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Hello and welcome to this week’s Monday Minutes. Each week in this series I am going to share simple tips and advice that you can implement quickly to help your business become more successful.

Monday Minutes

This week’s tip is all about knowing your strengths and weaknesses. If there’s one common mistake that holds business owners back from achieving the success they are hoping for, it's that they try to do too much!

It’s not that they try to grow too fast or expand beyond their reach. It’s that they try to do too much on their own.

Does this sound familiar?business-tired

I create my own content.

I man my own help desk.

I post my own social media updates.

I edit my own videos.

I write my own sales copy.

Are the bells and whistles going off in your head?

The list goes on, and while at first glance it might seem like this approach makes good financial sense, the truth is, it’s actually killing your productivity.  Why? Because you’re spending more time trying to figure out how to do all those things, and not enough time doing the things you’re great at!

If you’re a top-notch list builder, then answering support tickets is a waste of your time. If social media marketing is where you excel, then video editing is taking you away from that important money-making task.

It’s OK to let go of some of the tasks that maybe you’re not so good at and let others do those things for you. Chances are they can do them more efficiently and for less money than you can.

Another BIG problem with trying to do everything yourself is: you will hate it and when we hate something we avoid it. Next thing you know, things are slipping through the cracks, not getting done, deadlines are being missed and your profits are disappearing.  All while you’re trying to figure out how to fit even more into your day, feeling overwhelmed and frustrated because you aren’t getting anywhere.

There’s got to be a better way, right?

keySo, what’s the key to getting things done in your business? It’s knowing what your strengths are and then focusing your energy on the things that you’re good at. Leave to stuff you’re not so good at to someone else.

Start by making a list of all the tasks that you find yourself postponing. Those are the first things you can outsource. Be honest about it too! Don’t just put the things you really dread, make sure you include those mundane tasks that suck your time.

Once you have your list prioritize it according to how much you dislike the task, as well as how easy it would be to turn over to someone else. For example, if you don’t have a flair for creating images for your adverting campaigns and the thought of fighting with Photoshop gives you a headache then outsourcing this task should be at the top of your list.

On the other hand, you might really hate keeping your books, but if it requires you giving access to your bank account to someone else, then it’s something you should probably keep it on your own task list at least for now.

You don’t have to outsource everything in your business. Learning how to outsource effectively takes time. Start with one or two things and then branch out gradually. You’ll find that when you concentrate on what you do well and let go of the things you struggle with; you’ll love your business more, be much more productive and ultimately get your business up to the level of success you want it to be.

Download your free procrastination busting worksheet and checklist here:
http://lisamcope.com/procrastination

If you like this post please comment, share and fill out the short form on this page to subscribe to my list so I can send you even more tips, information and blog updates that will help you grow your business online!

Thank you for reading,
mysig1

 

Don't forget to check out this weeks sponsor White Label Perks Opens Your Source for High-Value White Label PLR Content

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Hello and welcome to this week’s Monday Minutes. Each week in this series I am going to share simple tips and advice that you can implement quickly to help your business become more successful.

Monday Minutes

This week’s tip is all about using Instagram to gain attention for your business. Instagram began in 2010 and is now one of the most downloaded apps to date.  The main idea behind this popular social site is to help users post photos that they can tweak with filters and  give people a quick peek into their world.instagram

There is little doubt that  it has changed the way people share images online.  They  are posting photos of things they like, things they want, and places they visit.  You will find people and even brand with huge lists of followers eager to see what post next. As a business owner, are you ready to engage with your audience in a big way?  Instagram can help!

Statistics suggest that five million images or more are shared every single day on Instagram!  Every day, more people are joining in the fun.  Smart business owners see Instagram as a huge opportunity. They use it to draw attention to their products and services. Even better, they use it to build a relationship with their target audience.

If you aren’t familiar with Instagram yet, (where have you been?) it's a mobile app that allows people to post images and videos from their mobile devices. The app has camera effects that may be applied by users in order to make their images more exciting or different.

Once users are happy with their images or videos, they can add a description along with hashtags.  Hashtags (represented with the # symbol before a word or phrase) give users an easy way to categorize an image or video, allowing them to show up in a search of that hashtag, which is a very powerful thing!

hashtagFor example, if you post an image and use the hashtag #hottopic, then your image and description will not only be seen by all of your followers, but anyone who searches that particular hashtag will also see your image in their search results.

The hashtag #hottopic is just an example.  Your hashtag can be anything that you think your target audience is interested in or is actively searching for, say for instance, #golfswing or #makemoney,

Once you create your Instagram account and begin posting, you will want to start attracting followers and as well as following others.  To get the ball rolling you can follow the accounts of people who match your audience.

Search for a particular hashtag in your niche and either begin following people or simply liking their photos (you can “like” a photo by double tapping it). Leaving positive and supportive comments on photos is another way to engage your target audience.

So, when you're ready to jump on the bandwagon, just download the app and start sharing!  Once you begin using it you will see how easy and fun it really is.  But best of all, you will unlock a powerful tool that connects you in a unique way with your ideal customers.

Are you ready to stop ignoring Instagram for your business? Download your Free Guide: 21 Powerful Ways to Use Instagram to Get More Clients and start using it strategically and authentically to build a vibrant, active community that will attract your ideal client. *note this is created for coaches, but the principles will apply to any business.

You can also download a free Instagram companion worksheet and checklist here: http://lisamcope.com/instagram-worksheet

If you like this post please comment, share and fill out the short form on this page to subscribe to my list so I can send you even more tips, information and blog updates that will help you grow your business online!

Thank you for reading,
mysig1

 

Don't forget to check out this weeks sponsor White Label Perks Opens Your Source for High-Value White Label PLR Content

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Hello and welcome to this week’s Monday Minutes. Each week in this series I am going to share simple tips and advice that you can implement quickly to help your business become more successful.

Monday Minutes

This week’s tip is all about accountability, because when you run your own business, who holds you accountable? 

accountableThink about that question for a minute, when you have a job, your boss and your coworkers rely on you to get things done in a timely manner. And when you don’t follow through, it affects them, the business and maybe even your long-term employment.

But when you work for yourself, there is no one to hold you accountable!

No one calls you or emails you and asks if your new book is ready, or wants to know when you’re finally going to record that video, or questions why you haven’t posted to the blog in three months.

On the surface, that sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? After all, not having a boss is one of the biggest reasons  people are drawn to the idea of self-employment, but here’s the problem: When no one is depending on you getting your work done, procrastination lack of focus and time sucking distracting (hmmm Facebook) can quickly take over and bring your business to a screeching halt.

The answer is simple - Find someone you'll have to answer to for your actions.stickk

You have several options, from your spouse to automated systems such as stickk.com, but smart business owners have a secret weapon and that's a coach.

When you think of a business coach, you probably immediately think of someone helping you solidify your branding or create a plan for launching your new product line. But a good coach is much more than an idea factory. They will also cheer your successes and hold you accountable if you aren’t making progress.

With a business coach, that accountability works better than with your spouse or accountability partner simply because you’re paying for their advice. Imagine how bad you’d feel paying a coach a few hundred dollars (or more) a month and not taking action on their advice. If you’re like most other business owners, that investment is a huge motivator!

mastermind

One-on-one coaching isn’t the only way to go, either. You can also join a mastermind group and get some of the same benefits, including help with business development and accountability.

Mastermind groups come in many different styles, including groups of friends and colleagues who bounce ideas off one another and costly paid plans that match you up with business owners who have similar goals and product offerings.

Both coaching and masterminding are proven techniques used by successful large and small business owners for years, and virtually every entrepreneur can benefit from one or the other or both. But just like any tool, it only works if you use it well.

So before you enter into any coaching or mastermind agreement, be sure you:

  • Have clear goals for what you want to accomplish your coach can help you set goals in your first meeting.
  • Work with those who have similar businesses or products it would make little sense for a veterinarian to work with a mastermind partner who is an Amazon FBA seller.
  • Avoid the trap of being too understanding accountability means not giving people “a pass” just because they’ve had a bad week or got distracted.

Final tip: It’s OK to change coaches and mastermind groups from time to time. You’ll only grow as a business owner if you stretch, and you can’t do that if you work with the same coach for too long.

In case you missed this little gift last time. It's a printable worksheet that you can use to help gain more confidence, get more done and attract more customers for your business.

Download it here: Worksheet-Find-Confidence-Get-More-Done.pdf

If you like this post please comment, share and fill out the short form on this page to subscribe to my list so I can send you even more tips, information and blog updates that will help you grow your business online!

Thank you for reading,
mysig1

 

Don't forget to check out this weeks sponsor White Label Perks Opens Your Source for High-Value White Label PLR Content

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