“No matter how conscious and motivated you are to serve, opportunity blind spots exist in your business because you just don’t know what you don’t know. So, you can’t just see what you can’t see… And the darnedest thing about it is, it’s what you can’t see that’s holding you back more than anything else. – David Neagle, Millionaire Success and Wealth Consciousness Mentor for Entrepreneurs and Speakers

This is the very reason that we need coaches and mentors; we just can’t see what we can’t see! As I shared recently, I had much failure early on with building a business because I was going it alone. I did not know what I was doing wrong. I thought that my business idea was wrong, so I tried several different businesses. And when this did not work, it felt like there was something wrong with me!

It was after I discovered coaching and mentoring and began working with my own coaches and mentors that I saw what was missing from the equation. And added this quickly! The result has been a fast turnaround, with more clients, earning more money, doing work I love. I now help women to experience the same transformations in their businesses!

If you are still trying to build a DIY business, with the resulting failure and frustration as you struggle to get clients and make money, I invite you to download my FREE ebook: 12 Reasons Women Business Owners Struggle to Get Clients, here on this page (see right) or at http://tinyurl.com/33yqlcu You will learn helpful tips to move your business forward and beyond 12 possible blind spots!

May I ask, what is your projected revenue for this year?

Is it bigger than last year’s?
If yes, are you planning to grow your revenue serving your clients one-to-one or trading time for money?
If you answered Yes to these questions, it is my mission to inform you today that you are seriously sabotaging your revenue goals with a “one-to-one” or “time-for-money” business model. If you keep things this way, you may not achieve the revenue growth you desire! Let me explain:

A “one-to-one” business model means you earn your revenue by serving one client at a time. For example, a coach, consultant, photographer or therapist who sees one client at a time.  A “time for money” business model, also known as “hours for dollars,” means you sell your time, for instance, a trainer or consultants who bills by the hour. The reason that these models will sabotage your efforts to grow your revenue is this: your revenue goal has increased but the number of hours in a day stays the same! If you tried to see more clients in a day in order to boost your revenue you would be sacrificing quality for quantity. And in so doing, you would be reducing your unique services to a generic commodity. Not what you want, is it?

To increase your revenue this year you would therefore need to review the way you earn money.
Since you cannot increase the number of hours in a day and do not want to sacrifice quality for quantity, what you need is the power of leverage! My definition of leverage is: to increase your productivity with the help of other people or things. These “things” could be a new system, a new format, new technology, for example. Here are 6 ways to make leverage work for you and increase your inc0me this year!

1.    Productize: Is there anything you teach people to do? Could they do this themselves if you provided the instructions? Then instead of repeating this process with each of your clients, package the information in a leveraged format e.g. books, CDs, videos, workbooks, templates, self-assessments etc. Make these available for purchase on your website and your clients can access the
information 24/7, without your help, from anywhere in the world. The results: More sales without your input, freeing up your time
and reducing stress. Your support is also made accessible to people who might not be able to see you one-to-one or who cannot afford
your one-to-one support.

2.   Serve one-to-many: Instead of serving one person at a time, start serving groups! Examples: Workshops, webinars, masterminds
etc. You reach more people in about the same amount of time and make more money for working smarter!

3.    Hire other people’s time and expertise! Take on associate coaches or consultants to deliver your programs and trainings. Take on additional photographers, therapists or assistants to serve more clients. They work in your business, delivering a part of the fees they earn to you.

4.    License your programs: Allow others buy the rights to deliver your unique systems, tools, software, workshops etc. If you have a proven resource, leverage it this way! Licensees are different from associates in that they work in their own businesses and not yours.
You could either offer a one-time license, which lasts forever or a renewable one so that you earn revenue every time a licensee renews.

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Focus on the one thing that would make the biggest difference to your situation!

If you are struggling to get clients, focus your attention on your marketing activities. Then pick the one marketing activity that could bring you the best and biggest results.

If you need to make some quick cash, what is the one revenue-generating activity that could bring you the money you need, the soonest? Get to work on that!

Are you overwhelmed with all your uncompleted writing projects and do not know where to start? Think of why you write in the first place. Is it for visibility? Credibility? Lead generation? As a revenue stream?  Pick the writing project that would best serve this purpose and work your way down the list according to priority.

This one tip can help you take back control of your situation and move past the overwhelm.

When you have too much to do, focus on the one thing that could make the biggest difference!

To continue getting more clients in the New Year it is necessary to review your niche to be sure your business remains relevant and in-demand. What parameters should you be looking at as you review your niche? Below I have provided 26 niche review statements. If you can confidently rate yourself top marks on each one, congrats! You own your niche!

Take the Quiz!

Instructions: Following are 26 statements. Read carefully and rate how well each one describes you on a scale of 0 – 5, where 0 = Far from true; I need help (!) and 5 = Full marks; I’ve nailed this!

1.          I am very clear about my target audience and can describe them in one sentence.
2.          I can list at least 5 places where my target audience congregates, online and off, where I can interact with them.
3.          I can describe my ideal client clearly, so I know who I am looking for.
4.          I can describe my non-ideal client clearly, so I know who I do not want to work with!
5.          My target audience is easily and affordably accessible. I can find low and no-cost ways to reach them.
6.          My target audience is willing and able to pay for the solutions I offer.
7.          My target audience is a large market (i.e. there are enough people to serve continuously) not likely to run out any time soon!
8.          My niche (i.e. my target audience + my solution) has long term potential; it is not a passing fad based on fleeting trends.
9. I know without any doubt what the most pressing challenges of my target audience are.
10. My target audience is already actively seeking solutions to these most pressing challenges. I do not need to create awareness of these challenges; they know they have them and desperately want them solved!
11. I know-how to stay abreast with my target audience’s needs.
12. I consider myself to be abreast with my target audience’s needs.
13. I deliver my own customized solutions to my target audience’s biggest challenges.
14. I clearly communicate to my target audience how my customized solutions are different from those of my competitors.
15. I have a clear plan for establishing visibility among my target audience. I have a written/drawn up plan.
16. I have identified at least 10 possible cross-promotion partners to help me become known, liked and trusted in my niche.
17. I regularly interact in person with my target audience to improve rapport and make myself accessible to them.
18. I am active in other communities who share a target audience with me. E.g. an accountant who does not just interact within accountant-related communities but also participates in small business owner forums, local business groups, other professional associations etc.
19. When asked, “What do you do?” I respond in a way that often attracts requests for further information.
20. I have several marketing activities in operation that regularly bring interested enquirers to me instead of my having to chase new prospects all the time.
21. I have a list of my top 10 competitors (these could be anyone supporting your target audience with the same problems that you handle; they may not necessarily be in your industry).
22. I have completed a competitor analysis of my top 10 competitors. I can demonstrate to my target audience how my services and products are different to theirs.
23. Where my prices are different to my competitors’, I can confidently justify this difference to my target audience.
24. I am able to demonstrate my credibility to my target audience e.g. with:
    • Client testimonials (third party validation);
    • My personal/business story (i.e. your “been there, done that “ story or your motivation/mission for doing what you do);
    • Recognition in my industry or community (e.g. through awards or recommendations from known industry or community leaders or bodies);
    • The body of work I have contributed and continue to contribute to my industry/audience e.g. my publications, contributions through various media and forums, research etc
    • Media mentions, where others feature me or  talk about me (not self-promotion)
25. I know what terms my ideal clients use to search for solutions online.
26. I am abreast with the market trends affecting my niche.

How well do you feel you performed on this quiz?

You might be expecting me to provide some interpretation of your total score. However, I have decided not to! This quiz is a self-assessment tool.

The aim is:

(1) To boost your confidence in the areas where you are doing well (let’s call these your “Green areas!”) and

(2) To alert you of areas that may need tweaking in your marketing (let’s call these your “Red areas!”).

Where necessary, you can now take steps to sharpen your marketing and get all the clients you need in 2012!

I am happy to offer you support with your “Red areas” should you decide you need help. Why struggle alone, repeating the mistakes of last year when support is readily available? Take action here today to find out how I can help you “Own Your Niche” and create your plan to get more clients in 2012!

Testimonials:

“I recently underwent a free consultation with Oma as I was having trouble with focus for my business. My main concerns were that I didn’t have a target market to sell myself to and that I didn’t know how to go about selling myself and my business to them once I’d found my niche! Oma is extremely friendly and personable; she put me at ease very quickly. Oma has a knack of asking just the right questions to draw the information out of you. I didn’t even know I had this information inside my mind. After my 45 minutes was up, I spent a couple of hours brainstorming the information and questions Oma asked. I came up with my niche market and some very good ways to market my business. If you have the chance, this is something you should try. Oma helps you to provide a clear, focussed and intelligent strategy for marketing your business. It was wonderful working with you Oma!” Melanie Berry, Office Heroes (Virtual Assistance), http://www.office-heroes.co.uk

“After 90 minutes with Oma I had my target audience, attractive marketing messages (one short and one detailed), description of my unique difference plus 10 places to find ideal clients, all sorted! Oma also gave me resources to take away to help with researching my chosen niche. Now I feel confident talking about my business and know exactly where to find clients!” Katherine, Event planner, UK (details withheld on request)

Let me help you own your niche and create your plan to get more clients this year.

Find out more here.

Happy New Year and Congratulations!

We have made it through to another year of great promise!

One of my favourite business books is Brian Tracy’s 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success. Under his Law of Cause and Effect, Brian says, “You create your entire world by the way you think. All the people and situations in your life have only the meaning you give them by the way you think about them. And when you change your thinking, you change your life, sometimes in seconds!”

So, how will you be thinking in 2012?

Will you be at cause or at effect?

Thinking or being at cause means you accept responsibility for your outcomes and take proactive steps to create the results you desire. You know you have the power to change things and that setbacks are merely temporary stepping stones. On the other hand, thinking or being at effect means you blame others or circumstances for your results and feel powerless to change them. You consider yourself a victim, looking to people and situations for a change, if any.

As for me and my team, we shall definitely be at cause in 2012! As I type this, my white board is covered with my marketing plan for 2012. My diary is out and filling up with appointments and engagements to make my revenue goals happen! I have a pile of uplifting books I will be reading to stay informed and empowered.

There is a saying that the best way to be sure of the future is to create it yourself! I urge you therefore to make a conscious effort to operate at cause in 2012. Don’t let people, situations, the news or the economy hold you down at effect. You were created a creator! You have a mind and a mouth to make things happen. Do not give your power away to people and circumstances; embrace and employ it in the realization of your goals!

Feel free to drop me a line and share your aspirations for 2012 with me. I would love to support and share with you on your journey. If there is ever anything I can do to help, be sure to let me know. Ancient Scripture says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” Let’s defend ourselves and our dreams together!

Here’s wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. And remember to stay at cause!

Love and light, Oma