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	<title>Internet Marketing and Web Strategy Development in Grand Rapids, MI</title>
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	<link>http://mikejuly.com</link>
	<description>Official Blog of Mike July, Internet Marketing and Web Strategy Planner and Consultant in West Michigan</description>
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		<title>Is Working From Home a Deterrent to Credibility?</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2012/01/is-working-from-home-a-deterrent-to-credibility/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=is-working-from-home-a-deterrent-to-credibility</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2012/01/is-working-from-home-a-deterrent-to-credibility/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[confidence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credibility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home based business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[working from home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=815</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of my biggest concerns when I was first starting out was the fact that I really didn't have the capital or resources to go out and immediately open an office.  I had a decent base of people I'd done work for who were regularly sending referrals - so getting started from that standpoint wasn't an issue.  But I had serious doubts and reservations over the fact that I worked out of my home and the practice of meeting prospective clients at coffee shops and the like seemed like a deterrent to credibility. 

Turned out I was really, really wrong about this.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why I do Web Marketing for a Living</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2012/01/why-i-do-web-marketing-for-a-living/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=why-i-do-web-marketing-for-a-living</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2012/01/why-i-do-web-marketing-for-a-living/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:56:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[satisfaction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web presence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web strategy development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=825</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the things I am asked the most is how I got into this line of work.  While most of the story is illustrated on my 'about' page, one of the things I don't really get to talk about is why I do web marketing for a living.

I began working independently about two years ago, when I saw the opportunities that were out there to help a variety of small business that clearly needed assistance with their web presence but weren't necessarily in a position to invest thousands of dollars in the services of an agency.  Since then, I've had the privilege of working with owners of local restaurants, auto repair shops, a wedding dress designer, medical professionals, several PR and Social Media people, various e-commerce site owners, a manufacturer of custom electrical components, and too many others to list. ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Goals for 2012 (and Beyond)</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2012/01/goals-for-2012-and-beyond/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=goals-for-2012-and-beyond</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2012/01/goals-for-2012-and-beyond/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:12:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=813</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, it's that time of year again.  Once more, we've reached the point in the calendar where we forgive ourselves for our shortcomings and transgressions of the past 12 months and vow to be better.  The reset button has officially been pressed on 2011, and here we stand with a fresh start to accomplish the tasks that were forsaken in the recent past.

It's easy to look at January 1st and think of it as a new beginning.  We make 'resolutions'.  We tell ourselves this year is going to be different.  This is going to be our year.  We are going to eat better, exercise more, quit smoking, save money, etc.  Well, I am no exception - although I don't buy into the whole 'resolutions' point of self-delusion.  I think that in order to better ourselves, whether it is personal, financial or professional prosperity we seek, we need to focus on the goals and work backward. Focusing on the tactic without identifying the goal - whether in business or in life - is a surefire path to failure.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Reflections on 10 Years as a Parent Part 1</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/12/reflections-on-10-years-as-a-parent-part-1/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=reflections-on-10-years-as-a-parent-part-1</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/12/reflections-on-10-years-as-a-parent-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:28:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[10 years as a parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=796</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I still remember the day I learned for the first time that there was a bun in the oven.

I was a 22-year-old kid working a full time gig in an automotive repair shop as a service writer.  Life wasn't really moving at a snail's pace - I had plenty of responsibility with a full-time job and car payments and a serious girlfriend all that jazz.  That said, life wasn't exactly progressing, either.  That all changed in an instant.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikejuly.com/2011/12/reflections-on-10-years-as-a-parent-part-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Decide What it is that You Want to do</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/11/decide-what-it-is-that-you-want-to-do/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=decide-what-it-is-that-you-want-to-do</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/11/decide-what-it-is-that-you-want-to-do/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=554</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're like me, you probably have a million ideas about the direction you want to take your business.  The biggest challenge?  Choosing a path and getting the show on the road.

In the past couple of years I've started writing several ebooks, taken on client work for a wide variety of different entrepreneurs, explored several different partnership opportunities and countless other endeavors that attained some degree of completion.  The problem is that spreading yourself that thin can turn into a jack-of-all-trades-and-master-of-none type of trap.  I've learned through experience that you are better off picking a direction and going with it, making corrections along the way.  You can always abandon ship if that turns out to be the best course of action; but focusing your efforts on one particular area instead of trying to be all things to all people is a much better use of your energy.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Choose an SEO Firm or Freelancer</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/08/how-to-choose-an-seo-firm-or-freelancer/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-to-choose-an-seo-firm-or-freelancer</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/08/how-to-choose-an-seo-firm-or-freelancer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Web Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[google]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[search engine optimization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[search engines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=773</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While this is definitely something that can be undertaken in-house, you may not be inclined to try to tackle these tasks on your own.  That is certainly understandable and if you've decided to hire an SEO firm or freelancer, here are a few guidelines to help you make a good decision on whom you choose to do business with. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikejuly.com/2011/08/how-to-choose-an-seo-firm-or-freelancer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Negotiate the Price of a Used Car</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/08/how-to-negotiate-the-price-of-a-used-car/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-to-negotiate-the-price-of-a-used-car</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/08/how-to-negotiate-the-price-of-a-used-car/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:50:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to negotiate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[used cars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=748</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How to negotiate the price of the vehicle.

(See Part One of this two-part series, titled Used Car Buying Guide.)

The reason this tip appears as it's own blog post is that hopefully by now after having read the first part of this series, this should all paint a picture of preparation.  You should walk into the dealership armed with a lot of information and have a pretty solid idea of exactly what you want and how much you can pay for it.  You may still have to test drive a few different cars to find one that suits you perfectly, but you should never be going in blind.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikejuly.com/2011/08/how-to-negotiate-the-price-of-a-used-car/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Used Car Buying Guide</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/07/used-car-buying-guide/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=used-car-buying-guide</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/07/used-car-buying-guide/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:02:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[negotiating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[used cars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=744</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're like me, the prospect of replacing a car sounds like a pretty exciting undertaking.  You only get to do it every few years, you get to test drive all sorts of different makes and models, and in the end, you hopefully wind up with a car that both suits your needs and is fun to drive.  However, once you've gone through the process a time or three, it seems like more of a chore than anything else.  Having just recently gone through the process once again, I've decided to put together a guide to hopefully help you secure the best deal, as painlessly as possible.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikejuly.com/2011/07/used-car-buying-guide/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Focus On The Things You Can Control</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/05/focus-on-the-things-you-can-control/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=focus-on-the-things-you-can-control</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/05/focus-on-the-things-you-can-control/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 18:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Web Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black hat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web presence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[white hat]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=705</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Twice in the past month I've had long conversations with clients about their concerns for the activities of certain competitors.  Specifically, they were worried about the fact that some of the sites who are trying to compete in the same online space are engaging in some unscrupulous SEO and other marketing tactics, such as purchasing links and redirecting blind links from PPC campaigns.

These activities cause concern because I always preach the importance of 'white-hat' marketing tactics, with integrity being paramount.  There are shortcuts that can be taken in order to potentially achieve favorable search engine rankings faster, and there is a degree of 'success' than can be had going this route.  But the reality is that 'black-hat' SEO activities have a major downside.  If you get caught - and the probability of getting caught is substantial - you run the risk of being blacklisted by Google and other search engines.  Getting de-indexed is about the worst thing that can happen to your site if you are relying on search engine traffic as the main traffic source for your business.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikejuly.com/2011/05/focus-on-the-things-you-can-control/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Gets Measured Gets Managed</title>
		<link>http://mikejuly.com/2011/03/what-gets-measured-gets-managed/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=what-gets-measured-gets-managed</link>
		<comments>http://mikejuly.com/2011/03/what-gets-measured-gets-managed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:53:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike July</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[analytics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four hour body]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four hour workweek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tim ferriss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikejuly.com/?p=678</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the recurring themes in the book is the concept that what gets measured, gets managed.  The premise is that simple awareness of a particular metric is enough to make change happen.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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