Blogging Off Topic

One of the most challenging aspects of business blogging is deciding upon a topic.  Not only do I hear the many “reasons” (a.k.a. excuses) for not choosing a topic and sticking with it,  but I’ve uttered a few of them to myself along the way. Admittedly – it’s hard to stick to a tightly targeted […]

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First Impressions Mean Everything

It turns out the first impression your business makes on consumers may be the only impression you ever get a chance to make. Studies have shown that first impressions are actually more powerful than previously thought.  It’s possible our brains are actually wired so that the first impression made upon us by others actually become […]

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When is it time to stop business blogging?

Launching a business blog is an exciting time.  The opportunities that open up as a result of blogging for your business are positively staggering.  There’s no way to predict specifically how blogging will impact your business – but if you give blogging for your business a six month commitment – you will no doubt witness […]

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Business Blogging – Free Blogs vs “Your” blog

One of the great things about having a business blog is it allows people who visit to ask questions via the comments section.   Think of your business blog as an FAQ (frequently asked questions) page on steroids. Even if you have a “regular” website and even if that website has an FAQ page – a blog […]

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Great Opportunities Brilliantly Disguised

When you launch your business – your greatest opportunities will often be brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. I shared earlier the “impossible” situation Janet Simpson found herself in on your way to the top – you might fall down.  She finished her 5 mile race despite falling flat on her face and cracking several ribs.  […]

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On your way to the top – you might fall down

I’d like to introduce you to Janet Simpson.  She is a nutrition coach and registered dietitian.  However, she’s also  an entrepreneur, a professor, a mentor, a grandmother and tri-athlete.  She could have cut time from her first triathlon if she hadn’t stopped to hug and kiss her grandchildren who were there to cheer her on. […]

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Business Blogger – Know Your Audience

There’s no way for me to over emphasize how important it is to know your target audience.  It’s my experience that blogging without a target audience firmly in mind is one of the primary reasons why business blogs fails to make a”connection” with customers. In  the blog post “Telling Stories to Sell More Stuff” I gave an exaample of how the recent Allstate commercial […]

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Telling Stories to Sell More Stuff

Since the beginning of time, stories have been used to not only entertain but also to teach and even sell.   Blogs are a great vehicle for telling stories.  If you want to use your blog to sell products or your services, then it’s important to master the art of storytelling. I got an email from a beginning blogging […]

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Social Media’s Role in Branding

Before social media, branding was the buzzword of the marketing and advertising industry.  Like social media today – many in the “biz” were familiar with the term branding – but really didn’t “get” what it was really all about.  As a result a lot of “noise” has been made about branding which focuses upon the […]

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Blog posts and building trust with prospective customers

In Blogging, Authority and Trust I talk about how in order to gain access to a prospective customer’s emotional triggers you have to engender a level of “trust” with a prospective customer or client.   That level of trust begins as “trust” and can grow into “authority” with time. In “Trusting your Gut“I shared the word […]

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