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How to Stop Struggling with the “Money Conversation”

For loads of small business owners in helping/healing professions, marketing and selling are a HUGE obstacle in growing their businesses. (”I just want to be of service. I don’t want to market!”)

The problem is they see sales and marketing as separate from the transformation they provide. Which means they constantly struggle with what to say to potential clients that won’t conflict with their values of service, compassion and authenticity.

Take my client, Ritamarie, for example. She’s a nutrition practitioner and had a strong aversion to coming off as “salesy.” It just didn’t fit her style or her audience. Even when she tried to “make the sale,” it often didn’t pan out because there was a disconnect between her passion for what she does and her dispassion for selling. Unfortunately, the end result was people weren’t hiring her in the numbers she wanted.

We spent a private day working together virtually, constructing a “conversation template” that was comfortable for her and conveyed the value she had to offer. Since then, she’s reported a record number of “yes!” responses (and at a much higher dollar figure than before). Happy day!

Because I know many other heart-centered entrepreneurs struggle with what to say (like Ritamarie used to), I want to give you 3 ultra-simple tips for how to confidently “talk turkey” with clients in a way that’s comfortable - and always in alignment with your values.

1) Reframe the meaning of “selling”
The idea of selling has been given a bad rap by those who’ve used it only as a means to put money in their own pockets, customer be damned. The truth is, selling isn’t about forcing something down another person’s throat (unless you choose to view it that way). Selling, at its essence, is a transaction between two people, for the mutual benefit of both.

And if you know in your heart that your special brand of transformation is exactly what the person you’re speaking with needs, presenting your offer is the first step in being of service.

2) Clarify your offer so you can present it clearly and easily
The simplest way to get a yes answer is to create a compelling picture in your prospective client’s mind. A picture that makes them say, “I gotta have that!” Take some time before you begin a “money conversation” to get really clear about the specific details of your product, program or service, as well as the specific results your client can expect. Once you’ve got those on the tip of your tongue, painting that enticing picture is a piece of cake.

3) Integrate your values into the conversation
Don’t leave your values back in the car when you talk with someone about what you can do for them. In a service-based business like yours (and mine), your clients are buying you, not some impersonal product. Asking about their beliefs and values, and sharing your own, is an excellent way to build rapport and know that what you’re offering is a match for what they need.

Marketing, at its heart, is about connecting with others so you can create your special brand of transformation in their lives. And the final step in the marketing sequence is asking for the sale. Without that, you can’t work your magic. Knowing how to speak about your services in a way that blends your marketing message with your values means both you and your potential client come out winners!

Helen Graves, Grand Poohbah of Crackerjack Online Marketing Strategy, shows service-based small business owners how to create stronger connection so you sell more with your product and program promotional campaigns.

Visit www.Product-Campaign.com to get a hold of her free online marketing resource, “Make More Sales: How to Create Connection and Desire So Clients Can’t Wait to Buy from You.”

Say It Loud, Say It Proud - VULVA!

Amy Lang, MA Birds + Bees + Kids® http://www.birdsandbeesandkids.com/

Every parent is worried that their kid will be a victim of sexual abuse. The statistics are frightening and often we feel helpless. I have a little tip that could pack a lot of punch in terms of helping our girls protect themselves from sexual abuse.

Vulva.

That’s it.

What is a vulva, you may be asking yourself, and I’m happy to provide a little anatomy lesson since not everyone is familiar with this term. Vulva means “covering” in Latin, and it’s the exterior of a girls or woman’s “private area.”

It’s the labia or outer lips of the vaginal area and it looks like a tiny pair of buns, for lack of a better description.
The vulva is the equivalent of the penis - it’s what’s visible. I know many of you use the word vagina when you talk about privates and while technically accurate - there is a vagina down there - it’s really hard to see.

The vulva, however, is very visible.

If you teach your daughters that they have a vulva and a vagina and use the word vulva when you refer to their privates, she’s safer.
When a girl has the correct language (uber-correct, in this case), it tells a potential abuser that this kid talks to her parents. Vulva is a grown up word, in a way, not a word that a kid would come up with on her own.

It sends a clear signal that her parents talk to her openly when a girl knows her the correct names for her parts. These guys know this increases the likelihood that she would tell her mom if something happened to her.

And makes your daughter less of a target.

If you’ve been using euphemisms, like pee-pee, or bottom, tell your girl, “You’re old enough now to use the correct term for this part of your body. It’s called the vulva.”

So, say it loud, say it proud, vulva, vulva, vulva. If this is new for you, and no one is around, say it right now. VULVA!

And remember, this isn’t about you, it’s about keeping your daughter safer, so set aside your discomfort and make this tiny change that could have big pay off.

About the Author: Through her business, Birds + Bees + Kids, Amy Lang teaches parents how to talk to their children of any age about sex, love and relationships. She has a 16-year history as a Sexual Health Educator, a Masters in Applied Behavioral Science and loves to help people learn about this vital part of parenting.

Work From Home

We receive thousands of requests for more information on working from home after viewers have seen Women For Hire CEO Tory Johnson’s segments on ABC’s Good Morning America and on ABCNEWS.com.

We’re here to answer many of your questions and to provide additional resources for you to pursue.

Before you do anything else you should be sure to read the information on how to avoid scams.

Getting Started

If you think you might want to work from home, this section is a great place to start. Before you do anything else make sure that you check out our advice on how to avoid scams. Take the work at home assessment to get a better idea of whether home-based employment is the right choice for you, and find answers to common questions about working from home.

Virtual Customer Service

A growing work-from-home opportunity is to answer the inbound customer calls for companies like J Crew, 1-800 Flowers, Virgin Atlanta, or Walgreens. Check out the companies that are hiring virtual customer service agents and find out how to interview successfully for these positions.

Writing, PR & Marketing

If your area of expertise is public relations or you want to try and make money writing from home, there are opportunities out there that could be right for you. Learn about virtual PR firms as well as how to earn income as a blogger, writer, or editor.

Virtual Customer Service

Writing, PR & Marketing

Make a Little Change: Paid Online Surveys, Mystery Shopping and More

Start a Website or Home-based Business

Other Work From Home Opportunities