Author: Ethan Theo

Abe WalkingBear Sanchez is an International Speaker / Trainer / Consultant on the subject of cash flow / sales enhancement and business knowledge organization and use. Founder and President of www.armg-usa.com, WalkingBear has authored hundreds of business articles, has worked with numerous companies in a wide range of industries since 1982 and has spoken at many venues including the Shakespeare Globe Theater in London.

Categories
Online Business

Article Marketing Debate – Is the New Google Smack Down a Good Thing?

Article Contributed by Eric Gruber

Every time, Google changes its algorithms – it causes a frenzy among those internet marketers relying heavily on the search engines.  The latest change made many marketers stock up on Maalox and Pepto Bismol as it made them literally sick to their stomachs. Google’s latest change was an attack on article directories and content farms like Ezinearticles.com.

You see, many internet marketers were writing 150-200 word articles that gave no informational value whatsoever, just to get the link. They were after the SEO benefit and not taking full advantage of what article marketing has to offer. But now, because of the new Google algorithm change sites like EzineArticles.com lost a lot of its visibility on Google and it has many internet marketers up in arms.

Now, unlike many internet marketers, I think the change is a GOOD thing — and here’s why…

4 Reasons Why I Think the New Google Algorithm Change is a Good Thing

1. It forces article directory sites like EzineArticles.com to enforce stricter editorial guidelines. Google wants quality! Your readers want quality! I can almost guarantee this is why EzineArticles.com now requires you to write articles at least 450 words. And, it’s why they are going to review your articles even more thoroughly for spelling, grammar and formatting errors. They are  increasing their quality control – and that’s usually a good thing.

2. It forces you the article marketer to go beyond the article directories – and target the best websites, ezines and blogs. Now, as the Google algorithm change focuses on article directories (and I’m sure this is only the beginning!) you cannot solely focus on SEO. You need to start putting your content on targeted websites, ezines, blogs and forums that your audience is going to every day.  This way, you go directly to your audience instead of you hoping they find you on the search engines. Plus, these sites will give you the credibility and expert status you need to build your business. To find out the correct way to submit your articles so you can get published on more websites (and not just the article directories) go to:

http://www.articlesubmissionsecretsrevealed.com/special

3. It forces you to use other mediums to get your content out in front of your prospects’ faces. If you didn’t have a reason to start engaging in social media before – now you do.  Besides trying to get rid of the “junk”, Google is changing its algorithms based on the way people search. Now, your prospects are gaining the information they need from social media sites like LinkedIn. If you want to be found and if you want to be heard, then you need to engage in social media.

4. It forces you to start creating articles that give prospects the perception that you are the thought leader. You think sites like Entrepreneur.com and WomenEntrepreneur.com (which my article submission clients have been published in!) want to publish regurgitated content that is already all over the Web? No way! So, if you are going to go beyond the article directories and get your articles published on top websites, then you need to up your game. You need to start offering information that is usually held back – and you need to “wow” publishers and readers with the information you are revealing.

How to Embrace the New and Upcoming Google Algorithm Changes..

Understand that article marketing is not what it used to be. No longer can you submit an article to thousands of article directories and expect the traffic to come pouring in! Whether you’re just starting out in article marketing, or you already run an article marketing campaign, you have to learn how it should be done in today’s world if you want it to succeed.

If you need help, remember that my online article submission secrets course, will take you by the hand and literally walk you through setting up and executing your new article submission campaign from the very start.

Here’s to submitting articles the right way – that won’t have you affected by the recent Google algorithm change and any upcoming changes.

About the Author:

Article marketing expert Eric Gruber creates online marketplace opportunities for authors, internet marketers and small business owners who want more website traffic, publicity and prospects. If you’re looking to build your business with article writing and article submission, check out Eric’s free ebook: How to Build Your Business Just with Articles at: http://www.FreeArticleMarketingBook.com

Categories
Operations

Small Business Growth Quiz – 7 Market Focused Questions You Must Ask To Help You Grow

Article Contributed by Sara Laforest and Tony Kubica

There is a lot of attention directed at small businesses this year. President Obama talked about the need to help and support small businesses in his State of the Union address. And one outcome was the launch of Startup America. Also, states are talking about easing regulations and the tax burden on small businesses in their quest to reduce unemployment.

Is this the year of the small business?

Possibly.

Is this an opportunity for you as a small business owner?

Maybe.

Now, a warning to Small Business Owners…

As a small business owner, however, it is not a good strategy to hope that the federal or state governments will pass the right legislation and write regulations, which will help you succeed in the next 12 months. Hope may spring eternal, but it is not a good business strategy.

Be wary of generalizations about how the economy is doing: who the winners are and who the losers are or will be. It’s distracting and frankly, it’s filled with conflicting information.

It’s like trying to decide on what is the best way to add 10 years to your life. You would be correct if you said – it depends on whom you ask. A dietician will tell you to focus on good nutrition. A trainer will tell you to exercise and use protein supplements. Some physicians would say hormone therapy. As the adage goes: when all you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.

Yes, we’ll admit that the economy is showing signs of recovery, but the real question is… whether it’s showing signs of recovery for you and your business. To answer this question you need to stop thinking like a small business owner and start thinking that you are running a multi-million dollar enterprise. Why, because many small business owners tend to think like a small company. And the answer to growth is to think big.

Here Are 7 Questions to Think About and Respond to When Planning for Business Growth:

1.    Do you have a strategic vision that outlines your business direction for the next 12 – 24 months? And if you have employees, do they know it?

2.    What is your stated mission (or purpose) statement? How is it communicated to your employees, and how does it help drive business decisions?

3.    Do you have stated, written and practiced company values to align how you and your employees work together and serve your customers?

4.    Do you have a branding strategy that promotes how you want to be seen by prospects and clients and articulates your competitive advantage or differentiation from your competitors?

5.    Do you have standard monthly financial reports to track the financial health of your business and to help drive your decisions?

6.    Do you have outstanding customer service? If you can’t answer based on your customer’s feedback, loyalty, references and testimonials – your answer is not yet.

7.    Do you have an exit strategy for your business? Every business needs to have a sense of what the end game will look like. It drives growth and helps focus business decisions.

How did you do in answering these questions? Did you have thoughtful and detailed answers for each question? When we talk to small business owners about these questions they often remind us that they are small businesses and not GE, Nordstrom’s or Zappos.  And that’s the problem.

We have also seen companies that believe answering questions such as these is a waste of time.

Why Our 7 Vital Questions for Small Business Owners Who Want to Grow Their Business Is NOT a Waste of Time?

A small research oriented company who had been in business for 10 years was modestly successful. They were concerned, however, that although they were able to come up with a strategic plan every year, they were not disciplined enough to implement the tactics required to achieve the plan. And they really didn’t have to. Business came in and they were comfortable. You have likely heard us reference that success can be your greatest inhibitor to growth. And, the issue for them was that they weren’t growing.

They decided to re-focus their efforts on growth. To do that they:

1.      Looked deep inside themselves and their business and discovered they were missing a number of ingredients for small business growth success. They uncovered this realization simply by honest answering our 7 questions.

2.      Established company values to guide their work together and in serving their clients

3.      Created their strategic vision (ideal future state)

4.      Refined their purpose (or mission) statement

5.      Identified key strategies and tactics to implement the vision and created accountability by assigning those to lead individuals. Progress on tactics was reviewed quarterly, with general updates given monthly.

6.      Candidly discussed how they worked together and how work should be distributed to take advantage of each partner’s strengths

7.      Identified their target market and the market niche

8.      Created tracking and reporting tools and a process to monitor sales

9.      Created a financial reporting system, reviewing it monthly and using ratio analysis to do a year over year comparison

10.  They are embarking on a re-branding strategy

11.  They are working to identify and develop an exit strategy

They started this initiative in 2008. 2009 was the best financial performance year they had in the company’s 10-year history. 2010 was almost 40% higher than 2009. And note this was accomplished in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

So what really happened? Were they lucky? Were they in the right place at the right time? No – neither of these can explain their growth. What they did was stop thinking small. They stopped behaving like a “mom and pop shop” and decided to focus on growth.

So, we encourage you to take a dispassionate view of your business. Stop listening to the generalities and honestly and thoughtfully respond to your own market-focused questions we suggested. Thinking small will keep you small; thinking big and planning big will lay the path to your growth.

About the Author:

Management Consultants and Business Performance Improvement Specialists Sara Laforest and Tony Kubica have 50+ years of combined experience in helping small and large entrepreneurial businesses accelerate their business growth in record times. Now, you can learn how to think big and avoid the self-sabotaging behaviors that most owners possess at: http://www.kubicalaforestconsulting.com/report.php

Categories
Communication Skills

“What Side of the Ball Do You Want to Play On?” The Importance of Listening

Article Contributed by Jeff Beals

At the beginning of 1991, Marshall Faulk was a wanted man – wanted by many of the nation’s most prestigious football schools.  He had just finished a stellar senior season as a star high school player in New Orleans, and college coaches were camped outside his front door 24/7.

Faulk had a rough childhood, growing up in one America’s most notorious housing projects.  As a youngster, football was his passion.  From an early age, he was good at the game and caught the eyes of several college scouts.  Recruiters courted him as a junior, and by the time he was tearing up the fields as a senior, scholarship offers were pouring in.

As 1991?s National Signing Day drew nearer, Coach Tom Osborne and his staff at the University of Nebraska were high on Faulk and confident he soon would be wearing the Huskers’ scarlet and cream.  After all, Faulk liked Nebraska.  So did his mother, his guidance counselor, and even his English teacher, who had a great deal of influence on him.

During an in-home visit, Osborne sensed he made a connection with Faulk and his family. As an experienced recruiter, Osborne knew when personalities “clicked” in a player’s living room. There was no doubt in the coach’s mind that Faulk felt good about Nebraska. In fact, Osborne admits that he thought it was almost a done deal – Faulk was practically on his way to Lincoln, Neb.

On National Signing Day, Marshall Faulk signed with San Diego State University, far away from and far less prestigious than the many football powerhouses that were courting him. Osborne was surprised.

“It turned out we had been recruiting him as a defensive back, which most people had,” Osborne said. ‘But Marshall deep down always wanted to be a running back.”

Of course, SDSU told Marshall they would be delighted to have him play running back, but with his blazing speed, Nebraska would have loved to have him in its backfield too. Faulk had the talent to excel on either side of the ball.

“Although we had been thorough, and we had done our home work,” Osborne said, “we hadn’t asked him a key question: ‘Marshall, which side of the ball do you want to play on?’  That’s why it’s really important to do a lot of listening.  I think we could have had Marshall Faulk if we had just recruited him as a running back.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Faulk flourished at SDSU, running for 1,400 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns in just his freshman year. During a 13-year professional career, Faulk amassed 12,279 rushing yards and scored 136 touchdowns, some of the most impressive statistics in NFL history.

Surely, it must have been frustrating for Husker coaches watching Faulk’s career from afar, knowing they came so close to signing him. It’s a feeling that haunts many coaches.

It’s a feeling that business people deal with too. Like football coaches, professionals must listen carefully to their “recruits” – their clients. How many deals does a salesperson lose, because he or she talks too much and doesn’t respond to what the client really wants? How many star employees does a hiring manager miss out on, because he or she doesn’t truly listen?

So remember, always ask your clients, “What side of the ball do you want to play on?”  Then listen carefully to the answers.

About the Author:

Jeff Beals is an award-winning author, who helps professionals do more business and have a greater impact on the world through effective sales, marketing and personal branding techniques.  As a professional speaker, he delivers energetic and humorous keynote speeches and workshops to audiences worldwide.   You can learn more and follow his “Business Motivation Blog” at www.JeffBeals.com.

Categories
Planning & Management

Three Tips for Cleaning Out Your Overflowing Inbox

Article Contributed by Terri Zwierzynski

If you are like me, your inbox is full of emails you intend to read “someday”. Newsletters are a particularly insidious culprit; full of info-packed articles, tips and resources, we often save them to read later, only to find ourselves accumulating more and more email, and never finding the time to sit down to that task.

Why do we keep them? Because we believe that possibly, somewhere in there lies the magic answer to some problem we’ve been experiencing. And then we feel guilty every time we open our email, because we haven’t gotten around to reading that vitally important information that might change our business or our life for the better.

And so our inbox is overflowing with:

•    articles with info that we think we need to learn

•    links to products or services we might need to buy

•    ebooks we think we need to read

I’m here to tell you that you don’t need any of those emails. In fact, you need to delete them — and you’ll move your business ahead much faster as a result.

Three tips for cleaning out your inbox:

1. Let go of your need to hold onto this information. I can hear you moaning now: “but maybe I’ll never find this info again!” Trust me…i f it’s an important concept, someone will write about it again, and it’ll end up in your inbox (or your Twitter stream, or your Facebook news, or a blog you follow) again. If it doesn’t — it wasn’t really that important.

If it’s a great, not-to-be-missed product or service, you’ll find it again, because people will keep talking about it! If you don’t hear about it again…it was probably a ho-hummer anyway.

So be brave, and hit that delete key with confidence that if it’s really important, it will show up on your radar again, just when you need it!

2. Look at all the newsletters you have accumulated…and unsubscribe from AT LEAST half of them. Then delete all the back issues, too. We sign up for newsletters for all kinds of perfectly good reasons — but with the plethora of really great information out there, it’s easy to get carried away.

The bottom line is you don’t need most of this information…you already have 90% of the info you need to run your business. You know what to do…searching for more information is just another way to procrastinate, give in to the fear that you don’t know what you are doing, etc. Trust that you are ready…and get busy implementing, not researching more!

3. Devise a system to read or discard email immediately. Spend just a few seconds deciding whether something is worth reading right away — and if it is not, delete it! If you plan to read it, do it right then. Alternatively, put the “read soon” emails into a separate folder and then put time on your calendar every Friday to clean out that folder — read and delete so the folder is EMPTY at the end of your Friday session. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment you’ll have when you’ve done your “research” for the week!

Even better — with a cleaner inbox, you’ll find you have more room to get things done…because you won’t be constantly looking at an inbox full of things to read!

About the Author:

TerriZwierzynskiPhoto.jpgTerri Zwierzynski is a self-employed business strategist and marketing consultant to solo entrepreneurs, and a grassroots promoter of the solo entrepreneur lifestyle. She runs Solo-E.com, the resource website for the self-employed which attracts thousands of solo home business owners monthly from over 100 countries on six continents (and was recently named a finalist for “Website of the Year” in the 4th Annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business). Terri is also the co-author of 136 Ways To Market Your Small or Solo Business.

Categories
Networking

LinkedIn Profile Secrets – The #1 Reason Why Your LinkedIn Profile Fails to Attract More Prospects

Article Contributed by Kristina Jaramillo

3 Reasons Why Your Profile Should Not Be the Same as Your Position

1. Think of your headline as your first sales pitch to people who want to connect with you. If I am unfamiliar with you or your company, how does mentioning your company name and your position show me what you do and why I need to connect with you? It doesn’t! These headlines are too general, simple and straight forward. They are too vague and too broad.  In order for your headline to be effective, it needs to grab my attention. It needs to make me want to read the rest of your profile. As a potential client or potential referral source, I need to see right away how you can help me or my clients.

2. When I am invited to connect with someone, I view their profile before I choose to accept. The first thing that I look at is their headline to see if there is any possible synergy between the person who wants to connect with me and my business.  By doing this I can see if it is worth my time and energy to view the rest of their profile. Make your headline enticing so I will want to read your profile and connect with you.

3. If someone is going through people search or through the groups to see who they should connect with, they are looking at hundred to thousands of opportunities. You need to make your business stand out to entice others to want to click on your name to read your profile and learn more about you.

Now that you know that you need to drastically improve your LinkedIn profile headline in order to attract more clients, the question is, how do you fix it?

4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself When Creating Your LinkedIn Profile Headline

1)  What can you say in your headline that will give your instant credibility?

One of the easiest ways to gain that instant credibility is to use any media attention.  For example, I was recently called a “Social Media Expert” by the New York Times.  Look how I use this media mention in my new LinkedIn profile headline to give me instant credibility:

“Read my profile now and discover LinkedIn secrets from the woman the New York Times called a social media expert”.

2)  Does your LinkedIn profile headline command action?

The best way to get someone to read your profile further is to tell them to do so. Just look at my example above. Notice I’m giving you a call-to-action. By stating read, view or learn more by reading my profile, you are instructing the reader to do so.  And, guess what – chances are they’ll listen. You just have to tell your prospects what to do – and why they need to take the action.

3) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show why you are different?

Go to people search on LinkedIn and type in your career description. Look at how many people match your description. For example, when I type in “internet marketing consultant” into people search it gives me 139,041 results. The phrase “life coach” gives me 83,847 results. The phrase “business coach returns” 224,274 results.  In your headline if you show how and why you are unique chances are your prospects will explore your business further than that of your competition.

For example Article Marketing Experts Eric Gruber’s profile headline was: See how we can get you published on websites like About.com – instead of just article directories like our competition.

4) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show a benefit to the reader?

By implying there is an advantage to your reader by viewing your profile you are telling them that there is a benefit of using your products or services.  The reader needs a reason to accept a connection with you.  By giving them a benefit you are instilling confidence in your business. For example:

  • Help My Website Sell Founder Adam Hommey’s headline is: Top internet marketing consultant and expert webmaster reveals how to make your website sell more products and services
  • The Global Institute of Visionary Executives Founder Carrie Jacobs has this as her headline: Read my profile and learn from a champion visionary executive coach how you can profit from your own brand of success

About the Author:

Written by Kristina Jaramillo. Just by fixing your LinkedIn profile headline, you will begin to attract more prospects and referral sources. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, in my free special report, I reveal 14 mistakes that most internet marketers and small business owners make – and the opportunities they are missing. I invite you to get this free report at http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

Kristina Jaramillo