While it’s certainly important to have dynamic content on our websites or engaging dialogue on . . . → Read More: Lessons from Dad]]> I heard a jarring statistic recently that said 80% of new businesses fail within the first five years. As a copywriter and social media consultant, I’m committed to learning how the best people in business make it happen on a long-term basis.

While it’s certainly important to have dynamic content on our websites or engaging dialogue on Facebook, there are some even more CORE elements that can make or break success. Articles about “profitable practices” constantly appear online, but these fancy Top 10 lists never inspire me to a level of unshakeable confidence or provide lasting knowledge that stands the test of time.

That’s why I turned to my dad. At the age of 83, his career as a successful and widely-respected electrical contractor has been sustainable and thriving for over 50 years. He started his last business in partnership with my brother, at an age when most of his colleagues were retiring. And he still goes into the office most days, though now he arrives a bit later and leaves a bit earlier, with an occasional nap in between.

When my son, Elliott, and I asked Dad for an interview to capture his gems of wisdom for the family archives, he was a bit shy and reluctant.  He’s not one to take credit, preferring to acknowledge the people without whom his own success would not have been possible.

When pressed, he casually recited the following recipe for success:

1. Work hard – nothing worth having comes easily
2. Be grateful for what you have – even when it doesn’t seem to be enough
3. Tell the truth – even if it means losing relationships or business
4. Invest in people – join with those who share your values to get the best returns
5. Avoid going into debt – spend wisely and be a good steward of what you have
6. Allow long-term business relationships to grow – and take time to nurture them
7. Don’t be afraid to say no – setting clear boundaries keeps standards high

I listened as my father described the same values he had clearly demonstrated for my brother and me as children. The same lessons and values that formed the foundation for his role as husband and father, had allowed him to build a business that has now grown far beyond what he ever imagined possible.

A few weeks after the interview, my mother became terminally ill. She died last October, an unexpected loss that sent a shockwave through our family. Through it all, Dad’s eternal faith and optimism, even in his darkest hours of personal grief, have provided a guiding light and an unshakeable example of strength for his children and grandchildren.

I am filled with love and respect for my father, and grateful for the compassionate wisdom which is his legacy to me and my family, and my business.  From him I have learned that true success is measured not by material wealth or social status, but by the depth of one’s commitment to doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview with my dad, Ole Olsson, founder of Olsson Industrial Electric:

Until next time,

~Delila

I’ve noticed a common quality in many of the small business owners who hire me to be their social media voice. They are entrepreneurial individuals who recognize the need for visioning, planning, and goal setting… but they don’t spend all their time there. They know they can improve personally . . . → Read More: Connecting with your Customers and Building your Community]]>

the many hats of the business owner...

I’ve noticed a common quality in many of the small business owners who hire me to be their social media voice. They are entrepreneurial individuals who recognize the need for visioning, planning, and goal setting… but they don’t spend all their time there. They know they can improve personally or professionally, but they’re also confident enough to do things their own way. They value the momentum created through consistent action and engagement in their business, but they realize they simply cannot do it all.

Does that describe you? If so, we would get along great!

As business owners, we have so many hats to wear and, realistically, we can’t wear them all at the same time.   And even if we possessed the skills sets to manage every aspect of our business, there aren’t enough hours in a day to handle it all… at least not if we want to retain some balance in our lives.

Reaching out to your online audience is a non-negotiable, essential task that every business owner must attend to. Knowing what to say to engage and build community, knowing how and where to connect, and then finding the time to do it can add enormous stress to business owners and entrepreneurs who are already maxed-out with daily tasks and responsibilities.

I’m here to tell you… connecting with your customers and building your community is not something you need to manage alone. The best marketers get help. The truth is, even the best communicators get help. As it turns out, in the new world of social networking, collaboration is actually more effective than going it alone.

I can help showcase your business and connect with your community in an authentic, honest, and positive way.

As the owner of Wize Communications, I work with business owners who want more time to be with their clients, more time to develop their products, and more time to move their business along as only they know how. Acting as an online voice for small businesses, I ignite conversations that create meaningful connections and build communities.  For business owners, this means more and broader exposure, increased visibility, and long term relationships that can result in more business.

I would love to talk with you about how I might assist you in building or expanding your online community. I offer a complementary 30-minute Q&A, so we can get to know each other. From there, I’ll be able to share some ideas for highlighting your work and planting seeds with your future customers. CONTACT ME to learn more.

Until next time,

Delila

2. Choose blogging software that is simple to use. I like WordPress because you can choose from many free themes and have the option to install “plugins” (components that adds specific capabilities to the . . . → Read More: Ten Tips for Successful Blogging]]> 1. Get a dedicated domain name and have your site hosted. You’ll get greater online visibility with Wize-Communications.com than you will with wordpress.com/wize-communications.

2. Choose blogging software that is simple to use. I like WordPress because you can choose from many free themes and have the option to install “plugins” (components that adds specific capabilities to the WordPress platform) for even greater functionality.   As an added bonus, Word Press is well indexed with the search engines… which means you’re more likely to be seen and heard.

3. Invite Subscribers. You can add a simple “subscribe” link (button) to any WordPress blog, which allows you to collect the names and contact information of people who want to receive your updates.

4. Know your audience & make your content meaningful. The topics you write about should ideally address the interests and concerns of your audience.   The best blogs are focused, informative, and insightful. Avoid approaching your blog as a daily diary or sharing too many mundane aspects of your life.  Your readers want to see who you are, but they don’t necessarily care what you had for breakfast.  Keep your writing true and brief, and make it meaningful by giving something of value such as timely tips or tools that can benefit your readers and which they may be inspired to share with others.

5. Let your passion shine through in your writing. If you don’t enjoy writing or aren’t genuinely interested in your topic, don’t blog.

6. Use key words to create content that is relevant and search-engine friendly. Google Wonder Wheel is a great (free) tool that helps me determine the relevance and popularity of my topic, and gain additional insights about other related topics which may also be of interest to my readers.

7. Keep the “conversation” going with regular content updates. You don’t have to blog everyday to be successful, but you do need to add new, meaningful content on a regular basis if you want to keep your readers engaged.  Search engines update based upon new content, so the more you add and update your blog, the more visible you’ll be with the search engines.

8. Reveal what’s real. Rather than using your blog to dump information on your readers, try blogging as a platform to address questions and concerns nobody else is talking about.  What do people really want to know about your product, your service, or your industry?   Don’t be afraid to push the envelope a little.  Be authentic and you’re more likely to get noticed.

9. Link out and invite other voices to the conversation. Connect with others of like mind by linking outside of your blog.  Making comments on other blogs also helps to get you noticed and expand your online network, and also exposes your readers to a broader view of the topic.  This gives you added credibility, while also helping increase your visibility with the search engines.

10. Invite comments and welcome feedback. I like to end my blog posts with a question that invites my readers to share their own ideas and insights.   The idea is to create a dialogue, not deliver a monologue.

Happy blogging,

Delila

Is your business on Facebook?  Social media is all about building community. It’s all about making meaningful and authentic connections, so it’s important to keep it real.

Tips for Managing your Facebook Fan Page

Ask yourself . . . → Read More: Social Media: Stop Promoting & Start Relating!]]> Social Media refers to a rapidly increasing collection of online tools (technologies) which allow people and businesses to connect, network, and grow online communities who engage and share resources based upon common interests.   Social media is all about building community, which means to be successful you must understand the values and beliefs of your audience.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Who are your customers / clients / target audience?
• What do you see as the unique problem or need for which you offer a solution?
• Why is meeting this need important to you?  (why do you care?)
• What are you doing about it?  How is your approach to solving the problem or meeting the need different from others who do what you do?

The Top 3 Social Networking sites are Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. Also included in Social Media is Blogging, which is a popular and proven method for getting meaningful content about your story, business, service or product out to the search engines in order to increase your overall online visibility.

Review Sites and online Business Directories. Social Media and Review Sites have picked up where traditional print marketing left off… and effectively taken it to another level.  Get your business listed on as many of the free online business directories and review sites as possible, and do it right away.  Get people to write reviews of your product or service to further boost you online visibility and credibility.  Most popular: Google.com, Yelp.com, AngiesList.com, Yahoo.com.

Tips for Managing your Facebook Business Page

1. Keep it real. Character trumps credentials every time.  Let your “fans” see the real you.
2. Stay active and provide value. Post at least 2 – 3 times per week to keep your fans engaged.  Provide a mixture of content including information about what you do, links to relevant articles or outside resources,  business updates (special deals, events), photos and videos, and stories / anecdotes.
3. Be true and brief. Create messages that are clear and concise… they are more likely to capture and engage your audience.
4. Avoid religion, politics and off color humor. These subjects are sure to alienate some of your current and prospective followers.   Keep your business page clean and professional.
5. Link out. Connect outside of your community with others of like mind, and with credible resources that support and validate your own product or service.  TED.com is an incredible resource for interesting and credible video content on a variety of subjects.
6. Ask questions. Engage your fans and attract new Facebook friends by posing compelling and thoughtful questions.
7. Welcome feedback. When you receive positive feedback, say thank you.  Same goes for when you receive negative feedback.  Take the high road, exercise humility, and remember that without your clients / customers and fans, you wouldn’t be in business.

What I can do for you:

I offer basic and inclusive packages which combine social media set-up, management, consumer engagement, email marketing, blogging, and basic Search Engine Optimization techniques. Based upon your individual business needs and goals, my team can develop a unique and customized online social media presence and identity for your business.  With the implementation and execution of a basic social media plan including  regular blog posts,  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social or review sites, your products or services will become visible and attractive to your ideal customers, your marketing messages will be amplified, and your business will grow. Package options include:

1. Basic Social Media Review: An in depth review of your existing web presence (including website, blog, social media pages) and business objectives with a basic Social Media plan and time line, which you can execute yourself or I can assist you with.
2. Social Media Set-up: With this package you get a fully functional Facebook business page, Twitter profile, a business listing on two review sites (Yelp, Angie’s List, for example).
3. Customized Blog set-up: This package gets you a customized Word Press blog, set up with your unique logo and branding messages as well as an SEO plug-in, bookmark plug-in for content sharing, and subscriber link so you can immediately start expanding your online community and boosting your search engine ranking.
4. Monthly Social Media Maintenance: I’ll create a social media plan for your business that includes weekly Facebook posts including links, features, events and updates; weekly Twitter updates (“Tweets”); editing of your blog content to reflect key word research to increase search engine ranking;   and re-posting your content to social media networks.  This package is guaranteed to increase your market visibility and keep your online community growing month after month.

Read more about my offerings online at Wize-Communications.com

Until next time,

Delila

Presented by The Northwest Coaching Group, Hinds and Associates, and NW . . . → Read More: Internet & Social Media Strategy Workshop in Portland]]>

I’ve been invited to speak on a panel of experts on the topic of internet and social media strategies that can expand your online community and grow your business.  June 14th in Portland, Oregon.  Check it out – seating is limited to 100, so register early!

Presented by The Northwest Coaching Group, Hinds and Associates, and NW Employer Solutions:

Internet and Social Media Strategy: a Workshop for Your Business

Having an internet and social media strategy is critical to compete in today’s marketplace. Are you ready? Not sure?

This workshop is designed to address current trends and marketing needs of small and medium sized businesses,  and to offer suggestions about how to create an effective strategy for your business. Come and hear what the experts have to say about web design, web construction, social media, resources sites, and search engine optimization. They will define terms, explain the purpose behind various strategies, and provide tips and tools for making an easy transition to the world of online and social networking.

The program includes individual presentations on:

• Websites and Web Presence

• Blogging

• Social Media (including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

• Review Sites (including Angie’s List and Yelp)

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

If you are wondering if you should participate in social networking, if it makes sense for your business and, if so, how to get started, this practical and informative workshop is for YOU!

Date:June 14th, 2011

Time: 12:00 – 5:00pm.  Doors open at 12:00. Workshop begins at 12:30.

Location: Homebuilder’s Association

15555 SW Bangy Rd.
Ground Floor Banquet Room
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Cost: $79.00 by June 3rd; $89.00 after June 3rd and at the door

Registration cost includes materials. Checks & Credit Cards accepted.

Email Sherry to reserve a seat: info@northwestcoachinggroup.com

Doors open at 12:00.  30 minute break and networking opportunity at 2:30 pm, includes refreshments. WIFI is provided.

I hope to see you there!

Until next time,

Delila Olsson

From the moment we leave the womb, we want  desperately to be seen and heard.  This simple yet profound truth of humanity – which I learned from a particularly astute therapist – inspires me to write.

Today I . . . → Read More: Connecting with Authenticity]]> “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” ~Brene Brown

From the moment we leave the womb, we want  desperately to be seen and heard.  This simple yet profound truth of humanity – which I learned from a particularly astute therapist – inspires me to write.

Today I met with a client who lamented that, despite an expensive and snazzy website replete with every techno bell and whistle, his clients still don’t seem to “get” what makes his work so special.  I hear this same story often, from business owners who feel they lack a real connection with their clients or a distinct presence among their competitors.

I can create written content that draws in a reader, incites warmth and good feelings, and (usually) even attracts more customers.  But in a world where most people are chronically stressed and overwhelmed, often words are not enough to create an authentic and sustained connection.

Brene Brown, author of The Gifts of Imperfection,  suggests that we, as a society, are the most indebted, obese, addicted, and medicated population in history and that we practice chronic over-indulgence to numb out feelings of unworthiness, overwhelm, stress and grief. How often must we bump into the unconscious barriers that block joy and connection, before we can start being who we are rather than trying to be who we think we should be?

Check out Brene Brown’s insightful and inspiring TED Talk on the same subject.

Until next time – here’s to vulnerability,

Delila

Many small business owners have been reluctant to jump into the Social Media jungle, often believing those who participate in social media are not the right audience for their product or service.  What they don’t yet realize is that Social Media has forever changed the way businesses and individuals communicate, . . . → Read More: Finding your place in the Social Media jungle]]> Social Media is definitely not a fad.

Many small business owners have been reluctant to jump into the Social Media jungle, often believing those who participate in social media are not the right audience for their product or service.  What they don’t yet realize is that Social Media has forever changed the way businesses and individuals communicate, and ignoring that fact can have a serious and detrimental effect on the success of your business.

The truth is, if you’re not using social media, you’re not really competing in today’s market. With speed-of-light technologies like computers and mobile phones driving modern communication and social networking, business owners must claim their online audience in order to be current and recognizable in the marketplace. Bottom line: Social Media is rapidly becoming the most effective platform for advertising your business and expanding your community.

Did you know that one-fifth of Google searches are related to location?  That means that most people are using the internet to help determine where to go, what to do, and what to buy in their local markets!   Fact: your potential clients and customers are looking for you online, and if they don’t find you online, chances are they’ll choose to work with one of your competitors instead.

There are currently over 200 million blogs on the internet, and a steadily growing segment of consumers rely on on these bloggers and social media reviews to make informed decisions about products and services.   Word-of-mouth advertising now happens primary online, and therefore an online presence is absolutely imperative if you want to be competitive.  According to Social Commerce Statistics (http://bit.ly/3JoZO), Facebook, blogs, Twitter and customer review sites (like Angie’s List and Yelp) are considered the most effective tactics for mobilizing consumers to talk up products online.

If this information both excites and overwhelms you, you’re not alone!  Many business owners don’t have the faintest idea how to jump in and make their mark in the vast jungle of social media and networking sites.  That’s where I come in!  Click to learn more about my Social Media Set-up and Management Packages.  Let me help you be seen and heard online!

Until next time,

Delila