Successful Blog

Does Your Credibility Show in What You Do?

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about credibility and what we do.

Not long ago, while we were listening to a talk show, a friend made a remark about a woman caller who argued a passionate opinion. She talked a bit longer than was acceptable for the the show in question. What he said was, “Anyone who can’t stop long enough to let someone else talk isn’t worth listening to.”

Have you met the pot that called the kettle black? With that sentence his credibility was shot.

This friend loves to argue science, politics, and how things work — he uses the same arguments more than once. His style is exactly that. He makes his voice such a strong force that no one has the energy to argue his point. It’s fine tactic for winning, but not one for reaching the truth. It’s also, as he himself said, not a way to win people who want to listen to you.

I’ve been thinking about that dissonance ever since. What struck me is how often we dislike in others what is our own habit or fault. We hold up our values when we call someone out for misbehaving, but we lose our credibility when the misbehavior is something we do too.

I’m going to be a little slower to talk. I’m going to check for my own version of someone’s bad behavior before I point theirs out. I don’t want to be the pot that calls the kettle black.

Credibility is hard to renew.

Credibility means believability. How believable can we be if we knock a behavior we do ourselves? .

Does your credibility show in what you do?

Be credible.
Be irresistible.
Be the best version of you.

Liz's Signature

Thanks to Week 351 SOBs

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Successful and Outstanding Bloggers

Let me introduce the bloggers
who have earned this official badge of achievement,

Purple SOB Button Original SOB Button Red SOB Button Purple and Blue SOB Button
and the right to call themselves
Successful Blog SOBs.

I invite them to take a badge home to display on their blogs.

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They take the conversation to their readers,
contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.

I thank all of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on.
Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.

Should anyone question this SOB button’s validity, send him or her to me. Thie award carries a “Liz said so” guarantee, is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and is backed by my brothers, Angelo and Pasquale.

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Want to become an SOB?

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, you can see the whole list of SOBs and learn how to be one by visiting the SOB Hall of Fame– A-Z Directory . Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

4 Fast Growing Social Media and Shopping Websites

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Richard Franklin

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4 Fast Growing Social Media and Shopping Websites

There are so many social media and shopping websites nowadays available on the web, some of them are growing rapidly because of their services, how they are managed and updated, and how the features or how user friendly they are. These websites have been increasing because of the increase of the growing interest of people on social networking platforms and people are also getting bored of the existing social websites. It has increased this year because of the social awareness of the individuals, sharing their thoughts, experiences, photos, and products daily are the things that people could do with the social and shopping websites.

Here are some of the fast growing social media and shopping websites that are grabbing the attention of more users day by day:

Pinterest.com

Basically, Pinterest is a pinboard -style social photo or an image sharing website that permits users to make and achieve theme-based image groups such as interests, events, likes or hobbies, and many more. Users can surf or browse other Pinboards or inspiration,’re-pin’ images to their own collections and/or ‘like’ photos. It permits its users to share ‘pins’ on both Facebook and Twitter, which permits users to share their interests, photos, events, hobbies and interact with the community.

A social media agency should post their client’s business in Pinterest to drive more traffic. It is an advantage for the business to have major products for women because most of its visitors are women.

Pinterest can help a social media company to have the advantage of driving traffic to their clients’ websites. It is really a big help for the social media companies on their Internet marketing strategies.

Svpply.com

This is a new shopping website that made a big splash in the online community. Svpply is pronounced as “supply”, it is the online form of window shopping that permits users to browse products extending from clothing to home decorations and easily bookmark items when you shop.

Before you can post or shop on the website, you have to register first on Svpply.com, create your free account, search for the products or things that you want in the online store, and upload them to your account. You can also share what you have found with your friends thru social media sites like Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.

There is more! You can complete your online shopping using Svpply, just click on the BUY button and be directed to the “Checkout Page. Svpply also offers specialty features like monthly Editor’s picks and gift guides that are giving you the advantage of having all of your shopping needs addressed on one website.

Wanelo.com

One of today’s trends which social media is focusing is online Pin boarding. Users “pin” their items and images what they like on the virtual boards and sharing it with their friends that have similar interests and can give and take ideas. Pinterest maybe the most popular of these websites because of its unique features that permits users to interact, engage, and connect with the imaginative process with people who have shared their interests. Furthermore, socializing and connecting with friends through online is the major factor in current’s Social Media part.

Online shoppers or users used to find themselves shopping for toys for their loved-ones, gifts, clothes, supplements, and other items that could give them convenience in shopping. Online shopping gives them convenience because it doesn’t need to be in the physical store to purchase or look for the items they want. Wanelo has covered the way for businesses to seize more market share by attracting in online marketing and makes easy for the shoppers.

Polyvore.com

Polyvore focuses on fashion, it is for the fashion enthusiasts and advocates. It is devoted to style and giving a platform for fashion enthusiasts for showing or demonstrating their works in the entire world. It is one of the largest online communities with members from across the globe and helps to unite online shoppers and trendsetters / trend starters by showing the latest trends, the hottest brands, and trend forecasting.

It allows users to create different outfits by culling various products from online stores and online fashion collections, publishing and sharing their works with friends and other Polyvore users.

Polyvore is now becoming another trustworthy social media network for online businesses who aim to create more connection and interaction with their online prospect buyers and online buyers. Some Big Fashion companies are having relationship or connecting Polyvore for promoting and exhibiting their designs, products, and for showcase.

Author’s Bio:
Richard Franklin is a social media strategist and wants to share his knowledge with people who are about to hire a social media agency for their businesses. He writes about latest trends used in social media companies. You can find Richard on Twitter as @AgencySEO.

Thank you, Richard!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Let your competition focus on you

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Rosemary O’Neill

Focus on the Path Ahead

The Summer Olympics are coming up, and I for one will be perched in front of my TV and iPhone app (yes, there’s an app for that) watching the proceedings.

I draw inspiration and courage from these athletes who dedicate their entire lives to achieving greatness in their event. There are so many lessons to take away, but one seems to jump out.

Have you ever noticed that the runners, swimmers, and other races NEVER look behind them during the race?

They focus their entire attention. Their entire being. Everything is focused on the path ahead, the swim lane ahead. The world may be on its feet screaming “he’s coming up behind you” and the sprinter is in a zone of silence.

Let your competition focus on you

The next time you’re tempted to spend time worrying about the competition, think like an Olympic swimmer. Stretch, jump, and swim like hell toward the other side.

Let them worry about you.

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for social strata — a top ten company to work for on the Internet . Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Thank you, Rosemary!

You’re irresistible!

ME “Liz” Strauss

How to Gain the Best Rewards from Reward Credit Cards

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Ann Wilson

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Which Reward Card?

Gaining financial stability using credit card is no joke—especially if you’re using the best reward credit card for you. Unfortunately a lot of people complain that this caused their financial loss and inability to save money for their future. What they don’t realize is they got themselves into such due to their own misuse of credit cards.

Reward credit cards are not enemies but friends if used wisely. You have to, however, find which reward card fits you best. This means you need to analyze your expenditures from the most important to the least important (whether it’s for personal use or professional use). You want to get the best reward credit card that really meets most of your purchasing needs such as travel tickets, hotel reservations, or groceries for your business.

If your work requires you to travel a lot, the best reward credit card to choose is one that features travel mileage advantage such as discounts on plane fare or hotel accommodation. There are even instances where in if you travel a lot you get reward points which you may exchange for a certain privilege such as free grocery items or free trip for the whole family.

Another example is if you love to shop around for home appliances or items for your family’s needs. The best reward credit card in this situation is one that features cash rebates. You can check on which credit card offers rebates on items which you most likely buy as a need.

How to Gain the Best Rewards from Reward Credit Cards

While these reward credit cards are indeed helpful in your buying needs, you need to discipline your spending ways. Here are a few tips on how to use your credit card wisely and control your purchasing power with it.

1. Set your goals. You need to have a long term goal such as your child’s college educational fund or a new house or car. After setting a long term goal, better cut it down into smaller ones by listing down how you can have it. This will help you control your spending on least important items which in turn will lead you to use your credit card on more important items.

2. Talk to your family about your plans. This way they too can help you save especially if you’re helping out with expenses. With spouses doing this will give both an understanding on what expenditures can be paid with a credit card and those that can be met by paying cash.

3. Strategize your splurging. Of course there are times you need to reward yourself. However this doesn’t mean you can splurge away. You still need to consider if you can meet it. Have a separate budget for this splurging activity (sort of a limit). After you’ve spent it then spend no more. You can even go to shops which can help you earn reward points or use your existing credit reward points to help you save more.

4. Check your expenditure list at the end of every month. Meet with your family or your spouse about it and see if you need to cut something out of the list.

You can really save more with the best reward credit card. All you need to do is prioritize on the important things and see which purchases can help you gain more financial benefits in the future.

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Author’s Bio:
Ann Wilson writes about reward credit cards and other credit card information at RewardCreditCardSite.com. she is also the author of ”Which of the Best Credit Card Offers Will Fit Your Lifestyle?”

Thank you, Ann! Thanks for the straight story.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

How to Manage Your Business Reputation After the Google Penguin Update

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Steve Albright

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Online Reputation Management in the Penguin Update Aftermath

Whether you have an online or offline small business Google’s latest algorithm update, innocuously named Penguin, is something you should be paying attention to. One unintended consequence of this update is the wide open path it cleared for businesses to take control of their online reputation.

If you’re unfamiliar with this latest algorithm change, the Penguin update’s main target was sites manipulating search engine results to improve rankings. Most hit were sites that used large amounts of low quality inbound links with keyword rich anchor texts to rank for desired search terms. Another aspect to this update is the over “SEO’d” penalty that slapped sites with pages that were clearly created for SEO benefits and not users. The combined effect of these updates has been serious upheaval in Google’s search results.

So what does this mean for you and your Online business?

The benefit for your ethical business is that no matter what niche you’re in Google has most likely laid waste to a good portion of your competition.

Most obviously in the arena of branded search terms; it’s very difficult to rank for competitors’ branded terms without using some form of search engine manipulation. This means all those pesky sites siphoning off traffic from your brand name, product line, niche, etc were most likely penalized.

Another effect of the update is a great opportunity to take control of your business’s online reputation.

Here’s how …

How to Manage Your Business Reputation After the Google Penguin Update

If you’ve run a business for any amount of time you know that no matter how hard you try there’s always going to be that one person who’s not pleased with your service/product. Despite your best efforts at customer service an event like this seems inevitable.

While many small business owners disregard these rare occasions as a standard cost of doing business, it becomes a problem when complainers take their complaints online. And plenty of sites are ready and willing to post their grievances.

This becomes an even bigger problem when review sites start ranking alongside, or even above, your site. This is why you absolutely must take advantage of this window that Google has provided.
Now is the time to go on the attack and take over your niche and brand.

Meet your potential critics head on.

Here’s what to do:

  • Create pages on your site that address any impending problems your customers may have. Use Google Analytics and other search tools to dial in on specific terms that people are searching online i.e., brand name + reviews, complaints, refunds, how to cancel, support, and so on.
  • Write blog posts and feature articles about your commitment to service that intercept your customers before they start looking for these answers elsewhere, not only is that good customer service but it allows you to control the online narrative for your business.
  • Be proactive about solving problems. Instead of saying that we’re a company that doesn’t care about bad press or providing help to our customers it says we’re a tech savvy business that has taken preemptive care to make sure the customer has easy access to resources for all their pre/post purchase needs.
  • Create a feedback channel. It’s better to create an immediate channel for dialogue and resolution than being forced to address negative reviews publicly after they’ve already been posted.

This is also the best way to cleanup or prevent unfavorable first page search results. You can see that Google is on board, as most brand name search results are dominated by the companies own web properties, news mentions, and profiles. Simply put, if you have the right content on your site Google is more likely to show it first over 3rd party sites.

Ultimately, while you may not be able to purge the internet of unfavorable posts you can certainly control a large portion of your branded online real-estate just by having the right content.

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Author’s Bio:
Steve Albright is the editor of Reviewopedia.com, a product review site that helps online shoppers make smarter choices everyday.

Thank you, Steve. Online reputation is so important!

–ME “Liz” Strauss