Why Don’t Women Like To Sell? 3 Tips for Women Entrepreneurs
Well, actually, we do. We’re selling our favorite shoes, purses, movies, books and restaurants all the time. We just don’t get paid for it. When it comes to selling for ourselves, and getting paid, we don’t like it. We feel pushy and salesy, as if getting paid for our product or service was a bad thing. I’ve even heard women apologize for it. Enough already!
Here’s 3 Tips To Increase Sales
1. Stop Using the Word Sell. If you’re not comfortable with the “S” word, stop saying it. Use words that are more authentic and true to your core, like the word Invite. Invite is one my favorite words. Invite people to look at your product, become a customer, refer your business and join your team.
2. Stop Talking, Start Listening. Women love to talk and share; it’s what we do best. Our passion for our business can sometimes give us what my Mother called diarrhea of the mouth. The cure is not Imodium, it’s listening. My rule is, if I’m talking more than my customer, I will always get a no. Let your customer sell themselves by sharing how much they want or need your product or service. A great question to get the conversation started is, “What interests you most about ______?” Oohhh, tell me more!
3. Stop Hanging Out With People Who Don’t Want Or Need Your Product. If you’re getting lots of no’s and feel you have no one left to call, you’re hanging out with the wrong people. Take time out to identify who your ideal client is by answering a few questions: 1) Who’s attracted to your message? 2) What do you and your ideal client have in common, and 3) Who are you called to serve? Get started by making a list of 100 contacts that fit into this profile. If you don’t know anyone, get out and network with groups where your ideal client is hanging out. Start off by sharing how you can help them; give and you will receive. Then, after you build a relationship, invite your new connections to look at your product, listen in, and increase sales.
Lynn Bardowski is an award-winning entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
Spread Your Feathers and Get Attention
Yesterday I keynoted an Authors’ Conference to share some of the juicy details on how I became a best-selling author. As I held up my book, I told the attendees that the day to start promoting their book is, well, today – in other words, as soon as they decide to write a book. A woman in the audience asked, “…how do I tell everyone about my book without sounding like I’m bragging? I don’t want to be seen as pushy?” That’s one I’ve heard, and blogged about, before. Men biz-brag all the time. It’s time the ladies pulled up our big girl panties and got over our fear of being pushy. Trust me, pushy people are not worrying, or even thinking about, being pushy. If you’re worried about it, it’s not in your DNA. I’ve heard it so many times; I call it The Pushy Myth. You’re creating a story to justify a limiting belief. When a woman wants to get a man’s attention, out come the red dress and stilettos. Yet, we don’t know how to do that with our businesses. Here’s how to strut your stuff and get your message out to the world. Not just for you, but for the people you serve.
Get Real: Tune in to what limiting belief is holding you back and face your fear head-on. Or maybe it’s feather-on, like a peacock. Those birds really know how to get someone’s attention! Go figure, it’s the males who know how to work it. Peacock feathers are so beautiful they’re used for everything from art to fashion to home decor. It’s a great example of the impact you can have on the world when you put yourself out there.
Start Today: Whether you’re marketing a book, or marketing a biz, you need clients (or readers) to be successful. Don’t get all dressed up with no place to go. Your #1 activity while you’re getting ready to launch a book (or business) is building your client base. One of my friend’s husbands said it best on a recent couples dinner date, “…network or perish.” I laughed when he said it. Partly because the statement sounded so alarmist it caught me off guard. It has a lot of truth in it.
Avoid the Words, “I don’t do (fill in the blank with any social media platform)”. Social media is not going away. If you want to build your list, start sharing, tweeting, pinning, posting and videoing. Remember, it’s called social media for a reason. Leave the salesy rhetoric for the advertisers. If you don’t know how to use posts to generate revenue, click on over to my training page. I’ll teach you how to be a savvy social media maven.
I finished my speech by sharing, tongue in cheek, that I’m successful because I’m a shameless self-promoter. That got a chuckle because most of the time I don’t take myself too seriously. But, I do take my message seriously. Be passionate enough that you want to spread your feathers and attract attention.
Lynn Bardowski is an award-winning entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker, mentor and radio show host. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, read her book, listen to her radio show, follow her blog and "LIKE" her Facebook page. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
photo credit: Laurence & Annie via photopin cc
The Fortune Is In The Follow Up
You know who makes the best customer service experts? Bartenders. I had the opportunity to interview entrepreneur Stella Collington on my radio show, Million $ Party Girl Talk. She spent 20 years as a professional bartender before taking the leap to join the ranks of entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams, as a Diamond Independent Business Partner with Rastelli Direct. When describing how she stumbled upon her purpose and passion, Stella’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Rastelli’s foods have literally been in front of her for almost half her life, but she didn’t really “see” them until she went to an event, Rastelli’s distributor business launch, seeking a business opportunity for her boyfriend (not herself). Stella was going to stay for a few minutes, just long enough to drop off his information. Instead she left with a new business that spoke to her heart.
Her vision is to Stellavate (I love that) everyone’s life by providing quality farm to family food, so you can have more time to Stellabrate your life. 20 years behind the bar taught Stella how to be a great listener and excel at customer service. She doesn’t sell, she serves. Stella’s passion even shows up in the name of her website: eatpaylove.com.
As Stella puts it, the fortune is in the follow up! Here’s some of her tips excerpted from my interview:
Lynn: Most sales, and opportunities, are lost from the lack of follow up. What are your top customer service tips?
Stella: Follow up can be daunting and causes great F.E.A.R (False. Evidence. Appearing. Real.) in many business people. Does this sound like your business? But, there is a fortune to be had! I have a system I follow and it keeps it simple, yet effective.
TOP 3 TIPS
· Contact your connection 24-48 hours after the initial meeting. Remember key words of the conversation by being a GREAT listener. People love to know you actually HEARD what they had to say. It can be business or personal…the key is to keep the conversation about them.
· Ask your clients their preferred method of contact. (e.g. phone call/text, email, social media). If you’re wondering why your contact is not calling you back it might just be because they prefer a text.
· Set APPOINTMENTS to follow up and qualify your leads. Your time and their time are valuable.
When was the last time a business called you after the sale? Rarely, if ever. Continued service after the purchase is very important. It’s one way you can stand out from the crowd.
Make sure you always thank your clients. I have a consumable product so it’s very important for me to make sure it has arrived safe and sound. Once I have been assured I will let my client know I will be back in touch once they have used the product. Good time for that appointment.
The back office of my website provides all the information I need to track purchases from the initial purchase to delivery and is a very valuable tool. Use the resources that are available to you and, if you don’t have them, there’s an app for that.
I question my clients about their needs by asking about their family size, products interests, budget, etc. Serving also means making sure my service is a value for them. By learning who my clients are I can follow up on a regular basis built around their needs and schedules.
We are all so busy with life these days…a valued service that offers convenience, time management and saving money is priceless!
“One unhappy customer is one too many.”
Bon Appétit!
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.
WE HAVE THE CURE!
Photo courtesy of www.DanaRomanoPhotography.com
You’ve been invited to a networking event. You are excited. You know this is what you need. This event is going to help catapult your business to a new level. You are going to meet people who can support you and connect you with the people who need your service/product.
It’s the day of the event, and you are feeling a little nervous. Butterflies in the stomach, you feel like somebody put lead weights in your shoes! What is all of this? You are a successful business person, who loves what you do.
It is the dreaded condition known as “Network-itis”, and you my friend are not alone in suffering from this condition. The good news is that this is a curable condition. It is easily remedied. Why? Because you already know, you have got to “network to get work”
Here are some “cure-alls” to getting rid of Network-itis once and for all.
1. Take small steps. Rome wasn’t conquered in a day and either will your networking skills.
2. Go with a friend or fellow business acquaintance. There is strength in numbers, and walking into a room where you know no one can be a little intimidating. Walk in with a friend, (but don’t hang on to that friend, remember you are here to meet new people).
3. Be Prepared. Business cards? Check. Looking good. Check. Have your 60 second personal commercial ready. Practice it in front of a mirror, to your significant other, your best girlfriend. After 16 years of public speaking I still practice what I am going to say in my car on the way to an event. And yes, people look at me twice. But I don’t care. I am going to go in there and look like I know what I am doing, (even if I am not so sure!)
4. Extend a hand and a smile. You will be amazed what these two simple gestures will do for you in confidence and your business. You are not the only one who has Network-itis. People will remember you for your kindness
5. Be true to who you are. This I know is easier said than done. It will take practice. But when you are true to yourself, people appreciate the honesty that comes with that presence.
You still may not be comfortable with networking but with the above tips, it should help ease the pain. So, whether you like it or not, force yourself to get out there and network, you’ll be glad you did and your business will thank you for it.
Robin Tracey, known as the "You got to Network to Get Work" Guru, is a national speaker, 16 year solo-preneur and
Co-Founder of Interconnections for Women networking group. For tips and tricks on how to get your "network" on go to www.interconnectionsforwomen.org
Hear Robin's inspiring story and expert networking tips on Million $ Party Girl Talk Radio
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/
25 Empowering Theme Songs For Women
Every Visionista needs a theme song!
Music empowers, inspires, motivates and gets our creative energy flowing. A feeling that you can conquer the world comes over you as you turn up the volume, open the car window and let your hair blow free in the wind. We put it on replay when we need it most (even if it’s just playing in our mind) – an important meeting with a client, a presentation in front of a crowd or entering a room of strangers at a networking event. Music gets our mojo going. Just watch any YouTube video of a baby intuitively moving to the beat. It’s proof that rockin’ out to our theme song is in our DNA.
Helen Reddy had never written a song before when she penned I Am Woman in 1971. She set an intention to write an anthem that would inspire women and woke up with the lyrics in her head. The song is a fond memory for my sister and I. When we got our “period”, becoming women, our mother opened the stereo, took out her Helen Reddy album and blasted the song throughout the house. As a teenager we didn’t know whether we should laugh, cry, hide or just roll our eyes. Looking back as the mother of two daughters, I can reflect on the message my mom was sending to us. She wanted us to know we were women, we were strong and we could do anything.
Not only did I Am Woman become an empowering anthem for women’s rights in the 1970’s, it stood the test of time. In 2010, when Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director (The Hurt Locker), the orchestra played I Am Woman as she exited the stage.
Many great songs have been written since Helen Reddy set an intention, tuned in to inspiration and led the way for women’s empowerment. Katy Perry’s Firework is a song that’s on frequent replay in my mind when I need to get my Million $ Party Girl on. Here’s my list of 25 empowering songs that will leave “the doubter”, and any limiting beliefs, at the door.
25 Empowering Songs for Women
I’m every woman – Whitney Houston (& Chaka Khan)
Simply The Best – Tina Turner
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Hold On – Wilson Phillips
Coming Out Of The Dark – Gloria Estefan
Hero – Mariah Carey
Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
A Woman’s Worth – Alicia Keys
Feeling Good – Jennifer Hudson
Firework – Katy Perry
Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Give Me Everything – Afrojack & Ne-Yo
Good Time – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
A New Day Has Come – Celine Dion
Play On – Carrie Underwood
Settlin’ – Sugarland
Titanium – David Guetta & Sia
I Am Woman – Jordin Sparks
This One’s For The Girls – Martina McBride
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
Hit The Lights – Selena Gomez
Red High Heels – Kellie Pickler
Born This Way- Lady Gaga
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.com and "LIKE" her FB page,https://www.facebook.com/MillionDollarPartyGirl. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
GAME ON! How To Use Social Media To Score A Marketing TD
The team is in the huddle – are you ready to rock your social media presence and rally friends, fans and followers to connect with your business? It’s Game On! Football connects fans of all ages and genders. Even if I don’t watch the game, I’m still wearing my Eagles green on game day. Here’s how I used Facebook to create a fun and profitable marketing promotion, in just a few minutes.
5 Tips To Using Social Media To Create A Winning Marketing Promotion!
1. Post “Socially”, not Sales-y: I did not use my logo or sale flyer; instead I used a photo of the team mascot. E-A-G-L-E-S! The less you post company logos or add flyers on Facebook, the more you’ll engage and connect with friends and fans. It’s about them, not you. Add a web link as a comment that takes your customer to the landing page you refer to in your post. My post was a BOGO candle sale so the link took them right to the candle >add to cart page on my website.
2. Timing Is Everything: I shared this post just minutes before kickoff – when everyone was on Facebook posting about their home team. It created a limited time offer without me having to say it. Everyone knew when the offer started and when it ended because they were all tuning in to the game.
3. Offer incentives that get everyone rooting for the home team: Offer a freebie every time the team scores. i.e.: The 1st to shop online (or sign up for your offer) are the first in the drawing. Watching the game has never been so much fun for your customers! I generated hundreds of dollars in sales in just a few hours while having a blast. When the Eagles lost I sent my virtual sale into OT, giving everyone a chance for a do-over.
4. Draft more players: If your customers are friends, promote your post (avg. cost $7) so you stay at the top of the news feed. My promoted post had 14x more views. If your customers are fans promote a post to get more views (avg. cost $5). Of my 630 Fans, typically 200 see a post. By promoting a post I increased the number to 1,700+ views, which also increased my page exposure and LIKES. It’s well worth a $5 investment.
5. Every Team Needs A Cheerleader: Post and tag winners. Tagging winners adds them to your marketing team. My winners posted what they ordered and how much they saved – all without any encouragement from me. They got caught up in the game time excitement, routing everyone else on to shop and save! We all want what everyone else is having. As the Eagles were scoring I cheered on my customers, “I do believe that was another SCORE! 7 POINTS! Picking the winner in 5 minutes – Get your Shopping On to get in the drawing…”, throughout the game in real time. When the team was about to score I set up the next play to engage people to take action.
Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest all give you the opportunity to connect with potential customers over a shared passion. You don’t need lots of planning to create a winning marketing strategy. All you need is your game jersey, a fun social post and fan engagement to win the game. SCORE!
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.
HOW DO YOU PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER THE STORM?
The day after Hurricane Sandy blew through NJ, crushing many shore towns, I picked up the phone to check on my dad. He was born in Atlantic City, NJ and married my mom, a Margate girl. I was just a baby during the March ’62 storm (frequently compared to Sandy), and by the time I was five, we moved offshore, settling in the first town on the other side of the bridge. Being a stubborn seventy-five year old man, my dad would not leave his home and hunkered down for the hurricane. Thank God he made it through the storm unscathed. The morning after Sandy made landfill we discussed the news of the devastation and the shocking pictures we saw on the news. My dad’s first response, stated with strong concern was, “How will they rebuild?” He answered his question in the same sentence saying, “They will, they always do.”
After the rain, comes the rainbow. A glimmer of light and hope in the dark of day that everything will be ok. It’s true for nature and life. We can be paralyzed by our problems or we can be the someone who does something. Taking action and making a difference is what keeps us moving FORWARD when the storms blow in.
Here’s a few ways you can start – today.
Provide a service or product to those in need. During the storm I saw businesses posting special offers if you shopped during the storm. Really? I don’t think a natural disaster should be a theme for a sale event. You just lost me as a customer. Instead, offer a product or service to those in need. I’m proud to say our team was offering FREE candles to anyone who wanted them. Just come on by and pick them up – we’ve got ‘em.
Donate. Our team rallied together to donate a % of profits from sales after the storm. Instead of being the kind of company that profits from a disaster, you can choose to be the company that gives back. I realize you’re in business to make money, but why not generate business and give a donation to a Hurricane Relief Fund or the American Red Cross at the same time? Its good karma, and it will come back to you times ten.
Volunteer. Rebuilding takes time. As my mom used to say, “Many hands make light work.” Roll up your sleeves and offer your assistance in your community or with a volunteer organization – everyone can do something. Collect supplies, share a link, pick up a phone, get involved. Social media makes helping easy. Look for posts on friends Facebook pages and share links and resources. “LIKE” Operation Restore Our Shore to see how you can help. Use #NJSandy (or your State) to join the discussion on Twitter. Follow The American Red Cross @RedCross and United Way @United Way on Twitter.
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.
Visionista’s in Pink Recap
October 17th’s event, Visionistas in Pink, was a celebration of a lot of things - Breast Cancer Awareness, fabulous shoes, and a best-selling new book calledSuccess Secrets of a Million $ Party Girl by Lynn Cusack Bardowski. Lynn’s mission is to empower fellow female entrepreneurs. Her energy is contagious and her followers are many – as evidenced by the almost 200 women who attended the event.
Click HERE to read more.
THE POWER OF TRIANGLES – AND OTHER VENDOR/EXPO EVENT SUCCESS TIPS
Tune in to inspiration, it can come from unlikely sources, including a photograph. Upon returning from exciting travel destinations I would rush to develop my pictures (this was before digital). Much to my dismay a majority of my photographs did not turn out well. If I was going to pursue my dream of traveling the world, I better learn a little about photography so I could capture my memory making moments. Off I went to sign up for a community college photography class. One of the concepts I learned about was the “Power of the Triangle.” My professor shared that “triangles break symmetry and create odd numbered compositions, giving the eye a pattern to follow.”
It was if a triangle fell out of the sky and hit me on the head. For years I had been teaching Customers about decorating in odd numbers. Now it all made sense. I could use the power of the triangle to create simple, attractive and eye appealing displays at vendor/expo events. A new idea, which I called “Triangle Marketing”, was born. Using this concept an attractive display can be set up in minutes by displaying your items in 3 varying heights. Utilize commonly found items including phone books, pots and boxes to add height to your display. Drape fabric or tablecloths to hide your secret props. While your competitors are placing products or marketing collateral flat on their tables – your display will win best in show and attract the biggest crowd at your event. You can find examples of the power of the triangle everywhere. The Mona Lisa was a triangle, your family portrait has triangles and The Beatles are typically photographed in a triangle.
The photo on this page shows an example of Triangle Marketing, which you can apply to product or marketing collateral displays. How many triangles can you find?
In addition to using Triangle Marketing, here’s 3 tips (also an odd number) to rock your vendor/expo event:
1. Connect with your ideal client. You have someone approaching your booth – now what? Stand in front of your booth to engage with a potential lead. Before you “throw up” on them by sharing how great your product or service is, find out if they are your ideal client. The easiest way to find out is to ask. For example, I sell candles so I introduce myself by saying, Hi! What’s your favorite candle scent?” That helps me connect with someone who wants what I’m selling. People love to share their opinions and tell you what they’re excited about (look at Facebook & Pinterest). The more a potential client is talking, the more chances I have to convert them to a Customer.
2. Draw a crowd with a contest, sample or treat -even if it doesn’t relate to your product or service. When I sold printing the most crowded expo booth was a printing company who was giving away chocolate candy. They knew how to put a smile on people’s face and connect over a shared love for chocolate. A contest idea could be to fill a glass holder with M & M’s and give a prize to the person who can guess the count – it adds a fun factor to your table. When people are trying to figure it out you’ll have a captive audience to connect with and collect contact information for follow up. Email, cell phone numbers and twitter handles are king if you sell to Consumers. Ask if they are on Facebook, Twitter or Pintrest – you can follow or friend them before they’ve walked away from your table. Linkedin and Twitter are best for business to business. Use apps like CardMunch to connect live at the event. Once you find out someone is an ideal client, I highly recommend giving away a free sample. Samples can be an actual product, a trial offer or a video/webcast. Always leave them wanting more.
3. Follow up. You did it! You used Triangle Marketing to create an awesome display, drew a crowd, connected with your ideal client, got their contact information and sent them home with a sample of your product! What's next? If you're social media savvy you've already connected on FB and commented on a picture of their kids or pet. If FB/Twitter is a no – connect via Text. No one answers the phone and Consumers are inundated with email. Engage your potential customer a few days later by asking if they enjoyed your sample and if yes, what did they like most about it? I like to use a survey with 1-5 ratings (private message on FB or text) so I can see what their interest level is. If the level is high, I follow up with an offer or coupon to close the deal. Voila! I have a new Customer. Increasing your client base is just like dating. Start slow by letting them experience your product or service. Then you can move on to first base.
You have one minute to make a good first impression. An eye catching display will attract your ideal client and open the door to more opportunities. Always put your best vendor table forward.
Lynn Bardowski is a 22 year entrepreneur, best selling author, national speaker and business coach. For insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and vision, follow her blog, milliondollarpartygirl.com and LIKE her FB page,https://www.facebook.com/MillionDollarPartyGirl. You may republish this article in full, as long as you list this paragraph and provide a link.
What Do Women Really Want?
by Lynn Bardowski
After returning from a recent successful customer event, I feel like I’ve discovered the answer to the question, “What do women really want?” It actually all started a few years ago when attendance at our events started tanking. Our leadership team brainstormed ideas on how we could do things differently to connect with more customers.
Three years is like light years in this economy; therefore, innovation and creativity are the keys to keeping your business above water and thriving.
Although our events continue to be works in progress, our leadership team has come up with many fun and effective approaches that you can use to keep your customers coming back. We create what I call an “I love (your company name here)” experience, as outlined below.
Connect with Lynn