I’m taking time off because I am really freaking exhausted

I launched my first company, Lorrie Thomas Web Marketing (LTWM) www.lorriethomas.com in late 2005 and I have been hitting the work thing HARD ever since.  After several years of running LTWM and having more clients and building out a great team, we launched Web Marketing Therapy to offer more strategic web marketing advisory.  I LOVE being the Marketing Therapist and LOVE the work we do, but the road to a new business involved starting over in many respects.  The work to launch a new brand, create a business model, refine systems, take care of clients, run sales, oversee marketing, own management and keep all plates spinning is rewarding ….but has been a lot on the brain and my body.

Throw in teaching at UCSB Extension, Berkeley Extension, SBCC, speaking and work travel.  As much as busy people get things done, I lost track of something really important that needed to be done…..

LIVING LIFE.

If this looks like someone you know, stage a web intervention!

It is my goal to support business leaders, entrepreneurs and marketing professionals, but somehow as I kept my focus on my work, the professional Lorrie enveloped the personal Lorrie.  This is the FIRST trip I have ever taken where I am going to have no plans - just read, sit on a beach, unplug from technology and recharge.

And I’m a little scared!

I am sharing this because I think a lot of you can relate.  Sometimes we love what we do so much that it envelops our lives and what is really important is love of life, not just love of work.  I’m going to take some time to focus on what really matters - health is wealth and I encourage you all to carve out time in life to just BE.

Being a human DOing is not as good as being a human BEING

Do what you love, love what you do, but don’t forget to love you in the process.

This month, Web Marketing Therapy has been live for ONE YEAR (time flies when you are having fun!)   I look forward to coming back with a fresh perspective and more therapy tips and tools to help you embrace the wild wild web!

That’s why when our beloved webtherapist, Lorrie Thomas e-introduced me to Julie C. May, co-founder of the popular website and newsletter–www.HealthyBitchDaily.com, I couldn’t wait to share her entrepreneurial wisdom with the rest of our blog readers!

Julie is a true Healthy Bitch!

Julie founded the HealthyBitchDaily website with the authors of Skinny Bitch–one of my top reads from 2009, to share refreshing tips and pointers on everything from hygiene at the gym to organizing your private sanctuary.

Now catching up with HealthyBitchDaily has become an essential part of my daily routine!

So get comfortable and read on for how Julie C. May, PR professional, MBA, and super Healthy Bitch does it all so fabulously!

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1. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Multi-Tasker, Friendly, Creative

2. What online social media platform are you most addicted to? (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin…etc).
Facebook, without a doubt. Photos do it every time.

3. Please share a professional phobia or obsession….confession session! Conference calls that have more than 8 people on them. It’s too much chaos.

4. What is your favorite word or phrase? Why?
You can do whatever you want in life. That never gets old.

5. What do you believe successful “wild web woman” traits are?
Dedicated, diligent and resourceful. That’s the foundation. The much needed traits? Great writing, wit and humor.

6. How do you indulge yourself (every once in a while!) to stay healthy and balanced?
We have Fresh Farm Direct deliver fresh vegetables and fruit every week to our home. For me, this is like the ice cream truck coming to my door. Major highlight. Besides that, my husband and I get reflexology massages once a week. Very important to rid my body of toxins, and knots and kinks from stress.

7. What are the top three most vital marketing ingredients that have helped you become the professional you are today?
Thinking big, being optimistic and staying modest.

8. Where do you find inspiration to continue growing your business?
Knowing that everyday we make a difference to a subscriber. An email from a subscriber telling us they changed their habits to become healthier is beyond rewarding.

9. When you are faced with a setback or an enormous business challenge, what do you do to keep moving forward?
Take a deep breath and think six months out. Think of what will happen realistically and how it will all work out. Knowing the plan will ease your mind of any setbacks that today may bring.

10. Who is your personal role model? What about this person do you truly admire and aspire to?
My first boss here in Los Angeles 13 years ago. She taught me many things like, “know when to stop selling,” and “there’s always a way to accomplish something, just think it through.” But most importantly, she taught me that you have to ask for the business if you want it. No flirting.

11. What has been your biggest achievement recently that you are proud of?
The launch of Healthy Bitch Daily.com.

12. What are your goals for this upcoming year?
To continue growing healthybitchdaily.com, launch an iPhone application and a new vending machine that will transform healthy options from a “fast food” concept.

13. What is your ideal work outfit? (We work in our PJs whenever we can, what about you?) 
Yoga pants and a tank top.

14. What do you think is the most challenging part about being a female entrepreneur? How do you overcome this challenge?
I have never thought being female was a challenge. It’s all about the people you surround yourself with.

15. What is the ONE web marketing best practice that you would share with other Web Marketing Therapy readers?
You need to understand your audience and deliver what they want, not what you think they want. Surveys are critical. You have to ask, “how can I get better and best serve you?” People want education, tools they can use. At the end of the day, it’s about value. Become something that is of indispensible value to your clientele and audience.

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I hope you enjoyed learning about Julie C. May as much as our Wild Web Women team here at Web Marketing Therapy did!

Seems like a good attitude, high spirits, a healthy dose of optimism and some healthy habits are great ingredients to start with! Listen to your audience, understand their needs, and serve them, serve them, serve them!

We know you are already fabulous–keep up with the great work! And if you ever need a dose of HealthyBitch, you’ll know where to go!

Web Marketing needs to Serve and Support to Sell. Look critically at your web marketing and see how it communicates who you are, what you do and who you serve.  Does your web marketing have valuable information, attract quality visitors, share helpful information, educate people, enlighten people?

You need to get out of the techy web marketing mindset and re-train your brain to look at web marketing as a way to get into the relationship business. 

No matter what business you are in, you need to be in the relationship business FIRST.

Web marketing is not egotistical execution to force sales.  Marketing serves to start and build relationships.  When people know you, like you and trust you, then sales happen.

Marketing works to make relationships by boosting awareness, sharing information, educating, collaborating, connecting, serving and when there is trust…sales happen, and happen again.

Trust levels are at an all-time low in tough economic times.  It is time to stop stressing about “spending” on web marketing.  I encourage you to start thinking about “investing” in a healthy foundation that solidifies your credibility, user experience, visibility and your message (sell-ability).  A solid web marketing foundation with a clear purpose and some heart in it will last the life of your organization.

When web marketing strategy has clear purpose, intention, passion, desire to offer good service, partnership and employs commitment to stellar communication then it supports sales.

It is time to start thinking REAL return on investment (ROI) - think Relationship ROI!  We did a free webinar on Relationship ROI that is worth watching.  Watch Free Relationship ROI Webcast.

Am I going to make sales by posting this blog post?  NO.  But will you all continue to learn from me, connect with me, become more empowered and have a great cyber-relationship with me and my virtual team?  I hope so.  Being in the relationship business has carried me for the last 15 years that I have been working.  The tools I use to make and grow relationships has changed since I got in business, but the core cause will always be there.

Put some heart in your work.  Share, learn, give, grow and love how the web can work for you!

“Strive not to be a man of success, but rather to be a man of value.”

I think Einstein had it right!  It’s a tricky thing to be focused on “SUCCESS.”  And ironically, for so many, it detracts from doing what’s really needed to achieve it!

The problem I think is that “success” and the images often associated with it, are deceiving and illusive.  I even think they can be like “vines of illusion” that can strangle us, keeping us from our growth.

Focus on VALUE from multiple perspectives… and SUCCESS will follow.

(That is, the kind that brings a fulfilling, enriched, healthy/wealthy life!)  As they say, “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Building a stronger foundation that is “built to last,” requires proper design and motivation.  Value/values are a critical ingredient in your “blueprint for success.”

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The following are 7 guiding questions to apply VALUE/VALUES for greater business success:

1. Do your customers value your product/service? Are you serving your customers well with added or unique value?  Are you teaching, educating, connecting and responding to needs? Have you made a commitment to “continual value-improvement” for today’s dynamic world?  Are you meeting needs that aren’t currently being met by others?

2. What are your customers’ values within their lives? Remember, you can align and become involved in many common, supportive associations or causes that your customers care about. (Do research, surveys, build relationships).

3. Are you communicating a unique “Value Proposition” to differentiate yourself in the marketplace?  What makes you stand out?

4. What are the “Guiding Values” of your business. What vision or goals do you have for your business?  What is your value, your philosophy, your approach?  Write a company value statement or statements and abide by them.

5. What are your personal values and interests? How do they correlate with your business, your role, and your activities?  Remember, passion helps to fuel your business for success.

6. Are you perceiving and identifying the values of those around you, including: team members, venders, sub-contractors, associates, etc.?  Teamwork works better when values are aligned and supported.

7.  DO NOT under-value your worth. Be “valiant.” Communicate your value in all you do, throughout your client relationship —all the way to your billing statements and beyond!

Use VALUE(S) as Your Springboard & Your North Star! –Which also means:  COMMUNICATE AND ENACT YOUR VALUE(S).

I often meet clients who put limitations on themselves and their success with preconceived notions. Marketing activities (off and on-line) that expand upon VALUE/VALUES have the best success rates.  –And you don’t need to have a large budget! Strategy and new communication tools can go a loooooong way!  Remember, you are in business to serve people --It’s all about P2P (People to People).

Pandora’s mission: to play only music you’ll love

I like listening to music while I work, it keeps me on task and it helps me concentrate.  I know for most people music is distracting and keeps them FROM concentrating and I am not here to promise you that if you start listening to music it will help you with your laziness or procrastination. 

I think the key to being productive while listening to music is to reduce your time being the DJ.   This means that it is important to have a good playlist or an account on Pandora, a personalized internet radio service. I am sure we all have good playlists or go-to albums but how many times can you listen to that playlist or album on repeat?

I recommend using Pandora.  Each artist and/or song you enter to listen to, is analyzed by their music genome project which basically means Pandora helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites.

PLUS, Pandora offers an iPhone app for all you Apple lovers out there.  AND, for the social media addicts, you can share your music on Facebook and Twitter straight from you Pandora playlist.  If you create an account today, you can tweet your music playlist and add the hashtag: #MusicMonday (# 4 top twitter trending topic) to increase your Tweet reach. You can also add Pandora to your Facebook profile wall via the Pandora Facebook app.

For more motivational marketing tips and advice, follow me on Twitter @NickiG.