High-Achieving Women's Blogazine

Just before the holiday, I received a call from Kathryn, a former client, who wanted to know how she could gain more visibility for her coaching practice.

Here is the one factor that I shared with Kathryn about business visibility: ‘it is the cumulative effect of all publicity’. With that being said, your business visibility quotient is determined by calculating what percentage of the people who should know about you actually do know about you.

There are a number of ways to get the word out about your business without breaking the bank. All you need to do is to be creative, devote time to promotional activities, make connections and build relationships. Below are 3 Surefire Strategies for Gaining More Business Visibility:

1. Be visible in your local newspapers or trade publications. There are three ways of getting your name and your business printed in the newspaper: 1) writing an article, a feature story or a column; 2) getting quoted by a writer; and 3) submitting letters to the editors.

The best newspapers or publications to target are the nationally syndicated and best-known publications.  If you can’t get into a nationally syndicated publication, your local newspapers or trade publications are also good.

Writing articles, publishing a book or getting your opinions quoted establishes you as an expert in your field. Becoming an expert in your field can lend credence to you and your company’s image.

To see your name in print, you must begin by cultivating relationships with reporters by sending them free information. Editors and writers are constantly on the lookout for new materials and they may give you a try when they need to do a story that touches on your particular skill or knowledge.

You can also write letters to the editors, which should include your name, title, and name of your business. You can submit letters to the editors to praise an editorial or news item, support or comment, correct slanted or inaccurate news coverage, support new initiatives in your community or even commemorate an important event.

2. Speak, speak and speak. Wherever you live, there must be some venues where you can speak and give advice. One effective way of increasing your visibility in your community (and beyond) is by becoming aggressive in giving speeches and presentations in your areas of expertise to chambers of commerce, business and professional organizations, women’s and men’s groups and Rotary Clubs.  You just might be surprised to learn that many organizations and groups are constantly on the lookout for informed speakers.

3. Educate your customers. Your role is to tell everyone who will listen to you how great your company is at delivering its products or services to its clients. Explain to your clients what they are getting from your products or services, what sets you apart from your competitors, and what they can get from patronizing your business.

Education is a very powerful tool.  Today’s consumers don’t just buy: they first gather information, review alternatives, choose an alternative, and evaluate the decision after the fact. By informing them of the benefits of your business, you are most likely to have them coming back to you.

What types of people should know about your business, and what systems do you have in place to reach them? Which one of the 3 Surefire Strategies for Gaining More Business Visibility is Right for YOU?

As a Positioning, Success and Business Growth Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneurs, executives and non-profit leaders on how to gain more business visibility for enhancing their career, business and life.

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

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I read a great book entitled Getting Things Done, by David Allen. What I liked most about this book … its center point was more than just time management.

This book focuses on capturing all the things that need to get done and disciplining yourself to make front-end decisions about what you let into your life so you have a plan for next actions. I definitely recommend it — yes it is a great read.

Below is a list of my top 5 favorite Tips for Getting Things Done.

1. Separate projects from tasks. This was one of the main things I gleaned from Getting Things Done. It’s not exactly what Allen prescribes, but it’s how I have adapted it to my life. I have two lists – one for projects, one for tasks. Most of my tasks have to do with client projects. I revise and print my client task list as needed.  I also look at the project list several times a week to ensure that I have written down all tasks that move each of my clients’ projects forward.

I also put spur-of-the-moment stuff on my task list as well. So far, this has saved me tons of time and helped me to keep working on all priority level projects and tasks.

2. Learn the power of the verb. Now that my projects have their own list, every time I write something down on my task list, it begins with a verb — no matter what. I no longer have a daily task list filled with projects tasks such as “Communication Plan for ABX” or “Newsletter.” Now, I can easily navigate through my tasks because they are defined as: “Draft a Proposal for ABX Social Media Plan” and “Select Three Topics for this Month’s Newsletter Elevations™.” There is really something to using the ‘power of the verb’.

3. Use technology to manage tasks and projects, but don’t get distracted by it. Programs such as task manager in Microsoft Outlook are great, but don’t get so caught up in them that you spend more time using the programs than doing your actual work. Take the time to learn the programs and use the functions you really need.

4. Get your information at regularly scheduled times; don’t let it interrupt you. I keep instant messaging off, my e-mail is closed and I only take calls when I can be disturbed. As a Positioning and Visibility Expert, many of my clients expect to be called or e-mailed pretty quickly. So, I check my emails three times during my work day and respond accordingly.

5. Don’t seek out distractions to give your brain a “break.” The average worker waste at least two to three hours each workday and for most workers, much of that time is online. You may think that checking out what’s new with

Britney Spears or even if you try to keep it work related — checking the business section of CNN.com —- is it really important to know about the seven-year-old who heroically saved that kennel of dogs from drowning?

I hope that you have learned to keep your online reading habits in check. I think we all can gain more time each day if we could just eliminate those brain break distractions.

These are just a few of my 5 Tips for Getting Things Done.  I have learned the importance of streamlining and organizing every aspect of my life.  I believe that it is critical to stay focused on the big picture while managing the small details.

As a Positioning and Visibility Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneurs, executives and non-profit leaders on how to implement those strategies that bring more visibility and positioning more strategically in the marketplace for enhancing their career, business and life.  Part of my coaching strategy includes organization.  If there is a lack of organization and productivity there can not be effective positioning and visibility.

So my question to you:  Do You Have a Plan for Getting Things Done?

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

To receive a copy of Elevations™, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™”, please enter your contact information below.

I recently read an article in Success Magazine that outlined Jeremy Jacobs’ Business Success Strategies for Growing and Going.  Mr. Jacobs is the owner of the Boston Bruins, and also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delaware North Companies. He took over his family’s business at age 28.

From there, he grew the company into one of the largest, most successful privately held companies in the United States.  In fact, Forbes Magazine ranks Mr. Jacobs as #746 of the world’s billionaires.

Below is a list of Mr. Jacobs 6 Business Success Strategies for Growing and Going:

1. Do what you love.  More than anything, Jacobs says, success is built upon a passion for what you do.  If you’re just in it for the money, you’ve set yourself up for failure.
2. Look at the big picture.  When the economy collapsed, Jacobs began to look for bargains, but not at the expense of his core business.  Be prepared to snap up deals, but don’t let a good price cloud your judgment.
3. Find like-minded people.  Jacobs looks for driven, competitive, thoughtful people who like to be challenged.  But he also wants them to be invested in the business.  “If you can find people who like what you’re doing, those are the people to put in place to give you the room to do the things you want to do,” he says.
4. Don’t get bogged down.  “Be aware of how your competitors function so you can rate where you’re going,” Jacobs says.  “If you’re too involved in the day to day, you won’t see those competitive environments.”
5. Tell it like it is.  For better or worse, Jacobs is known for speaking his mind.  At least his people know where he stands on issues, he says.
6. Be consistent.  “You need to be predictable – predictable to those people who work for you,” he advises.  It helps them and gives them direction on where you’re going.  If you’re not predictable, people have the tendency to operate with fear and not confidence.”

As a Positioning and Visibility Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneurs, executives and non-profit leaders on how to implement those strategies that bring more visibility and positioning more strategically in the marketplace for enhancing their career, business and life.

So here is one of the questions I always like to ask: “How would you rate your Business Success Strategies for Growing and Going?”

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

To receive a copy of Elevations™, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™”, please enter your contact information below.

Lately, I have received numerous calls from business owners, especially coaches, who have been in business less than a year.  The common question among all of these new business owners:  “How can I Get More Visibility and Better Known in the Marketplace”?

I believe that one of the best ways to get more visibility and better known in the marketplace is through short information-packed videos.  Below is Lou Bortone’s 3 Easy Ways to Make a Video.  If you use his 3 steps, you can Get More Visibility and Better Known in the Marketplace.

Like Lou Bortone, you too can use YouTube to Get More Visibility and Better Known in the Marketplace.  As a Positioning and Visibility Expert, I coach high-achieving woman entrepreneurs, executives and non-profit leaders on how to implement those strategies that will bring more visibility and position them more strategically in the marketplace to enhance their career, business and life.

© 2011 Dr. Laureen Wishom

To receive a copy of Elevations™, the newsletter that is “Helping Women Soar to Be the Best and Beyond™”, please enter your contact information below.