Most clients that come to us who want to start, or grow, a business come with a pile of personal goals and wants of how they wish things in their business should be. When asked about their Customer Avatar, many of them stare at me with a blank expression or confused look on their face. This tells me almost immediately where the problem lies, and where our work will begin. You see, creating a comprehensive Customer Avatar is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your business. It not only speeds up revenue almost immediately, but it also saves a lot of wasted time on marketing strategies that are worthless if they’re not being targeted to your ideal client/customer effectively. 
If you don’t know what a Customer Avatar is, and why it is extremely important, you’re not alone. In fact, most business owners struggle with this piece of the marketing puzzle.
Here’s what a customer avatar is:

• A key component of your overall marketing strategy
• A fictional client with clear and specific wants, needs, values, principles, pain points, etc.
• A profile of a person who fits your target audience description
• A clear, detailed outline based on research

Many business owners and entrepreneurs like to jump right in and start building ads, writing copy, creating landing pages, and doing all that other fun marketing stuff…BUT if they don’t have their customer avatars completed, they are wasting their time, energy, and money. This is because if they don’t know who their customer is or what they want, then how can they effectively market to them? Therefore, a detailed customer avatar is one of the main factors to achieve business success, but how do you create one?
The first step is to list out their demographic and psychographic traits. Write down as much information as you can be based on what you know about your customer so far. If you don’t know much about your customer, then you need to interview them and ask them questions to come up with a comprehensive profile.
Next, give them a name that you will recognize and remember so when you are creating content for this avatar you will be able to pull up their profile easily.
Next, write a story as your customer avatar. Pretend you are them. What did they do before your service/product? What are they thinking while using your service/product? What are they trying to accomplish through your service/product? What do they do after using your service/product? When will they come back to your service/product? Etc.
The point is to force yourself to think through your marketing and advertising pathways and methods of retaining customers. This will help you to see how you may not have been communicating to your ideal client effectively and will assist you to create better strategies to help build trust with your customers and increase business revenue.
Once you develop strong customer avatars, you will be on your way to establishing repeat loyal customers and a solid and successful business. If you need help developing comprehensive customer avatars for your business, we can help!

​ Contact us for a free consultation! 


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Many people are searching for a way to juggle their personal and professional roles. More than half of all employees say that job demands sometimes interfere with their personal responsibilities, according to a study by the American Psychological Association. Try these suggestions to help you meet your daily challenges.
 
Guiding Principles

1. Make your own decisions. Everyone’s definition of success looks different. Focus on what makes you happy and productive. Consider whether you and others may be projecting your own assumptions when you comment on someone else’s lifestyle.
   
   
2. Consider your boundaries. Some workers find it disruptive to take business calls after office hours. Others feel stressed if they’re out of touch for any long interval. If possible, negotiate an arrangement with your employer that is comfortable for both of you.
   
   
3. Think long term. There are always trade-offs. Assess whether frequent overtime or spending more hours with your family will make you happier when you look back on what you did with your life.
   
   
4. Update your plans. Your answers may change as you go through life. Check in frequently to stay on track. You may be eager to gain new experiences when you first graduate from school. As you approach retirement, you may want to volunteer more in your community.
   
   
5. Give yourself credit. It’s common to feel guilty about working too little or too much. Focus on doing the best you can.
   
   
6. Remain flexible. Financial constraints and other factors may influence your decisions. Work with whatever circumstances you face while you try to improve them.

 
Time Management

1. Be realistic. Establish your top priorities and stick to them. If you’re struggling with your to do list each day, you probably need to cut back on the less important tasks.
   
   
2. Get organized. You can accomplish more when you have solid systems in place. Look for ways to run your errands more efficiently and keep your surroundings free of clutter.
   
   
3. Limit distractions. Maybe you lose track of time watching TV or talking on the phone. Reclaim those wasted hours.
   
   
4. Schedule downtime. Your mind and body need adequate rest. Take a warm bath or meditate daily.
   
   

Additional Suggestions

1. Recognize individual differences. Some people are content viewing their job as just a paycheck, and others blend their paid work with the rest of their life. Any combination is okay as long as you find fulfillment.
   
   
2. Ask for support. Help from family and friends or paid services can help you to focus on your strongest areas. Ask your children to take on more chores or consider hiring a house cleaner. Use the extra free time to pursue a promotion or start a vegetable garden.
   
   
3. Reach out to others. Look for ways you can provide the same kind of assistance to those around you. Team up with a coworker so you can cover each other’s work on sick days or vacations rather than creating a backlog for when you return.
   
   
4. Take care of yourself. Keeping yourself fit enables you to contribute at home and at the office. Eat a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, manage stress, and stick to a regular sleep schedule.
   
   
5. Be yourself at work. As much as possible, reveal your authentic self at work. It will liberate others to do the same. You’ll also be more likely to form true friendships with your colleagues, which will make your days more pleasant.
   
   

It’s a big job to coordinate all the facets of your life. Think about your definition of success and what it means for how you align your personal and professional responsibilities.
If you’re not fulfilled in your career and want to elevate within your industry, or pivot to a more fulfilling field or position so that you can experience a more balanced and successful life, contact us for a free career assessment!

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By Victoria Rubio – VR Success Services
 
The average corporate job opening attracts over 250 resumes, according to the employment website Glass door. With that kind of volume, it’s little wonder that most resumes get looked at for 7 seconds or less.
 
If you’re looking for a new position, how can you increase the odds that a hiring manager will pay attention to your application long enough to appreciate what you have to offer?
 
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to make sure your resume gets read. Study these suggestions before you reply to another job listing.
 
Tips for Editing Your Resume 
You can make your resume stand out from the crowd. Review it carefully before you start your job search and update it at least twice a year or after any major achievement.
 
Use these strategies: 

1. Use keywords. As you probably know, many companies use artificial intelligence to screen applicants. Clear the first hurdle by including keywords those robots are looking for. You can often figure that out by copying the language in the job advertisement.
   
   
2. Strengthen your professional summary.  Hiring managers are often pressed for time, so your summary may determine whether your resume lands in the reject pile or receives further consideration. Write a brief and compelling description of your background and what makes you an outstanding candidate.
   
   
3. Quantify your accomplishments. Numbers sound persuasive. Create bullet points that communicate your achievements with percentages and other statistics, when possible.
   
   
4. Simplify formatting. A little structure can make your resume easier to scan but avoid going overboard. Stick to a professional font, adequate white space, and helpful headings.
   
   
5. Ask for feedback. You may be so familiar with your resume that you overlook obvious typos. Ask a friend or family member to look it over and tell you what they think. Hire a professional to edit it, if possible.

 

1. Deliver it directly. Now that you’ve polished your resume, guide it to someone who wants to see it. Use LinkedIn and other sources to find the name and position of an appropriate contact, if it’s not given in the job listing.

 
Other Tips for Making Sure Your Resume Gets Read 
Keep in mind that your resume is just one ingredient in a successful job search. You need to maximize the rest of your strategy too.
 
Try these techniques: 

1. Assess your qualifications. Are you seeking positions that match your background and make sense in the context of your career path? You probably need to provide some explanation if you’re overqualified, under-qualified, or trying to change fields.
   
   
2. Customize your cover letter. This is where you can address such concerns and make the case for hiring you. Research the company, so you can discuss their specific needs and how you can help.
   
   
3. Add work samples. Give employers a preview of the impressive qualifications that won’t fit in your resume. Link your application to your personal website or your LinkedIn profile.
   
   
4. Obey instructions. Make a positive first impression by reading the application guidelines and following them. Show them that you’re considerate and easy to work with.
   
   
5. Follow up. Unless the ad says no calls, try to discuss the position further. Be prepared with substantive questions if someone has the time to speak with you. Be gracious and express your enthusiasm if they ask you to wait while they complete their process.
   
   
6. Leverage your network. One of the most effective ways to get an employer’s attention is to find a contact you have in common. Maybe you know someone willing to make a call or send a recommendation.

 
Even if you're a star performer, you may have to work on your resume to be sure it gets read. Making it easier for employers to recognize your value will help you to land more interviews and job offers.
 
If you would like some assistance writing and editing your professional career documents, contact us for a free assessment! We specialize in professional documents, services, and strategies that help our clients stand out as leaders in their industries so they can advance their careers exponentially!

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