keywords

This week we began working on our adword campaigns and as part of the lesson started our list of keywords. We analyzed what keywords would work and which would not. The subject of negative keywords came up as well, keywords that you want to make sure to not lead to your site.
The week's assignments reminded me how important it is to be accurate and to the point with our conversations, with our spouses and our children, in our extended families, at Church and at work. We can waste so much precious time and give people the wrong impression if we do not focus on using the appropriate keywords to lead us to results. That doesn't mean that we can't be sensitive and loving, but if we cannot directly about the issues at hand, we will never land the right results.
I for one will do my best to be more clear in my conversations, especially when it comes to the people I love the most.Using "I" language (a skill learned long ago on my mission, thanks white handbook), I will express my feelings and the way others actions affect me. When others tell me about problems they are facing or troubles they are having, I will ask them with specific keywords what they think they can do. Only then will I share what results I have seen in my life taking certain actions and how it has affected my life.
Precise keywords are important not only in Google searches, but in the search for a happier life as well.

government

This week I was reminded again how easy it is to start your own business here in the United States. For a sole proprietorship, the most basic form of owning a business, hardly anything is needed aside from your name, and a few permits from your local government. Keeping business finances separate will make tax time easier, but is not really needed if one keeps good track of your finances.
Things were so much more difficult back in Germany, with permits, approvals, licenses, etc. Often the cost alone to start a business would keep talented individuals from even trying. Add on the high business taxes and regulations on what an individual can and cannot do legally, and there is hardly anybody left even wanting to start a business.
While there is something to be said for doing everything possible to protect consumers, I think it is much better to err on the side of letting individuals create their own economy and see what happens!

KISS

This week I faced one of my biggest shortcomings again: Making things overly complicated! It's a trait that comes in handy at times, when I'm already aware of how things can possible fail and am able to avoid those pitfalls before they turn into disaster!
On other occasions, though, especially when I am new or unfamiliar with the process, it can turn into a serious handicap. I may think of a great idea, only to realize on further reflection that it is way too complicated and simply not efficient enough. That brings me to another weakness, always wanting to be efficient. That must be my German upbringing! It simply drives me crazy when I realize that I could have just done the same thing in less time, with less effort, and better results.
This week those two traits worked together to help me realize that the merchant/affiliate model I was going to pursue is simply too complicated and not efficient enough. I would have had to either buy images and designs to make German inspired shirts, or "find" some online. Then I would have to spend more time putting them together to introduce my own spin on the topic.
Way too complicated! Upon further reflection, I've decided to pursue a simply affiliate model instead. There are already plenty of shirt companies out there that have designs that fit my ideas. Instead of going through the time consuming process of designing my own shirts, which is not even within the scope of this class, I will find the various designs and present them in a blog style on my website. Instead of focusing on aspects that are not going to help me in this class, I will focus on the areas that are central to the requirements of this class.
See? Those traits do balance each other nicely, don't they?

not everybody's the same

I found myself facing that we are all different all throughout this week. In this class I realized that what seems to be an acceptable amount of money to spend is not acceptable to others, how much time and effort to spend on creating our own e-commerce presence also differs from person to person.
In one my classes this semester my group seemed to work together really well. We are all on East Coast time, all fathers, and all about the same age. In another group the members are from all over the place and different ages and gender. The teacher paid no attention to our wishes and simply force assigned us. I find myself with group members that love to talk, quickly get off topic, all want to chime in on every question, and one of them is extremely hard to understand.
I am not the most patient person and it is easy for me to become irritated. It's mostly when I feel that people are ignorant, not courteous and respectful towards others, and feel the world revolves around them.
This week I am reminded that just like I expect others to be kind and value other people's time, I need to be respectful of other people's values and their lack of sensibility towards my time.