Articles by Allison Babb
- 3 Ways to Attract More Ideal Clients
As a small business coach, almost without exception, my clients need to work on gaining greater clarity on their target market. We all start out thinking we are clear on it. I know I did, until my own coach really challenged me to go deeper and deeper along the path to becoming intimately familiar with the market that I serve. Here's an interesting outcome of doing that work...
Published 21Jul2010, viewed 112 times
- How to Keep Prospects From Canceling
For a lot of small business owners, one of the challenges in how to sell services is actually how to keep valuable prospects from slipping through your fingers. As a small business coach, I've worked with business owners who tell me they find themselves chasing after prospects. It's rather exhausting and quite unpleasant to say the least, right? Here are a few suggestions for greatly reducing or eliminating this experience with prospects.
Published 14Jul2010, viewed 104 times
- 5 Secrets to An Effective Marketing Campaign
When I'm doing coaching for business, marketing is always on the forefront of my mind. You've probably heard me say many times "Marketing is the gas in your business engine." Without it, the business doesn't go very far. Or it begins to feel like quite a struggle to attract and maintain clients. In this article I'll reveal what I think are the 5 most important ingredients for implementing an effective marketing campaign for your business.
Published 06Jul2010, viewed 165 times
- Top 10 Strategies for More Clients
Small business owners often experience what I call "feast or famine" syndrome in their businesses. This is where some weeks/months they have plenty of clients and other weeks/months, they have very few or none. This article is a bit of a checklist for what may be going wrong.
Published 01Jul2010, viewed 106 times
- How to Create the Revenue You Want
From my experience as a small business coach, the #1 reason small business owners seek out mentoring and help in their businesses is to achieve the revenue they want. And that makes sense because if we're running a business, we certainly would want it to be profitable. If you're striving to create the income and revenue you want and you're not quite there yet, these 4 actions may be your turning point.
Published 23Jun2010, viewed 103 times
- How to Get Prospects to Value Your Expertise
As small business owners, when we're seeking the best ways for how to sell services, a key aspect is discovering how to position our expertise/products/services in such a way that it would display true value for our prospects. And that true value would then turn those prospects into paying clients. Here are 2 critical aspects of positioning your value and some misperceptions that may undermine that goal.
Published 16Jun2010, viewed 110 times
- 3 Ways to Increase the Number & Quality of Prospects You Attract
Sometimes, the search for prospects can seem like we're in a desert searching for any signs of life. Other times, the prospects we find just aren't the right fit. In fact, they weren't really a prospect at all. And sometimes we discover this only after spending way too much time chasing after them. Here are 3 ways to increase not only the number of prospects you get but the quality as well.
Published 10Jun2010, viewed 126 times
- Eliminating the Pain of Proposals, Presentations and Price-Setting
In my earlier days as an Executive Coach, I used to write proposals for potential clients who wanted me to come in and deliver leadership training to their managers. When you're looking at how to sell services, proposal writing can be a very tedious process and can also be a huge waste of time if the client chooses not to move forward. Read more to see how to eliminate the pain of proposals, presentations and price setting.
Published 01Jun2010, viewed 111 times
- Are You Giving Away Too Much For Free?
I'll be the first to admit that I love what I do so much (as a small business coach) that I could do it for free. While it's great to love what you do, all businesses are set up to create revenue and giving away the farm certainly doesn't accomplish that goal. In this article, I'll share how to check whether you're indeed giving away too much for free and what to do about it.
Published 25May2010, viewed 106 times
- 6 Best Ways to Market Your Business Online
If you own a business and you're not yet online, that's like leaving a whole lot of cash on the table. It's so common-place now to head over to google.com to search for whatever we want even if it's in our local city or town. Getting your marketing online is certainly not an optional thing these days, so here are my top 6 tips for how to market your business online.
Published 19May2010, viewed 141 times
- What to do With Clients Who Delay Their Buying Decision
So there you are with what seems like an interested client. They called you up, expressed interest in what you have to offer, booked the consultation, seemed interested in getting together. But after your conversation, they disappeared into "I'll think about it and get back to you." What can you do to dramatically shorten the time between "I'm interested" and "I'm ready to buy."
Published 12May2010, viewed 130 times
- 5 Best Ways to Create Information Products that Increase Your Revenue
If you are a small business owner who sells a professional service of any kind, you can increase your income dramatically by adding information products to your offerings. There's only so many hours in the day to book clients or to do projects for clients. So here are 5 best ways to create information products that increase your income... no clients required.
Published 04May2010, viewed 110 times
- Small Business Coaching on Why Leads May Not Be Converting
For a lot of small business owners, leads may not be a problem. They may be receiving lots of leads. It's the conversion of those leads that may be the problem. So in this article, let's explore 4 reasons your leads may not be converting and what you can do about it.
Published 27Apr2010, viewed 143 times
- How to Follow Up Without Pestering
So there you are with a stack of business cards or a database full of names. It's time to follow up. You're well aware that you must follow up as part of your strategy to get more clients and customers. But at the same time, you stare at the phone or email feeling like you're about to pester someone and it's not a good feeling. Here are some golden nuggets of truth and strategies around following up without pestering.
Published 08Apr2010, viewed 120 times
- How to Keep Customers Coming Back for More
So you've had some success getting customers in your small business. They bought once, and you're not quite sure why they're not returning for more. How do you increase the number of repeat sales you get? How to you get clients/customers coming back for more. Great question and I have a few sales-generating suggestions for you.
Published 01Apr2010, viewed 126 times
- What to Do When Your Ad Is Not Working
Ads... OK, not my favorite way to bring in clients and customers (more on why in a minute), but it can work IF you do it right. Sadly, most ads give business owners pitiful results and it ends up being a huge chunk of wasted cash. In this article I will not only share 4 powerful ways to make your ads work successfully, but I'll also share some secrets the ad-sales people may not want you to know (sorry, no offense if you sell ads).
Published 30Mar2010, viewed 109 times
- What to Do When You're Paralyzed By Fear
Over the last year, as business owners we've come through all types of ups and downs with our economic shifts. Times have changed for sure. Some businesses made it, others closed their doors for good. All business owners go through some level of fear - whether we choose to admit it or not. Here's my 5-part strategy for pulling yourself right out of that paralyzing fear and leaping straight onto the path of success.
Published 17Mar2010, viewed 324 times
- Small Business Coaching: Undermining Your Credibility with This?
A business owner recently sent me an email inviting me to partner with him on one of his projects. I get a few requests like that a month. The venture seemed like a good one as I read his description. I was about to have my assistant follow up until I hit this credibility-undermining flaw and guess what my response was?
Published 09Mar2010, viewed 119 times
- Small Business Coaching for Cash-Strapped Businesses
Today I was reading several questions from recent subscribers of my Ezine and one theme stuck out from the recent few - I'm cash-strapped and I'm starting a home-based business. Or, I'm cash strapped and I want to make sure I don't lose my business so tell me how to sell my services successfully. So in this Ezine issue, here are 3 significant thoughts I had on cash-strapped businesses
Published 10Mar2010, viewed 350 times
- Small Business Coaching: A Two-Step Marketing Strategy for Clients & Sales
Many small business owners I've worked with have a bit of a one-track mind when it comes to sales and how to sell a service. Even if you're just now starting home-based business, this is an important strategy for you internalize as well. People aren't always ready to buy simply because you're ready to sell. Let's talk about the two-step marketing strategy to dramatically increase clients and sales.
Published 02Mar2010, viewed 145 times
- Small Business Coaching: Need People Who Support You?
I've found my clients to be brilliant, talented, and full of fabulous money-making ideas for their business. But because they are solo entrepreneurs, they tend to remain isolated for the most part in their business life. But even though you need to get connected with others, WHO you choose to connect with can either make or break you. And if you think gathering with others in your industry is the way to go, what I share here may surprise you.
Published 24Feb2010, viewed 122 times
- Small Business Coaching on 3 Ways to Grow Your Business
It probably goes without saying that all self-employed people want to grow their small businesses as quickly as possible. Solo entrepreneurs, in particular, can find this to be quite a challenge. Perhaps it's because we're often wearing many hats and juggling many responsibilities. Growth can seem slower and harder to achieve at times. In this article, discover 3 ways to grow your business.
Published 15Oct2009, viewed 470 times
- Starting a Business?: 3 Questions to Ask
Berta is a talented in two areas and she's undoubtedly very skilled and experienced at both. She can choose either to launch a business, but as with most new entrepreneurs, she's unclear on where to start and she'd like some guidance on business planning and next steps. Berta has tried multiple times to create a clear plan for her business, but struggles with moving forward. Here's my advice to her...
Published 12Oct2009, viewed 274 times
- Small Business Coaching: Let's Complain About the Recession Only If...
If only I had a dollar for each time I get asked "How's the recession affecting your business?" My answer? "It's not. I've got my own bailout plan." I feel like I'm almost expected to complain at the sound of the "R" word when it comes up in conversation. But see, I refuse to complain. In fact, I say to business owners, let's complain about the recession only if these 4 things are true for you in your business:
Published 22Aug2009, viewed 503 times
- Small Business Coaching on How to Create Daily Success [Part 2]
In part 1 of this article, we talked about deciding on your top 3 actions, making them profit-producing tasks, and what to do about your email. In this follow-up article, I'll share 3 more secrets to creating daily success, one of which is truly golden. If you do it consistently, be prepared for immeasurable success. Also, I share why I don't subscribe to time management and the alternative I DO subscribe to instead.
Published 05Aug2009, viewed 171 times
- Small Business Advice on How to Create Daily Success [Part 1]
One of the biggest challenges I see when I coach an entrepreneur is how they manage their time daily... If you own a home based business or even if you're starting a home based business, one critical part of success is how you flow through the day...So let's start where it all begins - setting up your day for success which will then create successful weeks, and successful months...
Published 29Jul2009, viewed 270 times
- Small Business Advice on Why Referrals Are Not Enough
A majority of entrepreneurs I've worked with admit that word-of-mouth and referrals are their primary ways to attract new clients and customers. Referrals should be a part of your business life for sure, but too often I see it become the only way to bring in new business. Here are 3 reasons why referrals are not enough...
Published 22Jul2009, viewed 285 times
- Small Business Advice on the Quickest Way to Attract New Clients
The majority of entrepreneurs I've worked with are concerned about attracting enough clients. And rightfully so, as customers are the lifeblood of our businesses. One of my recent subscribers, Kelly, asked what is the quickest way to attract new clients and to create consistent success. This is actually a question I get every single week on my web site. Here are 4 things that attract customers with absolute speed:
Published 22Jul2009, viewed 239 times
- Small Business Advice: Are You Image-Marketing?
If you're a bootstrapping solo entrepreneur, image-marketing should probably be pretty darned low on your list of priorities...let me say if your competition tends to be heavy corporate types or mega-company types, then you are probably competing with mega "image-marketing" as well and may need to do some level of that...here's why I'd ditch image-marketing in favor of these 3 types of marketing that are far more effective ...
Published 07Jul2009, viewed 171 times
- Success On A Budget
The best thing I ever did for myself as a business owner was to become a student of success. That meant plunking down some cash to get the knowledge I now have...When we stop learning, we stop growing and our businesses typically follow. Today, I'm consistently investing in 5-figure coaching programs...but I didn't start out that way...Here are 5 budget-friendly ways to get some revenue-producing knowledge for your business.
Published 30Jun2009, viewed 178 times
- You May Lose Customers Without One
So what do you sell? For a lot of solopreneurs, the answer is just one thing. Maybe two. I'd like to encourage you to rethink that. And even if you have a good selection, it won't sell if it just sits there. Customers show up to do business with you in a variety of different ways so let's talk about how to set up this thing called your "sales funnel" to increase revenue.
Published 26Jun2009, viewed 154 times
- Small Business Advice: Convert Prospects to Clients With This
I remember the conversation vividly. An entrepreneurial couple came to me for help because of a chronic problem with late payments from clients and the impact was, of course, their own financial struggle. I listened to what was happening and here's what I suggested to attract more clients and also eliminate the payment problem...
Published 15Jun2009, viewed 153 times
- Small Business Advice: Are you chasing after these?
It's almost like an "entrepreneurial curse." Not in a bad way, but it's that need to continually be in search of the "next sure thing to grow my business." That desire isn't inherently bad, but it can plague us so badly that it literally stops us from creating the very success we desire.
Published 28May2009, viewed 189 times
- Small Business Advice: Got Any Sales Prevention Strategies?
Every so often, it's important for us to take a look at our own business processes particularly when it comes to creating an easy sales process for prospects and clients. I'd invite you to check whether you may be engaging in any of these 5 sales prevention strategies:
Published 13May2009, viewed 184 times
- Small Business Advice: Is Your Product or Service Enticing
One question I often get from small business owners is "How do I get people to buy my stuff?" I'll admit the phrase "getting people to buy" makes me squirm a bit as it seems to suggest pushing products on potential customers when the opposite should be true. Find out why in this article.
Published 29Apr2009, viewed 224 times
- Small Business Advice on How to Keep Your Customers
Whether the economy is up or down, as small business owners, we all want to be sure we're doing everything to keep our customers. Some of you have shared that your customers are disappearing or just not returning to your business. Some have expressed a concern that their business is viewed as a luxury expense and is the first to go when hard times hit. So how do your keep your customers on board with you? Here are 5 ideas to think about:
Published 14Apr2009, viewed 176 times
- Small Business Advice on How to Generate Qualified Referrals
Whether you join a networking group or you're trying to get your clients to refer others to you, one thing's for sure, when the referrals show up, you want them to be qualified referrals. In this article, find out how to generate more qualified referrals.
Published 07Apr2009, viewed 202 times
- Small Business Advice: The truth about what you're really selling
During a recent radio interview, I shared one of the biggest mistakes I see self-employed people making - believing you are in business to sell your products and services. I was asked why I considered that such a big mistake since it seems like any small business owner would indeed be in business to sell their products and services. Here's why I see it as a mistake...
Published 16Apr2009, viewed 202 times
- Small Business Advice: Is Your Marketing Upside-down?
When I first thought of how to market my business, ideas for how to do it were things like.. print a brochure of flier, run an ad, send out some postcards. But I later discovered that's actually upside down and is the last of 3 steps in an effective marketing strategy. Many marketing efforts fail because they don't follow the right order of things.
Published 12Apr2009, viewed 227 times
- Small Business Advice on Where To Find More Prospects
For self-employed people who are building a small business on a budget, finding prospects you can then turn into customers is a huge concern. If the prospect pool dries up, so does your potential for new customers. So the question is where do you go to find new prospects to continuously feed your "potential clients" pool? Find out in this article.
Published 09Apr2009, viewed 179 times
- Self Employed? How to NOT Become a Slave to Your Business
There are so many self-employed people out there running themselves ragged. In fact, their small business is running them. And trust me, I've walked that path myself. Up late at night, going all day long, believing that's just the way it is for small business owners. But that's not so. In this article, discover some options for NOT becoming a slave to your business.
Published 06Apr2009, viewed 201 times
- Small Business Advice: Don't Lose Your Shirt Buying Ads
Self employed people typically think of buying ads as a way to get the word out about their small businesses. But don't lose your shirt buying ads. In this article, find out why.
Published 04Apr2009, viewed 243 times
- Small Business Advice on Turning Prospects Into Clients
Want more referrals for your business? Here's an article that will help you leverage your referrals and turn them into customers!
Published 07Feb2009, viewed 220 times
- Small Business Marketing: What Does Your Customer Want?
marketing advice for finding your target audience
Published 07Feb2009, viewed 238 times
- Small Business Marketing: How to Thrive In A Down Economy
Help in finding clients in a bad economy
Published 01Feb2009, viewed 287 times
- Small Business Advice: Self Employed? How to Become A Wealth Magnet
small business advice on how to achieve more success in your business
Published 27Jan2009, viewed 207 times
- Small Business Advice: 6 Reasons Entrepreneurs Fail
free advice for solo entrepreneurs
Published 27Jan2009, viewed 213 times
- Small Business Advice: Self Employment Freedom in 5Ds
small business advice
Published 13Jan2009, viewed 237 times
- Small Business Advice: Self Employed? 5 Ways to Attract Customers
advice to help you attract more customers to your business
Published 13Jan2009, viewed 213 times
- Small Business Advice on Turning Clients Into Prospects
To turn prospects into the customers, your business must be set up to transition prospects into leads, turn leads into clients, turn clients into raving fans which creates even more customers.
Published 18Dec2008, viewed 247 times
- Small Business Advice on How to Thrive In A Down Economy
How can you thrive is this so-called "down economy."
Published 18Dec2008, viewed 316 times
- Small Business Advice on Getting Referrals
All business owners want referrals and we often assume it is an organic process where the business owner is not actively involved. But there are ways in which you an stimulate referrals.
Published 17Dec2008, viewed 227 times
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