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It’s not often that I select a comment to become a post, but Lena West’s remarks regarding my Myth of Press posting a week ago warrant that attention. I thought I knew a lot about what to do with press once you’ve gotten it, but Lena enlightened me about online press which is its whole own animal–one I’m coming to embrace.
Here’s what she said [my comments are in the brackets that follow hers]:
This is why online articles are golden. Many times people snub their noses at online media coverage, but I LOVE it.
It stays around forever and is indexed by the search engines. [Unlike paper media that is used to wrap the garbage the day after it's printed.]
It is easily shared with others–no scanning necessary. [Not to mention envelopes, stamps and a walk out to the mailbox.]
You can create links from your website and/or blog to the great information.
It’s instantly global.
Online media coverage used to be print media coverage’s ugly second cousin. Not so much anymore.
Thank you for enlightening me and my readers, Lena!
Debbie – Lena – Cathline
Friday was such a rewarding day. I was on my way to spend an hour with a web/graphic designer in the city. Navigating the crowd from the train into Grand Central Terminal I recognized my client and colleague Debbie Fay of BeSpeak and joined her for a quick exchange.
I thanked her for her recent referral to my mastermind group and mentioned hearing good things about the work she was doing for one of my clients who had recently sought her help with presentation skills, Debbie’s forte. When I asked Debbie where she was heading in NY, she mentioned a familiar company name that made me smile. Debbie had had this organization high on her client wish list, and here she was on her way to an appoinment. As we parted we both acknowledged how grateful we were to have each other as referrals. It’s the sweetest business to get.
Before heading for the train in the morning I had received a big Valentine from my favorite blogmaster, Lena West of xynomedia. Lena taught me everything I needed to know about blogging and has continued to be there for me not only to answer questions (why is one reader receiving all of my blog comments in her inbox?), but also to help everyone I refer to her. Lena had selected my business to talk about when Entrepreneur Magazine asked industry leaders to pick their favorite companies. Click here for Lena’s most generous words.
The meeting in the city was also rewarding. I met with Cathline Marshall who had attended my Remarkable Women Network event at Eileen Fisher in NY last month. We wanted more time to get to know each other so that we could also act as referral sources. I was knocked out by her portfolio presentation and got a clear picture of who her ideal client is. Having experienced my networking event and hearing more about my coaching services, we behaved like good networkers and found out how to add value to our new relationship.
Having people like Debbie, Lena and now Cathline in my professional life makes working feel like joy. I want to put it out there that membership in my Mutual Admiration Society is wide open to applicants. The only requirement for membership is 100% dedication to keeping our clients happy and successful.
For those of you reading comments to my blog on Macs, the problem of them getting cut off has been solved by my illustrious blogmaster, Lena West of xynoMedia. Thank you, Lena!
Kate Eisemann of Kate Eisemann Pictures, the talent behind my headshot selections, is busily de-mottling #4–a favorite among many of the voters on Monday. It’s a horse race between #1 and #4, so we’ll see if that makes a difference.
I’m taking the day off today to attend the Macrobiotic Conference put on by the Kushi Institute. I’ve been adhering to a mostly macrobiotic diet for two years now and feel healthier, more energetic and thinner. I will have some face time with Michio Kushi, the founder of the Institute, this afternoon when he meets with a group and offers his wisdom regarding their best health practices.
There’s a theme in this post–asking for help. It’s one of the hardest thing for us independent women to do. However, it has been so rewarding to me when I drum up the courage to ask that it’s become part of my daily practice to humble myself and admit I don’t know it all. What a relief!
I learned how to meditate over 15 years ago. I’ve meditated (TM) twice a day every day since then with very few exceptions. I still don’t think I’m doing it right. I share this because, although this is my 100th blog post, I don’t think I’m doing it right either.
My fabulous blog instructor, Lena West, explicitly told me that to be a good blogger you have to read other people’s blogs, comment on and trackback to them, quote them and stay engaged with influencers. I haven’t done that.
But, I’ve loved every minute of my blogging experience. It’s given me a brand new perspective on my business and what I want to bring to my clients and colleagues. I feel like I’m walking around with new lenses on, seeing small business in a completely new light. I can’t wait to write a piece on logo envy, another on how to deal with making plans in the Northeast during winter and yet another on throwing parties as a way to promote your business. I got the coolest invitation from my clients at 341 Studios. (More on that later this week.)
I’ve loved sharing my perspective with my readers. I’ve gotten positive feedback from neighbors here in Norwalk and from as far away as Slovenia. (Hi Darja!) It seems that whenever I begin to launch into a story–like my husband backing into the garage door–my audience has already read about it on my blog.
I have the joy of feeling seen and heard by hundreds. I believe that’s what we human beings crave. I do anyway. It’s a huge reward and bi-product of blogging. I surely didn’t anticipate that effect.
So, after writing my 100th blog, I still don’t think I’m doing it right. But like the transcendental meditation I’ve practiced for all these years, whatever it is I am doing, it’s working for me.
My blog expert/teacher/friend Lena West sent me a link that I wanted to share with you:
The Business Traits of Successful Artist Entrepreneurs
It’s written by Steve King (not Stephen King, btw) and enumerates what it takes to be successful today, as an entrepreneur and more specifically, a creative entrepreneur.
Hellmuth [the subject of the entry] spends over half her time on business issues and realizes business and marketing skills are key to her success.
I know that many entrepreneurs prefer being the “technician” –Michael Gerber‘s word for the “talent” side of entrepreneurship vs. the strategic thinker/do-er side. They prefer to work IN the business rather than ON the business.
King’s post underlines the importance of taking the Business Owner perspective at least half the time in your business. I agree.
