This one part of Google Analytics is my favorite. The Events Flow and Visitors Flow shows you the movement of a user across your site as determined through clicks. It tells you through-traffic which is the number of viewers who continue to click through the site after landing on a page — as well as drop off points where users end the viewing session.

Take this analysis with a grain of salt — especially when you notice people are dropping off after only two page visits. It could be that your site was designed so well that you sold the viewer right then and there and they requested more information. Done and dusted.

Having said that, you also have to analyze your drop off points. If people are dropping off at the contact form page without EVER submitting anything, well then you might have a problem. Go back to your contact form and see what’s wrong with it. Is there an error attached to submission? Is the form just plain ugly? Or, are you asking for information that’s much too detailed for a first contact? Some food for thought.

Creative commons image courtesy of Jer Thorp

In the past few weeks I can count at least a half dozen conversations I’ve had around the power of community, and how often we struggle to create circles of support and diversity for ourselves, that would then allow us to give up our “lone ranger” mentality of solving problems.

I’m not saying it’s always easy to create these circles, but too often we are alone, not able to see that there is more than one way to turn a challenge into an opportunity.

Think Of Your Circles Of Support As Concentric Circles

These circles of influence can help us graciously reach out to one another in order to both share ideas, and connect in ways that make us realize there is amazing strength in having another perspective on our thoughts.

We feel a weight being lifted from us when there are alternatives out in front, and that clears the path for even bigger/better solutions and actions to take place.

So what do these inspiring circles look like and how will you build them? Which will make the difference in how you approach your next great question or adventure?

Start With Your Inner Circle

Who do you currently have within your inner circle that you can confide in, feel relaxed with and are equally able to share hopes, dreams, ideas and challenges with?

Typically this circle takes longer to create. Sometimes you may only have one or two people within it.  These people absolutely “get you”; it’s effortless.

Perhaps you have an old friend or you’ve started to develop a new friend from within one of your hobbies, passions or group connections such as the much loved yoga class you attend.

Sometimes it requires keeping your antennae up, in order to look for that person you regularly talk to at the coffee shop or school drop off, who you can slide right back into conversation with.  Then you need to invest some time in bringing your exchanges to the next level.

Who Is In Your Second Ring?

This circle you would consider friends — not necessarily good friends, but you feel comfortable connecting with them and keeping in touch via email or social media. If you need a short answer or feedback on an issue, they would consider it no problem and you’d feel comfortable with sending them a note as well.

You want to aim for 7-9 people in this circle, possibly more depending on how social you are.  Try keeping a strong cross section of backgrounds, ages and perspectives here so that if you need some ideas, they aren’t all going to look and sound like they are coming from the same place.

The Third And Final Group

This is typically family, friends, and neighbors.  They are part of your tribe. Sometimes they are more part of the package that comes with you as opposed to being hand picked.  They care about you and want to help, but don’t necessarily represent the diversity of thinking you might need alone in order to create new solutions, but they can often be helpful and supportive listeners, so make sure you bounce ideas off of them as well.

If you haven’t thought about the circles of diversity and community that surround you, now is the time. It’s best to begin working on them before you feel a crunch or wish you had some powerful points of view to push you in a new direction.

Which circle will you start building first?

However, somewhere between creating lists and taking action, you find yourself lost in the business of daily entrepreneurial life, and balancing your family and personal life. You question whether you are doing all the “right” things and if what you are doing will bring you the success you want!

This post is about 4 simple strategies to build more success in your busy life. It came to me as a result of my experience with my clients. In the craziness of balancing all the important areas in their lives, they lost sight on the specific action they needed to take to create the success they declared they wanted not too long ago.

Even if you don’t meet regularly with a coach, here’s how you can still take action.

4 Strategies For Success In Your Life

1. Define Success

   In between client meetings, you may find yourself doing a load of laundry, cleaning, preparing dinner and dropping off/picking up kids from school.  Your day is jam-packed with activities as you balance family, personal and business.Take a moment to sit back and think about what success in these three areas of your life would look like if it all went “according to plan”.  What will be the evidence that you have achieved success?

2. Take Inventory + Take Action

   Now that you have a definition of what success means to you, it’s time to take an inventory of how satisfied you are in the three areas of family, personal and business. Identify the gaps, find solutions, and take action.You may find that although laundry gets done and your clients are getting the attention they need each day… that you haven’t washed your face and are still sitting in your pajamas at 5pm!Is there an opportunity for you to create more satisfaction in your personal life? It could be as simple as getting in a walk during lunch or purposefully deciding that you will block time off every week for self-care.

   Be creative and change how you accomplish your goals in each area depending on your mood.  Try not to get too wrapped up with “fixing” everything. You will know what feels right to you. Simply pay attention when you aren’t feeling as successful as you want to feel.

3. Schedule Time

   What specific activities will take you forward in your business? If you feel that you’ve lost some of your connections with family or friends, book some time in your calendar to give your dear friend or family member a call.Setting aside one day a week where you review your schedule for the upcoming week/month and schedule time that will ensure you are on track for family, personal and business success will ensure it happens.When you start noticing that you are “deleting” appointments from your calendar or you are over-looking it – that’s a sign that this life area is going to need some TLC pretty soon. By taking the time to schedule  activities, you are conscious of what’s going on in your life versus having months go by before you realize that things aren’t going as well as you had hoped.

4. Delegate

   Having it all doesn’t need to be complicated. As women we have many demands on us, and lots of pressure – we want to do it all and it’s hard to reach out for help.We can have it all but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can do it all! The reality is that in order to be sane and truly successful– we must let go of some of our to-do items.

   This could mean hiring a house cleaner occasionally, having your kids or partner help out with laundry or perhaps delegating some of your business work to a virtual assistant.

   Perhaps saying NO to a project will mean more success in the long-run because you won’t be overwhelmed and frustrated now.

Take a moment right now and think about what you did yesterday, the day before, and the day before that. Now take a moment and reflect on how you felt these past three days. When did you feel successful and happy?

If you didn’t, what will you do differently this week?

Sonia Singh is a Personal and Professional Development Coach + Project Management Expert. She has combined her expertise in project management with her passion to support women to reach their full potential through self-discovery and goal-setting.

Sonia is the go-to lady for women who want to re-design their life by turning their goals and dreams into reality. Her clients walk away with a deeper understanding of what’s important to them, gain clarity on their goals and create an action plan to get what they want. You can visit Sonia at www.thelifebalancecoachingproject.com

This is Part Four of Lucas’ series on how to improve communication with public speaking. Check out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3!

You’ve heard many times that “You only have 1 chance to make a good impression.” This is extremely important when you’re speaking on a stage as the audience is large and there are many good impressions that must be created. As you know, trying to change someone’s opinion after it’s been already set can be a monumental task.

How To Create A Presentation That Starts Strong

The most important part is to view this as an opportunity to advance your career and reach many people at once. There will likely be a few negative thoughts swirling around that attempt to sabotage your success. The key is to remember that there are numerous benefits for you to gain. The discomfort will quickly subside, then it’s time to prosper.

Begin with an opening that you know very well and is easy to share. Stories, staggering stats, an overview of the current state of your topic. These are all great ways to start your presentation because they are easy to recall. When you require minimal effort to present your opening statements, it allows you to use the focus you would have applied to remember your scripted opening to connect with the audience. This will help create that feeling of trust, leadership, and interest needed for them to want to know more and pay attention to your presentation.

Watch the video for additional tips, and please comment below if you have any feedback or questions.

When is the right time to buy a home?

The decision of when to make a first home purchase is a personal decision in which different factors are taken into consideration.  Some factors include time of life, career stability, income level and mortgage insurance.

Every mortgage borrower must seriously look at their income and debt compared to possible mortgage payments (debt services ratios).  In other words, how difficult the mortgage payments will be for the borrower.  Debt service ratio is the central question for every mortgage client to consider.

However…many home shoppers are too pre-occupied with the size of the down payment.  They only need 5%!

Mortgage Default Insurance Is Worthwhile If Your Down Payment Is Small

Many wait until they have a 20% down payment to avoid mortgage default insurance fees.  In my opinion, this is not usually a good strategy.  Mortgage default insurance is not that expensive in the bigger scheme of things.

Mortgage default insurance is insurance that a lender requires you to buy to protect them against you defaulting.  You don’t normally need mortgage default insurance if you have at least a 20% down payment.  The cost is on a sliding scale with 2.75% if you have a 5% down payment.

Example:

If you are buying a home for $500,000 and you have 10% or $50,000 for your down payment, then you would pay $9,000 in mortgage insurance.

Let’s compare that to rent of $1500/month.  It takes 6 short months to pay $9,000 in rent!  Rent is “money down the drain”.  In other words if it takes you 6 months to save up an extra $50,000 so that you have 20%, then you have not saved any money by avoiding mortgage insurance because you paid that money out in rent.  Most people can’t save $50,000 in 6 months anyway!

To be sure, I am not saying that there aren’t other good reasons to save up for a larger down payment, but if your reason is to avoid mortgage insurance, you should reconsider.

Some Quick Facts About Mortgage Insurance

• there are currently 3 mortgage default insurance companies in Canada and your broker/lender usually chooses which insurer you go to
• all high ratio mortgages require mortgage insurance regardless of which lender you go to (unless your family does a private mortgage for you)
• the money required for mortgage insurance gets rolled into your mortgage so you don’t have to pay it up front
• a little secret is that many lenders will give you a slight break (-0.5% for example) on the rate if you are buying mortgage default insurance.

My best advice is that as soon as a buyer is ready in their personal life to buy a home, and as soon as their debt service ratios make sense, it is time to buy.  At that time they can discuss whether they should save up for a bigger down payment with a mortgage professional.

Image courtesy of fashionbombdaily.com

Recently, I was in San Antonio for an International Teaching Conference.  I am still having flashbacks about the unfortunate conference style.

To be fair, I am probably still reeling as it was a brutal combination – thousands of teachers in confused professional wear and a whole lot of Texans in ill-fitting jeans with inappropriate slogan T shirts (“I’m sexy and I know it”. Hmmm, why not just put on an amazing outfit and let it do the talking for you?).

While I wasn’t anticipating San Antonio street style to have the same modern creativity as cities such as New York or San Francisco, I had pictured larger than life women who take pride in their look, with lots of make up, tousled hair and flouncy dresses.

I didn’t stumble across an interesting boutique, and was not even able to find anything to purchase at the local Macy’s. In my history of traveling to the US, I don’t think I have ever claimed a measly $10 on my customs form (a touristy mug and some Mexican jumping beans for my nephews).

Teacher Conference Style: You CAN Go Wrong Following The Rules!

OK. I have gone on enough about my disappointment with San Antonio style, but it is worth saying that while T shirts and jeans are “comfortable”, a fantastic pair of well-fitting dark-wash or coloured jeans with a cute blouse and fun flats can be just as comfortable (this is also true when it comes to yoga pants).

But here is what is bothering me more.  Teacher conference style.  The frustrating thing was, when I deconstructed the outfits, many of them technically followed my “rules” for a visually interesting outfit.  To be fair, I did see a lot of print, colour, shine and texture – so where did it all go wrong?

After much reflection, I think I have pin-pointed some of the mis-steps:

Comfortable And Professional Style Tips: Here’s How To Wear It

1)   Avoid poor or improper fit.

FIT is the foundation of style.  Many of the problems observed stemmed from clothing not providing a flattering silhouette.  No matter how drawn we may be to a garment, if the shape doesn’t enhance our figure it is better left for someone else.  Note:  Capri pants that cut off at an unflattering length were a key offender…

2)   Too “matchy matchy”

While it is important to look pulled-together, this doesn’t necessarily mean that pieces need to match.  A more modern look is to think about colours that “go”. This could be complementary, contrasting or neighbouring colours.  Have fun with unexpected combinations – you may surprise yourself!  Yes, silver and gold can be mixed – done purposefully it can look very current and interesting.

3)   Beyond Black

We all love black (yes, it can be very slimming – IF the fit is right!) and I am not suggesting it not be a key player in a wardrobe.  However, much of what I noticed was that everything paired with black pants, and/or a matching black jacket.  This is a great time of year to consider some softer neutrals (Navy, gray, white, cream, blush, anyone?).  You can pull out any of the colours in a print to use as a partnering solid, and brights paired with a lighter neutral for Spring/Summer are fantastic!

4)   Quality Basics

I am a huge advocate for stores such as Joe Fresh, H&M, Forever 21 which offer fashion pieces and reasonable prices.  However, sometimes it can ruin a look if the outfit looks inexpensive from head to toe.  Consider investing in some quality basics that will help up the chic factor (and then go wild swapping in those fun, trendy pieces!).

5)   Completer Pieces

Yes the weather was warmer in Texas and we are getting closer to summer every day (I am smiling).  I am a believer though, that an outfit looks more interesting when it has dimension (usually accomplished with a third piece).  As the temperature rises, why not consider adding a belt, a statement necklace, lightweight scarf, light layering with a coloured cami or tank?  If you play with elements such as texture, print, colour and shine (without forgoing FIT), you enhance the style factor of what you are wearing.

Final Thoughts: Keep Up To Date With Hair & Make Up

A final observation I feel important to note was the impact hair and make up have on an overall look.  A fantastic outfit is easily derailed by an outdated hairstyle or too much makeup.  I know I was in Texas.  But it is a good thing to think about and talk to your stylist if you feel you may be in a rut.

Professional wear can be tricky to navigate in careers that allow, and often necessitate, more casual clothing (I have sat on the floor with my share of Kindergarteners over the years!).  With the rise of home-based businesses and the balancing act many women face juggling professional and family lives, finding a wardrobe that meets the needs of one’s lifestyle, personality, body type and budget can sometimes seem like an impossible feat.

Admittedly, I don’t always get it right myself – and confess, that as I am writing this, I am wearing yoga pants…certainly a perk of a home-based business – but I stress the word home.

Check out this fashion blog post for some inspiration for conference/professional style and some ideas of how to take some work wear pieces from day to night.

Are you struggling to find a professional look that matches your lifestyle needs, reflects your personality, provides a flattering silhouette and empowers you to look and feel your best?  Leave me a comment! I’d love to help you out.

Photo Credit: flickr creative commons image courtesy of Denise Krebs

Sometimes a call-to-action arrives in the most unexpected way. Opening a fortune cookie, this one took my breath away: ‘Outer order contributes to inner calm.’ It was the perfect inspiration to kick start me to Rock My Clutter!

The timing was amazing. After all, spring is season to refresh and regenerate. Having survived a winter of blustery weather, now is the time we come out from hibernation to un-cocoon our lives. How better than by de-cluttering our outer worlds!?

Please know I am not saying your ‘stuff’ is ‘clutter’ – only YOU have the right to declare that. However, what I have noticed in my life and others’ lives is how we collect things. We are gifted with, we purchase, or we find ‘treasures’ that make their way into our homes, offices, desks, cars, purses, etc. It’s as if they sneak in gradually under the cover of darkness, only to be discovered when we awaken to really consider what each item means to us. What meaning do your ‘outer’ belongings have for you? How are they serving you?

More importantly, how are they serving your inner world? For each item that you possess, how does it possess you? How does it influence (and ideally enhance) your life? If it does not, what is it doing there?

Evaluate The Clutter, And Find The True Value In Your Belongings

For example, take books. OK, you may have just GASPED! Yes, precious books. I love them too and have a pile of them by my bedside awaiting their turn to be fondled, stroked, and devoured. Only I own more books that I can possibly read in my life. What meaning do they have for me? They make me giddy with excitement anticipating each page turning. They are some of my greatest and wisest teachers. They are also dust collectors.

I’ll be honest: I’m one of ‘those’ people who attends a lecture, listens to a radio show, or overhears a recommendation, then buys the book…only to have it sit unopened, waiting its turn in a long line-up. Hence my collection! Well it was…until one day when I did what I am going to ask you to do: I looked at my book collection and asked not feel the pressure to read all the books; I asked for the dust to lift; I asked to carry a lighter load; I asked to invite more flow into my life. My books needed to go, so I could de-clutter my life.

Ready To De-Clutter Your Life? Start By Looking At Your Space

Am I suggesting you toss your collection of valuable coins, throw out your childhood doll collection, or donate your treasured box of concert T-shirts (who would take them??) – absolutely not! I am asking you to re-embrace the meaning they have for you, and if that meaning has changed for you, consider: could they be creating clutter that overwhelms you?

As you read this article, take a look around you. Peruse your personal or professional space – hey, it may even be your desk, your car, or your purse that gets your attention! Consider what your surroundings look like and feel like. Are you beaming with joy? Or is there one (or more) spots that are niggling at you? Maybe it’s a closet that won’t close fully? A ‘junk drawer’ that gets stuck? A room that no one dares to enter?

Select only one space to focus on – one area of your life to review, reconnect and release. By going one step at a time you can more comfortably Rock Your Clutter without overwhelming your world!

Over the past several months, I’ve been sorting through nearly forty years’ worth of possessions acquired along my journey. As I went through old journals, I’d inevitably get sidetracked. I couldn’t resist reading about the lives past versions of myself were living, that felt familiar but also a bit hazy. My passion and creativity were emerging twenty years ago, but my focus and concerns were entirely different.

Although I couldn’t entirely relate to the “me” I was in 1993, I also couldn’t bear to get rid of my journals. There was just too much good material about me as a work-in-progress that I want to re-visit later as a source for some arts and crafts.

What’s The Story In Your Stuff?

Who were you last year? Who were you five, ten, fifteen years ago?

What about the “you” you were before kids? Before you met your partner? Before you left home?

If you’re looking for inspiration to kickstart your creativity, dig a little. Look for clues that will unlock a very different time in your life, starting with your closet, your dresser, your jewelry box, and your basement cupboard. Retrace your journey through old journals, photo albums, CDs, love letters, clothes, and jewelry. One object may hold powerful memories of a time when you were on the verge of discovery, of love,or of a major resolution or transition.

Your stories, the lessons you’ve learned, and your whole life are the stuff of great art. They deserve your recollection and expression. After all, our lives are, in the end, made up of moments that become stories. In them, we find ourselves and the purpose and meaning of our lives. Creating something out of those moments to share is a gift, and allowing ourselves the process of working with them is a gift  to ourselves.

Personal Insight Gleaned From The Back Of A Drawer

As I was sifting through everything I owned to successfully purge stuff before my upcoming move, I came across some antique lingerie from my early 20s. That fussy thing is currently under the passenger seat of the family car because I couldn’t bear to donate it with the rest of my stuff last week. Why did I lose my nerve? Because I’d made eye contact with the young guitar playing slacker employee at the drop off door — pretty much the type I would have considered a hopeful benefactor for that get up 20 years ago.

There’s potential for a pretty good short story right there. But what actually held the most potential for an inspired bout of creativity was re-discovering who I was when I bought that piece of lace. In that one item lies a complex tale of insecurity and confidence, gender and female sexuality, my emerging relationships with men, and what I thought I needed to do and be as a young woman. Not every item I’ve kept over the years holds that much metaphorical significance — but I bet there are some things in your closet that do.

So when you’re ready to create and you don’t know where to start, find them. And if you’d like to share, I’d love to hear about the things you’ve kept that have taught you about who you are, and how far you’ve come in your journey so far.

I hadn’t met Ann before, but it was a great opportunity to connect with another media & PR consultant — and it’s clear that she works far more than I do with the traditional press.  I took the opportunity to catch up with Ann and get her take on some of the media & PR issues that I get asked  – it appears that although we work in different markets, our experience and advice is very similar.  Take a look at what Ann had to say:

Clare:  Working in niche media, I’m a huge advocate for building relationships with media contacts, but would you agree that this is also the key to increasing profile in the mainstream press too?

Ann:  Building relationships with media is key no matter what the category – mainstream, specialty, or other bloggers. Get to know them, their field, area of expertise, deadlines, everything you can about their working day and how you can make it as easy as possible for them to cover your story idea.

Clare:  Very often when reaching out to the mainstream press, it’s because we have a key announcement or piece of news to share.  What do you think is the best way to get their attention on these things these days?

Ann:  First off, you need to pay special attention to the news cycle so you know best when to contact media. With newsrooms grappling with ever-shrinking budgets and staff sizes, the focus will always be on the “hard news” of the day. A few weeks ago, the news cycle in Vancouver consisted of: The Boston Marathon bombings; the provincial election and the Texas explosion. There was no way a soft story would get covered that week. So, there was no point pitching anything less than hard news.

When the landscape is clear, there are good ways to grab reporters’ attention: A snappy subject line in your e-mail and of course, a valid story that includes traditional news values – is it new, significant, does it affect the chosen outlet’s particular audience? And don’t forget to send your story idea to the right person. It sounds simple but many people blast-email their story pitches to anyone and everyone, which only serves to irritate the recipient and drastically decrease your chances of coverage.

Clare:  With social and online media, bloggers etc, do you think the traditional press release is still relevant for today’s media & PR?

Ann:  I definitely do but I like to mix the standard release up with the more informal media “pitch” note. This is like a letter informing the media about the story and why you think they would be interested. A news release tends to be for harder news.

No matter what your style of outreach, knowing your market is vital: If a story is highly visual, pitch it to TV, and offer video or other visuals if possible. If it is a complex “issues” story, pitch it to a newspaper or maybe a CBC magazine-type show such as On the Coast, where the potential for exploring it in greater depth is good.  Also with the traditional release, it’s vital to add social media elements such as links, photographs and video. These can be embedded right in. And don’t forget to include contact information and have spokespeople available!

Clare: If you could get a Mompreneur or small business owner to adopt one piece of advice regarding their media & PR strategy, what would it be?

Ann: Know your target media market.

Without a doubt knowing your target media and doing your research are both Ann’s and my top tips — so if you haven’t already, be sure to start working on media & PR strategy LONG before you need to reach out!

Let’s first look at the Visitors Overview page. This section of Google Analytics gives you a snap shot into the behaviors, habits, and profile of your target market. You can tell what language they speak, what part of the country they’re from, what kind of browsers they’re on, and whether or not they’re accessing your site via a smart phone.

Beware Flash-dependent websites — you can’t be viewed on an iPhone. Always make sure your sites are mobile-friendly. If you haven’t got a website yet and are planning on getting one done, be sure to go with a responsive theme. Responsive themes are smart in that they adjust their proportions to suit the screen size that a viewer is visiting your site on.

Dips and Spikes

These aren’t necessarily bad things. Don’t be alarmed if you notice ups and downs in your line graph on the “home page” of Google Analytics. There are many reasons why you might have high traffic days and other times when you have low traffic days. That’s the nature of the beast when you first launch a site.

Always do your best to account for these ups and downs. Did you post new content that people loved? Did you attend a tradeshow and gave away business cards with your web address on there? When you drive people to your site, they’re going to visit your site. Any questions?

Page Views and Pages Per Visit

Of course, the higher the number of pages visited, the better. I have one client whose website only gets 1.5 page views. Most business owners would be immediately alarmed and perhaps jump to the conclusion that their site is not being effective. Not so. For this particular client of mine, it just so happened that people were landing on her site and going directly to the Contact Us or Service Page. Those pages both have clear calls to action on them with phone numbers, emails, and quote submission forms. Additionally, the number of conversions measured through quote requests were strong.

In this case, the low number of page views per visit was actually a good thing: People knew exactly where to go because the site layout, design, and navigation were intuitive and the content was written in such a way to encourage a desired action.