How to Avoid Dreaded Cupcake Marketers
Published November 11, 2009 | 
By Denise Michaels
A couple days ago I wrote about something I dubbed, “cupcake marketing.” Women business owners who tend to expect everything free because they’re not so good at making decisions about their own business and hence they never have any money. So, they give everything away free – and then, they expect you to do the same because you’re a woman. They wouldn’t dare ask a man to do the same – but they expect you, a woman business owner to jump at the chance.
One woman commented in a Facebook message that she had three people today who EXPECTED her to give away her products for free. Can you imagine the gall? Expected her. Not even very polite. More threatening than anything else.
I told this woman if so many people are asking her for freebies that there’s gotta be something about her demeanor, her message or something that people seem to expect it. She needs to check in with what she’s doing first to see what it is about the impression or perception she’s giving off that’s creating that result. She can’t control others but she can certainly control what she does.
In my business, I don’t get a lot of this. But I hear it happening with other women a great deal.
I recently had someone start up a chat with me on Facebook. She was singing the blues about her financial situation – most of which I know is a result of not this recession but very poor decision making. She has a husband and two kids from a previous husband that are in her parents custody. She wanted money from me. She wasn’t even trying to sell me something just wanted a donation as if I’m some kind of patsy or something. I said, “Please, don’t ask me.”
She shot back, “Okay, I’ll just tell others you don’t care about mothers with children.”
Wow!
We need to learn what it truly means to support other women business owners. It means BUYING their product/service and paying for it. Not expecting freebies all the time That’s one way we can really step toward getting out of the pink collar ghetto of struggle and financial dependence.
Here’s the deal: you aren’t a charity. The women you know who are business owners – they’re not a charity either. No matter how much you may be struggling at the moment and would like someone to just write you a check. It’s not going to happen because you’re not a charity and you’re not a victim. Stop expecting others to treat you like one. Start learning how to market and sell effectively. Treat your business like a business and set the intention that others do the same.
I give money to charitable programs all the time. I give a monthly donation to public radio. I give money to efforts that help the homeless. I gave ten percent of the proceeds from my workshop last week to the charity Dress for Success helps women entering or re-entering the work force with training and a business-appropriate wardrobe. Occasionally, I’ll give money or help to someone who doesn’t ask for it but I can tell really could use it.
Last week I had someone offer to do a professional makeover on me: she’s a makeup artist. It was fun, I learned some great new tips and tricks that made my face look better. When it was done I purchased $100 worth of her cosmetics from her. They’re pretty high end so $100 didn’t buy everything but it’s a good start and an empowering way I could show support for her business. Click here to see Lisa Monette’s line of amazing OLA products. I supported her by buying her product – and when I’m ready I’ll buy more.
Many women have the mistaken notion supporting other women means offering a hug and a listening ear. Well, it does. But if you do only that – and then stop at the Estee Lauder counter to buy cosmetics – it’s not enough. Buy products and services from other women business owners. Tell other women to buy their products, too. When you do you’re setting up the Universal flow of prosperity and abundance so people are more likely to buy from you. If you’re a cupcake marketer and always expect freebies – the Universe gets that your mindset is in lack. And you get to have more lack. Don’t let it happen. Don’t be a cupcake marketer. Or, do things that attracts other cupcakes, too.
Denise Michaels is author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” Get your copy by clicking here. And, get Denise’s weekly empowerment and marketing tips by clicking here. Come join Denise Michaels in a movement to empower women business owners like you to be all you can be and to have more joy, more fun and more success in your life.
Posted in A-has for Women | 
business, cupcake, facebook, marketing, message, owner, support, woman | 
11 CommentsDo You Care about Increasing Cash Flow in Your Business?
Published October 25, 2009 | By Denise Michaels
I used to attend a women’s business networking group where the social aspect was the most important thing and doing business was way down on the list. Even though their mission statement said they were committed to business. It wasn’t a group getting together for martini’s or margueritas at the end of the day. This group of 25-30 women business owners arrived once a week at 7:00 am for breakfast and they all acted like business didn’t matter much.
Doesn’t that seem a little weird?
Coming across as if you care about business and making a fair and abundant income for what you do is considered crass and icky by many women in what seems like all age groups. It’s as if it’s just supposed to happen – without asking or saying anything. These are the same women who privately fret over their bills because they don’t have enough money to cover everything. It’s almost as if somewhere in their subconscious they want someone to step in and handle it all. Write them a check to cover the shortage every month and just say, “It’s okay, honey. I know it’s tough out there. I’ll take care of you so you can go play and not worry about those nasty ol’ bills.”
A sugar Daddy – but no one calls it that because that would mean we’re golddiggers. None of us wants to be perceived as caring much about money, or, having a relationship about money. We just want it all to magically be taken care of without having to ask. That’s what husbands used to do.
Remember when Princess Diana died? It was August of 1997. There was a massive outpouring of grief and tears worldwide by women that totally eclipsed the death of any other celebrity. The funeral was watched by over a billion people around the globe. What was that about?
Many women saw in Diana a beautiful, caring woman who represented our desires for Camelot and Prince Charming. Someone to take care of everything and make it all better. Even after she and the Prince divorced, she didn’t have him but she still had money, the elegant estate, the gorgeous gowns and the worldwide stature as a Princess and everything that implies. When she died the hope for a handsome man swooping in on a white horse and saving us from all the headaches of “the real world” died, too. That’s where I believe a lot of the tears came from.
We really gotta get over our immaturity over money and making money.
I’m not suggesting we become money-grubbing and take advantage of customers. That’s a sure way to be unhappy and go out of business. I’m suggesting women charge what they’re worth instead of under-cutting themselves because they don’t feel “worthy” of as much money as others, or, because they want to “be nice.” Which usually translates into, “I don’t want to market myself and I hope by seriously undercutting my prices I won’t have to.”
Except this “strategy” boomerangs. People don’t think people cut prices to be nice. They figure, “Gee, she’s probably not as good.”
Same thing when it comes to asking for the sale. Many women won’t ask. They keep hoping customers will say, “Okay, I’ll take two.” Or, they ask in such a hesistant way customers sense their hesitation and back off.
We really gotta get over it.
A lot of other women say they do their business for fun. If a person doesn’t need money there are so many amazing things you can do for fun: travel, write a book, volunteer, go to the gym and work out, get involved in your community politically, enjoy hobbies, crafts, learn to be a gourmet cook, play tennis or golf, play with children and grandchildren. When did business become an outlet for “fun” for women and not about making money? A lot of women aren’t being honest or fair with themselves and others.
Yes, there can be many satisfying aspects to owning a business for women. And there should be. But not caring about making money? The purpose of a business is to make money. That’s the primary purpose. If you’re not making money you don’t have a business – you have an expensive hobby.
Isn’t it time we grow up and get over it? Isn’t it time we stop kidding ourselves, hoping some mythical figure on a white horse will swoop in and make it better so we can keep not caring?
We really gotta get over it.
Posted in A-has for Women | Adventurous Women, business, Denise Michaels, money, owner | Leave a commentSpinning in the World of Ideas
Published October 16, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, ‘Testosterone-Free Marketing”
When you wear all the hats in a business – as most of us women, home-based business owners do – it’s easy to get caught up in a web of multi-tasking and being scattered with no clear focus from day to day. In a single day you can be handling marketing, operations, administrative and a myriad of tasks within those categories. To say nothing of putting clothes in the dryer, figuring out what to make for dinner, worrying about your third grader’s math homework and more.
I wrote an entire chapter in my book about the issues women business owners are challenged with regarding our focus and how multi-tasking can really be a mixed blessing.
Here’s what I think happens: when you become an entrepreneur it becomes easy to get caught up “spinning in the world of ideas” as I call it. So many opportunities and so little time. You can have a blast talking and thinking about all these cool ideas and how much money you can make with ‘em all. But you have to finally dig your heels in and get going with one (and keep going) to make money, right? Seems pretty simple so far – ahhhhh, but the plot thickens. *smile*
Here’s the challenge: while you’re spinning in the world of ideas – you’re not getting anything done. Nothing is being completed. Why would a person DO that when you don’t get paid in business until you complete things? The reason I believe so many women do it? Well, at the root of this “spinning,” researching and checking everything out – is that it means you get to avoid rejection because you haven’t made a commitment and jumped in to anything yet.
The minute you actually “put something out there” the rubber hits the road. You’re honestly faced with whether it will be a smashing success or a bomb. And for a lot of people that’s scary. Spinning is more fun and there’s no fear or risk attached to those activities compared to marketing activities which get you out there.
Here’s the funny thing: by “spinning” our subconscious mind believes it’s protecting us from rejection. However, over the long run it can mess with your sense of self confidence. How? Because after awhile you look back at all that time and effort and realize, geez it’s been six months (or a year or two years) and what do I have to show for that effort? All that spinning?
If you keep spinning and don’t step out – chances are you don’t have much to show for it. You’ve been busy – but you haven’t achieved anything, because you’ve been focused on spinning not on achieving.
For a lot of people it makes them feel like a failure and this can pull your self confidence down. But the truth is people who keep spinning have actually very successful – at avoiding rejection.
So, if you’re goal is to avoid rejection – keep spinning.
If you’re goal is to have a successful business and generate cash flow – start figuring out how to get beyond your comfort zone (I know a great marketing mentor who helps with that *wink* AND your strategy) and start bringing in some real paying customers and clients.
There are solutions to spinning in the world of ideas: mostly they have to do with facing up to the fact that what you put out there might succeed or it might fail. Making different conscious choices and excepting the reality that the outcome could go either way – and it doesn’t make you a good person or a bad person either way. But by taking that leap of faith – you’re making forward progress moving energy and creating momentum. And THAT feels great.
Discover more about Denise at Empower U Academy and Mentoring with Denise. And if you’re going to be in Las Vegas on Monday November 2nd come to my “No-fluff, Testosterone-Free Marketing Magic Workshop.” Click here for more information and to register today.
Ten Branding Trends to Watch for 2010
Published October 12, 2009 | The ten trends listed below I got from a website called Brand Strategy Insider. We must understand, even as a woman, home-based business owner that branding is important to surviving, thriving and creating success in a world of ecommerce and change where you might hear about a product or service on Twitter or Facebook before you ever see the logo or connect with the products.
1) Value is the new black
Consumer spending, even on sale items, will continue to be replaced by a reason-to-buy at all. This spells trouble for brands with no authentic meaning, whether high-end or low.
2) Brands increasingly a surrogate for “value”
What makes goods and services valuable will increasingly be what’s wrapped up in the brand and what it stands for. Why J Crew instead of The Gap? J Crew stands for a new era in careful chic –being smart and stylish. The first family’s support of the brand doesn’t hurt either.
3) Brand differentiation is Brand Value
The unique meaning of a brand will increase in importance as generic features continue to plague the brand landscape. Awareness as a meaningful market force has long been obsolete, and differentiation will be critical for success –meaning sales and profitability.
4) “Because I said so” is so over
Brand values can be established as a brand identity, but they must believably exist in the mind of the consumer. A brand can’t just say it stands for something and make it so. The consumer will decide, making it more important than ever for a brand to have measures of authenticity that will aid in brand differentiation and consumer engagement.
5) Consumer expectations are growing
Brands are barely keeping up with consumer expectations now. Every day consumers adopt and devour the latest technologies and innovations, and hunger for more. Smarter marketers will identify and capitalize on unmet expectations. Those brands that understand where the strongest expectations exist will be the brands that survive – and prosper.
6) Old tricks don’t work/won’t work anymore
In case your brand didn’t get the memo here it is -consumers are on to brands trying to play their emotions for profit. In the wake of the financial debacle of this past year, people are more aware then ever of the hollowness of bank ads that claim “we’re all in this together” when those same banks have rescinded their credit and turned their retirement plan into case studies. The same is true for insincere celebrity pairings: think Seinfeld & Microsoft or Tiger Woods & Buick. Celebrity values and brand values need to be in concert, like Tiger Woods and Accenture. That’s authenticity.
7) They won’t need to know you to love you
As the buying space becomes even more online-driven and international (and uncontrolled by brands and corporations), front-end awareness will become less important. A brand with the right street cred can go viral in days, with awareness following, not leading, the conversation. After all, everybody knows GM, but nobody’s buying their cars.
8) It’s not just buzz
Conversation and community is all; ebay thrives based on consumer feedback. If consumers trust the community, they will extend trust to the brand. Not just word of mouth, but the right word of mouth within the community. This means the coming of a new era of customer care.
9) They’re talking to each other before talking to the brand
Social Networking and exchange of information outside of the brand space will increase. Look for more websites using Facebook Connect to share information with the friends from those sites. More companies will become members of Linkedin. Twitter users will spend more money on the Internet than those who don’t tweet.
10) Engagement is not a fad; It’s the way today’s consumers do business
Marketers will come to accept that there are four engagement methods including Platform (TV; online), Context (Program; webpage), Message (Ad or Communication), and Experience (Store/Event). But there is only one objective for the future: Brand Engagement. Marketers will continue to realize that attaining real brand engagement is impossible using out-dated attitudinal models.
Accommodating these trends will require a paradigm change on the parts of some companies. But whether a brand does something about it or not, the future is where it’s going to spend the rest of its life. How long that life lasts is up to the brand, determined by how it responds to today’s reality.
Contributed by: Robert Passikoff, President, Brand Keys
Posted in Uncategorized | branding, brands, business, home-based, marketing, owner, success, trends, woman | Leave a commentThree Positive Economic News Headlines
Published October 9, 2009 | All three of the headlines below were released Thursday October 8th, 2009. This is good news for women business owners who focus on success as we go into the final stretch of 2009 and look to next year.
1) NEW YORK — The stock market resumed its rally after getting encouraging readings on two of the best gauges of the economy’s health: consumer spending and corporate profits.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 61 points Thursday after falling modestly the day before. The gains added to the market’s already steep climb for the week. Improving signals about the economy pushed the Dow up 244 points Monday and Tuesday, its best back-to-back advance since July.
Traders pounced on news that retailers last month had their first sales gains in more than a year. A closely watched gauge of sales at major retailers rose 0.1 percent for September. While still tepid, it was the first monthly rise in the International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs tally since July 2008.
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2) WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of newly laid-off Americans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits fell to the lowest level since early January, as layoffs eased a bit amid a fledgling economic recovery.
The fourth drop in new claims in five weeks is a sign the labor market is slowly healing. But employers are reluctant to hire new workers and the unemployment rate is expected to keep climbing well into next year.
The Labor Department said Thursday that new claims for unemployment insurance dropped last week to a seasonally adjusted 521,000, better than analysts expected and down from 554,000 the previous week.
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3) NEW YORK (AP) – The nation’s stores saw their first sales gain in 14 months in September, a sign of life from shoppers that fuels some hope for the holiday shopping season.
A late Labor Day and delayed school openings helped boost back-to-school sales in September. And stores’ figures are looking better as they are compared last September when spending plummeted amid the ballooning financial meltdown.
But analysts dissecting the figures say they feel encouraged by Thursday’s reports even as they acknowledge that business still remains weak and consumers tight-fisted.
Denise Michaels is a marketing mentor, trainer and author of the business bestseller, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.” Find out more about her at her websites below:
Marketing with Denise
Empower U Academy – Get marketing and empowerment tips here!
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My Copywriting Ebook
Posted in Uncategorized | Adventurous Women, business, focus, market, owner, sales, success | Leave a commentThe American Dream: Does it Still Work?
Published September 27, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
My husband Ernie and I live in Las Vegas which is absolutely in the depths of the housing slump. Since we had the highest highs – we’ve also had the most precipitous drop. Real estate appears poised to go up now – but it’s been a pretty long, fast, slide downward the last couple years. There’s a local show on radio once a week on the state of the housing and real estate market.
Recently a guest on the show remarked perhaps the idea of owning a home with a 30-year mortgage as “the American Dream” doesn’t set well with our changing, shifting lifestyles and careers anymore. After all, that model came into vogue back in the days when many Americans worked 30-40 years for the same company.
Now, not only don’t many of us work for the same company throughout our career. More and more of us are entrepreneurial, home-based business owners and don’t work for any company – like myself. At times entrepreneurs have gaps in their income that don’t fit with a big mortgage every month. That’s become the new norm when it comes to work. And as we’re digging out of this recession I believe we’re going to have an unprecedented wave of entrepreneurism. But mortgages are still like an albatross around the neck whether a person’s income goes up or down. Doesn’t quite work.
My husband and I own our home. We’ve been here almost eight years. We bought when the market was down right after 9/11. We didn’t do anything fancy or clever – just a basic, 30 year fixed mortgage. We also chose to live in a home that was below our means. Not very sexy. Unlike many of our friends and family who bought as much home as they could possibly qualify for. It’s decorated elegantly – but in size it’s modest. Our mortgage payment is equivalent to what many pay to rent a basic two bedroom apartment.
We have friends who’ve lost their fancy homes the last two years for a myriad of reasons. One couple we know – they’re both entreprenuers. The kids are close to grown and almost launched. He still works his full-time job in addition to his business. They live in a gorgeous home in a very upscale area but the income from their respective home-based businesses doesn’t really cut the mustard when it comes to the cashflow needed to live in that house. They know and accept sagely it’ll be a couple years before it flips around. They moved in four years ago when the market was at the top of it’s lofty peak. She recently whispered to me they’re trying to short sell the house and move into something much smaller. I told her about our smaller by half home and she sighed, “I wish we’d done that.”
We also have family members who are positively cash strapped to a massive mortgage. They too bought at the top of the market. She wasn’t working because she’d just had a baby a few months before they bought the house. She’s back to work now, but because of the high mortgage payments when their adjustable mortgage went up – she doesn’t really have the choice to be home with her kids.
We chose to live carefully and set aside the difference and we’ve invested in ourselves and in our own businesses. As a result, we’ve created a different kind of wealth. Part of it is money – but even more important is the knowledge that our security is all about our ability to create more money as we travel through life.
I don’t believe in relying on a specific theory or idea about money or security. None of them seem to hold water the way they did 20 years ago. The tectonic plates are shifting and the world is changing too fast to stay “married” to one idea or notion anymore. We’re shifting right along with it – and enjoying the journey.
PS: Visit me online at http://www.EmpowerUAcademy.com for great ideas to help you in business and in life
Posted in Uncategorized | business, change, Denise Michaels, home-based, owner, testosterone-free | 3 CommentsSecrets to Stimulating Your Own Cashflow
Published September 26, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
Sure, pundits and experts are starting to cautiously say “the recession is over.” However, if you’re like millions of women business owners you put on a happy face to the rest of the world that says, “Everything’s great!” but on the inside you may still be concerned.
How do you stimulate your personal economy so you get results rather than get caught up in the lack mass consciousness that’s become so pervasive the last year. This article provides seven stimulating secrets to get you back on track. Successful women in business depend on these principles to keep their cashflow humming so when someone asks them about business they can honestly and enthusiastically say, “We must be doing something right. My business hasn’t been impacted.”
• Stay away from the nattering nabobs of negativity. Whether its cable news almost predicting Armageddon daily, or, just the people you meet at a networking mixer who have fear all over their face. Stay away from anything less than optimistic. It’s impossible to be confident when you feel afraid. About 15 minutes of news daily is all you need to keep up to speed with what’s happening. Turn off the news and focus on the 99 percent of the world that’s doing well.
• Make progress every day and give yourself credit. Focus on doing what gives you the greatest results. Creating a successful business is about moving energy and building momentum. Consider all the thrust it takes to get a jet off the ground. Except the most important work you do may not be about running around. The most important work can be about consciously shifting your mindset. Then, when you take action amazing things happen.
• Speak with enthusiasm and passion. Wealthy people attract others to their dreams by speaking with passion, enthusiasm and confidence. They give the impression they just know their product or service is amazing and their business will be a winner. Once you launch your business stop looking for validation. Get over feeling like you need “permission.” If you offer good value and products or services that help others you don’t need permission or validation from anyone.
• Be bold. One bold stroke to get the word out can do much more than dozens of hesitant, little moves. This means expanding your comfort zone because your business growth doesn’t happen any faster than your personal growth. This mean when you decide you’re going to get on a radio talk show or do some other promotion that’ll make a big splash you do it with your head up, with boldness and confidence.
• Understand the importance of marketing. Marketing is about building relationships – but it’s more than smiling and chatting with other business owners at a networking mixer. Your marketing message goes out ahead of you. It precedes you. It should filter out people not likely to do business with you and filter in people who are likely to do business with you. Filtering means when you actually talk with a prospective customer chances are they already know about you and are partially pre-sold making sales much easier.
• Be emotionally compelling. People still have wants and needs. What’s lacking right now is trust and confidence. When people feel you understand, empathize and have a solution for their problem they will do business with you. Too many business owners try to play it safe because they think customers will buy based only on features and benefits. They must see how your features and benefits help them solve their problems.
• Ask for the sale. Some business owners enjoy building the relationship however they’re afraid they might mess it up by asking for the sale. Don’t be pushy but do be willing to confidently guide and direct a conversation. After I’ve explained everything about what I offer, me fees and answered all their questions and gotten strong signals they are interested my closing question is, “When would you like to get started?”
By following these seven secrets you’ll crack the code on stimulating your own economy. You’ll discover more people are receptive and open to what you offer. They will come to trust you and have confidence in you and as a result your cash flow will increase. You will be in your own flow of wealth and abundance so when people ask you about your business you can sincerely smile and say, “My business is great!!”
Focus on Your Highest and Best Use of Time
Published September 24, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”
Living life on purpose means making conscious choices about how to spend your time in business and in life – every hour of the day. These are lofty words but I felt it would be valuable to give our women business owner readers a sense of how to keep living on purpose when stuff happens. Because when you get rocked off your foundation and dragged off on a tangent it can shake your confidence. The opposite of feeling empowered.
About ten years ago I got a big “a-ha” when I was working with a mega-bestselling author. Someone wanted to do a certain business deal with him. He didn’t want to do it. He said to the person at the other end of the phone line, “I’m not going to do this deal with you. And it’s not because it’s not a good proposal – it is. I’m confident you’ll make a lot of money with it. But here’s why I’m bowing out: over the years I’ve discovered it only makes sense for me to get involved with projects and ideas I’m really passionate about. I can see you’re passionate about it – and that’s good. But I’m not. So I’m going to pass because I want to keep my energy, resources and everything else focused on the things I’m really good at. Those few things I have a deep passion about.”
Overhearing that conversation turned me around. I got clarity, focus and started thinking differently about all the business deals and opportunities pitched to me by other women. As if we all have unlimited time and can keep stuffing more and more into our already over-stressed, over-stuffed lives. We don’t. It’s a great example of making a conscious choice and living on purpose.
How many times have you been approached by someone abuzz with a network marketing company or direct selling. They say something like, “If you love the product you should consider becoming a distributor.” Or here’s a good one: “You can do the business in your spare time.”
My reply, “What spare time?” I’m already having a tough time fitting in an hour to go to the gym and maybe spend a little quality time with my husband now and then whom I love dearly. How am I supposed to fit in time for another business?”
It might make perfect sense to a lot of people, but now that I have the clarity from that experience – it’s about the dumbest stuff I’ve ever heard. After all, I might love Prego Spaghetti Sauce but that doesn’t mean I’m interested in selling it as a business. Please don’t take this as if I have something against networking businesses – I don’t. Many people enjoy satisfying and successful businesses in MLM and that’s fine. I’m only speaking from my experience.
For women who are promoting a business – if you can show your prospects how your product, service or business opportunity IS the highest and best use of time and is in alignment with their core values – you will build your organization much faster. I use this approach in my own sales and about 75-80 percent of the time they happily say “yes.”
So keep your eye and our focus on what really matters, we can more easily judge what we want to put our valuable time into. We can discern that which feeds our passions and provides us with satisfaction no matter how much money we’re making – and which detracts from our lives.
PS: Visit http://www.EmpowerUAcademy.com and get my free marketing and empowerment tips today. Fast, free and delivered to your inbox.
Posted in Confidence for U | business, Confidence for U, Denise Michaels, empowered, focus, owner, purpose, testosterone-free | Leave a comment74 Powerful and Impactful Questions
Published September 21, 2009 | Whenever I post this list – people think I’m a genius. Not so. I learned these questions from speaker, David Cooper. He says they should be delivered in a soft voice with a smile. Tailor made for women business owners to help you market and sell. I always give credit to Cooper – but some people forget in their enthusiasm. Do a good job presenting your product or service and questions like these can help you get to a happy “yes” more quickly. Consider this a little early Christmas gift.
By David Cooper
1. Can you get excited about……………..?
2. Do you see the value of………………..?
3. Do you see the benefit of…………….. ?
4. Can you see the merit in………………?
5. Wouldn’t it be terrific if………………?
6. Aren’t you glad that ………………….?
7. Aren’t you looking forward to………..?
8. Doesn’t it make sense to ……………..?
9. Don’t you agree ………………………?
10. Isn’t it going to be fun when………….?
11. Isn’t it about time that ………………..?
12. Doesn’t it give you confidence to know…….?
13. Wouldn’t it be worth while to find…………..?
14. Can you see the advantage of………………..?
15. Wouldn’t it be reassuring to…………………?
16. Don’t you feel that …………………………..?
17. Wouldn’t it be great to save money by………?
18. Aren’t you really excited that ……………….?
19. Won’t it be gratifying when…………………?
20. Isn’t it good to know…………………………?
21. Wouldn’t it be marvelous to …………………?
22. Haven’t you enjoyed…………………………?
23. Haven’t you benefited by……………………?
24. Wouldn’t you be happy to find………………?
25. Aren’t you happy to know…………………..?
26. Aren’t you anxious to know…………………?
27. Isn’t it fantastic to know…………………….?
28. Isn’t it wonderful to find…………………….?
29. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to know…………..?
30. Isn’t it worth considering that………………?
31. Wouldn’t you prefer………………………..?
32. Don’t you feel that it is best if……………..?
33. Don’t you feel knowing that……………….?
34. Can’t you see how this would………………?
35. Wouldn’t it be significant if……………….?
36. Wouldn’t you like to strive for…………….?
37. Wouldn’t a higher quality life be worth……?
38. Wouldn’t it be tremendous if………………?
39. Wouldn’t you agree………………………..?
40. Wouldn’t it be great………………………..?
41. Wouldn’t it open doors if………………….?
42. Isn’t it worth……………………………….?
43. Wouldn’t you benefit by…………………..?
44. Can you gain from…………….…………..?
45. What do you think about………………….?
46. Isn’t that exciting………………………….?
47. Wouldn’t you feel better if………………..?
48. If the results were…………………………?
49. Wouldn’t it change your mind if………….?
50. Wouldn’t you reach the top quicker by……?
51. Wouldn’t it help your career if……………?
52. Do you feel the power in………………….?
53. Isn’t it stimulating when………………….?
54. Don’t you know that………………………?
55. Wouldn’t a highlight be…………………..?
56. Couldn’t it light up your life………………?
57. Aren’t you delighted that…………………?
58. Doesn’t it thrill you to know………………?
59. Wouldn’t you be pleased if……………….?
60. Wouldn’t you take pride in……………….?
61. Wouldn’t it be motivating to……………..?
62. Wouldn’t you love to grow by……………?
63. Isn’t it inspiring to know…………………?
64. Wouldn’t it make a difference if…………?
65. Wouldn’t your success be guaranteed if….?
66. Wouldn’t you enjoy knowing…………….?
67. Do you realize the importance of…………?
68. Wouldn’t your family enjoy……………..?
69. Can you see the potential of……………..?
70. Wouldn’t it be comforting to know………?
71. Wouldn’t it be an exciting challenge if…..?
72. Isn’t it going to be incredible when………?
73. Could you reach more of your potential by..?
74. Can you visualize the monetary gain of……?
Offline Marketing and Running Around Today
Published September 17, 2009 | By Denise Michaels, Author, “Testosterone-free Marketing”
Yesterday I told someone, I’ll be busy and mostly out of the house from 6:30 am until 9:00 pm on Thursday. It’s true. Every now and then I have a day that’s mostly about marketing my business and getting the word out to other women, home-based business owners here in Las Vegas. I’ll be sneaking online to post something every now and then – but I’m guessing I’ll put a few miles on my car driving around. Here’s what it’ll look like to be living my schedule today. *wink*
Gotta leave the house at 6:30 am to go to a networking breakfast meeting at 7:00 am at the Omelette House. What I like about this group is it seems to be filled with people who are dedicated business owners, they’ve given me referrals and the person in charge is very involved with feeding the homeless and giving back in wonderful ways. I’m going to take some flyers for my workshop coming up November 2nd (see Denise’s Events) with me.
Next I have a coffee meeting with a woman who’ll be at the breakfast. She’s in a network marketing organization and I want to talk with her about the possibility of having me speak to the women distributors in her group. I think she’ll probably want to talk with me about her business opportunity – but I have far too much on my plate to take on something totally different and removed from my brand. I’m very focused that way. (I’ll write about that in a future post.)
Next I have an 11:00 am meeting with a computer programmer. He’s building a website for a networking group. I offered to write the copy if I can get some recognition on the site and free advertising (sort of a business card size ad). Since I have a tendency to be a little verbose (you noticed! *wink*), I want to see what he’s created so my copy fits in the spaces he has in mind for the pages.
After that on my schedule, I have a 1:15 pm lunch with a woman whose Managing Editor of a magazine. She’s looking for writers with articles of interest to women over 50. I gave her a business card a few weeks ago and told her I have lots of articles and she contacted me inviting me to lunch. We’re going to “Brio,” a lovely Italian place. Since most magazine editors usually have a “don’t call us – we’ll call you” attitude, I’m thinking she’s got something more up her sleeve. We’ll see.
Looking at my calendar, I have a meeting (at home on Skype) with a client in New Zealand at 5:00 pm next. It’ll be noon on Friday for her in Auckland. I’ve helped her with several marketing projects over the last three years. She’s passionate about starting a school for economically disadvantaged girls and she’s asked me to help her in constructing a business plan to get capital from investors.
Last, Ernie and I are going to go to the Greek Festival that happens once a year here in Las Vegas. I love Greek food, culture and went to Greece quite a few years ago. A good Gyro, Saganaki or Moussakah when I’m hungry will always make me smile. It’ll be like sort of a date for us. Chances are I’ll toss a few copies of my book and business cards in my purse before we go. You never know who you might meet.
I’m sure by the time it’s all over with I’ll feel a little brain-dead and ready to hit the hay. My intention is that the day will move energy forward in a positive way. And when you do that – it eventually comes back around in positive ways. I’m not planning on perfection – but progress. Hope you are having a thrilling Thursday, too. *smile*
Posted in Uncategorized | Adventurous Women, business, Day-to-day Stuff, Denise Michaels, home-based, Las Vegas, marketing, networking, offline, owner, workshop | 1 CommentEconomic Surge Good News for Women in Biz
Published September 12, 2009 | DMM: Stocks, manufacturing and housing up! Business is on the rise. More people working means more out there to happily say yes to what you market and sell. Get out there with confidence, ladies. The economy is coming back! Whoooo-hoooo! But I digress. Read the article and smile.
This article is from SeekingAlpha.com
The immortal words of Gomer Pyle rang out in business headline after headline this week, “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!” Women business owners take note:
First the banking sector became awash in surprisingly good news. Four of the US top banks smashed all earnings estimates and posted collective net profits of $13.6B for the second quarter.
Bank of America (BAC) posted a profit of $3.2B
Citigroup(C): $4.3B
Goldman Sachs (GS): $3.4B
JP Morgan Chase (JPM): $2.7B
The technology sector followed with Intel’s (INTC) surprise. It posted its best quarter over quarter sales increase since 1988. Further, the chip leader formally asserted that this current quarter ending in September, will be significantly stronger than any analysts had even dreamed of. IBM (IBM) also added its vote of Q3 confidence later in the week.
And there was more surprisingly good news in the jobs data Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending July 11 fell 47,000 to 522,000 – the lowest level since early January. The data for continuing claims also fell by 642,000 — the largest drop on record! This huge downward surprise even pulled the four-week moving average of these continuing unemployment claims down by 110,250.
And then on Friday, the housing market chimed in with surprises of its own. Contractors started building single-family homes at the fastest rate in 4-1/2 years. “The bond market was completely caught off guard by the increase in housing starts,” said Jane Caron, chief economic strategist at Dwight Asset Management in Burlington VT.
And stocks surprised most strategists as well. Just last week many had forecast stocks to continue their recent declines (or at least continue to move sideways). Q2 earnings jitters dominated the news. But as markets closed on Friday, many traders were left scratching their heads as the Dow rocketed to its best weekly gain since March, closing within easy striking distance of the 9000 mark.
But perhaps the mother of all surprises this week came from the bear of all bears, Doctor Doom, Nouriel Roubini. Just last week the ultra depressing economic prognosticator wrote an article “Brown Manure, Not Green Shoots.”
But this week in a significant flip, flop, Roubini actually stated, “the worst of the worst is behind us.” (He later of course whined that his words were taken out of context.)
Gomer Pyle frequently exasperated his immediate supervisor Sergeant Carter with the Private’s Pollyanna-style demeanor. With positive economic surprises everywhere, it is no surprise that Roubini feels a bit frustrated as well.
This article was copied and pasted from http://www.seekingalpha.com
To find out about my exciting workshop coming up Monday November 2nd click here. Also, make sure you sign up for my free marketing and empowerment tips by clicking here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Adventurous Women, business, Confidence for U, Economic Buzz, good news, market, marketing, owner, sales, stocks | Leave a commentWelcome!
Dedicated to every 40+ person still kickin' it. If you have dreams and adventures you refuse to abandon - follow me on the journey. Life is one big adventure! Make yours excellent.
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