My Ezine Won an Award!

I'm so excited to announce that I just won an award for my Ezine (my email newsletter)!

Now I'm an Award Winning Publisher of the Get Networking Ezine!

I always talk about taking advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and I try to take action on these types of things myself.

This time it worked!

My Ezine won the Apex Award - the 19th Annual Awards for Publication Excellence, a Competition for Communications Professionals.

What a mouth full but pretty cool huh? You can find out more about this award for your publications or websites at http://www.apexawards.com/.

Are you getting my weekly Ezine? If not sign up now and don't miss another issue chock full of all kinds of FREE Marketing Advice, Tips, Resources and Opportunities like this one!

I keep telling my email subscribers, clients, vendors and friends that publishing an email newsletter can be really good for business.

• It increases your awareness in the marketplace.


• It makes you more 'top of mind' when others are thinking of your products and services.


• It gives you a way to educate your prospects and clients about what you can offer.


• It establishes you as an expert by sharing your advice, tips and resources.

I can help you get one started! Even if you have no idea what to write, who to write it to or how to send it - that's what I help you do!

I developed this service last fall because so many of my clients needed to implement an email marketing campaign into their follow up plan that we would develop but I noticed that they would never get around to getting one done!

So, now I can help people set theirs and learn all the online tricks and tips to save time because that's the number one reason people don't get one going - they don't have the time to go online and figure out the template much less sit down and write something to put in it.

But emailing your list of clients and prospects can be the NUMBER ONE business builder you add this year that could double business if you do it right!

If you're ready to get started now and want some help - then go here to set up an appointment - http://www.jumpstartyourezine.net/!

In one 2-hour phone call you will learn everything you need to know about how to launch your first ezine - I promise!!

Katrina Out --

Do you volunteer or give to charity?

So, do you?

Volunteering for non-profit events is one thing I really love to do. One reason is because I'm not yet in a position of extreme wealth in order to give a ton of cash donations which many organizations of course need. So, instead I volunteer my time because while that is still very precious to me, it's what I have to give and I fully believe in giving to others.

Because if you give - you will receive!

So, I encourage my clients and friends to find places and organizations they can volunteer.

There are many reasons to volunteer:

• Just simply to serve and help others


• To get new business by volunteering in places where your target market will be
  
• To make a difference


• In the name or memory of a loved one


• To raise money for the organization


• To be on a board of an organization - either to simply serve or to increase your credibility and expertise in the marketplace

Many of these reasons could actually help increase your business so if at the very least you volunteer because of that, then I say do it.

I normally volunteer for local chambers of commerce events for this reason. Chambers help small businesses in their community get noticed, get help and be heard.

Here's me behind the VIP bar at the Folsom Pro Rodeo this 4th of July! I don't normally sport a pony tail but my goodness....it was 105 degrees this day! Thank God I was behind the bar and could splash myself with water anytime I wanted.

And some of my coherts!

I am a small business and I target small businesses for my clients so this is a WIN-WIN for me.

Chambers do good things in the community for businesses and residents with the money they raise so I like to be a part of that. Plus I get a lot of perks from volunteering for the chambers - such as free tickets to events, exposure and recognition at events, opportunities to be in front of members and more. Over the years, I've truly made some really close friends from the chamber and some of my best clients are chamber members too.

Here's me and 3 other chamber gals at the El Dorado Hills Golf Tournament this year, they typically raise about $30,000 from this event each year of which they donate some of that back to high school student scholarships and more!

In addition to volunteering for the chambers (3 right now), I also highly promote the Sacramento Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In 2005 I ran for Woman of the Year. I didn't win but I raised over $10,000!

Here's me with the boy and girl of the year in 2005 - the picture's a little old but I still try to be a part of this event each year.

When I ran, I collected prizes and donations totalling over $6,000 in value - spread amongst 6 large gift baskets for the silent and live auctions - I love doing this kind of stuff!

I got so much free publicity from this campaign it was amazing - ads in the paper, articles in many papers, ads in the Biz Journal, a billboard with my photo on it, magazine ads....you can't buy that kind of exposure. All I did was spent some time raising money, holding fundraisers and sending out email blasts and mailings.

So, if you're not currently volunteering, I'd encourage you to do something.

1. First decide if you have time to volunteer just to give back or if you need to volunteer in places that might be good for your business too - there is no shame in that.
2. Then do an internet search or ask your friends (or chambers) if they know any organizations that fit the types of need, target market for members, cause that you want to align yourself with.
3. Visit the organization's meetings if you can to find out if it's a good fit for you and what they need or require in terms of volunteers.
4. Then decide if that need will fit the goals you made in order to contribute your time to volunteer.
5. Try not to say YES to any group or organization just because they ask, make sure they fit your volunteering goals for right now. I know it's hard to say NO but you need to in order to spend time doing what will fit for you.

Talk to you soon!

Katrina Out --

Are you living your true "Authentic Self"?

Let me ask you a question.

Are you surrounding yourself with the right kinds of people?

One thing I've learned in business and in life, in all my 37 wise years now, is that it's vital to my success as a person and a business owner to only keep company or surround myself with people who are good for me.

This has a lot to do with marketing too if you think about it because it comes back to your target market - who is that ideal type of customer that you want to work with? A few of you might not be able to control those who you work with and those you don't however I hope that most of us can. But do you choose wisely? Or do you follow the greed; greed for the next sale or the money that will come in with every new client and what that money will be able to bring you - luxuries, commodities, basic necessities, etc.

I'm suggesting that in order to be really, really fulfilled in life and to feel like you are well balanced and highly successful that you have to sometimes make hard choices.

---- To work with someone or not.

---- To live or stay with someone or not.

---- To associate yourself with someone or not.

You do have a choice.

If you believe like I do that "It will all work out in the end" (the title of the chapter I wrote in Power and Soul), then you can empower yourself to make the choices that are right for you.

For example: Have you ever gotten that feeling in the pit of your stomach that something wasn't totally right when you spoke to a potential client or prospect? Or even when you talk with a friend or family member maybe too - those are the hardest relationships to work through this with.

Why do you think you feel that way?

I believe it's because you know they could potentially be somewhat toxic for you to work with or be around. What do you think?

It really is ok to NOT work with someone if it doesn't feel right you know. There are others out there that will meet that person's needs, you don't have to. And is the money you'll gain from that sale or customer really worth the negativity you might have to endure, the extra energy you might have to exude or just the life draining feeling that will pull from you so you won't fully be able to be your "authentic self"?

Is that really worth it?

I say no.

I'm at a point in my business now fortunately that I can make these types of calls however you can choose to do this in any stage of your business or life. Of course I want the money to provide me the Lexus I want, the vacations I want to take and the extra free time that will allow me but in the end it's not worth dealing with someone or some situation that will pull me down in the process.

Frankly, I've worked too hard to get here and I am not going back.

Now, I'm not trying to sound conceited, I'm not sure if that's what some of you are feeling from this. Instead, hopefully you are getting inspired. Inspired to stay positive, to maintain your high standards of living the type of life and leading the type of business of your dreams.

I encourage you to take a look at your client base and even your friends and family to see where there might be some toxic activity leaking into your brain, yourself and your business. Then I urge you to make some changes and free yourself of that one way or the other because when you do, you will begin to attract what is really good for you and your business. You will attract the right kinds of people which will bring the money and good fortune with them.

Remember, "It will all work out in the end" and only you can make that happen; living the life and business of your dreams and "being" your true "authentic self".

© Copyright 2007 K. Sawa Marketing

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Katrina Sawa is a Solopreneur Marketing Coach and marketing and promotional expert who helps small business owners and entrepreneurs make the most of their marketing dollars and time. For more info on her services or to sign-up for her FREE REPORT: "The Top 3 Ways to JumpStart Your Marketing", visit her at www.JumpStartYourMarketing.com.

Katrina Out --

More Girls Nights Out - why this is important to create more balance and less stress in life!

Ok, so I work very hard in my business every week - but I also believe in playing hard too!

Now that I'm single again of course it's time to start going back out with the girls! (I did before too but it wasn't such a priority)

This was Girls Night Out at the Folsom Pro Rodeo this July with

Me, Tiffany, Allison, Toni and Cynthia!

I think it's important if you're a busy small business owner to still take time out for yourself, your family and especially your friends.

Me and my friend Jill, the mobile chiropractor!

Do you take time for yourself?

You should. By doing what you love on occasion it will help you relax, become less stressed and give you more balance in life - don't you think?

I don't know about you but I can be a workaholic on a good day. But other days I just want to play. I guess it's a very good thing I am my own boss now because taking off whenever I want to was not an option when I had a "job".

I hope you are in a place where you can explore what you really love to do, take care of yourself first and play once in a while too!

So I seem to be the "party planner" of the group in most cases which means it lies in my hands to set up the dates and places that we can all get together.

Here are some photos (some a little crazy towards the end of the night) from the last big Girls Night Out in Folsom. We started with 13 and dwindled down to 3 by 1 am.....

Cynthia, Sherene and Katie

Brooke, Kristi and their friend, the gal I could not remember

her name all night to save my life!

Cynthia and Toni

Oh, and we can't forget the very nice looking Rocker Dude!

He was the singer for the Van Halen Tribute band we saw....

I have a few photos of this guy!

WOW!

Too bad he had a wedding ring on - he was a player though, kept getting close

with women on stage - definitely don't need a guy like that!

Me and Katie

Sherene up on stage

Sherene and Katie - loving every minute of it

That's all the excitement for now.....next!!

Katrina Out --