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Stamping Is My Business!

February 22, 2013

Stamping Up Offering Online Classes - Three Factors That Will Determine Whether It's A Good Or Bad Thing For Demos

This morning, Stampin' Up announced they were going to begin offering online classes for sale. 

This initial announcement was lacking in specifics.  As a result, as you can see from this thread on the SIMB Facebook Page, the reaction is decidedly mixed.

They say 'the devil is in the details,' and that's certainly true here.

When those details are revealed, here are the three factors I believe will determine whether or not this new offering will help or harm business-building, profit-minded Demos:

1. Cost

As was pointed out at Leadership, many Demonstrators are already doing online classes.  Because of this, pricing has to be a serious consideration.  If priced incorrectly, the company can inadvertently hurt their most serious, business-building Demonstrators

Without knowing exactly how much information is covered in the online class SU is offering, the only point I can make about this issue is the class should be priced at no less than $24.99.  To charge less would undercut Demonstrators already offering both online and offline classes.  Setting the bar too low doesn't help anyone.

2. How It's Offered

The only way a product like this should be offered is through the Demonstrator.  If SU offers it directly to customers, it places them in direct competition with their Demonstrators. 

To deliver maximum benefit to the individual Demonstrator, these classes should either be made available exclusively through individual Demos' online ordering sites, or the transaction can only be completed after a valid Demo ID is entered on the order form.

3. Call To Action

If one of the purposes of this online class is to encourage customers to purchase catalog product, anyone watching the online class should only be encouraged to purchase that product through their Demonstrator

As such, any calls to action in the class videos or literature should not include generic, non-Demo specific links.  Instead, every call to action should prompt the customer to contact their individual Demonstrator to place their order.

 

More details are coming next week.  When we know more, just like I did with My Paper Pumpkin and the Hostess Code, I'll do a BSCG Members-Only webinar and share some strategies you can use to take full advantage of this latest addition.

Until then, take a wait and see attitude, and enjoy your weekend.

February 11, 2013

Using The Hostess OEX Code To Increase Sales And Grow Your Business

Our monthly Business Stampers Coaching Group Members-Only Webinar will be held this Wednesday, February 13th, at 10 pm. 

On the webinar, I'm going to share several strategies and ideas you can use to take full advantage of the new Hostess Code feature in OEX!  These ideas are designed to increase your sales in traditional workshops AND in the online space!

I'm also going to discuss the new Facebook Graph Search feature being rolled out now.  This one is a game-changer, and I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to start doing NOW to take full advantage of it and get a jump on the competition!

If you're already a BSCG Member, you'll find the webinar registration information on the BSCG Message Board, in the Conference Call section.

If you're not a BSCG Member yet, take the $1/7-Day Trial.  You'll be able to sit in on the webinar AND experience all of the other business-building benefits of BSCG Membership!

Take the $1/7-Day BSCG Trial Now!

February 06, 2013

ANNOUNCING - The 2013 Social Networking Boot Camp! Early Bird Begins NOW!

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I'm happy to announce Early Bird Registration has opened for the 2013 Social Networking Boot Camp!

If you're not on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube yet OR (perhaps even worse) you're there, but it's not generating the results you want or need, this is the Boot Camp for you!

We're even going to talk about Pinterest - how to use it to your advantage, avoid the mistakes a lot of stamping business owners are currently making there AND not get caught wasting a lot of time!

In addition to the four weekly webinars, you'll receive dozens of over-the-shoulder tutorial videos, taking you through the process of building, optimizing and maintaining your business presence on each social networking site.

I've recorded a video discussing the state of social networking today and what it means to your business.  

Watch the video now!

  • 93% of all businesses now use social networking. 
  • Over 70% of the adult population in this country uses social networking.
  • For ages 25-34, that number is closer to 90%! 
  • If you want to give your business the best possible chance for maximum growth and profitability, YOU need to utilize social networking... and do it right!

For more information, use the link below.  The Early Bird Discount Period begins NOW!

Click Here To Learn More About The 2013 Social Networking Boot Camp!

January 18, 2013

How To Get The Most Out Of My Paper Pumpkin

Hope you're all having a great week!  Many of you are back from Leadership and have had a LOT to say about the event.  I'll be sharing some of my thoughts in the coming days and weeks, but right now...

MY PAPER PUMPKIN - BSCG MEMBERS-ONLY WEBINAR

Our monthly Business Stampers Coaching Group Members-Only Webinar will be held this Monday, January 21st, at 10 pm. 

On the webinar, I'm going to share several strategies and ideas regarding My Paper Pumpkin.  We'll talk about...

  • Ways to incorporate it into your existing business without hurting your long-term sales
  • Who you should (and shouldn't) focus your MPP marketing on
  • How to use MPP to find new customers
  • ... and more!

If you're already a BSCG Member, you'll find the webinar registration information on the BSCG Message Board, in the Conference Call section.

If you're not a BSCG Member yet, take the $1/7-Day Trial.  You'll be able to sit in on the webinar AND experience all of the other business-building benefits of BSCG Membership!

Take the $1/7-Day BSCG Trial Now!

January 02, 2013

ANNOUNCING - The 2013 Blogger's Boot Camp! Early Bird Begins NOW!

image from www.stampingismybusiness.com
 
I'm happy to announce Early Bird Registration has opened for the 2013 Blogger's Boot Camp!
The Boot Camp will begin Tuesday, January 15th, at 10 p.m.  (if you can't make the live webinars, don't worry... you'll have access to the recordings thru May 1st!).
 
Blogs are big business!  I have several clients generating six-figure incomes as a result of their blogs
 
But you have to start somewhere!  So...
 
    * If you haven't started a blog yet, and you'd like to learn how to do it right!
 
    or
 
    * If you'd just like to see more profit and lead generation from your blog than you're currently getting...
 
I encourage you to sign up for this Boot Camp!
 
When you sign up, not only do you get the four hour-long webinars, but you'll also gain access to over 30 over-the-shoulder, step-by-step videos, taking you through every phase of building, optimizing and maintaining your blog! 
 
For more information, use the link below.  The Early Bird Discount Period begins NOW!
 
 
Hope to see you there!

December 24, 2012

FREE WEBINAR - Five Things You Can Do To Kickstart 2013!

Free-webinar-2I'm happy to announce our next FREE WEBINAR...
 
Five Things You Can Do To Kickstart 2013!
 
In this webinar, I'll share the five best things you can do in January to set you and your business up for your best year ever!

I'll also take some time to answer any questions you have about your stamping business!

 
When: Thursday, January 3rd, at 10:00 p.m. eastern
 
The webinar will be recorded, and I'll send all registrants the link.  So, even if you can't make it live, you should register.  Just use the link below:
 
 
Hope to see you there!
 
PS - feel free to share this information with your fellow stamping business owners.

December 14, 2012

This Week's BSCG Hot Topics!

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More great, exclusive "Member's Only" training happening on the Business Stampers Coaching Group message board this week, including:

  • How To Grow Your Twitter Following! (Video)
  • All-Day Crops
  • How To Start 2013 STRONG! (Video)

For those of you who don't know, the BSCG is the premier online Coaching Community for profit-driven, business-minded stamping business owners.

The Group is fantastic, and the content is killer. In addition to the Message Board, which is where Members communicate, ask questions of me and fellow Members and receive tons of positive, professional support from like-minded business owners (and me), Members also receive:

  • Exclusive, monthly business-building webinars
  • Business-building How-To Videos every week
  • Weekly blog evaluation videos
  • Twice-weekly Coaching Challenges
  • Weekly writing prompts to help with your blogging
  • Motivational audio messages to start off every week
  • A private Twitter feed
  • A monthly Backlinks Packet to help build SEO for your blog
  • BSCG Fit Club
  • Hundreds of links to business-building articles to further your knowledge and education
  • Exclusive discounts on various SIMB products & services
  • AND... The Newsletter Co-Op - you write one article every month, and you gain access to over 60 others you can copy and paste into your monthly newsletter!

If you're on the fence about joining the BSCG, take the $1, 7-Day Trial. If you don't think the information is worth the dirt-cheap monthly fee, or you can't benefit from it, just cancel before the 7 days are up and owe nothing.

To learn more or sign up, click here.

November 07, 2012

What The Election Can Teach Your Stamping Business

Election-results-2012As I write this, I'm a little sleepy.  I was up until 2:00 in the morning watching the election coverage, as well as  the victory and concession speeches.

And no matter who you voted for, I think what really surprised everyone about the election was that it was over so quickly.  President Obama was declared the winner shortly after 11:00 p.m. Tuesday night.  I honestly expected the election to go well into the next morning. 

In hindsight, though, it's easy to see why President Obama's win was so quick and decisive... and there's a real lesson there for all stamping business owners.

 
THE LESSON

In the post-election analysis, it's become clear the Romney campaign wasn't running a strategy that took into account the changing demographics and preferences of American voters today.  And while the Romney strategy might have worked eight, or even four years ago, it simply wasn't a winning strategy in 2012.

This is a mistake stamping business owners make all the timeRunning with ideas and strategies that worked yesterday, but don't take into account the changing preferences, attitudes and opportunities of customers today.

As a result, many stamping business owners are left wondering why the ideas they've been told are 'tried and true' aren't doing as well as they used to.

And the simple answer is, they're not doing as well because the audience has shifted... but the business has stayed the same.

If your customers are moving and you're staying still, that's a problem!

Nowhere is this problem for stamping business owners more obvious than when it comes to doing business online.  
 
Every day, a growing number of customers and prospects spend more of their time, and do more of their business, online... and less face-to-face.

As a result, Stamping Business Owners doing business online continue to grow their sales and their profits, while Stamping Business Owners who aren't doing business online struggle more and more with just maintaining their numbers, much less growing them.

The numbers don't lie.  In the end, it's as clear as the election results Tuesday nightIf you don't shift when your customers do, you're going to get left behind.

I've recorded a video detailing the four simple ways stamping business owners can meet their customers online, increase their product sales AND their bottom-line profit.

WATCH THE VIDEO!

 

 

October 22, 2012

(VIDEO) How Much Should A Stamping Business Owner Get Paid?

One of the questions I'm most often asked is, "How much should I be making as a Stampin' Up Demonstrator (Close To My Heart Consultant, etc.)?" Here's my answer:

 

Learn more about The Profitability Boot Camp!

 

 

October 10, 2012

ANNOUNCING - The First-Ever Profitability Boot Camp! Early Bird Begins NOW!

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I'm happy to announce Early Bird Registration has opened for the 2012 Profitability Boot Camp!

This first-ever Boot Camp will take place beginning Tuesday, October 23rd, at 10:00 p.m. eastern (if you can't make the live webinars, don't worry... you'll have access to the recordings thru February 1st, 2013!).

Who is this Boot Camp for? 

  • If you're tired of running a business that doesn't make the money you want it to...
  • If you're sick of not getting paid what you're worth...
  • If you're ready to make 2013 YOUR year...to get paid well... to get paid what you deserve...

This Boot Camp is for YOU!

I've recorded a short video detailing exactly what we're going to cover during the Boot Camp to make YOU profitable!

The Early Bird Discount period begins NOW!

Click here to watch the video

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Hope to see you in the Boot Camp!

October 01, 2012

FREE WEBINAR - Business Building Strategies With My Mentors!

I'd like to invite you to join me for a FREE WEBINAR this Thursday, October 4th, at 10:00 p.m. eastern.

We'll be discussing Business-Building and Success Strategies in the New Economy, and I've invited two of my Mentors to join me for the session:

Bill Walsh

Bill-walshBill Walsh is the CEO/Founder of Business Coaching/Venture Capital firm, Powerteam International.

Bill hosts and speaks at events all over the world, and has shared the stage with Brian Tracy, Les Brown, Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Kiyosaki and more.

He's the host of 'The Rainmaker Program' on WIND radio in Chicago, and the author of the book, 'The Obvious.'

His passion is to empower entrepreneurs and business owners to create massive success.  He's spent the past two decades working with everyone from start-ups to major global corporations, helping to increase their sales, productivity and reach their overall goals by helping them understand specifically what it takes to build a successful brand. 
 

Dr. Rich Schuttler

Dr-richDr. Rich Schuttler is an Organizational Strategist and the the author of "Laws of Communication: The Intersection Where Leadership Meets Employee Performance," as well as the forthcoming book, "Everyday Leader Heroes"

Dr. Rich served as Dean at the University of Phoenix from 2000-2004, and was responsible for the Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership and Doctor of Business Administration degree programs. 

Dr. Rich served in the U.S. Navy and retired after 23 years of honorable service in the field of cryptology and earned his Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University. He resides in Chicago and Hawaii.

Today, Dr. Rich mentors executives, faculty, and students from around the world in a variety of professional leadership and management settings.  Some of his clients include Delta Airlines; The University of Phoenix, NCAA; The Sloan Consortium MIT; Good Samaritan Hospital San Jose, CA; The United States State Department; and other small to large businesses.

It's a privilege to have two of my mentors on this webinar, and a real opportunity for you to ask these two experts questions about YOUR business!  We're going to share a LOT of information with you, but we've made sure to leave plenty of room for your questions!

Among the topics we're going to discuss:

  • The Three Pillars of Success
  • The Qualities of Successful Leaders
  • Time Management Techniques
  • Lead and Customer Acquisition
  • ...and more!

This is a free webinar, but SPACE IS LIMITED!  We'll take registrations on a first-come, first-served basis.  And if you can't make it live, sign up anyway, as all registrants will receive the recording!


REGISTER FOR THE FREE WEBINAR NOW!

 

September 24, 2012

QUOTE OF THE WEEK - Opportunity

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

 - Thomas Edison

 

September 17, 2012

If You're Struggling To Grow Your Stamping Business...Here Are Six Suggestions That Could Help

Struggling-business-womanA conversation was started in at least two online forums yesterday by a stamping business owner who was feeling discouraged about her business.  It seems like no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get her business off the ground.

First, let me say that if you're feeling that way, you're not alone.  Owning your own business is tough.  Starting a business is tough.  Maintaining a business is tough.  And growing a business is really tough!

Having said that, I also know that any one of you can start, maintain AND grow your own stamping business!  In many ways, it's even easier to that now than its ever been.

After reading through many of the comments in these forums, I'd like to offer a few suggestions to help you stop struggling:

1. What Worked Yesterday May Not Work Today
If you're in a situation where you used to have high customer attendance at certain types of events, but that's no longer the case, it may be that your customers have moved on to other things.  The question is, have you moved with them? 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in business, and I see this happen in the stamping business community every week, is sticking with something even though your customers have told you by their actions they don't want it anymore.

Businesses are always changing.  They have to in order to survive.  If your business today looks pretty much like it did two or three years ago, but your numbers look a lot worse, that may be a sign things need to change.


2. New Customers Are Key
The other thing you need to look at is your customer base.  How many new customers have you added in the last year?  If the answer is, 'not many,' that's probably part of the problem. 

Most stamping business owners simply do not do enough marketing.  If you're not doing some type of marketing every day, truthfully, you're probably not doing enough.

If you're not bringing on enough new customers, your business will always be a struggle.  If you're also doing events that your existing customers don't want, it's a powerfully negative one-two punch.


3. Focus On The Big Picture
No one change is going to turn a struggling business around.  Business owners in this position often look for the 'magic bullet.'  Unfortunately, there really isn't one. 

What you need, instead, is a plan.  Start with your overall Objective, then deterine what needs to happen in your business long-term in order for you to be able to achieve that Objective.  Finally, break those long-term goals down into short-term ones.

What you'll discover is you probably have to do many different things concurrently in order to turn things around.  And that's OK.  A business is never just one thing.

And don't think you have to put 40 hours a week into your business to be successful.  You don't.  If you have a plan, and you stick to that plan consistenly, you'd be amazed how little time you actually need.

Remember... if you don't plan your success... you're planning your failure.


4. Don't Chase Ideas That Aren't Going To Grow Your Business
Stuggling business owners sometimes feel desperate.  When they feel that way, they often do things just to get something... anything.  While that may make you feel better in the short-term, it actually makes it less likely you'll succeed in the long-run

Pursue the ideas that are actually going to make your long-term Objectives a reality.  Crunch the numbers before trying anything.  Make sure the ideas can stand on their own, and aren't dependent on a big downline check on the back-end. 

Don't get sucked into the 'everyone else is doing it' or 'this successful person is doing it' trap.  Most of the time, this falls under the iceberg theory.  You only see about 10% of the whole thing.  If you just copy the 10%, you're not going to get the results you're seeking.

5. Don't Compete For Customers And Downline Who Aren't Going To Grow Your Business
Another desperation move is to offer your products and services at dirt-cheap prices.  Again, doing this only makes long-term success more difficult.  If you fill your business with 'customers' who only found you appealing because of your discount, how long can you sustain that?  If the loyalty of the customer is to the price-point, instead of to you, how long before they move on to the next person who's offering an even cheaper price?

In order for your business to survive and thrive, you have to get paid your rate.  And you should only work with customers who are willing to pay you that amount.  Anyone who isn't simply isn't a customer.  If you're not willing to commit to that, you're always going to struggle. 


6. You Have To Invest In Yourself Before Asking Others To Invest In You
This gets back to #1.  The world is changing.  Your customers are changing.  And your business has to change with it.  The road to success is littered with the remains of businesses who refused to change with the times.

Continuing education is one of the most important aspects of being a successful busines owner.  You can't serve your customers if you're not moving forward with them. 

For example, for better or worse, we're a technology-based society.  Your customers are utilizing technology more and more.  That means, if you want to continue to grow your business, you have to, as well.  To stubbornly refuse only hurts one person.... you!

The most successful people I know are always learning.  I personally spend between $20,000 and $30,000 per year on my continuing education.  I'm not saying you have to spend that kind of money, but you have to invest in yourself.  If you're not willing to make that investment, why should others be willing to make an investment in you?


Conclusion
If you're struggling, there are many things you can do to lessen or even eliminate the struggle.  But you have to be committed to change.  To change the way you've done things.  And maybe, even, to change yourself.

If you are committed, though, there's nothing you can't do!

August 29, 2012

ANNOUNCING - The First-Ever Mobile Marketing Boot Camp! Early Bird Begins NOW!

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I'm happy to announce Early Bird Registration has opened for the 2012 Mobile Marketing Boot Camp!

This first-ever Boot Camp will take place on four consecutive Tuesdays, beginning September 11th, at 10 p.m.  (if you can't make the live webinars, don't worry... you'll have access to the recordings thru January 1st, 2013!).

Who is this Boot Camp for?  If you're trying to...

  • Find New Marketing Opportunities
  • Attract Younger Customers
  • Grow Your Local Business Utilizing Technology
  • Grow Your National Business In A Low-Cost, Effective Way

...then this Boot Camp is for YOU!

By the end of this Boot Camp, you'll be able to...

  • Set Up Your Mobile-Friendly Website (in fact, I'm going to give you the code that allows you to convert your site automatically)
  • Set Up Mobile E-Mail and Text Messaging Campaigns
  • Set Up You own Mobile App (in fact, by the end of the Boot Camp, you will HAVE your own mobile app to share with your customers)
  • Set Up Your QR Code Marketing

...and much more!!!

Think about it... more email is now being read on mobile devices than on computers... more people will access the internet via mobile devices than computers by 2014.

In other words... your customers are going mobile!

If you want to get there first, I strongly encourage you to take this Boot Camp!

The Early Bird Discount period begins NOW! 

Tell Me More About The Mobile Marketing Boot Camp!

Hope to see you in the Boot Camp!

August 24, 2012

FREE WEBINAR - The Five Principles Of A Profitable Stamping Business!

Free-webinar-2Over the last week or two, I've been swamped with questions about how to run a profitable stamping business.
 
Since this is such a pressing issue, I've decided to host a free webinar explaining...
 
The Five Principles Of A Profitable Stamping Business!
 
Here's the thing...  it doesn't matter what type of stamping business you're operating. 
 
It could be a traditional, workshop-based business, or a completely online one. 
 
If you want your business to be profitable, there are certain principles you should follow.
 
I'm going to share them with you during this free webinar.
 
When: Monday, August 27th, at 10:00 p.m. eastern
 
The webinar will be recorded, and I'll send all registrants the link.  So, even if you can't make it live, you should register.  Just use the link below:
 
 
See you Monday!
 
John
 
PS - feel free to share this information with your fellow stamping business owners.