Cheeky Secrets

Three Things You Need to Know About Finding Advertisers

2010-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

Cheeky Secret #14

Three Tricks to Make Private Blog Advertising Work

So you've seen the notes on other blogsites, "Interested in Advertising? Email me for rates" and you're wondering what the secret is? How do you get people to email you, ask for rates, and start raking in an advertising profit for your blog? If only it was as easy as posting a note. The secret is, finding private advertisers usally isn't so simple. But, it's not neccessarily hard, either. Keep in mind these three simple tips, and you'll be on your way to making cash through private ads in no time at all!

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(1)Remember, this is business. Appear professional.

Never, never, never post a note on your sidebar inviting readers...

"Want to Advertise? Email me at InMyPajamas@Home.com"

Yeeps! The very thought makes my spine cringe.

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If you were looking to hire a realtor and could choose between one who arrived at appointments in old-school basketball skiviies and a sweat band, or one in a slick grey suit with sassy red heels, I'll bet you twenty bucks I know who you'd choose.

Likewise, if you want to earn advertising money through your blog, you've got to get your professional game on. You've got to look the part of a serious business gal. Since you'll rarely meet advertisers in person, this means need to get a simple, professional looking ad site which details your ad rates, ad dates, and contact information. I've done this by linking readers and potential advertisers from my site to a totally different blogsite. (CLICK HERE to see it.)

Don't hesitate to post your actual ad prices on your ad site. If I'm an advertiser looking to spend my money, I want to see the prices. If the prices are within my ad budget, I'm significantly more likely to contact you than if I hop on your blog and see a note that says "Doing laundry and wiping kids noses. Call me when you're ready to advertise." Uh, no thanks.
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(2) For the most part, you'll find your advertisers. They won't find you.
The sooner you see yourself as a salesperson, the sooner you'll start making bucks from your blog.

Business owners are busy people. They are managing money, books, products, customers, websites. Very few of them have time to troll the web, find your blogsite, figure out if your writing style and theme compliments their company, contact you about advertising, negotiate a price, and maintain an account with you. Which means that YOU get to be the one to find your advertisers. Search them out, hunt them down, email or call them, tell them why they need to advertise on your site to your specific audience. Sell yourself to them and they might just buy.

One "secret" I've used to hook potential advertisers is to contact them and let them know how genuinely I enjoy their products. I tell them about my blog, let them know my site stats, and then ask them if they'd be interested in sponsoring a giveaway in exchange for a month of free sidebar advertising. Sometimes they are not interested, and that's okay. But, sometimes they are actually VERY interested and wiling. These are the companies worth building and maintaining relationships with.

Because they've shown an initial interest in your blogging endeavors, you can feel assured that they are a company interested in (1) advertising, (2) joining forces with you, (3) testing the success rate of your readership with their company. Keep in touch with them! Email them, send them special ad offers, let them know when you have a post of particular interest to their cause then invite them to be an advertiser for that post, send your gratitude, check in with a hello or note of appreciation. Thoughtfulness and professionalism can will take you far in business.
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(3) Larger advertisers are attracted to larger audiences.

If you have to start small, don't be discouraged.
As you look for advertisers, look for companies that are equal in size to your reader following. If your blog is seeing two hundred hits per day, a major corporation is highly unlikely to be interested in sponsoring you. However, that doesn't mean other, smaller companies aren't looking to increase their audience and profits.

The real key to success here is to seek out privately owned websites who ship their products. These companies are constantly looking for online saavy consumers because online is how they hock their products. So, a small bakery, clothing store, antique shop, or craft venture is significantly more likely to join you as an advertiser than a toy shop with a storefront in your hometown.

The best news? There are so many online companies! Get googling! Start Emailing! Pick up the phone and call some contact numbers! The sooner you start selling yourself as a professional, legitimate, success-driven blogger, the sooner you'll start being that very thing.

Which Cheeky Secrets are working for you?

Have you been putting the Cheeky Secrets into play on your blog?

Has one of them proven successful for your site? If so, I'd love to hear!

Email your successful blogging stories to becheeky@q.com

and you might be featured in an upcoming post.

Blog Advertising

2010-02-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hi Brooke,

I am currently using Google Ads. I have signed up to use BlogHER ads but have never heard back from them. There is not a clear person to contact..and i am not certain if I will ever hear back. Google Ads scare me a bit--sometimes my earnings amount is there--sometimes not.

I am not sure of the best resource for ads, and that's why I'm asking you. I know I'm still a new blogger, but I have installed a stat counter (invisible) and the data shows me I have a consistent and loyal following of repeat visitors that return on a daily (sometimes more than that) basis. A large percentage of "first-time-visitors" stay a long period of time. This data gives me confidence I'm doing something right, and I know that developing a following with a certain niche of people just takes time---BUT, in the meantime, I want to be on the right track with ads.

Any suggestions?

Warmest regards,
Caroline Urdaneta
salsapie.blogspot.com

Cheeky Secret #13
Blog Advertising Options that Work!

Oh, darling Caroline. I feel your pain! In the early days of blogging, I was so incessantly baffled by blog advertising. I simply couldn't figure out how to get advertisers, keep advertisers, and make money off of blog advertising. Well, good news! I've since gotten a lot of experience, and learned a LOT of secrets that will get your blog profitable in no time at all. And, I promise to spill every last one of them in the coming weeks. For now, here is a brief advertising overview (aka. a few of the biggest options, and a few of the easiest ones).

NOTE TO READERS: If you've discovered a secret to advertising success, please feel free to email it to me, or leave it in the comments section. The more input we get on this subject, the more we all benefit!

(1) Google Adsense. Money is made through Google Adsense everyday based on your site traffic, the types of ads placed, and how many of your viewers click on the ads themselves. It's possible to make a small amount of money (as in pennies), if none of your viewers actually click on the ads, but you really have to see more than 1,000 site hits a day for pay-per-view pennies to register. That said, the secret to truly successful Google Adsensing is to get your Google ads placed in very strategic (read: sneaky) locations. If you're really interested in making money through AdSense, be sure to place your ads in extremely noticeable locations: above or below your banner, as close to the top of your sidebar as possible, or between your ad posts. Until you get a steady flow of traffic through your site, you'll likely notice your Google ad account numbers rising steadily--but very slowly. Which, of course, means that you'll simply have to work overtime to get your blog noticed (more on this later). Of course, I happen to think that if I can make nothing a day for doing a hobby, or ten cents a day, I'd definitely take the ten cents. Yes?

(2) BlogHer. If you are a woman blogger this is a well-established organizations that can bring in some extra spending money. Acceptance into BlogHer seems to be increasingly elusive, not to mention the vast number of rules and stipulations you agree to follow as a BlogHer gal. I know several bloggers who make a couple hundred dollars a month through the BlogHer ad system, however most of them created a firm following for themselves before getting the BlogHer network interested enough to accept them into the network. My advice on this one? Keep applying and be patient. You never know when they might accept you. In the meantime, just like Adsense, these ad networks are all business. They pay you for YOUR hard work. If you're serious about making money through your blog, then you've got to be all business, too. Keep your blogsite well updated, well edited, and work constantly to establish your identity and audience. As you continue to create your own empire, you are certain to attract companies willing to support you in your endeavors.

(3) Foodbuzz. If you are a regular recipe poster, and accepted as a FoodBuzz publisher, you may just be able to pocket a few extra pennies each month through their ad program (you make $2/day per 1000 impressions on your page). Interested parties have to create an account, and apply for the FoodBuzz Featured Publisher program. Just like blogger, there are specific regulations to heed if accepted (including restrictions from selling private advertising on your site.) Be sure you read through and understand the contract fully before signing on the dotted line.

(4) Affiliate programs. Many companies are picking up on the trend of blog advertising, creating "affiliate programs" for interested bloggers. The idea for companies is to access loyal readers who have shown a proven interest in your theme/style of blogging. The idea for you is to connect these readers to a company whose products complement your particular blogging flavor. This is usually done through a widget on your sidebar. When your readers click on the link, sign up for an account, and make a purchase on the company site, you get a small commission off of any purchases your reader's make. Amazon offers several slick, quick options for affiliate marketing. My favorite is their "Amazon Store" option, which allows you to piece together your favorite Amazon products, create a customized widget for your sidebar, and start making a percentage of money for each store sale. Of course, monster-sized websites aren't the only ones offering affiliate marketing to bloggers so don't be shy about buzzing an email to your favorite tiny company, asking about any affiliate options they offer. You might just be pleasantly surprised at what a gift your blog advertising can be to business owners, as well as to your pocketbook.

(5) Private Ads. In my opinion, the best and most consistent way to make money through blog advertising (without having some middleman take a huge cut from your earnings) is to offer private advertising to your readers. Be warned. This is NOT the easiest road. It takes a lot of effort and salesmanship on your part, but it does allow you full and complete control over your blog advertising.

Want to get your private ad campaign work?
Be sure to stop by next week for details!

Become An Expert

2010-01-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

Cheeky Secret #12
Become the Go-To Expert In Your Field by Going To the Experts

Did you hear about the time when I was the featured guest on the Saucy Sisters radio show? It wasn't because I am an expert on Oktoberfest, their topic of the day (indeed, no I am not. Having never sipped e'en a drop of ale, and hailing from the wide provinces of the American west, I am actually the farthest thing from an Oktoberfest expert). It wasn't because the Saucy Sisters spend all their spare minutes trolling the web waves for a bright, perky doll of a baker like myself (though, indeed, if they were looking for such a thing, I'd hope they'd consider me as such). It wasn't even because I knew a sister of their sister or a friend of their friend.

The way I became a radio guest on the Saucy Sisters radio program was HARO. Created by the high-energied PR guy, Peter Shankman, HARO stands for HELP A REPORTER OUT. It's a way for reporters to access potential sources for magazine and newspaper articles, radio shows, and television shows. It's free to join. Once on the list, you can expect three emails a day M-F from Mr. Shankman indicating all of the days source needs. Most submissions on the daily email list will include:

(1) The name of the publication they are working for or hope to submit the article to.

(2) Specific needs the reporter has for the article/show

(3) Clear details about the type of people/experts/sources needed. This can include anything from teenagers with a long third toe to techno-bloggers who reside in Tahiti. If you are a stay-at-home-mom blogger who thinks HARO is a waste of your time, don't be too quick to write HARO off. Just because "experts" are needed for many articles, doesn't mean highly educated well-traveled gals in the workplace are the only ones being saught. Au contraire. I happen to know a stay-at-home-gal who just so happened to appear on the Saucy Sisters Radio show. (wink.wink.)

(4) Email and/or other contact information for the reporter. Don't go hog wild, emailing every reporter your resume and headshot, but don't be too timid here, either. If you find that you can satisfy most of the reporters requested needs, then reply as quickly as possible to their HARO ad.

Your reply should be bold. It should clearly and concisely express your interest in being a source for thier article. Your email reply should indicate a detail or two about yourself, as it pertains to their article. Sell yourself. Tell the reporter why you will make the best source for their topic. Never, never diminunize yourself. Don't respond to a professional reporter with sentences like, "I just got started into blogging and only my Aunt Kay actually likes my cooking" or "My little blog is really cute. You should see it. Five people follow it."

Rather, select wording which relates your greatest strengths (even if they, in actuality, aren't too terribly strong)... "I come from a rich background of food and family, and feel confident that I can share my experiences in a unique and interesting way" or "As a relatively new blogger, I've already begun to make my mark on an increasingly crowded scene. With a growing number of blog followers, I believe you'll find that I can relate to your audience as both a new blog writer, and one who is finding success through the medium."

Thousands of people are part of the HARO network, so don't be discouraged if you don't get a response from a reporter right away. Continue to hone your methods, your passions, and your writing. After all, one of the greatest secrets to success is to work tirelessly to get past barriers and get yourself on the scene. But, of course, any reporter will tell you that.

CLICK HERE TO GET CONNECTED WITH THE HARO NETWORK.

Stick to the Schedule.

2009-12-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Coco-Ono, of The Coco Cafe for winning the blog header redesign!

And, thank you to all who entered the contest! We'll do another giveaway soon!

Cheeky Secret #11:

Post regularly

Oh, crimeny. I know there is great irony in my dropping this hint when I've been absent for two long weeks. Absent without sending you a single hello, a hint of when I'd return, a clue to my wherabouts. It's been a rather harried holiday season already, and I'm wickedly sorry for my lond delay in posting. Especially when I've more tip to get your blogging of the ground than I could carry in a tipped over tee-pee.

Muse upon your mornings for a moment. You've paid for a newspaper subscription. You plan on it's delivery each day at dawn. You rely on the perusal of advice columns and classified ads to get you through your morning bowl of Grapenuts. Then, one morning, you wake. Don slippers. Open the front door. Peek upon your threshold. And there discover nary a sign of the newspaper. Frantic, you call the delivery man.

"Wherfore art my paper?" you cry.

"I dunno," he replies, "Guess the writers got tired of writing, so there was nuthin' ta print this morn."

Well, that sort of a scenario wouldn't work at all, would it?

There's certainly plenty to write about.

There are certainly plenty of advertisers awaiting their paid-for hocking.

There are certainly people to read the writing.

In fact, there are people whose days depend upon the delivery of the paper.

(Can you imagine a Monday morning without a clean list of home listings to look over, or a Friday morning without the printing of movie times? Pshaw! and Pfooey! The very idea is absurd.)

When it comes to blogging for money, it's vital to put yourself on a schedule and stick firmly with it. Your readers will come to depend on it. Your advertisers deserve it. You will discover that you are more likely to get more done when you place yourself on a scheduled pattern of posting.

There's ever so much more to say on this topic, but for now, may I suggest a few tips to finding your best, most successful blog schedule:

Always post a new blog late Sunday night or early Monday morning. With weekend chores and such underneath their belts, and the fresh canvas of a new week in front of them, your readers are much more likely to check in on Monday's that on any other day during the week.
Blogsite visitorship peaks slightly on Thursdays, then falls on Fridays and through the weekend. If you're interested in a 2-day per week posting schedule, consider posting on Mondays, and again late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning to ensure the highest number of site visitors possible. Mondays and Thursdays, then, are also the days when any important announcements or giveaways ought to be mentioned on your blog, to ensure maximum readership.
The ideal 3-day posting schedule (in my mind) is M, W, TH. This posting schedule allows you to evenly spread your posts throughout the week and weekend, while ensuring that your posts are being replenished on days when the highest numbers of reader's will likely visit your site. Ideal four day? M-TH.
Take the weekends off. You deserve the break, and the site visitor numbers dip so significantly during the weekend that I don't think it's worth the time and effort to post.
Post late at night or early-early in the morning. There are some early risers among us. Get your posts up for morning visitors, lest they stop by and see the same stale post they gandered at the week before, and brand you as a non-regular poster. Ee-gad! No one wants that brand to be seared upon your blogsoul.
Consider yourself a business. Because, if you're attempting to make money off of your blog, that's precisely what you are. A business. Therefore, it's vital that you appear organized, prompt and dependable in every aspect of your blog-keeping, but most especially with your posting.
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Now onto your regularly scheduled posting...

The Power of a Pretty Hello

2009-11-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

Cheeky Secret #10A Good Blog Header is EVERYTHING.*The other day, while walking into my children's school, I walked past five different women. The first tossed out a muffled hello as I walked by. The second glanced my way. She may have nodded her head slightly in my direction, but then again, she could have just been stylishly tossing her hair off of her forehead. Ladies number three, four and five didn't even bother to glance in my direction as we crossed paths.*By now, I'd reached the front door, stretched my hand out to open it, when a hand grabbed the door before I could and a cheery voice said behind me. "Here! I'll get that for you. I have to tell you, I saw you walking from all the way back there, and that necklace your wearing! It just caught my eye! It's gorgeous!" Stunned, I turned around and caught myself staring right into the face of some woman I'd never met. Her eyes were lit with happy energy, a smile donned her cheeks, her teeth stood tall and straight, saluting a friendly hello. Instantly, I warmed to her. I loved this woman. We had to be friends. Following her into the school, we chatted back and forth with comfortable banter until we moved our routine ways--me feeling significantly better about my day than I had just moments before I'd run into her merry little soul. *Your blog header is your greeting. How is it saying hello to your readers?When new visitors arrive at your site, your blog header is the first greeting they get.It tells them the tone of your blog, the content, the style, the personality.I believe having a professional looking blog header is as important to attracting new readers as having a smart marketing plan. Of course, you've got to have rocking content and graphics to permanently hook a reader. But, that vital first meeting can be VERY swayed by the power of your header hello.*Here is an example. For several months, I've been in contact with a lovely Tongue-N-Cheeky reader, Patti. She's been the dear of all dears, emailing me often with words of support and encouragement. It's always a pleasure to hear from positive people.*Patti runs a really great blog with a really great title, "Anatomy of A Dinner Party." Doesn't that just ring in your heart? I was instantly impressed with her concept. The title was fascinating, it grabbed my attention, made me want to see what she was up to. But, when you visited her blog, the graphics suggested that she was fresh to blogger, learning her way around the program and posting. (Which is OKAY, we all have to start somewhere. That's for SURE!) Wanting to give her an extra boost with her fantubulous blog, and knowing what a difference a few good graphics make, I offered to create a header for her. *Notice the different ambience each header creates.*Anatomy of a Dinner PartyBEFORE....Patti had worked diligently to set up her blog with a nice looking blogskin and a well-organized posting format. Her header consisted of a nice photo of a lovely dinner party (LOVE those centerpieces!) However, the photo was rather large, with the color being somewhat muted. Wouldn't it be nice to have a graphic that evokes all the refined splendor of a dinner party? Something that truly expressed the sound of "Anatomy of A Dinner Party" in a visual way? I played with a few ideas, then sent Patti a potential blog header, pending her approval. She was gracious-as-can-be upon recieving it, and put it in place immediately.*Here is the Anatomy of A Dinner Party AFTER the header makeover....
Isn't the difference remarkable?!Before, Anatomy of A Dinner Party appeared to be a nice-looking operation.Now, Anatomy of A Dinner Party looks like a high-end, finely stylized approach to blogging about truly sumptuous, thoughtful parties. (Which, by the way, is exactly what it is! Go Patti!)*So, how do you go about getting a fabulous header of your own?First, Create one. There are many programs that will allow you to create a nice-looking graphic, but I'd suggest using my favorite, free software PHOTOFILTRE.*Second, Hire someone. Many blog design companies will customize blogskins and blog headers, but (in my experience) such services will run you more than $100 a pop. Which is why I'm excited to announce that, for a limited time, I am creating customized blog headers for only $35!A good blog header is too important to have, and not easy enough to come by. I simply can't bear to insist of the importance of a nice blog topper, without offering some sort of feasibly affordable option.*If you are interested in having me design a header for you,please email me at BeCheeky@q.com and Ill start working on your header immediately. The turnaround time for a custom header is about 1 week. Yayhoo! That means you're only seven days away from look blog-fabulous!*Three, Win One.That's right! Win! Win! Win!Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win one freeCheeky Secrets Custom Blog Headerfor the blog of your choice.*Header will be designed and emailed to you in jpg. and/or gif format, which you can then upload into your blog account. I'll do the designing, you do the uploading and we'll all do the happy dance!*Happy Blogging!

On Getting Your Work Noticed

2009-11-16T00:14:00.000-08:00

Owner of Valeriote Design, Melissa Valeriote has used a clever combination of online tools and social networking sites to build a storefront for her business. With a little business saavy and lot of hard work, she's also found tremendous success as a crafter and blogger, having recieved national media attention for many of her creations. So, I just had to know if she'd willingly share any of her secrets. Turns out, Melissa Valeriote is just as gorgeously wondrous as her delightsome art.

Melissa, you amaze! You've had your art published in magazines and on multiple websites, you've even been spotlighted in Martha Stewart's website. However did you turn your art into a successful venture that gets noticed?

Marketing yourself and your business is vital for every small business entrepreneur. Scheduling time for marketing is just as important as scheduling time for creating art. I spend 20 minutes every morning marketing on my blog, FaceBook, and Twitter. I'd suggest that you take full advantage of all the free social networking sites and research magazines, shows and companies that compliment what you create. Then make the call or send the email. Keep refining your mission statement and your presentation. Every contact is a potential customer. Be positive, be yourself, and present your best work.

You can read more of Melissa Valeriote's secrets to success, at her Decor-Medley interview, which can be found HERE.

Photo Fantastic

2009-11-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Cheeky Secret #8Get Fabulous Photos...for Free*The very best blogs are a perfect combination of sharp visuals, sharp writing, and sharp wit. Feel like you've got the chops to write and wittify the world, but falling short in the photography know-how department? Never you worry, my sweet. You're just a few clicks away from accessing some of the worlds most stunning stock photography. Best yet, you can do it without spending a single dime.*www.sxc.hu*SXC, or Stock.Xchng is hands down the finest free stock photography sites upon our living planet. Through it, talented artists submit their photographs or graphic designs to the website, offering thier work for download. Most of the photos are gigantically large, downloading with such glorious detail and clarity that even the nearsighted can toss their glasses whence they take a peek. *Do be sure, when using the website, to offer your feedback to the artists via the COMMENT box on each photo. Many of them are looking to improve their talent, or waiting to be discovered and a kind word of feedback is always welcome. Some artists also ask that you send them the link wherein their photos have been used. Keep your eye on the PHOTO DETAILS section (this box will appear in the upper right hand corner once you've picked on a favorite photo) to stay on top of the usage options. *Now go. Find photos that astound and amaze and get blogging your happy heart out.*Sooo many more secrets to come...

How to Get Big, Crystal Clear Pictures On Your Blog

2009-11-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

Cheeky Secret #7

Using Photobucket to Upload Fantastically HUGE Pics Into Your Blog

I'd heard from other bloggers that the only way to place big photos upon your blog was to use Flickr or Photobucket. Pshaw! I said to myself. Who has time?! Take a picture, find it on my computer, upload it to ANOTHER website,and THEN somehow pull it into my blog account?! Nay sirree. I'd rather just stick with the simple, and known method of using Blogger to upload my pics one by one into my actual account. At least the pictures are then right in front of my eyes, stuck right into my blog account, and immediately ready to use once I've uploaded them. At least I accomplish the entire task with one click from one site.
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At least I could sit by and watch my life wither before my computer screen whilst I waited for each photo to upload one-by-one-by-one, resulting in blog pics sized to fit an antique locket. they are soo teensy via blogger, aren't they?!
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If you've held onto the same sort of philosophy, I'm here to change thy mind, my friend. Photobucket and Flickr will not only give you some seriously gigantic photo options for your blog, but their slick sites actually make uploading your photos online and onto your blog tremendously quick, not to mention, easy.
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Gone are the days of uploading single shots into Blogger, with enough time to brew a cup of hot tea and compose an opera between upload sessions (seriously. Doth it not take FOREVER to upload each little picture via blogger?) Gone are the days of attempting to find your way into the workings of html, tinkering with the photo settings, with the result being sorta-big, grainy pictures in place of your little, slightly less grainy ones.

With Flickr and Photobucket, you can upload a boatload of pictures in minutes, then paste them into your blog in no time at all. It's simple as pie and you're going to love the results!

While I adore Flickr, I've been using Photobucket because I can purchase a professional account on a month-by-month basis for a mere $2.99/mo. This PRO account makes it possible to upload oodles and oodles of photos to Photobucket each month, edit them, and access them for blogging. If you are only posting on your blog once a week, you'll likely find the limited storage available through a free Photobucket account is more enough to meet your needs. If, however, you are a graphics geek (such as myself), be sure to check into the PRO option on Photobucket, which will offers significantly more gigs of photo storage for pennies per day.

A Flickr tutorial will arrive shortly. In the meantime, here's how you use Photobucket to place big, bright, beautiful photos upon your blog...

(1)

Get a free Photobucket account by clicking HERE. Log into your account and click on the UPLOAD IMAGES & VIDEO'S button. Select a picture, or a group of pictures, to upload from your computer.

(2)Once your photos have uploaded, add titles and tags as desired.
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(3)

Click EDIT on any photo you may need to tinker with. Make any needed edits, then click SAVE or REPLACE ORIGINAL. If you don't want to edit any pictures, you can also return to your main page by clicking "WELCOME, ACCOUNT NAME" at the top of the screen. Once you've arrived at your account home page, click on the first photo you'd like to add to your blog.

(4)

Because I love big blog pictures, but think it's typically tacky and annoying when they are too honking huge to fit into a single computer screen, I resize most of my pictures to LARGE. You can do this by clicking RESIZE, then selecting your preferred image size.

Keep in mind, once you resize an image in Photobucket, it's permanently downsized. This is a one of my favorite things about Photobucket and here's why....if I publish a blog post, then view it and think one of my pictures is too big, I just have to go back to Photobucket and resize it to a smaller size. It will automatically downsize in my blog. Of course, this is also a point of caution. You can always resize to make your photos smaller, but you can't always resize them back to a larger size. To use maximize the resize feature, I think it's always best to choose a photo size just larger than the one you think you may actually need. Post it on your blog, then view it in published. If the photo is too big, it takes just seconds to return to Photobucket and downsize it to be a better fit. Of course, if you like the published size, voila! You're done. Hurrah!

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(5)

With photo's uploaded, edited, and appropriately sized, it's time to post them into your blog. To do so, open a new tab in your browser and log into your Blogger account. Click NEW POST, then find your way to the EDIT HTML tag. Click on it. In that section, copy and paste the following code:

Now go back to Photobucket. Find the DIRECT LINK for your image (see example below). Copy it by highlighting it, then pressing CTRL+C. Return to your blogger account. In the HTML code that you've already pasted, highlight the entire text that sits between the quotation marks, then press CTRL+V to paste your Photobucket image link in it's place.
Repeat Step #5 as many times as needed, for as many pictures as needed.
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(6)

In your blog account, return to the COMPOSE tab. Your Photobucket photos should be there awaitin' your arrival. Blog as you usual, post as usual, and enjoy your new, big, beautimous blog pics!

Fonts

2009-10-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

Last week, one Sharilee emailed with this question...

My question is about the fonts. I've been told that you don't want to change your fonts since they won't show up on some computers. What do you think? How do you do it?

I totally agree that you don't want to mess with the standard fonts on your blog. First off, fancy fonts can't be seen on-screen by everyone who may tune into your blog because most computers have a difference set of offered or downloaded fonts. Second to that is this...I have no idea how to actually change the font on your blogger or wordpress account to something specialized and fancy. No idea.

Of course, there are ways to perty up your blog with fancy fonts. The first is, to increase or decrease the size of the fonts your blog program offers. And, of course you can change the color, too. I definitely recommend playing around with the provided fonts to discover which is your favorite. You'll likely find that some better fit your style than others. And, I happen to think a good blog will have a font that fits the tone and message it is sending.

In the beginning stages of my blog, I was madly in love with COURIER BOLD. I'd make it big, little, pink, cerulean. I adored that font first. But, soon I discovered it didn't have the same visual flow as GEORGIA. So, I switched, and I've been using GEORGIA ever since because I like the way it looks on screen. I think it evokes a more dressy tone that COURIER, and offers reader's the sensation of "reading a book" because of the way the type strings together letters.

Being a color fanatic, I definitely believe your blog is benefitted when you add little bits of color to your fonts. Not every word should scream hot-hued happiness, that's for sure, but a little color here and a little there can really improve the style and readability of your message. For instance, you can make an important word or phrase big. Or, an embarrassing admission teensy. You can MAKE YOUR WORDS ANGRY. Or, help them fall madly in luuuuurve. Don't those tiny bits of color offer a delightsome addition to your words?

Of course, if you try to make any of these changes on your own blog and they just don't seem to fit, then don't do it! It's important that you are staying true to your own personality and voice, as it comes through the blogwaves.

There is another way to create fabulous fonts. You can create an IMAGE...a jpg or bmp...then upload the image to your post. Through images, you've suddenly got a whole new world of written word possibilities. In my heart, I'm holding all sorts of opinions as to how to do this really, really well. Those will come soon enough. For now, let's start with a basic HOW-TO MAKE AN IMAGE demonstration. If you've already downloaded Photofiltre, you're ready to get fontaculous. If you don't yet have this wondrous, free program, you can find details HERE.

*Once you've saved your new image, you simply have to upload it to your account using your standard image upload procedure.*Now....Are you yet using Photobucket or Flickr? If not, it's time to get yourself a free account through one of those two sites. Within the week, I'll show you how to use these programs to upload big, fat, crystal-clear images into your blog. And...more to come on how to make CA$H from your blog, too. There are just so many secrets to share!*Happy Fonting!

Finding Followers

2009-10-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

*
Cheeky Secret #5Get in good with the SITSta's.*It's likely you've already discovered the brilliant idea behind the blog The Secret is in the Sauce. If not, here's the DL in a jiffy...*The brainchild of two saucy gals, Heather and Tiffany, SITS offers community comment support by highlighting one blog a day four days a week. (The other days of the week spotlight giveaways, offer auction opportunities, and play host to a variety of clever marketing techniques.) As a SITS girl, you join their blog as a follower, then check in daily by leaving a comment. After leaving a comment, you also check the featured blog of the day, and typically try to visit the site of the blogger whose comment was left before yours. You also agree to post their button on your site. In exchange for maintaining your membership, SITS will eventually get around to spotlighting your blog for a day, directing other SITSta's to your main site, and two of your favorite posts. It's a relatively simple concept that works phenomenally well. Their program is more than four thousand bloggers strong, with an average of 200-400 comments left on their site each day. On top of helping other bloggers discover your site, it's a great way to find new, addictive sites to add to your morning blog route.*So, what's the secret, you ask? Here it is...The SITS site has been set up with a comment box which will pop up in the corner of your screen. Everyday, every SITSta who clicks on "LEAVE A COMMENT" will have this box pop-up on her computer screen. The comment boxes typically display the first two or three commentors messages. There! That's the secret.*Be one of the first three commentors and suddenly every one of the SITS girls who stop by the site for a check-in will see your name, photo, and the comment you've left in that pop-up comment box. They'll also have quick access to your blogger profile and blog links. While not all of the SITSta's leaving a comment will click on your information, you are more than guaranteed to pique the interest of a handful of new, potential readers who are interested enough to click and find out who you are and what your blog is about.*Of course, to make the most of this method, you've got to be sure you can grab the attention of any and all lookieloo's. To do so, make sure you:*(1) Have a catchy Screen Name with trendy, descriptive words. "Jane Love Antiques" doesn't beg for attention nearly as much as "Vintage Jane."Likewise, "Cupcake Conundrum" is much more likely to pull readers into your site that "Cathy Cooks." Choosing a screen name which suggests your blog topic, style and voice is pertinent to "hooking" other bloggers and drawing them in for a first look at your site. Ideal screen names should be short, catchy, and interesting enough to entice other bloggers to want to know more about you and your site.*(2) Have an catchy photo on your profile.Like the screen name, your profile photo is as much about marketing your blog as it is about showing the world who you are. Of course, the fact that most profile pics show up as a half-centimeter square makes choosing the perfect profile photo tricky. But, it's not impossible!*To find the perfect profile pic, begin by making a study of it. Look at the profile photos other bloggers have placed on their accounts and see which ones catch your eye. Are they faces? Graphics? Objects? The styles you find most interesting are likely interesting to other bloggers, as well, which means you now have a good gist of where to start.*Using a simple software program like Photofiltre can help you crop any photo worth profiling. CLICK HERE to get more information about this AMAZING free photo editing software.*(3) Get a good message.Now that you have a good screen name and a knock-your-socks-off photo, you can also lure readers to your blog by leaving a noteworthy comment. It shouldn't be long and it shouldn't be self-serving. The idea behind SITS is community support, not boastful marketing. So, you need to find a way to be complimentary to the SITS community while dropping a subtle, classy mention of your own blog.*For Instance: Hiya Sits Gals! Happy Autumn Day!Is it as brisk and brambly in your neck of the woods as it is mine? Yikes!A cup full of Vanilla milk is sure to soothe the soul on these fall days.Come on by for the recipe. I'd love to have you!*(4) First is the Best.Now, the most ultimate SITS secret, eva.Being in the top three to comment at SITS is such a successful tatic to bring new readers to your site that there are a host of gals who sit by their computer and watch the seconds tick away until the newest SITS post goes live. It's a competitive game, getting in the top three. But, you don't want to be just competitive. You want to win, right?So, you're going to try to get your comment in the number one position on the SITS comment box. To do so, you've got to trust my (rather absurd) but very successful method...*First, log into your google account. Once the new SITS post is up, you don't want to waste a single second having type in your username and password. Second, type your message into a word document. Highlight the message and press CTRL+C to copy it.Third, wait. The SITS gals used to post like clockwork, with the new entry going live every night at midnight. I think they got wise to the underground group of bloggers awaiting the coveted comment top spot so they started posting in a slightly less routine fashion. So, this waiting part is really a waiting game. Go to http://www.thesitsgirls.com/ right at midnight and press the refresh button once a minute until the new post arrives. Once it does, move into action! Scroll down, click "COMMENT," press CTRL+V to paste your comment, then publish it with the fasted fingers you can muster. If you get in the top spot, hooray! Mission accomplished. If not, try again another night. You may just make it. And, while you're awake, be sure to take a quick stop by the featured blogger to leave a comment and say hello.*The best part of this "marketing" method is you only have to do it once to start reaping results. If you get your comment in the top three one night, I would really suggest waiting for at least a month before attempting it again. It's always nicer to share the love, eh?*And, anyway, I might be trying to get that first position, too. (wink, wink)*Good Luck! Happy SITSing.*

Corresponding With Advertisers, Part 1

2009-10-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, I had the blessing of connecting with a well-established blogger who, inexplicably, took me under her wing and willingly answered my amateurish questions about how to make money as a blogger. She kindly sent me the skeleton of an email she used to contact companies, asking them to consider joining her site as a giveaway sponsor. *Since corresponding with her, I've worked to create my own method to obtain sponsorship for site giveaways. It takes a lot of time (I've spent hours this week contacting and communicating with companies), but the results are often worth the effort. This week, after emailing twelve different companies, inquiring as to their interest in joining me as a giveaway sponsor for three upcoming co-op events, three companies emailed or called me back willing to join forces with my site. *One of the most incredible things about blogging in the instant sense of community it offers. I've thoroughly enjoyed networking with the owners of several remarkable, innovative companies and feel grateful to establish relationships and points of contact with each of them. Be on the lookout for several upcoming posts which will giveaways from these companies.*In the meantime, I share with you a skeleton of the email I used to contact and obtain donations this week. I hope you'll find it useful as you work to create one of your own. Happy Blogging!

Hi [COMPANY NAME]!
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Was I ever DELIGHTED to discover your website while looking for [PRODUCT].
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I wanted to get in touch with you to see if your company might be interested in a unique marketing collaboration. My name is Brooke McLay and I am the owner of the online food & lifestyle website http://www.tongue-n-cheeky.com/. My site holds a Google ranking of x and recieves over xx,xxx visitors per month. [ETC, ETC].

On [DATE], I will be posting on [DETAILED INFORMATION ON UPCOMING POST]. That day, I would also like to offer a giveaway to site visitors. I was wondering if your company might be interested in donating a prize for the event. [ETC, ETC].

To thank you for your giveaway donation, I would like to offer you a month of free advertising for your company through a square sidebar button placed on my site.

I look forward to hearing from you and hope you're up for it! I believe the collaboration between your site and mine will prove very worthwhile for your company.

Thank you so much!

Brooke McLay, http://www.tongue-n-cheeky.com

Follower City

2009-10-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Secret #3Put a Face On Your Followers*Of all the widgets Blogger offers, my favorite is the "Followers" widget. Since I first started blogging, I've utilized it on my site. I adore seeing the faces of friends new and old who like what I'm doing enough to publicly commit themselves as mine. In the early days especially, their visible support gave me strength and courage to keep blogging. Whenever I published a new blog, and clicked the link to view my page, I would see handfuls of people who entrust a few minutes of their day with me. Using the Followers widget encourages me to do create read-worthy posts for my regular readers and inspired me to keep working, even when I feel tired and uninspired. Even today, with more than seven hundred followers, I look at those pictures every time I log onto my blog. I notice when I lose a follower, I rejoice when I gain one. I click on their links, I try to learn their stories, I feel so grateful for everyone of those seven hundred faces who greet me when I hop online.*The Followers widget is also useful. It offers quick access to some of your loyal readers. I love knowing that I can easily find and access several of my favorite people's sites from my blog own page. There have been many times that I'll think, "now I know I read that somewhere..." I'll find myself perusing through my followers profile pictures to find the one I was thinking of. It's a lovely, simple way to locate and contact other bloggers, if needed. There is another reason to use the Followers widget and I'll share it with you via visual. Last week, my husband came home from his evening job as a Sociology instructor at our community college andshared with me one of the videos he'd used that day in class. It's called the Asch conformity experiment and you can catch a glimpse of it here:

This "power of the group" is one of the reasons I share the Follower's button as a "secret." Consider this:

-When a new reader visits your blog, you have only moments to hook them to your cause. They won't spend enough time reading through your archives to find your voice and passion. They'll take a look at your most recent post or two. If they like your posts, or your blog title, or something resonates, they may just come back another time. But, what if during their time on your site, they see that you have 100 or 200 followers? Now they know that Aunt Pip and your Grandma Edna aren't the only one who finds you fascinating and funny. There are hundreds of people who have discovered you and like you enough to regularly stop by and see your latest antics.

-Once in sixth grade, a teacher yelled at our science class so hard her face turned pink and I saw her pop a blood vessel in her eye. After the rant, she stood at the head of the classroom, stonefaced and seething while the rest of us sat in complete.dead.silence. The silence lasted for minutes (hours!) and I knew that someone had to break the silence, else we'd all be stuck there like statues in our seats until our parents came in the dead of night and pried us from our frightened reverie. If that were to happen, there was no doubt in my mind that Ms. Crew would still be there in front of us, staring at us with her icy eyes.

I raised my hand. I could feel my fingers trembling uncontrollably, my breath caught in my throat.

"Yesssss?!" Ms. Crew hissed.

Gathering every ounce of oxygen I could suck in from that lifeless room, I whispered, "I think we're all ready to proceed with the lesson now. Thank you for correcting us."

"Very well," she remarked then turned toward the board and began teaching the lesson as if nothing had happened. We all breathed a collective sigh of relief. It took a full five minutes to catch my breath and still my fluttering heart. Saying that single sentence was one of the most frightening moments of my whole life. Me, lifting voice and hand high above a quiet crowd.

This is the second lesson of the Followers widget. Despite our greatest grown-up intentions, it's sometimes scary to do things alone. You feel so oddly conspicuous. So open to prying eyes (so accessible to spitting teachers). When a box full of blog Followers sits atop your blog, it offers a community welcome to anyone else who may consider joining.

-Which leads me to the biggest Cheeky Secret of the day: place your Followers widget in the upper left hand corner of your blog. If you don't have an upper left hand corner, place it in your upper right hand corner. Having it one of those locations works wonders. Why? Because of the power of the group but ALSO because of the power of suggestion. When a potential reader sees your Followers widget, they now have the option to put their face up there with others who like your blog.

The very best thing about the Followers widget? It doesn't just offer you as a blogger benefits, but extends a helping hand to your followers, as well. When a reader becomes a follower via your widget, their profile picture will (for a time, at least) be posted in the most visible location on your blog. This means that a direct link to their profile and site can be accessed by any interested reader who visits your site. And, who knows, maybe--just maybe--that reader will become a follower of one of your followers.

See, group conformity can be a beautiful thing!

Happiest Blogging, Friends.

Software Secrets

2009-10-07T20:23:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Secret #2:

Get Good Photo Editing Software

for free.

Oh, I know the entire world would have you believe it's Photoshop or drop, but as the stay-at-home wife to a teaching salary hubster, I just can't bear to swap out a month of meals for a cardboard box with a CD in it. I can't do it, I tell you.

Thankfully, there is an option. A remarkable option. An option capable of not only editing photos, but creating all sorts of remarkable images & graphics, the extent of which is only limited by your imagination. I've recieved oodled of emails from Tongue-N-Cheeky readers asking about the software I use to create my website graphics. I'm tickled pink to share my long held secret.

The software is called Photofiltre.

The newest version, Photofiltre Studio X is offered with a 30-day free trial.

You can download Photofiltre Studio X HERE.

If you're interested in bypassing the trial period, the full version can be purchased for about $50. You can find it HERE.

If you'd like to download Photofiltre for free, no strings attached, Photofiltre 6.3.2 is the program I've been using for, like, ever. In fact, it's the very program that helped me recreate all the graphics for the relaunch of my site. In my pajamas and slippers.

This version offers a slew of remarkable editing capabilities so don't even sweat that you won't be getting the newest offering.

You can download Photofiltre 6.3.2 HERE.

In coming weeks, I 'll be sharing a few of my favorite Photofiltre secrets which will help you create and personalize incredible graphics, buttons, banners, collages, and pictures for your blog. If you've been looking for an affordable way to put some oomph in your blogging, you're just one download and a few quick tips away from wowing everyone you know.

Bunny Rabbit Revelation

2009-10-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Secret #1:Blog about that for which you hold great passion.Nowadays everyone has a blog. And, everyone is hoping to make money from it. One of the simplest ways to successfully find an audience and obtain advertising is to focus on a topic you truly love. A topic which allows you to clearly express your unique voice and talents. This sounds like such a simple task, but finding a blog-worthy passion is often a tricky feat. *One indicator I've used to pinpoint my truest passions is Bunny Rabbit Revelation.You know the old adage of how quickly rabbits reproduce? You get a mama, a papa, and before you know it, you have a bunch of little babies. Before long, those babies are making babies. Then, those babies make babies, and soon you need a New York Skyrise and the HungryMan Dinner Company to house and feed them all. *So, how do a massive number of bunnies relate to blogging? Let me try to explain:*Have you ever been--oh I don't know--listening to a friend, reading a book, sauteeing dinner, walking across a mound of laundry, smooching babies into bed and had an idea pop into your head? It might be an idea to better organize your laundry. It might be a paint color combination. It might be the first line of new novel. It might have everything to do with what you are doing at.that.exact.second. It might not.*It's there, with those little sparks of thought, that Bunny Rabbit Revelation begins. There with the initial Ah-ha! lies the opportunity to discover your truest passions--the ones you should really be blogging about.When these little sparks arrive in your noggin, write them down whenever possible. Then, muse on them momentarily. There are times when just thinking about an idea will bring it to a dead end. Other times you have to actually try an idea to realize it's just not your 'thing.' If you reach a dead end, or 'hit the wall' with one of your ideas, don't be discouraged! It means you're one idea closer to finding a better fit for you.*Of course, not all good concepts end dead. There are actually some ideas which bring with them life and vibrancy. They give you energy, feed upon your thoughts, birth other ideas, expand and multiply, and roll you down a million magical thoughtlines. That is what I call Bunny Rabbit Revelation. I know I've got it when I feel my mind turn so alive with idea after idea that I can scarcely turn it off. I believe this is the purest form of creative communication with yourself. It's you telling youself that you've hit upon a topic tailor-made for your mind's own way of thinking. *Moments of Bunny Rabbit Revelation help you find success because they connect your brain to the heart of your priorities and beliefs. They switch all parts of you 'ON', allowing your best abilities to flow forth. They teach you about that which is uniquely "YOU" and help you expand your natural abilities and passions. And, letting the pure, true you will not only make for a blog worth reading, it will make for a blog worth creating.

Last week I walked determinedly into our neighborhood Thrift Shoppe.I'd spent a good portion of the day before, and much of a restless night conjuring up the image of a sophisticated outfit.It would have black pants. A fitted black jacket. Something light blue and ruffly beneath.Yes, I'd thunk through it and through it. I was certain I'd thought up something worth wearing.Of course, seeing as how I was hunting through a Thrift Shoppe, it wasn't long before I realized there wasn't a pair of black pants sewn within the twenty-first century that I'd dare don.*No problem, I thought, I'll look for a nice greyish pair of pantaloons.While walking through racks of slacks, I happened upon a black jacket.It looked exactly like the jacket I'd been imagining.Slipping my arms into the silken sleeves, I was delighted to discover it even seemed to fit right.I tossed it joyously into my shopping cart, moved boldly back to my pant-finding task.Serendipity was on my side, it seemed, my perfect ensemble would materialize.*Suddenly, I had a thought. A horrible thought. A thought that stopped me cold in my tracks.Could a black jacket be worn with gray slacks?Working diligently I flipped through every meager mental note I'd retained from my months of reading Seventeen magazine as a teenager.Black with gray? Black with gray?I didn't know if wearing such would equal Fashion Craptaster '09.(I still don't.)And anyway, all this thinking about clothes was making me tired.After all, I'm a baker, not a fashionista.My mind thinks in ingredients, wraps itself naturally around the science of pastry creation.What, then, was I doing here in the clothing aisles?I didn't--for love of a seven-layer mousse cake--know what had come over me.(I still don't.)*Stealthily, I hung the jacket back on the racks, turned my cart around, and aimed myself straight for the kitchenwares.Where I promptly (and quite naturally) filled my cart with an array of inspiring second-hand homegoods.As I loaded the plastic bags full of finds into my car, I felt a zap of happy in my spine.I couldn't help but pull some of the purchases out and look at them once again.*Thrilling! I thought, as I rolled an old green soda bottle around in my palms.Moxilicious! I hyperventilated with joy over a flowered plate.Tucking the treasures carefully into the backseat, I tucked my worn t-shirt into frayed jeans, hopped in the car, and drove toward home like a woman on fire.My mind was buzzing with blog ideas.I couldn't wait to get to work.