Issaquah, WA Community

Judy Dunn

Member since: Feb 18, 2008
Last activity: 5 hours ago

1243 comments |1234567...4950
  • Susan,

    This was so needed. Thank you! As a freelance reporter, I've been following the TARP mess and did an article for which I interviewed some bank executives. Very interesting answers from those who accepted TARP money and those who did not.

    What the banks are being allowed to do to consumers is unspeakable. And with the money we taxpayers gave to them.

    I think it's a wake-up call and Bob and I have cut down drastically on our credit card spending, with the ultimate goal of not using them anymore.

    Your advice is timely and very helpful.

    Posted 3 days ago Healing OUR Economy--Toward Alignment With Our Higher Purpose by Susan Templeton
  • Carole,

    Great to hear from you. And welcome to Savvy Bloggers! I know, the technical side of blogging (or setting up a blog) can be challenging for some of us (ME!).

    Thankfully I have my partner Bob (just steps away from my desk) to figure it all out for me. (He specializes in designing WordPress blogs and websites.)

    I admire you for tackling that on your own. Bob gives free WordPress workshops here in Seattle, but that would be a ways for you to travel. :-)

    Thank you for the link to Yaro's free report. Would love to include that in next week's Savvy Blogger update.

    Again, welcome and hope to hear more from you!

    Posted 6 days ago What is your biggest blog challenge? a conversation started by Bob Dunn
  • Thank you for reading and leaving a comment, Shaun. Hope this strategy works for you. Good luck!

    Posted 6 days ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
  • Hey, Susan. Same thing here.

    Not to sing his praises, but Bob (the other half of Cat's Eye Design) is responsive and several of our clients depend on him to troubleshoot for them and keep their websites and blogs humming.

    I have heard horror stories from clients whose previous designers/developers either jumped ship or failed to respond in a timely manner.

    Best of luck in finding the support person who works for you.

    Judy

    Posted 2 weeks ago Is Your Computer Support Guy Treating You Like A “Bad Date”? a conversation started by Julie Rice
  • As a right-brain creative who sometimes can get so sidetracked by the why's and what-ifs, MAN, I so wanted to make this event.

    Going to have to get a full report from Bob!

    Posted 2 weeks ago The Curiosity Club: Get curious about what you've got (and you've got more than you think!) hosted by Barak Rosenbloom
  • First lines of Tale of Two Cities. Love it.

    You know, you are right. So often, evaluation is looked at as an "event" even though some of us might have been trained in the "continuous evaluation" model.

    I love your checklist and wouldn't it be great if we asked ourselves these questions on a monthly basis?

    I have been a boss and have been involved in many staff evaluations but when you are a solopreneuer, and your own boss, sometimes this process gets overlooked.

    You have inspired me, Mark.

    Posted 2 weeks ago What Condition Is My Condition In? by Mark Combs
  • Elizabeth,

    Thanks for reading! Glad it spurred your thinking.

    Judy

    Posted 2 weeks ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
  • Wow.

    Posted 3 weeks ago The economy is crashing... a conversation started by Howard Howell
  • What a great idea for a networking event, Jessie. If Bob and I were closer (first ferry leaves at 6:30 so we'd never make it in time!), we'd be there. Hope everyone takes advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

    Posted 3 weeks ago Feed Your Mind Networking Breakfast hosted by Jessie Wolfrum, LMP
  • That's a very interesting comment Anthony made on watching the grocery store to see how the economy os doing. Never really thought about it this way.

    We are finding in this current economic climate that:

    1. Finding (and sticking to) our niche has brought us all kinds of new clients. Scary move for us, but took us out of that huge pool of people who can do "everything for everyone." And when the niche includes social media, businesses redistributing their marketing dollars in hopes of stretching them further are looking for ways to leverage social media to get more visibility.

    2. Exploring our first international partnerships and strategic alliances and will be developing new products and services to reach a larger customer base. Just starting down this road, but the advantage of scale (joint marketing, for instance) is promising.

    Those are the two things that have helped us the most in this economy.

    Posted 3 weeks ago The economy is crashing... a conversation started by Howard Howell
  • Sue,

    Thanks. Glad I could help a little. Good luck!

    Judy

    Posted 3 weeks ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
  • James,

    I am glad the timing was right for you. This has been a very good discussion in the comments section.

    Will try to find time to take a look at your site.

    Thanks for taking the time to read my article and leave a comment.

    Judy

    Posted 3 weeks ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
  • Our beloved cat Nuz left us at 4:45 this morning. I sat with him and he died lying on his favorite blanket.

    I'm sorry for canceling at the last minute. We are kind of broken up here. He was with us for almost 17 years.

    Thanks for understanding.

    Posted 3 weeks ago South Sound Masterminds hosted by Tammy Redmon
  • Diana,

    I can only wish that biz owners who are doing it the wrong way would read this. I still have people who I thought knew better automatically put me on their list. It's kind of a surprise when that first issue hits my inbox. Even if you have good content, you haven't given me the choice to subscribe or not. Leaves a bad impression. And, it's breaking spamming laws.

    Interesting on the frequency and timing issue. Ours does go out at about 3am every Tuesday morning and we strive for a 95% fresh content, 5% promotion ratio.

    Howard, if you are reading this, wow, I'm impressed with the content you are putting out, at least on your blog. It's interesting, engaging, useful. So, "old school" professionals CAN learn new tricks. (I guess I'm proof of that, too.) : -)

    Very good email marketing article, Diana. Nice job.

    Posted 3 weeks ago Four Worst Email Marketing Errors: Dont Let Social Media Ruin Your Email Marketing by Diana Bourgeois
  • My extra hour is allowing me to quit early for a Sunday and...and... wow, it's such an unusual feeling. WHAT will I do?

    I'm thinking maybe a bubble bath. : - ) And a glass of wine? (Not at the same time. though.)

    Posted 3 weeks ago What do you do with your extra hour today? a conversation started by Hsuan-Hua Chang, PCC, MS
  • Janis,

    Always fun to read your thoughtful comments. One reason an FAQ page is good, and I'm sure you've seen ones laid out this way, is that busy readers can scan first, especially if all the questions are listed first, with links that take visitors directly to the answer for that specific question.

    In that way, you don't lose readers with question/answer, question/answer on issues they are not really concerned about. So, you can have as many questions as you need to answer what you think all the objections/concerns might be. Some sites even categorize the questions to make it easier for readers to find the ones they are wondering about.

    Posted 3 weeks ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
  • @ Audrey: Glad this was helpful.

    @ Ed: Very good observation. Yes, your USP is (or should be) the backbone, the foundation upon which you build your marketing messages. And there are many ways to use an FAQ page. I like to write them with the goal of resolving the concerns that are making a prospect waver. To consider abandoning a shopping cart or deciding not to pick up the phone, fill out the website request from, whatever the call to action is. Of course you can always repeat those USP-focused benefits in your FAQs. But I like to, at the same time, dig deeper and identify more specific issues/reasons prospects may have for not responding. Sometimes, the things they are really concerned about are not obvious at first glance. Thanks for pointing out the importance of the USP, Ed.

    @Deborah: So from the World Book page on Scotland to a trip there many years later. I love these kinds of stories. Childhood dreams can be powerful! And what an interesting question. Yes, I do want to wok with people who understand the power of stories and he importance showing up as a real person online. It's my passion.

    Posted 4 weeks ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
  • Finally. I get to come to a Masterminds! YAY!

    Posted 4 weeks ago South Sound Masterminds hosted by Tammy Redmon
  • Good solid advice here, Kaya. I think that all of us know in our hearts when it is time, when the prospect is ready, to hear more about how we can help them. And what you call "Pushi-tis" doesn't feel like that when you show your passion for what you do by helping first: providing ideas/strategies for people to try on, building trust and your credibility.

    And I agree with Taylor. The selling part (which most of us hate to do) feels much easier after you have developed the relationship.

    Thanks for sharing, Kaya.

    Posted 4 weeks ago 3 Things That Get in the Way of a Great Sales Process by Kaya Singer
  • Thanks Richard. Bob and I teach a blogging class and always share ideas for driving traffic. I think I may have a few resources on that,

    I'll send you a private message.

    Posted 4 weeks ago What is your biggest blog challenge? a conversation started by Bob Dunn
  • Deborah,

    Wow. I think you could write a separate article on each of the 4 C's.

    You give us much to think about here. The biggest concern of clients I talk to is how to find time for social media. I think our choices are so many that it can be overwhelming.

    I agree with Urs. Consistency is important, perhaps more important than finding 6 or 8 sites to jump on, and then being all scattered about it.

    Of your C's, for me, curiosity can be both a blessing and a curse. I have to pull mine in so I don't play the "follow the links" game.

    But one of my favorites of your 4 C's is courage. You have hit it on the head with being vulnerable and sharing an opinion. This, I think, is what separates the adequate bloggers from the truly gifted ones.

    Thanks for the thought-provoking article.

    Posted 4 weeks ago Social Media: Are you ever a bit obsessed with new shiny objects like me? by Deborah Drake
  • Okay, I'm stepping back in. It wasn't that I took offense. And it may be the era I came of age in. Things are so much better for women now.

    Anyone see the movie Anchorman? That's the way it was for strong, smart women in the 70s.

    I was teasing Ken. Hope everyone recognized that. Loved his article and I told him that. :- )

    Posted 4 weeks ago Bosses Suck by Ken Peters
  • Ha!

    Posted 4 weeks ago What is your biggest blog challenge? a conversation started by Bob Dunn
  • DeBorah,

    What I love about Biznik is that people share their different strategies and that there is not just one way to do something, like get more referrals.

    You have a nice plan for capturing testimonials, following up with clients AND getting referrals names, all in one process.

    I think what I take away from this is that, while there are no rigid formulas, someone else's plan and strategies might just work for me—if I modify them and make them my own.

    Thanks for sharing what works for you. And Howard's affirmation is the best!

    Posted 4 weeks ago How Deep Is Your Net? - Using A Referral Journal by DeBorah Beatty
  • Miriam,

    I know! All the insightful comments just add to the collective wisdom. It IS like getting two articles on one.

    Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

    Posted 4 weeks ago What's Stopping Your Website Visitors from Buying?: FAQ Page Lessons from the Encyclopedia Man by Judy Dunn
1243 comments |1234567...4950