Channel the Saran Wrap

The only problem with it is that it’s not environmentally friendly, so don’t channel that part of the Saran Wrap™, but grab hold of everything else and apply it to your writing, online, blogging and social media efforts.

Saran Wrap™ is:

1. Transparent. If you aren’t transparent, you’re hiding something, which makes you untrustworthy…people want to connect with people, not businesses, NOT smoke screens.Transparency is about being really genuine - don’t just be a car salesman, be a car salesman who loves sandwiches, tennis, his kids and the novel you’ve been writing for the last year.

2. Clear. Be clear about your mission, your goals, your industry, your philosophy, your blog topic, the scope of what you do. Clarity is about your own personal understanding and connection to your professional life and plan. If you aren’t clear, you’re confused, disorganized and ineffective - things that will negatively effect your productivity, overall business, relationships, etc.

3. Sticky. If folks just breeze on through your blog, website, store - you haven’t really gotten anywhere. You want to stick to them, you want them to stick to you, you want them to subscribe, bookmark, buy, sign-up, return, remember you. The point is to build a long relationship and have it expand over time.

4. Connected. Ever notice how it’s very difficult to get just a little bit of Saran Wrap™ off the roll? The wrap is so connected to itself, like brothers in arms, a VERY tight network. Use this in two ways: 1) build your own network via your blog and your social networks and, 2) encourage this network to tell their own networks about you as well.

5. Become ‘the’ word to the extent that people think your name represents the entire industry - think Kleenex™ here. Saran Wrap™ is a registered trademark brand name, the product is actually plastic wrap. Word of mouth and a good product has made them the industry leader, standard and mascot.

6. Tools. One box, all you need. Saran Wrap™ has the container, the wrap, the cardboard tube that keeps the wrap in check, the metal teeth to cut the wrap. Have all of the tools people need at the ready. Make it easy for them to contact you, purchase your product or service, use your product or service, tell their friends about their contact or service, etc.

What comes first? The social networking or the egg?

And by ‘egg,’ I mean ‘blog.’

Beth Harte and Geoff Livingston recently wrote a great article about weeding out the ‘carpetbagger’ social media experts. In their list of 25 things to watch out for, I agreed wholeheartedly with 22 of them - and feel quite strongly about the three I disagree with.

The first point: ‘First recommendation is to blog’ is tackled below - the other two (blog ghostwriting and personal branding) are coming soon.

I can see why it might not always be the right first step for every single person or company. But, I have a hard time swallowing the notion that blogging first might be a misstep for most people - or that its suggestion would make the suggester a ‘carpetbagger.’ I started with my blog and then walked onto the social media scene, and my chosen order was highly beneficial for me, both personally and professionally. Here’s why:

1. Slow, steady, safe pace. My blog gave me a quiet place to watch my ideas develop and be instantly published. At first, no one was even looking, then readers started to show up, then their comments arrived. I had time to find my voice and learn how to respond to people in this medium. If you haven’t noticed, social media happens fast - especially on Twitter - and jumping into the networking madness before I really knew myself online (or how ‘online’ worked) was not the best choice for me.

2. Reason to interact. When you first start reaching out on social networks, sharing your blog content is a great way to introduce yourself (and I don’t mean in a pushy, salesy way) - but it does give you something to say. Having written your posts, you’ve obviously formulated your own opinions on topics that you will now feel confident discussing. Also, as a blogger, you have a healthy dose of appreciation for the other bloggers out there and it’s something you have in common (writing, tech, design, functionality, etc.) to connect about.

3. Portfolio, calling card, resume. Your blog is all of these things - so when people check out your Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, (etc.) page or bio, they have a clickable link that immediately provides an in-depth look into who you are and what you do. When I go to someone’s Twitter bio, for example, and there is no site/blog listed, I have virtually nowhere to go - no way to connect, forge a relationship or network. In this scenario, there is only a small amount of information available that tells me what this person can do for me and what I can do for them. Personally, when I network, I want all of my talents and skills visible to maximize my connection possibilities.

4. Blogs, by definition, expand our ability to be found online. My blog is part of my social networking world. Before I even set foot onto a social networking site, I had built a community around my blog. Then, my blog and my social networking sites blended, merged and grew together - and they continue to do so. In fact, both my blog and my social networks feed each other via organic searches, as well as word of mouth. (people find my blog and then come to follow me on Twitter and vice versa).

A blog is a brilliant way to establish an online presence by letting the world know all about you and your thoughts on everything connected to your industry and area of expertise.

5. Blog as listening tool. I don’t care what your business is - you have to listen to clients, customers, colleagues, peers, the world to succeed. Otherwise you won’t know what they want, why they want it or how you can give it to them. Blogs are a great listening tool because you can ask questions, listen to comments and watch your stat diagnostics (what people are searching for and reading). Of course, social media is a great listening tool as well (would never suggest otherwise).

6. Freedom and ownership. With so many rules and guidelines, blogs allow you to publish, to own, to think your thoughts and explore without being at the whim of a publisher. Your own real estate is always a great place to start…didn’t Madonna start off by singing and dancing around the house in her underwear? Certainly not on the world stage.

And, at the end of the day, I love blogs because they allow for so many different opinions - no one has to be right or wrong, but the arguments can and should be heard and discussed.

What did you do first? Blog or social networking?

Do you feel strongly that one or the other should happen first?

The best darn poets…

What started as a gift to all of you, quickly became a gift to me…your incredible poems, your spreading the word, the kind things you said about me (even if they were inspired by your desire to win), the gifts and prizes that you offered…

I just can’t thank you all enough - readers, writers, prize givers, Twitterers, Facebookers…members of my very much loved community.

There were 50 entries! And 10 prizes (2 from me as the grand prize) offered…truly amazing.

You are all winners, and you all win my love and affection. Picking actual prize winners was VERY hard (it’s taken me 5 hours - yes, I have issues), but here they are, starting with the last prize offered and working up to the popcorn popper & Writing Roads Blog feature from me:

1. Best Blessing Counter: Ron Miller (because he knows what’s important…)

Prize: Cindy Hartman’s inventory consult!

2. Best MomForce poem: Deb on the Rocks (because she’s really feeling the MomForce!!!)

Prize: A spot in Jessica Smith’s Inner Circle!

3. Most photogenic poem: Sid Parham (because he wove in the most incredible Twitter snapshots)

Prize: Gorgeous Lanny McDowell print!

4. Most unrealized poem: Annette Fix (because she thinks she can’t, but I know she can…and she did show up!)

Prize: J.Sewell Perkins coaching consult!

5. Most foodalicious poem: Turtle (you had me at ‘dipped in heavy cream’)

Prize: Carol McManus’s Table Talk Cookbook!

6. Most spiritual poem: Dyana Valentine (because divining rods and social media inspiration are right up my alley - and I know what it feels like to wake up like that and rush to the computer!)

Prize: TarotByArwen reading!

7. Most busy, time-starved poem: Susan Gibbs (seriously, who only has time for that measly little poem? Sheesh!)

Prize: Virtual assisting by TraceyTarrant!

8. Most Feminist poem: Gwen Bell (Um, hello? Anything ‘Madonna’ had to win this category.)

Prize: Debra Snider’s novel, A Merger of Equals

9. Absolute BEST poem: Ann Davis (Sister, you win because that poem is a true journey from blah to WOW - that you followed your inspiration and found happiness thrills me to the bone. That writing was part of the trail lights me on fire. Not to mention your wish to spread love and goodness everywhere…)

Prize: The BEST popcorn popper EVER and a feature on this blog loaded with tons of social media love.

I will do my very best to get the winner’s names to the prize-givers, but there are links abound on this page - so feel free to nudge each other. Winners - you will receive your prize directly from the givers…not from me!

Thank YOU! Happy holidays and humongous blessings for a new year filled with abundance, peace, safety, laughter, kindness…and the written word.

The best things you could ever write about

While I’m interested in a pretty wide range of things in this world, there are plenty of things that I’m profoundly not into. GI Joe & Barbie, Velveeta, heavy metal, comic books, hunting, skydiving, fruit cake and video games top the list.

Can you imagine if I had to write about them? Sitting down in front of the blank screen, I can imagine searching wildly for my muse to no avail - she hightailed it to a beach in Tahiti at the first mention of Toys-R-Us.

Whether you’re a marketing copywriter, a freelance writer, a blogger and/or a business owner, you will always be looking for good content, the next job and the mojo to write and make it good.

Of course, I understand the argument that the need for a paycheck might necessitate that we write about things we aren’t inspired by. But, really?  I’m taking issue with that concept.

What if I follow my interests and because these things light me up so brilliantly, I write so well that I get accolades for that work and then more of that same kind of work? What if it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy?

I’ve written before about the fact that your energy comes through to your readers via your writing. That readers pick up on your writing emotions, even if they can’t really identify why they feel a certain way. So, if you write about GI Joe and don’t like him (or what he stands for or how he directs kids’ play into war and fighting), the reader will get that - no matter how subliminally. And let’s just say it won’t be the best ad copy we’ve ever seen.

If you’re a great or solid writer, it’ll be fine. But, don’t you want more than that? Don’t you want to be inspired, fed by your work creatively, satisfied, feeling good, making a difference with your words?

I do.

Who’s got your back?

I went to high school with one of my brothers, Steve, who is just two years older than me. Here’s a classic scenario from those good old days at Clayton High: I’m standing at my locker - talking, flirting, what have you with some boy that had trouble written all over his face (and body) - and from out of nowhere, Steve appears.

“What’s going on here?” He would bellow. “Are you okay? Is he bothering you?”

I’m not kidding.

He drove me crazy and the boys away. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized this protection wasn’t actually a bad thing. I mean, what a concept? Someone watching out for you, able to swoop in just when you need them…hmmm, sounds oddly like a comic book I read somewhere…

How does it translate to being a freelance copywriter? Who’s got your back in the social media realm? The answer really speaks to the beauty of networking and being a genuine part of the conversation.

Because of social media, there are actual places you can go to be around people that understand your situation - like a local writer or tech listserve, a mom’s network such as Mom Bloggers Club or your own blog that builds community with conversation, comments and subscriptions/feeds. You can also cast your net somewhere like Twitter where word of mouth is fast and the conversation is faster. My experience with all of these examples is that most of the people using them are incredibly helpful, supportive and there to connect.

These people will help you navigate new proposals, pricing, finding the perfect word, tech breakdowns…and you’ll do the same for them.

When you participate in any networking group, online or off, you build relationships, and you make an impression. The quality of your relationships will span the range. There will be those you won’t get along with at all. Some people will actually become really good friends, trusted colleagues. And, you’ll find everything in between - acquaintances, fast & powerful encounters, steady contacts. As do most experiences, it’s got the makings of the classic bell curve.

Strong connections will be made with the most unlikely characters because the usual filters (class, clothes, environment, location, culture, etc.) aren’t present. No one is to be discounted (unless they behave badly) because you can’t predict where the jewels will be found.

Pay attention to the people that become the really good friends, the trusted colleagues, because they’re the ones that have your back. They’ll notice a typo in your last post, they’ll tell you what ‘LMAO’ means, they’ll be there if you need to share really bad news or really good news, they’re supportive - they’re real because you’ve been real with them. And, it’s likely, if required, they’ll show up at your locker and by your side.

Competition, Humility, Reality

I met a new person yesterday. She asked me what I did for a living, and swear to god, she got really excited by my answer.

No, I didn’t lie and say that I’m a New York Times bestselling author. I said that I am a marketing writer for web & print and that I ghostwrite blogs. I can only imagine that the mystique of blogging, writing and ghostwriting got the best of her.

And you know what? It was really nice to hear that she thought what I did, and therefore I - myself, was exciting. Because this world of copywriters and social media experts is really odd, or rather, it presents an odd and dichotomous phenomenon.

Side 1. When I’m in the middle of it, say on Twitter, surrounded by a bevy of heavy hitters in the world of writing and social media, I can start to feel pretty small. And, not in a pity party kind of way. I’m proud of the business that I’ve built and how hard I work, but, on Twitter especially, it’s like a live newsfeed of people getting huge jobs and speaking at national conferences and launching new ventures with Fortune 500 companies and…so many other outstanding feats.

It can be humbling. There are random thoughts of who do I think I am?, I can’t compete, and even worse, trying to be something that I’m not in order to somehow compete with the big kids.

Side 2. When I’m not on my computer, this life and work look dramatically different. As evidenced by the story I launched this post with, I’m regularly seen as someone who does something really cool and who possesses knowledge about a world that few know about. To some degree, I’m extraordinary; occassionally, I’m envied.

The reality is that it’s all true. I am a small fish in a big sea…and what I do is fairly cutting edge and cool. It’s really just a matter of perspective.

But, what’s really important is what happens in my office and on this computer every day. No matter what anyone else is doing or thinking. I write, I learn, I consult, I produce, I collaborate, I network, I publish, I follow opportunities, I multitask, I procrastinate, I fail, I suceed, I do good work for myself, for my clients and for my community - both on and offline.

And? I like it.

I’d love to have you join this conversation with a comment. I talk back 99% of the time with a follow-up comment or an email…

how do you blog? blogging checks and balances

I was working with a client who I do marketing, blog and writing consulting for, and we were working on her blog writing strategy when she asked me, ‘But what are the rules for blogging?’

She’s a life coach with an incredible family story who is working on a blog about/surrounding her upcoming book about coaching.

It’s important to note that we had already had an involved conversation about how she could find a voice that was conversational, not preachey, yet still full of power and information. (I couldn’t understand why that was confusing and difficult.) But seriously, my advice to her on this point was to find the person to write to that makes her feel really good, that loves/likes her unconditionally, whose relationship holds no negative emotional charge (meaning do NOT pick your spouse or your mother), who supports her, who’s a huge fan, who also calls her on her shit, who brings out her most incredible self. She has to pick that ‘you’ that she’ll be writing to. For the sake of this post and to avoid confusion, let’s call her ‘Jane’.

So, when she asked me about the rules, I told her, ‘You need checks and balances.’

As I see it, she has 4 perspectives tugging at her pen. She can’t, and shouldn’t, keep them equally balanced at all times, but her goal is to make sure that no matter what she writes, each of these corners is okay, taken care of, considered.

Here’s the plan:

• Make 4 cards, one for each perspective. In this case: 1. Jane. 2. Book Mission. 3. Personal Life and Family. 4. Coaching Work.
• Under each heading, write the definition of each perspective, the gist of what each perspective stands for, perhaps their boundaries. (Examples below)
• Tape them up in front of your computer.
• As you write, remember each perspective and make sure they’re okay with what you’re writing, that you meet each of their standards and requirements.

Here’s an idea of what those cards look like, all flushed out -

1. Jane: Confidence, energy, humor, total support, real connection, authenticity, acceptance.
2. Book Mission: to help people with life in general, decisions, challenges, time management, relationships, balance, etc.
3. Life: children, husband, safety, personal boundaries (ie. Little Rosie doesn’t want her middle school drama plastered all over her mom’s blog, but the realtime negotiations of curfews or friend choices is fair game.)
4. Coaching: Coaching Philosophies, mantras, lamposts, rules, ethics.

If you really need reigning in, you can add photos to each card to hold you accountable.

What do you think? Any other ideas on staying on track, on topic, on mission, on post, on blog…???

now that’s smart marketing: BOB strollers

As you know, when I find something good, I sing like a canary. I simply can’t hold back. This is a twofer, a 2 in 1; hits my professional and my personal side. Drumroll…it’s a stroller.

I love when people do it RIGHT.

Inspired Marketing

The BOB company has a brilliant tagline: Built by BOB. Powered by Mom. But taglines are easy (when you have a good copywriter), it’s what you do with them that counts. BOB is doing many good things including a full embrace of social media:

1. They have a blog that they update on a regular basis with news, company info, product info, contests, customer feedback…
2. The current contest promises a stroller for the best giggling baby video - culling customer communication and web traffic.
3. You can ‘Join the Conversation’ - giving you access to your BOB community.
4. BOB made a fantastically hysterical and viral video about their strollers that they have on their website and on YouTube.
5. The quality and user-interface (UI) of their website is top-level.
6. The writing throughout the site is simply superb - it has personality, good information and makes you want to get up and yell, ‘Yes! I want to be a part of this!’ without sounding cheesey.
7. Besides the YouTube vid, they have several high quality, information-laden videos (so it’s not all talk, they actually show you why their strollers are so good).
8. BOB is building more than strollers - this is a life-style and they’re proving it with sections on health and partnerships with Stroller Strides and Ironman.
9. They (practically) gave me a stroller to review in exchange for my thoughts on this blog, Twitter, Facebook and my other social media networks - understanding the strength of the mommy blogger is smart, smart business.

…and they have the goods to stand on

If you haven’t heard, I have 2 toddlers. I love them more than life, but I’m sick of carrying them around. Most recently, we survived by pushing them in a double stroller by Baby Jogger. To be honest, we never liked it. Hard to manage, hugely awkward to fold and put in our car, made our backs hurt, the seats were huge for the kids (leaving them to flop around especially on the trails)…I could go on and on.

Then, two weeks ago, the metal frame of the stroller snapped. In half. Just like that, no big event or cause, just snapped. We tried to get our money back, but alas we didn’t have proof of purchase (hmmm, well, we bought it 2 kids and 1 house ago - you do the math!). We were left with no alternative, so we went searching for our next stroller. Our dream stroller.

We found it fast at BOB’s. Of course, because I’m me, I was taken by the marketing show I just listed above…but it’s not just good looking fluff, there is real information that made us say, ‘I want that one!’

Now, we’ve had our duallie Sport Utility Stroller for a week…and it’s amazing.

1. I think it’s jet propelled. It used to be that the person walking the dogs went ahead of the person pushing the stroller because the old stroller was so big and awkward you had to go slow. Now the person with the stroller has to go first because it is so darn fast and efficient. I’m not kidding - I got left behind yesterday because I was going too slow.

2. My back doesn’t hurt. Somehow, they designed this stroller so that when you hold and push it, you’re in the correct ergonomic position.

3. When you fold it up, lift it and unfold it, it does NOT hit you in the shins. Yes, the Baby Jogger did. Every time.

4. Our kids fit in their seats. They aren’t sliding around like they did in the old stroller.

5. Safety. BOB put a feature in that actually holds the seat of the stroller down. So if you go over a bump, the kid and the seat don’t pitch forward.

6. No words. I don’t know how to explain this in a word or two: the stroller is just so ‘tight’. With our old stroller, we felt like we were driving a big old 1960’s station wagon that could come unglued at any moment. The BOB stroller is so compact, everything moves and works together - which makes it feel light and totally easy to manage (like my Subaru Imprezza).

7. Shocks. This Sport Utility Stroller has shocks creating a smooth ride for the kids - we off-road over rocks, roots and other natural paraphernalia.

8. Thinner. I’m talking width - this double stroller fits through our front door. Now, that is amazing.

9. It’s beautiful, of course.

10. Everytime we use it, we discover something else that we love.

11. Our kids love it…and who wants to deal with screaming kids in a stroller? Here’s a picture of them playing in the stroller in the house (they aren’t strapped for safety, just for fun - fyi). Silas, the dog, had to be in the picture and wants you all to know that because this stroller is more compact than the other one, he can get around it with his log-sized sticks, and for that, he gives thanks…as do we.

is blogging the new letter writing?

Dear…all of you,

As I was explaining the concept of blogging to a non-web-type the other day, she asked me, ‘So is blogging the new letter writing?’ It’s been percolating in my brain ever since. My immediate answer is that I would love to think so because:

1. I can’t really write with a pen anymore. Literally. The hand muscles that have to work to hold the pen are practically atrophied from non-use, so it’s physically uncomfortable and my hand writing more closely resembles that of a 3rd grade boy every day…but I type really fast.
2. I have serious issues with sending things. I get hung up on things like finding an envelope, licking it shut (eww and I watched Seinfeld), finding a stamp and then getting it to the post office. Meanwhile, hitting the publish button comes easy to me.
3. I like my communication served with a big old scoop of instant gratification. Letters take 2, 3, 4 days to cross the U.S. - even 5 or 6 if I’m just trying to send them from one end of my tiny little island to the other.
4. I always tell my bloggers-in-training to write the blog as if they were writing directly to someONE (friend, family, ideal client) - make that connection, let your post be personal or authentic or apropos (pick at least one.)
5. It would make comments and return visits the ‘letter back’ - and everyone wants a letter back, an answer, a response. So, your posts should ask questions, elicit strong feelings, make people feel welcome, inherently give good information while emboldening your readers to answer back with their own thoughts and brilliance.
6. Blogging over letter writing saves paper, transportation fuel and your fingers (from papercuts)…though computers use electricity, I think more energy is saved via blogging.
7. We still have email for the private stuff, this is a live broadcast from the heart and guts…blogging is a letter to the world.

Write back soon and tell me what you think.

Be well,

Julie

raw authenticity and a huge mirror

Last week, I went to my monthly women’s networking event. Because I so love what I do, I enjoy these events thoroughly (really, can you believe I never tire of talking about myself?) This particular event was called ’speed networking’ - a whirlwind of loudness as we all shouted our greatest hits to each other within the allotted 5 minutes. That said, I made several strong contacts…one in particular.

She’s in the business of Innovative Entertainment Marketing (independent, cause-themed films), and as we talked, we realized we had some very strong outside links to each other that ended up making our tête-à-tête more of a reunion than a first meet. We also have a mutual close friend that has been talking us up to each other for months, so we already felt like we knew each other.

Raw Authenticity

Anyway, when she found out what I do (copywriting, marketing, blogging, social media - in case you forgot), she said immediately, “I need to hire you. I hire bloggers/writers for every film.”

And then, I hugged her.

At the time it was a totally natural response, raw authenticity. Our conversation had been one big love fest. She hugged me back, we were all giddy, the conversation continued.

But, when I got into bed later that night…it started to nag torment me. Why did I hug her? What was I thinking? The voice over of the video playing repeatedly in my head (what I imagined the recipient of my hug must have been thinking): ‘Julie Roads is so desperate for work she actually hugs people that consider hiring her.’

Let’s have a realty recap: 1. I almost have more business than I can handle - but, hey - nice insecurity, Julie! 2. I was hugging her because it was my reaction to another notch in our ‘look at all that we have in common’ belt. 3. She hugged me back and kept on talking about the work.

A Huge Mirror

I woke up the next morning to a new voicemail, not from my huggee, but from a woman that I had serendipitously met a week earlier. Long story short: her family was playing on our community playset, we started talking, she got very excited when she heard about my work, took my card.

Her voicemail message was a bit of a love letter: “…have read your site and your blog, everything is so amazing, can’t wait to work with you, we met at exactly the right time…” We talked a few hours later and the love fest continued. In fact, she told me she had a crush on me and the idea of all that we would do together.

Now that is raw authenticity. No holds barred. She didn’t mean that she literally wanted me. Just that everything was converging in her life, I was a final piece, she couldn’t get over the synchronicity - her glee felt like a crush. More or less, she leapt through the phone and gave me a hug.

And as the reciever of this hug, it felt great. I found myself admiring her ability to be so authentic, not thinking she was a desparate, psychotic freak.

And then, I got it. There is it was, like a big, huge mirror right in front of my face.

So? I embraced my hug from the night before, and then, I let it go. It was just being me, after all.