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	<title>The Success Center &#187; Blog</title>
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	<link>http://www.rodkirby.com</link>
	<description>The #1 Christian Entrepreneur&#039;s Destination for Small Business Advice!</description>
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		<title>3 Sure-Fire Ways to Take Your Blog to the Next Level in 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4392</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4392#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rod</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Online Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[quality content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rodkirby.com/?p=4392</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wanna take your business blog or website to the next level this year? Here are 3 sure-fire ways that you can take your blog or website to the next level in 2012!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_3931" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/3916/blog-2" rel="attachment wp-att-3931"><img class="size-full wp-image-3931" title="blog" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/blog.png" alt="Blog" width="300" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Wanna Take Your Blog to the Next Level?</p></div>
<p>Wanna take your blog or website to the next level this year?</p>
<p>Here are <strong>3 sure-fire ways</strong> that you can take your blog or website to the next level in 2012.</p>
<h2>Write Great Content</h2>
<p>Ever read an article and it makes you feel like the author was talking to you? This is what great content is. It all starts within your niche, finds it way to a topic that is relevant to your readership, and ends in a great article title and blog post. It really hooks people into who you are and what your business is all about.</p>
<p><strong>Tip:</strong> To write great content try finding out what your readers want to learn how what their biggest issue is within your field and solve their problems. You can do this easily by <a title="How to Add Social Media into Your Traditional Marketing Mix" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4394">doing a survey or a poll</a>.</p>
<h2>Produce High-Quality Content</h2>
<p>Short blog posts are fine if you just want to put a few thoughts out there, but you&#8217;ll gain a following and community by posting higher quality posts. That doesn&#8217;t mean it has to be long, just a bit more refined, fleshed out, and pumped full of tips, advice, and ideas.</p>
<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Take your time when writing a blog post. Always set out to write your best content and don&#8217;t just &#8220;throw&#8221; something together to post. Imagine if the president of the U.S. was reading your blog, wouldn&#8217;t you want him/her to leave with a great impression of you?</p>
<h2>Generate Rich Content</h2>
<p>I&#8217;m more of a magazine reader than a book reader. I&#8217;m spoiled on pretty graphics, fancy design, and bright colors. Why not <a title="The Biggest Marketing Secret – Ever, Finally Revealed" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/2448">add pictures, videos, and audio to your blog</a> to enhance your articles? Don&#8217;t just write a post an expect people to read the whole thing.</p>
<p>However, they might if you give them an incentive to keep going. That could be a great video or picture in the middle of your text. Whatever you do It&#8217;ll add more depth, keep reader attention, and enhances the rest of your copy.</p>
<p><strong>Bonus Tip:</strong> Need help in organizing your thoughts, blog posts, and ideas for articles? Here&#8217;s a great video of how I create an editorial calendar for The Success Center. Check it out; <a title="How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/1720">&#8220;How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog.&#8221;</a></p>
<p><strong>Bonus Tip #2:</strong>Want a visual cheat sheet for all this? Check out my info-graphic: <a title="12 Easy Steps to Writing Killer Blog Posts [Infographic]" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5104">12 Easy Steps to Writing Killer Blog Posts [Infographic]</a><br />
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<h3><strong>About The Author</strong></h3>
<div id="attachment_780" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-780 " title="RKirby  6.09-3019" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/RKirby-6.09-3019-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rod Kirby</p></div>

<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about" target="_self">Rod Kirby</a> helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations
take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company,
Kirby Enterprises.

Follow Rod on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter</a> here.<div class="shr-publisher-4392"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>5 Power Tips for Growing Your Business on Twitter</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4383</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4383#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:39:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rod</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Online Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conversation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rodkirby.com/?p=4383</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By interacting on Twitter I generate targeted traffic to my website, quality business leads, and build relationships for life. After the break you'll find some ways you can do the same for your business! If you're ready . . . FOLLOW ME!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p><a href="http://bostinno.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/TwitterBusiness.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-5326 alignleft" title="TwitterBusiness" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TwitterBusiness.png" alt="Business Twitter Birds" width="271" height="215" /></a></p>
<p>Can you imagine setting up a booth at a convention where everyone gives you their business without having to make a single sales pitch? That&#8217;s the potential <a title="What’s the Big Deal about Social Media?" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/1475" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">power of social media</a>. It removes the mystery, hesitancy, and coldness of marketing and creates relationships where none existed before.</p>
<p>Many of you know how much of a <a title="Follow me on Twitter!" href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter-holic I am</a>, but do you really understand why? It&#8217;s not because &#8220;it&#8217;s what&#8217;s hot right now&#8221; and I certainly don&#8217;t use it just to let people know &#8220;what I&#8217;m doing.&#8221;</p>
<p><em><strong>It&#8217;s a conversation starter and engagement platform</strong></em>. By interacting on Twitter I generate targeted traffic to my website, quality business leads, and build relationships for life. Below you&#8217;ll find some ways you can do the same for your business.</p>
<h2>5 Tips for Growing Your Business on Twitter</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Share High-Quality Links</strong> - the key to attracting targeted followers is to share information, news, and articles consistently. People are always searching for things on Twitter. If you can point them to a reliable source of information then you&#8217;ll become valuable in their eyes. The higher your value the greater chance you have at being retweeted and shared with their followers.</li>
<li><strong>Offer Advice to Newcomers</strong> - Whenever someone tweets, &#8220;Please welcome so-and-so to twitter&#8221; I immediately jump, introduce myself, and offer an article from my site that can help them get started with Twitter. Doing so positions you as &#8220;the go to&#8221; person that they&#8217;ll refer to when they need help. It&#8217;ll also start the basis of a solid follower relationship that will transform into site traffic.</li>
<li><strong>Share quotes and Retweet often</strong> - If you don&#8217;t know what to tweet find something good someone else has said and share that. Find quotes that enhance your brand&#8217;s theme or image. You can&#8217;t go wrong quoting the wisdom of others and you&#8217;re 10 times more likely to get retweeted as well.</li>
<li><strong>Start a Hashtag</strong> - &#8220;#Hashtags&#8221; allow people on Twitter to find and track conversations. Some examples are, #FollowFriday, #MusicMonday, etc. Create one unique to your brand and get people involved on your website and Twitter. Mine is #Successtip, where I share inspirational quotes. This keeps your message and brand consistent and easy to follow.</li>
<li><strong>Ask After Serving</strong> - remember to share more than you plug your website, product, or service. The last thing people want to do is engage with a salesman or woman. However, once you&#8217;ve shared over 50% of your tweets, feel free to throw out a link or promotional message about your business or website. This is the essence of social networking for business.</li>
</ul>
<p>Follow these tips and you&#8217;ll grow your following in no time. The best part of all, they&#8217;ll want to know what else you have to offer or how you can help them in someway. It&#8217;s a win-win for all and you didn&#8217;t even have to make a sales pitch. If you&#8217;re new to Twitter or want some more power-tips, read my article, <a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/467" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&#8220;Are you a Twitter Newbie or Power User?&#8221;</a></p>
<p>How do you grow YOUR business on Twitter? Share your thoughts &#8211; and your Twitter handle (so others can follow you) in the comments below.<br />
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<h3><strong>About The Author</strong></h3>
<div id="attachment_780" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-780 " title="RKirby  6.09-3019" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/RKirby-6.09-3019-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rod Kirby</p></div>

<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about" target="_self">Rod Kirby</a> helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations
take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company,
Kirby Enterprises.

Follow Rod on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter</a> here.<div class="shr-publisher-4383"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>POLL: Should Christian Entrepreneurs Advertise their Faith?</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5287</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5287#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:05:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rod</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christian entrepreneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[POLL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiritual question]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tim tebow]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rodkirby.com/?p=5287</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Meet Tim Tebow, Tim loves the Lord - and everybody knows it! His customers (football fans) and co-workers (teammates) know it . . . should everyone in YOUR world know it? Is being a Christian entrepreneur a badge of honor or trade secret? Share your thoughts in this quick poll!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5288" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5287/tebow" rel="attachment wp-att-5288"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5288" title="Tebow" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/tebow-300x237.jpg" alt="Tebow with Scriptures on Face" width="300" height="237" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Meet Tim Tebow . . .</p></div>
<p>This is <strong>Tim Tebow</strong>, he&#8217;s the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. You may have heard of him (<em>who hasn&#8217;t?!</em>).</p>
<p>Tim loves the Lord and everybody knows it (<em>Can&#8217;t you tell?!</em>). His customers (the football fans) know it and so does his co-workers (teammates).</p>
<p>However, he&#8217;s gotten a lot of negative and positive attention because of his faith. I can relate to Tim&#8217;s story because just recently, one of my clients asked me why I <strong><em>&#8220;only offer my services to Christians.&#8221;</em></strong></p>
<p>My reply was that I don&#8217;t offer them only to Christians, but <em><strong>I know what I&#8217;m called to do and who I&#8217;m called to help</strong></em>. That&#8217;s why this blog is dedicated to Christian entrepreneurs, because we have <a title="Does God Want Christians Involved in Business?" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/3641">unique entrepreneurial challenges</a>.</p>
<h3>Do I advertise my faith to clients?</h3>
<p><em><strong>It depends</strong></em> &#8211; it depends on which facet of my company they meet first. If they contacted me through this blog, then yes, I guess I do advertise my faith. However, if I meet them for the first time at a networking event, I wouldn&#8217;t start a conversation by reciting my declaration of faith.</p>
<p>So, for me, it depends.</p>
<h3>Do I mention to them that I&#8217;m a Christian and if they&#8217;re uncomfortable working me I&#8217;ll understand?</h3>
<p>Absolutely not! &#8211; that&#8217;s just not wise. My faith is personal unless it comes up <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>during the right time </strong></em></span>(a spiritual question is asked) or<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> in the right f</strong></span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">orum</span> </strong></em>(like this blog).</p>
<p>I suppose everyone is different and it also depends on what kind of business you operate. So, let me pass the torch to you.</p>
<p>Do YOU as a Christian entrepreneur let customers or clients know that you&#8217;re a Christian? Is it the right move to make? If you&#8217;ve never told your customers, how do you think it would affect your business and sales? If you&#8217;re not a Christian, how would you handle someone you do business with advertising their faith?</p>
<p><strong>Drop your answer in the poll below and be sure to let me know why you chose it in the comments too.</strong></p>
<p>Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.<br />
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<h3><strong>About The Author</strong></h3>
<div id="attachment_780" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-780 " title="RKirby  6.09-3019" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/RKirby-6.09-3019-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rod Kirby</p></div>

<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about" target="_self">Rod Kirby</a> helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations
take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company,
Kirby Enterprises.

Follow Rod on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter</a> here.<div class="shr-publisher-5287"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>DON&#8217;T Want To Succeed? Ask Yourself These Questions!</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5266</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5266#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:15:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>LaTara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[asking the right questions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[question]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Successful people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Values]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rodkirby.com/?p=5266</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Asking the right questions is pertinent to success; but asking yourself the wrong questions can be detrimental to your moving forward. In this post, LaTara Ham-Ying will walk you through the questions that can hinder you the most so you can walk in success!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5276" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/michaelhyatt.php"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5276" title="Got Questions?" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/questions-300x198.jpg" alt="Got Questions?" width="300" height="198" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/stevanovicigor</p></div>
<p>Here we are again, you, me, and more questions to help you align your goals with your values for success. Did you answer any of the <a title="Are You Asking the Right Questions to Help You Succeed in 2012?" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5203">questions from the last post?</a> If not, let me implore you to do it; even if fear has you gripped, face it, and walk in success!</p>
<p>In this post we are going to look at three questions <em><strong>not to ask yourself</strong></em> so that you succeed.  Asking the right questions is pertinent to success; but <strong>asking yourself the wrong questions can be detrimental to your moving forward</strong>.</p>
<p>Let’s take a mental walk through three questions you should <strong>NEVER</strong> ask yourself if you want to succeed.</p>
<h2><strong>What’s Wrong with Me?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em><strong><div class="woo-sc-quote boxed"><p>There are no right answers to wrong questions.  ~ Ursula K. Le Guin</p></div> </strong></em></p>
<p>The problem with some questions is that they’re just plain wrong, right off the bat. They are based on false assumptions, they lead the questioner in a faulty direction, and they end up taking you on a wild goose chase that can lead nowhere good.</p>
<p>One of the questions  that is by far the leader of  the pack when it comes to wrong questions is…</p>
<div id="attachment_5277" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5266/mental_issue" rel="attachment wp-att-5277"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5277" title="Mental Issue" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/mental_issue-300x180.jpg" alt="Guy Holding Head Down in His Hands" width="300" height="180" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">What&#39;s Wrong with Me?</p></div>
<p><em><strong>What’s wrong with me?</strong></em></p>
<p>At some point in their lives, everyone, deep in their soul, has felt that they are “less than,” like they just don’t make the grade. They wonder what everyone else has that they don’t, why “they” have it so easy, and what they did wrong to cause so much misery in their lives.</p>
<p>Yep, everyone has those moments; some of us are just better at hiding it than others. Even the most successful people on the face of the earth, from Oprah Winfrey to Sidney Poitier to Richard Branson would likely admit that there were times when they just didn’t know if they could measure up.</p>
<p>While<strong> it’s natural to start falling down the well of self-doubt, it serves no purpose</strong>. Each time you give in to those demons, you allow yourself to fall away, little by little, from your true power. Pretty soon, all you’re doing is sitting on the couch with a bag of Doritos in one hand and the remote in the other; watching hours of “The New Jersey Housewives” rerun marathons and wondering how Teresa is able to live with herself day after day.</p>
<h3><strong>Don’t go there! Don’t even take one step in that direction!</strong></h3>
<p>As soon as you get the <em>“woe is me’s,”</em> freeze! Go do something productive. <strong>Try helping someone else out.</strong> Preferably someone whose position in life is so disadvantaged when compared to yours that you’d feel completely silly complaining about your life. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, read to kids on the critical care ward at the hospital, or take a load of old towels to the animal shelter. <em><strong>Get outside yourself and stop worrying about you</strong></em>. Worry about someone else for a change, and see what you can do to make their lot in life a little easier.</p>
<p>We’ve all got things wrong with us, whether it’s an extra-large nose, an extra-large chip on our shoulder, or an extra-large something else. <strong>The only difference between those who make it and those who don’t is that some of us stop thinking about their faults and do it – <em>hit the homerun, write the best-seller, start a revolution</em> – anyway</strong>.</p>
<p>Can I be honest with you? My forehead is not exactly small but until I laugh about it myself or tell people that a high forehead is a sign of royalty in Africa, they never notice. Why? My attitude about it is <em>“So What? I know it  is  big and I wear it well!”</em></p>
<p>Am I making sense to you? <strong>It&#8217;s not about what&#8217;s <em>wrong</em> with you but rather what&#8217;s <em>RIGHT</em> with you</strong>. You are a creation of the most high God and He makes no mistakes.</p>
<h2><strong>How Can I Do This Faster?</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_5278" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5266/fast-hands-desktop" rel="attachment wp-att-5278"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5278" title="Fast Hands" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Fast-hands-desktop-300x206.jpg" alt="Fast Hands" width="300" height="206" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Faster isn&#39;t Always Better . . .</p></div>
<p>Speed is good. Just ask Danica Patrick. But which is worse: Doing the right thing, too slowly, or doing the wrong thing really, really fast? My vote is for the latter. That’s why I believe you need to stop asking yourself this question:</p>
<p><strong>How can I do this faster?</strong></p>
<p>Efficiency in and of itself is not a bad thing.  It’s highly prized by manufacturing line engineers, train conductors, and Swiss bankers. <em><strong>But just doing something faster doesn’t earn you a gold star</strong></em>. In fact, spending resources, even in an efficient manner, is more wasteful than taking too long to do the right thing. <strong>Not only are you directing valuable money, time, and energy in the wrong direction; you’re also falling behind on the things you <em>should be</em> doing.</strong></p>
<p>Think about it this way. You ask your teenage son to get his homework finished. Half an hour later, you check in on him and he says, “No, I didn’t do my homework, but I did a great job moving up to the next level in Just Dance! I was really efficient, too – I’ve learned every move”</p>
<p>Umm… no. Now, not only is it a half-hour later, the homework still isn’t done and your son has spent 30 minutes doing a wasteful task really, really, well.</p>
<p><strong>Here’s when you know efficiency has become an enemy instead of a friend</strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li><em><strong>You use efficiency as an avoidance technique</strong></em> to keep from handling the less enjoyable, but oh-so-much-more important, tasks. You revamp your website for the upteenth time, moving the sidebar a fraction of an inch to the right. You did it really, really, well… but you should have been working on lining up sales calls for next week.</li>
<li><em><strong>You fall into comfort zones</strong></em> of things you do very quickly and very well, failing to recognize that <em>it’s the things outside your comfort zone that help move you closer to your goal.</em></li>
<li><strong>You keep doing tasks on automatic pilot</strong>, even though you could have outsourced them or automated them. After all, it’s a no-brainer to sit and feed the copy machine – and after all, you’re working, right?</li>
</ul>
<p>Often times the reason why we are trying to do something faster is simply because we really don’t want to be doing them anyway. So why do it?</p>
<p>When you find yourself asking, “How can I do this faster?” stop and ask yourself if you should be doing that task at all. Many times, the answer will be no. Then you can let go and get on with your real work – the work that may not be as efficient, but makes a bigger difference in the long run.</p>
<h2><strong>Do I Really Have To</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_5279" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5266/girl-throwing-a-fit" rel="attachment wp-att-5279"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5279" title="Girl Throwing a Fit" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/girl-throwing-a-fit-300x209.jpg" alt="Girl Throwing a Fit" width="300" height="209" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Do I Really Have to??!!</p></div>
<p><strong><div class="woo-sc-quote right"><p>It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. ~James Thurber</p></div>Inside of all of us is a three-year-old toddler who likes nothing better than to throw a screaming fit every time someone makes him do something he doesn&#8217;t want to.</strong> It could be skipping dessert, writing a sales presentation, getting to bed at a reasonable hour, or putting the credit card away before buying yet another Fred Hammond or Mandisa CD.</p>
<p>That three-year-old is sulky, whiny, and generally unpleasant, so much so that often we’ll give in just so we don’t have to listen to him whine anymore. While this technique works in the short run, in the long-term you end up suffering.</p>
<p>After all, vegetables are good for you while ice cream seven days a week is not; the sales presentation must get done, you do have to get up early for work, and someone’s going to have to pay that credit card bill.</p>
<p>You can tell when you’re giving in to this little tyrant when you start asking yourself:</p>
<h3>Do I really have to ____?</h3>
<p>When you catch yourself uttering this phrase, it’s time for a reality check. Your rebellious streak is rising faster than the National Debt, and if you don’t keep it in check you’re going to pay the price at some point. After all, the piper always wants to be paid – now or later.</p>
<p>It’s interesting that one part of our brain knows very well what needs to get done while the other part rejects the whole idea. Without diving too deeply into the psychology of it all, it’s easiest to just admit there’s part of us that really would prefer to sit on the couch and gain 150 pounds worth of cheese fries rather than head out for a nice jog around the lake. The duality exists, and <strong>one way to let your sane side win is by never letting the little kid have the microphone.</strong></p>
<p>As soon as you start wondering if you really have to go to work, answer that email, create the new web form, it’s time for a smackdown…but <strong>try not to hit yourself <em>too hard</em></strong>. Instead of giving in to the beast and beginning a cost-benefit analysis of letting your diet slide for another day, stop thinking about it.</p>
<p>Remember that you’re dealing with a 3-year-old, and you cannot reason, outwit, or outsmart him. <strong>All you can do is refuse to engage</strong>. Remind yourself the decision has already been made, and don’t revisit it. Pull the old, “Because I’m the parent, that’s why.” Then send him to bed without any supper and get on with your life.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>As we’ve discussed, <strong>questions are powerful tools, but they can steer you off track</strong>. It is imperative that you examine the questions you ask to see if you’re helping yourself or knocking your ability to think innovatively.</p>
<p>Many of the internal discussions you have with yourself are so routine, we don’t even realize they’re going on. <strong>It is time, for the sake of success, for you to bring your internal dialogue to light.</strong> In doing so you can determine if what you are saying is beneficial to your success or causing you to fail!</p>
<p>Don’t fall into the trap of asking questions that will only harm you in the end. You can spend your life in a repetitive down spiral because you how you question yourself or you can turn it around so that you empower your very being with how you question yourself.</p>
<p>What are some power questions that you think we all need to ask? What are questions we all need to avoid asking ourselves? Share your thoughts below.<br />
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<div id="attachment_3572" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-3572 " title="LaTara Ham-Ying" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/me-in-scarf-150x150.jpg" alt="LaTara Ham-Ying" width="90" height="90" /><p class="wp-caption-text">LaTara Ham-Ying</p></div>

LaTara Ham-Ying is a Biblical Lifestyle Coach, online marketing consultant, and successful blogger who enjoys helping others create a life and business that fits their style and shows them the power of living in the NOW! Learn more about LaTara at <a href="http://www.latarahamying.com" target="_self">latarahamying.com</a><div class="shr-publisher-5266"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>5 Online Branding Tips for Small Business Success</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5253</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5253#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Silvia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[branding. business branding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business online]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business success]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Branding your business is one of the most important things that you can do to succeed. Your business's online reputation and brand will spell success or small business failure if you're not careful. Here are 5 tips to help you succeed in branding your business online!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5253/online-branding" rel="attachment wp-att-5254"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5254" title="Online Branding" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/online-branding-300x161.png" alt="Online Branding" width="300" height="161" /></a>Branding your business is one of the most important things that you can do to succeed. Your brand, which can essentially be known as your reputation, is the means by which consumers will get to know your business. If your brand is portrayed in a positive light, your business will reap the benefits.</p>
<p>Let’s take a look at some strategies to help you brand your business online!</p>
<h2>Online Branding tip #1 – Research your Audience</h2>
<p>When it comes to branding your business, <strong>one of the most important steps is researching your target audience</strong>. Your target audience will affect all of your branding efforts including who you market to, where you market, and how you market.</p>
<p>By doing your research, you can quickly <strong>learn what your target audience likes</strong> <em>(to create interesting webpage content</em>) and <strong>where they surf</strong> (<em>to get noticed by them successfully</em>).</p>
<h2>Online Branding Tip #2 – Give Yourself A Voice</h2>
<p>You have researched your target audience – now you need to put this information to use and find a way to connect with them. Know what it is that your audience wants to hear and find a way to get that message across to them. Once you tell your audience what they want to hear (and <a title="8 Reasons Why Integrity is Important to Your Business" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/3332">uphold your promises</a>), you will attract a much larger interest in your business.</p>
<h2>Online Branding Tip #3 – Brand your Business online</h2>
<p>In relation to branding, the internet is one of the best ways to get your message across to your audience. In order to do so, however, you have to make yourself available on multiple web channels. There are many different ways that you can advertise your business online including the use of social media, paid advertisements, blogs, forums, email lists, and article directories (to name just a few).</p>
<p>For more tips and advice on building your brand online, check out: <a title="How to Use Social Media to Build Your Brand Locally" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/1639">How to Use Social Media to Build Your Brand Locally</a></p>
<h2>Online Branding Tip #4 – Integrate Social Media</h2>
<p>When it comes to branding your business, social media is the internet hotspot. Determine where your target audience hangs out. Do they use <a title="How to Use Facebook’s New Subscribe Button for Better Social Media Marketing" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4506">Facebook</a>? Or perhaps they are more likely to use <a title="Are you a Twitter Newbie or Power User?" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/467">Twitter</a>? A little research should tell you exactly where you can find your target audience and how you can create a marketing campaign that will capture their interests. Once you have attracted a solid base, use <a title="Social Media Marketing 101" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/social_media_marketing">social media</a> to generate more personal connections with your audience – this what will keep them committed and loyal to you!</p>
<h2>Online Branding Tip #5 – Build Your Reputation</h2>
<p>It is not enough to get yourself noticed online, you must also have a good reputation. Once you begin attracting customers, do everything you can to keep them. Conducting follow-ups, providing high quality products, and offering great deals are just a few of the many things that you can do to <a title="Five Ways to Build Credibility and Influence Online" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/3847">create a positive reputation</a> for your business.</p>
<h2>Your Turn</h2>
<p>Now that you know more about how to brand your business online, you can use this information for generating a solid and loyal customer base. What tools do you use in branding your business online? What other ways can you enhance your company&#8217;s brand online? Share your thoughts below.<br />
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<h2>About the Author</h2>
<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about/silvia_pencak" rel="attachment wp-att-4746"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4746" title="Silvia Pencak" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/silvia_pencak.jpg" alt="Silvia Pencak" width="100" height="100" /></a>Silvia Pencak, also known as Magnetic Silvia around the social web, is a Brand Strategist specializing in small business online branding. You can connect with her at her blog, <a href="http://www.magneticlook.com/services/" target="_blank">Magnetic Look. com</a>.<div class="shr-publisher-5253"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Christian Entrepreneur&#8217;s Secret to Financial Success in 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5228</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5228#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:43:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sharon Akinoluwa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biblical Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[achieving goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christian entrepreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial abundance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mark McCormack]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[setting goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[William Moulton]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Do you want to live a life of abundance? Ready to tackle that mountain of holiday debt and finally become financially fit? This one principle - above all others - is your key to financial success in the new year. Find out what it is, why you should use it, what it can do for you and more in this post from Sharon Akinoluwa!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5231" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5228/key-to-financial-success" rel="attachment wp-att-5231"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5231 " title="Key to Financial Success" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/financial_success-300x199.jpg" alt="Key to Financial Success" width="300" height="199" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">What&#39;s the Key to Financial Success?</p></div>
<p>A wise man once said <strong>“success is <em>goals, and all else is commentary.” </em></strong>I believe that success in personal finances is all about setting goals and achieving goals. Truly, goal setters are goal getters!</p>
<p>Mark McCormack in his book, <em>. </em>The graduates of the MBA program<em> at </em>Harvard were asked:</p>
<div class="woo-sc-box info large rounded ">
<p>“Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” It turned out that only 3% of the graduates had written goals and plans. 13% had goals, but they were not in writing. A Full 84% had no specific goals at all, aside from getting out of school and enjoying the summer.</p>
<p>Ten years later, in 1989, they interviewed the members of that class again. They found that the 13% who had goals, but which were not in writing were earning on average twice as much as the 84% of students who had had no goals at all. But most surprisingly, they found that <strong>the 3% of graduates who had clear, written goals when they left Harvard were earning, on average, <em>ten times as much as the other 97% of graduates all together.</em></strong></p>
</div>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong>The only difference<em> between the </em>groups was the <a href="http://www.wealthandriches.net/2011/11/your-journey-into-business-success-begins-here/" target="_blank">clarity of the goals</a> they had for themselves when they started out.</p>
<p>Now, I’m not suggesting that you can’t become rich without goals or that you will automatically become rich if you have goals. <em><strong>Goal setting will certainly enhance your pursuit of financial freedom</strong></em>.</p>
<p>Setting financial goals, working toward them day-by-day, and ultimately achieving them is the key to a life of financial abundance.</p>
<p>The year is just taking off and what a time to sit down and set financial goals for the year. <strong>You must be very clear about what you want to achieve financially in this New Year.</strong></p>
<p>Your greatest responsibility to yourself is to invest the whatever time is required to become absolutely clear about how much money you want to make, <a href="http://www.wealthandriches.net/2011/09/what-you-really-need-to-start-your-own-business/" target="_blank">and how youcan best achieve it.</a></p>
<p>You must have financial target that you’re out to hit this year.</p>
<p><strong><div class="woo-sc-quote boxed"><p> “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make <em>it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.<br />
</em>For the vision <em>is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Hab2:1-3</em></p></div> </strong></p>
<p><strong>A goal is something distinctly different from a wish. It is clear, written and specific.</strong> It can be quickly and easily described to another person. You can measure it, and you know when you have achieved it, or not.</p>
<p>The word of God admonishes that we should write down our goals, make it plain (let it be clear), so that we can easily pursue the realization of it. A goal that is not written down is a wish &#8211; A daydream. When you commit your goals to paper and read them regularly, you energize your commitment.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Realize what you really want. It stops you from chasing butterflies and puts you to work digging gold.”- William Moulton Marsden</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Pro 29:18 </em></strong></p>
<p>Writing down your goals, creating plans to achieve them, and working on your plans every single day are the greatest financial wisdom you should embrace throughout your financial journey this year.</p>
<h2>What Setting Financial Goals Will Do For You</h2>
<p>1.    Setting financial goals will give you direction, without it, you simply drift financially.</p>
<p>2.    They will make you financially accountable.</p>
<p>3.    They will inculcate into you, the much needed discipline in your wealth building process.</p>
<p>4.   They will give you reasons to want to achieve.</p>
<p>5.    Financial goals will make you feel internally motivated.</p>
<p>6.     They will give you something to look forward to and your expectation will become your reality.</p>
<p>Now let me ask you, have you set clear, written goals for your financial journey this year and made plans to accomplish them? Are you off to a good start toward financial freedom in 2012? What challenges are you facing and how are you hurdling them? Share your thoughts below.<br />
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<h2>About the Author</h2>
<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4988/sharon_profile_pic" rel="attachment wp-att-4991"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-4991" title="Sharon Akinoluwa" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/sharon_profile_pic-150x150.jpg" alt="Sharon Akinoluwa" width="90" height="90" /></a>

Sharon Akinoluwa is a professional blogger, internet marketer, speaker, and gifted teacher of biblical principles of economics. He blogs regularly at <a title="Wealth and Reaches" href="http://www.wealthandriches.net/" target="_blank">Wealth and Riches</a>; a Christian blog  that is committed to solving business and financial problems.<div class="shr-publisher-5228"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Are You Asking the Right Questions to Help You Succeed in 2012? [Part 1]</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5203</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5203#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>LaTara</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Einstein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Friedrich Nietzsche]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[question]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Robbins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Values]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The questions we ask will drive our thinking and ultimately lead us to success. There are five questions you should be asking yourself to broaden your thinking and make you more successful. Find out if you're on your way to success in part 1of this 2 part series from LaTara Ham-Ying!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5209" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5203/success-and-failure-road-sign-with-dramatic-clouds-and-sky" rel="attachment wp-att-5209"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5209" title="Success or Failure" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/successorfailure-copy-300x199.jpg" alt="Success or Failure" width="300" height="199" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Any Questions?</p></div>
<blockquote><p>To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.  ~Albert Einstein</p></blockquote>
<p>Questions, as Albert Einstein relates so eloquently in the statement above, help us frame our thinking and define our problems. We can rarely think of an answer outside of the way we’ve framed the question, so it stands that the <strong>questions we ask – <em>particularly those we ask ourselves</em> – will drive our thinking and our behavior.</strong></p>
<p>In my <a title="How to Put First Things First: A Lesson on Aligning Your Goals with Your Values" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4978">last post</a> I shared tips on aligning your goals with your values. This time around I want to focus on questions to consider as you move forward in 2012 aligning your goals so that they match what you value most.</p>
<p>These questions are designed to help you move beyond what you write on paper into a mode of daily success action. I am a huge believer in the fact that<em> <strong>“success happens when you take actions”.</strong></em> There is so much to share and say on this topic that I am breaking it up into two posts so that you can digest the information easily.</p>
<h2>It’s About How You Speak to Yourself</h2>
<p>The purpose of this article is to help you take a look at the way you speak to yourself, and to make some changes along the way. In this article I have listed five questions you should be asking yourself to broaden your thinking and make you more successful.</p>
<p>Whatever it is that you are trying to attain in life, the encouragement and suggestions in this article will help you define your path and remove obstacles that may have been holding you back.</p>
<h2><strong>Question #1 &#8211; What Are My Highest Value Activities?</strong></h2>
<p><strong><div class="woo-sc-quote boxed left"><p></strong>We hear only those questions for which we are in a position to find answers.  ~<strong> Friedrich Nietzsche</p></div> Many people reach the end of their day</strong>, only to realize that <em><strong>they didn&#8217;t make any movement towards their main goals.</strong></em></p>
<p>If this sounds like you, you’ve got an issue with the kind of tasks you’re undertaking. While it’s great to be busy and feel productive, it’s even more important to do the things that matter. <strong>The key to making this distinction in what your highest value activities are.</strong></p>
<p>The answer to this question is going to be exclusive to you. No coach, no matter how skilled, can tell you what you receive the most value from. It stems from a blend of your unique gifts, talents, skills, and your overall goals and dreams. Join the two, and you’ve got a list of the things that only <em>YOU</em> can achieve – and these are the things that should get priority on your daily to-do list.</p>
<p>If you find yourself getting sidetracked by tasks that aren’t on your highest-value list, you need to find a way to remove yourself from them.</p>
<p>You can;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Delegate</strong> them to someone else,</li>
<li><strong>Hire</strong> another person to do them, or</li>
<li>just simply <strong>stop</strong> doing them.</li>
</ul>
<p>Every minute you spend doing something that is outside of your highest-values is <em><strong>a minute you aren&#8217;t reaching your full potential</strong></em>. Concentrate on the tasks that you and only you are skilled at doing and leave the rest to someone else.</p>
<p><strong>Think of it this way:</strong> If you call Apple, the CEO doesn’t answer the phone. He doesn’t respond to customer complaints. He doesn’t sweep the floors, order more paper for the copy machine, or make sure the cafeteria is fully stocked on coffee. He leaves those details to others, and he focuses on the projects and activities that only he can do: Visualizing the future path for Apple. Bottom line…Focus works.</p>
<h2><strong>Question #2 &#8211; What is the One Thing I Could Do <em>Today</em> to Move Forward?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="woo-sc-quote boxed left"><p>Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. ~<strong>Tony Robbins</strong></p></div> Sometimes we get stuck in the &#8220;overwhelm of life&#8221;. There are simply too many projects, too many things to do, too many people clamoring for our attention, and too much information.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We aren’t at all sure on what we should do next, and so we retreat to the relative peace and quiet of a game of Solitaire on our computer, or we check our email yet again, or we head to the refrigerator for food we likely do not need.</p>
<p><strong>When we find ourselves taking the long way home to avoid dealing with the snarl that appears to be our life, <em>we need to stop</em>.</strong> Instead of avoiding the commotion, we need to dive in, looking for that one loose end that will unravel the mess and lead us to our goals. Sounds too easy, right? It actually is.</p>
<p>When you come to a spot and don&#8217;t know what to do next, or you are tempted to run away and hide in a pint of Hagen Das ice cream, <strong>ask yourself <em>what is the one thing you could do today to move yourself forward?</em></strong></p>
<p>Sometimes the answer is a big task but usually, it’s something very simple &#8211; Make the phone call, buy the book, or answer the email. Just like with a knot in a rope, sometimes it just takes a bit of wiggle room to make the whole thing loosen and come free.</p>
<p>Remember, you’re not looking for the grand gestures or huge movements (“I need to sell my house and move to Idaho”); you’re looking for one thing you can start and accomplish <em><strong>TODAY</strong></em> that will let you make progress. Here is an activity I do with some clients who have obstacles toward success :</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Choose 1 thing you can right now</strong> at this moment towards your bigger goal.</li>
<li><strong>Break that down into a small doable task</strong> for the day. Maybe that something is a newsletter that needs get out to your subscribers. It is ok to make it your ONE thing.</li>
<li><strong>Break it down with a to-do list</strong> of what is going to take to get it out at a reasonable time and in a practical manner.  No one said you had to write a magazine. Just do the newsletter in a simple yet effective way and you have succeeded at accomplishing your one thing that will help you connect with your market and increase your sales.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Make sense?</em></p>
<p>If all you did was ask yourself this question day after day, and then take action on the answers, you’d soon find yourself closer to your goals than you ever imagined.</p>
<p>Are you moving in your seat yet? Did I touch any nerves? Trust me when I say that I have not arrived and I struggle with some of these very issues (especially the second one). I think most entrepreneurs do! Don’t you?</p>
<p>Don’t get comfortable yet, there is one more post coming soon to help you. I have even more questions to help you succeed in 2012. If you aren&#8217;t moving on your goals for 2012, why aren&#8217;t you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.<br />
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<div id="attachment_3572" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-3572 " title="LaTara Ham-Ying" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/me-in-scarf-150x150.jpg" alt="LaTara Ham-Ying" width="90" height="90" /><p class="wp-caption-text">LaTara Ham-Ying</p></div>

LaTara Ham-Ying is a Biblical Lifestyle Coach, online marketing consultant, and successful blogger who enjoys helping others create a life and business that fits their style and shows them the power of living in the NOW! Learn more about LaTara at <a href="http://www.latarahamying.com" target="_self">latarahamying.com</a><div class="shr-publisher-5203"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>12 Easy Steps to Writing Killer Blog Posts [Infographic]</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5104</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5104#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:19:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rod</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[content creation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Copy-writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infographic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[killer content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[killer copy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[killer idea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Want to write killer blog posts that get read, shared, commented on, and lead to business sales? Of course you do! There are 12 easy steps to writing killer blog posts that get the results you want. Let's explore them all in a colorful infographic just after the break!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5113" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5104/killer-blog" rel="attachment wp-att-5113"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5113" title="Killer-Blog" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Killer-Blog-300x188.jpg" alt="Killer Blog" width="300" height="188" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Want to Writer Killer Blog Posts?</p></div>
<p><a title="Keep Your Business Blog Alive with these 6 Types of Posts" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5078">Small business blogging isn&#8217;t dead</a>, but your blog can become <strong><em>&#8220;dead in the water&#8221;</em></strong> if your posts don&#8217;t deliver for your readers.  If your blog posts are too long, confusing, hard to follow, or not well thought-out, you can lose opportunities to <a title="How to Convert Your Blog Browsers into Buyers" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/4091">convert readers into buyers</a>.</p>
<h2>What is a Killer Blog Post?</h2>
<p>A killer blog post is one that gets shared across social networks, leads quality discussions in your comments section, and ultimately generates business leads.</p>
<p>It consists of;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>A Killer Idea</strong> which gets people interested in your post, captures the imagination, and solves a problem. Think of your business&#8217;s industry and help your customers solve their biggest challenges.<br />
<strong>Note:</strong> Need help organizing your blog post ideas? Start an editorial calendar. <a title="How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/1720">Here&#8217;s a video tutorial</a> to help you get started!</li>
<li><strong>Killer Content</strong> brings the idea to life and holds your reader&#8217;s attention. Videos, pod-casts, and other media can be used to enhance your idea. You&#8217;ll find a couple of ideas on good content creation in this <a title="The Biggest Marketing Secret – Ever, Finally Revealed" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/2448">article</a>.</li>
<li><strong>and Killer Copy-writing </strong>which moves the reader along and keeps them engaged until the very end. Copyblogger has an excellent <a title="Copywriting 101" href="http://www.copyblogger.com/copywriting-101/" target="_blank">tutorial on copywriting</a> that I highly recommend if you want to learn how to write great copy like a pro!</li>
</ul>
<p>If you want to write awesome blog posts that engage your readers, builds community, and generates leads, you&#8217;ll have to follow 12 easy steps. Go through each using the info-graphic below and bookmark this page to reference it whenever you need it.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Want my best advice for writing killer blog posts and growing your blog? Sign up for my <a title="Need Business Help?" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/services">2 for 1 Success Coaching </a>special. If you want to get more blog traffic, create deeper connections with your readers, and generate more business sales then this deal is for you!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Click the Image below for a larger view</strong></p>
<p><div id="attachment_5110" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 587px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/infographics"><img class="size-large wp-image-5110        " title="Killer Blog Post Infographic" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/infographic-577x1024.jpg" alt="Killer Blog Post Infographic" width="577" height="1024" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Click for a Larger View</p></div><br />
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<h3><strong>About The Author</strong></h3>
<div id="attachment_780" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-780 " title="RKirby  6.09-3019" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/RKirby-6.09-3019-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rod Kirby</p></div>

<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about" target="_self">Rod Kirby</a> helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations
take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company,
Kirby Enterprises.

Follow Rod on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter</a> here.<div class="shr-publisher-5104"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Keep Your Business Blog Alive with these 6 Types of Posts</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5078</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5078#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:48:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rod</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Online Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business owner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[professional publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[robert scoble]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web presence]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rodkirby.com/?p=5078</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some say blogging is dieing and some say it's evolving with the help of Facebook, Google+, and other social platforms. The truth is, blogs are transforming, but they are still a great way to build a marketing platform for small businesses. Keep your business blog alive with these 6 types of blogs posts! ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5089" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5078/rip" rel="attachment wp-att-5089"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5089" title="Rest in Peace" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/rip-300x243.jpg" alt="Rest in Peace Blogging" width="300" height="243" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rest in Peace Blogging . . .</p></div>
<p>There&#8217;s a lot of debate about whether or not the golden age of blogging is dead. <a href="https://plus.google.com/111091089527727420853/posts/V3C3gevzeSv" target="_blank">Robert Scoble doesn&#8217;t think it&#8217;s dead</a>, simply evolving. And <a title="Blogging Is Dead Just Like the Web Is Dead" href="http://gigaom.com/2011/02/22/blogging-is-dead-just-like-the-web-is-dead/" target="_blank">Mathew Ingram of Gigaom</a> thinks that traditional &#8220;blogging&#8221; may be on a decline but personal publishing is healthy because of the many platforms people use to share the world around them [think Facebook, Google+, and Tumblr].</p>
<p>I agree with both points of view when it comes to personal publishing, but as it pertains to professional publishing, blogging is alive, doing well, and<em><strong> still relevant</strong></em>.</p>
<p>Just like speaking at a major conference, publishing a book, or landing a major Television interview is a great career launching platform &#8211; so is blogging!</p>
<p>As a business owner, launching a blog can;</p>
<ul>
<li>Enable you to build a strong web presence,</li>
<li>Help you to build a community of people who are interested in your business,</li>
<li>Generate sales leads,</li>
<li>Open doors of opportunity,</li>
<li>Expand your network,</li>
<li>and more!</li>
</ul>
<p>We live in a socially connected internet age where people look for you on Facebook, Twitter, or your website <em><strong>before</strong></em> they inquire about your products or services.</p>
<p>So, is blogging dead?</p>
<p>No, but, like Robert Scoble said, it is evolving &#8211; especially for entrepreneurs.</p>
<p>If you have a blog or want to start one for your business you have to think beyond simple or self-serving blog posts. In order for your blog to become a marketing platform <a title="Treat Your Blog Like A Magazine and Take it to the Next Level" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/2862">you have to think of it as a media property</a>. Consider your blog as your own TV station, radio station, or magazine with content readers want the most.</p>
<p>Your blog&#8217;s content should include a mixture of the following types;</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>News</strong> articles that inform readers of happenings in your niche on a consistent and timely basis,</li>
<li><strong>How-to </strong>articles that show readers [step-by-step] how to be successful using your product, service, or in their everyday lives,</li>
<li><strong>Editorial</strong> articles that educates, informs, inspires, or provides them new perspective on related topics,</li>
<li><strong>Info-graphic</strong> styled posts that break down typically complex information into easy to understand terms using graphics &amp; pictures,</li>
<li><strong>Videos</strong> that reveal day-to-day activities around the office, interviews with interesting subjects in your industry, lessons on best practices when handling your products, or useful tips &amp; advice,</li>
<li><strong>Audio pod-casts</strong> that include round-table discussions with multiple guests on related topics in your industry, interviews with satisfied customers, news, and more.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tip:</strong> Learn <a title="12 Easy Steps to Writing Killer Blog Posts [Infographic]" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5104">how to Write Killer Blog Posts with this Infographic!</a></p>
<p>The traditional business blog where you &#8220;talk up&#8221; your products &amp; services, try to entice readers to sign-up to your email newsletter without giving them valuable information, share a few pictures of that company trip to Mexico, or bore people to death with industry lingo, facts, and figures . . . is dead.</p>
<p>You have to think beyond yourself and a traditional blog in order to successfully build an online platform for your business. Your content should be original, fresh, and &#8220;sucka-free&#8221;. That means devoid of pushy sales pitches, crappy content, and updated consistently.</p>
<p>If you blog for business is your blog &#8220;sucka-free?&#8221; What kind of content are you creating to build your platform? If you&#8217;re not blogging for business, why not? Do you think blogging for business is dead and Facebook is where it&#8217;s at? I&#8217;d love to hear your opinions in the comments below.<br />
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<h3><strong>About The Author</strong></h3>
<div id="attachment_780" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-780 " title="RKirby  6.09-3019" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/RKirby-6.09-3019-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rod Kirby</p></div>

<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about" target="_self">Rod Kirby</a> helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations
take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company,
Kirby Enterprises.

Follow Rod on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter</a> here.<div class="shr-publisher-5078"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The 2 for 1 Success Coaching Special has been Extended!</title>
		<link>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5025</link>
		<comments>http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5025#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rod</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[professional development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media marketing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rodkirby.com/?p=5025</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the holiday season, I ran a very successful promotional that gave you two full hours of 1-on-1 coaching for the same price as one. I knew, when I started it, that it would be very popular so, I'm extending the deal. Find out more after the break!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div id="attachment_5073" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5025/good-news" rel="attachment wp-att-5073"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5073" title="good-news" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/good-news-300x198.jpg" alt="Good News" width="300" height="198" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Good News!</p></div>
<p>During the holiday season, I ran a <a title="What Do You Want to Accomplish in 2012?" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/archives/5026">very successful promotional</a> that gave you two full hours of 1-on-1 coaching for the same price as one. I knew, when I started it, that it would be very popular so, I&#8217;m extending the deal.</p>
<p>For a very limited time, get the best deal in personal &amp; professional development since sliced bread! Get 2 full hours with me to;</p>
<ul>
<li>Develop a solid business plan,</li>
<li>Develop a marketing plan designed to make you money,</li>
<li>Get advice for growing your blog&#8217;s traffic,</li>
<li>Get my best advice for branding your business,</li>
<li>Learn the tools I use daily that help me master social media marketing,</li>
<li>and much more!</li>
</ul>
<p>This is an excellent opportunity to get the help you need at an affordable price that you won&#8217;t find anywhere else!</p>
<p>The holiday season is over &#8211; it&#8217;s time to kick 2012 into gear and I want to help you do it. If you need some help starting, growing, or marketing a business this is the promotional you&#8217;ve been waiting for. Don&#8217;t let this offer pass you by, because once February comes, it goes away.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re excited and ready to take your personal life and business to the next level, click the buy now button below, and let&#8217;s schedule your coaching session. If you have any questions, <a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/services">check out the F.A.Q. and customer testimonials on the official page.</a></p>
<div class="woo-sc-box normal large  ">
<h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2 for 1 Holiday Special</span></h3>
<p><em><strong>2 Hours of Coaching </strong></em>for Only<strong> $100! </strong>[You get one session, <em><strong>FREE!</strong></em> That's a savings of <em><strong>$100</strong></em>! ]</p>
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<p>Let me help you make 2012 your best year yet.</p>
<p>To your success!</p>
<p>Rod<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Subscribe Today &amp; Receive <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Free Updates</em></span> in Your Inbox! </span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">You Like <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Free Stuff</em></span> Don&#8217;t You?<br />
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<p><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> We will <a title="Review our Site Policies" href="http://www.rodkirby.com/15">never share your email address</a> with anyone, period.</p>
<h3><strong>About The Author</strong></h3>
<div id="attachment_780" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 100px"><a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-780 " title="RKirby  6.09-3019" src="http://www.rodkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/RKirby-6.09-3019-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="90" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rod Kirby</p></div>

<a href="http://www.rodkirby.com/about" target="_self">Rod Kirby</a> helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations
take advantage of social media marketing and new media through his company,
Kirby Enterprises.

Follow Rod on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rodkirby" target="_blank">Twitter</a> here.<div class="shr-publisher-5025"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
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