Archive for the ‘Marketing Inspiration’ Category

Being Consistent for a Year: My New Years (Inspired) Resolution

Friday, January 1st, 2010
Always glad to see you back! If we haven't connected yet on Twitter or Facebook - be sure and add me when you get a chance :) Make it a good one!

For me there’s no other day quite so excellent and free of … well … free of all things unpleasant as the first day of a New Year.

Or maybe it’s this New Year.

As is my typical m.o. … there’s plenty on the ‘ol plate

And yet somehow I’m feeling completely relaxed and confident that everything will unfold perfectly.

Plus this morning, while Skyping with my friend Mark, I had an inspired moment that is well suited to a New Years resolution.

Now, I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions - it’s always seemed kind of silly to me to wait around a whole year to refresh, revisit and renew again.

Why not do it every month?

Or every week?

Or every day?

After all, every day’s a new day isn’t it??

And if you think about it - that’s just ’cause our planet spins the way it spins - basically an equally random indicator of when to start fresh.

That said - I have a New Year’s resolution and it’s kind of nice and tidy to start on the first day of the year and commit to going right on through the end.

I’ve long been envious of people who have a year of daily something under their belt.

There’s the crockpot lady who loves her crockpot so much she decided to cook everyday for a year with it.

Nice idea, but I neither own a crockpot nor love cooking in one… cooking in general just isn’t a first choice activity for me.

And another cooking every day for a year story - I just watched “Julie and Julia” …

Really enjoyed it especially the part where Julia is trying to find her own niche - her calling. I laughed out loud when Meryl Streep said something on the order of - ‘What do I love? I love to eat.’

Now THAT I can relate to.

But I’ve never quite known what it was I might be able to do every day for 365 days in a row - well nothing that’s not involuntary anyway - lol.

What would keep my interest day in and day out?

What would I not blow off?

And this morning - on Skype - it came out of the tips of my fingers and into the chat without even really thinking about it and I knew it was exactly the right idea for me.

Starting today - and for the next 364 days (this isn’t a leap year is it?) - I’ll be sending out appreciation and acknowledgment by sending out a greeting card everyday.

Just because I can.

And without any concern for what might come back to me.

I want to do this so it becomes a ritual.

One that my children can be a witness to - and maybe embrace for themselves. (I already have one card sender among the three of them - she’s writing some amazing stuff … a 7yo sending her love out across the Internet and into people’s hearts)

The act of physically sending out appreciation every day.

What a cool habit to develop.

Though I don’t ‘expect’ anything, I already know that the Universe will return in kind.

And the momentum will be simply amazing.

What sort of New Years resolutions did you make this year?

Would love to hear :)

I appreciate you!

Andrea

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Posted in Featured Posts, Law of Attraction, Marketing Inspiration, Personal Development | 2 Comments »

How’re Your Hubpages Hangin’?

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

Getting organic search traffic on Google is something that many people wish they knew how to do, but very few are actually teaching. I have two favorite (excellent) resources for learning just exactly what to do and how to do it, which I’ll share below.

Got this question about Hubpages recently - and figured my reply should help more than just one person (name changed for privacy) :)

Chris wrote:

[note: he's talking about one of our many online marketing trainings for home business]

I watched the webinar on Hub Pages like 4 times and I did 4 hub pages and all 4 landed on either the first of second page of google in like an hour. They stayed there for like 3 day’s and now they are all gone? I can’t even find them under my keyword how do you make them stay on Google and where did it go.

The keyword I’m talking about is the one I used in my title and description and I also have like 25 different other keyword tags…

Thanks

And I replied:

Hi there Chris -

They do get an initial boost from Hubpages and then Google
takes the time to decide if they’re really on target for the
phrase that you’ve chosen.

As with all things Google, their ways are a bit of a mystery … but
here are a few of the things that make Google ‘happy’:

  1. The phrase in your title and in a hyperlink on your hub need
    to match the keyword you’re shooting for.
  2. Quality content.
  3. Other sites linking to your hub with via the same phrase
    (aka. backlinking).

You should also understand that while Google is figuring out
where it really wants to rank your hubs, it’s not unusual for
them to become completely de-indexed… and then reappear later.

I’m gonna assume you covered the first two and what’s really
left is getting backlinks enough to ‘beat out’ the other sites
ahead of you. Getting quality keyword backlinks (and enough of
them) will make your hubs and articles ’sticky’ on Google.

Hope this helps!

Andrea

It Really is Just That Simple

It really does boil down to just those three things. There’s nothing that impresses Google like a high quality keyword related backlink ;-)

Of course - picking a phrase that people will actually search for (so you get targeted traffic) is another big piece of the puzzle … I highly recommend One Week Marketing and the lessons my friend Jackie and I  createsd to go with it if getting ranked on Google is something you’re wanting to master.

Make it a great day!

Andrea

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What Are YOU Planning?

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

I’ve always found it tough to bridge the gap between the way I think and the way people who think things happen to them think.

It’s like we’re speaking two completely different languages … which I guess we really are.

Or maybe it’s more like same language different interpretations. No doubt everyone sees the world through their own lens.

Magnifying Glass
Image by Clover_1 via Flickr

Today this came - often I find Abraham a little outside my comprehension zone - too abstract or something … but not today:

Whatever you’re thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you’re worrying, you are planning. When you’re appreciating you are planning… What are you planning?

— Abraham

Wow - could it get much clearer than that?

Thinkin’ not.

I appreciate you (even writing it here is planning, eh?),
Andrea

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Why Adding Value Works and 3 (Simple) Ways You Can Begin Today

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Where to begin - well we’ll start at a blog video that I recently watched on Jonathan Budd’s blog that really had a good take away for me.

It was all about getting in touch with your ‘Inner Teacher’ and looking inward for answers rather than outward for the answers … stuff like that. Now I have a tough time getting (intentionally) too terribly deep and introspective but there was still a HUGE take-away for me.

The upshot of it was this:

“You haven’t helped anyone until you’ve helped them not need your help”

Now some people might hear that and scoff - ’cause  it sounds then like the goal is to always be working your way out of a job. And I guess that sort of fear might creep in IF you were either bad at attracting new people or unwilling to reinvent the value you bring.

And actually, that’s by far the easiest way to bring continuous value - be willing to always be learning and also share it enthusiastically.

YES we should become good at both sourcing new traffic to our marketing funnels and always expanding our value to others …  but we already know that it’s WAY easier to re-serve an existing customer than it is to source a new one. That’s why listbuilding is such a critical part of any marketer’s equation and bottom line.

Adding value is what makes that list relationships last.

So, I had a new twitter friend ask me yesterday about how to go about “constantly creating value” and I thought I’d address that here by sharing three rock solid ways you can begin today:

–> Way to Add Value #1 - Share something you learned yesterday.

Sometimes I think we fail to realize just HOW much we take in and how completely people appreciate it when others short cut the learning curve for them. Could be something as simple as how to reply on twitter or come up with an article topic. This is a case of ‘little things’ really can mean a lot.

–> Way to Add Value #2 - Make ‘em laugh.

There are very few people who don’t like a honest to goodness belly laugh.  But like anything else - searching for funny stuff is no where near as satisfying as hitting just the good things. Consider becoming a dependable source of things that really really make you grin.

–> Way to Add Value #3 - Send them to other great resources.

Yep that’s right - you can be valuable by just being an info ‘aggregator’ of sorts. Become known as the go-to person for all things “(name-your-topic)” and people who are also interested in that topic will be drawn to you automatically as word spreads.

So I guess my point it this - adding value works (and causes you to stand out) because it’s not about you - it’s about the wants and needs of others.  Ask yourself this - will someone be able to take what I put out there and readily share it with others?

  • If it’s nothing but an ill disguised link to your opp - highly doubt it.
  • If it’s all about you and not about them - chances are slim to none.
  • If you’re talking at them (rather than to them) and are way off their radar topic-wise (bible thumping door knockers and dinner-time telemarketers come to mind for me here) … you’re clearly not targeting your market right.

Help Them Not Need Your Help

Give them what they want - you’ll be golden - you’ll see :)

Andrea

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I Wasn’t on the Fence But I Was Kinda Surprised …

Monday, June 22nd, 2009
stealing on flickr continues...
Image by lovelypetal via Flickr

A funny thing happened along the path to make my first video (ever :-o).

See, I got to the “I wanna add a little music” part; you know - at the beginning and the end during the credits (my first round with Windows Movie maker has opened Pandoras box btw - LOVE it) … and it turns out that audio is a whole lot harder to find for free online than images.

I did find a site I’d sorta taken notice of awhile ago that has very affordable music clips as well as graphics and other cool stuff available to purchase direct from the creators. I’ll probably go back there and pick something as my ‘theme’.

(When I told my 15yo that I’m gonna have a jingle - she laughed - LOL)

I did get pointed to a site whose name would lead you to believe that their music is free, but when I read the fine print, their stuff is only free for personal family type work shared by email (for example) - and NO uploading to websites without paying an annual license fee.

Oop, that was the whole object of the exercise. Which is a shame ’cause I’d already picked something really cool and added it to my video.

(Needless to say I had to replace it with something else.)

But here’s where the surprise comes in.

Call me naive but I felt certain the person who sent me to that site couldn’t have known that the music doesn’t have a free license for use on websites - but when I PMed her about it - she “shrugged”.

Hmm…

Well, so I did what I felt was “the right thing” for my waiting video but at the same time I kinda questioned … “could this be one of those ‘it’s easier to beg forgiveness later’ kinda things?” - was I just being TOO straight laced?

The next day the answer came.

A loud and extremely clear message (okay it was a rant) from Larry Winget by way of Michel Fortin’s blog.

The upshot of it? (and I should have been able to be clear on this myself being an artist from birth - guess we all need reinforcement now and again, eh?) - it reinforced a simple truth…

The use of intellectual property without consent is stealing.

Doesn’t matter if you “haven’t had any issues with that yet”

That is still one of the 10 commandments, yeah?

Pretty sure ;-)
Andrea

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Which Comes First? The Inside Work or the Material Comfort?

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Sign of Abundance
Image by incurable_hippie via Flickr

Here’s what started this:

“When all basic needs are met true self development stands a chance of abundance of the spiritual kind.”

That was waiting for me on my facebook wall this morning …

And it’s not an uncommon way of thinking.

My friend John, for example, is the King of “If I hadda” and “Yeah but” - he’s gotten way better about this over the years, but it was always amazing how many different ways he could put obstacles in his own path - and have most of them be basically in his own head.

  • If I hadda certain tool, then I could get the job done.
  • Yeah but even if I did have that tool, I still need the free time to do it properly.
  • If I hadda chance to do the things I want to do, I would be happier.
  • Yeah but good things never happen to guys like me “they” won’t let it.
  • If I hadda bank roll I could get the things that I want/need.
  • Yeah but I’m not built like that - I can’t get a break to save my life.
  • If I hadda different life, wouldn’t things be just peachy

Yeah but - I’m skeptical …

I believe that if he were handed everything that he wants/needs there are two ways it could go.

  1. First, if it weren’t strictly controlled by outside arrangements, it would be squandered in a very short matter of time.
  2. Second, he’d still be discontent. Unable to appreciate the things he does have (to me) says that no matter what he has, that appreciation factor will still be missing.

So back to the statement on my Facebook wall this morning:

“When all basic needs are met true self development stands a chance of abundance of the spiritual kind.”

See I think that’s almost a catch 22 in a way - it can be that when personal development happens, the physical wants and needs get met and then some.

And on the other hand, I know an awful lot of ’starving’ artists and deep thinkers - so there has to be more to abundant financial/material flow than just “inside work”, yeah?

Seems like the real puzzle piece is being of value to others AND being able to take action to package yourself in a way that others recognize that value - and second part to that is being a willing participant in the material ebb and flow (which is a point where A LOT of people have fear and stuck points, eh??)

Which takes me to this - (probably why I’m working on a personal branding project and have been invited to offer up my coaching efforts to another…) - where we can help people is with the packaging and presentation (ie. the branding and the marketing ) and though we can present and expose them to the personal development that will bring the lasting growth, that’s all that can be done.

The rest has to come from inside.

THEY have to weigh how much they want change to happen and then they have to take action to do the inside work to get there. What’re you willing to do today …

It’s the old “We’re only given as much as we can handle” in action - so when we can handle more, we never seem to fail to get it … funny how that works.

Don’t ya’ think?

Appreciate you!

Andrea

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I just met Peter Drucker

Monday, May 18th, 2009

I’m a quote lover.

Thanks to Eben Pagan - I’ve just met Peter Drucker.

Some pretty amazing quotes are attributed to Peter Drucker:

The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells itself.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.

Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action..

My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

Suppliers and especially manufacturers have market power because they have information about a product or a service that the customer does not and cannot have, and does not need if he can trust the brand. This explains the profitability of brands.

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.

Any of those work especially well for you today?

Andrea

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Are You Showing up With Everything You’ve Got?

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

From Tony to Jayson to Jodie to me to you … this is excellent timing for me and I hope it will be for you as well. YES you’re seeing right - it’s an hour long … and super glad I took the time to soak it up.

I turned 42 on the 22nd of last month and I’m for sure feeling the effects of “the need to intervene” - especially in the physical arena lately.

Funny to think that I’m 12 years into the decline that he speaks of  ’cause that’s right about the time that I began my Internet adventure - no lack of ‘brain stretching’ and personal development since then, eh??. At that time marketing via. bulletin boards and mailing lists (something like Yahoo groups today - anyone remember Govinda??) was all the rage.

My my how times have changed and me right along with it. Here’s to showing up with everything we’ve got :)

Oh and finding a way (other than time) to get more done - focusing on and leveraging energy … am making HUGE headway personally using the training in this system:

MLM Lead Getting

Appreciate you!

Andrea

PS. There’s a “Personal Energy Audit” about 20 mins in - I’m a 7 … puts me at about 50% capacity … how ’bout you?

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John Carlton and Jo Han Mok Just Collided in My Head

Monday, March 30th, 2009

363748365_84e4baa834

No this isn’t some “Being John Malcovich” moment I’m having - lol.

For about a week, I tossed around and chewed on an email that @Mike Morgan sent me (well, not me - his list - grin) promoting John Carlton’s freelance course (appreciate it enough to use his affiliate link here - wow that’s something huh??)

I was torn. Really torn.

It was partly the price (even though it’s an amazing value for the money) -’cause I don’t yet have $600 just to toss around. That shouldn’t be the measure of whether I invest in something anyway. ROI should.

So I thought about it some more. (more…)

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7 Henry Ford Quotes that Inspire Me

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Henry Ford
Image via Wikipedia

There are a whole lotta quotes in this world that inspire me - and some come from the most unusual of places - (for a NYC raised, multi-racial,  art & craft lovin’, thinkin’ I got it all figured out kinda girl like me - anyway).

Henry Ford immediately comes to mind :)

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the man who though his vehicle was - well - vehicles, is someone who I am proud to be more like than different:

(more…)

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Do Dudes Have More Fun Making Money?

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Like plenty of other people - been watching a bunch of Perry Belcher vids on social networking - can you say one super excited dude? There’s one in particular I want to share with you.

Seems to me like most of the ‘guru’ level folks are guys  - seem that way to you too? Or is it maybe that’s just who I’m gravitating towards somehow?

(more…)

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Developing Our 1st Quarter Outcome

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

For his recent launch of infomillionaire.com, Frank Kern made a video that I believe was a tipping point for me personally.

Truly – no lie. It’s that big of a deal.

I’ve watched it with rapt attention 3 times already and I’ll probably watch it again just as many. Could be just a flash in the pan “student was ready moment” – but I don’t think so. Little something for everyone in there.

There were lots of points about it that struck me and left a permanent mark.

(more…)

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