Write On!

Birthing Business Owners: Get More Paying Clients For Your Birthing Business

2009-07-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

I recently met Sheri Menelli, founder of The Birthing Business Institute. I've been searching for an industry-specific contact like Sheri for about 3 years - someone who could help me to find better and easier ways to market and promote my Perinatal Services. After 29 years in this field, trust me when I say meeting Sheri was one of those "few-and-far-between" experiences in life.

Are you a childbirth educator, doula, prenatal yoga instructor, midwife, lactation consultant, pregnancy massage therapist, or other birthing business owner? Are you struggling to get more paying clients and finding it difficult to convince clients to pay you what you're worth?

Are you looking to make some dramatic changes in your business and turn your Passion into Profits?

In over a quarter of a century in my profession, there are VERY FEW people or programs I have recommended. I'm extremely cautious and very selective. In general, I quietly observe a potential joint venture partner or referral for about 6 months - 1 year. I take a close look at their business practices, their online presence, and people who have written testimonials for them. Call me fussy ... that's okay with me.

With that said, I find Sheri Menelli's course to be outstanding for birthing business owners and I highly recommend it.

For details and content outline: Birth Classroom

~Melanie Kissell
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Write An EBook And Position Yourself As The Go-To Expert In Your Niche

2009-07-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

Writing an eBook in your niche or on your topic of expertise will position you as an expert in your field. It is crucial to have a book that you have authored, and an eBook is best if you want to make it available to others in just a matter of a week or two.

Many people do not like to write, so if that is your situation you may want to consider recording your eBook, one chapter at a time, and having it transcribed into an eBook. You can then add an introduction and conclusion, a table of contents, and some resources. Your eBook will be complete, and ready for you to sell online or give away to generate more leads for your business.

The word "author" is derived from the word authority, so once you have authored an eBook you will be perceived quite differently from others in your field. You will become the person who is asked to speak, do radio interviews, and considered to be the expert.

Writing your eBook will boost your career in ways you may never have expected! Getting started right away will make it easier for you to be successful online, no matter what your area of expertise.

For tips on turning your business knowledge and life experiences into cash, Click here to check out a great ebook writing and internet marketing site from a lady I highly recommend, Connie Ragen Green. There are lots of great tips and tricks.

Melanie Kissell
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BlogHer - These Gals Are Getting Ready To Party!

2009-07-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

If you're one of the lucky ducks who'll be attending BlogHer ...

Here's a FREE Planner!

Just download and fill in the blanks.

Have a BlogHer Blast!

Search Engine Submissions: 9 Simple Steps You Need To Take Before You Submit Your Web Site

2009-07-15T23:22:00.000-07:00

Submitting your web site to search engines and directories does not have to be complicated.
I discovered nine simple steps that will prepare you.

1.) Create a professional-looking web site. Buy your own unique domain name and purchase hosting. Use a simple template design that fits the theme of your site.

2.) Develop a crystal clear navigation structure and site map. Decide on your navigation in advance. Make certain it is easy to use and leads to all the pages on your site.

3.) Add original visitor-focused content. Hire a copywriter if writing is not your "thing".

4.) Use free or paid keyword tools to do your research. Zero in on the most popular and targeted keywords for your content, titles, and meta tags.

5.) Never post "under construction" messages. Remove any blank pages. Although you'll want to add new content frequently, it is vital to show that your existing content is finished.

6.) Test your links regularly to make sure they are working. Online directories and search engines will put the brakes on and not index sites with broken links.

7.) Let your site visitors, search engines, and directories know you are accessible as a true professional. Don't attempt to hide your privacy policy or contact details.

8.) Search engines and visitors hate sloppy, choppy, unattractive text. Check and re-check your grammar and spelling. Punctuation counts!

9.) Select a tracking system and learn to analyze your web site traffic. Otherwise, you'll have no idea if anyone is visiting your site. Be sure to check your search engine page ranking and link popularity reports on a regular basis.

Melanie Kissell
Let's connect on Facebook

Mom, Got A Blog? Attract More Readers And Keep Them There

2009-07-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you've been on the Internet for more than 5 minutes, you've probably heard of the ever growing popularity of the "mom blog". You may even have one yourself. Mom blogs are great ways to connect with other moms, share your thoughts and feelings on being a mom, and maybe even make a little dough (not the kitchen variety this time), too.

One problem many moms have is getting people to read and participate in their blogs. After all, without readers, you can't do any of the things mentioned above with your blog. So, how do you attract more readers to your mom blog? And, once you have them, how do you keep them there? Here are a few tried and true ways to increase readership and maybe even make some life long online buds in the mom community:

Be Yourself
No one likes to read a blog that is nothing but a copy and paste of articles, news topics, and pictures. Yes, those things are interesting, but to really get people coming back for more you have to show them you are a real person. Don't be afraid to let them in and give readers a taste of the true you. If you have an opinion on something don't be afraid to share it. After all, it is YOUR blog so it should represent the person you really are.

Hold a Contest or Giveaway
There's nothing moms like more than getting free stuff they can actually use. As a mom yourself you probably have or know people who would be willing to donate prizes to a contest or giveaway on your blog. Think of something fun and create or do a random drawing from those who post comments. Get creative and come up with something other moms would be happy to enter and happier to tell their friends about.

Post Reviews
People love to know if something works or doesn't work before they decide to buy. Have you used products that you think are the greatest thing since sliced bread? Or maybe you want to warn others to steer clear of something you wished you hadn't wasted your money on. Either way, let your readers know. There are even companies that love to send product samples to mommy bloggers specifically for their opinions. Your opinion does matter, especially because you're a mother.

Create a Recipe of the Day Section
If there's one thing all moms are looking for it's something different for dinner. To feed your reader's hunger for new meal ideas as well as their family's bellies, set up a section on your blog dedicated solely to recipes. Post a new recipe once a day. It doesn't take long and you don't have to write all (or any) of the recipes yourself if you don't want to thanks to private label rights (PLR) content.

Mommy blogs are created and visited by others for many reasons, but if yours is informative, comical, shows the true you, and gives moms what they are looking for, chances that more readers will come are higher. Enjoy your mommy blog and make it your home sweet home on the web where friends feel welcome and love coming back.

Ready to add a recipe section to your blog to increase readers? Get 30 recipes every month at YummyPLR.

Melanie Kissell

Take Out the Mystery and Put in the Fun: Reading with Babies Birth through Two Years

2009-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Post By Cathy Puett Miller, Independent Children’s Literacy Consultant

You are starting a whole new world with the arrival of your new baby. You have lots to think about and probably are full of questions and uncertainties. One of most important gifts you can give you new baby doesn’t cost a dime. It’s the gift of literacy and the gift of you.

Start reading with your baby right away when you come home from the hospital. It will grow the bond between you as your child listens to your soothing, familiar voices (get Dad in on the act too). Relax, trust your instincts and follow these simple guidelines. You’ll be an expert in no time.

While you are still getting ready, add books to your baby shower “wish list”. If you have favorites of yours from your childhood you can list specific titles. Otherwise choose from the wide variety of picture books (simple, colorful stories with little text to artistic, beautifully illustrated stories). Here are a few to get you going:

The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (there are actually several books with this very same title)

When Daddy Comes Home At Night by Eileen Spinelli (there’s one for Mamas too)

I Already Know I Love You by Billy Crystal

Welcome them all and take time in those few quiet months before the baby arrives to read them yourself. If you like them, your child is likely to also. When you start to read with your baby, it won’t matter so much what you read as that they are hearing the sound of your voice. A few dads even read The Wall Street Journal or Sports Illustrated to their “chip off the old block”. Try these tips as you read with babies six weeks to three months old).

· Don’t try to read too long. As few as five minutes as you put them down for a nap or when you are rocking them in your arms.

· Keep your voice calm; no need to be theatrical at this age. Choose books like Mem Fox’s Time for Bed, a lullaby of a story or excerpts from Hush, Little Ones by John Butler.

· Once you’re in a routine, try reading to your baby when they are fussy. If you’ve already set the pattern to connect reading with a calm, warm, close time, sharing a story before they become too overstimulated can help babies quiet down.

Biography

Cathy Puett Miller

Through varied avenues such as her award-winning Reading is for Everyone® tutorial model, her contributions to Educationworld.com as their national “Reading Coach” monthly columnist and her training workshops for children, educators and parents, Cathy Puett Miller, The Literacy Ambassador™, spends her time spreading the news that reading can be fun, powerful and practical.

Mrs. Miller received the coveted 2003 National Silver Award for investigative educational reporting from Parenting Publications of America and regularly writes for both on-line and print publications including peer-reviewed educational journals such as the Georgia Journal of Reading. She continues to contribute to the world of literacy by designing research-based initiatives, creating reading packages such as Babyzone.com’s first reading page for parents, and serving on the Alabama School Readiness Advisory Council and the board of directors of The Reading Tub. She proudly serves as a member of the International Reading Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Mrs. Miller’s most recent projects involve presenting at regional and state reading and preschool conferences, authoring a book for parents of preschool children on emergent literacy, creating and managing the pilot of a local United Way’s Fun Learning Moments™ parent involvement/school readiness initiative, and conducting a national study on at-home reading in collaboration with university early education departments in AL and TX.

Melanie Kissell

Your YOUnique Brand: Ways People Respond To Your Content Online

2009-06-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Kristen Jacoway

Bloggers Corner
By Kristen Jacoway
Each month I monitor several blogs that pertain to personal branding to bring you some of the most insightful postings that exist on the web. I share a couple of these with you below. If you have any questions or blogs that you recommend keeping an eye on please email me at YOUniquenewsletter@reachcc.com.

Since Twitter is so hot right now, I thought this blog post was timely: Glen Allsopp of PluginId discusses the “Seven Uncommon Uses for Twitter” – one use is to express your personal brand online for Google Reputation Management. The other avenues include Product/Service Reviews, Testimonials, Finding Beta Testers for Products or eBooks, Live News Tracking, Finding Solutions to Problems, and Competition.

Miriam Salpeter from Keppie Careers wrote a blog post on “Leveraging Twitter for Your Job Search” and offers tips on how to utilize Twitter features as one of your multiple strategies in the job search. She also shares a few success stories of people who landed jobs using Twitter.

Rajesh Setty, an entrepreneur, author, and public speaker based in Silicon Valley wrote, “9 Ways People Respond to Your Content Online.” This terrific blog post looks at how to generate content that will inspire and transform the lives of your target audience and the ways your audience will respond to your online content. Blogging and writing articles are two great ways to build your Google results. This blog post will help you define “productive content” in order to express your brand online.

MELANIE KISSELL

Tweet 10 Times More Unto Others Than You Tweet Unto Yourself

2009-05-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

How many people do you come across every day that just don’t “get” Twitter? I bet you can spot them instantly.

Before I go on, I’m not writing this as a disgruntled Twitter user nor am I here to rant and rave. There’s already plenty of that going around!

Twitter friend and Social Networking Ninja, Nancy Marmolejo of Vivavisibility, preaches and teaches - “Tweet 10 times more unto others than you Tweet unto yourself.” I’m here to explain exactly what that means and how you and your business can reap the rewards of following this expert-recommended code of ethics.

For every self-promoting Tweet you post, post 10 Tweets for other peeps that you admire and respect. So who should you endorse?

Ask yourself the following questions:

· Who is it that feeds you with always-needed inspiration and motivation?

· Who have you been observing for a while that may consider you for a joint venture or cross promotions?

· Whose teleseminars have you attended that you would highly recommend to others?

· Which Twitter Dad-Preneurs or Mom-Preneurs can you always turn to for advice?

· Who do you consider to be the top notch bloggers? Authors? Affiliate marketers? Video masters?

· Who are the Twitter followers that consistently add value to your life?

Create a list of 10 people

When you have your list established, start talkin’ up these folks on Twitter! – 10 posts for your list and 1 post for you. :-)

Routinely stick to this “ratio” of “10 to 1” then sit back and watch the magic (and the reciprocity) happen! Before long, you and your products and services will get the attention and promotional endorsements of cream-of-the-crop, credible experts.

MELANIE KISSELL

Online Work: This Author Doesn't Make Ridiculous Claims About Working Online

2009-05-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

I hope you won't mistake this post as a highway billboard ad, commercial, or flashing neon sign. You know ... like 99% of the emails you get every day. :-)

I just got done reading "Never Be Unemployed Again!" and I want to share how impressed I am. I'm fortunate to have gotten to know the author. I've been on her autoresponder list for quite a long time. I'll be honest. Until recently, I read each and every one of her messages, enjoyed them, and then neatly filed them away on my computer.

When I heard from Georganne Fiumara about the ebook she had just written, I was finally compelled to take some action. Wasn't about to file this one away!

Georganne is one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes online experts that you rarely hear about. Too bad. I've been at this online marketing "thing" for almost thirteen years. In my estimation, she should be in the ever lovin' spotlight. Georganne doesn't show off or make ridiculous promises that everybody and their uncle is making nowadays. I can assure you she is 100% dedicated to writing about only authentic business opportunities and the possibilities of working online.

Click Here to Follow Georganne on Twitter.

One of the greatest features of Geroganne's ebook takes the worry and guesswork out of the equation. You can read the whole first chapter of "Never Be Unemployed Again!" for free with no obligation to purchase. I think that's pretty cool and as fair as it gets.

Another important feature to mention is that ALL the resources have been personally PRE-SCREENED by the author. I don't know about you, but that gives me a tremendous sense of security and reassurance.

What can I say next? Read the first chapter, see what you think, and then make a decision that will add stability to your life and help you sleep at night.

You can't count on your bank and you certainly can't count on having a job tomorrow. I understand how you feel. We're all looking for ways to adjust to the new economy.

You can't control your job status but you don't have to feel out of control. There are answers, and you've just found one.

Melanie Kissell
Never Be Unemployed Again!

DARE TO BE VISIBLE - 7 Must Use Social Media Avenues

2009-05-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

Before you read on, allow me to make a disclaimer. I invite you to relax when it comes to using Social Media. It is a process, don’t let it overwhelm you.

One type of Internet marketing that you must be taking advantage of is social media. The truth is your Internet business will not survive unless you are involved in various forms of social media. The only exception to that would be is if you do paid advertising such as Google Adwords or Yahoo Marketing.

Perhaps you do not understand the various ways you can utilize these many types of social media to brand yourself and expand your business. Here are 7 types of Internet social media you should be doing everyday.

1. Blogging

Your competition has a blog and so should you. Blogs can serve many purposes. A couple of key points are host your own blog and consistently add fresh content. Never let your blog go stale.

If money is tight, you can install a free blog software and start publishing at least one article in your blog. Provide an easy bookmarking feature to social bookmarking sites like delicious. This is done by providing an action button for each article in your site. The action button takes users to the submission page of the bookmarking site.

2. Social Networking

My Space and Facebook are 2 of the largest. Building relationships online are a big part of having a successful Internet business. Social networking allows you to hang out with people that have similar interests to you. Remember that the same social etiquette and good manners apply online as they do offline. Think about building relationships first, business second.

3. Micro Blogging

Twitter.com is a combination of social networking and blogging. Building a large list of followers is a great way to meet people and increase traffic to your blog and websites. Plus it is fun to Tweet! I’m a big fan of Twitter.

4. Social Bookmarking

Directories such as Digg and Technorati serve as search engine bait for your blog posts and for new traffic from people who read your blog articles. Bookmarking a blog post is very easy to do and the rewards can pay off for years to come.

5. Discussion Forums

This really was one of the first forms of social media and still is a great way to learn about the niche of your business and to drive traffic to it. Hanging out in discussion forums can be addictive so be careful to use them the right way and not waste time. There is an art to forum marketing and you must learn to do it correctly, but the benefits are many.

6. Email Marketing

There has always been money in having a list. The trick is to build relationships with your list and then sell to it after you have done that. For that reason we include it in social media. Today you can add video, audio, graphics, and other things to make your email more interactive.

7. Video Marketing

When Google bought YouTube everyone was put on notice that video marketing was going to be important. Today internet marketers can drive traffic and build credibility by adding videos to their blog and website.

Create short how-to or new product videos and post these videos in social video sharing sites like YouTube, Google video. Provide a few start and end frames in these videos to introduce your site with your site url. Post these videos using catchy titles, teasing descriptions, and appropriate tags to make them discoverable

This is 7 forms of social media you must be using to build your Internet business. The most successful Internet marketers already are!

The social media is not a fad. It is here to stay and bring in profound changes to web surfers’ experiences. It is the right time for implementing features that will make your site social media friendly. Also, using marketing techniques that utilize popular social media sites, you will be able to bring traffic to your site.

Posted by Francine Allaire, Founder of The Daring Woman and The Daring Women's Community

Women dare themselves and each other to reach out for more. I DARE you!

Melanie Kissell

Is Your Husband Laid Off? Internet Provides Options to Women

2009-04-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Men make up 82% of the recession’s job losses, which means countless women are out there looking for work to make up for the lost paycheck. The problem is it’s almost impossible to find a job right now, so for many women their only hope is to get a home-based business up and running as quickly as possible. The internet provides these women with endless options and increased flexibility.

Kim DeYoung, owner of Metromom, strongly believes that having a website is now a necessity for every entrepreneur – even for the mom working part-time in her basement. She's in the same situation as many women, since her husband lost his job five months ago. Kim understands the challenges facing work-at-home moms. “Most women I speak with are overwhelmed with the internet – they’ve heard about great tools like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, podcasts, and YouTube but don’t know where to start. They don’t want to waste time on things that won’t have a direct impact on their bottom line.” Due to the monumentally increased financial pressure on moms, these women need help figuring out how to use the internet to generate an income quickly.

With so many struggling, Kim has decided to host a virtual Telesummit to help as many women as possible learn how to use the internet to prosper and profit. She chose a Telesummit as the ideal way for women to learn without travel costs and time away from their family. On May 1st and 2nd women worldwide can access trainings from eighteen highly-respected, nationally-recognized online experts who’ve agreed to share their best internet marketing strategies for absolutely no charge. (Speakers include: Nancy Marmolejo, Michele PW, Alicia Forest, Victoria Colligan and Beth Schneider)

Women (and men) will be able to access F-R-E-E training seminars by calling from their phone or by listening via the Internet. Learn more about the Metromom Online Success Telesummit taking place May 1st and 2nd. #mtmm09 (Twitter hashtag)

Hope you'll join me there!

MELANIE KISSELL

Prospect Leads - Who Should You Be Targeting andTalking To?

2009-04-04T16:58:00.001-07:00

"You cannot motivate others to want something they don't already want. You can't create motivation. It must already be there. Tap into it and use your prospect's own desires to open and close the sale. You're not capable of motivating anyone, no matter how persuasive you think you are." ~ Harry Browne

I'm going to keep this post very short because I want to get right to the heart of the matter.

Description of the perfect prospect/lead for a network marketing business opportunity:

Entrepreneurial Mindset
Motivated
Sales Background
Has a Clear definition of Time Freedom
Marketing Background
Knows the importance of "minding" a business
Professional
Disciplined

Targeting and talking to business professionals will bring you the results you're looking for. They're courteous, tactful, polite, and great listeners.

Squeeze the juice out of life!

MELANIE KISSELL

A Dozen Promises to Yourself and A Dozen Muffins!

2009-03-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Promise Yourself:

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

~Christian D. Larson

Squeeze the Juice out of Life!

MELANIE KISSELL

Social Media Party! and You're Invited

2009-02-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Today's post (Party!) is brought to you by Jessica Swanson, "The Shoestring Marketer".

Social media marketing is all the rage right now. Not only is it huge for personal use, but for business owners looking for ways to market their businesses efficiently and economically.

Interestingly enough, walking into the social media scene is much like walking into a huge cocktail party. In both instances you are going to meet people of all shapes and sizes.

Here are the ways that I often categorize social media types:

1) Shy and Awkward. This person lurks in the shadows and is afraid to interact with anyone. They stand on the sidelines listening and observing, but are too afraid to step into the party and start meeting people. Unfortunately, by remaining in the background, they will never understand the full social media experience.

2) Loud and Obnoxious. You know this one! You can hear their voice booming from the miles away. They talk too loud, too much and monopolize the conversations.

3) Life Of the Party. These are the people that make you laugh. They have funny stories to tell, positive comments to make and just make the party more fun! You always look forward to talking with them again.

4) Know-It-All. You are going to meet at least one person who seems to have all the answers. In addition, they aren't afraid to tell you what you are doing wrong, how to do it right and why you should listen to them.

5) The Bore. We have all been stuck in the corner, at one time or another, with the person who drones on and on about their "Aunt Mary's blood pressure medication." Since there doesn't seem to be any easy escape, so you end up nodding in agreement at their mind-numbing stories for hours on end.

6) The No-Show. There's always someone who doesn't show up. They say that they will be there, but "something always comes up!" They sign up, have the best of intentions, but just never quite get there.

7) Friendly Interactor. This is what the party is all about. The friendly people who ask questions, make you smile, share fun stories and remind you that coming to the party was worth it after all (even if you did have to suffer through a few obnoxious, boring, know-it-alls in the process)!

So, in my own experience, social media mimics the real world. You just need to decide how you want to be perceived, the type of person you want to be and, of course, the type of people you want to avoid!

So, get into that party and meet all of the different varieties of people. In the end, you'll be glad that you did!

Jessica Swanson, "The Shoestring Marketer," has helped entrepreneurs, all over the world, explode their businesses using cutting-edge, proven and completely FREE marketing strategies. To download your FREE Marketing Kit, which has helped thousands of small business owners, just like you, learn the exact techniques for marketing their businesses for NO-COST, visit: http://www.ShoestringMarketingKit.com

Click Here to follow Jessica on Twitter and Click Here to follow Me

It's time to Party!

~Melanie Kissell

WSW (Wealth Success and Women) Has A Hot and Timely Tip!

2009-02-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

Starting a new business can put a strain on your pocketbook.

But there are situations when you need some contracts or legal agreements and you don't have a "spare" thousand dollars to pay for them.

A great source for legal forms is Nolo. They have a wide variety of books and CDs that provide many of the legal agreements a small business owner would need.

http://www.nolo.com

Wealth Success and Women
P.O. Box 1246
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
http://wealthsuccessandwomen.com/

Be fierce and Be fabulous!
~Melanie Kissell

Twitter - Show The Love; A Brief Tutorial on Twitter's @Replies Feature

2009-02-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

Tom Gray has a Twitter tip for everyone today! Everyone appreciates a good "shout out" now and again. Click Here to Follow Tom on Twitter.

New Twitter users sometimes have a hard time figuring out some of the ins and outs of Twitter communication etiquette. For example, a very nice young woman and Life Coach, Carolann Jones (follow her at http://www.twitter.com/coachcarolann) was sharing an event she was participating in sponsored by Wealth, Success and Women.

Carolann tweeted about the event as follows:

Listening to call hosted by Heather Jumah-How to Set Up A Six Figure Blog, Free Teleseminar with Joel Williams the Blog Tech Guy.

Now I blog and I’m interested in a Six Figure Blog so I might be interested in Joel’s stuff and anybody who puts on cool events like this I should know about but, apart from Replying to (@CoachCarolann) or Direct Messaging (D CoachCarolann) Carolann, I don’t have an easy way to find out more about Heather and Joel. And, if Carolann’s stepped away from Twitter or is busy, she may miss my tweet all together.

Using the @Replies Feature in Twitter:

So, to make it easier for others to track fellow tweeters that you mention in one of your posts then all Carolann (and you) have to do is substitute names for Twitter names and precede these with the aforementioned @ sign. Her message now becomes:

Listening to call hosted by @HeatherJumah - How to Set Up A Six Figure Blog, Free Teleseminar with @BlogTechGuy.

The @twitterusername protocol creates a link between your post and that user’s Twitter page and accomplishes two things:

It allows people who follow your posts to easily follow the people you mention thus adding even more value to your twitter post AND ...

It shows your Tweeps (Twitter Peeps) some love because when you use the @twitterusername protocol to identify your tweeps in a post then your post also shows up in their Twitter feed and it’s stored in the @Replies section of their Twitter home page.

When we use their @twitterusername in a post we’re expressing our gratitude for the value that they have provided to us and, after all, we all appreciate a good “shout out” now and again.

But I Don’t Know if They Tweet?

Don’t know somebody’s Twitter identity? Use the Find People menu on your Twitter screen to find existing Twitter account holders or to invite people you know from other social networks or by email.

The easiest way, if you don’t know their Twitter name is to guess. To construct this little Twitter Tutorial, I guessed that Heather Jumah’s name might be ‘heatherjumah‘. I guessed correctly. I thought that maybe Joel would use his name. Nope, but I knew he was the Blog Tech Guy and sure enough his Twitter name is ‘blogtechguy‘. It’s not always this easy but in this case it was.

1. Click on "Find People"

2. Click on the "Find on Twitter" tab

3. Enter a person's name or tag line

Feedback Please!

Give me feedback if you find this Twitter-torial useful and ask me any other questions you might have about Twitter or social media in general. Oh, and if you found this useful, don’t forget to ReTweet!

This brief Twitter tutorial was originally posted by social media evangelist Tom Gray on his Evolving Internet Marketer blog at http://cli.gs/MKTwit.

Thanks for sharing your expertise, Tom!

~Melanie Kissell

It's Time to Meet "Arthur Tugman"!

2009-02-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

Haven't heard of Arthur Tugman, you say? Me, either, until a few days ago.

I was spending some time the other evening reading the latest issue of The Network Marketing Magazine. By the way, are you a subscriber? For 2009, TNMM is giving away FREE subscriptions.

This is one deal you don't want to pass up. That is, if you're a professional network marketer who's looking for a high quality publication that will actually enhance your life, your business, and your reading pleasure.

Go Here is you'd like a Free subscription: http://snipurl.com/c018n

Anyway, I was fortunate enough (blessed, really) to come across Arthur Tugman on TNMM. I have since had the joy of talking to him. He's a character! ... lots of spirit and lots of spunk.

Arthur has had his heels dug into network marketing for the past 35 years. Whew! He's a poet, an author, a satirist, a sign language interpreter, and a retired school teacher ... a compassionate, devoted, loving husband, too.

Here's a smattering of Arthur's musings ... Enjoy!

Struggles are tantamount to being driven

Success is testimony to the way we drive

-- Arthur Tugman

Before you pose a question

Picture the answer

-- Arthur Tugman

People who find love too easy

Will also find marriage hard

-- Arthur Tugman

Fear is the ultimate motivator

Love is the eternal stimulator

-- Arthur Tugman

There is no better way to know if people believe in you

Than to observe them listening

-- Arthur Tugman

Hesitation harbors doubt

Action portrays assurance

-- Arthur Tugman

Read more from Arthur by taking a stroll on over to this location:

http://snipurl.com/bzzpf

Be fierce and Be fabulous,

~Melanie

Follow me on Twitter

4 Easy Ways to STOP CRAVING Junk Food

2009-02-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Andrea Albright, social media friend, spent over a decade studying what cravings mean and where they come from in her own body, and she's been teaching other women how to figure out their own cravings for years!

Here's some tips from Andrea to get you started...

4 Ways To Stop Craving Junk Food:

1. Don't ever let yourself get hungry.

Have healthy food with you ALL the time. Eat natural "mini-meals" every 2 hours. It's amazing how much more control you have to say NO to junk food when you are NOT hungry.
When you let yourself get hungry, then your body becomes desperate for energy. This is why those high calorie foods look so good to you when you're starving (a calorie is a measurement of energy).
Keep a steady supply of natural food running through you all day long and you will never feel this energy depletion state... and you will be able to make much wiser, healthy choices with control.

2. Make Your House A "Safe Place"

Get rid of all the junk food in your house or apartment. Clean out your pantry... ALL of it.
That way you will have to make the extra effort to go out and get it.
When you plan on eating something healthy, but then you open the fridge and there's a pizza staring at you, it's almost impossible to resist it.
If you live with people who eat junk food tell them you are SERIOUS about getting healthy and ask them to please respect your wishes by not bringing it in the house or eating it around you.
Tell them you need 30 days of a "safe" junk food free home so you can get this bad habit kicked.
Just like when people quit smoking, their friends who still smoke know that it's rude to smoke around them-- well it's the same for junk food. Just because junk food is "socially" acceptable, it is still a poison that will ruin your health and your life.

3. Bring Awareness Into Your Food Choices

If you decide to eat junk food, make it a CONSCIOUS choice.
Take some time to reflect on what you are deciding to do - when you eat junk food, you are eating food that is UN-natural and it will do some very bad things to your body.
When you eat those chemicals and that many"empty calories" at once, that junk food will shoot your blood sugar up WAY too quickly and then leave you with a CRASH that will only make you feel worse off than before.
And then your cravings for MORE junk food will get stronger and stronger.
This is what happens EVERY time you eat this crap... it is NOT food.
Don't fool yourself into thinking that it is.

4. Make a deal with yourself.

This is one that always works for me... I tell myself, "I can eat that junk food, but FIRST I have to eat something healthy."
Even if you just eat a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts (chemical free!), this will fill you up and give you the NUTRITION your body needs.
Most of the time, I don't even want to eat that junk food I was craving before... or if I do eat it, I eat much less than if I hadn't eaten the healthy food FIRST because my body is happy and satisfied that it got the nutrition that it needs.
When you said that you feel guilty so you go and eat the healthy food after, this is the same concept but in reverse.
Just eat the healthy stuff FIRST. Then if you still want the junk food after, go ahead and eat it without guilt knowing that you may be eating crap, but at least you have given your body the vital nutrition that it needs.

Now that's just a few tips to get you started on getting your cravings under control.
If you want a really "in-depth" look into all my discoveries that I have made about cravings over a decade of research and experimenting on myself, then you'll find everything in my eBook.
I go deep into what your cravings are trying to tell you so you can start listening and satisfying their "underlying" meaning. The step-by-step plan you need to get rid of cravings forever starts on p. 101.

Go Here to download your copy now:

End Your Cravings And Take Control Of Your Weight

~Melanie Kissell

Is Your Blog Making A Good First Impression?

2009-02-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

First impressions are lasting. People will form an impression about your blog in a matter of seconds ... about 10 seconds! ... to be exact.

What is the impression you're setting out to make?

Blogging can be a bit confusing and time consuming. Is it worth your time? Can you actually monetize your blog? Is it really possible to promote and market your business through blogging?

Don't you wish there was something to help you figure things out, you know something like an encyclopedia all about blogging?

Well I found the next best thing!

Over 3500 articles and tips on blogging from a full time, super successful blogger, Darren Rowse.

http://www.problogger.net/

Enjoy!

For more Hot Tips like this one, be sure to join http://www.wealthsuccessandwomen.com/ Women Creating Wealth At Home

~Melanie Kissell

Stuck For Ideas To Blog About?

2009-01-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

20 ideas you can use to help you create a blog post when you’re stuck for ideas (don't miss #8!):

1. Current events. Can you link what you do in your business to a current event? Open up your daily newspaper or your RSS news reader and see what’s happening in the world, your country, your state, or your city. Give your opinion about the event and a solution and relate that to your business if you can.

2. Trends in your industry. I read constantly and subscribe to more industry publications than I have time to review. However, there are a handful that I do regularly read, and it’s to those that I look to for what the trends seem to be. When you blog about the trend, put your unique perspective on it, or write a rebuttal post, disagreeing with the relevance of the trend.

3. Get personal. Tell a story about what’s happening in your life or in your business that would be useful or instructive for your readers. Chronicle both your highs and lows, your wins, and your struggles. One key to successful blogging is getting personal with your readers. The more “real” you are with your readers, the better your reader gets to know you and begins to like and trust you. You become a “real, live” human being to them who faces similar issues that they face.

4. Top 10. Most of my writing is in the form of a Top 10 list because it’s an easy way for me to outline the points I want to make and then go back and fill in the details for each point. In this case, each of your points for a topic can become an individual blog post, and when all the points are complete, you can compile the full list for an article for your ezine or website.

5. Frequently asked questions. If you’ve been in business for a while, you know the questions that customers and prospective customers ask you to answer over and over again. Instead of repeatedly responding to the same questions, write a series of blog posts that answer your target market’s most frequently asked questions.

6. How you helped a client solve a problem. Clients hire you to solve a specific problem they’re having, whether they do that when they buy your service or your product. List 3-5 most recent problems that you have helped your clients solve. Create a post that talks about the problem and the solution you provided (either with your client’s permission, or by making it generic enough to hide the client’s identity) that becomes a learning experience for your readers.

7. Interview an expert. What people do you know and admire in your industry? If you admire them, chances are that members of your target market do, as well. Contact them for a short email or recorded interview and ask them 3-5 questions that you’d like to hear them answer about their lives, their businesses, industry trends, or how to solve a particular problem. Publish the interviews as blog posts, adding audio and graphics if you have them.

8. Solicit and answer questions. Ask your ezine subscribers or blog readers to ask you their most pressing question related to what you do. I do this and get questions for 1-2 blog posts per week, and it helps me stay in touch with the needs of my readers, as well. You can ask me YOUR most pressing question by posting it in the comment box here on my blog.

9. Review something. Read a good book lately related to your industry? Just purchased a product to help you solve a problem? Reviews aren’t limited to the critics at the New York Times. Blog about your experience with a product, book, or service, highlighting both the high points and low points, and whether you would recommend that others use or purchase it.

10. Read other blogs. Go to Google’s Blog Search or Technorati and find other blogs related to your industry or your target market. Add those to your blog reader and take some time each week to read the posts on those blogs. Do you agree or disagree with the post? Have another point of view? Think the blogger was on target but you want to expand on her point of view? Reading other blogs is a great way to generate ideas for your own blog!

11. Keep an idea file. Sometimes a blogging idea or concept will strike you when you least expect. Begin a blog idea file by creating a document or spreadsheet to track your ideas and thoughts. If you’re in the zone, go ahead and write the post, and then you can post it to your blog on a day when the idea well is dry.

12. Create a tutorial. There’s always something you can tell your target market how to do. Create a written, audio, or video tutorial of the process as your blog post. Depending on the complexity of the tasks, the tutorial may need to be created in multiple parts, like Part 1, Part 2, etc., which would make for multiple posts to your blog.

13. Share a positive/negative email. I often share exceptionally positive or negative emails I receive from people (without names to protect their identity as appropriate) either to celebrate kudos I’ve received or to demonstrate how I responded to a particularly nasty or upsetting comment. I get the most mileage out of the negative emails, and I often ask for feedback about how my readers might respond to the situation.

14. Take a tour. Take a self-made in-person or virtual tour of something useful to your readers. For example, if you’re a dating coach, tour the top 5 online dating sites and report your experiences as a client in each. If you’re a restaurant consultant, visit 3 local restaurants and evaluate what’s often overlooked in staff training based on your experience as a customer.

15. Write about a Twitter or Facebook update. You only get 140 characters in Twitter to write about something. If you need more space, or want to respond in greater length to someone’s Tweet or Facebook status update, do so in your blog. Thought-provoking questions are often asked on Twitter, and the answers may inspire you to blog.

16. Create a “Best of” list. What are the top 7 blogs to read in your industry? How about the top 5 people to watch? What about the 10 most useful online tools you use? Nothing attracts attention on a blog quicker than a list, so create one yourself or ask your readers to help you in the process.

17. Report from an event. Attending a professional trade show, conference, or networking event? You can report live about your experiences at the event on your blog. Talk about the workshops you attended, the vendors you met, the speaker you heard — the sky’s the limit!

18. Debunk a myth. Each industry is plagued with myths and fallacies about success/failure or what does/doesn’t work that the industry professionals would like to see vanquished once and for all. Use your blog to debunk some of the most common myths/preconceptions/notions in your industry and set the record straight.

19. Talk to newbies. Picture yourself as a newbie in your industry once again. What do you know now that you didn’t know then? What questions did you ask? What knowledge do you have that you think everyone knows? Getting back to the basics can help bring all of your blog readers up to speed.

20. Write about a conversation. Many times I’m inspired to blog as an expansion or continuation of a conversation I had with someone. The blog post focuses on a topic of the conversation, not the conversation itself. Typically the strategy/idea/technique you’ve discussed with someone will benefit your blog readers as well.

This is just the tip of a very large iceburg of ideas for posts to your blog, thanks to Donna Gunter, The Boomer Biz Queen. Take a look around your life, your business, conversations with customers and colleagues, and what’s happening in the world around you. You’ll soon begin to see more creative ideas for blog posts that you ever thought possible!

Write On!

~Melanie

Does Your Social Media Profile Pass This Test?

2009-01-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

Your social networking profile will prove an old adage: first impressions are lasting impressions.

Facebook friend, Nancy Marmolejo of VivaVisibility, has this to say ...

Your profile page is often the first big impression you make on your contacts and will give them an overview of whether you're worth the effort to befriend. Of course you have other opportunities to make impressions on your followers by posting comments and participating in discussions, but the profile stands as your big chance to prove your credibility.

When on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and all the other popular social networking sites, be sure you post profiles that make people want to know more about you and your business. Here are some tips for you to create a winning profile page that makes your friends and followers take notice and want to do business with you!

1. Speak Your Expertise with Confidence: A winning profile leads with your expertise and clearly states who you are, what you do, who you work with, and the results you help create. Don't start off with the fact that you're a grandmother of 5 or a nature lover or else you'll create a distraction. Lead with your expertise ALWAYS so people don't have to dig into all the copy to find out what type of business you're in.

2. Soften It Up With a Personal Touch: After you lead with your professional expertise, you want to round it out with some interesting personal information. Include what you feel most comfortable with, such as hobbies, marital status, family info, or fun quirky things you think others might find interesting.

3. Connect with a Great Photo: Your social networking profile always includes space for a photo of you. Choose a photo that shows your face clearly, not a distant photo of you in a big crowd. Experts say that a picture of you looking directly at the camera will create connection faster with your viewer than pictures of you looking away from the camera. Be honest with your profile picture, too . . . that means to use a fairly recent photo, not the old standby you've been using since 1995.

4. Make it Easy for People to Learn More About You: Be sure to leave links to your website, blog, and other social networking sites so people can move into your inner circle. Be sure all your links are "live" by using http:// in each web address. (Many people just use "www" and miss the traffic that can be visiting their site.)

5. Give yourself the 10 Second Test: You have no more than 10 seconds to make an impression on visitors who come to your social networking profile pages. Some experts say you have even LESS time than that, so make sure it's easy to get who you are, what you do, and how you help others. Check your formatting and make sure all the paragraphs aren't lumped into one big block of text.

When you have a strong profile page that makes it easy for friends to figure out who you are, what you do, and how you help others, then you have a greater chance of finding the right business connections. It's important not to blend into the woodwork in the world of social networking. With these tips, your profile will stand out and generate more interest and visibility for your business!

~Melanie

My 2009 Horoscope >> Career Outlook

2009-01-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

Cancer
6/22 – 7/22

Year 2009 Career

This year, use your inventive mind and strong intuitive powers to help make some necessary changes in your career. It's time to create harmony with things that haven't quite reached your expectations, letting go of what you think are mistakes, and realizing that these are all stepping stones toward success. As you align yourself to your inner knowing and sharp business sense, your efforts will pay great rewards.

In the springtime, you will feel the urge to travel and connect with other cultures to help expand and enlighten your point of view, broadening your spiritual and intellectual values. Come summer, you may feel a bit introspective and choose to withdraw in order explore the subtle emotions and mystical depths of your being. Work in a mode of love and understanding of humanity, and in service to the life of the planet.

Prosperity is yours as you awaken to what is already inside of you. When you direct your emotions in a positive way, your fears will be released, allowing you to manifest what you want. The more you tap into universal knowledge, the more you are able to connect to your inherent power in a way you never dreamed possible. This is a time of great energy building, preparing you for the success coming in both your public and professional life. In your highest manifestation, your energy is invested in satisfying collective needs for the betterment of society.

Yours to count on,

~Melanie Kissell

Blogging Is As Effective As Word-Of-Mouth

2008-12-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

What are the Reasons to Blog?

1. Showcase your personality
2. Create a feedback cycle
3. Build a loyal community
4. Create an emotional investment

5. Increase your credibility

The operative word is Credibility!

People don't trust ads but there is trust online with friends and strangers who have credibility.

Blogging is as effective as word-of-mouth.

Whether you're a novice or seasoned blogger, keep this link handy: BloggingBasics101

The information in BloggingBasics101 is incredibly all inclusive. You'll refer to it time and time again.

Jennifer Evans Laycock, Editor-in Chief, Search Engine Guide, said everyone is blogging. "The recession we are in makes blogs essential." Blogs are cost effective especially if you have a tight marketing budget.

Blog On!

~Melanie Kissell

Turn off your radio on the way to work and let this CD transform your financial future!

My Daughter, the "Cigar" Expert? Go Figure.

2008-12-11T18:56:00.000-08:00

Personally, I don't know a humidor from a comprador. My daughter does!

Ashley has become quite the expert on cigars, cigar accessories (I didn't know there were any?), and the complement to a fine cigar ... a full bodied, flavorful cup of custom blended coffee.

How does a combination of South American beans and African varietals sound? You know ... for that clean, flowery, berry finish with a crisp edge. I suddenly have the feeling I've been settling for less than stellar java all these years! How about you?

Looking for a coffee that pairs well with cigars? Don't ask me, ask my daughter.

Better yet, ask my future son-in-law, Rod. He's a cigar connoisseur extraordinaire! Rod and Ashley are the proud owners of CP Coffee and CigarSwag. They offer undeniably low prices, quality products, and most items ship for FREE. Oh, and they're off to a great start in going GREEN. Click here to find out how they're doing their part as small business owners to save our planet.

Now, I know there's one thing you must be wondering about. Does my daughter smoke cigars? Of course, not! Well ... at least, I don't think so (smile).

To Your Success,

~Melanie Kissell

"The Perfect Business" - Free CD

Searching for the Perfect Business? Who Should You Believe?

2008-11-28T20:27:00.000-08:00

In today's marketplace it seems that thousands of people are trying to get your attention, screaming that they have the BEST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN THE WORLD!

Who should you believe?

The simple answer is look for CREDIBILITY!

Unfortunately the internet is full of scammy programs and people that are trying to teach you how to do something they have never done.

I can count on one hand the number of true, credible experts, that I buy into 100%. On that short list you will find the name, Robert Kiyosaki. You probably know him as the author of the Rich Dad Poor Dad series. Walk into any bookstore in the world and you can find an entire section of Rich Dad Poor Dad books. You may have seen his popular Cash Flow TV show.

I am very excited to be able to offer you Robert Kiyosaki's best selling full length audio CD, "The Perfect Business", free of charge.

You can get all the details on this powerful, credible CD right here: FreeRKCD

Then watch your business thrive!

~Melanie Kissell

workwithmelanie.com