Don’t forget your turn signal!
August 30, 2008
Okay so this post was prompted by a drive home from the grocery where NO ONE used their turn signal. How frustrating to deal with parking lots and rush hour traffic when no one is telling you where they plan to go. It’s a sure way to get into an accident. The same thing is true when you write your content. Readers need to know the direction you’re taking – you have to give them a signal (aka a thesis statement).
What’s your signal? When do you use it?
Your signal is typically the last sentence or two in your first paragraph. It’s the sentence which tells them what the body of your content is going to be about. It gives your readers a direction to go. Leave it out and you’re going to lose the majority of your readers – certainly not your intended goal. You at least want readers to scan your content and then click through to your website or offer.
So your first paragraph has two goals, it needs to grab the attention of your reader and it needs to compel them to continue reading. When the typical first paragraph is five or less sentences long, you have to get to the point pretty quickly.
If the first paragraph is a struggle, write backwards. Write the main points of your content first – it doesn’t matter if you’re writing an article, blog post, email or sales letter. Once you have the main points think about what theme unites the main points. From this point you can write your summary paragraph followed by your first paragraph or vice versa. If summary paragraphs are easier for you to write, write them first and then rework your summary into an introductory article. Share a story, ask a question, or share an opinion that relates to your topic. Follow it by a thesis or introductory statement and you’re good to go.
How do you know if your introductory paragraph and thesis statement are strong?
Ask yourself:
- Do I address the statement or answer the question in my content?
- Is it specific?
- Does it offer a statement or opinion which can be challenged?
Not giving your readers a signal, failing to tell them what your content is about, is a sure way to crash headlong into content oblivion. Not to worry, after a little practice and careful attention to your content, writing an introductory paragraph will become second nature. It’s as basic as thinking before you speak or using your turn signal.
How About Your Own TV Channel?
August 29, 2008
Today, there are so many methods of reaching your market, I’m almost jealous of newbies. There are blogs that are so very easy to publish, audio tools that are simple to use and most of all video resources and web sites that don’t require a broadcasting degree to use nor millions of dollars to set up.
One of the most exciting development technology wise is the advent of live streaming video. Anyone with a cheap $20 web cam and even cheaper microphone can launch their very own TV channel. Best of all, most of these sites do it for free. The only thing you need to do is to show up. How easy is that?
Ok, I exaggerate. You still need great content. But many of us already have great content that can be re-purposed into a live video show. A video channel allows you to truly bond with your market. I know, for us moms, video is a bit intimidating especially when you start thinking about those toys in your office, combing your hair, getting yourself presentable but why not? We used to do that every day working outside. Granted, you may have opted to work at home so you don’t have to, but making ourselves presentable and beautiful does wonderful things for our psyche. Really! Think of how you felt the last time you went for a hair cut, did your nails, put on some make up and dressed sharp?
Furthermore, have you not noticed all those reality shows on the big TV networks? Watching people who aren’t perfectly made up, have a perfect house, perfect kids, perfect body or fairy tale endings are remarkably interesting these days. Don’t underestimate yourself. A TV channel for your web site or business may just be the thing to drive traffic to your site and propel you further into your expert status.
Interested to get started? Check out these live video broadcasting solutions.
Don’t forget to have fun!
Times Will Be Changing Soon, Are You Ready?
August 23, 2008
In case hard times haven’t hit you yet, be thankful. Something is happening in this country and it won’t be long before life as we know it will never be the same again.
As inflation increases, the national debt soars out of control, and our country plummets toward socialism, we’d better get ready to make it through the coming storm.
If you’re not concerned about all this, you’d better wake up.
Turn off the TV. It won’t tell you what’s really happening in the world.
Do whatever it takes to get out of the meaningless daily grind that barely meets your needs.
Realize that we are heading for hard times and those who are prepared will do a lot better than those who aren’t.
We need to become financially free. We need to find out what we are called to do and do it. We need to prepare our children to become leaders in this land, not followers who blindly elect ineffective officials who hardly represent the values of the people.
During the Depression of ’29, those who were prepared became millionaires. Others who weren’t, jumped out of windows.
We are quickly approaching another time in history when those who are prepared will not only survive but prosper.
But to be prepared, we must do something different. And to be able to do something different, we must think differently.
It is our responsibility to get back to the mindset of our founding fathers who created this great country.
If you want to go with me, come on.
So many books, so little time…
Rhea!
who thinks it all starts with discovering who you are
A Week Unexpected
August 20, 2008
So this week is not exactly working like I had planned. Sunday night I made my usual weekly list of when I was teaching, what I was writing, business tasks I needed to complete. I thought it was a nice, manageable list.
UNTIL……. my son woke up Monday morning sick sick sick and hasn’t gone to school one day this week. So, my perfect plans went right out the window.
I couldn’t completely blow off working and he wasn’t deathly ill – just ill enough not to be welcome in his classroom. So, I’ve had to re-group each morning and decide:
1) exactly what HAS to happen. For example today I taught the first class in an 8 week series. I could have re-scheduled if he were really really sick, but decided that I did not want to start off a coaching intensive that way.
2) Decide what can wait. For example, I wanted to work on the website of a pet project of mine. I haven’t gotten to work on it lately and it is fun to me. Not happening this week. Unless I do it while we watch the Olympics tonight……
3) Delegate to my assistant what has to be done that I can’t do that she can. For example, because I started a class this week, I got lots of questions from participants before the first call. Sine I could predict that (it happens every time), I checked in with my team and made sure they were on standby to respond to any emails that came in about the class.
4) Let the rest go and enjoy the fact that I can be home with my son, fix him Gatorade, watch Between the Lions, put a cool rag on his head without wondering if I am going to run out of vacation days. That is what makes my life taste sweet.
What does this have to do with Direct Selling? Plenty. I was reminded by a client today that many direct sellers start their businesses to be available to their familes, but quickly lose track of that (somtimes are pressured to lose track of it – but that is a post for another day) – and when a wrench get thrown into their schedule it creates a meltdown.
When (notice I did not say “if”) this happens to you, use the steps above to get yourself back on track. Remember why you started your business in the first place. Take a deep breath, make some choices and be glad you have the power to make them.
Here’s to a sweet tasting life, compliments of your direct selling business!
Sarah
www.directsellingleaders.com
Borrowing your writing voice
August 18, 2008
Way back when, in college, I took just about every writing course available. We’re talking poetry, public relations writing, journalism, advertising copywriting and of course fiction writing. In every beginner course I remember hearing the same thing…if you don’t have a writing style/voice, find one you like and borrow it.
The theory is that as you try to emulate a style your writing style and craft will improve. As your craft improves your own voice and style will come through. The key to writing well, as with most things, is to practice. Borrowing a voice and writing style makes it easier to practice writing. It gives you a goal and a structure to work with.
Finding a voice to borrow.
This part is actually easy. As you read articles, books, reports, blog posts and so on you’ll be drawn to certain authors and their writing style. Save those files. You can even print them out and keep what’s called a swipe file. I recommend keeping your files catagorized and separated so the sales letters don’t get mixed up with articles, reports and so on.
Using your swipe file.
Plagiarism is not acceptable and please know that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about emulating a writing style. Analyze the content you like and want to emulate. How is it structured? Is it formal or informal? Does the writer use a lot of descriptive language? Short sentences? Personal anecdotes? Do they write in first person?
Borrowing a writing style is a great first step to becoming the writer you want to be. Emulate, practice, practice, practice.
Happy writing.
Online Presence More Important Now Than Ever
August 15, 2008
A few weeks ago, word got around to us that my brother-in-law who owns a successful painting business was hit with a huge problem. It’s a long story but the bottom line, he had lost his (long time) phone number and forced to get a new one. Here’s something you need to understand about his business. A big chunk of it is done by phone. In fact, you can say pretty much all of it.
No phone – no orders.
He could of course take time to call each one of the customers. But because of poor record keeping, he didn’t always have numbers or addresses of all customers. Besides, some of them had already started calling. They knew of no other way to reach him.
At such a time, a simple web site would have been so very helpful to him. Granted, most of his customers do not live online like we do. But, had the web site address or even email address been on his card, shirts and other material, his customers would have used it as a backup method to contact him. Also, the web site would have been a good way to let customers know of the new number.
Even if your business is humming along perfectly offline, keep in mind that as time goes by, the population will be replaced with more people who are web savvy. Having an online presence is more important now than ever.
Making your content stand out above the rest
August 9, 2008
"Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will."
~Goethe
We’re hip deep in content today. Everyone and their brother have a blog. There are more ebooks and special reports available online than could fill a Borders Bookstore floor to ceiling when printed out.
So how do you make your content stand out?
You could of course make outrageous and controversial claims. That works for many people and it draws a crowd. Depending on your product or service it can work.
However, I think the most effective option is to instead write your content with your brand image in mind. If you’re a small business owner then your brand image is quite often you. Your personality is your brand/company personality and that means sharing who you are with your audience.
That may make some folks nervous. We like to draw a fine line between our business life and our personal life and for the most part, that makes sense. However to really connect with your audience and to create ‘likeability’ you must expose yourself a little bit.
Share a story, a personal experience, you can even tell a joke or share a quote that means a lot to you.
For example, if you’re writing a blog post on the importance of buying reusable shopping bags then a simple example of how struggled with bunches and bunches of bags spilling onto your floor every time you opened the cupboard will resonate with those who have been in the same predicament. (Or if you’re like me, you buy the reusable shopping bags and then forget them at home!)
As the internet becomes more and more competitive, the businesses which connect with their audience on a personal level, those which create a sense of community, are the ones which will last.
Show your audience who you are in your content. Share your personality, your brand image, and your content will stand out above the rest.
Happy writing!
Podcasters Take Care with Wordpress Upgrade
August 8, 2008
The latest version Wordpress (2.6) created a bit of a crumple for us Podpress using podcasters.
If you upgraded to 2.6, then tried to publish a new podcast or edit an old one – you noticed that your podcast Mp3 info was not being saved on the post.
This happened to a couple of my friends this past week and sent them into a panic.
The good news is that the fix isn’t too hard – and I’m sure that the Podpress plugin makers will issue an update soon that will correct the issue.
You can find the fix that I used successfully right here. Look at Otto’s comment ;)
Lesson: You should always upgrade to the current build of Wordpress BUT if you’re dependent on plugins, it pays to wait at least a couple of weeks to see if there are any known issues before putting your website on the line.
Be Sure To Ask For What You Want
August 7, 2008
Too many times, we moms/WAHM’s go at it alone. That means that we set out on a long hard road and never ask for help.
It is important to ask for assistance, help and guidance when needed. Many of us feel it is a sign of weakness when really it is a sign of strength! To many times we sit quietly and overwork ourselves and slowly burn out.
If you need help with a task, try making list of the people who come to mind when you think of what you will need to complete that task. For instance, if you want to start your own Virtual Assistance business, why not search online for forums or websites that specialize in that area. If you find such a forum, acquaint yourself with the members and simply introduce yourself and ask for advice, guidance and help. The only way people can help you is if you let them know that you need help.
For me, finding a mentor group was needed and I found that in the Internet Based Moms Community and in Mom Masterminds. I wanted to grow my Life Coaching business and branch out into creating products and my mentors shows me the way. Had I sat quietly and never asked for help, I wouldn’t be here typing to you today (smile).
This week I challenge you to Ask for Help. If there is a task, project or idea you have tucked away because you are afraid to approach another person with the idea, let it go. Make that list and simply ask for help.
You will be amazed at how many people truly enjoy lending a hand to others, and just think, the more you grow and learn, the better equipped you will be at offering a helping hand to others as well.
Who will accept that challenge?
Is the Internet the Only Future for Direct Sales?
August 1, 2008
I recently held an open coaching call for members of the Direct Selling Leaders community. A leader on that call said that lately it felt like everything she read pointed to using the internet exclusively to build a direct sales/network marketing/multi-level marketing business.
She then asked, “Is the Internet the only future for building a business like mine?”
My short answer is “No.” My longer answer is “Relevancy is the only future for building this kind of business – actually any kind of business.”
What do I mean by that? A few things, really.
First, if the audience for your product mainly hangs out online, or you are particularly attracted to an audience that hangs out online, then using online marketing strategies as PART of your overall strategy makes great sense.
Second, if you aren’t relevant to your market, all the online and offline strategies in the world won’t build your business. And if you ARE relevant, traditional offline strategies will work very well for you- and there is no need to feel compelled into the online world unless you want to go there.
How do you know if you are relevant?
Does your product or service solve a problem or ease a pain point for the specific person you are talking to? If you can talk about what you offer in a way accomplishes this – then congratulations, you are relevant!
To become relevatn, you’ve got to ask lots of questions and stop talking long enough to actually listen to the answers. You must come from a place of “how can I serve this person” rather than “how can I sell this person something.”
Resist the temptation to TELL them how fabulous your company is. Until they see how it can solve their problems, your words will sound like a Charlie Brown grown-up – “Wa-waa, wa-waa, wa-waa-waa-waa.”.
So decide what makes you relevant – then you will know if the internet is part of your business’s future.
Love & Success!
Sarah Robinson
Founder and Innovation Expert
www.directsellingleaders.com
