Meet Cheryl
What is Off the Chart Marketing and what does it do?
My name is Cheryl Liquori, and I started OTCM early in 2008 in response to my ‘geeky’ passion with sales and marketing. After getting my B.S. in Marketing and an International MBA, I worked overseas for a few years before embarking on a successful career in telecommunications. It was the boom years of the 90’s and I did very well – specializing in technical support, project management and process training and implementation.
Then the dot com bust came and I got laid off ~ while pregnant! But that was okay because I’d been working since I was 16 and was ready to take a break and try the stay-at-home-mom thing. Well, I must confess that that lasted about 8 months before I started feeling restless. Don’t get me wrong, I love my little boy, who’s now a 1st grader, but I wanted to do something different with my life and career, and I didn’t want to go back and work for corporate America. Do you know anyone like that?
So I endeavored to re-invent myself….and had no idea what I was doing. I tried a couple of business ideas that went nowhere, failed at a couple of other business ventures, and basically floundered like a fish out of water for a few years – much to the consternation of my ever-so-patient husband.
Then about 4 years ago, in an effort to get the skills I so desperately needed, I took a sales training class that was so impactful that 4 months later I was working in sales for a well known speaker and author. Hitting my stride right out of the gate and throughout the time I was there, I sold nearly $1 million dollars in mentoring & coaching programs, seminars and workshops. And while my responsibilities were in sales, I grew increasingly obsessed with the marketing efforts that supplied my colleagues and me with so many eager and qualified prospects. I knew I had found my passion!
I totally immersed myself in the study of marketing strategies and tactics. Through my sales experience, I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of conversations with small business owners and entrepreneurs about how to increase their bottom line and what marketing strategies would work best for them. I’ve read tons of books, have taken oodles of seminars and workshops, gotten coached and mentored and have trolled an abundance of other marketing websites and blogs in an effort to educate myself and be a resource to my colleagues and clients.
Off the Chart Marketing is dedicated to helping and supporting self-employed entrepreneurs and service professionals establish a simple, yet solid, foundation for their marketing that will radically enhance all of their communication so they can easily and efficiently attract more of the ideal clients they want.
Who are your clients?
I work with men and women who feel frustrated and stuck with how to market their business and find their ideal clients. These service professionals are very good at what they do and have already experienced some success, but feel dissatisfied with where they’re at and are confused and overwhelmed with what to do next.
They’ve tried various marketing strategies but still don’t have enough clients to really thrive in their business. Some of the professions I’ve worked with include: massage therapists, life coaches, nutrition experts, chiropractors, speakers, authors, hypnotherapists, network marketers, technology coaches/consultants, grief counselors, yoga instructors, copywriters, online retailers, holistic health practitioners, and spiritual counselors.
How are you different from other business and marketing coaches?
While any business will have it’s share of pressing issues – time management, revenue projections, negotiating, etc. – and that does come up at times with my clients, my primary expertise is in positioning entrepreneurs and service professionals to stand out in a crowd, gain more visibility, and attract more business.
I only work with solo entrepreneurs and very small businesses who in turn work one-on-one with their own clientele. I usually refer small and mid-size companies to larger consultants and agencies. Because I am laser focused on the individual, my clients receive specific and customized solutions that are authentic and produce results.
I make it a point to discover and emphasize what makes my clients special (sometimes it’s not the obvious that gets them attention), and allows them to shine and attract more of the business they want. (and I toss in a lot of humor and encouragement!)
What exactly is Positioning and how does it help my business?
Positioning is a marketing term used to describe what attribute or trait you ‘own’ in the marketplace. It defines where you stand in the marketplace, and what you stand for. How you position yourself involves the clients you help(your target audience, or niche), the solution you provide(benefits and results you deliver) and other aspects of your experience, knowledge and expertise that sets you apart from others who do what you do.
This is the foundation from which the rest of your marketing strategies get built, whether they’re online, using direct mail, face-to-face networking, social networking & social media, speaking, workshops, etc. Your Positioning defines and expresses who you are and what you do in an authentic way that captures the attention of your ideal audience.
What type of personality do you work best with and what is expected of me?
Powerful Positioning and other programs that I’ve created are for people who are excited and passionate about what they do and are serious about creating a successful and sustainable business of their own. They are open to ideas, ready to learn and get into action with the tactics needed to attract more high quality clients.
Being a very positive and energetic person myself, I work best with other positive and motivated individuals who just want to know the next steps to take to get more clients. What will be expected is staying in action, reaching out for support when needed, and staying fully engaged.
For what type of professional is this NOT going to work?
I tend to be selective with the clients I work with and will gently turn people toward a more appropriate course, or even refer them to another coach, consultant or program that is a better fit for their needs. Working with me one-on-one is NOT for someone who has no income coming in or is in financial desperation. Being in that kind of situation clouds thinking, judgment and they will not get the results they want. Plus, they will often attract prospects in similar straights and consider compromising their value – not a path I want for my clients.
It’s important to have a sense of stability, which takes the edge off, enables clear thinking and provides more peace of mind. It’s okay. We all have experienced financial insecurity at some time on another. What’s important is to do what it takes to relieve the burden of worry about how make the rent or mortgage payment. Then you can focus on how to get more clients and follow a sustainable path towards a bigger vision for your life and business.
Finally, I will not work with people who are whiners and skeptics (no exceptions), who constantly lament, “…been there, done that.”, who also complain about trying a marketing strategy once, only to give up when it failed to satisfy expectations. If you are one of those folks, then I respectfully ask that you not contact me and hope you’ll understand why. We would not work well together and don’t want you to waste your time or money. Fair enough?
What results can I expect?
- Clarity of who your target audience really is
- Create programs and packages that allow you to keep clients longer, get better results with you and refer more people
- More leads coming in
- Better conversion from prospect to paying client
- More enthusiasm in your work
- Increase confidence as you network and talk to people
- A sense of control and doing the right thing
- More attention for you and your business
How quickly can I expect to see results?
Naturally, it depends on how long you’ve been in business, and how ready and willing you are to get into action and implement the action steps given to you. I would say virtually all my clients start to see results within the first couple of months in the form of new clients, more prospects, more revenue, more referrals, and clients stay longer within their customized programs.
Will I get a return on the investment I make? Does this really work?
Yes. Take the time to craft and establish strong Positioning. Then follow a plan and implement 1 to 2 marketing strategies at a time that are authentic to you and your business. This is not a ‘quick fix’ path. But by having a clear and concise marketing message that speaks intimately to you ideal target audience consistently and in multiple places, you will be planting seeds for attracting more clients. Although this can take time, we’re talking about a matter of 8 – 12 months rather than years! And you will be making more money along the way, expanding and growing, taking on more leadership in your business and in your life. All in less time than if you were to try and do it by yourself.
How will we work together and what’s involved?
Through working with me one-on-one, you will receive total support and all the resources I can give you to be successful in your business. There will be 1-hour calls when we will have together, unlimited personal emails, and an opportunity for between-sessions phone calls when you’re ‘having a moment’ and need some quick guidance. You will get solid planning tools and forms that will support you marketing efforts, as well as all the support you need to stay on track, accountable and motivated.
How long will we work together?
Programs range from 3 ~ 6 months. Based on my experience, it takes at least 3 months for the Positioning, Planning and Implementation of a client attraction strategy to be put in place. Then it becomes a matter of adjusting as conditions change and measuring results. A common pitfall of small business owners is to abandon a well-planned strategy if he/she doesn’t see instant results. I encourage clients to hold steady, especially since their marketing message has already been fine-tuned, practiced, tested and launched. There is no ‘magic bullet’ and there is no ‘quick fix’. Take a marketing lesson from my cat, Baker, persistence and purring!
Okay, Cheryl, from what I’ve read and heard, I know you’re the one I want to learn from. How do I get started?
Wonderful!! Being decisive is a key component of success, along with taking action. It’s a great feeling to trust and yourself and follow you instinct. Here’s what you do to get started: contact me or call (510) 499-6028 and I’ll be happy to answer your questions and get you started with my Welcome Packet, including a comprehensive Marketing Questionnaire that will help give me an idea of where to start on your path to more clients and more income.
What form of payment do you accept?
I accept Visa and Mastcard, as well as checks made out to Off The Chart.
How can I get a better feel for how you work to see if it’s the right solution for me?
I offer a no-obligation, Marketing Strategy Session to see if we are a good fit. During that time, we’ll go over 5 easy questions about your business and your marketing. Once we cover those, we’ll brainstorm 2 ~ 3 immediate actions you can take to start attracting more of your ideal clients. If we’re a good fit, GREAT – we’ll explore the next appropriate steps. But if we’re not a good fit, that’s OKAY, too. I might even have some recommendations that will help you get what you want. Either way, there’s absolutely no pressure.
Please feel free to contact me or call (510) 499-6028 to schedule your session.
As a gift, I invite you to download my FREE report “101 Magnetic Marketing Tips & Tactics that Will Put $$ in Your Pocket”. I’ve spent the past few years gathering nuggets of marketing gold, and I’ve compiled many of them here just for you. Click here to get it now!
I’m pretty sure I want to do this, but have some further questions. Can I call you?
Please do! Call me at (510) 499-6028 and we can set up a time to chat and get all your questions answered.
Six things you would not otherwise know about me:
- I like to read fantasy/sci-fi books
- My great grandparents met in the dogsled equivalent of a fender bender
- I dream of living in Argentina and learning to Tango
- I used to know Morse Code
- One day we will add a Bernese Mountain Dog to our family
- I love M&M’s
