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WARNING! This article will stretch you outside of your comfort zone, whichis a huge opportunity for a breakthrough.

Do you need clients (to be honest, who doesn’t), but you find you feel some discomfort or resistance to reaching out and contacting them, either by email or telephone?  In other words, you’re “hiding out.”

Do you justify this discomfort and NOT taking action by thinking, well, “I don’t want to be a bother,” or “I don’t want to seem pushy or salesy,” or “I’m not ready, yet,” or worst of all, “No one will buy from me, anyway.”

Let me tell you right now that you are staring head-on to resistance that’ll keep your business stuck today, tomorrow, and forever IF you don’t face this resistance, and what’s behind it HEAD ON.

Another sure sign you’re “hiding out” and avoiding uncomfortable situations are you’re constantly tinkering with your website, doing social media, or fine-tuning your brochure and marketing materials to get them “just right”.” The problem is while you’re doing this, clients continue to not show up.

Make no mistake about this: to build a thriving business you do need marketing systems to bring clients to you. However, what I see is these activities can turn into time sucks, procrastination excuses, and places to hide out.

“Hanging back” and waiting for clients to show up feels safe, and comfortable. But, I would bet you a slice of cheesecake that you’re not helping as many people as you could with your wonderful gifts, and your income is suffering, too.

What I am going to ask you to do is a simple exercise to shift your mindset about what you do, how you help, and becoming proactive about putting yourself out there in-front and center with your clients.

Here’s a 3-step, super-simple strategy that’ll shift your mindset, so you’ll want to reach out to that client, send that email, or pick up the telephone for a sales call.

Step 1. Take the focus OFF yourself.

The BEST WAY to deal with those weird feelings about reaching out to potential clients is to take the focus OFF yourself, and redirect it ON to your clients.

Think about how it is your deepest heart’s desire to help other people. You have wonderful, special gifts that will help make their lives better. Before reaching out or calling a potential client think in your mind, “I can help this person, and I am going to communicate a heart-felt, authentic message to tell them how I can help.”

Step 2. Be like a child again.

At first, this may seem a silly suggestion. But, have you ever watched children and the way they approach life? Young children are curious, and step out into the world without fear.

Think about how much courage it must take for a child beginning to walk to take that first step. They don’t know if they will fall or hurt themselves; they take those steps anyway. And, if they do fall, they get right back up again.

Approach reaching out to the people who need you, your potential clients, in the same fearless, awe-inspiring fashion a child approaches life and discovery, and keep moving through what is holding you back.

Step 3. Pay close attention to feelings of resistance.

I’m going to ask you to pay close attention to any resistance you feel when you think about reaching out, emailing, or calling a potential client. Specifically, where is this resistance showing up? This is your opportunity for a breakthrough!

I want to see you succeed. This is the honest heart-felt way I feel.

My coach’s request of you is to keep going when you feel resistance, when you feel you’re getting stuck. Do what you need to do to break through whatever resistance comes up so that you can be a blessing to other people.

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 1-day coaching program to get your business to 6-Figures, and beyond. Spaces are limited. Contact me directly for more information.

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!

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 2010 a spectacular year for you and your business .

The seven steps to follow to achieve a business breakthrough in 2010 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 you 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 two some 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.

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

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!

For use coaches and consultants, we typically do a needs analysis and assessment, by which our client then knows exactly what needs to be done to fix the problem.  This has to stop, because you are giving away your coaching and consulting for free.  To have confidence to increase your fees you must first determine the value of the results you create for your clients.  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 2010
• 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 ill 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 2010! 

P.S. To find out how I can help you achieve breakthrough results with my Money and Marketing Magic Intensive VIP Platinum Retreat request an invitation Letter and Application 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 make powerful decisions about your business, and take powerful action towards achieving Vision of success very quickly.  It will move you forward fast.