Nothing Tops A Toot Of The Horn To Validate You As An Expert

What do you think is one of the biggest factors for someone making the decision to join your list, download your free offer, or purchase your products and services?  WHY do people consider you to be an expert in your niche and choose to work with you?  Well, I’ll tell you what it’s NOT.

Your prospects, clients, and customers don’t think of you as an expert because you’ve built a better mouse trap, drive the fanciest car, or sell an invention that scrubs their toilet while they sleep!

It’s sometimes a hard pill to swallow as a small business owner, but people don’t really care about YOU.  Ouch.

So what do people care about?  What do they look for that will absolutely cement you in as an expert in their eyes?

Third-party endorsements – oftentimes referred to as Testimonials or Social Proof.  People put a lot of weight on what OTHER people have to say about you.  They need to know that people JUST LIKE THEM are coming to you to find solutions to their problems.

If you’re just getting your new business off the ground and you don’t have any testimonials yet, don’t worry.  Start by asking your friends, colleagues, and subscribers to your list to provide you with “A Toot Of The Horn”.

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An Online Marketer’s Journey To Success Means Nothing But Problems

You bet it does!  And that’s a really good thing.  Problems are a “good” thing?  Yes.  And the more problems, the better.

Now don’t run away just yet.  Stick with me and let me explain.  I promise you’ll be glad you have lots of problems.

I don’t blame you if you’re thinking you just bumped into the craziest person on the internet.  That’s okay.  I’ve been called worse things than that.

Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question …

Is it really a program, product, or service you’re offering your prospects, clients, or customers?  I hope not.

Maybe you’re selling a miracle wrinkle cream or fresh-baked bread or tax consultations for small business owners.  Or you might teach a cycling class or train dogs how to stay off the furniture. You may even be a tour guide or a home decorator or a childbirth educator.  That’s great!  But I’ve got a big secret to tell you.  You’re not really selling ANY of those things! You’re selling “solutions” to problems.

For example …

Someone who’s selling wrinkle cream isn’t really selling a skin care product.  They’re selling a “solution” for looking younger and more vibrant.  If someone owns a dog that won’t stay off the couch, they’re looking for a “solution”.

If you think in terms of what problems you can solve for the target market you serve, you’ve got the foundation for a very successful business. Instead of focusing on products and programs, focus on ways to alleviate people’s pain, worry, and frustration.

Keep looking for more problems!

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Three Great Business Tips

Many people say they want to get rich in Internet Marketing but very few actually do it. Of course there are many reasons why one person might succeed or fail. However, there are general principles you must follow if you want to be successful.

Here are three tips that can go a long way toward helping you achieve the Online Success you deserve.

1. Always Do What’s Best for Your Business

This tip encompasses all the other ideas. Obviously everything you do should be what’s best for your company. Yet many people too often forget about this. The forgetting usually happens when people let their own feelings get in the way.

For example, you may get mad at someone online (a customer or someone else) and decide to tell them off. Before you do something like this you need to ask yourself: Will this do my business any good? If it won’t then don’t do it. Do not hurt your business just to gain some temporary satisfaction.

2. Take Care of Your Customers

Repeat after me: “The Customer is always right. The customer is always right.”

Of course, the customer is hardly ever right. But when you begin to think about not treating your customer well, remember: “The customer is always right.”

If you treat a customer poorly you can bet that person will go and tell at least 10 other people. So not only would you have lost that one person as a future repeat customer but you’ve also lost 10 other potential customers.

3. Always Have a Plan

The last of the three great business tips is that you must always have a plan, otherwise you will fail. It’s as simple as that.

Trying to make it in any business without a plan would be like trying to go from New York City to Los Angeles without any maps or road signs.

Be sure to know what you need to do each day and know what you’re trying to accomplish long-term as well. That way you’ll always be able to keep yourself moving forward toward your goals.

If you want to make it in Internet Marketing then you must always do what’s best for your business, take care of your customers, and always have a plan. If you start by following these three great business tips then you will be well on your way to a successful Internet Marketing career.

If you’re serious about running your business online, then you need to get organized for success. With all you have to do, it’s critical that you maximize your time. That’s why I highly recommend Organize Your Online Business. These time-tested tools have helped me run my business online for the past 8 years – and they’ll help your business as well!

Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with new Online Business Owners to help them create Online Success. She provides a complimentary 20-minute workshop at Organize Your Online Business.

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