It's cute but is it clear? - Darnyelle A. Jervey

Because I am a business and marketing coach and I work with entrepreneurs, who are by nature extremely creative people, I find that many of them get caught in what I've affectionately called the "cute syndrome." You know, cute little names for programs and services, a pretty website with lots of color and no content or call to actions that produce results and create income, catch phrases and buzz words and sometimes even jargon. The big challenge when you're stuck in the "cute syndrome" is that it is seldom clear and effective in getting your ideal clients to see you as the only solution to their problem, which after all is the reason we are all in business, right?

Once I explain to you what I explain to my private clients, they get it almost immediately. Cute doesn't attract clients, cute doesn't have money deposited into your checking account; cute seldom pays the bills. I assert don't be cute if clarity is the sacrifice.

To become a successful service based entrepreneur, you've got to move beyond cute and focus on clarity. People only take action when the next best step is crystal clear. To create an environment where your ideal clients can move easily and effortlessly through your prospect and sales funnel, you've got to get clear on the transformation you provide as well as the results and benefits they will experience in working with you and displaying it in a language that is compelling, engaging and action-oriented.

Here are a few quick questions/tips you should consider to ensure that your content, sales copy, programs, products and services are clear and not just cute:

1. When I visit your website, will I immediately be able to tell the transformation that I will experience if I opt to work with you?
Most first time visitors to your website will never look beyond the fold of your website so, your best stuff, the clarity of what you do must be laid out in a "power statement" making it obvious who you work with, how you solve their problem and the results they get from moment go. If you fail to do that, ideal client prospects will click away, never to return.

2. Is your marketing messaging and website content compelling, engaging and easy to read?
Again, don't be cute; be clear about your compelling marketing messages and case studies to illustrate what you do, how you do it and what others will gain when they hire you. To write compelling copy is essential if you want to allow your website to make you money while you sleep.

3. Do you have social proof to validate the transformation you claim to provide?
It's great that you say you can do something amazing for your clients. Really, it is. But who else is saying it? Are you previous clients singing your praises? are the signing up to work with you again after their program is complete? Do you have one page on your website designated to reflect success stories or testimonials?

4. Does your Incredible Factor (USP, HUG, secret sauce and signature move stand out)?

Your Incredible Factor is your unique selling proposition, value proposition, hot undeniable gift, secret sauce and signature move all rolled into one yummy client magnetic package. When a prospect lands on your website is it clear to them how you stand out in the marketplace or do they look at your pictures and whisper, "aaww, that's cute;" before they click away?

5. Are your call to actions clear, strategically placed so the prospect doesn't get lost of confused?
Do you clearly lay out a path for prospects to follow to get closer to working with you or do they need to poke around until they find that needle in your website's haystack?

6. Are your programs designed to make the results clear and are the next steps that should be taken clear and easy to follow?
Are you so focused on selling the contents of your programs that you never tell what participants have gained by being enrolled? Do you tell them what to do next if they'd like to enroll?

7. Do you have a way for them to sample your offerings that is irresistible?
An irresistible free offer is like the pink spoon at Baskin Robbins...it's just enough to entice them to buy the full size...do you have one that they'd do anything to have?

As you can see, cute doesn't pay off in the world of entrepreneurship. So take my advice - stop being cute and get clear.

If you desire to gain clarity so that your cute creates cash, contact me for a Play Big Strategy Session - in 60 minutes I will replace your cute with clear so that you become an ideal client magnet.

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of Incredible One Enterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio download "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com

The Secret Millionaire and Your Incredible Factor - Darnyelle A. Jervey

Last night, I watched the premiere of the Secret Millionaire on ABC and it really moved me to tears. I applaud the creators of the show for finally creating a reality show that stirs the hearts of those of us who desire to serve the world in a big way with our Incredible Factor. I got extremely choked up as I watched Dani Johnson award the three organizations and a family where she was able to volunteer with a total of $100,000. I cried, "Man, that is why I get up in the morning and work hard - so that I can one day in the very near future give back with a financial gift to further the dream of another. I serve my clients so that I can serve the world. Man, that is so fulfilling and it makes me so grateful."

What I loved about each of the organizations visited by Dani is that each founder created their organization out of their passion and desire to be a blessing to others in their community. Make a note of this: Your passion can be your career and it is from your passion that lives will be changed, dreams born and hearts filled in abundance. That, dear friends is why I left corporate America in 2005. That is why I created Incredible One Enterprises in 2007.
I was watching the show with a friend and we agreed that this was exactly why we do what we do. Being a successful business person is little about the business person; it affords us the opportunity to serve the world and offer the fruits of our labor to help someone else live their dream.

I'm totally excited about this show and I look forward to watching each week so that the dreams that I have will be fueled by watching what others just like me have done first by owning their Incredible Factor, second by starting their own companies and living their passion and third by sharing their wealth to create abundance for another.

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of Incredible One Enterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio download "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com/.

Get Your Incredible Factor Back in the Game - Darnyelle A. Jervey

Part 2 in the series on how to prevent fear from blocking your Incredible Factor

Are you watching the NBA Play-offs? Are you excited to see the Lakers and the Celtics battle to the end? Has the renewal of the age-old rivalry gotten you excited? Just as there's lots of pass interference in basketball, there is pass interference in your life and business. This week's Incredible Factor Article is all about Pass Interference. Please note I'm aware that "pass interference" is a football term....but work with me! In the spirit of the NBA Finals, I got to thinking....

How many times have you interfered with passing your product or service on to your prospect because FEAR crept into the conversation just as it was time to make your pitch? How many times have you come to a screeching halt because you didn't want to seem salesy, although you knew your prospect needed what you've got to offer? When was the last time you had the perfect line prepared but decided they wouldn't think you were authentic and instead went against your gut and intent and left with the very product or service you declared you'd sell?

Pass Interference is nothing more than letting the fear of going out of bounds keep you from playing the game. (Of course you know I had to keep with the basketball theme! Pass interference is the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of talking to new peopl.e, the fear of making a mistake....it's got to stop. You are blocking yourself. Typically pass interference involves another player, but you Incredible One are interfering in your success all by your lonesome. That's right, The only one who can change your situation is you.

Well, as promised, I've got some strategies that will help you to stop interfering with passing your product or service onto your ideal client. Yes, ideal client. if you are attempting to pass to someone who is not your ideal cleint, they will not accept the pass, so...

First up... Get clear on who your ideal client is. This has nothing to do with fear per se, but it is a necessity if you want to score points and win the game of growing your business. Despite popular belief, you cannot help every and anybody. There is an exact, specific profile of your ideal client. See the blog from last week for more information on how to do that.

Now on to eliminating Pass Interference:

1. Determine the root cause of the block. What is really holding you back? What limiting belief or self-sabotaging thought has infiltrated the game? Is is fear of rejection - you've gotten so worked up that you believe that they will reject you and so you go sit on the bench?

2. Think of a time when you thought you'd be rejected but you pressed through it, completed the task and in the end you weren't rejected. In fact, you were embraced and loved on. How does recalling that time make you feel? How will reminding yourself of that time help you face this fear today?

3. Ask yourself, "Where is the evidence that I will be rejection if I share my Incredible Factor with my ideal client?" Write down ONLy concrete evidence. Are you surprised to see that there is no evidence?

4. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and repeat after me: "I am a gift to the world. My ideal client needs my products and services to live their best, authentic life. I am in service to others and therefore living my passion when I own my incredible and share it with those whom I serve.

5. Visualize the exchange the way you intend for it to go. Be clear on each detail and speak in positive, present tense. This will allow you to act as if it has already happened.

6. Write down each benefit others will receive from your product or service.

7. Remind yourself that "no" simply means "next." As I've heard it said for many years, one monkey will never stop the show. One player fouls out and the game goes on.

8. Take a deep breath and repeat again, "I am a gift to the world. My ideal client needs my products and services to live their best, authentic life. I am in service to others and therefore living my passion when I own my incredible and share it with those whom I serve."

9. If you can't let the fear go, feel it, acknowledge it but refuse to allow the fear of going out of bounds and fouling out of the game keep you from playing.

10. Do it anyway....period.

Repeat as needed

(c) 2010 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved.

Darnyelle A. Jervey is a life & business coach, committed to imparting skills, strategies and solutions to define and unleash the Incredible in you. Darnyelle coaches on marketing, mindset, movement, branding strategy and empowerment to prepare her clients to share their gift for the world.