Reg Gupton's Success Tips

This will help even your business.

2012-01-24T12:41:00.001-07:00

Reg Gupton here.

If you wish to learn new things and successfully grow your business, then you must subscribe to these free newsletters.

http://www.marketingsherpa.com/newsletters.html

These newsletters are full of ideas which will make you sweat and make you more money with proven ideas in the form of case studies from successful businesses of all types.

Yes, even one like yours.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Are you a fool to use Groupon and LivingSocial

2012-01-04T16:16:00.008-07:00

Hi, Reg Gupton here.

I have been giving a lot of thought to Groupon, Living Social as a business development strategy. It seems these sites are helping some businesses and hurting mightily others.

Please take a look at this story, especially the story from the business owner near the bottom of the post.

FURIOUS MERCHANT: 'Groupon And Living Social Are Doomed'

www.businessinsider.com1/3/12

One key question about the future of daily-deal giants Groupon (GRPN) and Living Social is whether the product the companies sell--daily deals--are excellent marketing for their customers... or a gigantic waste of money and ...

Note: Here is a follow on story from another frustrated business owner.

Read and learn to make smarter decisions.

ANGRY MERCHANT: Here's Why I Hate Groupon And LivingSocial ...

www.businessinsider.com1/4/12

But this merchant's reaction provides further evidence that Groupon and LivingSocial have a lot of work to do to make their service work better for their merchant customers. This work, we suspect, will lead to smaller discounts ...

Note: Here is someone who "feels" that daily discounts were successful. There is no description of what they did specifically to bring people back. While 50% are reported as being turned into repeat customers, I am skeptical.

Case Study - Delaware Coffee Shop Sees 50% Return for Daily Deal Customers - Street Fight

http://streetfightmag.com/3h ago

We have not done LivingSocial, but I had a conversation with a colleague of mine today and she told me about Google Offers, which is similar. Social Media for Hyperlocal.

Note: Here is an interview with Living Social on their take on the innovations they are creating. Clearly Living Social is driving traffic but are they driving merchant profits? That remains to be seen.

Studies Reveal Contradictory Info about Daily Deals

"Rice University recently came out with a study that brought up some concerns about the sustainability of daily deals' providers. It indicates that daily deals' providers would have to lower their profit shares in order to succeed and would still fac...

Watch for more on this topic. Your comments and opinions are always invited and respected.

Meet David Ogilvy. You have much to learn from this marketing master

2011-12-28T12:43:00.003-07:00

Reg Gupton, here.

One of the masters of marketing. Most of his time was spent with major brands most of which translates to inform your marketing or it should.

Here is information on a recent book about him.

The King of Madison Avenue: David Ogilvy and the Making of ...

www.doceymedia.com12/27/11

Famous for his colorful personality and formidable intellect, David Ogilvy left an indelible mark on the advertising world, transforming it into a dynamic industry full of passionate, creative individuals. This first-ever biography ...

Note: This is a 54 minute video interview with David Ogilvy about how he got started in advertising and what he learned. This is great!! Get a cup of your favorite beverage, plug in your ear buds and learn.

A conversation about advertising, with David Ogilvy

David Ogilvy interviewed by John Crichton in 1977. Realized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies AAAA. David is seen as the "pope of advertising". This is the complete interview version. Entrevista realizada por la AAAA al "papa de la ...

Search for the World's Greatet Salesperson - David Ogilvy, Salesman: The Early Years

Note: Here is David Ogilvy on sales. This is great too.

www.youtube.com Our founder, David Ogilvy, started as a cook and then a sales person. Learn lessons he picked up a long the way and the Art of Persuasion. We're looking for the world's greatest sales person. Are you the one? Visit the winner Todd Her...

What is the difference between Marketing and Advertising and why you should care.

2011-12-28T12:36:00.001-07:00

Reg Gupton here: Understanding the difference between Marketing and Advertising is a distinction which will help you grow your business.

This is an important distinction which most business owners don't have a clue about. Having a business with open doors and believing print media advertising is all the marketing you need will not bring you success and might lead you and your family to bankruptcy or worse.

Read this and learn what to do differently.

Marketing vs Advertising | Business on Goldenacts

business.goldenacts.com12/16/11

Understanding what is the difference between marketing and advertising is very important for people in the fields of marketing, advertising and administration.

Note: Here is a classic video from David Ogilvy about direct marketing which is not advertising. Watch and learn from a master.

David Ogilvy: We Sell or Else

Renowned Advertising guru David Ogilvy gives a brief speech on the importance of direct marketing.

Note: What is your opinion or research on this topic. Post a comment below so we can all learn together.

Get outside of your own box with Seth Godin's help

2011-12-19T18:48:00.001-07:00

Reg Gupton, here.

I have been a follower of Seth Godin for years. The first book I read was The Purple Cow. I was astounded with the clarity of his thinking and his novel ideas.

I read his blog every day. Without fail. Others not so much. His every day.

What follows is a 3 minute video where he describes his latest book. I just read the first 10 pages and found many things of import. I will be doing a PPT presentation soon about the ground breaking ideas he describes.

Seth Godin on Poke The Box & The Domino Project

Seth Godin describes his new book Poke The Box and The Domino Project

If you wish to purchase the book like I did: you can get it here.

If you can not wait until later this week

2011-12-18T17:17:00.001-07:00

Hi Reg Gupton here.

Until my six part video on how to successfully and easily use Linked in in increase you leads and your income, you will find below several posts/videos by others which should whet your appetite.

Note: The first blog post is from the Linked in Blog about how to use polling to initiate conversations with your contact. Will be using this personally soon.

The LinkedIn Blog » Polls in Groups: The Easiest Way to Join the ...

Welcome to the first LinkedIn application within Groups – Polls – that will be rolling out to all members over the next few days. A key reason our members use LinkedIn Groups i

The LinkedIn Blog » Top Five Reasons to Use LinkedIn Groups

I've always been a big fan of LinkedIn groups, but as they add newer features and accelerate member growth, there are more reasons now than ever before to use groups for your organization. Here are my top five reasons to ...

s to share insights with like-minded professionals. ...

Note: Here is an 8 minute video just crammed full of useful tips. Not as good as the one I am editing for you right now. It will have to do until we finish this week.

How & Why To Use LinkedIn.com

SmallBizTrends.com presents a video about LinkedIn. Your network consists of your connections, your connections connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals. Here's a short video about what Linkedin.com i...

Like this video series. Others are and you don't want to be last.

How to prospect like a rock star

2011-12-16T08:48:00.008-07:00

The following videos contain compelling information which will help you when you are prospecting.

Get your pen and pad out to take some great notes. You will be glad you did.

Sales Techniques: Prospect Your Prospects

Interview with Keith Rosen, AllBusiness.com's Sales Advisor See more videos and how-to business information at allbusiness.com

Note: The following video is about cold calls. He points also work very, very well for warm calls. Pay attention to the "so what" question.

Sales Techniques: How to Capture a Prospect's Attention

Interview with Keith Rosen, AllBusiness.com's Sales Advisor See more videos and how-to business information at allbusiness.com

Note: Asking questions is a great way to encourage your prospects to talk with you and open up as they begin to know, like and trust you more. We generally don't make major purchases from strangers. Commodities like gas, gum and a soda. You bet. Take out a loan, buy a house, take out a mortgage, not so much.

How to Put a Prospect to Sleep in 3 Easy Steps | Fearless Selling

fearless-selling.ca12/5/11

Getting an appointment with a new prospect has never been more challenging. It takes persistence, dedication and lots of hard work. This means you need to make.

Note: Here is what not to do when making a sales call. And this is what most people do because they think that creating credibility and qualifying is key.

Folks: Listen up. Building rapport is the key. Not the rest of this stuff (a technical sales term) just nonsense.

More on rapport building to follow.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Remember: Success leaves clues for us. Here are a few.

2011-12-14T15:30:00.010-07:00

Reg Gupton, here.

There are as many Success Principles as there are writer and thinkers on the subject. Here are several videos which you will find useful.

Video:Traits of Successful People Video with Donald Van de Mark

How do successful people stay motivated,change themselves and constantly improve? Donald Van de Mark interviewed hundreds of great leaders and offers this explanation with video of Jack Welch and Starbucks' Howard Schultz. Book Donald to speak at you...

17 Success Principles - The Common Traits of Successful People

17 Success Principles - The Common Traits of Successful People video by Ahmad Sanusi Husain consultant-speaker-motivator Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia sanusi.my@gmail.com mobile: +6019-234 8786 CEO & Consultant: ahmad-sanusi-husain.com Consulting & Training...

Note: In this second video you hear briefly from Jack Welch and Howard Schultz and how they became successful.

6 Success Traits Worth Mastering | Buon Viaggio

Trying to build a business without entrepreneurial thinking is like trying to build a house with a toothbrush. An employee mindset is not a useful.

Note: I have not vetted this persons offerings. Just thought her message was a sound one.

Successful Traits Of An Entrepreneur | The Successful Entrepreneur

entrepreneursuccessteam.com12/3/11

The traits of an entrepreneur are many, but they can be boiled down to a few key things. You have to be willing to do what it takes to be successful, you have to focus on the prize and not the challenges to get there. You also ...

Note: A short and useful article on success.

How to use your new assistant

2011-11-20T13:33:00.004-07:00

Hi, Folks,

Reg Gupton, here.

My friend, Evie Cohen caught me on a hike we took this fall. We were talking about how to use an assistant in her real estate business.

This is a short video which answers this question. There are only three things which your assistant should to for you. Here they are:

http://youtu.be/pvXIuMiCKn0

To your success,

Reg Gupton

New Presentations posted For You

2011-11-09T07:09:00.002-07:00

Hi, Reg Gupton here.

Check out http://slidesha.re/profitbleslideshows for 11 new presentations on all sorts of topics from why small business fail to how to generate more leads in your business.

You will find tips on how to increase sales, increase profit and get more leads easily accessible to you.

Pass this email along to your list. They will thank you for it.

To your continued success,

Three slide shows for you

2011-11-03T15:50:00.002-06:00

Hi, Reg Gupton here.

You will find three slide shows uploaded to Slideshare.net for you today.

They cover, six profit starving myths about direct mail, ten characteristics of wildly successful people and your most favorite topic, How to easily write a Business Plan for next year and every year after. You know if you don't have a written business plan, you are leaving massive amounts of money on the table. Get the money for you and your family.

You can view them here: http://slidesha.re/profitbleslideshows

If you like one or more of these presentations, "like" them on Facebook, share on Twitter or just forward this email to your list in your contact manager.

Your friends will thank you.

All my best,

Reg Gupton

How to easily receive all the leads you can handle

2011-10-07T14:02:00.005-06:00

Reg Gupton here.

I recently recorded a video which tells you have to earn more than $10 for each dollar you invest in your marketing system.

And increase sales, increase your profit, learn how to prospect and much more.

Watch it here.

It is only 8 minutes long and well worth your time.

Leave your comments either positive or negative below the video. I promise to respond.

Check it out.

Reg Gupton's Lead Generation Tip #1

2011-09-17T16:21:00.000-06:00

Hi Folks,Reg Gupton here. I have recently spent some time thinking and talking with my clients about lead generation in personal sales businesses (mostly and not exclusively real estate agents). If you sell anything then at some level you are in the personal sales business.
I don't care if your business is making widgets, you have to sell them. I don't care if you are a retailer, you need leads (read customers) in the door. I don't care if you sell real estate, you need leads (who will buy sometime, if not now).
As a wise man (who I can not remember) said, your wealth is in your database. The larger your database (hopefully automated) the larger your income. Really.
BTW...one of the biggest mistakes I see while watching retailers come (and lots of them) go on the Downtown Boulder Mall is that folks stumble into their businesses and no attempt is made to capture their contact information whether they buy or not. More on this later.
As Gary Keller (founder of Keller Williams Realty) said: "Until you have too many leads you have no other job."
You don't need another (better) listing presentation, another buyer presentation, another class, another preview nor another tour of a neighborhood.
What you need is more leads. Period!!
Everyday you need to spend 80% of your time on generating leads (until you have too many). It must be on your schedule every day.
It should come before doing deals. It should come before selling your listings (if you have any). It is a part of your schedule that should never, never be eliminated. Moved yes, eliminated, NO.
My observation is that lead generation is the first thing to go in an agents schedule when one gets busy. Then the slump starts. The massive drop in income. The fear. The scarcity belief system. The hole to get out of.
Watch real soon for more tips on Lead Generation.

Reg Gupton

Posted via web from reggupton's posterous

A powerful how to video blog.

2011-09-16T10:55:00.002-06:00

I am more comfortable speaking than writing. More passionate about speaking, have OPD (Obsessive Podium Disorder) needing to be in front of real people rather than sitting at a keyboard like I am doing now, I have created a video blog located here.

More video content on how to increase sales, get more leads, earn more profit, how to prospect will be posted as in increasingly frequent pace of the next few weeks.

Look for them.

Reg Gupton presents: The Science of Hiring

2011-01-11T14:11:00.004-07:00

Reg Gupton here. There is good news on the hiring front. There is a science to hiring.

The other day, a small business owner, let’s call him Kris, mentioned to me that things were going better for him and his company. He said that he was dreading the thought of hiring more employees since his success in the past had been dismal.

Kris told me that high turnover was part and parcel in his industry. It had always been that way and would be that way into the future.

He confessed to me: I have no organized/proven system for hiring. Pretty scattered when it came to hiring he admitted.

I mentioned that I helped some major and not so major companies create a process for hiring that proved successful. In one case, turnover was reduced from 54% to 12% saving the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses.

I told him:

Follow these steps and you will make better hires, reduce turnover, reduce expenses, reduce manager stress and increase profit.

1. Determine the problem you want to solve.

Outline the results you want from your new employee. Forget the past. Focus on future expected outcomes and results.

More sales, phones answered by the 3rd ring. Accts payable processed within a day of invoices being rec’d. You fill in the blanks.

2. Write a brief job description focusing on:

Hard skills

Do you need someone; who knows how to create a web page using Dreamweaver? Use MS Office? Use Calyx, Avista Agile™ systems, or Loan Prospector?

Soft skills

There are numerous soft skills that are relevant for many jobs. Here are 10 to consider;

Top 10 Soft Skills

1. Communicate Effectively

To communicate effectively the candidate must possess the ability to express himself clearly, to be a good listener and to show empathy and understanding of others. They also need to be able to use language and grammar correctly.

2. Commitment to the job

The principal qualities employers seek: honesty, dependability and enthusiasm.

3. Learn new tasks willingly

No matter what the job, at times there will be new things to learn and any employer wants someone who will be willing to learn anything required, within reason.

4. Accept responsibility

Many problems in the workplace are caused by people passing the buck, or not taking responsibility for their own actions, or inaction. Employers are on the look out for those who take pride in the quality of their work, evaluate it regularly and use their time wisely.

5. Excellent Interpersonal Skills

These skills show in the ability to work co-operatively with others, maintain a positive attitude and to accept constructive criticism.

6. Make Decisions

Decisions need to be made all jobs. The demonstrated ability to establish priorities and stick to them goes hand in hand with the ability to organize tasks. Also the ability to contribute new ideas is part of this process.

7. Show Flexibility

In this rapidly changing world, the ability and willingness to adapt and be flexible is becoming a core workplace requirement.

8. Leadership Potential

Leadership traits are desirable whether the employee supervisors others or not. These include demonstrated persistence, self motivation and showing an effort to improve personal and group/team performance.

9. Grow in the job

By showing ambition, the job applicant lets the employer know they are willing to train and gain further skills. Of course, the employers also want this ambition to include staying with the company.

10. Ability to handle personal problems

Everyone at some time feels pressures and stresses in their personal life. With the possible exception of major crisis, employers are looking for people who can cope with their personal lives without letting it interfere with their work.

The candidate must have experiences in previous jobs that demonstrate their use, they must be evident in the resume, and evident during the interview.

Behaviors

There are four easily measured behaviors that relate to job performance. They are how a person deals with:

1. Problems

2. People

3. Pace (rate of change on the job)

4. Procedures or details.

Motivations

There are 6 readily measured motivations that will determine what a person will focus on daily and how their reward system needs to be structured. They are:

1. Theoretical

2. Utilitarian

3. Aesthetic

4. Social

5. Individualistic

6. Traditional

3. Find candidates

There are numerous ways to find candidates. First, start out with friends, family, your industry specific database (contacts), existing and past customers. Then Craigslist and your local newspaper are proven sources. You might consider job web sites. If you do, be prepared to be overrun with candidates who may or may not meet your job fit requirements...

4. Review Resumes and cover letters

Be specific in your request for information. Specify where to reply with what and in what form. This is an easy way to eliminate people who can not write nor follow directions.

5. Interview the subset who passed the resume screen using the Interview Questions

About three decades ago, when hired to be the assistant administrator of a 120 bed hospital in Michigan, one of my duties was to act as the Personnel guy, now called HR.

I knew nothing about human resources which included interviewing candidates for many of the jobs in the hospital. After attending a multi day HR training program I developed a set of open ended interview questions that I have used with minor modifications since that time.

They have served me well, kept me legal by treating all candidates the same and forced the candidates to provide revealing information about themselves, their success and failures.

6. Eliminate for job fit

Using the interview, hard and soft skill tests, resumes and cover letters, pick the best 2-4 candidates. Eliminate the rest. See # 10 below.

7. Run assessments on the remaining candidates

Research shows that if jobs could speak there is a profile of behaviors and motivations that leads to more success than other profiles. You should hire to job fit; a set of behaviors and motivations held by your top performers.

After you have eliminated all but two to four of your candidates, run the DISC and Personal Interview Attitude and Values (PIAV) assessments to determine how they fit your hiring profile.

8. Re-interview with assessments

It is relatively easy to mis-state the truth during an interview. For example when a candidate tells you they are motivated by money (when they are not) and they can follow procedures (when they can’t or won’t).

If you are hiring a commission-only sales person, it would be best if your new hires were motivated by money. The PIAV will let you know if they are.

Likewise, the DISC assessment will tell you if they are really hard chargers or would prefer to sit behind a desk and work on files rather than going out and interacting with the public.

These assessments are valid and reliable. They measure what they are supposed to measure and they do it time after time.

9. Make a written job offer

Create/send a letter to your candidate that confirms the offer you most likely made to them in person or on the phone. An audit trail is a good practice.

10. Send reject letters as necessary

Send a written rejection letter to everyone you do not hire. This strategy will be good for business and most likely good legally too. Check with your legal counsel about the contents that might be useful in your letter.

Further, you never know when you might reconsider or want to do business with this person in the future. Watch those burned bridges.

If you follow these simple, practical, proven steps, your hiring decisions will be better, your pain less and your profit higher.

Reg Gupton offers 5 easy steps to use Holiday Direct mail in your marketing plan

2011-01-07T14:46:00.002-07:00

Hi, Reg Gupton here.

Now is the time to begin/start your direct mail marketing plan. If you are not convinced that direct mail, pays. We should talk. The average return on investment for target direct mail is over $14 of income for each one dollar invested. If you don't know how to use direct mail profitably, we should talk about that too.

I have seen it done poorly with all the money wasted.

Below are the dates of the major holidays in the US for 2011.

You can use your Expresscopy account profitably in 5 easy steps. Don't have a free Expresscopy account? Open your free acct here http://bit.ly/b48cnM You will also receive 20% off on your first order.

Here are the 5 steps.

1. Decide that you are going to send holiday cards as part of your direct marketing to your Sphere of Influence and Past Clients.

2. Select the holidays you are going to celebrate with cards to you list.

3. Mark your calendar a minimum of 10 days before the holiday date to send the cards.

4. For those days which you choose with no pre-designed cards, upload your own pictures and create a custom card.

4. Sit back and watch the money roll in.

Date-Holiday Number of cards

Expresscopy.com

Jan 17-Martin Luther King Day

Feb 14-Valentine's Day 8 cards

Feb 21-Presidents' Day

Mar 17-St Patrick’ day 5 cards

May 8 – Mother’s Day

May 30-Memorial Day 2 cards

Jul 4-Independence Day 10 cards

Sep 5-Labor Day

Oct 31-Halloween 20 cards

Nov 11-Veterans Day

Nov 24-Thanksgiving Day 29 cards

Dec 25-Christmas Day 104 cards

Sit down with your calendar and get started.

You will be glad you did.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton asks: 7 Power Questions

2011-01-03T11:23:00.005-07:00

Reg Gupton here.

Do you want to make this
your best year ever?

If so, I'd like to help you. And

if not, I'd really like to help you.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

** Power Questions **

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Answer these 7 questions and

you'll get a lot more clarity,

direction, and focus for your

business in the year ahead.

You'll be ready to burst forward

as an explosive force for good in the

world and you'll create more prosperity

for yourself and others.

Also, if so, copy this message into
a Word.doc. Answer the questions.

Email your questions and answers to me

right now I'll personally reply back
with some custom recommendations for you.

7 POWER QUESTIONS FOR 2011...

QUESTION #1: What are your

top 3 business goals for 2011?

(be sure 1 of them is a revenue

goal, like X$/month or Y$ for

the year).

[Type Your Answer Here]

QUESTION #2: How will your life

be different because you've accomplished

these goals? (this should get you even

more fired up because you'll see the

impact that these goals will have on

your life)

[Type Your Answer Here]

QUESTION #3: What do you

think are the biggest challenges

that could be slowing you down

or stopping you from making all

of your 2011 business goals from

coming true? (list as many as

possible - at least 5 at the minimum:

the more clarity you have on your

challenges, the more you'll be able

to do to solve them)

[Type Your Answer Here]

QUESTION #4: What impact do

you think these challenges are having

on you personally and on your business?

(go deep with this, look at your health,

relationships, overall joy in life: the

more you go big here, the more you'll

be ready to tear out of the gates this year

to bust through all of these challenges)

[Type Your Answer Here]

QUESTION #5: How will you feel 1

year from today, looking back on the

year, having achieved all of your goals?

(what will it feel like? What will have

been the highlights of the year?)

[Type Your Answer Here]

QUESTION #6: Where are you at

in your business right now today?

(This is how I'll be able to give you

the most personal recommendations,

so be honest here. Are you...

just starting? have a few clients?

have a good chunk of clients, but

need a few more? already at over

$100K, now ready to go for a quarter

Mill? Somewhere else entirely?)

[Type Your Answer Here]

QUESTION #7: Would you like

to have me work personally 1-on-1

"VIP Fasttrack" Coaching

Session with you for just $97?

(I'll help you get even more,

clarity, focus, and motivation

for the year ahead).

[Type Your Answer Here]

Alright!!

When you have answered all
the questions, send your answers
to me @ gupton@growthseminars.com

I will reply to everyone's

email, but I can't guarantee I'll

be able to do it today (obviously

it depends on how many people

actually take the time to answer

these 7 questions).

I look forward to doing lots

of great things together in 2011.

I hope we get to work together

very closely.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Referral Business Builder Tips

2010-12-27T11:59:00.001-07:00

It is an old saw that it is more expensive to acquire new customers than to work with established ones. This has certainly been my personal experience and the experience of others that I have consulted to and coached over the years.

Ignore these habits at your peril.

1. Be honest at all costs. No matter what.

2. Never pressure someone just to make a sale

3. See every customer as a friend not just as a sale or money.

4. Don't work with everyone that crosses your threshold. Be selective and work with those that you genuinely like.

5. Stay in touch after the transaction is over. If nothing else, be in touch with cards, letters and newsletters. In person or on the phone are the best.

6. Perform a written post-transaction quality survey. Then listen to what your clients say.

7. Follow the "Platinum Rule." Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.

8. Give small referral gifts to everyone that sends you a lead whether it becomes a sale or not.

9. Learn the biggest problem in your industry. Solve it for your customers.

10. If your industry offers advanced designations, earn them and display your credentials.

Reg Gupton's op 10 reasons to stay in touch with past clients

2010-12-27T11:22:00.002-07:00

I have noticed while coaching numerous real estate agents over the past decade that many do not stay in touch with their past clients after they get paid and the transaction closes. Here are 10 reasons why you should stay in touch.

Top 10 reasons to stay in touch with your past customers

1. You would like them to buy from you again.

2. You would like them to give you a testimonial.

3. You would like them to send you their friends as customers through referrals.

4. You would like them to be brutally frank and rate your customer service delivery system.

5. You would like them to honestly and candidly evaluate your product or service.

6. You would like to learn the many ways that your customers use your product or service.

7. You would like them to give you ideas on ways to improve your product or service

8. You would like them to talk to a prospective customer who has asked to talk with a current customer.

9. You would like to develop a friendly relationship with them so that they are comfortable discussing problems with you.

10. You would like them to buy more frequently from you.

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Database purchasing tips

2010-12-10T11:08:00.006-07:00

Reg Gupton here. Here are the Top 10 mistakes I see when watching people purchase an electronic database.

Follow these simple steps and you will make a better decision when buying database software.

1. Ask friends what they use and how they use the database software that they have.

Surely one of your friends uses relational databases. They will be able to tell you what works and what does not with the package that they use.

2. Do your own due diligence on the features that you need

After receiving suggestions on several packages from your friends, get on the web; use Google to search for the software

3. Purchase a Relational Database.

A Relational Database simply put is a lot of data like name, address, city, state, zip, phone number, e mail addresses etc that is searchable in too many different ways to list here.

The power comes in allowing you to find any single record (read person) or group of records (group of persons) quickly and communicate with them in numerous ways. For example you can search for past customers that live in Colorado Springs. This search might be helpful if you are going to be in the city and wish to visit your existing customers.

4. Hire a coach/consultant/trainer to teach you how to most effectively use the software you acquire.

Your time is too valuable to noodle around in a database program trying to figure out how to perform the basic tasks that you wish to accomplish. An hour or two of a skilled consultant for the software will save you tons of time and get you productive in hours not days.

5. Make sure that the program will allow you to setup and implement marketing campaigns to both individuals and groups.

Some programs will allow you to send communications (e-mails, postcards, and letters) to individuals but you need to send each one individually. The better programs allow you to send all the necessary letters (for example) with a single mouse click (or two).

The program that I use sorts through all the letter and/or emails that are to be sent off into the future and lets you know how many are scheduled to go out today.

This should be done in the main program without add-ons or additional pieces of software.

6. Think about the expenditure as an investment and not a cost.

Investing in database software and building the list of names is truly like buying a printer or other piece of software or a high-speed connection to the Internet.

You will be able to conduct business in ways you never imagined prior to owning and building your personal database.

7. Assure that you can send emails directly from the database software that you acquire.

Some database packages force you to use intermediary steps or use the e-mail client that came with the software. Many are not supported nor are they in the mainstream.

8. Make sure that the software will allow you to mail-merge a group of people receiving different letters or e-mails.

Mail merge allows the software to look up the name, address, etc and the letter or e-mail put the two together and send them. Other pieces of software force you to do this manually. Not a good use of your time.

9. Realize that in the beginning there is a huge investment of time entering the data from your paper system.

Be aware that it could take you only 60-120 seconds to enter each person's contact information. And also be aware that you will only have to do this one time. Ever. Then you can use your personalized database as a Rolodex, phone list, birthday card reminder system and to carry out marketing campaigns just to mention a few uses. Once the contact information is entered, it is there forever.

10. Realize that once the database is built, it's effective use will feed you, your family and your business forever.

After you enter all the people that you know in the world, you can begin to make them well crafted offers for your goods and services.

No more hand writing (unless you chose), no more looking through stacks of business cards for a number to call.

All you have to do is enter the name and up pops their contact information to use in a money producing way.

Reg Gupton asks: are you making these database marketing mistakes

2010-12-03T09:21:00.006-07:00

Make this list of mistakes at your peril. You don't need to. I have made them all and can help you learn from my mistakes and massively explode your business in a very short time if you are willing to be disciplined and learn from others.

1. Believing that your most profitable source of new customers is from print media ads.

2. Believing that your marketing energy and money should be spent predominately trying to attract new customers.

3. Believing that marketing to your existing customers is expensive, time consuming and not very profitable.

4. Not capturing the names, addresses and email addresses of your existing customers.

5. Not offering your existing customers incentives to stay with you.

6. Buying software that requires a Ph.D. in computer science to operate.

7. Buying software that will not allow you to create and run marketing campaigns easily and automatically.

8. Buying software that will not allow you to send e mails directly from inside the program.

9. Not investing in training or coaching on the use of the software that you buy.

10. Believing that contacting your prospects and past buyers 2-3 times per year is enough.

Print these ten tips, post them to your wall and read them daily. Don't engage in them. Ever.

Reg Gupton's Top 10 database marketing tips

2010-12-03T08:38:00.003-07:00

Steal these database marketing tips

1. Start small.

Don't wait until you have your database has been completely assembled. It will never be totally finished. You will be constantly adding, deleting and changing information in it. You will get measurable benefit by starting now.

2. Build your list every chance you get.

Whenever you get the name (and contact information) of someone that you can do business with or more importantly, who can send you business, put them in your database. You can never have too many names.

3. Send messages (letters, cards, e-mails, calendars and notepads) until they ask you to stop.

Remember you are sending information of value to your list. The operative concept is "of value" The value can be notices of new products or services, birthday cards, special pricing.

4. Mix message content.

Send special offers, community service announcements, holiday greetings, and other items of value to them.

5. Send a minimum of 24 times per year.

We each get thousands of solicited and unsolicited marketing messages every day. You need to cut thru the clutter to be noticed. You will be bored by the process of sending to them before they even see your messages. Don't give up. Keep touching your client/customer base.

6. Mix the media.

Send messages delivered thru different channels. As mentioned above, send letters, cards, and emails. Keep changing the method of contact until you discover what works the best and provides the greatest return on your investment.

7. Buy a relational database and take classes to learn how to use it.

It is critical that your software will allow you to do marketing campaigns to a specific part or combination of parts of your database. This means that you can attach a plan made up of the items mentioned above to an individual or group of individuals easily. Most software will not allow you to do this.

8. Focus on your existing and past customers.

It is much, much more expensive (as much as 5 times more) to do business with new prospects than with current customers (who know, like, and trust you). Go here first.

9. Make an appointment with yourself for a minimum of 1 hour per week to work on your database marketing program.

It is too easy to get caught up in the crush of your day to day activities and forget this critical program. Set an inviolate appointment on your calendar to work moving your database marketing program ahead. Don't allow anyone to get in that time block. No one.

10. Talk with your friends (or others) who are experts at database marketing.

Remember that you are an expert at what you do. It is unlikely that you are an expert at database marketing too. Find an adviser or consultant with years of experience in this rapidly evolving field.

Implementing these tips will move your business forward with a high ROI and provide you with more free time once it is up and running.

Are you enjoying these top 10 lists? Share them with your friends, family, and associates.

Easily add this proven lead generation strategy to your Business Plan for 2011

2010-11-22T10:11:00.003-07:00

This morning I rec'd an email from a coaching client asking me to review an message she was planning to send to some local business people telling them that she would like to add them to her referral network and recommend them to her list of about 700 Past Clients and Sphere of Influence folks.

We have talked numerous times about making the referral process reciprocal. She has agreed that would be a better idea. And then promptly forgot it this morning.

Why should agents always be referring folks to their list without securing referrals in return? Reciprocity is a great thing.

If you have a handful of local service people who have a list as described below you could easily increase business with qualified leads as little cost to you.

You should print this and make it happen before the end of the year.

My Ideal Cross-Marketing Affiliate is:

1) Must have an electronic database

i) At least as big as mine

ii) Preferably bigger

2) Must be someone reputable

3) Must be someone I’m pleased to endorse

4) Must be willing to endorse me

i) Periodically

ii) Invest money to do that

5) Must be someone I like

6) Must be a business I like

Add this leg to your lead generation plan. Increase your business easily in 2011 and beyond.

Remember: If I have to persuade them, I don’t want them!

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

The Mind Manual System: A Review

2010-10-23T11:54:00.001-06:00

The Mind Manual System, created by Joan Breiner, M.Ed & Susyn Reeve, M.Ed. Self Esteem Experts us a ground-breaking empowerment system that guarantees to provide you with the inspiration, information, tools and resources to transform your life.

At first glance it appears to be a simple program of 21 Days of Audio Messages, a Workbook and Bonus Guided Meditations, but as soon as you start reading the information and doing the exercises you discover that The Mind Manual System gets right to the core of whatever have been the blocks and obstacles to your success in life.

By providing information about how the brain works combined with proven exercises for you to uncover your self-sabotaging thoughts by Day 3 you will have defined your “big dream,” claimed your power and not only uncovered your self-defeating beliefs but written new programming to upgrade the software of your mind - focused on greater happiness and success in all areas of your life.

Don’t you deserve to live the life of your dreams and to be the master of your mind? The Mind Manual System is your roadmap - your user’s manual - to access the power of your mind to live the empowered life you deserve.

For more information see the Mind Manual System video and download a free lesson from The Mind Manual Workbook

Learn more

Lemons into Lemonade or where have all the buyers gone

2010-08-26T14:28:00.002-06:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here.

Yesterday while on a group coaching session with my clients, more than one person complained that their pipeline was empty or near empty. They were freaking out.

I explored the obvious action or should I say inaction when the market gets tough. In my 30 years in the housing as an agent, CRS instructor and now coach, I have observed that agents withdraw into themselves when things get hard like a turtle or ostrich putting its head in the sand hoping that things will get better if I just wait.

They retreat rather than look at what is working for a colleague, what has worked in other down markets or, where the opportunities are now.

One of my hiking/outdoor friends is actively investing in the stock market. On a hike recently, were talking about what she was doing as the market move up one day and down the next. She told me that the investor with the right attitude and skills could make money in any market. She is doing fine, thank you very much.

I asked my clients yesterday: "Who is this the right market for? Who should be buying is this market?"

This is a short list of those who should take advantage of this market.

• Those who can put 20+% down.
• Those who have great credit.
• Those who have a good, stable income. And more importantly believe it is going to last.
• Those who believe that rental and non-rental properties might go down slightly before they go back up as they always have in the past.
• Those investors who plan to hold their property for 5-10 years.
• Those who want to take advantage of the lowest interest rates in 40-50 years (depending on who you listen to).
• First-time buyers who plan to stay for 5 plus years.
• Those who would like to take advantage of a huge listing inventory.
• Those who would like to work with motivated sellers.

After we created this list of the characteristics of the target audience, I asked them: "now what?"

They decided that crafting two emails, one for investors and one for everyone else would be the thing to do.

These emails will be sent to their lists several times with different subject lines as between 65 and 80% will not have opened and read them the first time they are sent.

I hope you will do the same.

If you are looking for a book to help you these tough times, look no further. It is here:

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Are you making this marketing mistake?

2010-08-10T10:47:00.006-06:00

Reg Gupton here again.

In 1967, I graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University. Then in 1969 I got my MBA in marketing and quantitative methods. From that time on I have been a student of best marketing and sales practices.

Marketing Basics

The way that people and companies market has obviously evolved over the years, but there are some facets that remain the same and have for over 90 years..

Three things that I have seen work consistently throughout the years are as follows:

1. Building and nurturing a relationship with your clients and prospects creates an environment that is conducive to marketing and sales, which become more like suggestions and referrals.

2. Providing value above and beyond what is expected will help to nurture relationships and also help people to know, like, and trust you.

3. Putting systems or processes in place to handle tedious or menial marketing tasks makes accomplishing your goals and objectives seem much more simple or less monotonous.

Marketing continues to evolve in conjunction with the ways that people communicate with each other. As you can imagine it is tough to keep up with the changing trends, but you don’t have to be doing the latest greatest thing to be generating leads from your marketing.

No Need for New Tricks

Even in our fast paced world there are some tools that continue to produce great results even today. Of these tools, a personal favorite of mine is direct mail. Direct mail delivers a physical presence to the client/prospect and has numerous applications.

I would recommend that you use ExpressCopy for direct mail for several reasons:

There are many occasions that warrant sending out a touch to a client or prospect and ExpressCopy has hundreds and hundreds of pre-made postcard designs and layouts to make the process easier

You’ll find scheduling mailings a breeze, the time you will save is undeniable
ExpressCopy postcards are professional and protected by UV lamination, ensuring that they arrive looking like they are hot off the press

It’s a Win Win

If you sign up for ExpressCopy through me, I will make a little bit of money, but in return I would like to offer you something extra.

After you sign up for ExpressCopy through me I am thrilled to talk with you for a free 1/2 hour session (a $150 value) with me during which we can talk about to whom and with what frequency you should be sending direct mail.

Sending direct mail is not always obvious. Over my 30 years in the housing I have seen many, many agents waste their money by doing this wrong.

Until August 20th, ExpressCopy is running a summer special on their direct mail pieces. This means that you can save 4 cents per postcard, which will add up. If you were to schedule all of your holiday mailers now, by pre-purchasing and scheduling their send out date, then you could lock in the summer discounted rate. I called to check on this. It is true.

Even if you don’t get to lock in the summer special price, ExpressCopy still provides an excellent value and will always save you time.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton offers a quick tip for agents

2010-04-06T11:41:00.004-06:00

Just finished a call with a client who said that she had a RWA buyer ready to purchase with nothing in the MLS that would work. The buyer is pre-approved for a loan. Ready to buy now.

I asked if the property existed in the market place and was just not listed at the current time.

Answer: yes!

I suggested that she send an email to her list of over 300 asking them: "Who do you know who owns this kind of property?" List the features, neighborhood, etc. I suggested that she say she is not looking for a listing.

She is looking for a property that could be purchased now by a RWA buyer. Now!

No extended listing period, only one showing, no getting the house ready. Show, sell and move.

This strategy worked well for me when I was an agent on the street. You can use it too.

Oh, while I was explaining the idea to my client, she had already moved mentally to thinking about all the people who she did not have an email address for. She did not think of the other side of the list. Those who she did have emails for.

Even if she had only 1/2 of the emails, that would still be over 150 folks who would be out working for her. Please remember that each person you know knows about 200 people, so as many as 3,000 people were now on her team helping her satisfy her buyer.

Let me know what you think and how it has worked for you if you have used this strategy in the past.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Control your tools, Control your life

2010-04-03T07:18:00.002-06:00

The other day, I was talking with a client about time. She mentioned that she did not have enough time to get all her work completed during a day.

We spoke about two major points: Interruptions and priorities.

First, interruptions. When I started selling real estate in 1980, (yes, back in the dark ages) there were no cell phones, no email, no voice mail, no Internet, and no smart phones. We had those little pink "while you were out" slips written up by the office staff to tell us who had called while we were out of the office.

We played telephone tag. A lot. Very, very frustrating. I call you. Leave a message. You call me. Leave a message. Ad nauseum.

We ran all over town delivering paperwork. Our MLS was a newsprint book delivered once a week. We had just moved form 3-hole property listing pages copied and delivered to the offices in town which we had to manually put into our own 3-ring binders.

Was my life more peaceful? You bet. Less efficient and effective. You bet, too.

My client and I discussed a typical block of time when she was working on a project. It did matter what kind of project. Preparing a listing. Preparing an offer. Doing an MLS search for a buyer client.

She said she was "constantly" interrupted.

I committed heresy and suggested she turn off/close her email program on her computer. Close her door and put a "do not disturb" sign on it. Turn off or hide her cell phone. She was quite troubled at these suggestions.

Why you might ask? Because we have been trained/habituated to be constantly available to these new tools.

Where is it written that when you obtain your real estate license, you give up your life and have no boundaries between your personal and business lives. Not healthy in my experience.

You can take control of your tools and your life and be more successful and more at peace. Really.

Next, priorities.

Many of us, have very active minds where ideas (both good and bad) percolate to the surface unexpectedly. We are afraid that if we don't act on the idea immediately, it will be gone.

I call it chasing butterflies or BSOs. That would be Bright Shiney Objects that may or may not have anything to do with our business or personal success They are just flights of fancy or more likely .

How about this? When you get a great idea, post it to Top Producer as a "to do" for yourself on a future date. You will know two things: first, it is not lost. Second, you can get back to work on the task at hand.

In the future, you will be reminded to work on/think about/decide whether your hot idea is really hot. Many time after the passage of a little time, the idea is not so hot and does not deserve your attention.

Consider taking control of your life and your tools. You deserve it.

Only 83 days left for this opportunity

2010-02-06T08:54:00.006-07:00

Hi, Reg A quick note to remind you that your buyers (both first time and repeat) only have 84 days to be under contract on their new home so they can take advantage of the Tax Credit.

Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Not sure how to market to them? It's easy using expresscopy.

Just open a free acct by going here Yes, I am a partner with this fine company and make a little money when you send cards using their service. That being said, I would recommend them if I did not earn anything.

Here are several testimonials for you to check out. You can read about their excellent service, the new listings rec'd, the money made and the cost savings over previous ways of doing the same job.

This is a great way to easily send laminated regular sized 4-color postcards to your target audiences for 56 cents including postage. That is right. They print the card in beautiful 4-color, laminate, address and deliver it to the USPS for 56 cents or less. You also save 20% on your first order.

After you view the page and before you set up your account, call 1.800.260.5887, then ext. 3219 for a lesson on how to send cards with very little effort.

All you need is the desire to make some money, a digital list and the money to invest in this program. You can reach 100 people from your database for $56. I can not imagine that you won't find someone from your list who either knows someone or wants to take advantage of the Tax Credit. Can you?

I checked the available cards and found that there are 13 pre-designed regular size (4.25 by 5.6) and 11 jumbo size ( 5.5 by 8.5) cards. Jumbo cards cost a little more.

Your Sphere of Influence and Past Clients and you need to move fast. Under contract by April 30 and close by July 1, 2010.

Take advantage of this opportunity to easily and professionally communicate with your SOI and Past Clients. They will thank you for it.

Not sure how to do this, feel free to call me for free 1/2 conversation on what I have learned about using expresscopy to make sales to your SOI and Past Clients.

Are you finding new prospects like this? I bet not.

2010-02-04T11:09:00.004-07:00

Hi Reg,

The 8x8 and 33 touch programs really do work! As you know they are described on page 146 and 147 of the MREA book by Gary Keller and Dave Jenks. You can read a book review here

As you know, last May I was in the hospital for 3 days. At the end of my stay I struck up a conversation with the discharge nurse as she was wheeling me down the corridor of the hospital toward the exit doors, I struck up a conversation with her. I told her what I did and that I'd like to mail her valuable information. She was interested so I wrote down her contact info and put her and her husbands info in Top Producer and started them on the 8x8 program. After the 8 weeks we put them on the 33 touch. Over the last 8 month period I had called them twice and left a message just to check in with them.

Just this week she called me and invited me to come over and talk to them about listing their house for sale. I met with them last night and spent some quality time getting to know them. As we were finishing up I mentioned that I'm always on the lookout for people like them who could use the services of a Realtor like me.

The husband then said, "How many cards do you have in your pocket?"

I looked and I had 5. He said I'll take all of those but we might need more. Then he and his wife named 2 close relatives, a neighbor, and 3 friends/associates that they were going to give my cards to.

I was writing down the names and addresses and info about the prospects as fast as they were giving the info to me. After I got home that evening I counted up the leads and the potential here turns out to be 8 sides! Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I'm meeting with the husband and wife tomorrow to list their house for sale.
Reg, thank you for coaching me on a pathway that really does work!

Jerry Readle
Remax Alliance
6343 W. 120th Ave.
Broomfield, CO 80020
Jerry direct: 303-327-6777
fax: 303-469-7959
main office: 303-469-8821
email: jerryreadle@gmail.com
website: www. realtorjerry4life.com

My Review of STABILicers Traction Devices - Unisex

2010-01-30T08:41:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at REI

STABILicers anti-skid traction soles give your footwear a tenacious grip on snow and ice.

Better than I could have imagined

By reggupton from Boulder CO on 1/30/2010

Gift: No

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels true to width

Pros: Comfortable, Durable

I learned about these while on a naturalist hike at about 9,000 in the Rockies. We were on a packed snow trail where no floatation was required. All that I need was increased traction to keep from slipping.

I reviewed my winter mountain travel and found that over 85% of the time, I was on packed trails.

I spent only a little time on unpacked, soft snow.

Now, I carry my snowshoes and were Stabilicers most of the time.

I have also used them when fly fishing for increased grip in the stream. They work well.

They are the best.

(legalese)

The #1 reason for not being successful in your small business

2010-01-13T13:34:00.003-07:00

Hi Reg Gupton here.

Today I took the current issue of Dan Kennedy and Bill Glazier's No B.S Marketing Newsletter to lunch as my date. If you are not familiar with these marketing geniuses, look here. They are the best direct response marketers out there.

Anyway, in the FAQ, Bill was asked: "What is the number 1 reason you see for people not being successful in their business."

Here is his answer: "They don't work. They are not willing to put forth the effort to work on their own marketing education in order to achieve the knowledge they need and then, they don't implement what they learn. If you do these two things, you will be successful (plain and simple)"

Having coached dozens and dozens and dozens of agents, I could not agree more. Many agent are unwilling to educate themselves and will not implement the ideas/plans that they develop.

So they fail or do not achieve the success they deserve.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Would you invest your money with?

2010-01-07T10:35:00.002-07:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here. Met a new Realtor prospect the other day. We had a brief conversation about his business, his goals for the year and how he was working to achieve them.

He could speak his goals and did not have them in writing. Not a good sign. He did not have any systematic lead generation systems that were proven to work. He was flying by the seat of his pants.

I asked for his business card. He had one. That is good news. BTW...he never asked for mine.

While working for a major real estate company in our market, he had a free (read yahoo.com) email address.

Would you invest/trust your money with a CFP or stock broker who did not have a professional email address? I think not.

Nor should a member of the public trust you to sell their home or help them buy one if you don't care enough to use a professional email address.

A small point and an important one in my opinion.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Does your marketing work? I bet not

2010-01-06T16:06:00.005-07:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here. A few days ago while working with a real estate agent client, we discussed her results for 2009 in anticipation of completing her business plan for 2010.

I inquired about the investment in lead generation/marketing. Even though she is pretty well on top of her numbers, she did not know how much she had invested.

She called me back a few minutes later in shock. Here are her numbers. She invested under $20,000. That is marketing, advertising, web sites and all other money designed to bring her business.

Sounds like a lot? Sure it does until you ask one critical question. How much did she earn. Most people get hung up on the dollars going out the door rather than the dollars going out compared with what comes back.

She earned over $300,000 in GCI. That sounds like $15 for each dollar invested in lead generation. How would you like to earn $15 for each and every dollar you invest (not spend) for lead generation. Can you do this? Yes, you can too.

Don't have the money? I get it. Go borrow it. Borrow it and pay pretty much any interest you have to pay to get it. You will be thrilled at the return.

If you lead generation is not this profitable, we need to talk. There is nothing new here that she is doing. No magic. Just the basics. Boring, systematic and HUGELY profitable.

How about you??

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Must there always be something new

2010-01-06T15:07:00.003-07:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here. A while back a current client mentioned to me that a local sales manager/owner was not interested in working with me to help her agents because I did not offer anything new.

I thought about that a while. I reviewed what I recall about her and her office.

Until a real estate agent has the basics covered in the lead generation there is no need for anything new.

The basics are focus on what really works. This is not opinion. There is compelling research from the National Assoc of Realtors about how the public picks their agent.

Here is some of it. About 67% of the sellers had either used the agent before or were referred by a friend/family/neighbor. Almost 70% from your past clients and/or those who know, like and trust you seems pretty targeted to me. And points out the benefits of staying in touch with your sphere of influence and past clients.

And the typical seller (84% to be exact) interview only one or two agents.

Further, 81% would or probably would use the agent again. However, only 24% had used the agent before.

And 87% were very or somewhat satisfied with the process. That is a very, very high satisfaction rate. Most industries do not have that kind of success.

This broker had been in business for almost 3 decades. She had no database of past clients. She walked away from the closing table unemployed.

No repeat business. Seems like hard work to me. How about you?

True. I have nothing new to offer. And for most agent there is no need for anything new until the basics are covered.

Having trouble with implementation? Get with me for a few tips on how to get this done.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Retails and small business take note

2010-01-06T10:39:00.003-07:00

Hi All,

Following is a great link on how to use email marketing in your restaurant and small business. I drilled down in some of the links. This is great stuff.

Email Mktg for Restaurants: Works for your small business too. Get out of judgment and into curiosity about this. http://bit.ly/7U1Jai+

Most restaurants and small businesses are leaving thousands of dollars a month on the table by not using some/all of these tips.

If you would like to discuss how to do this in your business, please get with me by phone at 303.544.0340 or 800.418.0301.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Seth Godin on the First Transaction

2009-12-08T13:57:00.001-07:00

Hi,

Another beautiful and really cold day in Boulder. Found this by one of my favorite business thinkers.

Much here of value for small business folks.

The first transaction by Seth Godin

Do you really expect that the first time we transact, it will involve me giving you money in exchange for a product or service?

Perhaps this is a good strategy for a pretzel vendor on the street, but is that the best you can hope for?

Digital transactions are essentially free for you to provide. I can give you permission to teach me something. I can watch a video. I can engage in a conversation. We can connect, transfer knowledge, engage in a way that builds trust... all of these things make it more likely that I'll trust you enough to send you some money one day. I can contribute to a project you're building, ask you a difficult question, discover what others have already learned.

But send you money on the first date? No way.

The question then, is how much time and effort does your non-profit/consulting firm/widget factory spend on pre-purchase transactions and how much do you spend on trying to simply close the sale?

What to you think?

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

A Video Testimonial

2009-11-09T13:34:00.001-07:00

Reg Gupton asks: Are you making more than $20 for each marketing dollar invested?

2009-10-27T12:03:00.003-06:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here.

If you are not seeing a return of over $20 in income (GCI) for each and every dollar you invest in your marketing, we should speak immediately.

One of my most long term clients and I were reviewing her Profit and Loss statement thru the month of September as we planned her business for 2010. We were both shocked, in a positive way, to see that she had invested a little over $11,000 in Lead Generation/Marketing and had a GCI of over $250,000 or a return of over $20 for each dollar she invested in Lead Generation. Her lead generation program is simple and completely delegated. She just works the leads that she receives.

There is no mystery in what she is doing. You can do the same thing, easily and simply if you know what to do. Do you?

If you are unsure what to do, call today to learn the 3 simple steps that she is using to produce dozens of leads and a return of over $20 for her marketing money. If your return is higher, I and everyone else would like to know what you are doing.

I have often said to my clients that the steps I will share with you are so fool-proof that you should borrow the money from almost anyone to fund these simple, proven steps. As you can see, you can afford to pay lots of interest and still be profitable. And you could be 1/2 as good at converting the leads and still make a ton of money.

Your call to me will not be a sales call and I will even pay for it. Call today.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

P.P.S. Follow me at www.twitter.com/reggupton

P.P.P.S join me at www.facebook.com/reggupton

800.418.0401 toll free
303.544.0340 office
303.544.0358 fax

If you are not earning $5 or more from all your marketing, we need to talk.

2009-10-23T11:21:00.001-06:00

While working with several coaching clients who have been tracking their marketing investments and ROI (Return on Investment) it has become clear that most real estate agents work too hard to generate the money they make.

And are basically unemployed after every closing.

Give me a call for the 3 easy, proven steps to have a systematic and profitable lead generation system.

When you call, I will not attempt to sell you anything. I will gladly share the steps. For free.

Reg Gupton, MBA

www.growthseminars.com
800.418.0401 toll free
303.544.0340 office
303.544.0358 fax

P.S. I used this service to double my Twitter followers in 4 days. You can too. http://bit.ly/2YMxSI+

P.P.S. Follow me at www.twitter.com/reggupton

P.P.P.S join me at www.facebook.com/reggupton

Take a look at my Blog everyday for proven success tips. It is located at http://regs-successtips.blogspot.com/

#REALTORS

2009-10-19T14:10:00.001-06:00

Download now or preview on posterous

twitter_for_real_estate_twits.pdf (2100 KB)

Are you struggling with Twitter? Struggle no more with this free 35 page ebook. No sales pitch, no opt-in.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Reg Gupton offers a way to build your Twitter followers

2009-10-02T08:58:00.003-06:00

Hi

Reg Gupton here.

A while back I learned about a great tool that allowed me to double my Twitter followers in a few days.

With just a few minutes of easy work, the software found targeted folks that I could follow and who followed me back.

One of the great features allows you do search by zip code and find folks within a certain number of miles of your office. You can then enter into a relationship with them after you have read this NAR article sent to you recently. Please don't embark on a Social Media marketing strategy until you have read and understood the 6 points in the article.

Spend a few minutes reviewing the features or sign up for the demonstration which is free. I signed up for the demo, almost doubled my followers within a few day. I bought the full functioning version a few days ago. I have added several hundred targeted followers since yesterday.

Follow this link to learn how you can add Twitter followers quickly, automatically and easily. Click here.

If you would like to discuss how to use Twitter to grow your business, give me a call at the number below to discuss how add social media to your marketing plan.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton offers 12.5 small business marketing mistakes

2009-10-01T10:46:00.004-06:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here. Rec'd the following from David Riklan, founder of selfgrowth.com.

Today, I would like to share with you the top 12.5 email marketing mistakes that small businesses make. Please use this info to help you continue to grow your business.

Here they are:

1) You do not have a permission-based email or opt-in email list. Never compile a list in an unethical way, or else you'll be accused of spam.

2) Your subject line is poorly chosen. If you subject line is ineffective, no one will ever read your email.

3) Your email or newsletter is full of errors. The content should be organized, with proper grammar and no typos. Your subscribers will not take you seriously if you send out sloppy and unprofessional emails.

4) Unsubscribing is difficult. If people can't unsubscribe, they will complain.

5) Only putting an unsubscribe link at the bottom of your email. The best thing to do is have a "Manage Your Subscription" link that takes subscribers to a page where they can unsubscribe, change their email address, and even change which lists they subscribe to.

6) Your content is poor or nonexistent. If you are not providing good content, people won't be interested in what you have to say.

7) Your emails are filled with too many ads. Make sure you provide a balance of good, useful content and advertising.

8) You are sending messages to your email lists from your personal email address. Don't send out a message to a large number of people with your own personal email.

9) NOT unsubscribing when someone requests unsubscribing. If somebody wants to get off your list, make sure you take them off.

10) You do not test the emails before sending them. Make sure you test your emails and they look good in all of the major email readers.

11) Too many emails. Make sure you don't inundate subscribers with emails.

12) Not enough emails. If you email them 4 times a year, they won't remember who you are.

12.5) NO call to action. You need to tell people what you want them to do. If it's not clear, they won't do it.

I hope this information is useful.

Sincerely,

David Riklan
Founder - SelfGrowth.com

Reg Gupton says: Don't waste your time on Social Media until you read this.

2009-09-30T13:53:00.001-06:00

I rec'd this link from Hope Hughes, a TP trainer in Denver. Thanks Hope.

This is great stuff. It will only take you a couple of minutes to read.

It will save you tons of time before you attempt to create a Social Media Strategy in your real estate business.

Read this

Fail to read this at your peril.

Reg Gupton, MBA
Coach, consultant, trainer

P.S. Follow me at www.twitter.com/reggupton

P.P.S join me at www.facebook.com/reggupton

P.P.P.S. I used this service to double my Twitter followers in 4 days. You can too.http://bit.ly/2YMxSI+

Wired Magazine's 12 ideas that will change the world

2009-09-22T10:43:00.001-06:00

Warning: The ideas expressed here may be dangerous.

http

://bit.ly/1Msgji+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Your company can benefit from Selling thru affiliates

2009-09-21T10:10:00.001-06:00

Learn the top 5 things you must do here.

http://bit.ly/11NvWY+

It is easier & more profitable than you think. Only available until Sept 22nd.

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think about Business Development in a new way.

2009-09-21T09:17:00.001-06:00

Seth Godin presents a refreshing way to think about creating new profitable business relationships.

http://bit.ly/6amxP+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

At last, powerful new information about the cause of prostate cancer

2009-09-14T18:15:00.001-06:00

Some of you know, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago.

I did many hours of web and other research on a treatment protocol that was not main stream. I took heart from Andy Grove, (at that time head of Intel) one of the first executives of a Fortune 500 company who came out and told his story about a major disease.

He said that he wanted a course of treatment that did not make him worse off while the world of medicine changed around him. He pointed to technology, of course, and the changes that have arisen in the past decade. I made a choice and am still around and healthy.

Finally some great news about the possibility that a virus causes prostate cancer. Read about it here. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090907162310.htm

Please let me know what you think.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Take a few minutes and enjoy these pictures. You will be glad you did.

2009-09-14T11:35:00.001-06:00

These are some of the best storm pictures you will ever see.

The extreme weather photographer and storm chaser Jim Reed has spent the past 20 years as close as possible to some of most violent storms on record, perhaps closer than is advisable. http://digg.com/d314FKg?e Pls RT

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be the one everyone else retweets

2009-09-13T15:00:00.001-06:00

John Carlton and Ed Dale on monetizing Twitter.

http://bit.ly/3OI6xI+

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Wow, this so is true

2009-09-12T15:37:00.001-06:00

One of the best blog posts I have read in a loooong time. Sixteen things you were not taught in school.
I wish I had written this. http://bit.ly/3ouo2z+

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Big Insurance vs Big Food

2009-09-11T16:31:00.001-06:00

Do Congress and me and you have the political will to take on two of the biggest industries in the US.
I am not sure. Are you?
http://bit.ly/qnJzj+

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Top 10 tips from happy people

2009-09-11T13:40:00.001-06:00

Easily join this unique crowd
http://bit.ly/a9UM2+

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Raise your ranking on Twitter for fun and profit

2009-09-11T13:18:00.001-06:00

Check out this great explanation of how and why.

http://bit.ly/1anmaH+

It won't take you long.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

#reading

2009-09-11T12:57:00.001-06:00

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi.

Have you read this and what did you think? Worth my time?

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

A few minutes of rain

2009-09-09T14:16:00.001-06:00

over the Flatirons in Boulder CO.

And it is getting ready to rain again. Living the dream.

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You are leaving money on the table

2009-09-09T10:56:00.001-06:00

by not testing your direct marketing assumption that you must use double opt-in.
Read all the comments. There is a tip about AWeber.
http://bit.ly/BD0hL+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Who is most engaged with email.

2009-09-08T16:20:00.001-06:00

The answer will surprise you.
http://bit.ly/1Q5K50+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Seth Godin's current read

2009-09-08T12:15:00.001-06:00

Look at what Seth Godin is reading and recommending today.

You will have greater success when you read these titles and put the ideas into action.

Your competition will do neither.

http://bit.ly/QeNt0+

And here is my list of the best 25 books on personal and business success ever written.

http://bit.ly/Vh9FG+

Reg Gupton

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

The best fall drives in the US

2009-09-08T12:14:00.001-06:00

RT @jenflycolorado America's Prettiest Fall Drives http://ow.ly/owUx

Aspen, CO is on this list (of course)

Get out with your camera and your friends.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Outdoor folks take note of great deals from REI.

2009-09-08T12:06:00.001-06:00

Some things as much as 70% off. A wide range of items. There are over 60 items for sale.
Tell your friends.
Spend money wisely this fall.
http://bit.ly/3TTYZt+

Enjoy. Out we go.

Reg Gupton

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

5 easy ways to speed up your metabolism

2009-09-07T14:39:00.001-06:00

They are not what you may have heard before.

http://bit.ly/4zbTqY+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Took a drive this afternoon.

2009-09-07T14:32:00.001-06:00

While on the drive along St Vrain River saw a mountain sheep right on the highway. There were several more on the vertical face of the road cut.

Did not have my camera with me. So found this stock photo. Enjoy.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Listen to Frank Kern and Tony Robbins

2009-09-07T09:42:00.001-06:00

Watch Tony Robbins interview Frank Kern and John Reese - no sales pitch
http://bit.ly/1apTqQ+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

The best real estate books of all time

2009-09-07T09:20:00.001-06:00

Take a look at these real estate books.

Buy, read, study and make more money.

http://bit.ly/bZEyU+

Please RT.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

The 25 best marketing books of all time.

2009-09-07T08:56:00.001-06:00

Take a look at this great list of the best marketing books of all time.
Enjoy your reading.
http ://bit.ly/Vh9FG+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Seth Godin talks about your Clout on the web and while you should care

2009-09-07T08:42:00.001-06:00

The web knows how many followers you have on Twitter, how many friends you have on Facebook, how many people read your blog.

It also knows how often those people retweet, amplify and spread your ideas.

It also knows how many followers your followers have...

http://bit.ly/UeaiE+

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Listen to a conversation about removing barriers

2009-09-06T12:03:00.001-06:00

To change in your business and/or personal life. Powerful insights. http://bit.ly/10bF4W

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Easily keep track of any person or subject for free.

2009-09-05T14:40:00.001-06:00

I don't know about you. There are some folks and topics that I wish to stay in touch with and not have to remember to visit the site when often there is no new content.

Enter Google Alerts. Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

monitoring a developing news story
keeping current on a competitor or industry
getting the latest on a celebrity or event
keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

Go here to learn more and to sign in. http://bit.ly/vhWoL

It is free. I have been using it for quite some time and love it.

Don't have time this weekend. Make a note in your calender to visit next week. After you have been on a while let me know how you like it.

And RT please.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

An easy 5 step small business plan

2009-09-05T09:16:00.001-06:00

Get ready for the 4th quarter of 2009 and your future in 2010.

http://bit.ly/10hJ3M

A template for preparing a business plan. A needed tool for your business.

Need help? Give me a call for a free conversation. Please use 303.544.0340 to schedule your appointment.

No sales pitch. I promise.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Let's all stop for a hamburger from McDonalds

2009-09-05T09:07:00.001-06:00

A 1996 McDonalds Hamburger still edible. And I would not eat it.

Would you??

http://bit.ly/17gUZq

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Outdoor folks take note of clean water tool

2009-09-04T21:03:00.001-06:00

Camelbak creates new UV water purifier. Extremely long life cycle.

Worth some due diligence on your part.

http://gearjunkie.com/camelbak-all-clear

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Small business owners take note. Easily create a Social Media Marketing Plan

2009-09-04T09:23:00.001-06:00

RT @mark_hayward NO Cost (Six Step) Small Business Social Media & Online Marketing Plan http://bit.ly/8DOzV

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

A great article from Ode Magazine

2009-09-02T21:06:00.001-06:00

A friend loaned me several copies of Ode Magazine which I had never hear about. I will be getting a subscription asap. Their general web site is www.odemagazine.com

This is a great article on the benefits of failure and comments about J K Rowling's 2008 commencement address at Harvard.

Read and enjoy. I did.

http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/57/in-praise-of-failure/

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Thoughts become things, choose the good ones

2009-09-02T08:42:00.001-06:00

A source for daily messages to help you with your day.

http://www.tut.com/theclub/

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

A Radical Solution to End the Drug War: Legalize Everything

2009-09-01T15:13:00.001-06:00

Sounds like a plan to me. Read it and learn.

One cop straight out of The Wire crunches the numbers with Esquire.com's political columnist to discover that America's prohibition of narcotics may be costing more lives than Mexico's and nearly enough dollars for universal health care. So why not repeal our drug laws? Because cops are making money off them, too.

http://www.esquire.com/the-side/richardson-report/drug-war-facts-090109?src=digg

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

An SEO primer. Not a sales pitch

2009-09-01T14:53:00.001-06:00

Good info from Omniture.

Great program from the basics to very, very advanced.

http://bit.ly/ZOTcB

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

A Drug Makers Playbook Reveals Their Marketing Strategy

2009-09-01T14:38:00.001-06:00

The pharmaceutical industry has developed thousands of medicines that have saved millions of lives, but it has also used its marketing muscle to successfully peddle expensive pills that are no more effective than older drugs sold at a fraction of the cost.

Read and learn. How can you ethically apply these lessons to your business?

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Only in Colorado

2009-09-01T09:15:00.001-06:00

After a trip to Cameron Pass a friend and I stopped in Fort Collins CO for a little pizza.

Saw this picture and almost fell down laughing.

Hope you enjoy it like we did.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

What is working?

2009-08-31T15:31:00.001-06:00

#Realtors: What is the last thing you did/bought for your business that brought you an increase in income? And a positive ROI?

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

A thoughtful discussion of Public Option vs private health care.

2009-08-31T08:43:00.001-06:00

Ed Quillen, a Denver Post writer, compares public vs private benefits to society and who wins.

You might be surprised.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13218203

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Another powerful conversation between Tony Robbins and John Reese

2009-08-27T19:14:00.001-06:00

Part two of the ground breaking interview between Tony Robbins and John Reese.

http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/328/john-tony/

Here is Part one. http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/320/interview-with-frank-kern-and-john-reese/

I have saved both of these to my computer and plan on watching over and over and over.

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Make most any food and surprise your friends

2009-08-27T18:56:00.001-06:00

I just tried this site. It is great.

http://digg.com/d312Ekr

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

The Housing Market: Has It Turned the Corner?

2009-08-27T18:47:00.001-06:00

Time magazine says that not everyone is gaining in the housing market at the same rate.

http://digg.com/d3128nj

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Denver Real Estate: Size matters

2009-08-27T18:38:00.001-06:00

Great news for some in the Denver real estate market. Only some.

I hope you don't own a large house.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13211601

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Reg Gupton's top 10 habits of successful people

2009-08-27T16:51:00.000-06:00

Top 10 characteristics of successful people

The skills necessary for success can be learned, just like any other skills. You can struggle mightily or you can learn from those that have gone before. You can re-invent the wheel or spend your time more productively.

The following list is taken from years of study, observation and reading. Learn from what others have accomplished.

1. Successful people have a dream

People who achieve much in life have a purpose, understand what it is, and work toward it. They are clear about why they are here. They know what they will accomplish while they are on this earth.

2. Successful people have a plan

Having a plan, preferably in writing, will guide the you towards your main mission in life with daily, weekly, monthly, and annual markers.

3. Successful people are disciplined

Daydreaming is a good thing. As is having a set of tasks to accomplish today, regardless of how you feel, how the weather is or small impediments that might come up. Discipline keeps you moving forward.

4. Successful people take complete and total responsibility for their lives

Quit blaming the boss, your spouse, or your parents. Just accept that you are in charge of your life. No one else.

5. Successful people are solution oriented

We all have problems with accomplishing what we set out to do today. Focus on the solution not the problem. Accept that the problem is there and then move on to finding and implementing a solution that moves you closer to your goal.

6. Successful people are action oriented

Some days any action is good. Think about the roadblocks, get advice if you like, then move ahead. Learn how to overcome in action. Another skill to learn.

7. Successful people are constantly upgrading their skills

Read, listen, talk. Gain new skills everyday. The world is changing with new technologies in many areas. Our understanding of human performance is expanding as is our understanding of human health. Faster computers, more powerful software that allows us to accomplish things that took days just a few years ago, now can be completed in minutes. Think about letters by the post office vs. e-mail. And only if you understand how to use the hardware and software.

8. Successful people are realistic

Realism is a balance between dreams and fatalism. Understanding what is real is a powerful connection to your dreams and goals. Awareness of what is possible provides grounding with the task before you. And much is possible. Set you mind to it. You will be surprised what you can achieve.

9. Successful people are focused

The achievement of dreams through action requires focus. Some days you just have to put your head down and get it done. No more mind games. Just stay focused on the task at hand until it is done.

10. Successful people are fun and enthusiastic.

Most boring, lifeless people have a ways to go in the success department. Success is drawn to those that are fully engaged in their dream and a joy to be with.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Career Freedom Resources

2009-08-27T16:47:00.000-06:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here with another Top 10 list.

The Top 10 measurable objectives anyone can achieve with a coach

Whether you are a manager in a large corporation or a small business person or self employed as a sales person your life is demanding. There is no question that many of us work in situations where we feel isolated.

In addition, you are probably tougher on yourself than any boss you ever had. And some days you are also the laziest employee you have ever seen.

The following are 10 areas where hiring a results oriented business coach can help you succeed.

1. Do more than you would do on your own.

2. Take yourself more seriously.

Being accountable encourages you to always work smart and make the best decisions. Your worth immediately increases

3. Create momentum and consistency.

4. Take more effective and focused actions.

5. Become more balanced and fulfilled.

6. Find smart ways to save time.

7. Find smart ways to reduce costs/expenses.

8. Increase sales or profitability.

9. Change the dynamics of employee and client relationships.

10. Eliminate the stress which you currently feel is inherent to project success or to the whole operation.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton,

Reg Gupton's 9 Rules for being human

2009-08-27T16:38:00.000-06:00

Hi there,

Reg Gupton here again with another Top 10 list.

An old friend sent these to me recently. I, like you, have seen these before. See number 9.

The Rules for Being Human

1. You will receive a body
You may like it or hate it, the choice is yours, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around.

2. You will learn lessons
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called Life. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and hence choose to ignore them. No matter; keep reading.

3. A lesson is repeated until learned
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go to the next lesson.

4. There are no sins, only mistakes calling for corrections
Growth is a process of trial and error, experimentation. The "failed" experiment is as much a part of the process as the experiment that actually "works."

5. Learning lessons does not end
There is no part of life that does not contain lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. There is not better than here
When your "there" has become a "here" you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here".

7. Others are merely mirrors of you
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you
love or hate about yourself.

8. Your answers only lie inside of you
The answers to life's questions lie only inside of you. All you need do is look, listen, and trust.

9. You will forget all this

Are you enjoying these top 10 lists? Share them with your friends, family and associates by simply clicking on "Forward" in your e-mail program.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton,

A critical message for Entrepreneurs

2009-08-27T14:59:00.001-06:00

There are two types of Sense of Urgency. Kotter explains why you should care.

John Kotter's Urgent Message for Entrepreneurs: http://digg.com/d312F4y?t

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Reg Gupton's Top 10 misconceptions about success

2009-08-26T17:01:00.000-06:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here.

There are many misconceptions about both success and failure. Here are the Top 10 about success. How many have you let hold you back from the success and prosperity that you deserve?

1. Some people are less successful due to circumstances beyond their control like background, education, etc.

Anybody can be successful. Just look around you and read. The newspapers and business and sports publication are full of folks that should not be successful. And they are. It's a matter of desire, then taking action. Whatever action is necessary.

2. Successful people don't make mistakes.

Successful people make plenty of mistakes. They just don't make the same mistake twice.

3. You've got to work very long hours and sacrifice your family and personal life to be successful.

It's not about working long hours or working very hard. It is about working smart. It's more about doing the right thing rather than doing many things. An important distinction.

4. You'll only be a success if you play by the rules.

Rules change from time to time. In some situations, rules are only guidelines.

5. If you have help along the way, it's not success.

Success rarely occurs without help. Mentors and other that are interested in helping you are out there. You just have to be open to them when they offer.

6. It takes a lot of luck to be successful.

Luck certainly comes in handy. It really takes a smart work, persistence, knowledge, and application of what you know.

7. It's only success if you make a lot of money.

Money is one of the measures of success. It is not guaranteed nor is it required.

8. It's only success if everybody knows it.

You may get more money and more accolades the more people know about what you've done. But, even if you were the only one who knew it, you'd still be a success.

9. Success is a goal.

Success is more what you get when you achieve the goals you've set for yourself. Saying that you "want to be a success" begs the question: "At what?"

10. Once I'm successful, my troubles are over.

You may be successful, but you'll still have the ups and downs
that you did before. Enjoy what success you achieve and live each day
as it comes.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Life Skills

2009-08-26T16:54:00.000-06:00

Hi,

Another Top 10 list for you.

It takes many, many skills to get through life successfully. Many of them we pick up as children from our parents, others as adults from teachers and mentors and some we chose to acquire. All could probably use some polishing. Following are a few that you might work on.

1. Listening, really listening

2. Giving heartfelt compliments

3. Receiving compliments

4. Saying "Yes"

5. Saying "No"

6. Laughing like a child

7. Planning for your future

8. Asking thoughtful and respectful questions

9. Reading both business and non-business books and magazines

10. Exercising by finding something you love.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

You got to see these great pictures of lightning

2009-08-26T15:44:00.001-06:00

RT @

AlessandraCo

Lightning and cars - amazing time lapse animation http://bit.ly/93hQz

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We Learn More From Success, Than Failure

2009-08-26T15:23:00.001-06:00

There is a biological reason why we learn more from our triumphs than from our failures, according to new research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

http://digg.com/d3124E3

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Cycling folks take note.

2009-08-26T11:21:00.001-06:00

RT @DJLindJr : Another amazing installment posted by @JoeParkin - a must read if you are a cycling enthusiast! http://www.6yearsinaraincape.com

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A great description of a new Mountainsmith backpack

2009-08-26T09:43:00.001-06:00

Read about this 4,600 cubic inch pack.

Looks good for your extended adventures.

http://gearjunkie.com/mountainsmith-lariat-65

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

A great discussion of new cycling bags

2009-08-26T08:49:00.001-06:00

Cyclists: Stephen Renegold reviews a new selection of adventure cycling gear bags.

Read it here. http://gearjunkie.com/biking-bags-pacific-outdoor-equipment

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Look at the coupon I found

2009-08-25T17:31:00.001-06:00

The best chips ever.

RT @bouldercanyon: will immediately send #coupon for ANY bag of Boulder Canyon chips Sign Up Here: http://bit.ly/dfAYP

Enjoy,

Reg Gupton

Posted via email from reggupton's posterous

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Referral Business Builder Tips

2009-08-25T17:06:00.000-06:00

Hi there.

Another Top 10 list.

It is an old saw that it is more expensive to acquire new customers than to work with established ones. This has certainly been my personal experience and the experience of others that I have consulted to and coached over the years.

Ignore these habits at your peril.

1. Be honest at all costs. No matter what.

2. Never pressure someone just to make a sale

3. See every customer as a friend not just as a sale or money.

4. Don't work with everyone that crosses your threshold. Be selective and work with those that you genuinely like.

5. Stay in touch after the transaction is over. If nothing else, be in touch with cards, letters and newsletters. In person or on the phone are the best.

6. Perform a written post-transaction quality survey. Then listen to what your clients say.

7. Follow the "Platinum Rule." Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.

8. Give small referral gifts to everyone that sends you a lead whether it becomes a sale or not.

9. Learn the biggest problem in your industry. Solve it for your customers.

10. If your industry offers advanced designations, earn them and display your credentials.

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton's Top 10 questions to ask yourself

2009-08-25T17:03:00.000-06:00

Hi,

Reg Gupton here.

You might think about using this set of questions annually at the time you prepare your personal plan for the coming year. Keep and compare the answers year to year.

1. Am I happy with where my life is today?

2. What do I want to change about me next? And do I have a written plan for making the change?

3. Am I a taker or a giver on this planet?

4. Am I on track with my career? Do I need to make a change?

5. Do I have at least 2x the recommended financial reserve in case of a job loss or income reduction?

6. Do I have adequate medical and life insurance protection?

7. What's really, really important to me? No 1, No 2, No 3,....

8. Am I being honest with myself and with others?

9. Do I share my passion with the world?

10. What do I most want to be remembered for? What do I want people to say at my funeral and truly mean it?

To your continued success,

Reg Gupton

Reg Gupton's Success Tips

This will help even your business.

Are you a fool to use Groupon and LivingSocial

Meet David Ogilvy. You have much to learn from this marketing master

What is the difference between Marketing and Advertising and why you should care.

Get outside of your own box with Seth Godin's help

If you can not wait until later this week

How to prospect like a rock star

Remember: Success leaves clues for us. Here are a few.

How to use your new assistant

New Presentations posted For You

Three slide shows for you

How to easily receive all the leads you can handle

Reg Gupton's Lead Generation Tip #1

A powerful how to video blog.

Reg Gupton presents: The Science of Hiring

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Reg Gupton asks: 7 Power Questions

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Referral Business Builder Tips

Reg Gupton's op 10 reasons to stay in touch with past clients

Reg Gupton's Top 10 Database purchasing tips

Top 10 reasons to use color postcards

Reg Gupton asks: are you making these database marketing mistakes

Reg Gupton's Top 10 database marketing tips

Easily add this proven lead generation strategy to your Business Plan for 2011

The Mind Manual System: A Review

Lemons into Lemonade or where have all the buyers gone

Are you making this marketing mistake?

Reg Gupton offers a quick tip for agents

Control your tools, Control your life

Only 83 days left for this opportunity

Are you finding new prospects like this? I bet not.

My Review of STABILicers Traction Devices - Unisex

The #1 reason for not being successful in your small business

Would you invest your money with?

Does your marketing work? I bet not

Must there always be something new

Retails and small business take note

Seth Godin on the First Transaction

A Video Testimonial

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If you are not earning $5 or more from all your marketing, we need to talk.

#REALTORS

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Reg Gupton says: Don't waste your time on Social Media until you read this.

Wired Magazine's 12 ideas that will change the world

http

Your company can benefit from Selling thru affiliates

http://bit.ly/11NvWY+

think about Business Development in a new way.

http://bit.ly/6amxP+

At last, powerful new information about the cause of prostate cancer

Take a few minutes and enjoy these pictures. You will be glad you did.

be the one everyone else retweets

http://bit.ly/3OI6xI+

Wow, this so is true

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Big Insurance vs Big Food

Do Congress and me and you have the political will to take on two of the biggest industries in the US. I am not sure. Are you? http://bit.ly/qnJzj+

Top 10 tips from happy people

Easily join this unique crowd http://bit.ly/a9UM2+

Raise your ranking on Twitter for fun and profit

http://bit.ly/1anmaH+

#reading

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi.

A few minutes of rain

You are leaving money on the table

by not testing your direct marketing assumption that you must use double opt-in. Read all the comments. There is a tip about AWeber. http://bit.ly/BD0hL+

Who is most engaged with email.

The answer will surprise you. http://bit.ly/1Q5K50+

Seth Godin's current read

http://bit.ly/QeNt0+

http://bit.ly/Vh9FG+

The best fall drives in the US

Outdoor folks take note of great deals from REI.

Some things as much as 70% off. A wide range of items. There are over 60 items for sale. Tell your friends. Spend money wisely this fall. http://bit.ly/3TTYZt+

5 easy ways to speed up your metabolism

http://bit.ly/4zbTqY+

Took a drive this afternoon.

One of the best blog posts I have read in a loooong time. Sixteen things you were not taught in school.
I wish I had written this. http://bit.ly/3ouo2z+

Do Congress and me and you have the political will to take on two of the biggest industries in the US.
I am not sure. Are you?
http://bit.ly/qnJzj+

Easily join this unique crowd
http://bit.ly/a9UM2+

by not testing your direct marketing assumption that you must use double opt-in.
Read all the comments. There is a tip about AWeber.
http://bit.ly/BD0hL+

The answer will surprise you.
http://bit.ly/1Q5K50+

Some things as much as 70% off. A wide range of items. There are over 60 items for sale.
Tell your friends.
Spend money wisely this fall.
http://bit.ly/3TTYZt+

Watch Tony Robbins interview Frank Kern and John Reese - no sales pitch
http://bit.ly/1apTqQ+

Take a look at this great list of the best marketing books of all time.
Enjoy your reading.
http ://bit.ly/Vh9FG+

A Drug Makers Playbook Reveals Their Marketing Strategy