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Blogging to Promote Your Business Online

by Admin

Blogging to Promote Your Business Online

Recently I wrote about the top ten ways to promote your online business. The top ten online marketing methods include social media, video, blogging, guest blogging, content marketing, public speaking, SEO, PPC, social advertising, and email marketing. Blogging to promote your business on your own website is one of the fastest and easiest things you can do. When done well blogging gives readers interesting and useful content. With careful research and planning, it can help your search engine optimization campaigns, and it helps to establish you as an expert in your field.

Blogging-Promote-Business Online-440

I am assuming you already have a website setup. If you do not I recommended a low cost web hosting plan which will run you about $5 per month. For easy maintenance, use a prewritten content management system. I use WordPress for all of my blogs.

To begin blogging identify a topic you understand well, break it down into bits and begin writing as if you are teaching a class or talking to a friend. For example, a good friend of mine is a very skilled recreational photographer, so he writes about it, but breaks it down into sections like camera lenses, lighting, backgrounds, etc… I return to his website for tips on what lenses to buy or tips on lighting design.

Blogging makes your business or ecommerce website a resource rather than just a store. Your blog become a source of information. It is okay to link to products for sale, as long as it is not the focus of the blog post. My friend the photographer has tons of great photography and video tips, but he also sells some online courses too!

Blog as often as you can. The more you can write, the faster your website will be built out. If you are writing for SEO efforts, then try to add at least two blog posts a week. After writing a blog post, do not assume readers will just flock to your website to read it. Be sure to promote your new blog post on social media, in an email blast, or with a press release.

Blogging-Promote-Business Online

Filed Under: Blog, business Tagged With: blogging, business, ecommerce, marketing

Committed vs attached

by Admin

One of my favorite books is Deepak Chopra’s “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.” I have purchased this book many times. I know every time I buy a new copy that I will soon give it away. I enjoy talking to others about the peaceful mindset this book teaches.

In chapter six, Chopra discusses “The Law of Detachment”. This law maintains that it is possible to emotionally detach yourself from the result of a decision or action. The law states, “Today I will factor in uncertainty as an essential ingredient of my experience. In my willingness to accept uncertainty, solutions will spontaneously emerge out of the problem, out of the confusion, disorder, and chaos. The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.”

Committed vs Attached-440

This means that we can learn to accept that our hard work can have many outcomes and that we are not in control of them. Furthermore, it is not in our own best interest to be so tangled in an outcome that it consumes our thinking or hurts us. It is possible to be fully committed to a purpose without being caught up in waiting for the outcome.

When someone is emotionally attached to an outcome or result, judgment can be clouded, tempers can flare, or maybe stress is added to your life. For example, consider waiting for the decision on a job application. The preparation work is complete and the required documents sent in. Once submitted, the decision is out of your hands. Worrying about the outcome only causes additional stress or lost sleep. There is no advantage to worrying about the decision.

I recently watched a team that was overly attached to a very specific outcome. Their behavior became so fiery. Through their efforts, they actually caused sympathy for their opponent. Not only did the team fall short of their goal, they actually harmed other teams by drawing resources and energy away from them as well.

To work tirelessly toward a goal but not allow your future, self-esteem or sense of worth hinge on the outcome is a special mindset. When detached we enjoy living and think clearly. Detachment doesn’t mean anyone is less committed. Detachment means your judgment is clear. The sun will still rise in the morning and set in the evening. The world has opened the door to something new by saying “no” to another.

Committed vs Attached

Filed Under: business, Goal Setting

Dress for Success

by Admin

I have a series of speeches coming up and find that my inner A-type refuses to remain in its hiding place as each event approaches. A competitive nature causes me to obsess over every detail. I have engaged in in-depth discussions on what to wear every day since last week knowing I not only have to be successful, the audience needs to perceive me as successful.

dress for success
Although I do admire quality clothing, I do not consider myself a fashionista. I am happiest in yoga pants, t-shirt and some fleece jacket. However, I am aware that people are likely perceived based appearances. People can tell at a glance that you are wearing something cheap. This can cause them to perceive you as unsuccessful or your company as low quality. It is not necessarily a conscious decision. A competent person can speak to a packed room yet are bested by someone who was better dressed and practiced more.

Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future. ~ Coco Chanel

It is tough to finance a quality wardrobe when you are just starting out, advancing in your career or in transitioning to something completely new. Consider money spent on a quality wardrobe as in investment in you and your career! If there is little room in your budget for clothing, buy a few high quality foundation pieces that when interchanged, make several outfits. Spend wisely, shop sales and go for standards such as a sport coat and wool pants. Buy a few wool suits in black, navy and grey.

Here are a few wardrobe essentials:

  • Purchase good quality suits in basic colors
  • Accessorize: Men still sport watches as a status symbol
  • Shirts: Crisp, clean and pressed dress shorts look nice! Buy a few and take god care of them. French cuffs are a nice touch!
  • Shoes: Find quality, comfortable shoes in brown, black and nude for ladies

To be sure they fit well, have them tailored. Don’t pay expensive department store prices. Take clothing to a reputable local dry cleaner who does fast, excellent work at reasonable prices.

Filed Under: Blog, business, Success

10 Maya Angelou Quotes that Inspire Success

by Admin

The world mourns the loss of author and poet Maya Angelou who died last week at the age of 86. Growing up during the Great Depression, she met life’s challenges and grew from them, never allowing her circumstance to determine the path of her life. She was a writer, teacher, playwright, composer, stage and screen producer, Hollywood director, performing dancer, singer, and activist.

According to her website, “She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being.”

Maya Angelou worked her up way from high school dropout to best-selling author. As a world-traveler, the multi-talented Angelou mastered five languages. She worked and became close friends with fellow civil rights activists, Malcolm X and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She served on two presidential committees, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and earned three Grammy Awards.

Maya Angelou’s words embodied lessons on living as well as life’s injustices. Her inspiring words taught courage, instilled hope and gave strength. She showed us that success comes from a kind heart, an open mind, hard work, and perseverance. Enjoy ten inspirational quotes from Maya Angelou that can inspire you to success.

Maya Angelou-Philanthropy-Quote

1. “Nothing will work unless you do.”

2. “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”

3. “As I look back on my life, I realize that every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better.”

4. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

5. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

6. “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

7. “I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”

8. “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.”

9. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

10. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

Filed Under: Blog, business, Success

Leading Through Intimidation

by Admin

Leading-Through-Intimidation-440

Recently I posted a late night plea for help in a tech support forum I belong to on a popular, professional social network. Although a member of that group for years, it was my first support request. I’m not going to leave a link into the actual post but this is a rather popular exchange for anything business related:

Michelle Held commented on a discussion in Joomla* Helpdesk.
Michelle: Does anyone know of a theme that has an email sign-up box IN a slider? maybe 60/40 split eg slider at top of home page left, and email sign-up on the right side – (NOT in the sidebar)?? THANKS!
Like Comment (2) 13h ago

In the morning, I read the response:

Angry Group Moderator* (AGM)
AGM: With all due respect Michelle, but with questions like these won’t get you far in this group.

  • a. typically a slider should be plugin territory
  • b. would it be so hard to add content to a slider
  • c. have you actually used Google to find such sliders?

13h ago

Did you choke on your coffee like I did? This is the actual transcript. The post came from the group owner. I checked the title of the group I posted in to be sure I did not post in one of my nonprofit or women’s groups. I scrolled down a bit to look at what the other group members typically post. I definitely was in the right group, or so I thought.

I wrote and erased at least two clever replies before posting this:

Michelle Held: So sorry to burden you. The answers are:

  • a. Yes I know, that’s why I’m asking
  • b. For me, yes
  • c. Actually lately I prefer Bing but ‘yes’ again My first question but hey thanks anyhow guess this group is not for me

7h ago

The thought of being afraid to ask a question is foreign to me. I read about it all the time, but don’t share the emotion. Deciding not to let this ruin my day, I quit the group and headed off to the gym. Two sweaty hours later, still haunted by the feeling that I wrote something wrong, I pick up my cellphone and find this text message from a friend:

“Hahaha I just saw your “exchange” on XXXX*!!!! that guy sounds EXACTLY like the jack*ss I used to deal with in my vtn2* group!!!!”

A few friends have taken to Facebook as well, leaving snotty comments on my wall and signing their names as Mr. AGM.

Mean people suck!
What did he mean by “with questions like these won’t get you far in this group?” I won’t go far? This is just an informal, free support forum a group of strangers subscribe to.

This callous forum moderator with his low emotional intelligence is probably not equipped to manage a group, at least not today. Did he even understand the sarcasm of the response? It is doubtful. The forum members cannot possible feel inspired or confortable after reading his response. This group leader created a culture of disrespect and intimidation by responding so harshly.

Kevin Surace, Inc. Magazine’s 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year speaks about disruptive innovation in Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly. Kevin said it best, “I don’t know if it has a name, but honestly, it’s the fear of introducing an idea and being ridiculed, laughed at, and belittled. If you’re willing to subject yourself to that experience, and if you survive it, then it becomes the fear of failure and the fear of being wrong.”

*Names are changed

Leading-Through-Intimidation

Filed Under: Blog, business, communication

Get an EIN for your business

by Admin

Get an EIN for your business

Applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a FREE service offered by the Internal Revenue Service. Getting an EIN is one of the first steps in setting up your business or nonprofit as a legal entity. It takes only a few minutes to apply online and you will get your EIN immediately. Beware of services and internet sites that charge for this free service.

There is a page on the IRS website that tells you how to get an EIN,

Anyone can get an EIN one of four ways:
Apply Online
Apply by FAX
Apply by Mail
Apply by Telephone

You will need to know the address of and Social Security Number for a responsible person or representative, the address of the entity needing an EIN. You will also have to list what your business or organization does as well as know the structure of the entity.

Types of entities that may need to get an EIN include:
Sole Proprietor
Partnerships
Includes partnerships and joint ventures
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
An estate is a legal entity created as a result of a person’s death.
All types of trusts including conservatorships, custodianships, guardianships, irrevocable trusts, revocable trusts, and receiverships.

Get-an-EIN-for-your-business

Filed Under: Blog, business

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