Welcome to my newsletter and hello to all the new subscribers!

What I have been up to:

Hello everyone. I am back on my feet after a bout of flu last week. I was determined not to go to the DR and got over it by dosing up on vitamin C, hot honey and lemon water and lots of bed rest. I can now say my immune system is a little bit stronger. Anyway enough about that.

I have revised the structure of my website and have added two new pages: workshops and favourite videos and in the next few weeks I will add a presentation page with my own presentations, white papers and in the future video - when I get to it. I am constantly applying new things I learn and adapting my website to expanding needs; I wonder if this evolution will ever stop - I doubt it though as technology and needs are constantly changing.

This week I have featured a presentation by Matt Granfield, called "How social media has changed word of mouth marketing." I have just written an article on social media word-of-mouth and saw this presentation, which is really brilliant, and thought it a good idea to keep my favourites in theme with current articles. Of course, that depends on being able to find decent videos that relate to what I have written. If you haven't seen this presentation go have a look - it's really cool.

I am also a featured writer on UK Marketing Network, where I usually post my current content a week or so after I have featured it on my own blog. Maybe in the future, I may write content specifically for them, however that depends on a few things. Anyway, the founders of UKMN also own Only Marketing Jobs, one of the big marketing job board websites and they are going to be featuring my article about Social Media ROI - Reality or Fantasy, with me as a guest author, on their marketing blog. This will be loaded on Monday, 1 March 2010.

Eric Goldman from Gossamar, a Canadian Company specialising in sales and marketing automation, asked me if I would like to write a guest article for their blog Inbound Marketing Automation blog. My article called pre-planning your website will also be featured on Monday, 1 March 2010. I provide advice on 4 things you should do before you even start to think about content and design.

If there is anything you would like to ask me or discuss you can email me or use the contact form on Aqua Pebble.

This weeks advice - How well do you know your competitors?

How well do you know your most important competitors? Do you even know who they are? In life we all have competitors whether we are in business or have a career. The old quote by Sunitzu, Chinese general & military strategist (~400 BC): keep your friends close, and your enemies closer can be adapted to competition. Your competition is not necessarily your enemy, but it is important to keep a close eye on them. You could spot opportunities that they missed or make sure you are not left behind. Sometimes it is good to imitate our competitors other times you really wouldn't. My advice is make sure you keep an eye on them.


Life Advice: Help Staying Positive.

Keeping positive is constant work: replacing every negative thought with a positive thought, having a plan and keeping focus on achieving our goals and happiness. There are usually days and periods where we falter and need someone to pick us up. I have a few friends and family whom I turn to on occasions like these to give me a good boot and put me on track again. The most important thing is to recognise when you are having these moments and that you need some help and to have the right type of friends, who are balanced and have the right mindset, to turn to. I act as a pick-me up for a number of friends and colleagues as well. After all, we are all just human. If you don't have anyone to turn to and need someone to chat to, please feel free to get in contact with me. I don't charge for this, just part of my making a difference philosophy.
_____________________________________________

If you have some questions you would like answered in my advice, please email me. I would also love to hear any stories (or your advice).

Be positive and have fun!

All my best
Lee-Ann Bedford
Making a Difference, by helping People through Knowledge