Wonderful advice, Norma! Patience is key - unless of course you pay for a little advertising.. nothing like pay per click to get the juice flowing.

I wasn't aware that we could actually submit our website to search engines and directories. How is that done?

Keep up the great work! -Mike-

Great article, Tom....I don't know how much more I could add, except that Wordpress is incredibly easy to use. The fact that I can change things up on a daily basis makes a huge difference. Plus having an interactive website to stay in touch with prospective clients and being able engage them in a running dialog is an excellent feature. Keep up the good work!

Kathleen!

Great job on Search Engine Marketing!

You definitely know the subject inside and out. When the time comes for me to have my website and internet marketing efforts tuned up to turbo level you'll be the "go to" person.

Keep up the great work - can't wait to attend your next event!

-Mike Schwagler-

Hi Kathleen,

SEO, and everything related, is hot, hot, hot! I'm definitely looking forward to your event..

-Mike-

Pamela,

Your article should be quoted in every sales manual ever written....

When salespeople go on with their script (a script in itself is not a bad thing - it shows preparation) straight out of the Zig Ziglar play book it leaves something behind.

The other day, I was stumbling for words in one of those "senior moments," that seem to creep up on us from time to time. Usually I get "The Look" like "C'mon and spill it out" or "What the heck is wrong with you?" or "You really are that old, aren't you?" or the furrowed brow - we all know how that makes us feel even dumber. But...to the other person's credit they waited patiently, neutral expression, no "Look" to hurry me up. It was very classy.

As I reflect on that experience, I just hope that I treat others the same way.

Being classy and honoring the other person in all circumstances is the stuff that really counts....

-Mike-

The OTHER way is definitely the right way. It's all about contributing....

BTW, Nicole, I just sent you a personal invitation to a happy hour/mixer on April 6th - it will be a contribution party where we can listen to what each person needs and then brainstorm to help...make a connection....whatever it takes. Hope to see you there - we'll be practicing the OTHER way.

-Mike-

Showing up, not just as yourself, but with a spirit of contribution is everything...

Our authentic self is the one who is there for others.

Shower us with more of your wisdom, Coach; the world just can't get enough of great stuff like this.

-Mike-

Video gets more important every day. And for good reason.

Part of the renaissance we’re experiencing - as we drift away from corporations to small businesses - comes down to building personal relationships.

People like to see who they're dealing with. Nice piece!

Great article - it takes more than pancakes doesn't it? Life is all about contribution. What possible contribution could there be in free pancakes? It's food that isn't even good for us.

Your grandfather-story reminds me of my own grandfather. He would always say that as Americans we all live like millionaires compared to most people in the world.

Talk about karma - just being born in America is amazing karma. At a teaching on Sunday, Rinpoche discussed precious human life - Buddhists believe that it is extemely difficult to be born into the human realm and once born it is sad indeed if we waste this life by not doing right action - that is, not contibuting to every living being.

Gotta do the right things!

I know this is getting a bit off track from your "marketing" piece, but I think it applies to business as well as everyday life - always do the right things. Good karma multiplies so if you get flipped off it's from something else you did.

The Universe wants to move in a positive direction. Keep up your good work!

Tahsi Delek, -Mike-

Great advice! I can't wait to do some free form dancing in front of a group of folks expecting to get advice on writing advertisements. Gotta let it flow, right? Oh wait a minute...you said off stage. Why off stage? Why not be like Ellen D and be goofy on stage? I think we all need to lighten up as a culture...

A little story. Bumbershoot is a three day dance party (at least for me - and a bunch of best friends called the Bumberbuddies - good luck if you try to Google that one.) We were dancing down in front of the stage like we usually do and I turned to face the crowd to see what what was going on.

A young lady - looking kind of glum - was staring right at me. I smiled and said "Welcome to the sixties." She said, "That music isn't from the sixties." I said, "I know that! We're all over sixty up here." The point is you can never stop rockin'.

Maybe it would be enough just to keep a silly story like that in the back of your mind....you know, like when you were really being yourself - like a bunch of 60 year olds at Bumbershoot...

-Mike-

Ken... Good words.

I just moved from Seattle to Phoenix. From a place where the economy seems to be in an isolated bubble and still somewhat stable to a place where - at first blush, anyway, everything seems to be a mess.

So..here I am...starting up a business in a region where people are struggling to make ends meet. It will be interesting to see the entreprenuerial lay of the land as I begin to establish my network and promote Biznik as the "new wave of networking" through collaboration rather than competition.

It will be a grand experiment and - as some of your other responders have mentioned - the bright days are ahead. It almost seems as though we needed to wipe the slate clean and begin drawing out a brand new paradigm.

Everything seems so much clearer when starting from scratch. And the possibilities almost seem endless.

Keep up the good work, -Mike-

Brilliant Session!

Vivid Speaking and Writing left me feeling on top of the world. I created a mind movie for the upcoming year that I've already begun to live...

I would encourage anyone looking for a breakthrough in thier life to attend Pamela's event.

Who took the great pic? Some dude could have a future in photography...

What started out as chat rooms (the most annoying thing ever invented) a scant 20 years ago has morphed into a sophisticated marketing tool.

I can see it coming...the prestigious and sought-after title of Manager, Blogging Department.

Boy oh boy, have things ever changed!

I'll be there! Word on the street is that your events are not to be missed!

It's time to break out and be noticed!

-Mike-