All posts tagged “business development

Professional Services Marketing Conference

The Professional Services Marketing Conference is an annual conference focusing in on the business development process from marketing through to sales.

This conference is designed to take attendees through the business development journey – starting with marketing and building trust then going through to the sales process and getting the sale. Mindset is involved along the process & in todays world digital marketing plays a significant role.

The Professional Services Marketing Conference is for B2B Business Owners, Marketing & Sales Executives, Coaches, Consultants and Business Development Managers. This is an information based conference and each speaker has been asked to deliver 3 take-aways activities that can really help the attendees. With highly skilled speakers, it is a full day with lots of value.

There are opportunities for specialists in their field to be able to present – all speakers will be assessed for their speciality and how it fits into the conference theme. The disciplines looked for to be a speaker are within marketing, digital marketing, sales and mindset.

We are building up a community of Service Professionals who are keen to grow their business and understand the practicalities of the process . The community is both the speakers and the conference attendees who are like minded professionals all trying to get ahead in a competitive world.

To see more about the Professional Services Marketing Conference and the speaking line up for the next conference, go to Professional Services Marketing Conference.

 

Working through the maze of internet based marketing

OK – the Yellow Pages are long gone. Businesses have had to make a lot of changes to keep up with the changing methods of marketing using the internet.  There are tools available now that just weren’t around 10 years ago , even 5 years ago in some cases.

So if you are a Service Professional, what are some of the important internet based or “digital” tools that are needed to be utilised in a business today?

    1. A Digital Footprint – is essential. You must be able to be found on the web.
      If a prospect meets you and are interested in your business, they must be able to search for your business and find you. If this is not the case, the prospect will go to another business and you’ve lost the business.
      A website is really important, this is your on-line brochure but there are other ways of building a digital footprint so you can be found. Social media, article writing, registering with Google and online business directories are just some ways.
    2. Customer Relationship Management tool – CRM – this is a digital record of your clients, connections and prospects. There are free or paid versions. These CRMs build a record of your “touch”points with your audience – social media, emails, phone numbers, etc.
    3. Email Management tools – here you can send out group emails – they are easy to format and you will be able to send out newsletters to groups – these look good and are easy for you to send to many just in one email.
    4. Online assistance – there are many ways of accessing online help which are both inexpensive and very useful. You can get help with all sorts of tasks and all over the web.
    5. Websites – having a website is a credibility builder and a place for prospects to see if your business can help them. This is where branding makes a huge impact, especially, if you are a serviced based business.  If you don’t want to spend money on a website, Google offer a free option that has many options similar to fully developed sites. Worth having a look.
    6. Blogs – writing articles displays you as an expert in your field – writing articles, having your own blog or adding to online magazines are a great way of increasing your digital footprint plus displaying you as an expert.
    7. Video – video is another way to display you as an expert in your field – creating smart phone video and uploading into social media platforms is an easy way to build a following and get your message out there.
    8. Social Media – there are over 300 Social Media platforms – choose the platforms where your Target market are – you just need maybe 1 or 2 and no more than 5 – by uploading your video and blogs as well as posting will enable you to build a Digital Footprint and prospects will be able to find you.
    9. Google Analytics – is important – this is attached to your website – this is important as you can get some metrics about where your contacts are looking, where they are from, how long they stay on your website, etc.

Many find it difficult and overwhelming to know where to start. Spend the time to understand Digital marketing and how to increase your Digital footprint, get to understand the tools as well as implement a marketing system to keep up to date with these tasks. The return will be worth it! With a bit of help, it may be easier than you think!!

Adrienne McLean, a Marketing and Communication Strategist, helps professionals to get more clients and move forward. Ring Adrienne McLean on 0414 367 960 or email on adrienne@adriennemclean.com for more details.

The importance of choosing a Target Market

“My products and services suit everyone!”
This may be absolutely true – but where do you do your marketing?

If you don’t have a tight Target Market, your marketing efforts are watered down and you really don’t know where to do your marketing to maximise the return.

There are 3 very important reasons to choose a very specific Target Market.

  1. You will know where to find potential clients
  2. They will know that you are committed to serving them
  3. You can tap into established networks of communication

By having a specific Target Market , it makes knowing where to network so much easier. You will start to see the same people at different functions and you will to get to know them. Then, friendships and trust are developed so when they need your service/product or they know someone who does, they can refer you.

Knowing that you serve a specific Target Market, makes the individual needing your service feel that you understand their problems and needs. It makes the wording of your marketing material easier because you can focus on these needs and concerns as if you are speaking directly to them.

Target markets have their established networks of communication, they talk amongst each other and so you can get referrals much easier. Others will be talking about your good work.

Sit down and have a think about your Target Market ! It’s in your best interests.Adrienne McLean, a Marketing and Communication Strategist, helps professionals to get more clients and move forward. Ring Adrienne McLean on 0414 367 960 or email on adrienne@adriennemclean.com for more details.

Speaking and Training

Speaking and Training is one area that Adrienne McLean helps Service Professionals to become aware and learn skills to grow their business.


In January 2019, Adrienne McLean spoke at the Community of Practice – Women in Business for Ryde City Council. This is a women’s business group – Adrienne spoke on the business development process following the BookYourselfSolid® business building approach. This presentation is available to business groups and networking functions.

Adrienne McLean.com has the following programs to achieve these outcomes -1. Professional Services – Information Forum – Hornsby a networking group helping connect Service Professionals in the Upper North Shore of Sydney – with specialists available to answer those niggling marketing and financial questions. Net

2. Marketing Skills for Professionals – is a masterclass for Service Professionals in how marketing works and gives the Service Professional the opportunity to put their business into the business development and marketing system “BookYourselfSolid” – identified is what is working, what needs addressing and the action points to work on. This is truely working “On” your business NOT in your business.

3. Presentation Skills for Professionals– is a Presentation Skills masterclass – for Service Professionals wanting to build their confidence in public speaking and confidently get up and present in front of groups. The prestigious presentation skills workshop , the SpeakersTrainingCamp is the program followed – the same as presented by SuccessWorksUSA – an energetic group is established achieving amazing presentations.

4. Technology and Digital Marketing for Professionals– this program is for Service Professionals that find the new world of social media and digital marketing challenging. Attendees need to bring along their laptops or tablets, connect to the internet (complimentary) and then undertake an audit of their business. We discuss ways of increasing visibility and awareness of your business via the internet. This is another example of working “On” your business NOT in your business.

5. Marketing Discovery Audits – both in the business and digital marketing audits are done to see where the marketing is up to, how developed and well established the marketing is and how well it is working. Assessed is what is working, what is not working and what needs to be done to increase awareness and visibility of the business.

6. BookYourselfSolid Online Marketing Workshops – this 5 week program takes Service Professionals and people thinking of starting a business through the powerful marketing system “BookYourselfSolid”. This workshop goes through the methodology and has exercises to really help you work on your marketing, look at what is working, what needs addressing and what can be implemented to increase visibility and awareness of your business.

This is a cost effective way to explore marketing and is run.   Program costs $400 + GST for individuals at a agreed time or  $250 + GST per person  for the 5 week course for groups on Monday evenings starting at 7.30pm to 9pm using Skype.

5.  Get Better at Marketing – this program guides you through each step of the “BookYourselfSolid” marketing system along with building confidence to promote yourself. With a structured program, you will build your marketing effectiveness and get more clients.

6.  Advanced  Marketing Skills – this program is a continuation of the Get Better at Marketing – builds the skills associated with raising your profile and connecting with your audience both digitally and in person.

7.  Making Things Happen – this is our mentoring program. An individualised program to “Make Things Happen”. By using the framework of the BookYourselfSolid marketing system and continuous improvement approaches, individualised programs are developed to help you get more clients and become more productive.

8. Marketing Plan Masterclass – this program goes through the Australian government Marketing plan and explains each segment. Attendees work on preparing a marketing plan for their business.

Our rates are:

Individualised hourly rate – $125 + GST
Mentoring 4 hours per month – $500 + GST
Daily rate – $750 + GST

Sign up for Mentoring – either 3 month, 6 month or Ongoing after 6 months and receive 10% off workshops.

Networking and Leadership roles

Networking is mandatory for running a business. Adrienne McLean networks within the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai business community and the wider.  The NSW Business Chamber, the Institute of Managers and Leaders, Hornsby Chamber of Commerce and the Riverside Chamber.

At the NSW Business Chamber, professionals meet, discuss and learn about each others businesses. Connections are made to create business.

Adrienne started up the Professional Services – Information Forum in 2015 and is running successfully today supporting local business owners with networking, getting referrals and integrating into the Upper North Shore business community.

Adrienne McLean was the president of the Hornsby Chamber of Commerce in 2015 working with the committee to raise the membership from about 15 to over 90 members in just one year. The Hornsby business district was looking for their business community and by running events and supporting members, the business community started to build.

In December 2016, Adrienne joined the board of Triple H – the Hornsby Kuringgai community radio station and is a current board member. This community radio is a small business and needs an active board to grow the station so that the community can have a voice and build awareness via the medium of radio. Adrienne’s experience with small business, marketing and management have meant she has been a valuable member of the board helping with community engagement, marketing, event management and more.

How can an Implementation Strategist help any size enterprise?

How can an Implementation Strategist help any size enterprise?

You run your own business, you want to grow – have you thought of putting on an Implementation Strategist?

Ok, so you haven’t heard the term “Implementation Strategist” before – what is an Implementation Strategist ?  And why do I need one to grow my business?

So there’s not enough hours in the day, you’re working long hours and could be some inefficiencies in your business and processes that if looked at could be improved and made more efficient helping you make more money. You’re wanting more clients, more income and want to grow. You are lacking time, overwhelmed and simply there’s not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Staff are doing their part but really some important business decisions are needed and you’re running around putting out fires!

Does any of this sound familiar?

Wouldn’t it be great if you had some one willing to roll up their sleeves and help you?  Someone who can look at what needs to be done and sets about and gets it done?

Wouldn’t that be so good?

Well that is what an Implementation Strategist does.

An Implementation Strategist is a highly skilled professional who has a unique set of skills across business development, marketing, system and process improvement. This professional will be your right hand aid identifying what is needed to be done and rolling those sleeves up and doing it.

An Implementation Strategist is not a coach and not someone who does an assessment, leaves you with a report and the report sits on the shelf never implemented. However, an Implementation Strategist does do those activities just as a part of the work to help their clients make major leaps forward to grow their business.

The end result of enlisting an Implementation Strategist is :

  • Growth in the bottom line – the business profits will increase dramatically
  • You will be less stressed, starting to address the areas that you wanted to work on but never could , the days wont be filled with so much that you end up overwhelmed not knowing what to do next.
  • Your business processes will run more smoothly, the impact on customer service will be significant – customers will enjoy the service. Projects will get completed.
  • You will be able to feel more connected with your clients and staff and start to enjoy and build bonds wiwthin your community.
  • You will be starting to complete projects and make headway.

So what does an Implementation Strategist do:

An Implementation Strategist helps business owners by-

Plan – finds out the issues
Do – does the work to address the issue
Check – measures the impact
Act – makes any necessary improvements and then starts again

Getting Results

Doing the work to make things happen

Closingthe gap between from not working to excellence

Implementation Strategists come in and get the work done.

Work in the areas of marketing, business growth, business systems, accountability.

IMplementation Strategists are NOT:

 – Coaches – but they do coach clients
– Trainers – but they do train clients and staff
– Report writers who leave you with a long list of tasks

IMplementation Strategists:
Roll up there sleeves and get the jobs done that are needed –

From website upgrades
marketing copy
branding
logo creation
system development
problem solving
Project management from start to completion

Discuss a problem with an Implementation Strategist , ask them to get the work done and they will get on and help you get the job done.

They don’t always do the work themselves – they come with a team of experts – who they involve to solve the issue. They project manage the task – so you can do your work and know the completion of the work is in good hands.

Examples of the work Implementation Strategists do are –

  1. Business Issue Improvement
    – you ask an Implementation STrategist to address the issue –
    – an assessment of the issue will be done,
    – strategies and plans to improve the situation will be determined.
    – the strategies and plans will be actioned
    – the issue will be resolved

  2. Project Management – as a business owner you may have some big ideas and concepts that will add real value to your business. These improvements just dont get done because of the day to day activities.So what does an Implementation Strategist do:- Discusses with the owner the project
    – plans out what needs to be done to make it happen
    – Other professionals may be brought in who are specialists in their field – depending on the tasks
    – the project is managed to make it happen!
  3. Process Improvement

    A business depends on the systems in place to run efficiently and ultimately make more money. If the systems are out of date, staff dont know the systems, the systems are being followed or if there aren’t clear systems in place – there will be inefficiencies and costs will be higher.
    So what does an Implementation Strategist do
    – an audit will be done on the area that is struggling
    – the system will be investigated to see what changes are required
    – the system will be documented
    – The staff involved will be trained so they understand the new system
    – check that the system is in place and working well.

4. Marketing and Business Development

Business growth is always on a business owners mind. IMplementing marketing or improving marketing will grow the business. With Digital marketing being so important and a website essential as well as more traditional methods of increasing awareness of businesses, implementing a marketing system is valuable.

So what does an Implementation Strategist do:

– an audit will be done on the area that is struggling
– the system will be investigated to see whas working, what needs improving using the pwerful marketing system BookYourselfSolid.
– Tasks will be done to make these improvements

The difference is that an Implementation Strategist helps professionals to make things happen and move forward. Ring Adrienne McLean on 0414 367 960 or email on adrienne@adriennemclean.com for more details.

5 Quick Tips to Improve your Marketing

We’re all looking for fast ways to improve our marketing and yet not take huge amounts of time away from helping our clients – Here’s 5 Quick Tips to Improve your Marketing

  1. Every day ring someone on your database and say hello!Catch up, see whats happening in their world , you can talk about whats happening for you but don’t bombard them with a sales pitch. Building the relationship is important thing –
  2. Make an effort and look for individuals who can help you grow your business. Then, find ways to meet them or be introduced to them. You may be able to meet them at a networking function or an event. Once contact is made work at growing your connection with this person, getting to know them and gently letting them know abut what you are doing and aiming to achieve.
  3. Give someone some business – introduce two people who you know who may be able to help each other. This shows you are as a leader, as a go to person who can assist others.
  4. Create some content – prepare a blog, video or social media post. Regularly prepare content that can be sent out to your clients or posted on social media. This will build up your speciality in an area and you can inform your clients and wider audience. Quality is important, connecting the content with your audience is also important and you can build yourself a niche being the expert in that field.
  5. Send 3 people an email , sharing compassion, sharing some information that you know they will be interested in and you can share about what you are doing at the moment. Again, don’t make it “salesy” – its to be friendly and connecting you with your network.

These marketing tips are not time consuming but will raise awareness of your business, build connects and relationships with your audience and develop you as an expert in your field. You can choose the timings – daily, weekly or monthly – fit these into your marketing to get your more clients!

If you would like to find out more then contact Adrienne McLean on adrienne@adriennemclean.com or ring on 0414 367 960. The Daily Marketing Routine for Business Success can really help you with implementing these easy marketing steps.  Contact Adrienne for more details and you can attend our Marketing Information Forums where you can ask those niggling questions about marketing.