The Process of a Business Nip Tuck
Doing business can quickly become as boring a job as it would be to work a job for an online employer. When we start out, everything is new and exciting. We launch with excitement, build a website/blog/membership site/forum or whatever else we do to get noticed and help us brand our “thang.”
But then, everyday life settles in and we start to feel rather comfortable without trying to inject some new found youth and glamor.
The Bold & the Beautiful
Have you noticed that the people who are bold and beautiful seem to get it all! They get the contracts, the Porsche’s, the sexy wife’s/hunky husbands and the money. For those of you who believe in the law of attraction, this all makes sense. But for all the others, it poses a big mystery, or so it seems.
What do these guys actually do different than us?
The answer is …
… Branding!
That really is the whole truth. Successful people have managed to brand themselves through either an image, a name, a logo, an idea, a concept or a product.
They also use the power of perception very cleverly to portray success and make it look like there was a regal air surrounding them, even if they have nothing to back it up with in the beginning.
It is no secret that people are drawn to success, money and fame. They hang around successful people like moths do around a light bulb on a warm summer night, buzzing with excitement, to be so close to success actually smell success.
It is what it is… people just love to rub shoulders and associate themselves with celebrity. But like celebrity, in business we have to pay our price. This involves a …
Business Liposuction
Every now and then we need to spring clean our appearances. Like the model, the actress or the aging actor who goes for a nip & tuck, business owners need to do their own little sprucing up.
Business liposuction is nothing else than sucking all the grime, fat and deadly arteries out of our business and replace it with something more sexy, fresh and healthy to step back into the limelight.
Introducing – my brand new made over nipped & tucked Portfolio Site.
Having seen the need emerge to nip tuck myself as my business grew, I knew that I had to step into the limelight and become an even more serious contender.
It took me ages to find the right….
Dermabrasion Methods
To rub off all that gunk from my old site and settle on a scheme for the shiny new me. I wanted:
- Sophistication
- Style
- Black & White
- Branding
- Uniqueness
- Sexy
- Professionalism
- Glamor
In the end. I got all that and more. I was fortunate enough to have found new friends with the connections in true Hollywood style to lead me to Men With Pens. Harry, my liposuction surgeon managed to do exactly what I wanted him to do.
He nipped a bit here….tucked a little there and drew some lines on what is possible in the overall scheme of things. He came up with the timeless secret of what has been working for the starlets for years, namely…
Business Botox Injections
Combining Harry’s ability with my own vision resulted in what you will find when you visit my new me. Born out of necessity and a need to stay competitive in the freelancing market, my new Portfolio Site is everything and more I always wanted it to be.
Now I can confidently step out into the limelight in front of the Paparazzi, knowing, that my boobs won’t fall out and my hair is nice and sleek.
If you like to book me for a glamorous assignment, a photo shoot, or a long term contract, you can do this confidently now with the help of my new site.
Get Real!
Just like the Hollywood crowd needs a lift off at times, we as business owners and entrepreneurs need one too. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is my site/blog modern enough to keep with current demands and trends? I’m afraid if it isn’t, you might want to book your own business liposuction.
- Are there parts of my business that could do with eliminating (like slow loading Plugins, text, widgets…)
- Is my public profile worthy enough of my ability as a professional?
- Am I branding myself enough for business, or is the casual drop of my name sending the big studio bosses into a hiding frenzy.
In the end, in business there is always a second chance. So if you don’t get it right this time round, you might do so in the next… or the round after.
But do you really want to wait this long?
So, what is it that you do occasionally to nip tuck your business? Let me know, I’d love to hear your input.
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Brett Legree | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
This was a really great post. Thanks again for your help last night / earlier today, too (depending on what time zone we are in!)
Not only was it well-written, fresh and funny, it also garnered you a new fan.
(A co-worker of mine looked over my shoulder just as I opened the page, saw the first pic at the top, and said “whoa.”
Monika | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: I knew that this pic would draw some men like bees to honey. I wonder what he says about MY pic? Or was it my pic he fell in love with salivating.
Hahahaha…..shouldn’t you work anyway?
It was a pleasure to help you.
Brett Legree | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Monika, you know how we men work…
I won’t say, it might embarrass him and he’s a pretty polite guy!
(But your pic is very nice too, he says.)
Yes, sadly, I should get myself back to the tasks at hand… or I might find myself freelancing sooner than I’d planned!
On the other hand, that would be quite the motivator… hmm.
Monika | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: hehehe…I understand, I always get nice. Never hot. But so is life and that is that. What can you expect at 40 anyway. Just kidding. I let you be in peace and go dream about my yacht, my travels and life as a LIP.
Brett Legree | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
@ Monika, well then, if he is too polite – you’re hot
so there (can I say that?) And 40 is not old, I’m 38 and feel better than I did at 18.
Question – can I come for a ride on your yacht?
Vic | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
I love it I think it looks great and the black and white option is so elegant used correctly.
Two things I would change.
Studies have shown that many people do not buy services or products just because they cant find how to pay.
I would actually add buy now buttons right under your pkg’s. Make it easy for a potential customer to hire you. You can always make the buttons yourself and make them also elegant.
The second is more of a technical issue. On your Hire Me page in your Services the links open to a new page. This could also be a small turn off since some browsers block pop-ups and also back to studies again LMAO have shown people like to stay inside the website when clicking they only like to be clicked out if they are going to a new website.
To Your Success
Vic
Harrison McLeod (the doctor is in!) | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
Very cool post! Dr. Harrison McLeod…I like the sound of that.
The theme looks great and I wish you all the best with it. It’s amazing what a little face lift can do. Thanks for the links.
Amy | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Well done, Monika. The pen men did a nice job.
Terry Didcott | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Hey I like it very much! That’s a really good look and it does give that air of professionalism and sophistication. Good choice!
That should get the big dollar clients knocking at your door!
Terry
Simonne | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Besides the fact that it looks so stylish due to the black & white choice, your sales pitch is also well written, as it appeals to the dream which every business person has: to make that business more successful. The benefits of hiring you are obvious, and they are nicely supported by the testimonials.
I wish you lots of happy clients,
Simonne
Grizzly | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
My my, haven’t you come a long way. I couldn’t be happier for you and think the site looks great. Very polished. I do have a couple of SEO suggestions for you but only if you want to hear them – let me know. Knock em dead.
James Chartrand - Men with Pens | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the linkout, Monika, and we’re really pleased you like your site. Elegant swank is what it’s all about, and we hope that your ROI is rich and beautiful.
Vic is right. If you’re going to show your prices and have packages, include a buy now with some way for clients to communicate their needs to you at the same time. People like anonymity sometimes. (On the other hand, if a client doesn’t want to email you, it’s probably not a great gig.)
Links opening in a new window are also something to avoid – we stopped using them a while back when we heard that there were complaints in the blogosphere.
But these are small details. The image is what matters, and it’ll make a difference, I’m sure.
Monika | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
@ Vic: thank you for your valuable feedback. I think your idea on adding buy now buttons is a great one and I’m going to do this.
I’ve also rectified the opening on blank pages. Thanks for telling me this wasn’t a good option. I will deter from that in the future.
Monika | Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
@ Harry: well, it just matched perfectly what I was going to portray, plus handing you the Dr. certificate allows you to wear a mmmhhhh….stethoscope now. Hehehe….
I thank you for doing an amazing job with it!
@ Amy: yes they certainly did. I’m well impressed in what they have done and how well they carried my vision to final completion! Thank you for the compliment.
@ Terry: thanks buddy, I sure hope so. Had already my first taker which is great. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time coming and now that it is done, I feel like a million dollars.
@ Simonne: it’s great to get feedback like this as it shows I’m on the right track. I appreciate you saying this, thank you very much.
@ Griz: haven’t I just. I’m ecstatic right now and so excited about my future. I would certainly love to hear what you’ve got to say. Skype me if you wish, I’m online now. Bring it on my friend.
@ James: thanks you for this. Like I mentioned to Vic, I’ve changed over the link issue. I appreciate your feedback on the buy now buttons and am working on getting these integrated. You Men with Pens certainly rock.