I’ve posted resourceful articles from Scott Ginsberg’ blog before… here’s another one:

13 Lessons My Customers Taught Me This Year

When I conduct workshops or training sessions, I like to finish up with a little exercise called “Postcard Commitment.” Here’s how it works:

1. First, blank postcards are passed out to all attendees. They are instructed to self-address them.
2. Then, they are given five minutes to write on the back ONE THING they learned during the program … that they are committed to practicing in the next six months.
3. Next, the music starts. There is no talking. There is no sharing. It’s a private exercise. People are free to write as much or as little as they want.
4. When five minutes is up, the music stops. Then, attendees are required to turn in their postcards in the back of the room when the program is complete.
5. Finally, I take the postcards back to my office when I get home. I throw them in a box. Six to twelve months later, I pull the box out, stick a stamp on each postcard and mail it back to the attendee. Ultimately, the purpose of the exercise is to provide a check-up on how everyone’s practice is coming along.

It’s a pretty cool activity, even though I can’t exactly take credit for coming up with it. (I totally stole this little exercise from my friends @ Brains on Fire.)

Editors Note:  How can you adapt this exercise in your business?

• Biz/Life Coach: ask people what “they are committed to doing in 6 months” when they opt-in via a form on your website.  Follow up as Scott did.
• Financial Planner: ask “what’s your financial goal”
• Health Professional: ask about “physical goals”
• Marketing Guru: ask “what do you want your ROI to be”
• Doesn’t matter what you do – you CAN do this too!

Anyway, what’s REALLY cool is when I actually get to READ the postcards. This happened last week…  read the full post.

Be EMPOWERED and Share the love! dp

Last night one of my favorite gal pals and I carpooled to our daughter’s basketball game.

She holds a position in public service, and unfortunately, sees the “ugly” side of society all too often. Occasionally, she tends to be cynical – but for the most part – she’s great fun to be around.

I love her dearly, and I revealed a gift and blessing she can share every day of her life, to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

You see, I have this quicky ‘thing’ that I do EVERYDAY.  I encourage or compliment 10 PEOPLE every single day.  Seriously.

AND,  some days – I never leave my house!

On our wild ride down the highway I shared this with her.  She responded with a raised eyebrow and asked, “why/how do you do THAT?”

I told her, “Why? because I can and YOU need me to”

How? Explaining further, “being a good mother, friend, lover or member of society is not good enough! We need to ‘step it up’ and TELL people they are.  Everyone has something extraordinary about them – so do something extraordinary yourself – TELL THEM!

Here’s a few examples:

• a client of mine radiates energy, and lots of it. Each time I speak with her I tell her how thankful I am to serve her because she lifts me up.  This woman really gives me a charge!
• a classmate who is living his dreams. I admire him for living with intention and doing what makes his heart sing.  He inspires me.
• the nosy, all-knowing neighbor. I tell her she is appreciated because she “helps my family feel safe” by keeping an eye on the neighborhood.  She has purpose from peaking thru the curtains.
• bloggers on the internet. Openly sharing ideas and opinions and putting their heart on display for the world to see.  I comment so they know they are heard and their expressions are valid.
• woman in the grocery store. Appears to be tired and frazzled, but manages her grocery list with a clipboard and carefully checks off every item and notes the cost.  Her organizational and planning skills are superb.  And she knows it ’cause I just told her!

It’s not hard to be an “encourager”.  YOU CAN DO IT!

Today, I challenge you to identify just 5 people you can enourage or compliment. Friends and family count first! See? That was easy. Now, go DO IT!

Pretty soon you’ll do this automatically.  You’ll begin to quickly identify positive attributes of everyone you encounter.

Please post your experiences! I’d love to hear about them.

Quote from “A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.”
By Marianne Williamson. Pg. 190-191.

This is my most favorite quote… EVER!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God
that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.”

It’s 4:55am, and my mind is racing.

This week has been unusually interesting. Not, cool-inspiring-ah-ha-thats-the-greatest-breakthrough-ever, but a week of FEAR. Some people are are a tip-toe away from all out PANIC.

Fear of:

• The economy
• not making enough money
• being a failure
• having to get a JOB! (OMG!) Oh My Goodness!

We all have to feed our families. So, what are WE going to do?

Bellyache out loud or quietly die inside because our dreams are in jeopardy? Submitting to my fears would absolutely KILL me.

This is not an option. We must support each other. We MUST be in action, not fear… right?

Here’s MY action item: I’m going to do something that I’ve preached to never, ever, do in an effort to support you. I’m slashing the price of Get Clients NOW to a mere $50. Learn more about GCN here, but DON’T signup on the website – to get this offer, reply to this email. Donna@thewebcoach.net

Seriously.

For the Tuesday, Sept 23rd, 6-week class, I’m dropping the price for my subscribers BECAUSE I want YOU to be in action. This price so affordable, there’s no reason not to move forward.

ALSO, 2nd on the list of “economy survival” is your ezine. Now more than ever, you’ve got to be visible. Today, I’m waiving the eZine set up fee ($200) – this offer expires 9/30.

To sign up or chat about these offers simply reply to this message.  Donna@thewebcoach.net

Make it a productive day! dp

Ian Lurie of Conversation Marketing wrote this article “33 Internet Marketing Terms You Should Know” in his Blog.

SEO. PPC. Social Media. Pagerank. Link authority.

What the heck?

If you’re not an internet marketer, here’s a list of terms so that you can translate what someone like me spouts at you in a caffeine-induced rush.

This isn’t a comprehensive internet marketing glossary. Just the terms we’d probably use without thinking about it. Print this list and hang it next to your phone:

A-list bloggers. aka A-listers or Those Miserable Buggers (when I’m feeling jealous). All those writers who dominate the Technorati rankings (see Technorati, below). Getting a nod from one of these folks can mean exponential growth in site traffic.

Affiliate marketing. Selling your product through other web sites or e-mail lists by paying the site or list owner for each sale. Great for expanding your sales network. May cause severe migraines.

Analytics. Taking traffic data and other information about your web site, analyzing it, and then providing insight. Note that a raw report is not analytics.

AJAX. Not the cleaning stuff. Generic term for forms that let you modify data on a page without reloading the entire page. You care because it looks neat, is speedy, but may kill you in the search engines.

Blog. Short for ‘web log’. A fancy word for a web site where you publish short entries on a regular basis and let visitors post comments about those entries.

CMS. Content Management System. A web application (see below) that allows users to add and edit web pages on a web site without learning HTML. May cause mass celebration or mutiny among web teams.

Conversion rate. The number of sales, leads or other desired actions that occur on your web site, compared to the total number of visitors.

Domain name. The address of your web site, such as ‘www.conversationmarketing.com‘.

Dynamic web site. A web site generated using a web application and a database. These sites will often change from one visit to the next, or one moment to the next.

Flash. An animation and interactive platform that lets you create very complex movement on a page. One of the best ways to distribute video. YouTube uses Flash to distribute all video on the site. Also a great way to make your customers hate you.

Hit. Any one file downloaded from your site one time. A single page of a web site, viewed once, may generate 30 or more hits. Great if you need to impress your boss. Lousy as a measure of web site traffic.

Link authority. The ‘vote’ provided to a page on your web site when another web site (or page within your web site) links to it. Search engines include these ‘votes’ in their ranking algorithms.

Movable Type. A popular blogging platform.

Pageview. Any one page of your site completely loading any one time. If I visit your web site and look at 3 pages, that will count as 3 page views.

PEBCAK error. Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard. An expression I may use if forced to spend 2 hours troubleshooting a web site failure, only to learn your computer was unplugged from the network.

Ping. Originally a networking term, in internet marketing parlance ‘ping’ means notifying the world that you’ve updated your web site. Pings are usually sent automatically to sites such as Technorati.

PPC. Pay Per Click marketing. Bidding for position in the sponsored search engine rankings. Higher bids have a better chance of a higher ranking, although there are other factors. Great way to generate business fast, or spend a small fortune and get no return at all. Use with caution.

Ranking algorithm. The mysterious black box that determines how you rank for a specific keyword. Google has one algorithm. Yahoo! has theirs. Microsoft does their best to copy Google’s.

Reciprocal linking. Linking to someone else’s web site in return for them linking to you. This used to help with search engine rankings. Now helps you disappear from the search rankings.

Registrar. The service you use to reserve a domain name.

RSS. A type of text file that delivers a list of headlines and content directly to feed readers and other software. Stands for ‘Really Simple Syndication’.

SEO. Search Engine Optimization. Working to insure your web site will get as high a ranking as possible in the unpaid search results in the major search engines.

Social media. A term coined by someone who wanted to publish more books. Usually refers to the many blogs, bookmarking sites and other sites that allow visitors to interact with each other and the web site owner. May also refer to a drunk journalist at a party.

Spam. Used to refer only to unsolicited e-mail. May also refer to unproductive comments or repeated submissions to blogs or discussion forums. Or a Monty Python skit.

Static web site. A web site that isn’t connected to a database. ‘Static’ refers to the fact that the page does not change.

URL. Uniform Resource Locator. The unique address of one file on the internet. www.conversationmarketing.com/index.html is the URL of one page on my site.

Unique visitor. Any one visitor coming to your site any number of times in the time period. If I come to your web site 30 times in a month, I still only count as one unique visitor.

Visit. Any user visiting your site any one time.

Web 2.0. See ‘social media’, above. Refers generically to any site that looks cooler than sites before 1999. Seriously. I have no idea what this phrase means.

Web 3.0. Synonym for ‘Ian, please punch me in the liver’.

Web Application. Usually refers to a database-driven web site, such as a shopping cart.

WordPress. A popular blogging platform.

XHTML. Successor to HTML. XHTML is used to build web pages.

A new tweep I’m following is Michael Hyatt. He posted a few articles about Twitter.

1. Twitter-dee, Twitter-dum
2. 12 More Reasons to start Twittering

Plus while I was there, I also found:

1. The Newbies Guide to Twitter
2. The Twitter Directory
3. Small Biz Tech Girl’s Quick & Dirty Podcast: Can microblogs be an effective marketing tool for your business? Small Biz Tech Girl says yes and explains how.
4. Don’t know who to follow? Check out “Who Should I Follow.com“

Follow me by joining Twitter.com and officially following me. Just sign up and follow the directions. It’s pretty simple. Or you can follow me on Facebook. Twitter is updating both.

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document.write(‘‘);
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So, it’s 4:31am… I was lying in bed thinking about a question one of my “Get Clients NOW” teleclass attendees asked, “how can I increase traffic to my website?”

Easy. Write articles. Here’s how:

1. Write when you are inspired. it’s 4:35 am and I’m at the keyboard. If I don’t “lay this down” now – it’ll be gone when I get up at 6:30. Writing shouldn’t be hard. For me, my best creations come between 5 and 7am. (so I’m a little early today)
2. Tell’em “How-To” do it! I love how-to articles! You can tell a reader step-by-step how to do anything.What expertise do you have to share? Turn what you know into an interesting how-to article. Examples: “How Dancing Will Grab Womens Attention,” “How to Find the Best Vehicle for Your Lifestyle,” and “How to Overcome the Fear of Rejection.”
3. Use real life examples. I know many of us are solo professionals, consultants, coaches, etc. and feel strange writing about our clients, BUT where else can you get a real life solution to your readers problem?Keep in mind:
   • Perfectionism and procrastination will keep you from writing. Sometimes good enough is just… good enough!
   • Offer good useable information – not just fluff. And get to the point already! Reading online is hard enough, let alone trying to reach something that holds my interest.
4. Keep your articles to 300-500 words in length. AND forget about all the grammar and usage fluff you learned in school.Writing for the web is a whole different animal. Your style must be conversational. Like your best friend is sitting next to you. Write like you talk so people will know, like, and trust you. Keep sentences 10 words or less.
5. Direct response article writing. Your ultimate goal is for the reader to respond immediately to your article. Click on the link in the resource box and go to our website. Period. Think about this: Guthy Renker, direct response advertising on late night tv.
6. Make sure your website is in check. There is nothing worse than having a curious prospect click to respond and the link is outdated or broken.

Action Steps:

• What would it take to write an article regularly? Make it happen.
• What info of value will I provide?
• What support systems do I need in place?

It doesn’t have to be highly complex or profound – just do it! Make it happen!

Donna Payne is the Chief Web Goddess of The Web Coach.net a web development, coaching and marketing firm, and is known as the gal to call when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Learn Money & Time Saving Techniques that everyone should know when working with a web designer or building a website yourself. Download your FREE “Quick-Start Web workbook” and accompanying MP3 at http://thewebcoach.net “Know PAYNE – Know GAIN!”

1. Don’t fill your web site with a lot of high-tech clutter. Your visitors will miss your whole sales message and bail.
2. Don’t use unnecessary words or phrases. Sentences should be no longer than 10 words. You only have so much time to get your visitor’s attention and interest; make every word count.
3. Don’t make the mistake that everyone will totally understand your what you have to offer. BE OBVIOUS! Use powerful words and examples to get your point across.
4. Don’t write your strongest point or benefit only once. You should repeat it at least 3 times because some people don’t get it right away. (how many times do you have to tell your kids to clean their room…5-6-7 times?)
5. Don’t push all your words together on your web site. People like to skim; use plenty of headings and sub headings. Bold key phrases to make your copy “scan-able”
6. Don’t use content your preferred audience isn’t interested in. If people are coming to your site to find info about knitting don’t include soccer content.
7. Don’t use 20 different formats all over your web site. Use the same fonts, text sizes & colors, etc. If a site looks to “complicated” to read, your prospect is sure to bail.
8. Don’t use words your visitors might not understand. People are not going to stop and look in a dictionary, they will just go to another site. (If my 11 year old daughter can’t “get” the concept of my copy, I start over)
9. Don’t let selling words and phrases go unnoticed. Highlight important words and phrases with color, bolding, italics, underlining, etc.
10. Don’t forget to use words that create emotion. (Woohoo!) People will have more interest when they are emotionally attached.

Donna Payne is the Chief Web Goddess of The Web Coach.net and is known as the gal to call when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the internet. To spend some more time with Donna and to experience Web technology, Development and Marketing in the most SIMPLIFED way possible go to http://thewebcoach.net

What The !@#$ is a… Single Point of Entry?

When you were a kid (for me that was last week) and you played board games, do you remember the “GO” or “start here” position? ie. Monopoly, CandyLand, etc.

You knew exactly what to do, “start here”, roll the dice and make your move. Your business operates very much the same way although you may not realize it.

Imagine your business spread out like a game board complete with players, products, money, and dice. Now invite your customers over to play. You all sit down, figure out who gets to be the shoe, thimble, dog and race car. Then what happens? Where does everyone start? How do they play the game?

Here’s a great example:

Dan Kennedy, Magnetic Marketer Extraordinaire. Did’ja ever notice his “Most Incredible Free Gift Ever” that he gives away to EVERYONE? ($700-some dollars worth of valuable information – yours for the taking and a 90 trial to his amazing newsletter) The offer is so irresistible no one thinks about not taking it. And therein lies the secret and holy grail of marketing. The secret is his “single point of

entry”, aka. the “most incredible free gift ever. ” You

see, once you’re into his lair of products and services you

are completely and helplessly HOOKED! It’s almost like a

shot gun blast catapulting you into Dan’s Land. You WANT to

learn more, you WANT to purchase everything he offers…

all because he strategically lured you in with his free

gift. (and because his material is just that !@#$ good!)

When we study marketing we’re traditionally taught about

the “marketing funnel.” The mouth of the funnel usually has

several inexpensive products and services you offer. The

narrower the funnel becomes the more expensive the products

become. The idea is to get everyone flowing down through

the funnel.

The “Single point of entry” approach is simply the

opposite. Begin wooing your market with one single item -

one place to start. An item so exciting and valuable the

prospect is clawing at the door trying to get in and see

what else you’ve got. (Reminds me of waiting in line

outside to get in and purchase a Wii before Christmas!)

Does that make sense? A single, simple, VALUABLE piece of

information to lure prospects into your business. One

starting point. No question, no doubt, and easy to “give

out.”

Another example:

GOOGLE! When I’m doing research I position my hands

over the keyboard… pause for a moment and think of

relevant keywords for my search. My starting point is

always the same: google.com. There’s no frilly foo-foo’s

or fluff on the Google home page… just a simple text

field to enter my keywords. aka. the single point of

entry.

Now it’s YOUR turn – Action Step:

* What/where is YOUR single point of entry?
* Is it a no-brainer that is perfectly tailored to your

prospective market?
* An easy “hand-out” to give to EVERYBODY?

It doesn’t have to be highly complex or profound – just do

it! Take action and DO IT NOW!

Donna Payne is the Chief Web Goddess of The Web Coach.net a web development, coaching and marketing firm, and is known as the gal to call when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Learn Money & Time Saving Techniques that everyone should know when working with a web designer or building a website yourself. Download your FREE “Quick-Start Web workbook” and accompanying MP3 at http://thewebcoach.net “Know PAYNE – Know GAIN!”

Donna Payne is the Chief Web Goddess of The Web Coach.net a web development, coaching and marketing firm, and is known as the gal to call when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Learn Money & Time Saving Techniques that everyone should know when working with a web designer or building a website yourself. Download your FREE “Quick-Start Web workbook” and accompanying MP3 at http://thewebcoach.net “Know PAYNE – Know GAIN!”