- price
- location
- or likability
And while that strategy can work for those who have dropped their prices to the bottom, are located in easy reach or have a huge following of people, I believe there are better strategies than just being a clone.
Crazy and Insane Business and Marketing Strategies!
Because we have discovered that you can charge higher prices, be located in the middle of nowhere or even be unknown and still get many customers who keep coming back and telling other people. You can do this by being different; attain this by being slightly insane.
Here are 5 insane business and marketing strategies that have, and will work.
Use them as they are or even better, put your own crazy spin on them.
#1 Insane Business And Marketing Strategies: Short Animated Videos
What if you were to have an animator create a video of you with a big head and a little body telling the world about your newest product or taking them on a tour of your offices or manufacturing facilities.
Overall, people love animation. Think of Pixar and Disney and grab that attention with some short animation.
#2 Insane Business And Marketing Strategies: Over-The-Top Contest Awards
Want to get people jumping into a contest you are putting on via social media or your website to bring attention to your business? Offer a prize that is seemingly “over-the-top.”
- An all expense trip to Moscow, Russia
- Win a racehorse
- A free hang gliding learning adventure
- Etc…
Creativity is the answer. Just come up with an insane prize and watch as potential customers chaotically follow and join the melee.
#3 Insane Business And Marketing Strategies: Go Out In The Streets With Samples And Someone Video Taping
Let’s say you want to get attention to your new, all-natural energy drink flavored like bacon…
How about you take samples; wear a farmer outfit and have your employee who is videoing wear a pig costume.
Have people try your new product and film their reactions.
Just be sure and get written permission from each person before posting the video.
Again, use your creativity.
#4 Insane Business And Marketing Strategies: Brand Graffiti
I have viewed some amazing graffiti in my travels to various worldwide locations.
Why not commission a great graffiti artist to do a cool design on the side of your building or ask if it could be done in another location.
A cool artistic design depicting your brand and the problem it solves. And you could also have the artist add your website, social page or even store location somehow in the design.
But make sure you get permission. Some towns have strict laws against graffiti.
#5 Insane Business And Marketing Strategies: Complete And Crazy Honesty
Sometimes in marketing, we are honest, but we don’t tell everything. So your product will not stand up to a rock hitting it… Show people by throwing a rock at your product and breaking it.
Huh???
“Sure, our windows do not stand the rock test, but they will hold out the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter. Plus, they tilt in for easy cleaning.”
It works! Crazy honesty works!
Coca Cola proved with an ad when they said they were sorry, but they are responsible for the obesity in America. And people ran out to buy a Coke.
Conclusion
Thinking outside the box is a great way to gain attraction to your brand.
So do me a favor… Try something odd and then come back here and tell us about it. We would love to hear some crazy stories.
And by the way, go here and scroll down and sign up to get How To Create A Crazy Profitable Website. I know you will enjoy that checklist too… And it’s free.
Let’s get your brand rising…
To The Top!
5 Ways To Invest In Yourself
- stocks
- bonds
- cryptocurrency
- etc…
I want to ask you, what is the main item in your life that needs to grow?
The answer in my opinion is looking at you in the mirror.
Yourself!
“There is no more profitable investment than investing in yourself. It is the best investment you can make; you can never go wrong with it. It is the true way to improve yourself to be the best version of you and lets you be able to best serve those around you.” Roy T. Bennett
Because if you grow, everything else will grow with you.
So in today’s post, I am going to share 5 ways to invest in yourself. Each and every one of these can help you grow your inner being to help you enlarge your outer being.
Invest In Yourself #1: At Least One Book Per Month
Reading is a great way to learn and grow. I suggest you find one book to read at least monthly if not more. And you can read regular books, books on an e-reader like Kindle or even listen to audio books.
Do you want a book to start with?
You can get my book, To The Top by clicking here.
“Income seldom exceeds personal development.” Jim Rohn
Invest In Yourself #2: Take Control Of Your Financial Well-Being
Are you enslaved to debt? If you don’t have control over your saving and spending, debt will control you!
Now is all debt bad? Not necessarily, but if you are fighting to pay that bill, it just may be bad; bad for your health.
So how is this related to investing in yourself?
The investment comes in learning from experts about controlling your finances. Learning how to pay down those overwhelming debts and how to save for the future. There are several experts that are focused on helping people learn how to be financially wise:
- Dave Ramsey
- Chris Hogan
- and Grant Cardone
Plus, a few years back, I put a team together to develop an app to help you budget your money coming in and going out. Learn more about The Expense Tracker here.
“Believing and investing in yourself is the best way to shift your thinking from a paradigm of excuses to one of solutions.” Farshad Asl
Invest In Yourself #3: Advanced Education
Many colleges and universities offer online or night courses to help people learn more. You may consider a course in
- accounting
- creative writing
- marketing
- etc…
Any extra education is a great investment in you and your business future.
“Personal development is a major time-saver. The better you become, the less time it takes you to achieve your goals.” Brian Tracy
Invest In Yourself #4: Exercise
By taking care of your physical health, investing time in exercise, you will help your business and family life substantially.
All it takes is scheduling a daily exercise system. You may want to get up ½ – 1 hour earlier and walk, jog, or do any number of other exercises.
The Return On Investment is huge.
“Spend time loving yourself more. Engage in self-care. Invest time, attention, and care into yourself. No relationship is more important in your life than the relationship you have with yourself.” Akiroq Brost
Invest In Yourself #5: Erase Negatives
The Earth is made up of both positive and negative energy. And when I say erase the negatives, I know that it is nearly impossible to get rid of all negatives. After all, when we read a newspaper, at least 50% of it will be negative. Television is full of negatives. And there are many negative people in the world.
But you have choices!
- You can skip the negative news stories in that newspaper.
- Turn the television off or watch only positive shows.
- Stay clear of negative people.
Focus on positive energy and you will have a positive attitude. When negative tries to creep in, slam the door in its face.
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Conclusion
There are many other ways to invest in yourself. But I suggest you start with these and I will write more on this subject at a later time.
Plus, share with us how you are investing in yourself.
You can share all comments and questions below.
Thanks and have a great day!
To The Top!
Master Entrepreneur – 5 Disciplines
While nearly anyone can start a business, very few can keep that business running the way that it should. That is why a large percentage of businesses fail within their first year of operation.
It takes certain disciplines to ensure a business runs properly and profitably.
Not all entrepreneurs start off with these disciplines; they must be learned and adapted to the business situation.
In today’s post, I am going to share 5 disciplines every master entrepreneur should have. And you can have them too by practicing them on a daily basis.
#1: Master Entrepreneur Disciplines: Analyzing The Market
You may think you have a great idea for a product or service, but does the market agree?
Have you analyzed the market? Have you polled, tested or even asked others who have businesses within that particular market segment?
The master entrepreneur knows before he/she puts the product or service on the market if that market is genuinely needs or wants the idea they have.
And no matter what, your focus should always be on the market… the customer. As they change, you will need to change too.
#2: Master Entrepreneur Disciplines: A Detailed Business Plan
It has been said that failing to plan is planning to fail.
Master entrepreneurs know that they must create a detailed business plan. This plan should include:
- An executive summary – This is a basic overview of the most important stuff. What the company does, how it will make money and why people will pay
- The market – This explains who the primary customers will be. You will want to narrow it down; demographics, gender, ages, etc…
- The competition – You want to list your main competitors and what makes you different.
- Your team – Employees and contractors go here.
- The business model/format – This is where you list out where money comes in and where it goes out.
- Projections – Here is where you predict how much money will the business make. You should look both short and long term here.
By having a detailed business plan, you and your team members can refer to it to keep on track. Also, that plan should always be open to change.
#3: Master Entrepreneur Disciplines: Budgeting
This is one of the discipline areas that can destroy a business quickly. Spending more than you are making has filled bankruptcy courts with small businesses.
You need to keep track of every cent going out and coming in.
As an entrepreneur who faced this struggle, I developed an application to help. And now I have many entrepreneurs thanking me for it… You can get The Expense Tracker here.
#4: Master Entrepreneur Disciplines: Stay True To Your Word
As entrepreneurs we are often moving at one thousand miles per second. If we are not careful, we can forget promises. And that can hurt badly. And that does not just mean promises you make to other people, it also means promises you make to yourself.
I suggest you carry a daily planner and refer to it often to make sure you are being true to your word.
#5: Master Entrepreneur Disciplines: Knowing Your Strengths And Weaknesses
I have yet to find a business that is a success as a result of one person. Sure, an entrepreneur may own and manage many of the tasks to keep that business running, but he/she will have to seek out help in areas they are weak in. It could be an employee, family member, partner or freelance contractor.
By knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you can plan out which areas you can handle and the areas you will need help in.
I suggest you take some time and determine your strong and weak areas so you know where you will need help.
Conclusion
By mastering these 5 disciplines, you can become a master entrepreneur.
I know because it has helped me and I know they can help you take your life and business…
To The Top!
Overcoming Mediocrity – 4 Tips
Mediocrity is a nightmare for entrepreneurs. Looking at the definition of mediocrity, we find it says that it is the state of not being very good at something, or just being average.
Average and entrepreneurship are similar to oil and water; they don’t mix.
We just cannot fall into the trap of thinking average is okay.
Today, I am going to give you 4 tips for overcoming mediocrity.
“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.” Fulton J. Sheen
Overcoming Mediocrity Tip #1: Go With Passion And The Money Will Come
I have met people who have a lot of money but are living in mediocrity. They work that 9 to 5 job that they detest but stay with it because the pay is good. And I would wager that their job performance is average or worse.
They are living a life of mediocrity.
But I have also known people who had a passion. They left their decent paying job to follow their passion. People told them there was no money in it and they just smiled and kept striving forward.
They followed their passion and the money came making the people who told them different “eat crow.”
Mediocrity was not in their vocabulary.
“True power lies in our ability to be whole within ourselves. This is how we make a difference. This is how we start a revolution of inclusion.” Renee Raville
Overcoming Mediocrity Tip #2: Goals And Objectives
This is a top tip in defeating mediocrity. When we set goals; when we set BIG goals, we strive to reach those goals and in doing so, we rise well above the mediocre zone. But lofty goals should not be your only focus… Set small goals too!
When you successfully complete those smaller goals that directly relate to the huge goals, you gain bursts of amazing energy.
Objectives… These are the steps to reach each goal.
Let’s say your goal is to gain 200 followers on Twitter in 1 week. Your objectives could be:
- Actively follow 200 Twitter users yourself.
- Share 3 pieces of your own educational content.
- Post 4 images of your business operations.
- Answer any questions or messages from other Twitter users.
“Mediocrity never goes away – but neither, I hope, do those who are willing to challenge it.” Milos Forman
Overcoming Mediocrity Tip #3: Don’t Allow The Majority To Guide You
What would be if:
- The Wright Brothers would have listened to the majority? Would Delta or American Airlines even be in existence?
- Milton Hershey would have listened to the majority and just went back to farming? No chocolate bars?
- Michael Jordan – “You’re too short to play basketball!” That would have hurt several brands… Nike for one.
If we follow the majority’s lead, we are going down mediocrity’s tunnel.
“It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us.” Isaac D’Israeli
Overcoming Mediocrity Tip #4: Don’t Accept Mediocrity From Others
Time and time again, I watch as humans accept mediocrity. The steak they ordered comes overcooked and they allow it to pass with fear they will upset the chef or wait staff.
They allow the cashier at the store to not smile and treat them as royalty.
They visit a Doctor who is overweight.
The world is more and more accepting of mediocrity. But I believe if we allow others to serve us in a mediocre fashion, the mediocrity will “creep” into our thoughts and actions.
“But I don’t want to seem like a jerk!”
Neither do I, and you don’t have to.
- With a smile, “I’m sorry but I ordered a medium steak. This is well done; maybe the orders were confused.”
- “Are you having a bad day? I thought we came to (brand store) where all the employees smile and laugh.”
- “Hello Doctor, I came to get a checkup and I was going to ask you about getting my weight to an optimal level, but maybe I should go to a weight specialist.” (Yes, it seems like something a jerk would say, but… Shouldn’t a Doctor practice what they preach?)
If you don’t want to be mediocre, you just cannot allow others to be mediocre in your presence.
“Mediocrity would always win by force of numbers, but it would win only more mediocrity.” Ellen Glasgow
Conclusion
You are not mediocre! Don’t allow yourself to slip into it.
How does Eric know this?
Because you are reading and have read this post all the way. The mediocre person would have jumped to the next website that validates their mediocrity.
Here is another resource to help you rise above mediocrity… I wrote the book To The Top and it will also show you ways to overcome the average. Get your copy here.
Do you have any questions or comments? Post them below, and I will soon see you rising…
To The Top!
The 7 Most Important Questions Every Entrepreneur Must Ask Themselves
To take the route to success as an entrepreneur, there are 7 extremely important questions you should ask yourself and also answer.
These may seem, at first, simple questions; but when you really consider it, they can be complicated and will take some serious “brain power.”
So, what are these important questions?
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- Why?
- When?
- How?
- and How Much?
In today’s post, I want to take you through each of these questions. Questions you shouldn’t take lightly.
I suggest as we go through each one, you have a pencil and notepad out and you begin answering these questions for yourself. You may even want to bring in a trusted person to brainstorm these answers with you.
- Your spouse,
- mentor,
- friend,
- or close family member.
7 Important Questions
I am going with order of importance here…
Important Questions #1: Why?
Answer this: Why do you want to be an entrepreneur? Why are you choosing this path over working a normal 9 to 5 job?
But that isn’t all the why’s you need to answer…
Why this niche?
Why this product or service?
And, why this (or these) partners (if you choose to have partners)?
Why this business format?
These are just a few why’s you should answer. Keep free space in your notepad because after you start moving along, you WILL discover more why’s you will want to answer.
- Why this software?
- Or, why this sales script?
- Why this employee or contractor?
When you can answer your why’s, you are a step ahead of a large percentage of entrepreneurs.
Important Questions #2: What?
There are 2 what questions you should ask and answer:
- What problem can I solve?
- And what product or service will I develop and sell?
After you start rolling with these 2 what questions, there is another what question that will come into play… What adjustments can we make to make it faster, better and/or more cost efficient?
Important Questions #3: When?
So when will you start? That is the when question and the best answer in the majority of cases is…
Now!
Important Questions #4: How?
The question of how requires a plan. How to manufacture; how to market; how to deliver on time.
All of these hows must be answered and it is best that you do so in a written plan. There will probably be more how questions that pop up from time to time. Do not procrastinate on answering the how questions.
Important Questions #5: Where?
This is an obvious… Where will you run the business from? Will you buy or rent property? Maybe you can manage it from your own home to start.
There is one other where question you should focus on too. Where exactly is your target market at? You can’t assume your target market will come to you, you have to go where they are.
Important Questions #6: Who?
Who is a never ending question for entrepreneurs. I would say that the who question will be asked daily. A few examples of the who question may be:
- Who should I take on as a partner or partners?
- Who should handle marketing?
- Also, who is my best tribe member to manage while I am away?
- Who has the best tools to grow my business?
- Etc…
Remember that as an entrepreneur, you need to recruit others to cover your weak areas. So you will be asking who quite often.
Important Questions #7: How Much?
I know there are many of you saying, “Oh, I know what Eric means here; how much should I charge?”
Yes, that is a how much question you need to ask and answer. But, you also need to be willing to delve into some other how much questions. And when you are given an answer, you need to determine if the Return On Investment (ROI) is worth it.
How much is that software?
How much do you charge for a website?
Etc…
Conclusion
The importance of entrepreneurs answering these 7 questions is high!
I do suggest you write them down and continue to refer to your answers.
I want to share one last thing… Several years ago, I developed an app that has helped many entrepreneurs manage their budgets. It helps you keep track of that ROI I mentioned.
The Expense Tracker allows you to keep every expenditure and payment all in one spot which will help you keep tight control of your money. And the advantages when tax time comes is the greatest… CPA or Auditor… “Can we see those receipts?” You: “Sure (as you open the Expense Tracker)”.
Check out how you can start using the Expense Tracker here.
Hey, thanks for stopping by and do ask any questions you have below.
To The Top!
5 Tips To Help You Master Content Marketing
Yes, content marketing does come in all these forms and I would add one other form, superb or exceptional. And finding superb content marketing is not simple, but there are some who have mastered it and supply the best of the best.
It is a skill you must develop, an art you must master. Today, I want to help you do so. Here are 5 tips to help you master content marketing.
Master Content Marketing Tip #1: Your Content Needs To Focus On A Target Audience
Sometimes we are so “caught up” in having thousands upon thousands of readers that we generate content that is too broad. We are trying to write to all readers and in reality, few will actually read it and even fewer will buy what we are selling.
The key is to write content that is focused on your target market. Having 100 target market readers that will convert is better than having 500 readers of a broad range and no conversion.
Master Content Marketing Tip #2: Make It High Quality
There is tons of content on the internet that rates as average, mediocre. And while the average post gets some readers and even some buyers, the few that make sure their content goes over and above average are the ones who are getting leads, sign-ups and sales.
So instead of publishing 5 average posts per week, it is better to publish 2 superb posts per week.
Master Content Marketing Tip #3: Give Your Readers A Way To Share
Word of mouth is one of the best marketing methods in the world. And in content marketing, sharing via social media is the same thing as word of mouth.
But how do you get your readers to share?
Make it easy for them. You should have share buttons on each blog post or article so readers can easily click and share with their friends and family. Have buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc….
Master Content Marketing Tip #4: To Make A Plan, Ask Yourself Questions
You need to answer the why’s, what for’s and hows to effectively plan a content marketing strategy…
- Why would I market my content on social media?
- Who will read my content?
- What is the target’s problems/pain points?
- How can I convince them to convert?
- And, How can I keep my current customers?
As you are brainstorming a content marketing plan, keep these questions and more importantly, the answers to them in the front of your mind. This will help you generate a content marketing plan that meets needs (both your needs and your market’s needs), and is a huge success.
Master Content Marketing Tip #5: Be A Storyteller
The best content marketers have a “knack” of slipping short stories into the content they generate. Humans love stories and you will keep the interest of the reader by casually implementing a story or two into the content you right.
I have read some content that I immediately assumed would be boring because of the need for statistics and other stuff that can be monotonous to read. But the writer integrated stories in the midst of the boring stuff and brought the content to life.
Conclusion
One of the biggest keys to marketing via content is consistency. You cannot just write a piece and assume it will “carry” you. You need to keep them coming.
I want to help you even more… Click here to get the 8 Step Checklist on How To Create A Crazy Profitable Website. And just click the box that says, I Want My Checklist Now.
Do you have any questions? Just post them below.
Thank you and have a great day…
To The Top!
@ERICTIPPETTS
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