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4 Tips for creating content that elicits emotion

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People are more likely to read your blog posts and other content if it stimulates emotion.  Not only does emotional content create a powerful bond between a content brand and its fan base, it also has a higher potential of being shared. Content that goes viral is the dream of most content marketers.

So how do you create content that arouses emotion?

Emotional woman

1. Keep It Positive

When the news is as devastating as it is currently, readers are more likely to share positive content. In times like this, the most shared content is that which is humorous or awe-inspiring. Content that gives us hope, such as a powerful image, is more likely to be shared than something pessimistic or negative. Amusement, joy, a sense of belonging, surprise, affection, and excitement are all very engaging emotions.

That’s one reason why leading broadcasters like to end their hard-hitting newscasts with a feel-good story featuring people who have overcome great odds or heart-warming stories about children or pets.

2. Sometimes Negativity Works

But don’t get me wrong,  there is a case to be made for negative emotions as well. Sometimes a very sad or frightening piece of content will go viral because it triggers powerful emotions of empathy or concern.

That’s especially true when the negative emotions erupt from a horrible event such as a school shooting, people dying because of the coronavirus,  or a terrifying weather event that is top of mind for your readers.

3. The Case for Anger

Many of us love the opportunity to express our righteous anger on controversial topics. Studies show that anger is a good emotion for content as long as you don’t make your audience angry with you.. One example of content that is causing anger currently is the debate about whether to risk lives as we reopen our economy.  People are not really safe if they can’t feed their families. So encouraging debate about such a key topic could dramatically boost readership. Just be careful. 

4. Arouse Curiosity

Curiosity is a great way to draw people into your content .If your title or opening sentence causes them to ask, “What’s that all about?” they are more likely to stop to read it, and to share if they like what they find.

Getting Your Business Ready for the New Year

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business-graphic with sticky notesCan you believe that it’s December? We’re all rushing around, trying to meet our goals for the past year and  preparing for the holidays. And whether you’re a working Mom or an overextended business owner, it seems as if there are not enough hours in the day.

So how do you make sure that you have taken the appropriate steps to prepare your business and your life for 2020. The classic wisdom about achieving a dream is to set a goal and develop a plan with steps to achieve it, but some of my most successful friends cringe at the mere mention of the word “goal.” That doesn’t mean they don’t plan, it’s just that they have their own systems that work for them.

I’ve been exploring this topic lately because some of the strategies I have applied in the past have proven less than effective in achieving some of my biggest goals lately. For example, I have been working on a book for several years that is still unfinished. And my efforts to redefine my business haven’t gone as well as I planned.

In fairness, I moved across country to be near family, and I live in an area that has faced two wild fire scares and a mass shooting recently. Clearly, I have suffered with overwhelm, so it was vital for me to take time to reflect.

To jump over my hurdles, I have explored every topic from procrastination and mindset  to planning methods that work for busy people and for individuals who hate the  thought of setting goals. I have tried a bunch of things like bullet journals, planning books with stickers, online planners and mind maps. They all worked to a point and I fared best any time I was able to write down my plans and check on them periodically to monitor my progress.

One of the most useful approaches for me  was to get clear on what I want to accomplish and why. It has also been helpful to take a hard look at the year we are about to wrap up to determine what worked in 2019 and what needs to be improved.

In my goal to achieve clarity, I found a great little guide that raised all of the issues I needed to plan for 2019. I’d love to share it with you here, along with the information and services I plan to share with my followers in 2019. Grab your copy of Make 2019 Your Best Year Ever while it is still available.

How to Prepare for Challenges that Push You Beyond Your Comfort Zone

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Often when we start a new venture or try something we find difficult, our mindset plays a key role in the ultimate outcome. Our ability to succeed can turn on whether we believe we can do it or not.

Water Athlete flounderingPart of plotting success in that new venture means facing our limitations and finding ways to overcome them. We know by observing athletes who achieve seemingly impossible feats, that the mind and body can exceed limits far past what we may expect of ourselves. We all have that power within us.

An obstacle may seem insurmountable, but rather than ask yourself if you can overcome it, it’s vital to challenge yourself to figure out how you can do it.

I am in the middle of planning a new coaching business with a membership site and other features to help the small business owners I want to work with. Like anyone facing a new challenge, it’s natural to feel a little insecure and overwhelmed. Rather than throw my hands up and walk away, I have been learning from successful people who have already succeeded at what I am trying to do.

Currently, I am participating in “The Quick Start Challenge” with Dean Holland and Craig Crawford. This five-week challenge is designed to help prospective internet entrepreneurs get going quickly.

I also participate in several groups where I can network with other individuals who are pursuing their own dreams. I’ve worked with a number of small businesses and larger ones for a number of years and I’m always curious as to why some individuals give up without really trying, while others push through their limitations to reach success.

Endurance events that athletes face are no different than the challenges we face at work, in relationships or in completing goals and realizing our dreams. When you surrender your dreams to the limitations you place on yourself, you’ll never reach the vision of your true destiny.

There’s nothing deep or mystical in lifting the limitations we face in life – it just takes persistence and continuous results. One thing you can do to challenge those limitations is to list what you want to accomplish and then think about what you have to do to get there.

Start by Dreaming Big

The first step in overcoming your limitations is to dream big. By setting goals that are outside your comfort zone, you face challenges that will spur you on to even greater things. Your dreams might change as your mindset changes, or because of injuries or life-altering situations. But if you focus on the finish line, you have the best opportunity to achieve the goals you set.

Next, Prepare for the Challenges You will face

You wouldn’t swim the English Channel without preparing months (or even years) ahead for the challenges you’ll face across those treacherous waters. You need to prepare for your own journey through training, gathering knowledge and getting your body and mind in shape or anything else you can do to make sure you’ll be successful.

You may need to adjust your strategy from time to time as you learn, but eventually you’ll be on your way to the success you envision.

Now it’s Time to Put Your Plan into Motion

This can be a difficult time for some because you’re afraid of failure. After all, you’ve been thinking and preparing for the race – and now you have to make it happen. But it’s far worse to hold back and do nothing than to fail because you didn’t even try.

This is a great time to participate in a challenge with well-planned steps and activities, or to network with a support group that will force you to move forward. You need to believe in yourself. Keep in mind that you are the biggest obstacle in your way of achieving greatness and you never let self-doubt keep you in a box because you are afraid of failure.

Think like a child. Children boldly believe they can climb the highest tree or venture out into the middle of the lake. Thank goodness adults are there to hold them back. Those are true limitations.

Whether you have convinced yourself that you can’t succeed or others have made you think you can’t do it, you must move past those limiting beliefs to cross the finish line.

Ten Things You Need to Know about Your Competition

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After evaluating your own business, it’s time to take a detailed look at the competition. Without such an evaluation, you may miss opportunities and threats that might affect your success. Here are ten things you need to know about your competition to identify your path to success.

Competitors1. Identify your competitors – The first and most important aspect of checking out your competitors is to identify who they are. Start by doing an internet search of similar products or services. Search the local magazines and newspapers to get a feel for how many businesses of this type there are in your area.

2. Know their strengths – Knowing your competitors’ strengths is important, as it can highlight your own weaknesses. If you know your competition’s strength then you will be able to improvise and be innovative with your own products and services.

3. Know their weaknesses – If you know your competitors’ weaknesses, chances are you will be able to use that knowledge to maximize your company’s strengths.

4. Know their products, services, or goods – What products, goods, or services does your competition provide? Are they similar to yours? What unique twist might they offer on their services? How do they market them; is it through traditional advertising, online, or through video sales?

5. What their social media status looks like – Does your competition get many likes or comments as feedback on their blogs or websites?

6. Who owns this business and what kind of individual is he or she – Does the business owner stand out on the front line or behind corporate walls? Is the business owner someone who is philanthropic and altruistic? Does the persona of the business owner maximize its sales? Are they out in the public eye a lot?

7. What their price points are and are they competitive to yours – Do they have a lower price but cheaper quality as well? Do they mass produce, saving money for their customer? Are you able to compete with that?

8. Know their annual earnings (if this information is available) – Are their annual earnings public or private? Can you see their growth or decline in business over the last year?

9. Management analysis – Does this company or business have a quick turnaround of management professionals? If so, can you spot why and where their weaknesses are?

10. What types of guarantees and warranties do they put forth on their product or service – Does each competitor valiantly offer beneficial warranties and guarantees on their products and are their customers satisfied customers? Do their social media comments, tweets, and likes show happy consumers?

Only by studying these aspects of your competitors’ businesses will you identify opportunities to bring added value to the marketplace. When you identify things your competitors are not doing, that you can add, you will find a way to set your business apart.