AllWrite Ink Launchs a New Site

My brother, Daniel Chaddock, gave me my website design for my birthday two years ago.

I was just starting out in business and needed an on-line brochure. Daniel, founder and president of E&E Exhibits out of Mesa, AZ, commissioned the design and technical configuration of my website.

It was a great start. At the time, I didn’t know what I wanted my business to be when it grew up (still working on that) and so we put up three pages that outlined my writing services.

Overtime, my services expanded and I hated to keep going to Dan (because he wouldn’t let me pay him) and so my friend Julie D’Aloiso, president of D-WebJazz, in Macedonia, took over control. She did a great job until the day I asked her to teach me Front Page.

Knowledge can be a dangerous thing; and this was no exception.

Let’s just say, over the last year, I have messed with my site until it became an embarrassment. Julie worked hard to save me from myself, but it was a lost cause.

So then I turned to Tom DeFrank of Better Built, out of Canton, Oh. I write web content for Better Built when the need arises and work well with their team. One day I complained about the mess I had made of my site and Tom said he could fix it.

Not only did he fix it – he has created a thing of beauty.

My new site launched this week and I’m very pleased with the results. From beast to beauty, I’m hoping the new site will more effectively tell my story.

Like the shoemaker’s kids who had no shoes, I had neglected the very thing I sell – my website story.

It wasn’t easy getting to this new site. When creating a site you need to consider:

Who is the audience?
What is the purpose?
What action do you want the reader to take?
What are the key words?
How many pages will you need?
Which graphics will you use?
What do the competitor’s sites look like?
What can you emphasize that will stand out?

Now, I may not have accomplished all of these goals, but I’m on my way.
Check it out: www.allwriteink.com

Let me know what you think.

Trying Something New

This summer I was reading "Make a Name for Yourself" by Robin Fisher Roffer.

She talks about the 8 steps every woman needs to create a personal brand strategy for success.

Frankly, the steps apply to men as well.

Anyway, one point she makes it that we should be constantly learning, growing, trying new things and expanding our horizons.

So this July I took up cello. I'm old enough to be the mother of my teacher and he's married. I only tell you that because, it isn't often that you find someone of my advanced years, taking up something new.

Well, guess what? I have to perform in a recital - with all his 10 and 11 year old students.

I'm more nervous than I am before giving a speech in front of 100 business executives.

But it is exhilarating. I feel fresh and young and vibrant. All because I'm preparing to make a fool of myself. No seriously - it stems from learning something new. From stretching outside my comfort zone.

And that energy and enthusiasm spills over to my business relationships. I have had three people tell me in the last week that I look 10 years younger than I did just one month ago.

Why is that? Face lifts? Nope. It is the excitement that comes from learning something new. From realizing that you are never too young to try something new.

When was the last time you tried something new? And I'm not talking about dessert.

Check out a sample of my rehearsal. The lovely lady on the piano is my son's girlfriend Christine and the adorable girl trying hard not to cover her ears in pain is my Emily.

Do You Have a Theme Song?

This past Friday I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with 15 women from the Women's Network as we gathered to hear Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett. Dr. Barnett is the founder of Rise Sally Rise an organization dedicated to helping women of color overcome feelings of anxiety and believe their own personal value and ability to rise to success.

She demonstated a powerful exercise that involves having your own personal theme song.

We all have an internal tape that plays in our head; sometimes encouraging, but oft times reminding us of when we've failed keeping us from feeling successful.

She showed us that by singing the words to your theme song you can successfully squash the negatives voices in your head keeping you from striving for the goals you desire.

So I set about finding a theme song.

The first one I came up with is "Jesus Loves Me" because afterall, God don't make junk and besides I knew all the words.

But as I continued to search over the weekend, I found the perfect song just for me. Natasha Bedingfields song "Unwritten." Scroll all the way down the link at Amazon and you'll find the words to this insightful song.

So what's your theme song?