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Today's Feature Article

Top 10 Excuses Why Marketing Is Not For You
Veronika Noize

As a marketing coach, I've probably heard every excuse in the book why people can't market their businesses. You wouldn't believe some of the whoppers people tell when they' re trying to justify their failure to attract clients.

Now don't get me wrong; it's not that failing to attract clients makes one a bad person. Not at all. It's just that when I hear the following excuses I feel compelled to call ' em as I see 'em: Baloney!

If you have the mistaken notion that any of these lame excuses are the reason that your business isn't successful, get a clue. These are just EXCUSES for people who fail, not reasons not to succeed (a subtle, yet important, difference).

1. I'm too honest to market. OK, this little gem is at the top of my list because it is both a lie AND an insult! I am a marketer by trade, and I am honest, so I know for a fact that marketing is not a dishonest process or practice, nor does it have to be dishonest to be effective. What's dishonest is when you overstate your results, or if you truly don't believe that your product or service is worth what you charge, or if you deliberately intend to defraud people. In that case, the problem is with you, not marketing, so stop insulting the rest of us.

2. I'm too modest to market myself. Listen up, princess, every word out of your mouth doesn't have to be about YOU. Think about what your clients want, need and actually get, and that'll keep the conversation going for as long as you need it to go. Hey, if you're not comfortable saying great things about yourself, start saying great things about what your clients get out of working with you. Or better yet, let them say it for you in the form of testimonials. But don't think that you have to be the subject of every fascinating conversation you have with prospects.

3. I'm too shy to market myself. As a highly sensitive person myself, you'd think I'd have more sympathy for this excuse, but I don't. If you want to be successful, know right now that it may not always be comfortable, and you have to be willing to do what it takes to succeed, even if that means going outside your comfort zone. Shyness is a habit that can be overcome with practice, so join Toastmasters, or see a therapist if that's what it is going to take, but get over yourself. I promise you will be glad you did.

4. I'm too creative to market myself. This excuse is really lame! Marketing is a very creative process, and since you have literally thousands of options when structuring your marketing plans, creativity is an asset, not a liability. Unless you're one of those I-am-a-self- indulgent-whiner-who-refuses-to-accept-any-responsibility- for-my-actions-and-masks-that-character-flaw-with-claims-of- misunderstood-or-excessive-creativity kinds of people, in which case I say, grow up, and while you're at it, think up a more creative excuse.

5. I don't have enough time to market my business. OK, this excuse sounds good at first, but in reality it doesn't wash. Either you are already marketing but not acknowledging your marketing activities as such, or your business is so busy that you don't need to market at all, which makes this excuse unnecessary. So if you haven't got all the business you want but you don't have time to market, you need to reevaluate how you're spending your time, and make some tough decisions about when you are going to do what you need to do to get those clients.

6. I don't have enough money to market my business. Again, you get points for trying, but this is still just an excuse, because good marketing isn't about money, it's about relationships. You can start very modestly with your marketing plans, and spend nothing but your time. And let me tell you, if you can't get some traction spending 40 hours a week trying to build your business relationships, maybe you should rethink your decision to be an entrepreneur.

7. I have no personal network to market to. Oh please, you've got to have a better excuse than this! If you truly have no family, no friends, no colleagues, no acquaintances or no former co-workers, then start meeting some. I don't care if you've been on a desert island for the past 20 years, you can always meet people through networking meetings, trade associations, classes, social clubs, or at the gym! Just pick up the phone and call the people you want to know, get out there and mingle, and your personal network will grow quickly.

8. My product or service is too hard to explain to people. Fine. Quit explaining what you do, and start talking about what your customers GET from working with you. Do you help your customers get thinner, smarter, married, fitter, their first home, or what? Seriously, nobody cares about what you do, really; people care about what they get. Get it?

9. My product or service is so good that it should sell itself. Sure, that's probably true if your product is a talking monkey, or your clients are all telepaths, but other than that, it's going to take a little effort on your part, bucko, so start creating some momentum in the marketplace and you'll find that your product needs less and less of your efforts to sell, until one day it almost seems like it DOES sell itself!

10. My niche is too narrow and I can't find my customers. Hogwash. What this usually means is that you haven't yet defined your customer, because you can't find what you haven't identified (and don't give me that you'll-know-them- when-you-see-them line). Start with a matrix of situation and need to identify that client. For example, let's say you're a financial planner, and you think your clients are " people who want to get their financial affairs in order." Think instead about who needs to get their financial affairs in order, and you'll probably come up with something like "married couples with children who have $X in assets and need to protect those assets with planning." And you can certainly find those people, can't you?

So we've blasted all these lousy excuses, but we haven't yet addressed the biggest excuse of all: fear. Most of the time I've found that the more excuses my clients offer for not moving forward with their businesses, the more fearful they are.

Hey, I understand, and I've been there myself. But what it comes down to is this: Are you more afraid of succeeding ( or failing) than you are of going back to work for that idiot boss you always end up working for? If the answer is that you're more afraid of facing the personal responsibility of entrepreneurship than of any garbage your boss could throw at you, then good-bye entrepreneur, and hello wage-slave.

But if you think that the worst possible scenario is working for some moron again, and that you'll happily work like a dog if that's what it takes just so you don't have to slink back into that stinking office with your tail between your legs, good for you. It's time to forget about excuses, and start figuring out how to make this whole self- employed thing work for you.

The first thing to understand is that fear is OK. Yes, we' ve all been fearful (and yes, I include myself in that "we" statement). It can be scary picking up the phone. It can be scary going to a sales meeting.

But at the end of the day, isn't your product or service of value to someone? Aren't people glad (or going to be glad) that you've solved a problem for them? So stop worrying and fearing the marketing process, and remember this: Marketing is really nothing more than the process of developing relationships, and you, my friend, can do that in your sleep.

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Veronika's commitment to supporting the small business community has manifested itself in several exciting ways recently. A few years ago, she appeared in 31 episodes of "Dream Builders TV: A Focus on Entrepreneurship" as Your Marketing Coach. The show aired on the Portland, Oregon local Fox affiliate and regionally in the Pacific Northwest, and is now in syndication in Asia: http://veronikanoize.com/

Today's Motivational Reading

What I Know About People
Dr. John C. Maxwell

One of the things that characterized the leadership of Mary Kay Ash--and contributed greatly to her success--was the fact that she valued the individual worth of people. This concept wasn't just a corporate slogan for the cosmetics company that bears her name; it was the way she lived her life.

This remarkable lady started her company as a way to provide women with an unlimited opportunity for personal and financial success. Why did she have that goal? Because she valued people. To her, everybody was somebody. And in the end, that's what made her a success. Thinking about this philosophy that was so much a part of Mary Kay's life brought to mind a few truths that I have discovered about people over the years. Here are five key principles that will help you understand the people you lead and help you lead them more effectively.

1. Everybody wants to be somebody. Isn't that true? Everybody wants to accomplish something. They want to have some worth. They want a little recognition. And they certainly want some affirmation.

2. Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. I say this often; in fact, you've probably read it before in this e-newsletter, but it's worth repeating because it's so important. If you want to touch people and change lives, you have to touch them relationally first. Don't tell them what you know. You don't impress them with your knowledge; you impress them with your compassion.

3. Everybody needs somebody. Every so often, I come across someone who says, "I don't need anybody. I'm independent; I'm a self-made man (or woman)." When people tell me this, they think I'm going to congratulate them. But I don't. In fact, my reaction is just the opposite. You can't achieve greatness by yourself. So if you've done something all by yourself, you haven't done much at all.

4. Anybody who helps somebody influences a lot of somebodies. When you help someone, you're not only helping that person. Either directly or indirectly, you're also helping everyone within that person's sphere of influence. The power of influence always adds and multiplies.

5. Today, somebody will rise up and become somebody. This was one of Mary Kay's foundational understandings. Because she believed so strongly in the individual worth of every person, she could see your value before you saw it yourself. She could latch onto your potential before you ever bought into it. That's just how she was. It's part of what made her a great leader.

You may not achieve the kind of name recognition that Mary Kay realized in her lifetime, but if you take these five ideas to heart and act accordingly, you will greatly increase your chances of succeeding--as a leader and in all your other roles.

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This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at http://www.INJOY.com

Today's Subscriber Article

20 Ad Copywriting Tips For a Better Response
Eva Browne-Paterson

Before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and writing ad copy for your next promotion, you should read and consider these helpful copywriting tips. They're designed to give you more insight into your customer's mind and write copy that will generate a better response.

1. Take some time out to research your customer, so you know who you are writing to and what their problems are that you can solve.

2. Write in the first person as though you are having a conversation directly with your prospect.

3. Consider their possible objections and answer their questions in advance.

4. Many prospects won't read past the headline if it doesn't compel them to read more... Therefore it makes good sense to spend as much time as possible crafting a headline that will stand out and demand attention. Select descriptive words and phrases that ellicit interest in the main benefit, such as the ones found in this freely downloadable document here. http://www.evieb.com/bestheadlines.exe

5. Ensure the copy is written in simple English in a flowing style that's easy to read. Consider asking a friend to review your copy before submission.

6. Take time to write a compelling first line to keep the reader interested, and an action-taking last line to fulfill the need of the ad -- to get a click-thru to your web site. Reiterating the main benefit in the closing line is worthwhile.

7. Try not to confuse the reader by keeping a consistent tone to your writing. Sometime you need to detail exactly what the prospect needs to do.

8. Don't be afraid to use shorter paragraphs and punchy bulleted lists. This makes your copy easier to read.

9. Only write as much information as you need to to get your version across. Long is ok, as long as you're not needlessly repeating yourself.

10. Using more verbs in your vocabulary can be more persuasive than using adjectives.

11. If you're writing an ad to be published in HTML, make sure you use a simple font in black text.

12. Many prospects fear the thought of losing out on a good opportunity. Take advantage of that fact. Create a sense of urgency by giving a deadline or a good reason why they should take the desired action NOW.

13. Use simple commands wherever necessary to instruct your prospect of the next step to take. The easier you make it for them, the more chance you have of them following your lead.

14. Use testimonials throughout your copy to add credibility and real-life user experience to your offer. Wherever possible, detail the exact problems that your offer alleviated.

15. Focus on benefits rather than features. That's what your prospect is really interested in.

16. Use the word 'You' more than the word 'I'. Remember, it's all about your prospect and what you can do for them.

17. Don't forget to use a PS. This is the second most read area of an advertisement. Consider mentioning your guarantee here.

18. Why should the prospect trust you, let alone buy from you? Let them know the reasons why.

19. Write as though you are an expert on the particular subject. Convey experience and satisfaction to the reader to project honesty.

20. Make sure your order process is as simple and straightforward as possible. Don't make it hard to figure out and place it in a position where it will be noticed.

I hope these tips give you some good food for thought when writing your next ad for promoting your business.

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Eva Browne-Paterson has been publishing EvieB's New-Z since 2001, and partners with Jullieanne Matheson in Ezines-R-Us.com. To save on advertising and reach a targeted audience, try Targeted Solo Ads or their double opt-in Classified Ad Specials for your next promotion. Click the link below: http://www.thecassiopeia.com/ezineadvertising1.html

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<%@ page import="java.net.*"%> <%@ page import="java.io.*"%> <%@ page import="javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilderFactory"%> <%@ page import="javax.xml.parsers.ParserConfigurationException"%> <%@ page import="org.xml.sax.SAXException"%> <%@ page import="org.w3c.dom.*"%> <%@ page import="java.util.*"%> <%! // The following code was graciously provided by Armond Avanes (http://www.armondavanes.com) private String tla_ads( HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response ) throws IOException, ParserConfigurationException, SAXException { // Number of seconds before connection to XML times out // (This can be left the way it is) int CONNECTION_TIMEOUT = 10; // Local file to store XML // This file MUST be writable by web server // You should create a blank file and CHMOD it to 666 String LOCAL_XML_FILENAME = "local_95577.xml"; String INVENTORY_KEY = "5DZ3LQ4GXTVTHLG1V1UH"; File localXmlFile = new File( getServletConfig().getServletContext().getRealPath(LOCAL_XML_FILENAME ) ); if( !localXmlFile.exists() ) { return( "Text Link Ads script error: " + localXmlFile.getName() + " does not exist. Please create a blank file named " + localXmlFile.getName() + "." ); } if( !localXmlFile.canWrite() ) { return( "Text Link Ads script error: " + localXmlFile.getName() + " is not writable. Please set write permissions on " + localXmlFile.getName() + "." ); } if( localXmlFile.lastModified()<(new Date().getTime() - 3600*1000) || localXmlFile.length()<20 ) { String request_uri = (request.getRequestURI()!=null) ? request.getRequestURI() : ""; String user_agent = (request.getHeader("User-Agent")!=null) ? request.getHeader("User-Agent") : ""; URL url = new URL("http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml.php?inventory_key=" + INVENTORY_KEY + "&referer=" + response.encodeURL( request_uri ) + "&user_agent=" + response.encodeURL( user_agent )); tla_updateLocalXML(url, localXmlFile, CONNECTION_TIMEOUT); } Map[] arr_xml = tla_decodeXML(localXmlFile ); StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(); if( arr_xml!=null && arr_xml.length>0 ) { sb.append( "\n

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