Life in a small business is always exciting. Most people nowadays are fully aware that there is a whole new avenue of marketing out there with internet and social marketing. If you are like I am, you have heard from every direction that you have to set this and this up. If you are like I was, you also felt a sense of urgency yet frustration and just wished someone could either just walk you through it or set it up for you.
I pored through books, online programs, classes, seminars, talked with all kinds of people and spent hours trying to figure out what all was needed, and then finally got it all together. It was just something new, and something I was not familiar with and didn't understand fully how to bring it all together. In time, amongst so many other duties that come at us from all directions, I finally got it all together.
A friend of mine from Minneapolis was here recently, and she came for the sole purpose of getting some help with her social and internet marketing. Little did I know that her visit would lead me to more people who have the same need. As a result, I'm doing a seminar in Minneapolis next week for those who want to know the BASICS of internet and social marketing. By the time we walk out of that class, the attendees will have set up their social websites and will know how they need to go about managing these sites on an elementary and get-started level.
If you are one of those who knows you have to get going with internet and social marketing, yet you don't know where to start, click here, and write me a little note. I'll find a way to help you out. (Click here to send note to Susan.)
Until next time, I wish you continued success.
Susan
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
By The Numbers - Setting Goals
For those of you who've been following my blog, you know already that I really enjoy Chuck Coonradt's book: The Game of Work. Everything in business is compared to a game. What I've been thinking about this past week are goals. Chuck posed a what if: What if a team of hockey players went out and played a game but didn't keep score? We've all seen games where the score isn't kept. Not too enthusiastic among neither the players nor the audience, is it? What happens when you change that game to a game where the score is kept? Chuck said, and I agree, that it's just inherent that we want to do things better, faster, higher, shorter, longer, and to win. That's just the way it is - we perform to win!
In athletics, there are certain measurements every game. Once you reach 21 points, or 9 innings, or whatever it may be, the game is done. The same holds true in business. Make it a game. Make it so that your "players" are finding it a privilige to work harder to attain those goals.
Napoleon Hill has you stop right in the middle of reading his book to WRITE down your goals. Must be important, eh? Goals must be written. Write it down and post it up so it is first and foremost at all times! Repeat it. Review it! Goals that aren't written down are wishes only. There's a big difference. Goals also have to be measureable. For example, don't just say that I want to have a profitable year this year. Say I want an increased profit of a million dollars this year. Make it clear and measureable. A goal also has to be a person's own, not someone else's goal for them. If you want your sales reps to have a certain goal, you better do a good job of making sure they've bought into the concept and made this their "own" goal. And, of course, goals have to have a deadline. Back to that increased profit: I don't want just an increased profit of a million dollars this year, I want an increased profit of a million dollars by December 31, 2009!
Following these few little steps will most definitely help keep you on the path to achieving your goal.
Until next time, I wish you success.
Susan
In athletics, there are certain measurements every game. Once you reach 21 points, or 9 innings, or whatever it may be, the game is done. The same holds true in business. Make it a game. Make it so that your "players" are finding it a privilige to work harder to attain those goals.
Napoleon Hill has you stop right in the middle of reading his book to WRITE down your goals. Must be important, eh? Goals must be written. Write it down and post it up so it is first and foremost at all times! Repeat it. Review it! Goals that aren't written down are wishes only. There's a big difference. Goals also have to be measureable. For example, don't just say that I want to have a profitable year this year. Say I want an increased profit of a million dollars this year. Make it clear and measureable. A goal also has to be a person's own, not someone else's goal for them. If you want your sales reps to have a certain goal, you better do a good job of making sure they've bought into the concept and made this their "own" goal. And, of course, goals have to have a deadline. Back to that increased profit: I don't want just an increased profit of a million dollars this year, I want an increased profit of a million dollars by December 31, 2009!
Following these few little steps will most definitely help keep you on the path to achieving your goal.
Until next time, I wish you success.
Susan
Thursday, September 3, 2009
By The Numbers - Tracking Your Goals
"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it."
- George Odiorne
Why are numbers important? Interesting question. I just did a Google search with that question and one answer was: "So that you can find the value of something."
One of our key phrases at By The Numbers is "Winners Know Their Numbers". Why? As I mentioned in last week's email, business demands measureable results. How else can you measure effectively except through numbers? Take your days in school as an example. If you were told you did well on a test would that satisfy you, or would you rather know that you got 100% on that test? Which means more to you? As a high achiever of course you want to know that got 100%! "Did well" is not enough and does not satisfy. Measurement without numbers is too abstract and holds no real meaning.
Now carry that concept over into business. If you have a sales rep who is bringing in a nice number of contracts, you might think that you have the best salesperson on Earth. For some reason, though, your profits don't seem to be increasing. How do you find out what's happening? By numbers! Once you start examining closer, you might see a sales rep who is bringing in a bunch of jobs just to close the deal, but the contracts are undersold or minor jobs. In fact, most of these jobs from your "best seller" might be non-profitable or even cost a loss for your business. There is no way you would know that unless you actually track the numbers.
Once you start tracking your numbers you will be able to set clearly defined goals and then measure them accordingly. But you need to know your numbers first!
Charles Coonradt compares numbers in business to scorekeeping in athletics. He says that most people don't realize they cannot win unless they keep score. In his words, "there are three types of players: one who knows he is winning; one who knows he is losing, and one who doesn't know the score." There's value in numbers, and winners know theirs!
Until next week, I wish you continued success!
Susan
- George Odiorne
Why are numbers important? Interesting question. I just did a Google search with that question and one answer was: "So that you can find the value of something."
One of our key phrases at By The Numbers is "Winners Know Their Numbers". Why? As I mentioned in last week's email, business demands measureable results. How else can you measure effectively except through numbers? Take your days in school as an example. If you were told you did well on a test would that satisfy you, or would you rather know that you got 100% on that test? Which means more to you? As a high achiever of course you want to know that got 100%! "Did well" is not enough and does not satisfy. Measurement without numbers is too abstract and holds no real meaning.
Now carry that concept over into business. If you have a sales rep who is bringing in a nice number of contracts, you might think that you have the best salesperson on Earth. For some reason, though, your profits don't seem to be increasing. How do you find out what's happening? By numbers! Once you start examining closer, you might see a sales rep who is bringing in a bunch of jobs just to close the deal, but the contracts are undersold or minor jobs. In fact, most of these jobs from your "best seller" might be non-profitable or even cost a loss for your business. There is no way you would know that unless you actually track the numbers.
Once you start tracking your numbers you will be able to set clearly defined goals and then measure them accordingly. But you need to know your numbers first!
Charles Coonradt compares numbers in business to scorekeeping in athletics. He says that most people don't realize they cannot win unless they keep score. In his words, "there are three types of players: one who knows he is winning; one who knows he is losing, and one who doesn't know the score." There's value in numbers, and winners know theirs!
Until next week, I wish you continued success!
Susan
Monday, August 31, 2009
By The Numbers - ALCA - Arizona Landscapers Trade Show in Phoenix - Sept 16
On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, ALCA (Arizona Landscape Contractors Association) is hosting a landscaping trade show at the Mountain Preserve Reception Center at 1431 E Dunlap Ave in Phoenix from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. This is something all licensed landscape contractors in the Phoenix valley area should NOT miss. You will have a chance to find out what is going on in the Green Industry. Of course there will be some really fun door prizes and exhibits that may change the entire direction of your businesses. Come keep in touch with what's going on in the landscaping. Welcome!
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