Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was too small: type face, layout and spacing. She weighed each word, counted each comma. She sent out 200 resumes and received no responses.
Reginald spent even more hours designing the most perfect website for his new business. Working with a highly recommended web designer, he chose colors, graphics, and layout. He agonized over products to offer his clients. After the site was launched, nobody came -- and visitors flew away, like bumblebees from a flower, taking free honey and moving on.
Griselda and Reginald are intelligent, motivated people. They turned their intelligence and motivation to designing a perfect product -- not conducting research on what the market wants.
Why? Testing the market is difficult -- sometimes impossible. Ideally, you will find at least six people who resemble those in your target market. I encourage clients to choose people who can offer you candid opinions. When you keep hearing, "This is wonderful," you haven't found the right resources.
Some newbie entrepreneurs hold focus groups or idea parties, complete with refreshments. That's a great idea if you can pull it off. Communication is contagious. When one person begins to be critical, the rest will follow.
Career-changers need to network (there's the n-word again!) to identify experienced managers who can help them evaluate their job campaign. You need to convey the message, "I'm one of you! I belong in your industry."
o Here are some questions to get started:
o Who are your ideal clients -- or employers, if you're changing jobs?
o How do they make decisions? Impulsively? Over time? After consultation with others?
o What information will influence the buying decision?
o Imagine that your ideal client (or employer) has just hired you and is absolutely delighted with your services. How will she or he describe you to a colleague?
o What are the hot buttons to use -- and to avoid?
How to Get Started:
NewAsk a quick question
Free weekly Your Next Move Ezine
Hire Cathy Goodwin as your writing coach
Promote Your Website Free: A do-it-yourself workbook
Mastering Five Writing Challenges: a free ecourse
Cathy's Self-Help Book: Making the Big Move
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Short Story Writing Tips ?We all have different tastes in... Read More
Nike's ad has taken on new meaning for me of... Read More
When we think of writing it triggers many thoughts and... Read More
Don't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules... Read More
The works you've written are numerous, ranging from short stories... Read More
The creativity of Jaisini is not designed to be preaching... Read More
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
ESSAYS ON AUTOBIOGRAPHY: NUMBER 1Preamble:Nearly seven years ago I wrote... Read More
If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More
During my 25-year career in a variety of professional positions... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
Q and A.Best choice when subject is very verbal or... Read More
As a freelance writer, it is important to present yourself... Read More
When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number... Read More
Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More
Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon... Read More
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
What to do when you get rejected.You've just finished your... Read More
My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More
This article is to help identify which style, technique or... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
It's the funniest thing. When someone asks me what I... Read More
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More
Everyone has a unique story to tell. From explaining business... Read More
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you consider yourself... Read More
Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More
Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a... Read More
Have you ever wondered how you can adapt your screenplay... Read More
Most writers are familiar with first and third points of... Read More
As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More
As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More
These 8 tips on using characters in your stories will... Read More
Be careful when you write.Words you use, sentences you phrase... Read More
I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More
Don't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Whichever theme you choose, all the elements,... Read More
Ever wonder why we refer to convincing an editor a... Read More
You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More
Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
The following rules are essential if you want people to... Read More
Writer's Block can strike like a King Cobra, paralyzing every... Read More
He ran up the steps and knocked on the door.... Read More
Imagine a three hundred page book was in the author's... Read More
There are three ways to write a first draft. One... Read More
You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
Hands up all those who'd like to have a successful... Read More
Connectors -- conjunctions, punctuation, and transitional phrases -- allow readers... Read More
1. Become an EavesdropperListen carefully to the way people REALLY... Read More
Structure in the form of frameworks, work processes and goals... Read More
Iā??ve spoken to hundreds of editors, employers, and project managers... Read More
As an International language, English has been used widely in... Read More
Many of the most effective low-cost marketing strategies require writing.... Read More
A book coaching client recently emailed me that she was... Read More
One of the best ways to blow someone's winning streak... Read More
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
I'm in the process of moving from one computer to... Read More
Writing |