Happy Valentines Day

Just wanted to take time and say

I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  Remember to send that someone special a card today. 

Did you know that at www.followuprobot.com you can chose from several real cards, write your own message inside or leave the preprinted on there or both and with your own handwriting and then they print it, they stuff it, they stamp it and they mail it.  All you did was type it.  Go to www.followuprobot.com and try sending one on me today!

Great article about treating your readers like dogs.

I ran across this really great article in my inbox and could not have said it any better.  It really brings into perspective how you should treat people that follow you, and a lot of times I see people treat theirs animals better than they treat their friends or themselves.  Sonia writes some really great articles and I love it when her stuff hits my inbox, I know I will always get a nugget or two that I can use.  You should check her out also, but for now here’s her article below. 

Do you want a wider audience, more subscribers, better conversion to paying customers, fanatically loyal readers, and enviable word of mouth?You can have all of them by keeping one simple piece of advice in mind: Treat your readers like dogs. If you want to teach your dog to sit, how do you go about it? Any good trainer will tell you that the smart way is to give him lots of rewards and love every time he sits when you say, “Sit!” It doesn’t take long before he’s waiting eagerly to see what other kinds of instruction you might have. Would you like him to shake hands? Fetch your pipe and slippers? Take out the trash and wash the dishes? Positive reinforcement makes an ally of your dog. You’re in the same pack. He wants to do things for you. He’s happy and you’re happy. How to treat readers like dogs Every time a reader does something you like (read a post, subscribe to your blog, open a message in an email newsletter, etc.), you want to give that reader a reward — a cookie. (When I say “reader,” I also include podcast listeners, video watchers, etc.) That’s what I call “cookie content,” and it has three characteristics. 1. Cookie content makes life better Cookie content makes the reader’s life better somehow. It might be a funny image, a useful tutorial, or just a really good low-carb dessert recipe. But in some way, large or small, cookie content makes the reader glad she took a few minutes to consume it. Reference and how-to content make great cookie content. Inspiring, funny, or heartwarming content can work too, if you’re good at it. If your readers print out your content so they can refer back to it, or bookmark it on Delicious, you’ve got it right. 2. Cookie content can be used right away The 60-Year Plan for Getting Moderately Well-Off doesn’t tend to make for good cookie content. 10 Things You Can Do This Weekend to Repair Your Credit does. No, you don’t want to overpromise quick “magic bullet” schemes. But cookie content isn’t about the long term and it’s not about hard work. It’s about fast, simple solutions that people can use right away. It’s fine to talk about the longer term too. But be sure you have enough quick cookies in your content to keep things palatable. Your readers have enough complexity to contend with. They’re not looking for more in your content. 3. Cookie content tastes good Cookie content is highly readable. It brings the reader pleasure. It’s often entertaining. It’s well organized, which makes it digestible. Cookie content uses your best writing skills. Not to show off how smart and talented you are, but to make the content more delicious for your reader. Easy reading is damn hard writing ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne Training your readers In a crowded email inbox or RSS reader, cookie content will tend to attract your reader’s attention first. You’re literally training that reader to consume your content, because the content is beneficial and appealing. Each time she reads your work, she feels better. It doesn’t take long for you to become a pleasurable habit with that reader. (Even better, you’re 100% fat free.) Does this mean you never get to promote yourself? Not at all. You can make high-quality offers regularly (and should, if you want to make a living). Just be sure you’re including enough cookies to keep your reader’s attention and interest. You probably don’t want to create content that consists of nothing but cookies. That can give even the most self-indulgent reader indigestion. But include enough that you’re always training your audience to open your email, read your blog posts, and pass along your special reports. You’ll find that the more you reward them, the more they reward you. About the Author: Sonia Simone is Senior Editor of Copyblogger and the founder of Remarkable Communication.

Thanks Sonia for another great article and more great information that I can use.  I hope my readers can use it as well.

Atlanta home inspector’s wife shares another meal saving tip

During these times, I have looked for ways to save money?  Did you know that if you live anywhere near Cumming, Georgia that on certain days you can go to Tyson’s Chicken plant right there off the square in Cumming and purchase chicken for about half the cost that it is at the local grocery store, that is the last time I bought some.  I haven’t bought any in a while because when we go I usually pick up three or four boxes to put in the freezer.  Below is a map to their location and I believe their phone number is 770-888-4611.  They’re only open odd hours Mon.-Thur. so I would try calling before heading that way.

Atlanta home inspectors wife ran across this great article

As the Atlanta home inspectors Wife I am all the time on Activerain searching, reading and learning.  I was on there tonight and I ran across this really cool post written by Pippa Mac, http://activerain.com/blogsview/873791/First-Time-Real-Estate-Home-Buyers-and-Loan-in-The-Woodlands-Shenandoah-Texas-REMAX-REALTOR.  She told about a couple that were First Time Home Buyers and how they found they’re perfect home.  She then finished it off with pictures of the couple as they pulled into their driveway the first time, holding the keys, holding the sold sign and some others.  I’m thinking if you have a blog, what a great idea for marketing pieces.  You have someone else’s story shouting a happy ending and you helped the event to happen.  Great job to Pippa for thinking outside the box. 

To me this is a great marketing tip and would be great for drawing people back to your blog on a regular basis, don’t forget to send the Happy First Time Home Buyers a link so that they can share it with their friends and family.

 

I need Prayer everyday!

Just today our Pastor preached on Prayer and brought up some really good points that I would like to point out. 

Several times in the new testament, Paul who was a great man of God and saw many lives changed was constantly saying two things to the different churches that he wrote to.  The first thing was he was always writing that he was praying for the saints and then the second thing he wrote was pray for me or us when Timothy was with him.  This mighty man of God was constantly praying for the saints and that tells me that we all need prayer and he was constantly asking us to pray for him.  He didn’t want to go this thing alone, he wanted the prayers of the saints to strengthen him. 

Prayer may not get you out of a trial that you’re going through (tho I have seen that happen) but it will definitely give you strength to make it through.  Several times just hearing “I’m praying for you” has allowed me to pick myself up by the boot straps and go on.  Praying for others also helps you get your mind in the right mindset – a giving mindset – and when you give you receive it’s just God’s way of doing things.  It goes back to the sowing and reaping principle, if you are in great need of prayer, then start by praying for others and the rest will come.  Even Jesus said to pray for our enemies so that tells me that I should be praying even more for my loved ones. 

The other point that our Pastor made was the fact that even when we feel like there is no one praying for us or maybe we feel like no one WOULD pray for us because of the things we’ve done, THERE is at least ONE that will always be praying for us.   Rom 8:34 So you are never without someone praying for you.

Who can you be praying for today, if you can’t think of anyone else, pray for me “I need Prayer everyday”

I have also found that when I’m really in need of a lift, sending someone else an encouraging note lifts my spirits, have you lifted your spirits today…I just did.