I was on hold today making a reservation, and the hold music began to play the new song by New Kids on the Block. It took me back a bit-- being the lovestruck tween that was in love with everything that was Danny, Donnie, Joe, Jon and Jordan. They were awesome back then; dynamic, talented, and charismatic.
But that was then. This is now.
I'm now a grown woman, with children and a husband. These guys are now 40 (or pretty close to it), with wives and children of their own.
...Yet they are still called New Kids on the Block.
Apparently, someone never thought of longevity when the thought of piecing this boy band together. But, what's your excuse?
Now this is coming from a woman who had a popular business under a certain name, and in the fervor of it all, ended up changing her name to something that most people can't spell (on their own) or "get". With all that being said, was it worth it? Absolutely. Why? Because now I appeal to a demographic that is more along the lines of the clientele I want to attract. Most importantly, I haven't pigeon-holed my company or painted it into a corner.
Choosing a name for your business is like choosing a name for your child. Put serious thought into it-- picture it on letterhead, business cards, on your website, etc. You won't have a huge record company backing you to help you promote and build your brand. It will be you and yourself, and did I mention, you? You want a name and brand that is reflective of you, but also stands the test of time. Will it grow with you or stunt your growth?
Do you want to be a 40 year old man still calling yourself a New Kid?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Are You the New Kids on the Block?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Baby Business Bootcamp
You've completed the 31-Day Blog Challenge. Right?
Now, we're bringing you something new and exciting!
It's Baby Business Bootcamp (BBB) - where the challenges are simple and the rewards are spectacular!
Baby Business Bootcamp is all about assigning three "Babysteps" tasks a day for a week. At the end of the week, your BBB will have motivated for you to continue completing three tasks a day, week after week.
The reason that BBB is being launched is because the main whine from people is ,"I don't have timeeeeee!".
Well, we're going to make it as simple as a store bought pie.
Here's the Monday - Saturday BBB for August 18 - August 23:
Monday...
1) If you don't have business cards, order some
If you do have business cards, you must give out 10 before you get home
2) Register for Google Analytics or another type of website/blog tracker
3) Get rid of any paperwork/pages that you don't need
Tuesday...
1) Choose two outfits which will be your professional attire
2) Schedule a professinal photo session (1 each: head shot, body shot)
3) Find 2 online sources and submit an expert article to each
Wednesday...
1) Organize your home office or business space
2) Practice/compose your elevator speech
3) Make a list of your top 5 strengths and top 5 weaknesses
Thursday...
1) Followup or reconnect with clients you've lost contact with
2) Ask someone to be your Business Bud and agree to meet monthly for chatting
3) Make a list of all the sites/forums/groups you've joined and either be an active member or opt out of the membership
Friday...
1) Make a list of former and potential clients for your holiday card list
2) Research two additional businesses to develop a "multiple income" portfolio
3) Create an IPA (Income Producing Activity) sheet for the month of September
Saturday...
1) Journal about the previous 5-day BBB. The good, the bad, the whatever!
2) List any incomplete task and complete it by the following Wednesday
3) You're Done!
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Give Your Site Some UMPH!
You sit up for hours, creating a masterpiece of attention getting, WOW! factor photos, catch phrases, 1-day door buster specials, registering your business on every free (and sometimes not free & costly) site, asking friends-family and whomever to PLEASE visit your site - all in the name of "umphing" your web presence - ergo, "umphing" sales through visibility.
Where's the "real" unique visitors (Sorry, folks. Family & friends don't count).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get users (and Google) to trust your Web site
If you aren't seeing the traffic numbers you desire, start by examining how credible your site looks.
By Emily Maltby
July 31, 2008: 12:15 PM EDT
(Fortune Small Business) --
Dear FSB: Our current Web site, www.fusedsolutions.com, does an okay job of portraying the appropriate information to those that get there, but unfortunately not many get there. Can you please give us a few tips on how to get our site to the top of search lists and build substantial traffic?
The first problem Schefren points out is in the title tag for your homepage. Unless Internet users are actually searching specifically for Fused Solutions, they're not going to care that it is the title of the page; they could even be confused by it.
The top of the page should be dedicated to terms that people will search for, so that they know right away that they've landed at the right place. Consider using terms that define what you offer, such as "service software," "service outsourcing" or "customer service representatives."
Elsewhere on your homepage, Schefren points out communication problems: the language on the page has a Gunning fog index of 17. The Gunning fog index is determined by a mathematical formula that takes into account word complexity and sentence length. English that caters to a wide audience should stay under 12.
"You are using words that your customer would never use," Schefren says. "The reader has to stop and think about what he just read. That's not going to keep people on the page."
Greg Ricciardi, managing partner at Philadelphia branding firm 20nine Design Studios, says small-business owners often have trouble describing their business in basic and direct terms.
Business owners too often fall into the trap of treating a Web site like a brochure, Ricciardi says. But the user experience is different online: You have to get across who you are and what you do very quickly, as the average Web surfer spends just seconds on a page.
In addition to keeping phrases short and the terminology simple, you'll need to focus on common keywords that will bring traffic your way.
Small changes can have outsize results: "There are less than 3,000 searches a month for 'help desk technology,' but over 90,000 searches a month for 'help desk software,'" Schefren says. "If I am doing a search for help-desk software, I want to land on a page where there is no doubt in my mind that focus is on help-desk software. Here, people won't be too sure and will click the back button. Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) can see that users are hitting back, and counts that against you."
Another example: Schefren suspects your site visitors will be left wondering what "contact center services" are. "Outsourced customer support" is a more straightforward explanation.
One way to keep visitors on your site is to address them directly.
"All the information and tabs are about the company. Everything is 'we, we, we.' Stop talking about yourselves and instead insert content that is geared towards the consumer," Schefren says. "Make the links and tabs talk to the visitor, such as 'How to increase your customer satisfaction rates' and 'How to eliminate customer support headaches.' The site should not be about the company so much as what benefits the company can offer the client." Ricciardi recommends changing your tabs to "services we offer," "about the company," "partners" and "how to get in touch."
An easy way to get the user involved is to offer quick tips on how to address customer-service problems. Start educating the readers and building up their faith that you are experts in your field, and they'll want to continue reading.
Ricciardi and Schefren both point out that your site has no phone number or "contact us" button, which would allow visitors to communicate with your company right away.
"If I can't find the contact page, that makes me suspicious of the company," Schefren says. "Instead of legal info on the bottom of each page, put the address and phone number. Without an invitation to call, I'm left thinking that you could be a kid working out of a basement."
Users also question the credibility of site when text that looks like a link turns out not to be one. "Under 'our technology,' some links are clickable and some aren't," Ricciardi says. "And under 'who we provide to,' we expect to be able to click the bullets, but we can't." Plus, he strongly recommends posting a list with actual client names, rather than generic industry categories.
But the main reason you are not seeing traffic is because Google doesn't send people to sites that look unreliable. To increase traffic, make sure your site speaks to the users to gain their trust.
"Your Web site needs to articulate the customer's problem better than the customer can articulate it," Schefren says. "That way they'll think, 'Yes, this company gets me!' and will want to stick around to see what kind of solution you can offer them."
The more you can provide visitors with useful, relevant information, they better they - and the search engines - will respond.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Time, Time, Time is on my side...YES IT IS!
We'll post challenges each week to help you reach your goals. The first was the A Better Blog in 31-Days challenge. We hope these prove helpful to you. Let us know what will help you and we will find a challenge for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Real Simple) --
Time can be on your side -- if you re-shape your schedule. With the help of a dozen psychologists, researchers, and coaches, we came up with a three-part plan to reseize the day.
Step 1: Step back (for a second)
Figure out why you want more free time. "You can't win a game you haven't defined," says David Allen, a productivity expert and the author of the best seller "Getting Things Done." You'll be more motivated to change if you have a specific goal.
Make a wish list. Write down all the activities that you long to do more of -- whether they're things that make you happy, relaxed, sane(r), or all three. For example: going for a swim, sleeping until you're no longer tired, volunteering on a project you care about, or getting an hour all to yourself.
Rank the items in order of importance to you, then pick one or two to focus on first. (Once you get the hang of this system, you can address the rest.)
Now write down how you really spend your time. If it's all one makelunchcarpoolrunlikeachickenwithitsheadcutoff blur, keep a detailed diary for a few days.
"You might be surprised by how little time you spend doing things you love most," says Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and a father of three young children who transformed a diagnosis of fatal pancreatic cancer into a crusade to urge others to live every moment.
Sadly, Mr. Pausch passed away on Friday, July 25th. Our prayers are with his family.
"The Last Lecture," a book he coauthored, is a New York Times best seller. Says Pausch, "The key question to keep asking is, 'Are you spending your time on the right things?' Because time is all you have."
Step 2: See what you can give up
This is the hard -- but liberating -- part: Rethinking the way you spend your time. As you sit in front of your crammed-full daily diary, consider that devoting more time to what you love can help you get more done overall.
"It sounds like a paradox," says Neil Fiore, Ph.D., a psychologist and an executive coach in Berkeley, California, and the author of "The Now Habit."
"But research shows that to be productive and creative, you must make time for recreation and relaxation. Trying to skimp on them hurts your motivation and often leads you to procrastinate."
Plus, being a little selfish will keep you from becoming resentful, burned out, or cranky. And that's a good thing for everyone.
Since you can't manufacture time, you need to find ways to free it up. Take another look at your list of current activities and ask yourself four questions:
What can I delegate? OK, so maybe your 11-year-old can't load the dishwasher as well as you can. Hand over that task and you've got 10 minutes to spend on something more fulfilling. The fact that you're teaching your child responsibility -- with, yes, an occasional eye roll or chipped dish -- is a bonus.
If you've reflexively been handling most of the household duties -- dry-cleaning drop-offs, filling out school forms -- turn some of them over to your spouse. (No, this does not make you a bad wife, a bad mother, or a nag.) Real Simple: Stress less -- 16 worry cures
Try similar strategies at work: Give junior staffers assignments that stretch their capabilities, rather than swooping in and doing the job yourself.
What can I outsource? Housecleaning and lawn care are obvious answers, but also think about things like tutoring for your kids -- especially when it comes to subjects that take hours to get up to speed on (amo, amas, amat...).
Before you decide you can't afford this, scrutinize your spending. Chances are, there's a way to reallocate your resources. Could you forgo dinner out one night a week in exchange for freedom from all that washing and folding?
If you need more convincing, calculate what your time is worth, says Timothy Ferriss, a time-management expert and the author of "The 4-Hour Workweek." To get your "hourly rate," cut the last three zeros off your annual salary, then halve that number. So if you make $60,000 a year, your hourly rate is $30. "If it takes you three hours to clean the house each week, that's $90 worth of your time," he says.
What can I do less well (at least sometimes)? Here's an easy efficiency boost: When something you're working on is good enough, stop. "It's a waste of time to do everything perfectly, such as polishing the underside of the banister," says professor Randy Pausch. "Instead, focus on doing the important things adequately."
Like showing up at a friend's birthday party even if you haven't found that just-right present. Or making a simple pasta dish for a special dinner instead of going full-out gourmet. Not only will you gain more time but you'll also have energy to actually enjoy these events rather than just feeling frazzled.
What distractions can I limit, if not eliminate?
• Shut the door. Seriously. If you have work to do, make it clear to your assistant/colleagues/kids/spouse that you need to be left alone. A 2004 study found that office workers are interrupted, on average, every three minutes.
The study's researchers also found that it takes about 23 minutes for people to get back to the task they were taken away from. If you don't have a door to close, put a sign on the back of your chair that says, please do not disturb. (Dorky? Sure. But it works -- we've tried it.)
• At work, resist the urge to check your e-mail 500 times a day (or however often you usually do). For a truly rewarding challenge, time-management expert Timothy Ferriss recommends checking only twice a day -- at noon and at 4 p.m.
"I've found those are the times when you're most likely to have responses to your previously sent e-mails," he says. And make liberal use of the auto-respond feature: When you're swamped, direct e-mailers to an assistant or, with his or her permission, a colleague. Real Simple: How to deal with headaches.
• At home, give that BlackBerry a rest. "BlackBerries hijack your downtime," says Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and the author of "CrazyBusy."
In addition, the devices give the illusion of efficiency. "People erroneously believe they can type on their BlackBerries while watching the news or talking to their families," says Hallowell. "But if the tasks are at all demanding, you are creating the perfect storm of mistakes, misunderstandings, and mismanagement."
• As for TV, watch a show you love, then turn off the set. The average American spends 2.4 hours a day in front of the tube, but that investment yields sparse rewards.
"We found that watching TV doesn't make people nearly as happy as activities that really engage them, like playing tennis, taking a walk, and sharing a meal with their family," says David Schkade, a psychologist and a professor of management at the University of California, San Diego, who recently coauthored a study on the subject.
Translation: You'll get more psychological benefits from choosing other forms of fun.
Step 3: Reschedule your schedule
Now that you've freed up precious minutes (hopefully lots of them!), it's time to reshape your days. "Overwhelmed? Take the helm," says productivity expert David Allen. In other words, decide how you want to spend your energy.
Establish one or two "nonnegotiables" and work your schedule around them.
For example, eight hours of sleep a night, two hours of exercise a week, or one night out a week for fun, suggests Valorie Burton, a life coach in Annapolis, Maryland, and the author of "How Did I Get So Busy?"
"You have control here," she says. "You just have to take it."
Create your new daily to-do list on a three-by-five-inch index card. "The card forces you to focus on what's important," says time-management expert Timothy Ferriss. (If you prefer to think in weeks, fill out five cards.)
Write down only what you can realistically accomplish in a day -- three to five items is a doable amount. Then consult your wish list and make sure at least one item from the top of the list is part of your weekly plan. Yes, that means writing in "30 minutes on the hammock with my novel."
Schedule a quick and brainless task first. This will allow you to cross something off your list right away and to start the day feeling accomplished.
Schedule your most onerous task second. Whether it's a difficult conversation with a friend or a tedious e-mail to a colleague, plan to get it over with next. "If you have to eat a frog," Professor Randy Pausch cracks, "it's best not to look at it too long before you do."
Challenge the list. After you've finished writing it, try to cross something off. "Sometimes all it takes to keep your sanity is to drop just one thing," says Burton. To figure out what that one thing is, go back to the questions in step two (such as "What can I delegate?"). If you're still having trouble, ask yourself: "What item here least reflects what matters most to me?"
Have a reality check every Friday to reassess. Gina Trapani, editor of Lifehacker.com, a Web site dedicated to time-saving technology tips, is a huge fan of this approach.
On Friday afternoons, she sets aside a half hour to go through what she accomplished, both personally and professionally, and to map out the next week. (Even a five-minute version of her ritual can do the trick.)
"This helps me remember my priorities," says Trapani. This also reminds her that it's impossible to do everything. "When you're realistic about how much you can do in a day," she says, "you're so much happier." And isn't that the point? Real Simple: 14 quick energy boosters.
Tools to Keep You on Track
If only it were sunshine and lollipops from here on out. But let's face it: Your new-and-improved schedule is going to be under siege -- attacked by everything from big projects to good old procrastination. (After all, six out of 10 women surveyed by Real Simple confessed that procrastination was a major culprit.)
To ensure that you don't get derailed, try these tips:
• Do just a dash of whatever it is you're avoiding. "Force yourself to work on the task for a short period of time -- perhaps as little as one minute," says Merlin Mann, creator of 43folders.com, a time-management blog. "When you realize how much of the anxiety was created in your head, you'll give yourself the jolt needed to follow it through."
• Post a procrastination-busting Post-it. Time-management expert Timothy Ferriss suggests writing on it: "Are you inventing things to do to avoid what's important?" Then stick it wherever you'll see it regularly, like on your computer.
• Break projects into pieces. The optimal amount of time to spend on a task is 40 to 90 minutes. After that, take a break to recharge, says psychologist Neil Fiore. And keep in mind that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. When you give yourself incremental deadlines, you're more likely to get things done quickly.
• Take rest seriously. This eight-hour goal is no joke. Not only will you feel better but you'll also be more efficient. "When people are scattered, they perceive that they don't have enough time," life coach Valorie Burton says. "Sleep deprivation only makes the problem worse."
• Don't worry, be happy. One parting word of encouragement: According to a recent Real Simple/GfK Roper happiness study, 65 percent of women who say they're "very happy" make time for themselves. (Only 39 percent of women who are "somewhat happy" do so.)
So which comes first, the time or the happiness?
Impossible to say.
But the odds are good that the more time you make for yourself, the happier you'll be.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
31-Days to Building a Better Blog
Do you wonder if your blog is actually useful and informative?
Are your blog rankings sinking faster than the Titanic?
Are you stuck on what to post and how to approach a topic?
Question no more!
The 31-Day Blog Project will rescue you and put you back on the map... for FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is the 31 Day Project About?
To put it most simply - it’s a month long series of posts here at ProBlogger designed to walk you through 31 tasks that you can do to make your blog better. You can read more about how the project works and how to participate in my introduction to the project.
The project is made up of two parts: My Tips and Reader Tips
Please click here to read more about the blog building tasks.
Day 1 - Email a New Reader
Day 2 - Run a ‘First Time Reader Audit’ on your Blog
Day 3 - Search for and Join a Forum
Day 4 - Interlink Archived Posts
Day 5 - Conduct an ‘About Page Audit’
Day 6 - Email an Old Timer Reader
Day 7 - Plan Your Next Week’s Posting Schedule
Day 8 - Comment on a Blog You’ve Never Commented On Before
Day 9 - Run an Advertising Audit On Your Blog
Day 10 - Declutter Your Sidebar
Day 11 - Dig into Your Blog’s Statistics
Day 12 - Introduce Yourself to another Blogger
Day 13 - Search for an Affiliate Program that Fits Your Blog
Day 14 - Analyze Your Blog’s Competition
Day 15 - Make Your Most Popular Posts Sticky
Day 16 - Create a Heatmap of Where Readers Click on Your Blog
Day 17 - Run a StumbleUpon Campaign for Your Blog
Day 18 - Create a Sneeze Page and Propel Readers Deep Within Your Blog
Day 19 - Respond to Comments on Your Blog
Day 20 - Run a Reader Survey
Day 21 - Make a Reader Famous
Day 22 - Catch New Readers Up on the Basics of your Blog
Day 23 - Go on a Dead Link Hunt
Day 24 - Do a Search Engine Optimization Audit
Day 25 - Go Shopping and Improve Your blog
Day 26 - Link Up to a Competitor
Day 27 - Find a Sponsor for Your Blog
Day 28 - What is Your Blog’s Mission Statement
Day 29 - Email a Blogger that Linked to You to Say Thanks
Day 30 - Explore a Social Media Site
Day 31 - Run a SWOT Analysis on Your Blog
This is a wonderful and productive challenge that will jump start your blog AND will increase your readership.
The challenge can start on any day, just make sure a task is completed everyday for 31 days.
Good luck and let us know how you're doing...
Monday, July 14, 2008
1 Pair of Scissors, 1 DSL Cable
You'd think that I was in the middle of winter survival training, snowboarding & being one with nature in the Antartica since I haven't posted in days.
Sorry.
I WISH my absence was that adventerous, but it's not.
My adventure lies with my DSL provider (I won't name names, but their catch phrase is "Can you hear me now? Good!") who, after 3 hours and 3 different technicians, STILL can't figure out why I don't have an internet connection.
Yes, my ethernet, dsl and internet lights are all green.
Yes, my network card is fine.
Yes, I reversed the yellow cord from the modem to the pc.
Yes, I have a dial tone.
Yes, I blew on the modem connections to clear dust particles...don't ask.
Yes. Yes. Yes. and YES!
No. I still can't open Explorer!
Oh, ok...
Yes. I'll take the technician appointment for July 21st between 8am and 7pm.
8am - 7pm - that's my scheduled timeframe.
The moral of the story....
#1...lose your internet connection and you are left feeling incomplete, out of sorts, unproductive and having the worst withdrawal symptoms.
#2...fill that day with 11 hours of activity - or inactivity.
Thanks to my friend who allowed me to use his pc to let you know, I'm here...just not right here.
See you soon!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Oooooo! I Want That!
If money were no object, what would you buy?
, uber extravagant, something you always wanted to try (like sky diving - not me - you!), the vivacious LG Red Steam Washer/Dryer set - whatever. It's all about I Want That! and the gleam in your eye when you realize You Can Have That!~While you're dreaming, find & save pictures of your I Want That! Don't forget to note who owns the rights to the picture so that proper credit is given.
~Number your pictures based on the list and glue them onto a poster board. You can use Word or Publisher if online.
~Decide which rewards are achievable short term and long term. Give yourself a time limit on some rewards (such as a spa treatment), while others (like the awesome 2008 BMW 550i with iPOD connection) may take more time, but are still within reach...
~You've just created your Vision Board! Using the outline supplied during the Women, Wealth & Worth Business Plan session, begin achieving the goals we discussed.
That's it...and you'll feel GREAT knowing that your business profits gave you a reward!
Remember the mysterious TS from the File It Under "S" for Shredder post?
http://womenwealthandworth.blogspot.com/2008/06/git-er-done.html
