Exactly.

“Always make strategy keeping customer in mind – once you understand the problem — strategy is all about solution”

I totally agree. Me, personally, I think I get it some of the time and not at others. Yet I keep plugging away, learning as I can.

I’d love to know more about what your outsourcing and to who. Perhaps this is a better conversation for email.

We agree 100% about the perspective about doing the right thing over the long term.

My issue is more with the definition of content. For example, that would make for a good blog post topic. What IS good content?

My fear, based on what I’ve seen, is that very few people really understand the concept of good content. Now, Darren Rowse…he gets it. John Reese, he gets it. Eric Giguere…he gets it. Rand Fishkin gets it.

But there are hundreds of sheep walking around behind these folks…and I’m afraid that they just don’t get it at all. Some are talented writers…so they might repackage what they’ve heard from the “thought leaders”. But, for the most part…it’s just like watching food thru the various stomachs of a cow…down…then up, then down…then up…then…until the topic has not only been sucked dry of every potential nutrient. Helpful, valuable content has a shelf life. And uniqueness matters. If it’s been said a thousand times before…why does one need to say it again? Where’s the added value now? It just feels like a Tootsie Roll that’s been chewed until the flavor is completely gone and there’s this little husk left and people keep passing it around…chewing it for a few seconds and passing it on to the next person.

As a friend once said on the topic of “Caffeine-Free Diet Mountain Dew”…what’s the point? Caffeine and sugar are why you drink the stupid stuff in the first place!”

On the subject of outsourcing…I intend to do at least one blog post in the new few weeks on my experiences. I just finished up a nice project yesterday with an Indian service provider…I’ve got about 5 more in the works. I’ve gotten screwed over a bunch, and I’ve been pretty happy with some of the results. So I’ll talk about that at some point…in hopes of helping others find places to help hire out content development, in the event that they can’t do it themselves.

I hear you. I see the same thing in some problogs. I just keep remembering that content will always win – even it it’s in the long-run.

I need to do more farming out myself. I’ve been looking at options lately so I can free up more time to do consulting and coaching.

Well, I don’t have skills to make pretty designs, etc…so I’ve learned to modify templates…to bring in the touch of a skilled artist. I’ve learned that I don’t know how to code anything very sophisticated…so I’ve learned to hire things out to people who do. But I’ve learned that my ideas are pretty good. So I try to spend time on my strengths and farm out in areas where I’m weaker.

I will always spot you. Just reach and I’ll be there.

Steve,

Excellent – considering you wrote the lyrics. I absolutely love what you’re writing. Don’t you think the beauty is in finding our own melody for your words?

Chuck,

SWEET! I love that your into media and the web. And now I have three websites to look at (which I turned into live links for you).

For me, the verdict is still out on blogging for a living. I blog to create conversation, build relationships and grow my service-based business. I spend no time monetizing my site – though you’ll find a few affiliate links. Mostly, I’m interested in the process because that’s what I help my clients do – utilize social media as a process for growing business.

What’s the latest thing you’ve learned as a web designer?

- professional voiceover guy (http://professionalvoicetalent.com)
- songwriter and occasional solo pianist (http://healingpiano.com)
- web developer (http://tornbread.com)

I get to exercise my passon for service in all the areas where I work, but it’s been especially true in my web-building activity…where I’m very much focused on trying to do things that haven’t been done (or done WELL) before…as opposed to just chattering about things online and expecting to get paid for it.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with online personal journals, per se. But this whole “I blog for a living thing…”, ehhh, not without providing some real value, you don’t. Or, if you do…you don’t for long.

There. I’ve now quoted myself.

I’ll spin and reach and I’m sure your hands will catch my wrists before I fall.

This is pretty fun – huh? And the quality of answers we’ve come up with has really surprised me. When are we going to run out of content????

Chuck,

Thanks. I definitely hear you on all accounts – even invoicing – which I’m looking to streamline even further than I do now.

Tell me more about what you do.