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    Suggest You - Are You Making These E-Commerce Excuses? (part 2)

    Come On Down - Are Your Prices Right?
    Now, I’d love to talk to you about strategies for winning on Bob Barker’s show. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no expertise in that area. Unless you count sitting on the couch thinking that I know how much to bid in the Showcase Showdown or my longtime dream of playing Plinko! No, what I do want to talk about is the difficult task of setting price points for your fledgling small business.I think there are two ways that entrepreneurs can go wrong when initially setting their pricing. I must note here that since I am in the service industry that is where I will be focusing, but I think the same principles would apply to a product based business. Now what are the two major pitfalls? To me, they’re simply setting your prices too low or too high. I know that may sound oversimplified, but let me explain.Before we discuss either, let’s addre
    IME IT. If you know that a four-hour "Marketing Monday"-type block of time is just not going to work for you, try it in one-hour increments, four days a week. The shorter time frame will leave a smaller opportunity for you to get distracted. Schedule the date and time for it, then get yourself a timer. (My friend Janet Hall, "The Organizing Wizard," [http://www.overhall.com] gave me this tip.) Set the timer for 60 minutes, and work like crazy for those 60 minutes with total focus. When the timer goes off, put the marketing away and work on something else. For best results, skip the timer on your digital watch and get a regular old kitchen timer. There's something about the ticking noise that really gets me going, and when I hear that "ding!" at the end, I just feel like celebrating be
    Good Help is Hard to Find
    Why is good help hard to find? Why haven't the ethics of hard work passed down from our forefathers continuing through the generations? When did it stop? I am not saying that there are not good, hard working people out there. I am just saying that they are hard to find.I have spoken to several small business owners in a labor intense profession. They told me that they have gone through approximately 15 employees before they find one that displays a hard working character. I have been the owner of a small business for the past 8 years. I have had approximately 30 employees over that period of time. Out of that 30, I have had only 1 worker that would take initiative to get the job done. The rest we had to babysit if we were to make a profit.Employers are looking for people who will work hard and look out for their interest. If y
    Last time, we started to take a look at the most common reasons why most people don't make progress on their e-commerce and Internet marketing goals. Today, we continue the discussion. [See part 1 of this article at http://www.ecommercediva.com/articles/excuses2.html]

    -------------------------------------------------

    Excuse #5: " I just don't have time. I'm too busy dealing with [customers, clients, day job, family, etc.] to deal with my web site."

    -------------------------------------------------

    Isn't it interesting that the folks who have the fewest orders to fill or have the fewest clients to serve are usually the same people who say they don't have time to market their products or services?

    That's because the most successful entrepreneurs - the ones with all the orders and clients they can handle - know how important marketing is to establishing and growing their business. They don't put marketing at the bottom of their to-do lists, waiting until everything else is done before they get to it. The successful ones make the time; they schedule it in on an ongoing basis. It's a winning habit.

    THE REMEDY:

    You can do the same! It's a matter of priority. Try this: Block out some time on your schedule to do your marketing tasks. Make this appointment with yourself, and keep it! Treat it as if it were a hot date with the man or woman of your dreams, or an important meeting with your biggest client. In other words, be on time, be prepared when you get there, and be adamant about not allowing interruptions or distractions.

    Actually, I started doing this myself. I call it "Marketing Mondays" and I block out a minimum of four hours each and every Monday to work on my web site, write new articles, create marketing materials, and the like. I've been doing it for several months now, and the results have been phenomenal! I'm blazing through all of the marketing stuff that got put on the back burner last year, including my new web site, http://www.EcommerceDiva.com, which launched earlier this year.

    If you're looking at your Palm Pilot or DayPlanner and you're still convinced you don't have enough time for marketing, check out Suzanne Falter-Barns' list of "30 Guaranteed Time Wasters" from her book, "Living Your Joy: A Practical Guide to Happiness." You can download a "Time Wasters" excerpt here (PDF): http://www.howmuchjoy.com/11GuaranteedTimeSavers.pdf

    -------------------------------------------------

    Excuse #6: "Every time I sit down to work on my marketing, I just can't seem to stay focused."

    -------------------------------------------------

    This one goes hand in hand with procrastination. You sit down to work on your web site, all full of gusto and good intentions. But the next thing you know, you're rearranging items on your desk, sharpening pencils (which you probably don't even use!), checking email, doodling, and everything else. Sound familiar?

    THE REMEDY:

    Let me tell you, I'm great at finding little meaningless things to do when I'm dreading a particular task! But I'm going to share three tricks that have really worked for me. Maybe they'll work for you, too.

    1. TIME IT. If you know that a four-hour "Marketing Monday"-type block of time is just not going to work for you, try it in one-hour increments, four days a week. The shorter time frame will leave a smaller opportunity for you to get distracted. Schedule the date and time for it, then get yourself a timer. (My friend Janet Hall, "The Organizing Wizard," [http://www.overhall.com] gave me this tip.) Set the timer for 60 minutes, and work like crazy for those 60 minutes with total focus. When the timer goes off, put the marketing away and work on something else. For best results, skip the timer on your digital watch and get a regular old kitchen timer. There's something about the ticking noise that really gets me going, and when I hear that "ding!" at the end, I just feel like celebrating bec

    Level Six Thinking & The Archway Effect
    Why doesn’t the smartest kid in class grow up to be the most successful? Does the American educational system really teach thinking skills? The answer to these questions is found in what’s known as “The Archway Effect”— a model in which an inflow of people goes toward an archway that represents an institution of higher learning. From that archway emerges an outflow of intelligent people. Conventional wisdom tells us that passing through the archway results in intelligence. However, most universities don’t produce brilliant graduates because of the excellence of their teaching, but rather because they accept only brilliant students. The fact is, most universities show no proof that they’ve taught these students to think at all. To date, no one has been able to use grade point averages, SAT scores or even IQ as predictors of success. Intelligence is no
    e orders and clients they can handle - know how important marketing is to establishing and growing their business. They don't put marketing at the bottom of their to-do lists, waiting until everything else is done before they get to it. The successful ones make the time; they schedule it in on an ongoing basis. It's a winning habit.

    THE REMEDY:

    You can do the same! It's a matter of priority. Try this: Block out some time on your schedule to do your marketing tasks. Make this appointment with yourself, and keep it! Treat it as if it were a hot date with the man or woman of your dreams, or an important meeting with your biggest client. In other words, be on time, be prepared when you get there, and be adamant about not allowing interruptions or distractions.

    Actually, I started doing this myself. I call it "Marketing Mondays" and I block out a minimum of four hours each and every Monday to work on my web site, write new articles, create marketing materials, and the like. I've been doing it for several months now, and the results have been phenomenal! I'm blazing through all of the marketing stuff that got put on the back burner last year, including my new web site, http://www.EcommerceDiva.com, which launched earlier this year.

    If you're looking at your Palm Pilot or DayPlanner and you're still convinced you don't have enough time for marketing, check out Suzanne Falter-Barns' list of "30 Guaranteed Time Wasters" from her book, "Living Your Joy: A Practical Guide to Happiness." You can download a "Time Wasters" excerpt here (PDF): http://www.howmuchjoy.com/11GuaranteedTimeSavers.pdf

    -------------------------------------------------

    Excuse #6: "Every time I sit down to work on my marketing, I just can't seem to stay focused."

    -------------------------------------------------

    This one goes hand in hand with procrastination. You sit down to work on your web site, all full of gusto and good intentions. But the next thing you know, you're rearranging items on your desk, sharpening pencils (which you probably don't even use!), checking email, doodling, and everything else. Sound familiar?

    THE REMEDY:

    Let me tell you, I'm great at finding little meaningless things to do when I'm dreading a particular task! But I'm going to share three tricks that have really worked for me. Maybe they'll work for you, too.

    1. TIME IT. If you know that a four-hour "Marketing Monday"-type block of time is just not going to work for you, try it in one-hour increments, four days a week. The shorter time frame will leave a smaller opportunity for you to get distracted. Schedule the date and time for it, then get yourself a timer. (My friend Janet Hall, "The Organizing Wizard," [http://www.overhall.com] gave me this tip.) Set the timer for 60 minutes, and work like crazy for those 60 minutes with total focus. When the timer goes off, put the marketing away and work on something else. For best results, skip the timer on your digital watch and get a regular old kitchen timer. There's something about the ticking noise that really gets me going, and when I hear that "ding!" at the end, I just feel like celebrating be

    Don't Be Fooled By Your Job Cost Reports
    Many construction companies utilized their own equipment in the execution of their contracts. They’ve made a determination that there is sufficient potential utilization that ownership is better than renting for a job for various economic and efficiency reasons. They use the market rental rate or an internally determined rental rate within their bids. Once the job commences, many contractors do not account within their job costing for this equipment. The effect is to overstate profit during the ongoing job review or at the end of the job, since costs within the bid are not considered on the job cost. Thus, the contractor can overrun labor hours and cost, overrun materials or subcontracted costs, and this is offset by the zero equipment cost posted.The same situation occurs when a computed labor rate is used in the bid. More often than not, the
    d doing this myself. I call it "Marketing Mondays" and I block out a minimum of four hours each and every Monday to work on my web site, write new articles, create marketing materials, and the like. I've been doing it for several months now, and the results have been phenomenal! I'm blazing through all of the marketing stuff that got put on the back burner last year, including my new web site, http://www.EcommerceDiva.com, which launched earlier this year.

    If you're looking at your Palm Pilot or DayPlanner and you're still convinced you don't have enough time for marketing, check out Suzanne Falter-Barns' list of "30 Guaranteed Time Wasters" from her book, "Living Your Joy: A Practical Guide to Happiness." You can download a "Time Wasters" excerpt here (PDF): http://www.howmuchjoy.com/11GuaranteedTimeSavers.pdf

    -------------------------------------------------

    Excuse #6: "Every time I sit down to work on my marketing, I just can't seem to stay focused."

    -------------------------------------------------

    This one goes hand in hand with procrastination. You sit down to work on your web site, all full of gusto and good intentions. But the next thing you know, you're rearranging items on your desk, sharpening pencils (which you probably don't even use!), checking email, doodling, and everything else. Sound familiar?

    THE REMEDY:

    Let me tell you, I'm great at finding little meaningless things to do when I'm dreading a particular task! But I'm going to share three tricks that have really worked for me. Maybe they'll work for you, too.

    1. TIME IT. If you know that a four-hour "Marketing Monday"-type block of time is just not going to work for you, try it in one-hour increments, four days a week. The shorter time frame will leave a smaller opportunity for you to get distracted. Schedule the date and time for it, then get yourself a timer. (My friend Janet Hall, "The Organizing Wizard," [http://www.overhall.com] gave me this tip.) Set the timer for 60 minutes, and work like crazy for those 60 minutes with total focus. When the timer goes off, put the marketing away and work on something else. For best results, skip the timer on your digital watch and get a regular old kitchen timer. There's something about the ticking noise that really gets me going, and when I hear that "ding!" at the end, I just feel like celebrating be

    Get More Clients: Learn How to Talk About What You Do
    One of the main reasons that solo-professionals, service professionals and small business owners fail to build thriving businesses is that they struggle to articulate exactly what they do in this new vibrant, branded and authentic way…and most importantly what specific Invest-able Opportunities they bring to the table.They aren’t compelling and the message comes off as bland and confusing. As a result, they miss countless opportunities to meet and recruit potential clients. Can you personally relate?Until you are able to clearly articulate exactly what you do, and the Invest-able Opportunities that you offer, and the all the benefits that clients will experience as a result of working with you, you will be missing out on enormous opportunity for growth and success.Remember people don’t buy products or services. And they certainly
    /11GuaranteedTimeSavers.pdf

    -------------------------------------------------

    Excuse #6: "Every time I sit down to work on my marketing, I just can't seem to stay focused."

    -------------------------------------------------

    This one goes hand in hand with procrastination. You sit down to work on your web site, all full of gusto and good intentions. But the next thing you know, you're rearranging items on your desk, sharpening pencils (which you probably don't even use!), checking email, doodling, and everything else. Sound familiar?

    THE REMEDY:

    Let me tell you, I'm great at finding little meaningless things to do when I'm dreading a particular task! But I'm going to share three tricks that have really worked for me. Maybe they'll work for you, too.

    1. TIME IT. If you know that a four-hour "Marketing Monday"-type block of time is just not going to work for you, try it in one-hour increments, four days a week. The shorter time frame will leave a smaller opportunity for you to get distracted. Schedule the date and time for it, then get yourself a timer. (My friend Janet Hall, "The Organizing Wizard," [http://www.overhall.com] gave me this tip.) Set the timer for 60 minutes, and work like crazy for those 60 minutes with total focus. When the timer goes off, put the marketing away and work on something else. For best results, skip the timer on your digital watch and get a regular old kitchen timer. There's something about the ticking noise that really gets me going, and when I hear that "ding!" at the end, I just feel like celebrating be

    Outsourcing Can Help Grow Your Business
    Small business outsourcing refers to a decision to sub-contract some or all of the duties in the company. The main motive or reason is to allow the company to invest more money, time and human resources into important activities and building strategies, which can help to fuel company growth.There is a lot of competition in today's markets and it is always changing. A company must focus on improving productivity and yet, cut down costs. Therefore, a lot of tasks that use up precious time, resources and energy, are being outsourced.Outsourcing helps any company to reduce costs. Outsourcing can range from customer service to manufacturing to software development and much more.The following are ten ways small business outsourcing can save your business time and money.1. You won't have to interview employee candidates. This wil
    IME IT. If you know that a four-hour "Marketing Monday"-type block of time is just not going to work for you, try it in one-hour increments, four days a week. The shorter time frame will leave a smaller opportunity for you to get distracted. Schedule the date and time for it, then get yourself a timer. (My friend Janet Hall, "The Organizing Wizard," [http://www.overhall.com] gave me this tip.) Set the timer for 60 minutes, and work like crazy for those 60 minutes with total focus. When the timer goes off, put the marketing away and work on something else. For best results, skip the timer on your digital watch and get a regular old kitchen timer. There's something about the ticking noise that really gets me going, and when I hear that "ding!" at the end, I just feel like celebrating because I know it's over!

    2. PICTURE IT. Sometimes we get too bogged down with tasks that we lose sight of the big picture. What do you really want from your business? What is it that you're working for? And what will your life look like if you have a thriving, successful business? A certain house or car? More time with your family? A tropical vacation? What does success look like for you? Find a picture that represents your "success" -- cut it out of a magazine or print it off the Internet if you don't have an actual photograph -- and post it at your desk, tape it to your computer, or place it wherever you do your marketing work. And every time you feel like you're losing focus on your marketing efforts, look at the image and think about how completing the task will being you one step closer to achieving your dream.

    3. SMELL IT! (Say what??) No, seriously. Try aromatherapy. Aside from all the anecdotal evidence, scientific research now shows that really is something to ancient art of using essential oils to heal the mind, body and spirit. Specifically, oils of basil, geranium, frankincense, lemon, peppermint, and rosemary can be used to improve your ability to focus and concentrate. Be sure to use the pure essential oils and not just "fragrance oils." Just add a few drops to a tissue, and inhale. (NOTE: If you're pregnant, avoid basil, peppermint, and rosemary altogether; and avoid frankincense and geranium during the first trimester.)

    For me, a combination of frankincense and geranium works best. I've Been studying aromatherapy and creating all-natural products for the past 21/2 years, so I create my own blends. But you can find all kinds of pure oils, spritzes for the room and the body, and plug-in diffusers for your home, office, and car at your local health food store, retailers like The Body Shop, or online shops like Indigo Wild (http://www.IndigoWild.com -- check out their "Zum Body Mist" in Rosemary-Mint.) When I feel my mind wandering, I just get a good whiff of frankincense and geranium, and I'm immediately good to go!

    If you're too much of a skeptic to try aromatherapy, just pull out a freshly minted $20 bill and inhale the scent of fresh money!

    So there you have it...

    You have no more excuses not to turn your web site into the fabulous, cash-generating marketing vehicle that it can be. What are you waiting for? GET TO WORK!!

    (c) Copyright 2005 Jamila White. All rights reserved.

    [NOTE: You are welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end and the copyright notice), and you send a copy of your reprint to articles@jamilawhite.com.]

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