 MLM
Woman Issue 121
February 2007
From the Desk of the Editor
Welcome to the 121st issue of the MLM Woman Newsletter! This
month we feature 5 more articles from successful and savvy business
experts who generously share their knowledge with you.
If you enjoy this month's issue, please be sure to let your
friends know about it too and invite them to come and visit us.
Also, if you have comments, questions or something to share
after reading this month's articles, please visit our MLMTalk
Discussion Forum and join in the lively conversation!
And also be sure to check out our new MLM
Marketing Blog for lots of additional tips and resources which
are added throughout the month.
Yours in Success!
Linda Locke, Editor MLM Woman
 Balance
Dueling Careers
by Lisa Martin, The Working Mother’s
Coach
Logistical acrobatics is the best way I can
describe the daily process families undertake to get moms,
dads and kids to the right place – work, daycare, school,
play dates and appointments – at the right time. As a
working mom in a two-career couple, I know life can feel like
a constant negotiation of household and transportation responsibilities.
It’s complicated. The roles of caregiver and breadwinner
are shared in a dual career family. Depending on the circumstances
of the moment, the demands of each role changes. It is an
ongoing tug-of-war and shifting of plans. For example, Tuesday
is your night to pick up the children from school, while your
partner works late. Saturdays your partner takes the kids
to soccer practice while you work out at the gym. The challenge
is even when you make plans or have the best of intentions,
they almost always change at some point during the course
of the day. There are last minute meetings that keep you late
and result in a panicked call to your partner to pick up the
kids. A child who comes down with the flu on a Wednesday afternoon
means an early exit from work. Keeping up with everyone’s
schedules can be very stressful.
The fact is all the family members have somewhere
to go and need to get there by a certain time. Getting yourself
and members of your family where they need to be is not an
option; it is a mandatory. But getting stressed out is not.
Let’s look at some ways you can smooth
out the duel career battle lines:
Keep Your Communication Lines Open.
Make sure all members talk about who has to be where when.
Set Sunday nights aside to review individual commitments and
priorities. Ensure you can easily access family members via
cell phone, email, pager, etc. If there are any last minute
changes to your plans (and invariably there will be) you need
to be able to get in touch with each other in a hurry.
Be Flexible.
Know that by becoming flexible around family scheduling issues
you will reduce your stress level enormously. Leave at least
five minutes of space around each appointment you schedule,
drop off, pick up, etc. This allows space for the unexpected
and will enable you to keep your cool. Keep other spaces open
in your calendar for changes and spontaneity.
Enjoy The Moment.
An emergency trip to the doctor or dentist may be inconvenient
or downright disruptive, but look for the joy in the moment.
It is an opportunity for you to spend time with a loved one.
Maintain your sense of humor. Sometimes things are just so
crazy the best thing to do is laugh. If you think you will
laugh about it ten years from now…why not today.
© Copyright 2007. Lisa Martin.
All rights reserved.
About the Author
Lisa Martin is a certified coach who inspires working mothers
to achieve success that’s balanced. Author of Briefcase
Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers’
Lives, Lisa is a sought-after expert and speaker on work-life
balance issues. Known for her very personal and practical
approach, Lisa coaches working mothers to know what they want
and get what they want. A mother herself, Lisa’s powerful
presentations and programs have helped thousands of women
define success and balance on their own terms. www.briefcasemoms.com
 Postcard
Marketing
Success Tips
Copyright 2007 Bob Leduc
Postcards may not be the most popular marketing
tool in our modern high-tech business world. That's too bad
because they can be a very cost-effective way to generate
website traffic and sales leads ...if you do it right.
Here are 5 proven tips that will help you create
powerful marketing postcards guaranteed to produce a big response.
1. Make a Big First Impression
People like getting postcards from friends and
relatives. They don't like getting advertising mail. Make
your postcard look at first glance like a message from a friend
instead of like an advertising announcement. It creates a
warm friendly reception for your postcard.
For example, use the same typestyle and layout
you would use to send a postcard to a friend. Use a date at
the top ...even if it is something like "Monday, 11:15
AM". And include a real "from" name at the
bottom ...even if it's not handwritten.
2. Get Right to the Point
Postcards get delivered in a format that's ready
to read. Take advantage of this by making the biggest benefit
you offer the first thing the reader sees. This will make
them want to read the rest of your postcard.
For example, state your biggest benefit as a
headline at the top of your postcard ...or make it the first
item on a bulleted list of benefits ...or highlight it in
bold type if it's in the body of your postcard.
3. Sell the Right Thing
Marketing postcards are most effective when
they are used to generate website traffic or sales leads.
They are less effective for closing sales because they don't
provide enough space for a detailed sales message.
Design your message to sell the reader on seeking
more information instead of trying to close sales.
For example, don't include much (if any) actual
information about the product or service you are selling on
your postcard. Instead, promote the major benefit (or benefits)
they provide. Then persuade the reader to visit your website
or to take some other action to get more information from
a source where you can close sales.
4. Be Clear and Direct
You have only a few seconds to get the reader's
attention and to persuade them to take the action you want.
So keep your message brief and make sure the reader can clearly
understand it with just a quick glance.
For example, limit your postcard to just a few
short sentences with blank lines between them. Reduce several
sentences to a short bulleted list to save space and reading
time.
Always end your postcard by telling the reader
exactly what to do to get more details - and include a reason
to do it immediately.
5. Stimulate Fast Action
Just telling your reader how to get more information
is not enough. You have to give them a reason to respond NOW
or many will put your postcard aside to do later ...then get
involved with other things and forget it.
For example, offer them a discounted price,
a special bonus or some other benefit if they reply to your
postcard by a deadline.
Postcards are not new or high-tech. But that's
not a reason to ignore them. They can generate a lot of website
traffic and sales leads for a very low-cost.
Follow these 5 proven tips and you will discover
how to create powerful marketing postcards guaranteed to produce
a big response.
About the Author
Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses like yours find
new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition
of his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With
Simple Postcards ...and launched *BizTips from Bob*, a newsletter
to help small businesses grow and prosper. You'll find his
low-cost marketing methods at: http://BobLeduc.com
or call: 702-658-1707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas,
NV
 What's
on your
Treasure Map?
By Donna J. Davis
Do you have a Treasure Map? No, not the kind you find in
Pirates of the Caribbean! This type of Treasure Map is a collage
or story-board of what you want to draw into your life. It's
a means to help you visualize your goals.
Have you ever closed your eyes and visualized something you
wanted clearly? You take time to see yourself "there"
enjoying your success, your vacation, your partner or your
thriving business. You start to feel a number of emotions.
You may feel proud of your accomplishment. You may feel a
sense of peace from achieving financial freedom. You may feel
love and belonging. All of these positive emotions stem from
visualizing and really experiencing your accomplishment in
your mind. And the mind starts to accept what you are picturing.
That's the power of visualization and it will move you to
your goals.
But how many of us really take the time to do these visualizations
daily? The dog needs to be walked, the kids are late for school,
we've got to finish the project that's due at work today.
Life is busy and we could use some help in focusing on our
goals.
That's where Treasure Mapping can help. A Treasure Map is
a constant reminder and reinforcement of where we want to
go, what we want to accomplish and who we want to become.
So how do you create a Treasure Map? There is not just one
right way to create a Treasure Map, but here are some ideas.
1. Use one large poster board or you can take a poster board
and divide it into several sections to represent different
areas of your goals, i.e., spiritual, financial, relationships,
personal growth, etc.
2. At the center of the board, place something that represents
your center or the core of your being. It could be something
that represents God, love, peace, or joy. This keeps your
Treasure Map centered in something higher than material things.
3. Then add phrases of the type of person you want to be
or the qualities you want to have. Happy, peaceful, kind,
helpful, giving and wise are some examples. If you find pictures
that represent these qualities to you, add those, but words
or phrases work well too. These phrases can be added right
around the center picture on your board. Or they can be scattered
around your board…whatever feels best to you.
4. Start dreaming big! We tend to limit ourselves or feel
we are not worthy of good things. In creating your Treasure
Map include what your heart wants, not what you think you
can have.
5. Once you have the center of your board and the phrases
of who want to become, then move on to material items you
want in your life. Sort through magazines to find colorful
pictures of the vehicle, the home, the piece of jewelry or
furniture that you want. Find pictures of the vacation spot
you want to visit. Add these pictures to your board surrounding
your center picture.
6. Fill your board. Don't leave any blank space. You want
to create a full and exciting life and your Treasure Map should
represent that.
7. At the bottom of your Treasure Map always include the
phrase "Thank you for this or something better."
Always be grateful for what you have and what you will be
receiving. This phrase also acknowledges that there may be
even bigger and better things waiting for us.
8. Place your Treasure Map in a place that you see it several
times a day. And at least once a day take some time to use
your Treasure Map to connect with your centering picture or
word. Then expand that out to the qualities and material items
that you have on your Map. Take time to feel the joy, the
excitement and the pride of accomplishing and having everything
on your Treasure Map.
Positive emotions are powerful and they can pull you forward
to your goals. Use your Treasure Map as a daily reminder of
your goals and what you will achieve. Make this year your
best ever!
About the Author
Donna Davis has successfully built several businesses from
a local accounting service to a large online network marketing
team. Visit http://www.HotAZCandles.com
to learn more about her current business and her family. For
a free ebook "Entrepreneurial Spirits" email ebook1@aweber.com
How to Find Ideas
for Writing Articles
© Terri Seymour
Writing articles every couple of weeks or so is a great idea for
your online business but it can sometimes be hard to find good
subject mater for your article. You write article after article
and finally you just seem to draw a blank on what to write about.
I am sure that has happened to all of us at one time or another.
When it happens to me there are a few things that I can do to
find fresh ideas. These tips will work for you as well. Below
are some good places to find interesting and fresh article content.
Blogs - Blogs are a great place to find ideas for your
article as many different things are discussed on blogs. People
share their opinions, ideas, experiences and questions.
Message Boards - Message boards are a good source of information
as well. Follow the discussions and see what things people are
interested in and need to know more about. I have written many
articles from information I read on the boards.
Email Discussion Groups - Again, get involved in the discussions.
Find out what information people are looking for. Not only can
you get ideas for your articles, but you can learn a lot as well
and make some new contacts. Just go to Yahoo and do a search for
the appropriate type of group for your business.
Internet News Sites - Keeping up with Internet marketing
news is very important for your business. Not only for writing
articles but for keeping abreast of new developments, ideas, technology,
etc. Research and write your articles to keep your readers informed
as well.
Read through your email - Take note of what people are
asking you about and what they are most concerned with. Keep a
file on hand and record all questions that can be used to create
a powerful article.
Subscribe to ezines - Ezines can be a goldmine of information
and ideas. They allow you to keep up to date on the latest products,
programs, biz opps, etc. Some of this information can make great
articles.
Do a survey - Write a two or three question survey and
send it out to associates or discussion group members or better
yet, your subscribers. Give your readers the information and news
they are looking for.
For example: What questions do you have about Internet marketing?
What resources do you need that you cannot find? Questions like
this could give you some innovative article ideas.
Read other articles - By reading other articles, you can
come up with an unusual twist or angle for an overused idea. It
sometimes helps to get different views and insights on the same
old idea. NOTE: Never copy information or content from
an article, ezine, or website.
What would YOU like to know more about - Pick a topic you
need to learn about, do some research and turn it into a resourceful
article. This is a great way to learn while promoting your online
business.
Always keep an open mind and eye out for article ideas. After
awhile you will begin to see ideas automatically all over the
net. Keep a notebook handy and when you think of an idea write
it down in your notebook. I tend to think of ideas while lying
awake in the middle of the night. I learned right away that if
I don't write them down, they are totally gone by morning.
And remember, people want and need basic, straight forward, helpful
information. They do not want or need college words, fancy storylines
or over-dramatized articles.
Also, do not be afraid to give your articles a little personality,
humor and best of all, heart. Write as if you were talking to
the reader and doing your best to help them.
Articles are one of the most powerful marketing methods online.
Don't let a little doubt stop you from making this big step towards
success!
About the Author
Terri Seymour has several years online experience and has helped
many people start their own business. Visit her site at http://www.seymourproducts.com
for resources, $1 ebooks & software, free tutorials, affiliate
programs, and a free ezine with bonus report: 77 Ways to Get Traffic!
subscribe@seymourproducts.com
 How
to Attract New Clients with Seminars and Workshops
By Shannon Kilkenny
Face it ladies, we can all use a new or different form of marketing,
promotion and/or publicity. I'm a true believer in multiple venues
for getting my name and product out to my potential customers and
clients. One avenue I have found that works for me is planning and
implementing seminars and workshops. This great marketing tool also
gets me out of the house, away from my computer and face to face
with my customers and potential clients.
Who is the perfect candidate for leading a seminar or workshop?
Anyone who has a product or service to offer and wants more clients
and customers - is that you? This brief overview shows you the benefits
of seminars and workshops and helps to get you started with development
and designing ideas.
First, let's define seminars and workshops. With this understanding
you will be able to decide which fits you and your marketing plan.
A Seminar tends to be more instructive with a lecturer speaking
to an audience about a specific topic. Seminars typically handle
a larger audience with this structure. You can have hundreds of
participants - just listening with little to no interaction.
A Workshop tends to be more interactive, more of a hands-on
learning. It is usually a smaller group because of the activity
structure. Typically workshops cater to a smaller group where you
might break out and work in even smaller groups throughout the allotted
timeframe.
So What is in it For You?
There are a number of benefits to harvest with these types of events.
1. Exposure and Name Recognition - You can reach a large
audience base. It is a way of introducing your name and business
to potential clients and customers. It is said that a person needs
to hear your name 5-7 times before they will buy from you or use
your services. This is an excellent outlet for word-of-mouth marketing.
2. Establish Credibility - When you lead workshops or seminars,
people automatically look at you as an expert. They are more likely
to trust what you say. You build trust and a reputation as well,
so make sure what you say is true. Offer them a solution.
3. Generate Leads - These leads are priceless. If they attend
your event or contact you for more information, a solid connection
has been made. I have a list of everyone who has taken my class
or come to my workshop, purchased my book or made an inquiry of
any of the above. And when my next book comes out….I have a
list of direct leads.
4. Selling Opportunity - Seminars and workshops can create
a multi-stream of income. First you can charge for the workshop
(not always appropriate). Second, sell your product and your services
- possibly repeatedly (back of the room sales).
5. Learn your market - Learn needs and desires of your audience.
After each event you will have learned more from your participants
and can then transform your curriculum to cover those new issues.
You can incorporate that information into your next presentation
or you might get new ideas and create a totally different seminar
or create a new product. Evaluations forms are priceless.
Sometimes these results aren't noticed right away, because the
client isn't ready at the moment. But they will remember you when
their need arises. And if they keep seeing your name out there…when
they are ready, they will come to you.
How to Developing a Workshop or Seminar
Let's do a quick test to see if you are a candidate to create a
workshop or seminar by going through the next 8 steps. See what
you come up with and decide whether or not you have something worthwhile
to give. And of course you do or else you wouldn't even be reading
this article.
1. Define yourself: Write down your profession or the special
knowledge you have - keep it simple at first. For example:
Profession: Attorney, mortgage broker, chiropractor, business consultant,
event planner, writer, accountant, financial planner, etc.
Knowledge: Health care, web design, coaching, event planning, vitamins,
teacher, real estate, organizer, etc.
2. Define your services and products: Write down what your services
or the products you have to offer such as coaching, consulting,
teacher, trainer, books, newsletters, classes and/or workshops,
etc.
3. Get specific: What information or skill do you have and
would want to share with others? If you're a mortgage broker, maybe
you specialize in 1st time buyers or are creative with financing
and work with people who own and want to own multiple income properties.
Or you're a chiropractor and you specialize in young children or
pregnant women or sports injuries. Or you're a tax account and you
specialize in real estate or small businesses or an attorney who
specialized in creating trusts and financial planning…..You
get the idea.
4. List Potential Topics: Out of the list above, list some
topics you could teach and train others.
5. List your target audience: Who would be interested in
what you have to offer. You need to get specific here. When it comes
to marketing, knowing who these people are will save you time and
money.
6. Bring in Others: List others who you might want to create
an alliance with you and work together on a combined curriculum.
Find someone with additional knowledge or complimentary knowledge
or a product that would enhance your event.
7. Prepare an agenda: Take everything from above and begin
working on the details. This will ultimately begin the process of
designing your agenda/curriculum. Make sure you have a compelling
topic and offer a solution!
8. Write an enticing course title: With the information
you've written down, start creating a title. Don't be surprised
if it changes often until you find the right one. And you will know
when you have it.
By following the above steps you have developed the shell / template
for your workshop or seminar. Keep going to the design stage if
you have discovered you have great topic and program to use as a
selling tool.
Designing a Workshop / Seminar
Remember that the ultimate goal is obtain the benefits that we spoke
of earlier! You want to present a quality image of you and your
product or service. What you are looking for are new clients and
you want quality clients not just quantity. Think of your workshop
or seminar as a sales call for a large number of potential clients.
Create an Agenda - Make sure your topic and/or presentation
is gripping and solutions based. People don't just buy products
and services….they buy solutions. They have problems and they
want you to provide the answers. How does your service or product
provide a solution? What answers do you have to a problem? These
are the topics and issues that you want to present. What I can do
for you!
If the complete solution involves a third party - bring them in.
With the right collaboration you are able to offer participants
more solutions in one setting.
Be specific and avoid topics that are too general. Unless the workshop
is just a teaser to other things such as an all day course or a
series of coaching sessions, etc. I give workshops for the Learning
Annex and only have 3 hours to teach Event Planning. There is not
nearly enough time to explain it all….So the participants want
to buy my book as they leave for the rest of the story!
Know Your Audience - Select the right target audience
and prospects. These are the people who need your services and products
- they need a solution that you can provide. Are they individuals,
small business owners, women, parents, students, people in career
transition, people in pain - emotionally or physical, new home buyers,
somebody having tax problems, financial investment needs, the corporate
sector, the list goes on and on.
Clarifying your audience will help you effectively communicate
your solution in your invitation and ultimately your presentation.
Find out how to reach your audience. Will it be through email, flyer,
phone calls, invitations, etc. What will work best for your situation?
Network for leads - always be on the look out for potential clients.
Make sure you get everyone's business card and put it in your database
right away.
Attract your Clients - Create and deliver an attractive
invitation that demands action. Craft something that will entice
them to come to your event. Use the AIDA principal for the invitation:
Attention - Grab the readers' attention
Interest - Generate interest
Desire - Create the desire within them
to keep reading or phone
Action - Tell them what to do. Act
Now, Buy Now, Phone Today, Buy This book!
Once you have a presentation whether it is a seminar or a workshop,
you can recycle it. No need to reinvent the wheel. So the initial
time it takes to create the presentation will pay off over and over
again.
And for those of you out there who think you can't possibly present
a workshop or seminar - because of a fear of speaking in front of
a group. I'm here to tell you I was there! But I started out speaking
with small groups and then worked my way up. But fear of public
speaking is a whole other article! In fact…it could be a great
workshop topic for one of you ladies.
Plan well, plan often and expect success.
About the Author
Shannon Kilkenny, author of The Complete Guide to Successful
Event Planning is currently teaching classes, leading workshops
and presenting at conferences. She is working on her next endeavor
to create a curriculum and a new book dedicated to "greening"
the hospitality and event planning industries. Her goal is to encourage
you to incorporate environmental awareness in your decision making
process. Find out more about Shannon and her book by visiting http://www.successfuleventplanning.com.
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Send e-mail comments to
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Copyright 2007,
Regent Press
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