Stamping Is My Business!

Thinking About Linking? Here's why you shouldn't...

There's been a bunch of discussion recently about whether or not you should post link to other Stamping Business Owners' blogs on your blog, in exchange for them posting a link to you on theirs.  These 'blog rolls' are quite popular, as they embody the sharing spirit that makes this community a special one.

However, these types of links are a bad idea for two big reasons (one obvious... the other one... maybe not so obvious):

1. You are sending your customers to your competition.  Don't think for a second they're always going to come back to you to place the order with you for whatever they saw on someone else's blog.  They won't.  I can give you example after example of times where my clients have gotten orders from new customers because of something found on their blog, in spite of the fact that customer already had a regular demo/consultant.

2. You are hurting your search engine rankings.  In the old days, search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.) would award a higher ranking to sites with multiple links pointing to them, regardless of whether or not your site had a link pointing back.  Now, however, not only do these "reciprocal links" no longer contribute positively to your rankings, they could actually hurt them.  If more than 30% of the links on your blog are reciprocal, your site may actually have a lower search engine ranking.

From a practical business, as well as a good SEO (search engine optimization) standpoint, these types of links are NOT recommended.

Business Stampers Coaching Group - Last Chance to Get Founding Members Rate!

 

Everything is on track for the launch of the Business Stampers Coaching Group this Monday. 

Remember, if you want to lock in the 'Founding Member' discounted rate, you only have until Monday to do so.

For more information, or to register, click here.

ANNOUNCING - The Business Stampers Coaching Group

I'm happy to annouce the formation of the Business Stampers Coaching Group - a Coaching Community of business-minded stampinging business owners who feel that they would benefit from Professional Coaching and peer support in a positive environment.

We'll be utilizing some exciting technologies to deliver this Coaching to you at a VERY reasonable price.

Early-Bird Discount - The Group launches on February 2nd.  If you sign up before then, the price is EVEN LOWER!

For more information, or to sign up, just click here, or click the logo on the left. 

AND don't forget to look at the Affiliate Program attached to this group which will allow you to offset or pay for your membership, OR even create a new revenue stream for your business.

For more information, or to sign up, click here.

24 Hours Left to Sign Up!

Just a quick note to remind you there are just 24 hours left to sign up for the Marketing & Advertising Boot Camp, beginning Tuesday evening.

As I mentioned last week, we've expanded the Boot Camp to five weeks, instead of four, to accommodate all of the information, such as:

• How to identify a target market who wants to spend money with you

• How to craft an effective marketing campaign

• The Most Effective Free and Low-Cost Marketing Techniques

• Strategies to get your Current Customers to Spend More

• How to Convert A Lead to a New Customer As Quickly As Possible

... and much, much more!

The Boot Camp will also feature VIDEO TUTORIALS for some of the more technical aspects of marketing, such as keyword research and search engine optimization. 

 

And, for the first time ever, each call, beginning with Week 2, will feature a LIVE MARKETING COACHING SESSION, where I'll brainstorm with a volunteer on their marketing campaign.  Listening to these sessions allows you to witness the thought process that goes into the marketing process and apply it to your own business.

 

It's a LOT to pack into five weeks, but I truly believe there's never been a more important time to incorporate marketing and advertising into your business.  And whether you have a big marketing budget... or no budget at all... you CAN do it!

 

For more information or to sign up, please visit:

 

http://www.stampingismybusiness.com/marketboot2009.htm

 

Hope to see you on the calls!

Download A Free Copy of Suze Orman's New Book

You can get a free copy of Suze Orman's new book, "Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe & Sound," by visiting the following:

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

The free download offer expires on January 15th.

Stampin' Up! Announces Entry Into Digital Scrapbooking

Stampin' Up has annouced they will be releasing a digital scrapbooking solution later this year.  The product is designed to mesh with current SU product and colors. 

More details to follow.

SIMB January Newsletter

The SIMB January Newsletter is here!  This issue features:

• Top 5 New Year's Resolutions for Your Stamping Business (and How to Make Them Happen)
• Happy New Year!  Time to Raise Your Prices! (really!)
• Last Chance To Sign Up For The Marketing & Advertising Boot Camp
• Do You Have An Inner or Outer Scorecard
• Book of the Month

To read the newsletter, click the logo above.

And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to sign up for the SIMB mailing list to get the newsletter delivered straight to your Inbox!

Quote of the Week

"If connectivity confers competitive advantage, then what really counts is how connected you are compared with the next guy."

 - David H. Freeman, Contributing Editor, Inc