She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Trends to Watch in the final 365 days of the Decade by @SBSLEducSoltns

by 2 Comments

by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

 

2019 awaits. How ready are you & your business for these 13 trends?

 

Can you believe it?! Yes, its true: we’re less than 2 weeks away from another New Years’ Day; so, let’s dedicate a toast to our businesses, our families, & friends!

Not only that … did you notice?  It’s also the last year of the first decade of the ‘new’ century.

 

Where were you on 01 Jan, 2010?

 

Was your business even open?

How did you communicate with your clientele?

Have you rebranded since then?

 

…  That’s NINE years ago, believe that!

 

The Mindset of the Futurist

 

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”  — Buckminster Fuller

 

#quotestoliveby #futurist 

( Click to Tweet the above )

 

Many thought leaders, chief amongst them the futurists, visionaries, and creative disrupters, know of Fuller. He laid this cornerstone of thought and its now part of his legacy, to be embraced by generations not yet born. It is from this core thesis that we’ll push ahead – unveiling a market basket of trends that your business will be impacted by in some manner in 2019 ( & beyond. )

 

 

A Bakers’ Dozen

 

Laying out 13 that I, as a futurist, am personally invested in tracking; each of these are invigorating and, in the hands of the benevolent & bold, will usher in as yet unknown amounts of potential energy to our nation(s), states/provinces, and localities:

 

Mobile revolution

Smart Cities

Blockchain / Crypto currencies

Gig Economy ( Conceptual Age )

Automation ( AI, Machine Learning, Robots )

Autonomous Vehicles \ Drones

Holistic Wellness ( > sickcare )

Decentralized [ social & news ] media

Self directed education & learning ( schooling & credential seeking )

Communities / tribes

Social enterprises ( modern mutual aid societies )

Principles > politics

Holocracy ( future of ‘work’/places )

 

 

In pursuit of a deeper understanding of the bright future which awaits

 

Even a rudimentary understanding of 1, some, or perhaps all of the 13 trends shared above won’t be embraced at deeper levels of awareness, acceptance, and consciousness without continually reading, listening ( podcasts, audio books ), & watching ( videos, webinars )

 

Two #mustread books in this space are linked below, to further illuminate your path.

I wholeheartedly suggest investing in them as a holiday/Christmas present for yourself & for those whom you hold most dear.

 

A Whole New Mind

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind

 

Suggested Follows out in the ‘Twitter’verse

 

Futurist Rankings by Ross Dawson

Generations Timeline – After the Millennials by Anne Boysen

Gold vs. Cryptos: Invest or divest … Here … from Gerald Celente

4 questions to test your intellectual humility via Daniel Pink

 

 

Don’t Argue, nor Debate

 

Instead, as we see, hear, and experience more & more creative disruption which impacts our professional sphere ( inc. our business’ cashflow, income streams, etc. ), shall we abandon the negativity, time loss, & win/lose (or worse, lose/lose) outcomes from arguing & debating?

I propose an equivalent swap of the above two non futurist, consumerist terms for those that produce & add value:   Discussion & rational discourse.

 

As 2019 dawns, I thoughtfully (channeling one of my many informal mentors, Mr. Dale Carnegie), throw down a challenge:

 

Whether with yourself ( self talk ), your staff, clientele/customers, or a prospect, engage in thought provoking win/win discussion or a structured rational discourse with him/her/them in the next several weeks

 

Word Play: Choices to make to embrace the transformation underway in our workplaces  

 

As we ascend the ladder from unconscious incompetence on up to unconscious competence, let’s fully embrace how exciting each of these trends will be in our ongoing entrepreneurial journeys & resolve to learn new words

Some which are becoming anchored to the past as these 13 futuristic trends continue to evolve, expand, & replicate:  ‘employee’ ; ‘hierarchy’ ; ‘college for all’ ; ‘health care’ ; ‘cash’.

Does this indicate that these (let alone others) will disappear forever? Not necessarily. Yet, the early adopters in our business networks will already grasp the above, and quite a number more will eventually ‘see’ as you have/will!

 

 

Websites, articles, blogs, & organizations: Learn More & Take Action

 

Define. Learn. (then) Do.

We’ve defined a vision for 2019 & beyond. With numerous resources are embedded in the post already, let’s expand your learning zone:, what if you want to self educate even more?!

 

Ever more important, investing time in additional concrete steps to ‘future’ prep your business venture would be wise. I’m applauding you proactively, if you choose to do so!

 

 

Trends Research

Future Frontiers

A-speakers

Mind Valley

 

Future Today

AdWeek.com

Visual Capitalist

Futurism Blogs

 

In short …

 

  • 9 years down, 1 to go in the decade #ThinkItOver
  • Suggested Twitterverse follows
  • A bakers’ dozen trends
  • The futurist rankings & further resources to dig into
  • Don’t argue, debate, or fight the existing; discuss & set time for rational discourse
  • Word swaps:  let’s ‘play’ on a 2020’s field
  • What’s coming is exciting & transformational; fear not!  Embrace. Encourage. Uplift.

 

Thank YOU for reading!

& …

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Time = Gold (and … money = silver) by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

Putting Productivity ahead of Busy-ness in Business

 

“I’m so busy!”

“How are you? How’s business?  Busy!”

 

There are mild variants,  yet, the theme is constant: The individual is … say it with me now …. B-u-s-y.

Since when did our nation’s backbone, entrepreneurs, decide that this status was the end all, be all, in conversation, let alone in practice?

Let’s reframe. First, though, empathy & grace are necessary.

I know: There’s a LOT on your plate;  I’m sure many of these are on your calendar, scribbled on sticky notes, and/or are pop up reminders on your smart device:  Payroll. Review insurance coverage. Talk to the V.A; accountant; and/or financial advisor. Respond to client messages. Etc …

Still, we shouldn’t aspire to busy-ness; when we stop, if merely for a moment & reflect, we realize that as entrepreneurs, we’re solution providers & producers.

Thus, the more we produce, the more pro-ductive we are: it’s productivity which we should strive for, a 1:1 replacement for the ‘busyness’ that is our default answer to so many questions.

Painting a picture to aid in this mindset shift, we revisit the 1st few words …

 

Time = Gold.

 

… and now can move to implement this truth in our business first ( self-leadership ), then, model it for staff + customers, lastly, replicating it to other entrepreneurs in our network.

 

Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy can’t be wise.”
― Lin Yutang

Click to Tweet

Lin Yutang #quote

 

 

Precious Metals

 

Gold :  

Time is an irreplaceable asset, just like gold. Gold is finite & very rare: Its value has held firm for thousands of years & once was used regularly in commerce worldwide. Just like there’s always been a 24 hour day, the amount of gold available for mining is constant; fluctuation in the ‘price’ of gold is due to the underlying currencies, just like your productivity ties to how well you lead yourself.

Silver :

Money is a reflection, a flag, which signals how much value you’ve added to the marketplace; your monetized service, product, &/or specialized knowledge is your entrepreneurial bridge b/w problem identified & solution provided. We look to silver now, as its value is also stable, yet it’s more abundant in nature than gold. So, with an abundance mentality x growth mindset, you know you can grow your share of this not fixed pie.

 

 

Two must read books

Without a shred of doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend both. Each has a high ceiling of potential energy which can be tapped to lead to dramatic improvements in your productivity & reduced busy-ness.

 

E-Myth: Revisited

The Fifth Discipline

 

Stephen R. Covey

He passed away over 6 years ago, gone & not forgotten as a pioneer; through his off the charts levels of contribution, we have much to tap into. The 4 quadrants is something to study often, & implement in short order.

 

Covey’s Time Management Matrix, in the written word

Or perhaps you’d learn better from a visual?

 

 

Suggested ‘Twitterverse’ Follows

 

A Helpful Guide to Becoming Unbusy by Joshua Becker

How to Stop Being Busy All the Time from Gus Razzetti

4 Ways to Break Free From Being “Too Busy” penned by Rikki Rogers , culled from The Muse

 

Leverage = Legacy

 

This concept is transformational.  Pulling from the vastness of the internet, here are two marvelous resources. Once you take this small two-step seriously, my advice is to keep going!

 

Kelly Azevedo

Amanda Abella


Systems Thinking?  

 

Its powerful.  In a previous post, you learned all about the power of principled self education.

Here’s a superb opportunity to practice what you read by visiting Donella Meadows ‘s website.

And if you haven’t yet bumped into this infographic, please, I implore you, dive in over the next 24 hours. Your income can become systems driven wealth through active application of this business truism.

 

In my ongoing discovery, I’ve repeatedly shared these maxims with those whom I mentor, in coffee 1:1’s, & elsewhere: Why? They’ve allowed me to run multiple business ventures at the same time, all while making strides towards being productive = gold = time & (more) passive = silver = money.

 

Next steps:

 

 

What can Westminster Abbey teach about implementing this content?!  

 

This inscription, when understood at a deeper level, reflects the ongoing value of lifelong learning.

 

Action Time

 

As with anything you choose to read, listen to, or watch, the truest formula = what you do next, how you proceed, & why?

Reflect, through meditation, prayer, yoga, or in a moment(s) of silence on this post, please, & thank you for reading!

 

In short …

 

  • A producer is productive; a consumer is busy. ‘Busy’ shouldn’t be a status, symbol, or state of being for the wise entrepreneur
  • Time = gold.  Money = silver.  Prioritize your irreplaceable asset;  focus on it and not on money (income, wealth) as #1.
  • Review the links to invest in 2 highly recommended books
  • Covey’s quadrants/matrix is a terrific tool in and by itself
  • Suggested Twitter follows & some of their scholarly tweets. #MustReads
  • Understand systems & leverage in your entrepreneurship education
  • Leadership starts with self

 

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Soft Skills aren’t ‘Soft’ by @SBSLEducSoltns

by 4 Comments

by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

“Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast” … and …. soft skills are the breakfast of  winners!

 

Did that subtitled quote ( thank YOU to the late Peter Drucker ) catch your eye?!

Good!

(It was meant to do just that, dear readers.)

 

We now dive into a deep pool …

In truth, an entire online library could conceivably be dedicated to nothing but them!

Thought leaders all across the globe, including many in your LinkedIn network, have spoken of their past experiences, spun stories, & shared wisdom nuggets through books, webinars, podcasts, & even created whole curricula focusing on these immensely valuable skills.

So, we’re just skimming the surface: Becoming self educated, role modeling a better ‘You, Inc.’ to your staff, clientele, & fellow entrepreneurs & revisiting your business culture would each be forward thinking outcomes.

 

Foundational Definitions

 

Soft Skills :  

Please click here , here , & here.

You might already be asking …  Are these the same as people … interpersonal … or life skills?      Yes.

 

Culture :

Excellent articles

1 … 2 … & … 3

 

 

Let’s now briefly discuss the inexorable connection between culture & soft skills in your business(es).

 

Are soft skills a necessary part of a vibrant entrepreneurial [workplace], culture?

 

A great number of signs point to a clear, resounding ‘yes’, since these skills are so often not taught in classrooms in all ‘tracks’ ( K-12, up to & including graduate level studies )

An entrepreneur is likely to become a magnet to others if she offers them as part of ongoing professional development for her staff, regardless of industry. If you’re dealing with confounding challenges that coaching or some other service pro hasn’t yet solved, or, maybe you just seek to expand, laser focus here;  you are onto something BIG.

 

What do others say?

 

Here’s a post well worth reading …

 

And this author comes to a like conclusion.

 

A personal story & opportunity to serve

 

My own entrepreneurial journey wouldn’t be nearly as rich without the visceral impact of these skills on my own ventures.

 

Through the fall of last year, I had the high honor of being a member of a nationwide committee

And, for that same organization, I was asked to be a co-panelist on this webinar.

 

If you’re offered anything similar, what’s commonly known as an influencer, as I was, please, I implore you: take it!

 

Our discourse at networking events, in business dealings with peers, levels of customer service, engagement & satisfaction amongst your staff, decreased turnover:

I truly believe all would benefit positively.

 

A Sampling of @Twitter Thoughts [from across the ‘Twitterverse’]

 

Future Learn

Vala Afshar

Scott Hartley

 

What soft skills should I focus on to improve my business’ culture?   

 

The answers will vary considerably from venture to venture, industry to industry. After all, this field is not barren; it is richly blossoming in content of all kinds which you can surely beta test, or go all in & fully invest your development dollars from the get-go.

 

 

Should I hire, fire, outsource, and/or promote with these skills as the key determinant?

 

Yes.

You can always get someone up to speed on ‘harder’ (read: technical) skills if you have an individual who understands how to prioritize ( time management ); whom has a good attitude;  who can work on any team and contribute; who knows how to resolve a conflict; and whom can build her leadership abilities through influence, vision, & service rather than expecting others to follow a title, or positional authority.

 

What’s the best way to deliver them?    

 

This, too, is flexible.

In a hyper competitive industry (e.g., real estate, insurance, financial services, banking), encouraging your staff, & leaving room in your own day for lifelong learning would be smart. Many of these professions already require ‘CE’ , however, incentivizing ongoing development of soft skills through ‘comp time’, bonuses, etc., will offer you a clear edge. Everyone else is aware of the former, while you also recognize the latter = difference maker.

Finding ways to collaborate with a services professional who offers group facilitation, mentorship, business coaching, or a consultant with focused training program would be a clear win:win.

 

Next steps:

Take action!  The Gig (Sharing/P2P) Economy moves infinitely faster than its predecessor eras. And, expecting that the conventional schooling institutions will begin to offer these skills so you won’t have to invest wouldn’t be advisable.

 

Learn more. If this post & the related links doesn’t yet convince you of their importance, attend a conference, lunch & learn, register for a webinar, or listen to a podcast that discusses professional development.

 

In short …

 

  • Soft skills should be taken very seriously
  • Culture is a foundational necessity.
  • If offered an opportunity to spread the word about soft skills, accept it with a smile
  • Fundamental challenges ( i.e., turnover, satisfaction, engagement ) can be solved at the root
  • Reconsider your standards for hiring, firing, and promoting staff.
  • Delivering soft skills into your culture can be done in numerous ways
  • Don’t stand still

 

________

Thank YOU for reading!

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

Principled and Phenomenal Self Directed Education: Podcasts by @SBSLEducSoltns

by Leave a Comment

by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

The ‘Why, Whom, How, When, & Where’ of Listening to Podcasts

Podcasting is a phenomenal medium for entrepreneurs in so many ways that it stood out to me as an ideal ‘sequel’ post to last month’s focus on self directed education.

Over a decade ago, as the entrepreneurial, “E” pathway in America quietly criss-crossed with the “C” pathway ( Corporate ), thereby becoming more viable & available to the masses than it had been since the latter decades in the 19th century; in parallel, many new educational options emerged to enable us to constantly learn outside of a classroom’s credentialized learning environment:

  • Webinars
  • Networking & business development combined [ e.g., H7 Network ]
  • audio books [ Audible & others ]
  • Seminars [ usually in person ]
  • Blogging
  • Podcasting
  • E-books

We’ve become more blessed than ever before, since its crucially important to be constantly feeding yourself the very best ‘brain‘ food as you pursue your dreams, turn those ideas into actionable strategies, goals, & plans, and, of course, serve your clients/customers thereby solving their problems, challenges, roadblocks, & pain points.

Mr. Chris Hewitt spoke of “‘The 4 P’s of Podcasting’ : Permission; Personality; Passion; Profit.”

[ ClicktoTweet this; it’s catchy!: https://ctt.ac/dSJUe ]

Here’s the fantastic article from the spring of 2018 which discusses these 4 P’s in far greater detail:  How to Turn your Idea into an Audio Hit – it’s well worth reading.

Why should I listen to podcasts?

Building further on the foundation of those P’s , podcasts are:

 

  • Highly portable’ via any smart device that huge majorities of us carry everywhere.
  • Their content “seeps in” easier during more ‘mindless’ activities, like many household chores.
  • They’re easier to adopt and grow a lifelong learning mindset than sitting down to read.
  • A majority of hosts & their created/curated content is NOT taught in conventional schooling courses/curricula.

 

Where & When to listen?

From my own story, I encourage everyone to listen anywhere & anytime they possibly can; you might be surprised at the opportunities in ‘cracks’ of time that you’ve not thought of!

 

  • Grocery shopping & other errands
  • While driving
  • During solo meals
  • Household chores as a positive add-on ; replace mind numbing television with a podcast episode or three.
  • Working out

 

How might I listen?   I’m so ‘busy’ !?

 

That’s one of the oldest mantras you’ll hear, and likely have used many times; let’s toss it aside, since we all have had the exact same number of seconds, minutes, & hours in our days since the beginning of time.

Trust me in this:  If you bucket your day into what we might call ‘time investments‘; ‘time expenditures‘; and ‘time wasters‘, you’ll be able to find and/or create the time to answer this to your own satisfaction.

 

Whom should I listen to?  

The number of options are mind blowing!

 

  • Over 550,000 active shows
  • 18.5+ million episodes
  • 100+ languages

Source & all credit to:   https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcast-statistics/

 

Whom?  Part 2 : Top 10(+1) List

 

With that many options, it’s beyond clear that this post is only scratching the tiniest portion of the surface of what’s available.

Yet, I’m confident that each of these are well worth your time investment; please either listen to an episode from the below sample &/or subscribe right away. I heartily welcome your feedback, both on this post and/or through my social channels, after you’ve done so.

 

 

The Rich Dad Radio Show w/ Robert Kiyosaki

  • Jan 31 (2018) : Blockchain will Change Everything in Business ; July 4 (2018) : Find out How Financial Education Sets You Free

How I Built This w/ Guy Raz

  • June 25 (2018) : Lyft: John Zimmer ; March 26 (2018) : Atari & Chuck E. Cheese’s: Nolan Bushnell

Igniting Souls w/ Kary Oberbrunner

  • July 27 (2018) : Why podcasts grow your … (Jeff Brown interview) ; August 3 (2018) : Why your freedom, finances, & fulfillment … ( David Branderhorst interview )

The Go Giver w/ Bob Burg

  • 120 : My New Favorite Story ; 086 : Business is for Kids – JJ Ramberg

Entre Leadership

  • 267: Gary Kelly – Leading Through Tragedy ; 262 : Daymond John – Rise & Grind

Isaac Moorehouse

  • 138 : Bryan Caplan on The Case Against Education ; 128 : Robert Murphy on Austrian Business Cycle Theory

Success to Significance hosted by Rick Coplin **

  • StS035: How to be an Extraordinary, Life Centered Mentor ; StS001: Get Out Before They Carry You Out

** the podcast is on hiatus & will resume with season II

School Sucks

  • 567: Noah Tetzner – The Unschooler Podcast Star ; 550-51 : Blake Boles – What It Means to Be Educated

Our Modern Heritage

  • 023: The Importance of Soft Skills to Prepare for the Future ; 035: Kirstynn Evans – Starting a Business with Your Child

Conversations on Communications w/ Joel Kessel

  • 033: Let’s Not Lose Sight of Basic Fundamentals ; 028 : The Most Damaging Thing to a Child

Columbus Entrepreneurs

  • 026: Claire Coder of Aunt Flow ; 006: David Butcher , FlyBy Entrepreneurship

 

In short …

  • There are so many ways to be self educated; create & expand your lifelong learning culture & related habits.
  • Know of the 4 P’s to podcasting.
  • The answers to the Why, When, & Where Q’s are more valuable than How.
  • Feel welcome to start, or grow, your podcasting habit by listening in to any of the ten/10 recommended hosts & sample episodes above.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

9 Must Know Tips For Crafting A Client Attracting Newsletter by @toninelsonbiz

by Leave a Comment

9 Must Know Tips For Crafting A Client Attracting Newsletter

by Toni Nelson | Featured Contributor

Are you the type of person who can strike up a conversation in a crowded room?

Maybe that’s where you shine.

But what happens when you sit down to write your newsletters?

Knowing what to put in your email newsletter is as important as creating one. They say that the money is in your list, but if you don’t send out regular messages you’ll miss out on the additional income that an email newsletter can generate. It’s important not to over think each newsletter that you send out. Keep them simple, not too long, and always provide value.

1. Tips and Tricks

It’s great to include a list of tips and tricks for your readers in your email newsletter. If you send out a daily newsletter, you could make one a week that’s a list of ten tips or tricks to use that involves putting your services or products to their best use.

2. Special Offers

You don’t have to send out a special offer every newsletter but if once a month or so you offer your newsletter subscribers an offer that no one else is getting just for being a subscriber, you’ll make them feel special. People love the feeling of membership and exclusivity.

3. Engagement Opportunities

Give your newsletter subscribers an inside way to meet up with you, either through live meet-ups or online webinars. Having one webinar a quarter or more often is a great way to engage your newsletter subscribers. I love using Zoom to accomplish this. You can even offer Q&A’s.

4. Early Bird Notices

Tell your list subscribers about new products before you announce them to the world. Giving them a few days to purchase at a discounted “early bird” rate is a great thing to include in your email newsletters.

5. Feedback Questions

Using your email newsletter as a way to get feedback on potential new products or services is a great way to encourage engagement. You can do it via questionnaire or poll.

6. Testimonials

Including a section for customer testimonials is a great way to recognize your clients as well as to provide social proof to newsletter subscribers who have not purchased from you yet. Whenever possible I try to get a video testimonial which is extremely powerful.

7. Share Buttons

Inviting your newsletter subscribers to share certain newsletters that don’t have exclusive material is a great way to improve your subscription rate, and will also make your current members feel included in your community.

8. Legal Notifications

Every newsletter needs to include all legal notifications relevant to anti-spam laws. If you go with the most stringent laws, you’ll be sure to cover all your bases.

9. Opt-Out Information

While this could be covered under legal notifications, it’s important that you include opt-out information that is easy to find in every single newsletter that you send out. Don’t be worried about subscribers unsubscribing. It’s better to have a clean list of people who want to be there than a list full of people who resent getting your information.

Ensure that you include a variety of different things in your email newsletter that are designed to get a response and you won’t be disappointed in the results. In addition to the nine items above, never forget to include a call to action (CTA) in each newsletter that you send out. Without a CTA there is no point to the newsletter. So, be clear about that before you start.

Need more help crafting a client attracting newsletter?

Check out my awesome newsletter planner

Here’s what the newsletter planner will help you with:

Screen Shot 2017-01-31 at 7.03.47 AM

 

  • shield_check_mark_400_clr_8847Understanding who your newsletter is for
  • Why people will sign up for your newsletter
  • Creating the know, like and trust factor
  • Creating a mailing schedule
  • Content planning and your promotional calendar
  • Content planning and your editorial calendar
  • Deciding on what to include in your newsletter
  • Setting up your newsletter for the first time
  • Your weekly newsletter plan – yes you need a plan in order to have a successful newsletter
  • Where to find ideas

Keeping your commitment

 

This planner comes complete with worksheets so you have a step by step fill in the blank system. It couldn’t be any easier than that!

The best part? This newsletter planner normally sells for $37 but it’s on sale for just $19 this week. Don’t miss out on this planner!

Head on over and check it out the full details: Newsletter Planner

The bottom line is this: If you don’t communicate effectively with your subscribers, then someone else will.  Discover how to grow your community with your client attracting newsletter.

Be Savvy and Successful!

Toni Nelson

————————————————————————-

Toni NelsonHello I’m Toni Nelson an Award winning Videographer/Photographer, Author, Speaker, Business Coach and Online Trainer.

I help entrepreneurs and service based businesses by creating videos, logos and other graphic elements to grow brand awareness so your message, your story, your statement is seen and heard locally, globally, 24/7.

Twitter | Facebook | Google+

Save

Save

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

The Secret To Bridging the GAP Between Your Message and Your Copy by @slideberry

by Leave a Comment

by Ling Wong | business-soulwork.com

Copywriting Alchemy: Secrets To Turning a Powerful Personal Brand Into Content That SellsThis article is adapted from Ling’s new book on Copywriting for Coaches, Consultants, Solopreneurs & Small Businesses – How To Turn Your Personal Brand into Powerful Marketing Communications.

Is this happening to you:

You buy courses to learn the latest and greatest marketing strategies and promotional tactics. Your invest money on the newest tools and eagerly pump out content as prescribed by the countless templates and checklists.

Then… cricket.

Amidst all the chatter in the marketplace, any “new” promotional tactic gets old after a month or two. We’ve grown immune to noise without substance.

“Freshness” is no longer about deploying bright shiny objects. We need good solid materials that can stand the test of time.

“Freshness” is perceived when your point-of-view gives your audience a breath of fresh air – a different perspective, a new understanding of their world.

To turn bright shiny objects into meaningful and effective marketing, we need to understand the GAP…

On one side, there are all sorts of coaching and programs to help people get “clarity.”

On the other side, there are tons of training on strategies and tactics, not to mention a slew of tools for implementation.

There’s little to bridge the space between the two.

The GAP happens when the good stuff in your head doesn’t get communicated to your audience in a way that delivers transformation.

How do we translate the “clarity” in your head into marketable content to make those tactics and tools deliver meaning?

How do we come up with meaningful input for impactful marketing?

Your Facebook ad won’t be effective no matter how much you know about the mechanics of setting up a Facebook ad, if the copy you put in those ads sucks.

WHAT exactly are you popping into those social media profiles, pretty website, press kit, or email campaigns so they truly communicate who you are, make you stand out and portray you in a way that connect and resonate with your audience?

What’s the secret sauce to building an online presence that makes you proud and gives you just the right words to sell your products and services with 120% confidence?

The answer lies in getting clear on your values, convictions, life experiences, skills, and talents, mapping your message to your niche, communicating your expertise through the lens of your unique points-of-view – and turning this deep understanding of YOU into a unique personal brand.

A strong personal brand gives you the foundation for powerful copy.

Great content doesn’t come out of nowhere. Copywriting is NOT an afterthought. 

A strong personal brand bridges the space between “clarity” of your message, and powerful copy that not only sells but also amplifies your confidence and motivation.

A strong personal brand gives you the meaningful input for impactful and effective copywriting and marketing:

  • It helps you stand out from a sea of competitors and establish a leadership positioning.
  • It boosts credibility and expert status, which in turn earns trust that leads to conversion.
  • It makes your business memorable and keeps it top-of-mind.
  • It embodies a clear message that attracts loyal clients and customers willing to pay a premium fee because the deep resonance makes your offering more than a “commodity.”
  • It allows you to better communicate your brand identity and control how others perceive your brand by being consistent across all touch points.

In my new book, I reveal the 5 critical layers of a powerful personal brand, and how to turn it into meaningful and effective marketing communications. I invite you to check it out here.

—————————————————————————-

Ling Wong :: Intuitive Brainiac | Copywriting Alchemist. Through her unique blend of marketing coaching, content strategy and copywriting process, she helps the maverick-preneurs uncover, articulate & transform their WHY into content that connects, resonates and converts – by way of an intuitive yet rigorous iterative process born out of her Harvard Design School training and 10 years experience in the online marketing industry.

Get her new book on Copywriting for Coaches, Consultants, Solopreneurs & Small Businesses – How To Turn Your Personal Brand into Powerful Marketing Communications here.

Save

Save

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

10 Tips for Silencing Your Inner Critic by @LUCYrk78

by Leave a Comment

10 Tips for Silencing Your Inner Critic

by Lucy Rendler-Kaplan | Featured Contributor

We all have it. That little inner voice that creeps up in the most inopportune times. The one that tells us not to ask for the promotion, that we aren’t good enough, that we shouldn’t accept that date….the list can go on and on. Sometimes it speaks to us loudly and sometimes it is simply a quiet nag throughout our day. It can last for a minute, an hour or a week. Maybe even longer. At times, we didn’t even want to get out of bed, what’s the point?

Then, one day we learned we can talk back. We learned weccan tell that voice that we ARE good enough to go after what we want.

Here are a few tips that I hope will help:

  1. Start a journal: write down what you were doing each time you began to hear that voice and look for patterns. Learn to recognize that critic for what it is. Next to that list, write down something you did that day that you felt proud once you accomplished it. Look through those proud moments when your inner critic begins to creep in.
  2. Look in the mirror: look at your reflection and tell yourself ONE good thing about what you see. If you can, keep going! Don’t stop at one. If you can only muster one positive attribute, be happy you recognized the good.
  3. Place a post-it on your mirror: It can be anything positive, the one on mine says “I am Grateful.” Make sure it’s a mirror you will look into each day, perhaps while you’re brushing your teeth.
  4. Add a positive to a photo: find a photo of yourself looking happy, a photo you have always liked an use an app that can place a positive self-affirmation or quote over the photo.
  5. Make a list of your closest friends: for each person, write a couple of sentences about each person on why you are friends, why you like them so much. It is said that we are a product of our five closest friends, so the positive attributes you see in them are most likely also seen in YOU.
  6. Think about 10 years from now: when something seems hard or I’m feeling down about something small I may have done wrong, I like to remind myself, “Will this REALLY matter 10 years from now?” Remember a test you failed miserably in high school, and thought it would ruin your life, having done so poorly on it? No? Of course you don’t.
  7. Reframe negative thoughts: put a positive ending on each one. You made a mistake yes, but what did you learn from it?
  8. Phone a friend: the best way to stop obsessing over your own shortcomings is to get outside yourself. Call a friend and inquire about their day, get THEM talking and truly listen.
  9. Cut yourself some slack: are you trying to do much? Are you rushing through things because the to-do list seems overwhelming? Move some of the day’s tasks to three days from now. The earth won’t stop turning.
  10. Put it in perspective: ok, you made a mistake. While your screw up may feel like the end of the world to you, think of how many people truly don’t care? How many don’t even know about it and never will? We are just a small part of a much larger world – teach that inner critic some perspective.

You CAN break this cycle. And you CAN start right now. Let me know in the comments some of the tips that have helped YOU when the inner critic gets too loud.

————————————————————

Lucy Rendler-KaplanLucy Rendler-Kaplan is a marketing veteran, with close to 17 years experience in field marketing management public relations and social media marketing. Both in-house and as a consultant, Lucy has created, developed and managed marketing projects for organizations including: Red Bull North America, ONE Coconut Water, Camel and Ethos Water, to name a few.

Most recently, Lucy has left corporate America to work as a consultant, focusing on small businesses and start-ups to design effective social media and marketing strategies to jumpstart brand growth. In addition to strategic business development efforts, she directs media relations, branding, advertising and website development.

As a social media consultant, Lucy works with companies in auditing their current social media efforts and creating a comprehensive social media strategy that aligns company-wide objectives through social business practices.

With an early background in journalism, Lucy regularly contributes to a number of NFL and music blogs, as well as her own, with a diverse focus encompassing Lucy’s passion not only for networking and marketing but also for fitness. She spends her free time honing her photography skills, running and watching an excessive amount of true crime shows.

Let’s connect! Twitter & Linkedin

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

5 Email Essentials for Any Small Business By @bytracyj

by Leave a Comment

bytracyj woman at computer email essentials

by Tracy Jensen | Featured Contributor

Because most of us work at least partially in the online space, if not entirely, our emails are often the initial point of contact with a potential customer, and leave that critical first impression. It is how we conduct the majority of our communications, where we pitch new projects, and accordingly, where clients decide our value – both in services and how much we deserve to be paid.

Because of that, here are 5 non-negotiables for even the leanest businesses.

1. Have a professional email address.

Stop using free personal email platforms for work. Just as Steph Calvert commented about why investing in your website design matters, consider your competition. When others in your field are presenting a professional virtual storefront through their messaging, what impression does your business@comcast.net email address provide in comparison?

The financial investment is only a few dollars each month, which is much more affordable than losing business to someone who appears more on their game. Even better, you can still use your personal platforms to check these messages. I have five different email addresses from various platforms that all forward directly into my Gmail, and are tagged by account automatically.

2. Sign with style – and include a call to action.

Any time you send an email, you have the opportunity to drive action for your business. This can be anything:

  • Collect newsletter signups
  • Close new business through a promotional offer
  • Spotlight a social media platform

There are a number of websites you can use to build visually appealing templates that will render correctly across email providers. My personal preference is WiseStamp. The templates and optional fields offer plenty of versatility, and I can create multiple signatures – so I have a different one for each of those five email addresses I mentioned.

Here are a couple of ways that I use my signature. For my personal account, I have a note that asks people to keep me in mind if someone needs marketing services.

bytracyj email signature 1

In my business email signature, I include both an opportunity to sign up for my newsletter and a free product trial.

bytracyj email signature 2

3. Consider your customers’ questions first.

When you send marketing messages and newsletters to current and potential clients, consider why it matters to them. You may have a new product or service for which you are trying to gain visibility, but sending out information and a promotional offer is not enough. Always frame your messages from the viewpoint of your clients: Why do – or should – they care? What problem are you solving for them?

4. Keep it simple.

Constant Contact analyzed over 2 million customer emails and found that messages with 3 or fewer images and approximately 20 lines of text were most successful. Still sending out a lengthy eNewsletter? If your open and click-thru rates are faltering, it might be time to test more succinct, segmented messages.

5. Consider your platform.

If you’re sending marketing emails and/or newsletters to your customers on a consistent basis, you should absolutely be using a platform that can provide branded templates, include unsubscribe features (which are legally required) and include metrics to track how successful your efforts are.

There is a broad range of email platforms available for businesses of every size and budget. Not sure where to start looking? Two of the most common for small businesses are Constant Contact and MailChimp, depending on the services and integrations that you need.

———————————————————

Tracy JensenTracy Jensen is Founder and CEO of Frizz Marketing, a Chicago-based marketing firm. Tracy has over 15 years of experience in communications, branding and community outreach. Through Frizz, her focus is helping small businesses and nonprofits extract their central identity and voice, cultivating compelling and authentic content. Her specialties are strategy, email marketing and content creation.

Equally content in front of a group as she is typing from her home office, Tracy has spoken on a variety of topics from social media to fundraising tactics. As a writer, she has contributed to a range of platforms, including BlogHer, EverydayFamily, Mamalode, Scary Mommy, and BonBon Break.

A single mother to two, Tracy believes the only limitations to success are the voices within our own heads. When in doubt, fresh air, a good cup of coffee and a book can cure just about anything.

Tracy loves talking with other entrepreneurs. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

25 Places to Find Free (and Legal) Photos for Your Blog and Social Media

by 10 Comments

25 Places to Find Free (and legal) Photos for Your Blog

by Melissa Stewart

Where can you find free, good quality images that are cleared to use for your blog posts or social media content? I find myself asking this question a lot! Finding good looking and relevant photos for the posts on She Owns It can be exhausting!

So, what do you do if you want to keep it legal but don’t have an iStock budget?

Below we’ve compiled a list of sites that will help you make your blog or social media feed look great, at absolutely no cost!

So what resources are you using for stock photography? We’d love to know your favorite or sites we missed. Let us know in the comments!

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post

The One Workflow You Can’t Live Without by @GAllenTC

by 2 Comments

Photo by Tina Franklin

Photo by Tina Franklin

by Gayle Allen | Featured Contributor

As an entrepreneur, you’re driven and self-directed. You’re used to hacking solutions, building systems, and creating workflows for all aspects of your business.

But in your efforts to scale and respond quickly, you may be overlooking the most important workflow of all. It’s the one with the greatest return on investment for you and your clients.

It’s your workflow for learning!

I spent the past year studying how innovative and productive entrepreneurs achieve their success. While their workflows change over time, the one they hold onto, and even enhance, is their learning workflow. In fact, they find that carving out as little as five minutes a day helps them:

  • Recharge by connecting with new people and ideas
  • Anticipate trends within and across industries
  • Flag articles for content marketing
  • Gain social currency by sharing what’s and noteworthy
  • Offer practical value to current and prospective customers

It’s a workflow centered on three key activities — scanning, studying, and sharing. I’ve simplified it to a three-step process you can set up in minutes:

  1. Scanning: Create your customized newsfeed using online tools like Feedly or Flipboard. Choose from their list of topics and then add sites you typically browse. Schedule at least five minutes a day to scan your feed. Notice topics and trends that keep popping up. Is there an article that someone in your network might enjoy?
  1. Studying: Certain articles will be so helpful that you’ll want do a deeper dive. A tool like Evernote will let you archive, highlight, and take notes quickly and easily and you can use it while you’re scanning your feed. You can organize articles by topic and then tag them in ways that make it easy to sort ideas, quotes, and information for writing and marketing.
  1. Sharing: A learning workflow lets you share practical tips and information with current clients and helps others see you as an expert. Tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, and MeetEdgar let you organize, schedule, and track the impact of what you share. You can easily link social media accounts, so that learning and marketing go hand in hand.

To stay competitive in a global economy that’s changing faster than ever, you’ve got to keep learning. By creating an efficient workflow you can quickly access every day, you can boost your own learning and, at the same time, offer value to the people you serve.

———————————————————

Gayle AllenGayle Allen is an entrepreneur with a passion for connecting people to innovative ideas that improve their lives.

She is a founding member of the leadership team and Chief Learning Officer at BrightBytes, a company that’s garnered dozens of awards for improving the way the world learns. She’s also the founder and host of Curious Minds, the leading podcast on innovation that features global leaders rethinking life and work.

Gayle earned her MBA in Global Innovation from MIT and her doctorate in adult learning from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she served as an adjunct professor. She’s the author of The New Pillars of Modern Teaching, a book that offers an innovative vision for learning in the modern age. Gayle’s writing has been featured in leading publications, such as MindShift and NPR.

Connect with Gayle on her website, on LinkedIn, and on Twitter.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post