Most Recent Blog Posts
How a Slip ‘N Slide = Phenomenal Branding Power
Remember Slip 'N Slides? You set up the slippery plastic on a hill or flat part in the yard, hook it to the hose, and turn the water on. Then, you run, jump, and slide down the length.
On the one hand, we have the Slip 'N Slide. And on the other, we have small business branding--the act of puffing out your chest and crowing about why folks should hire you and not some other guy in a way that's got intrigue and drama and story or at least a morsel of integrity.
When you put the two together, you get something like this: Educational Autoresponders: The Newsletter Substitute?
Have you balked at the idea of starting a newsletter because you just don’t see how you could stick to a regular schedule? Does the idea of committing to having something to say every Wednesday at 8 a.m. just sound flat out uninspiring?
If you’ve put off launching a newsletter because you simply don’t like the idea of being expected to show up in a certain way at a certain time, you’re not alone. And you just might find an educational autoresponder to be the approach your rebellious streak can put to work.
WordPress Warning and Chocolate Cake
I’ve got oodles of links to share today! If you happen to be in the office instead of out on vacation, enjoy today’s variety.
If you haven’t yet taken your Web Style Quiz, you want to do that soon. In the next few weeks, I’m going to start talking about how this quiz is the only tool you need to determine that all important Color Scheme. If that’s something you’ve been wrestling with, take the quiz and keep your eyes glued to this spot because I’m going to make it uber easy for you.
Second, my upcoming Client Attraction call was mentioned by Naomi Dunford at Itty Biz. She says really nice things *and* was kind enough to pull out specific sections of the letter you should pay attention to if you want to learn how to write your own copy. Her blog post would be well worth reading even if I didn’t make her list of stuff she loved this week, but, since I totally did, it’s officially a Must Read. 😉
Way, way back at the end of July, I was invited to write a guest post for Keller Hawthorne’s FresheVenture.com site. It starts by talking about chocolate cake, and ends by revealing The Secret Ingredient to an Internet Business that’s More than Just Profitable (and, by the way, this ingredient is absolutely no less important just because your business is off line).… Keep reading
It’s All About Hats: Are You Wearing the Wrong One?
I formed a resolution to never write a word I did not want to write; to think only of my own tastes and ideals. C. S. Forester
Is this your approach to your own newsletter or blog: to write only what you want, to think only of your own tastes? If you're like a lot of business owners, your first, and only, consideration is whether or not you're interested in a topic. To me, this is akin to thinking your best niche is people who are carbon copies of you. (Like life coaches who only work with women between 45 and 48 who have recently been divorced, have no kids, like to play the ukulele, and watch documentaries about parrots who save people from burning buildings.)
It's not inherently wrong, but it is limiting, and probably not in the best interests of your readers (and, therefore, you). Cast Your Newsletter as Search Engine Super Hero!
Newsletters are magical things–they can attract customers, increase company profits, establish expertise and much more. But, did you know they can also help you increase your search engine rankings?
Keep reading to find out how to cast your newsletter in the role of search engine super hero.
Why Napoleon Would Have Rocked at List Growth
Most people have way too much experience with failure. Maybe the boss requires too much. Or maybe a client’s upset because of a misplaced order.
We get home after a long day at work only to find more stuff to do–the house needs cleaning, dinner needs cooking, the kids need help with their math, the dog needs a bath… And since it’s impossible to get it all done, we go to bed thinking we “failed” at our day.
Is it any wonder we relish crossing things off our to-do lists? Is it at all strange that we pursue easy tasks that bring big rewards?
When you create a situation for your readers to win at, you brighten their day. Instead of your newsletter being yet another task “to be done,” it’s a bright spot in their days–something to look forward to.
Five Surprising Reasons to Share the Spotlight
Sure, your newsletter should be “all about you” in the sense that you want to keep each issue focused on the information and approach you use to serve clients and customers… But, that doesn’t mean sharing the spotlight is a bad idea.
In fact, there are five excellent reasons to start sharing the spotlight today.
Plagued by Pick-a-Font Paralysis?
In the last month, about 50% of our new clients are launching new projects and they all want the "perfect" font to build an identity on. If you're creating something new--a new service, a new blog, a new brand--you're probably seeking the perfect font, too.
As you browse the font catalogs, you're likely overwhelmed by all the choices. You want something unique, but not distractingly so. Something that says exactly what you want it to say to your target market, but not in a rude, pushy way. Something people will like, notice, and compliment you on, but not at the expense of your message.
Is it starting to feel impossible? Then it's time to reframe the challenge and start using the right tools. The Wonderful Thing About Newsletters…
There's a lot to love about newsletters; they're a wonderful, rewarding, rich way to build relationships, connect with readers, and make sales. And I've been spending more time than usual thinking up all my favorite things to love ;-).
Here's my list of the top five things I most love about newsletters. I'd love to hear your own list, too!
Why looking at things upside down might not be as silly as it sounds
A few days ago, I attended a workshop at The Home Depot on embellishing basic furniture pieces. The attendees had varying levels of experience–some had never done anything home-improvement-ish while others had tackled complicated projects. And the questions they asked reflected each person’s level of experience.
What was intriguing was that one woman who’d never picked up a paint brush asked really interesting questions–questions I wouldn’t have thought to ask. Sure, they weren’t advanced, but they were compelling nonetheless because they arose out of a deep sense of curiosity.
I may have done a bit more than just hold a paintbrush, but I still loved hearing the answers to her questions. In fact, the answers to her questions held the interest of even the most advanced attendees and prompted some of the best discussions.
As the expert, you might hesitate to cover more basic topics because you worry about the readers on your list who are more advanced. You don’t want to risk boring anyone with information they already know. After all, how can you establish your expertise if you’re talking about something any rank beginner in your field already knows?
The answer is to turn things upside down, inside out, really get in and examine the details.… Keep reading
