Volunteering that pays

Good morning -

Have you ever wondered if volunteering pays or does it just feel good? Recently I have managed to get myself on five different committees which involve volunteer time commitments.

The biggest commitment has been to my networking group - Business Connection Exchange. I helped organize a business networking evening on May 16th. 175 people attended this event in Mississauga. We had Minister Takhar (Small Business & Entrepreneurship) welcome everyone and Donna Messer (Connect Us Canada) was our speaker.

In addition to inviting the speakers, I was the contact for the tickets and coordinating the set-up. All of our members were volunteering so I was not doing it along but when my phone did not stop ringing for three days straight and I had not made any calls for my business I started to second guess the value in volunteering.

The event was not over and I was already pleased that I had volunteered. #1 the event was a success which means our members are extremely happy. #2 I had booked a few meetings to introduce my business to some new contacts and 3# I had a referral for another good lead.

One week later I am still very pleased with the on-going results of my volunteer time. In the long run I think I will get more business from my volunteering than if I had spent the time marketing my business.

Remember - volunteering is positive marketing that helps you create relationships and trust with people who you may do business with in the future. I suggest that every gets involved in your networking group - not just as a participant but as a volunteer.

Have a great business day!

Cheryl Rankin
Fit For Business
647-287-0320
fitforbusiness@rogers.com
www.fitforbusiness.ca

Build your business through networking

Good evening –

Promote your business through word of mouth marketing. Save your business money and build it at the same time. You can be a good salesman for your business – just talk to people. All participants at a networking event will listen to your 1 minute business introduction if you will listen to theirs. It is time to try networking - you will like the results.

Here are some great networking opportunities:
1 - Business Connection Exchange – Mississauga
Meet & Greet – May 16th
Over 150 small business owners expected – we had 150 last time!
www.thetechnologycoach.ca/bcx
2 - Business Connection Exchange – Mississauga
Tuesday morning breakfast meetings
7:30 – 9am
Cora’s Restaurant - 4120 Dixie Road between Rathburn & Burnhamthorpe Rd on the west side
No charge for first time guests

3 – Business Connection Exchange – 10 other chapters
www.business-connection-exchange.ca

4 – Women’s networking event (WINGS-Oakville)
Tuesday, June 12th 9am

5 – Women’s networking event (Roaring Women-Mississauga)
Wednesday, June 13th evening

6 – Women’s networking event (Women In A Home Office)
May 17th, 9 am

For more details about any of these events, please call me at 647-287-0320. If you need to practice your one minute business introduction before networking or need to create a one page marketing flyer for these events, call me.
Cheryl RankinFit For Business647-287-0320
fitforbusiness@rogers.com
www.fitforbusiness.ca
www.fitforbusiness.blogspot.com

Women In A Home Office

A special thank you to Anne Stone from Women In A Home Office who invited me to be the guest speaker for their tele-seminar on Sales and Marketing For Small Businesses. We had a great discussion on how to improve your sales and marketing without spending alot of money. The really neat thing was that some people were in Ontario and there were people all the way to Calgary, Alberta.

I have never been to a networking meeting that covered so much distance. If you hate traveling to your networking meetings or training sessions, consider Women In A Home Office networking group and/or consider setting up your own tele-meetings. It was neat!

I think we may do another tele-seminar on June 15th - watch for details coming soon.

Cheryl Rankin
Fit For Business
www.fitforbusiness.ca

Target Your Marketing

Good afternoon -

I am working with a new client on a marketing plan. Step 1 was to identify his target market. "He said businesses". Be really specific about your target market.
Is there a geographical area?
Male vs female?
Do they know your product?
Are they looking for your product?
What size of business?
Does the business rent a store location?
Who runs the business? (the owner or a worker)
Is there a time of year that they look for your product?
What problem do they have that you can solve?
Where do your potential clients buy other products?
Where do your potential clients network?
Who else sells to your potential clients?
How else do they solve their problem? (order on-line, order by catalog, read a book, etc)
Do you potential clients know they have a problem?

As you can see - the more information that you know about your client the better. Organize this information so that you can find some opportunities for marketing and some sales strategies to attract their attention to your business.

If you need help identifying your target market, please call me at 647-287-0320 to set up a complimentary introductory session.

Cheryl
www.fitforbusiness.ca

Shape Up Your Sales

I am excited to share an article that I just had published in Fitness Experts Magazine, April 2007 issue. I posted it on my web-site - www.fitforbusiness.ca. Even if you are not in the fitness industry this article can help your business grow your sales to the next level.

I did include this article in my April Business Fit Tip/newsletter. If you would like to receive this helpful newsletter for small business owners, please e-mail me at fitforbusiness@rogers.com.

Have a wonderful day!
Cheryl, Fit For Business

Fit For Business

Good morning -

I am Cheryl, Fit For Business. I am a business consultant who likes to compare myself to a personal trainer. A trainer takes care of your whole body from head to toe - that is what I do for your business. I shape up your sales; add muscle to your marketing; tighten your budget and make your business healthier.

I am going to use this blog to pass along useful information to business owners so that their business will grow and they will reach the next business level. You can ask questions that will help your specific business and when I share the answer, it may help many other business owners.

As a business consultant, I do suggest that my clients take advantage of any technology that will save them time, save them money and in the long run - make them money. I think that this blog will give me another opportunity to pass along this information at no expense to you or me.

My monthly newsletters / Business Fit Tips are also posted on my web-site - www.fitforbusiness.ca.

Do you have any business questions? Please post any questions here on this blog and I will respond to them through the blog and help your business reach the next level.

Hope we will cross paths often. Have a great business Day!

Cheryl Rankin,
Fit For Business
647-287-0320
fitforbusiness@rogers.com
www.fitforbusiness.ca