Whether you are new in business or someone that has been around the block a few times, you have probably been at this stage before: “The gatherer” . As solopreneurs we are thirsty for the latest thing that can help us with our business. The problem is that we become “gatherers” of information instead of action takers in our business. The world wide web is an amazing resource, but if you are not careful, it can also paralyze you stop you from taking action.Here are 3 steps to overcome information overload:

1. Give yourself time to focus or refocus your most recent goal. So figure out what you are doing online and what you are searching for. Once you have a focus, eg. “How can I  get more leads via social media” or “how do I improve my sales copy”. These are both very specific focuses. You then have a purpose to your wandering when you are online.

2. Develop a plan. Having a plan of attack is the best way to make sure you are not trying to absorb everything.  Perhaps it is to find a few or even just one guru to follow on the specific focus is a great way to start. When you have someone that you resonate with, you are more easily able to iron out a “plan of attack or a roadmap” of how you are going to reach your goals.

When I first decided to get into coaching, I knew I wanted to master the “business of coach” as well as the “art of coaching”… I searched on the internet and connected to Kendall Summerhawk who is a master at not just transforming women coaches’ lives, but she also knows how to create massive wealth doing so. So, develop a plan so that you aren’t wasting your time dancing around.

3.Get into Action. Quit being a collector of great information. It is time to now leave the nest and start trying out what you have learned. Some of it will work and some of it won’t, but you won’t know this until you try. Holding yourself accountable to at least follow through on what you are learned is the key to make sure it isn’t just information overload that paralyze you. You can continue to do what is working or tweak what isn’t when you are on the ground testing out the knowledge.

Let’s face it, the internet is NOT going away any time soon! People arevgetting more and more comfortable building relationships and doing business online. A simple way to build relationships with others online is to make sure you set up your Gravatar.

What is a Gravatar?

A Gravatar is a globally recognized avatar of yourself or company logo that you use to brand yourself. Most blogs are now wordpress based. When you comment on blogs, you will see that some people have their pictures beside their comments and others have that blue symbol like the one I have in this article.

Why use a Gravatar?

Now, the picture is of course important, but more importantly is what happens when the reader clicks your picture.  If the blog reader (or comment reader ) liked what you said, they will click on your image and it will lead them to your blog. It is a great way to get back-links onto your site (great for traffic and great for google!).

How to set up a gravatar?

I would highly suggest you use your face vs. a logo. This is of course is a personal choice… however, here is my opinion: No matter how big you want your company to appear, people still connect with people. So, let’s see those pearly whites!

1.To Set up your FREE gravatar go to : Gravatar Account

2. Create a free account by entering a password and email address. Make sure you enter the same email address as you use when you comment on blogs. That way, your photo will pop up once you have posted your comments.

That’s it … simple but key to making a connection. Looking forward to seeing you !

What I learned from hosting a Telesummit. About a month ago, I interviewed 7 speakers at the first ever Gift of Fear Solopreneur Telesummit. Here are some of the lessons I learned from that experience:

1. Your team is everything.
Without my amazing team I don’t know if I would have been able to pull it off. A few weeks prior to the telesummit my son had a series of medical tests and my time always goes to my family first.  Furthermore, I had no idea all the “moving pieces” there would be in organizing an event like this. I realize now the value of a Virtual Event Organizer (Google Leesa Barnes if you are looking for one!). My own virtual team stepped up with all their different strengths and managed to pull it all together for me.

2. Joint Venture opportunities are everywhere.
Prior to this event, I never even imagined that I would be Joint Venturing with any of the speakers. In fact, I remember being quite afraid to call some of them as I felt like they were “too big” to want to do an interview with me.

Not only was I pleasantly surprised at their responses, I am now in the process of Joint Venturing to come up with an amazing coaching program to help reach more people with both my gift and the gifts of a few of the experts.  I’ll keep you posted!

3. You can’t please everyone.
On the day of the event, I posted an email out to the subscribers to let them know of the upcoming speaker about 10mins prior to the call. I did this to be of service to the people that signed up. In the past, I have signed up for a call, but my day gets too busy and I forget about hopping onto the call. I have been very appreciative of the times that I have received a reminder email with the link or call-in information.

Well, on the last day of the telesummit, I got an email from a woman that said that an email every hour was too much (4 had been sent to her that day for the 4 calls). I replied quickly between interviews and apologized (as we do) and began to wonder what everyone else thought too.  To be completely transparent here, her email made me question what I was doing and I began to have one of those running conversations in my head.

However, she emailed back that night saying that she understood, but I was still a little frazzled about her first email.  Then about a day later, I got an email from a woman that said she really enjoyed the interviews and she really appreciated my organized follow-ups to remind her of when the calls were.

BINGO! Major AH-HA! The Ah-ha wasn’t that I was right and the lady from a few days ago was wrong. She was definitely entitled to voice her frustration with my follow-ups. It was that I can’t please everyone all the time, and that if I always come from a place of service and my intention is to serve, then I will be closer to my goal of reaching as many people as possible… and also be always in integrity and authentic. So thank you for that lesson.

4. Get a good phone.
After listening to the recordings I realized that I definitely need a new phone. I purchased what I thought was a fairly high end $200 phone as I knew I would be doing more teleseminars.

However, after listening to the recordings, I realized that the static was horrible and the quality was compromised. With a bit of research, I purchased a phone amplifier and headset so that future teleseminars and calls will have much better quality.  Luckily the content was so great!

5. Social Media Works!
I did around the clock promotion on Twitter about a week before the telesummit. About 40% of the sign ups happened a few day before the event. But what was most interesting was that I also increased my followers on Twitter substantially because of my activity on Twitter. In all my future campaigns, I will make sure that Twitter plays a much larger role in the launching of my events.

Hopefully some of those lessons I learned will be useful for you.  I LOVED the telesummit business model of connecting to my niche and getting to interview all these fabulous speakers. It is definitely something I teach my clients, as it is a great way to leverage your time and talent. Feel free to ask me any more questions:

With Love, Gratitude and Abundance,

Shauna Harper – Your Abundance Business Coach
Money and Marketing Business Coaching
“Sparking Contagious Energy and Action in Your Business”

PS. Don’t forget that if you are looking for other leveraged business models to increase your income and free time, make sure you seriously consider the “Leverage You” mastermind program. It starts in less than a month. Don’t wait… as the Jump Start bonus of $500 off ends this friday get your application in even if you are just considering it. We will have a chat and see if there is a true fit.

The times are changing, are you? Transparency in your business and in your life allows you to connect more authentically with your clients. Social Media is turning the tables with the way we connect online. At the same time, I think the transition from real world to social media has people often confused. Here are 5 key things you should know about social media to get more customers

1. Larger number of followers or “Likers” does not equal more sales.
“Connecting” is still key… there is a big myth out there that more is better and that larger number of Fans (on FB) or Followers (on Twitter) is better.

But the key is still that you want qualified leads that are either within your niche OR that are raving fans of what you sell and can connect you to a lot of people in your niche. At the end of the day it is still more valuable to have fewer fans that absolutely love what you sell than thousands of people that will never buy from you or don’t rave about what you do to their friends.

2. The grassroots of marketing still are King…Connect, connect, connect!
This is really a continuation of number 1. Social media is just a tool to get people to “know, like and trust” you. It definitely expedites this process because of the transparency (see #3) you find online, but at the end of the day, you need to reach out and have conversations with your list and see how you can be of service. This is called connecting.’

Through social media you are able to see what interests or hobbies your fans/followers may have and connect versus just a blatant sales pitch. Essentially you are able to “speak their language”.

3. Being real and transparent will go a long way.
You may be noticing a trend here! Everything is building on the next thing. Connecting with your clients requires you to be more of who you are and be transparent.

The Apple vs PC Computer ads are a perfect example of the changing times. People are no longer looking for the stuffy big corporation or the hands off approach. Customers are looking for people that are real, personable and human.

Finding your authentic voice is the only brand you should have in your business. It is the best way to guarantee your uniqueness and attract the clients who are meant to work with you.

4. Being online doesn’t give you the right to be a pushy sales person.
Please read that again! There is a fine line that is often crossed in social media. As soon as some one friend’s you, they are on your page posting what they are selling or directing you to a sales page via a direct message.

This would be similar to walking into a store and the minute you smile at sales person they say, “Do you want to buy my …fill in the blank!”… GROSS! That just doesn’t happen! They usually say, “How’s your day going, the weather is quite nice eh?” (if they are Canadian! ).

And from there they would let you browse around the store (your site/page) and then get into conversation with you to see how they can be of service. There should be no difference online. You need to build rapport with your fans and followers and have them find that what you have to say is of value to them before you begin your sales process.

5. Make sure you still give customers a way to buy from you or get more of you.
Now, I know this sounds like it is completely opposite to #4, but it actually goes hand in hand. I see so many people on social media not give enough ways for people to buy from them.

Business is still about making money and you can only transform people’s lives and make money doing that when you make them an offer and let them know that something is for sale.

One of the biggest mistake is that solopreneurs assume that having their website listed in the info tab is enough to get people to buy. You need to make it easier than this my friends!!!

You can have welcome tabs that offer free gifts that would attract your target market so they don’t have to make another connection to your website. Every marketing campaign that you roll out should have tweets and fb posts with direct links to whatever you are trying to sell.

This gives people a way to actual buy what you are talking about if they are interested in what you wrote. Directing them to your general home page of your site will not get them buying if they have search your website to find what you are talking about.

Social media is constantly evolving and changing as the general population gets wiser and more real online. If you have made any of the mistakes up there, don’t beat yourself up over it. The reason I know they are mistakes is because I made them too .

It’s time to pick yourself up and start again now. That is the beauty of social media, you are able to connect with literally billions of people out there if you choose. The most current social media techniques is always a KEY part of all my coaching programs as it is essential in building a leveraged business model. Let me know how I can help.

With Love, Gratitude and Abundance,

Shauna Harper – Your Abundance Business Coach
Money and Marketing Business Coaching
“Sparking Contagious Energy and Action in Your Business”

PS. I’ll be sharing some key obstacles that are holding people back and other strategies that you can implement in your business today on June 15, 2010 at my Free Teleseminar on “How to Save 2010 and Live your BIG Purpose”.  I hope you will join me. Click here to register your spot today

Growing your network is the fastest way to grow your business. In good and bad times, it is who you know more than what you know that grows your business.

If you are just showing up at networking meetings, losing hours on social media or calling your friends for support and wondering why your business still isn’t growing like you had hoped, then you definitely want to continue reading this article on 3 Ways to REALLY Grow Your Business Through Networks.

1. Network Groups – It is easy to join a network group in your community. However, what you want instead of just a list of business cards and phone numbers is a way to truly and authentically connect with people in business.

A network group is something everyone has access to no matter how big or small your city maybe.  However, in order to really take the relationship to the next level and actually see impact or growth in your business, you need to build on the initial connection made at the network group. This needs to start small with one person at a time. Going for coffee or making a phone call to meet up at another time is the best way to do this. To develop honest business relationships, you must always come from a place of service not sales.  How can you help this person? What can you offer them in their business? Why would they see you as a valuable asset? The approach you want to avoid is the “I wonder if this person will want to buy my product or service”.

Often times, some of our best clients are not directly from our marketing or advertising but from word of mouth of friends and colleagues that champion our products or services. By coming from a place of service when you go to networking groups, you begin to develop lasting and authentic business relationships.

2. Social Media Networking – A term that I first heard from my social media mentor is to “Think UP” in your business. Through social media, we are exposed to a vast number of people in many different kinds of businesses and interest. Instead of looking at connecting directly to one customer at a time that you think fits your perfect “target market”, look to connect with connectors. These are people who are already connected to many people online.  Use your energy to think of creative ways to develop a relationship with them.

Building relationships on Social media is all about “social proofing” to expedite the “know, like and trust you” factor. Social proofing is when some one you trust recommends something to you… your chances are trying this new service or product is going to increase dramatically. So “Think Up” in your business and connect with the connectors to promote and social proof who you are and what you do.

3. Business Mastermind – Join a business mastermind that is going to challenge you. One of the fastest ways to expedite growth that I have found is through the high-end Mastermind Groups I am a part of. There is a well-known theory out there that your life, business and income usually is the average of the 5 closest people to you.

Business Masterminds have been key to pulling me forward in my business and expanding my world of possibility.  Who are the people you mastermind with? Who holds you accountable to do what you say you are going to do? How are you looking at your business to leverage the way you do things and create wealth in an exponential way?

Join a Business Mastermind and show the universe you are ready to play bigger in your life and business…. and that you are ready to create the business of your dreams and the wealth that your deserve.

Definitely join me on June 15th, 2010 at 5pm Pacific if you wan to turn 2010 into your best year yet.  On this complimentary call, I will share with you 2 Roadblocks that are holding back most solopreneurs in reaching their financial goals, 3 strategies on how to transform your business, and also how to shift from overwhelm to joy with  2 simple steps.  Register for this free call at: http://www.tinyurl.com/save2010

Looking forward to “seeing” you there.

With Love, Gratitude and Abundance,

Shauna Harper – Your Abundance Business Coach
Money and Marketing Business Coaching
“Sparking Contagious Energy and Action in Your Business”

PS. Even if you can’t be on the call, register and you will be sent a link once the event is over. Register here.

The purpose of building your list is so that you can do less work, make more money and reach more people with your gift.  Building a leveraged business means focusing some time on growing your list so that it can begin to work for you.

You could roll out a great campaign or be marketing your next project until the cows come home, but you still need an audience of people.  The bottom line is that you cannot leverage a list you don’t have.  So from the beginning, I love to brainstorm ways my clients can build their list and grow their following.

There are 3 simple strategies that can be used by any kind of business.

Write Articles. By writing articles about what you know/teach or on topics around products you sell, you begin to get recognized as an expert. Furthermore, when you select the right keywords that are highly searched in your niche, you begin to direct traffic and leads to your site. Once you have these articles, finding article websites, like Ezine Article, is the best way to drive traffic to your site.

Free Taste on your site. One way to get people to sign up for your list is to give them a reason to give you their coveted email address and name.  Before you could offer just a “free” newsletter… but that is just not enough these days. You need to step-it-up a bit and offer either an audio recording or perhaps a report or even a special quiz that your target market will be interested in. So figure out the problem you solve for your niche and give them a product they can’t refuse when they land on your site.

Newsletter. Once you have them on your list, you want to make sure you provide content and value. Regardless of whether you are promoting something to your list, you should be in contact with them. Be careful not to ONLY contact your list when you have something to sell. You want to be in conversation with your list on a regular basis, providing them with content and value.  I usually suggest to my clients to be in touch with their list at least twice a month. Once a week is best, but at least twice a month so that your list recognizes your name and what problem you solve.

Like all of the listbuilding strategies I teach, these ones are not costly or difficult to implement. It is just a matter of scheduling the time to incorporate it into your weekly day timer. Don’t let being disorganized or being overwhelmed stop you from leveraging one of the highest commodities of your business, your list.

With Love, Gratitude and Abundance,

Shauna Harper – Your Abundance Business Coach
Money and Marketing Business Coaching
“Sparking Contagious Energy and Action in Your Business”

PS. If you are not thinking about building a list because you are so overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done….then you definitely don’t want to miss my “Fear of Overwhelm” interview with Linda Chu on June 3, 2010 at the Gift of Fear Telesummit. Sign up for your  FREE Spot www.solopreneurtelesummit.com

“Successful companies in social media act more like Dale Carnegie. They listen first and sell second.”  As a business coach constantly trying to figure ways to leverage the way I build my business, mastering social media has become one of my latest obsessions.

I can’t help but want to scream from the rooftops to all my clients that social media is NOT a FAD… it is here to stay. The more I learn about social media the more I realize that businesses that ignore social media as a key team player in their business, the more they are holding their business back.

I recently signed up for a course with @LinsdayWilson. I love how she shines a light on the obstacle that stops most people from using social media in their business to a level where it generates sales. She says, “Social Media is a Sales Tool. It is NOT a technology you must learn. It is an opportunity to be immediately connected with the people who need you internationally”.

So if you are sitting on the fence about really using social media to its fullest in your business, you need to check out another video from Socialnomics and also join me as I interview @LindsayWilson at the Gift of Fear Telesummit  June 1-3, 2010. Reserve your free spot today! www.solopreneurtelesummit.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

With Love, Gratitude and Abundance,

Shauna Harper – Your Abundance Business Coach
Money and Marketing Business Coaching
“Sparking Contagious Energy and Action in Your Business”

Last Wednesday I did a speech at my local Enterprising Moms Network Chapter meeting. I spoke about the importance of social media in EVERYONE’s business.  Well, today I stumbled upon a video (via social media …youtube!) that will have you  jumping off the fence if you are still on it about Social Media and what it can do for your business. Check out this 4.5min video here and be amazed at the current stats!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Times are changing fast, are you willing to change with it to grow your business and take it to the next level? The choice is yours!  To have a business create more “moments” for you to laugh, love and live… you need to have it at a level where your business provides you with the life that you deserve and desire. Connecting with your customers via Social media can help you to that.

With Love, Gratitude and Success,

Shauna Harper
The Serial Entrepreneur

Before you write your articles or blog posts (or perhaps you are trying to figure out keywords for your product based website), you want to make sure that the keywords or key phrases are being search each month by other people on the world wide web.  There is no point in writing an article when no one else is searching what you are writing about. 

Firstly, I will show you how to choose a keyword, and then how to check the competition of that keyword so that you have a good chance of hitting the first 1 or 2 pages of Google.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As most of you know, Google is the largest search engine out there. They essentially own the internet and make up the rules. You could see this as a bad thing… or a good thing.  I like to see it as a good thing. There is one giant player and when you learn to play the game the way they like it… You can win some points and do well. 

I have put together a video to help those of you with Blogs or websites to get what I call, more “Google Love”. This video specifically references how to get Google to find you when you have a blog. If you have just a website, you can go through the same steps, except for when you go to place the code, you need to do it to your front page. Your website designer should be able to help you put that in place as well. It is honestly a MUST … there is no use having a site that doesn’t get indexed with Google.  Google SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is like having your business in the yellow pages. Imagine not having your business in the Yellow Pages.

Anyway, watch the video and let me know your thoughts:

Click here to view the embedded video.