Archive for July, 2008
When you choose a word, try to be aware of connotations
If you know people with red hair, chances are you or someone have referred to them as “redheads.” But if you know people who have dark or black hair, I’ll be no one has ever referred to them as “blackheads.”
A redhead is a person with red hair; a blackhead is a particular form of unhealthy [...]
Online business rests largely on quality of your webhosting company
Today is one of those days that makes me think of things like treadmills: I’m putting forth a lot of effort but seeing little or no forward progress.
It actually started for me yesterday, when I put the finishing touches on an affiliate marketing website I had been revamping for the last week and a half. [...]
Have you tried ‘Conduit Method’ for building websites? It’s worth a look
I NEVER plug “easy way to make money” offers on my websites, because, frankly, there are no “easy” ways to make money online, really, there’s only hard work and perhaps some “smarter” ways to work at it. The “Conduit Method” of building websites came my way recently via an online acquaintance, and I think there’s [...]
Any technical writers out there? Tell us about your career, what you do, what you don’t do
I’ve been intrigued lately with some things I’ve been reading about technical writing and technical writers. As far as I understand the job, you could almost think of it as a writing equivalent of “magician.”
A good technical writer has the ability to organize, categorize, and simplify jobs and equipment so those of us who barely [...]
Do online collection agencies need copywriters? I wonder
I will confess that my wife and I have received those no-fun letters/warnings from commercial collection agencies. You may know what I mean. The letter sequence starts with something polite and gracious, but if you can’t pay up and they need to send you additional letters, or even make phone calls, the content and tone [...]
Useful tips for using AdSense on your website
One of the ways you can make at least a bit of money through your Internet writing and blogging work is to use Google AdSense on your site.
If you haven’t yet heard of AdSense or signed up for an account, you need to go here to the AdSense site and find out all about the [...]
ChaCha — another online income possibility for ambitious writers
I’ve written here from time to time about how difficult it can be to really make any money writing for the Internet. I’ve touched on the outrageously poor pay many people offer those they hire to write articles for website content. I’ve also told you of my experiences writing blog posts for money.
My daughter has [...]
Features of newest WordPress 2.6
Here’s a short video from the WordPress people about the newly released version 2.6. I’m always personally a little hesitant to upgrade too quickly to any version of any software I own. I’d rather let other folks try it out for awhile to help get any major bugs out of it.
But this newest WP version, [...]
The difficulty of living in the ‘in-between’ world of freelance writers
When I was in high school, I read a journalism textbook specifically about those who wanted to become “freelance writers,” and decided that was what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Many, MANY years later, I’m still a practicing freelance writer. With a few more years of such practice, maybe I’ll get it right. [...]
Tip for online writing — write reviews of products, websites
I’ve had a modest amount of success online lately doing reviews of various products and websites on one of my marketing ventures. People love to read reviews of products and services, mostly because they want to get others’ opinions before making a purchase or using a service.
Whether we’re talking about a diet pill review, a [...]
For those times when writing is a hassle, take Thoreau’s advice and simplify
“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” The quote website I found told me those words of Henry David Thoreau are from the chapter “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” in his delightful philosophical essay/book, “Walden.”
I don’t have my “Walden” handy to check the quote, but I do recall reading it years ago and remembering the quote [...]
How’s your summer? I’m working on some old book manuscripts myself
Let me be very honest about this: I am not a published novelist. I read a lot of novels. I have some friends and personal acquaintances who are published novelists.
I, however, have never exercised the self-discipline in “practice” which I “preach” about regarding steady, daily work on a novel until it gets done. I have [...]
Just between you and me: multi-tasking gets harder with age
There was a time when I could work out on one of those fancy NordicTrack ellipticals or other exercise equipment, listen to a CD on my walkman (sure, I’m old; never owned an iPod), interview a fellow exerciser, and take notes for the interview profile practically all at the same time.
These days, if the cat’s [...]
