They saw your blog and now they want one too, the "I want..." people I like to call them. Its not like they are serious about wanting a blog, they just desire one because you have one. They don't even know what they will talk about, but because you talk about yours or you have your website link so neatly placed on a business card, flier or somewhere else, it has caught the person's eye and now they want it too.
These are the same "I want..." people who say, "I want to write a book too!" when you tell them about yours hoping they will buy it. Instead, they ask about the content of your book then politely interrupt with, "My relative just wrote a book...my friend had a book signing at XYZ bookstore." I don't want to appear rude, desperate for a book sale, or mean so I say, "Oh that's nice..." But what I really want to say is "Who cares just buy my book already! Better yet, I'll make it easy for you, here's my book now tell your relative or friend about it and have them call me." LOL
Why can't others just be happy for you and buy your book? Anyway, I digress...
So what I really wanted to say in this blog posting is I found the following article helpful for that friend who says, "Ah, I want a blog too!" and if you don't have a friend like that great, maybe it will be helpful for you!
4 Methods To Increase Blog Visitors
Blogging is a perfect way for people to share their thoughts with others. When people blog, it signifies they keep an updated online journal or calendar. Weblog and blog are identical things. Companies might also blog to help increase the number of business on their websites. For many bloggers, going up traffic to their blogs is not the only objective. Most people that blog need to keep their visitors coming back for more.
The next are four alternatives to keep visitors coming to your blog site.
Blogging is a relatively new phenomenon. A few blog writers select to keep their blogs personal and do not share their thoughts with others. These are more like online diaries. Other wants to share with everyone what he or she has to tell. Blogging is a huge business and multiple websites offer free blog hosting. Furthermore, many companies elect blogging as an inexpensive alternative to advertise their products or services. Blogging on the net is often much cheaper than maintaining a website and is normally more attractive for readers and customers.
1. Update your blog
The easiest alternative to keep visitors coming back to your blog site is to update your blog on a regular basis. Readers will stay loyal to blogs that are updating daily. A few blog writers even updated many times a day. Readers will tend to lose interest in your writing if they have to wait many days for new material. Be loyal to your readers and your readers will be loyal to your blog. Furthermore, there are entirely thousands of blogs accessible on the Internet. If your blog is not update on a regular basis, you will lose your readers to another blog site. Another fun alternative to update your blog and keep your readers interested in your site is to include something fun for your readers to enjoy. That may be as easy as a joke or perhaps a link to a humorous story you have found on the net. You might also try this includes a trivia game or polls for your readers to enjoy on a regular basis.
2. Participate in web communities
Participating in web communities or debate forums and remarking your blog whenever probable will help keep readers coming back to your site. Furthermore, you can gain new readers every time doing this. You can also be loyal to the blogs of other writers and ask them to arrive to your site. Leave cool comments about their site and invite them to your site. If you have mutual interests and an identical type of readers, you can even share your blog links on your site. This helps everyone. Your reader will appreciate attractive reading while you make the most of readers from the other site.
3. Understand who reads your blogs
Another great alternative to keep blog readers coming back for more is to comprehend who reads your blog and write content that is direct towards them. This does not mean that you have to write on only one particular subject. If you are a stay at home mom and write about your life at home with the kids, your loyal readers may not appreciate it if you write about innovative topics or use loads of foul language in your writing. If you mostly write humor, do not bog your readers down with sorrowful woes and tales. Your readers will be interested in the things that attracted them to your site in the first place. That is normally what you are more interested in writing about. You can gain a better understanding of your readers interested by this includes places for comments and encouraging your readers to contact you by email.
4. Include keywords
You can gain readership and help keep your ongoing readers by this includes certain keywords in your blog. If you have entered your blog on a search engine, the keywords that refer to your blog will come up after a search. This is a great alternative to get readers interested in your blog. This is also a good way for companies to boost the traffic to their blog.
Blogging is the new alternative to keep a calendar or journal online. Blogging is increasingly generalizing for companies further. If what you want is to make your blog stand out against the thousands of other blogs, keep your readers interested and coming back for more everyday by updating your writing, take part in online communities, comprehend your readers and include keywords.
By: Calvin Tan
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Freelance Jobs | Demand Studios
I thought this site might be one worth your interest. It pays more than the others I have mentioned in the past. However, the editors are very strict. So you have to bring your A game to this site; otherwise you will have to rewrite your article or worse face rejection. They also have a scoring card on each author as well.Freelance Jobs | Demand Studios
Friday, February 19, 2010
Future Speaking Engagements
I know the time is coming that I will have to stand in front of an audience again to make a speech and/or possibly act. I have been writing online for the past six years offline for over 10, so I consider myself to be a bit of a recluse. However, I am conditioning my mind for those future moments. Maybe you are required to write a speech and present it in the future, here's a useful article I read recently. To your success!
There are several types of speeches, and each have their own organizational patterns and elements. In this article, I discuss the parts of an informative speech. An informative speech is similar in structure to the five-paragraph essay structure you learned about in high school: an introduction paragraph, three main points (the body), and the concluding paragraph. You can think of an informative speech the same way.
The introduction section of your speech should last about one minute in a five-minute speech. In the introduction section, you should first gain the audience’s attention, then relate your topic to the audience. Next, you should establish your credibility on your topic, state the purpose of your speech and tell your audience your central idea, then transition to your first main point.
The Speech Body
Your three main points should be organized in some logical, easy to follow pattern. One pattern you could use is a chronological pattern. With a chronological pattern, your main points would be organized in time sequence: what occurred first, what occurred second, etc. This pattern would work well for describing a process, such as a recipe, or for discussing periods of time in history.
Another option for organizing your main points is the spatial pattern. You can logically organize your points based on physical space: top to bottom, left to right, inside to outside, etc.
Another organizational pattern is the causal pattern. You can first discuss the cause of a problem, then the effect, or vice-versa. Related to this pattern is the problem/solution pattern. First discuss the problem, then discuss the solution.
The final organizational pattern is the topical pattern. You can divide your topic in to it’s logical components and discuss these components individually. For instance, if your topic is about symphonic orchestras, you could divide your main points into strings, brass, and woodwind instruments.
You should begin each of your three main points by clearly stating what your main point is. Each main point should be limited to a single idea. Try to be creative and avoid just announcing your main point. Each main point should be supported by examples, definitions, statistics, comparisons, or testimony from experts.
Transitions
Between each main point, you should have good transitions. Transitions are verbal bridges that move your audience from one idea to the next. A transition is a word or group of words that show the relationship between ideas as you move from point to point. Transitions can be effectively indicated by pausing before moving on to another main point, by changing the rate of your speaking, varying your pitch, or more directly, by using statements that tell an audience you are moving on. An effective transition summarizes the points preceding it, and previews the next point. For example: Those are the two main problems, now let’s see how they can be solved.Use a variety of transitions and avoid falling into a rut. Transitions are surprisingly difficult and my students used to tell me that coming with good transitions is one of the hardest parts of speech writing. Here are some examples of transitions you can use:
However
In addition to
Similar to this
Looking further
Now consider it from
Furthermore
More importantly
Therefore
Despite this
Now let’s consider
First of all
Speech Conclusions
The final part of your speech is the conclusion. In your conclusion, you would first signal the end of your speech, which let’s your audience know that you are finishing. Then you recap your main points, and finally end your speech with a good clincher that reinforces your main idea and ties it all up.
By: Kevin Shaughnessy
If you're a student, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to get feedback on your speech from a former speech instructor BEFORE you have to deliver it for real. It's affordable, and it's a great way to help improve your speech.
There are several types of speeches, and each have their own organizational patterns and elements. In this article, I discuss the parts of an informative speech. An informative speech is similar in structure to the five-paragraph essay structure you learned about in high school: an introduction paragraph, three main points (the body), and the concluding paragraph. You can think of an informative speech the same way.
The introduction section of your speech should last about one minute in a five-minute speech. In the introduction section, you should first gain the audience’s attention, then relate your topic to the audience. Next, you should establish your credibility on your topic, state the purpose of your speech and tell your audience your central idea, then transition to your first main point.
The Speech Body
Your three main points should be organized in some logical, easy to follow pattern. One pattern you could use is a chronological pattern. With a chronological pattern, your main points would be organized in time sequence: what occurred first, what occurred second, etc. This pattern would work well for describing a process, such as a recipe, or for discussing periods of time in history.
Another option for organizing your main points is the spatial pattern. You can logically organize your points based on physical space: top to bottom, left to right, inside to outside, etc.
Another organizational pattern is the causal pattern. You can first discuss the cause of a problem, then the effect, or vice-versa. Related to this pattern is the problem/solution pattern. First discuss the problem, then discuss the solution.
The final organizational pattern is the topical pattern. You can divide your topic in to it’s logical components and discuss these components individually. For instance, if your topic is about symphonic orchestras, you could divide your main points into strings, brass, and woodwind instruments.
You should begin each of your three main points by clearly stating what your main point is. Each main point should be limited to a single idea. Try to be creative and avoid just announcing your main point. Each main point should be supported by examples, definitions, statistics, comparisons, or testimony from experts.
Transitions
Between each main point, you should have good transitions. Transitions are verbal bridges that move your audience from one idea to the next. A transition is a word or group of words that show the relationship between ideas as you move from point to point. Transitions can be effectively indicated by pausing before moving on to another main point, by changing the rate of your speaking, varying your pitch, or more directly, by using statements that tell an audience you are moving on. An effective transition summarizes the points preceding it, and previews the next point. For example: Those are the two main problems, now let’s see how they can be solved.Use a variety of transitions and avoid falling into a rut. Transitions are surprisingly difficult and my students used to tell me that coming with good transitions is one of the hardest parts of speech writing. Here are some examples of transitions you can use:
However
In addition to
Similar to this
Looking further
Now consider it from
Furthermore
More importantly
Therefore
Despite this
Now let’s consider
First of all
Speech Conclusions
The final part of your speech is the conclusion. In your conclusion, you would first signal the end of your speech, which let’s your audience know that you are finishing. Then you recap your main points, and finally end your speech with a good clincher that reinforces your main idea and ties it all up.
By: Kevin Shaughnessy
If you're a student, be sure to visit GradeMySpeech.com to get feedback on your speech from a former speech instructor BEFORE you have to deliver it for real. It's affordable, and it's a great way to help improve your speech.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Make Your Presence Be Known on the Internet for Customers
There are times when I get someone offline who will ask me, "How do I get known on the Internet?" They usually have an offline project they are trying to promote, a website that needs more traffic, and other activities that they are involved.
I can tell you from experience its not who you know on the Internet, its about what you do. Like the farmer who plants his seeds in the spring and anticipates a harvest in the summer, the same concept holds true with this thing called, "Internet Marketing."
I don't claim to be an expert or guru in any one subject, I let others give me that title when it comes to some of the things they have noticed that I can do.
Anyway, I put together a very basic video on what someone who is fresh to internet marketing can do today to get started working on his or her presence. Each website that I show has complete instructions on what they can do for you and provides step-by-step instruction on opening accounts and building your website pages. Feel free to watch the video at the following link:
Make Your Presence Be Known on the Internet for Customers
I can tell you from experience its not who you know on the Internet, its about what you do. Like the farmer who plants his seeds in the spring and anticipates a harvest in the summer, the same concept holds true with this thing called, "Internet Marketing."
I don't claim to be an expert or guru in any one subject, I let others give me that title when it comes to some of the things they have noticed that I can do.
Anyway, I put together a very basic video on what someone who is fresh to internet marketing can do today to get started working on his or her presence. Each website that I show has complete instructions on what they can do for you and provides step-by-step instruction on opening accounts and building your website pages. Feel free to watch the video at the following link:
Make Your Presence Be Known on the Internet for Customers
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Blogging: A pleasure that distracts from one's book writing
A few years ago I read where a woman talked about how her blogging was getting in the way of her book writing. I couldn't agree more!
As much as I would like to do other things besides write a new book or complete an old one, I know that this is something I should be doing, but at times I allow myself to become distracted with making the website owners money while getting paid pennies on the dollars.
Writing for other websites, instead of writing for you, can keep you happy about those pennies, but keep you away from the dollars that your own creation could bring. A money stream has to flow not only from a single source, but all sources! So when you are writing for someone else, but not creating your own, you will find that after awhile you could have been making more money from your own creation, but you were more concerned with taking the easy way out which is piggy backing off of someone else's success.
I thought I might write this as a reminder to myself and to those who tune into my blog, we must remember as writers to not allow ourselves to be so consumed by the ease of getting published that we neglect what our God-given calling is in this life -- FINISH THAT BOOK!
As much as I would like to do other things besides write a new book or complete an old one, I know that this is something I should be doing, but at times I allow myself to become distracted with making the website owners money while getting paid pennies on the dollars.
Writing for other websites, instead of writing for you, can keep you happy about those pennies, but keep you away from the dollars that your own creation could bring. A money stream has to flow not only from a single source, but all sources! So when you are writing for someone else, but not creating your own, you will find that after awhile you could have been making more money from your own creation, but you were more concerned with taking the easy way out which is piggy backing off of someone else's success.
I thought I might write this as a reminder to myself and to those who tune into my blog, we must remember as writers to not allow ourselves to be so consumed by the ease of getting published that we neglect what our God-given calling is in this life -- FINISH THAT BOOK!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
How Do I Make My Internet Presence Known?
One day I decided to create a "To Do List" and while I put this list together, I thought maybe I should share some of what I am doing with those interested in making their presence be known on the Internet as well. The outcome: a YouTube video that simplifies the process of getting your name out there in the Internet world!
If you are just starting to understand the significance of taking what you do offline and giving it life on the Internet, then this video was created for you. Veteran marketers will be bored by it, so don't bother watching it unless you are looking for a checklist to be sure you have all the basics covered.
To view the video, please click here. If you have some brilliant ideas, I would love to hear about them just comment here or send me direct mail on Twitter.
A final thought, if you aren't following me on Twitter, then what are you waiting for? Feel free to click here.
If you are just starting to understand the significance of taking what you do offline and giving it life on the Internet, then this video was created for you. Veteran marketers will be bored by it, so don't bother watching it unless you are looking for a checklist to be sure you have all the basics covered.
To view the video, please click here. If you have some brilliant ideas, I would love to hear about them just comment here or send me direct mail on Twitter.
A final thought, if you aren't following me on Twitter, then what are you waiting for? Feel free to click here.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Fridays: Feels different when you work from home
I remember the energy I felt when I would go into work on a Friday. There was just something special about Fridays. People seemed to be nicer, laid back, and showed their humorous side. But when you work from home, you miss all of that!
Being at home on a Friday is just another day for me that is if someone says something to me about it being Friday, I just might capitalize off their energy. We may chit chat for awhile, laugh and then off we go to perform the next errand or complete the next task.
So to all of you who have been following me, may I wish you all a Happy Friday!
Oh and one final thing, in case you have a little down time, you might want to check some things out that may be useful to you...
Make money taking surveys, games and reading e-mails
Being at home on a Friday is just another day for me that is if someone says something to me about it being Friday, I just might capitalize off their energy. We may chit chat for awhile, laugh and then off we go to perform the next errand or complete the next task.
So to all of you who have been following me, may I wish you all a Happy Friday!
Oh and one final thing, in case you have a little down time, you might want to check some things out that may be useful to you...
Make money taking surveys, games and reading e-mails
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Twitter Tool You Can Use for Free
Interested in doing more with your Twitter account? Recently, I received 8 exclusive & custom made tools to get real followers at Twitter, all for Free. One is called,"Twitter BuggaBoo Hunter" tool.
You have to come see what THAT is!
A person needs to roll with things, and as I learned, I need to use this for my marketing, and you should too.
You use these tools to build followers on Twitter and pick up where emails are blocked and cannot reach due to sensitive isp's filtering ads.
Also - the company doesn't put intrusive ads on your Twitter page. They also
have exclusive tools and no monthly fees. The people who follow you are real members - not a bunch of fluff people.
So take a look at the site and sign up today! Twitter BuggaBoo Hunter" tool.
You have to come see what THAT is!
A person needs to roll with things, and as I learned, I need to use this for my marketing, and you should too.
You use these tools to build followers on Twitter and pick up where emails are blocked and cannot reach due to sensitive isp's filtering ads.
Also - the company doesn't put intrusive ads on your Twitter page. They also
have exclusive tools and no monthly fees. The people who follow you are real members - not a bunch of fluff people.
So take a look at the site and sign up today! Twitter BuggaBoo Hunter" tool.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Addicted to Marketing!
Ever feel this way? You know the determined feeling, the kind that sometimes keeps you awake at night. Your mind is in overdrive reminding you that you must reach certain goals by a set time period. So you rush around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get everything done! This is the way I feel right now.
There is an hour glass in my head that has been flipped over and if I don't get tasks completed, there are consequences like no money which means bills get left unpaid, no office supplies which means projects don't get done, and the worst of all is the demon of defeat will show up again and say, "I told you, you couldn't do it!"
So I became an addict to marketing and any business savvy mind can definitely relate! You know late night hours thinking of yet another way to get your product out to the masses. Outlines and more outlines of what more needs to be done. Rewrites of ad copy. Forum visits (looking for others' opinions to be sure you are doing everything correctly) and so much more!
As a child I started my first business selling tablets and drawings as a result of watching my grandmother hustle food, liquor, drink, and desserts from her home. She would send me to the front door with bags of product to give to a waiting customer. She entrusted me to take the money from the customer and place it in a Planter's peanut can. There were many times that I saw that can filled to capacity. She would then take the money out and either put it in her bosom or give it to one of her adult children to run an errand for her which was usually to get more supply. She always knew how to take a $1.00 and turn it into $5.00 -- I kid you not!
So when you see people like dear ole' grandma and others around you making a way when others see no way, you can't help but have the drive to make your own way. I can tell you many other stories of family members who did the best they could with what little they had, but I won't because I will be making this blog entry much longer than it needs to be, and besides I have to get back to marketing! God bless...
There is an hour glass in my head that has been flipped over and if I don't get tasks completed, there are consequences like no money which means bills get left unpaid, no office supplies which means projects don't get done, and the worst of all is the demon of defeat will show up again and say, "I told you, you couldn't do it!"
So I became an addict to marketing and any business savvy mind can definitely relate! You know late night hours thinking of yet another way to get your product out to the masses. Outlines and more outlines of what more needs to be done. Rewrites of ad copy. Forum visits (looking for others' opinions to be sure you are doing everything correctly) and so much more!
As a child I started my first business selling tablets and drawings as a result of watching my grandmother hustle food, liquor, drink, and desserts from her home. She would send me to the front door with bags of product to give to a waiting customer. She entrusted me to take the money from the customer and place it in a Planter's peanut can. There were many times that I saw that can filled to capacity. She would then take the money out and either put it in her bosom or give it to one of her adult children to run an errand for her which was usually to get more supply. She always knew how to take a $1.00 and turn it into $5.00 -- I kid you not!
So when you see people like dear ole' grandma and others around you making a way when others see no way, you can't help but have the drive to make your own way. I can tell you many other stories of family members who did the best they could with what little they had, but I won't because I will be making this blog entry much longer than it needs to be, and besides I have to get back to marketing! God bless...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Uploading, Downloading, Scheduling...
This is what we do when our job is online. We upload articles, we download software to help manage our time, we schedule tasks to complete while we are away...I thought I was busy before, but clearly I am very busy these days! But I don't complain because I know that what I am doing gets me one step closer to achieving my goals this year.
My inner voice has been asking me, "Have we opened more accounts, gained more fans, followers and friends? Have we posted ads, wrote new articles, and sent thank you notes?" There is a manager in me right now that is telling me, "Enough of that typing on your blog! It's time to get back to work!"
Well with that said, I got to go! Until next time...
Nicholl McGuire
Follow me on Twitter
My inner voice has been asking me, "Have we opened more accounts, gained more fans, followers and friends? Have we posted ads, wrote new articles, and sent thank you notes?" There is a manager in me right now that is telling me, "Enough of that typing on your blog! It's time to get back to work!"
Well with that said, I got to go! Until next time...
Nicholl McGuire
Follow me on Twitter
Interested in Blogging in Your Sleep?
Finally I found something that automates some of my work for me and also helps me drive traffic to my Twitter account. If you are interested in the tool I use, Click Here. Take advantage of the cheap cost now before the price goes up.
Please note: software is not compatible with Blogger yet. They are still developing it. However, Wordpress it works fine!
Please note: software is not compatible with Blogger yet. They are still developing it. However, Wordpress it works fine!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Join Me on Twitter!
I enjoy talking about what I am up to (as you may already know,) there's plenty! So follow me on Twitter! I share with you some of the websites I visit, the deals I have found, and life experiences such as: parenting, finances and more!
Follow me today!
http://www.twitter.com/nichollmcguire
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Does Anyone Have a Glass of Focus?
I could sure use a glass of focus! What I mean is a plan that helps me to stay focused and yields some noteworthy results! It's hard to stay committed to one thing when everytime you look up the Internet is changing. Marketing practices only a few years ago are now ineffective. Things that use to be hot to sell online is now over saturated and so cheap that you can't make a profit. As much as I would like to find just one simple thing that I could focus on, I find that my focus changes because the money or lack thereof keeps changing.
I am open to many legitimate ways to make money, but as some of you already know, and as I mentioned in a previous blog entry, not all of the ways are profitable. Case in point, a relative asked me to look at three websites for ways to make additional money. I found that two out of the three ways showed promised. The third a site that allows you to comment on websites for cash, failed after the first test. The server didn't respond, the software didn't work the first go round, etc.
The other two, a site that supposedly pays you for writing for them gave me the feeling that it was going to be one of those sites that demanded too much for too little pay. The other I didn't meet the criteria. It was a site that will pay you to Twitter about various advertisers. Once I get a large following on Twitter I will explore this opportunity.
I think tomorrow I will stick to one thing and that is just what I started to do today and that is finish my book! Cheers to focus!
Nicholl McGuire
http://associatecontent.com/nichollmcguire
I am open to many legitimate ways to make money, but as some of you already know, and as I mentioned in a previous blog entry, not all of the ways are profitable. Case in point, a relative asked me to look at three websites for ways to make additional money. I found that two out of the three ways showed promised. The third a site that allows you to comment on websites for cash, failed after the first test. The server didn't respond, the software didn't work the first go round, etc.
The other two, a site that supposedly pays you for writing for them gave me the feeling that it was going to be one of those sites that demanded too much for too little pay. The other I didn't meet the criteria. It was a site that will pay you to Twitter about various advertisers. Once I get a large following on Twitter I will explore this opportunity.
I think tomorrow I will stick to one thing and that is just what I started to do today and that is finish my book! Cheers to focus!
Nicholl McGuire
http://associatecontent.com/nichollmcguire
Friday, January 15, 2010
Laboring to Love Myself: sequel to Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate
I am thrilled! My book Laboring to Love Myself is on Amazon.com If you aren't familiar with my first book, Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate then you might be wondering what's the big deal? Years ago, I was a victim of dating/domestic violence with a man ten years older than me. He was very controlling and believed that I was the problem for everything that went wrong with him. He blamed all the women of his past including his own mother. The problem was he had severe mental issues that resulted from some very disturbing things that he witnessed and experienced as a child and young man. I wrote the Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate, because I felt burdened to tell young women why we shouldn't stay in a relationship with an abuser.
Emotional and physical abuse is all the same. The controlling individual promises the sun, moon and stars but in the end he is bitter, manipulative, and scary. Who wants a relationship with someone like that? I urge anyone who happens to view this page, encourage those you know or yourself that this will be the year you will get out of the relationship and stay out! For tips visit http://laboringtoloveanabusivemate.blogspot.com
Click on the link to my new book, Laboring to Love Myself
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Are You Restless in Your Spirit? In Search of Something?
Some pray, others chant, and still others will get involved with organizations and activities seeking higher knowledge to complete tasks. In the spiritual realm, I think due to the recession many are looking toward anyone or anything to increase their profits. I'm sure you have heard people selling their souls to the devil. This is real and there is much evidence on and off the Internet of people who do such things. Recently, rap artist, Kanye West, admitted he did it. I think he decided to confess this because he was severely impacted beyond what he realized when he stood in front of a young white woman and declared that a black woman was better than she. He should have known better. America is still very much comprised of racists who are seated at the top of many organizations of our society. I don't believe Americans would have made such a big deal of this had it been someone else who wasn't black. Will West's career rebound because of this? Not necessarily unless something negative happens to him. Something so bad that Americans will pity him. When one sells his soul to the devil, he is saying, "Give me whatever I want in exchange for me serving you."
What you rarely hear about are people who give their souls to God unless you read, watch or visit places where people provide their testimonies. I am one who has given my soul to God -- the one of the Christian Bible. The God of Moses, Aaron, Jesus, Ester, Naomi and many others that is the God who I gave my soul to. When you give your soul to God it doesn't mean you will be rich, famous, popular, or so important that people will worship you. To give your soul to God is to receive freedom from the things that have bound you mentally and physically for days, weeks, years, and decades. There were many reasons why I chose to give my soul to the Lord besides obtaining higher knowledge, but I needed to be free from the words and the physical assaults men laid on my body. I needed to be free from the fear of men and women's criticisms to keep me from thinking and creating for myself. I needed to be free from mental and physical illness. I needed to be free of everything negative that has kept me from reaching my destiny. How do you know what you are supposed to accomplish before you leave this world if you never bothered to study the word of God or ask Him.
I think people don't live up to their true potential because they have not a clue what their calling is in life nor do they care. It's unfortunate for those people who will die restless and troubled -- always chasing after things that provide them with no peace spiritually. However, for those people who know that there is something greater in living life and they are searching, may I direct you to the God of the Christian Bible who isn't affiliated with any specific religion, group, or evil occult activities. He is the God who says, "Come to me and I will give you rest."
Nicholl McGuire
http://spiritualpoems.blogspot.com
What you rarely hear about are people who give their souls to God unless you read, watch or visit places where people provide their testimonies. I am one who has given my soul to God -- the one of the Christian Bible. The God of Moses, Aaron, Jesus, Ester, Naomi and many others that is the God who I gave my soul to. When you give your soul to God it doesn't mean you will be rich, famous, popular, or so important that people will worship you. To give your soul to God is to receive freedom from the things that have bound you mentally and physically for days, weeks, years, and decades. There were many reasons why I chose to give my soul to the Lord besides obtaining higher knowledge, but I needed to be free from the words and the physical assaults men laid on my body. I needed to be free from the fear of men and women's criticisms to keep me from thinking and creating for myself. I needed to be free from mental and physical illness. I needed to be free of everything negative that has kept me from reaching my destiny. How do you know what you are supposed to accomplish before you leave this world if you never bothered to study the word of God or ask Him.
I think people don't live up to their true potential because they have not a clue what their calling is in life nor do they care. It's unfortunate for those people who will die restless and troubled -- always chasing after things that provide them with no peace spiritually. However, for those people who know that there is something greater in living life and they are searching, may I direct you to the God of the Christian Bible who isn't affiliated with any specific religion, group, or evil occult activities. He is the God who says, "Come to me and I will give you rest."
Nicholl McGuire
http://spiritualpoems.blogspot.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
McGuire Family Book Underway for 2010
Before I die there will be many books about my life. I have made that a mission of mine simply because I want my children to hear my life's story from me and not from people who think they know me. With that said, one of the books I will be creating in 2010 is about the people who carry the same last name as me, "McGuire." My children will get the opportunity as well as those who didn't grow up around McGuires to read a bit about my father's people. They will learn about those that are dead and alive.
This book isn't an indepth study of our family lineage (which unfortunately in the past century started in slavery.) Rather this family history lesson is nothing more than a simple picture book that includes some experiences I have had with those who were still around during my childhood and some information provided by a select few. Unfortunately the man pictured below, Nicholas McGuire, had passed away before I met him. So anything I pen about him is from those who were willing to talk about him. He was in his early twenties at the time this photo was taken. His sister, Aunt Lillian, was alive during the time I was a child and never had any children. I use to mistaken her for being a white woman quite a few times. She too was in her 20s when this photo had been taken. I have no other photos of any of my grandfather's family.
Coming soon..."Growing up McGuire".
Monday, December 14, 2009
One of My Hobbies Messing with My Hair!
When I need an escape from writing, caring for children and doing other things that are considered "being responsible," I enjoy trying new things on my hair. This wet set is pretty much one of the hairstyles that have followed me through time. It is like an old friend you can't seem to get rid of even if you wanted to. I chose to rock this hairstyle for the photo shoot as a statement to those of you, including myself, who beat up on ourselves about wearing our straight hair for "certain" corporate events!
Accept me and my curly, nappy, afro, straight, puffy, frizzy, tangled hair!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Contemporary Poetry by Nicholl
I have been submitting poetry to contests and websites for years! I have found that at 30 plus years I have grown weary of them. I have received recognition in the past and performed before live audiences, but I am looking to do more with my poetry. What exactly? I don't know. Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate and Laboring to Love Myself have both quenched my thirst a little bit. I have provided the reader with excerpts of my life in the form of poetry and then challenged readers to think about their own lives.
I don't like anyone staring at my work for too long, analyzing and then coming up with some criticism about it. I think poetry is like abstract art, let it be! Must we comment on everything we see? Must we advise, teach or have meaning to everything? There are times I just want to write. I don't want to tell you nothing more than a story, a thought and nothing more. But logical thinkers...they want to analyze everything. "What did you mean when you said...what were you trying to convey..." Then sooner or later in the conversation they are trying to tell you how you felt and what you should have done with your creation. I know logical thinkers very well because almost half of my brain thinks that way. I say almost, because the creative side of my brain, every now and then, will drown out the voice who wants to question everything.
Stop by my "once in a blue moon I think about it" poetry site below:
My Poetry at PoetryPoem.com
I don't like anyone staring at my work for too long, analyzing and then coming up with some criticism about it. I think poetry is like abstract art, let it be! Must we comment on everything we see? Must we advise, teach or have meaning to everything? There are times I just want to write. I don't want to tell you nothing more than a story, a thought and nothing more. But logical thinkers...they want to analyze everything. "What did you mean when you said...what were you trying to convey..." Then sooner or later in the conversation they are trying to tell you how you felt and what you should have done with your creation. I know logical thinkers very well because almost half of my brain thinks that way. I say almost, because the creative side of my brain, every now and then, will drown out the voice who wants to question everything.
Stop by my "once in a blue moon I think about it" poetry site below:
My Poetry at PoetryPoem.com
Helium: Yet Another Site for Writers
I have been on this site for awhile, but nothing has come of it in terms of money. I find it a tadbit complicated. I enjoy writing, but I don't like the uploading process. I find the writings interesting. It seems that there is alot of young people writing on that site.
Anyway, I have various poetry at the site. If you would like to check out my profile and poems there, by all means. I could use your support!
My Helium Profile
Anyway, I have various poetry at the site. If you would like to check out my profile and poems there, by all means. I could use your support!
My Helium Profile
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Making Money Online: My Internet Experience
Some people ask me what exactly do I do on the Internet because every time they see me I am involved with either helping someone with a project or doing my own thing. Over the years, I have been involved with so many different Internet companies so I thought I might share my online experience with my readers. If you are serious about making money via the Internet, realize its going to take some determination, sacrifice, money, and a whole lot of prayer! I have been challenged in everything I have ever done on the Internet. If it isn't the negative comments its the lack of cash. My daily goals have been derailed many times due to broken links, my children interrupting me, the phone ringing, noises outside, sleep, hunger -- you name it! But come hell and high water, so the old adage goes, I keep going! So here are 14 experiences of mine selling via the Internet for almost a decade(2001 to 2009)Prior to 2001, I offered offline writing, desktop publishing and typing services and sold housewares at flea markets in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Okay, here goes:
1. My fever for Internet selling, all started with a classified ad looking for Avon sales reps located in the Penny saver. The year was 2001. The woman who signed me up said I could have my own website through Avon -- I was all over it! I had only been dabbling with eBay at the time.
2. I saw an infomercial the same year for people interested in selling novelty items. The company was SMC I would take my catalogs to the workplace, order products and sell them or get others to sell for me, and post fliers in the community promoting SMC products. Around the same time, I saw ads online for eBay and thought maybe this would be a good starting place to get my feet wet. Boy was it ever! I literally prayed for knowledge on what to sell out of my home and everything I touched turned into cash! Those were the days, but the long hours...whew! There were many days I didn't go to bed until 4a.m. I had just had a baby back then. So I had two little boys in my care and they were very needy. I eventually added Half, (eBay's affiliate) and Amazon.com to my growing Internet ventures. There were other small things I dabbled in at the time like businesses that gave you free websites and others that sold oils and natural remedies and health drinks. All of which didn't live up to the hype.
3. While eBay, Half and Amazon seemed to be picking up some momentum some time around 2002, I was introduced to Prepaid Legal. I didn't take that business seriously since it just didn't appeal to me especially since the one who introduced me to it was my husband and he was looking for me to work the business. He didn't seem that enthused back then, so I thought, "Why should I?" I had enough on my plate, so that venture fell by the wayside. With my long hours day and night working my businesses, eventually my computer would no longer be any use to me, so I got another one and became an affiliate for the computer company that I bought my computer from. I would post fliers around the neighborhood including my link code so that the company would discount my computer for every sale. Once the computer was paid off, I stopped promoting them especially when they seemed to forget to give me a credit for my sales and I would have to call to remind them.
4. A friend of mine wanted me to start going to meetings with her for Petra Lingerie during late 2002 early 2003. I thought, "Well this is a good opportunity to promote Lucky Heart Cosmetics," the alternative to Avon for women of color. I wasn't enthused about booking home parties. Neither was I interested in making new friends. I had two little friends (my sons at home) that kept me active enough and an eBay business that kept me up late at night.
5. Things were getting to be challenging for my Avon business in 2003, because I was losing clientele in my apartment complex of 729 tenants due to my customers not paying their rent on time. It seemed that they could have the money to pay for Avon and SMC novelty gifts, but no money to pay rent. I tried to get some involved with my business affiliations, but they weren't interested.
6. The same year, my sister was on fire for a business dealing with nutritional supplements and chemical free cleaning products. That business was Melaleuca. I kind of fell into that business, because my mother invited us all to the house and then surprise! A white lady shows up talking about the Melaleuca opportunity. I didn't know how to feel about the business at the time. It sounded nice, but there was no love.
7. I joined Melaleuca, but it was short-lived because I didn't appreciate having to get customers to give up their credit card information so that they would have automatic shipments that they would later cancel; therefore affecting my bottom line numbers.
8. By 2004, I had dropped all those businesses because I had to work too hard for pennies on the dollar. I was ready to make some serious cash and joined a business through a so-called friend called ACN. I name her a "so-called friend" because as quick as I invested $500 into the business, I didn't hear from her or see her. Meanwhile, I was left with a few brochures and a video tape, I was on my own, that is if I decided to commit to weekly meetings, "I think not!" I wasn't about to fork over more cash during those meetings for sales tools, seminars, etc. When I couldn't even see results with traditional means of advertising.
9. I would abandon all Internet and offline sales until 2006, I was pregnant with my third son and desperate for cash. It had been over five years since having a little one and I noticed quickly how much the price had changed on baby stuff. I had also noticed how much eBay had changed too. Just about every market I could imagine was saturated with everyone's stuff! Even the wholesale distributors were in competition with their own clients! I decided to explore something called affiliate marketing which basically promoted others goods and services using a link that affiliates you with the company. When someone buys through that link, similar to that computer flier I spoke about earlier with my own code, you make a profit. However, even with some of these businesses, people will rob you of your profits. Here is one of the ebooks Click Here I am selling about making money online. I created my first website How to Books Online the same year which I have since abandoned.
10. While posting links everywhere I could, I came across SFI. This was a business that provided health and nutrition items, home business tools, magazines, and other useful items. I decided to give them a try because of how easy the business was to join and the fact it was free -- that is until I found out that this business wouldn't provide any real profit unless of course you signed up for their monthly billing/ automated shipment program (sound familiar?)! If you didn't want to do that you had to try to convince others to buy from you each month.
11. While struggling with SFI, I decided to return to my first loves eBay, Half and Amazon. So I searched around my household in 2007, 2008, and 2009 seeking things I could sell just like the golden days. While my listings were up on the various sites, I returned to writing (something I did on and off for years as a hobby since I was 9 years old. I received my first dollars for my writings in 1993 while providing a typing service for people back in Pittsburgh, PA.) I decided to get serious about my writings in 2007 after submitting many of my past writings to Associated Content, Constant-Content and later Triond, Ehow, Poetry Poem, and Helium.
In recent months, I came across Demand Studios another site that pays for content. However, I was very disappointed to see that for hours of work, these sites would only pay at best $5 for suggested titles and $15 for assigned titles for a professional writer's work. I began to venture off on my own only submitting on occasion. I started creating my own blogs and submitting to my own sites as the spirit moves.
12. During 2007, I had ran out of stuff to sell, so I connected with a few wholesale distributors. They were small mom and pop types. Some prices were indeed wholesale while others were not which didn't constitute a true wholesale business (they didn't even ask for business licenses!? Not only that, they charged a fee? Since when do stores charge you a fee just for partnering with them?) I decided to get my business license in 2008 in California (I had others in Pennsylvania and Ohio) and hoped that future searches would lead me to true wholesalers. Well it did, but those companies were not delivering unless businesses could meet their minimum. So back to the small mom and pop businesses who call themselves wholesale distributors. Bummer!
13. I filed my taxes, as I did in the past, only to find that many times I actually didn't come out ahead like I originally thought, if anything, I lost money trying so many things. For instance, I was sold on the hype about buying traffic. So I got involved with pay per click and was disappointed when I found that I had joined a site that hadn't stopped people from clicking on keyword sites even after I requested they do so. Almost a day later, they finally stopped it, but told me about the malfunction at the site. I learned the hard way that when you get involved with pay per click you almost have to babysit your page and try method after method until it yields the result you want.
14. In conclusion, I have stuck with writing and selling on the popular sites and creating books. These seem to be the only things online that have worked for me. Oh and by the way, I recently signed up with AccountNow, this company pays a small stipend for referrals in case you are interested. However, you will have to sign up first just click the link I provided. This is a great company for those of you who no longer want to deal with banks.
To be continued...
1. My fever for Internet selling, all started with a classified ad looking for Avon sales reps located in the Penny saver. The year was 2001. The woman who signed me up said I could have my own website through Avon -- I was all over it! I had only been dabbling with eBay at the time.
2. I saw an infomercial the same year for people interested in selling novelty items. The company was SMC I would take my catalogs to the workplace, order products and sell them or get others to sell for me, and post fliers in the community promoting SMC products. Around the same time, I saw ads online for eBay and thought maybe this would be a good starting place to get my feet wet. Boy was it ever! I literally prayed for knowledge on what to sell out of my home and everything I touched turned into cash! Those were the days, but the long hours...whew! There were many days I didn't go to bed until 4a.m. I had just had a baby back then. So I had two little boys in my care and they were very needy. I eventually added Half, (eBay's affiliate) and Amazon.com to my growing Internet ventures. There were other small things I dabbled in at the time like businesses that gave you free websites and others that sold oils and natural remedies and health drinks. All of which didn't live up to the hype.
3. While eBay, Half and Amazon seemed to be picking up some momentum some time around 2002, I was introduced to Prepaid Legal. I didn't take that business seriously since it just didn't appeal to me especially since the one who introduced me to it was my husband and he was looking for me to work the business. He didn't seem that enthused back then, so I thought, "Why should I?" I had enough on my plate, so that venture fell by the wayside. With my long hours day and night working my businesses, eventually my computer would no longer be any use to me, so I got another one and became an affiliate for the computer company that I bought my computer from. I would post fliers around the neighborhood including my link code so that the company would discount my computer for every sale. Once the computer was paid off, I stopped promoting them especially when they seemed to forget to give me a credit for my sales and I would have to call to remind them.
4. A friend of mine wanted me to start going to meetings with her for Petra Lingerie during late 2002 early 2003. I thought, "Well this is a good opportunity to promote Lucky Heart Cosmetics," the alternative to Avon for women of color. I wasn't enthused about booking home parties. Neither was I interested in making new friends. I had two little friends (my sons at home) that kept me active enough and an eBay business that kept me up late at night.
5. Things were getting to be challenging for my Avon business in 2003, because I was losing clientele in my apartment complex of 729 tenants due to my customers not paying their rent on time. It seemed that they could have the money to pay for Avon and SMC novelty gifts, but no money to pay rent. I tried to get some involved with my business affiliations, but they weren't interested.
6. The same year, my sister was on fire for a business dealing with nutritional supplements and chemical free cleaning products. That business was Melaleuca. I kind of fell into that business, because my mother invited us all to the house and then surprise! A white lady shows up talking about the Melaleuca opportunity. I didn't know how to feel about the business at the time. It sounded nice, but there was no love.
7. I joined Melaleuca, but it was short-lived because I didn't appreciate having to get customers to give up their credit card information so that they would have automatic shipments that they would later cancel; therefore affecting my bottom line numbers.
8. By 2004, I had dropped all those businesses because I had to work too hard for pennies on the dollar. I was ready to make some serious cash and joined a business through a so-called friend called ACN. I name her a "so-called friend" because as quick as I invested $500 into the business, I didn't hear from her or see her. Meanwhile, I was left with a few brochures and a video tape, I was on my own, that is if I decided to commit to weekly meetings, "I think not!" I wasn't about to fork over more cash during those meetings for sales tools, seminars, etc. When I couldn't even see results with traditional means of advertising.
9. I would abandon all Internet and offline sales until 2006, I was pregnant with my third son and desperate for cash. It had been over five years since having a little one and I noticed quickly how much the price had changed on baby stuff. I had also noticed how much eBay had changed too. Just about every market I could imagine was saturated with everyone's stuff! Even the wholesale distributors were in competition with their own clients! I decided to explore something called affiliate marketing which basically promoted others goods and services using a link that affiliates you with the company. When someone buys through that link, similar to that computer flier I spoke about earlier with my own code, you make a profit. However, even with some of these businesses, people will rob you of your profits. Here is one of the ebooks Click Here I am selling about making money online. I created my first website How to Books Online the same year which I have since abandoned.
10. While posting links everywhere I could, I came across SFI. This was a business that provided health and nutrition items, home business tools, magazines, and other useful items. I decided to give them a try because of how easy the business was to join and the fact it was free -- that is until I found out that this business wouldn't provide any real profit unless of course you signed up for their monthly billing/ automated shipment program (sound familiar?)! If you didn't want to do that you had to try to convince others to buy from you each month.
11. While struggling with SFI, I decided to return to my first loves eBay, Half and Amazon. So I searched around my household in 2007, 2008, and 2009 seeking things I could sell just like the golden days. While my listings were up on the various sites, I returned to writing (something I did on and off for years as a hobby since I was 9 years old. I received my first dollars for my writings in 1993 while providing a typing service for people back in Pittsburgh, PA.) I decided to get serious about my writings in 2007 after submitting many of my past writings to Associated Content, Constant-Content and later Triond, Ehow, Poetry Poem, and Helium.
In recent months, I came across Demand Studios another site that pays for content. However, I was very disappointed to see that for hours of work, these sites would only pay at best $5 for suggested titles and $15 for assigned titles for a professional writer's work. I began to venture off on my own only submitting on occasion. I started creating my own blogs and submitting to my own sites as the spirit moves.
12. During 2007, I had ran out of stuff to sell, so I connected with a few wholesale distributors. They were small mom and pop types. Some prices were indeed wholesale while others were not which didn't constitute a true wholesale business (they didn't even ask for business licenses!? Not only that, they charged a fee? Since when do stores charge you a fee just for partnering with them?) I decided to get my business license in 2008 in California (I had others in Pennsylvania and Ohio) and hoped that future searches would lead me to true wholesalers. Well it did, but those companies were not delivering unless businesses could meet their minimum. So back to the small mom and pop businesses who call themselves wholesale distributors. Bummer!
13. I filed my taxes, as I did in the past, only to find that many times I actually didn't come out ahead like I originally thought, if anything, I lost money trying so many things. For instance, I was sold on the hype about buying traffic. So I got involved with pay per click and was disappointed when I found that I had joined a site that hadn't stopped people from clicking on keyword sites even after I requested they do so. Almost a day later, they finally stopped it, but told me about the malfunction at the site. I learned the hard way that when you get involved with pay per click you almost have to babysit your page and try method after method until it yields the result you want.
14. In conclusion, I have stuck with writing and selling on the popular sites and creating books. These seem to be the only things online that have worked for me. Oh and by the way, I recently signed up with AccountNow, this company pays a small stipend for referrals in case you are interested. However, you will have to sign up first just click the link I provided. This is a great company for those of you who no longer want to deal with banks.
To be continued...
My Recent Video Posts
When I am taking a needed break from writing, I post videos about various issues that people face regarding relationship, parenting, and travel.
See my YouTube Pages
NM Enterprise 7
Nicholl McGuire Media
Virtual Assistant
Daily Motion
Nicholl McGuire Media
Selling on eBay Part-time
Well with so many projects going on, I need the funds for marketing and I don't have any Rich Uncles that will help. From my domestic violence cause to offering my book publishing services and articles for sale, there is just never enough money to take care of the needs of my children and me. Those of you who know me, know that I don't sugarcoat the truth, but times are difficult.
So while waiting for my ship to roll on with some other projects, I sell part-time on eBay. Items up for sale include new toys for toddlers and older children and pre-owned electronics. Feel free to periodically check in, my site is still new so I don't have alot to sell. My seller name is 8booksandstuff.
Thanks for stopping by and keeping up with my latest projects. If you haven't stopped by Blurb.com or Amazon.com to purchase a book by me, please do. Just type in my name in the search boxes at the sites "Nicholl McGuire."
I appreciate whatever support you can provide.
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