You’ve most likely noticed (Or blatantly stated – It’s downright obvious) I haven’t posted to my blog in several weeks.

I know.  Not like me at all.

Allow me to pull a large ladle from my kitchen drawer and serve up …

A big bowl of reality soup.

Life struck.  It’s that simple.  I turned a corner one fine day and found myself dealing with a long list of personal and work-related issues – a few of them unpleasant but the majority very positive and uplifting.

I’m excited to report I’ll be a grandma for the first time early this summer.  My oldest daughter and son-in-law are expecting a baby girl on my daughter’s birthday.  How cool is that?!

On another happy note, I recently reconnected with a man I fell deeply in love with thirty-five years ago.  Yes, you read that right – over three decades ago!  We haven’t seen or spoken to each other in all these years. He’s a really good guy and I’m totally embracing the joy of having him back in my life again.  He doesn’t live nearby but we’re planning to get together this summer.  Wahoo!  Wish me luck.

Regarding online activities:

Michelle Shaeffer and I will be teaming up to do a fabulous complimentary webcast at the end of this month entitled, “How To Create Content That Gets Shared Like Crazy”.  Stay tuned for details.  Working with Michelle has been on my wish list for a long time.  She rocks!

Gwen Tanner and I will be partnering up (Yay!) to create something special for you.  It’s hush-hush at the moment but I promise to keep you in the loop.  Okay, I’ll give you one little hint.  Our project is entitled, “Making It My Business”.  Keep your eyes peeled for the reveal.

Marcia Hoeck has a super exciting and extraordinary program (And I do mean extraordinary!) that will be launching in just a few days.  I’m very proud to say I’m one of Marcia’s affiliates and I’m sitting on pins waiting for the green light so I can share the information with you!  Marcia has been working diligently, persistently, and tenaciously this past year to create a gem of a program.  She has over 25 years of business experience and she truly knows her stuff.

As I serve up the last spoonful of reality soup …

Please know that you, my loyal readership, are V.I.P.’s to me and I haven’t abandoned you or my blog.  I’ll be posting some fresh content, sharing some great stories, and keeping you informed about some wonderful opportunities coming your way.

I’m inviting you to travel off my blog today and head over to We Blog Better to catch my latest post:

“Doing Business Toothpicks and Toilet Paper Style”

Hope you’ll give it a read and leave your two cents worth in the comment box. 

Thanks!

See you over at WBB.

Thanks, Hiten, for nominating me for the “7″ challenge!

I’ve chosen to share “7 Random Facts” and nominate 5 bloggers to step up and take the challenge.

1.)  I’m extremely uncomfortable in large crowds of people.  I avoid them like the plague.  However, I can take the stage and speak to 100′s of people and feel totally at ease.  Go figure.

2.)  I’ve perfected the art of preparing 17-minute meals.   We single mums are some of the speediest goal achievers on the planet!

3.)  I helped renovate a classic 1956 Chevy longbed pick-up truck from the frame up.  Yes, I know how to rebuild a 350 small block engine.  Ladies, stop cringing.  Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it — it’s fun.

4.)  I won every typing contest in my high school typing class.  Playing the piano helped me achieve equally good motor skills in both my hands.  My classmates used to bribe me to slow down and lose the speed challenges on purpose.  NO WAY.  Had they offered me large sums of money, however … I would have typed at snail speed.

5.)  I don’t have a green thumb.  Every house plant I’ve tried to grow dies faster than the one before.

6.)  I can sew, knit, crochet, and do needlepoint.  But my crafting days ended when my twins were born.  I’m sure this needs no further explanation.

7.)  Writing is my biggest passion.  However, I have yet to find a way to turn my passion into profit.  I’m all ears and open to suggestions.  Lay them on me!

My five nominations for the “7 Random Facts” challenge are:

• Keith Davis
• Jackie Purnell
• Dorien Morin van-Dam
• Tea Silvestre
• Lakesha Brown

Once again, a special thank-you to Hiten Vyas.  

If you haven’t visited his blog yet, don’t dilly dally?!  Head over there and soak in his pearls of personal development wisdom. 

You’ll be forever blessed and refreshed.

This post is part of the March Word Carnival — a monthly group blogging event specifically for small business owners.

(It’s the most fun you’ll have all month!)

Check out the rest of the fabulous carney work.

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Let’s go fishing and reel in some potential customers and clients!

What? 

You say you don’t like fishing?

Do you like customers and clients?

Well, all right, then!

Grab your pole and tackle box and let’s head out to the pond.

No, I didn’t mean to say “lake”. 

I meant to say “pond”.

You don’t think we’ll have any luck? 

Too small a fishing hole, you suspect?

Well, sweetie, I can see you haven’t done much fishing.

I know the lake has a bigger stock of fish, but guess what? 

Everybody and their uncle is either standing on the shore or out in boats with their lines tossed in.

Just picture the worst traffic jam you can imagine (read: the worldwide web).

What are the chances you’re going to catch any fish with all those other anglers trying to do the same?! 

Here’s the thing …

To land the biggest and best catch of the day, you need to find a small pond of fish and become the BIG fish.

All you need to do is put the right lure (read: your marketing messages) in front of the right fish (read: your ideal customer or client).

Fishing lesson for today (okay, it’s a marketing research lesson) …

Position yourself in a smaller, more intimate environment to be able to effectively communicate with your target audience, showcase your expertise, and figure out how you can serve these folks.

Not sure where to find a small pond?

• Search for niche-specific or topic-specific forums and join the conversations
• Start your own Facebook group
• Do the same on LinkedIn – start a group
• Create a Tweet Chat you host on a regular basis or host a Twitter party using a customized #hashtag
• Start answering questions on Quora
• Host a tele-class (put some bait on your hook and see if you get any bites)
• Do a keyword search on Twitter or Facebook for your ideal client or customer
• Brainstorm ideas with colleagues or join a mastermind group

Become the go-to person … the BIG fish in a small pond … so you can uncover exactly what your potential customers or clients want or need from you.

Do you like fishing any better now?

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I’d much prefer to be posting a great story, shining the light on a fellow entrepreneur, or sharing tips, tools, and resources with you today.

However …

It’s time for me to clear up a BIG misunderstanding regarding my blog.

But first I need to ask you a few questions.

1.)    Are you aware I’m a business blogger?

2.)   Have you figured out I’m an affiliate marketer?

3.)   Are your expectations to never see a link to a paid promotion in my posts?

4.)   Is it totally okay with you when I share FREE tips and tools … but NOT okay when I include a link to a paid offer?

I’m rarely at a loss for words, but I’m struggling to find a way to express my thoughts tactfully.

So let me just lay it on the line …

I’m blogging for dough – not for show. 

And so are thousands of other business bloggers like Ameena Falchetto. (Take a minute to click Ameena’s name and read her post.  She’s much better than me at addressing this topic.)

In case you’re curious, the primary goals for my blog are to:

• Educate
• Enrich
• Enlighten
• Entertain

The reason I’m touching on this (sensitive) subject is because of an incident regarding my Aweber stats (Aweber is my contact management system).

I published a post recently to announce one of Denise Wakeman’s current programs about how to monetize your social media efforts.

Seems to me there’s a BOAT LOAD of people who are not yet making money or securing potential clients/customers via social media – even though they’re spending hours and hours every week on various social media channels.

So what was my intention for sharing that information?

To steer people in the BEST direction possible for the HELP they need to start making money by using social media to build their business.  Denise is a recognized, sought after online visibility expert with an impeccable track record.

And what happened over at Aweber when my blog broadcast went out to my list?

Hold on to your hats … and your seats, folks!

A huge complaint rate was noted in my stats.  67% of my subscribers reported that particular post as spam.  And exactly 12 people immediately unsubscribed.   No problem.  I believe in the freedom of choice.

So here’s the deal …

• Please leave a comment and let me know your opinion on this topic.  Your opinion matters to me.
• Then … if you’re offended by or opposed to reading posts with occasional links to information, courses, tools, programs, etc. that can help you make money in your business … PLEASE unsubscribe from my list.

There are 100’s of posts on this blog that contain zero links to anything – free or paid.  If it’s upsetting to you when I (Heaven forbid!) go for the sale, then I’m sorry.

No hard feelings.

Better that we say goodbye now versus having you deem me a spammer the next time I post a promotional offer.

Funny thing about business blogging success …

“Business” is involved.

Illustration credit:  Ameena Falchetto

I can’t speak for the European diet or the Canadian diet or any other country’s dietary habits.

But our diet here in the U.S. isn’t the greatest.  Actually, our nutritional habits are really poor.

Many of us need to take supplements – additional vitamins and minerals to enhance the foods we consume and to insure better health.

Have you ever thought about “supplementing” your business?

If your business isn’t in the best of health, you’ll want to do something to nurture it, guide it back to good health, and prevent it from ending up in the operating room – or worse yet, the cemetery.

The following are some effective, fast-acting supplements I’d like to recommend.

Unlike the multi-vitamins you purchase for your personal health, these 7 business supplements are available at No Charge.

1. Does Your Online Visibility Need A Boost? 

Supplement with:  7 tips you can implement right away to start building a powerful presence on the Web

2. Is Clutter Clogging Up The Arteries Of Your Business? 

Supplement with:  Help lose clutter, gain time, and reduce stress

3. Are The Ill Effects Of Sleep Deprivation The Result Of Having Too Much Writing To Tackle? 

Supplement with:   21-page step-by-step guide — How you can make your business more profitable by leaving the writing to someone else (Download link at bottom of page)

4. Is Trying To Figure Out How To Bring Your Offline Business On The Internet Giving You A Headache?

Supplement with:  12 Business Blogging Strategies To Take Your Business Online

5. Mompreneurs – Are The Words, “Simplify”, “Balance”, And “Relax” Music To Your Ears?

Supplement with:  More Me Time

6. Are You Running Out Of Energy Trying To Come Up With A Money-Making Strategy For Your Website?

Supplement with:  5-Point Website Profitability Checklist

7. Do You Get Dizzy With The Notion Of Using Social Media To Build Your Business?

Supplement with:  Why Social Media

Use the free supplements above to add a spark of energy, inspiration, and vitality to your business!

I pulled out a map of the world today and had a huge and disappointing revelation.

My map is not accurate.

My map is flawed and missing a very important landmark.

I was able to point to my birth place in Pennsylvania and I located Scotland, UK where my lovely friend, Heather Bestel of “Mum’s Got A Business”, resides. 

And let me tell you … Heather lives in the middle of nowhere … and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

Pointing to the major bodies of water all over the world was easy, too. 

Of course, I can drive a few miles and dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean.  No need to look that one up.

However, there’s one major body of water that’s missing from my map …

The Sea Of Infocrap.

I know it exists because I’ve taken a swim in it many times.  

The waters are horribly frigid — intolerably cold, in fact.  It’s an icy swim that leaves you shivering with chills.  

I’ve had a few instances where I nearly drowned.

Have you taken a swim in it or sailed the waters of The Sea Of Infocrap?

Do any offshore diving?

Visit any ports?

Explore any caves?

Feel free to share the crappiest crap you’ve uncovered on your journey.

Be specific.  

Please help me pinpoint The Sea Of Infocrap on the map.

Photo credit:  cath @ chunkycooky on Flickr

You know how people are always talking about how great social media is?

And it is great – I use it regularly!

But what a lot of people wonder is what value can social media have for my business?

Everyone wants to monetize social media, but people aren’t really sure how to maximize their social media energy and efforts.

That’s where “From Platform to Profit” comes in.

The program focuses on teaching a “specific system of content syndication” to help improve search engine ranking, build expert status, send more traffic to your website, and help you generate more leads into your business.

It’s being taught by two well-known online marketing coaches, Denise Wakeman, Online Visibility Expert and founder of the Blog Squad, and Dr. Rachna Jain of Profitable Popularity.

The focus of this 5-week training is helping people create a content syndication strategy that works.

People are spending hours and hours on Facebook and Twitter, but ignoring the other 10 kinds of social media sites you can use.

This means you’re not using social media as well as you could be.

And don’t worry, even if you’re not super technical, the training is designed to be easy to follow and easy to apply.

Starting March 1^st, you’ll learn how to convert your text content to multiple formats, and, just as importantly, how to efficiently send your content around the Internet.

Done correctly, content syndication has the possibility to move your business to a whole new level in terms of recognition and opportunities.

Plus, Denise and Rachna have a new, up-to-date module on how to “monetize” your content … the “missing link” in social media.

The early bird special ends Thursday, February 23^rd.

I would love to see your social media efforts pay off … at long last.

Imagine holding a baby and telling that precious child this bedtime story …

Life is colorful and full of adventure.  When you grow up, you’re going to become a “lead”.  

You’ll feel very special to be part of a “highly targeted” audience and an “autoresponder list”.  

Oh, what fun you’ll have traveling through a “sales funnel”!  

Not as thrilling as riding a roller coaster, but a fun ride nonetheless.   

Online marketers and small business owners from around the globe will be competing for your attention.  So you’ll need to become an instant pro at dodging “sales pitches” and recognizing “hype and fluff”.  

Be careful!  Those “bright shiny objects” can mesmerize and allure you.  

Once you become someone’s “prospect”, your inbox will be overflowing with mail.  Won’t it be wonderful to awaken every day to loads of correspondence from “internet marketers” who love to stay in touch with you?!  

Some days they’ll send you off to a “squeeze page”.  Don’t worry.  The squeezing doesn’t hurt.  I promise.

Other days they’ll ask you to enter an “opt in box”.  It’s easy to get in and relatively painless.  

You’ll have lots of opportunities to exercise your visual and auditory senses with all the invitations you’ll receive to attend “webinars” and “teleseminars”.  

Your reading skills are sure to be sharpened, too!  Everyone will ask you to visit their “blog”, read their “posts”, leave “comments”, and share their pearls of wisdom on “social media”.   

It’s inevitable, at some point, you’ll be encouraged to pull out your credit card, make a purchase, and download an “info product”.   But let’s not think about that right now.  You’re looking pretty sleepy.

One more thing before you nod off and head into slumberland.

If you don’t want to be a “lead” when you grow up …

That’s okay and no one will blame you for feeling that way.  

Traveling through that sales funnel sounds kinda scary, doesn’t it?!  

People shouldn’t be referred to as leads, anyway.  The term isn’t very endearing and it doesn’t have much of a friendly ring to it.

Now go off to sleep, little one, and “Dream Big!”

I’ve been reading a ton of discussions recently about whether it’s a good idea to offer your target audience a “freebie” as a means of growing your list …

… the folks you want to build a relationship with away from your blog — those wonderful email subscribers you want to nurture — the prospects you want to market to.

Giving away (even just a portion of) your expertise to potential customers or clients may not be the best way to fly.

It may even come back to bite you in the butt … big time.

Brian Clark from Copyblogger says, “Free is not a business model”.

Kinda makes your ears perk up, doesn’t it?

Armed with all the information I’ve devoured lately, I’m seriously considering removing the freebie offer from my site.

Here’s why …

The WRONG PEOPLE are opting in, which isn’t helping me one darn bit to grow a list of potential “paying” customers.

Oddly enough, rarely does a member of my target audience request my freebie.  Sound strange?  Well, believe it or not, this isn’t just happening to me.

So who’s opting in for the freebie?  Online marketing colleagues, fellow bloggers, curious looky-loos, and the proverbial tire kickers (Ya gotta love THAT crowd!).

Many of them opt in — grab the freebie — and immediately opt OUT.

It’s almost laughable.

Only I’m not laughing.

I’ve even got a few well-established online marketing “experts” who are simply “spying” on me under an alias email address.  Isn’t that a hoot?!  It wasn’t easy to figure out who they are, but I did.

Here’s the risk in offering a freebie …

Hardcore freebie seekers are out there in droves.  We’ll never experience a shortage of people wanting something for nothing.

They will never purchase ANYTHING from you — even if it’s priced at bargain-basement cost.

Once you give them something great for free, their expectation is that the free stuff will just keep rolling in for eternity.

Not cool.  You’re in business — not the “giveaway” business.

I’m convinced freebies may actually do you and your small business more harm than good.

The blog post that influenced my thinking and definitely had the greatest impact on me was from Ameena Falchetto. 

What’s your opinion?

• Is your freebie rockin’ your business?  
• Or are you rockin’ it without a freebie?

Photo credit:  alexanderdrachmann