photo courtesy of Pavel Tcholakov
I think you already know you should be writing morning pages; I doubt it is lack of knowledge that lets 750 words get between you and your best writing. I suspect for many of you it is more a matter of not having the right space or recognition of your efforts Continue reading
If you are looking for a web to do list, Workflowy will organize your brain. This free application allows you to store all your plans and projects in one enormous list. You can check tasks off as you accomplish them and then hide all completed tasks if you would like. Continue reading
Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement. Tammi Kibler has not tested the blog hosting to which this article links.
Over the last decade or so, the idea and practice of blogging has really taken off. Blogs can be used by anyone to talk about whatever they want; this could be about a particular subject or it could be more like an online diary.
Blogs aren’t just composed of the written word though, they can include images, videos, links and anything really that is linked to the topic. The public like writing them but they also like reading them, and pretty much all blogs allow the readers to leave comments which means they offer a more interactive experience.
At the beginning of this year, there were over 156 millions blogs in existence, so you can see just how big blogging is.
Blogging Tools
The demand for blogging has lead to a demand for blogging tools. There are a number you can use but WordPress, which is an open source blogging tool and publishing platform, has proved to be one of the most popular. It is powered by PHP and MySQL and can be customized into a Content Management System. It is such a good tool that it is used by over 13% of the 1 million biggest websites.
It is very simple to use and you can have it up and running in a matter of minutes – it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Even those who aren’t very computer literate can use it as it is so simple and has easy-to-follow instructions.
Choosing a Host
When you are using WordPress you need to find the best blog hosting that will support and help make sure you can get the most out of your blogging tools. WordPress requires the web hosting providers meet very high standards.
If you are looking for the best web host out there, the thing to do is to visit the WordPress site itself and see what they are recommending. They have years of experience and really know what works best for their tools. You will see that there are a lot of web hosts out there, so it can be tricky knowing which one to pick.
You can get a feel for what’s on offer by reading reviews online. It is advisable to get to grips with the web-hosting fundamentals, first with buying a domain and second with how to host that domain on a web server. From there you can create a popular and solid working website.
photo courtesy of schillergarcia
Just wondering.
Here’s my story.
I have largely ignored this blog for the past three months in favor of a huge project on another blog.
You see, I realized last fall that I was talking about writing all the time, but my words would have a lot more weight once I have actually made myself a lucrative empire. So, I set out to become an expert in a niche. I chose to write less about writing and more about quinoa and Twitter.
This effort at niche domination led to my recent investment of time, effort, and money in making something pretty that I believe will make me money someday.
Someday.
Milestones
Over the weekend I went to a wedding and I caught up with a cousin I hadn’t seen in years, though we are friends on Facebook. She asked how things are going and I explained that my son was laid off recently and I was feeling the pinch and second guessing my writing career.
She said, “do what you love and the money will follow.”
I said I wanted to believe that was true, but right now my faith was asking to see a little more money.
I heard her words again as I looked at my Google Analytics for this blog. One post consistently gets the most hits: Writing Goals – I’ll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours. I saw it is now a year old, so I decided to revisit the post.
Although I haven’t done everything I had hoped to back then, I can see that my skills have improved dramatically in a year’s time. I’m doing some things better and faster than before; others I’ve learned to outsource.
Always though, there is this nagging worry that perhaps I am wasting my time.
Check in the Mail
After the analytics, I opened my email and I found a request to place an advertisement on this, my writing blog. This request was completely unsolicited and for a site I have ignored for several months.
You will see that advertorial in my next post.
Perhaps you will think I am a sell out. I prefer to think I got an affirmation that I am on track and my writing career is evolving as it should.
I will post the ad tomorrow, and you can weigh in with your opinion. I would love to hear what you think whether you are for or against the ad.
After that I will run a series of posts sharing all the wonderful things I have been doing on my quinoa blog. I will share the ups and downs and mistakes you won’t ever have to make because I made them and warned you. 
Thanks for stopping by and reading this post. If you are new here and like what you read, please subscribe to the RSS or email feed so you will be notified of new posts (you want to see the ad, don’t you?)
Have you written a book proposal? I have been working on one for several months.
You might wonder why bother with a book proposal? I know I do some days, especially given the bleak forecasts for print publications. In a world where one can write an e-book and put it up for sale in the a fraction of the time I’m taking on this proposal, why bother writing a non-fiction book proposal at all?
1. You might get paid in advance to write the book if you land a publishing contract.
That is probably the most compelling reason, eh? Money in your bank account while you are writing makes the effort of writing a book less grueling. Money shuts up all the naysayers too (even the one in your head if you’ll just believe your writing contract proves your words are good enough).
2. Your detailed outline will save you time and keep you from wandering when you write the book.
Once you accept an advance, the clock starts ticking. Fortunately, your non-fiction book proposal contains an outline that will lead you step-by-step through your project. You can even skip around and work on different chapters if this suits your style. As long as your outline contains every step and you complete each one, you can be sure you will hit all necessary points in order.
3. Your market research will save you from investing too much time and energy on a project with limited potential.
While researching, you will find the information that helps you sell your project to others. You will also focus your work so it fills a need in the marketplace. Perhaps most importantly, if there isn’t enough interest or market potential, your proposal research will reveal this before you have wasted your efforts writing a book that will not sell.
4. Your platform will show you where your strengths and weaknesses lie and help you plan a promotion strategy within your comfort level.
Writing is only half of the work involved in selling a book these days. Outside of the writing, what do you plan to do to make your book a bestseller? Some authors think they can simply write the book and then worry about marketing later, but you can never start building an online presence too soon. With your book proposal’s platform plan in hand you can make sure your marketing strategy supports your writing and grows alongside the book.
5. An editor can influence the book before it is written, making the project more salable.
This may sound like the least sexy reason you should write a non-fiction book proposal, but no matter what you know about your subject, an editor knows a great deal about selling books. A good editor will make suggestions that improve your book and its marketability. At any rate, the fact that the book is not yet written and therefore able to be influenced in advance makes it more attractive to an editor.
Even if the first publisher passes on your book proposal, you will still have two choices:
Proceed with an e-book if you think your idea has merit. You will already have sales page information and headlines from the marketing section of your proposal that you can use to promote your book.
OR
Target the book proposal to another publisher. Give it a slant that fits the new house and refine it so it is even more perfect than the first one. After sending it off, you can start working on another book proposal altogether. Keep circulating ideas until you find a proposal that sells.
What do you think? Have you written a non-fiction book proposal?
If you are new here and like what you read, please subscribe to the RSS or email feed so you will be notified of new posts.
This is a guest post by Connor Sephton. Photo courtesy of ludymilalouise.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world in the article writing and copywriting industries. There are so many different individuals and businesses who all aim to promise prospective clients that they’re the best. Their unique selling points could be the price they charge per word or their keyword research, but I’m telling you – the proof really is in the finished product.
If you want to add the ‘wow’ factor to the writing service you offer, there are five tips which are essential to your success. Follow them carefully, and you will impress them with ease – increasing the chance of a repeat project and a consistent income.
You won’t be able to show clients how good a writer you are if you aren’t securing the jobs in the first place. By personalizing the proposals you send, and writing eloquently and passionately in the emails, tweets and instant messages you send prospective customers, you will impress from the start. There is nothing worse for a client than receiving automated emails, and it is likely they will go elsewhere. You need to use your persuasive powers to lure them in, otherwise how can you justify charging higher prices?
If you have been tasked with commissioning the titles, you need to make sure that the content you produce won’t be a carbon copy of the work on the websites of their rivals. To get the golden star and impress, create written copy that stands out from the crowd that they will be proud to upload onto their site.
As simple as it sounds, many writers don’t follow the brief that they are given by their client. This results in delays, confusion, complaints and eventual rewrites being requested. By investing a little time to read through their requirements, you will be sure to get it right the first time – motivating them to use you again because of your efficiency and reliability.
Indeed, one of the reasons why an assignment may not be followed properly is because you may not understand clearly what the brief is asking you.
If this is the case, just ask for clarification!
As surprising as it may be, many clients are impressed if you hit them up on Skype, ring them during business hours, or drop them an email with your questions. It shows you are attentive, value attention to detail, and have a strong intent on getting things right.
As an expert in the world of written content, you will have an insight into how to communicate effectively that your client may not – particularly if their background is in a niche that is miles away from the world of copywriting. If you believe that there are one or two additions that can be made to the brief to increase the impact it has on readers, don’t be afraid to make the suggestions to your client. They might be appreciative of the output!
By utilizing these top tips, you will gain a great reputation, and you will soon create unique selling points and other habits that can give your customer service an esteemed stature. Good luck!
Connor Sephton is an entrepreneur in the written content industry, and he writes hundreds of articles per month for leading international businesses. His latest client is You Love Coupons, where written content can be enhanced with a iContact promo code or a IX web hosting promo code to boost the marketing potential of any business.
I just noticed something interesting on my Google results page. I had searched weather to find out the temperature outside (because who needs a thermometer if they have a PC, right?) I scrolled down to the bottom of the page and I saw the social results beta entry you see below:
On the top page of the Google results I saw a tweet from someone I follow on Twitter.
The first thing I thought was What a nice sentiment to send to those whom Old Man Winter seems bent on discouraging completely. Thanks @MyAgenda!
Then I realized I do not usually look down to the bottom of the page, so I do not see these results. What a shame, because on some searches these results would be very useful to quickly find out what my community – across multiple platforms like Blogger, Twitter, etc – is saying about a topic all at once.
Weather? Not so much. When I search weather I am not looking for discussion, I just want to know the temperature and when it will start/stop snowing.
When news breaks that affects my interests, however, these results could filter through all the world’s reactions to show me those reactions most significant to me across several platforms simultaneously.
So, here are my questions to you:
1. Are you seeing these social results on your Google searches?
2. Do you think social results are or could be useful to you?
3. Will you change your search habits to scroll down and see these results?
4. Does it alarm you that Google search shows you what it thinks you want to see?
I look forward to your reactions in the comments.
If you are new here and like what you read, please subscribe to the RSS or email feed so you will be notified of new posts.
photo courtesy of Mr. Wilson
When you get on Twitter, you’ll notice a lot of noise. Especially at the beginning, when you don’t yet have the credibility to get quality tweeps to return your follows, you find Twitter full of internet marketers shouting about how to
yadda, yadda, yadda.
It’s so bad that many have devised elaborate gate keeping strategies to limit the number of spammers they follow back.
Follow me, then @me, and I will follow you back if you’re not spam.
The problem is: not everyone agrees what constitutes Twitter spam.
Given that so few of us agree on what spam is in the first place, Twitter is hard pressed to eliminate it. However, you can take some simple steps to reduce the adverse effects of spam on your Twitter experience.
When people complain to me about Twitter spammers, I usually find they feel harassed by the volume of notification emails they get from Twitter each day. I was frustrated myself when I received 10-20 emails each day and 75% of those turned out to be internet marketers I didn’t care to follow.
If you make a commitment to check your Twitter account each day, you can turn off those annoying email notifications. This won’t actually reduce the number of spammers who follow you, but at least they won’t clog your email inbox and distract you.
Pay attention to whom you follow and make sure you want to read their tweets. When your Twitter timeline is full of spam, you have only yourself to blame. You choose who is in your stream.
Just unfollow anyone who looks like spam to you and build a stream you enjoy reading.
Sometimes you will find the same person keeps following and unfollowing you even though you don’t follow them back.
They may not even realize they are bothering you. You could show up as someone they don’t yet follow on a list, so they follow you. When you don’t follow back, they unfollow you, and then a week later you show up on another list, so they follow you again. And again. And again.
What can you do? Block them.
Problem solved. You will not see them anymore as a follower.
Mark spam carefully. Of course, nothing prevents you going out and marking every tweet you don’t like as spam, but it isn’t necessary and may interfere with Twitter’s ability to identify true spam.
For myself, I only mark as spam those who tweet me directly with a sales message on a subject for which I haven’t requested information. Whenever someone launches a new “writing jobs” scam scheme and starts tweeting @tammikibler about it, you can be sure I mark it as spam immediately.
I used to read every direct message (DM) I received on Twitter. I even used to send a direct message to every new follower I deemed worthy of following back. After awhile, my efforts seemed like a waste of time. Regardless of how hard I tried to create unique welcoming messages, I found many tweeps consider direct messages to be spam no matter what I said. Looking at the typical direct message in my inbox, I can understand why some feel that way. I now believe it is much easier to send public messages and not risk being misconstrued.
Still, many people find direct messages work well enough for their purposes on Twitter, so the practice of autofollowing and sending a welcome DM persists. If these messages upset you, ignore them. Save DMs for when you need to share private information like an email address, and keep the rest of your chatter public.
These strategies won’t eliminate all the spam on Twitter, but they will reduce your exposure to the noise and annoyance of Twitter spam and improve your overall experience.
If you are new here and like what you read, please subscribe to the RSS or email feed so you will be notified of new posts.
I have been answering questions asked regarding Twitter that did not quite fit in the scope of the Engaging Followers on Twitter webinar.
Jennifer Barry of Global Asset Strategist asked:
Tammi, my question is on automation. How much is too much? How can we balance our need to be productive on Twitter with the need to be genuine (instead of a robot)?
I think many of us struggle with this. I know I spend a lot of time as @keenonquinoa proving to people I am not a robot, but I must admit I find my stream also benefits from automation.
Some say you should never tweet via HootSuite or other apps that let you schedule your tweets, but my experience is that many more people will see and respond positively to my tweets if I schedule some of them for times I can’t be on Twitter.
I think automation is necessary as you scale up your presence on Twitter. Unless you choose to be anchored to a mobile device 24 hours a day, you won’t be able to communicate outside your time zone the way Twitter allows without using automation tools.
HootSuite
For example, I use HootSuite to schedule tweets so I can connect with tweeps all over the world. Some of my most active followers on my @keenonquinoa stream live in Australia and might not see my tweets if I didn’t send them in the middle of my night.
Tweet Old Post
I also find it valuable to retweet evergreen blog posts from time to time so new followers will get a look at information sent in the past. Tweet Old Post is a WordPress plugin I am considering that will generate a steady flow of tweets (and traffic to my blog) when I am not on Twitter. If you have 400 new followers every month on Twitter and an archive of useful, evergreen blog posts, you may find your stream tolerates retweets of good information, no matter how old.
SocialOomph
If you tend to follow back most of those who follow you, SocialOomph will autofollow everyone who follows you and send a welcome DM if you wish. I do not autofollow and I do not read DMs, but many on Twitter claim success with this method of immediately acknowledging new followers.
In order to balance your Twitter automation, you will have to make authentic connections. When you respond to questions, whether asked directly to you or to the Twitterverse in general, you show you are engaged in the conversation.
Remember, most social conventions still apply when you are online.
Someday, when your following grows too large to allow you to answer every person individually, you will still find that answering a few people publicly reaffirms your authenticity in the eyes of all your followers.
Sharing personal information in small doses helps you to appear real and human to your audience and can help them feel connected to you. You can send a few tweets leading up to a life event like moving or someone’s graduation and you will fix yourself in reality in your followers’ minds.
Remember, this works in small doses.
And should never violate your brand.
Twitter Hashtag Chats
You can connect with many tweeps at once by hosting or attending a Twitter hashtag chat. If your topic creates interest with enough people, others will see the hashtag in their stream and join the chat. By letting your fans know when you will be available live to chat and how to follow along, you may accomplish in one hour what would have taken weeks of separate conversations.
In the end you will have to learn the balance of automation and authenticity that works best for your followers and your business. People have different tolerances for broadcast and conversation on Twitter, and these tolerances will vary depending on the broadcaster. For example, I follow some news streams that never engage in conversation because I like the information I get. Other news streams I won’t follow because I either don’t find the information valuable, or because it merely repeats news I get from other sources.
You will have to experiment a bit with your following in the beginning to find the mix that works best for you. Once you do find a balance and develop a consistent tweet strategy, you can trust that new followers who come on board and stay do so because they are comfortable with the balance of automation and authenticity you have built on Twitter.
If you are new here and like what you read, please subscribe to the RSS or email feed so you will be notified of new posts.
This week I am answering questions that didn’t fit in the scope of the Engaging Followers on Twitter webinar. If you haven’t signed up for this webinar, by all means, go here and get on the email list so I can include you in the webinar.
When Deborah Blake provided yesterday’s question about balancing Twitter with writing, she also asked about balancing personal and public selves.
I think each person has to set this too much information (TMI) on Twitter line for themselves. Your branding and the tolerance of your followers will teach you how personal your followers want your tweets to be.
In the beginning, err on the side of caution until you know what works for your followers.
Another thing to keep in mind – if you are reading your Twitter stream and not filtering it through lists, the people you follow will influence your comfort level with sharing. Be a little choosy about who you follow because over time you may start to think what you read is the standard Twitter fare.
If you think Twitter is 90% spam, try unfollowing the spammers and you’ll see you always had spam within your control. If you are shocked by what some people share, consider carefully whether you want to keep following them and risk becoming inured to their openness.
Here are some tips you can use when considering the amount of personal information you’ll share on Twitter.
I am leading with this because every list I have ever seen of 10 things you should never tweet includes what you are eating as a taboo subject.
I accept that some tweeps don’t want to read about food.
I could even be convinced that most tweeps don’t want my recipes or photos of my meals.
However, as @keenonquinoa, I have gathered 1500 followers who don’t mind if I tweet about eating quinoa all day and night.
With the @keenonquinoa persona, I connected with a virtual army of foodies interested in sharing every detail of the foods they eat. My engaged followers include men and women, food bloggers and chefs, housewives and fitness geeks. All are cheerfully tweeting away about food despite the warnings from social media gurus that this is TMI for Twitter.
On Twitter, there are no absolutes, and you need to understand your stream and the conversation it tolerates. (One exception – don’t tweet about blowing up airports.)
Often the problem with sharing too much personal information is that it becomes too much information in general for tweeps to remember about you. This dilutes your branding because people cannot easily form associations with your brand if you don’t remain consistent and focused. Besides, you should be able to connect with a lot of people interested in a tight cluster of your interests, but you will find it much harder to find those few tweeps who want to hear about all twenty of your favorite pastimes.
Settle on the subjects you plan to share when designing your brand, and then you can weigh each potential tweet against its relevance to your brand.
…unless your tweets are protected, of course.
For the rest of us, our tweets are out in the world and able to be searched by anyone with the interest and knowledge. Your public tweets are headed to the Library of Congress, and for all you know, your future biographer may cite your tweets someday.
If there is anyone you hope will not read a public tweet, it is probably wise not to send it. I expect that ten years from now, my kids will be able to search and find what I was saying about them today.
Having said all that, everyone on Twitter is looking to connect with real people, so when it makes sense with your branding to share a little of your personal life, go ahead and test it out. Even if you lose a few followers, the ones that remain will be more in tune with you.
I remember one day Darren Rowse (@problogger) tweeted from an emergency room in Australia where he was waiting for his son to be treated for asthma. Rowse didn’t make a big deal of it, just shared his frustration with being at the hospital instead of home in his bed.
Having been there myself long ago (in the emergency room with a child who can’t breathe at 3 am), for a few moments I felt like he and I had a connection, kind of like realizing your hero puts on his pants one leg at a time. Apparently, blogging success doesn’t prevent one from having challenging parenting moments.
However, if Rowse tweeted all day long about his son, I think his would be a different brand and he would have a different mix of followers.
In the end it comes down to the brand, the followers, and what those followers show you they want from you. Anything that doesn’t fit is TMI on Twitter.
What do you think? Is there a line on Twitter one shouldn’t cross? Do you share personal information or keep it all business?
If you are new here and like what you read, please subscribe to the RSS or email feed so you will be notified of new posts.
photo courtesy of