Tips from Tonia Boterf

[tonia boterf]

This is an article by Sandy Martini which I love because it really tells the truth about all the 'blueprint' plans available out there for sale. I agree that they don't work and are not worth the money but rather a more individualize approach is much better and I feel it enables business owners to create and grow their business faster. Tonia

August 19, 2010

7 Reasons Blueprints Don't Work


Every time you turn around these days, someone's trying to sell you a blueprint:

•blueprints for marketing
•blueprints for social media
•blueprints for reaching 6 figures
•blueprints for reaching 7 figures
•blueprints for setting up your team
Blueprints don't work.

A "blueprint" is a model or prototype -- most often used by architects to build homes and by car manufacturers to provide specs for model designs. You follow the steps -- 1, 2, 3, etc. without variation to get the same result repeatedly.

This works for homes and car designs which start with the same raw materials and want to end with the exact same results. It does not work for businesses:

•You are not starting from the same place as the person selling you the blueprint
•You don't have the identical skillset and expertise
•You don't thrive on the exact same marketing strategies -- you may love writing while others don't
•You have a different personality and so resonate differently with your ideal clients (which are likely not the exact same ideal clients as the person selling the blueprint)
•You don't have the same resources (you may have more, you may have less)
•You're not doing/offering the identical thing -- even if you serve the same industry, your style's going to be different
•Your don't have the same goals, values and "why" supporting your actions
Blueprints don't work. . .plain and simple.

What DOES work is seeing what others do/have done and adapting it for your style, circumstances and business and working with a mentor who understands that your business is unique to you and gives you strategies and solutions which support who you are and how you want your business to support you -- not someone who teaches a cookie-cutter approach designed for every Jane, Mary and Sue (or Tom, Dick and Harry).

It's about creating a business to suit your uniqueness and your desired lifestyle -- whatever that happens to be.

If you are ready to get off the roller coaster and stop following blueprints which don't work as you create the business of YOUR dreams, and want help determining the exact next step you should take, I'd love to chat with you. I've added 10 spots to my calendar over the next 3 weeks to talk with ambitious business owners who are ready and willing to focus on growing their business.

Request a complimentary session with me here: www.SandraMartini.com/getofftherollercoaster

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Growing a business, getting clients & making money is tough. The Practical Expert - Business Start-up has solutions for you to achieve your goals. www.coachingbusinessstartup.com has additional free info & other solutions you'll want to check out.

[tonia boterf]

Lots of things happening and one of them is my new blog which you can reach easily at www.toniaboterf.com and ask questions, read posts and more. The website is growing as part of my total business overhaul but he blog is working well and I'd love to hear from you, help with any questions you have or you can leave a comment on a post.

Come by and visit me.

Tonia

[tonia boterf]

9 Tips For Writing Blog Posts

Posted by Dawna Jul 5

Blogging is a fantastic way for anyone to express their ideas to others and a great form of free advertising for businesses. Creating an interesting and user friendly blog is an excellent way to drive more traffic to your site. To build a powerful blog site, there are a few tips that a person should pay attention to when they are writing their blog posts.

1. Keep the Reader In Mind
Always keep the reader in mind when you are writing your blog posts. When a reader is searching for information that may pertain to your idea they want the information presented in a way that they can both read and understand easily.
2. Posts Should Be Both Valuable and Worthwhile

We live in a fast paced, high tech world where everyone has a busy lifestyle. So remember no one wants to waste time browsing a boring blog site. If you cannot think of anything creative to write about, then try doing an interview, or even an ebook. Just remember to keep your content interesting and both valuable and worthwhile to the reader.
3. Proofread Your Posts
Always proofread your material prior to pushing the publish button. It is of grave importance to respect your reading audience and to keep your blog error free and easy to read.
4. Keep It Short and Simple
It’s human nature to scan, so keep your posts short, simple and to the point. If your posts ramble, you run the risk of losing your reader completely and they will be off to a competitor site.
5. Personalize
Write your posts as if you were talking to a friend or family member. The more energetic and sincere your posts, the longer the reader will stay on your site. Give your posts a personal touch to make the reader feel that you are talking directly to them and only them, but always make sure to make your point quickly.
6. Links
Use links in your posts as often as you can, but don’t go overboard. Linking helps create credibility with your reading audience and helps to establish you as an expert on the subject. You can also create a network by linking to other similar blogs. The favor will be returned!
7. Keywords For Search Engine Optimization
Use your keywords as often as you can in your post, but remember to write for your readers. While the search engines will love your keywords, if you use them excessively you will lose both your reader and the search engines. As a rule of thumb, don’t use more than 3 keywords per post and don’t repeat the keywords more than three times per post. Keywords are the key to search engine rankings, but without an interested reader your site will suffer.
8. Be Clear
Be very clear when writing your blog posts. Your reader is not seeking a Ph.D. (unless of course they are)! Your posts should be written in a manner that an average person can understand. Limit your ideas to one per sentence, otherwise you could confuse your reader. Keep your sentences as short as possible to convey your idea, and use commas as often as possible.
9. Headline
Headlines should be easy to understand and incorporate your targeted keywords.
By following these simple steps, you will have a great blog site with a following of readers in no time.

[tonia boterf]

Repurposing Your Work for Marketing and Profit

By Tonia Boterf

Marketing takes up a great deal of time every week, it is just as important as the service you deliver. Targeted marketing plans really focus on what you want to achieve and how you are going to do it. It is targeted towards a specific group of people. Shotgun marketing approaches (what too many people do), is marketing and hoping to hit your target group. It is a hit or miss approach.

One of the things that business owners need to think about is utilizing their time and what they've created in multiple ways. It is called repurposing.

Repurposing means taking one thing and finding multiple ways to use it again. Example - (health coach) you created a natural health plan for a client with GERD

1. take out personal info and then use the material in a blog so people can see you know your 'stuff' about GERD
2. write an article with the plan on GERD you created and submit article to submission engines.
3. post article on your website
4. do a tel-seminar on GERD and the plan you created - free or pay
5. do an audio on GERD and how you came up with a natural health plan, this audio could be free or paid
6. create a report or what is called a white paper on GERD that includes your plan but much more. You can use the paper as a free gift (pink spoon) on your website, have it for free or pay on your website too, or handout at an event
7. come up with a tip booklet on ways for people to deal with GERD - the tip booklet can be kept as e-book and free or pay but it could be put into print and given out
8. do a speaking engagement on GERD and ways to deal with it

So there is 8 ways to repurpose something you did and got paid to do. You gain additional marketing opportunties and gerate additional income, most of it as passive income which comes in whether you are awake or asleep!

Save time, promote your business, make income and all this from repurposing something you did anyways!

Want some help and ideas on how to repurpose your work, call me at 617-895-0249.

[tonia boterf]

Several things are happening in my business life that are amazing and I want to share them but also, I would like you to observe them and how they could come to happen for you.

1. recent former client who just started marketing week after July 4th, earned $1000 her first 3 weeks and the momentum of her marketing plan execution just landed her 134 rich, local clients in one week! She also was interviewed by the local newspaper who has written a wonderful pc on her and she was generous enough to mention me as the one who made her business come alive.


2. If you try to do a business by yourself without coaching, you won't get as far nor as successful as you hope. I've done time with and without a coach and the difference is staggering. When I'm with a good coach, my business grows leaps. Whether you try coaching with me or would like someone else. I am more than willing to help find a good coach for you. I really want you to succeed.

3. Watch as my business makes drastic changes in the next month and you can learn some very good info. Right now, I'm actually filling a type of 'rolodex' of all the people I know that I could work with. I know what their business is, what their goals are, how I could help them achieve their goals, what resources do they have and what do they need, how could they help me and how could their resources help me. When you start putting all of this down, you quickly see you have people you could approach for any specific need you have. The key is to GIVE. When you help others achieve their goals selflessly, those people will want to work with you and they will send business your way. I started this process with more gusto one month ago and the number of things happening leaves me in awe. Contact me and I'll send you a copy of my form to use and make life easier.

I have two businesses - www.thepracticalexpert.com and www.coachingbusinessstartup.com. I now am starting a new website marketing funnel. Everyone will start at www.toniaboterf.com and from there, be able to go any where in my corporation (aging parent issues or business coaching startup) (health to be added in the future). Every little pc of how my business will operate, what support staff I will need and how my time will be spent is being scrutinized and put into a plan. My business is expected to jump 5 years ahead (my coaches yr plan, I think 3 yrs but may be wrong).

In a couple of weeks, I go to Dallas for some major networking activities. I have 9 e-books already in licensing for large companies at www.BabyBoomerMarketingTools.com and my JV (joint venture) partner does all the work from now on. I am finishing up my print book for layout today and then focusing on finding the right publicist and reading so I can make an informed decision but because of my network, I've got a name I'll likely go with. Because of the networking, I have had access to resources I never would have found. I now have those resources to share with others. Because of networking, I gained two new clients this week. I am getting organized to go on speaking event tours on the subjects of my book and others for book sales. All this from networking and finding a coach that worked well with me, because a high profile person found my material on my website and saw me as a diamond in the rough and who mentors me and is also a resource now for me and so much more.

I want my journey to inspire you to reach for your business dreams because it is possible to achieve them but you won't be able to do it alone. If you only want to earn $15,000 a yr or less (real stats), then just do what you are doing but if you want to have a real career, earn more money and make more of a difference in the world, then find the right coach for you to work with. Even if you don't work with me, I'll gladly help find a good one for you that specializes in your particular issue/need.

Lets all make a difference while acheiving our dreams.

Feel free to visit my new blog that I'm trying to get used to at www.toniaboterf.com and write a comment or ask a question. Lets network together.

tonia

[tonia boterf]

Here are some great business articles, software, templates and information that if you follow it, you will succeed.

Please feel free to visit my blog at www.toniaboterf.com for comments and questions and my biz website at www.coachingbusinessstartup.com

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Visit my facebook page or blog for easy access to these articles.

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Don't know where to start with your plan? Here are some tips to get you going--today.
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Growing a business, getting clients & making money is tough. The Practical Expert - Business Start-up has solutions for you to achieve your goals. www.coachingbusinessstartup.com has additional free info & other solutions you'll want to check out.

[tonia boterf]

Three Mistakes That Are Hazardous to Your Blog’s Health


Posted by Merlyn Sanchez on July 27th, 2010

There are three mistakes which can seriously limit your blog’s success and you may be making them without realizing it.

Here are the three mistakes you want to avoid:

1. Overestimating Reader Interest

Some bloggers believe the old “Field of Dreams” line, “If you build it, they will come”. No, they won’t. It sounds harsh, but if you assume that people will care about you the moment you start your blog or because you’ve been around for a while, you’re wrong.

Building an audience takes time and there are many variables. Make sure to interact with others and promote your blog constantly. Fresh, interesting content, delivered frequently will help make readers want to return AND spread the word.

Another way to increase reader interest is to find guest bloggers. This keeps your content fresh by providing a different point of view.

2. Too Much Promoting!

Yes, you may have started blogging to build your brand, sell your products, or market your services. However, this doesn’t mean you should advertise constantly! If most of your posts are just thinly veils ads, then your readers won’t come back. Remember you want to deliver high-quality information which cements you as an expert. Build trust by providing value and your will be rewarded by a tribe of loyal followers who will buy without you having to sell them.

3. Not Providing Quality Content

Do not use any plagiarized content, or material you don’t have permission to use. It can land you in court and in debt, destroy your reputation, and cause your blog to be deleted. I know it seems like this should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many times this happens.

Content shouldn’t be too short or two long. Few people read fifty-word summaries of news, and an essay of two thousand words on the same topic will probably get even less attention. A happy medium is best.
Avoid useless, poorly written, and infrequent content. All of these types of content will harm your blog as your readers won’t receive any value and your credibility will suffer.

It’s not difficult to keep your blog healthy and flourishing. Keep your audience in the forefront, remember your objectives, and strive to provide value.

[tonia boterf]

I've posted on my blog about this issue lately and low and behold, a friend actually did a big 'No, No' and used my copywritten material in her newsletter - not real reference to me or links, no permission asked for and the information sent out to all of her newsletter list readers is actually material people have to pay for on my website!

Angry and hurt, I had to figure out what to do. I knew my friend didn't mean me harm but after being in business for two years, ignorance of copyright material is not acceptable. In fact, my material is even filed with the US Copyright office. My friend didn't realize that I can sue her, that she really broke the law. This type of situation is occurring more often now, as people get lazy in creating their own content.

You cannot take a piece of info from one article and some from others and put it together and call it yours. You can't copyright it because your work is not a unique piece of work. Especially when sentences are taken verbatum from someone else and show up in your article.

I don't want to take my friend to court but I did have to address the issue with her and that there were reprocusions because of her actions. My material is out there and being passed around.

So what did I do? A formal e-mail to follow-up with our conversation and a copy it follows:

Hi ####,

I am following up to our conversation of August 30, 2010 when I called to express my feelings of your use of my copyright material in your newsletter, copy of which is attached.

As I explained to you, I have no problem with you re-printing any of my articles from my website but they must be done so in their entirety, all credits and links must be attached too.

As you and I discussed, I realize that your intent in copyright infringement was not done with ill intent but once the material was sent out to your mailing list, your subscribers could circulate it and use it. This is especially difficult for me since you did not give the credit deserved, did not ask for permission and that the material is also available for use through my e-books for sale, through licensing agreements and for sale in the up-coming print book. Also, my material, unknowingly, could be used by someone to create competitive material that they would not know is under US Copyright. In fact, anyone who uses my material that was sent out, is unknowingly breaking copyright law.

I have agreed not to take any legal action against you if the following is implemented. We have worked out a way to get back on better footing and you know that I still hold you in high esteem and desire to have an on-going personal and business relationship together.

Below are means in which you can help in making the best out of this error in judgment. Unfortunately, the material is out on the internet and we can never totally correct that at all but we can move forward.

1. Thank you for making a blog posting on my website.
2. You agree not to use any further of my written content without my permission. All my material is copyrighted.
3. You will send a disclaimer within a week to your newsletter mailing list that we will craft that together. A draft for this is below for your comments and feedback.
4. You will not archive the copy of the newsletter in question on your website or any other place that people can gain access to it.
5. Feature me prominently in an up-coming newsletter that goes to your newsletter mailing list before November 30th, 2010.

As you realize, I do want to carry your organizing book on my website once it is ready as an affiliate of yours but I can do so sooner, if you don’t have a formal affiliate program, just through utilizing a Joint Venture or Relationship contract. I hope you will consider carrying my 10 e-books (ready now) on your website and my print book (ready in fall 2010) too, through affiliation. I also appreciate you referring or mentioning my coaching services to those that could benefit from them.

I continue to desire to form with you, a Mastermind group of peers that serve boomers caring for aging parents and work with you to make that a reality.

I hope you find this letter sufficient to put this unfortunate event behind us and we can move forward to bigger and better things.

Sincerely,

Tonia Boterf
617-895-0249
tonia@thepracticalexpert.com

cc: attached is newsletter of 8/28/10
below is draft notice of which upon finalization will be mailed to your newsletter list within a week of this letter

In my last newsletter of 8/28/10, I shared an article listing questions and things to look for in an assisted living or nursing home. The material is copyrighted by Tonia Boterf, www.thepracticalexpert.com and I didn’t have permission to print it. Please delete the newsletter if you have it still and tell anyone you may have sent a copy to, to delete it too as to use it would mean you too would be breaking copyright law, also.

You can find several articles on what to look for in assisted living and/or nursing homes on Tonia’s website. An e-book on “How to Choose the Best Assisted Living or Nursing Home” is available that includes a working layout for comparing facilities, as well as 8 other practical and solution oriented e-books on aging parent issues that are available here ( live link here) at great prices. You can also get expert coaching by Tonia on caring for aging parent issues at www.thepracticalexpert.com. Watch out for Tonia’s new print book, “ Real Life Solutions to Help Care for Your Aging Parents”, which will be out this fall. We’ll keep you posted when this new book by Tonia Boterf, The Practical Expert®, is available.

Tonia and I have been friends for quite some time and you will see us doing some collaborative efforts together in the near future. So, stay tuned!

Yours,
####

If what happened to me, happens to you, you can use this as an idea on how to handle and write your own e-mail.

If you have any questions or comments on this subject, I would love to hear them. Just comment on my blog at www.toniaboterf.com

Tonia Boterf
The Solutionist for starting and growing your new business.
www.coachingbusinessstartup.com
617-895-0249