Articles by Michele PW on ArticleSnatch.com

3 Mistakes Conscious Entrepreneurs Make When Launching a Product or Program

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:19:46 -0500

Of all the marketing tools out there (and make no mistake about it, product launches are a TOOL -- nothing more, nothing less) product launches have got to be the most frustrating, misused and misunderstood tool. There is nothing that will bring an entrepreneur to their knees faster than a busted launch. Worse, even if the launch ISN'T a failure, it's still the cause of more worry, anxiety and sleepless nights than any other marketing tactic I've ever seen (and trust me, I've seen a lot). However, since launch failure certainly is one of the top concerns (not to mention a bad launch makes everything else look worse) I thought I'd take some time today to discuss the top 3 mistakes entrepreneurs make when launching a product or program. Mistake 1: They rush into the launch. Let me explain what I mean by this because it's not as clear cut as you might think. **End Summary** Topics: product launches]]> online marketing]]> internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. Grab her latest FREE special report âWhy EVERYTHING Youâve Been Taught About Marketing on the Internet Will NOT Work for You and What You Can Do To Turn it Aroundâ here: http://www.MichelePW.com/sand

3 Tips to Internet Marketing Even If Itâs Not Your Cup of Tea

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:05:59 -0500

On the surface, starting an internet-based business may seem like a dream come true. A business owner can start a business out of her home, selling her products and services everywhere and anywhere in the world without big marketing budgets or lots of advertising. However, once she puts up her first web site, that dream often comes crashing down – it’s not nearly as easy as it first looks. So, she does her research. She starts learning everything she can about Internet Marketing. But it’s still not as simple as what the “gurus” say. Maybe the business owner is still stuck at her current revenue goals and she knows she could be making more. Maybe she feels uncomfortable or “icky” around her marketing. Maybe she agonizes over every negative email and feedback she gets. And maybe she feels like there must be a better way. Here are 3 tips to use to get more success through Internet Marketing: 1. Pull up those big girl panties and get some business training. People start businesses for all sorts of reasons that have really nothing to do with owning their own business. **End Summary** Topics: internet-based business]]> internet marketing]]> home-based busi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. Grab her latest FREE special report âWhy EVERYTHING Youâve Been Taught About Marketing on the Internet Will NOT Work for You and What You Can Do To Turn it Aroundâ here: http://www.MichelePW.com/sand

3 Steps to IMPLEMENTING Your 2012 Marketing Plan

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:33:32 -0500

You just put the finishing touches on your kick-butt marketing plan that's going to skyrocket your business. Hooray! Only problem is that kick-butt marketing plan isn't going to do a thing for your business unless you actually put it into action. And that, alas, is where most marketing plans end up -- a really good idea that never got implemented. So, how do you stop that from happening? Here are 3 steps to help you move from thinking to doing. 1. Figure out what you need to be doing versus what you can get someone else to do. Look, there's no reason why YOU have to do all the implementation. Get some help! If you already have a team, fantastic! Now you just have to start delegating. If you don't have a team or you don't have the right person on your team to do a specific job (for instance, a technical person to fix your shopping cart) then you need to put finding that person to your to-do list. In the short term yes it does add to your workload, but in the long term it will save you a lot of time. 2. **End Summary** Topics: marketing plan]]> goal planning]]> business success tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

3 Steps to Crafting Your 2012 Marketing Plan

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:06:54 -0500

There's no question you can start and grow a business without a marketing plan. However, I can tell you from personal experience, if you're feeling stuck and can't get to the next level, it's probably because you never took the time to put a marketing plan together. Having a marketing plan really is the key to growing and sustaining a successful, profitable business. Otherwise all you're doing is winging it, and winging it only takes you so far. So if you're ready to craft your 2012 marketing plan but you're not sure where to start, read on -- I'm going to walk you through 3 steps to get you there. 1. Start with the end goal. If you don't know where you're going, then you really don't need a plan. (And it's impossible to plan without knowing where you want to end up anyway.) It's probably easiest to start with the money. How much do you want to make in 2012? Write that down. You probably also want to divide it up into monthly or quarterly goals so you know how much you need to make each month or quarter to reach that goal. **End Summary** Topics: marketing plan]]> goal planning]]> business success tips]]> busine]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

3 Steps to Starting the New Year on The Right Foot for Your Business

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:39:54 -0500

There's no better time to take stock of your business than the time between the end of one year and the beginning of the next. It's "out with the old, in with the new" and that includes out with anything that isn't serving you or your business at the highest level, and in with what you want your business to look like. To help you get on track for the fresh New Year and all it's possibilities, I thought I'd share 3 simple steps to get you and your business started on the right foot. 1. Start by cleaning out the old year. Are you surrounded by stacks of papers or old files? Now is the time to clean those up and make room for all the new business and opportunities that are bound to come your way (unless there's no room for them). What about old products or programs? Is everything you're offering in your business still a good fit? Or maybe there's something you've outgrown or doesn't work with your brand anymore? And don't forget to look at your mindset or your habits. What are you still not doing you know you should be? **End Summary** Topics: Goals]]> goal planning]]> business success tips]]> business succes]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

3 Simple Steps to Marketing Even If You Hate Marketing

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:05:40 -0400

Of all the things entrepreneurs struggle with, this one is probably the most difficult and most dangerous. Why? Because it directly impacts the success of your business. I know I'm not revealing any big eye-opening secret when I tell you that if you don't regularly and consistently market your business, your business won't grow. I know you know this. But none of that helps you when you hate marketing. (In fact, it probably makes you feel even worse, doesn't it?) So what did you do? Here are 3 steps to get you started (hint -- these work even if you love marketing): 1. Find a marketing strategy or tactic you enjoy. There are LOTS of ways to market yourself, I guarantee at least one of them you will like doing. Your job is to find it and then build your main marketing strategy around it. Here's a list of a few marketing activities to get you thinking: a. Writing -- blogs, articles, etc. b. Speaking -- live, on teleclasses/webinars/livestream, or even podcasts c. Being interviewed on radio or television d. Video e. Chatting with people via social networking At least one of those should resonate with you. **End Summary** Topics: marketing]]> marketing system]]> marketing steps]]> small busines]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

What Do You Do When You Lose Your Mojo? 3 Tips

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:17:22 -0400

It happens. For many of us entrepreneurs, our business is built around us. So when we get tired, stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out or lose our mojo, our business suffers. And when that happens, it can impact us in all sorts of negative ways. So when we do lose our mojo, what can we do to get it back? Here are 3 tips to help you out: 1. Take care of yourself so it doesn't happen in the first place. Okay, I realize if you're already suffering from burn out and have lost your mojo this isn't going to help you much, but for the rest of you (and once you've gotten your mojo back) this is where you need to start. So, when I say take care of yourself, I mean more then eating well and getting enough sleep (although it can certainly mean that). What I mean is you have to do things that "fill the well." That's more of a creativity expression -- if you don't do things that feed your creativity and fill the well, the well of creativity will run dry and then you'll be in a fix. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

Spiders or Peeps? Why Writing for SEO Can Hurt Your Website Rankings

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:41:49 -0400

In my copywriting trainings, this topic invariably comes up. And usually it's because I'm questioning my students' choice of words on their websites or other online promotional copy. "I chose that word because it's a good SEO keyword," they say. Ah. It may be a good SEO keyword but it's certainly not a good people word. But before I get too far down this path, let me give you all a little background info. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. What that means is you make your website and other online copy "search-engine friendly" so the search engines will rank you high for your chosen keywords. (Like on the first page when someone does a search for that keyword.) One of the main tactics used to optimize your site is to scatter your chosen keywords throughout your copy (the frequency and positioning seem to change depending on how close the Moon is to Jupiter so I'm not going to even go down this path today.) Why do you want that? Presumably so you get more online visitors to your site. On the surface, it makes sense. **End Summary** Topics: SEO]]> internet marketing]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]> small business marketing strategy]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

Ask Ms. Social Networking Manners

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:53:05 -0400

Dear Ms. Social Networking Manners, I'm a professional athlete who sometimes gets bored off the field. There's only so much television you can watch, so that's why I like to hop on Twitter. I especially like to do this when I'm really angry about something. But I've discovered I get a big backlash when I do this. I've blamed the Mad Twitter Hacker, but the problem is no one believes there is a Mad Twitter Hacker and they still get mad at me. I don't get it -- nobody is really reading Twitter anyway, right? Any professional athlete, any city Dear Any Athlete, Ah yes, it may come as a big surprise to you, but people actually do read tweets. And (brace yourself) they also read what you post on Facebook, Linked In, your blog, etc. I know it can sometimes feel like you're just typing away and no one is paying any attention, but that just isn't true. People ARE reading, even if they don't always comment. And let's not forget what you put out there in the Internet Universe tends to stay out there. Ms. **End Summary** Topics: social networking]]> Internet marketing]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

3 Crucial Elements Every Money-Making Website MUST Have

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:39:22 -0400

I'm about to make your life so much easier. Putting up a money-making website can be as simple as 1, 2, 3 -- just as long as you have these 3 crucial elements in place. (And, if you don't have a website, I'm going to share just how easy it can be to get one up TOMORROW. Yes, it really can be that simple -- so no more excuses about "I need to get my website finished before I can do X,Y,Z.") Let's get started. 1. Have a place for people to opt-in and download a special free gift from you. This can be as simple as a box located at the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Why do you want to do this? Because having a list of prospects you can build a relationship with is crucial to your business success. People buy from people they know, like and trust. A website, no matter how extensive, is only going to take you so far. Relationships are built over time and through communication -- which is why publishing a regular ezine can be such a great marketing tool. **End Summary** Topics: websites]]> marketing]]> copywriting]]> websites]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

Do You Even Need a Website or Blog Anymore? A Simple Assessment

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:38:59 -0400

It's official. Social networking is here to stay. Forget using it just as a business tool. It's everywhere. You can't get away from it. (And we're not even talking about, ahem, inappropriate uses of it such as sending nasty pictures of yourself over Twitter when you really ought to know better) Anyway, I digress. The point is social networking is so prolific and so everywhere that websites and blogs are starting to look like something your grandpa used to market himself. After all, now you have gurus proclaiming Facebook fan pages are the absolute MUST HAVE little black dress and you are seriously behind the times without one. (Here's an example of a fan page if you want to check it out: http://www.facebook.com/michelepwkaching -- feel free to "like" it once you're there too.  ) So are websites and blogs even worth it? Should we just throw all our chips in the social networking pile and not spend any more time or money on websites or blogs? And what if you don’t have a website yet -- should you even bother? Okay. Let's all take a deep breath here. Feel better? Good -- now let's look at the facts. **End Summary** Topics: social networking]]> marketing]]> copywriting]]> websites]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a premiere direct response copywriting and marketing company that helps entrepreneurs attract more clients, sell more products and services and boost their business. To grab your FREE "Ka-Ching! Business Kit" with a FREE CD visit http://www.MichelePW.com/freecd

Are You Using Marketing to Sabotage Your Business Success? 3 Danger Signs

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:30:06 -0400

Here’s the sneaky thing about mental blocks — they usually make their presence known through sabotage (your business, your relationships, your life, etc.) rather than let you know through more civilized means. Wouldn’t it be so much nicer if they simply tapped you on the shoulder and said “hey — this is an issue for you, maybe you should take care of it?” Alas, they prefer to communicate with you by wreaking havoc in your business and your life. And, when it comes to your business, one of their favorite ways of messing with you is through marketing. So, how do you know if this is something you’re doing? Below are the 3 Danger Signs: 1. You know what you should be doing to market your business (for instance, getting an ezine out on a regular basis). But somehow it NEVER gets done. Or it gets done very sporadically — like once every 6 months. You say things like “I really need to get this done” and you never do. Now this could mean one of two things — it could mean this is the wrong marketing strategy for you, your business, your ideal clients, etc. **End Summary** Topics: internet marketing]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]> copywriting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2010 Michele Pariza Wacek.

Why do we believe the Big Fat Lies about Internet Marketing?

Wed, 18 May 2011 15:07:14 -0400

As you may know, I am on a MISSION to shine a great big TRUTH spotlight on all the Big Fat Lies you’re most likely telling yourself about Internet Marketing right now. However, I can only do so much. I can tell you what the truth is. And you may even believe it. (In your head that is.) But then, come the darkest part of the night, you’ll wake up in a sweat. And you’ll be thinking: “What if Michele is wrong? What if the reason why I’m having so much trouble succeeding on the Internet really IS all about me?” During the day it’s easy to be rational. We understand in our heads that some marketing strategies will succeed, some will fail, and the best way to grow a successful business is to analyze why the failures failed and use that information to create more successes. But in the dead of night, all of those good, objective intentions can fly away, leaving us alone with our doubts, fears, frustrations and anxiety. So what IS it about these Big Fat Internet Marketing Lies that can wreak such havoc in our mental and emotional health? **End Summary** Topics: internet marketing]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]> copywriting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

The REAL Cost of Big Fat Internet Marketing Lies

Mon, 09 May 2011 23:24:06 -0400

Over the years I’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners. And there is one thing I know to be absolutely true. It is NOT easy to own your own business. In fact, all of you entrepreneurs reading this should stop and pat yourself on the back right now. (I mean it. Stop and pat yourself on the back. I don’t care how successful or unsuccessful you think you are — you’re doing it. You’ve chosen a path that can be scary and frustrating and risky but it also can bring you the BIGGEST rewards and the HIGHEST highs.) So if owning a business is tough, why would you make it all that tougher on yourself by believing the “lies” out there about Internet Marketing? You see, there are a lot of beliefs swirling around out there about Internet Marketing that are either half-truths, sort-of-true-but-you-don’t-know-the-whole-context or just an out-and-out lie. The problem is you may not know what is REALLY true and what you only THINK is true. Actually that’s not the biggest problem. The BIGGEST problem is when you believe these half-truths or lies and then you blame YOURSELF when Internet Marketing doesn’t work for you. **End Summary** Topics: internet marketing]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]> copywriting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

3 Secrets to Business Success I Learned From My Grandpa

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:45:08 -0400

My 96-year-old Grandpa recently passed away, and as a tribute to his memory I wanted to share some of the gems he passed on to me. Grandpa was a successful entrepreneur -- he started his business, a machine shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, over 50 years ago. Even though he never was able to get his head around the idea of Internet marketing, one thing he DID understand is business. Below are 3 tips he shared with me in order to help you build a solid, successful business: 1. Being lucky is contagious. Grandpa would often tell us stories about how his successful friends and associates were the ones who were lucky in Vegas -- the ones who weren't successful were also the ones who weren't so lucky in Vegas (or other areas for that matter). This sounds a little like law of attraction, right? Except grandpa would never call it law of attraction. I think it's more like a core belief -- if a core belief of yours is you'll make a lot of money, then you'll make a lot of money. If your core belief is you'll struggle financially, you'll struggle financially. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small busi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

3 Keys to Getting Your Message Out into the World So You Can Make a Difference

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:40:40 -0400

If you're one of the thousands of heart-centered and conscious entrepreneurs, getting your message out into the world in a big way is important to you. In fact, it might even be the reason why you started your business in the first place. The problem, of course, is how. How do you get your message out into an already crowded marketplace? How do you make sure you're getting your message in front of the people who so desperately need to hear it? That's what I'm going to walk you through today -- the 3 main keys to getting your message out into the world in a REALLY big way so you can make the difference you were put on this Earth to make. 1. Make sure your message is crystal clear. In fact, the clearer and more specific the better. The more general it is, the less impact you're going to make. Consider this -- "I am a healer" versus "I provide spiritual healing to entrepreneurs as they step into their own power as an entrepreneur." Do you see the difference? **End Summary** Topics: marketing]]> visibility]]> small business marketing strategy]]> on]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

3 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make While Building Their Businesses

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:30:39 -0500

Over the years I've had the pleasure of working with both very successful entrepreneurs and ones who aren't so successful. What makes one entrepreneur successful while the other one not-so-much? Chances are they're making one (or all three) of these mistakes. Read on to learn more. 1. Marketing their business is not a priority. This is probably the biggest reason why I see businesses fail or either get sucked into a stressful feast-or-famine model (either too many or too few clients). They don't make marketing their business a priority. If you want to have a full pipeline of clients at all times then it's crucial you make marketing a priority. So what do I mean exactly by marketing your business? Basically two things -- you have one or more ways to bring new leads in the door and you have one or more ways to turn those leads into clients. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small busi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

5 Things I Did Right to Start Seeing Consistent Business Growth, Income and Success!

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:54:49 -0500

I was very excited about how I ended 2010. I finally hit a financial milestone. However, I wasn't an overnight success. I started this process in 2005 to transform my business from a one-woman freelance copywriter to president of a copywriting and marketing company. I'm going through all the things I did so you can duplicate my success. Below are 5 things that worked for me: 1. Started attending events. Now, I'm not talking about becoming an event junkie. But I do believe going to events is key to taking your business to the next level. There are so many benefits from attending events beyond what you're going to learn from the speakers -- networking, connecting with your "tribe," getting out of your own little world so you can get some fresh ideas for your business, meeting the "movers and shakers" in your industry and more. In addition to all of that, you also may discover your business starts to take off because you're finally taking yourself and your business seriously. 2. Started regularly marketing. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

3 Things I Did Right to Start Seeing Consistent Business Growth, Income and Success!

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:00:25 -0500

Last year I hit a big financial milestone in my business. Now, I'm not telling you this to brag. I'm telling you this because I want this for you, and I believe you can do it too. Look, I made every mistake in the book (and probably even a few that aren't in the book). I also probably started my business exactly the way you did -- as a solopreneur. In 1998 I started out as a freelancer copywriter, which basically meant I created a job for myself. The problem with that is because I was the one actually doing the work, the marketing part of my business was hit or miss (sound familiar?). I created a horrible feast/famine cycle for myself and that was my life for years. It was 2005 that I finally decided I needed a different business model. The problem was I had no idea what it would look like or how to do it. Other writers were no help, they had the same business I had. So after a lot of struggling and flailing around, I finally got it together and started generating the success and income I had always dreamed of. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small busi]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

Goal Setting -- 3 Tips to Positioning Yourself for Business Success in the New Year

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:18:28 -0500

It's December and you know what that means. Not only is it holiday mania but this is also the perfect time to get yourself ready for the New Year. If you're an entrepreneur who is ready to enjoy more business success next year, I would highly encourage you to take a little time to work ON your business (rather than IN your business) before the start of the New Year. Below are 3 tips to help you get focused and ready to shine! 1. Make sure you celebrate your past success. This one isn't easy for me to do either (much easier to make a list of all the things I want to get done next year). But if you don't celebrate what you DID accomplish last year, what would be the motivation for achieving next year's goals? You need to give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it! (And be honest, when was the last time you gave yourself any sort of credit?) Here's what I would suggest doing -- get a piece of paper and write down 50 things you accomplished last year. Yes I said 50. **End Summary** Topics: Goal setting]]> goals]]> Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic inter]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

How Branding Can Lead to a Business's Success...or Failure

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:30:09 -0400

For better or worse, every business out there has a brand. I say for better or worse because you may not like what your brand is. Your brand could be confused. It could be nonexistent. It could be conflicting. Brands are more than a logo. Your brand is the core identity of your business. And if you don't know what your core identity is, or you never took the time to map it out, then you more likely than not have a confused, conflicting or nonexistent brand. So why is this a problem? Well, because without a strong brand, you're going to struggle needlessly trying to grow your business. You see, you may be getting clients and business, but I can guarantee you're working a lot harder then you would be if you had a strong brand. A strong brand attracts your ideal clients to you and repels not-so-ideal ones. This is one of the ways you become a client magnet -- having a strong brand then promoting that brand through a marketing system. Without this, you're out searching for clients, rather than simply responding to clients coming to you. **End Summary** Topics: branding]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

The Secret Behind Successful Branding (and No, It's Not About a Logo)

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:29:41 -0400

Of all the different marketing tools out there, the most nebulous, and also the most misunderstood, are these two -- branding and positioning. And since they're misunderstood, they aren't used correctly, leading to all sorts of problems. Branding and positioning are extremely powerful. Used correctly, you will magically attract your ideal clients to you. Used incorrectly, and that same power can destroy your business. So, let's talk definitions. First, branding. No I'm not talking about logos, colors or slogans. Yes that's a part of branding. But branding is a lot more then that. Branding is really about your business's core identity. (Not your personal core identity, your business's core identity). That's probably the easiest way to explain it. And yes I'm simplifying it some -- but hang with me. Branding is what your business represents. What your business is all about. Once you know this, and you have a strong core identity, the logos and colors and slogans all fall into place. But you need to have that core identity first. Your positioning is how you stack up in the marketplace. How your ideal clients describe you and how you compare against your competition. Your branding comes first. **End Summary** Topics: branding]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

3 Biz/Marketing Lessons to Learn From Attending an NFL Game

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:04:52 -0400

Over the years I've attended my share of live sporting events, but I must say there's a lot to like about live NFL games. In fact, I'd like to share 3 of those lessons below that you too can use to build your business. 1. Know what business you're REALLY in. Think the NFL is just about football? Think again. The NFL is in the entertainment business and yes the NFL is well aware of that. At least for the Arizona Cardinals (it might be different at other stadiums) but along with the cheerleaders and a big red bird running around, they also have lots of scheduled little skits throughout the game. Considering how many commercial breaks you sit through when you watch a game on TV, it's remarkable how little downtime there is during a live game. So, what business are YOU really in? And chances are, you're NOT in the business you think you're in. For instance, you may think you're a coach and you're in the coaching business, but truly, do your clients really want a coach? No. They want the results they're getting from your coaching. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

3 Tips to Breaking Through Your Business Plateau

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:44:29 -0400

There are few things more frustrating than being stuck at a plateau -- whether it's a losing-weight plateau, a business-growth plateau or any other plateaus. So what do when you ARE stuck at a plateau, more specifically a business-growth one? Well the below 3 keys should put you on the right track to busting through. 1. Are you ready to grow? The first thing you need to look at is your mindset. A lot of times the reason why you're stuck is because you're just not ready to grow. It could be any number of things. You're hiding out. You don't want to be more successful than your spouse and/or parents. You're afraid people won't like you if you're too successful. Only evil capitalist pigs are successful. You get the idea. If you have a block like that standing in your way, it really doesn't matter what you do or don't do you're not going to bust through your plateau. So how do you know if you have a block? Well if you haven't done any self growth work, I suspect you probably have a block or 2 lurking around. It's nothing to feel ashamed about -- it's very common. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.

What Airplane Stewardess Can Teach You About Business Success

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:53:50 -0400

If you've been on an airplane, you’ve probably heard the airline stewardess give you the little safety spiel. How you buckle your seatbelt. What to do in case of a water landing. And what happens if those little oxygen masks drop down. What you're supposed to do is put your mask on first then put the masks on your children. That order. You, then your kids. Why? Because if you pass out while trying to help your kids, you'll help no one, least of all yourself and your kids. Which is the point of my article today. Are you putting your clients' needs above your own? Now good customer care does require us to go above and beyond the call of duty. And sometimes we do have to work late or on weekends to help a good client out. That's not what this is about. What this is about is if you're consistently doing everything for your clients and nothing for yourself. Let me give you some examples -- 1. You're never not available. Clients or prospects can call you anytime of the day or night and you'll answer. 2. **End Summary** Topics: Business success tips]]> business success strategy]]> small business marketing strategy]]> online marketing strategies]]> strategic internet marketing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! Marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com Copyright 2009 Michele Pariza Wacek.