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Blogging is Not for Quitters

By Christian

These are my blogging tips for the day…quitting too soon is one of the most common tragedies in business today. Whatever stage you’re at, there are frustrations. Here’s a secret: when you get to the next level, there will be MORE frustrations, not fewer frustrations. Your frustrations will be bigger, not smaller. Success has a cost. When you’re small, revel in it. Enjoy where you’re at. You have more than you think! Keep at it, and don’t discredit yourself for not yet being where you think you’re “supposed” to be. Where you’re at, right now, rocks. Don’t quit! Keep at it…live your mission.

If you’re having trouble viewing the video in a feed reader, click here.

5 Seconds to Better Results on Facebook

By Christian

It’s the simple stuff that works. Don’t you agree? If you’re a regular reader of Next Level Blogger (I hope you are, and if you’re not…well, I’m just gonna throw an opt in form right here, special…just for you!)

Anyway, if you’re a regular reader here, you know that I’m not a tech-oriented guy. The fact that I’ve built successful, profitable websites should serve as PROOF to anyone who needs it…that you simply DO NOT have to be a SEO guru or a highly talented webmaster in order to make it in this business. That’s not to say this stuff is always a cake walk, but if you think you have to be really techy in order to succeed online…it’s just not true.

Much of What We Think is Too Techy or Out of Our League, Isn’t

In fact, I’ve just recently started doing videos, and one of my big excuses for not doing them was because I didn’t know how to edit them, and I was afraid of the results not being professional enough. As soon as I decided to throw out my excuses, guess what happened? I learned that video is actually really frickin easy, there’s seriously not anything to worry about, it’s actually a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to connect with your audience.

It’s also a great way to bust some content out really quickly. If you’re not using video, I really recommend you dig in for a second and just do it. Get a flip or something and just start it, because it’s a great way to add some really valuable content to your site. Does this mean that my videos are all professional and top notch? Actually, no. My videos (one is up already, several more will post over the next few weeks) are uber-simple, and that’s the point…it’s the SIMPLE stuff that works.

Get More Conversation, More Leads and More Business on Facebook

Speaking of uber-simple, I want to give you a heads up about something I’ve been doing since the beginning with my Facebook profile that has always really worked for me. Honestly, it’s classic Chris Russell stuff…it requires no talent at all, just diligence. When I get friend requests, I (get this) respond to them! This is what I say…verbatim:

Hey thanks for the request! You on FB for business or fun?

Best regards,
Chris

I know, I too am reeling from the genius of it all 🙂 How long does this take me? About 5 seconds. What is the net result? It initiates a conversation. That’s the entire point, correct? I mean, it’s THE reason you’re on Facebook, so why not actually converse with these people?

I’ve altered my response from time to time, but the one I’m sharing here is the one that pulls the best. There’s no pitch, no stupid link to my site (I have to admit I’ve done that, and it’s just dumb), just a hello and an invitation to conversation.

Why it Works

Guess what…you most likely got that friend request for a reason. They’re already interested in you on some level. Granted, it’s probably a very superficial level, but that’s cool. Build on it. We all know that clicking “accept” does nothing. Nothing. Who cares if you have a new contact on Facebook if there’s not any actual contact? Make a reply…and I guarantee you a good percentage of them will respond, and you can nurture that.

At this point I have a little over two thousand contacts on Facebook, so I’ve done this more than once or twice. It works. It’s not the genius of this technique that makes it work…it’s the simplicity of it. Coupled with the fact that not very many others do this…believe it or not it’s almost always simple things like this that can put you over the top.

It’s the little things like this that add up and show your audience that you actually care about them. And when someone really gets that…gets the fact that you actually care about them, that’s when you have an advocate. Is 5 seconds worth it? What do you think?

An Undeniable Traffic Building Tool for WordPress Blog

By Christian

If you happen to be reading this in a feed that doesn’t support video, click here to see the video! I really do appreciate this plugin and recommend popping it into your blog at your earliest convenience. I get great traffic every day as a result of using it. It’s automatic, and it’s free. Let me know what you think!

You can download it for free here: https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/global-translator/

As you know, I rarely recommend “automated tools” really of any kind, but I have to admit this one has always worked for me. It’s not perfect. Nothing is. But it gets traffic to your site that you would never be able to get otherwise.

Are you using Global Translator? Have you heard of it? Criticisms?

UPDATE: just a heads up everyone. After a nice run, I will most likely be taking this plugin down. Unfortunately there seems to be no support at this point, and I’m having some caching issues. This is unfortunate, because it’s been a great tool for making this site more accessible and visible. It’s brought a lot of traffic, and I hate to take it down. But it’s started failing on a number of translations, and it’s causing some sitemap errors. Nothing remains the same forever of course, and without support, this plugin seems it may no longer be viable.

This is a great lesson in the use of plugins actually. You have to keep an eye on them! If anyone does have a solution or even knows of a custom replacement for this function, I’d love to hear from ya. Peace.

-Chris

Kids are Not Great Salespeople

By Christian

It’s been said that kids are the best salespeople. They know persistence. They know the power of repeatedly asking for what they want. These are important qualities…not just in sales but in life. But kids are not great sales people. In fact, kids have a lot to learn. No figure.

Why Kids are Bad Salespeople

Where kids fail is in their execution. Kids don’t have a clue 😉 They lack experience, see? Unfortunately most of us never learn how to execute on what we innately know to be true.

Ask for what you want. Ask often, and you will often get it.

We’re born knowing this, but we’re not born wise, trained or experienced. In business, we need the whole package. We know we need to ask for what we want often, but we’re rarely taught HOW to do this. What kids do is nag. They beat you into submission. Does it work? Yes. But not NEARLY as often as it would work if they knew how to sell tactfully and skillfully.

Most of Us Sell Like Little Kids…or Not at All

Most of us roll our eyes when a salesman approaches or calls us on the phone. Why? Is it because sales is inherently bad? No. It’s because most people suck at sales.

Most of us sell like little kids, or not at all. When we sell like little kids, we do what little kids do. We cling. We nag. We say please, please, please. We bother people until someone gives us a treat. And the person giving us what we want has NOT been sold, they’ve been beaten into submission. They’ve been trampled, and they’re relenting not with a smile but with a roll of the eyes. This is not sales.

Most people have a distaste for this type of behavior, and rightly so. Unfortunately we’re taught that this is what sales is, so we avoid it like the plague. Most of us anyway. Most of us think things like “Oh man, I could never be in sales. I could never bother people like that all day long. No way.” What we don’t know is that sales has nothing to do with bothering people. It has to do with asking for the order. You HAVE to ask for what you want, but you don’t have to nag. In fact, nagging is against the rules.

How to Sell

I’m going to give you a tip, and honestly it’s a pretty rockin tip. It will take you far along the way to becoming a masterful sales person.

Ask for what you want many times, but never ask until you’ve given something of value first.

Give first, but then ask for reciprocation. That’s sales. Of course, there are myriad techniques that can be used to do this effectively and tactfully, and that’s what I teach clients in detail.

Interestingly, most marketers in social media today believe it’s just about giving and that’s awesome. There’s so much generosity today it blows my mind. And that’s a good thing. I do not mean to downplay the value of generosity. Generosity rocks; it is the foundation of any productive relationship. But if you want to make it in a small niche, or if you want to maximize your results no matter where your business is right now, you need to complete the sequence. Give, then ask for something in return. If you’re running a business, it’s necessary, it’s fair, it’s expected, and it’s even value-added, because what you’re offering is awesome right? So ask people to buy it. It’s ok to sell stuff.

What do you want? Subscribers? Comments? Purchases? You gotta ask. And you gotta ask a lot. But don’t nag. Learn the difference.

Before you ask for something, give something new of value first. Don’t ask again until you’ve given MORE reasons your customers should buy. And they should be good reasons.

This is what kids don’t do. They win through persistence, but the sales they win are often a result of frustration. Don’t take your business this direction. Add value first, but don’t forget to ask for what you want. Both are necessary.

Hustle, Make Mistakes, Abandon Perfectionism and Don’t Buy Get Rich Quick Crap

By Christian

Here’s a rant. First video ever. If you’re reading this in a feed that doesn’t support video, click here to view…

What do you think? Have you spent any time looking for the “right” business, or the “best” technique to grow your business, instead of just putting yourself out there? Are you afraid of making mistakes? Think I’m wrong about this? Let me know how you feel!

Awesomeness is Not Required to Meet Your Potential

By Christian

Quick thought for the day: You don’t have to be the best in order to succeed…don’t let misgivings get to you. Look at all the big companies out there selling crappy junk products to the masses. This is proof you don’t have to be awesome to succeed in business.

I’m not saying to sell crap! I’m just saying success in business does not require you to be perfect. Oddly enough, when we’re just getting started in business, we often feel that we need to be perfect in some aspect in order to compete and truly make our mark, but as you become more successful you start to complain about how so many people expect perfection from you when it’s clearly not possible. That’s when you’ve come into your own.

Big companies win in their way. You’re not in that game (most likely anyway, if you’re reading this post), so don’t play by that set of rules. Small companies win via a completely different paradigm. You have to care, you have to love what you do, you have to be good (and getting better regularly), and you have to work hard every day. But don’t let the fact that you may or may not be the best in the world at something stop you from rocking it.

Besides, the best way to truly become the best is by putting yourself out there in a big way, every day. Get out there and work very hard, and you just MIGHT become the best. Sit back and doubt yourself if you want. But that’s a 100% GUARANTEE that you won’t meet your potential. Your choice 😉

You dealing with any self-doubt lately? Any tips on how to “snap out of it”? Let me know what you think!