Ursula Kauth

Dr. Carol Fleming, a Speech Consultant,  helps clients recognize their speaking abilities, improve their weak spots, and achieve mastery of communication skills.  I have just finished reading her new book called

It’s The Way You Say It – Becoming Articulate, Well-spoken and Clear. I highly recommend this book.

If you have experienced any of the following, this book is for you!

• You were concerned about the impression you made by your speech during job interviews.
• People said that you did not ‘get to the point’.
• You had to give a speech and were terrified.
• Your boss said you sounded immature.
• You wanted a deeper, richer and better voice.
• You often had to repeat yourself.

The personal communication concerns of her clients became the focus of her own life work.  Dr. Fleming collected their stories, her advice and their work into her book “It’s the Way You Say It:  Becoming Articulate, Well-spoken and Clear”.

To get your own copy of Dr. Fleming’s book, please go to:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Way-You-Say-Well-spoken/dp/1450215165/

There are hundreds of ways to promote your business. You can do it online or offline or a combination of both. Some people are not comfortable selling their own products and services. Thinking outside the “sales” box can release you to talk up your business without feeling like you are forcing yourself upon your potential customers.

Before embarking on a marketing campaign, it’s best to keep the following in mind:

➢ Determine your budget and stick to it. Create a budget at the outset, identify your costs, and keep careful track of all expenses.

➢ Understand your objective. Is the goal of your campaign to build brand awareness? Boost sales? Create credibility? Show customer appreciation? Or to increase sales? Knowing the answer at the start will help you to proceed in the right direction with your marketing campaign.

3 Offline Marketing Strategies to Create Awareness And Build Credibility

Friends & Family can be some of the best sources of business available. Start speaking with them about your services and products. When they understand the benefits that you offer potential customers, they can be your best sales people. Make sure your friends and family have a supply of business cards and/or brochures. Give them marketing materials to show off to others. Start calling them and ask for their support to help you to increase your awareness.

Hand Written Notes: Write hand-written thank you notes to current and former clients. You’ll be surprised at the impact. People are craving authentic experiences – we are so use to receiving emails and communicating via social networking sites. A thank you note can create a lot of loyalty.

Creating a good first impression: If you’re running a small business, you are your business. Wherever you go and whatever you do is a business promotion opportunity. Promotions are not only advertising or press releases or sales events; promotion is also how you present yourself. As a business owner, you want to ensure that everyone who meets you forms a positive first impression. Concentrate on being friendly, attractive, and knowledgeable. It will help you create and maintain the kind of business image that creates a positive first impression, gets good word-of-mouth, and builds credibility

Creative Online Marketing Strategies

Inserting an email signature is one of the simplest, convenient, cost effective (Free) ways to promote your business. We all communicate through email so there’s really no excuse. This is an effective marketing strategy where you can include your contact details, website and blog URL, company slogan and logo in all emails (both newly created emails and replies).

Submit Your Website and Blog to Search Engines & Directories

When submitting your website or blog to the search engines, you can get higher search engine optimization. You can submit it manually by going to the search engine website and adding your URL (website or blog address). Currently there are thousands of search engines and directories on the Internet. I recommend the following: Google – www.google.com;  Yahoo – www.yahoo.com;  Excite – www.excite.com;  MSN – www.msn.com.  A search engine is a searchable database of websites collected by a computer program (called a crawler, robot or spider). When you enter a keyword, the search engine looks for keywords in its database, and any relevant records are displayed.

Re-post someone else’s blog posting on your blog

If you find a blog on the Internet that will offer valuable information to your own target audience, re-post the blog posting. First get the permission of the blog owner, and remember to give them credit with a link back to their site. (Blog owners realize that “Back Links” will create more awareness, and they’ll gladly let you use the posting.)  Re posting a blog post creates loyalty between you and the owner of the blog.  They can in return mention some of your blog postings.  This is a great tool to help each other to create awareness and to build productive relationships.

BlogTalkRadio allows anyone, anywhere the ability to host a live, Internet Talk Radio show, simply by using a telephone and a computer. It is the largest and fastest-growing social radio network on the Internet. BlogTalkRadio has tens of thousands of hosts and millions of listeners tuning in and joining the conversation each month.

Many businesses also utilize the platform as a tool to:

• Extend their brands and join the conversation on the social web
• Build credibility and establish themselves as experts
• Connect with a global audience with a highly interactive medium
• Increase your awareness and your sales

BlogTalkRadio’s unique technology and seamless integration with leading social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Ning, empowers  broadcasters to create and share their original content, their voices and their opinions in a public worldwide forum.

Smart companies are joining the discussion and leveraging this emerging and highly-effective channel to grow their businesses. BlogTalkRadio helps the world’s leading brands, such as Ford, PepsiCo, Allstate Insurance, and Wal-Mart, ensure they are a part of the conversation.

Start your free, live talk show!

• FREE Internet radio talk show: No software download.
• Promotional Tools: Copy and paste flash player and buttons to any blog or web site
• Show Archive: Saved automatically and available as MP3, RSS subscription or iTunes
• Reminders: Customized alerts by email or phone of upcoming shows
• Customizable Profile: Add video, a blog, links to other sites or other widgets

If you want to learn how to use this unique FREE Blog Talk Radio Account to extend your brand, and increase your awareness and sales, please give me a call or send me an email to Ursula@ursulakauth.com.  I will also help you to design a Blog Talk Radio Show series with topics that will be compelling to your target audience.

For more information about the medium please go to http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com

Attracting clients is not only about fancy marketing.  All successful marketing starts with being authentic in your work, your life and with yourself. Today’s consumers are “longing” for authenticity.  Below are 3 secrets how we can give our customers the authentic experiences that they crave.

1.  Align your business with your “inner” world

Authentic Marketing means working from your core values and strengths.   When your products or services are rooted in truth, you are better able to share the benefits of your business with grace and integrity.  The more we align our business with our inner world of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions, the more refined our outer world becomes.

Our “inner” is directly reflected in the “outer,” and if you experience unhappiness and turmoil, it will be reflected in your business.  If you experience peace, joy, acceptance and alignment, you will in an authentic way attract clients.

2.  Let your passion shine through

I am passionate about my work. I love to help my clients with their marketing needs. I love sharing what I know and trust that it will help my clients to grow their business.  When my clients share successful marketing stories, I’m overjoyed.

When we live our passion we will attract people who connect with us and they’ll be more likely to like and trust us. If you want to impress people, let your passion and personality shine through –it will compliment your knowledge, experience and credentials.

Stop worrying about what everyone else in your industry is doing and discover what feels authentic to you about your business and get very, very passionate about that. Do that and the right people will find you.

3.  Offer outstanding and friendly customer service

In 2007, my niece, Nicole, expressed “good customer service characteristics” in a very special way. An Asian little girl, Mica, joined their Day Care. All of a sudden Mica was surrounded by 4 different cultures. Nicole, just 3 years old at the time, detected that the girl was unsure about the kids from different cultures gazing at her. While the girl was still clutching her mom’s hand, Nicole removed her own necklace and offered it as a gift to the new girl by placing it around her neck. By doing this Nicole immediately embraced the new girl into the group.

When you do business in an authentic way, you invite the world to give you an authentic response—one that might touch you deeply and give you deep satisfaction when you experience your customers’ success or joy.

So, what feels authentic to you?  If you want to learn how to be more authentic in your marketing, please give me a call for a free consultation.

Happy Marketing!

Debi Nguyen is the Creator and Chief Marketer of Deb Deb’s Rub Rub specialty spice rub company.  She just delighted the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco with her flavorful spices and sassy personality!

Cooking and creating is in her blood. Debi was born into the restaurant business. Helping out in her parent’s Vietnamese restaurant was required. By the time she was 11, Debi could assemble spring rolls and chop vegetables as well as be the best chef in the kitchen.

She didn’t pursue a career in the restaurant industry, and after years of being successful in a corporate job, a mountain biking accident landed her a new job: creating her own line of specialty spice rubs. The accident forced her to wear a full-length arm cast for two months. It gave Debi the time to explore  with spices from around the globe.

After entertaining friends and family with her flavorful rubs, she perfected her trademark mixes and launched Deb Deb’s Rub Rub in 2007.  Debi loves creating spice rubs that help others enjoy cooking and return the fun to the kitchen. She says her inspiration comes from the joy of helping people save time and money.  People who were never interested in cooking find the rubs an easy way to prepare meals.

Debi manages Deb Deb Rub Rub full-time and has hired a passionate crew to help her.  The crew’s energetic spirit, sassy personalities and flavorful rubs attracted many visitors to their Fancy Food Show booth!

The rubs are a unique, intensely flavorful blend of herbs and spices and are excellent for poultry, beef, lamb, wild game, pork, seafood and even tofu.   Their current product line includes the versatile finger-lickin’ Grub Rub, the lip-smackin’ beef and lamb Moo Rub, the sassy barbecue Pull My Pork Rub, the Cajun Blackout Rub and for spicy thrill seekers the hotter than hot Ring o’ Fire Rub (this was my favorite at the show!).

Deb’s flavorful spices, inspiring entrepreneurial spirit and committed team make them a winner.  I am now a walking billboard for Deb Deb’s Rub Rub and encourage everybody to visit their website to place orders.

http://www.debdebsrubrub.com/

When the economy is down, it doesn’t mean opportunities go away.  We are all concerned about the economic downturn, but instead of moving into the Psychology of Fear, you can turn the downturn into an opportunity.   We cannot control the economy, but we can control our circumstances.  So, how are we going to maintain our business health and grow our business?

Creative Marketing For The New Economy

I will share with you four inexpensive marketing strategies that will be easy to implement in the New Economy.  These strategies will also increase your web presence and visibility, and generate leads and sales.

Affiliate Programs or Referral Bonuses

• Start offering affiliate programs or referral bonuses.  An affiliate program is a commission-based agreement.  If somebody sells your products or services you pay them an agreed-upon fee for the sales.

• Show real interest in helping your Affiliates to understand the benefits of your products or services.

• Advertise your affiliate program on your website

• Make your program financially appealing, and have a link from your affiliates website to your site.

Do the Write Thing

• Writing can give you a competitive edge and help you to establish yourself as an expert.
• It is also a powerful Search Engine Optimization tool.
• Write articles and publish it in newspapers/magazine or submit it online.  If you do not enjoy writing, get a ghostwriter or contact writing teachers at your local community College, and ask if they do freelance work.
• Articles can be submitted to various online sites, and I would recommend you start with (1) www.Ezinearticles.com; and (2) www.GoArticles.com.
• You can also convert published articles into speeches, paid information products or use it as handouts at networking meetings.

Harness the Power of Placing Comments on Blogs

• Start placing comments on blogs.  Google for blogs that are relevant to your business and start a dialogue by commenting on blog postings (http://blogsearch.google.com or http://www.Technorati.com are 2 sites where you can find blogs).
• Go where your target market hangs out, and start from a place of genuine interest and authenticity.  Your objective will be to develop a genuine interest in the community and a desire to share something of value with that community.

• Your postings or comments will help you to establish credibility.

• Readers will realize that you are knowledgeable, passionate about your business, and soon you will be seen as the “go-to” person in your industry.

• People will get to know and trust you, and it will drive traffic back to your website/business.

Dare to be different – Be Authentic

• Consumers crave authentic experiences.  Technology has brought us so much, but it has also robbed us of authenticity.
• Discover your uniqueness and learn how to use your strengths to become the person that people, prospects and customers want to hang out with.
• Be spontaneous, positive, energized and present yourself in a memorable way.  Have the courage to be different and to create a competitive edge.  Capture what’s real about you and your products or services.

Use your positive energy to attract clients while remaining authentic, honoring your strengths, and expressing your creativity!

Networking Meetings – Give yourself a Competitive Advantage

You can give yourself a competitive advantage by simply preparing for the networking meetings you will be attending.  Preparation is the key to increased confidence and getting the results you want from your networking efforts.

Set your Marketing Goals and Budget
Include Networking in your marketing mix and set measurable goals.  Determine your budget and select Networking events where you will have the opportunity to meet your target audience.

Networking Organizations – will they help you to achieve your business goals?
Select Networking Organizations where you will have the opportunity to meet your target audience.  Some networking groups require you to become a member where you pay a monthly fee.  Don’t join immediately. First attend meetings as a guest and ask members about their experiences.  Questions to ask: (a) What type of people do they attract and what benefits do they receive?  (b) Who are their guest speakers and what topics do they discuss?  If this group will help you to make quality connections and meet your business goals, you can consider joining them.

To get you started, I’ve prepared a  networking preparation checklist for you.

Networking checklist

How to prepare yourself for a Networking meeting:

• Define your own goals for a specific meeting.  Don’t have unrealistic goals.  It will take time to develop relationships and to meet your goals.

• How many quality connections do you want to make during the meeting?  My suggestion will be 5-8 connections.

• During networking meetings we have to master small talk. Small talk in conversations allows us to find common ground – it will spark interest.  Be prepared to talk about daily news or global issues. Read the newspaper that specific day – write down 3 things of importance that you can use to discuss with people in casual conversations.

• Have your 1-minute introduction speech ready. Incorporate your benefits that you offer and make your message compelling.

• Take your business cards and design your own name tag– I always use my own colorful name tag and it says “Hi I am Ursula”

• Dress for success.  Needless to say how important it is to always dress in a professional way.  It will give you high credibility and people will respect you.

• Leave early – On the way to the event be relaxed – listen to relaxed music in the car. Think positive thoughts – with a positive mindset, you will arrive peacefully and be ready to present yourself in a powerful way.

Happy Networking and best wishes in meeting your goals and grow your business!

Tuesday, October 20th | 10am Pacific – 1pm Eastern

Denise Wakeman

Many people ask why they need a blog if Facebook and twitter are so popular. With recent cyber attacks, spam and accounts on Facebook being hacked on a daily basis, you’ve got to diversify your online real estate portfolio.

Establishing your blog as home base gives you the most leverage and visibility for your investment of time, energy and money. But, you’ve got to be smart about blogging for your business.

In this interview, you’ll learn 5 tactics to ensure the success of your blog so it will create a powerful platform to generate move visibility and more opportunities for your business.

You’ll learn:

• Why you need a blog for your business
• 4 keys to creating compelling content
• How to manage your blogging time
• 3 sites to syndicate your blog content to drive more traffic
• An essential tactic for attracting business with your blog

And much more…

Grab your FREE seat now –> http://www.BusinessMasterySeminars.com

Teleseminar – October 7th | 10am Pacific – 1pm Eastern

Every day your target audience has exposure to more than 5000 marketing messages. What can you as a Small Business Owner or Entrepreneur do to make your website irresistible and attract a high volume of prospects?

It is a crowded market with lots of competition. It takes a website visitor less than 7 seconds to make a decision if they want to learn more about your business or leave your site forever.

Have you ever visited a site and “something” about the design, feel and look were so irresistible that you didn’t want to leave? During our call you will get on-the-spot insights about “7 simple strategies to guarantee your success online in today’s new economy.

Here’s a sample of what you’ll learn:

• The most important strategy to implement before you design your website
• Inside secrets how to WOW your visitors when they arrive at your site and turn them into loyal followers
• How to capture the contact information of your website visitors and automate your marketing messages
• Why the Wordpress design platform is favored by search engines and how you can easily update your own website

A few months ago I started sailing with friends in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I love the outdoors and when Richard, the owner of the beautiful 34-foot sailboat asked me to join his crew, I accepted the invitation immediately.  On my first official day as a crew member, I enthusiastically arrived at the San Francisco Marina.  I had the right mindset to start this new venture, but one thing was missing …. I was not dressed like a sailor.  For instance, I had my “fashionable” sun hat on that would of being blown away by the first light wind we encountered.

I have learned quickly to be practical and to dress accordingly.   In the meantime I have learned many other skills, and I have also learned that preparation is the key to smooth and safe sailing.  This concept works in all aspects of our life.  The better we plan, the more successful we will be.

Are you prepared to sail into 2010 with a Marketing Plan that will fit in with the New Economy?

Do you have a marketing plan? A marketing plan is simply a map that outlines the steps you must take to reach your marketing goals. It helps you stay on the right track and reach your destination faster and more efficiently. The biggest compliant I hear from business owners is that they get distracted by day-to-day activities and don’t take enough time to conduct their marketing activities. If you spend quality time designing your marketing plan, you will be more focused and experience profitable results.

A Seven-Step Marketing Plan

As a Guerrilla Marketing Coach I will introduce you to a seven step marketing plan that will help you to design innovative, inexpensive and profitable marketing strategies. Guerrilla Marketing is geared to small businesses.  Here are a few examples of how it differs from your traditional marketing:

➢    Instead of investing money in the marketing process, you invest time, energy and imagination.

➢    Instead of using guesswork in your marketing, you use the science of psychology, actual laws of human behavior.

➢    Our motto is “relationships first” and then sales.  We are dedicated to building productive and profitable long-term relationships.

➢    Guerrilla Marketing provides you with 100 different marketing strategies that will include the latest Internet technology.

➢    More innovative approaches to Guerrilla marketing now utilize cutting edge internet and mobile digital technologies to engage the consumer and create a memorable brand  experience.

To learn more about my “7-Step Guerrilla Marketing Plan” and services please visit my website at http://www.ursulakauth.com or send me an email at ursula@ursulakauth.com

Happy Marketing!