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Archives
June 23, 2010
Making the Pitch for Yourself... It's Time to Stop with All the
Games... Reclaim the Excitement that Started it All... Using the
Mail for Info Marketing Profit...
and More.
Making the Pitch for Yourself
By Adrian Newman, Founder of e-Wealth Daily
When pitching your business for an investment, you're not just
pitching your idea or your product; you're also pitching
yourself.
Sometimes, when trying to convince someone to invest in a
company, we can get caught up with our product, idea or
service. We create this lavish presentation, and make our
prototype or sample product as pristine and perfect as possible.
We spare no expense on making everything look sharp and
impressive. Then, when we present, we come across like some
sort of scripted pitch man, killing the deal in the process.
Here are some tips that could help you sell yourself while you
sell your idea or product:
--- Know your stuff. Have the answer to every conceivable
question that you might be asked. If you're dealing with a
product, you should know the production costs, the R&D costs,
the turnaround time, the demographic target, the location of
raw materials, transportation costs, sales projections, patent
information, and thousands of other little bits of information.
You can never be prepared enough, because once you come
back with an "I don't know" or even an "I'll have to look into
it and get back to you," your deal is as good as dead.
--- Never look or act desperate. Some people like to use the "pity card" when looking for an investment. This never works,
because it shows weakness. Anyone who is interested in
investing with a company is looking for a strong leader. Sure,
this might be your biggest -- even your last -- shot, but don't let
them know that because, 1) it won't help; and 2) they don't
care.
--- Stick to your guns, but avoid confrontation. It's good to
believe in your business and defend it. However, when a
potential investor become belligerent, take the high road and
try to gauge if they still have interest. Sometimes they're just
testing your knowledge and passion. Other times, they're not
interested and are just getting a rise out of you. Ask them point
blank, "Shall I continue?" Their answer should tell you where
they stand.
--- Be prepared to negotiate. Just like any business deal, the
chances are high that your offer will be met with a counter
offer. So go in with a reasonable, yet highly beneficial offer
that you can move on. Don't be afraid to sit on an offer to think
about it. However, don't take too long, as offers have been
known to be pulled off the table during moments of extreme
indecision.
Finally, after a deal is consummated, keep your end of the
bargain. Don't look at the investment as a donation.
Remember, that investor is looking for a return and will be
watching you. Your business and your reputation are at stake.
It's Time to Stop with All the Games
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher
The news media sure likes playing the "blame game." Everyone wants to point fingers and figure out exactly who
caused what havoc. Whether it's the housing crisis or the
banking dilemma, everyone wants a single person to be at fault.
I'm sure there are plenty of people you could blame for any
hardships in your life. The guy who cut you off on the way to
work or the colleague who gave you bad advice on an
investment pop to mind. But, where does placing the blame get
you? Is having someone to point a finger at going to clear the
air and get things back on track? I'm going to be blunt and say
no, it won't.
Trying to figure out exactly who is at fault is an exercise in
futility. It's one of the best time wasters around and, quite
frankly, there's no reason for it.
What really needs to happen is for someone to start offering up
a solution. And, right now, that someone can be you.
If you're having a rough time and really feeling the pressure of
the credit crisis, well, now is the time for action. You don't
need to rush out there like a superhero; just take an inventory
of your own situation.
Get out a pen and paper and write out a little chart of your own
situation and start weighing your options. Look at your income,
look at your expenses, look at your involvement at work or in
your community and then look at your goals. Is everything
starting to line up how you want it to?
If it isn't, don't go hunting for something or someone to place
the blame on. Instead, go hunting for a solution. The key is to
always be looking forward. What's done is done and now it's
time to get more accomplished.
Getting away from the "blame game" can certainly be difficult.
I know I used to play the game. I'd spend twice as long
searching for who was at fault than I did trying to fix the mess.
But once I was able to simply deal with the hand I was dealt, I
became better able to steer myself towards my personal goals.
Today, look beyond the blame and figure out if you're heading
in the direction you want to be going. If not, it's time to take
the wheel and point yourself back on the path to success.
Reclaim the Excitement that Started it All
By Michael Newman, Self-made Millionaire
Remember how it felt when you had that great idea -- the idea
that was going to make you rich and be the foundation for a
successful business that you loved? If you need some help, let
me remind you: You felt great. You felt like nothing could stop
you. You were energized and excited and ready for the future.
Then, one of two things likely happened: 1) you hit a bump in
the road and gave up; or 2) things took off as you wanted, but,
once the excitement wore off, it just became another job. The
same boring thing all day, every day.
In order to bring the excitement back, you have to remember
the person you were back then. Recall what it was that made
you feel so motivated and inspired. Remember the way you
looked for opportunities, found ways to improve things and
were excited about operating a cutting-edge business!
One of the keys to success is to start looking at things beyond
their face value. What that means is that, when you see
something -- anything at all -- look at it as a potential
opportunity. Charge up your brain and think about the different
ways things can be used or improved. This can spark ideas for
businesses and products that may be totally unrelated to what
you do, but can still be a source of inspiration. Inspiration
comes from all over the place, and often turns up in the place
where you'd least expect it.
You see, once you start going through the motions, your whole
perspective on things changes. You stop trying to seek things
out and discover new opportunities. For the most part, the
blinders are thrown up and it's hard to see new things. It's hard
to progress, and before you know it you've been left behind.
The secret to innovation is to look carefully at what's
happening around you, and how you can use these things to
your advantage.
There are a few trends that are sweeping the nation. Energy
efficiency and the "greening of our nation" is one of them.
Another is a shift in focus from Wall Street and big business to
a more local perspective. People are now, almost more than
ever before, interested in supporting Main Street and buying
locally produced products and services from businesses in and
around their community.
If you know what people want, you can find new and
innovative ways to give it to them. There has been a definite
change in the way people are thinking and feeling on a variety
of issues, so consider talking to friends, family and other
contacts about what they're thinking. Take what they tell you
and see what you can do with it. Heck, even notice a void that
needs to be filled and get motivated about filling it! People's
needs are changing and all kinds of opportunities are out there!
Using the Mail for Info Marketing Profit
By James Burt, Online Marketing Expert
Sometimes the Internet can't help you and the mail really is the
only way that you can get your info materials directly to your
clients.
The good news is that mail isn't what it used to be. Because
people needed speedier services, new laws and services were
implemented over the last 20-plus years to meet the public's
needs. Some came in the form of private couriers and even
more in national postal services amendments. At the end of the
day, the demand for quality, fast mail services finally
materialized.
This is even better news for information marketers. When it
comes to doing whatever mail work you have to, it's good to
have options. Of course, you're likely going to run into some
different mailing scenarios, so it's good to know what options
will work best for you. Here are a few I recommend:
-- Check what post office options first: Like I said, some
people are bitter about their nationally run postal service, often
rightfully so. But the truth is that, because of increased private
competition, your postal service has begun to offer even more
services than before. I got a better deal on a package I had to
send out for overnight delivery at the post office than I did at
my usual courier company. And it got there, too! The post
office is not what it used to be and is often a worthwhile
avenue to get particular mailing jobs done.
-- Consider local couriers: If you have to go the courier route,
it's a field of considerations. The big companies like UPS and
FedEx have built their reputations on their highly efficient
mega services. But I might suggest that you get a local courier
service, especially if you live in an urban or suburban area. I
learned this when I worked for a very brief period as a bike
courier back in school. These companies often have skilled car,
bike, and walking couriers who get your packages delivered in
time and at a price that won't burn a hole in your wallet. Scout
out your local companies online and see who has the best
service and price for your delivery needs.
-- Keep postage handy: There will probably be a scenario
where you are mailing out a regular info product. That said it's
good to get your postage in bulk so you can send it out
whenever you want. If you send items in either letter-size or
package-size envelopes of the same weight, you can get
prepaid postage packing materials from your post office. I
might also suggest getting some custom envelopes done up at a
print shop with your logo so your clients always know who
they are getting their mailings from before they even open
them.
-- Miscellaneous materials help: Packing tape, boxes, insulated
envelopes, Styrofoam braces, and that bubble wrap that is fun
to snap all are worthwhile to keep onsite if you are regularly
sending out bigger info products by mail.
-- Get a tracking code: This is vital, especially if you are
sending valuable material via courier or special mail delivery.
You can go online and use the tracking number to locate the
current location of your package. Some people get paranoid
about losing their letters and packages in the mail, but it
happens a lot less than you might think. However, a tracking
code is a nice advantage in case things do go haywire.
Like it or lump it, mailings are just another aspect of info
marketing. True; it can be an irritating and often stressful
responsibility. But if you tackle it head on, your material will
always make it to its destination with no problems.
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