I am Canadian, and so we celebrated our Thanksgiving in October.  However because so many of my readers, and blogging community is from the U.S., I just want to take a bit of a time out.

I want to take time to say Happy Thanksgiving.  We do have so very much to be thankful for, don’t we?  It’s funny because as this time of year approaches  people, in general,  seem to get kinder and more caring.

I think as important as this one day feast is, that is important every day to take a few minutes out to be thankful and grateful.  Even for the smallest of things.

So as I write this post (and having just recently come through the loss of my son),  I can say that I am truly thankful for:

1. My Health – Many of you may not know that I had my own health blips this past summer, and was hospitalized twice because of it.  I am actually grateful that I was sick.  It gave me time to re-evaluate things, and decide what is important, and what isn’t.  I’ve made some changes, and am feeling better that I have in a really long time.
2. My Children – Yes I still say that as plural… because even though he is not in this house anymore, his memory lives on, and I have been truly blessed to have him in my life.  And for my oldest – I am sooo thankful, and for any newbie kids that come along.
3. My Love – You know who you are.  Thanks for being my warm, safe place.
4. My Family – We’ve always been a very close family, and when times are tough we always pull together… for that I am ever so grateful.
5. My Friends – The best friends a girl could have.  They stay with me through thick and thin.  And that friends group reaches out across the miles thanks to this handy gadget that I sit in front of everyday.
6. Smiles and Laughter – I am thankful that I am still able to smile each and every day because of all the blessings ( no matter how big or small) I have received this past year.

That is just a tiny portion of the things that I have to be thankful and grateful for.  I could continue for hours… down to the fresh brewed coffee that I smell every morning as I wake up.  But you get the idea, and besides… you’d get bored, and click away!

Have a delicious holiday weekend my friends.  Eat too much, laugh enough,  and take the time to tell the ones you love that you do.  EVERY DAY!  As I have learned just very recently – that is the number one important thing to do.

Have Fun  and Play Safe,

AHWH

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Are you using the Google Friend Connect Gadget on your blog?

You should be.

Not just because Google has recently added a bunch of new features to make GFC an even better product, but because used correctly it can actually help you build your business.

I have talked before about my new found love for all of the Google products out there. I think they are amazing time savers, and ways to organize your life (both business and personal). With all of the changes that Google is implementing as they become a social network, for example – the new Gwave, they will also become valuable tools to maintain your business, and increase your bottom line.

Google Friend Connect has been around for a while. When it was first released, there was a craze to add the gadget and start growing a community and making friends. But after some time (and because nobody really knew what to do with it) the fascination faded, and people started taking the GFC gadget off their page.

So basically, how it works is that Google is going social, and GFC is becoming an increasingly important piece of the Google Social puzzle. Putting it on your website or blog now, in conjunction with learning how to properly use it to your advantage will enable you to grow your site. You will be one that already has a good grasp on the new way of doing business. You will have already started to grow your community while your competition is still trying to figure out what this new way of business is all about.

But in order to do that, you need to learn all about the products, and how you can use them to your advantage.

The easiest way to do that, is to have someone who has that knowledge share it with you. Why re-invent the wheel?

Chris Lang (Named the #1 Google Friend Connect Authority by Jack Humphrey) is a programmer, who happens to have an overly curious fascination with all things Google. He has the knowledge that we need, and he is willing to share it with us.

It starts with the Google Friend Connect Gadget. This is how you start to grow your community. Meet new contacts and friends that are real people, and that have the same kinds of interests that you do. These people will be much more targeted than the kind you find on the other social networks like Twitter or Facebook.

Chris will show you how to set things up so that you can meet people that you have targeted to have the same kinds of interests as you, and he will show you what to do after you have found them through the GFC gadget. All of these Google products will be working with each other seamlessly to help you build a strong network of real people that are interested in what you have to say, and the products that you feel will benefit them.

The old way of doing business through huge numbers of traffic, where only a small number is actually interested and converting into a sale, is long gone. People want to know who it is they are doing business with. They want to be able to talk to you, and ask questions. No longer will your business survive with a faceless site, and a good squeeze page.

I am one of Chris’ students. When I got back online a few months ago, I could see that this was the next big game changer, and so I searched and found Chris. He really knows what he is talking about, and really does want to help you succeed in your business. I certainly haven’t learned all of what needs to be learned yet, but I am on my way to finding a great community, and group of people that have the same interests and needs as I do. That’s why I felt like I wanted to share this with you all, because I know it is the kind of information that you need to take your site to the next level.

Take the time to add a Google Friend Connect Gadget to you blog. But even more than that — Be Smart, and take the time to learn how to use GFC to your advantage.

Hope that helps,

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Not quite sure why you should be using Google Friend Connect (GFC for short)?

1. Adding yourself to a GFC gadget, allows you a quick and easy way to keep track of the blogs you enjoy.
2. It allows you to network with like minded people.
3. You will often get a return visit to your site, and grow your GFC community.
4. New features allow the site owner (such as me) to better track your likes and dislikes through questions and surveys, so we can bring you more relevant info to you over time.
5. We can become mutual friends through Google Friend Connect.
6. After we become mutual friends (and are both Gmail users), we are added to each others contact list, Gtalk, and Gchat.
7. You will be given the option to sign up to that sites newsletter.
8. Bonus: Using Google Friend Connect is one of the major pieces in the new Google Social Network, and is becoming the new way to conduct business online.

Check out this cool video:

Take a minute and join my Google FriendConnect Gadget, and if you’d like send me a friend request.

Hope that Helps,

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Can you guess what I’m talking about?  It happens to all of us at some point…

Today was my day.  I’m caught up from the past few weeks, ready to roll, I’ve been reading and try to stay on my game even while I was away….

I have my coffee, I have my list, and I have the day to blog… but guess what!

I can't think of Shit!!

All week I’ve been so excited to get back to AHWH – I’ve had a ton of ideas on things I want to write about (I even wrote many of them down).  And then as I sat here this morning, and what did I get?

Well – nothing, that’s what!!

Has this ever happened to you?

I even know when and why it generally happens to me:

• I’m behind and trying to get caught up.
• I try to over complicate  things.
• I can be to much of a perfectionist.
• I know I’m on a time crunch.

So what do you do about it?

I know we’ve all had days when we have serious brain farts, and nothing seems to work out right.  But what do you do to get over them?

Here is my quick list of  How-to relieve Brain Farts.

1. Take a Break – Yes, even if you just started.  Sitting there and staring at a blank screen for hours isn’t helping is it?
2. Get Inspired – Do what you do to get some inspiration.  Sometimes that can be walking around the block, sometimes it can be reading other blogs that might spark some great ideas.
3. Realize you don’t have to always have to have it perfect. – Sometimes just having it done  is way more important.
4. Stop researching and start writing – Most often (for me anyway) it’s the first little bit that’s hard.  Once I actually sit down and start typing, the words and sentences seem to start flowing.

Here’s what I just did (After staring at the blank screen for atleast an hour, lol).  Got up went outside, and played with my dogs for a few minutes.   Then I came back in and did a  loads of laundry (I know pretty boring, right?)  Then I sat down, and started going through my Google Reader for ideas.  Then I quick jotted down the first 5 post ideas that came to mind….  Guess what!  This was post number one.

My fingers are moving, but more importantly – So is my brain….  Let’s hope that continues for the rest of the day. 

I’d love to hear what you do when you “Can’t think of Shit”.  Leave me a comment.

Best,

Have you joined my Google Friend Connect Community?

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This is something new started by one of the gals over at MBC.  It’s a new group called (you guessed it) Sunday Blogger Spotlight.  I think it’s a fabulous idea, and a way great way to share some links with content you yourself enjoy reading.

If you are featured in my list below, why don’t you head on over and join the group.  This is only the second week that it is running.

Sunday Blogger Spotlight

I have to say the MBC is a really great group of moms.  It is a very caring and supportive community.  So,  if you are a mom blogger, and looking for a way to connect with other moms.  Hop on over and hook yourself up.

Here is just a sampling of the great blogs that I have found through MBC:

• WAHMBAHM.com is a blog showcasing legitimate work at home opportunities.  Ivette also blogs about things that will help you get started working at home, some great advice.
• Manda Blogs About pretty much whatever is on her mind.  She is a high energy mom who has many things go on at the same time.
• Stay @ Home Mom Who Knew.  I like Grissell’s blog because she loves to laugh, and so do I.   She even professes right from the start that if you are looking for a blog with run on sentences and grammar errors, she’s your gal.  A fun look at being a SAHM.
• The Balance Beam is a blog all about keeping everything in balance.  Charlene shared some great information this week about making sure we take time to take care of ourselves this holiday season.

This is just as small sampling of the great blogs and new friends I have found over at MBC.  Stop by and check them out.

Best,

Don’t forget to join me on Google Friend Connect.

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Have I mentioned the MBC (Mom Bloggers Club) yet?  It is just what the name says.  A group of Mom Bloggers, but the group is huge – over 6600 women.  I joined it recently, and have found some very cool blogs, and some wonderful new friends.

It is a wonderfully supportive community.  You can join groups, ask questions, share thoughts, or just  hang out.

Robyn, one of my friends from MBC has included me in an award.  I thought that was so cool.

It’s the Lemonade Stand Award – for a great attitude or gratitude! 

So here are the rules:

- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So first of all I want to say thank you to you Robyn (Simply Delightful) – You put a smile on my face, when I got back to my blog the other day, and saw that. 

I am passing this on to (in no particular order):

Richele, http://www.underthegoldenappletree.blogspot.com

Tracy Iglesias, http://ascendingbutterfly.blogspot.com/

Ivette Muller http://www.wahmbahm.com

Angela http://thesuburbanjungle.blogspot.com

Angela Andrews http://survivingthecrazy.blogspot.com/

Shawn Harrington http://shawnssharings.blogspot.com/

Victoria http://mommyisgreen.blogspot.com/

Rachel Lim http://www.rachel-lim.com/

Sandra http://threepumpkinslittle.squarespace.com

Blueviolet http://www.anutinanutshell.com

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I’m back and slowly getting back to business –

But first I need to share and honor a very beautiful life with you.

My son who had a very rare illness that I’m not going to get into passed away on October 25.  He will always be loved and remembered by all of the people that knew and loved him, and all the lives that he touched in the 13 short years that we had with him.

I am truly grateful, and amazed that he allowed me the special honor and privilege of being his mama.  My life is forever changed by your smile and your love Boo.

This is a poem that my 16 year old niece wrote for her cousin…

Once upon a time, there was a boy;
His smile warmed our hearts and his laughter was infectious.
This boy was very different than most,

Fly with the angels now Boo – and play and run, and eat all of your favorite things.  Love on your Papa’s little Boo,  they are there waiting to play hockey, and tell you great stories.  Mommy is missing you terribly, but I know that you were here with us for a reason, and I know you don’t want us to be sad.

We took down your wheel chair ramp yesterday sweet heart, because I know that next time we meet you will run right up and give your mama and your brother a great big hug.

Endings can be sad, but they can also be beautiful… and I will always know you in my heart as my beautiful little boy!

All my love,
Mommy

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We had a huge loss in my family over the weekend.  And I need some time.  I will back to blogging just soon as soon as I can.

Thank you for your patience.

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Now that you know what your personal brand is, and you’ve created your ‘”tagline” or personal brand statement, what things can you do to get it out there?  So that you actually get visitors that are interested in what you have to offer (therefore turning into paying customers)?

This is Who I am

7 Tips and Tools to in Creating Your Brand Identity.

1. Be Real – Part of the idea behind personal branding is that your customers wants to deal with a real person.  Tell them about you.  Tell them about things you’re good at, things you love, things you would really prefer not.  Tell them how crazy busy life is, or how quiet your weekend was.  These little tid-bits go along way in helping people to identify with you (and your humanness).
2. Be Consistent – Use the same image, the same name (your real one is always first choice), the same tagline.  All of those things will create an online presence that people identify with.  Don’t use one picture of yourself on your website, a different one on your gravatar, and another even yet on your social media accounts.  That’s just confusing!  Be consistent,  and if you want to share different photos of you, that great, but do it in a photo album, or in your ‘about me’ on your website.
3. Create a Website or blog - Again depending on the purpose you need to fill.  Are you selling product, or selling information?  Is there enough information to keep a blog up to date with fresh content?  Look at all of these things and then decide if you are best suited to a blog or a more static website (because the information doesn’t change from day to day).
4. Create a Tone of Voice – In your writing or online presence that people will identify with you.  If you are a very professional business writer on a Monday post, and then a very casual trying to be funny blogger on a Friday post, it will confuse your audience. (This again just goes back to be yourself, that way you won’t forget who you are).
5. Get involved through Social Communities - Make sure that you are involved in the major social media sites, like Twitter, and Facebook. GET a GOOGLE ACCOUNT and get a google profile set up.  This one is sooo important with the new Google Wave just starting to appear.  Become part of Google Friend Connect, and actively promote that you are by joining other’s communities and inviting them back to yours.
   

   Your Community

6. Be Available, and Helpful - This is your business. Answer your customers email and comments right away.  Be helpful, and give them more than what they ask for.  Spend time out in the community of your online niche, answering questions, commenting on blog posts, and just generally getting to know your clients.
7. Be Trustworthy - People want to know that they can trust what you say.  Trust is something required in any lasting relationship.  Show your customers that you are who you say you are.  This can be the difference from having a surfer stop on your page one time, and a long term reader or customer. Long term are the kind you are aiming for – because they will keep coming back to you over and over when they are looking for something.

Cool.  Now that you have done all this work, and made a plan.  Go out and start creating your brand.  But a word of caution – don’t get discouraged. The brand name people that you know and recognize have been doing this for years.   Copy Blogger, Problogger, Jack Humphrey, Alice Seba are names that you recognize, because they kept working on it and didn’t give up.

This is a process, and as with anything else it needs to be nurtured so it has time to grow.  If you have any questions, fire them off to me in a comment, I’d be happy to talk more with you about it.  Meantime, – I hope you will join my communities (Google Friend Connect, My Bloglog, Networked Blogs, and Mom Bloggers Community) and keep in touch!

Hope this helps,

P.S. – After doing all this work on the personal branding series this week, it has really got me re-thinking a few things.  At Home with Heather is missing a huge chunk of what I want it to be about.  So during November, keep your eyes out while I change it up a bit. 

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In part one of the creating a personal brand series, we looked at:

• What a personal Brand is and why it is important.
• What qualities and talents you are known for.
• What qualities and talents you want to be known for.

Who are you?

If you are online and following along here, I’m going to assume that you do already have a business idea, website or blog OR that you are just in the starting process of putting one together.  So, taking the information you discovered about yourself in part one, let’s figure out what product or service you want to be known for.

So for example you are a scrapbooking mama.  All your friends and family comment on what fabulous scrap-book pages you create.  This is a real talent and something that you very much enjoy.  In fact – you enjoy it enough to create a business around “scrapbooking”.  That’s Great!  Now, we still need to break it down even further to decide what product or service you will provide that give your customers the most benefit.

Do you want to create pages that you sell to others? Do you want to create them in 3D and then ship them to your clients, or do you want to do them online creating digital scrapbooking pages, and your client be able to print the finished product out at home.  Or do you want to create a blog showing others “how-to” create their own pages.  Do you want to have a site that sells the scrapbooking supplies with tips on how best to use them?

I’m sure the list can go on and on for business ideas, and I’m sure you can tell scrapbooking is NOT one of my talents.

I think it very important to find the thing that you enjoy the most.  Doing something that you really love makes you more creative, it makes you put more effort in, and it gives your customer a better experience in dealing with you.

For example, you wouldn’t want to start a how-to blog, if you are really no good at trying to give step by step instructions.  If you don’t enjoy writing, if you feel like it’s a chore every time you need to create a new post, the customer will see that you are not passionate about it, and they will go elsewhere to find the information they seek.

Do a little research and see if there is a demand for what you have to offer; you may need to tweak your idea just a little to find the target market that you’re looking for.

Okay.

Now you know what your talent is.  You’ve thought about what product or service you want to provide. Can you think of a statement that will put that all together?  What kind of long-tail keywords can you use to help you get noticed in the search engines.  Basically – we are creating your “tagline”.

Think about it.  Write it all down, and work it a bit.  Once you have something that you are happy with, and you think will help you create an online presence, leave it.  Go do something else for a while.  When you come back, read through all the notes that you’ve done in creating your personal brand.  Satisfied?  Excited?

Tomorrow we will wrap it all up and give you 7 ideas and tool to get your personal brand out there.  This is a process, you won’t be able to build your online presence overnight, but now you will have a goal in mind.

Hope this helps,

Image from AdvancingWomen.com

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