Blogger Friday,

 Is the content of your blog too little, too big or just write? If you say yes, then you need to break it apart in a clean organized way so your readers can take in all the good information you are trying to share. What draw others into your site?  There are so many pictures that just make you want to see what is being said, so at least for me, I click and read. I love when an article pulls me off of what I am doing because I get curious. Have you ever just wrote down what you look for in a day and what you actually read?  I do find that the pictures and the keywords to an article make me want to check it out further. So how can we begin to make our blog better. Take those ques from other pages. Did you read the whole article after the initial click to it? 

In 2014, Googles statistics for searches done per day were shown 5,740,000,000! WOW!  Google has grown from 1998 where their searches done per day were a mere 9,800.  Take note of what you are searching for in a day and really see what it is that interest you.

Check out these first 6 tips from Haley Marketing groups ideas from their article 50 Ways to Grab Attention

1. Write headlines in the form of a question. People just can't resist answering a question-even if they only respond to themselves.
2.  Create headlines with "ego appeal." Everyone wants to be respected and liked and will gladly read beyond a headline which promises how to accomplish this.
3.  Use "you" in your headline and beyond to involve the reader and personalize your copy.
4.  Be brief. Get your point across in the fewest number of words possible if you want to grab and keep the reader's attention.
5.  Use sidebars to draw attention to important points and for visual relief.
6.  Use buzzwords like FREE, SALE, WINNER, and GUARANTEED to get people emotionally involved and excited.  

Dictionary, thesaurus, synonyms & antonyms

Break up your information:

• Always put breaks to your information by using pictures, different size letters, bullet points, quotes, links and headers.  This helps pause the input going in to your reader so they can stay interested.  Pictures say 1,000 word, quotes can bring a different insight to your material.  Make the picture sing about the information with detail and captions.  

• Link can help the reader feel you are really looking out for them by making sure they have the full information.

• Use bold, italic and underlines to emphasize specific words and phrases.

Do not rush your article:
This makes it easy to make mistakes, misspelled words and it could make your article incomplete. Read and reread your article so it is coherent, precise, to the point and does not run on.  If you have to, read the article out loud.  If you stumble on what you wrote, than it needs a quick rewrite.  Many people reading blogs understand when stuff is a little off but when you are working up to become a more professional writer you need to have quality content to offer future employers and professional clients.

Research everything thoroughly:
Giving out misinformation can make you look bad and it could mislead your readers in a direction that may not lead them back to you.  When you do research on what you are writing, it makes development of your article easier to write because you end up with more drive with a better understand of a subject.

Don't plagiarize:
As we have seen from an article that Justina put up about using others pictures in our blog, remember to never use other people content without citing your source. If you feel that you cannot write a better article than someone else has check with the author to see if you can use their information verbatim.  There is a website is software that checks content of an article.  It is called Copyscape and it will check to see if you have used other peoples information (copyscape.com)

I am and have been doing a lot of research for my classes in school. Citing your sources is so important because think about it, if someone copied your work as their own it sure would hurt, you would not be recognized, and they may get all the readers instead of you.

On the flip side, I am still working on my site, boy am I slow but keep priorities in line for what needs to be done on a daily basis. Keep your calender and planners updated and marked. Next time, you tell me what you want to see for blogging! I am here for you and we need to help each other out so, let me do that for you.

Come by and check me out, leave me a message or follow me at silverwineadditions.blogspot.com

Have a great valentines weekend!

References:
Google Anuual Search Statistics - Statistic Brain Institute 

http://www.statisticbrain.com/Google-searches/ 

50 Ways to Grad Attention 
http://www.haleymarketing.com/how-to-tips/50-ways-to-grab-attention/

The Art of Freelance Blogging, kindle book by Kevin Muldoon, 2013
http://www.kevinmuldoon.com 

WordPress, who’s the press with words?

Get it out there! Who is this WordPress? It seems like every book I have looked at gives a step by step about the WordPress ins and outs. Many times it can be all about the money. There is much information about getting a domain and whom they went with for that domain name with puts them right in the path of WordPress. I did not follow the books, go figure, only because I was looking for a cheap price on domain names. While looking for that first step in domain names, I used the search bar to look up web host with the best price and the best user-friendly site. There is a list from different sources and each would give their own best estimate from their own experiences. That is what the web has come down to. Who are you going to listen to and if you have to pay for there advise how much is it really worth? Will you end up with a lemon of a site?

There is a consumer reports that has for years done this type of thing in a book and now it is online and for a price. For some, having the bloggers opinion is still better than paying. Remember when you accept the information from someone that is not in a specific field it could be only what works best for them. Try checking their educational and professional backgrounds a little. If that person is a computer programmer many sites will be easier to navigate than other and compared to the novice, such as myself, just dabbling on the computer may not end up with the same results. Of course certain sites will be better than others. So make sure when looking at what is there and better you know where your source is coming from and their range of experience.

WordPress is an open source content to management system (CMS). This means that any kind of website or blog can be built and managed with it. It would be helpful to know that if you can do one thing in all, than do all in one thing. This was specifically designed for the management of websites. It allows users to control the entire layout functional workings of it and the contents of their website. This service has been up and running for over 10 years and there is limitless options with the site. You can build your blog, portfolio sites, e-commerce sites, membership sites, business/service sites and it goes on. Because there is a pooling of resources on this site that is what makes it more manageable in the long run.

The cheapest or the best may be for some but not for others can really get you confused. I was taken back the first time I looked at WordPress because I did not want to spend the money. So I took the free option then. So recently when money could be spent somewhere else and thought you initially think you are getting a better deal. In the end, you may spend more money on the mistake by going somewhere else when you should have stuck with something that more people use and is trusted than the better money deal.

 

Even if you have a domain site and a host now what do you do from here? Well you have WordPress map it for you to the blog you create to your domain but that will cost you $13. If you go with just a WordPress platform it is free but free only give you 3 GB of space, a free blog, some advertising that you do not have control of, and community support. In the next level, which is the Premium, you can pay $8.25/month or $99 a year for 13 GB of space, direct email support, customer design, video press, no ads, a custom site address, free blog.

In the previous plans there is no e commerce, which is okay if you are just writing but what happens when you start to sell things? WordPress can give you a business format at $299 a year. This added price also can give you all of the benefits of the previous except they add video chat, e-commerce and unlimited storage space.

This is the option page for WordPress. 

At the bottom it has a link to go over 

the break downs of each and the benefits.

So I have my blog on WordPress and my domain somewhere else so than what? Combine them with the easy tool on WordPress, that extra $13. People will be redirected from the blog site to you regular site. Which can be good if it is fully operational. I am still working on mine and what a mess because I started another blog on the eHost site, one on WordPress and still have my initial one that I have been using because using on Google. I can't get it all together. I could use another me some days!

In this one book, How to Create a Website using WordPress by Brian Patrick, gives you steps how to change your servers name but when I went through the eHost site, I am not finding a way to change that information like he states. I had a lot of options to buy more products from eHost but to change the hosting domain is not working for me. I am able to get WordPress to go to my domain but that is where it ends.

So next week, we will see how far I have traveled in my website, blog and such and see if I can get it going. I was hoping to be further by the end of January but now, mmmm, February. We will also talk about clean lines and what can draw your readers eye to you.

See you next time, but until then always come by and check me out at silverwineadditions.blogspot.com (for now)

Have a great week!

Happy Friday Blog! Who are you?

There are so many of us that are doing every little thing for our business. These different task can take up so much of your time especially when you have a family or loved ones that you are taking care of. If we add more than that, life can get out of control if we don't pace ourselves. So who are we? I have heard some others saying that who we are is reflected in our work. So let’s put that in writing. We are who we are but how do you tell others. It is one thing to do amazing works but how do we describe you?

 

Prepare an Author Biography (Bio)

 

A bio is a written account of your life. This will be included in most articles you write or products you produce. It drives traffic to your blog or other specific works that you accomplish. It can help promote who you are to your readers and potential clients. So take a peek at others blogs to help you see what makes a person good as an author of a bio. Check out one of your favorite books or websites. After that look try the next few steps.

Open up to that Butterfly that you are!

Here are a few tips that may help.

Start with your name because first things first. It is great to see your name on your own creations. For me it is always fun to brainstorm ideas about who you are. Write down all the words that describe you and if you can think of any go to a dictionary or thesaurus and look at some words. Everyone needs help once in a while and why not pick up a book for ideas. Maybe look at the books on your shelf what kind of titles or information did you buy them for. Ideas are everywhere

 

Identify what your purpose to promote your blog. What is the important part of what you are doing or promoting? If your are writing about something specific tell a little about it. The challenge here is to be short, sweet and to the point. Nobody likes wordy, long information that is dry and boring. 

 

Make sure to have the important information first so if you have to modify your bio for any reason you have a good base to work from.

 

A bio should be using a Third Person Perspective is needed and would be written objectively. This means to writing it as you are narrating for yourself. 

 

The long or short of it for your bio is to understand what the requirements are for each place it is going. If it is for your own blog do what you can to not bore the reader but use it to inform. If you need to put it out there on your twitter account to promote your blog you do not need so much information. Just a few main points and a redirection can make your blog get the traffic you like to see. 

 

Throw in that extra something-something that is uniquely you. Remember the word list you did earlier go back to that. What kind of specialties only comes from you. It could be a word, a phrase, a stands you took, or any other idea that you have an uncommon twist on. For me it is quilting or knitting. There are not many people in my age bracket that quilts or knits so spine some ideas out of that.

You don't have to be this chicken

How are your followers going to contact you? Get those details out there on everything that produce. You want to have people know you are reliable and if they like what they read in one area they could venture into other avenues of you blog/business to find out more so they can enjoy more.

 

At the end of it all read and reread your bio. Check for spelling errors, grammar problems, and/or sentences that don't make sense. Read it out loud and see if if flows the way you want. Have someone close to you listen to the bio and get their feedback. When you do this alone you may only have a one sided opinion.

 

What you are doing in your business and in your blog can only be successful if you get people interested in it. You need to be able to connect with your readers so give them the goods to read about.

Don’t be that praying mantis on the wall.

Thanks all for your continued support!

My writing reaches multifaceted avenues in my life. It has been fun and I am continuing to look forward to more excitement in other areas of my business life.

 

You can catch me at silverwineadditions.blogger.com and soon on my own website at silverwineadditions.com (not in service yet)

 

References:

The Art of Freelance Blogging

Kevin Mulldoon

8 Steps to Writing a Bio Like a Pro (Chris Brogan in Fact)

Personal Branding, Undercover Recruiter

theundercoverrecruiter.com/8steps-writing-bio-pro-chris-brogan-fact/

Blogger Friday on a Saturday? Why? What are Plug ins, are you plugged in?

So I was not on my game this week and didn't share why to other that follow the topic of blogging on our group site.  How did it make you feel?  Were you upset that there was nothing?  Did you keep checking the site to see if anything was there?  or worse yet did you give up on the writer and figure you have better things to do or follow?

Your time is valuable and to be a successful person on any site you need consistancy and if at all else give the readers a heads up about what is going on if you cannot produce what is needed for the blog on specific days when needed.

You have deadlines and commitments just like your readers.  If you were at a job could you miss your deadline without probable cause?

Here is the deal the universe pulled me into a different direction than I had planned for.  A friend tragically died this week losing her battle to cancer.  That was not the biggest problem.  Back in early November, I think it was, I went to visit he and she was sitting on her chair with her dog(s).  She had fleece blankets, which are great but they there can be quite a bit of dog hair on them.  So I told her I would make her a warm quilt to keep warm with that would be made out of cotton material and not hold so much dog hair. 
At the end of November I was doing a few squares here and there with my new machine not really rushing because I really thought I would have more time.  Needless to say, after Christmas she was back in the hospital.  I was out of town during that time so I was not working on the quilt like I had hoped but what are you going to do.  Roll with it!  That Saturday, January 16th, I went up to the hospital to see her and it was not good. That next day she was gone and I did not fulfill my promise to her.  I do not like to do that so that is what I have been doing, quilting.  I, off course bit off more than I could chew.  When I do quilts I try to really personalize my work to fit that persons life.

idea 1?

What can you, the writer of a blog, do?

• Tell your readers as soon as you know what is going on.  You do not have to give full details but tastefully accept that stuff happens.  Many people do understand that so they will be thankful for the heads up.

•  Be prepared.   When you are done with the last post start on the next one or at least part of it.  Try to be about a week in advance of your schedule and set the date in your post settings for what day it needs to be out.   

• If you don't have anything, maybe have a post revisiting something you have already written or if you know of other team members of your group or friends of your post something on that topic ask if you can repost in your blog. 

• Get help.  If you can ask for some help in advance just in case you can't get anything done but post something.  Never let your site go if you have a date that something will be posted

I did make mistakes this week and should really follow my own advise but I had gotten so overwhelmed I shut down.  This is never a good deal for either you or your site.  Buddy up and have someone call you to double check what is going on. Sometimes just talking to a friend can get you motivated back into whack!

What kind of plug is it?  Will it hurt? Is it messy and/or do I have to do something special so I don't get zapped? 

A plugin is what can give your site more functionality.  When you set up a site on either WordPress or Blogger they have them available to insert into your page.  For the computer savoy Plugins are bits of code that perform specific functions on your site. 

For blogger on Google the ones that can and have helped me has been the stat counter.  This helps track the people coming to see what article.  It can show me what country a person is looking at my site, the time of day my site is most active, which day or article has the most activity.  Recently, my site was visited 1,000 times in the past month.  It may not sound like much but for me, the visits to my site have tripled since October.  I love to look at what is going on with my site so I can tweak it as necessary to keep the traffic flowing.

Other plugins that can be helpful for WordPress are:

Yoast SEO – this plugin helps you with your content on your site.  The technical side of what your are saying such as keywords when writing your article.

Akismet – is a feature that can weed out the spam coming into your site.  It will automatically filter out any yuck comments.  There can be comments that come in with URL’s having misleading links.  This helps save your disk space and speed up your site.

IMsanity – This helps to resize huge image uploads.  This can fix the size of the upload and replace that original image so it works better for your site.  This can convert BMP files to JPG so that the image can get scaled.  WordPress does have one built in so just double check that capacity.

WP Smush – This helps to resize video by compressing it.  It can save up to a 32MP and the quality is not lost because of this process.

Social Medial Widget – This is in both Blogger and WordPress.  This helps you get your message to other people in different circles.  Where ever your audience is that is where you need to go.  You can customize it to what you need to have it out there.

Now I have given you links to WordPress site because I hope to be switching over my blog but I am not sure. So next week, I will attempt to find the differences between the two sites and give you an update.  Then I will work on sharing information on what I am doing to set up the site.

As you know many things cost money, so look around and see what best works for you but make sure you own your own material.  From previous reading Google keeps what ever I do and it is theirs.  I am going to look into why and how I can own what I do free and clear.

Thanks for your understanding all!  Have a great week!