We’ve all heard how important it is to identify our “niche” or even “sub-niche” business. Entrepreneurs often struggle with pinpointing exactly who to serve.

You definitely have to get specific about your market, but I don’t like to call it a “niche” because we’ve heard that word too much. I will use “niche” sometimes as a frame of reference because everyone’s familiar with that word, but the place I work from is “who needs you most”, and discovering the group of people that you can serve to the greatest good. That’s much more comfortable for a few reasons. Read More

Niche Marketing: Introducing a Different Way to Identify Who You Serve in the Marketplace [ 4:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Niche Marketing: Introducing a Different Way to Identify Who You Serve in the Marketplace [ 4:19 ] Download

When I started doing life and career coaching, I was really inspired to start a business. I really wanted to work with people. I wanted to support people, help people, and I had no clue how to start a business. I researched and tried to find models and different examples, but I didn’t have a clue how to put it all together.

One challenge for me was that marketing felt gross. A lot of the stuff I was reading felt very “salesy” and the systems and individuals that I was getting some of the material from just didn’t feel authentic to me. That became a challenge. I knew it had to feel authentic and heart-centered and client-based, so I set out to do it differently.

I have to admit, there were moments when I was panicked and worried. I thought, “What have I gotten myself into? How will I ever get clients? I know nothing about building a business.”

Step One – Identify an authentic approach

I understand the panic and frustration that can come with starting a new business. When I set my sites on starting a new business, I centered myself and said, “I need a clear plan. It’s got to be authentic for me and not salesy. It’s got to be easy and understandable. It’s got to be client and heart-centered.”

When I began to put that authentic piece together, within 9 months, I had 35 clients. I began to see that the more authentic I was, the more I attracted ideal clients and opportunities.

Step Two – Develop a clear plan of implementation

You need a systematic approach with no assumptions that your clients know how to implement some of these methods. I don’t assume that the clients I work with know how to implement. That’s why I take things step-by-step and point to each path and point to every important spot along the journey.

Step Three – Marketing for helping professionals

When talking to helping professionals about marketing, some of the most common responses are “sales”, “yuck”, “discounts”, “recruiting”, “cold calling”, “closing deals”, and “hard work”. I recognize that a lot of helping professionals struggle with building their business because that’s their understanding of marketing. That’s their experience of marketing.

My definition of marketing is – “A way to authentically share my experience and gift with those who can use it to shape their lives, empower their work, and shorten their path to success”. It’s never about selling for me. It’s always about sharing.

In fact, marketing is really a moral obligation. There’s a Chinese proverb that I love that says, “When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.”

The way you share and the way you do that is through authentic marketing.

(c) 2009 Suzanne Evans

About the author:  Suzanne Evans is best known as the ‘action expert’ and has coached hundreds of solopreneurs to model her multiple six figure business. Learn how you can help more people, make more money and have more fun doing what you love by signing up for your free copy of the 5-Part Mini-Course ‘Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur’ at http://www.helpmorepeople.com

Learn how to help more people, make more money and enjoy more freedom. Enjoy a free 5-day mini course, “Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur,” at http://www.HelpMorePeople.com/minicourse.htm

Can you have a successful business that expresses your passion and authenticity but is absolutely profitable as well and allows you to help more people? Without a doubt you can.

When researching and reading about growing your business, people assume you know how to implement and assume that you know what all of this means. It’s not the case, especially if you’re in the beginning stages or even the makeover stages or re-launch stages because you’re wanting to take it to the next level.

Imagine if, in your business, you could easily and persuasively talk about what you do so clients call you. Read More

Heart-Based Coaching: How to Help More People & Make More Money with Authentic Marketing [ 5:13 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Heart-Based Coaching: How to Help More People & Make More Money with Authentic Marketing [ 5:13 ] Download

In college basketball, the term, “Cinderella Story,” is often used for the underdog who comes out of nowhere to win the prize.  It is a romantic idea about rising from the ashes and winning the prince or prize.

Ponder what it takes to win a championship or bring home a gold medal.

• How many early morning training sessions?
• Pulled muscles?
• Wins?
• Losses?
• How much money saved?
• How much money spent?
• How many heartbreaks?
• Days when you couldn’t go on?
• Days when you knew you could do it?

It’s amazing what goes into a WIN!

What does it take?

Some of it is obvious.  Hard work, commitment, dedication, etc, but what isn’t so obvious?
 
WILL
 
What do you really want for your life and business? What are you WILLING to sacrifice? Do? Be? Try?
 

• How WILLING are you to fail?
• How WILLING are you to try something new?
• How WILLING are you to leave others behind so you can grow?
• How WILLING are you to get up again?
• What are you WILLING to stop doing?
• What are you WILLING to start?

On my desk I have a little handmade sign that reads:
 
THERE ARE NO CINDERELLA STORIES
 
And there aren’t.  I look at this picture every day.

Magic and manifestation are the principles I operate from, but WILL is my highest value.

(c) 2009 Suzanne Evans

About the author:  Suzanne Evans is best known as the ‘action expert’ and has coached hundreds of solopreneurs to model her multiple six figure business. Learn how you can help more people, make more money and have more fun doing what you love by signing up for your free copy of the 5-Part Mini-Course ‘Awakening Your Authentic Entrepreneur’ at http://www.helpmorepeople.com