The Power of Keeping In Touch

Keeping in touch with people you meet at networking functions, at corporate Christmas parties or at social BBQs can bring you benefits and surprises that you may not have even planned for. I would like to share a personal story with you and this is indicative of the power keeping in touch can bring. Julie is the owner of the Duster Dollies Franchise System. She recently became a client and this is how we connected, did business and became friends....

We both were finalists for the Sydney Business Review (SBR) Woman of the Year Award in 2005. A group of us across NSW attended the award night at the beautiful Oatlands Golf Course and I ended up winning the award that night. Julie was also one of the finalists but due to a previous business commitment, she was in Melbourne that night and we did not meet at this event (Some of the award pictures are still on our Web site).   

The next day, I wrote an email to all the finalists and thanking them for participating in the award and to tell them that I was interested in keeping in touch by sending them my CleverTips. After months of writing – one day Julie replied and told me how much she enjoyed the tips and our communication.

Anyway, time has gone by and we have both been busy with many commitments. However, last year Julie wrote to me saying she was ready for an upgrade for her Web site and she could not think of anyone else but Camtu. How nice! We arranged a time to meet and had lunch in Parramatta. We shook hands for the first time (and gave each other a hug as well) – each of us felt we had known each other for a long time. Julie probably knew my life journey very well by now as I had been sending her my tips and stories to almost on a weekly basis.

Today, she is a treasured friend and client who is proud to own a brand new Web site designed by CleverLink.  I enjoyed working with Julie and have benefited from the power of keeping in touch. If you know anyone who wants to own a cleaning business but doesn’t want to do the cleaning, Julie is a smart lady who has all the strategies to make this happen.

Remember to keep in touch... With the support of technologies - keeping in touch should not be difficult so if you are still doing the hard way - may be CleverLink can help!  

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Success Can Be Recycled

 It has been a while since I published the CleverTips. Sorry! Besides many things that I have - I had a special project on the side for a few months and I am pleased to announce to you the most wonderful news:
Aim High Fly Fast has now been published in a 3rd language! The Vietnamese edition was launched this month in the USA.

View photos & Video of the book launches
Photos of the Launch in CALIFORNIA 4th Oct 2009	Photos of the Launch in TEXAS 11th Oct 2009	Photos & videos of the launch in Australia 0th May 2004

I flew to America for a whirlwind tour that included two book launches (one in California and the other in Texas), a family wedding between the two launches and of course a trip to Disney Land and Las Vegas with my family. I am now back on deck, relaxed and refreshed -  ready for easy and difficult tasks!

Both launches were a success, having plenty of local media coverage and patronage from local businesses.  All attendees received a copy of Aim High Fly Fast as a gift and a special edition hard copy of the book was auctioned and went for a very generous sum! 50% of the auction money will go toward the Fred Hollows Foundation as well as 10% of all book sales.

My CleverTips for the week after launching Aim High Fly Fast into Indonesian and Vietnamese is
While it is exciting to create new products and projects – it can be as exciting and fulfilling to modify or adjust something you already have done. Leverage on what you did well can lead to other successes and less stress. This applies in professional and personal situations. For example, I could have written more books but I chose to have my first book available in other languages first. It is a great feeling knowing that the book I wrote 5 years ago is now “NEW” again and reaches many more people in more languages. I am thrilled when my parents can finally read my book!

See the two book launches here     Have a book in you and want to do the same? Go here!

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

7 Words That Make People Buy

The following words have the power to make people take action. Consider them next time you try to promote something:

1. Fast: People want fast results, fast delivery, fast support, fast reply, fast ordering, etc. All of us value our time as well as our money.

2. Guaranteed: People want to be assured they are not risking their hard earned money buying your product/services.

3. Limited: People want to own or receive things that are exclusive or rare because they are considered to be more valuable.

4. Easy: People want easy ordering, easy instructions, easy to use, easy payments, etc.

5. Testimonial: People want to see believable proof before they buy your product. It should be reputable and specific proof.

6. New: People want new products or services that will improve their life like new information, technology, results, etc.

7.Special: People want to find bargains and items at special price

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Creating more doors for your online store

Like many other business tools, your Web site is also depending on the conversion rate. The more visitors you have to your web site, the more likely someone will contact you or buy from you. Therefore, driving people to your Web site should be one of the primary objectives for your overall Online marketing strategies

If you don't have many doors to your Web site - You will miss the "windows of opportunities"

One mistake that I often see when consulting to clients is that their Web page was constructed in Frame. This means the Web site only has one single door and if the home page is boring, has no meta tags, or negative impact, then the owner of that web page will have an absolute minimum or no exposure!

Make sure you CREATE plenty of DOORS on your Web site so people don't always have to come through the front door (home page). Face it! your Web address is not necessarily known to all your target market.

Some common "doors" that people can come in include:
- Home page
- Product & Service page
- About the company page
- Useful Links
- Events Calendar page
- FAQ
- News page etc

Make sure every single page has useful resources for your visitors.

Suggested actions:
- Review your Web site and see how many "doors" you have created
- Did anyone link to your Web page? If not - why not?
- Create more doors and create more links for your Web site

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Call for actions on your Website

Call for actions is important on all your ads, especially on your Website!

Tell your visitors exactly what you want them to do while they are on your website. You may want them to order products, subscribe to your newsletter, etc. For example, use phrases like, “Click Here”, "Contact Us today" “Order Now”, “Subscribe Now”, “Sign Up Here”, “Enter Your E-mail Address Here”, "click here if you want us to call you for FREE".

These words and actions can capture more leads and enquiries for your business.

What if you have no call for actions? The answer is "you either won't have the results you wanted" because visitors either "do nothing" or "go somewhere else".

Visit our Web design page for more tips and Web strategies. Contact CleverLinkteam on 1300 721 837 or email us at service@cleverlink.com.au for further information

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Six Top Reasons Why You should Update Your Website on Regular Basis

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Promise Yourself

PROMISE YOURSELF

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all timed and give every living creature you meet a smile

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticise others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for rear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Optimist Creed by Christian D. Larson, 1912.

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

8 Proven Negotiation Techniques That can help you to achieve what you want

If success is about getting what you want then negotiation plays a major part in your journey to success.

We negotiate every day and this happens at work, at home, at church, at school; everywhere.

You might negotiate to get a business deal, to get your flexible hours at work or to finalise a holiday destination, etc

Here are some guidelines for successful negotiation:

1. Start with an end result in mind. Ask yourself "what do I want" and "analyse the needs" of the other parties.
2. Think logically! Like a piece of good writing where you need an introduction, a body and a conclusion - good verbal negotiators usually do things in that order, too. You need to give an overview of what you want, explain the details and wrap it up in a way where both parties are happy. Don't "JUMP" to a conclusion at the begining and don't introduce new items when you're about to close "the deal".
3. Pay attention to HOW you negotiate - not just WHAT you want to negotiate. If you get the HOW right - your chance of getting the WHAT will be a lot higher.
4. Choose the RIGHT venue for the negotiation to take place. Environment is very important. Ask yourself whether this conversation should take place in the boardroom, over a coffee or is it better discussed in the corridor.
5. Help the other party to get what she/he wants as well. A good negotiation is when each party goes away thinking they have won!
6. Stay "cool" when things get "hot". If the situation gets difficult - come back later for an ideal solution. There is no point in any party getting upset.
7. The I & You language may not always work. Often in negotiation it is wise to bring in a third party to illustrate a point. Eg: "Imagine Mr. A does this ..... What would you think?"
8. Give defined options. Don't limit yourself and the other party to one particular solution or one that is too open-ended. Be creative and give people options which also help you.

There are many other elements in good negotiation but if you follow these 8 tips, you will be on your way to getting what you want.

Happy negotiating

(C) Camtu Pham

Camtu is available as a keynote speaker for your next conference. More info is available on this speaking and training page

Camtu Pham

Founder, CleverLink
Author and Publisher, Aim High Fly Fast
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Technologically Challenged? U R Not alone!

Just in case you think YOU are TC (technologically challenged), there's still hope :-)

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au

Twenty characteristics of Genius from Buzan's book of Genius

Here are twenty characteristics of Genius from Buzan's book of Genius

1. Vision
2. Desire
3. Faith
4. Commitment
5. Planning
6. Persistence
7. Learning from mistakes
8. Subject Knowledge
9. Mental Literacy
10. Imagination
11. Positive Attitude
12. Auto-Suggestion
13. Intuition
14. Mastermind Group (Real)
15. Mastermind Group (Internal)
16. Truth/Honesty
17. Facing Fears/Courage
18. Creativity/Flexibility
19. Love of the Task
20. Energy (Physical/Sensual/Sexual)

Camtu Pham
Managing Director, CleverLink
camtu@cleverlink.com.au
+61 2 4284 3600
http://www.cleverlink.com.au