Should I Join a Chamber of Commerce?

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Meli

I belong to a local chamber of commerce and found there are advantages to joining a chamber of commerce.  I’ve been having a great time meeting new people, establishing new relationships and attracting customers.

A chamber of commerce is a professional affiliation of local businesses with voluntary membership.  Its main function is to advocate and provide services to help grow member’s businesses.  The goal of my local chamber is to enable the members to do together what they may not be able to do individually.

In addition to local chambers, there are state and national chambers of commerce. In Tucson we have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and Green Chamber of Commerce, in addition to several others. In order to be a member of the Hispanic Chamber or Black Chamber, one does not need to be Hispanic or Black.

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Bringing Friends and Family Into Network Marketing

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Meli

 Today’s guest post is by Sharon Michaels, whose business is dedicated to empowering and mentoring women in business.

Network marketing can be a wonderful opportunity to begin your own business. I’ve learned over the years that for many women, bringing family and friends into your business can often test the boundaries of loyalty and friendship. My advice is to think carefully before signing on friends and family.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard a potential network marketer say to her friend, “I’m not going to sign up with you because I don’t want you to make money off me.” Anyone who has been in direct sales or network marketing for awhile and has built a team, understands the sponsoring process. The concept of being “an upline” can get tricky when you are recruiting friends and family.

1. If family and friends do not understand the concept of network marketing and creating passive income, then network marketing may be a difficult concept to get a across to them.

2. If family and friends do not understand the concept of team building and working toward a common goal, then explaining how you earn a percentage of their production and sales because you brought them into the business, may be a difficult concept to get across to them.

3. If family and friends do not understand the concept of being an independent entrepreneur and that you are not their employer and they are not your employee, then network marketing may be a difficult concept to get across to them.

I’ve seen friendships end because one friend was “making money off” the other. The person ending the friendship truly believed their anger was justified because they were doing all the work while their upline was the one making all the money.

Before you bring friends and family into your company know in advance how you will address the issue of being their upline and receiving compensation from their production and sales. Here’s what I suggest:

1. First, as the upline, become familiar with your company’s compensation plan. This is important because you’ll be able to show and comfortably share with potential recruits how everyone has the ability to build a team so they too can become an “upline.”

2. Secondly, be prepared to explain that as their upline, you are their mentor. And, as their mentor, the company compensates you with a percentage earned by team members. After all, that’s the win-win part of network marketing and being an upline – the more successful you train your team to become, the greater your compensation as their leader.

If your potential recruit does not understand the team-building concept, even after you have explained it, then they may not be the best fit for your business. Believe me, it is not worth losing a friend or dealing with hurt feelings if friends and family are reluctant to have you “make money off of them.”

Sharon Michaels has a new and exciting Membership site – Women Enjoying Success. Each week, all month long,Sharon adds new downloadable personal and professional success strategies to that month’s Success Theme.  Each Monthly Success Theme is jammed packed with powerful and empowering audios, videos, Special Reports and eBooks. Your membership is like havingSharon as your Online Success Coach 24/7!

You can read more and join Sharon at: http://WomenEnjoyingSuccess.com

 

Posted in Business Owner, Direct Sales, Network Marketing, Passive income | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

I Can Work Anywhere With Computer Access

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Meli

I was recently in Rome visiting with my daughter. I didn’t have to request time off or get permission from anyone to take this trip. The decision to go to Rome or any place is mine. It is wonderful being your own boss and being able to work from anywhere in the world!

I remember the difficulty I encountered when I was working as a nurse and had to figure out when I would be able to take time off. I had to request time off but also had to consult with others depending on where I was going. Since my family is so small, we have an annual family reunion, however the logistics of planning when to hold the event became dependent upon when I was able to take time off from my job. Holidays were always difficult since there were many people requesting the same time off. Those problems are gone and it’s something for which I am grateful.

Have laptop will travel! That’s my new motto. As long as I can connect to the internet, I can work from my computer and can go anywhere, anytime.

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Posted in Alternative worksplace, Business, Home Based Business, Travel | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Look Who’s Using SendOutCards: a Landscaping Company

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Meli

Today’s post is by Deborah Munoz-Chacon the owner of Sonoran Oasis Landscaping.

I love my clients!  They make my job great and they’re a big part of why I love what I do.  You might be wondering what I do.  I help my customers have healthy beautiful outdoor areas.  I am a landscaper.  I am also a woman business owner.  And, connections are very important to me.

So, it is essential to me to show my clients regularly that I care about them.  We do this in many different ways.  We do the best job we possibly can by caring for their plants and landscapes.  And, we pride ourselves on providing a personal touch to our work.

One easy way we to show we care is by keeping in touch with personal cards.  It’s so simple to take a photo after we’ve installed a great new landscape project and send it on a SendOutCard to the owner with a personal “Thank You!” note inside.  What’s more special than receiving a card with a picture of your new front yard on it?  Continue reading →

Posted in Business Owner, Cards, Customer Appreciation, Customer relations, Customer Service, Marketing Strategy, SendOutCards | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Arriverderci Roma!

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Meli

 Have you ever been to Rome?

I’m not bragging but I’ve been to Italy a few times. Most recently was this past month when I went to visit with my daughter and be with her for her birthday. We were joined by my son and we had a fantastic time.

When I had been to Italy many years ago I would go to something called tavola caldo. Literally translated it means ‘hot table’. These eateries are generally quite economical and offer the best chance of popping in for a quick bite. I loved to go there because I could chose several different dishes. Now however, the tavola caldos seem to have disappeared and one of the biggest changes I noted was the proliferation of pizzerias. They are on every street corner with several being along the street as well, depending on how long the street. The choices of pizza are almost mind boggling. The great difference between the pizzas in Italy and the US, aside from the taste, is the fact that you buy them by weight. Therefore, I was able to select several different kinds and have small pieces of each. Now that’s a concept I’d love pizzerias in the US to adopt.

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Please Call Back!

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Meli

If you’re anything like me, at the end of the day, you have several voice messages. How quickly do you respond and return the phone calls? Do you return the phone calls?

Do you find it frustrating when you leave a message and your call is not returned?

I own a business which means that for my business to be successful I need to have customers. Sometimes my customers refer others to me.

If I don’t return phone calls, how can I retain my customers and obtain referrals?

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30 Ways SendOutCards Can Grow Your Network Marketing Business

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Meli

Building a successful network marketing, MLM, or direct sales business takes a lot of time and effort. In addition to customers you also have members on your team, all of whom deserve appreciation for helping you become successful.

Keeping in Touch with Customers

  • Thank you for your product order
  • Thank you for attending product information presentation
  • Notification of new products
  • Reminder to place special orders
  • Recognition on anniversary of becoming a customer

Build Relationships with Customers

  • Happy Birthday
  • Life events: birth of babies, new home, new job, retirement, sympathy, etc.
  • Invitation to events
  • Asking for referrals “ Who else do you know that might want, be able to use….?”
  • Thank you for referrals. 

Posted in Cards, Customer relations, Direct Sales, MLM, Network Marketing, Team building | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gender Communication and Business Networking

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Meli

I have recently become aware of the importance of gender communication and am pleased to present this guest post by Carrie Zamora.

Is there really a difference in networking with men vs networking with women?

I wanted to find out, so I interviewed 10 people, 5 men and 5 women, who go to business networking events on average of 8 times per month.

I learned that both men and women network for the same reasons – primarily to connect to new business, either directly or indirectly, and secondarily to socialize.

When I asked the question, “Are there really differences in networking with men vs networking with women?” 9 out of 10 declared, “YES.” Here is what they had to say:

Men will be more attentive, tend to watch their language, and talk less about sports to a woman when networking.

Overall, both the men and women said that networking with women is easier. The men preferred talking to the women because women, in general, will be less abrasive, less competitive, and more open to creating connections. Most of the people I interviewed said that women were more interested in the product or service they had to offer, which made approaching and talking to women easier.

Overall, it was the men that would behave differently with a woman, more so than the women would behave differently with men.

Of the 10 people I interviewed, 7 of them have been to at least 2 UnderstandMen101.com Topic Talks, where the topics of discussion are the differences in the way men and women communicate.  I asked them if knowing the differences in how men and women communicate enhanced their networking. All 7 said yes.

Here are some of the differences taught in UnderstandMen101.com Topic Talks that have made a difference in their networking:

Being able to tell when a woman is in ‘man-mode,’ i.e., when a woman is focused on the results rather than the process of networking. Distinguishing this hints at whether you interact with the woman by getting to the point first, or talking about the details and processes instead. Generally, women are the detail and process oriented of the genders, whereas men will get to the point much, much sooner than a woman.

The bottom line is knowing the differences in gender communication is helpful, not only in networking but in all contexts of your life.

What do you think? What are some of the differences you’ve noticed in networking with men vs networking with women?

Carrie Zamora has been studying gender communication since 2008 and she is a PAX Programs affiliate. She teaches regularly on the topic of gender communication.
For more information on Carrie and her classes, visit www.UnderstandMen101.com

Posted in Communication, gender communication, Networking | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Working From Home Success Tips

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Meli

Today’s guest post is from Sharon Michaels, a woman dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

Working from home?

Top 5 Working From Home Success Tips

Working from home can be a double-edged sword: Filled with opportunity on one side and distraction on the other. It is up to you to decide if your work from home experiences will be positive and successful or negative and disappointing. Over the years I’ve learned some practical success tips to successfully work from a home office.Here are my personal top five working from home success tips:

1. Take your work time seriously.
Your time is valuable. Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean your workday shouldn’t be taken seriously. Literally, as a work from home entrepreneur, your time is money. Treat every minute as a potential dollar in your pocket because it is.

2. Dress for work.
Dress for success. You don’t have to wear a business suit but if you’re taking yourself seriously as a moneymaking entrepreneur, you’ll come to your office dressed for work. Begin your workday showered, teeth brushed and clean clothes, it is all part of the mindset of success.

3. Treat your business like a business.
Do you know the difference between a business and a hobby? A business is geared toward making money. That means you have written goals and objectives that will take your business forward in positive moneymaking ways. Your belief system is such that when you’re working, you stay focused on moneymaking activities.

4. Include your family in on your work schedule.
Working from home means that your family is a big part of your day-to-day routine. Your family cannot respect your time if they don’t know your schedule. Work together to develop your office and work time rules. Example: If you’re on the telephone, your family should not interrupt you unless it is an emergency. Working from home is often a family effort.

5. Get organized and stay organized.
It is easier to stay organized than to keep trying to get organized. Arrange your office or workspace so you can work comfortably and effectively. Make it a habit to clean up before you end the workday so you can begin the next day fresh and organized.

Success working from home takes effort. You have more flexibility than a nine to five job but it is that flexibility that can make working from home a challenge. Follow these five success tips and you are well on your way to enjoying the rewarding and profitable opportunity of working successfully from the comfort of your own home.

   I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

I invite you to subscribe to my free weekly Ezine, http://unlimitedsuccessforwomen.com/because in just minutes a week I can show you how to successfully grow yourself and your business, make more money and have more time to enjoy your life

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3 Common Business Networking Mistakes

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Meli

There are so many advantages of having a home business; however, every now and then you may feel yourself crave a little socialization. Attending professional networking events is not only a positive way to socialize with other like-minded business people; it’s also a way to meet new clients, customers and get referrals.

As with most things, there is a wrong way and a right way to make the most of your networking efforts. Many well meaning business professionals are not aware that they may be making some very basic networking mistakes? Is there a possibility you could be included in this group?

Business networking is a learned skill.

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Posted in Home Based Business, Networking | Tagged , | 4 Comments