OCTOBER 2020 UPDATE: A funny thing happened this month when someone reached out to see if I sold pencils! HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED. July 2020 Update: The Year of the Pencil is still going strong! Thank you to the BLACKWING PENCIL COMPANY for sending me a box of beautiful (truly, they are — see my Instagram … Continue reading Why 2020 is the “Year of the Pencil” for Me
You’ve heard me mention my Year of the Pencil blog post before, right? In January, I blogged about my commitment to only use pencils this year. I realized I had dozens of them stashed away in my office desk drawer and our kitchen junk drawers. (Plural. We have several.) I vowed to use up part, … Continue reading When Serendipity Calls, Say Hello
In a recent blog post about LinkedIn for Business Coaches, I used the phrase "Melanie-the-Marketer super-powers." When I did the final proofing before hitting "Publish," I thought about deleting that part. But I didn't. And now here I am with this boast: Every little thing I do is magic. That's also the subject line in … Continue reading Every Little Thing I Do is Magic (for My Marketing)
I'm doing a lot of marketing work for coaches these days. I love the challenges and rewards of this niche and realize I bring a unique perspective to this type of work — and it's because I know the value of being coached. I've worked with coaches and mentors many times throughout my life — … Continue reading Here’s Why LinkedIn Should Be the #1 Social Platform for Business Coaches
Ask.(Dramatic pause.)Okay, it may not always be that simple. But if you don't pitch yourself as a guest to a podcast host — or don't reach out to inquire about guest blogging — you may never hear, be my guest.People and companies who run blogs are always thinking about what to post next. Podcasters need … Continue reading Here’s the Secret for How to Be a Podcast Guest or Guest Blogger
It can be hard being stuck at home.But I don’t have to tell you that. It’s also hard being stuck in a job you’re sick of. That’s how I felt five years ago working in financial services. My stint had been a long one — four companies spanning 16 years — and I wanted a change. … Continue reading Why I Call LinkedIn My Lifeline
It seems like I’ve been a marketer forever. Today, I call myself a “marketing consultant,” and “marketing” was in the title of many of my corporate roles. Marketing’s been a big part of my identity for years. So has being paid for my creativity. No one ever offered me a role by saying, “Okay, we’re … Continue reading Experiences That Shaped the Marketer I Am Today
LinkedIn looks a lot more like Facebook these days, and it bugs me. I see more people choosing to post political stories and their personal take on those headlines. I come across many "what I did at home this weekend" posts with photos better-suited for Instagram. Geeze! What's happening to my favorite business platform? Copy-Paste-Paste-Paste … Continue reading It’s the Facebookification of LinkedIn (All Over Again)
"Write a new blog post" is always on my weekly to-do list. But often an entire month slips by where I don't get a new article up on my site. A new month is here, and I'm determined to blog more this month — and "more" means at least four blog posts in August. Gulp. … Continue reading Join My Blogust Blogging Challenge
Ever played the icebreaker game Two Truths and a Lie? The object of the game is to separate fact from fiction. When played with a group of strangers, it comes down to guessing. The game can still be fun when played with people you know. But it’s harder to stump them. You may know me well or … Continue reading Fun with Fake News: Two Truths and a Lie