ABC - Advantage Business Club | Looking for MORE business?

2009-06-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

I always find it interesting who we meet on the road to success and the opportunities that arrise.

Several months ago I was at a breakfast meeting when I had the opportuinty to meet with a lady who ran a health and beauty clinic in Newmarket. I have been to visit her several times and have had both full and stone massages, this lady knows her stuff.

White Tara, an alternative health and beauty clinic with so much to offer, tucked in a quiet part of Newmarket with a tranquil garden for guests to enjoy the day.

If you are in driving distance of this place you need to go and enjoy a long lasting and very relaxing massage.

I did :-)

Mark

ABC

2009-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Where else can you network and

advertise your business for free...

http://www.abcadvantage.biz/

CASH FLOW TIPS!!!

2008-10-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Tips building blocks to increase CASH FLOW

The one thing you must always remember in building a business is CASH is KING, no matter what, you have to keep it flowing; we’ve listed our top 10 things for you to look at in your business to improve cash flow with out spending a fortune.

1) PRESS RELEASE

When did you last tell your local news papers, local magazines or web directory about something exciting happening in your business? Remember they need content as much as you need coverage. Tell them about who’s been promoted, what new contracts or of any new certifications you’ve won.

2) NETWORKING EVENTS

There are coffee mornings and breakfast meetings all over the place, you need to attend as many of these as possible to get your face seen every. Make sure to take lots of business cards and have a clear idea what you are going to tell people about our business.

3) HOST BENEFICIARY

Whom do you know in another company that sends out invoices by post to their customers? What you need to do is find a product or service that you could offer their customers. This works great with discount vouchers; you just supply the vouchers and wait for the calls, as the invoices are sent out by the other company.

4) SALES SCRIPTS

Most people don’t like telephone scripts as they say it takes out the personality, but you can use them in many different ways. Outline all the things you need to say, for instants, the company name, your name, special offers etc, but above all be polite.

5) INVOICING

Make sure you get those invoices out ASAP. The sooner the customer gets it the more chance you have of getting your money. Don’t be scared of asking for your money either, remember it is yours, you supplied a product or service for them. By the way, this is a great time to remind customers about special offers, just pop the flyer in with the invoice.

6) REFERRALS

Word of mouth marketing is the most cost effective form of marketing in the world, so how do you get people to talk positively about your business? EASY, if you are the best at what you do (not the cheapest), you will get people recommending you to others; customer service, helpful, knowledgeable about your products and services, and most of all be polite.
7) CONVERSION RATE

This is where many companies fall down; they think that because the phone rings and lots of people come through the door they are busy. Reality is that when you look carefully; you’re busy but not busy achieving! Take hold of this fast, look at your USP, in store demonstrations, wording on literature, offers and stock levels.

8) PAYMENTS

How can your customers pay you for your products and services? Do you accept cash, cheque, credit cards or BACS? Look at what is the cheapest one to accept from a banking point of view and which one will clear in the bank the fastest. It’s worth offering a discount to get your customers to pay when and how you want.

9) SALES

Don’t be scared to ask for the sale. If they’ve come through the door or called you they are obviously in the market place. Look at your dead stock, can you do a special offer with it to turn it in to cash. How can you make it easier for customers to contact you? Do they have all your up-to-date contact details, address, telephone, mobile, email or website. Don’t give them any reason to go else where.

10) DATABASE

You always need people to contact about your business so make sure that you always keep your database up to date. Make sure you have as many details on there as possible about them, their business and what they buy, because this used correctly can earn you a fortune.

11) PROPFILE

Raising your profile is what keeps you ahead of your competitors so, how can you achieve that without spending a fortune. Depending on the type of business you are, you can look at various things, if you have a website to drive extra traffic you may want to look at a Myspace, facebook or directmatches website as well. There you can add blogs for other business people to read free. Something like free tips and help about your field, with a link to your web site, or a trade magazines for4 you to write a monthly column.

Oh, that 11 top tips not 10. That means you got 10% more than you thought you were going to get. See like everybody else you like something free.

Hopefully these building blocks will help you build a better business. If you need clarification on any of the above points, please feel free to call us, we will be please to help you.

Mark

07979 080808
Business site http://www.abcadvantage.biz/ Search engine http://www.abclocal.biz/

Understanding Networking

2008-08-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Understanding networking is a wonderful thing. However, most people never totally understand the power of a room full of people. When the ABC hold a coffee morning and we have twenty people attend, some people would think, well it’s not worth getting up for.

On the contrary, let me tell you a little story!

One morning I left my home town and drove for 45 minutes to our next major town to help launch a breakfast meeting for someone else, who was ill in bed. On arrival, it became very apparent that I was not the only one expecting more than the two people who stood before me. Never the less, undeterred, we sat, and over a coffee spoke about what we all did and what made us unique with in our specialised fields. One of the two was so well connected it was untrue. This gentleman knew absolutely everyone in the town and said with 100% commitment, this is just a set back, next week I will have this room full. The other sat with a very confused look upon his face looking like he should have been somewhere else. In all fairness, the truth be known, I thought the same until a strange thing happened.

The confused look slowly drifted away and the guy said, do you know, last week I met Richard Branson.
“Where an earth did you go to meet Richard Branson?” I said,
“He called me to see if he could buy my company.” The guy replied.
“He called you, not one of his members of staff?”
“That’s right, well almost.”
“What do you mean almost?” I asked.
“Well, they called first and tried to buy the company and I said if he wants it, tell him to do his own dirty work, so he did. I have his mobile number now, so I can call him every now and again to see how things are going and how the staff are fitting in with the Virgin ethos.”

Suddenly, the three of us were the best connected people in the town! That day, I learned a very important lesson; it’s not the amount of people in the room, it’s the quality, and getting people to talk to each other.

I have a feeling most people would have glanced in the room and walked away, and thought, what a waste of time that will be.

Remember; always ask questions about people’s contacts. Who do they know? Who is there target market? Who is there biggest customer?

Happy Networking

Mark

Don't forget you can advertise and network your business for FREE at http://www.abcadvantage.biz/

Life After Death

2008-06-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Some years ago, I had to fly to Scotland for a company conference, big deal I hear you say. WELL,
I had never flown before and to say that I was scared would have been a major understatement. I remember leaving home that morning, thinking, what if this is the last time I ever see Becky and the kids again. As I drove to Tim’s, a good friend of mine who would be flying with me, I started to worry even more about the ‘what if’.

Now, Tim knew I had never flown before, and like a true friend never once questioned or laughed at me over the point that I was 35 but acting like a 2 year old.

I remember going through Stanstead Airport and boarding Easyjet. Tim sat near the window and after that, it all became a bit more serious for me especially when the plain started to move.

Now, not being a religious person, I thought, well, praying won’t help, but hey, he may just be listening, I will close my eyes and drop him a quick note.

Do you know the strangest things that kept going through my mind was, if I die, there is so much I have never said to Becky and all the kids. I know I always tell Becky and the kids I love them, but if only I had had the chance to leave all my messages for them, so if this were the big day, they would know how I really felt. Then I started to worry about the strangest of things, like, where I keep the life policies, codes and passwords, what business interests I want left to whom. I know, we should have a WILL, but as the plane was heading up over the Midlands, my Solicitor was not anywhere in sight!

Well, we got there in one piece, and then after what was the most amazing conference of my life, ending with Tim and I on stage in front of hundreds of people, it was time to fly home.

Oh no, not again!

Now, the funny thing is, some things after a while fall from your mind and drift in to the past, and until the next time it happens, you forget about them. This was one of them, until I was at a coffee morning and someone did a talk about a new website, www.sayitwhen.com/abc and it brought all those emotions flooding back. This site is somewhere you can leave all your messages, songs, videos and much more for loved ones to access when you are gone. I know sounds morbid doesn’t it, but like taxes, you can’t cheat it.

The guys who run the site I think have something really special, check it out and let me know.

Mark Byford

E: mark@abcadvantage.biz T: 07979 080808

http://www.abclocal.biz/ http://www.abcadvantage.biz/ http://www.abcnetwork.biz/ http://www.mysplodge.com/

ABC take on the Blues

2008-06-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

Never hack-off your business partner

It’s been a mad month at the ABC, hence, I haven’t written lately, but thought I ought to play catch up with everyone, and let them know why it’s been so quite from someone who always has something to say.

Several weeks ago, I was on Kevin’s case about getting our new website and member’s area completed, when he took a telephone call from Jim Herrington, a business coach with Action International. Jim was trialling a new venture to see if business people could get the emphasis of needing a coach, if they saw why sports people used them. Kevin said, “Oh, Mark would love to attend.”

Bring your sports kit for a light coaching slot with Bryan Hamilton and Simon Milton the flyer said. Being a Tractor Boys fan since birth, this to me was an opportunity not to be missed.

The morning arrived and Matt, a good friend of mine who plays a lot of football, picked me up for the day ahead. I had managed to get two tickets from Jim, who had clearly stated, “There are only 20 golden tickets”.

We arrive at Portman Road training grounds where we were greeted by Jim, and another Action Coach. After an hour of networking, we were taken by bus to the Ipswich Town players training grounds, where we were met by Bryan Hamilton the Coach, and Simon Milton one of the former players. I thought, well, how hard could the light coaching session be?

Let me tell you, the best bit of it was seeing Matt’s face, every time I looked at him and saw his huge smile, it took away the pain. Luckily, Peter Green the photographer had the sense to take the photos before we trained.

The two hours came and went, and as we all headed back to the showers. Most of us agreed that the days of us playing football had been over for some years.

The day rolled on with a networking lunch, where we all got to know a bit more about each other. One person who springs back to mind was Kate McNally, the only woman to attend; whom we would find out at the end of the day was the business editor to the East Anglian Daily Times, she was such a good sport.

The last two hours of the day were taken up by Action Coaches; letting us know how they could help the business people, we come across every day in our businesses. They covers loads of great stuff, I took so many notes it was untrue. Some bits I’ve implemented into our business already.

The day came to a close, and Matt and I headed back to Bury St Edmunds, happily chatting about the day and the people we had met, and wondered how we could now help the Action Coaches.

I guess, the how can I help, was made easy when you look at the whole day. I have never ever played in a game of football, at any level, even school, as I did track. After a short while, I could dribble the ball around the cones, and soon came to understand that’s what a coach does; shows you how to do things you didn’t know how to do before. How many business people do you know who go through their business life not really knowing what they are doing? Maybe they need an Action Coach!

Well must go, I still have about 50 more blogs to do…

Speak soon

Mark Byford

E: mark@abcadvantage.biz T: 07979 080808
www.abclocal.biz www.abcadvantage.biz www.abcnetwork.biz www.mysplodge.com

P.S. Nearly forgot, the ABC marches onward and upward, with new members joining at all levels.

Oh didn't we do well...

2008-05-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Oh didn’t we do well

Sometimes in business, you are faced with decision you may not want to face, but you just know you have got to. I think the big thing is when you make the decision; do you do it now or later? I think the answer is there may never be a good time; however not acting at all is a far worse scenario.

Kevin and I had been racking our brains over when to launch different parts of the advertising media package that we have created. I have to say at this point, when I say we, what I meant to say was, I have some great ideas. Poor old Kevin is just left to sort out the hard work and programming in the back ground.

I supposed I really ought to bring you right up to date on where we are at this point.

1) Our first Breakfast Meeting is up and running, and heading in the right direction.

2) The Coffee Morning is still growing, with lots of new businesses.

3) The main website has had a massive overhaul.

4) The Networking section is now working in the back office.

5) Members can pass building blocks via the networking section.

6) The search engine has gained a FREE listing for any business.

7) Silver members now have their banners appearing FREE on the sites.

8) Telesales ladies are busy on the phones to get people to events.

Just leaving piste et resistance to the end (more programming for poor old Kevin) the new social media site for the public. This will be a great site for our members who want to advertise to the public, because they can have their banners all over the site at no extra cost to them.

After that, it then just leaves The Advantage our own newsletter that will be dropped to both businesses and public alike, on a monthly bases. Again all members will get listed for FREE in this, but silver members will get a quarter page advert for the first month of them joining for FREE.

That must all lead towards one thing; we are almost there.

Yesterday I received a testimonial from ALB Couriers, I will let you read it, this really made my day!

Hello Mark

Just a note to thank you for the wonderful testimonial you sent me, as you know today was the day of my business funding meeting with my business adviser, who turned out to be 2 guys from deloitte and touché. The result of this 2 hour meeting was that D&T are funding my new courier business with a loan of £7500 pounds.

As you can imagine, I am ecstatic at the outcome of this meeting and I don’t mind admitting \I was a tad nervous, but after I gave my introductory speech about ALB Couriers and handed out your testimonial ( about which they were very impressed with) I happened to mention that your testimonial will be the first of many not all from you but other companies, !!!!! I started to relax and answer all their questions, all my hard work, research, and enthusiasm over the last 12 months has finally paid dividends.

They were very impressed with the concept behind ABC advantage and they practically told me to get in and join.

Once the paperwork has been finalised the cash will be in my account in about 5 - 10 days then I will immediately sign up with ABC advantage and attend my first breakfast club meeting in Bury St Edmunds. Oh and start work!!

On a final note, I want to thank you for all the help and advice you have given me over the last few months and I look forward to having a happy and prosperous business relationship with you and ABC advantage.

Kind Regards
Tony
ALB Couriers
01708502488
07864380517

I sat and smiled, as my wife Becky read this over my shoulder, “0h didn’t we do well” she said. This is what makes the job as good as it gets, networking, speaking to people and hooking up contacts, all to get the results people are looking for.

Now don’t forget to go to www.abclocal.biz and advertise your business online for FREE.

Speak soon

Mark

www.abcadvantage.biz

Thinking Outside The Box...

2008-05-15T04:25:00.000-07:00

Thinking outside the box, I guess the expression ‘thinking outside the box’ doesn’t really apply to me, as I am the one person who would never get in the box to start with! Over the years, I have come up against all sorts of competition in lots of different business fields, and it never ceases to amaze me how some people feel so threatened. I suppose it must be down to one of two main factors.

1) They are not really sure that what they have to offer is as good for their customers as they tell them it is.

2) They know what you offer is a better product or service and are scared they will lose business.

I believe you are on a slippery slope when you start to think like this, as without fail, I have always found that it is better to work with people rather than against them. Generally, you find if you put someone’s back up they will go out of their way to make your life more difficult. Since Kevin and I started to promote the ABC and all the aspects of it, we have had several people say, “isn’t that like what Joe Bloggs does” and we would say NO, fortunately, there is nothing out there like ABC.

Business without a doubt is about making contacts, working with those contacts, and exploring the opportunities for business with those people and their businesses. There are so many places now to network it is unreal. On-line alone, there are hundreds of new sites to network on. Don’t get me wrong, I belong to lots of these sites and get some great business contacts from them. However, you have to look at the big picture, like outside the box. We have, and you should see what’s out here!.

Let me just point out a few facts about business as a whole and how things are going to change this coming year. I speak with hundreds of business people each week, and at the moment, they all say the same thing, “THINGS ARE BAD”. Not because they know they are, just the media told them it was, so it must be. But inside the box, they believe what they are told! So if things are bad, in the box, this is what will happen and you won’t be able to change it.

1) Businesses will only have so much to spend on advertising.

2) Businesses will want proof of what that advertising is bringing them.

3) Businesses will want to get more customers, but at know extra cost.

4) Businesses will want to network with more businesses at know extra cost.

5) Businesses will want to save money and get more benefits.

I think you get the point. I could go on, but it would only depress us both!
So what are the options for the everyday business person with only so much to spend?
I guess the common one is, to keep doing what you have always done and get what you have always got…..

… OR TRY SOMETHING NEW!

How does this sound, for the last 3 years Kevin and I had a dream; to launch the Advantage Business Club. It would offer its members one simple thing, a way to get more business at no extra cost. Let me clarify what I mean.

Businesses spend money on advertising in lots of different ways, so we thought let’s bring it all under one roof.

Business Breakfasts
Coffee Mornings
Evening Buffets
Business News Letter Advertising in The Advantage
News Articles
Search Engine Listing
Banner Advertising
Key Word Search
On-line Networking Sites
Profiled on Busy Sites
15% of Meals at the Chez Gerard’s Group
Put Your Business Cards, in Business Card Dispensers in Busy Outlets
Spot Light Your Business at Meetings

Just to name a few and we have only been launched a month!

Backed by a company who do both online and off line advertising to promote all of the above. Oh, did I mention the fact that we are looking to launch a Charity to help start up businesses. Strange what you can think of over 3 years.

I know you’re thinking, “They can’t do all that”, well, you’re wrong, as the grass is greener on the other side, and in this case, it’s outside the box!

Add up what you would spend on all the above, if you could even get it. Then have a look at our website and let us know what you think about what we are doing. If you don’t like it, the worse case scenario is, you can register on our search engine for FREE.

Speak soon and check out the site.

Mark

http://www.abcadvantage.biz
http://www.abclocal.biz/

Business Networking and Referral Marketing

2008-04-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

Over the past 22 years of being self employed, my mindset has changed towards how to gain new business. I used to think that just throw more money at adverting, and undoubtedly, something will happen. Now, I think there is a much better way. You see, getting a customer is one link in a long chain you have to build to claim they are a customer of yours.

For several years, I worked as a director along side a company who based their whole thought set around what goes around, comes around. To understand how people make a decision of what supplier to use, you firstly have to understand why your customers use you. If you are the best company, with the best product or service, and give the best customer service and back up, they will tell others. Getting people to refer you is worth its weight in gold.

Business by referral is the most cost affective ways to market any business, and all you have to do is make a good job of looking after your existing customers. I remember one business I owned, we had a product that we had a problem with, and I had to replace the product four times for the customer. I thought to myself that this customer must think we are useless, but to my amazement, the customer wrote to thank me for all the trouble we had gone to, to keep her informed at every opportunity. You see it’s not what you do; it’s how you do it. Do you know, that customer passed so much business our way it was unbelievable, telling every one, we could be trusted and not to use any of our competitors, ‘you can’t buy that kind of advertising’.

When people talk about networking as a thing you should do to drive your business forward into the face of others, just ask yourself this question. How many people can you speak to in a month? I guarantee that it’s not as many as all of your customers put together. So how can you accelerate the process, well, here is a quick way and it will only cost you the price of the coffee.

Business breakfasts, I believe are one of the greatest business tools ever thought of, along with the very clever idea of a relaxed networking coffee club. The ABC is a business referral networking organisation, set-up with one thing in mind; finding more business for its members. How we do this is to give people a structured but relaxed networking environment to network in. The success we’ve had in our home town is unbelievable; check out all the facts on my website. Just a note here though the success wasn’t down to us, it was down to the success those who visited had, and they told their customers and friends.

So remember to invite your customers to join in your networking, whether you are there or not.

Mark

www.abcadvantage.biz

Can't see the wood for the trees...

2008-04-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

Its Tuesday it’s 5 to 5 and it crackers, as the alarm goes of for another long day on the ABC networking guide to the Galaxy!

Tuddenham Mill breakfast meeting kicked of dead on the dot of 7.15am, with this weeks main spotlight on the award winning speech from Mr Gary Spencer PHD, that’s ‘professional herbalife distributor’ to you and me. He told us how he can take the ‘tubby of the hubby and put the life in the wife’, sounds good to me! Gary helps people get to their ideal size and to keep the weight off with a product range that is 100% natural. That sounds like the kind thing I need, as my wife keeps washing all my clothes on a hot wash, and now none of them fit me, well, that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!

As the meeting agenda is slowly creeping into play, I gave the task to Jacqui Carrel to do the Coaching Slot. Jacqui covered Google Adword and the way in which it can help drive traffic to your website, and how you only pay for the leads you get rather than the advert itself; shame newspapers don’t do that.

After the meeting, we dived back to Bury for the ABC Networking and Coffee Morning, where Brett from BAP Photography www.barphotoart.co.uk, had set up his very own art gallery. When the 11am ding on the glass came, Brett leapt to the chair, and told everyone about his passion for his photography. The man is most talented I have to say. Most of the pictures are 180 to 360 degree shots, made up of perhaps 20 different pictures, mostly of the outdoors, especially trees.

More meetings beckoned as we flew from Chez Gerard’s, leaving some of the days visitors to enjoy their FREE bottle of wine with their meal; only available if you came to the ABC coffee morning first. Another good reason to come, I think!

The funniest thing that happened today was when I got home and checked the emails that had arrived since 6am; I had one from a Government Official, who asked could they come and speak to the ABC Coffee Morning guests. My reckoning is we must be getting somewhere if the Government contacts us; anyway, it’s good to talk.

Well, fellow Networkers it’s time for my dinner so ciao for now…

Mark

www.abcadvantage.biz

None stranger than folk...

2008-04-19T13:14:00.001-07:00

I always remember as a child my Nan putting her finger over my mouth when I went to talk over her, and saying the words that I hear myself quoting to so many people today. ‘You were graced by god, he gave you two ears and one mouth, try to use them in the right proportions’. The thing is, when I think back to what she said, as a nine year old boy it meant nothing other than shut up. Now several years on, I understand what she meant, and the clear fact is if you listen, you hear more.

This week I have been out and about, holding meetings and just taking the time to listen to what other people have to say, I have picked up so many referrals for people. One of those was from a delightful young lady called Michele from White Tara, a beauty salon in Newmarket. I came away with a print and design job for Andrew Akehurst from http://www.amacman.com/ ,a new member to join the Tuddenham Mill Team. It’s always nice when you can pick up referrals for members, as a lot of the referrals I get at this point have to go to people I know rather than members, but that will obviously change as the membership grows.

One of the members who had joined the week before last was Jacqui Carrel, a good friend of mine for a lot of years, her company is called http://www.cinnamonedge.com/ Jacqui always quotes, ‘words written well’. She offers services ranging from copywriting to ghost writing books. I often get her to check over my text as I suffer badly with dyslexia. Fortunately, Jacqui use to be a teacher so she is use to dealing with creative but challenging brains such as mine. I have set myself a task this week, which is to get some work for Jacqui and her partner Roy. Here is a challenge to you the reader, have a look at their website and see what work they can do for someone you know.

This week has been another mad one, going from meeting to meeting. Meetings are things that amaze me, as you go in thinking you will get one thing, and always come out with something different. I had arranged this week to call on a contact of mine Jane Fiddian who makes curtains, for a cup of tea and came away with a huge box of business cards. I can only think they will come in handy over the next weeks, as everything gears up for the company’s main launch on June 2nd. We still have so much to get sorted by that point, to make sure things kick of really well.

I have driven Kevin to despair this week, making changes to the websites that he thought we had finalised a year ago. Well things change, oh, I mean develop into something bigger and better, and that is at the end of the day what we want to be. Let’s face it if you don’t have the desire to take over the world, then why are you doing it.

Oh my Good look at the time I missed Doctor Who…

Talk to you soon

Mark

http://www.abcadvantage.biz/

Yes 5am does exist!

2008-04-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, 5am does exist!

When the alarm went of at 5am I thought to myself Mark what are you doing, this is total madness. Having got ready, checked the email, rounded up everything required for the long day ahead Kevin pulled up outside and we were off.

First call Tuddenham Mill for the ABC weekly breakfast meeting, where we did some training on how to find more building blocks for each other (referrals/testimonials/get2gethers). A fantastic meeting I have to say myself, we set targets for each other to all bring one new guest next week and to see what building blocks could be found.

Second call Chez Gerard’s for the ABC weekly networking coffee morning, where we normally get around 35 people turn up to network. NOT ANY MORE… 48 people came this week it was a massive turnout and the room was electric. So many new people, I wonder did those flyers work I dropped. I would also have to say on that note a huge THANK YOU to everyone who invited new people along; Simon Langley from http://www.langleysconservatories.co.uk/ invited both a builder and an electrician.

On from Chez Gerard’s to a meet the RBS bank manager, to talk about our plans and his membership. Then it was home to catch up on the emails and phone calls before heading out to four more meeting to see people from Printers, Herbalife distributors, business coach and finally at 10pm my last meeting was to see a friend who had arranged for me to meet with several friends of his to talk about the ABC.

11.55pm I closed the front door on the most amazing day I have ever had in all my time of business networking. Laying there reflecting on the day I thought, well I found referrals, got new members, people asking can they please attend next weeks meetings and a stack load more people to follow up on, those word ‘it’ll never work’ did not come in to my mind.

Mark

http://www.abcadvantage.biz/

Late night for the boys...

2008-04-12T04:09:00.000-07:00

Late night for the boys…

Having walked around Bury St Edmunds putting out the flyers to promote the ABC networking coffee club I decided it really wasn’t that bad. Then last night I thought I would print 300 letters and stick in envelopes to drop around the industrial estates. No problem I can do that over the weekend to continue to build on the success of the ABC breakfast meetings, Kevin and I finished them at gone 11pm. Along with the telephone canvassing we start full time next week, post cards and more letters I believe we will get things moving in the right direction.

The funny thing is that as we are contacting more and more people we are starting to get a lot of people I have networked with in the past showing up. I had an email yesterday from a trade mark solicitor I had used in the past for trade marking a company’s name and logo. I had passed on his details to a friend, who is working for a company who were looking to get trade marking done. Funny thing I said, I know some one who can do that, and promptly jump in feet first knowing he was good at his job. Silly thing as I am writing this is when I think to my self that really is how simple word of mouth referrals are.

Well have to go 300 letters to deliver before 8am on Monday morning…

Mark

www.abcadvantage.biz

Just when you thought it was all over...

2008-04-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought, it was all over!

Like the madness of King George I have lost the total plot today, travelling round dropping of flyers promoting the ABC coffee morning at Chez Gerard’s on Tuesday. On the other side of that though it did get a lot easier after my 11year old son decided to join me we got out 250 flyers this evening in an hour.

Been a busy old day again, visiting potential members, seeing the printer and organising a telephone campaign and scripts for the girls to use when calling to get visitors for the breakfast meetings.

Had another meeting today with a potential Team Director who is interested on starting a TEAM in Thetford or Watton, where we have already had 3 inquiries.

Oh well must go and my feet ache J must be all that walking…

Mark

P.S where was Kevin LOL.

www.abcadvantage.biz

It will never work!

2008-04-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

What a day we have had!

We held the very first Advantage Business Club breakfast meeting this morning with a great turn out, we even had an under water basket weaver. I suppose the most positive thing that came out of the day for me was 6 people called me after the meeting to say can I join please.

So it’s back to the telephones to start getting more referrals for those members and more guests for next Tuesdays meeting to keep the momentum moving.

The strange thing is over the past week I have found 14 referrals with out really trying, so now we’ve started meetings and members are coming on it should start to get exciting.

After the meeting this morning it was straight on to a ABC board meeting, then on to Ipswich to talk about opening the second Advantage Business Club coffee meeting.

It is amazing the buzz you get from getting people referrals and talking to positive like minded people. Today I have found a cracking referral for a printer, but as yet, we don’t have one on board

Oh well that’s me for now…

Mark

WOW!

2008-04-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

WOW!

Some times, it’s nice to get more than you bargain for, and today’s ABC meeting was just that. So many faces both old and new, even our RBS bank manager came to support us, even if it was funny, he should turn up the week Lloyds were the sponsor.

However, all jokes aside we did have a great meeting with lots of people asking if they could book 1 2 1’s with us to talk about becoming members. So I guess that means we are off to a start with the next be challenge still to face us at Tuddenham Mill on the 8th of April.

Oh well back to the telephone calls, emails and updating the database, catch up with you all soon.

Mark

http://www.abcadvantage.biz/

Updates...

2008-03-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hi every one…

Just thought I would drop you all a note to let you know how things are hotting up in the world of the ABC. We have just completed our first week of trading and looking back over the last week I have been examining the results we have had for others and ourselves.

To name but a few, we have found a courier a job from Bury St Edmunds to Southampton, a local sign company an introduction with a national car dealership, a copy writer a local authors book to edit for publishing and a curtain company a £1,200 order. Now take into account the fact that we haven’t even advertised yet, not bad.

We have had so many meetings over the last weeks, which it seemed we were having meetings to talk about meeting at some points. When we look back, we think wow we have achieved a lot. We have even managed to secure a 15% discount card for all our members for the Chez Gerard Group.

Over the next three weeks, we have two cars going to be covered in advertising to start really pushing the point we are here. Signs for Northgate round about in Bury St Edmunds, leaflets to drop around all commercial and retail units and poster frames to be put up in takeaways.

The websites are now all but completed on the front end, and over the next weeks all the back office for the members will go live. Members are now being added to www.abclocal.biz search engine so we can start advertising that as well.

The final push is on to get every body to the launch of our first ABC Breakfast Meeting; this is a massive task, as my experience only to well knows.

Oh well back to the grind stone, hope to catch up with you at the next ABC Coffee Networking Meeting.

Thanks for reading

Mark