All posts tagged “Business”

January 10, 2019

Adrienne McLean.com Membership

Professionals are highly skilled ,however, the business side ie the marketing, sales, delivering presentations, asking for the sale, the world of digital marketing & online tools to help business is where Professionals need assistance.

The Adrienne McLean.com Membership site is growing a community of Service Professionals who are needing assistance with business development, marketing, sales, digital marketing, mindset and the tools for running a business in the 21st century.

There is an annual conference, the Professional Services Marketing Conference, where specialists in various business development disciplines deliver quality presentations with information for Service Professionals. Whether you are a Business Owner, Business Development Manager , Marketing Manager or a Sales Manager, this conference is designed to take you along the business development journey through marketing, digital marketing, sales and mindset.

April 6, 2018

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.

February 12, 2018

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.

January 22, 2018

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.

February 23, 2017

Speakers Training Camp

Boost your presentation skills with a dynamic public speaking course
Dynamism, influence, and charm are important elements of public speaking. The Speaker’s Practice operates the SpeakersTrainingCamp®, the best of top-tier public speaking courses, which helps you learn and incorporate the most important qualities of an effective presentation and master public speaking skills.

Hands-on speaking training offered by our speech coach in this course maximises your presentations with improved communication and delivery. You’ll learn how to feel calm and how to deliver the most effective, energetic presentation or speech imaginable.

Here’s what you’ll take away from this intensive public speaking training camp:

Master the magic of memorable presenters
Captivate your audience
Cut preparation time in half
Become more dynamic
Organise your thoughts
Apply 10 techniques for handling nervousness
Maximise your voice
Make dull facts and figures come to life
Handle questions with ease
About SpeakersTrainingCamp®
The SpeakersTrainingCamp® is an elite 2-day program that stands above other public speaking courses. First established in the United States in 1981, SpeakersTrainingCamp® has trained business leaders from companies like Nike, Proctor & Gamble, Owen’s Corning and British Airways with resounding results.

Each course, limited to 12 participants, allows you to simultaneously maximise learning-time by working with other public speakers, as well as benefit from personalised training.

For more details – see The Speakers Practice – Presentation Skills – SpeakersTrainingCamp Workshop

February 20, 2017

Process, People, Productivity and Profit

So why in business are the 4 P’s – Process, People , Productivity and Profit so important?

Businesses do not exist with just good products. It doesn’t matter how fantastic the product is if the marketing and processes are not in place the product will not sell.

It is essential to be able to connect with the customers who need your service and who’s problem you solve. So having a sound marketing process is essential, as well as a number of others – sales, logistics, customer service, human resources, warehousing, finances and so on.

If you have good people around you supporting your vision, then the business will grow. The business is dependant on having skilled and positive people who understand their roles and the processes they are expected to undertake. Having the right people “on the bus” is important.

Productivity will increase by having good systems in place, detailing the activities along with the right people who share your vision and are positive and supportive. A combination of sound processes and the right people will increase productivity and support the business to achieve the goals in place.

Profit will follow by having the sound business processes, the right people and the efficiencies in the productivity. Having the business running as a well oiled machine will ultimately result in higher profits as the business is running efficently.

So the aim is to have the processes (in all areas of the business) running well, the right people sharing the same vision executing the work and working efficiently with high productivity.

So the 4 P’s – Process, People, Productivity and Profit combine together to create the business you are wanting. Are your 4 P’s ideal or are there areas to address?

That’s where an Implementation Strategist will focus – helping business owners to achieve the profit they desire by developing their processes, people and productivity.

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.

November 15, 2016

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.

October 24, 2016

3 Essential Things about Marketing

There’s so much going on with marketing. There’s been huge changes in the methods used to market a business but funnily enough the fundamentals are the same.

There’s an enormous amount of noise – coming at business owners – from many directions and it is truely a challenge to filter through the noise to find out what is going to work for you and what can left on the side.

The 3 Essential Things about Marketing that can help you with this filtering process are:

  1. Marketing raises awareness of your business –
    But its what happens next that will book the business. Not that you’ve done a huge amount of marketing – what happens is that potential buyers find out about you – through you’re marketing – then they come and check you out. The buyers ask “Can this business solve my problems?” If the answer is “Yes” then they will give an opportunity to earn their trust. When the timing is right for the buyer – and you have kept building a relationship with that buyer – then you will be “front of mind” – if you have your pricing right and can have a simple sales conversation – then you will book the business.
  2. Who are your Ideal Clients? 
    Who do you want to work for? Who energises you and inspires you to do your best work? You want to work with these people – right?
    Who drains the energy from you and challenges you every step of the way? These are the people you don’t want to work with – right again?
    It is your job to go out into the world, targeting a sector of the market place to find these people who you are meant to serve. These people will energise you and motivate you to do more marketing as you love what you do!
  3. Having a systematic approach will save you time and money –
    If you are a Service Provider, your main focus is on your clients ,however, it is important that you are regularly doing your marketing because generating new clients is essential – you might be busy now but if your audience isn’t constantly reminded about you and your business then they will forget and look elsewhere – so its important no its essential to have a systematic way of getting more clients.
    That’s where Adrienne McLean.com can help with the powerful marketing system “BookYourselfSolid” – Adrienne McLean is a certified BookYourselfSolid Marketing coach – BookYourselfSolid is a systematic way of getting more clients – even if you hat marketing and sales conversations!
    By having a systematic method of getting more clients – it takes the stress out of knowing what to do next – you will know where to find your clients, have a clearly defined product range, know and understand your target market and who are your ideal clients and you will have a clearly defined foundation. So when you do your marketing , we call “Six Core Self Promotion Strategies” , you will be secure that your marketing efforts will have a significant impact planting seeds for the future and getting you more clients.

So by considering these 3 Essential Things about Marketing – it will really assist you to filter though all the noise and choose what will help you with growing and developing your business.

If you would like to find out more then contact Adrienne McLean on adrienne@adriennemclean.com or ring on 0414 367 960. You can attend our Marketing Information Forums where you can ask those niggling questions about marketing.