Can studying the news help you make profits in online FOREX trading? The answer for most traders is a no.

In fact, paying attention to the news in online FOREX Trading will lose money. Why? Read on and let’s find out.

How and why prices move

In online FOREX trading (and any financial market for that matter) prices move based upon the following equation

Supply & demand fundamentals + Trader psychology = Market price

Which is most important? In today’s markets definitely the latter - Why?

Quite simply, markets discount fundamentals quickly and with the internet its done in seconds.

In all corners of the globe the internet delivers information quickly and it’s immediately discounted in the market price.

This means traders make opinions on what will happen in the FUTURE and it is their psychology that is the key to future price direction.

Sure, the papers and news wires are great at telling you why things DID happened and their normally wrong about WHAT will happen.

Traders get deluded by the experts in online FOREX trading and fail to see their wrong most of the time.

Will Rogers once said:

“I only believe what I read in the papers”

Now, he was joking, but most traders take news services as gospel.

Reuters and Bloomberg stories agree with them, so they must be right, is the view of most online FOREX traders. Don’t think so, in fact we know so, based upon the facts and the so called experts past performance.

It’s easy to be wise in hindsight, but looking into the future is much more difficult!

They write stories for a living they DONT trade, traders that are interested in making profits should not be following news stories or media hype.

It’s a fact: Most important market tops and bottoms and formed when the news is most bullish or bearish. When the trends change of course, news wires have an explanation but that does not help you trade!

In the 1987 crash they were bullish in the tech stock boom they were bullish and these are just tow examples of media experts being wrong and there are many others.

Understand the past and look to the future

This is the key to successful online FOREX trading. Quite simply the fundamentals are digested in seconds and reflected in the price.

Its trader psychology that’s important as they look at the future and how they determine the supply and demand situation is reflected in price changes.

Human psychology has remained constant over time and thats why many price patterns are so reliable and point to important market tops and bottoms when the market is either very bullish or bearish.

Of course, prices then go the other way! confounding the so called media experts.

Technical analysis of markets

The only way you can win in online FOREX Trading is to use a technical analysis system that focuses on price.

Why use a technical system in online FOREX trading?

There are two main reasons

1. You will not be distracted by media stories and news hype and will keep your emotions in check.

2. If you are involved in online FOREX trading you can look at charts and see long term trends that last for months or years and many of them (in fact most of them!) run against what the papers and the so called experts say!

To be a success in online FOREX trading all you need to do is focus on these trends and forget the news and media, media experts don’t get paid to trade, they get paid to write stories.

Focus on the reality of the price, not the media hype and you can make big profits in online Forex trading.

Investing in art can be personally satisfying and financially
rewarding. These ten tips will help you get the best of both
worlds!

1. Get online. Like everything else, comparison-shopping will
ensure you find the best product for your situation. The
Internet is the most efficient way to take advantage of the vast
array of different styles, prices, mediums and sizes of art
available to collectors.

2. Avoid art without a price. When you are directed to inquire
about pricing, it is most likely an attempt to gauge your
interest and charge you the highest possible price according to
your circumstances.

3. Look for an independent artist. Commercial galleries have
their place, but you get far better value when you purchase
directly from an artist, particularly one who is “emerging” or
“not-yet-established”. Keep in mind that a gallery’s cut is
usually 50% of what you pay.

4. Find a unique, consistent style. A contemporary work of art
that looks “just like” a Monet or Van Gogh, for example, might
have aesthetic appeal, but will not prove to be “valuable” over
time. Ultimately, you want to find an artist who can eventually
be identified by his or her style (without looking at the
signature).

5. Study the artist’s biography. Knowing some fundamental
information about an artist can help you gauge their potential
for growth and will often provide a deeper understanding of their
work.

6. Look for dedication, not education. When looking for a great
doctor or lawyer, academic accreditation matters. When looking
for great art, however, it is not as important. Artists whose
work appreciates the fastest exhibit a strong work ethic and a
lifelong dedication to producing great art. Picasso, for
example, had no formal training past the age of 16, but was the
most prolific artist of the 20th century.

7. Interact directly with the artist. This allows you the
opportunity to augment the information provided in an artist’s
biography, and helps ensure a smooth transaction- especially when
buying online. It is also advantageous to get a feel for the
artist’s personality and stick-to-itiveness.

8. Negotiate. If you find an artist whose work falls well
within your budget, offer to buy multiple pieces at a discounted
price. Alternately, you could suggest buying successive pieces
over time for a predetermined amount.

9. Frame the work yourself. A frame should not only enhance
your art, but should also compliment the space in which it hangs.

It is also more cost effective to buy and ship unframed art.

10. Promote “your” artist after the deal is done. There is a
direct correlation between the value of an artwork and the name
recognition of the artist who painted it. By encouraging others
to explore “your” artist’s work, you help increase the value of
your personal collection.

Oliver Ray is a Canadian artist based in North-Central British Columbia. Visit his online gallery at
http://www.OliverRay.ca to learn more.

CRM Software is an integral part of a businesses Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

So what is “CRM Software?”

In simple terms a CRM Software is software that a business uses to improve the relationship it has with their customers.

It’s hard to define everything CRM Software can do. So I’ll outline the uses of CRM Software then give some examples.

CRM Software is a vital component to a businesses overall CRM strategy, yet the whole business needs to understand CRM in all departments and functions of the business and behave appropriately to make CRM work.

An effective CRM will include methodologies, strategies, software and web-based capabilities that help an enterprise organize and manage customer relationships.

Why use CRM Software?

CRM Software is used to help businesses:

(a) understand their customer, and
(b) understand their customer’s wants and needs, and
(c) help the business serve them more efficiently and effectively.

In turn this will help the business to improve customer satisfaction, increase staff productivity, slash operational costs and maximize the effectiveness of each customer interaction.

Let’s talk about these three different areas.

A CRM Solution to understand the customer

A CRM Solution allows the user to collect as much information about the customer that they can. They’ll collect names, addresses, contact numbers, age, sex, number of children, etc. A CRM Solution does this to, amongst other things, help ‘classify’ their customers.

A benefit of a CRM Solution is that a user can help analyse which types of customers are best for their business.

Then once they know what customer ‘ types’ are best they can then market to them in a ‘personal’ way - using the information gained about them.

A CRM Solution to understand the customers wants and needs
As information is collected about the customer’s personal life, information is also collected about their buying habits and stored in CRM Software.

Humans are creatures of habit. By analysing the information collected about the customer and their buying habits the CRM can be used to help the business identify what the customers would most likely want or need to buy.

For example, if your CRM solution information lets you know that your best customers typically like buying ‘red apples’ in November for an average sale price of $15. You can prepare a marketing approach that is sent out to them prior to November that will steer them towards buying $30 worth of apples.

The customer sees it as useful because it’s something they like to do at that time of year, and you’re offering them a reminder and perhaps an incentive to buy more. The business benefits by structuring the offer to increase the sales value and therefore increasing the profit return.

A good CRM solution will allow you to do everything that I’ve just mentioned. You’ll be able to bring up reports, write letters and then print them or e-mail them to a define part of your database.

A CRM Solution is useful to also target new customers

Information gathered in the CRM will help the business to target more of the preferred customers. An analysis using a CRM solution could tell the business, for example, that single males between 30 to 35 years of age that earn between $50,000 and $60,000 are the best type of customer for the business.

Knowing that information from the CRM, the business can then hire a list from a direct mail list broker of all the single men that fit the description and target their marketing toward them.

The CRM solution activity of improving the relationship with the customer is to help keep the customer more loyal to the company and thus improve the profitability of the business.

A CRM Solution to help efficiency and effectiveness of business

A good CRM Solution application will help the business to become more efficient and effective.

The business can become more efficient because if a customer contacts the business, within seconds the customer service representative can produce the customer’s file. This will tell the employee all about the customer and their interaction with the business.

So a CRM solution saves time for the business and is able to help the employees deliver high levels of personalised service.

A CRM Solution software program and approach can help the business become more effective. An example would be marketing.

Knowing all the information about the customers, the marketing strategies can be targeted towards the customers in a personal way. Thus marketing to a defined target market with a past history the potential of improved results is far greater than marketing to a ‘cold’ list.

This article should only be viewed a very broad overview of what CRM Solution could do.

On this web site you’ll find more detail and resources to help you understand and use CRM for your business.

There are many providers of CRM Solutions, I suggest you get a demo and work out what you’re looking for in your CRM Software and then try a few to make the best CRM solution decision for you.

Copyright © 2006 by Casey Gollan. All Rights Reserved

Casey A Gollan, The Business Growth Specialist for CRM Software Center - CRM Software Center- All the general information and resources for everything CRM - Customer Relationship Management. Visit http://www.crmsoftwarecenter.com for more articles and info on CRM.

Many counties subsidize Search and Rescue teams. They help offset costs to protect communities against major disasters. Sometimes off-duty county sheriffs and fire fighters are given funds to take additional classes such as: Rock Climbing, Repelling, Amateur Radio Classes and other equipment. Many off duty first responders volunteer for such groups. These cities and agencies also subsidize equipment used in such exercises including scuba gear and other expensive equipment. You’ll find these public safety people to be excellent word of mouth networking friends for your small business.

Because mobile car wash trucks have their own water and electric, we can become superior resources in emergency situations. The gallons and gallons of fresh water we carry could be vital to the public in the event of a major disaster and the high-pressure hoses can be used in fighting fires. The massive wattage from the flood lamps can be used to light up neighborhoods or other emergency sites in the event of a blackout.

Mobile Car Washers and Mobile Detailers are the only ones with such elaborate mobile utilities aside from the disaster relief squads and they may ask for our help when disaster strikes. If their backs are to the wall and they know they can call on your company; you become a golden child of the community. It will be the right thing to do when your community needs you.

From a business point of view it’s incredibly good PR if the car wash units are caught on TV helping victims, fighting fires or delivering power to a small group after a Hurricane. You will be helping people and community in their time of need and you can’t buy PR like that! This is a major win/win situation. Besides, after a disaster it takes at least a week before anyone even realizes that their car is dirty. Meaning there will not be any business during that time, so you may as well take your energies to the street to do the right thing. Think about it.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

While few things are as lovely and fragrant as real flowers and plants, artificial flowers and artificial plants do have their advantages in some situations. If you are planning an event, or need to send a remembrance, sometimes artificial flowers and artificial plants make the best sense.

When many people think about artificial flowers and artificial plants, they think of those awful plastic arrangements found gathering dust on discount department store shelves. But things are quite different today and realistic silk orchids or flowers have replaced the tacky plastic flowers and plants of the past.

Weddings

Artificial flowers and artificial plants can be great for extending a wedding budget. Silk flowers can be used in place of real flowers, and with a drop of scented oil applied in the very center, most people can’t tell the difference between the two.

Silk flower wedding arrangements are also perfect for high traffic areas where real flowers would take a bruising. Artificial flowers and artificial plants make perfect pew decorations. Guests may accidentally brush up against them as they are seated, but the petals will look as lovely as ever. You never need to worry about silk orchids or flowers wilting.

Scrapbooking, Crafting, and Cake Decorating

Artificial flowers and artificial plants are the perfect way to add floral accents to scrapbook pages and crafts. For example, a copy of the wedding invitation is usually saved by the bride for a keepsake. Silk flowers, whole or with petals and leaves separated for convenience, can be used to decorate the pages of a scrapbook or keepsake frame.

You can also decorate a cake with realistic silk flowers that are far more beautiful and dramatic than piped frosting creations, and you can save them afterward in a keepsake box.

Bereavements

Sending flowers in times of sorrow is a time honored tradition, and real flowers are both lovely and fragrant, but they fade away all too soon. Many families have a custom of offering bereavement floral arrangements to friends and family as a poignant remembrance of a loved one’s passing. Silk flower arrangements make a lasting gift that will bring back fond memories of absent friends and family for years to come.

Artificial flowers and artificial plants made today are just as beautiful and nearly identical to the real thing. If you want the beauty of flowers in your life, why not add some permanence with lovely silk flowers and plants.

Do those glasses make you look old and boring? Are you tired of looking the same no matter how good you are dressed? Or are you spectacles giving people an impression that you do not want to give? Its time to move on to lenses.

Let’s find out a few things about bifocal lenses before you get started. Bifocal lenses are used by people suffering from an aliment called “Presbyopia”. People suffering from this have to hold reading material far from them in order to read properly. Bifocal lenses work like bifocal glasses which have two powers on one lens.

Bifocal lenses are available in different colors and specifications. They are also available as disposables which you can change daily, weekly or monthly depending upon your convenience. They are available in rigid as well as soft permeable materials. You can also get bifocal lenses in various colors and make that lasting impression on people around you and experiment with your looks.

Also with the kind of technology we have nowadays, Astigmatism is no longer a problem that people wearing contact lenses may face. So you can be free of that issue as well.

However always be careful about where you buy your bifocal contact lenses from. Only trust prescribed stores and medical outlets. And be sure to consult your physician before you switch over from your specs to contact lenses of any kind.

Another important thing to keep in mind is the cleaning of your lenses. It is very important that you buy a good lens cleaner and clean them daily.

One thing you should know before switching over to bifocal lenses is that they may not suit everyone. And the results vary from person to person as the eye needs time to adjust to the different powers of the lens. However even in this case you can go ahead wearing contact lenses if your doctor suggests mono-vision. In mono-vision you wear lenses of different powers in your eyes. One lens is to correct the distance vision and another lens to correct the near vision.

So go ahead move on in your life and get rid of those old boring glasses and try out something new.

Vaughn Balchunas helps you set your sight on bifocal contact lenses. Learn about toric lenses, and how to find contact lens discounts online.

If you’re job hunting, you probably skip every ad that says, “Commission Only.”

Naturally, you want to put bread on the table, pay the bills, and have some fun, and how are you going to do that if you bring home a check with goose eggs where real numbers should be, right?

But you may be missing out, if you dismiss every straight-commission job as being a bad bet. Some of them are potentially very lucrativethey have to be, to attract salespeople who are prepared to act as entrepreneurs.

When I left Time-Life, after rising in sales to management, I decided to concentrate on my graduate school education, so I simply couldn’t work 12 hours a day five days a week, plus Saturday mornings.

I was prepared to work hard, but part-time.

The only positions I found that matched that requirement were straight commission opportunities. Having bills to pay, I called about one ad in the morning, interviewed at noon, and I was on the phone, making my first sale, and commission that afternoon.

In fact, I got really lucky. I closed the first person with whom I spoke!

That commission, by the way, was worth $36 to me, which was about five times the guaranteed hourly rate I would have received from a similar position.

Needless, to say, I overcame my fear of being a commission-only salesman, on the spot!

What this enabled me to do, only two years later when I finished my Ph.D., was to start my own consulting business on a shoestring. Because I had proven to myself that I could sell under pressure, without a guaranteed check at the end of the week or month, I freed myself to follow my dream of reporting only to me.

Every independent businessperson is a really commission salesperson, so if this is your dream, check out those Help Wanted ads, again!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

If you don’t, it could be that those who do are actually
preoccupied with moving messages from one point to
another using simple tactics like broadcast plugs, brochures
and press releases.

What’s missing from that picture, of course, is you as
a manager doing something meaningful about the behaviors
of those important audiences who most affect the business,
non-profit, government agency or association sub-unit you
manage.

For example, the creation of the kind of external stakeholder
behavior CHANGE that leads directly to achieving your
managerial objectives. As well as your follow-through in
persuading those key outside folks to your way of thinking
by helping move them to take actions that allow your
department, group, division or subsidiary to succeed.

If true, there’s a lot missing from your control and
oversight.

Fortunately, the underlying premise on which public
relations is based, is really proactive: people act on
their own perception of the facts before them, which
leads to predictable behaviors about which something
can be done. When we create, change or reinforce
that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-
desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect
the organization the most, the public relations mission
is usually accomplished.

The good news emanating from that premise is that
the right public relations planning really CAN alter
individual perception and lead to changed behaviors
among your key outside audiences. But your PR effort
must demand more than special events, news releases
and talk show tactics if you are to receive the quality
public relations results you believe you deserve. That
way, you really will stand a good chance of getting
the best public relations has to offer.

Employ that approach and the results you seek should
soon come your way. For example, community leaders
begin to seek you out; and prospects actually start to do
business with you; new proposals for strategic alliances
and joint ventures begin showing up; customers starting
to make repeat purchases; capital givers or specifying
sources beginning to look your way; welcome bounces
in show room visits occur; membership applications
start to rise; politicians and legislators start looking at
you as a key member of the business, non-profit or
association communities.

It’s obvious that the public relations staff itself can
be of real use when you commence the new opinion
monitoring project. After all, they are already in the
perception and behavior business. But to be certain,
determine if those PR folks really accept why it’s
SO important to know how your most important
outside audiences perceive your operations, products
or services. And this is really important: be sure they
believe that perceptions almost always result in
behaviors that can help or hurt your operation.

Let’s talk for a moment about your public relations
plan. In everyone’s best interests, go over it carefully
with the public relations professionals on your
team. Talk over how you plan to monitor and gather
perceptions by questioning members of your most
important outside audiences. Try to ask questions like
these: how much do you know about our organization?
Have you had prior contact with us and were you
pleased with the exchange? Are you familiar with our
services or products and employees? Have you
experienced problems with our people or procedures?

Retaining professional survey firms will be proposed
as the best way to do the opinion gathering work. But
have no illusions about the added cost when compared
to using your own PR staff. But whether it’s your people
or a survey firm asking the questions, the objective
remains the same: identify untruths, false assumptions,
unfounded rumors, inaccuracies, misconceptions and
any other negative perception that might translate into
hurtful behaviors.

Next we set an achievable goal addressing the most
serious problem areas you uncovered during your key
audience perception monitoring. Will it be to straighten
out a dangerous misconception? Correct a gross
inaccuracy? Or, stop a potentially painful rumor
before it does more damage?

Because, a matching strategy is mandatory in order to
show you how to reach that goal, we address it here.
For better or worse, there are only three strategic
options available to you when it comes to solving
perception and opinion problems. Change existing
perception, create perception where there may be none,
or reinforce it. But the wrong strategy pick will taste
like sour orange marmalade on your Gnocchi. So be
certain your new strategy fits well with your new public
relations goal. You certainly don’t want to select
“change” when the facts dictate a strategy of reinforcement.

Every public relations professional is painfully aware
of how crucial good writing is to the business. And here,
it’s true once again as you face the reality that you must
put together a persuasive message that will help move
your key audience to your way of thinking. It should be a
carefully-written message aimed directly at your key
external audience. Hopefully, your best writer willingly
accepts the assignment because s/he must produce
language that is not merely compelling, persuasive and
believable, but clear and factual if it is to shift
perception/opinion towards your point of view and
lead to the behaviors you have in mind.

As you consider those communications tactics most
likely to carry your message to the attention of your
target audience, you’ll be pleased to discover that there
are many waiting for you. From speeches, facility tours,
emails and brochures to consumer briefings, media
interviews, newsletters, personal meetings and many
others. But be certain that the tactics you pick are
known to reach folks just like your audience members.

Keep in mind that the method by which you
communicate your message will bear heavily on its
credibility, which is always fragile. That’s why you
may wish to unveil your corrective message before
smaller meetings and presentations rather than using
higher-profile news releases.

As you measure the headway made in moving key
audience perception, it will become clear that a second
and comparative perception monitoring session will be
needed. Those data will comprise your first progress
report. Fortunately, you can use many of the same
questions used in your benchmark session. But now,
you will be watching for signs that the bad news
perception is being altered in your direction.

First-aid may be needed if momentum slows. And that
suggests speeding up matters by either adding more
communications tactics and/or increasing their
frequencies, or both.

Maintaining control of your unit’s public relations will
confirm that, in fact, you really ARE doing something
meaningful about the behaviors of those important
outside audiences of yours that MOST affect the group,
department, division or subsidiary you manage.

Then you’ll know for certain that public relations is
working well for you.
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box
in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website.
A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net.
Word count is 1250 including guidelines and resource box.
Robert A. Kelly © 2006.

Bob Kelly counsels and writes for business, non-profit and
association managers about using the fundamental premise of public
relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has published over
200 articles on the subject which are listed at EzineArticles.com, click
Expert Author, click Robert A. Kelly. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola
Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport
News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S.
Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The
White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia
University, major in public relations.
mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit:http://www.PRCommentary.com

What is a joint venture?

It means when you partner with a business to do
marketing in order to share the profits.

It is an important offline marketing strategy that can
help you succeed in your internet marketing efforts.

There are many advantages of joint venturing with offline
businesses.

You could increase your target market by
reaching audiences you couldn’t advertise to before.

You could get referrals from the offline businesses
you joint venture with.

The key to joint venturing with offline businesses is to
find ones that have the same target audience. If you’re
selling business software, you wouldn’t want to joint
venture with a store that sells candy. You won’t be
very successful. You would want to joint venture with
an office supply or computer store.

Below are three possible joint venture deals you
could set up:

1. Write a tip booklet that is related to your business.
Make a deal with an offline store where they giveaway
your tip booklet to their shoppers with each purchase.
The store you pick should attract your target audience.
The store could have something free to giveaway to
attract shoppers and you could have your web site ad
in the tip booklet.

2. Design a printed flyer for your online business. The
flyer should include a description of your web site,
e-mail address, web address and any other important
information. Make a deal with an offline store to have
them include the flyer in each bag of products they sell
in exchange for free advertising on your web site.

3. Make a deal with a computer store to have them
display your web site on the computers they display
in their store in exchange for free advertising on your
web site or in your e-mail newsletter.

Once you find a targeted offline business, contact
them and present your joint venture proposal. Tell the
business owner the benefits of the joint venture. Tell
him or her why it would be a win/win situation for both
of your businesses. Give them a lot of compliments
about their business, products and services. Using all
three methods above will greater your chance of
having a profitable and successful offline joint venture.

May these internet marketing secrets help you to make a lot
of money.

Warmly,

I-key Benney, CEO

I-key, a Millionaire CEO from New York City is the creator of “Mscsrrr: Millionaire Secret Cash System”, (home based business) program, which has helped thousands of ordinary people from all over the world to attain financial security and shining success during the past 2 yrs.

Mscsrrr Millionaire Cash System helps you to generate $1,500+/Week for life, from home or office, part time or full time. No large investment or hassles. Win $1000-$2000 free “cash”…

For most of the small business owners I work with, marketing has become the equivalent of a four-letter word. Inevitably, when I ask the question, “Do you have a marketing plan?” or “What marketing activities do you engage in?” I get the full gamut of responses from the proverbial deer in the headlights stare, to a vociferous, “I hate marketing, it’s the least favorite part of my business!”

After years of witnessing this reaction, and learning a bit about modern marketing, I’m starting to understand why traditional marketing is perceived and experienced as a necessary evil and avoided like a root canal.

It’s been true since the beginning of commerce that every business needs to promote itself to stay alive and compete in an ever-changing marketplace. How great would it be if you, as a savvy business owner, could begin to make a shift from seeing marketing, and its associated tasks, as a necessary evil to a rich and rewarding opportunity to express your passion about your business? It would be pretty great, wouldn’t it?

While I don’t mean to reduce a vibrant and ever evolving profession to any-one-can-do-it status, the mystique around marketing can certainly use some lightening up. I do believe anyone can become an effective and enthusiastic marketer.

Let’s start to explore by dispelling some of the common mystique around marketing. I used to believe that marketing was a complex practice for which you had to pay a lot of money to a professional to “do it right”. I used to think I had to convince people using tactics that were high pressure or not in alignment with my values. No wonder marketing fell to the bottom of my list. Is it at the bottom of yours?

Here’s what I’ve learned, and here’s what works for me. In its simplest form, marketing is about building relationships and networks. It offers an opportunity to communicate to people (your customers) what you do and introduce or expose them to your product again and again. As Michael Pollock, my marketing guru taught me, “Forget marketing, think conversations”. That’s easy, now all I have to do is position myself and create opportunities to engage people about that which I love. I can do that. Shift accomplished!

Here are The 5 Marketing Musts that transformed me from an Avoider to an Engager:

1. Define your customers. With whom do you want to build relationships? Start by specifically identifying who will buy your products and focus on them. In “marketing speak” this is called your target market. It is critically important to identify your target market so you don’t spend time and money haphazardly conveying your message and building relationships with non-buyers.

Here’s some criteria you can use to identify your ideal customers: Age, profession, gender, level of education, income, ethnicity, location, psychological needs (feels frustrated, wants security, wants to feel challenged, etc.) personal interests (committed to personal development, reads avidly, spiritually inclined, etc.) and what are their psychographics (how do they think, what is their world view, their values, etc.). Create a profile of your perfect customer.

2. Promote yourself. In real estate it’s location, location, location. In marketing it’s promote, promote, promote. Find ways to get yourself in front of your customers regularly and repeatedly. Visibility creates opportunity. You need to be in front of your customer at least seven times for your message to stick. Visibility also creates credibility. Relationships are built on trust. The more opportunities you have to demonstrate your credibility, the more likely a customer will buy from you.
3. Position yourself. What do you stand for in the mind of your customer? Positioning is about “owning” the groove in your customers mind when it comes to your product. The Dollar Store, for example, is positioned so when you need to purchase a product inexpensively, you think Dollar Store. Your marketing message should be clear, targeted, consistent and designed to position you in the forefront of your customers mind.

4. Become known as a recognized expert in your field. There are many other businesses out there vying for your customers’ attention. Become the first business that pops into your customers’ minds. Make sure the reason you pop into your customers’ minds is because you’ve built positive and credible relationships. Here are a few ways to develop yourself as an expert:

Publishing. Write and submit quality articles to local and Internet publications (Just like the one you’re reading now!) Or, you can self publish a monthly newsletter to keep yourself in front of your customers. Even if you think you can’t write (like I did when I started my business) find ways to communicate. Hire an editor if you have to.

Public Speaking. A great way to position yourself in front of an audience of potential customers. The options might be civic organizations, local associations, or community events. Public speaking can often inspire terror when suggested, it certainly did in me. Practice built my confidence and the benefits I’ve received from moving out of my comfort zone has paid off in many ways. Start small, be you, connect with the passion of your message.

Join networking groups. This is a great way to connect with many people on a regular basis. Most network groups are filled with participants in the same boat as you. Not only do they provide an opportunity to be in front of people, they can be a tremendous source of support. If you want to really go for it, volunteer for a leadership position. It will quickly increase your visibility as well as boost your credibility.

5. Evaluate what’s working, what’s not working, and adapt accordingly. Clearly it takes time and consistency for any marketing effort to pay off. Don’t give up too soon. At the same time, marketing is a process of learning what works for you and your particular business. Don’t let your marketing plan get stale. Remember, marketing is about building relationships, and creating opportunities for you to express the passion you feel about your product or service.

Make a plan and stick to it. Developing a simple marketing plan can be as straight forward as deciding what people you want your message to reach and determining the best vehicles to use. If you work with these Marketing Musts, you’re well on your way to establishing a marketing plan. It can be that easy.

I’ll leave you with these questions: Why are you in business? What do you love about your product or service? Do you feel inspired when you’re at the top of your game and offering the best of what you do to the world? If so, go out there and create opportunities to do more of that. That’s all marketing is. Can you feel the shift?

It’s YOUR life…live it completely!

Helaine is a professional coach and writer, who has been featured in numerous publications, including “O” The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs and professional women accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. She combines a broad range of professional experience in her work, including management positions in the education, training, retail and international non-profit sectors. For a free consultation, contact her at 603-357-8546 to discuss how she can help you accelerate your own success. You may also visit her website, http://www.pathofpurpose.com, for additional information, or email your questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com.