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Want to learn a new skill?  How about this prompt?

Want to learn a new skill?  How about this prompt?

How to Make ChatGPT Teach You Any Skill:
” Act as an expert tutor who helps me master any topic through an interactive, interview-style course. The process must be recursive and personalized.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Ask me for a topic I want to learn.

2. Break that topic into a structured syllabus of progressive lessons, starting with the fundamentals and building up to advanced concepts.

3. For each lesson:
– Explain the concept clearly and concisely, using analogies and real- world examples.
– Ask me socratic-style questions to assess and deepen my understanding.
– Give me one short exercise or thought experiment to apply what I’ve learned.
– Ask if I’m ready to move on or if I need clarification.
– If I say yes, move to the next concept.
– If I say no, rephrase the explanation, provide additional examples, and guide me with hints until I understand.

4. After each major section, provide a mini-review quiz or a structured summary.

5. Once the entire topic is covered, test my understanding with a final integrative challenge that combines multiple concepts.

6.Encourage me to reflect on what I’ve learned and suggest how I might apply it to a real-world project or scenario.

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A Technology Parable

A new client came to YCL for marketing support. The tax preparation company was a little over a year old.

First, the website! The hub of all marketing efforts. The client uses a proprietary site built for people in her specific industry. They offer industry-related tools. They offer a high level of security which is certainly needed. In this case, a proprietary site is her best option. Creating a WordPress site would be too costly with all of the special features.

The site did need some work to expand the content. The two of us went over the site page by page. I suggested some changes and new content as a non-industry person to help her explain what she does to prospects. The updates were done in November well before the start of tax season. As referrals started coming and leads came in from her marketing, the site was ready to convert prospects to clients. And it was ready to be a big resource for clients.

Managing Tasks – Every client is different and has different requirements. Some clients need tax extensions. So she needed a way to keep track of all the various tasks for all the tax filings. I suggested ToDoIst. It’s an online software that is cost-effective and user friendly. She started using it in December to learn the in’s and out’s. Over the course of the next few months when her business more than doubled from the previous year, she was able to juggle all of the balls in the air!

We used email marketing to remind past clients of how knowledgeable she is so they would return for this year’s tax filing. The same messages convinced prospects that she was the right person to work with. We used the email articles as social media posts and blog posts too. One effort was used three ways! That’s time efficient! We started the eNewsletter in December also. It takes seven “touches” on average to turn a prospect into a client. We used the emails as touches to move the prospects through the sales funnel.

The Moral of this Story

By building her technology and marketing foundation before the season started, this tax preparer was able to more than double her business and focus on doing what she does best – tax returns – while her marketing engine continued to drive the clients to her. And she didn’t have to burn the midnight oil even once!

Call or email today so we can get started on making the best plan for your business!

Contact our technology-prepared tax expert at:

DeeAnne McClenahan

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Transactional emails

“Transactional emails have 8x more opens and clicks than any other type of email and can generate 6x more revenue.” Experian What is a transactional email? A message sent to an individual in response to a specific action they took. Amazon’s order confirmation emails. Google’s sign-in alerts. Should you be sending transactional emails to your clients to build your busines? Read this article for ideas and best practices.

 

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Surviving the Scam Surge

Yes, you are getting hit with more spam emails and calls — and now spam texts — than at any point in the history of these devices. These messages are frequently dangerous! They often try to steal your data, identity and/or money — and the crooks are getting better and better.
 
Here with some tips from security experts on how to protect yourself:
 
Simply do not answer calls or respond to texts from numbers you don’t recognize. If it’s a legitimate call/text, they’ll leave a message and you can call right back. Even if the area code indicates the number is local, don’t answer.
 
Likewise, don’t respond to emails from people you don’t recognize. That’s the easiest way for the spammer to verify your email so they can share it with their buddies and hit you with more junk mail. Just delete the message.
 
Only report as spam if you recognize the sender. For example, if I suddenly get an email from ABC manufacturing and I am sure I didn’t sign up to get their emails, I would report it as spam. I would know they grabbed my email from a membership list somewhere.
 
Don’t have your actual email show on your website. Instead of Pamela@YourComputerLady.com put “Email Pamela” and make the words a link to the email address. The link opens an email on the visitor’s computer so they can easily email you. But it’s harder for a spammer to grab the link. They’re too lazy to make the extra step.
 
Verify everything. If you get what looks like a request for information or a bill from a government office or retailer, call that agency or company to verify that it’s real. Scammers try to hit your hot buttons to suck you in. Offers to pay off your student loans or telling you there’s an issue with your online shopping order.
 
Pay attention even to emails from people you know. I recently received an email from a client. But the subject line was odd and the attachment was a file type she typically wouldn’t send me. Sure enough, when I texted to confirm it was legit, she told me her email had been hacked.
 
I absolutely, with no reservation, promise you Dell, Microsoft, Apple – hardware and software retailers of that level – will never call you to tell you there is a problem with their computer or with their software. Hang up!
 
Never click a link in a text from a number you don’t know.
 
Don’t even respond if you get a robocall that tells you to press a certain key on your phone to stop getting calls. Getting you to click on something is one of the quickest ways for scammers to get your personal information or at least verify that what they have is correct.
 
You can quickly forward spam text messages to 7726 to report them.
 
Put your landlines and cell phones on the FTC’s Do Not Call list to avoid telemarketers. Or better yet, do not answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
 
Want more info? Here are some guides on avoiding spam calls and texts and emails.
          FCC article
          FTC article
          Wikihow
 
Source Data: Robokiller. Chart: Baidi Wang/Axios.

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Why email deliverability matters

So much effort goes into crafting the perfect email for your customers or supporters.

But then someone tells you they didn’t receive your email. You check your email reporting and see that only 2 out of 5 people opened your email. Click here to keep reading about email deliverability. 

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Use Social Media to Recognize Employee Loyalty

“In today’s competitive job market, retaining your best and most experienced employees is the ultimate competitive advantage. A loyal, seasoned team is the engine of your company’s success, and showing them your genuine appreciation is one of the most important investments a leader can make. For years, this recognition has happened behind closed doors—a bonus in a paycheck, a quiet word of thanks in a meeting.

But in today’s digital world, that recognition doesn’t have to be limited to a private email. Your company’s social media channels are an incredibly powerful platform for celebrating your team and showcasing your positive company culture. A formal, structured program to recognize employee loyalty is the foundation, but the public celebration of those achievements is what can truly amplify the effect. It’s a way to make your team members feel like rock stars, and it’s also a powerful marketing tool.”

Click here to continue reading.

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Holiday Marketing

Need some inspiration for your holiday marketing? Here’s a list of 10 ideas. You can also call Your Computer Lady for a planning session. We’ll update your Marketing Calendar and maximize your content use. 

Click here to learn more!

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Digital Detox

Here is an excellent article for yourself, friends and family explaining the dangers of being addicted to your technology. There are also good suggestions of how to detox!

Click here to read more. 

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The Human Touch Behind AI

“Artificial intelligence has changed the way businesses approach marketing. But at Changescape Web, founder Ken Tucker believes the goal isn’t to automate everything—it’s to amplify the human connection that drives real results.

For two decades, Tucker has helped small businesses grow through data-driven strategies and repeatable marketing systems. Today, his agency stands at the forefront of AI adoption, proving that the smartest automation is the one that feels most human.”

Click here to continue reading.

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Content To Differentiate Your Business

There are no silver bullets for marketing. Success requires quality content and consistent action. Read this article from Social Media Examiner’s founder, Michael Stelzner, about how content can set you apart – and above – your competition. Click here to read more. 

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