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The Big Shift is a podcast, a community, and a movement. It is our aim to help those who want to make a difference, have success in carrying out their mission. The goal of our podcast is to inspire heart-centered entrepreneurs to create their dream business, do what they love, and make the world a better place in the process.

We will help you get there by sharing with you the best marketing, sales/enrollment and mindset practices known to humankind today… All of these practices are tested and come from the people who are the very best at utilizing and teaching them. These will be some of the most extraordinary people on this planet. Get ready for your Big Shift!


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5 Critical Mistakes That May Be Stopping You From Growing Your List

May 2 by Leave a Comment

Are you focusing on list building in your business? (By list building, I mean creating an email list of people in your niche who are interested in the type of work you do.)

If not, then you’re missing out the most powerful marketing strategy I know for attracting potential clients… and you may be limiting your business and probably not making the kind of impact on the world you want to be making.

In fact, I would maintain that there is NOTHING more important to your long term business success than building a list, being of service to them, and enrolling them as long-term, happy clients when the timing is right for them.

Are you ready for a major mindset shift or breakthrough related to your list building?

I think it’s important to look at what’s getting in the way of your list building efforts.
So I’m going to share some of my thoughts right here in this email on how to overcome your biggest obstacles to list building.

5 Critical Mistakes That May Be Stopping You From Growing Your List

MISTAKE #1: You’re misunderstanding the purpose of your website

Most people spend a huge amount time working on the wrong part of their website. I hear people spending hours working on the “About Us” page, etc.

Here’s the thing: most people who visit your website aren’t going to make a purchase during their first visit.

In fact, did you know that 99% of the people who visit your website never come back again?
I want you to take away with you this critical concept: the number one goal of your website is to add people to your list.

Here’s why: if someone visits your site this week, but they are not yet ready to hire you that day, chances are you’ll never see them again.

Would you like to stay connected with the people who visit your website and build a long-term relationship with them?

If so, when you add web visitors to your list, you can offer your services and share your free resources with them – over and over again.

MISTAKE #2: You don’t have an “irresistible” free gift on your website

Just offering your newsletter on your website is not irresistible. Very few people who visit your website are there to get a newsletter.

What people visiting your website want is an immediately solution to their problem.

So when you offer them a free gift on your website (like a valuable ebook), that helps them solve an urgent problem, you’ll have a much better chance of receiving their name and email address. And your newsletter is a valuable bonus that complements the free gift.

Just make sure you include at least 3 “irresistibility factors” to make your free gift irresistible!

MISTAKE #3: You’re not collaborating with strategic alliance partners

I’ve used diverse strategies over the years to build my list, and I’ve found that working with partners can be one of the best methods.

The key is to find partners who reach the same audience that you want to reach, and approach them about creating a mutually beneficial collaboration, one where you can each promote each other to your respective lists.

When you’re starting out, and you don’t have a big list yourself, your partners will naturally be people with smaller lists. This is a great way to start. And when your list starts to take off, partners with larger lists will be a natural next step.

MISTAKE #4: You’re using Social Media the wrong way

Social Media is so new (and constantly changing) that most business owners aren’t sure how to use Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in a way that grows your business.

Does it feel like Social Media is a bright shiny object that sucks up a lot of your time?

Let me tell you one of my secrets.

The #1 way to use Social Media most effectively is to bring people from your target audience over to your newsletter list.

MISTAKE #5: Not incorporating List Building into *everything* you do in your business

One of my business mantras is “always be list building”.

Are you building your list every time you’re networking? When you’re giving a speaking engagement or teleseminar? When you hand someone your business card or send out an email?

If not, you’re missing out on numerous opportunities to build your list.
By maximizing your existing opportunities, you could easily add 1,000 people or more to your list each year.

I cannot stress enough how important list building is and how much potential it has to grow your business. Whenever you would like a new client – you can offer an initial consultation or program to your list – it’s that simple.

Filed Under: Business, Getting Clients

Announcing the Client Mastery Blueprint Winner

July 2 by Leave a Comment

Thank you to everyone who submitted their entry in the scholarship contest.

This was an incredibly difficult decision, because there were many worthy entries that took my breath away with their passionate self-exploration, courage, and deep spirit of service to others.

In the end, I allowed my intuition to guide me to who brings the greatest need, a strong potential for positively impacting the world and who is absolutely ready to take a leap in their business NOW.
And, it turns out that there are TWO people who I felt were deserving of receiving this scholarship.

Id like you to meet the amazing winners of our Client Mastery Blueprint scholarship contest.

And the winners are…
Stephani and Michael!

You can learn more about each of them at their websites.
Stephani’s site: http://www.nourishingjourney.com
Michael’s site: http://www.lifebalanceclub.com/

For everyone who entered the contest, I fully trust that the passion and commitment that you expressed in your entries will be a strong message to the universe to bring you the support that you need. And I believe that we will find a way to work together, some how, some way.

And now, please leave a comment below congratulating both Stephani and Michael…

Filed Under: Business, Getting Clients, Social Responsibility

Win a FULL scholarship to my upcoming program!

June 29 by 3 Comments

Im proud to announce a contest where one business owner will receive a FULL scholarship to my upcoming Client Mastery Blueprint program.

(In case you haven’t read up on what Client Mastery Blueprint is all about, you can do so here: http://www.ClientMasteryBlueprint.com/earlybird)

Why am I giving away a full place, when there are a very limited number of places in this program and this program will sell out (last time it sold out a week early)?

I was completely touched and inspired by the actions and messages I received from Monica, our scholarship winner from the last Client Mastery Blueprint group, so I know how much participation in this program can be a catalyst in your life.

So Ive decided to set aside a place for someone who is having a challenging time with their business, but has the burning desire and passion to succeed.

All of the coaching, step-by-step strategies, tools, and resources in this program are designed to help you make a big leap forward in your business. I know if you invest your time, energy and resources into this program! and you commit to IMPLEMENTING, and not just learning!. this program will give you the incredible support you need to GROW!

Here’s What To Do

1. Post your entry in the comments section below, answering these 4 questions:

I. What specific results do you want for your business in 12 months?
II. What are the 2-3 biggest challenges stopping you from getting the results you want?
III. What are at least 3 benefits Client Master Blueprint will bring to your business and your life?
IV. Why is it that you should be chosen?

(NOTE: Be sure to put include your email address when you are filling out the comment form, so that we can
contact you).

2. You can post your entry as text or as a YouTube video. We know that some people are better at writing, some are better at live speaking. Just be sure to include a blog comment with your YouTube link.3. I’ll review all entries and select the person that communicates the clearest vision and most compelling motivation for making a big step forward in their business.

3. I’ll review all entries and select the person that communicates the clearest vision and most compelling motivation for making a big step forward in their business.

4. Timing: post your entry in the comment section down below by midnight, Thursday July 1st.

I’ll select the winner and let him or her know by Friday, July 2nd – hopefully you’ll be the one!

One More Important Thought

This scholarship is intended for a business owner who really needs it – and will do the work to get maximum benefit from this program.

So if you are in a financial situation where you can afford the tuition, please invest in yourself and reserve your spot. This program is going to be FAR more valuable than the investment to participate. To register: http://www.ClientMasteryBlueprint.com/earlybird

What You Win

You win a FULL scholarship for the Client Mastery Blueprint gold level membership (this program is worth $10,278).

If you win, be prepared to follow through and be an active and fully committed participant in the Client Mastery Blueprint program.

This is an amazing opportunity to reap all of the benefits of a 6-month business growth program and receive hands-on coaching, step-by-step training filled with practical how-to guidance so you can attract all of the clients that you want while doing what you love. I’m teaching my own system for attracting and retaining clients so you’re going to get exactly what you need to make a big jump forward and generate more revenue for your business.

If you haven’t read up on what Client Mastery Blueprint is all about, you can do so here:

http://www.ClientMasteryBlueprint.com/earlybird

What this all boils down to: you’ll be learning the same strategies, and action steps I’ve used to create a business in which I brought on 4 other coaches to help me serve all of the prospects and clients I attract. This is a gift that I can’t wait to share with you.

Good luck!
Bill

P.S. Go ahead and do your entry now – even if yours doesn’t win, I’ll honor your intention and commitment with a special gift.

So no matter what happens, you win!

Filed Under: Business, Coaching, Getting Clients

Are You Sabotaging Your Sales Conversations?

March 25 by 1 Comment

As a business coach, I get a LOT of questions from very diverse business owners.

One of the most frequent questions is this:
“Im very good at what I do! so why aren’t people hiring me?”

Is this happening with you?

If so, I am going to share with you three of the biggest mistakes people make when they are having an enrollment conversation with potential clients.
(By the way, “enrollment conversation” is another way of saying “initial consultation” or “sales conversation”)

MISTAKE #1 – Promoting your services before your potential client gets clear on what they REALLY want.
The consultation is about your potential clients and their needs, and not about you. So be sure to take a substantial part of your consultation to ask questions to understand you potential clients needs before you offer solutions.

When you understand their deepest wants and needs – and I mean whats keeping them up at night – then you’re in a great place to offer your services as a solution.

If you aren’t establishing the “Gap”, you’re going to have a hard time getting hired! The “Gap” is the frustration that potential clients feel about the chasm between where they are now and where they want to go with their life, business, health, web site, etc.

MISTAKE #2 – Trying to solve the potential clients problem during your initial consultation. The consultation is not the time to help your prospect solve a micro-problem they are currently having.  Its an opportunity for them to see much greater opportunities for themselves and for their business and to establish you as someone who can help them close the gap.

Heres why this is a mistake. Often when you give them 1/20th of a solution to their problem, they think theyve already received the solution from you and go off to implement it on their own – without hiring you.

This is not the best way you can be of service to them, since their problem is only partially solved. And it will certainly not land you the client.

And this isnt just an issue for coaches – its often true whether you are a web designer, business consultant, healer or wellness practitioner, professional organizer, etc.

MISTAKE #3 – Not using a consistent system for your enrollment conversation.
When you’re having a conversation with a potential client about working together, is it something you do spontaneously, without a script or agenda? Does it feel kind of random, and you’re uncertain if your conversation is going to work? You may even feel like the conversation with your potential client is going well, but then they don’t hire you. And you don’t why.

If this is the case, I have to ask you, do you have a “system” that you are using in every sales conversation?

I am not a systematic guy by nature.  In fact, I have often been allergic to systems.

But after a while, I couldnt deny that when I developed a system for enrolling clients during a one-on-one consultation, used it every time, continually made it better – the results spoke for themselves. My results jumped from a 0% success rate to a place where now 80% of prospective clients hire me.

If you are making one or all of these mistakes in your enrollment consultations, don’t despair!

Just make a conscious effort to change how you’re approaching your clients and holding these conversations.

And consider learning a more systematic approach to having enrollment conversations, such as my “Master of Enrollment” program.
Before you know it you these conversations will flow with ease, and you’ll allow new clients to say “yes” to you.

Filed Under: Business, Coaching, Getting Clients, Marketing

It’s Time To Fire Your Inner Perfectionist

March 4 by 1 Comment

Imperfect action

I’ve got a wish.

I wish I could erase a word from your vocabulary. That word is perfection.

I know I am being dramatic here and it’s not really the word I want to erase, but I do want to erase the baggage that comes along with it.

When were attached to perfection:

  • We spend a lot of time learning, and not much time implementing
  • We procrastinate and procrastinate
  • We spend too much time making it just right (and its still not perfect anyway!)

Heres the thing – whatever you’re doing will never be “perfect” until you try it out in real life with real people.

So heres my favorite motto: Imperfect action is better than no action.

Taking lots of imperfect action is what gets us new clients and new business.

I want to share a success story to inspire you to imperfect action.

Last month I was teaching the art of mastering enrolling conversations on a coaching call.  I gave a participant a basic script for what to say in a sales conversation.

Instead of waiting months to get the script perfect and after almost “wimping out in the last moment,” she leapt into imperfect action right away and used the script with a prospective client. She stayed open and relied on her curiosity to get connected to her prospect. And by the end of the conversation, it was her prospect who asked if she had any packages she could offer her!

YES, this imperfect conversation turned into her client committing to working with her for the next 5 months. This imperfect action not only resulted in a long-term client, it also renewed her confidence in her business and her ability to enroll other prospects into her business.

Here are a few lessons for enrolling new clients and overcoming your desire for perfection:

Imperfect Action Is Better Than No Action: Stop waiting for the perfect time, the perfect idea or the perfect package. Use what you have and “just do it”. You can always improve on what you have later but by if you don’t put it out there in the first place you’ll never make anything happen

“Perfection” Is Not A One Time Event – Its A Process of Trial and Error: Try something out (such as a sales conversation script), learn from every time you use it, and make an improvement every time.

Be Honest: Honesty is always the best policy. During enrolling conversations don’t fret about following the right steps or losing the prospect. Be in your element, show genuine interest in your prospect and trust your instincts. When you are honest and passionate about who you are and what you do the rest will fall into place

Celebrate All Victories: By trying to be perfect all the time, we forget the small things we accomplish. Instead of just focusing on the things she forgot to do, I asked my client to celebrate the fact that her client ASKED for her services. What a great success!

ARE YOU READY? LET ME KNOW BELOW IN THE COMMENTS
If you’re a perfectionist and my ode to imperfect action inspired you, I’d like to ask you to share an imperfect action you’re willing to take in the next 7 days in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business, Coaching, Creativity, Getting Clients, Success, Time Management

“The Ultimate Time Mastery Technique”

January 26 by Leave a Comment

What would you do if you could:
– eliminate the distractions and interruptions that are stealing your time and energy?
– say NO to low-priority tasks you shouldnt be doing?

Heres the SINGLE most powerful technique Ive discovered for getting started with reducing the time wasters in your business (which could be stealing anywhere from 50% to 80% of your time!).

DOWNLOAD The Ultimate Time Mastery Technique (PDF)

Are you ready to take the challenge, and use this for 3 days?
(If not, perhaps this could be what is keeping the time wasters in your day.)

I guarantee if you use this resource (instructions are inside) for 3 days, the way you think about time in your business will be transformed.

Its transformed my business and that of many of my clients.

And when you are ready to transform the way you’re using your time, join us at the The Big Shift Experience. Were going to show you how you can use all of the time you can be saving to:

=> work with clients you love
=> develop higher value products and program
=> partner with a whole new group of big-vision positive-thinking business owners
=> create a business model that works for you
=> double your income goal! (if you were on my 5 Big Shifts teleseminar, you know what I’m talking about)

Click here to learn more about The Big Shift Experience

Let me know your questions, insights – and your results (!!) in the comments below.

Filed Under: Business, Coaching, Getting Clients, Time Management
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