Archive for January, 2010

“Using” Your Blog

by SageWebs on Friday, January 29th, 2010

Ok you have a blog…. Now what? You need to get it listed and read! Here are several tips to do just that.

There is a good article on My-Blog-Review titled “How & Why To claim Your Blog” using Technocrati. Pretty much it describes that using Technocrati can help to give your blog online promotion and branding. Also to be listed in the Technocrati blog directory, it can help others to find your blog. This article also explains the actual how-to of claiming your blog, the process and a few good tips about Technocrati. It would be good to go see about Technocrati first. You can join up … Join Technocrati … or read more about them … info on Technocrati. A Technocrati blog claim looks something like this “2R27FX4UGD9U”. I claimed my blog and will let you know what happens!

Another great short article from hubpages about bloging and how to share your blog with social networks. Remember just don’t read the articles, read the comments too! I find more tips about what I’m looking for from others in the same boat or things they have tried. Read more

If you are a small business, you may like reading this article again from Hubpages, “Best Social Networking Sites for Businesses and Entrepreneurs
. It states, “There are many methods of developing this online presence including using blog promotion, social media press releases and general marketing strategies. However, the most important method is to develop a strong network of connections through online social networking sites.” Good advice and it goes on to list 14 different social networks for businesses.

Artists and Crafters (in particular but others should read just because it has great info!) may want to take note of the ETSY website; a place where you go to get arts handcrafted by the artist themsleves. You won’t find any kits here. Not just because you can ’sell your wares’ but because it is another website for good business and marketing tips. Just don’t put your items (or your services) up for sale … promote yourself! Etsy’s support for marketing is phenomenal. Here is an article “Guide to Blogging” from their Storque help section. Again the comments are the best part!

From these articles, I got the idea that I need to start another thread about social networking tips so keep checking back!

Checkout Christine Kanes’ “The Authentic Woman’s Guide to Marketing”

by SageWebs on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

From time to time I find others have wonderful things to add to website marketing from a different point of view…

The Authentic Woman’s Guide to Marketing

by Christine Kane

“But I’m not a widget!” she whined. “It’s harder for me!”

Denise was giving me her number one reason she despises marketing. I laughed and told her that it was also the number one reason EVERY client of mine despises marketing.

That’s because it feels different when YOU are the product.

You’re not selling widgets. You’re selling YOU, your soul, your passion, your ideas, your writing, your services, your art. And marketing YOU feels like ego. It feels phony. It feels sales-y.

I won’t lie to you. There will be discomfort when you uplevel your marketing efforts and when you become more present in the marketplace.

But know this:

The people who let go of their marketing fears are the same ones who have more clients than they can handle and more cashflow than they ever imagined. They learn that marketing is actually how they serve!

In fact, there’s a sense of relief when you realize that the problems in your business are not the Universe telling you that you’re lame. They’re just “marketing problems.” Learn the valuable skill of marketing and watch your wealth build.

And take heart! It doesn’t have to be slimy. In fact, authenticity rules!

Here are 5 keys to creating marketing success while keeping it real…

1 – Know Your Peeps.
In my Uplevel Your Business Program & Blueprint, there’s an entire module devoted to this topic, as well as a week’s worth of worksheets and tools for getting clear.

That’s because when you know your ideal client (your peeps!) – then you get to speak ONLY to her in your marketing. This not only saves you time and money (after all, marketing to “everyone” is expensive) but gives you true freedom to be yourself and to cater to that one ideal person.

2 – Build Trust. Be Yourself.
We’ve all heard the expression that people buy from people they “know, like, and trust.”

So, how do you build that?

  • • Establish a regular contact schedule. If you have a newsletter, make SURE it goes out at the exact same time each month or week. This is a subconscious message that you honor your peeps, and that you are reliable.
  • • Be yourself. Allow your peeps to see your human side. Even the most erudite among us burns the veggies and forgets to pay the water bill sometimes. Let your peeps see themselves in you.
  • • Let go. Some people will unsubscribe and get snarky. No problem. They’re just telling you that they’re not your peeps. This is the beauty of marketing well. You give the gift of self-selection.

3 – Be an Expert.
Getting over your fear of being an expert is crucial.

And you know what else?

Get over the worn-out belief that you need to go back to school and get more letters after your name before you do this.

You can be an expert in body work, organic veggies, vegan cuisine, gemstones, business coaching, native plants, still-life photography, alcohol addiction, collage, journal writing…and the list goes on.

The difference between you and someone who’s going back to school before she’ll let herself write is that your enthusiasm, passion and life experience are your expertise! If someone requires that you have letters after your name – then they aren’t your peeps!

4 – Give it away.
So, if you have a newsletter, blog, and tutorial videos, won’t people just figure that they don’t have to pay you for your services, your coaching, or your work? After all, you’re giving away all your secrets!

Or so it seems.

The truth is that giving it away is what makes people want to work with you even more because they trust you so much.

5 – “The Fortune is in the Follow Up”
A musician friend called me disappointed the day after he had hosted a huge event in his town. “Hardly anyone came last night,” he said.

I asked him if he told his list about the show.

It turns out he wrote to his list two weeks before the show. No follow up. No reminders.

Listen up people!

The #1 biggest mistake we make is to play small when it comes to follow up. Your peeps are busy. They need reminders. Many people respond to that last-minute sense of urgency.

There’s an art to doing it well, for sure. But not following up is a surefire way to get no response!

——-

Does this stuff take time? Yes.

But remember, it’s the pushy people who want to rush the process that make us all despise marketing. Be patient and allow that strong connection to grow, and you’ll live your most successful life.

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her ‘LiveCreative’ weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

Redesign your website?

by SageWebs on Monday, January 11th, 2010

There are a lot of reasons why you would want to redesign your website. I’ve just done mine and yes it needed to be done.

First you have to ask yourself… do I need to redesign or is my website serving its purpose? If anyone answers “it’s serving my purpose”, then their website is new in the last three months or they don’t really care whether people visit their website or not.

Mostly any website that is several years old especially done with static pages needs “new blood”; it needs “umph” to get itself back in circulation. Adding new content to the pages helps but bringing new links and resources for your customers is important. Adding expanding items such as links to your social networking, a blog, offers for free products or services, affiliate ads and even pay per click links helps to get your website noticed. These not only bring new life for appearance sake but also help you to increase your search engine ratings  for your website. Every little bit helps! 10 years ago you could count on getting your website up and giving people a web address and letting it go at that. Now days it has become more competitive to get people to visit your website.

Welcome!

by SageWebs on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Thank you for stopping by! I have revised this website to allow it to be more interactive with the people that come looking for information regarding web design. Please check out my new FAQs page and make sure you visit the “Web Gallery” to see examples of things that can be done for your web presence.