Archive for Business Inspiration
An Advocacy Letter That's Also Good Marketing
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the best teachers I've learned from, Joshua Rosenthal of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, once said that you can make more progress when you aim for the middle ground with your actions and words.
He was referring to the die-hard, my-way-or-the-highway, food police type wellness pros that tend to alienate rather than welcome people to their way of thinking.
This can be off putting and often leaves the public thinking, "there goes another weird health nut ranting and raving about the doom and gloom of another evil food."
So what's a wellness pro to do when you have a undeniable passion and strong opinion about health and wellness?
It's all in how you say things.
It's all in how you present yourself.
And mostly, it's all in the energy that's behind the words and actions you choose.
Take for example Alexandra Jamieson of NutritionforEmpoweredWomen.com, of the hit documentary fame, Super Size Me.
She's clearly passionate and a strong proponent of the vegan lifestyle. She takes a stand, talks about what she thinks and is able to speak with anyone about veganism. All without being abrasive, combative or sounding like another health food nut. I suspect this is a big reason she's a sought out speaker.
For example, when she recently went to her new pediatrician's office for her son's check-up, she was dismayed by seeing a bowl of fructose-laden, artificially dyed candy being offered to kids.
She could have handled this in many different ways. She could have made a comment to the receptionist (that might have only served to make him/her feel dumb for not knowing what was in that candy).
She could have right then and there stomped out of the doctor's office and wrote a nasty blog about them, or demanded to speak with the doctor in-between appointments (probably catching the physican in a less than optimal moment).
Nope. Instead, she wrote a warm, thoughtful letter about the possibility of upgrading that candy bowl and hand delivered it with a package of the natural, vegan friendly candy that could replace the junky kind in the office.
You can see a copy of this letter, and the doctor's remarkable reply, on Alexandra's blog here.
Not only is this letter clearly taking a stand, but it's presented in such a way that was most likely to get through to her pediatrician, and delivered with a good dollop of kindness (read: not assuming this person is a ninny), patience and appreciation.
I suspect Alex will get a whole lot back from this interaction, beyond a vegan friendly bowl of candy in the office. It may even help to grow her business in referrals, partnerships and more.
The next time you're ready to fire off a comment about what's right and what's wrong about health and nutrition, consider that there may be a way to communicate what you do that not only will ensure it gets heard, but in a way that may be great for your business too.
Here's that link again to see what Alex wrote to her pediatrician.
To your continued success,
Karin
About the Author: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about marketing, messaging and making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband, Drew Rozell, who also runs a successful coaching business.
Getting Your Website Design Done FAST
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s not unusual for my new clients to share with me that they’ve been working on their website for 6-18 months.
It’s so easy to over think things, to get caught up in trying to make it perfect and to get confused and enamored with all the design options and pretty design features you see on other people's website.
But what if you had to get your website up in two weeks?
And you would finally come out of hiding and get down to the business of doing what you say you want to do with your gifts instead of fussing with your website.
Karin
Like this quick tip? Then don't miss my weekly marketing material insights and resources for wellness pros here: http://mmmaven.com/newsletter
About the Author: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband, Drew Rozell, who also runs a successful coaching business.
New Program Launched: Branding and Marketing for Wellness Pros
Posted by: | CommentsOn Friday, April 16th, 2010 I held a special free teleclass on “Branding and Launching Your Wellness Biz the RIGHT WAY.”
I also introduced a special, small group, business coaching program for Wellness Pros that begins June 3, 2010 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
To get the complete details, and the extra special annoucement on this call on why I’m doing this program, click here to get the replay (and don’t forget to listen to the end to hear everyone’s questions and reactions to my annoucement).
Here’s that link again: http://wellpronet.org/branding
To your success,
Karin
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband who also runs a successful coaching business.
Great Resource: No Website? Tight Budget? No More Excuses
Posted by: | CommentsTechnology has come a long way.
No longer is web design only in the hands of expensive graphic designers and web masters.
Take my client (and BFF) Robin Berg of SoulMoxie.net as an example.
She harnessed the power of a free do-it-yourself website service called Yola.com to makeover and re-launch her 10 year coaching business.
You can see for yourself, what Robin created using Yola.com here.
Yola.com offers free website design templates, blogs and even hosts your site. All the basics you need to get going FAST without a lot of technology and financial hurdles to cross.
Here's what Robin did that you can replicate in your own practice:
First, she began by choosing a very simple website template to work from using Yola's many samples.
She then hired a local graphic designer to create a professional looking header for her new website and business cards to give her site and professional image a nice polish.
From start to finish, it took her about a month and a half to very affordably launch her new message and move forward with sharing her work with her community.
No more excuses Wellness Pros.
No website and on a tight budget? Consider Yola.com.
You can become a sought out expert in your local community, and beyond, with a simple internet presence.
Here's to using DIY technology to help more people doing the work you love,
Karin
Like this quick tip? Then don't miss my weekly marketing material insights and resources for wellness pros here: http://mmmaven.com/newsletter
About the Author: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies. In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband, Drew Rozell, who also runs a successful coaching business.
Marketing Material Tip: The use of "we" vs. "you"
Posted by: | CommentsIn marketing materials, and in particular your newsletters, health and wellness pros tend to use the word "we" when speaking to their reader.
"We all need to… " or "When considering XYZ, we must also think about…"
I find this to be habit of softening your opinion's effect and make it palateable to a wider audience.
The intention is good, as you want your message to resonate with as many people as possible, but it's largely ineffective.
It can also be an unconscious way of not standing out too much and avoiding the risk that not everyone will like what you have to say.
However, if you want to make your message memorable, you have to have an opinion.
Not a loud, pushy and obnoxious opinion (unless that's your authentic style) but an opinion that gives the reader a sense that you are taking a stand for what you know to be true and that you're not afraid to share it.
Your willingness to state your opinion actually gives confidence to your readers in your services and products.
Anything less weakens your message and frankly, makes you sound less confident about your expertise.
A better and more powerful way to present your work is to use the word "you."
This is more direct and speaks to the reader as if you are writing only to them. It really hits home and it's more personal. It's bolder, fresher and doesn't 'beat around the bush.'
And in the health and wellness field, most potential clients desire that wake up call. They need it in order to take the risk of investing in your services/products and chance giving their health goals another go.
One way to help you step into this more effective communicating style, is to imagine one particular person that you loved working with, who achieved great results working with you, and write to THEM.
Those who are similar to them will REALLY resonate with your words and those who simply aren't ready yet, won't — and that's actually perfect.
Speak directly to your readers, rather than speaking about them, and you'll have a greater impact.
To your success,
Karin
Like this quick tip? Then don't miss my weekly marketing material insights and resources for wellness pros here: http://mmmaven.com/newsletter
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies. In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband who also runs a successful coaching business.
