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Small Business Marketing

How To Write A Better Tagline

How To Write A Better Tagline

For whatever reasons swirl around in the collective unconscious, people freak out about getting their tagline “perfect.” (You’d think we’re naming a baby here.)

Yes, a tagline can be an important part of your brand. But it is not naming a baby. And it’s not make or break for your business. You can survive and grow even if you’ve got the worst tagline in the world.

But because a better tagline can theoretically make a difference, let’s go into how to make yours better.

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6 Things They Mean When They Say They Have No Money

6 Things They Mean When They Say They Have No Money

What if people can’t afford your product?

If you’ve been selling anything for any length of time, you get those emails.

“Oh my God, it’s so gorgeous. I wish I could afford it!”

“I don’t have the money for your Thing but, one day …”

“I’ll be keeping my eye on this until money settles down!”

Today we’re going to talk about where these emails come from, and how to deal with them.

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How To Stop Being So Goddamn Scared All The Time

How To Stop Being So Goddamn Scared All The Time

So, you’re scared. Let’s finally talk about that, shall we?

I know you’re worried. I know it feels impossible and daunting and terrifying. I know you wish someone would make it all better. We’re going to do our best to start getting you there, ok? Promise.

I’m going to talk you through this. I can’t make it all better, but I’m pretty sure I can make the fear you’re feeling a whole lot more bearable, so you can save that important part of your sanity. (The one that lets you do the things that keep food on the table.)

I’m going to take you through three steps to get the panic to go away, and I won’t make it complicated, because your head is likely already swimming.

Before we move on to the three steps, though, I have a question for you.

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Entrepreneurship: What To Do When You’re Scared Sh*tless

(Originally published in 2008)

Somebody (Tim Ferris? Gandhi? Princess Di?) once said that if you’re not offending anybody, you’re doing it wrong. You’ll be happy to know, I’m clearly doing it right.

When I clicked “Publish” on one particular post, I can honestly say I didn’t know people would be so bothered. I had no less than five snarky emails in my inbox before the damn post hit people’s feed readers. (Remember those?  I’m dating myself.)  Seriously, people were mad. Really mad. People were mad at my word use, people were mad that I called them cocky, people did not dig it. (For those of you who did like it and emailed, thank you. That was very nice of you.)

Anyway, somebody else (Chuck Norris? Paris Hilton? The Will It Blend guy?) said the following, and I think you’ll agree that it deserves some funky red type.

The absence of fear is not courage. The absence of fear is mental illness.

When I got those emails, I was not exactly delighted. (OK, the exhibitionist part of me was a little bit delighted.) Am I afraid that no-one will come to my blog? That people will stop coming? That I won’t meet the goals I’ve stated quite publicly to people I don’t like and who will gleefully revel in my failure?

Of course I am. But I can’t let that water me down. I can’t let that fear dominate my actions. I can’t let myself become one of those writers who just rehashes everybody else’s crap.

I have to hang out, being afraid, and going about my business anyway.

I’d love to make this into a handy bulleted list with lots of outgoing link love. Then everyone could “like” it and tweet it and I could be the linkbait queen of the world.

Sadly, I can’t.

I can tell you what I know about fear, though. It sucks. A lot. It can paralyze you and sicken you and leave you cold and lonely. I got pregnant at 17 with a man who wasn’t exactly my soul mate. I dropped out of college and people told me I would never make anything of myself. I have been on welfare. And I run my own business.

This is scary shit, people.

So here’s my not-very-linear advice on fear.

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Brand Management at the Coffee Shop

ShareSharePinTweetEmailHow do you tell people who you are without saying a word? Go out for coffee! There’s a coffee shop in my neighborhood. It’s pretty famous around here. They just opened up two new stores in the city. They’re considered a big deal. Except they suck. Regular coffee costs two bucks. They are always out […]

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