Monkey See, Monkey Feel: Why Your Energy As a Presenter = Your Results 
Guest Blogger, Lizabeth Phelps

I tell my students all the time: “Your audiences mirror you. If you’re flat, they’ll be flat. If you’re highly analytical, they’ll go straight into their head, too. Make sure you’re emitting the kind of energy you want them feeling.” And I end with, “Your energy equals your results.”

Some students get it, eventually; others never do. You can imagine, then, how overjoyed I was to discover that neuroscientists would heartily agree with my proclamations. It turns out that we have a very special brain cell that is responsible for mirroring the actions and emotions of others.

The New York Times wrote an article on this on January 10, 2006: "On a hot summer day 15 years ago in Parma, Italy, a monkey sat in a special lab chair waiting for researchers to return
from lunch. Thin wires had been implanted in the region of its brain involved in planning and carrying out movements. Every time the monkey grasped and moved an object, some cells in that brain region would fire, and a monitor would register a sound:brrrrrip, brrrrrip, brrrrrip."

They discovered that the monkey brain contains a special class of cells, called mirror neurons, that fire when the animal sees or hears an action, and when the animal carries out the same action on its own.

A graduate student entered the lab with an ice cream cone in his hand. The monkey stared at him. Then, something amazing happened: when the student raised the cone to his lips, the monitor sounded- brrrrrip, brrrrrip, brrrrrip – even though the monkey had not moved but had simply observed the student grasping the cone and moving it to his mouth.

It turns out that humans have mirror neurons, as well—that are far smarter, more flexible and more highly evolved than any of those found in monkeys.

So, imagine that during one of your presentations, your brain and the brains of your audience members are being studied for electrical activity. When you feel anything, your brain will register activity in certain areas. Those same areas will be activated in the brains of your audience. The same neural pathways that light up in your brain will be lit up in theirs–instantaneously and unconsciously.

Dr. Marco Iacoboni, a neuroscientist at the University of California who studies mirror neurons, explains, "When you see me pull my arm back, as if to throw the ball, you also have in your brain a copy of what I am doing and it helps you understand my goal…And if you see me choke up, in emotional distress from striking out at home plate, mirror neurons in your brain simulate my distress. You know how I feel because you literally feel what I am feeling."

Daniel Goleman in his book, Social Intelligence, claims that because of mirror neurons, emotions are literally “contagious.” When someone “dumps their toxic feelings on us, they activate in us circuitry for those very same distressing emotions. We “catch” strong emotions much as we do a virus—and can come down with the emotional equivalent of a cold.”

He writes also about “group contagion…which occurs in even the most minimal of groups. When just three people sit face to face with each other in silence for a few minutes, with no power hierarchy, the person with the most expressive face will set the shared tone.” He details a classic study done at Yale University where an actor was hired to be particularly confrontational with a group. “In whichever direction his emotions went, his lead was followed…but none knew why their mood had changed…they had looped into a mood shift. The feelings,” Goleman goes on, “that pass through a group can bias how all the group members process information and hence the decisions they make.”

How and what you emote in your presentations and speeches dictate the results you will get.

“Mirror neurons are leadership tools,” Goleman writes. “Emotions flow with special strength from the more socially dominant person to the less.” From the front of the room—the board room, the living room, a presentation room–you are not merely leading people to act; you are leading them to feel…a far greater influencer. But your power doesn’t end there. If you, the emotional leader, have consistent contact with another, your emotional contagion will literally change the physical structure of their brain.” 

This adds a whole new dimension to the concepts of influence and leadership. You have a great deal of power when you’re in front of the room. You can use that power to your own detriment, with flat, boring, serious presentations that activate flat, boring, serious emotions in them. Or you can use it to get what you want for them and for you. It turns out that smiles have an edge over all other emotional expressions; the human brain recognizes happy faces more readily than negative expressions. With a happy face and upbeat, fun energy, you will create a mirror-effect in your audiences: happy faces that walk out wanting more of you.

Like I’ve been saying: your energy equals your results. Give ‘em the best you’ve got!

I am so pleased to be writing this series for Lisa. Next time, we’re going to get off the stage and discuss the strategic business planning that must be in place in order to have on-stage success. Hint: It all begins with target market.

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Lizabeth Phelps is founder of Inspired Leaders’ Academy, the definitive business school for visionary entrepreneurs changing the world. Be sure to listen to her special telecall presentation A Time to Lead: Do You Dare? Thursday, February 23 by clicking here.

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Comment from Lisa:

I'm honored to have such an accomplished presenter, trainer, and leader writing this series for me on what it takes to become an effective leader for others. This first post piggybacks on my recent post about the importance and value of having Speaking as a part of your marketing mix. Each of the next 3 Wednesdays we'll have another post from Lizabeth about what it takes to become effective in leading others. If your goal is to become a leader in your industry, this is a not-to-be-missed series!
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Where are you stuck with getting ideal clients and making more money with less effort and more fun? Do you find it hard to connect with people and lead them to success in the way you uniquely can? If so, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Business-Building Help on a Budget

Whether you're starting a busines part time or full time, you MUST get support in the way of information and resources. This is especially true if you don't have any marketing, sales, or business training.

As I've explained in my marketing copy, you can't just be good at what you do or have a great product–you need to learn to take care of all the aspects of your business. If you don't learn and get good at these skills, you will more than likely fail at being self-employed.

Although you may be starting out with a "shoestring" budget, you MUST have some budget planned for supporting your business. It's going to take money to fund the necessary basic elements of your business (I'll write more on what those would be in an upcoming post). If you don't have money to invest in your business, YOU DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS.

That being said, there are some no-cost and low-cost ways to get started learning what you don't already know. Below are all the things I availed myself of as I was starting my hypnotherapy and coaching business.

Free Help

1. Electronic newsletters/Ezines written by experts in the various aspects of starting and growing a business; usually delivered once a week or bi-weekly

2. Blogs (subscribe to receive email posts or RSS feeds); if you haven't subscribed to this Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting blog, you can do so here

3. Offers of audio recordings (like the one I offer, "The 3 Keys You MUST Master To Attract Your Ideal Clients And Make More Money With Less Effort & More Fun")

4. Telecalls/webinars (informational presentations by phone/on your computer) and telesummits (a series of sponsored telecalls presented over a period of time, such as a week or a month) 

5. YouTube videos (check out my YouTube channel)

6. Sample coaching sessions/strategy sessions/discovery sessions/consultations the experts usually offer in their freebies

Although I relied a lot on these early on, I soon realized the limitations of these freebies–they were sporadic pieces of information that didn't give me as much of the "how to" or big picture step-by-step help that I needed.

I then began to invest some money into the paid help that was offered by the experts through the freebies.

Low-Cost Help

I qualify low-cost help as $20-$200. This type of help contains more details of how to implement ideas/steps, worksheets or templates, step-by-step guidelines, and additional resources. Because you pay for them, you usually take them more seriously and USE THEM.

Examples of low-cost resources:

1. E-Books (here's one of mine)

2. Books (see some of my recommended favorites)

3. Telesummit recordings

4. Home study systems

Coaching is a MUST to Include in Your Budget

One thing to NEVER skimp on with your business is investing in expert advice. And the more you are willing to pay for this expert advice and guidance, the more information and support you will receive and the quicker you will advance your business.

Being a coach myself, I realized the value, benefit and importance of coaching. Even though I told myself for a long time that "I can't afford to hire a coach" I finally realized I needed help to move my slightly profitable but stagnant business to the next lever, and I could no longer NOT afford to hire a coach. Once I did, that's when things started to shift for me and my business.

Each time I want to get to another level, I spend MORE on coaching. And it always ends up paying for itself.

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Are you investing in your business with personalized expert guidance? If you're not getting ideal clients and making more money with less effort and more fun, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify the top three things you need to focus on NOW to create a successful business–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Manifesting Techniques I Use–Scripting

Imagine that you’re a writer and each day you get to decide how your life will play out. Every morning, you sit down, relax and write or type tthe details everything you choose to experience today. If you allow scripting to be a fun, magical exercise, you will create a space of possibilities without resistance.

"Scripting is one of those processes that… assist you in telling the Universe the way you want it to be. If you are already in vibrational harmony with your desire, you know it, because your desire is already a physical reality. But if there is something that you want that has not yet come to fruition, then scripting is a good way to speed it up. Scripting will help you break your habit of talking about things as they are, and will help you begin talking about how you would like things to be. Scripting will help you off your [negative] vibration deliberately." Ask and It is Given, by Esther Hicks © Abraham-Hicks Publications

I actually first learned about the scripting process from my spiritual business coach. She taught her version of the process to me and I began to use it. It didn't take long (within a week) for me to experience the results of my practice. It was uncanny–and often instantaneous–for me to manifest what I had intended and scripted!

I then began to adapt the process to my own needs and created both a written and mental process for scripting. It can take as little as 10 minutes when I do it mentally or sometimes up to 20 minutes when it's written. I have several journals filled and stored on my book shelf with my daily intentions. Just looking at them reactivates my sense of how I have been and am creating everything in my experience.  When you take complete ownership of this idea, the flow becomes very powerful. That's why scripting is so great!

How To Do Scripting
Although I have made some improvements to the basic scripting process described below to make it even more effective for myself and my clients, beginning with this way of doing it is a good starting-off point. (If you become a client, my power-packed Resonation Scripting is one of the manifesting tools I will teach you early on).

First, purchase a special notebook or journal to use for your scripting.

Take about 10-20 minutes of quiet, uninterrupted time each morning (or at night before bed) to script out your day exactly as you’d like to see it unfold. Focus on how you want to act and feel in the various situations you know you're going to find yourself. Write about it briefly but in detail. Make it very compelling with descriptive and positive words in the present tense (e.g., not "I will," but "I do").

Then begin to notice the circumstances that match your script and the evidence that shows you how fast great things are showing up. This is the magic of scripting!

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What "script" are you created for your life and your business by default? Is that the script you want to continue to write and experience? If you need help rewriting your old script to experience the magic of purposeful manifesting, let's talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can use the power of scripting to sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Can You Relate?
Guest Blogger, Kim Finley

One of the things my small business clients will hear me say over and over is, “People don’t buy from companies; they buy from people they like.”  I find myself saying it so often, I believe, because I have a product-driven business.  We build and sell websites and other forms of internet marketing…so people assume we must always sell on the merits of our products, service, etc. 

I am not saying that does not matter; you have to have a solid foundation if you are going to be successful in business at all. But if the explosion of social media into the world of marketing, family, relationships, and business has shown us anything, it has demonstrated that you cannot take the relationship out of the business process. 

Most companies that are currently thriving have a social media presence online, and the most successful ones have several iterations of presence across several different platforms.  They are not only talking to their constituencies, they are LISTENING to them as well. They are having an on-going conversation with the people they are doing business with.

How does this apply to you, as a small business owner?  Directly.

You have to have relationships with your customers, clients, prospects, employees, and the vendors that you deal with.  The quality of those relationships, however, is largely up to you.  A positive relationship can endure the occasional quality-control failure or a late order, and can facilitate an early delivery or a lower price or a better deal.

A positive relationship literally makes for a healthier, happier business climate…and therefore, has a direct impact on your bottom line.     

There are some easy things you can do to help aid your relationship-building.

* Memory prods – Find a good trick for memorizing names, faces, and companies and putting them together, so you are never caught in an “I don’t remember you” moment. Taking a business card and making a note on it with an odd fact about the person (example: says he only wears blue shirts) will serve as a memory prod

* Follow up – Probably the most important thing to beginning and maintain a relationship of any kind is follow-up.  This is where social media is a huge help; if that person is on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you have a very easy way to follow up immediately.

* Maintain contact – Don’t reach out once and never again. If you emailed them initially, follow up with a phone call in a week or so.  If you were able to “friend” them on Facebook, make it a point to check their posts and comment every now and then. Engage!  This also ensures top-of-mind consciousness, always an asset in business.

* Build the relationship – Here is where investing in a relationship really pays off. As you get to know one another, either on a business or personal level, you are certain to exchange information on each other’s families, exact occupational tasks, professionalism, needs, wants, and dreams.  Once you know someone on that level they are a resource for you, and you are for them.  That can ONLY pay off in your business world.  Who else are they going to call or recommend if not the person they know, and more importantly, TRUST?

So get out there, engage with people, be authentic, make and KEEP friends.  You will be the richer for it in every way!

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Currently the owner and Sales Director of Commonwealth Creative Marketing (www.ccm-web.com), Kim Finley has been in sales, marketing, and management her entire adult career. While working for various businesses and non-profits, from a commissary brokerage to a construction firm to a toy manufacturer to being PTA president, she learned personnel management, leadership, diplomacy, sales, and marketing skills.  Being a small business owner herself, she and her partners are driven to make sure that their small business clients get Fortune 500 services for their marketing dollars.  Kim is currently serving as the President of the Southside Chapter of The Geekettes Club and is a Member of BNI-SEVA. She has two children, an incessantly barking dog, and lives by the Chesapeake Bay.

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Where are you stuck with getting ideal clients and making more money with less effort and more fun? Do you find it hard to connect with people and build relationships? If you need help figuring out how to do that, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Must-Have Marketing Mix Elements: Website or Blog

In a previous blog, I wrote about the importance of having a marketing mix and determining your top 3 effective marketing tactics to focus on. So far I've covered two of them–speaking & networking. This post discusses a bit about the third main tactic, which is a website (or blog).

Although there is so much to cover in regard to having a website or blog, I'll just be covering the basics today of having an online "dock" for people to connect with you. Not having this as part of your marketing mix will limit your reach and leave a LOT of money on the table for others to take.

There's no denying that the internet has changed the face of not only marketing, but our entire world and the way that people communicate. The ability to connect to strangers half-way around the globe, offer products or services to them, and get instant (or near-instant) payment in your currency has never been greater. Combine these elements together and you can see the advantage of having an online presence.

The overwhelming majority of people now report going to the internet to research products and services they are interested in. If you're not finding ways to help people find your product or service through an internet search, you're missing opportunities to connect and turn those searchers into customers (or referral partners).

Having a website or blog is like having a "dock" or "home" that people can find, visit, get to know you, contact you, get valuable information from you, interact with you, and share their information with you. Since not everyone is ready to buy–or buy with you–when they first find you, creating some way for them to stay in touch with you (or you with them) is vital.

Here are some things to consider when having a website (a site with fairly static–unchanging–information) or blog (like a website but is interactive with regular "journal entries" you post to share information and have people comment or share with others):

1. Make it visually appealing and easily navigatable or people won't stay long or come back.

2. Have a headline or some way to immediately grab your ideal customers' attention and draw them in for more.

3. Have your name, picture, and contact information (phone #, email address, skype name, social media links, etc.).

4. Have a way to capture THEIR information (at the very least their name and emaill address). Then you will have a way to continue to contact them to stay on their "radar" and gradually market to them until they are ready to buy (or show them that what you have to offer is so valuable they really want it and are willing to pay for it.

5. Have a call to action–something you want them to do that will turn them into a client/customer (like buy your product or schedule to use your service) or someone you can continute to promote to on lne or off (offer a desirable "freebie" to entice them to give you their email and/or snail mail address.

6. Create something that gives them a reason to come back, like updated information they would find useful or things they can do on your site that are interactive.

7. Make it easy for them to refer your site to others (like "forward" or Facebook "Like" or Twitter/bookmarking "share" buttons); sometimes just asking/telling people to share your site url or a link to your site will get them to do it.

Getting as many people as possible to connect to you online and stay in touch with you will exponentially increase your pool of potential clients and therefore, profits, even beyond what you're able to do with in-person or local marketing tactics.

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Not sure how to integrate these valuable ideas into your business to get ideal clients and make more money with less effort and more fun? If you need help figuring out how, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Manifesting 101

What exactly is "manifestation?"

A simple definition I like is "the continuous process of creation."

What we don't realize is that we are already perfect manifestors. We've always been manifesting every single thing that we are experiencing in our lives at every moment.

Whether it’s the words you're reading right now, the seat you're sitting in, the wind howling outside your window, the relationships you have, or the money you're currently making, you're the one that created it.

For good or not, most of the things in our lives we have created "unconsciously." So when we try to manifest something consciously (on purpose), we get stuck.

Often, we get the message (through "teachers," books, or other information) that we need to say affirmations, meditate, visualize, or use our "will" to create what we want.

But the truth is, what we desire is already in our presence. In fact, as my mentor, David Neagle says, we cannot have a desire without it's ability to be fulfilled already present. Our Creator would not be so cruel as to give us a desire without the means to fulfill it. In fact, the root of the word "desire" is "of the Father." And a root for "manifest" is "to appear/to be seen," which means it's already in existance and is just waiting to be discovered.

The process of manifestation first starts in our mind–with a thought, a feeling, or a picture. As soon as it enters into our awareness, our brain “tunes in” to it. This part of the brain is referred to as the 'reticular activator.' It's what we (usually inconsciously) program for what to pay attention to and what to filter out because it's not important.

When we program the brain for a certain outcome or experience, the subconscious & creative mind begins to seek or notice the opportunities to bring our idea into form. Think about it like a radio, which is able to "capture" and translate various sound waves into sound based on the frequency channel it tunes into. There are infinite possibilities around us to manifest something from non-form (waves or potential) into form.

The radio doesn't create the music; it simply tunes into the frequency to bring it into the form of sound. Our brains are like the radio. We don’t really create things from no where. We just become aware of (or tune into) what already exists, so we can bring our ideas, thoughts or pictures from non-form to form through taking inspired action on the opportunities that are presented to us.

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Where are you stuck with manifesting ideal clients and making more money with less effort and more fun? If you need help figuring out why or how to become a powerful manifestor quickly and permanently, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Must-Have Marketing Mix Elements: Speaking

In a previous blog, I wrote about the importance of having a marketing mix and determining your top 3 effective marketing tactics to focus on. I've already covered one of them–networking. This post will cover another prime tactic to grow your business, which is through speaking.

The great thing about speaking as a marketing tactic is that it not only allows you to get in front of people to have the opportunity to generate leads but also gives you the opportunity to build your credibility and be seen as an "expert" in your field or topic. Yet so many entrepreneurs and business owners do not take advantage of this powerful tactic due to lack of knowledge or lack of confidence.

Speaking to groups of people is one of the best ways to get new business. This is one of the top 3 things in my marketing mix because it is so effective.

Whenever I give a presentation, I will always get people who request to work with me, ask to set up a consultation or strategy session, sign up to receive a give-away and be on my newsletter list (that I can then continue to "court" for my services), or refer me to someone they know who could use my services. I also sometimes get people to give me leads to other speaking opportunities.

I set up these results by doing a couple of things:

1. I have an "Entry Form" that I put at each seat that people can fill out if they want to be entered into a drawing for a free item(s) that I give away at the end. I also include other information on there that they can check off, such as having me call them to set up a free consultation or to get a free item on my website.

2. I put a sheet of paper at each seat with testimonials from my clients.

3. I "seed" my presentation with examples of how my private clients have worked with me on the topic and gotten good results. This tells people I am available for hire and that I help people get results.

4. I point out in my presentation the problems that people can identify with that are holding them back and explain that I use specific techniques different than anything they have probably ever tried to solve these problems.

How Do I Get in Front of People To Speak To?

There are two ways to get yourself in front of people to speak:

1. Set up your own event

2. Find events or groups that are already formed and offer to be a speaker.

Having done both, I can tell you it's a lot less effort–and often more cost-effective–to be a speaker for an already-formed group or event. The place to start is researching the groups and organizations in your local area, including clubs (like Kiwanis, Junior League, Garden Club, etc.) and professional organizations (such as NAWBO, Toastmasters, Meeting Planners International, etc.).

You'll want to put together something called a "Speaker's One-Sheet" or "Speaker's Bio" to give background information on you, your picture and contact information, and a signature talk or talk topics that you can present on.

But I'm terrified to speak in public!

You've probably heard that the #1 fear that people have is the fear of public speaking. Death is #2, which comedian Jerry Seinfeld once joked, means most people would rather be in the casket at a funeral than giving the eulogy!

I can feel your anxiety. I, too, was once terrified to speak in front of people. I was very shy growing up and I had a lisp because of a gap between my top and bottom teeth. Even after years of speech therapy I still had a bit of a lisp and was self-conscious of it. In a public relations class I had to take in college, we all had to give a short presentation in front of the class. I don't remember what I was talking about, but I do remember being so nervous that my head and my hands were shaking, I was sweating, my heart was beating really fast, and I almost threw up!

To see my out in public today, you would never know that I was once very nervous speaking.

If you really want to propel your business forward, learning to be comfortable, confident, and effective speaking and presenting is a MUST!

The three things that helped me were:

1. Joining organizations where I had the opportunity–and eventually the responsibility as an officer–to speak in front of people on a consistent basis in a supportive and fun setting.

2. Joining a Toastmasters group. I can't recommend this highly enough. You not only get the opportunity to practice speaking in a safe, supportive environment, but you also get workbooks to use to teach you the elements of giving a good speech and getting helpful feedback from people at all different speaking levels. I was in TM for several years and reached the second level of speech competency, Accomplished Communicator, Bronze.

3. Using hypnosis and EFT to allleviate my fears and instill a greater sense of confidence in speaking to others. This "inner work" has been invaluable.

Do I still get nervous sometimes? Of course. But not as often and not to the degree that I used to. It simply means that I care about doing a good job. But when I turn my mind off myself and to the information I want to relay to help people, it all just flows. At the end, people are thankful for my coming to share with them, inspire them, and give them help and hope. And that's what it's all about.

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If you have a fear of public speaking, find out about working with me privately to release it. I offer several options for in-person and distance session that will help you utilize the tools of the mind to make whatever changes you desire more easily and quickly, whether for personal or business/financial goals. Your consultation is FREE, so you have nothing to lose (except those limiting thoughts and responses!). Contact me today to learn more at lisa@marketingmindsetandmanifesting.com

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Top Self-Improvement Resources

SelfGrowth.com recently took a survey (January 2010) to determine the Top 10 List of self improvement books and people.

If you're intersted in continued growth–personally or professionally, these are the places to start. Some are older and some are newer. Some are practical and some are "esoteric."

What are top books ever written on Self Improvement?

1. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey

4. The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle

5. As a Man Thinketh – James Allen

6. You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay

7. The Secret – Rhonda Byrne

8. The Science of Getting Rich – Wallace Wattles

9. The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale

10. The Bible

Who are the most important leaders in the Self Improvement Industry?

1. Anthony Robbins

2. Wayne Dyer

3. Deepak Chopra

4. Jack Canfield

5. Bob Proctor

6. Brian Tracy

7. Louise Hay

8. Napoleon Hill

9. Jim Rohn

10. Stephen Covey

You can access some of these resources and other favorites of mine on my More Help page.

I'm glad to see a couple of women made the lists, but not as many as I would like.

We women transformationalists need to do something about that! (Debbie Ford, Arielle Ford, and Marianne Williamson are a few who are on the mens' heels.)

I would love to have my subscribers comment with THEIR top WOMEN resources for self-improvement. Just comment below and we'll share the yang energy!

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Where are you stuck with getting ideal clients and making more money with less effort and more fun? If you need help figuring out why or how to get "unstuck" quickly and permanently, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Finding how potential customers are searching for your products and services in the search engines is a vital piece in your online strategy.  Many business owners don’t realize how to make sure their ideal clients will find them on line. Highly qualified key words and phrases can be missed if research is not completed.  The following steps will help you begin understanding how to hook and catch the target audience you are looking for through the internet.

1. Find and use relevant “keywords.” Start with the Google keyword tool that is free and easy.  Enter ‘root’ words that describe your general business products and services.  Fortunately, this tool will offer hundreds of suggestions for key words phrases.  You may find misspelled words, but if that is how people are searching, this may be a valid term to generate traffic.  Some phrases may not be grammatically correct, but again may increase visitors.
    
2. Choose quality over quantity. Select specific phrases targeting the right unique visitors.  For example, you are a photographer that specializes in headshots and corporate events.  If a bride searches for a photographer and finds you, do you want a call asking if you take wedding pictures?  No, you want the executive looking to update the company staff pictures.  Targeting “headshot photographer” would be more specific and effective.
    
3. Analyze this! Looking at your website stats will show how people are finding you currently. Google Analytics, another free tool, can show you not only which search engines are bringing in traffic, but the search terms visitors are using.  This gives you a base line to work from.  What products do you offer that they are missing?  What services are visitors not looking for that you want them to find?
    
4. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Search trends are constantly changing, and you may add new products or services, so continue to run your keywords and phrases through the keyword tool to stay fresh and on target.

Focusing your web optimization and online advertising campaign with the right keywords and phrases will bring in more qualified traffic, which means more ideal prospects to turn to more ideal clients and earn more ideal income! 

Nicole Newsome, President of Huddle Up Management, has more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, with a focus the last decade in web visibility and search engine optimization.  Nicole has provided successful web marketing campaigns for companies in start-up, survival, and growth modes.

Huddle Up Management is an online marketing consulting firm specializing in site analysis and research. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Visit the company website at www.huddleupmanagement.com for more information on how to optimize your online marketing.

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Comment from Lisa:
For those of you who are pretty new to the whole online marketing, SEO (search engine optimization), keywords, and analytics “scene,” here is some additional help:

1. Find and use relevant “keywords.”  Have your webmaster use these keywords in your website’s back-end metatags. Use them (except the misspelled ones) in your online copy. To get you started with keyword searching, here is the link to the Google Keywords Toolbox.

2. Choose quality over quantity.  Use targeted phrases in the copy of your website or blog. This is what the search engine "spiders" look for and index as far as the terms that people are searching for to have your website/blog or other electronic copy be recognized as “relevant” to those searches so they will create a link back to your site so people can learn more from you.

3. Analyze this!  It’s important to learn at least the basics of how to use Google Analytics so you can determine how "seen" and "visited" your website—and even individual pages—is, as well as the demographics of who’s visiting, how long they stay, what pages they visit most, and what keywords they used in finding you. It can get more complicated, and how to use this data is material for another blog, but at least learn the basics for now to see how much traffic you’re getting and from whom. Google has great, simple tutorials and information on how to get started at http://www.google.com/analytics/index.html

4. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Nothing stays the same—especially online! Reviewing keyword trends through your analytics and the keyword tool every quarter—or at least every 6 months—is a good rule of thumb.  

If you need help with your marketing (because it's not getting you the business you want), let's talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com

Inspirational Video–Believe in Yourself

How has this first month of 2012 been for you and your business? What tone have you set for the year with your plans, actions, and thoughts? Do you want to push the "reset" button or the "repeat" button?

Sometimes a little inspiration is helpful to get motivated, pick yourself up, refocus, shift paths, or feel encouraged to keep moving forward. Here's a short video clip to help you do just that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdpHaKkbmGk

How strongly do you believe in yourself and your ability to manifesting ideal clients and making more money? If you need help figuring out how to release negative, limiting beliefs, we need to talk! Schedule a complimentary 45-minute MMM Strategy Session to identify which of the three keys of creating a successful business you are missing–Marketing, Mindset or Manifesting principles–and IMMEDIATE steps to take so you can sign more clients and make a difference in more lives!

Your partner in success,

Lisa Smith
Marketing, Mindset & Manifesting Coach
www.MarketingMindsetAndManifesting.com