Conumer-Generated Marketing defined by Wikipedia

Consumer Generated Marketing is when average people create advertising for companies. This can include images, video, blogs, etc. Examples include Diet Coke and Mentos videos, the I’ve Got a Crush On Obama video, Star Wars fan films. The content in CGM is obviously brand based or brand focused user-generated content.

I’m curious what your thoughts are in the below 2 questions and my short-concise answers shared:

• What is the impact of CGA (consumer-generated advertising) and CGM (consumer-generated marketing) on today’s consumers, compared to traditional advertising?

As a freelance writer/entrepreneur for over 10 years, I have extensive experience utilizing offline advertising, such as monthly newsletters, bi-weekly postcards, business cards, expos, etc. Web 2.0 consumer (user) generated advertising allows the consumer to become involved in the discussion which solidifies their purchasing power and gives them the ownership to their personal research for the products and services they are buying.

• What are the risks/benefits for the brands involved?

I believe the risks and benefits are one of the same: transparency of the business owners and their companies allows the consumer to view their personal and personable side which makes them more approachable; thereby translating into higher sales conversion, due to the consumer’s perceived customer service.

One-tip/thought to share:

I believe static websites are dead because when used correctly a blog is simply utilizing a contact management system/platform (such as WordPress) to give you the online presence you need as a small business owner, which allows you to build the user-generated community, and is MUCH easier, cheaper, faster way to update, search engine optimize for keywords and phrases, and syndicate your web pages (blog posts) which is critical to targeting a website’s ideal reader, subscriber, client or customer.

Of course, I can elaborate…but that’s what I’ve been sharing most recently in all my Internet Branding posts and how to build an user-generated community around you, your biz & products or services Online!

Now, its your turn to share your thoughts, disagreements, agreements, concerns, etc. and let me know what or how you want me to elaborate on this critical internet branding/marketing concept

I have an old friend whom is a very successful Real Estate Agent in Utah. In just one year he sold 112 homes!! But, truth be told, he didn’t start off that great. When he first started he didn’t have any luck listing many clients even though he’s a super friendly guy. He didn’t know what he was doing wrong.

Ultimately, he decided that he should interview the most successful agents in the area and take them to lunch to see what they did well and what he could implement. One woman said, “Well…it all comes down to cat food.” He was curious about that! She told herself that if she didn’t meet her daily goals then she would force herself to eat a can of cat food that night. GROSS!! Her incentive worked (because she enforced them) and she fulfilled her goals! My friend followed her footsteps with a different consequence, shooting himself in the rear with a BB gun if he didn’t finish his goals. He said after 4 days of not fulfilling his goals he finally started to do them and kicked his rear in gear (instead of shooting it!) Now he has a thriving business with several employees and tells them that creating consequences is a key to success.

Here’s Three Keys to Fulfilling Goals:

1. Build a Support System Those of you who read Wendy Piersall’s blog know that on Mondays she does “Monday Motivation” with a similar consequence…if she doesn’t clean out her emails then she has a consequence, such as she’ll have to cut her hair, give up coffee for a week or give away her favorite jeans. Wendy is essentially asking her readers to support her goals when she blogs about what she is going to accomplish and then she asks them to do the same. Wendy’s support system is the eMom at Home readers…who is yours? Your spouse? best friend? business partner?

Ask someone to support you with your daily, weekly, and monthly goals. One way that has been effective for me is to email or text a friend (whom I’ve previously arranged to be my support system) and tell them what my goal is and then before bed I just email or text Y for “yes” or N for “no”. No excuses!!!
2. Reward or Punish Yourself Here is where cat food, BB guns, or hair cutting comes into action…you decide what will motivate you into action! Maybe you work better on a reward system than a punishment system. I motivate myself to clean my house by planning a big party with friends on the weekend as my reward, and then after they leave it’s still relatively clean for the next week. I’m a big deadline girl…give me a project with a deadline it’ll be done in time. I usually tell myself “when this project is done I’ll do…” (call a friend, read a magazine, etc.) If you punish yourself, do it immediately upon the deadline, don’t postpone it a minute further.

3. Set Realistic Goals for Yourself as you “eat the elephant, one bite at a time” Recently I ran a 5k and it was a giant “elephant” for me—I could hardly run to the stop sign on my street! I decided it was time to get in better shape. The month before the race I set daily and weekly goals and by the day of the race I was able to sustain a jog for the entire race with 12 min. miles and I felt like a champion! I truly felt like an “empowered woman” because I stuck to my goal and had a support system in place (my family), they knew I was going to run because I was training everyday, and ultimately they were there to cheer me on as I crossed the finish line.

You too are a champion of your dreams…as I always say, Make a Wish, Make it Happen!

Kelly King Anderson is the Founder of Start Up Princess online community, blog, and organization for women entrepreneurs. Start Up Princess was started a year ago and has since gained recognition in Costco Connection and Entrepreneur as a “Top Resource for women entrepreneurs.” Kelly believes every woman has “every gift, talent, and ability to make all her dreams come true…she just needs a great network and some Fairy Godmothers (mentors) to guide her.” Kelly is also a busy wife and mom of three young children and they try to live happily ever after in Utah.

is Carolyn Manning of Thoughts & Philosophies Business thoughts, business philosophies.

Having posted 137 Parts To The Ultimate Guide to Productivity for my link-back to my The Ultimate Guide to Productivity – Wanna Share One-Big Secret?

I know Our Contest ended up being much longer than I wanted, as it would’ve ended in June; but due to my hospitalization and present bed-rest I couldn’t do much. And, while I’m still recovering, I couldn’t let it last any longer…I’m still winded and whoozey from my 4-hour exams and testing today….urgh Fortunately, there were ’scheduled’ breaks…little did they know that I could actually hit some deep R.E.M. and Zzzzz in 5-10 mins.

Fortunately, this was the last “critical” test I had to take before I get the “A.O.K.” to officially move back East! Actually, we will *not* leave until we get the test results which will be another 1-2 weeks of waiting to go…so, plez extend some much needed prayers

EmpowerWomenNow.com gained 210 link-backs as registered in Technorati and I used the random number picker tool to chose our winner: Number 163–Carol Manning!

WooHoo! Congrats Carol–Here’s Your Online Women Entrepreneur’s Gift-Package, value at $500.95!

The Prizes

• One-year free membership to my most favorite home-based working moms/women entrepreneurs networking organization, that I am the most active with, and the Empowerment Expert Panelist for: HBWM.com (value $69)

• One-free phone Wealth Consultation with Marilyn August (value $160)

• One-eBusiness Email-Consultation with Wendy Piersall of eMomsatHome. Details: strategic feedback, money making ideas, and a mini-site overhaul. No longer offered to the public, Wendy made a special exception to help support our great news! (Value $150)

• One-free autographed copy of Secrets of Online Persuasion: Captivating the Hearts, Minds and Pocketbooks of Thousands Using Blogs, Podcasts and Other New Media Marketing Tools (Hardcover) ($34.95) by John-Paul and Deborah Micek of AdvancedBusinessBlogging, and a three-month subscription and installation of Blogi360 (value $87)

• One $150 credit to my freelance or ghost writing services. For example, one press release. Or four 500-word (2-page) articles, by yours truly…a best-selling author and excellent online press release result-achieving copywriter. (value $150).
• If you haven’t already, you qualify for a free $200 PRWeb.com press release, click here for details.]\

Last…but, not the very least; Thank You for participating and sharing your Link-Love! One of our biggest drawing points in the last month was (and still is) our Link-Exchange Directory. If you haven’t joined yet, hop on over right now. Our preferred anchor text is either “Women Entrepreneurs Blog” or “Entrepreneur’s Internet Branding Blog“…woo hoo! We’re ranked #1 for these awesome terms! More to come…of course

Please help me Congratulate Carol below!

Just last night I was interviewed at Peopleized , and I’m quite bummed because I thought I’d have the full interview in my profile with the interviewer’s name and my answers…maybe she has to approve it first…hmm…I just dunno.

Fortunately, I did copied and pasted my answer to her question,

“Do you have any tips for publishing or marketing my ezine list? (paraphased)…

Only now do I feel like I have some great insights to share on this very topic because of this #1 fact:

I’m proud to share that since my blog move from blogger to WordPress on March 15, 2007, I have a 0% unsubscribe rate for my ezine. In June I had 232 subscribers, and my web developer just reported that I now have nearly 1300!

So, here are my tips:

a. Practice what you preach.
Do *not* share your list with anyone! Respect everyone’s privacy!

b. Honor your word.
I promote my ezine as a “monthly” ezine. I send one email a month. I have sent more emails before, but since March, I’ve only sent one per month.

c. Treat each subscriber Special!
I write one unique article for my ezine, that I do *not* publish anywhere else. Not on my blog, and I have not yet sent any of my ezines since March to article directories either.

d. Be Unique!
My ezine’s title is “Empower ME Now Tips”. I give them thought-provoking, empowering tips in my own voice, tone and format. I have not strayed away from this format; and each and every month, I’ve received personal emails from my subscribers expressing thanks, sharing how timely my advice was, or how they look forward to my “unique” tips.

e. Don’t Grow Big Just to Sell Out!

• Basically: Be Consistent with whatever you do. When you’re going to try something new–test & track!

• This is one of my biggest discussion points I’m presently sharing with fellow internet marketers colleagues of mine.

First, if you promote and review products, services etc. on a regular basis; and send out daily, weekly ezines from the very start when your list is small; then to continue when you are big should not be an issue.

• If however, you’re growing your list with the above stated tips; and once you’re list is big; and then feel it’s a “good time” to start promoting and “selling” every single program you can to get a cut of the affiliate check; it’ll be an obvious and most likely not appreciated.

• Again, with everything online you need to ‘test’ and ‘track’ every marketing action you participate in.

• This is a touchy situation, because I became an instant amazon.com best-seller with my debut book “Empowering Women to Power Network”. I feel indebted to reciprocate the favor if and when asked.

• It’s those who abuse this powerful marketing tool that gives ezines a bad wrap some times.

f. Offer a great incentive to join your ezine.
Presently, I’m running my unique partnership with PRWeb.com of a free $200 Premium Press Release.

g. Give a free eReport.
There are ton you can get for free, but if you can write one yourself the better for your brand!

Here’s mine “Make Money Online: How You Can Too! The Top 10 Tips How I Made Money Online When I was Offline for 11 Months”.

[Side note: it is outdated...need a new one ]

Interestingly, many people sign-up for the free PDF, but many will not even open them.

f. Hook ‘em with a great sample of your ezine.
Offer a 7-day eCourse autoresponder. Online copywriters have tested this, and 7-days is the optimal size.

Mine is a FREE sample of my best-selling book’s most popular chapter “The Empowerment Equation for Success” eCourse.

g. Market, cross-promote, and joint venture partner within your niche/target market!
This will help the online buzz go on!

How did I get SO many subscriptions? Powerful Networking my dear! I have one Joint Venture who singly given me over 1000 subscribers in less than 6 weeks!

(New tips not added in my interview)

h. Write to One-Person!
Write in first-person to one singular person. I always write “me” to “you” as woman. When I must; I write “your/yours
and “ours” (being the 2 of us), and “her” or “one” another.

i. Welcome an open discussion, dialogue, conversation.

Always ask for “your thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, critiques”.

Did I rub you the wrong way?

j. Stay human–personal.

Make necessary apologies, remain humble, and be empowered. Share the “moment” as if we’re sitting over tea right here-right now!

k. Keep Your Optin Box in a prime spot.

The best-spot is the upper-right hand corner…I’m a bit off in this layout. But, its being corrected in our new layout

But, come on…its hard to miss my optin box, eh?

l. Have a separate dedicated static “sales” optin page.

Yes, Mine is Strategically called “Free Gifts”. The day we changed the title from “Home Page” to “Free Gifts”, subscriptions have seen a daily steady increase!

m. Stay tuned…

I’m sure I’ll add more; since I’m still *not* thinking well…I’m *not* off bed-rest yet

n. Haven’t signed-up yet? Tell me why below!

This months’ edition is about

Networking in Your Own Backyard

Business networking strategies that’ll get your family and friends to support your company!

Included in my column are:

• A sample *Non*-sales pitch at your next family picnic,

• A quick “real” story about my family and getting “LinkedIn”, and

• Knowing the difference between your business’s financial “bread and butter” versus “icing on your cake”

Please enlighten me, empower me, and tell me what you think below. Share your horror stories or networking galores for us all to ponder!

And, if you missed my past columns:

• June’s Top 10 Online Networking Ideas. You should definitely appreciate this one!

• May’s Debut: Networking for Lifelong Relationships. I share my debut views of “Permission Persuasion”.

Come on…empower me! Give me something to write about!…Like Wowser! I just thought of a killer-idea!

Here’s my August assignment, due Wednesday, August 1st:

Women’s Networking Styles. How to be Assertive, Not Aggressive or Abrasive.

I want YOUR case studies!

Now, this is topic, comes straight from my best-seller “Empowering Women to Power Network“; and I’m psyched its’ next month’s topic; because…yeah…I’m still on bedrest!

But, let’s jazz it up! Anyone, everyone, share your stories, comment below, trackback to me…whatever, and I’ll make my column with as much real-time, real-life stories (all my case studies are “real” stories)…right now! Yes, YOU can be on WomenEntpreneur.com–just start writing!

• Are you in!?

• How do you define this topic?

• Tell the truth…have you been Abrasive and been called a Witch (or something that rhymes with it)?

• Learned from your mistake?

• Was it acceptable?

Hey, dude…yay, I actually mean: You-Man! This community has many more opinionated men than women…got stories to share about the chicks in your life? Preferably in business, you hear!?

Okay: Your due date: Sunday, July 29, 2007 by 3:30pm EST.

Please, accept my intro, simply as an “intro”, as this is the first of nearly a dozen guest posts to fill EmpowerWomenNow.com during my recovery. I am under high-medical surveillance and on bed-rest for another 1-3 more weeks. Honestly, I’m exhausted by my own excitement right now and, well…I feel these 2 little words “Thank You” don’t begin to express my gratitude to you :-/

By the way, we now that 9 Team members, and always lookin’ to add more…so, pitch away, if you feel you have a specialty/spark/Ponn-like spunk to join our rockin’ crew! Hey, a great “intro” would be sending over a 500-800+ word guest post to dazzle me, and empower me during this difficult “test” in my life.

Without, holing u off too long: the reasons this guest post is SO rockin’ is: I simply ask Charlon to “write about this critical business topic” which I gave some main points to touch upon, and well–in her ever-so-perfectly-in-our-Ponn-like-style; totally Over-delivered and my Team *knows* I have *high* expectations of me, Our Team, Our Internet Brand, and more!

So, without further ado: Please give Charlon your utmost attention, share your thoughts and comments, and mostly give her some link-love!

Do You PIIW?

by Charlon Bobo

PIIW? What the heck is PIIW (pronounced PYOO)?

PIIW is an acronym for Put It In Writing. The PIIW philosophy has saved my legal business interest too many times to count.

As a writer I understand the power of words. I also understand how easy it is to miscommunicate. That’s why we PIIW; more specifically, create and implement legally-binding agreements.

Without them, the best-case scenario is that there are hurt feelings that can be repaired. The worst-case scenario is YOU LOSE YOUR BUSINESS. It has happened, it continues to happen and it most certainly can happen to you.

But, the good news is: It’s easy to prevent.

The most shocking realization I experience –- on an ongoing basis — in consulting with entrepreneurs is yet another company that doesn’t have a template agreement in place. Too many business owners don’t know the importance of PIIW, are so busy trying to keep up with the never-ending daily minutia of running and growing their enterprises, or they know the value, but ignore it because they think their business is just too small. Do any of these summaries sound like you?

Let me ask you: Isn’t all the hard work you’ve invested so far worth protecting?

I’m not a fear monger. I hope you aren’t either. Being protective with time-proven techniques –- like Put It In Writing — is just wise business. It isn’t about being protective because you fear losing your business. It is about being so smart that you do what’s necessary — as one component of many — to ensure the uninterrupted continuation and growth of your business.

Let me use another example. You have insurance of some kind don’t you? Life, health, automobile? You pay the premium willingly; not because you fear an accident, but for the peace of mind you carry every day knowing you did what you can in the unfortunate event something should happen.

Instead of being fearful, it’s freeing. See?

So, you PIIW because:

• Being in business requires us to formalize and document even seemingly simple arrangements

• All parties must be clear on rights and responsibilities

• Should the need arise, you have a legal basis — or grounds — for preserving and protecting your business, reputation and interests

• It’s just a savvy approach to sound and solid practices

So, let’s get on with the matter of your new approach to a formal, legal agreement.

Even though it may sound daunting, I promise it is a simple exercise.

The great thing is you go through the process ONE TIME, to experience protection FOREVER. You create a template and simply modify it to address the terms of each unique relationship. That’s it! Now that sounds manageable, doesn’t it?

If you want to stand out from the crowd and shout, “I’m serious enough about business to do what true professionals do,” draft your own version of an agreement. Begin right now.

REMEMBER: The language should not be so complex that the other party cannot understand it and must hire a lawyer for review (although this is a good idea, anyway). Use plain English!

Although this list is not all-inclusive, these are some of the items to include in your agreement

Specifically, this is based on the structure of creating a Referral Agreement:

1. Client’s name | “Lucy’s Virtual Assistance”

2. Contractor’s name | “EditCopyProof”

3. Specific services provided | “Copyediting and Proofreading”

4. Percentage of commission | “20%”

5. How commission is paid | “All payments shall be made in U.S. currency and payable to Lucy’s Virtual Assistance.”

6. When commission is paid | “Commissions are due when Contractor receives money from referred Client.”

7. Independent contractor status | “Contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee.”

8. Use of trademark or logos | “Contractor is not granted any right to use any of Lucy’s Virtual Assistance trademarks or logos.”

9. Loss of client liability | “Contractor cannot hold Lucy’s Virtual Assistance responsible for the loss of a Client.”

10. Worker’s compensation insurance | “No worker’s compensation insurance has been or will be obtained by Lucy’s Virtual Assistance on account of Contractor.”

11. Confidentiality | “Contractor agrees that Contractor shall not divulge such information to anyone other than Lucy’s Virtual Assistance.”

12. Agreement state governance | “This Agreement is governed by Georgia State law.”

13. Client solicitation by Contractor | “Contractor agrees that it will not solicit any Clients that are part of Lucy’s Virtual Assistance program (Client base) for any business that competes with Lucy’s Virtual Assistance during the term of this Agreement and for a period of three (3) years from the date of final referral sale.”

14. Term of Agreement | “The Term of this Agreement shall commence upon execution hereof.”

See a sample of my Referral Agreement.

Because all agreements are unique to the individual company and circumstance, I highly recommend an attorney review contents before finalizing and implementing your template.

Too busy? Too Tired? Or just Unavailable? Outsource this duty today

If you are neck-deep in managing your affairs and this is yet one more thing that won’t get done because it’s not at the top of your list, other options to developing a standard agreement are:

1. Search online for templates you can modify with very little time investment (have the final reviewed by an attorney to ensure it fully and specifically protects your interests)
2. Delegate the task to a virtual assistant or copywriter (have the final reviewed by an attorney to ensure it fully and specifically protects your interests)
3. Hire an attorney to draft a template version

It is YOUR duty and obligation to protect your interests. Don’t wait to find out that something so simple could have prevented the loss of your precious time, money and effort… or your business itself.

This is how I conduct business. No project begins without a signed agreement in my files. This is how Ponn ensures her team fully understands the details of her affiliations with them.

And from this point forward, it is how you project and manage yourself in the real world of serious — but fun — business.

The longevity of your thriving endeavor depends on your commitment to doing everything in your power to run a smart business — like implementing professional agreements. Doing so allows you the freedom and peace-of-mind to thrive.

To your unlimited potential and success~

Charlon Bobo is the founder and team leader of EditCopyProof — Wordsmithing and Editing Solutions — Transforming Words Into Profits. Proficient in many diverse writing roles, her expertise spans more than 25 years. This solid foundation offers you a single and final destination in your quest for extraordinary press-ready services including copyediting and proofreading.

Visit us TODAY at EditCopyProof to submit your Request For Proposal.
We deliver your perfect solution!

“I hired a pro [to develop a comprehensive event planning manual]; Charlon at EditCopyProof. Talk about over-delivering. … what she created for us was a masterpiece. Our successful events are due to the structure provided by this detailed, content-rich resource.” –Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero, America’s Leading Copywriter & Owner of Red Hot Copy

[Lorrie was my copywriter partner for my best-seller campaign. And, an internet guru in her own right...to see that Charlon is a copyeditor/writer for Lorrie, the high-profile, highly-acclaimed, copywriter, is well...just SO awesome!]

Spread the love. Share your thoughts, comments, questions below.

[Yes, Ponn had a couple of Pillar Posts up her sleeves, ready to hit 'publish' whenever she wanted/needed to. So, don't be deceived; Ponn will not be able to return to work for at least 2 full weeks of bed-rest, medical observation, and trying some new drugs. (By the way, Ponn is most grateful for your lovin' support & prayers. She's having a tough time turning her painful tears into cheerful ones, but that's what's family is for. Thanks everyone!) Guest Bloggers from our Team will begin immediately. If YOU are interested in writing a Guest Post to help us out until Ponn returns, please submit a 500-800 word article based on our new Internet Branding Categories and a 1-3 byline for our consideration. Now, back to some of Ponn's good 'ol "how-to's": ]

Now that Sk-rt.com completed their migration to a dedicated server…they’re working terribly hard to upgrade the software that sk-rt is built on to make some much requested end-user features that are more common in top social networking/bookmarking sites, such as Digg, StumbleUpon and Del.icio.us to name a few.

Interestingly, they’ve only been in existence for 3 weeks, and they didn’t anticipate needing to move to a high-capacity dedicated server until at least 1-2 months…so Many Kudos to their great publicity and popularity thusfar!

Before I share some tips how to position yourself as a Power User and Why…I want to share this disclaimer:

These tips are written from one online women entrepreneur to another. Our goal is to become a Power User, quality-user in social networking/bookmarking sites because it helps us gain more readers/visitors/traffic to our websites and/or blogs to a target market: you–a woman. I understand many women are active at sk-rt primarily as a fun-enjoyable networking/bookmarking web forum, and if you feel there’s no need to try and position ourselves as Thought-Leaders/Experts in our areas of expertise, I apologize if you disagree with my content. Please share your thoughts and issues in the comments below. Please know that we offer many products and services that have a great benefit to you and other women; and social networking/bookmarking sites are an excellent place to target our internet marketing efforts…to bring you here: our website/blog

So, how can W.E. (women entrepreneurs) position ourselves as a Power User on Sk-rt.com?

Here’s some tips (in no particular order):

First and foremost, work with their limitations and push the services to the edges…as best you can. How?

1. Vote Regularly and Systematically.

Vote regularly on these categories in this order:

• Up & Coming - Since you’ll probably be the 1st or 2nd voter, so support new members and share a quick comment or two, quick way to network with newbies. Least time intensive networking activity.
• Front Page/Popular – Help members who submitted good stories for the particular day, vote, try to comment, be-friend/network well.
• Categories of Interest To You – Probably were you’ll spend the most time, so indulge yourself, enjoy, educate yourself, support other members, network within your niche, etc.
• Top Stories – The highest ranked posts (those with the most votes of all-time)…if you haven’t visited it yet, spend good time here and find members with similar voting habits, network, enjoy, etc. This can be very time-consuming, more for fulfilling your pleasure than your needs. This may not be a category that you spend time in much, so it can be eliminated, and be a quick few seconds, if they’re still the same posts since your last visit.

2. Be-friend everyone who votes on your submissions.

At the very least, when you submit a story add each and everyone who voted for those posts as your friend.

3. Craft thoughtful comments.

Try to make an educated, thoughtful, supportive comments, and if you disagree, share your views politely. Add those who voted on that post as your friends.

4. Customize your profile as much as possible.

In your profile, put a little more about yourself in your “Occupation” line. See what I wrote? You want to give your profile visitors some reason to be-friend you…and there’s limited space to show your “personal” side, besides sharing your link to your website.

5. Check out the voting patterns of others.

A feature I like a ton in other sites are “friends who voted the same”, so when I’m voting on stories and see that someone has similar voting patterns, I try to network/reach out to them. Unfortunately, the email feature is so slow that I’ve never successfully gotten through to email anyone within sk-rt. An alternative is to email a member directly. While I, myself, do not publicize my email address…its easy to figure out to fellow yahoo IM and Google Talk members, because my username is my email prefix.

6. Everyone who visits your profile, be-friend them.

7. See where everyone is! Look at the tag cloud and its blatantly obvious…top groups:

• Parenting. While, not where my focus is here at EmpowerWomenNow.com the popularity shows that mom bloggers are truly dominating the scene as submitters, voters, and networkers. So, Mom Bloggers! Hop on! For all the mom bloggers visiting this list, please consider all the reasons why you should link to EmpowerWomenNow.com!
• Fashion. Undoubtedly, a woman’s topic! If you’re a fashion website publisher or blogger–hop over there right now!
• Business?? Yes, this is one more plug for this category, as 6 business women bloggers have followed-up and requested this category as well…but, the real question is “Is Women in Business a sk-rt-able category?” [A tag is totally different than a Category, mind u]
  • I think so…if you do, please contact sk-rt right now by emailing them now and comment below!

8. Power User or Top User?

The Top User category is really a mere numeric-alphabetical list of all the members of the sk-rt database. If I had time (though I recommend someone to try it) I’d research to see if I use a unique numeric-alpha username like:

1ILoveSkrt and see if I get more profile views than ponnsabra

But, PonnSabra is my username everywhere and I don’t have the time to experiment…but if you do, please let me know and report your results here!

You can see everyone’s published submission and published votes ratio. But, who has times to go through ~67 pages of sk-rt members to see who’s a Power User!? Not me…

Anyways, a PowerUser is someone like the Top Stumblers at StumbleUpon or Top 100 Diggers, those who are the most active users who have a great submission to front-page/published ratio. These are the ranks I’m trying to get you and I too here at Sk-rt.com because W.E. (women entrepreneurs) have a significant opportunity to capitalize on the fact that sk-rt just launched this month.

For example, most of the Top Diggers were the users from the start-up phase for that particular social bookmarking site.

And, why do you want to position yourself as a Power User on Sk-rt.com? Because if your target market are women, then here’s a great referral site to drive traffic to your website and/or blog!

9. Make your submissions count.[Come on, u know u wanna love 'em up!]

A colleague of mine is testing what are the results in her referral traffic if she submits multiple posts to sk-rt.com

While I’m a proponent for gaining a good submission/publication to the front page ratio.

As stated above, I believe mom bloggers/website publishers as well as fashion bloggers/website publishers have great leverage here at sk-rt right now.

Then, again…many things can change…as I hope, once this page is posted and submitted

10. Get in now!

Sk-rt.com has not even met their one-month anniversay yet…so, W.E. (women entrepreneurs) all have the potential to highly-influence what gets submitted, voted on, made to the front page, published in the Top Posts, become a Power User, and much, much more!

I’m also finding that many of the friends I made are not website publishers/bloggers…meaning they don’t have a website/blog; therefore they are women internet browsers who enjoy what they’re reading and now have a venue to submit and vote on sites they visit while networking with like-minded women.

Therefore, women entrepreneur website owners/bloggers have a significant opportunity to gain many new readers, visitors, subscribers, clients, etc.

There’s great potential for all involved if you jump on sk-rt.com now and become an active Power User.

Was this worth your lovin’ in sk*rt? Then, love-it up, plezzz.

I’m terribly sick; actually tears are rollin’ down my cheeks b/c well; my brain is not being nice these days. But, the show must go on…my gals are workin’ hard with unveiling our new site with or without me, blah blah…

Skip the next 2 paragraphs, if you just wanna know why I’m calling all women entrepreneur bloggers! What’s In-It-For-You!

It’s not very “empowering” if I continue to work through this pain and suffering. For my very new readers, subscribers (BTW, I wuv u all! B/c even with low stats due to our server change and the holiday…my subscriptions and personal emails have increased like never before)…I have an extremely rare brain disorder. It’s quite awful and scary really…a part of my brain seeps into my spinal cord, hence causing me partial paralysis. With the heat wave 2 weeks ago (90+ degrees weather) I just pass out here and there, in the grocery store, post office. Thank God they know me in both places and cater to me, my family and health limitations. Hubby stays on-call knowing he needs to pick me up. I don’t leave a 3-mile radius from home. Why do I leave? Well…I can’t stay in the house ALL the time: a home-based entrepreneur, a home-school mama, a home-chick…you got the picture, right?

Well, the heat hit again this week, and now I’m passing out, having somethin’ like brain mini-black-outs, and my idiotic MDs have NO idea what to do with/for me…so, where’s my empowerment these days? Actually here on my blog! Family can’t talk to me without crying…my girlz cry more day in and out, because they watch me inch around the house, lop-sidded b/c my brain is SO heavy these days. Those who know my disability follow me in awe, and email me all the time, why don’t you share more of your personal stuff? I don’t know how you do it!? Well, b/c I have enough business content to last MANY years, I have future posts sitting in my box ready to hit ‘publish’ whenever I want too…I don’t have time to even share my pain. I’m NOT a cry-baby and find no need to share details. Well, that will soon change, I bought a couple new domain names to share my BrainPain.com (for all my fellow brain-pain-ers and PonnSabra.com- for everything and anything that doesn’t fit here…homeschooling, mommy-ing, working with a disability, yadda yadda…

And, with our new site, we’re positioned to host multiple guest bloggers, and take a ton of work load offa’ me, so I can do what I love most: writing for therapy. Writing to share experiences in business and in life.

Here’s where Women Entrepreneur Bloggers come in!

Ready!?

Yes, you know, I only unveiled my “Advertising Page” less than a week ago…and well, My inbox is SO full!

Not, necessary with big-bucks following each plea to get coverage/reviews on my site either. But, Power Networker Ponn will NOT allow anyone get away from her, especially since these are loyal readers, subscribers and lovers of EmpowerWomenNow.com!

I say, I can and I WILL work with everyone’s budget.

Ready for these stats?

Since Tuesday night, I just received 4 book review offers, 1 product review, and 2 website/blog reviews.

Since my unveiling my advertising page, I get at least 1 inquiry a day…and, checking out every website, book, product, etc. These are ALL thangs I, as a woman entrepreneur, and YOU would love to learn more about!

a. As a best-selling author, I get paid $200 (honorary checks) for a pre-launch book review. So, I don’t even review books for free…and haven’t in ages.

So, to all the blog reviewers, I asked for a dozen autographed copies of books to share or give-away to my readers!

b. I also get Free access, free downloads, etc. for product, software reviews…and never thought this as ‘advertising’…but accordingly to my colleagues it is. So, in my replies to those without the cash, I’ve asked for X number of free subscriptions…

And, everyone is happy!

c. Why are my advertisers happy!? Because I’m calling all Women Entrepreneur Bloggers to apply to my first-time-ever-on-the-web:

Women Entrepreneur Blogger Reviewers Network!

You will get free products, services, books, and much more for free for a blog review!

Unfortunately, I do *not* have time to personally, nor have my staff, work on “special-pretty” optin boxes.

1. You MUST be a woman entrepreneur who blogs. You’re target market does not have to be women entrepreneurs, just you must cater to women! Priority of course will go to those who write to women entrepreneurs though.

So, here’s what you hafta do:

Email: ponnSabra<at>hotmail<dot>com

Subject: Women Entrepreneur Bloggers Review Network

Body:

• URL
• 1-3 lines description of blog
• Sample product, services, review posts you already made. Ideally 3-4 (Tip: show me your best stuff)
• Traffic details. [Tip: just put your URL in here, and shoot me the actual URL with the results.]
• Not targeting women entrpereneurs? But, you are a woman entrepreneur blogger who writes great reviews? Tell me why you should be included. Target market demographics. [Tip, look how my stats stand out on my "Advertising Page"]
• A Newbie blogger? Tell me why you love me, my blog, why you’d be a good addition, though you don’t have the traffic to support it…I may have a ’special waiting list’ or a “trial review run” for different campaigns!] This is the generous, fun-lovin, link-lovin’ Ponn you’ve all learned to love deep from within

Please be patient, this will be an slow approval process. I will personally check y’all out, and the MORE data, information, you provide…the better chances you’ll rub me the right way. I’m busy and u know that, this network is designed to lighten my workload…not increase it!

Since I’m not thinking hard right now…please forgive me if I ask and amend this post! Just keep checkin’ back, ya’hear!?

Good luck sweetie

Hoping to meet many more of you, since there’s way TOO many of chicks that linger and read…but who don’t comment or contribute. Network with me, I’m reaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllyyyyy nice.

Hugz.

Yes, I’m totally rockin’ ov’r at BMM (code name: Blog Mastermind Mentees), and you can Get In Today with Yaro’s 39% 7-day Launch Special for only $47/month. After Midnight, it’s jumping to $77/month!

Before I share some “Insider” Tips, I want to say “Thanks for ALL the Lovin‘!” I’m truly humbled by the love in the blogosphere…even my dearest beloved Amanda shared her kindest congrats…though the #s are a bit off, I corrected them in my ‘comments’. By the way…its of no-fault to her, I think my over-excitement got her typing away stats were high based on my possible over-exaggerated glee

Now to the goodies…get ready, I’m putting you to work!

1. pMetrics – Google Analytics on Steroids! Depending on how much traffic you have at your website/blog depends if you get their free service or not. From the website:

• Basic – Free, up to 3 sites, up to 1,000 average daily page views per site. Limited feature set.
• Blogger – $2.99/month or $19.99/year. Up to 3 sites and 10,000 average daily page views total (between all sites). Includes extra features like RSS feeds, Spy, outbound link tracking, download tracking, IP tagging, IP filtering, and more.
• Pro / Small business – $5.99/month or $49.99/year. Up to 10 sites and 50,000 average daily page views total. Includes all features from ‘Blogger’ plan, plus full custom data tracking (usernames, etc), full API access, and data export.

A review from a fellow BMM, said

I use both Performancing’s pMetrics and the Google Analytics. Between the two of them, they provide some really useful information. I like pMetrics for the specific info on users and GA for the trends and bigger picture info.

My response:

pMetrics = how-to stalk one-visitor.
GA = finding where our biggest coup is forming, just in case we need to drum up activity. Please….I am SO jokin’

I have NO idea how people find things out once I have their IP-Address, such as name, address, contact info, etc.

hee hee…we’re having TONS of fun “inside”!

2. Network! Network! Network!

All 5 Guest Bonuses Interviews talked about it! Yaro talks about it!

I had to ask:

Since you recommend “networking” with other Mentees, and finding possible barters/outsourced services, and/or sharing our areas of expertise and/or building future joint venture partnerships; I’d like to *highly* recommend a separate section in the forums just for “Barters/JV Opportunities/Networking”

He replied:

Hmm, good idea Ponn, let me see what I can do…

He acted ! We got a kickin’ new section…and the ideas/barters/networking is already hippidy-hoppin’

3. Keep a Blog Traffic Diary

Yes, Yaro has a Public Forum that you can access if you are not a BMM. And, I highly recommend it!

I just saw that a ton of BMM’ers are there “outside” too. I can barely keep up being on the “inside”, that time will only tell where I’ll be in the next coming weeks.

This one exercise alone has”

• Saves time – I “batch-process” duties/responsibilities for the day.

• Save money – I follow directions in the eLessons and audios, and type what I need to do, what I want to do, and what I dream of doing (meaning: what I can and will outsource). I present hourly consultation rate is $150/hour so if I outsource $25/hour administrative work, I saved $125!

• Allows me to celebrate – Now, that I’m actively doing 80/20…my mini-accomplishments are much more appreciated.

• My ezine and RSS subscribers have gone up daily like never before. I increased usual 7-8 daily ezine subscribers to 55-60/day! I doubled-and-a-half my #s. From 232 to 582!
• My RSS subscribers, I’m lucky to get 1 a day average, I’ve gotten 2-3 every day this week.
• I sold my first Text-Link-Ad today after 1-2 weeks of putting up the code!
• 20 Members in Our Women Entrepreneurs Link Directory! 6 of which I just approved yesterday!
• I already made money with SponsoredReviews.com after only one-week of joining!

My biggest news! Usually my biggest day’s traffic occurs on the day of my Stumble/Sk-rt Friendly request, well…it was my biggest trafficked-day to Start! I not only maintained my high-traffic numbers but I continue to increase every single day! I’ve *never* been this successful: on a traffic, subscription-count, and money-making day ever!

How did I do this!? By joining Blog Masterminds!

I can not, nor will I divulge any of the “exact” secrets; or else, I risk having you come back to Me and Yaro in the further!

Hint: High-quality, UNIQUE, Pillar Content!

Come on…tell the truth below! Have you seen anyone’s voice, tone or content compare Yaro’s Blog? Can you compare my tone, voice or content to anyone elses?

Because, we Aren’t re-producible, replaceable? I learned this from him very early on…and I will continue to listen and apply!

By the way…there are BIG-Blogging-Dawgs on the other-side as well. I will not share them publicly, but you’ll be walking side-by-side some big-online internet marketers shall you choose to take the leap of faith–in You and your business! For $47/month…I’d pay double. hee hee and, I almost did!

I am so elated and pumped and just gosh darn silly with glee! OMG! “I Won!” I kept screaming our to my girls when I heard the Great News! I was dancing a gig like the Crazy-Silly-Mama my girls have come to accept and love And well…Thank You Yaro!

I’ve been envisioning working side-by-side with Yaro Starak of Entrepreneurs-Journey.com ever since he announced he was “thinking” about start mentoring on his Blog Traffic King newsletter.

Then, on March 26, 2007, when he finally made the decision to go forward, he asked his subscribers for feedback. We only had 48-hours to reply to five specific questions regarding what the ideal blog mentoring program would provide; structure, format, layout, anything and everything.

To encourage people to respond, the reward would be: “one free entry into the mentoring program to the person who provides the best feedback to me”.

Needless to say, I answered every single question to the best of my ability. I did my research, having participated in two previous internet-based mentor programs and even had price structures outlined for him. I shared my history, present status, future visions and more!

Anyways, two days later he shared that he’d gotten 107 responses so far (the 48-hours weren’t even completed yet). Since he also announced the price structure would have 2-tiers; the first one he promised would be under $100/month – much more than I spent on previous mentoring programs – so I went on with my business.

I followed his tips week after week, remained active on his blog, and continued to have faith. But, rather then sit and hope, I began working harder to gain at a minimum $100/month in passive income to pay for this course. In one months time, I went from $35 affiliate sales in April to $350 in May! I haven’t calculated June’s totals yet, but I’m up to $355 with one solid week to go!

When I ventured back online this year, I was bound and determined to grow my online business solely with the residual income I gain and re-invest 100% right back into it. I’ve invested a ton more of my personal savings, and well, that’s another story!

On April 13, 2007, Yaro officially opened a new early-notification option subscribers list to Blog Mastermind - SaaaWeeet name, huh!?

Yes, I joined right away!

Then, on May 22, 2007 with a subject title, “Ponn, can we talk on the phone?” [Great copywriting! ;-) ]

Sure, anytime!

Yaro shared that he was still going through all his emails and had yet to pick anyone. So this was just one more opportunity to share my experience with him.

I must add that he did share in his email that this is a “great networking” opportunity. Need I say that Power Networker Ponn was not going to let this one pass her by!

Yaro is an all around great guy! Incredibly personable, kind, generous, and extremely patient and layed-back…given all the pressure he must have been enduring during his pre-launch phase; I was always impressed how calm his voice is/was, how thoughtful his emails were, and just gosh-darn “professional”! Talk about developing excellent customer service and name-brand to support his great written name in the blogosphere!

We tried hard to schedule a skype interview, as I’d really LOVE to talk to him in person, but our next best alternative was an audio recorded testimonial and hand-written notes.

From that day forward I watched my inbox literally like a hawk, signed-up for his affiliate program, read his incredible eBook in one sitting and reviewed it, while kindly dropped “congrats” emails along the way – just one-liners were fine.

Needless to say, I was STUNNED to see what a kind review he wrote on my testimonial, promoting Him on His sales page. [Fifth one down. Following Darren Rowse, Brain Clark, his dear friend Alborz Fallah, and David Bain's really cool Scottish accent. Wow, I just noticed I'm the 1st chick! Killer ].

Well, I was terribly busy on Thursday, saw the 7-day special…was BLOWN away that it was only $47/month…but will rise to $77/month at the end of the week.

So, it was past midnight on Friday night…I was watching his phenomenal video sharing that he had nearly 100 mentees in the first 12-hours since his launch and that his alexa ranking shot up to 3,000 on Thursday…nearly a2-month old website…DANG! Yaro is brilliant! When it dawned on me: Oh geeezzz…I hadn’t signed-up yet!

[Hey, yeah...you do the math, 100 mentees at $47/month...in his first 12-hours! Tell me, *you* don't wanna pick his brain!?]

Ready? Here’s the funny thing:

Yes, I’m personally an overly-energetic little chick; but I some how registered twice and was paying for 2 subscriptions! While its *more* than worth it., I shot over an email to Yaro asking him to please refund one of the subscriptions, because in my excitement I bought 2 :-D

In seconds, he shared the news!

I felt like I won a million dollars! And you know what!?!?!?

I’d take this over a million bucks. . .well. . .

Why? Because it’s the “education, empowerment, and the how-to” do exactly what I need and wanted to do with EmpowerWomenNow.com!

It has been 3+ years in the making and during that time my health prevented me and my business from growing. My choice to homeschool our young girls prevents me from working full time. I *never* intended nor want to be a full-time blogger. I have services, products, wanted a mentoring program, and so much more – all on my terms and my conditions. Yaro blogs less than 2-hours a day…perfect!

In sharing my excitement, some colleagues said they had never heard of Yaro before me (and my posts, etc.). When I share that we have the same exact “business model”, this news was expressed as an ideal match for both of us!

Yaro successfully does all that I envision for my online business, so He is the Ideal Mentor for me.

I’ve been following him word-for-word, but need an actual outline, course-book, action-plan, etc. to follow; so I’m his Ideal Mentee–and that’s why I won! This is the Ideal Match for us!

I totally believe that there’s an ideal mentoring relationship for everyone, and that may change in time, as people evolve…and this is totally okay with me.

Just find your Ideal Match!

It’s ironic really…I was talking to my Sole Sistah Wendy earlier on Friday, and I shared how pumped I was to join Yaro’s mentoring program. We laughed when I said “Yaro’s my Darren to you”

And, then in sharing my excitement with Yaro, I said I felt like Wendy winning her Elite Retreat ticket to him.

It’ll totally be rockin‘ if we went full-circle and Darren dropped by to share his ‘Congrats’ =)

Undoubtedly, I networked my way for Yaro to notice me – as I never believe things happen by accident. I’ve never been a lucky person…no doubt, I create my own luck; and you can too!

There are obviously many lessons learned through this post, such as:

• Stay focused,

• Be persistent,

• Work wisely (not just hard),

• Network,

• Jump when opportunities call,

• Find your Ideal Mentor,

• Invest in yourself and your business,

• Don’t have the money? – create it, etc.

Now, behind the scenes there are so much great stuff going on…and at the very latest we’ll be unveiling a brand spanking new EmpowerWomenNow.com

Only four months since my re-launch and new design…and I’ve greatly outgrown this template!

Interestingly, we’ve been creating a format more aligned with Yaro’s model to attract advertisers and better montenization! Talk about incredible timing!

I made a pact with myself…I will not logon to Blog Mastermind until today–Monday, so I can start fresh and dedicate my weeks: one at a time!

To all my fellow Yaro-mentees: I can NOT wait to meet you all (in Yaro’s words) “on the other side”. Undoubtedly, I want to network with all of you! I want to walk hand-in-hand with you as Yaro helps us all reach our business and personal goals!

For those not enrolled…

What are you waiting for? A free ticket!?!?

Sorry, it’s taken

The next best-thing is to lock in your guaranteed low price of $47/month forever with 2 more days to go. Otherwise, late-comers are paying a hefty $77/month…which, honestly I was prepared to pay!

“Action” is the key to Success. So “Act” Baby! Your free ticket to your dream come true may be 1 email away!

[Yes, even in my Congratulatory post to myself I couldn't type away without sharing tips, tools, and advice to you--my loyal reader! So, please share your thoughts, ideas, advice, and suggestions below! Yeah, you know the drill: right underneath in the Comments section.]