An Entrepreneur's Life

Entrepeneurship + Rapid-Growth, Local and Small Business Marketing

Restaurants with Flash web sites and menus

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In the, “what the $&%# was your web designer thinking” category …

In the last two weeks I have had three clients visit for consulting. We met in my office and chose different restaurants to have a meal after our session.

How did we choose?

Yelp to see what was nearby, then a visit to the potential restaurants web sites.

Oh, and like many folks nowadays, we used either an iPhone or an iPad to do the browsing.

So, we browse over to the site.

Look at the menu to see what is good.

And…

Some goofball web designer sold the restaurant a site that will only display the menu in flash.

Seriously.

Three restaurants lost out on a healthy check with a nice tipper because their web sites are not optimized for the mobile world.

You have to love the work

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I’ve worked with some very successful entrepreneurs.

I’ve had some success, myself.

I’ve written about my frustration with the 4-hour work week, and about the nastiness that is the biz opp side of Internet and information marketing.

Here’s where they all collapse into the ultimate test for any entrepreneur.

If you are building a business and one of your driving questions is, “how can I build a business that will make it so I don’t have to work too much?” — you aren’t cut out for building a business.

Dump the entrepreneurial dreams, save up some money, and buy a franchise. The steady and safe return with minimal owner involvement is what they were created for.

But if you are striking out in the world, finding your own path, and seeking to create value with a new venture where before there was none … well, if you want to know the secret beyond all secrets it is simply this:

You have to love the work.

Building a business is hard. You will be battered and bruised. You will make mistakes. And while mentors, roadmaps, resources, and support are out there; when everyone and everything is telling you to give up, only your effort and resolve will see you through.

If you hate the work, if you are working so that you “don’t have to work” … you’ll never make it over the hump. At the first sign of challenge you’ll give up and go home, because you were never invested in the work to begin with.

When you love the work?

When you love the work — and not just when it is easy or pleasant … but because in your bones you feel is HAS to be done and you are the one to be doing it — then you find your strength and resolve. And it is in those moments of strength and resolve when you have the opportunity to make magic.

Automating Replays of Teleseminars & Webinars in InfusionSoft – and other CRMs?

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The world of automation and replays with both teleseminars & webinars has taken off over the last 6 months.

Services that used to cost thousands of dollars … a lot of manpower … and still enough screw-ups to cause sleepless nights have become dramatically cheaper and more fool-proof.

I’m in the midst of updating my paid clients with the new automation service & vendor options plus the strategies to use them, but I am also going to release some for free on this blog.

Starting with a “look over my shoulder” video of how we program in automation follow-up sequences in Infusion.

So, two questions …

First, if there is anything specific you’d like me to cover, leave a comment below.

Second, if you’d like me to cover sequences in a system other than InfusionSoft, let me know.

No promises on answering either one (unless you are inside the pay-wall) … but I will take them into consideration and do what I can.

Be well,
Michael Cage

P.S. Here is a free video overview on teleseminar & webinar replay and automation strategy. I recommend checking it out if you haven’t already.

11 Ways Local Retail Stores Profit from Blogging

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Blogging.

“Ugh. Isn’t that a lot of work? Why bother?” you ask …

Here are 11 powerful reasons why.

Reasons that, ultimately, add profits to your bottom line.

1. When local retailer’s blog it gives your shop personality.

There’s a business principle that people like doing business with other people, not nameless, faceless corporations. Your blog is your local business’s “name and face,” and gives your customers and clients a way to interact with your business on a personal level.

And the more personal they feel their relationship with you is, the more often they’ll chose you over “x retailer” down the road … no matter how cheap or fast or whatever that competitor may be.

2. A well-run blog can highlight your retail store and balance out Yelp and other review sites.

If your customers all love you and say so on Yelp and other sites, great. Your blog will help to amplify that message.

But if you have an occasional crackpot … or someone with a legitimate complaint … having a substantial blog presence gives you a chance to present what makes your retail shop such a great choice.

Here’s the rule.

If your potential customers ONLY see an average or bad review, they’ll assume that is ALL your business is about.

If your potential customers see an average review, but also see owner-delivered information on a blog that makes the business shine, they’ll be much more likely to “average” the information and still come into your store.

3. Introduce new offers, specials and sales on your retail blog.

Instead of waiting until someone is in your doors to tell them about your new new product or service, tell them on your blog and bring them into your business.

For example, you can write a blog post that’s a version of, “The most common question I get asked is _______. So we searched far and wide for (the solution), and narrowed it down to (what you’re selling). Here’s why it’s great. And here’s what you’ll love about it. Come check it out.”

You’ll excite your loyal customers and clients who already know you provide quality products and services. And you’ll make prospects want to work with you because you’ve shown you have their best interest at heart.

This is much more effective than the “here’s what we have, take it or leave it” approach most businesses take.

4. Blogging makes your local retail shop show up higher in search engine rankings (SEO)

Google loves active bloggers. Even one post a week is all it takes to move you up in the rankings. Which means your next best customer finds you online, not your competition.

5. Blogging increases referrals and word of mouth marketing.

A viral blog post spread. Which means word of your business spreads, too.

All it takes is one great idea and one rant about it on your blog to increase awareness of your local business. Plus, you can actively encourage referals by making stars of your customers on your blog.

For example, highlight a customer who achieved amazing results with something you offer.

When you make a big deal out of someone, they’ll want to make a big deal out of you by referring.

6. Your blog keeps your retail business front-and-center with your market.

Most businesses do a transaction and then forget about that customer until they show up again. And when they stop showing up, the business owner doesn’t know why or where they went.

Blogging increases customer retention by maintaining your relationships even when those people aren’t in your physical location.

7. Local blogging gives your customers, clients and prospects a “say” your business.

Try this, pose a question to your blog readers about what they want to see more of, less of or done differently in your store and see what they say.

You’ll be amazed at the things they’ll tell you they want to spend money on. Things you may not have though of that they’re probably already buying online or from your competition.

For example, if you’re an upscale clothing boutique, you can ask your blog readers what designers they want to see in your store. Or what new fashion trends they’ve been dying to get their hands on. You can leave the question open-ended or give them the choice of a few options you’ve narrowed down that you know you can get in the store.

And once you have whatever they want in, you can announce it on your blog, too (see #3).

So now when you give your customer and clients what they want, they’ll know you listened to them, feel like they had a part in making your business great and be excited to hand you money.

8. Blogging gives you a platform to communicate your passion.

People love working with businesses who are in it for more than just a paycheck. Your passion for what you do and who you do it for will draw people in and keep them coming back for more. Plus, you’ll show that you take pride in providing quality  products or services.

If you run a home improvement shop, for example, and you’re angry at how many customers you’ve come across you’ve been ripped off by unqualified contractors, you can use your blog to let your customers know you’re dedicated to provided quality tools, supplies and know-how to get their next project done and done right.

Do you see how this helps you connect with your market on a deeper level? Now you’re more than just someone who sells tools, you’re an advocate for home owners who’ve been taken advantage of. You’re the one they want to buy from because they know they can trust you.

9. Blogging is a way to demonstrate your contribution to the community.

People want to be a part of businesses who add something to their local community. Whether you’re involved in a local charity or sponsor a little league team – or whatever it is – write about it in your blog. Not only will you further humanize your business, but you can raise awareness for a good cause as well.

10. Promote your retail business by “showcasing” it on your blog.

I might drive an hour out of my way for a business who’s a perfect fit for me. But I will not drive an hour out of my way to find out if a business is perfect or not.

Adding visuals and videos to your blog is one of the best ways to show your prospects what you’re all about before they step foot in your doors. Which means you’ll attract the best match-and-fit customers around.

11. Blogging is a way to establish your authority in your industry.

One of the best ways to use your blog is to demonstrate your expertise. Write about the problems your customers face that relate to what you sell. Offer solutions. Offer how-to posts. Offer tips and tricks-of-the-trade.

For example, if you’re a gourmet grocery store and you blog about the latest exotic foods recall, you demonstrate that you know your products, you’re up on the trends and you have your customer’s best interests at heart.

The more you educate, the more you establish yourself as a leader in your field, and the more you build trust.

And trust is the key to loyal clientele.

3 Secrets for Easy Local Referrals in your Business – Audio Referral Marketing Training

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“What other people say about you is more powerful and more believable than what you say about yourself.”

This is the principle that makes word of mouth marketing so important for local businesses like yours.

That, and the fact that word of mouth marketing costs next to nothing

So if you’re like most local business owners, you rely on word of mouth marketing to keep new customers, clients and patients flowing through your doors.

But how do you stimulate it? What can you do to make word of your business spread like wildfire?

Today’s audio freebie reveals the 3 simple secrets you need to know to stimulate word of mouth marketing for local businesses.

[flashvideo file=wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Word-of-Mouth-local1.mp3 height=50 player=overlay provider=sound /]

On Information Marketing, Internet Marketing & Choices

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WARNING: I edited out most of the “adult” words in the post below, but a few remain. If that bothers you, don’t read it.

I have thought about writing this message for almost 5 years, and I never had the courage to do it.

The most common question I hear from clients is why I don’t put out more training about information marketing.

I give a lot of answers, all of them partially true.

Here’s the full truth.

I’m so disgusted by what I see happening in the industry, that I have had a hard time choking down the bile long enough to put something out.

A few weeks ago, I realized I had two choices.

Choice #1 … get out of the business altogether. Focus on my consulting and training to “real” businesses, and never look back.

Choice #2 … find the courage to draw a line in the sand, maybe pick a fight, and take the good and the bad that comes with that.

Today I’m choosing the latter.

Here’s the line.

It’s about “who” what I have to offer is for, which comes before “what” I have to offer you.

If your idea of a great information business is where you get to sell crap in a box to people who don’t know better … if you like the idea of finding some BS product to sell as an affiliate without a care in the world about how good it is or who you are selling it to … if you think it’s ok to kiss the a$$ of a “guru” in the hopes that they’ll kiss your a$$ back with an affiliate promo … if you don’t work like mad to be great at doing what you are teaching and selling … if you don’t sweat and bleed with your customers who are buying into hope you are setting up …

… go away.

I’d rather go broke than teach that or be a part of it.

I wish you well and I hope you wake up … but if you don’t, I hope one of my clients puts you out of business.

Full stop.

“But, Michael, it’s easy to rant about what you aren’t for … what are you for?”

I’m for people who I have been told time and time again it is impossible to build a business around passion and purpose.

I’m for people who don’t consider the information business (or … g-d help me, the “internet marketing” business — a line of bull if ever there was one) a get rich quick scheme, but do consider it a higher calling to contribute unique gifts through teaching and training.

I’m for people who are crazy-in-love with both what they do and who they do it for. One or the other isn’t enough.

I’m for people who have attended seminars and bought trainings … all the time with a voice in their head saying, “I’d never want their life or to be them, and I know they don’t believe half of the BS they put in their marketing, but I can bear the stench long enough to maybe learn a thing or two.”

I’m for people who would choose a $1 million dollar business built the right way, instead of a $10 million business that means they can’t sleep at night.

I’m for people who give a damn.

By the way, I’m not claiming to be an angel.

I’ve made what feels like every mistake to be made in business, some I’m still paying for.

Others just remain as scars and reminders of bad choices.

So … consider me scarred and standing … and now speaking out.

I do have a glimpse of a different way.

And I try each day to live up to what I believe entrepreneurship should be about.

Making a contribution.

Bringing value to people who need it.

And caring.

And here’s where the courage part comes in.

I have been told over and over by mentors and teachers that you have to sell to the “get rich quickers” and the “scam artists.” That there aren’t enough people who want a real business … to pursue a real passion … to build a business around.

Well, I’m about to find out whether that is true.

It might be that after I hit send on this message, out of the thousands of customers it will go to … that only a dozen decide to stick around.

Here’s where the courage comes in.

If I lose 95% of my customers … if I have a dozen left but those dozen actually care … I accept it.

In fact, I embrace it.

Some very cool things are coming. I’m renewed and energized in a way I haven’t been in a decade. I hope to have you on board.

Writing about Information Marketing and (G-d help me) Internet Marketing

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Nearly half of my private consulting work is focused on “achievers” in the information marketing space. Typically coaches, consultants or authors with businesses in, or nearing, the 7 to 8-figure range.

While I refuse to work with people who are “selling crap in a box” (see afore mentioned “Internet marketers” and biz-opp scammers) … people who are genuine experts, are insanely passionate about their work, and want to reach a larger audience (or their existing audience a lot deeper) are a true joy to work with.

Here, I’ll write about topics relevant to people in or getting into the information marketing, internet marketing (I’ll explain why thinking that you are in or getting into that business is the first indication you need to adjust your thinking), or who are current authors/coaches/consultants and want to add an information publishing component to what they do.

Teleseminar & Webinar Automation + Replay Profits

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I’m hunkered down at home in Leesburg, VA today, basking in the aftermath of the parts 1 and 2 of the East Coast Blizzard 2010.

As I write this, nearly 4 feet of snow have fallen outside my door. At one point, it was falling at about 2 inches an hour.

Just piling and piling up.

Should be fun digging out of this. 🙂

Anyways, watching the snowfall  got me thinking about your teleseminars and webinars and the endless potential for profits they give you when you understand the power of automation.

You see, if you do a teleseminar or webinar once and don’t automate it, the next time you need money you have to go back and repeat the same work all over again.

But when you do a teleseminar or webinar once and automate the process, you can move on to the next big thing while that one session runs constantly, generating income for you day and night.

Like this ‘round the clock snowfall, automated “sessions that sell” can dump blizzard-like piles of profits on your business.

I lit the fireplace in my office/studio and recorded a 15-minute video on the teleseminar & webinar automation strategy and how it applies to your business.

Just press play.

Be well,
Michael Cage

P.S. If you want the definitive training on teleseminars & webinars that sell … INCLUDING exactly how to integrate automation into your business and sales processes … you should enroll in my training on the topic. I’m in the home stretch of the 2009-2010 Teleseminars & Webinars That Sell training (everyone who enrolls on that page gets the new training free).

Spotting Business Ideas by Getting Pissed Off

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Plenty of ingredients go into a successful business.

In the early stages, one of the most important is having the energy and the will and the desire to stick with something even when it appears to be not working. And even when the world is telling you it’s just no good.

Having a great idea and being passionate about it helps with that.

So does being surrounded by great people who believe.

And being pissed off helps a lot.

A little “righteous indignation” can help push people through the rough times.

For years now, I have been very aware of how much local businesses contribute to my (and other) communities.

Put aside the pragmatic things like jobs and products and services they provide, look around your community, and my guess is there are a few small businesses run by passionate owners that improve quality of life, contribute to a sense of connection in your area, and just make you feel good.

It could be an amazing restaurant, the handyman who always comes through, or any of hundreds of others of local businesses run with passion and pride.

And for years now I have been pissed at how limited or outright bad the advice these business owners have to choose from when it comes to growing their companies.

While “small business” advice includes them … the truth is that LOCAL businesses are different. Different rules, different media, different measures of success. This is even more true with the advent and acceleration of local internet marketing.

I’m doing something about it.

We are building a website specifically for local business owners, called Inside Local Business.

I’m contributing marketing articles and tutorials there, and an array of experts in everything from advertising to finance to employees will be publishing there soon.*

Frankly, I just got so tired of being so pissed off … that I couldn’t not do it any longer.

What do you feel that way about?

And what are you waiting for?

Be well,
Michael Cage

* If you are interested in contributing and have *real value and expertise* to deliver to local business owners, reach out using the contact tab at the top of this page.