Successful Blog

Social Networking and a Small Town Business – Why Bother?

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I asked my friend — heck, she’s like family — Becky McCray, if she was interested in writing a guest post on Successful-Blog. My motives were clear and simple. I think she’s brilliant at everything small business. She wondered what topic might interest. I tossed her an idea and at the same time, our mutual friend Chris Brogan tossed her a similar idea. Being the brilliant thinker she is, Becky devised an artful plan that involves three connected blog posts — one here, one on Chris’ Blog and one on her own.

That’s a plan I can support fully! So without taking further time, I present the first of the Becky McCray master Trilogy.

Social Networking and a Small Town Business – Why Bother? by Guest Writer Becky McCray

Small town business is an interesting challenge. You either target people in your local area and hope that’s enough, or you reach outside for customers and work to get enough attention.

If you’re targeting outside your local area, there is no question. Social networking is a top way to reach beyond your geographic boundaries. If you’re looking for local people as customers, you might be tempted to think that social networking is not going to work for you. WRONG! More of your potential customers are online than you realize. More importantly, marketing is only one reason for using social networking tools. I can think of four other big reasons to invest the time and effort.

To expand your horizons/perspective
The world is an unbelievable place, and technology finally makes it possible to connect with the people in it from almost anywhere. People have different perspectives, based on their life in a big city, in another country, or just in a different industry. If you don’t participate in the online world, you’re not going to get to meet these people who could help you cross-pollinate some new thinking.

To connect with vendors and other partners
Buy local campaigns notwithstanding, social networking means expanding your choice of service providers and partners far beyond your local people. Professionals and service providers of all kinds, and from all over, are active in social networks. If you stay out of social networks, you’ll never build those relationships, so you’ll have to rely only on the local accountant, web designer, and printer for all your needs, even if they aren’t all that great.

To learn
Face it; you don’t know everything. But you can find people who know about what you are needing to learn right now. When you are building friendships on Twitter, you probably don’t ever think about the fact that @susanreynolds is a jewelry artist, or that @mikeg1 knows about home schooling. But if you aren’t reaching out, you’ll never have the chance to ask, “Who here can help me with writing a magazine query letter?” (That would be @sheilas!)

To feel connected
My favorite reason for social networking from my small town: feeling connected. Being online can’t replicate the feeling of an in-person conference like SXSW or SOBCon, but it helps. Bunches. It’s like the best of a water cooler at a company of terrific people you picked to interact with, to bounce ideas off of, or just to catch up with. If you are staying out of social networking, you are missing the number one reason to do anything: the people.

What are your reasons?
These four reasons are just a beginning point. What other reasons do you have for investing your time in social media? This question is open to everyone, whether you are from a small town or a big city. But if you are from a small town, shout about it in your comment!

Sounds great, but how do I do it?
Need some starter moves to help you get online and building relationships? I’ll be presenting some Social Media Starter Moves for Small Town Small Businesses at ChrisBrogan.com tomorrow.

Becky McCray writes about small town small businesses at Small Biz Survival.

Thanks, Becky!
You really are a master.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Is Content Really that Important?

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Recently I met Julie Roads and enjoyed an email exchange with her. She’s generous, thoughtful and does her homework. Her words ring with her voice. So I’m happy to present this article she wrote. I predict she’s going to be everywhere in no time at all.

Is Content Really that Important?
by Julie Roads

When I tell people that I’m a copywriter, this response smacks me in the face quite often: “Oh! I need a copyright for a blahblahblah that I created.” Yeah, I’m actually not that kind of copywriter. And while many wonderful people understand what I do, this ‘un-awareness’ of my profession’s existence often spills over and into general attitudes about the importance of good content.

Now, if you tell someone you are a web designer – their eyes light up as if they’ve just met a celebrity, or at least the coolest kid on the block. Designers elicit responses such as, “Wow, do you do flash? What are some of the sites you’ve done? I need a website!”

So, here’s a question: Can search engines read beautiful design? Of course, an easily navigable site makes all the difference, but color, logo, flash? Not so much.

People do judge books by their covers and websites by their design. And, good designers should forever be held onto. The look of your site sends an immediate message to your visitor about your personality, your tone, your business.

That said, it’s the content that pulls the visitor to the site with keywords and tags. And, it’s the value-laden, information-packed, expertly crafted content that keeps the visitor reading and turns them into a fan, a commenter, a client, a customer, a bullhorn for your business.

You tell me:

If content brought you to a site – and you found the information you wanted, would you stay even if the site was ugly?

If a stunning site caught your eye – but there was no content value, would you stay just because it was pretty?

Julie Roads can be found at Writing Roads and Blogging Roads.

Thanks, Julie!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

What I Learned from Freelancing – Part 3 – Good Habits Rock

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More from Deb Ng, who showed us yesterday how to be firm but not tough.

What I Learned from Freelancing – Part 3 – Good Habits Rock by Deb Ng

When I left my job to write on a freelance basis, I thought I had it all figured out – work in my pajamas, choose my own schedule, and basically do what I want. Then I learned without rules comes anarchy and anarchy for a freelancer isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Though it felt good to be lazy, I soon realized I wasn’t being very productive. Instead I picked up a few good habits. I:

  • Work according to a specific schedule each day so my clients know when to reach me and when to expect my work. They like the reliability of knowing when I’ll be at my desk over wondering whether or not I’ll be online that day.
  • Make sure I meet all my deadlines and obligations so I’m not seen as a flake. My clients want to count on me, and I want to count on them.
  • Change out of my flannels and into something causal, but presentable. No, my clients won’t see me but it gets me out of lazy mode and into working mode.
  • Make sure to communicate often with my clients so they know where I am and how much I have left to go. This also lets both of us know whether or not we’re on the right track.

When I first started, I had the whole freelancing thing pegged wrong. There’s a lot of freedom to it, but successful freelancers need to have discipline as well. When I started cultivating good habits, my career took off. Coincidence? I’ll let you decide.

What other good habits do you think freelancers need to succeed? Does working in the jimmies give one the right mindset to face the business day?

Deb Ng blogs about the best ways to find, and keep, freelance writing jobs. Why not stop by and say hello?

Thanks, Deb!
This was wonderful!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

What Freelancing Taught Me – Part 2 Be Firm but Not Tough

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More from Deb Ng, who told us yesterday how to gain confidence in any freelance job.

What Freelancing Taught Me – Part 2 Be Firm but Not Tough by Deb Ng

Did you ever see a person on television or even real life who was considered “tough” in business? She could pick up the phone and get what she wants, or have employees running at her beck and call, practically sniveling at her feet. I used to work for a woman like that. I admired her so much until I realized she wasn’t tough, she was mean. People responded to her because she wasn’t a nice person and they didn’t want to be on the receiving end of her wrath.

As a freelancer I learned to get my way too, but not so my clients and colleagues are afraid of temper tantrums or hissy fits. I learned to be firm. I think a freelancer has to be firm enough to make sure she’s paid on time but not so tough her first paycheck is her last. A freelancer has to know the customer is (almost) always right, but not at the expense of her dignity. I’m thinking it’s best to know how to catch flies with honey, because the other alternatives stink.

Freelancers should be firm when:

  • Negotiating
  • Collecting a payment
  • Not allowing another to take away one’s voice or sense of style
  • Meeting a deadline
  • Making a decision

And even though we’re being firm and making sure we get a fair deal, we have to be nice. Because nice works better than mean. Nice ensures return clients and future clients. Be nice because people response better to nice. Be firm because you don’t want to be a pushover. Be yourself because there’s no one better.

Are you firm or are you tough? What do you think is the difference in how people react?

Deb Ng blogs about the best ways to find, and keep, freelance writing jobs. Why not stop by and say hello?

Thanks, Deb!
Everyone, tune in tomorrow for Part 3 – Good Habits Rock

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

What Freelancing Taught Me: Part 1 – Confidence

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Shortly before SOBCon08, Deb Ng invited me to write a post at her blog, Freelance Writing Jobs. I’m was delighted to have the chance. It’s a subject I know and writing something wouldn’t take too much time. As part of that same conversation, I mentioned the trip I’m talking May 9 – 18 to the UK for a speaking gig and vacation with my son. I asked if she would be interested in filling as a guest writer on Successful-Blog.

As you can see, Deb agreed. I’m delighted she did. In fact, we get a three-part series!

What Freelancing Taught Me: Part 1 – Confidence
by Deb Ng

The other day I was thinking about my “real” jobs. It seems like such a long time ago but there was a time when I put on the stockings and practical pumps and commuted an hour into the city. I wasn’t necessarily feeling nostalgic for pantyhose and subway tokens, I was more thinking about how I evolved as a professional since freelancing.

There’s no team in “I”

Regulars to my blogs my have a fun chuckle at this, but in the business world I was quite shy. I didn’t volunteer, I didn’t speak up and if someone took credit for my work, well, that’s the way it goes. Once I started working for myself I realized I didn’t have a room full of people to hide behind. Would I be able to hack it on my own?

Freelancing taught me to be confident. I learned I could be successful without relying on a team, but having friends doesn’t hurt. I learned I could do a job and take credit for it too. I learned people actually liked my work and didn’t mind paying me to do more. I learned to be confident.

Because I was always another person’s assistant, I was surprised to learn I was more than just someone’s right hand. I had my own hand, two of them as a matter of fact, and they worked just fine on their own. I learned people like me and like what I have to say. I learned how to truly be me.

What surprising things have you learned about yourself? Is there anything more rewarding than the confidence you get in being you?

Deb Ng blogs about the best ways to find, and keep, freelance writing jobs. Why not stop by and say hello?

Thanks, Deb!
Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 Be Firm but Not Tough

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

How To Win At Blogging and Keep It Real

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by Guest Writer Alex Shalman

I have been blogging actively since December 15th, 2006, and have gained a world of experience while doing so. If there was any technique or trick for increasing visitors, or comments, or captivating an audience, I have tried it.

Some people would say forget the tricks, and stick to content, after all, content is king. I’m not here to say whether or not content is the ONLY thing that matters, but I’m here to let you know how to take your content element to the next level.

Be the content. In the beginning of my blogging career, not everyone in my life was actively involved in what I was doing or knew about my blogging. The more I became a personal development blogger in my life, the more that reflected on the blog.

Personal development, meaning constant and never ending growth, is part of who I am in every facet of my life. People close to me no longer think that this is a passing hobby, it’s more of an identity now.

Tell the people. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know. I took responsibility for people not knowing about my site, and actively began telling my friends about it. I would enroll them into all the possibilities of what the site is, and where it is going.

They became excited to be on that journey with me. My friends jokingly say, ‘Hey Alex Shalman, from www.AlexShalman.com.’ I think that’s hilarious! My girlfriend tells everyone she knows about the site, I think that’s precious.

Be your word. Not everyone took what I do seriously, not even after I told them. Two of those people were my parents. Over time, the more I became this personal development person, and the more this made our good relationship a great relationship, the more they believed in the validity of what I do.

The other day we had relatives staying with us, and I caught my parents telling them about the website. My dad even asked me about my Alexa traffic. Now that’s funny, and heartwarming.

From the heart. I remember Liz told me that when I write, I sometimes sound like I’m talking down from a podium. It wasn’t personal. I think this was partly due to me being an inexperienced writer and not having control of what my writing voice sounded like.

Now days I try to incorporate my life, and get as personal as I can, in order to give a part of myself to my readers. This is a much more engaging form of communication, because I’m talking to you, my friend, instead of a crowd of people I don’t know. I want to know you.

Remember to be proud of your work and tell people about it. Be the content, be your word, and blog from the heart.
___________
Alex writes about personal development at AlexShalman.com.

Thank you, Alex.

–ME “Liz” Strauss