It’s Day 7 of the “31 Days to Build a Better Blog” challenge, hosted by Lisbeth Tanz and Michelle Shaeffer …

… and I’m still upright and taking solids.  That’s a good sign!

Today’s task was to write a “link” post to put someone else in the spotlight and give a fellow blogger a little blog-linking love.

Well, since I just did that in my first sentence, I guess I’m done with my homework.

But I’m not one who’s known for being lazy, taking shortcuts, or looking for the easy peasy way out.

I love a good, stimulating challenge!  It’s not only good for the soul, but it also helps you to S-T-R-E-T-C-H as a solo professional.

So I’ve decided to take today’s link-posting task to a whole new level. I’ve got a pretty cool proposal for the members of 31DBBB.

If you can give me one good reason to link to you and your blog, I’ll do it!

First off, look over this list of topics that I like to cover on my blog:

• Shoestring Marketing Strategies
• Social Media Savvy
• Relationship Building
• Blogging
• Affiliate Marketing
• List Building
• Buzz and Branding
• Single Mom Entrepreneurs
• Outsourcing
• Improving Your Writing Skills
• Relaxation
• Personal Development
• Time Management

Have you written a blog post on any of these topics that would resonate with my target audience?  If so, then you’ve got a Great reason for me to link to you.

Just put your name and the title of your post in the comment box – no links, please – or your comment may end up in spam land.  Then head back over to the 31 DBBB “members blog” for Day 7, hit “reply” under my comment, post your link, and I’ll grab it there.

Happy to support the members of this challenge and I wonder who I’ll be linking to first?!

One of the core components of a book’s success is its Title.

Let’s face it, titles sell books, plus they make you famous. (Just ask Tim Ferris of “The Four Hour Work Week” fame).  He tested title after title until finding one he felt confident would sell. Things worked out pretty well for him, wouldn’t you agree?

But how do you know if your book’s title is a good one?

It’s a tricky situation.

The story goes that Tim tested his possible titles to his target market via Google Adwords and chose the one that received the most clicks knowing it would be a winner on the shelves.

Although it’s a great idea and seemed to work well for him, it can be an expensive proposition for the rest of us!

I can tell you that “guessing” on a title that sounds good to you and a few friends isn’t a good strategy. In fact it could be downright embarrassing if your title flops.

Now, however, there is a way you can test your book’s title with the help of a group of your peers, plus a book writing and publishing pro, to see if it has potential.

Donna Kozik of Write A Book In A Weekend is hosting a free call centered on the important topic of book titles.  And she’s making it fun with a “studio audience” of our peers voting on potential titles to say whether a title is “hot…or not.”

Donna is calling the free call “Title Idol” and you can find out all the details, plus get access to Donna’s “How to Determine a Winning Book Title” article here:  The Title of Your Book

Donna is promising to make this free call both fun and informative!

Today’s post is going to be a little different.

Recently, the good folks at BlogEnergizer.com offered to write any blog an exclusive interview so I said “Yes”.

My challenge was to come up with five interesting, attention-grabbing blogging questions.

And you know me!  I set out to come up with interview questions that I was sure no one else would ask.  Who wants dry and boring, right?!

So here are my five blogging questions and the responses from Lynette Chandler, team leader of Blog Energizer:

I would choose Contentrix or whatever is Alice Seba’s current project because she and I friends? no, that’s not why. I would still choose to follow her blog because she often has such great ideas and manages to pull it off in an unassuming, effortless and no pressure manner. She’s also very good at selling using her content. A skill I’ve been learning to do and continue to develop with her guidance.

Question 2: The pressure is on! You’ve entered an exciting blogging competition and there’s a tie between you and one other dynamo participant. The best answer to the following question will determine the winner. How would you answer, “Who are the better bloggers — Men or Women?”

Wow you’re trying to start war here. What a tight spot! You know I have to be partial and say women.

Were you looking for an explanation?

Question 3: You’ve been given a multiple choice test to gauge your expert knowledge of blogging. Are you going to select A, B, or C to the following question and why?

The BEST SEO strategy for blogging is:

A) Keyword research B) Latent semantic indexing C) High quality back links

What? No all of the above? Hmm I’m going to choose C but I’ve never been good at SEO anyhow. Don’t follow me for SEO information. That’s for sure but if you want blogging ideas, me, me me please

Question 4: In the arena of business blogging, we all know that stories sell, right? What story have you told on your blog that captured the attention of your target audience and immediately motivated them to make a purchase?

You know this is the one thing that I struggle with the most because of the topic of my flagship blogs they are very geeky. Notice I didn’t say technical because I do have some light posts in there but I know most of the time people are reading because they are looking for a technical solution or advise or tip. Not so much ‘soft’ information.

I do use stories in the format of case studies, for example, after spending hours figuring out a problem I would use the story/case study format to lead people to a solution or product. The ‘softer’ more lifestyle type stories would sometimes be put in emails rather than the blog. This way I keep my blog on topic. Once in a blue moon they do find their way onto the blog though.

Question 5: If you were stranded on an island (temporarily, of course – help is on the way), who’s the emergency blogging buddy you would trust in your absence to add fresh original content to your blog? (You did note someone on your emergency form, right?)

Uhm… what emergency blogging information? Ok, ok, if I have to choose, I’d have Kit Singleton who is also a member of the BlogEnergizer team I must add. Because she and I are kinda zany together, we also complete each others’ sentences very often which means we have that telepathic connection going on and that would be really handy when stranded on an island.

Have you enjoyed this interview? Then zoom on over and vote for it at http://blogenergizer.com/teip-vote/ I am sure Melanie would appreciate your support.

For those of you who head on over to Blog Energizer and give my interview questions a thumbs up — Thank You!

“I don’t like marketing” or “Marketing is too hard” is the mindset of many small business owners, especially those just starting out.

That’s a shame because marketing needs to be at the top of your priority list every day.  If you don’t plan on devoting the majority of your time to marketing your products or services, you may as well fold up your tent and leave camp!

Most of the time, a negative attitude toward marketing stems from misconceptions and a misunderstanding of the difference between advertising and marketing.

Let’s run through just seven (there are many more!) false impressions of marketing your business online:

1)  Marketing is a big bother and an interruption to
people.

Actually, that statement pertains to “advertising”, NOT marketing.
Television advertisements are bothersome, for example, because they
interrupt the viewing of a program.  I haven’t met anyone yet who’s said, “I
love T.V. commercials!”  Marketing is not a blatant “in your face” method of
making sales.  Marketing is a much softer and palatable business-building
tool.

2)  People won’t be interested in what I have to offer.

In other words, “People won’t buy what I’m selling”.  Not true.  If you’ve
taken the time to study the demographics of your target audience and
you’ve done some thorough keyword research, then you can market
confidently knowing there’s a flock of potential clients or customers that
want what you have to offer.  Marketing is about establishing and nurturing
relationships with your prospects through a crystal clear understanding of
their problems and the solutions you offer.

3)  It probably won’t work anyway, so why bother?

Oh, brother.  I’ve heard this one more times than I care to count. 
Developing the right kind of “marketing mindset” matters.  Giving up before
you even try is a one-way ticket to failure.  If you maintain a defeatist
attitude, your business will not thrive.  The only way to get past this type of
thinking is to dig your heels in and take some action!  You need to “test” a
marketing strategy or platform first, give it a fair amount of time, and see if
it’s working for you.  

4)  Marketing is way too expensive.

Rubbish!  Advertising can empty your wallet pretty quickly, but marketing
can easily be done effectively on a tight budget.  The majority of the
successful marketing strategies I use cost $0.  So even if you’re on a super
slim budget, don’t sweat it. There are literally hundreds of free marketing
platforms.  Want to learn more about marketing on a zero-dollar budget?
Download a Free Shoestring Marketing Kit.

5)  Only business owners with sub-standard products or services need
marketing.

Ouch!! I always want to fall off my chair when I hear someone say this and
I’ll never understand the origin of this misconception.  In fact, EVERY solo
professional needs to market their business. Once again, marketing needs
to be your highest priority.  Without marketing, don’t expect sales … period.

6)  Marketing leads straight to rejection.

Wrong.  “Selling” can lead to rejection.  No one likes to sell or be sold. 
Marketing, on the other hand, is a means of avoiding rejection.  Once
people get to know you better through your marketing, they’ll begin to like
you and, ultimately, trust you.  Then and only then will they feel
comfortable enough to make a purchase.  Remember that your primary
marketing goal is to build relationships with your prospects.

7)  I’m a lousy writer.  No one will want to read my
writing.

I’m going to ask you to trust me here.  You don’t need to be Ernest
Hemmingway to market your products and services online.  You need to
be YOU!  Whether you are crafting blog posts, articles, e-books, reports, or
sales pages – your writing will resonate with people if you use your
authentic voice.  But if you absolutely hate to write or you don’t really “get”
what being your authentic self in writing is all about – my friend and
colleague, Lisbeth Tanz, (corporate sales and marketing escapee!) can get
you on track and up to speed in just one weekend.  Look her up and check
out her Savvy Article Marketing Success Weekend.  Lisbeth offers a
simple, yet effective process to get business owners in action writing about
what they know best – their industry and business.

Just push these false impressions aside and get ready to love marketing!

Guest Post by Yvonne A. Jones

Every woman needs to remember that she is beautiful because of who she is and what comes from within her.

Many people consider someone beautiful because of the shape of their face, or perhaps specific areas of the face like eyes, nose, or lips.  In some societies a tall woman is considered beautiful, whereas another culture may view a full-figured woman as the ideal woman and most beautiful.

These elements of outward appearance are beautiful in themselves; however, it is the inner strength and character that radiates or shines through your facial expressions; the warmth of your smile, the joy of life reflected in your eyes, and the purposeful stride in your walk that add to and reflect true beauty.  Your self-confidence and awareness of yourself, your spirituality and your relationship with others are also aspects of your personality that allow for your inner beauty to shine through.

In light of the foregoing, some persons may wonder why would there be a need for women to wear makeup if true beauty comes from within?   When we talk of makeup in this article, we are using the concept of “less is more.”  What this means is that caring for your skin is the primary concern and makeup or cosmetics should be used to highlight and enhance your natural beauty, not to hide it.

The use of makeup is very subjective.  There are persons women who absolutely refuse to wear any type of color on the face and that should be respected.  However, these women should be encouraged to take very good care of their skin by using quality skin care products designed to meet their specific needs.

In my years as a Skin Care and Image Consultant I found that many times women said they did not use makeup or color cosmetics because they did not know how to use them and they were ‘turned off’ either by other women who layered on too many products that detracted rather than attracted, or they saw people wearing colors that were not suitable for them.  A basic challenge for many women is finding and selecting the correct foundation that matches and blends with their skin tone.  For many of these women, just adding a soft lip gloss and a mineral pressed powder often gave them a more professional look and quite often these simple steps made the difference between frumpy and attractive to the beholder.

The key to wearing color cosmetics is that it should complement your natural skin tone, not cover it over.  While there are no hard and fast rules for make-up application, because this is a very subjective area, your makeup should be appropriate to the occasion.  In the same way that you would not wear a sparkly sheer outfit to your corporate day job or networking event, your look should be appropriate to the time of day and occasion.  Every woman has or can develop her personal style; your may be the “minimalist” or you may be the “lay-it-on-thick” type, but either way you need to feel comfortable with your style as well as recognize the impact your outward appearance can have on others with whom you come in contact.

Do not be afraid to use color cosmetics.  Have fun with it and develop your own style.  Use makeup as a tool to help you build your self-confidence.  This is not just theory.  I’ve personally witnessed women who discovered that with just a hit on color that highlighted the color of their eyes; enhanced their cheekbones, or simply reduced the level of shine on their face they immediately felt better about themselves.  This was often reflected in the fact that they stood and walked a little taller and felt more confident in themselves.  When you feel this way, your  feelings will be reflected on the outside and in turn you will draw people to you.

Yvonne A Jones has been a Skin Care and Image Consultant for over 10 years and enjoys helping women feel great about their skin and image.  She has helped many women over the years to enjoy the flexibility of their own home-based business. She offers tips and advice for the boomer woman on her blog at http://yvonneajones.com.

Yvonne is also an Internet Marketer who helps new entrepreneurs cultivate the right mindset, create an online presence and build their own brand.  Her website is at http://mysucesscircleonline.com.

And no wonder!

I’ve lived under the same roof with twin daughters who have been HIGHLY competitive since they left the womb.

Try living with two 4.2 GPA students who get into heated discussions (okay, they’re actually arguments) over the fact that one got a score of 103% on an exam and the other got 104%.  Sheesh!!  And the competition ensues with the very next exam and we’re right back on the “Who’s better/smarter” merry-go-round again.

And I’ll spare you the sordid details of the “Who’s more beautiful” competition.  That one gets REAL “ugly”.

I hesitated registering them for different sports like softball and volleyball they wanted to play throughout their school years.  I probably don’t have to tell you why.

The score sheets we were keeping had NOTHING to do with whether their teams won or lost a game.  You can just go ahead and use your imagination here.

So it’s no revelation that I tend to shy away from competitions.  Just the thought of competing in something brings on a tension headache and ties my stomach in knots.

I prefer to view everyone as winners.  We’re all good at something, right?

However …

There is such a thing as “healthy” competition that gives you the opportunity to stretch your mind, fine tune your skills, or move a bit out of your comfort zone.

I’ve entered just such a competition and as a fellow blogger, I think you should think about entering, too!

Check it out but you’ve got to hurry!  BLOG ENERGIZER

The deadline to submit your 5 blogging questions is TOMORROW – August 10^th.

“Monkey See-Monkey Do” is a phrase you probably became familiar with as a child.

My mom had her own endearing version that went something like this …

“If so-and-so is going to jump off a bridge, are you going to jump off, too?!”

And the obvious answer, of course, was “No”.

But in the arena of online marketing and small business ownership, “Monkey See-Monkey Do” can be a really good business building strategy.  The goal is Not to become a copy cat but to become aware of what other success minded marketers are doing and put your own fingerprint on those tools, tactics, and techniques.

Here’s how you can start tapping into your inner monkey:

1) Have you seen an opt-in form and offer that’s really attention-grabbing and triggers you to take action?  What are the elements that appeal to you the most?  Is it the shape or colors used that caught your eye?  Or maybe the graphic?  The call to action?  The location on the page?

Scrutinize your own opt-in box and freebie offer and incorporate those elements that you find most effective.

2) Have a favorite blog or two or three that you visit regularly?  What is it about those particular blogs that strike your fancy?  What are the blog owners/authors doing that keep you coming back for more?  Are they great storytellers?  Do they offer fabulous tips related to your niche?  Is it their sense of humor that attracts you?  Maybe the layout of their blogs?

Begin weaving those ”I’ve-got-you-hooked” components into your own blog.

3) Ever come across social media profiles that just knock your socks off? A short bio that causes you to click the person’s link immediately to discover more? What kinds of adjectives or action words have they used?  Do they note only their business expertise or are personal facts included, too?  What is it about their profile that intrigues you?

Read your own profile/bio with discerning eyes.  Then re-vamp it to be as compelling as your favorites.

There are lots of creative ways to tap into your inner monkey.  When you “See” something that’s working for someone else, start “Do”-ing it!

Okay, I know what you’re thinking …

“Melanie, you’re a small business owner and online marketer.  Your goal is to make money!  Are you crazy?!”

No, I haven’t lost my mind and I sincerely believe a lot of other people feel the same way I do.

I don’t like handling money.  I don’t like talking about it.  I don’t like the control it has over how some people lead their lives.  And I really hate needing it.

Money doesn’t bring me any happiness at all.  Zip. Zilch.  Zero happiness.

I think what really makes us happy is being able to comfortably meet our living expenses, treating our family and friends to little unexpected surprises, helping a neighbor out of a financial jam, generously tipping a good waiter, and maybe even buying our favorite pair of shoes in every color they come in!

Money, just like other material possessions, can provide a dose of short-lived happiness but no amount of it will ever buy genuine contentment and joy in life.

I don’t like money.  But I DO like being happy.

If your blog is feeling a little stale or stagnant lately, you can stop the moss from growing on it right away!

Listen to the Audio Boo below to find out how you can choose one, two, or all three ways to give your blog a makeover and a boost.

Need more eyes on your blog? Feeling like your posts are floating around out in never-never land? Let’s change that scenario!

Here are 3 great ways to get lots of eyes on your blog:

1. Continuity Blogging Community — Jane Lee

Free to join and ongoing

2. Ultimate Blog Challenge

Starts August 1st, 2010

Michele Scism & Michelle Shaeffer

3. 31 Days to Build a Better Blog — Lisbeth Tanz

Starts August 23rd, 2010

Guest post by Kenneth Weene, PhD

As a married man, semi-retired and with no kids at home, I might seem an unlikely source for good advice to you, a single woman trying to run a business – and especially to those of you who are also moms. You may be among the busiest and most harried people on earth. You are also constantly being evaluated, observed and measured. Your every piece of clothing and accessory can be held against you. Your looks are constantly being judged. Men do have it easier.

So what do I have to offer you? A single word. Balance! I know that deadline is looming. I know that sale has to be made or that presentation given. I know the kid is sick and by the way needs some cupcakes or crudités for the school party. I know your home needs cleaning. I know, I know, I know.

Balance!

Make a graph. Across the top list the important needs, demands, and wants in your life. Once you’ve made the list you may want to arrange it so it goes from most important to least. Don’t forget your relaxation and health. Without taking care of yourself, you won’t get very far for very long. Don’t forget your spiritual needs. Without your sense of serenity you can’t keep your focus clear. Exercise is on that list. Important in itself not just part of health, recreation, and appearance but in itself. Have you added long-term security? You have a future, and so do your kids. Socializing – within the family and with peers, is important. So is looking for a mate if you want one.

When you finish your list come back.

Now let me guess you forgot one very important item – thinking. We often forget that just spending time in thought, rehashing our ideas and trying to expand them is important. (Part of that thinking time is usually spent reading. Matter of fact, you’re doing that now. But the reading should be about personal growth. Education and professional development are important but they are their own separate entries in the graph; the thinking entry is for something more personal.)

Now add one other column, waste. That will become useful later in this exercise.

OK, you’ve got the horizontal axis of your graph done. Time to go to the other axis.

This is what you spend your time doing, the activities of your life. I suggest that you list these according to the amount of time and effort you expend in each. It is helpful if the size of the entries varies according to the time and effort expended. If, for example, you spend eight to ten hours a day at your desk working that is likely to be way at the top of the list and perhaps an inch down before you draw a line to enter the next item. (The one exception to this organizational plan is sleep, which usually is at the bottom.)

Try to remember all your activities and indicate their time frame. Don’t be afraid to subdivide your activities; that often helps us to see our priorities. For example, if you divide getting dressed into putting on clothes and grooming and makeup, you may end up wondering why one is so much more important to you than the other. If you divide child time into making meals and checking homework and playing games, you may recognize that you have made prioritizing decisions without thought. (You get the idea)

There may be a few activities that you want to add at the bottom with just a straight line, those are the things you wish you were doing but haven’t taken the time for.

Now for the big task: Go through each box in your graph and indicate how each activity serves each of your priorities. You can divide each line percentage-wise. For example, if your top time use is work, it certainly contributes to income needs, hopefully to long-term security, possibly to socializing, etc. This is primarily a judgment call; try to be honest how your efforts really serve you. Remember to be honest with yourself and include the waste time. If one of your activities is using the computer and you play a lot of solitaire, that may be recreational, but it is more likely waste.

Once you have completed that matrix, once you have written down what you need and what you are doing, take a good long look. Is it in balance? Does the allocation work out? For most of us, it doesn’t. We get our lives skewed. If your matrix isn’t balanced (and remember it is yours and yours alone), you need to start rethinking.

When I was a kid and learning to ride a bicycle, I learned that the faster I went the less likely I was to fall. But that isn’t how life works. We need to find the center of our own gravity and keep the balance in our own lives.

Kenneth Weene, PhD is a psychologist and social scientist. Over the years he has published a number of professional papers.

Ken is also a poet and fiction writer. His poetry has appeared in numerous publications – most recently featured in Sol and publication in Spirits, and Vox Poetica. An anthology of Ken’s writings, Songs for my Father, was published by Inkwell Productions in 2002. His short stories have appeared in many places, including Legendary, Sex and Murder Magazine, The New Flesh Magazine, and The Santa Fe Literary Review. In 2009 Ken’s novel, Widow’s Walk, was published and in 2010 a second novel, Memoirs From the Asylum, both by All Things That Matter Press.

To learn more about Ken’s writing visit:

http://www.authorkenweene.com

To learn about Memoirs From the Asylum visit

http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=nqm74a8k