SEO for your website…” that doesn’t explain anything to me ” you say. Well, follow along below while I explain it to you and pay attention, please!
The SEO Checklist
Free search engine traffic (SEO) is an amazing thing. It can grow your targeted traffic, bring you new subscribers and, best of all, increase your sales. SEO for your website is critical for your business. But the thing is, you have to work at it. If you want to improve your search engine rankings, keep the following checklist handy to steadily growing traffic. (Click the FREEBIE LINK below to get your copy)
For Your Off-Page SEO
These are things that will affect your search engine rankings from outside of your web page. These are very important for growing the overall popularity of your site and make it easier for you to rank well for your chosen keyword phrases.
1- Create excellent content because it affects the following:
How much your content is shared on social media…this provides important clues to search engines about the quality of your content.
How long a search engine user stays on your site. If searches on a search engine and finds your site but clicks back right away, it will tell the search engine that you may not be very relevant for that phrase.
How often your content is linked to. If you have good stuff, people will link to it…but beware, search engines can detect quality links, so old self-linking practices are dead.
Make sure you have a social media presence and you readily encourage your visitors to share your content on social media. It’s important that you’re being seen all over the web, if you want Google to give you favor.
SEO for your website is so important, especially to Google!
2- Ways to ensure you’ve got quality engaging content that attracts users and search engines:
Each page should be on one unique topic.
Your navigation is clear and all your content is easily found by humans and search engines.
Use attention-getting headlines to grab your visitors’ attention and so they know they’re in the right place.
Make your content easy to read by using short sentences and paragraphs. Keep your words simple.
Break up your copy with subheads and bullet points, so viewers can scan it easily…instead of having them click away.
Use images to draw the eye in and tell a story with your content. Humans are visual creatures and photos and other images can help retain their attention.
Don’t forget to connect with other website owners in your niche. Friends tend to share the content of others, so this is just a win-win for all of you.
For Your On-Page SEO
In addition to the big overall picture of creating great content that makes its way around the web, there are things you can do on each page you post to your website. Here is a list of quite a few things that can affect your rankings, but remember…don’t overdo it.
Keep your optimization natural and make sure it makes sense. Otherwise, you might alienate your visitors, and search engines can sniff out attempts to game the system.
Make sure your content is at least 300 words long. This is not a hard and fast rule, but certainly a good guideline. Search engines want to see there is some meat to your content.
Conduct keyword research to find a highly targeted phrase that gets decent traffic, but doesn’t have too much competition. Try a tool like WordTracker.com.
Use your keyword phrase in the title of your post and in the title tag, but make sure it will be appealing to website visitors.
Use your keyword phrase in the description tag for your post. Make sure the description not only includes the keyword phrase but is interesting enough to make people want to click.
Incorporate the keyword phrase into the URL of your page. For example, fun-family-vacations.html
Add the keyword phrase and other useful descriptions to your images with the use of ALT tags.
Employ the use of H2 and H3 tags. They make your content easier to scan and are also a good place to include your keyword phrase and variations of it.
Include the keyword phrase and variations of it in a few places in the body of your content. Try to include it in the first paragraph as well.
Show you are a hub of useful information and link out to a related page on another website.
See, I told you that SEO for your website is important!
Keep track of your rankings and tweak things as you go along. Just remember, it can take a bit of time before search engines update their listings, so give your changes time to come into effect.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of SEO for your website next week!
Get the above information as a downloadable checklist. Just click here for access.
Let me know if I can help you with your business. Just fill out the form below and I’ll be in touch.
(This post is written with humor and fact. You decide which is which.)
Are you running your VA business as a business? Most of us would answer ‘yes’ to this question right away. If you’re NOT you should ask yourself why you aren’t. Aren’t you the CEO?
We get up every morning and we do our client work. We bill our clients once a month usually, sometimes they pay for their service up front.
But that’s not the whole scope of actually running a business. (It’s not?)
It’s a big part of it, of course, but there is much more.
So How Do YOU Act Like a CEO?
Whether your only income is coming from your VA business, or you are working a job and launching or running your VA business part-time, are you devoting your full attention to the details of building a successful business? (I can hear you mumbling under your breath!)
Do you have a daily plan of action that helps you move your business in a profitable direction? Or do you just get up every day and do client work?
A business mentor or consultant might call a business that you are not giving your full attention to, a hobby. (I can’t believe she just said that out loud!!)
It’s not fun to hear, but it might be the truth. Is it true for you? hummmm?
When you seek help to build or grow your business, the first thing your mentor will do is take a quick assessment of your mindset as the owner of your VA business.
If you don’t have the right mindset, no amount of planning or grunt work you do will help you find success. (But I want to be a success!)
Get Into Your Groove
Consider these questions right here:
Do you know exactly how much money your business is bringing in each month?
Do you know how much money is going out each month?
Do you have a business plan and/or marketing plan?
How many clients do you have, and do you have a pipeline of prospects?
These are some of the things that are important to consider right out of the gate. If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you aren’t acting like a business owner. (OH NO, how did SHE get into MY head?)
Keep in mind at this mindset stage that the actual pieces of these questions are not the important part – it’s the assessment of where your mindset is that is key here. I call it putting on your CEO hat.
Answer those questions honestly and you’ll know if you have the right frame of mind right now.
Do you need to make adjustments to how you are thinking about your business? Because NOW is the time!
Here are a few tips to help:
Approach each day as the person who makes the decisions in your business. To think like a business owner, you have to think about your decision making. Everything is a decision. (You’ve got that right sister!)
Be confident in the decisions that you make. No one knows your business like you do. Weigh your options and then make a choice. (OH NO I have to make a choice?)
Don’t worry about making mistakes. (Do I make mistakes?) As long as you are monitoring the decisions you make, and ensuring things are going in the direction you had planned, you are doing fine. (OKAY)
It’s Called Pivoting
Change course when necessary. If something doesn’t go as planned, identify why that is, and then change direction to keep your goal or strategy on track. (You know this is easier said than done right?)
Think about driving from your house to the mall. If you use a driving app like I often do, you can see where there is congested traffic ahead, and you can change your route so that you don’t get stuck in the traffic. (So easy for YOU to say!)
Your business is the same. Keeping an eye on things daily helps you to avoid the big problems. (Because BIG problems are exactly what I don’t want!)
Let’s Talk Money
When you see that you aren’t going to have enough revenue in any given period, you must make it a priority to go out and find a new client. (Oh geez, why can’t it just be easy!!)
When you see that your expenses are getting out of hand, you must analyze them and do what you can to keep as much money as possible. (Yes, because I’d rather spend MY money on new clothes! LOL)
You will always need new clients at some point, so recognize that a pipeline is essential to the longevity of your business. (What is this pipeline you’re talking about? I don’t need oil! LOL)
Doing the client work is just a part of your business. If you only focus on that, you will lose the most important piece of being able to shape your business the way you dreamed.
Put that CEO hat on and you will start to see more success and pretty quick too.
Ok, so the point of this article is for you to see that you really need to up your game. You need a plan of action as well as the desire to have a business. You need to be the CEO of your business.
Need help with that? Contact me, yes you should really do that, and let me help guide you into that role of CEO. I have a super great deal for you where you can show up and get all the support you need.
Now that you have thought about how you choose your thoughts it makes a big impact on your growth and potential. You can also take a look at another area in your life. First, take a moment to realize that there are two components to mindset. You either have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.
Growing up, you may have been told that you are not as good as someone else. It might have been in a certain academic subject, sport, or talent. This has been your belief for all of your life. After all, weren’t you told this over and over again? You’ve heard people in your environment from parents to teachers that you were not as good as someone else in a certain area. This gives you the perception that you are not “good enough” because that’s what you’ve been told. Yes, it’s true and it happens to a lot of people. Not just children, but adults too!
Fixed Mindset
On the other hand, someone may have told that you were perfect in a certain subject or area and never really taught to question those parameters. You may think that the bar was set. That you reached the goals and that your job is done. This is part of growing up with a fixed mindset.
Are the stories you created as you grew up had a negative effect on you? Did you judge yourself as someone who is not as good, simply because a statement was made on one occasion? You held onto that belief with no prompting from someone else, yet you continued to carry it into adulthood. Either way, there is no need for blame in either of these situations. As an adult, you are free to re-create your life as you see fit.
Choosing Your Words for Your Self
When a friend comes to you feeling unaccomplished or less than, you more than likely are an encourager. Someone who takes their feelings into consideration and lifts them up. Why not do that for yourself as well. Change your thoughts, change your mind and watch how you talk to yourself as well.
When it comes to yourself, do you beat yourself up? Do you criticize yourself and not give yourself the same break you would give your own friend? Choose kinder words of communicating for yourself and be aware of too much negative self-talk.
Growth Mindset
A growth mindset allows you to tell yourself that you did not do as well as you had hoped and also speaks to you that you can and will do better, achieve more. All this without the negative self-talk that comes along with it. It’s all about making yourself feel better, which is a much better way to see yourself. I would think you would agree with that, don’t you?
Choosing Your Words To Others
In the same manner, you should want to speak to yourself with kindness. You should also encourage yourself in order to foster your potential and development. Also, take that opportunity to foster and encourage the development of others in your life.
Instead of making excuses for them, hold them accountable. You can encourage them to see where they can do better. Offer them the possibility of achieving more and doing greater things with their lives and with their minds.
When you choose your words carefully, whether to yourself or to others, you make a difference which can then result in making a change.
Leave me a comment below and let me know how this post resonated with you.
Need to set up a chat to discuss how I can help you with your mindset? Go here to set up a call for free.
It’s a simple answer, it’s either yes or no. If you are human, you have done it. You compare yourself to other people. That’s right! The good news is that people out there compare themselves to you and the not-so-good news is that you do it, as well. While neither is a benefit, it is simply part of human nature. It’s how we grow, it’s how we strive, but sometimes, unfortunately, it’s sometimes an excuse to give up, as well.
Definition
Definition of compare, compared; comparing transitive verb 1: to represent as similar: liken Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? —William Shakespeare 2 a: to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences compare your responses with the answers b: to view in relation to He is tall compared to me. The test was easy compared with the last one. 3: to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison: state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of
A Fixed Mindset
If we don’t have something to compare ourselves to, you might reason, then how will we learn to achieve and grow? Sometimes, when we compare ourselves to others, we have something to gauge our success and failure with and, therefore, a measure of where we can do better and achieve more.
However, unfortunately, for those with a fixed mindset, this does not occur at all. There is actually a reverse method of thinking. That reverse method tells us since we are not as good as the other person, we might as well just quit. That doesn’t work in the world of intelligence, however. It is ineffective, at best.
Do you ever find yourself viewing someone else’s success as only a way to make yourself look bad? If so, you are not alone in this thought process. For some, the success of others equates to highlight their own failures. Excuses are made such as the other party being luckier or having it easy. Another excuse is to say everything just comes easily to that person or, even worse, use their success to highlight some other unrelated shortcoming. What if you could re-train your brain to adopt a mindset of growth?
Growth Mindset
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a growth mindset. You can give yourself the opportunity to change and grow over time as you learn to re-train your brain to a growth mindset. When you view someone else’s success as a way to strive harder, do more, and work harder, you re-train your brain to view this not as an excuse to stay status quo, but as a reason to thrive.
If you choose the thought patterns that intelligence can be developed and you can most certainly train your brain to reach higher heights, you will see a radical change in your life. Once you get that your self-image has nothing to do with failing at something and that this failure is actually a path to higher learning, you will be at ease in your own skin.
Train Your Brain
Wouldn’t that be nice to be at ease in your own skin? If you change your mind, you can re-train your brain to view failure as a stepping-stone to new successes. You will begin to understand failure as a learning tool and not as a way to define your image.
So, the next time you want to compare yourself to someone else, stop and ask yourself if his/her success can highlight inspiration for you. Maybe he/she put a tremendous amount of effort into the realization of dreams and all that hard work paid off. This could be a learning tool for you rather than something viewed as an enemy.
Other people’s success could be a way and a means for you to learn, grow, and, most importantly, be inspired. And THAT sounds like the best place to be!
Need help with learning how to do this? Join my Group Mentoring Program to help you work on your mindset issues. It might be just what you need.
Older theories about intelligence dictate to us that we are born a “certain way.” We have certain traits that others do not possess, others have certain traits that we do not possess, and that is that! There is no room for growth or expansion. Say what? Our intelligence is as it always was and there is no room for improvement. Back it up now…what?? Say that again, please. We are born a “certain way”… is that the way communication about intelligence is supposed to be?
So in today’s world, we know better. We know that we have the ability to change our mindset and, therefore, improve our capacity for learning by leaps and bounds. No longer is the status quo necessary. We can grow and strive to achieve more academically and, therefore, in life. Whew…I thought I was going to have heart failure right here on this blog post! My communication skills are okay, aren’t they? You be the judge.
Please Choose Your Words Carefully
Each one of us goes through our days speaking our mind. Yes, we do. We say things without giving it much thought and sometimes even holding things in and not speaking up for ourselves. Ha, then only to berate ourselves later on for doing so. If you take a moment to recognize and record the words you use daily, you may come to realize that the words you choose might directly relate to the mindset you have. Of course, why wouldn’t what’s on your mind affect what you say? You are communicating with your brain through your thought process.
What is a Mindset? Answer this Question for me, Please!
A mindset is a mental attitude you adopt which dictates how you will or will not perceive, react and respond to situations. Ok, I get is, so why is it important? Your mindset can and will determine your life from academics to career and beyond. Oh really, you say…I think I’d better straighten mine out then. I don’t like having a poor mental attitude, do you?
So, Why is it Important to Communicate Effectively?
The way you interpret your situation communicates to your brain. When it comes to intelligence, you may have a long-standing belief that you are either one way or another. For example, you may feel that you are average and are not questioning that old, limiting, and long-standing belief. It is important to communicate effectively by choosing the thoughts that will change the outcome. Oh, I get it now, don’t you? Changing your thought process with change the way you communicate with others.
Definition
com·mu·ni·ca·tion kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSH(ə)n/ noun 1. the imparting or exchanging of information or news. “direct communication between the two countries will produce greater understanding” synonyms: transmission, conveyance, divulgence, disclosure; 2.means of connection between people or places, in particular.
For example, there have been many firsts in your life. You had to allow your first child to get on the bus to go to kindergarten without you there. Right? The next child it was a little easier and by the third child, if you had one, this task was not as big of a deal as the first time you had to face it. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking…get on the BUS ALREADY child!
By communicating to yourself that you can and will get through the many things that life sends to you, you’ll be able to meet and face more and more challenges along the way. More importantly, you get to do it with ease and grace; as long as you communicate to yourself that, you can and are able to do so. This is important stuff here my friends so I hope you are listening really well.
Effective Business Communication is Important Also
Communication is so much more than the words you speak to yourself; it’s also the thoughts you think. Hummm, have you ever thought of it this way? When you challenge yourself and achieve, you reset the communication bar. You allow yourself to see that not only can you achieve more by learning new things and taking on more challenges, but you also get to see that you can take on a growth mindset instead of a limiting one. Yes…I believe that!
If you are looking to improve your communication skills, especially for your business, join my Group Mentoring Program where you’ll learn effective communication skills in dealing with all types of situations. I have sessions starting every month, as a matter of fact…one is starting tomorrow, May 25th. Jump on quickly and get the special deal I’m offering right now. See ya there!
Oh, I almost forgot – if you need any of the business services I offer – please contact me here. Thanks a bunch!
There are some things we can do in all our relationships to build and maintain strong bonds. This is true because, underneath all our differences, likes, dislikes, and biases, we are all human beings who desire social connections. The tips below should be used in all your relationships to form bonds that will stand the test of time. So, how do you start building a relationship?
How to Build the Ultimate Relationship:
1) Be appreciative
This might mean different things in different relationships, but the overarching sentiment is the same. When they do something kind for you or take the time to support you when you need it, be appreciative – acknowledge their care and concern.
2) Spend time together
It can be hard to find time to get together when we are all so busy, but it’s important for all relationships. If necessary, set up a standing appointment so that it just automatically happens. This makes sure it happens because you will get used to scheduling other things around it.
3) Communicate honestly
Sometimes you may be tempted to bend the truth to avoid conflict, but your relationships will be much healthier overall if honesty is held in high regard. It’s possible, to be honest without being brutal. Choose your words carefully and be as diplomatic as possible, while still sharing your feelings openly and honestly.
4) Forgive faults
Forgive them for their eccentricities and annoying habits, and also forgive yourself for any mistakes you make. We all have faults and shortcomings that we bring with us into any relationship. Sometimes to keep the relationship strong, we need to just come to the conclusion that their presence in our lives is more important than the little habits that drive us crazy.
5) Support them
Intermingled between all the good times, there will surely be times when the other person could use a helping hand. Whether it’s helping them move, taking them dinner when a loved one has passed or being a sounding board for a difficult decision, any relationship worth having requires some TLC. And the other person deserves it, just as you do when you need it from them.
6) Do unto others
It’s just a good idea to always live by the Golden Rule, but it’s especially true in relationships that are important to us. If you wonder if something you might do is likely to upset them, chances are it’s better to talk to them about it first. Wouldn’t you want them to do the same for you? It’s better to err on the side of caution.
So, there you have it. The 6 Tips for Building a Relationship. It’s not hard to do, you just need to do it, just like Nike says. Honestly, here is my 2 cents worth. You can’t have a relationship unless you build it. And to build it, sometimes you have to listen to your instincts. Not everyone in the world is going to be your friend. That’s ok, you don’t NEED tons of friends. But you do need to have good relationships with those few that you really like. What’s the point anyway if it’s not a good relationship? Take the time to build them, appreciate them, find them. It will enrich your life so much.
And on that note, you can contact me anytime you need help in building your relationships. I also have a wonderful course on Relationship Marketing. You can access that here —> Relationship Marketing.
When was the last time you changed the theme on your website? Changed your headshots? Rewrote your “About” page? Ok Y’all, don’t you think it’s time to change all that!
If the answer to any of those questions is more than a year ago, listen up, because big paychecks require more than a fancy sales page and an email pitch. If you want to attract high-end clients, you have to look and act the part. Am I Right?
Change your Headshots
We all looked better ten years ago, but that’s no excuse for using old, outdated or—heaven forbid—amateur headshots.
When you’re selling any type of programs from $27.00 into the five figures, looking professional is critical, and that starts with great headshots. Hire a photographer who specializes in portraits for Virtual Service Providers. Expect to spend a few hundred dollars for a selection of high-resolution images you can use in all your marketing materials, including on your website.
Get Your Website Redone for a Fresh Change
Speaking of websites, if you’re still using the same theme you designed yourself, it’s time for a new look. While you can say that potential clients should not judge you by the way your site looks, they will. A clean, modern website will work wonders to improve your credibility and start attracting the right clients.
While you’re at it, take some time to solicit new testimonials. Don’t just load them all up on a single page though. Take the best ones and add them to your sales page, put them in your email newsletters, and include them in your lead-gen materials as well.
Your About Page Too – I’m telling you now…
And, don’t forget your “About” page, either. This one is hard for most people, so it’s a good idea to have someone else write this, or at least have a writer revise the one you wrote. Remember to include your most recent accomplishments, any awards or accolades, any speaking engagements, and anything else that lets people know you’ve got what it takes to help them grow. Include a few personal details as well, so readers will feel as if they know you just little better for having read it.
Remember to update your social media profiles as well. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and others have a long reach, so you want to ensure that no matter where potential clients find you, the information is consistent and professional.
Getting new headshots and making over your website might feel like a waste of time, but the truth is, people do judge a book by its cover. Yes, that’s a fact and you often only have a second or two to make a good impression. Make sure it’s the best one you can make.
Change is good! If you’re looking for an updated website, please contact me here. I’d LOVE to give you a fresh new look!
Leave me a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
What are the 6 Benefits of Living a Purposeful Life?
Instead of settling for an ordinary life, why not create a life that is focused and purposeful. One that brings you joy, excitement, and fulfillment? There are many benefits to discovering your main interest, passion project or purpose in life. Don’t you deserve to live a life less ordinary?
Here are some of the benefits:
1) Self-Development
Identifying what interests, you and gives you purpose will motivate and encourage you to gain new skills. You’ll find that you are motivated to learn and grow so that you can meet the goals you set yourself. Identifying your purpose is a powerful self-development tool in itself. Following it will provide you with the opportunity to grow and develop as a person.
2) Focus
Increased focus is one of the major benefits of following your passion and living a purposeful life. This is because you will have identified exactly what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it. Your goal setting and planning will be invaluable tools and help you to focus on creating positive change in yourself and your life.
3) Motivation
The fact that you have a purpose that drives you and is your inspiration for creating change in your life will provide the momentum to keep moving forward towards your goals. Due to the fact that you will constantly be monitoring your progress against your goals and plans will motivate you to continue to progress. You will want to feel the success of achieving targets and goals at each step of your journey.
4) Happiness
Living a purposeful life will increase your sense of happiness and well-being. Having goals and a reason to get up in the morning are very powerful tools and will help you feel a sense of satisfaction, encouragement, and success. All of these positive emotions will help you realize that you are the master of your destiny and that you have the ultimate power to change your life.
5) Better Health
As you improve your situation and outlook by taking positive action each day, you will begin to notice that you feel happier and that your stress and anxiety levels reduce. By giving yourself a purpose you will find that you want to take better care of yourself and your health so that you can continue working towards your goals and achieving the life you ultimately desire.
It is worth remembering that you may want to plan in regular exercise, breaks, healthy meals, and snacks as well as enough sleep. That way you will ensure that you reap the maximum benefit from your new purposeful lifestyle.
6) Self-Knowledge
Living a life of purpose and passion will enable you to grow as a person. It will open doors to interests and networks that will stretch you mentally, emotionally and, possibly even, physically. As you follow these new paths you will discover more about yourself, your interests and needs. You will enjoy the process of creating goals and reviewing them as you progress to creating the life you truly desire.
There are many benefits to creating and living a purpose-driven life. Why not think about what you really want from life and go for it, so that you can discover them for yourself?
Leave a comment below and let me know how you are going to use these 6 Benefits to Living a Purposeful Life. Come on…it will only take you a couple of minutes!
How you can achieve real happiness – really? What is real happiness anyway? Let’s discuss this below.
Are you happy?
While you may answer yes, of course, I’m happy, consider the question further. Are you really happy? Does your life fill you with joy? Do you feel well? Are you excited by the thought of what each day holds? When considering happiness there are a lot of questions that can be asked. Perhaps one of the first ones you will think of is, ‘What is happiness?’
Happiness is a state of being. Positive psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky describes happiness as a positive emotion that not only means you experience the emotions of well-being, joy, and contentment but these emotions are also “combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful and worthwhile.”
geralt / Pixabay
So for you to experience real happiness it appears that you need to create a life with meaning. So does your life have meaning? Do you feel that it is worthwhile? And If not, why not?
These are important questions to ask yourself about happiness
If you feel happy but your life is lacking something, then it may be that you aren’t experiencing a full state of real happiness. Creating change could take your life from mediocre to amazing and allow you to experience the full effects of real happiness.
So how can you create this “real happiness“?
Discover your passion and purpose. Make these an intrinsic part of your everyday life. If you’re wondering how to find them then take a piece of paper or notebook and answer the following questions. Do it now, before you forget!
What do want to do with your life?
How do you want to feel every day?
What do you enjoy doing?
List those things that make you feel excited, creative, inspired and energized.
What are you good at?
List those things that make you feel creative, energized, inspired and that you lose yourself in when you are doing them.
What do you want your legacy to be?
When you think back on your life, what do you want to be remembered for?
Who are your role models? Why?
What are your big dreams and goals?
How can you achieve your big dreams and goals?
Who or what can help you change your life for the better?
As you answer the questions you will begin to find a pattern in your answers and recurrent themes. These can help you identify what you need to do and change to create real happiness in your life.
qimono / Pixabay
If you consider that your life needs to be worthwhile and meaningful as Lyubomirsky says, then you need to consider what you can do to create those in your own life. You need to find your passion and purpose. (Go ahead and check out the link, it’s to my Passion Planner Freebie) When you have found those and embedded them into your life then you will find “real happiness”.
In the comments below, did you find this useful to discover your Passion and Purpose?
Contact me if I help you find your passion.
About Us
Hello to all of our visitors. Linda Henslee Enterprises provides Project Management Services to other online business owners. Need our services? Use our contact form to get in touch with us.