My name is Joe Hammer… nice to meet you!
Yeah, that’s my real name. I’m a lifetime entrepreneur who sprouted into a personal and small business coach, mentor and marketing consultant. I’ve been self-employed since the age of 17 (10 if you count my newspaper route). I’ve operated a variety of small businesses, from a state-of-the-art auto collision repair and customizing business to a progressive graphic design firm. I’ve assisted clients in banishing life-long challenges, limitations and habits in a dynamic hypnotherapy practice (some of their stories are referenced in my book, The Unconscious Authority). I’ve moved my share of heavy boxes as a tool and equipment wholesaler.
On the fun side, I’ve entertained audiences with my unique Magic/Comedy and Stage Hypnosis shows, as well as performing and teaching improvisation comedy. I recently authored The Improv Edge, introducing readers to essential improv skills that will assist in creativity, spontaneity, listening, acceptance, confidence building, collaborative creativity and teamwork … and all in an active and fun way! I also founded The Outcasters – a premier improv troupe and training center in Scottsdale, Arizona. See Joe’s corporate improv training information here.
I’ve been a morning radio deejay and I hosted a nationally syndicated television news series on auto care, The Auto Doctor. Not to brag, but I’ve done a lot.
Whatever business venture I delved into, I routinely implemented highly-effective advertising, marketing and systematization strategies into them. And the markets responded. As president of my local Chamber of Commerce at age 20, I got a lot of lunch offers from new entrepreneurs interested in “picking my brain” for business advice. I soon found myself speaking and consulting on the techniques I used to keep my enterprises recognized, profitable… and fun.
From hair salons to chiropractors, jewelers to plumbers, insurance agents to hypnotists, I’ve offered my consulting, coaching and speaking service to a variety of industries. The fact is, when it comes to the success of your advertising and marketing strategies, the industry truly doesn’t matter – it’s the effectiveness of the message and getting it to those who will eagerly respond to it. Successful strategies are seldom industry-specific. Remember, the drive-through window was originally the bank’s idea before the fast-food industry swiped the concept for use in their business.
I assembled a great deal of my strategies into a best-selling marketing course used by many successful entrepreneurs, How to Be Outrageously Successful and Make a Ton of Money in Your Service Business. Real Estate Guru and New York Times’ Best-Selling Author Robert Allen says…
I’ve seen a lot of marketing material, but Joe’s stuff is awesome! Any business can easily double or triple their income using the techniques in Joe’s course. I highly recommend it.
– Robert Allen, New York Times Best-Selling Author
I also published Joe Hammer’s Marketing Forerunner, a progressive print newsletter chocked full of cutting-edge advertising and marketing strategies for small business owners desiring greater market share. Hundreds of entrepreneurs have harnessed my personal and business development strategies and put them to work in their life and business.
Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or a budding entrepreneur ready to delve into the challenging but rewarding world of self-employment, I can assist you in gaining a powerful, competitive edge in your marketplace.
In addition to my consulting practice, I also present personal and business development programs to companies, groups, organizations and conferences around the country. Unlike speakers who deliver out-dated book theory, I bring hard-hitting, practical strategies to my audience. Strategies they can immediately put to work in their life and business – and I do it in a fun and entertaining way. As a stage hypnotist, I know the difference between dazzling an audience and putting them to sleep!
I’ve been honored to witness a lot of home runs with my clients. I have to say, there’s no better feeling in the world than seeing a struggling business get a second wind to success. I’ve also received a lot of energetic and positive feedback from audience members who have attended my programs and shared their success stories.
I’m now relaxing in warm and sunny Scottsdale Arizona, teaching progressive souls how to elevate the success of their lives and businesses through more effective thinking, unconventional marketing strategies and systematization. I keep a pretty low profile and work only with people who are serious about the growth and success of their life or enterprise.
But enough about me – this site is about you!
If I can assist in your success, let me know. I don’t work with just anyone, but if you’re serious about growing your business, I’d be honored to assist.
If you’re a program director or meeting planner and want to bring your audience a high-impact program that’ll boost their bottom-line while bolstering your credibility, e-mail me and let’s get started.
Sincerely,
Joe Hammer
That Small Business Guy
Joe’s Areas of Expertise:
Direct Response Marketing
Effective marketing must provide a compelling message or special offer, targeted to the most ideal prospects. These are strong candidates for your product or service from targeted vertical markets to geographic zones and niche interests. The ad must appeal to this target market and evoke an immediate response, energetically compelling those prospects to exercise a specific “call to action,” such as opting in to your email list, calling for more information, placing an order or visiting your web site. Further, it is trackable and measurable. When a prospect responds, you’ll know the ad (and media) responsible for generating the response. Further, you can effectively measure the effectiveness of your investment. This is contrary to conventional “one size fits all” marketing approaches carried out by many small business owners.
Lead Generation Advertising
Lead generation advertising is the process of appealing to, stimulating and capturing a prospect’s interest in your company’s product or service for the purpose of placing them into your sales process. Effective lead generation advertising compliments direct response marketing and can be utilized in most any media. Lead generation advertising has experienced considerable changes due to the online and social marketing strategies. The overwhelming abundance of information available online has led to the rise of a more educated buyer – good news for smart business professionals who recognize being positioned as a recognized expert in their industry, market of field. Yesterday’s timeworn mass “image” are no longer effective as they once were. The buying process has changed, and progressive small business owners must exercise new strategies to reach buyers and get heard through the noise.
Differentiation
To enjoy a successful business in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace you must powerfully position your company through the articulation of your unique, client-centered capabilities. FedEx differentiated themselves by guaranteeing packages would be delivered overnight. Domino’s Pizza set a record in sales for promising to deliver a hot pizza in 30 minutes or less or it was free. Without differentiation your business will fall into the trap of competing on price alone. Successful businesses determine what sets them apart from their competition – and NO, it isn’t quality. Differentiation requires a rare blend of psychology and marketing expertise, centering on the consumer’s main frustrations and pain points.
Identity Integration
What you do, who you are and what your culture is are very important reflections of your business in today’s congested and often gridlocked marketplace. The identity of your company (as well as its products and services) is more than a mere logo and tagline. It’s the words, visuals and perceptions that unconsciously mold the image of your business in the minds of the consumer. It determines how your company is presented, perceived and experienced in the marketplace. Your company’s identity is a cohesive element in building your reputation and brand so it resonates with your target market, enticing them to engage with your business. Every element exposed to the consumer is part and parcel of your company’s identity. They must be unique and consistently displayed and demonstrated. Every consumer experience with your company is a reflection of your company’s identity. If there isn’t a structured identity in place, the market will unconsciously pigeon hole it into one of their own, most often as a commodity product or service – many times centering on price.
Graphic and Web Design
Competent and effective graphic and web designs are paramount in building a successful business. There’s more to powerful and efficient designs than simply “putting the information out there.” Principles of Direct Response and Lead Generation must be exercised to both attract and appeal to a targeted market. The target market then must be enticed to engage in definitive actions that ultimately generate a sale (or lead). Your company’s print and web designs must be attractive, yet concisely and energetically reflect your identity and brand. Clean and simple are most always more effective than fancy design options displaying unnecessary graphics and copy. Design trends “du jour” are most always a liability over an asset, even though “everybody” appears to be “doing it.” From action-focused copywriting to call-to-action engagement tools, the mechanics and principles of effective graphic and web design services will powerfully separate you from competition not understanding and exercising the knowledge and power in Direct Response Design.
Systems Development
Successful and stress-free business owners all exercise a powerful tool in their business… SYSTEMS… documented procedures and processes running like a smooth-oiled machine, while offering a consistent product or service… without the necessity of the owner’s day-to-day involvement. The often-referenced example of an effective system is that utilized by McDonalds, the mega fast-food enterprise essentially run by pimpled teenagers. Whether your company is only you, or features a hefty staff, systems will deliver more order, consistency and predictability to your business. The challenge is that most small businesses either have no structured system in place or “shoot from the hip” in their day-to-day actions. Not only can this be stressful, but it siphons from profit margins as well as slowing business growth. By energetically assembling policies and procedures, while thinking proactively and consistently working on your company’s operations, your business will experience healthy growth with less headaches. And, most importantly – when it’s time to sell, “you” are not an integral element to the business’s success, the system is. Systems are one of the most valuable assets in any business sale.
Small Business Startup
Starting a business is easy. Starting a successful business is the challenge. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.” That may have been true when uttered back in the day, but it’s far from true in today’s hyper-competitive and cluttered marketplace. Today’s successful entrepreneurs understand that it’s not about simply offering a “better” product or service, but how to powerfully separate themselves from the generic competitors and effectively meet the desires of their customers, clients, patients or guests. Further, they must muscle through the preconceived notions and purchase habits present in fickle consumer minds. Many well-meaning entrepreneurs lose fortunes by launching a business they believe would be embraced by the marketplace, only to later experience failure. There are many moving parts to a successful business and getting off on the right foot makes success and growth infinitely more predicable. From defining unmet consumer needs to understanding the viability of the potential market, creation of value propositions to positioning as a recognized expert in the industry, there is a science to small business success.
Subconscious Motivation
We often desire to make powerful (and often necessary) changes in our lives or business, but found it seemingly impossible. We’ve tried everything… listened to “self-help” audio programs, read books, attended seminars and personal growth workshops. Perhaps even experienced an expensive, hyped-up personal development boot camp, only to find ourselves returning to our everyday habits and undesired reactions, soon affecting our life, relationships and career. Why is this? It’s our subconscious programming, or as Joe Hammer calls it in his book by the same name, The Unconscious Authority. It’s the debilitating, yet powerful driving force behind our life’s direction, and is comprised of our mindsets, behaviors, hang-ups, quirks and habits. Joe’s Subconscious MotivationTM process explores the sensitizing events that set the path to these unwanted directions and what is needed to do to truly change them… permanently. Making life changes by setting intentions on the conscious level are ineffective and short-lived. It’s beyond merely setting intentions, reading affirmations or the annual (and most-always-failing) “New Year’s Resolutions.” Having witnessed and experienced many powerful life shifts with clients in his personal development practice, Joe understands the real “secret” to locking in lasting life changes. Through his proprietary Subconscious MotivationTM process, clients discover, dissect and eradicate the erroneous programming behind their undesired behaviors.
Influential Presenting
Whether you are presenting instructions to staff members, addressing a prospective customer, client, patient or guest, or delivering an inspirational keynote to an industry conference, effective presentation skills are a necessary and powerful tool in motivating your audience. Just because you are an expert in your field doesn’t’ mean you can expertly deliver that information. Many of the techniques taught in generic “public speaking” programs are terribly out-dated. The minds of today’s time-juggling consumers are cluttered with fleeting thoughts. Audience members make unconscious decisions about you in a matter of seconds… “sizing you up” before you utter your first word. Effective presentations are about psychology, communications, and neuroscience; how information is delivered is more powerful than the words themselves. Gestures, body language, humor, visual references, modulation, emotion, articulation and well-placed pauses all play a critical role. With his background in identity and design, Joe also assists in the visual elements of your presentation. Visuals must not interfere, but support your message. “Boredom by PowerPoint” is rampant in amateur presentations. Joe’s Influential PresentingTM process makes it possible for anyone to deliver an engaging, persuasive and memorable presentation with ease and grace.
How can Joe best serve your needs?
Copyright 2020 – Joe Hammer, That Small Business Guy. All rights reserved.