10 Tools to Build Your Business

If you’re building a business but don’t have enough business development training courses yet, want to become an influencer or need to get your message out, a sales funnel will help.

You’re probably familiar with the sales funnel – a defined process that finds likely prospects … turns them into qualified leads … and then makes the sale. Whether you are developing a new sales funnel — or want to improve an existing one — you need to be aware that an effective sales funnel has many dimensions. Take advantage of these tools to get the most from your funnel:

1. Identify Your Audience

Before you can promote your product or service, you need to identify your target audience. Who is most likely to express interest in what you are selling? Then, even more important, who is most likely to move from a prospect to a buyer?

Stephen Larsen identifies three kinds of consumers:

• “Die-hards” — they’re happy with the product or service they currently use and will never consider switching to yours. Don’t spend time, energy or money promoting to them.
• People who are happy enough with their current product or service and intend to keep using it. Although not as loyal as the Die-hards, they will need a lot of persuading to even consider your product or service.
• People who are very dissatisfied with their current product or service. They’re looking for something different. Focus your attention on this group to get the most out of your marketing dollars.

2. Get Your Audience Excited

To succeed, Ray Higdon believes you need to create “raving fans.” That’s not an overstatement. Here are some ideas from Ray on how to think BIG:

• Provide massive value. A weak offer, such as a minimal discount, won’t generate excitement. To attract new customers, you need to offer them real value.
• Be focused. Set specific goals and pinpoint your audience. Your chance for success will be much greater.
• Find ambassadors. Among your current customers, you are sure to find people who like to serve and help. They want their friends to know about what they’ve found and the good experience they’ve had with your company. Let them help you spread the word or make a “friend-get-a-friend” offer.
• Share. The more we share, the more we increase the value of what we offer.  In business, we are told to share little and charge for everything. In reality, we increase our value when we share.  People want to work with those who have something to offer. So everything becomes easier when you share.
• Be okay with copycats. They say there’s nothing new under the sun.  I own intellectual property and am very careful about protecting it.  While doing so is important to recognize that copycats surround us. People will model their businesses based on ours if we are successful.  Copycats are a reality. It becomes difficult to copy, however, when we add value by sharing our stories and our experiences. The more we put ourselves into our offer the more we become unique and protect ourselves.  Copycats simply exist. Protect yourself by adding your unique value.
• Create an “I am…” statement. Know yourself, your organization and your products and services. What makes you unique and will attract customers to you instead of the competition?“If something doesn’t work, it’s the hook, story or offer. An offer increases the value of anything.”
  Russell Brunson
  Co-Founder, ClickFunnels

3. Tell a Good Story

Never underestimate the power of storytelling — particularly in an email series. According to Yara Golden, stories capture attention, engage your prospects and are important tools in your continued effort to engage your customers.

Myron Golden believes there are two types of stories you can use in selling: the overt story and the covert story. The latter is the way the story makes your prospect or customer feel. Your sales story needs to create enough drama to make people FEEL that they want your product or service. Good stories make people thirsty for what you sell, while the copy tells them how to get it.

Be passionate! According to Dean Graziosi, when you love what you do so much, it’s actually a disservice not to sell what has created your passion. He believes that, if you don’t want to make your customers’ lives better with what you have to offer, then you’re not doing enough.

4. Make Them Aware of the Problem — Then Provide the Solution

If your story makes people thirsty for a new opportunity, Jim Edwards says to simply offer your prospects or customers a drink. They will appreciate it!

In general, it’s a good idea to use problems — even your own — to create a message. And the messier the better! According to Amanda and Nicholas Bayerle, people connect more easily with pain than they do with success. So they’ll be eager to learn how your product or service alleviates that pain.

5. Keep It Simple

“KISS” — keep it simple, stupid — is an old adage, but one that’s still true. Don’t over complicate your message, Jamie Cross says. Own what you do, use your own voice and you’ll create magic. One of the most effective promotional tools I’ve seen lately is Jamie’s five-minute webinar that forces you to keep your story simple and active. She believes activity creates clarity, which creates momentum.

6. Put Facebook to Work

Facebook can play an important role in your overall digital marketing efforts. Julie Stoian recommends having a personal Facebook page for yourself. Put your latest posts on the timeline. In a Facebook group, find the hot threads and comment on posts. You’ll get more attention by being super helpful, super funny or super polarizing.

7. Develop Your Dream 100 List

One easy way to build your business is to work with influencers. Start by developing what Russell Brunson calls a “Dream 100” list for each social media platform: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and appropriate podcasts. Just pick the 100 influencers on each platform that you want to follow and contribute to. Your goal: to find influencers you can work with — either tangentially or more intentionally — to attract more prospects and, ultimately, customers.

8. Hold a Virtual Summit

Today everyone is busy. They may have limited time to devote to a summit or conference. So why not hold a virtual summit to launch your marketing strategy? Bailey Richert uses a “90-day to launch” strategy. Bailey believes virtual summits can help you form relationships, increase your visibility, grow your email list, generate revenue, establish you as an authority and create new opportunities.

9. Try a Seven-Day Launch

This “quick start” strategy from Brendon Burchard can get you in the market in a hurry. Just follow these easy steps:

1. Pick what you will sell — your flagship product.
2. Go “live” on the Internet for three days — not to sell your product, but to educate your audience.
3. Follow-up for the next four days. Develop a drip email sequence that follows up with people.  
4. From Day 8 through Day 30: Run webinars.

You’ll be amazed at your results!

10. Emulate “High Performers”

Brendon Burchard has also discovered that successful people — the “high performers” — all practice certain habits. They:

• Seek clarity more often
• Generate energy
• Raise your own sense of necessity.  Your message is important. When you own that, you will make your performance matter.
• Increase productivity by re-prioritizing at the beginning of each week
• Develop influence by teaching others how to think, challenging others to be better, or becoming a role model
• Demonstrate courage.“Be the most positive person someone ever met.”
  Matt Maddox
  CEO and President, Wynn Resorts

One final thought from John Parkes: Whether you need to generate traffic to your website or “brick and mortar” store, think cats and dogs. You start by generating prospects — who, like cats, are curious, attracted by variety and somewhat flighty. You succeed only by retargeting your efforts and turning those prospects into customers — who, like dogs are fast, loyal and efficient. Try any of these 10 tools — or all of them — for your business. You’ll find you’re on your way to real success.