I’m very excited to announce that Naomi and Jamie of Itty Biz have just released their very first eBook:

• SEO School: How to Become an SEO Ninja
  

Note: There’s a discount code at the bottom of the post…

I was lucky enough to know about this eBook well in advance of it’s launch day (today) so I already purchased my copy last week! I can’t wait to start reading it and implementing some if not ALL of the tactics to my web site and blog.

I’ve hired Naomi twice already, with another consultation setup for tomorrow afternoon, so I have no doubt whatever expertise she’s able to share through an eBook will be invaluable to say the least.

Here are some of the things you’ll learn in SEO School:

This is direct from the Itty Biz web site below – I figured it would be best to tell you exactly what’s included rather than try to paraphrase. Naomi is, after all, a marketing expert!

• How to figure out what you want to rank in Google for (it’s not what you think)
• How to maximize the number of people searching for your keywords while minimizing your competition
• When you want to optimize, and when you don’t
• Where to find free tools — what you should pay for and what you shouldn’t
• What to do about the Google sandbox
• How to get creative with your SEO — it’s not just stuffing a bunch of keywords in and crossing your fingers
• How to tell whether your niche is profitable — will you ever be able to rank for what you want?
• Black Hat SEO vs. White Hat SEO — it’s not just for Westerns anymore
• How to capitalize on long tail search terms — the ones that the big guys aren’t even trying for
• Competition reconnaissance — how to know what you’re up against (Hint: ninjas are involved.)

In addition to the background stuff, you’ll come away with concrete, actionable ideas for what you can do to improve your Google ranking TODAY:

• 8 critical optimization tricks you can start using on your own site right now. Even if you don’t know anything about SEO. Even if you don’t know anything about websites.
• 6 ways to maximize the power of your inbound links, the thing Google looks at first

There are also two special sections at the end:

• For Bloggers Only: The 3 reasons you NEED a blog, even if you can’t write – 7 blog-specific ways to improve your SEO
• The Future of Google: What to know and do now so you don’t have to redo this stuff again every six months for the rest of your life.

Special Offer – $9 OFF until July 1st

For a limited time – until July 1st, 2008 – you can get $9 off the eBook with Discount Code: MovingDay

You can’t go wrong with that, now, can you? Be sure to get your copy of SEO School: How to Become an SEO Ninja today!

Welcome to Week 4 of the Get Clients Now! 28 Day Marketing Program!

We’re in the home stretch now! Just 1 more week left to finish up on those Success Ingredients, and to reach your program goal. How is everyone doing this time around?

Success Ingredients – Week 3

Although I’m continuing to make process on all of my Success Ingredients, I have not yet accomplished my goals for these items on time! I’ve got 1 week to finish up, so I know I’ll be a busy little bee this time around!

1. Description of Services – Progress: 90%
   by May 30, 2008
   Missed deadline again – Changing goal to June 13, 2008
   
2. Networking Venues – Progress: 60%
   by June 6, 2008
   Changed goal last week to June 13, 2008 to allow time for #1 above
   
3. Blog Concept / Topics – Progress: 50%
   by June 13, 2008

Daily / Weekly Actions – Week 3

Not bad this week. I almost feel like it’s cheating when GCN lets you give yourself a Y for an item you didn’t do, as long as you hadn’t planned on doing it that day. Again, I’d say this is a motivational tactic. Anyway, not too bad last week in terms of my total number of completed daily/weekly actions.

• Total (# of 10)
  8 -7 -6 -7 – 7

Program Goal – Week 3

Going by my results on the “new prospects” portion of the goal, Get Clients Now! definitely delivers! I’m always amazed by how the daily and weekly actions in my “Filling the Pipeline” program does SO well!

• Program Goal
  10 new prospects / 2 new clients
• My Progress
  140% – 14 new prospects / 50% – 1 new client

As far as new clients, I’m half way there – good, but I’d love to get 1 additional client this week, so I’d be at 100% on this area, too. What I realize is that the goal of signing a new client really is more for the other stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle. Specifically the area on Closing Sales.

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

I will be focusing my next program on Following Up, however, as I want to learn as many techniques as possible from all 4 stages. Anyway, the numbers above definitely show that the program works to help Fill the Pipeline by bringing in new prospects!

I’d say the numbers speak for themselves, as far as whether GCN actually works or not! To be honest, what I really need to do is focus on the other stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle.

How Was Your Week 3?

For those of you following along this time around – how did you do last week? Do you think you’ll reach your program goal by Friday? Please share in the comments below!

By the way, the next program which will be starting on Saturday, June 21st – so you still have a few more weeks to decide if you like what you see and want to get the book and give it a shot, too!

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Welcome to Week 3 of the Get Clients Now! 28 Day Marketing Program!

Now that we’re halfway through the program, how is everyone doing? I think Nicole is the only other person joining along on the actual program, lol – but if you’ve been reading our progress thinking about joing in on the next program, I wonder what your thoughts are?

Success Ingredients – Week 2

Something I neglected to write an overview on last week (oversight on my part) was my success ingredients. One of my deadlines was Friday, and I missed the boat… I’m 85% on that item, so I know I have to play catch-up this week.

Overall, I’m making progress on all of them, though, so I still think I can reach these goals by the end of the program.

1. Description of Services – Progress: 85%
   by May 30, 2008
   Missed deadline – Changing goal to June 6, 2008
   
2. Networking Venues – Progress: 35%
   by June 6, 2008
   Changing goal to June 13, 2008 to allow time for #1 above
   
3. Blog Concept / Topics – Progress: 25%
   by June 13, 2008

Daily / Weekly Actions – Week 2

I suppose I don’t need to bore you with the specifics of each daily item, lol – the totals should speak for themselves…

• Total (# of 10)
  10 – 8 – 5 – 2 – 6

I’m happy to say that I rocked it on Monday! Of course, that was a holiday, which meant I had all day to market myself. Thursday was obviously a very poor day in terms of GCN. There was a LOT going on that day for me, though (announcement on that in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!)

Program Goal – Week 2

As for overall progress of my Program Goal… I’m doing great! Way past the half way mark!

• Program Goal
  10 new prospects / 2 new clients
• My Progress
  110% – 11 new prospects / 50% – 1 new client

I’d say the numbers speak for themselves, as far as whether GCN actually works or not! To be honest, what I really need to do is focus on the other stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle.

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

I’m more than right on with new prospects, which is my goal with this program – Filling the Pipeline. Actually signing new clients are more along the lines of Closing the Sale, which is the last program.

For those of you following along, my next program will be geared towards Following Up, as I want to work through each of the stages in the Marketing Cycle. But of course, you can do any of the programs – whichever is the area you feel most necessary to furthering your business. In my case I did several Filling the Pipeline programs.

That’s the beauty of the program is that you can custom tailor your program(s) to exactly what you need.

How Did You Do In Week 2?

Please post an update below to let us know how you’re doing at the half way point. And if you’ve been reading along – what do you think? Does it seem like a worthwhile process?

I hope you’ll join along in the next program which will be starting on Saturday, June 21st.

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Welcome to week 2 of the Get Clients Now! 28 Day Marketing Program!

How did everyone do last week? I hope it was a productive week! This won’t be a long post today – basically just a quick checkin to show my progress and see how everyone is doing.

Daily / Weekly Actions – Week 1

Below are my selected Daily and Weekly Actions that I setup in Week 1. Under each item is my Yes or No status, as far as whether I completed the item on a given day (I’ve tailored my program as suggested in the book – with my action days being Monday – Friday… if your schedule is different, you can adjust this to your most productive days if necessary).

1. Spend 1/2 hour each day on my Success Ingredient Projects
   N – Y – Y – Y – Y
2. Spend 1/2 hour each day on reading or writing
   N – Y – Y – Y – Y
3. Send 1 letter or email to a new person each week
   Y – N – N – Y – Y
4. Make 1 new community contact each week
   Y – N – Y – Y – Y
5. Post 1 Q/A Question each week (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
   N – N – N – Y – Y
6. Post 1 Q/A Answer each day (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
   Y – N – Y – N – N
7. Post 2 blog comments each day
   Y – Y – Y – N – N
8. Post 2 message board posts each day (new and/or response)
   Y – Y – Y – Y – Y
9. Publish 2 blog posts each week
   Y – Y – Y – N – N
   
10. Plan my day each morning (or the night before)
    N – Y – Y – Y – Y

Overall not bad – lots of Yes’ in the list above. However there are also quite a bit of No’s… My totals for the week are:

• Total (# of 10)
  6 – 6 – 8 – 7 – 7

Ideally, you want to average about 8 Y’s per day. So I can see I need improvement. The beauty of this program is that you are able to customize it to fit your needs. If you find that it’s nearly impossible to accomplish one (or several) of your Daily / Weekly items, you can always adjust it.

For example, change your 2 blog comments a day goal to 1 blog comments a day. Judging by last week, that is something I might need to adjust. But I am going to leave my list as-is for the moment and see if I can’t just increase my performance next week. If I find my daily totals are still on the low side, then I’ll reconsider adjusting my Daily / Weekly Actions next week.

A Little Bit of Grey

As far as judging your progress, I find there can be a bit of grey area, because some items are a bit tricky to keep track of. For example, #5 above “Post 1 Q/A Question each week” – I posted 2 questions this week, and gave myself credit for those days.

In GCN, CJ Hayden says that if you had planned to do a weekly item, but didn’t – then you get an “N” for that day. However, if you did Not plan on doing an item, you can credit yourself with a “Y”. So I have a few freebie points in my list from that. Kind of misleading in a way, but I think it’s more to help motivate you – at least as far as sticking to your plans.

Now, take #9 “Publish 2 blog posts each week” – I failed on this one in that I did not publish 2 posts this week. But I gave myself Y’s on Monday and Tuesday because I worked on the posts (even though they have not yet been published). This is where there’s some grey area, LOL.

Program Goal – Week 1

As for overall progress of my Program Goal…

• Program Goal
  10 new prospects / 2 new clients
• My Progress
  40% – 4 new prospects / 0% – 0 new clients

Not bad for just 1 week. I’m almost at 50% of my goal for Prospects after only 1 week! I know actually getting the clients will be more difficult than getting prospects. But I at least have my foot in 4 new doors, LOL, so it’s a start!

A note about how I’m judging these, by the way…

Before starting the project, I already had 5 prospects (so hey – I’ve technically currently got 9 prospects! That’s GREAT!) As far as prospects go, however, I’m only including a potential client in my GCN project goal if they became a prospect AFTER I started the program.

On the other hand, actually converting a prospect into an official client obviously requires a lot more work – much of which is ongoing during the program (for example, I sent out 3 proposals last week). If any of my prospects (pre-GCN or post-GCN) becomes a paying client, then I will include them in my “2 new clients” goal.

Your Turn!

So, enough about me! I want to hear how YOU did this week! I’d say I’m off to a good start, and I hope next week is even better for all of us.

If you’re following the program alongside me, please do leave a comment below, and let me know how week 1 went for you. Are you making any changes to your program goals or daily/weekly actions for week 2?

If you’re not in on the program yet, I still wonder what your thoughts are? Do you think this is something you’d be interested in doing in the near future?

I plan on starting a 2nd program on the blog in June, so you have plenty of time to prepare by getting the book and reading up on it (you don’t have to read the whole book – only about half of it for preparation… the rest of it you read as you follow the program).

Best of luck in Week 2!

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Welcome to Week 1 of my first public Get Clients Now! (GCN) program…

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, lol, be sure to read the first intro post in this series. Basically, I’m publicizing my progress in going through the 28 day marketing program found in Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants, and Coaches by C.J. Hayden.

Class In Session (Or A Preview)

The program itself is starting today, but if you don’t have the book, don’t worry! Just follow along this month to see what you think… if you like what you see, you can pick up a copy of the book, and join in on the next round!

My thoughts being that by posting my process on this blog, it will help make me accountable for my actions – making sure that I actually complete the program and make the most of my marketing efforts.

In doing so, I’m also hoping to have as many of you as possible join in on the process – nothing like a group of peers to help support each other!

And yes, I realize this might not all make sense if you don’t have the book, but this series should at least give a general idea as to what the book entails.

Put Yourself First

As I mentioned in my previous GCN post, I have started 3 programs in the past, but each time I got too caught up in client work that I put my own marketing efforts on the back-burner.

Perhaps the most important quote from the book, and one we as small business owners should live by…

“Make marketing your first priority
instead of the last thing you do”

I’m guilty of putting my own projects and marketing efforts last, whenever client work comes in, so it was very good to read someone else stressing how important marketing is – that it should come first.

I’m starting with that new mantra today!

Program Focus

The book is built so that you can create as many plans with different focuses as necessary, depending on your particular marketing needs:

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

In my previous GCN programs, I focused on the first step in the Universal Marketing Cycle – Filling the Pipeline. I plan to complete this program by continuing to focus on this stage.

For those of you joining in on the program, please feel free to design your own program on any of the four stages above.

Action Worksheet – My Program Goals and How I Will Obtain Them

Below are my program goals and planned ingredients and actions for the next 28 days. Don’t forget you can download the FREE marketing plan worksheets from the Get Clients Now web site.

Start Date

• May 17, 2007

What strategies will you use?

• Direct Contact and Follow-up
• Networking and Referral Building
• Writing and Publicity

Where are you stuck or what needs the most work?

• Filling the Pipeline

How much business do you have now?

• $X,XXX / month
  some things you don’t have to post for the whole world to read, LOL

How much business do you really want?

• $X,XXX / month x 2
  I’d like to double my monthly business income

What would that get you?

• Extra money to pay off credit card debt… aka Less Stress!

What is your program goal?

• 10 new prospects / 2 new clients

What will be your reward?

• Me Time / A complete day OFF!
  No work! Sleep in late, take a nap, have an at-home girly spa/pamper day complete with manicure, pedicure and candle-lit bath… aka Relax!

Success Ingredients

1. Description of Services
   This is mostly complete, but I need to tweak existing rates and services, as well as add new WordPress and eCommerce services.
   by May 30, 2008
2. Networking Venues
   I especially want to focus on maximizing my social media profiles by making the most of existing profiles and creating some new ones.
   by June 6, 2008
3. Blog Concept / Topics
   I need to focus on this blog as a business networking tool, mainly by producing quality posts on a more frequent basis, at least twice a week as a starting point.
   by June 13, 2008

Daily Actions

1. Spend 1/2 hour each day on my Success Ingredient Projects
2. Spend 1/2 hour each day on reading or writing
3. Send 1 letter or email to a new person each week
4. Make 1 new community contact each week
5. Post 1 Q/A Question each week (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
6. Post 1 Q/A Answer each day (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
7. Post 2 blog comments each day
8. Post 2 message board posts each day (new and/or response)
9. Publish 2 blog posts each week
10. Plan my day each morning (or the night before)

Special Permission

• I Deserve to be Successful!

Now It’s Your Turn

What are your program goals? What do you hope to accomplish over the next 28 days, and which daily actions are going to get you there?

Please feel free to post your Action Worksheet on your own blog, or in the comments below. This will help make you accountable and ensure you actually get this done (and if you don’t we’ll be here to motivate each other to continue).

Best of luck to you this month! Let the marketing begin!

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Back in January, I started reading Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants, and Coaches by C.J. Hayden.

This book walks you through creating a 28 Day Marketing Program to help promote your business. It’s particularly aimed at service based businesses, but I’m sure the techniques could be adapted to those selling products as well.

With a title like that, the book instantly caught my attention. That and the rave reviews I saw on Amazon. (Yes, that’s an affiliate link above… if you plan to buy the book anyway, I hope you’ll help a girl out by clicking the link, LOL)

From the first few pages, I was very excited to get started with the 28 day program. I believe I share a lot in common with many small business owners -we love what we do, but we are designers or writers or [insert job title here]… not necessarily marketing specialists!

As a small business owner, though, you end up wearing many different hats – including that of a sales man (or woman).

The Universal Marketing Cycle: A Brief Overview…

Get Clients Now! focuses on the four stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle:

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

C.J. Hayden explains the strategies and ingredients necessary for improving your performance on the stages above. As part of the 28 day cycle, you are able to put together your own program, selecting the specific ingredients, techniques and daily actions that appeal to you.

The Importance of Self-Promotion

I’ve found this to be a very motivational book, and I can honestly say that I have accomplished a LOT because of it. I’ve completed several success ingredients, and have been networking through this blog and other social media. I’ve met a lot of great people, and formed relationships that I never would have if not for this book.

Some of the contacts I’ve made through the networking suggestions in the book have turned into qualified leads, too (and that is the point of the book, after all…)

Now, I love the concept of the 28 Day program… BUT – and there’s always a “but” – I’ve started 3 programs so far, and I have yet to actually complete one!

Although I always hit the ground running, I end up slacking off before reaching the final week (or two). I hope that doesn’t reflect poorly on the book itself, it’s just the side of me who ends up putting clients first, before my own business.

Avoid the Feast or Famine Cycle

Unfortunately, this throws me right into the vicious cycle of feast vs famine.

In other words, when business is slow, I market like crazy, which is great! But when things pick up and I’m juggling several clients at once, I feel I “don’t have time” for marketing.

This is most certainly NOT the smartest approach to take – because although you will not notice it during the busy times, you will most definitely feel the consequences “next month” when the work you were doing is finished, and there are no new clients on the horizon.

It’s important to keep planting those seeds, so you have a steady stream of work sprouting up.

Enter a NEW Month… and a NEW 28 Day Program!

So, this post is all about creating some accountability for myself. This time will be different, as I’ll be posting weekly updates right here.

Nothing like putting it all out in the open to help make you accountable!

Care to Join Me?

I’m planning on starting a new program very soon – a little over a week from now, on Saturday, May 17th.

The book suggests starting the program on a Saturday, but otherwise you have weekends “off” while you do the majority of your program tasks during the work-week. Of course, if your schedule is different, you can easily re-arrange the dates to better suit you. Point is… it’s 28 days of marketing and self-promotion.

You can’t go wrong there!

A Book Club, of Sorts…

I’d love to open this up to anyone else who has the book; have been planning on getting the book; have never heard of the book, but your interest is now peaked… well, you get the idea, right?

I’ll be posting weekly updates as I go through the program. It might not all make sense to you if you don’t have Get Clients Now! but you can get a general idea of what to expect if you do eventually want to try it for yourself.

Are You In?

So, if you want to participate, please make a comment below or post on your blog, etc. It would be great to have a group of people to help hold each other accountable. What’s there to loose – your business could (and likely will) benefit from it!

For those of you joining in on the fun, you can download the FREE marketing plan worksheets from the Get Clients Now web site.

Have You Already Completed A (Several) Program(s)?

I’d love to hear your thoughts… Has it worked for you?

Do you have any suggestions?

BTW, like Naomi’s recent small business game post…

…this is NOT a meme! LOL

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Last week, Naomi over at Itty Biz posed a thoughtful question to her readers: Let’s Play a Game – What’s Your Home Business?

Some might call this a meme, but she doesen’t specifically call anyone out to answer, so it’s NOT a meme, LOL.

Not as Obvious as You Think…

Naomi received a question from one of her regular readers, asking what she actually does for a living.

“So what do you actually do for a living?”

This can be somewhat shocking to hear that a regular reader doesn’t quite understand what you do… If a regular reader doesn’t get it – how are new visitors you your site or blog supposed to know?

Enter the What’s Your Home Business Game! Naomi posted several questions that will help clarify exactly what it is that you do for a living. Sounds like a fun and completely useful game. It’s my turn now, so here goes…

A good friend of mine recently decided to start-up her own business, and asked me if there were any web sites or blogs that I recommend she read.

I’m currently subscribed to approximately 40 blogs relating to small business, blogging, marketing, etc. Although I love them all, some are more highly regarded as great resources on these topics.

The cream of the crop so to speak…

Now, this isn’t a definitive list, as it’s all subject to personal opinion, if you know what I mean. There are obviously a LOT more blogs than the ones listed below, and many of these actually cross-over between different categories – although I did attempt to place them in the most applicable spot…

Anyway, these are the blogs that I personally refer to the most. Whether it is to read the latest post, or search through the archives for something specific, you can often find me on these sites. They are the “must reads” on my feed reader.

I just came across a very interesting post by Nick Cernis on Put Things Off in regards to using the “F” word with clients and potential clients.LOL – No, not a curse word – but the word “Freelance” or “Freelancer” etc.

Shock! Horror! Are You Using The F Word Around Your Clients?

In his article, Nick discusses both the Pro’s and Con’s of using this term with clients and potential clients, etc.

Personally, I have been using this as part of my non-official title on my other web sites, but am now reconsidering it…

Of course, as part of this blog and blogging community, I am among the company of some amazing Freelancer’s! That is what I am, too, so I will proudly continue to use the F word around here, LOL.

I hope you’ll give this article a read! It is interesting to see the comments and what everyone else has to say on the matter.

What do you think?

Do you use this term with your clients and prospects? Did the article change your mind about it?

I would love to hear your opinion on the matter, whether it’s here or over at the original article!

Skellie of Skelliewag and Anywired recently wrote a four part series on Freelance Switch about Becoming a Freelance Web Worker.This isn’t just in reference to becoming a freelancer – the articles focus on how to be a freelancer who does 100% of their business online. I found the posts to be very helpful and informative!

The series focuses on:

How to find clients, how to work completely online and how to run your freelancing business from anywhere in the world.

Working as an online-only freelancer takes this flexibility to another level. You can work for who you want, when you want, in any state or country in the world (all you need is an internet connection and a computer).

I would say that the majority of my business is done online – in fact I don’t actually have any local clients. I think of this as a great thing, because that means I don’t have to deal with any in-person meetings.

Most importantly, I’m able to do all of my work from the comfort of home, or wherever my laptop takes me. With no local clients, I’m lucky enough not to have to go to their office to work, for example.

On the other hand, most of my clients and prospects prefer the phone to email, and most pay by check rather than by PayPal – so in this sense, I’m not truly a web worker yet.

However, the majority of my business either comes from referrals or from online sources (most have found my web sites through the search engines, for example).

My favorite post in the series is Part 2: Finding Work Online. Skellie lists 23 ways to find work online, and goodness knows we can all use tips on how to get more work… well, those of us just starting out, anyway, lol.

So, I am fairly close to being an online only freelancer – the tips in the articles below might just get me to 100%. Hopefully they will help get you there, too!

Becoming a Freelance Web Worker

• Part 1: Why You Should Do It
• Part 2: Finding Work Online
• Part 3: The Working Day
• Part 4: Working Anywhere