The idea of being successful far beyond my own expectation has always intrigued me. I tried something a little different with this headline, and I thank you for letting it grab your attention!

Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) is about learning to use the language of the mind to consistently achieve specific and desired outcomes by studying, analyzing and implementing new behaviors to produce excellence.  Personality training and exploration is about understanding the basic inherent characteristics that make us who we are and why we act the way we do.

My friend, Rhonda Robbins  is a Success Strategies Coach, NLP Practitioner, Personality Trainer, Marketing, Web and Social Media Professional. I shifted my home-base from Manhattan, NY to the Phoenix Valley last year.  After being a New Yorker for more than 27 years, I was having a difficult time adjusting to my new lifestyle, new relationships and work responsibilities.  Working with Rhonda’s personality coaching and NLP training helped to implement some drastic shifts in my relationships.

Rhonda is presenting high performance techniques to jumpstart any size business on Saturday, May 5, 2012.  If you are in the Phoenix area, I strongly encourage you to attend.

Participation in May 5’s High Performance Personality & NLP Workshop is FREE.

You can sign up here:

Robbins’ high competency level within her blended skillset portfolio translates to high-performance results for individuals and executives.  Using accelerated learning techniques and state-of-the-art coaching strategies she brings business owners and their staff to heightened levels of awareness and being — resulting in increased interpersonal synergy, dynamics and productivity.

Most executives and individuals rely on a familiar set of skills and behaviors as they navigate the workplace. For organizations to come alive and “thrive” often requires a “pattern interrupt.” Robbins’ assists everyone in the organization to understand their personality differences and teaches them how to relate “into” the other personality and not “out of” their own; bringing communication and results to a higher, more effective level.

NLP gives CEO’s and their staff the opportunity to understand their inherent and adaptive behavioral patterns, to assess the impact of their behaviors and leadership styles, and finally, to consider new strategies for creating powerful, resourceful states of being and prosperity.

Business leaders who want to take their business to the next level, revamp their corporate culture, increase communication, productivity and profits will want to participate .

Other articles you may be interested in:

How to Avoid the Top 10 Mistakes Attorneys Make

Social Media and Meet-Ups Keep Legal Marketers Connected

Legal Marketers and Small Business on Twitter

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size businesses to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win & retain the clients they really want.

I talk with dozens of small to mid-sized law firm members and small business owners every week.  Many of them are almost paralyzed by the daunting task of making the next move for marketing their business.  Whether the challenge is choosing the best tool that’s cost effective or just getting started, I can certainly relate to the anxiety.

Providing educational information sources to your existing clients, prospects and referral sources is one of the best ways to initiate and cultivate relationships.  However, calling 500 contacts on the phone every month just isn’t going to happen.

My suggestion is to start small, develop a plan of action, and build as their business develops, assuring that their return on investment is going to stay strong.  Newsletters are a terrific initial move toward a strong R.O.I. in the web 3.0 world of marketing.

The newsletters I’ve written for Karasma Media helped keep my audience interested through a relocation from New York to Phoenix, so needless to say, I’m a big proponent.  (Thank you for sticking with me if you’re an old friend, and Welcome if you’re a new one!)

Like Us on Facebook and receive 10% off  Newsletter Customization

Whether you outsource the writing and distribution of your newsletter, or take it on yourself, the value of a newsletter’s outreach is immense. Particularly if your primary focus is business-to-business.

1.  Illustrate Value. Your readers won’t want to stay connected to you if you don’t provide them with something new and intriguing that entices them to stay “tuned in”.  Ideally, you want them to feel that as if they’re going to miss out on something important if they don’t read what you have to offer.

2.  K.I.S. — Keep it simple!  A newsletter that garners attention isn’t a dissertation.  You want to keep it focused on one focused area of interest that’s easy for your readers to understand

3.  Make it Compelling. The last thing you want to do is bore your reader and have them delete your news.  The good news is, there is an abundance of boring, dry newsletters out in the world, all trying to sound intellectually important.  Simple concepts like real, down-to-earth information and interesting graphics go a long way.  Business relationships not withstanding, your personality, sense of humor and “keep-it-real” perspectives, will entice people to interact with you.

4.  Authenticity is King. You newsletter is an outreach of your company’s spirit and vitality.  I’ve worked with attorneys from a variety of practice areas and businesses from a wide variety of industries.  Each has it’s own cadence, mannerisms and sense of humor.  Your newsletter is a great way to encapsulate who you are and what you can do for your clients.

Karasma Media can produce a newsletter for you!
Take a look-see at our services and call  888-840-2033 for a FREE consultation

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size businesses to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win & retain the clients they really want.

Google is enacting a new algorithm that is going to penalize over-optimized content.  As a communications professional who has been actively blogging for more than 6-years now, I’ve been wondering when Google was going to put their foot down.

I, like many online content writers have spent countless hours writing content that our readers find valuable; not to mention the attentive nurturing it takes to comment, connect and cultivate the online relationships we develop,  into invaluable professional and personal friendships. Over the years, I found it unnerving to think that businesses with an abundance of money could “Out Do” me online with their multitude of unscrupulous links – many of which were not generated from  authentic content.

Google has changed the playing field and we are in the midst of a new day.  I say, “Allelujah”!

Last week, at SXSW, Matt Cutts, the head of Google’s search spam team, announced that Google developed a new tweak to its algorithm that will punish sites that are too optimized for SEO.

In a recent Hubspot article, Matt explains the changes in this way….

“trying to make the algorithm more adaptive,” or being more understanding of sites that have good content even if it isn’t search engine optimized like many marketers have learned to do. The sites that will be penalized are those that “throw too many keywords on the page, exchange way too many links, whatever they’re doing to go beyond what a normal person would expect.”

Read the article in it’s entirety on Hubspot

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size businesses to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win & retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

In the spirit of a tradition bestowed to me  by my Tuskegee Airman, Freedom Fighter, College Professor Dad – Arthur C. Smith, who annually said,  “All Black People should be working TWICE as hard on MLK’s birthday…” I’m spending my day  at The Rainmaker Institute supporting attorneys in the development of their firms.

I can’t think of a more befitting form of self-expression of my admiration and commitment to humanity. Even as a very little girl, I remember my dad’s teachings and the sound of Martin Luther King’s voice resonating through our living room. I distinctly recall how incredibly privileged I was to have a family around me who loved me so much.

Growing up, my parents made sure I had friends from across the globe from every imaginable faith, and ethnicity — yes, the little person in pink & gray is me!

Mom, Valerie Moultrie, reading to my nursery school class, at Oak Lane Day School in Blue Bell, PA - 1966

I quickly realized how strong and huge hearted my parents were and that they worked along with their friends and Martin Luther King to create our incredible United States as I know it. True – we have much work to do as humans in the realm of communication, compassion and cohesiveness. I am the last one to “sugar coat” anything!

I invite you to revisit Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech today — and allow yourself to be moved. I’ve no doubt his words will inspire you to continue manifest your dreams and serve those that matter most to you.

Our nation’s acknowledgement of Martin Luther King’s Birthday and the wonderful honor bestowed on The Tuskegee Airman — provides us all with an opportunity to remember the past and see how incredibly far we have come! Many, Many Blessings and Much Joy to you today as you celebrate human-kind!

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

The New York Times’ John Biggs has poseed an important question…

How much is a Tweet worth and how much does a Twtitter follower cost?

Noah Kravitz, a writer, worked for PhoneDog, a cell phone marketing company.  While there, he wrote for the company’s blog and acquired more than 17,000 Twitter followers. He left his job after 4-years and was intially told that he could keep his Twitter account and was requested to “tweet on their behalf from time to time and I said sure, as we were parting on good terms.”

twitter.com/phonedog_noah and the site Noah's last post directs you to have been "disconnected" for now...

I am among a fast growing number of marketing professionals who are building our reputations as online journalists via their blog and social media platforms.  In doing so, we are building our influence among our audience, and any employer interested in doing so for their company, will bring on professionals who are demonstrating their skills.

The “proof’s in the pudding” so to speak, and transparent actions speak much louder than words.  So, of course any savvy hiring manager will want to be on the lookout for the skill-set.

This being said, John’s statement below truly hit home…

… in a world where social media’s influence can mean the difference between a lucrative sale and another fruitless cold call, social media accounts at companies have taken on added significance.

The outcome of this case is going to set a precidence. Particularly, because more and more marketing and sales professionals are being hired because of their savvyness using Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other social media platforms, and the number of followers they have acquired.

As employers, you’ll want to stay concious of what you’re paying your employees to do.  After all, if they’re being paid to sit in a seat and make calls, then their interactions on social media (and the followers they generate) — are personal.  They are not connected to the business you pay them to perform.

Transparency in business practices has never been more important.  So, specicifity in job descriptions and fair compensation from the outset will alleviate a multitude of problems later — not to mention the negative public relations impact a lawsuit against an ex-employee in good standing has on your company.

Similarly, if you are an employee of a firm and requested to blog and use social media as an addendum to the duties you were originally signed on to do, make sure the stipulations for doing so are in writing!! Expressing your professional opinion, ie: publicising your expertise on the company’s behalf, your writing skill, and the audience you attain, and the time it takes to create are all valuable skills that you should be compensated for.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Legal Marketing and Small Business on Facebook

Social Media and MeetUps Keep Legal Marketers Connected

FourSquare – A Fun and Innovative Tool For Legal Marketers

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Facebook topped Google to become the most visited U.S. Web site, indicating a shift in how Americans are searching for content I talk to literally dozens of attorneys a week and they’re in one of two places when it comes to social media.  If you’re a lawyer or small business owner reading this, you’ll most likely find yourself in one of 3-places regarding your online platform:

1. You have a website and may even blog… when you have the time.  You already have Facebook and Linked In profile that you look at sporadically.
2. You have a website that either looks great or needs revamping, either way it is not enhancing your client intake or bottom line, and you’re “skeptically curious” about using social, so you haven’t set up any profiles.
3. You haven’t started developing an online presence yet.   But since the efforts and money that used to work when marketing your firm that used to work aren’t producing the return you’re looking for you’re curious and want to get started and aren’t sure how…

Here’s some “breaking news”, the entire world is using social media — so it’s very probable that Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are viable resources for reaching viable consumers of your goods and services!

Infographic design by Nick Sigler

“Facebook is squarely at the center of this new universe, and much of what people do online these days starts there. But Facebook’s masterstroke has been to spread itself across the web and allow others to tap your network of friends. As a result, thousands of websites and apps have essentially become satellites that orbit around Facebook.”

Ready to jump in the pool, here are the steps to getting started:

Create Your Profile:
The first step to build your law firm or business presence on Facebook, is to create a personal profile.  Sign up for Facebook, upload a picture and add contact info in your profile. Once that’s done,  upload your existing contact database to see which of your contacts are already on Facebook and ask whichever ones you want to become your Friend.  This will get you up and running quickly rather than completely starting from scratch!

Create Your Company Page:
Once your  personal profile is set up, you can create a Company page for your law firm or business .   the best topics to fill your page with are, news, upcoming events, photos, etc., (Bear in mind that the most effective way to manage your social media platforms is with your blog as the master mind control panel!)
There are also applications that increase the functionality of the page.

If you already have a business website, having a business profile page on Facebook is still estremly important.  Your website is your storefront, your blog and social media are the doors and windows that enable people to find you, contact you and become clients and customers.   After all, you want to have a presence where your existing and prospective clients are spending their time online.

If you already know there’s tremendous potential of Return on your investment by using social to promote your business or legal practice and are looking for content management, relief and strategical maximization, call me at 917-856-5410.

Other articles you may be interested in:

A Great Legal Marketing Firm Tool to Optimize Twitter

Legal Marketers: Responding to social media inquiries is more important than you think

A Very Simple Twitter Formula for Generating Legal Marketing Business

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

For all you social media enthusiasts in the legal marketing world, Twitter has made some exciting changes…

Twitter is revamping the service with personal Twitter profile pages, a new timeline that includes rich media and other related information embedded into tweets, and easier search for information based on @ symbols (usernames) and hash tags.

The highlighted changes:

• Personal profile pages.

• New home timeline.
  

• #Discover.

• @ names are now the shortcut to people.

Other articles you may be interested in:

The Virtual Law office Debate on Twitter

Foursquare: A Fun and Informative Tool for Legal Marketers

My Typical Morning Routine – Using Social Media Tools For New Business

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

If you’re an attorney struggling to build your practice, then you probably believe that the best way to use your time is by practicing law. The reality is, you are not in the business of practicing law. Your business is building relationships (also known as marketing) so that you can practice law.

This is the link to a powerful E-book written by Rainmaker Institute CEO, Stephen Fairley entitled, Top 10 Marketing Mistakes Attorneys Make & How to Avoid Them.

In this book you will learn specific principles and tools you can use to grow your practice, too. The one thing you will NOT find within its pages is an ‘easy button’. Unfortunately, in the world of legal marketing there’s  simply no such thing! I can certainly attest to how much hard work, effort and money it takes to build a successful business and it will not happen overnight.

The great thing is, if you are willing to work we can help you make it happen!

As an advisor at The Rainmaker Institute, I work with solo and small firm legal practitioners to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy. In partnership with my clients, I support them to develop a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and empower them to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

Stephen Fairley, has helped thousands of attorneys achieve their goals of creating a financially successful and personally satisfying legal practice.

Echoing Stephen’s invitation, I invite you to download and print this e-book and read it with a pen and highlighter in hand. The specific strategies you’ll find within its pages, once applied, can make the kind of dramatic difference in your practice that lasts a lifetime.

If you are serious about implementing support services specifically designed for solo and small firm attorneys, please feel free to give me a call at 888-588-5891 Ext. 402 or send me an email at kara@therainmakerinstitute.com.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Kara Smith of Karasma Media Joins the Rainmaker Institute as a Rainmaker Advisor

Legal Marketers and Mid-Size Businesses – Let Your Commitments Do the Talking

The Amsterdam News Covers AALBC.com and Karasma Media Media Marketing Workshops

I looked up from my desk at The Rainmaker Institute yesterday afternoon, my attention drawn to the exclamations coming from two of my colleagues.

“Man, that was good!”,   It turns out that they had cheese steaks from Mike’s Burgers, Cheese Steaks and Ice Cream, located near our office in the Gilbert Town Center.  Now, our Director of Sales is a big guy, and he said, “At 6′6″ and 295 pounds, you know I’ve have a few cheese steaks, so for me to say this place is good…”

(I’m a Philly born & raised gal, so I’ll be taste testing this afternoon and updating this post a bit later!)

Mike’s Burgers, Cheese Steaks and Ice Cream has the look & feel of the malted shop on “Happy Days”, with the old-school warmth, hospitality and aromas of great food radiating.

Connect to Mike's Burgers on Facebook

His online platforms aren’t in full swing just yet, but do show him some love by Liking Him on Facebook .  (His page isn’t branded just yet — see, ol’ school goodness!!)

You can check out a really nice article about the restaurant’s re-launch in

The Arizona Republic.

Mike’s will be adding family special event nights, like family night where kids eat ree, two-for-one burgers, and $1 Scoop Wednesdays!

Owner, Mike Canzona impressed me so much when I met him, that talking with him got my creative muse in action.  I’ll be adding faves to my Phoenix Hot Spots page as I continue on my new adventure of life out west.  Stay tuned!

Kara works with  small to mid-size business and  legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy.  This new design provides a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had some fascinating conversations with J.R. Hunn and have grown very fond of him, which is why you’re hearing about him now…

We’re talking a great deal about finance, our fast shifting world economic status and managing debt.  No doubt you know that these conversations can be overwhelming for many of us to comprehend, let alone actually work with effectively on a personal level.

J.R. has the uncanny ability to give fresh perspective to all of these concepts and situations and provide solutions that are exceedingly easy to comprehend.

More importantly, he shares his knowledge empathetically and has a great sense of humor, which just makes life in general more manageable, and a heck of a lot more fun for those around him.

Growth & decay are constantly happening.  Expansion / Contraction — change is always happening. Some people benefit more than others from any given change.  Learning to benefit from change makes a difference.

The distinction is the magnitude of the changes that are happening now,  The growth is going to be bigger than the rise of the U.S. or Soviet Union.  Collapse is going to be bigger — A really big magnitude shift.

The economic distinction is the size of the shift.   Commitment to benefit from changes is one possible commitment.  Commitment to growth is another.

J.R. Hunn

We shot a very funny video together on the historical impact of oil and the strength of political systems.  Off-camera, this was my first time playing full out with J.R. and we had a ball!

It’s a marathon of jokes, and I literally fell off my chair from laughing so hard.  We’ll be fine tuning as we create more, so stay tuned.

A Brief History of Oil

J.R. consults people on creating financial shelters and prudently manages the assets within the shelters and settles & negotiates debt and prefers to work with people who shelter their finances before they settle their debts.

For some background on the term The DominOil Effect, see J.R’s 2004 article, “…The REAL US Deficit: Oil,” For his more recent research and analysis, see his blog, http://jrfibonacci.wordpress.com/.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Kara works with  small to mid-size business and  legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy.  This new design provides a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410