Happy New Year!

I want to say thank you for following me this past year. I hope that you enjoyed my blog posts and any other information that you received from me in 2008. I am planning many new changes in 2009 and all of them are for the better. Have a safe and wonderful time as you ring in 2009!

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has a wonderful time today and in the next few days as we count down to a new year. I look forward to sharing more words of wisdom with you in 2009!

Blah, Blah, Blah

My youngest son has a t-shirt that says "You open your mouth, but all I hear is blah, blah, blah". It made me think about society in general. Everyone is talking about how bad everything is. I don't hear many positive things coming out of anyone's mouth.

As I go through life, I think about all of the things positive that are going on in my life right now: I have somewhere to live, I have food on the table, I have clean clothes to wear, I have a business that is flexible to my family life, and the list could go on and on.

Sure your family and friends, while intentions are good, may worry that your business venture may not make it out the door, but they in turn are emitting negative vibes. As Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, "People put you down enough, you start to believe it."..."The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?"

Why listen to that? If your dream is to run a successful business, then you need to surround yourself with positive people who want your business to be a success and aren't afraid to give you the support you need to make it happen.

The next time someone starts talking negatively, silently tell yourself, "You open your mouth, but all I hear is blah, blah, blah". Think of your vision board you have created for yourself, with pictures and all, that shows what you want your business to look like now and in the future and focus on all of the positives.

Time Management Strategies for the Holidays

Live Teleclass ~ Time Management Strategies for the Holidays, to be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 11:00 am EST

Led by Tracey Lawton, Online Business Manager & Office Organization Expert

On this call Tracey will be sharing with you effective and proven time management strategies to get you through this busy holiday season.

With the information she'll be sharing with you during this teleclass you can apply it all year round - not just during the holiday season. You'll be able to accomplish so much more with the right systems in place.

Click here for more information.

What are your priorities?

I have had to learn to juggle really well this week both my personal and my business obligations. My husband had hand surgery yesterday, so I had to make sure the kids got to school on time so that my husband would not be late. Since I had several hours to kill, think 4 or 5 long hours, I took some business work along with me so that I could feel like I accomplished a little bit more than just reading one of my romance novels.

Well, the day did not turn out quite like I had expected. The pharmacy was having issues with my insurance so the guy behind the counter took forever to get me my husband's prescriptions, then my husband decided to faint on the bed as we were getting ready to leave. Not once, but several times. By that time my daughter was already out of school almost one hour. She didn't have a cell phone on her so I had to rush over to pick her up, while my husband was being rehooked up to an IV back at the surgery center. I was then almost 40 minutes late picking up the youngest one.

Then to top it all off, my daughter demanded that I get her a cheesecake so that she would forgive me for leaving her at school so long. With my son in the car I had to buy him something too. Then I had to drop them off, pick up a check out of the mailbox, dash off to the bank, and managed to make it back to my husband in just over 1 hour. Geesh!!!!

Once I came home, we had to drag my husband up the stairs to the bedroom with the help of the neighbor next door. (Hey, my skinny sixteen year old son could not do it all.) Then I got to play nurse all night. Through it all I managed to get back on the computer, shoot off some emails, work on some administrative work, and get the kids some dinner together. Talk about a tiring day!

I had gotten up early so that I could prepare what I had to do for the day. I try to schedule what I know I can do for the next day and then have a list of "What if's?" so that if my schedule does not go as planned, I have some backup things that I can accomplish.

There are times when your family has to be a priority and times when your business has to be a priority. The key is to decide which falls where each day and schedule accordingly otherwise your will always be behind and someone will feel low on the totem pole of life.

Listen to Errand Guru Talk Radio this Wednesday!

Please join me, along with my co-host Danette Moss, for our weekly radio show on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. This week our guest is Debbie Quintana with Gourmet Gifts.

-Are your clients hoping you can help them find the perfect gift this year?

-Are you looking for inexpensive ways to keep in touch with your clients?

-Are you looking for the perfect "Thanks for your business this year" gift?

Join Danette, Debbie, and myself as we discuss how Gourmet Gifts can help you and your clients this holiday season. Everyone is looking for ways to say how much they care without breaking the bank. What better way than to give a Gourmet Gift!

You can listen online at Errand Guru Talk Radio or call in at (646) 478-4999 to listen in on the phone.

Don't worry if you can't be there live, you can listen in later to the archived segment on the website.

We will have a chat available during the segment so you can ask your questions or, if you call in, you can ask your questions live on the air!

Are your client's needs so obvious?

I celebrated my 17th wedding anniversary on November 24. My husband had been wanting an iPod Touch for a while now. He talked about the kind he wanted. When we would be out shopping he always made a point of stopping to look at the iPods. Even though he would do anything to get his iPod, he wasn't expecting it. I surprised him with the brand new 32 GB iPod Touch. To say he was giddy is an understatement. He couldn't believe that I would do that for him. Of course I would because I knew that was what he wanted. It was easy to choose to get that for him.

Now me, I am a different story. I do not have a wish list lined up with things I desire. For my husband it is harder for him to get me gifts because me wants and needs are not so obvious. I don't have signs up saying what I want, like that kid in the commercial who leaves pictures all through his house with an ad of what he wants. My husband has to dig a little deeper to find out what to get me.

Your clients, both potential and current, will fall into one of two categories. They will either know what they want and come to you immediately or you will have to dig a little deeper to find out what it is that they want and find a way to communicate to them how you can handle those needs. Most small business owners think that if they hang their shingle out to say they are in business that the clients will flock to them. Not so true. You have to let these people know what it is that you do out loud. If you don't say anything, how do you expect them to figure out what it is that you want from them?

When you market and advertise, you need to make your message loud and clear. Tell them how they can benefit from using your services or products and then give them a call to action. Tell them the next steps that you want them to follow so that they win by getting what they want and you win by getting what you want.

Now I have to work on letting my husband know what I want so that it is easier for him to shop for me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

There is a long list of things I am thankful for this year: a home, my two cars, my three children, my husband, food in the frig and pantry, a business that continues to operate after 10 years, the ability to see, hear, taste, touch, and feel, for all of my friends and family near and far, and God, because without him I would not be here. The list could go on and on, but you don't have all day to sit here and read it. There is turkey and yams and mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie to eat.

Today take a moment to note to yourself or out loud what you are thankful for.

Join us this Wednesday!

Join us Wednesday, November 19, 2009, at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on Blog Talk Radio for our weekly radio show. This segment we will be discussing holiday promotions. With Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas not too far behind, you still have time to garner attention for your business and get some new clients before the start of a new year.

You can listen on the Internet at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/errandgurutalk or call in to 646-478-4999 to listen live. Our chat room will be open. Bring your questions and we will bring our answers.

What is your focus?

The last few weeks my focus has been on my family and not on my business. We were going through a family health emergency and my attention was solely on that. Does that make me a bad business owner? I don't think so. Something people have to realize is that small businesses are owned by real people who have real lives. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we need that we forget about their needs, wants, and issues.

With the holidays coming up, people are going to want to take a break from their business to enjoy life with their family and friends. We have to be understanding and realize that our world will not end if the dry cleaning is picked up for you on Thursday instead of Tuesday, unless of course you are down to your last pair of clean socks. For that I would recommend making sure you always have at least a 14 day supply so that if the washing machine gets hungry you still can make it out the door with your feet covered.

While I felt guilty at first for abandoning my circle of newsletter subscribers, clients, and networking circle, I realized that I don't have to feel guilty. As the saying goes, "If momma ain't happy then nobody is happy." Once I put my prospective in the right place, the guilt left. Now I am ready to focus on my business again and get back in the thick of things.

Just remember, life only comes around once so enjoy it while you can!

What's your business reflection look like?

I just received another notice about my domain name renewal. Can't believe that we are almost at the end of another year and that my business has continued to grow to another year. It makes me reflect back to when I first decided to start a business about 12 years ago. I was excited and scared at the same time to start this new venture. I was smart and dumb at the same time when it came to how to run a business. I have fallen down so many times, yet I have always found a way to get back up and keep going.

This year has been filled with highs and lows, but I still have managed to stay excited about being a business owner. I came back in September from an industry conference refreshed and full of ideas. Will I be able to accomplish all of them by the end of the year? Nope, but I have added many of my ideas to my list of goals for next year. Yes, I am already starting my list of 2009 goals.

We all will have our moments of reflection where we wonder why we started our business, but then we reflect on all that we have accomplished this year, we will know why we continue to run our businesses.

What do your reflections look like?

What do your words say?

With the elections right around the corner, people are buzzing over who they are going to vote for and what measures on the ballot they want to vote for. Some of their convictions are very strong. Some will vote for the next president based on who is representing their party and not on how well the person will do on the job. Some will vote on a certain person or measure because they were swayed by their friends and family at the last minute. Some will just randomly vote because they don't understand the confusing wording of the measure or the wording seems so technical.

Everyone has an opinion and yours counts just as much as. So when it comes to purchasing an item or using a service, why do some of us solely rely on what the next guy says? You need to make your own decision and this is where education comes into play. Many people know, or at least have an idea of, what an errand or concierge service is. So why is it so hard for many people who know they need extra help turn away from using the service?

When educating prospective clients, many people are just told about the features of the service. Sometimes we are so excited about what it is that we do that we ramble on and on. Sometimes we use words that our prospective clients don't understand. Sometimes we don't fully understand what we are doing and so we can't convey our message clearly to others.

Sometimes clients will just say no because they are confused by what we are saying. Sometimes clients will say no because they don't want to take the time to truly understand what it is that we do. Sometimes clients will just say yes because a friend told them they should. Sometimes clients will just say yes because everyone else is.

Is this necessarily the right way to go?

What we need to do is step back and really look at what we do from the prospective of the client. Only then can we see what they see and understand how to better get our message across so that we can truly sell them on us the right way. This way there is less confusion and more understanding.

So, what do your words say?

Don't miss my radio show Wednesday!

Please join me, along with my co-host Danette Moss, for our weekly radio show on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. This week is a special week as it is a Q&A segment.

-Are you researching the errand and concierge service industry and aren't quite sure where to start?

-Have you opened your doors for business, but things are going slow?

-Been in business a while, but you are facing a new situation and need some help?

Bring any and all questions to this segment and we will use this hour to answer as many as possible. Where else can you participate in a free consultation?

You can listen online at Errand Guru Talk Radio or call in at (646) 478-4999 to listen in on the phone.

Don't worry if you can't be there live, you can listen in later to the archived segment on the website. If you have a question that you want answered, just email me at info@ecsuniversitytraining.com.

We will have a chat available during the segment so you can ask your questions or, if you call in, you can ask your questions live on the air!

Attraction Marketing and Money Mindset Program

As a creative business owner, I am excited to share with you someone I think you need to meet...

I've noticed that as creative entrepreneurs we are looking at how our passion-based business can make the next leap in success. I want to share with you one of my favorite business mentors, Laura West. As president and chief creative officer of the Center for Joyful Business, well, you can tell she isn't your average business woman!

Laura has a unique way of blending attraction energy and smart marketing so that passion-based business owners can learn to love marketing - believe it or not! She makes it fun, approachable, and lays out what you need to do in simple systems. If you are already thinking about 2009 and are ready for next year to be your best year ever then you'll want to be on her teleclass THIS THURSDAY!

She's told me that space on the bridgeline is filling up quick so be sure to register soon!

Here is her Teleseminar information:

Attraction in Action: My 5 Most Powerful Attraction Marketing Secrets so You Can Create Your Dream of a Six Figure Business Quickly and Easily with Laura West, Center for Joyful Business

Thurday: October 30

2pm eastern

http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/attractionsecrets?af=738320

In this class she'll share how she grew her business and finally BUSTED THROUGH the six-figure ceiling (While still feeling good about honoring her commitments as a wife, mother and frequent traveler.)

In this teleseminar, you'll also discover:

-Your #1 most precious resource as a business owner (hint: it's not money). Find out what it is and how to create a bottomless supply.
-The first baby steps you can take to gain the confidence and clarity you need to transform your business.
-Why building relationships is much more fun and fruitful than marketing (eww!).
-How to boost your Celebrity Factor so clients seek you out - even when you're on vacation.
-How to do all this without running around in a frenzy chasing marketing idea after marketing idea and feeling like you're never getting anywhere fast enough.
-If you're finally ready to stop saying "It's not just about the money" and start claiming "It's time that it's ALSO about the money!" then I hope you'll join us for this refreshingly different and authentic approach for growing your business.

http://www.joyfulbusiness.com/attractionsecrets?af=738320

Space is filling up fast! Over 130 registered already so reserve your spot fast!

In this teleseminar, she'll also be opening the doors for her *NEW Attraction Marketing and Money Mindset Program! It's a year long program for 24 amazing creative entrepreneurs who are ready for 2009 to be THE YEAR they bust their own money ceiling! Be sure to join us or register to get the recording of the teleseminar. She'll be offering some special bonuses and incentives that you'll only hear about on the call.

If you are tired of chasing marketing ideas all over the web and are ready to put your marketing into simple systems so you can turbo your impact - all while consciously using your attraction energy....well, you're going to want to be a part of this fabulous group of like-spirited and commited business owners.

It's time for a sale!

It is getting to that time of year. My end of the year sale. The next sale won't be until January of 2009! So what do I have on sale for you?

Purchase either my Middle of the Road Package C or my Ultimate Package and I am throwing in a couple of freebies.

Middle of the Road Package C
6 months free in my Errand Guru Coaching Cafe
3 additional hours of consultation time
Free personalization of forms
Free shipping
You are receiving over $850 in freebies!

Ultimate Package
1 year free in my Errand Guru Coaching Cafe
5 additional hours of consultation time
Free personalization of forms
Free shipping
You are receiving over $1300 in freebies!

At the end of the checkout process, enter the code End of the Year 2008 in the text box in order to receive your freebies. I will personally contact you with all of the details regarding your freebies.

Visit my Combination Packages page so that you can see exactly what you receive in each package.

Hurry and place your order because this offer expires November 9, 2008!

Are you prepared?

As I am sitting here trying to finish getting ready for my trip to Florida next week, I realize that I am not as prepared as I should be. I have known about this trip for a year now. I kept telling myself I had plenty of time to get my materials ready not only for my vendor table, but for my session I am teaching as well. Now I am down to the last two days and I still have plenty of work to do.

Are you prepared for your business and your clients? For example, if you have scheduled a pet sitting assignment weeks ahead of time, you should take the time right then and there to put together all of the paperwork that you will need and set the folder aside ready to go. Why? When the day comes for you to run off to your first visit, if you haven't prepared ahead of time, you may rush off without paperwork or the keys, which may lead to you having to return to your office or forgetting something you need to do during your visit.

We all can get overwhelmed from time to time and forget about little things we have to do. It is best to take the time to write down, while you still have a fresh memory, what it is that you need to do. It could be a to-do list or a spot on your calendar. I know that when I first get up, my mind has the day's events rolling about in it. If I take a few moments to sit down and write out everything possible that I can think of that I have to take care of, whether it is for that day or not, I will not forget about a small detail that may turn out to be important.

OK, I am off to finish my packing. As usual, I will be just fine as I put together a packing list several weeks ago and I know what I need so I don't forget anything.

Will you be joining me in Tampa?

If you haven't had a chance yet, visit http://www.iceaweb.org to check out more information about their upcoming conference September 24-27 in Tampa, Florida. I am so excited to be attending another conference, and as Vice President of Budget and Finance, I want to see more attendees there. Not only will there be some great information being taught, but there will be numerous opportunities to network and get to know other business owners in the errand and concierge service industry.

I am also excited because I will be one of the speakers for the pre-conference session. I will be discussing the basics of getting started during my three hour session. The information I will be providing will give you a great start to help you get your business off on the right foot.

I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and meeting many new ones this year!

Don't miss our show on Wednesday!

Make sure that you join us on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET with our guest speaker Peggy Porter. Peggy is a coach, author and speaker who specializes in helping Mom Entrepreneurs plan, prioritize and be more productive with their time so they can make more money, spend more quality time with family and bring more energy and less stress to their own lives.

Being a wife and mother of two children, Peggy experiences first hand the challenges of balancing work, family and ME time. She has successfully created a life that is full and rewarding and is passionate about helping all women create the same success.

If you run a business and want to find new ways to balance your work and personal life, then this is the segment for you. You can call in live at 646-478-4999 or listen online at www.blogtalkradio.com/errandgurutalk.

What type of attention are you looking for?

As I have been watching news reports, it seems that the talk of the town is Sarah Palin. Not because of what she stands for, but because of all of the controversy and scandal surrounding her private life. While I think that McCain is getting a boost in attention, are you sure it is the right kind of attention? My mom goes on and on about what a horrible choice he made and talks about how she may bring him down. I am sure John McCain would be happy to hear that.

Kids look for attention from their parents all of the time, whether they have to behave good or badly to get it. Of course parents tend to make a bigger deal out of their bad behavior more than they do when the child acts good. I know sometimes I have a tendency to overlook the good things my children do, because I just expect that from them, and I am more vocal about the bad things that they do. I promise I am trying to get better about doing the opposite.

As business owners we are always looking for attention when it comes to our business. Whether it is a piece in the newspaper or a bit on the local TV station or current clients are spreading the word. The more people that know about us, the better. Or so we think. The problem is when we don't care whether the publicity is about our behavior, whether it is good or bad, as long as it is attention.

We need to be more conscious about the attention our company receives. We want to throw a party and run to tell everyone when we have done good and we need to quickly take care of any errors we make and not draw attention to these errors. Of course, as business owners we will always make mistakes. It is how we handle them and the attention they receive that will determine what happens with our business.

Ready for the new school year yet?

For many of us business owners, when the kids go on summer break so do our businesses. With the kids going back to school, many of us get back on track. I know for myself, I do tend to have a busy schedule full of pet sitting and other errands, but I still make plenty of time to hang out with the family. With the kids going back to school, I go back into full business mode during the school year.


Whether the children are going to school part-time or full-time, you still need to have boundaries set. This includes your business hours, when the children are and aren't allowed in your office, what happens when the children are sick or on vacation, and so on. If everyone knows their roles and their boundaries, it is much easier to get through a hectic school year filled with after school and weekend activities and still be productive in your business.

Have you signed up for the Coaching Cafe yet?

Have you had a chance to check out what's being offered at the Errand Guru Coaching Cafe yet? If not, check it out at http://www.angelatyourservice.com/index_files/Page1171.htm. There are many exciting benefits to being a member, including two one-on-one coaching call in days, a Q&A call, a special topic or guest speaker call every month, a private forum, and many other benefits.

The first month is only $14.95 and each month thereafter is $29.95. We will be having some exciting guest speakers coming up in the next few months, but you will only have access to that information if you are a member of the Errand Guru Coaching Cafe.

Don't miss our show on Wednesday!

Make sure that you join us on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET with our guest speaker Christine Saunders. She is the owner of The Spiraled Stem Floral Design. She will be discussing green trends in event planning.

The Spiraled Stem incorporates environmentally sustainable flowers, products, materials, and practices into their studio and every project they do. Flowers are often an overlooked element of eco-friendly decor, and now they have made it easy for eco-conscious companies, event planners, individuals and brides to go green in every color.

If you run a business and want to find new ways to provide green services, then this is the segment for you. You can call in live at 646-478-4999 or listen online at www.blogtalkradio.com/errandgurutalk.

I'm back!

After being away for a few weeks, I am back with more information for you. Please make sure that if you haven't had a chance, check out previous blog posts and make any comments you would like regarding the posts. No comments means that I do not know if you like what I am talking about, if any of it makes sense, or whether you are even reading what I write.



Thanks!!!!!!!!

Don't miss our show this Wednesday!!!

Join us Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at 10:00 am PT/ 1:00 pm ET, with our special guest Maria Ross, as we Marketing on our Errand Guru Talk Radio Show. If you are unsure what the difference is between branding, marketing, and PR, then this is the segment for you.

Maria Ross is the President and Chief Marketing Diva of Red Slice. Red Slice is a marketing and communications consultancy that works strategically with your marketing department or serves as a virtual marketing director to build fresh brands, create winning marketing strategies, and flawlessly execute programs.


You can listen live over the Internet or call in over the phone to listen at (646) 478-4999. We also have a live chat during the segment, so if you want to ask a question off the air, we would be happy to answer it for you.

You can visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/errandgurutalk to listen to any of our previous shows we have done.

Easy Office Organization

Easy Office Organization: How To Go From Overwhelmed And Frustrated To Organized And Stress-Free In 48 Hours Or Less. This is an exciting fixed-term membership program designed to teach you how to create the key administrative and online marketing systems in your solo service business. It will cover everything you need to know to achieve office organization success in a step-by-step, bite-sized format.

Get a 'sneak peek' at this exciting new program, and sign up for the priority list at: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2492002.

Creating Small Business Websites That Grab Attention

Is your website giving you the results you want?

Your website can be a wonderful marketing and educational tool. But what makes a small business owner's website great?

Learn the basics of what you should know to add polish and professionalism to your small business website, everything from the message you deliver to the psychology of the colors you use.

Whether you design your own site or hire someone to do it for you, this-information packed class is for you!

Join Karyn Greenstreet for a six week teleclass that begins July 17, 2008. The dates of the class are:

July 17
July 24
July 31
Aug 7
Aug 14
Aug 21

The cost of the class is $179 and is a great investment!

Click the link for more details and to register for this class. http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2490037

We're on for Tuesday, right?

Just wanted to remind you about Ali Brown's *FREE TELESEMINAR SERIES* that kicks off Tuesday, July 15. And this will be the LAST one of its kind.

(In a hurry? Sign up here now: http://www.autowebbusiness.com/app/?af=805212 )

Why do I want to make sure you attend?

==> On these calls, Ali is going to reveal the EXACT steps she took to transform her original service-based business to an Internet-based business and skyrocketed her income to multiple 7- figures per year.

(And more importantly, how YOU can do the same.)

During these calls Ali will be sharing with us:

* NEW and easy ways to use EMAIL and the INTERNET to leverage your time, sell FOR you, and put your marketing and sales on autopilot. (You'll love seeing new leads, clients, and customers just drop in your lap.)

* How to STOP marketing one-to-one and START marketing one to thousands... or tens of thousands! (This leverage is your KEY to super-fast income growth.)

* BRAND NEW strategies and secrets Ali's uncovered to grow her business FASTER and attract wealth easier than ever before. (And believe me, your mindset is just as important as your marketing and sales.)

These calls are a sneak preview of Ali's LAST LIVE Online Success Blueprint Workshop, happening in November 2008. (It's already over halfway sold out!)

Take my word for it... you DON'T want to miss this FREE teleseminar series, which is also Ali's LAST free series on this topic ever.

So, won't you join me? The first call is on *Tuesday, July 15* and you can sign up and get the details here now: http://www.autowebbusiness.com/app/?af=805212

Ali already has over 2,000 people registered, so it's important you get in on this soon before she has to close it out due to limited space on her bridge lines.

You don't want to miss this for anything.

I'll see you on the calls!

How persistent are you?

My son has been asking me all day when I would take him to the store so that he could go shopping with a gift card he has. Of course I told him later each time he came to me. I had an excuse each time. I was busy with work the first time, I had phone calls the next time, he had to complete his chores before we could go, and on and on. Well, he did everything I had asked him to do and now I am out of excuses. Will I be taking him? Of course. He was persistent about going, never missing a beat.

Why can't we as business owners be persistent too? Just because someone tells you "No" the first time you talk to them doesn't mean that they don't want your services or products. Unless they have stated that they would call the police or threatened you with bodily harm because they really don't want what you have to offer, keep trying.

What you need to do is look over how the first interaction went and figure out what changes you need to make. Was your first contact with them a hard sell? Did you explain to them a summarized version of what they would get from forging a relationship with you? Did your speech sound canned? Did you fumble around with your words because you lacked confidence?

Now is the time to view your "No" prospects as your "Come back and tell me what you can really do to get the sale" prospects. We all faced with people wanting to sell us something. Whether it is the Burger King employee trying to upsell your purchase by asking "Would you like fries with that?" or the flyer you find attached to your door from a local landscaping company or the little girl down the street going door to door with her ice chest trying to sell drinks on a hot day, you need to learn from those that have sold you on their product.

What made you interested in buying from them? Was it the look of the marketing materials? Was it the tone of their voice? Was it the unique way that they told their story to you? Those that are successful are persistent. Look to them for guidance.

What's your message saying?

As I was heading out to IHOP for breakfast this morning I drove by the local boat shop. They had a banner hanging on the chain link fence in front of their business that said, "You only have 18 summers with your kids. How many do you have left?"

When I first drove by it, I only was able to see the first statement, but it was so intriguing that I made a point of going past the shop after breakfast and stopping to read the rest of it. Why? The message spoke to me personally. I have three kids of my own and the oldest is going to be 16 in September, which means that I only have a few summers left before he heads out on his own. If I was in the market for a boat right now, I would have definitely stopped in to see what else they had to say. Who knows. I may have walked out with a boat.

Are your messages speaking to your customers? Many people are too broad and general with their messages and therefore they don't provoke emotion in their prospective clients getting them to want to purchases their products or services. When you are putting together your messages pretend as if the person you want to reach is right in front of you and you are having a conversation with them. Talk to them and them only and your message should come across loud and clear.

For example, I have two dogs and two birds right now, although my daughter and youngest son are hatching up a plan to go steal a sheep in the middle of the night and bring it home. I know all about what it is like to have to go somewhere and worry about what to do with the animals. My daughter's dog will be a year old in August and I am constantly screaming about something new he has eaten up in our house. The older dog leaves "presents" in the hallway for us all of the time.

If I was putting together a flyer for prospective clients and talking about pet sitting services or mid-day potty breaks, I might state, "Have you come home recently to find your favorite pair of shoes are now your dog's favorite toy? If you have to work all day, let Angel At Your Service come by to check on your dog and make sure that your favorite shoes are where they are supposed to be." Or I could use, "Do you find little deposits all over your house when you come back home after a long day at work? Angel At Your Service can provide mid-day potty breaks so that your pet can take care of things outside and leave your carpet clean on the inside."

Look at your target market and make sure that your message is saying the right thing.

Where do you come up with your pricing?

I was looking at a few pet sitting jobs that had been posted on SitterCity and could not believe some of the pricing that I saw. First, there was an ad from a person who was offering pet sitting/dog walking services. She wanted $50-$100 per visit. The second ad was from a woman who wanted someone to come to her home twice a day for $5-$15 per visit.

I started laughing out loud when I read both of those ads. Why?

The woman who placed the ad for pet sitting services lives about 7 miles from me. My gas to get there and back for each visit alone would cost more than she wanted to pay me. Basically my services would be for free. Why would I provide charity? I am in business and most people go into business to make money.

The woman who placed the ad to provide pet sitting/dog walking services was providing typical services that other pet sitters normally provide. She wasn't offering to cleaning a client's home and prune their bushes so that they spelled out "Welcome Home" when the client arrived back home. I understand the cost of gas has gone up, but please!

Both of these women did not price their pet sitting services right. The first woman's ad continues to stay up because she is underbidding what any respectable, professional pet sitter would ask for in return for their services. The second woman's ad will probably not get her too many clients because there was no real value for the price she was asking.

It is not that hard to go online and see what the going rates are for pet sitting services in your area. The woman who underbid will probably not find a licensed and bonded pet sitter, which she was asking for, for the price she is asking. She will probably have to settle for a neighborhood teenage kid or a relative to watch her animals while she is away. The woman who over quoted her price will find she was double, on the low end of her scale, to quadruple, on the high end of her scale, what others are asking and so her prospective clients will go elsewhere.

I have a pet sitting client who had sent me a confirmation email before his trip and had asked me if my rates had gone up because he wanted to cover the difference. I told him "Yes" and gave him the new rate. He had my check ready for my first visit along with a 20% tip. Why? Because he and his wife understand the true value of my services and are willing to pay my asking rate because his pets have been much happier staying at home instead of a kennel for the last couple of years that I have been pet sitting for them.

When you are putting together your pricing for your services, be reasonable, fair, and make sure that whatever services you are providing offer real value for your asking price.

The Queen's Last Sale Ever!

This is The Queen's LAST SALE EVER!

What do I mean?

Alicia M Forest, a.k.a. "The Multiple Streams Queen", is in the midst of some creative destruction at Client Abundance, and in doing so, she's having a major sale until June 29 in order to make 'space' for bigger and better things, including a brand-new website.

You see, her network of sites has grown out of control, so she figured it would be less work to simply demolish the entire thing and start over. This is truly a great example of "creative destruction" in order to grow.

Anyway, in the process, she'll be DISCONTINUING 9 products that will NOT be sold on the new website. (They're fine programs, but she said she just wants to focus on bigger fish.)

Topics include writing succcessful sales copy, hosting teleseminars, launching products, hiring an assistant, managing email lists, designing a niche, and more.

So Alicia's having a special CLOSE-OUT EVENT right now, which is only good through Sunday, June 29, 2008.

That means you only have a few days left to grab these products at 50% OFF -- before they disappear forever!

I already picked up a few products myself, and I highly advise you do so as well. You can see the quick list at http://tinyurl.com/4g78xp.

Do you practice what you preach?

In the errand and concierge industry we are always telling our customers to give up their to-do lists to us so that they can have more free time for themselves, but do we do the same?

When I was younger, I remember a conversation that my mom, sister, and I had. We were talking about how a person who smokes can't tell their child not to smoke, because they are not following their own advice. The child is not going to listen because they are thinking to themselves, "Why shouldn't I smoke? My dad (or mom) smokes. It's really OK to smoke."

The same thing is true with your clients. You can’t try to sell them on giving up their to-do list and enjoy life when you aren’t following that same advice. We all need time everyday to replenish our minds and bodies, even if it is a 20 minute nap, a nice, long bath, or 15 minutes to meditate.

Of course when you are first starting out there is not a lot of money to hire someone to be your right hand man to delegate everything to, but there are a few things you can do.

1. Hire a student to help around your office. Visit local colleges about offering an internship to some of their students. If you need help with your accounting, look for a student studying to be a CPA. Looking for help with your logo? Look to one of the graphic design students.

2. Barter or trade for your services. If you have a stay at home mom who is good at marketing and sales, offer free service to her in exchange for a brochure or sales kit. She gets her errands taken care of and you get some nice marketing materials.

3. Budget in for help. When you are putting together your start up budget, put together a staff budget for a part time VA or personal assistant. You can hire them by the hour or a package deal to handle some of the administrative tasks so you can spend your time networking and building relationships with potential clients.

Remember that there are leaders and followers. Lead by example.

Blog Squad Free Preview Call

The Blog Squad is giving you a chance to learn from their mistakes so you can make twice as much money in 2008, in half the time.

I've been learning a few tricks from them myself recently and I know they always over-deliver in their classes - even on their free calls.

You don't want to miss this free session on June 24: 5 Internet Marketing Traps That Can Derail Your Business

Presented by The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman, in partnership with Kathleen Gage, the Street Smarts Marketer

Tuesday, June 24 @ 6 p.m. ET

FREE!

Of course, you know there's a reason for the freebie: it's a preview call to introduce you to a 4-week, in-depth mentoring program starting July 1, 2008.

The best way to find out if they have something worthwhile to teach you is to attend the free class and sample their stuff...

Sort of like a pink spoon sample of good things to come.

Even if the course doesn't work for you, the free call will provide plenty of valuable information you can't afford not to know.

Find out what they are going to reveal on this free call and then register. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Click here to register

To your success!

What do you think?

I try to write a blog that is fun, witty, and informative. All I hear over here are crickets chirping. Either I am boring you or you just don't have an opinion. I would love to hear your comments to any of my blog posts. Just click on the "comment" link at the end of any post that you want to and start to get off your chest whatever you have to say. I know it will make you feel much better when you are done.

Better Business Blogging Report

Ever wonder if you're getting the best results you can from your business blog? Wonder if your design is optimized? ...if you could do better?

My friends, The Blog Squad (Patsi Krakoff, Psy.D. and Denise Wakeman), say most business blogging professionals don't know what they really need to know to get better results from their blogging efforts.

They say, "Most bloggers leave their blog parked in the garage and only take it out for a drive on Sundays!"

They've been studying what works for business blogging since 2004. Now, The Blog Squad is giving away their free report, "Better Business Blogging: 4 New Concepts for Getting Spectacular Results!"

What can you learn from this report? Click here.

* How to get faster at blog posting so it doesn't eat up all your time

* How to come up with great blog content that "wows" your readers

* How the design of your blog creates trust with readers...or not!

* How to vastly improve the number of subscribers and readers through a blog outreach program

* How to get readers to take action that turns them into fans and customers

Download the Blog Squad's free report and learn what you need to do to take your blog to the next level.

Click here to get your copy of the free Better Business Blogging Report.

Don't miss this opportunity to improve your business blogging efforts and start getting even more spectacular results from your blog.

To your success!
Angel Wilder

Delegating is not so easy!

I had almost given up on chores being done in my house. I was watching Supernanny the other night (OK, you caught me in a weak moment) and she put together a rotating chore list for the family's four kids to do. I thought that it might work with my family because I had been assigning specific chores to each of the kids. After a while, they gave up and always had an excuse why things could not get done. "He didn't do his chores so I am not doing mine." "I hate doing the kitchen because everyone just dumps their stuff everywhere." The pain and misery could go on and on.

I decided to create a chore list but switch off the chores so that each of the kids are doing a couple of different chores every day. For example, with vacuuming the living room, it rotates every other third day for the three kids and then I get Sundays to vacuum. I put together the chore list in Word and color coded everything and then printed out a copy for everyone that was to be taped to their bedroom doors. As I handed out the chore lists and explained the new system, I heard some grumblings at first. I was thinking to myself, "This is never going to work."

Guess what? It did. The kids were even helping each other out a bit. I almost fell over from a heart attack, but kept my composure. I will definitely have to keep you updated next week to let you know how the first full week went, but I have to say that I am hopeful that the new system will work out.

When I worked in Corporate America I was easily bored with my job because of the same menial tasks day in and day out. I always wanted to trade my job with someone else's just for a taste of something different. When it comes to your business, sometimes you just have to delegate the stuff you don't like to do or know how to do or just don't have time to do. If you have a group of tasks that can be delegated between a group of staff members, then set up your own rotating task list. Not only will it help keep your staff from that dreaded "I want to do something new" attitude, but it will help you to stay in balance should someone leave your business or get sick or go on vacation.

When there are no checks and balance, things can go wrong. In my college accounting class, my professor would relate stories all of the time about how someone embezzled money from the company because they were the only one doing the books. What if you were in a car accident and were taken to the hospital. Would you staff know how to complete a pet sit or put together invoices? If you are not training your staff how to run your business, you are setting yourself up for a disaster down the road.

Delegate for your own good!

Don't miss our show this Friday!!!!!!

Join us Friday, May 23, 2008, at 10:00 am PT/ 1:00 pm ET, with our special guest Julie Watson Smith as we discuss Aligning Family and Business for Effortless Success on our Errand Guru Talk Radio Show.

You can listen live over the Internet or call in over the phone to listen at (646) 478-4999. We also have a live chat during the segment, so if you want to ask a question off the air, we would be happy to answer it for you.

You can visit www.blogtalkradio.com/errandgurutalk to listen to any of our previous shows we have done.

Are you sitting on your laurels?

There is a lot that can be learned about people by observing their habits. For those people who complain about how they just can't seem to get ahead, most of the time they are not taking any action to get ahead. You will find them in front of a TV or in front of their computer, doing nothing but passing the time. For those that are ahead of the game, you will find them reading books, attending seminars, networking with others, and looking for opportunities to grow.

For myself, you will probably catch me watching the evening news about once or twice a month and even then it is for only about 10 or 15 minutes. Why? Because if I really want to know what is going on the world I can call my mom to find out or check it out on the web. I can scan the local newspaper online for what I want to read and then I move on with my day.

I want to spend my time with my family, learn new things, and grow my business. I can't do that glued to the television. Knowledge is power and you can't have the power if you give it away to the networks. Now I am not saying that TV is bad for you, but as with all things in life, moderation is key. I watch Jeopardy every day of the week, because it stimulates my mind. I also watch Women's Murder Club because that is how I like to unwind on a Friday night.

They key to a successful family and business life is to take advantage of all that is around you. Set aside time to attend the concert series at your local park this summer or join a book club at your local library. By opening up your mind to new things you are also opening up new doors of opportunities for you.

How are you handling your receipts?

Paper, paper everywhere. Everyone has a pile of papers in their home somewhere. I know mine keeps growing and growing, even though my intentions to rid myself of it are good. What about all of the receipts that people hoard. You know you don't want to lose your receipt so that you can easily return an item that is broken, doesn't fit, or that you just didn't like, but what if you can never find the receipt because it is lost in a pile of paper somewhere?

For those of us in the errand and concierge service industry, we handle receipts on a daily basis. Whether it is picking up groceries for a client or taking a car in for service or paying for dry cleaning, the receipts stack up. Instead of the clutter growing in your office or your client's home, why not use a service that will help you with the receipts. Someone sent me an email about a great service that I think many people are going to jump on the bandwagon for. It is called Shoeboxed and you can visit their website at www.shoeboxed.com. Many people are calling it the "Netflix for Receipts."

Think about it. If you charge, for example, $30 per hour and you waste 1/2 an hour of your time trying to dig up a receipt to send a copy to your client or because your accountant asked for it for a tax return, that's like flushing $15 down the toilet. Why? I would rather pay someone to take care of my receipts for me especially if the cost to pay them is cheaper than what I charge per hour and I can use that time to bill a client for running errands and still make money.

We are telling others to delegate their errands to us to make their lives easier and we should be doing the same. Outsourcing and delegate are two words that should definitely be in your vocabulary and used regularly. Instead of continually working in our business, we should be spending more time working on our business to help it grow.

Better Business Blog Writing Class

Ever struggle with what to write on your blog? How do you to find the time?

My friends, The Blog Squad (Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman), say writing consistently good blog posts is the #1 challenge of most business people.

They say, "It's also the #1 way to use a blog to successfully grow your business, build your online reputation and brand, get new leads, new clients and make money: you must write consistently good blog posts."

They've been studying what works for business blogging since 2004. Now, The Blog Squad is offering a comprehensive teleseminar, Better Business Blog Writing next week on May 19 and 21.

Without being Hemingway or Huffington, you can vastly improve the quality of your blog writing for better business results.

In this class, you will learn:

=> How to find time for writing, and how to get faster at blog posting so it doesn’t eat up all your time

=> How to come up with blog posts that "wow"your readers

=> How blog writing differs from other forms of writing, and how to leverage this skill into other products and services

=> How to improve the quality of your blog posts so that they have a profound effect on readers

=> How your blog content works to actually make money for your business

Better Business Blog Writing is presented in two 70-minute teleclasses by The Blog Squad to help professionals get more bang out of business blogging.

Won’t you join them?

What: Better Business Blog Writing

When: Monday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 21,2008 at 5 p.m. ET

Where: In your office

How: On your phone! (it doesn’t get more convenient than this)

Click here to register.

Handouts including a blog writing checklist, class notes, lists of resources and blog writing articles that include the psychology of learning styles and influence.

Network with other members in a private group on Facebook where you can get feedback on your blog posts, find your next joint venture and share resources.

Plus to augment your learning, they're including four FREE audio programs with expert bloggers($40 value): Click here for complete details.

Don't miss this opportunity to improve your business blogging efforts and start getting even more spectacular results from your blog.

Wishing you success!

P.S. The program starts on Monday, May 19 so grab your spot now!

Marketing To Women

I am thrilled to tell you about an amazing teleclass Karyn Greenstreet is offering that begins May 15.

In order to grow your business, you must understand women's lifestyles and what are their specific wants, needs and desires.

Women have power in the marketplace like never before. Nearly 80% of the consumer purchases are made or influenced by women. 89% of bank accounts are owned by women.

Join Karyn for this two-hour teleclass where you will learn to re-define your marketing strategy and re-design your marketing copy to speak directly to women.

By modifying your marketing to encompass women you make your marketing better for all your customers. I am certainly not the only one who can attest to the powerful workshops Karyn presents. Here is what other students are saying:

"Since we began this process in early February I've jumped from 8 clients to 23 paying clients -- with 8 prospective client inquiries this past week! I believe the combination of the new web sites we designed together and the marketing planning work you had me do is what made the difference. Thanks!" --J. Val Hastings

"I wanted to thank you for an awesome class! Your passion for your business is apparent in the energy you exude in your presentation. Who would have thought that a day spent learning about marketing could be fun? I enjoyed the day and came away feeling motivated to implement the ideas you taught us. Your thorough step-by-step explanation of the marketing planning process is so helpful. Thank you again for a fun, educational day." --Patricia Carr

If you would like to learn the most important things you can do to improve your search rankings. I invite you to take a look here.

Only one week left!

You have just one week left to register for my Errand Guru One Day Retreat that takes place at the end of the month. If you haven't had a chance to register yet, then contact me at angel@angelatyourservice.com or call me at 1-866-413-7886. Where else can you get five full meals, two nights accommodations, and a full day of intensive training for $375?

Register now!

We have a special guest today!

Today, May 9, on Blog Talk Radio I am having a guest speaker, Syndee Brill discuss "Are your protecting your business?" at 10 am PT/1 pm ET.

In the errand and concierge service industry we provide many services to our clients that require us to enter their homes, handle their animals, handle their money or personal paperwork, and so on. Contracts are definitely needed to cover you and your business. There are also other areas of your business that need to be protected as well. We will be covering a range of areas during this segment.

You can listen online at Errand Guru Talk Radio or call in at (646) 478-4999 to listen in on the phone.Don't worry if you can't be there live, you can listen in later to the archived segment on the website. We will have an online chat available during the segment so you can ask your questions off air or you can ask your questions live on the air if you call in!

Visit Marty Marsh's Blog!

I have had the pleasure of having Marty on several of my industry chats as well as being a part of his class on designing brochures. I could go on and on about how wonderful he is and how much information he has to share, but there are only so many days in a year. If you would like to hear some of his musings and learn some great new things, then visit his blog at http://soulproprietorblog.com/.

Angel

Has the R word gotten you down?

If you were to pick up a newspaper or watch the news or listen to the radio, it seems that most people have this tone of "I'm just throwing in the towel" about the situation around them. Yes houses are going into foreclosure and grocery prices are rising and more autos are being repossessed and the world as we know it just seems to be crumbling at our feet, but if we take that attitude, we go down with the sinking ship. I don't know about you, but when I watched Titanic, I wanted to be like Rose and Jack and do what I had to do to survive.

You can survive too. Sure those in the service sector are feeling the pinch, but when I am at a mall, grocery store, or just driving around the streets, there are still cars filling up the parking stalls. That means people are still spending money. You just have to convince them to spend their money on you. Create a compelling message of why they need you just as much as you need them. (Just don't sound desperate on your part!) Talk with your current customers. If they are talking with friends, employees, co-workers, and clients, they have an idea of who has money to spend and who doesn't. Referrals will be the key during this time.

You will still need to attract new clients as well. If I was standing at a kiosk in a mall and I was down to my last $20, but you were able to explain to me what this product will do for me and how I could save money or time or save something else or be able to do more of something else all because I purchased your product, I can bet you with 98% probability that I would part with my $20. Your message has to compelling and you have to demonstrate why your product or service should be regarded like it is the Hope Diamond and you just have to get your hands on it.

So grab a lifesaver and swim to shore.

Errand Guru One Day Intensive Retreat

If you want to get started in the right direction or you have started your business and need some additional support, then join me for this one day intensive retreat. You will have my undivided attention from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. You can ask any and all questions you have during this time. For someone who has been in the industry for 10 years, I will be providing a wealth of information for you during this time.

DATE: May 30-June 1, 2008
TIME: 9 AM - 5 PM Saturday, May 31, 2008 for seminar
LOCATION:
Pali Mountain
30778 Highway 18 Running Springs, CA 92382

The facilities feature a refreshing swimming pool, challenging hiking and jogging trails, numerous sporting fields and basketball courts, and a plethora of exciting adventures.

PRICE: $375.00

WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Five meals (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast)
Accommodations for two nights (Check in is Friday at 4 PM)
One day of intensive training
Errand Guru Workbook

AGENDA:
The Basics
Day to Day Operations
Pricing
Customer Service
Marketing and Advertising
Proposals and Contracts
Websites and Software
Staffing Your Company
Niche Services

Minimum of 25 people and maximum of 40 people

Angel Wilder reserves the right to cancel the Errand Guru One Day Intensive Retreat if there are fewer than 25 participants registered as of May 16, 2008. Angel Wilder will accept responsibility only for the reimbursement of the Retreat registration fee and does not reimburse for purchased travel tickets or other expenses in the event of cancellation. If you will need to purchase travel tickets to attend the Retreat, it is recommended that you purchase travel insurance in case of cancellation. Your early registration is appreciated and helps to avoid cancellations. Refunds will not be made for cancellations received after May 16, 2008.

Click here to pay: http://tinyurl.com/47d63f.

Special Teleseminar Wednesday!

Join Danette and I for a special teleseminar on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. We will be discussing ways to help you grow your business.

-Pricing have you stumped?
-Unsure how to get attention for your business?
-Undecided what to put in a proposal?
-Wonder whether it is better to have IC's or employees?

We will be covering all of these questions and more!

You can listen online at Errand Guru Talk Radio or call in at (646) 478-4999 to listen in on the phone.

Don't worry if you can't be there live, you can listen in later to the archived segment on the website. If you have a question that you want answered, just email me at info@ecsuniversitytraining.com.

We will have an online chat available during the segment so you can ask your questions off air or you can ask your questions live on the air if you call in!

Newsletter overload!

I have enjoyed receiving different newsletters over the years from various business people regarding different topics. During the last six months, the number of newsletters has steadily increased, as in I receive over 10 a day, as people have sent me referral after referral for a new and exciting newsletter they think I should read.

While I have enjoyed some tremendously (I sit next to my computer waiting for them to come in. OK, not really sitting there waiting, but will open them immediately when they do come in), there are others that I have read through and tried to enjoy, but they just were doing nothing for me. Some cover topics I really want to know about and some of the others cover topics that just don't interest me now or anymore. Most of the time I have just been forwarding the newsletters I like and hoping that I can read them at some point in the future.

Today was my breaking point! Instead of just deleting the newsletters I don't want to read anymore as usual, I decided to take a stand. I started to unsubscribe myself from the newsletters. As of last count, I unsubscribed from six of them. The list will continue to dwindle as I continue to decide which ones are helpful and which ones are a waste of my time.

For the ones that I like, I have been taking the main points and compiling them into a document for future reading. For those newsletter where the article is a long one, but one that I enjoy, I am holding on to those. I have a Yahoo account and folders set up within the account where the newsletters go. This has helped me to cut down on the ones I save and the ones I hit the delete button on.

While it is always good to educate yourself and learn from others, there comes a time when too much information will put your brain into overload and then nothing makes sense. You need to figure out which newsletters work for you and focus on the material contained inside each one specifically when it comes in. If it is something you enjoyed and may come in handy at a future date, then you can save it.

From this point forward, I am going to be spending the next few weeks weeding through hundreds of newsletters that I have not had the chance to read yet. I will be opening all of the newsletters I want to read each time they come in and read them on the spot. I will either put the information in my document or forward it for future reference. I refuse to be a victim of newsletters anymore!

Grocery Shopping 101

Danette Moss, owner of LAD Concierge Group and Live Life Outsource The Rest, has a new e-book out for $19.95! It is called Grocery Shopping 101. Visit http://www.ladconciergegroup.com/ for more information.

Here is what her introduction has to say:

Everyone needs groceries in their house. Last year U.S. households spent $3,240, on average, for groceries according to the American Express Everyday Spending index. The study also found consumers' consumption of fast food increased by 43% over the past year, bringing the average amount spent up to $720 per household. Food expenses represent a substantial percentage of household budgets.

This book was created to show you a way to provide a solution to consumers by providing this wonderful niche service to them. Since everyone has to eat, grocery shopping has become one of the top 5 niche markets in the Errand and Concierge Industry.

Not only will you “give your customers back time” or “make their life easier”, but you will show them that the benefits go deeper than time and an easier life. You can help them keep food expenses from going through the roof, save them from impulse shopping, dragging children in the grocery store (which can sometimes be a nightmare), and shopping after a long day at work by incorporating new ways of smart shopping into their regular routine by putting them on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule that will change their life forever.

In this book Stocking Break Rooms and Kitchens, I will discuss everything you’ve always wanted to know about from how to set up your services to pricing. So take a leap into this wonderful Niche Mark et where you will not only provide wonderful services to your clients, but you will benefit monetarily (Chi-Ch’ing).

Errand Guru One Day Intensive Retreat

If you want to get started in the right direction or you have started your business and need some additional support, then join me for this one day intensive retreat. You will have my undivided attention from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. You can ask any and all questions you have during this time. For someone who has been in the industry for 10 years, I will be providing a wealth of information for you during this time.

DATE: May 30-June 1, 2008
TIME: 9 AM - 5 PM Saturday, May 31, 2008 for seminar
LOCATION:
Pali Mountain
30778 Highway 18
Running Springs, CA 92382

The facilities feature a refreshing swimming pool, challenging hiking and jogging trails, numerous sporting fields and basketball courts, and a plethora of exciting adventures.

PRICE: $375.00

WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Five meals (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast)
Accommodations for two nights (Check in is Friday at 4 PM)
One day of intensive training
Errand Guru Workbook

AGENDA:
The Basics
Day to Day Operations
Pricing
Customer Service
Marketing and Advertising
Proposals and Contracts
Websites and Software
Staffing Your Company
Niche Services

Minimum of 25 people and maximum of 40 people

Angel Wilder reserves the right to cancel the Errand Guru One Day Intensive Retreat if there are fewer than 25 participants registered as of May 16, 2008. Angel Wilder will accept responsibility only for the reimbursement of the Retreat registration fee and does not reimburse for purchased travel tickets or other expenses in the event of cancellation. If you will need to purchase travel tickets to attend the Retreat, it is recommended that you purchase travel insurance in case of cancellation. Your early registration is appreciated and helps to avoid cancellations. Refunds will not be made for cancellations received after May 16, 2008.

Contact me at angel@angelatyourservice.com for more information.

Insider Secrets of Using Web 2.0 and Social Networking

If you're not using social networking sites for your business, you could be missing out on a lot of valuable traffic. You can learn how to use Web 2.0 tools and social networking sites to do just that. And you know you need traffic in order to have the opportunity to ask visitors to subscribe to your newsletter, get your white paper or buy your products and services.

Hot on the heels of their successful teleseminar on how to use Facebook for Business, my colleagues, The Blog Squad, are hosting a brand new class on how to use Web 2.0 and social networking sites to drive more traffic to your business. It is the "Insider Secrets of Using Web 2.0 and Social Networking to Get Thousands of Warm, Hungry Visitors to Your Web Site".

The Blog Squad grills Michele PW, Your $Ka-Ching! Marketing Strategist, and Mary Pat Kavanagh, Queen of Connections, on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Registration: $20 includes live event and mp3 audio file
Register here >>> http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2372929

During this teleseminar you'll learn:
* The psychological reasons why people are using Web 2.0 and social networking in the first place (understand this and you are LIGHT YEARS ahead of what most marketers are doing with it so you'll be FAR more successful)
* How you can use those psychological triggers to position yourself above your competition (and reap more traffic and sales in the process)
* What are the different social media and Web 2.0 sites and which ones are right for YOUR business
* The best way to position yourself so you will continue to get high quality traffic REGARDLESS of what's happening in the social media landscape
* Time-saving tips so you CAN get the most of your social networking without it sucking all your time.
* And much more!

Register today.

Find out what you'll learn about using social networking sites for your business and secure your spot now: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=2372929

To your continuing success online,
Angel Wilder

David Neagle's Just Believe event

I had so much fun at David's event yesterday. I met lots of new people and came away with some valuable information and a new prospective on things I have been doing in my life and business. It was an all day event and I was tired at the end, but it was well worth the push I gave myself to go. I wanted to share a few photos of myself and some people that I was excited to finally meet. If you recognize some of them, it is because I am either affiliated with them, mention them in my seminars and radio show, or use some of their guest articles in my newsletters.

Alexandria "The Ezine Queen" Brown

Lorrie "Red Hot Copy" Morgan-Ferrero

David Neagle

Have you taken advantage of my sale yet?

There are only 13 days left until my sale ends!

I currently have my best selling book, Starting Your Own Errand or Concierge Service, on sale for $25.95. That is a savings of $14! I probably won't have book on sale again for a long time. Purchase it now!

Spring 2008 Book Sale

I also am giving those that are interested in my Ultimate Package a chance to pay for it in 4 payments. The cost of the package is $1100, with four payments of $275 each. I am also offering FREE SHIPPING to those that take advantage of this special!

Ultimate Package Payment Plan

Visit http://www.angelatyourservice.com/ for more information.

The gas pumps are guzzling my money!

OK, I was born and raised in Southern California. Why I choose to stay here is a mystery. I was at the gas station today and saw that the most expensive gas is now at $4 a gallon. It is now $4.25 per gallon for diesel. Pretty soon I am going to have to buy a bus pass or get a scooter to take care of errands for my clients. I think I might just stand at the side of the road with a sign that says "Will work for gas money!" As an industry that requires us to drive, drive, drive, there has got to be a way to not gouge our clients, but still make a profit. Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. I work in a square. I use my office as my starting point and work my way in a square. Because my service area is split into four quadrants, I can have four people take care of my entire service area at once. This way no one is going back and forth and wasting gas or time. You can also split your service area into several zones. Each zone would have a specific radius.

2. Schedule as many clients as possible in the same area for the same day. For example, I have one staff member who completes five dog walks in the same neighborhood on the same day. She drives out to the first house, parks, takes care of all of the dogs, walks back to her car, and then drives home. One drive to and from. This same method can include taking care of several employees at once at a particular office to provide a similar type of service. For example, I took three cars to a local car wash in one afternoon.

3. Charge a temporary fuel surcharge. I received a newsletter from my travel agency I am associated with and several cruise lines are increasing their fuel supplements. All of the courier companies, including FedEx and UPS have a fuel surcharge in effect. FedEx is charging a 20% increase for the month of April for their Express service and UPS is charging a 20% increase for their international services.

Whatever you choose to do to help you out in your business, make sure that it is right for your customers and your business. After all, we all go in to business to make a profit.

Concierge Service guides editorial

As the owner of an errand and concierge service, and as an expert in the industry, from time to time I will purchase other guides out there to see how well written or poorly written they are. I recently purchased four e-guides and would like to provide my opinions on them.

1. The FabJob Guide to Become a Personal Concierge Business Owner

I was truly impressed with this guide. To begin with, the layout of the guide was user friendly and helpful. There were instructions to direct you to each part of the guide. After giving it a read over I found that it was full of helpful information and I felt someone could learn useful things about the industry reading this guide. Well worth the money.

2. Style Career.com’s Breaking Into and Succeeding in Concierge Service

I was not impressed with this guide at all and requested a refund, which I promptly received. The information, in my opinion, seemed like it was gathered from various places on the web along with a few interviews and then put together. The information contained in it was very basic and did not have as much meat as I thought it would have for the price.

3. 125aday.com Publishing’s Start Your Own Concierge Service!

This guide is a total scam. It did not mention once how to start your own concierge service. It was basically a how to start a (you insert whatever industry you want) business guide because the information contained in it was about starting a business in general and not the how to’s in regards to any particular industry. I was appalled that they would try to sell this information as a step by step guide. Because they have strict return policies, I could not get my money back, as I downloaded it as an e-book, but I did write two scathing emails that were never answered. Stay far, far away from this guide. It is so not worth the money.

4. Concierge and Errand Service Business Startup Guide from www.doit-4-u.com

RIP OFF!!!!!!!!! I had to contact Paypal after my claim was denied and found a nice gentleman who heard my story and gave me a refund on this guide. I sent numerous emails to the owner of the website over a several day period and did not receive one response. He states that he has been in business for 15 years, but I don’t see any of it in this guide. His “forms” are taken from Microsoft Office. While he has gone in and cleaned up the look of the website, my dog could have written a better guide. Do not waste a penny on this guide.

These are just my opinions, but for someone who has been in business for a decade and continues to run a successful business, I think I have an idea of what makes for helpful information and what doesn’t. The final decision is up to you, but I wanted to give you a heads up on what is available for those in the industry.

What's blooming in your garden?

April is just around the corner. With that comes National Gardening Month. Have you ever just spent an afternoon taking out weeds in your garden and planting seeds or small plants in some fresh, rich soil? Watering every day to make sure that whatever it was bloomed, whether it was vegetables or a flower bush? Weren't you bursting with pride at your accomplishments?

What about your family or your clients? Do you take the time to care and nurture them the same way you would your garden? I have a teenage son who drives me nuts. I know his hormones are raging out of control and he acts up from time to time, kind of like weeds that start to grow in your garden, but when I nip the problems in the bud, I continue to cultivate a fine flower, or in this case, son. If I wasn't taking care of my son the way I would my garden, the garden would become overgrown with weeds and the flower would start to wither away. Not taking care of my son could cause his problems to escalate to the point where they become out of control, which can lead to other problems in the future.

The same thing is true with your clients. If you don't take the time to build that relationship with them and take care of their needs, they can shrivel up and die. Just as flowers and plants need different types of food, different amounts of water, and different amounts of sunlight, your clients need different amounts of attention. Some may need more handholding than others. Some may have certain quirks or peculiarities that you will need to deal with. Others may be very wishy washy and you may have to remove them from your garden of clients because they are not fitting in well. How you treat your clients will be reflected in how your garden looks to others. Take care of them well and you receive a blue ribbon. Take care of them not so well and your garden becomes an eyesore.

Look at your own gardens and find out how you can take care of them properly so that they can fully bloom all year long.

My apologies!

I realized this morning that I have been neglecting my words of wisdom. Not because I don't have any, but because life came along and took me on a wild ride for the last few weeks. For this I apologize.

While I understand that you can only truly connect with others if you interact on a regular basis, I hope that those of you who have been waiting with bated breaths will continue to look forward to my future words of wisdom as I learn everyday about what can happen in life in general.

My mom collects Mary Engelbreit items. She loves to purchase different Mary items and share them with others. She also loves handwriting notes of wisdom and love to those in the family, as well as share her $1 words with everyone else, even those she is writing a complaint letter to.

Our words share emotions with those we are communicating with, whether it is happiness, excitement, anger, or fear. While a person can be much more pronounced with their feelings when they are visually in front of you, the written word, whether it is a poem or book or newsletter article, can evoke people to stand up and petition for what is right or wrong or get them to look at a situation in a different light or even bring joy to their life.

Use your words wisely when speaking with someone. You never know when you may spew your own words of wisdom.

Valentine's Day....

As I sit here pondering Valentine's Day tomorrow it has me wondering why we have to have just one day a year to say how much we love each other. Do you take your love and bottle it up somewhere only to open it up one day a year? Guys stress out each year knowing that they have to raise the bar for gifts as the years go on and women get heartbroken if a guy forgets or does not perform to her expectations.

Let's face it, most guys are not into the mushy displays of affection in order to prove their love to you. Most women demand proof of a guy's love in a tangible form. Why don't the little displays of affection, such as breakfast in bed or a single rose just because, count? Why do people have to pour billions of dollars, over $15 billion to be exact, into one day of the year? I would rather have 365 days of little displays of affection than just one big one.

And why is it that guys are somehow obligated to spend more than women? Do women feel that when you were born that you have a price sheet that comes with you for gifts and that you are not allowed to go over that quota? I can't count the number of times that I was out on a date and paid for it or purchased gifts just because with no expectations for something in return because I don't want to keep track of what I have or have not done for the opposite sex.

When someone feels an obligation to do something, somehow it seems to me that it then cheapens the thought and feeling behind the gift. When someone offers a gift to someone else, it should be because they felt compelled to want to show the recipient how they really felt, whether it is excitement over a new baby or proud of someone's graduation or their love for someone.

What does Valentine's Day mean to you?