To Much is Given,, Much is Required

Sandra’s pension for giving stems from her traumatic childhood and the values by which she was raised. She grew up on public assistance after her father was killed in a car accident on her 5th birthday. Despite their difficult circumstances, her mother always felt there were others in greater need. She raised her 3 children to believe that you’re never too rich or too poor to serve.

Sandra’s mother ingrained in her children that “To much is given, much is required.” So as Sandra’s business grew into a multi-million dollar company, those values became ever-more prominent. Each of the hundreds of Accelerated Networking Events® (A.N.E.’S) that occur throughout the eWomenNetwork chapters across the U.S. and Canada include a proprietary process that spotlights each member expressing to the others what she needs most in her business. Everyone at the event comes from a place of giving, so the result is a networking event where everyone is there to serve.

Giving Leads to Happiness

Turns out science proves that giving actually makes people happy. Research by social psychologist, Liz Dunn, shows that most people’s sense of happiness is greater when they spend more on others than themselves. One of Dunn’s surveys of over 600 U.S. citizens found spending money on others predicted greater happiness, no matter what your income level is. Rich or poor, spending more on others than yourself leads to happiness.

Giving is Good for Business

Giving not only makes you feel good, but it’s also good for business. Here’s why:

• It’s great for networking! While you’re out working on a community project, you get to meet new people and develop meaningful relationships that could turn into customers.
• Giving makes you more well-rounded. You can learn a new skill or acquire new information that could be applied to your own business.
• It’s a great marketing opportunity! The best marketing happens organically. While you’re volunteering, people tend to want to learn more about you.
• Volunteering your time creates a culture of trust. People want to do business with people they know, like and trust.
• You grow on a personal level. Personal growth can not only make you a better, more fulfilled person, but it can help you identify more productive goals in your business and ultimately become more successful.

How to Give Without Giving Up Yourself

There is one caution to giving. Be careful not to give so much that you give yourself away. Jenny Santi, Author of The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories & Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving, offers up the following tips for healthy giving in an article she wrote for Time Magazine.  

1. Find your passion

It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. It should not be simply a matter of choosing the right thing, but also a matter of choosing what is right for us.

2. Give your time

We don’t all have the same amount of money, but we all do have time on our hands, and can give some of this time to help others—whether that means we devote our lifetimes to service, or just give a few hours each day or a few days a year.

3. Give to organizations with transparent aims and results

According to Harvard scientist Michael Norton, “Giving to a cause that specifies what they’re going to do with your money leads to more happiness than giving to an umbrella cause where you’re not so sure where your money is going.”

4. Find ways to integrate your interests and skills with the needs of others

“Selfless giving, in the absence of self-preservation instincts, easily becomes overwhelming,” says Adam Grant, author of Give & Take. It is important to be “otherish,” which he defines as being willing to give more than you receive, but still keeping your own interests in sight.

5. Be proactive, not reactive

We have all felt the dread that comes from being cajoled into giving, such as when friends ask us to donate to their fundraisers. This type of giving doesn’t lead to a warm glow feeling; more likely it will lead to resentment. Instead we should set aside time, think about our options, and find the best charity for our values.

6. Don’t be guilt-tripped into giving

I don’t want to discourage people from giving to good causes just because that doesn’t always cheer us up. If we gave only to get something back each time we gave, what a dreadful, opportunistic world this would be! Yet if we are feeling guilt-tripped into giving, chances are we will not be very committed over time to the cause.

eWomenNetwork Foundation

In a giving mode yet? There are so many charities out there to choose from either to volunteer your time or donate money. It’s important to decide what it is you’re most passionate about and find the charity that suits you.

The goals of the eWomenNetwork Foundation are:

• To raise funds in support of health, safety and wellness initiatives that benefit women in all phases of their lives.
• To provide financial and networking support to female students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to success as a business or professional leader.
• To establish partnerships with non-profit organizations, corporations, and local, civic, and governmental agencies who can provide resources to our target population and help to raise funds for them.
• To share the vast collective talents, experience and wisdom of thousands of eWomenNetwork members with women in need and to support future business and community leaders by “femtoring,” educating and training them.
• To encourage an environment of caring, healing and growth for women and children by helping them to achieve their optimum potential in all spheres of their lives.

Who We Are

The eWomenNetwork Foundation provides a multitude of ways for our members to reach out beyond their own companies to support women who are less fortunate. Through funds raised by our member chapters and the generosity of many others, eWomenNetwork Foundation has been able to provide, among other things:

• 108 cash grants to local non-profit organizations throughout North America addressing the needs of women and families
• Through our International Femtor Awards program, 161 scholarships have been given to “Emerging Leaders” who have already demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to serving others.

If you would like to learn more about The eWomenNetwork Foundation, please feel free to send an email to Foundation@eWomenNetwork.com.

Author and curator of game-changing content,
Phyllis Smith
Content Manager, eWomenNetwork

The post The Secret Sauce to a Successful Business appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

“No” is such a simple word, but for some it can be so complicated. Entrepreneurs typically think they can do it all and end up becoming the COE (Chief of Everything) instead of the CEO. That will do nothing but stress you out, but you can reduce stress by simply saying “NO!”

How to Say, “No!”

Award-winning Executive Coach, Stephanie Chung, also known as the High-Ticket Sales Closer because of her highly successful career selling jets for the airline industry, knows a thing or two about stress. As a black woman in a male-dominated industry, she generated millions of dollars for her clients in sales. In her video she talks about one of the key factors to reduce stress is to just say no.

NO! is Not a Negative

Some people might think that saying, “no” is negative. That others might be upset or turned off by you if you say, “no.” But, Psychology Today has a different take. “No” is not negative at all. It is actually empowering:

“The No that is an affirmation of self implicitly acknowledges personal responsibility. It says that while each of us interacts with others, and loves, respects, and values those relationships, we do not and cannot allow ourselves always to be influenced by them. The strength we draw from saying No is that it underscores this hard truth of maturity: The buck stops here.”

Stress Kills

To say “yes” when you mean “no” will ultimately cause undo stress. In the end you give up yourself to please others. When you give up yourself, you and your business suffer. You don’t have the time, patients or motivation to do what really needs to get done to make the cash register ring. This is one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make. They try to do everything. Maybe it’s a control-freak thing, but it does nothing to help your business grow. Stress then becomes a chronic condition, which can destroy your health. Bad health = Bad Business.

The American Psychological Association conducted a survey in August of 2016 to learn what most people are stressed about. When you look at the graphic below, fear of being a victim of a violent crime takes up about 2/3rds of the stress factor in our society right now.

When you are stressed-out, your body releases hormones like cortisol, which causes your blood pressure and blood sugar to go up. Looking at the stress-factors above, it’s no wonder that heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women according to the CDC. 

Common Stresses for Small Business Owners + Relief

Forbes says there are 3 common stresses for small business owners:

1. Lack of control – As I mentioned above, entrepreneurs like to be in the drivers seat, but you are often collaborating with others outside of your business.
   Relief – Let go! There’s often more than one solution to a problem. Leave your ego outside and come from a place of giving.
2. Reacting Too Soon & Too Fast – Acting on reactions without thinking could lead to bad business decisions.
   Relief – Stop, listen, and evaluate your options. Handling situations this way will reduce stress and set you up for making smart decisions as well as earning respect from those with whom you do business.
3. No time to do it all – I don’t care who you are – the Dalai Lama, Warren Buffet or the Pope – we all only have 24 hours in a day.
   Relief – Make time for your health and stick to it. As Sandra Yancey, CEO & Founder of eWomenNetwork, says, “No one is responsible for your self-care more than you.”

Entrepreneurs Invite Stress

Inventor and Entrepreneur, Ray Zinn, says entrepreneurs invite stress because sometimes it’s actually what motivates them. But, too much stress can compromise your immune system and make you sick. Say good-bye to productivity. But Zinn says, entrepreneurs can use their entrepreneurial traits to work for them, not against them.

Here’s just a few of his examples:

• Optimism: Entrepreneurs are optimists by nature. Stay focused, stay positive, and know that by being smart and proactive, your odds of success stay high.
• Courage: This is the quality of mind that enables you to face difficulty without fear. Fear commonly comes from the unknown, and you are a learning machine. Banish the unknown and you become fearless.
• People person: Genuinely connecting with people puts them at ease and allows you to understand their needs, concerns and desires. You achieve through your people, so know them.
• Cash: No business failed from having too much cash on hand. Manage cash, avoid debt, and be frugal. This eliminates the deadliest of startup dysfunctions – the perpetual funding hunt.

Act Now!

Here are two things you can do right now to begin to reduce stress:

1. Don’t say “yes” when you mean “no”
2. Schedule time for self-care – YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Author and Curator of Game-Changing Content
Phyllis Smith
Content Manager
eWomenNetwork

The post Reduce Stress by Simply Saying, “No!” appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

Self Care is the New Healthcare

Self-care is a common buzz word these days, but what does it really mean? Professional social workers describe it this way:

Self-care refers to activities and practices that we can engage in on a regular basis to reduce stress and maintain and enhance our short and longer-term health and well-being. Self-care is necessary for your effectiveness and success in honoring your professional and personal commitments.

Here’s the big takeaway – You can’t have success if you don’t practice self-care. Easy to say – Not so easy to do.

Sandra Yancey, Founder & CEO of eWomenNetwork, hits self-care right between the eyes in a powerful talk she gave at the annual eWomenNetwork International Conference in 2013 (above). She says the onus is on you to take care of yourself. Happiness is on you. Inspiration is on you.

Self-care is Being Present

Self-care isn’t just about eating right and exercising. It’s also about making time for yourself. Finding time in your day to sit quietly and clear your mind. To be present. Years ago on a CBS radio show I hosted, I interviewed Dr. Stanley Block. He is the co-author of a book called, Come to Your Senses: Demystifying the Mind-Body Connection. He gave a simple tip on how to become present that I never forgot. He said when you’re driving in a car, for example, and your mind is wandering onto a million things other than that moment, rub your fingers on an article of clothing you’re wearing. Notice how it feels. What is the texture. Is it smooth or rough? Simply using your sense of touch will bring you back to the present moment. Being present is the first step to reducing stress.

 Simple Tips to Self-Care

TinyBuddha.com went through the trouble of coming up with 45 ways to practice self-care. Here are 10 of them to get you started:

1. Start a compliments file. Document the great things people say about you to read later.

2. Scratch off “a lurker: on your to-do list; something that’s been there for ages and you’ll never do.

3. Change up the way you make decisions. Decide something with your heart, if you usually use your head. Or, if you tend to go with your heart, decide with your head.

4. Go cloud-watching. Lie on your back, relax, and watch the sky.

5. Take another route to work. Mixing up your routine in small ways creates new neural pathways in the brain to keep it healthy.

6. Pay complete attention to something you usually do on autopilot, perhaps brushing your teeth, driving, eating, or performing your morning routine.

7. Goof around for a bit. Schedule in five minutes of “play” (non-directed activity) several times throughout your day.

8. Create a deliberate habit, and routinize something small in your life by doing it in the same way each day—what you wear on Tuesdays, or picking up the dental floss before you brush.

9. Fix a small annoyance at home that’s been nagging you—a button lost, a drawer that’s stuck, a light bulb that’s gone.

10. Punctuate your day with a mini-meditation with one minute of awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations; one minute of focused attention on breathing; and one minute of awareness of the body as a whole.

Just Breathe

Tip number 10 is a big one. As a “yogee” myself and a certified Yoga instructor, I can tell you that one long controlled breath can instantly tame any stressful situation. When you exhale you trigger your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and relaxation. So, next time you are feeling stressed-out, try this:

Inhale 2 counts then double the exhalation to 4 counts. Breath deep into your belly. Do that a few times and notice the difference in your attitude, your heart-rate, your perspective. Change your breath, change your health. It’s the perfect place to start.

Author, Phyllis Smith
Content Manager
eWomenNetwork 

The post Self-Care is the New Healthcare appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

It’s Valentine’s Day – The holiday of love. And while many people celebrate the romance of Valentine’s Day, I thought it was high time that entrepreneurs like us celebrate our love for our business. After all, as a business owner we probably spend more time working on our business than any relationship! So, I decided to write a love letter to my company, eWomenNetwork, that I started 17 years and share it with you in a video.

Your Business is a Reflection of You

As we said in a recent blog, A Strong Heart Leads to a Healthy Business, in order to achieve and sustain good health, you need to love yourself first. If you don’t think you’re worth the effort to lead a healthy lifestyle, then why should anyone else value you? Taking that a step further, how could you have a successful business if you don’t love yourself first? Your business is a reflection of you. If you are suffering, so too will your business. Your business needs you to have stamina, strength and clarity to thrive.  These demands are hard to achieve when you coming from a place of depletion.  In you don’t love yourself first, both you and your business will suffer.

Write Your Love Letter to Your Business

I encourage you to do what I did. Take a moment during this Valentine’s Day and write your business a love letter. She, too, is your partner in life and one who will bring you much joy if you give her some TLC. Because at the end of the day, that love letter is really for you.

Dear eWomenNetwork ~

I want to express my love and gratitude to you.

You have fulfilled a missing piece in my heart.

And you’ve become a big part of my life.

We have journeyed many roads:

~  Some have been smooth.

~  Some have been bumpy.

~  All have been worth it.

We have experienced incredible highs balanced by tear-full lows.

You have always “kept me in check” so that I don’t take anything for granted. 

I’ve learned that what gets taken for granted gets taken away.

I have learned more about what it takes to be your partner than I could have ever imagined. 

And I am better for it.

You have taught me a lot about myself. 

And I am better for it.

Mostly, you have taught me that I am enough.  I am brave enough, stubborn enough, strong enough and smart enough to do “you”. 

And your rewards never cease to surprise and amaze me.  Thank you.

Thank you for standing by me during my breakdowns and breakthroughs.

I promise you that I will grow and get better by continuing to invest in and work on myself.

I promise not to take you for granted … nor all the people that support and help me.

I promise to stretch beyond what’s comfortable in the spirit of moving our great work forward.

AND, FINALLY, I promise to keep loving you.

 ~ Sandra

Author, Sandra Yancey
Founder & CEO, eWomenNetwork

The post A Love Letter to My Business appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

Heart Risks for the Business Owner

Long Working Hours

Whether you work for yourself or you’re a worker-bee, a recent study from the Journal of Occupational Health and Medicine determined that the more hours someone worked per week, on average, the more likely he or she was to be diagnosed heart disease. On average, entrepreneurs work anywhere from 52-60 hours a week, which is 63% longer than the average worker.

What the study actually says…

“After controlling for factors including age, sex and income, the researchers determined that, over a 10-year period, participants who worked a 55-hour-week were 16 percent more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease diagnosis than those who only worked 45 hours per week. As the number of work hours per week increased, so did this relative risk. Participants who worked 60 hours per week were 35 percent more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than those who worked 45 hours, while those who worked 70-hour-weeks were 74 percent more likely.”

Stress

Obviously working long hours isn’t the only thing that is tied to an increase risk of heart disease. Stress, of course is a biggy – And what entrepreneur doesn’t feel stress? After all, it taxes every aspect of your being – often all at once. Your physical, mental, emotional and psychological factors are all working together to keep you and your business running on all cylinders.

Sleep

I’m exhausted just thinking about it, which brings me to the most important thing long hours and stress do to us. Loss of sleep! Sleep is the most important underlying factor to help you manage stress and maintain good overall health. That means staying up until 1am to finish a presentation for a prospective client, and then waking up at 6am isn’t about to lead to a healthy heart!

Genetics

Of course genetics play a role. Believe me, I live it. Both of my parents, who exercise and eat right, for the most part, are walking around with stents in their arteries. My Dad actually had a cardiac arrest while he was working out in the gym 5 years ago in his late 70’s. That means, his heart literally stopped! Thank goodness he was revived by some quick-thinking  trained workers who performed CPR on him (to whom we are forever grateful), but it was a close call. And, both of my parents had parents who died at a very young age from heart disease. We’re talking age 56 for my Mom’s Dad and 45 for my Dad’s Mom! As a result, I am passionate about my own health and finding time most days of the week to exercise, practice yoga, meditate and eat really well. I want to live long and prosper!

A Strong Heart Leads to a Healthy Business

Self-Care is Not Selfish

This is Sandra Yancey’s mantra – Self-Care is Not Selfish. Hopefully, by this time you are at least thinking about doing something about protecting your heart. If not, why? What will it take for you to put YOU first? If you don’t, everything and everyone around you will suffer in some way. At the end of the day, your health isn’t just about you. It’s about your personal universe. By taking care of yourself, you are taking care of others.

Getting Started

You might have figured out by now that I’m a health nut. In addition to my work here at eWomenNetwork, I’m a certified Health Coach and Yoga Teacher. So, I have a few tips up my sleeve to get you started towards a healthy heart:

Just Move!

(Disclaimer: Before you begin any exercise program, please get permission from your Doctor first)

• Love yourself. If you don’t think you’re worth saving, then who will? If your negative self-talk is stopping you from taking care of yourself, then it’s time to talk to someone to find out why. Consider talking to a therapist or a Life Coach.
• Begun is half-done. Wake up tomorrow and take your first step towards health. If all you do is put on your sneakers, at least your off to a start. Then the next day you might add some workout clothes to your sneakers. If you do 5 minutes of some kind of movement (walking, dancing, etc..) you’ve done great. The next day, go for 10 minutes.
• It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Transformation happens after a series of small shifts in your behavior. Be patient with yourself. Slow and steady gets wins the race.
• Do what you love. If you don’t like to exercise, it’s probably because you don’t like what you’re doing. Find some kind of physical activity you enjoy like dancing, Yoga or Pilates. My mother is 82 years old and does line-dancing twice a week. She loves it and is fully committed to it on the days she dances. No excuses.

If you are looking to lose weight, just know that success is 80% diet and 20% exercise. However, you could be a skinny-minny person and still be at risk for heart disease. Exercise is integral to a healthy heart. Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood and oxygen throughout your body. Make sure you’re building that muscle strength to keep it pumping.

Eat What You Love

Yes, you read that right. I am not a nutritionist or a dietitian, so it is out of my scope of training to provide you with a meal plan. But I can offer some general tips to think about next time you sit down for a meal.

• Food is fuel. That’s all. Your body is a machine that needs fuel to function. But is it an old jalopy that’s ready for the junk yard? Or is it a fine (plug in your favorite luxury car here) that needs the best fuel money can by. Hopefully, for your sake, it’s the latter. So that means, take the emotion out of eating. I know it’s easier said than done, but if you can wrap your head around that concept, then you’re half-way there.
• Eat consciously. Step away from the computer or TV when you eat! Use all 5 of your senses while your eating. What does it taste like? Smell like? Feel like on your tongue? Does it make a sound when you chew? What does it look like? If you are mindful when you eat, you will not only enjoy your food more, but you will probably eat less.  Also be conscious of what you’ve eaten during the day. If you had a big breakfast with a lot of calories, then eat moderately during your other meals. But by all means, don’t starve yourself! Remember a car will not run if it doesn’t have fuel.
• Eat the rainbow. Try to have 3-5 colors in every meal. That will help assure you that you are getting the nutrition your body needs.
• Eat what you love. Salads and foods that taste like cardboard is not the way to sustain healthy eating habits. That means, don’t eliminate what you love from your diet, just manage it. If you have to eat a piece of cake, then eat 2 bites and throw away the rest. Begin adding 1 nutritious food each day. After a while, every meal will have something healthy and nutritional in it.
• Not all healthy food is created equal. Visit with a nutritionist or dietitian if you can to determine if you are allergic to any foods. Almonds, for example, might be good for one person, but might cause inflammation in your body. Inflammation can lead to weight gain and an overall feeling of yuckiness (is that a word?). You might be aware that a particular food causes inflammation in your body, but you will see the difference in how you feel once you eliminate it.

Your Heart is Your Business

Your heart is more than just a pumping machine. It’s what we put our hand over when we say the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s your promise to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It stands for love – of others, and most importantly of yourself. We commonly say, “You put your heart into your business.” Your heart stands for passion and purpose. It’s who you are. Stand up for it, protect it and love it.

Author, Phyllis Smith
Content Manager, eWomenNetwork

The post A Strong Heart Leads to a Healthy Business appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

Know Thy Customer

So how do you create an irresistible lead magnet? Like any marketing campaign, it all starts with knowing your customer. What are their pain points, and how can you fix it?

I love this message from DigitalMarketer.com:

“People don’t buy products or services… They buy outcomes. They buy access to the “After” state.” (Go ahead and tweet that one!)

In my blog post, “Define and Locate Your Ideal Online Client,” I provided these 8 questions to ask your customer and/or potential customers when you’re trying to nail down what your ideal client needs and wants:

1. What are their pain points and concerns?
2. What are their goals and aspirations?
3. Which values and characteristics do they identify with?
4. How do they see themselves, and how do they want to see themselves?
5. How do they want to be engaged with and talked to?
6. What type of consumer brand experience do they want?
7. What makes them feel good and what do they like?
8. Who influences and motivates them?

There’s many more questions you can ask, but this is a good start. Just remember, people buy based on their emotions. Will your product or service make them feel better than they do without it?

Don’t know where to begin with your online marketing? Click here for help.

Choose a Platform

After you figure out what your ideal customer needs, decide what is the best platform on which to send your lead magnet. Not all platforms are created equal. It depends on where your ideal client plays. In terms of social media, are they on Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIN? In my blog, “How to Choose the Right Social Media Platforms and Save Time,” I posted a cool graphic from SocialFactor.com that shows you what platforms are most common depending on the demographic including gender, age and location.

Besides social media, other platforms include:

• Email marketing
• Banner Advertising
• Blogging
• Organic Social Media
• SEO

One important factor to consider is that you will most likely have to spend money to advertise. Paying for Facebook Ads is a way to boost your exposure from those in your immediate community to those beyond your doors. If you want to grow your list, you will have to spend some money. The good news is that it won’t cost you a fortune for Facebook Ads. You can target your specific audience, test your Ad and then remove it immediately if it’s not working. Then you can tweak it and try again. It’s flexible and it’s cheap.

How to Create Irresistible Lead Magnets

Your lead magnet doesn’t need to be fancy. In fact, simple is better. State the pain point and then provide a solution to their pain. DigitalMarketer.com recommends staying away from long drawn-out offers, such as a 20 week workshop. Reports and guides are the most common types of lead magnets. Also, don’t make more than one offer and make sure your copy is very specific.

Here is an example of one we have on our eWomenNetwork lead magnets on our Home page.

Our ideal client is a woman entrepreneur, between the age 35-65. One of her pain points is how to network, so she can grow her customer and support base. Hence, the offer, “Get the Networking Secrets of the Super Successful.”

We have made it very simple to access the download. The user has 3 simple steps to follow:

1. Put in your email address
2. Fill in the contact sheet
3. Check your email to receive the download

Bada-bing-bada-boom! No muss, no fuss. A side-note – always remember to create a Thank You page after they fill out the form. Let them know you appreciate them for sharing personal information with you.

Another approach is to take them to a landing page that explains the offer and its benefits more in-depth. John Lee Dumas is brilliant at this. He has an award winning daily podcast called, “Entrepreneur on Fire” where he interviews successful entrepreneurs. He, himself, became a multi-millionaire practically overnight. I received an email from him with an offer to buy his Mastery Journal. When I clicked on the link, I was taken to a landing page that included videos, benefits of his book and made it easy to purchase. In fact, he didn’t even refer to it as a “purchase.” Instead he called it a “pledge.” The idea is that your purchase is a pledge to invest in yourself. Great stuff.

Feeling lost? Let us help you create your online strategy!

You Got Em! Now What?

According to MoreNiche.com, once you get someone to subscribe by downloading your lead magnet, you now need to build a profitable subscriber.

They suggest:

1. Let your subscriber know what to expect and set a clear vision for future communications. This could mean giving a hint about the next email that will be coming up in three days. Or, you might explain that you will be sending an additional five emails that will dig even deeper than the initial guide you offered providing case studies and tips. You could also tell them that you’ll be releasing videos and podcasts for the next seven days.
2. People like to complete things.  If someone gets an email saying “Part 3” or “3 of 7”, they can instantly recognize “where” they are in the flow. Often, this will make them go back to previous emails in case they missed one or two as well as make them want to wait for the following parts. A lot of this happens at an unconscious level. Use it, especially at the beginning while you build the initial relationship.

Call To Action as your email series comes to an end:

1. Tell your subscriber what they will gain from the offer or gain by the problem you are solving.
2. Tell your subscriber what they will lose by not acting (this is more about the problem you are solving, not price)
3. Use logic when describing the offer or problem you are solving.
4. Optional: use a reminder email if the product is time sensitive.

If you are selling high ticket products or services, make sure your emails are about opting into a conversation with you.  Once you are given permission by gathering a phone number and time of call, send a follow up email with date and time reminders and prepare for that call as if it’s your only client.  Research the lead and nurture them with another email that contains free and vital content.

Author and Curator of Game-Changing Content
Phyllis Smith
Content Manager, eWomenNetwork

The post How to Create Irresistible Lead Magnets appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

Image by NY photographic

Remember the “good ole days” when you would open your mailbox and see a bunch of mail and get excited thinking about all the people who care enough to write to you? Then as you go through them one-by-one you realize that all but the Halloween card from your Great Aunt Clara was actually “junk” mail that you immediately discarded into your trash. Well, eMail Marketing is the new Direct Mail Marketing, and if you don’t manage it right you could be banned from inboxes altogether. The first step is to know the best ways to get people to open your email in the first place.

Start with a Good Subject Line

The only thing between your email recipient and the delete button is a powerful subject line. Think about what gets you to open your email? It’s probably similar to what gets you past the headline to read an article or blog. The question to ask yourself when you are creating a subject line for your email is what’s in it for them? What will get your reader to stop, click and read what you have to offer?

Well, that is the million dollar question? The good news is email marketing has been around long enough now for digital marketers and software to spot trends both in the industry as well as specific to your business.

Here’s 7 tips to consider when coming up with a compelling subject line:

1. Keep it short and snappy – Consider the lack of time your reader has to whip through her emails in between projects, family responsibilities and what little leisure time she has to herself. Hubspot says 40% of emails are read on mobile devices, so they recommend no more than 50 characters.
2. Make it personal – One example is to use the recipients name in the subject line such as, “Hey Judy! Need a break?” or “A Gift Just For You Judy!”
3. Be truthful – Do what you say you’re subject lines says you’re going to do. Don’t make false promises.
4. Verbs rule – Start your subject line with an action verb. “Hangout With Celebs!” or “Decide Your Future Today”
5. Love on your customer – Make your recipient feel like they’re important. “Just for You” or “The Perfect Gift for You” or even “Thinking of You.”
6. A sense of urgency  – Here’s one I got from Costco – The “From” said “Thank you!” The subject line said “Open immediately.” Here, they gave me the love and created a sense of urgency.
7. LOSE THE CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!! – Nobody likes to be yelled at.

These are only a few examples of enticing subject lines. Remember, think about what gets you to open your emails. That’s a good place to start.

Share your email marketing tips below!

Make it Human

Be sure to send your email from a person, not an inanimate entity. You’re less likely to get someone to open your email if they see it’s from info@Infomania.com. Even more than that, an email like that is likely to end up in someones spam folder. And even beyond that, you could be blacklisted from an email service like Yahoo or AOL altogether.

Click to listen to my interview with Margaret Croome on my podcast, “Spotlight on eWomenNetwork”

Segment Your List

Margaret Croom, the Director of Digital Marketing for eWomenNetwork says most small business owner do not have a large email list.  She says you don’t need one if you segment the list you have based on the subscribers needs.  Nurture your list with valuable information and of course, use the right email marketing software.

What does Margaret mean by, “segment?”  It’s the practice of splitting up your email list into more targeted groups. You can determine what your customer is interested in by simply asking them when they give you your email information through a free online download from your website. For example, in your popup asking for their contact information, provide a drop-down list of your offerings such as Product Updates or Newsletter. You can also segment your own internal list by differentiating your list through your email marketing software such as a “customer” list or  a “lead” list. Both of those will require a different content approach and determine how often you send send emails to them.

Types of Email Campaigns

There are different types of emails. You need to decide what your desired outcome is for your email and then create your email campaign around that. Business News Daily lists a few examples of the types of emails you would choose from:

• Newsletters: A quick way to regularly keep customers informed on any business news or upcoming promotions. Newsletters are typically sent on a recurring basis, such as every week or month.
• Promotional campaigns: These emails let customers know about upcoming sales. These emails can be sent in the days leading up to the sale, as well during the sale, as a reminder for customers.
• Invitation emails: This kind of message keeps clients up to date on upcoming special events. Invitation emails can be sent weeks or days before an event occurs as a way to encourage a customer to attend.
• Catalog emails: Sent as a way to highlight products or services.
• Lead-nurturing emails: Designed to keep brands at the top of mind for prospective clients. These emails are sent out regularly until a potential customer is converted into a paying customer.
• Survey emails: Sent as a way to find out more about customers’ needs and wants.
• Transaction emails: Sent after a purchase is made, as a way to confirm the transaction, say thank you and encourage the customer to shop with you again.

Email Marketing Software

When it comes to successful email marketing, Margaret Croome advises you use the right email marketing software for your business. How do you know what is right for you? Margaret says, “If you are just starting out, make sure you use a service that has great templates, at least 2 ways to “auto-respond” to your list and free until you have a specific amount of subscribers. If you have 500 on your list with a consistent 20% open rate, get rid of those who never open.  Why pay to send emails to those who never open!  I’ve known people with 100 on their list with a 75% open rate and they do very well with selling their services to them.  You may be tempted to buy into an expensive system that has all the bells and whistles because the “guru’s” are highly successful using it, but make sure you are ready for that.  What is worse than paying $250 a month for software you are not able to use to the fullest?! Keep it simple. Your software capabilities should grow with your needs.”

Also, the software you use should have analytics that will help you determine the exact behavior of your reader, which includes your open rate, your click-through-rate (CTR) and your unsubscribe rate. There is no guessing. Once you understand the behavior, you can make adjustments. For example, if your open rate is low then you might have to provide more valuable content. If your CTR is low, your copy might not be compelling enough. If a lot of people are unsubscribing then it’s time to make some big changes in your campaign.

How Many Emails is Too Many?

If you have to ask yourself that question, then it’s too many. Think of your list as a privilege. These are people who have given you permission to intrude on their lives and their ever-growing inbox, so be careful about invading their space. Their inbox is their home, and you’re a guest knocking on the door. Make sure you have compelling content and that you are providing your readers with something that they already told you they care about.

Need help with your online marketing? We’re here to help!

Creator of Game-Changing Content,
Phyllis Smith, Content Manager
eWomenNetwork

The post The Best Ways to Get People to Open Your eMail appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

Words can lift and they can destroy. The profound power of words can build or damage everything from a relationship to your business. What you say is what you do.

The Primacy Effect of Words

Psychologists call it the “primacy” effect. It means that based on the words others tell us about another person, or we tell ourselves, predisposes us to believe it’s true. For example, say you’re meeting with a potential high-end client who could greatly impact your bottom line. If the words streaming through your mind are destructive such as, “They won’t buy from me, my business isn’t big enough,” then you’ll likely lose that client. If, on the other hand, you say to yourself before meeting with this person, “My business is the perfect fit for this client,” then your success rate will likely improve.

The Profound Power of Words

Dr. Samantha Madhosingh is widely considered North America’s Holistic Success Doctor. In this video, you will learn how to achieve success by simply using the right words. Words that empower, not destroy. Dr. Samantha says that the only person standing in your way from success is yourself. Words matter.

Click here to learn more about how Dr. Samantha can help you achieve your greatest potential. 
Dr. Samantha Madhosingh has invested more than 20,000 hours to researching, understanding, and solving the infinite possibilities of human potential, behavior and performance. Through her studies, counseling and speaking, she can assure you this: The only thing standing in your way, holding you back is the story you created of the thoughts swirling around in your brain.

The post The Profound Power of Words appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

There’s a lot more to writing a blog than the actual content itself. But who has the time or the patience to write a blog if nobody is going to read it? After all, you’ve got a business to run! As a former CBS Radio Reporter and TV News Producer for all the major networks, I know what it means to crank out stories under a tight deadline that people will actually care about. So, I have a pretty good idea what makes people stick with a story. It’s not brain science, but there are a few critical elements you need to learn to easily write a blog that people want to read.

How To Easily Write an Blog That People Want to Read

Visual Content Rules!

Yes, video is king in terms of content marketing. However, using visuals in general is a surefire way to get readers engaged in your content. Here’s a few findings in a recent report by Social Media Examiner that proves my point:

1) 37% of marketers said visual marketing was the most important form of content for their business, second only to blogging (38%).

2) 74% of social media marketers use visual assets in their social media marketing, ahead of blogs (68%) and videos (60%).

3) When people hear information, they’re likely to remember only 10% of that information three days later. However, if a relevant image is paired with that same information, people retained 65% of the information three days later.

What do Your Readers Want?

Hubspot surveyed more than 1000 global internet users in 2016 on how they access news, business and lifestyle stories online compared to 2 years ago. Here are their results:

This graph gives you a good idea why traditional news providers like newspapers and television news are going by way of the dinosaur. No longer are users forced to read only what an Editor or Reporter think is important or engaging news. We now can access what we want, when we want on multiple devices. You can even see this in the magazine industry with the specialization of magazines on everything from hobbies to religion to pulp fiction to politics.

Headlines: The 80/20 Rule

So where do we start? When there are millions of blogs that are posted every day, billions of emails that are read (or in my case discarded!), and millions of tweets, it takes more than just good writing to stand out. In fact, did you know that according to some sources, 80% of people don’t get past the headline. Only 20% actually read beyond it. Your goal in writing a blog is to get them to read the next sentence, and then the next sentence after that, and so on.

So, your title or headline is your first step in sucking those readers in. If your blog is important to generating leads and growing your business, it’s even that much more important to turn that 80/20 rule into 20/80.

How to Write a Whiz-Bang Headline

Sometimes when I write a blog, I don’t always know what my headline will be until I’m half-way through writing it. As the words begin to flow from my head to my fingertips, little nuggets begin to form and suddenly a headline is born. Sometimes it takes a great photo to really give it the punch it needs, like the sleeping woman above. The point of the photo is to suggest that someone fell asleep while reading a boring blog. (Hopefully that won’t be you while you’re reading this blog!)

Here are 3 key elements to create an engaging headline:

Adjective + Call-To-Action Words + A Number

You don’t have to use all 3 or in that order. Take this blog for example. The headline, “How To Easily Write a Blog That People Want to Read,” explains what the article is about, but points to a source of pain we all live through. The pain is that we know that a blog is essential to providing useful content for our business, but we want to make sure it’s worth our time to write it. It also can be very time-consuming. Using the adjective, “easily” speaks to those who dread taking time away from their business to write a blog. “That People Want to Read,” is the call-to-action.

Know your audience

It’s a similar principle you would apply to your business. First, identify your ideal client (reader), know what problems they have and then how are you going to solve those problems? Your headline should identify the problem of  your ideal client (reader). Then it’s your job to give solutions to the problem in your blog in an engaging, interesting way.

Your First Paragraph

Ok, you wrote a snappy headline and peaked their interest. Now you need to write an intriguing introductory paragraph. In news, we call it, “the lead.” Don’t bury the lead! This is what will keep them reading. Remember, all you want to do is to get them to your next sentence. Your introductory paragraph should say exactly what you are going to tell them about and why it’s important for them to read on. Here is where you can elaborate on your headline. What is your reader’s problem and how are you going to solve their problem? Other ways you can grab your reader’s attention is to tell a story or a joke, be empathetic, or grip the reader with an interesting fact or statistic.

The K.I.S.S. Principle

Keep It Simple Sweetie! If you want to reach a large audience, write so an 11 year old can understand it. That means short sentences, simple explanations and don’t assume that your reader knows what you’re talking about. Literally, spell it out for them. Use lots of bullet points and pictures to tell your story. You’re not writing a white paper here. You want a large reach, so you need to dumb it down a little bit (although these 11 year olds are pretty dang smart these days!) Now that doesn’t mean you write poorly. You can still tell a compelling story that is easy to ready with proper grammar and accuracy.

Be Yourself

The other advice I would give you when you create content, either written, visual or audio (podcasts), is to be yourself. Write like you talk. If you’re on camera or recording a podcast, show your true colors. Allow your personality to come through. If you’re funny, be funny! If you’re sarcastic, throw some sarcasm in for good measure. Be passionate about what you’re writing or talking about. Don’t be afraid to let the world know who you are and what you stand for. If you’re excited about your topic, so too will your audience.

When writing a blog, it doesn’t have to be Shakespeare. As you write, imagine you’re telling your best friend a story. You wouldn’t tell them in long prose. You would speak with emotion. Write from your heart. What speaks to you will speak to others.

Click here to access Sandra Yancey’s Building Blocks to a Brilliant Blog audio recording. 

Expand Your Reach

SEO or Search Engine Optimization

SEO is less about what you write as it is about how your write it. Yoast is a great plugin that I like to use, which gauges my SEO based on a series of elements including how often I use the title key words in the article, the use of headers and how easy it is to read.  Click here to learn Yoast’s top 10 SEO generators.

Find the right Social Media niche

In our blog article, “How to Choose the Right Social Media Platforms,” I provided you with a chart based on Pew Research that shows you the demographics for each major Social Media platform. For example, the average age of Facebook users is 25-34, whereas the average age for Twitter users is 18-29. There’s other demographics to consider as well, such as gender, geographic location, income and education. The important takeaway here is to know your audience. Who are they and why should they care? Know their pain points. How are you going to solve their problem?

CTA

And finally, all of your content should have a CTA, a call-to-action. First, decide the intention of your blog? Do you want to build your prospect list? Are you selling something? Do you want to develop a trusting relationship with your audience, so when you do have something to offer they will be more likely to buy from you? Remember, people buy from those they know, like and trust.

Let’s face it, we’re all busy. So when we create content, we want it to be effective. We want to inform, entertain and engage our audience. It’s not just for our ego, it’s because we have something fabulous to offer and nurturing our customers with some game-changing content is a noble first step to gain a loyal following.

No one makes it alone! If you need help with your Digital Marketing, we’ve got the best in the biz!  Click here for details:

Author of Game-Changing Content
Phyllis Smith
Content Manger, eWomenNetwork

The post How To Easily Write a Blog That People Want to Read appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.

Having a rough day? Get in line! eWomenNetwork CEO, Sandra Yancey, says entrepreneurs are often too busy being COE (Chief of Everything) instead of CEO. When you’re too consumed by everyday business, the one thing that tends to fall off the back of the truck is your social media marketing. Let’s face it, social media is vital to your overall marketing strategy. If it doesn’t get done right, you could be missing out on important revenue opportunities. But doing it right is not just about writing great content. It’s about how to choose the right social platforms for your ideal client and planning ahead to save you time.

Save Time by Planning Ahead

You know what makes a successful business in today’s digital world? Planning, planning and planning. Before you put finger to keyboard to write a blog or post something, you need to have a strategy. I always like to start with the big picture. Here’s a few things to do before you start crafting your content:

1. Create a content calendar – Hubspot has a great template that you can see here and download from them for free. Notice the tabs on the bottom separate the yearly calendar, content and specific social media platforms.
2. Set goals – For each piece of content you create, whether it’s a blog for social media post, decide on what you want to accomplish with your content. Do you want to generate leads? If so, what is your call-to-action? Do you a free offer for your reader? Where do you want your reader to when they’re finished reading your blog or post?
3. Know your audience! Who is your ideal client and what are their pain points? Ask yourself he following questions:
   • What past content gets the most readers?
   • What are your competitors up to in regards to content they’re publishing? How can you be different?
   • How can you provide valuable content without being salesy?

Define and Locate Your Ideal Online Client.

How to Choose the Right Social Media Platforms

So, you’ve planned your content calendar, you know the purpose of your content and you know your audience. All of that is great, but now to make all of that planning and research worth your time, you need to know what platform you should use for your content.

SocialFactor.com  created this social media platform chart based on Pew Research to show you the demographics for each platform. Notice how different they are. For example, the average age of Facebook users is 25-34, whereas the average age for Twitter users is 18-29. There’s other demographics to consider as well, such as gender, geographic location, income and education.

How Often Do You Post?

Think of your audience like Goldilocks. Too much will turn them off. Too little they’ll disappear. You’ve got to get it juuuust right. Be your audience. How often would you like to see a post? What happens when you haven’t seen one from your favorite company in a while? Outa sight outa mind, right?

To save you time, so you’re not spending all day on social media, use a scheduling tool like Hootsuite (free), Spredfast or Sprinklr. That way you’ll have all of your posts scheduled out for as long as you can plan ahead.

Time to Tell the World!

Now your fingers are ready to do the walking. Now that  you know your audience and how they think and behave, be sure to “speak” to them in their language. Do they like wit? Are they more formal? Remember to include converting content, which might be a testimonial from a client, a link to your blog or a call-to-action, such as a free download. If you do have a download, decide what it’s for. Is it to grow your sales funnel and capture leads? Or is it a product to generate revenue?

Click here if you want help choosing the right social media platform, saving time and taking the pressure off of you!

Generator of Game-Changing Content
Phyllis Smith
Content Manager, eWomenNetwork

Oh, one more thing! You can get some great training on digital media and growing your business at our 2017 eWomenNetwork International Conference in August. Click here to register!

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The post How to Choose the Right Social Media Platforms & Save Time appeared first on eWomenNetwork Blog.