Archive for the ‘Motivation from other bloggers’ Category

After spending the better part of my day under a fog of photoshop,  I surfaced just long enough to browse some tweets and respond to some emails. While looking through the twitter stream, a question from @Gizmodo caught my attention: When is it okay to check email during dinner?

I think the answers depends on the type of person you are talking about…

If someone is an employee of a company and they were to check email during dinner (after work hours) I would be offended. They are off the clock and have zero need to check in. If they are working on a large project, once 5 or 5:30 hits, the day is over and it waits for the next day. They get to keep business and home life separate. In this case, it is never okay to check email during dinner.

But, this is a tough question for a small business owner. I find that I check my email a lot in the evening, sometimes during dinner. Usually, this is because I am just taking a quick break from work to eat and then heading back into my office/closet. Then again, there are also nights that I am still checking emails even after I have shut down my computer and made myself cozy on the couch. Do I respond to a lot of the emails? No. But I do write notes on some of them, or create email drafts. This is helpful when the project is fresh in my mind and I am not overwhelmed with everything else that goes on during normal hours. It is hard for a small business owner to separate work from normal life because the separation doesn’t really exist.

What do you think? Should small business owners have different rules?

I do not know everything. In fact, there are a lot of things I don’t know. And when I want to learn…I read other brilliant business men and women’s blogs.

So if you’re like me and you want to learn more today about  your blog, your brand, or your business, read these 5 blogs posts before you do anything else today!

• From Jon Buscall – 5 reasons your business blog is failing
• From FreshID – How people power brand identities
• From IncSlingers – When to build your business out and when to build up
• From Steve Woodruff – Getting a GRIP on ROI
• From Kneale Mann – Do you know why?

Oh, and then leave a comment on at least one of them, because they deserve it!

In light of the recent article from Wired.com - 10 Years After: A Look Back at the Dotcom Boom and Bust (really awesome article) – I want to open the floor to you, and hear where you were then and where you are now.

Then, I was in High School, waiting for December to roll around so I could finally get my driver’s license. I worked part time after school with the Parks and Rec’s department in Los Gatos (my home town). I dreamed of going to Northeastern University to study International Business, working for the CIA in European espionage and becoming a best selling author by the time I was 30 writing CIA romance thrillers.

Now, I am happily married in South Orange County, driving an ‘08 Mustang GT. I am a proud alum of Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Rhetorical Communications, the owner of Wright Creativity, and the writer of this blog. I love my business, and am excited every day to see where it will take me. Someday I still dream of becoming a best selling author, but of just plain romance novels and definitely not by the time I’m 30.

Your turn!

Steve Woodruff talked last week about is social media circles: audience, acquaintances, friends and intimates (inner circle) and what they mean for business. He explained that each of the levels serve a certain purpose, and that we need all four to really get the most out of our social channels. Of course, as you go down in levels, the people do become more important. For example, it would be better to have high quality intimates than just a bunch of audience. His final thought in the article (which is a great one) is that we need a way to filter these people more effectively…being able to separate them out and monitor them all differently would make connections and conversations much easier.

I know that I have all of these levels, but I have never really thought a lot about who exactly is in them. If I were forced to answer right now, I could probably name 30-40 people in my inner circle. Would it be all of them? No. Would some that I mentioned not actually be in my inner circle if I really thought about it? Yes.

And I think this needs to be remedied. I need to know my lists, I need to understand who I can trust, and I need to know that they can trust me too. I need them to know that I think they are part of my inner circle. We need to be on the same page because not knowing where you stand with someone can be dangerous. What if I think someone is on my inner circle, and I share with them a business idea that I have. They love it, we chat about it, share lots of details and brainstorming. Then a month later, I see them using my idea without asking me. Why would something like that happen? It happens when you don’t actually know your relationships – when you think someone is inner circle and they don’t.

Today, I want you to take some time and think about your inner circle. Who do you trust with your business ideas? Who would you turn to if you needed help promoting something or a new client recommendation? Once you have determined your list, I want you to send each person that you believe is part of your inner circle an email. Let them know why you have chosen them, and what they mean to you. It doesn’t have to be long, and it doesn’t have to be over the top. Make it simple and straight to the point.

After you have sent the emails…come back here. Don’t share your list (as that is a little personal) but please share your thoughts and experiences in building that list. Was it easy? Did you find people you thought would be inner circle that really weren’t? Did someone you expected to respond not respond? Were you greeted with any especially surprising results?

Discuss.

Picasso once said that Good artists copy, great artists steal…

So I am “stealing” @IkePigott’s video in regards to the new Facebook page changes, because well, he says it better than I could…and he already did the work

I’m thinking it would be good to be Caligula in this situation…

The final post topic I gathered from my readers and followers was from Angry Julie (the first two were from @HealthOC and @Hagre). She is convinced the world is dominated by bloggers and wanted to know my thoughts.

I think I agree! Why you ask?

Let’s start by looking at the sheer statistics (stats from Techcrunch, Technorati, comScore and FutureBuzz):

• 133,000,000 – number of blogs indexed by Technorati since 2002
• 346,000,000 – number of people globally who read blogs
• 900,000 – average number of blog posts in a 24 hour period
• 1,750,000 – number of RSS subscribers to TechCrunch, the most popular Technology blog (January 2009)
• 77% - percentage of active Internet users who read blogs
• 81 - number of languages represented in the blogosphere
• 59% – percentage of bloggers who have been blogging for at least 2 years

Need more convincing? Let’s look at the State of the Blogosphere and who these bloggers really are:

• Two-thirds are male
• 60% are 18-44
• The majority are more affluent and educated than the general population
• 75% have college degrees
• 40% have graduate degrees
• One in three has an annual household income of $75K+
• One in four has an annual household income of $100K+
• More than half are married
• More than half are parents

If all the facts aren’t working for you, let’s look at facebook and twitter for a minute. Think about tweets, status updates and timelines…how many links do you see on a daily basis? How many of those sites are run on a blog platform? If you said “almost all”, you’re right. It is rare to see links to “websites” any longer, even if you are referring someone to a product, you tend to send them articles (blogs) vs static sites (websites).

But, it’s not just the sheer volume of blogs anymore, it’s the volume of the voices. People blog about products, whether they like them or not. For example, when the new iPad hit last week, there were articles everywhere about it…and the majority of those articles were written on blogs! Who does the iPad need to impress? Those bloggers! What about something non techie, like a new food item? Doesn’t need to worry about bloggers right? Wrong. According to Technorati, there are over 33,000 blogs dedicated to just food (and the statistics are the same for almost all genres). Bloggers are the new journalists. They can write from anywhere, say (almost) anything about you, and are easily accessible. And if the blogger is popular? Their blogs can often outrank the “normal” articles on any given topic!

But of course, this is just what I see.

What do you think? Are bloggers running the world?

I often have topics I think I should cover, but sometimes I like to relinquish control and give it to my readers instead. So, last week, I asked my friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter to share some topics they would like to see me cover on my site. I got some incredible ideas, and this first post is courtesy of @healthOC! She asked me to share how the market has affected my business, and others in my industry.

To start, if you are a new reader to this blog, you probably wondered how my business actually got started. Well, my business is actually a product of the horrible economy. In early 2009, I was working for a company as their marketing manager, overseeing 4 different smaller businesses. Wright Creativity was just a blog, I shared my ideas and business creativity. I had a few people I had helped with blog management, but it was very small, and my prices were very low. I was doing it more for fun than for business. But then, the economy hit the company I was with, and I was looking down the barrel of unemployment. It was that point that I decided I no longer was happy working for others and took the *huge* leap to become my own boss. Because I was a small business, just starting, my pricing was much lower than those who were set in the industry. I worked like crazy, and made every single minute count. This hard work and lower pricing helped me to get clients who needed help but couldn’t afford the big firms with the market problems. In addition to keeping me busy in the beginning, it allowed me to build a strong portfolio, great referrals and so now, when the market has started turning around, I am able to bring my pricing up to market level and still have all the clients I need. The economy downturn turned my blog into a business. I am thankful every day that the market took a downturn, and am hoping every day that it continues to go back up!

As far as other companies, I have chatted with quite a few people about the economy, and there seems to be two responses. Those who are active in social media, blogging and participate with their community are still finding success in their industry. They were able to take on smaller projects to subsidize their income from the big clients lowering the amount of help they needed. They could find new clients less expensively, and could create a network of referrals. The other group? Those who are sticking with traditional marketing on the other hand, seem to be struggling a bit more to keep themselves busy. These are the companies that only take on the large projects, and the ones that are feeling the heat when the large corporates cut their marketing budgets to almost nothing. I think that everyone can do well even if the economy is down, it just requires changing the way you work to fit the way that others need you. People need small help, and companies who can take on the small work will be better off in the end. If you can be there now, they will call on you when they can afford large projects.

What do you do?

When someone asks that question to most people, the response is simple: they do what they are paid to do…their J-O-B. But, for a small group of people, what they do and what they get paid to do are two very different things. A growing trend has formed, people who have a day job that pays their bills, and a secondary job, one that they are passionate about but doesn’t make them much (or any) money.

The following 3 women all have real jobs, they all work very hard in their companies but all have a passion for something else. They want to do something bigger than just work in an office…

In order to learn more about them, and what they do vs what they are paid for, I interviewed each one. Below are their answers, straight from them, about what they do, why they do it and what they hope for in the future…

Kristin Ausk, Meringue Bakeshop

1. When did you first realize that you loved to bake? I was going through some really stressful times 5 years ago. I’d just gotten married, moved to a new city away from all my friends and family, changed jobs, bought a house, became a landlord, and I was becoming overwhelmed by it all. I found that baking gave me an opportunity to forget my stresses and just be in the moment while I was mixing and testing and tasting recipes. It helped relieve some of my stress and I felt really relaxed and comfortable in the kitchen. And the best part was being able to share my creations with others. I loved the way it made me feel to make someone happy even for just a moment.
2. When did you decide to turn it into a business? I decided to turn it into a business when I started getting asked by coworkers, friends and family if I could bake them cupcakes and cakes for their personal events. I started to get more serious about my baking – recipe testing, learning more about the chemistry of the ingredients, started to look at what I was doing from a business perspective. I also really enjoyed knowing that my little creations were helping to make someones day even more special.
3. What has been the biggest frustration with your business? The biggest frustration hands down has to be finding a county approved commercial kitchen to use that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Los Angeles has a great program called Chef’s Kitchens were small businesses can rent out kitchens based on their needs -hourly, weekly or monthly. I found that there is nothing like that in Orange County. It’s a shame too because I get so many emails from other people like me in Orange County wanting to move their home kitchen hobby into an official business. Candy, cake pops, cakes, homemade jams, salsas, snack mixes. All this opportunity for new small food businesses in Orange County (and nationally really if you consider online food sales) and we can’t find a space to make our businesses grow.
4. What is the biggest accomplishment? Hmm…. can I say it hasn’t happened yet? I recently decided to participate in the LA Cupcake Challenge, Feb 20 at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. It’s a daunting task but I think it will be really fun and a great opportunity for me and my business. I will be competing against some other great cupcake bakeries and other smaller custom cupcakeries from Orange County and LA County. They are expecting to get over 550 attendees with media from OC Register, Orange Coast Magazine, OC Weekly, LA Weekly, LA Times, Metromix, LA.com, Eater LA, Foodbuzz, Flavorpill, Gayot, about two dozen food bloggers and possibly KTLA. I think it is going to be a real challenge for me to pull this off but well worth it in the end. Definitely using some of my vacation days for this one! If I can pull this off, that will definitely be my biggest accomplishment to date.
5. What do you do IRL, and when can you imagine doing this more full time? My day job consists of me sitting at a computer in an office working on SEO, SEM, our company websites (4), doing research, and email marketing for my company and our franchises. I am a Marketing Manager. In a perfect world, I’d be able to run Meringue Bake Shop full-time within the next year but in reality, that isn’t going to happen. My current job is just too lucrative for me to give up at this time, in this economy. I’d love to be able to work par- time so that I could participate in local farmers markets but again, not going to happen. Do I think I would succeed as a store front? Yes, definitely. But I don’t have the financial backing that I would need to make that dream into a reality right now.
6. What else can you tell us about Meringue Bakeshop? I know that there is a lot of buzz out there about cupcakes and how it’s just a fade. And quite a few people open up shops just because, it’s the latest trend. I am not that person. I truly love baking, whether it’s cupcakes, cookies, cakes, muffins, bars, biscotti, pies, etc. I like working with my hands, the sound of the mixer, the smell of the ingredients. I strive to make Meringue Bake Shop that place you come to for all the great moments in your life – your graduation, your wedding, get that great client in your business, birthdays, your baby shower, then baby’s first birthday. That is what I love about baking the most – sharing these moments with you. When I open a store front, I want to be that neighborhood business, a business that is involved in the community and knows their customers. I know someday it will happen. That is why I chose to name by business Bake Shop, which I know can be confusing for some people because I don’t have a store front. But I am a forward thinker see?

B the Gossip Girl

1. Why did you decide to start the site? I hadn’t been able to find a site that supported community amongst women, while still embracing the feminine. I wanted a site where women could go to detox and let their hair down a little bit. That’s what Gossip Girl B offers, a place where no topic is off limits. Gossip Girl B provide an environment where women can have fun, laugh, while supporting each other. So often I think women forget we are on the same team, we are always competing with one another. Gossip Girl B provides the best girl talk you will find online, you can compare it to having drinks or coffee with your best gal pals.
2. What has been the most powerful article you have written? I have a section called on my mind and it’s my own personal soap box. I try not to stand on it too often, but it does happen from time to time. Hula Dancer Pilgrim Girl was an article that really got me to thinking. The woman I wrote the article about inspired me in a way that no one had in a long time. She made me stop an evaluate how serious we take our lives and how much fun we are really missing out on.
3. What about email you have received? E-mails can get pretty interesting. My favorites are the ones where I get asked out on dates. I get about 20 of those a week from people across the country. It’s sweet and I always reply with a very gracious, thanks but no thanks. I would say the “love letter” type e-mails have picked up since I started writing The Dating Diaries and everyone knows I’m back in the land of the singles. I do love to travel so who knows, maybe if I happen to be in the area of one of my “love letter” e-mails I will taken them up on their offer for dinner. Love in the blogosphere, now wouldn’t that make for a good article.
4. What do you do IRL, and when can you imagine doing this more full time? In real life, I’m a writer. It’s a little more cut and dry, press release and web content, stuff like that. It pays for my shoe fetish, but doesn’t really light that fire in my belly. I also just finished a novel that I’m wrapping up with edits. Fingers crossed I will be able to find and agent who believes in it as much as I do. Gossip Girl B however is where my heart is. It started out as a hobby and has grown into a passion. If my projections work out within the next year and a half the blog will be a more full time gig.
5. What else can you tell us about B the Gossip Girl? I’m simply a 25 year old woman with a dream and I want to get there in fabulous shoes. I drag my laptop and camera with me everywhere I go, but most of my writing is done from the comfort of my sofa with my long haired Chihuahua, Edward, on my lap. Everything to me is a potential blog or storyline, so it makes life even more interesting. Everyone in my life knows the disclaimer, if you are around me there is a very real chance you are going to get blogged about. I am who I am and I never make apologies for that, and that’s the exact philosophy I want my readers to have. I live my life, I make mistakes, and I keep learning every single day. If at the end of the day while I’m lying in bed I can say I learned something or I’m a better person, then the days events no matter how hard were worth it.

Trish Forant, eMailourMiliatary

1. Why did you decide to start eMailOurMilitary? I was working a mundane job in IT and 9/11 made me take a hard look at myself and ask “what difference am I making in the world?” “What legacy would I leave behind if I died today?” “Who have I REALLY helped?” I wanted to do something to help after 9/11 but like many people I had to work full-time so flying to NY and volunteering wasn’t an option. When I heard the DoD canceled the “Any Service Member” mail program due to force protection concerns, I knew I could step in and fill the void. It was perfect for anyone who wanted to more but couldn’t spend hours volunteering.
2. What has been the most powerful thing you have seen happen because of the site? The building of a community that doesn’t take party affiliation, race, religion, nationality or logistics into account. I’ve seen our community band together to help wounded warriors, veterans in need, and active duty military far from home.
3. What has been the toughest thing about this site/passion? Disconnecting can be really tough. My heart breaks each time I see the statistics on how many of our service members aren’t making it home or are coming home physically and mentally wounded for life.
4. What do you do IRL, and can you imagine making a profit from eMailOurMilitary? I don’t know what the future holds financially for eMail Our Military but I haven’t taken a paycheck in 9 years so I’m sure I would start now. When I’m not in the eMOM office I’m working my social media mojo as a social media consultant and of course, I’m a full-time mom to a 4 and 5 year old. (I also have one totally cool 20 year old too!)
5. What else can you tell us about eMailOurMilitary? eMail Our Military makes it easy for anyone who wants to support the troops to do so from the comfort of their computer chair. We’re always looking for service members who are in need of support and civilians to support them.

I want to say a big thank you to these women for their time and answers! After talking with each of them and learning more about what they do, I learned something very important – if you love something enough, a paycheck doesn’t matter as much…

Do you do something for the pure passion? Share your story in the comments as well!

Here are a few that caught mine:

One of my favorite social media tools (Facebook) is combining with my all-time favorite computer/video game (Civilization)…and starting in 2010, I will never be productive again. (Sid Meier bringing Civilization to Facebook)

Twitter search + Google + Bing = All the possible answers in 1 place? (Bing and Google integrate Twitter Search)

Hubspot takes some time to explain the 7 most important factors to think about if you are going to start a business blog (Hubspot Business Blog)

After the 20th Halloween Horror episode, I didn’t think I could love the Simpson’s anymore than I already do…(Reader’s favorite Simpson’s Lines)

Copyblogger says that content is dead. Crap*. (Why content is no longer king)

Imagining waking up tomorrow and not having the Internet is a very scary thing. But also a little funny. (Life tomorrow if the internet ended today)

At least now I know I am not the only one who absolutely loves McDonald’s fries! (McDonald’s most popular food)

Any articles I missed this week that I should check out?

*Just to clarify in case you are confused after reading the article…I was being sarcastic about content being dead. Content is still alive and well*

It has been an absolutely insane day. Great in every way possible – lunch in Redondo Beach with Simon Salt and Tessa McNabb of IncSlinger, 2 new projects confirmed via email and plans coming together for my workshop in October – but no matter how good it was, there was definitely not enough time in it to get everything done. Twitter, this blog post and most of my phone calls and emails have been ignored until just this moment.

After finally finishing the design for a new site, I decided to take a brief brain break and get writing for my post today. I stopped by tweetdeck first to see if there were any important replies needed, and noticed a tweet from Ed Schipul (the brilliant owner of Schipul Web Marketing that I had the opportunity to meet last year) floating through my stream:

I paused. Re-read it, took a deep breath and couldn’t help but smile. While I know Ed meant it to be a frustrated, need-to-have-a-drink type tweet, I couldn’t help but smile.

Know why I was smiling?

Because no one has it easy, even awesome business owners like Ed, have rough days. But what separates him from the ‘average joe’ is the fact that tomorrow, he will keep going for that finish line. Even if again he doesn’t quite make it, he will keep going.

And that is why this tweet, from this person, makes me smile.