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“I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it, and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else; hard work and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.”
~Lucille Ball
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Bitchy bosses. Unhappy clients. There’s always so much negativity in the world. Seems hard to escape it. Where’s the motivation to be good at your job, let alone anything else?
And then you come across a site like Expert Enough. Launched just two months ago, this little ray of sunshine says the heck with being a Jack-of-all-trades. Finding your passion and being an expert at it is where’s it at.
It’s practical advice with just enough gentle encouragement. “Good enough” is no longer good enough. It’s time to be great again.
I haven’t had the pleasure of delving deep into the site yet, but it’s rising to the top of my must-read list. After you read the manifesto, pictured above, you’ll be hooked, too. (You can even buy the manifesto as a poster on Cafe Press. Damn smart.)
Check ‘em out here.
Good Blogging Karma (And How You Can Get Some) -
Every now and then you hear about something that’s just plain cool. That’s the case with what Denise Wakeman does monthly on her Facebook page. She gives. Space on her Facebook wall, that is.
Once a month, Wakeman hosts a “Brag About Your Blog” day on her FB page. It’s an opportunity for bloggers of all kinds—big, small, business, personal and everything in between—to let others know what they are passionate about.
By helping others get some visibility, she’s getting some as well. WE magazine found many of its 101 Women Bloggers To Watch in 2011 from Wakeman’s monthly events. Good blogging karma? You bet.
Check out the entire story here.
John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” That pretty much sums up my 2011. At this time last year, I had been struggling with my health for about six months but seemed to be on the upswing. I launched this blog and had high expectations of what I wanted to accomplish this year.
As the 2011 New Year rang in, things were going my way. I ran a great half marathon at Lake Mead in January. I had clarity in my business. I was gaining new clients and expanding my reach within existing customers.
But less than a month in, I began sliding again. It was a slow decline at first. Chronic fatigue. Lack of clarity. Headaches. Stomach pain. But as the Texas summer began heating up, I became nearly bedridden.
For the last year, I’d been seeing numerous doctors: internist, endocrinologist, allergist, rheumatologist and multiple gastroenterologists. I prepared a 12-page document with all my symptoms, information I found doing my own research and theories I had to what was ailing me.
Yet after more than 100 individual blood tests and more appointments than I can count, they could tell me only that I had an unknown source of inflammation and my body was producing an auto-immune response although I didn’t have a clinical auto-immune disease. I even wrote to the Mayo Clinic requesting an appointment, and they turned me down.
Although I was experiencing 30 different symptoms, there was nothing “clinically” wrong with me. The doctors would shrug their shoulders and say I’d have to live this way.
But that wasn’t an option.
I wanted my life back.
At this point, however, my life had turned into mere existence. I wasn’t myself. I stopped running (a BIG deal for me). I stopped keeping up with friends and family. I stopped writing. I couldn’t think. I certainly couldn’t work. It was all I could do to get up in the morning.
Luckily, my journalistic instincts were still intact. On the good days, I kept researching, reading all kinds of blogs and books on digestive health. I knew in my heart that’s where the problem was. I had asked my physicians numerous times about a syndrome called leaky gut, but none of them new anything about it. Perhaps it’s because there are no prescription or OTC drugs to “cure” it. In fact, it’s the prescription and OTC drugs that cause it.
When the intestinal flora isn’t in balance with the healthy bacteria keeping the bad ones in check, the bad ones take over…with a vengeance. Did they ever. The integrity of my gut became compromised, which resulted in the inability to absorb nutrients properly (thus the chronic fatigue) and the inability for cells to maintain permeability (thus toxins leak out into the body causing the auto-immune response).
To make matters worse, consuming protein set off a reaction. It started with gluten, Then soy. Then even one serving of any kind of protein put me in a excruciating toxic haze for anywhere from three to seven days until my body fought and killed the “foreign invaders.”
But my persistence paid off. I finally began finding answers. One source would lead to another, and another, and another. I found programs that addressed leaky gut naturally, and for a near vegan who tries to eat primarily organic, that was extremely important. I began following a stringent diet and supplementation program—and it began working. I stopped feeling toxic. The chronic fatigue became less severe. The headaches that plagued me for nearly six straight months began to subside. The stomach pain resolved itself. I began running, socializing and working again.
While I am significantly better than I was six months ago, I still have far to go before I’m completely healed. But I finally understand what has been happening to me and have implemented a plan to fix it. I am ready to put 2011 behind me and welcome 2012 and all its possibilities with open arms. I’m optimistic. I’m feeling like myself again.
What does all this mean to you, my readers? It means that Content Matters, which ironically has be devoid of content, won’t be unattended for much longer. I’ll be back in 2012, stronger than ever. But I’m taking things slow. Being cautious. However, I want you to know that there is much for me to do to fulfill the mission I have this website—and myself. I have so much to give, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Thank you for reading. And thank you for your patience. I appreciate all the love and support I’m receiving as I go through this life-changing journey.
As we get ready to ring in 2012, I wish you great health, lots of laughter and much love. May this year be the best one yet.
I recently saw tweet from a new follower that linked to a seemingly interesting blog post, so I clicked through to check it out. The topic was why companies should hire U.S.-based copywriters rather than the cheaper offshore variety.
The post was well written and made a compelling argument, and the facts were peppered with some of the author’s personal experiences teaching English as a second language in Asia. While the blog was associated with a company that provides copywriting services, the post was educational and didn’t read as self-serving promotional material trying to drum up business.
I wanted to complement the author on crafting such a nice piece, so I scrolled down the page only to find the comments section closed. What? Really?
Confused, I went back to the top of the page to check publication date. Perhaps it was an older post from the archives? No, it was published just two weeks prior.
I don’t believe in ever closing comments—this is where some of the best content can be found (assuming the blog has an active and vocal readership base). This is why it was so completely baffling that there was no ability to have a dialogue with the author. And for a company that sells writing services, this sends the completely wrong message.
Disappointed, I left the website scratching my head…and feeling the immediate need to share the experience so you don’t make the same mistake.
There are many reasons to have a blog, and one should be to create dialogue between and within your audience. No one has all the answers, and a healthy discussion—even with points of view that are contrary—is essential for growth and change to happen. Denying yourself and your audience of this opportunity is simply bad business.
Takeaway: Content matters. This applies to content you write as well as the comments your audience shares. Don’t shun comments, even if what others write can potentially make you uncomfortable. Acknowledge their perspectives and agree to disagree.
Feedback: What do you think about blog comments? Do read them? Do you add to the conversation by posting your opinions? Keep the discussion going and share your ideas below!
Like this? Please share and leave a comment. Thank you!
(Source: whycontentmatters.com)
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This week’s Internet Marketing Club Wednesday Webinar featured Jay Berkowitz, the big cheese over at TenGoldenRules.com, who spoke on how to make great online ad banners. Here are the top tips:
| “ | It’s Webinar Wednesday with Internet Marketing Club. @JayBerkowitz speaking on “Making Great Online Banners & Creative.” #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | Online banner campaign: 1st do research to ID what’s working in category, for competitors, on search engines. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | People read online banner ads top to bottom, L to R. Put logo top left & call to action on bottom right. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | Online banner ad image = 70% success. Test multiple images & review click throughs to ID what works. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | Images used in online banner ads should be aspirational—yet attainable. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | Online banner ads function like billboards. Use 3-5 word bold headline, eye-catching image, clear logo. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | Interactive online banner ads increase brand recall 63%. Ask question. Use rich media. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | Online banner ads must link to targeted landing page w/ only 1 action. Home page IS NOT a landing page. via @JayBerkowitz #IMCorg | |||
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| “ | I love that @JayBerkowitz is designing online banner ads on the fly during the Q&A. That rocks. #IMCorg | |||
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6 Tips For Creating Snackable Content -
People are busy, and there’s more great content for consumption than ever before. But how can you entice readers to dig in? Make the content snackable.
This post from the folks at Hubspot offers six tips to creating bite-sized content to satisfy your audience’s appetite:
Enjoy the complete meal here.
The Twitterverse may seem like a vast expanse of streaming, oftentimes useless, information. But for those doing it right, Twitter is a powerful content marketing & customer engagement tool. In a recent PPAI webinar, I shared the 10 steps to getting started on Twitter, from setting up an account & choosing a name to writing a bio & crafting that first tweet. In case you missed it, here’s a recap:
| “ | Kicking off my webinar Twitter: 10 Steps To Tweeting Like A Pro. Give me a shout out if you’re attending. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | @andrewnisenshal Thanks for signing up for today’s Twitter webinar. I’m looking forward to teaching it. Hope u enjoy & find it useful! | |||
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| “ | @thepublicitygal Listening to Lisa - great way to spend the afternoon! | |||
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| “ | Starting #PPAIProfDev webinar on Twitter. With @thepublicitygal I think some changes are in order after this! | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 1: Sign up and select your user name. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 2: Add bio & photo. Skip the company logo and use your photo instead. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 3: Add theme. This is where u can make the corp. brand statement. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 4: Register in directories such as @wefollow & @twellow. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 5: Follow others: clients, prospects, biz partners, competitors, SMEs, media. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Thanks 4 attending Alisha! RT @alishab19: listening to an awesome webinar about how to most effectively utilize my tweets :) #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 6: Create a variety of content & engage in conversations. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 7: Tweet consistently. Check out scheduling tools to help manage process. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 8: Follow etiquette. Good manners just as important online as offline. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 9: Promote yourself. Include Twitter URL on ALL communications tools. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Tweet Like A Pro Step 10: Stay up-to-date. Check out @smexaminer @mashable @alltwtr. #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | Just attended a great 10 Tips for Twitter webinar from Lisa Horn @thepublicitygal. Good practical tips for being effective. | |||
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| “ | @thepublicitygal Thanks for the great information! Looking forward to improving the corporate account! #PPAIProfDev | |||
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| “ | #PPAIProfDev - Very insightful tips @thepublicitygal! You are a true pro! | |||
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| “ | Had a GREAT time today presenting Twitter: 10 Steps To Tweeting Like A Pro. Thanks to PPAI 4 having me & everyone who attended! #PPAIProfDev | |||
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After recently reading an enlightening blog post on social media, I checked out the author’s bio and clicked on the link to follow him on Twitter. Much to my surprise, an unattended profile appeared. There was no profile picture, bio or company website. He had tweeted seven times in the nine months, had 16 followers and was following zero. His credibility was shot, and I was completely uninterested.
I went back to the article to close out the window and I noticed there was another location for the author’s Twitter feed. This time, I was directed to the proper profile, complete with photo, bio and website—with 2,000+ tweets and a 600/414 followers/following ratio. This is what I expected.
But what if I hadn’t stumbled upon the correct profile? The damage would have been done. In the world of social media, having an outdated, unattended profile can be more damaging to your reputation than no profile at all.
If you find yourself in this situation, you have two choices:
1. Get Active.
Of course, this is the preferred action, as social media is a powerful communication tool—and one than more and more buyers expect you to have. Don’t say you don’t have time. That’s merely an excuse. If you understand the value of social media and believe in its importance, even the busiest executive can carve out 30 minutes a week to create 3-4 tweets and/or status updates. Use a social media management tool (I use HootSuite) to schedule your tweets/updates in advance (as well as to multiple platforms, if desired), and you won’t have to think about it for another seven days.
2. Delete The Account.
If you have created multiple accounts within a social media site and are only using one of them or if you truly don’t see the value of the particular platform, delete the inactive account and move on. It reduces confusion for your audience while keeping your reputation intact.
Just because a social media site exists doesn’t mean that it is a good fit for you or your business. Evaluate where your customers and prospects are and go there. It’s not possible to be everywhere, so choose the site that appeals to you. Doing something you don’t enjoy is simply a recipe for disaster.
Takeaway: Content matters. This applies to content that is there—and content that isn’t. Inactivity sends a negative message just as damaging as bad content. If you’re not using it, lose it.
Feedback: What are you tips for making time to be active on social networks? Keep the discussion going and share your ideas below!
Like this? Please share and leave a comment. Thank you!
(Source: whycontentmatters.com)
