Category Archives: Blogger Resources

A Skype 1st For Me: I Added E-commerce To A Blog While On A #Skype Video Chat

Blogger Resources, Brand Ambassador, Technology, , ,

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Skype Ambassador programWhen I started working from home 11 years ago, I tiddled with some web design projects for small businesses and now I design my own sites and help my others, including my Dad, with website/blog design and coding development.

Recently my Dad asked if I could help him upload some software packages to his WordPress.com blog and then allow his customers to purchase the software from his blog.

This would require a few things:

  • I had to be able to find the software on his computer in order to get in on my server and then onto his website.  We used DropBox and his WordPress.com for this step.
  • Then, I logged on to his PayPal account to create the payment buttons for each version of the software (Mac, Windows, with data, and without data).
  • I created the payment buttons for the software and linked to each from his WordPress.com blog.
  • Then, he requested that I change some verbiage on the payment and software landing pages.

This is the result:
Skype video call helps with client design jobs
Skype video call helped with this design/coding job

 

By using Skype, I was hundreds of times more productive and efficient than I would have been had he emailed me a list of tasks.   Being on a call, better yet a video call, pushed me to get things done right then and there.  We were in it together and we din’t quit until we got the job done!

Our Skpye call lasted about 2-2 1/2 hours and by the time we completed the call, all four versions of his software were available for download and each version had its own accompanying secure payment button/link.

He and I agreed that Skype is the way to go when working on design and coding tasks in the future!

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More about Skype:

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Blogger Tip: Find your blog’s real search engine position without logging out of Google

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I operate a local parenting site and my team and I are often checking what position specific pages on the site are in search engines like Google.

When I am logged in to Google/Gmail and I search for a particular phrase that I hope my site comes up for, my website’s pages may show higher in Google’s search engine results than if I am not logged in to Google.com.  However, it is a pain to have to log out of Google/Gmail every time I want to check the real Google position of one of my pages.

For example, if I am logged into my Gmail account and I open a new browser window and search “atlanta maternity stores”.  My Maternity Stores Guide is usually #1 or #2 in the results.  However, when I log out of Google/Gmail and search Google for the same keyword phrase, my Maternity Stores Guide is the 5th result.  Not a bad position to be in, it’s just not what I thought it was.

Google Chrome Incognito Window
Google Chrome Incognito Window

How to find your real position in Google:

  • Using Google Chrome, open an incognito window. 
  • To do this click the ‘tool’ button in the top right corner of the URL/search bar, then click ‘new incognito window’.
  • An incognito window is designed to not have access to your browser’s history information.
  • Do not log into your Gmail/Google account from this incognito window.
  • Go straight to Google.com and search for your keywords.
  • Because this will be a a non-personalized search this will reveal your true rank/page position.

Bloggers are increasingly needing to to share their Google search positions with potential advertisers and PR representatives.  It is important to make sure that we are sharing the most accurate information and this is how to do it!

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Where To Go After Picnik Shuts Down

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It is always surprising when a product or service that has a huge following decides to pack it in and call it quits. Recently, Picnik joined this exclusive and, thankfully, small group. This online photo editor was the product of choice for bloggers all over the world.

Bloggers not only used Picnik for perfecting the images they included with their posts, it was ideal for creating the perfect blog header.

With Picnik exiting the market space, there are a ton of online services that want to absorb their users. Bloggers in particular have unique needs that most will not be able to meet. Still, there are a couple online image editing software products worth considering.

Read the full article on GadgetGoddess.com here

I’m Looking Forward to the 2012 Kenmore Blogger Summit in Chicago, IL!

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I love appliances.  I use them every day.  Don’t you?  Well, join me as I embark on a journey during which we go to Chicago where we will experience Kenmore products first hand and learn about Kenmore’s 2012 initiatives.

2012 Kenmore Blogger Summit

The Kenmore Blogger Summit will be held at the Kenmore Live Studios  in Chicago, IL January 20th and 21st and I’ll be one happy girl the entire time.

I’m going to pack comfortable shoes, good listening ears, a camera (I really should buy one first), and probably some clothes.  Then I’m off to Chicago to enjoy the weekend with about 40 other parenting bloggers and Kenmore products.  Makes me giddy just thinking about it.

I’m planning on idyllic weather, thank you very much.  I would appreciate it if Mother Nature would go along with my plan.  Remember.. it’s the 20-21st.. but I’m coming home on the 22nd so if you could extend the idyllic weather one day, that would be fabulous!

I hope to meet some bloggers who I haven’t already met and look forward seeing some bloggers who I have met before.

There looks to be a great line-up of exciting activities, acclaimed presenters from Google+ and Wired, and scrumptious treats.  What better way to spend a weekend?

Of course I’ll be sharing all of the great things I learn with my readers right here on TheMommyInsider.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on my Kenmore Blogger Summit experience.

Start a Blog Series > Part 2: Blog Writing and Time Management

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This is the second in a series of posts I’ll be featuring about blogging and social media here on TheMommyInsider.com.  Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to my RSS feed to be notified when the next post in the series is added.

Read part 1: Want to Start a Blog? Here are Five Things to Think About When Starting a Blog.

blogger time management
Photo credit: Stuart Miles

A lot of people (moms and dads specifically!) want to be able to publish their own masterpieces. The Internet serves as a great avenue to do just that.  Through blogging, anyone can write about what inspires them whether it’s their kids, their job, volunteering, a hobby, travels, products, or services. I’ve learned in the last 10 years I’ve worked online, that to be successful in blogging, you must manage your time well.  Managing your time is even more important than being able to write well, in my opinion.

Here are several time management tips to consider when starting your blog.

Plan your Posts

If you are maintaining a niche blog, it is highly necessary to schedule your blog posts unless you have a sort of breaking news content. Planning or scheduling your posts gives you enough time to research and consolidate ideas.

File your Ideas

Whenever something pops in your head, write it down and if possible, record an audio blog. This way, impromptu ideas will not be wasted as you may forget them later in the day. Incorporate your filed ideas with your blog post plan.

Write Several Blog Posts at a Time

All writers would agree that there are days when you cannot just force yourself to write. Thus, when you have the urge and time to write, take advantage of it and write several blog posts that follow your blog schedule.

Set Perfectionism Aside

It is true that you must always strive to provide quality content. However, it would be best to let go of minor grammatical and typo errors especially if you are running out of time. After all, blogs take its appeal from its ‘home-made’ feel.
Blogging will only prove to be time-consuming if you fail to manage your time well. This is especially true for parents, full-time employees and those who have something else to attend to aside from blogging.
Try following the tips above and I think you’ll find that blogging is very rewarding and fun!
This is part 2 in my Start a Blog series.
Read part 1: Want to Start a Blog? Here are Five Things to Think About When Starting a Blog.
leave a comment

Please share your favorite blog writing and time management tips and resources in the comments below.

As I continue on this series about blogging, please feel free to ask me any questions you might have from the most basic to more complex questions in the comments below.

Alicia Hagan, Editor