Article Write Up

Woodbury gets Dramatic in A Dead End In Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 14:07:00 +0000

Irene Woodbury has just published her second novel, A DEAD END IN VEGAS, and, might I add, I personally loved it. Woodbury’s first book, A SLOT MACHINE ATE MY MIDLIFE CRISIS, was more on the humorous side, but her latest is jam-packed with drama. It’s an action-packed, fast-moving read.

Having interviewed Woodbury after the release of her first novel, I couldn’t wait to reach out and interview her again on A DEAD END IN VEGAS. With a completely different storyline and style, I had questions!

First off, I wanted to know what inspired Irene Woodbury to write A DEAD END IN VEGAS, since it’s a totally different genre than her last novel. Woodbury’s response: “I had heard about couples who met on the Internet, and then got together in person. Some of them flew across the U.S., or even from one country to another. They had high hopes and were very excited, and, most of the time, it was a positive, romantic experience. But I couldn’t help wondering about a situation where it went really badly--and maybe even ended tragically. It was an idea I couldn’t let go of. And so, little by little, I started to put the plot together and create the characters.”

That led to my next question: How long did it take to write A DEAD END IN VEGAS? “I thought about it for three or four months,” Woodbury answered, “then spent two years writing it.” I wasn’t surprised. The way the characters were represented and married into the storyline, I could tell it was no fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants book for sure!

It’s amazing to me that someone can put together a complex storyline--keeping the details to precise perfection--and put it all down in print. I asked Woodbury if there was any truth in her novel (it just felt so real when I read it, like no one could have made that up). She responded, “It took a few months to think it through. I had this idea about a couple—both of them married--who try to meet for a week in Vegas, and it turns into a disaster. But then, when I came up with the friend of the man meeting her, their affair, and her death, I knew I had a book.”

I asked Woodbury about choosing character names. Did she have them in her head from the start, or did each character grow into their name? Woodbury explained, “Sometimes I have the names early on, sometimes I change them over and over till it sounds, and feels, right. When I’m stuck, I look up most popular baby names on the computer, or the 1,000 most common surnames in the U.S. I can spend days looking at websites trying to create names of towns, too. When you’re writing, sometimes it’s kind of a break, and you prolong the process because you’re trying to avoid the writing. I’ve done that a lot.” I think prolonging the writing, and extra research, are what made this story pop!

So, do writers fall in love with their characters, or one in particular, I wondered? I asked Woodbury if she had a favorite character in A DEAD END IN VEGAS. She most certainly did: troubled teenager Randy. “He’s in a terrible situation,” she pointed out, “and too young to know how to handle it. He’s angry, rebellious, deeply wounded, and full of vengeance and confusion. I couldn’t believe his trip to Vegas, how resourceful he was about the whole thing. And he dies a sort of heroic death.” Isn’t it funny how a writer reflects on her characters as if they themselves wrote the script of their life--when in fact it was the author?

I asked Woodbury if she could personally relate to any one of the characters? If so, who, and why? She shared, “I relate to all of them, good and bad; Tricia’s vulnerability, Dave’s stubbornness, Sally’s compassion, Mike’s practicality, Randy’s impulsiveness, and Sarah’s innocence.”

Okay, once you get the opportunity to read this amazing book you will better understand the next question I had to ask Woodbury. I had to know if she felt it was a little cruel to leave Cindy high and dry on her wedding day? “Oh, yes,” Woodbury replied, “but I honestly believe Dave realizes, as he’s about to put the ring on her finger, that this might not be the best thing for him—or her—because of his feelings for Sally. Once he sees Stella at the wedding with Mike, he realizes that the marriage between Mike and Sally is on its last legs. That causes him to re-examine his feelings and back out of the marriage. In a way, I hate what he does, but I also think he’s doing what he thinks is right.”

I couldn’t resist asking about a sequel to A DEAD END IN VEGAS. Will there be one? “That would be wonderful!” Woodbury said with a smile. “I’d love to find out what happens at the wedding after Dave and Sally walk out. How do Mike and Stella react? And what about Ryan and Sarah? What does Cindy do? Those are the burning questions. I would love to plot it out and write a sequel, but I would need to give it a lot of thought.”

So, there is hope! But I still had to know why she ended the book the way she did (read it and you’ll see what I mean). Woodbury shared with me exclusively, “As I wrote A DEAD END IN VEGAS, it became more and more apparent that all Sally talked about was Dave. In the beginning, she doesn’t even like him and blames him for what happened to Tricia. But, as the story develops and she sees him in all these different situations, she starts to understand him and feel sorry for him. I think that Dave and Sally bond over Tricia’s death; to me, it’s a positive thing that love came from the tragedy.”

She went on, “Also, one of my favorite expressions is: ‘Life is what’s happening to you while you’re busy making other plans.’ Sally doesn’t realize what’s happening as the story moves along, and neither do we. And then, suddenly, it has happened. We don’t quite know how, or when, but it has. And that’s the way real life is. I like that.”

Regardless of whether you like the way the book ends, it gives readers the opportunity to add their own mental sequel. I can also guarantee that you will not forget the characters in A DEAD END IN VEGAS anytime soon. I give the book five stars, and would like to thank Irene Woodbury for the opportunity to get the inside scoop behind the author and A DEAD END IN VEGAS.

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Unleash the Power of Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:30:00 +0000

As a business owner you may often feel as though there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. But, if you learn how to use your mornings more effectively, which tends to be a time of day when demands aren't as high, you may be able to increase your productivity. To help you with this, I have put together some simple ways in which you can unleash the power of mornings.

Distractions – As you know, your day tends to fill up fast with many different tasks that all need to be done. This means that if you choose to put off something until later, it may not get done. Getting important tasks done in the early morning hours is much easier because there are fewer distractions and demands on your time. If you are constantly trying to find time throughout the day to work out or simply write down your thoughts for the day, mornings can be the best time.

Willpower – Even if you’re not a morning person, it is still important to know that your level of willpower is at its strongest during these hours. The more that you deal with clients and are forced to make business related decisions, the weaker your willpower becomes. So, if you have projects and decisions to make that require a higher level of willpower, you should perform these tasks in the morning when you are stronger.

Tone – When you wake up earlier and avoid feeling rushed you have the ability to set a positive tone for the rest of your day. We've all hit snooze a few too many times some days, and that has left us feeling defeated even before we got started. To ensure that you have the best positive outlook on the day, wake up early and avoid the urge to hit snooze.

If the mere thought of waking up early sends you running, just remember that these can be some of the most productive hours of the day. It can be a time for you to schedule out your day and ensure that you are not running behind. Avoid the stress that comes later in the day by starting your day off early and prepared.

Encouraging Your Kids To Become Entrepreneurs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 15:30:00 +0000

The majority of successful entrepreneurs often credit the way they were raised with their success. In some cases it may be because they were raised by parents with a strong work ethic, in others it may be that they were encouraged by their parents to follow their dreams. If you are one of the many successful entrepreneurs who were raised in this manner, and have gone on to experience a great deal of success, you may want to pass that trait onto your children. If you would like your children to become entrepreneurs, there are some steps you can take to help them develop their own love of business.

To help your children develop a love for business and become interested in entrepreneurship, you need to invite them into your business life. Allow them to see first-hand what it takes to run a business and everything that is involved. You may even want to give them a special job that will help them understand what is involved in running a successful business. Simply by allowing your children to enter into your business life, you will help them develop their natural interests and answer some of the questions they may have.

If your child shows signs of being interested in business, you should nurture those interests. No matter how small their business goals may be at the time, showing them that you support their endeavors will help them become more confident in their business aspirations. It is important that you allow your children the opportunity to discover what success is and find out how rewarding running their own business can be. The best way to encourage your children that entrepreneurship may be the right path for them is to support their interests.

Every successful entrepreneur understands that the first step in creating a successful business is to feed their curiosity. How are certain things made, what goes into the manufacturing process, how will it be marketed, who can benefit from it. These are all questions that often ignite the curiosity of an entrepreneur and are naturally found in children. Feed your child’s natural curiosity and allow them to discover the answer to these questions for themselves. In many cases, children often have ideas on how games or toys can be made better, allow them to play with these ideas and you may be surprised at the outcome.

As entrepreneurs we are all too familiar with failure, but our children may not be. It is important that you pass on your knowledge and explain to them that failure is all part of the game. Your children should understand that failure is not a devastating experience; it can actually help you grown and design a product or business that will be more successful next time. If your child understands that there is always another opportunity available, they will not lose hope when they are faced with failure.

How You Can Work Smarter and Save Time Throughout The Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:41:00 +0000

We’re all familiar with the phrase, “work smarter, not harder” but trying to implement this rule can be a little difficult. First of all, every morning when we log onto our computers, the first thing that greets us is an inbox full of emails that require our immediate attention, our phone starts ringing, and the mail shows up. With all of these things going on throughout your workday, how can you possible find a way to do it smarter?

The hard to face reality for many of us is that our regular ways of handling our daily activities may not be as productive as we think. When you fail to plan your day accordingly, you will likely spend time performing tasks that really aren't producing any positive results. When you do this, you will discover that you have likely spent a lot of time performing tasks that weren't in need of your immediate attention, or could have been taken care of in a more effective way. To help you discover the art of working smarter I have put together some tips to get you started.

Structure – The most successful people understand that including structure into your schedule will help you develop a routine of success. If you find yourself continually running around throughout the day, trying to take care of every little thing, you will discover that have fallen behind and are starting to feel burned out. To have the most effective day possible, you need to put some kind of structure in place.

Scheduling time to perform specific tasks throughout the day will help keep you focused on what needs to be accomplished. If you break this structure, and start performing tasks willy-nilly throughout the day, you will end up wasting a lot of your day. When you schedule your day you will be able to prioritize what needs to be done first, and delegate what doesn't require your personal attention. Accepting the importance of structure in your day, will make you smarter and more effective individual.

Avoid Multitasking – It may be possible for people to successfully multitask; but for the majority of us, it is not possible. The human brain is not designed to focus on two different tasks at once. When you attempt to multitask, you end up wasting more time trying to fix what went wrong during the attempt. When you focus on one thing completely, you will be able to do it right the first time and avoid the need to have to correct any errors you may have made trying to multitask. This will also help you gain time throughout your day that you can then spend on other tasks.
Breaks – This may sound a little counterproductive, but when you include breaks in your daily schedule, you will experience a greater amount of success. When you are constantly rushing through the day trying to get as much done as possible, you tend to burnout towards the end of the day. But, if you set aside time for breaks, you will discover that your mind relaxes and you have enough energy to make through the day. You shouldn't feel guilty about taking breaks, they are designed to keep your mind and body rejuvenated, which will lead to working smarter and not harder.
Power Off – Many of us tend to rely on our cell phones throughout the day. Whether we use them stay in contact with clients while we are on the go, or to check emails, they can be rather distracting when we are trying to focus on our work. To work smarter, it is recommended that you turn off your phone and focus on what needs your immediate attention. Every time our phone vibrates or alerts us to a new email, we are distracted from the task at hand. To be more productive throughout the day, schedule time where you allow yourself to check messages and respond; other than that leave your phone off.

How You Can Boost Your Business Using Social Media

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:39:00 +0000

Social media offers business owners the opportunity to reach thousands of potential customers. With so many different social media websites available, the potential to attract customers has increased dramatically. If you feel that you are not getting as much out of your social media posts as you had imagined, I have listed some ways in which you boost your online business.

Know What’s Trending – Posting information that is both relevant and current to your particular business niche is a great way to ensure that your posts are read. There are many online tools available for you to use to see what is trending on social media. Using one of these online tools will help you choose keywords to use in your posts which will help your posts get noticed by your target audience. Posting content related to what is currently trending is a great way to get attention and perhaps attract some new followers and customers.
Images – Whenever you can include an image with your post you should do so. Social media users are drawn to content that includes images or infographics. They are also a great way to increase engagement on your posts. If you’re looking for a way to get your posts to stand out on newsfeeds, images are the perfect choice. When using images in your posts, it is also highly recommended that you include a creative call to action. This is a great way to increase lead generation, which can then result in more sales.
Expand Your Base – If you’re looking for new followers and more likes on your posts, one of the best ways to accomplish this is by expanding your base. One of the fastest ways to increase your Facebook fans is to direct message the link to your page to all of your Twitter followers. This can be done across all of your social media accounts and can help you gain the exposure that your business needs. You also have the option of paying for ads on Facebook and Twitter, but that decision is up to you. In some cases the likes you receive off of these ads may be from people who are not generally interested in your business.

Using social media as part of your marketing campaign is a great way to increase your online visibility. It can be somewhat of a daunting task, but when you figure out the best approach for your business, it will become easier. To ensure that your posts are reaching the right people, you should also determine who your target audience is. Once you do this, your marketing efforts will reach the people who are most likely to turn into customers.

Tips for Managing Remote Workers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:31:00 +0000

With so many people working from home, it has become increasingly more difficult for business owners to manage them. In fact, many business owners dread the idea of hiring workers who will work remotely because they fear losing the control to track their progress and ensure that the work is being done efficiently and properly. This doesn't have to be the case, with the right tools and great communication; it can be rather easy to manage work that is done in the office and that which is done by remote employees. Here are some great tips to help you manage your remote workers and create a positive and productive workplace.

Make Your Employees Comfortable – To help make your remote employees comfortable with their job, you may want to invite them to spend some time at the home office. This will help them become acquainted with their fellow workers and allow you to properly train and instruct them on how they should perform their work while at home. By bringing in your remote workers from time to time, they will begin to feel more invested in the work they do and the company the do it for.
Embrace Technology – Many managers express that the hardest part of managing remote workers is the limited communication. As a business owner, it is up to you to ensure that there is a clear line of communication between managers and remote workers. This can be done establishing set times and days when remote employees and their managers will phone, video chat, and instant message. This will help instill in both managers and remote workers the importance of communication.
Create A Company Culture – Once you have hired and trained your remote workers, you should do everything you can to create a company culture that is present both in the home office and away from it. This will help keep you remote workers engaged and happy, which means they will continue to do their best work and remain productive. You may also want to consider scheduling regular visits to the home office where the entire team can get together. This will allow them to share ideas and discuss new projects.

Managing remote workers may be a little hard to do at first, but once you become accustomed to the process it can become much easier. If you incorporate some of the tips I have listed above, the process should go smoothly for both you and your employees.

How You Can Become a More Effective Leader

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:30:00 +0000

The primary reason that so many of us have become business owners is because we want to be successful. But what many business owners forget is that in order to reach the level of success they want, they also need to be an effective leader. This means that you need to motivate and inspire your employees to do the best work they can and enjoy the atmosphere in which they perform their work. If you believe that you were not born with the necessary skills to be an effective leader, don’t worry, many of the best leaders in the business world learn how to become effective leaders; and so can you.

The first thing that you need to do to become a great leader is not be afraid of failure. Some of the most successful leaders have experienced one or more major failures throughout their career. Every time that you experience a failure, you will likely learn something valuable from that experience that will help you succeed on your next attempt. Never be afraid to fail, it can be one of the most important teaching tools around. Just remember, that each time you experience a failure or setback, you will likely learn how to improve your idea and when you try again it will likely result in success.

Self-doubt can be one of the biggest road blocks in your way. To be an effective leader you need to erase any all self-doubt that you have. Any time you lack confidence in what you are trying to accomplish, you will have a hard time convincing anyone that it is worth doing. To help stop self-doubt before it can defeat you; it is recommended that you take time to acknowledge the accomplishments you have made rather than focusing on what hasn’t worked out. By acknowledging what you have accomplished, you will find it easier to build your confidence and inspire those around you. When you have confidence in yourself and your ideas, you will find that it is easier to accomplish those tasks you thought were unattainable.

Another trait that effective leaders possess is the ability to keep improving, whether it is in business or in their personal lives. The ability to improve demonstrates to others that you are open to change and you are not stuck in the same pattern. By focusing on what needs to be improved, you will be rewarded with a healthier mental outlook and your business will benefit from that. Never be afraid or unwilling to improve, when you are open to improvement those around you will also begin to improve themselves.

Creating an atmosphere of generosity in your business can be healthy for your business and employees. When you become involved in acts of kindness in your immediate area and worldwide, it can lead to a greater level of happiness in both you and your employees. When promote kindness, it reduces the amount of stress that you and those around feel; this can lead to a more productive and pleasant working atmosphere. This is also a great way to encourage your employees to collaborate and provide them with the belief that what they are doing and accomplishing is important. Never forget the importance of kindness; it can be beneficial to you and those who receive it.

Ideas for Your Next Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 May 2014 14:18:00 +0000

The art of press release writing has come a long way since it was first used as a promotional tool. Rather than depending on print media to spread our newsworthy content, we have now come to depend on the Internet to share our press releases. This means that as we create and publish press releases we need to do so with Internet users in mind. It also means that we need to create press releases that are attention grabbing and relevant to our target customers.

Publishing press releases online has also opened up a new level of competition to get your press release noticed. To keep your press releases interesting to your readers, you need to include content and news that your readers will find interesting. This means that you will have to regularly provide your readers with fresh content. If you do not have anything new to announce to your readers, you may be wondering how you can keep your press releases fresh. If you find yourself in this situation, I have put together some helpful tips that can help you continue to create press releases.

Products & Services – The primary purpose of a press release remains the same, to keep your readers up to date on your products and services. If you do not have anything new in the works, you may be able to tie in your existing products or services with a new trend. This will give you a fresh outlook and approach for writing and publishing new press releases.
Research – Online shoppers rely on getting as much information about a product they are planning on purchasing as possible. To help potential customers see the value in your products, you should include research that you have performed and that may be available regarding the importance of your product. If you can combine the information about your product with statistics, readers will place value on your content.
Offers – Nothing attracts the attention of online shoppers than a good deal. If you’re planning on offering free shipping or discounts with a purchase on your site, create a press release to announce it. Writing and publishing press releases related to the new offers you may be offering are a great way to bring in new customers and close the sale.

How to Get the Most Value Out Of Your Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 16:27:00 +0000

Publishing regular press releases is a valuable part of any marketing campaign and should not be ignored. They can provide your business with valuable exposure and increase your online visibility. Press releases can also help share your message with your target audience and others who may not have heard of your company. Writing and publishing press releases should not be seen as a minor marketing effort, rather they should be viewed for what they are, a valuable marketing tool.

If you do not maximize what a press release has to offer, you may missing out on the many important benefits they in fact do offer. When you think beyond the publishing of your content, you will be able to turn that one press release into a marketing tool that can be beneficial for months to come. Here are some ways in which you can get the most value from your press release.

Share It Internally – As important as it is to share your message with the public, you should also share it with your employees as well. It is important to keep your employees up to date with any news related to your business. You can share your press release internally by posting a link on any message boards you may use. You can also email the link to specific leaders who may be affected by the news. It is important that your employees know as much as the public about the place where they work.
Share It Socially – As hard as you try, your target audience may not be aware of your press release. This is where social media comes into play. Every time you publish a press release you should share the link on all of your social media pages. This will help spread the word to your target audience and they will be able to read and keep up to date with news related to your business.
Share With Your Sales Team – This is the department that deals with your customers on a one on one basis. The more informed they are about what is happening in your business, the easier it will be for them to share that information with the clients they work with. When done in the correct manner, your sales team will be able to educate customers on the content of your press release for months to come, which is a great way to get more value out of your press release.
Publish Regularly – Sporadically writing and publishing press releases is not an effective way to utilize all that they have to offer. Regularly publishing press releases is a great way to keep your customers up to date on your business, changes being made, and the progress you are making in your particular field.

Press releases should not be viewed as a marketing afterthought; they should be viewed as a critical element of any successful marketing campaign. If you haven’t been utilizing press releases, you definitely should start now.

Get Rid Of the Bad Habits That May Be Holding You Back

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:13:00 +0000

We love routine, that’s all there is to it. When it comes to reaching our goals, we tend to do what we always have done and follow the same routine. If something has worked for us in the past, we will likely go back to that behavior in order to reach our next goal. As long as the routine we follow is effective and we reach our desired goals we see no problem with it. However, when we allow our bad habits to kick in and follow them, our goals may not be met with the same level of success.

In order to become more effective and successful in the business world, it may be time for you to evaluate what is working for you and what isn't. This may involve taking a close look at how you approach problems and projects at work and evaluate how you respond to certain situations. This can be an eye-opening experience, but it may show you some bad habits that you may not have been aware of and allow you to make the necessary changes.

After you have taken a close look at your existing habits, both good and bad, you can develop a plan that will allow you to make positive changes. If you feel that you may be missing something, you should ask those that you work with for their input. You shouldn't worry that this will make you appear weak to your co-workers, rather you should view it as a sign that you are open to constructive criticism. Feedback from those around you can also help you make the necessary changes in a shorter period of time. You will be able to increase your focus on the changes that need to be made and you will not use as much energy trying to accomplish a particular task. When you get rid of your bad habits, you will become more productive and find that you can now complete your work in a more efficient manner.

To help you determine if your new habits are effective, you should list the results that you are hoping to see. This can help you see the progress that you have made and show you areas where you may need more work. Bad habits are not something that we have to live with, they can be beaten and you can lead a more positive and productive life.

How You Can Stop Content Thieves

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:51:00 +0000

Are you tired of seeing content that you have spent hours researching and writing on sites that aren't yours? If so, you’re like many of the people who write content on a regular basis. Plagiarism has been taking place online since people started publishing their own content. Whether this content is on their own blogs or on the page content of their website, there are always going to be people who would rather take the easy route and use someone else’s content rather than take the time to create their own. To help you protect the content that you have worked so hard on, I have put together some helpful tips.

Google Alerts – Whenever you publish a new blog post, you may want to create a new Google Alerts which will notify you when the title of your blog has been published online by someone other than yourself. You can also request to be alerted if any specific portion or sentence of your blog should show up on someone else’s site. It is fairly easy to create a Google Alert and the fact that they are free makes them all the more appealing for all content creators.
Utilize Google Authorship – One of the benefits of using Google Authorship, aside from having your content featured next to an image of your choice, is that Google can be assured as to who the original writer of the content actually is. There are many time consuming ways in which you can monitor the Internet for content that may have been stolen from you, however, if you don’t have hours to spend conducting searches you may want to begin using Google Authorship.
Include Links – Any experienced blogger understands the importance of including links in their blog posts. This is not only beneficial for your readers and search engines, but it also means that anyone who does steal your content also takes your links with them. While this may be somewhat beneficial in making your blog more visible, it is not something that you really want to have happen. To keep track of which content and how many times it has been copied from your site, you may want to consider installing Tynt. This is a small piece of code that you can install on your website which will show you which content has been stolen and how often your content has been stolen.
Backlinks – If you use WordPress to publish your blog, you should definitely look into Trackbacks. When you install this tool, you will then be notified every time someone links to your content. If you setup the RSS link to your previously published blogs, you will also be notified each time someone links to them as well.

While these are only a few of the online tools available for you to use, it is recommended that you begin utilizing some type of protection to protect your content from thieves. It’s your content and you have spent too much time writing it to allow someone else to be credited for the hard work.

What You Shouldn’t Do When Writing a Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:52:00 +0000

Press releases are an important part of any successful online marketing campaign. They have the potential to reach multiple audiences who may not be aware of you and when properly optimized, they can drive traffic to your website. But when they are done in the wrong way, all of the benefits that they have to offer are gone. To help you harness the power that press releases have to offer, I have listed what you shouldn’t do when writing a press release.

The first thing that you should avoid is stuffing your press release with keywords. When properly used SEO can be a powerful tool, but if you use too much of it the benefits disappear. Carefully chosen and properly placed keywords can give your website the online visibility it needs. In order for your press release to be as effective as possible, your keywords need to be included in your content so that they make sense. If your press release is hard to follow or doesn’t make sense, the odds of it getting read are slim to none.

When you include keywords in your press release, you may want to use a keyword research tool. This tool is designed to help you find out which keywords and keyword phrases are searched the most. When you are armed with these keywords, you can then work them into your content and optimize your press release. It is also important that your primary keyword be included in your headline, secondary headline and first paragraph. This will help search engines find your content and present it online searchers.

When you write your press release it is important that you not get carried away. It is recommended that your press release be between 300 – 500 words. The attention span of your readers is short, you have a small amount of time to grab their attention and make them want to read through your entire press release. They’re not interested in reading pages of content, they want you to get to the point and provide them with the information they are interested in. It is also highly recommended that your paragraph be between three and four sentences. Any more than that and the reader may become bored and move on. Press releases are more effective when they are short and to the point.

Next, you do not want to forget who you are writing your press release for; your customers. If you write content that is relevant to their interests and needs, you are likely to have your press release shared, and that is what you want. It is also important that you write your press release in such a way that it can easily be understood and followed by your reader. Now is not the time to try and impress readers with your large vocabulary.

If you can follow these guidelines, you should be able to create a press release that your customers and search engines will take note of. Press releases are a critical part of a successful online marketing plan, and as much as you may dread writing them, they should be done regularly.

Need A Blog Opening That Will Get Attention?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 14:56:00 +0000

No matter how much time you spend writing the best blog post in the world, it won't get the attention it deserves if the intro is poorly written. Without a good opening to your blog, you've spent a lot of time researching and writing a perfectly good post that will likely not get read by many people. Blogs are an important part of any social media campaign, this is why your opening should be designed to grab the attention of the reader and not let go. To help you create the best possible opening, I have put together some tips that will help get your blog noticed and read.

Facts – It's been proven that readers are drawn to facts, if you include a statistic or quote that features a statistic in your opening; you are likely going to get the attention of a reader. This is a great way to grab a reader and point them in the direction you would like them to follow. Never ignore the importance of a statistic.
Questions – Starting your opening with a question is a great technique to use when trying to capture the attention of a reader. Questions make the reader think and curious as to what the answer may be. They can also be a great way for you to set the tone of the blog, if you make a reader think you're going to make them want to read the rest of the blog.
Quotes – As with statistics, people are also drawn to quotes. If you include a general quote to set the stage for your blog, your readers will likely continue reading. If you set your quote apart from the content of your blog, it is more likely to get noticed. There are many different ways in which you can incorporate quotes into your content; simply find the way that you are most comfortable with.
Invest – When you write a blog regularly it is important that you invest time and effort into making it the best it can be. Readers aren't dumb; they can tell the difference between content that is posted simply for the sake of posting, and content that you actually put some time and effort into writing. To make your blog more appealing to readers, you should be as descriptive as possible, talk to them directly, and don't forget to include statistics and quotes. When you do this, your readers will likely remain engaged and develop a loyalty to you and your blog.

How Press Releases Can Help Build Your Brand

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:47:00 +0000

Your brand is what identifies your business to your customers and competition. It can be used to create a relationship with your customers and increase your online visibility. When you’re trying to build your brand online, you should be taking advantage of press releases, they can be used as a highly powerful and innovative marketing tool when used in the proper manner.

When it comes to promoting your business and announcing new and important information about your business, you should be using a press release. Press releases, when written in the proper manner, will share all of the relevant news about your company. They can also bring your business to the attention of those who may have been unaware of your existence. If you’re looking for an effective marketing tool to build your brand, press releases are just the thing. I have listed some ways in which press releases are beneficial to building your brand.

Visibility – When press releases are properly optimized and professionally written, they have the potential to increase the visibility of your brand. Press releases allow you to share relevant information about your business directly with your niche market, even if they don’t know that your business exists. When people perform an internet search looking for a particular product or service, press releases enable your business to appear in those results.
News – The primary purpose of a press release is to share news about your business. Each time that you write and publish a press release, you have the potential to share news related to your business. Before you publish a press release, it is important that you carefully look at it and ensure that it follows the recommend press release format. This will also help ensure that your press release is accepted and published by many online press release websites.
Familiarity – The more press releases you publish the more familiar your business will become with customers and online press release websites. When you increase your online visibility through press releases, you will be able to gain the loyalty of your customers while attracting new ones. The more people trust your brand, the more likely they are to recommend your business and the services you offer.

Ghostwriting – What it really is!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:46:00 +0000

Ghostwriter (ghost·writ·er): noun- A person whose job it is to write material for someone else who is the named author.

Almost daily I am astonished to see people who claim to be ghostwriters blatantly speaking of the “books” they ghost-wrote. Now correct me if I'm wrong, because this is only my personal belief and views – but when you ghostwrite a book for someone you hold no credit to that book. Simply – you are paid to write a book and give up all credits to it. In addition, I feel it is morally wrong to use those works as a way of advertising your ghostwriting abilities without FULL CONSENT and acknowledgement of the intended author.

When we are asked to ghostwrite a book we do so knowing that at no time we are to use that product as a way to gain exposure. We are a ghost – not seen or even known of – never to be exposed. When you write in a ghost position, the person you are writing for gets full credit for that work. You get paid. End of story.

I feel it is unethical of a ghostwriter to act in any other fashion – stay in the shadow and merely be happy that you were able to create a piece that received praise. If you want credit for your works then stop ghostwriting and put your name on your own works.

When we write web copy, articles, and blogs and yes, even books we do so knowing that we may never ever get any credit for the work and we are good with that. It is what we do and get paid to do. How would it look if we went around telling folks all the websites we have created, blogs we ghostwrite for, etc. The intended author byline loses credibility. We would never want that! If the intended author wants to share the byline then fine – but if you are ghostwriting act like a good ghost and just disappear – NOT a bad ghost haunting the intended author!

Are You Sabotaging Your Mornings?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:53:00 +0000

For a lot of people mornings are their most productive time of the day. But not everyone is a morning person, and there are some ways in which even the most dedicated of us can be sabotaging this productive time of day. If you would like to make your mornings more productive, I have listed some things that we are all guilty of, that can be sabotaging your mornings.

Getting Online – Perhaps you’re like most of us and jump online first thing in the morning, you may justify this behavior as checking emails and catching up on what you may have missed on your social media pages. You may say to yourself, “I’ll only be on for a few minutes and then get started on your projects”, but this is a lie that we all tell ourselves. Before you know it, those couple of minutes has turned into hours and you have not accomplished anything that you had planned. It is recommended that you avoid the computer and traps that lie within until later in the morning. This will allow you to focus on other tasks that you need to get done.
Television – Turning on the television first thing in the morning can be just as dangerous as getting online. While many of us believe that we are more productive with the TV on, and it’s only there for background noise, that’s not entirely true. While you may believe that you are not focusing on what’s being said on the TV, part of your brain is tuned into what’s going on. This can detract from your concentration and lead to you making mistakes on the work that you are trying to get done. Experts recommend turning the radio on instead if you believe that you need background noise.
Phone – Your phone is another way to kill the effectiveness of your mornings. If you have something that you need to get done, it is highly recommended that you turn your phone off. Even ignoring it when it rings can still distract you and take you off track from what you were trying to accomplish. If you can avoid the phone first thing in the morning, you are likely to be more productive.
Dreaded Tasks – Many people believe that starting the day by working on the projects they have been putting off is best. This couldn't be further from the truth, experts recommend that you start your work day off by working on something you know you will be able to finish and that will provide you with positive results. These accomplishments will help motivate you for the rest of the day.

Training Yourself to Become More Positive

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 15:34:00 +0000

As a business owner you are often forced to deal with a lot of challenges and stress throughout the day. This can lead you to lose your positive outlook and become more negative in both your business and personal life. By choosing to focus on the positive in every situation, you will begin to train yourself to become more positive in all aspects of your life. To help you begin this journey I have put together some helpful information.

Remember to Be Grateful – While it is common for us to place more importance on negative events, it is up to us to balance the negativity with something positive that you are grateful for. When you take the time to think about all of the good things in your life you will balance the negative and allow yourself to remember and store the positive event. It is recommended that you take some time each week to reflect on what you are grateful for and how it has positively impacted your life. This will help you remember that with all of the negativity you experience on a daily basis, there is likely more positive in your life that you should be grateful for.
Repeat Positivity – As you’re likely aware, the more that you hear a particular message the more likely you are to remember it. This is true with positive affirmations as well. Simply by reminding yourself of who you are and everything you are capable of, you will begin to believe it. If you are beginning to doubt your leadership skills or why you went into business in the first place, erase that doubt by reminding yourself that you are capable of accomplishing everything you strive for. We can all benefit from some daily reminders that we have the skills we need to succeed.
Challenge Your Negative Thoughts – Every time we have a negative thought, we internally choose how to respond to it. It is this ability that will allow us to either give in to the negativity or challenge it and replace it with something positive. It is hardwired into our brains that negative events deserve more attention and we should place more importance on these types of events. However, we do not have to do that; we have the ability to distance ourselves from these negative events and take away some of their power. Simply by viewing the event from a distance, we will be able to interpret the event in a much different way. Don’t be afraid to challenge any negative thought that enters your brain, you’ll be better for it.

Want To Create A Credible Blog? Here’s How…

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:45:00 +0000

Blogs are a great tool for anyone who is trying to build their brand and online credibility. However, simply creating a blog isn't enough to improve your online reputation and increase the amount of trust readers have in you; to do this, your blog needs to be trustworthy. To help you create a credible blog, I have put together some tips that will make your readers trust you and begin to see you as a reliable source for information.

The majority of internet users believe that websites featuring a blog are more credible than those that don’t. When you use your blog to provide visitors with useful and relevant information regarding your particular business, they will reward you by coming back and reading more. Blogs that include your expertise are also more likely to be shared on social media websites. The more informative readers find your blog, the sooner you will begin to be seen as a credible source of information.

One of the first things that readers are looking for when they begin reading a blog is the quality of the content. To ensure that your content is continually read you need to provide your readers with high quality content relevant to your target audience. This can be content explaining the proper way to use a particular product on your site, or insight into how you designed your products. As long as the quality is there, your audience will keep coming back.

It has also become common for internet users to base the credibility of your blog by how much activity it receives on social media websites. This means that if your content is regularly being shared by your followers, others will view it as credible and will likely stop to look it over. To help your readers share your blog posts across social media websites, it is important that you include share buttons on all of your blog posts. It is also a good idea to keep your readers up to date on how many followers you currently have. This will help show that your blog is credible and has built up a strong following.

If you currently do not have a blog on your site, you should start one. It can be extremely beneficial in increasing your brand awareness and in building your online credibility. Blogs can be a lot of work, but when you publish and promote them, they can be a great marketing tool to take advantage of.

4 Signs That Your Business May Be In Trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:37:00 +0000

In the technologically driven world that we currently live in, the way that we may have done business in the past is no longer relevant. Not only has our competition multiplied dramatically, but we also have to learn how to attract valuable customers and promote our business in a new way. While you’re busy trying to keep your business relevant, you may be missing some of the signs that your business may be in trouble. Below are some of the most common signs that are often missed by business owners.

Technology Isn't Important – Sometimes the only thing separating a successful business from one that has become irrelevant is the importance of technology. If you view technology as a passing fad, you likely won’t be creating any marketing plans for online promotion. However, if you've come to embrace technology you are well aware of how important it can be to the success of your business. To ensure that your business remains successful, you need to view the online world as an ocean of potential customers.
Weak Content – If you've spent any time investigating your online competition, you've likely run across a few sites that featured weak content. This is content that does not inform or educate visitors on the products or services being offered. To avoid this from happening to your website, it is important that you create content that is relevant, entertaining, and educational to all visitors to your site. The more value that you place in your content, the more likely you are to be viewed as a credible business and you will likely notice an increase in online purchases.
You Refuse To Learn – You may believe that once you graduated from college and received your degree that your days of learning were over. If you want to remain relevant in the business world, you need to continue to learn. The more well-informed you are in your particular niche, the more credible and knowledgeable you will be. Find blogs and articles that are related to your particular business niche and read them. As fast as changes occur in the business world today, it is important that you continue to grow and learn as much as possible.
Lost Your Passion – While you may have lived and breathed your business when you first started, you may have recently begun to experience a loss of enthusiasm towards your work. This can often cause you to lose interest in your business and everything related to it. To regain your passion, you should remember why you started your business in the first place. This can help you regain your momentum and passion. Before you know it, you might even be excited to wake up in the morning again.

How You Can Create an Effective Social Media Post

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:25:00 +0000

If you’re like many of us, you have come to rely on social media as part of your marketing efforts. As much as we would like, there is no magic formula that we can follow to ensure that all of our posts are entertaining and worthy of getting shared. Depending on which social media websites you use, they all operate in somewhat different fashions.

The fans that you may have on one site may not be as entertained by your posts as some on other sites, this means that you need to find a happy medium and produce content that will ensure your fans are happy on all of your social media pages. To help you make the most of your social media efforts, I have put together some tips for use on each of the different social media websites.

Facebook – When you post on Facebook it is important that you posts are upbeat and positive. This type of content tends to be more appealing to your fans and is more likely to get shared. You should also remember to include a link back to your website to help drive your fans to your site. This is likely the primary reason you created a Facebook page after all isn’t it. If you include images in your posts, you should make sure that they can easily be viewed on mobile devices; it’s more common for your fans to view your posts on their phones than a traditional computer.

Pinterest – Pinterest is still somewhat of a new social media site and many businesses are still trying to figure how to use it to their benefit. One of the most important things to keep in mind when using Pinterest is that images that do not feature a face are often repinned more often than images featuring a face. Color is also another important element to use when posting images. It has been shown that images that feature the colors red or orange are repinned twice as much as other images.

Twitter – With the limited amount of characters you have to work with on this platform, it is important that you include a clear call to action in your tweets. You should also make the most out of your limited space by using shorter links to your website. There are a number of tools available that can help you shorten a link that you are sharing. To engage your followers you may want to consider adding facts, questions, and figures.

How You Can Create a Great Home Page

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:08:00 +0000

No matter how great you think your current home page is, there are some common conversion mistakes that you may have made with your content. These mistakes can cause you to miss out on converting your traffic to sales, but by following the tips listed below; this mistake can easily be corrected. I am going to show you which type of information you should include on your home page to make it appealing to your customers as well as search engines.

You may be wondering why you have to spend so much time on the content and layout of your home page; the answer is simple, it’s the first page that visitors to your site see and it serves as a representation of your business online. It also requires special attention because it is the page that is most indexed by the large search engines. It can also set the tone for the rest of your website, which is why it is so important that you make it as functional, attractive, and effective as possible.

When you design your home page you should think of it as the first step in your sales funnel. Visitors have likely reached your page through the use of a search engine or a link. When this traffic reaches your site, it is important that you share with them that they have reached the appropriate destination. Once you have done that, the next thing you need to do is direct them to the areas you would like them to visit next.

The content that you include on your home page should be used as a way to offer visitors with a preview of what you have to offer. Providing your visitors with a small bit of information regarding each of your services or products is a great way to encourage them to investigate further and follow the links to the specific service or product they are interested in. This is also a great way of keeping the information from becoming overwhelming for the visitor.

When you create the content that you are going to use on your home page, you should write in such a way that it comes across as personable and not mechanical. After all, you want visitors to know that there is a human behind your site and not a robot. Creating content aimed at your target audience will help increase the number of conversions your business sees on a regular basis. This is also the ideal time to freshen up your content and include keywords that will help your site show up in searches.

It is also important that you create content that is focused and relevant to your particular niche. You should remember the importance of staying on track and expressing your message to your customers in as few words as possible. Visitors are more likely to read shorter paragraphs and descriptions than they are longer ones, when you begin creating your content you should keep this in mind.

Is Your Content Too Optimized

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 15:01:00 +0000

Everyone who runs an online business understands the importance of optimizing their content. But what many are not aware of is that it is possible to optimize your content too much. This happens when you create content that is focused on grabbing the attention of search engines and not customers. To help you determine if your content is too optimized, I have put together some helpful tips on what you can look for.

Hyperlinks – Some website owners believe that including hyperlinks on their pages will help them improve their ranking or to provide their customers with as many options as possible, while it does help, there is a point when you can have too many hyperlinks on one page. When it comes to improving your current rankings, adding hyperlinks to your pages will not help; and when customers are presented with too many options they tend to become confused and will often leave your page without clicking on any of the links you presented.

If you notice that your pages a hyperlink heavy, it may be time to go in and remove the majority of them. When you narrow down the choices for customers, they will likely find it easier to make a decision and investigate everything that your site has to offer. Removing extra links will also allow you to achieve higher conversion rates and increase your ROI.

Keyphrases – We know that including a few select keyphrases will help your page get noticed by search engines. But, just as with hyperlinks, when you include too many in your content, it will have the have opposite effect. For someone who is actually trying to read what your page has to say, trying to navigate through all of the keyphrases can be become a bit annoying.

To remedy this, you will need to cut down the amount of keyphrases that you currently have in your page content. In some cases you may discover that you will need to rewrite the content altogether. In this case, you will have the opportunity to improve your existing content and use your keyphrases more effectively while providing readers with content that they can enjoy.

Fluff – Website content that comes across as fluffy is typically the result of a writer trying to meet a specified word count. Rather than providing the reader with informative content that could have been stated in fewer words, the writer chose to inflate the content. This often results in content that is hard to read and follow and does not offer any value to the reader.

If you notice that your content appears to be somewhat fluffy, you may need to revise your existing content and the way you think. Rather than trying to impress search engines with a specific amount of words on each page, focus on the reader and make the content appealing and easy to read. If you create content that is benefit driven and well-written, you will not only end up pleasing your customers but search engines will also begin to take notice.

How You Can Create Content That Search Engines and Readers Will Love

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:51:00 +0000

One thing that has become increasingly clear as Google continues to release updates is that quality content is extremely necessary. This doesn't just mean that including content that has been optimized is a guarantee to get you ranked anymore. In today's world, you need to include content that is effectively optimized and well-written. To help you understand if your content is meeting these requirements, I have put together some tips that will help you create the best content possible.

Keywords – The majority of online business owners understand that keywords are important. But it is common that they are not using an appropriate amount of keywords to ensure that their content is recognized. In some cases the keywords that you have chosen to create content around may be too general. To ensure that the keywords you choose are effective, you should narrow them down into specific groups that are designed to target your target audience. This will also help search engines discover your content as well.
Content – Once you have focused your list of keywords on relevant terms that your customers can relate to, the next step is to create content that will entertain and inform your readers. The best way to grab the attention of a reader is to create a headline that will appeal to them. The content that you create around your keywords should be informative and contain information that will entertain or educate your readers on your products or services. This type of content will be recognized by search engines as being original and of high quality.
Optimization – Once you have created original, high-quality content you should carefully go through it and optimize it. To do this, you should include keywords and phrases that will help your content get recognized by search engines and customers. When you optimize your content, you should think as your customer would and use the keywords that they would likely choose when searching for your product or service. This will help ensure that you have chosen keywords that will help optimize your content in the best way possible.
Promotion – Now that you have written your content and optimized it, you should now get busy and promote it. Simply writing it and posting it on your site isn't enough to guarantee that it will get noticed. To ensure that your content receives the attention it deserves, you should promote it on all of your social media pages, blog comments, and forums. This will help bring your content to the attention of potential readers and drive traffic to your site.

6 Ways to Promote Your New Facebook Page

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:30:00 +0000

You’ve created a Facebook Page for your business — now what?

It’s time to get your page in front of people! In other (fancy marketing) words, it’s time to drive traffic to your page, increase engagement, and promote your business.

Remember, people want to connect with you. And sometimes they just need a gentle reminder. Here are six ways to help promote your Facebook Page:

1. Use the network you have!

If someone has already joined your email list, they most likely would love to connect with you on Facebook too. Send out an email to your contact list, inviting people to “Like” your business on Facebook. It’s easy to do with Constant Contact’s email templates. Once people “Like” you on Facebook, you’ll automatically show up on their newsfeed and can begin engaging with them socially.

2. Help customers find you!

Add a Facebook Page Badge to your website or blog. A Facebook badge is an icon you create that links fans from your website to your Facebook Page. For an official Facebook Badge, log in to your Facebook account and head to: http://www.facebook.com/badges/page.php

3. Share your Facebook Page with friends and family!

As of March 2013, there were 1.11 billion monthly active users on Facebook. That’s quite a pool of potential new customers just waiting to connect with your business. Tap into the larger Facebook network through friends and family. No one wants you to succeed more than they do and they can help by becoming enthusiastic fans. Recommend your business’s Facebook Page to your personal network and watch your fan base grow.

NOTE: You’ll need a personal Facebook profile to do this. See setting up your Facebook profile to find out how.

4. Take your Facebook Page to new social heights!

There is a big difference between “social media” and “social media marketing.” Social media marketing enables you to be found and be relevant. Share a link to your Facebook Page on other social networks. Try sending the link out on Twitter, and adding a link in all the descriptions for your YouTube Videos or Flickr Photos to start.

5. Don’t forget to take it offline too!

Promote your Facebook Page on all of your print marketing materials including business cards, menus, flyers, signs, t-shirts — anywhere it can be visible. The more fans you have, the more your posts, pictures, and videos will reach the people you want to reach.

6. Tell anyone who will listen!

Promote your Facebook Page the next time you speak at a workshop, seminar or conference. Even include an image and link to your page in your slide deck.

Overall, promoting your Facebook Page in small ways like using your existing email list and asking friends for help can have a big impact. Your Facebook Page could be one of the best out there but, if no one knows it exists, it’s not going to do a whole lot of good for your business.

So, start spreading the word!

Check out the video here:

http://youtu.be/tZWxFqpC_tc

)

Source/Credit: Constant Contact
Leanne Kennis
Content Writer/Editor @ Constant Contact

On Twitter @LeanneKennis

(ArticleWriteUp.com shared this for a friend Reese Ramos ~ Digital Media Marketing Consultant)

How You Can Enhance Your Brand Image and Attract More Clients

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:25:00 +0000

Virtually everyone who does business online is always on the lookout for new ways in which they can build their brand and attract new customers. To make this process a little less confusing for you, I have gathered some helpful information that can make the process easier to accomplish.

With so many businesses competing for the same customers online, you may find it difficult to create your brand and attract those customers to your website. This is especially true for those who are just starting out, but there are some things you can do to get your brand noticed and grow your customer base at the same time.

The first thing you should do to ensure that you are branding yourself in the correct manner is to create a blog. If you do not currently have a blog, you are losing out on potential clients. By creating your own blog, you have the ability to provide yourself with a platform that will help you showcase your work and become the center of your online marketing and branding campaigns. When you create a blog, you should update it regularly with high quality content that will help potential customers discover you and your business. It can also help you rise above your competition. Each time that you post a new blog post, you should make sure that it is tailored towards the type of clients you are trying to attract. A few focused blog posts can have a positive effect on attracting clients to your business.

After you have launched your blog, the next step in building your brand is targeting your niche leaders and writing guest blogs for their sites. The top blogs in your particular niche market tend to be followed by thousands of readers, including entrepreneurs and small business owners. Getting yourself featured as a guest blogger on one of these sites will provide you with more exposure than you could ever imagine. To ensure that your guest blogging efforts are met with success, you need to focus on blogs that are relevant to your particular niche market. When you guest blog, your blogs should powerful, high quality, and informative. This will show readers that you actually know what you are talking about and that you have the proper knowledge for someone in your field.

Once you have gained valuable exposure from guest blogging, the next step is to include links to those blogs on your website and blog. This can be done by placing the logos of the blogs you've been featured on in a convenient side bar on your blog. Giving this section an attention grabbing title will ensure that visitors to your blog will notice the content. If you have any online profiles on LinkedIn, oDesk, or Elance you should immediately update those profiles to include your latest work. After all, you've done the work, now it’s time to take credit for it.

Now that you have created an impressive profile, have samples of work available online, and a brand image that you have worked hard to create; it is time to start reaching out to your target market. To successfully do this, you should create a list of the major players in your niche and discover ways in which you can get connected with them. This can include visiting their websites and social media pages to create a connection with them. You may also want to consider directly emailing them; nothing ventured nothing gained, right. This is a great way to reach out and connect with potential clients whom you feel would be valuable to your business.