You have a blog for your business. Great! Has anyone read it? Does anyone (other than your mom) know it exists?
Maybe you do get traffic, but the comments look like the message at the end of that childhood telephone game – garbled beyond recognition. And all the so-called authors have linked back to some sort of spammy site.
Generating targeted traffic to your website is a crucial component of online success. But who has the time? Or the budget?

As a small business owner do you feel alone? Frustrated? Wishing for a regular 9 to 5 job (horror!) simply to enjoy some water cooler talk?
Perhaps you dream of your own, super successful, online tribe. I’ve always wondered if those exclusive, VIP, secret entrance, James Bond-esque clubs exist. Do I need a single use drop box to join?
*Ahem*
Back to business.
Water cooler discussions, and their online equivalents, continue to exist because they serve a purpose. They build community. Managed properly that community can be an asset.
Be warned – mismanaged, bloated, or neglected communities can become business quicksand.

Remember those old episodes of Scooby Doo where the villain would be unmasked at the end?
The sweet old grandma was really a dirty rotten scoundrel. Ghosts were actually people and dirty rotten scoundrels. Monsters were actually people and dirty rotten scoundrels. All unmasked by Scooby and the gang before they could do any permanent harm.
I’ve had some fantastic mentors in my career. They’ve helped me get to the next level, heck the next five levels. I’m thankful to all past, present and future mentors for their insights and encouragement.
Sadly, I’ve also had a couple mentors who were really just wearing masks. The problem was that I couldn’t see the masks for a long time. My business, my vision, and even my self-confidence paid the price.
Read on for the cliff notes version of my lessons learned – Scooby snacks sold separately.
Do you think your email list is a cash cow?
Do you believe if you get enough people on your list the money will just roll in?
Are you convinced a certain template will magically convert droves of subscribers?
The harsh reality is that you can’t paint by the numbers and hope to get a Picasso. You might get a nice picture of dogs playing cards, but is that really what you want? If profiting from email was really that simple wouldn’t we all be rich?
This post is part of the June Word Carnival. The topic is The Care and Feeding of Your Email List. Click the link to get a variety of perspectives from an amazing group of small business experts.

Would you buy a finance book from this person? Listen to her advice on pricing? Ask her to help with your cash flow issues?
If your answer was “Heck Yeah!” you’ve just made it past my velvet rope. Here’s your VIP pass and welcome drink.
Think you don’t need a velvet rope? Reflect for a minute on any well attended, high dollar event. There’s always a VIP entrance. If you really want to get into the event and desire the full experience you’ll pay for that VIP Pass. If the event was only a passing fancy you may wait in line, or you may just leave.
Embracing your quirks creates a profitable velvet rope. It intrigues and attracts people who desire your products and services. And they’re willing to pay.
Wondering who this is in the picture? Keep reading to find out.