If you have an online business, then you’ve likely considered video marketing. Once you’re convinced of the power of video marketing, the next step is to decide how to use videos to promote your business. Here are just a few examples:

Education – Use video to educate your market on the use of your products. Lead them towards the sale by answering their most frequently asked questions and objections.

Case Studies – If you’re involved in some kind of before-and-after (website design, fitness, SEO, etc.) case studies are an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise. Seeing an example helps the potential customer understand exactly what impact your service or product can have on their business.

Testimonials – Ask your customers or clients to give you quick 1-minute videos of their feedback. You can also interview them about your business for a more structured testimonial.

Product Reviews – Video brings an added element to product reviews, particularly if you’re reviewing a physical product. But hearing you talk about a book or piece of software is effective too.

Webinars – If you provide webinars or other video presentations to your market, capture them via video and offer a replay to generate leads or even sell as a product.

Commercial – Done correctly (meaning compelling with a clear call to action), commercials for your product or service can be very effective.

Business Overview – One of the first things many people look for is who they are buying from and what they stand for. Let your potential customers learn about you and your business through a business overview.

As you can see from the list above, there are many ways to use video to promote your business. Just creating video is not the only step to effective marketing. You must craft a video that responds to the wants and needs of your market. They are looking for solutions to problems and questions. It’s your job to figure out how to use a video to solve issues, answer questions, provide the right solutions and lead them to the next step.

If you want to learn how to create powerful video for your business, check out my upcoming FREE teleseminar with Lou Bortone, Online Branding Expert and Video Marketing Strategist. Click here to find out more!

Solopreneur.biz is in a contest for the Best Coaching Blog of 2011.  Last year we were honored to come in third place in this annual extravaganza hosted by the School of Coaching Mastery.  We are in the running again and wanted to let you know!

We chose to be a participant in this contest for several reasons.  First, it is a great support to the coaching industry and the wealth of wisdom held by those who coach.  Secondly, it is a great way to get the word out about what we do and perhaps gain new blog subscribers.  And finally, the contest is a remarkable demonstration of business alliances in action – there is obvious benefit to each blog owner in the contest, but the School of Coaching Mastery also benefits by the larger amount of traffic the contestants drive to their site and by the high visibility their project achieves.  Let it be an example to you as you think about what possible creative ways you can build alliances with others who serve YOUR target market…

Now to the details if you would like to vote in the Best Coaching Blog contest.  This is a one- vote-per-person contest so please look around at all the possibilities. To vote, just click on the up arrow and it will turn green when your vote is registered.   If you are trying to find Solopreneur.Biz, you will have to look carefully – we are hidden on page 2!  Scroll to the bottom of the first page, click “Next 20” and scroll down again.  I would be honored if you chose to vote for our work.

Enjoy the contest and some of the most interesting reading that you are likely to find on a whole range of topics.   Please post a comment here about your impressions of the contest.

Owning a business shouldn’t be that hard.  Any mega-successful business owner could tell you that his or her success was easy.  Not simple, but easy.  When a business is right, things just work.  Then why is it that you might be struggling in your business?

It’s all about adventure.  When my family leaves the house for any extended reason, we say “Let the adventures begin.”  What we mean is that there are unknowns ahead and that we are up to any challenge.  We gather our best selves.  We make sure that we respond to the twists and turns we inevitably encounter using our strengths and best attitude. Having the spirit of adventure always ensures a great experience.

Running a business is an adventure.  The most important piece is that you explore your own mindset and attitude.  What do you believe about your business and what it takes to grow it?  How could you make it easier? Let’s take a quick trip through some of the most important ways to ensure that   running your business is easy.

Be realistic. One of the most common business fantasies is that your business will blossom overnight if you can just find the magic key.  While rapid growth can happen, it happens when it is connected to dedication, solid business fundamentals and a little luck.  Be wary of your business fantasies.  Learn about business and make sure that your plans are grounded in what’s doable rather than in your fantasy scenarios.

Be intentional. Don’t allow yourself to drift from plan to plan or even from tactic to tactic.  Develop habits that will make a difference for your business by becoming comfortable with planning and discipline. Know what it is that you are building and how you intend to get there.  When the inevitable obstacles appear on the path, be intentional about your goals and make the needed adjustments.  Wandering can be adventurous but it rarely leads to a mega-successful business.

Be fierce. Use persistence to not give up.  Fierceness is the knowledge deep within you that your business matters and that you can do what it takes to make it work.  It’s that beautiful combination of hope, focus and flexible action that means you ARE going to get there.  Nothing can stand in your way when you’re on your fierce adventure!

It’s time to let the easy attitude into YOUR business. What are you waiting for?  Let the adventures begin!

PS – Today’s post is written from my heart.  It’s what I have learned to be true for me about business and about life.  I’d love to hear your reactions to it.  Please let me know what your thoughts and feelings are about my philosophy by posting a reply.

I’m so excited – today is the day…book launch day.

You’ve probably heard from me already about How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times, the book in which I am a co-author. Let me tell you more about it though, because if you purchase the book within the next 24 hours, you’ll get a powerful free bonus. (And did I tell you that the proceeds from the book go to charity?)

I want to tell you the reason that I chose to be in this book, and to write about a very personal story from my life. These are challenging times and I really believe that your ability to handle fear is one of the most important skills you can master. This book of the best ideas of 22 amazing experts will help with exactly that whether the issue is little scary moments or the big, mind-numbing
fearful events.

http://www.HowtheFierceHandleFear.com

Now, here’s the offer good for today only:

If you buy your copy of “How the Fierce Handle Fear” from Amazon.com within the next 24 hours you’ll also get exclusive access to the complete audio collection of the groundbreaking “Fearless Fridays Telesummit”. This was the recent event featuring over 30 amazing speakers offering their best tips on handling fear.

Just go to http://www.HowtheFierceHandleFear.com for details on how to get the recordings. Once you get the book, let me know how you like my essay, okay?

I’m so excited to be a published author again! And proud to be contributing through this project to Frank McKinney’s Caring House Project Fund which provides needed help to the desperately poor and homeless throughout the world.

Warmly,
Janet

P.S. – I would love for you to share this link with your family and friends. Getting a grip on fear will help us all to move out of these challenging times and on to the better ones ahead.

http://www.HowtheFierceHandleFear.com

How often do you find yourself in the same category as those you consider great? Well it’s happened to me again. Solopreneur.biz is in the running as the Best Coaching Blog of 2010.

Here’s where we need your help and your vote. If you find Solopreneur.Biz to be of benefit to your business, please go to Best Coaching Blog of 2010 and vote for our blog, which is currently on page 2…we need your votes to move to page 1! The contest is not only fun, but you can also see who else is nominated. The blogs listed are some of the best in the coaching industry. Get your feed reader ready, because you will not want to miss out on the great content. You can only vote once, so hop on over right now to vote.

When we from our readers we get so excited and we get comments like these all the time:

I am addicted to my Google Reader and I always get excited when I see a new entry for Solopreneur.biz. Janet is one of my main go-to-gurus for straight forward, easy to understand and implement business advice. She never steers me wrong. If it wasn’t for the Solopreneur.biz blog and her weekly biz tips, I would shudder to think about where my business would be.

Becki Noles
Virtual Accuracy Companies

WOW!!! Ohmygod, I knew NONE of these things! I’m a brand new subscriber – and I’m looking to your next set of Biz Tips.”

Martia Nelson
www.DogDancer.com

What I really like about Biz Tips is that it packs meaningful, helpful information in small bites. I always read it right away because I know that it’s worthwhile…it doesn’t require a big investment of time.

Nancy Fightlin
Sunnybrook Life Coaching

If one of these testimonials resonates with you, consider contacting us (link to contact form) with a testimonial of your own. We will add it to this site and our sister site and give you a backlink to your website as well.

Thank you for your confidence and vote!

Have you been to our Facebook Fan Page recently? I would love for you to go to the fan page right now and share your business insights with us. I would love to interact with you and have a meaningful discussion around creating the business of your dreams.

Recently we’ve talked about:

• How to know if your social media marketing is working

• More Facebook changes are in store

• How to drive quality traffic to your blog

• Blogs to watch during 2010

• and so much more!

I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to visit our discussion board. While you are on the discussion board, take a moment to introduce yourself and give your business a little shameless self promotion in “What’s Your Solopreneur Biz?“. Also, please feel free to start your own topics!

If you’re not already, go on over to our Facebook Fan Page and become a “fan” today! We would love to have your input in our discussions.

Have you been to our Facebook Fan Page recently? I highly encourage you to go to www.facebook.com/solopreneurbiz right now and share your business insights with us. I would love to interact with you and have a meaningful discussion around creating the business of your dreams.

Recently we’ve talked about:

The Top 50 Marketing Blogs To Watch in 2010
Most Fortune 100 Companies Don’t Get Twitter
HOW to Use Social Media to Grow Your Business
Biz Tips for Entrepreneurs
and so much more!

I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to visit our discussion board. While you are on the discussion board, take a moment to introduce yourself and give your business a little shameless self promotion in “What’s Your Solopreneur Biz?“. Also, please feel free to start your own topics!

If you’re not already, go on over to our Facebook Fan Page and become a “fan” today! We would love to have your input in our discussions.

Over the past few months, I have realized that many of my new clients are coming to me because they are making some basic mistakes in their businesses. The mistakes I see are much too common and they are preventing many businesses from thriving or even succeeding.

You have probably heard that 75% or more of small businesses don’t survive the first three years. Don’t let your business fall into this category. I have decided to do a free teleseminar called Top Ten Mistakes of Entrepreneurs because I want you to make sure your business is on the right track.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 20th at 8:00 p.m. ET (New York USA) for my teleseminar Top Ten Mistakes of Entrepreneurs. Join me to learn about some of these common mistakes made by both new and experienced entrepreneurs and how to avoid them.

If you have read my newsletters or blog or purchased my books, then you are aware that I always want to provide more than what you expect. Truth be told, I am dedicated to helping your business grow. Even in this economy, there are great opportunities for success. It is not easy, but together we can do it.

Recent financial times have been tough. But does the sad state of the economy have to affect everyone? Well, I sure hope not. But the reality is that the average Coach is feeling the pressure of these hard times.

It means that you have to be extra savvy and conscious of where you invest your hard earned income. You also need to be diligent and work exceptionally hard to keep your clients coming back to you.

You may need to be extremely careful with your purchases. You may even have to pare down the number of resources that you use. There is no shame in that. It is just smart money managing.

But as a savvy business owner, you can thrive in hard times by being smart. Smart with your time and with your money. You need to recognize necessary and useful resources that can help you, especially one that exceeds its perceived value ten-fold or more.

In light of the economical issues that are readily apparent everywhere you look, I wanted to help in as many ways as I could. So check out these Recession Busting Offers.

..:: Offer 1 ::..

Biz Tips – The Book – 20% OFF
Sale Price $7.95
This is the book with more than 50 ideas to improve your business.

Go here to take advantage of this time-limited special offer.

..:: Offer 2 ::..

Mind Your Own Biz Book – MORE THAN 25% OFF
Sale Price $27.00

This book is the complete resource for starting a successful coaching business with details, resources and exercises in vital business areas. Find your unique package as a coach, learn the entrepreneurial skills to succeed, discover how to use a business plan successfully and develop powerful ways to manage your time, money, information and
equipment.

Go here to take advantage of this time-limited special offer.

..:: Offer 3 ::..

Biz Tips for Coaches Newsletter – FREE

Get the weekly email that can make a difference in the success of YOUR coaching business.

Filled with new and insightful information that is relevant to the growth of any coach’s business.

Go here to take advantage of this special offer.

..:: Offer 4 ::..

Support Group for Coaches 25% OFF
$15.00 per Group

Join a support group of determined coaches lead by a certified coach. Increase your motivation, creativity, accountability and more. Use the collective wisdom and support of a group to crystallize your ideas and accelerate your progress toward building your coaching dream.

Email me at janet@lifeadventurecoaching.com to take advantage of this offer.

I really want you to succeed as a coach and I know these resources can make a difference.
I hope you will take advantage of this special offer – times of economic stress can be times of great growth for an entrepreneur. My hope is that these tools may be what you need to spur your growth.

Warmly,
Janet

There has been something bouncing around in my head since I heard Aretha Franklin sing and President Obama give his inaugural address.  It’s about freedom.  Which I have long known is one of my most cherished values.  Our President was speaking about freedom and at the same time he was speaking about responsibility.  The two are inescapably intertwined.  His words said, “… greatness is never a given. It must be earned.” And “we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work”.  He could have been talking about an entrepeneur – he could have been talking about you as you build your coaching business.

The freedom of being an entrepreneur thrills me on a daily basis.  I love to be the one who makes all the choices.  What to do, where to be, who to talk to, how to do it.  The list of decisions goes on and on and I don’t have to answer to anyone else who would do it differently.  It is my way.  Pure joy for my freedom loving heart.  At the same time, I am acutely aware that there is a lot of hard work involved to make sure that I make good decisions, ones that are tempered by information and input from others.  This is the responsibility of freedom. 

Being an entrepreneur requires an amazing amount of hard work.  As is true for our country in this time of change, “everywhere we look, there is work to be done.”  This is not something to feel discouraged about.  All your hard work in your business will reward you magnificently.  Too many coaches in the past have chosen fear and given up their dream.  Don’t follow them.  The information and support you need to succeed in freedom as an entrepreneur is out there.  This is the time for action. 

A diffilcut task well done is one of life’s richest rewards.  My coaching business brings me joy and freedom every day.  Yours can, too.  I think President Obama summed it up when he said, “Nothing is as defining of our spirit as giving our all to a difficult task.”  Let’s get to work.