Do I look like a people person to you?

I wasn’t going to publish this. It’s not my normal tone. I wrote it, in fact, because I just wanted to write the feelings down. In less than a month, I’ll be 50… never thought I’d hear myself say those words out loud, let alone write them down.

I’m not going to be the cheerleading squad of the fifty-plus generation. I’m not familiar with them. I don’t know them. Not to say I don’t see them, but none of the people I know or hang out with are in that age group. Okay, maybe I know a few but, I’m not around them and they are the cool 50 something crowd…You know who you are Cirouzzz, Martucia, which brings me to my other point. I do have another point you know.

I’m sure moving away from San Francisco has made me lose some of my sanity. I’m probably no longer in touch with the “real” world. I guess moving to a retirement community in the Red Neck Riviera five years ago hasn’t helped my mood today.

I’m not happy that the AARP has contacted me as if I were a long lost friend. Go. The fuck. Away. I didn’t ask for any group hugs and I’m not going to embrace the AARP community at large. Besides, how the hell do you know my age and why do you have my address?

I can’t be 50 yet. When I think of 50 I think of old people; walkers with worn tennis balls for wheels; white hair; lots of doctor’s visits. That’s not how I see myself, damn it. Yesterday I was going to nude beaches in the Bay Area, smoking and drinking while roasting my buns in the sun. What the hell happened? I blinked and here I am – a month away from 50.

Part of me wants to embrace the notion that now I am wise. I must be, by now; I’ve lived a life I should be proud of living. Shit. The last thing I want to do is be wise; I don’t want that responsibility…

I don’t like waking up and discovering I have facial hair, that’s just not cool. I realize hormones play a big part, but fuck it; I’m not taking medicine in order to stay young. I want to age gracefully, not use tweezers glued to my hip pocket like a damn cowboy.

Sometimes I wonder am I really missing that much? I want to still fit in my college jeans and stay out all night like I used to. I bet if I tried now, that two things would happen. One, I would look like a complete fool squeezed into torn jeans with camel toes. Two, the patrons of the club would think I was lost or – worse yet – looking for my kids.

Now, I don’t look old and I’ve never worn tight jeans, but damn it, that’s how people see me. They have the audacity to say, “Yes, Ma’am.” Who the hell is that? I’m waiting for the day to snap at one of these 30 something’s and say, “Don’t worry, sweet cheeks, you’ll be here soon enough, don’t blink.”

I do embrace some things about turning fifty. For instance, I can pick up a line of bullshit from a mile away. It’s not the obvious swagger, glasses, smooth talk, great sales or slick clothes. Now it’s the way they write, how they engage online in social networks and blogs, or how the show off at conferences. I’ve seen some that are so self-centered I almost want to throw up when I see their names. Yes, that’s harsh but hey, I’m turning fifty and I’m turning into my mother.

I’m even confused at the music I hear. I mean, I love a good rap song and an action-packed movie, but the shit I’ve been witnessing is beyond creativity. It’s negativity, hate, abuse, despondency, a complete disregard for women and humanity as a whole. That’s what we call entertainment, people. I won’t even mention the horrors I see every time I turn on the news.

I’m turning into my mother’s generation. I’m turning into the crowd that says, “What are you kids listening to?” “What are you reading?” You’ll see; if you’re 30 something and reading this, remember that you saw it here first.

I remember, and have lived, the leaps and bounds of technology. I’ve been entrenched in it! Nowadays, though, I hear shit like, “Do you want to wake up early? There’s an app for that.” “Do you want to meet new people? There’s an app for that.” “You want to get laid? There’s an app for that (it’s called Craigslist).”

Am I walking down memory lane if I say things were easier back then? You didn’t have to worry about the boogiemen online. The people using technology seemed cool with no bullshit. People online were there to exchange information, not sell you, spam you or give off an attitude that you were so lucky they talked to you.

Good Old Days

It sounds like an episode of “The Good ‘Ole Days”, but that wasn’t so long ago, really. I remember when I discovered The WELL. It was safe; we discussed business, health, music, politics, hobbies, software and so much more.

I’m completely blown away at such abandon towards social networks. Granted, I embrace the technology, but the world is giving their identity away to it! For instance, I’m not stupid enough to put up my nude pictures for the world to see. I don’t talk about things I don’t want the world to know about, and then bitch because the world found out. I guess that’s just something age has taught me.

I’ve tried to be reasonable with people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve held my tongue. I don’t see anything impressive anymore. Am I being a salty old woman? My generation joined causes and grass root movements because we wanted to make a change and felt the causes were right. It seems people join causes now because it’s the in thing, the cool thing, to do. Anymore, I don’t want to help the world; I tried to change it in my youth… believe you me; it’s gotten worse, not better.

I don’t care whether you like me. I say what I want to say, because I can pretty much bet I’ve been there and I’ve don’t that. You can’t show me or tell me anything that hasn’t been done or said already. I don’t worry about hanging out with the cool crowd, because I am the cool crowd. I’ve never been much of a follower – and guess what? Now that I’m turning fifty, I’m even less of one.

I don't care

This is a reality check, people, so listen up. I don’t want to be fifty in your “thirty-something” world. I’m not impressed by all your cool apps. I don’t care if millions of people follow you. You’re in a sad state if you don’t see how fast the world is passing by you.

I’m not saying stop or even slow down, enjoy your family or enjoy your life. How you live is up to you. What I am saying, however, is your fifty degrees of separation isn’t that far away from being where I stand today. Your Foursquare reality is nothing more than another reason to allow your self-inflated ego. Do I care if you’re the mayor of a coffee shop, that you started a group or started a meet-up to see who can out drink the other?

No. The bottom line is I’m scared; I’m terrified of slowing down – that life will be robbed from me. All of a sudden, I don’t have that much time to do and see all the things I want to do and see in life. I’m too busy trying to get it all down to care about whom out drank who at the last meet-up.

Am I going to write a bucket list? Not a chance. The life I’ve had, places I’ve seen and things I’ve experience have probably been on several hundred peoples’ bucket lists. I’ve been to more places in the world than not – countries most people can’t even spell. I’ve had a wonderful whirlwind life I wouldn’t trade for anything and talked to people you’ve only dreamed of meeting. To the 30 something’s and younger, take your cool, hip life and don’t step on mine. You see, now I can say shit like that; people just blow it off because I’m old. Yes, I’m old enough to know that you’re a fucking idiot.

I’m old enough to know and realize that:

• Relationships don’t happen overnight
• You have to work for everything you own or buy in life
• No matter how many times you get people to listen to you, they still only hear what they want to hear
• Perception is 99% of one’s reality
• There’s nothing better than being with the person you love, respect and have fun with
• Millions of dollars won’t make you happy
• You can’t find happiness in bottles, pills or sex

I’m old enough to say anything I want with no fear of repercussion. That’s my favorite. See, I don’t like perfect; perfect is boring. It’s not human. I make mistakes because I’m human. I don’t harbor hate because it takes too much time. I forgive because I believe the apology, not because it’s “the thing to do”.

Is this a bucket list of sorts? Hell, no. I’d break into tears, if for no other reason than because everyone has already done it. They even made a movie about it that I never did go and see. Not a movie that would end up on my own list even, if I were ever to write one. Doubtful…

Dark Side of Real estate

In providing SEO copywriting, it’s imperative that you research the subject. We’ve talked about this in countless numbers of articles here at the Article Archive. Most of the time, the job is simply to research and relay the information in a way that the client’s target market can understand. SEO copywriting has a dark side, however.

Over the past several months, I’ve been researching and writing SEO-based content for the real estate industry. The client likes upbeat, perky articles. Three or four years ago, this wasn’t a problem, but then the real estate bubble burst. While researching, I’ve found out more information than I ever wanted to know about buying and selling a house – and therein lies the topic of this rant.

The dark side of SEO copywriting, from the copywriter’s point of view, is sometimes you have to find the loopholes in information to write the type of articles your client wants. For instance, a bright side in real estate is the mortgage rates are lower than they’ve ever been. That’s the story, and, for the client, I’m sticking to it.

The dark side is that banks want 20% down payment or more if you don’t have private mortgage insurance, 10% or more if you do. Credit scores have to be 670 or above. After years of giving credit and loans to whoever walked through the doors, the banks are finally dotting i’s, crossing t’s and, in short, making it hard to get a home loan. The dark side of the story is that it’s not a buyer’s or a seller’s market; it’s a stalled market.

It’s time for a dose of reality, people. The real estate market is dark and gloomy! Job security is shaky, the national unemployment rate is still at 9% or more, housing prices are dropping and more foreclosures are slamming the still staggering market. Sellers aren’t selling and many potential buyers can’t get past the red tape to buy. On top of all this, more sellers are actually putting their homes on the market because, for some unknown reason, they think now is a good time to sell.

Now, I know that some sellers don’t have a choice but to put their house up, for many reasons. As well, I’m not an economist or financial guru; I’m just an SEO and coding geek. However, I can look at statistics, read the information and put two and two together, and I have to ask the sellers that do have a choice…

With an already glutted market, why are you trying to sell your house? Why are you pricing it above its value? How can you think it would make the home more attractive in a day and age where foreclosures are the best deals?

Do you know who’s buying up most of the American real estate? The government, which is now the biggest real estate owner, investors and people from overseas – not, as the reports might seem to tell you, the average Joe American with 2.5 kids and a dog.

The Reality of the Situation

You know, “money makes the world go ‘round” is a quote used so often that it’s lost its meaning. However, money really does make the world go ‘round. Why aren’t job markets improving? Because Americans are worried they’ll lose their own paychecks so, instead of spending, we’re stockpiling. We’re saving every dime. Therefore, companies that don’t sell products can’t afford to pay wages and employees are laid off.

We’re a consumer society, though, and in a consumer society, you have to consume; you have to buy things to keep it going. Am I suggesting that you blow your savings and paycheck? No, but I am saying that if you don’t pay the economy, the economy can’t pay you.

It’s time for a mind-change based on “wants” and “needs”. For instance (and back to the original topic), if you don’t need to sell your home, don’t. On the other hand, if you’re still using a rotary phone because it’s serviceable, it’s time for an upgrade. Plain and simple, money has to trickle up before it can trickle down.

In regards to the dark side of SEO copywriting, well, putting the best face on things is part of the job – and I’ll continue to do that job to meet client needs. However, I ask that you keep in mind who is writing whatever you’re reading. Most bits of information are biased for or against a topic. Research and get both sides of the story before making decisions that affect your family, your job and your life.

End of rant. Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to add your own rant to the discussion!

"I Wasn't Born To Follow" by: sonja_pinion

I have stated in the past my Follow Friday list has to mean something to me. I wish I could spend more time looking into the reasons why and how I follow people but then I catch myself and think furgit about it. It shouldn’t be that complicated.

Granted, I don’t follow blindly anymore I actually do take the time to check people out. As a matter of fact stop wasting time with spammers on twitter. True Twit will validate your followers so you don’t have to. This little jewel of a tool has been very helpful in keeping the spam crap and bots off my twitter list.

I have never had a very strategic plan about why I follow people outside the obvious.

We. Connect.

But this is not about me and for the sake of starting my list and picking up where I left off here it is. My 1st, Follow Friday list 2010.

@ MARCOME what a pleasant breathe of fresh air. I have to be honest with you, I am not into what “New Age” music but I was pleasantly surprised. Her profile reads I’m a Canadian singer songwriter & musician. I do a mixture of pop world music mixed with new age, jazz & ambient voices. My name is pronounced Marko-may. I bet the fact she is so approachable, engaging and just down right the darling of social media with over 34,935 Followers has a lot to do with her charm. Then again her personality shines through a must follow if you aren’t already!

@linksgiving what can I say about him but a brilliant Italian, gentleman and yes geek suprimo! His profile is typically Italian (inside joke) it reads, Linksgiving Web Directory at Twitter. Alberto Rinaldi, its founder, is a computer, SEO, Internet marketing enthusiast, Web designer, yoga lover, and musician. How can you not be a geek when you manage and build a freaking directory?  Great conversations, and he is just adorable.

@BlondeByDesign Now there is a fresh approach to Twitter. Her profiles reads, An Evil person or situation may dominate time, but a Good Person or Positive Action Owns ETERNITY. Sounds earthy crunchy California? Sure, but she is wonderful strong woman as a matter of fact you can almost smell the sunshine. She is engaging, fun, witty, sexy, silly, and can hold her own in 140 characters!

@lookadoo this woman is generous with her time and knowledge. Her profile say’s it all it reads, SEO, User Engagement + all things Search support my Cycling habit. Let’s ride! … Launching YoYoSEO.com in March – @YoYoSEO. We actually spent time on the phone talking about everything from SEO, to California. There is nothing better than connecting right off the bat. She has clocked years as an SEO professional, including most recently as the founder of @Yo!Yo! SEO Word-of-Mouth SEO – Optimize the Conversation. Something she is very proud of, a must follow to all.

@regalaffair hello Twitter, now this is a woman to follow! Sassy, smart, engaging and yes, has a lot of knowledge when it comes to connecting. Her profile is short and sweet Destination Wedding & Event Planning based out of Texas serving brides world wide. The fact I am not getting married any time soon still doesn’t stop me from enjoying great information check her out.

@casettadelborgo there are two reasons I followed this feed, they are in Italy, and they live in my house! Okay maybe not but my dream is to go back home and retire with a small B&B. If you love Italy or you want to discover it’s beauty start here. Check out their Villa in  Italy, you can’t resist booking your next vacation there. Their profile reads, Holiday Accommodation San Gimignano Holiday Apartment in Tuscany with private garden & pool in Resort Borgo la Fornace with SPA & Restaurant & Tennis. Don’t take my word for it start following them today.

@mwilton13 we have just recently started following each other. I have to admit for a young buccaneer he knows his links. Extremely engaging and very generous with his RT’s. He describes himself as Search Engine Marketer and Social Media junkie by day; Blogger and father by night. (I think that’s sweet) Friend to nature and striving to live green. The last part requires further study.

@sharonmostyn if you aren’t following this lady, then you must. Sharon is a valuable connection. She actually had someone from Miami call when I volunteered to go down to Haiti during the recent Earthquake. Now that’s Social media working right in front of my eyes. Her profile describes her as a Marketing mgt at MEDEX & Inbound Mktg Cert Pro – ecommerce (email, SEO/SEM, affiliate, social media), DRTV, online & offline media buying. That’s impressive!

@AngsCopywriting Something about Canadian writers invading the US. What a wonderful find. I met her through another group I joined a while back, and have enjoyed getting to know her. Her profile reads, Copywriter, Coach & Content Consultant who likes SEO, SM, business & marketing. Also a bookmark addict & (coffee) bean brat So yeah you guessed it she’s a brilliant writer and extremely gracious with her time.

@RedheadWriting No introduction needed for this firecracker. Wow, Zing, Biff, Bang, is all I can say… add sassy, sexy, deliciousness to her writing and you have one hell of a twitter feed. Almost as good as sex, well maybe not but a definite MUST follow. Her profile aptly reads, Writer, disruptive presence, devil’s advocate (the devil, on occasion), snarkmeister, hash tag abuser in a 10 step program because I can’t commit to 12.

@marketingintell this young lady is smart from head shot to links. When I do catch links they were always spot on. Her profile reads, CEO, Marketing Intelligently, LLC. Marketing consultant for small businesses. Personal branding expert. 20-year marketing vet, Brit abroad. If you know me then you can see the fact she is a Brit is already a passing grade for me!

@nicktadd I will admit I had to do a double take when I started following him I think the Mohawk threw me off.  Yes, he is a geek and very engaging, take a look at some of his video links. His profile reads, Landlord and exponent of technology to further learning and visibility… aka web geek! Fascinated by the optimisation of social media. Will follow back. At first you may think huh? Qu’est que c’est? No need to question, just follow you’ll see.

@smallbizanswers yes, I am a sucker for puppies especially cute ones. Don’t let that picture fool you, there is a pit bull of information under that soft brown exterior. Awesome links and great resources. The profile reads, Providing the best small business related stories from across the web. Tons of topics… profiles, sales, marketing, employees, finance, legal, social, etc. I will admit every link I have clicked I more often than not RT. The good thing is they are always informative.

@kjwelborn my list would not be complete without this wonderful woman. Granted we have worked and are still working together, but that’s not why you should follow her. Her profile says it all Marketing Consultant (TV, Film, Nonprofit, Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Lifestyle) + Director of D/FW Multi-Cultural SIG, American Marketing Association. We are talking heavy hitters when it comes to positioning her clients. What are you waiting for?

@massimopaolini this gentleman is into analytics. This my dear readers is the golden grail of SEO. Granted half the time we have no clue what they are talking about, however if you follow him you’ll be a lot closer to figuring it out. His profile reads, Passions: web analytics, social media, public speaking, startups, bootstrapping, balanced life, leadership, family. A great addition to your follow list, and keep up with one of the best in the industry.

That’s it for now, I will try to do another 15 soon. By the way do you recognize any of these names? Tell us about them, what are your thoughts…

The fact of the matter is that you may find that some SEO techniques work exceedingly well, bringing you and the client the best possible results, more so than you could have even anticipated. Then again, some techniques are failures before they even leave your mind. No matter how many times you try a certain strategy (and this can differ by situations and change easily with trends), it just won`t work. The advice for the latter is pretty simple: do something different. Throw that technique away, or shelve it as an SEO memorial of days gone by, and move on to something else. This is often a problem that you will run into and one that you must learn to deal with, for the health and wealth of your client.

Unfortunately for some, the strategy known as Reciprocal linking fits into this latter category. The practice of `swapping off` links to other`s pages in an effort to boost traffic and bring in more bang for the buck simply is an archaic method and needs to be let go. Put the High School track trophy into another room, and place this strategy on the top shelf of your study`s bookcase. It is old news. And it will back fire on you more times than it helps you. This is due to the fact that searchers who you use your links are really using you to cross-connect – to get somewhere else other than your page. They don`t and won`t stay long enough to look around and possibly buy. So don`t waste your or their time.

Now, a warning must be given: don`t turn a deaf ear to this; please listen. The temptation for those who are used to this strategy is to stop up their ears, turn the music up louder and pretend that you don`t hear me. If you do that, you won`t be listening or receiving the information that can (and will) give you the edge that you are looking for. Look, if I have said once, I have said it a 1000 times. The world of SEO is not a solid rock on which we all stand and bask in the sunlight. More times than not it feels more like sinking sand. To avoid losing your footing and to stay upright, you will have to be flexible. Don`t make things worse off or more complicated for yourself by sticking to what you think worked in the past. It`s just not that simple anymore.

Typically beginning from the small of the back and extending outward toward the hips, just above or on the waistline, lower back tattoo designs can easily be hidden for the majority of the time and/or revealed for just the right time. It is a location ideal for the working girl from 9-5 and the party girl from 5-night. The lower back also works well for those who desire a more intimate tattoo – something that only “the chosen” can see – and/or a non-distracting tattoo – something which they themselves cannot see without positioning specifically in front of a mirror. Also, it provides a perfect canvas for a larger and more intricate tattoo. Though the typical and most popular tattoo designs either spread across the entire base of the lower back or cover only the small of the back, larger designs are common.

The Tattoo Designs: Symbolic

Lower back tattoo designs can be the forbidden tales and legends of long ago. Hidden away, they tell, like all tattoos, stories with meanings rich, vast, and personal. The lotus flower, for example, is a popular image chosen by women. It is the rose of the east, significant for the Buddhists, Hindus and other Eastern Religions for its symbolism of goodness, truth and beauty. Similarly, the transcendent butterfly arising from the cocoon marks the body with transformation, regeneration and flight symbolism.

Other tattoo designs for the lower back are perfect for the faithful and the frisky alike. One of the most popular images in all tattooing is the Celtic cross, symbolizing the friction and fusion of the sacred with the profane. Popular as well are tribal tattoos, which celebrate diversity, the indigenous history of tattooing, and the primal character of man and woman. On the frisky side of things, the dragon and serpent represent trouble and danger – fitting images for the lower back of any flirty or feisty woman.

Lower Back Tattoos: Sexy

With the “rise” of low-rise jeans and the return of high-cut shirts, lower back tattoo designs are becoming sexier and sexier, and consequently more and more popular. Both the secret and the symbolic, the intimate and the intricate, work in conjunction to stimulate and impress any witness. They accentuate the hourglass curves and features of the female form, and bring into light, however briefly for the lucky onlooker, the sensual small of the back. Combined with a firm and fit body, lower back tattoo designs are almost irresistible.

So whether wanting something secret, symbolic or sexy, lower back tattoo designs fit and function perfectly. Let your body, and your spirit, speak.

Okay I will admit it has been a while since I have been to a concert… But what a concert to initiate my hiatus ZZ Top! Wow these guys are the best grass root blues/Rock-N-Roll band of my generation. I saw them when I was attending UT in Austin this was years ago back in the 1980’s and I have to tell you I had just as much fun back then as I did last night. The only thing missing was “going green” I am sure the security in the casino would have noticed.

Billy F. Gibbons on guitars and vocals, Dusty Hill on bass, and the clean-shaven Frank Beard on drums- the group literally forged their own razor-sharp style. Granted they were a few years older but hell with those beard & “Cheap Sunglasses” who could tell?

They started with a bang and ended the show with a bang. One thing I was not crazy about was the background video. What idiot thought that up? It would have been fine if it was on a drop down screen or even the wall but the small round lights made it look cheap and nothing was clear unless you looked at the two large screens on the side (boring). I mean it’s not like this was a huge concert hall or stadium. The crowd was a bit boring for me. At least on my row I think they were either too stuffy, or old. I mean come on people when they played “ She’s got legs” with their fuzzy iconic guitars should have been exciting enough to at least stand up. Or “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man” how can you just sit there?

One last note that really burned me up is I did not bring my video camera. Not because I didn’t think about it hell I had that puppy charging all day. But I read that video cameras or recording devices were not allowed in the concert hall. All I have to say about that is I need to start breaking all the rules. There was at least 50 people video taping the show. One guy had a freaking video cam strapped to his shoulder. I mean come on. Now that I am writing this review I see a picture that I took would have made better sense. But I am left with using one of their studio shots… Well hello people, how the hell am I supposed to attach a picture if Ticketmaster and the IP Casino clearly state on the tickets “no video or pictures allowed?”

I can remember my first #FollowFriday; I felt like a deer caught in headlights. What does the little “#” mean? What is #FollowFriday? All I saw were feeds that looked like this “#FollowFriday @firstname, @secondname, @anothernam”. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out the concept, but I couldn’t understand or reason why I should follow these recommendations.

We all want to participate and make a difference on Twitter. It’s a great tool, but I will admit the dynamic of using Twitter is not for everyone. Individuals to corporations use it in different ways, and not always for the best. Some get it, and use it as part of their online brand as an extension of their services, while others still see it as a waste of time, a slow sinking ship.

My favorite comment ever made about Twitter was by the creator, Jack Dorsey: “Twitter is intended to be a way for vacant self-absorbed egotists to share the most banal and idiotic thoughts with anyone pathetic enough to read them.” Granted he was talking about the civil unrest in Iran and I don’t want to misuse the quote… But it did strike me as funny since I have heard variations of that sentiment.

Like any new beginner, I was overwhelmed at how to do the whole #FollowFriday “thing”. I started searching for sites that would make the process easier. The Twitter Tag Project seemed to be the answer.

Easy enough right? You put in your Twitter user name/password and voila. The engine will scan the last 200 tweets, count the dupes, and return your most active friends. The results will display: #FollowFriday @friend1 @friend2 @friend3 @friend4…

Now, I’m not going to get into why you should or shouldn’t use The Twitter Tag project, or any tool that will automate the process (that’s for a later post). My intent here is to share with you, and hopefully continue sharing with you, my list for #FollowFriday.

I feel they deserve more than just 140 characters. To me, the recommendation should be of value not just to my followers, but to new people reading this post. Below is my first list. If you aren’t here this week, check back next week, since I’m only going to do fifteen per week. After all, I do have work to do.

1. @monicakozak A wonderful smart funny woman. It helps that she is A VP of marketing at one of the hottest Public Relations companies online. I have to tell you she is extremely engaging, informative and a great leader.
2. @julibarcelona I recently watched her interacting with a group of Chicagoans.  That is when I realized this woman is going to be fun to follow. She is the VP @Barcelona Creative Group. Always willing to ask questions and share valuable information. I enjoy all her links & information.
3. @deanmeistr This guy is a visual problem solver. What is that? I had not clue until I got to know him better. We chatted while he “created” He is brilliant, and I hope to do some work with him someday soon.
4. @elizabethonline What a great lady. She is extremely smart and committed to helping her students by helping them develop college application materials. She is funny & a rare find on twitter.
5. @remarkablogger He is one of the first people I actually engaged with on Twitter. I was gun-shy back then but he was very laid back & really genuine. Extremely helpful, with online marketing, blogging, never a negative comment. Which is always refreshing.
6. @anthonylujan This photographer is actually good. One of those diehard picked up a camera at eleven and has never turned back since. I can only imagine how much dedication it takes to get into such a competitive field.
7. @mikefleming What a doll this guy is. Not only is he smart engaging and cute he actually adds value to my day. Part of the Chicago posy.
8. @ArteWorks_SEO Here is a guy that actually appreciates Texas Longhorns. Not only does he have great information, about SEO, social media and online marketing but he like “Rick rolling” people. Nice to see some people have fun.
9. @MyMelange Is a breath of fresh air. A great writer, photographer and bloger. She loves to travel and talk about food. The fact she goes to Italy every year has won me over.
10. @brokerkathy A lovely lady to follow. She is a real Estate Broker in So Cal with a positive outlook on life. Full of energy & curiosity.
11. @Nenad An entrepreneur, a coder, an adventurer, a visionary, a father, a husband is what his profile says. I personally have found him very engaging and a great guy to exchange links with.
12. @ginidietrich A true Professional. She helps business owners with their Public relations needs. She is fun, smart, and a wonderful Twitter personality.
13. @Lotay Here is another Jewel His company is raising awareness for, and providing grants, to non-profit organizations that serve one of the following core areas: Education, Environment, Healthcare, Global Development, and Poverty Relief.
14. @igrafix A great lady who has become someone I go to for advise. She is a great graphic designer with an appreciation for everything creative. She shares great links and even better information. The fact she speaks Italian, German, & English helps.
15. @ButtercupD a Super star in her own rights. Sure she works for someone famous on Twitter but guess what I would follow her regardless. She is very passionate about Social networking and it shows.

Tune in Next week for an update. You can see My first list here & then my third one

It’s tough being straight-laced.  People expect things from those that “have it together”.  If you’re not acting a certain way, dressing a certain way, walking and talking a certain way, people start to think something is wrong.  Small tattoo designs can be your private call for freedom, your hidden rebel, an expression of the life inside your three-piece button-down suit.

An ancient form of self-expression, tattoos have marked mankind for ages.  We have used them for many purposes, from medicine to advertising someone’s social status.  No matter what the reason, one thing has never changed about tattoos.  Something happens when needle and ink first touch skin; in a single moment, it changes you permanently.

Although tattoos have been around for over 5,000 years and are a historical part of just about every society, there is still a stigma attached.  A Fortune 500 CEO just doesn’t have a tattoo; it’s unthinkable.  So how do you maintain your appearance and still express your rebel with ink?

Location, Location, Location

If you’re planning on getting inked, but don’t want to advertise it to everyone you meet, you should really think about where you get your tattoo.  Different clothing covers different amounts of skin; for example, small tattoo designs on the shoulder might be covered by a t- shirt, but don’t go sleeveless if you don’t want your ink to be seen.

Size Matters

You really don’t want to be in the middle of a business meeting and have a possible client see a snake slithering out from under your collar.  Pay attention to the size of your tattoo and any possible background art.  If pieces are going to be poking out of your clothing, you should consider a smaller design or think about getting the tattoo somewhere else.

Peekaboo, I See You

This is also known as the “accidental discovery”.  It happens when you wear clothing that might be seen through, or might shift the wrong way when you lean over.  Remember, very dark or colorful tattoos will show through most white shirts.  And girls, that sexy, shear number may give you away earlier than you expected.

The Drunken Sailor

Tattoos are a lot like people; getting them seems a much better idea when drunk.  Avoid this mistake at all costs.  The tattoo you get might seem a lot less cool when you sober up, and it might be on your forehead.  Try explaining that to your boss.

In 2002, it was estimated that 1 in 8 Americans, about 40 million people, had tattoos.  That number grows daily as more people take the leap.  If you are thinking about getting inked and this is your first tattoo, consider starting small.  Even with a small tattoo, designs can vary greatly.  It’s not necessary to start with a full body tattoo to get your point across.

Whatever you choose, make it yours.  Don’t get a tattoo because of peer pressure or as an afterthought.  It’s important, it’s permanent; make it worth it.

*LaInk.us does not claim ownership of any of the images on this site. No copyright infringement intended. All pictures are copyright to their respectful owners. This is a FAN SITE for the show “La Ink” and we are not in contact with anyone or person from the show including Kat Von D

Getting noticed and standing out from your competitors takes creativity and tenacity. For Small Business budgets we can help you in attracting customers and building a profile for your business.
Creative, attention-grabbing ads will help you get results. The way you combine words, colors, graphics and animation are critical to your success.

To get started, you need to define goals for your campaign. Ask yourself the following questions:

What do I seek to accomplish with this campaign?

What action do I want online users to take when they see my ad?

What is my message?

Once you have done this its time to develop your advertising message. Since banner ads use both graphics and text, it is important to consider both elements.

This vast network of computers that has emerged is made up of individuals and hundreds of thousands of companies that have all contributed their piece of the pie.

Whether it be a student’s home page, a large corporate website, or the New York Library itself, there is undeniably a global community forming. Look around at Social media where do you see it going in lets say 2 years or even 5 years? Would love your input!

As a Freelance writer one of the goals is to cultivate long term working relationships with clients, which can afford the luxury of doing what you love, writing. It could be said that aspiration has always been to live and work artistically. From the onset any artist should be a great listener. With listening comes experiences that need to be shared with others. Since we are all afforded a place to post these artistic behaviors then allow me to share with you one of these pearls.

An artist has to access creative energy, concepts and inspiration in order to generate, create, and write the idea that wasn’t there before. Committed to the idea that they alone could provide, to leave a mark on the world. Being receptive to something new while honing their craft. It is only then they become more inspired. Priorities become an important factor in this field.

As an independent writer one has to respect their craft. Whether it means responding to emails immediately or using the phone, a door should always be open to communication. With that said, neither experience is profitable nor does it make business sense. Spending an average of 15 hours a week from sending out R.F.P.’s and submitting bids on potential projects can cut into a writer’s profitability. Adjusting to and accepting certain responsibilities will eventually become easier to balance.

This is part of doing business, therefore automating that process in the beginning of your freelance career is highly advised. Yet more times than not when competing in this industry, inevitably writers will face the ugly reality that outsourcing has given rise to and accomplished. Whether you are a buyer or a service provider the competition is fierce or maybe I should say farce. One has to compete with third world countries where they pack a room full of writers churning out copy for $1.50. Is it a smart decision then to invest that much time in “maybe clients?” It can be, if you are bidding on your area of expertise. First rule don’t bid on projects because you want to build an online or monthly portfolio. You will spend a lot of wasted time in the process. Focus on who you are dealing with, are they a legitimate company. This cloak and dagger most buyers play on the Internet is almost comical. Here are some basic things to do at the beginning of your quest for that particular project.

• Engage the potential client with email or a phone call in order to assess what sort of client they are
• Are they emailing you back a response in an acceptable time frame?
• Do they respect your time?
• Do they keep telling you to call them back at another time?
• Are they clear about their expectations?

Let me assure you if you don’t answer yes to those questions then move on. You will be dealing with more of a headache than a happy experience. After all the reason I work as a freelancer is simple. I want to generate an income from my home. I want to spend time with my family and friends. I do not want to work for Corporate America, been there done that. People who know me will tell you, I don’t belong in Corporate America. I am too creative and my assertive personality to be a yes sir or yes m’am employee is just not going to go over well. The key to loving how you live is knowing what you truly love. It should be straightforward, this knowing what we love. But it seldom is. After decades of letting other people influence us—the media, the magazines, our mothers, and our friends—we’re going to have to go cold turkey. The only opinion that counts from now on is your own.

Once you have secured the project protect yourself. I cannot stress enough how this can either make the experience enjoyable or a complete and utter nightmare. Protecting yourself is going to add value to your time. Have a contract and have a time frame. Write it all down, including something as simple as how many revisions. Have the client fax you a copy after they have signed it. This will not only prove you as a professional but it will also make it VERY CLEAR to the client when they start to hum and haw about what they expect. Getting a generic contract is easy, you can Google a search that will provide you with a plethora of “free contracts”. Add your logo to the template and always include a phone number and an easy way to contact you if there are any questions.

In this country business are popping up all over the Internet. Unless you are familiar with the business or have worked with them in the past I can assure you most are far from ethical, polite, or professional. Most hide behind email and big websites. They are nothing more than weasels, little rats flying at the speed of sound trying to sell their books or fast talk. Most will boast about how many employees they have and how many years they have been in business. Like I am impressed. If you have that many people on board and you are such a big shot why in the world are you dealing with a writer? I am sure they have better things to do like managing their multi billion dollar dream. Maybe it’s too much Viagra, and it has made the wrong head hard. Most who say they are CEO’s or have a snappy email signature are nothing more than want to be CEO’s. They have illusions of grandeur and live in a dream world of who they truly are. Listen, maybe they should have better Administrative Assistants or maybe they should mention from the onset that they lack certain business qualities.

You may be wondering what I am gripping about let me clear. If you are a writer and reading this let me make a suggestion spend as little time with flaky potential clients as possible. The way one can usually tell when this may be a flaky client is when they don’t respond to your email after they made a big deal out of their needs. The second reason is to help and inform the writers out there with information that is readily available to you. Private investigators are writers best friends. It’s not going to come cheap, however if you contracted a huge project and your clients has gone in communicato then contact an investigator and they will find them. These are some things you should do.

1. Contact your local Better Business Burea
2. Get as much information on this client as you can
3. Send them a demand letter for payment or outline all the people you will involve
4. Send all documentation to you Attorney General
5. Always upload your work online to your web serve
6. Leave it online until you are paid
7. Unless you sign a W.F.H. (work for hire) contract it’s yours to resell if you want. (I would suggest re-writing it just so you are not cheap and tawdry
8. Don’t ever short change yourself

As a freelance writer I find security and serenity in what I do. With that said the simpler we make our lives, the more abundant they become. I hope this information helped. Keep in mind that the outside world whether the internet or the unkown darkness closes in. Inside is where you can find your own light. Be true to yourself and write excellent copy. Use each day as a canvass with 24 hours available to put brush to paint.