I came across this fab piece of free software the other day which I thought I'd share.

It allows you to download YouTube videos directly to your PC or laptop. It takes seconds and best of all it's free!

They also do software to convert YouTube videos to MP3s. 

Here is the link

Happy downloading!

Jo x

Often, small and micro business owners think that many of the traditional business tips and strategies don't apply to them because they are so small. 
Do any of the following sound familiar?

• Oh, I don't need a sales script because ...
• I know I should plan my week but ...
• There's no point measuring my conversion rates. I know where everyone comes from.
• Marketing strategies are for bigger companies.
• I don't need an SLA (service level agreement) 

And so the list goes on!

We use the excuse that this stuff is not relevant to us. But it is. If you treat your business like a hobby, don't be surprised if it only pays you pocket money. If you want a proper income from your business - give it the respect it deserves and treat it like one!
 
Do a marketing plan; practice your scripts; get organised. If you don't know how - learn. 

Keeping you focused!
Jo x

I love this guest post from Gail. A brilliant reminder that what looks like a small thing on your To Do list can often end up taking a lot more of your time than you planned. 

Small Business Tip from @Gailreidartist
Every Detail Takes Time. Illustrated in the spirit of “a problem shared” through the medium of “ordering corner protectors for shipping framed artwork”.

I should have known it wouldn’t just take an hour to order folded cardboard corner protectors ...

Here are 3 reasons why you should add your photograph to your email signature ...
​

• It helps with rapport building.
• It helps build trust.
• It makes you a real person, not just someone on the end of an email. 

 
The more people see your picture, the more comfortable they will feel with you. The more comfortable they are with you, the more likely they are to buy from you. Simples :-)

Giving you the edge ...
Jo x 

I honestly believe that everyone is capable of far more than they realise. I also believe that we all deserve to live happy, more fulfilled lives. Unfortunately, most people will go through life believing that this is just not true for them. They settle. They justify. And give up on their dreams.

I challenge you to start dreaming again.

What would you like to be different in your life? If failure wasn’t an option, what would you do? If you could wake up tomorrow in your dream life, what would be different? Would you be in the same job or business? Same relationship? Same weight or fitness level?

Does anyone actually like doing follow-up calls? I don't think I've met anyone who actually enjoys this process, mainly due to good old "fear of rejection".  (see Tip 86 Sales Beliefs)
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I believe that the energy you generate when you are pitching your business or following up your prospects has a huge influence on your results. Being focused and upbeat with good positive energy will bring you far more clients than if you are anxious and worried about making the call. Your prospect will sense it a mile away. We want to be around positive and upbeat people and are naturally drawn to them.

Guest post from Sarah at Sarah Barter Proofreading.

Whether you're setting up a website, writing a blog post, putting together a client proposal or designing a poster, don't underestimate how unprofessional and off-putting little spelling mistakes and grammatical errors can be to both potential and returning customers. 

​Proofreading is basically quality control—it’s the final polish of your words before you release them to the world! 

I think it's very easy to hide behind email, and while I don't think it's the always the best option for generating sales (unless you are running a specific add-value drip campaign / funnel), it does have its uses.

Here are my 14 top tips for using email to generate business and keep in touch with prospects.

Keep it simple.
Write in a way that a teenager will understand. No jargon or fancy words!

Keep it friendly.
Write as if you were writing to a friend. Be authentic.
​
Keep your subject line to less than 6 or 7 words.
That's the number you can see on most mobile phones. ​

Never slag off your competitors - as in never EVER! However bad they are. It's just not good business etiquette and you may find it will backfire on you. Nobody likes to deal with people who are bitching and moaning. Don't get into negative gossip about anyone unless you are happy for it to bite you in the backside at some point.

Recently we put a shout out for a recommendation on social media for a particular business. Shortly after I had a PM touting for the business that included warning me off another business. Now this person may have very valid reasons for warning me off, but, to be honest, it put me off a little. We let him quote anyway and he continued to slag off the competitor whilst he was here! So no prizes for guessing who didn't get my business.

Keeping you positive and upbeat!

Jo x