Ultimate Work At Home Dads &#187; successful entrepreneur

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Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and marketing-success coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and personal-touch marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, and Facebook applications. Visit his blog at http://bit.ly/24eYTO to learn more about his successes.

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Fallacies of Marketing

089 The Invisible Touch – The Eight Keys to Lasting Relationships – Sacrifice

088 The Invisible Touch – The Eight Keys to Lasting Relationships – Apparent Expertise

Charlie Seymour Jr — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:02:58 +0000

The Fourth Key: Relationships – Get To It

When you produce marketing materials, don’t “bury the lead.” Here’s what I mean.

Don’t wait to tell your prospects/clients/customers/patients why they should work with you. Say it early and make it clear.

And always phrase it from THEIR perspective.

Remember: people really don’t care about YOU… they care about themselves. They want to know how YOU and help THEM; why YOU are the best person to help THEM; why what YOU have is exactly what THEY need.

Delay in explaining it to them, hold out and make them read, study, hunt for what you do that is perfect for them and you’ll lose them.

And their business.

So… get to it: tell them clearly, and do it from THEIR perspective.

And now – leave me a comment here to tell me what YOU feel about this!

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
Blogging, Podcasting, Consulting

The Invisible Touch – A Marketing Blog Series By Charles Seymour Jr
For The Index, Click Here!

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Fallacies of Marketing

088 The Invisible Touch – The Eight Keys to Lasting Relationships – Apparent Expertise-Get To It

Successful Entrepreneur – No, You Don't Need A College Education to be Successful

Charlie Seymour Jr — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:33:06 +0000

Soar Above The Rest By Design

[Note – Please know that I am NOT against college or graduate level education. I have both a BA and an MBA myself. But if you do NOT, don’t let it hold you back!]

So you're thinking about joining the world of the self-employed but you're concerned because you don't have a college education. How can you compete against people who have gone to some of the best business schools in the country? In the world?

Relax.

Some of the world's most successful businesspeople grew their empires without the benefit of higher education.

Let These People Inspire You

When you think about it, one of the big things you've missed is paying 100 grand (or more) to have some professor tell you how to fit into a box. Perhaps for YOUR life, you're much better off being a free-thinker like the following movers and shakers:

Diana Spencer never attended college and wasn't a very good student, but there was something about her that grabbed the attention of the world.

Diana supported charities that brought attention to health matters such as AIDS and leprosy. She was a patron of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and that work still goes on today in her name.

She was kind, beautiful, and empathetic, and when she died in the Paris tunnel, a little part of all of us died with her highness.

Peter Jennings, the urbane ABC news anchor, dropped out of a Canadian high school at the age of 17. That didn't prevent him from becoming one of the most famous foreign correspondents in the United States.

After over ten years abroad he returned stateside to act as the anchor of ABC Evening News. Who can forget his coverage of the World Trade Center collapse, or the night he announced lung cancer was forcing him to retire?

Wanna travel into space? Well, you might give Virgin Galactic a call. That's one of Richard Branson's companies. Sir Richard never went to college, but Virgin is one of the most recognizable and popular brands in the world.

And he's a Knight of the British Empire. Not bad for a high school dropout.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of our most celebrated novelists, dropped out of Princeton because he wasn't a very good student. That didn't stop him from writing The Great American Novel.

Although not very popular when first published, The Great Gatsby is number two on Modern Library's list of 100 Best Novels of the 20th century. Another of his books, Tender is the Night, is number 28 on the same list.

Another great American writer, William Faulkner, dropped out of high school in his sophomore year.

Faulkner, too, has two books on Modern Library's list: The Sound and The Fury at number 6, and As I Lay Dying at number 35. (By the way, number 1 on the list is ULYSSES by James Joyce.)

In 1949 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Pretty good for a man with no formal education.

When Henry Ford landed in Detroit, cars were built by hand, one-by-one. He figured out how to speed up the process using an assembly line and interchangeable parts.

He also advocated high wages for his employees, which lessened turnover and improved the workers' quality of life.

He received 161 patents, one for a car made from soy-based plastic. He had no education to speak of, just a belief in himself and the drive to make the world a better place.

Oh yeah, he also instituted the eight-hour work day so three shifts could build cars around the clock.

Patrick Stewart, Captain Picard of Star Trek, The Next Generation, and Professor Xavier of the X-Men franchises, has a voice like a university professor. When he talks, you're compelled to listen.

He dropped out of school at the age of 15 to pursue acting and never looked back.

Anna Wintour, the current editor of Vogue, quit school at 16 to enter a training program at Harrod's, London's famous department store.

Today, she's among the world's foremost fashion authorities, setting trends and mentoring young designers. This woman determines what you and I will be wearing in the years to come.

Dropping out of Harvard in his Junior year didn't stop Bill Gates from changing the world as we know it. He's Mr. Microsoft, inventor of the personal computer. Bet you've got at least one at home or know several people who do.

Mr. Gates is consistently ranked among the world's richest men. To date, his charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has given away over $35 billion.

Steven Spielberg dropped out of CSU Long Beach to work in the movie industry. He's directed such classics as Shindler’s List, Jaws, the Indiana Jones series, and Munich, to name just a few.

Considered the most influential American director of all time, Spielberg has a natural talent for film making and passion that shows in every frame of his films.

Hard to believe, but Frank Lloyd Wright can be included in this illustrious group. It's doubtful he ever graduated high school, and he only attended two semesters of college.

One of the world's most famous architects had no degree, yet he was one of the founders of the Prairie School movement, and created beautiful, iconic buildings that still inspire us today.

And for the cherry on top, here's a list of U.S. Presidents who didn't attend college:

You Become What You Envision And Work Hard For

Lack of an education didn't prevent any of these men and women from achieving big things in the world of business and politics. They all had ambition, the drive to succeed, and they always believed in themselves.

Success is not something learned in college, and it certainly isn't guaranteed with a degree. It's something you can develop by following certain tried and true steps.

To discover what those steps are, read my article “Successful Entrepreneur – Can I Make It As An Entrepreneur?”

And be sure to leave us a comment below – what OTHER great success stories do you know that were created by someone who hadn't finished college?

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and success-marketing coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and personal-touch marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, Facebook, and Twitter applications. Visit his blog at Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog to learn more about his successes.

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Successful Entrepreneur – No, You Don't Need A College Education to be Successful

Successful Entrepreneur – The Phoenix Way to Unlimited Success And Happiness

Charlie Seymour Jr — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:53:56 +0000

Soar Above The Rest By Design

You're familiar with the myth of the phoenix, the legendary firebird that dies every 500 years only to be reborn from its ashes, more beautiful and resplendent than ever before?

That's what you're looking to do, isn't it? Rise from the ashes of your old life and be reborn as a successful businessperson?

Fortunately, the way has been traveled before. Many folks have had to start from scratch and grow a business from the ground up. I call them the Phoenix Entrepreneurs.

The Phoenix Entrepreneur Rising From The Ashes

Just like the bird, Phoenix Entrepreneurs rise from the ashes of an old life, a life that was no longer viable.

In the beginning, they felt just like you probably do now: scared, unsure, and probably pretty alone.

Yet they made it.

They created businesses that have withstood the test of time and nourished not only their own families, but the families of hundreds (if not thousands) of employees. If you don't believe me, just read No, You Don't Need a College Education to be Successful And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

There are Phoenix Entrepreneurs all over the place. It's an illustrious group and one you can join! All it takes is following a few simple steps and thinking a certain way.

If you need a point clarified, just ask. Leave a message on the blog and you'll get not only my years of experience, but the experience of all the others who respond to your question.

Ready?

Keep reading to find out how Phoenix businessmen and businesswomen think and act to grow a successful business.

Think Like The Phoenix Entrepreneur To Succeed

The Phoenix understands that his/her thoughts create reality. He uses his thoughts and feelings and the power of visualization to create the reality he wants.

The Phoenix knows that if she holds in her mind a picture of the end result she wants to create, the Universe will find a way to make it happen.

Quite a concept, isn't it?

What if life were really that simple? Just hold the thought of what you want to create in your mind, and viola. There it is.

When you think about it, you realize we do this hundreds of times a day, don’t we!

• You want a sandwich and either make one or go to the deli. You don't think twice about it.

• If you need fuel in the car, you drive to the local gas station, hand over the credit card, and fill'er up. No biggie.

• If you want some fresh flowers on the table, you go to the garden and cut some. Mission accomplished.

So why is creating a business any different from eating a sandwich, filling up the car, or picking flowers?

What are your thoughts on this? How have you intentionally manifested something in your life? Leave me a comment below.

The Phoenix realizes downtime is important. He knows a rested mind is a sharp mind. Days off are a chance to see things from a different perspective, to get a different slant on situations and life in general.

Downtime is also crucial to family time.

When you spend time with your family, be with your family. Don't think about business. (This is one of the BIGGEST challenges I have! I think about marketing and business ALL the time.)

Listen to your wife. How is her life going? She probably needs you as a sounding board, someone to bounce her problems off. Or listen to your husband and show interest in what he’s doing – to know you care is very important to him.

How's school going for your daughter? She needs her dad's shoulder to cry on sometimes. She needs her mom’s understanding. Be there for both of them. Completely. They are much more important than any business could ever be.

Do you do anything special to unwind? Have a special place to go with your family so you can just enjoy being together? Share your thoughts with us in a comment below!

The Phoenix learns at every opportunity. She knows that life moves fast, and if she isn't careful, an important development could pass her by.

Keep up on the latest tech news, on any developments that could impact your business and services. If you have kids, ask them to let you know about Bluetooth innovations, or new apps that could make your life a little easier and speed up your supply line. They'll feel good if they get to help their dad or mom and it will get you two a little more time together which is never a bad thing.

And find a few blogs (like this one) and people on Facebook who clue you in on new technology changes – learning from others saves you SO much time.

What's your favorite way to keep up on current events? Do you subscribe to a favorite blog (like this one!) or news feed? Do clients help you keep up-to-date? Are you using Facebook to learn from an expert?

The Phoenix knows herself and doesn't oversell her products, services, or abilities. She is well aware of her strengths and weaknesses and represents herself honestly.

If there's a possibility she can't deliver on the client's needs, she's upfront about it. She will never agree to assignments just to get a sale if there's even the slightest possibility that his client could be inconvenienced.

The Phoenix knows that this brutal honesty will always benefit him and his business.

Do you have any special tips or tricks for hiding your weak points? Do you have an assistant that files or delivers product for you? Let us know how you're operating!

The Phoenix prepares for the workday. He never waits until the day of the meeting to gather paperwork, brochures, and presentations. He is always prepared well ahead of time so he can calmly walk into the meeting and sell himself and his business.

Being prepared speaks well of the Phoenix and his business.

The Phoenix commits to her work and her life. That commitment is obvious and contagious. She's totally passionate about her service and her clients and sees them as two sides of the same coin. She can't have one without the other.

How about you? What are you passionate about? Your family, a community cause, a baseball team? Let us know how you feel. Leave a message and let's talk about it.

The Phoenix works hard and knows that all the effort he puts into his work will pay off in the end. He knows that getting a business off the ground is difficult and will require many of hours of work per week. Probably more hours than he ever worked at XYZ Company.

Just like buying a home, the Phoenix knows that each hour he puts into his business builds equity and is really money in the bank.

How many hours do you work in a week? Have the hours lessened as your business becomes more established? Let us know how you're doing and how you’ve been able to cut back on hours.

The Phoenix embraces change. She knows that nothing is written in stone and that life is in a constant state of flux.

She sees herself as a leaf floating along a wide river. Always moving, twisting, and turning, but always on top of the situation, never inundated by the flood.

How about you? What self-talk do you have that helps you handle the changes in your life? Any thoughts and techniques you can share with the rest of us?

The Phoenix thinks positive thoughts. He only thinks about the best that can happen, the reality he wants to create. He doesn't allow negative thoughts and doubts to linger. When they do appear, he knows it's just a reminder to think positive!

Thinking positive thoughts also helps him feel happy. When he's thinking about all the good things that can happen, his mind is filled with happy thoughts and he SEES happy things (that can then be passed on to others). And happy thoughts generate more happy thoughts.

Always focus on what you're grateful for and happy about. These thoughts make you feel good, and when you feel good, you're ready to conquer the world.

Do you have a favorite saying or mantra that you rely on when times are tough? Something that gets you in a good mood immediately? Share it with us.

The Phoenix remembers that the client is king. The Phoenix knows that happy clients are the key to success. Happy clients mean good word-of-mouth advertising. Happy clients mean referrals. Happy clients make the world a better place.

The Phoenix always visualizes smiling clients shaking her hand, placing more orders, and telling their friends how great her business is.

Do you have a great client story to share? Tell us about the last client who left your office with a smile on his/her face.

The Phoenix honors himself and others. He knows that his word is his reputation. He honors others' time by being punctual to meetings. He honors his business by being professional and reliable. He honors his clients by timely payments and timely delivery of goods or services. By honoring himself and others in this way, he makes his little corner of the world a better place.

You, Too, Can Become The Phoenix Entrepreneur

Some of these habits will be hard to learn. It's challenging to teach yourself to think differently.

But it gets easier the more you do it. And it's really the key to becoming a Phoenix Entrepreneur.

Always think about the best that can happen, the perfect business, the perfect life. Take steps every day to make your dreams reality.

By remembering these few behaviors, you'll be well on your way to soaring above the crowd and truly creating the life of a Phoenix Entrepreneur.

And be sure to leave us some comments. Thanks.

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

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Successful Entrepreneur – The Phoenix Way to Unlimited Success And Happiness

Successful Entrepreneur – Recipe For Success

Charlie Seymour Jr — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:04:00 +0000

Ten Ingredients To Your Success

Success in business isn't a magic spell you can learn at Hogwarts nor a secret that's passed down among the world's elite.

Success is a recipe that has a few proven ingredients. When you mix those ingredients with love, thought, and care, you'll create something that will nourish you and your family for years to come.

Here Are Some Of The Ingredients I Find Important In The Recipe For Success

1. Happy Customers and Clients. Yep, that's the number one ingredient that successful businesspeople have in their entrepreneurial cupboard.

No matter what service you provide, it's all about the customer. If the customer isn't happy, she might not be back to buy another record, designer handbag, case of wine, your marketing service, or your web design service.

Whatever you do in your business, you should always think about the customer. Each and every action you take should be geared toward providing the best customer service possible.

Imagine yourself as your customer and visualize how you'd like to be treated. Use that as a beginning to establish your business's service guidelines.

One other thing to consider: if you don't know who you're selling to, you can't market properly. And if you can't market to the right audience, the folks you do reach probably won't have much interest in your product or service. Know who you're selling to so you can reach the places where they hang out.

2. Results. People expect things quickly these days.

Our attention span isn't what it used to be (darn all those TV commercials with 27 edits for each 30 second commercial!), so when customers come to you with questions, you've got to be Johnny-on-the-Spot with answers.

When they call with orders, you'd better have the product to them yesterday or they will go to someone who can get them what they want when they want it.

If you always have answers and products/services for customers/clients, you'll become the go-to-person, something money just can't buy.

3. Follow up. Part of keeping your customers happy is following up on an order, especially if there's some sort of snafu.

(Let’s face it – no matter how hard you try, no matter how conscientious you are, SOMETHING will go wrong at times.)

As a customer, it makes me smile when I get a call or email asking if I've received the order and if I'm happy with the product. This will only take a couple of minutes on your part, but will do wonders for your reputation.

Now, when your business really gets cooking and you've got dozens or hundreds of orders to follow up on every day, you might need to consider getting some help. But isn't that a great “problem” to have?

(And for those of us working online, drop-shipment houses and auto-responders help immensely!)

4. Reputation. Your reputation is something that will grow when the first three ingredients are blended successfully.

This might take a little time, but it’s well worth the effort. A good reputation is crucial to any successful business endeavor.

(Hey, if anyone has ever talked to you about “branding” then THIS is branding – earn a stellar reputation and keep it!)

Just remember – once lost, your reputation will be very difficult to get back. (It’s like flushing something down the toilet – “possible” to retrieve but REALLY difficult!) Make sure your product is as it's advertised to be. Make sure you follow up on promises. Make sure your customer is happy.

When you do those things, your reputation will grow and your business will flourish.

This also includes your relationship with your distributors and joint-venture partners. Make sure you pay your invoices in a timely manner. If you can't get the money to them on time, let them know when to expect payment. Keep the lines of communication open.

5. Promotion. Nobody is going to promote your business for you (unless you're paying them).

Take advantage of every opportunity to talk about your business and promote what you do.

Now, this doesn't mean jabbering at your neighbors until their eyes roll back in their heads. Just mention in passing that you can provide a service that they might need. Discreetly drop little tidbits of info into the conversation. Maybe one day they'll ask to know more about your business.

When you are tooting your own horn, it's imperative to keep an eye on your audience. Nothing turns people off faster than a self-promoter who doesn't know when to quit.

6. Selling. An important thing to remember is don't sell the product, sell the lifestyle.

In their TV ads, Apple doesn't tell you about the storage capacity of their computers, what motherboard they're using, or the size of their monitors.

No.

They show a hip guy (representing Apple) outsmarting a nerd (representing PCs). People don’t see themselves as the pocket-protector guy who can't hold up his end of a debate. Everybody identifies with the hip, laid-back lifestyle and Apple computers.

(Well, OK: not EVERYBODY – I know a few who live the life of the PC nerd – but there aren’t many like that – and the ones who are: I’m not aiming at nor attracting.)

When you're selling your product, imagine the perks your customer will get from using it. Sell the party where the wine will be poured. Sell the exclusivity of the designer handbag. Sell the eco-friendliness of the low-flow toilet. Use the customer's dreams to set the scene for your product and you'll see your sales climb as a result.

And while we're on the subject of sales, be sure to Ask for the Sale.

Customers generally don’t throw their money at you: at least I don’t know any like that. You need to lead them to the sale. Be like the little boy, Oliver, and ask for a “sale, please.”

(And while we’re on Oliver, always encourage him to come back to buy more so he says, “Please, sir, I want some more.”)

7. Volunteerism. If you volunteer with local organizations, you'll accomplish two things: you'll make valuable contacts and you'll show yourself as a competent worker.

Before you know it, you'll be getting business calls from folks you met at fundraisers who liked what they saw. It may be difficult finding time to volunteer, but it will pay great dividends in the end.

I know that I found that while I was my busiest, while I was most involved with community organizations or our local theater, I was most successful. See if that works for you too!

8. Professionalism. It's one thing to work in sweats when you're staying at home, alone. But if you're meeting with a client, dress for success.

Business casual is appropriate in most situations. Always be well groomed. Speak well, with carefully chosen words, and really listen to what your client is saying.

When someone who looks great enters the room for a meeting, you notice, right? They will notice YOU, too, when you look your best!

Take what you do seriously and others will do the same.

9. Bookkeeping. Know where each nickel goes and the dollars will take care of themselves, especially when you're just getting your business off the ground.

Can you reuse that paper? Do you really need to print that flier in color or can you save a few bucks and go with black and white? Is the ad you’re running providing great results or just taking up space (because you feel you need to be there because all of your competitors are there)?

I know a man who reuses price stickers in his California record shop. Yes, he's a penny-pincher, and his business is still thriving after thirty years and some pretty serious economic slumps in the area.

When it’s time to spend money, do it (and do it well). At other times, watch carefully where it goes and how it grows for you.

10. Relevance. Make sure you know what's going on in the world. This includes keeping an eye on the latest technological advances as well as marketing ideas and advertising strategies.

Subscribe to a few blogs, like this one. You'll get timely articles on the newest business trends and get to discuss issues with other blog members. (And be sure to check out AllTop.com, which I highly recommend – great blogs all in categories so you can find your niche quickly.)

Another easy way to keep up is join a business club or professional organization. You can pick up a lot listening to others, and let's face it: you just don't have the time to read every trade publication out there. By attending meetings, you'll get the condensed version of the latest issue of Business Week and be able to ask questions about it.

And you’ll be rubbing shoulders with others who, once they get to know you and what you do, will be open to working with you.

While you're garnering all this information, remember to offer something valuable in return. Ask if the latest Chinese embargo will hurt sales of frozen chicken parts. Then remark on how the latest mobile phone app has really saved you time on follow-up. Comments like these will get a conversation going and inform others without coming across like a know-it-all.

Focus On These Ten

There are other ingredients, but these are the one's I've found valuable. I'm sure you'll add some of your own to this list.

This isn't a complicated recipe, though it does have quite a few components. With time and practice, you'll know each one by heart and know exactly the right amount to add to your own personal recipe for success.

Great, you say: I've got all the ingredients here, but how do I put this together? What tools do I need to make this recipe work?

Glad you asked! Successful entrepreneurs have a few tools or traits in common. If you want to learn more, leave a comment here and then read my article Successful Entrepreneur – Can I Make It As An Entrepreneur? which is here on my blog!

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Successful Entrepreneur – Recipe For Success

Successful Entrepreneur – Can I Make It As An Entrepreneur?

Charlie Seymour Jr — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:37:39 +0000

How Can You Make Your Business Successful When Working By Yourself?

These are uncertain times, and it can cause even the bravest soul to think twice before launching a new business.

• Will I be able to pay the mortgage?
• Can I put food on the table?
• Will my kids have clothes and shoes?
• Can I do this on my own?
• Is there any way to know I will succeed before I begin?

I can hear you now: "I want some assurances!"

Unfortunately, there is no blueprint for success, no surefire way to tell if a person can make it in the land of the self-employed. However, most successful entrepreneurs have a few traits in common, a few habits and ways of thinking that push them toward success.

Here As Some Traits I Think Are Most Important

They believe in themselves. The most important trait successful entrepreneurs have in common is an unswerving faith in themselves and their ability to get the job done.

They know they are capable of completing any task, no matter how daunting. Even if they don't know exactly how it will get done, they know they can figure it out and make it work. Even just this attitude sets them apart from 99% of the rest of the world.

Successful entrepreneurs know they can go head-to-head with anyone and come out on top. They thrive on competition and improving themselves through battle in the business arena.

They don’t shy from competition, they see it as part of the fun they have in this game.

“It's kind of fun to do the impossible.” Walt Disney

They visualize success. Successful entrepreneurs keep what they want to manifest forefront in their thoughts.

Successful entrepreneurs SEE the business they want to create and keep a picture of it in their heads all the time. And visualization isn’t all they do: they write down their goals and strategies to be sure they stay focused.

• They see themselves acquiring product and moving it out to distribution centers.
• They see the product moving off shelves and reorders flowing in.
• They see the service they provide helping their clients succeed.
• They see themselves shaking hands with business partners, closing deals, and the deal working out smoothly to the benefit of all parties involved.

Entrepreneurs have an unswerving belief in themselves and their ability to get the job done. They may not know exactly how they will accomplish a given task, but they know they can figure it out because they see the success they will achieve even before they start.

They don't think about what could go wrong.

They never, never, never worry about what could happen.

Believe me, if you're worrying about all the things that can go wrong, you're not keeping the success-vision of your business at the forefront of your thoughts. You're not visualizing success. In fact, you're visualizing the bad stuff that can happen and all your energy is going into creating it!

And since what you think about most EXPANDS, be sure to think of all the success and goals you have to achieve and let them be utmost in your thinking.

Here’s something I learned from a good friend who happens to love to ride his motorcycle when the weather is good.

We’re taught to look ahead, down the road, see where we are going. If we focus on the pothole ahead, invariably we drive right into it. Stay focused ahead!

Great advice for those of us in business, too.

Don’t get me wrong: it's completely different to see possible pitfalls in the road ahead and plan accordingly. That's just good business sense. Steer clear of the problems and don’t obsess or fret about what might go wrong.

Visualize success and you won't create a mess.

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” Henry Ford

They commit. Successful businesspeople are committed wholeheartedly to what they are doing and the line of work they are in. They have an inner drive to succeed and their ambition carries them forward no matter what obstacles confront them.

Okay, I heard a plumber friend say once, “I sell low-flow toilets, Charlie. I have to visit worksites and torn up bathroom, the smell of sawdust makes me sneeze, and I hate getting my shoes filthy."

I completely understood. Sometimes necessity puts us in places we'd rather not be. But I asked, “can you find something about the job to love? Low-flow toilets save water, which cuts down on the energy needed to pump that water, which saves trees, which cuts down on pollution.

“Think about all the good you're doing. Think up 100 reasons to be enthusiastic about your product, and sell the heck out of those toilets.”

Walt Disney once said he loved Mickey Mouse more than any woman he had ever known. While I'm sure this news didn't thrill his wife, it showed his devotion and commitment to his “product.”

Commit, commit, and commit some more to your product or service. Believe in it and people will believe in you.

They concentrate on their strong points. Too many people worry about their shortcomings and lose the power of what they do best.

• Maybe you're a great writer and can really get your passion down on paper.
• Maybe your words stir people into action and give them the extra boost they need to succeed.
• Maybe your thoughts open people’s minds to new possibilities, new ways to see their lives.

Great. Stick with the writing.

Maybe you are a natural networker. You love to meet new people and pick their brain about topics near and dear to your heart. Fantastic. This is a crucial skill to have for any businessperson.

So you're great at writing and networking, but maybe you have no idea how to go about getting your words online. Maybe the thought of organizing all those contacts makes your head spin. Just because that comes naturally to ME doesn’t mean it is easy for YOU.

Okay, get some help organizing all those business cards and getting your work online. It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

Maybe you can trade the work for a service you provide. Or you could look into getting an online assistant. Online assistants can be found on Elance.com and Guru.com and Craigslist.com.

You'll be amazed at how inexpensively you can find help when you know where to look.

Stick to your strong points and get help for the other stuff and you’ll find life so much more enjoyable!

“We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.” Kahlil Gibran

They make goals. How can you know if you’re succeeding if you don’t have written guideposts against which you can judge your progress?

For example, you need to have certain ingredients and to take precise steps to bake a loaf of banana bread. You need bananas, of course, sugar, flour, eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and baking powder.

Sift the dry ingredients together. Blend the bananas, eggs, and buttermilk until it's a nice, homogeneous mixture. Add the dry into the wet and stir until just incorporated. Add some chopped nuts, pour into a buttered pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

In the end, you'll have a golden loaf of delicious goodness.

It's the same with an entrepreneurial business.

You take certain ingredients and mix them together in just the right ratio. The end result will be a successful business. (See my other blog post, Successful Entrepreneur – Recipe For Success here on this blog!)

The only trick is you have to know what you're making in order for it to come out the way you want. To bake bread, use a bread recipe, not one for a fruit salad.

As the fathers in the musical, The Fantasticks (by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones), sing:

You have to know WHAT you want before you can get it.

If you know you want to have a successful wine distributing company: good. But, if you can be more precise, it's even better.

You want a wine distribution company that services all the counties in northern Iowa, and you want to be the sole agent for Leaping Polecat Vineyards. Within six months, you want to be moving 500 cases of wine a week. In a year, you want to be moving 1,000 cases.

Now THAT’S a precise recipe.

With that recipe, you can see what needs to be done. Right off the bat, you see that you don't have the retailers in line to handle 500 cases. So you need to make some more connections, find more stores that are willing to sell Leaping Polecat.

You also see that you'll need to have wine to deliver once the orders start coming in. You'll need to call your contacts at the vineyard to see if they are willing and able to handle the increased volume.

With a precise vision of the business you want to create, seeing the steps you need to take to make that happen becomes easier and easier.

“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.” Henry Ford

They connect with people. No matter what type of business you have or want to start, it's all about people.

• People buy your product
• People talk about your product
• People sell your product.

Connect with as many people as possible to keep them buying, talking, and selling. Make a goal of connecting with all of your contacts every 30 days. Make an additional goal of acquiring ten new contacts every week.

The more people you know, the more others will seek you out for your contacts.

Connecting with people should be on your core goals list no matter how big or small your business. Talking to your contacts is a wonderful way to learn.

Maybe you've just discovered a new way of doing something that could really make a contact's life a lot easier. To paraphrase JFK, always ask yourself what you can do for your contact rather than what your contact can do for you – you’ll be MUCH more successful when you do.

This website, UltimateWorkAtHomeDads.com, is great for connecting with people. You'll make many valuable contacts here and get a lot of help and support. We're glad you're here.

Then be sure to leave some of your contact information below your name so people know WHO you are and WHERE they can connect with you.

These entrepreneurs learn.

I'm not talking about going back to school and getting a degree. You certainly don't need that to be a successful entrepreneur (though I certainly don’t scoff at those of us who do).

What you do need is an open mind and a willingness to learn new things and new ways of doing old things.

Stay on the cutting edge of technology or before you know it, your competition will be using the newest, latest and greatest whatever and you're left in the dust.

Subscribing to a few relevant blogs (like this one!) should keep you up-to-date. Find more at one of my favorite websites: AllTop.com

“My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had – every day I'm learning something new.’ Richard Branson

They work. Forget all the get-rich-quit proposals and know that you have LOTS of work ahead of you.

“Wow, Charlie, this self-employment gig sounds like a lot of work."

Yes, it is. That's the last trait all self-made businesspeople have in common.

They work. A lot.

Channel your energy, passion, and drive-to-succeed into your business and you will be unstoppable.

Launching a successful business is a tall order. Only the cream of the crop can make it work. But you know what? I have every faith that YOU are the cream of the crop and can make it work.

You have what it takes and you search out articles like this one to learn new ways to think. If you didn't have what it takes, you wouldn't still be reading this article.

Successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people don’t or won’t. Never give up and keep searching for a better way.

Like riding a bike or playing the piano, these traits can be learned. Read this article every day for ten days and make these actions and attitudes part of your life.

Remember: successful entrepreneurs are self-made men and women. They mold themselves into the people they want to be. They set goals, build strategies to accomplish them, and keep moving toward the goal line.

They know that NO ONE needs to crown them the victor or call them a success – they just make their own way once they have studied what they want to do and have set their goals in writing.

They know they have the right stuff. I know that YOU have the right stuff.

Now get out there and make it happen!

“Success is a matter of understanding and religiously practicing specific, simple habits that always lead to success.” Robert J. Ringer

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

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Successful Entrepreneur – Can I Make It As An Entrepreneur?

Marketing Ideas – 50 Simple Marketing Ideas You Can Use To Grow Your Business

Charlie Seymour Jr — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:16:18 +0000

Grow Your Business Online And From Home

Work-at-home entrepreneurs have many choices when it comes to marketing. Below you'll find 50 simple ideas that you can adapt to your own needs.

Some ideas are geared toward online audiences while some target your neighborhood and involve getting to know local businesspeople.

It's a good idea to choose a few methods from each category and make them work for your own business. Give each one a try to see which works best for you and your business.

Online Marketing Ideas

1. Start a Blog and write 2 – 3 times a week. Start simply at WordPress.com or Blogger.com.

2. Post articles online that others can use with your byline and signature information – visit EzineArticles.com.

3. Regularly comment on blogs that relate to your business – you can find some great examples at AllTop.com (which list the top blogs in the world and divides them into categories for easy searching). (In fact, look for my RaisingGreatFamilies.com blog there! We're proud to have it listed.)

4. Visit Meetup.com and instigate a gathering relevant to your line of work OR join an existing group.

5. Check out Podcamp.org or Barcamp.org to see if they work well for your business.

6. Create your own Facebook profile.

7. Join groups on Facebook that relate to your business and post regularly.

8. Create your own Facebook PAGE and use it like a mini website to promote your business.

9. Become a source on HelpAReporterOut.com.

10. Suggest a story about work-at-home entrepreneurs to a blogger or offer a post for other people’s website by joining BloggerLinkUp.com.

11. Write an ebook and offer it for free on your own website or Facebook Page.

12. Send a press release about your business to PRWeb.com or PRLeap.com.

13. Reply to questions on Wiki.Answers.com and similar sites.

14. Open a Twitter account and send 2-3 tweets a day about what you are doing in your business.

15. Distribute monthly eNewsletters to your clients (having captured their names on your website or Facebook Page).

16. Put your business in both online and print directories.

17. Use Google to search for forums that are in your niche (use your keyword followed by the work “forum” to find these) and become involved with the chatter on the forum (NEVER “sell” on these – participate and leave your name with your contact information below it).

18. Write pieces for other companies' eNewsletters.

19. Keep in touch with classmates through Facebook.

20. Search Twitter for people who tweet about your type business and begin to tweet back and forth with them (find them using keywords at Search.Twitter.com).

21. Optimize your blog by using keywords in the titles of your posts.

22. Videotape short weekly talks and publish them online.

23. See if Affiliate Marketing is right for you – search Clickbank.com.

24. Trade blog ads with other work-at-home entrepreneurs.

Neighborhood Marketing Ideas

25. Join groups like the Lions Club or the Chamber of Commerce to Network.

26. Ask potential clients about their needs and follow up with them – don’t be bashful: if they say “NO” you’re in the same place as if you hadn’t asked them; if they say “Yes,” then you have new business!).

27. Ask clients for recommendations.

28. Send out a mailing to local businesses and then follow up with two additional mailings (we call that Sequenced Mailings).

29. Get other work-at-home entrepreneurs to package their promo material with yours.

30. Offer referral bonuses to clients.

31. Offer the first meeting for free with a potential client.

32. Mark the end of large projects with your clients in a public place – make it festive, memorable, and fun.

33. Attend local business mixers to meet new people and collect THEIR business cards – it’s less important to give yours out (though certainly do that if someone asks for it). Then follow up with everyone you met and keep them informed about how you can do business together.

34. Print and distribute business cards, using BOTH sides of the cards (and make an offer on the back – something like “Email for my free report, 7-Steps To Business Success.”

35. Leave your brochures with businesses where your target clients might frequent – but make this brochure gives an offer for some free information NOT a three-panel brochure about your business that most people don’t want to read (just as you don’t read most other people’s brochures like that).

36. Sponsor a local event that would appeal to your target client and then tell them.

37. Print coupons and put them on local bulleting boards – again, offer some free information.

38. Speak about your business at local events.

39. Partner with an entrepreneur who has a business related to yours.

40. Schedule a regular mastermind meeting with several entrepreneurs in your area – make time to chat about what each is doing and find out how you can help each other.

41. Visit your local bookstore each week to plan your schedule (I call that my Dreaming, Planning, Scheming Time) and chat with folks who are there – you never know what other local business person might need your services.

42. Give a class in your area of expertise – local school districts often sponsor these.

43. Volunteer your time to local charities.

44. Write some ‘case studies’ that closely parallel work you just completed and send them with a PostIt Note greeting to prospects.

45. Contact local businesses to find the right person to invite for an early morning cup of coffee – and suggest s/he tell you more about his or her business – when you offer to learn about someone, they often tell you a LOT (much of which can help you find more business for THEM and for YOU).

46. Create a 3-part postcard mailing campaign to prospects in your area.

47. Keep in touch with former clients.

48. Develop a contact at an employment agency for leads.

49. Put coupons for your services in gift bags.

50. Track down local giveaways and donate something.

Some of these ideas will cost a bit of money but many of them are free and only require your time and thought.

Make time each week to explore a new marketing option. Be creative and see how you can tailor each item to your specific needs and let us know how you're doing.

Give us progress reports so we can all be inspired by each other's success. And leave a comment here with YOUR ideas that can be added to this list – let’s grow it to 100 Simple Marketing Ideas!

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and marketing-success coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and direct-response marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, and Facebook applications. Visit his blog at Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog to learn more about his successes.

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Marketing Ideas – 50 Simple Marketing Ideas You Can Use To Grow Your Business

Work At Home: 10 Tips To Create Your Business and Save Your Sanity!

Charlie Seymour Jr — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:10:46 +0000

How To Set Up Your Business From Home

So you're thinking of leaving the security and comfort of your day job and voyaging into the world of the self-employed OR you recently started working at home and aren’t sure what steps to take first.

Congratulations! Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment you get from growing your own business from scratch, from taking on the world with nothing but wits and a lot of hard work. I've been working at home since 1983 and haven't regretted it for a moment.

Here are ten tips I've learned along the way to help make your journey a little easier.

Tip Number One: Set a schedule.

Time management can be problematic when you're self-employed.

It's easy to get sidetracked when you're working from home and before you know it, the morning is gone. You probably had to be at your old job at a certain time so do the same thing with your business. Resolve to be at the computer, on the jobsite, or with a client by 7:30 AM (or earlier) and stick to it.

For me, no matter what time I go to sleep the night before, I’m “at it” by 7:30 the next day. Some days I’m walking with my voice recorder creating WalkAbout Marketing podcasts and some days I’m at my desk. But it’s important to get started as soon as you can.

And turn off your email: don’t let it beep every time you get a new message. I literally average 837 emails every day. Most should never see the light of day, though some are important. But nothing is so important that I have to be interrupted twelve times an hour to reply to it. In fact, I only download emails to my computer ever half hour and only look at them a few times each day (when I can reply to several emails in one short stretch of time, and then back to finishing my goals for the day).

Tip Number Two: Tailor your workspace to your personality.

How do you work best? Do you like to work with music in the background or do you like it perfectly quiet? Do you like pictures of family to remind you of your goals (and the reasons you work so hard), or do you prefer motivational posters and superhero action figures to spur you on to greatness? Find out how you work best and set up your space around your preferences.

And speaking of space, I use a spare bedroom for my home office. When we bought this house in 1998, I picked out this space for my office. I can see the driveway when FedEx and UPS show up and it’s at the other end of the hallway from our bedroom. OK, so a 20-foot walk to work isn’t bad, I admit it!

However, when the door is closed, the office is closed and I don't think about work (well, usually – I admit that I work at the kitchen table when Pam and I “watch” TV together. I can always look up for the replay or when a news report catches my ear).

If you aren't able to have a separate space for an office, a room divider or curtains could do the trick. Just find some way to separate your space from the rest of the house and family and to hide your workspace from view so you don't have to look at it all the time (and be reminded of all the work you should be doing).

And let your phone go to messages rather than letting every caller interrupt your work when they have the whim to call you. Batch the messages together, find time twice a day to return calls and make all of them then. AND, better yet, if someone wants to chat with you by phone, SET AN APPOINTMENT – I don’t take phone calls that aren’t prearranged – believe me, your clients will get used to it when you help them see the importance.

Tip Number Three: Market yourself.

Now I don't mean paying for advertising, creating glossy brochures, or doing weekly direct-mail piece.

This website is FILLED with ideas for you so read my blog!

Also, do you have a Facebook account? Keep it up to date and post often. (You can friend me at http://facebook.com/CharlesSeymourJr – be sure to send a note when you friend me: you should ALWAYS send a note, and this way I’ll know why you are asking to friend me.)

Start a blog and use it like a diary. Think of all the things you are doing that clients and customers might be interested in. I post lots of videos to my blog (and to my Facebook profile, which acts like a mini blog for me).

Keep friends and family informed of what you're doing. Word of mouth can be the best advertising and it's free (but you have to give them something to talk about!).

Tip Number Four: Show that professionalism counts.

Present yourself with a businesslike demeanor. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun and enjoy life when you are with other people, but what people think about you is built on MANY little interactions – what’s the saying, it takes A THOUSAND “atta-boys” or “atta-girls” to equal ONE “uh oh, I screwed up.”

Show your clients that you take your work seriously and they will do the same. You don’t have to take YOURSELF too seriously (laugh, enjoy life, laugh at your mistakes – you’ll make LOTS of them, so enjoy them as they race by every day).

If you have a website or Facebook page for your business, make sure it is professional. It’s great to share your personality and family activities when they help to round-you-out as a whole person but as you look at other people’s websites and Facebook pages, see what feels right to you and what stands out as inappropriate – learn from what others are doing.

Tip Number Five: Talk to your clients.

Communication is a two-way adventure. Keep your clients updated on your progress, any changes or snags, and let them know that things are going smoothly and right on schedule.

For example, consider that you're building a house for someone: you'll want to update them frequently. They will need to know when the foundation is poured, when the electrical panel is installed, or when the roof is on. You can do this by email, a phone call, or a face-to-face. The most important thing is keeping your client in the loop and aware of the job's status.

AND, be sure to ask your customers and clients what they WANT from you. There’s a great story about a Printer creating a company’s business cards. For years he did a great job. One day the office manager walked in to pick up the latest batch of cards and told the Printer that they just had some great stationery printed at another shop. The Printer was dismayed to learn that he had never asked his client about other needs: the client didn’t know that the Printer printed letterhead – the Printer was only thought of as the “card printer.”

I communicate a lot through email. I don’t trust my memory for all the details when a job is ongoing. And it’s always best to be sure I CLEARLY understand what my client wants. And I keep all correspondence in separate folders in my email server so I can quickly access all email from each of my clients.

If the client wants to make a change, get it in writing. It's important to get the original Agreement in writing, but it's equally important to get any changes documented and approved. This way, any project overruns or questions about the final project can be verified and justified.

Some people like Project Management software such as Basecamp, activeCollab, and Projecturf to keep their jobs organized. Most of mine aren’t that complicated, so emails work fine.

Tip Number Six: Keep your financial accounts separate.

Don't mix business and personal accounts. Get a separate bank account for your business.

Get a credit card for your business (preferably the cash-back type) and use it for all business expenses. We get a few hundred dollars back each year because we charge everything possible and pay it off each month.

And since I have a proprietorship for my Photography business and an LLC for my Online business, I have TWO business accounts and TWO credit cards, in addition to my personal account.

Once you get used to them, it’s easy to work with this way.

Tip Number Seven: Work hard after setting your goals.

Sometimes you'll take a job because you need the money. You won't always be able to pick and choose your clients because you believe in what they're doing, or the job intrigues you on some level. Some months you'll just need to make the rent, or payroll, or quarterly taxes and you'll take whatever work presents itself.

This isn't selling out. It's just a fact of life. You can still take on those projects close to your heart when the money isn't so tight and your business is running smoothly.

Look for ways to augment your income. When you're self-employed, there may be times when there's no money coming in. Investigate passive income sources, such as ebooks and affiliate marketing, to see if one is right for you.

But don’t fall into the trap of taking just anything that comes along: people will get really confused WHO you are and WHAT you are doing. Set your goals and stay as close to them as you can.

Tip Number Eight: File everything.

Keep a job's agreements, invoices, and notes in one place, preferably a folder in a filing cabinet (electronically and physically). When in doubt, file it. You can always toss it later, but you can't get something back after it's gone. (And electronic storage is cheap – I recently purchased one terabyte for under $200.)

For each project, I have file folders in my cabinet with all signed papers and agreements and on my computer I keep a folder for all email. Be sure to back up your computer to protect what you have there. And while I’m very supportive of “green” living, make physical copies when the information is crucial – even if you used recycled paper OR the back of something you printed before.

Tip Number Nine: Talk with a CPA about your business finances.

Some businesses can run on a “cash basis” right from one or more checkbooks. Some need one of the popular computer-accounting packages. And some need the services of a bookkeeper plus an accountant to handle the monthly P&L and to reconcile the checkbook, file sales tax and employee taxes, and complete the quarterlies.

Be sure to think ahead to see what YOU will need. And at least find a CPA you trust and go talk about how your business will be set up so you know you’re doing it correctly. And at tax time, s/he will be worth her/his weight in gold.

Tip Number Ten: Take the weekend off.

I’m not very good at this one, I’ll admit right up front. Sundays are for church and family (and my well-deserved nap and a chance to watch some sports on TV). But I often work a full schedule on Saturday – but that doesn’t mean YOU should do that!

When you're self-employed, you can't get away from the office very easily. It's both a blessing and a curse to work from home. Yes, it's convenient and the commute is probably under thirty seconds, but it's awfully hard to get away from the job.

You'll be tempted to work after dinner or on Saturday or miss your daughter’s hockey game or your son’s theater performance but DON’T.

One thing we learn very quickly: work is NEVER finish, so sometimes you just need to STOP – it will be there for you when you come back.

You need down time to keep fresh and you need to spend time with family and friends. What is that old story: that on someone’s deathbed, seldom does the person say, “I just wish I had worked longer every day.”

If you need to understand why your family is important, perhaps you need to see one of my other blogs: http://RaisingGreatFamilies.com. Trust me on this one: set your schedule and CROSS OUT Sundays and leave Saturdays blank for whatever you really need to work on. (Or do the reverse – Cross out Saturdays from work and leave Sundays blank to help with the left-over work).

You and your family deserve to spend time together.

Wrap-Up

The Work at Home lifestyle can be the MOST ENJOYABLE you’ve ever known, if you follow these ten tips. Keep it all in perspective, keep your goals in front of you, and know WHY you work so hard.

Hey, life’s to be enjoyed – and let it start at home!

And – Please leave me a comment: what ELSE do you feel this article should cover? Was it helpful to you? What do you disagree with?

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Work At Home: 10 Tips To Create Your Business and Save Your Sanity!

Icons and Slogans – Advertising Week Walk Of Fame Announced For 2009 – Vote For Your Favorite

Charlie Seymour Jr — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:27:27 +0000

You can still learn from institutional advertisers and still be a direct-response marketer

You've seen them, you love them (or hate them), and you recognize them because MILLIONS of dollars have been spent burning them into your brains.

Now, Advertising Week, the newspaper for institutional advertising, announces its 2009 Advertising Week Walk of Fame Candidates for Icons and Slogans.

Previous winners in the Icons Category include:

Geico Gecko, Juan Valdez, Colonel Sanders, Kool-Aid Man

Aflac Duck, M&M's Mr. Peanut, the Pillsbury Doughboy, and Tony the Tiger

Previous winners in the Slogan Category include:

"The few. The proud. The Marines." US Marine Corps

"We deliver for you." US Postal Service

"What can brown do for you?" UPS

"Imagination at work." GE

"When you care enough to send the very best." Hallmark

"Don't mess with Texas" State of Texas Dept of Transportation

"When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight." FedEx

"A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste" – United Negro College Fund

"Can You Hear Me Now" – Verizon

"Melts in your mouth, not in your hands." M&M's

"Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't." Almond Joy, Mounds

"Where's the beef?" Wendy's

2009 Candidates Announced – Icons

Smokey Bear – US Forest Service

Vlasic Stork – Pinnacle Foods Group

Mr. Mucus – Mucinex

Snap, Crackle, Pop – Kellogg Co., Morning Food Division

Maytag Repairman – Whirlpool Corp, Maytag Home Appliances

MSN Butterfly

Subway Jared – Subway Corp

McGruff the Crime Dog – National Crime Prevention Council

Roaming Gnome – Travelocity

Test Man – Verizon Wireless

Michelin Man – Michelin North America

Ronald McDonald – McDonald's Corp

Toucan Sam – Kellogg Co

Budweiser Clydesdales – Anheuser-Busch Cos

Crash Test Dummies – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Keebler Elves – Kellogg Co.

Burger King – Burger King Corp.

Doublemint Twins – Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.

Little Debbie – McKee Foods

AOL Running Man – AOL

California Raisins – California Raisin Advisory Board

Fruit of the Loom Guys – Fruit of the Loom

Big Boy – Big Boy Restaurants International

Captain Morgan – Diageo

Jolly Green Giant – General Mills

2009 Candidates Announced – Slogans

"Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." State Farm

"Only you can prevent forest fires." US Forest Service

"Priceless." MasterCard

"Six Flags! More flags! More fun!" Six Flags

"Take a bite out of crime" National Crime Prevention Council

"These guys are good." PGA Tour

"Think outside the bun." Taco Bell

"This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs." Partnership for a Drug-Free America

"Time to make the donuts." Dunkin' Donuts

"Virginia is for lovers." Virginia State Tourism Office

"What happens here, stays here." Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

"Have it your way." Burger King

"I love New York." New York State Dept of Economic Development

"I want my MTV." MTV

"Ideas for life." Panasonic

"If you see something, say something." New York Metropolitan Transit Authority

"I'm lovin' it." McDonald's

"Intel inside." Intel

"It's in the game." Electronic Arts

"All the news that's fit to print." The New York Times

"Because you're worth it." L'Oreal

"Friends don't let friends drive drunk." US Dept of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

"Give a hoot. Don't pollute." US Forest Service

"Got Milk?" California Milk Processor Board

What Can You Learn From These?

You don't have millions to spend on institutional advertising, so why do I even bring these up to you?

Because they're memorable (well, most of them are: "These guys are good" could apply to anything and "Ideas for life" really doesn't set the world on fire). Those you recognized immediately have worked. Those you recognized and knew what the PRODUCT or SERVICE was worked WELL. And those you knew the product, service, AND who sponsored it work VERY well.

Keep that in mind when building your own slogans or graphics to work with your materials.

Don't confuse SLOGANS with Unique Selling Propositions: "Time to make the donuts," "Think outside the bun," and "Virginia is for lovers" are NOT USPs. "When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight" IS. "Melts in your mouth, not in your hands" is close.

Many people confuse coming up with a tagline or slogan as their whole "reason for being." It's not. You still need a powerful reason for existing… and perhaps a tagline/slogan can help get your message across quickly and easily.

Oh, and one more thing: repetition really DOES work! YOU get tired of your own materials MUCH faster than your prospects, clients, and customers do… so keep with it for a while: changing your look, statements, logos, slogans too quickly leave a prospect confused, and a "Confused Mind Always Says NO!"

By The Way… if you want to vote, go here: Advertising Week Walk of Fame Voting – Click Here!

To learn more, stay in touch with my blog – I'll keep you informed so that YOU won't have to do the heavy lifting. Charlie Seymour Jr's Blog – Click HERE To See More!

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and marketing-success coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and direct-response marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, and Facebook applications. Visit his blog at http://bit.ly/24eYTO to learn more about his successes.

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Icons and Slogans – Advertising Week Walk Of Fame Announced For 2009 – Vote For Your Favorite

Website Design – Turn Your Words Into Gold

Charlie Seymour Jr — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:07:17 +0000

How does someone get to your website? Traffic You Control, Traffic You Don't Control

Have you ever thought about the traffic that comes to your website… not everyone came from the same place or for the same reason.

Perhaps they did a search on Google (or other search engine) and something from your website caught their attention in the "organic search results" in Google – you know, where the search results appear on the left side of the Google Search Results.

I call that traffic you don't control. Google "spidered" your website, indexed whatever it found, and listed you in their giant database. Interested people will click on the search result and go wherever Google sends them.

This is Traffic You Don't Control.

However… if you send out a tweet with a link to somewhere on your website, send out an email with a link embedded, or publish an article with a specific link embedded in the article, this is Traffic You Control.

NEVER send Traffic You Control to the head of your website: ALWAYS send it to a specific location INSIDE your website so that the interested person will go EXACTLY where s/he intends to go. You will eliminate much confusion this way.

What Are Most People Looking For When They Search Google?

They want information like why their heart is racing, how to fix their computer, what's the best fertilizer for their home-grown tomatoes.

They do NOT search for "how can I spend money?"

That's not to say that people don't buy on the internet… clearly they do. But let's see how you should best approach people who find your website and visit.

Dynamic vs Static Websites

I cringe when I see the "old-style" websites – you know, those places where you arrive at the front page, have no idea what the site is about, and they expect you to know which button to press to learn enough about them so you can make sense of what is in front of you.

And most of them are static, hardly ever change, and though they may be graphically appealing, they don't help the visitor and they don't encourage Google either.

Google LOVES dynamic information on a website, so keep yours active and refreshed.

What's The Biggest Problem With Most Websites?

Most websites are created by graphic designers who don't know marketing. But even that isn't the biggest problem with most websites.

Most websites are created without a Clear Goal In Mind.

What do you want your website to DO?

With most of my clients, they generally are building an email list, so THEIR goal is to capture the name and address of the visitor. Period.

Not convince them you are a genius. Not sell them three of your best products. Not to amuse or entertain them.

All of those are FINE goals, but YOU must define the ONE goal of your site and then be sure you meet it.

What Should You Do To Hold A Visitor?

Here is a quick list that should help your visitors once you get them to your site (getting them there is a whole other topic!).

Always have a headline that calls out to your visitor. The NAME of your site or YOUR name means no more to any of them than Joe's Bar and Grille means to you. Give them a statement in a headline to tell them why they are at your site and what you want them to do.
Offer something immediately – and it's best if it's free. A free downloadable audio. A free report in pdf. A free with shipping offer. GIVE something so you get their name and email address. THEN let them see more of your website. Most people search the internet for information, not something to spend their money on… so show them that YOU have that information and give it to them – when they want MORE, they can get it from you (and by then you will have their name and email address so you will be staying in front of them). NOTE – If you are a site where people go already expecting to buy something (like QVC, Staples, Amazon, etc) the rules are different because people DO want to purchase – give them a chance with very few clicks!
Ask for as little information as you really need. JUST getting an email address is easier than and email address and name. And email address and name are easier to get than email address, name, physical address. Start where you know you want to begin, and that is, at a minimum, getting their email address.
Take as small a step as you can when someone first comes to your site. Think of it as a conversation between two attracted people. Clearly you wouldn't see the person of your dreams and say, "Will you marry me?" But that's what LOTS of people do to people first coming to their sites: they want TOO much information and they ask the visitor to take a big leap of faith, trust them, and buy from them. Hey, it's not IMPOSSIBLE to sell to someone the first time s/he visits your site… but it's MUCH more difficult.
Be different, stand out from the crowd, have people remember you and your site. Be sure not to use the same template that everyone else in your industry uses – people want to work with people, not a carbon-copy of someone else.
Have a Welcome and a Welcome Video. Say hi to people when they join your site. Realize that lots of people view your website at work and often work does not allow speakers, so you need a text message there too. But welcome people, tell them quickly what your website is about and how they can use it, and then get their name and email address.
And one more thing: check how your website looks in a variety of web browsers. For my OWN websites, I find that close to 40% of the viewers still use the very old Microsoft Internet Explorer 6… and with today's advances, that old browser doesn't correctly process all the new advance techniques. So check to see how you look to avoid any bad curb appeal.
Once you get people onto your email list, be sure to stay in touch with them. Contact them immediately to thank them for joining you and then stay in touch regularly. Once a day may be too often for most people and once a month may not be enough. Set their expectations right up front by saying, "thank you for joining me for my weekly newsletter" or however you will contact them. You never want someone to ask, "who is this who is contacting me?" Stay in touch often enough so that when it's time for you to present an opportunity for them to buy from you, they will know, like, and trust you and follow your lead. To start out… contact them with a newsletter (can be a simple short email) weekly… and be consistent!
And remember this: since most people found you by searching for information, continue to GIVE them information in the form of free teaching and coaching. You'll have plenty of time to sell them something, but build a relationship first and get them to see you as the expert you are. And use video and audio often as well.

There are SO many more things you can do… but these are a good beginning. And if you want to turn your words into gold, see my Say It So They Buy It information in the right side bar.

Hope this helps.

And then see the top of my blog by clicking HERE! See how I approach my passions with this website.

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Keep this with this article, please:

Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and marketing-success coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and direct-response marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, and Facebook applications. Visit his blog at http://bit.ly/24eYTO to learn more about his successes.

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Website Design – Turn Your Words Into Gold

Blogging – Lessons Learned From The Movie Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams

Charlie Seymour Jr — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:06:32 +0000

Blogging – Find something that inspires you, write about it, KEEP writing about it, and Be Consistent

I'm a man whose passions run deeply and I'm not afraid to show them.

Family, theater, marketing, movies… I care deeply about each one and when it's time to talk about them, share my feelings, laugh or cry, I do it with gusto! (Wow, where did "gusto" come from – it just seemed like the right word, though I don't use it often!)

I LOVE going to the movies. I enjoy theater – I enjoy DIRECTING theater, I enjoy directing and seeing MUSICAL theater most – but MOVIES really take me away like nothing else.

They transport me, make me think, help me laugh and cry, and make me feel great just as I need them.

They give me freedom to dream like little else does. And then chat about them when they are over – share my thoughts with whoever went to the movies with me or with my folks when I see them in church on Sunday.

And I learned years ago that if no one wants to go with me, I'll go alone: I really do love to watch movies.

And there is a ritual that accompanies me every time I go to a movie: I need something to eat and drink, I need to sit near the back of the theater (dang that motion-sickness I feel as a passenger in a car that affects how closely I can sit in a movie), and I love to laugh out loud when something amuses me – doesn't matter if the theater is full or nearly empty, I really enjoy myself!

Friends have often told me that though they never saw me in the theater, they knew I was there – I have one of THOSE laughs…

Why do YOU see certain movies?

Have you ever stopped to think WHY you see a certain movie when you do?

WHY does it draw your attention at that very moment?
WHY do you feel compelled to see it?
Why does it call out to you, make you reach for your wallet, and then get you to empty a large portion of your wallet for the ticket and refreshments.

SOMETHING is going on inside your head, your emotions, your spirit: SOMETHING leads to you see that particular movie on the day that you see it. You don't idly get to a movie theater to see the movie – SOMETHING compels you to drop other things to see it.

And the cost is going up. Even for an early matinee the movie cost $8.00 with nearly double that for refreshments (but it's STILL a bargain when I figure the pleasure I receive!). (And I know that some places charge even more for the movies.)

Especially in this Worldwide Economic Meltdown of 2008 – 2009 – why do movies call to you?

Education? Adventure? Some laughter or tears? A way to clear your mind and take you away from what you're working on if even for a few hours?

Certainly some of those for you… ALL of them for me.

Julie and Julia – Bloggers Unite!

My wife, Pam, and I saw the movie Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, and I thought I should blog about it.

It is a movie about the life of Julia Child AND the life of blogger, Julie Powell, in writer-director Nora Ephron's adaptation of two true stories: Julie and Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child.

The story lines are interwoven and the two characters never meet, being separated by time and locations. (The way the story is told reminded me of Cabaret which was originally written as two stories (inside the Cabaret and then the story about Sally Bowles) which was meshed together (by legendary director-producer Harold Prince) like the fingers of your hands when clasped together in that 'log-cabin' look.

Julia is the world-famous American chef who wants to teach the world about French cooking and Julie is the completely unknown blogger in the early turn of this century when blogging wasn't really known. (I admit that MOST people STILL don't know what blogging is, but since you are reading this YOU do… but in 2004, I have a feeling you didn't know what it was!)

Why focus on this movie in this blog?

Because Julie found something that interested her and she started writing. She didn't know if she'd find an audience, she didn't search thousands of keywords, she didn't probe deeply into Google to see if she'd gain traction: she just started writing.

And NOW look at her success.

And that inspires ME and perhaps it inspires you too.

My parents, in their late 80s, loved the movie and so did Pam and I.

I, however, saw it on a much deeper level from my other family members: as a blogger, podcaster, and consultant, I felt what Julie was going through when writing to an undefined, unnamed audience. I felt her pain of doing it day after day. I shared her triumph when the NYTimes discovered her and let the print-world learn about her.

See the movie if you need a pick-me-up… it's bound to give you a bit of cheer just when you need it.

And if you've already SEEN this movie, leave a comment here: let me know what you thought about it! We'll pass on your thoughts to Meryl, Amy, and Nora!

And then tell people to see MY blog my clicking HERE! See how I approach my passions with this website and help me get even more people to see it.

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: You can find me here:

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Go to the sign-in website to learn more and to sign up.

Keep this with this article, please:

Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and marketing-success coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and direct-response marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, and Facebook applications. Visit his blog at http://bit.ly/24eYTO to learn more about his successes.

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Blogging – Lessons Learned from the movie Julie and Julia

Marketing Guru Bill Glazer Coming To Philly September 9, 2009

Charlie Seymour Jr — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:48:14 +0000

Dan Kennedy's partner in Glazer-Kennedy Insiders Circle To Speak To Entrepreneurs

Delay and you will miss out on one of the most important nights you will ever experience (if you are an entrepreneur or have your own business).

Bill Glazer shares his message that there is enormous, exciting opportunity for the marketer who acts creatively and aggressively at a time when competitors cower in fear.

September 9, 2009, marketing guru and author Bill Glazer makes a very special visit to Philadelphia to speak at GKIC-Philly. We are a group of local entrepreneurs and business owners who get together once a month to discover ways to make our businesses even more profitable.

The principles I teach, blog about, and create podcasts about are all direct-response techniques as taught by Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazer.

7-Steps To Survive and Thrive In The Recession… and Beyond

Bill will share his energetic ideas for a Recession Escape Plan…. How to Make the Recession Irrelevant.

As president of GKIC, Bill speaks around the world on laser-focused ideas to make your business successful, and I can assure you that having him at our meeting is a real treat for all of us.

During this timely talk, Bill reveals to you immediate ACTION IDEAS to implement in your business right away. He will guide you through all 7 steps, giving you real-world examples that you can apply to your own business right away.

Bill has also agreed to:

conduct an E-X-T-E-N-D-E-D Question & Answer session to address your specific needs…

bring along a limited number of Collectors Editions of his just released new book on OUTRAGEOUS Advertising That's OUTRAGEOUSLY Successful for a special book signing during the breaks.

Seats are filling fast and when they are gone – they are gone!

Join me at this special business-building opportunity by following these simple steps:

be sure to put my name, Charlie Seymour Jr, in the How Did You Hear About Us

3. Only those filling in the How Did You Hear About Us with my name, Charlie Seymour Jr, AND who attend the meeting where Bill Glazer speaks will be eligible for my personal special drawing. Be sure to see me AT the meeting – only those present will be eligible for the drawing that night.

I often describe our monthly GKIC-Philly meetings as "my oasis – a time for ME: to learn, to share, to gain new ideas from my fellow members."

THIS meeting I describe as AWESOME and NOT TO BE MISSED.

I know Bill personally; have heard him speak often; listen to his monthly CD of tips, tricks, and solutions; and always have a pad of paper handy to jot down his ideas so that I can use them in my business immediately.

He's the real deal. He'll have lots of ideas for you. You want to be there.

See you there!

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
A Work At Home Dad since 1983, succeeding in this economy

PS: This will likely be the only time Bill will be speaking in Philadelphia and you really should attend. Register now before all the seats are gone.

PPS: The meeting will be on September 9, 2009 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Penn Oaks Golf Club just south of West Chester, PA USA. Light refreshments will be served and there is a modest fee. Register now, read all the information, and be ready for a GREAT evening with Bill Glazer.

PPS: Learn More About Bill Glazer and this One-Time-Only Meeting, and Sign Up to Join Me – Click Here Now!