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WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!
A New List of Links for Your Mother's Day (and Everyday) Reading Pleasure
Since Mother's Day is just about here, I thought I'd post some new links for writing moms, as well as linking to my two posts from last Mother's Day, which include more great mom/writing links. (I've checked these posts and removed the links that are no longer valid.)
Some of the newer links are specifically for moms who write, while others tend to be blogs where the blogger writes about motherhood. (Some of these do, however, discuss writing in some of their posts, along with mothering. These mommy bloggers are, after all, writers.) A few of the links provide resources for moms who write, and one even invites contributions from writing moms.
There's some fascinating stuff here for all you mom writers--so sit back and enjoy! And don't forget to visit these sites and bookmark your favorites. There should be something here for pretty much every writing mom.)
Links to Blogs/Sites Written By Moms About Writing and/or Motherhood
Work From Home Momma
Freelance Parent
Writer Mama
Lis Garrett ~ Silver-Tongued Writer
The Write at Home Parent
The Writing Mother
The Other Mother—for Moms Who Write
(The author invites you to tell your story.)
What About Mom?
5 Minutes for Mom
New Mom Central
The Mommy Diaries
Motherhood Incorporated
Mommy Life
Blog Mommas
The Mom Crowd
(Includes a post entitled,
Creative Writing Moms and Literary Magazines.)
Blonde Mom Blog
An Ordinary Mom
Work It, Mom!
(a blog for working moms)
At Home Mom Blog
More Writing Mom Links From My 2007 Mother's Day Posts
The following two links will take you to my Mother's Day 2007 writing mom link fests, which are chock full of other sites that appeal to moms who write--and even moms who don't:
It’s Mother’s Day! Some Helpful Links for Writing Moms
More Great Sites for Writing Moms
Hope you'll enjoy these.
And hope each and every mom out there--both writer and non-writer--has a truly happy Mother's Day!
Best wishes from a fellow writing mom,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Know of any other great writing mom sites? Or simply feel like sharing something about writing and/or Mother's Day? I'd love to hear from you!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Pillar Posts Link Helps You Locate Content Quickly
I'm not sure whether most of my readers have noticed it yet or not, but I've created a list of Pillar Posts to help you more easily find Writer's Notes' most beneficial content. You'll find a link in my Spotlight Posts list to Writer's Notes' Pillar Posts. This link will take you to a post in which I've listed my most helpful content, broken down into various categories.
Rather than simply listing them in reverse chronological order by month, as they are in my archives, I've decided that it would be far more helpful to you if I were to categorize this content. This should help you quickly find the topics you're interested in exploring or the tools and resources you'd like to use, rather than having to wade through all the posts on the list. (This will prove even more beneficial, no doubt, as the list grows through the addition of future content.) Hope you'll find this feature useful! Let me know what you think and whether you have any further suggestions for making it even more useful.
Other Spotlight Posts Links Point to Blog Carnival Feed and More
My Spotlight Posts list is also where a link to my About page is located, as well as links to Writer's Notes' Awards (given to me by various other bloggers), and my Blog Carnival Feed. Blog carnivals can be a fantastic way to get recognition, readers, and links to your site. So, check this feed often, visit the Blog Carnival website via the button in the Stats & Other Widgets section in my top left sidebar, and seriously consider submitting your blog posts to one or more carnivals. There are many carnivals on myriad topics, and the best part is that you may have already written content that's suitable for one or more of them. So, don't overlook a great opportunity to get exposure for your blog.
Sites for Writers Link List Points to Helpful Sites
Last, but not least, I'd like to remind my readers to make use of my Sites for Writers list (previously called "Helpful Sites for Writers") near the bottom of my left sidebar. (The links are still just as helpful, but I needed to shorten the title.) This is a comprehensive list of links to various websites which can be helpful to writers in one way or another.
Most are straight writing sites or blogs, some are sites to or through which to sell your work, and others offer various additional features beneficial to the writer/blogger: blog design, inspiration, wisdom about issues that affect writers/writing, both business and general life lessons that can be helpful to you in the craft or business of writing, etc. Be sure to use this list of links often--and try visiting some of the sites that are as yet unfamiliar to you. You'll find many gems in this list, and you may just discover one or more that really target your interests or needs. (How will you ever know if you don't check them out?)
Hope these additions to Writer's Notes' help to make your writing life, fuller, simpler, and more productive. And may they help contribute to your success!
From one writer to another,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have any suggestions for improvement or other features you'd like to see? Please let me know in comments. I'd love to hear from you!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
A True Honor!
Liz Strauss, of Successful Blog has made it official: I'm an SOB! (See Thanks to Week 117 SOBs.)
Now, normally, when people call you an SOB, it isn't a compliment; but when Liz calls you that, you know that a very high honor has been bestowed; because at Successful Blog, SOB stands for Successful and Outstanding Blogger!
The SOB Award
You've no doubt already noticed the SOB badge in my sidebar. Nevertheless I'll reproduce it here, because, to be honest, you can never display this award too often!
Here it is:
You may have even been a bit curious about the newest badge to appear in my sidebar, if you aren't familiar with it or with Liz's blog. I'll let Liz herself explain the purpose of the SOB award in her own words.
A Few Words From Liz About the Award
Here are a few things Liz has to say about those bloggers who have, as she puts it, "earned this official badge of achievement":
They take the conversation to their readers, contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.
I thank all of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on. Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.
How I Shared Liz's Blog Conversation
My own manner of passing on Liz's blog conversation was through my post, My Journey to Becoming Positively Me, which I prepared back in November, 2007, in response to Liz's own Positively Me post.
I also flung this conversation a bit farther out into the blogosphere more recently by making it part of my What I Learned From 2007 post, which I entered into Robert Hruzek's Blogapalooza group writing project at Middle Zone Musings.
Do Yourself a Favor: Visit Successful Blog
If you've never visited Successful Blog--and even if you have--do yourself a favor and drop by. You'll be glad you did! (You'll find links in the first paragraph of this post and in my bottom left sidebar.) Liz's blog is loaded with helpful information to make your blog successful--amazing wisdom from a truly successful and highly respected blogger! This is one reason I'm truly honored to have received this award! (The other is that I'm definitely in good company! Liz's extensive list of SOB's is a veritable Who's Who of bloggers--and an excellent resource if you happen to be seeking some excellent blogs to read and learn from! Check out her SOB Hall of Fame--A-Z Directory.)
Happy reading!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Care to share your thoughts? Have you checked out Successful Blog--or do you plan to? Please feel free to comment!
Developing Our Writing Goals for 2008 Is a Great Start
As we enter a new year, each of us has our own personal list of writing, blogging, and marketing goals which we hope will make 2008 even better than 2007 was. And this is a wonderful thing! Each new year is like a brand new beginning--like starting fresh. It can help inspire us and jump-start our enthusiasm for using our creative gifts in exciting new ways, for branching out into new areas of endeavor, for building our brand, for marketing ourselves and our work with renewed vigor, and perhaps most exciting of all, for increasing our writing income.
But Intellectual Exercise Isn't Enough
The above are all excellent goals to focus our energies on in the new year. Yet, as most of us would be quick to admit, while writing is one of the most rewarding of intellectual endeavors, it is precisely that: intellectual, which translates into many hours spent seated before our computers doing research, planning, writing, editing, rewriting, seeking markets for, and selling our work. In other words, as wonderful as writing is--and as wonderful as it is that we can sell so much of our work online from the comfort of our home offices--writing is definitely not an activity that contributes to our physical fitness; and it can, in fact, detract from it, if we don't find ways to counteract the often excessive amounts of time we spend in front of our computers.
A Blog to Help You Add Physical Fitness to Your List of 2008 Goals
One way that we can help motivate ourselves to add physical fitness to our list of New Year's resolutions this year--and make it a resolution that we actually keep--is by visiting the Simply Fitness Blog, where we'll find posts such as the following to help move us toward better fitness in 2008:
27 Ways to Get Fit for Free
Fitness Motivation: 6 Simple Steps to the Point of No Return
Fitness Success Tip 1: Have a Plan
These three posts, along with the others offered on this great blog, can help inspire us to make fitness happen for us this year.
More Information on Fitness and Fitness Gear on the Main Website
In addition to the great advice you'll find on the Simply Fitness Blog, you'll also discover a ton of other excellent fitness information on the main site, SimplyFitnessGear.com. This site presents comprehensive info on and reviews of the many different types and brands of fitness gear available and can help you decide which equipment is right for your fitness needs.
The Fitness Equipment Quiz offered at SimplyFitnessGear.com can also help you determine which type of fitness gear will give you the workout you need, based on your own current level of fitness.
Two Sites to Give You the Fitness Info You Need
Even if you aren't in the market for fitness equipment, you'll learn a great deal from both the blog and the main site. If you'd like to develop your own exercise regimen but don't know quite where to begin, definitely check out the blog for information, motivation, and inspiration. If your goal is to learn more about the equipment you may currently be using--or not using--either at home or at the gym, be sure to look over the main site.
Simply Fitness might just provide the push you need to help you balance your current regimen of intellectual exercise with a whole new physical fitness routine, making you healthier, happier, and more creative in the new year.
To a happy and healthy 2008!
Jeanne
This is not a sponsored post.
Know any other great fitness websites that can help us keep fit in the new year? We'd love to hear about them!
A Great Article on How You Can Develop Confidence as a Business Writer
The following article was written by my friend and fellow blogger, Joanna Young, of Confident Writing. This article is offered for free distribution by EzineArticles.Com; so I thought I'd share it with my readers to help you become a more confident business writer, as well as to highlight the wonderful content you'll find on Joanna's blog. (Many of Joanna's tips and techniques also apply to other types of writing, as well; so bear that in mind as you read, and look for places in your own writing where you can practice these helpful principles.)
_____________________________
Business Writing with Confidence - An ABC Guide
By Joanna Young
Confident writing is an essential part of effective business communication. Most people would agree with this statement but how many of us have the skills or the confidence to put it into practice? Anxiety about grammar rules can leave people tongue tied. All too often business writing is seen as a barrier, a stumbling block rather than something that can add value to your contribution at work.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to learn the rules of a grammar book to write with confidence at work. You just need to work on three basic elements of good business writing: authenticity, brevity and clarity. It’s what I call the ABC guide to confident writing at work.
Writing with authenticity
Writing with authenticity means being real, sounding human, sounding like yourself. It’s great for creating rapport with other people, whether that’s your colleagues, customers or potential clients. Most people want to do business with another human being and it’s even better if that’s someone they feel they can get to â€know’ and trust.
To make your writing more authentic:
* Make use of plain, everyday words: go for short, simple words; avoid jargon and clichés; use everyday words rather than corporate or business speak
* Use a conversational style: this doesn’t mean slang – it does mean feeling free to use short sentences and contractions like “I’m” or “we’ll” or “let’s” (all great for the flow)
* Find your own words: spend a little bit of time jotting down your own words for the things that are most important to you (ideas, your business purpose, your values) and start to work them into your writing. This is a great way to sound like you really mean business!
Writing with brevity
Most people are drowning in information overload. So much for the paperless office – most of us are suffering from too much paper, a deluge of e-mails and more reports than we’ll ever have time to read. You’ll really start to win friends and influence people if you keep your writing short and to the point. Your readers will thank you for the time and effort saved, and you’ll also make your message more punchy, powerful and memorable.
To write with brevity:
* Keep each sentence short: aim for an average of 18 – 25 words a sentence. This is good writing practice and will get you into the habit of writing less
* Cut out excess words: go back and edit your work once you’ve written a draft. Cut out as many excess words as you can. Then do it again (and again till it’s done.) Enjoy seeing your message emerge more clearly!
* Write within limits : set yourself a word limit and practice working to it. It’ll improve your skills of writing with brevity and help you stick to the point
Writing with clarity
You’ve got something important to say so you want your writing to stand out. Clear writing makes it easier for people to read, follow and understand what you’re saying. Now this is the place where grammar does come into play because there are some rules – whether you like it or not – that are there to help us understand your meaning. You need to master these basic rules if you want your message to be clear and easily understood.
To write more clearly:
* Know your point : be clear what you’re trying to say, and why, before you start to write. Boil your message down to no more than 10 words. That’s your message: focus on that and it will shine through your writing
* Manage your writing: work out which grammar points are stopping you from writing with clarity (like use of apostrophes). Ask a colleague or friend to help identify them. Then take responsibility for learning and applying the rules. There are plenty of books, websites and writing coaches who can help with this
* Keep it simple: use short sentences, cut out excess words, use plain, everyday language
I don’t know if you noticed some common themes running through these writing tips. Keep it short, keep it simple, use plain language, know your point and stick to it. These are the fundamental rules of good business writing and if you apply them you will find it easy to write with authenticity, brevity and clarity. Effective business writing needn’t be hard – it can be as easy as ABC.
Joanna Young is a writing coach who helps people to write with confidence - to realise the power of their own words. You can find out how to work with Joanna or read more of her writing tips at Confident Writing.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com expert=Joanna Young
_____________________________
Hope you've enjoyed these great tips on confident writing by a very confident writer! Don't forget to visit Joanna's blog for more great content on writing confidently!
Happy writing!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Was it helpful? Have anything to add? If so, please feel free to comment!
And, while you're at it, why not visit Joanna' s blog and do the same?
Remembering My Commenters
Last month, I started a tradition here at Writer's Notes of writing a post on the first of each month listing the names of all the previous month's commenters, complete with links to their blogs, and I want to welcome you to Volume 2!
September Link Love
It's that time again: time to send some link love out to everyone who commented at Writer's Notes during the month of September. Thanks, everyone! I truly appreciate your feedback!
Here's the list of September commenters, in no particular order:
Yvonne Russell, Grow Your Writing Business
Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts
Lillie Ammann, A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
Calvin Warr, CalvinWarr.Com
James Rickard, Angling Fish
AmyHuang, Travel String
Louie, Climate Red
Jon, Tech News
Tracy, Movies and Life
Lilla, Enviro Warrior
Danielle, The Bipolar Diaries
Brad Shorr, Word Sell, Inc.
Bob, Every Every Minute
Michael Martin, Pro Blog Design
Sharon Hurley Hall, Get Paid to Write Online
Rosemary, Alpaca Notes
Julee Ann, Write of Passage
JoH, Persistent Parent
PetulaW, It's a Woman's World
AdTracker, AdSense Tracker
Keep Spreading Your Comments Far and Wide!
Thanks for your comments, everyone! Each one is greatly appreciated, and each has helped to make Writer's Notes just that much more interesting for its readers! You've all added so much to the Writer's Notes conversation, and your generosity in doing so is hereby recognized! Thanks again!
You're welcome at Writer's Notes anytime! So be sure to stop by again very soon! And remember to keep visiting as many other blogs as you can and passing along the comment-kindness--not to mention the link love! You'll enjoy it as much as the other blogger will!
Keep those comments coming!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? You know what to do!
September 13th 2007 21:34
Join Yvonne and Other Fellow Writers for a Great Time of Sharing Each Weekend!
On Friday, September 7th, Yvonne Russell, at Grow Your Writing Business, kicked off her new Writers (and Bloggers) Cafe. In her own words, her purpose for instituting this writers' gathering every Friday through Sunday is to share "marvellous mini milestones and super successes," as well as links to writing- or blogging-related articles or websites that might be helpful to your fellow writers, your plans and goals for your writing/blogging--in short, anything relevant to writing or blogging.
For Further Info About the Cafe, Visit Grow Your Writing Business
You may read more about Yvonne's new weekend gathering in her Writers and Bloggers Cafe--Now Open at Grow Your Writing Business post. (Also, check out Share Your Marvellous Mini Milestones and Super Successes, the post in which she first introduces the Writers and Bloggers Cafe.) Sharing these small and large successes will be the focus of the Writers Cafe during the month of September.
Visit Yvonne's Site During the Week, As Well, for Other Helpful Writing-Related Content
There are many other reasons to visit Yvonne's blog, in addition to the Writers and Bloggers Cafe. At Grow Your Writing Business, Yvonne offers a great deal of valuable info and many helpful resources for writers and bloggers that can move you closer to the realization of your writing goals.
What Are You Doing This Weekend?
Why not drop by Grow Your Writing Business this weekend and check out the Writers and Bloggers Cafe? (It starts tomorrow, Friday.) Pull up a chair, grab a muffin and a cup of coffee, and enjoy a great time of fellowship with other likeminded creative people, as you share your own goals, aspirations, and accomplishments, relate to, celebrate, and learn from theirs.
I think you'll enjoy it!
See you there!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts? Don't leave me lonely--Please comment!
A Write-from-Home Reminder
Write-from-home.com is a website that I've written about before. In my May 11th, 2007 post, Write-from-Home.Com: A New Site for Freelance Writers, I introduced this site to my readers, as the excellent resource that it is for writers.
Recently, Amy Derby, who runs the site, purchased a reprint of one of my articles, which appeared on my blog back in June and which she has just published in her September online e-zine. And, although this isn't really the reason I'm bringing her site up again (since my blog's readers have likely already read the post in question), it's as good a reason as any to remind everyone of a great site where writers will find helpful writing-related articles, writing markets and contest listings, and even a blog with some really great content.
The Write-from-Home Blog
With all the other helpful info on the site, it would be easy to overlook the Write-from-Home blog--but don't, because it's loaded with helpful tips, information, advice, and resources that can help you succeed. One post even contains a warning about a possible scam currently being advertised on Craigslist. So, check it out. I know you'll get a great deal out of this blog, as well as the rest of the site.
Some topics covered on the blog, in addition to the possible Craigslist scam, are these: dealing with stress as a freelance writer, the freelance workload "rollercoaster," setting up a home office on a budget, getting published as a new freelance writer, and freelance writing terms explained (quite a long list of them, too).
The Write-from-Home Market
So, if you've never been to Write-from-Home.Com--or haven't been there lately--drop by for a visit. You'll find a great deal of helpful information there.
And, if your forte just happens to be writing about selling your writing, you might just be able to sell some of your writing right there--since Amy buys both original articles and reprints for her Write-from-Home e-zine. (She pays $75 for unpublished articles and $30 for reprints.) Check out her Guidelines to find out what she's looking for.
Stop by Write-from-Home.Com--and give your freelance writing career a boost!
Happy reading!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any questions? Please don't hesitate to leave a comment!
Love Thy Commenter
Mark, at ProBloggers Matrix, penned a post recently, which asked the following question:
How Do You REWARD Your COMMENTERS and Those Who Have BACKLINKED to Your Blog?
August Link Love
In the spirit of giving--and the spirit of Blog Day (which, as many of you may know, was yesterday)--I thought I'd designate today, September 1st, Comment Appreciation Day and send some link love out to everyone who commented at Writer's Notes during the month of August. Thanks, guys and gals! Love you all!
Here's the list of August commenters, in no particular order:
Yvonne Russel, Grow Your Writing Business
Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts
Lillie Ammann, A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
John Doe, Film & TV on DVD
AmyHuang, Travel String
Kleonaptra, Kalikapsychosis
Fiar, Radioactive Liberty
BigMike, N.A.D.S.
Louie, Climate Red
Jon, Tech News
K-IntheHouse, ShanKri-la
Tracy, Movies and Life
Mandy, Pop! In the Name of Love
Charles Young, Top Site of the Day
Danielle, Musings of a Middle Aged Woman
David, Mind Orgasms
Phil, Contest Blogger
Chic Critique, Fashion.org.au
Brad Shorr, Word Sell, Inc.
Bob, Every Every Minute
Loz, Written Life
Joanna Young, Confident Writing
Chris Kitamura, Dude Check Out My Site
Sylvia C, Sylvia's Insight
Melissa Garrett, A Writer's Woolgatherings
Malathy, Blog Avenues
Lily, Ars Poetica
Ash, Australian Traveller
Faisca, Faisca's Corner
Michael Martin, Pro Blog Design
Sharon, Get Paid to Write Online
Mark-Blogger, ProBloggers Matrix
Mark Goodyear, Good Word Editing
Tavi Nemet, Loop 44
Rosemary, Alpaca Notes
Robert Hruzek, Middle Zone Musings
Keep Spreading the Magic!
Thanks so much for your comments, everyone! They've all been greatly appreciated; and they've helped make Writer's Notes a much more interesting--and far less lonely--place than it would have been otherwise!
Stop back by again to chat anytime! And remember to visit lots of other blogs and continue to pass on the comment-kindness! You'll get as much out of it as the other blogger will!
Keep those comments coming,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? You know what to do!
Blog Day 2007: Celebrating New Blogs Worldwide
Today is Blog Day 2007: A day to celebrate new blogs all over the world! In honor of Blog Day, bloggers have been asked to list, describe, and link to five new blogs--preferably representing a different country, culture, or focus than our own.
Here's what the Blog Day website has to say:
BlogDay was created with the belief that bloggers should have one day dedicated to getting to know other bloggers from other countries and areas of interest. On that day Bloggers will recommend other blogs to their blog visitors.
After writing our Blog Day posts, we are also asked to notify the bloggers we've chosen, which I plan to do via a comment on each one's blog.
Five Great New Blogs You Should Definitely Visit
Here are my choices (in no particular order) for five of the best new blogs from different parts of the U.S. and around the world. (Well...only one is currently outside the U.S: Confident Writing, which comes to us from Scotland; though one will soon be moving to Germany: Content Done Better. Yet, for some of you, the U.S. is on the other side of the world!) All these blogs are either only several months old or under new ownership.
I will let the bloggers who create the magic of the written word on their blogs speak for themselves, via quotes from their About pages and blog posts.
Pro Blog Design
Pro Blog Design. Michael Martin has this to say about his very helpful blog and also about blog post formatting:
I have been designing websites for a few years now, and enjoying every minute of it.
Over time, I’ve learnt a lot about working with blogs, and through Pro Blog Design I hope to share that knowledge with others. Content on a blog is of course, King, but does the King get the attention he deserves when draped in ragged garments? Of course not! In the same way that the grandeur of the King is crucial to his success, your blog’s design is crucial to yours. (from Michael's About page)
As bloggers, we write pages upon pages of content each week. We spend hours promoting the articles, choosing the right words and trying to get our point across as clearly as possible. How can formatting be used to further improve our posts?
There are a few basic tools that you will have heard mention of time and time again, such as bolding words. The first section re-explains their purpose, and the second will explain how to perfect your usage of them to achieve optimal formatting. (from Format Blog Posts for Readability and Legibility)
Confident Writing
Confident Writing. Joanna Young says the following about her quality site and about why she writes:
Hello I'm Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach...My aim is to get people writing with confidence. To realise the power of their words. How we work is partly up to you - but my approach is based on a blend of coaching, teaching, editing and writing - tailor made to your needs. (from Joanna's Welcome and Work With Me sections)
(Post Title: Why Do You Write?.) For me, it's something to do with the power of connection: the connections we can make with other people, the connections we develop between our own ideas, making sense of our experience, pulling together spaghetti strands of random thoughts and creating something new, connecting back to our roots and our selves and coming out with a stronger sense of who we are.
But then again maybe it's that thing I call realising: the sweet, slow dawning of realisation. Recognising the things that you always knew to be true. Recognising - with a jolt - your self in your words. Realising the power of your words, and taking responsibility for their power and impact: on yourself, on other people, on the world. Grounding yourself with the specificity of words. Validating your experience with words which are not real - but can make us feel that our experiences are. Allowing ourselves to be changed by the words that we write. (from Why Do You Write?)
ChrisBlogging
ChrisBlogging. Chris Bibey describes himself and his insightful blog and shares a few words of wisdom on freelancing:
For more than three years I have been earning a full-time income online. My main sources of income include a wide range of freelance writing projects, and of course, blogging.
But although I do not know the first thing about web design or coding, I still earn three times as much as I did as a corporate slave.
The goal of Chrisblogging.com is to show you how I make money, how you can join me, and much more! (from Chris's About page)
There is no denying that a few big jobs make up a large part of my monthly freelance writing income. But guess what? I also believe that smaller jobs are every bit as important. Sure, I would love to work on high paying jobs only, who wouldn’t? But the reality of the freelance writing industry (at least for me) is that this is not always possible. For this reason, I always think twice before I turn down any small jobs that I am offered. (from Don't Always Turn Down the Small Jobs)
ProBloggers Matrix
ProBloggers Matrix. Mark gives us this inviting welcome to his blog, and some great info about blogging (taken from one of his excellent posts):
Hello, I’m Mark.
Welcome to ProBloggers Matrix. I’ll be sharing blogging tips. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to post them in the comments. (from Mark's About page)
If you’re like me, you love to write, you love to publish great articles on your authoritative blog and you also enjoy reading excellent articles in many fantastic blogs. That can be very time-intensive, but you need to get out and exercise! Get the blood flowing! Get into The Zone! (from How to Stay in the Zone and Keep Wowing Your Readers with Spectacular Articles)
Content Done Better
Content Done Better. Michi Beck's blog has an intimate, inviting atmosphere, due to her personal, engaging writing style. Her Under New Ownership section tells us this about her background, followed by an apt quote from one of her posts:
During her career she has written many informative articles on various subjects including economics, technology, local happenings, and human interest stories.
In addition to the newspaper and Internet work, Michi has had poems published and is currently working on her first novel, of which the first draft is nearing completion. She enjoys both fiction and non-fiction writing, and often takes the time to write about the smaller things in life, as she believes those things have lessons behind them that most people do not realize. It is not only the big things that are important in our daily lives, and since she is often reminded of that it appears frequently in her particular style of writing. (from Michi's Under New Ownership page.)
(Post Title: When It Rains, It Pours.) Have you ever noticed that? You could be in a â€dry spell’ in your work life and then all of a sudden things go crazy, and you’re left shaking your head and wondering how you’re going to get it all done.
I mention this because it happened to me, rather recently. I’m not sure whether to be overwhelmed and annoyed that everything showed up at once or happy because of the work and income. Hmmm…..I think I’ll go with “happy because of the work and income.” (from When It Rains, It Pours)
Five Great Blogs to Bookmark and Visit Again and Again!
Be sure to visit the above blogs soon--and often! And don't forget to give these hard-working and insightful bloggers a little link love! It will be more than worth your while, as you continually enjoy their latest words of writing wisdom.
Congratulations go out to these five new bloggers for making their blogs places where we can go to pick up the best info, tips, techniques, and advice, to make us all better, more responsive, and more productive bloggers!
Happy Blog Day!
Jeanne
Technorati Tag: Blog Day 2007
P.S. I realize I posted this a little late in the day--particularly for those of you on the opposite side of the world to the U.S., where I live! My apologies. But, I believe I did manage to post it in time--though barely! If I missed the deadline in anyone's time zone, Happy Belated Blog Day!
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Are You Wondering What Your New Google Page Rank Will Be?
With the next Google Page Rank Update right around the corner--and, in fact, expected to occur any day now--perhaps you're wondering where your blog or website will place along the new ranking spectrum once the update takes place. I know I've been wondering about it, myself, quite a bit lately, with my blog's current Page Rank of 0! I know that Writer's Notes has a good number of inbound links, so I've had my fingers crossed that that fact would translate into a decent Page Rank once Google does the update.
Check out the iWebtool Google Page Rank Predictor!
Just today, I learned about a free online tool that can help give both you and me an idea of the Google Page Rank we can expect once the update occurs. I learned of it, compliments of K-IntheHouse at Blog About Your Blog, in his response to my comments to his 2 Great Ways to Check Your Blog Health post. Before replying to my comments, K-ItH very kindly plugged my blog's URL into the tool and later informed me that my own predicted G-PR is 5. (Thanks, K-IntheHouse! I definitely needed that confidence boost!)
Here's a link to this nifty tool: Google Page Rank Predictor. Check it out and find out what you can probably expect in the way of Google Page Rank for your website or blog after the upcoming--and imminent--Google PR Update.
Happy Google PR predicting!
Jeanne
By the way, don't forget to visit Blog About Your Blog--often! This site is packed with valuable information for bloggers. For your convenience, I placed a link to them, a while back, in my Helpful Sites for Writers list, near the bottom of my left sidebar. Now you'll have no excuse not to visit and do something good for your blog!
You might also want to visit K-IntheHouse's own blog, ShanKri-la, where you'll be able to keep up with all the latest tech info for daily life. And, when you visit either of the above sites, don't forget to comment!
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Writer's Notes' Value Up By One-Third in 18 Days
I've just calculated the latest value for Writer's Notes at Dane Carlson's Business Opportunities, and my blog's value has increased from $37,824.18, on August 8th, to $49,679.52 today, August 26th. In a period of 18 days, its value has risen by $11,855.34, or about one-third. While this latest growth spurt is by no means as large as its last one, Writer's Notes' monetary value appears to be steadily increasing at an acceptable rate.
The Latest Calculations
The tool calculates the value of each link to our sites, using the same link-to-dollar ratio used in the AOL-Weblogs Inc deal; and while I have absolutely no idea how accurate it might be or whether such a perceived value could ever translate into any real monetary return down the road or deal in any currency other than the conversational kind, it's still an interesting exercise in growth.
The current value of Writer's Notes, as caclulated by the Dane Carlson-designed tool, is shown below:
Inbound Links Equal Value
Though my blog's overall value isn't nearly as high as that of many other bloggers who have been on the scene far longer than I have, I still find it fun and interesting to check it periodically. Doing so gives me a better idea of just how much of an effect those Technorati "Blog Reactions" (which represent inbound links to my site) actually have on my blog's worth. And, while we're speaking of Technorati, my Technorati ranking currently stands at 61,722, with 88 authority, and I'm OK with that--for now! At this point in my blogging career, a Technorati ranking of under 62,000 isn't bad at all. And neither is a blog value of nearly $50,000.
Till next time,
Jeanne
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I'm a Word Nerd. Are You?
Brad Shorr, over at Word Sell, Inc., has designed a nifty little badge of honor for all of us bonafide, honest-to-goodness, word-nerd types to proudly display on our blogs to show the world that we are Word Nerds and we aren't ashamed of it!
After all, we writers love words! (Where would we be without them?) So, why not announce it to the world? Brad lists a few of the qualities of Word Nerds in his post, Be a Word Nerd!, inviting anyone who sees him/herself in that description to grab a badge (available in a variety of designer colors) and post it with pride.
Brad also gives all of us Word Nerds the opportunity to test our degree of "word-nerdiness," through one of the four vocabulary tests he periodically offers on his blog, all of which are conveniently listed and linked to in this post: Word Nerds Unite! (though the testing isn't a requirement for downloading and displaying the badge.)
Some Surefire Signs that You Are a Word Nerd
-Whenever you write, your dictionary, thesaurus, and Strunk and White absolutely must be within reach.
-You read the dictionary for pleasure.
-You relish every opportunity to use precise terminology--not primarily to impress people, but rather because it's important to you to convey the exact meaning of your thoughts.
-You're forever correcting people--even (gasp!) in public--when they've use a word incorrectly. (Either that, or you have to bite your tongue to keep yourself from doing so.)
-When people pause while speaking, to think of the word they want--or even to simply catch their breath--you're ready to jump right in and generously provide the term they were (obviously) looking for.
-You can sometimes sit there for literally hours trying to think of just the right word, before your semantic sensibilities will be satisfied enough to let you release a piece of writing to the public eye. (Well, OK, maybe you don't sit there the whole time, but the dilemma is always in the back of your mind, and that piece must absolutely be put on hold until you've solved it!)
Does any of that sound like you? If so, you're a definite candidate for the Word Nerd badge! (You may even have a few Word Nerd activities of your own that I haven't mentioned. If so, please feel free to share them in Comments.)
If you can relate to any of what has been written here, please read the section that follows and consider taking the next logical step.
Word Nerds of the World, Unite!
So, why don't all we Word Nerds of the world--or at least of the internet/blogosphere--unite in joining this elite semantic sister/brotherhood! Let's stand together in defense of the written and spoken word, used with precision and premeditation! (No, it isn't a crime.) Let's join Brad in sharing, with all those we meet in cyberspace--or anyplace--our unquenchable enthusiasm for the sensational subtleties of the well-placed word and well-turned phrase.
Feel free to visit Brad's Word Sell, Inc. blog, at one of the above links, to learn more about the Word Nerd movement, and if you should be so inclined, to offer your support. And while you're there, don't forget to pick up a badge, in your favorite color, and take advantage of this opportunity to show the world that you are indeed a Word Nerd!
From one Word Nerd to another,
Jeanne
Note: I'm unfortunately unable to add the Word Nerd badge to my already overloaded sidebar, which is the only reason why, for the time being, its display will need to be limited to this blog post.
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A Virtual Trip Around the Blogosphere
In my latest travels around the blogosphere, I've uncovered some excellent content that can truly be a boon to any writer interested in a fresh approach, a new inspiration--in short, any writer seeking the motivation to write with renewed vigor and vitality.
Confident Writing: Posts to Both Inspire and Get You Thinking
Please check out Joanna Young's excellent post, When Writing Means Spirit Spilling, at Confident Writing. This piece explores the process of writing from the deepest parts of ourselves and, through quoting the wisdom of several knowledgeable bloggers, links out to other blogs you'll find most helpful in your quest to grow your own writing.
Two of Joanna's other pieces, The Ingredients of Confident Writing, and How to Learn from Your Writing, are also insightful looks into the components that help make our writing fresh and engaging. They also link to other related posts on her own blog and/or elsewhere in the blogosphere.
The Golden Pencil: Pieces on Perfectionism, Freelancing Dos and Don'ts, and Marketing Your Work Objectively
Anne Wayman, at The Golden Pencil, has written a succinct, yet very helpful post called, Don't Worry About Perfection--Go for Effective, reminding us that perfectionism is a trap and wisely counseling us to let it go.
Anne has also posted two guest pieces that offer practical guidance to help writers more effectively run their writing business. Top Dos and Don'ts for Freelancers, by Lori Widmer, offers 14 basic tips to help writers "make a go of freelancing," and Sending Out Ships, by Charlotte Rains Dixon, counsels us to write personally but submit our work objectively.
Passionate Blogger: Giving and Receiving Series to Help You Reap the Same Recognition You Sow, and How to Avoid Information Overload in Research
Wild Bill, at Passionate Blogger, has posted the first two parts of his excellent and informative multi-part series on giving and receiving: Give and Receive Series - Part 1 - Technorati Favorites and Give and Receive Series - Part 2 - StumbleUpon. These two posts explore the importance of giving lavish recognition to other writers/bloggers and letting the "getting" take care of itself, specifically covering how to do so through Technorati Favorites and StumbleUpon. The upcoming third post in the series will explore how to do this using Alexa.
Another excellent post on Wild Bill's site, about avoiding information overload when researching and writing blog posts (and which could also apply to other types of writing), is Stop Cramming for a Post! This insightful piece is an apt reminder that focusing on what we do know (known, in blogging, as our niche), can help us steer clear of excessive and unnecessary research, saving us valuable time and making us more productive.
A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye: Customer Service and Productivity for Freelance Writers
Lillie Ammann, at A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye, has written a brief but inspiring post, called The Simple Truths of Service: Will You Be a Johnny Today? that points us to a helpful video and serves to remind all freelance writers how important good "customer service" is to writer-client relations--despite the fact that, as freelancers, we have no "Customer Service Department." This piece--along with the video it introduces--tells us, in effect, that we must be our own "Customer Service Department."
A second great post, entitled How Do You Stack Up Against the Average Worker in America? asks us, as homeworkers/freelancers, to weigh our own productivity level against that of the average American working outside the home, providing an interesting comparison of the two, and hopefully providing writers with a little incentive to work on becoming more productive.
Four Great Blogs to Bookmark and Return to Again and Again!
It is my hope that the above posts will help you become more effective at both the craft, and the business, of writing. Why not bookmark these four great blogs, so you can return to them later to check out the other valuable content they are certain to post in the future! (You may also want to search their archives for buried treasure!)
Until next time,
Jeanne
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Join the Party!
Hello, there, fellow readers and writers! Come on in and join the party! This is Writer's Notes' 100th post, and I'll be serving up a luscious list of literary links to help spark the celebration.
Over the past day or so, I've been scouring the internet for especially sagacious 100-lists, in preparation for the party. So, take a seat, grab a tall, cool drink, and prepare to tantalize your intellectual tastebuds with this scrumptious spread of literary 100-lists, specially designed to satisfy your voracious literary appetite!
Links to Luscious Literary 100-Lists
Here they are, in no particular order:
From The Absolutely Weird Bookshelf/Stranger Books:
David Pringle's 100 Best Science Fiction Novels (through 1984)
David Pringle's 100 Best Fantasy Novels (to 1987)
From TIME Magazine:
100 All-TIME Best English-Language Novels from 1923 to the Present (2005)
From the BBC (British Broadcasting Company):
The Big Read: The UK's Top 100 Best-Loved Novels (2003)
From the MWA (Mystery Writers Association):
Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time (PDF)
From Guardian Unlimited:
The Top 100 Books of All Time (2002)
From the NEA (National Education Association):
Educators' Top 100 Children's Books (2007)
From Modern Library (Random House):
100 Best Novels (The Board's List & The Readers' List)
100 Best Nonfiction (The Board's List & The Readers' List)
Radcliffe's Rival 100 Best Novels List
From the National Review:
100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the Century
From Madison Public Library:
100 Best Works by Women Writers
From Martin Seymour-Smith:
100 Most Influential Books Ever Written (1998)
From the Independent Mystery Booksellers' Association (IMBA):
The 100 Favorite Mysteries of the 20th Century
From Sci-Fi Lists:
Top 100 Sci-Fi Books
From Columbia University Libraries:
Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century (2002)
From National Geographic:
Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time (2004)
From Spirituality & Health:
100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century
From Everything2:
Top 100 Works of Journalism in the United States in the 20th Century (2002)
From Mount Mercy College:
Webliography: The Literary 100: Children's Authors
Beneficial Blog & Book Links
Hope you've enjoyed meeting and mingling with all the literary and journalistic geniuses we've invited to this party--including all the famous ones you've met in the lists above! But the gathering wouldn't be complete without including a fellow blogger who generously offers advice to other bloggers on how making top 100 lists can help simplify and improve our blogging and our blogs.
From Productivity 501 blog:
Productive Blogger: Make a Top 100 List
And for all of us writers, whether or not we blog, the following book, available at Amazon.Com, can give us a whole slew of ways--100, to be exact (how appropriate is that?)--to help make our writing everything it can be.
From Amazon Online Reader:
100 Ways to Improve Your Writing, by Gary Provost (book)
Hope you've enjoyed the party! Thanks so much for helping me celebrate my 100th post at WritersNotes.Net! It's been so much fun!
Thanks again for dropping by!
Jeanne
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McGrath Dot Ca (formerly Steve's Tech Blog) Hosts Another Blogger Contest with a Cash Prize
Since I've been writing on the subject of blogger contests that have monetary prizes lately, I'll tell you about another such contest that I just came across: The Blog About My New Download Site and Win $100 Contest, being held at McGrath Dot Ca (formerly Steve's Tech Blog).
A Little Background
For quite some time, Steve has dreamed of owning a freeware/shareware download site, and, apparently, his dream is becoming a reality. Now that his new site, 1 Cool File is up and running--and acquiring new software every day--he wants the world to know about it!
Hence, the contest.
Requirements to Enter
To enter, bloggers simply have to copy and paste the following paragraphs from Steve's contest blog post into one of their own blog posts. (Don't forget to add all the links when posting the quoted text.)
Steve is launching his brand new site: 1 Cool File. It is a directory of cool files(shareware, freeware, plugins). For example, you can try a new media player after you have just finished a music download. You can add your ebook about making money or a screen saver. That’s not all, it has a section just for blogs(plugins). You can also rate a file or make a review about it. It does support PAD files so tell authors about it.
And just by linking to the contest post, I can win $50. You should read the contest post to win 2 other prizes of $25/each if you don’t have a blog. If your entry is before the next Google page rank, Steve will double the main prize. So, don’t wait to long. It’s coming soon!
And one more thing… You can read Steve’s blog while there.
Not a Blogger? You Can Win a Prize, Anyway
While bloggers may win $50 (or $100 if they enter before the next Google page rank update,) non-bloggers who visit and register for free membership at 1 Cool File, will be entered into a random drawing for $25. And another random $25 drawing will be held among all who point out "relevant" errors they find on the new site (with a few limitations that Steve mentions in his blog post). So, pretty much everyone has a chance of winning something, whether or not they have a blog, which sounds like a pretty fair deal.
Contest Details
Deadline: August 31st, 2007
All prizes paid in Canadian dollars.
All prizes paid via PayPal.
Want More Info? Visit Steve's Site
For more details about the contest, please visit McGrath Dot Ca.
What have you got to lose? Even if you don't win, you'll have found one cool site that will be offering an increasingly great selection of freeware/shareware that can satisfy most--if not all--of your software needs.
Happy "shopping"!
Jeanne
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Emotional Response and "Selling"
Most of us know that a potential reader, customer, or client's emotional response to whatever we're "selling"--whether it be a pair of shoes, a house, or an opinion--is far more important in making the "sale" than any other component of our presentation. But, did you know that this applies to your articles' headlines, as well?
A Great Tool for Measuring the Emotional Appeal of Your Headlines
While visiting The Copywriting Maven's blog, I came across a wonderful tool that can help bloggers and other writers determine just how likely it is that their article titles and blog post headlines will create the desired emotional response in the potential reader. (Check out Roberta's post at this link: Copywriter's Cool Tool: Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer.)
And please don't underestimate the significance of the word potential in the previous statement, because, as writers, we have all of about 10 seconds to grab the attention of the individuals browsing our content, pique their interest, and convince them to click our link! (Of course, once they do, our content must also be engaging enough to hook them, or they won't stick around long enough to read it.)
All of the above components that entice a reader to check out our content (grabbing their attention, piquing their interest, and convincing them to click our link) must be accomplished by our headline!
The Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer In Action
Enter, the Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer, brought to you by Advanced Marketing Institute. I decided to check the Emotional Marketing Value of some of my own blog post titles, past and present, with some fascinating results, which are reproduced below.
After checking the headlines of some of my older posts, (the results of which will be shown later,) I decided to check a few possible headlines for this post.
Results for the First Headline I tried:
_____________________________
Free Headline Analysis Results
Thanks for using Advanced Marketing Institute's Headline Analyzer! You submitted the following headline for Emotional Marketing Value analysis:
"Check the Emotional Marketing Score of Your Headlines"
Your Headline's EMV Score: 25.00%
This score indicates that your headline has a total of 25.00% Emotional Marketing Value (EMV) Words. To put that in perspective, the English language contains approximately 20% EMV words.
And for comparison, most professional copywriters' headlines will have 30%-40% EMV Words in their headlines, while the most gifted copywriters will have 50%-75% EMV words in headlines.
A perfect score would be 100%, but that is rare unless your headline is less than five words.
While the overall EMV score for your headline is 25.00%, your headline also has the following predominant emotion classification:
Intellectual Empathetic
We've determined that your headline appeals equally to people's intellectual and empathetic spheres.
Intellectual impact words are best used to attune copy and sales messages aimed at people and businesses involved in the fields of education, law, medicine, research, politics, and similar fields. While not restricted to these groups, by giving presentations which are weighted with Intellectual impact words, your clients and customers will be more positively influenced and you are more likely to attain a more favorable response.
Copy containing empathetic impact words are (sic) best used to attune with people and businesses involved with care-giving. For example, nurses, doctors, and counselors all tend to respond easily and favorably to Empathetic words. Women, and especially mothers, are very strong in their use of Empathetic impact words in the language. While use of Empathetic impact words does not have to be limited to these groups, we've found that by (sic) selecting more words with Empathetic impact delivers desirable conversion responses from those types of market segments.
______________________________
Results for the Current Headline:
______________________________
Free Headline Analysis Results
Thanks for using Advanced Marketing Institute's Headline Analyzer! You submitted the following headline for Emotional Marketing Value analysis:
"Write Engaging Headlines Use the Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer"
Your Headline's EMV Score: 40.00%
This score indicates that your headline has a total of 40.00% Emotional Marketing Value (EMV) Words. To put that in perspective, the English language contains approximately 20% EMV words.
And for comparison, most professional copywriters' headlines will have 30%-40% EMV Words in their headlines, while the most gifted copywriters will have 50%-75% EMV words in headlines.
A perfect score would be 100%, but that is rare unless your headline is less than five words.
While the overall EMV score for your headline is 40.00%, your headline also has the following predominant emotion classification:
Spiritual
Your headline carries words that have a predominantly Spiritual appeal. Words that resonate with Spiritual impact are the smallest number of words in the language. AMI research has found that Spiritual impact words carry the strongest potential for influence and often appeal to people at a very deep emotional level.
Words with Spiritual impact are best used with people and businesses desiring to make an appeal to some aspect of spirituality. This does not mean religion specifically, but any product or service that resonates with “spirituality” oriented markets are (sic) appropriate. The clergy, new age, health food and related markets all respond favorably to sales copy heavy with Spiritual impact content. Women and children also respond strongly to words in the Spiritual sphere. Marketing documents with strong Spiritual impact content can make for the most powerful presentations in the marketplace, but must be used with considerable skill.
______________________________
Scores & Categories for Some of My Other Headlines:
"Magnetize Your Blog: Always Reply to Comments!": 57.14% - Intellectual
"The Fine Art of Blogging: Rewards that Money Can't Buy": 30.00% - Intellectual
"Why is Poetry So Difficult to Define?": 28.57% - Intellectual Spiritual
"How Much Is Your Blog Worth?": 00.00% - Neutral
Your headline either has no words that invoke emotional impact with people person (sic), or the percentage of such words is so low as to be unlikely to make any emotional impact.
Headlines with little or no emotional words rarely do as well as headlines with stronger emotional content. You can attempt to shorten your headlines, or use different words and analyze the new headline.
"A Salute to My Fellow Writers--With Links!": 28.57% - Spiritual
Improve Your Headlines: Try the Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer
You've had the opportunity to see the Emotional Marketing Value Headline Analyzer in action--or at least you've seen the results of that action. Now, there's just one thing left for you to do: try it yourself! See if it doesn't give you the edge you need to begin writing headlines that will attract more readers through EMV--Emotional Marketing Value!
Happy Emotionalizing!
Jeanne
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Notice Anything Different About My Blog?
You may have noticed quite a few changes at Writer's Notes today: changes in my blog's template, in the style and placement of Google ads displayed on my site, and in the relative--and actual--placement of virtually everything in the Writer's Notes sidebar! My blog's new level of organization and more visually pleasing symmetrical look is a natural outgrowth of the guidelines received from a very savvy blogger/reviewer who graciously took the time to drop by and check out my site.
A Writer's Notes Review
Charles Young, of Top Site of the Day, reviewed Writer's Notes yesterday. I was very honored to have this opportunity, to not only receive a largely positive assessment of my blog, but also to be the recipient of some great feedback on how my site scored and why, which helped me implement some positive changes here at Writer's Notes. These changes should make my site a little less confusing, a lot easier to navigate, and a great deal more attractive than previously--which I hope my readers will like as much as I do!
The Review Itself: Short and Mostly Sweet
If you'd like to check out the very succinct review my blog received--and become acquainted with an informative blog-review site, while you're at it--Charles's review of Writer's Notes may be found at the following link: Notable Site: Writer's Tips and Help.
Value Added: The Personal Touch
The review itself goes into far less detail than Charles was gracious enough to do, for me, after receiving my e-mailed inquiry about the "missing elements" that would help make my blog a Top Site.
I'd just like to say a hearty "Thank you!" to Charles Young, at Top Site of the Day, for not only taking the time and effort to visit and review my blog, but also for very graciously explaining the criteria upon which his review was based, the possible scores compared to my blog's actual scores, and the specific reasons why some of my blog's scores fell short of the mark.
Lesson Learned: Blogs Are Dynamic, Not Static
His patient explanations have been incredibly helpful in reminding me that a blog is a dynamic, rather than a static entity, and that, just because our blogs may not be all that we want them to be today, that's no reason why they should remain that way tomorrow!
Why Not Submit Your Site to Top Site of the Day for Review?
If you'd appreciate a fair and sensitive review of your own blog, or if you'd like to submit someone else's blog who you believe should be recognized for doing a great job, visit Charles's site at the above link. Find out how you can make your blog a Top Site of the Day!
Thanks, Charles! Now, if only you would review my blog again! I'm sure I'd do a little bit better this time around!
Here's to a better blog!
Jeanne
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A Lot Can Happen in Two Weeks!
Two weeks ago--or two weeks and two days ago, to be precise--I checked my blog's value using the new Technorati-powered tool developed by Web guru Dane Carlson, of Dane Carlson's Business Opportunities, which calculates the value of each link to our sites, using the same link-to-dollar ratio used in the AOL-Weblogs Inc deal.
On that date, July 23rd, Carlson's little applet calculated my blog's value at $22,017.06. (See my post, How Much Is Your Blog Worth?)
Blog Value Recheck
Well, just for the fun of it, I decided to go back and check it again today, August 8th, to see how much it had changed. I figured that, since I've amassed a number of new inbound links during the past two plus weeks, and since my blog's Technorati authority and ranking have both been steadily rising--with my ranking finally breaking the 100K mark, to 83,970 as of the other day--my blog's value would surely follow that upward trend. And I was right.
The monetary value of the Writer's Notes blog, according to this handy dandy tool, has risen by over 70% in a little over two weeks, from $22,017.06 to $37,824.18. The current calculation is indicated below:
Is the Tool Accurate? Good Question!
Many don't put much stock in Mr. Carlson's little applet, and I must honestly say that I really have no idea how accurate its calculations may or may not be, since I am not very tech-savvy. But I do know that it's a great deal of fun to input my blog's URL and see what comes back--particularly when it's a decent value and, better still, when it shows a healthy growth over time.
Is the Tool Fun? You Bet!
So, I'll just enjoy my blog's performance--both past and present--and you can bet that, in the not too distant future, I'll be heading back over to Dane Carlson's Business Opportunities to do another blog value recheck!
If you'd like to do the same, simply click on the image above, and find out how much your blog is worth! The results may surprise you!
Happy evaluating!
Jeanne
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Darren Rowse, over at ProBlogger, is running a project, throughout the month of August, called 31 Days to Building a Better Blog - 2007. The project is, at its core, a resurrection of an earlier project of the same name which Darren ran back in August, 2005, with great success.
The current project will, however, be a bit different, containing two components: Darren's own Daily Blogging Tips (as in the first project) and a compilation of ProBlogger readers' own personal blogging tips, learned through each participating blogger's research or experience.
If the first group of submitted links is any indication, posts yet to be written during the next month promise to provide a veritable windfall of helpful information for improving your blog's quality, visibility, popularity, user-friendliness, SEO compatibility, profitability, page rank, searchability, and more.
Whether you participate by penning a post--or 30 (one posted tip per day per blogger is allowed during the month of August)--or take part in the project through one of the other methods Darren suggests, you're sure to find--and hopefully also contribute--many words of blogging wisdom.
So hurry on over to ProBlogger and check out a writing project that could just transform your blog--and your blogging--into an activity/enterprise that is not simply successful, but also beautiful to behold!
Happy posting!
Jeanne
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