Even if it wasn’t for the myriad side-interests I have, the amount of stuff I have to read within my current field is enormous.

• Technology changes
• Regulatory and legal changes
• New competitors
• New products
• New thoughts and ideas

It seems that unless there’s some discipline applied, reading chores can quickly snowball into zero productivity time wasting events.

Currently, I’m trying to do the same thing with my reading that I do with my writing. There’s a 1 hour block in my day for reading. I have stuff queued up in Evernote, where I tag items as read as I go through them. At the end of the hour, I stop and go to my next thing. Part of me gets frustrated at stop-time. I could easily go an entire day reading. But over the course of a week, I’m actually amazed at how much I read.

So far, so good.

What do you do to manage all the stuff you want to read?

The post Reading it all appeared first on Dave Saunders.

The short answer is that it’s best to use NOIDEX for categories and tags.

While extra indexing can seem like a great way to get your pages added extra times into the search engines, it’s likely to be viewed as duplicate content and will either be deleted or cause your site to be penalized in the search engines and even marked as spam.

Thinking about this from the view of the search engine, this makes sense. If you build a great page of content and it gets indexed, the search engine should be able to figure out what the information is about and show it to a person when they’re searching for a topic related to your content. So what benefit is there to the search engine to have your same piece of content twice? There isn’t any.

Using NOINDEX in your blog doesn’t mean that page is never indexed. It means that extra copies aren’t fed to the search engine crawler for each category and tag with which the post is associated.

If you want to have a bigger footprint online, the real solution is to keep creating great content.

Do you have any other questions about duplicate content or how to get the best results from your content? Leave a comment below.

Here are a few useful video from Google’s Matt Cutts that will help you understand more about duplicate content and how to deal with it in your marketing strategy.

Do you recommend article marketing as an SEO strategy?

Is the same content posted under different TLDs a problem?

How to structure a site?

How can I make the pages on my site unique?

The post What happens if I index the same post under multiple categories? appeared first on Dave Saunders.

What’s the best way to balance popularity, relevance and competition?

This is what content marketing is all about.

There was once a time when you could follow a near-mathematical forumla of popularity, relevance and competition to create Internet content that would rank highly in the search engines. That was back when Google only had a handful of variables to evaluate content on a site for the purposes of ranking. Today, there are around 100 variables used, so focusing on any one variable isn’t likely to get you results.

What this means to you is that the most important thing is to build quality content that will keep people on your site so they can see what else you have to offer. Great content helps you build trust and you need trust if you expect anyone to buy what you’re selling.

These variables can still help you make decisions about your content, business and site focus so let’s look at this subject with a hypothetical example.

Imagine that you do some research with Google’s AdWords Keyword tool about coin collecting. It’s a pretty popular subject with about 90,000 monthly searches. It’s also a fiercely competitive niche. But you have a coin shop or you have a site already running so you’re diving in this niche anyway.

As you research further, you find that there are many searches for coins from the former USSR and there aren’t a lot pages on the subject already found in Google. That’s great because you happen to know a lot about those coins and have plenty to sell.

Demand meets supply. Yay!

You’re at a crossroads. Do you dedicate your site to coins from the USSR only, or do you make it a section of your site, because you sell other coins too? It’s time to put yourself in the shoes of your customer. What does your visitor want to find when they visit your site? On one hand, if you can pay the rent by focusing entirely on coins from the USSR, it could be a great thing to dedicate a site to that subject only and include tons of information about the former Soviet Union, the history of the currency and make your site an authority on the subject.

On the other hand, maybe it’s just one of many types of coins you’re an expert in. Not only can you build a section on coins from the USSR, but coins from other significant areas of interest. In that case, build out each section to ensure that your visitor finds what they’re looking for and more. Make the navigation clear to the visitor so they can continue to browser information on Soviet coins or check out coins from other countries or historical eras as well.

Don’t leave off a page of information just because there’s already heavy competition for a specific keyword. Seek to dominate by becoming an authority. Google see that your site contains lots of rich content about coin collecting as well as other niches related to coin collecting. People will share your pages through social media if they contain useful information that’s worth sharing and referral traffic should be as important to you as direct search traffic.

Always look at the big picture when it comes to your SEO strategy.

If you have a question about SEO or building your online brand and presence, leave it in the comments below.

For more research, here are some great videos from Google’s Matt Cutts that will help expand your understanding of how to build great content that gets great SEO results too.

What is the ideal keyword density of a page?

Is it better to have keywords in the URL path or filename?

How important is it to have keywords in a domain name?

What are some examples of SEO misinformation

The post What’s the best way to balance popularity, relevance and competition? appeared first on Dave Saunders.

It’s that simple.

Watch this short video. Share it. Visit CharityWater.org and help today.

The post Help bring safe, clean water to the people of Rwanda today appeared first on Dave Saunders.

The expression “I’m waiting until I get my ducks in a row” seems to get used a lot. I’m not sure if it’s being used correctly. As commonly worded, it implies that one is waiting until details are all set, or people are ready to follow before the leader heads off.

In nature though, ducks don’t seem to work this way. Watch them. One duck starts to move and the rest follow.

Leadership comes first and then–on cue–other ducks get in a row. 

So to follow the example of those ducks, get moving. Don’t wait for your ducks to get in a row, because that’s not how it works. 

Lead.

Take action.

Do something.

How about…now?

James Yardley [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The post Getting your ducks in a row appeared first on Dave Saunders.

Some memes define an era, like “Keep on Truckin” or the once ubiquitous “Have a Nice Day” smiley face.

The meme that’s killing me right now is Gold Medal Olympian McKayla Maroney and her “Not Impressed” smirk.

The collection of her mug has been emblazoned on countless backdrops and I couldn’t help but do two of my own in tribute to the Spice Girl’s reunion at the closing ceremony. 

Many, many more pictures of McKayla can be found at KnowYourMeme.com 

I could tie this all into a discussion on products and branding and how embedded memes can help propel a product/brand to success, but I won’t today. 

Do you have a meme that makes you smile? What is it? Share below.

The post Why do we love memes? appeared first on Dave Saunders.

A trained eye knows when a car is in trouble. From the sound of the idle to the color of the exhaust exiting the tailpipe, there are telltale signs of distress. The same is true of relationships, and you can be your own mechanic. Researchers at the University of Washington discovered four clear indicators of relationship failure (dubbed “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”) so profound that they predict the future success of a relationship with 93% accuracy. The researchers in Washington conducted their studies with married couples, and their accuracy rate for predicting divorce has held up for more than 14 years after watching couples interact.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The Four Horsemen reveal problems for relationships of all types. They represent the counterproductive acts we can easily fall victim to when our emotions get the better of us (aka, a lack of emotional intelligence). As you read each of the Horsemen and consider its relevance in your relationships, remember that conflict itself is not a problem. Conflict is actually a normal and (ideally) productive part of two people with different needs and interests working together. The researchers in Washington found that the amount of conflict between two people had no bearing on the success of the relationship. It’s how conflict is handled that determines a relationship’s success, and the Four Horsemen’s presence means conflict is not being dealt with constructively or productively. Follow the strategies provided for overcoming each of the Four Horseman, and your relationships are bound to be successful.

The 1st Horseman: Criticism

Criticism is not to be confused with delivering feedback or otherwise seeking improvement or change in another person. Criticism becomes, well, criticism when it isn’t constructive (“This report is terrible.”). Criticism, in its most troubling form, focuses on the individual’s personality, character, or interests rather than the specific action or behavior you’d like to see changed (“You are terrible at writing. You’re so disorganized and tangential.”). It’s one thing to criticize without being constructive; it’s another to go after someone for something they are unable to change.

Overcoming Criticism:

If you find yourself criticizing when you planned on being constructive, it’s best if you don’t deliver your feedback and commentary unless you’ve planned ahead. You’ll need to think through what you’re going to say and stick to your script in order to remain constructive and avoid criticism. It’s also best if you focus your feedback on a single specific behavior, as your reactions to multiple behaviors at once can easily be perceived as criticism. If you find that you cannot deliver feedback without generalizing to the other person’s personality, you’re better off saying nothing at all.

The 2nd Horseman: Contempt

Contempt is any open sign of disrespect toward another. Contempt often involves comments that aim to take the other person down a notch, as well as direct insults. Contempt is also seen in indirect and veiled forms, such as rolling of the eyes and couching insults within “humor.”

Overcoming Contempt

Contempt stems from a lack of interest in the other person. When you find that you don’t enjoy or admire someone— perhaps there are things about him or her that used to be interesting or charming and now they’ve lost their luster— contempt can surface unexpectedly. If your disinterest is unavoidable and the relationship is one that isn’t going anywhere, such as a family member or coworker, then you need to focus on managing the relationship itself. People who manage relationships well are able to see the benefit of connecting with many different people, even those they are not fond of. Common ground, no matter how small, is a commodity to be sought and cherished. In the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln, “I do not like that man. I must get to know him better.”

The 3rd Horseman: Defensiveness

Denying responsibility, making excuses, meeting one complaint with another, and other forms of defensiveness are problematic, because they prevent a conflict from reaching any sort of resolution. Defensiveness only serves to accelerate the anxiety and tension experienced by both parties, and this makes it difficult to focus on the larger issues at hand that need to be resolved.

Overcoming Defensiveness

To overcome defensiveness, you have to be willing to listen carefully to the other party’s complaint, even if you don’t see things the same way. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. Instead, you focus on fully understanding the other person’s perspective so that you can work together towards resolving the conflict. It’s critical that you work to remain calm. Once you understand why the other person is upset, it’s much easier to find common ground than if you dismiss their opinions defensively.

The 4th Horseman: Stonewalling

Stonewalling is what happens when one person shuts the discussion down by refusing to respond. Examples of stonewalling include the silent treatment, being emotionally distant or devoid of emotion, and ignoring the other person completely. Stonewalling is problematic, because it aggravates the person being stonewalled and it prevents the two from working on resolving the conflict together.

Overcoming Stonewalling

The key to overcoming stonewalling is to participate in the discussion. If you’re stonewalling because the circumstances are leaving you feeling overwhelmed, let the other person know how you’re feeling and ask for some time to think before continuing the discussion. Maintain eye contact and a forward posture and nod your head to let the other person know that you are engaged in the discussion and listening even when you don’t have something to say. If you stonewall as a matter of practice, you need to realize that participating in discussions and working together to resolve conflict are the only ways to keep your relationships from crumbling.

________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the cofounder of TalentSmart, the world’s leading provider of emotional intelligence tests, emotional intelligence training, and emotional intelligence certification, serving more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies. His bestselling emotional intelligence books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than 150 countries. He is a frequent keynote speaker at public and private engagements. Dr. Bradberry has written for, or been covered by, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., USA Today, The Wall Street Journal,  The Washington Post, and The Harvard Business Review.

The post Four Signs a Relationship Is Failing appeared first on Dave Saunders.

Stop worrying about what you don’t have and focus on what you do.

Assets are what you do have and they can help you get what you want. Sometimes, they may not be able to do so directly, but they can take you to the next step. When you look at your assets, think. How does what you have add value to you and others? What makes it a tool to get you closer to what you want?

A stick, coaxed to a higher level of value, is a staff. 

Sometimes we all need help recognizing our assets. When Moses was in the desert–and I’m really paraphrasing here–he got some divine assistance. God asked Moses what he had to complete his mission. “Uh, I have this stick, my Lord.” Yeah, yeah he had a staff. But there’s a good example for you. What is a staff anyway? It’s a stick with a fancy name.

What other things can sticks become that have more value than the original? I’ve seen beautifully polished pieces of driftwood sell as art for hundreds of dollars. Sticks lathed to specific dimensions are called dowels. Those are pretty handy if you know what to do with them. A stick can become picture molding from which beautiful–and ugly–artwork hangs. A stick can be a splint to help the injured.

Paperclips are assets too. If you’ve never followed the story of the Red Paperclip, considering watching the video below for an amazing example of starting with what most people would consider nothing and turning that asset into so much more. I just love this story. Ok, sometimes this story shames me too, but at the moment I choose to find it inspiring. 

Sticks and paperclips can be assets, so what’s your excuse?

A facade has no structure. It simply exists to hide the truth.

Many assets are overlooked because of an overriding, ego-based, insecurity-driven need to maintain a false appearance. For example, inexperience is an asset. It’s the thing that drives you to throw up a facade to make people think you’re all that and a bag of chips. Yawn–do you really think that fools people?

Inexperience is something you have. Coaxed to a higher level of value it becomes experience, but not until the effort is made. That effort can be driven by the energy that typically fuels a person who is honest about their inexperience and wants more.  I’ve worked with people who are open and honest about their inexperience in an area they want to explore. Those people are a joy to work with compared to the showy bores who simply wait for their turn to speak in a conversation so they can show you how they’ve got it all figured out.

What happens when your inexperience is replaced with experience? Your asset has simply morphed into something new. Take it and coax it to an even higher level. But for every area where you have experience, there are many areas (countless, really) where you have none. Don’t neglect to explore your areas of inexperience as assets, even if you’re 95 years old. 

A desire to learn is an asset too

Years ago I was seeking a job in the print industry as a graphic artist. I had no formal training and knew little about graphics arts other than a few tricks in Adobe Illustrator ’88 I learned by reading an article in MacWorld Magazine. I got into an interview with a company looking to expand its use of computers for pre-press work. I had lots of computer skills and some knowledge of print based on working for a few months at a copy shop in Seattle. I used that to get my foot in the door, but I was otherwise outgunned by some extremely talented people. To my favor though, they were talented people who wanted to expand their knowledge.

During my interview, I was sat in front of a Mac where I launched Illustrator for the first time in my life and proceeded to amazed the Art Director with the tricks I learned from the article. I got the job and learned everything I could. I never lied about what I knew and did apply what I knew with gusto at that interview. It was so much easier than pretending I knew stuff I didn’t. 

I had at least two assets working in my favor in this situation. First was my own interest and desire to learn. I didn’t have a Mac at the time and never thought I’d use Illustrator for anything but I read that article with interest and retained the knowledge. That became an asset even though I didn’t realize it until the moment to apply it came along. The second asset was being in the midst of people who had plenty to teach me and who also wanted to learn. Their desire to learn, combined with the knowledge I had, landed me that job and some great experiences I’ll always cherish.

The best assets are often lurking where it’s believed there are no assets at all.

Now it’s your turn. What are your assets?

Go ahead and share them below.

The post What are your assets? appeared first on Dave Saunders.

You know it.

Black screen.

Green Letters.

Kind of like The Matrix, but far less entertaining.

At least I never saw “blonds, brunettes and redheads” while staring into the screen. Well, maybe that’s not true but they were reflections of people walking behind me while I continued to be lost in the pixels.

Twenty-one years ago today, it was my first visit to the offices of my first soon-to-be-called-dot-com-industry job.

We sold TELNET software for the Macintosh–these days it seems that the term Macintosh is as cool as a pair of sequined bell-bottom pants. I’m supposed to say Mac–to government contractors and Fortune 1000.

The punchline is that we sold this software against some stiff competition. That was a public domain TELNET application written by our own CTO while still in college.

You think your market is tough? Give away a free version of your product and sell directly against it for $100s a copy. Go ahead. I dare ya.

It’s time for a new year. On a cosmological scale, the distinction is quite arbitrary. Next month is also the anniversary of the rotation around some random point in the universe too.

This is as good a time as any though to make a change.

What are you going to do? With your job, your business, your service, your products. Whatever.

How would you sell yourself against a perfect replica of your offering that’s made available for free? It’s a perfect replica so you can’t change the features in your commercial version. Even if you did, the reality is usually those differences are nothing more than window dressing.

And yet, maybe window dressing is the clue.

What’s the difference between a storefront with well-maintained, fresh displays that are constantly tweaked without actually changing anything about the products offered and a store with some dusty old sign in the window that’s two seasons out of date?

The answer is simple, business A gives a crap.

How would your business change if you put a little life into it? I mean the kind of life that doesn’t require the proverbial mirror placed under your nose to see if you’re breathing.

What if the only thing you did differently this year was to do what you did in 2011, but do so on purpose and with purpose.

Same hours.

New energy.

New impact.

The other guys aren’t wearing kid gloves and waiting for you to get on your feet before engaging in some “friendly competition.” They don’t matter anyway. Chances are you’re the biggest risk to your own wants and dreams.

I’m not going to use the cliche about getting out of your own way. I instead advocate getting behind yourself and pushing yourself into oncoming traffic. Try playing your life like you’re the main star of Frogger for a while. It may not be a good way to live your life 24/7 but how do you think you’re ever going to level-up if you don’t stick your neck out and take a real, intelligent risk?

Step up.

Step out.

Make a difference.

Act like you really care.

“Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become…habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny!” –Margaret Thatcher

The post Do it like you care appeared first on Dave Saunders.

The state of Texas aims to collect sales tax from businesses who have affiliates operating from their state. To do this Texas House Rep Elliott Naishtat has introduced HB 1317 to collect tax from online purchases by redefining what it means for a business to have a physical presence in the state.

Kudos to the Texas government for finding new and creative ways to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The most obvious "how can you not see this coming" response is to block affiliates from states with such clueless governments. Companies have already done exactly that to affiliates in other states where such physical presence definitions exist. It’s a double-whammy for the state: they won’t be able to collect sales tax from the business or collect income tax from the affiliate as they drive affiliate marketers to the curb.

I think people like Elliott Naishtat should read Atlas Shrugged, or at least a Cliff Notes version with pop-ups. While Ayn Rand takes an absurdly extremist view in illustrating her view of measures like this, it’s funny to read depictions of similarly clueless government officials as they express surprise towards any resistance to such forms of highway robbery taxation.

Thanks to Shawn Collins for first reporting on this over at his blog.

http://blog.affiliatetip.com/archives/texas-advertising-tax-bill-introduced

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