WiRE Blog

Very often people approach me and want to find out what it is that makes WiRE so special. Well here’s what I think sets WiRE apart from all the rest. WiRE is a small female rural business support organisation. With our office set in the heart of the Shropshire countryside on an agriculturally based University College, we is an organisation that wants to make things happen on a national scale, using the knowledge and expertise of Harper Adams University to help us achieve this.

Since starting here at WiRE, I have come to notice that WiRE celebrates rural entrepreneurship in every way, as our members cover a wonderfully diverse spectrum of business capabilities and skills. From small start-ups to larger more established businesses, it seems to me that this organisation never turns down the opportunity to support, promote and help women and their business needs. I think this is entirely evident through the WiRE website, where members can come together, promote their businesses and showcase their talent and hard work for the world to see on-line.

Another thing (and perhaps one of the most important things) are the WiRE networks dotted across the country. On a national scale, WiRE has over sixty active networks where like-minded women gather together to inspire, motivate, guide and help women from varying business backgrounds. With speakers, clinics, Q&A sessions, workshops and networking occurring across the country, WiRE has the ability to sustain and help women retain close working relationships with other like-minded business women in challenging geographical locations.

Since starting here at WiRE, I can’t help but notice the staggering commitment, hard work and pioneering attitude of all of our network leaders across the country as well as all the staff here at headquarters. Our network leaders are volunteers acting as ambassadors to WiRE’s very cause, and judging by the WiRE website, one can clearly see through the number of events on the network pages, networking is a hive of activity just waiting to help whichever business comes through their door.

In short… it is the people that make WiRE so fantastic. With business success stories gleaming from the pages of our new magazine to the members that all come together and exhibit beneath the WiRE umbrella, WiRE is about continuing support, camaraderie and a means of inspiration which ion my opinion, really comes down to you, our members.

What I think makes WiRE a cut above the rest is the ability to support you and your business. By providing endless networking, PR and marketing opportunities, be it on our website in our magazine or at shows across the country. It is wonderfully comforting to know that the support is there both on-line and one to one. With all of this achieved at your own convenience be it geographically, cost effectively and time efficiently I cannot fault WiRE and its network leaders for their want to support, promote and help your businesses. It really is a little gold mine of rural business potential there for the taking…after all…WiRE is what you make of it.

Dear WiRE Ladies,

Stress Relief for Female Entrepreneurs

I trust you are well and are enjoying the  few surprisingly sunny days of late- wow haven’t they been glorious!! As I sit in our conservatory, it is just lovely to have the sunlight beaming onto my workplace:)

Have you been to the cinema lately? Well, I am planning to go and see the movie: ‘ Eat, pray and love,’ next week and am looking forward to it already! I rememer reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book last year and loving it; such a heart-warming account of how she put her life back together  after a rather painful divorce  and how she re-discovered herself and her spirit through travelling and through stepping into the unknown in Italy, India and Bali.

 I have been to Italy myself and I truly loved the open-he arted, warm and friendly people, and the food and the surroundings were divine too ! I have yet to make it to India, but I have been to Bali, most definitely one of the most romantic places I have ever been to, and I loved the hospitable people. When the locals in central Bali discoverd I have travelled on my own, they just kept on inviting me to gathering, took me white water rafting and even to a local wedding which was rather humbling to say the least! Karen Kingston, the space clearer, which is a type of Feng Shui, said that in Bali, you could feel your sacral chakra open and your heart chakra, which I felt too, hence I am not remotely surprised that it is  one of the most popular romantic getaways of the planet! I promised myself I would next time  go with a hot young man, which I have every intention of doing in the future!

Okay ladies, now, let’s draw upon some more inspirational thoughts and words from Ntathu Allen who has recommendations for foods you can eat to help relieve you from your stress!

Over to you Ntathu: )

5 Foods To Eat To Help You Cope With Stress

Welcome Back! How did you get on with the last post’s tips? Were you able to try out any of the stress relief techniques ? I hope you found them easy to slip into your daily routine.

As promised, this time,  we are looking at foods you can snack on to help you reduce stress and calm your nerves. I will start off with a brief background to the effects of stress on your body, particular the role of the adrenal glands in helping you to cope with stress. Then I will offer you five easy to prepare foods you can cook or buy as a snack to boost your immune system.

Please feel free to email me if you wish to find out more about the effects of the foods you eat on your stress levels: ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk

Effects of Stress on your Body

 Food plays an essential part in our lives and  in times of stress and upheaval it is easy to forget to eat or eat foods which make it harder for our bodies to cope. In yoga, you are encouraged to eat foods which have a positive effect on the body and mind, and least negative effects on the environment and other creatures. 

Stress plays havoc with your body’s immune system. When you are stressed, your body undergoes many changes. These include an increased heart rate, migraines, and digestive disorders. Your body has an amazing ability to heal and repair itself form stressful situations. However, during periods of intense stress and uncertainty, the foods you eat can hinder or help you to respond to stress in a more relaxed and positive manner.

Role of the Adrenal Glands to Fight Stress

The adrenal glands are responsible for producing the body’s stress hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine, which regulate the fight or flight response in the body.

During stressful times, your body produces an increase level of these stress hormones which can lead to nutritional deficiencies and an exhausted adrenal gland. When your adrenal gland is exhausted, you can suffer extreme exhaustion and fatigue.

To help your adrenal glands work better when you are under stress, it is vital you eat foods which enhance and support their function and; contain properties which help the body to deal better with stressful situations.

5 Foods To Eat To Help You Cope With Stress

If you are going through a stressful time, try to include the following foods into your diet.

1. Sunflower Seeds – Sunflower seeds are rich in protein, fiber and B vitamins and zinc minerals which have an important role in keeping your adrenal glands healthy. You can eat sunflower seeds as a snack or sprinkle them on breakfast cereals, salads and vegetarian dishes.
2. Cabbage – an excellent stress-busting food. Cabbage is an excellent source of fibre, vitamins (especially C, K, E, B1 and B9), minerals (including iron, selenium and potassium) and beta carotene. Green cabbage is especially rich in these nutrients. The combination of these vitamins and minerals all help to boost your energy in stressful times.
3. Avocados- a rich source of vitamins, especially B2, riboflavin, B6, C and E and the minerals iron, potassium and manganese. The high vitamin and mineral contents in avocados aids in red blood regeneration and prevention of anaemia. Anaemia causes fatigue and lowers your ability to deal with stress.
4. Almonds – almonds are an excellent source of iron, potassium,magnesium which helps support adrenal function. Low levels of magnesium can increase your feelings of anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness. Almonds are also a good source of protein especially when combined with other plant based foods, for example whole grains and pulses.
5. Wholegrain brown rice – is a good source of fiber, vitamins, including B group and minerals (iron, calcium and phosphorous). Rice provides a slow-release energy which helps the release of the chemicals serotonin. This helps to boost your energy and has a calming effect on your brain. Brown rice contains protein which when combined with other vegetable protein aid tissue growth and repair, which is adversely affected during stressful times.

As you can see, it is possible to work with your body and eat foods which help you to reduce stress whilst strengthening your immune system. If you are in the habit of snacking on highly processed fast foods, aim to include at least 2-3 of the stress-reducing foods in your daily diet. You will feel lighter, healthier and in the long run more equipped to cope with stress.

Finally, in next week’s blog, we will take at the effect of stress on your skin and offer you five simple remedies you can do at home to reduce the ageing effects of stress on your face.             

 Thanks so much Ntathu, providing huge value again, it is most appreciated. I know I am relieved to know more about the foods which can help relieve my stress levels! Thankfully, I love avocados and almonds and brown rice! I love cabbage but I do love less it’s affect on me, making me rather anti-social

I am sure you are looking forward like me to her final post on her top tips for natural skin care, as I know that I no longer use skin products full of chemicals as I just do not feel that they are doing me any good, at all.

Any questions as ever, please direct them to: carrie@theblondemarketinggoddess.com

Any questions or feedback for Nthatu Allen please kindly direct them to: ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk  Or do visit her website: www.yogainspires.co.uk

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddinsxxx

Dear WiRE ladies,

Stress Relief for Female Entrepreneurs

I trust you are enjoying the series of guest posts that I have personally organised for you, from people I like, know and seriously trust! The next series of three blog posts, are from Ntathu Allen, a lovely Yoga teacher who helps people from all walks of life use Yoga to relax and align with their own energy, their own goals and ideas and of course with their own business success. The first of the three posts are to offer you ladies some hot tips on how to build relaxation and stress relief tips into your daily life.. over to you Ntathu!

Hello Ladies, Carrie has invited me to share with you some of my top tips to help you relax, reduce stress and find more ways to build relaxation into your daily life. Like you, I know how busy life is; especially when you add the emotional and financial challenges to grow your business as well as be there for family and friends and have Me-Time.

With so many tasks to do in a day, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck. When you feel like this, it can be difficult for you to think clearly and make informed decisions. How many times have you missed opportunities or left important papers at home, failed to return business calls, because you were so pre-occupied with the day to day concerns of caring for your family.

Your time is precious. You can’t afford to waste time feeling confused, stuck and not sure what to do next. To manage your time effectively, life is easier when you are able to solve problems easily and smoothly. I am not a fan of “systems” or “sticking to routines” but, over the years I have found by sticking to a simple daily yoga practice I find it easier to mange my affairs in a more orderly way. Sure, there are days, weeks even, when every goes topsvy turvey and I run around like a headless chicken. But.the beauty of having a daily yoga practice,  is it gives me the head space to come back to centre and view life through fresh eyes. When you have a growing family and wish to develop business it is so important to have a clear head and keep your perspective.

Sometimes, when the pressure is really on and you feel frustrated and stressed, then a few minutes stretching helps to clear negative thoughts and ease the underlying tension stored in your body.

Here is a simple sequence you can practice, at home, sitting at the dining table or even at work.

.

1. Seated spinal twist – sitting on your chair, cross your left leg over your right.  Place your right hand or elbow on the crossed knee.  Gently turn your body to the left and look behind you.  Stay focused on breathing gently and deeply through your nose for 3 – 5 rounds of steady breathing.  Relax and return your body to the front.  Inhale and as you exhale switch legs and turn the opposite direction.

2. Arms above your head – sitting or standing, raise your arms straight above your head.  Interlace your fingers and turn your palms upward.  Take three – five rounds of deep breathing as you keep stretching up.  If you can, try and keep your elbows beside or behind your ears as you stretch.  Slowly separate your fingers and gracefully lower your arms to your sides.  Repeat twice more.

3. Hand stretches – shake your hands vigorously for 30 seconds.  Relax and squeeze your fist tight. Hold for 3 – 5 rounds of steady breathing.  Relax.  Next, stretch your fingers out wide and make pretty patterns as you wave and rotate your hands. Then sit still, take a few deep breaths and rest your hands quietly in your lap.

Although these yoga exercises are simple, they help you to relax and take your attention inwards and away for a while from the stresses and strains of your daily life. This enables you to return to the task in hand feeling refreshed, energised and more able to cope with any ongoing difficulties.  Try it and see.  I would love to know you how get on.

In next blog post , I will share with you foods which you can easily snack on to help reduce stress and calm your nerves – without grabbing for the nearest chocolate bar, sticky bun or cup of coffee!

Ntathu Allen

Email: ntathu@yogainspires.co.uk/www.yogainspires.co.uk

Wow, thanks Ntathu, I love those tips so easy to grasp and so practical for all of you ladies on the move too!

Any questions, or suggestions or feedback ladies do email me : carrie@theblondemarketinggoddess.com

Until then, I wish you every success! Keep going, no matter what, you can do it, you can become the success you desire to be:)

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddinsxxx

Dear WiRE ladies,

Outsourcing help, PR tips for small business

I trust you are well and working towards some inspiring, big business goals which help you to feel that you are doing something meaningful with your business, but ladies are you keeping yourself and your business a secret and trying to do everything?  If so, then Louise Thornton’s second of three blog posts will help you to look at this more strategically, and start to create a plan which helps you to maximise your time, your skills and to get your business’s name out there into the wider world! Right, now over to Louise….

When you begin working for yourself, the temptation is to work all the hours you can which inevitably means things like seeing friends / family fall by the wayside.  Yet, it is incredibly important to try and strike a happy balance between work and family as far as possible.  No-one appreciates being neglected!
 
However, if you don’t have the budget to outsource projects / tasks from the outset then you need to be particularly tough and focus your time on the tasks that are important and leave the less important tasks to one side until you have time to deal with them.
 
If you need additional help but have a small budget, then one option available to you is to hire a Virtual Assistant.  The beauty of this service is that it is usually completely flexible meaning that you only pay for the hours that you need.  Search online and ensure you pick someone you can work effectively with – there are plenty to choose from.
 
Alternatively, if you have absolutely zero budget for any outside help then something you could consider is a bartering system where you ‘swop’ your skills.  Providing there is trust between both parties then this can be a really good option.
 
Raising the profile of your business is essential for building credibility and awareness of your product / service.  The beauty of public relations is that it is (usually) completely free and once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to incorporate it into your regular marketing strategy.
 
There are many areas that public relations cover – it is no longer the domain of printed media only.  If you properly distribute and tag your press release it can live on indefinitely on the internet and be picked up by a variety of sources including media, bloggers and social media. 
Given that the internet is such a huge presence in our everyday lives it makes much more sense to ensure that you optimise every press release for maximum coverage!
 
Tips to get your press release noticed
 
1.       Planning is key – have the outcome you want in mind as you write.
2.       Know your target audience and distribute to relevant publications.
3.       Post your press releases on your blog / social media pages – viral traffic is good.
4.       You are more likely to get editorial coverage if you offer something for the reader – this could just be specialist advice, not necessarily a product.
5.       Be consistent – issue press releases regularly.

Louise would love to hear from you ladies, with your questions:  info@louisethornton.co.uk

I trust this blog is useful for you ladies, I know it is so easy to feel and think that you have to do everything and especially when your business is like ‘ your baby,’ it can be a little uncomfortable at first, I completely understand but keep going with it and trial out different strategies. Consider, just because you can, does not mean to say you should do something! I know recently, for me, I have been  looking for a Head Coach for my Chocolate Rehab Coaching Programme for 2011, as I have other things that I intend to be doing, and as if by magic,  I have found a lovely lady to do it, which does feel a bit strange but this strangeness is far, far outweighed by the relief of knowing that I do not have to do it! Yep really.

I look forward as ever to your feedback and questions at: carrie@theblondemarketinggoddess.com

Until next time,  I wish you every success in your endeavours

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddinsxxx

Dear WiRE ladies,

Small business support for women in business

I wonder if you are like me planning for Xmas already and looking to plan your business activities to be successful. Well, I have now persuaded Louise Thornton ( www.louisethornton.co.uk) to give your her top tips to help you to do just that. She will be offering her personal business story as well as a few tips in her field of expertise namely: editing, copywriting and PR, for free, which I am sure you will find both inspiring and useful!

As, always I would love to hear your feedback regarding these postings, and any suggestions you might have for future postings. I am thrilled to let you know that I have a wonderful Yoga and relaxation expert who is lined up for next week, for a series of three posts, and quite a few more women in business too, to help you to become even more successful in your rural enterprises no matter what you are selling and no matter what stage in your business you are at.

 Okeydokie ladies, over to the lovely Aberdeenshire  entrepreneur, Louise Thornton!

 When I started my business it was out of necessity. Last October I was made redundant from my job and the economic conditions at the time meant that there was little chance of obtaining similar employment in my area. I also needed the flexibility of being able to work from home – particularly when my daughter was on holiday / ill.

Being both a woman and a mother has probably made me better at what I do – I can work flexibly and this translates into benefitting other working mums as I can easily schedule meetings for early evenings / weekends to fit around everyone’s commitments. The downside of this is that it can be easy to lose track of the hours that you’re working.

 I’m now a bit more focussed on that and keep a running total – if it looks like it’s getting out of hand then I’ll make adjustments. I do what I do mainly because I love to write, I love to see my words help other businesses gain results and also because I think that if you truly do what you love then your job satisfaction is immense, it almost stops feeling like work.

There are plenty of challenges though! One has been breaking the perception that my service will cost the earth and that I’ll charge in line with big agencies. Marketing consistently and developing my own ‘brand’ has also been a challenge – it’s very easy when you start up to want to be all things to all people and you can end up spreading yourself (and your talents) too thinly. However, for every challenge there has been at least one success.

 From a networking point of view, working for yourself forces you to get out there and I’m steadily building a quality network of other business people. Also, having the flexibility to choose my own hours means it’s easy to fit work commitments around my daughter. One thing I would recommend is finding a good support network.

When I started I did everything myself. Now, I have a VA to pick up the phone / answer emails when I can’t manage or I’m really busy and I also have a book keeper to take care of my accounts. It is definitely possible to fit working for yourself alongside your family commitments. Do your research, be realistic about what you can do and take the step into the unknown – you might just surprise yourself!

I trust you find value in this post and are looking forward, as I am, to Louise’s next post!

Until next time,

Any questions do not hesistate to email : carrie@theblondemarketinggoddess.com- remember no question too blonde!

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddinsxx

Dear WiRE  ladies,

Thinking big, dreaming big!!!

I trust you are well and embracing our autumnal months:) Rain, sun, rain.. it’s tricky knowing what to wear hey? So, it’s a matter of carting around a wardrobe and brolly hey?!!

I am busy putting the final blonde touches to my marketing to women course and site, which I am really rather excited about to put it mildly

Anyway, back to seeing how I can help you ladies… Well, I am thrilled to give you the final post featuring Donna on the Beach,’ which frankly showcases her speciality, which is wonderful for you ladies who are keen to think big and dream big, this is different I imagine to anything you have read before and undoubtedly will leave you just a little bit inspired and ready to go for your wildest dreams in both your business and in your life!

Over to Donna on the Beach….

So, Carrie asked me to do a blog post for you guys on “Thinking Big” and “Keeping Moving Towards Your Big Dreams”.  These two subjects are really close to my heart as they are the reason I am a coach!  One of my favourite things in the world is getting to the centre of what drives people, what they are passionate about, what they love and where they want to go…and then helping them to get there.  Delightful. 
 
So let’s start with thinking big.  You may have heard of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely), and although this is sensible and logical, it is also BORING!  When I take my big ideas for my business and run them through this method of goal setting, I lose most of the OOMPH behind them.  Business plans have the same effect.  They take the inspiration out of your ideas and make them tedious.  Thinking big won’t always get you to be Mistress of the Universe, but thinking small DEFINITELY won’t, and being realilstic, logical, sensible cuts your ‘big ideas’ down to a size that has no juice left for you!  Bleurgh.
 
So let’s talk about SMILE goals instead (I just made this up by the way!) – does your vision for your business make you Smile?  Does it have a touch of Magic about it?  Is it Inspiring to you?  Do you have Lots of enthusiasm for this?  Does it give you Energy?  If yes, Woohoo!  Go get em Tiger!  If not, what is your biggest vision for your business?   To find that big vision, try these exercises:
 
Imagine that you have a time machine and you can go 5 years into the future – everything has gone better than you ever expected…what has happened in your business?
 
Sandy Grason of www.sandygrason.com suggests you set a timer and try the writing prompt “Your Perfect Day”  – what would that be like?  What would your perfect business day look like? 
 
What is the best you can imagine for your business and your life?  Don’t worry about the ‘how’ for a moment, just allow yourself to dream big.
 
Spend a bit of time thinking about what your big vision would be.  Most of us only allow ourselves to think about modest goals…and most of us are capable of achieving far greater.  Many people believe that if they don’t have big dreams, they can’t be disappointed.  Unfortunately, when we keep ourselves small that disappoints us more than trying and failing ever could.  And the joy is in the journey – it really is.  If you have a big dream, a big vision, a big idea, you will grow and learn and develop so much you won’t be able to recognise yourself!  Whether you reach that big goal or not.  I was once told to set the goal of being a millionaire.  Not for the money, but for what I’d learn along the way. 
 
Get a vision that excites you!  Get a vision that delights you…in fact, I say ‘get’…but you already have that big vision inside you.  Let it out.  You wouldn’t have it if you couldn’t do it.  Ok, it is possible that you may not reach your ‘big vision’…but you just might!  And you may well get a lot further than if you stay safe, stay small and stay sensible, realistic, timely, blah!  And maybe the reason you don’t reach that big vision is because along the way the big vision changes – mine has changed beyond recognition in the last 5 years.  I’m glad I never got my 2005 version ‘big vision’ because it sucked!  My 2010 big vision however, ROCKS!
 
Now, once you’ve got your ‘big vision’, how do you achieve it?  There are 3 vital parts to achieving a big goal:  1.  Be flexible  2.  Keep a sense of humour  and 3.  Keep moving.  The first two are important – I can guarantee that there will be days you think you’re never going to get there, days when things go horribly wrong, days when every door seems to have shut in your face, days when you doubt yourself, days when you wonder how the beep you’re going to do this.  On those days, you will need flexibility and a sense of humour!
 
Clients often feel there is something wrong with them or their big vision because it’s not as easy as they thought it would be.  Unfortunately in my experience it never is “easy”!  When we see people who have achieved great things, we almost always gloss over the fact that they have worked for 20 years to get where they are, or the sacrifices they had to make to get where they are, or the days they thought they couldn’t do it.  And let me tell you that everyone who has achieved something great had doubts, bad days, crises of confidence and moments (sometimes thousands of them!) of failure.  It is not ‘just you’. 
 
The difference between those who get there and those who don’t is the 3rd vital part.  Keep moving.  Step by step by step by step by step by step.  Breaking your next move down into baby steps and moving.  For example, creating a website might be a next move…but it is more than one baby step!!!!  To break it down, you might say step 1 is brainstorming what you want your website to be – a brochure, a lead-catcher, a force to be reckoned with?  Step 2 might be writing the copy for the home page.  Step 3 might be deciding on the names for the other pages.  Steps 4-12 might be creating the copy for those pages.  Step 13 might be to find a web designer (or this might be step 1, depending on what feels right to you).
 
50 steps later, you have a website.  And you’re ready to take the next step.  Most people get stuck because they try to take those 50 steps in one stride, then fall flat on their face.  An absurd and unrealistic undertaking!  This is one of my achilles’ heels (I have many!) – I try to get way ahead of myself, and then just end up falling behind.  But when I remember to decide the next baby step and do that, then decide the next baby step and do that, I make progress.  I stay flexible, I keep my sense of humour…and every now and again I remind myself of that vision that makes me smile, has a touch of magic, inspires me, gives me lots of enthusiasm and energy – and that big vision pulls me forward into the next steps.
 
You cannot climb a mountain in 2 leaps – it takes thousands of small steps.  This may be disappointing to the impatient among you (like me!) but actually it should be encouraging – you keep putting those small steps together, keep flexible, keep a sense of humour and you will conquer that mountain!
 
Donna offers coaching sessions to help you create your big vision or take the next steps, go to www.donnaonthebeach.com to find out more. 

Thanks again Donna, and ladies do let me know if you have any questions regarding overcoming chocolate addiction and marketing to women which I will happily answer here as a blog post!

Email me at: chocolaterehab@gmail.com

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddinsxxx

Dear WiRE ladies,

Help for women in business..

It’s the start of the term, for many, and often the renewal of a business idea , and indeed start of a business for others in the lead up to Christmas.  For me, I am about to launch the Blonde Marketing Goddess fully, and I must confess that I  have been struggling rather a lot on what to charge.

I happened to chat to Donna recently about this and she came up with the following helpful tools below which I trust will help you ladies as much as it has helped me!  I am sure there are some of you out there who are starting out and are having problems setting your rates and also some of you out there who are already established but have been considering raising your rates in line with your experience, if so here are a couple of marvelous tools to help to to gain crystal clarity on your fees, honouring your skill set and your clients and potential clients

First over to Donna who is going to tell you her story about charging, so that you can understand where she is coming from. Over to you Donna…

Donnaonthebeach:

I have felt the same way – I really struggled with charging for my services when I first started. In my case there were 3 things going on: my confidence in myself, my confidence in my service, and my belief that taking money for services was somehow wrong or slimy. As my confidence in me and what I did grew (partly from doing a great job for low/no cost) it got easier…but there was still that belief that taking money for services was a bit dirty. But when I pay for a coach, or a CD, or some clothes, I don’t feel that it’s dirty at all. I love spending money! I don’t expect other people to work for free. When they do I am so grateful…and then there comes a point where I feel uncomfortable not paying, so why wouldn’t they feel the same?

Unsurprisingly, when I was uncomfortable charging, I attracted people who were uncomfortable paying me! Lol. Now I rarely come across these people – and when I do, I don’t take it to mean I am not worth paying for, I give them what feels comfortable to me and I am clear that if they want more, they will have to pay for it. My experience has also been that when people don’t pay or underpay, they don’t get the same from it than if they make the financial commitment.

So, that’s my story! My first suggestion is to figure out what’s going on underneath – the whys behind the discomfort about charging. Then work on moving those whys forwards so you can feel great about charging for your service. 
 
Pick a number, any number
 
Putting an actual figure on your services or products can be tough – there’s all the advice out there about “charging what you’re worth”, “Sell low, sell lots”, “Price it right”, “imagine the VALUE of what you are selling if they use it to it’s full advantage”…and as usual, all the advice is conflicting and ends up confusing us more!  Lol.  Don’t get me wrong, all these pieces of advice ARE useful to consider in your decision making BUT they are not critical.  What is critical is what you KNOW inside.  You know what price feels right for you.  The only piece of advice I think is absolutely correct is “be able to stand behind your prices”.  This does not mean charging a ridiculously low price and undervaluing your product or service.  It means getting really comfortable with what you charge.  And one last thing to consider:  clients will pay more than you think when they really want something.  Don’t fall into the trap women often fall into of patronising your client – if we women can pay £100 for a pair of shoes, we can pay for other products and services.  This is not to fleece your customers dry, but to trust in their ability to pay for the things they want – a very empowering viewpoint.  I once did a ‘pay what you want’ promotion for my coaching services – MOST people paid ‘just’ under my normal fees – no one really took advantage of the offer to pay a ridiculously low price!
 
Here’s a couple of exercises to try:

To find the “right price” for you.   What is the maximum price you think you could charge for your product/service?  What is the minimum price?  Double your maximum and start playing with the figures.  Try £1, £200, £46, £73, £102.50 – just play around with what you could charge.  What figures are jumping out at you?  (this is an intuitive ‘jump out’, not a logical one!)  Take the 3 figures that are ‘jumping out’ and write them down on a piece of paper.  Leave the piece of paper overnight, then look at it again in the morning.  One of the figures will jump out at you as ‘the right price’ for YOU.  (If it feels a little high, don’t worry, the next exercise will sort that out!)  If no figure ‘jumps out’, play again with the figures and repeat the exercise.  Let it be easy, let it be fun.  You can always change the price later if it’s not working.  Be willing to make a mistake…and be willing to trust your intuitive knowing!!! 

Getting comfortable with your price.  This is great fun!  Take the price you have decided to charge and multiply it by 10.  Now practice saying “My product/service costs £x10”.  For example, if your product/service is £100, you would say “My product/service is £1000”.  If you can get a friend to play along with you, get them to ask “How much?”  and you reply “£1000”.  When you are next talking to a “real” client, you will feel that your £100 product or service is fantastic value and this will come across!!!  If you cannot stand behind your pricing, your customers will sense that and will assume it’s not worth what you’re charging.  Many of my female clients undercharge outrageously and STILL feel they’re charging too much!
 
You can always change your pricing, so for me the most important piece of advice I can give anyone worrying about setting a price is:  RELAX!  Pick a number and run with it.  If it doesn’t work, change it!  Most of the time, your price revisions will be upwards which gives you a great marketing opportunity:  “My prices are going up in January 2011 by 300% – get it now or pay more later!” (by the way, be authentic with this – do put your prices up!).  If you feel the need to revise your prices down, have a ‘sale’!  Again, a great marketing opportunity.  Who doesn’t love a bargain?!  Trust yourself.  You know what price to charge.  Get comfortable with it, and get that amazing product/service of yours out there for the people who need you to buy!

Ladies I trust that you found value in this post by Donna ( www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk) who I met in person again yesterday, such a lovely lady who was every bit as inspiring and lovely in person as when I spoke to her last week, which is always reassuring isn’t it!

Do let me know if you have any questions or any issues you would like me to look at here on this blog regarding marketing  to women and chocolate addiction – email me: carrie@chocolaterehab.com

Wishing you every success with whatever you set your heart on in your business and life, you can do whatever it is you desire, you really can!

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddinsxxx

  There are so many interesting meetings happening in the WiRE network this month; it would be great to go to them all – coming to think of it, if your a member you can! Unlike other networks we don’t limit our members to just one group. 

Here’s what you could get up to at our business network meetings during September 2010…

2nd September, Effective Marketing Strategies for the SME, North Yorkshire

7th September 2010, listen to our speaker from ‘Business buddies’  at  Waveney Valley or go to York and hear from The Press in York – women’s editor Maxine Gordon and business journalist Julie Hayes.

8th September 2010 learn ‘How to write a press release’ in Nottinghamshire

9th September 2010 the topic at our South Northamptonshire meeting is PR and writing a targeted press release

13th September 2010 in Essex find out ‘How social medial can help your business’

14th Septmber 2010 visit a local business- Stonehouse Brewery with  Oswestry network

15th September get to know our businesses in South Warwickshire and find ways we can help each other move forward  or join our members in Cheshire and discover how you learn so you can make the most of your time.

20th September network at your leisure in Grantham or at speed in Norwich!

21st September 2010 Find out the support availble from Business Link in Gloucestershire or hear ‘how to get the right photos for your promotional material’ in Hertfordshire

30th September 2010 Join our North Cotwolds members in the morning, Sharyn Singer and Anna Mason combine their nutritional talents to show you how to take advantage of the variety and bounty of the upcoming autumn harvest. Find out how to optimise your health and vitality, keep to a balanced diet as the weather turns colder and in the evening attend the launch of a new WiRE network in Derbyshire and be inspired by rural business women Gilly Groom.

And if these don’t take your fancy, there are more meetings being added each day – or you could always start your own network!

Dear WiRE ladies,

Helping women succeed in business, is why this blog is here and why WiRE was created, and why I am blogging too:)

So, let me get on with it then I wonder are you all World-cup ready? I so am J I am really looking forward to seeing our boys play and whatever happens I know it will be an amazing journey which could well result in us holding that all-special World cup!! I am a believer, are you?

How can the World Cup help you ladies in your business?

Well, here are my top tips, imagining that I was our supremely talented Fabio Capello

1.       Get rid of what no longer serves you, be pretty ruthless here! For example:  He balanced our the England teams male egos, and limited their contact with the WAGS and their performance improved dramatically ensuring an easy qualification into the World Cup, no Euro non-qualification scenario here J

For example: do you have daily habits that frankly are limiting your income-generating activities and thus your  business success? Ie Do you surf the net when you scheduled to write that traffic-generating blog post? Do you keep focusing on trying to do too many things, instead of looking to make just one or two products or services of your business successful? Are you trying to do too much, so not achieving anything? Okay then it’s time to eliminate these unhelpful habits!!  Just Do to it, as Nike suggests J

And ladies being ladies, I imagine you are doing a lot more things for others than for yourself and your business, so what can you let go of here? Could you say no a bit more? Could you delegate more? Just think about it. Remember,  you don’t need to become all cold-hearted and uncaring, just trim off the unnecessary fat so you can become more you and more successful in your business okeydoke? J

2.       Being prepared, if you fail to plan,  you plan to fail J

I imagine that this World Cup, Capello has actually got the boys thinking and believing in holding that trophy,  despite Becks and Ferdinand being injured you still sense their palatable belief unlike the last time around! So, ladies, what ‘trophy,’ or achievement are you aiming for, and just how much are you preparing and planning this to happen? If not, why not? Then just get writing a plan right now .  For example: are you looking to have so many twitter followers, by the end of the month, or are you looking to have secured so many clients per month by the end of the Summer. Whatever it is, get going on the plan, and it will more likely happen., and then WORK THAT PLAN!

3.       Are you just being tactical and not strategic?

Here, I imagine that Capello has been getting the boys to play out their tactics in each and every game pre World Cup  which is all a part of his successful preparation strategy, as you cannot just rely on tactics alone, they need to be woven into a long-term strategy, or bigger picture . For example: I am sure that in every interview that the boys have been a part of, I imagine that Capello has demanded  them to adopt a winning attitude, as that is a part of his overall, long-term strategy not just a daily or short-term media tactic.

So in your business, do you have crystal clarity on your bigger picture and if so are you working a plan for it’s realisation in your day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month tactics? Or are you just working on your tactics and wondering why you are just experiencing limited success?.

Ladies, is it time to re-visit your original business plan or marketing plan and sit down with a cuppa and make some more compelling and appealing plans and look at chunking them down into  both challenging and easy-to-achieve goals ? If so, then go for it ladies!

Now, here’s the chocolatey bit: Step Two of Chocolate RehabJ

So, just as a reminder, Step One was to finally admit you have a problem  with chocolate, so it calls for: ‘ Hi, I’m ( insert name) and I am a chocoholic,’ kind-of-announcement, even if just to yourself, it’s an all-important starting point.

Over to Step Two:  Now ladies, I encourage you to ask yourself ‘Why Chocolate?

Here, I invite you to grab a journal, or a lovely book and write down your personal reasons for your addiction to chocolate. Remember, as chocolate is such a socially-acceptable addiction, it often gets overlooked as something very innocent, yet on deeper inspection more often than not it acts as a cover-up for women for a multitude of issues from low self-confidence to sexual frustration to boredom, to stress and many more!

For me, there were many reasons, from it being like a ‘boyfriend’ to me, to it just giving me that  pick-me-up’ when  I felt lonely, depressed, or stressed, or even upbeat, excited and thrilled! Essentially, I ‘’used’ it as something to hide behind, big time.

So get really personal with yourself and write down what you feel you are ‘using’ chocolate for.

Any questions about this process please do email me: carrie@chocolaterehab.com

Until next time, let’s cheer on our boys on Saturday!!!

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddins

Dear WiRE Ladies,

Now, being quite a big Sex in the City fan it’s tricky for me not to mention the new film, which I am planning on seeing this week! I  just love those ladies, on screen and off screen they have quite simply revolutionised so many things; from relationships to fashion J

How can Sex in the City help you market your business to women?

There are so many ways this phenomenal series and film can help your business. For example:  I  watched them all being interviewed last week, and what the ladies said was very interesting and rather fitting for our social media sessions with Shurti tooJ When SJP was asked why after four years they had finally decided to make the first movie and then last year make another she quite simply said because the audience wanted us to!  Each of them had had the experience of women on the street constantly asking them when they were making the film!! This is a very,  very useful lesson in marketing that all of us often forget and the most obvious that is to listen and respond to your audience’s requests and feedback .

The other pertinent lesson to be drawn from the Sex in the City success is that it was because of the personal relationships between the four ladies, not really about the sex! Obviously, a little… but mostly about female relationships! Interesting, as I have , mentioned before women respond best to personal, emotional and transformational stories, and Sex in the City is so all about this!!

Remember Charlotte’s birthing problems, or how Miranda unexpectedly became a mum, how Samantha had breast cancer and how Carrie ‘s success as a writer intimidated her boyfriend ( the one who spilt up with her on a post-stick remember!) ( You can tell I am a little bit of a fan!) These were very inspiring, moving, transformational and heart-warming stories of how these women supported each other through these life-changing moments, which is what women naturally do, and it’s no different in business. So, it’s just a matter of weaving these aspects in your marketing ladies,  and you will really reap the profits and loyalty from the ladiesJ

Now, back your final Social Media lesson ladies, remember never has it been easier to get audience feedback! 

1. Provide good useful content- if you post something your readers will feel a connection to and will teach them something they can use, then they will be more likely to buy from you as they will automatically associate your brand with quality.

2.Keep the shopping experience fun and stress free- women like to shop= and shopping online comes naturally. The key is making the experience as seamless and fun as possible. You need to remember that women tend to be the CPOs( Chief Purchasing Officers) in their households, and that they tend to  ask friends for advice about brands and products. Women are more than happy to share a good deal when they find one.

3. Finally, women are social shoppers- as much as they like to be heard- if they have a bad experienced then they will not shy away from telling everyone else, so never take advantage of your fans. The last thing you want is your target demographic badmouthing your brand on a viral platform like Facebook. Keep your offers and processes clear and honest and always respond to feedback and criticism.

Ladies, I trust that you have enjoyed your Social Media lessons in facebook and that you have found value in them. Shruti can be found here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shruti-Gupta/294709749418

I  am as always ready to answer your questions you might have about how to market more effectively to women so please do email me: theblondemarketinggoddess@gmail.com  or post a question on my facebook fanpage about chocolate addiction:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chocolate-Rehab/32303182142?ref=ts

Until next time, I’m so excited about the Film, I might have to go twice, three times, or maybe four!

Namaste, giggles & light,

Carrie Eddins xxx