Slowly but surely. In the famous Aesop fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, the levelheaded turtle's smarts rule over the overconfident hare's flashy speed. You, too, can use the turtle's winning strategy in business.
If you haven't read the last few posts, scroll down and start with the one titled "Why Being Predictable Is a Good Thing." Then, this post will make a lot more sense.
Let me ask you this...
Are you a sprinter or a marathoner?
Either way, I think you'll agree that you can't use the same strategy to win both races.
For example, imagine a marathon runner trying to win the 100-meter dash by "pacing" themselves during this ultra fast 10-second race. It doesn't work, does it?
Likewise, a sprinter trying to win a marathon would never be able to maintain their 100-meter pace because they would "lose steam" well before the finish line.
So how does this relate to your business?
Well, like running, in business you have to choose a strategy based on the type of "race" you are planning to run.
Let me explain...
Short term promotions are like a sprint. They generate a quick burst of cash flow but in order to sustain that momentum, you've got to do it again and again.
This can be dangerous because both you and your customers can get burnt out very quickly and the promotions become less and less effective.
Likewise, if you are looking to grow your business every year, you need to be more strategic and methodical by adopting strategies that build lasting momentum.
In some of our earlier posts this month we established that predictable systems serve as a great foundation for which to build a business.
Then, when you add systems built around the most critical ingredient to any business--Traffic--you have a winning formula for success.
But all of this can be taken to a much higher level when you focus on building predictable systems around the most effective form of traffic which is Inspired Word of Mouth.
See, Inspired Word of Mouth is a natural process that only comes from making gradual and steady improvement to what Mark calls The 4 W.O.M.K.A.I.s.
That may sound technical, but it's not. When you hear it, it will all seem so simple. Everything will make sense.
More about The 4 WOMKAIs in a moment.
First, let's talk about "gradual and steady."
Every decision you make in your business has to be in line with your overall objective. If that objective includes long-term success, then doesn't it make sense to do something on a daily basis to reach that goal?
For example, exercising for an hour isn't going to make you instantly fit.
But exercising for an hour each day will get you in shape.
But what small exercises can you do on a daily basis that would lead to your company being in the best financial shape it's been in?
Well, you now have the unique opportunity to follow a fellow Simpleology student whose company was already generating $1,499,384. However, they made a commitment to implement The 4 WOMKAI's each week and a year later they more than doubled their revenue to $3,474,343.
Think of this like following someone as they get in the best shape of their life. So what is the secret to their success?
They made simple daily changes built around The 4 WOMKAIs. To see what those changes were, click here.
Walk on by. Your business will only "get by" if you just keep hoping that customers who happen to be walking by will drop by your store.
Before we dig into our next post, I recommend that you read the last two blog posts. That way this one will make a lot more sense.
First, we talked about how uncertainty can hold you back and that the best way to conquer this is with a predictable system.
Next, we discussed the most critical element to any business: traffic. Even if you don't do any marketing whatsoever, as long as people are visiting your website or store, you have a chance to make a sale.
Then again, we said that not all traffic is equal. There are some forms of traffic that bring you a lot more people who are a lot more targeted. These are the people who are truly excited about you and/or your products.
Would you like to know what that source of traffic is?
Before I tell you, let me cite once again one of our Simpleology students who focused on using this one form of traffic every week last year.
It's fair to say that the entire increase may not be due to this one method but it certainly played a large role.
You see, most business owners make marketing too hard. And when marketing is hard, it becomes painful, tiresome, and unpredictable.
Have you ever felt that way?
There is a much easier way to do it!
In fact, this simpler way will allow you to ...
Build a base of loyal fans who steadily and surely bring more and more business to your door.
Make slow, gradual, almost effortless improvements that will not only consistently increase your sales, but will also make running your business easier and easier.
Unfortunately, even though most entrepreneurs know about this tried-and-tested way, they don't actually know how to use it.
And even the people who use it don't exactly know their way around it. In fact, very few of them use it in a predictable way to produce gradual, consistent and reliable results.
The amazing part about what I'm going to share is that it isn't difficult to implement. It's something anyone can do--no matter what kind of budget they're on. All it takes is knowing what small gradual changes to make and then coming up with a clear plan for implementing them.
Business only becomes hard when you keep doing stuff that doesn't work.
It's all pretty simple...
If you do stuff that gets results, you'll keep doing it. (Of course!)
If you do stuff that doesn't give results, you'll get frustrated and quit. (Naturally!)
So what is this ultra effective traffic-generating method?
What I'm referring to is Positive Word of Mouth Marketing.
This comes from a customer's spontaneous desire to tell someone about your product. They tell people because they love your product so much they want others to know about it.
You're probably saying to yourself, "Hey, I already knew that!" But let me ask you this killer question...
Do you know how to implement Positive Word of Mouth Marketing practices on a regular and consistent basis?
You see, if you know how to go about Positive Word of Mouth Marketing, people will often completely bypass the sales process and go right to the order.
Think about it. Have you ever experienced a situation where a friend or family member told you about something and you just went and purchased it based on their recommendation?
They were so enthusiastic about the product, sharing with you all the benefits that they've gained from it. As such, even before you went to the store or website, you already knew you were going to buy the very same product, too.
But did you notice something about what I mentioned above...
When your friend told you about this product, they weren't compensated for it. After all, they genuinely liked the product and just eagerly told you about it.
This is different from Incentivized Word of Mouth Marketing (which isn't nearly as effective). This is Inspired Word of Mouth Marketing.
The exciting part about this is you can actually have more control over the process. All you have to do is implement some small, uncomplicated changes over a gradual period of time to take your business from "getting by" to "booming."
That's all there is to it.
Next, we'll explore how to design a very simple plan to start implementing these gradual changes. I will tell you upfront, this will be a unique experience if you decide to participate because you'll be able to follow the Simpleology student I mentioned above, week by week, as he makes these changes in his business.
You'll see exactly how he went from sales revenue of $1,499,384.00 to sales revenue of $3,474,343.83. You'll also see the exact plan he used so that you can do the same in your business.
If you haven't read the two previous posts, scroll down to take a look. Check out the answers submitted for the contest. They will really open your mind.
OK, so the question was, "What is the most critical element of your business?"
We got a lot of different--and brilliant--answers but there was only one person who hit the nail right on the head for the contest. (Congratulations, Deidre!)
The most critical element to any business is...
TRAFFIC!!!
Let me explain with a story about my blog post-inspiring food run.
A few days ago, I decided to grab a bite at a sandwich shop just around the corner from my place. I had planned to do some solo brainstorming for what I was going to blog about while I munched on a chicken sandwich. Then again, since there were just a few people in the shop, I ended up talking to the salt-and-pepper-haired man behind the counter--who also happened to be the owner.
It didn't take long before we started discussing business. That's when I asked him, "What do you do to get people into your store?"
"Not much really. We just hope the people walking by will decide to come in," he replied.
At first, I didn't really know how to respond but then I asked him another question: "What if it's a rainy day?"
He answered, "Business is always slow when the weather is bad. But isn't that the case for everyone?"
I think he must have guessed my answer to his question just by the look on my face. I had my baffled-nosy-customer look: I had one eyebrow raised and I was mouthing a silent "What!?!" The sandwich shop owner merely shook his head and chuckled.
Anyway, it was then that I decided to share with him The Most Critical Element to Any Business.
You see, this critical element applies for all kinds of business--whether it's based online or it's an actual establishment. It's the same for all businesses--be it a chain of supermarkets or a little sandwich shop.
Bottom line: If you don't have anyone visiting your website or dropping by your store, you'll never be able to sell any products. You need TRAFFIC!!!
In our previous post, many of you mentioned things like cash flow, persistence, communication, market research, and so on.
Make no mistake about it, all these things are important.
However, it all starts with traffic.
If people don't see or hear about what you have, absolutely no business will ever be done.
Granted, once they see your product, a whole new set of forces will influence the sale. But, it all starts with traffic.
So if my new friend the sandwich shop owner decides to be proactive in his marketing, he should look for a number of ways to spread the word about his sandwiches. He would give people more reasons to visit his shop over and over again.
The problem is, too many business owners don't realize the importance of proactively generating a consistent stream of traffic. As such, their business is dependent on "hope."
They hope people will come into the store--even on a rainy day.
They hope these people will buy their products.
They hope that their customers will tell their friends and family.
And they continue to "hope" that they'll achieve all their business goals and dreams.
Now, I know you aren't in this category. I'm also pretty sure that you don't want to fall into it. That's why it's important for us to develop a plan that utilizes proven success strategies.
You see, one of the things that we know for sure is that even though traffic is the most critical element for any business, not all traffic is equal.
For example, people who have a craving for a tasty sandwich are much more likely to buy than those who are just casually walking by. And the people with the craving are even more likely to buy if it's lunchtime, when they haven't eaten yet and they've heard that you have, say, $1.00 off their favorite sandwich.
So what's the most effective way to consistently generate a bunch of "hungry" buyers?
Let me share this with you...
One of our students at Simpleology made a commitment to really focus on using this one method over the last 12 months.
Now, of course, there were some other contributing factors to his success. Then again, he was consistently doing this one crucial thing week after week and, as a result, his business grew and grew.
Just who is this Simpleology student and how exactly did make his business grow so fast? You'll know all the fascinating details soon enough.
In my next post, I'll tell you all about what he did and discuss how you yourself can use it to build a solid base of happy customers that are eager to buy from you again and again.
Stay tuned!
Like this post? Why not share it with the world? Click on the title or the permalink below. Then, click on this nifty button for your site of choice.
The suspense will kill you. Uncertainty fuels actions films like Casino Royale (2006). But, in real life, it's bad for business.
In a minute, I'll be announcing the start of a contest where three people will get the chance to win a copy of "an extremely powerful system" that will guarantee customer loyalty as well as bring in a steady stream of new customers and clients.
But before we get to that, let me put you in suspense for a bit.
Get Real
As I stated in my previous post, I'm all for predictability. Never mind if it's not the least bit exciting. After all, while uncertainty is the root of the thrill factor in action movies, it sucks in real life.
When we are confused, we don't transform into action heroes who can make nifty weapons out of paper clips. Instead, we become paralyzed. We start to second-guess every move we make. Indeed, if paper clips are within reach during such times, we'd likely be chewing on them.
Can you relate?
Fresh Obstacles
I know I can. I remember when I first set out to be a freelance wordsmith. For starters, I had to look for projects and, in a way, fight to get writing assignments. Then, when I found them, I had to wait for my check to come in. It was torturous because back then I didn't know if I would have money coming in to pay my bills. After all, my income was anything but predictable.
But, looking back, the more serious challenge I faced was creating a steady demand for my services. Heck, all I had going for me was my bravado. I didn't really have any "marketing system" in place and it always felt like I was scrambling from one project to the next.
I endured the gut-wrenching ordeal of wondering whether I'd end up moving back home-- especially when a project was coming to a close and there wasn't another one to prepare for.
Common Ground
However, when I talked to other "freelancers"--an artist, a woman who had opened a flower shop, and a lawyer who had gone into private practice--I found out that I wasn't alone. This kind of uncertainty is everywhere--especially when you don't have a solid system for marketing your services.
I know, I know. The word "system" (like the word, "predictable") isn't cool.
But, yes, it is critical. As soon as I implemented the right system, I knew with absolute certainty when and where I could get new clients. That was when I started to relax a bit and stopped doubting if I could survive on what I earned as a freelance writer.
All in Place
You see, the more systems and procedures you have in place, the more freedom you have. Systems create predictable outcomes, and predictable outcomes create peace of mind (not to mention enough cash to pay the bills and set aside for rainy days).
Plus, with a solid system, you will have the freedom to, say, take a month-long vacation if you want to.
Why?
Because you've got systems in place to generate business while you are gone and systems for handling that new business--all without it needing any input from you.
Sounds liberating doesn't it?
Trust me, it is.
Delayed Reactions
But here's why so many people get tripped up. They're not clear on where to start. They don't know what they need to create systems for and more importantly, which ones are most critical to their success.
And once someone gets buried in the day-to-day of running of a business or the constant search for projects, they never seem to "find the time" to identify the most critical areas of their business and then build systems around them. It's a common situation and it prevents a lot of people from becoming a massive success.
Critical Element
So to continue this discussion, let me ask you a question...
What is the most critical element of your business?
Before you leave your answer, I'll give you three hints:
1. Without "this" your business would be a guaranteed failure.
2. Every business (no matter what niche or market) depends on "this."
3. Creating a system around "this" will always create an endless stream of new business.
The Rules
Make your guess by starting the sentence with:
"The most critical element to any business is..."
Keep in mind that you must start your guess with the sentence outlined above along with a brief description of why you think it's the most critical element to any business. (Example: "The most critical element to any business is patience because it'll help you stick to your guns even when things don't go your way.")
When you submit your answer you'll be immediately entered into a draw to win one of our most popular Simpleology courses which outlines this critical system. The first person to guess it correctly will win a copy and then we'll select two random winners.
Like this post? Why not share it with the world? Click on the title or the permalink below. Then, click on this nifty button for your site of choice.
The best things in life are the things you can count on. This old FedEx ad proves that, yes, predictability can be an asset.
When I was in college, I got bored easily. I hated it when things got predictable in class. I tuned out each time a professor just read from his or her notes. Then again, what did I know? Back then, I was full of bravado and not much else.
Like Clockwork
As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate predictability. I appreciate it when my building superintendent comes to inspect stuff every Thursday. I appreciate the courier coming on time whenever I have things picked up. I appreciate my mother calling to check if I'm alive and eating well on Mondays. (Even though I tell her not to do it anymore.)
Then it hit me...
I'm part of a very predictable system myself.
Simply Predictable
You see, the reason why Simpleology works so well is because it's predictable. The process has been proven over and over again which is why people trust the methodology. And since we've earned their trust, they follow the steps accordingly and they achieve tremendous clarity and momentum in their lives.
But the moment someone's environment becomes uncertain, confusion enters the picture and begins to shred through any focus or clarity that one may have.
This is particularly true for someone starting their own business or somebody doing freelance work. There are a lot of factors that influence hundreds or even thousands of tiny decisions that are made everyday which have an immediate effect on the bottom line.
The Next Best Thing
But what if you could eliminate the noise and bring the same kind of intense focus to your business?
Every decision would be centered and in line with the direction you are headed. You wouldn't be distracted by the next "latest thing" and you could have peace of mind that every step you take is towards a more profitable relationship with your customers and clients.
During the next few days we'll explore this powerful force and if you can master it, your profitability will certainly increase. Goodness knows we all need some certainty in an uncertain world.
Meanwhile, if you have not taken Simpleology 102, sign up for it and at least give it a rapid run through before you start this next one. It will give you a decided edge.
Like this post? Why not share it with the world? Click on the title or the permalink below. Then, click on this nifty button for your site of choice.
The 4 Questions - Final (Questions Revealed, Winners Announced, Kaizen Club Live) By: Mark Joyner
First I want to thank everyone who participated in this exciting exercise.
If you read the hundreds upon hundreds of comments you'll likely get the same overwhelming sense that I did: this is one super smart and unflinchingly positive crowd of people!
Click here to read the 4 questions, see if you're one of the winners (they're at the bottom of the page), and join this new club.
This is one of the most exciting things we've done in a long time - and the proof that it works is in the reality unfolding around it. We went live while I was on stage on the other side of the globe in Indonesia - my team in control of the launch. I still haven't even checked our "stats" - that's how confident I am in my team.
If I hadn't been making regular "deposits" in the bank of those 4 investments there's no way this could have happened.
Congratulations to the WOMT Promo Winners!
The 4 Questions - Final (Questions Revealed, Winners Announced, Kaizen Club Live)