One comment marked as spam was particularly long, and out of curiosity I read through a bit of it. Turns out it was just a series of spam messages all strung together. It seems the spambot spewed it’s entire database in one post – nearly 12,000 words of more than 150 different spam comments. Ironically it started with “I needed to write you a very little word…”

Many of the comments are highly complimentary including words like “magnificent,” “fantastic,” and “excellent.” But I’m not sure whether this one is a compliment or not – “Thanks a lot for sharing this with all folks you actually realize what you’re speaking approximately!” I suppose approximate is better than the one that reads, “…I truly thought youd have one thing attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you could possibly repair should you werent too busy looking for attention.” I’m confused though. A couple posts away is “You need to take part in a contest for probably the greatest blogs on the web. I will suggest this site!” Am I great or terrible? LOL!

After I get a little laugh out of comment spam, I usually end up wondering about the source. In this case, the linked website is a well designed, legitimate-looking niche site. I can’t help but think the site owner must know better than to spam blog comments. I wonder if they hired someone to comment for them and haven’t checked on what they’re getting. Or perhaps they’ve been given some really bad advice about how to market their site. I end up feeling sorry for them – no matter how they ended up associated with the tactic, no good can come from it in the long run.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Comment Spam – Spambots Gone Wild

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Infographic

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Infographic – Pinterest Marketing

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Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Infographic – Happy Mother’s Day!

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Affiliate Marketing and Pinterest Webinar

Of particular interest to me was the section on copyright and other legalities of Pinterest, but I also found the tips on being pin-worthy and on affiliate marketing very helpful. I’m not there yet, but I’m looking forward to the section on finding pin sources.

If you’re interested in Pinterest at all, I strongly suggest that you make the time to watch the video. Here’s the link again:
Affiliate Marketing and Pinterest Webinar

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Answers to Many of Your Questions about Pinterest

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Using A Virtual Pinboard to Build Your Business

There are hundreds of ways you can use Pinterest to connect with your audience, increase awareness and drive traffic to your blog. Here are just a few to jump-start your creativity:

#1 Simple yet effective – Include a great image on your blog and then pin the image. When people click on your image it’ll take them back to your blog. Keep in mind that you can only use this idea once in a while. Like any social networking site you don’t want to give an image of blatant self promotion. Pinterest is about interacting and sharing. Include a useful tip or description of the image to provide information and value.

#2 Hold a contest – Alice Seba at Contentrix recently held a “Reason Why” contest at Pinterest. Using her Contentrix business profile, she invited her blog readers to post a pic that described or explained why they work from home. It’s a super way to get people to take action, interact on your blog and on Pinterest and to create a community. You can do the same. Create a contest that is relevant to your niche and invite others to participate.

#3 Pin How To’s and Videos – Create graphics that demonstrate how to accomplish a task. For example, if you’re in the fitness industry, you can create an image that shows how to do a proper sit-up. You can also pin videos.

And of course be sure to interact. On Pinterest you can comment, like and re-pin the pins others have posted to the site. You can also tag other Pinterest users in your pins by using “@username” in your descriptions.

Engage others in conversation and network with them. Remember that when you’re using Pinterest to build your business (as opposed to using it for personal uses) track your most popular pins. You can also use many of the rapidly growing developer tools to embrace Pinterest on your blog or website. For example, you can repost your pins on Facebook. You can also add a “Follow me on Pinterest” button to your site. Enjoy and happy Pinning!

NOTE: There is a lot of discussion about possible copyright issues with pinning. I am not qualified to give any advice about that other than to suggest you inform yourself and proceed accordingly.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Pinterest, a Fun New Way to Build Your Business

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Unfortunately, this eagerness often leads to a few common mistakes. Learn the mistakes now so you can avoid them and achieve the success and satisfaction you deserve.

1. Skipping the Business Plan

   Many people mistakenly believe that you only need a business plan if you’re seeking funding for your business. That’s not true. Your business plan is your outline or map for your business. It’s the document that tells you who you are, what you want to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it.

2. Trying To Be All Things To Everybody

   Specializing is the way to earn loyal customers. You earn credibility and establish yourself as an authority if you focus your attention on providing value to one specific audience. Try to be all things to everyone and you’ll not only have too much competition but you’ll also have a tough time gaining awareness for your business.

3. The “If I Build It They Will Come” Mentality

   There’s really no way around marketing your business. Thinking that you can simply put up a blog or a website and you’ll start making money without a marketing plan will quickly lead to disappointment.

   Marketing doesn’t mean you have to be pushy or salesy. Marketing is simply sharing the good word about what you have to offer. Find marketing tactics that fit your needs, vision, and brand and create a strategy to achieve your business marketing goals. (Hint: this should be part of your business plan.)

4. Thinking You Can Do It All For Free

   There’s no doubt that free is tempting. Unfortunately, free generally means that you pay later. You pay later when you need to upgrade. You pay later when your business has grown. You pay later when you need to transfer everything because the free service no longer exists.

   Yes, you can find free hosting, free blogs, free advertising and on and on. However, you as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Starting and growing an online business doesn’t have to be expensive but you might want to spend a little to assure you get quality products and services.

5. Not Sticking It Out

   Yes, it would be blissful to start a business and earn a profit right away. The truth is that it takes a bit of time, energy, and patience to achieve online success. It’s worth it.

Create your business plan. Implement your strategies and pay attention to your results. Change and grow your plan as you need to and enjoy the process. With the right attitude and motivation you will achieve online success.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Starting a New Online Business? 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Here are 5 tips to get more done in less time when working at your computer:
 

1. De-clutter. One of the simplest computer strategies is having a clean work space. When most of us think of our computer, we think of the actual machine, but did you know that the space around your computer is as important as the computer itself?

   When you keep your computing space as tidy as possible, you can get more done because you won’t be distracted by your surroundings or by having to clear a path while your work.

   De-cluttering also means removing old software and files that are taking up too much space on your hard drive. You’ll be surprised how much speedier the computer will run when you’ve cleared all the unnecessary programs and file.

2. Run anti-virus software regularly, probably every day. Viruses can cause system crashes, data loss, or slow down your computer.

   Obviously if your computer is unresponsive, you’ll lose precious time during your workday.

3. Organize. Set up your files and folders in such a way that everything you need is within reach. You will be able to move seamlessly from one task to another without wasting time searching for files.

   Put commonly used files in one place, such as your documents folder or a folder on your desktop. Also, use full filenames so you can easily find what you’re looking for.


   Use a search tool like Google Desktop to easily find files not within reach.

4. Clean the desktop on your computer. Many people don’t give much thought to their desktop and they may have dozens of unused icons and downloads just taking up space. Keep only the files, folders, and programs you need on your desktop.

   Delete the icons you don’t use regularly so that you can find what you’re looking for quicker.

5. Learn the shortcuts. Set a goal to learn something new about the software tools you use the most. There are plenty of options hidden in menus and keyboard shortcuts that can save you time, energy, and sanity.

   Print out a list of common shortcuts and keep it beside your computer for easy reference. When you challenge yourself to learn these new tricks, you’ll get faster and more productive over time.

Using these simple computer strategies will help you be more efficient and productive and you’ll find that you will get more done in less time.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Computer Tips to Get More Done in Less Time

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I wouldn’t recommend eating your entire 13 pound share of turkey all in one sitting.

I first came across this infographic from Meltwater Group on Social Media Today. Thanks for sharing!

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Happy Thanksgiving!

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To introduce their new transcription service, one of my favorite resources is giving away a free report called “45 Ways Transcribed Content Grows Your Business” Free Report No opt-in required. Just click and download the free guide which includes:

• 10 important reasons why you should transcribe your content
• 4 ways transcription expands your reach
• 8 types of content to transcribe
• 15 ways to repurpose your transcriptions
• 8 ways to distribute your transcribed and repurposed content for more exposure

Turn a great audio or video into more with transcription.

Claim your free report now and find out how transcription can help grow your business.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Reuse Video and Audio to Grow Your Business

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Subscribe to receive blog posts by email and get your bonuses including a free report containing 25 blogs post ideas.

Just fill in your email address in the form on the right and download your free bonuses (the link comes in the confirmation email).

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Claim Your Free Report – 25 Blog Post Ideas

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My latest guest post for the SearchEnginePeople.com blog was published earlier this week. “The Writing Process for 10 Blog Posts in 10 Days” provides tips for turning your ideas into complete, quality posts. I’d love to get your feedback on it. You can leave a comment here or there, or contact me by email.

Use Analytics to Improve Your Site Performance – Free stats tools provide a good deal of information that you can use to help you improve your site’s performance.

Recently released Private Label Rights (PLR) articles and reports include:

• WAHM Guide to Outsourcing – A PLR ebook and 5 articles on how to use outsourcing to help grow your online business.
• “Virtual Event Blueprint” Special Report – Complete package including 2 reports, articles, blog posts, and order pages all about how to use virtual events such as webinars in your business.
• Virtual Makeover – Here’s a unique PLR bundle. It includes 4 tutorials on online services that let you try new hairstyles and makeup looks.
• PLR Graphics – A set of graphics including buttons and badges, doodle drawings, and social media icons that you can edit and customize.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Writing, Analyzing, Outsourcing, Events, and Graphics

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Some of the free tools available to you to analyze what happens when visitors come to your website include:

• The website statistics provided by your web host.
• Google Analytics
• StatCounter
• AddFree Stats

Using these tools you can find out how visitors get to your website, learn which pages they visit, know which pages are most frequently viewed, and know how often visitors buy.

Statistics like this help you understand a whole lot about how your website is performing for example:

• How many visitors you have in a given month, particular day, etc.
• Which days and times are most popular.
• Where your visitors are coming from.
• How long they are staying on your site.
• How many pages they view before leaving.
• Whether or not they’re coming back.
• How many new and repeat visitors you’re receiving.
• Which keywords they are entering into search engines to find your site.
• Which pages are most popular.
• Which products they spend the most time on.
• Which pages they enter from most frequently.
• Which pages they exit from your site most frequently.
• Geographic location of your visitors.
• Which operating systems and web browsers they are using to access your website.
• Which links they are clicking.

This information allows you to make many adjustments including:

• Maximizing your selling opportunities on the most popular pages
• Knowing where your visitors are leaving your website allows you to identify and close unwanted exit points and maximize desirable links like Adsense and affiliate promotions.
• Identifying the most popular entry pages allows you can adjust and maximize your results for those pages and add other similar pages.
• Knowing how long visitors view a page can help you analyze the effectiveness of the page itself.
• Knowing which links are being clicked can tell you which offers your visitors are interested in and gives you a chance to test different approaches to making offers.

By looking at all the data that is provided by your analytics and statistics tools you will learn more and more about your visitors and be able to improve your site’s performance to increase profit.

You can also use analytics to create better content.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Use Analytics to Improve Your Site Performance

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How to Promote Interaction on your Blog – Here are 5 ways to promote interaction and commenting on your blog.

Managing Blog Interaction – Tips and Strategies – Tips and strategies for managing blog comments and encouraging blog interaction.

Pumpkin Recipes PLR and Other Seasonal Articles – It’s time to start promoting holiday products. Attract new readers and potential customers to your blog or website by sharing holiday recipes that are already written for you.

Other blog posts of interest

How Chapstick Responded to Criticism on Facebook – It’s inevitable that someone is going to criticize. The right response can heal; the wrong one can be very damaging.

I Don’t Have Time For This Social Media Thing! – If you let it, social media can take over your day. Here are some tips on how to use it effectively and efficiently.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Interaction, Job Hunting, Kindle, Recipes, & Negative Feedback

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How to Write a Product Review – Product reviews are a popular type of blog post both for readers and blog authors. Get tips for writing product reviews.

Other blog posts of interest:

How to Overcome Writer’s Blog Every writer faces it at some time. Eren Mckay offers some unique tips for overcoming it.

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Automate Your Social Media Marketing via Social Media Today – It might save you time, but automating your social media interaction can be costly.

Text Marketing | Your Message…Your Market via e-Edge Marketing – These stats make me think that text message marketing is the way to go.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Product Reviews, Social Media, Recipes, Crafts, & Saving Money

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Create Better Blog Content By Using Site Analytics – One of the most valuable tools you can use to create better blog content is your blog’s site stats and analytics.

Other blog posts of interest

Does Good Content Matter Anymore? It matters to me. How about you?

10 Simple Ways to Increase Conversions by Reducing Friction – Don’t let potential buyers stray from the path you want them to take.

Your comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome. Please leave a comment below or contact me.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Better Content, Conversions, Recipes, & Entertainment

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Give a Girl a Chance – I Dare You – It’s not too late to join me in participating in the 2011 Girl Effect Blogging Campaign. You have until Tuesday, October 11th to add your blog post.

Five Top WordPress Plugins – My Favorites – They’re functional, easy to use and encourage reader interaction.

Recipes and Food PLR (Private Label Rights) Articles – Sources for high quality food and recipe PLR articles for your blog, website, and newsletters.

Other blog posts of interest

People are still talking about Facebook tracking cookies. Honestly, I don’t understand it, but here’s an article that explains how to make sure you aren’t being tracked. Facebook Is Tracking Your Every Move on the Web; Here’s How to Stop It

Does your blog need a boost? Use 41 Tips to Significantly Improve a Blog in Less than a Month.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. What have you blogged about lately?

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – WordPress, Blogging, Girl Effect, and Recipe PLR

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One-quarter to one-half of girls in developing countries become mothers before age 18; 14 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth in developing countries each year.

Medical complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death among girls ages 15 to 19 worldwide. Compared with women ages 20 to 24, girls ages 10 to 14 are five times more likely to die from childbirth, and girls
15 to 19 are up to twice as likely, worldwide.

When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.

Source: The Girl Effect Data – Why Should We Pay Attention To Girls?

When I was growing up there was no question that I would graduate from high school. I was expected to go to college. In my community today, nearly 96% of the kids graduate from high school and nearly as many go on to college. What we take for granted is only a dream for many girls. In fact, about 25% of girls in developing countries are not in school and of all the youth who aren’t in school, 70% are girls.

It’s time for a change. Give a girl a chance.

You can make a difference today. Will you dare?

Join me in participating in the 2011 GIRL EFFECT BLOGGING CAMPAIGN. It’s easy:

1. Join the Girl Effect blogging campaign.
2. Blog about it this week and share your blog post URL here. (That link also has some tips and resources for writing your blog post.)
3. Encourage other bloggers to join the campaign.
4. Visit the Girl Effect website and find out how much a girl, her family, and her community benefits when she gets a little education.

Find out what Anita accomplished when she took a chance.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Give a Girl a Chance – I Dare You

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How to Compare Article Ghostwriting Services – To save yourself time, money and frustration it’s important to hire the best ghostwriter for the job. Here are some tips on comparing article ghostwriting services.

Answering Duplicate Content Penalty Questions and Concerns about PLR – Here are my opinions, along with some suggested resources that will help you reach your own conclusions in the debate.

Social Media Relationships for Sale? – We’ve all been busy following the advice to use social media marketing to “build relationships,” and now I wonder, are our relationships for sale?

Other posts of interest:

Social media has been the hot topic of late between big changes at Facebook and Google+ opening to the “public” now (you no longer need an invitation to get started). I haven’t really kept up with the goings on at Facebook and as usual, changes are being met with mixed reviews.

Google+ has reached 50 million users according to the article at Search Engine Watch: Google+ Hits 50 Million Users, Adds Circle Sharing

Social Media today posted a recap of the F8 Developers Conference.

Mari Smith held a webinar about all the changes and you can get the replay at Facebook Changes: A Complete Guide – Free Webinar On Demand.

The other big change starting today is the requirement that all apps on Facebook use secured SSL connections and those that don’t may be disabled. If any tabbed content on your pages disappears in the next few days or weeks, you’ll need to switch to a different app to continue to display that content.

I welcome your feedback and in particular this week I would like to hear your comments and suggestions on all these social media changes.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Ghostwriting, Duplicate Content, Visuals, Social Media

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I recently came across a business/website for sale and the sale includes a twitter account and a Facebook page with thousands of followers. Of course those are valuable assets that the current owner worked hard to develop and he deserves to reap the benefit. But I’m not sure how I’d feel about it as a “follower” or “liker.” Do I want to be sold to the next owner?

When a big business sells, customers probably don’t notice much change. When Amazon bought Zappos most of the employees stayed on and the same people probably kept posting on Twitter and Facebook. The social media relationship didn’t change. But when a sole proprietorship sells the social media presence, the relationship likely becomes noticeably different.

When my veterinarian retired a couple years ago, the clients were an asset that went with the sale. But I decided not to stay with that clinic. The main reason I continued to make the 20 minute drive there after we moved to a different town was because of the long-term relationship with the vet. When that relationship no longer existed, I opted for the clinic 2 minutes from my house. I was an asset in the sale, but the value for me changed dramatically with that retirement.

And as a sole proprietor, what about the value of taking your friends and followers with you to your next endeavor?

What do you think? Would you sell your Twitter and Facebook friends and followers with your business? How would you feel about being included with the sale of a business?

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Social Media Relationships for Sale?

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I’ve become more social. I’m trying out Google+. Are you there? The biggest challenge for me is finding the time. What do you like or dislike about Google+? Please leave a comment below to let us know.

Here’s a fun infographic on the History of Social Media. Be sure to comment there with where you started on the timeline.

Other blog posts of interest

And speaking of infographics, here’s another one. It’s about teens and email.

This TedTalk by the founder of KhanAcademy.org describes how the incredible math tutorials got started.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Google+, Infographics, Content, Kindle, & Social Media

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Click to Enlarge
Via Tenth Wave
View Other Infographics

Where are you on the timeline? I started online at about the time the first social network launched, but I didn’t get social until the year Groupon started, first with Twitter and then a few months later on Facebook.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. The Short History of Social Media – Infographic

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My latest guest post, 10 Types of Blog Posts You Can Write Today or Any Day, is available on the Search Engine People blog.

Other blog posts of interest

Real Names: Google+, Government & The Identity Ecosystem – It’s a bit long, but I read every word. It really gave me pause for thought – how much are we willing to give up?

After reading the post about The Identity Ecosystem, you may need a little laugh – Social Media Cartoons @ Hubspot. #5 The “Follow Back” is my favorite.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Posting, StumbleUpon, Homes, Web Start-Up, & Identity

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Here’s what I post last week two weeks (Did you miss me last week? )

Five Ways to Be a Better Blogger – Improve your blogging skills to get more traffic, and therefore more revenue, from your blog.

Speak Your Search Terms – Sometimes I feel like I’m the last to know about some of these fun new tools.

Other blog posts of interest

Wondering who sees what on your Google+ account. Get some great tips at Google+ FAQs on Privacy by Ashley Ray on SocialMediaToday.

How long will it be before Google declares you “real”? Google Begins Verifying Google+ Accounts by Matt McGee at Search Engine Land

The Most Dangerous Threat to Your Online Marketing Efforts by Sonia Simone on CopyBlogger – You may be surprised at what it is.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review Blogging, Finances, Affiliate Networks, Marketing

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And sure enough… When I click that little microphone I can speak my search term and get the term I want most of the time.

Am I the last to know? LOL!

That’s the 2nd new way of searching I’ve discovered in recently. It wasn’t that long ago when I learned about the drag and drop feature for image search. If you haven’t tried drag and drop image search yet, it’s fun too.

Thanks to Caitlin Melvin Carolyn Nicander Mohr for the tip about speaking a search in her post, Kicking it: 10+ Tools To Stay Relaxed & Connected While On Vacation at Search Engine People

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Speak your Search Terms

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Five Tips to Create Your New Blog’s Content – Use these handy tips to create your new blog’s content and never get stumped again.

Start Your Own PLR Sales Business – A resource for resell rights PLR content.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Creating Content, Resell PLR, Clickbank, and Google+

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New Blog Success Tips – Anyone starting a new business wants to be successful, but not everyone will be. A blog is no different. Whether you succeed or fail pretty much boils down to two things.

Other blog posts of interest

There are many who are quick to advise you on the way to market using social media. I particularly appreciate the line, “In my view, there is no ‘one way’ to manage your online positioning using social media. Instead…” from Five Lies About Social Media Marketing at Entrepreneur.com’s blog.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Success, Lies, Scrapbooking, Commenting, Social Media, and Startups

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How to Use Typepad – There are alternatives to WordPress. Here are the steps to take to get started using TypePad as your blog platform.

How to Use Movable Type – Another alternative blog and website content management system.


Take Your Direct Sales Team Training Online – These tips could be used for any type of team training, for example some of these methods would work very well to offer tips and tools for your affiliates.

Other blog posts of interest:

You MUST Post Every Day on Your Blog [Misconceptions New Bloggers Have #2 – This is probably the best answer I’ve ever seen to the question, “How often should I post on my blog?”

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Blog Platforms, Training, Payments, and Post Frequency

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How to Use Blogger – Step-by-step instructions for setting up a new blog using this free blogging tool hosted by Google.

Product Review PLR – New Resource – Professionally written product reviews ready to monetize by adding your affiliate links.

Is Your Direct Sales Business Meeting Your Needs? – A few key indicators to know whether your business is meeting your needs.

Other blog posts of interest

“The marketer mistook ease of entry for ease of success.”

That single statement from Antone Roundy’s Your Marketing Plan is Broken nicely sums up why so many enthusiastically start an Internet business with high expectations and all too often end up frustrated and disappointment. I read it twice; I recommend you do too.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Blogger, Product Reviews, Marketing Plan, & Getting Organized

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Mine is this. At first, spend more time interacting & getting to know a few people and less time trying to build a big list of followers or friends. When someone I don’t personally know follows me on Twitter or sends a friend request on Facebook, I take a quick look at their profile. If they haven’t posted anything other than self-promotion, I’m not going to respond in kind.

I’m more than willing to help someone new get started, but I need to see something to indicate a potential to exchange information and develop at least some rapport. Everyone has a few personal friends or business colleagues to start out with. If not, spend some time in the beginning sharing other interesting websites and blog posts before you start approaching strangers.

You really only have seconds to show someone why they should follow you. Make sure they can learn a little something about you in those few seconds.

Please share your #1 tip for social media beginners by commenting below.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. #1 Tip for Social Media Beginners

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What’s The Difference Between WordPress.Org and WordPress.Com? – If you’re new to blogging, researching WordPress may bring instant confusion. There are two WordPress platforms! Actually, the platform is the same. The difference is…

Stumped By Direct Sales Advertising? Try These Tips for Writing Attention Grabbing Ads – Tips to write ads that appeal to people who are looking for new opportunities, self-employment or careers.

And just for fun: One Way to Start a Video Blog

Here are some new tools I’m trying out:

Usually I list a few posts of interest from some of my favorite blogs, but this week I thought I’d give you a few thoughts on a couple new tools I’m trying out.

I’d been having some issues with my browser so decided to give Google Chrome a try. So far, so good. The main advantage is that it seems to be a little faster than my previous browser, and speed seems so important these days. Like anything new, I still getting used to the differences, but I give it a thumbs up so far.

Then, since the password manager I was using was not completely compatible with Chrome, I’m testing RoboForm with their 30-day free trial. So far I’m quite impressed. It’s easier to use and more automatic than my other program. Again, there are still several features I haven’t figured out, but so far I like it. Thanks for recommending it Eren. Eren has some great blogging tips on her site. One of my favorites is her tutorial that shows how to resize images for your blog posts.

I’ll update you again when I make my final decision about switching. If you use either Chrome or RoboForm I’d like to get your thoughts and tips – please leave a comment.

And as always, I welcome any other comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – WordPress, Writing Ads, Christmas, Mobile, & Affiliate Management

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Private Label Rights (PLR) Content – More Than Articles and Ebooks – You may be surprised to learn what other types of PLR content you can find.

Using Facebook as Page vs. Using Facebook as Profile – Here are a few things I’ve discovered about the similarities and differences when I “use Facebook as Page” as opposed to being signed in with my Profile name.

Three Strategies to Recruit Direct Sales Consultants Online – Many companies teach direct sales consultants how to recruit at parties or through their personal contacts. But many are having success recruiting online with these strategies.

Other blog posts of interest

Dealing With Heated Situations on Facebook There’s some very wise advice about dealing with difficult social media interactions.

Everything you wanted to know about Google Plus: “Google Plus: First Review & Expert Analysis”

Online Video Lets You Live Through The Arizona Sand Storm Vicariously – Some of the video made me want to yell at my screen, “No! Don’t drive into the storm!” or “Can’t you film from indoors?!”

Looking for PLR for a specific niche? Let me know what you need and I’ll see what I can find for you.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Types of PLR, Profit from Freebies, Smart Kids, Facebook, & Google+

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Here are a few things I’ve discovered:

Keep these tips in mind when deciding whether to add Pages and what to name them. And if you’ve already added pages, these tips should help you as you navigate around and interact both on Facebook and elsewhere on the Net. If I think about the differences in terms of how I interact with friends vs. how I interact with colleagues and other businesses outside of social media, it begins to make a little more sense to me. But I’m sure once I get it all figured out it will change again, and I’ll have to readjust. LOL! Never a dull moment!

If you haven’t already, please join me at Linda Stacy Recommends on Facebook.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Using Facebook as Page vs. Using Facebook as Profile

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Natural Health PLR Can Revitalize a Stagnant Blog – If your health blog has stalled, use these resources for new content.


How To Hold A Goal Setting Session — Really Help Your Direct Sales Recruits Achieve Success

Either I missed a bunch or it was a very quiet week for PLR releases. There were quite a few specials that ended on June 30th so perhaps we’ll see some exciting new PLR articles and special reports in the coming weeks. I’ll keep you posted!

Other posts and topics of interest

Probably one of the most talked about topics all week was the release of Google’s new social project, Google+. It’s not available to the general public yet; apparently you have to be “invited” to join. And of course it’s being compared to Facebook in features as well as likelihood of success. Typically I’d link to posts here, but honestly, I haven’t read enough about it to know where the good information is. I’m taking the “wait and see” approach on this one.

Another hot topic lately is Infographics and Douglas Karr of the Marketing Tech Blog found a very clever one: Infographic: Do-It-Yourself Guide to Infographics.

Google Helps ‘Mobilize’ Your Business Site in Minutes – If you’re like me and really aren’t sure how to make a website mobile friendly, this could be a good solution.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Health, Goals, Mobile Site, and Affiliate Marketing

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Tagging Photos for Your Facebook Photo Strip – If you don’t like how your photos are cropped on your Facebook profile photo strip, try retagging them.

It’s Much More Than How-To Create an Infoproduct – This coaching program is only offered once or twice a year so now is the time to join. You’ll end the program with your own infoproduct to sell.

The Ingredients of a Successful Direct Sales Promotion – More direct sales advertising tips; some can certainly be adapted to other online promotions.

Other blog posts of interest

Dispelling Misconceptions About Bloggers by Kristi at Kikolani hit home for a quite a few of her readers. Have you felt any of the repercussions of these myths?

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Photo tagging, coaching, cruising, video, and niches

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NOTE: The Group Coaching program has ended, but you can still get the self-study course.

If you’ve ever wanted to create your own infoproduct but weren’t sure how to go about it, click here now and sign up for the group coaching program. Kelly only offers it once or twice a year so this may be the only chance to join for quite some time. Yes, there’s a DIY course, but I recommend you grab this rare opportunity to be coached by Kelly at a very reasonable price. You won’t be sorry!

Kelly McCausey and I started working on the Internet at about the same time and our online paths have crossed often. I even worked for her at one point. I’m very familiar with her work and have a tremendous amount of respect for her. I know what kind of a coach she is, and I know what kind of a person she is. She doesn’t take her responsibility to you lightly, and she is committed to making sure her students get more than they bargained for. She wants you to be a success and she knows how to lead you there.

When you read the sign up page for the coaching program you’ll see that she talks about her excitement for running the coaching program again, and she says how much she loves it. I can assure you that those feelings are genuine. She’s one of the few people I know that truly enjoys her work everyday and who happily gives it all she’s got.

Here’s the link again to sign up. Don’t hesitate; do it now!
42 Day Launch Incubator

Have questions? Leave them in the comments and I’ll ask Kelly to answer them for us.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. It’s Much More Than How-To Create an Infoproduct

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Now if you make your original graphic the same size as a photo strip spot (97px wide by 68px high) then you’re all set – your entire photo will show on your profile page. But if you want to show a larger image when the thumbnail is clicked, it becomes a little tricky to get a specific part of the larger image to show in the photo strip thumbnail.

Unfortunately, I can’t yet give you the details or even tell you exactly where to tag the photo, but I can tell you that it makes a difference. So if you don’t like the result when you first tag the photo, try, try again.

Here’s an example of what happens.

This is the original image, and where my name shows is approximately where I first put the cursor to tag the photo with my name.

And here’s how it’s cropped for the photo strip thumbnail

Now when I re-tagged the photo in a different spot

It’s cropped differently for the photo strip

Another useful tip is that if you want your photos to show in a particular order in the photo strip, tag them in reverse order. In other words, the photo you want on the far right is the one you should tag first. Then work your way from right to left, and the 5th photo tagged will be on the left hand side of the strip.

I believe these tips apply to profiles only. I’ve seen information suggesting that the photo strip on business or fan pages works differently. I’ll test that out soon and let you know.

I’ll be working on this some more and will update this post when I learn more. If you have any other tips that will help with the arranging and sizing of images for the Facebook photo strip, please leave a comment with the information.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Tagging Photos for Your Facebook Photo Strip

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Subscribe to Your Own RSS Feed – See what your readers see.

Creating Your Direct Sales Advertising and Listing Strategy – The five step process to creating a successful strategy.

Something else to check out for a great deal this week is the anniversary celebration at DIYplr. It’s a membership option with a great twist – you choose the content you want each month. And for the next few days only you can get your first month for just $20.

DIYplr provides everything needed to produce illustrated how-to guides on a variety of topics including business, family, and health. Each bundle includes 4 guides and rights to all the included images so you can produce information products, web pages, blog posts, or other how-to content.

The bundles are sold individually, but the membership option means greater savings for you. And with this anniversary special price you save even more.

As always I welcome your questions and comments. Have a great rest of the weekend and I’ll see you next week.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – RSS, Advertising, Online Security, Plugins, and Health

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1 – In Google Reader, text wasn’t properly wrapped around images. Here’s a blog post with the image and text carefully placed.

Here it is looking not so great in my reader:

Thanks to DocSheldon’s article, Two Ways to Text-Wrap Images in WordPress, I finally learned how to change a bit of code to properly align the image and text in both my post and my feed reader.

But I still have questions about how images look in other readers. I may subscribe through a couple others to check. Or perhaps you can help out with the information. If you are subscribed with a different reader, please comment to let me know how the images looks in yours.

I’ve also noticed that images and text aren’t properly wrapped for email subscribers, so I’ll be curious to see if this method fixes that as well. I just need to wait until the next mailing is sent to find out.

2 – I had been placing the attribution credit for images downloaded from Flickr immediately under the image in my post. But when the image was placed above any text in the post, the credit ended up as the description text in my feed reader. For example:

I prefer that my own text be listed in the reader, so now I place the credit at the bottom of the post, no matter where the image is placed. Alternatively the image can be linked to Flickr and the title tag used to credit the artist. In fact, if you want to serve the image from Flickr and link the image to give credit, it’s quite easy using the code provided by Flickr:

While we of course can’t check everything every which way, I think it’s worth taking a look at the more common ways our readers are accessing our information. They may seem like small details, but taking care of them can help maintain a professional appearance.

What do you think? Your comments and questions are always welcomed.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Subscribe to Your Own RSS Feed

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Summer Business Tips – Balancing Working at Home and Family – These tips will help you enjoy some time with your family and still get some work done this summer.

Building Customer Loyalty Online and Off – Loyal customers are repeat customers.

Other blog posts of interest

Four Good Reasons NOT to be a ‘LinkedIn Smartypants’ – I haven’t set up my LinkedIn account yet, but this is a good reminder for me to be sure to read the TOS when I do. Otherwise I might have made the profile picture mistake.

Writing to Attract, Retain and Engage – If I can When I master that skill I’ll be one very happy blogger!

How to Disable Facebook Facial Recognition – I just found out that they are using facial recognition.

(Editor’s note: added a day after this post was first published)
Should we be scared of Facebook’s automatic photo tag suggestions?

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Social Media, Loyalty, Health, Summer Business

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For many work at home business entrepreneurs summer can present even more of a challenge when it comes to balancing work and family. Often summer means a break in routine. Perhaps kids are home from school, your spouse may take time off from his or her work, and you may be taking a family vacation. Balancing a work life and a home life can be difficult, but with a little knowledge and planning, you can make it work for you. Here are five tips that will help you balance business and family.

1. Make schedules. Keeping track of work and your family can be difficult. Post a family master calendar so everyone knows who is doing what. Try to keep a regular routine and work schedule from day to day and week to week if you can.
2. Set realistic goals. It’s pretty much a given fact that if you want to achieve something big, you have to make some sacrifices. When setting your goals, be realistic and don’t stretch yourself too thin. If you just can’t work as many hours as usual, adjust for it and don’t stress over it.
3. Prioritize. When making your to-do lists, figure out the things that are most important for you to do and get them done first. If there isn’t enough time to do everything, you won’t feel as bad about what you have to cut.
4. Be flexible. The best laid plans and schedules will be interrupted. Expect it and occasionally even let yourself take a beach day on a whim.
5. Take time for yourself. It’s important to remember that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone or anything else. Try to schedule in at least a few minutes of “you time”, whether it be going for a run, watching your favorite TV show, or just sitting in a room by yourself to relax for a few minutes.

Allowing yourself to enjoy some family time and summer fun will rejuvenate you and help you be less stressed and more productive when you work.

Some other resources for summer productivity and summer fun:

• Plan and schedule all your business writing for the summer with this free download Summer Content Planning Tools
• If your kids have your entrepreneurial spirit, perhaps they can run their own business this summer. Check out these summer business ideas.
• Summer Projects to Help Keep Teens Busy
• Summer fun is important too of course. Summer Activities for Teens
• Stay safe! Advice for Dr. Mom: Summer Safety – First Aid and Safety Tips for Summer Fun

Image courtesy of GraceFamily on Flickr

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Summer Business Tips – Balance Working at Home and Family

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Easy Blog Installation – Setting up your own WordPress blog is very easy with the auto-installation service provided by most hosting companies. Here are the steps.

Direct Sales Advertising — How to Advertise With Facebook – A look at how to use Facebook for direct sales business building and recruiting new team members.

Other resources:

Summer’s here! Does summer fun usually distract you from business? Well, not this year. Grab these free tools and keep your content fresh and still enjoy plenty of time with the family.

Here’s the link again:
>>Summer Content Planning Tools

Other blog posts of interest

Want to direct someone to a specific section of a page? This tutorial shows you exactly how to. Linking to a Specific Point on a Page.

The Google +1 Button: What You Need To Know And How To Get It – The title says it all. The post is good basic information about what it is and how to install it.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Blog Install, More Clients, Summer, and Travel

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How to Market with Social Media? – I’m beginning to think that the ROI on social media marketing may be one of the more difficult ones to measure. But my new strategy is finally starting to take shape.

Effective Direct Sales Advertising Options to Consider. Some of the tips might translate to other types of business recruiting, for example recruiting affiliates.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Marketing, WordPress, Squidoo, & Ezine Marketing

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I need to get started with a new strategy and I need to keep it going.

Part of what I’ve struggled with is learning what really works. While many marketers are quick to say that social media works wonders for them, they don’t all explain exactly how it helps them. But I’m beginning to understand.

Carrie Hill’s post at Search Engine Land, Likes Are Not Loves – How To Waste Time “Marketing” In Facebook, provides a good deal of clarity for me. In particular she addresses the question, “what do you gain when someone ‘likes’ your page?”

Hill writes, “I’m disturbed by the complete lack of understanding within business America that a “Like” doesn’t equal “Love” and it certainly doesn’t equal revenue.”

Okay, got it… Point #1 – Likes don’t magically transform into dollars.

Hill goes on to describe some alarming data about a company whose website visitor numbers increased along with their number of Facebook likes, but so did their bounce rate. And the time spent on their site decreased. Not the results I would hope for, which leads me to…

Point #2 – Increased web site visitors in and of itself is not the whole story. What they do when they get there is what matters.

Most of the online marketing advice I come across these days includes a strong recommendation to use social media marketing. But I almost never see any real data about results. And in my experience, when pressed to describe exactly how it “works,” most people continue to offer vague responses about increased traffic or referrals. I’m beginning to think that the way social media marketing works is difficult to measure, and it may very well be profitable only in the long term.

Hill goes on to say that there is a right way to market on Facebook, and that it will result in new customers (thankfully). But she says that to do it right is to “grow slowly.” And her number one tip for Facebook marketing that gets results is basically the same as what other successful social media marketers recommend – engage your fans.

So from Hill’s article and other sources I’ve constructed my Point #3, the cornerstone of my social media marketing strategy: Gaining likes, followers, and friends on social media provides the opportunity to offer fans something of value – information, tips, ideas, resources, help, and answers to their questions. And while it’s okay to add them now and again, sales pitches and special offers should be kept to a minimum. It’s up to me to make the most of the opportunity I’m given when someone likes my page.

To be successful, I need to give fans what they want and they’ll happily come back for more. My plan is to strive for loyalty. I think it’s in that loyalty that I’ll find my best customers.

What’s your social media marketing strategy and how do you measure results?

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. How to Market with Social Media?

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How to Rewrite PLR Articles – While private label rights articles can be used as is, rewriting them is a fairly easy process that can make the content more attractive to your audience.

 
Recent PLR Article Releases:

Other interesting posts:

Resize Images for Your Blog Posts – If you don’t have your own image editor, here’s a easy to follow step-by-step tutorial for a free online image tool that you can use to learn how to quickly and easily optimize your blog post images.

Why I Don’t Like Your Brand on Facebook A few words added to your “find me on Facebook” link can make a huge difference.

Have questions? Leave a comment to ask and I’ll answer myself or find someone who can help.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Rewrite PLR, Facebook, Image Editing, Craigslist, & More

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Other blog posts of interest:

Speaking of personal… One of my favorite wall posts this so far this month is not business related at all. The reason this is one of my favorites is because it’s a perfect example of how my friend Eren has a way of just popping up in the middle of a serious work day and putting a smile on peoples’ faces. I just don’t know many people who would find and celebrate a pink bug.

I’d like to hear from you. Please leave a comment or contact me with any questions, requests, or suggestions.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Blog Images, SEO, Mindmaps, & PLR Savings

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How to Add Images to Your WordPress Blog Posts

 

PLR Comparison Charts – Huge bundle of PLR comparison charts for internet marketing products.

 

Deserving Attention – The Grameen Foundation provides loans to help the world’s poorest start a small business.

 

Other blog posts of interest
Blog Commenting Flops: Do These to Lose Traffic and Links – Whether you comment for fun, social interaction, or as part of your marketing strategy, these tips will help you make the most of the time it takes to properly comment.

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.
 
 

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Charity, Mailing Lists, Blog Commenting, & Time Management

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The foundation makes small loans available to some of the world’s poorest people, especially women. These loans, along with information and support for real business opportunities provide a way out of poverty.

It’s a solution that works and that I think is worth supporting. Get more information and make a donation at http://www.grameenfoundation.org/

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Deserving Attention – Grameen Foundation

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Turning my Attention to Those Who Deserve It – I’m turning my attention away from the negative and towards the positive. There are many people and organizations giving of their time, talent, and money to provide solutions to problems that plague people and animals. This post is the start of a regular series featuring some of them.

PLR and Resell Rights Definitions – These are the commonly used terms and their commonly accepted definitions.

What would you like to see me blog about next week? Please leave a comment below with your suggestions or questions you would like answered.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Deserving Attention, PLR Definitions, and Summer Business Ideas

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The other day I was uncomfortable about posting For the Love of Elephants, but I wasn’t sure why. I feel strongly about the topic and I’m not afraid to take a stand. But the post just wasn’t me. Then yesterday, in the midst of a hot debate in the comments section of a WebProNews post, between some rants, well thought out points, insults, and ignorance, Michelle’s comment clarified it for me. I typically focus my attention on the positive. I share positive messages, and I recommend and sell products and services based on their high quality and benefits, not by bashing what I don’t like.

So I am now turning my attention to those who deserve it. Those that are making a difference by providing solutions that benefit people and animals.

Michelle suggested we look at this video about how COMACO makes a positive difference for farmers, their families, and their villages, and has a positive impact on conservation.

And in an AOL news article, Zimbabwe Expert: The Truth About Killing ‘Problem’ Elephants, a leading Zimbabwe conservationist explains the plight of the elephants and why Parsons’ justification just doesn’t ring true.

Finally, this should leave you with a little smile. Apparently, elephants feel threatened by bees. Take a look at this video from Save The Elephants. It’s just 30 seconds long and I’m sure it won’t take you any longer than that to realize how easily something like this could be used to protect farmers’ crops.

Where are you focusing your positive attention? Do you know of other organizations that are helping people and saving animals? Please comment below.

Photo Credit: LaertesCTB

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Turning my Attention to Those Who Deserve It

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Do you make business decisions based on someone’s personal actions or beliefs? What’s your take on the controversy over GoDaddy’s CEO hunting and killing an African elephant? Read what I did when I heard about it: For the Love of Elephants

The next step in the How to Start a Blog series is probably the most difficult for many people: Start Writing Blog Posts. These tips will get you started and help you find blog post ideas.

How was your week? What did you blog about or what news did you find interesting? I welcome your comments below.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Elephants, Blog Writing, Fitness, and +1

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Editor’s note: This post was written in April, 2011 and at that time Namecheap was offering special pricing for transfers. Since that price is no longer available, grab a coupon before transferring or purchasing domain names there.

Normally I don’t pay all that much attention to the personal antics of CEO’s and other officers of large businesses. And honestly, I usually steer clear of controversial topics on my blogs because that’s not what I’m about. But when I heard that the CEO of GoDaddy hunted and killed an African elephant, it saddened and angered me so much that I had to take action.

The first thing I did in reaction was transfer my domain names from GoDaddy to Namecheap. I’ve been using Namecheap for over a year for new registrations, but hadn’t changed registrars for previously registered domains. Until today.

Do you make business decisions based on someone’s personal actions or beliefs? If you want to take action in reaction, here’s are a few things you can do.

1. Transfer your domain names from GoDaddy to another registrar. There are many to choose from. I prefer Namecheap and they are offering a great price for transfers made today and tomorrow through April 4, 2011. Find the $4.99 transfer offer in their blog. (Be aware that the video on that post is quite graphic. I wouldn’t recommend watching it if there are children in the room.) Here’s part of what they say in that blog post:“We’ve decided to throw our support behind our Elephant friends by offering domain transfers at a price where we actually lose money.”

   If you select some other registrar be sure to choose one that’s ICANN accredited and that isn’t a GoDaddy reseller. (I’m still debating what to do about my domains at a reseller. In a way I don’t want to “punish” the reseller, a small business, for Parsons’ actions, but GoDaddy is profiting from those domains too.)

   Setting up the transfer process will take a little bit of your time, but it’s not difficult. Namecheap provides step by step instructions on how to transfer from GoDaddy.

   There was one section where I had a little trouble finding the link I needed. When you need to get the EPP code from GoDaddy, there’s a step that says, “Click Send By Email in the Authorization Code field.” It’s in the Domain Information column on the left hand side of the page.

2. Make a donation to a charitable organization that helps save endangered elephants. Namecheap is donating $1 from each transfer made today and tomorrow by 11:59pm EST on April 2, 2011 April 4, 2011 (2nd 3rd time the offer has been extended) to http://www.savetheelephants.org. I don’t know anything about that charity or another one I came across today, http://www.elephantconservation.org/, so before you donate you’ll want to check up on the charities yourself.
    
3. There’s also a petition you can sign at Change.org.

While I’m sure there will continue to be much debate over the particulars of Parsons’ actions, I’m as interested in talking about how much a business owner’s or CEO’s personal beliefs and actions influence your decision about whether or not to do business with them.

This news moved me in part because I’ve always had an affinity for elephants. There’s just something endearing about such a huge animal being so family oriented and matriarchal. I just can’t understand the kill and I believe that if Parsons’ true motivation was to help preserve their crops and feed the farmers, he had many alternative, more humane ways to meet those goals.

What do you think? Would you stop doing business with someone for what you deemed to be outrageous personal behavior? Or would you also be swayed by “little things”? What types of behavior or beliefs would cause you to stop (or not even start) doing business with someone? Should business owners know enough to not publicize potentially controversial behavior?

I look forward to your comments.

Photo Credits:
Nick Perritti for the baby elephant.
kevinzim for the elephant family.

Please NOTE: Normally I link to Namecheap with my affiliate link, but did not do so in this post because they are already taking a loss on the $4.99 transfers. If that offer has expired, check here for this month’s discount coupons for domain name purchases (and my affiliate link).

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. For the Love of Elephants

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On my own blogs I wrote about:
How to Register a Domain Name for Your Blog The hard part of registering (purchasing) a domain name is choosing it. Once you choose your domain name, the actual registration process is as easy as any other online shopping.

How to Choose Blog Web Hosting Tips on choosing a web hosting company for your blog.

 

Free PLR – Out with the Old and in With the New Twitter

 
Here is some of the new PLR that was released during the week:

Here’s another resource for starting a blog:
Do You Need More Structured Blog Coaching? If the self-paced, self-learning style offered here at “Linda Stacy Recommends Blogging” doesn’t work for your learning style, perhaps the blog coaching course is what you’re looking for.

We welcome your comments and questions. Please post them below and I’ll answer any questions either in the comments or in a future blog post.

 
 

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – PLR, Domains and Hosting, and Blog Coaching

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How to Turn a First Time Customer Into a Repeat Customer – Join this workshop to discover how to increase sales to existing customers.

Is Facebook Getting Too Complicated to Use? – Maybe it’s just a question of getting used to the changes. What do you think?

How To Choose a Source for Professional PLR Articles – Tips for finding the best PLR.

These are some of the best new releases in PLR:

We welcome your comments and questions. Please post them below and I’ll answer any questions either in the comments or in a future blog post.

 
 

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Repeat Customers, Facebook, PLR Tips and Resources

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It’s much easier to sell to an existing customer than to find and sell to new customers. But if you don’t know how and when to follow-up, you’re losing too many of those customers. On March 29, 2011 successful entrepreneur and business coach, Melissa Ingold will show you how to use Magnetic Followup to stay in touch with your customers and get them to buy from you over and over again.

Register by March 17th and for extra bonuses, but don’t worry… if you missed the bonuses, the workshop itself offers plenty of value.

 


 
 Here’s the link again:
>>> Register for the Magnetic Followup Workshop
Register today, before it’s sold out! There are only 100 seats available.
 
 

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. How to Turn a First Time Customer Into a Repeat Customer

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Then I started liking my business associates and they liked me too. It was a great way to share our tips and resources, and we became friends and chatted about personal things too. It was still pretty simple and fun.

Then businesses started making fan pages and I liked them. And it was a good idea… let’s move business to business pages and keep our profiles more personal. So I made my own business page and asked my business friends to like it. They did.

But that’s when the complications really began to set in.

For starters, liking your business page still meant I liked it on my profile page, and that’s not necessarily where I want to recommend other business resources. But a solution came not too long ago. Now I can interact on Facebook as a page; and I can like and share other Facebook content as a page, so it appears on my business page and not on my personal profile. Great. Now I’m moving all my business “likes” from my profile to my pages. All is well with Facebook world.

But wait a minute…

You know all those like buttons and share buttons on blog posts and other website content? I still can only use them as me, as my profile, and not as a business page. When I’m reading a business blog and want to share the post on my business page, it can’t be easily done. Clicking that handy dandy like or share button will only allow me to place the content on my personal profile… again, not where I want to share business information.

I’m experimenting. I think I may have a work around, but even if it works, it will be a cumbersome two-step.

UPDATE: Since originally posting, I’ve been experimenting with the work around and it doesn’t seem to work. But in the process I’ve become even more confused. Because now it seems that when I’m logged in as a page, sometimes I can share other content and sometimes I can’t.

It’s beginning to look like I can only share content that was originally posted on the wall, via Facebook. So for example, if something is posted to a fan page wall via Hootsuite, I can’t share it. However I can like it, but I’m not sure what that does. It doesn’t seem to post anything on my page wall or news feed.

Perhaps like anything else, it’s just taking some time to understand and get used to the new features Maybe it will become less and less complicated with practice.

I so need simple again!

Do you have any tips or ideas for the business aspect of Facebook? Do you separate business and personal or are you just mixing it up? Please comment with your thoughts and suggestions.

And then there’s the new iframes to replace FBML.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Is Facebook Getting Too Complicated to Use?

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PLR Bundle: “What’s New with Facebook Pages” – Here’s a great new PLR package that you can use to get your readers and followers up to speed on all the new Facebook pages features.

More to come next week. And please comment with any questions you have about blogging or about using PLR and I’ll answer them in a future post.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review – Social Media, Business Ideas, & Finding Customers

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Once you’ve decided to start a blog, the million dollar question becomes “What should I blog about?” How to Choose a Blog Topic will help you decide.

In How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Blog you’ll find… well, just that… tips on choosing your blog’s domain name. There are a number of things to consider that you may not have thought of.

In case you missed it, there was previously a post in the PLR section for a $1 PLR package that let’s you try out private label rights content.

What’s newly available in private label rights (PLR) content this week?

• No longer available. From DIYplr
  Twitter Widgets – Illustrated step-by-step guides on how to add widgets to your websites to incorporate social networking into your content.

  Twitter Widgets is also available in the February Special 7 Bundle Package. But hurry! The special ends on February 28, 2011.

• From the Special Report Club
  PLR Solo Report Pack: How to Increase Blog Traffic
• From All Private Label Content you can grab the new autoresponder series about building a profitable website. The email series includes affiliate product promotions in the content.
• From Coaching PLR
  How to Use YouTube for Video Marketing

I found these interesting posts on other blogs. You might like them too.

• My son would have loved this theme for one of his young birthdays. Not sure it would go over too well if I decorated his college dorm room with it on his next birthday. Hot wheels birthday party ideas – hotwheels theme cake pictures
• Need a Niche: Home Intercom Systems – Maybe this particular niche isn’t of interest, but this is an ongoing series at Secret Women’s Business Network that might help you find a niche you’d enjoy pursuing.
• And it’s not too late to get started with the email profits challenge going on over at Contentrix.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and please stay tuned for more next week.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Week in Review

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We get and send many mixed messages about business, especially online business. Another popular saying is, “People do business with people they know, like, and trust.” A popular buzzword these days is “personal branding.”

And then there’s social media marketing. We gather friends, fans, and followers. We’re advised to build relationships and not just promote business products and services. We carry on personal conversations in between “business” updates. We use apps to let everyone know where we are all day long, whether it’s the coffee shop or a business meeting.

But yet we ask people not to be hurt by business decisions, because it’s “it’s business, not personal.”

The personal aspect of business is exemplified in the 1972 movie, “The Godfather.” The theme repeats frequently throughout the movie and really stands out in this bit of dialogue between Sonny (one of the Godfather’s sons) and Tom Hagen (the family lawyer and adviser):

“Tom Hagen: Your father wouldn’t want to hear this, Sonny. This is business not personal.
Sonny: They shoot my father and it’s business, my ass!
Tom Hagen: Even shooting your father was business not personal, Sonny!
Sonny: Well then, business is going to have to suffer…”

What do you think? How personal is business for you? Please comment and share some examples of how it’s personal for you, or when a friend or colleague has taken business personally.

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Is it Really Just Business Not Personal?

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Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Latest Blogging Tips

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Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Latest Blogging Tips

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Yet at the same time it can be nearly impossible to sort through it all to separate the good from the bad, the real from the hype.

“Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.” ~ Mitchell Kapor, Software Designer, and Investor.

There are a few things you can do to help sort through the mountain of information. Rely on trusted sources, learn how to ask the right questions, and don’t forget to use your common sense.

Do you find it difficult to find the right answers online? How do you go about searching for answers and resources?

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Is There Too Much Information Online?

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But first and foremost… my pledge to you is that every resource I recommend is one that I’ve either used myself, or is provided by someone who I know is trustworthy and reliable. If I’m not 100% convinced of the quality of the product, person, website, or tool, I won’t suggest it.

Who is this site for?

Help is here for beginners and seasoned home business owners who want to add another tool to their online marketing repertoire, but aren’t sure where to find the best options, or don’t know how to install, setup, and use their available resources to start blogging.

It’s also another place to connect with friends and colleagues to share stories, opinions, and other tips and resources for running a business online.

What you’ll find in the Linda Stacy Recommends family of sites:

Answers. Of course I don’t have them all, but in the years that I’ve been on the Internet I’ve met some smart, giving people. So when I don’t know the answer, I can almost always count on a friend, or a friend of a friend, to provide it for you.

My focus is on:

1. Creating a Blog
   In Blogging Made Simple you’ll find out how to create your own blog even if you don’t have website technical experience or skills. You are guided step-by-step from choosing where to blog to setting it up, figuring out what to blog about, and on to getting the visitors you want.
2. Where to Find Content
   When you market your business online, you need content. Check out PLR Articles to find private label rights (PLR) articles to use on blogs, websites, and social media sites and for newsletter and mailing list content, tutorials, ebooks, and special reports to sell or give away.
3. Quick Tips
   I’ll share all the little business and marketing tips I’ve picked up along the way and answer any of your questions. Your comments, questions, and feedback are always appreciated and responded to. Please leave a comment on any of my posts and feel free to contact me any time.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Originally posted at Linda Stacy Recommends. Please click the link below to read the complete post, add your comments, and find similar articles. Welcome. Do You Want to Start Blogging?

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