Advertising For Success

SSOR - Stop Stealing Our Rights!

2012-01-17T18:18:00.000-06:00

If tyranny and oppression come to this land,

it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.

James Madison

Losing the Freedom of the Internet

The Congress and the House of Representatives have come up two separate bills to further curtail our freedoms. I guess it is just too hard for the poor peeps to tackle something important, like sending jobs overseas, corruption on capitol hill, the environmental dangers posed by fracking and the XL pipeline, climate change, the disappearing middle class, etc.

Oh, but they have time to write the bills that will take away the few pleasures left to the public that is struggling to work, live and pay taxes.

Congress is about to pass Internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed to it. We need to kill the bills - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.

S.968 - PROTECT IP Act of 2011

PIPA - Establishes process by which a website is taken down because the Justice Department (DoJ) says the site is conducting infringing activities. The DoJ or the copyright owner would begin legal action and the DoJ could demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site.This could all be done without anyone being heard by a judge.

Stop Protect IP Adresses (PIPA) - Read the bill here.

H.R.3261 - Stop Online Piracy Act

SOPA - Basically the same as PIPA, with some additions: . . . against any site they deem to have "only limited purpose or use other than infringement," . . . It would also make unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison. This bill combines two separate Senate bills -- S.968 and S.978.

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) - Read the bill here.

People are saying these bills will break the Internet. In protest many of the large websites, like Wikipedia are "blacking out" their websites tomorrow 1/18. I have decided I will add this post to all my blogs as a public service announcement,

Click the infographic below to take action.

Do it today.

MLK: We are Approaching Social Doom

2012-01-15T18:31:00.000-06:00

Over 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and this nation lost one of the greatest leaders for peace and non-violence since Gandhi. We do not celebrate his death today, but rather his life.

Reverend King's words still resonate with reason decades later; they still inspire new generations of folks to action.

~~~~~~~~~~ Words to Live By ~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The time is always right to do what is right."

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood c an never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God bless you, Reverend King. I am glad you lived, even for such a short time during my lifetime. I wish your journey could have lasted much longer. I wish you were alive today to guide our nation and our people. We need you and your wisdom, especially your thoughts on war.

Most Useful Posts of 2011

2012-01-06T17:53:00.000-06:00

Who's Blogging What has put together a list of posts from 2011 that their readers found to be the most useful. There are posts for Social Media, Search Marketing, User Experience, Email Marketing and Web Analytics.

Here are a few random choices of mine, sort of a preview of the posts on the Social Media tab.

To see the complete lists of posts and bookmark the page for future reference, click this link: The most useful posts of 2011 (Who's Blogging What).

Free eBook on Driving Traffic, Leads and Sales

2012-01-02T22:20:00.002-06:00

44 percent of marketers say engaging visitors and capturing leads is their biggest challenge. One major component of marketing is the website.

Learn the top principles for increasing quality traffic and leads by downloading a guide from HubSpot, 25 Website Must-Haves for Driving Traffic, Leads & Sales.

This 52-page ebook gives you access to:

Essential SEO advice to increase traffic
Important design tips to reduce bounce rates
Content creation ideas for engaging visitors
Best practices for converting traffic into leads

Free and useful information for marketers. Add it to your library.

Have it All or Get What You Need

2011-12-02T18:10:00.001-06:00

I read The Working Woman’s GPS, When the Plan to Have It All Has Led You Astray, by JJ DiGeronimo. GPS in this instance is short for Goals with a Sense of Purpose and Self (GPS).

JJ lived in the generation that developed the Have it All mindset. The battles for equal pay, equal treatment under the law, being valued as employee versus a “girl” had been waged and won.

Ms. DiGeronimo learned through cultural experiences, advertising, society, as well as through interacting with other women and men, that she could have it all. She could have a challenging career, flawless husband, picture-perfect life; quality spare time for self, friends, community, philanthropy, hobbies and, of course, children. Whew!

Like most women, JJ did everything perfectly, for a while. Then she realized she was exhausted, over-committed and her life had become a tangled web of strings, with each string becoming a drain on her energy and time. In short, there was no joy in JJ’s life.

The path she followed on her journey from have it all to get what you need is detailed in her book. JJ DiGeronimo developed a personal inventory that facilitates placing your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors into categories. For each person, answer how they make you feel, if the person gives you energy or drains you. More importantly, does this person support you? At the end of the inventory, you know who is behind you 100% and who is a good time friend. Next, JJ looked at assets and resources. Assets are what you bring to the table and resources are whom you know. One more inventory clarified feelings, commitments and risks that are present in everyday life.

JJwent to other woman and listened to their stories. The inclusion of these women and their lives changed the book from a tangled web of strings to a tapestry of great beauty and utility. Find the support you need and add your threads to the tapestry at PurposefulWoman.com.

Build Mobile : Resources You Can Use

2011-11-29T22:22:00.000-06:00

I received the first edition of the BuildMobile newsletter today. This newsletter is from the SitePoint Network of sites, which includes PHPMaster.com, DesignFestival.com, RubySource.com and Cloudspring.com.

If you are trying to build a mobile website or convert an existing website to a moblog, you should subscribe to BuildModile. From tutorials to events, this will be a good resource for you. You may read the first BuildMobile newsletter on the web as well as sign up for the newsletter.

Remember . . .

2011-11-11T06:05:00.001-06:00

Veteran’s Day was set aside to thank and honor living veterans who serve or have served honorably in the military, in peace or in war. We also remember the fallen.

On Veterans Day, special services take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, November 11, 2011, remember all veterans of all conflicts, whether standing proudly in your community, serving overseas in the Middle East, lying in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, in the Fields of Flanders or inscribed in the Wall in Washington.

God Bless You. Thank You.
We Will Remember …

Veteran's Day - A Reason I Blog for Peace - Dona Nobis Pacem

Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace)

2011-11-03T04:54:00.001-05:00

November 4, 2011 is Blog Blast for Peace

You will see many peace globes (below) on many blogs today. Stop and read what your fellow bloggers are saying. Leave a comment or share the post with friends. Join us if you want PEACE in your lifetime.

Peace is thoroughly dominant, it becomes an inner experience with unlimited possibilities. Only when this really happens – when the spirit of peace awakens and takes possession of men’s hearts, can humanity be saved from perishing. ~Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), Alsatian physician and 1952 Nobel Peace Laureate

BlogBlast For Peace 2011 ~ What It Is - click this link to find out

November 4, 2011
Bloggers from all across the globe
will blog for peace.

We will speak with one voice.
on one subject
on one day

Please visit with peacebloggers on FaceBook, Twitter, Mimi Writes and many of sites around the world. See all my peace globes on 11/4/11..

In The Market for Premium Websites?

2011-11-02T00:55:00.001-05:00

This post brought to you by Rouper. All opinions are 100% mine.

Marketing Your Website

I have a website that has been in operation since 2003. I have thought about selling it, but it is hard to determine market value and I do not know exactly how to handle the transaction. I also received offers for another website that I did not take seriously. I have seen websites for sale on auction and classified ad sites, so I know it must be difficult to sell your website.

Buying Websites

Looking around for help in selling a premium websites, I found Rouper.com. It is easy to use their website. You may search websites for sale by listing attributes, such as listing type (direct sale, auction) or price ("buy it now" option, reserve price) or by website attributes (traffic, ranking, age of domain, website age, net profit, gross sales, monetization methods and top level domain).

Selling Websites

Selling a website is almost as easy. First, you create a detailed description of your property, including the attributes discussed under Buying Websites. Next, you set a beginning price for private offers and a reserve price or a "buy it now" price for public bids. Of course, you are also responsible for keeping the website online during the auction

Fees

The basic fee for listing your website is $49. You may add listing embellishments if you wish to make your listing stand out. When the website sells, you will pay five percent of the sales price, sans taxes, as a success fee. The minimum success fee is $100. Alternately, you may pay a $499 success fee when you list your website. This is helpful if you think your website will sell for over $2000.

Coupon

If you want to sell your website, list the site before November 9, 2011 and use coupon FX7O0NP8. With the coupon, you may list your premium website for $1 and Rouper will also waive the success fee on any listings created using this coupon.

Which is Your Watch?

2011-10-31T03:17:00.002-05:00

Do you use a watch or your cell phone to get the time? I use a watch; my husband uses his cell phone. I happen to like watches. A watch was the first gadget I disassembled as a child. I think I was six; I did not get another watch until I was a teenager.

Usually, I buy a watch in the jewelry department of a discount store. The watches last about three months before the battery dies. If I want a laugh, I take that watch back to the discount store and ask for the replacement battery. The salesperson looks at me, dumbfounded, "you want to replace the battery in your $10 watch?" I quit doing this, as it is cruel.

So my stopped watches lie abandoned. As an eco-minded consumer, a drawer full of broken watches bothers me. I have heard that there are ladies watches that do not require batteries. So, I decided to do some research and see if I could find the watch for the rest of my life.

I found bluedial.com and spent an hour looking at watches and reading about different drives: quartz, atomic, automatic, hand-winding, kinetic, solar and eco-drive. Then I saw the skeleton display and I was six years old again. These watches show the movements on the face and back of case.

This will be the first watch in my life that I picked out because I wanted it and not because it was under $20. Now, I just have to convince my husband that this is an ideal gift for me this Christmas.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a special someone this holiday, take a look at bluedial.com. They have 1000s of watches, many payment options, manufacturer warranty and free two-day shipping.

Have a Happy Halloween

2011-10-28T00:16:00.000-05:00

Men say that in this midnight hour,
The disembodied have power
To wander as it liketh them,
By wizard oak and fairy stream.

William Motherwell

Free 101 Marketing Quotes eBook

2011-10-25T00:32:00.001-05:00

Maggie Georgieva, Inbound Marketing Manager for HubSpot has made available

101 Marketing Quotes (PDF) for a free download.

These 101 quotes have been collected from interviews, articles, best-selling books and conferences. Enjoy them and share them with co-workers and friends in need of some inspiration.

Download the Ebook Now

In this eBook you will find wisdom from:

* Chris Brogan

* Seth Godin

* Ann Handley

* Steve Garfield

=========================

This quote really resonated with me:

Before you create any more “great content,” figure out how you are going to market it first." Joe Pulizzi and New Barrett, authors of Get Content Get Customers

Download it and put it with the rest of your PDFs. One day soon, when you need some inspiration, use it.

Changes to Google Analytics

2011-10-05T17:58:00.000-05:00

SEO Reports in Google Analytics

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) reports in Google Analytics are now available. The reports are based on data from search queries that we found in Webmaster Tools.These reports are available in the Traffic Sources section of Google Analytics:

Queries: impressions, clicks, position, and CTR info for the top 1,000 daily queries
Landing Pages: impressions, clicks, position, and CTR info for the top 1,000 daily landing pages
Geographical Summary: impressions, clicks, and CTR by country

See post on Search Engine Land or Google Webmaster Central blog.

Google Analytics Premium

Google has also released a for-fee Google Analytics Premium for large clients. Below is a summary of what the premium version offers:

Extra processing power - increased data collection, more custom variables and downloadable, unsampled reports
Advanced analysis - attribution modeling tools that allow you to test different models for assigning credit to conversions
Service and support - experts to guide customized installation, and dedicated account management on call - all backed by 24/7 support
Guarantees - service level agreements for data collection, processing and reporting

Google Webmaster Tools

To enable these SEO reports for your blog or website, you must be a verified Webmaster Tools site owner and a Google Analytics administrator for your site. Once enabled, administrators can choose which profiles can see these reports.

While having the information on search queries in Google Analytics is important, you will still need to use the Webmaster Tools for information on inbound links, subscriber stats, and Googlebot crawler reports.

For more information, please see Webmaster Tools on your dashboard.

Blog Blast for Peace 2011

2011-10-02T23:41:00.000-05:00

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa (1910-1997), Yugoslav humanitarian and 1979 Nobel Peace Laureate

What started with one blogger and one blog in 2006 has traveled from blog to blog across the globe until it has reached 50 countries. BlogBlast for Peace is an annual blog event and is expanding each year. Join us this year. All the information you need in one place: http://tiny.cc/79nxg

Peace Globe from Prior Year

Please visit with peacebloggers on FaceBook, Twitter, Mimi Writes and many of sites around the world.

On 11/4, I will have a different peace globe on each of my blogs. Please visit.

Not all Heroes Walk on Two Legs

2011-09-11T00:58:00.000-05:00

September 11, 2001

After the World Trade Center Towers collapsed, the search and rescue dogs worked hard to find survivors. Some SAR dog dragged their handlers through wreckage and had to be physically restrained, which is unusual as these are highly trained animals. Without concern for their own safety, they continued to sniff and paw at the debris in hopes of finding someone alive.

Politics Ramping Up Again

2011-08-31T00:38:00.003-05:00

Read about Rick Perry's Less Than Stellar Career in Texas

It seems as if we just elected a President, yet here we go again. What a waste of time and money. One newcomer to the presidential contenders is Governor Rick Perry (Texas). He slid into a ten-year stint as governor when George W. Bush ran for POTUS. Now, he wants to be President.

While Governor, he has made quite a bit of money and indebted many people to him. He awarded Enterprise Funds and other capitol to supporters of his campaign. He managed to alienate most people in and out of Texas, including the President of the US. He also spent a lot of time making movies. So much, I think he might be able to act like a president.

Here are the movies in which he appeared.

2008 Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach (documentary)

2007 Planet Terror

2007 Death Proof

2005 The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

2005 Sin City

Morrow wants dirt on Perry

Now, we have a man (Perry) that is willing to play President. Many do not want him in that office. In particular, Robert Morrow (a Ron Paul supporter) placed a full-page ad in the Austin Chronicle asking that if anyone has dirt on Perry, please come forward.

I just love politics! Nothing but the issues! Fair play and statesmanship . . . someday?

ISPs Decide Privacy is an Outmoded Concept?!?

2011-08-09T23:28:00.000-05:00

MediaPost Publications ISPs Redirect Search Traffic On Yahoo, Bing, Raising Legal, Privacy Issues 08/08/2011

More than ten Internet service providers are redirecting search traffic on Yahoo and Bing. This according to research from the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley and reported by New Scientist. The claim is that ISPs are sending consumers who search for brand names like apple directly to the website rather than displaying standard search engine results pages.

The report says the ISPs are working with the company Paxfire for the initiative; ISPs and Paxfire allegedly have deals with affiliate marketers like ValueClick's Commission Junction, which get credit for taking users to the marketers' landing pages.

The New Scientist report says that ISPs recently stopped redirecting Google searches, but continue to redirect some searches for brand names on Bing and Yahoo. ISPs named in the report include Cavalier, Cogent, Frontier, Fuse, DirecPC, RCN and Wide Open West. Many ISPs have long returned pages populated with ad links when users type the wrong URL into the address bar; Paxfire powers that functionality for some ISPs. But the new report alleges that Paxfire and ISPs are redirecting search traffic -- even when users correctly type the names of companies into the search query box.

One lawsuit based upon these allegations was already filed on Thursday. That case, a potential class-action brought by RCN subscriber Betsy Feist, alleges that the ISP "knowingly and intentionally intercepted, monitored, marketed, and divulged" her search history to a third party.

Can you say "click fraud?" How are we to trust our search engine results if the outcome is already decided? Stay tuned. I think we will see the lawyers making out big on this one. Also, I would not buy stock in Paxfire.

Adding witches to the mix in True Blood

2011-08-08T22:09:00.002-05:00

I've been a fan of True Blood since the show started and it's really neat to see how all of the different supernatural beings have been pulled into the mix of the show thus far. It's kind of crazy to see how all of these different beings are working together, or mostly fighting, all within our normal current world (or the fictional version of it).

I'm really confused about the whole role of the fairies in all of this though and was looking up some spoilers on that a few nights ago when I ran across the website www.clearwirelessinternet.net/. I looked through it some and after that I decided to sign up for one of the internet packages they had on there for my apartment.

I'm really interested to learn more about who this witch is that's possessing or using this other witch to cast spells on Eric, Pam and other things. I'm sure that it's someone Eric double crossed in the past because he's been around for so dang long.

Guest post written by Brent White

Google+ is Disappointing Experiment in Social Media Networking

2011-07-26T00:58:00.000-05:00

While Google+ was late entering the social media market, they have become a major player within a month, with an estimated 20 million members. According to FindPeopleOnPlus.com, more than 77,923 engineers, 12,511 programmers, 5,459 musicians, and 1,250 doctors use Google+.

I have tried to use Google+, but it is very unwieldy in some aspects, like getting back to my email account after visiting Google+. I understand the circle concept: you add people to your circle and they add you to their circle. However, I have had to add the same person to my circle several times before it "took." Another thing is the demo page. I was afraid I was going to seize before I could get off it. Who designed that page?

I like the huddle(group chat)and instant upload features, but the hangouts remind me of Second Life. Do you remember Second Life? Second Life's status as a virtual world and/or computer game, populated by avatars buying and selling land for Linden$, left many users cold.

I know it has been only one month since inception of Google+, but I have already noticed the lack of support for which Google is infamous. In the end, that may be the -(minus)that keeps Google+ from success.

First Lady Betty Ford Died on Friday

2011-07-11T02:04:00.000-05:00

Betty Ford,
First Lady,
Republican Feminist,
Breast Cancer Survivor,
Addict and Alcoholic,
American Heroine

Betty Ford always spoke her mind. She spoke publicly about breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy.
She worked to support the Equal Rights Amendment.
She was pro-choice, saying that having babies should be a “blessing, not a duty."
Her openness about her dependency on pills and alcohol changed the national discourse on addiction and opened doors to treatment centers for thousands of Americans.

Rest in peace, Betty Ford, your work is done. You will be missed by many. The sadness in my heart is that many will never know you for the heroine you were.

Practice Freedom this July 4 in the USA

2011-07-01T18:54:00.000-05:00

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner~

Uncoventional Ads Wins Awards for MacLaren McCann Calgary

2011-07-01T18:01:00.000-05:00

What makes an excellent ad? You could ask MacLaren McCann, the ad agency that came up with the award-winning campaign for Fotolia entitled #1 in Europe. MacLaren McCann pushed the boundaries of advertising. They took a risk, creating an unconventional campaign that did not include any mention of price, quality or product.

From only a single run-on sentence, a couple fragments, and a dash of tastefully arrogant sarcasm, you learn that Fotolia is Europe's number one stock photography company.

See all advertisements which were created on both sides of the Atlantic here.

Agency: MacLaren McCann Calgary
Art Director: Mike Meadus
Creative Director: Mike Meadus
Copywriter: Nicolle Pittman
Typographer: Mike Meadus

Olympic Censorship

2011-06-27T19:24:00.000-05:00

MediaPost Publications Olympic Committee Sets Social Media Rules for Athletes 06/27/2011-read article

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is protecting its advertisers and television sponsors while gagging Olympic athletes. The instructions from IOC are specific:

Postings, blogs or tweets should be in a first-person, diary-type format and should not be in the role of a journalist. Participants and other accredited persons cannot post any video and/or audio of the events, competitions or any other activities which occur at Olympic venues.

There is also a restriction on talking about the competition in any form of media. I think there will be confusion on the part of readers and viewers. On one hand, we will see "anything goes" on the field and then we will read about "the Olympic spirit" online.

I do not approve of censure of media in any form.I think the athletes should be able to freely state their point of view and that would include analyzing their performance as well as the performance of their competitors.

In addition, some of the athletes may be coming to the Olympics from a country ruled by a repressive regime and this may be the only time they COULD HAVE written their true thoughts.

Censorship is never over for those who have experienced it. It is a brand on the imagination that affects the individual who has suffered it, forever. Noam Chomsky

What do you think?

The Twitter Developers Summit

2011-06-10T00:48:00.000-05:00

The Twitter Developers Summit will take place in San Francisco on July 26, 2011. Everything is in the planning stages, so check out this website http://twitterdevsummit.com or follow @tdevsummit on Twitter.

The Twitter Developers Summit is the place for twitter-focused developers to network and become part of what Twitter will become in the future.HootSuite, keepstream, KLOUT, CoTweet and Bottlenose are putting together various lectures, panels, interviews and case studies on best practices, current trends and effective strategies in developing for the Twitter platform.

If you would like to get involved, submit a topic or present at the summit, send an email to send email to Tim at Engaged Digital.

Google Does Not "Get" Social Media

2011-06-05T22:07:00.000-05:00

Google's ex-CEO Eric Schmidt has been talking out of school, sharing tidbits of information that Google would probably rather not have made public. Last week at the All Things Digital conference, Schmidt shared how Google had totally missed the rise of social media. I guess we can blame Facebook for their refusal to partner with Google for search. However, it is probably more the internal structure of Google at blame.

MediaPost Publications Why Google Doesn't Get the "Friend Thing" 06/01/2011

According to Eric Sass at The Social Graf (MediaPost):

. . . Schmidt reduces social media, in all its complexity, to a "friend thing," and imagines it as something to "do" -- rather than something to, say, build, cultivate, nourish, or grow. This tendency to simplify and objectify social media is still apparent in Google's strategy today, and it is the reason that Google will continue to fail to gain traction with its social media efforts.

Until Google realizes that you have to build a social network, not buy one, copy one or start one by adding a button to their blogs, they are doomed to fail at social media. Note the lack of any social media site icons on the Official Google Blog. Even on a post about sharing information on the web.