Today, I am painfully aware of the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and also have my eye on Hurricane Irma (and behind her, Hurricane Jose) heading up the East Coast.

There will always be storms. 
Weather storms.
Life Storms,
Storms in marriage and parenting.
And — of course, most relevant to our focus on women entrepreneurs — storms in business.

No matter your industry, years in business, education level or geographic location, there will be TIMES when your business threatens to overwhelm you, or times when your finances are looking “scary,” moments when your team quits, your clients are angry and you just feel like you might be better off with a J-O-B.

I remember hearing Marley Majcher say that there was a point — in the early years of her business– during which she came to the following realization,

She’d “be better off working at McDonald’s for minimum wage and a shift meal.”

She says it in a way that is REALLY funny.
But, perhaps you’ve been there.
Maybe you’re there now.

Wondering…. if “it” is going to “work out,”
Waiting… for YOUR big break.
Wishing… that something would TURN your way.

And — of course — because you’re a hard-core, seriously driven woman who WOWs… OF COURSE, you’re doing the work. Right?

Day in and day out.
Showing up.
Doing the work.
Checking the boxes.
Falling down,
Standing back up,
Straightening your shoulders…
And then…
charging ahead again.
Against the wind and rain.
Despite whatever headwinds you may face.
Regardless of the obstacles,
Ignoring the self-doubt,
Digging deep,
Always…
while the storm rages on around you.

BUT… sometimes, we need a shelter from the storm. A place to come in from the rain, a place to be safe, to rest, to refuel.

I want to give a big Shout Out to my Mom, Vickie Tabor Woolard, who many of you have met. (And to know her is to love her, of course.) It’s her BIRTHDAY today, so if you are her friend on Facebook, send her a quick message.

My Mom has always been my shelter from the storm. No matter what was swirling around me, no matter how overwhelmed or hurt or rejected or miserable I was feeling… she was my safe place to land.

Strong.
Sure.
Tender.
Wise.
Loving.

SHE was the place in which I was most safe.
My heart.
My secrets.
My hurts.
Always safe.

I am so blessed to have had her growing up and even more blessed to still have her by my side to this day. (Happy Birthday Mom!)

Lately, I have been hearing from our Women Who WOW members some of these same sentiments… that WOW is THEIR shelter from the entrepreneurial storms in their life. A place where they can come in from the cold….

A place they can rest.
Re-fuel.
Re-focus.
Re-group.
Enjoy relationship.
Be nourished.
Be encouraged.
Be loved on.
Celebrated.
And STRENGTHENED — sometimes with some tough love — for whatever is yet to come.

Few know just how much this analogy means to me. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to lead this tribe of women…. women who are each FIERCE on their own… in their own right…. brought together under one umbrella. It just blows me away.

BUT, the storms of business do NOT have to blow YOU away. =) Here’s a quick overview for how to navigate WHATEVER storm you are facing right now:

— Take stock of the current reality. What is going right? What needs some adjusting?

— Consider the possibilities. What is the worst that can happen? What is the BEST that can happen? (Reality will probably be somewhere between these two extremes.)

— Acknowledge your feelings about it all. The anxiety. The overwhelm. The fear. The adrenaline. The WHATEVER. Acknowledge the feelings…. Notice them, don’t judge yourself for how you’re feeling… just acknowledge the emotions of it all.

— GIVEN all you have just written down, what is the NEXT BEST ACTION to take?

— Do that.

— Repeat.

Step by step, we weather the storms in business…. and come out stronger, more sure, more confident than before!

To my friends and members in TEXAS and LOUISIANA, FLORIDA and up and down the EAST COAST, we’re praying for you. Stay safe.

xoxo

The post 6 Steps To Weather Any Storm in Your Business appeared first on b. michelle pippin.

MAYBE YOU’RE COMMITTING THE NUMBER ONE “SIN” OF MARKETING AND SALES.

I recently submitted an article which will turn into an ongoing column, featuring “Women Making Waves In [iNSERT INDUSTRY].”

This work will highlight and profile women entrepreneurs who are shifting things, changing things, DISRUPTING things in their industry.

Melanie McGhee in the therapy world.
Cathy Alinovi in the pet food world.
Lisa C. Briggs in the world of true female empowerment & healing.
Shelley Smith in the world of company culture.
Traciana Graves in the world of diversity and inclusion.
Jackie Torres and Donna Galatas in the world of HR.
Diane White in the world of PR.
Timorah Harlen Beales in the world of photography and the business of photography.
Pamela Sigal Willsey in the world of teenage girls.
Ramona Rice in the spa world, and in the world of podcasting.
Tracie Stern in the world of “MLM.”
Barbara Pender in the world of social media.
Johnine N. Clark and Radlyn Mendoza in the world of law.

These are just a few that come to mind. A precious few. They are EACH showing up and making waves. They’ve not ONLY claimed their space, they’re showing up there, being heard, and making a difference.

And — of course — their world, their industry is TAKING NOTICE. They’re disrupting the status quo, pointing out solutions, offering something BRAND NEW, not some twice-warmed over version of another “ME TOO” option.

So, what about you???

Are you making waves yet?
Are you being heard?
Have you stood up to be COUNTED in your own industry?

OR….

Are you boring them to tears?
(Being BORING is the #1 Marketing Sin, and the most destructive.)

Are you showing up as just another option for your already overwhelmed market to consider?
Are you showing up HOPING NOT to make waves? Being Unwilling to take a stand or do something different?

If you’re being IGNORED, perhaps you’re boring them to tears. The solution?

INFUSE YOUR MESSAGE WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING YOUR MARKET SIMPLY CAN NOT GET ANYWHERE ELSE: YOU.

Today, the Women Who WOW mastermind members will come together for a training that will equip them to show up, stand up and CREATE CONTENT from the heart. We’ll discuss WHY content matters so much. (UM… it’s a CONVERSATION with your market.) We’ll go over how to choose what to talk, write or live stream about, and how to make it all flow EASILY… including the ONLY two ways you need to censor your own messaging.

This is just one of MANY pieces of our ongoing training library, available anytime to our Women Who WOW members. Doors are again open and you can now JOIN this sisterhood of seriously driven women entrepreneurs. Find out more at www.womenwhowow.com.

The post The #1 Sin in Marketing and Sales appeared first on b. michelle pippin.

________________ is to a profitable business what  hot sex is to a happy marriage.
A. New logo.
B. Fancy brochures.
C. Marketing Coach.
D. Content marketing.
It’s D.  Content Marketing. 

When I first started writing about HOT CONTENT, it was a relatively “new” term and strategy.  It’s now a buzzword that is overused and misused, but this doesn’t make it any less critical to your success.

Marketing with content allows you to not only attract more leads, but convert more leads, generate more referrals, and stay connected to your tribe in a meaningful way.  It keeps your market engaged, helps you cross the know, like and trust boundary and keeps your ideal prospects interested enough in what you’re doing to —  you know — know when it’s time to buy from you.

Regardless of the buzz, books, podcasts and now magazines dedicated to the subject, and despite my nagging, prodding and practically BEGGING wow members to put content marketing to the test consistently in their business (It WILL prove itself)…  too few do it well, do it consistently, do it profitably.

So, I went to the best.  I reached out to Ramon Ray of Smart Hustle Magazine… and got in touch with Kim Phelan of GKIC.com and asked them to give us their top tip on content marketing.   Their responses are below — along with quotes from other leaders in the industry.  You can find my Advanced Guide to Content marketing here.

Be Original in Your Content Creation
— Chris Ducker

“Getting ideas and inspiration from other content creators is fine. Outright copying their stuff is just plain lame.  You’re doing this to stand out and be remembered. Don’t forget that.  Now work hard on being remembered for the right reasons – not for being a weak content creating copy-cat!”

I’m bringing you a little tough love.
— Amy Porterfield

“Tough love when it comes to creating original content on a weekly basis.  This means every week you need to put out a podcast, blog post or video—whatever you love to do and do well—every week, no matter what.

I KNOW IT’S NOT EASY. But it’s 100% worth the effort.

Bottom line: Consistent content helps you build trust with your audience and earn their respect. AND – if you have content going out on a regular basis, you won’t have to work as hard when you are ready to promote. Meaning, it’s easier to make money when you are creating weekly, free content.”

Don’t Hold Back.
— Kim Phelan

“When you think about Content Marketing, go heavy on the content – if the whole idea is to show your awesomeness by giving information, then don’t skimp. I’d rather err on the side of too much useful, beneficial information than lean toward the “dark side” of sounding salesy. There’s one word that summarizes a good rule of thumb for CM: and that’s Authentic. Be yourself – everyone else is taken. (said, Oscar Wilde). But beyond assuming your own natural tone of voice – preferably devoid of all hyperbole – authenticity means to be real and to be generous with your content. I hate the saying, “Tell them what to do, but not how to do it.” We shouldn’t be in the business of doing halvesies. If you’re going to provide answers, solutions, techniques, or research findings, just do it for gosh sakes, and don’t hold back.”

Stop Thinking About Yourself 
— Ray Ramon

“Stop thinking of yourself and think ONLY of your audience. Close your eyes and think – what can I write (or share) that will be so beneficial to my audience that not only will they share it but they’ll share it with others. You want a GOOD headline – make it captivating and clear. Also a good image. you do this once a day or some other frequency and you’re well on your way to success in your content marketing.”

What To Do With Old Blog Posts
—Darren Rouse

“While I know some bloggers don’t like to update old posts as they like to treat their archives as a record – errors and dating and all – I think most bloggers should consider updating old posts from time to time for a number of reasons: Broken links, changed opinions, updates, and design.”

Don’t Reinvent The Wheel—
Fabienne Frederickson

“Many years ago, I held a regular monthly workshop for prospects. Each month I’d spend a full day creating all the content for that month’s training session-new and different each time. I was only charging around $25 per workshop. And after awhile, I found that each month the same prospects would come back for more. (Why not, right?) I was putting so much time and energy into the preparation but was only getting a couple of new clients. I soon decided to instead offer the same content each month. I didn’t have to re-invent the wheel each time and the best part was that I was getting fresh, new faces showing up each month – which resulted in less work and more new, paying clients!”

Provide value, provide value, provide value, ask for the sale.
— Gary Vaynerchuk

“I truly believe that content is the best way to market a product today. Provide value to consumers by creating helpful videos or new recipes or funny cartoons. Give them something they actually want because that content builds up the relationship that then allows you to ask for the sale.

Jab, jab, jab, right hook. Provide value, provide value, provide value, ask for the sale.”

The post Content Marketing Hacks: Learn from Chris Ducker, Ramon Ray, Kim Phelan, Fabienne Frederickson and others! appeared first on b. michelle pippin.

See if you can fill in the blank. =)

Content is to marketing what __________ is to marriage.  

Sex.

Content is to marketing what sex is to marriage.  (P.S.) This is a perfect tweetable, so please… share, share, share.

For the record, I am AS  surprised by how many marriages delay, put off, ignore, and deny the sex factor as I am how many businesses put off, delay, ignore and deny the content factor.

Make no mistake: the end result is the same.   If you are okay with your marriage being sexless, mark my words….  it will cease to be a marriage… eventually.   In the same way, if you think you can market effectively without content, your business will eventually cease to bring in new business.

Bottom line, if you are NOT strategically creating content for your market to consume — regularly — you are MISSING OUT on clients, customers, media, leads, and opportunities.

Content keeps your business fresh, hot and attractive.  It keeps your relationship with your market healthy and happy.  Content has the potential to:

• feed  your market what they want/need so they don’t need to constantly look elsewhere,
• demonstrate your expertise,
• generate demand for your work,
• elevate your brand,
• capture the attention of the media,
• nurture prospects closer to a YES,
• and more.

But only when done deliberately.  Even a daily blogging/podcasting /live streaming/etc. commitment won’t accomplish all of these things… You MUST be strategic about content in order for it to build your bottom line.

Now, I have been shameless in my efforts to compel Women Who WOW members to become courageous — and consistent —  content marketers.  I have put on my begging pants many times… in live meetings, in virtual training, in person.  I do this because the content is SOOOO friggin important.  It’s critical.  And it is the fuel for building a really consistent, super profitable business.

Today, my begging pants are on again… begging YOU to create content that is strategic and consistent.  My plea?  Simply for you to let strategic content SURPRISE you in its profitability.

I’m listing some amazing (and free) resources below that will help you 1) figure out why your blogging MAY NOT be working and 2) what to do about it and 3) how to BLOG for BUCKS.

BLOGGING for BUCKS Video Training

You can find a full video training for bloggers that ARE NOT seeing the MONEY behind their blogging efforts here.  No opt in necessary. You’ll also be able to get — for free– the 7 ways to turn your Blog from a Time Suck to a Money Pump.

Quick Hack For Using Your Content to Be Featured in the Media

This is what I do month in, month out… with great success.  Get it all here. 

Finally, don’t make these blogging mistakes.

And, don’t get hung up on “blogging.”  Maybe your content is mainly videos or live streams or social media shares…. whatever… just don’t make these 5 mistakes.

Now, what else can I do to COMPEL or CONVINCE you to get on the content train?

The post Timeless Content Marketing Strategies That Lead To Huge (& Consistent) Pay Days 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.