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Friday, July 28, 2006

MM #65: How to Create a Powerful Website & Brand (Part I)

1. Announcements/Offers


How Did These Coaches Set Up Their Businesses So Quickly?

You can now save yourself the hundreds or thousands of dollars you may have paid a mentor coach or training school. After personally mentoring sixty coaches and founding a coach training school, I've compiled everything I know about starting a successful coaching practice in one easy-to-follow Manual.

And it's wonderful to see such huge results like this:

"I have just broken through the 50th client barrier! When I first read the Coachstart eManual, I had coached just 14 people, and thought '50 clients...no way!'. But just five months later, it's a reality! Thanks for all your help setting me up as a coach, I will always be grateful."
-Daniel Midson-Short, Australia
-www.lifestylerevolution.com.au

“I wish I had known about the CoachStart Manual before I signed up with my training school. I could have saved myself almost £600!”
-Clare Evans, UK

"I 'inhaled' the manual and loved it. You give very practical advice and I particularly liked the 'sample' dialogues that a coach might have with a prospect (warm and hot invitations) and the sample script. I practice it every chance I get. Thanks for such a great and inspiring Manual!"
-Midgie Thompson, UK
-www.brightfuturescoaching.com

So, let's get started! Get your CoachStart Manual in the next 5 minutes at www.CoachStart.com, and start building!


There are things your clients want to buy from you, that you aren't selling yet...

How long will you keep them waiting?

No matter how many 1-1 clients you coach, spending life on the phone with appointment after appointment is no way to build a lasting legacy, not to mention your life as a coach!

So stop trading your time for money and starting creating Multiple Streams of Coaching Income instead.

“I really don’t read many books on this subject – but Andrea J. Lee’s print book: "Multiple Streams of Coaching Income” is truly valuable, and I read it from cover to cover. Definitely get it – it’s way under-priced” - David Wood

Click here for your copy!


2. FEATURE: How to Create a Powerful Website & Brand (Part I)


Coach Joelle launched her web site (coachjoelle.com) this spring with incredible results - and we interviewed her to find out how she did it, so we can share her experiences with you.

She’s created a brand that truly expresses who she is, and a web site that is already converting visitors into subscribers, and subscribers into clients.

Whom do you serve?


“I’ve been doing the CoachStart™ Program with David”, says Joelle.

“In our very first session he started quizzing me on who I wanted to help, and what I wanted to help them with. It took 2-3 sessions, but after that I not only knew who I would help, but I had the words to describe it in a way that excited them, and me!

After that, I was excited to start on the web site, and create something that spoke to my target market.”

Web site brings credibility!


"With the site being so young I can say that the main thing that (it) has impacted is credibility," Joelle says. "It serves as brochure and testimonial in one and really gives the impression of a robust business that can be trusted."

“In the idea stage, David suggested I mock up a first draft of the site's home page that would speak to my core market, and we took it from there. He asked me to include:

  • a headshot that truly represented me
  • the powerful tag line that we had workshopped together
  • a compelling newsletter/free download offer
  • questions to engage my target market.”


Tip: Find a mentor and do a mock up first.

Newsletter a key tool


Joelle added early on an option to sign up for her LivLoud! newsletter, which she notes is a "fabulous tool for keeping in contact with my community which will lead to business down the road." In a very short time she signed up 100 subscribers, mainly from her existing community.

Don't be afraid to ask for help


Although Joelle admits she was nearly web illiterate when she began putting together her site, she found a web hosting company which walked her through the process of setting up her email account, creating a basic site with a sign-up page for her newsletter, sending broadcast emails to subscribers and starting her own blog!

One challenge, according to Joelle, was "dealing with my ridiculously elevated expectations!”

“Let's face it, I had been exposed to the idea of creating a website for less than three weeks and I figured I should be able to just pick up a computer, snap in some programs and build my dream site with all the bells and whistles without a hitch! Wrong!" Some tools she used were not intuitive; others worked well enough at first but did not have advanced features when she needed them.

Eventually, she hired a web development firm to take over where her abilities left off.

Tip: Have a hired gun to take your site to the next level. They’ll do it better than you will, and save you time – the time you could be spending calling potential clients.

Branding


Joelle worked with different colors and images to create a look and feel for her site, writing down what different colors meant to her and what moods they evoked. While she is now working with a branding firm, the firm has acknowledged that her brand is already there and literally 'shouts' from her site.

Know what you like


"If you really listen to yourself, to your gut, you will know what you like and what you do not," she explains. "You will know if something has too much energy or is too blah, if the color makes you uneasy or if the picture speaks to your soul. Be willing to trust yourself and do not let anyone try to push an image on you that does not fit."

Tip: Play with your site colors and layout. How does the result make you feel?

Not only has Joelle found her site to be a great credibility tool, it has enabled her to have a truly international business. "By communicating through online resources and sharing opportunities with my email list it allows me to get the word out to a global audience without ever leaving my patio," she points out. She is currently is offering free one-hour exploratory sessions to 50 people through an opt-in form on her site. More than half of the sessions have been booked, and she has gained four new clients in the last three weeks.

Tip: Use the web for a global clientele.

***

I trust you enjoyed this interview (Part I) with Coach Joelle.

If you would like some ideas on how to get your initial coaching sessions going, with your first clients, check out: The CoachStart™ Manual

And watch for Part 2 of this feature in the next Mentor Monthly!

Action: Refine your online image


  1. Start collecting samples of colors and images that resonate with you, and sketch an idea of how you'd like your site to look.

  2. Update your web copy:
    If you don't have a site, write a description of whom you help, and how. Or whom you would LIKE to help, and how.
    If you have an existing site, tweak the copy so it really reflects who you are and how you help people.

Post your results for accountability.

Enjoy!
David

P.S. Got a question or comment about this article? Add it to here.

P.P.S. Any other questions? http://www.SolutionBox.com/support.htm

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Inside Peek at Running My Online Business (12 min video)

In this 12 minute video I'm going to show you a simple layout/system that helps me:

1) keep track of the dozens of projects I have going
2) stay motivated
3) focus on what's important
4) stay sane (when I want to create EVERYTHING, and YESTERDAY)

You might also be curious about what I do each day. As an online business selling 8 products in 50 countries, and distributing free information to over 60,000 people in 90 countries, SolutionBox is a little unusual. I'm now taking you inside so you can see the projects on my plate right now, and how this online business is run:

EMBEDDED VIDEO
(Note: It's not a multi-million dollar production, but it gets the point across)















PICTURE OF SCRAPPY DOCUMENT
(Click to enlarge)
plan pic

LINK TO DOWNLOAD VIDEO
(Right click in Internet Explorer and click 'Save As')

Download Windows Media Video (18 MB)

Download RealVideo (14 MB)

LINK TO DOWNLOAD AUDIO (If trouble with video)
(Left click to play, right click to'Save As')

Download MP3 (3 MB)

QUESTIONS?
I'm throwing this open to questions. Anything you would like to know about this simple project management process I use, or what we're up to here at SolutionBox - here's your chance to ask it on the blog, and I WILL respond to all questions (on topic) asked before July 31:

Ask Question

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Create # 43:Join David in Bed (the ‘Wake Up Video’)

Announcements/Offers

Confused about Coach Training and Certification?
Register for your fr ee Coach Training Mini eCourse, which includes the fr ee download: 'Independent Report on Coach Training and Certification'. Facts you should know about coach training and certification!

Cl'ick here to get your coaching training course and download:
http://www.becomeacoach.com/freedownload.htm


FEATURE: Join David in Bed (the 'Wake Up Video’)

When I say join me in bed – I mean it.

I'm going to go out on a limb here.

I'm actually going to bring you into my bedroom and show you the first 8 minutes of my day.

Why? Because I've discovered a simple process that is responsible for a lot of my creativity. For my clarity. For my direction. And for my motivation.

I’m about to show you, video frame by video frame, a process I use that’s largely responsible for my business success.

It's pretty quick - and I got my whole business vision for SolutionBox out of it. Interested?

You’ll be thinking…."I don't want to see it, yet I cannot look away!"

Yeah - I know. Me waking up is not a pretty sight I warn you - but c’lick here to watch the 8 minute video and discover this life changing process:

The Wake Up Video

It can help you:
- get motivated to do things you’ve been putting off
- generate a whole to-do list from the subconscious mind, not the conscious
- be incredibly creative.

Watch:
The Wake Up Video

* * *
Have you used this process? If so - post your experience on the blog.

Going to use it? Post your commitment here.

Enjoy,
David

The Personal Touch

I’m still enjoying meeting wonderful people. Particularly the gorgeous women of NY, PA, and hmmm…Ohio. There’s a lot to be said for monogamy, and…anyone who doesn’t enjoy the dating experience, while on their way to committed bliss, is missing out! My life is now so packed with fun things, people and events, I have no hope of fitting in everything I want to. I believe this is called abundance. And of course…it took time and effort to create.

Been to some fun camps and events, and it continues with a 3 week Germany trip (http://www.paullowe.org/ ) coming up, which will include a Sonja, Goetz and Max visit (my German family).

Burning Man (http://www.burningman.org/ ) is still on the cards for end August.

My beautiful, smart, fun, charming, aware brother Andrew collected my old video camera mini-tapes (from the last 10 years) onto a DVD, so I could see some of them for the first time ever. My goodness, what an amazing trip down memory lane – seeing past partners, past events; it was incredibly moving. So now I commit to buying a digital camera and filming bursts regularly (including a 5 minute interview on the status of my life every 5 years). It may not be interesting tomorrow, but in 5-10 years….

Happy Birthday Leanne (one of my closest friends on the planet and once my wife), Rob and Graeme.

And I had a July 4 party last night in my home – not something you want to do every day (well that would be silly wouldn’t it) but a lot of fun. The lady carrying a manikin doesn’t know it yet, but our paths are meant to cross ;-)

D