The Success Center

(This post was originally published in October 2009 and was updated with new content!)

If a media mogul, with a net worth of half a ba-jillion dollars, offered to share his or her secrets of their success, would you listen? I don’t know about you, but I’d be willing to listen and learn from any media mogul who wanted to share anything with me!

The wisdom, knowledge, and understanding you could gain from that person would definitely be worth paying for. However, there is one requirement to gaining access to this free knowledge, you have to sign-up for their newsletter and share it with all your friends. Would you do it?

I think the majority of you would because you want to take your business to the next level. That’s the place where opportunities come to you instead of you having to knock on doors to find them. That’s where success, prosperity, and the freedom to live your life the way you want is. How do you get there?

You Have to Make Strategic Marketing Moves

Getting the word out about your blog, website, business, products, or services is key to business growth. People won’t know who you are if you don’t tell them. Common sense right? Yet, the Small Business Administration says;

[In 2008] There were 627,200 new businesses, with 595,600 business closures, and 43,546 bankruptcies.

As an entrepreneur I have to believe that one of the primary reasons for all the closures and bankruptcies has  to do with their marketing plans. I can’t help but wonder, “how did they spend their advertising dollars?” Did they do what typical businesses do and overspend on print marketing and TV spots? Sure, the economy did make things harder for entrepreneurs . . . but not impossible. That’s why you have to make strategic marketing moves to position yourself for success.

Want to know the greatest marketing secret ever? You’ll be surprised along with some ways to maximize the technique.

So, what are the secrets to growing your small business?

1. Maximize tools, resources, and information that you already have

If you have a laptop, a mobile phone, and a car then you’ve got an office. Don’t limit your thinking to what you don’t have because God equipped you with everything you need to succeed. If there’s a piece of equipment that’s a “gotta have,” then continue to work with what you have until you can afford it.

Resource: 5 Free Ways to Market Your Business

2. Build relationships with prospects and create clients for life

Don’t go for the quick sale. Take the time to get to know people, what they want, and what they need. Doing so positions you to generate long-term sales and success. Not doing that makes you sound like a pushy used car salesman . . . and no one wants to buy from that guy.

Want my best advice on building relationships? Check out 10 Ways to Build Relationships and Keep Clients for Life

3. Brand your company and distribute a unique message that declares who you are and what you’re about

What company comes to mind when you hear “We love to see you smile?” What about, “Just do it?” These are themes associated with company brands. You can have that same power but it doesn’t come over night. It’s something you have to build piece by piece consistently. When I went to Social Camp Memphis this year there were people who knew who I was before I said anything to them. That’s the power of personal branding. Make it work for you!

Resources: Check out How to Use Social Media to Build Your Brand Locally and listen to my show Personal Branding 101 with Ronald Wilsher

4. Leverage social media and traditional marketing in a way that yields real results

A real result is one that makes a physical impact on your local market. If you can network on Twitter and as a result create relationships that leads to business in your city then you’ve got yourself a real result. Whether you like it or not, social media isn’t a fad and it’s not going away anytime soon. Are you leveraging it to make real results for your business?

Resources: You’ll enjoy my post, The Recipe for Social Media Sales Success – in it I share how social media marketing can help you make real dollars and cents. Also, take a look at 35 Keys to Social Media Success by Chris Brogan. Chris shares some valuable info for entrepreneurs who are venturing into social media marketing.

The Bottom Line

You have to build your business with these four walls in order for it to grow and succeed. A tool that can help you build your business and take it to the next level is my newsletter, “Success Tips!”.  I mail out tips and advice on marketing and growing your business. If the Success Center is a grand buffet then “Success Tips!” is a plate full of meat that promotes strong business muscles. Each edition builds on one of the four walls of business success above. Don’t take my word for it, look at what others have to say about it;

What Should You Do Next?

So, you’re all stirred up and ready to take your blog, business, product, or service to the next level. . .now what? Remember the ba-jillionaire’s requirements for gaining access to his free knowledge at the beginning? The process is as simple as 1, 2, and 3.

Step 1 - Sign-up
Enter your email address below. I hate spam as much as you do so I WILL NEVER sell, rent, or abuse your contact information. Once you’ve signed up, check your email in-box for my welcome letter and be sure to add rodsuccesscenter (at) gmail.com to your safe list.

Note: You can read through the newsletter archives to catch-up on past editions. You’ll find tons of solid advice that will help you market your business.

Step 2 - Share
If you found this article helpful please share it with your friends by using the social sharing buttons at the end of this post.

Step 3 – Subscribe
The Success Center is a grand buffet chocked full of information and knowledge on being successful in many different areas of your life and entrepreneurship. You don’t have to sit down and eat it all at once . . . feel free to stay up-to-date on new dishes by subscribing to the RSS feed or via email. I’m proud to say that this blog is updated at least 4 days a week so there’s always something new here.

Your two cents

What else creates a strong business and promotes success? What are you doing to promote growth for yours or what tips have you learned from others? I would love to hear you thoughts in the comments section below.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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Note: Originally published in November of 2009

Back in July of this year I quickly explained what an editorial calendar is, why it’s important, and how to create one with this short video. I’ve been getting a lot more inquiries as to the specifics of it and so today, I present to you, a 17 minute video on creating one step-by-step. I’m eager to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below. By the way, if you would like to get more tips, tricks, and one-on-one advice from me, subscribe to my “Success Tips!” newsletter by inputting your email address in the box below. Enjoy!

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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Entrepreneurs are more than those actively involved in building a business enterprise. Truth be told, an “entrepreneur” is someone who takes possession of a venture or idea and assumes responsibility for the outcome; it’s someone who takes control of his or her life and assumes responsibility for it. A “Christian entrepreneur” does that to the Glory of God.

But one of the defining characteristics of great entrepreneurs is that they have a purpose that goes beyond just making money.

“Purpose? Are you kidding me,” you might be saying. “Who has time for ‘purpose’ when I’ve got sales to make, expenses to meet, market share to increase, marketing to do, prospects to convert, social media to use, great service to give, and endless hours to spend doing it??!! Not to mention some months I’m not even profitable!! Who has time for ‘purpose’”?!!

But regardless of what you believe, great entrepreneurs ALWAYS have an underlying purpose:

Whether it be a Coca-Cola:

“To refresh the world; to inspire moments of optimism and happiness; to create value and make a difference.”

Or the early Ford:

“To democratize the automobile.”

Or a Google:

“To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

Or what about Apple? Steve Jobs was so driven by the purpose for his company he lured away John Sculley (then Pepsi CEO in 1983) with these now famous words:

“Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world?

Other great organizations such as Wal-Mart, the U.S. Air Force, Southwest Airlines, Charles Schwab, and BMW  are all purpose-driven. In fact John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, recently stressed the importance of companies having a core purpose.

These entrepreneurs do more than make money…they “change the world!”

What is Purpose?

I’m glad you asked! It’s defined as:

“The object toward which one strives or for which something exists.”

We’re all guided by it. Everyone one of us.

The Bible says,

“The noble-hearted man has noble purposes, and by these he will be guided.” (Isaiah 32:8 The Bible in Basic English)

Without it, we’re like children “tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine.” (Ephesians 4:14 The Amplified)

In other words, where there’s no purpose, we go everywhere and end up nowhere!

Entrepreneurs of Purpose

Entrepreneurs that have a core purpose do more and go further than their counterparts. These “Purpose-Driven entrepreneurs” (please don’t sue me Rick Warren)  know who they are and where they’re going. They’re internally driven.

But let me ask you: how important is purpose to you? Do you have one?

What are your thoughts?

Rod’s Recommended Video: What’s Your Entrepreneurial Purpose in Life?

Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here. Mike is also working on his second book: “Biblical Stratgies for Marketing Success.”

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Most of you know that I’m a full-time flight attendant. I was on a plane ride back to Memphis yesterday and I noticed something the working flight attendant did that bothered me. In the course of a 2 hour flight she only served the cabin once. Can you imagine sitting on a plane and only getting one cup of water or soda, some pretzels, and nothing else the rest of the way there?

Maybe you’re used to that already, I don’t know. But, when I work a flight, I take care of my passengers. I don’t bend over backwards and give them everything they want (limited supplies), but I make sure they’re well taken care of. Depending on the flight time I typically do a general service with the beverage cart, go back through the cabin every 15 minutes with snacks, and offer water once the sodas are put up. Am I required to do this? Absolutely not, but it’s so rewarding when I’m told, “This was the best flight I’ve ever been on!” or “You were the best flight attendant I’ve ever had!” (And I get told that a lot!)

Yes, I’m gripping, but customer service is a big issue for me when I don’t receive the attention I deserve or when I see someone else not getting it either. Before flight attending I worked in retail for years so “mister customer service” was my middle name.

What does my experience on an airplane have to do with you or your business you may be wondering? EVERYTHING! If customers are the life-blood of your business then giving excellent customer service is the IV that continues to pump them into your business’s veins. Let’s explore this, shall we?

What Does Customer Service Really Mean?

It’s called customer “Serv-US” for a reason (Ironically, many southerners pronounce it just like that). As an entrepreneur if you want to keep your business going you’ll have to focus on who’s buying your products and services and not just selling them. When you feel yourself being too pushy or aggressive with trying to make the sale, take a step back and ask yourself, “how can I best deliver value to this person?”

Why Is it Important for Your Business?

There are a million reasons why customer service is important to your business. I’m going to share two really good ones with you;

Steve

Steve Borgman said, “It is invaluable as a means of making a personal connection with the customer, learning what her/his needs/thoughts/wants are…”

LG

LG Reilly said, “Customer services drives repeat business (if good) and dooms by word-of-mouth (if bad). Crucial to any business is gr8 CS.”

I love Steve’s comment because when you learn what your customer’s needs and wants are it puts money in your pocket. It makes it so easy to serve them, to deliver real value, and get a great return on your investment (investment of time of course).

How Can You Deliver Excellent Customer Service?

It’s not rocket science and you certainly don’t need to take a college course on it. But here are a few thoughts on how you can deliver excellent customer service;

• Be a good listener – How are you ever going to know what someone needs if you’re doing all the talking? Be quiet and let your client tell you exactly what he or she needs.
• Put yourself in your customer’s shoes – You know exactly how your client feels because you’ve been there before. That’s why you’re good at what you do, right? Now get out there and solve their problem!
• Pay attention to details – When I see someone, on my plane, with a short sleeved shirt on and they’re folding their arms to keep warm, I get them a blanket. I don’t ask them if they want one, I just do it. Pay attention for opportunities to serve and jump on them!
• Go the extra mile – Don’t you love it when someone goes above and beyond what they’re called to do for you? Do the same for someone else and deliver real value into their life.
• Anticipate Needs – A butler knows that the master of the house needs to take his medicine and has it prepared for him at the exact time he needs to take it. Anticipating customer’s needs builds a relationship that no competitor can ever break!

What Are the Rewards for Delivering Excellent Customer Service?

Sometimes when people board my plane, they’re upset because of the inconvenient security screening process, weather delays, or maybe because they’re not allowed to bring a bag on-board. But, when I deliver excellent customer service for the hour or two that they’re with me it all goes away.

Delivering excellent customer service will create a deeper relationship with your clientele and ensures repeat business for the future. It’s a guaranteed win for both parties and is highly rewarding.

Spiritual Connection

Did you know that humbling yourself and serving others is by far the quickest way to be promoted by God? Jesus is a prime example. He took the very nature of a servant and, according to Philippians 2: 1-11 (NIV),

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”

Can you imagine God taking you to the highest plateau of your life, career, or business and making your name great? That’s what delivering excellent customer service will do for you.

Is Customer Service Dead?

Despite the header for this blog post, I actually don’t think it’s dead. I just think a greater level of service lies dormant within us. One that can propel us to greater heights of humanity and business. What are your thoughts on customer service? What else can we do to deliver excellent customer service? What lessons have you learned from your past experiences. I really want to hear from you on this, leave a comment or two below.

Want More? Check out some related blog posts on the subject:

Attention Small Business Owners, Customer Service is Crucial

10 Ways to Build Relationships and Keep Clients for Life

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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This is a post that started on my new Tumblr blog – “The Road Ahead.” I feel like it’s pretty relevant to a lot of you who are reading this and wanted to share a bit more on the subject. Since my article, “3 Money-Making Magazine Strategies for Blogging Success,” posted at Problogger.net, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from new bloggers on blog strategies and the like. If you want to be successful at blogging there are 5 main things you’ve got to do;

1. Define Your Niche – There are literally, millions of blogs out there. Carve your own slice of the pie and make yourself stand out. For The Success Center, I’m focusing on subject matter that will help Christian entrepreneurs. Why? Christians face more intimate struggles that hit spiritual nerves so problems cut deeper. And Entrepreneurs have many roads to success but finding the right path is critical to staying on it. Put the two together and you’ve got plenty of topics to write about!

Update: A great way to define your niche is by defining what you’re passionate about. I read a book on writing and the author said, “write what you know and not what you think you know.” When people pick up that you actually love what you’re writing about that increases your authority in your niche.

2. Post Consistently – There’s an eternal war raging between bloggers about post frequency, but honestly … it doesn’t matter as long as you’re consistent with it. Seriously, it doesn’t matter if you post every day or once a week. Just do it on a constant basis so people can judge accurately when you’re going to post. I post 3 times a week at The Success Center. But, with the debut of “Inside the Success,” my radio & web show I’m seeing now that the postings will definitely increase on a regular basis.

Update: Consistency is key in establishing reader relationship and “conditioning” blog surfers to become regular blog readers. They expect something from you and when you deliver it on a consistent basis they’ll reward you with their loyalty. I try to write a post on Monday and Wednesday, start a poll on Tuesday, end it on Thursday, and post a video on Friday. It seems like a lot, but the polls and videos are the shortest post, but still give readers something to interact with. And when I post on Monday and Wednesday, that’s when I give them something really to “think about.”

3. Create an Editorial Calendar – If you’re trying to blog for money then take it seriously. It doesn’t get any more serious than planning out your posts. Trust me, it helps to be organized. I try to plan out my posts at least a week in advance. Do I always stick to the calendar, absolutely not, but it helps me to stay organized and to give my readers something fresh every week.

Update: Here’s a 17 minute video showing you exactly how I create an editorial calendar for my blog.

4. Find a partner – For some of you this may work and for others you’ll want to fly solo. I’ve found it so useful to partner up with different people on many projects. I’m particularly grateful to have a partner in, Yolanda who writes news/success profiles for me here. She’s great and I’m lucky to have her. Partnering is a good idea to lessen the load for one thing and to give readers a different style and voice for another. Here at the Success Center, it works well. She has been teaching me a lot about people I really didn’t know, such as, the article she did on Valerie Daniels-Carter.

Update: Yolanda doesn’t work with me too much lately. We’re friends and I see her often, but she really doesn’t have time to help as much as she would like. And that’s ok. It’s important when finding partners that you come to a middle ground of what’s expected and what’s not. I wasn’t paying her so I didn’t expect her to write for me every day or even every week. However, when she did, I was grateful and she produced great content.

5. Stay Dedicated! – There are going to be times when you’re not going to get a lot of traffic. When you’ll wonder if anyone is reading your blog at all. But, you have to stay dedicated. You’ve got to keep at it. If no one reads your articles, keep churning out “grade A” quality posts so you’ll be ready when they do read them.  Barack Obama once said,

“Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it’s not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. it’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.”

This is the exact kind of attitude you’ve got to have when starting any endeavor. (Especially blogging)

6. Network! – You’ve got to network with other bloggers, read, comment, and share other people’s information if you want to get looked at yourself. Share information on twitter, connect with people on facebook, and engage in the comments section of your favorite blogs. That’s the true key to blogging success!

7. Join a Secret Blogging Alliance – Darren Rowse picked up on this trend in his post, Let me Show You Inside a Secret Blogging Alliance. The idea is to get together with a couple of your blogging buddies, comment, and share each other’s posts. This idea is very good for beginning bloggers without a support system in place.

This list is not all-inclusive. What other advice can we come up with to help anyone become a successful at blogging? What things do you do to get your blog noticed? Please share your comments below!

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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In April 2009, Facebook, the social network of choice by over 300 million users, became cash flow positive. After 5 long years Facebook, Inc. finally turned a profit. Twitter is poised to finally make a profit this year with the launch of it’s @anywhere platform only 4 years after its debut. How long will it take for your business to become “cash flow positive?” . . . only time will tell. It’s what you do before that time that prepares you for success.

My Blogging Short Story

I’ve been blogging for a year now and I have yet to turn a profit from my online endeavors. Yes, I’ve made a little money here and there from Google Adsense and success coaching specials that I’ve run, but the fact remains; I don’t make enough to cover my expenses and go full-time. However, that’s definitely something I’m working towards.

You may not have the capital you want, the cash flow you desire, or that downtown office by the ocean you’ve dreamed of, but neither did the founders of Facebook or Twitter early on!

Today, I want to share a few things that I’ve done, am doing, and think you should do before your business generates a sizable return on investment. Here are 4 easy ways to grow your online business. . .

Establish Your Brand

A brand is what a potential customer thinks of before they dial your number, sends you an email, or requests your services. It’s not just a slogan or eye catching logo, it’s the problem the customer thinks you can solve for him or her before they meet you face-to-face. Facebook’s brand is that which connects you with people you care about [or don't know for that fact] and Twitter’s objective is to help you share what’s happening anywhere in the world. How can you establish your brand? I’m glad you asked!

Offline – Web 2.0 is flourishing and web 3.0 has its foot in the door, but don’t forget about “old fashioned” methods of branding that will never retire.

• Create a Logo – Your logo should be your business incarnate [Figuratively speaking]! It’s an image of what your business represents. A custom logo is best for trademarking and a “template” [or pre-designed] logo is cool for temporary use. I hear, Logoworks does good design work, so check them out if you need one.
• Nice Business Cards – Yes, people still pass out business cards so, yes, you still need them. It’s a snapshot of who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. Try having yours printed double-sided and include where people can find you online such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. Add a picture of yourself and make it harder for people to toss your card into the trash.
• Google Voice Number - I used Google Voice to secure my own name as a phone number—> 1-415-ROD-KRBY Is it because I’ve got a big-head? Not at all! It’s simple, if you stick your name everywhere, people will remember it [and you] easier than any catch phrase you can come up with. I’ve got friends that can’t remember my local phone number, but they remember my business number at the drop of a hat.

Online – The web is a breeding ground for success simply because you can create your own opportunities. Establishing your brand online is no different. Here are a few tips on what to do.

• Secure Your Name as a Domain – Remember the last offline tip I gave? The same rule applies here as well. My domain name is rodkirby.com because when people look to be successful online [or off] I want them to find me. Get it? To brand oneself you have to be consistent in your delivery.
• Start a Blog – Blogging is a great tool that can reinforce your brand by helping you to expand your message, start conversations, and grow community. Of course, you can start a free WordPress blog. But, I highly recommend dropping a few bones and self-host your blog. When you spend money on your site you’ll be more serious about it becoming successful. Check out the guys at Woothemes for awesome WordPress blog templates to get you started [proud affiliate link - where do you think the Success Center's look came from?!].
• Set-Up Outposts - You’ve got a blog – and that’s nice – but, where are your readers? An outpost is where you go to reach blog readers, potential customers, and make connections. Get on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Digg, Delicious, etc. Don’t go over-board and join every site, but pick at least 2 that you’d be willing to invest some time in developing relationships there. I highly recommend jumping on the twitter band-wagon for connecting, sharing, and building community.
• Need Help? Download my free e-book, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success, for help maximizing Twitter for your business. Are you a real estate professional and new to social media? Download Naomi Trower’s e-book, Social Media Marketing for Real Estate & Mortgage (aff link) This book is actually pretty awesome for real estate professionals and social media newbies alike. Check out my video review for more information.

Generate a Marketing List

Why tire yourself out going door-to-door asking for sales when you can build a list of people that want to hear what you have to say? Marketing lists aren’t new, but the way you build them determines how successful you’ll be with them. You could buy a list from a marketing company that will deliver you one based on your target market (sales results will vary). Or, you can start your own. Here’s how;

• Start a Newsletter – Establish a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter and give your best advice, tips, or “how-to’s.” I use Constant Contact (aff link – signing up will get you and me a $30 credit added to our accounts.) as my email marketing provider of choice. They even have a tool that lets me capture contact info from my computer when I’m at events.
• Create an E-book – It’s super easy to do and you can gain new email contacts by offering it at the point of subscription for your newsletter. Read 7 Lessons Learned from a Successful E-Book Launch for my best advice on creating one. Also, check out 10 Steps to Success with E-Book Publishing from my bi-weekly newsletter.
• Host a Seminar or Workshop –  Feeding a man by teaching him to fish has always been more valuable than simply feeding him. Feed participants knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and they’ll gladly give you their contact information.

Build Credibility

When I transitioned from being a graphic designer to speaking and coaching I didn’t have any clientele. So,I built credibility by volunteering my time, energy, and resources and I was paid in testimonials. Twitter didn’t become a credible service until it debuted at the SXSW conference in 2007. By the time, Oprah sent her first tweet the service was a credible global phenomenon. But they did it by offering the service to the public for free and letting users make it their own. Follow Twitter’s example and build your own credibility before your business goes before the global spotlight.

Quick Tip #1: If your clients or customers are signed up with Linkedin have them write you a testimonial after using your product or service.

Quick Tip #2: Record video testimonials for greater effect and to use Youtube to post them on your website or blog.

Create buzz

Become your own PR and marketing machine and get some “buzz” going for your business. It’s not hard but it’s not easy either, here are a few suggestions;

Offline

• Reach out to the Local Media Outlets – Contact radio stations, TV stations, newspapers, magazines and offer your expertise on specific subject matters. Become a valuable asset by offering story ideas and becoming a credible source for information.

Online

Reach out to Your Networks – Writing guest blog posts or being interviewed on blogtalkradio can extend your reach, generate traffic, and win you new fans. These activities increase your credibility and are viral forms of word-of-mouth marketing.

Quick Tip #1: Don’t save your best work for your own blog, offer it to other blogs (big ones and small ones). The more links that point to you in a search engine the easier it is for others to find you.

Quick Tip #2: When being interviewed relax and be yourself, stay on topic (no rambling!), and speak in sound bites. These are the keys to a great show and will get you more interview requests.

Final Thoughts

Facebook and Twitter weren’t always house-hold web 2.0 names, but they stayed in the trenches before they became profitable. You’re going to have to do the same with your business. Did I miss anything in this guide? What would YOU add? How are you maximizing online social networks and offline tools to grow YOUR business? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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This is the age of amplification–where news, opinions, and reviews go further and faster than ever before. This is both good and bad for the Christian Entrepreneur.

It’s good because if what you’re selling is great, with just a little bit of communication, you can get it in to the hands of people quicker. But, if what you’re selling sucks [1], there isn’t enough PR out there to change the opinions of people. Because people are quicker to believe their friends than your ads.

And with all the changing marketing techniques there’s a need for changeless marketing principles that work regardless of product or service. And there’s one Person that’s been using these strategies for years–the greatest marketing phenom the world has ever seen:the Master Marketer Himself, Jesus.

Jesus was a Master Marketer!

He had no marketing budget and still gained such a following that most Chief Marketing Officer’s would’ve passed out from disbelief; He used no ads and still thousands showed up to hear Him speak!

In only three and a half years He preached a Message that still continues on to this day!

So its safe to say we could probably learn a few things from Him. So, here they are… some tips from the Master Marketer Himself:

Have a great product

Not a good product, not an ok product, not a status quo product…but a great product!

When the people of  Samaria heard a woman raving about Jesus–they ran to see for themselves. When they saw what He was offering themselves, they were impressed:

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves. Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world.’” [2]

I warn you: don’t make a big hype if what you’re offering doesn’t match the hype! You will regret it.

Let people try it for free

When getting His Message out there Jesus didn’t charge people.

He didn’t say,

“Ok, if you want Me to heal your eye that’s $50. What that’s a withered hand? Yeah that goes for $45. Raise your daughter from the dead? Whew…that ’s our special of the week…its gonna cost ya!”

If you want to get the word out about your great product, let people who need it try it.

• That’s what William P.Young did to get the word out about his book The Shack. He and two freelance editors–Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings–were rejected by traditional publishers and decided to publish it themselves. They introduced it to the the Christian Community through a series of podcasts–described as “an ever expanding conversation among those thinking outside the box of organized religion.” With only $250 spent on marketing these unknowns, with no national platform,  had a book that has sold into the millions, and the rest is history (Faith Based Marketing, pgs 87 and 89)
• That’s what Rick Warren did for Purpose-Driven Life. Years before he wrote his first book, Purpose Driven Church and followed it up with a website: Pastors.Com. The membership of the website grew to 85,000 pastors who saw Warren as trusted advisor. He enlisted their help with the PDL book–asking them to conduct the “40 day campaign” in their churches. He gave away 400,000 copies of  the $20 book for $7 to churches and congregations that agreed. Within two months, those 400,000 spokespeople pushed sales to two million, and  the rest is history (Faith Based Marketing, pgs 85-86)
• That’s what Mel Gibson did to market The Passion of the Christ. When he approached movie executives about producing the movie nobody wanted to go near it. So Gibson decided to fund it himself using $30 million of his own money. Not having much money left to marketing (it usually costs $40 million for marketing, he only had $15 million) he tried an unconventional approach: letting pastors see it for free.  They started small–showing only a few pastors, but it grew exponentially. One of the final screenings was at Willow Creek Church. After the showing, Bill Hybels took the stage and spoke for the 5,000 pastors in attendance: “All right, what do you need us to do?” (Faith Based Marketing, pgs 87, 89) And with $611,899,420 in gross sales the rest is history.
• That’s what Timothy Ferriss did to promote his book The Four Hour Work Week. He called successful authors and asked them how they promoted their books. They gave him two answers: radios and bloggers. Since radio was losing its influence he decided to rely on bloggers. He went to a blogger event, met the ones he wanted to meet, established relationships, and then asked them to do a review. They did. And with the book becoming the #1 New Times, the #1 Wall Street Journal, and the #1 Businessweek bestseller the rest is history.
• That’s what Seth Godin did to promote his first best seller. He built a website, sent out an email asking people if they wanted to read 1/4 of his book for free, some did and some didn’t (most of the one’s that didn’t just plopped down money to buy the whole book!). And with multiple bestsellers under his belt, the rest is history!
• That’s what Rod Kirby did to promote his new E-book. And with hundreds of visits to the site, tons of downloads, and plenty of good reviews the rest is history!

The Bible says Jesus went all over Galilee, using synagogues for meeting places, teaching  people the truth of God.

And…

“He healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives.”

What happened next?

“Word got around the entire Roman province of Syria. People brought anybody with an ailment, whether mental, emotional, or physical. Jesus healed them, one and all. More and more people came, the momentum gathering. Besides those from Galilee, crowds came from the ‘Ten Towns’ across the lake, others up from Jerusalem and Judea, still others from across the Jordan.” [3]

In other words, word about this Guy spread near and far!

Give it to people who want it…not to everybody.

In the middle of His ministry Jesus decided to stop by His hometown.

And “on the Sabbath, He gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. ‘We had no idea He was this good!’ they said. ‘How did He get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?’ But in the next breath they were cutting Him down: ‘He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s Boy. We’ve known Him since He was a kid. We know His brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and His sisters. Who does He think He is?’ They tripped over what little they knew about Him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.” [4]

So because of their unbelief He didn’t do much miracles.

What He was selling was good, but they didn’t buy into Him and therefore couldn’t buy into His product (or Message).

So what did He do? Fight with them? Beg them to believe Him? Do more miracles in spite of their unbelief? Nope! He just left. Went somewhere else. He went other places where He’d be more receptive.

Stop fighting people who don’t believe you (or in you)…especially when there  are others that do. Stop wasting your time and go find those people. Rick Warren didn’t market to atheists, William P. Young didn’t market to people comfortable with religion, Gibson only showed screenings to conservative Christian and religious groups (even refusing to include those that initially criticized the film), Timothy Ferriss didn’t go after those interested in a 9-5 lifestyle, and Seth Godin gave books to those that wanted it!

Service Your  Best Customers

Not all customers are created equal. Remember: 20% of your customers will buy your stuff. That 20% will market you the best, talk about you the most, and defend you with all their strength.

Jesus spent time with thousands of people but He revealed Himself the most to the 12 disciples. When He left it was the 12 (Matthias replacing Judas) who spread the Gospel and turned the world upside down! Jesus spent His time with His best customers and as a result got His product into the hands (and hearts) of millions. Would He have received the same return spreading Himself to the masses?? Probably not.

Do whatever you have to do to keep in contact with your best customers!

Now do you see what I mean? Jesus was a Master Marketer. And if You follow Him, have a great product, and use His examples you’ll be one too…even in a market like this.

What are you thoughts?

1. By “sucks” I mean the dictionary definition: “To be objectionable or inadequate.”
2. John 4:42 (New Living Translation)
3. Matthew 4: 23-25 (The Message)
4. Mark 6: 2-3 (The Message)

Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here.

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Image by Joe Cannibal

There’s an organization out to stop your progress. It performs acts of sabotage covertly on your path to success to stop you from ever making it to your promised land. This group is called, FEAR.They are the reason you find it so hard to start a business, plan an event, write a book, or start the thing God has put in your heart to create. My friend and author, Paul Wilson, Jr., defines fear as thoughts or feelings that create a mental prison of anxiety & apprehension, preventing positive forward progress.

In order to combat this worthy opponent you first have to understand how FEAR operates. The group infiltrates your thoughts and tells you you’re too busy, you don’t have the right equipment, or it’s too hard to accomplish. Then they take over your eyes and when you look into the vision God wants to give you all you see are giants in the land. Lastly they monitor your hands and they make sure that you never reach or grasp the tools God already has for you to keep you idle.

But, there is a secret to defeating this black ops organization. It’s rooted in American’s favorite past-time, the game of baseball. What FEAR would have you to do is not even step up to the plate and take a swing at bat. FEAR wants to make sure that you forfeit the game even before the game starts. FEAR will put so much pressure on you to make a home-run that you’ll stare at the bat long before you even pick it up. What you have to realize is that the game is not won with one swing and one swing only . . . it’s won in innings!

Here are 5 sure fire ways to defeat FEAR, inning by inning, score home-runs, and win the big game;

1. Get to know your Umpire – God is the umpire of every game. He officiates the game, He calls the fouls, He’ll make sure you’ll have everything you need to win the game. I say it all the time, but it’s true, if God gave you the vision then He’ll provide you with everything you need to build it. Get to know Him and He’ll make sure you understand how to use the tools He provides.

2. Break the Game Down – Of course you want to win the game, but what’s your strategy for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings? If you’re going to start consulting, what’s your strategy for marketing, what’s your process for turning prospects into clients, and how are you going to generate leads? Don’t get so overwhelmed with the idea that you never start to work it. Take it a step at a time and break it down into “bite-sized” pieces instead of trying to swallow chunks at a time.

3. Create a Game Plan – no one ever went to war without a plan. Period. You don’t have to create the world’s most thorough and in-depth business plan; but you need to have an idea of where you want to go and how to get there.

4. Ask your teammates for help – Baseball isn’t won by the hands of one person, it’s a team sport so get together a team of advisers and ask for feedback on your business plan. When I started my first business which was a video game tournament company, I had just graduated high school. So, I went back to my favorite teachers and asked them to be on my advisers board and they gave me a wealth of advice and support for my business.

5. Hit the Ball! – You have to start somewhere, just hit the ball already. Don’t worry about making a home-run on your first hit. Let’s get to first base, make adjustments once we’re there, and figure out how to make it to second after that. It doesn’t matter if you go to the library to research whatever it is that you want to start, read up on blogs that pertain to your industry, or go to seminars and learn something new. Do something! Remember, fouling out is better than striking out!

Bonus: Write down 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

So, the next time you start thinking that your dream is to big to accomplish, remember the game of baseball. Don’t just stare at the bat . . . pick it up and do something with it! So, what are you afraid of? What part of your business appears to big to make it a reality? I’ll tell you mine: I want to make big budget Christian movies (rivaling Hollywood!). For the longest time I thought it was impossible, but now I find myself networking with producers, starting scripts, and other things to make this dream a reality. I’m not there yet, but at least I’ve stepped up to the plate.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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Update: 2/15/2010 – Due to the overwhelming response to this article, an enhanced e-book version of the same name has been published. 20 pages will show you how to maximize Twitter for your business, blog, and brand. Download the FREE e-book here!

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Twitter Success

Twitter is an excellent marketing platform for entrepreneurs to grow their business, blog traffic, or brand. You’ll find plenty of social media marketing gurus that want to sell you a system to get 500 new followers a day, make zillions of dollars in referrals, and increase your blog traffic by 2000% in 30 minutes. However, I’ve got an ultimate weapon that will guarantee you long-term business success on Twitter.

“Giving-to-get” is my ultimate weapon when it comes to marketing on Twitter. I touched on this concept in last week’s post, “The Biggest Marketing Secret – Ever, Finally Revealed”

What’s Twitter All About?

If you’ve been living under a digital rock for the past two years and you don’t know what Twitter is, then check out my article, Are you a Twitter Newbie or Power User? When you’re done, come back to this article and join the rest of us.

One thing to note about Twitter is that it’s a platform for engagement, sharing, and connecting – not just for marketing. Using it for marketing alone would dub it as a tool . . .

“A tool is typically used once and discarded (in other words, something useful but not valuable). A platform is something solid used to stand on. Something sturdy you can build something on top of.” – myself in an interview with @latarahamying for her blog. Check out the full interview here: Savvy Marketing Moments With Rod “the Success Coach” Kirby

If you want to successfully generate traffic to your blog, website, or grow your business on Twitter, here are a few things you should do;

Find Your Voice

Your Twitter voice is equal to what you share and how you brand yourself. If you’ve been on Twitter for a while, it’s easiest to figure out your voice by how people list you (or, how they categorize you). You can read more about Twitter lists from Twitter’s official blog. If you’re new to Twitter or aren’t listed then you need to find your voice.

It’s important to know exactly how you’re going to represent yourself on Twitter – this determines if people will relate to you and your Tweets. Take a look at the graphic on the right. From it we can see that “I am the voice of Business, Marketing, Social Media, and the Life Coach.”

Tips for Finding Your Voice;

• Know who you are
• Know what you want to achieve on Twitter
• Look within your industry
• Look at the popular people you follow

Update Consistently

Ever follow someone only to realize that they update maybe once a month? And when they update it’s never anything useful or cool, it’s just random like;

“Just woke up, about to get some breakfast . . .”

If this is you, please, quietly excuse yourself from Twitter . . . you’re hogging up my stream. Consistency will breed consistent followers and traffic. The key is to find the right balance and not post too much or too little, but get into the sweet spot of your flow.

Tips on Updating Consistently;

• At Home – find the best time of day when there are the least amount of distractions and go for it.
• On the Go – Use tools like, Ping.fm to update on the go, especially if you’re a busy person.

Organize or Participate in Twitter Activities

Remember, Twitter is a platform for connecting with like-minded people, so CONNECT! Get into Tweet chats whether they’re live streams or standard chats. I organized a short-lived event called the “Monday Morning Rockstar Challenge”

The idea was to kill the Monday blues by encouraging productivity. I would give the winner a shout-out in a “winner announcement” blog post which made people feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Plenty of people participated, but we just couldn’t keep the momentum going. It was definitely fun while it lasted.

Organize your own games or events on Twitter by using Tweetgrid for chats or Tweetchat for a live Q&A (at the time of this posting, the Tweetchat site was down). By taking the initiative you’ll position yourself as a leader and people will flock to you when they’re in need.

Share Useful links

Twitter is a platform for sharing which is critical to getting quality traffic, leads, and followers. When you jump into the ecosystem of sharing that’s when your level of success will rise. I share articles that I find on marketing, blogging, success, tech news, and more. Whatever I think someone will find useful and promote my Twitter voice/brand.

Here are a few tools you can use to share good stuff with good people on Twitter;

• Google Reader – I always shout this tool out because it’s such a big part of my social media strategy. Use it to follow, read, comment, and share your favorite blogs across multiple networks. You can find a bunch of the articles I share on Twitter on my Google Reader Shared Page.
• Feedly for Google Reader – This is an awesome plugin (compatible for Firefox and Chrome) for Google Reader that gives it a magazine-like interface. Best part of all, when you’re logged into feedly and visiting a website in another tab, you can save, favorite, or share that article while you’re browsing.
• Google Blog Search – This is by far the best way to look content, discover new blogs, and share it with your network.
• AllTop - This great service indexes the top headlines from different websites and blogs. It’s great for finding “what’s happening” in your industry.

Share Multimedia Content

The great thing about Twitter is the amount of diverse content you can find. Don’t just settle for 140 characters, show people the world around you, videos you find on the web, or other details. I do this through my Tumblr blog which is nothing more than great multimedia content that I find and share from around the web. I’ve got it to share on Twitter whenever I create a new post automatically so I don’t have to “double post.”

You can easily share multimedia content by using these services;

• Twitpic – great for photo sharing from your PC or mobile device
• Twitvid – excellent for sharing videos from your computer, mobile device, or even a webcam
• Many of your favorite websites like Youtube, Flickr, and Digg support sharing to Twitter (links take you to my profiles on each). It’s all a matter of finding quality content to share!

Don’t Talk to Yourself

The first thing I look at when deciding on who to follow is whether or not they actually engage in conversations or if they just talk to themselves. You’ve seen him/her before, they spew out link after link promoting their projects and never talk to anyone. Remember, it’s called, SOCIAL media for a reason. Don’t be afraid to start conversations, re-tweet, and engage with others.

Make an Offer

If you’ve done all of the above in some capacity then you will have earned the trust, loyalty, and admiration of those that follow you. You will have added value to their streams and they’ll love you for it. If this sounds like you then you have earned the opportunity to make an offer. Not to ask for a sale. But, to craft a tweet of significant importance to your business, blog, or brand and put it out there for everyone to click and share.

Note: Don’t abuse the opportunity by tweeting that offer too much. I like to promote blog posts at different times through the day but only after I’ve shared good content.

Lightning Round – My Quick Tips

Here are a few things that I do, personally, that gets me more traffic, followers, and business;

• Schedule Tweets During Peak Usage Times – I use Hootsuite to schedule quotes, new blog post announcements, calls to action, etc. Just be sure to check in and engage everyone once in a while!
• Address People by Their Real Name – Make your conversations more personable and direct. This reinforces trust and builds a genuine relationship between you and the other person.
• Ask Questions Give Answers – There’s a wealth of information waiting on you in the form of your followers and vice versa. Don’t let it go to waste!
• Offer Your Best Advice – I regularly give out information that I would typically charge people to get in my coaching sessions. However, giving your best advice puts you on people’s mind when a need arises.
• Accept Quality Followers, Not All - I have a low follow to follower percentage by choice. With my 200 followers I have a stream of people I can count on and that’s super valuable to me. I’m more capable of focusing on a few hundred than a few thousand.
• Be a Tease - Got a blog post you’re working on? Give out teasers throughout the day until you finish it. You’ll grow anticipation and people are more willing to share it if they’re waiting on it.
• Be Original - Sharing links is all fine and dandy, but don’t forget to share original wisdom, knowledge, or information that people can’t get anywhere else. It solidifies you as a quality person to follow.

Remember, Twitter is more than a marketing tool – it’s a platform for building, engaging, and sharing. If you take the time to maximize the tools presented in this article you’ll get more followers, blog traffic, and business. What would you add to this list? What tips would you offer to entrepreneurs looking to make it big on Twitter? Share your thoughts below.

Reminder: Please, rate this article by selecting the star system under my picture. Thanks!

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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According to Wikipedia there are around 38 specialized areas of marketing. They break it down by either the type of product you advertise or how you advertise your product. Today, I want to share with you the greatest marketing secret I learned a couple of years ago.

It’s called content creation marketing or the “give to get” model. Essentially you create content that educates, inspires, or empowers people and give it away for free in hopes of getting something in return. That could be information, sales leads, actual sales, or something else that’s valuable to your business.

This form of marketing is effective for the entrepreneur because it delivers value to the customer at the beginning of the relationship instead of at the end of a transaction. Social media marketing is only an extremely popular form of word-of-mouth advertising (idea being, if people like you they’ll eventually buy from you). Content creation marketing takes it a step further by giving people something to talk about.

How can you maximize this form of marketing for your business? Here are a few thoughts;

Start Writing: You can start a blog, write e-books, or create white papers (detailed studies). The key is to come up with something extremely valuable that you can give away. Out of all of these, blogging gives you the most return on investment. Sure, people can share an e-book or white paper once, but blog posts stay in a constant stream of sharing – especially if it’s good content. When it comes to blogging, the rule of thumb is, if you feel like you’re giving away too much . . . then you’re on the right track. Here’s my best advice on blogging;

• 8 Magazine Strategies that add Value to Your Blog

• 3 Magazine Advertising Strategies for Blogging Success

• How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog

• 5 Keys to Blogging Success

• How to Grow Your Blog’s Community in 3 Easy Steps

Start a Show: Youtube, Vimeo, and other video sites are absolutely huge right now. A video has more of a chance to “go viral” than almost any other form of content. Once you have someone’s attention and you’ve delivered something of value, you’ve earned the right to make an offer. Here are some ideas on what kind of videos to make;

• Interviews – set-up meetings with key people in your industry and ask them questions from a customer’s point of view.

• “How to’s” - show people “how to” use a specific product, service, or how to accomplish a task.

• Best Practices/Tips – I’m a big fan of learning how to do stuff better. Show people the best way to accomplish a goal or objective.

Video Blog: If you don’t have anything super important to share then share your everyday life. Video-blogging is still pretty engaging on a content level. People love to “go behind the scenes” of other people’s lives (that’s why reality TV is so popular). Want some advice on how to produce that A-list video blog? Here you go;

• Focus on a topic – No one wants to sit and watch you ramble on and on about nothing in particular. Gather your thoughts and drill down to the important stuff in your video.
• Spend a Little Money – I absolutely hate watching low quality videos on Youtube and so do you. If all you’re going to do is produce videos then spend a little money on a decent camera. You can get a Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera (Amazon Aff link) for only $130 on Amazon right now. That’s what I use to produce my “Inside the Success” web show.
• Become a Production Engineer – Ok, not really. But, don’t forget the importance of good sound and lighting for your videos. Unfortunately, you won’t get the best audio from a Flip or Kodak pocket camera far away. But if you get right on your subject and stay in good light, your video will turn out awesome.

Get on the Radio: Before this whole internet thingy took off people used to listen to radio shows (come on, you know that’s funny). Why not start your own? I use Blogtalkradio to produce my “Inside the Success,” show. Here are a few suggestions on producing your best show;

• Plan Ahead – Don’t “jump in” the water without knowing which ocean you’re in. Get your solid show idea on paper first and plan for success.

• Pick a Niche – Don’t interview random people or discuss random topics. Just like blogging, choose an area of expertise that you can own, flesh out good topics, and choose guests based on those first.

• Have a Back-up Plan – Things don’t always go as planned, especially if you’re doing a live show. Have plan-b at the ready. That could be, having a second guest at your fingertips if your primary guest doesn’t call-in. Having a second phone to call-in with if your primary goes dead. Whatever you need to get the job done, just be prepared.

• Cancel Noise – I’ve done a couple of interviews where I was outside, in my car, and a firetruck drove by or my dog started barking because of a siren going off. Now, I run the show in-doors, put the dog up, turn off phone ringers, and etc. Do whatever it takes to make sure listeners can listen!

Content creation can be time consuming but it pays off in dividends! Unlike traditional marketing techniques you put the customer’s needs first instead of throwing them a sales pitch. If you don’t have their needs in-mind then your content will lack power and the influence you’ll need for them to eventually buy. Do you agree or disagree? How do you market your products and services? What works for you? Share your thoughts below.

Note: Enjoyed these tips? Subscribe to my Success Tips Newsletter 2.0 to explore marketing your business even more. I’ll be sending out the first issue for 2010 later today. Take a look at past issues in the Email Archive.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

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