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  • 18Aug

    The Key to Innovative Business Ideas: Cross-Pollination

    Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Productivity No Comments


    image of honeybee

    Gather round, everyone. It’s time to have “The Talk.”

    You know the one I mean. You’ve started asking lots of questions and I can tell you’re ready for it, so make yourselves comfortable and let’s go over the basics.

    Because if you’re in business, you need to know about this. It’s crucial to your success. Mastering this technique will put a spring in your step, and bring new life to your ventures.

    Plus, it’s actually pretty fun.

    Birds do it, bees do it

    The birds and the bees do this naturally, and we can, too. It’s called cross-pollination.

    They fly from one flower to another, or one tree to the next, picking up bits of one plant and carrying it to the other.

    The plant on the receiving end of this pollination is hardier and able to reproduce with greater variety. It meets environmental challenges more successfully because it’s genetically diverse.

    In the same way, when you cross-pollinate ideas, you make your business stronger. You’ll be better able to weather the difficulties that every business and brand has to face to survive.

    Keeping your eyes open to sources for ideas is the first step. Having a system for gathering and using these ideas is important, too. Really great ideas can be found where you least expect them.

    Get started here

    First, the obvious sources. Cross-pollinate your business with innovative new ideas by:

    • Reading books, magazines and websites outside your field.
    • Talking to people in different industries. Find out what their challenges are and how they’ve met them. Ask yourself how you can apply their solutions to your own business.
    • Learning from your customers. Design thinking is a concept that is built around staying in close touch with your customers’ needs, and building your products and services around meeting them.

    Look for love in all the wrong places

    You can find great new ideas in places you never expected, too.

    • Get inspiration from your fiercest competition. Your competitors are fighting the same battles you are. What are they doing that you can learn from? How have they solved the same challenges you face? What techniques do they use to succeed? What are some problems they don’t solve particularly well, where you could fill in the gap?
    • Learn from your own failures. The School of Hard Knocks can teach you more than anything else. Look back on your projects and learn from what went wrong, so that you can get it right the next time.

    Keep the innovative ideas flowing

    Finally, it’s easier to keep the new ideas flowing in to your business if you have a structure in place that allows cross-pollination to happen on a regular basis. Here are some techniques:

    • Create an informal Board of Directors. Gather a group of 3-5 people who are willing to support your efforts. Meet with them in person or by phone at least four times a year. Update them on your goals, the progress you’re making, and your struggles. Let the ideas flow, and take good notes.
    • Join a Mastermind group. Many groups meet monthly, some more often. Some Chamber of Commerce organizations coordinate them, but you can also find virtual Mastermind groups with a quick web search. The group supports each member, so you’ll both offer and receive encouragement and ideas.
    • Join a virtual private community. Sites like Third Tribe are great places to connect with like-minded people and to generate exciting new business ideas.
    • Consider working with a coach. Because business coaches speak to many different clients, they’ll naturally cross pollinate your conversations with ideas they’ve picked up from helping other people.

    Small business, big ideas

    We all want a more resilient business, and a lot of Copyblogger readers have very small organizations. Letting ideas flow freely between your small-scale operation and the larger world will build a business that withstands the challenges of the marketplace.

    How about you? Are you gathering and applying ideas from all over? Buzz down to the comments and cross-pollinate them with some thoughts of your own.

    About the Author: Pamela Wilson has been in the same Mastermind group since 2004. She cross pollinates her Big Brand System site with ideas to help small businesses use the power of design to grow.

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  • 03Aug

    The Cure for Analysis Paralysis

    Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Productivity No Comments


    image of young woman thinking

    You try to kick someone under the table and your leg stays as inert as the table’s leg. Your toes are unwiggleable. Your eyebrow won’t arch wryly in disdain.

    You want to make something happen, but that desire isn’t translating into movement. Your muscles don’t obey the signals from your brain.

    That’s paralysis.

    Analysis is pretty much the same thing.

    You analyze your business all the time. You decide that it would be smart to start an email campaign, or change the direction for your blog posts. You decide whether to run a promotion for your consulting business or launch an information product.

    You’re thinking about something happening.

    But you’re not making it happen.

    When analysis paralysis is beneficial

    It turns out that sometimes it’s good to be paralyzed.

    Every night, when you go to sleep and drop deep into that REM state that lets you wake up all refreshed in the morning, you are, medically speaking, paralyzed.

    This is a good thing. When you get tired, your ability to act is impaired. You’re more likely to get lost, to drive poorly, to call the ex you swore you’d never speak to again.

    Get paralyzed by sleep for a couple of hours, and suddenly everything improves. When your spouse throws the car keys at you a little too hard because they haven’t forgiven you for calling your ex last night, you catch them effortlessly with catlike reflexes.

    Analysis can be like this.

    Sometimes we have too much going on in our businesses. It can help to take a moment to stop everything and hold completely still, moving nothing but our brains, just thinking about the problem.

    We don’t have to take action yet. We don’t have to move a muscle. We just have to think about what we’ll do when we’re ready to move.

    Analysis can be a refreshing pause for our brains.

    It can also be a serious problem.

    When analysis paralysis Is detrimental

    The kind of paralysis you experience in REM state every night is good for you. You probably didn’t even know you were paralyzed.

    (If you weren’t freaking out about it before, don’t start now. Whatever you do, don’t think about the xkcd comic that points out that dreaming means going comatose, hallucinating vividly, and then suffering amnesia. Adding paralysis to that list doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?)

    It’s okay for your legs (and the rest of you) to be paralyzed for a couple hours a night. If it goes on for more than a day, though, you’re going to start to be pretty concerned about some of the logistics.

    Analysis can be like this, too.

    When you’ve taken the time to hold still and analyze your business for a couple of hours — even a full working day — before you take action, that’s perfectly healthy. It has probably improved your ability to move forward confidently and with good judgment.

    If you find yourself analyzing for weeks or months at a time without moving, it’s time to be concerned.

    How to cure analysis paralysis

    To cure real paralysis, you generally need the sort of miracle doctor featured prominently in many a popular medical drama, but not so prominently in real-life hospitals.

    To cure analysis paralysis, though, you just need to check out the recent Third Tribe seminar featuring Sonia Simone and Chris Garrett, where they talk about how to take action on that product launch you’ve been meaning to do, thinking about, analyzing, and never doing.

    You’ll learn:

    • The product development technique that kills paralysis, moves you to a fast launch, and creates great value for your customers
    • Why “thinking big” can stop you dead in your tracks, and how to get moving again
    • How to use your own “weaknesses” as strengths that move you forward
    • What to do if you don’t have thick skin (and how it can work to your benefit)
    • How to create products that move your customers farther and faster toward their goals.

    While you’re listening, you’ll find yourself analyzing how to use these techniques in your business. You may also find yourself lulled into a soporific state of bliss, because Sonia’s voice is extremely soothing. And that’s okay.

    To make sure you don’t get stuck there, though, there’s a Next Action worksheet to help you move forward. Use it. Make your business stronger through movement.

    Otherwise, I’d have to explain what “atrophy” means. And no one wants that.

    About the Author: Taylor Lindstrom is a freelance copywriter and the new Assistant Editor for Copyblogger. This is her first Copyblogger post.

    P.S.

    To snag Chris and Sonia’s interview, and instant access to 15 more cutting-edge seminars that will move your business forward (with new seminars added every month), join the Third Tribe today.

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  • 02Apr

    10 Tricks For Getting Inspired to Write

    Blogging, Creativity, Productivity No Comments

    image of computer keyboard

    There comes a time in every blogger’s life when the thought of writing another blog post makes you want to . . . well . . . gag.

    You know you should write, you know your readers are expecting to hear from you. But sitting down to crank out another post is like throwing your bucket down the creative well and coming up with nothing but mud.

    The well is dry, baby. Nothing more to give. And yet somehow you have to find something to say.

    The question is, “How?”

    Some grizzled veterans like to say you have to write whether you feel like it or not. They tell you to suck it up, stop being a wimp, and do your freakin’ job.

    In my experience though, that’s largely crap.

    Because when you’re a beginning blogger, you don’t have an editor or publisher giving you the evil eye that says, “You’d better write or else.” No, the only one pushing you is you, and it’s all too easy to let up and go watch TV or play video games or catch up on some sleep.

    For us, inspiration isn’t optional; it’s the force that drags us to the computer and tells us it’s time to say something that changes the world. Somehow, you have to find it, and you have to keep finding it for as long as you have a blog.

    No, it’s not easy, but it is possible. Here are 10 tricks that have worked for me:

    1. Look at magazine covers

    The writers who think up the headlines for magazines like Cosmopolitan and National Enquirer are some of the highest paid, most creative people in the world. So why not piggyback on their work?

    Whenever I’m feeling stuck, I’ll go to the bookstore and read all of the covers until an idea for a great headline of my own strikes me. Or, if I’m feeling especially lazy, I’ll go to Amazon or magazines.com and browse the images of the covers there.

    Either way, I usually end up with at least 5-10 ideas for new posts.

    (Hint: this often works best when you pick magazines that have absolutely nothing to do with your own topic.)

    2. Browse openings

    Sometimes, writing a whole post is as simple as finding a crackerjack opening sentence.

    Whenever you have a general idea for a post but can’t find an exciting way to open it, try flipping through the first page of novels on your bookshelf (thrillers are often best) and read the first sentence. If you don’t find one there, browse through the archives here at Copyblogger and read the opening sentence of every post.

    Often times one will jump out, and it’ll give you the momentum to write a post.

    3. Read your favorite author

    There’s an old saying that to write a lot, you need to read a lot.

    And it’s true. Not only does reading teach you what works and what doesn’t, but it can also get you in the mood to write.

    Whenever I’m feeling lethargic, I take 15 minutes to read Seth Godin or Stephen King. The way they write is full of so much energy that some of it usually rubs off.

    For you, the author may be someone else; what’s important is to find writers who inspire you and keep their work handy for when you need it.

    4. Retype passages from those favorite authors

    In some direct response advertising agencies, I’ve heard they ask new writers to rewrite famous sales letters over and over again. Many good copywriting courses do the same.

    On the surface, this might sound like mindless labor, but it’s not. Something about retyping the words of another writer teaches your mind how they do it.

    I know because I’ve done it. After retyping a paragraph or two of Godin or King, I usually have an idea for a new angle or post. It sounds weird, but try it for yourself sometime.

    5. Browse quotations

    People pass around quotations for a reason; they’re witty, insightful, memorable, everything good writing is supposed to be.

    So why not let them inspire you? Go to a website like quotationspage.com and browse through the millions of great quotes. Let one of them spark an exciting new post idea.

    6. Listen to music

    Everyone knows about this one, but I’ll give it a slight twist.

    Some people find that listening to music while they write helps them, and if that works for you, go for it.

    Personally though, I’ve found it’s better to close my eyes and listen to the music before I write, keeping my mind as blank as possible while I do it. Within 30 minutes, an idea usually pops into my head, and then I turn off the music to start writing.

    It might seem like a small difference, but if you’ve had trouble writing while listening to music before, give this one a try.

    7. Listen to smart dialogue

    Have you ever noticed that a good blog post reads a lot like a snappy monologue? You can almost hear the voice of the blogger.

    In that vein, one of the best ways to get yourself going is to find a TV show, movie, or radio broadcast with smart dialogue and listen to it for a few minutes. It trains your brain to think conversationally, and sometimes it’ll give you an idea that’s perfect for a post.

    You might want to be on the lookout for screenwriters whose dialogue you think is particularly good (Quentin Tarantino and Charlie Kaufman are two good places to start), and listen to their work purely with an ear for how they use dialogue.

    8. Talk to your readers

    Last year, I invited Copyblogger readers to tell me their frustrations, and then I chose 20 of them for free blog consultations.

    The result? Nearly 300 people left comments, explaining in detail what was giving them trouble and why.

    I’ve learned more from those comments and consultations than any other form of market research I’ve done at Copyblogger, and they gave me dozens of ideas for new posts and products. It’s humbling, but sometimes you have to realize you’re not the only source of blockbuster ideas. Your readers are full of wonderful ideas too, and they’re eager to give them to you.

    9. Close the door

    This is another tip I got from Stephen King. In his book, On Writing, he advises writing your rough draft with the door closed and then revising with the door open.

    He doesn’t mean you actually have to close the door (although it’s a good idea). What he means is you need to forget anyone’s opinion but yours when writing your first draft.

    The surest way to frustrate yourself is to imagine what everyone is going to say about your work before you finish it. Get the rough draft done, listening only to your own intuition. You can agonize over how people will react when you’re making revisions.

    10. Find your joy

    If you let it, writing can make you miserable. You can force yourself to write about topics you hate, exhaust yourself by writing when you’re tired, and beat yourself up whenever your work doesn’t measure up.

    But that’s a mistake. Because the writers who make it aren’t the stereotypical mad geniuses whose careers are a flash of brilliance followed by an untimely death. Most terrific writers are normal people who take joy from their writing, and so they write as much as possible.

    It’s so easy to forget the importance of that joy, and in my opinion, that’s the real reason why we have a tough time inspiring ourselves to write. We’re trying to trick ourselves into doing something we hate.

    And we need to stop. Because here’s the thing . . . the sooner you allow yourself to have fun with your writing, the easier you’ll find it to sit down and write. It will give you life, and you’ll want to do it.

    My advice?

    The next time you’re stuck, find something to write about that makes you smile. Find something to write about that gives you a buzz. Find something to write about that touches you so deeply, tears of joy are running down your face while you type.

    That’s what writing is about. It’s a gift, not only to our readers, but also to us.

    Enjoy it.

    About the Author: Jon Morrow is Associate Editor of Copyblogger. Get more from Jon on twitter.

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  • 16Feb

    10 Pathways to Inspired Writing

    Blogging, Content Marketing, Creativity, Productivity No Comments

    image of inspired woman

    As writers, inspiration is one of the most important of the criteria for success. Without it, well, our writing ends up pretty lame.

    A huge percentage of blogs see their demise before the six month milestone. Why?

    Because people don’t know what to write about – writing becomes a chore and when that happens, you might as well seal it in. Here are 10 ways to become a more motivated, effective, and inspired online writer.

    1. More books, fewer blogs

    We all like blogs because they’re easy to digest, and we can come and go as we please and read from start to finish in a few minutes. We are also inherently reactive people, and blogs allow us to communicate and discuss with others immediately.

    Books, however, contain scores of ideas not being dealt with in the blogosphere, and I guarantee if you take a weekend to read a book from start to finish, you’ll be chock full of writing material for weeks following. Take notes, “react” with yourself as you read, and pick up a book instead of only depending on Google Reader.

    2. Listen to albums from beginning to end

    Music is one of THE biggest sources of inspiration for yours truly – there’s something about the “right” song that can have you from feeling brain-dead with writers block to painting masterpieces like Michelangelo. What a lot of us, especially with modern technology, no longer do is listen to an album from start to finish.

    Not only buy the entire album from an artist, but also listen to each song in order. Musicians are artists who usually order the track listings intentionally. Albums tell a story, they paint a picture; and isn’t that what we want to do as writers with our blogs?

    3. Surround yourself with mentors

    I use the word “mentor” loosely. I’ve never been a fan of choosing a single person as a mentor. Instead, I tend to surround myself with multiple “indirect” mentors – people I admire and respect; individuals who motivate and inspire me to be at my best; friends who challenge, question, and push me to think in new ways.

    There’s truth in the old adage of you are the company you keep. So surround yourself with good company and you’re almost guaranteed to be a more inspired individual.

    4. Cut out the negativity

    While you surround yourself with amazing and inspiring mentors, go ahead and cut out the negativity – the dream zappers and naysayers who are intent on bringing you down to their level. You don’t need people like that in your life. Embellish the positive and diminish the negative in everything you do. You’ll be a much happier and fulfilled person if you have the right attitude.

    5. Experiment with new mediums

    Experimentation is probably the most important takeaway. In blogging, social networking, and everything else you do, if you’re not experimenting and pushing the envelope, you’re not maximizing your potential. As a writer, you have a gift for telling a story, so focus on telling that story in new ways. Use video, write an ebook, start a Guest Blog Grand Tour and let others challenge you to write about new topics. Keep hustling and growing.

    6. Read blogs outside of your niche

    If you write about social media, are you only reading inside the echo chamber? Why? Doing this exclusively becomes mind numbing. While I agree that you need to keep up with other writers in your field, take time to partake of completely unrelated sources. I read blogs about cooking, sports, PR, and music, to name a few.

    They may not have anything to do with my “lifestyle design” genre of writing, but I can almost always walk away with a post idea inspired by something I’ve read. The best writers are those who can spot the intersection between different topics to reach a wider audience

    7. Put yourself (literally) in new environments

    I don’t know about you, but I am pretty terrible at getting things done when I’m sitting at home in my PJs. I’m most productive, and usually put together my best writing, when I find a comfy seat at the local coffee shop or settle into a nook with my headphones on in the back of a library. There’s something about surrounding yourself with caffeine and good books that works wonders. Opt for the local coffee joint over the living room when you have the chance.

    8. Don’t be a slave to trends

    Getting back to the fact that “we are inherently reactive people,” we like to follow trends, don’t we? How many “resolution” posts did you see the last couple weeks last December? Keep an eye on what people are doing, but push yourself to break away and set the trends. Simply become more proactive in everything you do.

    9. Never underestimate the power of “unplugging”

    OK, I lied. The experimentation I list as pathway 5 is an important takeaway, but the following is the most important for me. With Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Reader, Email, Itunes, Instant Messaging, and so on – there is a virtually limitless number of distractions out there. When I need to really focus and I want to put out my very best writing, I force myself to unplug.

    Even now, as I write this, I’m sitting in a lake house with no internet. It is AMAZING what you can accomplish when you take time to unplug and “become one” with your writing. Set a specific day every week that you can disconnect and take time for yourself.

    10. Have patience

    Writing a masterpiece isn’t going to happen overnight. Bloggers get burned out because they start strong and then fizzle when the world doesn’t beat an immediate path to them. Above all, a strong community grounded in quality content takes time to develop, but as long as you are passionate about writing, the rest falls into place. Focus intently on creating exceptional content and reach out to others to share, and great things do indeed happen.

    As a writer, what would you encourage the rest of us to do to maximize our writing potential and find inspiration?

    About the Author: Matt Cheuvront is an Internet Marketing Developer by day the master of ceremonies over at Life Without Pants. Follow him on Twitter to keep in touch!

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  • 11Dec

    How to Do Less and Get More

    Blogging, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Creativity, Persuasion, Productivity, Social Media Marketing, What's Your Story? No Comments

    Less is More

    I’m a big fan of Leo Babauta.

    His book, The Power of Less, is required reading for anyone who wants a rewarding life.

    But many of Leo’s followers think doing less means, well, settling for less.

    I’m here to tell you it can mean achieving much more.

    In the last 4 years, I’ve been living the power of less.

    In fact, I started with that philosophy well before I knew it was one.

    Do Less to Achieve More

    I annoy many of my partners and friends with my approach.

    But the reality is, engaging in busy work is not the secret to success.

    Success comes from ignoring the busy and sticking with developing content and pursuing projects that matter to your goals.

    That means you need time to think.

    Enjoy the Stillness

    Don’t get me wrong, I work hard and push the envelope.

    But I choose the things I pursue very carefully.

    And that means ignoring the immediate until I know the right thing to do.

    Again, this often annoys people who want my immediate attention.

    But when it’s right, I act . . . and everyone involved is a lot happier with the eventual outcome.

    Don’t Do Things That Don’t Matter

    The stereotype of the successful person is one who juggles multiple cats in the pursuit of maximum return.

    I’m telling you to drop most of those cats, and lovingly embrace that special one.

    Making clear decisions about content and projects that work requires clear vision, and you don’t achieve that in a frenzied, haphazard mode.

    Right decisions require the right mindset, and a clear path to achieving the goal.

    How clear is your mind right now?

    P.S. No cats were harmed in the writing of this post.

    About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and co-founder of DIY Themes, creator of the innovative Thesis Theme for WordPress. Get more from Brian on Twitter.

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  • 26Oct

    Why Writer’s Block is Your Secret Weapon

    Creativity, Productivity No Comments

    image of moving through a block

    When screenwriter John August wrote that only non-writers get writer’s block, some readers whined (and personally attacked him).

    “But getting blocked does happen to real writers!” they cried.

    They cried because they wanted to be victims, instead of responsible for their writing blocks. They whined because it was easier and less scary than facing the facts.

    But when your income depends on your ability to write, whining won’t get you anywhere. It will distract you from the golden opportunity that writer’s block always offers: greater clarity and confidence.

    When you work it right, writer’s block is your secret weapon to becoming a better and more resilient writer. And when your ability to write is what pays the bills, that’s gold.

    How writer’s block can give you more clarity

    Writing flows when you are clear on what you need to say, and why you need to say it. Writing becomes a chore when you know what you need to say but are reluctant to do it. And it can dry up completely when you’re not so clear anymore.

    Your clarity is directly linked to how convinced you are that you have something valuable to say — and that you can say it.

    Both of these require courage to face the fear that any act of writing brings.

    So use writer’s block as a signal to stop and reflect on what you fear and why, because if you don’t acknowledge the fear, you’ll never be able to face it. All it takes to move through fear is facing it, feeling it. Saying to yourself, “Okay, this is scary. But it still needs to be done.”

    How to start unblocking yourself

    If you need some concrete steps to get started on identifying the fears related to your writer’s block, try the “clean-slate” exercise:

    1. Take a blank sheet of paper and write down a one-line summary of what you think you’re supposed to be writing. Be as topic-specific and categorical as you can. Is it a book review, an online report, a sales page, a newsletter article?
    2. Write down all the ideas and opinions about that topic that have been passed along to you by other people — things that you’ve read, heard, overheard, or even imagined. Don’t forget your parents, mentors, friends, role models. Record all those voices running around in your head and lay them out on the page.
    3. Good. Now put that page aside because that’s not the one that’s going to turn your block into a weapon. (In fact, it’s the one that will keep you stuck.)
    4. Get another blank sheet of paper.
    5. Again, write down what you think you should be writing in the center of the page. Now, make sure you are alone in your room. There should be no one around to look over your shoulder, judge you, criticize you, or misunderstand you — in physical form or in your head. It’s important to maintain this solitude for the next step.
    6. Dig deep into what you have to say, what you think, and what your opinion is, stripped away from all of those from the first sheet. Put it all out on the page, and take more pages if you need to. Remember, there is no one to judge you and your task is to write without any reference to the ideas or opinions from that first sheet, but write only from within you.

    This second “clean-slate” page will reveal the true reason why you wanted to write in the first place.

    It’s a safe place to get some clarity about what you need to say, without worrying about what anyone else will think. Going to that safe place gets you unstuck.

    How writer’s block can boost your confidence

    Each time you unblock yourself by writing despite your fears, it builds confidence. You realize, “Hey, I’ve got a lot to say! And I’ve got a unique position!”

    You teach yourself that even though your job requires you to write to and for other people, you’re really doing it for yourself — whether for income, personal satisfaction, or even good conscience.

    You also strengthen your writing so that nothing can faze it. You won’t get thrown off by anyone’s doubts (including your own), negative opinions, projections, or reservations about your ability to perform. Those will only cloud what you know you need to say.

    Most important of all, you learn that writer’s block is all in the mind. That John’s whiny commentators missed out on a mother lode of resilience any writer would envy, because they ran away from writer’s block instead of picking it up as the weapon that it is.

    To be a resilient and fierce writer, you need to write despite your fears. And you need signals, such as writer’s block, to help uncover your fears so you can face them.

    Writer’s block can’t be separated from your doubt and fear. It’s something you are not a victim of, but responsible to. It can, and should, be faced head-on.

    Preferably right now, if your next meal is waiting for that last page to get finished.

    About the Author: Melissa Karnaze writes about the intelligence of emotions on Mindful Construct and Twitter.

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  • 05Oct

    Kill Your Good Ideas

    Creativity, Persuasion, Productivity No Comments

    image of a handgun

    Why do some people easily get hordes of comments on their blogs and quickly build a massive following, while others struggle?

    It’s not because they hit the front page of Digg.

    It’s not because they’re super-connected with A-listers.

    It’s not even because they’re really smart.

    It’s because they kill their good ideas.

    And because they kill all the “good ideas,” they don’t chase the stuff that seems to have potential, but doesn’t really matter. They only do the stuff they must do: what they’re insanely passionate about and what they were born to do.

    Of course all the other things, like great headline writing, social networking, and SEO, matter too.

    But they’re all secondary to caring. No amount of hype can make up for it. While you can certainly create an outward shell of success with publicity and marketing tricks, that success only lasts until the next marketing gimmick falls through.

    Working toward something you genuinely care about is like laying your roots deep in the earth. Trying to fake it at something you don’t like is clutching at sand.

    Faking your passion for a product is like dipping a salmon-flavored ice cream cone in chocolate and hoping no one can taste the fish.

    The sad part

    Every day, vast amounts of time, money, and energy are put into creating things that people don’t want and don’t care about.

    Brochures and fliers are made by the millions, and when handed out, it’s like they’re saying “Here, you throw this away.” (Thanks, Mitch, for that one.)

    Tons of graphic design, copywriting, marketing, and all kinds of finagling is done in attempt to sell people things they don’t really need, and could care less about.

    Sometimes these efforts work, at least temporarily. But there’s always a sense of something false beneath the surface.

    When you don’t care about the work you do, not only does your audience know you’re not excited, you’re also unmotivated. The work is slow and painful, because you are easily distracted. You have to psyche yourself out to start your day.

    The awesome part

    The good news is that there are vast amounts of amazing endeavors you can pursue right now. You don’t have to do boring work, trying to slap feel-good emotion on top of boring products.

    The even better news is that when you actually care about the work you do, it’s easy to stay motivated about communicating your message. You’ll still have to figure out how to market it and how to get people’s attention, but once you do that, the heavy lifting is already done.

    Plus, you can delete all that nauseating highlighted text and neon-orange, fear-based marketing.

    Take a deep breath. Notice the lack of carcinogens? It’s called fresh air. That’s what authentic marketing tastes like.

    Some cool side-effects of caring

    The nice thing about caring about your work is that it leads directly to respect for your audience.

    It feels good to know your doctor actually cares about your health. It’s nice to know that your mayor actually cares about pesticide-free drinking water, too.

    Caring builds respect. It also builds trust. But most of all, it helps you connect.

    If we care about the same things, you’ll probably listen to what I have to say. A relationship is formed. You open up the channels of trust and permission.

    Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion. ~ Aristotle

    Caring emanates character and builds trust; the most powerful method of persuasion.

    Sure, you can slap as much marketing as you want on top of a hollow product that you really couldn’t care less about. And if you’re skilled enough, you can probably get a decent amount of people to take out their wallets.

    But why not use marketing to back up something that lights your head on fire with passion? Then, all of your tools of building curiosity, persuasion, and conversion not only get people to take out their wallets, they will tell their friends.

    Kill your good ideas. Don’t do what you think might be profitable. Don’t do what you think is “sensible.” Don’t do what you think you might be willing to live with.

    Do what you can’t not do.

    About the Author: Jonathan Mead is a professional ass-kicker (life coach), raw foodist, and student of Jeet Kune Do. He recently released a free ebook called The Zero Hour Workweek, aimed at helping people find freedom from the 9 to 5.

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  • 16Sep

    How To End Writer’s Block Forever (And Make Readers Fall In Love With You)

    Copywriting, Creativity, Productivity No Comments

    typewriter

    Think back to the last time you felt the crushing pressure of writer’s block.

    When that locked-up feeling of helplessness transformed a blank page (or post) into a terrifying testament to your own private insecurities, what did you do? Did you curse your frozen creativity, try to wrestle an idea out of your head — or worse yet, retreat altogether from the keyboard to escape?

    We all have our private ways of handling the freak-out moments that every writer (no matter how prolific) falls victim to. But wouldn’t it be better not to freak out at all? There is a way — and it’s easier than you think.

    When writer’s block strikes, it’s often because you’re worried that people will say your writing Might Not Be Good Enough. And in a fast-moving world where we feel “only as good as our last post,” that can create a paralyzing fear.

    But here’s the thing — this can only happen if you’re focused on your own idea of what’s “good enough.”

    When all else fails, listen

    If you put your focus on what your audience wants to read (rather than what you want to write), the whole game changes — and the shift is in your favor.

    So how do you find out what your audience wants?

    You ask. You listen. And then you let them guide you down their own personal path, where they reveal exactly what they want to be told in order to feel comfortable buying from you.

    When you have that kind of information, the writing can just flow and flow.

    3 simple ways to start listening to your audience

    Becoming an authority is a key part of influencing your audience. Contrary to what many people think, you don’t create authority by constantly spouting your own opinions.

    Instead, you look for every opportunity to connect and interact with your audience so that you can deliver the information they need right now (and become the hero they’ve been looking for).

    • Don’t neglect your comments. If your readers are taking the time to respond to your content, you need to do more than simply reply back. Take a look at what they write and imagine the logical progression of the conversation. Give your reply now, but tuck ideas away for follow-up posts so your well will never run dry.
    • Write provocative content. Flat, lifeless articles are a dime a dozen — and an incredibly outdated way of delivering content. When you sit down at the keyboard, write with the intent of stirring up emotions and provoking conversation. Take a stand — or at least talk about someone else who is — and call for your audience’s reactions. What they tell you will be fuel for future posts.
    • Flat out ask. The simplest solution can solve your writer’s block forever. All you need to do is send a survey to your list, or devote a post to a specific, relevant question where you promise to follow up on the answers you receive. Even a few responses can spark the creative fire you need to write quickly and effectively — and you’ll know that the content you’re creating is exactly what your audience wants to hear.

    When you listen, you become the hero

    It’s no secret that when you focus this intensely on the needs of your audience, they will become your committed, lifelong customers and fiercely loyal advocates for you.

    It’s a core underpinning of the Third Tribe concept — if you earn loyalty, you’ll receive loyalty.

    So now it’s time for me to put my method where my mouth is: What do you want to see from Copyblogger over the next few weeks? What would be the most useful content you could imagine? The sky’s the limit — and we’re all ears. :-)

    About the Author: Dave Navarro is the product launch coach of choice for online marketers and has a special message for Copyblogger readers.

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  • 29Apr

    How to Be a Better Writer in the Next 10 Minutes

    Productivity No Comments

    Clock

    Wanna be a better writer?

    Wanna do it quickly and painlessly?

    Here’s how in 4 steps.

    1. Step away from the keyboard. Take a walk, put on some music, even do the dishes, whatever. Just get 10 minutes of you time.

    2. Look into your head for all the things you’re saying to yourself that are making writing harder than you want it to be.

    Are you doubting that your idea is good enough? Are you thinking that you don’t know where you’re going with it? Are you telling yourself that nobody will read or “get” what you’re writing? Are you telling yourself you don’t have what it takes to be a decent writer?

    Take a good look and go as far as writing down the things you’re telling yourself.

    3. Look at the opposite position, and find real world evidence to support it.

    If you doubt that your idea is good enough, put yourself into the position that your idea is plenty good enough – and then find genuine reasons to support that. You’re fired up about the idea, you have a unique insight or you’ve seen people talking about it so know that people will connect with it, for example.

    If you’re thinking that you don’t know where you’re going with your writing, take the position that you know where it’s heading or that it’s okay to not know exactly where it’s going. Then look for evidence in your experience to support that, such as:

    • You’ve written great pieces before, and this is no different.
    • You’ve done your research so you have just what you need to write a coherent piece.
    • You know that you start writing knowing 50% of the content, and find that the rest comes to you as part of the writing process.

    This isn’t about making things up to make yourself feel better. This is about finding genuine evidence, based on your own experience, that gives more space in your head for the reasons why you can than the reasons why you can’t.

    4. Give yourself permission to write how you write.

    It’s a safe bet that you’re your own worst critic, but placing your confidence in the things that critic tells you is not going to make you a better writer. Quite the opposite, in fact.

    By finding real reasons that support you in writing things your way you can let yourself off the hook, and that frees you up to write some great stuff.

    Place your confidence in the reasons you can write great work, and just watch what happens.

    About the Author: As a leading confidence coach with clients right around the world, Steve Errey has a reputation for talking sense and getting results. Get more from him at The Confidence Guy.

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  • 20Mar

    Want to Know the Real Reason Why You Write?

    Creativity, Productivity, What's Your Story? No Comments

    Why Write?

    What is it that makes you want to slave over an article or a blog post, to get your point across and to have other people read your words? What is it that makes you – or any of us for that matter - want to write?

    I got to thinking about it when a commenter on a previous post said that most people would love to write because there’s some kind of natural pull towards writing. I was also intrigued when I saw that established and well known bloggers Holly Hoffman and Jamie Harrop both started up brand new blogs last week, with subjects close to their hearts.

    Why?

    Because their old blog was no longer a complete fit with what they wanted to say and how they wanted to say it.

    By blogging and writing for some time, they both found their “thing” – the thing that they get the most pleasure from writing about and the thing that they really connect with. Through the act of writing they found what they really wanted to write about.

    There’s an amazing line from the movie “Lady in the Water”, by M. Night Shyamalan. In this standout scene, the mesmerizing Bryce Dallas Howard softly asks Paul Giamatti:

    May I say one thing?

    The moment a person finds their voice…is the moment their life takes on grace.

    That line is something I’ll always remember, for one simple reason.

    Finding your voice is not optional if you want to live a rich, confident life and if you want to be a great writer.

    Grace is simplicity, effortlessness and congruity

    Think about it for a moment. What are you speaking with before you find your voice? What are you saying and what message are you delivering? And just who are you being before you find your voice?

    Before that happens your writing will be more constructed, abstracted, intellectualized. It’ll probably feel more of a struggle to get the words onto the page for the simple reason that you’re missing something fundamental.

    You.

    Both Holly and Jamie mentioned this very thing when explaining their need to start a new blog – that they needed to write about what they really wanted to write about, and to get a better fit by moving away from the constraints of their previous blog.

    Perhaps you’re experiencing something similar

    If so, things might not feel like they fit. Your life might be full of clutter and you might feel like you’re searching for something, drifting through with no real plan or agenda. You might feel, in those quiet moments, that something’s missing.

    You’ll be living and working, but you’ll also be dying a slow, safe death.

    And all because you haven’t found your voice; the voice that gives you elegance, ease, a sense of wholeness and a message that matters to you.

    It’s that voice that gives you the confidence to do things your way, follow what matters and relax into yourself and your writing.

    And I think that’s it; that’s why we all want to write – to be able to talk with our real voice and for that voice to be heard. You write so that your voice can become bigger than just one person.

    So get writing.

    About the Author: As a leading confidence coach with clients right around the world, Steve Errey has a reputation for talking sense and getting results. Get more from him at The Confidence Guy.

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