Lea Charlton

I met a really neat lady a few months ago. Her name is Deborah Barton-Birden. Deborah is one heck of a marketer that is dedicated to helping other small business owners develop, connect and learn. As everyone that knows me understands, I value people with these characteristics because I work within the same purposes. After watching some of her videos and listening to her online radio show, I found her to be creative, motivating and quite an energetic … certainly another business woman that I wanted to connect with, so I did.

Deborah is a genuinely helpful woman and a proud grandmother of 14. She is “rich” in spirit and blessings. Yesterday, I had the priviledge of being a guest on her personal Blog Talk Radio Show – Conversations With Deborah. Although still fighting the flu, I was excited to participate. Note: I did not know that her assistant would help with this show, nor that he would send me to get a drink when I had coffee in front of me or state that I NEEDED Coby as back up for this show when he is my assistant / partner , all in all, it was a great show and Deborah was an awesome host.

I am more than grateful to have her as a new business associate. The intro to her show says it all, though I suggest that you listen to her program on a regular basis. If you would like Deborah to consider you for her show, visit her website: http://www.beontheshow.info

You are currently listening to Lea Charlton on Conversations with Deborah.

COME BACK & COMMENT WITH YOUR WORDPRESS EMAIL WHEN YOU HAVE DONE WHAT I EXPLAIN BELOW. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ME TO UPDATE YOUR PREVIOUS REPLIES, SO THAT YOUR YOUR PICTURE IS ON BLOG COMMENTS.

I have been browsing blog posts and noticed that your comments are often missing profile images. This blog post explains why and how to add your picture to blog comments for Wordpress, Blogger (Blogspot), Yahoo and other services. This may seem insignificant depending on what stage you are at in your online branding , though I assure you that it is very easy and important for the following reasons:

Online Branding
As the old saying goes, “it is you that sells your business”. When marketing online, it is important that people begin to associate your product(s) or service(s) with your face and / or logo. This means that you need to add an image to everything that you do as part of your online branding process. It builds rapport, loyalty and is distinguishes the novice from the seasoned marketer.

Pictures Add To The Blog Aesthetics
What looks better? A blog with pictures or no pictures? How about a blog with comments or no comments? There is nothing more unattractive than blog comments with shaded silhouettes or template graphics. Look at this comment page and now look at the comment section on this page. Which looks better? The blog with the profile images not only looks better, but portrays that it is a professional blog that people take the time to register for and participate in as a viable resource.

Want to know  to add a picture to your blog comments?

Use the same email address for your profiles.
When I am setting up branding solutions for clients, the first thing that I do is create a free email address at Gmail.com, Yahoo.com and Bing.com. – both with the exact same name. For example, if the client is a work at home mom and wants to brand this way, then I create email addresses that reflects how she wants to brand herself (i.e. workathomemom@gmail.com & workathomemom@yahoo.com). I do this for companies that have not already started online branding for themselves. If they have already been using a particular address with Wordpress, we either keep it the same or replace the email on the existing account with a new one.

Register at www.wordpress.com using the email address from whichever email is going to be the “dominant” account.
This is typically the GMAIL address because we use a lot of Google services and Google Caffeine has started showing our profiles (with picture… important) directly in the search engine results. I would recommend that you choose the option that provides you with a free Wordpress.com blog opposed to just the account. This will provide you with advantages when blogging in the future. Plus, you can secure that Wordpress website address per the strategy for your online branding. For example, my work at home mom client would use her workathomemom@gmail.com to secure the workathomemom.wordpress.com website address. I will explain more about the entire purpose of securing this later. Just note that this is good for online branding. Consequently, the Bing.com and Yahoo.com email address will serve the same purpose when working with the Yahoo suite or services.

Always take the time to upload a picture and set up the profile section of your accounts.
After confirming the account(s) from your email address (if applicable), you need to login to your Wordpress or Yahoo and take the time to set it up – right there and then. Add your online branding image. Complete every profile field that you can. In the case of Wordpress, you need to clean the free blog of their template entries and personalize it with your own post, etc.

• How to add your picture to Wordpress (called a Gravatar) –
  Click the Account link on the top menu, click Edit Profile and you will see a big blue graphic on the right. Click the link below and it takes you to a page with 4 links to choose from. Most of us will choose the first link that helps you upload it from your computer. * NOTE – after you upload a pic, it looks like it was not added (maybe a little glitch in their code). All you have to do is go back to the Edit Profile area again, click the link to go to the upload a picture area and you can see it there … or post a comment on your own blog to test (you can always delete this test comment)

Your blog picture will show on Wordpress Comments, Yahoo, Blogspot / Blogger Comments if you do this …
Now, when you comment on other’s blogs, make sure to use the same email address that you use for that blog service. If you are making a Wordpress comment, then use that email address. If you are making a Blogger Comment / Blogspot Comment, then login with the gmail address before you comment. If you are commenting on a Yahoo application, then use the Yahoo address.

* I think it better to use the new email address, so that your other is not filled with spam.

In a few months, Traci S Campbell will join my list of recommended authorities for our video training series. She is the leading advocate and coach for teens from single parent families, as well as the host for Heroes At Home Radio. Heroes At Home Radio is an online radio show that inspires single parents by honoring those that are working  hard to become successful in all areas of their lives. Traci has been a blessing  in my life for many reasons. The most obvious is because I had been a single parent for the majority of my younger son’s years. I respect that she has been helping so many people (single moms, single dads, married couples, teens, tweens, psychologists, other advocates) and can relate to her passion for making this difference in the lives of as many families and children that she can help. I continuously learn from her knowledge, professionalism and loving spirit.

Current interview with Traci S Campbell …

Traci will release her first book and teen coaching program – The C.H.A.M.P. Within. There is still time to get the free audio and transcript from the left hand side of her blog at http://blog.traciscampbell.com – she also has interesting blog discussions that will help your friends and family learn more about teens, pre-teens and family value systems.