Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

(Photo credit: Miss604)

In this economic downturn, it’s easy to ignore and forget individuals who are truly in need, those who are struggling to find enough food to eat and a warm place to sleep. But, this is exactly the time when they are in need the most, to know that they are not alone and that others still care.

The Union Gospel Mission – the lifeline to basic necessities for thousands of men, women and children – holds a special place in my heart. Late on my wedding day, once the festivities were over and Darrell and I had been duly showered/pelted with environmentally friendly birdseed, Mom and my brother Kevin dropped off much of the remaining food at the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Vancouver. Being able to share our special day with those less fortunate than us made our day that much more meaningful. Ever since, I have given to the Union Gospel Mission whenever I can.

With this in mind and thanks to an idea from Chris Brogan, I have compiled The Best of…The Left Thumb Blogger: Volume I – a baker’s dozen of posts from 2007, my first year blogging at Do It Myself Blog. This collection of posts are ones that I particularly enjoyed writing, that garnered amazing response from readers, or that are messages worth sharing again.

For every ebook purchased before December 18th for only $6.50, $3.29 will buy Christmas dinner for someone in need.

If you don’t wish to purchase the ebook, but would like to buy someone in need Christmas dinner, kindly buy me a coffee for $3.29 (using the link below this post) and I’ll add your donation to the total.

Together, let’s feed 100 people Christmas dinner and show them they are still valued members of our community.

In the latest meme – the blogosphere’s version of the game of tag – Dominick Evans tagged Chris Brogan. Chris tagged me. By accepting the tagging for this particular meme, I am obligated to share five things about myself that you might not know. I don’t know what you don’t know about me. So, I asked my friends and this is what resulted:

My friend Jacqui from Facebook asks my shoe size.

Ah, shoes – another essential that is difficult to find ones that I can put on myself! When I do find them, I wear a size six. However, when I do wear my AFO, I need a men’s size seven wide. How clumsy!

Fellow Tweeter @mpstrax (aka David Miller) asks what I do in my spare time.

Well, that’s assuming I do have spare time! But, when I do take a break from my computer, I do enjoy spending time on my patio, tending to my plants. I love when they begin blooming. I enjoy going for long walks (as long as there is an accessible sidewalk or pathway)and exploring what is around the next corner. I enjoy curling up in bed with an issue of O Magazine.

Shona, my friend since Grade Eight, asks what is my favourite, most sinful meal.

It would definitely involve salmon and/or prawns dipped in garlic butter. Mmm. And something chocolaty for dessert, of course!

My Twitter buddy @roberthruzek, who I am looking forward to meeting at Sobcon09 in Chicago next May, asks two questions. Actually, he has asked ten but I’m choosing to answer two at the moment moment. First, are there any insects I positively hate?

Hmm, none that I have encountered to date! I could easily do without mosquitoes. When I do spend time on my patio in my spare time, I like watching the bugs, as long as they aren’t eating my plants! And spiders…whoa…their webs are amazing! How does all that fine thread come out of their butt or wherever it comes from? But then, I patted a Boa Constrictor in Grade One and there was that incident with the bull!

Second, Robert asks what star I love the most.

I’m not up on astronomy; that is something else I would love to learn about. The only individual star that I can recognize is the North Star: big, bright and bold! It has been the guiding light for many through time. I’m sure I can’t go far wrong by following that one.

Thanks, folks! I would have never thought to share this with you. Doing a meme this way was definitely more fun.

Now, in meme-style, I must tag five people to share five things about themselves that others may not know. I am tagging Karen Putz, Todd Jordan, Suzie Cheel, Giovanna Garcia  and Jaffer Maniar and ask that they link back to the one who tagged them.

Enjoy!

Earlier today, Lorelle VanFossen, my new found friend from BlogWorld, delivered WordCamp Portland’s keynote on how WordPress is changing lives. At Lorelle’s insistent request, I whipped up this video for her keynote. Enjoy!

G’morning blogosphere! After a great party, minimal sleep, I’m here for another day.

Fantastic keynote from Technorati – watch for their State of the Blogosphere on Monday.

G’day from Vegas! We’ve had a great time, so far – more later. Today’s b5 Media sessions; I’ll share nuggets in point form. Please bear with me – typing on my laptop isn’t great.

Search Engine Optimization:

• keyword-rich titles w/o overdoing
• image descriptions
• subheadings w/ keywords
• categories
• tags – no more than 2 lines per post, more specific than categories

Tips on Interviews:

• Why?: free content, more credibility, become more of an expert, plug for subject, might get an exclusive
• How? PR agencies might approach you – more for celebs, good to be different/unique angle, be prepared w/ blog details, start locally/small
• Process? Do research, original/interesting questions/theme, tell a story, be professional, stay w/ your time limit, don’t show till final draft, act natural and have conversation
• Follow up? Keep contact, cultivate relationships, send links, keep any promises

Attracting Readers:

• Darren Rowse, ProBlogger – kicking myself for forgetting his book!
• what need is my blog fulfilling?
• content =unique + useful
• i00ndividual attention to readers you already have – feature readers
• create a sticky blogs – ‘sneeze’ them thru your blog
• identify your ”doorway" posts – optimize
• build anticipation – series, highlight past posts, competitions, newsletter about blog news/stats
• where are potential readers gathering? how can I participate?
• guest posts, feed into twitter, forums, pitch other bloggers – careful, leverage online presence, contests, awards, meet ups, submit to local media/newsletters, present at workshops, squidoo, free report, newsletter, preempt stories, interview, swap blogs, socnet, writing projects, promote posts v blogs, use names
• Muhammad – writing for social media
• know your audience
• create original and  evergreen content
• thank& linkers
• 10 second rule – diagonal readers
• prepopulate social media buttons – how?
• be the definitive resource

Lunch = cheese danish + mocha frappuccino from Starbucks. Just what this athetoid needs right now…sugar = even more shaky!

b5 Advisory Board Q&A:

• blogosphere is changing, more specific/niche-oriented; twitter more liberating
• links are a social gesture
• friendfeed =decentralized moderation

Demos by b5 partners:

• OutBrane – widget for readers to rate posts and to provide recommended posts – some external links, 2-way traffic op – your links on other blogs [question: if send readers away, how does that create stickiness?]
• Widgetbox – allows anyone to create widgets, very cool way to increase traffic [note to self: check pets channel]
• Lijit – search application, results appear in overlay window [how accessible are these things?]
• picapp – free access to visual content legally, eventually will include ads under  pics

Copyright & Image Use:

• images are copyrighted = can’t use, owned by photographer
• exceptions: public domain, creative commons license (i.e. flickr – read terms!) to enhance posts not for sole content
• ask for permission – keep a record
• fair use – no standard definition, only guidelines, not w/ images
• plagiarism rules still apply

Social Media Tools & Tips:

• 1/2hr per day, need to experiment
• not all content is submit worthy
• participate!
• each site has its own manners
• Redditt: submit to sub-redditt, low engagement
• StumbleUpon – great way to leverage to other media sites
• Digg – more effort/strategy
• socialmediaanswers.com launches next week
• [note to self: follow @pointlessbanter]

Staying Focused & Healthy as a Blogger:

• set goals to maintain clear vision
• why do you blog, what do you want from blogging, who are you blogging for, what do you bring to it, how do you measure success
• blog calendar to track multiple blogs
• take time off – yep, 4 days offline in Vegas, baby!
• celebrate milestones and achievement – create a work log, keep a kudos files [i.e. emails], start a rewards journal, make it public, celebrate others’ success

Seen: Suzie Cheel, Des Walsh, Jim Turner, Rick Calvert, Liz Strauss, Chris Brogan, Wendy Piersall

Party time! More tomorrow…