As a guest blogger, it's wonderful to see your work online. However, I was thrilled to have an article published in the Globe and Mail this week. Enjoy!

Ten Simple Ways to Generate Leads on Twitter

When I started as an entrepreneur in my teenage years, someone gave me a piece of advice I have not forgotten: no matter how "pumped" you are about a business, always think about your exit strategy.

1. Be proactive in connecting with others.

Put the power into your hands by initiating conversations focused on their interests. This ultimately leads to referrals in business, even at seemingly unrelated events. Capture their contact information – in person using a business card, in a notebook, online – students become decision-makers. Tip: Always carry a pen and small notebook; smartphones are great until they run out power when you need them the most.

it is with great sadness that i announce the death of the capitalized letter i when used in a sentence.

it seems that it died of a broken heart since no one cares to use it anymore in their day-to-day email correspondance.

After meeting with Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Bobby Umar, I wrote an article about Personal Branding for Impact.org. I would like to thank all those who contributed - including Marc Roginsky!

Many people are so used to communicating online that the thought of a phone call makes them break out in a sweat. Here are some tips to break out of your comfort zone a little. Using the ultimate social media tool – the telephone – can make a big difference in your business.

TORONTO, May 4, 2011— Susan Varty of Wordtree Consulting Joins HeadStart Solutions Inc.
 
Susan Varty, Principal of Wordtree Consulting, has joined HeadStart Solutions Inc. as Director of Digital Strategy. Wordtree is now operating under HeadStart to contribute content marketing, social media initiatives and services for HeadStart’s clients. 

1. I change my Facebook profile photo when I feel like it.

I know I should be consistent, but I like variety. People notice when something changes ever so slightly but stays the same. Sometimes, in general, a small change or “refresh”  is just enough to get them to remind them to pick up the phone and request a quote/go to a website.

Women have the advantage here. Just by purchasing a few unique accessories, women may find it easier to engage others in conversation and become more approachable instantly.

1. Purchase a laptop case (the kind with wheels) in a colour other than black. Better yet, find something with a patent leather finish to make it shine through that endless sea of black. Just by having a red, shiny laptop case, I’ve found that more women and men compliment me on this case and I don’t even have to introduce myself. Specialty boutiques carry these, but I found mine at a popular discount department store chain for $75.00 CDN. This investment has created thousands of dollars in related business.

Marc hangs out on LinkedIn a lot – he’s a recruiter after all.

But when I got an email from him saying he needed a technical writer, I told him I was already employed, working for myself as a marketing and communications consultant. Instead of just ending the conversation, I offered to help him find someone.

Lesson 1: Don’t end conversations too abruptly even if you’re not interested.
He was very appreciative and after a few email exchanges he was even more interested in what I was doing: consulting. So we met for coffee.

Lesson 2: Take it offline.
He was actually looking to learn about new marketing strategies for his own business and I offered to send him a proposal for my consulting services. He agreed.