Brown Bag Marketing - the power of a partner

What a profitable and great time we had at Brown Bag Marketing last Tuesday!  

The main topic was, 'Where Do You Go For Help In Getting Started In Business?' The discussion was so informative with a lot of brainstorming. It centered around the concept of every month having a different team partner. The idea is to form a relationship - to learn about each others business so you can tell others, and to encourage one another. 

Its amazing to see really close friendships starting to grow and how the team partners get really excited about the others business. One of the most important aspects of starting a new business is having the CONFIDENCE in yourself and your ideas. Having others who have either been there, done that or going through the same situation helps to see the strengths and the areas that need to be worked on.  

If you haven't been to Brown Bag Marketing...you're really missing out. Our next strategy session is Tuesday, July 12. 

Hope to see you there.  

 

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Get ready to network!

Last month at Brown Bag Marketing I asked everyone to write down and turn in a topic they would like to discuss. So next Tuesday, June 14th at Brown Bag we will be discussing a couple of these topics.

Dealing with competition is one of those topics. Like it or not your competition is all around you, but in the spirit of free enterprise...competition is a good thing. If your competitor is eating your lunch...that is not good. What are some things you can do to stand out from your competition?

We will also discuss prioritizing/taking care of yourself. If your all work and no play...or trying to please everyone in your life from clients to family you are probably exhausted and running on empty. How do you get it all into perspective?

If your not networking, your missing out. Come enjoy, learn and meet others who share your same concerns.

     Brown Bag Marketing

     Tuesday, June 14,2011

     Location: emPowerU Bldg. 518 So. 6th

     Sign In: 11:00-11:30 A.M.

     Strategy Session: 11:30 A.M.- 1:00 P.M.

     Strategy Session Fee: $20.00

See you there!

 

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Goal Setting

Setting goals can be overwhelming. Where do I start? What are my goals? Do I even have goals? Do I really have the time to sit and think about my goals?

Let me just say that without goals you'll never accomplish your dreams. Daily life has a way of pulling us in many directions and before you know it a year or two has gone by and your still sitting at the starting line.

1. One of the biggest mistakes is in our enthusiasm we set up unreasonably high goals that will cause you to become frustrated, discouraged and defeated. Here are some ideas for setting goals.
2. Start with two or three
3. Be specific, focused and measurable.
4. Making goals too easy is not realistic. Stretching yourself will produce the best results
5. Ask yourself: Do I believe in my goals? Believability is what motivates you towards accomplishment.
6. Not all marketing goals need to be a stretch. Some will be more easily accomplished than others.
7. Your marketing goals should be recorded either handwritten, or logged into your computer. This allows for tracking, evaluating, measuring and managing.
8. Scratch off as you accomplish..completion is a good habit.

Remember: Goals build confidence and momentum and that challenge is good for growth. Now go start setting those goals!

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Priorities = Focus

Business consultant and author Michael LeBoef says,"Devoting a little of yourself to everything means committing a great deal of yourself to nothing."

We've all been there done that. As Dr. Phil would ask, "How's that workin for ya?" 

We all know it doesn't work at all. Women are especially known to brag about all the multi-tasking we do. Songs have been written about our multi-tasking. Most days multi-tasking is essential to get everything done there is to do. But somewhere along the line it will catch up with us. At the end of the day what did you have to omit to get other things done? Most of the time we omit the very things that should be number one on our list.

Time is our most precious commodity. Your priorities determine how you spend it.

Next week we will delve a little deeper into using our time wisely by focusing on our priorities.

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Watch your attitude!

Last month at the Brown Bag Strategy Session we talked about your marketing mindset. This month we discussed your marketing attitude.
What's the difference? I'm glad you asked.

Your mindset is a habit - something you do.

Your attitude is your posture - how you feel.

The good news is a mindset can be learned and developed. Here are some things you can do to acquire a strong marketing mindset:

1. Develop a sensible attitude toward marketing
2. Have an attitude based on your beliefs
3. What you believe determines how you behave
4. A positive attitude helps to build enthusiasm
5. A positive attitude motivates you to create the time to develop new skills
6. A positive attitude helps you to set realistic marketing expectations.
7. A marketing attitude combines optimism with energy
8. With a marketing attitude marketing tasks are handled with enthusiasm and passion.

There are several practical ways to develop your marketing mindset. Some examples are to look around you, which signs or billboards catch your eye, which commercials stick in your mind, which mail pieces do you throw away, read books on marketing, seek help from experts and of course get involved in Brown Bag Marketing.
If you're interested in learning more about brown bag marketing, and if you're a home-based business owners, entrepreneurs, IDEA entrepreneurs or business woman, join us for two jam-packed hours of Brown Bag Marketing and learn ways to help you grow your business.

     When: June 14, (2nd Tues. of the month)
     Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     Place: emPowerU Bldg., 518 S. 6th St., St. Joseph
     Room: Imagine Cafe'
     Lunch: Bring your brown bag and drink
     Sign in: 11 to 11:30 a.m.
     *In addition to your membership fee, there will be an additional charge of $10 for this session.

Hope to see you there!

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Are you complacent with your marketing?

It's easy to get complacent when thinking about the marketing aspect of your business. It is especially hard to keep that excitement for marketing attitude if you work out of your home or office alone.

Complacency is your number one enemy. To be complacent means the quality or state of being self satisfied. There are several reasons complacency happens:

1. Fear - Just thinking about the term marketing sends shivers up and down your spine.
2. Lack of knowledge - Marketing takes in a lot of areas..it takes time to learn and take advantage of all the resources available to get you up to speed.
3. Just-get-by attitude (laziness) - Too much to learn, too much to do...I just hope this all works out.
4. Action too late - Many times action comes too late and there is too much to recover from.

If you find yourself stuck in complacency, there is good news - you don't have to stay there. One of the key ways to fight complacency is to get involved in a good networking group. Brown Bag Marketing's goal is to help motivate you to market your business without wasting your time or money. For more information please see our website - womenencouraged.org.

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A Marketing Mindset

A marketing mindset is understanding...

1. Your target market
2. Who will buy from you
3. Why will they buy from you
4. You relationship with your customers
5. Your relationship with your prospects
6. Your business plan

New prospects are important, but the relationship with your present customers is MOST important. They have already decided to do business with you, so how are you going to keep them?

Thats what Brown Bag Marketing is all about...getting you the business owner to get out of the tunnel vision and into the whole picture.

If you're interested in learning more about brown bag marketing, and if you're a home-based business owners, entrepreneurs, IDEA entrepreneurs or business woman, join us for two jam-packed hours of Brown Bag Marketing and learn ways to help you grow your business.

     When: May 10, (2nd Tues. of the month)

     Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

     Place: emPowerU Bldg., 518 S. 6th St., St. Joseph

     Room: Imagine Cafe'

     Lunch: Bring your brown bag and drink

     Sign in: 11 to 11:30 a.m.

     *In addition to your membership fee, there will be an additional charge of $10 for this session.

Hope to see you there!

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Brown Bag Marketing

Home-based business owners, entrepreneurs, IDEA entrepreneurs, business women...are you looking for a great way to get serious about marketing and networking? 

Linda Huffman, certified life coach, owner of two businesses and director of Women Encouraged, will jam pack these two hours with ways to help you grow your business.

When:   April 12, (2nd Tues.)

Time:    11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Place:   emPowerU Bldg., 518 S. 6th St., 

               St. Joseph

Room:  Imagine Cafe'   

Lunch:  Bring your brown bag and drink

Sign in: 11 - 11:30 a.m.

*In addition to your membership fee, there will be an additional charge of $10 for this session.

Read more...