Posts Tagged ‘social media’
The Ultimate Resolution that Changes Everything
January 1st, 2009 | Author: ShelleyLieber
Are you tired of making lists: things to do, goals to make, promises to keep…? I am. It seems it never ends and there’s always another list to make. So, I decided to take a good, honest look at why I haven’t lost the weight, made the money or gone on the trip.
This is what I discovered. I’ve accomplished far more than I had thought, but there are still important milestones I’ve yet to reach. So, what is the difference between what I have accomplished and what I have not?
At first I thought is was a matter of belief. But I truly do know I can lose five pounds, make more money and go on a vacation, because I’ve done that all before. So I looked again at my list of what I’ve done and what I haven’t done–and something jumped out at me with serious “aha” velocity.
The single distinguishing factor between my lists was that on one I had let go of my old ideas about how to do something and tried something new. Where I was stuck in the mud, I was holding on to how I’ve always done it. So, it was no surprise that what hadn’t worked in the past still did not.
And so, I have made an Ultimate Resolution that I believe will change my life. I am open and receptive to all possibilities. That means never saying (or thinking) I can’t do that, I’m too old for that, I don’t have enough money for that…and so on. It means never dismissing any idea just because it challenges my comfort zone.
In the past year, just changing my attitude about social networking (that it’s only for kids) has revolutionized my business. And once I decided that I would just play around with it, suddenly it wasn’t so hard to navigate the websites. The know-how seemed to come to me in all sorts of ways: tips online, people who knew how to do it, and my relaxed attitude about it all seemed to make the instructions easier to follow.
Several business strategies I wanted to employ but hadn’t because of the costs become possible when I decided that I’d find a way to do it without spending the money. Suddenly people who could provide what I needed showed up and wanted to partner with me for an exchange of services.
Do you see how simply opening your mind to all possibilities can change your whole world? No big visible big effort needed, just an ongoing gentle reminder to yourself not to reject anything or anyone without first looking with open eyes and open mind.
How many opportunities have you dismissed just because it didn’t fit your current view of reality? The only reality is that things change, so why not go with the flow instead of resisting?
Say it out loud. “I am open and receptive to all possibilities.”
Doesn’t that feel good? Much better than “I can’t,” which makes you feel yucky. And it applies to everything on your to-do list and goals sheet.
Join me this year in a creative thinking exercise. What’s really holding you back from achieving what you want? The circumstance, or how you think about the circumstance? Let’s all employ the Ultimate Resolution–I am open and receptive to all possibilities–and meet back in a year to tell our stories.
Are you in? Write your comments below. Do it now!
Cover the basics with your Internet book marketing
December 16th, 2008 | Author: ShelleyLieber
- Create an email signature. How many emails do you send out a day? Every one should have your contact info below your signature…that’s just a professional courtesy. Add the name of your book or product, your blog or web address or just an interesting quote. Think of your emails as an electronic business card.
- Use an email delivery program such as Constant Contact or Aweber to manage your email lists for your newsletter. Whether you use html design or text-only format, your newsletter will appear much more professional coming from this type of delivery system. The other benefits include: unsubscribe and bounced emails deleted automatically, sign-up box for your site provided and reports on who opened the emails and which links were clicked.
- If you’re haven’t started your own blog, read blogs by other people in your industry and comment on them. You can link back to your site, and at the very least, get your name out there. This can be very helpful if you comment on blogs with high readership. Lots of eyes get used to your name. Of course, it’s most beneficial when you can link to your own site or blog, but don’t wait to begin–just do it!
- Join some social networking sites. Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, GoodReads and Book Marketing Network are just a few. Don’t panic if you are new and don’t know what you’re doing. Just set up a profile to begin, browse and join some groups and watch what others do. Before you know it, you’ll be addicted to making “friends” and posting your information. (See my Facebook and LinkedInprofiles, or follow me on Twitter.)
If any or all of this sounds foreign, scary or just plain overwhelming, you may want to consider getting some assistance. Having a mentor to guide you step by step through the process can be reassuring when navigating new and unfamiliar territory. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can and need to be doing to build your audience. (And you know you need to do this before and while you’re writing the book, right?)
As the new year approaches and you write “get my book published” to yet another year’s resolution list, do something for yourself that can truly help you reach your goal. Don’t let another go by without taking real action.
VIP Authors Inner Circle is a group mentoring program for serious writers who have the vision but need the insider know-how to make their dreams reality. Inner Circle members receive a stream of valuable publishing information and have an opportunity to get personal feedback during live coaching and teleseminar calls with publishing experts. Join in December and save $30. Program description and full list of benefits here>>>
Posted in Articles, Book marketing, Writers groups | 
Tags: Blogging, email, Internet marketing, social media, ViP Authors | 
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Who (What) is in your profile photo?
November 25th, 2008 | Author: ShelleyLieber
Until very recently, I used social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn for professional reasons only. So, it made sense to keep my profile picture and information completely businesslike. Even though I’ve begun connecting with friends on these sites socially, I still prefer maintain a level of formality.
Many people are more casual about their web appearance, even in business. I’ve noticed photos posted with spouses, partners, children, grandchildren and even pets. It’s very acceptable on social networking sites, especially since the key word here is “social.” However, I am curious about what some people were thinking when they posted photos that included a roll of toilet paper or a basket of laundry in the background. Not even your friends want to see that.
Being married to a photographer has made me very conscious of photo composition, and I’m going to share some tips with you on how to take better photos and work with photos you already have. Read the rest of this entry »
