Friday, March 27, 2009

Are you getting ready?



Here we are still plodding along in an economy that doesn't know what to do. In a poll conducted last January by Financial Advisor magazine, 75% of advisors though the market would go to 10,000 and only 25% thought it would go to 6,000.
Who knew it would go below 7000?? Since turning back from crazy unprecedented lows, positive news is starting to trickle in affecting the market in positive ways. Could it be that we are already experiencing the come back? Judging by historical trends, most recessions last 18 months or less and the recovery begins when we least expect it. Plus, we don't know we are in a recovery until we are out of it!!!

** So, what are you doing to get ready??
** What new marketing strategies are you working on that will set you apart from the competiton?
** How will you hit the ground running during this turnaround?


One way to hit the ground running is to read an article I wrote this month about Effortless Marketing and how to draw business to you using the internet. We all know that the world is changing. Traditional print advertising, newspapers, and the yellow pages are going the way of the dinosaur. Make sure you don't get left behind by reading the article and implementing this strategy to get new clients via the World Wide Web.

On a personal note, I have been busy creating a 10-week Marketing E-Course for financial advisor that will be available on my website for purchase in the next few weeks. An E-Course is just like a class you would take in person only it is administered via the internet. Once purchased, the student receives an emailed lesson via an autoresponder on a weekly basis. The student has one week to complete the lesson before the next lesson is received in his/her in box. Stay tuned for more!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Business Success: What will it take for you to be truly successful?


I was having a great conversation today with a CPA I know really well. We met at Starbucks not far from his office. Amazingly enough he took the time out to meet with me even though he must be crazy busy doing tax returns this time of year.

The subject came up about business success. He asked me what I thought about the percentage of businesses that are truly successful. I replied that I believe only 10% of businesses are still around after 5 years and that only 1% of businesses are truly financially successful.

Why is that?

Most business owners never do the real work to be truly successful. What I mean is, most independent financial advisors and business owners don't take a long hard look at their business to see where they need to improve. They also don't look at their own skills to see where they are weak and where they could improve.

True success comes from having all the proper elements in place such as:
Policies - for all aspects of the business
Procedures – to document how things are done
Job descriptions – so that everyone knows what they should be doing and what they are responsible for
Organizational charts – who reports to who and who's in charge of what
Target Market – a business that markets to everyone and anyone really markets to no one
Marketing Plan – how the company is going to make money
Marketing Calendar – when the company is going to carry out their marketing plans

Fewer than one percent of all businesses will be truly financially successful.

Sure it takes a lot of work to get all of this accomplished, but it's worth it if you can pull in million dollar revenue and have your business run effortlessly.
Wouldn't you rather be spending time with those who are important to you than slaving at your desk ten hours a day six days a week?

My advice to you: Use this time, this economic downturn, to polish your business policies and procedures and spiff up your marketing so that you will be one of the businesses who are truly successful. What I want for you is to be around in five years making million dollar revenue.

Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs
& Independent Financial Advisors