If you ask someone like Karla Lyngvar why she wanted to be a business owner, she would tell you of her enjoyment of serving others and having her income attached to her performance. “When I began my career in Real Estate, I enjoyed my work so much I’d put in extra hours, weekends and early mornings… after 3 years of lateral promotions (i.e. more work and the same pay) my income was exactly the same.”  Additionally, Karla wanted the ability to make effective and efficient decisions in order to assist clients with her standards excellence.  Karla also commented that, “It’s valuable to be able to choose whom you work with, and have the ability to control your own destiny.”

Karla wanted a relational business, not a transactional one.  Although her background is in Business/Commercial and Residential finance, in the recent economic times, she saw a very pressing need for assisting clients with controlling cash flow, managing a small business team, reducing costs, and ensuring business and strategic plans were clear and concise, especially for financing needs. This inspired her to expand her company JPMA Financial.

“We help organizations improve their performance using our methodologies, frameworks, and what we call purpose principals,” Karla said. “We guide the identification and source of the most pressing problem facing entrepreneurs, and then we create effective and efficient solutions through our services.”

According to Karla, nothing can be accomplished until a relationship is first built. When she launched her first business, Karla did cold calling, and even though she was successful at it, she didn’t enjoy it at all.  Karla’s business coach advised her to take her database, and trim it down to only the ones she really formed a connection with and enjoyed serving.  At first she feared this would hurt her cash flow, but after trimming her list down to only the most valuable clients, Karla focused on strengthening those relationships, which allowed her sales to multiply, as well as generate more referrals.

When asked how small business owners can better manage their finances, Karla recommends, “Instead of reactively managing your numbers, proactively project your finances and ensure they are in line with your sales goals.  The amount of revenue your business generates must work in conjunction with your expenses…there are not independent silos.  Most small business owners are playing a reactive game…and the best defense is an incredible offense.”

Another tip Karla has for small business owners is avoid being the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker. “The biggest challenge most small business owners have is endless checklists of things to do and not knowing where to start.” She recommends that if you can’t afford to outsource or hire support staff, prioritize and focus by creating a master list of everything you have to do.  Get it out of your head and down on paper.  Then begin with the task that will make the most impact for your business…not answering email or tiding up your desk.”

Karla is most passionate about helping small business owners define their purpose, see their vision, and be on fire about what their work is contributing to. “During the economic situation that has left no one untouched, people are feeling down. The only way you can fight back during depression is inspiration. When you’re inspired it doesn’t matter what your circumstances are, you have the courage to continue.”

Karla encourages small business owners to ensure their business represents exactly what their life’s purpose and vision is. “My favorite quote from Howard Thurman that inspired me to create a business that fits my purpose is “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Nobody likes to receive blind emails from a sender they don’t even know. More often than not, businesses have continued to use this method of marketing hoping for someone to click on their site to purchase their products or services. Other times, it’s when prospects request a free quote, or a free sample of a company’s product, and that’s when companies assume they can email to these people.

Assumptions that you have permission to email prospects and customers shouldn’t be the way you conduct email marketing. When using this method of marketing, think of it as building your reputation as well as your revenue. By blindly emailing people without permission can hurt your reputation, and possibly hurt your business. Angry recipients of your email, if they have time, can boycott your business. Also, if you’re using a email auto responder service, your account can be compromised by violating their unauthorized assumption of permission policies.

First thing to do to avoid this mistake is to not purchase mailing lists. It is best to create your own list. If you have a brick and mortar business, have an email opt in form for customers can fill in their name and email address after purchasing from you. Just ask them if they would like to sign up for email updates, and tell them the benefits of signing up. If they fill in their information, you have their permission.

On your company website, and any social media you’re using (if they offer the feature), you should have an email opt in box and a description of the benefits of being a part of the email newsletter. Businesses that implement email marketing the right way also have a double opt in method, where people that sign up have to confirm their email address before they’re officially part of the list. This is a surefire way of telling you that you have their permission to market to them via email.

You can also widen the options prospects and customers can have on what they want emailed to them (tips, special offers, etc.) and how frequently they like to receive your emails. This way you won’t send unnecessary emails to people who don’t want them, or they won’t be overwhelmed from the emails you send them. It’s best to email your list at least once a week for those who want to hear from you often. As long as the information you provide is valuable, your customers will keep coming back for more.

Even if your content is driving visitors to opt into your email newsletter, you still need to convert those leads to sales. Chances are, you may think those leads will buy your products or services soon. However, prospects can be far from wanting to buy from you. And if your emails aren’t providing something worthy of their attention, you’ll lose those subscribers as quickly as you got them.

Below are some tips on how to effectively communicate to your subscribers through email:

Invite them to your inner circle- Are you using social media sites like LinkedIn or Facebook? If so, fully exploit them and integrate them with your emails. Invite subscribers to your groups. Let them know in the emails what takes place in the groups (group discussions, media sharing, etc.) that’ll make them want to jump into the discussion. If you’re a part of local groups, same thing applies. Invite them and let them know they’re invited as well to interact.

Give readers valuable information- Don’t give readers another description of your company and how your products and services will benefit them. They already know that information; otherwise they would have not opted into your site in the first place. Provide tips that are related to your industry that interests your readers. Like if you’re a real estate agent, offer tips on improving the look and equity of someone’s home.

Give a call to action- After you’ve listed your reasons for someone to go to a event you’re hosting or to your Facebook group, tell them at the end of your email what they need to do to register or join and include some type of contact info to get started, or a link to a form for them to fill out.

Make the process as painless as possible- Your subscribers shouldn’t have to do a lot of work on their end to do something you told them to do. For them to join your Facebook group, for example, you should have them click on a link leading straight to your group site, not to your main profile for them to search everywhere for the group link. If it’s a product, same thing, have a link straight to the product itself for them to buy. Let them know that you care about their time, and they’ll gladly follow your directions

Marketers and savvy small business owners know the power of word-of-mouth. By being a remarkable resource to people and being a person people like, people refer those that fit into that category to their friends and family. It can create a big chain of referrals that’ll buy your products and services, and it’s what has helped some small businesses profit off of just this method marketing alone.

Online is more beneficial for any business for your messages can easily be passed along from one of your Facebook friends to theirs, or Followers on Twitter can Retweet your messages to their followers. With businesses understanding the power of their messages going viral, it becomes a challenge to make sure your messages stand out.

Below are some tips to make sure your messages are always being passed along to other social media users:

Keep your messages personal- Some businesses haven’t fully gotten the concept of writing about topics besides their products and promotions. When promoting just products and services on social media or email, it turns off prospects. Online users will delete you, or if they have time, speak down on your company to other people. That’s not the kind of viral effect you want. Make sure you put personal touch in all of your messages. Talk about subjects not always business related, but related to your industry or your personal life.

Talk to and connect with your friends and followers- Whether you’re adding friends or people are adding you, take the initiative to talk to them first. Most of the time, people don’t communicate at all with new connections. Don’t wait for people to message you first. You’ll be waiting forever. Respond to people’s tweets and wall posts to get them to communicate back with you. Build a relationship with the people online. People help those that they know, like and trust.

Support your friends and followers- For those people you have built a relationship with online, see how you can help one another out. If your friends post messages they want others to read, be sure to help them out by reposting the content onto your wall. Refer your friends to the right direction to areas they need help in. The goal is to become a valuable resource. When people see you’re helping them out, they’ll want to help you out.

Following these tips will help you and your messages to go viral. People online will start talking about your products and services, and before you know it you’ll be obtaining several leads, and most importantly, more sales.

Grace Sims has always had a passion for fashion and design. “It was either fashion design or a career in doing chemistry work,” Grace says, regarding choosing which career path to take. “But I couldn’t see myself working as a lab rat until I’m 70 years old. I would rather retire young, and have my name well known everywhere internationally.”

That decision is what motivated her to start g82 designs, a company that provides custom designed clothing and helps host a series of fashion and beauty events throughout the U.S. She launched the company January of this year, and recently took part in a fashion event in San Francisco called “Fashion Fights Aids.”

“Monica Foronda/Photo Credit Javier Padilla”

“The purpose of these events is for me to get my name and company out there, to meet people and network. A few of my future events, like Fashion Saves the Booty in March of 2011, are for supporting causes like colon cancer.”

What has caused Grace’s company to already be taking part in several fashion projects? She says that it was from the use of social media sites like Facebook, word of mouth, and networking face to face is what has allowed her to obtain more clients, business resources, and partners who are willing to work with her. Grace believes that through building relationships with people in your industry you’ll discover new opportunities that will help grow your business.

“Social media has really helped me out a lot. I use it not as a friend network, but I do put a personal touch to the content that I post. That alone gets more people to like me and learn more about me and my company.”

How Grace obtains new clients is through one on one consultations, which allows her to learn more about the people she meets. “Meeting people in person inspires me,” she said. She knows that there’s nothing like face-to-face interaction. It allows her to provide the right colors, style and size of the clothes she designs based on the type of person they are.

Grace’s biggest projects she has going on currently are a VJ spokes model event with business partner Jasmine Lee of JL Image, World Web Talent with parent company Kim Yoobi Com, and Fashion Saves the Booty with event coordinator Misha Andreasen.

For more information about Grace, her company and future events, visit www.g82designs.com or contact her at 916-509-2949.

Mobile phones are continuing to become more sophisticated and innovative, like the iPhone 4 and the Google Droid. The smart phones that are evolving have in turn led to more mobile email and Internet usage. People use their phones to browse the web on the go, pay bills, shop online, and use social media. This trend gives small businesses the possibility to market to the mobile user.

If you’ve ever thought about implementing mobile advertising in your marketing strategy, consider first viewing this important data. According to a recent article on eMarketer.com, there was a study conducted May 2010, with interesting results. If your target market is Hispanics or African Americans you should take advantage of mobile advertising, if you have the time and money to do so.

According to the study, half of African American and Hispanic adults access the mobile web, compared to with one in three Caucasians. The results from the study include accessing the Internet, sending and receiving emails, as well as using social media. The results from the study are referring to young adults ages 18+, with teens not too far behind on mobile usage.

In the study there’s also info regarding Wi-Fi usage on laptop with Hispanic and African Americans increasingly taking advantage of this method of Internet access. However, mobile usage is pretty much the well-fortified method of Internet access on the go.

Mobile Internet usage, previously held at 25% in April 2009, increased to 38% as of May, 2010. Being that usage of the mobile Internet will do nothing but increase in the future, it’s a great place where small businesses can communicate with these users in hopes for obtaining new and loyal customers.

As a small business owner, one of the number one factors you’ll encounter is how you’ll get your products or services out to the masses. You want to make sure you have your marketing plan down, so that business will come to you. If you don’t know much about how marketing works, you’re always able to learn more about it yourself, or learn from the experts.

That’s why Katrina Sawa, a marketing coach in Sacramento, is successful today. She’s helped small businesses achieve success achieve success through teaching them the importance of marketing and how to effectively implement it in order to build their business. In this interview, she explains how you should be in the business of marketing yourself, why every small business owner should be using social media, how to generate profits no matter the economic situation, and more.

Sheldon Alexander: In your words define what marketing is and how it’s beneficial for a business to implement it.

Katrina Sawa: Marketing is the most crucial part of your business. You should be in the business of marketing, not in the business of selling your products or services. I don’t care whether you like marketing or sale or not. If you are in business for yourself, you’re in business for marketing.

SA: It’s not about the product or service it’s about how you market it right?

KS: It is yeah. You want to learn everything you can to market it the right way. Things change. Markets change. Things that work will change. Things that worked two years ago aren’t working today.

SA: How do you think small business owners can prepare for the ever-changing market?

KS: They got to keep up with what’s going on right now. If you’re not keeping up with the Internet or the social media right now, then you have to do something about that. Whether you do it yourself, you delegate someone in your company to do it or hire a expert to do the work for you, it still has to get done. Don’t ignore it. Most people tend to ignore it, thinking they don’t need social media for their business. Their products or services or client are different. That’s not true. Everybody is on social media. If you don’t maximize on using this profit generating method, then you’re missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars every single year.

SA: That’s true. Social media is evolving big time. Even giant corporations are using social media, and are generating profits on that marketing method alone, aside from all the advertising they do.

KS: Small businesses don’t even need to spend money on advertising that much anymore. Times have changed. There are still things you may need to do if you have a brick and mortar location. But if you’re using advertising, you better be taking prospects to your website from those ads now instead of just having a phone number in the ad. That’s not going to work.

SA: You’re right about that. Social media is here now, and businesses can market with little to no cost now. With millions of potential customers on social media, small business owners can jump in and take a small portion of the market share.

KS: The problem is though that people will latch on the free things often and only focus on the free things, when you still need to do some of the paid things too. Even with the free things, you have to have a strategy in place to market and sell your products. You can’t expect to just jump online and talk to your friends and expect to get business that way. Like I just got a couple of clients recently on Facebook. The reason was because I was interacting in a positive, win-win, and a sales and marketing oriented way.

SA: Throughout your experience in helping clients build their businesses, what are some of the things that they struggle with in growing their business?

KS: They don’t know where to spend their time. They don’t know what to invest their hard earned dollars on. Or they don’t invest in anything at all that they need to be investing in like upgrading their website, or hiring an assistant to to handle some work for you, or purchasing the right software automation, purchasing a shopping cart program for their website. Whatever it is, there are certain things that you need to be investing in. That way, you can further achieve your business and personal goals. But unfortunately, people base their decisions on what;s on their check books than where they want to go in life. If you want to be a $100,000 business, but you’re only making $20,000 currently, you must make decisions based on if you were already that $100,000 business.

SA: That’s true. People want $1 million dollars but don’t want $1 million dollar problems. The more money you want to make, the more problems you’ll face, and the more wise you must be in solving problems. And I would say an assistant is definitely key in building your business. Wouldn’t you agree?

KS: Most definitely. It’s crucial in order for you to build your business. If you want to make $80,000+ monthly as a entrepreneur, or even if you are a current small business owner with a group of employees, and you’re making a few hundred grand already, how much of that are you taking home? If you look at that, and don’t have the right people in place to help build your business from the start, in order to help you implement the marketing campaigns, to help you with the follow ups, to help you with social media or to upgrade your website, or anything else that needs to be done to build your business, you’ll never make the kind of money you really want to make.

SA: I totally agree with you on that. You gotta make the adjustments where adjustments are needed.

KS: Yeah, and it’s hard to figure those things out on your own. At times, you may not see what’s right in front of you. That’s why people hire me or other people as their business or marketing coaches. I hire my own coaches because I can’t see all the holes of my business myself sometimes, and may not see every opportunity that’s right in front of me.

SA: Some small business owners may see marketing as an expense, but in reality it’s an investment. In your view, how much percentage wise should small business owners take out of their total revenue to put into marketing and why?

KS: Well there used to be a formula to calculate that when I was in advertising class, and that was 10 years ago. It used to be about 3%-6%. But not that doesn’t matter. You need to put back as much money as you can for the right places to get you going further. It’s not a matter of budgeting a certain percentage of money anymore. It’s about budgeting a percentage, but also looking out for other opportunities that are ahead, and not limiting yourself from taking advantage of those. Like for example, if there’s a huge event that you must become a exhibitor, and it’s $5,000 but it’s out of your budget. But you have to be there because everyone in your target market is going to be there, you better buck up and find out how you’ll get that $5,000. Don’t make that an excuse that you don’t have $5,000 and that’s why you’ll not go there. You need to be flexible.

SA: A majority of small business owners use social media for the wrong reason. They primarily use it to promote their products or services, which can turn off prospects. Name a few ways social media should be properly used to obtain leads and sales.

KS: The number one thing is you need to interact, you got to get personal, and you got to create a win-win situation, and you got to give. You got to give of yourself. Give content, give answers, give solutions in your posts and responses. Put a call to action in your P.S. Line. You just have to interact. Don’t just sit there and add a bunch of friends and not talk to them. You need some type of system to where when you someone to your friends list, you send them a message thanking them for adding you, or you post on their wall. You become a fan on their fan page and post over there. And then when they respond back you need to continue the conversation. It’s about continuing the conversation and figuring out what their problems are. I don’t tell them anything what I do, or how I can help, or what my products are services are until I find out what they need, if they need anything that I can help them with. Like they may need a virtual assistant, and I’ll just refer them to one. From me just helping them, I usually them hey I also have a website with a lot of free resources that they can sign up for, and then they usually opt in onto my list.

SA: So basically you lead first with helping them with a referral or anything of value that will help them out. And then you propose to them that they should view your information as well.

KS: Yes. You just pull them into your funnel. You got to have ways for them to get into your funnel. So you got to have a website where they can opt into your funnel. Your website should have a opt in box where you can input their name and email address to get onto your list. You must offer something for free for them opting in. You should have valuable resources on your website. You also need to have simple ways for prospects to follow you. That means telling them they can follow you on Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook.

SA: We are at a time now where information marketing is the best way to market yourself and build credibility for prospects to learn more about you and your business. How can small business owners make their content unique that stands out and helps them generate sales?

KS: Well you gotta create your own signature system or your own unique branding system. Something that is unique to use. Something that will separate you from the rest. Like I have my own Jump Start Your Marketing System. It’s a very systematic approach to how to start, grow, and market your business. Other marketers may have their own systems. You can give a talk, and then turn it into a free report. Then you can slim it down to the basic components, then fluff it up into a home study program that you can teach, then you can have a whole tele-series on your system. You can even have a whole live event. You can do so much when having your own unique branded system. I teach people how to do that, and even pull it out of you. Because sometimes we are already doing it, it’s just we don’t know what it looks like.

SA: What can small business owners do during this tough economy to generate continuous sales from their existing customers?

KS: First of all you want to stop thinking that it’s a tough economy. 90% of people that I know had their best year last year. You got to not think in your head that it’s a tough economy. You’re just talking to the wrong people that don’t want to buy from you. You need to talk to different types of people. You don’t need to discount your rates. In fact, you can even charge more and there are people that would be willing to pay it. You just aren’t talking to the right people through the right mediums, and you’re not marketing in the right ways. Things have changed, which is why I have said that you got to keep up with the pace of what’s going on, otherwise you’re going in get lost in the shuffle. It’s about changing your whole mindset around. The economy does not determine your business success.

SA: Do you have any other comments you would like to say to inspire readers looking to grow their business?

KS: Yes you really want to learn more. You don’t want to learn too much to the point that you’re not implementing. You want to learn and implement, learn and implement. It’s about continuous learning, and continuously taking the right action. If you don’t know what to do, you need to reach out to someone that can tell you or show you what you need to do. Whether if it’s a coach or if it’s a program, or a local business center or networking group, you need to invest your time and money to make that happen. This is how I developed a six-figure business, and I wouldn’t have got to where I did if I didn’t hire the coaches and staff to help me along the way. There’s just no way. Because I didn’t know how to change my business the way that I did, and leverage my time and expertise to really make this the kind of business that it is.

For more information on how to JumpStart your small business with creative ideas and a clear Action Plan to reach your unique target market and goals and for an opportunity to talk with Katrina Sawa in a complimentary Strategy Session, go grab your 3 Free Gifts online now at http://www.JumpStartYourMarketing.com/gifts.

Many large corporations know that in order for them to stay in business and keep sales high, they have to offer something that competitors are not. One example is Subway, who has been offering their 5$ foot long sandwich deal for the last two years. The result is that they’ve stole customers from competitors like Quiznos, and have expanded through opening up more stores in Sacramento and across the U.S.

Small businesses should also be offering something exclusive that other competitors are not offering. This makes customers feel like they’re getting something valuable that’s worth more than the price they paid. This will also drive customers to your store instead of your competitors, especially if you’re offering products similar to your competition.

Here are a few tips you should keep in mind when getting started on creating your exclusive offers:

Research your competition- Check out if they’re offering any kind of exclusive offerings. You can check out through visiting their website or through their ads. You can also try getting someone you know to call their office to get info about their offerings. Then upon gathering the data, you can provide something that is of more value to the customer than their offering.

Survey your existing customers- Find out what your current customers may see worth their money.  Chances are what your current customers will buy from your exclusive offer your target market will as well. Provide a short survey they can answer within a 15-30 minute period, and then gather the data to use towards developing your exclusive offer campaign.

Market your exclusive offer tremendously- Be confident that what you’re offering to buyers is worth every penny they pay for it, and that it’s only offered through you and no one else. You should have all your marketing materials like displays and banners ready to push your offer to the extreme. Then in time, new customers will be purchasing your offerings through consistently keeping your offerings in their minds.

Remember, exclusive offers set you apart from the competition, has the potential to steal customers from your competitors, and are a great way to show value to buyers.

For the week of June 8th through the 10th there will be several conference calls and a webinar discussing more about Qivana.  Learn more about how this opportunity is helping people involved with the company obtain wealth and financial freedom. People looking for business opportunities in order to supplement their income should definitely take part in one of the calls. Below are the following calls and webinars:

Tuesday & Thursday Qivana Recruiting Call- Qivana business overview.

3pm Hawaii / 6pm PST / 9pm EST, 712-432-7500 Pincode: 12834#

Qivana Wednesday Webinar

3pm Hawaii / 6pm PST / 9pm EST, www.QteamTV.com

Or you can listen to this presentation on the phone as well … 712-432-7500 Pincode: 12834#

For anyone who is taking part in one of these calls or the webinar email me at sheldon.marketing@yahoo.com to let me know that you’re taking part in the call. I would like to talk to listeners after the call, so sending me your name and phone number would also be great. I hope to hear from anyone involved in the call.

I came back from church on Sunday and my pastor was giving a word out to everyone in attendance. His message was seven people who will always fail. One of those people that always fail is people who think they know everything.  Though this was given through a biblical perspective today at church, it also applies when it comes to running a small business and through network marketing.

If you have a plan, and nobody can tell you otherwise on if it’ll work or not, make sure it at least has potential to work. For you don’t want to keep hitting your head if you’re implementing the same thing and achieving no results. One example is when communicating with prospects. For most of your business will be conducted through talking to others, saying the right thing to the wrong people or the wrong thing to the right people will cause you to fail every time.

When starting a MLM home-based business, don’t plan to go at it alone. You need some mentors that can be there to help you and provide tips and strategies for you. Always try and have a plan of your own that you want to use, and tell your mentors what your plans are. Don’t let them talk you out of your plans if they’re good, but allow them to provide ideas to enhance your current plans. You want to make sure you’re spending the least amount of time and money as possible when building your business.

With a good attitude and being teachable, you’ll see results. Other people will be more willing to help you and connect with you. And besides, having a bad attitude and thinking you know everything will be reflected onto your prospects. If you don’t think they’ll pick up on that, they will and will be ready to evacuate from the phone with you.

With most people money hungry and wanting to sponsor as many people as they can, good mentors are hard to find. Once you have one, never leave him or her out of your sight.