Keeping your website from getting lost in the crowd, Chapter 2
Don’t think you have stories to tell about your business? This jumpstart might take you to some surprising and unorthodox places to look for them.
Keeping your website from getting lost in the crowd, Chapter 1
I hear from people who claim they don’t have any stories to tell about their business, their work, or themselves. But if you’re in the world, you have a story.
For self-employed folks, noticing your mental state can make all the difference
Think about how you feel right now, this minute, as you read this post. If you think of your state of mind as a traffic signal, would it be green, yellow, or red?
Love your clients fiercely, and the rest will follow.
It’s not enough just to love what you offer the world. You have to love the person you’re offering it to. Love them fiercely, and watch your work catch fire.
The connecting point story: Your best tool to help people feel good about taking a chance on you
Every day I talk to someone having trouble getting people to give their service or offering a try. Usually, the answer lies in a clearer connecting story.
Medaling in the “I’ve never done this before” jitters
Sometimes, when we’re doing something for the first time, we can stumble or falter just from the not-knowingness of it. Let’s talk about that.
A harvest of stories: The big guys do it well, because they know its power
A lot of storytelling happens in the commercial breaks between Super Bowl plays. Some of it is even good. What can we learn from what the ‘big guys’ are doing?
The power of online communities for owners of teeny-tiny businesses
Online communities can’t replace 1-to-1 contact but they can connect us with faraway kindred spirits to learn more, relieve isolation, and grow our businesses.
In praise of reverse resolutions: Tracking back, not squinting forward
Follow the breadcrumb trail back to find and celebrate the origin, the spark, of the things you’re most proud of today.
Ten bite-sized things to do now that will reap benefits in 2018
It’s a great time of year to make sure your website is tidy and ready for a new year. Here are a few bite-sized things to consider doing to wrap up your year.
X-Ray vision: Seeing through online marketing, making peace with it, and doing better
When you see ‘best marketing practices’ in action and know what’s behind them, it can be a downer. But life is good, and so are you.
It’s a conversation, courtesy of your website (and her friends)
To me, websites are a bit like people, with personalities, jobs, goals, and life stories. They also embody a sort of living conversation. What’s it saying to your audience?
I am not just a prospect: Keeping it personal with our small businesses
I am not just a prospect. I am not just a “user.” I am not just a “them.” Neither are you. And neither are the members of your audience.
The Story Hour: The surprising joys of creating an oasis of time for your ‘why’
Two important new habits have emerged from the process of writing a book this Fall. And I’d recommend them to any small business owner, no matter how busy.
Why I keep doing this even when the world seems so dark
If humans are choosing to solve their pain by causing pain to others, why am I bothering to devote my life to serving them?
How I use Facebook to stay happy, calm, and productive in my small business
There are some very strong business reasons to use Facebook, and because I’ve managed to make it into a place that actually helps me to stay happy, productive, and connected, I wanted to share how I use it wisely and keep away from the craziness.
It’s always about listening. Always.
I encourage everyone to tell their story in order to connect with their audience, partners, and everyone else. But if you want to really learn the things that will help grow your work in the world, you need something else too.
Tools for tiny businesses: I heart you, Boomerang
I always thought that whole “inbox Zero” aspiration would be the holy grail I’d never find. Then came Boomerang, and now I’m looking at a clean slate almost every night. So much better.
Your three words: What’s the personality of your business?
What’s the story you’re carrying inside about your business? If you had to describe the way you view your work in three words, what would they be?
Everyone has a story: Tell yours, ask theirs, and everything changes.
Most self-employed people are barely tapping the power of story in their marketing – if at all. Through story—sharing yours, asking for theirs, and creating a new one together—you can spark a long-lasting conversation with the people you most want to reach.
