Can YOU Stand This MoreInMedia Challenge? I did!

by Martha on March 23, 2012

PinExt Can YOU Stand This MoreInMedia Challenge? I did!

It’s a challenge!  My friend Dorien from MoreInMedia has written a blog post about 7 random facts you probably don’t want to know about herself and has challenged me (and 4 others) to do the same.

I’m always up for a challenge so here goes:

7 Random Facts about me that you probably don’t know:

  • My first job was teaching piano lessons. At age 14.  That was the beginning of my “work at home” mindset! The “how to work at home and actually make money” mindset hadn’t clicked yet!
  •  I had lunch once at the Vice President’s residence in D. C.  Al and Tipper Gore were the hosts.  Ok, they didn’t make it but that lunch is seared in my memory forever!
  • My hair *might* not be true blonde.  Enough said.
  • I met my husband in 6th grade.  I know.  But believe it or not, we both kissed a few frogs and froggets  before tying the knot!
  • I once ran for public office.  I lost by 4 votes but who’s counting?
  • My first plane ride was in a private plane piloted by my uncle. I didn’t fly on a commercial flight til I was almost 30.
  • Many people in my hometown still call me “Martha Jane.” (all good southern girls have double names, don’t ya know?!)
  • I never wear sunglasses because I can’t hear when I have them on icon smile Can YOU Stand This MoreInMedia Challenge? I did!

There, now you know.  I do have a little quirkiness!

Soooooo . . .

The rules of the challenge say I have to pass the challenge on to five more bloggers.  I’ve picked out (or am picking on) some bloggers that I think you’ll really enjoy!  Their blogs are fun so I’m sure their random facts will be even more so!

Passing the torch to:

Daily Dimmick

Jennifer Boykin

Roberta Budvietas

Lauren Huston

Lisa Kanarek

Believe me, you will enjoy these bloggers!  After all, with site names like “Working Naked” and “Life Without Tampons” and “Get Out Of Stuck,” who can go wrong??

Have fun my friends!

Peace,

-Martha

 

 

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Biggest Online Business Blunders

by Martha on March 19, 2012

PinExt Biggest Online Business Blunders

No matter how hard you try to make your online business work, if you are making any of the following big blunders, it’s just not going to happen!

  • You don’t know your end game.  When is the last time you sat down and wrote out results-oriented goals?   Short term and long term are needed here.  Where do you want your biz to be in 6 months? One year? Five years?
  • You work IN your business instead of FOR your business.  There’s no need to become a slave to your biz.  Set some boundaries for yourself and outsource as much as possible.  After all, is it time well spent doing clerical duties when you can hire that out or should you be concentrating your own energies elsewhere?
  • No killer support system.  Do you have a coach? A mentor? Accountability or mastermind group?  What about a good like-minded community that will help you achieve your goals? Being a one-person show can only get you so far.
  • You get in your own way.  Thinking and doing are two different things. If you are spending too much time on the thinking part and not taking the necessary actions to make results happen, your business will never fly.
  • No reliable revenue source.   What are you selling? Is it producing a steady stream of moolah?  If not, maybe you need to add products or customers. Either one will increase your bottom line.
  • A haphazard marketing plan.  Just as important as setting goals, you need a marketing plan in place to make it all happen. Is yours working? Does it need tweaking or are you thinking “what marketing plan?”

Having a business is fun and exciting but there are some key factors that separate the successful ones from the others.

Now you know!  Get out there and make it happen!

Peace,

-Martha

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Does Your Online Business Need Some St. Patrick’s Day Luck?

by Martha on March 13, 2012

PinExt Does Your Online Business Need Some St. Patricks Day Luck?

Leprechaun Clipart Does Your Online Business Need Some St. Patricks Day Luck?I know I’m a little early celebrating St. Patrick’s Day but heck, it’s fun to be a wee bit Irish and I’m celebrating all week!

How about your online business? Do you feel like you need a few Leprechauns to sprinkle a little gold dust all around? The truth is, the Irish believe we make our own luck and that’s really the case with online marketing.

Have you heard this?

I believe it was the pro golfer Gary Player who said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get!” Here’s some ways you can garner some of that luck of the Irish for your online biz:

  • Have a plan. Always have a clear sense of where you are going. That way, when surprises show up, you won’t get diverted. You’ll know where your path is.
  • Be optimistic. Think Irish Blarney here. Put a positive spin on situations and watch how your world changes. Positivity and optimism go a long way in helping your biz grow!
  • Be persistent. Some will call it luck, but usually success is nothing more than keeping at it. Not giving up. Continue forward.
  • Use time wisely. The pot o’ gold is usually waiting for the business owner who can ignore distractions and get the work done. Use a list, an accountability partner, or whatever works. Just don’t waste time!

While in the midst of green garbs, shamrocks, parades, and all things Irish this week, celebrate your own luck. The luck you MADE because you dedicated yourself to using all opportunities to the fullest and keeping that goal in sight!

In the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day, I’d like to leave you with the following Irish Proverb:

“You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.”

Peace,

-Martha

p.s.  The winners in the St. Patrick’s Day “Be Social Be Rich” GIVEAWAY were : Jenny Hawkins Mothershed, Bonnie Copeland, and Phyllis Goldberg!  Congrats to you all!!

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4 Common Misconceptions About PLR Content

by Martha on March 9, 2012

PinExt 4 Common Misconceptions About PLR Content

Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome guest blogger, Nicole Dean, PLR expert and creator.

Recently, in an interview, I was asked this question:

“Can you explode any misconceptions that stop people from using PLR content?”

Here is my answer.

There are four main myths that I run into regularly.

1. The biggest misconception that people have is that all PLR is crap.

2. The second biggest misconception is that ghostwriters are not good writers. We can even take that a step further and add that people assume they are stupid, taken advantage of, and/or they don’t speak English as their native language.

3. The third misconception is that using PLR takes away from your expert status.

4. The fourth misconception is that PLR and ghostwriting are somehow dishonest.

Let’s run through those one by one.

Myth #1: All PLR is Crap.

If you go back to about 2003, then I’d say that you are absolutely correct. Nearly all PLR at that time was junk. There may have been a few exceptions, but I wouldn’t touch most of that PLR content with a 10-foot pole.

We’ve made great strides in the last few years to raise the standards for what is acceptable and what is not in the PLR world. I’d like to think that I was one of the leaders in that movement.

Myth #2: Ghostwriters are Stupid.

I’ve got to tell you that I’ve worked with some ghostwriters who are brilliant in many ways. Oftentimes, they’re fabulous communicators, smart marketers, and hard working entrepreneurs. And, yes, they’re qualified to write quality information on many topics on the internet.

For instance, for a long time, I had a nurse writing my health PLR articles. I’ve also got a writer who graduated from Stanford University, who writes for several popular print magazines, and is a published author. Yes, she has her own book. And, another who had a career as a Political Speech Writer (before having children). That’s just three of my writers. They’re all amazing people, each with a variety of skills and life experience.

To assume they aren’t capable of writing quality content would be just silly.

I don’t just go to eLance.com and take the lowest bidder. To think that’s how all PLR sites work would certainly be a misconception.

Myth #3: You’re Not a “Real” Expert if you Use PLR.

The other misconception is that using PLR articles takes away your own value as the expert. That you are somehow cheating, plagiarizing, or that you’re a phony if you use PLR.

If ONLY you could see my customer list. It reads like the “Who’s who of Successful Online Business Owners”.

Business is all about cutting costs while increasing the bottom line. What better example is there than PLR content?

If you use PLR articles as drafts, they are delivered to you, ready for you, as the expert, to add your unique thoughts to them.

If you look at PLR like that – you can still keep your personality in your brand – and your sanity at the same time.

Myth #4: Using Ghostwriters or PLR is Cheating.

Most biographies in the bookstores are written by ghostwriters.

Most of the famous orations from our history were written by someone other than the public figure who gave the speech.

It’s not cheating to get help. It’s smart business.

Nicole Dean is the owner of  www.EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles sold in very limited quantities.  The PLR articles at EasyPLR are professionally written and professionally edited — top quality at an affordable price.

Have a great weekend!

Peace,

-Martha

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Are You Using These Secrets To Growing Your Business?

by Martha on March 3, 2012

PinExt Are You Using These Secrets To Growing Your Business?

If you had to name “one thing” that has helped move your business along faster than ever, what would it be?  I posted this question on my Facebook Page earlier this week and got some very interesting and insightful answers.

For me, there’s definitely “one thing” that stands out in moving my business forward like nothing else.

Live events ROCK!

What can I say?  Meeting shakers and movers at live events is the bomb! It’s so much easier to make connections and find people that can help me (and for me to return the favor) after meeting someone in person.

That’s my story. What’s yours?

Here are some of the answers I got this week on my Facebook Page.  See if any of them resonate with you.  Also, would love your input!  Add your “one thing” in the comments section below.

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