Over the next few days I’m going to share five secrets to finding all the clients you may ever need.

This thought-provoking series is based on a special report created by CJ Hayden, creator of the Get Clients Now 28-Day Marketing Program…

Marketing shouldn’t feel hard or frustrating…  If it does – it’s time to get marketing working for you in new and more powerful ways. You’re going to love this blog series!

Over the next few days, you will discover:

• three things you may be doing now that can actually prevent you from getting clients,
• how the Persistence Effect can liberate your marketing,
• one simple habit you can begin today that may bring you all the clients you will ever need.

I promise this series will help you look at your marketing in a whole new and positive light. So, if you’re ready to give your marketing a motivating kick-in-the-derriere, let’s get started…

Lesson #1

Why is it that some consultants, Realtors, insurance agents, stock brokers and service sales professionals have all the business they need, while others struggle by with only a few clients? Is there a hidden secret no one is telling you?

Getting prospective clients to hear what you have to offer and remember you until they need your service can seem like an enormous challenge. So how do people in your line of work get clients? As any successful businessperson that question and you will hear: “Referrals” “Networking” “Making contacts and following up” “Word of mouth”.

It’s simple stuff; you probably already knew the answer. So, why don’t you have all the clients you need?

The answer may be simpler than you think.

WHEN LESS BECOMES MORE

When your marketing isn’t drawing the results that you believe it should, it’s easy to think there must be some hidden secret to marketing your business or professional practice. There are so many books to read, classes to take, and mentors, coaches, and consultants you could hire that it makes the process seem mysterious or overwhelming. But there is a simple answer and it’s the first of five secrets I’m going to share with you…

Choose a set of simple, effective things to do
and do them consistently.

The real key to successful marketing is picking just a few simple, effective things to do and then doing those things consistently.

This is how you can build your business more quickly by doing less.

Imagine that you were trying to fill a water barrel with a drinking glass. You would have to make trip after trip, going back to the faucet over and over. In marketing, this is like doing a little bit of networking, some haphazard follow-up, trying to get some publicity, giving a talk, buying a booth at a trade show, placing an ad, then writing an article…

Instead, why not use a bucket to fill your barrel? You can carry more water while making fewer trips. Instead of spreading yourself thin with a dozen different marketing strategies, you could simply do some networking with consistent follow-up, give some talks and follow up with those you meet, and that would be it; just three strategies: networking, public speaking, and following up. Your barrel fills faster, and you’re less tired.

Trying to do too much is one of the ways you may be sabotaging your own marketing efforts. Stop-and-start marketing can actually prevent you from getting clients. It wears you out running back and forth. You never spend enough energy on any one approach to really make a difference, but instead you make yourself less efficient and effective in all areas.

Instead, think… drip…drip…drip…drip…drip…

THE PERSISTENCE EFFECT AT WORK

If you limit your marketing activities to what you can realistically do well, it becomes possible to give your marketing the essential quality of consistency. Instead of just hearing from you once, people begin to hear your name over and over (drip…drip…drip…). They begin to think of you when you’re not in touch and send you referrals (drip…drip…drip…). But to make this happen, you have to do the work. Positive intentions alone won’t create clients without more help from you.

In lesson #2, you will learn how to tap into the quantum field and start activating the law of attraction.

If you’re anxious to get unstuck and are serious about developing and implementing a Marketing Action Plan that gets results, register now for the next Get Clients Now!™ action group program. It starts August 10th and is guaranteed to shift your marketing experience from reactive and frustrated to purposeful, proactive and producing results!

Imperfect action trumps perfect inaction every time so take action now! You’ll be so happy that you did!

Wait! Before you go…

I’d love to know what is (or was) your biggest frustration with marketing? Post your comments and let’s get a conversation started.

~ Gina xo

P.S. Be one of the six to register for Get Clients Now! and you will receive a bonus 30 minute one-to-one Accelheration call with me. You’ll be amazed by the motivating kick in the pants this single call will bring to your marketing! You’ll feel energized and ready with specific steps you can take immediately so you can start experiencing the improved results you crave. (Value $187)

Did you know that one of the best ways that an entrepreneur can stand out from the competition is to write a book?

When you’re an author, you have a business card that lasts forever, sharing your message and wisdom with the world.

In fact, a book is often your ticket to getting invitations for paid speaking engagements, media attention, information products, higher fees, and a steady stream of clients.

However, writing and marketing a book can be challenging,

especially if you don’t know where to begin. Aspiring authors can get bogged down and never finish their books, or, even worse, write a book that no one wants to buy.

I’m really excited about an event happening the month of August, Successful Author Secrets: Navigating the Course from Aspiring Author to Best-seller and Beyond. This ground-breaking program will feature 21 successful authors who will tell you the truth about what it took for them to become successful.

Just imagine learning from author super stars like Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Loral Langmeir, and T. Harv Eker.

The best teachers are those who have mastered the task. These folks are proven master authors who are ready to share valuable information you can use right away. Yes, some have even been on Oprah’s couch. I want to hear about that!

If you are even remotely considering writing a book to build your business, check out the all-star line up of speakers at this on-line event happening in August. And, you can attend for free!

“Learning new things won’t help the person who is not using what he already knows.” Author Unknown

Successful people are committed to life-long learning but that doesn’t mean they don’t also leverage what they already know.

Before you purchase that next product or enroll in that next program, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. What area of my business needs the most attention – right now?

2. Is this product or program I’m considering relevant to the current gaps in my business?

3. Do I need to develop additional skills or purchase new resources in order to address this area? (i.e. maybe you *know* but struggle with implementation – actually doing it/getting it done)

4. Does it make more sense for *me* to learn these skills OR, does it make more sense to hire a specialist?

Make sure you’re evaluating what areas of your business need attention – right now. Investing in these areas are the most applicable, provide the best ROI (return on investment) and will move you forward more quickly.

If you’re continually investing in skills and resources that you “may need someday” rather than what will move you forward right now – you’ll find you’re not moving as quickly as you’d like. And that is SO frustrating!

Getting ahead of ourselves and investing in these products and programs we might need in the future is one of the top ways we self-sabotage – and, totally unnecessary.

Simply checking in with yourself before you buy (even if you choose not to) is can accelerate your speed of success.

Keeping your feet on the ground in this way requires a level of self-honesty that I believe is essential to long term success.

And the world’s worst list builder award goes to…

Good grief!

I just received a “just checking in” email from an “expert” asking me to please confirm that my email is still active by clicking a confirmation link…

Or… they will “remove” my email from their list.

In the P.S. of the message, they reveal the link will take you to their Facebook page.

“P.S. This link simply takes you to my FaceBook fan page where I’ve prepared a great article on how to…

Please visit the Fan Page so I know not to remove you from my list.”

A simple invitation to read an exclusive – only posted on my Facebook page – article on ABC topic could have been more effective.

I guess I don’t respond well to ultimatums. Do this or else.

What’s worse is that I’ve only been subscribed to this person’s list for a very short time… literally a couple of weeks.

The relationship is just getting started and if I don’t do what you say – right now (before we really know each other) – you’ll delete me?

So I’m curious, what do you think?

• Have you ever received a communication like this regarding a list you’re subscribed to?
• Any other suggestions of how this list builder could have handled “weeding the garden” of unresponsive email addresses?
  

Example: I remember reading a case study about a magazine company that discovered over 80% of their top accounts took more than a year to make a decision to advertise with them. AND that more than 50% of their sales reps were weeding the garden (a.k.a. stopped following up with prospects) after a “3 strikes your out” rule. Mucho dollars were being left on the table.

• What other list building and/or retention mistakes have you noticed?

I’d love to hear your stories… before you go, share your comment (or else! Just kidding)

Now, whether you leverage a resource like the Expert Faculty from List Attraction Week or plan to register for Ali Brown’s forthcoming List Building Tools and Secrets course (or both) – PLEASE do your business and reputation a favor by learning what works and what doesn’t.

In the meantime, let’s get a conversation started here…

~ Gina xo

I’m curious. How many of you are using free publicity to build your business?

Are you wanting to attract profitable partnerships and reach markets outside your inner circle?

Is your business the first one people think of when looking for your product, service or expertise?

Are you finding clients ready to invest with you at higher rates?

For myself, I’m always interested in looking for more ways to grow my business FAST (you know – Achieve More Online in Record Time) without having to invest a lot of money in marketing.

So, I have asked Elena Verlee to join me on Thursday, July 8 where she’ll share insider secrets on:

How to Create Powerful Stories That Get You Free Publicity

On this free call, Elena will be sharing her insider secrets on:

• A step-by-step process to help you create UNIQUE publicity stories now and forever
• 3 common myths about publicity that stop you from playing BIG and making the impact you want to make that will build your business FAST
• The #1 thing heart-centered entrepreneurs need to have in order to succeed in getting publicity (don’t even start if you can’t do this)
• What only YOU can do in the publicity process and what you can easily outsource to your team (your VA or even a temp can do some of these things)
• How you can create a Publicity STORM no matter how much budget, skills and time you have available

You’ll want to sign up now before you forget. Here’s the link:

This is actually a FANTASTIC time to get free publicity.

Why? Because we have more media delivering news and
information than ever before. That means journalists and
producers who work for newspapers, magazines, TV and radio
are constantly looking for people, products and information
that will be of interest to their audiences.

Add specialty niche outlets, newsletters, blogs, social
networking sites, internet TV and radio shows and you’ll
find there are a TON of possibilities to get the publicity
that will make you stand out from the competition. 24
hours, 7 days a week is a lot of news time to fill.

If you’re serious about building your business (or possibly even selling it
 in the future), you won’t want to miss the information we’ll
be sharing with you!

Space is LIMITED, so sign up now to reserve your spot on
 this complimentary call.

And don’t forget to share your thoughts and questions below. I’d love to know what you really think about your business and getting publicity right now.

“Personal growth and increased confidence take place when we are testing the limits of our lives.” Inventor, Thomas Payne

One of my favorite coaching analogies is to compare our comfort zone to the age rings found on a cross section of tree trunk.

Think of it this way… every time we stretch our comfort zone it’s like we have a new age ring, we have a new level of awareness, we have greater self-esteem, we have more confidence, we are more experienced, we have more wisdom, we make different decisions because of that and we’re open to new opportunities too (often ones that were always there we just couldn’t see them yet!)

At the same level, we are faced with new obstacles. For example, along with our new level of awareness, limiting beliefs that were once invisible rise to the surface.

This can be good or bad depending on our ability to identify them quickly and regain momentum in spite of them. This is a skill that is essential for long term success.

So, how do you identify limiting beliefs?

The best strategy I’ve found is to create “CONTRAST”.

First, you have to be crystal clear about your definition of success. This gets your inner voice chattering and providing commentary that becomes the contrast you need to weed out your limiting beliefs.

Next, you have to pay close attention to your self-talk, best known as your inner critic (statistics say 80% of our self-talk is negative – yikes!). The self-talk and mind commentary leaves clues to our belief systems.

Finally, you have to choose which beliefs you’ll keep and which ones you’ll let go. Yup, I said “choose”. We can choose our beliefs. If a belief doesn’t support your success… let it go or replace it with one that does.

Your beliefs determine your thoughts, dictate your habits and influence your decisions. Does your belief system support your success or could there be some invisible saboteurs lurking?

Consider these two questions to test if limiting beliefs may be keeping you stuck.

1. Are you NOT doing things that you know you should be doing to support your success and are frustrated to feel stuck this way?

2. Are you doing things you know you shouldn’t be doing that sabotage your success and wonder why you keep doing them?

The average person… okay, 99.9% of people are aiming for middle ground, taking baby steps and playing it safe. Think of your childhood and how often parents and adult role models told you to “be careful”. That advice may have served you as a child (key word = may) but, as an adult and moreover an entrepreneur, playing it safe is keeping you small!

If you’ve caught yourself doing things that sabotage your success or, not doing things to support your success and you can’t figure out why, start to listen to your inner voice.

Our beliefs influence our thoughts, dictate our habits, affect our decisions and ultimately create our results/reality.

If limiting beliefs and negative self-talk are keeping you stuck or derailing your momentum, my 5-Step Believability Makeover Program will have you jumping over these hurdles in record time.

Previously sold for $97.00, this highly acclaimed program is coming off the shelves and will only be available through my brand new Equity-Rich Women Online Business Acceleration Group (B.A.G.). For a limited time you can get the program FREE when you test-drive the new program for 30 days… Yup, totally free just by testing a program designed to accelerate your success.

Make sure you are subscribed to GinaBellinc.com (see opt-in box top right) and you will be the first to know when the program launches. In fact, as part of my inner circle – you will have the opportunity to enter the program as a beta tester before its released to the public (and, at a fraction of the regular fee).

One of the coaching services I offer is “e-coaching or web-coaching” where clients have one-to-one access to me every day of the business week via email to ask me their most burning question.

Here’s the most recent question I received (client identity is confidential):

Question: “Here is one area of concern – list building. About five months ago I started hosting a monthly teleseminar in order to build my list. Today is my 5th one. When I started there were 47 people on my list. Now there are 138. Not what I was hoping for.

I am committed to these calls through the end of the year. I enjoy speaking which keeps me doing it. The people I am interviewing also have small lists, and they aren’t really doing much promotion either. How do I do a better job in building my list for the teleseminars?”

Answer: A monthly tele-class or radio show is a great visibility strategy and credibility too (based on who your guests are).

I agree… turtle-paced list growth is very frustrating!

Here are some simple things you can do to increase list building results (some you may be doing already):

#1. Invite guests that do have bigger lists than you (sometimes this is a stretch outside of our comfort zone but well worth the reach.)

#2. Make it a requirement that your guests invite their list to the call (you can use a speaker agreement and provide them with a short invitation script that they can copy/paste/send to their list).

#3. Use teaser bullets when you announce the topic for your upcoming call to create curiosity. Teaser bullets are a like mini headlines and we all know how important compelling headlines are – right!? After you done reading this post, hop on over to CopyBlogger.com and enter “teaser bullets” into their search box. Just this one change alone can dramatically increase interest in your teleseminar topics!

NOTE: Copy Blogger is my #1 resource for boosting my motivational copy skills! I recommend that ALL of my clients spend some time on their blog. Why? Because writing effective copy is an essential skill set for women in business online.

#4. Use cliff hanger statements/bullets in your communications to build excitement about what’s coming up next month. If you’ve ever watched a daytime or evening drama and experienced… “Here’s what’s coming up next on Days of Our Lives” for example and they play a series of clips that move you to the edge of your seat and leave you saying “Oh I can’t wait to see THAT episode! I’ve got to know what happens!” – that’s what you can create in your copy. Here’s a great article on – you guessed it – CopyBlogger.com that talks about this (see #5) and gives a great example too.

#5. List your tele-classes with free teleseminar listing services such as

a. See You On the Call at seeyouonthecall.com

b. Conference Call University at cculearning.com

#6. Use a “tell a friend” page/script as a thank you page once people opt-in. The service I use for some of my virtual events is www.YourTellAFriend.com (at the bottom of the form you can include a “slide by” link that takes them to your official thank you page and call-in details)

#7. Invite more than one expert to each call and conduct a PANEL discussion… instead of one guest inviting their list, now you have three each month (and triple the traffic filtering through your Tell A Friend page too!).

As you can see there are many ways to “take it up a notch or ten!” as I like to say

For additional list attraction advice you can also visit http://www.ListAttractionWeek.com. The event is over but the recordings are still available.

Are there strategies that YOU have leveraged (or observed) that we could add to this list? If so, be sure to share your comments okay

Problem (can you relate?): You’re an expert at what you do and you are ready to help as many people as you can to solve their problems. The trouble is, not enough of them know about you and how you can help them.

Solution: You need to increase your visibility. In other words, you need more people to know about you and the service you provide. Then, when they’re ready to make a purchase, you’ll be the one they want to buy from.

Action Plan: One way you can increase your visibility is by writing free content for newsletters. You may wonder why you should write for free. After all, you’re in business to make money and you should be paid for your expertise. But writing articles for newsletters with links to your website can be very effective, free advertising for your business.

Newsletter publishers are always looking for quality content to publish. There are newsletters on almost every topic imaginable. It is very likely that someone is publishing a newsletter on your area of expertise and has subscribers who are interested in what you know. By getting your articles published in these newsletters, you will become more visible to that market. In exchange for your article, the newsletter publisher includes your resource box and a link to your website – free advertising for you.

To get the best results from writing articles, write articles that answer your market’s burning questions and address their greatest struggles. And you don’t have to guess either… ASK your audience. You can send them to a survey (free resource = Survey Monkey), you can ask them on Facebook and Twitter.

You can explain how to do something, or give a list of your top ten tips. In your articles, it’s important to not advertise your business or make the article sound promotional. You want to focus on delivering quality information that will genuinely help your readers.

Example: “What is your most burning question or greatest struggle about how to create success online faster and easier?” Feel free to share YOUR questions in the comments section of this post ;~)

At the end of each article to write, you’ll place your author’s resource box or author’s bio. This is where you promote yourself and tell what your business can do. Describe your expertise and include a link to your website where the reader can go to learn more about you. This is where the free advertising comes in.

In your resource box, be sure to give your reader a good reason to visit your website. You may want to tell them what they’ll find there. Alternatively, you can offer them a free report or e-book for visiting your website. That gives them more incentive to click through. If you’ve impressed them with the quality of information in your article, there is a good chance they will click through to get more information from you.

The best approach to the resource box is to make it seem like it’s part of the article. When you end the article and craft the resource box as “about the author:” people stop reading. Instead, allow the end of your article to flow into an invitation for readers to learn more at your site (usually the flow is to your free opt-in as part of your list attraction strategy).

Now that you have your article and your resource box, you need to distribute it. You can contact newsletter publishers directly, but it’s even simpler to submit your article to article directories. These are places that publish free reprint articles. Publishers come to these directories looking for new content for their newsletters. If you’ve written an interesting, informative article, there’s a good chance they’ll reprint yours. My favorite directory is eZine Articles.

When readers see that you consistently provide good information, they’ll come to see you as an expert. As they see articles written by you published in various newsletters and websites, you will become more familiar to them. Then, when they’re ready to purchase a product or service like the one you provide, they’ll be more likely to think of you first.

Providing valuable in-demand content through information products is one of the quickest and easiest ways to showcase your expertise, grow your list and to start making money as a woman in business online.

Every woman should have at least one information product. The must-have is a freebie (or “pink spoon” sample) that your website visitors can gain access to when they subscribe to your list. (Keep your eyes peeled for my new pink spoon coming in the next week or so – a 34 page special report called “How to Set Goals with Confidence”)

There are many benefits of having an information products revenue stream but I have to warn you…

When it comes to researching HOW to create your “for-free” info products proceed carefully because there are two schools of thought on this – one that can become a catalyst to your success and another that can damage your reputation…

Tell me, have you ever heard this advice:

“Give your what and why for-free; Save your how for-fee”

Jurassic advice like this may have worked in the past but today, our fans and followers want – and expect – MORE.

The questions I’m most often asked next are… “How do I give the how for free and still make money? How much of the how do I give?”

The key is to give SOME of your how for free. A sampling. Not all of it. Not too much, and not too little.

Here’s an example…

My forthcoming Equity-Rich Women Online UnBlueprint and Toolkit™ has ten focus areas or modules.

I can GIVE my audience a complete how-to that provides depth on one or two topics without giving away my entire system.

i.e. My C.L.A.R.I.T.Y. formula (how to develop your authentic definition of success) is a complete how-to that is a fraction of Module One in my System; My P.A.R.T.N.E.R. method (how to create profitable win-win joint venture relationships) is only just one of more than five sub-topics in Module Nine. See what I mean?

Sharing how-to advice gives your audience an opportunity to sample your expertise. It’s advice they can take action on immediately. When you provide logical how-to advice, your audience can see themselves implementing it. This builds trust in your ability to “close the gap” or in other words, your ability to help them get from where they are now to where they really want to be.

Are you beginning to see why giving a snippet of complete how-to for-free is a better idea than dangling the “what and why” carrot?

Here’s something else to think about…

If your audience is reading your ebook, watching your video or listening to your teleclass – you’ve already convinced them that you have information that can be valuable to them. Giving only the what and why at this point is like trying to convince the convinced. It’s a pointless conversation bordering on insult.

You know when you hear fluff versus great content, don’t you?

Content-rich information products – for free or fee – stand miles and miles apart from non-content rich.

I don’t know about you but I value my time. Time is precious. We live in an over-communicated, over-advertised world. I want to make my time count and that means I want to consume REAL content.

Here’s how I consistently produce great content and operate in a no-fluff zone ~ I keep it REAL:

Relevant: Relevant to your client promise – the transformation they experience as a result of working with you.

Exact: Great content is specific. It’s not general. Great content has depth rather than just scratching the surface.

Applicable: Your audience must be able to apply the information almost instantly after they consume it.

Leading: Your content must guide them and invite them to take “the next step” – i.e. purchase your system; hire you as their coach or consultant; attend your event; become a member.

Action Step: Think about the difference you make for others and the process you use.

What aspect of this bigger picture could you be giving to your audience as a complete how-to that has depth and allows them to experience your expertise in a way that builds trust in your ability to help them?

Are you keeping it R.E.A.L.? Review your content – it’s never too late to revise.

Here’s to your information product success!

~ Gina xo

As a success-driven woman in business online, you can choose when you work, who you work for, and what you do. You are also responsible for a lot of tasks you may not be so eager to embrace, such as MARKETING your business.

With so many people using the internet these days, marketing yourself online is a must. There’s a lot going on, a lot of noise, so you need to do more than just put up a website and wait (hope) for your customers to find you.

Fortunately, online marketing doesn’t need to be daunting.  Here are some simple and proven strategies you can use to successfully market your business online

* Start an opt-in email list. When people visit your website for the first time, they may not be ready to buy from you. They might be researching for a future purchase, or just seeing what you have to offer. Don’t count on them to remember you when they are ready to purchase what you sell.

That’s why it’s so important to start an opt-in email list. You can set up an opt-in list through an email list management program. Then invite your website visitors to stay updated by leaving you their email address. This gives you an opportunity to contact them regularly with your news and other information.

Take it up a notch: While having an optin box that says “free newsletter” is better than no opt-in box at all, you can dramatically  increase your results by creating a compelling freebie. An ebook, audio recording, special report, e-course that you give in exchange for their contact information. Make it relevant, give advice they can implement right away and remember… fluff is for pillows not information products ;~) What I mean by that is give them some good stuff in advance and they’ll want more!

* Write and distribute articles. Write articles on your area of expertise and publish them on article directories and other online publishing sites. One of my favorites is eZineArticles.com With each article you write, you build expert status, gain credibility and add increasing value for your audience (a.k.a. you build equity in your content and expertise).

Must do: At the end of each article, include an author’s bio with a link to your website so readers can visit for more information. It’s free advertising for your business.

* Write and publish online press releases. Whenever you have business news, write a press release about it and submit to the online press release sites. This will help potential customers see that you’re running a credible business. Also, if your press release is optimized for your keywords, it may show up in the search engine results when people search for those words.

* Start a blog. Add a blog to your website to encourage your visitors to interact with you. Write informative posts on a regular basis to keep your readers coming back. Encourage them to leave comments, then reply to keep the conversation going.

* Frequent forums. Posting in forums is still an effective way to market your business. Look for forums where your market spends their time, and join the conversation. Make meaningful posts that help solve their problems and answer their questions. Be sure to add a signature with a link to your website so people can click through when they’re ready to learn more about you.

* Use social media. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube are all good ways for you to get your business in front of your target market. Research potential customers and begin to build connections with them.

* Host free teleseminars and webinars. In your presentations, teach participants how to do something new or give information that will help them reach one of their goals. At the end of each session, make a special offer for your product or service.

* Collaborate through Joint Ventures. Creating joint ventures allows you to LEVERAGE the relationships you develop with like-minded professionals in mutually beneficial ways, expands your reach to new potential clients, boosts your credibility and enables you to create a bigger impact for existing clients in ways that you could not do alone (and that’s just for starters)! Everybody wins!

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines watching others leap their business forward with joint ventures – it’s your turn. My next Ready to JV 2-week Intensive starts on June 15th (but hurry – there are only 12 seats in this class).

The bottom line is this… if you use a handful of these ideas consistently, each and every day, you may find that marketing your business online is much easier and more rewarding than you expected (or have experienced in the past).