In this Issue of our Monthly Newsletter, be sure to read Spotlight News about member special achievements, ways to help your sister members and special offers to Optimal Level members. Also in this issue:
* Linda’s Tip of the Month for some inexpensive methods to market your business.
* Of Interest To You – See the notices about some interesting programs you might want to attend.
* Names and companies of our newest members
April – April Fool’s Day, rain and umbrellas, Easter and Passover, taxes, and more thoughts of Spring, even though we can still get a whopper of a snow storm (as we had in 2007; 7 inches) – a lot goin’ on! Watch out for do-gooders warning you about squiggly worms crawling up your shirt or things on your face that aren’t there. As if we don’t have enough to think about: with the continuing economic tribulations and those refusing to participate in the recession, all the new social online networks and decisions about choosing those right for you and how many in which to participate, business matters, and family matters, etc.
Among the many observances for this month, including Autism Awareness Month, Holocaust Month, Earth Day (4-22), Arbor Day (last Friday in April) National Poetry Month and more, a fun marker is National Humor Month. Follow this link: http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.larrywilde.com/month.htm for the history of this observance and an old, corny joke.
Welcome to our New Members:
Deerfield: Robin Becker, Attorney and Owner, Solutions First,;
Lisle: Aileen Gilpin, Owner and Executive Recruiter, Virtual Assistant, AGilpin Consultants;
Schaumburg: Debra Bratthauer, Owner, Advanced Services.
Congratulations to Ines Kinchen, SendOutCards, Chicago , who re-enrolled.
Spotlight News about our Members:
Leah Richter, Richterworks – Glenview
Leah did such a great job on one of her Significant Action Plans that I asked her to make a copy for all of our members. So many of us have challenges about when to do what and how to have the time to do it all. As you know, we work on this challenge often. Links to Leah’s Weekly Schedule (blank) and her Master Schedule (her actual plan) can both be found in our Members Resource Section of our blog, www.womenbizpower.net.
Pat Keegan, Décor and You – Schaumburg
Pat also did a fabulous job on her last Significant Action Plan. She chose to begin speaking as a marketing strategy. Not even one month into her plan, she landed her first speaking gig! Congratulations, Pat. She will be speaking at the Buffalo Grove Rotary on May 14fh. Her business topic is “It CAN be done!” We will have details in our May Newsletter.
Tracey Samlow, MJ Catering – Deerfield
Congratulations to Tracey who has a newly redesigned website that she’d like to boast! www.mjcatering.com. The blog is not working yet, but coming soon will be entertaining and event planning tips, recipes and fun promotions. Be sure to visit soon!
Maggie Wilkins, C & M Wilkins – Deerfield
Maggie has a special offer for us. C&M Wilkins is offering Optimal Level Members 30% off of cabinetry as well as a free design consultant for home or office when you work with C&M Wilkins.
Gina Frank, Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro Hotel-Chicago
Need help planning a meeting, seminar, or event for your company this year? Take a look at this exclusive offer for the Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro Hotel going through the end of 2009. Our Pick-a-Perk is a great opportunity for you, your clients, and your business to take advantage of! For further details on this offer, other hotel needs, or referrals please contact Gina Frank, Corporate Sales Manager at 312.602.2133, gfrank@thechicagometro.com.
Amy Riley, Shoop Consulting – Chicago
Amy Riley MSTD, is writing a book about pregnancy. Expect the Best while You're Expecting is a book designed to inspire expectant mothers and to support them to "be with" all aspects of their pregnancy. The book (and the blog) share stories about women who handle challenges in an empowering way, powerfully process the thoughts and feelings that come up during pregnancy, AND who stay present to the miracle.
If you are interested in this project, there are a number of ways that you can get involved:
* Read more about the project by clicking here.
* Share your story and be interviewed for the book by clicking here.
* Visit and make comments on the blog - where women share thoughts and feelings about various
aspects of pregnancy and childbirth - by clicking here.
* Subscribe to our mailing list to receive new blog entries and updates about the project by clicking here.
Of Interest to You
1. My good friend, Linda Lucatorto of The Oasis Experience, Inc. is presenting a seminar for Women in the Process of Divorce or Already Divorced, called “It’s a New Dawn: It’s a New Day” on Saturady, April 25th from 8:30am – Noon. I highly recommend this seminar if you are involved in a divorce. I spoke at one of the seminars and continually have heard only great remarks from attendees. For more information, click here http://www.oasisexperience.com/events.htm.
2. I will be attending the Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza! (see the following link) on April 29th, co-produced by Lillian Bjorseth, Duoforce Enterprises, Inc., and Jason Jacobsohn, Sales Results, Inc. I have a special place in my heart for this event because I met one of our Chicago members, Mandy Mackowiak, there about four years ago, I think. Lillian and I have been in a couple of networking and chamber groups. Would any of you like to join me? (Link)
3. A friend of mine, Chuck Scharenberg of Kaizen Consulting Services Inc. is offering a program called, The Business Growth Essentials™. I found it interesting and it might be something you would consider. To learn more about it, click on this link.
Tip of the Month: But Marketing is Expensive; How Can I Do It?
Many of us talk about doing our marketing plans and I often send you to the website or other resources for finding methods for marketing. Now, with our current economic climate, some might even find it more difficult to define strategies that are most effective for your business. Here are a few tactics that might help:
1. Know your objective – You must be specific about what you want to accomplish, i.e, to increase sales by a certain percentage over a certain period of time, expand your database, etc. It won’t work if you are not clear on your goals.
2. Create a presentation folder – This does not replace personal contact. This folder will have your company logo, contact information, perhaps the history of your company, services/products you offer, testimonials, etc. You could also use this for the media. Create it yourself; don’t pay someone to do it for you if you do not have the financial resources at this time.
3. Write a Press Resource Sheet – Go to Member Resources on our blog, www.womenbizpower.net or click on the following link to get a sample Press Resource Sheet for the media and a sample cover letter.
4. Referral Marketing – You must develop a concrete plan to mine and get referrals. As you know, this is a very successful method of gaining new clients. You have to be creative and expand your thinking to include many possible connections through work, past work, friends, a religious affiliation, clubs, internet groups, chambers, etc.
5. Use your website – Make sure your site is Search Engine Optimized (SEO) and has a professional look and feel.
6. Develop a Newsletter – this is for clients and prospects and is an effective way to get your message to your target audience as well as reinforcing your brand identity.
7. Networking and Social Networking- Both of these require planning, tracking, and measurements for good results. Schedule one of your free coaching sessions with me and we can explore how to develop these marketing plans.
8. Speaking engagements and Chamber of Organization publications - Design a speech around what you are really good at and have to offer. Call organizations and send information about what you offer. If you already belong to organizations, check with them to see what publications they have that you can advertise in for free as well as if they might be interested in having you present for them.
Quote of the Month: "Google actually relies on our users to help with our marketing. We have a very high percentage of our users who often tell others about our search engine." – Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, Inc.
Fact or Fiction? – The Great Wall of China can be seen from Outer Space. (See the answer at the end of this newsletter.)
Meet Another Member Program - This is a wonderful way to network. Who wants to meet another member? Any one interested this month? Go to the blog (get your password and user ID from your welcome letter or send email to Sandy,sandy@ineedashadow.com for it) and read all the profiles. Decide who you would like to meet and let me know. I will send an e-intro!
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Member Profiles – Remember, every member's profile is posted on www.womenbizpower.net. Your User ID and Password are in the Welcome Letter you received in email soon after you joined Optimal Level. If you cannot find this information, send a quick email to Sandy, a sister member and my wonderful assistant, sandy@ineedashadow.com, and she will give you this information. This is another great way to read about all of your sister members and see if you would like to call or email her to have a conversation or get together. An Optimal Level member mentioned to me recently that so many members have not posted profiles. We keep asking for them. Any suggestions how to coax those members to offer profiles?
Marketing - Every member is welcome to market by mail, email, phone, etc. to each Optimal Level member. Get the information by logging onto our member blog, www.womenbizpower.net. Search here first when you want a new service or product.
Library – Would you like to borrow a book from the Optimal Level library? Check it out on the blog and then send email letting me know which book you would like me to bring for you to your next meeting. If you have a book out, please return it at the next meeting.
Monthly Readings – Want to get the book we are reading in future months at our Optimal Level meeting? Go to our blog site and click on Monthly Readings.
Referrals - If you like Optimal Level and believe in the value you have received, please tell me who you know who would want to get the same kind of help, meet all of our members, and enjoy the camaraderie of the meetings. Send me your suggestions along with contact information. Perhaps you might like to call them first and let them know I will be calling them. I so appreciate all of your referrals. Remember, 3 free meetings off your next enrollment if someone you refer joins Optimal Level
True or False Answer: False– The Great Wall of China is too thin to be noticed from such a great distance. The only two man made structures visible from space are: The Pyramids of Giza and the Hoover Dam. (From http://www.oasisexperience.com/events.htm.)
