7 Minute Marketing Plan

Could you really create a marketing plan in just 7 minutes?

If you want to win in any field of endeavor, you need a better plan than your competitors.

In business, the lack of a good marketing plan is a key reason why most businesses fail in their early years.

Most business owners create a product or service then they go out to the world effectively saying to everyone 'buy mine, buy mine' and hope to succeed.

Yet it really doesn't have to be like that.

The problem is that most people make the idea of having a marketing plan so complicated that it just never happens.

The truth is a marketing plan has to be easy to develop and implement. Otherwise you will either never start on it or never do anything with it.

It has to meet some basic standards. For example, it should be

written
resourced
measurable
and timed

But it doesn't have to be a large document and it needn't take long to create.

If you are disciplined, you really could create an effective marketing plan in seven minutes or less.

Seven minutes is better than no time at all.

And it's better than spending seven months planning without taking any action.

If you spend just one minute thinking about each of the following seven issues, you'll already have the basis for a strong plan.

1. Without a clear sense of direction in your business, you'll be unfocused and uncertain about what to do. So you need clear 'objectives' for what you want from your marketing.

2. The first and most obvious secret of successful marketing is having a product or service that people want to buy so you need to be clear about your 'proposition'.

3. The most successful businesses usually don't try to be something for everyone. Instead they recognize the value of focusing on a specific part of the market – so you need to be clear on your 'niche'.

4. You need to stand out from the competition in a way that is attractive to your market. This is your 'positioning'.

5. You need to have a consistent 'message' that appeals to people and that you communicate effectively.

6. When you know your message, you have to choose the right 'tactics and tools' for getting it across.

7. Finally you need to pull these tactics together into an easy-to-follow 'calendar'.

With the right approach, this really is possible in just 7 minutes. But the truth is you'll get the best results by investing a little more time. Try 7 minutes on each of the 7 issues. The secret is to follow the process quickly and then keep coming back to it regularly to improve your answers.

Of course, having a plan is only the start.

The most important thing is just to take action.

If you do that on any of the points covered here, you'll be amazed at how quickly you see results.

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Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps entrepreneurs and independent professionals develop the success mindset and marketing strategies for a better lifestyle. For his 7 top tips on earning more and working less, visit http://www.MindPowerMarketing.com

Essentials in Baby Clothes

Baby Clothes 101: Needs and Proper Care

If you are a first time parent to-be, there are numerous tasks that must be accomplished before your new baby's arrival. One important, and fun "labor of love" is purchasing baby clothing. However, with such a large selection of baby clothing, you may be asking yourself which of these adorable little items are essentials. This is crucial information to know, as well as their proper care.

Onesies

"Onesies" are basically baby t-shirts and are a necessary baby clothing purchase. To keep the onesie from creeping up and exposing your baby's belly, most onesies have snaps in the crotch. They can be worn alone or as an undergarment. Onesies, also known as rompers, come in basic white, colored or patterned varieties. For your basics, you should have between 5 to 10 onesies.

Sleepers

Sleepers are one-piece items with long legs and long or short sleeves. They usually have snaps down the legs for easy accessibility for late night diaper changes.

When preparing your basics, you should have between 5 to 8 baby sleepers. These are necessary as it is recommended that a newborn not sleep with thick blankets. This could inadvertently cause suffocation. The best material for both your baby's warmth and comfort are cotton or fleece sleepers.

Baby Socks

For your baby's requirements, you should purchase between 6 to 8 pairs of baby socks. Although socks are not necessary in warm weather, they should be worn if taking your little one outside in chilly temperatures. They are also indispensable at night if your baby is wearing a sleeper without feet.

Baby socks are made of either thick or thin weaves. You should purchase a combination of both, as thin socks are desirable if your baby is to wear shoes.

Hats

Hats are baby clothing essentials for your little bundle. When taking care of your newborn, it is important to keep them adequately warm. Newborns often have difficulty regulating their body temperature and much of their heat escapes through their head.

It is recommended that your newborn wear a hat through his or her first month of life. After that, it is not as crucial unless you are taking them outside on a chilly or cold day. For this purpose, you should have 1 or 2 fairly snug, but not too restrictive, hats for your baby.

Proper Care for Baby Clothing

When caring for baby clothing, there are two schools of thought. The first is that your little bundle of joy's clothes should be washed in special detergents to alleviate the risk of skin allergies. There are numerous varieties of mild laundry soaps that are scent and dye-free. Many of these detergents are aimed at the baby market, such as Dreft that boasts "A gentle clean. Just for baby".

The other school of thought does not believe that "gentle" laundry soaps are required for baby clothing. If your baby's skin does not react adversely to certain detergents, then a special detergent is not necessary.

Stain Removal

Your bundle of pink or blue will not think twice about staining their cutest outfits. Certain formulas, baby food and stains caused by leaking diapers are often difficult to remove from baby clothing. If pretreated before washing, some of the most stubborn stains can be eliminated, leaving the clothing both clean and in pristine condition. One tried and true stain remover is Oxi-Clean. You may want to "audition" or try different stain removers to find the one best suited for your laundry needs.

Wash New Clothes Before Wear

Before dressing your baby in new clothes, it is essential that you wash them first. Although baby clothing may look fresh and clean on department store hangers, many have come into contact with dirt, little four legged creatures and bugs during the shipping and packaging process.

Minor skin irritations may also result from sizing placed on many pieces of baby clothing. Sizing is used to keep items looking nice until they are purchased.

Getting prepared for your little one's new arrival is both a joyous and stressful time. Knowing what baby clothing is essential in your little one's layette and how to properly care for their clothing is one of the many tasks that lay before you. Knowledge is power and being prepared is half the battle.

And of course, when they get a little older and you are looking for something more stylish than the layette t-shirts and onesies, pick up a Stylease outfit or two for their wardrobe. You still get the convenience of that one-piece, and all the style of separates! Shameless plug, I know.

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If you are in the region, visit Paul Easton of Jack and Abby, a baby clothes store in Auckland, New Zealand. Even if you aren't lucky enought to be in New Zealand anytime soon, you can sign up today for their free email newsletter, and get first pick on their special offers, plus you'll get great exclusive VIP specials and FREE gifts too!! http://www.jackandabby.co.nz/

The magic word...

It's not what you may think.

One, tiny word can bring about massive changes in your life. It's a word that we hate to hear, and hesitate to say ourselves. Have you guessed it? That's right, the word is 'no'.

Don't worry; I'm not going to tell you to become a negative, selfish person who refuses to help others. What I am going to share, however, are effective strategies for saying 'no' when it really counts.

Most of us are kind people by nature. We really want to help others, whether we're volunteering our time at a charitable organization or being supportive to our friends and family. But sometimes our good intentions can get the best of us. We end up taking on more and more obligations, and feeling uncomfortable when someone asks us for a favor.

How do we say no without offending them? Will they get angry at us? What if we really WANT to help, but it would be a great imposition to do so?

It can be helpful to first figure out why you hesitate to turn down requests. Do you believe they'll stop liking you if you do? Do you believe that making life easier for other people is more important than your own peace of mind? What is the worst thing that can happen if you say no?

When you start thinking about the answers to these questions, you'll probably realize some surprising things about yourself that you may not have been aware of previously.

Then, come up with a simple response to use when you really have to say no. Here's one that works well for me:

'I'm sorry, I'd love to help you out but I just won't be able to at that time'.

Notice I don't try to defend or explain my decision. I don't promise to do something else for them in the future to make up for not helping now.

When it comes right down to it, it's not up to you to save everyone. You have every right to help when you can and refuse when you can't! And you don't have to explain why or justify your decision.

Surprisingly, most people won't freak out over your refusal. They'll just accept it and move on. Some people might get annoyed, or even a little angry at you - especially if you usually bend over backwards to make their life easier. They won't be pleased that you're not willing to do it anymore.

But ultimately, what is more important to you: keeping them happy or keeping your sanity?

Saying no definitely requires a bit of inner strength and determination - but so do most positive changes in life.

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If you want a good resource for dealing with this kind of thing, Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps entrepreneurs and independent professionals transform their business results by changing their mindset. Sign up for his free tips on Calming the Chaotic Life

Women in Business

Women are taking control of their financial destinies and careers by starting and running their own business. Women owned business opportunities are often of the work-at-home type due to several reasons.

When you work from home, there is usually little start-up costs involved in getting your business going. You already have a living accommodation that can double as your office, so you save from paying office rental.

There's the freedom to set your own work schedule. No more having a boss telling you what, when and how to do your work. You don't need to travel in bad weather or be stuck in a traffic jam.

You don't have to pay childcare costs or travel expenses such as gas and automobile maintenance. Many women in business are deciding to work from home so that they can spend more time with their children and family.

Potential Setbacks

Due to the fact that you have the flexibility to set your own schedule, it can be very tempting not follow it at times. You may become distracted and lose track of time. This will put you behind in your work and set the stage for stress and aggravation. Other distractions, such as the television, radio or telephone can interfere with your ability to maintain a schedule and get your work completed on time.

There may be household distractions such as the dishes that need to be washed or the floor that needs to be mopped and this is why it is important to prioritize. You can be distracted by friends dropping by unannounced to hang out because they don't understand that even though you are at home, you still have a business to run.

Overcoming setbacks

You must cultivate a strong commitment and self-discipline when running a home based business. Set your hours that you are going to work and stay as close to your schedule as possible. With a small child you can expect to have some unplanned interruptions so allow extra time for your projects to account for this. When the workday has ended, spend some quality time with your family even though you still have unfinished work.

Don't overload yourself with work. Once in a while you may receive a big project that will take extra time, but keep this to a minimum. You don't want to do this on a regular basis where you are constantly struggling to keep up. Remember to take breaks. It is easy to get so wrapped up in a project that the day is gone before you realize it. You can get really burned out this way. Divide up your workday with breaks by going for a walk, having lunch outside or have a special time set aside where you play a game with your child.

Be sure to keep in contact with others. Networking is an essential part of running a successful business. The rapid rise growth in women owned businesses is due to women placing more emphasis in building a business relationship, thus increasing customer loyalty and referrals.

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Online opportunities are now more abundant than ever for women entrepreneurs wanting to start their own home-based business, since all that is needed is a computer with an internet connection.

If you would like some tips on how to get started www.ehome-basedbusiness.com caters to women who are seeking business opportunities. They cover 6 areas of starting a women owned business and provide match-up opportunities.