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I just read Suzen Petit’s excellent, information packed blog post on increasing your blog rankings viw alexa.com. It was an explanation I could understand. This was the second or third time I had heard that site referred to.
I checked it out and got mildly depressed…for a minute. By inputting a variety of blog listings, I was able to find my own ranking and those of my friends and competitors. The lower your score, the more the readers you have. The more readers you have, the more likely anything you’re marketing will reach the people you want to reach.
For instance Seth Godin, who is one of the most famous bloggers I read, has an alexa score of 5,766. Mine is 5,205,336. This sounds horrifying (to me) until I search for the stats on another blogger I know and find his ranking is 15,755,386. I don’t feel so bad anymore.
Like anything else based on numbers–like weight or income–it’s good to know where you are so that, moving forward, you can see whether you’re increasing readership or losing it. It’s only a number. And I have work to do.
Old Ongapotchket Site
After many months and many meetings and many decisions, the new janepollak.com is alive and well and hopefully worth your valuable time and attention. It feels as though my last website went up only weeks ago, but it’s been six years. It was time for something new, fresh and more adaptable to today’s social media opportunities.
My mother used a lot of Yiddish words when we were growing up. The one that popped into my mind every time I pulled up my old site was ongepotchket (uhng-guh-potch-kit), which can mean too fancy or ornate, fussy, overdressed, overdone. What I had it mean in my head was “too much going on.” After four years of plain and simple, I had my assistant add the logos from the media outlets that had once featured me. Then, when the revised edition of Soul Proprietor came out in May 2010, we threw the new cover up there with links to amazon.com.
The site got cluttered and messy looking–ongepotchket–so every time I clicked on my home page I had to squint so as not to notice the clutter.
And then, you just know, it’s time to re-group and re-launch. I hired a wonderful marketing/branding company to work with me, and I’m thrilled with my new look. It’s congruent with the cover of my book. There’s no more ‘egg’ symbolism. And we’ve added a lot of video and social media connections to stay abreast of the times.
I hope you’ll spend some time checking it out, send your friends, sign up for a free webinar and/or hang out with my remarkable clients sharing their experiences on the youtube clips.
Welcome to my new site!
You don’t have to be a college student or grad to benefit from the advice in this revised edition of Lindsey’s book. Lindsey, for those of you who don’t know, is my daughter.
She used to come to me for career advice, but the tables have turned. She’s my go-to person for all things electronic and social media related when it comes to business. When I was considering linking sites with a particular organization recently, and I sought her wisdom, I told her I wasn’t sure I understood exactly what was required of me or what the benefits would be. But it sounded kind of good from the pitch I received. “Mom, if you don’t understand it and aren’t highly motivated to participate, say no.” I followed that advice with no regrets.
Please, buy a copy of her book for yourself or someone you love who’s looking for work. She’s a trustworthy guide and will be truly grateful for your purchase.
My marketing director took me out to lunch yesterday for a planning session.
How cool does that sound?
I’ve been working with this woman-owned company for over a year now. They specialize in helping other women-owned businesses get the word out about their enterprise via social media, events, web development and other campaigns. I attribute her expertise with my growing revenues.
This was our second annual working lunch meeting, her treat. After a delicious soup and salad at Bloodroot (I got to pick the venue), she handed me an agenda with 10 items which she then reviewed point by point.
Each agenda item was something that we had talked about during the course of the year. I was amazed that she had captured them all and was helping me to re-visit them individually. Whenever I hear a great idea, I shoot it off to her via email. Taking them one by one a few weeks or months after the original inspiration affords me the opportunity to reconsider them in the stark light of day versus the excitement of the moment.
During our one hour meeting we covered everything we’ll be sure to do in 2012: promote my webinars, Remarkable Women’s Network events, launch my new website, build my lists, send direct mail campaigns and sponsor another client appreciation event–a highlight of 2011.
Would I have done these things on my own? Not likely.
The benefit to having a paid professional is participating in a best practice experience like this. Every business owner would benefit from an annual review, but how many actually take the time to sit down and make a plan?
I’m grateful to my marketing company for modeling this practice and helping me grow my business by partnering with her.
My son got mad at me a few years ago when my newsletter column listed 100 things I was grateful for, and the UPS guy was ranked above my kids. Let me say at the outset of this post that I am grateful, first and foremost, for my family members. (Happy, Rob?)
Recently, though, I’ve had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the ease that technology has brought to me and my business particularly. (It was likely Steve Jobs’ untimely death that brought that to the forefront of my mind.)
After giving my free webinar a few weeks ago, I gave my first official webinar on Thursday evening, and I felt like I’d found a new home. I had over 20 participants listening from their phones or computers in locations as far away as California and Texas and as close as New Hampshire and Stamford, CT. Those who missed the live event were sent links to a recording that matched the audio and visual components. No more need to worry about scheduling. Everything is available to participants whenever they have time to access it. This is HUGE!
Using Easy Seminar, a website designed to handle all the pieces of webinar communication, I was able to see who was calling from where, what time they signed on, if they had their hand up and were muted or unmuted. While I’ve attended calls where similar technology was used, I had never looked ‘behind the curtain’ to figure out how to do it myself. It’s really cool!
In addition to having a national audience, I’m able to create slides using PowerPoint and upload them to this site. We’ve created a private Facebook community where webinar participants can share their thoughts, encouragement and questions with each other. I was able to lift their photos from that social network to use for this slide which I showed the group when describing my ideal clients.
I first had to use PowerPoint in the late 90′s when I was still a computer novice. I went to an ‘expert’ to create my visuals for a program I was giving in Buenos Aires. I was beginning to learn the basics, but definitely needed his help uploading photos, creating transitions, etc. I had zero idea of what I was doing. I remember asking him if it would be possible to make ALL of the backgrounds of the slides black. I was such an amateur. I posed the question with such gravitas, as if I were asking for the password to Fort Knox. The ‘expert’ definitely played his part to the hilt. Rather than truthfully telling me, “Yeah, I just need to press duplicate slide 20 times,” he kind of grunted and groaned as if there were great effort required to make yet another slide background black. Knowing what I know now, I’m blushing at how little I knew.
That’s part of the gratitude. I’ve taken multiple classes over the years to get up to speed on technology. Now, I love going to google and writing in the slot, “how do you do a screen shot on the mac” and having the answer pop right up.
Is there a piece of technology you’ve mastered recently or are particularly grateful for this year? I’d love to know.
My son mentioned last week, when I invited him to jump in my pool during his visit to CT, that he hates to swim. How did I miss that fact?
Back when he was a baby, there was a theory that if you threw an infant into a pool, its instincts would have it stroking the water, kicking its little legs and actually swimming as a reflex action. I never tried it with him, but wonder if I had, would he feel better or worse about diving in.
I feel as though I’ve been thrown into a pool with the webinar course I’m taking. (Apologies to those who’ve heard way too much about this subject already. I keep learning new things about myself that I want to share.) Although I’m not sinking, it’s not the way I enjoy learning. I may be like the infants who are doing whatever it takes to keep our heads above water. My personal preference would be spoon-feeding, thank you. Wading in until the water feels comfortable, then gingerly progressing into the deep end. After that, teach me how to move my arms and legs.
But this instructor does it differently. I’m witness to several cohorts stroking away, posting their offers, giving their free webinars and getting new clients. It’s exhilarating to watch. I want what they have, and they’re eager to help me, which is what I particularly like about this class.
By next week I’ll be able to send out my new webinar link with an offer for a free session. I created the website myself (“Look Ma, I’m doing websites!”) and am working out my offer and modules. Now that I’m over the hump of fear that I won’t get this, I’m actually beginning to enjoy the process.
The gentleman who runs the course is constantly modeling all of the elements he wants us to learn and teach, like using LinkedIn to create communities. Like using a chatroll in Facebook to interact with each other during our Q+A calls. As I become more comfortable with the technology, and as I meet the remarkable men and women who are also in the deep end with me, I’m getting it. I’m seeing what’s possible in this new world of ours. And I want more. I want to know it so well that I’m comfortable teaching it too. I want to get all of you equally excited about it in my own way.
Meanwhile, I’m glugging along. Fortunately, I have enough kick-boards surrounding me that I’m able to do laps with their support. A place in a future Olympics? Perhaps.
For me, the summer is a quiet time. The phone doesn’t ring as much, the speaking invitations become fewer and far between and my regular networking events are on hiatus until the fall.
Over the years, I have come to enjoy and treasure this quiet time.
I re-evaluate the business goals I set for myself in January, tackle projects that have yet to be completed and spend time on my own professional development.
As part of my own goal to become more comfortable with social media, I am holding my second social media contest. One of my social media followers/fans will be given an opportunity to coach with me this summer – for FREE!
- If you are a Facebook Fan, post one business goal that you plan to achieve this summer on my wall.
- And if you are on Twitter, Tweet your goal! Just be sure to mention me (@JanePollak) and use the hash tag #GetSocialwithJanePollak in your Tweet.
This month’s contest will open at Noon on Monday, June 20 and will close at Midnight on Friday, June 24.
Everyone who responds will be entered into a drawing to receive a FREE, 30-minute coaching session (conducted via phone) this summer.
I will announce the winner on Monday, June 27 at Noon, via Facebook and Twitter. I can’t wait to read your summer goals – I’m sure they will inspire and motivate me!
I had the privilege of speaking for the Litchfield County Women’s Network last Wednesday night, one of those pouring rainy nights we seem to have had so many of lately. I was a tad grumpy coming in after a long drive, but the mood of the room and the warmth of the members soon parted the clouds in my brain.
Although her business is graphic design, President Chana Monahan is a Toastmasters-trained powerhouse, leading her network through dinner and the best self-introductory ice-breaker I’ve seen. As part of each woman’s 60-second ‘hello,’ we were asked to identify a significant historic moment from our childhood in addition to announcing who we were and what we did in our businesses. I heard everything from the arrival of the Beatles to Kennedy’s assassination to the invention and acquisition of Cabbage Patch Kids. The mood was light, congenial and more revealing than any sound bites on self-proclaimed business acumen. My recalling the world-changing invention of Ford’s Model T got some interesting looks. (I used to be the youngest in the room–What happened?)
After dinner I gave my talk on having A Million Dollar Presence on a Zero Dollar Budget, which I subtitle, How I Got on the Today Show. It was followed by a lively Q+A and discussion. During my book signing I met many of the women, packed up and drove home in more rain.
Not two days later I received a personal, handwritten note from Chana thanking me for my contribution to her group. My talk was pro bono – I do one per quarter – so Chana was expressing her deep appreciation for my time. Enclosed was a $100 Shell gas gift card. What a brilliant gift! In this day and age, if you drive a car, the escalating cost of fueling it has become a major consideration. This was the perfect gesture and will be gratefully used, with Chana and LCBW in mind, when I fill my tank (at least once!).
At the urging of my own personal mastermind group (thank you, Mary, Brenda and Val), I began blogging three years ago this month. At the time it felt like yet another thing to do, another check box on the list. Not quite drudgery, but I couldn’t see the point.
Three years later, I love the sport and absolutely see the ‘why’ in showing up three times a week to give voice to what’s important in my corner of the world.
I’ve approached life in a new and different way, thinking as a journalist rather than Plain Jane. Everything I come into contact with–each new relationship, opportunity or incident–becomes fodder for the mill. Miriam Salpeter brilliantly likened the Royal Wedding to Job Search in a recent posting. Like Miriam, I love taking what’s happening around the world and in my local community and pulling out the wisdom for entrepreneurs, specifically women business owners. Whether it’s swooning over Tina Fey’s Bossypants, or touting the inspiring successes of my clients and colleagues, I feel more alive and connected than I ever have.
I’ve gotten to bond with you in unexpected new ways, and that’s the greater reward. I rarely go anywhere these days where someone doesn’t mention something I shared in a posting. “Loved you in the red coat!.” “Boy, that parking lot attendant sure taught you.” “How was Costa Rica?” It’s surprising, humbling, scary (How’d you know that? Oh, I wrote about it, and you read it! Oops.) I feel more seen and understood than ever before. I’ve discovered what’s really important to me (sharing what I know with other women business owners), what prejudices I harbor (why are there 95% men represented in the iStockphoto.com images?), and how brilliant, courageous and inspiring women are (read any of my posts over the last three years).
Like I heard about entering the speaking and coaching industries, people said, “It’s an easy business to get into, but a hard business to stay in.” I feel the same way about blogs. A lot of people start blogs then abandon them.There can be excitement and enthusiasm at the outset, posting, then watching your numbers grow or not. But it’s the disciplined dailiness of any venture that creates success. I have gotten better at it over time, and simply showing up religiously has its own merits. Brian Tracy says that what makes people extraordinary is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
This is my 448th post. There have been 1948 comments. I shall continue this journey and welcome your staying with me for the ride.
Here are my favorites from my beach shoot with Katie Settel last week. Would love your feedback! I’m going to update my facebook and twitter accounts and wanted more current (and more flattering) images. What do you think?
