Small Business Advice

Which Blog Software Should You Use?

I've been blogging for well over a year now and have been using Typepad quite successfully.

However, after hearing David Nour speak on social networking, I've moved my blog to WordPress and will integrate it into my website. Here's why...

If you are blogging or thinking of blogging, here are David's reasons for using WordPress vs. Typepad, Blogspot, Blogger, etc.:

• It's FREE - Let's just get that one out of the way. You can't beat the price.
• It integrates very easily with your website - According to David, your blog should be the center of your website and all social networking tools should point to your blog because it is the dynamic piece of your site. WP allows you to make your blog look like it is a part of your site and not just an add-on from someplace else.
• Search Engine Optimization - Because your WP blog is part of your site (even having a similar URL like www.dancingelephants.net/blog), whatever you write in your blog that gets noticed by the search engines and drives people to the site. This will increase your search engine rankings for your site. For those of you who aren't into the geeky language of SEO, that simply means more people will see your site at the top of the Google listings.
• It's easy to use - I found the transition to WP very easy. They even have a tool that will convert an old blog from another platform over to WP and bring over all your categories, keywords, etc. I took my Typepad blog into WP in just a few minutes with less than 5 clicks.

Over the next few days I'll be working with a designer I found in India (more on that later) to create a new look and feel for the blog so it is branded to match our website.

If you have any questions about how the process went, please ask and I'll post the answers for all to see.

Can YouTube Make You More Successful?

If you aren’t a regular YouTuber you might be missing out on a great motivational and inspirational tool that can catapult you to your goals.

We all need a reminder now and then of just how great our lives really are. Watching someone else succeed in his or her goals can give us just the push we need to get started on our own journey.

If you’ve ever struggled on a diet you know how much reading an article about someone else’s weight loss can spur you to shed your own pounds.

When we watch someone else do what we want to do we often think,“If that guy can do it, I can too! I’m not as bad off as he is.”

Check out these YouTube videos for a quick shot in the arm of pure inspiration (and some fun!)

Team Hoyt

Clay Dyer

Nick Vujicic

Scrat

Animal

While you’re at YouTube, would you jump back to my blog http://smallbusinessadvice.typepad.com and let me know about your favorite inspirational videos? I’ll compile a list and send them out in a coming newsletter.

Thanks for all your support to salespeople and entrepreneurs around the world who read this newsletter each week.

Make YouTubing a regular part of your morning. For the best results, replace your daily news intake in the morning with one of these ideas and watch your productivity soar.

There Are So Many Reasons To Love Elephants

And I'm not just talking about Dancing Elephants :)

Check out these elephants at a rarely seen pool party in Botswana.

How To Make $5 Million A Year (Personal Income) And Work One Hour A Day

It is amazing what smart, lazy people can accomplish when they put their minds to it.

Inc. Magazine

What did you learn from this article?

Earning Power Linked To Finger Length

Quick! Check your hand!

BBC News

I'm feeling lucky that my ring finger is longer. Whew.

Ever dreamed of flying without a plane? Now you can...

Check out these amazingly brave (crazy? stupid?) guys.

Flying at 100 mph

What Tune Do You March To?

By now those wonderful New Year’s resolutions are starting to fade a bit for many people. You might be finding yourself in a bit of a mid-winter slump.

Here’s a quick tip for getting motivated to take some action on your goals.

Find Your Theme Song

We’ve all heard about the power of music. Our hearing lies in the same place that emotions do in our brain so music touches us more deeply than almost any other sense.

Having a theme song and listening to it each morning can be a powerful subconscious reminder that you are in charge and nothing can stand in your way.

What song gets you pumped up when you hear it? Is it the theme song from Rocky, a headbanger by Metallica  or a rousing march from Souza?

Whatever tune touches a nerve for you, get a copy and listen to it each morning on the way into work. You’ll be amazed at how energized you can get in just 4 short minutes.

I start each of my days with the song “Perfect Day” by Hoku to remind me that each day is perfect as I choose it to be.

Here are the lyrics if you want them.

If you get a moment, please  leave me a comment about your favorite song. I’d love to compile a list for readers and introduce everyone to new motivational songs!

Thoughts on goal achievement from Tim Ferriss

Yes, I'm a big Tim Ferriss fan. He does his homework and finds experts when he needs them.

Here is a great post about how to form new habits without killing yourself.

Thank God for Sales Magnetism

So you don't have to go through this ever again.

Wall Street Journal Article

Not everything old fashioned is good.

Job Available In Richmond, VA - Technical Writer/Documentation Specialist

A friend of mine is a recruiter and looking to fill the following:

Job Description: Technical Writer/Documentation Specialist
Technical writing, documentation of policies and procedures, process mapping.   Intermediate Level technical writing experience with a Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism or equivalent related field.  Write and edit project, policy, procedure, process documentation/templates for systems/software.  Under minimal direction, interact with subject matter experts and clients; and interview users and technical personnel to conduct user needs analyses. Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and groups.  Collaborate with clients to propose documentation solutions; assist Project Manager with documentation project timeline and scheduling.  Coordinate with internal documentation / policy control departments to ensure consistency with corporate documentation standards. 
Skills:
- Fully qualified in all routine and typical aspects of the role.
- Frequently uses and applies appropriate standards, principle theories, concepts and techniques.
- Contributes to the completion of milestones associated with specific projects. 
- Provides solutions to a variety of problems of moderate scope and complexity. 
- Works under general supervision and follows established procedures. 
- Expertise in Word, Excel, Visio; familiarity with Microsoft Project.
- HTML/Dreamweaver experience a plus

Send me a note if you are interested and I'll hook you up.