Recently, I had a big ‘personal event’ in my life (I got married!) and for the week before and the week after the wedding, it was difficult to stay as focused on my work and my clients as I normally am.

I had every intention of working on client projects right up until the day before the wedding and to return to work the following Tuesday since we weren’t taking our honeymoon right away—I wanted to minimize the impact of my marriage on my clients. However the clients I had active projects with knew about my upcoming wedding and insisted on making adjustments to their expectations, meeting schedules, etc. so I could actually take off a few extra days to focus on entertaining out of town family, wedding prep details, etc.

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I’ve been a marketing and customer communication consultant full time since February 1999. Around March 2001, I redid my website, and that website remained in place, pretty much in the same format, until October 2009. I cringe as I write that. It’s not that the site was horrible, but it was sadly out of date. Instead of practicing what I preached, I fell into a doctor’s “do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do” syndrome — advising clients to do things that I was ignoring in my own business.
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Are you feeling overwhelmed by the need to make improvements in your business, yet you can’t seem to find the time to do so?

Have you lost some of the fun you once felt from having your own business?

And do you sometimes feel the need to have a team of peers to bounce ideas off?

If so, you may be perfect for the next session of WIC’s Mentoring Program, planned for this fall.
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There are dozens of options for creating additional branded materials. But, before you run off and pour thousands of dollars into designing everything you might need, consider this list of 4 of the most effective brand kit additions for consultants:

1. A mailing label. Make your mail look more professional with simple Avery labels. Design full pages of them in Microsoft Word and then print a page or two at a time, as needed. You won’t have to pay for envelopes, and changing your address won’t mean throwing a lot of labels out.
2. A presentation folder. If you make a lot of presentations, or mail out information or proposals, then a presentation folder can help make a solid impression. Custom-printing a whole folder can be costly, and the minimum orders are typically high (500 folders). Invest less by finding a colored presentation folder, with a heavy paper weight, at an office supply store or paper warehouse. You can also order them online at a retailer like http://www.blank-folders.com/
3. A thank-you card or general-purpose blank card. Correspond with your clients, thank referral sources and keep the conversation open by sending cards. People still open hand-addressed mail, and the extra effort of sending a real card will be appreciated.
4. A PowerPoint template. If you give talks, host webinars or present proposals in PowerPoint, custom-branding your template extends your brand and shows that you’re not like everyone else in your field.

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The speaker at WIC’s June General Meeting is M.J. Ryan, successful business woman, change management expert, thought leader, and New York Times best-selling author of many books including “This Year I Will…” and her latest, AdaptAbility. We at WIC are twitching in our shoes at the prospect of M.J. Ryan speaking to our group. In Barbara Walters’ lexicon, M.J. is “the big GET” and we’re honored to host her. Read the rest of this entry »

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MJ Ryan, the famed author of AdaptAbility, This Year I Will…, Attitudes of Gratitude among other best selling titles is speaking at our main meeting. She is the queen of “change”, allowing yourself to take those steps to make yourself a better person, better business person, or take your life to the next level. You have been asking for highly touted authors and this month gives you the chance to meet this wonderful woman in person. Come join us at the main monthly meeting this month.
Register Here

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How do you design a marketing kit that will make you look professional in your meetings, but not break the bank?

Here are the basics you’ll need:

1. Design a logo. This should be a text logo at the very least – designed in an interesting font whose meaning is tied into your business’s personality. A logo with a graphic and text is best!
2. You’ll need a business card. This is an essential tool for client meetings, networking and marking other opportunities. Who knows when you’ll need to give away a card?
3. A Microsoft Word letterhead. You should design a document header with your logo and contact information. This element can also be imported into Quickbooks to brand your invoices. Keeping it digital cuts costs and allows you to email PDF attachments that are branded as well.
4. A blog or website. A Wordpress blog can be more affordable to design – especially if you base your design off of a template like Thesis. And, you’ll be able to add to it and maintain it yourself. You’ll have more control over the design of a standard website. Ask your designer which option will best fit your needs and budget.

That’s it for a perfect “basic” brand kit. Watch this blog for my next post, on a few additional options you can add to your arsenal.

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Why do people volunteer? Simply because they love the work, and are passionate about an organization. People volunteer because they want to make a difference in their community, their world, and they want to help others succeed. Volunteering makes people feel good, it balances their work and personal life, and feeds that creative part of the soul.

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If you have a Facebook page for your business, you might want to consider adding a landing tab.  A landing tab is a tab people land on if they have not “Liked” your page yet. 

Most often, businesses use these as “Welcome” tabs.  The intent is to give people more information about the business and what they will find on the Facebook page with the goal of an increased conversion rate to “Like”.  A recent BrandGlue study found a 47% conversion rate to “Like” with a landing tab vs. a 23% conversion rate without a landing tab.

Here are some examples of “Welcome” tabs.  Note that most ask the visitor to “Like” the page, offer some information about the business and the Facebook page, and many have short videos.

Texto Graphic Design – The landing tab for WIC member Gabriela Martinez’ Facebook page.

Social Media Examiner  and EzineArticles – These are straight forward with simple messaging and videos.

Mari Smith – Tab of the Facebook guru Mari Smith.  With the primary objective of an increased conversion rate, her tab includes a video, letter about herself and her page, and more.

Businesses are using landing tabs in other creative ways as well..

Diet Coke has a simple and inviting entry way.

Dunkin Donuts and Papa Johns are promoting contests.

Threadless and Carters are selling products on their landing tabs.

Starbucks and Dominos are promoting Rewards programs.

And still other businesses use this tab as a social media hub.  See Carnival’s “Carnival” tab complete with email opt-in, videos, Twitter opt-in, photos, polls, and more.

WIC is in the process of creating a landing tab for our Facebook page.  Stay tuned for the launch soon.

Does your consultancy or small business have a Facebook landing tab? If so, share the link here.  Of if you have any favorites, share those too!

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If you’re like most consultants, you cross items off your to-do list every day. But have you stopped to consider that you might be too efficient for your own good? Have you ever thought that the to-do list is a trap that lulls you into believing that you’re productive when you’re really just doing busy work?
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