I just finished reading the book, Problogger - Secrets to blogging your way to a Six Figure Income. It was actually a book I won in an online contest but is one I highly recommend anyone buy. Don’t let the title fool you. This book is not a get rich quick scheme using blogging. The principles laid out in the book not only can help you be a better writer but also a better business owner if that is where you are in life or looking to go. Of course as a small business owner and blogger I was thinking of both while reading this book.

The book is co-authored by Darren Rowse of Problogger.net and Chris Garrett of Chirsg.com . Two of the most successful bloggers today. I would describe both Darren and Chris as real. Real individuals who are passsionate about what the write about but also are completely honest about how much work blogging takes if you want it to be a profitable venture. It wasn’t long after I started reading the book that I realized the things they were saying were a lot of the hard lessons I have already started learning as a business owner. Some of those aspects include finding a niche, income and earning strategies, promotion and marketing and creating a worthwhile product.

Another thing I discovered in my reading was they used a term we already use in our business mission statement, Compelling Content. However a big point they made was that just having compelling content without marketing is talking to yourself.

The buying and selling of blogs is also covered in the book. That whole section confirmed things we have told customers when it comes to having a web site that has value. I read things in that chapter that apply to any business. I dare say the entire book is really a handbook for the entrepreneur of business person will professional blogging as the prime example. Of course I as a part of our business we encourage our clients to blog as a way to communicate news, tips and ideas about their industry however you may want to take your blogging or desire to blog from hobby status to a professional venture, If you are a small business owner or looking into starting a small business or If you just want to be a better writer who will connect with your audience, buy this book.

Have you read Problogger? What were your thoughts? I’m also interested in hearing what other books you may have read that could apply beyond the title.

I’m right now in the middle of reading a book and it just occured to me how reading a book, hearing a special speaker at a meeting, listening to a podcast or attending a class will often help me do one thing but not the thing I expect. We often expect to go into a place of instruction or ispiration with hopes of getting a list or special formula for acheiving a special task however I have found that I am often fortune to get one good nugget of information I can take with me and use.

Our brains can only hold so much stuff. They say at one time we can only remember 7 things at a maxium. That is one reason telephone numbers are set up they way they are. Even better is a 3 or 4 step process. Even with taking good notes their is usually one thing we hear or see that inspire us to take further action.

What helps you get your focus?

Are you providing opportunities for customers or other people to focus or are you dumping too much information and confusing people?

Does your logo, web site, business card, photos, etc. help people remember that “one thing” or do they get overwhelmed with a long list of products and services?

A while back we decided on the phrase, Harmonious New Media, as our company “tag line.” As of today, June 21st, 2008 I have decided to make that the official name for this blog as opposed to the more generic “SpinningSilk Multimedia Blog” as it’s a part of our company web site. You might not notice a change much on the web site immediately but the RSS feeds, and the way we link from blog comments, etc. will start using that title. Official the “long title” will be - Harmonious New Media - The blog of SpinningSilk Multimedia. The reasons for doing this are as follows;

• Showing the difference between the blog and the web site as a whole
• I want to keep that mantra in my head and also the heads of my readers
• Harmonious is part of our consistent branding promise and I want to communicate that on a daily basis
• I want to showcase the fact that “New Media” is our core focus, not just web design per se but how that is a hub for graphic design, photography, podcasting and online video.
• It’s my desire that the majority of posts will focus on the concept of harmonious new media
• As we get ready to produce a podcast associated with this blog I want to focus of it to be the same

I also plan on changing the header graphic slightly for the blog portion of this web site.

Usually I like to tune into our local PBS station on Sat. afternoons as they usually run cooking and home improvement shows. This probably coincides with watcher who plan on doing the same thing and thus like to get a little inspiration be it cooking a special Sat. or Sun. meal for the family or doing some landscaping in the yard. The particular cooking show that caught my eye sadly was a bit of a turn off. The set was perfect and polished and this chef’s came across as the young ladies cooking we so polished and perfect in their speech I seriously had I hard time taking them seriously. The show is called, “Everyday Food” but to me nothing about the show communicates “Everyday Food.” This show is a Martha Stewart Production is you can tell it’s in the Martha Stewart Style of “over perfection.” The kitchen looks more like microchip clean room or hospital waiting room. Honestly I have a hard time relaxing with such a presentation. The hosts seemed to tense and “perfect.” It’s not that the production values aren’t good, they are top notch. The big problem I have is their slogan on their web site says, Real People, Real Situation, Real Solutions. Maybe if they show had been called, “The Perfect Kitchen” or even if they had stressed the word “Simple” but I felt nothing “real” about what I saw.

I must sound kind of crabby lately critiquing these things I experience in the media but as yesterday when I talked about keeping it fresh and today I’m talking about being real. Keeping it real in your communication with others involves the following;

• Show a little emotion, especially humor
• Express your personality through your treasures, how you dress, what makes you laugh etc.
• Share your experiences - People love stories of why you are passionate about something. Instructions and news are important but unless you are a journalist people are reading and watching YOU and want to know what you think.

I realize that when I first meet people I may come across as a little less than real. I’m reserved by nature but deep down I have a bizarre sense of humor, an eclectic taste in music and food. I’m working hard to communicate who I am to a greater degree. One thing I have done recently is express my opinions, although somewhat negative in these past few post. I feel you have to know what bothers me as well. That is part of what makes me tick and forms my values. How are you expressing the real you or the story of your business in your communication with others? Have you had experiences where you didn’t feel comfortable because things didn’t seem real? i.e. visiting someone’s house that feels like a museum to the point you felt too nervous to even sit in a chair?

One of my biggest pet peeves in both new and old media is seeing the same thing or formula day after day. Soap Operas have often been a target of many a joke with people saying they could watch one episode a year and not really miss anything. Several radio talk show hosts are guilty of this as well. I’ve all but stopped listening to certain radio shows not because of their political or philosophical stance but rather I feel it’s a waste of time hearing the same thing over and over again. I’m probably going to get into deep water and offend some people by saying this but one radio show that is guilty of this is the Dave Ramsey Show. Before I say anything critical I love and deeply appreciate Dave’s stance and principle of being debt free. I also appreciate how is confronts callers who try to make excuses for their debt behavior however as a listen I have noticed the show does get into a formula of sorts and while kind of “cute and funny” in the beginning playing the “FREEDOM!!!” sound clip from the movie, Braveheart gets extremely old to the point I want to shout, “Enough Already! I get it!”

In the 90’s The Ken Hamblin show was on the local talk radio station in my city. Ken’s referred to himself as the “Black Avenger” and in my opinion he tried to bring home the point he was black (or African American if you prefer that term but he said “black) and conservative. I “got it” the first few times listening but hearing anything over and over and over again can be a big turn off. Maybe the mindset in radio is repetition because they are expecting turnover ever so often but in the past few years I have had the opportunity to listen to many more hosts and read writers either in the new media through blogs and podcasts or in the old media of print journalism or broadcast media and I have enjoyed and stayed a long time reader. listener or viewer as a result of the hosts or writers “keeping it fresh.” Here are some of the things I have noticed that have kept things fresh for content producers;

• A catch phrase at the beginning or end of the show is fine but don’t let such stuff “hog up” the whole presentation
• Respond and comment on current events - people are often in “shock” during times of change. Help them cope with your unique product or service
• Avoid stereotypes, cliches and out of style terms
• Dare to be eclectic - a local auto repair shop has a radio show hosted by the owner who also loves classical music which he uses for bumper music. Definitely not a stereotype and the unique mix doesn’t get old. BTW, The show is know as the Driving Line and is now available as a podcast. I highly recommend it.
• Be known for consistently surprising your audience in a good way.

How do you keep it fresh and what experiences have you had with encountering things that “got old” way too quick?