Ideas for Business

OK, so that promise I made in my Christmas Eve post (’oh yeah, there’ll be posts during Christmas week, sure thing…’) got sacrificed on the altar of food, booze and Christmas TV. Still, I’ve had a good time, and I hope you have, too. To round off the year, here’s a quick rundown of some of my favourite sites and blogs from 2007:

Avanta Enterprise’s BusinessClub365 is (I promise) the only site on the list that I’ve actually worked on. It’s been a work in progress for nearly 18 months, and is now more or less complete. The marketing drive for memberships starts (we hope) in January. It’s a great resource for small and growing businesses, and well worth a look if you’re self-employed or thinking of becoming so.

Jango has been developed by my friend Olga Engroff and a team of her buddies. It’s like Last.fm, only much, much better - ’social internet radio’ that plays full length songs and allows you to share music with your Jango friends quickly and easily.

2007 has been the year when web people have finally started to give typography the attention it deserves. So much hangs on readability and presentation in this business that a resource like WebTypography.net is becoming invaluable. It’s lucid, detailed and tremendously useful for copywriters, designers, bloggers and marketers.

There are some great newspaper sites on the web, but my new favourite - The First Post - is a paper site that doesn’t have a print edition. Crisp, concise and witty, it’s strong competition for the likes of the New York Times and Guardian Online.

Blip.tv - much like YouTube, but offering far higher quality video, great flexibility and no ugly idents.

I’ve mentioned Eli James’ Novelr a couple of times recently. I think online fiction could become very big in 2008, and Eli has used his insightful blog to create a great community for online writers and readers.

I’m not a huge fan of webcomics in general, but Randall Munroe’s xkcd is wonderful. Randall’s been drawing the strip since late 2005, but over the past twelve months it’s really begun to get the kind of readership it deserves.

It’s been around for a few years, and millions of people have blogged about it, but I think Stumbleupon is about to make a big leap into the consciousness of marketers. For many products it represents a far more efficient and cost-effective mode of advertising than Adwords and other PPC systems - or at least I think so - and mainstream marketers are finally beginning to catch on. Google is here to stay, but I think Stumbleupon (and maybe Facebook’s increasingly sophisticated ad system) is going to rattle the Big G’s cage in 2008.

That’s it for 2007 - Happy New Year!

I didn’t spend 20 years in corporate marketing for nothing. I am taking what I learned there and applying to small business situations - for myself and for my clients. And I’d like to share my knowledge with you too!

When it comes to marketing your small business, you do not have to sit on the sidelines and watch the big boys play. There are affordable, effective marketing strategies that you can employ for your small business to attract new customers and to make your existing customers want more. All it takes is a little creativity and know-how.

You can’t exist in business any more without some Internet marketing. And it’s only going to become more necessary at the local level as more and more businesses go online and market their businesses to local customers. Thankfully, the options for local small businesses are legion:

• E-mail marketing
• Blogging
• Social bookmarking
• Mobile marketing
• Local pay per click
• Online yellow pages
• Online press release distribution
• Organic SEO
• Social networking
• Viral video marketing
• Podcasting
• E-books and free downloads

Not all of these online marketing methods are necessary for every business, but all of these are quite effective for every business. If you’ll give me a call or e-mail then I’ll be happy to help you find which Internet marketing methods are most appropriate for your situation. Local small businesses finally have the leverage they need to compete with their corporate competitors.

Caroline Melberg
Small Business Mavericks
Small Business Mavericks Blog

When writing the Setting the Stage for 2008 post, I realized that I forgot about the goal setting work I did at the Day-Long, Kick-Butt, Get-Your-Writing-Year-in-Order Lighthouse Writers Workshop. I didn't review my goals regularly even though they were in a file folder right on my desk. So this year, I'm going to blog them so it will be easier to check my progress.

Should I stay or should I go now?

At last year's goal setting workshop I set five, two and one year goals. While that was a good idea then, I don't think it's a good one now. Why? Because I'm going through a major life change.

No, I'm not getting divorced or moving to Europe. Instead, both of my kids will be in school full time at the end of August 2008. Yippee, let the champagne fly!

One year from now I will either be:

• Making a good full time living from my blogging and freelance writing, but still have the flexibility to work around my kids' schedules and spend time with them during school breaks and summer vacation.

OR

• Be working in a well paid corporate job that uses my writing skills and blogging, marketing, and social media expertise. My kids will be in after school, school break, and summer vacation programs.

What's a WAHM to do?

It's the work-at-home mother's dilemma. Do you go back to the corporate life now that all your kids are in school full time? Or do you remain a freelancer and devote more time and effort to it?

Freelancing is more flexible, you don't have a commute, and the pay can be pretty good if you work hard at marketing yourself and getting gigs. Still, corporate has its positives, including less worry about where the next paying gig is coming from, someone else footing the bill for everything from the phone to Internet access, and benefits like 401K matching and health insurance.

I'm fine living la vita freelance, but would I turn down a good corporate job if the opportunity came along? Not on your life. I'll start my job search in the summer with the strategy being that when the kids go back to school, I'll go back to the corporate world. Until then, I'll be working as hard as I can on my freelance business.

My 10 freelance goals for 2008

Keeping all this in mind, here are my goals until (or if) I find a corporate job:

1. Continue working for CafeMom as a community manager.It's important to set this goal first since it takes up a huge block of my time. The earnings I receive from this job will not be figured into my monetary freelancing goal.

2. Earn $1000 per month from my blogging and blogging related efforts. This does not include promotional items I receive to review like food products, books, and videos. Instead, this includes payment (cash or cash equivalent in gift cards) from the following revenue sources:

• Being paid to blog by blog owners and corporations
• Affiliate programs (Amazon, Commission Junction, etc.)
• Ad programs like Google Adsense and Kontera
• Ad networks like BlogHer, BlogAds, Adify, etc.
• Speaker's fees and stipends
• Direct advertising buys
• Sponsored reviews

Part of my strategies to do this involve:

• Increasing RSS subscriptions
• Writing more frequently and on a more consistent basis
• Networking with other bloggers in my niches
• Using sites where my readers hang out, like Blogher, CafeMom, and Divine Caroline, to promote my blogs
• Using social media sites like StumbleUpon to promote my posts
• Creating advertising sponsorship and paid review pages on all my blogs

3. Attend writing and blogging conferences. I'm going to the Northern Colorado Writer's Conference (NCWC) in April since I'm presenting. I also hope to go to BlogHer 2008 in July in San Francisco, and BlogWorld Expo 2008 in September in Las Vegas.

4. Promote myself through speaking engagements and workshops on blogging. In 2007, I talked to several writer's and small business groups about blogging. I've already signed up to conduct two workshops at the NCWC - one on promoting yourself and your book through social media and the other on making money from your blog.

This year, I plan to submit proposals to bloggers' and writers' conferences, to writer's groups and press clubs, and places that offer classes for writers like community colleges and free universities.

5. Continue networking with writers. With my schedule at CafeMom, this is going to be hard. I hope to attend a few early Northern Colorado Writers Association morning coffees and evening workshops. Also, I have a writer's group meeting every week, and hope to make it to a few Denver and Boulder Press Club events, too.

6. Improve my branding. This has been impossible since I've been blogging at several sites and networks about different subjects, doing freelance writing, and now talking to writer's about using social media for promotion. How can I tie it all together?

First, I'm bringing A Readable Feast from ClubMom to a self-hosted WordPress blog called My Readable Feast with the help of Jeff Ledoux at Leisure Creative and my friends at One By One Media. This blog and all my others will now be part of The Write Spot Blog Network brand.

My plan is to position The Write Spot in a different way, too. My new tag line is: "Promoting your business or cause through social media and marketing communications." I'll be updating my blog's banner and my business cards, too.

7. Get rid of time wasters. This is everything from cutting back on volunteering too much, to quitting my book club. Honestly, if I could live with a messier house and email inbox, I would have more time. But I can't, so I'll have to find other things to cut out or down on.

8. Continue my volunteer work with MOTHERS. I write their monthly e-newsletter and post a monthly book selection at the MOTHERS Book Bag blog. Not only do I enjoy the work, but they're a great reference for me. Plus, the women of the MOTHERS Council are extremely supportive and appreciative, which makes up for the lack of pay.

9. Keep current social media and problogging trends. That means reading books, business magazines, articles in the popular press, blogs like ProBlogger, and podcasts from the Mediaphere on BlogTalk Radio when I can find the time, like when I'm working out.

10. Reduce costs. I'm not planning on buying any camera or computer equipment in 2008. And now that I've finished up the BlogMastermind program, I have no training costs except for the occasional writer's lunchtime workshop.

Travel was a big expense in 2007. This year, I hope to volunteer at BlogHer 08 so I don't have to pay the conference fee. I also plan to share hotel rooms at the conferences and use frequent flier miles for travel. I'm bringing my own diet Rock Star drinks, too.

Office expenses are challenging to get down since some costs are fixed like Internet access fees. However, I finally found a cheap source for Dell printer cartridge refills. And I think I have enough notebooks, pens, laptop bags, and copier paper to last a few years. However, I may need some video editing software now that I have a FLIP video camera. (Nevermind, I'll give the FREE Microsoft Windows Movie Maker a go.) There's tax software to buy, too.

The only other expense I can think of cutting back on are books. Even though I check to see if my local library has a copy or if I can get it cheaper used, I still buy too many books for the amount of time I have to read them. So except for WordPress For Dummies, if that, no more books...for awhile.

BONUS GOAL: Accept things happen for a reason, and be open to whatever comes my way. I believe in serendipity since some of the best things that have happened to me professionally and personally have just fallen in my lap. I've also noticed that when I push too hard for something, it often doesn't happen. This doesn't mean that I shouldn't work hard on my business or my goals. It just means that when something doesn't happen the way I want it, it doesn't necessarily mean that I've failed or that it's a bad thing.

What are your goals for 2008? Share below!

When writing the Setting the Stage for 2008 post, I realized that I forgot about the goal setting work I did at the Day-Long, Kick-Butt, Get-Your-Writing-Year-in-Order Lighthouse Writers Workshop. I didn't review my goals regularly even though they were in a file folder right on my desk. So this year, I'm going to blog them so it will be easier to check my progress.

Should I stay or should I go now?

At last year's goal setting workshop I set five, two and one year goals. While that was a good idea then, I don't think it's a good one now. Why? Because I'm going through a major life change.

No, I'm not getting divorced or moving to Europe. Instead, both of my kids will be in school full time at the end of August 2008. Yippee, let the champagne fly!

One year from now I will either be:

• Making a good full time living from my blogging and freelance writing, but still have the flexibility to work around my kids' schedules and spend time with them during school breaks and summer vacation.

OR

• Be working in a well paid corporate job that uses my writing skills and blogging, marketing, and social media expertise. My kids will be in after school, school break, and summer vacation programs.

What's a WAHM to do?

It's the work-at-home mother's dilemma. Do you go back to the corporate life now that all your kids are in school full time? Or do you remain a freelancer and devote more time and effort to it?

Freelancing is more flexible, you don't have a commute, and the pay can be pretty good if you work hard at marketing yourself and getting gigs. Still, corporate has its positives, including less worry about where the next paying gig is coming from, someone else footing the bill for everything from the phone to Internet access, and benefits like 401K matching and health insurance.

I'm fine living la vita freelance, but would I turn down a good corporate job if the opportunity came along? Not on your life. I'll start my job search in the summer with the strategy being that when the kids go back to school, I'll go back to the corporate world. Until then, I'll be working as hard as I can on my freelance business.

My 10 freelance goals for 2008

Keeping all this in mind, here are my goals until (or if) I find a corporate job:

1. Continue working for CafeMom as a community manager.It's important to set this goal first since it takes up a huge block of my time. The earnings I receive from this job will not be figured into my monetary freelancing goal.

2. Earn $1000 per month from my blogging and blogging related efforts. This does not include promotional items I receive to review like food products, books, and videos. Instead, this includes payment (cash or cash equivalent in gift cards) from the following revenue sources:

• Being paid to blog by blog owners and corporations
• Affiliate programs (Amazon, Commission Junction, etc.)
• Ad programs like Google Adsense and Kontera
• Ad networks like BlogHer, BlogAds, Adify, etc.
• Speaker's fees and stipends
• Direct advertising buys
• Sponsored reviews

Part of my strategies to do this involve:

• Increasing RSS subscriptions
• Writing more frequently and on a more consistent basis
• Networking with other bloggers in my niches
• Using sites where my readers hang out, like Blogher, CafeMom, and Divine Caroline, to promote my blogs
• Using social media sites like StumbleUpon to promote my posts
• Creating advertising sponsorship and paid review pages on all my blogs

3. Attend writing and blogging conferences. I'm going to the Northern Colorado Writer's Conference (NCWC) in April since I'm presenting. I also hope to go to BlogHer 2008 in July in San Francisco, and BlogWorld Expo 2008 in September in Las Vegas.

4. Promote myself through speaking engagements and workshops on blogging. In 2007, I talked to several writer's and small business groups about blogging. I've already signed up to conduct two workshops at the NCWC - one on promoting yourself and your book through social media and the other on making money from your blog.

This year, I plan to submit proposals to bloggers' and writers' conferences, to writer's groups and press clubs, and places that offer classes for writers like community colleges and free universities.

5. Continue networking with writers. With my schedule at CafeMom, this is going to be hard. I hope to attend a few early Northern Colorado Writers Association morning coffees and evening workshops. Also, I have a writer's group meeting every week, and hope to make it to a few Denver and Boulder Press Club events, too.

6. Improve my branding. This has been impossible since I've been blogging at several sites and networks about different subjects, doing freelance writing, and now talking to writer's about using social media for promotion. How can I tie it all together?

First, I'm bringing A Readable Feast from ClubMom to a self-hosted WordPress blog called My Readable Feast with the help of Jeff Ledoux at Leisure Creative and my friends at One By One Media. This blog and all my others will now be part of The Write Spot Blog Network brand.

My plan is to position The Write Spot in a different way, too. My new tag line is: "Promoting your business or cause through social media and marketing communications." I'll be updating my blog's banner and my business cards, too.

7. Get rid of time wasters. This is everything from cutting back on volunteering too much, to quitting my book club. Honestly, if I could live with a messier house and email inbox, I would have more time. But I can't, so I'll have to find other things to cut out or down on.

8. Continue my volunteer work with MOTHERS. I write their monthly e-newsletter and post a monthly book selection at the MOTHERS Book Bag blog. Not only do I enjoy the work, but they're a great reference for me. Plus, the women of the MOTHERS Council are extremely supportive and appreciative, which makes up for the lack of pay.

9. Keep current social media and problogging trends. That means reading books, business magazines, articles in the popular press, blogs like ProBlogger, and podcasts from the Mediaphere on BlogTalk Radio when I can find the time, like when I'm working out.

10. Reduce costs. I'm not planning on buying any camera or computer equipment in 2008. And now that I've finished up the BlogMastermind program, I have no training costs except for the occasional writer's lunchtime workshop.

Travel was a big expense in 2007. This year, I hope to volunteer at BlogHer 08 so I don't have to pay the conference fee. I also plan to share hotel rooms at the conferences and use frequent flier miles for travel. I'm bringing my own diet Rock Star drinks, too.

Office expenses are challenging to get down since some costs are fixed like Internet access fees. However, I finally found a cheap source for Dell printer cartridge refills. And I think I have enough notebooks, pens, laptop bags, and copier paper to last a few years. However, I may need some video editing software now that I have a FLIP video camera. (Nevermind, I'll give the FREE Microsoft Windows Movie Maker a go.) There's tax software to buy, too.

The only other expense I can think of cutting back on are books. Even though I check to see if my local library has a copy or if I can get it cheaper used, I still buy too many books for the amount of time I have to read them. So except for WordPress For Dummies, if that, no more books...for awhile.

BONUS GOAL: Accept things happen for a reason, and be open to whatever comes my way. I believe in serendipity since some of the best things that have happened to me professionally and personally have just fallen in my lap. I've also noticed that when I push too hard for something, it often doesn't happen. This doesn't mean that I shouldn't work hard on my business or my goals. It just means that when something doesn't happen the way I want it, it doesn't necessarily mean that I've failed or that it's a bad thing.

What are your goals for 2008? Share below!

When writing the Setting the Stage for 2008 post, I realized that I forgot about the goal setting work I did at the Day-Long, Kick-Butt, Get-Your-Writing-Year-in-Order Lighthouse Writers Workshop. I didn't review my goals regularly even though they were in a file folder right on my desk. So this year, I'm going to blog them so it will be easier to check my progress.

Should I stay or should I go now?

Last year's goal setting workshop had you set five, two and one year goals. While that was a good idea last year, I don't think it's a good one now. Why? Because I'm going through a major life change.

No, I'm not getting divorced or moving to Europe. Instead, both of my kids will be in school full time at the end of August 2008. Yippee, let the champagne fly!

One year from now I will either be:

• Making a good full time living from my blogging and freelance writing, but still have the flexibility to work around my kids' schedules and spend time with them during school breaks and summer vacation.

OR

• Be working in a well paid corporate job that uses my writing skills and blogging, marketing, and social media expertise. My kids will be in after school, school break, and summer vacation programs.

What's a WAHM to do?

It's the work-at-home mother's dilemma. Do you go back to the corporate life now that all your kids are in school full time? Or do you remain a freelancer and devote more time and effort to it?

Freelancing is more flexible, you don't have a commute, and the pay can be pretty good if you work hard at marketing yourself and getting gigs. Still, corporate has its positives, including less worry about where the next paying gig is coming from, someone else footing the bill for everything from the phone to Internet access, and benefits like 401K matching and health insurance.

I'm fine living the vita freelance, but would I turn down a good corporate job if the opportunity came along? Not on your life. I'll start my job search in the summer with the strategy being that when the kids go back to school, I'll go back to the corporate world. Until then, I'll be working as hard as I can on my freelance business.

My 10 freelance goals for 2008

Keeping all this in mind, here are my goals until (or if) I find a corporate job:

1. Continue working for CafeMom as a community manager.It's important to set this goal first since it takes up a huge block of my time. The earnings I receive from this job will not be figured into my monetary freelancing goal.

2. Earn $1000 per month from my blogging and blogging related efforts. This does not include promotional items I receive to review like food products, books, and videos. Instead, this includes payment (cash or cash equivalent in gift cards) from the following revenue sources:

• Being paid to blog by blog owners and corporations
• Affiliate programs (Amazon, Commission Junction, etc.)
• Ad programs like Google Adsense and Kontera
• Ad networks like BlogHer, BlogAds, Adify, etc.
• Speaker's fees and stipends
• Direct advertising buys
• Sponsored reviews

Part of my strategies to do this involve:

• Increasing RSS subscriptions
• Writing more frequently and on a more consistent basis
• Networking with other bloggers in my niches
• Using sites where my readers hang out, like Blogher, CafeMom, and Divine Caroline, to promote my blogs
• Using social media sites like StumbleUpon to promote my posts
• Creating advertising sponsorship and paid review pages on all my blogs

3. Attend writing and blogging conferences. I'm going to the Northern Colorado Writer's Conference (NCWC) in April since I'm presenting. I also hope to go to BlogHer 2008 in July in San Francisco, and BlogWorld Expo 2008 in September in Las Vegas.

4. Promote myself through speaking engagements and workshops on blogging. In 2007, I talked to several writer's and small business groups about blogging. I've already signed up to conduct two workshops at the NCWC - one on promoting yourself and your book through social media and the other on making money from your blog.

This year, I plan to submit proposals to bloggers' and writers' conferences, to writer's groups and press clubs, and places that offer classes for writers like community colleges and free universities.

5. Continue networking with writers. With my schedule at CafeMom, this is going to be hard. I hope to attend a few early Northern Colorado Writers Association morning coffees and evening workshops. Also, I have a writer's group meeting every week, and hope to make it to a few Denver and Boulder Press Club events, too.

6. Improve my branding. This has been impossible since I've been blogging at several sites and networks about different subjects, doing freelance writing, and now talking to writer's about using social media for promotion. How can I tie it all together?

First, I'm bringing A Readable Feast from ClubMom to a self-hosted WordPress blog called My Readable Feast with the help of Jeff Ledoux at Leisure Creative and my friends at One By One Media. This blog and all my others will now be part of The Write Spot Blog Network brand.

My plan is to position The Write Spot in a different way, too. My new tag line is: "Promoting your business or cause through social media and marketing communications." I'll be updating my blog's banner and my business cards, too.

7. Get rid of time wasters. This is everything from cutting back on volunteering too much, to quitting my book club. Honestly, if I could live with a messier house and email inbox, I would have more time. But I can't, so I'll have to find other things to cut out or down on.

8. Continue my volunteer work with MOTHERS. I write their monthly e-newsletter and post a monthly book selection at the MOTHERS Book Bag blog. Not only do I enjoy the work, but they're a great reference for me. Plus, the women of the MOTHERS Council are extremely supportive and appreciative, which makes up for the lack of pay.

9. Keep current social media and problogging trends. That means reading books, business magazines, articles in the popular press, blogs like ProBlogger, and podcasts from the Mediaphere on BlogTalk Radio when I can find the time, like when I'm working out.

10. Reduce costs. I'm not planning on buying any camera or computer equipment in 2008. And now that I've finished up the BlogMastermind program, I have no training costs except for the occasional writer's lunchtime workshop.

Travel was a big expense in 2007. This year, I hope to volunteer at BlogHer 08 so I don't have to pay the conference fee. I also plan to share hotel rooms at the conferences and use frequent flier miles for travel. I'm bringing my own diet Rock Star drinks, too.

Office expenses are challenging to get down since some costs are fixed like Internet access fees. However, I finally found a cheap source for Dell printer cartridge refills. And I think I have enough notebooks, pens, laptop bags, and copier paper to last a few years. However, I may need some video editing software now that I have a FLIP video camera. And of course, there's tax software to buy, too.

The only other expense I can think of cutting back on are books. Even though I check to see if my local library has a copy or if I can get it cheaper used, I still buy too many books for the amount of time I have to read them. So except for WordPress For Dummies, no more books...for awhile.

BONUS GOAL: Accept things happen for a reason, and be open to whatever comes my way. I believe in serendipity since some of the best things that have happened to me professionally and personally have just fallen in my lap. I've also noticed that when I push too hard for something, it often doesn't happen. This doesn't mean that I shouldn't work hard on my business or my goals. It just means that when something doesn't happen the way I want it, it doesn't necessarily mean that I've failed or that it's a bad thing.

What are your goals for 2008? Share below!