Skip to main content

Keeping up with the Penguins and Pixels


 One day a farmer, a panda and a penguin walk into a bar... Well, you know where this is going don't you?  It's no joke.  Things have changed - again.  The pixel size on your new Facebook timeline is having an identity crisis and the Google algorithm has gone north to catch webmasters practicing the dark art of Black Hat SEO and also target over optimization or web spamming.  The challenge has become to guess how they identify spam because there seems to be some differences of opinion between Google and the SEO experts. 


Changes in Social Media?  Of course!

I've finally resigned myself to getting used to it.  The only sure thing in life these days are death and changes in your favorite social media platform.  I really don't get why so many people keep resisting.  If you stand still and let moss grow in and around your feet you inevitably get left behind.  It's all about fresh and new and the smart folks are capitalizing on it by becoming experts like my Facebook hero Mari Smith (I just bought her new book that launched today, Facebook Marketing an Hour a Day), or social media guru Michael Stelzner.  They thrive on the change because it gives them fodder for yet another blog or book... otherwise known as, fresh content!

Free... and Easy?  Maybe not.  Cost effective?  Yes!

If you choose to make use of the amazing power of social media for your personal or professional life, hang on to your hats (black or white).  If you don't stay on top of it, you'll miss out on all the fun.  I remind myself that it's free (and being a solopreneur that's great for the balance sheet) so what do I really have to complain about? 

The key is to focus.  Along with the changes in my favorites there are always new 'cool' interfaces that crop up every day.  It's like being in Disney World.  You've got to do it methodically or you'll wind up wandering aimlessly or standing in lines one after the other and never actually enjoy the ride.  Just remember, as your stomach races up to your throat with the latest 'death drop', not far behind is that exhilarating adrenalin rush that comes from surviving the plunge.

So, I'm off now to make sure I haven't over optimized my website and maybe add some fresh content while I'm at it.  Happy Socializing!
Labels:

Comments

Expat Forever said…
As a solo entrepreneur and mom, I completly agree with you.
First, it is useful to stay up to date for my writing business.
Secondly, it keeps you young and connected with the teens world (my nephews and niece) and I will have to keep doing it to understand what my daughters will be up too in a couple of years...
10 May 2012 at 05:17
Anne Louise O'Connell said…
Very true! It was a friend of my nephew's who first invited me to 'become a friend' on Facebook about 6 years ago... and I never looked back. I tend to use my profile for family and close friends and have pages and groups (as well as a website and blog) for professional purposes. I LOVE what social media has done for us freelancers.
Happy writing!
Anne
10 May 2012 at 15:09
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Virtual Book Tour for The Healing Begins April 23

As we approach launch day for Lynda Faye Schmidt's novel, The Healing , a women's fiction/family drama based on the author's life, we're excited to announce the blog tour schedule and introduce you to the bloggers and book reviewers who have joined the tour. The tour begins on launch day, April 23rd. Take a look, follow these bloggers and make sure you visit on the tour dates indicated (check back regularly for updates): Pre-Tour - March 2 - Thrive Global - pre-launch announcement  April 16 - Fit for Joy - pre-launch podcast interview with Lynda April 23 - IndieView - author Q&A with Lynda April 24 -  Canadian Bookworm  - featuring a guest blog by Lynda, "What Inspired Me" April 26 - Dartmouth Book Exchange - author spotlight April 29 - Storybook Reviews - review May 4 -  Help Me Sara  - podcast interview May 13 -  My Question Life  - review and author interview June 30 - Reader's Favorite - review  Date TBD - Maryse's Book Blog - review Date
Post a Comment
Read more

Adverbs & Cliches in a Nutshell - Guest Post by Jessica Bell

Too many adverbs and clichés in your writing? I've got just the fix for you. by Jessica Bell Writers constantly have rules thrown at them left, right, and center. Show, don’t tell! Stop using so many dialogue tags! More sensory detail! More tension! Speed up the pace! Yada yada yada ... it can become overwhelming, yes? I used to feel overwhelmed by it all too. In fact, I still do sometimes. It’s hard enough to get the words on the page, let alone consider how to put them there. In Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird , she says that in order not to be overwhelmed, a writer needs to focus on short assignments. She refers to the one-inch picture frame on her desk and how that little picture frame reminds her to focus on bite-sized pieces of the whole story. Basically, if you focus on one small thing at a time, the story will eventually come together to create a whole. I believe the same applies to learning the craft of writing. If writers focus on one aspect of the craft at a time, t
1 comment
Read more

Super Swe-e-e-e-e-t Award

I'm flattered to have received a Super Swe-e-e-e-t Award from Jeanette Anderson http://jeanettesandersen.blogspot.com/ on September 20 (sorry for the delay in getting this up Jeanette but it is greatly appreciated)!  Her mission is to make people laugh, cry, shout, smile, frown and just enjoy reading so check out her blog and see if it works! The Guidelines: So, once I accept this award, the guidelines state that: First:  I must thank the person who nominated me... of course, that's the proper thing to do! Thanks Jeanette! Second: Answer the Super Sweet Questions (that follow below). Third: Nominate a baker's dozen (13) to receive this award (if you can't find 13 that's okay... just find as many as you can). “Super Sweet” Questions:   1. Cookies or Cake?    Cookies. Especially my mother-in-law's special oatmeal cookies!  Even tastier when eaten at the cottage. 2. Chocolate or Vanilla?     Vanilla, with lots of fresh berries. 3. What is your fa
8 comments
Read more