Greetings Blog Family,

Welcome to my show, BALANCE, get some in yo life!

In today’s society, we often times play the victim in our lives and wonder why things are going differently than we desire. But today, I want you to realize that you are the master of  your fate and hold the keys to create what you want. You can be a wolf or a sheep.

You have a choice.

The Sheep:

Sheep are employees. Employees that are waiting around for someone to give them a better job, give them a chance, give them an opportunity, give them a stimulus check. Please understand there is nothing wrong with being an employee, but just realize that you don’t control your future that way. You will always be at the hands or mercy of the wolf.

The Wolf:

The wolf is the entrepreneur. The person that is willing to invest in themselves, take calculated risk, and create the environment they desire to produce the outcome they want. The wolf is in control of their future and dominates the sheep.

Dominate might be a strong term, but they manage the fear of the sheep and leverage their time, talents, techniques in order to create the empire the wolf desires. Understand, the sheep just want a cozy, comforting, environment that leads to a paycheck. And the wolf nurtures this environment and fear to give them just what they want to create what the wolf really desires.

Granted, everyone in life is not cut out to be a wolf, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t right for you. Only you can make that choice.

Tough Economic Times

I realize these tough economic times can cause some hesitation, even frustration, but realize that it is these times historically that most millionaires have been made. Do you have what it takes to be the next millionaire…or billionaire?

I don’t know, but there is one thing that I can promise. If you don’t get off the sidelines and allow the wolf inside you to run wild, you will never know if you have what it takes.

Take this time to ask yourself the question….Are you a wolf or a sheep?

First in the Mind, then in Reality!

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Blog Family,

I confess. From time to time, I watch QVC. I said it. But you have to hear me out before condemning me as an outcast to know that I was doing market research for you. While 

watching a sale for pediatric posturepedic pillows,  it hit me.

The lessons to be learned from QVC are invaluable.

What is QVC?

QVC is one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world, and broadcast live 24 hours a day, 364 days of the year. This is the live show that sells the products constructed by the worlds entrepreneurs in a quick hitting, in your face, shop at home style.

According to their website, QVC is a wholly owned subsidiary 

of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group. Trades under the Nasdaq as LINTA. QVC was founded in 1986 by Joesph Segal. In it’s first full fiscal year of business, QVC’s revenues exceeded $122 million. This is outstanding and was a record in American business history for sales of a new public company.

Additional information on the QVC website reveals the company received more than 181 million phone calls last in the United States alone, shipped 166 million units worldwide. Net sales for 2007 was more than $7 billion and they reach more than 166 million cable and satellite homes worldwide.

What does QVC have to do with Entrepreneurs?

I think it is safe to say that QVC has a winning business model and is doing a lot of things the right way. Therefore, I thought that maybe as entrepreneurs and bloggers, we could gleam some insight from QVC that has made them so successful and apply it to our individual businesses.

QVC sales the products of entrepreneurs like you in real time. There tactics and influencers have been effective enough to drive the kind of numbers that they are reporting. Maybe there is something to learn from this phenomenon known as QVC for each of our businesses.

Marketing Lessons from QVC

1) Prominent Product Positioning. Although they are only limited to your television screen, the QVC administrators have mastered art of prominently placing their products on the screen to maximize visibility and give the potential buyers an idea of how big the product is they are viewing and how it is used. This is done by showing the product next to common items in the home or someones hand to give an idea of size. And they are always demonstrating the use of the products as well as giving suggestions on how it can be used by the end buyers.

2) Repetition of your message and selling points. Repetition seems to be one of the key strategies that QVC employs to move their products. And moving their products is their specialty. Watching the show on pillows, they sold over 52,000 units while I was watching the show. Simply amazing! And one of the key points I noticed during this segment was how many times and variety of different ways they repeated the product name and unique selling points. The lesson for you is to make your offering visible and repeat the benefits as often as you can without driving the customer or readers crazy. The point is you have to get your message into their minds so they can realize this is something they need. This can only be done through repetition.

3) Urgency. I love the way QVC uses urgency to convert sales. Yes, they spokes person does let you know that this is a limited time only offer. But the subtle way they do it is the best….with the clock. They will have a countdown clock in the corner of screen letting the viewers know that this product will only be available for the next 5 minutes, so they better act now. Another way they utilize this tactic is by saying there is is only 1,000 of these units available and they show how many are left in stock. Again, emphasizing the urgency the viewer needs to use to get one of these great deals. In your business, maybe you could have time sensitive dates for your readers or customers to act on to take advantage of your offerings.

4) Appeal to Desire to Belong. I had trouble naming this, but it works. The point I am trying to illustrate is they use of “everyone else is doing it, so you should as well” tactic utilized by the QVC. Example, on the screen they would flash how many orders have been sold. As mentioned above, during the sale of the pillows they kept flashing the number of sales they have made. This was done for urgency because they said only so many units would be sold, but also to let people know that others have found this to be a great buy. Sometimes as entrepreneurs and bloggers, we utilize this tactic in the form of testimonials, which QVC does as well with live callers that are buying the products. They allow the presenters to interview them after making a purchase. The viewer identifies with the buyer and thinks maybe this will be a good deal for them as well. The desire to belong is great in a many of our markets, so consider using this tool at your disposal as well.

5) Show Savings. Regardless of the market and especially today, people are looking for a savings. You should not allow the consumers to calculate the savings they will benefit from buying your product or service. QVC does this with the side bar on the screen where they will show the retail price of an item, the marked down price, and the difference is the saving. In addition, they will have specials if someone bought two items, then they would get the second one for $5 off. Instead of just letting this savings slide, they would highlight that and encourage the buyers to get two in order to save more money. The more they buy, the more they save. It is a great way to get your potential buyers one step closer to making a purchase with you.

6) Make Purchase Recommendations.  As mentioned in #5, QVC will make various packages that the buyers can choose from and illustrate the savings involved. This is a great idea, but don’t loss the other recommendation in there. The opportunity to tell your audience what they need. QVC was selling pillows in sets of two, but encourage the viewers to buy two sets of two pillows for the savings, their spouse, even the guest bedroom. If you can build your ethos, trust, with your audience, then they will believe you and take your council in purchase decisions.

7) Connect Features & Benefits to Buyer Needs. You are aware that QVC utilized spokespeople to promote the products during the individual segments. The people are not talking aimlessly about the products they are selling, but they strategically mentioning the features and benefits of each item and drawing a directly relationship to the needs of their buyers. As an example, the pillows were to provide great support for the users and this point was demonstrated by having someone lie on their pillow and a regular store bought pillow. Once this demonstration was made and you could clearly see the difference in the two pillows, the presenters spent a lot of time telling the viewers how and why this will benefit them and solve their needs. Everything from the quality of the pillow will save you money because you will buy less, to the better nights rest and refreshed feeling you will spring out of bed was covered. Your buyers will not buy if they don’t understand how your product will help them out specifically. Spend time driving that point home.

8 ) Easy, Visible Purchase Options. If you watch QVC, there is no doubt that you can find out how to purchase their goods. First of all, the spokesperson is going to mention how you can do this every so often, but it is also plastered all over the screen. They have the phone number visible (large) and the website clearly visible. They let their viewers know exactly how they can pay for the goods, by credit card, eCheck, PayPal, but not C.O.D. It is very important to never leave your potential buyers guessing. Every delay is a moment for them to turn away and entertain someone else’s offer. Don’t give them that chance, provide them the information they need to make a purchase decision.

The Monster Marketer that is QVC

Without a doubt, the people at QVC have mastered their business model and does very well with it. As entrepreneurs, we should not spend out time trying to talk down or bad about another business, but instead we must learn from their successes. Everyday QVC runs in most countries, take a few moments to watch their broadcast from time to time. You might find a bargain that is right up your alley, but I am certain you will feel the power of their marketing efforts, notice the tactics I mentioned, and more.

Now go into the world, find your markets, implement the marketing strategies of the QVC and dominate. These tactics can be used on your website, commercials (if you run them), flyers, during presentations, radio spots, news paper ads, and more. If you find any additional strategies they are using, be sure to share them with us here. We are all here to learn and grow from one another.

First in the Mind, then in Reality!

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Greetings Blog Family,

A lot has been happening in my life and business the past few weeks. So much so that I have not been hanging around here like I planned. But there has been two new readers to the Blog Family that really reminded me why I wanted to get into blogging, media, and the educational training field in the first place.

That new additions to the Blog Family are Matty Byloos and Portland Roofer. They reminded me that everything we do on this Internet has the potential to help someone and create value in their lives. I want to thank them for this simple reminder and let them know that they are appreciated for reading and following along with me. (Big ups to the entire Blog Family cause you guys and girls are special to me as well. These two just gave me the kick in the pants that I needed to reach out and remember.)

Business, Blogging, & Entrepreneurship is all about Value

It doesn’t matter what you do as an entrepreneur. The bottom line of your business is value. If you are not producing or contributing value to someones life, business, or endeavor, then you are not going to be in business for very long. I got to this train of thought because over the last few days I had been thinking of ways I could increase my revenue streams and make more money. Right, who doesn’t want to make more money?

Everyone wants to increase their capital intake, but focusing on money will only lead to more problems. You know it is very easy to concentrate on the lack. We have a tendency to think about and/or become obsessed with what is missing in our lives. In this case, the lack of money. This thinking about the money that we don’t have only leads to more thinking about the money we don’t have. This vicious cycle can continue on and on until you have permanently wrecked your business.

It can lead to the destruction of your business because your focus on the bottom line can lead to an unfocusing on the customer and the final product that you are producing. This product could be content, consulting ideas, or donuts. It is very difficult to produce the best quality product you have if you are not intently focused on every step. This applies to all entrepreneurs from bloggers to general contractors, from independent medical physicians to lawn care experts. You have to be 100% there and focused on delivering for your clients or it is going to show.

Business, Blogging, & Entrepreneurship is all about Value

Well today, it dawned on my that my focus in the wrong place. I don’t need to be thinking about making more money, I need to be thinking about creating more value for clients, readers, and customers. If I do that, then the money will follow. And you should be thinking about the same thing, value for your clients, customers, and readers.

I know these are stressful times, but do yourself a favor…I know I am. Pull your head out of your own ass. Take a moment to identify the needs of your readership, clients, customers. And focus on giving them what they need. I promise that if you do that, then it will lead to them telling others and sooner or later people will be only happy to track you down and share their hard earned money with you.

Today is a new day!

Today is the first of the rest of our lives. And fortunately, we have an opportunity to start the rest of our lives the right way by focusing on our customers, clients, and readers. Focusing so much on them, that our business is actually all about them. I know, go figure, who would start a business that is all about the customers? A successful business owner is who would do such a thing.

And today is our opportunity to be that person. No matter who you were yesterday or in the past, today is the day that you drop that behavior and start caring about your customers, readers, and clients. I know you understand that without them, you and your business have nothing. So, if you understand that point, take off the selfish hat with me and let’s focus on the people that allow us to bring home the bacon…the customer.

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Greetings Blog Family,

You may be aware that I own an offline business and it is my desire to move the online world full time. Well, I really need to fire my offline business.

Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate and enjoy the revenue earned from this profession as a real estate appraiser, but the business is becoming increasingly more complicated by the day. It is really unbelievable what we have to go through now as appraisers. It is getting to the point where I really don’t enjoy the work anymore and I am really ready to move on.

My Appraisal Business

If you don’t know, real estate appraisers provide their opinion of value for real property, ie someones home, condo, townhouse, or income property. This is property is permanately fixed to the ground.  I have a residential appraisal business where I only appraise residential property, 1 to 4 units in size.

Another option would be to appraise commercial real estate, which pays a lot more. There is another educational, testing, and experience requirements that I would have to go through in order to be a commercial appraiser. Also, one could be a personal property appraiser that valuates items such as jewelry, clothing, furniture, or painting. LOL! I was trying to think of the items that are shown on the Antique road show where people have their special belongings valued by a professional.

Anyway, the residential appraisal business has been good to me for more than the past six years. It has fed my family and provided us with the opportunities we needed to get where we are at in our lives. It has provided me with a chance to be in the lives of my children and wife on a daily basis. I am one of the Fathers that they expect to be on the field trips. The school expects us to participate in all the after school and during school activities. This is only possible because my wife and I both work from home. (My wife is an online professor.)

This has been a great time and I don’t want to seem disrespectful to our opportunities, but I feel that I am ready to grow beyond the appraisal business. 

My Entrepreneurial Vision

When I was 7 years old and dreaming of owning my own business, I am not sure what I dreamt of owning, but it was not an appraisal business. I can tell you that with certainty. Factor in the state of the economy and what is happening in the lending business, it becomes obviously why I am considering moving on.

One reason is that there just isn’t a lot of business floating around in this industry at the moment to start and it doesn’t look like much is coming in the near future. Added to that reality is the fact that they sources of appraisals have changed and the majority is paying a third of appraisal fees in the past.

I don’t know about  you, but I felt like $300 an appraisal was not enough money and many of these companies are paying $100 now for the same work, same liability, and risk in a more dangerous environment. I for one don’t thing this is a very good trade off and refuse to take work for those rates. That is crap!

As homeowners and payers of the appraisal fee, I assume that you might feel like that is plenty, but look at like this. In 2009, if I wanted to match what I did in business in 2008, I would have to work three times more. That is straight up crap!

Plus, the lending laws is changing and the requirements put on appraisers is getting crazier and crazier by the day. Couple with less sales, means less comparable properties to determine value and you I for see a real problem in the future. 

Therefore, my online business skills, work ethic, and income all need to rise quickly over the course of the next few months because I cannot see myself doing this much longer. I have already had multiple times when I had to turn down an appraisal job because there is a sever lack of comparable properties to valuate a property from. Not to mention, most of the Realtors working the markets have absolutely no clue how to valuate a property, thus they are blaming us for not coming in at the values they need to sell a property.

The Bottom Line

Let me set the record straight. No, I am not saying that every realtor doesn’t know what they are talking about, JUST MOST OF THEM!!!! Second of all, it is not the appraisers responsibility or job to hit the number a person needs to make a sale, pay the realtor, cover the mortgage they own, and put some money in the sellers property. That is not our wrole. Our role is to interpet the value as demonstrated by the market through steps to determin value. Many times, this value doesn’t come out to what you might hope, especially in this current market, but understand that it is not our fault. It is just the truth of the market interpreted by appraisers.

Believe me, I am good at my business and know my material, but I have lost the fire. It doesn’t excite and challengement any longer. I am looking for a new challenge to conquer and Internet marketing, blogging, and online entrepreneurship seems to be the way for me.

I was talking to the wife the other day about not growing up wanting to be an appraiser and not really being sure of what I wanted to do, but being an online entrepreneur really seems to fit my desired lifestyle, talents, and temperament. Thus, I am going to make the mental shift necessary to begin taking this business to the next level. Thanks for listing and allowing me to remember that I am in control of my future and destiny.

First in the Mind, then in Reality!

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