Brave Enough To Be Bliss

Following is an email exchange with an individual I had previously hired to help with my employer's website. I had no problem working with her professionally, but it felt different when I hired her to work on my personal website. Even though it was the same person, it was more challenging than dealing with someone on an exclusively professional basis. The following email exchange was an important one because it was an example of something that was difficult for me to do at the time. Instead of agreeing with someone to avoid potential conflict, I stood up for what I knew was right for me. You will see the term SEO referenced, which is the acronym for Search Engine Optimization. I hired her to improve my website's visibility in search engines, like Google, when people are searching for something related to my content. On Sun, Oct 23, 2022, 10:28 AM Ginger Bliss wrote: Thank you for calling last week to review your work on my personal site. I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your kind feedback and your willingness to share your knowledge with me. I am grateful for that. I think when I heard you say that you had changed some words, that threw me off. As you can tell from what you likely read on the site, words are important to me and especially the words I have on the site right now as I introduce myself and my message. My desire to write this book isn't to sell any particular number of books, it is to touch people's hearts and souls, to encourage them to self-reflect and find their own answers, not to tell them my answers are right for them. The entire effort will be worthwhile if I can give hope to even one person. I understand the words in my book will be edited. I may end up self-publishing, but it just isn't my biggest concern right now. Getting all my words, my thoughts recorded is my highest priority. Letting people know I'm writing a book helps me with ensuring I don't give up on myself because I've put it out there. But I don't have a particular self-imposed deadline because the story is still unfolding. I will know when it is complete, but this is soul inspired, not something that I have a hard deadline for. My words come to me as they come to me, and I won't put them down unless they are heart and soul inspired. This may be very different from your experience or your experiences with others, but this is my experience, and I have to do what is right for me. I removed the words self-empowerment because they aren't right for me even if they would help with SEO. In the future, if you have a suggestion of an additional word(s) you think would help with SEO, please let me know your suggestions and I can let you know if I am comfortable with them or not. Or if that's just not how you can work with a client, I completely understand and will still enjoy working with you on my employer’s site. Whatever you decide, I am very grateful for your willingness and kind offer of assistance. I understand and I apologize self-empowerment was not a good choice. How about words like: Author, Self-improvement, Self confidence. Will any of these work for you? If so, we will need to add them in the text on the home page, then I can go in and do the SEO part again. Let me know what you think. Thanks again, and please know I'm truly sorry if I offended you. That was not my intention at all. I look forward to following your writings. On Oct 24, 2022 at 9:50 AM Ginger Bliss wrote: I wasn't offended at all; it just wasn't quite the right word for me. I don't understand SEO which, of course, is why I hired the expert, you! I do know everything you do is to try to help me and the sites I work with, so please know I just don't know enough to be able to say ahead of time, let me know if you need more key words and we can come up with something that feels comfortable. I like your suggestions and worked them into the copy below...see what you think? I invite you to subscribe to my blog and return here to explore expanding content and resources as I enhance this website in coming months while finalizing the book that will share my whole story, Brave Enough to be Bliss . Being able to refer to myself as a budding author still feels strange, but as I have learned strategies and embraced tools for self-improvement, my self-confidence has increased to the point where I can at least say it without too much hesitancy. And the more I do say it, the more natural it seems...just like everything I've learned. It was baby steps for me at first, there were points at which I felt like I took steps backwards, but then I reached a point where I could see not only a glimmer of hope, but I could see how when I let my light shine, others not only see it, but they feel it. I am hoping that by vulnerably sharing my experiences and perspective something may resonate with you and inspire you to look within. We can learn something from everyone we encounter if we have an open mind, truly listen to understand another's perspective, and ask clarifying questions rather than making up the answers. On Oct 24, 2022 at 7:13 AM Becky wrote: Good morning, Ginger.

On Oct 24, 2022 at 1:39 PM Becky wrote: Ginger, This is beautiful!

On Oct 24, 2022 at 2:03 PM Ginger Bliss wrote: Thank you and thank you for your help! Those were the right words, and I felt even better about the whole paragraph after I wrote it and knowing it will help with SEO too is an added bonus. Appreciate your help so much!

I never would have been able to say I didn't feel good about the word self-empowerment a few years ago...I would not have been uncomfortable with it, but I wouldn't have been able to tell you for fear of hurting your feelings, making you mad where you wouldn't

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