Writing On The Web by Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

Content Marketing Strategies for Smart Professionals

Asking Readers to Respond: Elancer Tries To Be A Blog

By Patsi Krakoff in Email Marketing Tips, Ezines We Love

I got an ezine this morning, which looked so much like a blog I was baffled. I clicked over the site where the ezine is posted: each entry has the typical blog footer, like Comment…Subscribe…Forward…and icons to submit to social networking sites.

But when I clicked on the comment and forward links, it brings up an email you can send. So it’s not a blog, it’s an ezine with the ability to reply built in.

Elance is a site where you can find good cheap freelancers of almost any profession. Their ezine is called Elancer. What I like about this issue was they are walking their talk – they ask readers to vote on a new logo which freelancers have designed for them. Check it out and vote.

How easy is it for people to reply to your ezine? Can you ask them to vote on something? It makes me wonder why Elance didn’t just do a blog, instead of copying the style and form.

By Patsi Krakoff in Uncategorized

We got an email today from The Blog Squad’s mentor, Tom Antion.

Tom is presenting his "infamous" Electronic marketing ButtCamp
(where you learn to make bucks while sitting on your rear end in front
of your computer) July 8th in San Diego.

This is the day before the National Speakers Association convention.

We want you to be the among the first to know. Space is limited to 100 people.

Tom has done these extensive one day Internet camps all over the
world and he guarantees you a fantastic day that will open your eyes to
the Internet riches that await you.

In addition to being in Tom Antion’s mentor program, I have attended two of these "buttcamps" and I get a ton of new, do-able information that helps boost our business every time.

PLUS…

Graduates come to all regular ButtCamps forever with no more registration fees.

Check out all the details for the San Diego ButtCamp.

Patsi and I will be there. We were honored to be asked by Tom to do the presentation on blogs.

We’d love to meet you there.

P.S. You can save $200 if you register before April 30. Plus, for the first time ever, Tom is offering a payment plan, so there’s no excuse not to attend!

MySpace for Business & Marketing

By Patsi Krakoff in Teleclasses & Seminars

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Expert: Nancy Marmolejo, Author of Make MySpace Your Space

Thursday, April 26th 2007
3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET)
Blog Talk Radio

Using MySpace as a Business Building Tool

MySpace is the second most visited site on the Web. But, is MySpace a
smart way to get found online and market your business? Or is it just a
social gathering place for musicians and teenagers? Learn how
professionals and small businesses are using this social networking
tool to boost their marketing power and meet clients and colleagues
online. Visibility expert Nancy Marmolejo of Comadre Coaching
talks about how marketers can create a credible business strategy and
use MySpace as a lead generating tool, without wasting time.

P.S. Wanna be The Blog Squad’s friend? Visit Denise’s profile and click on Add to Friends.

Use this link to find out how you can listen live on line and access archived shows.

Unblocking Writing Blocks

By Patsi Krakoff in On Writing Better

It’s been a while since I’ve had writer’s block, but I do have times during the day when I block myself from writing. I won’t write in the late afternoon or evenings because it hurts. I get that fingernails-on-blackboard feeling in my brain when I try to write when I’m tired.

Jurgen Wolff’s Time to Write blog talks about ways to override negative subconscious messages in order to unblock your writing.

His story about science fiction writer Cory Doctorow illustrates how "our subconscious mind can work for us and against us. It provides us with great ideas, works while we sleep or are thinking of other things, and gives us great joy. Sometimes, though, it can also trap us in negativity or repetitive thoughts and behaviours."

The message I tell myself about not writing late in the day is a negative one. I’d like to get rid of it, since we are having an increase in writing assignments due to business thriving. Maybe it’s as simple as "just doing it," just getting rid of that belief and replacing it with another.

What beliefs do you have about your own writing that may stop you from being creative or writing?

Telling Stories = Stronger Connections with Readers

By Patsi Krakoff in Writing Better Ezines, Writing for Others, Freelancing, Writing for the Web, Writing Great Blog Content, Writing Great Copy

"Now just the other day, I…" As soon as someone starts telling me a story, I listen up. Why? Because I am sure they are going to deliver something with impact – otherwise why would they be telling me? And most of the time it’s true: I get to laugh, or be outraged with them, or in some way feel emotionally in tune with the person telling the story.

The same is true for really good copy. I read a good post today over on Scott Young’s blog about 4 things that go into telling a good story. I am always amazed when I read wisdom on an 18-year-olds blog, but never mind that. Here are his 4 points, but if you’re interested, go read the whole post, it’s worth it, campfire picture and all.

1) Start with a Hook
2) Keep it Concise
3) Know Your Point
4) The Purpose of Stories is to Create Feeling

User-Generated Content? Are You Participating?

By Patsi Krakoff in Writing for the Web

Ever since Time Magazine named YOU, the computer user, Person of the Year, people are paying more attention to sites like YouTube, Flickr, and what is called Web 2.0 sites because they encourage you to participate.

But Hitwise recently released a study that shows that surprisingly few site visitors are actually creating content, uploading videos and photos, and participating. For details on the report, I suggest visiting DaniWeb.com for this excellent post with statistics.

To me, this is a great opportunity for people who want to get known and get found. The more you participate, the more your name will show up in web searches. Small business owners, writers, authors, speakers, entrepreneurs: are you paying attention? Start participating wherever you can.

Blog Squad CD Sale… Get Our TV Show DVD Free

By Patsi Krakoff in About Blogs, Managing Your Ezine & Blog Tasks, Teleclasses & Seminars

We have a whole bunch of CDs from four of our early Conversations with Experts
programs on blogging. We are going to be redesigning the labels so we
need to get rid of the inventory we currently have. These CDs usually
sell for $14.95, but we’re going to let them go for only $5 each until
they’re gone.

If you buy two or more CDs, we’ll throw in a copy of a DVD featuring
a half-hour program of The Blog Squad on the Leading Experts talk show
with Dr. Jeff Hockings. You’ll save about 66% on each CD and get a
free DVD!

All programs are mp3 files on CD and are approximately 60 minutes. Here’s what we have…

When Your Client’s Expectations Are a Mystery

By Patsi Krakoff in Newsletter Nuggets Ezine

Newsletter Nuggets: April 19, 2007
…tips and tricks for writing great ezines and blogs

Table of Contents

1. A Note from Patsi – When Your Client’s Expectations Are a Mystery
2. May 07 Featured Article: Great Expectations: The Boss/Direct Report Tango
3. What’s New on the Blogs?

A note from Patsi –

I have a creative challenge this week; maybe you’ve had a similar one. Have you ever worked with a client who didn’t know what they want or need, or who has trouble communicating what they want?

This week a new client said to use my best judgment and design their newsletter for them.

While I am flattered to have someone place a high level of confidence in my work, I have no idea what their expectations are. And people always have expectations, even if they say they don’t!

Which got me to thinking about expectations. It’s so much easier to work when you have clarity about expectations on both sides of the relationship.

This month’s executive coaching article is all about expectations – between the boss and a direct report – and how important it is to set out clear sets of agreements. How much easier it is to work with someone when you know what they want from you, and how much involvement they want you to have with them.

I hope you find value in the article and can use it for your ezine, blog or website. For more up-to-date tips about writing for the web, for newsletters and blogs, subscribe to CoachEzines blog here.

————————————-

Featured Article for May 07:
Great Expectations:
The Boss/Direct Report Tango

Categories: Leadership, Communications, Careers, Retention & Succession Planning

What should a leader expect from a direct report and what can the latter expect from the leader in return?

When both parties have clear expectations, the relationship is smooth like a tango. If one person gets out of step, however, the ensuing relationship makes for discord.

State of the Blogosphere on Blogging and Beyond Radio

By Patsi Krakoff in About Blogs, Teleclasses & Seminars

Blogging and Beyond with The Blog Squad, Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., and Denise Wakeman
With Guest Lena West, xynoMedia Technology
Thursday, April 19, 2007
3:00 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET ) 30 Minutes – NEW TIME
Now on BlogTalkRadio

"The State of the Blogosphere"
As we kick off Season Two of Blogging and Beyond, we interview Lena West, CEO of xynoMedia Technology
about the changing state of the blogosphere. Lena will share the trends
she’s seeing in how businesses are leveraging the blogosphere, what’s
working and what’s not. We’ll address how to manage the overwhelming
amount of new "social media" tools popping up nearly every day and how
to get the most ROI from the blogosphere.

More information about listening to the show live or archives.

Reading = Good Writing, Good Blogging

By Patsi Krakoff in About Blogs, Grammar & Common Usages, Managing Your Ezine & Blog Tasks, Writing Better Ezines, Writing Great Blog Content, Writing Great Copy

What are you reading right now? Chances are, your reading influences your writing. I read a great post today over at Darren Rowse"s ProBlogger site, who along with Karen Andrews of Aussie Mom blog wrote about how reading can improve your blogging.

One tip from this post is to unplug yourself. Get away from your computer. Read a magazine or a book unrelated to your work, but connected to other parts of yourself, other interests you have. This will help you see more of your strengths and can help reunite the scattered parts of yourself.

Right now I have several books open: The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon, The Power of a Positive No, by William Ury, Clear Blogging by Bob Walsh, and Bidding in the 21st Century (about bridge). I also am reading bits and pieces of A User’s Guide to the Brain, by John J. Ratey.

Admittedly, these are all work related, except for the bridge book, but they are topics for which I have a great passion. If I were to really "unplug," I really should get away from work-related books and pick up a good novel. This would expand my brain neural pathways even more, leading to better writing and richer use of vocabulary.

What are you reading this week? Can you suggest any good novels that you think I might enjoy?