Recently I’ve become aware that I’m hopelessly out of date.

It’s my two space habit. You know, two spaces after each period. I’ve done it since 7th grade when I learned to type and am having trouble breaking the habit.

More and more I see editors and publishers aghast with the double space after the end of each sentence. While many say, it’s not exactly wrong, others feel it’s an abomination.

Copywriters, publishers, and designers agree – only one space, even in email.

Maybe I’ll make this my new year’s resolution. I just feel like there are so many other more important changes that I need to make.

How much do the double spaces bother you?

If you really don’t like to write, how can you market your business using a blog?

Here’s my advice for creating a blog post, even if you don’t consider yourself a writer.

1) Log into WordPress
Go to POSTS. Select ADD NEW.
Select Visual (instead of Text)

2) Insert a PHOTO about your business
Click on ADD MEDIA. Select UPLOAD to add a new photo.
Decide if you will add something from the desktop or iphoto. Drag, double click or click on select file to upload
Rename the photo if it called something like 3489IMG or SCAN123. Try to name it something that someone might search in Google if they were looking for your type of business.

3) Describe the Photo
After you’ve inserted the photo, write a few sentences that describe the photo.

• Just get it down on paper (don’t edit yet)
• What would you say to a friend if they had just noticed this photo in your home or on your desk at work?
• Make a few points about it. (Just get it down, not even full sentences.  Work the creative side of your brain.)
• Then go back and edit for spelling, grammar and wording. (Work the analytic side of your brain.)
• Make sure you have a title in the Blog post.
• SAVE DRAFT often. You don’t want to lose your work. Proof and review in Preview.

4) Publish
When you’re satisfied with your photo and short description, it’s good.  Click the Publish key.

Think of writing a page in a book, not a whole book, not even a chapter!  Just a page that has a picture.  Almost a caption.

You can do a lot more, yes. But these 4 little steps will help you when you feel you’re stuck and are not a writer!

If your Facebook page and program is still one of the key tactics for communicating with your customers and potential customers, it may make sense to re evaluate it with the recent updates.

Depending on your target market, some of the key demographics are starting to abandon Facebook.

While Pew Research Center’s Social Media usage data from December 2012 shows that Facebook is still tops in terms of social media usage at 67%, just five months later there are signs of Facebook abandonment.

For example, when a video that makes fun of the unwanted Facebook Updates gets more than 2 million views in just 3 days, you know something is up.

This video provides an analogy of an apartment make-over to the Facebook update.

If your Facebook page and program is still one of the key tactics for communicating with your customers and potential customers, it may make sense to re evaluate it with the recent updates.

I know it captures some of the feelings I’ve had lately when unwanted ads or individuals have appeared, seemingly out of nowhere on my timeline.

You’ve got a great idea for a product.  You know who you want to market to and have found a manufacturer to help you make the prototypes.

Before you start branding and marketing your product, you’d be wise to learn about intellectual property.

Disclaimer – I am not a lawyer, you should consult an attorney who specializes in patents and trademarks.  But I have found that the clients who do a bit of homework before they meet with their attorney are more prepared and ask more informed questions.

It is surprising how often a company will want to get a logo designed before there has been any trademark or service mark search and after they’ve spent all the time to tweak the logo (as well as the budget set aside to develop it), they find out they can’t use the name or design because it’s too similar to another mark. Don’t let this happen to you!

Before You Market It, Protect It

Do you know the difference between a Patent, Trademark and Copyright?

1) A patent only protects your idea in the country that you’ve filed it and only for a specified amount of time.

2) A trademark protects the word or symbol you use (like a logo or name) to trade the product or service. It can last indefinitely as long as you continue to use it.

3) A copyright covers an author’s work, applying to original works of literature, music, software, whether they are published or unpublished. You can NOT copyright your product’s name, tag line or logo… that’s where a trademark comes in.

Learn more from Nolo, LegalZoom, the United States Patent and Trademark Office for patent search, trademark search and the U.S. Copyright office.

Andy Crestodina, Strategic Dirctor of Orbit Media Studios,has created a terrific resource for branding and marketing professionals who are looking for a way to blend SEO, Email and Social tactics to attract visitors to a website and convert those visitors into leads and customers.

Andy shares the most important and effective lessons he’s learned about content marketing.

“My hope is that new insights into web marketing will motivate you to get started and stay active. I hope you realize that web marketing is enjoyable because it’s creative, something both social and analytical.”

It’s an easy read. Every time I open the book, I learn something and find that I’m nodding my head in agreement. Well written, with 54 diagrams, 33 quick tips and 16 warnings, the book is very digestible.

Snag a copy here.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Andy sent me a free copy to review but I am not being paid to review this.  However, Orbit Media Studios has provided services to a nonprofit organization that I serve on the board of directors, but that has not influenced my review.