Inside Out Empowerment

Get a Shopping Cart

If you are serious about creating an effective online presence, then you will have to have a shopping cart. This is a software program that basically automates your business. It will keep the email addresses of your potential and current clients organized, provide autoresponders, send out targeted email broadcasts and allow your products to be bought and sold online.

I highly recommend 1shoppingcart as an excellent shopping cart program for the money. I attend many conferences on building your web-based business and I have heard 1shoppingcart recommended more frequently than any other program out there by far.

When it comes to a shopping cart, you want one with a proven track record. I benefit in no way from you choosing them. Go ahead and check it out.

If you are thinking about choice training, then please check out our Choice Coaching Institute. We provide comprehensive training and coaching for coaches. or those thinking of a coaching career. We have a week of training scheduled to begin August 10, 2009. Don't detail. Spaces are limited.

Quote: Michael Port

“Your likeability factor can have enormous impact on your perceived value. Develop your credibility, establish yourself as an expert, strive to be your best, most likeable self, and you’ll quickly become the best and most obvious choice for your potential client.”

-- by Michael Port

Doesn’t that sound easy? It really is one of the easiest/hardest things you’ll ever do. It will be easy because you’ll be doing what you love, fulfilling your life’s purpose. You’ll know you’re doing this when you can honestly say, “I love what I do–I would do it for free! Aren’t I fortunate that people are willing to pay me to do what I love?”

It will be hard because you may need to do some things that will take you out of your comfort zone–maybe marketing, maybe public speaking, maybe research, maybe time management, maybe organization. Whatever your challenge, you MUST find a way to conquer it so you can go on to be the person you were meant to be, serving the people you were meant to serve.

If you feel a passion for becoming a coach, then check out our brand new Choice Coaching Institute. Our classes begin in August, 2009. 

Choice Theory and Righteousness

Question: Now that I have been learning CT/RT and have bought into the theory, I find myself being very judgmental of others who use external control. I find it difficult because I always feel the need to interject my thoughts onto others who are using external control. Do you find this difficult? How do you deal with other using external control?

Answer:Yes, it is difficult not to be judgmental of those using external control. I find the best way for me is to remind myself that not everyone thinks like I do and they certainly have a right to do it their way. I just remind myself to stay true to my course and at every opportunity, I try to ask questions of the external control people about how what they do is working for them. I am also prepared to take it further if they say it works, great! For example, do you think that person will now do what you are asking when you aren’t around? What do you think he is thinking? What do you think he will do when you are out of sight? Do you think you are strengthening or weakening your relationship? Do you think relationships are important? Do you find him responding to anyone else better than he responds to you? What do you think the difference is?

Remember, we know learning is best done inside out. You need to function as a self-evaluation facilitator instead of giving your unsolicited opinion. Eventually, many of those you are attempting to influence will “get it.” The other thing you need to remember is your relationship with them. You will lose your ability to influence them without a positive relationship. You can’t get them to give up their external control if you are attempting to externally control them. Remember, they are doing the best they know how at this point in time to get something they want. They need to be invited to try an potentially better way.

Quote: David Hawkins

“To be a success, it’s necessary to embrace and operate from the principles that produce success, not just imitate the actions of success full people.”

—Dr. David Hawkins

Dr. Hawkins makes this point in his book, Power vs. Force. He is saying that it isn’t enough to copy what successful people do. You really have to become like they are in full integration. Your acting, thinking, emotions and spirituality must be aligned in order for you to enjoy the same level of success. Studying successful people is a great way to get started but understand that there is much more to a person than the simple tasks you can see him or her perform. Get the big picture and go about beginning the transformation.

If you'd like to begin your own transformation, our Goal Attainment Tip Sheet can help.

Creating an Effective Online Presence: Joint Ventures

Over the past five years, I've learned some things about creating an online presence. There is so much to know and most people who start their own businesses really don’t know how to create, maximize and leverage their online presence.

I realized I have only scratched the surface of what there is to know but if I can in any way reduce your learning curve by sharing the things I’ve already learned, then that’s what I want to do.

Joint Ventures

The last area I want to talk about may be the most lucrative on the Internet, actually. Anytime you can partner with another professional you are increasing your exposure and broadening your client base.

There are many advantages to joint venture partnering:

• You gain access to another person’s email list.
• You gain access to another person’s expertise.
• You increase the odds of others wanting to partner with you.
• You get to put yourself in front of audiences you wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

There are many opportunities for joint venture partnering but the typical one you see is one person promoting another person’s book or information product in an attempt to make it a bestseller on a particular day. In addition to the ones who send this notice out to their list, there are other joint venture partners who offer free bonus gifts in exchange for increased, targeted traffic to their sites.

This usually results in a win/win scenario for both people involved. 

What tips do you have about joint venture partners? I know you want to approach people from a position of strength. Get rid of the idea that you may be imposing on someone's time and understand that you have a valuable business offer to make that will benefit the person you are approaching. 'Please share your ideas and practices here.

For a more in depth understanding of creating an effective online presence, I recommend Michael Port’s book, Book Yourself Solid, as an excellent resource to fill in the blanks for you.

Creating an online presence is particularly important for coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or developing your coaching skills, we are starting a new coaching school based on Choice Theory, affiliated with Prairie State College. It is starting in August. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Choice Coaching Institute. You will learn more details about creating an online presence in that program.

Creating an Effective Online Presence: The Sales Funnel

Over the past five years, I've learned some things about creating an online presence. There is so much to know and most people who start their own businesses really don’t know how to create, maximize and leverage their online presence.

I realized I have only scratched the surface of what there is to know but if I can in any way reduce your learning curve by sharing the things I’ve already learned, then that’s what I want to do.

Creating Your Sales Funnel

The sales funnel is a metaphor for the way you bring clients to increasingly higher levels of commitment in their buying cycle. The idea is that all your potential clients will enter the mouth of the funnel by agreeing to give you their name and email address. Then, the idea is to create increasingly more expensive products and attempt to move your customers through your sales funnel progressively by offering them the next product.

The funnel analogy is used because at each level, less of your customer base will pursue your offer until you get down to the skinniest end of the funnel where only a few choice clientele will go.

You must create a progressive line of product offerings that are targeted to your audience both in content and modality. Don’t offer teleclasses to a group who historically doesn’t purchase teleclasses. Perhaps you will need a CD or MP3 product instead.

And you will need to draft compelling sales letters for each of the products you offer, which was discussed in a previous post.

What tips do you have about creating the sales funnel? I've found I can sell an eBook at a higher price point than my actual hardcover book. The perceived value of an eBook is high. However, this is changing and more value is once again being placed with a hard copy book. Please share your ideas and practices here.

Creating an online presence is particularly important for coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or developing your coaching skills, we are starting a new coaching school based on Choice Theory, affiliated with Prairie State College. It is starting in August. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Choice Coaching Institute. You will learn more details about creating an online presence in that program.

Creating an Effective Online Presence: Newsletters or eZines

Over the past five years, I've learned some things about creating an online presence. There is so much to know and most people who start their own businesses really don’t know how to create, maximize and leverage their online presence.

I realized I have only scratched the surface of what there is to know but if I can in any way reduce your learning curve by sharing the things I’ve already learned, then that’s what I want to do.

Newsletters or eZines

Having a newsletter or eZine (electronic magazine) is a great way to stay in contact with your clients and potential clients. A newsletter is one of those products you can offer for free to entice casual browsers to give you their name and email address. Some people argue that newsletters are no longer useful but I disagree. While some people are overrun with newsletters that hardly ever get read, for the amount of work it takes to put one together, it is worth the potential audiences you will reach.

One of the things about online marketing that will help you stand out from your competition is over delivering. A newsletter is one way to do that. Use your newsletter to deliver outstanding information to your targeted market that directly addresses their pain or their desires. Giving away great information is another way to build trust on the web.

What tips do you have about eZines or newsletters? I know the frequency varies but generally people are looking for short bits of information. Therefore, do a daily or every other day email with short tidbits or send out a longer newsletter more infrequently. With some of my sites, I send a short email every ten days and with others, I do a monthly eZine. Please share your ideas and practices here.

Creating an online presence is particularly important for coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or developing your coaching skills, we are starting a new coaching school based on Choice Theory, affiliated with Prairie State College. It is starting in August. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Choice Coaching Institute. You will learn more details about creating an online presence in that program.

Creating an Effective Online Presence: Blogs

I have learned so much over the past five years about creating an online presence. There is so very much to know and most people who start their own businesses really don’t know how to create, maximize and leverage their online presence.

I know I have only scratched the surface but if I can in any way reduce your learning curve by sharing the things I’ve already learned, then that’s what I want to do.

Blogs

A blog is short for weblog and it’s in actuality, an online journal. Blogs can be stand alone websites or incorporated into your website with its own page. As you can see, mine is incorporated into my website but it has its own URL so people can find it by both methods.

Creating a blog can be advantageous for a variety of reasons:

• They improve your standing with search engines as long as you post to them regularly.
• They help your readers get to know you in a more personal way.
• You can use your blog to market your existing products.
• You can use your blog to announce new product offerings.
• Blogs can help you create new information products. As you blog each day, you can actually organize your posts in such a way that you could blog a tip sheet, e-course, article or even a book.

If you want to start a blog, it’s easy. You don’t have to be a web designer or have any particular web expertise. All you need to do is go to Blogger,  Wordpress, or Typepad and start using their system. They will take you through the process step-by-step.

What tips do you have about blogging? My best tip is to focus on quantity and quality. Provide your readers with useful, meaty information and post often, at least three times a week. Please share your ideas and successes here.

Creating an online presence is particularly important for coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or developing your coaching skills, we are starting a new coaching school based on Choice Theory, affiliated with Prairie State College. It is starting in August. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Choice Coaching Institute. You will learn more details about creating an online presence in that program.

Creating an Effective Online Presence: Search Engine Traffic

I have learned so much over the past five years about creating an online presence. There is so very much to know and most people who start their own businesses really don’t know how to create, maximize and leverage their online presence.

I know I have only scratched the surface but if I can in any way reduce your learning curve by sharing the things I’ve already learned, then that’s what I want to do.

Search Engine Traffic

The first step in generating search engine traffic is to determine your best keywords and phrases. Generate about 25-30 keywords and phrases for each page of your website. Check them out on Word Tracker, Overture and Digital Point.

You are not simply looking for the words that receive the most clicks. You actually want to pick keywords that aren’t crowded with competitors. Then carefully place your keywords within the text of your website, as well as in the titles of your pages and the descriptions. You will also want to create metatags that are keyword rich. All of this will assist with increasing organic or natural traffic to your site.

Your goal is to be in the top websites listed when you google your keywords. Organic traffic is what will get you there.

You can also pay for high listing through advertising using your keywords and phrases. This is generally what comes up on the right-hand side of the search engine page. These are companies who have advertised through pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. I use yahoo, google and MIVA. PPC advertising has become less attractive because there is so much competition now, the cost is often prohibitive.

What tips do you have about search engine traffic? Please share your ideas and successes here.

Creating an online presence is particularly important for coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or developing your coaching skills, we are starting a new coaching school based on Choice Theory, affiliated with Prairie State College. It is starting in August. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Choice Coaching Institute. You will learn more details about creating an online presence in that program.

Creating an Effective Online Presence: Submitting to Directories

I have learned so much over the past five years about creating an online presence. There is so very much to know and most people who start their own businesses really don’t know how to create, maximize and leverage their online presence.

I know I have only scratched the surface but if I can in any way reduce your learning curve by sharing the things I’ve already learned, then that’s what I want to do.

Submitting to Directories

There are software programs and companies out there who use them that will automatically register your site with hundreds of directories. For some reason unknown to me, apparently search engines don’t look favorably on this kind of activity. They somehow have “intelligence” and can tell when the same submission has been done in bulk like that, so you want to do this submission yourself or delegate to some other live person.

This is why when registering your site with search engines, you want to create about ten different descriptions for your site and alternate those descriptions between different directories.

Seo Company is a great site that provides free search engine directory listings. I registered at all the ones that didn’t require reciprocal links.

When you can budget for some paid search engine directories, here are the ones that were recommended to me, listed in order from least to most expensive:

Abilogic--express submission
Greenstalk
Octopedia
Business
Yahoo

SEO Company also has paid search engine listings. Add yourself to them as your budget allows. It is always a good idea to do one at a time and track your traffic and conversions so you can determine which are generating the best return on your investment.

eZine Directories-If you are putting out an electronic newsletter or eZine, then google eZine directories and list your eZine there.

Blog Directories-If you have a blog, list your blog in the blog directories.

Podcast Directories-If you have any downloadable audio products on your website, you can list your site in podcast directories.

Software Directories-If you provide any software products such as screensavers or interactive software programs, you can list yourself in the software directories.

Video Directories-If you have videos, place them on You Tube and other video directories.

The more listings you have, the greater your traffic will be and the more external links you will have pointing back to your site. this is great for organic search engine ranking.

What tips do you have about submitting to directories? One thing I recommend is to delegate this work. It is easy to find a virtual assistant or someone on Elance who can do this for a fraction of the cost of the value of your time to your business. Please share your ideas and successes here.

Creating an online presence is particularly important for coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or developing your coaching skills, we are starting a new coaching school based on Choice Theory, affiliated with Prairie State College. It is starting in August. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Choice Coaching Institute. You will learn more details about creating an online presence in that program.