Writing on the Web from Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

Better Blog Writing: Deadline for Blog Squad Coaching Group

There's one seat left for our small coaching group that starts in August; tonight at midnight the early bird discount and bonus offer is off the table. This is an exclusive group for advanced business blogging strategies.

Denise and I will work with you to make sure you get the maximum results for your business blog, whatever your blog goals are.

This is a home-improvement, get-your-keyboard-dirty workshop, no slackers allowed. If you put in the time to improve your blog, you will see results. For info: visit www.theblogsquad.net/BBB.

Online Success in Do-able Chunks with The Blog Squad's Blogging and Beyond Mentor Program

If you need help with all or parts of your online marketing, (and who doesn't?) join Denise and I in our Blogging and Beyond Mentor Program. Until May 8th at midnight ET, you can get the help you need on your blogs, newsletters, shopping cart, web writing tasks, and sales processes for less than $10 for the first month. Access tutorials, videos, audio files, and documents that break down the steps you need to follow for online success, plus monthly coaching calls. Details: visit www.theblogsquad.net/mentor.

Articles, Blog Posts, & Writing Ezines

Last night Denise and I spoke with Jeff Herring's (The Article Guy) teleseminar group about differences with article writing, blog posts, and ezine content. Admittedly there is a lot to write when you want to get known on the web, and it can be confusing to newbies.

Let's break it down. First, you definitely want to be writing on a blog. This is the fast track for getting found by the people who share common interests with you.

And you want to write and submit articles to article directories so that others can find and read your stuff.

Denise and I agree that an article is written in a little different style than a blog post. An article will discuss a problem, expand it, then look at possible solutions. You may wish to include a personal story to illustrate the problem or solution. You may also want to include some statistics or research

Blogging Isn't IT! The Blog Squad Reveals Blogging and Beyond

We launched our Internet radio show Blogging and Beyond yesterday on the VoiceAmerica channel, and told listeners why having a great blog may not be enough if they want to grow business and leverage the power of the Internet. You can listen to the show here.

(I was afraid my voice might get squeeky as it sometimes does, so I kept sucking on a lemon between breaks. I hear all the opera singers do that.)

I suggest you listen in to the show: we tell listeners what else they will need to leverage the power of the Internet to grow business. And, we interviewed our fabulous Ideal Client contest winner, Erik Feder. Erik already has a unique business and is using the Internet, and we will be coaching him live on the show each week to improve what he's doing. Learn more by subscribing to our Blogging and Beyond blog.

Of course, if you really want to get more involved, you can still join the Blogging and Beyond Mentor Group that will be implementing simple online tools to grow your own business: www.BlogSquadContest.com/mentor.

The REAL Reason I Love Blogging

Just got off the phone with Adam Urbanski, the Marketing Mentor guy, and Denise Wakeman. We hosted a 2-hour teleseminar which was a mini "everything you want to know about blogs" class. When people signed up for the class they were given a $48 discount if they asked us a question, meaning they attended the call for only $1. (An interesting marketing strategy of Adam's)

The questions, over 200 of them, were great, and got me to thinking about some of the deeper reasons I love to blog. It has to do with this funny little side-benefit that I've accumulated in the full year since I've started posting onto my 3 blogs.

Here it is: Because I try to come up with new and different content to post 3-5 times a week, I find that I am researching and reading more resources on the Web than before. The side-benefit? I've become better informed about my targeted niche of coach ezines and newsletters.

I know more this year about my profession thanks to the fact that I am writing frequently for my blog. My clients are better served for it. It makes my work more fun, because I know more and can handle all the little aspects that can make a big difference for the clients I serve.

[Shameless Self Promo:] If you're still on the fence about starting a blog for your business, here is an opportunity to peek over Adam's shoulder as we take him through a 6-week blog training teleseminar:

www.boostyourbizwithblogs.com.

Not that I know it all; there is plenty I still have to learn. But blogging keeps me on my toes, and I am a more knowledgeable professional because of it.

The Truth About Blogs & Your Business

Do you have a burning question about blogs?
Do you have 90 minutes and $1 to spare?

Are you blogging yet for your business? Or, if you are, are you getting the results you want with your blog?

The reason I ask is because I know many of you have heard all the hype about blogging and may be wary to jump in because it is the latest marketing fad.

You’re too intelligent to believe emails that promise you a $10,000 income per month from blogging.

But, make no mistake. Blogs are great for your business… and they can be a big waste of your valuable time if you don't know how to set one up and use it effectively. Anyone can start a blog, but the fact remains, if it’s not bringing in clients, if it’s not building your business, why bother?

Maybe you don’t know a few key secrets to making your business blog work for you… Here’s your chance to ask.

Next Monday, September 12th, we've made special arrangements to get you private 90-minute phone access to the Blog Squad for only $1. On this call we're going to help Adam Urbanski get started with blogging, and you can peek over his shoulder and learn with him.

* * * Who Is The Blog Squad? * * *

Denise Wakeman and I have teamed up to form The Blog Squad. We have answers to blogging questions you don’t even know to ask yet! We have been blogging for a year, and have 9 blogs between us. We've written a how-to guide and work with clients all over the world, helping them set up effective business blogs.   We will have the answers you need to get started blogging now.

Can you make it?

All you need to do to get in for $1 is ask your question on how you can make a blog work for your business, and if you're one of the first 96 people to register, you're in! 

If this sounds like a fair trade, just click the link below...

Click this link, ask your question to get in for $1:

http://www.askadamurbanski.com/aboutblogs/

P.S.  When you register you will also get the audio transcript and mp3 audio file for the teleseminar.  This is a $1 investment you can't afford not to make!

Books & Blogs - A Happy Marriage

More bloggers are being picked up by book publishers. An article on the Delaware Online news journal called Bloggers use publishers to spread their words mentions several new books out this year that are based on blog entries.

This reinforces our Blog to Book Project launched June 15. We have 30 authors working their way through a self-paced private blog tutorial. Assuming participants follow the program and post daily, they will have enough material to publish an ebook in 90 days. Some will get their book published in either hard or soft cover editions. Others will opt to publish in digital form only.

The Project is open enrollment since you work at your own pace, so come on and join us!  It's an amazing group of people so far, who've chosen to go on this journey. 

If you're not sure about using a blog to write your book, check out our free Blog to Book 7 Step Mini-course and get a taste of how you can make this system work.

E-Commerce for You & Me...

Even independent professional service providers can and should have shopping carts on their web sites. E-Commerce isn't just for big retailers. If you're a professional and provide services to others, you have a wealth of information. Some information can be packaged into articles, white papers, ebooks and telecourses.

Besides giving away your knowledge in the form of ezines & blogs, consider selling informational products. Some people want to sample your knowledge before they will call you to hire you for consulting or coaching.

But, like any big retailer, you must make the buying process easy. Let's face it, people make snap decisions and vote with their wallets. Are you set up for online sales? It's easier than you think with today's software available at prices most independent professionals can afford.

Here is a series of 4 free teleclasses to teach you how to set up a shopping cart for your business, no matter how large or small your products are. Denise Wakeman is teaching the basics of ecommerce. For details, go to www.biztipsblog.com.

How to "Do" an Ezine!

How to Write, Format & Distribute an Ezine that Gets Results

Yes, we've done the research for you. Now you can save time and energy by reading this 7 part series to learn everything you've always wanted to know about ezines:

How to format them, send them, write valuable content, and most importantly, how to get RESULTS!

There is a lot that goes into creating and publishing an ezine that gets results for your professional services business. We are experts so let us share what we've learned with you in this mini course.

Then, if you want to know more, buy the ebook, Secrets to Successful Ezines and learn the details. Or, sign up for the free minicourse and get 7 lessons delivered to your inbox over two weeks.

We've interviewed hundreds of professionals on how they grew their ezine from 50 to 20,000 subscribers and more over a few short  years. You would spend hours online to find their ezines and learn their histories. We've compiled them here inside the ebook.

Learn from the successes- and mistakes- of others.

This is the introduction to the 7-part series of lessons. There are 7 more articles coming with excerpts from the ebook Secrets of Successful Ezines.

Hope you get a lot out of our research on ezines. If we can help you in any way with your writing, formatting and publishing of your ezines,  let us know.

Patsi Krakoff

Elge Premeau

Customized Newsletter Services

Last Chance: Two Seats Available

Do you want to learn how to create a good coach ezine that gets results?

Just tell me how bad you want it and I will give you free access to the four session teleclass on Effective Newsletters & Ezines! Why would I do this? Because I want to get more participants in order to make this a better class.

I have two spots left to fill this teleclass, and if you want to come for free, just email me. You can also nominate a worthy colleague. We start Wed. Nov. 17 at 8 pm. That's tomorrow, so don't wait.

This class is being audio recorded and transcribed. I will take you through these four classes and include important articles and work sheets so that you create or improve your ezine by the end of class Dec. 15.

Here is the class format:

Class one: Nov. 17: Overview, why you need an ezine
                             Work sheet for ezine decision points

Class two: Dec. 1:  Content is king!
                             How to creat good content
                             Using OPC (Other People's Content)

Class three: Dec. 8: Formatting, text, PDF & HTML
                              Distribution issues

Class four: Dec. 15:  Calls to Action
                              Getting results
                               Building numbers, subscribers
                               Driving traffic
                               The wave of the future: Blogs

So, if you've ever wanted help with your ezine, this is the way to get it. These two last spots are scholarships open only to those who can't afford or who don't want to pay the fee, AND who are serious about creating a successful coach ezine.

If you can afford it and want to register, go here: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=109267

This will take you to the Teledevelop.com web site. Scroll down to the class Effective Newsletters and Ezines and register for $97. (These class dates are listed incorrectly, the class goes until Dec. 15, skipping the week of US Thanksgiving.) The e-book, Secrets of Successful Ezines is included when you pay and register for the class.

Act quickly, because these two spots won't be left after today: email me now!

Here's to your success!

Patsi