"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.

Put one at the top of your testimonial page.

And put the other at the very end.

Most people will scan your testimonials quickly and will remember the first and last one.

2. Always have a compelling, results-oriented headline for each testimonial

Most people will scan your testimonials (no matter if you have 5 or 20).

Make it easy for the reader to decide which one they will read and which one they will relate to by giving a snapshot of the testimonial in their respective headline or title.

3.  Whenever possible, tell the reader who the person is in society

Of course, it's best if you can include your testimonial's full name, profession, city and state where they work or live and their website.

However, even if you can't share the full contact information for your clients because of privacy issues, you can still say who they are in society.

For example, if the person is a school teacher in a prominent town, you can still say their generic job description and the area they are from without specifically alluding to the town she or he is from.

"School Teacher, Westchester County, NY"  instead of "School Teacher, Somers, NY".

The point is to help the reader see themselves in the testimonials, either by health issue overcome or by who the person is.

If you can do that, you're one step closer to attracting clients.

Feel free to look over my testimonials, and see examples of what I mean here: http://mmmaven.com/testimonials

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

Ready to get going in your practice? Check out my Fast Start to Clients Program here: http://wellpronet.org/faststartguide It's not to late to join us!

My rule of thumb that I share with clients is to interview three designers who meet the following critieria (this can be local or someone you found online):

• you like their own website
• you like their portfolio
•  their own website has the “marketing elements” in place that you want in your own website (demonstrating they understanding the marketing application of design - ezine, shopping cart links, updated blog, social networking links, etc… )
• and finally, they seem to be organized (they respond to your inquiry in a timely manner, there are no errors on their website such as broken links, typos, etc…)

1. Can you build a wordpress site with integrated blog? (What you need if you want to make your own changes to your site.)
2. Or would you do a regular site with an integrated wordpress blog? (You must have a blog and it is best built on wordpress or typepad.
3. How much time do they need to get the project done? When is their next opening?
4. What happens if you don’t meet that deadline?
5. What’s your system for keeping me abreast of your project progress?
6. What’s your philosophy on design revisions?
7. Do you have client testimonials and references I can contact?
8. Price review and does the price include…

• uploading all of your copy and images into the design
• uploading your newsletter HTML code for your email newsletter sign up box
• uploading the design to your hosting account (your hosting account MUST be in YOUR NAME)
• integrating all of your social networking links
• setting up your blog within the site

   9. How much for a business card design to match my website?

Above all, you want to trust your instincts. Do they sound a little crazy, overwhelmed, too busy, and temperamental? Do they overpower you with THIER ideas for your website? Do they seem to have drama in their life? (This means drama in your project FOR SURE.) And these are signs someone is not going to be reliable long-term. Or are they steady, focused, in integrity and open to executing your ideas. Trust yout gut.

Of course it's always best to go to your designers knowing what you want (I give my clients a design brief that instructs their design team exactly what goes where, colors, look and feel and more. There's no guesswork.)  After all, it's not you design team's job to figure out your business brand, message and how it should be expressed. Otherwise you end up taking months and months to do your website.

Not only will these questions help ensure you choose the right person, someone you can build a good business relationship with, but it will help you sound like you know what you're talking about.

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

Ready to get going in your practice? Check out my Fast Start to Clients Program here: http://wellpronet.org/faststartguide It's not to late to join us!

Or if you're not sure about your message but you just want to get started, a DIY (do-it-yourself) option is perfect for the first few years of your practice.

Here are my top DIY website design services for getting your website up FAST and on a anyone-can–do-budget.

Here's how they work:

1) You pick a template

2) Customize the template with your copy, pictures, header, etc…

3) Publish it to the world wide web.

And get back to the business of growing your practice instead of fussing with web design.

Here are a few DIY resources to get going FAST:

1) Wordpress. com

(If you want a step-by-step course on setting up a wordpress blog and site check out my husband's e-course here: http://www.drewrozell.com/wordpress-in-one-hour/)

2) Yola.com

3) Citymax.com

If you're a physician, a DIY option is out of the question if you have busy practice. I suggest you 1) hire a marketing assistant who's only job is to execute your marketing plans, including project managing your website development or 2) outsource your website design to an all-in-one company who specializes in great looking and effective sites that have marketing elements included such as http://physiciandesigns.com or http://clicktoclient.com to get started.

Here's to getting out there and sharing what you know,

Karin

Like this quick tip? Then don't miss my weekly marketing material insights and resources for wellness pros here: http://mmmaven.com/newsletter

Ready to get going in your practice? Check out my Fast Start to Clients Program here: http://wellpronet.org/faststartguide It starts this week!

Add a Gravatar.

"Your Gravatar is an image (usually your professional head shot) that follows you from site to site appearing beside your name when you do things like comment or post on a blog. Avatars help identify your posts on blogs and web forums."

Many do-it-yourself websites (like leading blog software) already have a plugin for your Gravatar that you can activate with a click of a button.

If that makes no sense to you, don't worry, just go to Gravatar.com and sign up for a free account. Just be sure the email you use to sign up matches your website.

If you are a service professional, please don't use an image of you and your cat (unless you're an animal communicator) or some other silly photo. Part of attracting a steady flow of great opportunities is the willingess to be seen in the world as a professional. And a professional looking head shot makes a difference.

Go to Gravatar.com. It only takes about 5 minutes to set up.

Don't be surprised when your friends and colleagues say "How did you do that!?" You'll look like an online savvy pro!

To your success,

Karin

Like what you read? Then sign up for my free email tips on upgrading your professional presentation for wellness pros. http://mmmaven.com/newsletter

Want to learn how to do things RIGHT in your wellness marketing and save yourself time, money and tons of frustration? Consider my Fast Start Guide to Clients Program begining Jan 27th and learn how to jumpstart your success FAST: http://wellpronet.org/faststartguide