This Woman's Business Start-Up Journey

I recommend Google Alerts

One of my new favorite "toys" is Google Alerts.  I found out about it from my friends at The Blog Squad.  It is one of those painfully simple ideas that just makes so much sense you wonder why it took this long for it to come around.  Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to find out it's been around quite awhile...I am never on the cutting edge of technology.

Here is just how flippin' simple it is:

Create a Google Alert Enter the topic you wish to monitor. Search terms: Type: NewsBlogsWebComprehensiveVideoGroups How often: once a dayas-it-happensonce a week Your email:

So, I now have alerts set for the terms "tutoring", "Huntington Learning Center", "Torrance, CA" and "Redondo Beach, CA".  Once I become "Slightly Famous", I'll add my name.

Give it a try, and tell me what your alerts are.  I'll bet they are more interesting than mine!

New friends and mentors

I made some good progress last week working on my marketing plan.  I visited 3 local middle schools and 1 elementary school.  I also gathered information from an advertising rep for The Easy Reader. I will be doing some print advertising in that publication.

I am still working on my plan for my next blog and website.  I found a great woman through Start-Up Nation, Nikole Gipps.  We talked like old friends right from the beginning.  I think she will be the right person to help me design and set up my website on the Wordpress platform.

I am also VERY excited about a course I am taking online called Teaching Sells.  I kept coming across references to a site/blog called Copyblogger, so finally went there.  It is very well done, and I was very impressed with the bio for Brian Clark, it's founder.  Brian and another gentleman named Tony Clark (I assume they are gentlemen, although I can't speak to their character at this juncture) partnered to create the Teaching Sells program.  From what I have read and seen of them and their work so far, I am extremely impressed and on board with their philosophies, style and business model. 

I just today discovered Tony Clark's personal blog, SuccessfromtheNest.  I'll be doing some more reading there tonight.

Welcome to the Blogosphere

I continue to be impressed with The Blog Squad.  They continue to keep me in their sites (or them in my sites, I don't know which), but either way, it is effective marketing!  They do a fabulous job of leading me along their path and offering me ways to get what I want, spending a little more each time.  Again, effective marketing.  I like their approach, and I want to grow up to be just like them!

So, who is them?  "Them" is Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff.  There are so many ways to find them on the Internet, it was hard to decide which link to provide here. 

I'm continuing my education about how blogs can help my business.  Not this blog...this one is my "rough draft" or training ground.  I'll let you know when I launch my next blog.