Knee Deep Blog

How Do You Touch, Move and Inspire Your Readers?

The day after I read a fun post by Jim Turner of Genuine Blog called Daddy did you...?  (fart) I wrote (Defining Moments: Farts, Farting and Social Norms) - even more interesting...it's become a pretty popular post according to my stats on Stat Counter.   

That aside, it's important to recognize the power of emotionally connecting with your words.  Your blog's content that is seen as valuable even if it is on farts and the weird social norm or "pull my finger" has the power to connect with your audience and perhaps encourage a few new readers.

Even though at face value it seems like it is really about the actual post which it was when I wrote it, in retrospect on a deeper home based internet mom level it's about...

• recognizing that all business and no play makes for a boring, boring and I mean boring business day
• people (your readers and clients) are interested in knowing more and it is up to you to recognize the boundaries
• humor is a great outlet (but do remember the point of your blog)
• learn what keeps people coming back for more...
  • are they commenting? (interaction)
  • do your blog's stats show increased unique visitors and page views
  • what are your most read blog posts?
• are people telling others (called word of mouth marketing)...links are a great way to find out. 
  
  • To spell this out clearly...Genuine blog wrote, I wrote and linked to them - therefore I'm telling others and spreading the word. 
  • I received a comment from a reader who blog links to mine...therefore I can assume that some of his readers do come to my blog...by the way your blog's stats will tell you if this is true or not

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The home based internet mom's deep thought and deep quote for today:

"Be willing to be all of you and share it with your readers, your clients new and old.  You'll be amazed at the results."

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Regards,

Michele Corey, writing for Knee Deep:  A dose on insight and a little crap from your not always average home based business and Internet mom and WordStreamz: Real Estate Blog Marketing.

PS. What have you written lately that has touch moved or inspired your blog readers?

How to Make Free 411 Calls

In February and March I lead a breakout called:  Goal Setting for Financial Success And Prosperity at the Money Wise Women Forum in the Pacific Northwest.  In preparation for the events and in doing the events I've had a some aha's of my own that I'll share over a few blog posts.

One of my goals has been to simplify my life so that it feels easy and in the process put more money back into my pocket that I can redistribute it more consciously and wisely.

If you're interested in either or both:  having your life feel a bit more easy amidst the daily chaos many of us experience as we "work" to integrate work, family, financial goals and most importantly time for ourself then these posts will be of interest to you.

Today's tip:  Save on expensive 411 calls by dialing an easy to remember access number.

Save Money and Simplify Your Life: SunRocket, I mean Packet 8 VOIP Recommended

The Skinny:  This spring I lead a breakout called:  Goal Setting for Financial Success And Prosperity at the Money Wise Women Forum in the Pacific Northwest.  In preparation for the events and in doing the events I've had a some aha's of my own that I'll share over a few blog posts.

One of my goals has been to simplify my life so that it feels easy and in the process put more money back into my pocket that I can redistribute it more consciously and wisely - also known as smart spending.

If you're interested in either or both:  having your life feel a bit more easy amidst the daily chaos many of us experience as we "work" to integrate work, family, financial goals and most importantly time for ourself then these posts will be of interest to you.

Plus I'm putting my money where my mouth is and walking my talk.

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Today's tip:  Learn how I'm saving $646.80 per year and $6,669 in 10 years by using a VOIP phone service, Sunrocket Packet 8

(since writing this post Sun rocket the second largest VOIP provider has gone bankrupt....so I've switched to Packet 8, they been in the phone business and now VOIP business for 20 plus years)

Packet 8 Internet Phone Service.  Save $500 per year on your phone bill!

Virtual Assistant Directory by Category

I've been toying with the idea of hiring a virtual assistant in addition to additional help for my home based office for quite a while.  Today I happened across a VA directory from the Alliance for Virtual Business.  What I love is that it is categorized both by industry and by  services which means if you're an author, coach, or attorney and want to find the perfect person to transcribe a teleclass or client notes. it's available and there is a perfect virtual assistant that wants the work.

The downside to the directory is that the information is pretty basic, the site is a bit slow, and although their membership states it's available, I didn't find links to the virtual assistant's website.  You do get a phone number and an address so you know where they are located if that makes a difference to you. 

I googled a couple of names to see if I could learn more, one person had a site (I like to shop and discover before I engage) and the other didn't.

The upside of hiring someone by category:  you get someone that specializes in an area which means there isn't down time and cost to figuring out details, as well as the costs appear to be more reflective of the task.  It also gives the buyer, that's you, the opportunity to decide, do you want a jack of all trades and partner, or multiple partners working on their designated areas.

I'd love to hear if you've used the directory, and hear your recommendations.

Regards,

Michele Corey, Advanced Approach, Knee Deep:  A dose of insight from your not always average home based business and internet mom aka entrepreneur and the WordStreamz Blog:  simple real estate blog marketing

What To Do When You're Shaken Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Some times it takes getting shaken (not stirred) out of your comfort zone to really become conscious and willing to open your eyes wider and invite yourself into your own conversation.  Perhaps some may think this approach appears as if you're in need of  medication or a good therapist but I look at it as an opportunity to feel uncomfortable, some times it's really uncomfortable, and I know this means I'm opening and growing.

My version of the theory of learning and enlightenment (from NLP) I often share with my clients goes like this.

Stage 1: You start as an unconscious incompetent - you don't know what you don't know.  Life is perfect as you know it.  Your truth is your truth and that's just how it is.  Many people really don't want this bubble burst and pretend to never notice Stage 2.   People in other stages may look at someone in this stage and laugh at their seemingly unwillingness or lack of ability to want to be where they are in Stage 3 or 4, but in reality they just don't know what they don't know.

Stage 2: You are shaken, stirred or perhaps both and become a conscious incompetent - you discover there is some thing you don't know or some thing you thought you knew has many more edges.  Because of this consciousness and the discomfort that comes with it, you can't go back to stage one and not knowing.  Every time you pretend that you don't know the knowing stares you in the face and is practically begging you to take action.

Taking Action Creates All Sorts of Surprises

Original Post: (see part 2 below)

Last Tuesday I found James Braush's Internet Business Blog.  It started on one of my information quests on how to download  a wordpress blog.  My journey stopped for a while on tubetutorial which has some great free tutorials to CopyBlogger because Brian is one of the "voices" on tubetorial.  From Copyblogger I learned about Glyphius Copywriting Software which lead to James Brausch's Blog. 

I figured I'd check it out and see if James has any good tidbits to help with my other business, the online journey.  Well within the first week he was offering some thing for free - an external CD writer.  Looks interesting I thought as I moved on with my own to do list.  Then he posted the next day and said...hey no one is taking action and voila comments and the requested trackbacks appeared.  I decided I'd jump on the band wagon and say, hey I'd love to have the external CD RW Drive  (this link is for the internal one) - as I have said before pick me, pick me I even have some thing to give back...see below.

I even have a wordpress tip to share with you James which I learned on the journey that helped me find your blog -   I know you could use it as your posts look like this - http://www.jamesbrausch.com/?p=562 which is the default permalink structure.

How to make your wordpress blog posts more SEO friendly by changing the Permalink Structure