bonitarichter.com

Having to constantly turn to the clouds to drum up new business and get clients is exhausting, scary, and saps the creative energy you need to carry out doing activities you must do to create income.

In order to create more income in your business, you must make the shift from “one-to-one” to “one-to-many” – in both your marketing and service delivery.

This is something I am focusing on doing in my business, and am working with my newest mentor, Elizabeth Purvis, to achieve this to an even greater level. (I am so excited! )

I am excited about my transition to a greater degree to the one-to-many model.  I started doing group work with the two most recent master minds I lead, Niche Breakthrough Secrets and Brand Your Brilliance. 

I LOVED  ♥ the energy, experience, collective wisdom, and breakthroughs achieved working with this group of motivated women.  And, I can get my work out into the world in a bigger way, help more people, and create a bigger impact and income.  It’s all good!

Here are three tips how to achieve greater impact and increase your income:

Tip #1. Leverage your expertise

If you’re like me, you love to create new programs and offer them to your peeps.  But, if every time you make a new offer you’re creating a new program, a two BIG problems show up:

1. You spend a lot of time “creating from scratch,” which hurts your income

2. You aren’t leveraging the assets you’ve already created, which hurts your income

Leveraging content means turning what you’ve created into multiple types of offers.  For example, for a teleseminar series you lead you could turn it into an information product, workshop, or private or group coaching program.

Leveraging something you’ve created can be low-cost and simple to produce, and adds additional income in your business.  And, programs you’ve created can be packaged in multiple ways.  The result is you get paid over and over again for content that you’ve already created.

Tip #2. Grow your list

Your income potential will increase as the number of people on your email list, fans, and followers increases.

The ONLY way you will get people to raise their hand and say “yes” to signing up with you is if you give them great CONTENT, and you know how to get your peeps to take action (SELL).

While you don’t need a huge list to make a great income, it does get easier to increase your income if you have a loyal tribe of fans and followers who eagerly invest in your offers.

Tip #3. Learn how to launch

To create a continuous stream of cash flow you must always be launching, which means making offers to your followers.

Most entrepreneurs wait for the next client to walk into their world, or launch their programs only a few times a year.  Is it any wonder why they struggle to make ends meet?

Be the feminine leader in your business you know you are, and take charge of your cash flow.  Be pro-active about what you offer, and when.

Your income will increase when you make a decision to leverage content you’ve already created, and making a commitment to take charge of your cash flow, and launch and market your programs on a more frequent basis.

I’m sure you’ve often been told by well-intentioned and seasoned networkers you must “build relationships over time” before you can expect to get new clients from a networking or meet-and-greet event.

Well, I’m here to tell you this is a fallacy, and simply not true. Don’t believe it. I’ve met many people for the first time, and turned them into new clients in a matter of days—not months or years.

If you have specialized and valuable programs to offer, and a specific chosen niche, you can get new clients at the very next networking meeting you attend. Here’s how to do it.

1. Determine your goals

What’s your goal for the meeting you’re attending? Is it to find potential clients for a new program you have in mind? Is it to extend your reach through people at the event to their contacts? Is it to find new speaking gigs?

Go to the event purposeful: have one goal in mind, know what type of person you want to meet, and the number of key contacts you want to make.

When you meet people, first, focus on creating connection and a relationship before you start talking about your business and pushing services. Then, if they seem to fit what you’re looking for, offer information about your business, a program you’re offering, invite them to a valuable Discovery Session with you.

If they seem connected to the type of client you’re seeking, give them “little soldiers’ to hand out to others. Little soldiers are items they can pass along, such as a CD with valuable audio content, bookmarks, and booklet, anything you can think of giving. Be creative!

2. Showcase your unique brand essence

Having a unique brand essence lets you showcase how you “stand out from the crowd.” This includes communicating your market position, who you help, and how you help solve specific problems your niche is experiencing.

It also means presenting yourself in an authentic manner. Being “in authenticity” ties in with your values and expertise you bring to the table. It also includes your unique style of preferred dress, and how you speak, the words you use, and how you carry yourself. For example, do you want to be seen as confident?

Be sure you’ve claimed a unique position in the market for your chosen niche. Know what problems your niche is struggling with, and how you help. Be in touch with your values, expertise, and personal style. Think about how you will project this when meeting people.

3. Follow-up

When you’ve met people you’d like to work with, connect by email or telephone (telephone is better) within the next 24 hours. Invite them to schedule a Discovery Session, to be added to you list, set a date for a speaking event. Connect via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.

Note: In my experience networking, very few people do a good job of following up. And, that’s why they don’t get the number of clients they are seeking! Follow their advice of “it takes a year” to get new clients, being part of a group, and your income will suffer. Just like theirs.

The next time you are attending a networking event refer to these tips. I can almost guarantee you, you will leave the event with solid leads that translate quickly into new clients!

It would be a rare bird-of-a-solo entrepreneur, indeed, who’d say they’re not interested in growing their income, and the profits in their business. 

So many solo entrepreneurs dream of building a thriving business.  However, ask them how they’re going to do it, and they hesitate because they really don’t know what it takes to build a 6-Figure+ business.  The reason is because they don’t have this specific experience or knowledge.

And… this is where the cracks in the “6-Figure Business Dream” appear.

That’s why in this week’s article, I decided to share with you a list of required components you need to create a successful business.  In no way is this list exhaustive.  It will get you started evaluating cracks in your business’ veneer, and identify areas you need to give attention to fix, and get help with.

Building Blocks of a 6-Figure+ Business

I created a mind map last Saturday (I’m kind of a geek, I LOVE charts and tools), where I brainstormed the building blocks needed to create a successful business, specifically a high-income 6-figure+ business.

In this mind map, I came up with over 150 different specific skills, knowledge, and activities a solo entrepreneur needs to “know and do.”  It’s no wonder solo entrepreneurs become overwhelmed!  This breaks my heart wide open, because only about 15% of solo entrepreneurs get the help they need from experienced mentors and coaches, whom they can model to achieve success.

I can’t share with you my entire mind map, because it’s part of a new signature system I am creating, my Millionaire Entrepreneur’s Business and Marketing Mastery Path.  But, I will share with you the broad categories.  Review them, and see where your business may have “cracks in its veneer:”

• Lucrative and authentic-to-you market niche (focus marketing efforts, market less, sell more)
• Client-attractive signature system (step-by-step system to solve problem)
• Authentic personal brand (archetype, story, design, external and internal, essence)
• Profitable business model (activities you do to make money)
• Multiple packages and programs that solve an urgent problem (offerings at various price points)
• Leveraged strategies (multiple ways to deliver content; 1-to-many marketing)
• Profitable high-end offers (less work, make more money, create more impact)
• Value-driven pricing strategy (profitable, charge the value of what you’re worth)
• Mastery in—a) how to make money, and— b) keep more of the money you make
• Purposeful cash flow planning and marketing of programs (to meet income goals)
• Successfully overcoming fears, doubts, limiting beliefs
• Authentic sales enrollment conversations (client makes a decision to work with you)
• Juicy vision, bold goals, objectives, action plans (dream it, implement it)
• Passion (the juice that gets you up in the morning)
• Regular high-value content e-newsletter (follow- up and sales tool)
• Profitable teleseminars that—a) sell, and— b) teach fabulous content
• Skilled to speak, network, build joint venture partnerships to generate leads
• Smooth selling from the stage (lead generation and sales skills)
• Relationship-building workshops and master mind retreats (leading is a valuable skill)
• Online marketing strategies and tactics (lead generating website, back-end business tools)
• Offline marketing strategies and tactics
• Emotional copywriting (for website, sales letters, articles, etc.)
• Courageous coaching skills (challenge clients to achieve more)
• Ethical persuasion through credibility
• Spotlight yourself by building celebrity (get known)
• Communications strategy (Big Idea, 30-Second, problem you solve for who)
• Valuable content (organize what you know into a saleable format)
• Time management (focus on revenue-generating and activities you enjoy and are good at)
• Profitable marketing launch sequence (online and offline)

If you look at this list, you will quickly realize that all these elements represent multiples of systems you must create to build your business.  Working with a successful mentor means they’ve already created the systems YOU need.  That’s why working with someone who already has this figured out is sooooo valuable.

My coach’s request of you this week is to review the list of business-building components, and choose one you will focus on improving.  Make a 30-day goal and action plan.  This plan will detail out how you will improve this area of your business.

You can get help by researching online, buying a book or other content, attending a workshop, taking a class, or seeking 1-on-1 help with a mentor.  Persistent and daily forward movement will ensure you achieve your goals, and dreams.

I am growing my business, and have opened up 5 spots to mentor with me.  I specialize in the artistry of 6-Figure business and marketing development systems, and mentor women entrepreneurs who struggle to get new clients and grow their income, how to transform the dream of their business into a financially rich 6-figure+ business, so they increase their income, and create financial security in their lives.  To qualify for a FREE 30-minute coaching session or to apply to one of my programs, please contact me at http://bonitarichter.com/contact/.

One thing I’ve noticed working with my clients is most of them know “what” things they can do to grow their business, like offering teleseminars, group programs, 1-on-1 services, information products, master minds, memberships programs, etc.

The problem is many women quickly become overwhelmed with all these options, and try to do too much too soon, before they are ready.  Then, confusion and frustration kicks in, and they remain stuck because they don’t know what to do next.  “Analysis paralysis” sets in their minds.

The way to solve this common problem is to gain CLARITY and FOCUS about what you need to work on FIRST to grow your business.  This removes the complexity from growing your business.  Then you can breathe easier, and have more fun serving your clients AND making more money.

Here are three business-building tips to help you know where to focus FIRST to grow your business:

Tip #1: Define or Switch Your Niche

If you’re new in business, define your niche.

If you’ve been in business awhile, switch and upgrade your niche, and find new niche opportunities.

The most common problem with new entrepreneurs is they don’t have a defined niche, and try to get their message across to anyone who will listen.  Problem is, their message resonates with no one.

When you are beginning out, there is a lot of value in talking about your business to people who are already in your world, in your list, in your Rolodex.

A strategy to get business quickly is to create an offer specifically for these people, even if they aren’t your desired niche.

And, fairly quickly, new entrepreneurs will want to define their choice client, because this is the path to selling more programs, services, and greater income.  A decisive choice about a niche has to be made sooner in business, rather than later.

If you’ve been in business awhile, say 2 or more years, and you haven’t changed your niche, now is definitely the time to revisit the “niche topic,” and consider switching and upgrading to a new one, or identify new niche opportunities you may not have thought about.

How you do this is focus on “hot” niches in your industry, and begin to brainstorm different specialty niches you can serve.  For example, I serve women entrepreneurs, which is a broad, large category (it’s NOT a niche because it’s too big).  Small business is a “hot” niche.  I can break the client group of “women entrepreneurs” into smaller groups or niches, such as—

women coaches ===> women business coaches ===> start-up women business coaches ===> start-up women business coaches in Chicago.

Then, I market specifically to this group to get and grow my business.  The group of “start-up women business coaches in Chicago” is a much more defined niche than “women entrepreneurs.”

Tip #2: Get Client Success Stories

A big mistake a lot of women entrepreneurs make is they hold back from getting client testimonials and success stories because they fear “taking undue credit” for their clients’ success.

Here’s a personal confession; I am guilty of feeling this way, and letting oodles of testimonials slip through my fingers.

Testimonials are an absolute requirement for getting business, because it is proof that what you do works!

To get quality testimonials, collect them throughout the entire time you’re working with someone.

For example, I had a private personal retreat with a client yesterday, and during the day as we completed modules of the program, I asked her for how what we covered— helped her, what impact it will have for her in her business—and recorded what she said.  Next, what I’ll do is draft a testimonial and send it to her for her approval to publish on my website, in my e-newsletter, program sales pages, etc.

Another tip, write your testimonials for your clients.  If you don’t you will probably wait a very long time to receive one from them…or may never get one.

Tip #3:  Get Expert Help

The only shortcut to shortening the learning curve to business success is to get the best mentoring and advice you can.

Why? Because modeling someone who is successful , and has accomplished what you want to achieve just gets you from Point A to Point B, C, D, etc. much faster….which means your income rises faster, too.

Working with a mentor gives you clarity and focus you lack, because you’re “too close” to the issues at hand growing your business.  It’s not rocket science that other people see things you don’t, and they can give ideas and build awareness about issues, so you can tackle the gremlins holding you back.  They will be there to support you through this journey of self-discovery and growth.

By getting help, you’ll be surprised at how quickly this helps you move closer and closer to your goals and dreams.

Continually seek help, whether it is 1-on-1 coaching with a mentor, participating in a group program or master mind, or listening in on a teleseminar series.  When you do, I can guarantee you will achieve rapid business success!

I am sooooo excited about a program I am offering late June that will help you get NEW CLIENTS and identify NEW INCOME opportunites for your business you may have overlooked… so you will increase the money you have flowing into your business and life.  Stay tuned!  As always, I’ll have a special offer for early adopters.

Are you “in alignment” with the type of client you want?  Are you “be-ing” and “do-ing” things in a way that support what you say you want?

For example, if you want to attract high quality, committed clients who will pay you, you have to be like them.

If you want your business to run smoothly, and flow almost effortlessly, you must have business systems in place to support that desire.

If you want to be confident and banish sometimes never-ending doubt, you must address limiting beliefs.

Being in alignment is about making conscious choices, and taking consistent actions that supports what you say you want.

Attracting Your Choice Client

If you’re not attracting the kinds of clients you want, the kind who value personal growth and investing in themselves… are committed to doing the work required for transformation… and who pay you what you are worth… one place to start looking is how you are showing up in these areas yourself.

Do you invest in yourself?  Do you value your coaches and mentors?  Do you “walk the talk” and hold yourself to the same high standards as you do your clients?  Do you do your transformation work to grow your business?

If not, you’re out of alignment, and will not attract the type of client you are seeking.  It’s saying one thing, and doing another; it’s out of integrity with yourself.

When choosing your choice client (a niche), choose a group of people your’e naturally in alignment with.  For example, if you’re a health and wellness coach, you’re naturally in alignment and will find the best clients in people who already naturally value health and well-being—not necessarily with people who have been overweight all their lives, although they desperately need your help.

Address Alignment ‘Mismatches’

My coach’s request for you this week is to take a look at three places where they may be alignment “mismatches” in your business: where you might be out of alignment with what you say you want.

Here are the three areas to look; 1) your choice clients, 2) your business systems, and 3) your beliefs:

1. Choice clients

Think about the type of person you want to attract.  A good place to begin is to think about what this person values, which must be in alignment with what you value.

For example, does this person value investing in themselves?  Your time and expertise?  Investing in their personal growth? Creating wealth?  Freedom?  You and this choice client must be alike each other to be in alignment.

2. Business systems

Do you want a smooth, effortless operating business?  Then, think about if you are doing activities to support this, such as; creating systems that are repeatable; documenting systems; having a marketing strategy and plan that you implement daily; getting the help and support you need.

3. Beliefs

What do you believe about yourself?  What do you want to believe?

Do you want to be able to overcome fears and doubts that will naturally surface as your business grows and you do new things?  Then, adopt a belief system that will support you.  Do you want success, yet deep down believe you will never achieve it?  Or, do you feel you have to give up something in order to be successful?

Check in with your belief systems, and see if they are in alignment with what you want.  If not, shift them so you will flow toward what you want.

When your beliefs, activities, and energy matches what you really want in your heart, incredible things begin to unfold in your life and business… which is exactly what I wish for you.

I see it all the time… a solo entrepreneur excitedly sets an income goal at the beginning of the year. 

By March it’s clear she’s not on track to meet her income goal, and she feels stressed, she’s looking for clients, and even a sense of desperation sets in.

Why does this predictably happen to many well-intentioned solo entrepreneurs?

Visioning and setting goals are all important to the creation process.  But, without a simple implementation plan, chances of success are slim (and “slim” already “left the building,” if you get what I mean!).

The problem?

Many solo entrepreneurs get confused by all the details that go into creating a business plan that’ll work, and then get overwhelmed.

The solution?

Create a simple, streamlined, less-than-perfect process to help you market your business and helps to guarantee cash flow.  Want to know how to do it?  Follow my simple plan, step-by step.  Fill in the details as you need to, to help combat overwhelm:

Step 1: Choose your Bold Money Goal for the year.

This seems obvious, right?  Yet, I see so many solo entrepreneurs who skip this step.  Or, they know what their money goal is, but they fail to break this “big number” into manageable pieces.

Step 2: Choose a List-Building Goal for the year.

The size of your list represents your future impact to help the people you want to serve, and your income potential.  So, you definitely want to give this number attention every year.

Systematically building the size of your list will ensure your cash flow throughout the year.  My advice is to include 12 list-building activities every year, such as a free teleseminar, a new free gift giveaway, or speaking engagements where you can collect new leads.

Step 3: Choose your time off.

As a solo entrepreneur, you have the freedom and choice to design your business to fit your desired lifestyle.  To keep your creative fires burning, it is crucial to include time off to relax and rejuvenate, as well as to create.  Make scheduling time off a priority.

Step 4: Plan your Marketing Calendar.

This is the secret to guaranteeing your cash flow and ending the cycle of chasing after the next client.

You can design an income-producing Marketing Calendar by creating high-end programs (such as a VIP Intensive or a Platinum style program), and plan on filling a number of spots all at once.  Plot when you will launch your programs on a three, six, or twelve month calendar.  Doing this will ensure you know exactly when to launch each income-producing program, and help you plan your cash flow.

Step 5: Fill in the gaps.

Once you have your high-ticket offers set, you can fill in the gaps in your Marketing Calendar with lower price point programs and offers, such as information products and teleseminars.  Choose offers that support your big paydays, such as a teleseminar series that would make a good “lead in” to your private coaching, or a list building campaign.

Following the steps I’ve listed above will simplify planning your business planning and marketing activities, and make cash flow more predictable.

Do you want my proven systems to quickly enroll new clients and fill your programs, plus tested and proven done-for-you marketing, and time and money saving templates, scripts, and copy to support you in taking inspired action to get new clients?  Then join me for my Breakthrough Secrets – How to Become Irresistible to Clients telecourse training series.  Register by THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011 AT 8:00 PM CT, and you’ll also join me LIVE for 1 full month of ongoing support, coaching and bonus training – as my gift included in your modest investment. Register here: http://www.bonitarichter.com/getnewclients.

Prefer to listen to this week’s article? Click the link below:

 Bootstrap (verb) – relying entirely on oneself without the aid or resources of others i.e. strap on boots, slog through the mud, which results in a huge opportunity cost to oneself

We are brought up to believe that bootstrapping in a business is a noble thing to do, and we should take great pride in “doing things ourselves.”

This is a myth.

Also, not asking for help and “doing it alone” is a very masculine way to be.

I know all the common reasons why solo entrepreneurs tell me they must bootstrap:

“I don’t have the money…”

“I’ll save a lot of money doing it myself…”

“I want to learn how to do it myself, first…”

“I just need a little bit more time to figure this out…”

“My [insert relatives’ or friends’ names here] is going to help me…”

Truth be told, I do see some value in bootstrapping when you’re a beginner, just starting out in business. The start-up phase is chock-full of blundering around, course-correction, and is naturally part of the deal. There is value in getting some things figured out before investing a lot of money in areas that may end up not being helpful to you, or your business.

But, the time arrives very quickly (within 3 months) when not getting help will cost you BIG in lost time and income.

There is nothing noble about spending hours, months, and even years trying to do something yourself and achieve a level of success, when a mentor could have told you how to do something in 5 minutes.

All that time easily adds up to thousands, tens-of-thousands, and even hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in lost opportunity and income over time.

So, when is the RIGHT time to get help and a mentor? Here are a few questions to consider:

Have I been working hard, and has my business been performing at the same level for 6 months or more? Have I been making the progress I want?

Would I hire a mentor in an instant “if I only had the money”?

You can also easily calculate the cost of not getting a mentor i.e. bootstrapping:

1. Write down the hours you spend each week trying to figure out how to do something you’ve never done before in your business, or had success doing, such as creating a marketing plan, Internet marketing, getting new clients, selling, branding, creating a successful business and systems, launching a new product, etc.

2. Multiply this number by your desired income hourly rate.  (Desired Annual Income divided by Annual Hours to Work).

3. Multiply this result by 52 weeks. The result is the annual cost of NOT getting help from a mentor.

Plain and simple, the cost of bootstrapping is much higher than money saved by “doing everything oneself.”

Bootstrapping is for beginners.

Savvy solo entrepreneurs quickly realize that growing a successful business takes more than one person’s efforts. A mentor can provide the priceless advice and support needed to grow a successful business.

Are you ready to get an experienced mentor’s help to grow your business?  My “6 Steps to Create a 6-Figure Business 1-Day VIP Intensive” is now available!  It’s complete with all the training tools, scripts, templates, and examples you need to create a 6-Figure business in 12 months (or less).  Only 2 1 opening is available.  Email me at Bonita@BonitaRichter.com to get more information.

Prefer to listen to this week’s article? Click the link below.

Maybe you’re new in business, and want to fast-track to higher income growth as quickly as you can.

Or, maybe you’ve been in business for a length of time, you’ve successfully grown it to a point you’re happy with, but one day woke up and realized your business was “stuck,” and you are ready for more…getting more of your wonderful work out to people who need it…more joy…and more life.

This tug at your heart is a sign that you’re ready to take the next step and break through to the next level of fulfillment in your business.

The good news is breaking into six-figures is not difficult, whether you are new in business, or a seasoned entrepreneur. You can make the transition quickly and gracefully by embracing a few simple ideas, and taking action.

1. Refine your market niche.

Mastering your niche is surprisingly simple when you apply a few key concepts to the process.

First, be clear about what type of client is naturally attracted to you, and your work. Then, know this client’s problem they need solved. Listen closely to what they are telling you they need help with. Think like your client would, put yourself in their shoes.   Also, make sure the market niche you are serving is viable, and profitable.

2. Transition to offering several levels of services.

These services will be at different investment levels for your clients. Be sure to have a high-end, premium level service you provide. Your high-end services provide more accessibility to you, which translate into a higher investment level. These can be offered as a Platinum program and VIP Day. Create packages for your clients that offer high value that they will be willing to invest.

Lower-end services have less accessibility to you, and may be offered as a Platinum Group Program or teleseminar training series.

3. Raise your fees.

Move away from the mindset of charging by the hour, and toward valuing your services according to the impact and results they make in your clients’ lives. If you can demonstrate that your programs and packages can fix a problem, and provide a return-on-investment to your client (ROI), they’ll be more likely to invest.

To identify the impact of your services, do this simple exercise:

Write down all the ways you impact your clients lives, including the most immediate results your clients are looking for (remember the problem they want solved), 2) finances and money, 3) health and well-being, 4) family and relationships, and 5) future potential.

The positive impact your work has in your clients’ lives goes much deeper than you may have thought about. Once you see this impact, you will have no doubt about the value of your services.

4. Grow your list.

Reach more people so you can deliver your beautiful, creative gifts to the world. Create a campaign to increase your list, which includes a numbers goal and “by when” date. A good goal is to increase your list by 25% in the next 30 to 60 days.

You can do this by booking speaking gigs, working with joint venture partners, networking with your market niche, and launching a new, free, irresistible offer. Use social media to get the word out about your new offer.

Step into a place that provides a whole new level of service and impact in your clients’ lives. And, the beauty is you grow and blossom, as well.

Want to make 2011 YOUR breakthrough year to create 6-figures while getting your Work into the world in a big way? I am offering a unique 6-month mentoring program to get your business to 6-Figures, and beyond. Spaces are limited. Contact me directly for more information.

December is a time for celebration, rest, and reflection. It is also a time to look forward to the New Year, and make positive changes to make that will make your life and business better.

I’m not talking about New Year’s Resolutions…

I’ve never had much luck with resolutions; their temporary nature is something I’ve learned to steer clear from.

They also come from a place that “something is wrong and must be corrected.” Plain and simple, the energy around resolutions feels negative, rather than positive.

Rather, I like to think that to be successful in the New Year, I can make small, manageable shifts, and reinforce good habits, to create BIG results over the long term.

The key to success is habit and consistency. Below are tried-and-true business-boosting success habits for the New Year. Use this list as a checklist to see where your marketing habits could use a tune-up. If you find there are some gaps in your practices, don’t stress out. Just pick one or two to focus on. Then, implement more of the following good habits as you are ready for them.

1. Write your vision in present tense.

Where would you like to be 1, 3 or 5 years from now? Listening to yourself as you recite your vision, or reading it on a piece of paper, should light a fire of passion and excitement in your belly!

When you write your vision, write everything in present tense. For example, “I am so grateful that…” or “I am so happy that…”

The reason is that we create our own reality every moment of our life, whether we are aware of it or not. You are living today, so begin to enjoy the benefits NOW of the life you envision. To manifest your vision, live TODAY as if you are already living it. See it, feel it, and hear it, as if you are already there.   Keep your vision intimately close to you, and read it on a daily basis.

2. Track results.

What you focus your time and energy upon expands (this is why we must focus on positive things).

Ideas about positive things to focus on to grow your business are:

• Your income (track and you’ll get more)
• Clients (track and you’ll get more)
• Progress (track investment in yourself, good habits you want to reinforce, and you’ll get more)
• Things you’re grateful for (give thanks for what you have and you’ll get more)

3. Build relationships.

Build better and stronger relationships with your clients, potential clients, business success partners, your coach, and watch a sustainable business grow.

4. Follow up with potential clients.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve met someone whose service I really needed (and wanted), told them I was interested, emailed them I was interested, and never heard from them again.

Lack of follow-up is a money leak, plain and simple. Potential clients want you to follow up because it’s one less thing they need to remember. Make service your top priority and follow up consistently, especially when that little voice inside is saying, “They’re not really interested,” “they must have hired someone else”, or “they will think I charge too much.” Get to it and follow-up!

5. Reconnect with current and past clients.

It’s much easier to get repeat business than new business. Your best clients are one of your most precious assets, and deserve a little love. Make a new habit in the New Year of checking in with them from time-to-time.

6. Commit to “just one thing” daily.

To keep marketing simple, stick to basic, tried-and-true strategies and adopt a truly magical practice I call “just one thing.”  Everyday, do just one thing to build your business, no matter how small.   It could be making a call to a potential partner, spending fifiteen minutes writing a promotional email, or making a call for a speaking engagement.

“Just one thing” uses the Japanese principle of kaizen: big results come in continuous small increments over time. (I love this principle, and used it in the days my family owned our manufacturing business!)

Commit to “just one thing” daily and you’ll never have to worry about where your clients are coming from ever again.

7. Express gratitude.

Giving thanks DAILY for all the money, business, and success you DO have now. You know it feels good, so just do it!

Much brilliance and prosperity to you in 2011!

Achieve Extraordinary Business and Personal Success in 2011!

Isn’t it time to breakthrough barriers holding you back from achieving more income in your business? What it takes to is confidence you can do it, courage to take action, and a solid plan and system to transform your business into something special.

Achieving extraordinary results in your business requires you to open up your mind, and do things differently than the way you’ve become accustomed in the past. To help you start the New Year in a powerful way, I am sharing with you seven powerful steps you can follow to make 2011 a spectacular year for you and your business.

The seven steps to follow to achieve a business breakthrough in 2011 are:

Step 1: Discover you authentic brand identity

Step 2: Clarify your market niche

Step 3: Design a profitable business model

Step 4: Develop creative packages

Step 5: Raise your fees

Step 6: Build your credibility

Step 7: Increase your list of leads and prospects

Step 1: Discover your authentic brand identity

Many entrepreneurs struggle with discovering their brand identity, which is something that communicates who they are, and how they want to position themselves to their market, relative to all other brands. Without a brand identity, you look flat and lifeless to your market, and don’t communicate a personality or clear message to attract the right clients who will buy from you.

Your authentic brand identity captures the essence of who you are, communicates your values, personality, and what you stand for to your market niche. By successfully communicating your brand identity, you will attract your ideal client, the person most likely to buy from you.

Also, what this means, is you will repel people who do not have anything in common with you, and will probably never buy from you.

Examples of strong brands and their archetypes we all know are Levi Jeans-Explorer, Lady Diana-Innocent, Nike-Hero, and Tom Petty-Outlaw.

Archetypes evoke strong, deep emotions that everyone can connect to, and understand. The twelve ancient archetypes and primary attributes associated with them are:

1. The Innocent – Wholesome, pure

2. The Explorer – Seeker, adventurous

3. The Sage – Thinker, philosopher

4. The Hero – Warrior, change the world

5. The Outlaw – Rebellious, liberated

6. The Magician- spiritual, holistic

7. The Regular Guy/Gal – Not pretentious, straight shooter

8. The Lover – Seek True Love, intimacy

9. The Jester – Playful, trickster

10. The Caregiver- selfless, compassionate

11. The Creator – Innovative, artistic

12. The Ruler – Leader, confident

Which archetype are you? Think about these twelve archetypes, their related attributes, and determine which one resonates most with you.

Step 2: Clarify your market niche

One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make, without fail, is they don’t have a clearly defined target market.

They think they do, that it is “women business owners who have a service business,” or “work-at-home moms,” or “people who have household incomes of $150,000 or higher,” or “businesses involved industry “X.” This information tells you very little about the buyer, how they make buying decisions, what motivates them to buy, and what values are important to them.

Lack of clarity about your target market will keep your income level stuck at its current level, no matter how hard you market. The reason is without a clearly defined market, you are marketing to everyone, and not reaching anyone.

It is imperative to determine exactly who your market niche is, and where you can find them. You need to know your market niche so well, that if you pass this person on the street, or you drive by their company, you can identify they are your ideal clients.

Step 3: Design a profitable business model

Most entrepreneurs’ business models don’t work, simply because they consciously have never thought out a well-defined business model. A business model is simply what activities you do to make money in your business.

Here are three quick ideas how to create a better performing business model:

1. Decide on three core ways you will be paid for your topic, such as through teleseminars, workshops/retreats, and coaching programs.

2. Decide what percent of your income will come from each of these three core activities.

3. Decide how many of each service, product, or program you have to sell to reach your goals.

By doing these three simple steps, you will gain clarity about the activities you must focus on doing in your business to generate income, and also prioritize your activities and time.

Step 4: Develop creative packages

Packaging your services makes it easier for clients to make buying decisions. The reason for this is think about your services you provide, and this includes paid-for services, as well as ones you provide for free, such as telephone and email support, a free consultation or needs analysis, etc. It becomes quite a long list, doesn’t it?

Now, try to sell these services to your potential clients. It becomes confusing, and overwhelming to your clients, as well as to you. The end result is a buying decision is delayed or never happens.

Packaging your services makes it easier for your potential clients to conceptually understand what your offerings are, makes it easier for them to make a buying decision, and it makes it easier for you to sell your products and services. Offering three different levels of packages, at three different price points, also offers more opportunity for your clients to say “Yes” to your offerings.

Step 5: Raise your fees

Many entrepreneurs give away too much of our personal services for free, and I have to say I have been guilty of this for years. We give away free coaching, free consulting, free design work…and then we wonder why people don’t buy!

The best way to raise your fees is to determine the value of the results you offer your clients. This will convince you to change your fees overnight!

A simple way to do this is brainstorm a list of thirty results clients can expect by working with you. Those results for your client could be:

• Raise your fees so you can potentially double your income in 2011

• Learn a sales process that gets people to effortlessly say “Yes” to your offers, making you more sales, a higher conversion rate

• Identify your brand archetype so you authentically and easily communicate who you are, and take out the guesswork about how to brand yourself

• Identify the right words to use to attract your target market

• Increase confidence and eliminate doubt

Think about the top result your client ultimately wants to get from working with you, such as ‘increase income,’ and quantify the result, if you can.

Step 6: Build your credibility

Another way to charge higher fees is to build your credibility, by being known and sought after as an expert in your field. The more people who know about you be seeing, hearing, and reading about you in different places, the easier it will be for you to command higher fees. There are a number of ways to build your credibility, including:

• Submitting press releases

• Being interviewed by a reporter

• Speaking in public

• Conducting teleseminars

• Being a guest on other peoples’ teleseminars

• Writing and publishing articles

• Writing and publishing a book

• Posting entries on popular blogs

• Becoming active on social media networks, such as Twitter and Facebook

Not only are these activities powerful ways to build your credibility, but they are also easy to do. Pick a few activities to focus on, build your credibility and celebrity, and raise your fees.

Step 7: Increase your list of leads and prospects

Be increasing your credibility and celebrity, this will give you an opportunity to increase your list of leads and prospects, people who may buy from you. Make sure you have a way to capture leads, people who are interested in learning more about your products and services. Without a way to capture leads, you will have no way to follow-up with them, and they will be gone forever.

Once you capture a lead, have a very strong follow-up strategy in place. Following up means determining how you will stay in touch with your leads, and how often. Some ways to stay in touch and follow-up are through an ezine publication, direct mail, thank you cards, birthday cards, special offers for customers only, email promotions, or calling and emailing directly, etc.

These seven powerful steps will position you to transform your business, and achieve spectacular success in 2011!

P.S. Find out how I can help you achieve breakthrough results with my Money and Marketing Magic Platinum Coaching Programs.  Request an Invitation Letter directly from me at Bonita@BonitaRichter.com.   This program is designed to deliver a high level of intense coaching in a short period of time, so you can take powerful action towards achieving Vision of success very quickly. It will move you forward fast!