Writing on the Web from Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

Lame Excuses for No Online Content Marketing

Are you ready to grow your business? It's a serious question and before you answer, think about it a little bit more.

Who isn't ready to make more money, drive more traffic to their sites, grow their marketing database numbers? I mean, you'd be a little crazy to say "no, thanks" to that, wouldn't you?

And yet, people do it all the time. People make excuses all the time for why they're not using content marketing and writing on the web. Here's how:

• "I'll start a business blog when my new website gets up."
• "I've got a blog; I'll write on it soon."
• "I just want to get a new photo done, then I'll be ready."
• "I'm getting some triple fold brochures printed first." (OMG, do people still do that?)
• "Just as soon as I finish my Famous Guru Internet Millionaire Course, then I'll start."

I'm exaggerating, and I'm serious. I've heard some really solid reasons people put off content marketing. Some of the smartest professionals I know have really great looking websites that have been done at considerable expense.

Coaches & Therapists: Ready for the Big Six-OH?

 In 2006 the first of the demographic cohort called the Baby Boomers turned 60. Usually with milestone birthdays people stop, reflect and take stock of their lives. And the BIG Six-OH! really sends people into reflection and introspection.

After looking in the mirror and asking, "How did that happen?" ...followed by "Wow, I don't look 60, and I sure don't feel THAT old..." the next thing that follows is usually "Oh! My! God!... that sure happened FAST!"

Meryl Streep in the movie "It's Complicated" is redefining what 60-year-old women look like. Thank goodness, it was about time.

This actually happened to me a few years ago, so I know what I'm talking about. Frankly, it's all good, a little better than I expected, and fortunately, the down-hill part hasn't hit yet.

The most frightening thing? Seeing a few older friends start to fade, health-wise. The next scary thing is seeing a few Boomer friends who do not know what to do next. When they realize they still have 25-35 good years ahead, they are increasingly concerned about meaning, purpose, and energy.

Dan Pink in his new book, Drive, points out there is a possible tsunami coming as the Baby Boomers face questions like:

• What can I do that really matters?
• How can I start to make a big difference in this world?
• How can I live my best life in this next part of it?

Multiple Pathways to Online Profits

What are some different ways you can deliver services to your clients? Or do you only have one way of working with people? Maybe you coach, consult, or teach by phone. How many different ways can you do this?

For example, if you teach people how to do something, you can give them tips and teaching points through online systems:

1. By email
2. In blog posts
3. By an e-newsletter
4. With an e-course (delivered by autoresponders with KickStartCart)
5. Through teleseminars (delivered and recorded using Audio Acrobat or FreeConferenceCall.com)
6. By video clips, either using a Flip camera, Logitech Webcam, or a program like Camtasia that records what you see on your computer screen.
7. By ebook, or by an online informational platform like MyKnowledgeGenie.com
8. Through a membership content site like JournalEngine.

People like to choose how they get their information. Some like visual, others like audio, some like in-person workshops and conferences. Just like you wouldn't pick only one way to market online, you shouldn't deliver your services only one way. Give people a choice.

Seth Godin Gets a Brain-Poke on What Really Matters

What really matters to you? I mean beyond the usual success metrics...?

I know many people struggle. From what I hear from friends back in the US, some people are in seriously dire straights employment-wise, financially. No family is without loved ones who haven't found work, or if they have a job, aren't earning what they should.

Even when the economy improves (and it has in some sectors), there remains The Big Problem: there are a lot of unhappy people not finding fulfillment and meaning in life, in work, in what they do each day.

Seth Godin is an interesting human being who has brought us new ways of thinking by writing 10 best sellers, including Unleashing the IdeaVirus, Permission Marketing, Purple Cow,and Tribes. His latest book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? publishes on Amazon today.

This book is personal. It's about finding what really matters, and making a real difference in the world. Seth is concerned about what's happening, beyond the economy, beyond marketing.

I'm very concerned. Like Seth, I'm hoping there's a way for each of us to reach the kernel of genius within... to start creating art instead of doing work... to engage in artistic leadership instead of mediocre obedience... to become more generous with our genius.

So are a lot of other bloggers. You can learn more about what other people are saying over on Squidoo, here. Here's how you can listen to my interview with Seth:

Beware Boredom, the Road to Mediocrity Lies Ahead

By now you may have given up on setting New Year's resolutions... too many disappointed attempts at losing weight, or working out, or making big bucks... Broken promises to yourself can turn you off to goal setting, that's for sure.

Enough talk about woulda, coulda, shoulda, who cares? Don't worry, be happy! That's my advice.

And yet I can't help but take a peek at what worked last year, what didn't work, and make plans to more of the former and less of the latter. As it turns out, I had an excellent year, both financially, and in finding passionate fun in my work.

It's too easy to get caught up in work that pays the bills. I'm not saying you should only do what's fun...If you're not paying attention to where the passion lies, however, you may be on a fast track to mediocrity, boredom, and burnout.

In my opinion, we get bored when we have to do repetitive non-creative tasks that don't challenge us to think. But we can also get bored when we disengage from tasks because we don't like them, they're too hard, we aren't good at them... or we aren't seeing good results.

This is dangerous because if you're just blogging because you need to stick to a schedule, then you aren't blogging with a passionate message to deliver. You won't get good results. How could you?

Entrepreneur's Disease: It Creeps Up on You

What do you do to keep from getting overwhelmed? Lately it feels like the chair and the whip aren't enough to keep the lions from lunging at my sweet psyche. I crave calmness. And yet, what am I talking about?

A few months ago I was scratching my head and drumming fingers because of not enough action. Now things are heating up. I'm buying a new car this weekend. The whole family is well fed and happy. I played some good tennis this week...

I suffer from Entreprenuer's Disease: it's an eating disorder whereby self-employed nut-cases like myself bite off more than we can chew. This month I am gorging myself. Here's what's on my plate:

1. Regular client work back-logged by missing first week of December on vacation and shortened month due to holidays
2. Preparing bonus report for subscribers to Patsi's Private List, so they get valuable information
3. Preparing teleseminar with Joan Stewart for Dec. 17 to announce an amazing Social Media time-saver
4. Preparing end-of-year sale on leadership development content subscriptions for coaches
5. Finishing up Content Marketing for Smart Professionals, a mega-info product/ebook/membership subscription site built on MyKnowledgeGenie.com
6. Preparing launch partners for Content Marketing for Smarties program, sales page, teleseminars
7. Contacting potential partners to host teleseminars for MyKnowledgeGenie.com
8. Preparing blogging teleseminar with Joan Stewart for January 13
9. Preparing teleseminar with Seth Godin for January 8

Why Content Beats Conversations

Why Free is Good, Done Right

 I work with a lot of coaches, writers, and consultants. Some of them are doing well, in spite of the recession. Others are struggling. I often wonder what the difference is between those who stay afloat in a downturn and the others. I think it's their marketing savvy more than their talent or education, but who really knows?

One of my favorite clients, a successful executive coach with a Ph.D., emailed this week to say how frustrating it is in the coaching field these days. It seems everyone's a coach. People take an Internet coaching course and market themselves by giving away free sample coaching sessions.

As a trained organizational psychologist with licenses and years of experience, he doesn't feel he should be giving away free sessions. I don't blame him. And yet, I was thinking...

The problem is universal. How do you attract new clients without standing on the sidewalk like a carnival barker, begging people to come into your tent?

I guess this is why Chris Anderson author of The Long Tail, has written a new book called Free: The Future of a Radical Price.

Free Works

 I work with a lot of coaches, writers, and consultants. Some of them are doing well, in spite of the recession. Others are struggling. I often wonder what the difference is between those who stay afloat in a downturn and the others. I think it's their marketing savvy more than their talent or education, but who really knows?

One of my favorite clients, a successful executive coach with a Ph.D., emailed this week to say how frustrating it is in the coaching field these days. It seems everyone's a coach. People take an Internet coaching course and market themselves by giving away free sample coaching sessions.

As a trained organizational psychologist with licenses and years of experience, he doesn't feel he should be giving away free sessions. I don't blame him. And yet, I was thinking...

The problem is universal. How do you attract new clients without standing on the sidewalk like a carnival barker, begging people to come into your tent?

I guess this is why Chris Anderson author of The Long Tail, has written a new book called Free: The Future of a Radical Price.

Free Works

What Drives You? Your Business? Weekend musings...

Have you spent a lot of time and money over your lifetime learning how to do something, like in your career or professon? In your sports? I sure have. I am driven.

Why do you do what you do? What drives you in your work?

I've studied a lot about what drives people to do what they do. Why do they keep on keeping on, in spite of mistakes, in spite of obstacles, in spite of a never-ending list of tasks and responsibilities and only so many hours in a day? Why do you? Here's why I persist...

7 Steps to Playing a Much Bigger Game

I was in my writer’s group last week, and our groups’ most successful writer leaned over and whispered to me, “How do you stay motivated and come up with compelling content for your blog every day? I’m struggling…”

“Oh, that’s easy, I just think of all the readers, new clients, and money I lose when I don’t write.” I was half-way joking, but it’s true. If I want to stay successful, I spend 30-60 minutes blogging every day.

Want to know the real truth? And the reason I think she has this trouble staying motivated and sustaining blog energy? She’s not clear. She’s afraid of certain things like what to write, what not to write, how personal, etc.

She hasn’t done the basic preparation work. Before starting any blog, I tell people to sit down and clarify purpose, audience, and a few key details.

I’ve got an important (free) opportunity if you want to go beyond your current level, please read on:

4 Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy: Think Heart, Eat Happy

Yesterday I gave a talk at the Lake Chapala Society about "4 Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy." As a former psychologist, I have a passion for sharing what neuroscientists are discovering about the brain.

The four areas you need to pay attention to for your brain are mental challenges, cardio exercise, healthy diet, and happiness. I call this the "Think-Heart-Eat-Happy" brain program.

The most important thing to do for your brain, at any age, is to get regular physical exercise that raises your heart rate to around 60-70% of maximum. This will elevate levels of BDNF: Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, a protein that is crucial for the growth of neurons and their communication networks. It's called "Miracle Gro" for the brain, it's that important.