Writing on the Web from Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

Mexico Biz Planning Week in Ajijic

I've been back from Mexico a week now, and am just getting these pics posted! Time flies, and I'm still having fun, only work and fun get a little mixed together these days.

Denise and I spent a week doing a one-page biz plan (one page? not really!), and just want to share these great pictures she took of my home south of the border, down Guadalajara way...

It is really important to work in a calm environment, surrounded by plants and beauty, don't you think?

I truly believe that work should be fun, mostly. When it's not, then think about how you can make it fun, or truly significant.

Writing Great Blog Content: Finding Ideas

Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts? Two people commented to my first post on this topic. Denise says she uses Google Alerts services, whereby she is sign up to get alerts of web content for certain key words. That is a great way to find out what other people are writing about.

Casey Dawes, of Wise Woman Shining, says she wakes up with ideas on how to make the world a better place. Bravo, Casey, that must make for some interesting dreams! Your blog makes for good reading, too.

But let's say you have set a schedule for yourself. Every Tuesday you must post something on one of your blogs. You wake up with a foggy brain, feeling below level zero in inspiration and creativity. What do you do?

Email inbox is waiting for you, but you say, "NO!" to email, just so you can get something, anything, posted on that blog. Where do you go... I mean besides to the coffee pot, that's a given...when the juices are dry and you know you must post if you are to keep a regular schedule? Do you wait for inspiration, change your writing schedule to fit your mood, or go onto the web for inspiration?

I want to know! I know what I do, and I also know what works for me. But what works, really works for you? Inquiring minds and uninspired writers await your input...

Super Savvy Self Promotion for Your Book

Conversations with Experts presents...

Super Savvy Self Promotion for Your Book
Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 8:30 p.m. ET (free, registration required)
Guest Expert: Penny Sansevieri, Author Marketing Experts

Marketing a book doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. All it takes is some time, careful planning and a dash of creative thinking. This program combines savvy ideas with effective and cost-effective trategies to get your book the attention it deserves. We'll even discuss free marketing opportunities available to all authors! You'll learn what marketing options offer the biggest payoffs in sales and what traditional methods are best to avoid. Bonus: You'll also learn how to get free publicity for your book!

Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. She is the author of five books, including Book to Bestseller which has been called the "road map to publishing success". To learn more about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Register:  www.ConversationsWithExperts.com

If you cannot attend the Conversation, you can pre-order the audio program for only $4.95.  The audio will be $9.95 after the Conversation.  Save 50% and pre-order now.

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

Conversations with Experts presents...

Super Savvy Self Promotion for Your Book
Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 8:30 p.m. ET (free, registration required)
Guest Expert: Penny Sansevieri, Author Marketing Experts

Marketing a book doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. All it takes is some time, careful planning and a dash of creative thinking. This program combines savvy ideas with effective and cost-effective trategies to get your book the attention it deserves. We'll even discuss free marketing opportunities available to all authors! You'll learn what marketing options offer the biggest payoffs in sales and what traditional methods are best to avoid. Bonus: You'll also learn how to get free publicity for your book!

Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. She is the author of five books, including Book to Bestseller which has been called the "road map to publishing success". To learn more about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.com.

Register:  www.ConversationsWithExperts.com

If you cannot attend the Conversation, you can pre-order the audio program for only $4.95.  The audio will be $9.95 after the Conversation.  Save 50% and pre-order now.

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System.

Blog Content: How to Write Fresh, Relevant Posts

"I want to start a blog, but what if I get stuck: what will I write about?"

The Blog Squad hears this question frequently. Since we recommend posting blog content at least 2-3 times a week, it's a valid concern. And yet, some of our star blogging clients catch the "bug" and love posting to their blogs, some daily. What makes it easy for some to post, and a chore for others?

I've noticed a void in the blogosphere informational library... not many people are writing about how to write for your blog. So in the next few weeks I am going to document my own blog writing processes. I want to lay it out for you, every tip i can think of to create good copy for your blog.

Please contribute your own ideas and tips. Just hit the comment link and get this conversation going. Here's my first tip for writing great business blog posts:

1. Start with what's inside of you, what's going on for you in your own work processes, or with your clients. Tie it in to what your readers want to learn. Be real. Have fun.

For example, it's 6 a.m. here in Ajijic, Mexico. I'm sleepy, but need to get a post on this blog. First thing I do in the mornings is access my default Internet page, my My Yahoo web page. I've added my favorite blogs to that page, so I can keep up with what other people are writing about.

Not finding anything that inspired me for my own post, I then asked myself, "What is going on in my business that I could share with readers that might help them in their own work?"