2 Ways To Become A Millionaire

So here’s the thing… we all want to become millionaires, right? Yes, for the most part. But most of us haven’t reached this goal yet or we believe (our inside voices) that we probably can’t or won’t. Well, think positive. There are two ways that you can put yourself on the path to becoming a millionaire, but you have to work hard and you have to remain steadfast.

First, write down 3-5 of the best people in the world who do what you do. Yes, there are others… if there wasn’t, you’d already be a millionaire. So, write down the names and then write down one step you know each person took to get to where they are at. Now, you have a road map and you just have to develop your very own plan that can mirror it.

Second, show up. I know people who want to strike it rich. They create a product or service, they launch it, they walk away and head to their latest and greatest idea. Well, where is the investment? It takes more than money to make something work for you. You have to invest time and effort and energy and love and so forth. Anyone can invest in creating a product or service, but not everyone is willing to show up to promote it and sell it and really go to bat for it. Create a routine and move your life forward by showing up for what it is that you work on. Think about it in book terms. If you hire a ghostwriter to create a book for you, it’s done. There is no love. You can sell it but are you really showing up for it? Now, let’s say you work on the book yourself for a year. You believe in it. You’ve loved it. You’ve hated it. You are more likely to really believe in it and pitch it and see it through to your earned success.

If you take my advice, and I hope you will, these two steps will put you on the right path to becoming a millionaire.

Velma Trayham

3 Things You Need To Do Right Now

August 5th, 2015 -  3 Things You Need To Do Right Now

If you want to know how to succeed in business, stop overthinking everything. We tend to overthink and not listen, which can be problematic for many business owners. We have this need to pitch, to sell- not to listen. Well, the truth is that we have to get out of our own head-space and consider the customer’s needs. To help you do this, I have created a list of 3 Things You Need To Do Right Now in order to get out of your head and into that of your customers…..

1. Stop focusing on what your competition is doing right. Who cares! You need to focus on what your customers need from you. Yes, it really is this simple. If you spend too much time looking at your competition then you’re not spending enough time looking at your customer…..

2. Focus on customer service. We forget this. We look at how we can be innovative or how we can spend more time “connecting” on social media. Be personal. Make phone calls. Send cards. Say “thank you” more often. Be involved, outside of social media, with your customers. Yes, this will pay off.

3. If your heart is not in it, neither are you. If you’re feeling like you need a mental health day to shut your phone off and regroup, do it. Nothing is worse than painfully working with a client when you are mentally somewhere else. If you’re truly in a funk, work your way out of it without working alongside the client. If this means refunding money and cancelling a session or service- do it. Your worst performance can be reviewed online and there is no fixing it.

Until tomorrow,
Velma Trayham

August 04, 2015 - Gaining Control Over Social Media

Tonight I want to address an issue I am seeing on an continued basis. Your personal online content. I read a terrible Facebook rant over the weekend and I’m sickened that a publicist would put her hateful opinions for clients and peers to read on her personal Facebook page.

Now, some of you might say that it is her personal page. Sure it is, it is just archived onto Google’s search engine for the world to read. Sure, the publicist is entitled to her hateful opinion - but she is going to have business lost because of it. Peers will soon catch on to her hateful rants and stop referring her out to overload business.

I can’t stress enough that nothing you write is personal anymore. Friends can quickly become enemies and take screen shots of your “private” social media accounts for all the world to see- including your clients!  Don’t ever write anything on your personal pages that you wouldn’t want to proudly read- out-loud- in front of a client or potential client.

As a publicist, I want you to know that you no longer have a personal life. Your clients’ lives are your obligation- both personally and professionally- when it comes to branding and visibility. Voicing your own opinions online (even via a personal account) will harm your own reputation- right or wrong. This is the culture we live in, and as a publicist you are in the public eye.......

Keep it professional and keep those negative or opinionated posts off of social media!

Velma Trayham

Monday Book Recommendation

I want to start recommending books that I have read and have found helpful in my continuing journey as an entrepreneur. Success doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t come easy. While everyone may have advice for you, the best thing I can say is to create your own path. You should learn from others but apply it to your own situation. Don’t copy others because then you’re simply repacking an existing idea.

All this said, my first Monday Book recommendation is called ‘The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future’. I am in NO way affiliated with this book. I don’t know who wrote it nor do I have a relationship with anyone who worked on it. I simply love the content and feel that it can help so many of you, too. Here’s the link to buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/100-Startup-Reinvent-Living-Create/dp/0307951529/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1438646501&sr=8-13&keywords=business

It’s over 300 pages and there is a video trailer on the Amazon site for the book. I love this book because it doesn’t present a roadmap as to how you can get rich. Instead, it presents options to really look at yourself, what you want, and how to get yourself in the right mindset to get there… even if it is with only $100!

When you’re doing reading this book, please share your thoughts with me. I am eager to read what you liked and hated about this book.

Until next time,

Velma Trayham

Gaining Control Over Social Media!

Tonight I want to address an issue I am seeing on an continued basis. Your personal online content. I read a terrible Facebook rant over the weekend and I’m sickened that a publicist would put her hateful opinions for clients and peers to read on her personal Facebook page.

Now, some of you might say that it is her personal page. Sure it is, it is just archived onto Google’s search engine for the world to read. She is entitled to her hateful opinion but she is going to have business lost to it. Peers will soon catch on and stop referring her too. I will not repeat what she said, only that it is filled with hate and aimed at a certain demographic of sexually orientated people.

I can’t stress enough that nothing you write is personal anymore. Friends can quickly become enemies and take screen shots of your “private” social media accounts for all the world to see.  Don’t ever write anything on your personal pages that you wouldn’t want to proudly read- out-loud- in front of a client or potential client.

As a publicist, you don’t have a personal life. Your clients’ lives are your obligation- both personally and professionally when it comes to branding and visibility. Voicing your own opinions online (even via a personal account) will harm your own reputation- right or wrong, this is the culture we live in.

Keep it professional and keep those negative or opinionated posts off of social media!

Velma Trayham

Promoting Your Business with PR

Public relations is about managing the media and developing a brand. It isn’t about making someone famous through managing appearances or mingling with celebrities – which is one of the biggest misconceptions to date.

Public relations professionals don’t book work or appearances outside of media interviews, talent or literary agents do this. Public relations professionals book media appearances based on what a client is doing. If you have to do the work yourself (you can’t quite obtain a publicist just yet), please pay attention to my top 3 common PR mistakes listed below.

1. It is two different things entirely to pitch news your clients force you to pitch against your better judgment and pitch something to a reporter without the thought of you believing it is news in the first place.

2. Your timeline isn’t what the press cares about. In fact, you need to care what the media’s timelines are. I recently read this piece of advice and couldn’t agree more. “Let’s say you are sending a Christmas wish list to a monthly magazine. When do you send that pitch? October? August? Try June or July.

3. Know the news. Everyone thinks their clients are special, and they are. However, you will not get your clients picked up by every single news outlet. In fact, for every 500 outlets pitched, expect a 3% return and not right away. Remember, editorial calendars exist!

As you move forward, you will create connections that will make it easier for you to pick up the phone and bump competing press agents and their stories. Until then, follow the rules and don’t make these 3 major mistakes.

Velma Trayham

How to Engage Anyone…

In business you will have to engage and charm anyone and everyone. You have to know how to speak with people. You have to get employees to follow your vision. The media to pick-up your idea. You have to sell clients your concept or products. There is a lot of work to be done in the person-to-personal intercommunications realm.  So, how do you do this effectively? 3 simple steps.

1. Treat others as they want to be treated. Don’t treat everyone nicely or how YOU want to be treated, treat them how they want to be treated. If someone hates candy, why send a box of candy to all of your clients during a holiday season? Be personal. Call people by name, remember minor details and use them.

2. Say goodbye to your smartphone for two days straight. Yes, two days. Why? It will help you focus on people. When you do this, you will see exactly what I mean. After you do this, and you see the positive results, you will be able to tuck that phone away during meetings and other important events. Showing up is important and you can’t fully do this – or engage anyone- if your head is engaged with your own phone as the primary distraction.

3. Know the difference between a fact and an opinion and use this properly. Don’t talk about people using opinions and don’t talk about business without incorporating facts.  Only offer your opinion when you feel it will help someone and never say anything negative about anyone to anyone. It will come back and bite you. Be factual and helpful, not a gossip or a know-it-all.

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham

A Business Secret You Can't Ignore

Here is the secret to becoming successful before even opening your business.. Pay talent in equity if you can’t afford to pay them right away. It’s very hard to attract talent w to help you grow your business when you’re strapped for cash. I learned, early on that is, that if you pay individuals with a percentage of ownership of the company then they will be actually invested in your company and not simply invested in a paycheck – plus you’re saving money.

Some people like to hire interns. This action could be a win-win for both parties but it also comes with a risk. At some point the intern is going to leave for a paying job or -worst yet- will start his or her own company. You have to be aware that if this happens that the intern can take anything you may have taught him or her… including clients… can move forward with a bigger, better plan and possibly more money than you have. If you are considering getting an intern, understand that you should also have an NDA and other legal documents in place to protect you and your ideas.


Paying talent in equity is one of the best and most affordable options for people seeking to start-up any type of business. They get to buy into a business without coming up with cash and you gain someone who truly cares about the growth of your company without having to pay cash. Sure, you’re giving away a percentage of equity, but isn’t this a good thing if they can make your company grow?
That’s my food for thought tonight!

Velma Trayham

3 Easy PR Tips

Someone asked me recently if I had a super tip that would blast them into PR wonderland. Well, I have 3 tips that everyone should know about PR and practice, but they aren’t going to “blast you into wonderland.” Publicity is a layered approach and it requires practice and the development of relationships. There is no such thing as overnight success- unless you’re only looking for 15 minutes of fame.

So, here are my 3 PR tips;

1. You need to be your own brand. Don’t let an interview, introduction, or any other opportunity go by without telling someone who you are, how you can help, and what your tag line is.

2. Your tag line should be a phrase that explains what you do and why you’re better! For example, Burger Kind’s is “Home of the Whopper”. They sell Whoppers. They are the only company that sells Whoppers. Period. BTW – There was no Whopper until Burger King branded it this way…..

3. Don’t stop selling – it’s not shameless to plug yourself, as long as you do it honorably. If you meet a radio show host, talk yourself up but do so in a way that he or she would see how having you would benefit the audience- not yourself. Remember, you have to solve a problem for someone in order to present media value. Often, this problem solving comes in the way of providing expertise or industry insight.


Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Writing Copy for the Media

I was thinking about the conference the other day when I came across a poorly composed press release.  You see, writing separates the stringers from the professionals. No matter how many connections you have, if you can't write- you will fail. Period!

This said, I wanted to share the top 3 writing mistakes YOU need to avoid. If you don't, your peers will look at you like a stringer and you will not obtain any respect within the media relations field.

1. "At the end of the day"  - Do not ever use this. You should be able to write your point without having to point it out. If you have to write a "look at me" tag, the rest of your writing is fluff and journalists will hate it and laugh at it.

2. "I know you're busy" - If you're using this in a pitch or  a sales letter, slap yourself on the wrist. Everyone is busy. Writing this phrase just wastes more of the reader's time and it sounds corny. Avoid using this phrase at all costs.

3. "In this day in age" - Ok, first- we all assume that you are writing about the present. If not, why are you writing at all. The goal is to be media savvy and relevant. This phrase is ad copy and doesn't have a place in the PR world.

I hope this info. helps you become a better writer and understand what separates the true professional from the wannabe.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Live Events & PR

People often believe that because they host a special event that the media will flock to it and blanket it with coverage. This statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Hosting an event means you have to work harder to obtain pre-press efforts and actually get the media to attend the event.

Here are a few pointers on obtaining actual media coverage for your next event;

1. Promote your keynote speaker. Make sure the press knows who is going to speak, what the overall message is, and then send soundbites after the event is over (within 24 hours).

2. Be clear about a theme. When promoting the event (pre and post production), make sure you explain why it is newsworthy and beneficial to the business industry or community at hand.

3. Don’t have a self-interest. Reporters will see through awards and acknowledgements in exchange for actual media coverage. Instead, invite them for their expertise on a panel and make sure you include social media interaction as part of the event and conversation.

4. Take an outside perspective on the event. Sure, it is important to you, but why would it be important to someone who doesn’t know you? The answer to this question will mean the difference between media attendance and media coverage.

I hope this information helps you secure actual media coverage for your next big event.

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham

How to Waste Time

Do you know how to NOT waste time? Really think about your answer first. In a culture of social media “pings” and feeling like everything has to be done NOW …. more of us actually waste time versus being productive.

The Eisenhower Box method has been tested again and again. It is the best method to use when preventing time from being wasted while boosting productivity. So, what is the Eisenhower Box method?

Basically, this method states one should separate actions based on four possibilities. The possibilities are:

Urgent and important (tasks you will do immediately).
Important, but not urgent (tasks you will schedule to do later).
Urgent, but not important (tasks you will delegate to someone else).
Neither urgent nor important (tasks that you will eliminate).

If you look at every single item that comes across your desk, iPhone, tablet, etc. and apply one of these four possibilities to it – you will not waste time. The Eisenhower Box method is all about assessing and addressing by making an immediate decision on every potential and actionable item.

For today, start apply this method and notice how much you get done and how quickly it gets done. I promise you the productivity in your life will go up and you still will have more time left at the end of the day.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Overexposure 101

Overexposure is a very real thing. Publicists often have to walk a fine line when working with co-PR management (film, music, cross generational brands, etc.) to ensure that messaging and promotion is effective and not so heavy that fans or customers feel sickened by it.

Molly Tullis recently covered overexposure and I feel she captured it perfectly. She said, “In the summer of 2013, the Jennifer Lawrence love affair was at an all-time high. The Hunger Games had come out a year earlier, she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Role in the Silver Linings Playbook, and hit a home-run by saying all the right things about body image and young girls. But by December I was waiting for the imminent backlash. I didn’t have to wait long. Before she could cash her paycheck signed out to Katniss, Jennifer Lawrence was fielding reports that she was obnoxious, ‘everywhere’, and people were incredibly “sick and bored of her.” Ironic that a culture that had obsessively gorged on her girl-next-door charms felt sick soon after. Of course she was everywhere – we put her there. The same phenomenon happened with Reese Witherspoon and Anne Hathaway before her. We loved them, we put them on every cover, we give them sponsorships, and while they’re still walking red carpets, they’re consistently fielding comments such as: “I don’t know why… I just don’t like her.”

Here’s the thing- there is no measurement to predict overexposure. It has to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. If you look at Molly’s comments above, think about Jared Leto. He won the Oscar. He is in a successful band. He has his own streaming company for entertainers. He is practically everywhere and yet- he has no overexposure risk. I think this is because he is collectively evenly spread out (as a brand) across different mediums that cater to different audiences.

My point tonight is this, pay attention to your measurements and what audiences are saying on social media. The moment whispers start to turn south, pull interviews and reevaluate your publicity plan.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Making It Rain…. Sales

I’ve been asked time and time again about sales and how to get more of them. Well, there is one sure-fire way to get sales but it is a practiced art and it shouldn’t be the only sales funnel you rely upon. So, what is the one way to actually improve sales?

Notes. Yes, take notes. If you don’t take notes, you likely won’t remember what’s said or what commitments you or the customer made to each other. Plus, when you take detailed notes during a cold call or an initial conversation, you can make your follow-up more personal, which will resonate with the customer and lead to better chances of closing a deal.

I have found that we often spend so much time selling ourselves and pitching our products and services that we fail to listen. We fail to take notes. We fail to solve the problem for the customer vs. selling the customer on solving the problem. Hint: The customer knows they have a problem. They don’t want to hear that you can solve it, they want you to understand how they feel and then have you understand their point of view. Once you can convey that you understand how they feel (again, through detailed follow-up via your notes), then you can ask for their business and start to really close deals and increase sales.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

One Habit Harming Your Business

I’m going to share the most vital of business tip I can – you have a bad habit. In fact, most entrepreneurs do. I had to become aware of this bad habit, which is why I am passing it on to you. Once you become aware of this habit then you can start to work on breaking it.

So, what’s the habit? Living in the past. Yes, the past. You see, dwelling in the past keeps you from moving forward. It is important that you do whatever it takes to bury the past so you can come into the now. You can’t think about mistakes or should’ves. You really have to focus on planning to move forward and think about possibilities.

People who live in the past or judge the present based on how they have experienced the past tend to be dreamers, not do’ers. It is important that you are both. I use to live in the past. I thought about all the money and time wasted learning lessons and thought how impossible it seemed for me to move forward. Then, one day, after realizing that I was frozen by my past , I decided to dive right into my future. I worked on shrugging off irrational fears of what could happen again and made a plan to move forward and prevent these things from happening again. I didn’t become glued to past results, I worked on moving forward because of the past results.

If you can learn to move forward from the past, you will be successful. There is no question in my mind about this strategy. So, I ask you today, what about your past is making you fearful about moving forward today? Whatever it is, address it and then figure out a plan to move beyond it.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Rules For DIY Publicity

I want to talk today, a bit more than usual, about DIY publicity. Contacting the press is tricky. You should follow AP standards but you shouldn’t cookie-cut pitches, advisories, etc. Remember, PR is about relationships- not press releases! This said, I have 3 tips for you when it comes to writing and sending emails to the media.

1. Your focus should be on the subject line. Press members are busy! They are pitched by people they do know and don’t know 100 times a day. Plus, they receive emails from peers, their boss, publicists responding to story requests, friends, family, SPAM… their email boxes are flooded. If the email header reads “press release” or “media advisory”… don’t bother sending it. You need a subject line that will stop traffic.

2. Don’t BS a reporter. They hate hype. They can spot hype a mile away. If you use any type of promotional verbs or nouns, they will not only NOT cover you- many will put you on blast via social media. Reporters like quick facts and credible resources.

3. Attach this. Reporters are not going to open an attachment. Forget it. If they’re interested, they will follow a link. Yes, you need to provide two links in your email. One that goes to the media advisory or press release with more information and one that goes to the online media kit.

Remember, you can mess up on AP style, you can pitch the wrong reporter (who will send it to the right reporter almost always), and you can accidentally toss in a spelling error or two- and still get your story covered. Journalists can forgive bad style if the story is good. But, if you’re not doing the basics right (see above), they will never even open the pitch.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

2 Secrets For Getting REAL Business Leads

I realize that when you are starting your business, obtaining business leads is hard. You usually don’t start off with a huge marketing and PR budget and you usually don’t have a massive email list to send special offers to.  You have to focus on traction, the clients you do have, and generating referral business at this time.

If you want real leads at any stage in business, referrals are the best way to go- but not the easiest to get. So, I thought I would share 2 of my secrets for obtaining referral / word of mouth business leads that actually lead to signed contracts or purchased products.

1. Talk to your current or former clients. When you are done reading this blog, write everyone you have ever done business with or failed to obtain business from. Don’t send a mass email. Instead, send a personalized email that asks them what they liked about working with you and what they think you need to improve upon. I realize this may not be pleasant. This, however, works two-fold. First, you learn what you are doing right and wrong. People love to give their opinion and it gives you a heads up on any missteps you are committing. Second, it shows you care and people like that. They don’t feel like a number or another sale. They will always come back to this moment when you invested in their opinion and they will refer you out long-term.

2. Note in every ‘sales’ collateral effort that goes out (email blasts, social media infographics, whatever) that you love working with referral business and you offer special ‘first time referral’ rates / bonus gifts.  When you do get that business, make sure to thank (via social media) the person who sent you the business.  You will be surprised at how far a social media mention can go.

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham

Avoiding A Social Media PR Crisis

My number one rule for other publicists is to align yourself with the right thinking and the right brands from the get-go. It doesn't matter how broke you are, aligning with the wrong client can harm you financially in the long-run. I say this because promotions sync with social media, which syncs with you - the brand. Poorly executed launches for clients or clients that will not listen can reflect on your social media accounts and lead to your very own social media crisis!

Before you line up your brand with anther creative team, or a client, you should understand that there are real laws in place to help protect the public from brand bending, which can also harm you and cause you a social media crisis.

For example;

• Did you know employees and clients have the right to bash their employer on social media? Yep, if it is a money issue or a conditions issue, it is legal. And the current or former employee or client can discuss wages, hours and working conditions.
• Did you know that if a public relations persons Tweets on behalf of their employer without disclosing their "employee" status, your client can be fined up to $11,000 per incident?
• Did you know it’s illegal to buy fake reviews and/or fake followers on social networks and plenty of companies have been fined upwards of $250,000 for this?

The list goes on and on........

Don't sit around and allow clients to misalign your brand causing a social media PR crisis. At the same time, don't get caught up in a client's social media game, either. If you know they are buying fake reviews, walk away from the contract. If you know they are posting issues that can cause both you and themselves harm, walk away from the contract.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Your Image- Why It's SOOO Important

I was recently speaking with a friend about his business and he said that while business is slow, he loved the fact that he could wear jeans everywhere and anywhere. Well, just because you can be casual doesn’t mean you should be casual. Different situations mean there are different expectations. Knowing how to dress and when to dress is very important to the success of your business… even if you want to be casual.

According to research from Princeton University, people assess your competence, trustworthiness, and likeability in just a tenth of a second, solely based on the way you look. That is a fact! So, while you may like being casual, it could be something that works against you on a sub-conscious level. Thus if you want to be respected, casual may not be the way to go. In fact, flashy may not be the way to go either.

Whatever image we present is magnified by social-media services like LinkedIn. Chances are, your headshots are seen much more often now than a decade or two ago. Millennials, it seems, face the paradox of being the least formal generation yet the most conscious of style and personal branding. It can be confusing but be consistent.”

I suggest you change your profile photos every six months to grab attention, stay relative, and reflect where you are presently in business. If you can be comfortable yet professional and you need to make sure your photos and your content are consistent.  Ask yourself, “would you hire you?” If the answer is ‘no’ then there is a bigger problem below the image thing on social media.

Also, understand there is an underlining context to what is within your photo, including backgrounds and even the title of books that may be in the background. If you seemed more focused on you the brand, how can you be focused on clients? If you seem more focused on drinking, where are your clients? Know your clients and their expectations and then make sure your profile photos and social media images coincide with this brand expectation.

Until next time,

Velma Trayham

Leading The PR Way

I was recently asked how I became the leader of my industry. Well, thank you! I love being thought of as the industry leader. But, there is always more to learn and more work to be done. This is why my advice for anyone wondering how to become a leader within their industry is to meet regularly. Yes, touch base with your team. Delegating is a tool to use, not a form of leadership. Don’t let delegating tasks replace regular meetings.

Eric Holtzclaw of Lean Forward recently said,”regular meetings create structure, cohesion and a sense of community. They force accountability, not only for the individuals being assigned tasks or providing updates, but for the leader as well. Regular cross-department meetings encourage communication and learning about what others are doing. Well-run meetings are where strengths and weaknesses are identified faster and improved upon.”

I couldn’t agree more. Mico-managing is not a bad thing. If an employee doesn’t like to be micro-managed, they usually are hiding something. Either they lack accountability, don’t want to be part of the team and the constant meetings irk them, or a whole host of other issues exists. Either way, you’re the boss and you decide how work goes down, right?!

You can’t run a business without checking in and having meetings. You can do this virtually now which means you can take a half hour phone call to get updates from the golf course. You can still live your life and have your freedom without being hands-off when it comes to your business.

Until Friday,

Velma Trayham

These Words Will Kill Your Business

There are three words that can kill your reputation and your business. Why? Well, the following three phrases are generic as generic can be. What they say / signal is that you are not a problem solver or a go-getter, rather someone who follows the trends vs. making them.

“Innovative.” –  Don’t say it. Prove it. It’s as simple as this. Period.

“Driven.” –  I hate this word because it states that you are motivated to make money. Who isn’t? It doesn’t tell anyone why you or your services / products are special.

“Guru.” –  Self-proclamation is the worst thing you can do for your brand. Don’t self-state, instead show. Tell people about your awards, about your results, have your clients talk on your behalf, push your media clippings- but stating that you are a “guru” is as good as saying that you’re trying way too hard to impress other people–or yourself.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Knowing How & When To Exit

Not having an exit strategy is always a mistake. I think people fail to think about and plan for an exit strategy because they have the mindset that failure isn’t an option. Um, no. Failure is always an option and avoiding it as a thought process may be setting yourself up failure! The good news is people, like myself, can learn from their failures.

Even with the best training and the most experience, you should always plan an exit strategy in business. In fact, you should always plan an exit strategy when entering into any contract or committed situation. Knowing the worst case scenario up front can help you navigate your future endeavors. So, yes- I recommend making an exit strategy for your business. But how?

1. Write your business plan and write your exit strategy back-to-back.

2. Succession Planning vs. Selling to an Outside Party- which one is right for you? Should things go wrong, how will you sell your company? Will you sell your company? What if things go right? Will you sell your company? If so, to who?

3. Don’t assume your family wants to takeover the business in the middle of your crisis. Talk with your family about handling your business should a medical or other life emergency arise. Would they be able to (and would they want to) take over your company?

4. Consult with advisers now about your exit strategy (either selling because it’s failing or selling because it’s succeeding). If you don’t hire the right financial, legal, tax and business advisers to help shepherd any sale or consult on an exit strategy from the get-go, you’re doing yourself a great disservice.

Exit strategies are needed. It’s difficult to address when launching a business, but I promise you its even harder to address when going through a time of great wealth or difficulty.

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham

Really? Do You Mean That?

“I may be wrong, but…” has to be the single most phrase that drives me crazy. I never understood why someone, anyone, would use this phrase. Basically, it implies that you know or think you’re right- but you don’t have the guts or leadership skills to back up your own opinions or knowledge.

Think about it… how many times have you said, “I may be wrong, but….” ? Why did you say it? Did you say it because you truly are full of self doubt? Did you say it because you didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings? Did you say it because you didn’t want to come off as arrogant?

Meaning what you say in business is important. There is no room or time for social flattery or playing nice when it comes to being a leader. You have to say what you mean and mean what you say. If someone is saying something that is wrong or that you know will not work, speak up. You will be respected for your opinion. You can present it in a positive manner, too. This said, if you say it with self doubt, no one will be vested in your opinion because you- yourself- are doubting it.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Hiring the RIGHT Teanm

We live and operate in a virtual world. In this world, we usually have to interview employees or contractors through Skype of through over the phone. Well, I have one question that will help you pick the right person to hire for your next ‘new hire’ quest – regardless of the position.

So, what is the question? “How is who you are now consistent or inconsistent with the person you were at 10 years old?” Now, look at how they answer the question more than the answer itself. Here’s why; the journey they are on is important. If someone where to say, “When I was 10 I thought I’d be an attorney but I ended up being a computer programmer”- you can ask what happened, get more insight as to thought process, ability to follow through on goals, ability to be distracted easily, schooling for computer programming, accomplishments, etc.

If you pay attention to the journey, the self-descriptions, and what they feel are ‘life events’ of importance between 10 and now- you will discover a lot about the potential new hire and their ability to mesh well within your company’s culture.

Trust me, this question works. A great way to see how effective it is is to simply use it on someone close to you before you use it in an interview. Ask your kids, parents, friends the same question. You will see how much information you gain and learn about them within the scope of their answer(s).

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

End of Quarter Reports

At the end of each business quarter, the time is upon the marketing and publicity world to provide growth accounts.  I'm going to list the key topics to cover within this report to help new publicity people understand what should be included. The same goes for clients who buy PR services- you too should know what to look for.

1.  The start to finish synopsis. It is always good to refresh your clients as to where they were at prior to hiring your firm.
2. The objectives you met and the objectives you exceeded. This is where you boast about how you exceeded expectations as a publicist.
3. Key message theme reviews followed by the program components you implemented.
4. Media value that includes brand visibility measurements and social media value. Don't forget to convert your followers as media value, as well as any followers you built for the client.
5. Campaign time.  Make sure you show results in stages of goals within a time frame, not just as met or the value they produced.

Again, beautiful demographics are important, but content is key!

Velma Trayham 

Driving An Interview ISN'T Like Driving A Car!

The times, they are changing. How we navigate an interview and approach the media is different now than it was a year ago, five years ago, and a decade ago. Oh, and they will be different this time next year, too. So, how do you pitch the media and drive interviews in the current landscape? Here are some tips;

1. Don't jump into the interview. Ask for the reporter to meet you 30 min. prior to the interview so he or she can go over a brief history and what is new and up to date. This will help you develop a back and forth with the reporter and shake the nerves out.

2. Drive the conversation, don't answer questions. This is a big mistake for PR people because we are so used to providing facts and figures. If your client is, let's say, on trial- no comment isn't going to work. Here's an example of a great response to driving a conversation versus answering a question.

Reporter: Do you think your client is guilty?

** Don't answer 'No', instead say;

You: Of course not! I believe everyone has the right to due process and, while I know assumptions will be made, appreciate you giving me an opportunity to address the charges.  My client and I's concern is to catch whomever did this and to fully comply with police.  Has your newspaper received any tips?

Yo want to be long-winded. You want to ask as many questions as you answer. You want to be friendly and likeable.  Sticking with yes and no answers isn't always the best thing to do in crisis communication mode.

3. Research your reporter. If you can site certain alike coverage, you will gain the reporter's vanity card and be able to request edits easier, etc. Remember, PR is still a game of strategy.

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham

PR Tip!!!!

I was brainstorming with some of my peers and we all started discussing the issue of meetings and phone calls. Sometimes you are just busy. Back to back to back to back meetings, online meetings, phone meetings…. it can get to be too much. It causes stress and you have no chance to step back and think about  what you need to do. Well, here is the secret- go to the bathroom.

No, I am not joking. No one will bother you in the bathroom. You have a moment to just sit down- even if you don’t have to go- inhale and decompress. This snags you 2-5 min. to simply stay sit, absorb info., and think about what just happened in the last meeting while you prepare for the next meeting.  This does save you time. How? Easy. Notes!

When I don’t have to go to the bathroom between meetings, I still head for the bathroom. I sit down, I type out a quick email to myself and I use the subject line as follows ; ‘Recap meeting 10am.’ This way, later on, I have all my details and thoughts and can start planning execution vs. having to rethink about details, send follow up emails, or dropping the ball and having to do something over again.

So, next time you are too busy- take a second to visit the bathroom to regroup and save yourself time in the long-run.

Velma Trayham

Speaking About Your Brand.....

Here’s the thing, you will have to talk with people to help grow your brand. One of the most misunderstood parts of running an online or in-person business is communication. Ideas are great. Goals are important. Communication, however, delivers dollars into your bank account.

Many online marketers are switching from automatic products and services, to experience-based platforms. This means those of you who are solely banking on online sales with little interaction may have to kick things up a notch over the next two years. If this is you, don’t panic. Online sales aren’t going away- they are just becoming more personal. If you aren’t that well-versed in how to speak with potential clients, vendors…. or people in general when it comes to your business, keep reading- I’m here to help!

Here are my Monday Tips on speaking to anyone about anything. If you can master these tips / tools, you will be just fine in the new media of tomorrow’s business culture.

1.  Start with a positive comment followed by a question you already know the answer to. This is your ice-breaker.  It is a way to introduce yourself and get the other person engaged with you. For example, “I see you’re calling me from California. I love the weather there. How long is your summer season?”  This tactic takes the focus off of the sale and helps you create a personal relationship that feels / seems experience-based.

2. Ask for an opinion. This is not only a great way to build brand loyalty, it is a great way to learn what opportunities and income you’re missing. For example, “I’m glad you came by today to purchase this yoga mat. By the way, did you buy this because of online reviews or price point?”

3. Pretend the other party is a celebrity. I know this sounds crazy, but it works. Potential clients often seem like celebrities in the way that they can be unavailable, intimidating, and hard to start a conversation with. So, practice your introduction and your 2 caveats- the first one being a genuine compliment, the second one being not to use a negative or past reference to gain something. For example, “Hi Velma, I’m a big fan of your blog. I really liked the way you position all of your writing to talk to the mass audience but make each reader feel like the post was written just for them. By the way, I’m a blogger myself……”

Still have questions? Let's connect..... 

Velma Trayham

Brag About Yourself, It’s OK!

I had someone ask me how they self-promote without looking sleazy. Here’s the thing… there is nothing wrong with self-promotion. People do it all the time. Lawyers run ads on TV, real estate agents run photo packs on billboards and at bus stops, and online businesses often utilize social media ads to get the word out about their products and services.

Bragging about yourself is part of the online business landscape that many people still need to improve upon. I understand being humble but business is a competitive sport. You have to speak up or you will be left out. One of the best ways to self-promote without feeling “sleazy” is to have your results work as your income advocate.

Find two or three clients who are willing to do a video on your behalf. Before and After photos work well, but often- today’s culture believes they are not real or photo shopped. A video ranks well on Google and YouTube, where photos do only OK. Plus, a video dispels any questions about your client testimony and its validity.

As we head into the rest of 2015, start promoting yourself and the good work you do.  Post client result videos and testimonials on  your social media accounts and your websites. Remember, branding is 98% visibility.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

You Are Worth More Than You Think!

I wish people regarded themselves in a better light sometimes. I’m in line at the grocery store recently and a man was speaking with what sounded like his boss on the phone. “OK, I understand if you want to give him the project.” He hung up and looked dejected. Why didn’t he fight harder?

The same thing happened to another woman I know. She has a great business but she fails to go after the “whale” contracts, sticking with small referral business. Why? When I asked her, she said she didn’t have a big corporate office. As a result, and before trying, she assumed the company wouldn’t want to hire a small fish….

We all have value. Assuming a big whale contract would want a big corporate office to contract with is wrong. Not fighting for the project you want is wrong. Many large companies want independent thinkers, not corporations, to contract with. Assuming you can’t or won’t get a contract, or lying down when someone says ‘no’, are bad habits that should be broken.

It’s very important to know your value and to know when to fight and when to say ‘no’. If you don’t understand the importance of these three elements, I highly encourage you to connect with me on Twitter to continue the conversation.

In the meantime, think about your value. What makes you and your service unique?

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Promoting Growth, Not Kindness.....

There are two types of clients that any and all business owners have to deal with. Those who pay you to do your job, council when needed, and help promote growth. Then there are those clients who pay you, never challenge what isn’t working, and sit and listen to them blab on about how great they are or how things don’t change….. yada, yada, yada!

The challenge in being kind lies with the second type of client. It is not your job to be kind to clients, although there is a way of saying certain things, but rather it is your responsibility to be honest and deliver the raw truth so you can promote growth.

You’re providing a service to help your clients, not to befriend them. Clients can become very upset when you do this. They may even drop you for a while. Don’t give in and be kind. Instead, restate what you said. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Many publicity people worry about being kind and shy away from what will actually work. In the end, the client doesn’t see results and will end up being mad at you anyway. So, do your job and don’t sway from your objectives in exchange for being nice or being popular.

You want to work with clients who are ready and willing to hear the truth and to do whatever it takes to improve their visibility. You don’t want to work with clients who expect you to be the ‘yes’ man or women. This said, below are my tips for delivering ‘”unkind” advice.

1. Don’t be sorry… be about shine. Don’t ever apologize to a client if you have nothing to apologize for. They may want to hear ‘sorry’ but this isn’t something they are entitled to hear. Remember this.

2. Back up your words with facts and data. It’s hard for clients to blow off your points if you can back them up.

3. Have an exit strategy. If you know a client isn’t willing to change, figure out how you are going to exit the relationship within the contract’s terms.

Until tomorrow,
Velma Trayham

PR Tools, Updated!

I was recently asked a question about what PR tools are worth having. Well, there are a lot of select from when it comes to publicity tools and apps. However, I will say that the follow three are "must haves" for newbies and seasoned PR professionals.

1. PitchRate. This free service connects journalists with topic experts – such as small business owners – for free media coverage. HARO is good, but PitchRate delivers results!

2. Zemanta. Basically, this is a blog service on steroids. The service will index your marketing content for multiple Content Ad formats. It saves you tons of time and is worth signing up for.

3. Aminstitute.com. This clever website helps you develop the perfect headline for your next release or ad campaign. Oh, it is free too! You want to write in AP style, but you want to capture emotion- this website tool helps you do both.

Velma Trayham

My 5 Networking Sins....

I recently watched a friend of mine fail at a public cocktail event that had a lot of prospect business in attendance. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was then that I realized, my friend wasn't trying to be bad at networking. She just wasn't a naturally social person and no one had ever taught her how to mix business in a social setting. So, if you can related to my friend- then keep reading. These 5 networking sins are noted to help you learn, grow, and then become a master at networking.

1. It’s all about you….. Well, it’s not. People love to talk about themselves,so let them. I’ve learned to go to these types of events and ask anyone I wanted to meet a simple question… “So, what do you do?” And they’re off. Listening to someone else talk… and I mean really being engaged… will make them like you. They will say they had a great conversation with you— even if it is one-sided. So, instead of pitching yourself, let others pitch you.

2. No follow up.  If you leave the event with business cards and wait for the phone to ring, you’re committing a “sin.” Go through the cards and enter them into your mailing list. Then call- yes use the phone, don’t send an email- the contacts you believe can bump up your business and invite the person out for coffee on your tab.  Don’t pitch at the coffee meeting either. Instead talk to the person about what they do some more and learn where they can use help.

3. Not offering value. Once you have that coffee meeting and you discover how your potential referral contact can use help, find a way to provide it. Solve their problem for them- no charge- and without pitching yourself. Pretend that you have it all handled and clients are coming through the door. The contact won’t forget this move and YOU will be their number 1 priority when it comes to referring business.

4. Don’t think you’ve failed if none of this works.  There are selfish and bad people out there.  The system noted above works 95% of the time.  Your first time out (maybe first 3 times out) may fall within the other 5%. Keep trying…

5. Stop going to every networking event. You should be selecting your networking events carefully and not by open bar status or what’s on the menu either! If you know a networking event is going to be filled with pediatricians… pass. They may not help your market. If you know an event is going to be filled with people within your industry… go and practice steps 1-4. If you know an event is going to be a mix of professionals you may, one day, sell your services to then go and practice steps 1-4. You may get referral or direct business off of it. Protect your time by picking events that (long-term) can provide you with real ROI. Don’t just network for the sake of meeting people. After all, the goal is to establish your brand and bring in money.

Velma Trayham

Quotes for Business

I was recently was reading a trade industry magazine for business men and women. This magazine had a section dedicated to sound business advice. While a lot of the information and quotes were pretty basic, I found five quotes that really inspired me to look at what I can improve upon in 2015.

1. "Never confuse activity with progress." —Ty, Boston, MA
I agree. You can be busy and still not grow. Don't be satisfied with the business you do have. Go after the business you don't have!

2. "Cash is more important than your mother." —Grace, Shanghai, China
I know this is harsh, but cash is king. Your mother wouldn't have nice things if it wasn't for your extra support (I hope). So, know cash makes the world go round and if you're not bringing it in as a business owner then you're doing something wrong.

3. "Always look for people smarter than you, and surround yourself with people who can challenge and inspire you." —Doug, Redwood City, CA

If you think you're the best then you will fail fast. Find people who know more than you and continue to learn.

4. "Hire slowly. Fire quickly." —Jenny, Seattle
I couldn't agree more. You can develop skill, you can't develop customer service. If you have someone on your team who is abrasive and not caring, fire them right away before the situation becomes worse.

5. "Getting your business launched and your first product onto the market will take you twice as long, and cost you twice as much, as you think it will." - —Dave, Toronto, ON

Well said! If you think this is easy, you're not really equipped to run a business.

I hope these quotes have inspired you to do great things for the rest of 2015...

Until next time,

Velma Trayham

How to be a great leader and female!

I was asked recently how a woman could become or be defined as a great leader. Hmm. What does being a woman have to do with leading? No one ever asks a man how he can become a great leader. Why are we women singled out? 

The truth is there are plenty of great women leaders out there and there are plenty of great male leaders out there. The test of leadership isn’t found within your DNA and birth sex, but defined by the following skills. Do you have them? If so, you’re a great leader.

1)      You don’t care what people say, you have your vision and you are moving forward.  This stands true only if your vision is positive, lifts others up and you’ve done research to have such a provocative opinion about your vision. 

2)      You collaborate, you don’t delegate.  Anyone can delegate. Not everyone is humble enough to collaborate. You need collaboration with other people to build your brand, grow your business and improve your networking (in person and online) circle.

3)      You are a life-long learner. If you didn’t throw your degree on the wall and announce “I’m done” then you are a life-long learned. Continued education is the key to being able to pivot your company when new technologies or methodologies are introduced. 

You don’t have to be one sex or another to lead. You simply have to follow the three steps noted above to success.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Why Being Busy Costs You Money

Recently I spoke with a woman who wanted to expand her business. We talked about her goals. Then we talked about what she had tried and what hasn’t worked. I found out she was barely making an effort to market herself online. This said, I offered her several recommendations to improve her visibility online and boost her autopilot moneymaker programs.

She  declined all of my recommendations. She cited that she was “too busy” with her current clients to implement my recommended ideas. I guess you can bring a horse to water but you can’t force it to either drink or make more of a profit!

Busy is the worst excuse for not marketing yourself. You are basically saying “No” to money. Why? If you’re busier- you can hire more help to support yourself while still making a profit.  First, it takes money to make money. I can’t understand why someone would pay for me to review their past mistakes and then make profitable recommendations for their future only to say they are “too busy” to do anything about it.  This makes no sense and is a real waste of money.

You have the ability to make more money. This said, there is NO magic wand. I can provide insight, evidence and recommendations for your business, but if you don’t want to take the time to help it grow then it won’t. You need to make the time to invest in yourself in order to see results. No one can do this for you as a business owner.

All this said, are you using the busy excuse as a way to dodge being the best version of yourself?

Are you afraid of success?

Are you afraid of having to pay more for marketing and support staff because you will be making more money?

Ask yourself these questions today and really assess the answers.

Busy isn’t a valid excuse. People with major disabilities overcome significant odds each and every day and go on to do great things. They aren’t familiar with the phrases “can’t” or “busy”. They are in a constant “can do” mindset- and you should be too- unless, that is, you’re afraid of success and busy is your crutch to staying complacent.

You can always make time for more business and money. Period!

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA

Peer Referrals …. Do They Really Work?

I recently had someone ask me if I get any ROI from attending marketing events or online symposiums. The truth is ‘Yes’ – I do. While I know many people don’t think marketing events or peer referrals truly work, the bottom line is to understand that referrals aren’t a “sure” thing. You still have to work to obtain the business.

Some people say, “Sure, refer me to your source” only to be nice. This is a lead that you will pitch and pitch and will never come through.

Other people say, “OK, make the introduction” only to see the cost of your services and run away- no matter how valued the relationship is. This lead was never secure to begin with.

Other people are thinkers. Other people are price comparers. And other people are actually interested. Like any type of business, referrals are simply inquires and you have to earn their business. Just because someone knows you and loves your services doesn’t mean the third party will buy on a handshake or virtual introduction.

So, how do you close a referral lead? Simple – just follow these 3 steps.

First, reward those who send you business. If the referring party has a financially vested interest, he or she will help to follow up and close the leads they do send over. Keep in mind, however, that only about 20% of all leads will actually close.

Second, offer a discounted or rewards program to those who have been referred to you. Even with praise and amazing ratings, an incentive-based offer to try your services for a limited time works better than sending over a large contract or long-term service obligation.

Finally, don’t be aggressive. Stop with the daily “follow up” phone calls, sales-ad emails (sent twice a week), and Facebook ‘Likes’. If a potential lead is annoyed with a pushy sales process right off of the bat, he or she will be skeptical of your services. I know it is hard- but be conservative with your follow up efforts.

Until next time,

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA

Can You REALLY Make A Profit?

I recently received a request to write about testing business ideas. While we can prepare for and plan our businesses around concepts and data, there is no real way to test if we're going to be successful or not.

There are some ways to double check if you are or are not on the right path when it comes to business. Here are my top three tips to see if you are on the right path to projected success;

#1. Focus on goals, don't just have them.

I know many people who write goals down. They have a goal for every part of their life. What they're missing is a plan. You need to have a goal followed by a plan and work at it daily.

#2. Be reasonable with your time frames.

Don't plan to be a millionaire at the end of two years. If only life were this easy. Make sure you have a realistic timeline to compliment your goals and your plans.

#3. Make profit your number one goal.

Don't think about expansion, second offices, etc. until you actually have a solid profit coming in. You can't just think big, you have to grow a profit to get big.

I hope these three pointers give you something to chew on over the weekend. There is no set answer to if you will make a profit. There is always possibility. It's how you navigate that possibility that counts!

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham

Social Sharing…. Are You Optimized?

One aspect of social media engagement is utilizing hashtags and key words to not only spread your message to your audience, but to also capture traffic from a seeking social media audience. Yes, this task is a bit of work but it is worth learning because it can drive both traffic and profit.

The best way to start learning social sharing optimization is to start with Twitter or Instagram.  Both utilize the hashtag (#) to pull in like-minded searchers / seekers / business owners into a single thought or image and then start a conversation or- at the very least- make a brand introduction.

If you’re really not that familiar with # use right now, go to Twitter and in the search box type in ‘#business’… this is your general audience, your peers, etc. Now, you need to write using social sharing optimization so they can find you when typing in specific key words.

Think you need more help learning how to do this and what tools to cross-train yourself on?

Don’t hesitate, contact me directly for one-on-one business and branding coaching. I'm always available to speak at your company's next event or provide one-on-one training.

Velma Trayham

The Habits of Successful People

Are you mentally strong? Are you able to be successful? Much like your body has to be worked out to become strong, the brain does too. Many of the most celebrated CEOs and business leaders around the world are know for being "tough as nails", but this didn't happen overnight. In fact, most CEOs have to practice being mentally strong and work at being successful. 

Here are the top five habits of mentally strong people who are successful;

#1. They don't attend pitty parties. That's right, the mentally strong don't feel sorry for themselves when things don't happen as planned. They don't blame others or dwell on things, either. So, if you want to be great, brush off something that didn't work out and move on without holding a grudge.

#2. They refuse to be complacent, even when the money is good. Yes, complacent only means you will one day be outdated. Embrace change and learn new things daily.

#3. They refuse to please others. Mentally strong people have a job to do. Worrying about pleasing others or how others will react is a distraction that will cut off money and success. Don't worry about people, worry about the task at hand.

#4. Don't give up after a venture fails. Most of the known CEOs have had failures. But they're out there, spinning a new business and looking at other opportunities. If you let failure stop you, then you really do fail!

#5. Don't rely on the world for anything, including breaks. The world owes you nothing, regardless of how tough you had it as a kid or so on. If you know the world isn't going to give you a break, then you realize you have to try harder than everyone else to be successful.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Donald Trump – The most successful, yet failing, brand

Donald Trump is a great PR person. He is his brand. Everyone knows of him, but not everything he touches turns to gold. In fact, a lot of it doesn’t.  While the Trump brand may be known for luxury, it certainly isn’t known for paying bills or being a reputable source within the business community.  In fact, you can say Trump is more sizzle than steak.

How does this happen. Well, Trump himself is a good PR person. He talks a great game. He acts and looks the part of someone with true authority. He loves the camera and he loves social media.  This doesn’t mean he is making a profit or that he is good at business. Do you know any people like this? Chances are you do. There are plenty of wanna-be Trumps out there. It’s great to aspire to be like someone, as long as that someone is really successful and not just a bunch of photos and social media posts.

Here is a list of Donald Trump’s failures. I bet that from what you currently know of the man, these failures are not alongside your association with him. After you read this, they will be. Here’s the article: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2068227,00.html Yes, each item is clickable and you can read all the dirty details.

So, why am I talking about Donald Trump tonight? Simple. Aspire to be a brand but don’t only be a brand. You have to walk the walk. In today’s social media culture it’s easy to look the part – just like Donald Trump.  You actually need to provide quality services that you can build your brand upon, not the opposite. 

If you’re feeling a bit empty and your profits are really non-existent, you may have to ask yourself some tough questions this weekend about your brand. Are you putting your photos and social media first? Are you forgetting that your brand has to stand for something- like services? Are you spending too much time on you and not your customers?

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA

What You Shouldn’t Tolerate in Business

New business owners, and even seasoned ones, are always learning from mistake and wins. However, there are three things that you, a business owner, should never tolerate within your company – no matter how big or how small your current company is.

1. Clutter and disorganization. Clutter and disorder cause stress and affect your emotional and mental well-being. The same goes for employees who tend to be disorganized, the can impact your business and your clients. Keep a tidy and well organized “you” space or office. It does make a difference.

2. Distrust. If you don’t trust an employee, why is he or she working for you? The same goes for your clients. You can fire them and if you feel they are not being honest with you, there is no point in working with or for them.  Your wealth depends on your ability to trust employees, vendors, etc. After all, no business works well because of one person. If someone is not trustworthy, leave them where they are and move on.

3. Mediocrity. Since when did “good enough” become a standard? If you are only going to do something half-way, why do it at all? It makes you look like you have no pride or don’t care. Make sure you are really giving everything you do 300%. Period. Oh, and if you have employees that don’t follow this rule- fire them.

Until Monday,

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA 

How to Outsource Customer Service

People hear or read the phrase “outsource” and panic. They think about a Nigerian Prince waiting to take their money without turning in any work… or worse, sending back a virus. The truth is, it is a global landscape as far as administrative work is considered in today’s culture. Outsourcing is a win-win situation for you and the person you hire.

I don’t believe in handing over the keys to your business to just anyone. You can’t be to lax when it comes to hiring outsourced or virtual help. There should be a vetting process. This said, if you invest your time to properly train a virtual assistant or customer service rep, you will truly get an ROI for the money you pay him or her.

You can’t automate all your business. If you’re spending more time trying to automate your business vs. run in, you will fail. You have to be present to a point. Outsourcing customer service tasks, like live chat on your website or data entry, are perfectly fine. Outsourcing pitching your business to potential customers or the actual service behind your brand… that’s iffy.  Handing over all your tasks to automated programs, virtual assistants, and/or customer service reps who have been outsourced- well, that’s a recipe for disaster.

When you work with me, I help you understand what tasks can and should be outsourced and what items of business need your personal touch and involvement.

Until next time,

Velma Trayham