Online Marketing | Solo Mompreneur

Is It Too Risky To Change Horses Midstream And Shift The Focus Of Your Business?

I don’t know. But I’m about to find out.

Have you ever felt like your online marketing business is in transition or maybe you need to go back to the drawing board and reassess your focus, your purpose, or your goals?

Change is inevitable in life and I’m finding the same to be true in business.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been reaching out to single mom entrepreneurs who want to start an online business and those that are struggling to achieve success in their current business. I love my niche and it’s become a very comfortable nesting place for me. After all, I’ve been a single mom for almost two decades and I have mounds of online marketing experience so I feel justified in deeming myself an expert in my niche.

Good for me, right? So why would I consider the notion of changing horses midstream? Why take such a risk?

I have tremendous compassion and a sincere affinity for mom entrepreneurs. I’m a nurturer by nature and nothing makes me happier than helping others – especially moms. But in the process, I’ve discovered I’m shortchanging myself by disregarding a lifelong passion with thirty years experience attached.

So what am I getting at here? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Plan, Following Your Passion, Moms in Business, Niche marketing, Online Marketing Tagged With: Internet business success, Marketing your services online

Business Building Strategy – Smaller Is Better

By Melanie Kissell 9 Comments

You might suspect this post is about …

Chunking down your bigger projects into smaller, more manageable bite-size tasks for better organization and to help you stay on track.

Or …

Having a smaller number of words in your blog posts than most other bloggers doesn’t mean your message is any less powerful or has any less impact on your readers.

Or …

Instead of trying to accomplish some daunting, humongous goal – having a series of smaller goals leading up to that giant one is a more sensible approach.

But …

It’s none of the above. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogging, Building relationships online, List Building, Making money on the internet, Online Marketing, Small business owners, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking Tagged With: Blogging, Internet business success, List building, Social Media

Blogging for Dollars

By Melanie Kissell 12 Comments

Almost any day of the week you’ll find someone online who’s asking, “How do I monetize my blog?” or “What’s the best way to make money with my business blog?”

Here’s the way I would answer those questions and go ahead and throw rotten eggs at me if you wish.

“Stop thinking about the money.”

“Stop focusing on blogging for dollars.”

Instead …

Continually strive to improve your writing skills
Reach out and brainstorm with fellow bloggers
Link to other people’s posts
Better your best freebie offer and give it away on your blog
Invite people to do guest posting
Deliver clear and consistent marketing messages
Reward your commenters
Visit blogs in your niche and build community
Understand the needs of your target audience
Strut your stuff with personal flair
Ask others how you can help

How are you monetizing your blog?

Filed Under: Blogging, Making money on the internet, Online Marketing, Social Media Marketing Tagged With: Blogging, Improve your writing skills, Internet business success, Marketing your services online, Monetize your blog

I Met The Fly Lady

By Melanie Kissell 4 Comments

I got an email from Michelle Shaeffer the other day with her link to Help For Work At Home Moms.

I love being on Michelle’s list and if you haven’t experienced the joy yet, subscribe as fast as you can! And I hope you’ll trust me when I tell you I don’t make that kind of remark about all the online marketers I meet.

You can stop reading right now and head on over there if you want … I’ll be here when you get back. Blogland isn’t going anywhere.

Anyway, I clicked Michelle’s link and discovered the Fly Lady. What a treat!

I also discovered a free e-course she’s offering called “10 Days of Crock Pot Tips and Recipes”. Yum.

This is the time of year when I pull my crock pot out from the back of the shelf and put that baby into action!

Fall is my favorite season (I like to call it “sweater weather”) and it’s the time of year when I like to make nice, warm, hearty meals. Turkey chili, beef stew, and chicken soup are three of my favorites.

Back to the Fly Lady …

She’s got that magnetic southern charm and warmth everyone loves, a mile-long list of organizational tips, down-to-earth videos that are funny, too, and an easy, sensible approach to helping you tackle everything from paper clutter all over your house to how to have a shiny kitchen sink.

It’s great to have friends like Michelle Shaeffer who care enough to send a resource like the Fly Lady. What are your friends and social media contacts sending you these days?

Filed Under: Blogging, Building relationships online, Moms in Business, Online Marketing Tagged With: Blogging, Crock Pot Recipes and Tips, FlyLady, Michelle Shaeffer, Social Media

Best Way To Communicate With Your Audience

By Melanie Kissell 12 Comments

To tap into the needs of your target audience and ramp up your marketing results …

Communication is the key.

Of course, there are many ways to “talk” to your prospects, clients, and customers.

Are you aware of how your target audience prefers to communicate?

Figuring that out is the cherry on the ice cream sundae!

Your audience may prefer to communicate with you by:

Email
Phone Call
Text Messaging
Hard Copy Newsletter
Social Media
Video
Podcast
Ezine
Direct Response Mail

A “best practice” for marketing your products or services is “Test Before Invest” – and that could mean an investment of either time or money or both. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Building relationships online, Customer Care, Email Marketing, Ezines, Online Marketing, Online newsletters, Podcasting, Social Media Marketing Tagged With: Communication, Customer Care, Customer Service, Email Marketing, Ezines, Internet business success, Marketing your services online, Podcasting

Let The Tomato Throwing Commence!

By Melanie Kissell 4 Comments

You may not agree with what I’m about to say, and that’s okay.

Because when it comes to making money online, you have to do whatever floats your boat – whatever works for you.

Most every online marketing expert teaches this two-step process for having tremendous success with your business:

1.) Identify problems people are having.

2.) Offer (sell) them the solutions.

Sounds great and it’s not bad advice.

Millions of people turn to the internet every day searching for solutions to everything from acne to a zipper that’s stuck. It’s just a fact of life.

Someone who’s suffering with back pain in the middle of the night doesn’t go to their local emergency room anymore – without checking the internet FIRST – hoping to find some information that will bring them relief.

Can you prosper from selling solutions to back pain and a myriad of other problems people are having? Absolutely – if that’s what floats your boat.

I lean in that “other” direction. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogging, Build an online empire, Following Your Passion, Making money on the internet, Online Marketing Tagged With: Blogging, Internet business success, Marketing your services online, Online Success

Dress Your Brand For Success

By Melanie Kissell 12 Comments

I have to laugh when someone asks me, “What does an online marketer put on to dress for success?”

And my reply is, “Uh … Pajamas? Jeans? Gee, I don’t really know what other people wear while they’re sitting in front of their computers. I usually wear whatever’s clean and comfortable.”

You obviously don’t need an extensive (or expensive) wardrobe when you work from home.

Of course, you’ll need to change out of your pajamas if you’re attending a networking meet-up or live event. I’m pretty sure they won’t let you through the door in sleepwear – so I’ve heard.

You can feel free to be a casually-dressed online marketer, but how about your brand?

Are you dressing your brand for success? Or is it in need of a makeover or maybe some enhancing? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brand yourself online, Building relationships online, Customer Care, Email Marketing, Online Marketing, Write a book Tagged With: Customer Care, Marketing your services online, Online Success, Testimonials, Write a book, Your personal brand

Plan To Market Wisely Or Plan To Go Down The Tubes

By Melanie Kissell 9 Comments

Did you know there’s over 100 marketing platforms you can take advantage of to build your business and your brand, even if you’re on a $0 budget?

It’s true!

BUT … here’s the catch:

You won’t experience a lick of success in your marketing efforts unless you choose platforms you sincerely enjoy working and ones that fit into your schedule and lifestyle.

I’ll give you an example …

My friend and newbie online marketing pro, Sheila Atwood, of Newbie Lifeline has experienced tremendous success building her business by utilizing forums as a marketing platform. I envy her and I think that’s awesome!

Give yourself the gift of getting to know Sheila and let her give you some tips about adding forums to your marketing plan.

For me, forums wouldn’t be a good choice. Why? It’s not because I don’t enjoy meeting new people in my target audience, learning about what others in my niche are doing, networking with like-minded business professionals, or striking up interesting and vibrant conversations that, ultimately, direct people back to my website or blog.

Who wouldn’t love THAT?!

However, forums wouldn’t work for me because I don’t have the amount of time and devotion needed to make them work. In addition to my online business, I work outside the home, as well, and my offline commitments eat into a BIG chunk of my week.

A better choice for me, considering my schedule and lifestyle, would be blogging and social media venues. And I’m happy to say these two arenas are where I’ve experienced the greatest success in my marketing efforts.

If your curiosity is piqued, your budget is tight, and you’d like to find out more about over 100 marketing platforms, just download a Free Shoestring Marketing Kit.

Which marketing platforms do you enjoy the most? Which ones are working best for you?

Filed Under: Blogging, Building relationships online, Online Marketing Tagged With: Forums, Free marketing tools, Internet business success, Marketing platforms, Marketing your services online, Shoestring Marketing, Social Media

Your Blog is Your Best Attraction Tool

By Melanie Kissell 4 Comments

Every success-minded online marketing entrepreneur, business coach, consultant, self-employed professional, and freelancer needs a blog.

Here’s an equation I learned from Lexi Rodrigo that demonstrates the foundational components of online marketing success:

BLOG + EMAIL MARKETING = PROFITABLE ONLINE BIZ

Your business blog is your most powerful tool for attracting prospects, clients, customers, and even joint venture partners because:

1) It’s a platform for showcasing your talents, skills, and specialized knowledge. It puts you center stage in the spotlight!

2) It encourages interaction and builds community with people who share common interests, objectives, and goals. It’s the perfect place for your target audience to hang out, enjoy the view, and gather some helpful tips, resources, and expert information from you.

3) It’s a place to share the need for and demonstrate the results others have experienced from using your products and/or services. Case studies and product reviews are two of the most popular and most attractive types of blog posts.

4) It’s easy to use and provides you a central location for your online marketing and networking efforts. From all other locations on the internet, always strive to send people back to your blog to gather more information on a topic, subscribe to your list, or learn more about you and what you have to offer.

Your blog is the hub of all your business-building activities. What are some ways you are making your blog a strong magnet?