You're scrolling through Instagram, ready to check out a cool brand you saw advertised. You tap the link, but instead of a sleek, user-friendly experience, you're greeted by a website that looks like it belongs in a 1998 flip phone commercial. Tiny text, clunky buttons, and sideways scrolling – yikes! Over 50% of all website traffic now comes from mobile devices [Statista, 2023]. If your website isn't optimized for various mobile screens, you're losing customers faster than you can say "mobilegeddon." Here's the Wake-up Call You Need: Mobile-first is the new standard. People are ditching desktops for smartphones and tablets. In fact, by 2025, it's predicted that mobile internet usage will surpass desktop usage globally [Statista, 2023]. If your website isn't mobile-friendly, you're essentially shutting the door on a massive chunk of your potential audience. A bad mobile experience = A bad brand impression. Think about it: if someone has a frustrating time navigating your website on their phone, they're likely to associate that frustration with your entire brand. A study by Google found that 53% of mobile website visitors abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load [Think With Google, 2020]. That's three seconds to make a good impression, or you risk losing a customer forever. Mobile drives sales. 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile device [Statista, 2023]. If your website isn't mobile-optimized, you're missing out on a huge sales opportunity. A mobile-friendly design with clear calls to action and a streamlined checkout process can turn those website visitors into paying customers. And apps.... don't get me started. Make sure "Easy" is your middle name. Don't wait for your competitors to steal your mobile thunder!  Revamping your website for mobile-first is no longer an option, it's a necessity. By prioritizing a seamless mobile experience, you'll ensure your brand shines on every device, keeps customers engaged, and drives sales success. The future of web design is mobile, so jump on board or get left behind! Want to learn more? Contact Neon Lizard Creative today! https: www.linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative

No matter what kind of business you own, everything you do, say and provide reflects on you personally and professionally. Having a brand reputation that precedes you helps close a sale before you ever arrive. How to Build your Personal Brand Step # 1: Determine who you really are . Building your personal brand is about sharing your authentic self with the world. Ask yourself: What unique skills do I have? What am I most passionate about? What are my core values? What unique experiences have shaped who I am? How can I most effectively serve my core audience? What do I have to offer that no one else does? Step # 2: Decide what you want to accomplish. Once you’ve identified the core of who you are, it’s time to think about what you want to accomplish with your personal brand. Ask yourself: What would I like to accomplish, both personally and professionally? What do I want to be known for? If I could be the world’s foremost expert on a topic, what would it be? What key message do I want to communicate? If I could only give one piece of advice, what would it be? What is the “personality” of my brand? Step # 3: Identify your target audience. There is a core demographic of people who will resonate deeply with you, your brand, and what you offer and the type of person you love to work with, that's the CLIENT YOU CAN BEST SERVE. This core demographic is your target audience. To identify your core audience, ask these questions: Who can I most effectively help? Who will benefit most from my skill set and knowledge? Who am I most passionate about serving? Who will resonate most with me and my brand? It can also be helpful to create a persona for your ideal client. This should include demographic information, desires and aspirations, as well as pain points and challenges that they face. Step # 4: Determine your Unique Service Proposition. Your USP is simply your brand summed up into a single, powerful compelling statement that describes exactly what you do for your audience. A USP typically looks something like this: I help (target person) to (achieve X) so that they can (desired outcome). Your USP doesn’t have to say everything about your brand, but it should get right to the heart of who you are and how you help your audience. It may help to give your USP a unique name that will stick in people’s mind. Don’t skimp on this step. Creating your USP gives you a high degree of clarity about what your brand is all about. Step # 5: Start treating yourself as a brand. In every communication with your audience, whether a blog post, email, podcast, social media post, etc., you stay true to your brand message. You constantly speak about the problems you solve, constantly encourage your audience, constantly voice the message of your brand. This also means: creating a strong, compelling website to serve as your home base for all your online activities. It means creating a media page or media kit on your site for media inquiries. It could mean not answering emails yourself, but having an assistant answer them. Step # 6: Optimize your website. Your website functions as your “home base” of sorts. It is one of the primary places people get to know who you are and what you do. Your website also functions as one of the primary ways you turn visitors into paying clients. Optimizing your website includes: having a professional logo designed, showing off your USP, using professional photos, using testimonials, presenting a clear call-to-action, creating a compelling “About” page, creating a services page, giving away free resources, creating a contact page. Step # 7: Develop your content strategy. The primary way you’re going to build your brand is by creating strategic content, such as blog posts, videos, social media posts, emails, affirmations, and podcasts. Each piece of content you share with your audience should serve to build your brand. Try using the “Pillar Method” for your content. The Pillar Method involves creating longer pieces of content i.e. blog posts, that function as pillars, of sorts. These pillars pieces are then cut up into smaller pieces of content that are shared across a variety of social media platforms. Using this method allows you to repurpose a single piece of content in a variety of ways. Step # 8: Constantly add value to your audience. It’s essential that you constantly give value to your audience without asking for anything in return. The main thing people should take away when interacting with your brand is how much value you provide. There will be times when you ask for a sale or ask someone to become a new client. The main emphasis, however, should be on adding value to your audience. Step # 9: Build a tribe. One of the best ways to build your brand is to build a community of people who can share ideas, support each other, and reach out to you directly. You create a tribe of passionate people who care about the same things you do. You become a bigger fish in all of their ponds. Some simple ways to build a community include: starting a private Facebook group where people can encourage each other and share ideas, hosting live events where you can interact personally with your tribe, or creating a membership site where people can get exclusive access to you. Would you like a partner to work with you on your design and marketing efforts? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Your self-image is the way you view yourself. You might view yourself as a parent, construction worker, friend, blonde, sports fan, intelligent, impatient, and middle-aged. But you're more than your career, gender, and age. You're more than your parents' opinion. You're a unique person with nuances that are unique to you! When who you are aligns with what you do, you're living authentically. But most of us view ourselves as one way and live another. Authentic people act honestly and congruently. The benefits of this congruency are enormous: success, self-esteem, respect from others, and inner peace. Those who live lives misaligned with their values, beliefs, and attitudes suffer from more anxiety, guilt, and shame. It might seem easier to live up to the expectations of others in the short term, but the long-term costs are significant. Follow these steps to determine your true self and live life on your terms: 1. Identify your core values. An authentic self-image is one that is aligned with your values. By knowing your values, you'll understand what is important to you. Once you're aware of your values, you can build a self-image and life that are more meaningful and enjoyable. Make a list of your values. Create a long list and include everything that you think applies to you. Then, reduce your list to the ten values that are most important to you. You might struggle to narrow your list to just ten, but ten values are plenty. 2. Determine if you have any conflicts. For example, you might say that adventure and freedom are two of your most important values, but what if you also strongly favor responsibility and security? Those values could be in conflict. When you're faced with an inner conflict, you're likely to shut down and do nothing. If you've ever been paralyzed while making a decision, it's possible your values were in conflict. Think back to when you've struggled to decide and see if it's true. Do you have any values listed that aren't really priorities for you? We often carry around perspectives instilled by our parents. Here's a news flash: they may have been wrong. Take the time to determine your values for yourself. Disregard what society says you should value. You're an individual. 3. Create an action plan for each value. Imagine one of your values is frugality. You could create a budget and savings plan that incorporates that value. You might plan to start clipping coupons, visiting less expensive stores, and searching for free entertainment options available on the weekends. 4. Make a list of activities you enjoy that align with your values. For example, if generosity is a priority, you could find an enjoyable way to spend your time helping others. If health is a value you cherish, you could join a soccer team or a yoga class. Find your favorite sport and participate. 5. Evaluate yourself at the end of each day. Think about the instances when you failed to live according to your values. Likewise, contemplate the times you were able to live according to your values and self-image, particularly when doing so was challenging. Create a self-image that is in alignment with your values. First, it is necessary to identify and choose your values. Next, construct a life that allows you to live those values consistently and to thrive. Authenticity eliminates many common emotional ailments in life, but it's not always the easiest choice. Be bold enough to choose the person you want to become and live accordingly, not only in your personal life but also in your business. The benefits are enormous. What are your values? Are you living your true "brand style?" Would you like a partner to work with you on your marketing and branding? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

If you have more to do than you have time to do it, you’re not alone. Regardless of how much society advances with new technology that’s supposed to enable us to do more in less time, there never seems to be enough time to do everything that needs to be done. So how can you save time? If you could essentially add another hour or two to your day, how would you use that time? While you can’t actually add time, you can free up additional time with these techniques: 1. Eliminate unnecessary tasks. Maybe you have too many things to do! Take a detailed look at your life and determine if there are any tasks that you’re doing that are unnecessary. There are bound to be a few things you can eliminate from your life without suffering any negative impact. EOS has a method," Keep, Kill or Combine".... let's change that to Keep (you do it) Kill (quit doing it), and Outsource (hire someone else to do it). If you are decent at it but hate doing it, outsourcing is a great option. 2. Outsource social media accounts. Social media platforms are valuable, but they are also great timewasters. By outsourcing your social, you are free from having to create content, create ads, remember to post, and more. Sounds like nirvana. Consider outsourcing your business social media accounts to a professional service like NLC. Perhaps personally avoid social media altogether and try picking up the phone once in a while to check in on your friends, family, and business associates/clients the old-fashioned way. I think we've forgotten how to do that these days! 3. Disable notifications. Do you really need to be notified of every text, email, and app activity in real-time? Turn all of it off and take a quick peek every few hours to see if you’re missing something important. 4. Avoid perfection. Some tasks require a high level of attention. Others do not. It’s not necessary to clean out your junk folder with the same level of perfection as a surgeon performing a liver transplant. Ask yourself how well a task really needs to be done and perform it at an appropriate level of effort and detail or hire a VA. 5. Ask yourself how you can do this task better and faster. Are you sure you’re taking the best route to work? Are you cleaning your house efficiently? Think about every task you do regularly and search for a more efficient way of doing it. 6. Delegate. It’s possible to delegate much of your life. No one can eat, sleep, or exercise for you, but you can pay others to do many things for you. Imagine how much time you would have to further your business if you delegated mundane tasks. Some people will clean, do laundry, mow grass, drive, shop, cook, do your taxes, and build your new deck for you Agencies like NLC can manage content, design, production of web, print, trade show, social, and more. You might even have a partner or children that can carry some of your load. 7. Schedule your day. A decent plan is lightyears better than no plan at all. Think about what you need to accomplish and make a list. Stick to your list, and you’re bound to get more done in less time each day. Perhaps a time block so you have focus time, phone call time, and meeting times segregated for efficiency. 8. Track your time. Where are you wasting time? How are you spending all of your time? You might be surprised where your time is going if you’ve never looked hard at it. I use ScreenMonitor because I am terrible at tracking time, and it takes a screen capture every 10 minutes so I can remember what I was doing. Spend a couple of days logging your tasks and how much time you spend on them. Pay particular attention to the time spent on electronic devices and other amusing activities. 9. Consider your mealtimes. Eating takes more time than people realize. You have to shop for the food, cook it, eat it, and clean it up afterward. If you eat three meals a day, that’s a lot of time. Some meals are much quicker than others. A sandwich and an apple eaten on a paper plate is less time and work than roasting a chicken, making mashed potatoes, and washing pots and pans. Shop for foods that are easy to prepare and have minimal cleanup. Also, shop as infrequently as possible. Each trip to the store can take an hour or more. Use a delivery service. Nowadays we have full meal delivery, precooked and needs to be heated. My family uses HelloFresh so that we always have a nutritious meal and all the ingredients available. (Now, it is just getting someone to cook it!) Check out all the options! Everyone gets the same 24 hours each day to live life. Whether your 24-hour day is easy and carefree or extremely busy, it’s also helpful to find additional time to use as you see fit. You can’t make a day last longer, but you create additional hours by being effective, efficient, and by reducing unnecessary tasks and responsibilities. Would you like a partner to work with you on your design and marketing efforts? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Use this checklist to ensure that your website portrays your brand in the best possible light. Do you have professional photographs of you, your team, and services on your website? You want to use high - quality photos. This demonstrates that you take your business seriously. Blurry, too-small, poorly cropped images indicate your attention to detail and work ethic. Do you have a professionally designed logo? A professionally designed logo helps to capture what your brand is all about. It’s also a way of representing the quality of your brand. It is an ambassador. It shows that you are taking yourself seriously. If you need help designing a logo, Neon Lizard Creative is a nationally recognized specialist that is as good as the "big dog" agencies in the cities but significantly less expensive. A great brand image isn't cheap! Budget $2500+ for a true professional. Make sure you OWN the art/files and receive all the subfiles and governing style guide. If someone hands you a jpg and calls it done, they are NOT professionals. Hire a team who can build brand equity and presence rather than hand you a piece of art and walk away. Your brand is more important than that. Is Your Unique Service Proposition clear and visible? The magic of marketing is in the messaging. Remember, your Unique Service Proposition (USP) describes precisely what you do and how you help people in a way that evokes emotion and builds desire. Your USP should be big, bold, and immediately visible when someone comes to your website. It should be above the fold and be front and center. Think of it like a headline in a newspaper. Don’t make visitors work to figure out precisely what it is that you do. Do you have several testimonials on your website? Testimonials function as social proof. They prove that you really can do what you say. You can effectively solve people’s problems and help them in significant ways. At a minimum, you should feature several critical testimonials on your site. Use your best ones - the ones where you got the biggest results for a client. Video testimonials are even better; take the time to talk to your clients on video to get real feedback in their voice. It's a game-changer. Do you have a clear call to action? What is it that you want visitors to your site to do? Do you want them to sign up for your email list? Attend a webinar? Follow you on social media? Sign up for a free consultation. Whatever it is, ensure that what you want them to do is abundantly clear. You may even want to use a pop-up window to get their attention. Most people will act on what they are told to do, so tell them! Do you have a compelling “About” page? Your “About” page is both where you tell your story and reiterate your Unique Service Proposition. It’s a place for you to talk about why you do what you do. Why are you so passionate about helping people? Use your “About” page to explain how you arrived at where you currently are and your mission. Be authentic, not sales, and explain the values you live by. Do you have a clear “Services” page? Your services page should clearly list all the different services that you offer, as well as what’s included with each service. Be as detailed as possible in listing what’s included in your services. You may want to allow clients to sign up for a free strategy or consultation through your services page. Do you give away free resources? Ideally, you should give away at least some form of free resource on your website. Why? Because you want to give value to everyone who visits your site. Demonstrate expertise from the very first time someone encounters you. What sorts of free resources work well? Blog posts (imagine that!) Podcasts / Audio interviews eBooks / Audible Books Videos Email courses Webinars Do you have clearly marked links to all your social media profiles? Your website is a great way to get more people to follow you on social media. If a visitor likes what they see on your site, there’s a good chance that they’ll want to follow you across your social media platforms. Include links to all your social media profiles in prominent places. Linktr.ee is a great resource and way to put one link on emails, etc., and someone can visit your digital media. Do you have a way for visitors to contact you? Obviously, you want visitors to your website to be able to contact you. If you want to convert visitors into clients, it’s crucial to have a clear and compelling contact page. On your contact page, you may want to give visitors different options for why they’re contacting you. For example, general requests, working together, speaking requests, media interviews, etc. Would you like a partner to work with you on your design and marketing efforts? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Another thoughtful guest post! Colleen Moselle | President + COO Work at Coco co-working spaces throughout the Twin Cities. Throughout my career journey, I have worked at and with companies of all sizes. Regardless of my given work situation, I always found myself craving an escape from my current “office.” Whether it was for a focus day or just to shift my energy, I found myself migrating to local coffee shops. There was something about the “buzz” of a coffee shop that elevated my sense of inspiration and happiness. People were choosing to be there to relax, engage, connect, re-energize. I love coffee but even more than the amazing smells and soul-warming drinks, I found myself inspired by the environment and energy. The first time I walked into a coworking space in 2012, I felt that coffee shop buzz on steroids. The energy, freedom, movement, and inspiration were palpable. Inside of one space, I could meet and connect with architects, health professionals, software engineers, chiropractors, construction professionals, consultants, teachers, and countless others all pursuing their dreams. I continued to be drawn back to the spaces for meetings and days when I needed extra inspiration, connection, or a change of scenery. In 2019, when it became possible for me to help lead a company that was a pioneer in this space in Minneapolis, (Work at Coco), I jumped at the opportunity to be a more integral part of the community and spaces I had grown to love so much. The entrepreneurial spirit that flows through the halls of flexible workspaces, as well as the community of professionals who found and operate in them is uplifting and inspiring. Most often the question I hear is, “how can I help you?” Working crazy hours and going to the ends of all things we thought possible, this community is never too busy to stop and help a fellow professional. One of our members summed it up best when he said, Have you ever heard "you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with?" Well, I would go a step further and say you're also the average of the five biggest things you do every day. A shared workplace is like Shark Tank, except everyone is rooting for you to win... It's paid dividends on my personal and professional life over and over. It's not an expense, it's an investment in yourself and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you are looking for a way to connect with a friend, your team or shift your inspiration and energy I would strongly encourage you to check out a shared workspace. There is a community of amazing people waiting to welcome you and lift you up. If you happen to be in the Minneapolis area, I would LOVE to welcome you to our spaces and community at Work at Coco. We have flexible membership options to meet you where you are in a space that can be personalized for you. We are here every day to listen, engage, support and help you be the most successful version of yourself. We have pretty great coffee, too! Colleen Moselle | President + COO (formerly COCO) Mobile: 651-261-3099 LinkedIn: colleen-moselle https://workatcoco.com/ If you would like to guest post on our popular blog, please contact me to get you on the schedule! ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

Are you missing valuable opportunities because your small business can’t afford a fancy PR firm? What's the difference between marketing and PR anyway? Organizations of any size can benefit from public relations, and there are many techniques that you can use on your own. In fact, you probably engage in PR as you go about your customer service and other daily tasks. Becoming more intentional could make you more successful in communicating strategically, building a positive reputation, and increasing your sales. Get ready for your adoring fans! PR may require time and effort, but the payoff is significant and it’s usually less expensive than paid advertising and regarded more favorably. See what it can do for your business. General Principles for Public Relations for Small Businesses Public relations is how you shape your image and build relationships between your business and the public. That usually includes customers, employers, and investors, as well as other audiences that matter to you. Keep these relationship-building strategies in mind: 1. Tell your story. Put a friendly human face on your business. Demonstrate what makes you special and unique. Forge an emotional connection by being sincere and authentic. Ask your loyal customers what they love about you. Your message will sound even more persuasive coming from them. 2. Stay informed. Keep up with what’s going on in your field. Network with others, attend conferences, and read industry publications and local news. 3. Be helpful. PR is more successful when you concentrate on what you can do for others. Try to give customers and reporters what they need instead of thinking only about promoting your own interests. 4. Do your homework. Journalists and social media influencers receive mountains of pitches and requests. Show them that you respect their time. Research will help you to identify their needs and customize your approach. 5. Follow through. Lasting relationships depend on trust. Be prepared to deliver what you promise and ensure that you have data to support your claims. 6. Spot trends. You can learn from PR experts even if you don’t have the budget to hire them. Pay attention to what other businesses are doing and adapt some of their initiatives to reach your own goals. Specific Strategies for Public Relations for Small Businesses You have plenty of options, so find the mix that works for your business. You may get your greatest return from traditional media, digital platforms, or live interactions. Try these techniques: 1. Take advantage of media coverage. Greater visibility is one of the rewards of PR, especially if you receive favorable treatment from respected sources. Pitch your story and do interviews. If you’re skillful and persistent, reporters may start calling you. 2. Share your expertise. Put your knowledge and experience to work. In addition to providing content for news stories, you can publish your own materials, book speaking engagements, and participate in online forums. 3. Monitor your mentions. Keep track of what others are saying about you. Sign up for Google Alerts or other notification services. Respond promptly to criticism and thank others for their feedback. 4. Give back. Support your local community and worthy causes. Donate money and encourage your employees to volunteer. Sponsor a fun run or clean up a beach for Earth Day. 5. Create resources. Develop an accessible archive of high-quality content. That way, you’ll be prepared to make a positive impression when potential customers are searching for information or reporters need quick answers while you’re on vacation. 6. Consider outsourcing. While there are many things you can handle yourself, you may want to explore professional PR services too. The investment could be worthwhile if you’re trying to manage a crisis or launch a major new campaign. You can communicate effectively and build mutually supportive relationships with a DIY approach to public relations. Strategic outreach will help your small business to stand out and succeed. Would you like a partner to work with you on your design and branding efforts? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community. BONUS ITEM! Credit : https://foundersguide.com/marketing-pr-differences/

Feeling invincible? Self-confidence fills your world with joys and abundance that you can't get without it. However, it's possible to step over the line where it benefits you and become too confident. Overconfidence can lead to dangerous situations. It can damage you, both personally and professionally, and the fallout from these disasters can hurt your family as well. What are these dangers you speak of? Consider these qualities that can develop from overconfidence and lead you down a tortuous path: 1. Taking too many risks. Are you taking unnecessary risks because you feel powerful and able to control them? These risks might be in your relationships, career, or physical, such as in extreme sports. * Risks can't be avoided completely, but overconfidence can convince you to take too many of them. At some point, you won't be able to control the consequences of your risky behavior. 2. Inability to see mistakes. Mistakes can occur in every aspect of your life, but overconfidence can make you blind to them. If you believe you never make a mistake, then it's time reevaluate your confidence levels. * Mistakes provide important learning opportunities. By ignoring them, you're not getting the full benefit of the mistakes. 3. Blaming others. Overconfidence can lead to blaming because you feel like anything that goes wrong can't be your fault. It always has to be due to someone else's shortcomings or behavior. * However, by blaming others, you're risking your relationships and job. You're also losing the opportunity to grow and learn from the situation. Responsibility is an important aspect of success. 4. Refusal to learn. You may believe that you're done learning and have nothing new to discover. Overconfidence in your abilities and knowledge may prevent you from learning the very ideas or skills that will bring you success. * Those who are successful advocate learning more, regardless of how much you already know. * Researchers have found that learning is a life-long experience that benefits the brain and body. You don't have to go back to school or take extra classes to learn. You can read, write, or develop new hobbies. 5. Refusal to listen. Overconfidence may lead you to ignore the advice of others. You may also have difficulty listening to feedback or criticism. * It's important to listen to the comments that others make because they may have valuable insight. They may see an aspect that you're missing. They may be able to help you avoid mistakes or formulate a plan that jumps you forward toward achieving a goal. 6. Cutting it close. Overconfidence may make you cut things too close. You may arrive late to a job interview or miss a flight. * Your inflated confidence levels may make you believe that everyone will just wait for you. The reality may differ from your expectations, and you may end up losing opportunities or dealing with serious consequences. 7. Predicting the future. Research has shown that overconfidence can lead to inaccurate predictions. For example, you may believe that a raise will be easy to get or your client will instantly fall in love with you. * Your judgment may not be correct. Your overconfidence can make you ignore important elements of the current situation that affect your future. It's important to have confidence in your abilities and skills, but realistic expectations and ideas contribute to your wisdom and make life easier. Avoid letting overconfidence dim the bright future you can create with your unique talents. Would you like a partner to work with you on your marketing and branding? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Every entrepreneur seems to have a secret to their success. For some, it’s an ability to think outside of the box and take risks. For others, it’s staying humble, even when faced with huge success. While every entrepreneur is different, you’ll notice that there are also some things that they seem to share. For instance, talk to almost any successful business owner and they’ll tell you that a good morning routine is the key to unlocking endless opportunities. Here are some of the things you can do to spend your morning like a successful entrepreneur: 1. Wake up early. While you don’t have to be an early bird to get the worm in business, it often helps. According to Richard Branson, the entrepreneur behind Virgin, wherever he is in the world, he makes a concentrated effort to get up at 5am. ● Branson believes that getting up early helps him to spend more time with the family before he gets down to business. ● Try going to bed a little earlier than usual and waking up early too. Research consistently proves that many successful people wake up well before the workday begins. How could you spend an extra hour before your commute? 2. Be prepared. How long do you spend each morning just trying to work out which tasks you should be tackling first? Figuring out a schedule can take a lot of crucial time for productivity out of your routine. That’s why it’s so helpful to plan ahead. ● At the end of each workday, put ten minutes aside to make a list of the things you need to do first the next day. ● This way, you can start your morning with a focus on what you need to get done and avoid anything that might put you on a path of procrastination. 3. Exercise. Exercise can do incredible things for the body and mind. Studies show that regular exercise increases your energy levels and strengthens your cognitive abilities. A few minutes of sweating before work can also help you to clear your mind for the day ahead and reduce stress. ● If you’re wondering how to use that extra thirty minutes you’ve added to your morning each day, a mini workout could be just the thing. ● Follow up with a healthy breakfast to nourish your mind, kickstart your metabolism, and give you the energy you need to handle the day. Drink some cold water too. Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington, says she always starts her morning with a tall glass of water. 4. Do the toughest job first. Trying to plan your day to facilitate success? Start with the toughest task first. The idea of “eating the frog” comes from Mark Twain, and it basically means that you handle the thing you least want to do first. ● If you overcome your biggest challenge first, then everything else you do will feel easier by comparison. ● Plus, tackling and accomplishing a challenge first thing is a great way to motivate yourself. ● As the founding editor of Lifehacker.com, Gina Trapani tells us, your mind is clear first thing in the morning, and you’re not getting distracted by other demands. This is your chance to get things done! 5. Get rid of distraction. If you’re going to seize the day like a successful entrepreneur, it’s important to avoid distractions. That means not constantly checking your emails and social media on the way to work. ● Starting the day with a heavy focus on your social media and phone alerts means you’re more likely to get easily distracted throughout the remainder of your day too. ● To start the day in a more helpful way, why not try an activity that relaxes you? Up to 90% of the doctor’s visits reported per year come from stress-related problems. If exercise doesn’t lower your stress levels when you wake up, find something that does. 6. Illuminate the possibilities. Finally, if you’re struggling to start the day on the right note, brighten things up again. Turning on multiple lights around the home and opening your curtains will actively wake you up. It’s the best way to tell the brain that the day has started. ● Natural light actually tells your body to stop producing melatonin – the hormone you need for sleep. ● Get outside and breathe in some fresh air if you can. Natural light and a fresh dose of the great outdoors will put you in a great mood for work. ● If you can’t quite make it outside, don’t panic. Brightening your indoors will help too. Find Your Own Routine These are just some examples of how to spend your morning like a successful entrepreneur. Remember that you can always put your own spin on these suggestions. Find out what works for you and add some rituals of your own. Once you find what works for you, stick to it! Would you like a partner to work with you on your marketing and branding? Give us a call for a FREE brand audit! We'd love to help! Linktr.ee/neonlizardcreative ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168 If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community.

Congratulations on your new business. Business owners have a vision, are motivated and determined to succeed. Likely, you’ve created a business plan or at the very least, spent considerable effort figuring out your overall goals and desired outcomes. You probably already know that networking is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to market and build your business. But have you given much thought to how to approach your networking strategically? Time and time again, I see people stumbling into networking without any clear idea of what they are doing or why. It breaks my heart because these same people then get a bad impression of networking and assume that it doesn’t work for them. When they don’t fully know why they are doing networking, it’s certainly more difficult to know where to put their time and energy and what type of results to expect. It pays to plan ahead. Set your unique networking goals, do your research, develop a strategy and assess your results. Take these simple steps starting now and you will save countless time, money, and a load of frustration. By revisiting and putting these steps to use, you will refine your networking so it can support your business in numerous ways. Some of these ways include marketing , brand management , sales and even connecting you with the best resources for professional development, HR, and strategic partnerships, to name a few. Use the following to help you think through and set a plan for: Why you are networking In the paragraph above you may have noticed that I suggested setting your unique networking goals. Many people assume that networking as a business owner serves only to make sales but it can provide so much more. Think about what your key needs are at each stage of your business growth. Chances are, most of those needs can be served through networking. Especially in the beginning stages, you need to get the word out about your business, gain support, build your reputation, and garner ideas and resources. Each of these things can be effectively and affordably fulfilled through relationship building (otherwise referred to as “networking”). Where you are networking and with whom Often, people fall into networking with a group or in a way that isn’t the right fit for their business goals. Perhaps they saw an ad or joined the first networking group they attended without doing much research. Sometimes happy accidents happen and your first networking experiences are rewarding and fulfilling (like love at first sight). Usually, it is best to test the waters and try several different networking experiences to find the ones that work best for you. And remember that networking experiences aren’t always touted as such. Conferences, seminars, and workshops are all great places to not only network but to learn alongside new colleagues who share similar interests and challenges as you. When and how often you are networking Consider what works best for your schedule and your energy level. Make a commitment to network regularly. Whether that means once a week or once a month, it’s important to engage with others for ideas, motivation, support, and to lead you to opportunities you wouldn’t find on your own. Seek and maximize quality over quantity. How you are networking Think through your plan before you enter the event. Know what key point(s) you’d like to share in your introduction. Set an intention for the types of people you hope to meet. As tempting as it may be, don’t immediately head for the food but remind yourself that you are there to expand your network. If you see a familiar face, first try to meet some new people and then don’t glue yourself so tightly to close opportunities for meeting others. (While I do have valuable strategies for networking in pairs, that is an entire subject in itself.) What you do to leverage results from your networking Networking doesn’t end when you leave the event. On the contrary, it has just begun. At the event, you sought out the initial sparks for the types of people with whom you’d like to be connected. Now it’s time to assess who you would like to further connect with, how, and why. Determine how you will follow up with them. Get it on your calendar and begin reaching out. As in marketing, consider multiple touches you could provide to stay on their radar. For example, you might start with an email stating it was nice meeting them and sharing a useful resource followed by a connection request on LinkedIn. You might positively comment on something they’ve posted on social media. If it seems like it would be a win/win connection, you might even extend an invitation to meet further. These are just a few of the steps to consider when networking. Set yourself apart from the crowd that is just winging it with their networking. By having a plan, you’ll receive better results from your networking and—dare I say—even enjoy it. __________________________ As founder of Win-Win Connects , Teresa Thomas connects people, possibilities, and purpose as an award-winning professional Connector, presenter, networking expert, and author of Win/Win Networking and 50 Fun Things® – Enjoy the Small Things. She was named 2019 Women in Business Champion through the Small Business Administration (SBA) of Minnesota and as a 2019 50 Over 50 exemplary leader by AARP and Pollen. Teresa fosters our interconnectedness and the ways we can lift each other up for success. Teresa believes networking is really about seeing the interconnectedness between all of us. It is about listening and noticing the ways we can lift each other up. For more in-depth tips, techniques, templates and checklists to help you with your networking, order a copy of Teresa’s book, Win/Win Networking: Your Guidebook for Confident and Effective Networking (available through Amazon and www.winwinnetworking.com). The book’s interactive style will help you to get clear about why you are networking and how to get the results you seek. For speaking, workshops, or consulting to have better results in your networking, Teresa can be reached at teresa@teresa-thomas.com. www.teresa-thomas.com | www.winwinnetworking.com If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community. ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

As a business, you are a leader. As a leader, it is your responsibility to lead! How your business gives back to your community makes a difference and is an example for others to emulate. Add-vantage Realty, run by Ann Jones of Shakopee, MN, is just that type of business. Her “Hearts of Service Advantage” is a discount program for all emergency responders, teachers, and military. Ann feels strongly about this group because she admires them and hears about the struggles and sacrifices they make to help the community as a whole. “Every day you give your all, the least I can do is give you a break.” — Ann Jones Ann provides honesty, patience, guidance, and resources so that these essential servants have a 100% positive experience during their home purchase or sale transaction. She strives to take the stress out of moving & save them money as well as provide HOS Sellers a 25%discount on commission and offers HOS Buyers .05% of their purchase price back after closing. Does she have to do this? No. She simply wants first responders, teachers, and those who protect our neighborhoods and families to know that they are appreciated. Do you qualify as a Hearts of Service Add-vantage client? Contact Ann if you are, she would be thrilled to help you. 952.445.8636. www.add-vantagerealty.com What about you? Are you a business that wants to make an impact on your local community? Through charities and some creative thinking, you can use your business to help others and start a movement with your networks and industry leaders. Check out these five ways businesses are giving back. 1. Incorporate a charitable element into your business plan by participating in fundraising events for a local charity. Just make sure you donate products or services to events that align with your company values. 2. Create a collaborative Holiday Campaign with other businesses to provide gifts to underprivileged kids' families. All of us are networking all the time, call in those favors and show those who are struggling that they are not alone! 3. Install GoodShop on all of your company's Chrome browsers. Every search raises money for charities and philanthropic efforts. https://www.goodshop.com/search 4. Find a “partner of synergy.” Perhaps you are a florist, align with a local funeral home to deliver flowers for a ceremony at an elder care home. Or if you are a paper company, donate your paper waste to a company that recycles paper into products that promote organic sustainability. 5. Create a mentorship program, offer internships, or share free industry-related educational seminars/webinars with students and job seekers. Giving back feels good to all involved! Even though it takes a little time and effort out of your week to organize and/or participate in charitable events, giving back feels fantastic! Plus, it could help you expand your network by meeting more people in your industry and community. The best part, though? You’re helping people truly in need. So let’s follow the example set by Ann Jones of Add-vantagerealty.com and give more to the community around us! Are you doing something special? We'd love to give you a shout-out ! Contact us at: ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168

An insightful guest post from Lisa Carmichael! Enjoy! ____________________ What drives you out of bed every morning? What pulls you out of those nice warm covers? What is it that makes you realize that nothing matters more than the force of being an entrepreneur and building your own business? Building and growing a business of your own is an amazing feeling. Maybe it’s not so logical to stay in bed and not worry about the work that needs to be done for the day. But someone has to do the work. It has to get done. Who will do it, if you don’t? Who will get it done? I’ve been digging deep into mindset and into why I’ve never felt I’m worthy. Then one day out of the blue I decided to write a book. It was time to pull myself out of my warm comfortable bed. It came to be because I was given a gift. I was accepted into a program called Bunker Labs that connects military veterans and their spouses to the resources that help grow their businesses. My husband served almost 38 years in the Navy before retiring. So, yup. I qualified. I was reluctant as I applied to this program because I really enjoyed working from home, staying warm, and being comfortable. My business seemed to be going well. But maybe I needed this I thought. I had nothing to lose by completing the application. I remember waiting until the last day to fill out the application. I waited until the last minute… 10pm to be exact. To my surprise, Bunker Labs followed up with me and invited me for the interview. Now, this was pre-covid, so I had already been working as an entrepreneur from home comfortably for several years. Getting out of my comfort zone and going to an interview didn’t excite me. I wasn’t looking forward to being interviewed for something I didn’t want. I made the decision to go in and instead, interview them. If this was a program that was so awesome, I made the decision to get the facts. As I walked into the WeWork building in Minneapolis, a flash passed me by as I remembered that feeling of walking into an office again. “Did I just miss being in corporate I thought to myself… gosh this feels good!” Riding up the elevator into an office atmosphere, strangely felt good too. Oddly enough I left that interview wanting to be accepted. I was accepted and I was excited to propel my internet marketing business forward. Along with this gift was a requirement to attend a meeting in Minneapolis once a week for two hours which meant driving in rush hour traffic. It also meant working at a WeWork facility another day of the week. I had to get out of bed, out of my pajamas, and work in an office. I actually loved the idea. Fast forward two months into this and sitting in a room with successful entrepreneurs scared me. During breaks, I would do breathing exercises in the lady's room. The other cohort members were successfully changing the real estate industry, working with hospitals, and creating fetal monitoring devices while working with other countries around the world. How could I have ever been accepted into this program? What did I have to offer? My mind kept telling me I wasn’t good enough. Stop! I was done listening to that voice. I was done making that choice of not feeling good enough. I made the decision to become an author because of Bunker Labs. I was good enough. I started a project and this time I had to complete it. I was driven. It got me out of bed every morning. I never even noticed those warm covers or that comfortable pillow anymore. I had a burning reason to get out of bed every morning. Becoming an author was never on my bucket list. It was just part of my vision of becoming bigger and better. I became an internet marketer because I no longer wanted to work corporately. I wanted to be my own boss. What’s your passion? What drives you out of bed every morning? What pulls you out of those nice warm covers? What is it that makes you realize that nothing matters more than the force of being an entrepreneur and building your own business? Dig deep and listen to the voice that wants you to know that you’re good enough. This is how I became an author. Lisa Carmichael lisarcarmichael.com 612.280.0734 | contact@lisarcar.com If you would like to guest post on NLC's blog, let us know! We'd love to share your knowledge with our business community. ©Neon Lizard Creative 2021 | Rebecca Rausch | neonlizardcreative.com | 952.452.0168