This is the second half of our two part series on website indexing strategies to improve your website ranking. In part 1, I discussed the importance of updating your website content regularly, using the metadata fields in the backend of your site, and pinging the search engines to let them know when you have new content to share.

If you aren’t familiar with website indexing, it is what search engines must do with the significant amount of content on the Internet to be able to return fast, relevant responses when people submit queries using their services. There are specific strategies you must follow if you want to rank well for specific searches. Ranking well often results in more targeted traffic. And who doesn’t want more traffic to their website, right?

Here are strategies 4 through 7.

4. Link back from posts on social media and bookmarking site.

Some of the most popular social media and bookmarking sites include Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and Digg. Posting your site, your blog posts and your articles to these social sites with links back to your branding site gets your page indexed quickly with the search engines since they are considered reputable sources. This helps direct the search engine spiders to come crawl your page for new and relevant content, plus it creates an additional pathway for potential customers hanging out at these sites to click thru to your site.

5. Submit articles.

If you’re blogging or writing articles for a company newsletter, repurpose your content and submit it out to the top article directories. The two key words here are repurpose and top. The search engines like unique content and they don’t like many of the article farms that popped over the last few years. Plus, the article directories don’t like promotional materials.

If you’ve written a piece that you have posted on your blog or in other online locations, consider making some changes to it so the title and some of the body content is different. Plus, if you’ve ended the piece with a promotional pitch, you’ll need to re-write it so the article is educational instead of sales-oriented.

When submitting your articles to directories, it’s best to focus on some of the top directories like EzineArticles and GoArticles with links in your author bio pointing back to your branding site and links from the social media and bookmarking sites pointing to your articles than to spin your article out hundreds of article farms.

6. Create internal links on your website.

When you’re writing content for your web pages, blog posts and other content on your site, included links to other internal pages on your site. For example with my SmallBizMedia.tv business, we’re an SEO and SEM company helping small and medium sized-businesses connect with their target customers online, improving their visibility, credibility, and profitability. By linking the words SEO and SEM in this post to our internal pages we’ve alerted the search engines about new content and we’ve linked from two of our keywords, helping improve our ranking for them, as well. This is a helpful strategy as you launch new pages. Plus, this helps direct interested readers to the pages where they can access additional information and services of interest.

7. Comment on other top blogs in your niche.

Every niche has blogs that command attention with the target audience. This is where many of your prospects and customers spend time. By posting insightful comments on their posts, you show your unique perspective on a topic of interest with target readers and you create a link back to your branding site for the search engine spiders and readers to follow. This improves your website indexing resulting in an improvement for your website ranking.

If you have questions and want help, you can leave a comment below or contact us at SmallBizMedia.tv.

All the Best,

Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

Today’s post was inspired by an article I recently read by Business2Community, a site dedicated to creating an “open community where professionals and businesses can connect with one another and the consumers of their products and services.”

The author, Nick Stamoulis, penned the piece titled, “4 Types of SEO Clients to Avoid” to appeal to companies that provide SEO services to other businesses. However, in reading it, it struck me how it is a great read for solopreneurs and small businesses struggling with SEO. Whether you are doing your own SEO or you’ve invested in an outsourcing agency to succeed with it for you, if you aren’t seeing the results you’re hoping for, it may not be the tools you’re using or the agency you’ve hired, but you may be the root of the problem.

As a small business owner of a social media service company, SmallBizMedia.TV, I can appreciate what Nick is suggesting. Here are his four types of clients to avoid (or avoid being):

1. Clients that are impatient
2. Clients that only rely on SEO
3. Clients that will be more of a pain than they are worth
4. Clients that have a bad web site

While I could rehash what is already in the original piece and put my own spin on it, I think it’s best that you click on the link above and read the article. From experience, I agree with the points that the author makes. When reading it, stop and honestly assess your own beliefs about SEO and your overall marketing strategies. Does it sound like this article is telling SEO consultants and agencies to avoid you?

All the Best,

Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

I’m sure that you’ve been told numerous times to “think outside the box”. Only the true visionaries think outside the box, right? Or maybe you’re questioning, “We all think inside the box, right?”


Wrong!


We may all exist inside the box, but not everyone thinks about what the box is and how and why it came into being.


Answering these questions is as equally important if not more so than fancying yourself a big thinker for creating a new way to sell soap. You need to think inside the box, understanding how and why it was created before you can have any success in thinking outside of it.


So what is the box and who created it?


The box is built out of a frame of reference and a set of habits by the people who use the box most. People are creatures of habit and they often practice the path of least resistance.


Think about your own scenario. Let’s say you are a solopreneur who started a coaching business. What perception do most people that hire coaches have about coaching and how do they typically go about hiring coaches for their services?


The key is to assess if the box they’ve built is the best box for generating the solutions they seek and need. This requires us to examine the box inside … and then out.


There may not be a better solution to the one that already exists. And to create a different solution solely to give yourself bragging rights for being “unique” doesn’t mean you will be successful. Those who live inside the box (i.e. your prospects and customers) only care about a new box if it solves their problems quicker, easier, more entertainingly, and at less cost.


So to think inside the box first, do your market research and interact with your prospects and customers. If you want to know what they want, why they want it, and where they get it, the best way is to ask them and see if the competition is doing a good job at providing solutions.


You need to understand your market’s perceptions and habits before you try to convince them that they should change them.


If you are having a tough time understanding the “how”, “what” and most importantly “why” your market lives within their box, contact me. I’m here to help.


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

AM:       The inspiration for Positive Parenting Solutions was based partly on my own needs and from talking with so many parents who didn’t feel successful in their most important job.  While they loved their kids more than anything in the world, many didn’t feel adequately prepared to handle the challenges of parenting and disciplining. 

Parenting books have been around forever, but in my experience, most are long on theory and short on the details – “what do I do first…then what’s next”, etc.  My goal was to provide parents with a training curriculum that would teach them a step-by-step process for implementing “tools” (strategies) which would correct misbehavior and empower kids to be capable, responsible and respectful. 


TSG:       What exactly is a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator? What did you need to do to earn this certification?

AM:       I spent the early part of my career developing and delivering training programs for Fortune 500 companies.  Following the birth of my second child, I studied the principles of Adlerian Psychology in various classes and settings as well as mentoring with a child therapist.  I combined my experience developing training programs, my Adlerian Psychology knowledge, the practical experience from my mentor and what I applied with my own family and developed The Breakthrough Course. After experiencing the life changing results for me personally, I was on a mission to share this information with as many families as possible!

Becoming a trained Positive Discipline instructor was one component in the process of developing the course.  The content in Positive Parenting Solutions Online is based on the principles of Adlerian Psychology and Positive Discipline and years of working with families and seeing the results in action.


TSG:       I grew up third of seven in an era when “shut up and do as I tell you” was the norm. Fortunately, my parents did a better job than that. What positive changes have you seen in parenting in the last twenty years? Have there been any negative parenting trends during this time?

AM:       Parenting has changed in so many ways over the past couple of generations – with positive and negative outcomes.  One of the more significant changes is that the “do it because I said so” approach just doesn’t cut it anymore and this and can be very frustrating for parents. “What’s with today’s kids?”  “Why don’t they listen?” 

It’s not that kids are any different today – they have the same genetic make up.  The reason the “do it because I said so” approach doesn’t work with today’s kids is a reflection of an overall shift in society from an authoritarian, do-as-I-say model to one of personal empowerment.  We see it in the workplace.  The have-the-report-on-my-desk-by-5:00-or-else style of management is long gone. Instead strong leaders encourage and empower their employees to have input into decision-making. The same is true in personal relationships.  Today, wives don’t blindly “obey” the rules set forth by their husbands; instead most couples view marriage and parenting as a partnership.  Mom won’t submit to a “because I said so” request from Dad, so why should children feel good about blindly obeying a “because I said so” directive from parents?

In the big scheme of things – this is a positive change.  Who can argue with treating each other with more respect and greater empowerment?  But, parents are frustrated.  Giving “the look” or saying “because I said so” doesn’t work and they’re at a complete loss for what to do instead.   Should they use Time Out?  Counting 1-2-3?  Most parents have already tried those strategies and realize that they do more to invite power struggles than tame them. Unfortunately, in the absence of effective discipline strategies, parents resort to the “repeat, remind, repeat, remind, EXPLODE, feel guilty and start the same thing over again tomorrow” cycle.

The good news is that most parents understand that children deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  The bad news is most parents haven’t been trained in how to hold kids accountable for behavior without resorting to nagging, reminding or yelling.  Positive Parenting Solutions empowers parents with the skills to do just that.


TSG:       Do you believe that it is not only appropriate, but necessary and beneficial for work-at-home parents to set up boundaries with their children during work hours?

AM:       Yes, work-at-home parents have to establish boundaries, but they also need to understand what is developmentally appropriate for a child.  I’ve worked with parents who expect their toddlers to entertain themselves while the parents work at home. This isn’t realistic and leads to frustration for everyone.  Work-at-home parents need to schedule dedicated “work time” during their day and arrange appropriate childcare during that time.

Establishing well-defined routines helps the child know what to expect.  Example:  “I spend a 10-15 minutes playing with mom/dad before the sitter arrives.  I have lunch with mom/dad.  I spend 10-15 minutes playing with mom/dad at the end of the work day before dinner.” 

“Controlling the Environment” can help alleviate confusion for the child – if possible, locate your home office away from the main family space, put a stop sign on the door to indicate that the “office is closed now ” 

Give your child opportunities to “communicate with you during the day” – other than coming into your office.  She can draw a picture and quietly slip it under the door.  With the sitter’s help, she can create a list of the Top 3 things she wants to do with mom/dad during the after-work playtime.


TSG:       As you mentioned earlier, often out of frustration, a parent can quickly transition from speaking to screaming when a child just doesn’t seem to respect the importance of a home work space. What are some basics a solopreneur can consider to keep the conversation calm and constructive?

AM:       After defining the “work day routine” – practice it!  This is especially important for young children.  Role play “work time” and the designated “play/interact” times during the day. 

Let your child know that if she comes to your office during your work time (and it’s not a true emergency!) then, you will IGNORE her request.  That may sound harsh at first – but every time you stop what you’re doing and say, “Please honey – daddy’s working now.  I’ll play with you later” – it gives her a “hit” of attention and guarantees the behavior will continue.

Instead, ignore the request.  By ignoring the behavior, you are removing the PAYOFF and as a result,  it’s less likely to happen again. (Depending on the child’s age, it’s important to practice this part in the role play so she knows what to expect.)


TSG:       We all have the same 24 hours in a day to set priorities for our time. When I work with solopreneurs, I often find they only talk in terms of allocating time to specific work tasks and goals. I work with them to include time for personal goals in their list instead of leaving them up to whatever time is leftover. Having a healthy relationship with your children can help or hinder your success. What is an appropriate amount of time to prioritize for your kids? How does that time allotment transition from tots to teens?

AM:       Kids have a hard-wired need for POSITIVE attention – plain and simple.  If parents don’t PROACTIVELY fill the attention basket with POSITIVE attention, the child will get his attention one way or another –and it will usually be with negative attention seeking behaviors like whining, clinging, acting helpless and constant interruptions.  Eventually, the attention-seeking behaviors shift to power-seeking behaviors like tantrums, not listening, backtalk, etc

The best strategy to avoid the negative attention and power seeking behaviors is to commit to spending 10 – 15 minutes 2X per day with each child.  That is 10 minutes of uninterrupted time with ONE parent and ONE child in which he has your complete and undivided attention and doing something the child likes to do. If he likes to play with Legos – you build Legos for 10 minutes.  If she likes to play UNO or backgammon – that’s what you do.  It’s 10 minutes of undivided time when they don’t have to compete with anyone (siblings, your spouse) or anything (your Blackberry, work, etc.) for your attention.

By INVESTING time in proactively filling their attention baskets – you get that time back 10-fold in good behavior.  When their “baskets” are full, they don’t have to demand your attention.  Parents have a choice – we can put the time in on the front end with Mind, Body & Soul Time or we can spend a lot more time than that battling whining, tantrums, and constant interruptions during the day. 


TSG:       Are there “universal truths” in positive parenting or do you alter your approach to account for the cultural diversity we have here in the US?

AM:       There are certain universal truths that apply to all people in all cultures.  All humans have a hard-wired need for positive attention and positive power.  If the need for attention and power is not met, kids will resort to negative behaviors to get it.  If parents proactively fill the attention basket in positive ways and give kids opportunities to exercise power in positive ways – kids don’t have the “need” to misbehave.

Beliefs about appropriate discipline strategies certainly differ based on culture, religious beliefs and personal experience.  Positive Parenting Solutions does not advocate spanking or other punishments that are emotionally or physically hurtful to a child.  However, perspectives can differ on that based on cultural diversity.  Our goal is to give parents 25 other tools they can use FIRST before resorting to physical or hurtful punishment. 


TSG:       I love the fact that you provide parents with a “Tool Box” of strategies. Each child and every home environment creates a unique formula for frustration. By providing a variety of tools, you give parents the option to deal with each situation appropriately. What are some of the tools that a parent gets from your online courses?

AM:       Just as young children learn to walk one step at time, parents need to learn new solutions one step at a time. The Positive Parenting Solutions program is laid out in “take action” steps called “Tools”. Parents start by learning and implementing Tool #1. And make no mistake — they’ll see concrete results after implementing Tool #1. Then, when they’re ready, move forward to implement Tool #2. Each tool in Positive Parenting Solutions builds on the previous one, with visible results every step of the way.

Mind, Body & Soul Time and the “how to’s” of implementing it are covered in the first session.  (Which parents can access for free!)  In Session 3, parents discover the 5 R’s of fair and effective consequences.  They experience why “When-Then” is consistently described as a “magic bullet” for diffusing power struggles.  Session 5 is all about sibling rivalry, fighting and competition and parents learn the tools to empower kids to work out their own fights without parents getting involved.  With over 25 tools in The Tool Box, we empower parents with concrete strategies to correct misbehavior without nagging, reminding and yelling! 


Amy, thank you again for your time today and important insight.


Success in business takes investment – investment in time, equipment, marketing. How much time do you invest in your ability to create a healthy relationship with your children and setting healthy boundaries for your home based business?


Invest in helpful “tools” today. Positive Parenting Solutions gifts you a 14-day free pass to check out Session 1’s seven online videos, interactive learning modules and more. For more information and to get started today, click on the link below.


Positive Parenting Solutions
Amy McCready, Founder
http://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/
Free 14-Day Course Access
Free Live Webinars 
Blog Articles


All the Best,


Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide

If you recall a post that I wrote about two months ago, I discussed the three entrepreneurial personality types in the piece, “The Split Personality of Entrepreneurship”. The three types of entrepreneurs are the Inventor, the Manager and the Split Personality (a blend of the previous two).

A significant percentage of solopreneurs are either the Inventor or the Manager type. Today’s interview is with Jeff Frutkin, the solo entrepreneur behind SmarterLeap.com and its sister site Idea Architects. Jeff recognized the delineation between these two entrepreneurial types and created sites specifically geared to allow people falling into these categories to take advantage of their strengths.

TSG:     What was your inspiration to launch SmarterLeap.com?

JF:     I’d been looking for a unique idea for a business for the last several years. I came across dozens of websites that claimed to have “new business ideas”, however, these sites simply published existing small businesses or reported on ideas that were started by other entrepreneurs. Further, many of the ideas were recycled from site to site and offered limited revenue potential and competitive advantage, especially to an entrepreneur looking for an invaluable idea to call his own.

I founded SmarterLeap.com to bridge the gap in the marketplace. Our purpose is to provide:

• Breakthrough business ideas for individuals serious about starting a new business, from original web 2.0 sites and unique service businesses to new product innovations, and
• Expert guidance assisting entrepreneurs with the successfully launch of a new SmarterLeap business idea.

TSG:     Can you give us a quick bio about your professional background?

JF:     Sure. I have 12 years of experience leading top performing organizations with national and global marketing presence. I held senior marketing and general management positions in a number of leading financial services companies, including HSBC and most recently, Advanta Bank Corp.

I earned degrees in Marketing and Finance from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University) and The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania).

TSG:     Who do you think will benefit the most from the ideas on SmarterLeap.com?

JF:     While SmarterLeap focuses on cultivating aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide, many individuals from diverse industries turn to us for access to one-of-a-kind business ideas they can’t get anywhere else.

Here are just a few that count on our services:

• Budding entrepreneurs
• Consultants
• Experienced professionals seeking an alternative to working in large corporations
• Independent small business owners
• Franchisees looking for a fresh approach to new start-ups
• Trend watchers
• Marketers
• Venture capitalists

TSG:     What benefits do entrepreneurs have by becoming a subscriber with SmarterLeap instead of going to other free sites for business ideas or buying into a franchise?

JF:     We are offering aspiring entrepreneurs innovative business ideas that have the potential to become multi-million dollar companies. The ideas range from original web 2.0 sites and unique service businesses to new product innovations and compelling retail concepts.

The cost to join SmarterLeap.com is only $9 per month. For this small fee, you get:

• Unlimited access to search SmarterLeap’s idea bank, with in-depth descriptions of each innovative concept
• 30+ new business ideas are added to the site monthly
• Free reign to begin building your business using an original SmarterLeap concept
• Eligible to utilize additional member services

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, and you don’t have a viable business idea, SmarterLeap is the perfect resource for you. 

TSG:     Why do you offer such an aggressive, low monthly fee of only $9 for the site’s innovative business ideas? Why not charge interested entrepreneurs $100 a month or more?

JF:     We are committed to maintaining a low subscription fee, so you can focus on finding the breakthrough idea that is right for you. Right now, you can get a 1-month subscription for a total of only $9, a tiny investment that will change your life.

TSG:     Where do the ideas published on SmarterLeap come from?

JF:    SmarterLeap taps into a network of really smart and creative people (we call them Idea Architects) to generate ideas that have yet to be imagined in the world of business. We compensate Idea Architects for developing powerful new business concepts. They participate in weekly brainstorms with the SmarterLeap team and submit ideas based on their expertise, research and knowledge of a particular market.

If you are interested in becoming an idea architect, please send us a brief description of yourself including areas of interest, current responsibilities and any significant achievements to: ideaarchitect@smarterleap.com.

You can also submit ideas on our sister website: http://www.ideaarchitectsonline.com/.

TSG:     Who can join Idea Architects Online?

JF:     Anyone can join IdeaArchitectsOnline.com. Many Idea Architects are also entrepreneurs. We are looking for people who are creative, smart and enjoy brainstorming new business ideas. Idea Architects also tend to have a strong interest in emerging trends and next generation opportunities.

Jeff, thanks for your time and insight into your two unique sites.

So, whether your preference is brainstorming new business ideas or you are looking for inspiration to launch your new livelihood, you now have two original sites to assist you – Idea Architects and Smarter Leap.

For more information, you can click on the hyperlinks above or contact Jeff at the following:

Jeff Frutkin
P: (312) 890-5502

jfrutkin@smarterleap.com

All The Best,

Doug Dolan
The Solopreneur’s Guide