Social Media – A new way to Reach and Engage your Market

• Engage the people most likely to be interested in your brand
• Invite your brand into their lives
• Create on-going interaction with existing & potential customers

Benefits of a fan page for your business:

• Reach your customers frequently
• Marketing your business & services efficiently & widely to potential & existing customers
• Inform customers of new developments in your business
• Analyzing demographics and relating results for your business targets

Benefits of Outsourcing Content Creation:

• Greater Return on Investment than traditional advertising
• Professional copywriting that maximizes impact
• Creates a sustainable model that produces outstanding results
• On-going content updates sustains interest and success

“Mastermind” Professionals can assist You!

Contact Us
Call: 517-937-5232 or 517-270-1340
email: info @ mastermindconsult.net

How effective is your website marketing with your current company website? Today, most people turn to the Internet to locate local products and services. Few people pick up a telephone book to find what they what they need; instead, they use the Internet. It has truly become an integral part of our daily lives.

To give you an idea about how powerful Internet usage is among consumers, here are a few statistics:

• Almost 250 million searches for products and businesses are performed per day on Google alone.
• DM News reported that 35% of all Internet searches are local.
• comScore reported that 90% of local commercial searches result in offline brick and mortar purchases.
• Online marketing is expected to be 15% of all media advertisement spending in 2013.

With billions of local searches being performed online each month, the Internet has officially surpassed the printed telephone book, newspapers, and other traditional marketing methods when it comes to overall effectiveness. Online marketing has even gone beyond the personal computer… mobile phone Internet usage is also growing at astonishing rates.

Your Company Website is Your Sales Team

So, how do you determine if you have a profitable company website? Websites should serve one main function – converting prospects into buying customers. And, understanding how to develop an effective website marketing strategy will help bring those prospects to your website.

Consider a few main points:

• What do people say or think as they are searching for your product or service?
• How do they want to research or learn about your business?
• Are you providing the information they want?
• What specific call-to-action are you asking them to take once they arrive at your website?
• How are you following up with prospects?

When you develop an effective Internet marketing plan for your business website, it takes more than a pretty website. Understand your prospects, what they want, and how you can provide it using advanced Internet marketing.

Mastermind Consulting Network can help you design a unique website marketing strategy that will make a difference for your business!

It’s always revealing to reflect back on past business strategies while looking to a future vision for your business or entrepreneurial goals. Being open to a different strategy of business ideas could make a difference in your future success!

Many different types of business strategies can be developed, in a number of areas, including financial goals, customer service, and marketing.

Financial Strategies of Business

Today’s economy forced many business owners to tighten their spending budget, reduce costs more severely, and find ways to improve the bottom line. While there have been businesses that have survived and flourished in the past couple of years, they have implemented some form of change in their financial strategies to do so. You may want to consider different business ideas if:

• Your business has been flat or down in two of the last three years
• Your business hasn’t made enough money lately to pay you a salary
• You feel frustrated because you keep spending money on advertising and feel the return is not what it should be (if there is any return at all)

Customer Service Business Strategies

When it comes to customer service, it stands true that if the customer is not satisfied, your business will suffer. Two common questions to consider for future strategy growth:

• Are you losing customers to the big box stores or to online stores?
• Are you losing customers and business to everyday competitors?

It may be time to reconsider the process flow for your sales or service, re-evaluate current methods of customer service and develop tighter standards to improve. Satisfied customers usually refer new customers, which is a good growth opportunity for your business.

Marketing – Perhaps the Strongest Strategy of Future Business

Accepting the new marketing trends and providing what the customer is looking for is what differentiates successful businesses from floundering businesses. Now more than ever, potential customers are using the Internet to evaluate your business. And, they are looking all over the Internet, not just at your business website.

Take a look at marketing from your customer’s point of view, and decide if you should implement some different marketing strategies for your business. You may need to if:

• Your website looks like cyber garbage
• You think you should get a website, but you really don’t have any idea where to begin
• You feel tired and overwhelmed when you think about how you are going to market your business
• You are dying for fresh ideas about your business and marketing strategies.

We specialize in helping businesses “think outside the box” and develop new ideas, as well as implement some practices that have proven successful in the past. If any of the problems mentioned here are hindering your growth, consider some changes to your overall business strategy.

Employee accountability can be one of the most terrifying tasks of management. In our society, we tend to take responsibility for the feelings of others. Since holding people accountable involves the potential of hurting feelings, we tend to shy away from it and procrastinate. There can be a lot of anger and frustration in this area. As managers, we tend do what we have committed to do. When a team member shows little or no responsibility, it’s frustrating:

I have witnessed many companies come close to destroying themselves because of poor employee accountability. In certain cases, their owners have known an employee was stealing from the company but were so afraid of confronting the employee that they let it go on for months. If an employee is hurting a company and its reputation, other team members’ attitudes can take a nose-dive. Not holding an employee accountable can lead to a quick disintegration of your authority and respect in the eyes of your team members.

When it comes to employee accountability, here are a number of key points:

1. Employees will assume their behavior is correct unless it is corrected.
2. Holding people accountable is 90% communication and problem solving and 10% discipline.
3. Employee accountability is not a comfortable task. There will always be a point of hesitation right before you hold someone accountable when a voice inside you says, “Maybe I really don’t have to do this…” Your job as a leader is to forge ahead.

Our main fear in employee accountability is that our interaction with the employee will be emotional. To get over this fear we must understand that there has to be emotion, or no change can take place.

Carl Jung – the great psychologist, addressed this issue. I found this statement so profound I have carried it in my wallet ever since. He said:

“Emotion is the moment when steel meets flint and a spark is struck forth, for emotion is the chief source of consciousness. There is no change from darkness to light or from inertia to movement without emotion. Consciousness can only exist through a continual recognition of unconsciousness just as everything that lives must pass through many deaths.”

What we fear in working with our people on areas that they need to improve is the emotion “when steel meets flint and a spark is struck forth.” Yet without emotion, we cannot understand the problem and find a solution because “emotion is the chief source of consciousness.”

When someone is not performing correctly, they are either unconscious of what they are supposed to be doing or they are choosing not to perform as required. It is either a training problem or an attitude problem. When we hold someone accountable, we are simply bringing to the forefront the desired behavior and making it known that this is what is required. We are allowing them to become conscious of the requirements. They can now choose whether or not to comply.

To make this happen, there must be some form of emotion. Nothing will happen without it. As managers, we are the spark that raises this consciousness.

As you do this more and more, it will get somewhat less painful, yet the uncomfortableness you feel will never totally go away. There tends to not be any gain without some pain.

There is a statement that I find very true “Successful people do the things that failures dislike and refuse to do.” A manager must demand regular employee accountability. It is our role to master this skill.

The best way to hold someone accountable is state the problem behavior that’s occurring and then say “Tell me about it.” For example:

“Clara, I’ve noticed you have a number of papers on your desk that should have been completed and turned in two months ago. Tell me about it.”

“Bob, I was looking at your sales report and noticed you have not sold anything in the past three weeks. Tell me about it.”

“Pam, I have been noticing that you and Sara have been having harsh words. Tell me about it.”

After stating this, be quiet and listen. What you are doing is going right to the core. You are taking the problem behavior and putting it on the person’s shoulders without saying they are to blame or it is all their fault. You are simply stating what you have observed.

By saying “Tell me about it”, you are opening the door to all possibilities. In some cases, the person may be showing up to work late because his wife has cancer and is sick from radiation therapy but has not told anyone of her condition. By approaching the problem with no assumptions, you won’t look bad if they do have a legitimate concern or need some training.

In 90% of the cases just using the ‘tell me about it’ method will solve the behavior. You have brought it to a conscious level and there has been some emotion. The person now better knows what is required. You can now work toward solving the problem.

The thing that is so interesting about successful employee accountability is that 99% of the time you and the employee feel better afterwards. This is even true if the person refused to do what you needed him or her to do. At least now you know where the person stands.

We also learned how valuable it was for baseball players to watch replays of themselves in order to improve – and how small business owners should constantly analyze each aspect of their business in order to grow better for their clients, and for their business success.

This baseball lesson for small business focuses on not giving up too soon, and also not getting comfortable in what appears to be an easy win.

Small Business Comebacks – A Reason to Celebrate

Nine innings includes hundreds of pitches and dozens of plays. If a player thinks at the bottom of the first inning that he doesn’t have a chance to come from behind, he’s made a huge mistake. There have been numerous wins in the sport, from Little League all the way up to the pro level, which happened because of a comeback from the beginning results.

Stories of business comebacks also happen, and are often equally impressive. Target came back from near-obscurity to take on discount retailer Wal-Mart. Steve Jobs re-invigorated Apple. Many businesses in recent years have experienced renewed growth, or a comeback, similar to that of a baseball game. Comebacks happen, even in the ninth inning and beyond.

Small Business Losses – A Reason to Learn

While comebacks are always exciting, the reverse is also true. Sure-win games have reversed course with unfortunate losses happening in the final inning. The same happens for small businesses. IBM was once the safest choice for computers, and is now a mere shadow of its former success. Companies sometimes get too comfortable in their role as market leader, they are not diligently focused on future growth, and their devalued stock often shows as a result.

The lesson for small business success is obvious: The game isn’t over until it’s over. Your business strategies need to be reevaluated on a regular basis, whether you are struggling to survive or you are merely coasting through normal daily existence.

The baseball game has nine innings, and the game isn’t won until all nine have been played. If the outcome of the game were certain at the start of the play, nobody would stay the course. Changing pitchers or game strategies can work in a team’s favor.

Likewise, adjusting to current market conditions or economy fluctuations can also work positively for your small business success. A new customer can change the whole game – and the reverse is also true – a new competitor could have strategies that could cause you to lose the game.

Playing all nine innings is synonymous with doing your best, even when defeat – or victory – seems certain. A winning team always looks forward to finishing the rest of the inning, or game or season. A successful small business does the same – looking ahead to next year, new clients, and bigger business growth. Turn your business into the mindset of a winner!

Winning baseball teams prepare for the long season, and continually look to the future for improvements. Winning small businesses that know how to strategize for the long course also prove to be highly successful. Mastermind Consulting is ready to help small businesses see success throughout an entire season. Contact us today for to learn more about the Benefits of Consultation during a private strategy session.

Think about the length of time that baseball players spend on the playing field. Typically, the season lasts from April to October, with hundreds of games during that time, usually lasting more than two hours each game. Add to that the pre-season training and extra playoffs, and you’ve got a lot of time on the diamond!

However, the very first inning of the first game doesn’t determine who wins. The season lasts a long time, and the outcome isn’t determined by the first swing at the bat. By the end of a season, an average batter has been in the box more than 500 times, and they don’t always get a home run. Their first time up to bat can set the tone for the whole season if they allow it, or they can learn from that first time, make adjustments, and do better.

Small business opportunities grow the same way. Compare the pitches of baseball to business activities. While one single customer interaction seems extremely important for that moment, there is a larger strategy to consider for winning the transaction.

In baseball, great players play hard every pitch. But, they also know how to pace themselves and shake off a missed strike and move ahead.

Small Business Strike-Outs Shouldn’t Stop You

In your small business plan, you need to have   the same perspective. The goal would be to hit a home run with each customer transaction, with each goal you seek, and with each vision you set. In reality, there will be times, similar to the baseball player, which you strike out or don’t win as well as you could have.

Sometimes, your perfectly crafted advertisement results in no new sales. Sometimes, an unhappy customer remains unhappy no matter how hard you try to fix the situation. Sometimes, a great product doesn’t sell well.

In baseball, the players watch recordings of themselves over and over to determine their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as their competitors’.

Small Business Plans Document New Strategies

In small business plan, if a sales promotion, or landing a new client, or launching a new product doesn’t work, think back to the wisdom of baseball and analyze what happened. Sometimes you can figure out why, while other times you just have to let it go and move forward, realizing that you will have hundreds of other interactions and opportunities for a winning season.

Consider that the best hitters in baseball have a batting average around .300, but they don’t give up at that, they usually try harder to achieve better. Baseball teams strive for a winning season, and it takes a whole team to achieve that. But, when they lose, they learn from it and try harder the next time.

As a small business team, all your players should understand your standard of excellence. Your goal is to win more than you lose, but when you do lose a client, an account, or a sale, dust off, plan another strategy, and try again.

Just as with a winning baseball team, a winning small business team only wins when they see each portion of the long season, make adjustments along the way, and strive for the overall goal.

Mastermind Consulting is ready to help with small business coaching to hit a winning season, so contact us today for to learn more about the Benefits of Consultation during a private strategy session.

Baseball holds a lot of wisdom that’s applicable to life in general, and to small business in particular. This Small Business Advice series will look at some of this wisdom, from setting an example while handling adversity, to focusing on the successes, to teaching the importance of taking risks, and more.

Look at this sport from a different perspective, and search for ways to apply the lessons from the players to our every day business and entrepreneurial challenges. And, while every successful baseball team has a great coach leading them on, remember that every successful small business plan has a dedicated coach to set the vision, plan the course, and lead the business to victory also!

Watch for the first lesson in the Small Business Advice Series about Baseball Training and Small Business Tips!

Mastermind Consulting is ready to help with small business coaching to hit a winning season, so contact us today for to learn more about the Benefits of Consultation during a private strategy session.

Branding encompasses many different elements, from a company logo to consistent colors, slogans, and graphics. Many businesses are recognized for  the manner in which they greet their customers on the telephone, or how they keep in touch after the sale, or how well they provide service. Brand familiarity is what helps bring customers back to your company after they’ve had a satisfying transaction.

Branding plays an important part in first impressions; and, it helps develop the relationship with your customer. Your business image represents your company values and your individual integrity. Here are some short tips to consider when making successful impression:

1. Develop an “elevator speech.” Within the time that it takes an elevator to travel one floor, about 30-seconds, deliver a succinct description of what you do, how you do it differently, and the benefit it provides to others.
2. Draft a marketing plan for yourself annually, and review it quarterly. Include specific goals, strategies, action steps, and a timetable.
3. Be consistent. Use the same logo, the same stationery, and the same themes across all marketing models. When customers see consistency, they recognize your business faster and remember it longer.
4. Become an expert source. Keep abreast of changes in your business niche, and keep your customers informed. Their trust for you will grow, which increases your familiarity when they decide to give referrals.
5. Build your Rolodex. Make new business contacts and stay in touch with them. Most people with powerful brands have powerful friends. Building a network of successful people and businesses helps you learn and grow into similar success.
6. Give something back. Giving your time, talent, and money to charitable causes is a brand-builder especially when it complements your brand strategy. Find a cause you are passionate about.

Your personal brand is one of your greatest business assets. Put as much time and effort into it as you do in branding your product. Personal branding, when done correctly, is one of the fastest ways of getting yourself and your business promoted.

Harold Telners, CPA, of Accounting & Tax Services, Inc., provided some recommended records retention periods for your business documents

Permanent Records Retention Documents

• Accident reports and claims
• Audit reports of accounts
• Capital stock and Bond records
• Cash books
• Charts of Accounts
• Cancelled checks for important payments
• Contracts and leases that have expired
• Legal correspondence
• Depreciation schedules
• Financial Statements
• General and Private ledgers
• Insurance records and policies
• Minute books of directors and stockholders
• Property appraisals
• Property records

Records Retention Periods of Seven Years

• Cancelled checks
• Invoices to customers
• Invoices from vendors
• Payroll records and summaries
• Purchase orders
• Sales records

Three-Year Records Retention Documents

• Bank reconciliation
• General correspondence
• Employee personnel records upon termination
• Employment applications

These guidelines are for general purpose and should be tempered by your own business and investment concerns, as well as the advice of legal counsel. There are circumstances where extended records retention periods may be necessary. In instances such as this, seek legal advice before discarding any documents that could be subject to this extended retention period.

Small business growth includes looking towards the future as well as reviewing the past. Make sure that your records retention procedures clearly define how the important documents for your business are stored. If you have any questions about specific records retention for your business, talk with your accountant or attorney for clarification.

Successful business owners follow key practices in order to stay competitive, often starting with team building to form employee cohesion. Businesses that realize exponential growth today understand the importance of structuring their business for a long-term vision, starting with their most important asset – their team of employees.

Imagine a workplace environment where employees collaborate together to align themselves for the company’s success. Imagine a productive setting where company goals are achieved beyond expectations, employees are inspired to contribute, and communication is positive and respectful.

All this can be achieved, along with the faith and trust of your employees, if you follow    a four-point team building process. Progress in any one area will contribute to company success, but achieving results in all four will build a team of individuals who are as dedicated to the company success as you are.

Team Building Tip #1
C = Communicate for Effectiveness

Team building begins through effective communication. Listen to your team members, and listen for understanding. It is not enough to just listen to their ideas, but take time to write them down. The extra step solidifies the level of understanding for both parties, and clarifies involvement.

Respond to your people when they ask you questions. Communication is a two-way street, and asking questions is one of the best ways to experience growth. Even a child responds better and faster when he knows the reason behind a request; and your employees deserve the information that will help them contribute to your success. Team building activities that analyze and teach various types of communication styles have proven to improve the outcomes desired in any situation. Through this, each party is aware of the best methods to follow when communicating with specific roles or personalities.

Team Building Tip #2
O = Observe for Action and Accountability

Make your expectations known, and analyze the results. As a manager, you should inspect what you expect to be accomplished. Solid team building accountabilities allow employees to also inspect and analyze, effectively contributing to the expected improvements that you clarified.

Forgive your team members. Show the human side of your management style and give them a second or third chance, while still holding them accountable throughout the whole process. Make sure the improvement processes are clearly defined and measured. Don’t be concerned about letting people go who will just not work out. An effective manager knows how to build a team, and can recognize when someone is detrimental to the overall team growth.

Team Building Tip #3
I = Inspire for Long-Term Commitment

There is nothing stronger than praise to get commitment for improvements. Your positive attitude will become infectious, and will be noticed throughout the company.

Compliment your people on a job well done. Get excited about each team member’s success and the success of the whole company. Believe in your people more than they believe in themselves. Every cloud has a sliver lining, and even in difficult circumstances, there is something positive to say or learn.

Inspiring employees may have the biggest impact on team building than any other area. They see your enthusiasm, they share the positive affirmations, and they are encouraged to inspire others.

Team Building Tip #4
L = Lead to Earn Trust

Finally, be someone they would like to become. The best leaders in life learned when they were still followers, watching and learning from the leaders they respected, and those they didn’t. Team building starts at the core, with the leader who is capable of leading the team. That leader has to be free – fair, resourceful, effective, and efficient.

A leader who is fair does what he says he is going to do. He not only holds others accountable, but he also holds himself accountable.

Team building with trust is built when others are allowed to come up with ideas, resources, and improvements. A leader who has earned the trust of his team knows that the successes and changes must be tracked to measure effectiveness. He is ultimately responsible for the overall improvement, while at the same time showing his responsibility for his own improvement. Subordinates who see the value in a leader’s improvement and accountability also see the value in themselves, which supports successful team building strategies.

Businesses can make a change for the future, even in a troubled economy, through team-building efforts that capture the loyalty, faith and trust of their employee teams.

Achieve Team Building Success For Your Business

Mastermind Consulting Network has worked with thousands of teams to achieve such goals. Contact us to implement a team building strategy that will lead to business success!