Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Marketing Action Group Starts September 2, 2009

Holding Your Feet to the Fire
Marketing Action Group


If you want to take your marketing to the next level but are stuck in moving forward...

For many self-employed professionals, it's not that you don't know how to market your services. It's just that you don't. You know you should, but something always seems to get in the way. And the dreams of taking your professional service business to new heights materialize because not enough people know about who you are and what you can offer.

Or perhaps you're doing as much as you can to market your services but you're just not getting the results you think you should be getting. You're looking for ideas, brainstorming, inspiration and feedback to get you on track and keep you there. You need a structure of support that can help with any and every marketing issue you've ever faced.

Going to the Next Level

You know you have great services to offer to your clients. You're intelligent, creative and ambitious. You do a great job when you work with clients. But all of this won't do you much good if you don't get your message out to your potential clients.

If you are interested in taking your business to the next level, I can help you get there. But you need more than marketing information or a marketing workshop, you need a system and a structure to get you focused and on track with your marketing.

This Marketing Action Group will "hold your feet to the fire" and create an environment of accountability where you take your business by the reins and start to market it actively. If you join this group, this is what you can expect to happen:

1. You'll get very clear on where you are going with your business and what you want to accomplish with your marketing. You'll have a direction you can be passionate about and a way to play the game of marketing that you can win consistently.
2. You'll understand the game of marketing and how it works to attract clients like clockwork to your business. You'll understand the rules of the game and what it takes to win consistently.

3. You'll break through your resistance, fears and hesitation about marketing. You'll actually start to see marketing as a fun and creative business activity that you can do successfully.

4. You'll nail down your marketing message so that it expresses clearly and concisely what it is you provide for your clients. And perhaps for the first time, people will really start to get it. You'll generate interest and attention at a whole new level.

5. You'll know what to do to create marketing materials that educate, inform and build confidence in you and your service. People will feel you are credible and trustworthy.

6. You'll choose the right marketing strategies for your business - strategies that get you in front of qualified prospects, interested in buying your services. You'll establish yourself as an expert, a leader in your field who prospects want to hear from.

7. Finally, you'll develop a comprehensive marketing action plan, a step-by-step roadmap that you'll follow in implementing your marketing strategies to produce consistent marketing results.

How the Marketing Action Group is Different

This program builds on the Action Plan Seven Principles of Marketing. It provides the solid, proven marketing information necessary to develop an effective client attraction strategy. But after you've learned what to do, you need to apply it and fine tune it to get long-term results. And again, you need the support and feedback to keep you going in the right direction.

The key to the effectiveness of a group like this is the structure of support. Other members will give you input on your plans, offer resources, give feedback, and provide encouragement. You won't feel like you're working in a vacuum. And you end up getting ideas and information you would never get if you were not in a group.

The Structure of the Marketing Action Group

This is a 4 month program consisting of 8 sessions total.

The program consists of ninety-minute group coaching sessions. The sessions are conducted in person. There will be a maximum of 4 participants in each group for maximum interaction and personal attention.

Each week you'll send in a report, plan or marketing materials you're working on to all the other members of the group. In the sessions you'll get feedback, ideas, resources and support to help you take things to the next level. In addition, you'll get homework and assignments and you'll make a promise for what you'll work on between sessions. In other words, we'll "hold your feet to the fire" to make sure you keep moving forward.

In addition, you will have a 60-minute individual session each month during the course of the Marketing Action Group. You are free to both email me or call with questions on anything pertaining to marketing your business any time as well.

The Marketing Action Group uses the "7-Step Fast Track Model"

This proven methodology was developed by Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing
and has been used successful with thousands of self-employed professionals and professional service businesses. We have been trained and certified in this methodology by Robert. Plus we also bring our many years of experience as business consultants, coaches, and trainers.

1. Marketing Ball - The Game of Marketing

The first thing you need to understand is how the game of marketing is played - and won. Successful marketing is not a random set of activities; it has an underlying structure and set of rules you must follow to be successful. When you understand the game you can finally start to play it with some confidence.

2. Marketing Mindset - The Inner Game of Marketing

How you think about marketing your business is a big key to success. If you are avoiding marketing, afraid to implement marketing plans or just plain confused about what to do next, you need to change your current marketing mindset to be successful. The good news is that it's easier than you think.

3. Marketing Syntax and Marketing Message - The Language of Marketing

Most people don't realize that marketing has a language. If you use the right language, you generate attention and interest. If you use the wrong language, your prospects won't pay attention to you. It's absolutely necessary that all your marketing messages and communications adhere to the language of marketing.

A marketing message tells the client what's in it for them to do business with you. When you have such a message, you have created the foundation that will be utilized in all your marketing.

4. Marketing and Selling Conversations - The Heart of Marketing

Marketing and selling are actually a series of conversations. Whether these conversations are in person, on the phone, by email or online somehow, you need to be skilled in the art of listening, questioning and giving information to help people make good decisions about working with you.


5. Marketing Information - The Currency of Marketing

Once you have the attention and interest of a prospect, the next thing they want is more information. We call marketing information "currency," because it actually buys you attention, time, credibility and trust. Marketing information includes everything from your business card to your web site.

6. Marketing Strategies - The How-To of Marketing

Once you have the foundation of your marketing message and information, it's time to implement some marketing strategies. Strategies include everything from networking to speaking to mailings to publishing. You need to develop and implement the most appropriate and effective marketing strategies for your business.

7. Marketing Action Plans - The Structure of Marketing

Your final marketing step is developing a very detailed marketing action plan or plans. It's not enough to know the strategies you are going to use, you need to map them out like a blueprint with very specific objectives and action steps. Once you have a solid plan, you are well on your way to attracting all the business you need.


The Group Is For You If...

As you can see, this is a powerful, comprehensive program. You should only consider joining if you are ready to break out of your comfort zone and take your business and marketing to a whole new level. You're going to get better results in the group if...

1. You are the owner or partner of a professional service business such as: consulting, coaching, training, design, writing, executive recruiting, financial planning, law, accounting, engineering, or other professional service. You may be a sole proprietor or a member of a professional firm.

Note: Currently the group is not open to: those running primarily online businesses selling products, retail businesses, manufacturers, multi-level marketing or other product-oriented businesses.

2. You want to make a contribution. For you, business isn't just about making money, it's about making a difference. You are committed to doing everything possible to help your clients succeed.

3. Your business is a passion. It's not just something to make some money until something better comes along. You are committed to growing in your profession and you're in it for the long haul.

4. You are action-oriented and a self-starter. If you're waiting around to be discovered or take months to think something through, then this group will only irritate you. We'll ask you to step outside your comfort zone every week to produce unexpected results.

5. You're willing to experiment and be persistent. Even if you're following proven marketing principles and strategies, marketing is a bit of an art. Not everything you try will work. The only real tool you have is trial and error. You need to be able to tolerate uncertainty.

6. You see life and career as an adventure. Business, marketing and life are all games that can be played with a great deal of energy and fun or they can be taken much too seriously. You're going to have much better results if you're playing not only to win but to grow.

About Your Group Leader:

Marcia Walker works with independent professionals and leaders who really want to make a difference, but aren't sure how to maximize their impact. She is a Senior Coach with Ed Groody and Associates and certified as an Action Plan Marketing Coach. Marcia understands the challenges that independent professionals face from her years in her own coaching practice. In business for herself for the first time, she learned quickly that effective marketing is just as important as professionals skills and expertise. Learning and applying the Action Plan Marketing program helped Marcia double her business in 2008. Now she wants to share that valuable resource with you.


Details of the Marketing Action Group

The Marketing Action Group starting on Wednesday, September 2nd is now open for enrollment. We will be meeting from 8:00-9:30 AM on the phone. We will have a conference line for you to call in for the sessions.


Dates of sessions

The group sessions will be on September 2, 9 and 23 , October 7 and 21, November 4 and 18, December 2 and 16. Get a strong finish for 2009 that will position you for a great 2010!

Fee for the Marketing Action Group

The Marketing Action Group is $395/month. The first installment is due upon acceptance of your application. You may pay by check or credit card.

Is the Program Guaranteed?

Yes, with conditions. This program is about you taking positive action to market your services and grow your business. You'll get homework and assignments every session. If you do all the homework, you'll get the kind of results outlined at the top of this page. If you attend the sessions (7 out of 9), do the homework, send in your reports and are still not satisfied, you can ask for a full or partial refund. If you do not attend the sessions and do the homework, the only guarantee is that it will not work for you!


Apply for the Marketing Action Group

Because we have limited space in the group and because the groups are not for everyone, we ask those wishing to participate to apply by calling Marcia Walker at 865.521.7759 or emailing her at marcia@edgroody.com. When you contact Marcia, she will get some information from you about your business and goals to determine if the group is a good fit for you.

Then, if and when you are accepted for the group, you will be asked to reserve your space in the group and pay the initial installment of $395.

When you register, you'll get the preparation materials for the group. This will be your initial preparation material that you'll work on before the group actually starts.
Reserve your space soon. There are four openings in each group.


Still want more information?

Read more about the Action Plan Marketing program developed by Robert Middleton, visit http://www.actionplan.com/.

Visit Ed Groody & Associates, Inc. on the web at http://www.edgroody.com/ .

Contact Marcia Walker at marcia@edgroody.com or 865.521.7759

Friday, April 3, 2009

Marketing to Make a Difference workshop April 18th

Marketing to Make a Difference
Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 AM to NOON


Does your resistance to marketing keep you from asking the kind of difference you want to make? Marketing your services may seem to be a mystery, a necessary evil, or a bother. But if you do not attract clients, you do not get to do what you do best, serve people.

Two things are missing for many independent professionals?

1. They need a mindset about marketing that is consistent with their values.
Even seasoned professionals can wrestle with promoting themselves and their services. What if you could shift your perspective about marketing so that you were coming from a place of confidence, possibility and service?
2. They need an understanding of the big picture of marketing. There are hundreds of things you could be doing. But which ones make the most sense for you and your clients? Knowing the game plan will help you be strategic about which tools you use and how you use them.

Without these two keys, pouring more resources into marketing activities may not yield significant results. With them, all your marketing efforts improve.
  • Learn the basics that can drastically change your marketing attitude, approach, and results.
  • Make better use of the time, energy, and money you spend on marketing.
  • Attract more clients with less stress.
Who is Marketing to Make A Difference for? Service providers who are responsible for generating their own clients, such as...
  • independent professionals like trainers, consultants, stylists, financial planners, web designers, accountants, virtual assistants, realtors, attorneys, organizers...
  • service providers in a firm who need to get their own clients
What will you get from attending?
1. A mindset about marketing that fits for you and your services.
You will learn a process for changing your habits of thinking that sabotage your efforts. This tool can be used in all areas of your life as well as for marketing your business.

2. An understanding of what prospects need in order to stay engaged with you and hire you. You will recognize where you are with your prospects and what they need from you to move closer to hiring you.

3. A marketing message that gets the attention of your ideal prospects. You will be able to speak about your business in a way that gets the attention of your ideal clients.

4. Confidence that you are spending your marketing efforts, time and dollars well.

Who is the presenter?
Marcia Walker is a Certified Action Plan Marketing Coach.
She understands the challenges independent professionals face from five years in her own coaching practice. In business for herself for the first time, she learned the lesson that effective marketing is just as important as professionals skills and expertise. Using the Action Plan Marketing system, she doubled her business last year, and wants to help others do that in 2009. Marcia has been trained and mentored by Robert Middleton, found of Action Plan Marketing (www.actionplan.com), which has helped thousands of independent professionals consistently attract more clients.

What are the details?
When: Saturday morning, April 18th from 9:00 AM to NOON
Where:
Knoxville More to Life Center, 1508 Coleman Road, Suite 110, Knoxville
Breakfast will be served.
How much does it cost? The $75 fee includes breakfast and all materials.

How to register
Contact Marcia Walker at marcia@edgroody.com or call her at 865.521.7759.
Please register by April 15th so we will have an accurate count for breakfast. Thank you!




Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Individual Marketing Mentoring

Marketing Mentoring Services from Ed Groody & Associates, Inc.

Not attracting all the business and clients you want and need?

You can be a better marketer of your services, and it can be easier than you think.

There are five main challenges in marketing a business:
1. Getting attention of prospective clients.
2. Giving them enough information to interest them in exploring working with you.
3. Turning that interest into a commitment to work with you.
4. Negotiating the terms of doing business so that you make a decent profit.
5. Serving clients so that they both return and send you referrals.

If you can do all those things you don't need marketing mentoring.

However, if you could do better, perhaps you need a little help.
Many professionals and other service businesses struggle with marketing. They are not sure how it works, where to start or what to do.

Perhaps you've tried a number of marketing activities with mixed results.
Or maybe your "word-of-mouth pipeline" has dried up and you don't know where to find your next clients. Or it could be that you know what to do and you just don't get around to it. You need some direction and some support. If any of the above are true, you've come to the right place.

We work with self-employed professionals and other professional service businesses who serious about taking their business to the next level.
They realize that the only way they are going to survive and thrive is by developing, implementing, and practicing better marketing.

What you Need to be Successful at Growing Your Business

We believe that you need only three things to be successful at marketing.

  1. The first thing you need is commitment. You must really want to take your business to new heights. Ideally your business should be more that a living, but a calling, something that you feel really makes a difference. Marketing is one of the key vehicles that helps take you business where you want it to go.
  2. The second is "marketing know-how." That comes from good information and practice. The trouble is that there is so much marketing information out there that it can be overwhelming. What really works to attract clients? What can you do that won't cost a fortune? Are there marketing strategies that are both effective and don't take a huge amount of time?
  3. The third thing you need is some kind of support. When you are trying to master something that is both new and complex, you don't do it on your own. If you do, it will take you longer, cost you more and result in more failures. By working with a mentor you can speed up your know-how by five, ten, even twenty times. If you work with someone who has been there before to guide you on the path you will have a lot less trial and error.
Mentoring is not for people who need a few marketing ideas or a little coaching. You already know more that you can implement. The thing is, you get stuck and your great plans don't amount to much. You have big ideas but you keep getting distracted by the details. Your know-how hasn't caught up with your aspirations. And the trial and error is wearing on you.

On the other hand, you may be very successful in your business but have reached a plateau and want to take your business to the next level.
You want to learn how you can market more effectively to grow faster. You don't have anyone you can talk to about marketing and you need both a partner in strategy and someone to hold you feet to the fire. This is exactly what we do.

You are a good candidate for marketing mentoring if:
  1. You are a self-employed professional, partner in a professional firm, or owner of a business who offers a professional service.
  2. You are committed to being a better marketer and growing your business.
  3. You are willing to invest a certain amount of time, energy, and money to marketing.
  4. Your are open to trying things outside your current comfort zone.
  5. You are patient and understand that results can take some time.
  6. You can take both direction and decisive action.
If this fits you, we can work together successfully.

With Marketing Mentoring we use the "7-Step Fast Track Model"

This proven methodology was developed by Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing
and has been used successfully with thousands of self-employed professionals and professional service businesses. At Ed Groody and Associates, we have been trained and certified in this methodology. Plus we also bring our many years as business consultants, coaches, and trainers.

1. Marketing Ball -
The Game of Marketing

The first thing you need to understand is how the game of marketing is played - and won.
Successful marketing is not random set of activities; it has an underlying structure and set of rules you must follow to be successful. When you understand the game you can finally start to play it with some confidence.

2. Marketing Mindset - The Inner Game of Marketing


How you think about marketing your business is a big key to success. If you are avoiding marketing, afraid to implement marketing plans or just plain confused about what to do next, you need to change your current marketing mindset to be successful. the good news is that it is easier than you think.

3. Marketing Language - The Message of Marketing

Most people don't realize that marketing has a language.
If you use the right language, you generate attention and interest. If you use the wrong language, your prospects won't pay attention to you. It's absolutely necessary that all your marketing messages and communications adhere to the language of marketing.

4. Core Marketing Message -
The Value of Marketing

Your first important step in marketing is to create a marketing message that speaks to the needs and desires of your clients.
When you have such a message, you have created a foundation that will be utilized in all your marketing. A great marketing message tells the prospect what's in it for them to do business with you.

5. Marketing Information - The Currency of Marketing

Once you have the attention and interest of a prospect, the next thing they want is more information .
We call marketing information "currency," because it actually buys you attention, time, credibility, and trust. Marketing information includes everything from your business card to your web site.

6. Marketing Strategies - The How-To of Marketing

Once you have the foundation of your marketing message and information, it's time to implement some marketing strategies.
Strategies include everything from networking to speaking to mailings to publishing. You need to develop and implement the most appropriate and effective marketing strategies for your business.

7. Marketing Action Plans - The Structure of Marketing

Your final marketing step is developing a very detailed marketing action plan or plans.
It's not enough to know the strategies you are going to use, you need to map them out like a blueprint with very specific objectives and action steps. Once you have a solid plan, you are well on your way to attracting all the business you need.

Marketing Mentoring Format and Results

Mentoring sessions are done by phone or in person
and are typically 60 to 90 minutes in length. All sessions are taped for your use. (if they are!) In between sessions you will work on assignments to increase your marketing skills in each of the Seven Fast Track Steps.

Depending on your current situation, we will take about twelve sessions in guiding you through the initial development of your marketing action plan. Then we will work with you additionally, as needed, to develop marketing materials and implement your marketing action plan until you are seeing results.

You will start seeing results well before we have completed our work with you. As your understanding of marketing increases, you will begin to communicate more effectively about your business and start generating more attention and interest. You'll start the process of "playing the game of marketing" and have some wins in the process.

After working through all Seven Fast Steps, you'll have a true grasp of how marketing works and will be prepared to grow your business in ways you never before thought possible.


Getting over marketing obstacles

The biggest marketing obstacle to successful marketing isn't external. It's internal.
We all have various beliefs and thoughts that tend to sabotage our marketing efforts. If you think..."I'm not a good marketer, I can't write, I don't like networking, and web sites don't work," then what you say will become a self'-fulling prophecy. When we work on Step #2 - Marketing Mindset, you'll be introduced to some very powerful tools that will help you dramatically shift your marketing perspective.

About Your Marketing Mentor
Marcia Walker works with independent professionals and leaders who really want to make a difference, but aren't sure how to maximize their impact and their income. She is a Senior Coach with Ed Groody & Associates, Inc. and a certified Action Plan Marketing Coach. Marcia understands the challenges that independent professionals face from her five years in her own coaching practice. In business for herself for the first itme, she learned quickly that effective marketing is just as important as professional skills and expertise. Using the Action Plan Marketing system, she doubled her income last year, and want to help you do that in 2009.

Let me know if you are interested

If you would like to explore working with us as your marketing mentor, we would be happy to speak with you
on the phone to discuss your current situation and goals and see if there is a fit. The best way to set up an appointment is to email Marcia at marcia@edgroody.com. Be sure to include your phone number and a brief description of your business (what you do, how long you've been in business, who you serve). She will get back to you set a time for the meeting.

We look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.