Ministry Marketing Solutions | Pam Perry - PR Coach » Online Strategies for Authors

Social Media Expert Badge of Pam Perry, PR Coach

Pam Perry — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:17:31 +0000

SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES!

Who are YOU following and what have you learned?

Have YOU let them know? Rave about them to others!

Facebook.com/PamPerryFanPage

4 Ways to Make Profit With Press Releases

Pam Perry — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:59:04 +0000

Get the PR you Deserve! Market the Message!

Millions of people log on to the internet daily. The internet has become a big market for products and services. In addition, as you know, marketing your product or service anywhere needs promotion because you need to make your presence felt to consumers.

Writing press releases is one of the most important ways to promote your website over the internet. Writing press releases frequently will attract web traffic to your site.

Press releases are an essential part of advertising and promoting your campaigns online, and hence writing an effective press release, which is newsworthy, and attention grabbing is very important. Simply writing the PR does not help your purpose. It needs to be well complemented with proper use, to get the most effective result.

* Your PR needs to stand out so that the media and or consumer will see that it is newsworthy and it is something they want to explore of purchase.
* The more people want to read your PR, the more advertising you will be getting online. Your Christian-PR news release is like a “virtual sales brochure” that can attract potential customers. Hence, the body of the PR should be factual and informative, giving the readers like bloggers, the consumer and media a reason to read your press release.

* After identifying your target audience, you should write your PR keeping in mind the maturity level and the attitude of your audience. Write more versions of the same press release to cater to the different fragments of your objective market.

* The titles of your press release acts like a door bell, it should attract attention.

PR is one of the most important tools of advertising over internet.

However, if the above tips are kept in mind while writing it, you can write an effective and newsworthy PR, which in turn will help you make profit.

Get started TODAY!

Hear Pam Perry's Show and get PR Tips weekly

Visit:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ministrymarketingsolutions

to hear live tips and PR Coaching from Pam Perry

Christian-PR | P.O. Box 4172 | Houston | TX | 77210

Ministry Marketing with Pam Perry teaching internet marketing and online buzz

Pam Perry — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:15:37 +0000

Online Marketing for Ministries and Christian Authors
Also visit: bit.ly/ministryvideos

Want More Publicity? Need social media mentoring?

Pam Perry — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:21:39 +0000

Missed the Social Media Boot Camp?
Well, you can get the digital product..

PR Boot Camp ONLINE – PR 2.0

Click and get all the information you need to market
your book, brand your ministry and promote your platform online.

Hey Future Best Seller!
Would you like to get a whole lot more national
publicity and promotional exposure for what you do?

Want to be written-up in more magazines, newspapers
and interviewed on top radio/TV shows?

How about getting lots of other people to eagerly
promote your book, product or service?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, I’d
like to invite you to a free telephone seminar my
friend Steve Harrison is offering this Tuesday,
October 27th where you’ll learn practical strategies
you can use to promote almost any book, product,
business or service.

To reserve your spot on this free 75-minute teleseminar
- which I’m offering at your choice of two time slots
on Tuesday (10/27): either 2:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am Pacific)
OR 7:00 pm Eastern (4:00 pm Pacific)
– go here now: FREE PR Call!

Here’s some of what you’ll learn on Tuesday’s call:
* Why conventional press releases are not always
the best way to contact journalists and what to
send instead.

* What a Good Morning America producer told Steve
is the absolute best way to pitch his show — something
very few publicity-seekers do but dramatically
increases your chances of getting booked.

* Understanding the mindset of journalists and
producers and how it differs by type of media outlet.
* The surprisingly simple strategy a former Oprah
guest booker told Steve everyone should use when
pitching the show.

* Five proven ways to create a compelling publicity
“hook” or angle.

* How to get other people to promote your book,
products and services.

* What you should never wear on a TV show.
* Some simple non-publicity strategies you can use to
get the word out.

* Book not out yet? You’ll learn some tricks for how
to structure your book so it’ll be a whole lot easier
to get publicity and promotional exposure.

* Three keys to maximizing sales from on-air interviews.
Go here now to register for Tuesday’s call:
http://www.YourQuantumLeap.com/PreviewCallFour/?11291

Get the Pam Perry PR Boot Camp Kit at the PR PRO Shop:

www.e-junkie.com/pamperry

P.S. If you’re a Christian author and want hands on training. Go to
www.PRBootCampOnline.eventbrite.com for Online coaching!

How to Brand YOUR Book. Help is here

Pam Perry — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:47:49 +0000

The “new” economy is online – learn how to work it!

Detroit, Mich. (September 2009) — In this challenging economy, people have noticed the world is quickly changing from the industrial to the technical industry. This means people are moving from manufacturing work, which was popular throughout 1990′s, to the ever-growing world of the internet.

Why? Because the internet is the largest market place in the world, with billions of buyers and sellers all coming together to exchange goods and services for cold-hard cash. And, if you’re not capitalizing on the internet…you will be left behind!

People are earning from hundred to thousands of dollars a month via the web – using automated systems. “The money is NOT automatic, but if your system is automated – the money will come. It takes time to get there but once the you know what you’re doing online and your systems are in place it can happen,” said Detroiter Ralph Claxton, who is the founder of Tech Club CPR (www.techclubcpr.com), an internet coaching and training organization located online.

Claxton’s Michigan partner, Pam Perry, of Farmington, is the chief visionary of Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc. She is a publicist turned social media marketing expert. The two met online early this year via a mutual twitter friend and have been tweeting, blogging and podcasting ever since.

Claxton and Perry spent thousands of dollars on internet training over the past few years. They each clunked down almost $20,000 in live seminars, online courses, books, teleseminars, e-courses, home study courses and personal coaching from the “masters” of internet marketing.

Now, the two internet marketing mavens have come together to help other entrepreneurs and authors make money online – without spending an arm and leg.

On Saturday, October 17 from 10 am-4pm (Sweetest Day in Michigan), The Tech Club CPR will host a sweet deal for those who are serious about making money online leveraging social media.

Authors, entrepreneurs or those just looking for an additional revenue stream can come to the “boot camp” at the Courtyard Livonia, 17200 N Laurel Park Drive in Livonia, Michigan near Laurel Park Mall.

“Because we get calls all the time from people who want to learn how we do what we do, we wanted to share our resources, experiences and give them an up-close and personal event to show what we do behind the scenes. Our mission is to help people crack the internet code,” said Perry.

The Tech CPR Boot Campis basic training for people who are comfortable with the internet but find it hard to really leverage it to make money online, brand themselves and keep up with all the new social media tools. “If you can log on, browse, click, drag and drop online, we can help you get to the next level,” said Claxton.

Claxton and Perry will provide hands-on internet training so that everyone will leave with knowledge of how to play the game of Social Networking.

Those who attend the Tech Club CPR will discover….
·        How to master every technique needed to become an advanced internet marketing money-making machine.
·        All the tricks, tips, and secret techniques used to easily navigate the internet like a pro.
·        How to use Social Networking to earn a hefty income with popular sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
·        How to build a stable online business just by following along with a few video tutorials.
·        How to Use YouTube, Google, Ning and other sources to increase traffic to your blogs or affiliate links
·        How to Utilize CPA networks, Clickbank, Commission-Junction and E-Junkie to maximum effect

This Boot Camp is different from others because people will get personal attention that will cater to those from beginner to the advanced level. “Without all the techno-speak,” added Perry.

“All the other courses were too techy and made me feel intimidated. We won’t do. I personally want to help people avoid costly mistakes I made when attending over-priced seminars that left me with more questions than answers. Me and Ralph want everyone to leave our boot camp ready to go get paid without having had to pay an arm and a leg.”

Added Claxton, “the last event we did in Farmington Hills, people walked away feeling empowered. They had their ‘aha’ moments – and we still get tons of testimonials,” said Claxton.

To see the videos of some of the testimonials and more details, go to: www.TechClubCPR.com.

For more information on early bird registration for the boot camp event on Sat, Oct. 17, go to Tech Club CPR website or contact Pam Perry via info(at)ministrymarketingsolutions.com.

Brand YOUR Best Life!

here interviews at: www.blogtalkradio.com/ministrymarketingsolutions

Also, ask about Ministry Marketing Solutions Inc. monthly Teleseminars, Webinars, Home Study Courses, bootcamps and online forums, blogs and podcasts.

Also get the Christian Writers Market Guide available from www.e-junkie.com/pamperry (The tool every Christian Writer Should have)

Visit the PR PRO Shop at www.e-junkie.com/pamperry get free stuff there too.

WHY SHOULD HIRE OR CONTINUE

WITH A PR COACH…

Hold you accountable. It’s too easy to neglect or postpone tasks critical to the sales and marketing of your book. I require a commitment from you to buckle down and get them done.

Develop and refine your ideas…make a plan. You have great ideas. Some are easy to put into practice and others need refinement. I have a working knowledge of hundreds of PR strategies and marketing know-hows to adapt to your book. Come away with a workable plan that fits your schedule and budget!

Share a wealth of PR strategies and secrets. When you’ve just “run out of ideas” on how to market and sell your book, I will educate you in the industry and PR principles you’ll use to get results.

Provide you with the contacts you need. When you need contacts or resources for the marketing of your book, I have an extensive network of media and publishing industry contacts and know where to find the information.

Give you perspective from the outside looking in. It’s possible to lose the ability to “see the forest for the trees” once your book is published and ready for sale. I am there to take a fresh look, knowing what to look for, seeing the market potential and providing you the accurate, frank and honest feedback that you need to be a success.

Go to: www.prbootcamponline.eventbrite.com for next teleclasses (Oct. 20)

Need help to get started with branding yourself “online” too – don’t know where to start? Start here… www.prbootcamponline.eventbrite.com & www.techclubcpr.com

Need some help with your PR Campaign? Get a Publicity Virtual Assistant: Leah to the Rescue!

Pam Perry — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:34:27 +0000

Are you an author short on cash and time?

How can you focus on being the top

of your writing game
when you’re overwhelmed with

administrative tasks?

The answer:
DELEGATE to a well-qualified
Publicity Virtual Assistant!
Publicity virtual assistants are especially beneficial

for those many first-time authors who are overwhelmed

with the publishing & marketing process. By partnering

with a Publicity Virtual Assistant, the stress of having to know

it all is drastically reduced and the author can rely on their

PVA to take over and implement much of the publicity campaign.

Ministry Marketing Solutions offers you an answer:
Mrs. Leah Hubbard, PVA Extraordinaire!

“Leah Hubbard is my right hand – without her expert administrative

& proof reading skills Ministry Marketing Solutions would just be ministry marketing

– and we’d be scrambling for the solutions. She helps us clarify and soar.” Pam Perry

Hey Future best seller:

You are always on my mind.
You have been coached and know your stuff.
I know you’re serious about “marketing the message.”

But as a busy author, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed

by all the details of your book, marketing plans,

online efforts and promotional duties. I feel you!

Your many projects and ideas can lose their effectiveness

if you can’t implement them successfully.

If you are drowning in a sea of sticky notes,
you need a Publicity Virtual Assistant!

Enter – The PVA Solution: Leah Hubbard! (waabiz@aol.com)
Delegating will help you go from obscurity to fame!

Get YOUR Author Act Together! Delegate!

Self-publishers and published authors alike often need assistance with the most vital aspect of their book journey, marketing and publicity.

Successful authors know that to sell books, you need to do PR. And even more importantly, you need to do a lot of PR.
You can’t just put your book on Amazon and send out a press release or two and hope for the masses to come.

You need do an aggressive marketing campaign and get out there and promote your hard work.

Fortunately, with the help of a Publicity Virtual Assistant it has never been easier.

Publicity Virtual Assistants are virtual assistants who specialize in publicity and marketing.

Publicity Virtual Assistants utilize all their expert talents and superb writing abilities for book marketing and promotions, thereby helping authors achieve the success they deserve by providing extensive marketing support, help with social networking, following up on media pitches, proofing and editing capabilities, extensive research, administrative support and so much more.

Leah Hubbard started Wise Administrative Associates in 1996 to support small-mid sized companies and entrepreneurs in all phases of Administrative Support.

With over 20 years of corporate office experience as well as entreprenuerial business support, Leah can assist you by ensuring that your administrative tasks are completed in a timely and professional manner.

Her business is to alleviate the tasks that prevent your from getting your primary goals completed.

Publicity virtual assistants are especially beneficial for those many first-time authors who are overwhelmed with the publishing process. By partnering with a Publicity Virtual Assistant, the stress of having to do it all while maintaining the rest of your life is drastically reduced and the author can rely on their PVA to take over and implement much of the mundane tasks of a publicity campaign.

As your Publishing Virtual Assistant, Leah Hubbard will:

Proof articles and post to your blog and tweet out for you

Be your social networker: finding you friends, followers and fans

Submit articles to online directories & press releases to the media

Follow up on media contacts & set up interviews (a job all by itself!!)

Assist in arranging book signings and speaking engagements

Mailings of marketing materials to various outlets

Calendar Coordination to keep you on top of appointments

Help you keep your sanity and keep your dream alive while you work by providing top-notch administrative support!

For pricing information, please email her at waabiz@aol.com or call 248.342-8806.

Sincerely,

Pam Perry, PR Coach
“Brand Your Best Life”
Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc.

P.S. Achieve the success they deserve – contact Leah today! She can only work effectively with a limited number of authors at a time. There is a 3 month minimum commitment. Prices will rise in the fall! Don’t drag your feet. Get help so you can focus on what YOU do best!

8 Points Online Marketing Plan for Authors

Pam Perry — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:02:34 +0000

book promotion with pam perry

This is from my PR friend and colleague, Dee Stewart. We were both participants in SORMAG’s online conference. This is her “discussion” from the conference on the SORMAG blog.

I want to talk to you about a specialized marketing form that has fast become the choice for publishing houses, online marketing.

If you are an author with a contract, then you know most midlist authors and below are no longer receiving marketing support by way of product placement, instore events, book tours, and book promo items.

Instead publishing houses are devoting a bulk of the author’s designated marketing dollars to online campaigns. And since I’ve talked about book marketing plans all year, I decided to switch the game up.

I want to help you create an online marketing campaign that will help you meet and galvanize your ideal readers.

Imagine as an author your day consists of writing great stories you know your readers will love, then meeting these readers to fellowship with you about your story and why they love them. Isn’t that a sweet dream? In life coaching terms we call that place- operating in your sweet spot.

Online Marketing—if you plan your efforts well—is the best tool to get you to that sweet spot faster than any other opportunity out there. It is why your publishing houses are using it, as well as the face that it is a more affordable alternative to traditional advertising.

Today’s session I will share basic online marketing planning tips, techniques and tricks to help you galvanize your readership. If you have further questions, you can leave a comment at the end of the post or email me at deegospelpr at gmail dot com.

Let’s begin by defining Online Marketing.

Marketing– is a practiced science, the ongoing process to identify, anticipate, supply and satisfy your ideal client.

Book Marketing is the ongoing processes to identify, anticipate, supply and satisfy your ideal clients( readers, your distributors, your publishing house, bookstores.)

Online Book Marketing: is the ongoing processes to identify, anticipate, supply and satisfy your ideal client by using online tools. It is an extension of your overall book marketing campaign.

Let me repeat: Online Book Marketing is an extension of your overall book marketing toolbox. Do not stop your other marketing efforts!

Now I will introduce you to seven basic online marketing tools and how to prepare a strategy to use them.

The 8 Point Online Marketing Toolbox

1. Email Marketing
2. Blogging, including Podcasting, Vlogging & Microblogging
3. Social Media Design
4. Forum Building
5. Online Advertising
6. Online PR
7. Social Bookmarking

A more detailed look:

Email Marketing: Email marketing is a public relations, customer relations management, direct mailing Trifecta (PR/CRM/DM.) You can participate in three marketing processes at once. What’s very good about email marketing is that your direct mailing efforts have a better return on investment(ROI) when you couple it with a client connection piece—consistent, compelling and strategic email placements to your ideal readers.

Blogging: Online Journaling (blogging) Many authors blog to share their writing life with their readers. Blogging can be used for various reasons:

· To serve as an online hub for your fanbase
· To serve as your newsletter content builder
· To promote your next event
· To attract event planners and bookclubs
· To serve as an online bookstore
· To serve as an online press room
· To attract agents and editors
· To create another source of writing revenue
· To host an online blogtour
· To podcast your book
· To videocast(vlog) your book

The key to blogging is commitment, consistence and content. Join me in September for 30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog at http://www.christianfiction.blogspot.com

Social Media Design: Despite the contrary authors should have a strategy and design in place when you are online. This design consists of scheduling, tooling, and driving readers from event to event. Tools like brightkite, eventbrite, igoogle, ping.fm, and squidoo helps you create almost an online (ro)bot of you, whereby you are promoting yourself 24-7 streaming and responding to your ideal readers and clients in real time. The top social media building blocks for authors are:

· Twitter
· Facebook
· Amazon Author Pages
· Eventbrite
· BrightKite
· Skype
· FriendFeed
· LiveStream
· YouTube
· BlogTalkRadio
· TalkShoe
· MySpace
· GoodReads
· LibraryThing
· Flickr

Forum Building: Fan bases grow exponentially when they form a community. The Twilight Moms Club on Mommy Blogger is a huge community that talks about the series, meet regularly and host charity events. If you’re operating in your sweet spot your fans will come together and create a fun and exciting community for you as well. The best way to do that is through forum building. Couple your email campaign with a forum to continue conversations in and you have a winning combination. A great example of a blog that created a community with a forum is Faith*in*Fiction. Bethany House Editor David Long created the blog to start a conversation about compelling Christian novels. It is the catalyst for The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, Relief Journal, First Wildcard Blog Tours, and over 150 Christian book review blogs.

The top forum building sites for authors are:

· Ning
· Facebook Groups
· Twitter Groups
· GoodReads Groups
· Utterli Groups
· MySpace Book Groups
· Shelfari Groups
· YahooGroups
· Blogger Fan Groups

Online Advertising – paid for placement. Examples of book ads are (ads in print & online publications, radio, internet or network television, blogs, etc.) Its goal is immediate promotional impact and short lived. It’s results can be measured via survey, tracking backlinks and sneeze page hits. It is the most expensive form of marketing. When you create your plan it is imperative to use online ads to promote your next event or next title, and most effective when creating and implementing book launch strategy. Where can you find online advertise placements?

· Online Mags like SORMAG
· Blogs like Christian Fiction Blog http://www.christianfiction.blogspot.com
· You can submit ads/drops to online radio shows like Media Candy www.blogtalkradio.com/mediacandy
· Social Media Sites like Facebook Ads
· Internet TV Shows like Faithful Folios on LiveStream
· Eblast services like GoodGirlBookClub. Make sure to include in your plan to purchase eblast service from a local service, a genre specific service, a national magazine.
· Link Ads in online newsletters like Dee’s Goody Mail
· Book Trailers on DeeGospel on YouTube
· Sponsoring online events like SORMAG Online Conference
· Paying for a Blog Tour through Ty Moody Creations
· Ad placements on Literary Sites like Booktour.com

Online Public Relations & CRM – the activity to create opportunities to build relationships with your readers gatekeepers and to promote your service, product and brand. It is not a guaranteed sale, cannot be measured short-term, but affects are longer and more lasting than advertising. Customer Relations Management (CRM) is tied to PR, because PR also handles crisis management and customer feedback and retention. Online PR & CRM activities are:

Online Book Tours like CFBA
Online Audio Interviews like From Cover to Cover Literary Talk Show
Online Book club meetings using SKYPE or Mogalus
Book review placements on Christian Fiction Blog or RAWSISTAZ
Online mag interview opps like Victorious Living
Radio opps like Ella Curry’s BAN
Speaking opps like Nia Promotions’ Online Teleseminars
Online Parties via Twitter and Facebook and BrightKite

Social BookMarking– social bookmarking is a referral activity for bloggers. Blog readers find a great service or read and the refer what they like through social bookmarking sites like:

· Dig
· Mahalo
· StumbledUpon
· Delicious
· Librarything
· Facebook
· BookTour

Become very familiar with this tool and implore your readers to do the same.

Direct Selling – your website or blog is the lifeblood of your online presence. Moreover you can create a buyer’s page to navigate readers to direct selling. It is best practice to provide your local booksense tour, an online bookstore and an affiliate link with either Amazon, Borders or Faithpoint. To be able to watch the activity from your site setup a google analytics account and put the code inside or have your website designer place the code and provide monthly reports about your site’s activity. On that site make sure you have both audio and visual components of who you are and your book, preferably, you the author.

In short, let me share what these services should do for you. Online Marketing – is not the same as CRM, although social networking is a tool for both CRM, publicity, advertising, direct sales, and direct mailing. Online Marketing is using the 4ps of marketing process online.

Identify readers with online research using SMS, bookmarking, blogging, podcasting, polling.

Anticipating reader needs via polling, forum building, e-newsletter campaign strategy
Supply readers by introducing your answer to their wants and needs by creating an effective product launch strategy using online hubs, blogs and supplying online snippets in audio, video and print forms via viral sms like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Viddler, YouTube, UStream, Skype, Utterz

Satisfy readers by enabling your book e-reader capable with ebooks and sony reader and Kindle Ready.

Dee Stewart is a writing diva mother, publicist, inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine, Atlanta Satellite Bookseller for Mocha Readers Bookstores, and owner of Christian Fiction Blog(www.christianfiction.blogspot.com) and The Christian Fiction Network(christianfiction.ning.com). Her writings have appeared in: Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, Good Girl Book Club, The Dabbling Mum, Atlanta Christian Family, Mosaic Literary, Precious Times, Vertical Fix just a few. She will be featured in SistahFaith Anthology(Simon & Schuster, Feb. 2010.) Follow her on Twitter at @DeeGospel. Or visit my site at http://www.deestewart.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dee.stewart

“This fall I will be hosting a six week Media Candy book marketing session for a very affordable rate. Let me know if you are interested in more details. Also in the fall my site www.deegospelpr.com will become a membership site, whereby you can download free reports, ebooks, tip sheets, bookclub contact info, participate in some of my free teleseminars, podcasts receive discounts for group coaching and marketing products, literary agents accepting submissions, book festival panel speaking opps, an invitation to apply to become a speaker’s bureau member, and much more more for a low fee of $25 a month.

Also see: www.e-junkie.com/pamperry for FREE Ebook & PR materials (cds, books, etc)

Learn How to Market Yourself Like A Media Pro with BE THE MEDIA

Pam Perry — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:51:07 +0000

Renowned media consultant and author David Mathison has assembled a who’s who of new media experts and compiled this essential guide to the “personal media renaissance.”

Until recently, publishing books, music and film required years of education and the expensive assistance of publishers, labels, studios, distributors and lawyers.

Today, artists can leverage low-cost tools and new methods of distribution to connect with their audience directly, and keep more of their royalties and rights.

This book covers everything from how to blog and podcast to the ins-and-outs of social networking and internet syndication. Specific chapters help authors, musicians, filmmakers, and journalists.

Buy BE THE MEDIA right now, and you’ll gain access to the “Blockbuster Media Success” package with $10,000 in BONUS GIFTS provided by over 100 media experts:
http://www.bethemediabooklaunch.com/bookpromo.html

Also see www.e-junkie.com/pamperry for PR products

Hate YOUR website? Get a makeover!

Pam Perry — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:48:54 +0000

Website Makeover Workshop helps those with book
marketing and internet marketing struggles. To assist you with learning how to
market a book online to traffic generation.

It’s for authors and entrepreneurs who are non
techie / non web designers just like you, understand and better utilize book
excerpts, subscriptions forms, book reviews and videos on websites, to capture
more subscribers, readers, and sales.

We have helpedcomputer-stuff many authors
generate more sales and subscribers.

With Website Makeover Workshop, you
can more effectively sale online by learning practical and applicable
techniques. The question is this: What if everything you believed about your
website was wrong?

And to help you learn more about how to improve
your website and achieve greater results, we’re inviting you to claim your Free
Website Makeover Workshop eCourse when you visit www.tinyurl.com/authorwebmakeover

The NEW Formula For Business Success By Guest Blogger Maria Simone

Pam Perry — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:59:03 +0000

Despite the economy, many people are pursuing their dreams and succeeding by playing with a new set of rules

In what looks like a scene from an old science fiction movie, many people appear to have stopped dead in their tracks when it comes to moving their business forward, paralyzed by fear and unable to take action. There are still others who have lost jobs in industries undergoing dramatic shifts yet they continue to pursue similar opportunities within the same industries, only to find out repeatedly that those once familiar opportunities just aren’t there anymore.

Yet on the flip side, there are an equal number of people who appear to be thriving in this new economy, seemingly unaffected by the doom and gloom being reported. Why is this so?

The rules are changing for entrepreneurs and small business owners and those who are embracing the new models and taking action are thriving. Here are some of the basic strategies:

• Pursue your passion. It’s not just about making money anymore, it’s about doing something you love. Customers want authenticity and know that you have their best interest at heart at all times. This happens naturally when you’re being true to yourself. Additionally, coming from this place of high service leads to prosperity in business.

•Build a support team. The “Lone Ranger” syndrome is not sexy anymore and could be a formula for disaster. Learn to ask for and RECEIVE support from those that have taken a similar journey. Allow Mentors to show you the ropes, open doors for you, inspire you and help you be accountable to yourself.

•Create Multiple Revenue Streams. This is a time to stop trading time for dollars and start packaging your skills and talents to create products and services with varying price points. Maintain your premium price points and begin adding lower price point items or begin bundling services to provide additional value. Even Starbucks recently announced new price points and product combinations yet still maintains a high level of service and brand integrity.

•Build a subscriber base. People are more likely to buy from those they have an existing relationship with. That’s difficult to do unless you have the opportunity to regularly communicate with a potential customer. It’s important that businesses take the time to collect basic contact information from everyone who crosses their path and use the latest technology tools that allow for regular follow up via phone, email or snail mail.

•Collaborate with others for promotional purposes. The “dog-eat-dog” model of doing business has fallen by the wayside. Those who are succeeding are creating win-win opportunities for cross promotion and bundling of products and services. It’s crucial that we support each other by formulating ways to build value for our customers, endorse our colleagues, and tap into each other’s markets.

•Incorporate Web 2.0 and Social Media strategies. If you haven’t tapped into this new paradigm or plan to, you’re absolutely missing the boat. The power of this medium was evidenced during the last presidential campaign as Obama stunned McCain’s camp with his ability to quickly raise large sums of money, mobilize millions of volunteers and regularly get his message across to the masses. Social Networks such as Facebook and Twitter, in addition to some of the other Social Media tools, have made it virtually effortless to connect to potential customers, employers, as well as movers and shakers in your industry. Large corporations have even tapped into this resource to track market changes and quickly survey customers so they are constantly staying ahead of the game. The barriers have come down and the playing field is more “even” online so what used to be considered an afterthought should now be at the forefront in any marketing plan.

•Provide solutions to problems. It’s not just about selling more stuff. It’s important to regularly communicate with your market to truly understand what their immediate needs are and to then craft products and services that are true solutions to those needs. The more in alignment your business is with this philosophy, the more in demand you’ll be.

•Automate your marketing platforms. There are a variety of methods you can employ to reach your market but whatever methods you employ, you want to systematize and automate your processes to allow you to reach the masses with increased frequency. More often than not, customers respond by making a purchase only after multiple encounters.

•Celebritize yourself. Become an authority figure, the media “go-to” person and the face of your company. People connect with people, especially those who can quickly establish their credibility. There are a plethora of media opportunities for those who have a story to tell or an expertise to share.

One of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur is to give yourself permission to do your dream and realize that success is possible for anyone who allows it. Challenges are usually related to your own limiting beliefs that get in your way. Learn to break free of them by planning to succeed!

About Maria Simone
Maria Simone is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, conscious business “architect” and marketing expert who has been featured in the media for her expertise. She has helped thousands with the exact “next steps” they need to take to package their ideas, attract investors, develop a steady stream of customers and create revenue. Her book “Passion 2 Prosperity: Instant Ways To Profit From Your Skills and Talents”, with bonus gift offerings, is a how-to of setting this type of system up for yourself and can be found at www.passion2prosperitybook.com

Hear the recent SYNERGY ENERGY SHOW where Maria Simone was a guest

Click here to hear the interview!