caerusnet

Author: Steve Zyskowski

  • Why You Should Have A Killer One-Sheet

    amandaHow to Create a Killer One-Sheet
    by Amanda Washburn (Caerusnet Jackson)

    At Rough Draft Solutions, we have officially declared February as the month of presentations! With one down and three to go, we want to share our excitement with you! And of course, give you the inside scoop on the topics we are speaking on.

    This past Monday, Amanda presented to 38 small business owners at the Capital Area Small Business Development Center for their Marketing Mondays Lunch & Learn in Lansing. Marketing Mondays is a program SBDC has started that features a different marketing expert and topic every month. This program was created to give small business owners quick takeaways, tools, and techniques that can help them apply marketing strategies to their businesses and communicate more effectively with their customers.

    During her presentation “Grab Their Attention with a Captivating One-sheet,” Amanda provided local business owners the tools they need to create a one-sheet that will enhance their marketing and promotional efforts. Today we’re going to give you the highlights of her presentation and explain what a one-sheet is, the anatomy of a killer one-sheet, and how you can use this tool productively for your business.

    What is a one-sheet?

    If you have no idea what a one-sheet is, don’t worry, you are not alone. This marketing tool is not well known and has historically been used by authors, speakers, and actors. But we promise, it is relevant for you and your business! In short, a one-sheet is a single-page document that showcases a specific product or service with the goal of promotion.

    Think of a one-sheet as a brief snapshot of your business that includes the most relevant and valuable information for a specific target audience. One-sheets need to have a specific goal and call to action in mind (Are you trying to build your email list? Do you want people to download an e-book? Do you want people to set up consulting sessions?), utilize engaging content, and are more personable than standard business brochures.

    The focus of a one-sheet is not to tell your entire story or summarize all of your services. It is a tool designed specifically to spark potential clients’ interests through a message that is clear, focused, and concise. Your one-sheet can be used to capture more clients, to show current clients the other services your offer, or as a tool for referral partners to use when they are recommending you. Push yourself to include value-focused content that is centered on the solutions your customers are looking for – not just content about why you’re the best in business.

    What does a successful one-sheet include?

    You can’t grab someone’s attention with a document that is dull, uninspired, and filled with errors. You also can’t grow your business with marketing pieces that lack focus or are not created correctly. Here is an infographic to summarize the various elements you need to include for a foolproof one-sheet.

    Incorporating these elements into your one-sheet will help you communicate your company’s credibility, what your business stands for, and what value you can provide others with your services.

    How can a one-sheet be used?

    Relatively easy and affordable to pull together, there are several ways to use your one-sheet. You can make it a downloadable PDF on your website, include it with reports, invoices, and proposals, or even bring it to professional events and presentations to give to colleagues and new business connections. At RDS, we give a stack of our one-sheet to our referral partners. That way, if they meet someone who says they need help with content, they have our handy-dandy information readily available.

    Overall, a one-sheet can help your business enhance marketing strategies, connect with clients on a personal level, and heighten your brand experience.

    If you’re looking for more information, are interested in receiving our free worksheet, or if you want assistance in creating one, feel free to contact us today!

  • How many referrals will I get if I join?

    By Steven Zyskowski

    “How many referrals will I get if I join?” It’s an honest question that I do get asked from time to time by those considering being a Member of Caerusnet.  I sometimes even get asked how much money the referrals will be worth.  So, how do I answer these questions?

    I will usually respond with the statement that every person has a different experience when it comes to business referral groups.  Each team has its own synergy.  Each professional has their own goals, capacity and limitations.

    Let me paint a picture of a successful team and a successful professional on that team looks like …

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    A successful team has achieved a noteworthy size.  Sizes does matter when it comes to business groups and  the referral opportunities they can generate.  I think a group of 24 or so Members is noteworthy size and should mean more referrals.  But team size isn’t the only thing that counts.  Team synergy counts, too.  How long have the people known each other? Are they referring each other?  Are they newbies learning the ropes of networking (often ‘newbies’ haven’t formed bad habits and are eager to help) or seasoned pros that are willing to create opportunities for each other?   Sometimes a smaller team that feels more intimate can also pass a good number of referrals, but they will always have the desire to be a larger team because it usually spells more opportunity.

    People who are successful in networking groups should join only because they feel they have something to give to the team … NOT because they are desperate to receive.

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    The right Members join because of how being well connected and bringing people together allows them to deepen their relationships with their clients.  Referral groups are extremely local.  While some people may start a businesses with the goal of selling to the world via the internet, the professionals I help most are the ones who need to be recognized at the local level. People who do well on referral teams attend most of the meetings so they can get to know the other Members and give them the opportunity to get to know them.  They try to get quality referrals to as many of the Members that they can, as often as they can.  Some Members regularly bring 2-3 referrals to each meeting.

    Remember, people refer to those they know, like and trust.  Being a Member of the team opens the doorway for you to become that person … however, you are the one who must walk through the door and take charge of the relationships.

    Finally, those Members who do invest the time to having Trust Builder Meetings with other Members always seem to talk about how those have helped them become more referable.  They know that the Trust Builders help them become someone others will get a chance to know, like and trust.

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  • Happy Holidays From Caerusnet!

  • SEO Tip From Caerusnet Member, Tami Bethune, BTG Solutions

    241778There’s no denying that face-to-face referrals are the best way to get our businesses known. It’s the next step that the prospective client/customer will take that will likely lead them to the internet to see what the business says about itself online. If they can’t find the business card to locate the website address they will simply use their favorite search engine to find it. But what if your business website gets bumped to the second or third page by ads and higher ranked websites? If your business is on the map you will have first page ranking.

    If a business serves a local or regional audience it is very important that their business is mapped with Bing and Google. Independent statistics say that 20% of all searches are for local online resources. These are significant sales opportunities for main street businesses.

    Businesses without brick and mortar offices (like Caerusnet, BTG, YFS, Caverly, etc.) will also benefit from the mapping. I have a home office but for privacy and security reasons I use a PO Box address. The US postal service allows businesses to use the address of the post office as a physical address. So my business address is 24875 Novi Rd., #1372. This enables BTG to be mapped. When someone is searching for technology in Novi my business will be listed on the Google and Bing maps. This is illustrated in my recent blog article titled “Street Address or PO Box Address”.

     How do businesses get on the map? Getting on Google maps is FREE to all businesses and a significant piece of the SEO (search engine optimization) puzzle. www.gybo.com Getting on Bing maps is also FREE. www.bingplaces.com. The difficulty with this free offer is the time it will take a client to make it happen. This is where I can help. Click below to sign up for BTG Solution’s assistance.

    Tami Bethune is a Member of the Brighton Wednesday 8AM team, email: [email protected], website: www.btgsolutions.us

  • RSVP To The Caerusnet 2015 Michigan Member Celebration

    2015 Holiday Party V2 PING

  • Member Highlight: Doug Moffat Shares ‘Referability Habits’

    MEMBER HIGHLIGHT:
    Caerusnet Member Doug Moffat
    shares the concept of ‘REFERABILITY HABITS”

    Doug Moffat hates to miss his 8AM Wednesday CaerusNet referral team meeting in Brighton, but this morning he made an exception. Big Brothers & Sisters of America holds an annual Rise and Shine Breakfast in Ypsilanti and this is the second year that Doug has been involved with the organization. I asked him how the event was this year. “Breakfast was wonderful. It was a large group of about 250 people.  They hold the charitable event to solicit for donations and support- that’s how I’m involved. A couple years ago, a guy in our office was involved with them. I was invited to attend a golf outing put on by Big Brothers & Sisters and I really enjoyed what the organization did. I wanted to give back.”
    That sounds like Doug. In his professional life, he gives peace of mind to his clients so they can carry on with their businesses and personal lives knowing they have their loved ones covered.  
    Doug, how long have you been in your profession? Eighteen years.
    That’s a long time! How did you get into life insurance? I started because of the advice and encouragement by my father (a life- long insurance agent, mostly life). My sister and I would go to his office. We had our own drawer to keep things in.
    What do you think is the best thing about your business/career? The independence I have and ability to control my own schedule. Oh, and of course, the people I work with are great too.
    So Doug, I have a few CaerusNet questions for you. Could you tell readers what it is about the CaerusNet model that you like most? I like that the meetings are facilitated, so I can just show up and focus on being myself – “the defensive specialist”. Also, the 1-hour format is so efficient and well balanced. We get a lot done in 60 minutes!
    Do you have a success story about why giving referrals is beneficial to you? A couple years ago I was able to refer two couples to my friend and fellow inaugural member of CaerusNet, Steve Giroux. He sold both their houses within a month of each other. All parties were ecstatic, and it made me feel good to contribute to such a huge decision in their lives by making the introduction.
    Giving is a huge part of CaerusNet. Sometimes members struggle with that part and ask for tips on how they can learn to find situations where they can create a referral or invite visitors. What would you say? I’m one of those people who believe God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Being a good listener creates opportunities because people are always talking about problems in their life, and with CaerusNet, you have a team of people who can provide solutions to those problems. Second, thinking of yourself and striving to be a Trusted Advisor makes a huge difference because people will ask you for help.
    What is your strategy with your member minute and your spotlight presentation?  Being myself and allowing people to get to know me and trust me. Mixing up my member minute – trying to always have a message that is fun, informational, educational, relevant and helps that “light bulb go on” for other members of the group.
    CaerusNet helps entrepreneurs and small business people get and stay connected within their community. What is your approach to positioning yourself as a resource in your community? The approach my Dad taught me from the very beginning of my career: (1.) Meet people (2.) Tell them who I am, who I represent, and what I do (3.) Ask them good questions and get to know them and their story. Find out if they have problems you might be able to solve (4.) Tell them you would like to be a resource for them (5.) keep in touch and follow up with them regularly! My business, like many others, is all about relationships. People do business with people they trust and who they like.If I were thinking about joining a referral team in order to grow my business, would you have any tips to share on how to be successful in CaerusNet? Yes, much like Strategic Coach, Dan Sullivan’s “Referability Habits”: (1.) Show up on time (2.) Do what you say (3.) Finish what you start (4.) Say please and thank you.

    Thanks for that share! One last question Doug, and then I’ll let you get back to the important job of being the “defensive specialist”- please tell our readers how CaerusNet members have positively influenced you or your business besides passing referrals. I could probably write a few pages on this, but I will attempt to keep it brief. My estate plan is finally updated. Anytime I have an issue with my car, I call Dave, take it to Mazur and it gets taken care of. Our A/C at home was fixed 2 years ago for a fraction of what I thought. I would have had to replace it. Several of the members have supported my charitable interests – specifically the golf outing for my sister’s scholarship fund and the charity hockey game I play once a year against the Red Wings Alumni. I’ve enjoyed great fellowship over food and even the occasional beverage. Throughout the highs and lows of my business, I know I have a group of people who care about me, support me, and want to see me succeed. The value of CaerusNet could be summed up by the “Priceless” ending- like in one of those old MasterCard commercials!

    Financial Representative, Doug Moffat Doug lives in Brighton with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters Audrey (14) and Josie (12). His office is in Ann Arbor, but his clients are located across Metro Detroit. [email protected]
    Article written by Ava Zyskowski, CaerusNet Member & Facilitator

  • Life Coach, Maria Sylvester Is Unstoppable In Caerusnet!

    lifecoach_maria_42015Whether you are looking for a fast lunch break or a new place to hold a Trust Builder in Ann Arbor, Pilar’s on Liberty Street is a quiet place to meet up, dine on seasonal tamales and learn about your fellow CaerusNet members. On a recent Tuesday afternoon, I had a chance to sit down with Certified Life Coach, Maria Sylvester, in between CaerusNet meetings. I thought I’d squeeze in a few questions regarding her practice, CaerusNet and how she feels about a major automotive company using her slogan, “be unstoppable!”

    Maria, have you seen the latest ad from (insert major automotive company name here), where they have used your slogan about “being unstoppable”? Maria laughs, “No I haven’t! Well actually, my tag line is ‘helping people get unstuck, so they can be unstoppable and soar!”
    After agreeing that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, we move on to the real Member Highlight questions:
    How long have you been in your profession? I have been a Certified Life Coach for eight years.

    How did you get into this field?
    I worked for 23 years as a psychotherapist in private practice. I realized that psychotherapy gifts clients with insight into their behavior. However, unless the client takes ACTION on that insight, transformation does not happen. I wanted to help clients transform their lives, so I shifted full time into a coaching career. Coaching is all about helping people take action!

    What is the best thing about your business/career?
    The best thing about my career is the powerful connections I make with people. I LOVE helping my clients figure out the HEART of what really matters to them in their lives, and then I help them live from that place. It is an absolute joy gifting clients the tools, strategies and practices that allow them to live vibrant, passionate and purposeful lives. The power to change really is fueled by the connection between coach and client, and the working relationship that develops.

    As long as I have known you Maria, you have been a member of the Ann Arbor CaerusNet Facilitated Small Business Referral teams. What is it about the CaerusNet model that you like most?
    There are two things I really appreciate about the CaerusNet model. The first thing I really value is the same thing that makes my coaching work so well- the idea that the power is in the relationships we form, and boy, do we ever form great relationships in CaerusNet! CaerusNet is leader-run, which is the second thing I really value about the groups. I believe that because it is leader-run, members are even more freed-up to concentrate on forming meaningful connections with each other. We never have to worry about any of the organizational aspects of the meetings, and instead, can focus solely on networking! With a leader-run group, there is great consistency across meetings; members do not have to adjust to new leader personalities or changes every few months. We come to the meetings knowing what to expect and from whom. With this as a blasting-off platform, a sense of general trust, security and good will flourishes among members, enhancing our working relationships with one another.

    Could you share a success story that would highlight why giving referrals or inviting visitors is beneficial to you and your life coaching practice?
    Giving referrals and bringing visitors are things I take great pleasure in because I love connecting people with each other. That point is evidenced by my choice of a coaching profession, in which I value the art of helping people further their lives. Giving referrals and inviting guests to meetings just keeps that positive energy and momentum rolling and this, in turn, can only help to benefit the whole (team)! For instance, each new member added to the group benefits us all. Referral possibilities to and from each new member (and their circle of influence), jump us all tenfold!

    Maria, do you have any tips on how to be successful in CaerusNet?
    My main tip for success in CaerusNet is to come regularly to the meetings and to come with a spirit of openness and readiness to help and serve others. One of my favorite quotes exemplifies this idea beautifully, “We magnetize into our lives, that which we hold in thought.” – Unknown Author.

    So true! One last question for you Maria, and then you and I can head back to our CaerusNet 1pm Showcase team: could you share how CaerusNet members have positively influenced you, or your Life Coaching practice besides passing referrals?
    Sure! I have a wonderful story of how my CaerusNet connections profoundly influenced my life. Several years ago, I visited a Verizon store that a CaerusNet member managed, in order to support his business. I was quite distraught after having dropped my cell phone in water. While at Verizon, I was helped by a wonderful man who is now my husband! Then, the CaerusNet magic continued on to yet another event- my husband recently purchased a business with the help of another CaerusNet member, Wendell Brandt. Wendell facilitates business mergers and acquisitions with his company, Market Point Advisors. Both of these examples are my personal testimony to the power of referral and relationship networking a la’ CaerusNet!

    Maria Sylvester, Certified Life Coach, sees clients in Ann Arbor, “helping people get un-stuck so they can be unstoppable”.
    Life Empowerment Coaching & Healing Arts Center is located on Stadium Drive. Check out her website at https://www.lifeempowermentcoaching.com or more information!

    Ava_smr_dsArticle written by Ava Zyskowski, CaerusNet Member and Facilitator.

  • 3 BIG Reasons to Use Video For Your Message

    AAEAAQAAAAAAAAIjAAAAJDJjZDY5MGIxLTM4MzAtNDIzYy1hYTczLTFiOTM5MmQyYzc5MQI get this all of the time: ” I know  I probably need video for my organization, but why? What is the reason?”

    Great question. I have 3.

    #1. Retention  When you use video. The video itself uses more than one of your senses. In this case, the obvious ones are sight and and sound. When that happens, the retention rate of what was just seen and heard goes up exponentially. In fact, upwards of almost 70%. Couple that with various videos of what your organization is doing and you have a fan base.

    #2. YouTube  YouTube is huge. I cannot stress this enough. YouTube is the second most used search engine and is owned by the most used search engine, Google. Plus, Google loves video. It’s built in search engine tools and measurement abilities, make it an indispensable tool for video marketing. Not only that, but Facebook is catching up and competition is good.

    #3. Digital Natives A technologist that I liked to follow, Philip Hodgetts, said a few years ago that video will become the new literacy. That day is quickly approaching. With new tools being developed all of the time that quickly access the rapid advancements in mobile technology, video is quickly booming as a communication and research tool.

    The fact of the matter is, video is quickly becoming a necessity for your organization to stand out. The generation that’s becoming a consumer and the generation after them, have had access to video as a regular day to day tool, when the rest of us at their age now were still using Britannica and not Wikipedia. Think about that. The yellow pages has been replaced by Google for search and remember what I said above. Google loves YouTube.

    The time to use video for your business started yesterday. It’s time to make that first one and go from there.

    Paul J Schmidt is a Caerusnet Lansing, Michigan Member and owner/production director of UnoDeuce Multimedia, a full service video production company that specializes in creative visual storytelling for small businesses and non-profit organizations. You can connect with them at www.unodeuce.com

  • Most Frequently Asked Questions About Caerusnet

    11046537_10204343184165130_4339082858394475420_nAs of October, 2015, the Caerusnet teams I facilitate in Brighton and Ann Arbor, MI have eclipsed 27,000 referrals passed!  That’s a great accomplishment and it didn’t happen by accident.  We have great Members, a great system and we’re just getting started.  In today’s post, I thought I would share the most frequently asked questions I get about Caerusnet, so everyone’s on the same page.  Enjoy!

    Q:           How long are the meetings?

    CaerusNet meetings are no longer than 60 minutes. We recommend arriving at the meeting site a minimum of five minutes early so the Facilitator can properly welcome you and give you a fast debriefing before the meeting starts.

    Q:           What types of professions are the best fit for a Caerusnet team?

    Any small business that depends on local word of mouth referrals for their financial success is a good fit. Typically, businesses that work directly with the public or directly with other businesses are a good fit. Just 30 Members can belong to any one team, no matter their professions.  Only one business type per team (one website designer, one massage therapist, etc.).

    Q:           How often are meetings and what if I miss a few?

    Caerusnet recommends Facilitators schedule a minimum of 30 weeks of meetings per year. We recommend Members shoot for a minimum of 80% attendance (about 24 meetings per year), which should provide for a multitude of opportunities for the Members to get to know, like and trust each other.

    Q:           How much does it cost and who do I pay?

    Membership costs vary from team to team as the Facilitator (not Caerusnet) determines the prices to be charged.  Facilitators (not Caerusnet) bill the Members directly for the services of facilitating the referral team meeting.

    Q:           What am I paying for?

    That’s the question most Members ask when they belong to a Member-Ran group, because, not only are they asked to be a Member, they’re also often asked to be officers (president, membership committee, etc.) and take charge of the team’s success. At Caerusnet, Members are paying the Facilitator for the meeting facilitation services they provide to the team. These services include, but aren’t limited to: setting up and running the 1 hour meeting, delivering education to the team, site location, following up with visitors/prospects, tracking team metrics (spotlight schedule, referrals, attendance, etc) and stocking meeting materials (name badges, opportunity slips, business card portfolios, etc).  The facilitators typically also have a primary occupation (business coach, Realtor, etc.) and want to be thought of as your “partner in referrals”.

    Q:           Can I invite other businesses to meetings?

    Yes!  Some facilitators even offer incentives for doing so.  We encourage you to invite other professionals to your team meeting so they can experience the benefits of being part of a Facilitated referral team.

    Q:           How do I find a meeting?

    Click here for list of locations.

    Q:           What if there are no Caerusnet team meetings taking place where you want to network?

    No Caerusnet teams meeting in your local market?  If you’re a great networker yourself or you know of someone who is who may also want to Facilitate … click here to learn more about our Facilitator Licensing opportunity.

    Q:           Can I belong to more than one Caerusnet team?

    CaerusNet recommends you belong to as many teams as you can effectively manage.   Remember, each Facilitator is independent of each other and is the ultimate decider of Membership decisions for the team they facilitate.

  • Networker Self-Assessment

    Networker Self-Assessment by Steven Zyskowski

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    Whether you are a Member of Caerusnet or not, if you network with other professionals in a referral passing environment, this fast and honest Networker Self-Assessment might help you uncover areas to improve upon.  Improvement may lead to more referrals for you!

     

    Score Yourself: Answer HARDY EVER (1), SOMETIMES (3), ALWAYS (5).

    Write the number next to each question and then total the numbers.
    1. I arrive at the meetings 5 minutes before they start.
    2. I make a habit of of practicing and planning for my Member Minute.
    3. I pass at least one warm referral at the weekly meetings, 80% of the time.
    4. I present my professional best during the meetings and attend 80% or more of them.
    5. I use ‘referral language’ with my clients and have developed a referral mindset.
    6. I actively invite visitors to attend the meeting
    7. I do a Trust Builder Meeting at least (1 x per month).
    8. I carry my the business cards of the other Members with me and am aware of and use the mobile directory.
    TOTAL SCORE:

    Score Key

    8 Lowest Chance of Success / Right Person?
    16
    24 Medium Chance of Success / Increase Output & You’re On Your Way
    32
    40 Greatest Chance of Success / Right Person … a referral magnet!

    ACTION PLAN:
    Improve on areas where you have scored 3 and under.
    Continue to be consistent in areas you score 4 or more.
    It’s called networking because there is work involved!  Let’s have FUN and INCREASE OUR PROFIT!

    Looking for ways to improve?  Watch these TOOLBOX videos!