Is your blog working for you? Is it being a slacker and just taking up space in your head and on your website? What can you do to make it earn its keep? Because blogs aren’t dead and because Google loves new, updated content we have come up with 5 jobs your blog should perform; if it isn’t you need to reach out to Rex Richard of Peak Dynamics and discuss a strategy.
Technology and analytics and what makes for “good” and “searchable” content is always changing, but great content on your website via your blog are not going away any time soon. In fact, an updated blog helps your site be found in a search.
5 Jobs Your Blog Should Perform
What should your blog be doing for you?
Helping with SEO. Using the correct key words and key phrases will help your content rise to the top of a search and help more ideal clients find you. Make sure you’re using H2 headers and subtopics, and key words and images with alt tags to up the searchability of the posts.
Authentically you. When you blog — or have a ghostwriter blog for you — you are able to be more real, more authentic and more conversational. Let your cilents get to know you. Show them a side of you they don’t see on a Zoom or a networking event.
New content rules. Google loves new content and when you post a blog you are upping the chances that you will be found in a search. It’s a win.
Your blog can act as a lead magnet. Offer a free download or other goodie to new clients through one of your blog posts. You can even use a blog post page to house/host a freebie aka lead magnet.
Cha-ching! You can monetize your blog either through affiliate links or by having ads placed on your site. You could also offer individuals guest spots on your blog and charge them for the placement. Keep in mind that it’s not easy to charge until you have the traffic to support someone wanting to advertise with you, but creating new and fresh content will surely help with that.
No matter how many new technologies come along, you are never going to replace your blog — nor should you. Don’t put all your eggs on a social media site you don’t own and that could shut you down and shut you out.
Let’s get right to it, shall we? Grab your writing instrument of choice or pull op a document on the computer and get ready to sharpen this necessary skill.
Identify the problem. If you only have a vague understanding of what the problem is or might be, you won’t be able to solve it because you won’t have the information you need.
What different angle could you approach this problem from? Jack Welch said, “Continually expand your definition of the problem, and you expand your view of all the different ways that it can be solved.” Ask, “What else is the problem?” You may not be looking at the correct “problem” at all.
Consider the solutions you’ve tried. Look the problem over and under. Ask for help because you just might have a blind spot to the problem.
What caused the problem? Is it something that just popped up or has it been brewing for some time now? Know when and how it arose and you might be able to better address it.
Look for ALL possible solutions — don’t censor yourself. No matter how far-fetched a solution may seem, write it down because there could be a kernel of a solution.
Reward yourself because by now, you have thoroughly examined the problem, causes and some potential solutions. Given this hard work, you are ready to decide which tactic will work best, and to go for it. No more procrastinating!
Get your team around you and delegate
Set a deadline and metrics to measure the success moving toward it
Get the solution implemented BUT have a back up plan in case the original plan doesn’t fall into place.
Re-examine the success or failure or points that got missed and make a written note of them in case you’re faced with this same problem or a similar one
Rex Richard understands the importance of leading a balanced, orderly personal life as a way to help you be a better leader in your business role. Your personal satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, can color your business dealings.
Reinvention is something you should look at regularly in your personal and your professional lives. Make the time to achieve serenity and peace. On a daily basis, simply turn everything off for a time. Be quiet, calm and peaceful.
Savor the silence. Use your former TV-watching time to get in closer touch with your loved ones. Be considerate to them and to yourself.
Money is a stressor for so many people and entrepreneurs are no different. In fact, money — or lack of it — is one of the major stressors for business owners. You can start your business on a shoestring, but then the shoestring gets frayed because of a lack of clients and you want to give up. We have 5 ways to overcome business finance stress. It may not take all your financial stresses away, but it may help you gain or regain perspective.
Take a deep breath. Take a step back. Remember why you started your own business and center your thoughts.
5 Ways To Overcome Business Finance Stress
Know what you need to make. Do you need to earn $1,000 a month or $10,000 a month in order to pay your bills and live what you deem a comfortable life. If you don’t know what you need, you may always be under stress of thinking you need to make more.
Keep a to-do list. To keep stress at bay, write down a clear and concise list of what is lying ahead and what you can do about it. Can you truly bring on more clients? Will you need to hire someone to help you grow? Write the to-do list and that will help keep your tasks in persepctive.
Let someone know what you’re stressing about. If you keep it all to yourself it will truly eat away at you. Whether you talk with a family member, business colleague or a business coach like Rex Richard, getting an outside perspective might be just what you need.
Write down: what you’re making, what you’re spending (you may be frittering away money you aren’t even aware of — fancy morning coffees for example truly take a bite out of your budget.,” what are your fixed expenses, what are fluctuating expenses. How can you make more and spend less? Keep track of all your spending for an entire week — it could be very eye opening.
Now that you’ve looked at income and expenses, create a monthly budget. When all the income and expenses are accounted for it’s easier for you to stick to the spending habits you’re trying to build.
Listing out recurring expenses such as gas, groceries, utilities, etc.
Prioritize contributing to your emergency fund each month
Set up automatic payments to avoid late fees or interest
You’re going to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Congratulations! You have a great idea. You have the components you need to get started, but do you have everything your new endeavor truly needs to be a success? We are going to talk about what 4 things your start-up needs to set you up for success.
As a business coach Rex Richard takes a methodical approach to strategies for success that help ensure success for the long-term, not just a flash in the pan approach.
What 4 Things Does Your Start-Up Need
This is a short list of items you need, should research and have in place before you open your virtual doors.
Time and opportunity are of the essence. This means that if you have a great idea or can help address the pain points of your ideal customer – get it to market. Seize the opportunity. Take the risk. Pivot and learn as you grow.
SEO and blogging and your website matter. You need a website. How will you reach customers if they can’t find you online? Don’t rely just on social media platforms to share your message and reach customers. If your social media page gets shut down (remember the recent presidential election) how will you reach your audience? Your blog and website are your own ground – don’t build your business on rented aka social media pages you don’t own. Spend time thinking about your SEO strategy, your keywords, the key phrases for your website and business and how you will incorporate them into your blogging strategy and your website content.
Marketing on social media. Yes, we just mentioned that you don’t want to build your biz on rented social media ground BUT you can certainly make use of the power – free to use – to share the content you’re putting up on your blog and website. Just don’t use social media exclusively.
Know how you will get paid. If you are going to sell a product or service and someone wants to buy it… how will they? Do you have an online invoicing platform? Can they pay you directly into your bank account or Paypal or Venmo? Don’t make it difficult for someone to buy from your site – they won’t come back and complete the transaction if it’s not quick and easy.
Don’t get hung up on the technology, but don’t put it off. Move forward and build your foundation as you go. Don’t let an opportunity pass you by. Contact Rex Richard for business coaching and entrepreneurial start up tips.
Challenges were thrown at employees when they were asked to uproot their in office lives and become work-from-home employees. Many of them didn’t have any space they could dedicate to an office. Factor in, too that not only were they working from home, but their significant other or roommates and children were there, too? Is your home working space working? If not, make some changes today.
Now that you have had a year to look at your work space with a critical eye, how are you faring? What needs to change? Do you need to reconfigure your living space? Do you need to work in your car – believe me, people have been doing Zooms there to get away from the in-house noise.
Because of COVID-19 close to 70% of CEOs are planning to downsize their office spaces and allow employees to continue to work from home. It’s a win for them as they save on rents, but if you’re already struggling to get work done now is the time to make sure your workspace feeds your productivity.
Is Your Home Workspace Working?
You need to find your own space. It’s not ideal to work at the kitchen table all day then have to pack up your entire “office” at the end of the day then unpack it again the next day to start work. Even if you have to find a corner of a living room or bedroom or anywhere you can place a desk and your computer, keyboard, mouse, anything you need to perform your work.
Make yourself and your office feel professional. Get dressed. Put on pants, brush your hair and teeth and greet the day ready to work. Don’t let your desk become a dumping ground for clean laundry in need of folding – claim your workspace and hold it sacred.
Look behind you. If you’re on zoom a lot – and who isn’t – look behind you. What do your co workers or clients see when they’re talking to you. Invest in a screen or something to make your view professional.
Decorate your office space in a way that makes you happy. Your favorite coffee cup as a pen holder, photos of your family and furbabies… whatever makes work more enjoyable.
Get up and get moving. It’s easy to sit all day when you’re working from home. When you’re at the office, chances are you get up and move around a bit more than you might at home. Set a timer and get up and do a few jumping jacks or take a walk every hour.
Stay connected with friends and family. We know you’re going to be on zooms all day long and the last thing you want to do is another zoom even if it’s with friends and family. We urge you to stay connected though – your mental health will thank you.
Do you find yourself scrolling through Facebook before your feet have even hit the floor in the morning? Do you check social media before you fall asleep at night? Does it wind you up? What is the emotional cost of social media? It may not be a question you’ve ever considered, but there are costs.
Social media is great if you want to find a recipe or check out the latest photos of a grandchild, but social media is also a place where people air their dirty laundry, shout at you if your beliefs don’t match up with theirs and is a great way for people to simply be obnoxious.
What Is The Emotional Cost Of Social Media?
Have you ever noticed any of these?
You feel emotionally drained once you stop looking at social media
Do you feel yourself getting tense when you start scrolling
Have you been involved in shouting matches with people who’s thoughts and values don’t align with yours?
Do you get angry or sad when you’re scrolling
Are most of your friends those you have on social media?
If you feel any, or all, of these, it is time for a social media break. I work with clients and tell them to do a social media detox. Do this by deciding that from 5 pm Friday until 8 am Monday or even a twenty-four hour boycott. You may even want to boycott the news for specific days and hours just to give your heart and emotions a break.
Social media is a great way to share information about your business and to perhaps connect with friends with whom you’ve lost touch, but if you find it is making you nervous, anxious or angry, it’s time for a detox. Have you ever stepped away from social media? How did it make you feel? Did you truly miss anything at all?
