Podcast: Be Authentic to Increase Your Authority Status Episode 8:2
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Be Authentic: Don't Be A Fake
Be Authentic: Increase Your Authority Status
The word “authentic” is defined in the dictionary as meaning,” worthy of trust, reliance, or belief.” As an entrepreneur you want be seen as worthy of trust, reliance, or belief. Otherwise, potential clients, customers, or partners will likely not want to work with you. You want to be real. You want to be humble. In this podcast we explain why it is so important to be authentic as you build your authority status. We also give you several tips on how to be authentic and transparent.
Different Types of Authority Figures
There are generally two types of authority figures. The first type may hit it big for a while. They tend to being shooting stars. They have 15 minutes of fame and then it is all over. You never hear from them again.
Then there are other type of authority figures who build their authority status over time. They retain that status over the long term. This type of authority figure is well-respected within their industry. As you build your business you want to be the second type of authority figure. You want longevity. One of the key ways to build longevity, is to be authentic. That means being 100% yourself. You present a consistent face the world.
Be Authentic and Transparent with Potential Clients and Partners
Being authentic means that you connect with your potential clients and partners in a way that is truthful and honest. When you are pretending or being fake, other people can pick up on your awkwardness and discomfort. It is often difficult to maintain a fake persona for too long. Then when people find out how you really are, you quickly lose credibility. All of the goodwill and authority that you have built is gone.
Being transparent means that you are honest about who you are and what you know. If you do not know the answer to a question, then admit it. Don't pretend to have knowledge that you don't. My experience after giving hundreds of speeches, presentations, and court room arguments, is that is best to admit it when you don't know the answer. You have more credibility with the audience. Let them know that you will find the answer for them. Then follow-up.
By being authentic and transparent, you are able to brand your personality. You can embrace what is truly unique about yourself. You can offer your client what no one else can. Don't be a clone or an imitator of what everyone else is doing. There are more benefits and opportunities when you share your real self with your potential clients.
As you present your authentic self to the world, you build your credibility and authority. You increase your status as a recognized expert.
Let us know about your experiences when you have not been truly authentic. What were the consequences?
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Personal Branding Builds Your Authority
Personal Branding Builds Your Authority!
Personal Branding Builds Your Authority
Personal branding happens with every action that you take as you engage with your audience. Every email, every post, every tweet says something about you as a person. It makes an impression! What impression are you making? If you allow your personality to come through it can help brand you and your business. This article discusses several ways that you can allow your personality to shine and why it is so important to developing your personal brand.
Your Photo is Part of Your Brand
You may not realize it, but your photo is part of your brand. The professional headshot or photograph of you that you use on your website says a lot about your personality. By using your own picture, rather than a carton or icon, people get to connect with you as person and as an authority figure.
Remember to use the same photo or one that is similar in all your marketing. This provides consistency for your brand. You do not want your audience guessing whether it is you or not. We like to use our photo on all our information products. It helps to gain familiarity and to build the authority of our brand. Research has shown that humans respond emotionally to faces. So put a smile on your face and let your audience know that you are an authority.
Use Audio and Video to Build Your Personal Brand
There are so many opportunities available now for your audience to hear your voice and see you in action. The growth of video marketing is astounding. So many people have become famous from YouTube videos that we have stopped counting. So do you have a YouTube channel where you showcase your personality? Video gives you the opportunity to share both your voice and your image with your potential clients. That is very powerful! Live streaming on Periscope and Facebook are also available. A recent newspaper article stated that most Face Book posts will be video in a few years. Currently video posts get the most engagement.
Another outlet for your personality is an audio podcast. While a podcast doesn't allow you the advantage of sharing your authoritative face, you can share your voice. The sound of your voice and its intonations allow your audience to feel more connected to you. How you speak can have a huge impact on how your audience views you. So consider starting a podcast to boost your visibility and authority. Try the Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook to help you produce an impactful podcast series.
Personal Branding Helps You to Stand Out in a Crowd
In a world filled with so much information competing for our attention, as an entrepreneur you must look for ways to be different. Personal branding is the difference. There is no one exactly like you! Allow your audience to get to know you and understand how you can be of service. As you brand yourself with your content, pictures, posts, and videos you build up your authority status.
Connie Ragen Green said in a recent post on the topic of personal branding:
“Not only will potential clients remember you better, it’ll also be easier for them to tell others about you. Then you’ll be viewed as an authority in your field, all because you took the time to work on your branding.
But this is only the beginning. As you become more well-known, your ideal clients will become more attracted to you. You won’t have to spend as much time marketing because your customers will naturally flock to you. When this began to happen in my business I was overjoyed and my confidence soared.”
We could not agree more that by using personal branding to build your authority your business will grow. Your ideal clients will find you through word of mouth referrals based on the strength of your authority.
Conclusion
As an entrepreneur building your business, remember that your personality is part of your brand. Whenever you communicate with your prospective clients your personality shows. What does your communication say about you? Make sure that your writing, photos, audios, and videos showcase your personality in the best possible light. Each of these communications can boost your authority and build your business.
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, online business strategist, and speaker, providing you result-oriented solutions to help you to achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
Pamela Montgomery
Be Professional: Make a Good First Impression
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Being Professional Matters!
Be Professional: Make a Good First Impression
In today's episode of My Biz Dream Team: Episode Wednesday Training Series we discuss how you should present yourself in a professional manner. We discuss specific steps that you should take to be sure that you will be seen in the best possible light. What kind of an impression are you making? As an entrepreneur you want to be seen as the expert in your market. People are drawn to those in authority. Your professionalism will help you attract new clients and grow your business. You may want to read our recent blog post How to be a Recognized Expert to get more information on the topic.
What Does it Mean to Present Yourself in a Professional Manner?
It means that you set high standards for your business. What standards have you set for your business? If you set low standards, you will not be in business long. You don't need to be perfect. No one is perfect. But people want to do business with people who know what they are doing. It means that you have to look and sound like an expert. You can do this in a number of ways.
(1) Your social media posts should be professional and business related. There is a real danger of over-sharing. The danger is that your potential clients may get an unfavorable impression of you. So be careful of what you post on social media. Your photos and images should portray you in the best possible light. This is the case even on personal sites. Nothing is private on the internet.
(2) Your written and spoken language should be consistent with the image that you want to portray in your business. It is better not to use slang, tech talk, or jargon. Make sure that you are clearly understood by potential clients. You may want to hire an editor to help you with writing books or marketing materials.
(3) You want to seen as someone who is a problem solver. Be friendly and approachable. You will attract more clients by putting yourself in situations where you can continue to grow and learn. Become known as someone who helps others.
You are probably already doing many of the things we suggest. But you can always use reminders.
Leave a comment to let us know how you are using social media and marketing to make a good first impression on your potential clients.
How to Be a Recognized Expert
You are the Expert!
How to Be a Recognized Expert
Becoming an expert does not happen overnight. Being recognized as an expert may take even longer. But you can be recognized as an expert by following a few proven steps. These few steps allow you to build credibility, authority, and visibility. As an entrepreneur, speaker, or author you want to be recognized as the leader and expert in your industry. We buy from those who we believe to be authorities. Building your status as an expert will have a tremendous impact on your bottom line. It will also help you attract and keep clients. This post will discuss three steps you need to take if you want to be recognized as an expert.
Be a Leader
If you want to be recognized as an expert, then you need to see yourself as a leader. You first have to believe in your own capabilities. How can anyone else believe in you, if you don't believe in yourself? So begin with self-confidence.
You need to read, learn, and master your area. Become confident in your knowledge. As you gain new knowledge you will feel more self-confident and self-assured.
One great way to become a leader is to educate others. As your knowledge and confidence grows, you can create information products, publish books, and produce other materials. As you share what you know, the positive feedback will be a great confidence booster.
Having given hundreds of presentations over the years, I understand the tremendous benefits of positioning yourself as an expert.
Be Professional
If you want to be recognized as an expert, you need to present yourself in a professional manner. I don't mean you have to wear a suit and a tie! But you should make sure that you look and sound like an expert. For example, be careful with the language that you use. Whether it is talking on the phone, responding to an email, writing a blog post or other content, you want to use proper language. Don't fall into the trap of using jargon or tech talk. You want to be clearly understood.
Your photos and images should reflect your professionalism. On social media make sure that your posts are business related.
Sometimes I like to share a few life-style posts. But make sure that any posts are congruent with the professional image that you are trying to convey.
Remember to not over share. Your audience will look at your social media to see who you are. If you don't want them to see the pictures from the beach vacation, don't post them. After all, you are the expert. Don't confuse your clients or prospective client with a confusing image of who you are!
Be Honest and Humble
If you want to be recognized as an expert, you need to be honest about who you are. Don't take on a fake personality or persona. Learn to connect with people in a genuine manner.
People are looking for authenticity. If you are not being “real,” people will pick up on it. Additionally, it is very difficult to maintain a fake persona. Eventually you will get tired. Or far worse, you will get found out. It is far easier to be yourself.
Part of being honest about who you are is being transparent. You should strive to be honest about who you are and what you know.
One excellent way of being transparent is to openly admit what you don't know. It has happened to me on many occasions. When I did not know an answer to a particular question, I admitted it and offered to get back to them with a response.
It is much better to openly admit when you don't know the answer than to give an incorrect answer. I could see my credibility with the room increase, as I honestly handled a very difficult question.
Conclusion
With a few proven steps you can position yourself as an expert in your market. You may not be recognized as an expert overnight, but buy following these three steps you position yourself as a respected authority: (1) Be a Leader; (2) Be Professional; and (3) Be Honest and Humble. By following these three steps you set yourself up for lasting success.
To find out more about setting a solid foundation for your business success go to My Biz Dream Team. We work with entrepreneurs, speakers, and authors to help them get visibility, credibility, and authority. We can help you achieve uncommon results!
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, online marketing strategist, and speaker, providing you results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
Podcasting Can Increase Your Visibility Episode 7:4
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Podcasting Power
Podcasting Can Increase Your Visibility
Listen to the latest episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday as we continue the discussion of podcasting. Taking action to get expert guests is one of the important steps when it comes to podcasting. In this episode we present several additional podcasting strategies to help you to grow your business and increase your visibility.
Summary of Episode
These podcasting strategies help you make the most of your expert guests. They also help you impress your expert guest and your audience with your professional, easy-flowing podcast interview.
We begin with an update of the podcasting strategies presented in previous episodes.
- You need to do your homework to find experts guests who add value to your audience. The homework continues even after the guest expert agrees to the interview. Preparation is the key for a great podcast.
- You need to conduct a podcast that respects and honors your guests time. Don't let your disorganization cause the interview to run overtime.
- You need to send your expert guest a preliminary list of questions in advance of the interview. One key podcasting strategy is the thoroughness of your familiarity with your expert guest and her product or services.
- You should practice active listening during the interview. Relax and make the interview fun and informative.
In this week's episode, we discuss the following podcasting strategies:
- Your connection with your expert guest does not end with the interview, but should continue. Sending a gracious thank-you note or gift will help you build on the relationship.
- You should ask your expert guests for referrals to other potential guests for your podcast.
- You should prepare a simple form to gather this follow-up information.
All of these podcasting strategies will help you create a dynamic, fun-filled podcast series that grows your business and increases your visibility. Grab your copy of the Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook that accompanies this series.
My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday
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How to Shamelessly Promote Your Message
Promote Your Message!
How to Shamelessly Promote Your Message
Are you thinking about how to promote your unique message and capabilities? If you are not, the people who need and would benefit from your help probably will not find you. As entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, or small business owners we must be intentional about promoting ourselves. Otherwise, we are invisible and ineffective! Certainly you don't want that. Today, we will share with you three powerful strategies to shamelessly promote your message.
I. Consistently Create and Share Valuable Content
One of the best ways to promote your unique message and capabilities is to consistently create and share for your content. You noticed we said create and share your content. Simply publishing valuable content is not sufficient. You need to promote your content. Go where your potential clients are located. Are your potential clients on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn? If so, make sure that your content is seen on those platforms. Are you an active participant in industry groups and forums? Are you participating in the conversations about the key issues in you niche? Let people know who you are. Shamelessly promote yourself! This is not the time to be shy.
II. Produce an Impactful Podcast Series
Another great way to promote your message is to produce a podcast series. Podcasting is a great way to increase your visibility. A podcast is a great way to promote your valuable message to those who may prefer to learn through listening. A podcast allows you to 1) deepen your relationship your clients; and 2) establish a relationship with new contacts. By hearing your voice and intonations you make a closer connection with your audience. Producing a podcast also let's you stand out from the crowd in your niche. You demonstrate your commitment to your audience by trying to connect with them through a different medium. Again, let people know what you have to offer that will make them better off! To find out how to produce an impactful podcast series, grab our Special Report and Training Guide: The Podcasting Power Playbook.
III. Write a Substantive Book
Another great way to promote your unique and powerful message is to write a substantive book. Your book should clearly, concisely, and consistently demonstrate your expertise. Share powerful and meaningful strategies that set you apart from others in your niche! Writing a book enhances your visibility, authority, and credibility. Writing a book enhances your status as an expert in your niche. You will be the authority for that topic! It is always a great way to promote your business, when you are introduced as an author! In your book, you can shamelessly, and relentlessly promote yourself, your product, your message. Join us in “The My Biz Dream Team Book Writing Challenge.” You can be a published author in 30-60 days. Let us show you how!
Bonus!! The first 10 people to signup for “The My Biz Dream Team Book Writing Challenge” will receive a free 20 minute consultation to discuss your plans for your book.
IV. Conclusion
As an entrepreneur, speaker, author, or small business owner you must be intentional in promoting your message. If you are not consistently engaged in promotion, your unique and powerful message is lost. Your audience will not find you. You will be invisible. This article presents three powerful strategies to shamelessly promote your powerful message to potential clients: 1) create and share valuable content; 2) produce an impactful podcast series; and 3) write a substantive book.
Let us know how you are using these strategies to promote your business. Leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you.
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Podcasting Strategies 101 Episode 7:2
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Podcasting Strategies
Podcasting Strategies 101
Hello! This is Pamela Montgomery, Attorney, Author, and Entrepreneur. I am the co-owner of My Biz Dream Team. Welcome! I am so glad that you joined me today for this episode of “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday.”
This program is dedicated to helping to helping entrepreneurs achieve uncommon results! Our mission is to educate, empower, and inspire you to achieve extraordinary results in your business and your life.
You can find us online at My Biz Dream Team sharing powerful strategies about achieving uncommon results.
Our theme this month: “Increasing Your Visibility”
How are you attracting, engaging, and converting your audience? Do they know that you exist? That’s our challenge this month. To increase your visibility. So this month we will be discussing topics that provide you a framework for success and visibility.
One of the best ways to increase your visibility is to produce a podcast. Producing a podcast helps you in several ways. First, producing a podcast is an essential component of your marketing. Second, producing a podcast clearly separates you from all the others who won’t take the time and effort to produce a podcast. Third, producing a podcast puts you on the map by providing you another marketing outlet.
Special Report and Training Guide: Podcasting Power
We have prepared a Special Report and Training Guide to accompany this series. You can buy it at “Podcasting Power.”
We show you step by step how to leverage the power of the internet how to make yourself more accessible to your ideal client!
Today we will discuss: (1) how to get great guests for your podcast; (2) doing your homework once the guest expert agrees to be interviewed on your program; and (3) the importance of preparing a preliminary list of questions in advance.
First what is a podcast? It is a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player. Typically, a podcast is available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically. A podcast is also defined as making a the digital product. Today's episode will address both aspects of the word.
The Special Report and Training Guide: “The Podcasting Power Playbook” is available for a limited time for only $24.99. Buy it today!
Join us every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) for My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday
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To Achieving Uncommon Results!
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Top WordPress Plugins: Interview with Adrienne Dupree Episode 6:1
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WordPress Plugins Enhance Your Capabilities
Top WordPress Plugins: Interview with Adrienne Dupree Episode 6:1
Today's post is a podcast interview on WordPress Plugins with internet marketer, Adrienne Dupree. Adrienne is an online entrepreneur specializing in helping those who want to leave the corporate behind and launch an online business. Adrienne can be found online at Leave the Corporate World Behind. Adrienne is a technical expert and computer programmer who previously worked in the corporate world. She recently left the corporate world behind to work full-time on her internet business. Adrienne has also created a training course with Connie Ragen Green on the Top 20 Plugins for Your WordPress web site. During the interview we talked about several of the recommendations that Adrienne makes in the course.
Summary of Podcast
One of the most important aspects of building an online business is to have a website. Your website is the platform on the internet that you call home. We recommend a WordPress website. It is easy to create. It is also easy to use. It has become the industry standard. Along with the WordPress website, you will also need plugins to enhance the functionality of the site. These plugins will help you save time and make you money.
On this episode Adrienne shares her expertise on WordPress plug-ins. Having the right plugins to enhance your WordPress web site can make your business run much better. Knowing how to use plugins is an important part of being an internet entrepreneur. It is also important to know why to use plug-ins. Plugins are often a mystery when you first start out on line.
This program helps you select the ones that are best to protect your website. Adrienne also shares valuable information about which plug-ins to use to help you analyze your web site's data. I am a particular fan of Google Analytics. This free plugin gives you excellent information about who is visiting your site. It also tells you which content is most popular. A tool like Google Analytics can help you fine tune your content marketing strategy.
Read this recent post: Take the Mystery out of WordPress Plugins for additional information on some of the WordPress Plugins recommended by Adrienne in the interview.
For training on how to choose and use WordPress Plugins for your business, we recommend the training course that Adrienne Dupree created with Connie Ragen Green.
Join us every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) for our Teleseminar Training
My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series
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Pass Code: 930599
To Achieving Uncommon Results!
Creating Valuable Content: 3 Steps to Increase the Benefits to Your Clients
Creating Valuable Content, Not Spam!
Creating Valuable Content: 3 Steps to Increase the Benefits to Your Clients
Creating valuable content is essential to your success. Content marketing can be quite lonely if nobody reads what you write! Are you the only one reading your blog posts and your email messages. Well, it may be time to change your strategy. You may need to get to know your audience better. What problems can you solve for them? Creating valuable content and products that provide those solutions in a unique way that is your style will earn you a greater audience. You have to provide your audience with content that is easy to understand and valuable, but uniquely yours! Remember that value is always from the point of view of your audience and clients.
I. Content Should Be Easy to Understand
Whether your content is a blog post, information product, or podcast it should be easy to understand. If your product is in writing, it should also be easy to read. A few key ways of making your writing easy to read and understand are to:
- Use one main theme per content piece
- Use subheadings to break up your points
- Use simple formatting like bullet points, numbers, and short paragraph
II. Content Should Be Conversational
When you are creating your content, remember to use your personal and unique voice. Write content as if you were talking to a trusted client with whom you have developed a deep relationship. Write and talk like you are having a conversation with a peer or a really good friend. To accomplish this goal, that means you will not be using industry jargon. You will also clearly explain any new concepts that you introduce.
III. Content Should Focus on the Needs of Your Clients
When you sit down to create any product, whether in writing, video, or audio, ask yourself one important question: “How is this of benefit to my client?” You need to be able to answer the question: “Why would or should they pay attention to this?” If the piece of content does not add value, don’t publish it. Publishing content that does not add value, detracts from your value
Conclusion/Call to Action
Remember that creating valuable content is essential to your success. When you create any content it should (1) be easy to read, (2) conversational, and (3) focus on the needs of your clients. As you prepare product that meets this criteria, also remember to share personal stories and examples in your content. You will connect much better with your audience when you have some transparency and authenticity. Your unique voice and style should shine through in all that you do.
When you need help in finding your voice or creating your valuable content, contact us at My Biz Dream Team. We would be glad to share our expertise with you.
Leave us a comment below to let us know how you are creating content that your clients value.
Developing Your Content Plan
Dexter and Pamela Montgomery
Developing Your Content Plan
Now that you have decided to produce content for your ideal audience, what is your plan? If you have a topic that you love, and know how you plan to publish your content, then you’re ready to begin developing your content plan.
Will you publish blog posts or produce a podcast? Will you send out email marketing? Perhaps you plan to produce a combination of all the content that I have listed. That's what I do.
Your content plan will help you stay organized, focused on your goals, and productive.
As your business grows it can be difficult to manage and track all of your content – it adds up quickly. A content plan will help you stay on top of everything so you not only don’t miss anything. You’re also able to maximize your content for the best results. Let us help you with developing your content plan at My Biz Dream Team.
(1) What Is a Content Plan?
A content plan is quite simply a detailed outline of (1) what you’re going to publish, (2) the goal for the content, and (3) when you’re going to publish it.
Your plan may also include:
* Links to include in the content
* Creation notes – Who is creating the content and what do they need? For example, if you hire a ghost writer to create your blog posts.
* Deadlines – When do you need to have topic research completed? When do you want the content uploaded and scheduled on your blog? When do you need to get the graphics from your designer for your report?
* Analytics and Tracking – How will you measure success?
In short, your content plan includes any and all relevant information about your content. There are a few key questions you’ll want to answer before you create your plan.
Developing Your Content Plan
(2) How to Organize Your Content Plan
Organization – What’s the best format for your content plan? For example, do you work better with pencil and paper? If so, then you can create a written version of your content plan. Prefer digital planning tools? Try an online calendar or content management system.
Length – How far in advance do you want to plan your content? Consider planning at least a month in advance. It’s often better to plan for three months so that you can create a more streamlined approach. However, for some people that can feel like too much. For us, we find planning one month in advance sufficient.
Schedule – When will you review your content plan? This often depends on how you approach creating content. If you create a month’s worth of content in one or two days, then you may only review your plan on a monthly basis. If you create content weekly, then you’ll probably want to review your plan more often.
(3) Conclusion/Call to Action
Begin pulling your topic ideas and notes into a content plan. Decide how to best organize your information. Decide (1) how often you want to publish content, (2) what types of content you want to begin with, and (3) how you’re going to create your content.
If you are interested in finding out more about developing a content plan, listen to the following episodes of “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday” :
Also read the following blog posts for additional valuable information on developing your content plan.
- Creating Valuable Content: 3 Steps to Increase the Benefits to Your Clients
- Content Marketing for Entrepreneurs: What's Your Goal?
- How Planning Your Blog Content Can Help You Get More Done
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Strategic Pathway to Success Program™. Let us help you accelerate the growth of your business so that you can reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, online marketing strategist, and speaker, providing you results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life.
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