Make it Great

Or well of wisdom, whatever…..

Well I have a few things to cover today with the internets who actually have questions and want answers. Oh yes ma’ am I do!

 How to talk to talk to leads:

Well, as some of you may or more likely, not know, that I am in complete love with Dani Johnson’s calls and script book. If you don’t have it, you better order it, unless of course you know it all. Well, in your case, nevermind. But, as for those who need help in this area, go get her book! Website 

Okay so she makes some very valid points and here are a few of them:

• Smile and speak with confidence. You are calling to interview someone to see if they qualify to be apart of your soon to be multi-million dollar business, act like it!

This was so hard for me to do! I personally, sound like a 5 year old and am always afraid people will not take me seriously when on the phone. I can’t stand my voice. So, for months I would find ways to grow my business that would not involve me calling leads. But, that didn’t work to well especially since some people don’t have emails or have them but don’t answer them.

But, I am so over it now. I just picked up the phone and called those leads as they came in and took all the thoughts off of myself and paid attention to the prospect and not my annoying voice. I worked those leads, if I do say so myself.

I think alot of people have to get the mindset that we are business owners, we are not managers and don’t have time to beg, plead and brainwash people into our companies. Have confidence in yourself and your business, don’t second guess yourself. Also, even if you don’t have anyone on your team, you are still building a business, a multi million dollar business at that.

• Don’t beg people to join your business!

If someone is giving you the run around on the phone. You know the story,

You: So are you ready to sign up?

Them: This is a great idea, I will definitely have to think about it, but I am going to sign up just not tonight. Maybe in a few days……

Well, few weeks later they still  haven’t signed up right?

Let those people go before you even get off the phone the first time. So, they can’t sign up tonight? That’s fine. Why? What is their reason? Is it valid or full of poo? Valid, okay, how about scheduling an apointment for tomorrow or whenever they are ready, but until then, bye bye.

Reason full of poo? Okay, well give me a call when you are serious about earning money from home. Here’s my number, name and website. Have a nice day.

If they are not feeling your company or products, they just aren’t. What if they join your busines and then leave it because it wasn’t what they thought or didn’t really even want to join? You have wasted time and money.

Again, we are busines owners not McDonalds managers looking for cooks to cover night shift. Think bigger, we are the the owner of the whole Mickey D’s Corporation. Do we now have time to beg people? No, no we don’t.

• Don’t sell yourself or your business

They didn’t fill out your little form to hear about how rich you are or how you found out this company through so and so and now have 3 BMWs and a Mercedes. How is that information going to help them? It won’t. Trust me it won’t. It wouldn’t impress me becuase I would think you were lying anyway and blow you off as full of bologna.

Write down the questions that you want to ask them such as, where they work now, how long, how much they want to make and why, etc. etc. Interview them! But, listen to their answers and let them talk. It’s not about us it is about them. Remember that.

When they ask about your company or you decide to tell them about it, speeches should be at least 30 -60 seconds max. Only shoot out facts, like our company has been around for 4 years, we have 40,000 distributors, this industry is a 40 million dollar inductry, etc. etc.

Easy enough? Wasn’t for me, I had to work at not telling them how great our candles are and what great people we have on our team and about how I have 4 pigs and a donkey too! I had to focus and remember to stay on schedule. It was hard work!

• You ask the questions

When I heard this I was like, What?!?! What do you mean I ask the questions, they will have questions so what do I do? Answer them but, keep moving forward. You want to get them to your website, conference call or meeting place, those things will answer all their questions and more. You just have to get them there, first.

If  you are asking the questions you are controlling the call. When the questions are being asked to you, they are controlling the call and putting you in the hot seat. Bad. You have to be the one calling the shots, so to speak, or they will have you toungue tied and layed to the side. I have been layed to the side on a few calls and it ain’t fun!

Those are the key points in my opinion to being successful at calling leads.

Next subject!

I am almost done with the list of low cost businesses for under $50! Okay well, I am half way done with it and should be done by Saturday or tonight if I don’t get lazy.

I do believe that is all for today!

Thanks for reading!

Enter to win a FREE candle!

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Okay so everytime I go to ”Make It Great Headquarters” aka “blog dashboard” and check out my blog progress, I look at what people typed in google or yahoo or whatever search engine to get to my blog and it makes me giggle.

I tried to do screen shot but I couldn’t. I pushed Print Screen and ALT and nothing!

So here are some of the questions people ask that land them here:

“How to make people do what I tell/want them to”?

Well, I don’t exactly know what you want people to do and why you want them to do it but, I think I can help. You should get Dale Carnegie’s book: How to Win Friends and Influence Others. Great book and really cheap off eBay.

“Moonlight my business”

Well, I have no idea what that means. Do you want to put moonlighting in your store? If so, I don’t think that is the best idea, I am not sure what moonlighting is, but I don’t think it is very bright. Which I don’t think goes with a store, maybe try “sunlighting”? Oh, I am trying to help you with your problem, but I can’t wrap my brain around why you would want to moonlight or even how you moonlight. So when you find out how to do this, please come back and enlighten me. Thanks!

“Businesses with low start up costs”

Well, depending on what you are looking for, you can start your search HERE.  I will work on getting a list together of companies with low start up costs to help you all out, I get this question about everyday, all day. So, I feel it is my calling to help you all fill this void.

Your welcome.

“Don’t fit in work outstide home”

Well, I am sorry you don’t fit in at your job. Have you looked into working from home? You only have to fit in with yourself. So this might be a nice fit for you. If you can’t work from home, try looking for a new job. I can only imagine how depressing it can be to not be wanted, where you have to go everyday. Hope something shakes for you and you find a solution!

“Need a list of people for candles”

Well, looks like you need some leads. Ask some people in your company what lead co-op they us and if they don’t use one try  these people. Dani Johnson is the truth! Man oh man!

“Negative blog on morgan dane jewelry”

2 Questions for you:

1. Why are you searching for a negative blog?

2. Why did it send you here? I am not negative!

Okay that is all the top secret back office stuff I want to divulge so, that’s all for now!

Also, if you have a direct slae company with a low start up cost please, leave it in the comments. It may get snatched up by my spam blocker, so just post one link to your website and then tell me the start up costs. Needs to be under $50.

Thanks!

Enter to win a free candle!

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

My first blog party! My name is Jarmelia and I am a wanna be WAHM! I already work from home,  just working on the mom part. I mam married and have been for almost 2 years! I have been working from home for about 1 1/2 years.

I don’t know what else you need to know about me! I live in South Carolina, southern gal!

Got any questions, ask away! Thanks for stopping by!

Party on!

Oh yeah while here enter to win a FREE candle!

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Well, here is why,

I am going out of town at the end of April and then again a month in a half after too. So, I will be out of town for about 18-20 days and that requires money. Having money requires not spending it on frivilous things. Those are 2 things I need to work on, having money and not spending what money I do have. You would think one would cancel the other out right? Guess not in my case……..

Okay so, I have to stop spending money. Business expenses are getting cut out as well. I have to wait until after June, before I spend more money. Writing that hurt my heart!

During this time of “hold back the debit card!”, I am ashamed to say I have resulted in using change and bills found around the house! Why can’t I just stop spending money? Is there a MSA- Money Spenders Anonymous, anywhere? I need to join.

So, the challenge is, in case you don’t already know, is to “Stop Spending Money”. Meaning I have to find cheap, inexpensive ways to build my business. I already know of a few, but have strayed from my budget shoppng roots. But, now I am forced to return.

 Here is the plan, man! (really wanted to say that!)

• Use all my old distributor materials up before I buy new ones.

I have abad habit of buying catalogs and brochures when they go on sale only to find a unopened pack sitting under my desk.

• Call or email prospects before I send information via snail mail.

Confession : I hated  disliked with a strong passion calling leads but now I love it! It seems I am making so much more headway getting on the phone and calling leads, which is free or one flat fee for long distance. I can discern between the no’s and yes’s instantly and not have to waste a dime. Most of the time, they don’t even ask for information to be sent in the mail to them, they get eveything off my website. That’s what it is there for!

• Put business cards and catalogs everyhere!

Inexpensive and almost FREE leads. No wasted catalogs or other materials that aren’t getting sent in the mail anymore.

• Hold off on donating and sponsoring

I have to stop donating for drawings and giveaways at the moment due to postal charges. Even on stock I have on hand. I love my giveaways!

• Only pay for mass advertising

I am a part of the MomPack and we do fillers. These are little baggies thaat go to moms all over America filled with coupons, samples and product info. Great way to advertise and use those extra catalogs. Only pay about $5 for postage and that is soooo in my budget.

There are more ways I am sure and when I find them I will let you all know! I hope this can help someone else who is looking to cut business costs for a season. Life is so hard sometimes isn’t it?

Thanks for reading!

Enter to win a FREE candle!
http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Look at my siggy!

Thanks,

Get yours here: http://www.mylivesignature.com

Or lack there of, but you get the point….

I have decided to become a Virtual Assistant- VA! I actually like it a lot so far. I am doing a few free assignments to build up my portfolio and testimonial page. It is not hard work at all!

So how does this help you, you ask? Because I have tips, we all know I love me some tip giving!

If you are feeling like things are just not taking off in your business, try adding to your product line or doing something else complimentary. Since working from home, I have taught myself a few skills. I am not a computer expert, but I am computer a bit computer savvy. So, I talked to a friend who is a VA about the business, just casual convo, and I was like "You make how much! Just to do that!" I knew I was over qualified for the position. The hard part though is finding the clients. They are out there, believe me they are, you just have to find them or get them to find you.

Now, I am not saying go all out and find 258503 businesses to start, but take all the things you know about working from home and build your own business with it.

Examples:

You built your whole website from scratch, right? Well, I know you know about SEO (search engine optimization). Well, offer SEO services for new WAHMs.

You have been marketing your products for years, you go from store to store trying to get your products into stores. You have learned something, right? Start a business where you get other people’s products into stores.

You made all your marketing aids yourself, with your very own printer. You made brochures, business cards, catalogs, you name it you made it. Did they work? Make sales aids for other WAHMs.

Did you have to mail 53433 samples every week to interested prospects? How about information packets? Do you know that many people need mass mailing done but don’t have the time? Start you own business doing mass mailing.

I mean the list is virtually endless. Endless, I tell you!

Oh yeah, and if you like cold calling, or don’t mind doing it for others, that market is wide open with people who need that service. Some people just don’t have time to call leads. Would you be willing to do this? You could make big bucks.

I never thought about all the benefits to this way of doing business, take what you learn and teach it to someone else. Make your expertise benefit you. Start your own business doing what you want to do, your schedule, your rules, your prices.

I know I sound high or extremely joyous, well ,I am! Not high, but I am on a high. I am not high, I don’t smoke, people.

I really should write a book about these things, and make money off my ideas. But, I don’t have time, so you can do it for me. I am so full of ideas, I could burst.

And these things are not going to replace your current business, just add to it, I mean you can do these things on slow days or just weekends. You can even put your business aside for a few months, if money is tight and do some of these things to build up your money and then invest harder into your business.

Okay that’s all for now, I have some work to do!

Thanks for reading!

Jarmelia Ladson

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Enter to win a FREE candle!

http://www.assistancethatsvirtual.webs.com

My VA site! Check it out!

Well, after reading a post about someone saying that they were feeling discouraged or like they were not going to succeed with their current business. I think we have all been there or at least know someone who has been here. I. have. been. there.

One of the things people say that I strongly disagree with is; “If you have a passion for the products, you will succeed!” I disagree totally. You need more than passion for the products and business. Passion may make you get up and go to work,talk to strangers about your products or approach businesses, but you need more than that. You have to learn how to “sell” products, what to say, how to approach people and what works. You really have to get into the potential customer’s mind. I know it sounds corny and all but it is true.

Like I have said time and time again “Working from home takes work!”

We are building businesses. This takes years for most people. So, why do we, home based bsuiness owners, expect it to take just a few months or weeks? Pateince is something we all need to aquire.

Think about this:

How many times have you walked into a store and bought nothing? Plenty of times (or at least I hope so, or you have some kind of pack rat problem…..I mean that in the kindest way :))

Okay so, if 100 people have shopped in a store, actually bought something, how many people in total do you think came and didn’t buy anything? Probably 200 or even 300 dare I say 400…. Do you see where I am going with this?

I have heard people say in the first year of running a business you will spend more than you make. I agree. You will also do more work than you expected, with what looks like little profit.

Back to the store…..

Okay so 100 shoppers doesn’t seem like a whole lot of business does it? But it is. If 400 people entered that store, looked around and then left, those 400 people will probably tell someone else they know about the store, reaching 400 more people. What if this was in a 1 day period? That store reached 800 people in 1 day. That is not bad, if you ask me.

Point is, it is not about how many people buy your products or sign up with you, it is about establishing a presence. Letting people know you exist and have what they are looking for, is what it is all about in the first year.

Here are some tips to get your website or store to reach your target market:

Your store/website name:

If you sell candles , if would be wise to have a name such as “Blah Blah Candles” or “Candles for Blah Blah”. That way customers will know they are going to a site that sells candles, talks about candles or at least can direct them to candle information. This way you will know that 90% of the customers who came to your site and didn’t buy anything, didn’t leave because they didn’t know what you offered or what your site was about.

Be clear about what you offer on the home page:

If you offer candles, be clear about that on the homepage. Make sure you are not dragging the customer through the whole website, before you finally tell he customer what you offer. The homepage is not for your biography or company story. It should be all about what you sell and what variations of the products you offer and any specials you have.

Contact information:

If you don’t want a lot of emails that say “I am interested in your products!”. Don’t put your email all over the website, just put it on your contact page. Offer a place on your website for customers to ask for a catalog or sample. This way, they ask for what they want and move on. On my website, which is still under construction, I have my email,  phone number and address j/k no address. That’s all customers need. Make sure you put a link to it on your Homepage in the navigation bar.

What may also help is to ask for opinions on your website. Join forums, such as WAHM and ask the ladies on there to look at your website and critique it.

Don’t get down in the dumps, just change your approach, stay open minded. Big stores such as Wal-Mart try many different marketing strategies, so we have to as well.

This ain’t easy, but you can do it, if you want!

Thanks for reading,

Jarmelia Ladson

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Enter to win a FREE candle!

A question that seems to be asked a lot to WAHMs  (work at home moms) is, “How do you do it”. Meaning, how do you work, clean, feed your family and still get to bed at a decent hour. Well, it isn’t easy running a business no matter if your at home or outside of the home. But, I think working from home is a tad bit more challenging, mentally. You can’t exactly leave your work at work, it kind of follows you all day!

The answers to this question have all been about making a schedule. I don’t currently have a schedule, I will confess, but I do see that I need one. It is so easy to get sidetracked and forget about the emails, the phone calls or desk cleaning you need to do.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help out with the day to day stress and aid in making a schedule:

Do I like working in the morning, afternoon or night?

This will give you the foundation for your work schedule. It will allow you to plan all other activities around this time.

How many hours do I really need to work a day?

Figure out how long it really will take you to email, call, make products, fill orders or whatever else. I think the average range is 4-6 hours to do all of that. But to make calls and answer emails, that should really only take about 2 hours or so. Also, see if you can arrange certain duties for certain days, like ship orders on Mondays and Wednesdays and so on.

Can this time be broken up into sections?

If you have small children 4 straight hours at the computer may be near impossible. So, try and see if you can email in the morning, make phone calls during nap time, and make samples or fill orders in the evening.  Give each about 1-2 hours, if possible.

I find that breaking up a work day, helps me to feel like I am in control of my schedule. I think it is especially important to have a cut off time. I know it is hard, when you are a night owl, but, it would help a lot to have a definite Start Time and Finish Time much like an open and close time like regular businesses. I am  sure your customers will understand that you can’t always be available. What business do you know of that is always available? I don’t know of many…..

Make sure you are not running yourself ragged by always having to make deadlines by the skin of your teeth or constantly have to work late nights. It is not healthy or beneficial long term to be stressed out this way.

Make time to eat meals!

I know this may sound like a, DUH! to some of you, but it is really easy to grab a bag of chips, throw the children a sandwich and keep working but, that isn’t healthy. Insert lunch breaks into your schedule to eat with your children and leave the computer. Go sit at he kitchen table and take your time. I think 45 mins to an hour is sufficient time to prepare a lunch and just relax a bit.

I have a bad habit of waking up and then jumping on the computer to check emails! This has really taken a toll on the things I eat for breakfast. If you do this as well, try waking up earlier to give yourself time to make a wholesome breakfast and prepare your mind for the day. Let’s say you want to start work at 9:00 AM, well then at least give yourself an hour start by waking up a 8:00 AM. This is what we would do if we worked outside the home and I know it helped me get prepared for the day.

Even though we work from home, we have to treat our businesses like real jobs. Use your imagination and pretend you are getting ready for work, get dressed and fix your hair, please brush your teeth and welcome the day. Taking time throughout the day to organize thoughts and relax, helps to clear the mind and makes the day go a bit slower.

Hope these tips help you! I will keep you updated on my working habits , stay tuned!

Thanks for reading,

Jarmelia Ladson

I know I am supposed to be cleaning…..this is way more important.

I know alot of us have trouble getting our products noticed and it seems as if all we do is spend money with few results. We have all been there at one time or another. But in the past few weeks I have learned some inexpensive tips that helped me get around.

Donate:

If you hear about an auction or raffle going on in your town or over the web. Donate a product to it. There was a lady who asked for a donation for a basket for her daughters fundraiser, I immediately replied. I am also going to send her a Thank You votive, because she didn’t have to even ask us WAHMs or wannabe WAHMs to donate. She could have bought everything from the store.

Sponsor:

Someone else asked for sponsors for a Virtual Party she was having, I donated a basket. Well, come to find out, the person who won my basket loves candles! I am also sending the virtual party coordinator a Thank You. When I told her I wanted to send her something, what did she say? She loves candles, but has never tried melts (tarts), she was excited!

Now don’t think I am just buying these candles and products all willy nilly, I am using the left over stock that is just sitting around on my desk, causing all kinds of clutter.

Thank You gifts: 

I also just recently got an eye exam, I got contacts and have to go back to Sams (my 2nd grocery store love) and pick up my prescription. When I go back I plan to give both the eye doctor (I am not spelling out the technical term, that would be embarrassing) and his trusty sidekick assistant, a votive as a, Thanks. The eye doctor is a man, but I saw a wedding ring so he seems to be married, I will  assume he’s married to a woman who loves candles.

If they throw my votive away, oh well. It was just sitting around anyway, but I hope it unlocks their inner candle burner and makes them run to my website with all their friends and buy candles galore! Oh, that is very possible….

I plan to give the management office of my apartment complex and gift basket with  a simmer pot and some melts for them to use. The office is full of women and women go in and out all day so I know, this will be a hit. It won’t be quite a “Thank You” because they really could do better maintenance wise and such, but that is beyond the point.

All this giving should cost me about $20, which is in my budget, shucks it is my budget! I will keep you updated on how well it goes! Who exactly the ”you” are that I will be updating is debatable, but “you” are none the less important to me.

Thanks for reading,

Jarmelia Ladson

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Enter to win a free candle!

I have to get organized before I lose my sanity! I don’t know how some people work all day and keep their desk/office space clean! I would take a picture of my desk for a before and after, but I will not embarass myself like that!

I not only need to clean my desk, but also my inbox. I need to organize my emails and put them all in one spot. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth while I do that…..

I won’t technically say my office space looks like this : A pure mess

But, I do want it to look like this: Inspiration 

I need shelves, a new desk, more storage tubs, binders, baskets, and little holder thingys for trinkets. I will be getting all these things from Wal-Mart, I don’t shop elsewhere unless, unless nothing, I just don’t shop anywhere except Wal-Mart! I don’t see how people can not love this store, groceries and furniture in the same place, come on man.

But anyways, I am on a mission, as corny as it sounds, to clean up my office space and inbox. Please do not wait on me to clean my inbox and come back and hoop and hooray because you will waiting a sweet forever on that one. So much for the mission, huh?

This website made me laugh! They even tell how to organize your organizing! I know their desks would pass the white glove test. But, if you come near my desk with a white glove, white pair of pants or white shirt you will be walking away with candle wax particles all over you!  Not to mention that there isn’t a spot available on my desk to wipe your finger…….

I have so much to do this week, I just can’t afford to be unorganized. I have emails to send, people to call and packages to ship! That’s just what I have to do tomorrow!

Please if you can find it in your hearts, clean a space on your desk for me or at least help me clean a space on mine.

I need to get ready for bed, but I know once I go to sleep I will have no choice but to wake up and clean my desk that looks like it was hit by hurricane Katrina’s sister .

Oh the things I confess on the world wide web! My grandmother would catch a migraine at the site of my desk and her blood pressure would sky rocket. So I am trying to spare her of these things about her grandbaby…..if she only knew about the unclean skeletons in my closet.

You all have a nice night dreaming of raindrops and chocolate or whatever, while I have nightmares about having to clean my desk….

Jarmelia Ladson

http://www.mbgourmetcandles.com

Enter to win  a free candle!