What's a blog?

A blog is personal, unsolicited, unfiltered writing posted on the web for access by anyone.

There are two kinds of blogs - the first being the stream-of-consciousness, personal writing about who you are, what you are doing, what your feelings are about a range of subjects.

The second is what could be called the "interesting thoughts" blogs. These are posts written about things the writer is passionate about, be it politics, art, music, economics, motorcycles, travel - whatever. But it is consistently about a particular subject, and it is pursued in depth and breadth over time. Think of such bloggers as bright people with bright thoughts and no traditional media outlet. Blogs provide that media outlet for serious thinkers with good ideas.

The last election brought blogs out of the closet as many bloggers kept news stories alive through investigation, thinking and posting great insights on their blogs. Some bloggers have now turned their blogs into full-time businesses as recognized authorities, or influential thinkers in politics and culture.

How can a product blog create a swarm of customers?

Blogging about a product category or topic allows you to connect with people in an informal human-voice way. It is far more intimate and regular than what you can do with a monthly ezine or newsletter.

Back that communications style up with useful and helpful information about a relevant topic. Give time for some word-of-mouth to work for you.

Develop some links to complementary blogs. And over several months you can create a swarm of people who know you - and are loyal to you - because they feel that they know you and can trust you.

Your writing connects to your product offering…and now you have the beginnings of a swarm that will grow over time as you keep working at it.

How do you get started?

Start by checking out www.blogspot.com and www.blogger.com and www.xanga.com and get the basics of a web-based blog. Read some blogging already on the web. And then just jump in and start writing. Pick a part of your business you are passionate about, and write about that. If you are selling golf balls, write about the game - where to play, what equipment really, really works for the weekend duffer, teaching and swing drill tools that you know work - the kind of information and insights people are looking for to enjoy golf more. Then when the time comes to buy golf balls they'll turn to you as a trusted resource.

How do you attract readers?

Start with people who know you - your friends and family. Get some feedback to improve your writing, then take the blog to your customer base. Let them know that as, say, a camping gear ebiz, you are blogging about great places to camp and great hiking experiences. Invite comments and bring in links to other bloggers writing about similar subjects - like great vacation spots in Colorado, for example. Put a place up where they can post their pictures on your blog.

Keep it all very personal - for example, writing about a great hiking trip where you bought new boots and didn't have to break them in, and where you got those boots. Ask other bloggers if you can link with them. Make it a daily, or every other day, routine and over a few months, you'll have built a base of people who love what you write about - and who buy your products to facilitate their participation. That's when the word of mouth will kick in, and you'll start to experience that swarming phenomenon.

What's the cost, what's the return?

Many blog services get you started for free. But if you want to do things like add pictures, music, and look more professional, then you can upgrade to a higher service level. www.xanga.com for example starts with a free blogging tool - but their far more comprehensive upgraded service is only $4 a month or $50 for 2 years (a 50% savings).

It is possible to get customers swarming to your site like bees to a clover field. Just get busy blogging today - keep at it, keep learning, and get ready to enjoy some of the honey that will come your way.

Rob Wilson
Marketing Director
Worldwide Brands, Inc.

Priorities In Business

"Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witness entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Tim 2:1-2 NIV)

As in any other area of Christian service, it is important to establish priorities. We can quickly become so involved with the "urgent" things of this world that we neglect the important things.

Early in a business career, the urgent thing is to make payroll. Later it becomes urgent to make a greater profit or build a bigger company.

There will always be a reason to neglect the important areas, most of which will seem pretty trivial one second after death. Therefore, it is always important to strive for balance in business.

This is as true in a spiritual sense as it is in a material sense. For example, sales are inportant to any business, but if a manufacturing company applies 100 percent of its labor force to sales, the imbalance will be readily apparent.

One of the priorities of a business should be to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. But if all other functions are ignored in pursuit of evangelism, the work will be short lived.

Therefore, the priorities of a business boil down to this: "What are my goals and can my goals be balanced to achieve the overall objectives of serving God while meeting material needs?"

Compared to eternity, the profile of a business is rather trivial and a lifetime of work rater insignificant. If used wisely, though, a business can be used to change the lives of countless lost people.

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Excerpt from "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" by Larry Burkett

Overcome Fear of Standing in front of an Audience

How do you overcome fear of standing in front of an audience to deliver your message? How do you overcome self consciousness? These questions not only need answers, but the answers must be applied by those who have a message stirring in their heart.

If you have something that you really want to get across to others but are intimidated by crowds, you may never deliver your message unless you take definitive steps to overcome your fear. What can you do to overcome stage fright?

1. Learn your subject well. Fill your mind with information about your subject. If you put in the time to do proper research you have won half the battle. Your confidence grows along with your knowledge of your subject.

But be prepared... that the nervous stomach of yours may not disappear until you actually begin speaking, so don't expect to be anxious free. Actually, some nervousness is good; otherwise, you may become overconfident. However, when you have something to say and you know what you are going to say your confidence will shine through.

2. Be the expert. If you have studied, done the research and are properly prepared, then you are the expert. You assume the role as the instructor.

Develop the mind set that you are the teacher who is teaching them. You are not being arrogant when you assume the position as the expert. You are simply having the attitude that you have paid the price to speak about your subject and you will deliver.

3. Never apologize. Do not begin a speech by saying you are sorry for being un-prepared. As soon as you do you have lost the right to speak. You should never start a speech with any kind of an apology. If you are late or lacked the time to prepare like you wanted, simply do not mention it. Just get started with your speech.

4. Begin your speech without words. When you walk up to the platform to make your speech, pause before saying anything. Look your audience in the eyes. When you approach the beginning of your speech in this manner you communicate to the audience that you are in control. You appear not to be nervous and everyone begins to feel secure. They will be more likely to receive your message.

5. Take your notes, but not your manuscript. You will want to take your outline. This will give you a sense of security. You have studied. You are prepared. The outline will be there to guide you. It will help you stay on track. However, if you take the manuscript you will have a tendency to read too much. You may even get lost in all of the writing you have before you, consequently, you may find yourself filled full of fear. Do not attempt to memorize your manuscript either. You may forget where you are in your speech. Your mind may go blank. Or you may simply look very unnatural as you deliver your memorized script.

Author:

John Neyman
A Global Christian Networking System is one of my passions. There is a 24/7 global prayer network with this system. If you want to work towards mobilizing Christians from all nations for world Evangelism. Look it over at:http://www.christianlifeexcel.com

Why Some Christians Fail

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3 NIV)

Many people believe that whatever they can conceive and believe they can achieve. This kind of positive thinking and success motivation requires goal setting, to which those people attribute the successes in their lives.

However, all too often these goals are centered on personal success, and the plans to accomplish them become selfish and ultimately self-defeating.

In 1 Corinthians 13, God tells us that whatever is done for self is profitless, and only that which is done out of love will benefit self. This creates a paradox: to be successful we must make someone else successful: to be leaders, we must be servants.

In order for our plans to be established, our works must be committed to God. It is evident that selfish goals cannot be committed to God -- only unselfish ones.

Therefore, the prerequisite for receiving God's help in our planning is the commitment of the end result to God. The problem is that many works cannot be committed to God because of their very nature. At that point, Christians rob themselves of God's help. To paraphrase James 4:3: We ask and don't receive because we ask with wrong motives.

The answer to whether you will succeed or fail is found in today's Scripture verse in Proverbs. Read it prayerfully.

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Excerpt from "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" by Larry Burkett

Pray Your Business Into Existence

To begin in business means to first prepare with God's blessing. When you know, what you know spiritually, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

Begin your journey with prayer. "The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

To understand the will of God, means to know that all things that are good in His eyesight are of His will. When I first started my business, I didn't put God first. I didn't pray and ask His blessings over my business. The confusion, doubt and non-focus ultimately led to failure. Oh I prayed but not about business. Don't ever forget this, every good thing, every gift and every plan comes from God. "If He brings you to it, He'll bring you through it." God began to give me the desire to pray not only for my family and others but for my business as well. In doing so He gave me revelation knowledge and wisdom to understand the path I was about to embark on.

One very important piece of wisdom I learned is that prosperity comes from the obedience and consistency of our faith. "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the word of God." Creating a relationship with God and reading the word of God will give you exactly what you need to manifest your dream. Another wisdom tip is, as Christians we are required to be "Christ-like." It is a prerequisite to obtaining prosperity whether it be spiritually, financially or business minded individuals.

Also, to give of yourself is a powerful path to achieving your desires. A very good friend once told us, "If you see a need, meet it." It's really simple to give and it does not always mean that you must give financially. There are several ways to give, for example, share your positive knowledge with others who are struggling with certain issues. Perhaps you are knowledgeable of business resources, marketing, designing web sites, creating graphics, programming, telemarketing, writing articles, etc., whatever it is, share with others who are less fortunate.

Now, ask yourself this question, "What is your inspiration to start your own business?"

My answer: My inspiration comes from God, the Holy Spirit. I've learned that God's plan for us will be fulfilled when we recognize that our talents, gifts and any inspiration comes from Him and that only what we do for Christ will last.

Pray about your desire to be in business. Listen to your spirit for the answers and don't give up! Failure is something that is chosen - not given. Persistence is just one of the keys to success, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.

"Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed." Proverbs 16:22

Where do we go from here?

You're going to church, studying the Bible, attending Bible Study, a member of a church auxiliary and praying and fasting.

You say, "I'm doing all these things, but nothing is happening in my life, where do I go from here?"

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." 1 Peter 4:1-2

There is power in trusting God. For God's word states that when we are about His business, He's about ours. There's no failure in God and God's promises are real.

The key to endure, is to believe. Faith comes by believing when you pray. God already knows the desires of our hearts therefore, when we pray, we must believe that our prayers are answered!

There is also joy in knowing that in His time all things shall be done. His will according to His plan for us.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1Co 10:13

As we travel through this plan God has prepared for us, let us humble ourselves and remain faithful to God. "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Heb 6:12

Always know that you are not alone. We are pressing for the mark of the high calling together! Remember...

"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." Heb 6:15

Few are Chosen

Why do we, "Christians" request prayer for our families, businesses, health and a host of other things when we've already made up in our minds how we are going to "feel" or make up our minds to justify how we feel about something?

Tell me, how do we walk around and proclaim Christianity but don't seek or practice what Jesus did to make things just a little bit better?

What I mean is, how can we say we pray, read the Bible, go to Church, attend Bible Study and volunteer in Church activities and still there's never any progress within us? No one is perfect -- yes, even Christians! There is only one perfection and He's not here.

Becoming a Christian is ever becoming. We never "arrive." However, with reading the word of God, meditating day and night, seeking wisdom and knowledge and knowing the conviction of the Holy Spirit, it is only then that we receive revelation knowledge.

Walk the walk and talk the talk. Be the example that Christ has given us to follow. The bible says, many are called but only few are chosen, I believe the chosen are the ones who deny themselves and put lost souls, hurting people, the elderly and sick in their daily prayers. Even when they are going through a challenge they put others first and share the profound word of God. They, are the examples of what it means to be Christian like.

The chosen are visionaries. They seek God's will and infinite wisdom even through persecution.

"Whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the loe of God abide in him?... Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:17-18

I see over and over through emails and Christian discussion groups how people send emails crying out for help from other Christians. I've seen how some of the replies have been warm and encouraging while others have been condemnation and assumptions. When people are seeking help, they are seeking the comforting truth of God's word - not man made perceptions of people. We should learn to show compassion and love - just the same that Jesus would do.

We should learn to give in Love and not judgment. We, Christians, should seek the truth of what Christianity means and what are roles are as Christians!

"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." Phil 2:4

ATTITUDE... it's the 411 to Success!

ATTITUDE... it's the 411 to Success! (7 Part Series)
Part 1

One of my favorite things to do is... networking. I have been blessed to be a Mentor to many by providing the "real truth" about prospering in life and business. But here's the funny thing, most people are shocked when I tell them it all begins with attitude.

Here's what most people do when starting a business for the first time:

check out the SBA (Small Business Administration)

and then comes the infamous Business Plan

Don't misunderstand me, those are very important steps to starting a business however, if the attitude has not been checked first, there is a good chance that when things just aren't quite going the way you planned, thoughts of negativity begin to seep their way in and then the inevitable happens - you lose focus.

There is a process to everything under the sun! How we choose to deal with obstacles will determine how we come out on the end.

Your first lesson:

Focus attention to your attitude and the decisions you make every day.

Be certain the each (negative) decision you make hinders the growth of your business everyday!

Be certain that each (positive) decision you make is imperative to your success.

"You can't always control circumstances. But you can control your own thoughts." - Charles Popplestone

Always begin your day on a positive note. Acknowledge God in all He has done for you. Begin with a smile. Think positive thoughts and read scripture and affirmations, this will surely bless your day.

If you are prone to asking opinions of people regarding business decisions, who are those people? Don't forget, this is YOUR dream. Only you and God will be able to manifest the fullness of the dream because the passion lies within YOU not others. It is always good to pass things by others, however, never allow someone else's negativity to become your reality. Seek constructive criticism then weigh the pro's and con's. Pray for discernment, seek wisdom and knowledge -- they're waiting for YOU!

Remember this: "If it is to be, it's up to ME."

Until the next time (Part 2) ... monitor your ATTITUDE and watch for RESULTS!