Spitfire Promotion Group Blog

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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Create a Powerful Voice Mail Message

We know you're busy so we'll make this quick. We're surprised
at how many business owners neglect this simple, effective
marketing tactic: creating a powerful, benefit-driven voice
mail message.

Take five minutes today to record a new voice mail message
that includes your point of difference, tagline, and website URL.
We know you'll attract more customers when you implement this
no-cost marketing strategy. Here's ours:

Hello. You've reached Holly George and Leslie Hamp creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery and boostyourbottomline.com. To
find out about the step-by-step program for small businesses who
want more customers, bigger profits and a business to brag about,
please visit www.boostyourbottomline.com. And please leave
a message at the tone. We'll return your call as soon as possible.
Thanks for calling.


ACTION STEP:

Go back to your Marketing Plan, and review your Existence Story,
10-Second WOW, Creed and Benefits. Write your new message
bringing your WOW, benefits and passion into your message.
Be sure to include your web site URL and highlight your key
products or offering. Record your new message. Voila! Five-
minute marketing makeover.

If you don't have a plan, sign up for your free Jumpstart coaching
call http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie.
The Jumpstart call will have you thinking
BIG about your business, your message and the passion that
inspired you to launch a business in the first place. Great stuff!

Need help? We admit we're geeks when it comes to marketing
and business growth tactics. We LOVE helping clients overcome
challenges to boost success. We can help you too. We'll show you
how to overcome it to skyrocket success.

You can grow your business in any economy. Get started now at
http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com


WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Keys to Making A Positive Impression on Camera

Our client Maria Totozintle is a master at helping clients look their best on camera. She suggests the following simple guidelines. She says, before you go to the closet to select your "favorite" outfit, bear in mind that the television camera "sees" color, pattern, and contrast differently than the human eye. So, it's important to dress for the way the camera sees you.

The most important rule to follow in selecting your on-camera outfit is to keep it simple, plain, and low-key. You want the audience to focus on you: your face and what you have to say, not what you're wearing. Pay attention to:

Clothes

1. Pastels are the best colors to wear. Other good clothing colors include beige, gray, green, brown and blue.

2. Avoid white, red and orange clothing. Combinations of contrasting light and dark colors such as black and white, dark brown and white, or dark blue and white should also not be worn. Black, or dark browns and blues are fine alone or combined with pastel colors.

3. Solid colors are best. Avoid fine checks, stripes, herringbone, and similar patterns.

4. Avoid very glossy, sequined or metallic clothing. Also avoid clinging attire, or low-cut necklines.

Make-Up

Do you need to wear make-up? The answer is yes, for both men and women. In all areas use very sparingly, unless directed by the director otherwise.

Eyes

Eyeliner and mascara are okay if used lightly. Eye shadow should be avoided - especially dark colors or vibrant blues.

Face

Use powder that closely matches your skin coloring. You can wear a foundation if you like, but more importantly, use powder. When you arrive at the studio, you may need to apply a little powder, especially on the nose and forehead. Be extremely cautious in the use of rouge because it will stand out garishly on video if used in normal shading. Style your hair to keep it away from your face and out of your eyes.

Lips

Lipstick should be of a lighter coloring. Stay away from deep reds and extremely glossy types. It you have any questions about wardrobe or makeup, bring several options and consult with the director. Remember, you want to look your BEST.

When you follow these guidelines, you can rest assured you look good while getting your message across. Want help pulling it all together? Sign up today at www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie for your free Jumpstart Coaching call.

You can grow your business in any economy. Get started now at
http://www.boostyourbottomline.com/fast_track/

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Blog to Boost Your Search Engine Rankings

Why blog? Because Search Engines LOVE new content. Search Engines index daily on new content, and regular blogging will ensure you come up higher in search engine. With consistency, blogging WILL increase your findability while boosting your credibility.

Quick blogging tips:


1. write frequently - 2-3x's a week
2. use your key words
3. write about your niche
4. blog about new products and programs
5. drive clients to your services

Essential Online Tools to Boost Your Bottom Line:


1. a blog
2. database management system - to track people
3. auto-responders
4. eZine
5. info products - free and for fee
6. teleclasses

Want to learn how to increase your online presence? We’ll show you how. Sign up today at www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie for your free Jumpstart Coaching call.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

No Sales? Big Problem

Guerrilla Marketers know how to survive on shoe-string budgets and a solid marketing plan. End result? Big profits with little risk.

A perfect example of yielding zero risk by spending zero dollars is hiring a qualified sales team that gets paid on commission. Only the most highly-motivated team will stick around for the chance at a big pay day.

Guerrilla training is key. Most small businesses cannot afford to hire big-wig sales experts to assist with training. That’s where we come in. We work with teams to introduce an effective Guerrilla Marketing sales process that focuses on quality vs. quantity, adapting sales style to behavior types, role playing and coaching.

It’s all low cost, high impact, as the team at Northern Finnish Mutual Insurance recently discovered. A 20-year veteran with the company said, “I thought this would be a waste of time, but it’s the most valuable training I’ve been to in 20 years. Very helpful information that I can apply immediately.”

Are you ready to discover how to boost your sales? Sign up today at www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie for your free Jumpstart Coaching call.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

5 Keys to Launching a Profitable Small Business

Trying to launch or expand that small business dream of yours? Take a lesson from small business owners who devote time, energy, and imagination to get the job done. They know how to unleash low-cost, high-impact guerrilla marketing tactics, and they know how to recognize when they’re off track.

Despite our best intentions, every small business owner can get off track…or procrastinate when it comes to important aspects of sales and marketing. End results: procrasinating or getting off track can put your business and your income into a tailspin. Time to “reboot!”

1. Vision it.
Get a notebook, write ideas down, visualize, and get inspired. Get crystal clear about why you went into business, who inspires you to do your very best work, and what actions will give you the biggest bang for your time, energy and checkbook.

2. Declare it. You’ll be surprised at how much can happen when close friends and family hear your intention. They may be able to help you achieve your business goals more quickly than if you were on your own.

3. Plan it.
Make your intentions real and create an action plan. Take a hard look at your business and determine what you love doing and what generates income for your bottom line. Do what you love and hire others to do the rest.

4. Support it. Ensure your intentions have a team of supporters, including family and friends. Also consider hiring a personal or virtual assistant as part of your support team to take care of those chores you loathe…you know, the ones you tend to put off because you feel overwhelmed or stressed or your don’t know where to start working on them.

5. Hire a coach. Your business and life will prosper by focusing on improving yourself. A coach can help you get further faster. This is by far the best investment you can make when you’re getting started, you’re procrastinating, or you’re just overwhelmed by it all.

We encourage every client to ask themselves: "Is what I'm working on, right now, getting me closer to my goal? If not, stop doing it immediately." It’s one of the most effective ways to get out of procrastination mode.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a small business owner? We’ll help you hit the ground running. Sign up today at www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie for your free Jumpstart Coaching call.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

No Money? Market Like a Guerrilla

Do you have a business idea but little or no money to launch your baby? Trust us; you can realize your dream and garner profits, even on a shoe-string budget. Take Maria Tototzintle at http://www.tequiladigitalmedia.com. She was ready to expand her business and needed low-cost strategies that would get results. We showed her how to quantify her financial goals, how to attract ideal customers, and where to focus her marketing efforts.

“Wow! I can tell you guys have really thought about me. This is NOT a cookie cutter plan,” she said.

90% of small business owners do not take the time to determine the best strategies to meet financial and business goals. It typically doesn’t happen because they don’t know the questions to ask. Without doing this foundational work, businesses fail within two to five years. And that’s a crying shame!

Don’t fall into this trap. We will show you exactly what to do. Sign up today at www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie for your free Jumpstart Coaching call.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Avoid These Deadly Website Mistakes

Your website is a very valuable source of creativity, information, and business personality. Don’t make mistakes that can sabotage your site. Once you establish a great website, it will pay for itself over and over again.

1. Don’t assume that if you build it they will come. Just because it is there doesn’t mean anyone will visit it.

2. Don’t build a site then abandon it. Constantly update your information and make it interactive. Customers will want to visit your site on a weekly or daily basis depending on what you have to offer online.

3. Don’t expect to make millions off of your website in the first year. It takes time to build a clientele, this wouldn’t change online. Be patient. Business growth will happen if you are persistent.

4. Don’t try to slide by with a third- or second-rate site. Spend the extra dollars to make your site A+. Clients will want to revisit if it draws their attention.

5. Don’t think your website will bring in the big bucks by itself. Be a Guerrilla Marketer by taking action. Start an email newsletter and get to know your clients.

Ready to build your dream website? We can help. Click www.boostyourbottomline.com/freebie for your free Jumpstart Coaching call.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Time for a Business Makeover?

Slumps happen. And although there can by any number of reasons a small business owner falls into a slump, Including today’s tough economy, the important part is finding a way out. Here are two ways to focus your efforts and get back on track.

1. Become the early bird

Granted, a lot of slumps happen because small business owners
feel burnt out, but there's a clear difference between working hard
and working smart. Part of working smart could be getting into the
office an hour earlier to organize your day, set out exactly what you
want to accomplish (on paper) and strategize about how to accomplish
your goals. This way you avoid getting distracted by meetings, phone
calls or other interruptions.

2. Change the environment

A lot of times, a small business owner's workspace can be a reflection
of his/her motivation. Shake it up! Re-organize everything in your
workspace, create order out of chaos, add a plant, or replace old
pictures on the wall with new, inspiring ones.

Once you shake things up, you may realize it's time to revamp your
business approach. Find out how with our Business Boost In A Box™.
You'll learn real-life strategies and proven income-boosting methods
that get results. Find out more at www.boostyourbottomline.com.

Words like "failed" and "disappointed" - even "okay" - will no longer
be in your vocabulary as they'll be replaced with empowering words
like freedom, pr*ofits, passion. And isn't that why you launched your
business?

If you want to Play Big, you must establish a solid business foundation.
Learn the 6 steps to building the perfect foundation for your business in this fast-paced, 30-minute radio show: "6 Steps to Surefire Business
Success!" click here to download your FREE 6 Steps audio now.

Then dash us an email at info@boostyourbottomline.com
to discover how to shake things up for BIG results. We're here for you.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com

Thursday, April 02, 2009

You Can Thrive in a Recession Plagued Economy

If you're like us, you've had quite enough of the negative headlines and dour economic forecasts. The headlines will likely stay grim for months to come, and the situation will be tough for many. But we think it's time to rise above it and take positive action. Isn't that the entrepreneurial spirit that inspired you to launch your business in the first place?

Both of us are confident we'll sell our homes (Leslie to downsize to a downtown condo with husband Jim; and Holly to move to a new school district with husband David and three kids), and we're grateful budding entrepreneurs and established small business owners are turning to us to get their business and their minds out of the recession.

Our top 3 strategies:

1. Innovate

In tough economic times we all deal with cash flow and profitability issues. It's a perfect time to step back and brainstorm ways to improve your business with limited resources. We're masters at this and would love to help you come up with a new way to unleash your passion or create a million dollar idea that will turn your business around for years to come. Find out how to work one-on-one with us here.

2. Monitor Cash Flow


In tough economic times, entrepreneurs and small business owners must challenge themselves to cut out the fat and efficiently manage and allocate financial resources. It's the best way to boost your bottom line and reduce some of the month-to-month challenges. Been there; done that; will show you how here.

3. Focus on the Good Stuff

In the midst of the media focus on negativity, NBC Nightly News has been covering inspiring stories about the good works of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Dig deep to see if there is some action you could take that would make a difference in your community. And be mindful of how much negative news you're paying attention to. Find ways to unleash the positive energy that inspired you to launch your business. Click here for a few ideas to get the juices flowing.

You can grow your business, even in this challenging economy. Don't hesitate to e-mail us info@boostyourbottomline.com to find out how we can work one-on-one to help you grow your business. And continue to tune into our blog. We update twice weekly with incredibly resourceful information to help you leverage your expertise, maximize your results, and boost your bottom line.

© 2009 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, WEB SITE or BLOG? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires™ Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Business Boost In A Box. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com