What to say when you reach out to people

As business owners, we write emails ALL. THE. TIME. In fact, sometimes, I feel like my business IS writing emails. It helps to have a few templates in the back of your pocket for emails that you may be writing a bunch. 

Here are two kinds of emails that I've found to be particularly popular.Remember, these are just suggestions. Below each script, I map out the structure of the email, so that you're welcomed and encouraged to use your own wording and tone. 

Hope you find these to be helpful and that you no longer experience the "what do I say" panic moving forward. 

Announcing your business 

** you can also use this template if you are changing your business a bit or adding a new service to what you currently offer**

Subject line: Exciting news! 

Hi NAME, 

I'm so excited to write to you today as I have big news to share with you. As you may know, I started my own professional organizing business in 2007. I had absolutely no idea how to start or grow my business, and I had to teach myself, step by step. Over the past few years, I've worked with hundreds of clients, been featured on TV and in national magazines, and I'm happy to say that it's been a huge success!

It wasn't the easiest of journeys, however, and I've met lots of women during this time who were in the same boat. And many still are. Starting a business is a huge commitment and a big decision to make, and it can feel very scary and daunting. 

With that in mind, I decided that I wanted to start helping those women who were committed to starting and growing their own service-based businesses, but needed the ongoing support, accountability, and guidance to be sure that they dreams would become a reality. 

Today, I want to proudly announce the launch of Embarkability, with the mission to help women start and grow their own successful service-based businesses. I work with women worldwide, from across the street to across the ocean. I've already begun working with amazing clients and the results they're seeing are huge. It's really been a wonderful experience so far. 

Here's where you come in. Would you please keep your eyes and ears open should you know someone who would benefit from working with me? I would love to connect with them! I offer 30 minute complimentary strategy sessions to learn more about their goals and see how I might be able to help them moving forward. 

Thanks in advance for your support and any introductions you're able to make in the near future!

All the best,

Jordana

Recap of Formula: 

1. Remind them of what's been going on in your life/business

2. Let them know how it's been going

3. The inspiration behind the new business/additional service

4. The announcement and purpose/mission of the new business/additional service

5. Ask for their help (describe your ideal client and how you help them)

6. Thank them in advance for any support they might be able to offer

Reaching out to potential referral partner

Subject line: Would love to connect with you!

Hi NAME, 

I found out about your company online and I wanted to reach out as I think that many of my clients could benefit from your services. In 2010, I created Embarkability with the mission to help women start and grow their own successful service-based businesses. Many of my clients already need or will soon need a SERVICE OF REFERRAL PARTNER to help them take their business to the next level, and I wanted to reach out to see if connecting them with you would be a good fit. 

By the same token, if you have any clients or colleagues who are currently struggling to get clients and make money, I would love to see how I might be able to help them. 

Overall, I would love to learn more about you and your business as I think we could be a great partnership moving forward.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

All the best,

Jordana

Recap of formula: 

1. Let them know how you found them (online, through a friend, etc.)

2. Let them know what you do

3. Let them know why you're reaching out and how you can help them

4. Let them know how they might be able to help you  

5. Emphasize the potential of a great partnership moving forward

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's article! Be sure to leave a comment on Facebook - it's a great way to connect with me and the rest of the Embarkability community.

One more thing. While all of these email templates are straightforward, you will onlysee results if you take action. The key word is action. 

 

Which is probably why you're reading this newsletter today - because you already know that it's difficult to take consistent action when growing your business. With that in mind, Let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

The "behind the door" experiment

If you're frustrated in your business, this might be why!

Remember when your mom or dad would get upset with you and ask you, how many times do I need to repeat myself??"

While their question was more rhetorical than anything else, I'm sure that at the time, they were at their wit's end.

Even if they had said something to you once - and DEFINITELY if they said it more than once - they wanted & even EXPECTED you to listen.

Now here's the million dollar question: Did you listen?

It's funny how the tables turn - because now, in many ways, you are in your parent's position - but as a business owner. Let me explain - you tell a prospective client what you do once, maybe even twice, and well, you want and probably even EXPECT them to understand and remember what it is you do after saying it those 1 or 2 times.

I recently read an article that spoke about the "three-times convincer."  Basically, it said how you can't tell someone something only 1 or 2 times and then expect them to believe you.

In fact, according to the article, "80 percent of people need to hear a message three times before they buy into it, 15 percent need to hear it five times, and five percent up to 25 times." Do you realize, that the minimum amount of times they said was THREE? That was the least amount of times someone needed to hear a message in order for them to really get it. And the most was - I know - TWENTY FIVE!

Now while 25 times does sound a bit much, it definitely shifts your perspective a bit. If you've been wondering why more prospects haven't become clients, you now know that it could very well be simply because you haven't told them enough times about what it is you do!

It's not that you're not good enough or that your service isn't valuable, it's that you're TOO QUIET! Start speaking up more, and see if it makes a difference. Now while this doesn't mean that everyone will suddenly say "yes" - I can tell you that simply going by the law of probability, the more people you speak with and the more times you tell them what you do, the higher the likelihood that you will have more clients.

So now what?

Here are some of the ways I keep the conversation going:

1. Send your prospective clients a weekly newsletter
2. Schedule coffee dates or phone calls with potential referral partners
3. Pick up the phone and see how past, current, and potential clients are doing
4. Send a "just because" card to check in
5. Email them and ask them if there's anything you can do to help
6. Mail them a birthday card and/or present

These are just a few of the hundreds of ways you can keep in touch with the people in your world.

The lessons to be learned here are that connecting or following up with someone one time is never enough, there is no such thing as an overnight success, and to keep going, no matter what.

PS. Let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

Want to receive more free tips like these delivered directly to your inbox every week? (Plus you'll receive your Free Five Day Mini Course: The 5 Secrets You Must Know to Be Your Own Boss") Sign up here to receive them starting next Monday! :)

You're being persistent, not pushy

Interview with Young Female Entrepreneurs

3 things you must know if you want to succeed

Over the past 6 years that I've been an entrepreneur, I've learned a lot of things. Last week when I was speaking with one of my clients, she asked me what I wish I knew when I first got started. After giving it some thought, I've compiled my top three lessons that I've learned over time and wish I knew way back when. 

 1. It takes a village to grow your business. Yes, that's right. If you think that you will be able to get to where you want to go without other people's help and support, you're wrong. Ask anyone who has achieved big time success, and they will have a mile long list of all of the people who have helped them get there. Business isn't a solo sport, and the sooner you realize that having a team is essential, the sooner you'll get to where you want to go. In other words, the longer you choose not to have ongoing and consistent support guidance, and accountability, the more you're delaying your success and leaving it to chance. 

The next steps for you to take: 

Create a team of interns starting day #1 of your business regardless of your budget. 

Find a business coach who you connect with and who can help you achieve your goals.

Pair up with an accountability partner who you check in with daily or weekly.

Figure out what you can delegate and outsource in your business.

Barter services in the beginning if necessary in order to get the support you need.

2. Success doesn't happen overnight, so don't expect it to. Oh the overnight success story. We all want one. Rags on Monday and riches by Tuesday. It doesn't happen. Overnight successes are illusions - they're years of hard work that are packaged into a pretty story that presents itself as an overnight success. Rome wasn't built in a day, and your business is no different. That said, know that success WILL happen. Rome, after all, was built and stands tall to this day.

Next steps for you to take: 

Manage your expectations - set goals that stretch you, but that are still realistic.

Focus on your accomplishments; if you're always thinking about what still needs to be done, you'll never be happy or feel successful.

Do whatever you can to skyrocket the rate of your success (i.e. refer to #1 above).

Learn from those who have already succeeded.

Surround yourself with high achieving peers who will keep you motivated and focused.

3. You will feel scared shitless sometimes. I'm not going to sugar coat this for you. You're not reading this right now for me to tell you a made-up business fairytale; you're reading this because you want the truth. Having your own business is going to feel super scary and overwhelming at times. Sometimes, especially at the beginning, you might even fee like this is the case all of the time. That's okay. Fear might slow you down, but it won't kill you. And everyone who has achieved big success has felt the same way. You're in good company.

Next steps for you to take:

Action is the cure to fear. Stop thinking about doing something and just do it.

Become friends with fear. Expect it to show up and make peace with it.

Ask yourself, "what am I REALLY scared of?" What you're scared of on the surface is probably not what you're really scared of deep down.

Take the best care of yourself possible. The better you take care of you, the better you'll be able to take care of your business. 

Reach out for support - you're not in this alone (refer to #1 again).

PS. Let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

Want to receive more free tips like these delivered directly to your inbox every week? (Plus you'll receive your Free Five Day Mini Course: The 5 Secrets You Must Know to Be Your Own Boss") Sign up here to receive them starting next Monday! :)

How to get your first (or next) 5 clients

Most of the people I speak with were ready to start working with more clients and making more money yesterday. 

And I get it. 

Once you figure out who you want to help and how you went to help them, there's a momentum that builds that makes you just want to dive in immediately. 

Without knowing the right next steps to take, however, it can take you a lot longer than you would like to start attracting and working with your ideal clients and making the kind of money that you want.

So today, I'm going to share with you what some of those next steps are. And the awesome thing about these steps is that they're super simple and completely free. 

You're going to want to print this page out or take notes, so grab a notebook if you haven't already. 

1. Tell EVERYONE you know what you do. I don't mean almost everyone or kinda everyone. I mean EVERYONE. Your friends and family and their friends and family. All of your Facebook friends. Your Twitter followers. And while you can always bring it up when you see people, that's not what I mean. I don't mean to just tell them when it's convenient or when the opportunity presents itself. I mean - go out of your way to let them know. Email everyone. Then follow up with a phone call. Then if they're still interested in finding out more, you can follow up with an in person meeting too. 

2. Tell EVERYONE you don't know too. Okay, this time I don't literally mean everyone. For this step, reach out to the people who work with your ideal client. For example, let's say you're a dietician. In all likelihood, your client might also benefit from working with a personal trainer and maybe a therapist too. So then you start googling: personal trainer, your location. And then you do the same thing you did with step #1. You email them, follow up with a phone call, and then if you feel like it would be beneficial to meet in person, then schedule that too.

3. Offer to speak for free. People become clients because of the KLT factor - know, like, trust. In order for someone to go from a prospective client to a paying client, they need to know who you are, they need to like you, and they need to trust that you'll be able to help them. With this in mind, the fastest way to create that is by connecting with them in person. Reach out to every place you can think of that your ideal client could be. If you're a personal chef, that could be every health food store or yoga studio in your area. Call them and ask them if they would be interested in offering a workshop on healthy eating to their clients. The studio or store benefits because they are adding more value to their clients' experiences, the ideal clients benefit because they get to learn something that's important to them, and you benefit because more people get to find out about what you do and how you can help them. Everybody wins. 

4. Post weekly videos of you sharing tips. Videos are so cool because they give your ideal client a really good sense of who you are, which means that they will connect with you more quickly. If you have a Mac like me, just go to iMovie and record a 3-5 minute video sharing a few tips that could benefit your ideal client. Then put it on your blog, Facebook and Twitter, and share it on your newsletter too, if you have one. As someone who is big on practicing what she preaches, I'm starting to do videos again too! It will be posted on my blog later this week. 

5. Give people a sample. People love getting things for free. I mean, who doesn't love getting those mini spoons to taste ice cream flavors before you have to decide which one you're going to get? Also, people are more likely to buy after they first get a better idea of what they're buying. For example, aren't you more likely to buy a shirt after you try it on? It might look great on the hanger, but you don't know how it will fit on you until you try it on. The same thing goes with your business. You can offer a free teleseminar, open spots in your calendar to speak with potential clients for free, or invite people to ask you questions that you answer on your blog every week. Giving things for free makes it easier to eventually charge a fee. Free before fee. 

One more thing. While all of these things are straightforward, easy to do, and completely free, you will only see results if you implement them consistently. The key word is consistency. Not every other week. Not once in a while. All the time. And let's be real. It's not always so easy to stay focused, keep yourself disciplined, and do whatever it takes no matter what. 

Which is probably why you're reading this newsletter today - because you already know that to some degree. With that in mind, Let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

Want to receive more free tips like these delivered directly to your inbox every week? (Plus you'll receive your Free Five Day Mini Course: The 5 Secrets You Must Know to Be Your Own Boss") Sign up here to receive them starting next Monday! :)