Here are a few example ideas I came up with that you can use a shared Google Calendar to help promote your web site or business.

• If you are a speaker, publish a speaking schedule. You are probably already doing that through Google Calendar already. Maybe you are publishing the calendar to your website. If you are, people can also subscribe to the calendar via Google Calendars or iCal. Promote and publish those links too.
• Is your site or blog all about soccer? Create a calendar around the different soccer matches either around the world or the locality that your readers are most interested in. Let them know how they can subscribe to that calendar.
• Maybe your visitors are mostly business people or marketers. How about creating a calendar that shows when quarterly taxes are due, a reminder when to start their holiday marketing planning and when to start promoting? Enter the dates and weeks of holidays and observances they can use for promotions.
• Similarly, if your visitors are moms, how about a calendar with suggestions of places to visit, things to do, seasonal reminders or shopping and menu plans.
• If you are a coach. Create a calendar around a program let’s say, a 60 day organizing program that users can subscribe to and they be reminded or things they need to do each day or each week to help them move along.

Use your imagination. Think of the calendar as a free reminder tool for your visitors. Remember that you can enter a link in Google Calendar entries. This can encourage subscribed users to click through to visit your site, an offer or simply lead people to read old but timely posts.

Don’t think it would work? This is the third year I am creating a calendar for bloggers of the many blogging opportunities throughout the year. It is very popular and I get people asking when it will be updated each year. Great tool to keep you in front of your audience at all times through the year as well. You can get a PDF copy of this calendar as an example for your own project. This year, I will be creating both PDF and a online ‘live’ version using Google Calendar.

Image courtesy of yalcin Eren

Lynette enjoys discovering new ways to use technology or new technologies to use in a business and in turn help her clients apply them. You can find also Lynette at her blog, Twitter and Facebook

I’m thrilled to come back and report that I went for it!

I paid a deposit and signed a lease for this great three bedroom house on Otsego Lake.  It’s way cute and sits right on the east shore where it will enjoy all the afternoon sunshine.

The lake house will add significant financial pressure on my monthly budget – so now is where I get ‘Hungry’!

I’m Not The Only Hungry One

On Monday mornings I meet with Mom Masterminds members and other internet marketing women (our meeting is open to the public) for a regular ‘Breakthrough’ session.  This week I declared the theme to be ‘Double the Trouble’ and we talked about wanting to double our incomes.

In Friday’s post I said:

“I know I can make everything I want happen if I want it bad enough. With the right projects and focused attention, anything really is possible.”

After a season of bring pretty laid back about things, I’m working up a sense of urgency and tackling all of my projects with renewed passion.  I’m determined to make every dollar I can, ensuring that I’ll get to enjoy the lake house as much as possible.

In the breakthrough session it became clear that I’m not alone in dreaming bigger dreams and feeling increased levels of pressure about earning a more substantial income.   Again and again, participating members voiced their agreement and excitement about reaching for higher levels.

Our new goals make us remember what it felt like to be new and hungry for success, sparking the idea to claim the title:  ‘The Hungry Women of Internet Marketing‘.  We’re going to be holding each other accountable to our new goals and taking regular action on them over on the Mom Masterminds forum of course.

Several of us have joined Jimmy’s Affiliatenaire course to ramp up our efforts in affiliate marketing and we’re starting up an MMer accountability group right after Labor Day.  We’ll be meeting in my conference room one evening a week to talk over our lessons and brainstorm ways to apply the information.  I’m so excited about that!

You Work Harder When You’re Hungry And When Someone Else Is Watching!

When Mom Masterminds launched back in 2004, we noticed right away that sharing goals and being held accountable for them helped many members to take more action.  That and being able to mastermind with other smart marketers helps you take smarter action

If you’re hungry like we’re hungry, I invite you to join us there!

Maybe many of us are tired of free PDF’s that are just gathering cyberdust on our hard drives not because the information isn’t good, not because it is free but because it’s no longer as ’sexy’ anymore. Maybe we have all ‘grown up’ in the manner we consume and share information online. I’m not saying that PDF’s aren’t good or effective and that we must rush to multi-media delivery. Not at all. What I am saying is, maybe the days of black and white text only PDF’s is going if not already gone. That we need to work harder to present our information with professional design and layouts whether they are in written format or multimedia.

I’m not sure. But I know this.

One of the biggest reasons I love my work is because I see lots of potential in utilizing technology for marketing purposes. It is true that everyone of us reading and contributing to this blog already are doing so to a certain extent. After all, for most of us, our business wouldn’t exist without technology – the Internet. But what I’m talking about is leveraging technology beyond the obvious.

It is my believe, that if you can deliver your freebie in the form of a tool – yes, I am talking about software, games, quizzes, plugins, themes, even Stock photo that people can actually use, interact and experience, free is still very much welcomed and works very, very well.

I used to struggle. A lot.

I spent more than a decade suffocating under a burden of debt.  I wore the letters off of my keyboard building my online business – and finally knew the pleasure of being debt free and being able to pay bills on time.  I know what it’s like to build something from scratch, to work hard for little return with an eye for the long game.   I dreamt of a day when things would come easier.

A wise man once told me to plan your work and work your plan.  Stay in the know, make friends and burn only rickety bridges.  Eventually, a good plan develops its own momentum – but take care.  When things start to come easier – you have to be smarter than ever. 

That advice has been ringing in my ears over the past couple of weeks.

Everywhere I turn, there’s another ‘Open Door’.  Offers of partnership from cool people.  Opportunities to go to the next level.  Options for more, new, better this or that…

And not just in my business life.  In my home life as well.

I’m used to limited options.  A single mom in debt can’t get credit from anyone and has a really hard time being approved for things like apartments and satelite dish companies.  Even after paying off my debts, I had to have a co-signer to buy a used car and had to pay a ridiculous deposit to win a chance with a landlord.

I’m not complaining.  I dug that ditch and knew it was my job to fill it back in one heavy shovel full at a time.

Still, it has been a long road.

Then, on a whim this week I filled out an application for a new place – fully expecting the usual rejection… and got accepted.

You could have knocked me over with a feather.  No request for a co-signer.  No extravagant deposits.  No extra hoops to jump through.  Just my own signature.

Don’t plan any housewarming gifts yet – I decided not to go for it.

As exciting as it is to be approached with great projects and as gratifying as it is to know that my credit is starting to heal and I have more freedom to choose… I have decided to stay right where I am for awhile.

I have objectives for this season of my life and business and they haven’t been met yet.  If I power forward and grab all the gusto I can – I’ll most likely find that I’m not fully prepared for it.

Can anyone relate?

Most Sparkplugging readers are…well, small.  Call it consultant, micro-business, or whatever you like.  Freelancers are small businesses that can benefit from a very small amount of business.  Today I’d like to show you how to snag some highly targeted web traffic that will get you some great business – and it’s something you should be able to accomplish by yourself within a few hours.

My last post was on getting yourself added to the Google Local Business Directory.  Today I want to focus on how to expand that local presence.

What you’ll need:

• A website.
• Access to your website’s code, or at least the back end visual editor.  If you don’t make any changes to your website, you’ll need the person who makes those changes.
• Internet Access

Most freelancers work in competitive niches like writing, real estate, or consulting of some sort.  For this example I want to use the real estate industry to show how you can find buyers.

First, let’s do a little research. Do you know what people who are looking for your goods & services type into search engines?  Google will tell you, for free.  Go to https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal# and use the free keyword tool to get an idea.  Start by typing in what you sell or provide. In this case, I’ll start with ‘Real Estate.’  I get this result.

Notice that at the top it shows me the average number of searches for the terms ‘real estate’ and ‘real estates.’  These are the exact matches for what I was searching for.  The neat thing is that lower down it also gives me a huge list of thing that Google says people also type when searching for real estate.  Wouldn’t you love to be found on the first page of Google when someone searches those things?  The big national real estate franchises like Remax, Coldwell Banker and others certainly love it.

Again, you can do this with any industry. Try it again with ‘counseling,’ ‘copy writing,’ ‘graphic design’ or whatever it is that you do.  The Keyword Tool will generate a list of keywords that relate to your industry.

Now, the next part that I am going to show you really only works for small markets where the competition is not too fierce, but it should work for many of you.  If you live in Los Angeles, NYC, or another major metro, you’ll need to do more than just this, but this is a good start.

Do the search again, but add a geo targeted qualifier to it.  That simply means add a city or zip code.  I picked a small town in Tennessee called Crossville (population 10,433).

Notice that the numbers drop dramatically?  It means its far less competitve.  If you could show up on the first page of 5000+ searches and get around 5 – 10% of those people to click through to your site, would you be happy?  I thought so.

Your next step is store those keywords you want to target.  You can click add next to all of them and it will generate a list on the right which you can then download as a text file or as a .csv (Excel) file.  You can also just write them down if you want to target just the top few.

Now you want to add these keywords to your website.  On your Home, About and Contact page, put in a few sentences about how you are a real estate agent that specializes in the Crossville area, and then rearrange that sentence in a few different ways.  Make sure that each page has different content.  A good example could be:

Cory Huff is a Crossville Real Estate Agent with over 10 years experience helping buyers locate homes for sale in Crossville, Lake Holiday, and Woodlawn.  Located at the intersection of Interstate 40 and State Highway 127, Crossville, Tennessee is a beautiful city that is growing like crazy and we have new real estate deals on beautiful homes and land for sale in the Crossville area.

You know your market, so write for your own customers, but you get the idea.  Google loves this local search stuff, and in a small market this can often be enough to get you the traffic you need.

Further ideas:

• Create a blog that you update once a week with posts about the local real estate market.  Make sure you put these keywords in the title and at the top of the posts.  For example, you might do a blog post about how Obama’s recent tax credits will affect the homes for sale in your current market, and lead with the title, “Homes for Sale under Obama’s Tax Plan.”
• If you’ve added yourself to the Google Local Business Directory, go back and add some of these keywords to your listing in the description and categories sections.
• Get other websites to link to your site using your keywords as the anchor text like I do here with my blog, TheAbundantArtist.com, which contains posts on the best day jobs for actors.

It will take a few weeks to a couple of months for you to start to see results from this work, but it’s well worth it when you start getting phone calls!  Please bookmark this post and come back after you start seeing results, and let us know how it works out for you!

Cory Huff, Sparkplugging.com intern, works as a blogger & social media guy for Netbiz.com, a company focused on search engine marketing for small businesses.  He’s also a trained actor and writes about the intersection of money & art at TheAbundantArtist.com.

The membership site I’m referring to is Mom Masterminds.

Mom Masterminds is a rich internet marketing learning center and private networking forum that you pay to access for 12 consecutive months, and then graduate into lifetime free access.

Launched in June of 2004, MM was a partnership between Alice Seba (the Internet Marketing Sweetie) and myself.    Alice stepped away from the project when she widened her target market and embraced the Sweetie brand, althrough she remains as a Special Advisor to this day.

I have also been partnered with Lynette Chandler. She has been the technological brains behind the site since the beginning.  She keeps the scripts updated and speaking well with each other – something I would have no clue on how to do.  She brings a darned sharp marketing mindset too.

A Membership Site When Membership Sites Weren’t Cool

Yes, we launched Mom Masterminds in a time when paid membership sites were rare in the mom market. There was in fact quite a few negative comments being spouted around the work at home mom community. 

• There’s already so much information available for free, nobody will pay for it.
• Why would anyone join a paid forum when there are hundreds out there for free?
• Cheaper paid mom associations already exist, nobody is going to pay those prices. (We launched at $24.97/mo)
• Moms are too cheap frugal for a paid membership program.

I’ll give Alice all the credit for ignoring the naysayers and plowing forward to launch MM.  I’m just proud to have been able to come along for the ride in those early years.

For sure, there are still some out there who view MM with negativity.  They would still point at the same old ‘free vs paid’ complaints.  At this point however, I think we have to chalk it up to sour grapes – because our track record and many long time member testimonials speak to our value and success as a training ground.

We knew that we would provide our members with great learning resources and advice.  But I had to admit early on that I never expected the amazing culture that developed on our forums.  The fact that every member had to pay to be there lifted expectations and influenced the nature of the networking.

Cooperation, encouragement and support was coming from everyone – partnerships, both short term and long term were birthed.   Courage was found.  New steps were taken.  It was – and is – an amazing place for a marketing mom to build and grow her business.

So… I’m proud to blow out the candles on our delicious fifth anniversary cake – and look forward to the next five years with as much excitement and anticipation as ever.

By the way, you can help us with our celebration if you’re willing.  We’re giving away Five Free Lifetime Memberships and we’d really like them to go to five truly deserving moms in business.  If you know a mom who is serious about growing her business but just doesn’t have the cash to invest into a paid learning opportunity right now, stop by our blog and tell us about her.  We may just choose her!

Grow your business with these 23 solid tips from Samir Balwani. Samir covers everything from the obvious–start a blog–to the not so obvious–get rid of bad clients. Definitely one to  bookmark and return to again and again.

Wendy’s list of 13 inspirational women entrepreneurs is a real find. Some of these women I’ve been aware of for a while, and some I’ve never heard of, but they are all doing great things and are all worth following.

If you dream of being your own boss, this list of 15 entrepreneurial skills is a great place to start. Like Wendy says, you don’t have to possess all 15 from the start, but you need to either develop themor hire someone who can fill in the gaps for you.

Follow Cindy on Twitter: @cindybidar

This is a guest post from one of my bestest online peeps, Nicole Dean.

Kelly McCausey, your fearless editor, asked me to write about transitions in business. You see, I’ve had a few major changes over the years that she and I have known each other. My husband was laid off from work a few times, I’ve lived in four different homes (3,000 miles apart), and my business has morphed countless times.

Kelly has seen me go from having to drag me onto her WAHM Talk Radio show several years ago to starting my own weekly Online Business Success Podcast. She’s talked me through my fear on countless occasions – from being her “much afraid” friend to becoming an all-out internet marketing expert.

I sat and thought for a bit about which transition I should write about. The transitions are all a blur, actually. Then I saw a greater message that needed to be said today.

Business, in my opinion, is nothing but a series of transitions and decisions.

Actually, I guess that you could define life the same way. You make plans and then keep adjusting as you go – adjusting the plans, but also the path that you’ll need to take to get there from where you are at that moment in time. It’s like childbirth. Sure, you may be like me and write up a three-page birth plan that’s very precise – down to the music that will be played and the clothing that you’ll be wearing and the post-birth medicines (or lack thereof) that you’re willing to take for pain. You should always have a plan.

But, then labor starts and all hell breaks loose. The rules change. Bringing your beautiful baby into the world healthy and whole is still the end goal, but you may have to shift off course a bit from “the plan” to make that happen. That’s life. We make decisions on the fly to get what we want.

I’ve been through a few major hurricanes. In fact, I should say “survived” a few major hurricanes because anyone who lives through one feels the impact, emotionally and financially for months or years afterwards. If I’ve learned one thing from the hurricanes that have ripped up my roof, dropped trees on my house, and cost me thousands and thousands of dollars, it’s this….

You’ve got to be flexible.

The palm tree is designed to bend. That’s how it survives through storm after storm. It sways in the wind.

The pine tree? Not so much. Rather than swaying in the breeze like a palm does, it is rigid and tries to stay straight and tall – until it snaps right in half (landing on your awning) and dies.

I recommend that you be the palm. Sway, bend, and give when you feel the wind blow. During times of difficulty and change in your business, adjust and give, without getting firm and rigid – or your business may not survive to see the dark clouds part to send sunshine beaming through.

Now that I’ve stated my philosophy on transition and decision, let me give you a few business examples.

Example #1: You take on a new client. Your gut tells you that it’s just not right but you can’t afford to turn down a client, right? That’d just be silly.

I’ve watched friends begin to hate their businesses. You know the one thing that makes that happen the fastest? Not listening to your gut. Guess what my advice is when working with a client that makes you unhappy? If you’re miserable, no one else is going to hire you. Your passion will be gone and you’ll be giving the “I hate my work” vibe. Dump the chump and get a move on. It’s like a bad marriage. It won’t get any better.

See? Transition is good.

Example #2: You get an amazing opportunity to become a writer for an exciting client, but it would mean leaving your current job (which you really don’t like). The problem? You don’t want to leave your current employers in a lurch and don’t know how they’d find someone else to take over your hours, even though they pay you poorly, gripe about you taking off for emergencies, and the job stresses you out beyond belief.

Hello?! If my coaching client is reading this … you know who you are. My advice to her? Dump them and go for the dream opportunity! As for the old employers, and your guilt about leaving them behind? That’s not a rational fear. There are people in desperate situations who would fall on their knees and thank God for that job who may be a much better fit for it than she was. The new person may deal with crabby people better and enjoy the flexible hours that the job offered. So, jump on that new opportunity and do not dare to look back.

Why do we fear change so much? Transition is a good thing. It means progress.

Me, in my personal life? Well, I’ll share a secret with you. Usually when I’m comfortable, I know that I’m not challenging myself enough. If it’s easy, I need to try something new.

I could remain right where I am right now and be very comfortable in my safe little bubble of running an online business. However, I know that I can do more. I know there are more challenges ahead for me to face. So, when that happens and I am scared, I get a mentor – someone who has been where I want to be and can lead me. I’m currently learning from two mentors who I’ll share about soon on my Nicole Dean on the Net blog. One mentor is helping me to be a speaker and the other is helping me to write and launch a book. Could I do it on my own? Probably. But, it’s much much better for my business to be taken by the hand and led through the experience than to wander in the dark alone.

I urge you to get a mentor, too. It can be me, or Kelly, or anyone who makes you feel inspired and challenged to be the best you that you can be. Whether you go with a business coach or a life coach or a mastermind group – I don’t care which you choose. Just be sure that you have a guide to walk you through the transitions in your business, too.

Now, before I go, I’d like you to do one thing. Close your eyes (not yet, silly) and picture your life one year from now. What would you want that picture to look like?

What about five years from now? What does your business look like? Do you have clients? If so, picture your dream client. Who is that person? Why do you want to work with him/her? Is your business ecommerce? Are you a speaker? A podcaster? An author?

See? Transitions ARE good. Make the decision to make that dream happen and get on the path to that dream today!

Nicole Dean jumps out of bed every morning, excited about teaching others how to make money online. Her goal is to show people that earning a full-time income online is doable – with the right teachers and focus, but you’ve got to take ACTION in order to get there. Nicole is an experienced affiliate marketer, affiliate manager, and PLR site owner – helping people everywhere to discover strategies for making money online.

Learn more about Nicole at NicoleDean.com.

This is a guest blog post from Jimmy D. Brown.  He continues our guest blogger theme of ‘business transitions’.

My wife and I have been married since 1994.  During the years since our wedding, we have stayed in a variety of hotels ranging from a “glorified closet” to a resort suite, everything from a 1-star rating to a 5-star rating.

We’re not into astronomy, but we do like to see a lot of stars when it comes to our accommodations!

Here’s what Hotels.com says of a “5-Star” rating…

“These luxury hotels offer the pinnacle of service and pampering. Pristine surroundings often include manicured landscaping and famed works of art. Guests may expect multilingual concierge and/or butler services, extensive pool, spa and fitness facilities, and gourmet restaurants with world-renowned chefs. There is typically a high staff- to-guest ratio. Guestrooms feature ample space, designer linens, and special touches such as fresh flowers, champagne and flat-screen televisions. These hotels most often are located in the most desirable cities or resort destinations.”

In other words, 5-star means “the best”.  It represents the highest order of a hotel.  Or, anything for that matter.

There are 5-star hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, salons, banks and much more.

In fact, you can apply the 1-5 star rating system to just about anything.

Even internet marketing.

What I’d like to do is share some insights into becoming a 5-star internet marketer.  And what I’m going to focus on is the strategy that serves as the foundation of all 5-star ratings:  ongoing change in pursuing excellence.

• Can you imagine a hotel receiving a 5-star rating today by offering a black and white television?
• Can you imagine a restaurant receiving a 5-star rating without air conditioning?
• Can you imagine a campground receiving a 5-star rating with no “full hookups”?

While this may have generated a 5-star rating 50 years ago, it’s simply not enough for today.  There is an “ongoing pursuit of excellence” for those who achieve AND maintain a 5-star rating.

That’s the principle I want you to learn today:  5-star internet marketers make adjustments to their business ahead of the pack.

Back in the 1978 one of my favorite songs (I was only 8!) was “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers.  In it, he provides some sage advice that internet marketers would do well to apply in order achieve 5-star status…

“You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to run.”

These statements form the four stages of a transitional business mindset…

#1 – MAXIMIZE. (“When to hold ‘em”) If you’ve got a “good hand”, you maximize it.  You keep doing what you’re doing until you’ve gotten the absolute best results as you can.

• If a certain topic of information is selling well, you keep selling it until it stops selling well.
• If a certain advertisement is producing great leads, you keep using that advertisement until it stops producing great leads.
• If a certain business practice is achieving a desired result, you keep using that practice until it stops achieving a desired result.

Whatever it is that you find is working, keep doing it (even pouring EXTRA energy and money into it) until it is no longer working effectively.

#2 – MINIMIZE .  (“When to fold ‘em”) If you see that others are beginning to get a “better hand” than you, you begin to make adjustments.  You “minimize” your shortcomings by making improvements to what you’re doing.

• If technology advances are made then you upgrade everything from the format and delivery of your product to your support to your merchandising.
• If new concepts, ideas and trends emerge then you tweak your existing content, communication, operations and so forth or develop entirely new assets based on these revelations.
• If others consistently rate higher than you (in volume, consumer opinion, or any other gauge) then you identify what makes them “better” and strive to move forward with similar thinking and practices.

#3 – MOBILIZE. (“When to walk away”) There comes a time when it is a smart idea to make dramatic changes or reforms to either the way you conduct your business, the products and services you are selling, or both.

• If you’ve sold as many copies of a product as you reasonably feel that you can, then consider an “exit” strategy such as selling a portion of the business or offering a set number of licenses.
• If you’ve grown to the point where you can no longer reasonably keep up with operations (and thus have limited your potential growth) then consider finding a partner, hiring an employee, forming strategic joint ventures or outsource as many things as you can.
• If you’ve reached a plateau in your overall sales then consider adding alternate forms of revenue generation to your mix (coaching, membership sites, eclasses, workshops, licensing, advertising, etc.)

#4 – MODERNIZE. (“When to run”) Finally, there comes a time when you may want to leave your base and diversify into an entirely different business model.  Even if you don’t completely leave the market, once your business is doing extremely well it’s time to add more income streams from other sources.

• If your business has reached a saturation point where new income is becoming increasingly difficult to create, then consider branching into a related market and “starting over”.
• If your business has reached a threshold where it is basically running itself (with outsourcing, employees, partners, etc. in place) then consider branching into a related market to create additional business revenue.
• If your business has become outdated in its publication, presentation, promotion or practice, then consider a complete overhaul from the ground up as you strip everything down to the foundation and rebuild. (I.E. Keep your same customer base, prospects and partners, but revamp your offer.)

Every successful business changes with the times.

Twenty years ago there was Apple computers, but there was no Ipod.  Twenty years ago there was Sony but there was no Playstation.  Twenty years ago there was Ford, but there was no in-dash GPS.  Twenty years ago there was Ganz, but there was no Webkinz.

What have these businesses done?

They’ve made adjustments.  They are 5-star companies because they knew what Kenny Rogers sang about:

“You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to run.”

If you want to be a 5-star internet marketer then you’ve gotta transition when it is warranted.

And that’s no gamble.

Want to learn from Jimmy?  Join me as I continue to study his awesome Affiliatenaire program!

I don’t know about you, but when I started this online gig (which soon became a lifelong journey), I had no idea what I was in for. I had no business education, no experience and just thought…heck, I could do something with this Internet thing.

Fast forward 7 years later and it’s been an amazing road with many successes to share…and a few bumps as well. Looking back, I can see there is one important key that has allowed me to grow and keep moving forward – and that’s the ability to see the need for and embrace change. You see, BOTH things are important.

A lot of home business owners embrace change, but many don’t know when they NEED it. Many change for change’s sake. They get bored with what they’re doing. They tried something half-heartedly and decided it just didn’t work. Another opportunity comes up promising greener grass on the other side and they hop on over. This type of change can lead you on the path to nowhere and FAST.

See, understanding the need for change and carefully evaluating your next move or series of moves is important.

Step 1: Take a Break

If you think you’re in need of a change, take a break. I’m a spontaneous person and often make decisions on the fly, but if it’s a big change I’m contemplating or I feel like I’m stalled – a break what I need. If you’re feeling the same, consider a break before jumping into it too.

I know that staring at my computer, hopping to Twitter and checking my stats isn’t going to help me come up with a solution…so off the computer goes. I play with the kids, go to yoga class, go see a movie – anything to get refreshed and ready to tackle things.

Step 2: Write It Down or Talk It Out

Get it all out…whether you like to write or talk. Consider all the issues, your needs and possible solutions. Just getting things clarified can help you make the right decisions.

I’m a writer and I usually get out the pen and paper for this one, so I can add notes, extra ideas and make sure no stone is left unturned. Use the brainstorming method that’s right for you, but do make sure you consider everything.

Step 3: Avoid Changes that Overburden

There are so many opportunities in the great vast Web 2.0 world and we can’t take them all. Carefully evaluate your opportunities, keeping your business goals and personal values in mind.

For me, earning a great income with minimal time investment, so I can enjoy life and family is crucial. This means I don’t take on projects or opportunities that take me away from that. Think about what is important to you.

Step 4: Make a Plan & Get To It!

Now that you’ve carefully evaluated everything and found the right choice for you…make your plan and stick with it (but of course, make adjustments as they become necessary. If you’re taking on new projects, it might be time to shave some unproductive projects to ensure you can dedicate yourself appropriately. Make it as easy as possible to make the change as successful as it can be.

Change is a good thing…when it’s done for the right reasons and it works for you and your business. If you’re ready for changes that will help you increase your hourly worth in your business take the quiz…just 8 quick multiple choice questions gets you a customized action plan for LESS work and MORE pay.

When Wendy first spoke with me about Sparkplugging I felt both a thrill of excitement and a stab of fear. The idea of stepping up to the role of General Editor was appealing on so many levels but one small part of me was really freaked out about it.

Why? Why did something so wonderful seem so scary to me?

An issue of Peer Comparison.

I admire Wendy so much and I had a hard time imagining myself in a position she has filled in such a unique way. I think about everything Wendy has accomplished in such a short time and I wonder if I have what it takes to boost Sparkplugging to the next level?

Finally, I resolved my hesitancy by realizing I don’t have to try to be like Wendy to do well in this position – I only have to be ME.

Of course this is also an issue of Self Confidence.

Do I believe that I can do this? For a little while, I just wasn’t sure and that’s scary! If I don’t believe in myself, who else will?

This isn’t the first time I’ve felt stretched in my business. It is a very familiar feeling.

• I felt stretched when I launched Work at Home Moms Talk Radio in 2003.
• I felt stretched when I partnered with Alice Seba on Mom Masterminds in 2004.
• I felt stretched when I quit my day job in 2006 and relied 100% on my business income.
• I felt stretched when I took over Mom’s Talk Network (and took on significant short term debt in the process) in 2007.

Every time I reached out to a new level I felt the same bubbly combination of excitement and fear – and did it anyways.  The results were great!  My business has grown and prospered.

This won’t be any different.

I’m a little unsteady on my feet. I feel awkward and out of my comfort zone. But I’m doing it anyways.

Would you like to join me?

Surely there’s a next level waiting for you right now

Wendy, thank you again for this awesome opportunity to work with you and the other incredible Sparkplugging Authors. I hope this season of transition will see both of us growing in amazing ways both personally and professionally.

For free?

Well, on January 20th, 2009, TotallyHer is teaming up with me and some of the smartest business women on the internet to bring you a community service project in honor of President-Elect Obama’s Inauguration Day.

Liz Strauss, Anita Campbell, Kelly Phillips Erb, Jessica Smith, Kelby Carr, Susan Payton, Miranda Marquit, Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, Kelly McCausey, Lucretia Pruitt, Char Polanosky, Barbara Jones & Wendy Piersall.

No matter what your burning question is, these 13 experts are here to help and give you answers. And yes, I’ll say it again:

For free.

Tuesday January 20th from 10:00am to 5:30pm Eastern, we will feature one expert and one topic every 30 minutes, with a one-hour break for everyone to watch the Inauguration Ceremony. It will be in a simple chat section of TotallyHer, in a laid-back casual environment where there are no big presentations, no boring material to read, just access to business experts where you get to ask questions directly with the experts who can help you.

Want all the details? Check it out on TotallyHer. You can also RSVP on Facebook (suggested but not required).

This is a guest post by the insightful and talented Samir Balwani from LeftTheBox. Find him on Twitter at @LeftTheBox or sign up for his social media newsletter, because he’s a really nice guy.

Be a Better CEO:

Stay organized
Don’t lose focus of your goals and make sure you know what you’re doing and when. Keeping yourself organized is the first step to success.

Use All the Tools You Can There’s, literally, hundreds of tools on the web to increase your efficiency. Using your time wisely makes life less stressful, and lets you get more done in a day. Lifehacker is a great blog to read if you’re looking for tools and tricks to save time and make life easier.

Don’t Hesitate to Outsource You can’t do everything. It’s understood that there’s only 24 hours in the day and you need to sleep at some point. Relaxing that need to be in control of everything is a good step towards growth. By outsourcing some work you spend your time doing things that are more important, and hopefully, what you’re good at.

Be Easy to Get in Contact With
How can a reporter get in touch with you if I can’t find your contact information anywhere? Where do I email you? Can I call you? What if I was a customer that wanted to buy your product, or a potential new client? Being easy to contact means less missed out opportunities.

Connect With People Online Just like being easy to get in touch with is important, so is connecting with people. My two favorite sites to use are LinkedIn and Twitter. Don’t forget to connect with me there.

Create Actionable Schedules Every week I create a list of things I want to finish. Each item is something that can be finished, and measured. (Not something like be a better person, although that’s usually a good idea) Be careful not to overload your to-do list. The idea is to create a set of tasks you know you can finish.

Reward Yourself
Whenever you reach a new milestone or finish your actionable tasks, reward yourself. Whether it be 30 minutes of Twitter time or that cake you’ve been eying, you deserve it for finishing your work.

Make Smart Decisions
Take the time to learn everything you can before making a decision. Knowledge is power, and having all the information leads to less mistakes.

Don’t Be Overly Risky
Taking risks is stupid, taking calculated risks is smart. You can’t grow your company without taking risks, it’s an integral part of business. You can, however, minimize the number of bad risks you take by making sure you fully understand what you’re doing.

Be a Better Company

Be the Best
Go above and beyond what’s required of you. By being amazing and offering more than you promised, you empower your customers and clients to be your marketers and evangelists. Do something amazing for a client and you can bet they’ll tell their friends.

Be Memorable
Being memorably on its own isn’t enough, you have to be remembered for good things. Be remembered for how you handled a setback or how you did a job. Don’t let bad press muddy your company’s reputation.

Get Rid of Bad Clients
Keep good clients and fire bad ones. Use the time you’ve been wasting on thankless clients to better service the ones more likely to recommend you to their friends.

Be Transparent
New consumers expect a certain level of transparency. Honesty and good will have become fundamentals in new customer service. Don’t underestimate people’s ability to recognize BS.

Offer Better Customer Service

Ask Your Customers
You can question your customers and clients on what you do well, and what you can improve. Who better to tell you what problems you have or what to fix?

Keep in Touch
Don’t lose contact with your customers. They’ve already bought one of your products, they’re predisposed to buy from you. Leverage this relationship to keep them.

Listen to Everyone
If even 1 person complains, you can bet there are at least a hundred others that feel the same way. Most people don’t take the time to complain, instead they’ll just stop buying your products or using your service. A complaint is a god send, because now you know that somethings bother people. The next step is fixing it.

Fix Problems Quickly
Offer outstanding customer service. Giving someone with an issue something free is usually worth it. You never know whose a blogger and might just ruin your reputation online.

Reward the Best
Reward your loyal customers and evangelists with free schwag, insider news, or discounts on products. You know they’ll proudly show off what you gave them or talk about it.

Use the Web

Start a Blog
Build a blog and update it regularly. Use it to keep customers up to date, build your reputation, and network with others. Want to see how major corporations are using their blogs? Check out this list at alltop.

Apologize Publicly
If you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to apologize. Do it quickly and publicly. I’d say the best place to do so would be on your blog. Motrin did this recently, because of their controversial YouTube ad.

Publicize Your Brand Online
Brand everything. Your blog, your photographs, and your social media profiles, they should all have your logo somewhere. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to increase how many times your brand is seen. People should recognize your logo and your brand, and know what you do.

Leverage Social Media
Use Social Media to create a relationship with customers. Sites like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn are great places to create a fan base.

Ask for Help
Not sure how to use the web to help your business? Ask an expert or hire a consultant. Before you do that though, make sure you know what you want to do. Also, do your research and hire a consultant known to deliver results.

Echo-Sign – I found out about this from my online business manager, Jennifer Smith of Eco-Office Gals. This program allows you to fax a document via email and receive e-signatures. The program is free for up to 5 documents per month. After that, the cost is $12.95 per month for unlimited documents. Each party receives a PDF copy of the document that can be stored on your computer.
This service allows the confidentiality and legality of your business documents to stay in tact, while helping reduce unnecessary paper usage.
Follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ecoofficegals

Free Conference Call – This program I found out about from (New Media Mavens) Alison Woo and Lena Claxton, authors of How to Say it! Marketing with New Media.
They also offer many other great services such as simple toll free, simple voice box, international conferencing and simple event.

Audacity – I was reintroduced to this program by Alison and Lena. Audacity™ is a free downloadable software to take care of your recording and editing needs. It works with Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems
You can do so many things with this program:
• Record on air audio
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. (I didn’t even realize you could do this)
• Edit various versions (such as MP3, WAV or AIFF) sound files.
• Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
• Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
You can read more here at their list of features.

About Free Software (this is from Audacity’s site and I wanted to share it with you). Audacity is free software, developed by a group of volunteers and distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Free software is not just free of cost (like “free beer”). It is free as in freedom (like “free speech”). Free software gives you the freedom to use a program, study how it works, improve it and share it with others. For more information, visit the Free Software Foundation.

Color Cop
Color Cop comes with a built-in color picker, color preview screen, an (one of my favorite features) eyedropper to choose colors from anywhere on the screen. The eyedropper feature allows you to take a color you find and it will give you the “code” so you can use it on your site if you want.

Inside Area codes – During a interview on Beverly Mahone’s internet radio show, Passions, I found out about inside area codes and the different networks located throughout the United States. The idea of inside areas codes is to help develop micro business networks within certain area codes. The first one to take off was inside919 (Beverly’s area) in NC. Other networks are catching up each day. So check this out if you would like to expand your local networking efforts.

Full calendar – This little gem I just found out about yesterday from Donna Gunter on Twitter. Full Calendar is a event promotion service for some major metro areas such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston and part of California.
Now, I found this pretty darn fascinating because you can choose to categorize how you wish your event to be focused…by city, by type, or by name. I am so bummed because they don’t have Tampa listed as a metro city.
You can follow Donna on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/donnagunter

For me, Twitter has been one of the most beneficial connecting tools on the internet. It provides me the opportunity to find out about news, resources, tips and events quickly and efficiently. This post was about sharing a few business resources I received from just a few people I connect with on Twitter.
If you wish to follow me on Twitter, you can find me at http://www.twitter.com/teresamorrow. Tweet with you soon!

Within the realm of online business support professionals, the need is climbing at a rapid rate each month.  When business owners get to the point they can’t do it all or even more so, they don’t want to do it all, they turn to hiring someone to help them grow their business.

During the search, business owners should be thinking about looking for someone not just to do the obvious administrative tasks, but add to your team someone who will be more proactive in the way of an Online Business Manager. An online business manager will be able to handle many aspects of your business for you so you can focus on the targeted tasks. You will be able to have someone by your side to work with you on a continuous basis without hiring an employee.

Although Forsyth’s book is somewhat focused to allow virtual assistants and support professionals to realize how they can increase their service, Becoming an Online Business Manager also assists business owners searching for the right online business manager to help you achieve your business goals.

If you want  to become like a “second brain” for your clients…you should read this book.

If you want someone who will be able to become a “second brain” for your business…you should read this book.

This post is a part of a blog tour.

Yesterday the blog tour stopped by to visit Donna Toothaker at 1st VA
Tomorrow, the blog tour will continue with Tracy Lawton of Office Organization Success & Andy Wibbels of Andy Wibbels.com and author of Blog Wild

Forsyth’s book, Becoming an Online Business Manager Playing a Bigger Game with your Clients (and Yourself), is available for purchase at http://www.becominganobm.com/

Tracy Johnson for Business.gov

In my entry last week I talked about how to get your business registered to work with the Federal government – what forms you need to fill out, registration numbers you need to get, I’s to dot, T’s to cross, etc.

Once those things are done, there are only two more things you’ll need to get to know to get your first government contract: GSA and FedBizOpps.

The GSA Schedule Program

The U.S. General Services Administration runs the GSA Schedule Program. This is a way to provide centralized procurement for the Federal government. Under the GSA Schedules (also referred to as Multiple Award Schedules and Federal Supply Schedules) Program, GSA establishes long-term contracts with commercial companies so it can then provide access to these commercial supplies and products to government agencies.

So, you establish a GSA contract, and GSA connects you with agencies that need your products and services. In theory, the program serves a vetting process – companies that want to do business with the government get their products and services onto the GSA Schedule, which then provides a place where government agencies can go to ensure they’re buying the best quality products and services at the best prices.

While this may or may not actually be the case, the bottom line is that getting onto the GSA Schedule is the lowest cost of entry into the Federal government for any business – particular small businesses.

“The GSA Schedule is designed in part to help small businesses compete head-to-head on a level playing field for government business,” says Bill Gormley, president of Washington Management Group. Mr. Gormley was formerly Assistant Commissioner at GSA, and helped design and build what is today’s GSA Schedule Program. Today, he helps businesses – like yours – get onto the GSA Schedule and better understand the ins and outs of doing business with the government.

Once you establish a GSA Schedule contract, you may find that it provides additional advantages outside the government market. A GSA Schedule Contract number demonstrates that you’re trustworthy to do business with. It’s like a seal of approval from the government; it says a lot.

For more information on GSA Schedules, you can go directly to the GSA Schedules page on the GSA website, or the How to Find Contracting Opportunities page on the SBA’s Business.gov site.

FedBizOpps

Imagine entering a brand new market and starting out with a solid list of leads – of people actually looking for the products and services you offer. That is the beauty of Federal Business Opportunities, or FedBizOpps.

All Federal contract solicitations with a value of $25,000 or more are listed on FedBizOpps. Federal agencies publish their solicitations, and provide detailed information on how and when vendors should respond. You do not need to register or sign-up to use FedBizOpps – you can simply go and look around.

Good Start

There is obviously a lot more information you can gather about doing business with the government. Business.gov, for example, provides information on:

• labor and employment laws as they apply to Federal contractors
• teaming and subcontracting opportunities
• Federal acquisitions regulations and standards

Companies that specialize in government contracting, such as the Washington Management Group, are excellent resources as well.

And, conveniently, this is an excellent time to start the process. With a new administration on the way, “transition teams” will be looking for a range of products and services to put in place for the new leadership.

More posts on landing Federal contract work:

How Small Businesses Can Get Government Contracts Part I: Getting Started

Tap into the Biggest Spender :: Doing Business with the Federal Government.

On Monday, Beverly had a lady named Olalah (pronounced O-la-la) Njenga (pronounced jan gah) from Marketing with Ease to talk about marketing in the current economic times.

I wanted to share with you one of the things that I learned from this show.

Olalah expressed her definitions between connections and contacts. She mentioned that she gets people who frequently disagree with her on this point and at first, I thought it sounded a bit backwards myself.

She said that contacts are those people who you may have talked to or met once and you know each other but not well. A connection is a person who you have a mutual solid relationship (more so as a friendship) with and a person you can count on as a resource.

Here is the Wikipedia definition of social contact : A person known to an individual, possibly on a different basis than friendship

and here is the Wikipedia definition of social connectedness refers to the duration of a relationship. It continues to discuss about the quality and/or the number of connections with family, friends.

Here is one way to think about it:

My librarian is a contact.
My website designer is a connection.

Now, I would like to go further to say that a contact can become a connection over time, if that is something you wish to happen. And as I even look back at the librarian being a contact, I want to say, that would be a possibly fantastic as a connection–you know most libraries have workshops, classes and event that could be beneficial to your business.

3 ways to turn a contact into a connection:
1) Find mutual ground between you and your contact. And produce a win win joint venture with your contact.
2) Be a referral resource for your contact. Bring others to your contact to bring in sales for your contact.
3) Become a go to person for your contact. Always provide value for your contact.

And now, I want to ask you—what do you feel about these definitions regarding connections vs. contacts? Do you have others ideas on how a contact can be a connection?

Tracy Johnson for Business.gov

The U.S. government is the largest consumer in the country, spending nearly $589 billion each fiscal year on contracts. The government is also an omnivorous consumer, spending that money on everything from office furniture to food services to medical personnel to highly advanced technologies.

For an entrepreneur or small-business owner, the thought of entering such a large market with potentially complex rules and regulations may be too daunting.

My advice: Don’t let that fear get the better of you. It is well worth whatever time you invest. Remember – regardless of whether we’re in an up economy or a down economy, the government still must run. The government will not go out of business. The government can be your customer for life.

In fact, as a small business you have an advantage over other businesses when working with the government. The Federal government has set a goal that at least 23 percent of Federal dollars go to small businesses. Government agencies get “small business credits” for contracting with small businesses.

In the government market, being a small business can provide a significant competitive advantage.

Step One: Education

Before making any changes to your business model, read up – get educated on the government market in general. The Small Business Administration’s Business.gov provides a one-stop-shop of information on doing business with the government within its “Small Business Guide to Federal Contracting” pages.

Another comprehensive source is an eight-page downloadable guide, provided by the SBA, titled “Opening Doors to Federal Government Contracting Opportunities“. This guide debunks myths and provides real-world advice on how to get started selling your goods and services into the Federal government.

SBA also provides a free on-line course titled: “Business Opportunities: A Guide to Winning Federal Contracts“. You’ll have to register for this course, but it will be worth the time invested.

Beyond basic information, the Business.gov site also provides guidance and program information for women-owned, veteran-owned, and small and disadvantaged businesses. Fitting within one of these categories provides additional business advantages beyond simply being a small business.

Step Two: Registration

Once you’ve done your homework, the next step is the proverbial paperwork – registering your business as a potential Federal contractor. The Federal government must buy goods and services from only those companies that are officially registered as Federal contractors. There is no harm, or commitment, in registering. It simply opens the door between your company and the government.

One of the best places to get step-by-step registration instructions is the How to Register as a Federal Contractor page on the Business.gov site. Here, you’ll find you must:

1.      Obtain a D-U-N-S number: A Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identification number for each physical location of your business. Getting a D-U-N-S number is free for businesses interested in working with the Federal government for contracts or grants. This process is as simple as going to the Online Web Form Process page, which directs you to an online form and also provides a phone number, if you prefer to work with an actual person.

2.      Register your business with CCR: Once you’ve gotten your D-U-N-S Number, you must register your business with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). This is simply a database of companies working with the Federal government. Your company must be in this database in order to do business with the government.

3.      Fill out the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Here is where you provide additional information about your company and its business activities (what you sell, how you sell it, etc.)

Step Three: Getting in the Game

Once you’ve gotten through all the forms and registrations, you are – technically – able to do business with the government.

In my next entry, “Government Contracting Part II: Getting Government Business”, I’ll cover the two most important steps in actually getting your first Federal government customer: Getting onto the GSA Schedule, and finding your way to FedBizOpps.

Stay tuned … and in the meantime, read my post Tap into the Biggest Spender :: Doing Business with the Federal Government.

1) Ask questions. Always think about the Customer. Think about what they need. Listen to the customer. Ask questions of their needs and wants. And then deliver on what they tell you. Ask your clients what services/products they are looking for. Find a way to make this a part of your business. Don’t be afraid to gain more knowledge in those areas your clients are requesting information about regarding your industry. If they are asking you, this means this is in area of interest and they are coming to you to find the answer. If you have the answer or solution, they are more likely to stay with you then go and search for a new service provider. (*if the service in question is something you don’t like to do or isn’t your strength, it is a good opportunity to form a strategic alliance with someone who can accommodate your clients).

2) Become Your Customer. Take the time to go through your own purchasing or service cycle. This will give you first hand account of those places where you can tweak, adjust and make the customer experience better and thus make your customer happier. Another good thing to do is (which I read about in The Soccer Mom Myth by Michele Miller and Holly Buchanan) is to form customer scenarios/micro focus groups. Ask others to go through your purchasing cycle (starting with looking on your website through to receiving the invoice) and give you feedback.

3) Celebrate your Clients. Take a sincere interest in your customers. Show interest in what they are doing and be there to support them. Also, take the time to show your customers you appreciate their business. When you gain a new client, find your own special way to say thank you (not just a card). Once a project or service is completed, find a way to say thank you for doing business with you. Show your appreciation to your client for doing business with you.

4) Deliver the Extras. Provide the “something more” no one else is doing. Take the time to think about what the “something more” (without breaking the bank) could be for your business and do it! You will reap the rewards in the end. Donna Cutting, author of The Celebrity Experience, Insider Secrets to Delivering Red Carpet Customer Service, writes about how you should treat your clients like stars. What does your red carpet service look like for your clients? Perhaps it means making a 5 minute phone call as a reminder? Or maybe it means sending a small thank you bouquet with a note personally written by you?

5) Execute Consistent (Delightful) Customer Service. Don’t do a great job for one client and then an ok job for another. Keep the standard of customer services at a high level for every client. You have heard it before but it deserves to be repeated—Customers do talk with other people when they receive bad AND good service. So be sure that your clients are saying great things about your business.

Be mindful of your customers. Take the time to investigate ways you can enhance the customer service and experience in your business for your clients. By providing these customer service pieces for your clients, you will have an increased rate of happy clients, which equates to more new clients.

For many, the answer to this question isn’t easy. That’s why I insist that there’s not one answer. Truly there are as many answers as their are business models. So let’s look at an example (and my opinion) and then have a chat about what’s effective for you.

First, for me, the key to strategy in promoting a business lies in clarity. Yeah, I know…you’ve heard enough about clarity. Yet, for me, it’s the foundational stones to creating, promoting and growing your business.

What’s always worked in my business is first to have as much clarity as you can around three points: who you are, what you do, and who you do it for. I’ve seen all my own success stem from clearly defining myself in these first three questions.

It’s taken some time, but I’ve learned not to slouch on these questions. Who I am is very important because I’m, personally, the foundation around my business so I need to know, clearly, what I bring to the table. What I do is far more than what I provide. It’s a look at what problem(s) can I solve for people. And who I do it for considers who are the people who have the problems that I can help them with.

Next I ask myself (and my clients) how: how do you do what you do. I can’t even begin to express how much my business changed when I took a long look at not just what it is I do, but how I do it. My eyes opened to things about my business that I never had considered. And I’ve watched this in many of my clients over the years.

Finally, I ask one final question: where can I find the people whose problems I have the solution too? Since I need to know where to promote my business I have to know where the people I can help are looking for help.

My goal is to get as much clarity around each of these questions as possible. And since I know I’m constantly learning, changing and growing I forget about getting it perfect and just get it clear.

From the clarity I gain through answering these five questions, I now have a light-weight strategy for promoting my business. A little polish on the message and a few decisions around how to reach my target audience, and I’m off to the races.

The key, is to keep everything clear. If I find something that isn’t clear, I stop and track back where it may have become unclear. Then I take the time to clarify that bit of cloudiness.