Stop Faking It

I just got back from four days in Dallas at the ewomennetwork annual conference. The experience is still vibrating in my heart and head. The stories told continue to inspired me. I am full of hope. I am full of friendship. I am full of  knowledge.

Our speakers were amazing. Each had faced and overcome personal challenges to become stronger, more determined and connected with their communities. I appreciate the exquisite insights they shared.

I met ewomen from across the United States and Canada. Some came to learn. Some came to teach. All came to share themselves - our tears, our real selves and so many brilliant ideas as we joined together in “Wisdom Circles”. Each beautiful, talented woman had a story to share. The benefits of many minds united to solve a challenge was evident through out the conference in large and small ways. There was a genuine outpouring of love and wisdom.

My favorite memory of the past week is laughing with four new friends as we indulged in an evening of Chocolate Decadence (a fund raiser for the ewomennetwork foundation). I laughed until the tears came, and then laughed some more. We shared the stories of our lives, complete with triumphs and challenges without being worried that we would be rejected or made to feel foolish by one another. Inside, a bond was forged and it will grow as we stay in touch over the next year.

Monica Wofford gave a presentation on “Contagious Confidence”. It was so refreshing to hear her say not to “fake it till you make it”. She made it so clear that when what you feel inside is a mismatch with what you show on your face or in your body, it is no secret what you are out of sync. Being authentic is far more attractive than a “game face” that is brittle and stiff.

• Show your vulnerabilities.
• Be real.
• That is when your true confidence shines through.
• It is o.k. to be human.

Laughter we learned can make us wealthy. Laughter makes us healthy. Laugher can make us wise. Marci Shimoff, author of “Happy for No Reason” shared her recipe for happiness. She realized as a child she was not a naturally happy person. Her father was. So she pursued a quest to find out what she could do to boost her happiness by changing her habits. She too, made us laugh.

A few of my take aways from the conference:

• Be who you are
• Decide to be happy
• Find people who support you
• Open your heart and it will grow to let love in
• Don’t give up before the miracle happens
• join ewomennetwork if you want to find friends you can trust
• join ewomen if you want to be outrageously successful
• Stop faking it
• Being real is truly the key to being attractive in life and in business

Find out more about ewomen at http://www.ewomennetwork.com

Tags: ewomennetworkconference happy confidence

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Is your Marketing Message “Made to Stick”

I’m reading Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath.
They came up with the traits that make an idea stick.
Sticky ideas are:

S = simple
U = unexpected
C = concrete
C = credentialed
E = emotional
S = stories

Can you improve your marketing using this model?

Did you know that it usually takes 7-9 exposures to a product before a prospect becomes a client? Every year, over 30,000 new products are introduced. How can you stand out amid all this information?

A sticky message helps potential clients remember you. It gives them a clear understanding of what you do and who you do it for, as well as the outcomes they can expect when they work with you.

Real Life Test

I used the “SUCCESs“  framework as a starting point to teach a roomful of 60% consultants how to revise their audio logos.

I asked them to include:

• Who do you serve
• What challenge (or pain) do your clients/prospects face
• What solution/result do you provide

And do it all in 8 words or less

Once I laid the groundwork, they each had about a minute to come up with a new audio logo.

They got to test their message by sharing it with their table mates.

If they did it well, their audience would ask them for their business card and:

“How do you do that? “

The goal of your audio logo is to start a conversation, not to close a sale!

And when you get people to ask you questions, they are more likely to pay attention to what you say. They are invested in hearing how you can help them.

In summary:

Most people were able to pare down their essential message to 8 words or less.

Several participants thanked me for helping them see that less can be more!

What can you do?

• Focus on who you are speaking to (What’s in it for them)

• Choose your words for
  • clarity
  • simplicity
  • emotional impact

• Make it easy for your potential clients to identify themselves as someone you can help.

• • Get the attention of potential clients
  • Make them curious
  • Stimulate them to ask for more information

I reduced my audio logo to:

“I help overwhelmed entrepreneurs attract more clients.”

If you want to know how, come to my workshop on July 21st.
For details, just click this link.

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Mastering your Marketing Mindset

Are you an entrepreneur who is has trouble:
__ making sense out of marketing and selling
__ identifying your ideal target market
__ creating powerful marketing materials
__ determining the best marketing strategies
__ effectively communicating your marketing message
__ marketing without feeling like a used-car salesman
__ getting beyond the fear of marketing and selling
__ creating an effective marketing plan
__ with the implementation of your plan
__ other
What you believe, you can achieve
Uncover the hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success
Learn a proven technique to quickly turn those negative thoughts around
Leave with tools you can use in your business and in your relationships
Save the Date:
Day: Saturday Dates: May 3, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Location: details upon registration

Sign up today and Save: $15.00 At the door: $20.00
sign up online at http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/1506/

Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach Judy Baker will guide you through the steps you can take to master your negative thoughts and create an empowering marketing mindset.

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Completely Creative Business Breakthrough Workshop

If your profits for 2007 were disappointing, would you like to learn to achieve or exceed your profitability goals in 2008?

Attend this workshop and gain clarity about your marketing goals, the obstacles that are getting in your way, and start planning the steps you need to take to reach your profitability goals.
This business building breakthrough workshop is valued at $250. It can put you on the path to sky rocket your profitability in 2008. What you will have by the end of this workshop that could change your life and your business:

• A crystal clear vision for where you want your business to go in 2008
• A crystal clear vision for where your clients will come from
• Uncover the hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success

You will leave the session with a new way to attract clients with the confidence you need to achieve your profitability goals. You will feel renewed, inspired and motivated to take action on your specific goals.

Save the Date:

day: Thursday Date: May 1, 2008
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PDT
Location: Sonoma, details will be sent upon registration
Sign up today and Save: $49.50 At the door: $79.50 workbook included

Download a registration form here.

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MAG_02 Marketing Action Group Starts in May

Attract More Clients Now

If you want to take your marketing to the next level but are
stuck in moving forward…

This is an article I co-authored with Robert Middleton, the Action Plan Marketing Guru.

Fill in these two fields to receive this free article.

Check back for more goodies to come.

The Queen of Collaboration

I’m Judy Baker, the Queen of Collaboration, a Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach and I am qualified to assist you in developing and implementing your marketing plan. All Certified Coaches are trained in a comprehensive program and adhere to the highest ethical standards.

I am Completely Creative. I work with creative professionals and small business owners who find marketing stressful. I help them turn stress into success by teaching them how to consistently attract their ideal clients and have fun with marketing.

My clients benefit from my unique ability to compassionately train and support them as they gain confidence while mastering the rules of marketing ball. My mission is help clients learn how to cultivate connections and captivate customers consistently.

I inspire contagious communication. I am owner of Completely Creative, a thriving marketing communications company. As a graphic artist, my ability to understand and translate the essence of your business into compelling visual and verbal communication makes my work connect to your clients.

I combine skills in theatre arts, human resources and marketing to help my clients develop magnetic marketing materials and presentations. A graduate of San Diego State with a B.A. in Drama and a Master in Human Resources and Organization Behavior from the University of San Francisco, I am part of the Executive Team of the Bay Area Consultant’s Network and the Women Who Eat Cake. She is a co-creator of the North Bay Career Resource Center.

I offer one-on-one coaching, workshops, in-house training and teleclasses. Please contact me at 707.938.2586 or send an email to success@creative1.com to request a schedule of upcoming classes. Contact me if you would like to have me speak to your group.

Details
of Marketing Action Group_02 (May 13-Aug 12)

The Marketing Action Group for the upcoming semester - May - August is now open for enrollment.

Dates of all sessions:

Bi-Weekly Sessions

Day of the week: Tuesday

Dates of Sessions:

May 13, 27
June 3, 17
July 1, 15, 29
Aug 12

2-3:30pm PST

full details

Registration

Fast Track Workbook

We will be using this workbook throughout the course. Be sure to have it in hand during our calls. Refer to it often. It is full of information, samples and exercises that will help you master the game of marketing.

I look forward to working with you.

Judy Baker

The Queen of Collaboration

To purchase Action Plan Marketing materials, just click here.

www.creative1.com

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Completely Creative Magnetic Marketing Action Group - Starts on March 3

Are you generating a consistent stream of new, profitable clients?
(or are you still struggling with marketing?)
If you’re a Creative Professional or an Entrepreneur and you are not attracting as much business as you’d like, there is a reason. You’re avoiding marketing for one or more of the reasons below:

• You resist marketing because of fear of rejection or worry about doing it wrong.
• Marketing feels like a chore. It’s not fun and not easy.
• You don’t know how to get the attention of prospects.
• You’re not good at writing copy for marketing materials.
• You are not sure which marketing tactics work best.
• You can’t find the time to fit marketing into your schedule.
• You don’t have a plan to put it all together.
• Add yours here ______________________________

There’s a different way to market yourself
The above reasons (and many more) are what I’ve heard from Creative Professionals. Like you, I used to believe that Marketing is hard, it’s not fun, there’s no time, and besides it really doesn’t work anyway! My personal favorite, my work speaks for itself.
But deep down, you know there must be a way to effectively market your services. You’ve seen other professionals do it. You’ve seen business associates with no more expertise and intelligence than you, gain more attention, attract more business and make more money with seemingly a lot less struggle and effort.

So, what’s their secret?
Well, it’s not one secret, it’s at least seven secrets. They are doing things that most Independent Professionals simply don’t do.

1. They make marketing into a game that they play to win. They realize there are certain rules to follow.
2. They have a mindset about marketing that is positive, not negative. It’s based on contribution, not fear.
3. They know how to speak about their business in a way that naturally attracts attention and interest.
4. They have a marketing message that stands out and makes it clear to everyone what value they offer.
5. They have marketing materials that build trust and credibility because they explain what the client gets, not what they do.
6. They implement a select number of marketing tactics or activities and they apply them religiously.
7. They have action plans that guide their marketing, not random activities implemented sporadically, if at all.

But these seven secrets really don’t help you much unless you know how they actually work. How do you change your mindset, make marketing into a game, get attention and implement successful marketing tactics and plans? How can you learn this quickly?
You need to grow your business now, not someday. You need the tools and skills for marketing your services as soon as possible. And you need a proven, reliable approach for learning how to do this.

Becoming a better marketer

I’ve been working with Independent Professionals to attract more clients. I’ve helped them with everything listed above and more. I’ve given them the tools and helped them develop the skills that turned them into better marketers who could attract business consistently, with less struggle and effort.

In addition to working individually with clients, I’ve held workshops, conducted seminars that all were focused on increasing their ability to attract more clients.

But despite great success with all these approaches it’s been a challenge to meet the most frequent demand: Help us become better marketers more quickly and at a lower cost.

A Marketing Laboratory
I’ve created “Marketing Action Groups.” Their purpose is to develop an effective group process that results in quickly developing marketing tools and skills. The process is actually quite simple and it includes the following four elements:

Information - You learn the seven fundamental practices to effectively marketing a professional service business, in interactive sessions conducted by teleconference.

Application - You can apply these marketing practices between teleconference sessions by doing very focused assignments and applying them to actual marketing challenges.

Participation - Participants interact with both me and other participants and everyone learns from everyone else. Nobody sits back and says “do it to me.” Everyone gets involved.

Accountability - You make a commitment to take action and receive feedback from me and other members of your group.

This formula is proven to be very effective. Instead of just getting information (as in a workshop or seminar) you are actually applying what you learn to your current marketing challenges. Your mindset shifts, marketing became more of a game, marketing messages and materials improved, and tactics and plans are implemented successfully.
Ready? Here’s Seven Steps We Will Cover

1. Marketing Ball - Turning marketing into a game
If marketing is a game (and it most certainly is), you need to know the rules and the moves to win. You can’t even get on base until you know what generates attention and interest in a prospective client. And when you know where all your prospects are on the game board, you’ll know what move to make.

2. Marketing Mindset - A new mindset about marketing
We’ll uncover your old, worn out and counter-productive marketing mindset. Then we’ll apply the most powerful process yet discovered to turn that mindset inside out. You’ll never think of marketing the same way again. For many, this will be the most important part of the program.

3. Marketing Syntax - The language of marketing
At the heart of it, marketing is all about communication. What comes out of your mouth and what you write is what moves a prospect into action. When you learn the simple syntax to the language of marketing, you’ll start communicating with impact.

4. Marketing Messages - That get attention and interest
A marketing message isn’t a clever tag line or logo, it’s a three-part formula that’s actually easy to create and implement. You can test its effectiveness immediately and fine tune it until you get a “that’s for me!” response every time you speak about your business.

5. Marketing Currency - Powerful marketing information
Currency buys things. In marketing, currency buys interest, credibility, trust and engagement. You’ll learn how to create your own marketing currency in the form of an Audio Logo, an Executive Summary and every kind of written, printed and online marketing materials.

6. Marketing Tactics - The ways you get out there
There are dozens of tactics you could employ to get the word out about your services. But you need to know when and how to apply them for the best results. You’ll learn the secrets to applying tactics that your prospects are most likely to respond to.

7. Marketing Action Plans - A focused track to run on
A plan isn’t just a to-do list. It’s more like a recipe with several ingredients that need to be combined and cooked to perfection. You’ll discover how to apply marketing action plans that ensure a stream new clients is the final result.

Who is the Marketing Action Group For?
If you feel that the professional service you provide is making the world a better place, is helping people reach their potential, is reducing stress and struggle, and is bringing more balance, fulfillment and aliveness - to individuals, organizations and the world - then you’re ready for the program.

It’s also for those who actually want to have fun with their marketing. Yes, I know this is a stretch for some, but creative work is fun, and marketing is creative work. Be prepared to take your business to places it hasn’t been before and have a great time getting there.

Completely Creative Magnetic Marketing Action Group

• 8 sessions held over a four-month period (twice a month group calls facilitated by me)
• Assignments between sessions that help you transform your mind set and create new business
• Meet with your own small group online or by phone at least twice a month
• Plus a sixty minute One-on-one coaching session each month with me

Payment Options:
$1900, $200 discount of (10%) = $1710 if paid in full in advance
Monthly: $475
Dates: March 3, 17 & 31, April 14 & 28, May 12, 26, June 9
Time: 3:30-5pm PST
Limited to 12 participants
Workbook included
Led by: Judy Baker, Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach
RSVP: Send payment (check, cash or credit card accepted) to:
Completely Creative, 16881 Schiller Court, Sonoma, CA 95476-3449
To pay by credit card, fax your registration to: 707.996.5185
or return your completed form via email
questions: success@creative1.com

Download your registration form at www.creative1.com/registration/MAG_March_2008_Signup_Info.pdf

Once you have registered, I will send you a confirmation with the teleconference call in number and password.

Don’t wait - class starts on Monday March 3rd.

visit: www.creative1.com/successnotes/

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Art of Connecting from Your Heart Networking Event

Who should come

If you are a Creative Professionals or Solopreneur who wants to learn how to connect with business that is aligned with your heart, come to the Art of Connecting from Your Heart Networking Event.

You’ll learn how to identity your ideal clients, mentors and strategic supporters. Meet other professionals with whom to share your vision, goals and ideas. It is interactive. You’ll leave with new strategies you can use to jump start your network.

6-6:15pm check in and informal networking

6:30 - 8:00pm hors d’oeuvres + no host bar
6:15 - 7:00pm organized networking activities
7:00 - 7:30pm interactive presentation The Art of Connecting from the Heart
7:30 - 7:45pm Q&A
7:45- 8:00pm Raffle
8:00 - 8:25pm organized networking activities
8:25-8:30pm Close and special announcement

You?ll have the opportunity to craft and practice your message. Meet other business owners. Have some fun while you eat, greet and learn.

You’ll learn how to ask the right questions and create strategies for engaging in conversations that can lead to new business and profound connections in 2008.

You will learn how to identify key connectors and mentors who can help you expand your professional and personal network. You?ll experience a new way to attract your perfect clients, get referrals, and gain the confidence you need to respond positively the next time someone asks you what you do.

You will be guided by me, Judy Baker, certified Action Plan Marketing Coach. I am a master of magnetic marketing who works with small business owners who find marketing stressful. I help you learn how to consistently attract your ideal clients and have fun with marketing.

My own business has doubled in profitability since I started using this methodology.

Every one who attends will leave with:

• a clear vision of who you want to know
• how to connect with the people who can make a difference in your business and in your life
• a resource list of insider networking knowledge
• new connections
• special offers

Make your reservation today. Space is limited.

$35 with advance registration by February 8th
$45 at the door if space is available

Send confirmation with payment (check, credit card or cash accepted) to:
Completely Creative, 16881 Schiller Court, Sonoma, CA 95476-3449

Download a registration form at: http://www.creative1.com/registration/The_Art_of_Connecting_from_Your_Heart_Meetup.pdf

Call 707.938.2586 with any questions or send an email to success@creative1.com

When

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 6:00 PM

Where

• Info/Map

Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa
2777 Fourth Street
Santa Rosa , CA 95405
707.545.8350

Visit my website.

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Magnetic Marketing Masters in Training

Are you generating a consistent stream of new, profitable clients? Or are you still struggling with marketing?

If you are a creative professional and you are not attracting as much business as you would like, there is a reason. You are avoiding marketing for one or more of the reasons listed below:

• You resist marketing because of fear of rejection or worry about doing it wrong.
• Marketing feels like a chore. It’s not fun and not easy.
• You don’t know how to get the attention of prospects.
• You’re not good at writing copy for marketing materials.
• You are not sure which marketing tactics work best.
• You can’t find the time to fit marketing into your schedule.
• You don’t have a plan to put it all together.
• Add yours here ____________

There is a different way to market yourself

Come to the Art of Marketing Workshop and learn how you can grow your business now.

Download complete details at www.creative1.com/registration/The_Art_of_Marketing_Workshop.pdf

Call me at 707.938.2586 and find out how you can become a better maketer now.

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