Sandra Martini's Success Strategies

Online Success Simplified: 5 Must-Have Tools for a 6-Figure and Beyond Business

In building and growing an online business, or one with a strong online component, there are several must-have tools which will allow you to not only have passive revenue, but to enjoy multiple streams of it.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most basic tools (there are other, more advanced tools which will be covered in a separate article):

1. A Shopping Cart.

An online shopping cart allows you to sell digital products, have them automatically delivered to your clients and automate the follow-up so you’re not sending emails all day and night.

I use and highly recommend KickStart Cart as an all-in-one shopping cart and autoresponder service. The Pro Version is $99.00/month (U.S.). If you’re not yet offering products, you can get the Starter ($34/mo) or Basic ($59/mo) versions.

And in order to easily accept MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover Card, you’ll want to link your shopping cart with a merchant account using a payment gateway.

2. An Email Marketing System/Service.

An email marketing system allows you to send ezines, solo e-mails and contact your prospect list whenever you wish.

While you can, and many people do, use your shopping cart for this, I prefer to use a separate system (due to deliverability issues) and use Constant Contact.

I continue to test deliverability between Constant Contact and Kickstart Cart (which is one of the 1ShoppingCart brands – they all have the same issues) and, for now, remain with this choice.

3. A Website, Blogsite or Other Opt-in Page.

In any online business, your primary goal is to have ideal prospects sign up to your list so they can receive your ezine and other information.

The way to make this happen is by placing an opt-in box on a website, blogsite or single opt-in page.

The one you choose is completely up to you as all have been proven successful. The nice thing about a blogsite is that you can get it up and running quickly and inexpensively and your hosting is usually included.

If you’re doing it yourself, I recommend TypePad for blogs/blogsites as it’s easy-to-use and has responsive support staff.

4. An Incentive to Sign-up.

People are busy. We all receive too much in our email inboxes these days and will only part with our information if there is something in it for us: a special report that we’re interested in, an audio series which will give us new information, a checklist that would be handy to have.

You need to have some incentive on your website/blogsite/opt-in page in order for people to part with their names and email addresses.

The report/audio/checklist is WHAT you’re giving them. Your ezine? It’s the bonus gift they receive as a result of requesting the report.

5. A Mentor.

If you’re starting out or currently stuck in your online business efforts, you will want to strongly consider partnering with a mentor who can keep you focused and accountable while guiding you through the distractions (and there are MANY!).

You’ll want to chat with a few different people to see who you best resonate with.

The time and money spent with a good mentor will save you hours and thousands of dollars in learning and mistakes, not to mention how much sooner the revenue will start coming in!

The above is by no means a complete listing of everything you’ll need in your business, but these 5 tools will see you WELL on your way to a 6-figure business.

The next item? You’ll have to wait for the next issue for that! :-)

My Request to You

If you’ve read the above and are shaking your head saying “I’ve done/have all of the above and STILL nothing’s happening”, then it’s time to reevaluate:

Is your Incentive something your ideal client is interested in? If you’re getting lots of traffic to your site, but no one’s signing up, the answer is “nope”, or you’re not presenting it correctly.

Is your ezine providing information and content which is relevant to your ideal clients? If you’re seeing a lot of unsubscribes, it’s time to revisit what you’re doing.

Do you have a mentor (or coach) who gives you broad strokes, but doesn’t provide the actual steps of what you need to do when in order to move forward? If so, you need to ask if this is the right person for you at this time.

You, and only you, control your business and your level of success. What do YOU want and how much do you want it? The right tools will get you there so much faster!

For the past 5 years, Sandra Martini has been showing self-employed business owners how to get more clients consistently by implementing processes and systems to put their marketing on autopilot. Visit Sandra at http://www.SandraMartini.com for details, compelling client testimonials and her free audio series “5 Simple and Easy Steps to Put Your Marketing on Autopilot”.

How to Create a Survey Using Survey Monkey: All You Have To Do is Ask

Have you been thinking about sending a survey to your list, but not quite sure how to go about it?

 

Unsure of the types of questions to ask or even what you'll get from the survey?

 

Not sure how to ask people to fill out your survey when you know how busy they are?

 

Great News! I've put together a step-by-step guide to creating surveys using Survey Monkey - we even walk through a sample survey and have screenshots to guide you every step of the way!

 

This digital guide isn't meant to languish in your computer's hard drive forever - it's designed to have you sending out a survey TODAY!

 

Here's a quick look at the table of contents so you know exactly what's covered:

 

1. The Benefits of Using Surveys
2. Creating Your First Survey
3. Getting an Account
4. Setting Up Your Survey
5. Sharing Your Survey
6. Analyzing Results
7. What Next?
8. Appendix: Sample Emails

If you're ready to send out a survey and have been wondering how to make it happen, click here to purchase this guide now for only $19.00!

Simple System for Building a Relationship with Your Prospects

The key to creating a Client Communication Plan - a simple system for building a relationship with your prospects -- is to:

 

1. Write it down

2. Build in consistency and

3. Execute

 

Step 1: Make a list of ALL the things you enjoy doing in communicating with your prospects and clients. Your list could easily include:

 

• writing emails and articles
• writing blog postings
• writing tweets on Twitter or updates on Facebook
• sending cards or postcards via snail mail
• posting videos on YouTube
• picking up the phone and calling them

Step 2: Whatever it is you enjoy doing, make a list like the above, grab your calendar and determine WHEN you can *consistently* do the items on your list (or wheedle the list down if you need to).

 

Your goal is to strike a great balance between consistency and variety -- after all, not everyone is watching videos on YouTube or monitoring tweets on Twitter.

 

Step 3: Execute (a.k.a. "Implement") and continue executing. This is not a one-shot deal, you need to consistently implement your plan in order to see results.

 

And remember, whatever communication methods you choose, provide your prospects and clients with more information than promotion. This is the key to building a strong relationship.

 

My Request to You

 

Following the steps above, create your very own Client Communication Plan and make a decision to commit to it - consistency is KEY! After all, if you're not going to be consistent in your own marketing, how can your clients trust you to be consistent in partnering with them?

 

For the past 5 years, Sandra Martini has been showing self-employed business owners how to get more clients consistently by implementing processes and systems to put their marketing on autopilot. Visit Sandra at http://www.SandraMartini.com for details, compelling client testimonials and her free audio series “5 Simple and Easy Steps to Put Your Marketing on Autopilot”.

"The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join The New Rich" by Timothy Ferriss

The nature of my business is to teach solopreneurs and small business owners how to design their businesses to support the lifestyle of their dreams. It's not about working 24/7 -- it's about having a business that funds your life outside of the office.

I read Tim's book and was thrilled to see someone who *got* it to such an extent. From geo-arbitraging (hiring virtual assistants) to maximizing the difference between "effective" and "efficient" by acknowledging that "busy" is not necessarily "productive" and spending your energies on the 20% (Pareto's Principle where 80% of the output comes from 20% of the input), Tim covers it all.

Forget retirement as most people know it, life is about enjoying "mini-retirements" and Tim is a perfect example of this. He's 29 and a world tango recordholder, national Chinese kickboxing champion and actor on a hit

Hong Kong

television show. Why has he done all this?

Why not?

Mini-retirements and life on your terms is all possible when you build your business the right way. Get Tim's book here. . .

Online Business Mentoring Program

ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER

 

It seems like just yesterday everyone was talking about "making 2008 the best year ever".

 

Now that it's the end of summer, where are you in your business? Are you on track with your 2008 dreams and goals (do you have dreams and goals?) or have you gotten stuck somewhere along the way?

 

I'm THRILLED to announce the launch of my 90 Day Intensive Online Business Builder Mentoring Program!

 

I haven't seen another program out there which focuses so heavily on how-to implementation and hope you have a few minutes to review it right away.

 

First, let me promise you, there's no hype and no claims of "sign up and make millions tomorrow" -- you know me better!

 

If you're serious about growing your business, with the right know-how, moving things forward each and every day however, this program is for you. It's designed to build a sustainable business -- without sacrificing your life -- which makes you money for the long- term.

 

You can learn more here. . .

 

I've created some very special Early Bird Bonuses for those of you who read through the letter, know the program is for you and are ready to take decisive action towards the success of your business.

 

This program is designed for business owners who want a proven implementation program with the support to keep you focused and hold you accountable.

 

I think when you read the letter, you'll agree I'm serious about helping you.

 

All the details are here. . .

 

Enjoying a day off

Taking an unexpected day off or a mid-afternoon nap can do wonders for recharging your creativity! I'm still writing all my new ideas down from yesterday's jaunt to the beach.

When working, we get into such a routine that your brain "expects" certain things at certain times and while this is great for ensuring you're in the right frame of mind, it can also put you in a bit of a rut and you need to shake loose.

For those who have ever dieted, it's just like losing some weight and then, doing all the same things you did to lose the weight, you now plateau. Your body needs some shaking up or your exercise routine needs some freshening up.

So clear your calendar for a day or a half-day and do something totally unlike what you normally do. Your mind, your body AND your business will thank you!

Dear Sandy -- "How do I get out of the red?"

WOW!  I'm receiving a great response to my survey (http://snipurl.com/obbmp) and will be posting answers to many of the questions I'm receiving:

I've received so many questions that I've decided to turn this into a "Dear Sandy" set of posts.  :-)

Dear Sandy,

How do I get out of the red?

-- In The Red

Dear "In The Red", 

This is a great question as no one wants to be "in the red" or losing, rather than making, money.  Without knowing the specifics of your situation, I'm going to make a few assumptions and recommend the following:

1. Assuming you have/aspire to have, some form of online business, you must first focus on incoming cash flow.  If you have a list, what product or service can you offer them TODAY? Can you promote a teleseminar and charge for it?  If you don't have a list, you need to focus on building one (see today's ezine article).
2. What are you spending your money on?  If you're purchasing every "get rich quick", "you can make millions online" program out there, STOP!  Before you purchase anything, ask yourself "What result will I get?  Is it worth the $X I'm about to spend?"  If you have to *do* stuff, ensure you've set the time aside for it on your calendar BEFORE you purchase.
3. Stop charging.  Pay cash (or debit card) for all your purchases so you really have to think twice before you "swipe".

Getting out of the red is just like losing weight -- more money needs to come in than go out (only with weight, you want more out and less in).  What can you do NOW to jumpstart your revenue?

In full and unwavering support of you,

~Sandy :-)

3 Steps to Getting The Most Out of Conferences and Workshops

Once you return home from a conference or workshop, it's easy to forget all the things you learned and promised yourself you'd implement.

After all, you're back in your regular environment: your family needs attention after you've been gone, work tasks have piled up, personal items need handling. How are you to "catch up" and incorporate all the new things as well?

Here's my simple process for ensuring I implement and put new ideas into action as soon as I return from a conference or workshop:

1. Create an Action List.

While at the workshop, I make an action list of all the ideas I want to implement in my business - some are new and some are refining things I'm already doing.

The important thing to note here is that I do NOT censor this list - everything I think of goes on it.

2. Take a day.

If possible, take a day or 1/2 day when you get home to unpack, get back in the swing of things and take a good look at your Action List (mine usually runs 2-3 pages).

Review the items and decide which make sense for your business right now, in the next six months and in the next year.

Once you've separated the items into different lists, take out the "right now" sheet:

Are there items which can be done in 10 minutes or less? If so, identify those items and schedule an hour for each group of 5 activities over the next week (this allows a little extra time). This will insure you make steady progress soon after the seminar.

Do you have bigger projects? No sweat, break them down into smaller chunks -- 30 minutes at most -- and schedule them on your calendar.

By scheduling these activities *on your calendar*, you'll have a start and end time for getting them done and ensuring you got the most out of your time at the workshop.

File the other two lists in your tickler file for future action.

3. Follow-up

Chances are you've met new friends and potential clients.

Now's the time to drop them a brief note and let them know you're happy to have met them and follow-up with any information you may have promised.

And, remember, if appropriate for you, thank the speaker for the seminar and all you learned.

Your Coaching Challenge

Think back to the last conference or workshop you attended. Did you create an Action List of things to implement in your business?

If not, schedule some time on your calendar to sit down with the workshop binder, go through your notes and create an Action List of everything you want to implement.

Then follow the steps I outline above for getting them done! I set the intention to get at least one thing (new idea, better way of doing something, etc.) from every conference or workshop I attend - after all, the cost of attendance is high: money, travel, hotel, and, most importantly, my time and energy!

For the past 5 years, Sandra Martini has been showing self-employed business owners how to get more clients consistently by implementing processes and systems to put their marketing on autopilot. Visit Sandra at http://www.SandraMartini.com for details, compelling client testimonials and her free audio series "5 Simple and Easy Steps to Put Your Marketing on Autopilot".

AirSet

AirSet is a wonderful, free online tool which allows those of us with multiple businesses and interests to store documents, establish action lists and update calendars by group and then merge and share our groups as we wish.    

I'm pretty new to playing with it and am finding it indispensable for my team to keep track of all we're doing, by project.

Click here to learn more about how AirSet can help you in your business.

3 Steps to Getting The Most Out of Conferences and Workshops

Once you return home from a conference or workshop, it's easy to forget all the things you learned and promised yourself you'd implement.

After all, you're back in your regular environment: your family needs attention after you've been gone, work tasks have piled up, personal items need handling. How are you to "catch up" and incorporate all the new things as well?

Here's my simple process for ensuring I implement and put new ideas into action as soon as I return from a conference or workshop:

1. Create an Action List.

While at the workshop, I make an action list of all the ideas I want to implement in my business - some are new and some are refining things I'm already doing.

The important thing to note here is that I do NOT censor this list - everything I think of goes on it.

2. Take a day.

If possible, take a day or 1/2 day when you get home to unpack, get back in the swing of things and take a good look at your Action List (mine usually runs 2-3 pages).

Review the items and decide which make sense for your business right now, in the next six months and in the next year.

Once you've separated the items into different lists, take out the "right now" sheet:

Are there items which can be done in 10 minutes or less? If so, identify those items and schedule an hour for each group of 5 activities over the next week (this allows a little extra time). This will insure you make steady progress soon after the seminar.

Do you have bigger projects? No sweat, break them down into smaller chunks -- 30 minutes at most -- and schedule them on your calendar.

By scheduling these activities *on your calendar*, you'll have a start and end time for getting them done and ensuring you got the most out of your time at the workshop.

File the other two lists in your tickler file for future action.

3. Follow-Up

Chances are you've met new friends and potential clients.

Now's the time to drop them a brief note and let them know you're happy to have met them and follow-up with any information you may have promised.

And, remember, if appropriate for you, thank the speaker for the seminar and all you learned.

Your Coaching Challenge

Think back to the last conference or workshop you attended. Did you create an Action List of things to implement in your business?

If not, schedule some time on your calendar to sit down with the workshop binder, go through your notes and create an Action List of everything you want to implement.

Then follow the steps I outline above for getting them done! I set the intention to get at least one thing (new idea, better way of doing something, etc.) from every conference or workshop I attend - after all, the cost of attendance is high: money, travel, hotel, and, most importantly, my time and energy!

For the past 5 years, Sandra Martini has been showing self-employed business owners how to get more clients consistently by implementing processes and systems to put their marketing on autopilot. Visit Sandra at www.SandraMartini.com for details, compelling client testimonials and her free audio series "5 Simple and Easy Steps to Put Your Marketing on Autopilot".