1. Use short sentences and common words. Make sure you use words that you meet with on a daily basis, preferably three syllables or less. Likewise, keep your sentences short (under 20-words). Writing long and complicated sentences will make your article more difficult to read and can drive some audiences away. On the other hand, short, simple sentences written in 7^th grade language are easy to read, easy to follow, and appreciated even by people with a more sophisticated language base. In short, simplicity will always lead to success when it comes to writing.

2. Be precise.  Precision in writing is also important. Make your point in as few words as possible. Avoid unnecessary repetition and don’t elaborate on a subject unless you absolutely have to, to make your point. In shorter works, a good rule-of-thumb is to keep each point to one or two short simple paragraphs.

3. Use headings, sub-headings, bullets, numbered lists, tables, or anything else that you think can help make your point clearer and easier to understand. In longer works, of 10 pages or more, it is also recommended that you use a Table of Contents.

4. Choosing a Font:  It’s important to use an eye-friendly font and have ample space between blocks of text.  Sans-Sherif fonts, such as Arial look better on web content, whereas Serif fonts like Times New Roman are great for print, but I must admit, personally, I won’t use Times New Roman for anything because it reminds me of my “stiff” college days.

Note: Make sure you avoid using ALL CAPS. They are difficult and tiresome to read, and online ALL CAPS are the equivalent of shouting.

5. Use correct grammar.  While in blogging, the grammar gods are more forgiving, blatant bad grammar is still a put off.  Likewise, so is bad spelling. Both of these can be well managed, easily, by using the spell-check tool.

6. Avoid jargon.  Do not assume that your reader will understand jargon. Whatever your subject is, imagine that it’s being read by someone who does not know the subject. For example, if your post is about a cool new gadget, make sure the people who don’t know much about technology can understand what you are writing.

7. Compare. The best way to improve your writing is to find popular content that has the same target audience as you, and is considered top-notch, and see how they are doing it. There’s nothing wrong with learning how to address an audience through examples of other people’s work, just don’t plagiarize. Notice the format, the style and get inspired, and then find your own voice-.

In summary, use common, everyday words.  Be precise. Choose formatting carefully, avoid jargon, and you will be well on your way to becoming an effective writer.  Be sure to take the time to run a spell-check and grammar tool, proofread your work and look at the overall layout and structure.  Finally,
ask yourself if you found the text interesting – if so, chances are others will too.

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to blogging, you may have heard the saying, “Content is the King.”  Cliché as it may sound, it could not be truer.  The quality of your blog content, or lack thereof, will ultimately determine your blogs success.  High quality blog content not only draws targeted traffic and improves your site ranking, it also builds trust and credibility with your readers:  both of which are key to building an online community, and a loyal following.

Providing quality blog content requires blog writing.  Unfortunately, writing can be a daunting task, and many entrepreneurs shy away from it.  They claim, “I am not a writer,” but the truth is, if you can talk, you can write . . . AND you can write a blog.  When writing, you simply get more time to consider how you are going to say the thing you want to say . . . and you get to edit and polish it . . . which can make you sound waaaaay more articulate.  

Ok, so there is “one” more thing:  blog writing does require time, effort, creativity, and commitment.  No argument!  But if you are going to have an online presence, with a quality blog, you are going to have “pony up,” take up the “pen,” and write the damn thang!  The good news is, there is a deeper truth, even to that:  Like with anything else, blog writing does get easier with practice. The following tips can help simplify the process and get you on your writing and blogging way.

1.  Invest some time learning about the subject.  (This step is unavoidable. So “pony up” and pay your research dues). 

• Grab a journal or a notebook.
• Go to Google, and see what others have written on the subject. 
• Jot down things that jump out at you.  If you see something that inspires you, directly, and it is well written, quote the author and give  them credit. Then, elaborate on it or share your “spin.”
• Notice how other authors have organized their piece. 
• Look for their main points.
• Take note of how they support their position.
• Get inspired and let your creative juices flow.

2.  Know your objective before you start writing.  After you have done your research, and organized your notes, decide what you want to  accomplish in your post. Note: Make sure you give your reader valuable content.

3.   Start writing . . .  your first draft.

4.   KISS – Keep it short and simple!  Short and simple blog posts benefit both the reader and the writer.  Shorter posts are easier to write.  L ikewise, they are also easier to read and remember.  If your subject is more involved, break it down into multiple short pieces.  Your reader will thank you, and their comprehension and retention will increase.  

5.   Edit as needed so the piece makes sense.

6.    Send it to a friend to make sure someone outside of your head can understand it, make any necessary changes.

 7.   Post it!

The goal, when writing blog posts is not perfection. It is: good enough! If you have given your reader ample value, and the blog post makes sense, let it go.  Fortunately, the blogging grammar gods are more forgiving than your college professors. The information—the valuable content that makes up the body of your blog–is what your readers seek, not perfect grammar or style.

Soooooooo, what are you waiting for . . . get researching . . . GET BLOGGING . . . GET POSTING!

The topic of self-love is often misunderstood. Some see it as vain and selfish, and if experienced through that lens it isn’t really self-love at all. It is an ego clone that misses the heart of the concept.

Authentic self-love is about learning to love yourself unconditionally, the way a “healthy” parent loves a child. It’s about forgiveness, self-nurturing, patience and understanding. It’s about being self-supportive and reaching for your dreams. It’s about bringing your unique gifts and style into the world. And, it’s about service.

How do you do it? To borrow from an overused analogy, you put the oxygen mask on yourself first: You unlearn bad programming, typically layered in in your youth, and you learn to become the “thing” or person you want others to be.

This “learning” became evident for me when my youngest child was three years old and I reckoned with the fact that I could not teach him, or his siblings, to be something I myself wasn’t. I also learned that I could not teach them values or a way of life, I myself had not lived, and therefore did not understand on an experiential level.

With that wisdom I started my journey of self-love. My first assignment was to look in the mirror and say I love you. But I was so angry at life that I couldn’t.So, I had to start my “self-love travels” with a sideways glance in the mirror glance and an affirmation that I was “willing” to love myself. Little did I know that with that I was on my way.

Along the way I learned that:

• I had to loosen the grip I had on old beliefs so new concepts could offer themselves up: in the form of insights, “ah ha’s,” and/or epiphanies.
• I had to stay mentally and emotionally flexible.
• A person desperately seeking to fill their own buckets lives through a bankrupt account and takes from others who have more in their buckets.
•  The fuller my buckets were the more I had to give—and give, I did, in copious amounts. (Actually, the giving showed up naturally and unsolicited. I guess when your personal coffers are over-flowing you just want to share what you have with others).
•  As I continued on my path of self-love, my confidence grew, and I experienced more peace.
• I learned that love is a self-refilling commodity, and that the more I spent it the more I had to give.
• I learned that to love myself is to trust myself, and the unfolding of my life.

Finally, and most importantly:

• I found that the more I loved myself, the more I came to know myself, and the beauty of mankind in their heart of hearts.

Here’s a 2-part tip to get YOU started on YOUR journey of self-love:

• STOP the negative self-talk!
• Learn to talk to yourself with kindness and respect.

Most of us have been conditioned to be unnecessarily harsh on ourselves. This behavior will never bring about any good, and over time it will erode your confidence and suck you deeper into anger, resentment and despair.

Remember to:

• Encourage yourself as you would a young child.
• Keep your internal chats upbeat and supportive.

Through the filters of self-love you can truly find yourself, be yourself, and fill the buckets of those in your circle of influence.

I’m on a quest to drop 30 pounds (don’t ask me how I’m doing, yet) so I picked up a copy of Clean Eating, magazine while at my weekly mastermind at Barnes and Noble. As I was thumbing through it, looking at all the mouth watering clean recipes, I landed on an article about vinegar.

It turns out that the tangy liquid is a natural fat fighter.  According to the article, Japanese researcher Tomoo Kondo conducted a lab study, in 2009 and found that animals given a high fat diet with a “splash” of vinegar accumulated 10% less body fat than their study group counterparts that were given only water.

The skinny on this study is that Acetic acid appears to “turn on genes in the liver that produce proteins that help break down fat.” I do have to add: the article also said that further study is required to see how this translates to humans, but heck it isn’t gonna hurt to do your own case study, with you as the subject.  . . . Sorry the article did not say just how much vinegar is required to kick start these liver genes. I’m thinking 1 – 2 tablespoons per day.

Oh, and by the way, if you are not a fan of the pungent juice try rice vinegar. It’s not as sharp so you might find it more palatable. I do. Trader Joe’s carries a really good one for about $1.70 a bottle. I use it in almost everything I would use regular vinegar in; including my Good Seasons, Zesty Italian salad dressing—and my husband, a devout carnivore loves it too. This tiny change actually got him eating cleaner salads.  

So, why not add a bit of vinegar to your daily menu and burn some fat.

7 ½ Secrets to Networking Success Revealed

Networking is a key part of building community and business success. If it isn’t already a fundamental part of your Marketing and Success Plan: ADD IT!

Now-a-days there are two primary ways to network: online and in person. Commit time to both and let your efforts be driven by an intention to connect and build rapport. Remember: The quality of your network depends on the quality of your connections—that, by the way, is the second half of secret #1, and the most valuable of the secrets.

Alrighty then, let’s get on with the rest of those secrets . . .

1. Serve: People who show-up at networking events with a desire to connect and serve, build higher quality networks. So, if you want to get the most out of your networking efforts, don’t ask for anything until you have given first, and remember: networking is, first and foremost, a social experience . . . forget that you’re “networking” and connecting will be easier.
2. Have a Networking Plan: Networking can be intimidating. You can make it easier by having a networking plan. Go over your introduction so you know what you are going to say when it comes time to introduce yourself. Write down a few questions that you can ask to start conversations. Start with simple questions such as: name and hometown? If it feels right you can ask about children, too. When you ask about someone’s business, show genuine interest. After they have shared the preliminaries you can ask how they got into their field, what they like most about it, who their strategic partners are . . . and so forth.
3. Show Up: I’ve heard it said that 90% of success is Showing Up. In the context of networking that means just showing up will get you exposure; just showing up provides the opportunity for you to refine your networking process; just showing up will earn you credibility, etc.
4. Build a Network Not a List: There are two basic ways to network: You can either go to a networking event to “work the room” and build your list or you can go with an intention to build relationships. The former might get you more business cards but the latter will get you a better quality connection . . . and possibly a new client or referral. It’s the people we build rapport and relationships with that end up “playing” with us and referring their friends.
5. Consistency: Statistics say that most people need to be exposed to something 4-7 times before they will act. Translated to networking, that means that you are going to have to be seen at least 4-times before the average person will consider trying your product or services. Additionally, the more consistent you are about networking the more recognition you get. The more recognition you get the more professionalism people attach to you. The more professionalism you have the more people will trust you . . . and did I mention that TRUST is critical in conversion.
6. Follow-Up: Have a follow-up plan in place. It can be as simple as an email template with a call to action —a free report or an invitation to visit your blog. Follow the email up with a simple, “Hello, it was nice meeting you. How can we help each other to even greater success,” phone call. Don’t wait for them to call you. Call them. If you have sent an email you can place the phone-call 3 to 4 days later. If not, call within 2 days of the event. . . . A tip: if you are not calling to get a client, make a sale or some other form of immediate cash conversion the call is easier to make. So, follow-up with some sort of “free sample” offer that’s even better than the one offered in your email. It can be a free consultation, a free assessment, a free ticket to a mini or “sampler” workshop where you can show your value and sell them “seamlessly” into a larger package.
7. Enjoy yourself!

There you have it: the Alchemist’s Secret Potion to Networking Success. Networking opportunities are, or can be made, available in any town from local chambers to Meetup Groups. There are fee based groups and free groups. There are women only groups, casual groups, professional groups, corporate groups, etc. If one doesn’t exist that fits your style or needs, start one—it’s a good way to set yourself up as a leader in your community.

Hmmm, that’s a good question. I’m glad you asked. But, before I roll out a list of reasons may I tell you a bit about what the thang is and how it got started: 

As you may or may not know a blog, or weblog, as it was initially called made its debut in the late 1990s, but it really goes back, even further, to the early 1990s when people like Justin Hall kept online diaries or journals.  And, if you dig even deeper you will find some relics arguing that they were posting stuff of a similar type on Usenet. So, where ever it began, it has evolved, and I am happy to say that it is here to stay.

 Why, is it here to stay, you might ask: because it is about extending our reach, communication, sharing our thoughts, and connecting . . . and everyone has something to say.

One awesomtastically cool thing about blogs is that the author of a blog is usually also the publisher.  And, for those of you who are not from a writing background that means you get to: 

• Personalize it
• Have a voice
• Share your opinion
• Share your humanity
• Share knowledge and wisdom on all your favorite subjects . . .

and you can even share pictures, videos, poems and rants

• Invite guest bloggers to share their thoughts

It also means:

• You can feel a sense of belonging and contribution
• You can build a community and share yourself within it
• You can develop yourself as a writer
• You can be perceived as an expert—if you know your subjects well.
• The playing field is wide open
• You get to make the rules—but don’t get too crazy: you do want people to read it
• You get to decide what to write about, and how you want to present it
• You can use words like: thang and awesomtastically, if you feel so inclined

And finally, the grammar and writing gods are more forgiving—but you’ll need to keep enough structure so people can understand what you have written.

So, if you are writing for personal fulfillment it is a great vehicle to self-express and share. If you are writing for business reasons, and you know what you are talking about: it builds credentials, community, and dare I say– it can increase your bottom line.

So what say ye: What are your reasons for blogging . . . or not blogging?

Love

I woke up this morning and pulled myself close to my husband: I didn’t feel like getting up and I wanted to snuggle in. As I lay there, my thinking mind did its morning stretch and started to run its series of checks and balances. Fortunately, it was asking some pretty cool questions. I didn’t take much heed, at first, until I asked me: “What is love.” My usual answers didn’t pacify and I asked myself again: W-h-a-t is love?

Understanding that, “square-up-with-me” tone, I knew I was asking for a considered response. Upon quiet reflection I answered: Love is a feeling of complete acceptance. Love is compassion. Love is found in the moments when you look at another and see them beyond any judgment and appreciate them for who they are, as they are, in that moment. Love is found in those moments when another person makes your heart smile. Love is found in knowing that someone else makes your life even better. Love can be found when a dog eagerly awaits their owner to finish a tantrum so he can lick away the wounds and say I love you as the person you are under the fear that drove those behaviors.

And then I asked. . . How much do I love myself?

How ‘bout you: What are your thoughts about love?