Email and Social Media Marketing Best Practices

Online Marketer, Do you want to stay on top of the latest best practices in email or social media marketing? StrongMail has a wealth of resources to help you forge profitable and long-lasting connections with your prospects and customers. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to subscribe to two newsletters featuring proven strategies for developing best-in-class email and social media marketing program information. Email Marketing Email marketers receive the StrongMail Advisor monthly newsletter, featuring invitations to industry events, name-brand case studies and the latest email marketing best practices.   Email marketing best practices Latest industry news and events In-depth customer case studies Program recommendations and strategies Practical implementation tips   Social Media Marketing Our Social Tips newsletter provides quick, digestible advice on how to improve your social media marketing efforts twice a month!   Practical social media marketing tips Valuable information for competitive advantage Digestible advice twice a month Ready to Subscribe? In order to receive the StrongMail Advisor or Social Tips newsletters, you must opt in to each publication. Please select from the following options: If you do not wish to receive either publication, simply take no action. We hope that you find both newsletters interesting, valuable and informative. As always, we welcome feedback on either publication at editor@strongmail.com. – The StrongMail Team Copyright © 2010 StrongMail Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 1300 Island Dr., Suite 200, Redwood City, CA 94065 | (800) 971-0380 StrongMail is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries. To remove yourself from future StrongMail communications, visit http://www.strongmail.com/unsubscribe.html

Extended Job Search--Keeping the Spirits Up

In today's tough economy, many will encounter extended periods of unemployment. In fact, as a job seeker you must avoid the temptation of accepting the first crummy job offer that comes along. The two essential elements to a successful extended job search are a consistently positive attitude and a relaxed and quiet confidence based upon an unshakable belief in self and passion for a chosen career. So how can we remain calm and positive in the face of inevitable set-backs and frustrations.   Having experienced three extended job searches during my working career, I certainly don't have all the answers but can offer a few suggestions: *  Make the tough financing choices up front needed to "purchase" sufficient time for a successful job search or career transition. Always assume the best ultimate outcome but the worst in time and resources needed to get there.   *  Plan out the job search or career transition process in advance with clear target dates for completion of all phases which you can control. Of course, you can't target the precise date when you will find your next job, but you can target dates to complete and distribute resumes, contact prospective employers and complete necessary vocational training.   *  Throughout the process, visualize yourself performing the target position of your dreams--begin to think and communicate like an incumbent.  (I have spoken about thhe process of visualization in previous blogs.)   *  Develop one or more fallback contingency financing plans which You can implement in rapid succession should the job search take longer than anticipated.  Possibilities include accepting temporary or part-time work, renting out your house (if it can't be sold) or over the short run significantly curtailing discretionary family expenditures.    *  While not abandoning your dreams, be prepared to think outside the lines.  Instead of a steady paycheck, have you considered buying a business or multi-level marketing? How about recruiting as venture partners individuals with a passion similar to yours?   *  Ignore bad news. Any night of the week on national or local newscasts we hear stories about high unemployment and dim prospects for recovery. Don't watch these programs--they apply only in general and not to your specific situation. You can be miles ahead of your competition. The only news you should be tracking is specific developments in your targeted business or career area.   *  Take periodic "vacation" breaks from your job search but only long enough to refresh mind, soul and body.  Consider these breaks the same as you would vacation time off from a job. These breaks should never be long enough to destroy momentum or costly enough to significantly worsen family finances. I offer three closing thoughts:   1. Approach your job search or career transition as a "win/win" proposition. Your location and acceptance of the position of your dreams will benefit both you and potential employer as well as all of those you will serve.   2. Never forget that your worth as an individual can never be defined solely by your vocation. You must never let your job master you!   3. Once you locate your dream job, never cherish your career too much, certainly not at the expense of your health, relaxation, loved ones and service to others.   I would like to hear about your job search experience. Are there lessons you lhave learned which you would like to share with others. Please respond to this blog or email me at roy@middleagerenewal.com.

Looking for Work or Changing Careers?--Pre-program Success!

Are you unemployed and frustrated over lack of job prospects? Do you remain employed but are sick and tired of your present job? Let's assume that you have wisely taken time out to thoughtfully define the targeted position or entrepreneurial venture of your dreams. Before charging forward, your next task is to address five crucial issues:    1. Financing career change. How long do you anticipate to be out of work? Have you completed a workable family transition budeget, agreed to by all family members? Will you have interim sources of income? Are you prepared to make temporary lifestyle compromises? (Note: Always plan for a longer-than-anticipated transition--you will need to "buy" enough time to avoid panic and retain the option to say "no" to crummy job offers.)   2. Related economic issues. When you quit your job, how will you obtain health insurance for self and family? How will you pay for your children's education? Will you need to relocate? Might you need to tap into savings? (Note: It often makes sense to tap into "rainy day" funds to finance a positive career change.)   3. Cost and availability of job training. Can you afford the technical and occupational training needed to perform your dream job? Is training offered in your local area? How long will it take you to become qualified?   4. Testing the Waters. Can you launch your targeted venture or job search at night or on weekends while retaining you present day job or accepting temporary employment? Do you possess the stamina to perform two jobs while not neglecting your family?   5. Demonstrating qualifications. How will you attract prospective employers, investors or venture partners? Can you locate not-for-pay volunteer activities in a related field in your community? Without sacrificing integrity, could you volunteer for related projects on your current job?   Before plunging into job search or a new venture start-up, you will need to confront head-on two potential roadblocks: lack of a boss and time on your hands. No longer fully occupied with pre-assigned tasks, the mind will have ample opportunity to lose focus and to generate worries, real and imagined. Once on your own, it will be entirely up to you to calm any negative emotions and to fill in the gaps in your assignment calendar. You will need to scope out and implement a comprehensive, positive day-by-day transition plan complete with self-imposed accomplishment deadlines. You must never let temporary setbacks, obstacles or distractions (even a great day for golf) throw you off track. To keep the search process moving foward, always take action sooner rather than later refusing to waste time and effort agonizing over every next step.     Always keep in mind that your are CEO of your own job or career transition. Your "Board of Directors" is composed solely of self and loving family members; in the end you and you alone are responsible for a successful outcome. In closing, I  suggest you make yourself this solumn pleadge:   "I will not accept any position or invest time and money in any business venture unless I am 100% certain that this is how I wish to spend my remaining productive years and can realistically anticipate income sufficient to support our chosen family lifestyle, both now and in the future."    In next week's blog, I will recommend methods to sustain positive emotions during a sometimes long and difficult career transition process.