Make it your business

When you start a business or join a company, who does the work? So why aren't you making it your business?

When starting a business whether this is your product or you signed up to sell a product for another this is your business. Your work generates income so why aren't you making this your business? Every customer is yours. You provide the customer service, you sold them the product, you gained their trust.

It's time to grab the reigns and take charge. The company you signed up to represent and sell a product for has given you the tools to make this your business. But don't expect them to do the work for you. That is your job. The harder you work, the more money you will make, the larger your business will expand.

If you want the business you must go find it. Do not wait for it to come to you. Order those business cards, print those flyers, wear that logo wear.

Have a website? Give it out to everyone and you believe its only a matter of time before everyone sees how wonderful I think it is and start selling a ton right? Wrong! When showing off that website you are only making people aware of the site regardless of what is for sale. You still have to promote and sell the product. Network marketing can be lucrative but not many know how to make a go of it to make the dollars start rolling in. You have to order that product and get samples in the hands of your customers. Its the only way to get those customers to appreciate and purchase the product.

Start a blog. Take the time to educate your customer about a product. Don't focus on telling them why they should use it above others but tell them why it is useful to them. If it has more than one use they want to know this.

Start a mailing list. Either by email or postal. DO NOT add people without their permission. Its rude, tacky, and is considered spam which is illegal. Keep your customers up to date about periodic sales, specials, and events. Keep these bi-weekly for email and monthly for postal mail.

Stop sitting back and letting someone else run this for you. This is your business so own it.


Olivia Vidal
© 2009 - 2010

Organize It

Representing multiple companies is fast becoming a popular trend in the WAHM world. Problem many women face is organization. Starting and building one business can be a great deal of work in itself. Add a second, third, or more, and that can spell instant stress and move towards overwhelming before you even really gain momentum. Along with just gaining sales you need to market and network. Getting and staying organized is absolutely necessary.

Here are a few tips to get and stay organized:

Create folders in your bookmarks or favorite list in your browser for every day of the week. This will make 5 new folders. In those 5 folders create bookmarks of sites you need to visit that day. Each day you will click on that days folder. This can include:

• Social networks
• Message boards
• Blogs
  

You can have multiple days with similar sites but plan to visit each site you have joined at least once a week. This will help keep you on track and consistent in your marketing and networking.

On your desktop create a folder that says WAHM business or anything that refers to your business. Within this one folder you will have a dedicated folder for each company. Each company folder can have several folders.

Folders on computer for each company should include:

• Keep online notepad for important links
• Files containing rules, guidelines, handbook
  
• flyers to handout, bookmarks, business cards, brochures
• Product information, use tips, ingredients
  
• Newsletters
  

Having these folders separated by company help keep all you need easily accessible. Keep these folders in one main folder on your desktop. This is your daily reminder of where to visit once you sit down.

Most have just one email for all business and even personal. Keep your email organized for business as well. In your email create a folder for each company.

Folders in email for each company may include:

• Sign up info
• Welcome letter
• Email correspondence related to company
• Newsletter

Keeping a folder for each company in your email keeps your email organized and easily accessible. This will help keep important emails where you need them without having to spend unnecessary time searching.

Here we are with that trusty notebook. Some are discovering how useful this. You should have one notebook dedicated to each company. You can have one general notebook for general notes but anything that pertains to a specific company should be in your company notebook.

Notebook for each company is for you to write about:

• Goals for your business - you need to know where you want to end up. I suggest you start with short term goals and move to long term goals.
  
• Ideas - ideas can be marketing your business, a new party idea, contests, etc
  
• Budget - whether a business owner or consultant you must have a budget for your business. Your budget will include samples, business materials, advertising, demonstration kit needs, hostess or customer thank you gifts, shipping materials, and so forth. If it relates to the cost of your business, it needs to be included.
  
• Training - this can be notes you received in training or how you wish to train your team members or staff.
  

Having a notebook per company keeps your thoughts clear and organized based on company vs general ideas.

Create a schedule

• Daily schedule - know what needs to be done in your daily life as well as your work life. Keep a schedule so you are always on top of what needs to be done.
  
• Open schedule for prospect appointments - always have time open to meet with a potential customer, hostess, or new team member.
  
• Email reading - this sounds like a given but what most are trying to do is read email all day long. Instead read email at specific times instead.
  
• Networking - this is where those bookmarks come in handy. Schedule time to visit those daily bookmarks and spend time networking. Networking and advertising is different so know the difference and network.
  
• Marketing and advertising - start or check in on advertising campaigns. This can include researching, changing advertising, learning new advertising techniques, and learning how to properly advertise.
  
• Training - schedule important training for your business into your schedule. Also schedule time to train team members and staff. This is an area to not neglect. You may not need to include this weekly but at a minimum of once a month.
  

Having a schedule ensures you are taking care of business as needed on a daily basis. This schedule includes work, home, family.

Staying organized is vital to your success. Without staying organized you will never reach your full potential and can lead to the failure of your business. No matter starting out or a seasoned business owner get organized and stay there.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com

What have you done for your business today?

Every day is a new opportunity for your business. Meet someone new, find a new advertising method, stumble across a new networking avenue. There is always something you can do everyday that is not always the same.

Before you say you can't do something everyday lets ask why? You committed to building a business. With that commitment comes sacrifice. Nobody likes to sacrifice but it is a necessary element when building a business. As a WAHM you do not have less sacrifices. As WAHM you may have more.

Sending out a website link is simply not enough. Sending out an ad is not enough. You have to actively interact with potential customers and close a sale, book parties, educate, network. When you think you have done enough, do more. Learn to effectively market your business. Marketing is more than advertising. It encompasses the overall strategy for success. As Yoda would say "Do or do not, there is no try".

Add value to yourself and ditch the sympathy and pity sale. Pity sales are those where you point out how you are needing money. This only tells people your business is not successful. It doesn't matter the reason and understanding. If you make no money, you are not succeeding. Steer clear of the guilt sale while you are at it. These are the sales that forces another into a sale because you "helped" them out so now its your turn. This is not harsh, this is reality.

So back to the original question, what did you do for your business today? No excuses. If you did nothing, own up to it and move on. Don't make a habit of it. Become a self-starter and self-motivated. As a WAHM working for yourself you have nobody telling you to get back to work. You are the boss now.

Every day you must do something for the good of your business. You cannot succeed doing nothing.

Lost for ideas? Comment and ask others. Have ideas? Offer advice to those seeking them.

Olivia Vidal

© 2009

http://sochicbagboutique.com