BUSINESS

Referrals from past customers and networking partners are the lifeblood of a successful loan officer. If you are a newly licensed loan officer or a seasoned pro, growing your sphere of influence through your past customer data base and networking are the keys to sustained success. Continual contact with your past customer database though email, mail, and phone calls will help make you the go-to person for questions regarding mortgage products.  Creating an environment where past customers contact you regarding their friends and families mortgage questions or concerns will lead to an ever-increasing number of referrals. Monthly newsletters, timely updates about the market, and holiday campaigns are just a few ways to stay in-touch. To create an effective networking system, you can join or create your own team of like-minded professionals that will help you grow and sustain your business. There are numerous local networking groups that will help you in your networking endeavor...

Many self-employed individuals and people aiming to earn more sales commission think of networking as a form of prospecting. They enter networking mode ready to smile, to meet people, and to give out their business cards.  They focus on coming away with qualified prospects, good referrals, and even new sales. Too many reap frustratingly mediocre results, though, because their own common sense works against them. elevator speech essential  : Especially at events known up-front as networking events (e.g. a chamber of commerce mixer), many view a good elevator speech as an essential tool to get others interested in what they offer. They view their elevator speech as a critical step toward getting people to recognize how valuable and important their product or service must be.  They expect this to generate the interest that leads to business opportunities. Yet, even the much-rehearsed, ever-developing elevator speech typically under-delivers because of faulty underly...

Some professionals love meeting and greeting. They enjoy attending events and working a room, and they seem to be natural born networkers. I am NOT one of these people. I'm a classic, textbook, introvert who, despite knowing the importance of networking, sometimes still finds it to be a challenge.  It's because networking doesn't come easily to me that I understand the trials of trying to network as an introvert. In fact, networking tips for introverts has become one of the most popular topics in my workshops. Experts tell us that 70 to 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking. It's a bit more difficult to get statistics for entrepreneurs. Yet, we know that if the "know, like, trust" rule of business holds, networking is key for business owners as well. So what can introverts do to improve in this crucial area? Do your homework : Nothing is quite as uncomfortable to an introvert as entering a room full of total strangers. In the past, you mig...

If you want to begin building your brand online, you must first decide what your brand identity is. When you are building brand identity, you should first place your priority on the process by which you conduct your business.  Try to build an image : Try to build an image of what you would like your company to appear to be, and how you would like it to appear to the customer. When you are trying to decide how to build your brand online, you'll need to understand the basics. The basic image of branding is the ability to determine what the values of your company are.  Your brand is the image: Your brand is the image given to the customer of what values your company holds most dearly. If your customer feels comfortable with the choices that your company is implying that it makes based on the brand image which was based on the values that your company holds most dearly, they may be more likely to buy a product or service from your company.  It's entirely possible, ...

In today's job market you have to do more than just upload your resume to a few job boards and hope someone will notice you. It is important to develop and market a strong personal brand that speaks of your key strengths and experiences, something that captures attention.  This will help you establish yourself as a professional who is making his mark by delivering quality as an entrepreneur, employed professional, or busy C-level executive. Why is your personal brand so important?  Your Brand sets you apart from the other potential candidates. The best way to think about a personal brand is to consider your favorite actor or musician. They all have developed and marketed their unique personal brands.  The music of Adele, for instance, is very different than that of Luke Bryan. Both are talented singers in their own right, but they have two very different personal / professional brands. What do you want to say through your brand and how do you develop a pers...

A company logo is one of the most important elements you should focus on whether you are a startup or a small company with an aim to grow and expand. The logo is what defines your brand and you therefore want to make sure that you get a design that represents your brand in the best way possible.  This is also the element that will determine how recognizable you remain in the market and among your target audience; it is the face of the business and should promote the brand offline and online. When looking for a professional logo that matches your brand, you might need to get a professional designer. A designer will help you design a logo that is simple, memorable, versatile, appropriate and enduring.  However, even without the assistance of a designer, you can now easily create your own professional logo using an online logo generator. A logo maker online saves you on costs because you can enjoy free services;  the only thing you might need to pay for in the end...

When someone offers something for FREE, there are lots of things that happen... most of which end up destroying your brand. But for those that take a different approach, there is tremendous opportunity to capture a much bigger market and solidify your BRAND. To start, it's important to understand the difference between building "Brand Awareness" and "Solidifying your Brand" when it comes to establishing a Brand Strategy.  Often times I see these two becoming comingled which can end up leading to "Brand Erosion" for a business. Seeing this doesn't happen is one of the key responsibilities of a leader (CEO or Business Owner)... not the responsibility of marketing or sales or any other silo inside your organization. Building "Brand Awareness" is about introducing new people (potential customers) to your brand... allowing them to see that you exist in the marketplace. It is an attraction strategy... one filled with education and ex...