Getting Started with WordPress

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You've probably been hearing a lot about WordPress as a platform for blogs and websites. And you've likely been curious about how WordPress might work for your business. On the other hand, you may be worried that it is perhaps too technical to "do-it-yourself." Once you have WordPress installed you add a theme and then add your content and images. But you may want to know how you would get WordPress installed so you can get to work. Now, getting started is easier than turning on your … [Read more...]

The Clock Is Ticking—Are You Ready?

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Facebook Timeline Goes Live for ALL Fan Pages on March 30 I must confess. I didn’t willingly jump on the Facebook Timeline bandwagon. I went there grumbling. Sometimes as a communication consultant, I’m forced to go places sooner than I would otherwise in order to guide my clients through the process. Once there, however, I find there are some treasures to be found. Such is the case with Facebook’s Timeline. Soon that choice will be no longer. Whether you want to or not, you’ll be … [Read more...]

You Can’t Be a Laurel Sitter in a “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” World

Now, yesterday, and tomorrow words on blackboard

Laurel sitting can creep up on people, companies, and teams. It's the condition of resting on one's laurels – accolades, awards, education, training and experience, among other things  – of the past instead of keeping them current, fresh. Here, for example, is how one coach described it: “We rested on last year’s laurels. Other teams came right at us and we did not respond to that.” Wayne Cafferty Laurel snatching can happen, too. And it can happen when you least … [Read more...]

Take Time to Make 2012 a Success

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How are those New Years’ Resolutions going for you?   Have you managed to exercise every day?  Cut out that mid-morning coffee-and-pastry break? While most Americans make personal resolutions, as a consultant I believe it’s even more important to set tangible business goals each year. My favorite time to do just that is WIC’s annual Energize Your Business workshop.  We dedicate an entire morning to a holistic evaluation of our businesses, from the nitty-gritties of administration to … [Read more...]

Make the most of harvest season…in your business, too

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It’s harvest season. That’s true for people who make their living from the land. And it’s harvest season for you, too, as a business owner and consultant. These six weeks from mid-September through the end of October can be golden, and one of the highest productivity times of the year. That’s because, among other things: - The pressure’s on if you have annual goals that you still need to meet (and most of us do). - There’s still time to adjust to the … [Read more...]

Five ways you may be getting in your own way

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What stops you, or your team, from achieving your goals? You might be surprised by the answer. Sometimes the biggest reason you're blocked from achieving success is...you. Do you scoff at the mere possibility that this is true? First, think back on difficult times and experiences. Perhaps these were times when: - You became overwhelmed - Your work - or life - became excessively complex - You fell short of your goals and expectations Now, consider how, and why these … [Read more...]

Are you earning what you’re worth? Take the quiz.

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It's probably safe to say that most of us would like to boost our incomes. How do you do that without burning  yourself out? How do you break the income barrier, especially when the economy is poor, unemployment is high, there are many consultants competing for the same business, and clients are trimming budgets? Perhaps you've wondered why some consultants maintain high incomes in good times and challenging ones. Take this simple quiz developed by Linda Popky, a million-dollar consultant … [Read more...]

3 Important Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Marketing

My husband and I are divers. We like to say, “Plan your dive, and dive your plan.” That may sound familiar to you in the work context: “Plan your work, and work your plan.” This axiom could not be truer than in marketing. Whether you’re marketing your own services, or those of your clients, there are three important questions to ask yourself on a semi-annual or annual basis. What am I doing to market my business? Write down everything you are doing to generate new business. … [Read more...]

SEO Concepts

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SEO has been around since the Search Engines were born.  Much has changed in that time and many business owners are more confused than ever.  So today I thought I would give a short review on the basic SEO concepts for today's online marketing world. Most people think about what their web site will look like. But if you want people to see your site, it needs to be listed at the top of the search results pages where people will find it. That means your web site has to be designed with plenty … [Read more...]

10 Ways To Increase Your Facebook Likes

Facebook Like Button

If you have a Facebook page for your business and want to increase Likes, here are some suggestions. Some are very basic (but work) and others will take a little more effort.  Here goes.. 1.       Send an email to your friends and family asking them to Like your Facebook page. Maybe they are not your target, but they will get your Likes up to make your page look more legitimate and may be more likely to comment/Like which is helpful to get interaction going on the page, and helps for … [Read more...]