Get Some New Ideas from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.
Archive for October, 2009
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Get Some New Ideas
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
What Is SEO And Why Is It So Important?
Today’s topic is SEO (search engine optimization). I know very little about this subject, except for the fact that it is vital for your company website and blog. If you sell cupcakes, and want to be found when someone does a Google search for cupcakes, this is where SEO comes into play.
First, this is a good reason to have a blog even if you have a company website. You will update your blog more frequently than your website. And search engines like more content and frequently updated content. More information for search engines to index leads to more hits on your site. Plus you can link between your blog and website, and search engines love links.
There is an element of mystery surrounding how search engines order sites in search results. But there are some things that you can do to improve your search engine optimization (SEO).
Know the keywords for your site - Keywords are just words or phrases that people will use when searching for sites/products like yours. Make a list of about 15 words and phrases that naturally come to mind, and use them in place of more general terminology you may be using. Make sure you use these words and phrases in a way that sounds natural. The key words shouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Post Titles - The post titles supply important information to search engines. If you are writing a blog for personal use, and aren’t interested in showing up in related Google searches, you can be as creative and off-the-wall as you want. But for business purposes, use straightforward phrases that incorporate keywords for your business. The titles of my posts are, for the most part, a clear statement of what’s in the post. And if I’m writing about a movie, book, or another site, I include that in my post title.
Links – As I said before, search engines love links! Both incoming and outgoing links provide valuable information about your site for search engines. In your posts, your outgoing links should be attached to keywords in the text, for example "World’s Best Cupcakes" instead of "click here."
ALT - Within the HTML code for each image you use, there is something called "ALT." This determines the text that appears while the image loads or if the image is unavailable. It has two functions; it lets the reader know what's coming and tells a search engine what is in the image. I know HTML can be intimidating, but here’s an example:
You have uploaded a picture of your new Halloween cupcakes. Use ALT text like this: alt="Halloween cupcakes with pumpkin". This gives the search engine that much more information.
These are a few of the most basic basics. I highly suggest reading more about this. There are a ton of articles and blogs on the subject. And you can start with this post on Lucky Marketing Firm's site. And when you can afford it, definitely hire a professional, at least to take a look at where you’re at and so they can give your sites an overhaul.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Busting Two More Myths – Being Your Own Boss and Having More Free Time
I love seeing the excitement in someone’s face when they talk about their new business idea. I thing the beginning part can be the best part, which is why I love what I do. But I can’t stand when I see that look that comes with disillusionment, when they realize some parts of their dream aren’t accurate. Two of the most common misconceptions are that you will be reporting to no one and that your time will be your own.
When people go into business for themselves, they frequently say they can’t wait until they have to report to no one. Unless you win the lottery, or become independently wealthy through some other means, that will never be the case. When you leave your day job to start your own business, you now report to dozens, hundreds, (thousands?) of people. They are known as your customers.
Don’t be discouraged, though. It is different than showing up as an employee and tackling things that someone else has deemed important. Answering to your customers ultimately means improving your business. And improving your product or service will be (I hope) important to you. And as you continue to improve your business, you will be rewarded with happy customers. And although you are answering to your customers, what service/product you offer, and how you run your business is all up to you. And those are the big things, the things that will bring you satisfaction.
The other picture people have in their head, when thinking of ditching the 9-5 job, is newly found free time. You will be working at least as many hours as a fulltime job, and not have quite the flexibility you might imagine. Depending on the size of your business, and if you have any help (free or otherwise), you can have some flexibility, but you still have to get everything (and I mean everything) done.
So, yes, you can answer emails, do your bookkeeping, online research, and things like that, whenever it’s best for you. But some things, especially if they involve other people, must be done when it is best for everyone. If you’re dealing with suppliers or manufacturers, you have to deal with them during their business hours. And usually this means during the regular workday, so mid-morning workouts followed by lunch with friends, probably isn’t going to be your normal day.
Don’t get me wrong. If you have a good idea and understand what it will take, and still want to move ahead, it is definitely worth it. The time and energy you spend on your own thing is an investment, so it feels different. And like they say, it’s only work if you would rather be doing something else. So, if you’re ready, jump in
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Do You Believe You Can Achieve Your Goals?
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Zuplo Can Enhance Your Email
Zuplo is a site that allows you to customize your email with graphic images. You can choose from over 7000 email stationery designs or you can create new designs, using your own photos or graphic images. The Zuplo site steps you through the photo upload process.
Incorporating the image into your email is pretty easy. You just copy the stationery (image) from the Zuplo site and paste into your email. There is also a tutorial, which I suggest watching.
Zuplo works with most email programs, but unfortunately there is only a PC version at the moment. Also, you must be using Internet Explorer or Firefox as your browser. In addition to the free version, they also offer an upgraded version for $8.95/year.
The free version of the Zuplo software gives you access to your top five saved favorites. The premium version gives you access to an unlimited number of saved favorites. Log on and look around.
I think customizing your email with your company logo or product image is a nice idea, but keep in mind that it should not be distracting or intrusive in any way. Of course, you can also use this for personal emails, and they can be as obnoxious as you want them to be. Zuplo.com
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Do You Really Want To Be An Entrepreneur?
I meet a ton of people who always say they wish they could start their own business, but they don’t want to give up their regular pay check, time with their kids, or some other reason. Although the reasons they give are different, there is one thing they have in common – an apologetic tone. If a person doesn’t have entrepreneurial aspirations, that’s ok, but they’ve been made to feel otherwise.
There are so many ways for us to live our lives and find fulfillment. Yes, one of those ways is to own a business. Entrepreneurs have to overcome many obstacles, and that is very gratifying. But someone who is building a career, or raising a family, faces a variety of challenges, too. People are fulfilled by following their own path, whether that leads to being an entrepreneur, an employee, a parent, or all or none of the above.
So, I believe the first, and most important, thing to do before stepping onto the road to business ownership, is to determine if it’s what you really want to do. It is easy to get caught up in someone else’s enthusiasm. And before you know it you’ve talked yourself into believing that you want to start a business, too.
For now, if the only reason you’re thinking about starting a business is because your friend/sister/neighbor has done so, and they keep insisting you have got to do the same, you should take a step back. Especially if you are employed, enjoy your work, and are lucky enough to have a job you leave at the office when you go home.
Don’t get me wrong, I love small and micro businesses, and believe anyone, with a sincere desire, can be a successful entrepreneur. But it’s not for everyone, not because they’re incapable, but because we’re all different. I encourage and support anyone who wants to take the leap, just be clear on your motivation before jumping in.
Friday, October 16th, 2009
A Few Updates & An Opportunity To Win A Book
I will soon be offering an e-book version of The Essential Business Handbook. That way, you can immediately download all of the information you need, and be up and running even faster! I'll keep you posted.
Also, I am creating a 3-hour class, which will essentially be a condensed version of my startup coaching package. The classes will be limited to 6 people. Together we will get fill out and file all of the forms for your Fed ID#, DBA certificate, Resale #, etc... We will also review the tax filing requirements and take a look at your costing methods (to make sure your making money). Please email me with any other things you may want to have covered. I'm still developing th idea, so now's the best time to make any changes.
Finally, don't forget... I am going to give away a copy of my book. To enter your name for the drawing, go to the "Get Your Free Chapter" link on the right sidebar and register to receive your free chapter. The cut off date to be included in the drawing is 11/14/09. I will post a video of the name drawing on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, 11/19/09.
If you registered prior to this announcement, your name will also be included in the drawing.
As I state on the registration page, I will only use your contact information to let you know of upcoming events and opportunities, and new books and services I am offering. And even then, I promise I will not bombard your email box with announcements. I block people who do that to me, and I would never want to be blocked by you.
Pass this opportunity on to other new and soon-to-be entrepreneurs.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Get Inspired By The People In Young @ Heart
Young @ Heart from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.
Read more about Young @ Heart here.
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
The Myth Of Multitasking
When you are in the beginning stages of building your business, there is a very good chance you are doing most, if not all, of the tasks yourself. You are in charge of product or service creation, sales, bookkeeping, shipping, and more. And don’t forget laundry, taking care of your kids and making dinner. The natural inclination is to multitask, but you may just be making things worse.
Research shows that our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. You can probably handle a couple of basic things at one time, like grating cheese and talking to your mom on the phone, but not several things that require concentration.
Experiments that measured brain activity during multitasking have shown several different negative effects. First, regions of the brain that specialize in visual processing and physical coordination are activated, leaving less energy for the areas that are used for learning and remembering. Basically, you are just processing the information. There is little comprehension and you are probably not committing anything to memory. Second (and I think much worse), increased levels of stress related hormones are present during multitasking. Stress realated hormones are very hard on the body, so multitasking is unhealthy.
You will have much more success, and a greater sense of control, if you build a clear and manageable to-do list. Then work your way through it, one task at a time. You’ll actually get more done, and more out of what you do finish. If you need a little help, here’s a link to my previous post about time management.
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Get Organized With Evernote.com
I came across this site, Evernote.com, a month or so ago. It was cool then, but they’ve increased the capabilities and now it’s even better. I am always tearing out pages of magazines, writing on scraps of paper, and bookmarking websites I want to visit later. Evernote allows me to keep all of these things (and more) in one place, online.
Once you’re set up, you can send text notes, web pages, photos from your phone, and captured screenshots to your account for safe keeping. Everything you submit is automatically processed, indexed, and made searchable. You can add tags or organize your items into different notebooks. When you want to find something, you can search by keywords, titles, tags, and even printed and handwritten text inside your images.
Here are a few of their suggestions for using Evernote:
Keep a record of your favorite wines by snapping a photo of the label when you find one you like (I like it!)
Keep notes from your meetings all in one place.
Take a picture of a whiteboard for future reference.
Capture plane tickets, confirmation numbers, hotel invoices, and receipts for your expense reports.
Keep a file of things you want to buy for yourself or for others as a gift.
Plan your next trip. Clip web pages, maps, and itineraries.
Create notes right from Twitter and save tweets that you like.
Because you can clip pages directly from your browser, send notes and photos, and even leave voice memos, the possibilities are endless. The ability to capture and organize useful information, stuff you want to remember, and your fleeting thoughts and ideas, is amazing.
Evernote is free, but is supported by ads on your page. If you try it and find you love it, you can upgrade for $5/month or $45/year. The paid option gives you bigger upload capacity, supports more file types, and offers enhanced security. You also get PDF searching, faster image recognition, and no ads.
If you’re interested check them out at www.evernote.com
