It’s fair to say this year has been full of unexpected events. Even a passing remark about these cases will likely get at least 1 angry mob to come after you, especially with an amplified voice online. So I’m going to do it, tackle both religion and politics in one post and get as taboo as possible! All joking aside, I did have some thoughts I wanted to share about what we’re experiencing in 2020 so far.

For anyone here skimming this post, the key message here is: people on this earth will certainly fail you, but God never fails you. …

Whether you’re managing an organization or an individual (person), maintaining an effective digital presence is vital for business. Your discoverability, marketability, and credibility are on the line. Online reputation is a key element of how your brand is perceived by potential customers, clients, or employers. If you don’t have your ducks in a row online, now’s the time to get it right, not later.

What is Online Reputation Management?

Broadly speaking, online reputation management is the discipline of proactively controlling the connected digital footprint of an individual or group. Positive online reputation can help you be perceived as an authoritative player in your space, regardless of your industry. This can span social media sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube — or directory sites like Foursquare, Yelp, Google My Business, or Apple Maps. The platforms you decide to optimize will largely depend on your target audience and business outcome goals. …

MozCon 2019 in Seattle, WA featured dozens of speakers and a wealth of information.

Every year since 2006, SaaS company Moz hosts their own digital marketing conference, and this was the first year I’ve been able to go. Despite the large crowd, I found everyone to be extremely friendly compared to other summits I’ve been to.

Any digital marketer can gain quite a bit from going, however obviously not everyone is able to go. Or you did attend and your dog ate your notes (that excuse still works, right?). …

If you’re publishing content online on an ongoing basis, it’s easy to get burned out. Whether you do it for your job, or you do it on the side as a hobby, regular postings can be exhausting since you’re constantly exercising your creative muscles.

Depending on how competitive your niche is, you might feel like you have to be making content about something specifically, or you may subscribe to the “more is better” ethos (something seemingly underscored by YouTube’s algorithm lately). Now that’s all fine and dandy, but you may find yourself losing motivation or getting overwhelmed.

People follow personalities, not platforms. [Click to tweet] Don’t get hung up on the medium or platform you happen to be using. Focus on creating the content you want to create and you will be successful. …

When’s the last time you’ve heard this in a speech or presentation?

I know it’s a cliché, but…

Is disclosing the fact that you’re using a cliché make its usage somehow more acceptable?

What if I were to tell you that it’s cliché to preface clichés with a cliché disclosure?

Original ideas are welcome in your speeches and presentations, but sometimes a good old fashioned truism or widely-understood concept is worth reiterating. Does that mean using clichés is an inevitability? Well kind of, not really.

Saying “I know this is a cliche” diminishes your point, and distracts from your objective. Why not try presenting tried-and-true concepts in a new way? …

When you’re meeting someone new for the first time, what is it about them that intrigues you the most?

Is it how quiet they are, or how loud they are?

Is it how tall they are, or how short they are?

Is it their love for politics, or their hate for it?

Is it the people that move quickly, or the people that move slowly?

Is it a gentle smile, or a solemn stare?

Is it the clothes they wear?

Is it how they smell?

Is it the conversation about something you know very well, or the conversation about something entirely foreign to you? …

It’s something I’ve always wanted to hear, but never have.

I used to pray very long and fervently to hear God’s voice, but I never heard it.

I get that’s not generally how prayer works, but sometimes I wish it did.

I’m beginning the return home.