Discovering a More Authentic Approach to Marketing
by Julia D. Stege, MFA @magicalmarketer
Twenty-five years ago when I began my career on Madison Avenue, I learned some pretty disturbing things about the real world of marketing. Though my passion was making beautiful and inspiring designs, I found that the name of the promotions game was to target an audience and lure them away from their intuition so they'll spend money on stuff they don't really want or need.
It dawned on me after a few years that there was no heart in that world.
It was all hype, brainwashing and lies designed solely to get people to part with their dollars.
Despite the fact that I often had creative clientele like the Museum of Modern Art and Carnegie Hall, I also experienced heartless competition that could squash the dreams of a young designer like me. Luckily I met some metaphysicians who helped me during my brief stay in NYC to see beyond the surface appearance of things and take a deeper look at reality.
After a few years, I escaped from New York and headed west, discovering myself along the way. Though I sometimes tried to shake my marketing skin, it always seemed to find me again. Even when I was a full time activist in the Midwest, I always created promotions. The difference was the purpose.
Over the years my life as a creative for the freedom movement coincided with my ongoing fascination with the magical aspsects of life. I was introduced to the Law of Attraction which says Like Attracts Like. I studied closely with Jan Stringer who had created a Strategic Attraction PlanTM to help corporate salespeople and avant-garde entrepreneurs to attract their perfect customers.
The key question she was asking them to answer was, "What makes you and your perfect customers tick?"
The question seemed innocent enough at first, but I discovered its depth as I began to answer it. The idea is that if 'birds of a feather flock together,' then the clearer we are about what makes us tick, the more we attract people of like mind and heart, and the richer our relationships become. I also discovered that when we relate our true life's calling to our offerings, we see our businesses in a new light. Often this process opens a floodgate of rich emotion and resonates to our core.
Even when we have seemingly divergent interests and expressions (ie graphic designer, revolutionary journalist, public speaker, wild herb enthusiast, magical marketer...) defining our "Tick" helps us to see how they are all related.
My passion for beautiful and authentic self expression that inspires transformation has defined all my disparate activities and journeys. And it is that which draws my perfect customers to me.
What is your passion? What makes you and your perfect customers tick? Share that in your marketing and notice who is magnetically drawn to you.
To learn more about this process, get my free "Branding from the Heart" podcast at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, Wildly Attractive WebsitesTM, Branding from the HeartTM, and smart Social Networking strategies. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
How to Attract More Business Now
by Julia D. Stege, MFA
@magicalmarketer
Do you want to expand your customer base, improve your work life, and increase your cash flow? If you listen to the news you might be hiding under the covers afraid to face the day. But seriously, are you sure you are doing everything you can and even more importantly, being all you can be to attract more business now? There is no sense in worrying about what's going on out there when there is so much you can focus on right here to improve your lot (and the lot of your customers too!)
Let's look there to see if there's something simple, fun and fulfilling you can be or do now to expand your business no matter what's happening "out there."
1) Take the time to focus on what you want. Every morning (and sometimes at night too) I do a meditation along with self applied acupressure to balance my energy and focus on what I'm attracting. I can take up to an hour to do this, and it has offered palatable results. As I imagine the scenarios I want to manifest, I can actually feel my mood lifting. Like Jerry Clark the magical MLM trainer, I like to imagine standing in line at the bank with a bunch of large checks to deposit. I imagine getting my receipt and checking my balance which is just as big as I want it to be. I imagine all kinds of positive experiences with my future clients, too, including situations where I'm solving problems for them and they're ecstatic about the results. During my day, I look for evidence of what I'm wanting coming to fruition, and I celebrate when it does.
2) Ask yourself, "Who am I being?" Are you being the most positive aspects of yourself, or are you falling prey to negativity? Don't count on expanding your business if you are worrying, doubting, or worse, getting angry. Remember, like attracts like, so if you're engaging in being negative, you'll attract more of that. Maybe in these times, to attract what you want you have to be Resilient, Persistent, Upbeat, Loving, and Helpful. Heck maybe you even have to be Magical! Before you engage in any marketing activities, check yourself and see if you can center yourself in a being that is a match for that which you are attracting.
3) Go out there and network online. Now that you're balanced and being the light of Love in the world, it's time to start networking and sharing your heart-felt gifts with the world. Are you on all the hottest Social Networks folks are raving about? It's not an accident that they are all the rage. People (including me) are getting real results from sharing our purpose and our offerings online. Whether or not you have a website, you want to be active in online marketing to expand your business.
Here's a checklist for starters.
If you are baffled by any of this, unsure about what steps to take next or how to learn all this stuff, I offer free teleclasses every month on Social Networking Basics during which I always reveal tricks and secrets to how to attract perfect customers online.
I also offer a 10 week hand-holding webinar intensive where I guide folks through the process of creating an attraction-based Internet marketing plan that empowers them to get to page one of Google, improves their online magnetism, and grows their contact lists exponentially.
Email info@magicalmarketingonline.com to receive call information for my next free teleclass, Monday, June 15th at 3pm pt. Visit http://www.graphicgirlz.com/apco.html to learn about my upcoming 10 week webinar and register online.
It is part of my mission to help you express your true purpose while attracting perfect customers. Contact me and let's explore how I can be of service to you as you take your message online.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, Wildly Attractive WebsitesTM, Branding from the HeartTM, and smart Social Networking strategies. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
@magicalmarketer
Do you want to expand your customer base, improve your work life, and increase your cash flow? If you listen to the news you might be hiding under the covers afraid to face the day. But seriously, are you sure you are doing everything you can and even more importantly, being all you can be to attract more business now? There is no sense in worrying about what's going on out there when there is so much you can focus on right here to improve your lot (and the lot of your customers too!)
Let's look there to see if there's something simple, fun and fulfilling you can be or do now to expand your business no matter what's happening "out there."
1) Take the time to focus on what you want. Every morning (and sometimes at night too) I do a meditation along with self applied acupressure to balance my energy and focus on what I'm attracting. I can take up to an hour to do this, and it has offered palatable results. As I imagine the scenarios I want to manifest, I can actually feel my mood lifting. Like Jerry Clark the magical MLM trainer, I like to imagine standing in line at the bank with a bunch of large checks to deposit. I imagine getting my receipt and checking my balance which is just as big as I want it to be. I imagine all kinds of positive experiences with my future clients, too, including situations where I'm solving problems for them and they're ecstatic about the results. During my day, I look for evidence of what I'm wanting coming to fruition, and I celebrate when it does.
2) Ask yourself, "Who am I being?" Are you being the most positive aspects of yourself, or are you falling prey to negativity? Don't count on expanding your business if you are worrying, doubting, or worse, getting angry. Remember, like attracts like, so if you're engaging in being negative, you'll attract more of that. Maybe in these times, to attract what you want you have to be Resilient, Persistent, Upbeat, Loving, and Helpful. Heck maybe you even have to be Magical! Before you engage in any marketing activities, check yourself and see if you can center yourself in a being that is a match for that which you are attracting.
3) Go out there and network online. Now that you're balanced and being the light of Love in the world, it's time to start networking and sharing your heart-felt gifts with the world. Are you on all the hottest Social Networks folks are raving about? It's not an accident that they are all the rage. People (including me) are getting real results from sharing our purpose and our offerings online. Whether or not you have a website, you want to be active in online marketing to expand your business.
Here's a checklist for starters.
- Are you blogging regularly and telling your peeps about it? Make sure you blog once per week or more to consistently build your blog archive. Your blog entries are like magnets drawing searches from potential clients, media or joint venture connections. Remember to tell your Social Network connections when you update your blog.
- Have you started growing your network on Twitter yet? Are you making friends by RT'ing them (and do you know what RT means?) Your Twitter following can grow very quickly with consistent and persistent use, and some great tools. Click on the "Twitter" label to the right for Twitter tips on this blog.
- Are you in LinkedIn and Yahoo groups with like minded folks, letting them know about your special offerings?
- Are you using Facebook to full advantage ~ posting photos of your business events, creating events and inviting people to attend, creating cause pages to attract contributors and fan pages to build a following, or groups to create community?
- Do you have a free ad on Craigslist?
If you are baffled by any of this, unsure about what steps to take next or how to learn all this stuff, I offer free teleclasses every month on Social Networking Basics during which I always reveal tricks and secrets to how to attract perfect customers online.
I also offer a 10 week hand-holding webinar intensive where I guide folks through the process of creating an attraction-based Internet marketing plan that empowers them to get to page one of Google, improves their online magnetism, and grows their contact lists exponentially.
Email info@magicalmarketingonline.com to receive call information for my next free teleclass, Monday, June 15th at 3pm pt. Visit http://www.graphicgirlz.com/apco.html to learn about my upcoming 10 week webinar and register online.
It is part of my mission to help you express your true purpose while attracting perfect customers. Contact me and let's explore how I can be of service to you as you take your message online.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, Wildly Attractive WebsitesTM, Branding from the HeartTM, and smart Social Networking strategies. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
Monday, June 8, 2009
Don't Waste Your Time on Social Networks
by Julia D. Stege, MFA
@magicalmarketer
You heard me right. I said, "Don't waste your time on Social Networks."
You're probably thinking, "Hey wait, aren't you that Marketing Diva I see all the time on Facebook?"
"Yup, the very same one," I reply.
"Who are you talking to?" my husband chimes in, but he is quickly reabsorbed into his political blogosphere.
You see, I continue silently, I don't waste my time on Facebook. I spend my time wisely on Facebook. There's the rub.
I know, there's so much fun to be had wiling away the hours checking out my friends' photo albums, planting in the 'Lil Green Patch to save the Rainforest, tripping down memory lane with my buddies from Junior High. And I will probably do that stuff in my free time on the weekends with my laptop when I'm just hanging out with Hubby (while he's on the political blogs or Gear Page - the Social Network for guitar amp nuts.)
But during work hours I leverage my time online. Here's how I do that:
1) Define a Time Slot: When I go online, I determine a limited block of time I will dedicate to the process.Usually 15 minutes will suffice. If I want to be on the safe side, I can set a reminder to pop up after my time slot is finished so I don't get sucked down the Twitter-hole only to come up hours later, eyes bloodshot, with a crick in my neck.
2) Prioritize: I have a clear sense of what I want to acheive with my online activities. For me the name of the game is build my following, so expanding my network is always my #1 priority. On Facebook I'll check my friend requests first. Then I can go 'mining' for folks to connect with either in groups or through my friends. On Twitter I can do a quick keyword search to find folks of like mind and follow them. I may spend just 2 or 3 minutes and be able to connect with a dozen new people and still have time for other activities.
3) Deliver a Consistent Authentic Message: Once I've connected with new folks I deliver my message. Because I live in the realm of "Branding from the Heart" - my life purpose is expressed in a cohesive brand message I'm delivering almost non-stop on the free Internet 'airwave.' At any given time anyone in my online community can tap in to what I'm sharing and get to know me authentically and deeply. Delivering a consistent message from the heart helps my peeps to create buzz about me which in turn helps me build my network, and it only takes seconds to do. I can send a pertinent quote, a link to a great resource, or an invite to a live event in mere moments. I can uplift a person by posting their stuff to my network or respond to a new follower with an inspiring phrase, all within the context of my message.
4) Automate: I use tools that help me save time by helping me limit how often I have to go online or how many sites I need to visit. I can send one message out to multiple networks at once, automatically follow or unfollow folks, or I can schedule multiple messages to go out over time. There are Social Networking tools galore, some of which I teach in my webinars or write about here on my blog. They help me leverage my time online.
When my 15 minutes are up, I can focus on other things. I've done what I set out to do, made some friends along the way, spread my message to the world, and now my free Social Networks are working overtime for me, attracting my perfect customers, colleagues and friends. Narry a moment has been wasted!
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, Wildly Attractive WebsitesTM, Branding from the HeartTM, and smart Social Networking strategies. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
@magicalmarketer
You heard me right. I said, "Don't waste your time on Social Networks."
You're probably thinking, "Hey wait, aren't you that Marketing Diva I see all the time on Facebook?"
"Yup, the very same one," I reply.
"Who are you talking to?" my husband chimes in, but he is quickly reabsorbed into his political blogosphere.
You see, I continue silently, I don't waste my time on Facebook. I spend my time wisely on Facebook. There's the rub.
I know, there's so much fun to be had wiling away the hours checking out my friends' photo albums, planting in the 'Lil Green Patch to save the Rainforest, tripping down memory lane with my buddies from Junior High. And I will probably do that stuff in my free time on the weekends with my laptop when I'm just hanging out with Hubby (while he's on the political blogs or Gear Page - the Social Network for guitar amp nuts.)
But during work hours I leverage my time online. Here's how I do that:
1) Define a Time Slot: When I go online, I determine a limited block of time I will dedicate to the process.Usually 15 minutes will suffice. If I want to be on the safe side, I can set a reminder to pop up after my time slot is finished so I don't get sucked down the Twitter-hole only to come up hours later, eyes bloodshot, with a crick in my neck.
2) Prioritize: I have a clear sense of what I want to acheive with my online activities. For me the name of the game is build my following, so expanding my network is always my #1 priority. On Facebook I'll check my friend requests first. Then I can go 'mining' for folks to connect with either in groups or through my friends. On Twitter I can do a quick keyword search to find folks of like mind and follow them. I may spend just 2 or 3 minutes and be able to connect with a dozen new people and still have time for other activities.
3) Deliver a Consistent Authentic Message: Once I've connected with new folks I deliver my message. Because I live in the realm of "Branding from the Heart" - my life purpose is expressed in a cohesive brand message I'm delivering almost non-stop on the free Internet 'airwave.' At any given time anyone in my online community can tap in to what I'm sharing and get to know me authentically and deeply. Delivering a consistent message from the heart helps my peeps to create buzz about me which in turn helps me build my network, and it only takes seconds to do. I can send a pertinent quote, a link to a great resource, or an invite to a live event in mere moments. I can uplift a person by posting their stuff to my network or respond to a new follower with an inspiring phrase, all within the context of my message.
4) Automate: I use tools that help me save time by helping me limit how often I have to go online or how many sites I need to visit. I can send one message out to multiple networks at once, automatically follow or unfollow folks, or I can schedule multiple messages to go out over time. There are Social Networking tools galore, some of which I teach in my webinars or write about here on my blog. They help me leverage my time online.
When my 15 minutes are up, I can focus on other things. I've done what I set out to do, made some friends along the way, spread my message to the world, and now my free Social Networks are working overtime for me, attracting my perfect customers, colleagues and friends. Narry a moment has been wasted!
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, Wildly Attractive WebsitesTM, Branding from the HeartTM, and smart Social Networking strategies. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
What To Do When Reality Bites
by Julia D. Stege, MFA
@magicalmarketer
Let's face it. Sometimes reality bites. It's just inevitable that stuff shows up that makes you feel rotten. It can ruin you day, especially when you have work to do, clients to attract, and a business to grow. When reality bites, it's almost impossible to move forward. It could be a person who seems bent on making you miserable, or a health challenge took you by surprise, or something is amiss with your finances. You know what I'm talking about. It just feels totally wrong.
The first question you have to ask yourself is do you really want to keep feeling rotten, or do you want to move out of it?
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a choice, but we always do! I have noticed that when I make an effort in the right direction, I can always transform my experiences and experience life as a happy fulfillment of my aspirations.
So what can we do when reality bites? Here is some sage advice:
1) Stop Thinking About It! I'm giving you permission to be a Pollyanna! If thinking about the problem is stressing you out, then turn away from it. We have been convinced that focusing on our problems will solve them, but our focus expands them! Have you ever noticed that the best solutions come to you when you are not trying? It's that old, "it came to me in the shower," scenario. You turn away from the problem, start feeling good again, then poof, the solution comes to you.
2) Turn Your Attention Toward Something that Feels Good: Sometimes this takes a certain amount of will when your attention seems to be magnetically drawn to the offending memory. Remember, what you focus on expands. Take a few minutes and close your eyes if you can and direct your attention to what you want. Imagine the situations you want, the people and what they're doing or saying. Think about them smiling and saying what you want to hear. If you can manage to focus for longer than a minute, you are on your way to attracting the new situations you imagine.
3) Get Inspired: If I feel stuck in a rut, I listen to uplifting CD's. Works every time. I have a wide selection of topics to choose from so I can select what works for my current state of mind. Maybe I'll get into a guided meditation, or Abraham-Hicks talking about Law of Attraction, or Deepak Chopra musing over the power of the mind. These folks always remind me of what I came here to do and how to move beyond my perceived limitations to experience what I've wanted and deserved. You may find some of my recordings helpful and uplifting. Get them here: http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
4) Do Something Fun. There's nothing better for keeping your mind off your troubles than to do something fun. It could be as simple as getting a quick coffee at your favorite cafe, or a walk for a few minutes out in nature, catching a movie, or taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. You deserve a break and the fun will uplift you. If you're at work and need to stay there, turn your focus toward an aspect of work you love and get productive there.
You'll be feeling better in no time! And soon you'll start attracting what you want again. Go forth and attract!
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, wildly attractive logos and websites, and smart Social Networking techniques. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com/
@magicalmarketer
Let's face it. Sometimes reality bites. It's just inevitable that stuff shows up that makes you feel rotten. It can ruin you day, especially when you have work to do, clients to attract, and a business to grow. When reality bites, it's almost impossible to move forward. It could be a person who seems bent on making you miserable, or a health challenge took you by surprise, or something is amiss with your finances. You know what I'm talking about. It just feels totally wrong.
The first question you have to ask yourself is do you really want to keep feeling rotten, or do you want to move out of it?
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a choice, but we always do! I have noticed that when I make an effort in the right direction, I can always transform my experiences and experience life as a happy fulfillment of my aspirations.
So what can we do when reality bites? Here is some sage advice:
1) Stop Thinking About It! I'm giving you permission to be a Pollyanna! If thinking about the problem is stressing you out, then turn away from it. We have been convinced that focusing on our problems will solve them, but our focus expands them! Have you ever noticed that the best solutions come to you when you are not trying? It's that old, "it came to me in the shower," scenario. You turn away from the problem, start feeling good again, then poof, the solution comes to you.
2) Turn Your Attention Toward Something that Feels Good: Sometimes this takes a certain amount of will when your attention seems to be magnetically drawn to the offending memory. Remember, what you focus on expands. Take a few minutes and close your eyes if you can and direct your attention to what you want. Imagine the situations you want, the people and what they're doing or saying. Think about them smiling and saying what you want to hear. If you can manage to focus for longer than a minute, you are on your way to attracting the new situations you imagine.
3) Get Inspired: If I feel stuck in a rut, I listen to uplifting CD's. Works every time. I have a wide selection of topics to choose from so I can select what works for my current state of mind. Maybe I'll get into a guided meditation, or Abraham-Hicks talking about Law of Attraction, or Deepak Chopra musing over the power of the mind. These folks always remind me of what I came here to do and how to move beyond my perceived limitations to experience what I've wanted and deserved. You may find some of my recordings helpful and uplifting. Get them here: http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com
4) Do Something Fun. There's nothing better for keeping your mind off your troubles than to do something fun. It could be as simple as getting a quick coffee at your favorite cafe, or a walk for a few minutes out in nature, catching a movie, or taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. You deserve a break and the fun will uplift you. If you're at work and need to stay there, turn your focus toward an aspect of work you love and get productive there.
You'll be feeling better in no time! And soon you'll start attracting what you want again. Go forth and attract!
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Magical Marketer Julia D. Stege, MFA helps people attract their perfect customers with a unique combination of Law of Attraction, wildly attractive logos and websites, and smart Social Networking techniques. If you're ready to start attracting your perfect customers now, get Julia's free Magical Marketing Toolkit at http://www.magicalmarketingtoolkit.com/
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