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Martin Gilliard

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root cause

A problem statement can help in identifying the root cause of an issue in the following ways:

1. Focuses on the problem: A problem statement helps to define the problem and its impact. It provides a clear understanding of the problem and its scope, which helps to focus on the problem and avoid distractions[1][3].

2. Prompts questions: A problem statement prompts questions that help to identify the root cause of the problem. It encourages the team to ask questions like “why is this happening?” and “what is causing this problem?”[1][2].

3. Provides context: A problem statement provides context for the problem, which helps to identify the root cause. It describes the environment, the process, and the people involved in the problem, which helps to understand the factors that contribute to the problem[4][6].

4. Guides the analysis: A problem statement guides the analysis by providing a framework for the investigation. It helps to organize the data, prioritize the issues, and identify the patterns and trends that lead to the root cause[1][5].

In summary, a problem statement can help in identifying the root cause of an issue by focusing on the problem, prompting questions, providing context, and guiding the analysis. By using a problem statement, you can ensure that you are addressing the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.

Citations:
[1] https://www.retrium.com/blog/why-is-a-problem-statement-important-how-to-write-a-problem-statement-for-root-cause-analysis
[2] https://blog.epectec.com/5-why-root-cause-analysis-starts-with-a-problem-statement
[3] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chapter-5-problem-statement-root-cause-analysis-rca-tools-chatterjee
[4] https://www.tableau.com/learn/articles/root-cause-analysis
[5] https://www.mindtools.com/ag6pkn9/root-cause-analysis
[6] https://checkify.com/blog/root-cause-analysis-rca/

problem statement v solution statement

A problem statement and a solution statement are two different statements that serve different purposes. Here are the differences between a problem statement and a solution statement:

Problem Statement:

– A problem statement is a short, clear explanation of an issue or challenge that sums up what you want to change[3][6].
– It identifies the gap between the current problem and the goal[6].
– It describes the existing environment, where the problem occurs, and what impacts it has[6].
– It is used to explain what the expected environment looks like[6].
– It is used to perform root-cause analysis to understand why the problem occurred and ensure measures can be taken to prevent it from happening in the future[6].
– It does not define the solution or methods of reaching the solution[6].

Solo Build It!

Solution Statement:

– A solution statement is a concise and clear description of the solution to a problem that has been identified[1][2][4].
– It directly explains what opportunities there are to solve the problem that you stated in your problem statement[1].
– It proposes the approach or the method that will be used to solve the problem[1][2].
– It highlights the benefits or the value proposition of the solution[1][3].
– It provides actionable steps that can be taken to solve the problem[1][5].

In summary, a problem statement describes the issue or challenge that needs to be addressed, while a solution statement describes the solution to the problem. A problem statement is used to identify and explain the problem, while a solution statement is used to propose the approach, highlight the benefits, and provide actionable steps to solve the problem.

Citations:
[1] https://www.cuttles.io/articles/how-to-define-your-startups-solution-statement
[2] https://www.rose-hulman.edu/class/csse/csse221/201110/Projects/Simulation/Problem%20statement%20and%20proposed%20solution.htm
[3] https://www.betterup.com/blog/problem-statement
[4] https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/how-do-you-write-problem-solution-statement-proposal
[5] https://help.paloalto.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002002472-Tips-on-the-Problem-and-Solution-statement
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_statement

More Posts On Problem and Solution Statements

For further information on problem and solution statements refer to one of the posts below:

 

Go From Problem Statement vs Solution Statement Back to Own Your Own Future Notes

Go To The Leadership and Development Home Page

solution statement

A solution statement is a concise description of how a proposed solution will address a specific problem or challenge. They’re ideal for entrepreneurs who want to define what they are going to do or provide to what group of customers in order to add value to that group.

It should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.

A well-written solution statement can be very useful in terms of persuading others to support your proposed solution and for helping yourself to be focussed on your core value add.

Do you want to attract more customers and grow your business? Do you want to create a product or service that solves a real problem and makes a difference? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and become the go-to expert in your niche?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to define your solution statement and understand your ideal client.

Your solution statement is a simple and powerful way to communicate the value of your offer to your potential customers. It tells them who you help, what you help them achieve, and how you help them overcome their challenges.

Your ideal client is the person who needs and wants your solution the most. They are the person who will benefit from your offer, appreciate your work, and pay you what you deserve.

By defining your solution statement and understanding your ideal client, you will be able to:

Create a product or service that solves a specific problem and delivers a desired outcome

Craft a compelling message that speaks directly to your ideal client’s pain points, desires, motivations, and preferences

Identify and reach out to your ideal client in the places where they hang out online and offline

Build trust and rapport with your ideal clients by showing them that you understand them and care about them

Convert more leads into customers and more customers into loyal fans

In this blog post, I will show you how to define your solution statement and understand your ideal client in simple steps. I will also share some examples and exercises that will help you apply what you learn.

Let’s get started!

How to Define Your Solution Statement

Your solution statement is a simple and powerful way to communicate the value of your offer to your potential customers. It tells them who you help, what you help them achieve, and how you help them overcome their challenges.

Your solution statement has three components: your target audience, your desired outcome, and your common obstacle. You can use this formula to write your solution statement:

I help [target audience] achieve [desired outcome] without [common obstacle].

For example, “I help young college graduates take their hobby of photography and turn it into a full-time career without having to stress about getting new clients” – Janna Kutcher

Now, let’s look at each component in more detail:

Target Audience

This is the group of people who need and want your solution the most. They are the people who have a specific problem that you can solve, and who are willing and able to pay for your solution. You should be as specific as possible when defining your target audience so that you can tailor your message and offer to their needs and wants. For example, instead of saying “I help people”, you could say “I help young college graduates”, “I help busy working moms”, or “I help small business owners”.

Go deep with your ideal client (target audience):

  • What are their likes/dislikes?
  • What do they love/hate?
  • What does that tell you about them?
  • If they could snap their fingers and make three changes what would they be?
  • What are their biggest frustrations?
  • What problem keeps them up at night?
  • What are ongoing conversations that this person has in their head?
  • What are their values?
  • What lifestyle do they lead?
  • How does your product or service fit into their lifestyle?
  • What do they watch, read, listen to, spend time online with?
  • What is their favourite social media?
  • What are their favourite blogs?

Desired Outcome 

This is the result or benefit that your target audience wants to achieve by using your solution. It should be measurable, tangible, and desirable. You should focus on the positive outcome that your solution provides, rather than the features or functions of your solution. For example, instead of saying “I help young college graduates learn photography”, you could say “I help young college graduates take their hobby of photography and turn it into a full-time career”.

Common Obstacle

This is the challenge or difficulty that prevents your target audience from achieving their desired outcome. It should be real, relevant, and relatable. It would help if you showed how your solution helps your target audience overcome their obstacle, without making them feel bad or guilty about it. For example, instead of saying “I help young college graduates take their hobby of photography and turn it into a full-time career without being clueless”, you could say “I help young college graduates take their hobby of photography and turn it into a full-time career without having to stress about getting new clients”.

More Examples

Fitness Coach:
I help busy professionals achieve their fitness goals without sacrificing their work-life balance.


Marketing Consultant:
I help small business owners increase their sales and profits without spending a fortune on marketing.


Career Coach:
I help recent graduates find their dream job without feeling lost or overwhelmed.


Financial Advisor:
I help young families achieve financial security without sacrificing their lifestyle.


Life Coach:
I help people overcome their fears and achieve their dreams without feeling stuck or hopeless.

Court Booking System:

My business provides a Software As A Service (SAAS) court booking system product called PlanIt-BookIt

Thinking of a solution statement that could apply to my product…

I help squash club owners and committee members, increase memberships, lower costs, improve communication and enable fast, easy and secure graphical booking of courts without having to worry about transferring over from an existing system or any associated set up work.

 

Tips and Best Practices

Here are some tips and best practices for creating a clear and specific solution statement that resonates with your target audience:

Use simple and concise language your target audience can understand and relate to.

Use words that evoke emotion and curiosity in your target audience, such as “achieve”, “without”, or “secret”.

Use examples and testimonials from your own experience or from other successful people in your niche to illustrate your solution statement.

Test and refine your solution statement based on the feedback and results you get from your target audience.

By defining your solution statement, you will be able to communicate the value of your offer to your potential customers clearly and compellingly. You will also be able to create a product or service that solves a specific problem and delivers a desired outcome for your target audience.

Now that you know how to define your solution statement, let’s move on to the next step: how to understand your ideal client. 😊

How to Understand Your Ideal Client

Understanding your ideal client is crucial for your business success. Your ideal client is the person who needs and wants your solution the most. They are the person who will benefit from your offer, appreciate your work, and pay you what you deserve.

By understanding your ideal client, you will be able to:

Create a product or service that solves their specific problem and delivers their desired outcome

Craft a message that speaks directly to their needs and wants

Identify and reach out to them in the places where they hang out online and offline

Build trust and rapport with them by showing them that you understand them and care about them

Convert more leads into customers and more customers into loyal fans

But how do you understand your ideal client? How do you get inside their head and heart? How do you know what they think, feel, want, and need?

There are many methods and tools that can help you research and learn more about your ideal client. Here are some of them:

Conduct customer surveys: You can use online platforms such as SurveyMonkey or Typeform to create and send surveys to your existing or potential customers. You can ask them questions about their demographics, psychographics, goals, fears, challenges, preferences, etc. You can also ask them for feedback on your product or service, your message, your brand, etc.

Hold customer focus groups: You can invite some of your best customers or prospects to a meeting or a lunch where you can have a conversation with them. You can ask them similar questions as in the surveys but in a more informal and interactive way. You can also observe their body language, tone of voice, expressions, etc.

Monitor social media: You can use platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. to see what your ideal client is posting, liking, commenting, sharing, etc. You can also join groups or communities where they hang out and participate in discussions. You can also use tools such as Hootsuite or Sprout Social to track keywords, hashtags, mentions, etc.

Use Google Analytics: You can use Google Analytics to see who is visiting your website or blog, where they are coming from, what pages they are viewing, how long they are staying, what actions they are taking, etc. You can also use tools such as Quantcast Measure or SimilarWeb to get insights about your visitors’ demographics, interests, behaviors, etc.

Spy on your competitors: You can use tools such as BuzzSumo or SEMrush to see what kind of content your competitors are creating, what keywords they are ranking for, what backlinks they have, etc. You can also see what kind of reviews they are getting from their customers or clients.

Once you collect enough data about your ideal client, you can create a customer persona based on it. A customer persona is a fictional representation of your ideal client that summarizes their characteristics in a clear and concise way.

A customer persona should include:

A name and a photo

Demographics: age, gender, location, income, education, occupation, etc.

Psychographics: attitudes, beliefs, values, interests, hobbies, lifestyle, etc.

Goals: what they want to achieve by using your solution

Fears: what they are afraid of or worried about

Challenges: what prevents them from achieving their goals

Preferences: how they like to communicate, learn, buy, etc.

Pain points: what problem they have that your solution can solve

Here are some examples of customer personas that match the solution statement I helped you create earlier:

Meet Sarah, a young college graduate who loves photography and wants to turn it into a full-time career. She is frustrated by the lack of clients and opportunities in her field. She is looking for a mentor who can teach her how to market herself and get more exposure. She spends a lot of time on Instagram and Pinterest, where she follows other photographers and influencers. She reads blogs and podcasts about photography and entrepreneurship. She values creativity, freedom, and passion.

 

Meet John, a busy professional who wants to achieve a fit and healthy body. He is challenged by his hectic schedule and his lack of motivation. He is looking for a coach who can help him create a personalized workout and nutrition plan that fits his lifestyle. He uses apps and wearables to track his progress and performance. He watches YouTube videos and listens to audiobooks about fitness and wellness. He values efficiency, results, and balance.

 

Meet Lisa, a small business owner who wants to increase her sales and profits. She is overwhelmed by the complexity and cost of marketing her business online. She is looking for a consultant who can help her create a simple and effective marketing strategy that works for her niche. She uses email and social media to communicate with her customers and prospects. She reads newsletters and magazines about small business and marketing. She values quality, service, and growth.

By creating customer personas, you will be able to understand your ideal client better and tailor your product or service, your message, your brand, and your marketing to their needs and wants.

a newsletter

If you are looking for a way to grow your audience, increase your sales, and build your brand, you should consider having a newsletter. A newsletter is a regular email that you send to your subscribers, providing them with valuable content, updates, and offers. Here are some of the benefits of having a newsletter:

  • To sell your current products: A newsletter is a great way to showcase your current products and services, and persuade your subscribers to buy them. You can use your newsletter to share testimonials, case studies, features, benefits, and discounts on your products. You can also use your newsletter to educate your subscribers about how your products can solve their problems and improve their lives.
  • To sell recurring subscriptions: A newsletter is also a great way to sell recurring subscriptions, such as memberships, courses, software, or coaching. You can use your newsletter to provide value to your subscribers on a regular basis, and build trust and loyalty with them. You can also use your newsletter to offer exclusive access, bonuses, and incentives to your subscribers who sign up for your recurring subscriptions.
  • It is an owned vs. rented platform: Unlike social media platforms such as Facebook or LinkedIn, where you have to follow their rules and algorithms, and where you can lose your followers at any time, a newsletter is an owned platform that you have full control over. You own your email list, and you can communicate with your subscribers directly and personally. You don’t have to worry about losing your reach or visibility due to changes in the platform or policies.
  • Early market with less competition: Although newsletters have been around for a long time, they are still an underutilized and underrated marketing channel. Many businesses and brands are not taking advantage of the power of newsletters, or are not doing it well. This means that there is less competition and more opportunity for you to stand out and attract your ideal audience with your newsletter.
  • Can set up for free on something like Beehiiv in 10 minutes: Setting up a newsletter is easy and fast with platforms like Beehiiv. Beehiiv is a free newsletter platform that helps you create beautiful and engaging newsletters in minutes. You can choose from hundreds of templates, customize them with your own content and branding, and send them to your subscribers with one click. You can also track and analyze your newsletter performance with Beehiiv’s analytics tools.

As you can see, having a newsletter is a smart and effective way to grow your audience, increase your sales, and build your brand. If you want to start your own newsletter today, sign up for Beehiiv for free and get started in 10 minutes!

References

https://marketing.sfgate.com/blog/why-email-newsletters-are-key-to-business-success-6-ideas-to-try
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/05/08/why-are-email-newsletters-important-for-branding/?sh=55287ca1509f
https://www.constantcontact.com/blog/benefits-of-email-marketing/
https://www.shopify.com/blog/purpose-of-a-newsletter
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-ways-email-newsletter-can-benefit-your-local-business-drew-griffin
https://www.marq.com/blog/why-newsletters-are-great-marketing-tools

social media

Leverage Social Media For Free

Maximizing social media is a smart strategy that you and your business can implement to reach new customers, build relationships with existing ones, and promote your brand, and the best part is that it’s free to use!

Social Media Recession

In times of recession, demand for products and services decreases while supply increases. This is also true for social media content. As a result, it is important to create content that is interesting and valuable and therefore, stand out from the crowd.

Here are some tips to help you create engaging content during a social media recession:

  1. Focus on quality over quantity: Instead of posting frequently, focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience. This will help you stand out from the competition and keep your followers engaged.
  2. Provide value: Offer your followers something of value, such as tips, advice, or exclusive content. Something that you know that they will appreciate. This will help you build a loyal following and keep them coming back for more.
  3. Be authentic: Authenticity is key to building trust with your audience. Share your personal experiences and be transparent about your brand and its values.
  4. Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and messages from your followers. This will help you build a relationship with them and show that you value their input.
  5. Stay up-to-date: Keep up with the latest trends and news in your industry. This will help you create content that is relevant and timely.

To Begin Focus On One Niche And One Social Media Platform

You may only have one niche, but there are many social media platforms out there. To begin with I would pick one social media platform that you are either familiar with or have used before. Try and master that platform before moving on to another one.

Create a Great Bio

Creating a great social media bio is important because it is often the first impression that potential followers or customers have of your brand. A well-crafted bio can help you stand out from the competition, build credibility, and optimize your searchability across platforms.

 

A Great Bio

To create a great social media bio, it is important to be concise, original and focused.

 

You should describe yourself or your brand by addressing basic questions as precisely and honestly as possible, and use hashtags, tags, and links to connect your profile to others. Additionally, you can use humor, emojis, and temporary intros to make your bio more interesting and engaging. By following these tips, you can create a social media bio that attracts followers, builds relationships, and promotes your brand effectively.

Also in your bio remember to:

  • Use a high-quality photo and remove the background.
  • Use a color behind your face in a circle to stand out.
  • Use your name in a searchable way.
  • Think about why people need to follow you.
  • Have a clear call to action.
  • Post what you say you do in your bio.

Video Posts

To make your video content more engaging and effective, it is important to put in big text over the reel that clearly communicates what the video is about. This will help to grab the viewer’s attention, increase engagement, and build a connection with your audience. By using concise, easy-to-read text overlays that enhance understanding without overwhelming the screen, you can convey your message effectively and make your content more accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, you can use text overlays to add keywords or phrases that are relevant to your niche or industry, which can help to optimize your searchability across platforms. 

Build Trust And Engagement By Using Stories

Stories are a powerful tool for maximizing social media and building trust and engagement with your audience. You can use stories to connect with your audience emotionally, showcase your values and beliefs, and demonstrate your expertise and credibility. By creating stories that resonate with your audience, you can establish a rapport with them, show them that you understand their needs and desires, and persuade them to take action. Moreover, you can use stories to inspire engagement, promote your brand, and drive sales. To craft effective stories, it is essential to know your audience, be authentic and vulnerable, tap into their emotions and values, and invite feedback and interaction. By applying these tips, you can use stories to build trust and engagement with your audience and achieve your marketing goals.

Post A Lot Of Content Consistently

Posting a lot of content consistently is important to keep your audience engaged and interested in your brand. By creating a content calendar and planning ahead, you can ensure that you have a steady stream of content to share across your social media platform or platforms. However, it is important to balance quantity with quality and to ensure that your content is relevant, valuable, and engaging to your audience. By using a sentence rewriter tool to create unique and captivating content, and by following content writing tips such as writing a good hook, using interesting angles, and telling stories, you can create content that stands out from the competition and resonates with your audience. 

Don’t Just Talk About Your Service Or Product Talk About Other Things That Add Value Too

To add value to your social media content, it is important to talk about other things that are relevant and interesting to your audience, not just your service or product. By sharing industry news, tips, advice, and other valuable information, you can position yourself as an expert in your field and build trust with your audience. Additionally, you can use storytelling, humor, and other creative techniques to make your content more engaging and memorable. 

Talk About What You Love, But Also About What You Don’t Love

Talking about what you love and what you don’t love can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level, showcase your personality, and build authenticity. By sharing your likes and dislikes, you can create a more relatable and engaging social media presence that resonates with your audience. Additionally, you can use your preferences to create content that is more interesting and relevant to your audience and to spark conversations and debates that increase engagement. However, it is important to be respectful and tactful when sharing your opinions and to avoid offending or alienating your audience. 

Identify The Problem And Then Provide The Solution That Is How You Sell

Identifying the problem and providing the solution is a key aspect of solution selling, which involves a more empathetic approach to sales that focuses on connecting clients with the right solution for their problems. By using a four-step process for defining and articulating problems, asking the right questions, and listening to your customers, you can identify their needs and align them with the benefits of your product or service. Additionally, you can use problem-solving, interview questions, and case analysis to develop your critical thinking skills and come up with innovative solutions that add value to your customers. 

Shout Out About Anything That Makes Your Life Better Or Easier

Shouting out about anything that makes your life better or easier can inspire and motivate others, and help to build a supportive community. Whether it’s sharing tips on self-improvement, mental health, motivation, or productivity, or simply celebrating your successes and joys, your voice can make a difference in someone’s life. By being authentic, positive, and helpful, you can create social media content that adds value to your audience, builds relationships, and achieves your marketing goals.

Invite People To Comment As It Improves Your Engagement And Your Connection With Your Followers

Inviting people to comment on your social media posts is a great way to improve engagement and build a stronger connection with your followers. By asking questions, encouraging feedback, and responding to comments, you can create a more interactive and engaging social media presence.

Build One Follower At A Time

Building one follower at a time can help you create a loyal and engaged audience that supports your brand and achieves your marketing goals. 

In Order To Monetize You Need:

A Niche And An Audience That Has Been Defined

Identifying a niche and a defined audience is crucial to creating a successful social media strategy. By understanding your target audience’s demographics, preferences, interests, and behaviors, you can create content that resonates with them and ultimately increases engagement.

You also need:

  • One social media platform mastered.
  • An optimized bio and content.
  • To build trust and engagement.

References

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/choose-social-media-platform-works-you-your-niche-anastazia-masiaga

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/whats-best-way-pick-social-media-platforms

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-channels/

https://planly.com/right-social-media-platforms/

https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/which-social-media-platforms-should-you-use-for-your-business

https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-bio/

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/the-importance-of-a-good-social-media-bio-and-how-to-create-one/530844/

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-bios/

https://www.dharilo.com/the-importance-of-a-good-social-media-bio-how-to-create-one/

https://likeable.com/blog/2016/how-to-write-the-perfect-social-media-bio/

https://www.sunitabiddu.com/perfect-creative-social-media-bio/

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/how-do-you-use-storytelling-influence-your-audience-build

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intentional-insights/202305/build-trust-through-effective-leadership-storytelling

https://www.gonarrative.com/business-storytelling-blog/why-broken-trust-breaks-innovation-and-keeps-you-from-getting-to-market

https://www.toprankblog.com/2018/05/building-trust-content-marketing-storytelling/

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-story-ideas/

https://www.harvardbusiness.org/what-makes-storytelling-so-effective-for-learning/

https://writerbuddy.ai/free-tools/sentence-rewriter-tool

https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/content

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/professional-content-mistakes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2016/05/13/how-to-create-endless-amounts-of-content/

https://buffer.com/resources/send-better-email/

https://writingcooperative.com/30-examples-of-opening-sentences-that-pack-a-punch-796adda163d8

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/10-ways-you-can-add-value-your-product-or-service-0

https://cxl.com/blog/value-proposition-examples-how-to-create/

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/write-value-proposition

https://www.shopify.com/blog/value-proposition

https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/sales-pitch-examples

https://hbr.org/2008/04/the-four-things-a-service-business-must-get-right

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-tell-someone-you-dont-love-them-5217575

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_We_Talk_About_When_We_Talk_About_Love

https://tinybuddha.com/blog/loving-someone-isnt-enough-make-work/

https://www.theknot.com/content/love-quotes

https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/relationship-quotes/

https://www.healthline.com/health/relationships/unconditional-love

https://www.zendesk.com/blog/solution-selling/

https://www.betterup.com/blog/problem-statement

https://hbr.org/2012/09/are-you-solving-the-right-problem

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/8-key-questions-salesperson-should-ask-identify-needs-mohapatra

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/problem-solving-interview-questions

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/case-analysis-example

https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-inspire-others

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/talking-through-problems

https://tyypoprints.medium.com/the-best-100-pieces-of-life-advice-ive-ever-heard-eb39be99c02f

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-esteem/tips-to-improve-your-self-esteem/

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/motivation.html

https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-art-of-giving-and-receiving-advice

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-do-you-reward-your-most-engaged-followers

https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-engagement/

https://buffer.com/resources/social-media-community/

https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-use-instagram-comments-to-turn-people-into-customers/

https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/resources/lessons/social-media-marketing_the-value-of-building-a-social-media-community_ehof

https://influencermarketinghub.com/facebook-group/

https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/follower

https://hbr.org/2007/12/what-every-leader-needs-to-know-about-followers

https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/importance-of-effective-followers-5887

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-being-good-follower-can-make-you-better-leader-sonia

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/followership

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox360/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/answers/300815-how-do-you-get-an-extra-follower

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/16-effective-strategies-build-better-social-media-presence-khan

https://jetpack.com/blog/how-to-create-a-social-media-strategy/

https://help.hootsuite.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403597090459-Create-engaging-and-effective-social-media-content

https://soona.co/blog/powering-your-strategy-with-product-photography

https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/power-of-social-media-in-content-marketing-plan

https://mauconline.net/how-to-create-engaging-and-relevant-content-for-your-target-audience/

how to sell more

If you want to sell more of your online course, eBook, software product or in fact anything at all then you need to fall in love with your product and with your customers. Make selling a true win-win by turning your selling into a service.

Here are some top tips on how you can make your customers fall in love with both your product and your business:

  1. Identify who your ideal clients are: Ask your preferred AI bot who it thinks your ideal clients would be. You need to be very clear on who needs what you are selling. This will enable you to better tailor your marketing efforts so as to reach the right people
  2. Be customer-centric or customer-driven: Focus on the benefits that your product or service can provide. You can do this by asking yourself questions such as: “Why do my customers need this?” or “How can I make my customer’s lives easier or more convenient?” If you can understand your customers better then you can build better relationships with them.
  3. Turn selling into a service: For years I’ve personally shied away from selling, possibly from the fear of rejection, but you need to start thinking in terms of you are doing people a disservice by not sharing your product or service with them – after all this is something that should be making their lives better or easier. Serve people and help them to solve their problems. You need to be feeling bad if you don’t sell!
  4. Step up the love: Be nice, friendly, and helpful. Almost fall in love with your prospect or client. Visualize the success that your customers have from using your product or service. Fall in love with the outcome. Give them all the tools that they need to reach their desired goals. Make sure you truly believe in your product and its ability to help people.
  5. Make it a true win-win: Who are you letting down by not putting yourself and your product or service out there? You need to think in terms of wanting someone to experience your product. Serve people and help them reach their goals and solve their problems.
  6. Offer specials: People always love a deal or a bargain. When people get more for their money, they’ll be more likely to come back. Think of extras that you can give away as part of your offer. This could be something as simple as a PDF checklist a how-to guide or even a template to help them with something. You might hold holiday or other seasonal sales. You can offer free trials or buy-one-get-one-free deals. You need to try and encourage customers to keep coming back to your business. When people love your deals, they’ll love your business more.
  7. Be patient: Building relationships takes time. Don’t rush the process. Take the time to get to know your customers and their wants and needs. Offer them as much value as you can and be there for them when they need you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you want to sell more, you need to fall in love with your product and customers. By doing so, you can turn selling into a service and make it a true win-win. Identify your ideal clients, be customer-centric, turn selling into a service, step up the love, fall in love with your product, make it a true win-win, offer specials, and be patient. Serve your people.

References:

https://www.qminder.com/blog/queue-management/customers-fall-in-love-brand/
https://www.pipedrive.com/en/blog/sales-tips-customers-love-your-product
https://yourstory.com/2016/08/make-customers-love-product
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/love-your-product-customer-daryn-duliba
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikekappel/2018/03/15/6-ways-to-make-customers-fall-in-love-with-your-business/?sh=552c94843c42
https://neilpatel.com/blog/10-ways-to-make-customers-fall-in-love-with-your-business/

my journal

Keeping a journal is said to be a powerful tool for your personal growth and development. If you keep a journal it can help you clarify your thoughts, set personal goals, and track progress against such goals. You can also use a journal to reflect on your behaviors and experiences.

Some tips and ideas to use in your own journal include:

Write Down Your Goals

Writing down your goals is thought to help make them happen. It acts as a powerful way to make them more concrete and increase your chances overall of achieving them. Be specific about what you want to achieve and the steps you need to take to get there. Write about your progress and make sure to celebrate your wins along the way.

Keep A Daily Log

I like to do this if nothing more than as a reminder that I can look back on in future days to remind me of times gone by. Write about things that you did or ate, places you visited, and any other experiences throughout the day. Think about things that you are grateful for and jot them down in your journal too. What challenges do you face and what lessons have you learned? This can help you stay present and mindful, and provide a record of your growth and progress over time. That said, don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or two, you don’t want journalling to be a chore. I keep my daily journal online on this website, although as you will notice I am occasionally too consumed with work or other projects and therefore occasionally miss a day or two (or more🙄)

Journal Your Problems

Use your journal to work through difficult decisions or challenges you are facing, these could be either at home or at work. Write about your options and then weigh up the pros and cons.  Explore your feelings and thoughts. This can help you gain clarity and perspective, and find solutions to your problems.

Express Your Creativity

Use your journal as a means to express your creativity and explore any ideas that you may have. Maybe poetry, or drawings, or simply brainstorm new projects. This can help you tap into your imagination and find new inspiration.

Reflect On Your Experience

Use your journal to reflect on your experiences and learn from them. What you have learned and what mistakes have you made? Are there any insights or learnings to be gained for the future? This can help you grow and develop as a person, and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

Practice Gratitude 

What are you grateful for? Write them down in your journal. Expressing gratitude is meant to cultivate a positive mindset and enable you to focus on all the good and positive things that are in your life. It can also help you appreciate the people and experiences that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Set Intentions

Use your journal to set intentions for your day, week, or even month or year. Write about what you want to accomplish, how you want to feel, and what you want to focus on. This can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Log What You Want To Make Happen

Be very intentional about what you want to make happen. Decide what you want. Set yourself a challenge and write a new story. Declare what it is you want to make happen.

e.g.

  • “I’m going to go on an adventure to see what’s possible.”
  • “I’m going to open myself up to building the business of my dreams and creating the success that I want.”
  • “I’m here for more success, more joy, more abundance, more freedom, more peace.
  • “I’m here to make more impact, to be of the highest service, and to share my ideas, knowledge & experiences with the world”
  • “I’m ready for the world to see more, To shine my light”

What do you want? Sign and date it

Want To Keep A Journal? Here’s Some Journal Prompts

Write about your journey. What’s happening, the progress that you are making, the challenges that you are facing, and the things that you are grateful for. Acknowledge the wins.

Document the people who have helped you, and the tools and resources that have helped you. The lessons that you are learning and the tips you have to share.

Document the names of your first subscriber, follower, customer, and then also the 100th.

Write down your goals over and over again. Pour your heart, soul, sweat, and tears into your journal.

In your journal, get really clear on what you want, and then set yourself a fun challenge. Look at it as an adventure, then take tiny steps in the right direction. Because success is a set of tiny, messy, imperfect steps that you take over and over again.

One example step would be to start to build an email list – follow someone else’s blueprint.

Write down what your next step is in your journal and then take action.

Decide who you need to be. How would the person I’d like to be, do the things I’m about to do? E.g. you want to be International Sales Person of the Year. If you were already in that position then you wouldn’t be turning up to work in scruffy clothes. You’d be organized. Show up as if you already were that person.

Write in your journal why 12 months from now you didn’t achieve your goals, now go and do the exact opposite to make the goals happen.

Conclusion

In conclusion, keeping a journal is a powerful tool for personal growth and development. It can help you clarify your thoughts, set goals, track progress, and reflect on your experiences. Use these tips and ideas to create a journaling practice that works for you, and watch as it transforms your life.

References:

https://debrasmouse.com/keeping-a-journal-helps-you-create-a-life-you-love/
https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.7-benefits-of-keeping-a-journal
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/reasons-to-journal/
https://dayoneapp.com/blog/journaling-benefits/
https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-start-journaling
https://www.deanbokhari.com/journaling-ideas/

Plus my notes from the Own Your Own Future Course by Dean Grasiozi and Tony Robbins

my goals

Thinking About My Goals

What three goals would you want to achieve in the next 6 to 12 months? For me, I think that my goals would be to:

  1. To make my free mini leagues app number one on Google.
  2. To get down to 224 pounds in weight within 6 months
  3. To make this website leadership and development profitable

Why are these goals a must?

Starting in reverse order:

I need to make this website leadership and development profitable because at the moment it is simply a liability that is costing me money in terms of time, hosting costs, and domain charges.

I need to get down to 224 pounds for the goodness of my health and to potentially improve my ability at my favourite sport UK Racketball

Free mini leagues would be a promotion for my squash booking system which could also end up bringing in more revenue. I would use this as the start of my sales funnel. Been reading lots about sales funnels from the fascinating Russel Brunson.

Below is the fascinating video of him making over $3 million dollars in an hour and a half with a live sale of his click funnels software…

My Goals On Hold

I recently had a goal to turn our failed puborder app into a takeaway ordering system, Speedytakeaway could bring in more revenue by charging customers a small order fee of between 25p and 50p. However, I’ve recently heard that the fish and chip shop that was going to try it for me isn’t as enthusiastic as I first thought. ☹️

So think I will put this one on the back burner for now!

Questioning Myself When Thinking About My Goals

What’s kept you from changing in the past? Not being focused enough on my core goals

What needs to change now? Need to start making definite steps towards progressing my goals.

What are 1 or 2 actionable steps that will immediately move you forward?

Mini Leagues – Take notes from the current Google number one position.

Weight – Cut out carbs from my diet

Leadership and Development – Add more posts like this one!

SpeedyTakeaway – launch a promotional website. 

Some More Of My Goals To Consider

  1. Increase my monthly revenue from trading shares

Affirmations

Some affirmations for my goals that I will also use as part of my core morning routine:

AFFIRMATIONS:  I now have two… 1) Define the result 2) Why? 3) What actions

  1. To be number one on Google for the search term “Free Mini Leagues”. I will use this traffic as a feed to the top of my sales funnel for getting new PlanIt-BookIt customers. I am committed to making the PlanItBookIt website the best in class and to making it work as a sales funnel as per all the guidelines that I have learned from reading books from Russell Brunson. I may also need to grow my community through Facebook and social media connections, possibly contacting clubs directly with my mini-league lead magnet. In order for PlanIt-BookIt to be best in class and capture the Padel and other doubles court-based activities I also need to ensure that up to four people can be booked on the system per court.
  2. To ensure that I lose 21 pounds and get down to 224 pounds so that I look and feel better I am 100 percent committed to eating in an eight-hour window, avoiding carbohydrates, and playing squash or racquetball 3 to 4 times a week.
  3. To earn enough monthly revenue from this website for it to be able to cover the hosting costs and my time building it. I will do this by posting articles and my efforts on it daily to build up traffic.
 
take action and create your own destiny

Create your own destiny by following some of the notes that I took from the Own Your Own Future course by Dean Graziosi and Tony Robbins:

A Set Of Action Ideas To Help You Create Your Own Destiny

  • You’re responsible for yourself, so take action
  • Don’t complain, make things better.
  • Picture your end day, what did you want to achieve? 3 things personally, 3 things professionally. 
  • First, you create habits, and then habits create you.
  • When learning use spaced repetition to help enforce what you have learned.
  • Read regularly, how can you apply it?
  • Schedule your time and your learning
  • Instruct, try, and teach what you learn – helps to learn with intention.
  • Make things a must instead of a should
  • Have a clear vision of where you want to be
  • Being normal is boring try and be freaky or creative
  • The 3 C’s are Coaching, Consistency and Community
  • When taking notes from a course or book split your page into two columns, on the left column take your notes, but on the right-hand side try and think of ways you could apply those notes to your own life, projects, or challenges.
  • What and why is more important than how
  • Where focus goes energy flows
  • Write down a limiting belief and then write a new empowering story to replace it: I’m not comfortable selling my products TO: My products are excellent and I need to tell as many people as possible so that they can get all the great value from them.
  • Big journeys begin with a single step.
  • Don’t live in the past
  • Don’t try and please everyone.
  • Where are you now and where do you want to get to? What is your purpose? Your impact? Doing what?
  • Do fewer things that take your confidence and more things that build your confidence.
    e.g. don’t watch the news, it’s negative
  • Self-education is the answer, get great by trial and error
  • Human emotion is the most important thing, learn to direct it.
  • You will never be ready, so if you say you can’t do this then act upon it immediately. Do the uncomfortable even if you say you can’t
  • Focus on where you want to go, not what you’re afraid of
  • Everything is about increasing your probabilities
  • Get uncomfortable, and put yourself on the line.
  • Schedule what you need to do.
  • Whatever moves the needle most in your wider niche, then start there
  • I’m going to show you how to…
  • Here are the seven steps…
  • Decide what you want and then make it your reality
  • Ignore imposter syndrome, i.e. who wants to listen to me
  • 10 years from now you will surely arrive, the question is where
  • “Succesful people hang on when everyone else has let go.”
  • “The biggest regret people have is not changing what they still have the opportunity to change” – Krista Mashore
  • “I will persist until I succeed” – Possibly a quote by Og Mandino – If you persist then you will eventually reach your goal, try and follow someone else who is doing it well.

Some Motivational Advice From Tony Robbins

Pillar 1: Get laser-focused on what you want and when you want it – “Where focus goes, energy flows” Clarity is power. The purpose of what you want is the most important as that’s where the drive is.

Pillar 2: Follow a proven path, tools, map, or coaching

Pillar 3: Eliminate inner conflicts

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