Hi, Nice to see you again. Feel free to leave a question in the comments if you're unsure about something. I'll do my best to get back to you asap!

This past weekend was a holiday weekend here in Canada and as I was laying in my hammock at the cottage, enjoying the cool breeze off the lake, I realized that my business is running “somewhat” on autopilot.

A big part of it running this way is the use of autoresponders. If you’re not sure what an autoresponder is, Wikipedia describes it as “a computer program that automatically answers email sent to it”.

So basically my business is setup with a number of websites, each with it’s own unique capture mechanism. These could be a squeeze/capture page or a free offering on a blog where someone enters their name and email address.

Once these sites capture an email address, my autoresponder is notified and starts the process of building a relationship with the person who entered their email.

Cool huh?

This is much easier than me personally responding to each person, as you can imagine, yet it still allows me to establish myself as a leader in my field, give the person a glimpse into my word and establish a level of trust with the reader.

If you’re building a business online, I highly recommend you look at implementing some form of autoresponder into your relationship building activities.

Here’s a few ideas of what you could create as an autoresponder:

1. Email Mini Course: This could comprise of a series 5, 6 or 7 emails teaching someone the fundamentals of a particular skill. For example, on one of my sites I give business women a 6 day mini course of search engine optimization. This, of course, leads to the 7th day where I introduce them to my search engine optimization video course which teaches them the same skills but in much more details.
2. Newsletter: This is a bit of an “old school” method but still works in some markets. Basically you’re offering your subscribers access to a newsletter. Remember the newsletter should be addressing the needs and solutions for your market, not necessarily updating the reader what on what is new with you or your company. The newsletter could include information that is not necessarily available on your website, otherwise, why would they need to subscribe.
3. Special Report: Sometimes called a white-paper. These are longer than newsletters and usually are focused on one particular topic. In an email autoresponder you may want to have some initial “teaser” copy and then link them to the special report available in a hidden area of your website. If you are in the business of writing special reports, one idea is to make your “offer” on your site, access to the top 5 most popular reports.
4. Audio File(s): This format and the next one (video) are both very hot right now. It gives people a more passive way to learn, by listening and watching. You could give away an interview you did, a recorded speaking event, or you could just record yourself speaking about a particular topic.
5. Video File(s): This is probably the hottest format being used today. I find video is much more engaging and better at building a relationship with your subscribers. Don’t feel like you need too much of a script. People are looking for authenticity. Your videos don’t need to have “Hollywood” quality. The important thing is that they are valuable. This method combined with method 1, mini course, above makes for a powerful combination.

So there you are, five separate autoresponder ideas for you to implement. Start now, even if it’s not perfect.

When I look back on what I had initially setup as my autoresponder, it wasn’t that great, but at least I took action. Now that I know more about marketing online and how to lead people to what I want them to do, I’ve gone back and revised some of my autoresponders. And you can too, but start today.

A couple weeks ago I did a post on Why It’s Beneficial to Comment on Other People’s Blogs.  And I explained a few reasons why this will benefit you. If you haven’t read it…I suggest you check it out after you’ve read this post.

But in this post I wanted to point out something that I feel not enough leaders are doing.

There is a default piece of code which gets attached to all comment links in WordPress which is called “nofollow” and what it does is it stops Google from following the commenters link. If that piece of code is NOT there, then Google will follow the link and counts it towards a higher ranking value for the commenters site or page.

When blog owners keep this little bit of code on their sites, you’re actually not getting any “link love” from the blog that you’re commenting on.

Yes, you are being seen by other commenters and all the points I made in my videos about why you should comment are still valid and I do highly recommend that you do comment on other people’s blogs for those reasons, whether or not they have removed the “nofollow” tag or not.

Here’s the thing…

There is no real reason (that I can think of) why you or any leader in this industry should not remove the “nofollow” code.

In internet marketing, the entire basis of success rides on you giving before receiving. So why not give “full on”? Link love and all?

I challenge all blog owners in network marketing to install this little plugin I found and starting giving 100% over and above to your readers.

Here’s a little video I made showing you the plugin and how to configure it.

And OF COURSE, I want you to leave a comment and get some LINK LOVE FROM ME.

What do you think? Should more leaders being doing this? If you don’t do it and have chosen not to, I’d love to know your reasons why.

“MVP”

Hi Guys…I put together this two part video to show you how to add this nice little optin to your WordPress blog. It’s really easy and only takes a few minutes.

Adding an optin exit popup to your blog really helps to build your list so I recommend you put one on your blog.

Here goes…

Part two is if you need more detailed instructions on how to incorporate your autoresponder form code into this hmtl document where the popup is.

So that’s it let me know if this video was helpful or if you have any other questions about it and your specific situation.

I used to hate pulling weeds. Now I love it. …I know …you think I’m nuts..

My whole adult life I’ve really enjoyed gardening seeing things grow and knowing that I cared for it and played a big part in the success (or sometimes failure) of my gardens.

Pulling weeds on the other hand is one of those annoying things about gardening I avoid like the plague. Bending over, digging, breaking the roots, knowing that if you don’t get it all …the suckers will just be growing back bigger and stronger than ever.

Arghhh..it’s like they know they have this control over me and so I have always hated weeding my garden or lawn.

After this last weekend, I now LOVE pulling weeks.

…and it’s all because…

My husband bought me the right tool for the job. And now it’s ENJOYABLE. This bad boy rocks!

This got me thinking about all the tools I use for business and how they make the tasks that would otherwise be painstaking, so much more enjoyable.

Now of course if it was a job that I could pay someone to do, that would be the perfect tool, but when that isn’t possible, a great tool can make a world of difference.

Here’s My Top 5 Tools I use in my business that make my life more enjoyable:

Tool 1: Screen Capture Software

I couldn’t imagine having to create a tutorial through the written word and screen shot images. It’s just so much more powerful to literally show someone how to do something while you’re verbally explaining it (and soooo much faster).

I use ScreenFlow. It’s cheap, easy to use and does everything I need it to. Because I make a lot of screen tutorial like videos, this is an absolute tool for me. For windows users out there…try the free CamStudio.

Tool 2: Smart Phone

For 3 reasons. First, if you’re doing any social media, having the ability to update your status anywhere is great. I lived without a “smart phone” for a long time and missed out on so many tweeting & facebook’ing opportunities cause my phone didn’t have that capability. Now if I could just figure out how to filter out all that spam

Second reason, is because it has iPod capabilities. I can play all the training audios and videos that I have. It’s so convenient to listen to when driving, or walking the dogs.

Learning in passive mode is so easy and my iPhone makes it even easier. Before iPods, you’d have to drag CD’s around with you (read books, which I still love doing, but isn’t so safe to do while driving or cutting the grass), or actually sit at your computer and try not to get distracted while listening to audio training. I know I just can’t do that.

Third reason, is for the tethering option. Because many weekend during the summer we spend at the lake, it means I can stay connected to my business if I need to. Not that I “have” to…but I have that security to know that if I need something..it’s a click away.

Before my iPhone, I’d have to run into town (population 300) and use the library…not so convenient.

Tool 3: Keyword Research Tool

Can you imagine having to find keyword competition manually? Ughh..I can’t…

Being an internet entrepreneur, I know that almost every project I do starts with keyword research. I use a tool call Market Samurai. I purchased it when it was in Beta so I got a great price.

It is one tool I use almost daily and it tells me so many little secrets that save me a ton of time.

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Of course there are many other tools I use on a daily basis, WordPress, my autoresponder (AutoresponsePlus), my MacBook, my video camera, my mic (which I spent too much $ on, but now glad I have it), etc…but my point is is that when you have the right tools, business gets easier and life more enjoyable.

Tell me about your favorite tools…

The world needs more leaders. Real leaders who make positive change.

If I have the ability to become a “conscious” leader, then I have every obligation to do so. My family, friends, co-workers, business partners, followers and fellow tribe members depend on it.

I am using the first person, because I believe in the famous quote by Ghandi: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

I’ve started studying leadership and found this one book so profound, I just have to share some of the main points with you.

It’s called One: The Art and Practice of Conscious Leadership by Lance Secretan.

Lance talks about the CASTLE principles which are the basis for conscious leaders and the fact that we are one. Most leaders today live in separateness. Thinking only of what they can get, how much more money they can make, how much power they can achieve.

But when we start to see leaders who believe and act in oneness, that is when we’ll start to see a real shift in the world. These are the kinds of leaders we need more of.

The CASTLE principles are:

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COURAGE

Conscious leaders have courage to see that maybe they are wrong, maybe someone they haven’t agreed with in the past has a valid point or is onto something.

These leaders take chances that others won’t.

They do what they know is right, from their heart, even if they may face ridicule or embarrassment.

They have courage to be authentic and true to their values.

In my own growth over the past year, I’ve realized that doing this business takes a lot of courage, not only to step outside your comfort zone and all the traditional things that push the level of courage, but to humble myself to know that I am a leader to some and a follower to others.

AUTHENTICITY

Conscious leaders are truly authentic and authenticity is not possible without courage.

When we are authentic we are one with what we think, feel and say. Everything we do, sends the same message. There is no conflicting actions in a truly authentic leader.

This doesn’t mean we may not have conflicting thoughts, but being authentic with others about those conflicts keeps us truly authentic.

Authenticity results in trust and in business, people buy from those they trust. We all know that. But being authentic even when we’ve made a mistake or are trying to be someone or something we’re not, will have a greater, positive impact.

SERVICE

“Conscious leaders know that the primary purpose of leadership is to serve the needs of followers. If this were not so, why would we need a leader?”

In many decisions we face, we can chose to harm or to serve. Competitive sport, which is so prevalent in today’s media, sends a message of win/lose. ‘Someone has to lose and it won’t be us.’ These types of actions only alienate, frustrate and diminishes our health.

When we truly desire and make happen a Win-Win situation, we all benefit …because we are one.

It’s inspiring to see a group like the Unified Tribe all in service to each other. And just by this simple action, I know I’ve personally seen growth in my business by being a part of it.

TRUTHFULLNESS

Have you ever told a lie and gotten away with it? I know I have and I could probably say with a good degree of surety that almost every one has.

Have you ever told the truth and been rewarded two fold? It happens believe me. Try it out sometime.

According to Lance, it’s the biggest profit booster. I know I’m committed to truthfulness because I know that we are all one and that truthfulness will come back to me.

When I talk to people about my business opportunity or my products, I know that if I expand the truth even just a little bit, it will come back to bite me in the but.

I’ve worked with people in the past who live on “little white lies” and from what I can see these people are not even a fraction of the success they could be.

If we all could commit to truthfulness, wow what a world this would be.

LOVE

What really blew me away with this principle is that it shattered my previous belief that one must love oneself first before they can love others. I always thought that was true.

Boy was I wrong…

Only in loving others first and living in oneness can we truly become conscious leaders.

I’m reminded of a marketing tactic that involved using fear as a way to get someone to buy something. It’s used more than the ‘carrot’ in marketing because people are more likely to move away from fear than to move towards pleasure.

Doing too many things at once, multitasking and distractions keep us from truly loving and being engaged with someone. In my goal towards becoming a conscious leader, I will put more focus on people, loving and listening to them.

Plus…multitasking leads to mediocrity.

EFFECTIVENESS

I have to be honest here. When I saw this last principle, I got a little nervous cause I thought that it was going to be about how smart one person was or about being a strategic thinker.

Wow..was I wrong…

Effectiveness comes automatically from all the above principles. Effective people are inspired. They act on all the above principles, and become people-first thinkers.

When conscious leaders do this, they earn the economic right to effectiveness….and therefore their own success and the success of others.

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So as I (and you) start to become a conscious leader by practicing these 6 principles, we together will start to see that it’s good for the bottom line AND for the soul.

I highly recommend anyone interested in becoming a better leader (one that the world REALLY needs) to read this book and start living these principles….I know that I personally am committing to taking these on in my own life.

Let me know what you think….are you already practicing them and have you seen change in your world?