Excellence: A Vast Wasteland?

Do you wonder what happened to people striving for excellence? Does it seem like everyone around you is apathetic or does just enough to get by?

Sometimes I feel as though no one has what it takes to stick to something, to run the race, to give a task or project their absolute best. As Jeff Haden of Inc.com put it, "The extra mile is a vast, unpopulated wasteland."

I remember a childhood saying that has stuck with me. My mother probably said it many times -- if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right -- whether it's cleaning a bathroom, waiting on a customer, answering a phone, or filling an order. It didn't matter what the task was, I was expected to do my best.

Don't be discouraged - give it your all. You may find that you are the only one there, but don't give up. It may be a lonely place, but it's filled with opportunity.

I've had the chance to manage employees. I always had a rule for myself. If I wasn't willing to do it, then I couldn't expect my employees to do it, and certainly not to do it well. 

Tips for Managers

What's different about great managers?

• They draw on an employee's strengths rather than trying to fix weaknesses.
• They select staff based on talents, over education or experience.
• They believe that every employee has the ability to make a positive contribution.

So go ahead and be different - go the extra mile - it will set you apart and make you successful. :-)
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In Facebook News:
What are promoted posts?

In May, Facebook enabled you to pay for an individual post to be seen in a fan's news feed. Your posts are only seen by a portion of your followers/firends at any given time depending on the amount of items in their news feed.  Promoted posts reach more of the people who like your Page and their friends, and are available to Pages with 400 to 100,000 likes.

In Small Biz News

Small Biz News headlines:

Ways to Measure Your Brand's Social Media Health

Why Mobile Will Dominate Future of Media and Advertising

What Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast!

Fear

Are you afraid to take a risk in business?
Do you resist good advice?

A recent post by Perry Marshall got me thinking about how we're all protective of what we've worked so hard to accomplish; to the point of being afraid to take a risk, or ignoring sound business advice from a colleague.

Or maybe your sounding board is a spouse, but you can't get them to see the "big picture" as you see it. They simply see a HUGE risk and can't understand it or get behind it.

Resisting risk is a very common problem for all of us as small business owners. But be honest with yourself - what risk or advice have you been resisting? If you don't power ahead and work through it, you'll have that unsettling feeling that will continue to gnaw at you until you resolve it.

What big decision are you putting off? Is it selling a business? Starting a new division? Attending an expensive industry seminar? Take some time away from the office and grab a notebook. Don't think too much, just start writing out all the reasons why you think this WILL work and why it's good for your business.

Then come to a conclusion - are my concerns valid and should I listen to them? Or can I find a way to make it reasonably fit into my business? If it's the latter, just do it. :-)

Ciao for now, Paula

In Small Biz News:

Combine Photos and Social Media for the Best Exposure

How to Create Real Relationships with Social Marketing - OK, so this is a no-brainer. Treat Social Media Marketing like a relationship with a friend and have real conversations with your customers.

Musings by Top eMarketers:

7 Marketing Sins by Seth Godin - common sense, really. Read the 7 Sins and be sure to take 5 minutes to watch the video - good stuff. Make something or build something people will talk about - brilliant!

How Committed are You? by Perry Marshall - relentless passion for learning and personal development.

Positive Thinking: How it Relates to Business and Life Success

I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions, but I am one to plan my direction and goals for a new year.

This blog post by Bruce Clay is a great read. Empowerment for life and our businesses by thinking positively about ourselves and the others that work with us.

It will take you approximately 10 minutes to read, but it's worth it. So go get yourself a cup of coffee or a soda and digest this. It's sure to get your New Year started off right!

http://www.bruceclay.com/blog/2011/01/positive-thinking-and-business-success/

Happy New Year everyone!
Ciao, Paula

Dreaming Big, with Courage!

I've discovered a new blog writer. I'm really enjoying his writings! His name is Sean Low and he writes a blog entitled The Business of Being Creative. Sean shares some simple, straight-forward tips about how to balance being a creative person with the tasks of operating a successful small business.

Here's the excerpt that spoke to me today: "...I am all for realism and staying true to yourself. However, if you never push yourself to be uncomfortable, you will never know what is possible...".

How many of you reading this would like to earn more money? Yep, just as I thought, all of you! Dream big, visualize yourself where you want to be. As Sean says, if you don't, you'll certainly miss the forest for the trees!

But dreaming big takes courage - the courage to - be away from family, become a manager, make an investment, be uncomfortable, be afraid. Give yourself permission to think big. If you don't, you'll never know the possibilities.

So dare to make more money, dare to make your dreams reality, dare to be happy, dare to dream big, WITH courage!

I always find Sean's writings inspiring; they help keep me on track and keep my goals in the right perspective so I can focus. I hope you find him inspirational. You can read his most recent post here: The Tiny Trap

Joining you in dreaming big,
Paula

How to Develop a Courageous Mindset

I recently received a copy of a magazine that NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) puts out called MyBusiness. A valued client and friend passed it along to me - thanks, Mark!

As an independent business owner, I found it invaluable. I read with great interest, an article called Courage: Where to Find It. It had some key points that I identified with and have tried to implement during my years in business. They come from a book that the author of the article (Doug Hall) wrote called Maverick Mindset. Doug touches on and encourages us to be willing to take riskier, rockier and less-traveled paths to turn our dream business or invention into reality.

Here are the key points (click any of them to read the details of each and the full article online):

• Start by listening to the little voice
• Fail fast, fail cheap
• Step on the gas, not the brakes

In the conclusion of his article, he says "It's not simply enough to have an idea--you have to show it off to make it real." Be proactive rather than passive. Take small steps toward your goal and start today!

Ciao for now, Paula

P.S. I'll be pretty quiet for the next 3 weeks or so. I'll be traveling, partially for business, but mostly for pleasure. I'll post again near the end of October. Until then, I wish you every success as you forge ahead in your business and life!

Local is Key Area of Focus for Search Engines

Local businesses have a host of new options for raising their profile online. Many new services are becoming available specifically aimed at the small, local business. BusinessWeek.com reports that U.S. small businesses will spend $17 billion on Net (online) ads this year.That figure is expected to increase by $36 billion by 2014, making up 1/4 of all local advertising.

BusinessWeek also reports that there's "an increasing sense of urgency around having an effective online marketing strategy." Heck I've been talking about it with my small business clients for YEARS now! But maybe more awareness and easier, more affordable tools will emerge - moving more small businesses to take action.

You really have 3 choices - do it yourself, hire a professional (me or another qualified marketing consultant), or do nothing. OK, so you really only have 2 choices because if you're reading this you already know that "nothing" isn't really a choice. :)

Microsoft's Bing is enhancing their local business listings. Google has rebranded their Local Business Center as Google Places and created pages with more information on small businesses and enhanced your account profile so you can see your listing on Google Maps, see how many times they shown it, and you can even see how many actions (clicks) people made when your listing was presented. Log in or add your business listing here: Google.com/Places  If you want step-by-step instructions for adding your listing to each of the top 3 search engines (Google, Yahoo! and Bing), send an email to me at locallistings@aweber.com and I will send you a free email series that will show you how to do it.

In 11 cities, Google will also let you pay $25/month to have your listing pop up with an icon and other information when searchers check neighborhood maps from their smartphones and on the Web. If that's successful, maybe the Twin Cities will be next. If you have a listing, you'll show up. And if not, your competition will get the business!

There are lots of opportunities out there for you to market your local business online. These online sites have been successful in providing platforms for local, small business listings - MerchantCircle, Yelp, Valpak, Groupon, and CityDeal.

Companies like ReachLocal, WebVisible, HubSpot, Infusionsoft (and many more like them) have small business software that can help you bring order to the chaos of monitoring your online presence. Most have a recurring, monthly fee to use, but are browser based, so you can access your account from where you are - home, mobile or office.

The bottom line is that local businesses face an ever-growing range of options for promoting themselves online. If you need help sorting them out and finding which is best for you, give me a call or send me an email so we can begin the conversation. :)

Ciao for now, Paula

The Key to Making the Right Business Decisions

is FLEXIBILITY. I could relate to a recent blog post by David Bullock about the ever-changing business environment we live in today. He reminds us that technology is changing, customers are changing, and market demand is changing. How do we make the right decisions when changes happen so quickly.

In my business, Internet Marketing, some things change gradually while others things like Social Media change rapidly. How do I make the right decisions for my own business as well as my clients? BE FLEXIBLE.

I'm a planner and cautious by nature, so once I have a plan it's difficult for me to change on the fly - it creates stress for me. So working in the online environment has taught me to not hold too tightly to any one client or any one decision. More often than not, technology changes, customers change, market demand changes, goals change, etc. I have to learn to change with them. That's a challenge for me! Most of my business requires that I get to know a client's customers and business market. A great deal of effort and time goes into this process.

My best experiences have been when I have the opportunity to work long-term with small businesses. It helps me immerse myself into their target market and think like their customers do. That's the only way I can best serve them. But the catch? Most small businesses don't have the time or money to commit to such a relationship. So I must always be 'listening' to them to find out how I can best meet their needs and budget; it's a challenge!

If you are willing to share some thoughts with me about what you struggle with in your small business, it would be helpful for me. You can email me at marketyourbizonline[at]gmail.com or simply post a comment at the end of this post. It will help me be more flexible when making my business decisions, which ultimately will help you, my customers/clients. :) Thanks, in advance, for your input!

Ciao, Paula

P.S. David's entire post on this subject  is brief and should only take a couple of minutes to read, but it's worth a look. Click here to read: Learning How to Make the Right Business Decisions.

7 Steps to Boost Customer Referrals

If you are like me, you are 'lazy' or even 'shy' about asking for and getting referrals. This is not an easy thing to do and it's time consuming if you want the best results.

You know I like simple, straight-forward action items for getting things done. :-) I came across this post by John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing outlining 7 steps or tips for boosting your efforts.

It helped me; I hope it helps you generate some ideas about how you might do a better job of getting quality referrals from your associates and customers.

Take a look at the full article here: How to Boost Your Customers Referrals in 7 Simple Steps

How Businesses Are Using Facebook

Get a free webinar download from Hubspot! Provide your email and you can download and listen at your convenience to find data on how businesses are leveraging Facebook and case studies covering ways to use Facebook for marketing.

Find the link to the webinar and other free resources on my site: http://PaulaBonelli.com/resources/free-stuff/
or go directly to HubSpot now: How Businesses are using Facebook

IRS Plans to Audit 6,000 Companies Over Next 3 Years

Do You Rely on Independent Contractors?
As reported by Inc.com on February 18, 2010, the IRS plans to audit 6,000 companies over the next three years in an effort to crack down on companies that erroneously classify employees as independent contractors. This made my ears prick up since all of the work I do for other businesses is done strictly on this basis. I did my review and find I'm in compliance.

Do you know the difference between an Employee and an Independent Contractor?
Here's 10 tips for business owners on the subject directly from the IRS.gov Web site. Check it out and be sure you are in compliance before you get audited!

Employee vs. Independent Contractor - Ten Tips for Business Owners from the IRS.

Uncovering New Income Streams

I found a great tool from Michael Campbell. It's called "The Uncovery" and walks you through a brainstorming process that will help you identify your passions, skills and dreams. Then you further generate ideas to see where these might overlap into a profitable revenue stream. Really eye opening and a great way to get started thinking outside your box.

Be prepared to digest this away from your office, in a quiet spot where you can think without interruption. Grab your favorite beverage and let the ideas flow!

The document can be found on a site in my network. Click here to go there and read or download this great tool.

Five Areas of Planning You Need to Create a Successful Web site

This article by John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing hits the nail on the head. He succinctly puts all the elements together that you have to think about and plan for when you are building or rebuilding a Web site.

I fall into the category of the Marketer, of course, playing a role in each phase of the planning process. I often find myself in the position of educator, coordinator between all the personalities, go-between for the for Web site owner, and the ultimate marketing of the finished site. This is no small task and most small business owners really have not grasped how complex the process is. So whether you manage all 5 areas yourself  or outsource it, each is an important aspect of how it will all come together.

John references several resources within his article. I haven't had personal experience with all of them, so if you decide to use one please do so at your own risk and take time to find out if the source is a good fit for you and your business.

Read John's full article.

Nexus One Mobile Phone by Google

OK! I think I finally found the right smartphone. I have been looking to upgrade for almost six months to a device I can use when I'm away from my office. As a small business owner, I really feel that this is a must in order to function outside the office if you travel or have to be away from your office frequently.

I have been comparing everything to the iPhone since it has all the bells and whistles I would possibly want or need. A few things have been holding me back - the cost of the iPhone (and the need to then change providers), and I'm used to a keyboard. The new touch phones work by heat from your fingertips. Well, I have nails! And that doesn't work well for texting. That would be nothing but an annoyance factor and I'm not willing to cut them short. :-) I've been with T-Mobile since 2000, but they didn't have ONE phone that had all the features I wanted. So, the search continued.

What I want to be able to do is simplify and combine a number of mobile devices into one unit - it's hard enough for me to keep up with technology as I get older, let alone learn the functions of multiple small devices. I want my music, maps, email, and phone all together in one device. Patience pays off. :-) I think the Nexus One has it all! AND I can get it with my current provider, T-Mobile. I can get around the texting function (it is a touchscreen) because it has a cool feature - a voice-enabled keyboard for any text field. This means you can speak to your phone and it does the text messaging, email writing, or search querying for you. How cool is that? Problem solved!

But there is one other cool thing about this phone - you can buy it unlocked, directly from Google (for $529!). The idea is you can swap out the sim card from your old phone and put it in this phone and your off and running with service from four GSM radio frequencies and three 3G/UMTS Bands.(There are some restrictions - check out this page for more details: http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?answer=166507)

Check out the Google Nexus One! Nexus One Phone

Poll: Please help me out by answering 1 question

I'm collecting ideas for developing some affordable products for small business owners and I'd really like to hear what you need.

QUESTION:
What is the #1 thing you want to learn how to do with your Web site?

Use the comment field or click the email image and send me a quick note with your answer.

Your 2010 Search Strategy

This is a quick 2-minute video by Google's Managing Director, US Sales, Bonita Stewart speaking about how visitors have been using search, and how they will use it into 2010.

Give a quick listen to learn how you can position your business to be ahead of the pack.

75% Doing, 25% Learning

I try to apply this principle to my business because it's awfully easy for me to get caught up in all the 'new' things I can learn, and never apply them or put them into action!

I take one day out of each week and I've deemed it my Business Development Day. I set all other things aside and I focus on learning something I need to know to move forward. Then during the other days, in addition to my other projects, I put it into action or at least I take one baby step toward my goal or the end result I want.

I don't know if you're like me, but here's what happens when I attempt to move my business to a new level: I get overwhelmed by how large the task is, suddenly all kinds of distractions get in my way, I get an uneasy feeling because I'm usually stepping out of my comfort zone, etc., etc. The result - NOTHING! It creates inaction in me and I dawdle with it forever and can't seem to get started . My Business Development day allows me to get out of my own way.

Here's something else I learned by setting this time aside. Often, I'll revisit materials/books I have, and lo and behold, I've seen things I didn't see the first time. It doesn't hurt to go back to some resources you think you may have learned all you can from. What I found is that different things jumped out at me because I'm in a different place now than I was then.

The latest epiphany from my most recent business development day - deal with or handle your business AS IT IS, not how you think it should be. OMG - light bulb moment for me. My tasks will take MUCH less effort this way! This can apply personally as well as professionally. I can't tell you how many times (as a woman and a mother and a former people-pleaser), that I approached things as I thought they should be rather than how they really were. I'm pumped about how much more productive I'm going to be. :-)

Have a great week! Paula

Be Wary of Free Internet Marketing Courses

I received *FREE* tickets to a local "Internet Marketing" conference in the mail recently. Please be very careful about such offerings as they are usually scams, or at the very least, nothing but pitch fests to try and get you to buy their products.

Here's some clues that this is probably NOT worth your time:

• They are giving away a TON of free stuff in the hopes that you'll buy something.
• They give you free tickets including a meal (again, so you'll buy something).
  
• They don't tell you any REAL information, you'd have to buy what they're selling to find out the real gems.
• If they are resorting to this kind of publicity, they must be hard up for sales. Why would a company from Orem, UT need to pull names from our local phone book and do a mass mailing to get customers?

Yes, there are ways to earn a part-time or maybe even a full-time income online. But I would be cautious about these "seminars". You'd be better off learning from a reputable, trustworthy source instead.

A Simple Way to Innovate and Differentiate

I LOVE this! John Jantsch of Ducttape Marketing writes about a cool concept a pizzeria in California is using to great success. See if you can find something you can simplify to differentiate your business, and create a buzz! Read the whole article on John's blog.

Traffic Tips eBook

I'm working on putting together a digital book (or 'ebook')that can be downloaded instantly to your computer and read or printed) It will have approximately 15-20 different ways to generate traffic to your Web site or business.

Not all the tips may be right for you--the idea is for you to choose a couple that will work for your business and market, then begin putting them into use.

As always, this is not a "get rich quick" tool. It's tips you choose and put into practice on a regular basis. Then as time goes by, you'll slowly build traffic to your site - and be on the forefront of your customers' minds.

I hope to have it available for purchase on or around December 1. It will be affordable for small business owners (under $50).

Stay tuned for more details in the near future.