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Rosemary O’Neill

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“First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.” Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Stop messing around and just throw the grenade already!

King Arthur, Galahad, and Brother Maynard wasted a lot of time debating the proper way to hurl the hand grenade while the killer bunny escaped unharmed.

What are you doing that is sidetracking you from your real purpose? Your 200 blog subscriptions are useful, but only if you do something with the information you’ve read (and the ones you aren’t reading…I give you permission to delete them). The teetering stack of business books on your nightstand might contain ideas that will launch your business to the stratosphere, but only if you have a way to implement the ideas (and yes, they still count if they’re clogging up your Kindle instead of your bedside).

Instead of counting to three over and over again, take action that will get you closer to your ultimate goal.

Here’s how to toss the grenade:

  • Every time you read a blog, article, or book, write down the “action items” you pull from them. Keep a notebook handy so that you can remember what you decided to do.
  • Check off the hardest task first thing in the morning. That thing you’ve been delaying because it’s hard or unpleasant. That thing you need to tackle in order to get to the next step. Didn’t do yours yet today? Go do it right now!
  • Find something that will snap you back to the original goal. Some people keep a dream board, or a written “big picture” list that they refer to at least daily. Keep your eyes focused on the prize, and feel free to turn off your social network notifications in order to do it. (Note to self: read your own blog posts, lady.)
  • Spend some time mentally considering how you will feel once you’ve taken action. Give yourself the mental image, how it will look, feel, taste. Savor that feeling and it will give you the power to start moving.
  • Take one bite at a time. Often, inaction or indecision is the result of feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of a project. If that’s happening, you need to stop and break the project down into manageable pieces. Then, you can gain momentum as you check off each task.

What strategies do you use to get yourself to take action?

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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 their blog. You can find her on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee
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How To Write Great Blog Posts – Quickly

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Successfully Working From a Home-based Office

A blog is a convenient tool that can serve many purposes. It can be used to chronicle personal events, marketing or branding. There are millions of blogs on the internet and the competition is fierce. The job of the blog writer is to write interesting posts so that it proves useful to the readers and keeps the search engines interested. The onus should on writing quality articles and not on increasing the number of articles mindlessly.

Think of blog post ideas

You should devote some time to think of blog post ideas or go into the admin section of the blog and add them in the drafts. This will save a lot of time and you can find the topics very easily. You can also think of using a timer if you take a lot of time in writing a single article. Once you are using a timer you will not be tempted to check your email or open the social networking page in the middle of writing an article. Always try to complete your articles before the deadline that you set.

Write what’s in your mind

This is the simplest way to write. Just write what’s in your brain at the moment. Choose a topic from your list, give yourself a 60 min time and start writing. Just keep writing whatever comes to your mind so that you do not lose the flow. If there are any spelling errors, you can always correct it later. Start by jotting down the facts related to the topic. Then one-by-one starts expanding on those topics and provides useful ideas. Readers are always in search of ‘benefits’ and ‘tips’. So write accordingly.

You can do your own research or just read 2 – 3 articles on the topic and summarize that information in your blog post using your own words. However, copying or duplicating information is strictly unethical. By the time your timer goes off, you should have a reasonably good content at your disposal.

Think of a good headline

All great blog posts boast of good headlines. It is prudent that you think about the headline of the article after you finished writing it. It is always easier to create a catchy and accurate headline once you have finished writing the post.

Add the final touches

Once you have completed writing the post, read through the article at least twice to ensure that there is no phrase which does not sound right. Your post should not sound like an editorial; the reader must feel that you have written the post exclusively for him/her. Talk to the individual and not to the general public.

If there are any spelling errors, correct it. Run the spell check function in MS Word to be doubly sure. If possible add photos to your post as they introduce an element of interest in the article. You can create your own photos or get them from Google but use only those photos which are not copyrighted or has watermark in it. If you follow these guidelines diligently then you can soon write great blog posts quickly.

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Author’s Bio:
About the Author-: Brianne is a freelance writer and writes about most expensive cars and Lamborghini Aventador. She has also written a number of articles for different blogs. She loves writing on technology and luxury. You can find her on Twitter as @Brianne. ”

Thank you, Brianne!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

How Three Tips from a Babysitter Helped me Establish a Successful SEO Agency

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We learn some of the best lessons in our lifetime when we are young. Not only that, but most of the times life throws invaluable lessons at us when we are least expecting. But surprisingly, some of those lessons stay with us and keep helping for a long time to come. The reason for the childhood lessons being more effective as compared to those we have in the later stages of our lives, is probably the willingness to listen and to learn from others as compared to how flexible we are, once we grow old.

Coming back to our topic, the tips I was talking about actually came from a babysitter who did pretty well in landing herself job after job as a caretaker, always getting calls and referrals from parents who were looking for a nanny. These tips were meant for someone else who was looking for some babysitting jobs (and getting none), but somehow, these tips got stuck in my mind, and years later, when I founded a small SEO agency, I ended up using these tips to boost my clientele.

Let me share those simple yet very effective tips with you guys …

Tip # 1:

Getting your first clients is going to be the most difficult part, mainly because you don’t have the experience or confidence to help you. If that’s the case, you should try doing some short babysitting gigs for free. Even better, you should assist or go along with an experienced nanny or babysitter in your neighborhood to get some experience. And that’s what I did when I first started my SEO agency. Before I started my own business, I had actually worked as an SEO expert in a well-known company, but I couldn’t share that work for some reasons (was bound by some sort of a NDA), and it was practically impossible to grab some projects without having anything to boast in my portfolio. So I acted upon the advice and accepted some projects for free (or dirt cheap prices). Needless to say, it didn’t took me long in convincing those clients to start giving me work at normal rates, not only that, but I was able to generate an impressive portfolio without wasting any time.

Tip # 2:

Ask the parents for whom you have babysat to refer you to their friends, if not, ask them to write a couple of lines and use it in your broachers (of course after getting their consent). In online world, these are known as testimonials. The point is, when you have done your best and the client is happy with your work; don’t just stop at getting the payment and departing. Tell them that you are looking for more work, and ask them to refer your services to their contacts. In my case, one of the most consistent sources of orders so far has been the customers referred by my clients.

Tip # 3:

Lastly, make sure that you are putting your best foot forward, regardless of the compensation you will be getting for the job. Remember that both in babysitting, as well as Internet Marketing, your client’s needs are usually of recurring nature, and satisfying one client means that you’ve booked them for a long time to come. Every time they are looking for someone to take care of their child or website, you will be the first person that comes to their mind. And so, probably the best way to market your business is to perform in a way that causes your clients to have a high opinion of you.

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Natasha is an SEO and Internet Marketing expert. Apart from an SEO agency, she runs a discounts website where you will find coupon codes for sittercity promo coupon (find it here) and care.com code (get it). Teenagers looking for babysitting jobs can use these discounts to join sittercity or care.com and find babysitting jobs.

Here’s a story…. Don’t Look Back on Life With Regrets

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Each and every one of us has the opportunity to define the course our lives will take over time.

Essentially in life you have those who will never move far from their comfort zone and those willing to take a chance or two.

Now before I tell you which one I am let me state that those that choose to not take risks are not doing anything wrong by any means. When they choose to play their life cards close to the vest, they are no better or no worse than those that choose a little riskier proposition.

As for my story, I was always fascinated with California as a kid growing up in a middle class family back on the East Coast.

The Brady Bunch and One Kid’s Dream

Maybe it was watching one too many Brady Bunch episodes or the allure of warmer weather practically year-round, but something hooked me at a young age. Truth be known, I always thought the Brady kids lived in the coolest house, but we’ll save that discussion for another time.

So as I worked my way through high school and college, I knew once my schooling days were over that a decision would present itself. Would I stand pat and stay back home for work the rest of my life or would I venture to the other side of the country, roll up my sleeves and give it a whirl?

As I pondered this decision more and more, the thought of starting up a business always appealed to me, but I also knew that financially I was not in a position to do such. Maybe I would join the Coast Guard, become a police officer or involve myself in the sports world, three other career choices that always intrigued me?

When my college graduation day finally arrived, I was then thrust into a little more of a hurry up when it came to making a decision on what route I was going to take in life.

After working part-time to have a little money coming in, I got my first full-time job as a sports writer for a local newspaper. Let me be quite frank, the money was nothing to jump up and down about, but at least I was not giving my parents any additional heartburn as to what their youngest one was going to do with his life once his college days were over.

Working for nearly six years with that publication, I came to the realization that while I enjoyed the work and the ability to stay involved in my local community, I was not totally satisfied. Something was eating away at me, something that I had the power to control.

The Vacation to Change a Lifetime

I decided to fly off to California for a week’s vacation and check it out, you know, just to satisfy my craving.

After spending a week visiting San Diego and Los Angeles, my life was about to do a 180.

I returned home and told family and friends that I had to do it, I had to go live in California and at least give it a shot. Sure, it may be the dumbest decision in my life, both from a personal financial stand point and also professionally, but I had to take that risk.

So, with marginal savings, no job lined up and the reality that I would be some 3,000 miles from my comfort zone, off I went. I must point out that without two very supportive parents, the journey may not have even materialized in the first place.

Despite some ups and downs along the way, it is now nearly 18 years later and I’m still calling California home. Whenever I go home to the East Coast to visit family and friends, I’m always quick to think about what might have been:

  • How different would my life be today had I stayed home and not undertaken this journey?
  • Would I be further ahead in my life both professionally and personally or further behind than I am today?
  • If I knew then what I know today, would I have made that gamble to leave a full-time job and family?
  • What would have happened had my parents not been as supportive as they were?
  • If I had children, would I encourage them to do what I did or selfishly want them to remain standing pat and under my eye?

Although I would have changed some things regarding this journey knowing now what I did not know back then, I’m 99.9 percent sure I would have made the same choice today as I did some 18 years ago.

Don’t Look Back on Life with Regrets

One of my older co-workers at the time back then told me that she really admired the fact that I was willing to take such a risk. As she informed me, she and her husband had a similar idea to try something completely different, but they did not, and now it was too late in life as they were raising a family and essentially entrenched in their lives back East.

My feeling at the time was quite simple… if California did not work out I was always free to come home.

My feeling was also that I did not want to look back with regrets years later that I did not pursue my dream of getting to California one day.

I can’t say that I’m a huge risk taker these days, sitting here knowing that statistically I’ve lived more than half my life.

I can say with certainty, however, that if I died today, it would be as a happy man. Quite simply, my dream in life has been fulfilled several times over.

Sometimes when I look at the palm trees, the ocean, the California license plates and more, I have to pinch myself and take stock of the fact that I’m actually here.

No matter what life throws at you, don’t ever let your dreams be extinguished.

Keep in mind that each and every one of us does indeed have the ability to dream and see those dreams come true.

I know one kid growing up some 40 years ago on the East Coast that saw his dream become a reality.

Photo credit: waycoolmusic.blogspot.com

Dave Thomas, who covers among other items advice on starting a small business and obtaining workers compensation insurance, writes extensively for Business.com.

Give Your Content Marketing An Emotional Storytelling Touch

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Guest Post by Stacey Acevero

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Stories Stay With Us

Remember as a kid when you listened to stories around the campfire? The ones that gripped you and stayed with you long into the night were the ones that played upon your emotions. They scared you or made you cry or made you laugh. In other words, they moved you.

Do the same for your online audiences. Use storytelling to make your content marketing stick in their heads. When you do, you’ll give your content more mileage because not only will people respond to your message, they’ll remember it longer, too.

You may wonder where storytelling fits into your content marketing. After all, you’re just trying to get the word out on your brand, right? Wrong. Just getting the word out isn’t enough to create a following. You’ve got to make a connection with people and there’s no better way than drawing them in with stories that tap into their emotions.

To give your content marketing an emotional touch, follow these 3 storytelling tips:

1. Find The Stories Around You

When we meet new people, we establish connection through sharing stories — where we went to school and why, what kind of work we do, what things in our lives define us. Imagine your reader is a new acquaintance. What kind of story can you tell to get them engaged quickly?

Think about the things that set your company apart – those details that you’d share first to give people a sense of you and your brand. For example, at the heart of every company is the story of the person who had a big idea. Think about your company, what is the inspiration behind its inception? You’ve got a story right there.

2. Build Your Story Around A Character

A strong story has a character audiences can connect with and a plot that keeps them engaged. Find the human factor in your brand and make it your central character. Introduce employees who are making a difference in their communities or share compelling profiles of the people who have benefitted from your products.

Then offer readers a glimpse into how these people changed, i.e., through the volunteer work for an important cause or because of the positive impact your products made in their lives. The journey of a character through circumstances carries more clout when readers see how those events shaped that character.

3. Use Emotion To Make An Impact

People are drawn to emotional images and language, so use those powerful tools in your content marketing.

Photographs and video can immediately boost your content curb appeal. They can also provide inspiration to your content creation. For example, a humorous video can not only grab audience interest, it may just have the emotional impact to go viral.

Give your written content more life and emotional connection, as well. Use active language and sentence structures to make reading easier and more interesting.

Try this simple way to start – change all your verb forms of “to be” into active words. For example, instead of “Our company was looking for a way to be a better supplier for our customers”, try “XYZ felt our customers needed better service. These new changes do just that”.

The best way to keep your content marketing fresh is to play with it. Experiment with new perspectives and integrate the things you find interesting.

Keep in mind that your message should always compel your audiences to act. Use your story to motivate people to visit your website, check out your product or download your latest whitepaper.

Have you had success integrating emotional storytelling into your content marketing? We’d like to hear your best campfire story here.

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Author’s Bio:
Stacy Acevero writes about PR and social media at PRWeb.com. You can find her on Twitter as @sacevero.

Stacey, you and your stories are irresistible! 🙂

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

What if Your Salespeople Stop Selling?

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Meet Larry Bailin

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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with Larry Bailin to talk shop. Larry is a talented internet marketer and a nationally sought keynote. Larry’s in his second edition of his book, “Mommy, Where Do Customers From” and enjoys continued success at his firm Single Throw located in Wall New Jersey.

The two of us sat across from one another and covered all the requisite mainstays like what portion of your mix should comprise PPC, how much of your social footprint should be automated (Larry says none and incidentally, I think he’s right) and the two of us agreed that Seth Godin is a keeper. But the typical talking points of our conversation, while enlightening and entertaining in general, didn’t move the needle.

Don’t get me wrong; it’s fun to talk to other internet marketers – particularly those that the industry leans on as much as it does Larry. But no. The conversation was cool, but the majority of the time largely academic. The majority that is. You see, something fascinating DID happen. Something was unearthed. A fortuitously excavated idea emerged from an otherwise casually enjoyable dialogue between two passionate internet marketers.

The Fortuitous Idea

So what was so gripping about our talk? What topic emerged that did, in this marketer’s opinion, move the proverbial needle?

It was this: salesmanship. Specifically, how to disarm buyers when engaging them.

Nothing special right? I mean who among us doesn’t understand that disarming buyers is critical to earning a customer’s confidence? None that I know. But Larry helped me stumble upon a model for appealing to buyers that, for me, called upon marketers and product makers to sell as much, if not more, than is expected of the sales team.

It’s an uphill climb … Salespeople are gods of optimism. Salespeople have a tough job. We all know it.

Selling well takes a scientific understanding of the human condition. Being great at it requires all that, plus the grace of a ballerina, the poise of a Super Bowl quarterback, and the precision of a brain surgeon. This is why selling is often perceived as Herculean. Just ask any seasoned seller. They’ll tell yah: sales is not a vocation for the weak. And it’s because the nuance and complexities of the sales dance, that establishes trust with buyers is a salesperson’s toughest obstacle — they face built-in quantities of both skepticism and doubt.

To their credit, the ever-hopeful salespeople press on, despite a century of data that tells them every day that 95 percent of their effort, or better, is a waste of time.

Wow. Nearly 100%? Just wow!

It’s Time Salespeople Get a Hand

What if your salespeople weren’t the only ones selling? What if she wasn’t the only one attending the all those breakfast briefings, tradeshows and mixers? Not so novel you’re thinking, right?

Scott, our salespeople do travel to these events with product specialists and marketers.

I know, I know. But let’s dig a bit deeper into the potential role that supporting cast could play in securing that sale for our valiant sales peeps. We’re bringing them, but are they helping?

Ok so, what if – just what if – the salesperson wasn’t the salesperson?

What if the product makers were also marketers … what if marketers were also salespeople? What if every person on the team was all three?

I told Larry that I never seem to come off appearing like the salesman toward buyers, although I’m always selling my stuff.

Says Larry, “It’s because you’re not the salesman, Scott. Someone else is the salesman. You’re just Scott. A nice guy with great ideas.”

And the church choir erupted in sonic ecstasy! And birds softly propped on slate roofs everywhere, all at once, scattered in a flurry into the dewy fog of an early May sunrise! And there it was.

“But Larry, my brother, I am selling!”

I am the salesman, the marketer and the product expert all at once. And I should be all these things if I want to help my sales folks make the sale. And because I am not actually the salesman after all, I get to say, “Hey buyer, I’m not the salesperson.” When I bring the salesperson to meet the buyer, I get to say, “This is Jane. Jane handles sales. I’m Scott. I just help.”

This tag-team method of prospect engagement builds relationships in these ways.

  • It disarms the buyer.
  • It tells the buyer that they’re not dealing with a pushy, pressure-fraught situation.
  • It likewise tells buyers they’re dealing with a person who helps with problems and isn’t driven by thinly veiled sales agendas.

It’s been my experience that the buyer ultimately ends up saying to me,” Hi Scott. What’s your story?” And the sales process has begun.

So before your sales team gears up for the next event, get your product people, your marketing people, and your salespeople in the same room to talk about how to evolve your sales process.

How might your team captivate buyers with a disarming and helpful approach?

Kudos Larry. Great talk.

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Author’s Bio:
Scott P. Dailey is a Web designer, copywriter and internet marketer. Scott’s blog, ( scottpdailey.com ) makes connections between social networking etiquette and the prevailing human social habits that drive on and offline business engagement patterns. You can connect with Scott via Twitter at @scottpdailey.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!