What is TBU?

Last Thursday, I spoke at Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University marketing mini-clinic! I shared with the attendees the in’s and out’s of social media networking, the why’s and how’s of newsletter marketing and the importance of using qr codes as a marketing tool. But, before the event… I sat down with Jeff and he shared with me… …some tips on time management, …why requests from others can lead to new opportunities for you, …what TBU is all about, …why trust is important …and why “face-time” is critical to building your business. Best of all, I filmed it! It’s only about 7 minutes long, but it’s packed full of some really good stuff! Go ahead, have a look! Success Secrets TV – The Jeff Cross Interview Until Next Time,     “Live with Passion!”        Rob Anspach        P.S.  Want to see some other great interviews? Go to http://SuccessSecrets.tv

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

Business Card Marketing

An often over-looked marketing tool is your business card!You know that little 2×3 piece of paper that is supposed to illicit a response when handed to your customer and compel them to call you. I have stacks and stacks of business cards that I have collected over the last 16 years…and to tell you the truth only about a dozen of them grab my attention. Name, rank, serial number is basically what most business cards amount to! You know what I mean, right? Name of company, name of individual, address and phone number…boring! And don’t get me started on the wasted space that most fail to fill up by not using the backside of the card to enhance their marketing message. As I type this, I’m staring at 2 exact business cards with the same blue color with white font and various sized blocks, one is for a plumber and one for a cleaner… ironically, neither one displays a physical address nor a web address. The only reason I even picked these cards out is that they were identical, but they are so blah, so generic that most people won’t even remember associating the business name with the card. Think of your business card as one of the most powerful ways to grab attention, build trust and compel someone to call you – basically the most cost effective marketing tool ever designed. Like I said, most are terrible! Don’t be cheap! Those FREE cards…forgetaboutit! When I see a card that has that VistaPrint logo on the back or has perforations around the edges from a do-it-yourself print job…I just have to wonder what were they thinking? Do you hand out your business cards to everyone or do you have several cards with different messages? It’s always good to know who is receiving your cards and why. Maybe use one card as a recruiting or referral business building tool and another to educate your prospective buyer. I’ve seen cards with a “Call our 24 hour Consumer Hotline” used as a prequalifier. Potential customers need to call a special number and listen to a prerecorded message to learn how you can solve their problems. The ones who leave a message have been prequalified and now want to know more. I’m a big believer in using your photo on your business card…it add’s credibility and familiarity… which leads to trust! Business cards are really inexpensive as a means of attracting people into your marketing funnel, but why create a card that has no personality? That doesn’t evoke a sense of who you are? That doesn’t get the phone to ring? Or makes you look like a professional? If you want to know how you give your business card more OOMPH! Scan your card into your computer, save it as a jpg and email it to me and I’ll critique it for FREE! Until Next Time, “Live with Passion!” Rob Anspach P.S. I’ll be teaching the social media, newsletter and QR marketing aspects of Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University ‘Mini-Clinic’ on Thursday August 28th (6pm-9pm) in Langhorne PA. Although it’s designed around the carpet cleaning industry…any service business will benefit. This is real world advice that is guaranteed to get that phone to ring and put money in your pocket. Click the link to learn more. http://cleaningprofessor.com/philadelphia-cleaning-marketing.html

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

The Mulligan

I finally watched Hot Tub Time Machine!  A movie where four buddies are whisked back in time with the help of a hot tub. To be honest, if the cursing was toned down and the nudity done away with it probably would have been a much better movie. Well, in the movie, these four guys are given a chance to change the mistakes of their past and alter their future selves. In sports terms…they were granted a “mulligan”! A do-over! And, it got me to thinking about something my friend Jeff Cross likes to use in his Totally Booked University marketing workshops. It goes something like this… If you could go back in time, and were granted a “do-over” or a “mulligan” what would be the one thing that you would do differently if you were just starting your business? Would your answer be something like ?… -be more careful of who I hire. -be more selective of clients. -don’t get involved with a franchise or partnership. -learn more effective ways to attract clients. -get involved with a mentor. We don’t need a time machine to help us make improvements in our business or heck, even our lives… “Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Ghandi We just need a helping hand now and then to guide us in the right direction. Mistakes happen! That’s the beauty of being human! With each new day we are given an opportunity to do-it-over and make things right. Use that opportunity, your “mulligan” to improve your business and make changes in your life. Just curious… What would your “do-over” be? Until Next Time, “Live with Passion!” Rob Anspach P.S. I’ll be teaching the social media, newsletter and QR marketing aspects of Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University ‘Mini-Clinic’ on Thursday August 28th (6pm-9pm) in Langhorne PA. Although it’s designed around the carpet cleaning industry…any service business will benefit. This is real world advice that is guaranteed to get that phone to ring and put money in your pocket. Click the link to learn more. http://cleaningprofessor.com/philadelphia-cleaning-marketing.html

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

Web Success Part 2

Back in January I interviewed John Spangler for my online show Success Secrets TV…we had so much fun, that we did another episode!   This one is jam-packed full of internet tricks, web secrets and tips that will put your website on overdrive.   I don’t want to give too much away, but I will tell you, if you implement what we share on this video…you’ll can literally be on page one of the search engines in very little time.   Web Success Part 2 – A Success Secrets TV Special Edition Episode Would love to get your feedback! As John says…”It’s wicked!”   Oh, and look for Part 3 coming soon!     Until Next Time,   “Live with Passion!”   Rob Anspach P.S. If your business isn’t moving in the direction you would like it to be, let’s talk! Just send me an email and tell me a little bit about yourself and your company. Tell me why you think your sales aren’t where they should be, tell me what you’ve tried and why you think it didn’t work. The more I know about your situation, the better equipped I can be to help you improve and make money.   P.P.S. I’ll be teaching the social media, newsletter and QR marketing aspects of Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University ‘Mini-Clinic’ on Thursday August 28th (6pm-9pm) in Langhorne PA. Although it’s designed around the carpet cleaning industry…any service business will benefit. This is real world advice that is guaranteed to get that phone to ring and put money in your pocket. Click the link to learn more. http://cleaningprofessor.com/philadelphia-cleaning-marketing.html

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

 

Are you chasing or catching?

I’ve come to realize that there are 2 types of entrepreneurs in this world.  Those who chase and those who catch. The ones who chase may someday catch…but it’s a rarity. You see what I’m talking about is your dreams, your goals, what you aspire to be! How many entrepreneurs can honestly say they are living their dreams? Having a business that they work on and not in. A business that they could leave for 6 months and not have to worry that things would fall apart while they were gone. Not many! This is why the allure of winning the lottery is so powerful in many people, they believe that is their only hope of catching their dream and living the life. The probelm with winning the lottery is that the majority of winners don’t know how to handle the fame or the fortune, and the money gets depleted faster than it was won! Chasing after your dreams seems like a powerful motivator, right? You think it’s keeping you focused and on track to eventually catching that dream…maybe? Then again! Here’s the trick…stop chasing! What? Yeah, I said that! Stop chasing! Imagine in your mind, that you have already caught that dream. That you have that no-worry business. That you are living that rich & famous lifestyle. How does it feel? Pretty sweet, huh? Okay, stop drooling! Get a piece of paper and grab a pen…it’s homework time! Yeah, sorry, this is the interactive part of my post, but don’t worry, it’s not a test…but it will help you stay focused on catching those dreams. Write down everything that needs to happen in your business that will give you that sweet life you oh-so desire! -Redefining the company image -Ramping up marketing -Hiring employees -Hiring a manager to learn your duties -Hiring a PR person, an accountant, a lawyer, a marketer -Create a niche -Develop a referral business -Hire a receptionist -Get the newsletter out on a monthly basis -Update the website with videos -Get involved with social media networking sites -Go to seminars My list contains over 150 things that I have to do to insure that my business is creating the life I truly desire. You see, your business is suppose to fund your personal life. Period! No exceptions. This is where the whole chasing thing goes haywire…we, entrepreneurs have created our very own prisons that keep us captive. We crafted an over-glorified job that requires a 24 hour a day devotion, fueled by stress and visions of a better life. By implementing a mentality that forces you to write down everything you need to do to push your forward and keep you accountable to your actions…your business will be on track to operate without. When you have that ability to not worry how your business is doing when you are gone, to not be bothered, to not stress over…to freely enjoy vacations, sabaticals or just time away while still knowing you are making money…well, that’s… catching the dream! Until Next Time, “Live with Passion!” Rob Anspach P.S. If your business isn’t moving in the direction you would like it to be, let’s talk! Just send me an email and tell me a little bit about yourself and your company. Tell me why you think your sales aren’t where they should be, tell me what you’ve tried and why you think it didn’t work. The more I know about your situation, the better equipped I can be to help you improve and make money. P.P.S. I’ll be teaching the social media, newsletter and QR marketing aspects of Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University ‘Mini-Clinic’ on Thursday August 28th (6pm-9pm) in Langhorne PA. Although it’s designed around the carpet cleaning industry…any service business will benefit. This is real world advice that is guaranteed to get that phone to ring and put money in your pocket. Click the link to learn more. http://cleaningprofessor.com/philadelphia-cleaning-marketing.html

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

It’s All Crap!

Way back in 2001, I was hired to help a naturopathy center in Asheville NC revamp their marketing.

The very first thing I said when I arrived at the center was… “Let’s cut the crap!” as I held one of their lousy phonebook ads in my hands.

I was arrogant and cocky! Wait, I still am! Wow, you’d think 9 years would change me. Nah!

Fast forward to the present (well a few weeks ago).

I was invited to speak at Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University in Baltimore MD. Jeff had an exercise in phone book marketing. He asked the class participants to select all the good things out of an ad. Then he went around room and had them talk about the ad. What was appealing in ad that they liked? What features/benefits popped out at them? Why would they trust calling the number in that ad?

Well, the time came for me to share with the class my answer.

“It’s all crap!”

Told ya! Still cocky after all these years.

But, it was at that moment everyone realized this cocky SOB was right!

The ads totally sucked! (that’s a technical marketing term)

There was nothing in any of them that would get me to call them.

No brilliant headline!
No “wiifm” reason to hire them! (that’s “what’s in it for me”)
No testimonials!
No compelling copy!
No call to action!
No guarantee!

Just crap! All of it!

If your phonebook ad isn’t getting the phone to ring (which I suspect it isn’t)…then I would also suspect that it’s full of crap and it’s time to cut it out.

Lets do an exercise…one that will tell you how crappy that ad of yours is!

Rip your ad out of the phonebook along with 20 or so ads from other industries.

Now take a look at the headline. If it starts out with a company name, guess what, it’s crap right from the beginning.

If the picture in the ad is generic (a stock photo) or doesn’t adequately convey trust or familiarity…yep, it’s crap.

If there is a lack of testimonials or missing an honest to goodness risk free guarantee! It’s still crap.

It’s all crap! Well, 99% of the ads are!

Why not get rid of the crap and be that 1%?

It’s that 1% that will attract more business, get more high paying clients, keep them coming back year after year and make money from their phone book ads.

So the next time the phonebook rep calls you and wants to renew your crappy ad…ask them if it comes with a year supply of toilet paper! At least the toilet paper will have value.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

The Top 20 common sense do’s and don’ts of posting to social media!

On Friday I had the opportunity to teach a class on social media marketing to a group of carpet cleaning entrepreneurs at Jeff Cross’ Totally Booked University which was held in Baltimore MD.

I revealed some ways to simplify your postings…

But most importantly I shared some common sense secrets to making your posts more responsible.

The do’s & don’ts of posting…

Do
1. Post about what is relevant to you (your hobbies, interests and activities)
2. Post about your business
3. Post about your pets
4. Post press releases
5. Post specials
6. Post about how your employee made a client feel special
7. Post testimonials, pictures and videos of your work
8. Post about how you solved a clients problem
9. Post or (retweet) a story of interest
10. Post about a job opening in your company

Don’t
1. Post about how much a client is worth
2. Post a location (geo tagging/geo targeting)
3. Post about guns, alcohol or tobacco
4. Post terroristic threats or any mention of b o m b s
5. Post offensive language
6. Talk politics
7. Post negative comments about competitors, or clients
8. Post pictures of clients possessions (keep all pictures to areas you are working in)
9. Post pornography or allow others to post it to your site
10. Post crime and/or horrific pictures

You might be thinking why should I post about my pets or about my hobbies or why can’t I say the “F” word in my posts and why the heck can’t I talk about politics…and I’ll tell ya!

People love pets, they love to watch them, they love to talk about them – they are your common bonding agent, they will show your potential clients that you share their same interests.

If you’re a golfer, then tell the world, the more people know about you the more they will want to use your services.

About the “F” word thing…it’s really bad form! It shows that you have a freshman mentality and that you haven’t taken the time to master the language. Plus, it’s offensive! Remember who is following you, they could be kids, priests, rabbi’s, potential clients…and one wrong slip of the “F” word or any other curse word could land you in deep do-do!

Oh, and I almost forgot to say…as much as you might want to be vocal on the political stance…take it from me and don’t! Last year I made a remark about our current President, and although I was proved right, at the time that remark bit me in the butt. A long term client read my post and took it the wrong way and sent me a scathing letter why she was no longer using my service…it cost me a $5,000 a year client.

You might be wondering at this point why does it matter or why can’t I just post 100% about my business?

You can! But…

Nobody wants to hear about your business 100% of the time. They want to know about what makes it tick. The human factor behind the business. It’s that human factor that will get you more work than screaming about your special all the time.

This is social media…go out there and be sociable!

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. I’m going to try raise $40,000 in 30 days, click on my weblink above to learn more and how you can help. Tell your friends! The more people that can help the better chance this will succeed.