing or other Business-related mail, the .02 will begin to add up.

My suggestion: Buy as many FOREVER STAMPS as you can to postpone the inevitable price increase. Even a 5% increase cuts into company profits and break-even on First Class Mailings!

If your Mailing List has grown considerably over the past, consider BULK MAILING rates and procedures. This type of mailing takes a bit of work (sorting by Zip Code and purchasing a Bulk Mailing certification) but in the long run, can be worth it!

Of course, since Postal Rates will continue to rise, if you are not "electronic" with your marketing message, this might be a good time to consider some of the internet tools that can help you build your business: ezines, blogs, social networking sites, website, online stores, etc.

A small business or solo-entrepreneur MUST be aware of the costs of marketing and business mail and look to the future on how to manage these costs!

The Coaching Queen Begins Teleseminar Training!

2008-02-27T14:22:00.000-06:00

This week - after working with many clients in the Chicagoland area, and receiving many requests from entrepreneurs and business owners across the US - we are beginning to advertise some of our most popular training and teaching topics as TELESEMINARS.

While we are not looking for this to completely replace our business - and we are able to still work remotely with many of our clients - we want to be able to expand the offering to people who have not had the chance to work with us as NuVo Partners or Successful Business Advisors in the Chicago Area.

NuVo Partners still continues to be a vibrant marketing support and accounting/bookkeeping firm. But our focus has shifted over time - and as we tap into the experience and expertise of all of our staff, The Coaching Queen (although I am the Queen - there are 2 Princesses who are pretty darn important in keeping this place rolling) is the natural outgrowth of the demands and requests from our clients and prospects alike.

Each week - this blog will address differnet issues the Solo Entrepreneur or Business Owner faces and I look forward to your comments and questions!

It is cold and sunny here in Chicago - perfect winter day! I hope you are having a wonderful day as well.

Melissa

Welcome to "Sales Tales from the Front"

2007-03-01T14:15:00.000-06:00

Today is the first day of my blog about "Sales from the Front" -

After 25 years as VP of Sales and Marketing - with an Inside Sales staff of up to 25 people and a customer service staff of up to 6 - I think I have seen everything that could go wrong - go wrong.

I am going to share my personal experiences - and those of my staff(s) over the years. I think there IS something to be learned by the lessons someone else had to endure.

I would like to hear your Sales Tales from the Front. I am putting together a new INSIDE SALES TRAINING and CUSTOMER SERVICE COACHING program and I want to be able to refer to "live" experience.

I love working with sales and customer service staffs. These are the 2 departments of ANY company that make it happen -- when they are not working well and together - it is a total disaster. When they are cohesive, respectful of the customers and each other's role in the sales cycle, LIFE IS WONDERFUL.

Melissa - NuVo Partners, Inc.