The Women's Networking Alliance

Leads and Referrals

2011-10-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

Membership within WNA provides many benefits, both professionally and personally: support, community, professional and business development, networking, and the list goes on. Another very important reason for membership within WNA is the passing and sharing of leads and referrals. Below is a brief overview of our leads and referrals process.

First, let’s distinguish between a lead and referral (this definition is taken directly from the website - www.womensnetworkingalliance.com)

A lead is an opportunity that has not been qualified but you feel might be a good avenue of potential business. In other words, you know of a potential candidate who could benefit from a WNA member’s services. Although you haven’t spoken with the potential candidate, you share her contact information with the WNA member, who will follow-up directly with the potential candidate.

A referral is an opportunity that is qualified, meaning that the referee has already discussed you and your business with the potential customer. For example, a friend is interesting in hiring a virtual assistant and you tell her about a VA from your WNA chapter. In turn, you forward the friend’s information to the VA and the VA will follow-up. The difference here is the potential customer established a need and you’ve told the potential customer about your WNA contact. When the WNA contact calls and follows-up, the potential customer is expecting the call.

Below are some other FAQs about leads/referrals.

Is there a lead/referral quota?

There are no quotas or requirements when it comes to the number of leads and referrals one passes within WNA. Pass a lead/referral when you make a connection or believe someone to be a good fit for another’s business. Leads/referrals are important however they are only one facet of membership.

How do I submit leads/referrals?

Submission is easy and there are two ways to do so:

· Visit www.womensnetworkingalliance.com and click SUBMIT A REFERRAL in the menu bar.

· During meetings, fill out the paper lead/referral slip and hand directly to the WNA member (white copy) and President (yellow copy).

What if I don’t have any leads/referrals?

Don’t stress about being unable to pass a lead/referral. Instead concentrate on building relationships and getting to know your chapter members. During one-on-one meetings, you’ll have an opportunity to learn about other members and their businesses, the type of client they’re looking for as well as share insights about your own business needs.

Does anyone track leads/referrals?

Yes, both the WNA home office and each chapter president track all leads/referrals. We do this to ensure chapter members are actively supporting each other, both in-chapter and across chapters.

Because leads/referrals are an integral part of what it means to be a member, this year, the member who passes the most leads/referrals across all chapters will win a special Bravo Award, to be announced in January.

Still have questions about leads/referrals? Drop us a line at concierge@womensnetworkingalliance.com

What's in a LOGO?

2011-10-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

Call it your company icon or emblem but make sure you have one – from day one. Logos are an important part of a brand.

Often times, small business owners are so excited about selling they forget about setting themselves up for long term success through their branding. Whether you are a one person company with hopes to grow or a medium to large business, every business needs a marketing strategy and branding. A logo is an important part of the way your customers will get to know you visually. Just ask Nike who went from a written form of their company name now to a simple “swish” icon. Just seeing that swish instantly tells you who they are. I’ve even seen billboards with a few words and that swish without their company name – that’s the power of a logo.

There are several purposes that logos serve. It’s the image that makes your customers immediately think of you when they see it. Without a conscious thought, they associate the logo with your product and company. Your logo should represent what you do in the style you do it. If you are a upscale, classy company – your logo should represent those qualities.

The Creative Process

Think about the colors, shapes, photo, text and fonts that you might like in your logo. Consider the core values you have set for your company and if you haven’t set any, get busy fast! Your core values are what your customers should expect when they do business with you. Professionalism, quality and personal service are some very common values. Once you have a concept around the style and values, then consider what might peak the interest of your audience. Will this concept you have put together be attractive enough to get the viewer to visit your website to learn more?

Logo Design & Creation

If you have the budget, I highly recommend you hire a professional to create your logo. This is an important part of your business and settling for what you can find on the internet or your “next-door-neighbors-son-in-law is good at it” very rarely works. Graphic artists and branding companies do this for a living and are typically successful at it or they wouldn’t be in business.

Your logo should be:

Often times, I see logos that are so amateur and unprofessional that I wish they’d just go with their company name in a simple text format. Don’t skip out on this important part of your business by having a friend or neighbor help you or falling into the trap of a “cheap” online logo designer. If you’re ready for a good time – try www.logotournament.com where graphic artists compete for your business

Able to be reproduced in the right size.

Being able to resize your logo for a banner or business card is important. If you don’t have your logo in a clear format that is easy to resize, reconsider using it. Blurry or choppy logos say something about your view of quality. Your logo should be clean and clear.

Able to hold it own for many years.

Don’t use trendy colors that are hot today because tomorrow, they may be cold and you’re stuck. Rely on colors, fonts and shapes that are timeless.

Free of Stock Art

With an understanding of budget constraints, I often see gift basket professionals designing their logos themselves and using stock art. This very rarely works. Stock art are photos you can normally get online for free but so can everyone else. Try to avoid stock art but if you must, use a professional website such as www.istockphoto.com.

Legible and Appropriate

Avoid using fonts that are too convoluted to read or don’t give the viewer an idea of what your business sells. While this may work for large corporations who have the money to spend on pushing their brand, it typically doesn’t work for us small businesses.

Should be Used Regularly

From your Facebook business page to the labels you put on your gift baskets, your logo should be on every marketing opportunity that you have. Reinforce your brand by using it regularly.

Now what? Have we inspired you to create or rebrand your company? If so, we want to know and follow your journey. Contact us at info@giftbasketassociation.com and let us know you are inspired and getting ready to start the process. We’ll even help you through the process.

An Organized Office to Help Your Business Thrive

2011-09-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

When you enter your office, how do you feel? Are you inspired to be there or do you dread even stepping in the door? Although a messy desk can seem like a minor annoyance, according to a survey conducted by Office Depot (and published in the American City Business Journal), “One third of all business people lose more than 15 minutes a day or two hours every week hunting for lost papers, sorting through messy files and rebooking missed appointments.“ What would you do with two extra hours in your week - write a blog post, contact 10 new business prospects, or attend a networking event?

In order to be your most productive self, it helps to have an office space that is organized. This will allow you to use your time efficiently and easily locate the information or tools you need to run your business. Below are a few suggestions to help organize your office:

Have the Right Tools:

Desktop Trays – Have an inbox, outbox and "To File" bin. Your desk can quickly become covered in piles if every piece of paper you need to deal with is placed on top of it as a reminder to get something done. Instead, use desktop trays to contain the piles. Then, schedule regular times to go through the piles and act on the items.
Trash, Recycle Bin & Shredder - When you go through the paper in your office you have 3 choices: act on it, file it, or get rid of it. If you don't need the paper then drop it in your recycle bin, or shred it if it contains confidential information.
Calendar & To-Do List(s) – It's always helpful to know where you need to be and what you need to get done in order to be your most productive self. Maintain a well organized to-do list and use it in conjunction with your calendar in order to schedule time to get things done.
Contact Management System – Searching for contact information on random scraps of paper, within e-mails cluttering your inbox, or on business cards strewn about your desk is very inefficient. Develop a well-organized contact management system, and for maximum efficiency, ensure that it’s portable and backed-up regularly.
Project Files – Create project files for each current project you're working on and keep them easily accessible.
Reference Files – Create files for information you want to keep but don't need ready access to all the time.

Make Organization a Regular Part of Your Day

Cleaning and organizing your office can be a very overwhelming task and one most people put off for a long time. In order to keep things from getting out of control, spend 10-15 minutes at the end of every day to put away items you’ve worked on, prioritize for the next day, and create a space that inspires you and is one you look forward to using.

Create a Weekly Review Time

Yes, you are busy, and adding one more thing to your calendar can seem impossible. However, if you don't schedule a review of your commitments, you'll probably spend more time reacting to what appears to be the latest crisis (think of your e-mail inbox) rather than doing the things that you deem a priority. The first step for success is to schedule a 30-60 minute block on your calendar. Use this time as follows:

Process your Inbox - This means adding items to your calendar and to-do list and filing paperwork as needed. The more often you process your inbox, the less time it will take.
Review your e-mail inbox for action items that need to be added to your to-do list.
Check your calendar for upcoming appointments and meetings. Identify actions you need to take in preparation for meetings and add them to your to-do list.
Dump your brain of all those nagging items that you have yet to add to your to-do list.
Review your to-do list for items that are no longer pertinent (delete them) and prioritize the remaining items for what you are going to focus on over the next week.

Getting organized can seem like an overwhelming task. However, with the right tools and routines in place your office will become the productivity center you need in order to make your business thrive.

Lori Krolik, CPES, is the owner and founder of More Time For You, a professional organizing and productivity consulting business. With over 15 years of experience in the Professional Organization Industry, Lori has lead multitudes of workshops and coached thousands of clients on how to simplify their lives by creating organization systems that fit their space and lifestyle, and managing their time, in order to live and work more efficiently. Lori is currently the President of WNA Chapter 122 in Los Altos, California.

5 Top Secrets for Growth In Any Business

2011-09-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

After having been in the business of healthcare for close to 10 years, I have discovered the essential elements for growth in any business. I have discovered the difference between what differentiates a successful, growing, thriving business from one that does ‘just OK’.

1. One of my favorite sayings is “It is not success that leads to happiness, rather happiness that leads to success.” You must be truly happy. It seems like such a simple concept, yet many get caught up in the day to day stuff and overwhelm sets in. People are more attracted to and want to work with someone who has positive energy and is focused on the needs of the customer.

2. Get moving. The minute you get moving, you start to feel more deserving - deserving of customers, money, vacations, etc. This immediately boosts self-esteem and self-worth, not to mention gives you the energy to do all that you do. You will start attracting positive things into your life without even thinking about it. The key is to find an exercise you like to do and do it! Sometimes having an exercise/accountability partner will help to keep you on track.

3. Whatever you think about grows. Focus on abundance and forget about lack. We all have a different relationship with customers, money, and service. People NEED what you have, it’s just that some of them don’t know about you or haven’t found you yet. There is no lack of anything. Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time. If you are always in a state of fear about not having enough customers, enough money, enough (you fill in the blank), then you cannot possibly have faith that your business can grow.

4. Schedule play time. After all, this is why you have your own business and why you work - to enjoy life!! Before you start filling in your yearly or quarterly calendar, schedule time off for rest and rejuvenation. Take time to recharge. Your business will always grow and change after a much needed rest. You decide how long is appropriate for you, but I recommend nothing less than a week. You may start with one week a year, then one week every 6 months, then one week each quarter. You decide what is best for you. You will find you become more creative and have great ideas about your business while unwinding. You can also schedule play time throughout the regular week. For Example, Wednesday night is your book club, or Fridays are for meeting friends for a glass of wine. This is important play time, too.

5. Be Queen (or King) of your domain. Nobody knows your business like you! Nobody does business like you. Own it. Be confident. Hold boundaries. And surround yourself with people who are running their business the way YOU want to run your business.

Growth happens because you choose to work at it and sometimes it requires doing things you are uncomfortable doing. Most times it requires a “check up from the neck up”, that is, changing your mind set. Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Take your business to the next level, be uncomfortable and go out on a limb. After all, that is where the sweetest fruit is!

Dr. Stephanie Rozenhart, BSc,DC,CCP has been in private family practice for 10 years. She currently practices in San Jose, CA and specializes in working with pregnant moms and kids. She is involved in the community and loves to get out and teach people how to live a healthier lifestyle. She can be reached at drstephanie@rozenhartchiro.com or though her website www.rozenhartchiro.com

Motivation or Inspiration: Essential elements of a thriving life

2011-09-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that one of our primary goals in life is to thrive. It’s human nature. It may not be your first thought or even consciously enter your mind on a daily basis, yet on some level, our survival and satisfaction with life require us to flourish and prosper. We want to be successful; we strive to connect and create loving, nurturing relationships; we aim for financial success; we want to be happy.

So what motivates us to thrive? Where does the inspiration come from? And what’s the difference between motivation and inspiration? The distinction is significant and can make all the difference in the world.

Motivation is the external, driving reason that helps propel you toward a goal. For example, your high school reunion is coming up and you’d like to tone up a bit before seeing your former classmates. The reunion becomes the motivating factor for why you want to tighten up yet once the party is over, it’s as if your motivation graduated.

Inspiration, however, comes from within; it’s the inner sense or guiding force that lights you up from inside. When you’re inspired, there’s a deep connection with that special something that keeps you going. Inspiration becomes the foundation or your reason for getting out of bed in the morning. Inspiration is the ultimate WHY in life. It’s your basis for most everything.

Back to the reunion. You still want to tone-up however when the party is over, you’ll keep going because you’ve got more reasons for wanting to shape-up – you’re deeply vested with feeling strong, improving your health and wanting a better quality of life. The reunion has little to no impact on your success – you’re inspired to keep moving despite the party.

If motivation is the peripheral reason or push and inspiration is the internal longing or pull, both will serve to move you forward. However, if you’re looking for a long-term and lasting reason, inspiration is it.

Lacking inspiration? Read on for a quick how-to lesson in reclaiming or identifying your inspiration.

· Embrace your inner child. Think back to your childhood dreams. What games did you play? What did you want to be when you became ‘a grown-up’? Thinking back to those early memories can trigger visceral, carefree thoughts and put us back in touch with what mattered then. Sure, you’re recalling memories from long ago but I bet they still make you smile today. And they stick with you for a reason. The memories may be distant, yet some of those dreams may continue to be relevant – and you may not even be aware.

· Ask yourself the following questions: (assume a perfect world without limitations and restrictions).

o What do you love to do? What about it races your engine?

o If you could spend time doing anything, what would you do?

o What do you want your legacy to be? Or what do you want to be known for?

· Get back on the hobby horse. Pick up your paintbrushes or dig-out your knitting needles. Being creative is brain food and when your brain is happy, watch out! Don’t have a hobby? Now is the time to start. Even ten minutes a day can have major benefits.

Sometimes, inspiration isn’t enough. When you’re having one of those days (or weeks), you may need an old-fashioned double-dose of inspiration and motivation. So what to do when you need a little extra motivation? Read on…

· Focus on the end point. Forget the middle – it can be overwhelming – imagine about how satisfied and relieved you’ll feel when you’ve reached the finale.

· Invoke a mantra. As much as I love to exercise, running doesn’t come naturally or easy so I make it fun by huffing and puffing my inner mantra. Sounds silly but it makes the time go by and keeps me focused.

· Pump it up. The tunes, that is. Music is scientifically proven to lighten your mood and increase concentration.

· Reward yourself. Like a kid in a candy store, if that’s what it takes. Treat yourself to something – it makes the hard work worthwhile.

Inspiration and motivation go hand in hand and both serve major functions in life. Being able to tap in to one or the other (or both) is a tremendously valuable skill. Here’s hoping this exercise provides you with a jumping off point, or at the very least, inspires or motivates you to go searching.

Stacey Vulakh is a time management coach and founder of San Jose, Calif.- based Timestyle Coaching & Consulting. She helps busy people regain control over their lives, be more productive and reduce their stress. Stacey is the President of Chapter 111 and serves on the National WNA Board. Contact: stacey@timestylecoaching.com.