Hi,
The web has become a standard tool in today's market place. Most businesses, small or large can benefit from a properly constructed web site. Make the mistakes listed below at your peril. I have been a student and lecturer on the web since the mid-90s. Much has changed and yet much has stayed the same.
1. Oversized Graphic Files that increase download time.
Visitors will click-away, rather than wait for large graphics to load even with the increase in the use of broadband. Often a smaller graphic is more effective than a large one.
2. Distracting wallpaper makes text difficult to read.
Regular black text on a white background is easiest to read. Use wallpaper sparingly -- and make sure the text contrasts well against the background. This also applies to your e-mails.
3. Unclear labels for links that confuse the user.
A list of store locations should be called "Store Locations," not "Explore Our World." Users want clarity, not cleverness. Visitors must be able to find the information they want instantly, without guessing.
4. Hidden information; important facts and resources hidden deep within the web site.
If a user can't find what they are looking for within 90 seconds, they will usually give up. Links for all major categories of information should be right on the home (first) page. An ability to search your site if appropriate and contact us information should be available on every page.
5. Unprofessional Appearance.
Your attire, letterhead, and facility decor all promote a professional appearance -- why not your web site? Your web site may be the first (and last) impression a visitor ever gets of your company -- make that impression count! Useless graphic elements, especially animations, aren't impressing anybody. Keep it clean and simple!
6. Unfriendly Appearance.
Don't be so grim in your business-like attitude that the user feels unwelcome! Remember to include friendly, welcoming text on the home page to greet the user. Create a human presence on your web site! Include color photos of your team, along with personalized statements.
7. The "Brochure" Web Site describes your business -- and not much else.
Don't just publish some ad copy and pictures from your sales brochure! Take advantage of World Wide Web technology! Offer on-line searches, and links to articles relevant to your business. Want people to visit your location, how about a link to Mapquest so the visitor can get easy driving directions?
8. The "Spaghetti" Web Site loses the user in a morass of unclear, confusing links.
The most frustrating experience for any web user is to get "lost" in a web site. The user should never have to guess how to get anywhere. Links should be clearly labeled, and arranged intuitively. Link each page to related topics, and back to the home page. Every page should have the full set of navigation links. Or at least, a clear and obvious way back to the home page. I continue to be amazed by people who do not know about the "back" button on their web browser.
Make use of navigation bars. Users expect navigation bars either on the left side or the top of the screen-- those on the right or bottom will be missed. This is the standard on web sites. Take advantage of it.
9. No way for the visitor to give you their contact information
One of the three top uses of a web site for any business is to gather names, addresses and e-mails for visitors. If you offer a free report or white paper in exchange for contact information, you can grow your database. Allow them to opt-in before receiving the valuable information.
10. Expecting that because you have built a site they will visit.
It is a myth that if you build it they will come. Works in the movies for farm fields in Iowa but not for web sites. Include your web address on all media. Include it with your print ads, on your direct mail pieces, in your e-mail signature. Every where. Don't make your web site a secret.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Reg Gupton's Top 10 reasons to keep a journal
Hi,
I have heard recommendations for years about keeping a personal journal and struggled mightily to keep one myself. Recently I found the benefits listed below and thought they were interesting. These 10 benefits have helped me move closer to doing one. I am not quite there yet. Soon though.
1. You document your intentions.
2. You can read your intentions daily.
3. You gain focus and clarity for your life.
4. It gives you the basis for an action plan.
5. You can monitor your progress.
6. You can create a memoir of your life.
7. You gain serenity and confidence.
8. You will inspire and motivate others.
9. It reinforces a positive mind-set.
10. Journals are unique reflections of our souls.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
I have heard recommendations for years about keeping a personal journal and struggled mightily to keep one myself. Recently I found the benefits listed below and thought they were interesting. These 10 benefits have helped me move closer to doing one. I am not quite there yet. Soon though.
1. You document your intentions.
2. You can read your intentions daily.
3. You gain focus and clarity for your life.
4. It gives you the basis for an action plan.
5. You can monitor your progress.
6. You can create a memoir of your life.
7. You gain serenity and confidence.
8. You will inspire and motivate others.
9. It reinforces a positive mind-set.
10. Journals are unique reflections of our souls.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
Reg Gupton's Top 10 beliefs of the top 10%
Hi there,
If you wish to be more successful, you might consider doing what those most successful individuals already do. Research says:
Many of you have heard the saying that 10% do 90% of the business. Here are a few of beliefs that the top 10% share.
1. Clients
They need me and it is my reason for being in business.
2. Money
I earn money in direct proportion to the value that I add to the lives of my customers.
3. Objections
When the prospect is ready, willing and able there are no objections.
4. Prospecting
Prospecting can be done systematically and in ways that match my personality.
5. Products
I supply the best products to meet my prospects needs.
6. Company
I work with the greatest company that is available to me at this time.
7. Effort vs. Reward
I always get paid what I am worth.
8. Rejection
Is unnecessary in my world if my business development systems are correct.
9. Goals
Are the track that I run on.
10. Closing
I never need to ask manipulative closing questions.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
If you wish to be more successful, you might consider doing what those most successful individuals already do. Research says:
Many of you have heard the saying that 10% do 90% of the business. Here are a few of beliefs that the top 10% share.
1. Clients
They need me and it is my reason for being in business.
2. Money
I earn money in direct proportion to the value that I add to the lives of my customers.
3. Objections
When the prospect is ready, willing and able there are no objections.
4. Prospecting
Prospecting can be done systematically and in ways that match my personality.
5. Products
I supply the best products to meet my prospects needs.
6. Company
I work with the greatest company that is available to me at this time.
7. Effort vs. Reward
I always get paid what I am worth.
8. Rejection
Is unnecessary in my world if my business development systems are correct.
9. Goals
Are the track that I run on.
10. Closing
I never need to ask manipulative closing questions.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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Reg Gupton's Top 10 things telling you you are in the wrong job
The top 10 signs that you are in the wrong career
1. You avoid talking about your work with your friends and acquaintances.
You are not excited enough about your job to talk with your friends during social hours like you did at the beginning . Remember what it was like telling all your friends what you were doing and how much fun it was?
2. You are often ill.
You have an ache or a pain somewhere or miss days of work. These are signals from your body that you are under continued stress.
3. You get a knot in your stomach when you think about going to work.
4. There is not much else you want to do with this career.
You've lost your passion for your job. Unlike your parents who may have had one or two jobs in their entire work lifes, you and others today will have multiple careers in a lifetime. Some now have 5-7 careers. Not just jobs in the same career or career path but different careers.
5. You have sold your soul to the devil.
You often feel that you are not paid enough for the work you do.
6. Frustrating patterns are appearing within your relationship with work.
7. You have internal feelings that tell you something is not going according to plan.
Some call it fate, coincidence, misfortune, good or bad luck or anything else, but the Universe will move you whether you wish it or not.
8. You come home from work at the end of the day, just exhausted rather than excited and energized by the day.
9. The longer you are at the job the less fulfilled you feel. Your sense of satisfaction, excitement, curiosity and drive are gone, permanently.
10. You spend a lot of money on other things. You are attempting to get your needs met through other means.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
1. You avoid talking about your work with your friends and acquaintances.
You are not excited enough about your job to talk with your friends during social hours like you did at the beginning . Remember what it was like telling all your friends what you were doing and how much fun it was?
2. You are often ill.
You have an ache or a pain somewhere or miss days of work. These are signals from your body that you are under continued stress.
3. You get a knot in your stomach when you think about going to work.
4. There is not much else you want to do with this career.
You've lost your passion for your job. Unlike your parents who may have had one or two jobs in their entire work lifes, you and others today will have multiple careers in a lifetime. Some now have 5-7 careers. Not just jobs in the same career or career path but different careers.
5. You have sold your soul to the devil.
You often feel that you are not paid enough for the work you do.
6. Frustrating patterns are appearing within your relationship with work.
7. You have internal feelings that tell you something is not going according to plan.
Some call it fate, coincidence, misfortune, good or bad luck or anything else, but the Universe will move you whether you wish it or not.
8. You come home from work at the end of the day, just exhausted rather than excited and energized by the day.
9. The longer you are at the job the less fulfilled you feel. Your sense of satisfaction, excitement, curiosity and drive are gone, permanently.
10. You spend a lot of money on other things. You are attempting to get your needs met through other means.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Reg Gupton's Top 10 ways to guarantee your success this year
Top 10 Ways to Guarantee Your Business Success this year and every year in the future.
1. Haul out your dusty Business Plan
It is not too late to get out your business plan from last year and see how you did. You will be surprised on your successes and wins.
2. Determine your best Sources of Business
Remember the 80/20 rule which states that 20% of your effort brings 80% of your results or income.
3. Review and update it
With your top Sources of Business in mind update your plan based on concrete results from last year.
4. Clean your desktop
Focus is a wonderful thing. With only one task in the middle of your desk, your mind is less likely to wander. Laser focus is a necessary attribute at many times.
5. Automate your reminder system
The human brain is a great problem solver and a poor calendar. Use your Palm Pilot, Outlook Express or other automated calendar system.
6. The 3 Ds
Do it, delegate it, or dump it.
7. Plan your time off
Take a yearly calendar; sit down with your family and friends. Then mark out the days and weeks that you are going to take off. No matter what!
8. Eliminate 10% of your customers
Understand that the bottom 10% by size or profitability are consuming the majority of your time. Fire them.
9. Determine your most profitable 10%
On the other side, you have about 10% of your customers (or referral sources) that constitute the easiest, most profitable avenues for business. List them, then cultivate them like a good garden.
10. Set up a savings plan
Start a savings plan. When I was in college, a financial planner told me to save 10% of my earnings. I felt that that could not be done. So guess how much I saved. Nothing. If I had saved even 2% of my earning for the last 30 years, I would be retired.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
1. Haul out your dusty Business Plan
It is not too late to get out your business plan from last year and see how you did. You will be surprised on your successes and wins.
2. Determine your best Sources of Business
Remember the 80/20 rule which states that 20% of your effort brings 80% of your results or income.
3. Review and update it
With your top Sources of Business in mind update your plan based on concrete results from last year.
4. Clean your desktop
Focus is a wonderful thing. With only one task in the middle of your desk, your mind is less likely to wander. Laser focus is a necessary attribute at many times.
5. Automate your reminder system
The human brain is a great problem solver and a poor calendar. Use your Palm Pilot, Outlook Express or other automated calendar system.
6. The 3 Ds
Do it, delegate it, or dump it.
7. Plan your time off
Take a yearly calendar; sit down with your family and friends. Then mark out the days and weeks that you are going to take off. No matter what!
8. Eliminate 10% of your customers
Understand that the bottom 10% by size or profitability are consuming the majority of your time. Fire them.
9. Determine your most profitable 10%
On the other side, you have about 10% of your customers (or referral sources) that constitute the easiest, most profitable avenues for business. List them, then cultivate them like a good garden.
10. Set up a savings plan
Start a savings plan. When I was in college, a financial planner told me to save 10% of my earnings. I felt that that could not be done. So guess how much I saved. Nothing. If I had saved even 2% of my earning for the last 30 years, I would be retired.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
Reg Gupton's 10 best ways to use your coach
Hi Reg Gupton here.
The following was originally written by Thomas Leonard. A great thinker about business, life and coaching. I think that it is great food for thought at any time of the year.
There are over 100 things that you can work on with a Personal/Professional Coach, but here are the Top 10.
1. You will set far better goals that motivate you in a healthy and stress free way. Did you have Goal Setting 101 in high school? Probably not. Enter the coach, an expert in helping you to identify and set the goals that you really want, not the ones that are shoulds or pipedreams, that you've been recycling or that mirror the goals of your parents, society, or Madison Avenue. Choosing the right goals for you is an art and the coach takes the necessary time to help you clarify your personal values, so that you have something really solid on which to develop your goals. Value-based goals are naturally motivating, but it takes good coaching to get to these.
2. You'll accomplish goals and tasks and projects much more quickly. One of the reasons that people hire a coach is to save themselves time. Working with a coach, they learn how to be far more effective, efficient and productive in everything that they do, including their job/business
or personal projects. We humans just aren't that naturally effective, even if we think that we are. The coach has tools and techniques to share with their clients so that things get done in half the time. (Even the coaching process is efficient -- on the phone, 1 hour a week, reasonable fee.)
3. You'll make fewer mistakes in your business life or in your personal life.
The old model of learning from your mistakes has deteriorated to be more like: How else will you learn if you don't make mistakes? Too expensive, in our view. With a coach, you have a third eye, someone who's been there and who has coached others in your situation, and an expert in getting the job done with the minimum of fuss (called learning curve, mistakes, errors in judgment, wrong tunnels, etc.). The costs (emotional, financial, time) of making mistakes has gotten very expensive in the past decade. A single mistake can ruin you in today's hyper-paced business environment. Some clients use their coach as an inexpensive insurance policy.
4. You'll move up to the next level of your professional and personal life.
Almost everybody is moving up the ladder of business success, personal development, awareness and emotional balance. The coach can help you see where you are right now and point out ways to grow and get where you want to get to. Or, if you're not even on the ladder, the coach can guide you to it and help you get started on your path.
5. You'll reduce the number of problems you have and better resolve the problems that are left.
The first step in solving a problem is to ask yourself why you have this problem. The second step is to ask yourself why you have problems at all. The third step is to get on track to having no problems -- aka, becoming a Problem-Free Zone (PFZ). This is not a joke. Being a PFZ is becoming even more important along the path of sustainable success. You cannot afford to have problems, period. Life's too short and problems are too expensive. A well-trained coach can help you become a PFZ. A well-trained coach is a PFZ herself.
6. You'll likely make more money in your career, profession or business.
Clients don't keep paying their coaches just for the fun of it. Coaching, like every other professional service, needs to improve the financial bottom line and it does. Coaches are trained to help clients to leverage their ability to make money, i.e., getting a raise, choosing a better career, starting a business, improving profitability, adding more value to their customers, proper pricing, productivity and others. Sure, coaching is personal, but it almost always includes a strong financial aspect.
7. You'll be a lot happier and this happiness will last.
Coaches know how to help you to reduce stress, integrate all aspects of your life, simplify or downshift, and reorient around what makes you the happiest. What good is increased productivity and profitability if you're not happy?
8. You'll be much more effective and influential with others: family, business and personal relationships.
Communication makes life life. A coach is an expert communicator and trains clients on how to come across better, relate well with others, listen aggressively, influence, coach, motivate and support others. There are over 100 communication and listening skills that clients can learn from a coach.
9. You'll become much more attractive to others -- on the inside and on the outside.
Selling, as a profession and as a proven technique/process, is on its way out. Why? Because humans are getting better at choosing for themselves and buying better. Humans will respond less to advertising and selling techniques and instead be drawn to a product or service and they will be more likely drawn because of who is offering the product or service. This process is called attraction and Coach University wrote the book on it (called Irresistible Attraction). It's real. It works. And it will replace much of the promotion, marketing, selling, seducing and other very expensive budget items. Remember, the world (aka consumers) is rapidly eliminating virtually all waste and inefficiencies in how business is conducted, products are sold and how services are delivered. Selling and mass marketing, while certainly still very effective right now, is on the hit list. Attraction is the next generation of selling and the well-trained coach can help you and your business gets on this track immediately.
10. You'll have a better life, not just a better lifestyle.
The term Quality of Life has become overused in the past few years, but the trend of Americans seeking to create a much better life for themselves is accelerating. In fact, people are re-examining what they had assumed that a good life was (married, 2.3 kids, nice car, secure job, church on Sundays, 3 weeks of vacation a year) and are now creating their own life, often breaking the rules and flying in the face of conventional wisdom in the process. A coach has been trained in the Life
Design process and has already made the kind of design changes in their life, that their clients are just now beginning to make.
Are you enjoying these top 10 lists? Share them with your friends, family and associates by simply sending this link to them.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton, MBA
Coach, consultant, trainer
The following was originally written by Thomas Leonard. A great thinker about business, life and coaching. I think that it is great food for thought at any time of the year.
There are over 100 things that you can work on with a Personal/Professional Coach, but here are the Top 10.
1. You will set far better goals that motivate you in a healthy and stress free way. Did you have Goal Setting 101 in high school? Probably not. Enter the coach, an expert in helping you to identify and set the goals that you really want, not the ones that are shoulds or pipedreams, that you've been recycling or that mirror the goals of your parents, society, or Madison Avenue. Choosing the right goals for you is an art and the coach takes the necessary time to help you clarify your personal values, so that you have something really solid on which to develop your goals. Value-based goals are naturally motivating, but it takes good coaching to get to these.
2. You'll accomplish goals and tasks and projects much more quickly. One of the reasons that people hire a coach is to save themselves time. Working with a coach, they learn how to be far more effective, efficient and productive in everything that they do, including their job/business
or personal projects. We humans just aren't that naturally effective, even if we think that we are. The coach has tools and techniques to share with their clients so that things get done in half the time. (Even the coaching process is efficient -- on the phone, 1 hour a week, reasonable fee.)
3. You'll make fewer mistakes in your business life or in your personal life.
The old model of learning from your mistakes has deteriorated to be more like: How else will you learn if you don't make mistakes? Too expensive, in our view. With a coach, you have a third eye, someone who's been there and who has coached others in your situation, and an expert in getting the job done with the minimum of fuss (called learning curve, mistakes, errors in judgment, wrong tunnels, etc.). The costs (emotional, financial, time) of making mistakes has gotten very expensive in the past decade. A single mistake can ruin you in today's hyper-paced business environment. Some clients use their coach as an inexpensive insurance policy.
4. You'll move up to the next level of your professional and personal life.
Almost everybody is moving up the ladder of business success, personal development, awareness and emotional balance. The coach can help you see where you are right now and point out ways to grow and get where you want to get to. Or, if you're not even on the ladder, the coach can guide you to it and help you get started on your path.
5. You'll reduce the number of problems you have and better resolve the problems that are left.
The first step in solving a problem is to ask yourself why you have this problem. The second step is to ask yourself why you have problems at all. The third step is to get on track to having no problems -- aka, becoming a Problem-Free Zone (PFZ). This is not a joke. Being a PFZ is becoming even more important along the path of sustainable success. You cannot afford to have problems, period. Life's too short and problems are too expensive. A well-trained coach can help you become a PFZ. A well-trained coach is a PFZ herself.
6. You'll likely make more money in your career, profession or business.
Clients don't keep paying their coaches just for the fun of it. Coaching, like every other professional service, needs to improve the financial bottom line and it does. Coaches are trained to help clients to leverage their ability to make money, i.e., getting a raise, choosing a better career, starting a business, improving profitability, adding more value to their customers, proper pricing, productivity and others. Sure, coaching is personal, but it almost always includes a strong financial aspect.
7. You'll be a lot happier and this happiness will last.
Coaches know how to help you to reduce stress, integrate all aspects of your life, simplify or downshift, and reorient around what makes you the happiest. What good is increased productivity and profitability if you're not happy?
8. You'll be much more effective and influential with others: family, business and personal relationships.
Communication makes life life. A coach is an expert communicator and trains clients on how to come across better, relate well with others, listen aggressively, influence, coach, motivate and support others. There are over 100 communication and listening skills that clients can learn from a coach.
9. You'll become much more attractive to others -- on the inside and on the outside.
Selling, as a profession and as a proven technique/process, is on its way out. Why? Because humans are getting better at choosing for themselves and buying better. Humans will respond less to advertising and selling techniques and instead be drawn to a product or service and they will be more likely drawn because of who is offering the product or service. This process is called attraction and Coach University wrote the book on it (called Irresistible Attraction). It's real. It works. And it will replace much of the promotion, marketing, selling, seducing and other very expensive budget items. Remember, the world (aka consumers) is rapidly eliminating virtually all waste and inefficiencies in how business is conducted, products are sold and how services are delivered. Selling and mass marketing, while certainly still very effective right now, is on the hit list. Attraction is the next generation of selling and the well-trained coach can help you and your business gets on this track immediately.
10. You'll have a better life, not just a better lifestyle.
The term Quality of Life has become overused in the past few years, but the trend of Americans seeking to create a much better life for themselves is accelerating. In fact, people are re-examining what they had assumed that a good life was (married, 2.3 kids, nice car, secure job, church on Sundays, 3 weeks of vacation a year) and are now creating their own life, often breaking the rules and flying in the face of conventional wisdom in the process. A coach has been trained in the Life
Design process and has already made the kind of design changes in their life, that their clients are just now beginning to make.
Are you enjoying these top 10 lists? Share them with your friends, family and associates by simply sending this link to them.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton, MBA
Coach, consultant, trainer
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