Are you waving it proudly?

Kind of a weird subject line isn’t it?

Are you waving it proudly?

You’re probably shaking your head, wondering where the heck I’m going with this aren’t you? Maybe, you’ve already decided I lost my marbles, but the curiosity is killing you, so you are still hear hanging on every word. Cool! (the hanging on every word part, not the losing of my marbles part)

Well, if you’re a citizen of the United States…this day should already be circled on your calendar.

Let me explain…it happened 234 years ago.

I’m sure you weren’t there!

But, trust me, it was kind of awesome.

You see, on this day way back in 1777, our country had formally adopted by resolution our country’s red, white and blue iconic symbol.

The American Flag!

It’s a symbol of freedom, it’s a badge of honor and it’s beacon of hope!

But, Rob, I didn’t come here for a history lesson.

True!

Like everyday events that unfold before us, the past and present are reminders that can be used as powerful motivators to push us into the future.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…everyday is a new day to promote your products or services.

Use it!

Your marketing is the flag that gets you noticed…wave it proudly!

A year ago, almost to the day…one of my client’s sent out his first ”Flag Day” promotion. A small postcard with a picture of him and his staff waiving American Flags. The headline read…”Proudly serving the fine folks of (his town)!”  On the address side, it had a brief statement of what Flag Day meant to him and how his clients could take advantage of a discount by mentioning his card.

A promotion tied to an event!

It was simple, yet effective!

Marketing doesn’t require lots of thinking or planning, although it does require action!

You must do something!

And, I don’t mean just do it once! I hear that garbage all the time…”I tried that once and it didn’t work”…waah!

Wave that flag all over the place…that’s the only way people will take notice.

After a while people will take notice of your marketing, and they will associate your marketing as your flag that waives proudly. They will see you as their beacon of hope, then they tell their friends about you!

Happy Flag Day!

       

Until Next Time, 

      “Live with Passion!” 

      Rob Anspach   

P.S. That same client who basically started his postcard marketing campaign with his Flag Day promo, now sends out a new postcard just about every week. Some are wacky, some serious! His average return on investment is 20 to 1. For every 1 spent on promotion, he receives 20 back. Click on the links below and discover additional days that could be used as marketing campaigns.

  National Holidays & Food Holiday List -

 http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/National_Symbols/American_Hollidays.html

  Unofficial National Days -  http://www.louderbacks.com/home/dict/days.html

 

What’s your guarantee…and how can I exploit it?

 In 1996, I was into my first full year as a freshly minted entrepreneur, and was asked what my guarantee was. 

       “Huh, hmm, well!”, was my response. 

       I had no clue!  

       Then I thought about it! 

       The more I thought about it, the more I realized that if I offered such a guarantee, my customers would find a way to pick through the loop holes and exploit me. No way, not me! 

         Remember when Domino’s pizza offered, “Fresh, hot pizza, delivered in 30 minutes or less or it’s FREE”… this was precisely the reason I never wanted a guarantee, I was that jerk that stood by the door with a stop watch in my hand waiting for my free pizza. 

        I’m not falling for that! 

        So, I dismissed the idea! No guarantees for me! Screw ‘em! 

        I mean really, why should I offer my best service to someone and then have them not pay me. Forget it, ain’t gonna happen! 

        And so, for 2 more years I resisted the temptation. 

        Then, I changed my mind!  

        Nope, no light bulb going off! 

        Instead, it was more like, how do I explain it…

         Did you ever watch the TV show NCIS where DiNozo gets smacked upside the back of the head by Gibbs his superior? Yeah, it’s kind of like that! The sudden feeling that you’ve done something wrong and the immediate discomfort you experience with each head smack.            

        There I was, for the very first time, putting into my advertising, a big bold, “exploit me please” guarantee, that even my dad thought I was off my rocker! 

        Here I was, a young cocky entrepreneur, bucking the trend and going full tilt into unknown territory.  

        Yep, I was crazy! 

        And, it worked!

         “The Most Thorough Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning You’ve Ever Seen…or it’s FREE!” 

         Can you guess what business I was in? (Actually, still in! I still own that business, going on 16 years. http://premierecarpetcleaners.com ) 

         In the last 13 years of using a guarantee, do you know how many people tried to blatantly rip me off? If you guessed higher than 10, you are way off! Hold your left hand out, with fingers extended, now fold two fingers inward…how many fingers remain outstretched? Three! Yep 3 in 13 years. 

         Here’s why! 

         By offering a guarantee you are reversing the risk. You are taking the responsbility and the fear of experiencing a sucky service or product away from the customer and taking ownership of it. You are saying, “There is no need to fear, my guarantee is here!” (okay, sorry, that’s a throwback to the old “Underdog” catch phrase,from the late 60′s early 70′s, wow, I’m getting nostalgic, I might have to go watch it…oops sorry, A.D.D kicking in…refocusing!) 

         If you are proud of your service, and know full well that you are delivering only your best, then by all means, guarantee it! 

         Word of caution…if your service is below par in any area or you are dishonest in your approach, offering a guarantee then not standing behind it…well, if you’ve never heard the expression “Karma’s a bitch“…you will fully understand what I mean, the first time a customer puts you through the ringer. 

         After, experimenting with guarantees in my cleaning biz, I finally decided to kick it up a notch and do something that no other cleaner was brave enough to do. Double the guarantee. In 1999, I launched my 200% better than risk free guarantee! 

         ”I’m obsessed with giving YOU…the consumer, the Most Amazing Experience you’ve ever had with any service company. In fact, if you’re not ABSOLUTELY THRILLED with our professional quality service, we’ll return and re-clean any areas of concern, and if I still have not met your expectations, you don’t pay. It’s that easy! Then, I will gladly pay (up to 100% of my original work order) for another IICRC Certified company to clean your carpets. Plus, I will make a $50 donation to any charity of your choosing on your behalf.”        

         This was the whip topping on my insanity cake! 

         The guy who swore he would never, ever use a guarantee goes full force into crazy mode and offers up his soul with every cleaning. 

         I wanted customers to know that they had nothing to worry about. They would be protected and I was willing to go the distance. Lock, stock and barrel – no excuses! 

         Not happy, no problem, here’s your money back and I’ll pay another cleaner out of my pocket to fix my screw up and then donate in your name to the charity of your choice for wasting your precious time.        

        I’ve taken that same philosophy and applied it to all my ventures! If you’re not head-over-heels happy with my product, you don’t pay…it’s that simple! That’s right, I want customers doing cart-wheels in the street, dancing on the ceiling, shouting from the rooftops how I helped them. I want them out there telling their friends how I saved their day, and that I stood behind my service and shielded them from any harm.

         Make your guarantee BIG, make it BOLD! Keep it simple!

        I’ve been told more times than I can count on my fingers and toes that my prices were higher than my competition but because of my guarantee, they felt safer hiring me than them.

         Safer?

         Well, that’s exactly what a guarantee does. It’s removes all fear. It provides a safety net for your customers. So, yes, safer!

          The more benefit you can create for a potential client to you use you, the easier the sale will be and the greater the satisfaction the customer will have.

          Guarantee it!

       Until Next Time,   

    “Live with Passion!”

     Rob Anspach   

 P.S.  In Jay Abraham’s book (which I highly recommend you read, right now), “Getting Everything You Can, From All You’ve Got!“, Jay says, “Make it so your clients come out so far ahead by dealing with you they would be stupid not to. Even if they decide that your product is not for them and they return it – they still come out of the deal with the refund and many bonuses that they never had before dealing with you.”

P.P.S. I’m changing the name ”Be A Better Entrepreneur” Seminar to “Be A Better Entrepreneur” Academy…I feel the word “Academy” has a better sound to it. Everyone seems to use “seminar” to describe what they are doing…Blah, boring! Presenters will be renamed “Instructors” and the whole event will revolve around creating a dynamic, intense learning experience. Yep, The Be A Better Entrepreneur Academy will craft you into a lean, mean, money making machine.  http://BeABetterEntrepreneur.com  

 

 

I can’t believe you were involved!

       It’s disappointing to say the least!

       Maybe even comes as a complete shock!

       Yet, some would say that they expected it!

       And you were involved!   

       Okay, maybe you weren’t! But, you could be!

       Scandals seem to be popping up everywhere these days.

       Arnold confesses to affair! Weiner sends explicit photos via text!

       The list goes on!

      Is it still considered “shocking”? Sure it is!

       And you can capitilize on it!

       Yep, use it! Have fun with it!

       Why do you think “trash mags” stay in business?

       They recycle the torrid stories, spin them into a sensational, more believable, story. True or not, these magazines know how to hook you and keep you reading.

       You can use the same spunkiness in your marketing as well.

       Charlie McDermott (a marketing mentor and friend) loves to push the limit on entertainment while getting people hooked on his StandOut TV. In one of his early episodes, you’ll see how he used his affair as a marketing tool. Classic!

        http://www.standout.tv/episodes/time-for-your-affair/

       You can do this too! A headline, a story, a doctored photo, or a video!

       Be the scandal, if only in your marketing!

       You don’t need “Tiger Blood” to be a winner!

       Start thinking of ways to be different. To make a splash with your market! To stand out!    

   Until Next Time,   

    “Live with Passion!”

     Rob Anspach   

 P.S.  Charlie is an awesome resource of fresh, inspiring and yes even jaw-dropping marketing, follow his web show. If you haven’t listened to the interview I did with Charlie here’s the link (it was recorded in February 2010) but the information is still unbelievablely fresh and helpful. http://bit.ly/j0cZ2S

It’s hard to be one, so this will help guide you!

      In 1998 I joined my local chapter of the Optimist Club.

      Oh, believe me, it wasn’t because I wanted to belong to a service group, that was the furthest thing in my mind. To be honest, I was really looking to plug my business and pick up some extra accounts.

      Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know purely selfish reasons, right?

      Okay, I’ll admit the food at the luncheons was really good too!

       Somehow, I impressed upon enough people in the group that I began President of the chapter the next year. 

       At the time I was 30 years old and most of the members were double my age and set in their ways. I felt like I was king of the pessimists not optimists.

       It was discouraging to say the least. I had to remind these people everyday why their creed was as important then as it was when it was written.

       I was told by many of the old-timers, that my new fangled approach to fundraising, new member acquisitions and publicity wasn’t going to work. They had been doing things the same way for a million years and my ideas weren’t going to fly.

       Time after time, I would prove them wrong, and that year we had the highest collected amount from fundraisers ever in the chapters history.

       Sure, being a pessimist is okay sometimes, but don’t be one all the time.

       So here to help you be a stronger person and live a more fulfilling life is the Optimist Creed. Read it!

       Even if don’t ever intend to join the Optimist Club, you can still follow the creed. 

        The Optimist Creed Promise Yourself …
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

  Until Next Time,   

     “Live with Passion!”

   Rob Anspach   

 P.S.  My 2nd oldest child graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School last night – so I’m taking a long weekend off to celebrate her accomplishment. If you need help in any way, email me or wait until Tuesday. Oh, and have a fantastic Memorial Day weekend.

How frustrated are you?

The other day I decided I had had enough with the piles of papers and other “crap” that was on my desk and made an executive decision that I must do something with it.

However, being the “smart-ass” that I am, and knowing full well that what I was about to do would probably, change that, most likely get me fired being employed elsewhere…I threw caution to the wind and just did it my way.

Ooh, it wasn’t pretty.

But it certainly felt good!

Papers, checks, various business cards, bills, files, pens, pencils – yep, everything on my desk that wasn’t connected to my computer was now scattered all over my office. But, my desk was clean.

Most people would never do what I did. Though they might feel like they need to do it, and really they should do it, but they don’t. They hold back.

Impulse control is nice to have…it keeps us grounded. Yet, sometimes, prevents us from being expressive and venting our frustrations.

Entrepreneurs need an outlet to get rid of all their pent up frustrations, even if it’s just tossing papers around.

Getting frustrated, in most cases, will lead you to taking some sort of action.

Me getting frustrated at the mess on my desk, led me to take action, it also got me to rethink how I file, where I put my papers and what can have the priviledge of being on my desk.

How is tossing papers and reorganizing going to help build my business your say?

Well, I hear it all the time… “It’s the economy!”, “People aren’t willing to pay for quality anymore!”, or “Advertising doesn’t work, it’s just a waste of money!”

Getting frustrated at the lack of clients you have or the lack of quality clients or even the lack of sales right now, should force you to take massive action and do a major course correction…or maybe you’re not frustrated enough yet!

Well, sure the economy isn’t as strong as it was a few years ago, but don’t use it as an excuse to not make money, or capture clients or promote your business.

For every story I hear about some company ready to go under, I hear equal stories about how successful others are.

Do you know what the difference is between the successful company and the not-so successful one? If you read this far, it should be obvious!

One got frustrated enough to take action, the other didn’t!

What company do you want to be?

Until Next Time, 

   “Live with Passion!”

     Rob Anspach 

 P.S.  Frustration leads to action! Action leads to progress! Progress leads to innovation! Innovation leads to success. Success leads to fortune! Get Frustrated!

P.P.S.  Exclusive subscriber notice…Gets posted to website on Monday May 23, 2011… Mark your calendars for February 3, 4 & 5 (2012) for the Be A Better Entrepreneur seminar. The event will be held in Orlando Florida and will be priced at $2995 per person. However, the first 30 people who sign up will save $2000 and get into the event for only $995.00 – click the link to take advantage of this fantastic pricing. Plus, the first 30 will receive a private marketing jam session one of nights of the seminar.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6HZ2KWEYGN8NJ

Seminars designed exclusively for the self-employed!

Contact Information

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Email: rob@robanspach.com                                   Phone: (717)330-7947

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 Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube & WordPress!

                    

Rob Anspach is a “brilliantly savvy” entrepreneur who helps frustrated business owners regain the passion they once had by showing them how to be more effective in the marketplace, how to dramatically improve their business so they enjoy coming to work again and how to win over customers regardless of price. Discover how easy it is to make money in your online or offline marketing, to attract and retain clientele and profit from your passions… visit http://www.robanspach.com  today!

Rob is also the creator & dynamic force behind Success Secrets TV, the new online show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stay successful… check it out by going to… http://www.SuccessSecrets.TV

Focused!

Over the last month, I’ve contemplated what my business stands for, who my client base is and why I do what I do. Maybe, you’ve played that game before too? Being an entrepreneur is not an easy thing. It’s not like going to a job, performing certain duties, getting a weekly paycheck, maybe a pat on the back or an ”atta boy”… no way, it’s nothing like that. Most entrepreneurs I’ve known, worked with or for, know how grueling life can be as the quintessential business owner. Long hours, sacrifice, waiting for money, advertising, employees, accountants, lawyers…doesn’t seem worth does it! An entrepreneur becomes not just a master of his field, but needs to know how to market themselves, how to socialize, and where to look for opportunities that others might have overlooked. So, back to my contemplations… What do I stand for? Well, for starters…Fairness! Freedom! Opportunity! I love having the ability to work or not to work, to create my own opportunities and share them with others and to be fair to people I hire or work with. Who is my client? This is a question every entrepreneur needs to know. What defines a client? What makes them appealing to you? Well, to be honest and somewhat forthright… my ideal client is someone that desperately wants my help and can afford my service. A client that understands the value of my service and is grateful for all that I do. One that follows my advice and gets excited when I present new ideas. Why I do what I do? It’s challenging! It’s fun! It’s a bit frustrating! It’s rewarding! I help right the mistakes entrepreneurs make in their business. I help them cut through the crap of their everyday business struggles and guide them back to the path of prosperity. So, that being said… I’m making changes in my own business structure. Some prices are going up! Some services eliminated! Some projects are being explored and some are being tossed. In the end, I’m doing some much needed housecleaning and putting my business back on track. Focused! Until Next Time,     “Live with Passion!”      Rob Anspach     P.S. Are you focused? Do you know what defines your business? If you’re ready…I’m just an email or phone call away!

Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Email: rob@robanspach.com                                   Phone: (717)330-7947 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rob Anspach is a “brilliantly savvy” entrepreneur who helps frustrated business owners regain the passion they once had by showing them how to be more effective in the marketplace, how to dramatically improve their business so they enjoy coming to work again and how to win over customers regardless of price. Discover how easy it is to make money in your online or offline marketing, to attract and retain clientele and profit from your passions… visit http://www.robanspach.com  today! Rob is also the creator & dynamic force behind Success Secrets TV, the new online show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stay successful… check it out by going to… http://www.SuccessSecrets.TV

Define Your Market!

This economy is wreaking havoc on how intelligent entrepreneurs define not only themselves but the market they’re targeting.

They are throwing their hands up in dispair and waiving the white flag of defeat!

They’ve lost faith in their own abilities!

They’ve become victims…allowing others to define who they are.

Yes, it’s true! But, it doesn’t have to be this way!

In fact, there are some entrepreneurs who will never fall for the excuses, will never allow someone else to define them and will never waive that white flag in defeat.

To them, not running the show the way they want is complete madness!

Yet, there are those stuggling!

I was one of those, years ago!

Let’s take a trip back to 1998, I was three years into my cleaning business.

Sales were down, bills were piling up, and my spirit was slowly being broken!

I cut prices in hopes to make it up in volume. I started offering phone quotes because well it seemed easier. I performed service in places that nobody would dare send crews to…just for a few dollars. And, I was killing myself working long, grueling hours.

I was losing my identity and my business all at the same time.

Luckily, I saw the writing on the wall!

I redefined who my market was! I eliminated all low paying jobs right off the top. No more rentals, no more restuarants, no more hotels and no more undersirable locations where half my equipment goes missing 5 minutes after arrival.

I raised my prices and strictly marketed my services to the affluent neighborhoods! In six months my average sale went from $99 to $425. I was working less hours and making more money. Way more money.

My clients appreciated me! My competitors envied me!

Sadly, most entrepreneurs don’t get it! They believe you are defined by the market, by what your customers demand and how your competitors advertise…nothing could be further from the truth.

You define your own market!

You educate your clients so they hire you, regardless of price!

You lead the pack, not follow it.

Until Next Time,

“Live with Passion!”

Rob Anspach

P.S. If you’re ready to waive that white flag, if you’re tired of being pushed on by over demanding, under paying clients, if your competitors are forcing you to change…well, it’s time you defined who you are and what you expect from the market you’re serving. It’s time to get tough! It’s time to get out of the trenches and start winning the war. It’s your game, play to win to it!

Do you remember the question?

Welcome to Monday!

Remember me asking you a question Friday?

You probably forgot didn’t you?

How can I help you?

Yep, that was the question!

Yeah, it was one of those deep-thought questions.

And, yes, it required a bit of your time to formulate an answer.

Kudos go out to Tim Jackson…he wrote…

“Thank you for this. A refreshing message. To be honest, I don’t know how you could help. We are in the middle of a growth spiral. I need to research your offerings more thoroughly, which I will begin by looking at Success Secrets TV as soon as I push the send button. Have a delightful weekend. P.S. Keep the emails coming”

Tim responded honestly. He doesn’t know how I can help right now, so he’s doing some homework, some due diligence, and seeing first hand what or how I could help him.

Growth spiral, wow! Good for you Tim!

Some companies would be down right giddy to be in a growth spiral right now.

Yet, most companies don’t have systems in place to handle rapid growth. They don’t have the resources, capital or manpower to keep the growth continuing…so they end up leveling off, or worse, reversing that spiral.

Stone Cold Creamery is an example of a company that went through a rapid growth stage. Yet, due to poor systems, mismanaged opportunities and no clear vision the company saw a decline in sales, which forced franchisees into bankruptcy, and caused a stir with the media.

Always understand where your company is and where it needs to be! Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Have systems in place to cover all contingencies.

Remember, I’m here to help…all you have to do is ask!

Until Next Time,

 “Live With Passion!”

 

Rob Anspach

P.S. Make you customers, contractors and vendors always feel welcome. And never stop asking how you can help someone.

How can I help you?

Hey, it’s Friday!

So, I thought I would keep this short & sweet and give you something to think about over the weekend.

Here’s what I want to know.

How can I help you?

It’s a simple question.

But, it requires of you some long hard thought.

Yes, I could have asked…

What obstacles are keeping you from having the business of your dreams?

What are your long and short term goals?

Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years?

Do you understand how to utilize the power of social media?

…and maybe about 100 other questions…

And, possibly you would have an answer for those…then again maybe not.

Look, I could keep writing emails and blogs and in most cases it will benefit you in some small way…but for me it’s like taking a shot in the dark. I really don’t know if I’ll hit the target let alone hit anything.

I love when someone says, hey Rob, that information was right on…thanks!

I want to help you hit the home runs in your life and business, to help you hit that target everytime…to get those warm fuzzy feel good accolades from your clients…but without knowing exactly how I can help…it’s still just a shot in the dark.

Think about it…

Then reply to this email or call me and we can chat!

Enjoy the weekend.

Until Next Time,

“Live With Passion!”

Rob Anspach

P.S. Tell me a little bit about you. The more I know, the better I can be at helping you achieve your goals, dreams and aspirations.

Marketing the Vote!

“Today marks a turning point!” – words that echo in every polling station.

It seems to be on everyone’s minds!

Republican or Democrat?

Pamphlats, fliers, radio, television, email, and yes even social media… the marketing to win your vote is BIG business.

How big?

Billions of dollars!

But to be honest…

…political marketing is lame at best!

Imagine, if I were to send a postcard or a some flier every few years asking you to vote for me…well that’s what the typical politician does.

Very few, know how to keep in constant contact. Very few use social media, or even send a monthly newsletter. Then they wonder why they need to spend a gazallion bucks to convince you to vote for them again.

Just like any business who is dependant on customers to keep going…a poltician needs voters to keep themselves in office.

Yet very few really understand their constituents or honestly know what they expect from them.

If most politicians would think as marketers they would know that keeping in touch with their followers on a regular basis would insure a vote easier and less costly then shotgun advertising over a 2-3 month period.

Plus, keeping their followers up to date makes them more believable, more human and more likable. Qualities that will get them reelected time again.

Yet, because they didn’t include a monthly marketing plan, they are now forced to run negative or spinned ads that do nothing to build up credibility.

Voters who don’t receive updated information (newsletters, emails, fliers, etc) are more prone to confusion and party switching….or simply not voting at all.

Marketing the vote…is like marketing your product or service…when done properly will have long term results.

Until Next Time,

“Live With Passion!”

Rob Anspach

P.S. Think about this… if they (your politician) don’t want to build a relationship with you through their marketing, do you really want to give them your vote?