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3 Easy Steps to Persuade a Quality Blogger to Link to You

November 27, 2007 by Liz

Linking Relationships

The blogosphere is a web of connections made by links from blog to blog. The strongest relationships and the links that last longest are those that are made between bloggers.

If you want a link from a blogger you’ve not yet met, you’re really asking for a vote of trust. The link I give to your blog or your blog post means that I’ve tied my name to yours. Naturally any blogger would be more inclined to give your link a home, if you show it will be in the blogger’s best interest.

Who wouldn’t want to link to you if your link improved their readers’ experience in some meaningful way?

3 Easy Steps to Persuade a Quality Blogger to Link to You

Choose carefully when finding home for your links. Hopefully, you’re starting a long-term relationship. You want to be part of a network of quality people. Let’s imagine that the blogger you want to link to is me.

Here’s how you might persuade me in three easy steps.

Do Your Homework

Get to know me and my blog. Make a a project of finding out who I am and what I write about. Study my blog and my readers’ comments. In other words, do a little homework.

So many people peddle their blog posts from blog to blog without even bothering to read the front page. You’ll stand out if when you say, “I’ve been reading your blog . . .” and what follows that shows that you really have. Chances are, if you show a real interest in my blog and your idea is off, I might suggest a new idea for you to try.

Plan a Link that Adds Value

No one needs a link on their blogroll. No one needs a random blog post that’s unrelated to a blog’s readership. Find a reason that your post that ties well to one I wrote. Show how your post expands on a topic that my readers have an interest in. Explain how the subject your content compliments mine or offers a point of view my readers might enjoy.

Persuade an Individual (not sir or madam)

When you send that email, be personal and gently persuasive. Don’t talk about yourself; talk about what you are offering.

Please be simple and brief. Realize that I wasn’t waiting with nothing to do until your email came and that I probably still have plenty to get done. Doesn’t everyone these days? I want to see a compelling reason for your using your link. I can’t say “yes” to everyone, but it’s not fun to say “no” either. It’s real luck when a clear thinker comes along — someone who knew exactly what to offer that really does add value for my readers.

You lose nothing if I refuse. Make a good case, and a friendship could be starting. If you researched the blog you want to link, you’ve probably learned a few new things.

If your post goes up, you’ve made a connection to a quality blog. Hopefully that blog will grow into old age with yours, sharing many links along the way. We’ll all meet to discuss how the bloggers who come asking for links never seem to do their homework, don’t show how they’ll add value or personally offer a compelling reason why we might want to link.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

You Have to Understand . . . No You Don't

November 27, 2007 by Liz

Who Am I Talking to?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

I’ve been listening to when I say,
“You have to understand.”

I’ve been listening to when other people say that sentence too.

You have to understand. . . . No, you don’t.

Truth is, no one “has to” understand anything anyone says anytime anyplace at all.

Yet, even more amazing is that often when the sentence, “You have to understand,” is being said,
the listener does understand.

Often the listener understands
better than the speaker does.

I’ve been listening to when I say,
“You have to understand.”

Maybe the person I’m trying to convince is myself.

I fight the hardest to convince other folks what I need to believe most myself.

I wonder if I understand myself, will I quit telling other folks that they have to understand what I’m saying?

You have to understand. I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

Well, no you don’t. No one does.
We don’t have to understand each other . . . but it works better when we do.

Maybe we start by listening to and understanding ourselves.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Holiday Shopping 2007: The Business of Matching Hot Gifts to Cool People

November 26, 2007 by Liz

Buying Is a Business Skill Too

They call today, Cyber Monday, the busiest shopping day on the Internet. Folks in the US, returning to work after the Thanksgiving holiday, realize that the shopping window to the holidays is limited and that the sales have officially started.

We seem to be getting the hang of this online shopping thing.

Forrester Research says this year’s sales are projected to be up 21%. Consumers report that online hot spots that are taking off include jewelry, apparel, and accessories. As a buying group, we also getting more interested in free shipping and turning down “extras” in the form of gift wrap and overnight delivery.

Matching Hot Gifts to Cool People

Beyond the sheer fun factor, the ability to match a well-chosen gift the right person is a fabulous business exercise for any person who serves other people . . . bloggers who write for readers, folks who who work with clients . . .
at the heart of great gift giving is the passion to deliver something folks really desire or need.

That, of course, means starting with the people we’re “serving.” With that in mind, I’ve organized this list by the people not the gifts.

For the “IN” Crowd

Be they 5, 50, 500 years old, these are the folks who hang with the coolest crowd. They know what’s “in” often before we’ve even heard it exists When we shop for them it’s good to keep in mind one rule: Timing is everything. What they want will be in short supply. Buy their dream gift early in the season.

Watch the popular searches, if you’re not sure. At the moment, these are the predictions for what will be hot this year.

PS3, Wii and Elmo were among the top 15 product searches on Yahoo! Shopping, according to Chris Saito, the company’s vice president of products. Elmo placed at No. 13 on the list. — CNN Money

For the Musical Kids in All of Us

Toys that work with our MP3 players. C’mon they’re not just for kids.

Singing Barbie is a diva. Yep she’s a diva with all of her hair. This Barbie will answer her cell when you put it up to her ear. I’m sure some human divas don’t do that or do that well. The doll will perform three prerecorded tunes or will “lip sync” and dance to songs on your MP3 player.

Mattel’s “I Can Play Guitar System” takes Guitar Hero to a new level. Plug the minature into the TV, match the color-coded song notes to the color-coded finger position buttons along the shorter strings. Earn points and move up through the levels. $99.99

Hasbro’s “Power Tour Electric Guitar,” is made in partnership with Gibson. This minature electric guitar has 4 play modes, 12 preloaded songs, and can plug into an MP3 player.

For That Favorite Techie

To know a techie is to love one. To love one is to know that they have precise tastes. When in doubt, let them pick what they want.

Take phones, for example, a blackberry user wouldn’t be caught with an iPhone. Jeremiah suspects the Nokia could lighten his equipment load because of it’s 5 megapixel camera. It’s often a matter of individual needs and preferences. Buying a phone these days is like buying a car. The research takes 53 times longer than the purchase.

The Flip is popular, especially among nontechies– like me — trying out video. Emily Price is an expert on camcorders. I’m not even going to pretend to know more than what I’ve already said on the subject so far. Michael Carr at About.com discusses digital cameras in every price range. Digital Photography Review can keep you up to date on which cameras are popular.

Some folks just like to know where they are . . . Check out GPS devices.

Though someone told me yesterday he wants a Macbook Pro and another said she was looking at cool laptops. Before you buy me either, I’m wondering whether I want to wait for Tablet.

Still most everyone agrees, you could do worse than this Give One Get One laptop deal.

For Folks Who Love Low-Tech Too

Low tech can be incredibly elegant.

Which of the moleskines is your favorite? I’m partial to the tiny cahier ones that fit in my back pocket without discomfort.

An elegant writing instrument can make what we say seem more important. A note written with a beautiful pen seems to have more meaning.

Anyone with too little space or a collection out of control might be turned on by elegant organizers.

That graduate in that first career job might like something elegant to carry and use in business situations.

Then, of course, there’s tickets to trips, concerts, plays, games, and special events.

For Folks Who Don’t Treat Themselves

Some folks seem to have everything they need. For these folks, why not try a twist on the usual to offer them some luxury they wouldn’t get for themselves?

Instead of a new bathrobe . . . the most expensive, luxurious bath towels. Every day will feel like a royal stay at a fine hotel.

Instead of gloves, and hat . . . a cashmere scarf. When they wear it to the grocery store, they will feel as if they are going to an oscar-award event.

Instead of a new blanket or sheets for the bed . . . a fabulous new pillow or a feather bed. What better gift than beautiful sleep?

Think smaller, but more luxurious.

Holiday gift giving is a perfect time to practice Steve Farber’s Extreme Leadership philosophy, Do what you love in service to those who love what you do. It’s a great philosophy in business and life that fits any time, anyplace, anywhere.

How will you match the perfect gift to each person on your list this year?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Be sure to check the Wall Street Journal for more information on perks Online Retailers will be offering this holiday season.

Positively Me

November 26, 2007 by Liz

about those sentences in our heads.

They were useful once I’m sure — those sentences in our heads that tell us how to act and who we are. But some of them are woefully past their “sell by” date and still they play over and over. It’s time to stop paying attention.

Just because it made sense once to raise my hand before I spoke. . . .
Just because someone had a different idea of what’s beautiful . . .
Just because in the past some kids said I was too smart, too weird, too tall, too something they were not . . .

Do I have to keep listening to those ideas? Do I have to keep believing them?

I see folks who let one sentence, one event, define their entire life while they sit with the power to set it iaside and chose a new path.

This once-shy child doesn’t have to be a shy adult. I’m not stuck with other folks’ thoughts. Any event is only something that happened. I can paint it, put it on a wall, and call it history.

It’s my life. They’re my thoughts. I’m tossing out the ones I don’t want. I don’t need negatives anymore. It’s the positives that move me forward.

How else will I become positively me?

Dots of Wonder and Light

November 25, 2007 by Liz

Connecting dots with The Idea Dude

This week’s dots are about children. Ergo, it is about intelligence, curiosity, wonderment, humour, determination and everything they do so naturally. They are the best dots.

Dream like an 8 year old

Matt over at The Digital Perm started me on this theme. He says, That is why kids just rock. Everything is possible.

Be curious like a child

Pam reminds us that we need to regain our child-like perspective As adults we get so lost in day to day adult issues. We forget to pause for the wonderful moments in life. She says, When my son was just toddler I remember him picking up leaves and investigating them as if they were the coolest things ever.
Ever spend an afternoon with a 5 year old. The most common word you’re likely to hear is “why?”. They are like sponges, for them there is no limit, there is no sky. They want to know. Why? Just because.

Impossible is not a word

Christina tells us in the most beautiful way of her child learning to jump. You’ve got to appreciate her determination. She doesn’t understand why she can’t get off the floor, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.

Laugh longer, laugh often

Michele reminds us that children laugh more than we do. Did you know children laugh about 400 times a day, while adults laugh on average only 15 times a day?

This week it snowed in the city. I thought of sludge, ice and traffic jams. For my 13 year-old, the first thing that came to her mind that resulted a smile so wide, it warmed my heart the whole day long?

Snowballs!

May the dots be with you!

Vern, The Idea Dude

Click here to see more dots we connected

Personal Identity: Who Are You Really?

November 25, 2007 by Liz

I Would Agree

Last night at a gathering, I had a conversation with a woman who had decorated the condo in which we were enjoying the evening.

She said, “My passion is home decorating, but my real job is . . . ”

She saw the smile that crossed my face and asked about it.

I wondered back why she thought about herself and her life that way. I said, “Just because right now you spend more time and make more money doing what you call your ‘real job,’ do you have to let it define who you are?”

The woman leaned forward to listen more closely.

“What I mean is . . . when I came in, I was told you were the decorator who made this room look so beautiful. It was easy to agree that a home decorator is who you are.”

The woman sat visibly taller in her chair and smiled. “I see what you mean.”

I placed a finger of my left hand on the counter in front of us and said, “You are here. This is where you are spending less time at home decorating.” About 10 inches to the right of the first finger, I placed a finger of my right hand. “This is where you will be when you’re a home decorator full time. All you need to do is find the steps from one to the other.”

Her smile grew.

“Yep,” I said. “The whole thing becomes easy now because you can see. Every decision you make either moves you further down that path or moves you away from it. Just remember the path when you decide things and soon enough you’ll find yourself there.”

She was already redefining herself with the next words she used.

We really do get to choose how we define ourselves and how to get there.

Are you satisfied with who you say you are?

Who are you really?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!