Get More Business Show – Jason Kintzler, Press Release meets Social Media

So easy to spread the word with PitchEngine! I love this tool and expect to submit many more press releases because of the enhanced ability to add other social media tools, particularly the audio & video tools to each press release. Pure genius!

Listen to Jason Kintzler and I on Blog Talk Radio – Live on Friday 9 am pacific or 12 pm eastern. And, as always the show will be archived for your convenient listening on demand. It’s a beautiful Web 2.0 world that we live in!

Please stir up some conversation here – What? I can’t hear what you’re saying? SAY SOMETHING! MWAH! Love Ya!

P.S. It’s extremely important to create a Media Plan – Joan Stewart is THE best in the business. If you take your business seriously enough to get free press, Joan’s the gal to teach you how to create a comprehensive plan.

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Stacey Hylen Rapid Business Profit Booster Virtual Event Tour – Special Get More Business Show

Do you want to boost your profits rapidly?

In the current economic climate you may be operating like many other business owners that are nervous and scared — operating in a reactive survival based manner.

Let me invite you to listen in to my Special Edition of Get More Business Show today as Stacey Hylen of Rapid Profit Boosters talks about the amazing opportunity you have for massive growth in your business.

Today we are going to touch on just one of the many Rapid Profit Booster Strategies – Email Marketing.

Join Stacey Hylen of Rapid Profit Boosters on her Virtual Event Tour. Read about this powerful business breakthrough event tomorrow on Teresa Morrow’s blog – Key Business Partners.

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Coach Training Course: Analyze a Top Blog in Your Niche [Day #4 - 31DBBB]

Remember – In this series I am writing follow up posts to Darren Rowse’s series on his website with my post taking off on his topic/task expounding on it for coaches who are building their coaching practice.

I am sitting here wondering how to do this – deciding on whether or not to actually post my analysis here in my blog.

Here are a few of the thoughts that stood out to me – with this disclaimer…I did NOT do an exhaustive search, and more research is probably needed. I welcome comments from my readers on any of these thoughts.

1. I didn’t find any super hot – “high traffic – lots of conversation happening blogs ” on the topic of coaching. I went to both Technorati and Google Blog Search. First thought that came to mind is that there is lots of room for improvement if you’re a coach with a blog. There is virtually no competition when it comes to a standout blog about coaching – any kind of coaching.
2. Many of the blogs that I did find totally missed the opportunity to engage deeper with their readers – there was either no email capture or it was below the fold (you had to scroll down to find it).
3. The posts were very informative but one sided (in my opinion). We all need to get more creative in engaging our readers to comment on our blog so that there is an interaction between blogger (coach) and reader (ideal prospect).
4. Missed opportunities to “make the offer”. I did visit one coaching blog that made the email sign up very prominent and when I clicked on the subscribe button I was immediately taken to a thank you page that made me a bonus offer of two books for a bundle price. That’s one of the opportunities that I’m talking about. This coach took the wonderful opportunity to make me an offer to purchase her life changing information during a time when she already had my attention. Once I clicked the subscribe button I was looking for instructions to get to the promised download.

A GREAT Blog by a coach who get’s it

One of my favorite blogs by a coach,  Dawud Miracle who get’s it

• lots of traffic,
• a healthy amount of comments to his post
• and takes opportunity to make the offer right from the beginning

So what are some great blogs that are NOT on the topic of coaching to use as examples:

Problogger – www.problogger.net

What I like about this blog:

• Darren regularly posts on his topic and he has for years.
• He has covered the topic of blogging from every conceivable angle.
• His posts never sound like he’s bored with the topic – it’s always new, fresh and interesting – and very actionable. His readers go there to learn what to do.

CopyBlogger – www.copyblogger.net

What I like about this blog:

• Brian Clark, founder of Copyblogger, created a frame work for delivering a simple message that can be found on the About page – get traffic,gain subscribers, attract links, sell something – It’s all about write in a strategic, persuasive, compelling manner.
• Copyblogger takes many opportunities to make the offer for everything from their custom Thesis theme to the promotion of their blog post

What can you do?

• Make sure you have a call to action where it can easily be found – sign up on your email list AND subscribe to your RSS feed – these are two different levels of connection with your readers.
• Include a call to action - invite your reader to work with you as a their coach or purchase one of your many products with your coaching message (oh, you don’t have any? I can help.)
• Invite your readers to share their thoughts about a particular topic or post. Ask provocative questions of your readers. Write in such a way that it get’s inside their head-space.
• Ask for your readers help to promote your blog – “Stumble this – Digg this – Bookmark on Del.icio.us”
• Create an editorial content / posting schedule to keep your blog alive with your coaching message and keep your reader coming back for more.

It’s your turn – What blogs do you read that

• you learn from
• inspire you to action
• make you laugh
• make you cry
• helps you to build your coaching business

If you are a coach, speaker or author that would like some help building an Online Marketing plan for delivering content and attracting more clients, selling more products, booking more events and selling more books. Call me (406-278-6140)  for a 1 hour Online Business Audit or to schedule monthly coaching either one on one or in a master mind group.

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Coach Training Course: Promote a Blog Post [Day #3 - 31DBBB]

Remember – In this series I am writing follow up posts to Darren Rowse’s series on his website with my post taking off on his topic/task expounding on it for coaches who are building their coaching practice.

I really enjoyed this post by Darren today. I plan to put a bit more emphasis on some of the 11 ways to promote a blog post included in today’s instruction. About a year ago I started promoting all of my Get More Business Show Blog Posts (the one’s I lost when I didn’t properly back up my datebase when upgrading WordPress!). I used StumbleUpon (tip #3)  to review and bookmark every weekly Friday show post. I saw a huge increase in traffic not only to my blog but to my show as well.

Earlier this month I published an article at EzineArticles.com, Online Marketing Plan to Promote Your Coaching Business by Commenting on Other Peoples Blogs, tip #3 is same as #6 on Darren’s list – when I first discovered it it was quite a revelation to me – duh, I don’t have to link back to my home page…I can link to anywhere in my blog that is relevant! There’s no reason you couldn’t discover a great blog post by another blogger and respond to it on your blog, then go to the other blog and leave a comment with a link back to your post / response.

Understanding and implementing strategies like the ones described in the 31DBBB series are critical to the success of your online marketing efforts.

A tip that I didn’t see on Darren’s list, but one I’ve been thinking about for a year is one I call “TNI”. Think of the organization called “BNI - Business Network International”. My strategy is called “Twitter Networking International” (really could be called “SNI” or Social Networking International).

Here’s how it works:

A dozen or so (could be any number you decided) decide to strategically promote each other’s posts, articles, Internet radio or video shows with a set of social bookmarking tools.  Choose a particular day every week, at a particular time, to connect on Twitter. During the 30 minutes to one hour everyone tweets each other’s blog posts, articles, Internet radio or YouTube videos.

If there were a dozen members to a group, and each member tweeted just 3 of every other member’s blog posts that would be a total of 36 new back links each week; in addition to the increased exposure from each other’s Twitter follower list.

If you love this strategy, let me know. If you want to improve on this strategy, write a post on your blog and link back to this one.

 The important thing I want to emphasis is that for coaches, speakers and authors – these strategies and tips are the engine that will drive your business. These tips and strategies can effectivly replace newspaper ads, offline radio & television ads – and YOU ARE IN CONTROL of the reach and exposure…and it’s most cases these are things you can do for free or very small investment.

• If you’re a parenting coach, team up with other parenting coaches, or mom bloggers. Contribute to their blog as a guest or comment on their posts with a link back to your own.
• If you’re a business coach – Pitch mainstream media with your posts – include your take on current events – offer your blog as “the voice of an expert” they can include in their research for indepth topics.
• Team up with other coaches that share a similar market and cross promote each other’s content and online message.

Blogging to promote your coaching practice is just the start of a much bigger impact. Don’t let it overwhelm you, break these tips down in to daily, or weekly tasks that are on your schedule – eventually you’ll be able to turn some of the less personal duties over to a VA. These activities should be a part of your daily rhythm of business.

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Coach Training Course: Write a List Post [Day 2 - 31DBBB]

Remember – In this series I am writing follow up posts to Darren Rowse’s series on his website with my post taking off on his topic/task expanding on it for coaches who are building their coaching practice.

Day 2 – Today Darren’s topic/task is “Write a List Post” . Go there now and read his post and do the task assignment.

Darren says  a list post is an “effective technique … to write content that gets spread from one person to the next.” This is the goal – to spread your message far and wide to your ideal prospects.

From his “8 Reasons Why List Posts are Powerful for Bloggers” my personal favorites are #2 and #8 -

• Lists keep posts succinct
• Lists break down the complicated

How I feel as a reader of list posts.I enjoy reading a blog that “cuts to the chase” so I don’t have to read thru the “blah, blah, blah” to get to the good stuff. This is especially true if the content of a particular blog can be complex information. A list can be a way to serve up a big idea in small “bite size” installments so that the whole concept is easier to grasp.

How I feel as a writer of list posts. As a writer, I feel that writing a list post can sometimes make communicating a concept in writing much easier.When I begin to write out an idea for a blog post I tend to break it down into a list in my mind so that I know how much I plan to share in one post. It helps me decide if I want to break up my thought into multiple posts.

Here is a process that I like to use:

1. Create a title that sets the stage for delivering a concept
2. Make a list of particular points that I want to make to explain the concept in the post
3. Add 2 – 3 sentences to each item on the list to further elaborate on the point
4. Add an introduction paragraph that leads with a compelling statement of fact to grab reader’s attention
5. Finish the post with a paragraph that calls the reader to action

Here are some of the calls to action that I have in mind as I finalize the blog post:

• comment on blog post
• click through to another post
• email capture page
• ask the reader to consider engaging my services as an individual or group coach

I use these steps frequently as a template for articles as well.

Lists are also a great tool to share resources with your readers. For example if you are a parenting coach you could share a list of the top ten activities to bring on a road trip to keep toddlers occupied. Or, if you’re a business coach you could share a list of places on the Internet to advertise a local business for free.

I would love to hear from you on this. Please leave a comment. Did you make a list to post on your blog? Did you do yesterday’s homework and create an elevator pitch for your blog that ties in with your unique coaching message?

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Coach Training Course: Your Unique Coaching Message [Day 1 -31DBBB]

In this series I am writing follow up posts to Darren Rowse’s series on his website with my post taking off on his topic/task expanding on it for coaches who are building their coaching practice.

Day 1 – Today Darren’s topic/task is “Write an Elevator Pitch for Your Blog” . Go there now and read his post and do the task assignment.

Two statements that I want to highlight from Darren’s post are:

One of the most important reasons to do this exercise is that to develop an elevator pitch YOU as a blogger to have thought through and crystallised in your mind what your blog is about.

In fact almost every task that we’ll be doing in this next 31 days should flow from this task.

Your elevator pitch for your blog should be consistent with your Unique Coaching Message. We’ve talked about how important this is before.

Since your blog is the #1 way to gain ground as an expert it’s imperative to invest your time into developing your unique coaching message for your blog. There’s a few things I’d like to add to the starting points that Darren shares in his post – I won’t go through all of them – so be sure you read his post to get the good information:

1. Solve a problem or a need – My addition to this would be to say “be specific”. Don’t over generalize the problem or need that your blog meets.  The more focused your solution the move attractive your message will be.
2. Define your Audience – More of “be specific” – Don’t try to reach too large of a market by lumping several markets together.
3. Be clear - Take the time to research how someone who is looking for the solution that you provide would be searching online. What words and phrases does your market place use to describe their problem and the solution they’re looking for? Use those words in your elevator pitch.
4. Be intriguing – Use anumber, word & phrases that indicate results in your elevator pitch if possible. For example: “I help small businesses reduce employee turn over by 20%” or “Parents that coach with me tell me they spend more than 20 minutes a day engaging with their teen over important topics – and they don’t end the conversation screaming at each other”
5. Consider using a question – Questions are a coaches best friend! One of my favorite lines used by Jeannette Maw, Good Vibe Coach on her voice mail is, “What would you like to happen next?” Obviously this is a question but it’s also intriguing. How could anyone not ask her to tell them more!?
6. Be ready to Expand upon Your (blog) Pitch - The point Darren makes here is that your elevator pitch is a conversation opener; it should make your listener want to know more. If you’ve really spent time developing your coaching message this should come easy – but, still be prepared with what to say when someone, “Really? Tell me more.” or “How do you do that?”

This is the starting point for everything you will be doing for the rest of these 31 days. Let me invite you to take the time to do this now – even if you have a blog. Is your existing pitch the best it could be for perpetuating your Unique Coaching Message around the world from the plate form for your blog?

Please share your new or improved elevator pitch for your blog and your coaching business.

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Coach Training Course: Blogging the Platform for Your Online Business Promotion

In a previous post “Online Marketing: How important is blogging to building your coaching business?” I talked about your blog being the hub of your online business promotion – in fact, your blog is the #1 way to gain ground as an expert. So, if your blog is so important it makes sense to spend some time understanding how to:

• make it an interesting read so that your visitors return
• implement strategies to get the visitor to get to the site
• create a conversation with your audience that spreads
• generate more leads / sales for your coaching & your products

One of my favorite blogs to read and learn from is Darren Rowse’s Problogger site. He just recently launched a wonderfully interactive “conversation” classroom style over at his blog called “31 Days to Build a Better Blog – join 9100 other Bloggers Today!“  His basic ideas is to daily post (for 31 days, of course) with:

• a brief instructional post
• a matching task to carry out your learning experience
• and…he invites you to come post a link to your home work on his blog (wonderful link back to your blog from high traffic site!)

Okay, so here’s my twist on this learning experience. I am going to post a matching post for each of his with some suggestions and / or examples that are specifically related to coaching or online marketing for coaches.

If you are a coach (this won’t be for everybody), and:

• you are serious about jump starting your coaching business online
• you are ready to take action now and consistently until you begin to see the results you’re looking for

Then You are invited to join me for the next 31 days. Here’s how you can participate:

• Go subscribe to the Problogger announcement email for “31 Days to Build a Better Blog – join 9100 other Bloggers Today!“
• Come visit my blog and read what I’ve targeted the topic for coaching
• Leave both Darren and I a comment with a link to your homework
• Share any questions or challenges that you might have about the lesson so that I can develop follow up posts to answer the questions.

What if you are new to blogging?

You should at least have a blog set up. I recommend setting up selp hosted Wordpress Blog – but don’t let it stop you if you don’t have a self hosted blog. Go get a free blog at www.wordpress.com and you can transfer to something ’self hosted’.  Or it’s extremely simple to register a domain, set up hosting and set up a blog. You could have a basic blog set up in about an hour. Personally I use My Small Business Website.com for my blog and domain registrations.

What if you already have a blog and have been posting for a while?

Consider this like blog audit. This is a great time to make sure that your doing what you know and discover what others might be doing that might be new to you.

We’re three days behind, so let’s get started. Watch for a response to Darren’s first three posts in the next three days.

Remember, my posts will be similar to Darren’s but aimed specifically to coaching or examples of how the strategies are implemented by coaches.

It’s never to late to get started!

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