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Links: Independence Day 2009 Edition
July 3rd, 2009 | Tags: fireworks, holidays, independence day, linkedin, star trek Links: Independence Day 2009 Edition
Happy 4th to Americans and Happy belated Canada Day.

Email going around with this. “At 5 minutes and 6 seconds after 4 a.m.,on the 8th of July, this year, the time and date will be:

04:05:06am on 07-08-09

“This will not happen again until the year 3009.” You can say the same for the ones coming in the next three years:

05:06:07am on 08-09-10 (2010)
06:07:08am on 09-10-11 (2011)
07:08:09am on 10-11-12 (2012)

It’d be cool to have one of these birthdays.
- 7 Ways to Build Your Author Brand Online
- My Favorite Book Covers of 2008: Fabulous list. Can’t begin to pick one.
- LinkedIn: 22 Ways to Dominate: Link with me, if you haven’t already.
- How to Succeed (or Survive) as a Writer: PDF slidepack of F+W Media Editorial Director Jane Friedman’s two most popular talks from 2008-2009, plus a handout on surviving publishing in the 21st century.
- 10 Books for Mothers Who Write: I read Letters to a Young Poet when I took art in college. I don’t even remember the book — just that I read it. Maybe it’ll resonate more with me now.
And for fun because we’re allowed…
- Buildings don’t always fall down. They fall over.
- 10 Life Lessons from Star Trek presentation
- The Sea Pig [Link: shelleyryan]
- Collection of Independence Day covers from New Yorker
- When fireworks go wrong. Proof that fireworks aren’t toys.
15 Ways to Blog for Your Blog When You Blog for Clients
July 1st, 2009 | Tags: Blogging 15 Ways to Blog for Your Blog When You Blog for Clients

Photo credit Naama y.m.

I started writing a post about Twitter this morning. Then I realized, the post would work for one of my clients and moved it there. My clients come first, which makes it harder to produce high quality blog entries for my own blog.

And I am not about to abandon this place after nine years.

So how do I balance blogging here and blogging for clients / publications when our audience is the same? Not all of my clients have the same target audience, but a couple do.

That’s one reason why I don’t blog as often. I share good and fun finds on link Fridays. It looks like y’all like ‘em based on your feedback. Thank you!

So what to cover when you blog elsewhere?
1. Put you in the post: When blogging for clients, you may not share your background and experiences as much as you can for your own blog.
2. Share stories and experiences: Right now I am sharing a story of my struggles to blog here and there while maintaining high standards.
3. Make lists: Favorite / top tools, applications, etc.
4. Interview an expert: I am sure there are experts who fit your blog better than your client’s.
5. Write how to / tutorial: Some tutorials I do won’t fit client pubs. I do how tos on other sites, but it’s the topic that can make a difference.
6. Update entries: Most likely, you can’t update your posts on a regularly basis that you publish on client’s blog or web site. Update entries refers to lists and information that will receive regular updates such as List of Twitter Chats, Information Visualization and Presentations.
7. Discuss personal beliefs: Most likely client doesn’t want you to post such things (unless that’s what the blog is about). This can also be a show of support to nonprofits, struggling countries (Iran and Darfur) and so on.
8. Share lessons learned: Here’s a great opportunity to tell a story. Be creative!
9. Review new tool, app, web site, book, product.
10. Respond to another blog post: Instead of leaving a comment, use it as an opportunity to write a new post.
11. Share problems: Struggling with something in your business or personal life? Share it. Maybe it’ll help you find answers or readers will have ideas.
12. Ask questions: Turn a blog post into a discussion topic. Kick it off with your entry and pray comments come. Or post the questions in Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn and add the answers to the blog post.
13. Observe life around you: Something is bound to inspire. Or maybe you can tie it with a lesson.
14. Talk about a conversation: I have fascinating conversations and discover new things on Twitter and other social networks that would make a great post.
15. Answer common questions: Do you receive similar questions? Post your answer and now you can send people to the post when they ask the question. People often ask me how to become a writer, which inspired the post.
What other ways or topics can you find inspiration for your blog to keep it alive and first-rate when you blog for others?

ShortURL to this post: http://tr.im/qvhR
Links: 26 June 2009
June 26th, 2009 | Tags: cars, photos, social media, social networking, star trek, twitter Links: 26 June 2009
- Easy on the Hooptedoodle: How to be invisible when writing a book. You know… show instead of tell. [Link: The Blood-Red Pencil]
- Exposing Some Myths About Blogging Pay Rates
- 7 Ways to Rediscover Your Dreams
- Book Marketing 2.0: 5 ways you can use Web 2.0 tools to promote your book
- Namechk: See if a user name is available across many social networks.
- Twitter Logo Generator [Link: Crenk]
- Best Sites for Used Cars: Daughter has driver’s permit. Not gonna get her a new car. If anything, she’ll inherit hubby’s car once he gets a replacement.
- Star Trek does opera: Khannnnn! in Italian.
- Emo Babies: Not emo as in wearing black, but showing their feelings and emotions. Very cute.
- Wanna See a Kindle 2?
Links: Juneteenth 2009 Edition
June 19th, 2009 | Tags: photos, social media, twitter Links: Juneteenth 2009 Edition
- Social Media and “The Flight Attendant Effect”: Excellent analogy that makes great sense. [Link: Scott Blitstein
- Five Levels Of Social Media Responses [Link: Dawn Foster]
- Children’s book writing month at Tumblemoose: Lots of advice, articles, videos and guests.
- Tweeting for profits: How retailers and other businesses are taking advantage of Twitter.
And for fun because we’re allowed…
- Darth McVader: This link is in memory of my dear friend Glenn.
- The Stapler Caper: Adorable wordless children’s book that encourages children to write the story. YouTube video tells more. Disclaimer: Creator is a dear friend of mine. Heard great story about a kid who hated writing. He actually produced an incredible story using this book as a tool. Wow.
- Tilt-shift Photos of London: Just makes me wanna get there ASAP! I love the UK and am eager to visit there as one of my first stops on the other side of the world.
Factors for Finding the Right Logo for Your Business
June 18th, 2009 | Tags: design, logos Factors for Finding the Right Logo for Your Business
This guest post is from Ben Johnson of Logoinn, a custom logo design service provider based in UK.

Your logo is the proverbial “calling card” for your business. The appearance, style and design of your business logo will be responsible for the all-important first impression to a potential customer or client.

Understanding the importance of your business logo, you may wonder what you should have and what you should include within the design of that logo. This article provides tips and pointers on what type of logo you need to have for your business enterprise.

Logo as an Iconic Representation

When you are considering what type of logo will be most suitable for your own business, you can learn a good deal from those very successful logos that have really proven successful over time. Some logos have become so widely recognized that they are iconic.

Examples of iconic logos include the Coca-Cola logo, the Starbucks logo and many other logos that have been around for a long time that have become a part of the consciousness of consumers from all parts of the world.

You can take tips and cues from these logos when it comes to the decision making process associated with your own business logo. For example, these logos have common factors and elements that you can translate into your own logo design efforts.
For example, these iconic logos have clean and clear design concepts, have basic color schemes and convey a sense of what the business is about.

Take Practical Considerations into Account

In addition to taking a look at what other successful businesses have done in the way of logos, you want to clearly take in account practical considerations. For example, want to make sure that your logo appropriately conveys at least an indication of the products or services that you are offering through your business venture. A logo that doesn’t convey a sense of your business type will become ineffective in branding at best and a devastating error in the worst-case scenario.

You also need to ensure that your branding devices appeal and attract the specific market niche that contains the specific consumer group who will be most interested in doing business with your firm or company.

Simple Is Better

When selecting a logo design, keep in mind that a clean and uncluttered look is the best selection and the best choice for your operation.

With a clean, clear and uncluttered logo, consumers will more readily connect with your business. A quicker, sounder connection increases the number of customers or clients that your firm or company will do business with both in the short and the long term.

Know Your Industry

While you definitely do not want to copy another business’s logo design concept, it can help you to analyze what other businesses in your specific industry are doing in the way of logos, branding and related issues. Some themes are commonplace and suitable within a specific industry. Therefore, it likely will behoove your business to incorporate these themes into your own efforts at designing the most effective logo for your venture.

This is a step that a professional design firm will undertake as part of its own effort at developing the most effective and appropriate logo for your own business enterprise.

Final Lines

If you take the time and make the effort to consider the factors in this article, you will be in a better position to understand what type of custom logo will not only be the most suitable, but also most effective for your business venture. You will be laying the groundwork for a successful and profitable business, the groundwork that will serve you well not only today but as your business grows into the future.
10 Tasks to Prepare for Time off
June 9th, 2009 | Tags: health, surgery, vacation 10 Tasks to Prepare for Time off

Photo credit Sheila VooDoo

I had surgery last week (doing fine, thank you), so I prepared ahead of time not knowing how much time I would miss work and blogging. I had no desire or energy to work for three days. By the fourth day, I could do a little work. Yesterday (one week after the surgery), I worked all morning and wore myself out by lunch time.

Here are the tasks I did to prepare my business for a little hiatus. It’d work for vacation and other times off from working. Unexpected time off is a different story (you can prepare for the unexpected with a contingency plan).
1. Notify clients: I emailed all of my regular clients about three to four weeks ahead of time.
2. Get ahead: Wherever possible, I wrote extra articles and completed assignments that would be due during the week of the surgery and after. I also found time to do work on the weekend before the surgery.
3. Finish projects: I had a couple of projects that had an end. I finished both before surgery.
4. Schedule a blog post: Christina Katz saved me on this one. We had an interview that I entered in my blog before the surgery and scheduled it to go live while I was in recovery. It’s OK to publish one time during the week, which is what I have done for the past month or so.
5. Use a laptop: My laptop plays a regular role in my business even though I rarely travel or work in coffee shops. It allows me to work in in bed, on the sofa or elsewhere in the house where I can be comfortable.
6. Send email with a cell phone: I couldn’t decide between a BlackBerry or iPhone. I’m glad I went with the BlackBerry because it handles email better. I am rarely too sick to send a short email message. Although I didn’t have a BlackBerry at the time, I used a cell phone to send an email to clients when I unexpectedly went in the hospital. If your cell phone’s email app isn’t great, try mail2web.com’s mobile app. Google also offers mobile Gmail for different phones.
7. Do administrative tasks: Are your invoices due? Do you need to balance your bank account? Do you need to submit time sheets? Do all of this beforehand.
8. Transfer assignments: I always have an editing assignment around the first of the month. I told the writer to send the articles to another editor since I would be out. I’m grateful that some clients I work for have teams so we can back each other up.
9. Delete less important emails: I deleted email newsletters and other informational emails before, during and after to take the pressure off of me in keeping up. I also read some newsletters in bed with my phone or laptop when I couldn’t do much else. You might consider changing some of your subscriptions to “vacation” status, but I never do this as I have too many.
10. Remember it’s OK not to work: Avoid putting so much pressure on yourself to get things done, blog or participate in social networking. You need to take care of you! It doesn’t matter if it’s recovery from illness or catching up after vacation. It’s easier to get your groove back when you keep it low key.

What other tasks did you do to prepare for time off?

Links: June Is Busting out All Over 2009 Edition

June 5th, 2009 Tags: brain games, disabilities, movies, sms, Steve Jobs, video games Links: June Is Busting out All Over 2009 Edition

More fun reads than biz reads as I recover from surgery and can barely handle the heavy-duty thinking.

10 Golden Lessons from Steve Jobs [Link: Pamela Poole]
Series of articles on how people use a computer with different disabilities (look to the right for more) [Link: Laura Carlson]

Test My Brain
RunPee: OK, admit it. You find yourself needing to go in the middle of a good movie, but can’t decide whether to suffer a little longer or go now. Wonder no more. Next time you go to the movies, check RunPee to find out the best times to go.
Top 10 BBQ Blogs: What kind of Texan would I be if I didn’t mention this? [Link: Michael Kogon]
9 Video Games That Went Too Far
The 10 Commandments, in TXT Spk: #3: No OMGs [Link: RaToTheBec]

Links: Mud Pie Day 2009 Edition

May 29th, 2009 Tags: business cards, logos, photos, software, twitter Links: Mud Pie Day 2009 Edition

My youngest, a kindergartener, had Mud Pie Day today (they do bubbles, throw footballs, play Frisbee, eat pudding, mess with sand and much more.

99 Essential Twitter Tools: Yikes! Sounds to me more like 99 ways to get sucked in twitter some more…
72 Stunning Business Cards That Will Blow You Away: Consider me blown.
Alternative to expensive software: Don’t need to spend $$$ in Photoshop or need all of its power features? You can see a list of alternatives and filter them by license such as free, open source and commercial, by platform and by tag.
25 logos with hidden message: Cool stuff.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

Amazing photographs from a high point of view
You Can’t Please Everyone: One star Amazon reviews of movies, music and literature.
Cards of Change: What people do to their business cards when they no longer work for the company on the card.
Award winning stop motion: Do it again: Wow! Talk about patience!

Links: Memorial Day Weekend 2009 Edition

May 22nd, 2009 Tags: freelance, movies, photos, twitter Links: Memorial Day Weekend 2009 Edition

(moment of silence) Thank you, soldiers.

The Role of Get Rich Quick Merchants: Complete with fab New Yorker cartoon.
Best Entrepreneur Books That You Never Expected
Useful Tools: Straight out reviews of web apps and tools without the editorial or anything else.
How Freelancers Might Save Publishing
Why People Don’t Follow Back on Twitter: Are you breaking these Twitter Commandments? [Disclosure: I wrote it]

And for fun because we’re allowed…

Awkward Family Photos: No ’splanation needed.
Wireless Keyboard Wall Graphics: Ah, geek art.
Best Visual Illusion of the Year Contest: Ah, dizzy art.
Research Paper Glossary
Top 10 Movie Misquotes
Incredible photo of the sun… not just the sun…

Links: Field Day 2009 Edition

May 15th, 2009 Tags: photoshop, PR, twitter, usability, web design Links: Field Day 2009 Edition

I have the fondest memories of field day in elementary school. All the classrooms would have their own shirts with their teacher’s name and a mascot. I’ve been a Haines Hound, Vickers Viking and Strickland Spartan. We competed against other homerooms in the same grade levels and won ribbons at the end of the day. I still have my good sportsmanship ribbon from first grade. Probably the only time I ever deserved it

Imagine my surprise when I went to field day at our main elementary school when my daughter was in first grade (she’s in ninth now). The whole school wears one t-shirt (there may be color variations) and there are no ribbons or anything. Just a fun day with lots of group activities ending with a teacher’s tug-of-war. I think it’s a wonderful way to emphasize good sportsmanship and having fun while exercising.