Sometimes my clients ask me a question about something and we both end up confused because they’re not entirely sure what to ask.

They may use the wrong terminology, or may request I do X when what they really need is Y.

That’s why I always like to ask my client what result they want, not how they think they want it done.

The other day, one of my favorite clients emailed me a question about her three pages on Facebook. Now, I knew she had only one Facebook business page, so I wondered why she suddenly had three.

Turns out she was referring to her personal “timeline”, her “newsfeed” and her “business page” as three separate pages. I responded with a simple Facebook tutorial and thought I’d share my response with you too, because I’m sure she’s not the only one who gets this stuff mixed up. (Especially with Facebook changing things every other day!)

Here’s how Facebook breaks down:

1) You have a personal profile, now called your “timeline”. The personal profile used to be called your “wall”.

This is where YOU post updates, photos, links, etc. Everything you post on your “timeline” shows up in the “newsfeed” of people who are your friends.

To visit your “timeline”, a friend has to search your name or click on it when you appear in their “newsfeed”. People don’t visit a friend’s “timeline” very often, but when they do, they can also post to your “timeline” (unless you’ve turned off this option).

FYI, your personal profile might still be in the old style, and will automatically be updated to the “timeline” style soon.

How to view your personal profile, aka “timeline”: click on your name, any where you see it around Facebook.

2) You have a “newsfeed”. That’s usually the main page you see when you login to Facebook. This is where all of your friend’s posts, photos and links show up, and also where the “pages” you’ve liked will show up with their status updates, photos, links, etc.

This is where most people interact with their friends – you click like on a post, or comment on something, or click share on something they’ve posted.

Your “newsfeed” is home-base. The left-hand column can be set up with your favorite lists, pages, groups, apps, etc for ease of navigation. Include your own “business page” here as a favorite, and you’ll be able to reach it easily.

How to view your “newsfeed”: click on the Facebook logo in upper-left, or click on Home in the upper-right corner.

3) You may have a “business page”, sometimes called a “fan page”. This is where you post updates, photos, links and anything else related to your business. What you post here will appear in the “newsfeed” of anyone who has LIKED your “business page”.

Again, people who LIKED your “business page” may just see your updates in their “newsfeed” and never visit your “business page”. The more an individual interacts with your “business page” the more often you show up in their “newsfeed”.

An example of a “business page”: Heather Cottrell – The Awesome Tech Coach

Hope that helps clear up some Facebook basics for you. More questions? Post them on the Awesome Tech Facebook page (that’s the link above) and I’ll help you out.

To your awesome biz,

About the Author: An experienced health coach with marketing training and tech skills? That’s me. Let me show you how to grow your business and simplify your life with the right {awesome} technology. Start by scheduling an Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session today!

Obviously, I like technology. I believe it can help build your business, simplify your life and even make things a lot more fun.

Like everything though, moderation is key. It’s important to enjoy some tech-free moments, days and weekends so you can stay focused on the present.

Ever take a night off from your business and still feel fried because even though you said you weren’t working you were still checking emails on your iPad, texting with colleagues and talking on your cell?

Being present during your downtime, whether alone or with friends and family, is essential to having an awesome life. Otherwise, everything’s going by too fast, you feel constantly over-stimulated and you’re on the road to burnout.

Let’s avoid all that. Check out these 8 tips to help you stay focused from tiny buddha:

Technology pervades our world. From cell phones and laptops to iPods and digital cameras, the average person owns an arsenal of gadgets that, in many ways, simplify life. You can increase your productivity, connect with people quickly, and access information instantaneously—while documenting your every move via tweets and photos to upload to Twitpic or Facebook.

Which begs the question: at what point does technology stop enhancing life and start detracting from it?

Continue reading 8 WAYS TO STAY PRESENT & FOCUSED IN A TECH-DRIVEN WORLD

I stay away from my laptop on the weekends, and I feel so much more sane and focused on Monday mornings. What about you? How often do you take a break from tech? Comment below!

To your awesome life,

About the author: My name is Heather Cottrell and I show health coaches, wellness pros and creative entrepreneurs like you how the right tech can build your business and simplify your life. Let me show you how to make it EASY. Schedule an Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session now (and save $150!).

If you’ve ever taken a ballroom or swing dance class, you know the importance of having a strong lead. In dance, the lead is taken by the male partner. In business, the lead is taken by you.

A strong leader knows what steps they will take next, and confidently guides their partner to move with them. The results are beautiful and the dance feels good for both partners.

Without a strong lead, the partnership fails.

In marketing your wellness business, you must take the lead. Starting with the your first contact with a potential client, through the trust-building process, the breakthrough session, the payment process and in your coaching relationship (and beyond).

One place where many wellness pros fail to take the lead is on their website. It is so important to remember that your potential clients are just as over-stimulated as the rest of us.

If and when they find your site, they likely have a number of other browser windows and tabs open at the same time, and so you have only a few seconds to capture their interest, and begin building a relationship with them.

How do you capture your ideal client’s interest quickly?

With your words. You must let your ideal clients know they’re in the right place. You must write in their language (not your healer’s language) and you must show them that you “get them” and that you’re the right person to partner with to solve their current challenges.

Here’s an example of a strong welcome from my health and life coaching homepage:

Attention young, creative 30- and 40-something professionals feeling frustrated on a daily basis:

Does any of this sound like you?

You know you could be taking much better care of yourself. And deep down you know you’re capable of so much more.

Maybe you find yourself feeling drained and distracted at the office…

What are the first words on your homepage? Do they speak directly to your ideal client in THEIR language?

How do you begin building a relationship with your ideal client?

By leading their experience on your website (and throughout every aspect of your business). What happens when your visitor reads to the end of your homepage? Are you guiding them to take an action?

Think of each page of your website like the page of a book. If you’re reading a book, you know what to do next: turn the page. On a website, it’s less obvious. Do they need to scroll all the way back up to your navigation menu and pick another page to read?

Or have you made it very clear at the end bottom of EVERY page of your website what action you would like them to take next? This is known as a “call to action”.

Your “call to action” can be:

• a link to purchase and schedule a Breakthrough Session
• a link to join your ezine list and get your free gift
• a link to “like” your Facebook page
• a link to email you directly
• a link to visit another page (from the home page to your services page, for example)
• a link to your latest blog post

You can experiment to find what works for you and your tribe. The key is to be clear what action you want them to take, and make it very easy for them to take that action.

In most cases, the action you’ll want them to take is to purchase and schedule a Breakthrough Session with you. You can also have two “calls to action”: one to schedule and one to join your list (“if you’re not ready yet”) or to visit your Services page (“if you’d like to learn more”).

It’s essential not to leave your ideal clients hanging. Always give them a clear, easy way to take an action – on every page of your website, at the bottom of each blog post, in your newsletters, on your Facebook page, at the end of your speaking events and teleseminars, etc.

A strong leader knows who their ideal dance partner is, and asks them to dance.

To your awesome biz,

Need a website makeover? If you’re ready to take your biz to the next level, you need the right website to get you there. I offer three awesome tech packages, including a tech-only package and a VIP program that includes content creation coaching, and all the awesome tech you need to effectively lead your ideal client’s experience. Schedule an Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session now.

Do you worry about whether your clients are getting healthier, losing weight, feeling better?

Does it keep you up at night? Are your clients always on your mind?

Do you think feeling this responsible for your clients makes you an exceptional health coach?

It doesn’t.

Our job as good coaches is to give our clients the tools they need to create their own success. You teach them how to choose the best foods to reach their health goals, you show them how to read labels and cook grains, you guide them towards upgrading their thoughts and feeling better about themselves.

What your clients do – or don’t do – with the tools you teach them, is out of your control.

Frustrating, I know.

I find myself worrying about the same kinds of things. I build a new website and other awesome tech for a client, teach them how to use it, share my tips and techniques for effective newsletters, blogs and Facebook pages and give them my best business coaching… and then I worry about whether they’re going to have all the success they want and deserve.

Truth is, some will and some won’t. Ultimately, it’s out of my hands. And it’s out of your hands too.

Your job as a health coach is to share the best of your knowledge and experience, to be present for them as they encounter the growing pains of transforming their lives, and give them with the tools they need to succeed. That is all you can do.

When you know you gave your best, you can relax knowing that the clients who are committed to their success, will achieve their goals. And the ones who aren’t ready yet, are still left better than when you met them.

You didn’t start your own business to feel a constant low-lying anxiety all day every day, right? You crave a life of ease, and joy, and freedom.

One step towards the life you desire is to let go of responsibility for everyone but yourself.

Be responsible for how you feel, for the life you’re creating, for the care you give your business and your clients. And release the responsibility for the life your clients create for themselves.

I’m going to make this shift for myself. How about you?

To your awesome life,

About the author: My name is Heather Cottrell and I show health coaches, wellness pros and other creative entrepreneurs how the right tech can grow your business and simplify your life. Start moving your business forward today with an Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session.

Oh man, these kinds of errors are a huge pet peeve for me. I’m a fan of good writing, and (unfortunately) I notice errors like these everywhere I look.

It’s OK to allow for some informality in your writing as a health coach, wellness pro or creative entrepreneur, especially on Facebook, Twitter, and in your own blog. It often makes your writing more engaging.

However, there’s a limit to how much you can get away with before you start to come across as uneducated, careless or just plain silly.

You want to be especially careful with the static copy on your website, articles you share across the web and your free opt-in gift.

No one’s perfect, but brushing up on these grammar basics will help you clean up your writing act.

If you simply can’t get it straight, or English is not your first language, hire an editor or have a smart, perfectionist friend look things over for you (yes, we’re good for something! ;)

There’s no shame in asking for help.

To your awesome biz writing,

Like this infographic? Get more copywriting tips from Copyblogger.

Perfectionist Tech Coach: My clients get the benefit of my super-sensitive eye for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. While I’m not their editor, I do my best not to let glaring errors get published on their brand new websites. It’s amazing how many errors you’ll find on the homepage of some “professionals”. Don’t let that be you.

Time for a new, more professional website? Get started with an Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session now.

In general, when I view a personal profile or business page on Facebook that’s been upgraded to Timeline, my head hurts.

I preferred the linear, chronological layout of the pre-Timeline style. That being said, Facebook’s making the change to Timeline, so I’m getting on board!

If you haven’t yet, click here to see samples of the new pages, and preview your own pages in Timeline-style.

Now that I’ve updated my own page I’m happy to report I’ve discovered Five Things I Like about Timeline for Business Pages (I bet I’ll find more as I continue to play with it):

• Cover Photo. You no longer need a vertical style banner to match your Facebook business page with your website. You can use your website’s banner as your page’s cover photo, or another great picture related to your business’ brand.
• For health coaches, your page will look great with a beautiful shot of fresh, healthy food.
• In addition to your cover photo, you can still have a profile picture. Use a picture of yourself.
• There are some rules to be aware of regarding cover photos for Facebook business pages. Read them here.

• Pinned Posts. You can choose to pin any of your posts to the top-left of your page. It will have an orange bookmark icon and will remain there for 7 days. After 7 days, the post will return to its post date in the timeline.
• To pin a post: hover over any of your published posts, click the pencil icon to edit and choose Pin to Top.

• Highlighted Posts. If you’ve got a post you’d really like your readers to see, highlight it. A highlighted post will expand to widescreen, helping it stand out. Having some widescreen posts will also help break up the page nicely.
• To highlight a post: hover over any of your published posts, click the pencil icon to edit and click the star to highlight.

• Milestones. Similar to highlighted posts, when you enter a Milestone, the post will expand to widescreen. Use this to mark key moments in your business, like the launch of your new website, release of your book or new info-product.
• To mark a milestone: use the share tool at the top of your page (where you would share a regular post update) and click Milestone.
• Facebook wants you to know that “At this time, January 1, 1800 is the earliest date a milestone can have.” (I think we’ll be OK!)

• Favorites. These are the app boxes that appear under your cover photo, to the right of your About. Here you can have a link to your Photos, your Blog, your YouTube videos and your newsletter opt-in tab. These are much easier to find now than on the original pages.
• To customize your apps: hover over them and click the down arrow that appears to the right. You’ll find options to remove from favorites and to swap places. Photos will always be first.
• If an app doesn’t appear, like Networked Blogs for instance (my pic for syncing your blog to your FB page), go to the Networked Blogs fan page and click “Add to My Page’s  Favorites” on the left-hand list (note: this list will move after all pages upgrade to Timeline).
• About appears up top too making it easier for the visitor to know what you and your business are about. Be sure this is clear and succinct.

I did it. I found five things I like about the new Timeline style for Facebook business pages! Shall I mark this as a milestone? ;)

What do you like about the new style? How do you think it will help you build your brand on Facebook?

To your awesome biz,

Check out my Timeline-style Awesome Tech Facebook Page and click Like to stay connected.

About the Author: An experienced health coach with marketing training and tech skills? That’s me. Let me show you how to grow your business and simplify your life with the right {awesome} technology. Time for a website that reflects your unique message and attracts your ideal clients? Want a Facebook page for your business? Ready to start blogging effectively? Interested in building your list?

Start by scheduling an Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session today!

Are you still keeping your calendar in a paper planner?

If you want a successful business, and plenty of time for an actual life, it’s time to upgrade.

Oh, I can feel some of you clutching your cherished planners to your chests already!

There are just so many good reasons why a digital or online calendar is far superior to the paper version – if you’re serious about being in business.

If you’re just starting out and you’re fitting two or three clients into your week, you may not see the need. However, when making business decisions, it is important to consider the business you want, not the business you currently have.

Here are some of the many merits of an online/digital/computerized calendar:

• doesn’t have to cost you a dime: get a Google Apps account and check out their calendar
• you can sync up with an online schedule (like timetrade.com) which is essential for the serious business builder: no double-booking, and clients book themselves saving you time
• you can easily add a new appointment or that unexpected event at your kids’ school to an online schedule and be sure that no one can schedule a session with you at that time
• you can move or cancel an event without crossing out, erasing or otherwise making a mess
• helps you stick to weekly office hours: clear boundaries support healthy work-life balance
• always have a back up: this is reason enough to go digital in my opinion
• access anywhere: no more worrying if you left your planner behind; you’ll have access to your calendar from all your devices (computer, tablet, smartphone) and from any computer anywhere
• professional and client-attracting: handing a new contact your business card to direct them to your online schedule, or checking your calendar on your smartphone, is far more professional than pulling out your over-stuffed planner and shifting your post-it notes around in order to pencil in a new appointment
• automatic reminders: never miss another appointment again by engaging one or all of the many alarm options including reminder emails, pop-up messages and alarm sounds
• create multiple color-coded calendars to separate personal and biz events: I heart color coding
• add an event in seconds: you can quickly add events you RSVP to via email, evite, your coach’s online schedule, online school calendars and more; eliminates human error

I understand the initial resistance. It’s a big change for many of you.

But it is the 21st century… and I’m sure it’s not the biggest tech change you’ve ever made.

Back in high school (and even college) I didn’t even have an email address, let alone a personal computer. Now most people (even kids) have not only a laptop, tablet and iPhone, many have their own website. That’s a lot of advancement!

When I made the switch to a digital calendar many years ago, I loved the many benefits on the calendar end. However, no matter how hard I tried, and how many apps I downloaded, I could never find a satisfying way to integrate my to-do lists into my calendar.

So I still keep my to-do lists with pen and paper. Often, I’ll add a task to my calendar so the time’s blocked out and I can set an alarm reminder. Would be awesome if it did, but to add every task into my calendar just doesn’t work for me.

I strongly recommend getting started with a digital calendar now.

Within your email account, you can create a calendar alongside it. On the software end, try Outlook on a PC, Entourage or iCal on a Mac. Consider linking these up to an online calendar too (like Google or Google Apps) for optimum functionality. If you check email online, set up your calendar there too.

If it helps you transition, stick with pen and paper for your to-do lists and other notes, like I do.

I use iCal on my Mac, and sync it up with a Google Apps calendar which then syncs up with my iPhone and my TimeTrade account. Works like a charm, and helps me sleep better at night knowing I’m not forgetting anything.

Sure it takes a bit of time to get everything set up, but once it’s done, it’s done. No need to buy refills for your planner next year!

If you need some help getting started, be in touch.

To your awesome biz,

Want More? For lots of quick tech tips and tricks to grow your biz and simplify your life, join me in the Awesome Tech Community on Facebook now. Like it here!

I’ve been reflecting on 2011. What a freakin’ crazy year I had!

Most years feel like they flew by. Like where did the time go? What did I do all year?

But 2011 was different. As I look back on the changes I created, the many moves I made, the people who came in or went out of my life, the weight I lost, the weight I gained, the new business I launched, the clients I had, the websites I’ve created, the joy I’ve felt, the tears I’ve cried, the things I learned… it feels like three years in one!

Yay! I made up for the years when I didn’t feel like I accomplished anything ;)

One of my weaknesses is comparing myself to others. (Can you relate?) In my reflective mood today I found myself scouring the internet looking for people who have businesses similar to mine. And I always find 101 ways to lose the comparison battle. (It’s all in my head anyway, but still!)

Today was one of those days… and then finally I stopped and had a quick conversation with myself: “Heather, most of these people have been designing websites and other techie things since they were in high school! They’ve been running their businesses, writing their blogs, and stylin’ their own sites for like a decade!”

While I too have done my fair share of the techie stuff since I was about 12 years old, I only launched my tech business in June of this year. JUNE! Hello, that’s like 7 months in business and I think I’m supposed to be at the same level as some of these other cool folks?!?

Come on!

How often do you compare yourself so unfairly? I know you do… cause we (especially us ladies) do it all the time. My clients do it too.

So now I feel better. I looked back over all the clients I’ve worked with since June (nearly 20 so far!), the income I’ve earned, all the work I’ve completed and all the awesome client testimonials I’ve received so far.

And I’m giving myself a big fat gold star for 2011!

Ahhh, much better.

We all have much to be proud of – including YOU. Take a few moments now, before the year ends, to acknowledge your own many successes. Write them down. Or even better, post them on the wall.

Bask in the glow of your own awesomeness. You so deserve it!

Now set some new New Year’s Resolutions. First, no more unfair comparisons! Second, more focus on what’s going well in your business and in your life. Third, more celebrating your successes. And fourth, choose JOY more often.

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”
- Marianne Williamson

Go ahead and use the comments box below to give yourself a shout out!

To your awesome new year,

Are you the last minute type? That’s alright, cause you still have one more day to save 20% off all 2012 Awesome Tech services. Just get on it right now!

I hope that you and yours are enjoying a peaceful holiday season, and looking forward to a wonderful new year.

I find that I’m enjoying this year’s holiday season more than usual. My family visited my new apartment on Christmas Eve, and I enjoyed baking my first pumpkin pie and decorating my home for them. It was fun to host them in my new home.

I’ve also spent a lot of time sleeping and chilling out over the last few days. It’s important to recharge before the new year comes, so that you’ll have the energy you need to create the successful business you want.

Balancing down-time and work-time is key to feeling good as a small business owner. During the holidays it’s no different. If I took off this entire week, I’d feel too behind as January gets underway.

If I spent this entire week working, I’d feel resentful that I didn’t get the vacation time I need.

So I’m doing a little of both. Part of my holiday work hours this week will be dedicated to organizing my office. Clearing some clutter and putting things where they belong will create client-attracting energy.

I have a lot of bold goals for 2012, and I plan to get started feeling great, with lots of energy and a clean, organized office.

What are your 2012 goals for your business? What do you need to get done to be ready for new clients?

If you know you don’t have the right tech in place to build the business you want, take advantage of my 20% off holiday offer below, which is ending in just a couple of days.

Wishing you all the very best in life, love and prosperity in 2012!

To your awesome life,

SAVE 20%: It’s not too late to SAVE 20% or more on all Awesome Tech services in 2012! Save on a new website, Facebook business page or customized email newsletter!

As a holiday gift, I’m offering the Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session at no charge ($197 value).

Click here to get on my calendar right now and SAVE 20% or more on all Awesome Tech services in 2012 when you purchase before the 31st!

Space is very limited. Offer expires December 31, 2011

Yes, it’s mid-December and you’re busy with holiday preparations. It’s not fair to suggest that you can put all of that aside and keep your focus 100% on your business right now.

And that’s OK.

However, if your business is important to you, and you want a successful 2012, read on…

Here’s the problem with putting your business on hold “until” the holidays are over: there’s always a new “until”.

Soon as the new year starts you’re waiting “until” you’ve rested and feeling back on track.

Then you’re waiting “until” the kids are back in school. And on, and on…

There’s always something. That’s life.

For many years, I frequently let life get in the way of my business. Staying consistent, especially when there are countless distractions pulling your attention away, is challenging. But I can tell you from experience, starting over from scratch, again and again, is worse.

Commit to putting in some time towards your business every week. Even if it’s only an hour during the busiest weeks, the consistency will move you forward, and stop that nagging voice saying “you should be doing xyz right now”.

Winterize your business. If you know your energy tends to be lower during these short, dark days, plan time for your business first thing in the morning, as often as possible.

Know your weaknesses. I’m well aware of the things that cause me to get stuck. When it’s time to do them, I feel paralyzed by my fear and find an excuse to do something else instead. This wastes an enormous amount of time and energy.

Do you know what gets you stuck? Is it writing? Making phone calls? Updating your website? Sending newsletters? Sharing yourself on Facebook? Plan ahead and don’t let your perceived weakness induced fear take you down again.

Recognize that you don’t have to do it all. Ask family for help around the house and watching the kids. Consider hiring a housekeeper, even if it’s only once or twice a month. Find time by delegating tasks others can do for you, so that you’re there for your business.

If you’ve got some tech terrors holding you back, let me do it for you.

From brand new customized WordPress websites to newsletter makeovers, I can get these projects done for you – finally – while you put your attention on other things.

There’s still time to save 20% or more on my tech services. I have room for two more new clients with this holiday offer, which ends December 31, 2011.

How to get started:

• Schedule your Awesome Tech Breakthrough Session right now
• We’ll talk about the tech you have, and the tech you need
• You’ll choose the right package for your business needs
• Make your first payment (deposit) before December 31st to save 20%

Celebrate the holidays knowing you’ve given your business the attention it deserves!

To your awesome business,