From networking to your target market, why the right fit is so important

Here's a silly story to kick start this post {read: self-deprecating}. I attended a very well-regarded networking lunch event in Ottawa last month. Ladies Who Lunch is a regular event bringing together a who's who of female entrepreneurs in Canada's capital area. I didn't know a soul. I decided to go because it was a higher calibre event (3-course seated meal at the NAC) and thought I'd see what a classy networking event was like. I mean, come on - they had swag bags! 

Black sheep anyone?? Yep, that's me!

So I arrive as the lunch portion is starting and everyone is being seated at the tables. I am a bit later than I had hoped; my 'fashionably late' arrival had become just plain late. I confidently walked into the room full of chattering women, some looking like they just came from a photoshoot or professional make up artist, and scanned for a free seat. Strolling through the crowd, smiling my most approachable, winning smile, I asked 'Is this seat taken?' to nearly every person. No go. I keep walking, smiling, searching. I start wondering if they oversold the event...I mean, really...not one seat?? 

Making my way now around the back of the room, I can feel my smile tightening, along with my stomach. "Wow, the room is getting hot!", I think, trying to block out my rising panic that I will be without a seat. My scanning becomes searching, and I finally spy a table with empty seats - hallelujah! I walk over, focused, determined, and - sweet jeezus - relieved that this awkward part of the event is seemingly almost over. Again I ask, as sweetly as I can muster at this point, trying to hide the desperation that I am feeling, "Are these seats taken?" The lovely lady with flowing blonde hair is striking - put together like someone on TV. I might have been more arrested by her aura had I not been so desperate to find a spot. They kind of stumble in response to me...I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out what they are trying to tell me. I'm focussed on hearing either yes or no but they are explaining something...something about making sure there is room for Carol Anne (Meehan as it turns out - a local TV personality) and they point me in the general direction of another lady, who seems to be running the show. As I stand there, still without a definitive yes or no, I begin to follow the busy lady as she buzzes from table to table to...podium right behind me. As I become oriented with my current location in the room, I realize I'm front and centre, unknowingly trying to edge my way to a seat at the head table where the guest speakers and leading ladies of this society are seated.

Realizing my amateur and flustered mistake, I quickly retreat, grateful that they were gracious enough to pretend to entertain my request to crash their party. Oh well. Lesson learned. Networking events of this calibre are apparently not to be attended solo. 

Quasi deflated, I finally did find the absolute last vacant spot in the room. With face and ears burning, and a sweat glistening on my skin I get the answer I was doubtful I would hear: This seat is not taken.

"YESSSSSSS!!!!" I think...I'm sure my face was awash in relief. These were very nice ladies for sure, and I happily sank into their conversation, drowning out the embarrassment and stress of the preceding 5 agonizing minutes. Gaaaagh. What a shitty start to this supposedly-stellar event but what a great story to tell, right?!

All that to say, it pays to be choosy with the events you attend. Not all networking events are created equal and just because they are pricey and highly-touted (the PM's wife was there for goddsake) doesn't mean a darn thing.

My inaugural experience did taint my outlook on the rest of the event: I felt like an outsider among these accomplished, networked women. This was clearly not my crowd. I felt a bit of resentment and bitterness towards the organizers who spoke of the warm and fuzzy kinship of female business owners, and how important it is to lead but also to pull other up along with you. So far, my own experience didn't really speak to that. "Yeah, right" I thought, "...as long as you have an 'in' and are all part of your clique" I thought should be the addendum to that sentiment. It was a nice thought. Whatever.

As I learned, unless you have a contact who can make the introductions for you, it is INSANELY hard to make any significant progress at an event where you don't know a soul, unless everyone else is in the same boat - which is unlikely.

Then you have events at the other end of the spectrum: meetup lunches or brunches with a small group of ladies, some are owners of their own business, most are direct sales consultants. These groups are a dime a dozen. The idea sounds great on paper but again, it's good to consider who will be in attendance and if they are really the people who you want to connect with. That might sound snobby but it isn't. Time is money. When you are building a business you have to look at it in those terms. Sure it is nice to go out an meet people, and most in attendance at those smaller meetup events are very nice people but they might not be the RIGHT people. 

By right people I mean to you and you alone. For example, what do they offer to you? Who do they know? Are they well-connected and therefore can help you meet valuable other people relevant to your business? Are they potential clients? Do they represent a viable target market opportunity? All of those questions are valid and warrant consideration. 

Stop networking with the wrong people; people who would never buy your product or who wouldn't respond to your business model. It's not mean; it's strategic.

This leads to my second point: being choosy about your target market. I could go off on this topic for a good, long while. In fact, I plan to. I will be creating a program as part of my 20-Minute Marketer series about target market profiling but I digress...

Just because people are nice, or have a business or are living and breathing and have money to buy things doesn't mean they are right for YOUR business. 

It might seem contrary to limit who you are targeting because it means your are targeting fewer people, but in reality it means that you are actually not wasting time or resources targeting the WRONG people. Unless your product has very wide, generic appeal like shampoo or hand soap (and even then, you can be selective!), a broader target market doesn't necessarily equate to more sales.

What does make a difference is making sure you know who your business or product resonates with the most. Tapping into that will pay off.

Likewise with networking, identifying the best opportunities for YOU is what is most important. Think about what you want to accomplish and the type of people you would benefit most from meeting and let that be your guide.

Most of all, BE AUTHENTIC. Don't approach your target market or next networking event like a vulture circling it's next meal. It's give and and take. Give advice, listen, be courteous. What grows out of highly targeted events and markets is a natural fit that will bloom without being forced.

The TAKEAWAY: Businesses, people, ideas, products - they all thrive when built upon natural connections and complementary relationships. Finding that "fit" is the key to success whether we are talking about mentors, networking or defining your target market.

5 ways you can learn more about your customers NOW!

The customer is king. We have entered an era of marketing where businesses are finally realizing the value of genuinely connecting with their customers. Customers are, afterall, a business's most valuable asset. Loyalty breeds good news like a drop of water on a still pond. Treat your customers right, and the rewards will come. But often overlooked are the simple ways you likely already have in place that can help you connect with your customers on a regular basis. 

Here is a list of common touch points - points of interaction that your business has with customers - that can take your insight - and service - to the next level. 

1. Sales receipts

Yes, believe it or not, this is a way to interact with your customers. I mean, what else are they guaranteed to have in their hand at one point or another? Write a more personal, customized note on sales receipts as opposed to simply slapping your logo onto generic forms. If you can't do that, create stickers or custom post-it notes to add to the receipt by hand (if the sale is in-store). Ask questions, encourage customers to contact you via email or the web; if you collect email addresses (why aren't you collecting email addresses??) encourage them to sign up with a call-to-action on the receipt. And of course, be genuine and thank them for their business.

2. Surveys

Put a survey up on a free service like Survey Monkey and encourage feedback with a prize for completing the survey. Ask questions about your products, the variety, the price points, service, delivery time - these tools are available: USE THEM!!

3. Email

Use any piece of material that gets into your customers hands to drive them to your website or sign up with their email (see sales receipts, for example). You don't need to send them a weekly 10-page newsletter. Quite the opposite. Make it occasional but GOOD! Make the content count. Create interest. Ask questions. Encourage interaction via social media. CROSS PROMOTION of all your touch points is key.

4. Social media

If you are using social media as just another platform to blast information AT your customer and target audience, you need to stop NOW! Balancing information with your sales pitch is essential to have any traction in social media. Think of this platform as a way to share with friends. Encourage conversations, ask questions, comment on things of interest to your area of business. Don't be afraid to contact people directly through replies or shares or comments - that is why those features were created! 

Just because you are a business and represent your brand, doesn't mean you can't interact like a human. In fact - that is highly recommended. Once the dialogue starts flowing, you can use social platforms for feedback as well. Show new stock, preview products coming in, create excitement. 

Contests, coupons, quizzes are also easy to create and post on social media sites.

5. In person

First and foremost, make sure you are 100% focused on the customer you are serving. Secondly, when they are paying for their purchase, why not have a quick question prepared to ask during the process? Might as well put that chit chat to good use! Ask them if there is anything other product they would like to see stocked. Ask them how often they come into the store. Ask them what they purchase most often. One question asked to each customer can yield some great insight and it isn't much of an intrusion since they are already engaged and in a conversation. Just don't bombard them with an impromptu game of 20 questions; save that for the survey I mentioned above. 

The takeaway: These are some simple yet effective ways to take your engagement with your customers to the next level. It really comes down to listening...really listening, and not being afraid of what you might hear. But that's a topic for another post. :-)

Best of luck! 

~Nancy

PS - How about signing up with your email on my site? You'll receive notification first about these awesome little posts to help your business grow by connecting better with your customers. :-)

Polar vortex of consumer unhappiness

Turn misfortune into an opportunity to rise above...by making your customers happy even in less-than perfect situations. 

During the recent cold snap courtesy of the Polar Vortex, businesses were inundated with delays, airlines were the source of much malcontent, and generally speaking, if you dealt with any human being in northern North America in early 2014, you were bound to hear complaints about customer service.

What I want to put out there is this: Why not turn that misfortune into an opportunity to wow and amaze your customers with outstanding customer service?

I can see the scoffers now... Am I right to assume that the following excuses are being bounced around?:

"That takes too much planning" 

and 

"That's unrealistic! How can we know what to expect and then plan for it?" 

Those are valid questions but I'll ask this one in response:

Can you afford NOT to be prepared?

Most businesses can and should (read this post about why customers are so important) excel at keeping customers happy when things are running at status quo. But where businesses have the chance to shine (and rise above the competition) is when things are less than perfect. The time is ripe then to stand out, and it might take less effort than you thought. The pay off: a lasting impression.

Small actions, big results
It's not easy AND it takes planning (it's not a quick fix - sorry), but if you can provide customer service excellence in the worst of times, the carry over impact can lead to enjoying more of the best of times.

What I'm proposing doesn't have to involve a top-down makeover of every person's role in a company. What it does involve is having a few things in place and taking a good hard look in the mirror. 

Here is my three-step plan for how to prepare for the worst, and make your company looks its best in the process:

1. Role play: At your next staff meeting, take a few minutes to go around the table and have everyone imagine they are an angry customer. The absolute worst incarnation of an upset customer. What is the worst, most horrible feedback you could ever receive? Make a list. Don't censor, don't bury your head in the sand.

2. Face it, own it: Now that you have this list of worst case scenarios staring you in the face, take a step back and a deep breath. You are likely surprise to find that having them in front you probably feels pretty good, a relief that they are no longer bouncing around in your mind, haunting and waiting to lash out. Acknowledge them, but also acknowledge that they are probably not as scary as you thought, and the best part is: there are solutions to be had!

3. Get creative: The goal is to reasonably solve these problems to save your reputation, but most importantly, save your relationship with your customers. Again, stepping out of the 'business' mentality and into how you yourself feel as a consumer and human being is absolutely key. Make sure your solutions are genuine, driven by the desire to make things right for your consumers, and in turn, they will remain your biggest fans.

THE TAKEAWAY: Customers are so important - I cannot stress that enough. They are your lifeline and your future. Nurture them in good times and in bad, and you will be rewarded tenfold with loyalty, word of mouth promotion and great insight to make your business even better.


Best of luck,
~Nancy

One day to marketing bliss: intensive virtual marketing makeover session

Would you like to improve marketing and promoting your business?

How about having access to support and guidance along the way?

Do you find marketing your business an endless chore that you’d rather ignore than tackle alone?

Does this situation sound familiar? You are not alone.

Marketing your business doesn’t have to be an uphill battle!

Are you ready to finally tame the Marketing Beast?

Then working with The Rogue Pea Marketing Inc. for just one day will do just that!

My approach: You stay in control; I provide expertise, guidance support

You have invested a lot into your business and aren’t prepared to let someone else make key decisions. This is why my approach is different: with The Rogue Pea Marketing, you will never have to hand over the reins to a stranger. Strategies are implemented either together or on your own BUT with my support.

Most importantly, I teach you essentials that you will carry forward in your future marketing decisions.

One day to marketing bliss: Intensive fast-track marketing makeover

This session is tailored every step of the way to your business. Learn through applying what I teach as we go and come away with marketing know-how and be ready to implement in just hours!

What you get:

-ONE-on-ONE dedicated, personal, uninterrupted customized training for a full day to address the most trying, overwhelming and challenging aspects of marketing your business. 

-Business diagnostic session (via phone or Skype) prior to VIP session. This allows the session to be customized for your business.

-Learn essential marketing concepts and knowledge to carry forward and apply in the future. This is not a band-aid solution; I teach business owners solid concepts that they can use to their advantage, independently in the future, to apply again and again.

-Your custom strategy map for your specific objectives = road to success.*

-A personal 30 min. follow-up session to evaluate progress. I want to check in and ensure our work together is delivering the results you need.

-Direct access to me for ongoing support via email during the implementation of your strategy map.

-access to CLIENT ONLY Facebook workgroup.

-CLIENT ONLY resources and material such as workbooks, exercises, free templates for better productivity and organization.

Business investment: $1500.00 (LIMITED TIME) Reg. $1800

Don't wait: Book before JANUARY 31 and save $300!

Start off the New Year with a new approach to your marketing efforts. Reserve your session BEFORE midnight, January 31 and receive instant savings. That's a discount of $300!

Most courses are just scraping the surface at the end of Day 1, but you will be ready to GO! 

Most marketing training courses are lengthy, requiring a long-term commitment and fixed schedule to complete. They are not customized to meet the needs of your specific business by answering your most pressing marketing questions and they certainly don't provide ongoing support or most importantly, a TANGIBLE, ACTIONABLE plan. 

I don't just provide solutions; I teach so you understand and can carry that knowledge forward so you can create and evaluate your own solutions independently & confidently.

This custom session will not only help small business owners deal with immediate marketing challenges, it will transform their understanding of marketing by providing a foundation of knowledge and skills to apply to future decisions.

In one 6-hour session, you will have:

·        a clearer vision of your marketing goals

·        confidence to move forward using the custom strategy map

·        knowledge you can carry forward in your business

·        independence from relying on external resources for marketing know-how

·        ongoing-support when you need it

Still unsure? Check out this 60-second video about my approach: 

Don't wait for change: get your biz marketing makeover booked today and get 2014 off to a roaring start!

YES, I am ready to reserve my session now:

Step 1: Complete the sign up form below. 

Step 2: I will be in touch via email to confirm the session date and send you a questionnaire. We will also set up the pre-session 

Step 3: Payment submitted via EMT (email money transfer). Receipts provided immediately.

Step 4: 30-min pre-session business diagnostic meeting. I gather key information to build your custom marketing makeover session.

Step 5: Custom session day! In-person (Ottawa area) or via Skype/video link.

* Satisfaction guarantee: The success of this program requires that we work together. If you have followed all recommendations and instructions as directed, and you are still unhappy with the results,  I am happy to provide you with a full refund upon presentation of proof that the strategy map did not deliver the results. 

Marketing training sessions

Have you been thinking about improving ANY aspect of marketing your small business? Do you have a circle of friends, colleagues or acquaintances who also have questions about improving their marketing efforts? Do you find training sessions intimidating to attend alone?

Start 2014 off with a PRIVATE & CUSTOM Rogue Pea Marketing training session with a group of YOUR friends, acquaintances and colleagues!

Three reasons to book now:
-I customize the training session for the needs of your group = relevant info only!
-training times to suit your schedule: mornings, afternoon, evenings, even weekends
-I come to your end of town - no travelling!

BONUS for hosting: By sending out invites to friends, acquaintances and colleagues you know will benefit from a private training session, you earn FREE registration to the session (a $75 value).

BONUS for attendees: Access to The Rogue Pea Marketing PRIVATE FB group where you have ongoing access to me (and the community) for fast answers to your questions, a place to bounce ideas, and discuss new marketing techniques.

Maximum group size: 12-15

Want to know more? Send me a quick message on Facebook, or email info@theroguepeamarketing.com

Looking forward to meeting you in 2014!

~Nancy

PS - Here is a FREE download/peak at one training session that I have developed for a client just to get an idea of my training method. Enjoy!

Want to be unforgettable to your customers? Here's how...

Short and sweet, here is the first in a series of 

VALUE MARKETING tips: 

Small business success tactics: #1 mistake to avoid

As a small business owner, it's very easy to be overwhelmed with how to approach building your business. How do you reach more people? How can you attract more customers? When will your efforts result in revenues?

Want to know the #1 mistake to avoid?

Don't build your strategy around selling.

Focus on BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. 

Whether you are building your business online or offline (although now, most people recognize the power and importance of integrating all activities to achieve a common goal) the ONE key to remember is the importance of building relationships, not selling your business. This should be the focus of EVERY touchpoint you have with your customers and target market.


It's so easy to overlook but the importance cannot be overstated: building your business means building relationships. That is PRIORITY #1.

HERE ARE 3 TOP TIPS FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

1. Solutions and answers go farther than any sales pitch you can throw!

Because customers are looking for solutions. They are looking for value. They are looking for ways to improve their life in some aspect. BE THE ANSWER!

Showing how your business can provide SOLUTIONS to all of the problems and ANSWERS to their questions provides so much more value than a marketing spiel. .By treating each potential customer and existing customers as REAL people, you are building those relationships, creating devoted fans and people loyal to your brand. They are your best assets towards long-term, sustained growth.

2. Use EVERY touchpoint to your advantage.

These are simply every point of contact with your business that a person could potentially have. From Facebook and Twitter, emails, in-store visits with customers - all of these represent opportunities to engage, interact and build relationships. 

3. Keep the dialogue authentic. BE REAL.

By remembering that behind every interaction is a REAL person, you can ensure that HOW you are interacting is authentic. Think of how you would like to be spoken to. Everyone wants to feel valued and that they are more than an number, statistic or peg in the revenue ladder.

Honestly, I think taking this approach simplifies things. It certainly has for me. Focusing on customers by engaging with them in authentic ways, to help them find solutions to their problems is not only satisfying for them, it is much more fulfilling for you too. It goes a long way to building a strong following and foundation of loyal users for the long haul - an asset you cannot build overnight when the going gets tough.

Summary: Putting in the time consistently contributes to the long-term sustainability of your business.

Best of luck,

Nancy

P.S. What is the best way you have found to engage with your customers? Special offers? Coupon codes? Incentive buys? Share your stories.

Small business success: EASY, FREE weekly organization worksheet

Since I started my business, The Rogue Pea Marketing, I have been working on several projects simultaneously. I have always used a notebook to scribble my daily to-do's and stay organized when I worked my full-time job and this seemed to do the trick. But now that my days were filled with multiple clients not to mention household responsibilities and activities, I found I needed a new organization system. Low and behold, the Week-in-a-Peek time management worksheet was born!

Here is a quick look:

I know I'm not the only one struggling to remember all the 'To-Do's' in a week, so here it is for you. Download a copy for yourself for FREE at this link to the worksheet.

Printing instructions: ensure that you have selected 'Shrink oversize pages' in Size Options. I make this in Photoshop and did not account for margins, however, selecting this takes care of it, no problem!


If you know of anyone else who would benefit from this super easy, fast organization tool, be sure to share the link or send them to visit Rogue Pea blog too!


And remember...
The key to success lies not in not adhering strictly to rules and schedules, but making the best of things when life strays from our plans.

Best of luck!

Nancy

P.S. Do you have a go-to organization method for daily tasks? I would love to hear about how you manage your small business and stay organized with family life. Leave a comment below!

Branding your small business: time for a makeover?

Purpose of this blog post is to provide a straightforward way to begin a brand makeover. This seems to be a sticking point for many small business owners – where to begin?!

Start at the beginning: what is branding?

Branding. It's more than a just a logo, slogan and company colours. A brand is how your business is known by the customer – it is the combination of the qualities, customer expectations and value your business provides. Sounds complicated but it isn’t. No master's degree or marketing firm needed either. In fact, since YOU know your business best, drawing on your own knowledge and familiarity about your business and your customers is the best way make your brand stand out. It comes down to asking the right questions, focusing your answers and then using that information to build your brand.

Below is a short, to-the-point brand makeover worksheet. By completing the questions, you will be on your way to reinvigorating your brand, whether you are brand new to the game, or an old pro.

Mini brand makeover worksheet

By taking a few minutes to answer these three questions, you will be able to help yourself refocus your brand by providing key information that focuses on the VALUE you provide to your customers. 

Download it FREE. Here is a screen grab to see for yourself.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9kf2dkudrrde40v/MiniBrandMakeover_worksheet.pdf

1. List 3 things that your customers will get from you that they won’t get from your competitors. (HINT: What does your business do better than anyone else? This can be part of the experience of buying from you, not only limited to the product or service itself.)

1._________________________________

2. _________________________________

3. _________________________________

2.    In one sentence, state why your customers come to your business. (HINT: refer to the 3 things in question one to ensure this statement shows why your business is different, what you do better, and the VALUE you offer to them).

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________________________________________________


3. Make a list of the TOP 3 things you would like your business to BEST be known for.

 1.    ____________________________________________________________

 2.    ____________________________________________________________

 3.    ____________________________________________________________

These questions provide a great baseline for building (or rebuilding) your small business brand as they answer the right questions. The key is defining what sets your business apart AND provides value to your customers.

As always, I am happy to discuss any questions or clarifications that may help you complete this worksheet. Enter a comment below, or go directly to my Facebook page where this post will be listed as well. I am here to help – ask questions!

Best of luck! ~

Nancy

P.S.

If you would like to take this worksheet a step further and actually start to implement the information you entered, I have a bonus PDF worksheet that will help you create your brand positioning statement AND a ‘how-to’ guide that will show you how to translate this information into your brand

What you get: It provides tangible examples for how, with ease and little effort, you can communicate your brand to your customers consistently. If you would like to receive this additional resource, please submit your email address at the side. Your email will remain 100% confidential and will not be shared with any other site, person or entity. J

5 quick and easy things to make any business better

When inundated with daily tasks of running a business, it’s easy to overlook some of the simpler ways to make a big impact with your customers. Here are my top 5 EASY ways to make your business better:

      1. Type, don’t handwrite

Whether you are a well-oiled entrepreneurial machine or a home-based cleaning service, typing your correspondence, ads, coupons, etc. is an absolute must. I saw an ad for a piano instructor posted on the neighbourhood mailboxes…written in marker. Despite what might have been stellar credentials, the lack of professionalism in the delivery of the information tainted the information itself. Save handwritten notes for personal correspondence like Christmas cards and thank you notes.

2. No typos!

Similar to point #1, credibility is lost immediately if there are typos on a webpage, email, advertisement, etc. Taking the time to review, re-review and then have someone else do the same is time well spent. Typos and errors speak volumes to potential customers, conveying a perceived level of professionalism, care for detail and pride of ownership – all qualities that contribute to the overall perception of a business.

           3. Respond in a timely BUT relevant fashion

Consumer behaviour research indicates that when customers are ready to make the leap to contact your business, it is the result of having a need or want they are looking to satisfy, usually accompanied by a sense of urgency. Don’t miss this opportunity to be the one to answer their call (or email!). While time is of the essence, do take some time to know what the potential customer is seeking. A prompt but irrelevant email reply is just as damaging to the relationship you are building as is a delayed response. I know a bride-to-be who emailed a wedding planning company with questions about specific services. What she received, while prompt, was an automated response showing that no one actually read her email. That business was quickly removed from her list of potential suppliers.

       4. Answer the phone like a pro

This one is pretty straight-forward but often easy to overlook. Remember that a customer contacting you is extremely valuable. Answer every call like it’s your next big client; be courteous, polite, speak clearly and be friendly. And oh yes, don’t sound like you were just awoken from a nap by their call! Yes, that actually did happen...again to the bride I know.

       5. Make sure your web links work

If you have a ‘contact us’ link, make sure it actually does what it says and allows the customer to get the information to contact you. Make sure your webpages load properly for various browsers and now, more than ever, devices just as iPads and smart phones. Because web pages are typically the first point of contact for potential customers, ensuring the links are functional is essential and will influence the opinion and perception of your business’s professionalism.

Summary: Don’t waste an opportunity to make a great impression. You don’t have to jump over the moon to serve; following these 5 easy tips will go a long way to creating a positive experience for potential customers and existing clients alike. A positive experience is the basis for building great customer relationships. Good luck!

Do you have any other easy but essential tips to share? Don’t be shy, please comment below! Our community is richer the more we learn from eachother.

3 ways your passion is the ticket to business success

There are many things that need to be in place for a business to be successful. Having a product or service that meets market demand, securing distribution channels and communicating with your target audience are all essential components to any business plan. But don't forget to include in your arsenal, the fire that fuelled going into business in the first place: PASSION.

Building a business is hard work that requires many hours of dedication - no surprise there - often stretching late into the day and necessitating being ready to act at a moment's notice. Your kids look at it like the younger brother or sister who has their own needs and requirements. It is so easy to become buried under the to-do lists, customers, accounting, promotion, sales calls, bookkeeping, etc.. (that's a post for another day). Despite the demands, it is so important not to lose sight of your 'raison d'être', or, put less eloquently: why the heck are you doing this? Do you even remember anymore? If not, it's time to step back and take stock of one of the most valuable tools you have at your disposal: PASSION.

Somewhere along the way, you saw an opportunity to offer someone a solution to something through your service or product. You wanted to make someone's life easier, fuller, faster, more convenient, more stylish, healthy....the list goes on. Remembering what drove you to believe in yourself and that this business was viable is so important to keeping your brand in check and your business growing.

Here are three ways your passion can help your business:

1.  Focuses your brand
Remembering the gap in the market you wanted to fill, recalling the way you wanted to offer an improved product or customer experience...whatever it might have been for you, dust it off and keep it front and centre in your mind (and maybe at your desk too!). No, seriously. Print it out and put it up where you can see it everyday. This helps drill down to your brand essence - what your business offers that you want to build your brand upon. Did you want to provide organic doggie chew toys that are biodegradable because so many are disposed of each year? Let what inspired you inspire others too and use that to build and focus your brand.

2. Sets you apart
Entering the market because you saw an opportunity to offer something that wasn't already out there, or to do it better means that there is something different and special about your business. If you were going to offer the same thing as everyone else in your market segment, what would be the point? At one point, you saw the chance to stand out from the competition - be passionate about this idea and share it with others. Don't be afraid to tout how and why your business is different and why that is good for your customer.


3. Keeps your business decisions on-track
Remembering the reason for starting out - the passion you had and the drive to offer something distinct to the marketplace can come in handy when faced with business decisions. It's easy to be tempted by offers to grow your business by adding new products or services. Referring back to your original motivation can help ensure business decisions won't dilute your brand or mission.

Summary:
Keeping your business's raison d'être close at hand (and preferably, in view daily), helps keep your business focussed and true to its mission. Amid the day-to-day activities, balancing multiple roles and meeting demands as a business owner, taking time to check that your decisions are in-line with and support your business's brand are essential to success!

Do you have questions about how to turn your passion into tangible business objectives? Do you want help translating that passion into messaging to promote your business to others? Contact me for a free 1-hour, no obligation meeting. I would be happy to sit down and chat with you and get to know your business: info@theroguepeamarketing.com

UPDATE Learn & Work session: July 31

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2013. A DATE WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS IT IS CONFIRMED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN THE MEANTIME, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME!

UPDATE: Topic selected

The topic for the Learn & Work session on July 31, 2013 will be:

Social media: I have a social media account; so what's next? 

The session will discuss developing a social media strategy, different ways different businesses can benefit from using social media, and how to keep it manageable. In the workshop portion, participants will discuss their own businesse's social media presence and we will work towards establishing an outline for a plan and cover the essentials for managing your brand online.

If you are interested in attending, please register in advance by emailing info@theroguepeamarketing.com

Cost: $40 + HST = $45.20. Receipts will be provided.
Date: July 31, 2013
Location: boardroom, TD Canada Trust at Huntmar Road and Hazeldean Road, Stittsville
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m  OR 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. is preferred. Please indicate your preference when registering.

Please note that there is a maximum of 12 spots available for this Learn & Work Session. 

Great growth lies in small victories

In today's fast-paced society, we have become accustomed to wanting everything yesterday. It's normal to get caught up in the hectic lives we lead, but taking time to give yourself a pat on the back is just as important as going full steam ahead - maybe even moreso if you are an entrepreneur. 

 When I started The Rogue Pea Marketing, way back...last month, I had grand visions for the way my business would develop and grow. I was ready to start taking on clients, poised to help businesses define their goals and set up marketing strategies. Although I've made progress, there have been times that I feel like I'm not doing enough or it's taking too long. I am impatient!! But to reassure myself that things are moving along just fine, there are a few things I do to keep that nagging voice in check, that I think are worth sharing:

1. Check the calendar: When it comes to having a vested interest in something we want to see thrive and succeed, we often feel like we've been working away at it a lot longer than we really have. Being focussed day in and day out, working on the same project or goal can give the sense of time passing more quickly than it actually is. My solution: mark key dates on a calendar (ie. start of  a new cycle in your business or introduction of a new service or product) and make sure you check your expectations against the time that has really passed. This is an eye-opening exercise that I recently did for myself. I was becoming a bit anxious about the progress I've made since launching The Rogue Pea, but a quick look at the calendar made me realize that it's only been a few weeks and to temper my expectations accordingly.

2. Make progress reports for yourself: This need not be time consuming nor complicated. In fact, the simpler the better. I keep a note file on my iPhone to which I add weekly or bi-weekly updates whenever I have a moment (like before bed, waiting to pick up kids at their activities or while drinking my Sunday morning coffee). I add new updates to the same file so that I can refer to my last entry, which helps kick start the reflection process. This is a simple and easy way to force yourself stop for a moment despite all the hustle and bustle, and to spend a couple of minutes thinking back to what you have done in the past week or two. Take some well-deserved time to really acknowledge the progress you have made. I find this a really excellent way to both ease my anxiety about 'not doing enough' as well as being a great visual tool to see what I've done and then set goals for the coming week. It is a great opportunity to pause and pat yourself on the back, in addition to helping you gather your thoughts and plan for what's next.

3. Be realistic with the timelines for your goals: This is where a lot of us fail, myself included. We are too hard on ourselves about accomplishments and set unrealistic timelines for achieving our goals: a double-whammy of self-sabotage. Success comes from experimentation; seeing what works or not, and then adapting and moving on until we find something that clicks and drives things forward. Building a business, setting up a Facebook page, creating a marketing plan, or diving into social media - this concept applies to it all. The key is to know where you want to go and to not be put off by the lack of immediate success. This doesn't mean there is no success to be had at all, just that it is taking a longer route to get there. Going through steps 1 and 2 can really help keep this step in perspective.

Summary: Setting smaller goals, checking your real progress along the way and taking time to pat yourself on the back are key to keeping things in perspective, which perpetuates forward momentum. This approach will help keep you on your game rather than feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. Stay positive, be creative and keep your eye on the prize!

Interested to learn more about marketing your business? Register for the upcoming Work & Learn session on July 31 in Kanata, or drop me a line to discuss affordable, scalable solutions for small business: info@theroguepeamarketing.com