As you know, studies show that my mid-February, things start to calm down as many abandon their well-intended health / fitness plans. Making lifestyle changes can be a real challenge, especially for those who are brand new to making those changes.

With your client’s long term goals in mind, consider sending them health & wellness tips on a regular and consistent basis.

They will love receiving an unexpected message in the mail that will help them to stay accountable to their goals in-between meeting with you.

Send them a card to encourage and inspire them to keep moving forward even when they don’t feel like it.

Thank them for being a great client and for trusting you with their health.

Offer recipe tips that will help them stay nutritionally sound during the week, when they may feel like going back to old habits.

Send them a reminder card of their upcoming session with you.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. If you’d like to learn more, contact me and I’d be happy to work with you to create an appreciation program that will help your clients stay focused.

They will love you for it!

So, what’s the schedule and who gets spotlighted first? You’ll have to make sure to stay updated. I can’t spill all our secrets now, can I?

In January, we’re going to take a look at Accounts and Health / Nutrition professionals. I know what you’re thinking, “But, Patty, these two groups are not even related.”

For the most part, you’re right. They do have a couple of things in common, though.

Health / Nutrition pros are smack dab in the middle of the New Year’s resolutions mayhem. Everybody’s going on a “diet” and the gyms are packed.

Not to worry, though, by mid-February, the “resolutioners” will have cleared the gym and regular gym goers can have their treadmills back.

THIS is where the pros need to take action if they want to save their “resolutioners” from yet another year of “resolutions” when they should be making lifestyle changes. More details to come.

Now, on to the Accountants. I’ve already seen H&R Block commercials, have you? Yes, that’s right, while April 15th still seems ions away, accountants and tax professionals are already gearing up for the mid-Spring rush of clients who every year promise they’ll get their act together, but never do… and then wait until the last minute.

Honestly, this is a soft-spot with me. I don’t know how accountants and tax preparers do it. Just the thought of getting the data together to send to my accountant makes me cringe!

There are lots of things accountants can be sending their clients all year long, and especially during tax time (already prepared no pun intended!) to help make their clients’ lives and their lives so much easier.

Make sure you’re getting our email updates if you are in either of these groups. If you’re not and you know someone in these industries, make sure you send them over and tell them to subscribe so they can get all the latest updates.

Speaking of… 2008 has come and gone all too quickly and 2009 is in full swing. Do you have a plan and are you ready?

We’ve been doing some planning around here, too, and there are going to be some really cool things happening on Inspired WebWorks this coming year.

As you know, customer appreciation is what we do here…help you reach out to your customers and prospective customers in ways that perhaps you may not have though of before.

People really don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

We want to see you succeed in building customers for life. So, here’s what you can expect to see from us in 2009.

- Each month, we will be spotlighting two specific industry groups. The tips, ideas and topics will be centered around helping these groups. Not to worry, though. We’ll still be adding lots of great ideas everybody can use.

- Monthly workshops that focus on specific customer appreciation ideas and themes.

- Specific greeting card ideas that you can use right away in your business.

- I have partnered with an amazing internet publishing company for a really great project that will be bringing you some great surprises in 2009, too. I’ll be sure to post more as details become available.

- We’re talking about the possibility of a Blog Talk Radio show or a video show, although we’re still on the fence. I’ll let you know.

What do you think?

Here are just a few of the industries that we’ll be looking at this year:

Florists, Accountants, Dentists, Insurance, Health & Wellness, Spas, Hospitality, Travel and many more.

Do you have an industry you’d like us to feature? If so, make sure to post a comment or send us your feedback.

Let’s make it an inspired year!

No sooner than the trick-or-treaters have taken off their Halloween custumes, retailers are rushing to get Christmas decorations, candy and wrapping paper, and everything else “Christmas”, on the shelves.

The official holiday has its origins back to the days of George Washington, although it wasn’t until 1941 that Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday by Congress.

So, what happened to Thanksgiving? Aside from eating the traditional turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, why does this holiday continue to get barely a recognition on the holiday radar?

I believe it’s because, when you think about it, there isn’t much a retailer can do to make money off of this holiday.

We don’t usually exchange Thanksgiving gifts, few people send Thanksgiving cards and while there is Thanksgiving candy and decorations, it isn’t nearly to the extent as it is for Christmas.

It’s definitely more challenging to monetize Thanksgiving than it is Christmas. What a shame.

It’s a shame that money has become the prevailing message during the holidays rather than the real meaning of what these holidays, and especially Thanksgiving, are truly about.

We live in the greatest country on earth and have so much to be thankful for.

It’s really only been in recent years that Thanksgiving cards have become popular with businesses, who view this holiday as a great way to express appreciation to customers and clients.

Thanksgiving is a fantastic opportunity to do this before the rush of Christmas and the zoom to the new year.

Send your customers and clients an unexpected Thanksgiving card and let them know how much you are thankful for them and appreciate their business. They will love you for it!

If you would like to learn more about how you can send Thanksgiving cards to your customers or clients, drop me a line. I’ll be happy to show you the simplest and most personalized way to do this.

What is the Glow Project? According to their website, “There is a powerful essence inside of every woman—a critical ingredient that only women possess. When realized, nurtured and expanded, it becomes the key to true happiness and success. You deserve happiness, fulfillment, and the opportunity to achieve wild success. STOP what you are doing. Take a breath, and connect with your GLOW.”

Enjoy the trailer..

Sandra Yancey, founder of the eWomenNetwork.com is the key coordinator of the Glow Project was a recent guest speaker at a national convention that I, unfortunately, did not get to physically attend.

I did watch the streaming video from my home office and she was fantastic. This is when I first heard of the Glow Project, and knew that this was going to be very powerful.

I have my health, an amazing family and a business that allows me to work from anywhere with my laptop and and Internet connection.

It hasn’t always been easy. When I first started back in 2001, those first couple of early years were a challenge.

There were very few resources as to how to build a website, much less promote my business.

That was a long time ago, and a lot has happened since then. However, there are still people today, who are just starting out online or who are struggling, like I was.

Perhaps you are one of them.

The year may be almost over, yet it is an amazing time to start planning for the new year, which is what I want to talk to you about today.

You can still take the rest of this year to get your business on the right track for the new year and you can do that at your own pace with my Web Marketing 101 Self Study course.

The regular price is $297, and I am offering you a $100 savings gift.

There are only 20 available I wanted you to have the first opportunity to save and once they are gone, they’re gone.

Are you ready to make a difference in your business for the new year?
If so, then take this course.

Visit the details page here: Web Marketing 101

Use this coupon code to save $100: DB11ST

The countdown to your launch date has begun and when that day finally arrives, you are excited as a kid on Christmas Eve!

Over those next several weeks and months, you’ve established yourself as the expert and your business is growing at a rate that is manageable and what makes sense.

Your new customers and your existing customers trust your word and your expertise.

So, now what happens? What happens after the sale?

Most business owners move on to getting ready for the next promotion.

Do not make this mistake.

Before moving on to the next promotion, you absolutely have to make sure you thank those customers who purchased your latest product.

“But, my customers already receive an email thank you after they checkout”.

That’s all well and good, yet it’s not enough. Ask yourself how many emails you get on any given day. Then, ask yourself how many of those do you read and how them sound sincere and genuine.

I’m guessing probably very few.

Your customers are your bread and butter. If you do not let them know that you truly appreciate the time and money they spend with you, do you think they will be long term, loyal customers?

Most likely, they won’t.

And what about your affiliates and business partners who helped you get this product launched and promoted? How did you thank them? Or did you?

Send them all a real, personalized thank you card in the mail. Yes, the snail mail, sent by the US Postal Service.

You will be amazed at the difference it makes in your business. When you send people messages of true appreciation, something in the mail that they can touch and feel that will arrive in their mailbox by their curb, you are not just another website url any more.

You have then created a connection that very few businesses strive for and one that will help you stand above your competition.

Appreciation and gratitude have no boundries. In checking our recent web traffic, I thought it would be interesting to see and post where are visitors are from. The following list is in order of most to least visitors from these respective countries.

United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Australia
India
China
Germany
Ireland
Puerto Rico
Philippines
Spain
France
Pakistan
Vietnam
Italy
New Zealand
Thailand
Portugal
Hong Kong
Brazil
Turkey
Bulgaria
Ukraine
Netherlands
Romania
Argentina
Mexico
Finland
Kuwait
Poland
Bahamas
Switzerland
Cyprus
Lithuania
Bangladesh
Japan (last but not least)

I think the most surprising countries are Vietnam and Lithuania. In checking where my newsletter subscribers are from, I was quite surprised, and excited, to see someone from as far away as Vietnam.

It’s amazing to think about international we are and shows that appreciation is truly international.

Life is about relationships:

As Maya Angelou wisely said…

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -

The people we know, the people we love and the people we do business are all effected by the depth of the relationship we have with them.

Whether business, family or friends, life really is all about relationships and how we interact with one another. What can you do differently today and going forward to forge better personal and professional relationships with those around you?

It’s November and the holidays are nearly here. Thanksgiving in the U.S. is in just a few weeks with Christmas and New Year’s not far behind.

Is your holiday appreciation plan ready?

Are you embracing your customers in this challenging economy?

Now is not the time to cut back. Now is the time to let your customers know you care more about them than you do your own sales.

Listen in as Dianne Fratscher and I discuss how to easily implement a holiday appreciation plan in your business.

Click on the button below to start listening to the audio call.

From there, it’s a mad dash to Christmas and the new year. It’s time to be thankful personally as well as professionally.

You’ll notice a little bit of a change to our topics and our newsletter.

Monday Minutes will start our week, followed by Tuesday’s Tips, Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom, Thursday’s Greeting Card Idea, and on Friday, we’ll be posting your questions.

Customer appreciation, this time of year, is a ‘must-do’ in your business if you want to stand above the crowd and your competition.

Go to: www.AskPattyGale.com right now to submit your question. We’ll randomly select one question to post on Friday.

I know what you’re thinking, “But, I do send holiday cards.” That’s great, and we’re going to talk about how to take that one step further.

This time of year, and especially in this economy, is when your customers need more than just a holiday card.

We’ll discuss…

How to make sure your holiday card or gift doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

Do you have your holiday card sending plan in place?

Do you know who you’re sending Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years gifts to ?

These and the 5 simple and effective ways to de-stress this time of year and to make sure your customers feel appreciated.

Register for this free workshop: Customer Appreciation Holiday Workshop > >

If you are a beginner, not knowing where or how to start, or if you’ve been online for a while and are struggling, then this class is for you.

How different will your business be if someone took you by the hand, walked you step-by-step, encouraged you along the way with truth, integrity…

Here is what one of our recent graduates, Natalie Akpele had to say…

“After being on the internet for more than 7 years now, I thought I knew it all. I honestly believed there was nothing more that I could learn. I was SO wrong!

Over the last 6 weeks, I have had the privilege of participating in Patty Gale’s : Dream Big Marketing 101 course. I cannot tell you how excited I am that I decided to enroll in this class. I have learned a great deal in these 6 short weeks. The information Patty provides is easy to follow and very concise. I believe this course is ideal for newbies and advance marketers alike.

I now have an action plan to implement within my business that works for me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Patty for introducing me to her course. Both my business and I thank you!!! - Natalie Akpele www.Cuddlebuggs.com

Congratulations and thank you, Natalie!

Go to: Dream Big! Web Marketing 101 > > to learn more and to reserve your seat.

I look forward to help you in your business!

While “Santa” may be making his list and checking it twice, you should be doing the same thing for your business right now.

Do you have your holiday card list ready? If not, here are some tips and things to consider.

Holiday Cards

* Who are you sending cards to? This includes clients, business associates and prospects.
Review the addresses from last years list to make sure they are up to date.

* Who do you need to add and did any of your clients move or have any life changing events this past year that you should recognize?

* Do not include any self-promotion. The holidays are a time to reflect and appreciate. Self-promotion is just tacky and unprofessional.

Holiday Gifts

Are you sending holiday gifts of appreciation and if so, is your list ready? How do you decide who gets a gift and who doesn’t? This can be a real tough one, and while only you can make that decision, think about this.

* Gifts that are appropriate for top tier clients and business associates.

* Keep it simple. It’s not the size and cost of the gift that is important. It’s the sincerity of the appreciation.

This is why I always recommend sending a personalized card with the gift at the same time… no, not one of those business card size inserts you get at the florist, but a real personalized greeting card that can be included directly with your gift.

When you take the time to send a heartfelt gift of thanks, especially around the holidays, your clients and business associates will truly feel appreciated.

What about the New Year?

I love sending New Year’s cards because after the craziness of the holidays, after everyone’s desk and kitchen counter are cleared off, after your clients have had a chance to catch their breath, here’s what happens.

They go out to their mailbox, the first week in January, and there is a “Happy New Year” card from you that says, “We would like to Celebrate Your Successes of the Past Year and Wish You Continued Success for the New Year. All our Best for a Healthy and Prosperous 2009″

Do you think that is bound to get some attention? You bet it will.

If you haven’t sent holiday cards or gifts in the past, there’s no time like the present to start. In challenging economic times like these, your customers and business associates need to know now, more than ever, that you appreciate them and will be with them through ‘thick and thin.’

They need to know that you will help them get through to the other side, too, and when you do, who do you think they are going to recommend to people they know? That’s right… You!

Perhaps you’re not quite sure if you need personal coaching. That’s o.k. and this is why we created the Self Study version of our very popular Dream Big! Web Marketing 101 coaching class.

“Dream Big! Web Marketing 101″, the self study version, is perfect for you. This six week self study course will walk you through the steps and help you complete them each week. Not only is the class going to take you through the steps, but it will spell it all out in plain English. You’ll truly understand the steps you are taking and knowledge is power.

Each week, work at your own pace to finish the tasks and grow your business. You’ll receive worksheets, workbooks and a print mailing recap of the week’s lesson.

Don’t wait to take the class that bridges the gap between your street address and your web address…. in plain English.

Why act immediately?

We’re giving away a free ipod shuffle giveaway each month. Your business can’t wait. If you’ve been struggling, don’t know where to begin or need to get back on track, take this course and start today and get a jump start on 2009.

Take your business to the next level. Bridge the gap between your street address and web address and understand what you are doing. “Dream Big! Web Marketing 101″

You are only 6 weeks away from seeing your business reach the level you could only dream of before!

See all the details right here: Dream Big! Self Study Course > >

While we can’t exactly have a cap and gown ceremony, each of them deserve a huge round of applause and pat of the back for the hard work they’ve put in during the last 6 weeks.

It’s hard to believe it’s coming to a close already.

This is where your opportunity comes in.

We are now preparing for the next session of Dream Big! starting on October 20th, 2008.

Here is your chance to earn some nice income by promoting this class as an affiliate and earn $150 per enrolled student.

If you’re not an affiliate yet, sign up here: Dream Big Affiliate Sign Up > >

Once you’re approved, just login to the affiliate center and grab the tools you need. We’ll also be adding personal testimonials by some of the current students that you can use in your marketing efforts.

Let me know if you have any questions at all and I’ll be happy to answer them.

Oh, one more thing. As an affiliate, if you haven’t taken the class yet, you know that you can enroll using your own affiliate link, right? In case you didn’t know that, you can. What better way to promote this than by taking the class yourself.

If you’re not an affiliate yet, sign up here: Dream Big Affiliate Sign Up > >

On Monday, October 13th, you are invited to a live tele-session to get your questions answered.

We are finishing up Week 6 of Dream Big! Web Marketing 101 and will be addressing any questions about the class.

First, I want you to make sure you go to: www.AskPattyGale.com to ask me your question.

Dan also has a child with autism. Perhaps you do, too, or you know someone that does. One of the amazing ways that Dan uses his Internet talents is by holding a WAHumor giveaway each year.

For a small donation, you’ll get some great resources for your Internet library and you’ll be helping an amazing cause.

You can see more of the details here: Work at Home Dad Support Autism Research > >

This week marks the last week of our course and you have all worked and focused to really get your business moving in the right direction.

You all should be very proud and deserve to pat yourself on the back.

Way to go!

Our next session starts October 20th. Learn more about it here:

Dream Big! Web Marketing 101 > >

Such was yesterday for me. We’ve been through a lot lately, personally, with our move to Colorado, Emily starting a new school, my business is growing in ways that I never thought possible.

I’ve been a runner for a long time. I don’t run competitively, I run to stay healthy and to clear my head. When I run, it’s amazing the ideas that come to mind and help me to really focus on what’s important to to forget about the little stuff that just doesn’t matter.

With everything going on this last month, though, I haven’t taken the time to run and I can feel it, too. Yesterday, I started feeling overwhelmed and sluggish, you know that feeling when you look at your “to do” list and you have no idea where to start, you look at the page with a blank stare?

We’re all human and all business owners go through this at one time or another. If you’re starting to feel this way, take an evening or two and take a break. You’ll feel much more energized and inspired for it when you come back.

Wall Street obviously didn’t like the failing of the $700 billion buyout proposal. Without getting into politics, I don’t know if the buyout is a good thing or not, however yesterday’s reaction shows the psychology of fear.

Fear can do one of two things. It can back you into a corner and keep you there, or it can back you into a corner and empower you fight back to get out of the corner.

As a business owner, regardless of your industry or the present market conditions, I know you’ve worked hard to get where are you are. You have dreams and aspirations of taking your business to new heights.

It’s hard to see that when we’re wading through the muck trying to get to the other side of this.

If fear is starting to back you into a corner, I challenge you to fight back, to stay focused and keep moving forward.

I know it’s not easy. I have a house for sale right now and quite honestly, am wondering how long it is going to take to sell. However, I refuse to let that worry stop me from everything that my husband and I have been dreaming about the last 10 years.

We can not control the actions of others, we can not control the economy.

We can only control how we react to those situations.

There isn’t any obstacle that can’t be resolved with your entrepreneurial spirit.

Perhaps you’ve been feeling a bit of that uneasiness, too. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

There is no question that there are some major economic changes happening right now, most of which are out of our control and many which are leaving us with uncertainty about what is going to happen in the future.

Now, more than ever, though, is when you need to embrace your existing customers and reach out to your prospective customers because if you don’t, there are other businesses that will.

Your customers need to know that you are there, that you care and are looking out for their best interest. Times like this is when you especially need to be harnessing that power of appreciation that we talk about so frequently here.

Now is when you should be sending them just a simple note of thanks for their business and their loyalty.

If your business has been directly effected by the credit crunch, let your customers know that you and they can get through this together.

Continue to build strong relationships. If you’ve been considering implementing a customer appreciation program in your business, and have been on the fence about it, it’s times like these when it’s more important than ever to start.

A lot of companies have the tough call to decide whether to send “Merry Christmas”, “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” cards to their customers, employees and business associates.

It can be a difficult decision, as well as deciding on holiday gifts. Who to give to? What to give? How much money to spend?

Here are my top three tips for holiday card sending.

1. Plan a workable budget for your holiday card and gift sending that will not break your bank, yet will also allow you to show real appreciation. There is nothing more tacky than when a customer or business associate receive an inexpensive gift that looks cheap.

2. Make your list and check it twice. Who are you sending cards and gifts to? Obviously, existing customers are on the list. Don’t forget past customers, too, who may not have done business with you in a while. Business associates, independent contractors, colleagues, or anyone that you want to thank during this special time of year.

3. Decide who gets a card and who gets a gift, and who gets both. It may not be within your budget to send everyone a holiday gift and that’s o.k. True appreciation doesn’t necessarily come in the from of material gifts. A heartfelt, personalized holiday greeting card can mean just as much to the person receiving it.

Bonus Tip! …and this is probably the most important tip of all.

Send a personalized holiday card. The holidays are a very busy time for a lot of people. Sending a personalized card shows genuine appreciation. It shows that you took the time to send a heartfelt message at a very crazy time of year.

More holiday appreciation tips to come!

Imagine How You Will Feel in Six Short Weeks Once You Discover How Simple it is to Get Your Business on the Web.

How different will your business be if someone took you by the hand, walked you step-by-step, encouraged you along the way with truth, integrity…and in plain English?

There is still time to reserve your seat if go to our registration page now.

Get all the details of the course here: Dream Big! Web Marketing 101 details > >

Start today with the rest of the class: Dream Big! Web Marketing 101 Registration > >

They come four to a box and each one is individually wrapped. They are rich, chocolate and have big chocolate chunks right on top.

If you love chocolate, you will love these brownies. So, without further delay, the winner of our August brownie giveaway is…

Christine Riley

Congratulations, Christine, your brownies are on their way!

(isn’t this fun?)