 How Raising Your Vibrations Can Help You Achieve More Success Hello, beautiful Badasses! Jeawls here, and today I want to dive into a topic that is close to my heart and fundamental to your journey towards unparalleled success: raising your vibrations. You might have heard the phrase "raising your vibrations" floating around in the wellness and self-development spaces, but what does it really mean, and how can it tangibly impact your life and business? Let’s explore this transformational concept together. Understanding Vibrations At its core, everything in our universe is energy, vibrating at different frequencies. This includes your thoughts, emotions, and even the words you speak. High vibrations are associated with feelings of love, joy, peace, and gratitude, while low vibrations correspond to fear, anger, jealousy, and sadness. When you consciously elevate your vibrational frequency, you align yourself with the energy of success and abundance. The Science Behind Vibrations I know some of you might be thinking, "This sounds a bit woo-woo, Jeawls." But stick with me! There’s actual science behind this. I love it when science plays into my nerdy birth world. Quantum physics tells us that everything is energy, and this energy vibrates at specific frequencies. When you are in a high vibrational state, you attract similar high-frequency energy. It’s the law of attraction in action. All those thing you are desiring are vibrating at a higher frequency, and so in order to attract them into our lives we must vibrate at a higher frequency too! How High Vibrations Lead to Success 1. **Enhanced Creativity and Problem-Solving** When you operate at a high vibrational frequency, your mind is clearer, more focused, and more creative. You are better equipped to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to challenges. This creative flow is essential for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone looking to make a significant impact. 2. **Increased Confidence and Self-Belief** High vibrations are directly linked to positive emotions and self-perception. When you feel good about yourself, your confidence soars. This increased self-belief empowers you to take bold steps, pursue ambitious goals, and stand firm in your worth. Remember, confidence is contagious and attracts opportunities. 3. **Attracting Abundance and Opportunities** Like attracts like. When you vibrate at a high frequency, you naturally attract people, situations, and opportunities that resonate with that energy. Think of it as being a magnet for success. High vibrational energy draws in abundance, be it financial prosperity, career advancements, or personal growth. 4. **Strengthened Relationships and Network** Your energy influences how you connect with others. High vibrations foster positive interactions and deep, meaningful relationships. Whether it’s in your personal life or professional network, raising your vibrations helps you build stronger, more supportive connections that can open doors to new possibilities. 5. **Improved Health and Well-Being** Success isn’t just about professional achievements; it’s also about maintaining a healthy mind and body. High vibrational living encourages habits that promote physical and mental well-being, such as mindfulness, exercise, and a balanced diet. When you feel good physically and emotionally, your capacity to achieve success expands exponentially. Practical Tips to Raise Your Vibrations Now that we understand the power of high vibrations, let’s talk about how to elevate your energy: 1. **Practice Gratitude** Start each day by listing things you’re grateful for. Gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to the abundance that already exists in your life, raising your vibrational frequency. Keep it simple. 3 things you are grateful for. Big or small. 2. **Meditate Daily** Meditation helps you connect with your inner self, reduce stress, and elevate your mood. Even a few minutes a day can make a significant difference. This is another one that does not have to be complicated. Spend a few moments visualizing what it is you desire right now. Feel how you would feel if you had already achieved it. Would you feel happy? Accomplished? Free? 3. **Surround Yourself with Positivity** Choose to be around people who uplift and inspire you. Your environment has a profound impact on your energy levels. Listen to a powerful podcast or inspirational book. It can be so hard to move out all the negative shit when you have other people around you constantly throwing their negative shit in your space. 4. **Engage in Physical Activity** Exercise releases endorphins, which naturally boost your mood and vibration. Find a physical activity you enjoy and make it a regular part of your routine. Housework counts too ;) Movement is a fantastic way to change your vibrational state. Turn the music on and shake that thing. It will do wonders. 5. **Consume High-Vibrational Foods** Eat fresh, organic, and nutrient-rich foods. What you put into your body affects your energy levels, so choose foods that nourish your soul. Send love and positivity into the food you prepare. Preparing food while you are in a negative state can infuse it with negative energy. 6. **Speak and Think Positively** Your words and thoughts are powerful. Practice affirmations and positive self-talk to maintain a high vibrational state. "I am a Badass" "I am enough" "I can feel myself making progress towards my goals everyday" 7. **Connect with Nature** Spending time in nature helps ground your energy and raise your vibrations. Take regular breaks to enjoy the outdoors, breathe in fresh air, and soak in the natural beauty around you. Final Thoughts Raising your vibrations is not just a feel-good practice; it’s a strategic approach to achieving greater success in all areas of your life. By consciously elevating your energy, you align yourself with the highest possibilities and unlock the door to unlimited potential. Remember, the journey to success is as much about inner transformation as it is about external achievements. Here’s to your vibrational rise and the extraordinary success that follows! With Passion & Power, Jeawls Follow us on IG for more inspiration or Book a Discovery Call with our Team to see if we can help you transform your Badass Birth Business
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2/1/2024 Crafting an Elite Access Policy: Elevating Your Birth Business by Attracting Dream ClientsRead Now Elevating Your Birth Business by Attracting Dream Clients In the realm of birthing services, the journey towards success often involves not just providing exceptional care, but also cultivating a community of clients who align with your values, vision, and approach. While many businesses opt for a broad client base, there’s a compelling case to be made for creating an Elite Access Policy (EAP) tailored to your dream clients. In this blog, we delve into the intricacies of such an approach and how it can elevate your birth business to new heights. Understanding the EAP Concept An EAP approach to your services fundamentally shifts the dynamic of client-provider relationships. Instead of casting a wide net, you're intentionally narrowing your focus to attract a select group of individuals who resonate deeply with your ethos. This approach isn't about exclusivity for its own sake; rather, it's about fostering a sense of belonging and shared values among your dream clientele. The first step to this is getting crystal clear on who your perfect ideal clients are. (which we will talk a bit more about later) This doesn’t mean that each one themselves will be perfect, but they will check all the boxes of your exclusive membership guidelines. You must select those who allow you to do your best work. Clients who energize and inspire you. We are going to go over how you can identify the characteristics of what your exclusive membership guidelines entail. You then take those guidelines to screen potential clients and only take on clients who fit within them. The Power of Selectivity You are the sum of those you spend the most time with. Those you choose to have in your personal life and your business life will impact you in many ways you may not even recognize. The best version of yourself requires you to believe in yourself more than anyone else. If you are surrounded by clients, who, when they call you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, you carry that with you. If you have clients who do not value what you are doing, it will impact the value you have of yourself and not allow you to serve your clients to the best of your ability. You must choose who you work with, with considerable consideration. If you are truly in this business to make it sustainable, you must pave the way to continue having passion and momentum driving you. You cannot keep momentum if you take clients who do not allow you to be the best version of yourself. Selectivity in clientele isn't about elitism; it's about alignment. By handpicking clients who align with your philosophy, you create a harmonious environment where both parties are invested in the journey. This selectivity allows you to tailor your services more effectively, leading to greater client satisfaction and better outcomes. Benefits for Clients For clients, being part of an EAP in your birth business offers a multitude of benefits:
Benefits for Your Business From a business perspective, curating a select clientele brings its own set of advantages:
Cultivating Your Dream Clientele Creating an EAP begins with a clear understanding of your ideal client profile. Consider the following steps:
Keep Them or Refer Them For some of you, certain clients have already popped up in your mind when thinking of the not so ideal clients. You have a decision to make. You can continue your services with them or you can refer them to another birth worker who would be a better fit. Referring not so ideal clients may sound counterintuitive in a to getting more clients, but we already talked about the effects these types of clients have on us and our work. I am not talking about needy, nervous clients. I am talking about the clients who you feel exhausted after talking with, the ones who you see their name on your caller I.D. and your immediate thought is that you don’t want to answer it. It also includes anyone who talks down to you, or demeans you in anyway. Occasionally you will come across someone who believes that since they have hired you, they can speak to you and treat you however they see fit. I am sure there are tons of reasons why you may be defending keeping all clients. The thought of saying no or referring a client is likely a scary situation. This is a situation to think about for a while. Word of mouth is very powerful. If a client feels abandoned in this process it could hurt your reputation as well as their experience. This advice is not put out there to cause anyone any harm. It is given from a place of love. Sacrificing yourself and your ability to give your best is not the way to run a sustainable business. You have to ask yourself, “Would I rather have a client who makes me excited to work with them, allows me to show up as the best version of myself and makes me proud to be able to offer amazing services or spend hours on end with a client who I have to tolerate, who makes me feel less, and who takes away bits of my passion for this work?” Conclusion In the competitive landscape of birthing services, differentiation is key. By creating an EAP tailored to your dream clients, you not only elevate the level of care and support you provide but also lay the foundation for long-term success. Through selectivity, personalization, and a shared sense of community, you can cultivate a thriving business that resonates deeply with both you and your clients. Like what you read? Sign up for our weekly newsletter below, or grab our latest Badass Business Freebie.  Hey there, badass doulas! You're the unsung heroes who ride the waves of childbirth, making it look like a piece of cake. But let's be real, even the most badass doula needs a bit of Zen in their toolkit. In this blog post, we're going to dive into how mindfulness can transform you into the doula superhero who not only stays cool but rocks births like a pro. Get ready for some mindfulness magic with a side of badassery! The Essence of Mindfulness for Doula In the world of doula badassery, staying cool under pressure is your signature move. So, what's the secret sauce to your zen-like composure? It's mindfulness, of course. The Mindful Doula - What Is Mindfulness Mindfulness is like your secret weapon – it's all about being in the moment, no judgment, no distractions. It's you, your clients, and the incredible journey of childbirth, all in perfect harmony. Think of it as your ultimate badass tool to stay focused, composed, and ready for whatever curveballs the birthing universe throws your way.
The Power of Presence Presence is your doula superpower. Being fully there for your clients allows you to connect on a level that mere mortals can only dream of. You're not just a doula; you're a doula superhero, offering unwavering support and an unwavering presence. Mindful Practices for Doulas So, how do you unlock your inner doula zen-master? Embrace mindful practices, like meditation, deep breathing, body scans, and mindful strolls. These are your secret weapons, helping you stay centered, kick stress to the curb, and be the badass doula rockstar that you were born to be. Reducing Stress and Burnout Even badass doula superheroes need a breather. Mindfulness is your trusty sidekick in the battle against stress and burnout. By practicing mindfulness, you keep your emotional cape fluttering in the birthing breeze. Enhancing Client Support Mindfulness doesn't just benefit you; it's a gift to your clients. Picture this: a calm, centered doula who creates a soothing atmosphere during labor and birth. With your newfound mindfulness powers, you help your clients ride the birthing rollercoaster with style and grace. Mindfulness Techniques During Labor It's showtime! Mindfulness techniques like guided imagery, breathing exercises, and meditation are your secret weapons during labor. They empower your clients to stay zen, conquer pain, and embrace their birth experience like the birthing warriors they are. Self-Care for Doulas In the world of doula badassery, self-care isn't just recommended; it's your sacred duty. Mindfulness practices are the backbone of your self-care routine. They recharge your doula batteries, ensuring you remain a beacon of support for your clients. Building Mindfulness into Your Doula Practice Practicality is your middle name. To weave mindfulness into your doula life, set aside time for personal practice, attend mindfulness workshops, or join a community of like-minded doula superheroes. Mindfulness becomes your trusty sidekick, helping you face each birth like the badass doula you are. Conclusion: Zen Doulas, Unite! In the world of doula badassery, mindfulness is your secret weapon. It transforms you into the doula superhero who thrives on being present, cool, and collected in the midst of the beautiful chaos of childbirth. So, let's make a pact, fellow badass doulas - embrace mindfulness, become the calm in the storm, and continue to rock the world of birthing like the badass doula warriors we are. You've got this, and you've got mindfulness by your side!  Many birth businesses struggle with understanding the ins and outs of finances in their practice, and often don’t know if they’ve made any money until the end of the year. Sometimes, they discover they haven’t actually made any money once they account for their expenses. The good news is, it is not too late to learn how to always have a profitable business. The majority of birth businesses fail because of poor cash flow management or burnout (but that’s a whole different blog). That’s a stressful environment to be in, but it doesn’t have to be. Here at BABES, one of our core missions is to help you create sustainable business practices. A great tool to implement in your birth business today is called The Profit First strategy. It comes from the best selling book, Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, which teaches business owners how to “transform any business from a cash-eating monster to a money-making machine.” This article will provide a summary of The Profit First strategy to help you:
Traditional Profit Calculations According to business literature including my own business degree education, profits are what is left over after subtracting business expenses from your income (revenue). Sales – Expenses = Profit While it is true that this is a formula for calculating profits, it is not a method that guarantees you will have a positive number for your profit. Profit First Formula The Profit First formula flips the equation, doing exactly what the name entails putting the focus on profits before expenses. Sales – Profit = Expenses You might be thinking how this really makes a difference, but what Michalowicz is trying to highlight is more psychological than anything: you have to approach your business thinking profit first, not profit last. The Profit First Strategy The premise of the strategy is to build a system for your business that is sustainable and creates long term success. The first thing is to account for your business profit, your taxes, and your own pay. What is left over is what you have to spend on everything else. Many people approach expenses (marketing, website, rent) as just part of the business. They often think of it in terms of things that can be avoided, delayed, eliminated, or just plain unavoidable. This strategy teaches you to discipline yourself and your business finances so they are broken down into categories with only a set amount allotted for expenses. This way you force yourself to spend wisely and really focus on expenses that are most important. For those of you already in business this can be a radical change from how you have been doing things. You might have to hold off on some purchases in the short run in order to set yourself for long term success. This approach gives you the opportunity to grow your income and profits, so you will have the resources to invest back into your business without creating that same situation that causes most businesses to fail. If you put everything you have back into your business you risk not being able to sustain your business the way you want to or worse not being able to sustain your business at all. How to Start Your Profit First Strategy in 5 easy Steps 1. Get your Accounts in Order The first step is to break down how your bank account works. This means creating multiple smaller accounts within your existing bank account. If you don’t already have a sperate business bank account you will want to get one. This will require an EIN (Employee Identification Number) and your business registration. You want to have 5 different accounts that are based on your core business functions:
When opening bank accounts for your Profit First business, you should open three checking accounts for Income, Owners Compensation, and Operating Expenses. Two saving accounts for Profit and Tax. 2. Profit First CAPS & TAPS After creating your separate accounts you will have to decide two different percentages. Current Allocation Percentages (CAPS) and the Target Allocation Percentages (TAPS). You will use these percentages to determine how to distribute your income into the different accounts. Proceeds from sales should be deposited into your main Income account then distributed into your other accounts based on the percentages you’ve allotted for each destination. CAPS This is where your business is at right now. What does your income and expenses look like day-to-day in its current format. TAPS This is where you want your business to be; these are the ideal percentages you’re working towards hitting. The goal is to gradually move from your CAPS to your TAPS. This is not an overnight kind of deal. It may take months or even a year, but that is why it is a process. You can’t work towards your goals until you know what they are and know where you are starting from. If the suggested 5% profit is too much then bump it down to 1% to start with. 1% is still a profitable business. The following table is an example of different revenue-dependent scenarios.  3.Transfer Funds
When you get income it should go directly into your main account. Select a time that works with your business on when to distribute funds. How often this happens is completely up to you, though it is recommended to distribute on the 10th and 25th of each month. Some businesses do this process weekly or bi-weekly. 4.Make Payments Use your separate accounts for their intended purpose. Avoid moving funds around in the accounts to meet expense needs.
As Michalowicz says in his book, “Owner’s compensation is the money you get paid for working in your business; profit is the reward you get for owning it.” 5.Review At the end of each quarter, review your process and how it is working in your business. Adjust as needed. It is as simple as that. Change your mindset, change your life (and business). We teach this strategy and so many other topics to ensure sustainability in your birth business in our BABES Business Academy.  10 distracting time sucks and how to avoid themDo you ever find yourself setting your weekly goals with gusto, your so proud of all the things you are going to get done and then Friday rolls around and you have barely made a dent? Where did all my time go? Don’t worry we have all been there. Time is the only thing we have a finite amount of and you cannot wave your wand to add more time in your life. Getting to the bottom of your time sucks and crazy ways we sometimes waste our time you might start rethinking how you spend your time. Top Time Sucking Distractions From workplace distractions to everyday distractions we are bombarded every day all day long. Most of them stem directly from boredom and a lack of direct focus on what our true goals are. Internet One of the biggest distractions in our digital life is the Internet. For most people the internet is always a arms length away. Some 68% of people admitted they spend time surfing non-work related websites everyday at work, while on company time. The average person is distracted or interrupted every 40 seconds when working in front of computer. According to the annual Internet productivity survey 7% of people even take their smartphone or tablet into the bathroom to stream a TV program. Most people report their distraction is related to dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Emails This can be a big one, especially if they are work related emails. That same survey found that 55 percent of people thought that checking their emails and social media while trying to get work finished revealed a worrying lack of impulse control. 64% said they lost their chain of thought because they checked and responded to an email while they were working on a report or longer piece of written work. Talk about a time suck. Traffic Now we don’t all have teleportation abilities and must travel for work. The daily average American commute time is 53.2 minutes. Add that up over 16 years of working and that is more than 225 hours or 9 days commuting. This can have a heavy impact on mental and physical health of commuters. Entertainment We all enjoy entertainment experiences, but television is a huge time suck. The average American spends 3 hours a day watching television. Is the trade off of time really worth what happened in our favorite fictional shows? Trade television time for a good book or checking off an item from your goal list. Social media Even after all the above-mentioned time drains we come to social media. The average American spends about an hour everyday on Facebook alone and users check their Facebook site from their smart phone 13.8 times a day. Studies show social media use is tied to decreased sleep, depression, memory loss, and poor performance. More Subtle Time Sucks There are many obvious time sucks, but what about the not so blatant ones distracting us from reaching our full potential? Promise of Tomorrow Have you ever put off a task until the weekend? Or till tomorrow? We have all been there. What usually ends up filling the gap of our supposed new free time is the above-mentioned distractions. Though, when we are constantly pushing off our tasks till tomorrow we miss out on the opportunities of the potential of the present. There is no time like the present to take massive action towards our goals. Stop putting things off till later or tomorrow and you might find that tomorrow you have more time for what you really want to do. A good trick to try is doing the tasks you want to do least first. You will get an early win and your remaining tasks will not seem so daunting. Pursuit of Perfection While we should pursue excellence in our life, there is a difference between good enough and perfection. When perfection becomes the goal, it hinders our progress and often times stops us from moving forward on our goals. This does not mean start being lazy. It means to start moving forward on those items you spend time redoing, tweeking, and perfecting but never moving forward. Accumulation of Possessions We all have possessions we take great pride in, but many of us have more than we really and is useful. Every increase in our “things” is and increased stress in our lives. Cluttered spaces decrease our productivity and mental clarity. Marie Kondo that shit and take peace of mind. Taking on Too Much We all have things we want to accomplish. Many of us have a hard time saying No. This means we constantly have a never ending to do list that never gets any shorter. I know we all want to be masters of it all, but in order to reach our goals we have to be selective and honest about what items we have on our to do projects. Negativity Another time suck is our own mental state. We all have limiting beliefs that get in the way of accomplishing our goals. Negativity distracts your ability to accomplish your goals and keeps us from being in the peak state we need for massive action. Start by identifying what you think is holding you back and substitute those beliefs with empowering ones. Maybe you have imposter syndrome. "Who is going to listen to me? I'm too young, I'm not experienced enough, I don't have a degree" Swap it for, "I have knowledge others should know. It would be a disservice if I didn't share what I have with the world." How to avoid Time Sucking Distractions Don’t Let Down Time Be Wasted We all need some down time, but if you often find yourself in a place of waiting (appointments, commuting, standing in line) don’t let that time go to waste. Use it to dive into something to spark momentum and growth. Instead of fiddling on Facebook or playing Candy Crush try listening to an audiobook, podcast or reach out to making lasting connections with other people in your life. Using your downtime for growth can free up time you didn't know you had. Create Morning Routines Some of the most successful people in the world have a morning routine. It varies slightly what that routine includes, but they stick to it. It keep them on track and saves time. Keep a journal, meditate, read a book, and set your day up for success. Learn How to Say No It can be so easy and feel so good in the moment to say “yes”. We all want to be helpful, but saying no can be powerful too. Sometimes, as much as we want to, we cannot afford to take on another task or someone else’s task. Say “no” when you can, especially if it is a task that doesn’t not directly correlate to guiding you towards your goals. Being in Control This is not about being a control freak about your time and space….. or is it. You want to be in control of your time in terms of being able to delegate as much as possible. We often do things out of habit or out of a need for control when, in actuality, someone else could do the task as well. Let go a bit and you will gain some of your time back. Losing Track of Time Avoid having open ended time limits to tasks is a sure way to lose time. Give yourself time limits for completing tasks. It is easy to lose track and let your mind wonder There is a phenomenon known as Parkinson’s law. Parkinson's law is the adage that “work expands so as to fill the time which is available for its completion”, which signifies that the more time we dedicate in advance to a certain task, the longer it will take to complete it, even if it could have been completed in a shorter period of time. There is no time like now to make the decision to reclaim your life and your time. For more resources to help you with time management check out some of our other articles or consider a free mentor session.  where are the clients?In an ever growing world of birth businesses what makes the difference isn’t always having the best products or services. While one may strive to have the best, heck even if you have the best, no one will know who you are if you are not able to get in front of your audience. Marketing is a must. Marketing is what will get you in front of your audience so they can go from your audience pool to your customer pool.
I have spent years helping birth-preneurs get their businesses off the ground and heading towards success. Almost every one of them says their biggest struggle is marketing and finding clients. Good thing these topics are stuck together at the hip. Some of you might not put much thought into marketing. That is okay. Kick it up ladies. Others of you are saying, “I have been marketing, but I am not getting clients.” Whether you just getting in it or you have some things to fix here are: 10 Reasons Why Your Marketing Is Not Bringing in Clients: 1. You are not Really Doing Any Marketing This first one may seem kind of obvious. If you do not put in the time and effort marketing you will not bring in the clients. Businesses cannot stay afloat without clients. So if you do not market your business is not going to make it. We would all love to believe that if we just had great content or services people will buy it. That is called "Hope" marketing. It does not work. The old cliché of, if you build it they will come doesn’t really work. Even if you have the most amazing product, the most amazing service, no one will buy unless you are able to get them in front of your audience. Even if you have the most amazing website ever, no one is going to see it if you don’t drive traffic to it. You also can’t post a few things social media and call it good. Strategy is key. Make marketing part of your day to day for your business. Budget for it. Block out time into your calendar. This is one of things that follow the Pareto Principe. 20% of the things you do in your business will result in 80% of your sales. Make this a priority. Don’t let anything else take its place. Spend time on your website, branding, marketing materials, networking, ect. 2. Marketing to Everyone When you start out people are tempted to take on any job that comes their way just to get out there or just to get paid. Photographers may shoot anything they can get their hands in from weddings to newborns to family portraits. Doulas may take on clients that don’t want to pay them full price because they do not value what they do. Coaches may try to coach people on every subject under the sun. It is hard to say no, but it just doesn’t work. When there are so many options on your website you may be trying to appeal to everyone but you fail to really appeal to anyone. You end up blending into the background with everyone else who may offer similar services. If you specialize in everything you really are not specializing in anything. You are just a generalist and generalist do not stand out from the crowd. If someone is looking to hire someone for their birth photography do you think they are going to hire someone who dabbles in all kinds of photography or the person who is the expert on birth photography? You know the expert is going offer you a better experience and higher quality than the generalist photographer. The more you can be specifically appealing to your audience the higher the chances you have of getting those clients to hire you. 3.You Have Yet to Master Your Ideal Client This one is so huge. It is part of the foundation of your business. If you are trying to be everything to everyone than you do not have a specific ideal client. Your ideal client is NOT anyone with money willing to pay your prices for your product or services. Your ideal client is NOT all pregnant women. Your ideal client is very specific. If you want effective marketing you have to get to know who your ideal client is very well. Your marketing will vary greatly based upon who you are marketing to. Women respond differently than men, people with children respond differently than those who do not, and younger individuals respond differently than older ones. You get the picture. If you do not know who your ideal client is, it is going to be near impossible to create effective marketing. 4. You Fail to Overcome the Noise There is so much noise out there. People have become so used to being bombarded by advertisements and marketing everywhere they go, much of the time they tend to tune it out. You have to be remarkable in some way to stand out. Be different from what they would expect. Not in a weird way, but in a good way. There are most likely other people who offer the same products or services that you do. They might even have the same business model as you do. So how do you stand out in your market? What can you be different? If you are in a saturated market with low cost competitors, be the high-end competitor who offers something your low cost competition can’t. The people who are looking to spend money are those looking for value not the cheapest discount. They value you what you do and why you do, it so they are going to be willing to pay the premium price for it. This is a great way to stand out. Make your brand something that sticks out in their minds. Avoid using template for your website specific to your niche. It may be hard to do your own thing when it is so easy to just buy a template made for your market. When everyone uses the same template just with different colors and different photos things tend to start bending together for your potential clients. How can you be different on your first impression that will make you memorable over the others? 5. Your Trying to Give Too Much People like simple. Your goal is to make is as easy as possible for people to hire you. Sometimes less can really get you more. More clients that is. Try to offer less products and packages. If you have too many options it will just overwhelm potential buyers. Don’t offer every product you can just because you can. You probably do not want more than 3-4 options. If you do, your potential clients will get what is called decision fatigue, they will just get too overwhelmed and give up. They are more likely to walk away and not hire you at all. Try not to overload potential clients with lots of wordy things to read. Most people will not read what you have to say and too much words equals annoying in their mind. They will scan your content, but most often they won’t remember what is says. They also don’t want to navigate through your entire life story in order to find what they are looking for. Your story is important for branding, but you want to give them just the right amount of information. Give them prices, but you might not want to send them your contract along with your price quote. You need to figure out what the minimum amount of information you can give them in order for them to make an informed decision to work with you. Don’t hide things, but know when the right time is to disclose things. Don’t talk about your cancellation policy when they inquire about your services. Unless of course they ask. This is something that you can save and provide after they have hired you. 6. You Are Not Giving Them What They Really Want People do not buy things they do not want. They also do not usually buy what you are offering, they are buying your why. Don’t offer them things you think they want. Create offers that fit what your ideal client it looking for. Sometimes this means offering them what they want and sneaking in what they need. Say a guy is looking for how to get better dates. You get better dates by being a better person, but what they think they want is better pick-up lines. You may have to sell them pickup lines but also give them how to be a better person. Do some research in your market. Ask some questions. Be specific. Don’t ask them what they want. They may not know what they want. Find out their why. Find out what their problems are. What keeps them awake at night? What are they struggling with? Why do people hire photographers? It is not because they want more stuff. It is all about preserving memories. Why do people seek marketing help in their business? It is not really because they love marketing. It is a deeper why. They want to be able to spend more time with their kids, they want a big vacation, they want more freedom in their day to day. This will help you create content, products, and services that are best for your ideal client. 7. You Only Use Free Social Media Platforms to Market Yourself Social media can be a great way to get business, but it can’t be the only way you seek to get your clients from. With free platforms you cannot control who sees your posts. The algorithms keep changing. Often times, less than 1% of your audience sees the things you post on Facebook. These days even massive engagement does not ensure your social media posts will be seen. Having all your potential leads in one place is a risk. You risk losing those leads. Think about Myspace for a moment. What kind of business would you have if your entire business had been based on potential clients that were only on Myspace? You wouldn’t have much of a business anymore. That is not to say that we think Facebook or Instagram will be going anywhere any time soon. You need to be in control. Instead of using all the free stuff as your only option make sure you are able to get your potential clients email. Use an email service like Awber or Mail Chimp that puts you in control. It is really not as scary as it sounds. It is also good for just about ANY market. This includes online business, physical products, and even local businesses. This gives you the control to get in front of those who said they want to hear more of what you have to say. They want you to send them emails. You don’t have to pay to get yourself into peoples email. MailChimp is free for up to 2,000 subscribers. Don’t wait to build your list. 8. You are Unwilling to Spend Money Sometimes you have to spend some money. If you could make $1000 for every $50 you spent in advertising would you do it? Wouldn’t you put that $50 back into your business over and over again? There are things worth paying for. Figure out what is best for your business. You are not going to make any money if you are not willing to invest in yourself and your business. If you do not value what you do people will be able to tell you do not value your business and they won’t either. Think about investing in things that appeal to your ideal clients. Are there complimentary services that go along with the business you have? Pregnant women have a multitude of them. Maternity care, chiropractic care, massage, photography, doula services, childbirth education, childcare, ect. Look into making strategic partnerships with businesses who relate to what you do. Maybe they have a directory they are willing to add you to for a small fee. Invest in things that educate you on how to make more money several times over. Invest in learning how to do business better faster. Many entrepreneurs start out thinking they can do everything themselves all the time. While you can teach yourself to do anything these days it will cost you. It will cost you your most precious commodity, your time. Your time is worth a lot. So if you can invest in something that will save you time and increase your profits do it. 9. You’re Not Converting You are driving traffic to your website, but nothing is happening. There are several common reasons. First, you may be using a free website domain. www.yourbusinessname.otherbusiness.com gives others the idea that you are amateur and not professional. First impressions add up. It is not expensive to get your own domain name and with all the information out there it is easy to find out how to build your own website. It can be the difference between getting clients and not getting clients. Having a hobby or having a business. Second, your website does not appeal to your ideal clients. If a potential client comes to your website looking for something specific and is bombarded by things they don’t want they are likely to leave your website. If a client is looking for a childbirth education classes and they have to shift through your newborn photography stuff first, they are likely going to leave your page without you gaining anything. Make sure you are turning your website traffic into leads by making your sire appealing to your target audience. Third, you don’t have any call to actions to tell them what to do next. Sometimes people just need you to tell them what to do. At the end of your blog post put a call to action. Click here to book a consult. Put an opt-in, in the first section of your website to collect their email. You don’t want to bombard them too many things to do, but studies have shown that if you ask someone to do something in a call to action they are far more likely to do it. Fourth, your website is not optimized to show up in search results. So this one may not quiet count as not converting, but if people can’t find your website they will not be able to find you. Search engine optimization (SEO) may seem like a foreign language. It is really not that hard and not that time consuming. It would only take an extra 5-10 minutes per blog post to add SEO tags. This can be a great way to get more clients. How simple. People looking for your services converting into clients because they found you in their search. Other problems included missing links, your contact form is not working, your site is missing information like your service area or multiple ways to contact you. If your ideal clients can’t find what they are looking for they will likely not take the time to contact you to find the information they are looking for. Make sure your website is working for you to get you clients. 10. You Get in Your Own Way This is one of the biggest reasons why your marketing may not be getting you clients. Not because you are doing it all wrong, but because you have things going on in your own mindset the block you. For example, not following up with a lead because you feel like you would be annoying them. Follow up is crucial. It’s your business. It is your job to follow up. You are not annoying them. You are serving them. If they are not interested they will tell you. Another way you may be getting in your own way is not using the phone. You may be doing this because you don’t like to talk on it. Big mistake. Get over yourself. Getting you on the phone makes you real, gets you a great first impression, and could give you competitive advantage. A huge portion of the businesses out there today are not getting on the phone. Maybe you will get hired right there on the spot because it was convenient. Potential clients didn’t have to go back and forth through email to get their questions answered. Maybe they would have never emailed you because they felt like they were going to annoy you. Don’t be afraid. It can give you a huge advantage. Maybe you struggle with selling because you don’t want to come off as pushy or sleazy. You will only come off as these things if you are pushy or sleazy. You run a business. Without sales you don’t have a business. You are not trying to push people into buying something they don’t want or selling them something you know they will be unhappy with after they have bought it. More often than not people do not want to ask for the sale because of something deeper. They do not value themselves. They do not want to be rejected. Shift your mindset and remember you are helping them. If you really value what you have to offer and feel like you are the best fit why would you not try to sell to them? You are helping them. Just be genuine. You are afraid your work is not good enough. Enough is good enough. If you are constantly afraid that something isn’t good enough or you are too much of a perfectionist to get yourself out there than you never will. No one is perfect. I will hold off on branding because I don’t want to take new head shots until I have lost a bit of weight. I don’t want to launch my course because I am still making adjustments to it. Don’t let fear hold you back. Sometimes people are so afraid of failing they will let it stop them from taking action. Remember that if you are not taking action you are already failing. Don’t let the fear of failure get in the way of your passion and your dreams. Shift your mindset. If you have something that people could benefit from than you are doing a disservice not offering what you have. It is not about you. It is about them. We are all about helping make your birth business a success. You are the only thing standing in your way of success. If you are looking for more ways to bring success into your life be sure to sign up for our newsletter.  read to successHow to Make Books Your Path to More Success I have been a avid reader since I was a child. My first choice reading book in elementary school was a huge Stephen King book that made my teachers eyes drop. Over the last few years I have become more intentional and ambitious about reading books. Over the last few years I have averaged about 20 books a year. Not bad more a mompreneur of 4. By the end of this year I will reach 52.
I always have a book on hand. Many people ask, "Why do you take so much time to read?" My answer: It is a key part of my entrepreneurial and leadership strategy. Someone once asked Warren Buffett about his secret to success. Buffett pointed to a stack of books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will...” Talk about a powerful quote. My plan, goal set, action includes to be a better leader five years from now. I believe it is my responsibility to lead women to find their passion and start with success everyday. Reading is a key part of this process on my path to personal and entrepreneurial growth. Here are five reasons reading every week can bring you more success: 1. To Motivate You to the Next Level Reading lots of books across genres sparks ideas like no other. I take notes from every book I read about how I can implement ideas into my life or business for the better. You never know what is going to spark the next great idea. Let reading motivate you to do new things and spark new ideas. 2. To Learn a New Skill One of the best ways I have found to learn a new skill is to read a book about it. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a good fiction book as much as the others, but I committed to myself since the start of my business to always be in pursuit of continuing education. Learning new things contribute to your overall success. 3. To Improve Yourself Reading increases your vocabulary, improves your writing, and improves memory. Self-improvement should be on everyone's list of to-dos. No one is perfect and that is okay. There is always room for improvement. If I can do something I enjoy as well as improve myself at the same time I am all for it. I try to take advantage when I can of things that have multiple benefits. 4. To Reduce Stress No one like being stressed. Stress causes all kinds of havoc in your life. Stress causes physical and neurological damage from lack of sleep to inability to focus. Take time to read a book and rid yourself of harmful stress. Your body and mind will thank you for it. 5. Challenge Your View We are creatures of habit. Once we have an opinion formed about something we often stick to our guns. Reading an assortment of genres can either reinforce our beliefs or challenges us to form new truths about the world around us. Success never came from a narrow mind. Expand your knowledge and challenge yourself to success. These are 5 ways reading can bring you more success in your life or business. Reading makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother, and a better entrepreneur. It helps me grow, and be a better leader for my tribe of MAKERS. These are all my reasons for reading to success. My question for you: Do you have an intentional goal for reading this year? I challenge you to join me in reading 52 books this year. Are you up for it? |
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