Greetings,
"Time is that quality of nature which keeps events from happening all at once. Lately it doesn't seem to be working."
This quote by an unknown writer sums up the theme for this issue. The first article looks back on two years of publishing Web Words, observing some benefits and a few disappointments. Check out the link on the word "habit" for another cool writing by that same author--anonymous. Thanks to Eb Schmidt for this.
The second article takes a look at the cost of speeding up time--not only on our lives, but also on the way we communicate. And this month's Web Tips stays on theme. It's about keeping track of time.
The April issue brought in a lot of nice comments and a few electronic birthday presents. This from Ira Grossman who lives in Dallas, TX: "Congrats Susanna. Your Web Words is one of the many things that keeps me connected to the soul of the Berkshires and the creative people there."
Also, note that there are three free intros to e-zine publishing planned for June. If you'd like to attend, but can't make those dates and locations, please be in touch. We'll work something out.
Lastly, I need your help. I'm researching a future article on online networking, so please send me your comments on Plaxo, LinkedIn, biznik, Facebook and any other virtual networks you frequent.
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Belated Birthday
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 You wouldn't forget your own child's birthday. So how did I nearly overlook Web Word's two-year anniversary last month? There are lots of answers, but the one I like best is that my newsletter has become a habit.
As such, I was focused on creating the issue at hand, not on the bigger picture of how many issues I've done in the past.
Hopefully, this e-zine has become a habit for others too. I was delighted at a recent Consulting Alliance meeting when someone commented, "I didn't get your newsletter yesterday."
Web Words didn't miss a deadline, but we publish 12 issues a year. Every so often we get an extra week, and this month is one of those. Still, all of this reinforces the value of consistent, regular publication.
The plusses
I enjoy doing Web Words. Not only is the writing fun, but I like searching for the sometimes-quirky graphics that accompany each article. This usually takes more time than the writing, but putting a whole issue together every month gives me an enormous sense of accomplishment. When you get in the rhythm of doing your e-zine, I'm sure you'll say the same thing.
Having reusable material is a great benefit. If you plan your content wisely, it will reflect what you do. Thus when you meet new prospects, or one of your ongoing clients or customers has a question, you can refer them to an article in your on-line publication. In my case, not only does this convey information, but it also reinforces the value of having a newsletter in the first place.
I was recently asked to contribute copy to a new venture. I wouldn't write articles for free, but I've already got Web Words. They get content, I get exposure--without any additional effort. Win, win for sure.
I attend a lot of networking events, which is where I meet new subscribers. These days, when I approach a group of people, there is often a Web Words fan in the bunch. They speak highly of the publication, and everyone else in the group is eager to sign up. In fact, this month I am adding the highest number of new subscribers in all our history. Welcome new readers.
At a recent BEN (Berkshire Entrepreneurs Network) event, I mentioned my research into time-tracking software and offered to send people the information. "Put it in your newsletter," came the response. Thus the origin of this month's Web Tips.
The Minuses
It hasn't made me rich. "Oh come on," you're thinking. "You surely didn't expect that." Well, no, not really. But since I'm in the e-zine business, I did expect that the publication would bring me lots of prospects. That was a little naïve.
Wiser are the expectations of Alan Krieger, who we mentioned in last month's issue. "For me, it's the package--newsletter, Web site and brochure. They all add credibility and keep my name out there, but I don't expect many 'cold hits' just from the electronics."
And people still don't remember that they can buy Constant Contact through me. Maybe I've been too shy about that fact, so I'm going to increase the volume a bit. That's right--I resell Constant Contact, the premier e-mail marketing product. So if you or anyone you know is considering signing on, please, please send them my way.
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Bumper-Sticker World
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At a writer's conference I attended in Boston recently one of the sessions was called "Editor Idol." Opening paragraphs were read until two of the three judging editors raised their hands. Then the reading stopped in mid-sentence.
Cruel though this may sound, it's the reality of getting published today. If authors don't grab the reader in the first few paragraphs, they're out of luck with the big New York City publishers. That may not be all bad, but that's another conversation.
Your Web site is the same deal. The search engines look at the first 25 words. And your real-live readers probably won't go much past that either. As the esteemed Bill Moyers said in a recent broadcast, we're reduced to concepts that will fit on a bumper sticker. He quoted the famous novelist Saul Bellow, "There will come a time when we'll only hear short bursts of truth."
All Work
My dear friend Giannina Silverman paid a visit last weekend. Late of Northampton, she's worked for herself as a graphic designer in Seattle for several years. Giannina reports that her friends (she's thirty something) are expected to work 60 to 80 hours a week by their high-profile employers like Starbucks and Microsoft.
I did the math. On the high end, that's more than 11 hours of work every day of the week. If you want a day off on the weekend, you need to work from 7 AM to 9 PM the rest of the week. When do you eat, sleep and exercise? And what about children? Friends? Community activities? Not to mention getting your hair cut or your car's oil changed.
Obviously, these two are connected. While there is more and more information to digest, there's less and less time to consume it. The obvious outcome--everything is reduced to the number of words that will fit on a bumper sticker.
Not All Bad
There's something to be said for reducing things to a few words. After all, the Shawenon Communications tagline is: "Our distinction is communicating your distinction." And we get there by going for the essence of each client's offering so that we can pull out a few key words or phrases to captivate busy people. These words become the hook that says, "Stop what you're doing and read more."
It's the same idea as the opening words in a book. They are the barker at the county fair--enticing spectators onto the grounds to spend time and money on entertainment.
I'm grateful not to live at the stunning pace my urban colleagues face. Being self employed and living in a tranquil place both reduce the pressure. But I still can't get everything done--far from it. So I recently took a seminar called Mission Control. It requires a radical change in a lot of things, and I'll write more about it in subsequent issues. But for now, I'll give you the bumper sticker. "You can't get it all done." Once you get that in the core of your being, this system will give you a sense of accomplishment. At least that's the theory.
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| Web Tips |
 How do you keep track of time? If you're self-employed or work for a service provider, you need to bill for your time. Even if you're salaried, it's handy to know how long things take. Though admittedly not all-inclusive, here's what I found in researching the subject for my own use.
TraxTime and OfficeTime are similar products. Both cost $39.95, though the latter will go up on June 1. Each offers a free trial. I'm going with OfficeTime, which was originally a Mac product that has been ported to Windows. I know this is usually a risky proposition, but OfficeTime offers more functionality and a nicer user interface. However, because it's more complicated, it's harder to learn.
FreshBooks was also recommended to me. It's an online service, therefore there's a monthly fee. But it includes automatic invoicing and other billing features. It's more than I need, but seems to be a good product.
At the other end of the spectrum is TimeTracker--it's free. It's a to-do-list with a clock. They partner with Harvest, which appears to be comparable to FreshBooks.
If you have other favorites, please let me know.
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And Finally . . .
Shawenon Communications collaborates with small businesses, solopreneurs, professionals and not-for-profits to get their messages across in the written word.
We specialize in electronic communications, including e-zines and other forms of email marketing, and Web site content. We also ghostwrite articles and other business communications. As a business partner, we resell Constant Contact's email marketing service.
Thanks for reading. If you liked this issue, please click on the Forward email button below to share this newsletter with others.
You're also welcome to reprint material in this newsletter as long as it is unaltered and credited to the author. Be sure to send us a copy, too. If being reproduced electronically, the following link must also be included:
www.shawenon.com
Sincerely,
Susanna Opper
Shawenon Communications
413-528-6494
Copyright © 2008 Shawenon Communications.
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They're Back
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Our seminars are back. In all honesty, I can say by popular demand. But free intros to e-zine publishing produce Constant Contact signups. So, more free seminars are on the books.
June 5 at Shawenon in Alford
June 24 at Panera in Pittsfield, MA
June 26 at Panera in Rensselaer, NY
Contact us for more information.
If you know someone who might be interested, please
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