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5 Actions That Keep Blogging Simple And Fun
I'm helping a client launch a blog this week so I'm answering a lot of questions. While each one has a different slant, there is one central theme: Am I doing this right? Unfortunately, there's really no right or wrong way to answer that question.
I've been blogging now since 2005 and I've helped a lot of people launch blogs. One thing that's universally true is that no one feels comfortable when they first start blogging. But for most people, blogging eventually becomes second nature with practice and consistency. One way to help make that happen is to commit to these five actions that keep blogging simple and fun.
1. Be Yourself
As with most things, successful blogging starts with who you are as a person. Blogging requires authenticity. Before adding your first post, make up your mind that the only requirement is that you be yourself. If you remind yourself of that each time you prepare a post, your blog will be natural and genuine, and it must be both in order to capture people's attention.
Blogging should reflect your personality. Displaying your personality is effortless, right? Be yourself and the rest will follow.
One of my favorite bloggers is Michael Hyatt, the president of Thomas Nelson Publishers. Michael's blog posts are sometimes long, but they are chock full of good content to help anyone lead a more fulfilled life. Michael links to lots of other bloggers, and his positive and engaging personality really shines through.
2. Blog Your Passions
Blogging needs to be consistent and interesting, not complicated. If you write about what you are passionate about, blogging is not work.
Don't like to write? Take pictures or videotape things you care about and post them to your blog with a bit of text, if needed, to explain the point you wish to make.
Hate to write? Not a shutterbug? Maybe you like to talk. In that case, get a phone and get a free account at Free Conference Call. Then pay $19.95 a month for Audio Acrobat and take their free training. Record your thoughts or an interview with someone exciting and load the stream and/or download link to your blog.
A picture adds extra interest, so if you are interviewing someone, get them to send you a clear photo of themselves. They don't have a picture? Get one free at 123RF. Click on the icon for Absolutely Free Photographs. I got the picture in this post there.
Hate to write? Not a shutterbug? Don't like to talk either? Don't blog. Instead, see #4 below.
3. Edit
The best blogs are professional, yet informal. But informality doesn't mean sloppy. The good news is that you don't have to be a professional copy editor, or hire one, to:
- make sure words are spelled correctly (use the spell check)
- make sure there is adequate space between paragraphs (if reading the post hurts your eyes, add some spaces between paragraphs)
- make sure your grammar is reasonably proper (read the post out lout and fix everything your mother would correct).
And if you want to hire an editor, my friend Charlon Bobo is one of the best.
4. Start and Invite Conversation
Even if you don't want to host a blog, you can participate meaningfully in the blogosphere and enhance your business by making contributions to other people's blogs. By adding your input in their comments section, you can enjoy networking and sharing your points of view.
If you do have a moment of brilliance, you could even prepare a post and submit it to one of your faovrite blogs as a guest blogger. See my guest blogger guidelines.
As a blogger, it helps to think of yourself as the host of a dinner party. In that role, you have to set the table for your guests. If you invite people over, you have to help them have a good time, right?
One of the ways to ensure that happens is to initiate conversations that help people connect and develop new relationships.
It's the same as the host of your blog. Prepare posts that connect people and help them have a good time. Start interesting conversations that feature your points of view, and invite others to share theirs.
5. Show Link Love
Nothing is more boring than reading online content that features a bunch of words and no links to other places of interest. Blogs like that are self-absorbed, and who likes hanging around people like that?
Link love shows that you are well connected and confident, just the kind of person that people like to hang out and connect with. Showing link love also simplifies the blogging process by giving you interesting content that you don't have to make up yourself.
What about you?
What are your favorite simple tips for blogging? Share them in the comments section below, and link to your blog so we can head over and connect with you.
For more great blogging tips like these, subscribe to Indie Business Blog today!
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Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones died yesterday ...When I saw the news through my Google alert, I went to my To-Do list. And found the notation:"Contact Tubbs-Jones office re: Medicare Improvement Bill, see attached email) for interview on Cleveland Talks! Provide local cell# for callback."(btw: I produce several talk shows on BlogTalkRadio. Cleveland Talks! is one of them.)You see, I was a constituent. I was on her email list. I let my voice be heard, regularly. I always got a response. I did not make the call on that day. Too busy, schedule too full on that day, moved to the next day, then the next ...Facing the list again last night, a note scribbled in haste, I had to pause. I did not complete the task. A missed opportunity. I have to cross it off the list now. I had to pause. And write this blog.Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones was an icon in the truest sense of the word. Not a self-proclaimed "Diva" - a word so overused in today's culture that it has become meaningless. She was approachable, accessible, a sister, a mother, a community advocate, an effective politician, a neighbor, a girlfriend, and strong ally that worked tirelessly through a life dedicated to living honorably. And, pursuing the greater good.When I was a child, they taught Civics, and Social Studies, and Good Citizenship. And Community Service. (btw: that was before "community service" was categorized and issued as a punishment because the county jail is too full to contain another community delinquent)When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. Or, a Supreme Court judge.My love for mathematics ended at trigonometry. So, in college I majored in Political Science and moved to the greater Washington, DC area to earn some cash and continue my education. I did not become a judge, or a lawyer, or a paralegal. Although, I did serve as a court recorder for a brief period (Think electronic recordings, microphones, wires). The guy crawling under the table adjusting the cable connections just before the BIG briefings on the Hill. I was "that" guy - or gal. It was fun. Then I moved on. But I hung around the scene for 2 decades and worked it. Part of "the entourage" and "in the know" - it was an addiction. A drain. A thrill. And I loved it. Then I moved on. Or, I should say that I moved "back" - to oHIo.And people ask me, "So, what do you do [now]?"And I asked myself that last night. And this morning, my hometown is in mourning. What DO I do, for the greater good?I try to think more about others than myself. And when I fail to do so, I try again. (Note to self: try again)I amplify the voices of others (btw: see Encourage Me I'm Young). I write inspirational books for adults and chapter books for children. I tutor inner city children in the gymnasiums of schools in "academic failure" and teach Bible lessons in church basements to adults. I bake cookies and give them away. I don't complain about my neighbors hedges being too high, unless I am in the mood to help trim them. Or when the neighborhood fireworks display runs on until 3:00am because, after all, it's only once a year. God bless America!I stopped hating on Oprah, and Rosie, and Brittany, and Paris, and Condi, and all the others whose lives I DO NOT know and handle pressure that I can not imagine. I buy bags of peaches or beets when I visit the local farmer's market. I hate peaches and beets. But, my sister loves them. I feed the birds. And the skinny neighborhood cats. I plant flowers that attract butterflies so that the little children can chase them. I give treats to my little dog and bring enough to share with his little doggy friends. I try to care. About things, about people, and their situations. Locally, globally, eternally.I lift young people on my shoulders and say "Can you see the future? I can. And it's glorious. And it's all for you. Can you see it? I can. I can see it in you."(btw: Please listen to Cleveland Talks! E-City Teen Entrepreneurs)This is about Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones.And my To-Do List.Before I cross that missed opportunity off my list, what will I replace it with?What will I do today, instead?What will you do today? (note to self: try again)Thanks for reading my blog.(btw: please listen to Tony Reeve's "In The Know" podcast with Former State Senator State-Senator-Lesley-Les-Miller"">Leslie Miller)And do something today...for the greater good.
"Ubanny SpotLight and ArtFace Studio Presents“Creativity and Innovation... a beautiful combination.Walida "Jo Perry" Johnson Visual Matrix Artist, Teaching Artist, Creative Writer and OwnerBusiness of Art…Urbanny SpotLight and ArtFace Studio Presents are, Arts Integrated, Multimedia Presentation for Small Business Solution, Marketing and Entertainment“A New way to Advertise and Promote your voice, while supporting the arts.”About the Artist works…Artistic Portraits and DesignsAs an Visual Matrix Artist, she integrates innovation and technology with a vas array of traditional mediums, through the digital canvas and paletteArtist Statement…The Soul of CreativityWhen creating an art piece I study the image and listen… to see what that image is saying to me.It is a silent dance of creative energy, imagination between me, the image, the digital canvas and palette. I am student, to the soul of creativity, exploring the imagination, the possibilities of what could be or what lies underneath what is visible. I have found that there is more to the human image, than what is captured, each one has a story through my minds-eye. -JoWalida “Jo Perry” Johnson is currently working on two major projects, which will be complete by mid Oct-Dec. 2008Sponsorship and Advertisement Opportunities are available go online and purchase today while space is available.Great Opportunity for promote your voice and bring awareness to causes and social issues.Be apart of book projects and Multimedia Presentations.Learn more about her at,www.urbannyarts.comwww.myspace.com/joperryakawjohnsonhttp://au.youtube.com/ArtistJoThe value of Friendship is the only true currency.
Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club (often just called "Wynn") is a AAA five diamond/Mobil four-star and Mobil five-star (for The Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas) casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. The US$2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers 215 acres (0.87 km2).It is located at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sands Avenue (on the N.E. corner), directly across The Strip from the Fashion Show Mall.The 2,715 rooms range in size from 640 square feet (58 m²) to the villas at 7,000 square feet (650 m²) with a 111,000 ft² (10,200 m²) casino, a convention center with 223,000 ft² (20,700 m²) of space, 76,000 square feet (7,000 m²) of retail space.The Wynn does not have any floors that start with the number 4, since it is an unlucky number in Chinese culture.HistoryView north from Las Vegas Boulevard. The site was assembled by buying the Desert Inn Hotel and golf course for most of the land. The remainder was acquired by purchasing private residences that were generally located along Paradise Avenue. While some owners sold early on, others held out. This resulted in numerous legal actions between the various parties. In the end, the site acquired totaled 215 acres (870,000 m²).Wynn Las Vegas LLC contracted with Marnell Corrao Associates on June 4, 2002 to design and build the resort. The original name for the project was "Le Rêve" but was changed to "Wynn Las Vegas" well before the project was complete. The original name lives on in the stage production. Built at a cost of US$2.7 billion, it was the largest privately-funded construction project in the nation. This compares with the budget for reconstruction with the World Trade Center site which at that time was projected to be $1.7 billion.[citation needed]The historic Desert Inn Golf Course was rebuilt while the hotel was being constructed. The course is now known as Wynn Golf and Country Club.Early advertising for the resort featured exterior images of the hotel tower, with Steve Wynn standing on the roof, just above his signature logo. The initial commercial aired in some local spots during the 2005 Super Bowl, and eventually national spots as opening drew near. A "teaser" website for the resort included both the commercial and a "making-of" video.The resort was featured on an episode of the Fine Living network's What Makes it Tick.Wynn Las Vegas, designed by Jon Jerde, opened on April 28, 2005, Wynn's wife's birthday, the 55th Anniversary of the opening of the original Desert Inn, and five years from the day Steve Wynn purchased the site. When it opened, the Wynn had many firsts and notable features, including:The first Vegas casino to combine the room key and the casino frequent-player card in one cardThe first casino to include a car (Ferrari-Maserati) dealershipThe world's largest distribution of HDTV, into hotel rooms using high-speed Cat-6 Ethernet cablesThe largest installation of Voice over IP technology for hotel phonesThe tallest hotel building on the stripIt was also among the first casinos to install RFID tags inside chips to better detect counterfeiting.Inspiration and visionWynn taken from the freeway in Las VegasWynn purchased the Desert Inn hotel and casino to obtain property for his future dreams. The Desert Inn was imploded to make room for his new hotel project. Along the way, Wynn Resorts Limited was formed and continued development with Wynn being the controlling stock holder.Wynn has stated that the major shift with this new resort is the concept of designing from the "inside out." In contrast to his previous hotels Bellagio, The Mirage, and Treasure Island, there is no Las Vegas Strip attraction to draw in passers-by. Instead, visitors must venture inside to see what the hotel is all about. Wynn has said that "there is no franchise in a casual observer, there is a franchise in a guest."RestaurantsAlexBartolotta Ristorante di MareStrattaThe Country Club - an American SteakhouseDaniel Boulud BrasserieOkadaRed 8 - Asian BistroSugar & Ice (in the Wynn Esplanade)SW SteakhouseTableauTerrace Point CaféThe BuffetThe Drugstore CaféWing LeiZoozacrackersWynn Dealers ControversyOn May 12 and 13, 2007, Wynn dealers voted 444-149 in favor of representation by the Transportation Workers Union. The vote is a result of controversial policy changes made by Wynn to share tips with floor staff.AttractionsPenske-Wynn Ferrari-Maserati dealershipWynn Las Vegas is the first casino to include a luxury car dealership. Brand new factory-authorized cars include the Ferrari and Maserati brands. Used cars are sold "as-is" and include other luxury car brands, with some cars on display ranging in price from little more than $100,000 to $1.6 million. The dealership also includes parts and other car-wares.Non-buying guests of the resort can go into the dealership to take a look around. When the resort opened, there was no fee to enter, but the dealership became so crowded that management began charging $10 for admission;[5] registered Ferrari-Maserati owners are exempted from this fee, as well as children accompanying paying adults. The Penske-Wynn is one of the few casino car exhibits in Las Vegas metropolitan area. Other exhibits can be found at the Imperial Palace and Caesars Palace. However, the Penske-Wynn Ferrari-Maserati dealership is the only casino/dealership in the Las Vegas area.The dealership is placed near the valet parking of the resort, so that people can look at the model cars while waiting for their own cars to arrive.The cars are not the only thing that the resort offers with the Ferrari name. A Ferrari Store accompanies the dealership, Offering such goods as apparel, racing merchandise, electronics, and even a home gym all branded with the Ferrari logo. This is the first ever factory authorized Ferrari Store in North America and only the seventh in the world. The staff wear Ferrari pit crew outfits and a sound system blasts engine noises as would be heard on a race track.The Wynn Art CollectionThe Wynn Art CollectionThe Wynn Gallery, which had charged an entrance fee, closed shortly after the start of 2006 as a result of poor ticket sales. The artwork from the former gallery is now scattered around the resort.Lake of DreamsIn a departure from the trend established when The Mirage opened of providing free sidewalk attractions to draw in customers, Wynn Las Vegas is constructed so that visitors must enter the building to view the free attractions. The main attraction is a large, curtain waterfall behind a mountain that faces the strip. The waterfall falls into a 3 acre (12,000 m²) lake. Both the waterfall and lake have images displayed on them to produce a show called "Lake of Dreams". This show starts on the hour beginning in the afternoon. When the show is inactive, the waterfall creates an animated color sequence on the screen.The show can be viewed from the Parasol Up (a bar and viewing area), and can be viewed through a glass window with no audio. Or, the show can be viewed from Parasol Down, with a larger view. Visitors can go to the platform at the Parasol Down bar to view the show with full-volume audio. Those dining at SW Steakhouse or Daniel Boulud Brasserie may also have a full view of the show while dining. Children under 18 are prohibited from going to Parasol Down.ShowsLe RêveThe first production show to open was Le Rêve. Le Rêve is set in a 1 million gallon water-oriented theatre where no seat is more than 40 feet (12 m) from the stage. The production was created by Franco Dragone and is similar to the shows produced by Cirque du Soleil.Le Rêve was the working name of the resort before it was changed to Wynn Las Vegas. "Le Rêve" means "The Dream" in French, and the name of the centerpiece painting that Steve Wynn owns, Le Rêve by Picasso.Most recently, Wynn Las Vegas bought the rights to the show from Dragone to make some changes, including the logo. Wynn now owns all rights to the show, with Dragone still in the label.Avenue QAvenue Q, a puppet and people musical which enjoyed considerable success on Broadway, was the second production show to open at Wynn. It debuted on September 8, 2005 in the 1,200 seat Broadway Theatre and closed on May 28, 2006.According to Steve Wynn Avenue Q was shut down due to the lack of real estate and the exorbitant costs of constructing a new venue. Wynn had a contract with Spamalot to perform at Wynn Las Vegas, but this required a third theater to be built. Potential sites for the theater included the skirts of the golf course or a portion of the convention space in the planned Encore expansion tower. Since Wynn did not want to build on the golf course or cut between the convention spaces of Encore and Wynn Las Vegas, he was forced to terminate the Avenue Q contract. Wynn was quoted as saying "Avenue Q was making money, but not enough money."Monty Python's SpamalotSpamalot, a Tony Award-winning comedic musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, opened for previews on March 8, 2007 at Grail Theater (formerly, The Broadway Theater). The official run began on March 31, 2007 and starred John O'Hurley as King Arthur through September 26, 2007. An understudy was the lead as Mr. O'Hurley was on sabbatical until January 28, 2008. The show closed on July 13, 2008.Danny GansOn April 17, 2008 Wynn Resorts announced that current Mirage headliner Danny Gans will move to the resort in February 2009.[7] Gans will move into the theater formerly used by both Avenue Q and Spamalot, which will be renamed Encore Theater and be marketed as part of the Encore expansion.NightclubsTrystTryst is now the flagship of the Wynn's nightlife scene.BlushBlush opened on Labor Day 2007.RestaurantsAlexBartolotta Ristorante di MareStrattaThe Country Club - an American SteakhouseDaniel Boulud BrasserieOkadaRed 8 - Asian BistroSugar & Ice (in the Wynn Esplanade)SW SteakhouseTableauTerrace Point CaféThe BuffetThe Drugstore CaféWing LeiZoozacrackersShops and boutiquesWynn Esplanade ShoppesBlack Satin IntimatesBrioniChanelChristian DiorManolo BlahnikCartierOscar de la RentaLouis VuittonVertuAlexander McQueenJo MaloneGraff JewelersJudith LeiberBlack SatinWynn Signature ShopShoe-InOutFitWynn & Company - JewelryWynn LVNVSan GiorgioIn Wynn Las VegasDecorazziBags, Belts & BaublesTiny BaublesCabana Shop (on Pool Deck)The DrugstoreMojitos Resort WearThe Pro ShopW.InkFerrari StoreThe Show ShopAmenitiesWynn Golf and Country Club18th greenThe Wynn Golf and Country Club is the only golf course on the Las Vegas Strip. It was designed by Steve Wynn and Tom Fazio, who previously worked together on the Shadow Creek Golf Club, in neighboring North Las Vegas. Use of the course is restricted to hotel guests at a cost of $500 per round.The Tower Suites at Wynn Las VegasThe Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas consists of all rooms and suites in the separated southernmost section of the main tower. These rooms and suites have a private driveway and entrance, a separate check-in area and elevators, and a private pool area. In 2006, The Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas was evaluated independently from the rest of the property by Mobil Travel Guide for their 2007 ratings. It was awarded the first and only Mobil Five-Star rating ever awarded to a hotel in Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas itself received the Mobil Four-Star rating for 2007.Villa SuitesIn addition to the Fairway Villas, Wynn Las Vegas contains six Villa Suites which are not available to the general public. One of these villas is the private residence of Steve Wynn.[9] Three of these villas are along the West side of the hotel, between the tower and the Lake of Dreams. The other three are located along the Western edge of the pool area, South of the tower. In February of 2007, Wynn requested approval to build four additional villa suites on the South edge of the property.The Villas by the Golf Course cost an average $5,000 a night.Future developmentEncoreOn 28 April 2006, the resort celebrated its one year anniversary by breaking ground on a second hotel tower.[10] Called Encore, the tower will be a $2.1 billion, 2,034 room hotel project adjacent to the existing resort and on the remaining frontage of Las Vegas Blvd.Wynn Golf Course redevelopmentWynn Resorts are developing a long-range master plan for the 142-acre (0.57 km2) golf course that will include a large mixed-use hotel, casino entertainment resort complex. The complex may include multiple waterfront hotels built around a lake offering water sports and other entertainment. The complex also may include multiple restaurants, retail offerings and entertainment venues. Wynn Resorts have not yet developed specific plans for such a complex, and there can be no assurance that such plans will be developed. Wynn Resorts cannot predict the cost of such a development or whether Wynn Resorts will be able to obtain the necessary financing for the development on suitable terms, if at all. It is not expected that any construction on the golf course land would begin before 2009.Additional villasIn February of 2007, Wynn Las Vegas submitted a request for approval to construct four additional villas on the South side of the property, which would bring the total number of villas to ten. The description of the new villas closely matches that of the six existing villas on the property.*Article provided by - Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity
