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Stamping Is My Business!  

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 The Stamping Professional's Source 

for Business-Building Information, Products & Services!

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If you can't read this, select here.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Believe it or not, Spring is almost around the corner!  Now is the time you should be preparing your classes for April, May and, even, June!

You should also make sure you're not letting the economy get you down.  Why?  Because a down economy means its a great time to recruit (see sidebar).

Finally, if you're looking for a little help with you business: motivation, coaching, tools, or advice, but you don't feel like you can make the investment, I would encourage you to take a look at the Business Stampers Coaching Group.  Over the last month, the amount of information that I've shared with Members, as well as the sharing and support we've given each other, has been huge!  And for less than $20/month, its something almost every stamping business owner can join AND turn into a profitable investment (see the item below).

Hope you enjoy this month's newsletter, and if you have any questions, please e-mail me at john@stampingismybusiness.com.

Warmest regards,

 

 

John Sanpietro

Certified Professional Development Coach

 

In this issue
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How To Get The Most Out Of

Sale-A-Bration!

 

For many of you, this is the busiest time of the year.  The annual Sale-A-Bration is always good for increased sales and recruiting.  But there are a couple of things you can and should do get the maximum benefit in sales, recruiting AND profit:

  1. Follow Up on those Minis! - Don't just send out the catalog and wait by the phone for your customers to call you.  Get on the phone and reach out to them.  And do it quick!  Every day you wait is another day for your customer to lose, recycle or throw away your catalog.

  2. Upsell, Upsell, Upsell! - Make sure that your customers know how much more they have to order to qualify for another free stamp set.  If you're doing a workshop, make sure everyone knows how much more the workshop has to take in for the hostess to get another one.  You'll be amazed how much you can increase your sales just by making sure everyone has this information.

  3. Schedule an Opportunity Night for the end of the month - Opportunity Nights have significantly higher success rates than recruiting overall.  Take advantage of that fact, as well as your company's recruiting incentive and get an Opportunity Night on the calendar before the end of the month.  It gives you a reason to discuss the recruiting special with everyone you see this month, as well as a destination to point them toward if their interested in hearing more. 

 

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Take Your Business to the Next Level

with The Business Stampers Coaching Group!

 

Since launching on February 2nd, the Members of the Business Stampers Coaching Group have already received:

  • Over 20 minutes of exclusive audio content designed to both motivate and inspire

  • Three exclusive weekly How-To Videos, including How To Keep Track of Your Finances and How To Price Your Classes

  • Eight twice-weekly Coaching Challenges which have allowed Members to focus on the important priorities AND produced immediate profit!

  • Three weekly Video Blog Evaluations which have included dozens of tips and ideas for building and maintaining a better blog

  • An exclusive monthly conference call with John where he explained how to set and break down business goals

  • Several articles for Members to reproduce on their blogs and in their newsletters

  • Several other articles for Members to gain more of the knowledge necessary to build their business

  • Access to a private Twitter Group - Members receive exclusive text messages or e-mails from John with motivational thoughts, information and mini-challenges

  • Access to the 'Strictly Business' Message Board - in the past month, the Message Board has become THE gathering place for the Business Stamper community. Over 1750 messages have been posted (close to 500 of them by John Sanpietro, responding to Member questions and comments).

All of the above and more (including the just-announced monthly Video Newsletter Evaluation!) for less than $20/month

 

If you have not yet signed up to be a member of what is becoming the premier online coaching community for business-minded Stamping Business Owners, what are you waiting for?

Click here to learn more, read testimonials from actual Members and/or sign up!

 

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Bad Idea of the Month:

IT'S A TIE!

Selling the Kit as Product, and

Openly Advertising for Discount Downline

It seems to happen every year.  Usually right around the time there's a discount on the Starter Kit.

 

Over the last few weeks, on several blogs and in several newsletters, I've seen the following two messages:

 

Get $330 in product for only $169 when you purchase the Starter Kit!

 

Become a "Hobbyist": Buy the Starter Kit, spend $300 over 3 months, get 20% discount on your purchases!

 

I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would:

  1. Advertise the Kit as product you can buy

  2. Advise people to sign up and just purchase using the discount

#1 - the Kit is NOT product!  It represents an opportunity. And you do a disservice to yourself, your fellow business owners and your company by implying otherwise. 

 

When it comes to recruiting downline, you get what you ask for.  And if you're advertising the kit as product, you're going to get downline who are interested in the kit's product, rather than the opportunity it represents.

 

#2 - Why would you advise a customer, who's sales you're making 20-30% commissions on, to become a downline if you know she's not going to do much more than continue to buy product herself?  You only earn 3-6% commission on your downline sales, so that downline would have to buy 3-6X more as a downline than she did as a customer for you to break even.  Not likely.

 

If these messages are on your blog, or in your newsletter, I would advise you to think about the message you're sending.  Are you trying to build a business?  Is this message in line with that goal?
 

If not, then you're advertising for is NOT what you probably want.

 

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Book of the Month

 

buy-ology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy

 

by Martin Lindstrom

How much do we know about why we buy? What truly influences our decisions in today’s message-cluttered world? An eye-grabbing advertisement, a catchy slogan, an infectious jingle? Or do our buying decisions take place below the surface, so deep within our subconscious minds, we’re barely aware of them?

In BUYOLOGY, Lindstrom presents the astonishing findings from his groundbreaking, three-year, seven-million-dollar neuromarketing study, a cutting-edge experiment that peered inside the brains of 2,000 volunteers from all around the world as they encountered various ads, logos, commercials, brands, and products. His startling results shatter much of what we have long believed about what seduces our interest and drives us to buy.

Select here for more information from Amazon.com. 

 

Stamping Business Q&A

 

With the Economy In Such Bad Shape, Should I Continue to Recruit?

 

In a word... YES!!!

 

Not only should you continue to recruit, but you should actually increase your recruiting efforts!

 

Believe it or not, a bad economy is actually good for recruiting.  Lots of people are concerned about their financial security right now, and your company's opportunity may be just the thing they need to hear about.

 

Think about it.  Here's a chance to take a little control back over their financial future.  Even if it's a part-time thing where they earn just a few hundred dollars a month, that financial buffer could be all they need!

 

Other DS companies are clearly thinking along these lines.  Both Avon and Mary Kay have launched major marketing campaigns recently to promote their business opportunities.

 

Avon actually spend over $2 million to run this commercial during the Super Bowl  If they're willing to spend that kind of money, think about how confident they must be about the need that's out there!?

 

There has NEVER been a better time to discuss your business opportunity with everyone you know!

 

(If there's a question you'd like answered, or a topic you'd like me to cover,  feel free to 

send me an e-mail)

 

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Testimonials...

 

"The resources and tools that the Business Stampers Coaching Group is giving me to take my business in the direction I want it to go is incredible! 

In addition to the professional guidance that John gives us, the support and positive attitude of the other members is awesome! 

This is the best business building and career minded group I've belonged to in the 9 years of my stamping career!"

- Glenda Trexler

 

Your Boot Camps are AMAZING!  I learn more in four weeks with you than I learn in years with anyone else!

 - PC, New Jersey

 

Group Coaching has truly helped me be more profitable & I've met many nice (and smart) Demonstrators to make it even better.

 - AMC, California

 

Your book is awesome! Before I read it, I didn't think I could make money with my stamping business.  Now I (and my husband!) know I can!

 - DF, Utah

 

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Quick Links...

Order the Electronic Version of "Stamping Is My Business!"

Order the Printed Version of "Stamping Is My Business!"

Order one of the SIMB Training CDs

Join the Stamping Business Coaching Group

Find out how to book John to speak live to YOUR group

Learn more about the SIMB Referral Program

Sign up for 1-on-1 Coaching

Sign up for an @StampingIsMyBusiness.com e-mail address

Order the "Stamping Is My Business!" Tote Bag

Stamping Is My Business! Homepage

E-mail Me

 

 

 

Companies I Use

People always ask me what companies I use to run my home-based business. The links below are all companies I work with and recommend:

Constant Contact --> Your Email Marketing Manager

SUDSOL Member

Demo to Demo - Creative Tools to Help you Grow Your Stampin' Up! Business

Register Domains at GoDaddy.com 

GoToMyPC Free Trial + $10 Off

 Free Delivery on most orders $50.00 or more

 

 

 

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As always, if you have any questions or comments, please contact me.  

     email: john@stampingismybusiness.com
     voice: 518-647-2232
     web:
http://www.stampingismybusiness.com

Address: 43 Fir Street, Jay, NY 12941

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