Tips for successful blogging, from Problogger Darren Rowse
March 13, 2010
Day 1 at the South by South West festival and Aussie Darren Rowse (@problogger and problogger.net) took the Day Stage to talk about his book (which is about to be released in 2nd edition) and gave some great tips for successful blogging.
A few minutes into his presentation the room was evacuated when a (false) alarm went off but we were back 20minutes later to hear his great tips again.
I managed to catch up with him quickly and invited him to give some of his strategies for successful blogging.
In summary:
- Be as useful as you can.
- Enhance the lives of others.
- Produce content that others want to share.
- Put yourself out there and promote your content.
- Where are your readers gathering online?
- Interact with your audience as much as you can.
- Ask questions, start debates, engage with people, highlight your readers’ blogs.
- Capture people’s details (not just RSS) then you can email them update, drive traffic and promote product to them later.
- Look at the style you write in and experiment in different voices e.g. humorous, technical, use of video - readers will respond well to some but not others - and helps your style and voice evolve.
- Simple tips can work really well - writing for beginners is really powerful. What do you know that’s simple but important #sxsw @problogger
- Think a successful blog is an overnight thing? @problogger suggests 2yrs of building foundations
- Write content that solves problems.
- More posts is more doorways to your blog.
- Promotion: You can’t just build it and they will come - you need to promote your content, seed the content to the web.
PLUS:
Are You Being Mentored?
March 12, 2010
By Cat Matson, Alito
Many people often think they need to establish a ‘formal’ mentoring relationship in order to receive the benefits. But I often find mentoring … and the benefits that come with it … can be a bit more organic.
A mentor is considered a trusted friend, counselor or teacher, usually a more experienced person. In the business context, we often look for mentors who are ‘ahead’ of us in their business pursuits … someone from whom we can learn valuable lessons and gain insights based on their experience.
I know I’ve found it hard to find mentors in my time as a business owner … and when I have been ‘partnered’ up with someone ‘older and wiser’ I’ve found the structure of the relationship limiting. For example there was a time when I was paired up with a renown female business leader - literally a leader in her industry. We had a couple of chats over coffee, but I didn’t actually receive a lot of benefit from the ‘chats’. What I really needed was to be able to talk to her more informally - when an idea came to me, or when I hit a snag in my plan … it would have been great to just pick up the phone and have a chat about it.
That experience taught me that there are many ways to be mentored. Just ‘watching’ other people and how they do things is a mentoring experience for me - I ask myself ‘what would happen in my business if I took that approach?’ The different perspective yields interesting responses.
Then there’s the people I hang out with - they wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves my mentors … but I learn an incredible amount by bouncing ideas around with them.
Or there have been times when I’ve looked at high-profile business owners, for example the late Anita Roddick, or Richard Branson and asked myself ‘what would they do in this situation? Of course, it’s largely an exercise in imagination and mind-reading … however if you’re even half the avid-reader I am, you get to learn a lot about Business Leaders just by voyeuristically watching how they run their business.
Then there’s the people I hang out with - they wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves my mentors … but I learn an incredible amount by bouncing ideas around with them. Some of my most valuable insights have come from my clients - the people who are paying me for my expertise - but when I watch their approach I feel I too am being mentored.
There is of course incredible value in creating formal mentoring relationships - I consistently hear amazing things about the ABN’s MentorNet Program and I by all means encourage you to get involved in such programs when you can. But if for whatever reason you can’t establish a formal mentoring relationship with someone, remember you can receive the benefits of mentoring in other ways.
For more information about the MentorNet mentoring program for women business owners, visit the Australian Businesswomen’s Network website.
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Cat Matson - Alito
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| Phone: | 07 3289 7055 |
| Email: | cat@alito.com.au |
| Website: | www.alito.com.au |
| Twitter: | www.twitter.com/catmatson |
| Facebook: | www.facebook.com/AlitoFusion |
| LinkedIn: | www.linkedin.com/in/CatMatson |
| Blog: | www.alito.com.au/blog |
| Member Profile: | See Cat’s Member Profile |
Boost your brain power and revitalise your memory
March 11, 2010
By Catherine Pritchard, Radiance Healthcare Centre
Your brain is a powerhouse! It requires a large amount of fuel in order to keep it functioning at it’s peak all day long. Stress, poor diet, deadlines and a lack of fresh air can all compromise your brain function. Use the following tips to help keep your brain and memory in tip top shape.
Lecithin granules
Lecithin is rich in phosphatidyl choline which has been found to be beneficial to brain function and memory. Add two tablespoons to your cereal or smoothie at breakfast.
Eat regularly!
Being busy is no excuse for skipping meals and snacks. Since your brain is the greatest consumer of glucose in the body, it is important that you refuel your body every 3-4 hours with good nutritious food.
Fresh air and nature – rich in negative ions
Experience more of the ocean, the mountains and waterfalls as they have been found to generate tens of thousands of negative ions which have a positive impact on mood and brain function. Air conditioning and computer screens emit positive ions which are more likely to contribute to stress levels.
Memory Herb - Gingko Biloba
Studies show that Gingko Biloba helps to increase blood flow to the brain and improves concentration and memory. (Do not use if taking blood thinners or anticoagulant medication such as warfrin).
Good fats
Essential fatty acids are found in high concentrations in the brain and especially involved in our ability to create and maintain memories as well as help to improve circulation. Oily fish, eggs and nuts and seeds are great ways to increase your omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Antioxidants
Fresh fruit and vegetables are full of antioxidants that help to protect the brain from damage from free radicals which tend to cause damage to cells particularly in the brain. Blueberries, raspberries, brussel sprouts and broccoli are some of the key fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants. The vitamins A, C and E have also been found to protect the brain and green tea helps to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine which in turn helps to maintain memory.
Replenish lost nutrients from stress
Brain function suffers when we are under stress largely due to the depletion of certain nutrients such as the B vitamins and imbalances in our neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that act as electrical switches in the brain. When you have a memory blank or can’t recall a piece of information it is because there is a short circuit or power failure due to inadequate neurotransmitters. Vitamin B Complex and neurotransmitter precursors such as glutamine, choline, taurine and tyrosine can help to improve memory.
Drink 2 Litres of water each and every day!
Dehdyration affects the ability of the brain to store and retain information.
Meditation
Even 5-10 minutes per day helps to improve brain function.
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Catherine Pritchard - Radiance Healthcare CentreCatherine is a scientific naturopath who is experienced in working with business women to increase their energy, motivation and productivity. Her innovative programs are based on the latest research and incorporate simple dietary changes so that you can get the most out of each and every day. Prior to commencing her career as a naturopath almost 10 years ago, Catherine was an industrial chemist in an oil refinery. Her scientific background caused her to seek out the latest technology to assess your health, energy and vitality. In conjunction with a thorough assessment, these state of the art tests allow her to personally prescribe you the most suitable nutrients that will make the greatest impact on your health and wellbeing.
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The Power of Symbols for your Brand
March 10, 2010
By Cheryl Hayman, Hayman Strategy
How often do we sit and think about how symbols, pictures and taglines affect our brand? Conversely how aware are we of the effect on us of our favourite brands’ symbols and other visual identity references?
Are you a visual person, and does it matter?
From teenagers wearing Gap and Nike brand logos to adults driving BMWs, we are drawn to incorporate brands into lives. We all draw our personality and self-image from products such as cars, homes, clothing and even recreational activities, and products always have brand logos or symbols of some kind that represent them.
By accident or Design?
Nike probably got the best deal amongst all companies when Caroline Davidson designed its logo for just $35 in 1971. The main part of the logo hasn’t really changed with time. However it was 7 years before they realized that the text and the swoosh were overlapping each other.
As the brand gained recognition, the company name was dropped from the logo, which made it more simplistic and memorable. The company has different variations of this logo for its various departments like Skate, Soccer etc.
Creating a Visual Signature
One of the first steps in creating an identity for an organisation is the development of an effective logo. An appealing logo makes your business special and memorable in the eyes of your clients or customers.
Each element adds unique characteristics to a logo.
It is important to remember that your logo is not your brand. It is just one part of the entire brand implementation process.
Keep it simple.
An appealing logo makes your business special and memorable in the eyes of your clients or customers.
The simpler a logo is the more it is, the more cost effective it is to reproduce. Your logo needs to remain consistent in color, font and proportion where ever it is used.
A brand comprises many elements. These include its name, positioning (reason for being), trademark/trade dress (symbols, colors, typestyle, package configuration), and brand communications. These brand elements, when successfully developed and managed, create a strong identity for a company. Over time, this creates strong brand authority.
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Cheryl Hayman - Hayman Strategy
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| Phone: | 0408 200 545 or 02 9555 5776 |
| Website: | www.haymanstrategy.com |
| Email: | cheryl@haymanstrategy.com |
| Twitter: | www.twitter.com/cherylhayman |
| Facebook: | www.facebook.com/cheryl.hayman |
| LinkedIn: | See Cheryl’s Public Profile |
| Member Profile: | See Cheryl’s Member Profile |
What change have you made to your marketing strategy in the last three months that made the biggest difference to your results?
March 9, 2010
We asked our community this question for the current issue of our Women in Business eNewsletter. A compilation of these answers was published for our community of women across Australia to learn from. Click here to read our current newsletter, and click here to read the answers we received.
Please let us know your thoughts, and add a comment here.
Women in Business eNewsletter | March 2010
Dealing with Counter Offers when Hiring Staff
March 9, 2010
By Kristy-Lee Johnston, Footprint Recruitment
So you have waded your way through the interviewing and selection process and BINGO! You have found the perfect person for your role! They have the skills and experience and above all you think they make a great with your team.
So you extend the offer, with what you feel is a fair market salary package for the position - and then they are counter offered.
A counter offer in its basic sense is when the applicant you have offered the position to is, usually upon resignation with their existing employer, offered more money or better benefits in an effort to keep them with that company.
There can be only three outcomes when an applicant is counter offered:
- They decline the counter offer and accept your offer
- They consider the counter offer and come to you to try and negotiate further
- They accept the counter offer and stay with the employer
Obviously the ideal is scenario one, and for most smart applicants this is what they would do, because ultimately research shows that the majority of candidates who accept a counter offer leave the employer within six months.
However, if you find yourself in the other two scenarios with a top class applicant, here are some tips which may help you manage the difficult process:
- Know your limits - This means knowing what the role is worth to your company and not going over this amount (unless you are convinced this person can add more value than anyone else could in the role).
- Consider the salary ranges of the other staff in the same or similar positions - Are you putting this new staff member above other great performing team members?
- Remind the applicant the reasons they were looking for a change to begin with - Having conducted a thorough interview you would have asked them their reasons for wanting to leave their existing employer, if their counter offer is purely financially based, likelihood is it won’t meet these needs, and they will still be unhappy.
- Think outside the square – You may not be able to offer the same or better money, but what else can you offer to keep them happy? Again go back to your interview notes on why they were looking to leave their current role and meet these needs. It may be flexible hours, the opportunity to work from home, a more social culture, different challenges or the opportunity to learn new skills.
- Above all don’t be pushed or rushed into decisions that you are not ready to make - You obviously don’t want to lose a great applicant, but by the same token you must make sure the decisions you make are well thought out and qualified as the right thing for the business and the role.
- Seek advice - Ask other business owners and industry contacts about the salary and benefit ranges for similar positions, make sure that you are not offering below market rates or you may never get the right person for the role.
Remember to do your research, know your limits and think outside the square, this should make the process a whole lot simpler.
Counter offers can be frustrating, disappointing and confronting, but in roles where great applicants with unique skills are in high demand they can be very common. Remember to do your research, know your limits and think outside the square, this should make the process a whole lot simpler.
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Kristy-Lee Johnston - Footprint Recruitment
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| Phone: | 02 4367 5500 |
| Email: | kristy@footprintrecruitment.com.au |
| Website: | www.footprintrecruitment.com.au |
| Twitter: | www.twitter.com/footprintcc |
| Facebook: | www.facebook.com/footprintrecruitment |
| LinkedIn: | au.linkedin.com/in/kristyleejohnston |
| Member Profile: | See Kristy’s Member Profile |
Are you avoiding your paperwork?
March 8, 2010
By Alycia Edgar, Coastal Accounting Services
Have you buried your head in the sand when it comes to your business financials? Do you know where your money is being spent and how much money you have earned? Or do you simply get your books done (or not - shriek!) to get your BAS out of the way, pray that you don’t owe any money and get back to being busy? Are you afraid of knowing exactly how your business is going? I love that saying “feel the fear and do it anyway”, because at least if you do know the hard facts, you’ll be able to make changes. And you never know, your business might be doing better than you thought!
If you’re behind in keeping your books, you can get back on track. Here are some simple steps to accomplish this:
1. Collate all your paperwork into piles that relate to:
a. Invoices and payments made for business expenses
b. Invoices and payments received from customers/clients or a cash register summary
c. Payments made to employees
d. Bank and credit card statements, BAS, ATO correspondence
2. If this seems overwhelming, maybe it’s time to bite the bullet and enlist help from a bookkeeper who can sort it all out for you.
3. Are you using an accounting software package? You need access to this (or give your bookkeeper access to it) to get yourself up to date.
4. Enter all relevant information from a, b and c above.
5. Take your bank and credit card statements, and check (reconcile) that all transactions are accounted for in your accounting software program. Make sure to include any cash transactions as well. If you have no idea how to reconcile, simply look at a bank register (or credit card register) within your accounting software to check that each item that is on your bank statement (and/or credit card statement) also appears in your bank register. Then you can hand over to a bookkeeper/accountant to complete the reconciliation process.
6. By now you should be up to date. It’s time to celebrate – woo-hoo! If you had assistance to get back on track make sure you pay their bill promptly. Let’s now consider your maintenance program, because you don’t want really to get into this position again, do you?
7. Maintenance mode – repeat steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 from above on a weekly or fortnightly basis to keep on track. The important thing to remember is that it is much better for you and your business to KNOW your numbers than to go into a cold sweat and have no idea!
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Alycia Edgar - Coastal Accounting Services
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| Phone: | 0403 983 529 |
| Email: | alycia@coastalaccounting.com.au |
| Twitter: | www.twitter.com/alyciaedgar |
| Blog: | www.numbersarelife.com |
| Member Profile: | See Alycia’s Member Profile |
Do you speak English? Communication tips for business owners. (PART 1)
March 4, 2010
As any new migrant will tell you, the inability to communicate effectively can get in the way of opportunity. No matter how clever you are, communication attempts can be thwarted by the lack of skill to communicate well and get your message across.
Communication skills are more important today than ever before.
And, communication barriers go beyond language barriers. Let’s assume you speak English well. You may not be the next best-selling author, or Tony Robbins, but you have a decent command of the English language. You’re good at what you do and you want to grow your business.
But, nobody’s listening, nobody’s buying.
What’s happening?
Do you speak English?
Mum. Aged 16. (Love the hair!)
My mum arrived here from Greece aged 15. She spoke no English and, like many migrants new to a country, struggled for a long time to be understood.
Some migrants, like her, moved to neighbourhoods with like-speaking people, worked in factories where their native language was spoken, mingled only with others from their own culture. No doubt their progress with the English language was slow.
Mum wanted to learn the language of her new country - to be understood. So, when my brothers and I were in school and she finally had some time to herself, she went off to English classes and while we kids would at times giggle at her attempts at words (English is a HARD language) she persisted. She wanted to be understood. I didn’t realise, at the time, the persistence this took.
Communication today
Doing business today requires you to be able to communicate better and differently than ever before.
Technology has given us many tools with which to communicate. But the tools themselves don’t make us good communicators. The mastery of one or many, could however make you a market leader.
Over the next few weeks I’ll post about the effective use of of my favourite communication tools for business.
Here’s my position on Communication:
Communication is a skill.
It can be learned, improved, mastered. By anyone. Yes, including you - regardless of your level of schooling.
Tools do not make you good.
Communication tools like blogs, podcasts, emails, newsletters, videos, webinars, seminars etc. are TOOLS. Their use, alone, does not make you a master of them.
In my opinion:
- A bad podcast COULD be worse for your business than no podcast.
- A bad webinar COULD be worse for your business and reputation than NO webinar.
The key to more effective communication is to take action AND to get education and improve your skills. For example:
- If you’re going to blog, get some basic training.
- If you’re going to podcast, then get some honest feedback on your voice and some voice training.
- If you’re going to do seminars, then please, please, get some presentation skills.
You get the picture?
The big opportunity
Those who commit to master of their communication will win the hearts and minds of their customers, staff, allies and community.
If you’re up for the ride, then let’s go. Next week’s post: Basic Communication Tools to Grow Your Business
Cheers
Suzi
Five actions to help you (and your team) flourish
March 3, 2010
by Caroline McAuliffe, ExecConnect
This past week I proudly launched my new business, ExeConnect, and as a gift to the clients who attended the launch event, I presented a gift of wellbeing and happiness! I had arranged for Clive Leach, our Associate Executive Coach at ExeConnect to give a presentation at the launch. Clive is an evidence-based executive coach and facilitator who works within the corporate sector and Australian Public Service. He is a master’s graduate of the University of Sydney Coaching Psychology Unit and a member of the International Coach Federation.
Clive informed us that research shows that despite huge increases in wealth, advances in health care and access to technology, western societies today are no happier than they were 50 years ago. This doesn’t mean everyone is miserable; but levels of life satisfaction and well-being have not improved, despite arguably higher standards of living. The reality is that levels of anxiety, stress, fear and depression are rising.
He explained that the causes for lack of wellbeing include the breakdown of family and community relationships, increased violence, crime, drug and alcohol use, and (perhaps the most insidious culprits of all) ‘afluenza’ and social comparison. Too many people believe that happiness can be found through their looks, clothes, iPods, mobile phones, trainers or cars. There’s a lack of realisation that once these things are attained, we all too quickly adapt to them and promptly become envious that others have something bigger, better or newer.
Like the wicked queen in Snow White, when we can only judge ourselves by what the external world (the mirror on the wall) thinks, we can never be truly happy.
So, enough of the bad news.What’s the good news?
Clive assured us all that the field of positive psychology provides a wealth of evidence that it is possible for us to increase levels of happiness and well-being and sets out a clear and applicable framework for living a life of pleasure, engagement and meaning.
We know that the most hopeful and optimistic people share three simple characteristics:
- they have goals,
- they have agency (self belief) in their ability to reach the goals and
- they are able to identify a range of pathways or routes to success which helps them to persevere when faced with inevitable setbacks.
Five daily actions that will help you flourish
Clive went on to give us several examples of how we can begin to build our resilience, improve well-being and aim to be our best possible selves. In particular, I was fascinated by the research that was commissioned in 2008 by The New Economic Foundation, by the UK Government’s Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Well-being. The review was an inter-disciplinary work of over 400 scientists from across the world with an aim to identify a set of evidence-based actions to improve well-being, which individuals should be encouraged to build into their daily lives. Here is a brief description of those five actions and how you incorporate them into your daily life:
1. Connect
Connect with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the corner of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Social relationships are critical to our well-being. Survey research has found that well-being is increased by life goals associated with family, friends, social and political life and decreased by goals associated with career success and material gains. Governments can shape policies in ways that encourage citizens to spend more time with families and friends and less time in the workplace. For example, employment policy that actively promotes flexible working and reduces the burdens of commuting, alongside policies aimed at strengthening local involvement, would enable people to spend more time at home and in their communities to build supportive and lasting relationships.
2. Be active
Go for a walk or a run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Exercise has been shown to increase mood and has been used successfully to lower rates of depression and anxiety. Being active also develops the motor skills of children and protects against cognitive decline in the elderly. Yet for the first time in history more of the world’s population live in urban than non-urban environments. Through urban design and transport policy, governments influence the way we navigate through our neighbourhoods and towns. To improve our well-being, policies could support more green space to encourage exercise and play and prioritise cycling and walking over car use.
3. Take notice
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the usual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
In the US, research has shown that practising awareness of sensations, thoughts and feelings can improve both the knowledge we have about ourselves and our well-being for several years. But the twenty-first century’s never-ending flow of messages from companies advertising products and services leaves little opportunity to savour or reflect on our experiences. Policy that incorporates emotional awareness training and media education into universal education provision may better equip individuals to navigate their way through the information super-highway with their well-being intact; regulation to create advertising-free spaces could further improve well-being outcomes.
4. Keep learning
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Learning encourages social interaction and increases self-esteem and feelings of competency. Behaviour directed by personal goals to achieve something new has been shown to increase reported life satisfaction. While there is often a much greater policy emphasis on learning in the early years of life, psychological research suggests it is a critical aspect of day-to-day living for all age groups. Therefore, policies that encourage learning, even in the elderly, will enable individuals to develop new skills, strengthen social networks and feel more able to deal with life’s challenges.
5. Give
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Studies in neuroscience have shown that cooperative behaviour activates reward areas of the brain, suggesting we are hard wired to enjoy helping one another. Individuals actively engaged in their communities report higher well-being and their help and gestures have knock-on effects for others. But it is not simply about a one-way transaction of giving. Research shows that building reciprocity and mutual exchange – through giving and receiving – is the simplest and most fundamental way of building trust between people and creating positive social relationships and resilient communities. Governments can choose to invest more in ‘the core economy’: the family, neighbourhood and community which, together, act as the operating system of society. Policies that provide accessible, enjoyable and rewarding ways of participation and exchange will enable more individuals to take part in social and political life.
BONUS: Get a coach!
Finally, one more way to learn about and understand how you can use your strengths and inner resources and to achieve a life of purpose, satisfaction and achievement is by attending an Evidence-based intervention, such as a workshop or one-on-one coaching. Outcomes of research studies have shown that coaching can result in significant increases in levels of well-being, resilience, hope and goal attainment in people. Exploring such findings might add value for your own life as well as the lives of your friends, family and colleagues and result in flourishing people.
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Caroline McAuliffe - ExeConnect and Virtual Angels
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| Phone: | 0415 623 122 |
| Email: | caroline@execonnect.com.au |
| caroline@virtualangels.com.au | |
| Twitter: | www.twitter.com/ExeConnectAu |
| Blog: | virtualangelsau.blogspot.com www.execonnect.com.au/blog |
| LinkedIn: | au.linkedin.com/in/carolinemcauliffe |
| Member Profile: | See Caroline’s Member Profile |
New iPhone app means you only need to print 1 business card.
March 2, 2010
Apple took out a full page ad in today’s paper to promote a number of their iPhone apps that are good for business. One application stood out to me, and it could save you a whopping amount in printing.
Possible Scenario at your next meeting:
PROSPECT: “Do you have a business card?”
YOU: “Sure.”
Then…
- You produce a card (or something glamorous made from long-lasting plastic, platinum etc. with all your details - including your Twitter handle!)
- Your contact takes a photo of it with their iPhone (what else would you use, really?).
- Your details are now in their phone.
No paper, no waste.
The Business Card Reader allows you to take the photo of a business card on your iPhone (or Blackberry). It then ‘reads’ the data and enters the details into your address book.
So, no scanning, data entry, or piles of business cards stashed in drawers.
Now all you need is one business card and friends and colleagues with iPhones. 
I’ll be getting the app.
Suzi
Business Card Reader | Apple iPhone Application
