Category Archives: branding

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode 498 – Get a Room!

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“There’s always room for improvement. Get a room.”

Thursday: Infinity Customers

It’s always risky naming a post “Get a Room” but when we look at today’s inspiration it all makes sense.

When we are building a tribe you’ve got to speak to them… HA!  I’ve now jumped from “Get a Room” to speaking about your tribe.  It’s getting a little strange at my keyboard.  Then again, I did write this on Halloween night.

OK. Back to normal.

Each Thursday our main goal is to learn how to better connect with our customers and turn them into a loyal tribe… to do this we need to speak their language… and this means we need to become the “vibe behind our tribe”

You need to be this person.  You must be the Leader.

Today’s inspiration states there’s always room for improvement – thus “get a room” meaning… always improve.

So Halloween at Noon I was at Subway and it hit me.  Carving Pineapples.

WTF is she talking about now.

Well… I have a site on the back burner which I’m currently cultivating.  It’s called Pineapples In Progress.  You see… I’ve always felt that there are times in life you need a crown.  I mean… doesn’t vacuuming just sound TOTALLY better if you’re wearing a sparkle crown?

That idea became a solid “run with it” idea when I came across the mantra “Be a Pineapple… Stand Tall, Wear a Crown, and Be Sweet on the Inside”  However, let’s face facts, not every day we’re feeling “pineapplely” – and that’s why, vacuuming while wearing a crown, just might make you feel a whole lot better.

Back to carving pineapples.

I was at Subway and getting ready to post my PineapplesInProgress.com Midweek Motivation – when it hit me.  The one I was going to post was a normal inspiration and THIS WAS HALLOWEEN.  I just wonder if anyone has ever tried to carve a pineapple like a pumpkin…

Sure enough I found a photo!  A very cool photo… and then it hit me.

You cannot carve pineapples.  It’s like trying to fit into a crowd by imitating… and yet you can be a good pineapple that imitates a pumpkin BUT you’ll never be a pumpkin.

BOOM.

Inspiration: “Somedays I feel like a lost puzzle piece tryin to find where I fit in this world.

I LOVE THIS.  I totally “got a room” and ran with it.

My only problem was… how do I share it with YOU.  I had already posted my Midweek Motivation for here… but I really wanted you to see it.

So there you go.  When you are building your tribe, really go deep into the vibe, and love them.  You just might find out that “carving a pineapple” is magic!

Be the vibe behind your tribe.

Also… never be afraid to run with a last minute idea… “Get a Room”!

 

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Big Money Small Change”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

Infinitypreneur.com

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

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ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode 494 – Bond With Your Area

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Saturday: Try This!

Make a connection.  Recently I stayed at a nearby hotel.  It’s just a chain hotel but the neat thing they have done is selected decor that bonds with our resort area.

They have selected to do it via historical photos.  Sure, some visitors may not notice they are specific to the area because they look like art.

But…. if you have a connection to the area you quickly realize they are actually “old time” lake photos.  The one below is the steamboat docks in Excelsior from the 1800’s.  The docks are still there, but the steam boats have been swapped out for large dinner cruise boats.

Other examples I’ve seen in our area include the two grocery stores have named the aisles after the bays on our lake.  There are at least two other hotels that have named their ball rooms after the bays.

So whether it’s aisle names, photos, restaurant food names, or even specials…select your area attractions or even school colors/mascots! There are many ways to show your customers that you are part of the community.  We strive to attract customers that know, like, and trust us… when you strengthen the bond you will build loyalty.  This is critical to your Infinity Marketing Machine!

Try This!

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode “Week in Review”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

Infinitypreneur.com

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode 489 – Third Party Proof is the Online Substitute for First Hand Interaction

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“Excellence is not Being The Best; It is Doing The Best.”

Monday Topic: Character (Subject Matter Expert)

Welcome to Monday!  We’re starting the week with us.

I know… you’re thinking, “she’s way too happy for a Monday morning” — well you’re right!  Time to get up and think positive thoughts about ourselves.

It’s time to promote yourself.

This is a very important skill to learn and practice because you need to get the word out about YOU.  The reason behind this is to build credibility online.

If you had a customer in front of you they would be able to ask questions and gauge your honesty by your answers, not just what you say… but how you say it.

Online, you need to build your Subject Matter Expertise.  This is the magic that is you… meaning 3rd party things that help tell your story.  For example, your educational training, this could be a degree or certificate.  Both are earned from a 3rd party institution.

You could include newspaper or magazine articles that show your credibility.  Again, written by a source, other than you, helps to tell your story.  Here’s a story about how I’ve implemented the Infinity Marketing Machine at our family marina… cool, eh?  I like to think that when you read it, it adds to my social proof!

Awards are a great source of 3rd party proof, too.  Show the photo of you on stage or the trophy you won.  These are all helpful things to show a total story about you and your excellence.

Remember, just like today’s inspiration state, excellence is not being best, it’s doing the best.  HOWEVER, to do your best… sometimes you need to prove how you are the best and that comes from boasting your Subject Matter Expertise.

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode “Week in Review”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode #488 – You’ve Gotta Sit Down for This…

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Saturday: Try This!

On Saturday’s I like to use a real world marketing examples that I think are fun.  If you have one to share… I’d love to see it.

Today’s “Try This” is a reminder to stay classy.  You can use potty humor but you can do it in a non-crass way.

This was on the inside of the stall at the car wash… It’s a pretty funny ad.

Put your thinking cap on… Can you sEE it?

hahahahaha

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode “Week in Review”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

 

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode 486 – Will Knows Best!

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“Don’t chase people. Instead, be yourself. Do your own thing and work hard. The right people – those that really belong in your life – will come to you and stay.” Will Smith

Thursday: Infinity Customer

Question:  What’s the best way to create a tribe of Infinity Customers?

Answer: Today’s Inspiration.

1) Don’t chase people.
2) Be Yourself.
3) Do your own thing.
4) Work Hard.
RESULT: The “right” people will those that REALLY belong in your life (tribe) will come to you and stay!

Thank you Will Smith!

People are attracted TO you.  Otherwise you become the “close talker” at the party that stuffs your business card in their pocket… you end up chasing them.  (and they run faster away from you… haha)

You want to attract people.  You want to attract customers.  You do this by being yourself and doing your own thing.  I love that you are here to read my post.  But if it annoys you that I write short paragraphs… use dot dot dot’s… and write conversation style.  Eventually, I’ll annoy you.

However… If you like my style, you’ll hang out, come back, and stay for a long time.

To transform a customer into an Infinity Customer. You need to make them want to stay.  This is accomplished by respecting them with information they desire that provides them insight in to YOU and makes them know, like, and trust you.

When this happens – they’ll stick around!  That’s the goal, create a tribe that wants to do business with you.

Let’s learn from Will!

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Big Money Small Change”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

Infinitypreneur.com

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode 480 – Do These Three Things to Build Your Brand Strength.

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“Stop promoting your business and start promoting your brand.”

Thursday: Infinity Customer

When you think of a Cheetah, what comes to mind?  Yes – the pattern of it’s coat.  Now imagine a Zebra, or a Giraffe, How about a Cow… then a Dalmatian?  The cow and dalmatian both have spots, yet if you see a photo of just the coats, you can tell the difference!

This is a great way to think about your brand.

Think about how the coat defines the animal… now, what “coat” defines your business?

Your brand is not a logo, but your logo represents your brand.  The brand is the feeling you evoke with your customers.

The better your customers relate or identify with your brand, the more loyal they become and that results in the transformation of customers to tribe.

So… you need to define what your brand is because if you don’t your customers will!

I want you to take a moment to define these three things to help you build that basic foundation for your brand.

1) Target Audience – who is your target audience. Get specific. Come up with an ideal customer profile.  Do this for each profit center in your business.  It helps to get very specific.

2)  Unique Selling Proposition (USP) – What is the one thing you do better than your competition.  OK, you may have more than one or there may be one for each profit center.  But it’s important to define this so you can promote it.  For example, our winter boat storage is scheduled on our customers agenda.  Many of our competitors tell the customer when their reservation date is, we let the customer decide.  This is a USP.

3) Live Up to It – If you show photos of a brand new hotel room and customers show up to find a dingy worn out room you are not living up to your brand.  If you say you do something you must follow through… OTHERWISE your brand becomes dishonest and that’s a huge problem.

Today, as you build your Infinity Marketing Machine, really focus on your tribe building skills by jotting down your answers in the three categories.  It’s critical to help you focus your messaging which attracts customers that stick around a long time!

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Big Money Small Change”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

 

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode 477 – What’s Your Intro?

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“Leadership is not about your title, it’s about your behavior”

Monday: Subject Matter Expert

Having trouble with positioning yourself as a Subject Matter Expert?  Sometimes its because it feels strange to “brag”.  I assure you this is not bragging.

This is about building trust.

You need to build trust online and this is the most effective way to do this.  Here’s why… when you meet someone in person you have the advantage of picking up on non-verbal ques.  You can see the way they smile, the way they use eye contact, and even how they shake your hand.  But online you’ve got nothing!

Well… you have something… you have the ability to position yourself as a Subject Matter Expert!

When you’re having trouble trying to focus on “what” to list that would be helpful to strangers in the “building trust” category… just think of how you’d like someone to introduce you.

Imagine you’re taking the stage and the emcee is going to give your 30 second pitch!

What honor, titles, awards, and credentials do you want the audience to know about?

Your answer is exactly what you need to focus on.

So now… go, build up your profile and create a one paragraph “pitch” that you can add to your “about me” page.  This is really how easy the Subject Matter Expert positioning can be.

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Content and Consistency”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode #471 – Your Proof is Your Proof.

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“Don’t brag about your work. Let your success speak for itself”

Monday: Character

Here’s a question to ponder… how do you brag without bragging?

Use PROOF!

I picked up Mr. Pancake at the doggie daycare and I realized something… they’re really good at what they do.  This particular day care is probably one of the best in the country.  The woman who started it was a VP of a major hotel chain, but always wanted to create a country club for dog… thus a pretty amazing dog care.

You know how I know… Mr. Pancake is STILL tired.  yea!!!!

On Monday’s we talk about Subject Matter Expert and showcasing your credibility to build trust with your customers via Character… the first C of the Infinity Marketing Machine.

Well…Here’s what happens when you walk into the doggy day care.  You see hundreds of photos of individual dogs in their swimming pool.  The photos are in frames all over the main reception area.

This type of humble brag shows testimonials of those that can’t speak.  The photos show dogs simply enjoying themselves in the beautiful clean water of their pool.

The pool is their showcase.

Another feature of this doggy daycare is their reception area.  Yes, it’s complete with a front desk and gift shop.  The merchandise is for the women.  It’s a boutique.  Not a dog bone to be purchased… well there were bone shaped throw pillows.

Knowing the back story that the owner came from the hotel industry is proven with the aspects of the reservation desk, gift store and “check in”/”check out” hours.  This is all bragging about the credibility of the service you’ll receive.

You see… sometimes your proof is you actually doing.

Let’s say you own a wedding planning business and your degree is accounting.  Your credibility is proven by having error free accurate bills.  If you send out delayed bills or bills with errors, it does translate to the rest of your business, especially if you are a classically trained accounting major.  This means you must be good at weddings and accounting!

Traditionally I talk about enhancing your Linked In Profile or other social media platforms to increase your social proof.  Today I thought it would be worth a reminder that your character is defined via your follow through.  Letting your success speak for itself is a great way to brag without bragging.  It’s your brand!

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Content and Consistency”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

 

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode #469 – The Grim Reapers Visit Sears…

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“The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity.” – Seneca

Friday: Big Money Small Change

Alright, I’m going to take some heat for today’s inspiration… but before you get all ghoulish on me… when I searched for today’s quote, I overlooked many that were  waaaay more macabre!

But what a quote to describe a date with my husband!   Hahahaha he’ll get a kick out of that.  He’s always like, “why don’t you mention me in your blog” well, there you go honey…

We visited the Mall of America.  We live about 20 minutes away and the last time I was there was at least 3 years ago.  What the heck… people spend thousands of dollars to fly into town and I can’t even get in my car for a day visit.

In the MOA’s defense, it’s pretty cool.  You should visit.  It’s clean, safe, and full of activity.  It’s easy to access, easy to maneuver, and well… enjoyable.

However, at the expense of my husband’s psyche that hates the “after the nuclear holocaust empty street feeling”, I made him go into Sears.  Is today’s inspiration starting to make more sense?

Sears is an anchor at the mall… but honestly, put a fork in it and call it done.  As he said, “it doesn’t know it’s dead.”  Now, we have an interesting history.  We’re kind of the “angles of death” duo.  It started with a visit to a Pizza Hut and a short time later (like the next day) it closed.  We did it again with another pizza restaurant… oh, there was the hill top restaurant… but our jewel is Lehman Brothers.

Yes.

We are responsible for the 2008 economic collapse.  We’re sorry.  But we got on the plane from Minnesota and all was good… the economy was fine.  We landed in New York, checked into the Sheraton across the street from Lehman Brothers, annnd the rest is history.

So I said, looking into Sears, we’ve got to do it.  Let’s go.

We walked down the hallway, it was eerie.  Nobody was around. Here’s something creepy… we swear the tile floor outside the entrance is the original from the 1991 opening.  We made one lap in the store to see the stained carpeting and bare shelves.  there was a 90% off jewelry sign.

Woah, who’s that… we passed another couple!  Although we’re pretty sure they had been walking the aisles for years, trapped and trying to escape this retail empire.  Strangely this visit to Sears felt like my very last visit to Montegomery Wards.  Sad.

I’m not saying Sears is dead, but it sure ain’t breathing with any regularity.

But as we look forward to celebrating it’s eternal birthday – I will say this.  When you walk in and find plaid scarves in a wad at the bottom of a bin… maybe our effort in display is suffering.

You see…

Two stores later we visited the Burberry boutique.  They also sell scarves.  In fact they display two, just two, neatly folded, behind a glass case, in a well lit velvet heaven.

I’m just making an observation… both Sears and Burberry had similar looking plaid print scarves… yet one store is dying and can’t sell a scarf for 40% off it’s $15 price… and the other store locks it’s version up.  I didn’t ask how much, but I’m guessing somewhere between the $1,850 purse and the $450 men’s pajama bottoms.

So what’s the difference in the two scarves?

Even if you’re putting something on clearance… you need to display it like you give a poo!

Learn a lesson from America’s foremost retail authority.  And the lesson is hidden in “what they no longer do category”…  simply clean your store! Add a little lighting, soft music, and hang up your clearance scarves!

Respect your customers.  Give them a dignified shopping experience, always.

When looking for a “Big Money Small Change” tip… just dust and fold your merchandise.  It’s CHEAP!    Go… do it now!

Sears has been good to marketers and students of retail, but like our dear sweet old relatives that go a little crazy at the end, let’s hold tight to the good memories of what they’ve taught us about being a selling empire.

BTW:  Our work here is done.   Wahahahahaha

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Try This”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

 

 

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review

ProfitCenterCoach.com – Episode #459 – These Three Tips Improve Your Online Credibility, Today.

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“Don’t find yourself. Create yourself.”

Monday: Character

Do you wait for things to happen to you or do you make things happen?

Today’s inspiration is all about your answer to this question.  If you wait for things to happen, you are not in control.  When it comes to creating yourself… you must be in control.

Here are three tips to gaining control with the image you present online.

1)  Linked In.  – Go into your profile and update!  Make sure to be creative.  This is your chance to show people what you’re made of!  Honors and awards need to be included, this is a vital avenue to character and showcasing that you are a Subject Matter Expert.

Now…. if you don’t have “awards” or have a unique field without awards, you can still build expertise in your followers.  This is why McDonalds has “billions and billions” served!  When I worked in college admissions I served on a scholarship committee… but does it sound better to say, “I’ve read over 1,000 scholarship applications”… be creative.

2)  Website – About Me.  Use this space to share who you are!  It’s similar to the Linked In profile – but different in that you want to share your personality.   Include photos and add recent “coolness” – You’ll include awards/honors and leadership activities — but you’ll also want to show your story.

Your story is what makes you… YOU.  Include how you developed your talents that brought you to open a business.  Let your readers understand who you are.  I said, “personality” earlier… and it’s important to show that side.  But story are the words that got you where you are today.

3)  Write something!  If you’re not up to a blog… yet… then at least come up with your big list of questions.  Start with one giant list.  It’s going to be related to one profit center.   Remember profit centers are areas of your business that generate income.  For our marina we have a boat club, winter storage, and a store.  They interrelate but they also stand alone!

So… take the time to write down every question you’ve ever been asked by a prospective client.  The reason this builds credibility is that people reading online will have those exact questions.  When they find the person that can answer their questions, they’ve found an expert.

There you go.  Three things to immediately build your character… that are not difficult to do today!

Sounds like you’ve got some work to do!  But it will be worth it to build your character – the first C of the Infinity Marketing Machine.

#doinginfinity

Tomorrow… come back for my episode on “Content & Consistency”!
PS:  Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe! start here! 

 

Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review