I just had to mention that two bloggers I admire do an excellent job of building community with their readers. That is Jason Alba at Jibberjobber and Penelope Trunk at Brazen Careerist.

People like to be appreciated and acknowledged. Penelope just sent me a very quick email thanking me for linking to her. It was a simple gesture but it was authentic and I appreciated it. It also helped that she validated what I’m doing right now (coaching).

Jason really does an incredible job of reaching out to the people in his industry - the big companies and the individuals. He has introduced me to some amazing people and is a networking king.

I notice how many people contribute to both blogs and yet both feel like personal friends to their readers (I know Jason and have corresponded with Penelope. I hope she’ll visit Utah sometime and have lunch with us and perhaps speak here because I’m sure we’d be friends).

Tip: Take a moment and write a short email thanking bloggers who link to you. Do the same for people who make comments on your blog that you appreciate. It’s easy and simple to do and you’ll make people feel good and remember you.

This is just amazing - if you can program a widget, or as Google calls them, a gadget, you could get money from Google. Gadgets are fun, useful mini-applications that help you do everyday tasks. There are desktop or online gadgets (like one that shows the weather, or the one I have that scolls news).

Google Gadget Ventures will grant $5,000 to developers with at least 250,000 page views per week to their gadget.

After that, you could be eligible to turn your gadget into a business and can apply to get $100k to do it.

I think some Utah bloggers/programmers could pull this off. How about a Jibberjobber gadget? a job seeker’s gadget? a linked in or social networking gadget? A keyword tool gadget (TagJungle). A stay-focused gadget that has your tasks to get done or “to do” list? I need to find a delicious gadget so when Paul Wilson adds a new page I see it.

here’s the scoop: http://www.google.com/gadgetventures/

I seem to have a phone theme lately. Ether.com is a new company that lets you offer consulting services by phone (thank you Paul for telling me about this phone consulting service). You can charge by the minute or the hour. If you charge by the hour, be aware that the service will cut off the call as soon as you hit the hour mark. So I recommend charging per minute.

Ether takes care of the billing and keeps 15%. There is a checkbox where you can allow people to leave you a tip.

I wish I could bill some of my friends by the minute sometimes. You know after you’ve heard the same story twice, then you start billing. Just kidding.

However, you would be happy to talk to long-winded clients when you’re billing by the minute. There are all sorts of experts who use Ether in a variety of ways. Like therapists. publicists. attorneys should use it. Check out the ether blog for other examples. Maybe you are a comedian and could charge for your jokes.

This would be good to put as a standard broiler plate at the end of your press release. If you’re innovative it could even be your press release. I challenge Paul Allen to offer this service. He offers a lot of valuable advice and contacts but he’s swamped. He could assist more people and both sides would be happy.

So if you need consulting on blogging, internet marketing, press releases, and the like, you can set up a time to call me using the link below.

Here’s an example of my listing:

Newspapergrl 1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 01994571

Adding a toll free number to your eBay auction or web site can build instant credibility with customers and improve sales. I found a service that forwards the call to your cell phone or regular phone and only charges per minute (8.9 cents). It’s called Toll Free Number.org. This is good for someone just starting out, especially if you can change the ring for business calls so you know how to answer.

There is also www.myanswering.com that has someone calls and answer questions in behalf of your business name 24/7.

“Americans simply prefer to buy their products from companies that have 800 numbers. Consumers associate an 800 number with a good business. According to ICB Toll-Free News:”

* Telephone orders will increase from 30-60%
* Product returns decrease by 50%
* Word of mouth referrals go up 200%
* The average business will see a 600% increase in revenue using a toll-free number.
* A productive ad featuring an 800 number can generate approximately 30% more orders.

Those are pretty ambitious numbers for sure. If you’ve added a toll free number to your site, please tell me your experience.

I’m an internet marketing coach and it’s taught me about human nature. I really believe in my students and want them to make changes in their lives. It’s difficult to see when people don’t overcome habits and stay stuck in the same life they’ve always had.

I’m converted to coaching, if you are committed. You must realize there will NEVER be enough time to get everything done. It’s got to be a priority. One thing I don’t understand is how people can pay thousands for coaching and then not follow through and accomplish very much. On the other hand, I love seeing the web site materialize and show the personalities of the people who created them. Next, I want to see their first sale.

Penelope Trunk blogged about her experience getting coached in public speaking. This applies to any coaching:

“We need to make time in our life for coaching. Mentoring is one of the big differentiators between the people who get what they want and the people who don’t. And coaching is mentoring on steroids - very specialized and very effective. This is why I have the Coachology feature on my blog, because coaching has made such a huge impact on my life, and I want to share it with you. It makes a huge difference. And even yours truly, Coachology girl, almost didn’t make time for the coaching. So focus on the big picture goals in your life, and get coaching to meet them faster and better than you could do on your own.”

See, even someone who believes in coaching says she tells herself she doesn’t have time for it. But she did have time and it had an enormous impact on her.

I’m so behind on blogging but I also read this in another post, which interested me because my business partner Paul teaches 6th graders internet marketing:
“Ben Casnocha, teenage entrepreneur and author of My Start-up Life. Ben blogs at ben.casnocha.com, and he has a loyal following of people who are fascinated by the thought process of someone who could launch a successful Internet-based company in sixth grade (check it out: Comcate.com).”

After you’ve built an online store or web site and optimized it for search engines, the next step is to build links to your site. This post goes over the top ways to build links to your web site:

1. Submit to directories using the correct category and keywords. This isn’t to get traffic to your site but to get your new site into search engines. If you wait for this it can take months.

2. Write articles and link them back to a relevant page on your site. Again, use your keyword phrases, not the URL as the link text. The point here is to create valuable information related to what your site is selling or about.

3. Write press releases and link back to your site or a page of your site. This is for news, not information.

4. Post on blogs and forums with links back to your site. Each forum has different rules and so read them. If you break the rules people are not merciful at all. Contribute something of value or you’ll be looked on as a spammer and your post will be deleted.

Read the whole article for more ideas, but these IMO are the best. You can buy links, but I’d just ask for a link first.

Zip Car is a car-sharing business that lets you check out fuel-efficient but stylish cars for $9 an hour. It includes insurance and gas. You can reserve it online, and you get roadside assistance. Pick it up and swipe your card. The car opens. You drive it then return it to the same parking spot (and you won’t pay parking). They need one by every airport in the country.

It’s only in some cities, like San Fransisco, but I’m sure it will spread. This is an idea that I can get behind. I’m all for making driving a car more efficient. There have got to be other programs like this that can help reduce emissions.

They have a program for universities also. I need to read more because if you could do it in one-way trips. It’s funny to think in hours. I’d love to see the day when check-out cars are the norm.

I heard this CD by stile antico on reviewed NPR this week (the link takes you to the review, which is as beautifully done as the music itself). It’s 16th Century English choral music. Some is by William Byrd, whose compositions I love.

It’s called Music for Compline. They say it is to calm the spirit.

A few weeks ago I attended Carmina Burana, probably my favorite ballet. I have never heard a standing ovation with so much gusto. People were hollering and jubilant. It was exhilarating. This CD is in a similar genre. Listen on…

If you type in Mat seo in Google you’ll find my friend Mat Siltala’s home page. I thought I was all over the internet! I need to create a page on www.janetmeiners.com linking to my linkedin page, MySpace profile, Delicious bookmarks, Facebook page, et etc etc.

Mat is the smartest SEO expert that I know. I got to know him through his SEO blog. Frankly, I thought he doubled as a bouncer at rock concerts. But, no, he’s an SEO expert. I have good reason to kiss up, he’s going to be famous someday. He should be speaking at conferences.

MarketingSherpa gave some great tips on how to land a speaking gig and how to maximize the effect. I challenge Mat to speak at an SEO conference next year. He’s good at teaching complex subjects in a straightforward way.

How did I get to know Jeff Barr? How did I get to know Jeremy Palmer? Wayne Porter? I heard them speak at conferences. It’s often worth it to talk to the people whose speech you liked. I really enjoy talking to the speakers and giving feedback. They usually appreciate it too.

If you have experience getting speaking gigs - let us know how you got started.

Penelope Trunk, one of my favorite bloggers was on Fox News!! If you are new to blogging it’s a good introduction to how blogs can benefit you.

I love how she talks about how obsessesed you can get about blogging. You literally can’t wait to do it. I had one of those days today and yesterday. I just had to write. I couldn’t rest until I got it out. Paul (my biz partner) and I laugh about it but we have converted several people to blogging. Some start and never really get into it. Others catch on and love it. When I listen to some people talk I hear blog posts in them. I think what a good blogger they’d make. I know, quirky.

Sometimes I worry that people will become like me, obsessed. Please know that I choose to do this! It can take over your life and affect your relationships. That may sound funny to the initiated but it’s real. It just needs boundaries like anything in life.

Blogging has had a HUGE impact on my life and career. I’m a writer, despite everything else, that and an entrepreneur. Anyway, this isn’t about me. Congrats to Penelope!! I think it’s funny she’s on Fox News, but I guess it’s something we can all shoot for - being on the news because of our blog.