Online Writers, Unite!

Point your mouse over here for inspiration. The idea here is to motivate, educate or simply make you smile. Be sure to check out Good Clicks and Grammar for some great writing resources!

Click around, leave a comment here and there, and help make the world a better place!

Steps to Building a Content Marketing Machine

I’ve been doing some research on how to successfully create an online content marketing machine. According to the “rules,” I am going to need a huge wad of money to bankroll my endeavors if I want to play with the big boys online. Here’s the breakdown:

PLAN: “You need to plan, taking into account various marketing scenarios. You must identify your target audience.” (Does this mean more Google Adwords? Cha-Ching!)

TEAM: “To implement a successful content marketing strategy you will need a dedicated team who can produce content, distribute it and measure results.” (Please hold while I cash out my 401k…)

IDEAS: “Most difficult… Writer’s block… Run out of ideas… Yada yada yada…”

I’ve Received the Liebster Award!

Oh, SNAP! I have been nominated for the 2013 Liebster Award! I will admit it has been several weeks since I was nominated, but due to a brief break to enjoy life as it unfolded for me, I am just now finally accepting this award!

Now, in order to accept the Liebster Award, one must do the following things:

1.  Thank (and link to) the presenter of my 2013 Liebster Award. 

I am humbled that my friend Susan Bahr over at Letters to Rosa thought of me and nominated me! You must stop over at her blog and check out the writing she is doing about her family.

Going Viral

It’s not about the flu anymore.

Just like I wrote about in my Amazon post, we the people are being conditioned to certain phrases in social media and internet life.

You see, either I am getting old, or it appears that old terms are taking on new meanings. Take that song by Tim McGraw, where he sings, “remember when a Coke was a Coke?” Tim knows what I’m talking about!

So, to bring home my point – have you noticed how all the news stations and entertainment shows play snippets of YouTube videos and talk about them “going viral?” There is no need to explain what it means – we are expected to know. And yes, *I* know – but does Grandma understand?

Since you stopped by to read this, let me show you what is trending right now (no, silly, not on a fashion runway in France):

United States Trends 

• #askmccurdy
• #1Dproblems
• #imnotintheband
• Happy St. Patrick’s Day
• #RHOA
• #MentionAHoe
• Walter
• Bow Down
• Kenya
• Kandi

What I don’t understand is why #MarchMadness isn’t one of the trending terms, or most importantly, our very own local Gonzaga Bulldogs, number 1 #zags!!

Where’s the coffee…coffee…coffee?

Don’t worry, I’m not off my rocker. Well, no more than I was two weeks ago when I was still drinking coffee. But now I’m not.

It’s so freeing to be free of it! Don’t get me wrong; I’ve always been a coffee whore. “Will work for coffee” was my mantra. Starbucks cards for birthdays, or hidden in the Christmas stocking, or a swell gesture from a friend…that was my life up until two weeks ago. Then I got some sort of flu bug. You know, the kind where you’re so sick even coffee doesn’t sound good? Nope, it sure did not…for several days. By that time, I figured what the heck? I’ve got this thing beat!

I’m still lovin’ the aroma, but just can’t bring myself to drink it. It’s like poison to me now. I’ve endured the awful headache withdrawals and can’t go back to “the other side.” Or, maybe I HAVE gone to the other side? I mean, I am drinking tea now.

No matter. My life is simpler now. No more planning my next cup of Joe. No more filing through the stack of coffee punch cards in my car (which drive thru am I at?). I’m spending less and sleeping more. I feel healthier. I have more energy. Let me say that again: I have MORE energy. Go figure.

I don’t know how long I will stay off the beans, but I’m telling you I plan to ride this train all the way to the bank.

I’m being “Sequestered” but I’m not on a jury

Well, isn’t that spesh-ul? (Church Lady-speak)

Looks like I’m going to have three-day weekends until September.

Since my glass is half full, I see less commuting, less stress, and lots more trail riding and camping in my future!

This is a new chapter for America. I wonder where it will lead? It should be interesting!

The search is over

I have found my new love! I just had to share…

He is a dun quarter horse, 15 years old, 16 hands tall, a well-seasoned ranch and trail horse, and a gentleman – just perfect for me! Now I just need some good weather so we can hit the trail!

It’s the “Versatile Blogger” Award!

I am feeling very honored to be nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by John W. Howell.

Versatile Blogger Rules (If you choose to obey them):

• Display the Award Certificate on your website
• Announce your win with a post and link to whoever presented your award
• Present 15  awards to deserving bloggers
• Drop them a comment to tip them off after you’ve linked them in the post
• Post 7  interesting things about yourself.

Here are my fifteen nominees (in no particular order):