If you are a parent, especially a mom (shout out to all my moms!), then this is probably going to really speak to you because we tend to be multi-taskers to the tenth power! The problem with multitasking is that it can be distracting. Sure you may get a lot done, but is it really done well? OR do you even get any one thing done completely at all?

I find that the clients who have the most difficult time with creating compelling content on a consistent basis for their audience, tend to suffer from this multitasking approach towards everything in their lives including their marketing and let me tell you — for must of us this approach just won’t work.

So (drumroll please!) this is my #1 strategy and secret for writing and producing more content on a consistent basis:

Focus on only ONE marketing strategy today and that’s creating content.

Do not play around on Twitter. Do not look for Facebook friends and fans. Do not connect with someone on LinkedIn. Forget about commenting on your favorite bloggers posts. Leave those website, pay per click, or Facebook ad stats alone today. Your website doesn’t need any tweaking today. You don’t need to check emails all day. Just once at the top of the day, if at all. Instead, just focus on content.

I find when I decide that on Mondays (my personal writing blitz day) all I am going to do is write, I produce a lot more content. In fact, instead of writing just one blog post or creating one video or writing a guest post for another site — I find that I am creating 5, 7, or 8 different new pieces of content that day that will set me up lovely for the rest of the week! Bam! Content done. Now I don’t have to worry about how I’m behind on creating new content for the rest of the week because I’ve already done it. And get this…

There’s something about doing ONE thing in one sitting, without distraction. You get in a ZONE. So I find that I write my best when I have been writing several articles, book chapters, etc. at one time.

So here’s what I recommend that you do:

1. Select one day a week that you will commit to creating high level content that attracts more of your ideal clients.

2. Eliminate all distractions on that day.

3. Create a series of blog posts, guest posts, video articles, or audio articles that day — don’t just write one piece of content that day.

4. Pay yourself on the back, you’re done for the week!Similar Posts:

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• Writing Tips: Write Articles First Thing In The Morning!

One of the things that I find that most entrepreneurs drop the ball on is basic seo for the images on their websites. The reason why this is a BIG mistake is that Google sends websites traffic from images too. In fact, when I check my website statistics I can see what images are sending me traffic, and there are quite a few! The images that are sending me traffic to my sites typically are ones where I got the keyword phrases REALLY right. Watch this video to see how to get it done in under 4 minutes!

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The content you create this year is more important than ever. The big brands like American Express and Coca-Cola have caught on now. Instead of spending a lot of their dollars on interruption marketing (commercials, etc.), they are paying consultants like myself big bucks to create compelling content campaigns for them that build brand trust and brand loyalty. Does your content do this? What is the first impression that your content makes?

In my work with clients, I do a LOT of website content evaluations a.k.a. makeovers, with which I use a 17-point criteria system. Over the years, I have consistently found five factors that site owners drop the ball on and so I thought I’d share them with you today…

Reason #1 – I Can’t Find Your Blog!

One of the biggest areas that site owners drop the ball on is basic search engine optimization. First, you have to start thinking like your ideal client. How would your ideal client search for your what you do in the search engines? What type of language would they use? Now you have to optimize your blog post titles to reflect that language so that when people do a search that your article shows up in the search results.

So for example, if you are a wedding planner and you are writing an article on wedding planning tips, I can’t tell you how many biz owners I have seen that title those articles something cute like “I Do” or generic like “Your Beautiful Wedding” — when the reality is that you need to be very specific and use terms that REAL people search for if you want to get search engine traffic like “How To Plan A Wedding On A Budget”. The key to getting this right is doing keyword research in your niche to make sure you are targeting phrases that people are typing into Google. I use the keyword research tool Market Samurai for this type of research for myself and when I create editorial calendars for clients.

Reason #2 – Your Blog Screams To Me That You Are An Amateur

As a solo entrepreneur, our resources may be limited as to how much we will invest in the aesthetics of our website, but we can make up for it in other areas. That’s why it’s really important that we do. So if your blog screams “amateur” then I’m afraid you are two seconds away from losing yet another possible client.

You are hosting your blog on a 3rd party blogging platform such as Blogger, Wordpres.org, LiveJournal etc. — While these are great resources and very user friendly for newbies, a blog hosted here does not say that you are serious about your business. Serious enough to invest a few dollars on your own domain name and a self-hosted WordPress blog. When I see a blog like this, I don’t think serious, I think “newbie” — and I’m not going to invest my money with a newbie or with someone who appears to be a newbie.

Your blog looks straight out of the package. While you do not have to spend a lot of time or money on this, I think that it’s really important for your website to look like you’ve spent at least a little energy in making it “different” than the many other blogs that use the same template you use. It shows that you are serious about your business and that you want to provide a good user experience.

Reason #3 – Your Blog Gives Me A Headache

If your blog is too cluttered, it will turn off and turn away potential clients. A good way to give your blog “room to breathe” is to make sure that your articles have a lot of white space between paragraphs, photos, etc. You also need to take a good long look at your sidebars. Do you have too many slow loading social media widgets? (Dear Facebook, can you fix that?) Do you have too many advertisements? Is there just too much junk in your sidebars that leave your readers about where to go first? Consider what you can eliminate from your sidebars that will improve your visitors user experience? A simple and clean blog is best.

Reason #4 – There Is No YOU In Your Blog

This isn’t typically a newbie mistake, but one that many intermediate marketers make. A trend that has started which I fully support is the use of guest blog posts. Many bloggers are featuring other writers and experts so that there is more “fresh” content on their site without having to create it all themselves. Totally fine strategy, except that many bloggers are overdoing it to the point that I don’t know what the point or message of the blog is. There are so many different points and strategies being made on the blog by different writers, I’m not really sure what I’m suppose to be learning and more importantly what to do next. If this is you, remember that this is YOUR business and at the end of the day people have to be able to trust YOU in order to make a decision on whether or not to invest with you. Using too many guest bloggers will dilute your message, so be picky and selective about who you feature. Make sure the message of the guest articles are in alignment with your overall marketing message.

Reason #5 – You Haven’t Invited Me To Come Back

While I may do a search, and find your blog articles, AND actually read one, I probably won’t ever come back and visit your blog again because you haven’t asked me to. The #1 call to action that entrepreneurs should make in their blog is to ask for an email address so that the reader can continue to read more content. The reality is that trust doesn’t come easy in today’s world! Visitors need to have additional exposure to your message in order to make a decision to trust you and invest in you. So ask invite them to experience more of you. Make sure to add optin boxes on your blog. The best 2 places for these optin invitations are top right-hand corner of your site and at the end of your individual articles.

Your Turn!

I’m sure you’ve visited many blogs on your travels around the web, what are some things that make you “click away”? Share them below in the comments area, because I’m sure that we all can learn from each other.Similar Posts:

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The Big Shift

In a recent teleclass that I led on The 5 Biggest Shifts That Entrepreneurs Must Make When Writing Articles That Attract Clients, I talked a bit about the dramatic SHIFT that is happening on the web right now. Search engines like Google are now taking a very close look at whether or not your content is being shared via social media and ranking your content based on those factors. This shift will significantly shape your online reputation.

Uh-Oh Is This High School Again?

Okay, so this sounds a little bit like a popularity contest right? Well sort of. The more folks who share, like, retweet, and comment on your content the more IMPORTANT that Google thinks you are. So essentially it comes down to the more people who like you — the better you will do in the search engines, BUT there’s one great advantage you have…

You Have MAJOR Control Over Becoming A Cool Kid

Unlike actual high school, you don’t have to depend on an arbitrary hierarchy  to decide whether your content fares well in the search engines. YOU are on the same playing field as all of your competitors and you are probably 2 steps ahead of all the “Big Boys” in your niche, because everyday people make the decisions on whether to share, retweet, and like content.

If your content is good, if it’s inspiring, if it’s compelling, if it’s entertaining — it will be shared, regardless of WHO you are. When Google sees this, they ASSUME that you are important and rank your content accordingly.

Okay Lisa – So How Important Is This?

This shift towards more importance being paid on social media influence is critical if you want to remain relevant — at least in the search engines. If you are not on social media or created an account a year ago and haven’t been active, it’s time to get on the grid.

If you must choose just one to start with, I’d go with Facebook because it is the largest social media network and it has undergone tremendous growth over the years and continues to do so. If you are a rapid implementer. then I’d sign up with the power 3: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

If you’re active in social media and want to check just how well you are doing in social media (your social media influence), then a great place to check is: Klout.com. *I have a little disclaimer here though. Don’t get real crazy over your numbers in Klout. Use your Klout number as a frame of reference for how you’re doing in social media and what you need to work on. Then leave it alone.

This Still Sounds Like An Uphill Battle

No, it really isn’t. Sure, there are always going to be leaders who were already powerhouses offline like Oprah and will do great in social media — but when it comes to shining in your niche — social media really does level the playing field. The #1 key is to make sure that you are sharing kick-a@#! content. Get that right and everything else will fall into place. I recommend that you get started by building a strong foundation with articles.

Okay, Now You…

First, if you found value in this article, I’d appreciate it if you tweet or share it with your community or comment on it. Pay it forward please:)

Now for my question of the day: Do you think it’s a good idea for search engines to use social media as a factor for ranking content? Do you believe it puts you at an advantage or disadvantage?Similar Posts:

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For a very long time, I would compare the success of my business to other business owners in or related to my niche, and it would make me sick (literally)! The big reason is that compared to many coaches and mentors who I started out with in this niche (so around 2005-6), I was on a SLOW learning curve. It took me way longer than I hoped to catch on to and multiply strategies that were working in my business, as well as identify and eliminate ones that weren’t. It was ridiculously frustrating, and I was starting to believe that I wasn’t good enough. I almost quit more than once.

So undoubtedly, this was a mindset I had about myself and my business that was destructive and putting me in a really “low” place energetically. I would step away from the business for days — because of it. Which of course wasn’t helping, and honestly was giving me the entrepreneurship blues. (cue the blues guitar please:)

Fast forward to today and I am in a totally different place energetically as well as realistically thanks to Brenda Rivas & Fabienne Fredrickson. I have in essence “caught up” to most of my peers — and the ones that I haven’t, I applaud their success instead of envy it. Was it easy to make these shifts – nope. But it was crucial to my success and I know that it probably will be to yours as well.

[This is a text heavy post today -- but I was in the zone!]

1. Stop Thinking That You Are In A Competition For Clients

You have to step outside of yourself a minute and think realistically. There are oodles of companies who do the same thing and yet they all seem to make money and stay in business. Even with McDonald’s domination of the fast food industry, there are plenty of companies that are just fine: Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC, etc. The same principle applies to your business. There is a limitless supply of clients available to you.

2. Stop Thinking Smaller Is Safer

There is a tendency for many entrepreneurs to dream small, act small, and therefore get only small results. Once you understand that if you think bigger and BELIEVE in bigger dreams –then you will ultimately create bigger results.

3. Be Clear About What You Want

A confused mind creates confused thoughts and energy. If you are confused — the universe will be confused. Be clear about what you want to accomplish today, this week, this year, over the next 3 years. If you aren’t sure, get help around that. That way every daily step you take towards your business is purposeful and congruent with what you want.

4. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For What You Want

I have run into many entrepreneurs who are great at what they do but often think “Hey I’m smart. I should be able to figure out this thing by myself. Why should I ask for help?” Okay — yes you are smart, creative, passionate and all of that — but there is no shame in asking for what you want. Asking the universe, God, etc. AND asking peers and mentors all around you. You’d be surprised how many people will help you.

5. Remember The Bigger Picture

It’s easy to fall into the daily business of growing your business: creating content, social media, working with clients, etc. But what’s your bigger picture. Keep that in mind. Is it establishing your LEGACY? Is it creating more time with your FAMILY?

6. Fill Your Subconscious And Your Soul With Good Stuff

When Oprah first talked about the OWN Network, I have to admit that I was one of those people that said “I love the idea of this but I don’t know how many people are really going to watch positive television day after day.” I’m a bit embarrassed by this but the point of this article is to be truthful and hopefully insightful. So there it is. But I started to finally “get it” about 9 months or so ago. Especially at the end of the day. I think it’s much better to go to bed reading a uplifting or entertaining book than watching a horror flick or for that matter the World News! Filling my soul with positive reading, television, movies etc. has really helped my occasionally “cynical” outlook on life.

7. Remember You Are In The Business Of Serving People

Most people in business want to make money. There’s nothing wrong with that, but remember the money should be a financial reward for serving your clients and your customers.

8. Be Mindful Of What You Are Attracting

If you are attracting low-paying, highly-demanding, clients then you need to take a closer look at why. Sure it may be your marketing materials, but it’s deeper than that. You have created, selected or approved those marketing materials. You are unconsciously attracting the types of clients that you don’t like.

9. Surround Yourself With Your Positive Peeps

This was a difficult one for me. Many of our closest relationships are with family members or friends from childhood and unfortunately it seems to be that more of our “forward thinking” pals are people we meet along the way in our journey — and not from the past. Perhaps college. Or people you meet while building your business. This isn’t a hard and fast rule. But regardless of HOW you met the “negative nellies” or less forward thinking people in your life who are holding you back — you’ve got to let them go. Surround yourself MORE with folks who will support and lift you towards your goals, or who at least are doing what you want to be doing. Shout out to my positive peeps Coach Kelly, Therese Prentice, and Ange’ Anglade.

10. Change Your Relationship With Money

If you have a “scarcity” relationship with money, meaning you feel badly when you invest in yourself, you frequently have buyer’s remorse, you select lower quality products to save money, you constantly are thinking about your “lack” of money, the bills you owe, or the client you didn’t close and what that is costing you — you’ve got to turn this around really SOON. The more you stay in the energy of “not having” the more you will not have. I know this seems to be easier said than done — but its simply a shift in perception. If you don’t have any money right now, if things are super tight, then that is a sure symptom of a negative mindset around money.

11. Change What You Regularly Say To Yourself

In other words – STOP your self-sabotage. How many times have you thought “Maybe I should just get a job” or “People will discover I don’t know what I’m talking about”. That’s your subconscious scaring the hell out of you! Tell him or her to shut it up, and start changing what you say to yourself in front of others as well as in the dark.

12. Start Recognizing Gratitude

Do you wake up and write in a gratitude journal? Does that question make you chuckle? If so, that means you are probably living in a low feeling place. You wake up frustrated. Overwhelmed. Discouraged. Instead of joyful, enthusiastic, and optimistic. It’s important that you give recognition and be grateful for all that is RIGHT with you personally, your family, and your business.

13. Allow Yourself To Feel Especially During The Tough Times

Everyone has very different ways for how they handle the rollercoaster emotions that come when running a business. My husband gets very passionate about his business and gets very animated about it — especially during a challenge. I on the other hand would numb myself or escape with novels, television, outings with some of those “negative peeps” I talked about earlier. This of course did nothing to make me move forward and get past whatever the challenge was, so I had to make some shifts. And I realized that the first one was allowing myself to “feel” the emotions (whatever they be) and work through them and then get over to the other side and keep pushing.

14. Upgrade Yourself!

Remember Beyonce’s hit “Upgrade You”? Well it was all about upgrading her man to the finer things in life. Introducing him to new things. This is what you need to do for yourself. It’s crucial. In fact, I have a client who wants to start a new business in a very competitive market but she still stands in a long line, in a hot office, to pay her cable bill! That’s not living a “platinum” lifestyle. Why would anyone invest in you if you don’t invest in yourself? So where you can make upgrade changes to your lifestyle – do so. Grow! Experience! Permit yourself to treat yourself ROYALLY!

15. Let Go Of Resentments

Let go of the bad feelings for family members who wronged you, friends who betrayed you, or resentments of someone’s success. Holding onto those resentments is absolutely toxic, because it often leads to strong feelings of anger, frustration, fear, or unworthiness that get in your way. “Why did they treat me this way, I can’t understand it!?” or “I can’t stand that she’s a millionaire and has no talent!” (I hear that all the time about Kim Kardashian — but fail to understand why people are so mad.)

16. Let Go Of Other People’s Negative Perception Of You

When someone unsubscribes from your list, do you feel a little twinge of “awww”? And then do you read why they unsubscribed, which some experts recommend that you do, but for the most part I advise against and this is why…Too many people take those comments personally and then they interpret them as there is something wrong with them. Or their content. You have to let that go and realize that no one can determine who you are — only you. All you can do is be the best that you can be.

17. You Must Take Personal Responsibility

It’s easy to play the blame game when things go wrong, but when you do this you are putting the POWER of what will or will not be in the hands of someone other than yourself. You must realize that only YOU create the life that you have now and the one that you want to have with every decision and action you take. There is no big, dark “force” working against you and your business — you are the FORCE.

Okay, this was a really long post, and typically I would have advised to break this up into at least two articles — but I appreciate that you’ve made it down this far in the article:) Now I’d love for you to answer this question: What 2 mindset shifts will you implement starting today or tomorrow? Or are there any other shifts you’ve implemented that you’d like share?

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