In recent years, blogging has become a staple when building your brand. Blogs provide a platform to connect with others through a direct line of communication. Not only is blogging a great way to expand your reach, but blogs also help keep your audience engaged in your business. In a world where humans are busier than ever before, and have the attention span of a goldfish, it’s important to stay prevalent in the forefront of their minds.

• Businesses that maintain a blog acquire more customers! This should be enough to get working on that blog!
• Your blog is communication directly from you. Clients love this personal connection. They also like having accessibility to you.
• Your blog is a forum to share all your social media outlets. The more followers you get, the more your business will grow. Tip: Be sure your social media URL’s are tagged in each post so readers are able to share the content easily
• When you plug in key words to your blog posts to make them SEO friendly, search engines then share this valuable content to those who are searching using these key words. This means more traffic for you!
• Blogging gives your company a voice. It creates a forum where you can discuss products, expertise, services, market trends and company initiatives. It’s a great place to build a stellar reputation and trust for your brand.
• Blogging opens up communication with your audience. Always try to promote two-way communication. When people take the time to comment on your page, be sure to reply. This proves there is someone on the other end who is truly listening.
• Blogging creates free PR. Once your posts start to get noticed, people come to you as the expert and often times start promoting you and your business. It’s a win-win!
• Blogging builds relationships and sales. Customers start to look at you as a reliable resource for information. This trust leads to sales and referrals, which, you guessed it, leads to more sales.
• Blogging allows you to tell the story of your brand. It’s a great place to offer insight into the company, showcase your employees and share your ideas. Emotional connections foster loyalty from customers.
• Blogging is an inexpensive way to build brand awareness, promote your products and services, and gain loyal customers.

Blogging can be very time-consuming, but is absolutely worth it, especially if you’re a small business or a service related business. Positioning yourself in the marketplace is key to growing your brand. Set a stage for your brand to be seen and the followers will come. By Holly Rust

Not only are these GREAT ideas but pretty humorous too – love the ‘Nothing‘!

In such a competitive world, the last thing you need to do is undercut yourself. But that’s what a lot of us are doing when we communicate in ways that make us sound less confident, less determined, and less sure of ourselves.

But there’s an effective solution: Swap out weak words and phrases for ones that will make you come across as more professional and capable.

Here’s what psychologists, linguists, recruiters and CEOs say you should avoid using if you want to get ahead, along with simple replacements that will make a big difference in how you are perceived:

1. “Does that make sense?”

What to say instead: “What are your thoughts?” or “I’d like your input on this.”

If you ask “Does that make any sense?” after you’ve finished sharing a thought, you’re immediately giving the impression that you’re not convinced yourself, that your idea might be incomplete.

Rather than seeking validation or approval, you should be asking the listener or reader for their opinions on your idea.

2. “Maybe we should try…”

What to say instead: “Let’s try…” or “It’s a good idea to try…”

Up until the mid-19th century, “maybe” was written as two words — “may” and “be” — which makes it clear that it literally refers to something that might happen, but might not.

That’s pretty wishy-washy when you apply it to your own ideas or suggestions. Either you believe in what you’re talking about, or you don’t

3. “I think this would…”…”

What to say instead: “I believe this would …”

This is a minor distinction, but a valid one: “I think” sounds weaker than “I believe,” and is a little more doubtful, as if you’re saying something might work, but you’re not sure.

“I believe” puts you in charge of the thought and conveys a calm surety. And even if you’re not so sure at all, no one needs to know that!

4. “I’m not positive, but…” or “I’m not sure, but…”

What to say instead: Whatever you were going to say after the “but”

You don’t need to add disclaimers. Similarly, if you start your sentence with “I know this might be a stupid question, but …” or “I don’t want to sound pushy, but …,” you’re undermining yourself.

It’s an easy rule that bears repeating: Don’t put yourself down. Ever.

5. “I just wanted to touch base…”

What to say instead: “I wanted to touch base …”

How many times have you started an email with “Just wanted to ask you if …”? The problem in this case is that the “just” is a softener — almost an apology, as if you’re saying, “I hate to bother you, but …”

There’s a time and a place for that, but business communication generally isn’t.

6. “Needless to say…”

What to say instead: Nothing

“Needless to say” comes from a long line of ironic phrases where you open a topic by saying you’re not going to say something, but then say it anyway. So why do it?

7. “In my opinion…”

What to say instead: Nothing

Cut to the chase and remove the unnecessary, weak intros. Whoever is listening to you or reading what you’ve written knows that it’s your opinion or your belief. That’s why you’re telling them whatever you’re telling them!

8. “For what it’s worth…”

What to say instead: Nothing

This is another intro that makes it sound as if you’re not convinced yourself about what you’re saying. And if you’re not convinced about your point, why should anyone else be?

9. “Sorry”

What to say instead: “Excuse me”

It’s fine to apologize if you’ve done something wrong and need to own up to it, but too many people toss in a “sorry” and wind up weakening their image. Why say “Sorry to bother you,” when a simple “Excuse me” is shorter, snappier and less self-deprecating?

Psychologists suggest that people tend to think those who overuse “I’m sorry” are ineffectual and lack confidence. If you need more convincing, keep in mind that from the 13th century on, the word “sorry” was used to mean “wretched” or “worthless.”

Another similar one to avoid: “I hate to ask, but …” Just ask!

10. “[X] was developed in increase [X].”

What to say instead: “I developed [X] to increase [X].”

“I developed [X] to increase [X]” sounds more confident because it uses the active voice instead of passive voice.

With the passive voice, the subject has something done to it; with the active, the subject is doing the action. So if you created a new marketing campaign to increase brand awareness, why not use the active voice and take credit for it up front?

11. “…if you know what I mean”

What to say instead: Nothing

We’ve seen so many people end sentences with “if you know what I mean,” or its truncated near-twin “know what I mean?” If you’re one of them, stop now. It’s a filler phrase that means nothing — and actually irritates a lot of people.

Along the same lines, avoid starting sentences with puffy phrases like “It’s important to note that …” All you’re doing is adding useless words. Know what we mean?

Thanks for your Wisdom Kathy and Ross Petras

By some counts, more than 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as they would trust a personal recommendation from a friend or family member. Notes David Levy, COO and director of LNC Productions, “Testimonials open the door and invite your audience into the customer’s life. As a director, I make sure your audience can relate to the problem the person in the testimonial experienced, before using your product or service. If the audience relates to the problem they’ll also connect with the reviewer’s positive experience during and after using your product/service as well, thus effectively communicating your brand’s message.”

Collect reviews and testimonials any way you can, and present them throughout the site. It’s better if you can identify the source, such as by listing a personal reviewer from a major brand or taking video reviews from customers; but any reviews and testimonials can be helpful.

Thanks for your wisdom Jayson DeMers

People who talk for a living know how to walk it.

Muhammad Ali wasn’t just one of the best boxers of all time; he was also one of the best braggers. Bragging worked well for Ali’s career, but for most people it’s a different story. You already know that. And you also already know not to boast around the office.

“When you boast about an accomplishment, you announce it. You simply state what you’ve achieved.”

But that may mean you err too much on the other side and, like many people, fear that sharing your accomplishments amounts to bragging about them. So you keep quiet, even when you shouldn’t—like on job interviews and during performance reviews. Sometimes getting better at talking (tactfully) about yourself in work settings starts by knowing the difference between a few key behaviors you’re afraid of confusing.

Here’s a look at four of them that the best public speakers, tasked with talking about themselves all the time, have mastered.

1. ANNOUNCING VERSUS REVEALING
When you boast about an accomplishment, you announce it. You simply state what you’ve achieved, usually in bright, shining terms. But great speakers know that these displays of brilliance are often a little too bright for an audience—they pull back, shielding themselves.

When you share, on the other hand, you invite your audience to take a closer look. Think of pulling back the curtain and letting people see for themselves. Just as fiction writers are taught to “show, don’t tell,” you need to describe your accomplishments instead of just stating them.

For example, if you met a significant sales goal, bragging about it would sound like this:

I sold more than any other salesperson in the company. We have over 150 salespeople, and I sold the most.

Sharing, on the other hand, might sound like this:

Some people have dreams of being doctors, lawyers, or scientists. My dream has been to be a great salesperson. Today, I realized that dream.

One is approach is declarative, the other narrative. The most effective speakers favor the latter.

2. HIGHLIGHT COMMONALITIES
When you brag, you emphasize the differences between you and your audience. Your goal is to show how special your life is—you’re up here, they’re down there. You were the one who worked harder than everyone else. You were smarter, more cunning. You had more courage. Like shooting a video with a wide-angle lens, you drive your audience toward the margins of the frame.

But when you share, you still talk about your achievements, but you add comments that connect your audience to them. Sharing means you want whoever you’re speaking with to feel included, like they’re a part of your success. Like a zoom lens, you bring your audience closer to you.

For example, if you’re talking about your academic credentials, bragging would sound like this:

I graduated from Harvard Law—top of my class, too!

Sharing, on the other hand, would sound like this:

Like many of you, I’ve had the benefit of receiving a great education. And like you, when the door of opportunity opens, I rush in and push harder. I like to win. I worked hard to graduate from Harvard, and even harder to graduate at the top of my class.

3. OFFER INSIGHT, DON’T JUST SEEK ADMIRATION
When your goal is simply to boast, you’re trying to get others to appreciate what you’ve done. So you center your comments on your feelings and your experience—it’s all about you. This often backfires. But when you share, your goal is to give others a window into an experience that was powerful for you but offers some insight for them, too.

I recently attended an event where I sat with the new CEO of a Fortune 50 company. If I was bragging, I might say something like this:

I sat next to [CEO], and he spent the entire event talking to me! Imagine that—everybody in the room wanted to talk to him, but he chose to talk to me.

Kind of makes your skin crawl, right? But if I was sharing, I’d approach it very differently:

I had the opportunity to sit next to [CEO]. I asked him, “What’s changed now that you’re CEO?” He told me, “Now, every move I make is a big deal. Everything gets scrutinized.” It made me think about how critical self-awareness is for all leaders and the shift in mind-set it takes to maintain it once you’re pushed further into the spotlight.

Now it’s not about me hobnobbing with high-level execs, it’s about a common challenge that lots of people experience, which that interaction illustrates. Great speakers know to connect their personal stories with an idea that others can relate to—even if they haven’t experienced the exact same thing.

4. DON’T BE THE HERO, BE ONE OF MANY HEROES
When you brag, you’re telling the story of how you became Superman or Superwoman. You’re the protagonist, and every detail of the account is meant to make sure your audience understands that.

When you share, on the other hand, you’re still an important part of the story, but you’re not the only hero worth talking about. You’re more like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings—he’s the main character, sure, but you can’t tell his story without Sam and Gandalf and a supporting cast of other key players.

So single-hero bragging might sound like this:

I’m a turnaround expert. I can go into a store and instantly know what’s broken. I see the signs of dysfunction. I know how to pull the levers to fix the problems.

Sharing would sound more like this:

I’m a turnaround expert. When I walk into a store, I focus on listening to the people. Fixing a store is not about turning screws; it’s about understanding what the team has been going through and getting to the root of their ideas.

That doesn’t mean being patronizing—just paying lip service to others—or adopting false modesty. It’s about knowing your place in the bigger story, where others unavoidably factor in already. In order to boast, you’ve got to exclude them from what you say. As the most effective speakers know, being inclusive—connecting with others—is the only real way to deliver a message.

Thanks for your Wisdom Anett Grant

It’s important to recognize that ethics are directly tied to a company’s long-term success.

“Treat others as you would want to be treated,” the Golden Rule is short, succinct and powerful.

Having been taught this age-old concept from the time we were young, most of us recognize its place in our personal lives.

When it comes to the world of business, though, this rule isn’t applied nearly as fervently.

Sure, we’d like to say that we uphold this rule in our professional lives — but when it comes down to it, do we really? How often do we ensure that ethics are held in the same regard as, say, our financial goals? Are morals ever measured as diligently or given as much consideration as our ROI spreadsheets?

It’s easy to dismiss the concept of ethics as less important than other areas of business; to stuff them into our business values page, but to leave them out of the day-to-day processes. But far from being “fluffy” concepts with no real place in the business world, it’s important to recognize that ethics are directly tied to a company’s long-term success.

When you think about it from a practical standpoint, applying the Golden Rule in business makes a lot of sense. Treat your customers right and they’ll be happier, more likely to come back — and more inclined to recommend you to friends and family. Treat your workers fairly, and they’ll be motivated to provide excellent service, which leads to satisfied and committed customers. And the numbers don’t lie. In most industries, companies that are the loyalty leaders have a compound annual growth rate that is more than twice that of their competitors. Likewise, treating your workers well has been shown to lead to excellence, which of course, results in increased profits.

When it comes to the Golden Rule, this simple yet timeless guideline holds more value than first meets the eye. In a world where the question of ethics and moral dilemmas often arises, having a standard that you can refer to in your decision-making process can be invaluable.

Likewise, in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, where companies start and fail at a drastic rate, having a solid set of ethics could be just what your company needs to stand head and shoulders above the rest. With this in mind, let’s take a look at how the Golden Rule breaks down practically and see how implementing it into your business strategy and daily operations can pay off.

Building your reputation.
One of the most valuable possessions that you have is your reputation — and it’s important to guard it at all costs. Profits can be lost and regained, but rebuilding a damaged reputation — that’s far more difficult.

Ensuring that you follow the Golden Rule in your interactions with others and your decision-making processes in business — is a simple way to keep your reputation intact.

“Each time you live up to the Golden Rule, your reputation is enhanced; each time you fail, it is diminished,” writes author and speaker Fred Reichheld in an article in Harvard Business Review.

As it turns out, rising above the situation and treating others decently is just as important in the business world as it is in our personal lives. A cut-throat business strategy may work at first, but as scientist Robert Axelrod argues, over time it will, ironically, “destroy the very environment it needs for its own success.”

Build your business sustainably. Don’t step on others to climb the corporate ladder. Treat your team, your customers, your vendors, and competitors fairly. Go above and beyond what’s required of you. Doing so will help to preserve your reputation and pay off significantly in the long run.

Improving the customer experience.
Henry Ford recognized the value of this simple concept. “If there is anyone secret of success –” Ford is quoted as saying, “– it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.”

While it’s fairly easy for small companies to give customers the attention that they need, as a company expands, this concept usually becomes more difficult. But even as a company grows, it’s important for them to remain true to their roots — to continue to recognize and meet their customer’s expectations — and to provide excellent service. In short, to treat their customers how they want to be treated.

The sobering fact is that customer satisfaction works both ways. “When customers feel mistreated or misled, they give what they got,” writes Fred Reichheld, highlighting the reality of dissatisfied customers. “They leave — if they can — and complain if they can’t. They demoralize your employees. And they badmouth your company, alienating your prospects. They’re costly.”

How costly? Studies show that people are far more likely to complain about a negative experience than they are to talk about a good one. News of bad customer service reaches more than twice as many people as praise for a good service experience, and a whopping 91 percent of unhappy customers — will leave and won’t come back.

As it turns out, treating customers well is important for their satisfaction and retention — helping to keep them happy — and coming back for more.

Leading to a satisfied workforce.
One of the best ways to assemble a team that’s driven, motivated, and onboard, is by treating them well.

A satisfied workforce will be motivated to provide great service to your customers, and they’ll be more loyal to your company as well. Not surprisingly, studies show that pure, simple appreciation can go a long way towards motivating employees.

Harry C. Handlin, former President of Lincoln Electric, believed in applying the Golden Rule in the workplace — and the importance of putting others first — not only in the more obvious area of customer relations but the employer-employee relationship as well.

“If, as managers, we treat our employees the way that we would like to be treated, we are rewarded with a dedicated, talented, and loyal workforce that will consistently meet the needs of the marketplace,” Handlin said.

It’s easy to spot a company that treats its team well. Workers are motivated, turnover is lower, and customers are happier as well.

Having a satisfied and happy team that’s committed to meeting customers’ needs is important for sustainable growth. I’ve seen this concept myself during my time at Renters Warehouse. As founder and CEO, I was committed to providing the best work environment for my team — and in return, they were motivated and driven to provide excellent service to our clients.

For companies today, dusting off the Golden Rule and putting it to work in your customer service department would be a good start –but I would argue that employing this rule throughout every aspect of your company, and professional career, is an even better approach. Using it to guide your actions in business may not instantly put you on the fast-track for success — but it will most definitely pave the way for sustainable, long-term growth.

The best companies know that relationships rather than transactions are what matter; something that is at the heart of the Golden Rule. Treat others like people, not numbers, and put yourself in their place once in a while. It’s not as complex as some of the other business philosophies out there, but it undoubtedly encompasses many of them as well. As it turns out, following the Golden Rule will help you to go far — in life and in business as well.

Thanks for your Wisdom b Brenton Hayden

Use customer testimonials to overcome buyer skepticism, build trust and encourage would-be consumers to take a leap of faith and make that purchase after all. Testimonials reassure customers that other people who have used the product or service like it and would use it again. You’re letting satisfied customers do the hard sales work for you. When it comes to selling power, a great testimonial outshines great sales copy. Why? Testimonials are inherently the opposite of sales copy: they stand out as an unbiased, candid account of how well your product truly works. And they’re essential for growing your business.

That said, not all testimonials are created equal. Consider this testimony: “I love XYZ product and can’t get enough of it! Will definitely be buying more!” That sounds like a solid testimonial, right? But here’s the thing: this testimonial doesn’t offer any real details about the product or outcome. Great testimonials don’t just offer glowing reviews. They also convey key details to understand the value and benefits of a product.

Here’s how to use customer testimonials and go from average to amazing:

1. Substantiate claims. Powerful testimonials provide clear evidence why a product (or service) is an outstanding choice, rather than just relying on a list of superlative adjectives. Case in point: one non-surgical hair loss treatment, in addition to showing a number of before and after photos, also features client testimonials with specific details about their product, including the amount of time they used it, their experience (e.g., no side effects), and comparisons to other products on the market. For example, one testimonial is as follows: “For two years I used the number one product that doctors recommend for hair loss, and it leveled off my hair loss, and I was experiencing unwanted side effects. Then I started using [the product]; it had no side effects and within two months I’ve gotten my hair back.” This testimonial is compelling because it compares the product to another leading brand, includes details about the user’s experience (no unwanted side effects), and a clear result (hair returns in two months). The more specific details, the better!

2. Be credible. Unfortunately, fake testimonials and reviews are commonplace everywhere from Yelp to small business websites. Pictures and social proof (names, businesses, location, social handles, and website links) are all critical elements for establishing a testimonial’s credibility.

3. Ask for structured feedback, turn it into a testimony. The best testimonials are structured in the BDA story format (“before, during, after”). But getting customers to leave organic feedback in this format can be tough. Instead, ask customers specific questions to get the feedback you need. I like to ask the following four questions:

1. What were your biggest hesitations or concerns before making the purchase/service?
2. Why did you ultimately decide to make the purchase/service?
3. What was your experience like using this product/service?
4. What are the results of your purchase/service? How is business/life different?

Bottom Line

Use customer testimonials as your “ace in the hole” for closing a sales deal, but only if they’re structured correctly to overcome buyer skepticism and build trust. Turn your best customers into brand advocates and watch your sales soar!

Thanks Brian Hughes for your Wisdom

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Jeff is a client whom I’ve helped with his WordPress website several times – his latest Post talks about why he’s now a big believer in Social Media and Blogging. Thanks for this Bit of Wisdom Jeff Yeomans Fine Art

“I have to share a great recent experience. I’m a reluctant blogger and FB user but my opinion changed dramatically this week. Although I live in San Diego, I’m frequently in Laguna Beach at Studio 7, where I show my paintings. Last Monday, my wife suggested I let people know the days I’m planning to be in Laguna, just in case people who know me, or my work might make the effort to stop by.”

Sure enough, yesterday afternoon a surfing buddy from high school and his wife showed up unannounced (and really put me on the spot.) After 40+ years I didn’t recognize him (embarrassed, I really tried) but we spent the next hour or so catching up on each other’s lives and “talking story”. They’re down from Paso Robles visiting their new grandchild and stopped in. All because of my FB post! It was so cool — the afternoon flew by and to reconnect was “priceless” to quote that Visa Card commercial.

What I learned — make the time to use social media a little more. It can open new doors and old ones as well.”

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Writing a blog post should be entirely about helping your readers. Even though you are ultimately promoting yourself, your business, or your brand, self-promotion should take place behind the scenes.

That’s what search engine optimization (SEO) is all about. Underutilizing the tools at your disposal is dangerous, and it will drown your valuable content under the torrential downpour of posts and articles.

Here is the ultimate list of tips and tricks for writing an effective and engaging blog post.

Checklist for Writing a Blog Post

• Know your audience. You should only begin blogging once you understand your target audience (often called a buyer persona or ideal customer). If you know your audience—prospective clients, primarily—you can cater posts to their needs. Such knowledge will also help you to decide on topics and content to create, and you will be able to establish a tone that best suits your audience. Everything about your post should revolve around your readers, so figuring out who they are is a key step.
• Be smart about your TITLE. There are so many different ways to go with your title, so it’s important to pick the option that’s most likely to garner the all-important click. You can be super-direct and get straight to the point, which is great for informational pieces. Clever headlines can generate curiosity, but being too vague can also cause those who are not actually interested in your content to stumble upon the post. Ultimately, your title should promise to answer a question or provide a solution to a problem to get the best results.
• Make HEADINGS stand out. Not only should titles define your text, but headings and subheadings should also separate key ideas, especially if you are writing an article or a longer piece. It should be easy to tell where and why information is separated.
• Separate key phrases for scanning. Many readers simply scan through posts and articles to get to the good stuff. If you are providing an answer to a question, that question should be readily available through a quick scan. Even though you want your readers to stick around and read the whole post, the reality is that readers will find another post if they can’t easily find the information they’re looking for in yours.
• Keep sentences short and sweet. Long sentences drag on and make it difficult for readers to focus. While capturing reader attention is difficult, it’s only half the battle. Try to keep reader attention by using short sentences that increase readability. If a reader is only scanning your article, short sentences will still allow you to get your point across.
• Use a conversational tone, and share your personality. It’s better to speak with your readers than to speak at Even in professional articles, it’s possible to use everyday words to communicate your point. At the very least, be consistent with your tone from post to post, so your readers will become familiar with your blog personality. On the same note, try to tell a story, and write what only you can write. Adding a personal touch to posts will help you to build a relationship with your readers.
• Provide a service. Going along with knowing the needs of your audience, it’s important that you’re meeting those needs. Not only should everything in the post cater to your audience, but you should also be providing your readers with a service to meet those needs. For example, the aim of this article is to help readers write the best blog posts possible by providing helpful tips and tricks. Whether you are answering a question for your readers or providing a solution to their problem, it’s very important that your content is useful to your readers in some way.
• Try to be original. Of course, that’s always the goal, right? But try to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing. If everyone else is turning left, turn right. Even if what you want to say has already been said, though, try to say it in a different way. If that still fails, at least try to be interesting in the way you put everything together.
• Enhance accessibility. It’s essential that your post is user-friendly. Users with disabilities should have the same access to information as those who do not. That means no crazy fonts or patterned backgrounds. There should also be no walls of text; everything should be spaced well. Use your white space effectively to create breaks for readers eyes and brains.
• Create a call to action (CTA). Ending your post with a CTA is vital. What is it that you are trying to accomplish? Or what is it that you are inciting your readers to do? Make the next steps easy by adding in-text or button CTAs that direct visitors toward the desired action. Do you have an ebook that relates to the content of the post? Include a download button. Do you have a product that would solve the problem discussed in the post? Include a demo button. Decide what you want readers to do next, and make it easy for them to do it.
• Engage in social media. Even post-creation, your work is not yet finished. Now it’s time to share, share, share. Social media is your best friend here. Get a Instagram account; get an, Facebook, Twitter and Google My Business page. You need to share your post with the world, and you want your readers to share your article with others.

Creating great content is the main goal, but optimizing your post for visibility in search engines will help your great content get onto the screens of those who need it.

Thanks for your Wisdom Inklyo

I like my chiropractor. He’s great at what he does.

He’s also personable. We have great conversations about everything. And, because he sees all his patients as unique individuals, he’s a genuinely caring person.

His office walls display framed photographs autographed by the athletes he’s helped.

His website, however, says he’s just like any other chiropractor on the planet. There’s nothing on that site about his background and why he became a chiropractor or even why he likes being one.

And there are no testimonials or customer success stories.

He simply bought hosting services from a company that caters only to chiropractors. He pasted his photo and contact information in the template provided. Presto! He has an instant website that would never attract a visitor or convince anyone to try his services.

I call this the boilerplate approach to content writing. Boilerplate doesn’t work well, even if you’re just using your website as an online brochure.

You have to distinguish yourself through stories about you and your customers.

What’s Your Story?

Spend some time asking yourself questions about all your experiences. How did you get to where you are today? Dig deep to uncover whole scenes in your personal and professional experience—from the prequel to the aftermath.

Then write down the CARs: the Challenges you faced, the Actions you took to solve a problem, and the Results from the actions you took. Job seekers develop CARs for resumes and job interviews.

CARs are good for business owners, too.

What’s Your Customer’s Story?

Now spend some time asking yourself questions about your customers. Who are they and why do they do business with you?

Better yet, ask your customers to tell you about themselves and their experience with you and your business. Then ask them if you can share their customer success stories on your website.

These Bits of Wisdom are from Alice Brzovic