The Success Magnets with Cara Lumen

Six Thoughtful Ways to Make Room for Change

My quest for a way to make room for change was prompted by the need to schedule more time to do copy writing for my clients. The first question was how much time do I schedule when I don't know how much time it will take to do the job? In order to make room for change, I had to rethink what I already had in place.

 

1.  Rethink your own rules

 

I have used an Excel spread sheet to block off times for client appointments, creating new information products, writing client copy, writing and posting articles and working my business. I have been setting Mondays aside to work on expanding my own business. But maybe I should rethink that. Maybe Mondays are not the best day, maybe I need to choose Fridays instead. Maybe I have to spread my business development time over several days. I began to let go of what I had in place and began to rethink my own system.

 

2. Make use of your fritters

 

The first thing I noticed in creating my new self-schedule was that I like to watch The View on TV every day at 10 AM. Now frankly, 10 AM is too early for me to take a break and as I looked at my schedule I thought, "That could be a whole hour out of my work day. Unless…." I very much need to put more exercise in my life so guess what…I'm going to bend and stretch and move my body while I watch the intelligent women on The View. It's a win-win solution.

 

I started tracking my "fritters" — those things I take time for that do not move me forward in my business or my work load. I began to look at why I was doing them – was I putting off something hard or did I simply need a change of tasks?

 

Not every time out is a fritter. I talk to my friend/ web designer partner every day. We talk about our lives, our families, our clients and our business decisions. Every conversation nourishes and balances me . It’s a meaningful pause in my productive day.

 

3. Get real about what's NOT working

 

Just as I found a way to add another dimension to an hour of TV that would make it contribute to my life, I began to look at what's NOT working.

 

It recently took me a long time to create an introductory email to a new client about an element of my services. I have now saved that in a New Client Start Up file and when another new client appeared I found that it was easy to adjust.

 

I have developed very strong intake forms that make starting with a new client easy and effective for both of us.. I have another intake form for gathering the information I need to write strong sales pages. And every time I have to write a lengthy explanation about something to one client, I create it as an article for my Magnetic Marketing Coaching Library so it's ready for the next time that question is asked. I keep an eye out for information I am repeating that could be automated, even if it's as simple as having a few often needed responses already written than only take a few minutes to adjust and send.

 

I need to keep myself clear from interruptions, particularly when I am writing copy. What are my choices? I could use my voice mail if a call comes in. I can look at my email at noon instead of first thing in the morning so I use my fresh, creative mind time to its best advantage. I could go to my desk earlier and get in an hour or two of uninterrupted time. I can set boundaries with my clients so we agree on a time to call rather than have them call me spontaneously.

 

I have options. I have choices. I can make changes.

 

4. Do the math – what do you need to attract

 

What does it take to create the income you need and want? How many clients? How many hours of copy writing? How many actual income-producing hours do you need to schedule into your week? Get that number in mind, hold that intention and make room for them in your weekly schedule.

 

Be clear about what is producing income. I may love writing articles and doing podcasts but I also need to be clear about how much income they are measurably generating and balance the time I spend on them accordingly.

 

If I want more copy writing assignments then I have to be certain my web site reflects that. That may mean additional keyword research, new copy, and setting up new intake systems so I can do the job efficiently and effectively.

 

Your job is to stay close to the money. Put your time into actual client/customer interaction. Farm out the administrative stuff if you need to. Stay active where you can most affect your business.

 

5. Re-think your system and be willing to change

 

Cluster your clients and pick specific session times to fill. Mine are 11, 1 and 3 PST on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. That leaves me Mondays and Tuesdays plus other times to write copy for others, prepare talks, write more information products and work my own business.

 

A fellow copy writer who does ghost writing said he knows he has to write 1,000 words a day to finish a book in four months so he blocks off his entire morning. He doesn't answer the phone, he doesn't answer email, he just writes. His afternoon is more flexible. When his children come home he does his Dad thing but he often returns to work in the evening when his family activities have slowed down. I often fit in another two hours of work in the evening.

 

Create a schedule that works for you and your family.

 

6. Make a new plan and try it out – then schedule a time to check it again

 

Your plan is just a plan; it's one way to do it. I always love it when the Universe hands me an unexpected opportunity. I lovingly rethink my whole system to accommodate the new invitation.

 

I also follow my moods. If I'm in the mood to devour a new business book I sit down and do it. If an article starts popping in I sit down and write it. If an idea shows up I stop and take time to write down enough about it so that I have captured its essence. I definitely allow for the creative muse.

 

Take one step at a time.  Get that never-ending "to-do" list out and schedule some of those things onto your calendar every week. Allow them to organically pop to the top. If they don't get done in a reasonable length of time, take them off the list, they're not going to happen..

 

My new plan feels great. It has given me new perspectives and new priorities. I'll try this one out for awhile and then reexamine, rethink and recreate and make room for more change.

 

Cara Lumen, The Vision Distiller, is an internet marketing coach, content strategist and  entrepreneur who combines innovative ideas with attraction marketing to help proactive entrepreneurs create a compelling and profitable presence on the internet. An international author, a motivational teacher, an engaging speaker, Cara love to help others bring their vision to life. Find more articles like this in The Success Magnets Emagazine at www.caralumen.com

 

Does Your Web Site Mean Business?

Remember brochures? Those colorful and expensive folded pamphlets that you hoped people would pick up and read. And maybe, just maybe they would call you? Do you remember folding, stamping, mailing, or putting them in holders at your booth? Brochures and flyers have their place, but if you are on the internet you must remember that your web site is not a brochure!!!!

 

It can be, of course, it can be a decorative internet presence that lets you say "You can go to my web site at …." That is a placeholder that simply gives visitors a way to contact you.

 

But a web site should be and can be so much more.

 

Ask for Action-Action-Action

 

As an internet marketing coach I would never encourage you to settle for a brochure web site. If you are going to play on the internet, play for keeps! And that means creating a web site that is compelling and has a clear call to action.

 

What makes a web site compelling?

 

I'm an Attraction Marketer so I am aware of the instant connection that comes from the mere energy behind a web site. I certainly have come across web sites that make an immediate connection with me based on their energy alone. And I have had people tell me that coming to my web site feels like coming home. There is energy that reaches out even before the words and design make an impact.

 

Give them the vital information

 

As an Internet Marketer I believe in giving people the information they need to make an informed decision. I don't scare them into buying, or yell at them with big fonts and loud yellow boxes, I approach them as a new acquaintance, someone who might be interested in what I offer provided I listen to what they need and truly try to stay in service.

 

Build a friendly relationship

 

As the content progresses I address their needs, not in a negative manner, but in a hopeful manner. Not "Are your painful knees wrecking your life?" but "How would it feel to be able to take a long walk in the woods again? I want to give them hope, a joyous expectation of what is possible, and then let them know how what I offer may be of service to them.

 

It's like meeting someone new; you don't move in with a hard sell, you get to know them by exchanging information. In fact, if you're really good, you don't sell anything at all, you simply express you passion and enthusiasm for what you do.

 

Ask for another "date"

 

So, if people only spend about a minute on your web site, how can you build a relationship? If they go away you'll never see them again. But if you create an opt in offer that invites them to give you their email and name along with permission to email them again, you have made a prospective new friend. It means they are interested enough to explore your relationship a bit further.

 

If your web site does not have a compelling opt in offer it does not mean business. It is merely decorative.

 

If you are going to have a web site, put it to work for you. Create a strong opt in offer, write a mini-ecourse for your autoresponders, begin to collect those names. 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your list. Do the math. You have to have a list. And building a list takes time. You have to have a list of people who are interested enough in your work to want to hear more from you. That means you must have an opt in box on you website or you are wasting your time.

 

You must have a clear call to action

 

As big as the temptation is to tell everything you do to everyone who comes you must have only one clear call to action per page. In the case of your home page it must be your opt in box which must be placed in the upper right hand portion above the fold. All you want to do on your home page copy is tell them what you can do for them (not how you will do it),interest them enough in what you offer and entice them enough with your opt in offer, that they give you their name and email. One request. One call to action.

 

Do you see why a brochure approach is so weak? With a little effort, and an investment in a strong foundation like Easy Web Automation Shopping Cart that allows you to create compelling autoresponders and make relationship-building broadcasts to keep in touch and build trust you will have a web site that means business.

 

 

Cara Lumen, The Vision Distiller, is a content strategist and internet marketing coach who combines Attraction Marketing, innovative ideas and creative insights to help proactive entrepreneurs create a compelling and profitable presence on the internet. Her Magnetic Marketing Method is filled with ebooks, audios and home study courses to help you take your business to its next level. Find more articles like this in The Success Magnets Emagazine at www.caralumen.com