“If  you build it they will come” is probably one of the biggest myths ever published and believed when it comes to business.

“Once you build something extraordinary  and you tell everybody why they should come they may” is probably closer to the truth, I’d say.

So how many people find out about you and what you do every day?

As you know you could have the most extraordinary offer but unless  people know about it, you will stay the best kept secret in your industry. And it’s exactly here that most Solopreneurs think too small and simply underestimate how much exposure they really need in order to fill their pipeline.

“But I am already working so hard”  I can almost hear you say.

I know. And that’s why the strategies that really take your business to the next level need to leverage everything you already have: Relationships, technology and online media.

Here are three strategies that  I am using and that are working for me right now to increase my reach:

1. Form Joint Ventures

The upcoming Massive Client Attraction Telesummit is a great example of a joint venture that I have formed with seven other experts in my industry.  Teaming up with who you could regard as your competitors to create a triple win situation (you, your JV partner and your clients/subscribers) is a great way to increase your reach.

Seek out the big players in your industry, set up events where you interview them or present alongside them not only positions you as the expert in YOUR field but also exposes all of you to a wider audience as each contributor promote s the event to their following.  This strategy has been instrumental in my business success to date probably more than any others.

During the Massive Client Attraction Week Telesummit I will be interviewing Janet Beckers who built her entire business in record time based on boldly putting this strategy in place.

2. Drive traffic to your website with a purpose

It is imperative that your website is structured to generate leads for you. Giving a valuable piece of information away in return for them providing their name and email address  is the most effective lead generating strategy that you can virtually put on auto pilot.  Using paid ads such as Google Adwords or Facebook ads or your ad on other resource sites can lead a steady stream of potential prospects to your site without you having to do anything else (except monitoring your Return on Investment).

During the telesummit I will be interviewing Alicia Forest who built a huge list of loyal subscribers using a variety of such ‘list building’ strategies.  As a mum of two little kids Alicia is a master of systemising things as she has to – there’s no time to waste when you have kids to look after.

3. Use Social Media to engage

Social media is all the rage at the moment and I have had success in getting clients through social media sites such as linkedin, facebook and twitter. You can too, but beware it is easy to get sucked in  and waste your time doing this. They key again is to use leverage.  It is possible to link the different applications and connect them with other media such as your blog so that one update gives you exposure in many different places.

And yes we will have an expert covering this area at the Massive Client Attraction Week Telesummit which is  a really important one as there are so many variables in this field, you really want to know what you’re doing here. Wendy Moore will shed some light on this, I for one am really looking forward to this session.

There are other strategies that are highly effective and the key is to leverage what you have got in as many ways as possible. I suggest you focus on one strategy, implement it to an extend that you can clearly see it working, then move on to the next one.  Making it perfect before you move on will mean you are wasting time.

What are your thoughts on this? I’d love to know what you want to know more about, so I can ‘grill’ my experts during Massive Client Attraction Week and get you answers.

Please leave me a note!

Have you ever looked back at the end of the day wondering where the hours went and what you actually achieved? It can be frustrating when a day gets clogged up with unproductive tasks and you don’t get to the money making stuff that you really should attend to.

The number one thing you need in order to grow your business fast and successfully (apart from Passion) is FOCUS!

Focus on Income Producing Activities. What does that really mean? As Solo-Entrepreneurs there are three things that we should be focused on 95% of the time:

Marketing: Marketing takes most of the time, especially when starting out and realistically also when you are already up and running. The good news for all those of you saying you don’t like to market: The lines between Marketing and Working with Clients get blurred when using Attraction Marketing Principles. That means Marketing is actually fun because you educate and build relationships while you do it.

Work with Clients: No brainer. Of course you want to spend time servicing your clients really well. As a Solopreneur YOU and your Expertise are the the commodity so of course this is an important part, and usually the most fun part of your days.

Innovation: It’s critical that you constantly learn new things and innovate within your field. Your clients expect it, it is the lifeblood of your business. And it keeps things exciting for you as well.

You should be spending 95% of your time in any of these three areas. If you are not, you are wasting time. Let me share with you my top tips for ridding yourself of time wasters so you can be as focused and productive as possible to reach your big 2010 goals.

Tip 1: Have set working hours where you ONLY spend time on income producing activities.

During your working hours you should not be focusing on anything else. That means no lower value activities (eg admin), no distracting activities (eg a private email, a youtube video someone sent you etc) and no personal chores like shopping etc. Set your working hours so you can realistically achieve this and stick to it no matter what. You will need to find time for the excluded activities somehwere else. This is critical for you to stay focused.

Tip 2: Batch activities

This is so important as different tasks require a different mindset.  Changing it all the time is a waste. So have a standard diary for the week . Batch all our client work on certain days, your marketing on certain days etc, you get the idea. If  you are not already doing it, you will notice that this saves you heaps of time. It also makes it really easy to plan the week and estimate how long bigger projects will take you to complete.

Tip 3: Outsource all non-income producing activities

As soon as you can afford it, outsource your non-income producing activties. Most people wait too long before they do this. Remember, the more you outsource the more you are able to focus on income producing activities and make money. I know the more I outsource, the more money I make. It is an investment that definitely pays off. If you choose the right team members who are professionals who know their craft and have a service mentality, you will be better off because you have outsourced. Don’t wait too long, do it as soon as possible!

Focus is important not only to get more done but also so you have more time off to spend doing what you love. That’s really important so you replenish your energy and your creativity.

What do you think of these tips? HOw are they working for you? What are your top tips to avoid time wasters?

I would love to hear from you, please leave me a comment here on the blog!

Whenever I go to events run by people who have the level of success I aspire to have, I make a point of modeling their mindset, because I know that’s where it all starts.

Have you ever wondered how a Million Dollar passion-inspired Solopreneur thinks?

What beliefs they hold that have taken them to this level of success?

There are three key mindset aspects I took away from spending time with my Million Dollar Mentor and I want to share them with you here:

1. When making decisions, act from where you want to be, not where you are now

Say you want to create a 200,000 a year income business based on your passion (which by the way is a great goal to have, it’s a real point of momentum), then as an entrepreneur who has already achieved that,

1. What activities do you focus on?
2. What is your perspective when making decisions, what are you looking to achieve?
3. What do you need to let go of?

This is a really powerful concept and can move you forward big time.

Here is an insight into what that could mean for you: Most people who are aspiring to this income level need to let go of their focus on getting out to meet the next client and moving towards getting out to meet the next Joint Venture partner. Big shift in perspective!

2. Set your income high enough so you need to get things done differently

This was a big one for me. I realized that my income goals for next year needed to increase so I was forced to change the way I work and really step up and out of my comfort zone. If you don’t set a goal that is realistic but a real stretch, then you might cheat yourself by simply doing more of the same, which invariably gets you to get stuck.

Moving up the income ladder means letting go of your current work practices, adopting new ones and stepping into a new way of operating.

3. Plan further ahead, don’t start anything unless you can get at least 2 more streams of income out of it

Have you ever launched a new program, put lots of work into it, made money from it and then asked yourself, now what?

Every program you launch should seamlessly lead into a follow up of at least 2 other streams of income. You are robbing yourself of extra income if you don’t and you are robbing your clients of the opportunity to further benefit from your services.

How long is your planning horizon for your business? 12 months is a real minimum and the higher your income goals, the further out you need to plan. Knowing how to integrate different programs is a real essential skill for your 6 figure income success!

I personally love modeling people who are ahead of me without being at a Quantum Leap from where I am so I can see very clearly how I can get myself to the next level. It makes it very real and gives me the confidence to say, if they can do it, I can do it too!

If you want to know more about how to overcome the typical mindset challenges Solo- Entrepreneurs face, then join us for the free interactive one time only teleclass: “How to ditch the self doubt and step up to play a bigger game in your Business” this Wednesday 28 October, 6pm East Coast Australia Daylight Saving Time, 5pm Qld, 8pm NZ time. Register here: www.clientprosperity.com/teleseminar.html