Thanks to my Google Friend Connect widget I stumbled across a great blog today:
It’s written by Tony Lawrence and I think it’s mainly a site focused on Linux and Unix (Tony provides Linux and Unix consulting support services), but it also contains a fair number of articles on blogging and earning money on-line
So why would I find a site on Linux and Unix interesting, given that I’m technophobic?
Because his articles on earning money on-line and blogging scream common sense and reality. Such a refreshing change from so much of the over-hyped BS that’s everywhere.
That made me think about my own business. I’m seriously anti-hype, as I’ve made clear in many places on this site, but have I become a lemming in other respects?
Do I just regurgitate advice I’ve picked up from others instead of offering information from my own experiences?
I hope not – but it’s easy to let standards slip.
So here’s what I’m going to do this year:
- Make sure that I write thoughtful stuff of which I have personal experience. That can be stuff that I’ve learned, mistakes I’ve made and even things I’ve done that have worked. But I will not simply regurgitate.
- I will review the way I use Social Network Marketing. Am I voting stuff up just for the sake of voting it up? Or is it really outstanding? (I’m guilty of voting for stuff just for the sake of voting, because I want to be seen not to be promoting only my own stuff).
- Specify exactly what I mean by ‘value’. It’s one of the most overused words (by me) I know of, so in each article and web page I write I will identify specifically what it is that I’m offering that is both unique and helpful. That is: how will someone in my target market benefit from what I’ve written. No benefit, no article. Really.
Only 3 things – that’s not a lot, I hear you say.
Maybe not, but I think if I concentrate on those 3 things other things will follow. I hope so, anyway.
All the best to you for 2009!
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{ 9 comments }
Hi Martin
It looks like you’ve got a good plan. And I’m sure you known one of the business (life?) truths: failing to plan is planning to fail
Guess 2009 will be the year more and more will be reviewing their Social Media Marketing use – keeping what works, dishing what only takes up time
(I’ve planned the same)
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Karin H.´s last blog post..Fulfilling the needs of the majority of your clients – at all costs (?)
Hi Karin,
Thanks – and Season’s Greetings to you!
Failing to plan… etc – yes – I used to be a Dale Carnegie instructor and that was one of the catch lines that we used at appropriate points in the management course!
And Yes – I do have to get more efficiency into my business, but it’s more about ‘engaging’ more. Not sure if that’s the word I want. But I think I kind of went onto auto-pilot and I need to get back off it.
Cheers,
Martin.
Hi Martin
What helps me/us always is to find, know and stick to your (business’s) hedgehog concept: keep doing what you do best.
That way, we’ve discovered, you’re never on autopilot and have to engage with your prospects, clients all the time to check if you are on ‘track’.
Karin H.
Karin H.´s last blog post..The Quarterly mystery of the 3 pounds
The trouble with me is that if I keep doing what I do best I do go into auto-pilot..! That’s just the way I am. I have to find ways to keep myself focused and engaged.
It was the same when I was riding horses competitively – I constantly had to pitch myself against people who were better than me otherwise I just went backwards.
Cheers,
Martin.
Hi again Martin
Just read a beautiful quote I like to pass on – since we were talking about planning:
“1 minute of planning = a saving of 10 minutes in execution =
1000% return on energy”
It comes from a free booklet I found on this site (found it through my own web traffic tracker, one of the coaches must be one of my regular blog-readers
)
Greetings
Karin H
Karin H.´s last blog post..The Quarterly mystery of the 3 pounds
Thanks for that, Karin!
Greetings and a happy new year to you!
Cheers,
Martin.
I’m sorry it took me so long to notice this post – it’s been a busy past few weeks with company and a lot of site redesign and I just haven’t been keeping up with socializing.
If I might make a suggestion? You should put an rss tag in your html head section. Most browsers today notice that and will put the link up in the “goto” window with the RSS symbol so it’s easy to see and click on.
(if you don’t know what I mean, visit my site with Firefox and then yours. Look in the bar where you’d type an address – see the difference?)
I’m looking forward to more thoughtful pieces. We have enough regurgitators and more than enough over-priced BS.. I’m glad to bookmark you!
Ooops – never mind – you have that tag – I dunno why I wasn’t seeing it a second ago..
And thanks for your earlier reply – it’s been a pretty hectic start to the year here too, which has resulted in me letting a few things slip.
A couple of days ago I re-arranged the bookmarks on my FF bookmarks tool bar so that they now give me a list of things I need to do each day.
Working great so far – but it has only been 2 days
Cheers,
Martin.
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