So — how does one keep attracting those customers?

The best way to satisfy new and prospective customers is to give them benefits — a reason why they can’t resist doing business with you.  The way to do that is to provide an irresistable offer.  When you offer something free that’s of value to your customers, they’ll be open to getting more information from you.  The irresistable offer can be in the form of a free report, a CD, a video, an e-book, a free consulting session.  Whatever works for you.

Michael Gerber, the author of “The E-Myth” says, ““There is only one justifiable reason for creating a company; to serve someone else’s desire better than anyone else has ever done.”

So, let’s take the time each week to stop and think about how we’re serving our audiences.  What benefits are we giving to them above and beyond the others?  What can we do better?  What challenges are they facing that our product or service can resolve for them?

The more you demonstrate your willingness to serve, the more you will find others knocking on your door … or calling… or emailing.

We recently attended the Dr. King Celebration dinner, through the nonprofit ICDHR (Illinois Commission On Diversity & Human Relations), and had a great time in supporting the mission of helping more Chicago-area youth get college scholarships.

ICDHR was founded by Reverend Brooks, a good friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King.  Reverend Brooks dedicated his nonprofit to the ideals of Dr. King… and creates a fundraiser every year to provide college scholarships for deserving Chicago-area youth.  (www.icdhr.org)

This year, one of the guest speakers at the Dr. King Celebration dinner was the U. of Illinois President, Dr. Michael Hogan.  The University of Illinois agreed to provide matching funds for all donations to ICDHR — up to $100,000 per year.  So, it was a very special occasion to be at this event, and see all the smiling faces of so many youth.

It was also a treat to meet Dr. Hogan and his wife, especially since both my husband, Joel and I are alums and big Illini fans.  Luckily, our friend Stephanie Leese Emrich, another Illinois alum, happened to think about taking a quick photo.  Her husband Jeff Emrich took a photo of all of us with Reverend Brooks and Dr. Hogan, and before we knew it — the photo was emailed to Dr. Hogan… and he included it in his new blog.

Here it is – http://prezrelease.uillinois.edu/.

What an honor and a treat!

I just added this link to my Facebook page, and will share it on Twitter and LinkedIn.  Having great news to share is multiplied when you can post it on social media sites.

Go Illini!

As time goes by, I recognize more and more the importance of sharing, caring and listening to each other.  We all have so much to give.  So much… if we will only stop and listen.  We each carry our own stories… stories that are often hidden from view… but stories that can also attract others — as long as we also demonstrate our interest in others.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to volunteer on a one-week healthcare mission to Ecuador.  We met a number of other volunteers from around the country, and one of them happened to be a beautiful actress, Michelle Christian Corp, who was going through a reassessment of what she wanted to do in life.  She had just left professional acting, and we were thrown together to provide musical activities and games for children in need… while they waited for their dental checkups or dental extractions.

These children had so much love to give that they transformed Michelle and also uplifted my spirits.  No matter how long we worked under the hot sun, Michelle and I kept going… inspired by the children’s smiles, laughter and their mothers’ gratitude.

We can build great relationships by being open to what is before us.  Each day is a new day… with new opportunities.  You don’t have to travel off to Ecuador.  People are all around us.  A smile to someone behind the counter… a kind word to someone over the phone… a listening ear to someone in need… it all adds up to kindness that doesn’t get forgotten.

We are all connected.  Our world keeps getting closer and closer.  So — if we give someone the greatest gift — our time, that is the best way to build relationships.  A little “thank you” note that came handwritten in the mail last weekend was such a meaningful gesture.   I hope to keep remembering to do those “little” things too.

I’d like to share a message from my friend Michelle’s site…

“I prayed for change, so I changed my mind. I prayed for guidance and learned to trust myself. I prayed for happiness and realized I am not my ego. I prayed for peace and learned to accept others unconditionally. I prayed for abundance and …realized my doubt kept it out. I prayed for wealth and realized it is my health. I prayed for a miracle and realized I am the miracle. I prayed for a soul mate and realized I am the One. I prayed for love and realized it’s always knocking, but I have to allow it in.”

Tired of sounding like everyone else?  

When someone asks you, “What do you do?” that is a EXCELLENT marketing opportunity!

Avoid saying, “I am a _______,” because your contacts will automatically believe you’re like every other person they’ve met in your profession.  They will figure they know who and what you are.  Instead, focus on solving a SPECIFIC PROBLEM for a SPECIFIC GROUP of people.

As speaker PJ Van Hulle says, “When you do this, the mind of the person you are talking to will automatically start to search their mental filing cabinet for people they know that belong to that group and have that problem. Now, you are much more likely to get a referral out of the conversation.

If you have 30 seconds to give your infomercial, that’s only 6 sentences, so keep it brief.

Then, after giving and receiving a business card, the next important thing to do is FOLLOW-UP.  (So easy to forget!)

It’s all a part of building relationships, so people will know, like and trust you.

All the best,

Lynn Sanders

In this wonderful book, Wattles talks about the power of our thoughts.  Whether we’re marketing to a prospect, or envisioning a personal goal, the power of thoughts can not be underestimated.  The challenge is to monitor our own thoughts.  But yes, that is possible.  If we catch ourselves saying something critical about or to ourselves, then it’s important to rephrase that thought into something positive.  That’s the best way to become successful.

We are leaving tomorrow on a healthcare mission to Ecuador with Causes For Change International.  This small nonprofit has been touching the lives of thousands of children — through the passion of a woman who almost died of polio as a child in Ecuador.  Zully Alvarado has made it her mission to help other poor children in Ecuador, so they won’t have to suffer as she did — from poor healthcare and inadequate nutrition.

I’ve written a blog about it in Patch. com, and you can find it at this link:  http://bit.ly/lI5jEe.

Much to do before our trip tomorrow morning…

Till then — stay well and think positive!

  The Deadly Pitfalls In Online Videos 1.       Videos with no objective2.      Poorly lit videos3.      Videos with poor sound4.      Videos that are supposed to be funny5.      Videos that are too long  (over 3 minutes) Remember, when you post a low quality video, such as one made with your mobile phone,you’re not doing anything positive for your business. Videos need to reflect the quality of your business.  An example is, if you were to drive to

a company, and the building looked decrepit, with broken windows and the roof caving in, you would

probably drive right past it.  Right?  The idea of doing business with that company would be highly unlikely, right? So please, I beg of you, please don’t sabotage yourself with a video that looks terrible. If you post videos that have no relevance to viewers, you’re not only wasting your time, but also the time of your viewer.  Make sure your content has meaning.  There needs to be some strategic thinking behind it.  My former boss used to tell me, “We’re only as good as our last job.”  The same thinking applies to online videos.  It can take you years to build up your reputation, and it can be destroyed in minutes by one video.  So be sure it’s the best it can be.

For help in creating your strategic online videos, let Park Avenue Productions bring out your best.

To Your Success,Lynn SandersP.S.  You can sign up for free marketing tips on my website — www.parkaveproductions.com   

We were fortunate to meet an amazing woman a few years ago, and that experience has enriched our life, as well as touched the lives of thousands of children.  The woman is Zully Alvarado, Founder/CEO of a Chicago nonprofit, Causes For Change International.  Her organization provides free healthcare for children in need in Ecuador.   Working on a tight budget, Causes for Change called on us for both volunteer work in the summer, as well as any marketing and publicity that we could offer.

So, in 2008, our family joined this wonderful healthcare outreach to Ecuador.  It wasn’t easy giving up some of the conveniences of home — like hot running water or flush toilets in remote villages, but the love and gratitude was certainly worthwhile.

As volunteers at Causes For Change International, my husband Joel, our son Andrew and I did what we could.  My husband, Joel Sanders and a dentist from Australia provided free dental care to 1500 Ecuadorian children over four days last summer.  In 2008, Joel worked alongside two other dentists, and in that year, the three dentists helped 2500 children in need over five days.

Zully Alvarado, Founder of Causes For Change International, was once one of those children in need in Ecuador, and could have died from polio.  Rescued by a Chicago priest, Zully was raised in the United States, and has spent over a decade in helping other children in Ecuador receive free healthcare, so they won’t have to suffer as she did. 

We at Park Avenue Productions recommended Zully for an award through the Chicago Foundation for Women, and we were gratified to learn that she was one of the top ten chosen recipients in the Chicago 2011 Impact Award.  It’s exciting.  This small nonprofit still needs adequate funding to continue paying for the dental and medical supplies each summer.  Last summer, we helped Causes For Change raise several thousand dollars to pay for these much-needed supplies.  We wrote articles, sent out photoes and contacted the media.
 
I sent in a photo from last summer to Streetwise, and it’s featured on p.11 of this week’s issue (March 21st).  The photo shows Zully surrounded by girls from the orphanage in Guayquil, Ecuador, with my husband, Joel, our friend Pratiq, and our son Andrew in the back row.  So much can be done with so little.

As I learned, an untreated abcess or dental infection can result in death.  Only two dentists (including my husband) worked on all of these children in only four days!  If you or anyone you know would consider volunteering or making a donation, it would be greatly appreciated.  Visit www.causesforchange.org to learn more.

As Zully reminds us, “Each one can reach one.” 

When we take some time from our busy schedule, and sent out a message, a blog, an article, a photo, that effort can make a difference.  Someone had simply mentioned the program at Causes For Change International to my husband, Joel, and now we’re out doing what we can and spreading the word. 

Marketing is finding your target market and letting them know all about you.  Publicity is spreading your story out to a vast audience.  They both work hand in hand… and can make an impact in your work too!