After a lot of struggle with management at my regular 9-5, I finally decided to cut the cord. I was really starting to identify with Steve Jobs’ quote:

I put up with a lot of nonsensical rules and felt penalized for even suggesting alternatives to help turn around a sinking ship. This week I decided I am done with that.

I fired my boss on Tuesday. (Or, in other words, I quit my job.)

It’s time for me to focus on you.

That’s right – I’m not going to take another full-time job. 

I am not going to rest in security while I preach to you the power of doing your own thing. I’m going to make change happen instead of waiting for change to happen to me.

If you’re new here, what I do is help people learn how to use the web better than they’re using it now. Particularly, how to use the web to solve problems. (Even more specifically: small business problems, but a lot of my teachings are universal.)

What does that mean?

I need you. I need your support. I need you to help me help you.

I’m not asking for money for what I’ve offered - this blog, the newsletter and everything that currently exists for free is going to keep happening totally free.

(On the other hand, I will start to offer paid solutions and one-on-one coaching on top of what is already here for those of you who want that in-depth approach.)

What I do need from you is participation.

Let’s grow together.

I’m working on so many ideas for us to come together as a team and start to really get involved.

If that’s true, then it’s time to start making our voices heard. It’s time we start communicating.

New: Weekly Small Business Twitter Chats

I’m going to start organizing weekly small business Twitter chats. I use a tool called TweetChat.com to track these sorts of things – we’ll be participating by using the hashtag #smallbizweb

I do not have a time or schedule for this yet!

…and if you’re wondering, YES, this is free participation!

How to take part:

Let me know in the comments or by sending me a tweet using the hashtag what times are good for you.

Example: “I am usually available weekday evenings after 6pm PST”

Don’t have Twitter or find this confusing?

Don’t be embarrassed! This is totally fine if you’re not sure how this would work or if you don’t have a Twitter account. Just post to the comments what you need explained and I will help you out.

Twitter chats are essentially a group of people on Twitter all using the same hashtag to connect a conversation. For example:

@annedorko Q1: Who has a website? #smallbizweb

@lindaursin A1: I have a website! #smallbizweb

@jbowlessd A1: I am working on a new website! #smallbizweb

– if you’re new to Twitter or uncomfortable with it, that is all the more reason to jump in. By practicing with people who know that you’re just learning the ropes, you’ll be in good hands and get advice and tips on how to do better.

New: Weekly Google+ Hangouts

If you’re on Google+ I’d also love to have video chats with you guys on a weekly basis. We can talk about your goals, your needs, your frustrations and it may be way easier to do that in real-time voice and video chat than through 140 characters on Twitter.

Once again, I do not have a time or schedule yet!

…if you were still wondering, this is also free participation.

How to participate:

Let me know in the comments what times are good for you.

Example: “I am usually available weekday evenings after 6pm PST”

Don’t have Google+ or find this confusing?

Don’t be embarrassed! Google+ is just the new social network Google has provided. It is open to the public and you can sign up if you like. Google+ hangouts are when a group of people get together and have a video chat together as a group.

If you have any questions about how it might work, just ask in the comments!

Not New: Blog Comments

I know that I get readers here. I can see it in my website analytics.

I know that commenting is scary. It is so easy to passively read and then move on with your life.

Commenting is free.

Here are some comment ideas for when you read a post:

Blog comment idea #1: How did you apply it to your website (or schedule, or business, or life)?

If I write a blog post that touches you and you apply it to yourself in any way at all – share that with us! It’s going to inspire other people to try the same for themselves. It’s going to show people that you’re making change. It’s going to get people involved in what you’re doing.

Blog comment idea #2: Agree or disagree with the post.

If you agree or disagree with something I write, tell me so. I love to have discussion about the things that I’ve obviously cared enough about to share with you. Do you have more information or resources on a topic? Share the links! Do you have information about why I’m wrong? Share those links too!

Do you just have an opinion about what I wrote? Let us know!

Blog comment idea #3: Share the way that you’ve done it.

Perhaps I’m sharing a technique about how to do XYZ, but you have a different technique that works for you. Tell us the technique!

That way, others who are reading the post will see what you’re doing and be able to have that as another option besides the technique that I offered in the post. And when others share their technique, well, you can see how we’ll all start benefiting.

Blog comment idea #4: Share resources that relate to the post.

Similar to the last comment idea, if I’m sharing resources and you have a resource that you use, then feel free to share that resource with us!

I’m betting all of you have different resources you turn to and a lot of you aren’t satisfied with the one you’re using. By reporting on what you use and how you like it, we can all make more educated decisions on what we end up using in the future.

Blog comment idea #5: Ask a question.

Did I write a confusing post? Did I skip important factors that jumbled the message? Did I not break down the elements of the post into small enough portions?

Let me know by asking questions about where I lost you. I have to stress – do NOT be embarrassed. Just ask.

Blog comment idea #6: Answer a question.

Maybe part of a blog post was confusing to you, but you seemed to have understood a part that confused someone else who asked a question.

Expertise is not required to offer a helping hand. If someone has asked a question and you think you can help, by all means, please go and answer! Of course I’ll jump in as soon as I can to help out, but we’re all here for each other.

Also, the best way to learn is to teach.

Blog comment idea #7: Reply to other comments.

Did someone share how they’re applying the blog post to their website? Go check out their website and see what you think! Then come back and leave words of encouragement and if necessary, some constructive criticism.

How does that song go? “Let’s get together, yeah yeah yeah!”

What venue will work for you to get involved?

Maybe you prefer a forum over social media outlets. If we want a forum, I can make a forum happen!

Perhaps you would like to focus on participating at the Facebook page instead.

…because whether I just became jobless or self-employed rests in your hands.

Have you ever felt frustrated about managing your website once it’s live online for all to see?

Do you think it’s a good strategy to just put up your website the way it is and hope for the best?

I’m introducing you to the upcoming series I’m working on: the Website Maintenance Guide for Business Owners.

You’ll follow my journey to a more organized, scheduled and maintained website – and we’ll find out how to do it so that it feels simple and easy.

The natural follow up.

If you’ve been reading along with us lately, you know that I just recently wrapped up a series that shows you how to prepare and follow through developing the content and workflow of a website.

As always, we focused on the non-technical, perhaps more psychological side of what it takes to create and build a website that actually works.

We didn’t talk about what size your fonts should be, or how big your logo should show – those technicalities are different for everyone.

We did talk about the universal truths of building a website that solves your customers’ needs, regardless of the tools you choose to build it with.

This series will be no different.

We’re not going to get into finite details. We’ll be discovering techniques and mindsets that will help anyone find their way to a well kept and effective website.

How will this help you?

You can’t just create a website and let it idle. Not if you want it to be effective as a tool for your small business.

There are a number of ways you can get the most out of this series.

Ask questions, get answers.

My goal is to make sure that you’re not confused.

If you want to know the answer to a question, ask your question at the end of the post you’re confused about, or simply send me an email by clicking here.

Find a community.

I’m doing my best to cultivate a community with my readers.

I have a slowly growing Facebook page where people are invited to post their questions and help by answering others with their experiences. Of course, I am always answering questions as well. Click here to go “Like” the page and join in!

Access secret tips you can’t find elsewhere.

I’ll be giving out free extra downloads and web tips throughout the series to a special group of people – but it won’t be available through the public blog.

To get the most out of this series I highly recommend you join this special group by signing up here. You can always unsubscribe with no hassle, and I promise I will not spam you or sell your email address.

[wrap]

In the meantime… any questions?

This series is about you. No I really mean it. Go look in a mirror and say it out loud:

This series is about [your name]. 

Don’t wait for someone else to ask a question first. Don’t sit around thinking that I mean someone else.

I mean you. The person who wants to do better with their website but doesn’t have the energy or time to figure out what really works. The person thinking, “She’s really talking about someone else because no one would actually solve my problem without charging me money.”

Ask your question. I don’t care if it’s a question that you think must have an obvious answer.

I want to answer it. I want your tomorrow to be easier because of something I helped you with today.

I’m excited about this series, how about you?

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She is an aspiring model from LA, and has more to present than just the images you see in her pictures.

You can read her blog or follow her on Twitter: @kasumishimizu

If you’re not following me already, you should follow me while you’re at it!