Anya Stevens

Sam Horn – Does your business POP? 

After reading Sam Horn’s book “POP”, I just had to have her on to talk about how you can make your business stand out from the crowd. We talked about how the first 60 seconds can make or break your business. Sam also shared how to use AIR – Alliteration, Iambic and Rhyme when choosing a name for a business, product or service. She’s a great story-teller. 

Listen to this new episode and hear how you can use POP – Purposeful, Original, Pithy – to help your business stand out. 

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What to do with Wedding Expo leads 

Thanks to Chuck in Philly for this suggestion. I’ve actually done another episode a while back on this, and it’s time for a refresher. The opportunity here is that 90% of the exhibitors at wedding expos won’t use the lead lists. To me, that’s just throwing money away. You paid to get in front of a unique audience that will never exist again. Why would you think that what happens at the show is the only thing you paid for. There are so many distractions for the attendees, and you can work hard to get their attention, but it’s fleeting. How many people walked by your booth and didn’t stop? Maybe they didn’t need your service, yet. Maybe you were too busy talking to others and they didn’t want to wait. Using the four lists, and yes that’s plural – lists – is the way to profit more from the show. 

Listen to this new 10-minute episode for ideas on how to maximize your ROI from wedding expos (and other types of trade shows). 

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You know what to do, but are you doing it? 

This isn’t a listener suggestion, rather it was inspired by things I’ve seen working with and listening to some of you, my clients and connections. For example, I’ve had people come to me and say that they’re not getting the response they want from their inquiries, and that they’re following what I taught them. Yet, when I look at how they’re replying, it’s not at all what I taught them (or have written about). Now, my way isn’t the only way to do things, but when you’ve convinced yourself that you’re doing something new, when you’re really doing things the same old way… and it’s not working, you have to take a hard look in the mirror. 

Listen to this new 8-minute episode for ideas on how to break out of the trap of not doing what you know you should be doing, personally and professionally.   

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Phil M. Jones – Do you know exactly what to say? 

After reading Phil. M Jones’ audio book “Exactly what to say”, I was hooked. So many of the things he talks about apply to your businesses, and mine. And then I read “Exactly How to Sell” and “Persuade to get paid”, which just reinforced that I had to have Phil on here to talk about how his ideas and concepts apply to wedding and event businesses, like yours.  

Listen to this new episode and hear common sense tips to help you, help more people buy your products and services. 

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Customers aren’t going to adapt to us! 

I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot of frustration from companies that stems from how they want to do business, but their customers want it done differently. When we’re the customer, the companies have to do business the way we want, or we’ll find someone else who will. It’s too easy these days to find another alternative. Are you doing things a certain way because it’s easier for you? Is it also easier for your customers? Or, are you adding friction that chases them away. 

Listen to this new 6-minute episode for for ideas and perspective so you can take a step back, and see if you’re making it harder for your customers.  

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Phil Gerbyshak – Do you have a sales system?   

Is your sales system a spreadsheet, a CRM or… you’re just winging it? I invited my friend Phil Gerbyshak to come on and talk about sales systems and processes, why they’re important and how you can get started, even with a small budget. Phil has been in sales and sales training for years and just launched the Modern Sales Success online course. 

Listen to this new episode for ideas on why you need a sales system, what to look for and how to be successful with it. 

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Is it procrastination or indecision? 

It’s frustrating when you get all of the good signals from the customer that they like what you’re offering, but they just won’t commit! Thanks to Marylee for this suggestion. We’ve all been there. What’s holding them back? For some, it’s just their personality type to procrastinate, and they do it on most decisions. For others it’s indecision, which is related to, but a little different from procrastination. Determining which it is will help you get them past it. 

Listen to this new 9-minute episode for perspective on procrastination versus indecision, and some ways you can help them move things forward. 

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What do you do when two customers want the same date?  

Here’s another listener suggestion, this time from Euan in the UK. He had two couples asking about the same date (a good problem to have), and wasn’t sure the best way to handle the situation. I’m sure you’ve run into this, I know I have, and we don’t want them to feel like we’re adding pressure by just saying we have another inquiry (or enquiry). 

Listen to this 7 minute episode for some ideas on how to handle situations like this. And keep the suggestions coming! 

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Kristin Arnold – Do you have/need a strategic plan? 

You’ve probably been told that you need a business plan, or a marketing plan, but do you have a Strategic Plan? I asked my friend Kristin Arnold to come on and talk about how a strategic plan is different than those other plans, what it is and why you should have one, regardless of the size of your business. 

Listen to this new episode for insight into strategic planning and two different ways you can go about it for your business. 

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How do you define success? 

I’ve had this one on my list for a while to talk about on the podcast. When I work with businesses, large and small, one of the things I try to find out is how you define your success. It doesn’t matter how I define it, as you’re the one that has to do the work to get there. And when you get there, you want to feel satisfied with wherever that is. Too often we let others define success for us, and then we feel unfulfilled.

Listen to this new 8-minute episode for some perspective on what success can mean for you, and how to tune out the noise.

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