Archives for August 2015
Are You Trying Too Hard to Be a People Pleaser?
Chances are youâve at some point been told âyou can't please everyone.â Of course, as an entrepreneur itâs in your very nature to try to do so anyway. This isnât necessarily a bad thing â itâs admirable to put others before you and to want to please as many people as possible. However, there is such a thing as going too far.
Here are a few signs that you might be trying too hard to be a people pleaser:
- Youâre unable to say no. If youâre saying âyesâ to everyone elseâs requests, that means you're probably saying ânoâ to other things in your life. And when itâs business requests to which
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
you are constantly agreeing, that means you are most likely pushing back aspects of your personal life. If you feel you're overexerting yourself but still have a hard time with a flat out âno,â you could at least start to say, âIâll get back to you,â which gives you some time to consider your answer and doesnât come across as being dismissive.
- You have a hard time making decisions. People pleasers have a hard time making their own decisions because their answers are so affected by what they think people want to hear. If youâre having a hard time making a decision over something as simple as what you want to eat for lunch, for example, youâve probably been in the habit of giving other people too much sway over your decision making.
- You never ask for help. People who tend to want to please everyone else also, for whatever reason, tend to be people who are less likely to reach out to others for assistance. If this sounds like you, then you should start trying to force yourself to seek help with even one or two small tasks every day, then start weaning yourself on to delegating larger tasks.
- You are unable to set any boundaries. At some point, your propensity and desire to please others can become unhealthy. There are some times where you need to say ânoâ to clients or coworkers, both for your own personal sanity and for the sake of your business.
Can you think of any other tell-tale signs of people who are way too focused on pleasing everyone?
by Christine Kelly
CEO and Queen Bee | Viral Solutions LLC
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
Prior to joining Viral Solutions, Christine held executive leadership roles at some of the largest small business consulting firms in the USA. Her experience includes leading direct reports of over 130 remote sales agents who generated $38mm in annual revenue. She obtained her Marketing degree from British Columbia Institute of Technology. Bring her C-Suite experience to your small business. Although our company is virtual, and we can work with you wherever you are located, she is located in Denver, Colorado and owns a second home in Vancouver, BC Canada.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner and an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant.
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Business Relationships | You and me, we made a vow
Creating authentic business relationships that matter, are rarely fostered from within the bounds of social media. The kind of business relationships that morph into personal friendships, growth as a human being, and – wait for it – maybe a mutually beneficial financial transaction, flourish when you have a keen eye for observing the smallest details. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, our passion to meet the needs of our clients should drive us to achieve such a status.
Not unlike the relationship with our life partner, business relationships can come to an unfortunate end. Whether this is with a business partner, close client or a vendor, loyalty can turn treacherous and trust can be broken. Owning a small business is difficult. Your commitment to a project, the needs of a client and the fulfillment of your teamâs personal dreams can be overwhelming at times.
To make matters worse, when a business relationship goes bad it takes a toll on your heart, soul and sweat equity. When your motives are questioned – it hurts. How could you be let down when, in the past, it was so great? How can high-fives turn into betrayal?
You and me, we made a vow
For better or for worse
I can't believe you let me down
But the proof's in a way it hurts
Wearing a facade of personal armor does not make us mentally strong. Small business owners are often full of self-doubt. They are the idea incubator, production supervisor and accountant. They can feel their pulse with every move the business makes. It races with excitement, it occasionally skips a beat. This roller-coaster can bring doubt to many. Some go on the attack to solve problems. Some accept problems as a personal challenge. Like this random paragraph, some will think you are crazy for all the thoughts you have.
For months on end I've had my doubts
Denying every tear
I wish this would be over now
But I know that I still need you here
Those that choose to blaze a trail alone are often times mocked. Many who sit in the comfort of their cubicle, enjoying a steady paycheck will call you crazy. It is as if they believe you do not understand the risks being taken. But you know what you are capable of and you know your limits. Youâve kept an inventory of mistakes youâve made in the past, so they wonât be repeated. You hold yourself to a higher standard than any boss could or would.
You say I'm crazy
‘Cause you don't think I know what you've done
But when you call me baby
I know I'm not the only one
Of course we all know that healthy business relationships are the key to future offers and consulting contracts. However, too many of us do not think strategically when working to make connections. We know we have to turn names into contacts, but we don't think about it with any depth.
What can we learn from small business history? Letâs examine life before social media, when a good handshake spoke volumes.
When we were first starting off, our journey would have been so much easier if we had someone there to give us guidance, knowledge or even simple encouragement. This is why we dedicate ourselves to helping small business owners stay motivated and achieve all of their business goals. We believe that your needs should always come first, and our âgive firstâ mentality of customer service ensures that you will always have a dedicated team of small business professionals helping you find success.
Look beyond the social wall. Titles and salaries are what we earn. Who we are is what we do with the earnings. Our families, our vacation choices, our benevolent actions and the pictures we publicize are evidence of the things we love. Taking special stock of your partnerâs life choices, commenting on them with genuine interest is a demonstration of true affection. Great customers appreciate professionals who operate with moral character and show great attention to detail, without these your business will ultimately fail. Maybe not right away, but eventually, just like with any relationship, people will see through the smoke and mirrors to the real you.
Posting is not a conversation. Interacting on social media does not make a friendship. That is not a way to stay in tune with those you are connected to. It is a mass media broadcast. It has its place, but so does a one-on-one conversation over the phone or in person. Making time for individual verbal conversations is necessary in creating a personal networking touch that relates to the client in an authentic way. This is what draws us all closer.
Flirting and collecting connections. Asking to be friends on Facebook or connections on LinkedIn is self-serving. It is not genuine networking. Collecting superfluous contacts with those you do not know will not move business to the bottom of your funnel. Engaging them personally through such media will. Taking an interest in their needs by adding comments to their posts will.
Today's little black book. Whatever CRM or contact tool you use needs to allow for personal tags. Go beyond industry, go beyond their profession – take note of their personal interests. When the opportunity presents itself, you should be able to use your tool of choice to stay in touch. Say you are a Yankees fan and your prospect is a Red Sox fan – talk about contentious – when in Boston invite them to watch the game together. Even if you broadcast that invitation to just 100 people – you will be memorable.
I have loved you for many years
Maybe I am just not enough
You've made me realize my deepest fear
By lying and tearing us up
To be social does not mean to be shallow. Your partners in business (equity, staff, and clients) deserve to know you. The real you! Social media is a great tool. It is also a tool that can add to your audienceâs fear of working with you, even if not warranted. As unfair as it may seem, your clientâs perception of the posts you make, is the reality in which they measure future business transactions with you -or dare I say it – someone else. Taking time to invest in the lives of your clients will ultimately make your rise above when the pressure comes. Because you see them as real people, with genuine needs (not just as dollar signs), the potential for a continuing successful business partnerships will be highly probable.
Article Inspiration: Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour – “I'm not the only one”
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
Business Relationships | You and me, we made a vow
Creating authentic business relationships that matter, are rarely fostered from within the bounds of social media. The kind of business relationships that morph into personal friendships, growth as a human being, and – wait for it – maybe a mutually beneficial financial transaction, flourish when you have a keen eye for observing the smallest details. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, our passion to meet the needs of our clients should drive us to achieve such a status.
Not unlike the relationship with our life partner, business relationships can come to an unfortunate end. Whether this is with a business partner, close client or a vendor, loyalty can turn treacherous and trust can be broken. Owning a small business is difficult. Your commitment to a project, the needs of a client and the fulfillment of your teamâs personal dreams can be overwhelming at times.
To make matters worse, when a business relationship goes bad it takes a toll on your heart, soul and sweat equity. When your motives are questioned – it hurts. How could you be let down when, in the past, it was so great? How can high-fives turn into betrayal?
You and me, we made a vow
For better or for worse
I can't believe you let me down
But the proof's in a way it hurts
Wearing a facade of personal armor does not make us mentally strong. Small business owners are often full of self-doubt. They are the idea incubator, production supervisor and accountant. They can feel their pulse with every move the business makes. It races with excitement, it occasionally skips a beat. This roller-coaster can bring doubt to many. Some go on the attack to solve problems. Some accept problems as a personal challenge. Like this random paragraph, some will think you are crazy for all the thoughts you have.
For months on end I've had my doubts
Denying every tear
I wish this would be over now
But I know that I still need you here
Those that choose to blaze a trail alone are often times mocked. Many who sit in the comfort of their cubicle, enjoying a steady paycheck will call you crazy. It is as if they believe you do not understand the risks being taken. But you know what you are capable of and you know your limits. Youâve kept an inventory of mistakes youâve made in the past, so they wonât be repeated. You hold yourself to a higher standard than any boss could or would.
You say I'm crazy
‘Cause you don't think I know what you've done
But when you call me baby
I know I'm not the only one
Of course we all know that healthy business relationships are the key to future offers and consulting contracts. However, too many of us do not think strategically when working to make connections. We know we have to turn names into contacts, but we don't think about it with any depth.
What can we learn from small business history? Letâs examine life before social media, when a good handshake spoke volumes.
When we were first starting off, our journey would have been so much easier if we had someone there to give us guidance, knowledge or even simple encouragement. This is why we dedicate ourselves to helping small business owners stay motivated and achieve all of their business goals. We believe that your needs should always come first, and our âgive firstâ mentality of customer service ensures that you will always have a dedicated team of small business professionals helping you find success.
Look beyond the social wall. Titles and salaries are what we earn. Who we are is what we do with the earnings. Our families, our vacation choices, our benevolent actions and the pictures we publicize are evidence of the things we love. Taking special stock of your partnerâs life choices, commenting on them with genuine interest is a demonstration of true affection. Great customers appreciate professionals who operate with moral character and show great attention to detail, without these your business will ultimately fail. Maybe not right away, but eventually, just like with any relationship, people will see through the smoke and mirrors to the real you.
Posting is not a conversation. Interacting on social media does not make a friendship. That is not a way to stay in tune with those you are connected to. It is a mass media broadcast. It has its place, but so does a one-on-one conversation over the phone or in person. Making time for individual verbal conversations is necessary in creating a personal networking touch that relates to the client in an authentic way. This is what draws us all closer.
Flirting and collecting connections. Asking to be friends on Facebook or connections on LinkedIn is self-serving. It is not genuine networking. Collecting superfluous contacts with those you do not know will not move business to the bottom of your funnel. Engaging them personally through such media will. Taking an interest in their needs by adding comments to their posts will.
Today's little black book. Whatever CRM or contact tool you use needs to allow for personal tags. Go beyond industry, go beyond their profession – take note of their personal interests. When the opportunity presents itself, you should be able to use your tool of choice to stay in touch. Say you are a Yankees fan and your prospect is a Red Sox fan – talk about contentious – when in Boston invite them to watch the game together. Even if you broadcast that invitation to just 100 people – you will be memorable.
I have loved you for many years
Maybe I am just not enough
You've made me realize my deepest fear
By lying and tearing us up
To be social does not mean to be shallow. Your partners in business (equity, staff, and clients) deserve to know you. The real you! Social media is a great tool. It is also a tool that can add to your audienceâs fear of working with you, even if not warranted. As unfair as it may seem, your clientâs perception of the posts you make, is the reality in which they measure future business transactions with you -or dare I say it – someone else. Taking time to invest in the lives of your clients will ultimately make your rise above when the pressure comes. Because you see them as real people, with genuine needs (not just as dollar signs), the potential for a continuing successful business partnerships will be highly probable.
Article Inspiration: Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour – “I'm not the only one”
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
What Makes Customers Likely to Opt In to an SMS Marketing Program?
An SMS marketing campaign can be extremely beneficial to businesses looking for new ways to engage with their customers. However, the first challenge that you face is actually getting your customers to opt in to the program. This can be difficult â people are likely to see text messages coming from a company as spam, and be reluctant to give out their phone numbers for you to contact them.
However, recent information from BlueHornetâs 2014 Consumer Views of Email Marketing Report gives a bit of insight into why customers do choose to opt in to SMS marketing campaigns.
The statistics from the study reveal that approximately 49 percent of all customers surveyed were interested in giving out their information into an SMS marketing program, which is probably a better percentage than a lot of businesses would have expected. The single-biggest reason why customers said they would opt in was to receive coupons (29.9 percent). The rest of the reasons included âto receive informationâ (7.3 percent), âevent notificationsâ (6.7 percent), âsign up for contestâ (4.6 percent), and âotherâ (1.4 percent).
The fact that receiving coupons is by far the highest reason to opt in to an SMS marketing program clearly demonstrates that the best and most effective SMS campaigns will offer some sort of value to their customers that they canât necessarily get elsewhere. Sure, some people might be interested in receiving information about your company, but what theyâre really interested in is saving money.
This means that when you are advertising your SMS campaign and focusing on getting people to sign up, you need to push the idea of exactly how it benefits your customers to do so. Give examples of sales or discounts they can expect to receive, and add an element of exclusivity. Give special discounts that only SMS customers will receive, and make sure that people know that only SMS customers will receive them â it will give people much more incentive to sign up for your alerts.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer
We help overwhelmed small business owners duplicate themselves – so business can be fun again.
Viral Solutions LLC is a Digital Marketer Certified Partner, an Infusionsoft Certified Consultant, a Google Partner – Certified in AdWords and a Mobit Certified Partner.
The Most Common Business Plan Mistakes
A business plan is your road map to growing your new company. A strong business plan can mean the difference between the next great startup and an idea still floating around in your head.
Business plans need to be enticing, thorough and well written to attract investors. When writing your business plan, avoid these five common mistakes.
1) You forgot a section (or three).
Strategic Planning by Viral Solutions – This service digs deep into your processes, your systems and your strategy. We make sure you have defined, rigidly and systematically, your perfect prospective customer. This definition must include the obvious demographics but more importantly the psycho-graphics. Then we test your will power to prove that your approach, your tactics, your messages and your core offerings match what that perfect prospective customer is looking for. We require that you understand and can articulate your plan, your vision, your position statement effectively and with fire in your gut. With our strategic planning session your target customer will be redefined, your marketing tactics will no longer be in question, you will have a strong and decisive position statement, youâll know your strengths, admit to your weaknesses, relish in your accomplishments and learn from your mistakes.
Investors look at a lot of business plans, and will immediately notice if something is missing. Your business plan should address:
⢠Customers
⢠Products/services
⢠Marketing
⢠Management
⢠Operations
⢠Goals and objectives
⢠Financial projections
⢠Industry trends
Youâll waste valuable time with potential investors if the meeting is spent catching them up on information that should have been included.
2) You forgot to proofread.
Proper spelling and grammar count. A sloppy presentation â in writing and in person â can be a turnoff even if your plan is great. It sends the message that if youâre unable to focus on those minor details, you might overlook other areas of the business too.
3) You didnât do your research.
Your business plan is one large assumption, but that assumption needs to be grounded in research. Is there a demand for your business? What need does it address? Who are your competitors? Your plan should cite respectable sources that address your customers, the product or service, competitors, the market and the industry.
4) Itâs not concise.
The business plan should be complete and thorough, but not so long that the reader forgets your point â or worse, stops reading. Background and research are important, but everything needs to directly relate to your overall business objective, clearly stated in the summary.
5) Itâs not realistic.
While everyone hopes his or her business takes off quickly, itâs important to be honest about what you and your team can accomplish. The research and industry trends component can help provide context for what you expect so that the timeline and financial projections account for realistic growth.
A strong business plan sets the tone for your businessâs growth. Avoid these mistakes by getting feedback on your business plan before showing it to potential investors.
Copyright 2015 Viral Solutions LLC
by Thomas von Ahn | Chief Elephant Slayer