Giving and accepting leads are a large part of the business model for growing one's business.  There are a few ways to look at this model to see how this can be a winning strategy.  Three questions to focus on:

• How do you meet other business owners/leads?
• Do you actively spread the news of their business ?
• How do you help others to help you?

There are a number of ways to find leads partners, the most common of which are to attend networking meetings and to be part of an official "leads group".  Once in a group, many entrepreneurs set a goal of meeting with a number of other members to share information about their business and see if they are a good fit to work as referral partners. I highly recommend this step, because without it, you don't really get a feel for what the other person has to offer.  If you stop there, you may have gathered information and possibly met a new kindred spirit, but you don't have an active referral partner yet.  The next two steps are crucial; talking to others about your referral partner's business, and helping others to help you.

If you decide that your networking partner is someone you want to promote, that they have a good product or service, you will probably need to explore with them what will work best to help them.  Do you take a stack of business cards and hand them out?  Do you mention them in your social media or promote an event they are holding?  Do you combine your efforts to do something together that lets you meet each others' clients and bring in new ones? 

There are many ways to actively spread the news of their business; but the key word is active. That's the only way you'll see real results.  One other key question to decide: Will you only promote them if they promote you?

The final question, how to help others to help you, is a multifaceted one that is the key to your marketing.  For someone to help you, it is crucial that they know:

• Who do you help or serve? (target market)
• What do you do for them? (niche)
• What are the results after working with you? (why should they hire you?)

Give your leads partner a handbook to make it easier for them to help you.  Tell them who you are looking for.  Tell them how you help your clients.  Give them some examples of your ideal client.  With this information, they will be much more keen when the right person comes along to refer to you.

If you are:

NOT getting out and networking

NOT finding referral partners

NOT clear on your who, what and how

CALL ME!

Monica Leggett is a coach and consultant, helping business owners (individuals, couples and partners), who want to Create Their Own Success, on their terms, with joy and ease. Her clients build personal skills, personal awareness, and stronger more effective relationships, in business and life.

If you know a business owner who wants some of this, please refer them to me for a FREE complimentary consultation.

No more second-guessing, over-thinking, or interpersonal struggles.

Better personal awareness, empowerment, leadership, and relationship building. 

Monica Leggett, 203-926-9072, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I had a nice chat today with a marketing pro, Jocelyn Murray, of Marketing and Event Resources.com.  Jocelyn is particularly good at social media marketing, as well as identifying and implementing many other aspects of a marketing plan, like goals, target audience, specific messaging for your audiences, and strategies to best meet your needs through reaching your market.  (A blog would be a good example of messaging- it's an insight into a business owner's mind.)

So why is marketing so darn important to every business? It's not enough to have a great product or service, you're a hidden jewel unless people know about you and how you can help them get what they want.  You want them to know what YOU'RE the best at delivering.

I read a recent marketing article on "marketing for hippies.com" and it summed it up like this:

Customers and clients are on Island A (not so perfect) and they want to get to Island B, where life is going the way they wish their life/business was going. You, the business owner,  are one of the many boats that can get them to Island B, but why do you stand out as the best route to get there when there are so many boats to take them?

The author Tad says, "They’re not buying the boat – they’re buying the Island."  Your marketing should highlight the results that they want.

That's true, we need to lay out for our potential clients what is on Island B- the results they want.  I'd like to add that YOUR boat not only gets them to the results they want on Island B, it offers the journey they want to experience.  People do business with those they know, like and trust.  People like to be proud that they made a purchase or hired a reputable firm to fill their needs. 

So what do you offer that is special, that defines your boat, and encourages people to jump in?

If you focus on price, the ones who will be proud they "got a deal" will find you.

If you focus on service, the ones who crave service will knock on your door.

If you focus on experience and expertise, the ones who value know-how will hire you.

There are many more possibilities.  What are the cornerstones or anchors that are at the core of what YOU offer?

I thought I had this licked.  My cornerstones are right on the front page of my website, and are represented with my logo:

• Personal Awareness
• Big-Picture Vision
• Authentic and Lasting Relationships
• Results-driven Action

I've laid out the four things that  I think brings a person to success.  And I offer coaching and training programs that help people work on all four of these cornerstones.  But I've neither clarified Island B with the results (other than called it Success), nor have I said why my boat is so great!  

I need to clarify the results that people want.

AND I need to define what makes my boat, my journey, so special to get you there.

I know what I'll be doing the rest of the summer....

Here's a link to the Island B article.

I love this quote:

The secret of making something work in your lives is, first of all, the deep desire to make it work; then the faith and belief that it can work; then to hold that clear definite vision in your consciousness and see it working out step by step, without one doubt or disbelief.

Eileen Caddy

Do you desire success, however you might define that?  Do you even KNOW what that looks like?  Do you believe that it can happen to you?  

Our inner thoughts really do make a difference on our ultimate success, so it's worth spending your time noticing; are you a believer or a disbeliever?

Self-doubt is a toxin that creeps into your dreams, your relationships, your career, your finances, and even your health. If you are often filled with self-doubt, telling yourself things like, "that's going to be too hard, they won't take notice, they will find a reason to say no, maybe I'll do it another way next time when I'm ready",  then you'll never be ready and you'll never manifest what you want.

The Gremlin of self-doubt IS something you can manage by noticing, by talking him or her away with positive thoughts, and by doing things in baby steps, consistently building on what you are confident in until your comfort zone is bigger and bigger.

I do an exercise with my clients called Hi-Dream, Low-Dream.  Self-doubt drives the low dream or worst case scenario. Flush it out.  What are all your fears. The high dream is your best case scenario; everything you dream or wish could happen.  If you examine what REALITY supports each of these dreams, you will usually see that there is a better case for the high dream coming true than the low dream.  Just examining it in a logical way can build your belief. 

Once you believe your dream is possible, your mind can create a path to make it happen and keep you motivated to see it through.  This is exactly how I lost 40 pounds.  I found a tool, educated myself, and most of all, I finally believed that I could do it- even at my age (55).  The same concepts can be applied to personal, business, or relationship goals.

Now go out there and dream big, flush out your Gremlins so they can't hide, and talk yourself into believing.  If you need help, I'm always here.

The road to success is paved with more than just good intentions; it is paved with the specific and prioritized stepping-stones that take you from a dream to reality and mortared together with confident perspectives that keep you motivated and in action.  If you took a minute to write down 3 goals you'd like to achieve this year, what would they be?  Do you plan to pursue them or put them on the back burner?  Where is your business headed and are you at the helm or is fate the driver?

Spending time defining your dream work and life situation will give you the clues to what you want to focus on.  This vision will give you the best framework if it includes more than the typical business model; how about the hours you want to work, the people you want to work with and the way you do business?  What do you want to be known for?  Are you doing everything yourself or are you affiliating with other businesses or delegating and mentoring key people to help your business grow?  Are you setting up systems to make room for growth and to work efficiently?  Creating a business model based on how you want to grow will allow you the room to grow with YOU in control.

Take some time to write out your vision for the next year or two and you will see the necessary goals that will become your focus.  Some examples might include:

• New client sources
• Increased business generated from existing clients (repeats and referrals)
• New businesses to network/affiliate with
• Professional events to participate in or attend
• Packages to offer your clients such as Silver, Gold, and Platinum services
• Print marketing materials; update your logo, copy or offers
• Multiple streams of income
• And don't forget to make time for your personal goals- exercise, family time, new skill development

If you'd like more help defining the goals that will ROCK your business this year and keep you at the helm, please join us for a free conference call on March 7, from noon to 1pm Eastern Time.  This call is specifically for wedding industry business owners.  Please email Monica to sign in and get the call-in information.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

See full class invite on the events and classes page.