Successful Blog

Do You like Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone?

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Beach Notes by Guest Writer Suzie Cheel

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I was walking on the beach this morning thinking about what I would write for my first post on Successful Blog. Liz and I have been talking for a few months now about my doing a regular post from Down Under.

I came up with Beach Notes, Liz said : “like messages in a bottle.”

Today as I asked Des (my life and business partner) what I might write, the words getting out of your comfort zone, came.

Interesting I thought as last week I put My Big Hairy Audacious Goal to the world and yesterday really stepped out of my comfort zone with the launch of a new blog where I have asked for help from my readers. So how am I feeling about this today, scarred but excited, the adrenalin is flowing and I feel finally I am moving forward. Getting out of the groove is looking very positive.

I wasn’t even distressed when the blog wasn’t flooded with comments or link love. In the past that would have been so discouraging. I am growing 🙂

I then thought about other times in my life when I have stepped out of my comfort zone and it has been life changing.

  • Going to work in Nigeria when I was 22.
  • When I left full time teaching to build a full time business with my art.

This time I feel will be life changing and will enable me to  make a difference to my life, the lives of others and empower people to live lives full of joy, freedom and creativity.

Do you like stepping out of you comfort zone? How does it make you feel?

See you next week with another note from the beach.

Thanks to Week 134 SOBs

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Successful and Outstanding Bloggers

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

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

SOB Business Cafe 05-16-08

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Special Edition this Week are:

Creative Think had been shaking up our heads again.
The more often you do something in the same way, the more difficult it is to think about doing it in any other way.

Essential Keystrokes was showing what to do when we have too much of a good thing.
I have not even had a chance to write between being without my normal high speed Internet (6 days total) and the amount of client work (good) I have going right now. Anyhow, there is some good stuff out there and I don’t want you to miss out on it!

Social Media Explorer points out the value of simplicity.
If there’s one social media tool, or more appropriately, one technological advancement which enhances social media I am beholden to above all others, it’s RSS. Really Simple Syndication redefined web surfing for me. I’m convinced it can do the same for the rest of the world, whenever they come around to it. I’m even happy to spread the joy.

Carpe Factum has a great idea. Everyone should consider taking him up on it.
So I’m proposing a blogospheric recycling meme (besides, it’s been a while since somebody did one of those annoying meme posts).

The question is this: If I could select my top 5-10 posts which received little to no attention, what would they be?

Middle Zone Musings has always been able to steer us in the right direction.
How do we get where we’re going, anyway? Come to think of it; how do we get anywhere?

Chris Brogan chimes in with a slew of resources for keeping connected.
The NTEN community reached out to have me as part of their “Ask the Expert” sessions. I told them I’d give them some blogging and social media resources.

Related ala carte selections include

Sonia Simone at Copyblogger is advocating a little less clothing.
Dooce’s version of naked would make me pretty nervous, but I’m downright wild compared to Godin. Decide how much personal “skin” you’re willing to show.

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–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!!

The Mic Is On: Join Guest Hosts Phil Gerbyshak and Diego Orjuela

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Let’s talk about computers…

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  • Do you know your computer could be working better, but you’re not sure how?
  • Does your computer have a pesky little error message that you just can’t get rid of?
  • Wondering what the pop-up box that keeps showing up on your screen means?
  • Want to know the latest about virus protection, wireless networking for your house?

Got any other nagging computer questions? Never fear, we’ve got the answer for you!

Join Relationship Geek Phil Gerbyshak, MinuteFix CEO and founder Diego Orjuela and the MinuteFix tech support community as they host Tuesday Night Open Comments. Test drive the world’s greatest tech support community and say goodbye to your pesky computer problems…for at least one night!

Oh, and bring links to share — about computer problems.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?