When you realize that you want to attract a higher caliber of client who pays you top dollar for your elite expertise, get ready to lead by example.

Around these parts, we can talk a blue streak about how to write dynamo websites, promo emails and marketing materials. But there is a phenomenon that keeps coming up in Stella’s conversations with business owners—and you need to know about it.

Here’s the thing about marketing: yes, the words are important—that’s what persuades people to hire you. Yes, the marketing channels and your strategies & systems for using them are crucial to … Read the rest >

Alright, cowgirls and cowboys. Last week, Stella gave you some pretty detailed info about what goes into her marketing habit. Not to brag (though I’m not against tooting your own horn. We’re proud of achievement, good work, and results around these parts). But to give you an idea of the kind of elbow grease it takes to attract your ideal clients and fill your business to the brim with folks who adore you, value your work, and will happily pay you well for access to your jelly.

But this marketing stuff is all interconnected, see?

Now, let’s all … Read the rest >

How do I promote myself without sounding self-serving?

Dear business owner who doesn’t like calling attention to herself,

There’s this either/or thing that tends to happen when you are a person who loves other people. (Stella’s one of ‘em, too, and has a decade of non-profit, social service and teaching high school to prove it). You get really clear that you’re on the planet to channel goodness. You’re here to help other people.

And this whole marketing thing feels a little…

Well…

Selfish.

If that’s you, Stella wants to help you make you as much money as you’d like … Read the rest >

Hey Stella, I am too busy to plan how to market my services, let alone actually spend 2-3 hours a day marketing.

Ah, my entrepreneurial chickadee. That’s not a question.

But let’s discuss it anyway.

First, marketing. Such a nebulous word. What is marketing, really?

It’s the things you do on a regular basis to spread the word about your business. Or as my client Rob likes to say, marketing is a habit. Just like brushing your teeth or going to the gym.

And who’s too busy to brush their teeth?

(Let’s both pinky swear to start working out-or … Read the rest >

I have an awesome new program—how do I name it so that people line up around the block to join it?

Every once in awhile when I was a kid, my mom treated herself to a candy bar called the Whatchamacallit.

Well, Stella’s here to tell you that it’s not only a peanut crisp coated in caramel and chocolate: it’s an epidemic spreading like a bad rash in the circles you & I travel in.

That’s right, there’s a raging case of what I like to call whatchamacallit-itis going around.

In fact, if this were the Garden of … Read the rest >