Wish You could Avoid Marketing and Selling?

If the thought of marketing, selling, asking for money and tooting your own horn almost drives you to chocolate – read on. You’re on the right page on this website.

Most women were raised with very negative programming when it comes to being a successful business owner and marketer. We were raised to be wives, moms, sisters, daughters – maybe an employee.  But not a business owner. Even if you don’t realize it.

Maybe no one said you couldn’t be a business owner.  Chances are – especially if your over age 40 – you grew up hearing things little negative messages like:

• Don’t toot your own horn
• Be a nice girl
• Let everyone else go first
• Hint to get what you want
• And, for goodness sake – don’t call the boy

Yet, becoming a small or home-based business owner is a whole different world.  We hear:

• Toot your own horn
• Don’t take “no” for an answer
• Position yourself as “the best” and beat the competition
• Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask clearly for what you want
• Call, call, call and follow-up fast

Dear Woman Home-based Business Owner:

There’s a big disconnect between what you were told growing up (messages still in your subconscious mind) and what you’re told you have to do as a business owner.  The two seem like they’re 180 degrees apart.

When I mentor you, it’s not just about developing a marketing strategy, an emotionally compelling message and a list of how-tos. It’s also about helping you get past the stuff inside holding you back. What stuff am I referring to:

The Stuff that makes You:

• Feel uncomfortable asking for a sale
• Avoid picking up the phone and following up
• Communicate in a way that hints but never clearly asking for what you want
• Avoid any situation that might possibly cause rejection
• Shy away from talking with pride about your experience
• Never move with confidence toward your dreams
• Feel “weird” or “off” and you don’t know why

Discover how to Ask for what You want and Feel Great

Most books, seminars or coaches give you broad brushstrokes or how-tos. They usually come from a “testosterone-heavy” point of view all about, “damn the torpedoes – full speed ahead!”

No woman enjoys feeling like a barracuda, a brazen hussy or a b*tch just because she picked up the phone to make a follow-up call, write a sales letter, or, ask for money. You don’t deserve it.  Chances are, that’s how you feel. On the other hand, you can’t wait for customers to call like you waited for the cute boy in History class to call you for a date. Or pay without being asked.

You may be confident and comfortable at social events. You may love talking about your products or services. But if you’re like millions of other women business owners the moment you must ask for a sale or ask for money  – your confidence fades.

Dedicated to Success but Hate Getting Out there? Read On!

Why does marketing, selling and asking for money make us feel squidgy?

Because as a woman you may not remember it, but you probably heard negative messages about women and money growing up.  The people who were supposed to make money and handle money were men. It was un-ladylike to concern yourself with yucky things like money.

If your Mom went to PTA meetings, baked the cupcakes, volunteered at the library and did a myriad of other tasks she got little thanks and recognition for – you probably got the message a good woman gives her time away and asks nothing in return.

Which sucks when you consider millions of women today are the main breadwinner in their household.  Responsible for doing it all – and paying for it all. Even if you’re married, your income is important, too.  Especially in the recession we’re still experiencing in 2011.

Many of us have one foot in the old, “Don’t worry your pretty little head about money, dear,” message in our heads.  But our day-to-day reality is there are bills to pay and we’re the ones responsible for paying them.

Why Women Business Owners Earn Less – The Unvarnished Truth

The problem?  Over and over I connect with women who own businesses. They seriously undercharge when it comes to their fees. Why? Because they mistakenly believe if they charge less they won’t have to market or sell.

When I ask why they usually reply, “I just want to be nice.”  They say eventually they’ll raise their prices – but they don’t seem to have the gumption. Or, they say, “I’m into win-win,” which means their customers win and they lose. Unfortunately it comes with an extremely high price tag.

Over the last decade I’ve mentored over 1,500 women (and some men, too) in successfully marketing and selling.  This isn’t my first rodeo. I help them have more fun, feel more confident and make a lot more money.

The Truth will set You Free – but First it will Tick You Off

Here’s the truth: when you charge less, it’s not perceived as “being nice.” Instead most people think, “She probably isn’t as good – because she’s charging so much less.” Marketing and selling becomes even more difficult because you’re fighting that negative perception.

When you go to the grocery store, or, you’re saving for your children’s college you can’t say, “Gee, I’m a nice person and I charge a lot less than I should.  Would you please charge me less?”  It doesn’t happen that way.  You end up squeezed in the middle.

Be Gracious and get what You want from Every Conversation

Do you feel yucky about getting yourself out there, asking for the sale and asking for money?

It’s crazy. In business, it’s appropriate to guide and direct a conversation.  Especially if you asked for the meeting.  That doesn’t mean pressuring or making customers feel uncomfortable.  Chances are you’ve never learned the skills to real win-win which means both people win. You included. I can help you discover how to guide and direct a conversation in friendly, polite, professional ways.  I can help you create a marketing message that makes people want to happily say “yes.”

The truth is women have ten times less testosterone than men.  That not only effects how we look.  It also effects how we communicate, build relationships and solve problems.  That’s what marketing and selling are all about.

You don’t have to be a wimp. Or, bust anyone’s chops, either.  I can help you learn the secrets.

You Can have it All – that’s what Win-Win is All About

Did you ever hear “speak when spoken to” when you were growing up? Not everyone heard those exact words – but the meaning was the same.  It’s okay to reply when spoken to – but don’t make the first move.

I wrote a book about the differences between men and women in marketing and selling titled, “Testosterone-Free Marketing.”  It’s a business bestseller and has sold in 15 countries.

I can help you develop a marketing message and a plan that rocks. I can also help you over whatever blocks might hold you back from implementing your plan.

If You’d Rather not Act like a Guy when Selling…

All the selling and marketing trainers out there, even in 2011,  are testosterone-heavy men. Or, women who’ve decided they must act like men to succeed. Oh sure they start out by saying it’s about relationships. But gradually it comes down to if you want to be successful you have to be tough. You have to act more like a man. You must compete. It’s not me and I’ll betcha it’s not you, either.

After years struggling and feeling horribly uncomfortable in selling situations, I re-created marketing and selling in alignment with my style as a confident, successful woman.  Not as a man.  I love men – love my husband.  This isn’t about man-bashing.  Their testosterone is fine. I don’t want to change anything about men. However, I don’t want to act like a man any more than men want to act like women.

Thousands of women business owners have said, “I thought the problem was me.  I thought I must be stupid because I just couldn’t do it.”

No, you’re not stupid. You’re a product of growing up in a world that’s changed drastically. We’re expected to handle both feminine and masculine roles.  Be sweet and demure, hint for what you want.  But close those sales, too.  The two are out of alignment.  That puts you on a collision course for not achieving the success you deserve.

The Best Lesson You can Give Your Daughter? Be a Confident Mom

Think younger women have an advantage because they’re “empowered” now. Think again.  I’ve had marketing mentoring clients quiet and shy as church mice in their twenties. Why? Because the important women, especially her Mom, lacked confidence. Even if her parents were encouraging – her Mom’s behavior is much more important.

The best lesson you can give your daughter to help her succeed? Your own self-confidence.

The world is changing fast.  In June of 2008, Hillary Clinton said she put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling – referring to the number of votes she got in her run for the Presidential primary.  Honestly, the real glass ceiling is the one still in your mind.  As a marketing mentor, I can give you the best strategies and how-tos, but if you don’t believe you can pull it off – an internal glass ceiling is holding you back.

If you’re truly dedicated to breaking through and moving forward – I can help. I’ll give you awesome strategies, help you create a compelling message and a marketing plan that’ll get you on the right track to having the income and lifestyle you write about in your goals.

What are You Waiting for?

You know it’s time to stop trying to “get all your ducks in a row.” You know it’s time to stop researching and gathering information and having conversations with prospective customers that don’t go anywhere.

In our fast-changing world we have to be caring, gracious and operate with high integrity to show we’re worthy of our customer’s trust. (This will be a big change for many of the hard-nosed men who think being successful and being tough and pushy still works.) We also must accomplish more each day. That doesn’t mean more work.  It means more joy, more results. Isn’t it time?

Okay, Denise. I’m Ready to Find Out More

Here’s how to take the next step: Click here now and you’ll be magically transported to a form that will be submitted to my Inbox so we can set up a time to talk.  You won’t get an auto-responder and you won’t be put on any lists.  You’ll get a personalized reply from me.  I’ll get in touch with you and we’ll set up a time to talk on Skype or on the phone.  When we talk, I’ll answer all your questions and share my fees with you at that time.

Aren’t you ready for more joy, more results and more income?  Let’s talk!

Yours in Success and Joy,

Denise Michaels

Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing”