Guest Expert Blog Post from Ellen Britt

As an online entrepreneur, how many times have you heard the advice to step out of your comfort zone? On the surface, this sounds good, but what does this really mean? And how, exactly do you do it?

Stepping out of your comfort zone into unfamiliar business territory can be a good thing. But if you’re not careful, you could be stepping right into trouble. As a business owner, you know you need to take action, but if a particular action is going to be detrimental to your business, then it’s better to do nothing.

So how do you know which actions are the correct ones? A Buddhist precept states that only “right actions” that have value. I have a whole set of business decision-making criteria, but for right now let’s focus on five of the most critical. Whenever you are considering implementing a new idea in your business, subject it to the following 5 questions by asking yourself:

• One – Will this idea leverage my strengths?
• Two – Is this idea aligned with my business vision and mission?
• Three – Will this idea generate fast cashflow?
• Four – Is this idea is repeatable?
• Five – Will this idea will help me progress toward my goals?

Let’s briefly look at each one of these criteria in a bit more detail:

1 – Leverages your strengths – Most entrepreneurs have no idea about what their true strengths are. They mistakenly think that strengths mean being good in a particular subject or having a specific skill, such as the ability to write good copy.

While specific skills can be important, they can also get in your way, as you believe you can do everything yourself. As a result, you are slow to get help and your business cannot grow as fast as you would like.

By strengths, I mean those qualities that come from a combination of your background, experience and personality. For example, one of my strengths is the ability to systhesize complex information from a variety of sources and simplify it for my clients and students.

One good way to get started on finding your strengths would be to get a copy of the book, Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton, which also has an online strengths-finder component. Caution: if you purchase the book used or get it from your local library, the unique one-time code you need to take the online assessment many have already been used.

(Another book on finding your strengths is Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0 but be warned: When you take the online component, you only get your top 5 strengths, while the other 29 remain hidden. This book is a sales hook for your complete strengths list ranked in order for a whopping $550!)

2. Aligned with your business vision and mission – An idea can be good…great in fact, but if it’s not aligned with the vision and mission of your business, you should have serious reservations about implementing it.

3. Generate fast cashflow – This one depends on where you are in your business. If you are just starting, and need to generate immediate cashflow, then this would be a priority. If you are in need of more stable, long-term income, then you might change the question to read “Will this idea generate long-term income?”

4. Repeatable - Listen, you are going to put in a certain amount of time, effort and perhaps money into any idea you choose to implement. Why not pick ideas that are repeatable instead of “one-shot wonders.” A idea that is repeatable is very likely to be easier to implement the second time around.

5. Progress toward your goals – If an idea, no matter how appealing, is going to sidetrack you on your way to your business goals, you should gently but firmly let it go. Sometimes this means saying “no” and disappointing colleagues who want you to become involved in a project.

Let’s face it: Ideas are seductive, especially when they are your own. Running your ideas through each of these five questions will help you keep on track and not get lost in chasing something that will ultimately prove unprofitable and time consuming.

And that, my friend, is definitely a good idea!

Award-winning Online Marketing Strategist and Amazon best-selling author Dr. Ellen Britt is the co-founder of Marketing Qi, helping savvy women entrepreneurs (and a few cool men!) develop the business strategies they need to get the success they want. Ellen specializes in mentoring her clients to see their businesses strategically and then guides them to combine the results with a custom, highly leveraged business model designed to produce immediate cash flow and continued profits. Grab her highly acclaimed “digital conversation” Zen and the Art of Email List Building, free for the asking at http://www.MarketingQi.com

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Not long ago I had dinner with a therapist from New York who wrote a book on behaviors that don’t serve us.

When the subject of marketing his book came up he said he didn’t know how to market and hadn’t sold more than a handful of books. He had invested thousands of dollars to get the book published with little to show for his investment.

“I really thought the publisher would market it for me. But turns out their idea of marketing was sending out a press release and sending one email to a select group on their subscriber list.”

This is an all too common scenario. Many authors either self-publish  thinking the book will somehow gain traction and sell out or goes through a mid-tier publisher believing  the publisher will do all the marketing. The truth is almost every author learns the truth about marketing their book the hard way; by not selling books. The fact is you as an author have to take full responsibility for marketing your books.

By full responsibility it might mean you do the work yourself or you hire someone to do it for you. This too can lead to lots of frustration and very high investments.

Ask most authors what they know about marketing a book and they will likely tell you they have minimal knowledge.

Years ago, after successfully marketing my book, The Law of Achievement,  I realized how little most authors know about marketing. For many it is some mysterious activity only those initiated into the “secret club” of marketers knows how to do.

The fact is, virtually any author can learn how to market their book(s). And… they can do so without spending a fortune on their education or the marketing.

Here are a few simple things you can do to market and sell your books.

1.  Gain visibility in forums where your potential readers congregate. Get involved, share in discussions, network and build trust. If you are authentic about your involvement many people are likely to support your efforts of getting your book into the hands of many readers. If you are simply in a forum to sell, this becomes apparent very quickly and rather than people supporting your efforts they tend to get irritated.

2.  Blog on a regular basis. Gain a readership for your blog by providing high quality content. Again, as with forums, when you are authentic you tend to gain the trust of the readers.

3.  Host teleseminars on topics that are in line with the genre of your book. You can offer complimentary teleseminars that participants must register for. This allows you to build an opt-in subscriber list of potential buyers.

4.  Host a paid teleseminar where the price of admission is a book. You would need to set up a landing page where buyers would send in their receipt number as proof of purchase.

These are only four of dozens of ways to market and sell your books.

Want to learn more? Join me on Tuesday, September 20th,  for the first in a series of webinars on Secrets to Making Your Kindle Book a #1 Bestseller.

The information you will learn is applicable to more than Kindle books. The information can be used for traditional books, information products and various services.

To learn more and register go to http://www.kathleengagetrains.com/kindle-2

Only a few more spots left.

Membership programs are all the rage. But to get the most out of your membership programs you need to take certain steps. With membership programs you can learn how to make passive income. Passive income gives you the freedom to be very creative in your business. With membership programs you create smart passive income.

In this membership programs video you will learn which software programs you do and don’t need for your membership programs.

To get your FREE membership in Membership Sites Fast and receive 10 videos immediately go to www.membershipsitesfast.com

Have you ever gotten an idea that you had no way of knowing what the outcome would be but were willing to  try it anyway? Chances are you have.

It’s likely some ideas worked while others failed miserably. Such was the case with my “experiment” on Thursday with the pricing of 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door. I wanted to see if pricing makes a difference on eBooks.

It appears that in this case it did. It also appears as if acting on the idea worked brilliantly. (humbly I say )

• #2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Business & Investing > Marketing & Sales > Sales & Selling

Here’s a quick look at the results as of this morning.

What’s really great about trying the “99 Cent Kindle Experiment” is I know that there are readers who may not have gotten the book but figured, “Heck, 99 cents, I can afford this even if the book is no good.”

Fortunate for them, the book is very good. A quick read of reviews will show you that much.

Here’s what one reader has to say:

101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door is a powerful book for three reasons:
1. It delivers what it promises – over 101 ways, not only to get your foot in the door, but in many cases to get your foot BACK into the door.
2. It’s a quick read, leaving you time to adapt and implement the techniques that will work best for your situation.
3. The authors speak from experience; the ideas work in the real world.

Did you know this about me?
Most people know me as an Internet Marketing adviser rather than someone who trains on traditional sales. The fact is, I have been in sales a lot longer than Internet marketing. I began my career at the ripe old age of eight.

For my eighth birthday I received a rubber stamp printing press. I got really excited about the idea of going door to door to sell ad space in my neighborhood. Each ad cost a penny. Mind you, I’m going back almost 50 years. A penny could buy you a lot in those days – even an ad in Kathy’s Paper. (Pretty creative name wouldn’t you say LOL)

Seriously though, the seed for my career was planted nearly five decades ago. I loved selling. But what I discovered is this; selling a penny advertisement as a cute eight year old is very different than selling in competitive environments.

Over the last few decades I have sold everything from booth space for trade shows, radio advertising, consulting services, keynote presentations, books, information products, concepts, and burglar alarms (yes – I went that route at the age of 18 and failed miserably at selling burglar alarms).

Knowing the value of information and education, I’ve invested in lots of training, books, seminars and coaching. Some were good, some were awful and some were great. As I increased my successes I put my knowledge into practical experience as well as training others on the finer points I knew worked; everything from prospecting, proposal writing, presentations, and closing.

How the book came to be
A few years ago one of my closest friends and business associates (also with years of sales experience) decided to share some of our best insights into sales. One thing we have in common is that we love selling. We think it’s fun and yet, we know how tough it can be to sometimes keep your head above water.

Thus the idea was born for 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door. But rather than write a typical sales book on theory we decided to write a very playful book. After all, those who do great at sales are playful yet, serious when needed.

If you’re not playful, a stick in the mud and downright miserable, this book is NOT for you. On the other hand, if you want something really fun to read and implement the ideas from, this book is a must have.

It’s amazing how many people don’t realize they are in sales. There are all different levels of sales. Maybe you’re selling a company on the idea of hiring you. Perhaps you are selling an association on the idea of sponsoring your next book or event. (I’ve successfully done this) You might want to increase the number of consulting contracts you secure – again you’re selling. Maybe you have a common widget you are selling.

Whatever you’re selling, you absolutely need creative ideas on how to get (and stay) in front of prospects. Enter 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door.

I can assure you there will be several “keepers” in this book for virtually anyone. Regardless of the industry you are in, what you are selling or what your level of experience, this book has something for you.

There’s only one thing. The 99 cent price point is going to come to an end soon. So why not click here and get your own copy?

No Kindle? No problem.
You can download a free app for your PC, MAC, Android, IPad, Blackberry and more.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000493771

Heck, for 99 Cents you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The 99 cent offer has ended. But you can enjoy a free webinar with my friend and colleague, Daniel Hall on **** Publish an Ebook Today Using Amazon’s Kindle ****
Complete Step-By-Step Instructions

Registration is open but limited. Go to http://realfastbook.com/kathleenweb.html to reserve your spot today.

Online Interviews as a Source of Rich and Vibrant Content
By D’vorah Lansky

One of the easiest and most effective ways to generate relevant and pertinent content is to produce an audio interview series. By doing so, you will be providing valuable content for your audience while building relationships with the people you interview. I have developed a deeper relationship with each person I have interviewed on my online radio show and teleseminar series and my listeners are really enjoying the content.

Interviews provide incredible content for a teleseminar series in your topic area. As far as whom to interview, that depends on who your audience is. As an example, my audience is nonfiction authors who want to learn more about marketing their books online. When I look for people to interview, I seek people who are experts in this area. This provides them with exposure to a new audience while providing my listeners with relevant and pertinent subject matter.

Who to Interview
It could be that you already know people who speak on topics of interest to your audience. If not, you can visit LinkedIn groups, on your topic, and take note of who is posting articles and answering questions in a way that adds value to that community. Another place to locate relevant content and connect with potential speakers is at EzineArticles.com. Do a search on the topics you would like to interview people on, spend some time reviewing the articles, and visit the websites of the authors. Reach out to people who you feel can provide a real benefit to your audience. Providing an opportunity for speakers to gain exposure to new people in their target audience can create a win/win situation.

When approaching potential guests, begin with people you have a relationship with or those you have familiarity with. Typically, you will be able to locate their contact information on their website. Write a polite, short email introducing yourself and why you think your market would be a good match for his or her area of expertise. Be sure to include the date(s) of your teleseminar and how long the interview will take. Then, let the prospective interviewee know what’s in it for him or her. For example, there will be exposure to an enthusiastic new market or a share of the proceeds.

Prepare your website
Create a page on your website where you can feature photographs and the topics your guests will be speaking on. Better yet, create a blog post about each interview and provide a brief introduction of your guest and an overview of what they’ll be speaking about. As your list of interviewees grows, you will have an impressive portfolio to share with potential future guests. People want to be associated with other successful people so this strategy will attract “big names” in your industry.

Good interviewing takes practice, but the good news is that you can start growing your skills right now! Contact friends and colleagues who would benefit from more exposure and ask them if they can help you with a project that they can also benefit from. Ask your guests to provide you with a few key questions, that when answered, will help people understand more about what they do. During the interview, be warm and conversational, ask people about themselves, and practice listening and responding.

Once you are comfortable interviewing with people you know, it will be time for you to branch out. Like any new skill, things take time and practice. As an author, with a message to share, developing your interviewing skills will serve you and help you to become known as an expert, by association!

D’vorah Lansky is the bestselling author of Book Marketing Made Easy: Simple Strategies for Selling Your Nonfiction Book Online - Visit her book blog and check out the full virtual book tour schedule at: www.BookMarketingMadeEasy.com.

D’vorah offers programs for nonfiction authors interested in growing their brand and their book sales through online book marketing practices and strategies. You can purchase her book on Amazon at: www.BookMarketingMadeEasy.com/amazon

Although I don’t often complain today is an exception. However, for every complaint I explain the reasoning behind my frustration AND I offer a solution.

So here it goes…

1. The first complaint has to do with those who sign me as a member of a Facebook Group without my permission. This trend seems to be on the up-rise, not just for me but for many people I know.

I’m not even sure how a group owner can sign someone up without their knowledge, nor do I care to because I certainly won’t register someone to one of my groups without their knowledge and permission.

For whatever reason there are group owners who think we will appreciate becoming a member of their group without so much as asking us if this is what we want. I don’t care how good the cause or theme of the group, if you are doing this to others, you need to stop because most everyone I know does not appreciate this. I sure don’t.

Now mind you, I am a member of several groups in the various social networks I belong to but I made the choice to join out of a particular interest not because someone else joined me without my permission.

With the amount of information overload we are all on it’s common courtesy to invite someone first. Simple as that.

Solution: Take a few minutes to invite someone to join your group and convey benefits for them. However, don’t be offended if they don’t accept.

2. My next complaint… a so-called expert claiming they can teach me something when they have never achieved that something.

I’m not talking about someone referring the expertise of someone else. I’m talking about those people who claim they are an expert at something when in fact, they have not yet accomplished the very thing they are either trying to teach you or sell you their own program on. Aghhhh!

Whether it be health and nutrition, marketing, leadership, making money, having great relationships, or whatever; walk the walk before you talk the talk.

Amazingly there are those who claim if they have not succeeded at something they can teach you what not to do. Take a relationship expert. Dang, why would I want to learn how to have a long term, loving, joyful, abundant and giving relationship from someone who has never gone past a year or two in a relationship?

Call me old fashioned, but I want to learn from someone who knows how to make things work based on real life experience and a proven track record.

Solution: Before you believe everything someone says, check them out. You may be pleasantly surprised that they are even more accomplished than you originally thought. Or you may be surprised that what they claim they can teach is nothing they have ever accomplished.

On the flip side, before you claim you are an expert at something you better be darned sure you can back up your claims. For example, I have a teleseminar I am offering at no cost that I am more than qualified to teach. Two years ago I could not make this claim. To see what program I am referring to click here.

There are lots of qualified experts in countless markets that can back up their claims. Are you one of them?

3. Complaint #3 … the misguided teachings that all you have to do is visualize what you want and it will appear with no effort whatsoever. To this I say, “Get a life!”

Now that may seem harsh but the fact is there are a lot of people who seem to think they don’t have to work for what they want. Where this all started is beyond me yet, there are countless people who are perpetrating this lie.

Talk to some of the so called experts who are touting the bill of goods that you simply have to visualize what you want and it will appear at your doorstep are causing more harm than good.

Do you have to visualize what you want? Absolutely! But there is to any type of success than this.
With the visualization comes action. Depending how much success you want determines the level of action. This doesn’t mean you have to run yourself into the ground. It does mean you have to have a plan and you have to work the plan.

I know there will be some people who don’t want to hear this truth. They would prefer sit back and simply “attract” everything to themselves.

Attraction is all part of it, but far too many people have been led to believe attraction doesn’t take any work at all. Notice what is right in the word attraction.

To achieve the level of success you desire you need to believe you can achieve it, visualize what you want, know there are elements of attraction in the process, develop a plan, work the plan, adjust as needed, surround yourself with the right support system and circle of influence and be willing to adjust as needed.

Want to find out how to do anything? Find someone who has “been there, done that” and find out what they really had to do. Chances are it was a heck of a lot more than simply visualizing the outcome.

Solution: Like my mamma always said, “Anything worth having is worth working for.” This doesn’t mean work is not fun. Actually, work can be lots of fun. Especially when you see the results of your efforts. Now that’s lots of fun.

Okay, that’s it for my 3 frustrations. What are some of yours? Leave your comments by clicking the link at the top of this post. Be sure to add in the solution too.