Have you every really grasped the vastness of the internet? It’s massive! The only thing I can compare it to is the vast reach of space. Did you know there are over 150,000 new websites launched EVERY. SINGLE. DAY?

There is so much information out there that your brand’s digital footprint is as lost as a needle in a haystack the size of our galaxy! But all that matters is that your brand is making an impact on the audience you need it to.

So with that amount of content how do you know where you stand?

The answer is to Google yourself! For those of us in the biz, we call this Web Presence Optimization. It’s the art of knowing what shows up when someone searches for you and then making sure your brand is represented where your potential customers are already. Remember, people won’t always know that you are not that business with the same name, so you need to know what information lives on the web that can help or hurt your business. (Sidenote: We have a great post going live about your Unique Name Search on Monday so stay tuned!)

So how can you get a grasp on your Web Presence?

Google Yourself: See what comes up when you search for your name and your businesses name. Check out who comes up under the same search and look for ways to differentiate yourself from them.

Remove yourself: Don’t look for where you know you’re located! See how easy it is to find your Facebook page or website through the search engine. If you have a hard time finding your pages, imagine what chance a potential customer will have!

Check back: Remember, search engines pull up different results based on complex algorithms. You should run “brand checks” every other month to see if you are where you need to be.

This can help you realize where you’re at, digitally. The results can be surprising but they are always informative. Let us know what you find out about yourself in the comments! If you want a thorough checking of your digital footprint check out our products page for our “Great Web Inspection” package that will get you on track!

I read some stats today that blew me away. You know I love women and I’m ALWAYS rooting for female business owners to step up their game and make the world stop and stare.  Well we are.

Women are set up to succeed. This is a bold statement, but, women are natural born creators, nurturers, and power-houses. We are fully equipped with all the goods to take on the business world, most just need to embrace it and hone in on your skills.

Did you know 187-million women worldwide are currently starting or running a business enterprise? Research shows that those women are also beginning with approximately 1/8 of the funding of a male-owned venture. To really “stick it to the man,” these ventures that are operated or backed by women have revenues 12% higher than those operated by men (mediabistro, 2012).



Companies that bring on females see an increase in efficiency and innovation, financial gains, and products that more accurately reflect the consumer base. Why? Because women are intuitive, good listeners, and go-getters. All the same qualities that allow us to thrive in our personal lives.

How can you be sure to grab a piece of the female domination chunk? 3 C’s.

Class, Confidence, Creativity.

Seems obvious? OR maybe not so much? Let me ‘splain myself.

I like to think I have this unique mix match of professional qualities; I am a THERAPIST, but also a businesswoman and entrepreneur (a fierce one- if I do say so myself!).  But what this allows me to do is see the humanistic side of being a business owner, a marketer, and… a female.

“O.M.G I am SO fat! No clothes look good on me!”

“I wish I looked that good ::cue envious stare::”

“I’ll never get a boyfriend, get married, or have a successful relationship.”

“I am SO deleting this account. I can’t take the drama.”

My goodness are we harsh on ourselves or what? As I sit back and observe, it seems the Facebook feeds are getting clogged more and more with negativity.

What they should be clogged with is empowerment.

There are many ideologies out there about the idea of manifestation or positive energy. What it simply breaks down to is this:

Surrounding yourself with positivity both internally and externally will allow you to prosper in life.

Read that again.

This is a critical statement (often overlooked) when it comes to being a successful businesswoman. More often than not, the female population internally criticizes which then, in turn, creates negative energy externally. This is in the people you attract to your life, the relationships you form, and your success (or lack of).

Without confidence and faith in yourself and in your abilities it’s impossible to move forward in your career. There’s this idea of “worthiness;” believing you are good enough to accept the positive things in life and to move in a positive direction with those things. I challenge you to accept your worthiness. Like a chain reaction, your confidence level will follow suit and flourish. Be receptive to open and honest feedback so that you can make positive changes in your life, and stop repeating those same negative tendencies. This will allow you to move forward with your chin held high as the sky.

See the correlation? Your confidence level has direct influence over the success of your business. Don’t let you be the hindrance of your talents, products, and services being shared to the people who need them most.

Embrace flaws, hug curves, strut with a smile, and kick ass.

Tell me how your going to kick ass in life and what additional advice you would give to women in the COMMENTS BELOW!

“Come gather ‘round people wherever you roam and admit that the waters around you have grown.” Dylan wrote this song in September, 1963 as a deliberate attempt to create an anthem of change for the moment. While these lyrics ring true for the political movements of the 60’s and 70’s, they also ring true for the digital revolution today.

When Facebook was launched only 15% worldwide were using the internet. As of March of this year the numbers rose to 32.7%. By 2020 we will see more than 70% of the worlds population connected to the internet.

As a business owner I see a huge untapped market that is screaming for attention.

So what to do in a situation like this? GET ONLINE!

Get a damn good website, a kickass facebook page, and a stellar twitter account and you will be all set? Not really! Just being present in this world doesn’t work. You need to have a targeted plan and a clear understanding of your goals before you just jump online. Be wary of people who shout from the rooftops that you just need to GET ONLINE without any preparation. Having a bad online presence can actually be more detrimental than not having one.

So what are our tips for doing this right? Look below and let us know what you have done to prepare for this changing business environment.

1.    Always ask yourself why? This is the first key to success. Figuring out why you need to be on a site is always more important than just jumping into it. Really take some time to think about the pros and cons of all your marketing efforts first.

2.    You’re never fully dressed without a smile! This is an important one. Make sure your profiles, websites, and online persona are dressed to the T. You don’t want to be caught by a potential client or prospect without your pants. So make sure you have a high-class look and feel to everything you put out there. Here’s a hint: If your logo or graphics look like a 5 year old put it together then your business potentials will not take you as seriously. Flash (not the adobe program) matters. Make your first impression count. A side note: There are plenty of shops and designers who can get you stellar graphics within YOUR budget. Don’t think you’re out of luck until you ask for a quote.

3.    Plan Ahead! Once you decide you have more to gain than to loose from interacting on a certain medium then you need to plan, plan, plan. If you wait until the last minute to write a blog post or tweet it won’t get done. Create an editorial calendar every month so people have something to get from you when they visit your profiles. And I don’t want to hear any excuses that the Mayan calendar ends this December so you need spend your time doing other stuff.

So now it’s your turn. Tell us what you do to make sure your digital profile is making strides to reach this new and engaged audience, or feel free to ask us your questions on how to take the best advantage.

By Sarah Sendlbeck, Chief Visionary and The Mrs

The Monday-Friday blues got you down? The day-to-day grind can certainly be tedious and, at times, run you ragged. Sometimes I feel like we are submerged in culture that is in a permanent “plugged-in” state. We are constantly connected via our phones, computers, tablets, and devices. It’s exhausting, no? Have you ever felt that phantom vibration thinking your phone buzzed? Or, feel yourself getting anxious because you are unable to check your phone? It’s time to take a break. No really… you should.

Keeping your weeks fun and flirty can have a dramatic effect on your stress and health. We are human beings, not machines, and it’s high time we unplug our cords and start acting like the people we are. We all have our stress busters whether that be exercise, hobbies, or taking a nap… but how about simply enjoying the relationships and atmosphere around you?

Did you know the French take a 2-hour, leisure filled lunch complete with a large meal, bottle of wine, family or friends?

Let me share with you a Mrs (and Mister!) secret. Grab your sweetheart, or a special someone, unplug…then uncork. Leave the device at home, or in the car and grab dinner. Whether your dining at a diner or the swankiest place in town, your enjoyment is based solely on you! Observe your surroundings, taste your food, open a bottle, and enjoy your conversations. Sounds simple? Much easier said than done. But, the feeling you will leave with is exhilarating, refreshing, and surprisingly therapeutic in itself. It provides a much needed unwind from your hectic, tech-filled week. The Mister and Mrs do their best brainstorming and discussion over a great meal, so much to the point we order dessert just so it can last longer!

Here are a few tips to make your night magical!

• Splurge to a small degree. Don’t break the bank but, for once, don’t worry about the extras. Get a drink or appetizer, split a bottle of red, or grab some coffee and dessert!

• Taste your food. Enjoy the good meal your paying for. Eat slow!

• Make a real effort to have a conversation. If you’re with your spouse, talk about things that are out of the ordinary. Once you get rolling, you’ll be surprised when 3-hours have passed.

• DO NOT look at the time, under any circumstances.

Want to see how the Mister and Mrs enjoy dinner? Join us for our Digital Dinner!

You will always find us with a book in our hand. It is what makes us who we are. My philosophy is that every book allows us to experience something new and expand our knowledge. It doesn’t matter if it is a business book, a book on wine, or even a biography.  I can learn something from each book and use those ideas to help our clients. While I own and love my iPad, it hasn’t stopped me from taking weekly (or daily) trips to Barnes and Noble. Digital readers aren’t cutting it for me.

There are a few issues that I have with digital readers. Their biggest flaw comes with the reformatting of books. A 200-page book can easily become a 4000-page book on the smallest font size available. This hinders the ability to recall where information is or share a page full of information with another reader since every layout can be different. This makes it especially difficult to use an ebook in an academic setting. Trying to read an assignment based on page numbers is impossible.

I also miss that physical connection to a book. Being able to bend a page to make a mark or actually highlighting a passage for later use. While digital readers have attempted to make these features possible, there is still too much effort behind them. I can’t even recount the number of times I have tried to highlight something and it wouldn’t get the correct words. You also can’t flip through the digital book to see your past highlights. You almost need to remember the page you highlighted before you go looking for it.

While digital readers will be the wave of the future due to their portability and cost effectiveness, there will have to be major changes before they become an industry standard. I suggest saving your money until they come out with a better product, or invest in an iPad that you can use for other benefits than just the e-reader.

Have a different opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

We are quickly approaching the regional conference season and there should be one thing on your mind. It isn’t always, “how much can I learn from these sessions?” even though there can be some great sessions. It shouldn’t be, “what can I pick up at discounted prices from the exhibit hall?” It’s not even the fact that you get to take a vacation from your regular routine for a few days.

You should be focusing on how you can increase your network and your connections. We know this can be a lot to figure out in the moment, while you’re surrounded by new people. It may even feel overwhelming or put you out of your comfort zone. Like always, the Mister and Mrs are here to help! We have put together a list of tips to help you prepare for conference and how to get the most out of it once you get there.

Pre-Conference Planning:

1. Define your story: Everyone has one. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a first time student, there is a reason why you are going to conference. Prepare an “Elevator Pitch” of who you are and what makes you unique. This will make it easier to quickly introduce yourself.
2. Pick your sessions early: Usually a conference publishes their program early. Take the time to figure out who is speaking and on what. If there are people who you really want to meet, make sure their presentation is on your schedule.
3. Define your list: Create a list of people you want to introduce yourself to before conference. This way you are actively seeking them out while you are there and won’t miss out on any opportunities. It is also helpful to figure out a good opener to get their attention or find someone who can introduce you to them.

At the Conference:

1. Seize the Moment: There are only so many hours in the day, so use them wisely. If you can’t find a session you want to attend, use the time to introduce yourself to people at the exhibit hall instead of lounging by the pool.
2. Attend the Evening Events: There is no better way to get people to notice you than being around them. The events and parties that surround every conference are the best way to show people you aren’t afraid to mingle.
3. Have Fun: The best way to meet new people and add to your network is by having fun. More people will want to get to know the person with a smile on their face than the person in the back of the room or in a corner.

If you want more advice on how to improve your networking skills, check out are blog post “Who Knows You? Five Tips to Improving Your Networking.” If you are going to WRAMTA’s conference in Salt Lake City, Utah– make you stop by our booth and say hi!  We have also created a “Stand out from the Crowd” printable that you can use to prepare for conference.

We all lie. Face it; it is just something that is built into our human nature. We lie to get out of uncomfortable situations and to make things a little easier on ourselves. How many times have you went in to get a job or pitch your services and heard one of the following phrases:

“We’ve decided to go in a different direction…”

“We just aren’t ready to add any services…”

“It’s just not something we are interested in …”

The thing is that our prospects aren’t the only ones who are lying to us. How many times have you lied as a business owner? How many times have you uttered, “We just aren’t hiring right now” when you know very well that candidate just isn’t the right fit.

Lying is a pleasant alternative to conflict. It happens when people don’t truly understand something or we don’t want to hurt the feelings of someone. It’s not a bad thing and there is time when it needs to happen, but we need to strive to bring more positivity into the business world. So how can we avoid the lies and bring a little more truth into our businesses?

We need to take the time educate and inform everyone we interact with. This might mean it will take a little more time to close the sale, but you will enter into a business relationship that will have more meaning and power because of it. Your customers won’t decide to go in a different direction because they will realize that you are the only direction. You offer a valuable resource; you just need share your message with the people who can benefit.

Just follow these simple steps:

Practice It, Preach It, Empower

For all of our #OCMT2012 (Online Conference for Music Therapy) friends! Here are the slides from our presentation as they were originally designed. Feel free to print them out! Thank you everyone who joined us for coffee!

*Click on the image to get the pdf of the presentation