Does the thought of marketing your business drive you to chocolate? If “getting the word out” makes you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. After coaching over 1,200 men and women the last four years I’ve discovered big differences between the genders and how we handle the challenges marketing throws at all small businesses.
Women Still Not Taken Seriously in the Business World
Did you know women are starting businesses at 2-4 times the rate of men? Women-owned businesses employ more people than the Fortune 500 combined. But businesses owned by women are often still not taken seriously.
My book, “Testosterone-Free Marketing: The Yin and Yang of Marketing for Women” is about why marketing and sales make many women uneasy and what they can do about it to enjoy more success and put more profits in your purse.
Can’t Relate to “Testosterone-Heavy” Marketing?
Many women can’t relate to pushy sales and marketing tactics about guns and guerrillas found in most marketing books, tapes and seminars. Women want to create relationships, not warfare. The rest of our lives are about building connections and extending a hand in friendship. We hate being pushy or annoying. So we wait for others to initiate a purchase. This is especially true for women raised to be “a good girl” and not “toot their own horn.” Our conditioning and how we were raised as girls impacts our success and cash flow.
Talented Women at the Crossroads of Success
One woman I coached had a delightfully outgoing personality and a network marketing business. She is an amazing story of a person who used her company's products and was cured of two chronic, debilitating disease conditions.
Susan was comfortable signing up people to her business opportunity who she believed would benefit from her company’s product. These people became customers and ordered the product faithfully. But to create a business that would generate a full-time income she knew she must recruit business builders. She asked, "Gosh Denise, why would they possibly be interested in me?"
It was difficult for her to admit, but Susan realized with the people who needed the product for their health she felt a bit superior, needed and adored. She even gave the product away but her husband put a stop to that. With business builder types she didn't feel superior, adored or even equal.
We all have something of value to offer others even if it's not as easy to see on the surface as being beautiful or being rich. Your uniqueness will be the reason people will want to do business with you. If you feel inadequate when you compare yourself with others, it’s not a business problem - it’s a self-confidence issue.
I’ve helped many women in a myriad of businesses from professionals with doctorates to business newbies to boost their sales and enjoy more freedom. To discover how my “Testosterone-Free Marketing” can help you, go to http://www.MarketingForHer.com and click on “Get the Book!”
Nurturing Women Can Have Abundant Cash Flow, Too
Women often bring to their home-based businesses the same nesting, nurturing characteristics as at home. They also bring the expertise they have around their products and services. Marketing and sales is out of their comfort zone. But more “product knowledge” will not help most women to sell more and create more cash flow. Marketing and selling skills absolutely necessary to create abundant cash flow even if we do it far differently from the men.
The Secrets of Asking and Receiving in the Business World
Marketing is about asking for what you want. In personal relationships its often wise counsel to wait for others to call you, in business it’s counter-productive. We can’t wait for customers to approach us the way we waited for the cute boy who sat next to us in high school History class to call for a date. Yet, I’ve talked with countless women business owners who do this. “Testosterone-Free Marketing” will teach you to ask without asking so it’s painless and more profitable.
Business will come to you, when you let the world know you are here, you are competent and you are ready. To get the book go to http://www.MarketingForHer.com and click on “Get the Book!”
Some industries are still testosterone-heavy but many ‘old dinosaurs’ holding women back have retired and moved on. My book will help you understand yourself as a woman and provide strategies that are friendly, let you relax and be yourself rather than dodge bullets. When you discover these keys, your cash flow will soar and your self-confidence will grow, too.
With over two decades successful experience in sales, advertising, public relations, market research and planning, Denise Michaels has worked with top authors and seminar leaders. Author of “Testosterone-Free Marketing” you can discover more about Denise online at http://www.MarketingForHer.com Or, email her at: smartprotege@msn.com
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