Successful Blog

Here is a good place for a call to action.

Fire Up a Kindle Fire & Re-Kindle that Resolution to Be Tobacco-less in 2012!

by

They’re Letting Me Do This!

You might recall a post I wrote called Mission: When My Mom Died and Who Saved My Life. Since then, I’ve been a fan and an advocate of Safe Cig. I’ve joined their team and have my own Safe Cig battery charger in the USB of my computer. I’m proud to be working with them.

Today, I’m teaming up with the folks at The Safe Cig to move the mission to see a tobacco-less world. And I get to offer anyone over 18 in the US a chance to win:

  • a The Safe Cig micro kit [in the most popular flavor] which includes
    7 refills,
    2 batteries,
    and a charger
  • three more refill kits –
    the 2nd most popular flavor
    the third most popular flavor
    my favorite flavor – Columbian – go figure.
  • AND a brand- new, full color, 7″ multi-touch display Kindle Fire which includes
    Movies, apps, games, music, reading and more, plus Amazon’s revolutionary,
    cloud-accelerated web browser

_________________________________________________________________

Here’s what you do to enter and get a chance to win!

Post your entry by midnight Pacitic time on January 25, 2012

1. Choose a who, a what, or a where that refuels you, that fires up your life.
2. Take, make, or find a free image to represent . Write a caption starting with words “Dear Safe Cig, My life is fired up by … ” no longer than 50 words.
3. Post it on http://www.facebook.com/thesafecig/
Share it on your wall too.
SEE: the sample entry picture and caption that follows.

SAMPLE ENTRY


Dear Safe Cig My life is fired up by the color and music in the people, places, and things that inspire me.

ENTER a new image of something you love EVERY DAY if you like.

_________________________________________________________________

Here’s how we’ll pick …

  • A board of judges comprised of me will view and read every Facebook post as they come in.
  • I’ll look for those that inspire, ignite, and fire up my love of life.
  • Then I’ll worry and fret for hours on end.
  • Until … a random choice will decide it in the end.

The winner will be announced on The Safe Cig Facebook page by noon Pacific Time on January 27, 2012

What a great way to start off the New Year again.
Do this for yourself or for someone you love … for life.

Any Questions??

Be irresistible.

Liz

Win a FREE SOBCon Weekend — $2000 Value !! AND Get a Discount Code to Explode Your Network!

by

150 People to Fine Tune Your Web Presence

sobcon-vmc

Suppose you could take a weekend retreat away from the noise of the Internet …

  • to focus entirely on your business
  • to work with the support of a mastermind team
  • to get quality time to interact with the top people in social media
  • to get the best information AND time to discuss how you’ll apply it
  • to work with sponsors who are doing the same thing
  • in a room limited to 150 people — all focused in the same direction
  • without worry because the food and the wireless are outstanding.

Imagine a weekend work retreat with these people totally invested.

Would you write a blog post to get a chance to win a FREE SOBCon Weekend?

An Expense Paid Ticket!! AND the Return of The BlogIt EarnIt Discount

I’m delighted to announce that Terry and I get to make this offer …

We had such fun last year with the SOBCon “BlogIt, EarnIt” discount. We’re bringing it back again. Again this year, we’d like to hear from you — this time about what “The Virtual Meets the Concrete” means to you. We want to celebrate how our relationships online help our lives and businesses online and off.

Tell us why online and offline relationships and strategies matter.

Here’s how to qualify for the discount and enter to win

1. Write a blog post about a person (or people) online who has (or have) made a difference in your life. Celebrate how they have made your life easier, better, smarter, more productive, more meaningful.

2. Then let us know by tagging your post #SOBCon2010 and leaving a comment on this post. Include a working email with your comment and as a thank you for sharing your story, we’ll send you a special code to take $250 off the $895 FULL conference rate – that’s over a 25% savings! (We won’t use your email to spam you.)

We’ll also tweet your blog post so that we can celebrate the folks we all think make us stronger.

Get your posts up before Noon EST on February 14th, 2010, and noon EST pm the next day (February 15th), to kick off a special SOBCobn2010 Webinar with Chris Garrett, Chris Brogan, Amber Naslund and Liz Strauss (details coming soon), we’ll put all of the entries in a random drawing and choose one lucky winner who will receive:

  1. a free ticket to SOBCon2010 – $895.00 value
  2. airfare and three nights at Hotel 71 – up to $1105 in hotel and airfare

A total package value worth as much as USD $2000 – nontransferrable, nonrefundable

Blog your thoughts, share it, link it back to this post, and broadcast it on Twitter (hash #blogitearnit). We’ll also encourage you to link to the SOBCon blog for others to see and learn. And remember as a thank you for sharing your story, we’ll send you a special code to take $250 off the $895 FULL conference rate – that’s over a 25% savings!

Or, if you can’t make to SOBCon2010, you could “pay it forward” and pass the discount on to one of your friends — or offer it back to us as a gift for us to pass on for you.

We’re doing everything we can to bring you all the value, the experts and expertise, and the time to work and network that you need to make your business outstanding and extremely profitable in 2010.

What could you do with a weekend of the time, expertise, and support you need to focus your business?

We’re all coming for the same reasons.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Register for SOBCon2010 NOW!!

Make the investment.

CONTEST Jumpstart Your Business CONTEST

by

How-cool-is-this!!!

People often forget that Successful blog is a proud member of the b5media family. But I’m here to tell you that I’ve been part of the fold for long enough to know that I like the folks, especially as I meet more and more of them in person. So, it gives great pleasure to announce a contest that is sponsored by the b5 business channel of blogs.

jump start your business-badge

The Prizes Are Fabulous!

A Package Valued at Over $2K for the Winner!

Are you a small business ready to soar?

Don’t just sit there! Enter and win!!

Here’s how you enter (rules and requirements follow).

To Enter

To enter, send us your abbreviated business plan for a your new or fledgling business with the following information:
1. What’s your business idea?
2. Who is on your business team – in other words, who is going to make this idea work?
3. When did you start your business? Or when do you plan to start your business? What is your time frame for success?
4. Why is this business going to be a success?
5. Why should we pick you as the winner?
Your abbreviated business plan should be no longer than 1000 words.

Rules

Entries:
Entries must be sent via email with “Jump Start Your Business” in the subject line to businesscontest@mac.com by 11:59 PM EST on September 25, 2007.

Requirements:

  • Plain Text or PDF Only. No other attachments or formats will be accepted.
  • You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
  • Contest is open to new businesses or fledgling businesses which have been in existence for less than one year.
  • By entering the contest, you agree that b5media may post any part or all of your submission, as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.

To be considered, entries must also include the following:

    1. Name of applicant (either team or individual)
    2. Where you live (city and state or country is sufficient)
    3. Email address. We won’t publish your email address, but we do need contact information for the winning entries. We respect your privacy, and we will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.

Our Disclaimers

The winning entries will be determined by a panel of judges from b5media at our sole discretion. Our decision is final. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash or cash equivalent. Donated prizes cannot be guaranteed; we reserve the right to make substitutions of equal or greater value if necessary.

Jumpstart Your Business Prizes

The Grand Prize winner receives a Prize Package that includes:

  • A subscription to Entrepreneur magazine, courtesy of Entrepreneur.com
  • A Web Developer host package for one year (consists of 5 domains, 600 subdomains and 200 host external domains; 300 GB web space 3,000 monthly transfer volume and 50 ftp accounts; 4,000 email accounts and 2 GB mailbox space; $475 of vouchers to get you started with Microsoft adCenter, Google AdWords, Yahoo Search marketing and Citisearch; 10 free blogs and more), courtesy of 1and1.com
  • A Private Jet billing package for one year (up to 500 clients, unlimited invoicing and customer support), courtesy of Freshbooks.com
  • A b5media tee shirt, courtesy of b5media
    *Your choice of a taxgirl organic tee or long sleeve tee and $25 gift card to amazon.com, courtesy of taxgirl.com
  • Wireless mouse, wireless keyboard and keyboard riser, courtesy of InterviewChatter.com
  • A twelve month subscription to the Sales Leadership Zone, a place where sales leaders and small business owners can find everything they need to increase sales and drive business, courtesy of thesalespractitioners.com
  • A copy of the book, 10 Ways to Make it Great, courtesy of SlackerManager.com
  • $50 in Pecunix Digital Gold Currency, courtesy of digitalmoneyworld.com
  • Jason Alba’s new book, “I’m on LinkedIn…Now What???”, courtesy of LinkedIntelligence.com
  • Over $1000 of free business advice (in the form of email, phone or Skype) from our experts to get you started!

The first runner up will receive:

  • A subscription to Entrepreneur magazine, courtesy of Entrepreneur.com
  • A Business Developer host package for one year (consists of 3 domains, 200 subdomains and 100 host external domains; 250 GB web space 2,500 monthly transfer volume and 25 ftp accounts; 2,500 email accounts and 2 GB mailbox space; $250 of vouchers to get you started with Microsoft adCenter, Google AdWords, Yahoo Search marketing and Citisearch; 10 free blogs and more), courtesy of 1and1.com
  • A Shuttle Jet billing package for six months (up to 25 clients, unlimited invoicing and customer support), courtesy of Freshbooks.com
  • A copy of the book, 10 Ways to Make it Great, courtesy of SlackerManager.com
  • and free consulting advice from two of our experts of your choosing.

The second runner up will receive:

  • A subscription to Entrepreneur magazine, courtesy of Entrepreneur.com
  • *A Business Developer host package for one year (consists of 3 domains, 200 subdomains and 100 host external domains; 250 GB web space 2,500 monthly transfer volume and 25 ftp accounts; 2,500 email accounts and 2 GB mailbox space; $250 of vouchers to get you started with Microsoft adCenter, Google AdWords, Yahoo Search marketing and Citisearch; 10 free blogs and more), courtesy of 1and1.com
  • A copy of the book, 10 Ways to Make it Great, courtesy of SlackerManager.com
  • and free consulting advice from two of our experts of your choosing.

Our Experts

Tax tips from Kelly Phillips Erb of taxgirl.com
Consulting and marketing advice from Jim Norton of smallbusinessboomers.com

Marketing direction from Rico Masterson of contract-worker.com
Personal finance and blogging information from Miranda Marquit of yieldingwealth.com

Using a range of social media tools in marketing and connecting with a community from Rachel Clarke of behindthebuzz.com
Hiring practices and creating core competencies for positions from Darlene McDaniel of interviewchatter.com

Identifying business purpose and strategy for a blog from Des Walsh of deswalsh.com
Coaching from Miki Saxon, courtesy of rampupsolutions.com

Linked In makeover from Scott Allen of LinkedIntelligence.com
Marketing and brand identity critique from Sean Kelly of franchisepick.com

Copywriting tips from Brian Clark of copyblogger.com
Home business advice from Mary Emma Allen of homebiznotes.com

Copy editing, writing, or website usability advice from Eric Eggertson of CommonsensePR.com
Customer service and community relations advice from Douglas Hanna of ServiceUntitled.com
Tech marketing advice from Sunir Shah of Freshbooks, Inc.

Our Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to our sponsors! Please let them know that they are appreciated!

1 & 1 Internet, Inc.
Entrepreneur Magazine
Freshbooks, Inc.
The entire B5media Business Channel community:

Behind the Buzz
Brandcurve
Business and Blogging
Buzz Networker
Common Sense PR
Contract Worker
Copyblogger
Digital Money World
Franchise Pick
Home Biz Notes
Interview Chatter
Just Make Money Online
Leadership Turn
Life Dev
Linked Intelligence
Pimp Your Work
Property Crossroads
Slacker Manager
Small Business Boomers
Start Up Spark
Successful Blog
Taxgirl
Work Boxers
Yielding Wealth

Special Thanks to Don at Archetype Digital Solutions for designing our promotional badge!

How silly would you have to be to pass this up? Only 1000 words to tell your story . . . what have you got to lose?

C’mon go for it! This is just what we’ve been working for. Are you going to do it?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Writing Project: The Successful-Blog 25-Word Birthday Challenge

by

25 Words — It’s Harder than It Looks

Tuesday, October 24th is one-year since I wrote Who’s ME Strauss and What’s She Doing Here? That was my very first post at Successful-Blog. This post is somewhere over number 1000. A lot has happened between then and now.

successful blog logo - ff

In that first post, I defined Successful-Blog in 33 words. Not too shabby, but not too lean either. Put it down to being new here.

Now it’s your turn. I’m having a contest — a challenge really — to see what happens when folks, great writer/bloggers like you, try to describe Successful-Blog in a few words. Here it is.

The Successful-Blog 25-Word Birthday Challenge: Define Successful Blog in 25 words max. That’s 24 PLUS One — in keeping with the plus one tradtion that’s been part of this blog for so long.

The Rules, Regulations, and Prizes

Of course there have to be rules, regulations, and prizes. So I’m going to tell you about them.
Rules and Regulations
They’re easy, and there’s not a lot of them.

    1. Twenty-five words is the limit.
    2. Describe Successful-Blog — your experience, a memory, something funny, UPDATE: no need for love notes to Liz . . .
    3. Post your answer on your blog UPDATE:OR JUST EMAIL IT TO ME..
    4. Send the link AND the 25 words to Successfulblog [at] aol [dot] com
    5. Entries must be received by noon, Sunday, October 22, 2006 UPDATE:OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
    6. One entry per person.
    7. As always, be nice

Prizes
Hey, I’ve got a kid in an expensive university. So bear with me on this one.

    1. An autographed copy of Phil’s Book, 10 Ways to Make It Great!
    2. An autographed copy of my dearest writing essay “Walking on Water.”
    3. A guest post or an interview by/with me.
    4. Every participant, of course, will get linked and front page notice on the 24th.

UPDATE: Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. the dynamic and delightful author of ipop-in has donated a new prize to the 25-Words Birthday Challenge. Now one lucky winner will get a $25 Gift Certificate for an RX for a Positive Attitude.

All entries will be posted on Monday, October 23rd. UPDATE: early a.m. Chicago time, Tuesday, October 24th. The winners will be announced Tuesday Night, but THE MIC WILL BE OPEN ALL DAY. We’re Having a Blow-Out Birthday Party!!!

So join the fun, get a link, and wish us a happy birthday!

Prize donations are still being accepted. Who knows what the judging criteria will be? I might just have to do a random drawing if they’re all as good as I think they’ll be. Feel free to suggest some. I’m making this up as I go along.

UPDATE:The judging will be by random drawing.

— ME “Liz Strauss

Related
Who’s ME Strauss and What’s She Doing Here?