Get Better Results by Starting from Where You Are

Do you want...more?
The women who come to me are at a place in their life and business where they want more. They want more time with their family; they want more time for themselves (imagine that!); they want their business to bring in more income; they want to feel more fulfilled doing what they love, helping to transform the lives of their clients and make the difference they are meant to make.

They have tried marketing their business; they've tried going out and meeting people; they've tried social media; they've created a website and now want people to actually visit it and contact them... sound familiar?

It's overwhelming to think about all those things that you need to do in your business to get it to...well... FLOW.

So, where do you start?

The simplest answer is to... start where you are.

If you're like my clients...

• You've been in business for a number of years and you're exceptional at what you do, but no one knows it (meaning, an inconsistent flow of clients)
• You like doing things your way and on your own, but you're not getting the results you know are possible
• You want to increase your income and you know it's possible, but you're already working as hard as you possibly can and you're not willing to giving up the other things that you enjoy

So then, how do you close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be? 


Here is 1 essential tip as well as some key action steps to help you get better results by 'starting where you are'...

ESSENTIAL TIP: Know where you are! Yes, this sounds like a no-brainer, however, I know from my own experiences and from my highly creative coaches and colleagues that our natural tendency is to want to be three steps ahead.

Even for my clients who have been in business for 20+ years, they need to re-evaluate where their business is at. Knowing where you are has nothing to do with how much you know or how many years you've been in business; it has to do with what stage your business is at.

Even for women who have been in business for a number of years, they need to review what they are a stand for in their business, who their clients are, and what uniquely sets them apart, which are all parts of the core phase of branding their business, so they can get better results, faster from their marketing.

'Take Action Today' Step: Write a short list of the primary challenges you're currently having in your business. Be completely honest as you write this list. This is going to help you know where you are right now and help you with the next action step, which is determining what you need, to overcome these challenges and take your business to where you want it to be.

For example, if you write, “my primary challenge is telling potential clients clearly what I do and how I help them,” then your next step is to write down what resources you'll need, what steps you'll need to take, and/or who you'll need to contact to help you learn how to clearly express what you do, so you can start getting more clients and making the difference you're meant to make.

Bonus tip: Be specific. Don't write “my primary challenge is money;” Almost everyone I talk to has a challenge with money in one form or another; whether it relates to how to charge and price their services; whether they're currently making money or not; whether they fear investing in their business because of the 'what if' beliefs that surface... “what if I fail?” “what if I don't get clients?”...

Bonus, bonus tip: Once you have your list of your primary challenges and the resources or people you'll need to move you and your business forward, take action... research those resources and contact those people... explore what's possible for you, so you can take your business to where you want it to be.

When you know where you are and what steps and actions you need to take (and of course take those steps), you'll find you'll quickly get better results.

A big part of what I do is I empower entrepreneurs to unearth their excellence as the leader of their business and take courageous action toward their goals. Because when you know deep within yourself that there's more you're meant to do and more you're meant to help your clients to achieve, you know the only option is to take action.

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

If you would like to use this article on your blog or website, feel free as long as you include the following author information:

Known for her creativity, gentle disposition, enthusiasm, and passion, Lisa Hromada is a Personal Branding Strategist and 'Authentic Marketing' Coach who specializes in empowering women entrepreneurs to manage their time and find the clarity and focus they need to create a thriving business while still having the time and energy to enjoy their life. Find Lisa's FREE gifts and more at: http://www.lisahromada.com

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5 Key Areas to Building Your Brand

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Are a passionate entrepreneur with a vision for your work and making a difference? If you are like the women entrepreneurs who I know, you are determined, driven, enthusiastic and ready to show your brilliance to those people who you serve, but perhaps don’t know where to begin, what to say, or what next steps to take.

The fear of not making the right decisions, investing your time and money into the right training and resources can be overwhelming and cause feelings of frustration, fatigue, and even despair.

The good news is that the success that you desire is possible and attainable no matter where you are in your business–whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned business owner. Let me share with you a very basic branding process that I go through with companies, large and small, as well as entrepreneurs in all stages of their business, so that you have a better understanding of how it may help you where you currently are in your business.

1. Internal assessment: It is important to first explore what you are all about in your business. Because You are the key selling point of your business–you are the face of your business–you want to take an internal assessment and understand and be able to articulate what you are all about. Start with getting in touch with your vision and then the purpose for your work and who you want to reach out to and the difference that you want to make. 
   
   
2. External assessment: Although it is essential that you understand who you are and what you stand for, you also need to know how others view you. You may think that you are helpful when you give advice, but others may feel that you are too direct and cold.
   
   Large companies often spend thousands of dollars on this type of assessment, which we both know that as an entrepreneur you simply can't do; the good news is that you don’t have to! One of the tools I use to get feedback when helping to develop personal brands for clients is the 360 Reach Personal Branding Assessment. Using this type of assessment allows you to see how others view you. It is an anonymous survey that invites participants to be candid about their perceptions of you and although this sounds very corporate and restrictive, it's actually really fun and insightful. It also plays a significant role in helping you market your business.
   
   
3. Statement of influence: As a passionate and powerful leader of your business, you have a distinct statement of influence—even if you're not clear on what it is yet. A statement of influence is essentially how you describe and express yourself when networking and marketing. It concisely tells what you are all about in your business and how you are distinct from others in your market.
   
   
   
4. Marketing and Communications Plan: Your plan includes how and what you communicate online and in print, as well as how often. I always like to help my clients create a clear plan of action for how they will market and communicate, so that they always have a guide for the next step to take to continually building their credibility, so they attract more potential clients and contacts on a continuous basis.
   
   
   
5. Visual Expression: This includes your logo, color palette, typography, images and graphics that you carry throughout all of your communications. The graphic design elements of your brand have a significant impact on how your audience makes purchasing decisions. Upon looking at your logo, website, and other graphics, your audience makes assumptions about your professionalism, credibility, and more, so it is important that you either consult with a professional in graphic design or hire a graphic designer to work with you personally on designing the visual foundation of your brand.

Knowing where you are in your business is essential to getting the best results without feeling overwhelmed. The overwhelm comes when you find yourself working on an area that is three steps ahead of where you're actually currently at—you can't be successfully working on your marketing plan, when you don't yet have a crystal clear vision of yourself and your business. Start with getting in touch with your vision and purpose for your work and who you want to reach out to and make the difference that you want to make.

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

If you would like to use this article on your blog or website, feel free as long as you include the following author information:

Known for her creativity, gentle disposition, enthusiasm, and passion, Lisa Hromada is a Personal Branding Strategist and Money, Marketing, & Soul Coach who specializes in empowering women entrepreneurs to manage their time and find the clarity and focus they need to create a thriving business while still having the time and energy to enjoy their life. Find Lisa's FREE gifts and more at: http://www.lisahromada.com

How to Brand Your Business Yourself

What is Your Brand Xcellence Factor?

Brand Essentials to help you brand your business Yourself!

Your brand is not about just having a logo or Website; your brand is everything that relates to your business, from the way that you communicate daily with your clients and partners, to the graphic design elements that you carry throughout all of your marketing and advertising materials. Essentially, what you are doing when you brand your business is you are communicating { both visually and verbally } a particular message to the public, so that they develop a positive perception of you and your business.

Free Download of Introduction & Branding Preview Available

Lisa Hromada, Personal Brand Designer, designed a downloadable home-study program that you can do on your own time and at your own pace. Included in this program are ways that you can generate creative ideas on how you make more money in your business, build a strong brand foundation, market your brand more effectively, and much more.

This Brand Essentials Home Study Program gives you steps to take to ensure that you are representing your unique brand message in everything that you do in your business.

This program helps make certain that your brand is effectively communicating your message to the right audience in a compelling way. It will not teach you how to create a logo or other design elements; it is important to first have a strong brand foundation and clarity of the potential of your business.

Results!
Results are what you're looking for!

• Attract the attention of your ideal clients so you can make more money.
• Create more brand buzz for your biz.
• Get to where you’re going faster by following a step-by-step system.
• Concentrate on the essentials of what you need to accomplish and set aside the rest for later.
• Save thousands of dollars that you would need to spend on a branding agency.
• Take your business to the next leve visually and verballyl.
• Work more efficiently and cost-effectively with graphic designers and other vendors.
• Market your unique brand influence in thought-provoking ways through speaking, writing, and product development.
• Leverage your talents and manage your time to get more done.
• Understand your strengths and recognize opportunities to grow your business. (HUGE in building your brand)
• Create situations to make your business stronger and more successful.
• Establish yourself as a leader in your field.
• Gain a greater focus for your work. Why? The more focused, the more creative...the more profit for your biz!
• Stand out from others who offer similar products and services. This is your brand Xcellence factor, your brand influence in the market!