The Big CLOSE.

Ever wonder how you got to where you are?

Today I was thinking about that…

When I was a kid, every year we’d visit my cousins’ house in Chicago. My family would drive out from Longmont, Colorado and stay there for a couple of weeks, during which time my (indulgent) teenage cousins and I would plan and execute our annual Talent Show in their basement.

The Talent Show featured your standard musical, dance and gymnastic lineup… mostly on roller skates. My mom still has a picture of me at 8 years old in pom-pom pigtails and overalls roller skating in circles around the “audience” (our parents), singing “Tomorrow” from Annie. At right is a picture of me posing before a gymnastic performance.

My talent show duties included: talent recruitment, ordering the numbers, hand-crafting invitations, designing costumes, spreading the word, and getting the parents to attend.

Ah, the glory days…

So no surprise, I guess, that nowadays my favorite time of the year (twice a year, actually) is Summit Season. The Women’s Success Summit (May 17th & 18th) is my grown-up version of the talent show. The Summit brings together South Florida’s most ambitious, talented and successful women (and men!) to inspire, educate and ELEVATE the business community.

The theme? The Big CLOSE – all focused around the principles of selling – selling yourself, your ideas, your products, your services. (And by the way, we are ALL selling SOMETHING.)

Clear your calendar, friends, this is one event you must attend. Personally, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. And yes, men ARE welcome to attend, and in fact, several often do!

Aside from the phenomenal content and national powerhouse speakers (check out the lineup here: www.WomensSuccessSummit.com), we have new and exciting sponsorship initiatives for businesses that want to engage 800 upscale, professional and highly influential women over 2 whole days. Check out the sponsorship deck here. Or contact Jessica Lurie for details (888) 531-3830, jessica@mivistainc.com.

By the way, I’m SO excited to announce our new venue, The Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, (YAY!!!) and our partner, Chispa Marketing, that is producing this Summit.

This Summit will deliver game-changing strategies, foster powerful relationships and inspire those oh-so-important “a-ha” moments to help women like me elevate themselves beyond where they are today. Take a look at some of the amazing speakers and sessions we have lined up, and prepare to be blown away…

Forget Brand Loyalty… Try Brand LOVE

In business, the most profitable brands are those that people with money to spend LOVE (and love to HATE). Think about it: Apple (definitely has its fair share of lovers and haters), Christian Louboutin, Porsche, Whole Foods, and the list goes on and on…

By honing in on the real lovers of your brand, you can start to develop the most compelling messaging for them… which is the direct path into their hearts. And being in people’s hearts breeds loyalty.

On a related note, it also helps to “unload” those clients, prospects and audiences with whom you do NOT resonate.

Just recently I removed 20% of my contacts off of my email list. That’s right. I unsubscribed people from my own list. That may sound crazy to you… especially if you’re trying to build your email list. Why would I do such a thing? Simple. Metrics showed I didn’t resonate with them enough. And if I didn’t resonate, they’d never contract me or refer me business.

In addition to cleaning out my email list, I also eliminated several service offerings and stopped taking small, project-based or “one-off” clients (unless they pay a LOT more).

The result: some awesome free time to spend having a life.

Here’s to “blinging your brand!”

Michelle Villalobos (vee – ya – low – bos)

Quickie Personal Brand Workshop – 5 Essential Personal Branding Steps…

View more presentations from Michelle Villalobos

Creating Your Personal Brand – Part I: Defining Your Brand

The most important first step in creating an effective, compelling, personal brand that drives referrals, buzz and word-of-mouth business is to DEFINE your personal brand as narrowly as you can.

Consider these essential elements:

1. What value do you provide (rather than what services you offer)? Here’s an example, if you are a personal trainer, try positioning yourself in terms of the result: “lose weight,” “get in shape,” or “get hot.” Keep in mind that to cut through the clutter, you’ll want to choose something memorable, something “sticky.” David Barton Gym uses “Look Better Naked.” Now that’s memorable.
2. Who is your target customer? Get specific. If you say “everyone” or “anyone,” that’s simply not defined enough – especially online.
3. In what geographic area do you focus?
4. What makes you different from your competition (your USP – unique selling proposition)? This is a tough one because a UNIQUE selling proposition by definition means that other people can’t say the same thing. So if you say “unparalleled service” or “top-notch quality” that’s simply not unique enough (because everyone says that). How are you truly different from everyone else? That’s your USP.
5. What are some basic key words (like “luxury real estate” or “small business coach”) that you’d like associated with your name?
6. What do you want to be top of mind for? From the above, create a one-liner that describes who you are and what you do, that you can start using in multiple places (more on where to deploy this later). For example, mine is “Michelle Villalobos delivers never-boring workshops, seminars and keynotes to help professionals – especially women – market, sell and promote themselves. Our programs are 100% performance guaranteed, or you don’t pay.”

Keep in mind that your goal is ultimately to be “top of mind” for something, and it’s impossible to be top of mind for multiple things – at least at first. So if you have a side business or have two jobs, you need to choose one brand that encompasses both, or just focus on one. Later, once your brand is established, you can start to expand your brand and leverage it into new areas.

Think of Martha Stewart, who got her start focusing on food and catering. Once established in that niche, she started expanding her focus to encompass “homemaking” in general. Plan now for where your going 1 – 3 years out.

Stay tuned for parts 2 – 10 of this Personal Branding Series. Want more? Check out our Personal Branding video training program at http://www.MakeThemBEG.com.

Michelle Villalobos is based in Miami, FL and travels nationally & internationally to consult on brand strategy and deliver workshops, seminars & keynotes, especially for women’s groups and companies marketing to women. 


What Is A “Personal Brand”… And Why EVERYONE Needs One To Get Ahead

Personal Branding is the process of developing a brand around your name and what you do. This brand communicates your skills, shares your personality and conveys your values.

Personal branding is a “must” everyone these days. Whether you are self-employed or working your way up the corporate ladder, Personal Branding raises your profile, establishes you as an expert in something, and increases your market value so you can earn more. Think of it this way: you are the CEO of the business called YOU. In this day and age ANYONE can and should develop a personal brand and deploy it online.

Personal Branding 101

The 3 key steps of personal branding are:

• Define – in a compelling way – who you are, the value you provide and to whom. What are you the expert of? Who’s going to pay you for that?
• Develop – create and gather your personal brand elements: everything from your name and the images that are “out there” of you (like a professional headshot), to the professional headlines and descriptions of yourself that you use on social media such as LinkedIn or Google Profiles, and everything in between.
• Deploy – get your brand out into the world through a variety of tactical means, like social media, networking & referral marketing

Ready to learn more about personal branding? Visit www.MakeThemBEG.com for a free 4-video mini course on the subject.

Who loves you?

Michelle Villalobos (vee – ya – low – bos)

Slideshow – 20 Tips, Tricks & Techniques To Be A Compelling Public Speaker

Plugging Your Business Without Being Shameless

How do you promote your business without self-promotion?  Check out some of these tips that may help people become more “aware” of your business without the obvious sales- “woman”-ship.

	1. Let Your Customers Talk For You! It’s true. In sales there’s nothing that works better than having your customers talk about you. Think about it. Instead of you trying to convince a potential customer how awesome you are, why not find a way to have your customers do it for you? A great way to make this happen is on video. Send your top 5 clients a Flip camera. Ask them to record a short message about why they do business with you. Tell them to keep the camera, just send the footage. Take those videos and promote them! Thanks to Jim Kukral of The Attention Formula
	2. Self Promotion By Promoting Others One of the best ways to promote yourself is to promote others instead. It’s business karma…give without expecting to receive. Sometimes people reciprocate, sometimes they don’t. Either way, it’s a good thing because you are letting those who listen to you know about businesses and resources that you believe in and can benefit them, and that is providing value. If you provide value, you increase your customer loyalty. Loyal customers talk about you, and your business grows. Simple. Thanks to Norma Maxwell of Norma Maxwell Internet Marketing | Web Design
	3. Get Real: Developing A Real & Relatable Social Media Presence For Your Business When promoting yourself or your business it’s important to engage with the ever-growing social media community. With this format, there is a fine line between being shameless and not. When using social media as a tool for branding and marketing yourself or your business, it’s of the utmost importance that a thorough plan is created — before logging on. Start with the end-goal in mind; and let that be your guide to social media success. To avoid the cheese factor, your output needs to be consistent and focused on perpetuating your brand. Skip the minor updates, but when big things are happening, let your fans and followers join the conversation. Another key to getting your brand noticed on the social media superhighway without getting eye rolls ; acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of your friends,fans and “followers.Respond thoughtfully to their questions and feedback, too, as this establishes a dimensional relationship with the very people that give your business meaning. Thanks to Lauri Flaquer of Saltar Solutions
	4. Add A Quote Ask a college professor or high school teacher, a professional in your field or a community leader to test drive what you are trying to sell, whether a product or a service. If there is no product yet, those people who know your abilities may still be sources for quotes regarding your gifts and talents. If you can secure a brief endorsement or a positive quote, add it to your resume. Avoid wordy quotes, and use only something that reflects your potential. Thanks to Randall Murphree of American Family Association
	5. Let Yourself Be Heard! Radio blogs are forever in need of new guests. Check out blogs in your field – check out blog talk radio to see sorts of guests being aired. You’ll not only be on air, you’ll also be available on line and the podcast stays a long time. Use some of it on your website or blog, promote it on facebook. Discuss a product you wish to promote, tieing in with the host’s subject. If you have written a book, you can direct listeners to it. Be upbeat and helpful, and its a win/win situation. Thanks to Francine L. Trevens of TnT Classic Books
	6. Want Attention? Become A Go-to Source. Very few people are really interested when you start talking about yourself. (Spoiler: this includes friends.) However, there are tons of opportunities every day to contribute to legitimate publications that allow you to get your story out. By contributing to HelpAReporter.com, for example, I’ve scored some really nice interview opportunities. It isn’t shameless self-promotion since I’m responding to specific requests – providing an aid and a resource as opposed to just a “pitch.” Thanks to Erin Deighan of Actress, Voice Artist, Singer
	7. You Want Attraction Power And To Be Known As An Expert I promote myself by first promoting others. I read articles, blogs and send them out to my social media contacts and clients. Thanks to Cindy ODonnell of Living Insurance Solutions
	8. It Is And Is Not About You. Speak portraying historical characters who achieved important successes in leadership, team building, motivation, ethics, etc. You can then laud them and their contributions without it being only about you. Human nature is unchanging, though technology is ever-changing, thus classic successes of the past are recycleable for contemporary audiences. In fact, why would it need to be about you anyway? Humans have flaws and virtues, strengths and weaknesses. It’s really all about ideas anyway. Thanks to Richard Cheatham of Living History Associates, Ltd.
	9. Balance The Shame With The Content And Get It Out Of The Way. If you are going for the shameless plug do it in the introduction, I got this tip from British TV presenter Michael Parkinson. It also removes the pressure of how you are going to get the plug in. Once you have plugged your business reward the listener with great content. Fail to reward makes you an oppertunistic waste of time. People will remember you as good or bad. Which one is up to you. If you are going to plug yourself again, make a joke of it. Don’t waste people’s time. Thanks to Craig Griffiths of Ask Find Buy
	10. Self-Branding Can Lead To Effective Self-Promotion Your personal brand reflects the characteristics you want the public to see, regardless of who that public is. Every adult has the opportunity to create their own brand, and can have their name legally changed with a simple hearing by a judge and some basic paperwork – as long as the reason has nothing to do with your need to evade the law or debt of any kind, have at it. Entertainers do it all the time – would you tune in to watch Larry Zeiger interview celebrities? But before retirement, Larry King pulled in the occasional viewer on a regular basis. Go figure. Some internal reflection is in order when choosing your personal brand. Give it some thought, understand that it has to be viewed by the world at large and have some meaning, then back up the moniker with the attributes you hold in highest regard, consistently. Now you’re talking branding . . . Thanks to David Poulos of Granite Partners
	11. Brand Yourself As The Industry Leader Without Making It About You You can gain vast exposure and recognition by branding yourself as an industry leader, without overtly self-promoting yourself. Serve as a speaker for industry conferences, join an industry board of directors, write industry articles, case studies and white papers for publication on blogs, websites, newspapers and magazines, Twitter information about topics that don’t promote your company, but are relevant to your followers, and support your community through volunteer efforts. Thanks to Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions
	12. Shamelessly Promoting My Blog As an author of a food blog specializing in cooking contests, promotional food related videos, and social marketing strategy for restaurants and culinary companies, part of my work is to promote my website to everyone I see. Sometimes I feel guilty that I do events just to get a plug in for my site or contests, but it turns out that when I have speaking engagements, that’s actually what people want to hear about. I get to talk about great food and drink, then refer people to biteandbooze.com! Thanks to Jay Ducote of Bite And Booze
	13. Anything But Shameless! Volunteer your services or donate your products! You get to work with highly influential community leaders, show off your talents, make tons of fans/followers, and reap personal growth! It’s a WIN-WIN! Thanks to Madelyn Fradkin of Mobile Assistant Direct
	14. Victory Through Voicemail Almost everyone knows what the abbreviation “vm” means. Yes, voicemail. I use voicemail to pique prospects’ interest and promote my company two ways. 1) When I leave someone a voicemail, my message ends includes “oh! and next time we talk remind me…pinklabcoat.com”. This leaves them curious. 2) I do the reverse and on my phone greeting it ends with, “remember to ask me about pinklabcoat.com.” This generates interest, opens conversation, and increases hits to my website. Thanks to Lara Loucks of PinkLabCoat.com
	15. Be Friendly Not Aggresive When I promote my bussiness I’m always friendly on the phone or via emails. I don’t like to sound aggresive because when I have a sales person contacting me I hate when the person is trying so hard that sounds aggresive. Being friendly and soft in my words- even via email- has help me to get more business or referrals. Thanks to Mirianer Soto of MSP Productions
	16. Answering Questions On LinkedIn (without Promoting) Actually Promotes You If you use LinkedIn, under the More tab, select Questions/Answers. Then find questions that you can answer in your area of expertise. Give really useful info in your answer. DO NOT promote yourself, just show that you know your stuff & are helpful. People will read your answer, if it’s good – they’ll read your profile. I’ve gotten hired as a consultant this way. Also answers on LinkedIn are a part of their searches, so use keywords in your answer when applicable. Thanks to Cathy Larkin of Web Savvy PR
	17. Show Your Compassionate Side We show our customers that we are compassionate, care about their feelings and understand their needs by sharing information that is relevant and important to them. We sell a product to special needs families. Thanks to Shelley Patterson of Buddy Bike, LLC
	18. Don’t Be Afraid To Be Generous! My best tip for promoting your business WITHOUT being shameless is to offer tips! Be the person to rely on for helpful advice. If you have a Facebook page, share tips and strategies related to your business. Belong to networking groups? Answer questions! Offer to do a 15-20 minute presentation for free. Whatever you can do to present yourself as an expert will raise your profile with your target audience and promote yourself without selling anything! Thanks to Gloria Rand of Gloriarand.com
	19. Third Party Validation!! We build solid relationships with colleagues and clients by offering up helpful information when in need. Be a resource to anyone and everyone who will listen! The buzz will catch on and pretty soon, everyone will be calling you as the expert. Thanks to Hillary Smith, CMP, CSEP of Koncept Events, LLC.
	20. Give Them Your Script Tip: People love to categorize and talk about the people they know. It is up to you to ensure that what they are saying mirrors the message you are saying about yourself. Give them a clear “script” and they will spread the word. Use buzz words/phrases like, “I love doing X on Saturday mornings” or “A huge client I retained mentioned that I got the deal because of my ability to Y”. Highlight your experiences often enough and they soon become a part of your brand and thus are easy to repeat. Thanks to Jasmin French of J FRENCH
	21. Links To Your Website After you create a great website, then write articles for EzineArticles.com. If you are a good writer, this will indeed drive traffic to your website and Google will take notice. Thanks to Maria Luisa Castellanos of United Architects, Inc.
	22. I’m In Your Face But You Like It! Don’t let people forget who you are and what you do. Stay in touch: send emails, follow-up with personal hand-written notes (with a couple business cards inside of course) and then follow-up with a phone call “did you get my note?” Recent subject matter for my hand written note cards was as follows: – 3 birthdays – congratulations on reaching level 4 of your sales team – I heard your son graduated from college – thank-you for the referral EVERYONE LOVES RECEIVING A CARD IN THE MAIL. Thanks to Mooshi Chapel of Mooshi Miami
	23. MAKE A DECISION And TAKE THE RISK I help businesses make strategic decisions, motivate people, and energize projects. Most of the time, people are stuck because they are concerned about the risks of failure. Ask yourself, what is the worst that could happen? The answer is NOTHING. You could get stuck doing NOTHING! I am hired on a retainer basis by most companies because I can MOTIVATE by DECISIVENESS. What is my secret? I make a decision and move forward with it. If it was wrong; then I admit it and take the other path. Thanks to DAWNNA ST LOUIS of Dragons Eye Online
	24. If You Want To Be Important If you want to be recognized If you want to be great Find joy and happiness in serving others Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. (“The Drum Major Instinct Speech”, Dr Martin Luther King). Thanks to Jane Zucker of PKS Investments
	25. Once Upon A Story Once upon a story, business-ella was given the success-pumpkin key by her Fairy Business Coach. The success-pumpkin key taught business-ella to grow her success-pumpkin by harvesting her very own unique story-seeds. Then business-ella would spread her story-seeds far and wide, to every corner of the business field the eye could see! For through spreading and sharing business-ella story-seeds, business-ella would plant the seeds that would grow into success-pumpkin patches! Thanks to Lisa Switzer of SwitzerSolutions
	26. GIVE TO GET I give to get, by volunteering with local not-for-profit organizations. Professional mediators need to remain unbiased, so it is difficult to ask my attorney friends for business. I enjoy giving,volunteering, and donating my mediation services to a variety of legal-aid societies. Whether for business or personal reasons,volunteering is a great way to meet people with similar interests. Someone inevitably asks, what do I do for a living, then for a card and wham! I get a referral. Thanks to ELIANA POVEDA of POVEDA MEDIATIONS, LLC
	27. Friendly Sales The best way to promote the business is by being yourself. No one wants to do business with people that they don’t like, and no one will trust you if they don’t like you. So if you’re genuine and honest up-front, people will realize that like you, and later down the line, they might just need the service that you provide! Thanks to Betsy Earle of Exhibit Worldwide
	28. Tips For Promoting Yourself Never underestimate the value of in-person networking opportunities. Attending quality events where you have the opportunity to meet others in your field or outside your field is a great way to get your name out there and let people know what you do. It is just as important to follow-up quickly with the contacts you make at these events who you truly believe may need your services. Networking works best when you are authentic with your approach and also show interest in what others are doing. Thanks to Lisa Turner of LMT Media Partners
	29. Converse, Don’t Scream Use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to start conversations, not to advertise yourself. If used properly, social media is a way to let people get to know who you are as a person, not just as a business entity. Think of it as a cocktail party. You are there to mingle and talk…everyone gets to know each other on a more personal level. You don’t start shouting about your business and quoting prices. Share valuable content and get people to comment…this gets you noticed without shame! Thanks to Susan Cromer Garcia of StallionPM
	30. Your Own Website The creation of a website that you control is key to shameless plugging and a positive reputation. I include a link to my website, michaelwsilverman.com, at the bottom of every single email I send out. This allows individuals to find out more about me on their own time and on their own accord. It is incredible what percentage of individuals will end up at your website from your emails. This results in a great first impression and a more positive start to your professional relationships. Thanks to Michael Silverman of michaelwsilverman.com
	31. The Number One Way To Promote Your Business I believe the best way to promote your business is by providing excellent service and quality products. With just a few happy customers you can build an empire through word-of-mouth and referrals. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen! Thanks to Angela Beasley of Sticky Starfish, Inc.
	32. You’re So Vain, I Bet Think This Blog Is About You… Make your blog posts about your clients! Discover their interests and weave the “benefits” of your product or service–not “the” product or service–inside. Humanize your content; keep is short, interesting, engaging and make that personal connection we all miss. Thanks to Cynthia Roby of Bluestocking Ink
	33. An Easy But Informative Read… My main goal was to keep my company in the minds of clients and potentially get new clients with quarterly newsletters. I recieve a lot of newsletters and am guilty of deleting many before reading. I keep them a bit more personal than most (example: I annouced I was expecting my second child in one of them), I give some tips/tricks of the trade, but also include pictures of completed projects. My clients seem to enjoy them and each time I send one I get a few calls (usually within minutes). Thanks to Lisette Naranjo-Perez of Noon Design Group
	34. Giving Back Is Great! Giving back through an in-kind donation of services is the beat way to go! Making a tax-deductable donation to a local school auction, hospital fundraiser or charity of your choice is a great way to help an organization in need, get your brand out there to prospective clients, and help someone who has a need for your services. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing you have helped an organization with their fundraising and helped someone else in the process. It’s a win-win-win for all! Thanks to Andrena Felger of Alma De Casa Design
	35. BE AUTHENTIC The BEST tip I can share for promoting my business and myself WITHOUT being shameless would be . . . BE AUTHENTIC! Be honest and BE yourself. People can tell when you are trying too hard to SELL them something. Just be the real you and share from the bottom of your heart abut yourself and your business. People LOVE honesty! Thanks to Tracey Hagen of Tracey Hagen Photography Studios
	36. Thank You Customers Our product is business videos. On Social Media sites, I thank a client for doing a specific video about their business with me and then promote their video or website on my fan page and share on my personal page. Thanks to Sue Haberkorn of SWFL-OnlineVideo
	37. To Market – To Market Marketing comes from the concept of market, which is where all merchants displayed their wares. Today it refers to getting your product in front of the customer and/or distributor and creating and maintaining customer satisfaction. The number one thing that I do to promote my company is to blog about all things related to anti-aging, and to all things related to world hunger. I post the links on Facebook as well. I give away valuable information that keeps the reader coming back. Thanks to Patrice Golinvaux of The Business Of Adventure
	38. Laugh And Laugh Often Until Its Habit Forming! Its all in the Laughter! If you have a positive attitude and a great sense of humor, you will be able to laugh at something or someone every day. It may be a joke someone shares. A simple e-mail or phone call. Maybe even talking to someone and reflecting on past experiences. Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself or at others. If you pay close attention there will be something to laugh about. Make sure you take the time to laugh and laugh often. It’s great taking to family and friends, but realize if you complain too much, it gets old fast. Stop for a minute, look at yourself and laugh. Chances are there is someone laughing at you or with you this very moment. Find the fun in life and just enjoy it! Laugh and laugh often until its habit forming! Thanks to Orlando Espinosa of Emineo Media
	39. How To Promote Your Business Without Being Shameless Referral Business can be serious business. I sent an e-mail blast to my Clientele. “If you are truly pleased with my Service and products, then all I ask is that you tell two friends or Family Members.” To show my appreciation, I have attached two vouchers which you can print out. There is a customer code on them which will grant the users a 5% discount on their order. That code is linked to your account and if redeemed, you will receive 5% discount on “your” next order. The first month my referrals went up 6% & the next , 12%. I send out a bi-weekly newsletter and I added a reminder to use the vouchers in it. The voucher itself was a replica of my business card with a code on it. Since then, my sales force “Asks” for referrals. They realized the commissions they were letting slip through their fingers. It has proved to be the gift that keeps on giving. My sales force works smarter, my clients received a discount, and I increased my client base. Thanks to Rosemary Salveggi of Retail Metal Dealers LLC
	40. Networking Mary Kay Style The greatest tip I have for promoting my Mary Kay Business is to have Events that are geared to helping others succeed. Once a month I hold a FREE Networking event for any Women who either owns her business or wants to promote a business. This way in addition to my promoting Mary Kay through FREE Make-Overs, they also get to promote themselves. It is a Win, Win for everyone. I get to introduce Woman to Mary Kay and they get to promote their Business!If you put others first the rest happens! Thanks to Lori Isaacson of Mary Kay Cosmetics
	41. Business Plug When traveling for work across America we now have a resource where the LGBTQ community can find Gay & Gay Friendly businesses…So if your looking for a restaurant or a dry cleaner GAYBORHOOD App will get you there…. Thanks to Marci Alt of Carma Productions Inc
	42. “How Do You Promote A Business Without Shameless Plugs? The best way to promote your business without shameless plugs is Word of Mouth Marketing – let others do the promoting for you. With Social Media so prevalent, people love to take and get their opinions out there. The more people experience your products and service positively and share those experiences with their network of contacts – the better it is for your business. Why? People trust their friends, colleagues, family, contacts more than they will trust you. Unpaid endorsements – great! Thanks to Marlene Gordon
	43. NO SHAME Branding, branding, branding. I have large mobile shredding trucks that spend quite a bit of time on the highways. My vehicles are completely wrapped with very bold graphics that really stand out. I utilize this method for my business cards as well. Bright and bold. Everything needs to stand out. Thanks to Andrew Bloom of Shred Trust
	44. What’s In It For You? Since people do business with people they like and trust, the larger you expand your relationship base the less need there is for shameless self-promotion because your focus is always on what is in it for your client or prospect — and you are then simply fulfilling their needs. For example, if someone complains about how they look, I would offer: If I could show you new anti-aging technology that can make you look 10 years younger in 10 minutes, would you be interested in knowing about it? Thanks to Paula Ehrlich of A Privileged Lifestyle, Inc.
	45. Community / Volunteer/ Charity Focus Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all did comumunity service/charity or volunteer work? That’s probably the best way to promote your business. A helpul tip I’ve learned: people do business with people — not with companies. If customers like you/ admire you, you are likely to get more business. THe tip: promote what you and your community are doing with your free time/ products/ profits to help the community and the world? This will indirectly lead to more business. Thanks to Carolyn Berg of Avansa Consulting
	46. Expose Your Business By Promoting Your Clients I teach online courses on how to use the power of a video camera and social media to promote your business by promoting your clients. Taking the focus off of you and placing it on your clients will give you the opportunity to gain visiblity and credibility with your clients…while at the same time gaining you tons of exposure. The program, Act & ReAct, walks you step-by-step through the process of using a video camera every day to build maximum exposure for you and your clients. Thanks to Jerry Williamson of Teamworx Productions
	47. Unlimited Potential With Right Beliefs Inspire by educating your vision, belief, ideas and passion. When you establish a strong belief in your product, you will share from your heart, and naturally draw people to you. Share with conviction, be confident and encourage your team to do the same. People are attracted to positive people who listen. Manage your expectations – don’t get discouraged, having fear and doing it anyway will equal success. If you implement positive principles, how different could your business be in 90 days Thanks to Crystal Canet of Juice Plus
	48. Authentic With Integrity Be passionate when speaking about your business, NOT over powering, be yourself, speak with confidence, be sincere and genuine and ALWAYS smile. WIFM? (What’s in it for me?) Share benefits of using your expertise. Thanks to Heidi Moss of Moss Consulting
	49. Promoting Yourself Without Shameless Plugs! I strongly believe that branding yourself as the corporate image of your business is essential for your success. Rather than using shameless plugs, use your efforts in networking yourself and “growing legs” to your business. By that I mean networking, donating your time and efforts to non-profits, creating blogs that may aid you in providing valuable information, joining organizations and associations while meeting others in your industry, etc. Simply market yourself while educating others! Thanks to Rosie Q Martinez, MBA of InFokus Marketing, Inc.
	50. Use A Best Friend Approach To Get The Right Kind Of Applause & PR Imagine you really want your best friend to benefit from what you are telling him or her. Bragging or trying to impress has no place, right? So when you are invited to speak as an expert, always share practical techniques the audience will find valuable. Show how you have helped others by including some of your clients’ successes and challenges (keeping their identity confidential!). By keeping the focus on useful practices and how others have succeeded, you’ll get the positive PR you deserve. Thanks to Anne B. Freedman of Speakout, Inc.
	51. We Fix It Right The First Time! There isn’t a problem we won’t solve, and if we don’t know how to solve it, we know who to call to tell us how to solve it ! Thanks to Michael Thomas of Mike’s Custom Electric
	52. Give Them A Taste Of Joy Social Media Marketing is essential for our company and part of our overall all marketing strategy. What really works for us (as an upscale Caterer) to supplement Social Media is combining a unique and delicious treat that is personally delivered. We give the potential client value with the free delicacy, while tantalizing them with a unique and creative presentation. Nothing opens doors faster than good food, and that few minutes of face time with the potential client is invaluable. Thanks to John McPhee of A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team
	53. Let The Actions Of Others Speak For You … Repeat what others have to say about you as it is more credible. But even we find it hard to believe that readers (men and women, from high school seniors to senior citizens) are telling us our book has made an immediate difference in their lives. Think we may be exaggerating? Well, we are being approached by schools, organizations (Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement), churches and synagogues who want to use the book for educational, philosophical, charitable and/or spiritual purposes, as well as just plain reading pleasure. Curious why. Check out our website http://www.redandblackbooks.com which includes a wealth of information on us, our book, and our philosophies such as why we made the expensive decision to printed in the U.S.A. and why we are not available at Barnes & Noble or on Amazon. And then decide for yourself. Thanks to Mandy Williams of Red & Black Books
	54. News You Can Use What do you do or produce that will make someone’s life easier or better? When looking to promote yourself or your business it is all about content and audience. News outlets are not interested in commercials. Don’t lead your pitch with your business name; lead it with the problem you are going to help fix. Example: Wildfire evacuations, perfect time to pitch a new, unique grab and go organizer. Watch the news and look for those opportunities where your expertise can make all the difference. Thanks to Diane Mulligan of Mulligan&Co. LLC
	55. You GET By GIVING I am constantly prepared to give FREE LESSON samples of how to create a picture-in-one-minute. Have pads and pens ready with my ID – people usually won’t throw away the picture THEY created, even at first try. Have them fold paper like a greeting card and then sketch a flower on the front….I suggest they autograph it to their spouse, loved one, family, friend, etc…. They treasure what THEY create & it opens the door of art to all ages Thanks to CONNI Gordon of CONNI GORDON ARTS FOUNDATION, INC.

Does Your Social Media Profile Pic Send The Wrong Message? Top 10 Headshot Tips For Professionals…

People make judgments about you within the first 3 seconds of meeting you. Clearly, looking great is important… Right or wrong, how you are perceived visually is just as important as what you can do – at least at first.

And these days – with so much business conducted online – prospective clients and employers are likely to Google you before they ever meet you in person!

Simply put, online pictures and profiles are the new “first impression.”

And though no one should be “all business all the time,” keep in mind that people are increasingly using Facebook and social media to check you out in business.

Are you sending the wrong message? When people Google you, “friend” you or “connect” with you online, does what they see represent you well?

If not, consider getting a professional headshot.

All experts have professional portraits, and the best head shots make it clear who they are and what they do. And by the way, just because a photo is professional, doesn’t mean it has to be cheesy, fake or boring!

Here are 10 ways to ensure you have a GREAT online profile image.

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1. Quality. Use a professional photographer. Anyone can grab a camera and take some snapshots, but when you use a professional, it shows.

2. Don’t edit while shooting, edit once you’re done. Example: I use Sharpies in my workshops to release creative thinking and my purse is always full of at least a handful of colors. So during my photo shoot I just pulled them out and played around. There were about 100 bad pictures, and one magical one.

When you do a photo shoot, be open-minded, try everything. You can always trash the photos later. The creative process and the editing process are opposites, don’t confuse them! One requires open-mindedness, the other critical thinking.

 

 

3. Use a current photo.

A photo that looks old screams “stuck in the past.” Not only is it unprofessional, but you’re missing the opportunity to keep your brand as current and as relevant as you are.

Even if you were more “beautiful” 10 years ago, chances are these last 10 years have given you experience, character and depth. Don’t hide that.

 

4. The right pose says it all.

Your pose should be right for your brand. No generic, cheezy glamour shots! Your picture should reflect who you are and, if possible, what you do.

If you’re a woman, consider avoiding the ever-popular “head tilt.” It’s a “little girl” pose that can diminish your credibility. See below…

5. Eye contact. While some situations/personal brands require something different, by and large, making eye contact engenders trust. And we all know trust is the basis of every relationship – business or otherwise.

6. Use a variety of shots in different places – but keep them looking consistent. One idea: take lots of pictures in the same outfit in several different poses. Afterward, pull a handful of images: close-up, medium and full body. You can even use the same photo cropped several ways.

7. Be professional. If you’re looking for a job, or are self-employed, your online pics should be professional and align with your brand.

Why? Because it’s likely the first image that many people will ever see of you. If you’re using a crop of yourself at the beach, or a picture of you kissing your mate, you may be sending the wrong message.

8. Notwithstanding the above, be authentic and show personality! Just because you’re getting a professional headshot, doesn’t mean that the photo has to be generic, stiff or boring.

9. Try to capture what you do somehow – perhaps use a prop or props (but be careful you don’t cross the line into “cheez” territory…)

In fact, whether your brand is “Earth Mother,” “Badass Exec,” “Girl-Next-Door Entrepreneur,” “Marketing Queen,” “Trustworthy Financial Planner,” “Kooky Artist” or something completely different, a portrait can and should project your unique brand.

10. Retouch (and crop).

Take a look at these before & after, below. What a difference!!

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Not sure if your pictures are quite right? Ask a trusted friend to tell you honestly – and don’t get defensive if you don’t like her feedback!

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If you do nothing else, right now, at the very least make sure that your profile images are attractive and represent your unique brand. And if you decide that they don’t, and you’re not sure what to do about it, consider our Headshot Workshop.

Ciao for now!

Michelle Villalobos (vee – ya – low – bos)

You: The (Online) Brand – updated slideshow from last night’s workshop

It’s Not Who You Know… It’s Who Knows YOU: Making Networking WORK

Stop Drowning In Business Cards Slideshow, Glazer-Kennedy Insider Circle, Miami

Enjoy!

Ciao,
Michelle Villalobos
Networking, Marketing & Sales Business Skills Development

Making a Great Online First Impression (Video)

Questions? Comments? Additions? Post them here…

Michelle Villalobos www.MichelleVillalobos.com

You: The Online Branding Checklist (AKA: “Google Is The New Resume”)

The Online Personal Branding Checklist

I. Define Your Brand
II. Own Your Name

I. DEFINE your brand. Do it as narrowly as possible. Consider these questions:

• What do you want to be top of mind for?
• How do you want people to PERCEIVE you? Consider your TARGET market.
• What WORDS (keyworks) would you like associated with your name every time it appears? Choose words that describe what you do, what industry you do it for and how you do it differently than others. For example: Michelle Villalobs, sales, marketing, social media, workshops
  

II. OWN Your NAME. Note! You don’t have to do them all!! Take it slow. Do one at a time… [If this is overwhelming, you might want to consider one of my live beginner workshops instead.]

1. Have a presence, a profile, in one major spot that accurately and fully reflects your brand. Best place: your own website or blog. If you don’t have either, another good choice (for now as a placeholder) is LinkedIn. Why LinkedIn? Because it gets crawled by Google. A lot.

2. Create fully fleshed out profiles on LinkedIn, Plaxo and Google Profile (at least). Describe yourself using those key words that are associated with your narrow industry or field. Make the profiles public.

3. Buy your URL. Redirect it to LinkedIn if you don’t have a personal website.

4. Stake out profiles with your real name on Social Media Sites (at least: Facebook, LinkedIn; Twitter). Even if you don’t plan to use them, don’t let anyone else get them.

5. Be HUMAN! Show your face. People want to do business with people, not with brands, or logos, or companies. Start with a great picture of yourself. One that is aligned with your brand and your niche. Here are some examples (from our recent Headshot Workshop – next one is August 28th, 2009):

5. Set up Google Alerts for your name. This way you’ll know when Google comes across your name in any new materials, like newspaper stories or online reviews. [If you’re on Twitter, go ahead and set up some Twitter Alerts too using TweetBeep]. As you get addicted to alerts, you might want to add alerts for your brand, your industry keywords & your competitors.

6. Become a “Voice of Your Industry.” Think of ONE way that you can you deliver value to your target on a regular basis, and in what format? A 1-minute YouTube How-To? A blog? Inspirational quotes? Twitter? Only pick what you know your audience/target market/potential clients want. (FYI: we DON’T want to know about what you had for breakfast, whether you’re stuck in traffic, or if your kids are driving you crazy.)

7. Build your email list. How? Offer free stuff. Get their email address in order to give it to them.

8. Advanced: If you’re feeling pretty good about this, try incorporating social bookmarking into your repertoire. Check out Digg, Delicious or StumpleUpon. Why? So you can stay on top of good industry-specific info that you might want to share with your network. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, skip this step!

9. Be active, consistent and PATIENT. How long do you REALLY think it should take? Triple that.

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The biggest mistakes I see?

• Spam/promotion focused approach – DELIVER VALUE, the rest follows…
• Not listening
  
• Not having a solid idea of what you want your brand to be and say to the world
  
• Overuse/abuse
• Fail to measure benchmark. You need to know what’s working and do more of it
• Getting stuck in what you want to say, instead of what people want to hear

Want more? Have questions? Suggestions? Additions to the above? Post them here. I’ll answer ANY and ALL questions you post.

Ciao for now!!

Michelle Villalobos

www.MichelleVillalobos.com

Michelle, when people Google my name, an unrelated website with incorrect info comes up. Can you help?

It’s frustrating when you see something incorrect, erroneous or downright inappropriate come up when you Google yourself. When this happens, what can you do? Here are some ideas…

1. Try to “bury” the unrelated link by improving your Google results for other things that you DO want linked to your name. How? Start by downloading or viewing my (free) slideshow from You: The Online Brand, and watch out for the “start with the easy stuff” slide. There you’ll see some places where you can create profiles that should rise in the Google results rather quickly. View or download the slideshow here.

2. If the website is one where you can get reasonably good contact info, you might be able to get the host to actually remove it and replace it with something you prefer. Why not just remove? Because you can remove something and it can still come up, but if they actually replace the same URL with something else, then it will be pretty much gone. I say pretty much because there are sites that archive content and if someone really WANTS to find something, they usually can…

3. Build a personal site where you can start to drive traffic from other sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter). This should help to “consolidate” clicks and start to increase your results and build a repertoire of pages that link to you, and more importantly, that you control. With enough good content and with a name that you “own” and intelligently pair with industry niche keywords, you could own several pages of Google search results for your name and kick out all the other crapola.

4. Start a blog. If building a personal site is daunting, start with a blog. Remember to tag your name in each post, and sign each post with your name (and if you do have a personal site, link to that in each post too).

5. Issue online press releases through a free distribution service like PRlog.org. Use relevant keywords and be sure to repeat your name a few times. Link to your blog and/or site.

Want more help? We’re planning a workshop on this topic, and we should be releasing the recording of the “You The Online Brand” in the next couple of weeks. That has lots of good info too. To get notified when these things happen, register here: http://www.MichelleVillalobos.com.

Good luck! And please please post your own ideas on how to bury bad Google results below!

Michelle Villalobos