February 18, 2008
First and formost what is a Blog? A blog is basically a journal
that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is
“blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger.”
The growth of blog usage over the last year has been
incrediable. Blog readership increased from 17% of internet
users to 27% in just 9 months. The number of blog authors has
increased from 3% in July 2002, 5% at the beginning of 2004, and
7% by late November 2004.
A quick search on the net for blogs and you find that not only
are the general public using them as a way of electronically
noteing their feelings and thoughts but also businesses are
using them as an informal way of updating their clients of
products and services.
It seems that when it comes to blogging big businesses and small
businesses are on the same playing field. A blog offers any
business the opportunity to communicate with employees, and
customers, sharing knowledge and expertise.
As you may or may not have realised is that blogging is a big
plus and if used correctly can provide an interesting and
effective way to increase brand identity and awareness.
My personal web design company (Able Net Design) has seen an
increase in interest of blogs and its use with our own
customers. It seems that everyone is jumping on this new system,
as a cheap and effective way to spread the word.
A quick google search for the term “business blogging” returns
11,200,000 results. There are even companies poping up
everywhere as blog consultants, which can help set up a blog
that you will get the most out of.
Is blogging really as good as everyone thinks, well i am
certainly having some fun with it and am sure if it didn’t work
it would have died by now.
But what are people blogging about? Well people are blogging
about everything and anything and there are some reports that
people are making a nice little income from it aswell.
Income off a blog how can that be? That is the same question i
asked when i first heard about it. I would have thought that the
process to making money of a blog would have been quite involved
however I have discovered that it is quite the opposite.
It seems that with the use of strategicly placed advertisements
and a large amount of traffic bloggers are utilising the paid to
click type of advertisements, to earn profits.
Now i thought this has to be tested, so i impletemented a few
different paid to click advertisements on my blogs to see how
they go. It took me little over 10 minutes to change my blog
templates and implement these advertisements.
So with the ads up and running i decided to continue posting as
usual to see what happens. Well i can say that im not going to
get rich quick. However i assume that the more traffic you have
the more clicks you will get, and since my blogs are relatively
new i didn’t have high hopes. But all in all it is a fun way to
keep the bloging interesting.
The blogging revolution just seems to keep on getting bigger and
bigger with Google and Yahoo releasing its on Blog search engine
and others like Technorati which would be the most well known
blog search engine. Technorati claims to be tracking 20.1
million sites, and if you view their top 100 blogs you will see
that the topics which are being blogged about are endless and
unique in every category you could think of.
For more information on blogs and how you can get one check out
our site (ablenetdesign.com) or read my online marketing blog
(ablenetdesign.blogspot.com) there will be
more information on blogs posted in their as time goes on im
sure of it.
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Five hundred subscribers sounds pretty good for a newbie marketer, right? Oh, but what if only 200 are actually opening your mail? You’ve got to come up with solutions that really work, or the painstaking work you do on your newsletter is all for naught. “Step it up” for a major improvement in open rate… with these five no-fail email newsletter tips!
1. Don’t hit SEND more that twice a month.*
*(unless you’re running a unique promotion to a specialized list of subscribers).
I recently mailed out a survey to my readers that ultimately revealed evidence CONTRARY to what many of the web experts will tell you. The findings? Most people prefer ONE or TWO mailings per month - no more, no less. Do you like getting slammed with junkmail every day? Well, neither do your subscribers!
2. DO include free downloadable e-books and tutorials.
Your e-book should take 5 hours, NOT 5 days, to write. Give subscribers a small taste of what’s to come, with a handy how-to or list of free resources. You want to make people hungry for what you can offer, so that one day when you reveal the ultimate marketing guide, folks will say, “Damn she’s good” and they’ll buy from you!
3. Send a survey!
People love to express their opinion, and it makes sense that if you know exactly what your readers want more of, you’ll be able to give it to them. Even if just 30% of your readers fill out the survey, you’ve still got a solid representation of your target market’s biggest wants. This information will drastically improve your open rate!
4. Try out fun themes.
Entrepreneurs are real, live people just like you. That’s why they respond favorably to those little things in your newsletter that reveal your warmth, humanity and sense of fun. Special occasions are all something we can relate to. Add a holiday or seasonal touch with a few brief references in the copy and headlines; sprinkle with tasteful themed graphics.
5. Work on that subjectline.
Give your email subscribers a taste of what’s to come, and they’re more likely to open and read your message. Think about all the other emails from competing marketers that are landing in their mailbox. What can you say in your headlines that will entice them better than the next person? Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tactics, analyze the results and modify your strategy accordingly.
Okay, feeling a little more confident about how you can “beef up” your newsletter to build a loyal following and fan club? Great. Now let’s get going on those improvements in time for your next release date!
Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.
Are YOU Content With Your Content? Get Top Secret Marketing Tips from the Web’s Biggest Gurus and Expert Authors on The First Annual Web Content Awareness Day on FEBRUARY 9, 2006.
Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more details.
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Dysthymic Disorder, used to be called Dysthymia, is a low-grade and yet chronic depression characterized by feelings of sadness or depression associated with lack of interest to do things and some physical symptoms such as lack of energy, sleep, and concentration.
Psychological symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness can also occur. In addition, some patients harbor thoughts of death and feelings of emptiness.
This is a type of clinical depression that is supposed to be “milder” than Major Depressive Disorder (MDD - used to be called Major Depression) because the symptoms don’t necessarily happen everyday. Unlike patients who suffer from MDD, Dysthymic patients are not bed-bound, still able to work, and does not appear to be sick. But most of these individuals complain that they haven’t felt “normal” or “happy” for a long time.
Moreover, Dysthymic Disorder is manifested by lack of drive and motivation. Hence, relatives and friends tend to misinterpret their mood and behavior. Some patients endure the stigma of being considered “lazy” or not “motivated enough” to do worthwhile goals.
As time passes by, patients with this disorder have difficulty functioning. But because they still appear normal, the illness is not recognized and patients don’t get treated early. A lot of times, they are not referred to a psychiatrist.
So is Dysthymic Disorder a second-rate psychiatric disorder? Based on my experience, patients experience considerable emotional turmoil. In fact, some dysthymic patients eventually develop a more serious depression called Major Depressive Disorder. When “double depression” (dysthymic disorder and major depression occurring together) happens, patients are so depressed that they become a threat to themselves and become functionally impaired. At this time, psychiatric hospitalization becomes necessary.
So Dysthymic Disorder is a serious health problem that should be recognized and treated promptly. It is an illness that somehow hides its existence from everyone including clinicians and patients themselves.
What is the treatment? Dysthymic disorder can be treated by antidepressants and psychotherapy. Most patients respond to treatment although some still suffer despite adequate treatment. Also, there are some individuals who only respond minimally. As such, this illness can be more challenging to treat than others.
About the Author
Dr. Michael G. Rayel - author (First Aid to Mental Illness-Finalist, Reader’s Preference Choice Award 2002) psychiatrist, and inventor of Oikos Game: A Personal Development and Emotional Skills Game. For more information, please visit www.oikosgame.com.
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During my 10 years of dating after my divorce at age 41, I can’t count the number of times I got discouraged about whether the “right one” would ever appear. I dated man after man and had disappointment after disappointment. Sometimes, I felt I was getting closer to the best mate for me. Other times, I took three steps backward before I took another step forward. It was frustrating, sometimes infuriating, and now and then depressing. But, despite everything, I never gave up hope that I would meet a compatible long-term partner. And I’m totally convinced that this firm belief that there was someone “out there” just right for me was a key determinant of my success in meeting my second husband.
Often, when I coach people trying to find a life partner, especially those over 40 who’ve been “burned” either in a marriage or a string of disappointing relationships, despair is common. I hear comments such as “I feel nothing is ever going to change,” “I’m not sure I’ll ever meet anyone who excites me,” and “I wonder if I’ll ever find someone who’s emotionally available.” Instead of making me sad, the sense of hopelessness reflected in these statements makes me more determined to help these people see and believe that there definitely IS hope for them to find love.
I believe there’s a match for everyone, no matter where you live, how old you are or how limited your dating experience. This optimism carried me through some rocky roads of post-divorce dating. Sure, it’s a “jungle” out there sometimes, but that’s no need to give up hope. They say you have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince, and in the over-40 dating world, you might have to kiss more than a few. You might also have to put some real effort and time (and even money) into finding that person since many of the “good ones” are already taken by that age. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. And all good things come to those who wait. So it pays to be realistic, proactive and patient as you pursue your partner.
If you doubt that you’ll find a partner, consider this:
1) There are LOTS of fish in the dating sea. For example, there are over 850 online dating sites in the U.S. alone, some with millions of members, so there are PLENTY of single people out there looking. The Law of Averages says there is definitely at least ONE person you could love.
2) You have many qualities attractive to any number of prospective partners. So, you can deduce that you also have just the right mix of certain unique attributes that will appeal specifically to at least one wonderful partner.
3) As in sales, it’s a numbers game. You’ll get 9 no’s before you get a yes. So, the more people you meet, the closer you’ll get to a match.
4) The only reasons you may not have met your partner yet is that he’s still getting ready for you or just hasn’t crossed your path. Being patient while he prepares and varying the places you go are two ways to attract him.
By keeping these facts in mind and staying active in your search for a partner, it’ll be easier to believe that person DOES exist and will soon come into your world. Keep the faith!
Gayle P. Crist, M.S., founder and president of HealthyLife Planning, is a personal coach based in Doylestown, PA. Trained at the Institute for Life Coach Training, she has been coaching individuals since January, 2002. A “natural cheerleader” all her life, Gayle’s passion is helping people live healthier, happier lives…especially helping single people find love. As Bucks County’s Dating Coach and Singles Social Director, Gayle hosts monthly singles parties and book discussion groups, offering singles 35-65 easier, more comfortable ways to connect. Gayle knows from personal experience how hard it is for older singles to find partners nowadays. Married for 16 years prior to her divorce in 1995, she was a single mom for 10 years before meeting her 2nd husband online at age 50. She says love “the 2nd time around” is amazing and adores helping others make the same discovery!
Gayle specializes in helping singles succeed with healthy, safe online dating; divorced people make healthy transitions into single life; people adopting healthy lifestyles; and those starting a new business.
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