I’ll never forget — way before any of my online marketing/blogging/etc. would have been worth copying — finding a woman who had (word for word) copied my entire website. EVEN THE ABOUT ME PAGE.

She was from my area, and while I didn’t know her, I reached out to her to discuss the, um, “situation.” She denied it, of course… saying that it was a coincidence.

Saying she’d NEVER even SEEN my site.

She hung up, however, when I marveled at the fact that she and I were both married to public school teachers named Chris, had three kids the EXACT same age, named Summer, Shelbey, and CJ, she apparently went to the same church, same high school, same college. Isn’t that special? =)

Anyway, most business leaders will tell you to NEVER copy someone else, but I’m not most business leaders. The truth is, we are born with an innate desire to mimic. It’s how we learn most everything in our early years.

We are also — of course — born so incredibly unique in every way, with an innate desire to fully express who WE are as individuals.

In business, I suggest we use both.

WHAT TO COPY, THE COMPREHENSIVE LIST:

1) Behaviors. If you want what “they” have, take a look at what “they” do. if you want to be thin, look at the habits and behaviors of thin people. If you want to be rich, look at the habits and behaviors of rich people. Behavioral congruency will lead to RESULT congruency.

There is no 2nd thing to copy. =)

WHAT TO KEEP ORIGINAL: EVERYTHING ELSE, of course.

Your message.
The way you bring your message.
Your phraseology.
Your analogies.

Stay 100% true to your own twisted little view of the world. =) Stay absolutely true to you.

So, if you see someone getting the results you want to get online. Don’t try to talk like them, cuss like them. Don’t try to wrangle your own beliefs around to match their own. OF COURSE.

But DO watch what they’re DO-ing…

Are they doing Live streams once a day? once a week?
Are they blogging directly into Facebook or sharing a link directly from their site?
Are they using images with EVERY post or only certain kinds of posts?
How are they using groups?
How often are they releasing a new podcast?
What seems to be their approach with the media?

This is no different than reading a biography of a great leader. You DO study other great leaders, right? Soaking up the habits, the tendencies, the beliefs they all have in common???

This is no different, it’s just in real time.
So, look at what they are DO-ing
and then
do it ENTIRELY
YOUR
EXQUISITELY
UNIQUE
way.

Here’s to US!

Want to stay updated with my posts, videos, and tutorials? Head over to my Facebook! 

The post When to Copy Someone Else and When to Stay Original appeared first on b. michelle pippin.

Here’s a 3-hour workshop condensed into a 12-minute snapshot of what we covered, and be forewarned, NO ONE really wants to talk about step 3, which is why it is most important.

First things first, what does “marketing with authority” actually DO for your business?  Well, becoming the GO TO person in your industry for whatever particular problem you solve not only differentiates you from your competitors, it turns a “wish list” of clients into a WAITING LIST of clients. It allows you to attract the top tier (top 20%) of your industry’s clients… because it grows DEMAND, TRUST, and INFLUENCE.

Sound good?  Of course…. so let’s delve into the HOW.

Step One:  DEFINE Your Position of Authority.

What do you do better than anyone else?  What do your BEST clients appreciate most about you?   Are you known for a particular result? Or for your “bedside manner?”  Are you known for serving the masses or for the intimacy you share with your carefully chosen clients?  Maybe people come to you for a particular experience or because you solve — better than anyone else — a specific problem?  You must identify what you WANT your authority to be based upon.   Clarify it. Define it.  Put it into words.

Habakuk 2:2:   “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

Step Two:  DECLARE Your Position of Authority.

You want to take it to the streets.  Once you’ve put your “authority” position into words and you know exactly how you want to be — how you SHOULD be — known within your industry, it’s time to claim that space for yourself.  Put out a flag, bring in a couch, and make yourself a new, well-defined home.  Here are a few ways to do just that:

• Include statements of expectation on your website and in your sales conversations. “When you work with me, _____.”
• Create (true) auto-testimonial statements.  By auto-testimonial statements, I mean something along the lines of, “When my clients describe our work together…. “
• My clients refer to me as __________.

Most business “gurus” stop here.  They want you to DEFINE and then DECLARE your position of influence and authority within your market.  But, business is like any other endeavor… as soon as you start working your way UP, you’ll soon face some competitors and conditions that challenge your hard fought position in your industry, bringing me to step three…

Step Three:  DEFEND Your Position of Authority.

Assuming you are successful in steps one and two, you’ll soon have to DEFEND the enviable “go to” position you’ve painstakingly created, and — let’s face it — richly deserve.

• Make sure you’re doing what you said you’d do.  Nothing will erode the success and demand you’re creating faster than failing to follow through on your commitments.
• Continue to refine your authority position… hone it, and own it, friend.
• Stay the course.  Few things work against your position of authority more effectively than continuing to rebrand, rename, redefine your work.   (That’s why you need to take some time in step ONE to be sure what you’re defining isn’t what you HOPE to be one day, but who you ARE — authentically and unapologetically — today.)
• Call out — boldly and without apology — who you are IN COMPARISON to other options your market may be considering.

Step Four:  DIFFUSE your Position of Authority Throughout the Market.

I’m a newly converted essential oil- lover. =) And I was desperate for another “D” word, so imagining my essential oils diffusing through my house, I came up with this analogy.  =)

You want YOUR position of authority to waft throughout the market… making your “go to” presence known… permeating into the hearts and minds of your market before you arrive and remaining after you leave.  When your competitors walk anywhere near the position of authority you’ve created for yourself, you want your brand to be wafting through the air.  Literally.

• Media is an option that literally can’t be beaten for DIFFUSING your brand throughout your market, and media is surprisingly and increasingly easy to get these days. With 24-hour news cycles and each major print outlet also offering digital information, they need US more than we need THEM… so keep your story in front of the media.
• Creating content is mandatory, regardless of your industry.  Don’t know what to write about?  Write about your clients… and how you’re helping them. Tell THEIR stories, and let their stories paint a picture of your business.
• Be AWARE of stories that need to be told — about your work, your industry, your clients or the problem you solve– and tell them consistently… in your networking groups, on your blog, in local media, and in national media.

Of course, this is just a thumbnail sketch of what we covered LIVE.  No need to keep missing out, though… join us over at womenwhowow.com.  Allow WOW to show you just how much you can get for $37 / month.  Seriously…  xoxo

The post 4 Critical Steps to Marketing with Authority appeared first on b. michelle pippin.

My husband and I have sat in many rooms listening to couples laugh and joke about how sexually “active” they are… they will (tastefully) hint about how GOOD the sex is. If we only KNEW how good things were in THEIR bedroom… Hmmm…. 

I immediately have two thoughts.  The first is WHY is this person so committed to promoting their own sexual ability or frequency?  (Again, going back to the universal truth, I think I already know…) And my next thought is this, “If all you say is TRUE, why would you rather sit around all day or night TALKING about sex with us??  Why not just go home and do it?”  Rather than adding to the “sex” PRESENTATION proudly displayed by some of the  other couples in the room, Chris and I will look over and share a knowing glance… and celebrate what (actually) is.  🙂

This same focus on PROMOTION and PRESENTATION (rather than ACTION itself) is true in all areas of our life.  As a coach and speaker, I know it is true in business.  We spend a lot of time trying to convince others (and maybe ourselves??) of how great we are, rather than just BEING great at what we do or offer.  When our focus is on PROMOTION or PRESENTATION, rather than on the actual DOING of what we do, we are building a house of cards.  Because people don’t want to do business with a persona, they want to do business with a person.  The same is true in life.

How many Moms do you know who make this grand ‘ole production about what great Moms they are??? How they are so organized?  How they are always the one bringing food to the sick, and bringing snacks for school parties?  They will draw your attention to their perfectly catered birthday parties and let you know how painstakingly committed they are to “capturing every moment on video or camera”.   With all of this going on, I have to wonder how much time they actually spend just BEING a Mom… enjoying being a Mom… enjoying and getting to know their kids… 

For me, I am okay if I forget the video camera.  I would rather LIVE in the moment than document it anyway!  =)   And anyone who knows me (AT ALL) knows that I am messy, disorganized, a bit “high maintenance”, and often running late, among other “negative” characteristics.  But I am always me.   My husband will sometimes refer to me as a “nightmare” wife.  Am I offended?  Nope.  I just smile and remind him that I never pretended to be anything else… and I am pretty sure he was “warned” about me long before we were married…   🙂

For me, it all comes down to being AUTHENTIC… being COURAGEOUSLY you!  The world is DRAWN to authentic people… in business and in life!  So, I am again committed to NEVER focus on the promotion and presentation of ANY area of my life… my commitment is to LIVE it instead… full out… without hesitation… without fear of what others will think of me… without thought as to how I may be “perceived”…  

True authenticity is fearless and empowering and NONE of us “have this authenticity thing” mastered.  It is a choice we can make each day.  My coach recently wrote a PHENOMENAL book called, FEARLESS: Creating the Courage to Change the Things you Can. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE wanting a more authentic life!

So, how will you choose to live your life today?  As for me, I will live it MY OWN WAY!!  =)

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