The Blogging Class

By A.J. Llewellyn

My friend Ruth, who has an online art gallery is a marketing whizz and she reads my blogs. Recently she suggested I should learn more about how to make money out of my blogs, as in, how to drive traffic to my blogs and earn money without really trying.
Well, all's fair in love and blogging so last night I was eager to join the free marketing class she took me to. About ten people showed up at Jinky's in Sherman Oaks, where a lovely blog expert, Olivia talked to the assembled group about maximizing their blogs' potential.
Now I contribute to six blogs a week and I guest blog on more, but many of those present are still new to blogging and were curious about it.
What I found last night was an entertaining, energetic bunch of people who were all doing one thing by day, another thing by night.
Poor Olivia.
Our shared experiences, swapping information, our excitement at meeting other positive, multi-tasking, high-functioning folk kind of ran over her presentation.
But here is the thing.
The Internet has introduced to me not just a bunch of readers I would not otherwise have found, but my boyfriend and a wonderful new world of friends.
The network pool keeps getting richer and deeper.
Last night, one of the guys talked about how he's on Facebook but not Twitter.
Another woman agreed. "I don't twitter...tweet...twit? Twat? Twaddle? Whatever you do on Twitter..."
It was hysterical. I loved these people!
Olivia gave us a link to a pistachio manufacturer who doubled his income via Twitter, This I must read.
I was sitting next to a woman who is a hypnotherapist. I might need to get her help on my cupcake problem...but I digress.
I personally adored singer Michelle Andria and her boyfriend Jessie. I think we three are already maximizing our potential and our questions were different to some of the others. Michelle, like my amazing friend Lizzie "The Countess" Black gets free stuff sent to her - a different kind of income from her blog.
I must be doing something wrong. I mention cupcakes on a daily basis and I don't see any of the bakeries in my 'hood sending me freebies. I must write a fan letter to Betty Crocker. Immediately.
So, while I didn't actually figure out how to get money from my blog, I learned a lot about some wonderful new people. And I learned it's very easy to stress out a waitress when blogging comes to the real world.

Aloha oe,

A.J.

I'm Loving Twitter!

Once in a while you come across something that completely transforms your life. It brings delight to your days while at the same time making everything so much easier. For me this latest find was Twitter.

What is Twitter you ask? It’s a relatively new way to communicate on the web. Like a mini-blog of sorts, you write a very short passage and share it with your network. What’s even more fun is you can do it from the comfort of your computer or even your phone.

I first got turned on to the trend thanks to the Smart Bitches Blog. They talked about Twitter and even used it during the Romance Writer’s Convention this year to keep their followers up to date. Curious, I checked it out.

I soon became hopelessly addicted.

I now find myself chained to my computer as I look for new people to “follow” on Twitter Land. You would be surprised at the people you could find. Barack? Biden? Yup, they both Twitter or at least someone does under their name. Either way, I thought I should follow them. Just in case.

Then I find it a dire necessity to tell my followers how I feel about everything. And I mean everything. The new cereal I tired this morning was awful. Got to Twitter about it. It’s cold outside and my dog is mad. Must Twitter and tell. I am watching the latest release on DVD and am really enjoying it. Twitter time.

Next I found I could “personalize” my Twitter page. I spent countless hours, trying to decide which of my book covers looked best spotlighted on my page. Angelic Desires won out because my harpy’s wings look so pretty against the black background.

Then I had to look at everyone else’s updates to see how their dogs, cereal and movie adventures are going. Of course I have to add my comments back to them with the usual, LOL, WTG and ROFLMAO. Can’t leave any of my Twitter pals hanging.

In the meantime, back at the homestead, the kitchen is a mess, the kids are running around hungry, the dog needs a bath, my writing isn’t getting done, but I don’t care. Why? Because I’m Twittering and it’s so much fun.

You can find me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StephaniHecht. And just to show that everyone needs Twitter, even archangels who are half demon and have a chip on their shoulder, one of my characters has one too http://twitter.com/CamLehor.

Hope to see you there!

-Stephani