Debra Kasowski

3 Must Haves to Have on Your Website

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Courtesy Stockimages/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy Stockimages/freedigitalphotos.net

In the digital world in which we live, it is very rare to find someone with a business without some form of online presence like a website. If you do not have one, may I suggest your consider starting one. There are many websites and hosting programs that could get you started in a couple hours. One of the easy ways to get a site up and running is by starting a blog either through Word press which I recommend or Blogger. There are others like Tumblr, Typepad, or Live Journal but I am not as familiar with them.

Now if you are looking to have an impact in the marketplace, there are are a few must have items. Think about the way people learn information. Some learn visual and some by audio – why not use both? You may not agree with all the suggestions but I have noticed these suggestions to be great must haves for your site to get noticed and remembered.

  1. Welcome Video – Let people get to know about you and your business  What do you do? What do you want them to do when they get to your site? Why should they take a look around? Do you have a call to action so they can join your list to receive more valuable information from you? Some people will watch the video and some will read what is written. The video allows for a one on one connection. They get to know you – it creates the first impression.
  2. Contact Information – Remember people do not always come to your site from the “Home Page” or what I like to call the “front door”. Do you have a physical location? How can they contact you?
  3. Call to Action – How do you get them to come back to your website? How do you let them know that you are here to give VALUE and OFFER them an opportunity to continue a connection with you well beyond a meeting or sale? Can they follow you on social media? What will you give the visitor for sharing their information with you that is of value?

These must haves will help you stand out from the crowd.  I am not sure if you noticed some keywords in business in regards to the must-haves. They have to do with nurturing relationships, educating, and providing value.   Inspiration is always an added bonus! Create a connection that lasts beyond a handshake, smile, or meeting. Be memorable and people will come back for more.

What do you think must be on a website to make you come back for more?

Power Shifting Your Blog: What Can You Do with a Blog Content Anyway?

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Blogs add so much value to the marketplace and for the solopreneur there are many ways in which you can repurpose the content you create. The blog is your outlet to create and innovate. Travel to new frontiers!

What can you do with your blog content? Here are 15 ways!

  1. Use content to revamp and create articles which you submit to www.ezinearticles.com or other article marketing sites
  2. Use the content to revamp and create special report, ebook or a book
  3. Take out great statements (yes, your quotes) that you made to “Tweet” or share on Facebook.
  4. Gather comments together for future editions or create a new article based on feedback.
  5. Put those statements on pictures you have taken – maybe even create a slide show
  6. Send links from your blog on a topic that might interest your prospects or customers.
  7. Create a postcard with a qr code from your blog.
  8. Design a worksheet or a checklist.
  9. Create a teleseminar on your topic of interest.
  10. Make video about the topic in your blog.
  11. Become a guest on someone else’s blog! 
  12. Email in your newsletter
  13. Create a podcast on iTunes.
  14. Create a product – CD of your blogging material.
  15. Share blog topic with a potential customer. “You know I recently wrote a blog about that very topic.” Timely!

Why work harder, when you can work smarter and achieve great things! There are many more ways to repurpose your blog. Keep things fresh by revamping and creating content that grabs your readers attention – new titles, extra points, examples, expand a bit more on a topics, or create one topic from one of the bullet points.

I would love to hear how you repurpose your blog content! Be Sociable and Share!!!

If at First You Do Not Succeed, Believe!

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Have you ever had the burning feeling in your gut that you are here for a greater purpose? Have you made mistakes but have course corrected? Have you learned from your mistakes? If you have said, “YES!” to any of the previous questions you are on your way to success. First, you are must not give up on something you know you are here to do. Secondly, if you have course corrected to get back on track you have an awareness of what works and want doesn’t work – you have an instinct. Finally, you have learned from the greatest lessons – your mistakes. Your experiences teach you the most about what you have to know about survival. The trial and error, the risk taking, and the due diligence before taking action all have brought you to this point. However, the number 1 secret to a person’s success is their ability to believe in what they do and what they offer.

Believe You Will Succeed!

You can try, yes try,- to sell someone something you don’t believe in – this is called “push sales”, “I am in this the money and not for your interest.” If you would not give the same advice or sell something to your family and friends, why would you try to sell it to others? You must be in alignment with your personal values and what is important to you in order to have fulfillment and succeed. 

  1. Develop your confidence and competence by learning all the benefits of what your product or service does for others.
  2. Set goals that you can achieve. Convince yourself – “I can do this!”
  3. Gather testimonials from people who have tried or used your products or services.
  4. Continue evaluate, take action, and repeat until you get the results that you want.
  5. Ask for feedback from others. Course Correct!
  6. Tap into your intuition and knowing that you are here to change the world – BELIEVE!
  7. Manage your fears. Use the energy you feel to make decisions.
  8. Always give your best!
  9. Celebrate your successes or WINS!
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are not.” Anonymous

When you believe you can achieve great things, you will. You need to shift your mindset and believe in your talents and abilities. Opportunities do not show up for no reason! 

Can You STAND Still, Up, and Out in Your Business?

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There are times when I feel like I am running a marathon and other times I feel like I am standing still even though many things are getting done because I delegated them. Continuous consistent movement is the key in business. You can STAND:

STILL: You should always have some reflection throughout your day, your week, and your month. Take 10-15 minutes to sit in silence and even journal to clear your head of all the brainstorming that is cluttering your mind. Ideas need to be transcribed onto paper otherwise they may remain as ideas and “Poof! They are gone.” You either forgot about them or someone else followed through on the same idea. Think about some of your upcoming decisions or about the one thing you can execute that day that would make a difference in your business or your life. You can stand still for short periods of time but you must move forward – you must take action!

“Playing safe is probably the most unsafe thing in the world. You cannot stand still.

You must go forward.” – Robert Collier

UP: Not only must you stand up but you must show up the way you wished to be viewed by the world. Think about how you dress, how you speak, and how you carry yourself. How do you want to be viewed by others? What would you like them to say about you to others? Ensure that you live what you want to hear. Would you do business with you?

The other way you “Stand Up” in the world is that you stand up for what you believe in and live with integrity. It is about doing the right thing especially when in matters most. There will be temptations, obstacles, and other challenges that appear as tests. Do the right thing.

OUT: Above all to get known in business, you want to be authentic! Stand out by bringing YOU to the world. You are unique. Position yourself as serving others in a different way. There may be many marketers out there in the world but “What makes you different than everyone else?” Why do your current customers choose you? Put those reasons in your marketing. You are YOUR brand so stand out!

 List the unique qualities you bring to your business and your customers. 

What can you learn about yourself and the things you need to do in your business by standing still? What do you stand up for? How you can stand out? – Be the change in the world!

 

Good Gossip – Be Known, Be Remembered, and Be Talked About

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Do you believe in moments of serendipity? Do you believe in the law of attraction? Do you believe that gestures of kindness go a long way in becoming known, remembered and even talked about? I want to share with you the tale of two purses. A couple months ago I was visiting my sister and her family. We were walking along a rocky beach when my purse strap snapped and my purse dropped to the ground. I looked around for a purse for several weeks and started to get a bit frustrated because I could not find one I liked.

One day a friend of mine handed me a gift bag and there inside it was a beautiful handmade straw woven purse from the Philippines. He and his wife were on vacation and they picked up this purse thinking of me. He did not even know I was looking for a purse. Wow! Talk about timing. I felt very blessed.

Fast forward a couple weeks another gift arrived, when I was at Marcia Wieder’s Become An Inspiring Speaker program, I met the most incredible vibrant woman. She was dressed to the nines and had a pin that said “Irresistible”. I fell in love with her energy and beautiful spirit. This fabulous woman is Lethia Owens of Live Your Brand. She truly lives her brand. She is classy stylish and graceful. I particularly loved her purse and complimented her on it. Lethia stated, “I will send you one.” Perhaps because we talked for only a few minutes here and there, I did not think that this woman I had just met would actually send me the purse.

Stylin' Purse

It was like Christmas! Everywhere I go people are saying,” What a beautiful purse you have!” I go on to tell them about this incredible woman who is true to her word and LIVES her brand. A lady at the pharmacy said, “You know there are very few people who would have followed through when only meeting for a short time.” Now I get to share a piece of her every day in my conversations. She made a difference in my life. I feel like we connected as if we had known each other for years and it was a reunion, however, I sense it is only the beginning.

What lesson is there to be learned about being known and remembered:

  • Be true to your word.
  • Share your energy and spirit in all you do.
  • Be passionate about serving others
  • Set yourself apart by doing something different. (Send someone a gift, give them a book, or do something special.)
  • Be true to yourself – You Are Your Brand so Live It!
  • Be Irresistible

You do not need to spend money to make a difference in a person’s life to make them feel valued and appreciated. All you need to do is pay attention to what resonates in your hear and act on it. An act of kindness ripples to many others in the world and may even change someone’s perspective of the world. “Everything you do matters.” This blog post is dedicated to all of you who make a difference, especially Lethia Owens.