What is OPIC Quirk?

The OPIC Quirk is one of eight business concepts that we use to coach Artists, Designers & creative business owners. It's also part of our business workshop series that we run throughout the year.

ArtSHINE's 8 Business Concepts:

1.    OPIC Planning

2.    OPIC CashFlow

3.    OPIC Quirk

4.    OPIC Sales

5.    OPIC Service

6.    OPIC System

7.    OPIC Team

8.    OPIC Leveraging

There are many businesses still spending thousands of dollars on advertising, promotion and marketing without ever knowing the real costs and ROI (Return on Investment). This is not what marketing should be all about. Marketing is a calculated and tested method that gets the "Ideal Customer, exactly as you intended.

At Quantum Compass we refer marketing as "OPIC Quirk". We focus on "QUIRK" and empower our clients to define and to know their quirks too.

Here is a question for you to think about:

Why do you keep doing the same marketing strategies if it's not what your ideal customer wants?

For example, there is no chance for you to attract a beer drinker to buy beer if you are using the same marketing strategies that you pitch to a wine drinker. To attract your ideal customer, you need to firstly learn about them and understand what makes them tick.

SO...

• Define your Quirks or Uniqueness- set yourself apart from your competitors so more of your ideal customers want to buy your product or use your service.
• Define your WOW factor in your business.
• Understand the 6 marketing catches
• Learn how to tap into your ideal customer instead of trying to target everyone.
• Learn how to get your ideal customers coming back, again and again
• Learn how to create customer advocacy & loyalty.

Many businesses spend many hours and money working for a customer base that is a result of what the business has offered in the past. This is not however always exactly what the original target market was supposed to be. Yes there is a difference...

An Ideal customer target market is your intention. A customer is the outcome. Therefore even though you may target widely to prospect X, you may end up with "Y" customers in your business.

Why? You may ask.

This is simply because your offer was not exactly what your ideal target market really wanted. Great marketing is a skill and not by luck or chance. It is a well thought out strategy, calculated and tested method that attracts your "ideal customer" exactly as you planned..

Once you get your ideal customer to your front door it is now simply a matter of working with them to keep them coming back time and again...

Have fun with OPIC Quirk, this is where you really get to know and understand your business!

Our objective for OPIC Quirk is for you to learn what marketing is really about, and how you can make sure every dollar you spend is an investment and it’s not a waste of time or money.

Want to learn more about how to attract your ideal customer to your business?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1. Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2. Send an e--mail Quantum Compass:OPICQUIRK@QuantumCompass.com.au to find out more about upcoming workshops

3. Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArtShineDiscovery

How to post a successful blog

If you’ve been reading a few blogs you’ll know that there’s no real "standard" approach. What really counts is how effective you are at communicating the messages or news you want to get across to your selected audiences. From personal diary to magazine-style blogs there are a lot of different approaches that can be effectively used to make your blog-work for you. Here’s some quick points that we use when we work with our Quantum Compass clients:

Stay on topic

Consider a single topic for each blog. Most of your audience will be interested in content that relates to a specific defined topic or a loosely defined area of interest. Your audience won’t care what you had for breakfast in the morning. However, they are more likely to be interested in handy tips or advice. Talk about what you know, and what you’re passionate about. Your audience wants to learn new things and gain personal knowledge. So define a topic and stick to it.

Themes

There are a number of approaches that you can take when you’re writing your blog. Here’s some ideas:

• Inspirational blog - you can talk about what or who inspires you to do what you love. It’s also an opportunity for you to welcome new fans, discuss other blogs or websites that inspire you too.

• Promote what you do blog - talk about your latest or up coming ranges. Share exciting new projects, collaborations with other designers, or joint ventures.

• Educational blog - Share your knowledge, skills, and experiences. Position yourself as the leader of your creative field by offering expert tips and advice.

• Trends forecast blog - What’s in and what’s in demand in your creative field? Materials, colours or techniques? What about new technologies or eco friendly applications etc? Do you have some favourite or useful websites that you can share with your audience?

• Useful information If you’re attempting to create the impression that you’re an expert in your creative field, then you need to make sure that you’re always up to date the most current news. If you’re endorsing or expressing an opinion, be sure to check your facts too. Your reputation depends on it.

Stick to a schedule

Plan your blogging schedule and stick to it. Blogging requires time and effort, so don’t set unrealistic expectations push yourself too hard. An occasional lapse or time off for a holiday is generally acceptable. But the real disappointment for your readers is when they return to your blog only to find old and out of date content.

Frequency

Have a think about how many blogs you would like to post each month. A good bench-mark would be two posts per month (fortnightly). Once you’re experienced and have built up a greater following (your fans) then you can post every week. When your blog is updated frequently search engines will tend to pick up your new pages at regular intervals. Set a regular day to publish your blog. That way your readers know when to come back to you and read your blog.

Keep it clear and simple

Keep your blog clear and easy to understand. It’s best to steer clear of jargon too. Tell your stories in plain English. And use the language that your audiences can relate to and understand.

Embed Keywords

If the objective of your blog is to increase visibility you need to include related keywords in the title and text of your blog. Use the title as a headline to attract interest. Each post needs a title that attracts attention. Aim for a title no longer than ten to twelve words.

Engage your readers

Your audience loves to know what you do; that’s why you want to interact with them and ask them to participate with you and the other readers. Ask for feedback or throw in a question or two. Ask for their opinions. Create a forum for your readers too.

Quantity matters

To attract the attention of search engines you’ll need to develop your content over time. A single headline or a simple sentence is not going to generate the interest of readers or help you with search engine ranking. Make sure you’re archiving old blog posts too. That way you’ll build a big portal of similar themed content over time.

Spelling checks and proof reading

Take a few extra moments and save yourself from having to make embarrassing explanations. Keep in mind that whatever you publish on the net can be found and archived. Think carefully about what you are going to write. Triple check everything.

Images and photos

“A picture tell a thousand words”. Pictures and images inspire your readers. A blog with lots of images makes for more interesting and inspiring reading than a long boring essay.

Would you like an invitation to attend the next Quantum Compass ‘Writing Successful Blogs "  workshop- contact us now here: Writingsuccessfulblogs@QuantumCompass.com.au

Want to know more? It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Send an e-mail to this Quantum Compass address: writingsuccessfulblogs@QuantumCompass.com.au and get more info about our workshops for creative professionals.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session: just call Vinh direct on 0410 636 138, Vinh@QuantumCompass.com.au, or go to: http://www.quantumcompass.com.au/shine/

Creating your “Bio” or “Profile”

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One of the first and one of the most important promotional tools in your toolkit is the “profile”, or “personal biography”.

You’ll be amazed with the real results a well worded and credible biography can generate for you. And a well structured biography or profile can enable a genuine connection between you and your audience too.

That’s because there are some things about you that it’s very important that every prospective client knows. So when you start to prepare your own bio; and write about “YOU”, you’ll discover that you have many life skills and experiences that are valid and relevant to your audience. 

And perhaps your story about your own passions and purpose will even inspire your audience too.

Here is a list of things you might consider including in your biography:

• Your DPP (Desire, Passion & Purpose) and what you love doing.
• Specifically what you bring to your audience, and everything unique about you (your “Quirks”).
• All your relevant successes (career, awards, businesses, exhibitions, and designs).
• All your relevant training (design courses, diplomas, qualifications, degrees or certificates that are relevant or show your accomplishments. And don’t discount and ignore on-the-job training, work experience training, etc either).
• Membership of any relevant associations (Chambers of Commerce, Networking groups, etc).
• Positions on industry committees, etc.
• Charity groups that you support.

Remember... Keep it simple.

Two or three paragraphs should be more than sufficient.

Because you’re keeping it short, every word needs to be relevant, interesting and engaging.

Two or three powerful lines are much better than a full page of waffle.

Are you ready to create your own Profile?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Send an e-mail to this Quantum Compass address:FreeBioBook@QuantumCompass.com.au and receive a free e-book that teaches you the steps to creating your own artists’ bio.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session. : www.quantumcompass.com.au/free-coaching.php

Make Tomorrow Today!

Don’t wait until the new year to plan your business goals ... Make Tomorrow Today; and do it now!

Here’s a quick approach to planning in your business.

“Our greatest lack is not money for any undertaking, but rather ideas,

If the ideas are good, cash will somehow flow to where it is needed.”  Robert H. Schuller

CASH FLOWS: Take some time now to review your current cash flows and make some projections for where you’ll see yourself in three to six months. When we work with our clients we look forward in three month blocks as it keeps us all in touch with the day to day and month to month fluctuations in the business.

SEASONALITY: Understand the nature of your business. Look at how demand and cash flows varied over the course of last year, and think about how this seasonality will play out in the new year. Project your sales and cash flows accordingly.

TIME OUT: When you plan and project your cash flows, map out your “time out “ too. You are a critical part of your business, so it’s important that you’re looking after yourself. By planning ahead and building in some “down-time” you will always be able to afford to take a break knowing your cash flows are still manageable.

“If you want to reach a goal, you must ‘see the reaching’ in your own mind

before you actually arrive at your goal” Zig Ziglar

GOALS: It’s the time to set your goals and business strategies to support your cash flow.

EXISTING CUSTOMERS: Plan your sales strategies. Ask yourself how you can retain your existing customers and come up with new ways to encourage them to spend more with you.

NEW CUSTOMERS: Plan and implement steps to introduce new clients to your business. Focus on your your “competitive niche”. Ask yourself why would someone want to buy your products or services? How can you best communicate with them?

Want to learn more about planning for the new year the Quantum Compass way?

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1:Like  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Come along to the next “Action Planning” workshop. E-mail Quantum Compass: ActionPlanning@QuantumCompass.com.au  for details of the next half day session near you.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session: www.quantumcompass.com.au/freecoaching.ph

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Your Personal Branding

 

Your Personal Brand Promise.

“A brand is a promise, a commitment. You need to know yourself to know your brand” ~Vinh Van Lam

As an up and coming designer how you present yourself, and how you’re perceived, is going to be a critical factor in your success.

Your brand is literally your essence. It builds on who you are and what you stand for.

Rather than pretending to be someone you’re not, or adopting some fake persona, we’d suggest that the easiest way forward is to consider your “Personal Brand” as the promises you make to people... Promises about yourself... Promises about your product... Promises about how people will feel because of you,your product and services.

Making Promises are the keys to build your brand, It keeps you honest because it forces you out of imagination and into action. You become known by the promises you

deliver.

Successful designers make lots of promises. Lots of promises to lots of people. The more promises you make and fulfill, the stronger your personal brand becomes.

Promises and commitments are how we build our identity. We make promises to people every day: We loan them a book, or deliver a job, or a call back.

You are the commitments you make and the promises you keep. That’s how you become known. So, be careful what you promise.

So, now that we’ve established the easiest way to consider our personal brands; how do we go about deciding what our personal brand promises could be?

Let’s look at five key elements that you can use to construct your personal brand in some more detail.

Where do you personally stand in relation to these five key elemental areas? What’s important to you? Who are you? Who do you aspire to be?

Attitude - Understand that you can accomplish virtually anything when you think you can. You will always get what you expect to get. Positive attitude manifests positive attitudes and serves to attract people to your brand. Perhaps you’ve heard of the law of attraction? “Like attracts like”. If you’re a person that keeps their promises; you;re likely to attract others that keep theirs too.

Belief - With faith in yourself and a firm believe in your brand, you can always persevere through all sorts of trials and tribulations. With an outwards showing of sincere confidence and belief you’ll be surprised by synchronicity. Circumstances and people will come to you, like a magnet. A sincere belief in yourself will draw people to your personal brand.

Values - These are the principles that inspire you everyday. Your values are the driving forces that make you want to live your life to the fullest. To have fun, to be authentic, to have lots of energy, to live a life full of joy, and to deliver on your creative promise.

Integrity - This critical element of trust is how you commit yourself to the promises you make to yourself, and the promises you make to others. It’s how you hold yourself accountable to yourself and to others.

Commitment - When you are fully committed to your purpose, to your integrity, and to your values, you take on a sense of urgency that’s hard to beat. When you show a complete and full commitment to what you do, you’ll begin to find that other people start to share your beliefs in your brand.

Want to learn the practical steps to develop your “Personal Brand Promise” the Quantum Compass way? 

It’s as simple as 1... 2... 3...

1: BLike  ArtSHINE's Facebook page

2: Come along to the next “Personal Brand Promise for Creative Professionals” workshop. E-mail Quantum Compass: PersonalBrandPromise@QuantumCompass.com.au ) for details of the next half day session near you.

3: Contact Vinh for a no cost, no obligation coaching session on 0410 636 138 or : www.quantumcompass.com.au/free-coaching.php )

Who are you really? And who do you really “sell” to?

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In this section you’ll begin to define your target market.

The simple truth is that if you try to be all things to all people, then you’re likely to be nothing to everyone. And you may end up with no customers because of it!

Getting very clear about who you are, and who you appeal to, is probably the most critical step in designing your successful Business LifeStyle.

Why “narrow the market”?

One of the biggest issues we’ve faced with clients is that they want to have the widest market as possible in the belief that if they appeal to the widest possible market then that will generate the greatest interest in their product or service.

We don’t disagree that this strategy has a valid place, it’s just that we’re yet to see it work with clients like you in the context that you live and work in...

What we do see with clients who follow this strategy are people who are constantly flipping their focus, trying to be something they’re not, for people they don’t like, creating work they don’t love, and most sadly; creating work that they feel has compromised their own personal integrity.

We don’t know about you, but that’s not how we want to live and work... What’s important to you?

Being very clear about who you are, what you do, who specifically you appeal to, and who specifically you desire to attract means that you’re only taking action that brings you those things. And you’re not wasting time and energy to bring yourself the people that you don’t really want to work with and serve.
 

The advantages of further narrowing and re-defining your “Niche”

·    Narrowing your market and building genuine expertise in a narrow field means that you can become an expert in what you do, instead of being a “Jack of all trades; Master of none”.

·    Deeply researching your particular niche group in order to learn more about what they want and need means that you can also test-market your products or services.

·    It makes it easier to communicate with potential clients and customers because you can appeal specifically to this narrow group instead of to everyone. Your target market will be attracted to you instead of pass you by. Your marketing materials can now be targeted and now add very real value to your audience, instead of being “generalised”, and just a little bit useful to everyone.

·    Using this “Attraction marketing” method you can set up marketing campaigns purely to target this specific group and communicate directly to them. This means you will attract the right customers and referrals.

·    Because your target market is aligned to you, and who you are, you’ll find yourself enjoying networking and ‘hang out’ with them. Your interests are their interests. And it’s a more natural fit.

·    You can achieve more credibility than your competitor who appears to handle everything.

·    You can create specific products and services that appeal to your niche group.