The Wordy W.A.H.M

What's next on your list?

2009-04-06T13:28:00.001-07:00

If you're not learning something new, then you are in Neutral. It's good to go in neutral every once in a while and give your mind time to process new information and apply it to your life. However, it's not good to sit in neutral for very long. I like to take one or two days off per week and just process. I usually don't read or get on the computer for at least one day per week.

The other 5 or 6 days of the week, I am constantly learning and applying my new found knowledge to my life. The "applying" part of the equation also applies to learning, because if you pay attention to what you are applying to your life and how it effects your life, you will learn what does and doesn't work in your lifestyle.

So, I always keep a list of things that I need to read next handy. Right now, I've got three lists.

1. Books to read next

2. Audio tapes or CDs to listen to next (or again)

3. E-books or Magazines to read

All of these lists have several items within each topic. The list never gets smaller either. The more I read on the list, the more my knowledge and mind are opened to new books or ventures. Life is always an adventure when you are learning something new. So keep reading, learning and growing and life will never get boring. Plus, you will become a better person because of it!

Here's a taste of my current list:

Books:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

The Art of Exceptional Living

Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition; Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Audio tapes or cds:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Foundational Principles

There are a few to get you started!

{Creative Advertising}

2009-03-30T13:26:00.001-07:00

It's easy to draw attention to your business when you've got your business name on a piece of candy! This is one of the coolest advertising techniques I've seen in a while.

You just put your company information on the candy! And just think about all the word of mouth advertising you'll get for being one of the first to do this.

Do you have a wedding coming up? Put your picture and date on the M&Ms.

Got a new baby in the family? Or how about a baby shower. Wouldn't it be so cute to put a picture of the ultrasound on the M&M and then the shower date on another?? The possibilities are endless!

So jump on it and get your name out there.

{Are you a shameless self promoter?}

2009-03-26T15:05:00.001-07:00

If you think that eventually your business will get discovered and everyone will want what you are selling, you are in for a rude awakening. There are millions new businesses out there and they all hope to find the key to success, reach the top of the status ladder, and make millions of dollars selling their product. So what do you do when there are so many other businesses competing for the same customers?

Find your niche and...........Promote, promote, promote!

Diligently and consistently keep bringing new and potential customers to your business. Find ways to remind current customers and business associates that you are there. In such a lucrative market, if you aren't reminding them, chances are they will forget you. It's nothing to feel bad about, it's not personal. It just goes back to the swarms of competition that's out there and the consumer will usually pick the one that they have most recently used or have seen advertisement for.

Success is never by accident and there is no magic solution or potion. It all comes down to planning, hard work, smart work and tireless promoting.

How can you promote yourself? The Internet is a great tool for self promotion, and there are many ways to promote on a budget. There are the social networking sites that I referred to in recent posts. There are groups, teams, and industry specific social platforms. Link share, banner exchange, and paid advertising are options. Sales, or any kind of contest are great promotional tools. Collaborations with fellow business associates are a great way to increase exposure too. Oh and product testing sites can be a great way to get your product out there.

So get out there and promote!

Now that you're blogging.......

2009-03-06T10:15:00.001-08:00

Is anyone reading your blog? Well how would you know if they were?

I've got answers to your questions! There are a few things that are vital if you want to keep track of your blog traffic.

1. Get a stat counter for your blog

2. Sign up for Google Alerts

3. Add a "follower" gadget to your sidebar

4. Google Analytics

5. That cool site I mentioned yesterday too!

So there you go. Now you can see if anyone is reading your blog.

I know you are reading mine, I can see youuuuu lurking quietly. Go ahead and follow me, I know you want to. Just click follow over there in the sidebar. Then you can easily stay updated on my new posts!

Are your ears burning?

2009-03-05T16:20:00.001-08:00

Want to find out who's talking about you? Check out this cool site I just found

http://readwire.com/

and you can see who is linking back to your blog from their's

http://readwire.com/link/

Still not sure what that site does? Basically, it tells you every (or most) blog out there who has your blog linked on their blog or any blog that has the content that you search.

Cool huh?

So if your name is Jamie Sanders, then you could type in "Jamie Sanders" in the search bar and it will list any blogs that have your name listed in there. Now you're thinking it's cool huh?

Just go and type in your business name and see if someone is blogging about you:)

Are you blogging yet?

2009-02-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

Since you're reading this blog, you obviously know how blogging can bring many people together to accomplish the same thing.

This blog in particular was brought about to help my fellow associates who were making their way into the Internet world with their business and needed some help with that transition. In the process, I realized that there are so many people out there who are trying to do the same thing. And so this blog was born.

A place where many people from all walks of life, can come here and get some friendly help getting their business up and running on the Internet. Or can learn of options to get a business of their own going.

So what are you waiting for? Get started blogging!

You can bring your current customers to your blog. They can refer their friends to your blog. You can get potential customers coming back to your blog over and over and sending their friends. Pretty soon, you're a rock star! You could have a huge following before you know it. I look at blogging as a tool for putting the best advertising to use. Word Of Mouth, it's the best, most efficient, and most cost effective way that I can think of to advertise. No overhead. Your customers tell a friend, they tell a friend, and so on. You didn't spend a dime.

Blogging can help you in giving those customers and potential customers a way to find you and get to know you without spending a lot on a website. The time invested is very minimal too and you don't have to be a computer wiz to update your blog.

You might want to invest some time into your blog in the beginning, just to get it set up right and looking great. You want to put your best face forward, because that is how people will remember you. If you're stumped on setting up your blog, there are many professionals who can do it for you. There are also a lot of resources on the web that you can read and research to learn how to do it on your own.

The basics are:

*Set up your blog (there are free blogs and blogs that cost a minimal amount. Blogger is free)

*Customize your blog to fit you (blogger will walk you through these simple steps. If you have some computer experience, you should have no problem with it.)

*Start posting blog entries

The more you blog, the more people will follow your blog. A stagnant blog is boring, so change it up often and keep it fresh. If you want to keep the same thing on your blog at all times and not change it, make sure it is fresh, interesting, and will keep people coming back. Otherwise, your blog will go stagnant and people will stop visiting.

So get on there and write something!

If you're using Blogger, here is a helpful link to get some knowledge

http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=112498&topic=12470

Got questions? email me: wordywahm@live.com

More Free Advertising

2009-02-26T16:06:00.001-08:00

I told you about the Wahms and Wahds top 100 list already, but if you are a Networker, then here's a list that is perfect for you.

Like I said, advertising is free!

Need a banner? You can find some here.

{Internet Acronyms}

2009-02-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what LOL means, or how about AAMOF ?

If Internet Acronyms have got you stumped, check out this complete list! There are many I have never even heard of.

Click Here

{Internet Etiquette}

2009-02-19T14:24:00.001-08:00

Just a little note on Internet etiquette. Often times, when people are on their computer and they don't have to see people face to face, they are much more free with their words than they would be in a room full of people. There tends to be less shy people, and many more people who would be glad to put their two cents in.

That's good to a point, but don't forget your manners and remember that whatever you put out there, could be there FOREVER and ANYONE can see it.

15 tips for good Internet etiquette

1. As your mother would say, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"

2. Don't say something you wouldn't want to be remember by. Whatever you write will be there for the whole world to see.

3. Once you hit send, that's it. It's gone. So make sure it's what you really want to say and it's going to the right person.

4. You're better off not backbiting, because it bites back much quicker through email.

5. Spamming is NOT good business practice. So don't do it!

6. Don't just join a bunch of groups or networks and expect to be a millionaire. You need to associate in those groups and become a value to the group. Otherwise you are just another advertiser who will get ignored or removed from the group. PARTICIPATE!

7. Think before you post in any social network site. Most times, you can't erase what you typed.

8. No Flaming!

9. Be nice.

10. Don't infringe on copyright protections. ex: Don't use photos without permission from owner, don't copy and past content from another site unless you have permission from site owner.

11. Don't jump to conclusions. Often times, it's hard to judge a persons intentions on the Internet and what can be completely innocent from one person, could be perceived completely wrong by another. So stop, step back, and take time to process it before reacting to anything that may come across as offensive.

12. Don't make promises you can't keep

13. You will be held accountable for whatever you put out there.

14. Don't make false claims you can't back up.

15. Don't participate in any kind of slander

Sorry if they are a little redundant. Basically, if you wouldn't do something in your day to day life, you probably shouldn't be doing it online either. And remember that every person on the other end, reading what you write, is a person too. They have a life, a family, feelings, dreams, and aspirations just like you. So treat them with the respect you would want to be treated with.

PS. I attached some of the words to links with definitions for you. If you are unsure of a word, click on the link and read what it means.

{Inviting them over for tea}

2009-02-19T13:37:00.001-08:00

You wouldn't invite a complete stranger over for tea would you? I didn't think so. You would, however, invite a friend or an acquaintance over and of course you would love for them to bring a friend or two. The more the merrier, right?

So why do you think it's any different online? Sure, you don't actually have to serve them tea, but you will be serving them a "cup" of something, whatever you are offering on your website or blog and you want them to bring friends too.

The Internet has made it so easy for anyone to start a business, as I mentioned earlier, that there are millions and millions of people just like you and I that are trying to get people to notice their product, their website, their business. So much that there is constant advertising, spamming, emailing, newsletters, and so on. So how do you stand out from the rest and get noticed?

My first suggestion is to get to know your market. Do your research, find out what "type" of people are in your market. What "social status" category do they fall in? Then you need to start catering your advertisements and social networking to that market. If you are just spamming anywhere and everywhere, sending out unsolicited advertisements, or advertising wherever you can get a spot, then you are wasting your valuable time and money!

So stop wasting time and money and do your homework!

Make a list:

~ Who is your target market?

~ What age group do they fall in?

~ What social status are they likely to fall in?

~ What are their favorite pastimes or hobbies?

~ Who do they socialize with?

Now that you've got a grip on the type of customers you need to be bringing to your site, go out and get them!

How?

Well, make friends, of course. Start socializing, join some groups that fall into the category of your target market. Join a social network that specializes in your market. Start and maintain a blog that reflects your business. Follow other bloggers, who blog about things that fall into your target market. Leaving comments on blogs will drive readers to your blog, which will result in followers of your blog.

{Happy Valentine's Day}

2009-02-14T22:44:00.001-08:00

Free Advertising!

2009-02-13T12:22:00.001-08:00

Want some free advertising? If you answered yes, then you've come to the right place. I created a top 100 list for work at home moms and dads who have a website and you are invited to add your banner and link for free:)

Check it out here

Just click on the link that says "add your site here" and fill out the form. The banner size should be 490x100.

Got questions? email me wordywaham@live.com

{Feeling left behind?}

2009-02-13T11:28:00.001-08:00

I was talking to my mom the other day about her generation verses my generation and my kids' generation in such a technological world.

Her generation had to play major catch up and still are, just to get in on the game with technology. My generation grew up with it and it has become common sense. My kids' generation are hardwired for technology.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Well, I think you can, you just have to spend a little more time and effort helping them to understand it on a deeper level, so they can apply it. Remember, this isn't "common sense" to them, in fact, it's quite foreign to them. If they can learn to apply it to their lives and understand it on a deeper level, they are more likely to remember it. I grew up with computers and Internet, so I have had a fairly easy time catching on and applying it to my life, but as it progresses so fast, I find myself having to try much harder to keep up. I can only imagine what my parents and their generation are feeling, but hey, don't get discouraged if you fall in this category, there is much help on the Internet and I'm always trying to help if I can.

One of the main reasons I started this blog, was to communicate with many of my collegues who are struggling with taking their business online. So today I'm going to go off track a little from my last post and jump into a post about Social Networking. It's all the rave lately and if you're not in the know about Social Networking, then you are getting left behind.

There are so many Social Network sites out there, you could spend years getting on them all. So I won't even attempt to name them, but I will tell you what you can expect to get out of Social Networking.

~They are free! They usually have a webpage that you can customize to fit your business and your personality, and a blog that is linked to your page. All for free!

~Many are user friendly, little or no web design experience required to customize and maintain.

~Free or cheap advertising.

~Common ground to meet customers and business associates. You can socialize with people you already know, meet people you don't already know, and bring people who you never would have met to the network. Some might be customers, some could be business associates, and many will become friends.

~A lot of free information shared on social networks. You can really learn a lot if you want to.

~Cross promote

~Keep your customers and associates up to date

~Meet people across the globe and within your own area that you may never had been able to meet otherwise.

~Smaller groups formed to associate on a more personal level with fellow networkers.

So now that you know why you should be networking, do some research and find out where you fit in and join up. Spend some time customizing your page, maybe blog a little, get familiar with the platform the network is hosted on. You can join some groups that share your interests. If you see someone who interests you, mark them as a friend, read their blog and their pages. Socialize! That's the key:)

That's it for today. Got a specific question you need answered or something you want to learn here on my blog? Email me wordywahm@live.com

{Naming Your Business}

2009-02-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

So you know what you want to offer, you know who you want to offer it to, but what will you call yourself?

This is your first impression on a potential customer, you want it to stick in their mind and stick in a good way. Choose your name carefully, because it's there to stay. I never like to think about changing my business name, because of the potential loss of customers.

There is a lot of thought that goes into choosing a name for your business, so take some time and think about it.

Here are some excellent links because they say it much better than I would:
SBA-name your business
How to name your business

{Where do we start?}

2009-02-11T13:13:00.001-08:00

I've spent a couple days trying to decide where to start with this blog. I have so much that I want to tell you, but so little time.
I guess I will start at the beginning....

Are you considering taking your business online?
If you are, then you know or you have an idea of what the internet can offer you. We have so many opportunities to network and reach people online who share our interests, who we can learn from and help our business grow. People we may never have been able to reach if not for the internet. No matter where you're from, or what line you walk, you have just as much of an opportunity for success as the next person. All thanks to the power of the internet!

With that said...... I caution you, if you are new to this. For every opportunity we have to build our business, some scammer or unethical person has the same opportunity to trick us, convince us of the impossible, or just take advantage of our human nature to hope and trust. So keep your eyes open, listen to your "gut", and seek a second or third opinion before jumping into anything.

Ok, now that we've touched on some of the less appealing aspects of online business, let's go back to the fun stuff!

Do you have an idea of what kind of business you want to run online? This is the key starting point. If your answer was yes, then the you have to ask yourself truthfully. Will other people want what you offer? Whether it's an idea, a product, a system, or all of the afore mentioned, you've got to have a market. People need to want what you have. This is a hard question to ask yourself, because we never want to discourage ourselves, but we need to be truthful enough that we can see it for what it is. If you can't be honest with yourself, ask a friend what they think. Even ask a couple friends if you want.

Next, you need to decide what it is that you want to accomplish in your online business. Most likely, you will be selling something, so what is it that you are selling?

1. What are you selling?
a) are you selling tangible items?
b) are you selling information?
c) are you selling an opportunity?
d) are you selling a service?

2. Who is your target market?

3. How will you reach your market?
a) paid advertising? Where?
b) networking? Where?
c) blogging? Where?

These are just a couple questions you need to answer before starting your business online.

Here is an example of possible answers to give you an idea. The example is completely made up (no, I don't sell boats, nor do I know anything about boats) just to help familiarize you with the thought process I am trying to bring about. These aren't the only answers or resources to seek out for finding your market, they are just a couple that came to mind.

1. What are you selling? boats
a) are you selling tangible items? yes
b) are you selling information? no
c) are you selling an opportunity? no
d) are you selling a service? no

2. Who is your target market? boaters, families, retirees, men, etc

3. How will you reach your market?
a) paid advertising? yes Where? online advertisers like google
b) networking? yes Where? social networking sites like facebook
c) blogging? yes Where? Blogspot of course, (but that's not the only blog out there)

4. Where will you offer your products?
a) website? yes
b) selling platform? yes, maybe auction style or a store that is hosted by another company.
c) want ads? no

There are a lot of variations of this and a bunch of places to accomplish what you set out to do, but that is for a later post. So sit down with your pen and paper tonight and answer the questions. This will give a starting point for your online business.

{Introductions...........}

2009-02-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

I'm a work at home mom to five kids who make me laugh, cry, and drive me up the wall all at the same time.

I have never worked as hard in my entire life, as I do now with my kids and trying to make an extra buck while I do what is most important to me.... staying home with my kids. There is nothing more important to me than being here when my kids need me most as they grow into amazing little people.

I find my most creative times are at 3 am, when I would rather be sleeping. I will find myself awake, thinking of things I must write down, create, or photograph.

Oh, that's another obsession I have.... I love love love to photograph people, children, and nature. You will rarely see me without my camera and I will most likely post lots of pictures here for you to feast your eyes on:)

Well, that's a tiny spec of what is "ME". More later.

Thanks for joining me,

M