Kathy Mallary | Coaching Biz Tips

Weekly Roundup

For all of you coach-bloggers (and wannabe-bloggers) out there: This week's roundup is like a family-sized bucket of extra crispy, finger-lickin'-good bloggen (my lame attempt at making blogging sound like chicken). 

Anyway, here are ten of the tastiest nuggets I found while out surfing the great buffet table of the Internet this week. (OK, OK -- that's the last of the bad food metaphors for today!)

Are You Blogging With Confident Feet?

The Obvious Secret to Never Running Out of Post Ideas

How to Launch a Blog Network

Using MindMaps: 5 Steps to Letting Your Blog Posts Write Themselves

Blogger Law 101

Why an Editorial Calendar Can Improve Your Blog

Why I Use a Desktop Blog Editor

41 Reasons Why Your Blog Probably Sucks

Blogging Toolbox: 120+ Resources for Bloggers

8 Ways of Creating Compelling Blog Post Titles

PLUS: You can't eat a whole bucket of chicken without a side vegetable! (sorry, couldn't resist sneaking just one more metaphor in...)

Green Living Toolbox: 80+ Green Sites

 

Does Googlebation lead to blindness?

Ok, I admit it, the title for this post was a shameless bid for a shocked giggle. You'll have to cut me some slack; I'm feeling a little punchy after doing a surprise marathon overhaul of my website this weekend.

(I really wasn't planning to spend the whole weekend doing that; it just sort of happened. One thing lead to another and before I could say "Holy extreme makeover, Batman," it was late Sunday night and I'd changed every single page on the site. You know how that goes...)

But back to the point of this post: I suspect it's true: If you spend too much time Googling yourself, you could in fact go blind, especially if you're staring at a laptop screen that's just a teeny bit too far away, like I am.

That's why I set up some Google Alerts on certain keywords and phrases, including 'Inspired Market-her'.

(Before you label me narcissistic, read why I advise my clients to set up Google Alerts on themselves.)

So now instead of squinting at the Google search page to look myself up, I spend quite a bit of time squinting at emails from Google, telling me who's linking to and/or talking about me on the World Wide Web.

Which is how I discovered that The Inspired Market-her's blog made it onto The Woman Entrepreneur's Toolbox: 100 Network Resources, Guides and Links.

And I have to say, this is very cool, to be included in this list. Aside from all the terrific resources and links, which I can't wait to go squint at, I'm in great company--some of my favorite blogs are also on the list, like Escape from Cubicle Nation,  StartUp Princess, and Passion Meets Purpose.

Big THANKS to Rich at Bootstrapper Blog for the mention! Now I'm off to squint at all the juicy resources...

I do some of my best blogging on other people's forums

There's a really neat thread on blogging going on over at  private discussion forum at Mark Silver's HeartofBusiness.com (contact Mark directly for info on how to join the forum and get the secret handshake, etc.; you can also find some excellent articles at Mark's blog)

Anyway, someone mentioned that they were feeling kind of stuck about what to do with their blog; they already had a newsletter and were writing articles for directories, and they didn't know how to make sure the blog would add something new to the mix.

My response seemed to strike a chord for a few folks in the forum, so I thought I'd better share it with my own subscribers! Here it is:

I hear what you're saying about wanting to provide value to people, and not wanting your blog to be redundant.

But keep in mind that blogs and newsletters (and publishing articles via directories, etc.) each have their own particular benefits or objectives, and they aren't exactly the same.

Don't be afraid to recycle content between your blog and newsletter. Some folks need to see something several times before it sinks in; or maybe they didn't even see it in the newsletter but then read it on your blog (or vice verse). You can also re-purpose an article, rather than recycling it; shift the emphasis or turn a long article into a list of tips, etc.

Re your question about what to do with your blog -- maybe another way to ask it is, what would you like your blog to do for you? Here are some ideas for what a blog can do:

• Help you grow your list (be sure to add a subscription box)
• Improve your search engine results (you'll need to encourage trackbacks, comments and links, plus post new material frequently)
• Build trust and credibility with your target market (keep posting like you're already doing)
• Help you write a book or ebook (create a category for each chapter and then transfer your content over to a Word document when you're ready to publish)
• Help you build your brand (give your customers a taste of what it's like to work with you one-on-one by featuring case studies and client scenarios)
• Position you as an expert in your niche (make sure you write with authority and offer your readers lots of resources and links; do the Googling for them)
• Create a community around your business (again, encourage comments and subscriptions and create a safe environment for people to share their thoughts and questions)

What's your blog done for YOU lately?

Tagged--again!

I knew she'd get me back sooner or later. Chris Owen from Pink Apple Connections has tapped me in a new game of blog tag. (I tagged her a while ago.)

This one was started by Aaron Potts (and BTW, finding his blog, which I'd never read before, is an added bonus definitely worth being tagged for). Aaron started an "interactive research project" called Simply Successful Secrets. The idea is for people to share a list of things they do every day that helps them be successful.

And, since it's a game of tag, after revealing your keys to success, you're supposed to tag some of your bloggy friends to get them to join in and tag THEIR bloggy friends.

Well, I'm kind of curious to see what sort of stuff successful people are up to from one day to the next, so this sounds like a fun game. Here goes:

1. I go to bed late and get up early. I know, it doesn't sound like that would be very successful, but it works for me.

2. I try to spend at least 15-30 minutes each morning in Remembrance, which is a Sufi spiritual practice.  It helps me get centered in my heart before I jump into the day. Lately I've been listening to Adam Kayce's Inner Audio Series, which is based on Remembrance.

3. Each morning, I write out on an index card a short list of things I want to accomplish and list of things I'd like God's help with. Then at the end of the day I write down all the things I'm grateful for on the back of the card. Going through the cards at the end of the week is amazing. Things just seem to work out brilliantly when I pay attention in this way. 

4. I DON'T let Outlook automatically check for messages for me. I manually retrieve my messages from the server. This has been a HUGE help -- instead of being constantly distracted by new mail popping up unexpectedly, I feel like I actually have control over my inbox.

5. I DO empty my Junk folder every time I check for messages. Keeping an empty Junk folder makes it easier to rescue legitimate emails that mysteriously get flagged as spam.

6. I spend at least an hour on market research every day (i.e., surfing, reading blogs, contributing in forums where my clients hang out, etc.). In fact, I'm waaaaay more consistent with my market research than I am about getting outside for a walk! (I think I'm developing carpal surfer's butt)

7. I make a point of taking a break when my son gets home from school just to connect and chat with him. Well, maybe 'chat' is too strong. He's seventeen, so sometimes we just mumble, stretch and scratch. Quality time w/mom!

8. Before each client call, I take just a moment to get centered and do a little Remembrance. Sometimes during a coaching call I do this, too. It's like turning the knob on the radio to get better reception!

9. I listen to music while I work -- everything from Mozart to the Blind Boys from Alabama to Pink.

10. I make a point of taking a break to watch either Oprah or Judge Judy (usually not both on the same day!). Oprah to remind myself to dream big and dig deep; Judge Judy to keep me humble.

OK, so those are the keys to my success. Now I would like to hear from:

• Mona Grayson - Question The Mind
• Michele Corey - Knee Deep
• Patricia Klingler - ReMarkable Women Speak

(I just realized that there are a whole slew of folks I'd like to add to the list -- but none of them have a blog! Hmmmm...)

Tagged out of a sound sleep

Tag, you're IT!

There I was, curled up with my nose between my paws, happily hibernating on top of my blog(s) and deliciously dreaming of many tall, dark, hunky men feeding me many tall, dark hunky chunks of chocolate, when all of a sudden a flaming arrow landed with a sooty thud next to my ear.

Apparently I've been 'tagged' by Chris Owen over at the Pink Apple Connections blog.

Blogs vs. newsletters

I've been noticing the 'blog vs. newsletter' debate lately. Should you have a newsletter AND a blog? If you do, do you need to create separate content for each?