Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

Bloggy Question 77: I’ll Never Get There Alone!

Filed Under Analysis, Bloggy Questions, Successful Blog | 18 Comments

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And Not Think About Motives

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life question. . . .

A friend of yours is beginning her business. She’s got a great plan and most days she’s totally focused. But like most people, especially us on the Internet, she sometimes gets overtaken by all of the messages around him that say “do this, do that, do what I say to be successful.”

You tell her it’s merely a case of keeping at what she’s good at, being focused, and expanding on her circle of influence, but she keeps getting off track — following trends and fads without knowing why. She seems to have this perception that everyone who talks about making money actually is and that she’s years behind.

She’s got a business coach, a life coach, and you as a friend. Yet about once a month she seems off track again, saying something like “I’ll never get where I’m going. I wish I could find a good mentor.”

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Bloggy Question 76: Where Are My Clients?
Bloggy Question 75: Stop Thief!
Bloggy Question 74: Will Good Looks Get You the Job?
Bloggy Question 73: Vacation in Your Head
Bloggy Question 72: And in a World Where Thinkers Meet Feelers
Bloggy Question 71: Blogging by Candlelight

Bloggy Question 76: Where Are My Clients?

Filed Under Bloggy Questions, Successful Blog | 18 Comments

How Do You Tell Him?

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life question. . . .

A friend, who is known for having great ideas, had another one. He started a blog on which he was selling his services. He put together a great deal. He would meet a need — a real one. He was going to teach folks who needed self-confidence how to present their services and close deals.

His offers are well written. His prices suit the market. He’s got the right content to draw the the right people. His design is in tune with the group he wants to serve.

But his traffic is lousy.

He comes to you for advice. You say that gaining traffic is the part that takes the longest time and the most work. You explain some ways that he might develop traffic over time through leaving comments, offering guest posts, and developing relationships.

He keeps pitching ideas on how to take his blog viral.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Bloggy Question 75: Stop Thief!
Bloggy Question 74: Will Good Looks Get You the Job?
Bloggy Question 73: Vacation in Your Head
Bloggy Question 72: And in a World Where Thinkers Meet Feelers
Bloggy Question 71: Blogging by Candlelight

Bloggy Question 75: Stop Thief!

Filed Under Bloggy Questions, Successful Blog | 21 Comments

Taking Content from a Baby

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life question. . . .

A while back, you received an email that was disturbing. It was a message from a well-known blogger, someone you respect and admire. She wrote to say that she had decided that you must not know about the activities of someone who frequents your comment box.

The story she laid out was clear and had several links of evidence. The commenter you knew had been lifting entire stories writing a new introduction paragraph then pasting in what he took and passing it off as his own experience. This was happening on a blog for his business. One of the examples came from personal blog of a 12-year-old student.

The well-known blogger asked your help, as she had been getting no where after months of trying. After a telephone call or two to be sure you knew the situation, you emailed the commenter to discuss content theft. The commenter first blamed people who work for him. Then later came back to say that the original authors took themselves too seriously. The commenter cited his own graduate degree to show that he knew plenty about everything.

Finally, the commenter promised to stop using other people’s content.

But he didn’t do that.

To add insult to injury, he’s come to your blog twice — once under a new name — to leave a link with a comment. When you go the post it links back to and Google a passage, the same content shows up on another blog owned by another person.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Bloggy Question 74: Will Good Looks Get You the Job?
Bloggy Question 73: Vacation in Your Head
Bloggy Question 72: And in a World Where Thinkers Meet Feelers
Bloggy Question 71: Blogging by Candlelight
Bloggy Question 70: How Do You Thank All of the Bloggers Who Have Helped You?

Bloggy Question 74: Will Good Looks Get You the Job?

Filed Under Bloggy Questions, Successful Blog | 29 Comments

Do Looks Matter . . . ?

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life question. . . .

You go to a networking event. There’s a great looking guy there. He seems to have the attention of the entire room. You find out that he’s the CEO of a multi-national corporation.

You meet the CEO and swap stories in a conversation. He seems truly interested in what you have to say. His approach is positive, people centered, and strongly biased toward high values.

Later, you mention Mr. Good Looking to a friend, who’s never had a problem in the looks department. Your friend sees the CEO in an entirely different light. “That guy? I used to work with him. He got everywhere by looking good and shaking hands. He couldn’t connect the dots if they were numbered. He just smiles and people do his work for him. If I looked like he does, I’d be the powerful CEO. He’d be working for me!”

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Bloggy Question 72: And in a World Where Thinkers Meet Feelers
Bloggy Question 71: Blogging by Candlelight
Bloggy Question 70: How Do You Thank All of the Bloggers Who Have Helped You?
Bloggy Question 69: If You Could Be Anywhere . . .
Bloggy Question 68: 2 Palm Trees, You, Me
Bloggy Question 67: Doors . . .

Bloggy Question 73: Vacation in Your Head

Filed Under Bloggy Questions, Successful Blog | 33 Comments

What might you do here . . . ?


Sand, Sun, Sea


. . . and how will you know when to leave?

–ME “Liz” Strauss


Related articles
Bloggy Question 72: And in a World Where Thinkers Meet Feelers
Bloggy Question 71: Blogging by Candlelight
Bloggy Question 70: How Do You Thank All of the Bloggers Who Have Helped You?
Bloggy Question 69: If You Could Be Anywhere . . .
Bloggy Question 68: 2 Palm Trees, You, Me
Bloggy Question 67: Doors . . .

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