We all want to be heard. We all have something to say. Most of us are also searching for our source of income. This gives us a common ground for becoming associates or friends.

The problems only exist when the street is one-way. If we are all going to inhabit this online world, we must learn to share, help, give, listen and learn. We can pick and choose those with whom we are actively involved with a simple click of the mouse. When each of us becomes more discerning in those with whom we choose to climb the ladder of success , I suspect there will be massive changes in the general environment of the virtual world and it’s leaders.

The use of twitter “repurposed” may very well be the first sign of changes to come. Non-human responses to a follow, un-reciprocated retweets, massive following without so much as a visit to profiles or websites are all common behaviors that a slowly developing group of people are beginning to recognize as unbecoming. Those of us still on the front end of the learning curve are willing students, but gradually even we can see the light.

Facebook fan pages and Friendfeed may also feel changes coming soon. Having a presence online means as much to the newcomer as it does to the most aggressive marketers.  A student needs feedback where they live, not only where it counts for the teachers agenda.

I think the tone online is changing rapidly . People in high places are listening.  A kindness and courtesy are invading the environment. I for one, am very pleased to see this. After all, it only takes a moment to leave a comment but it does wonders for the esteem.

Once again I have jumped into something with both feet before asking questions. I am however, a little excited about this particular event and have decided to share my experiences with the world , at least those of the world who read this blog.

Today I discovered the National Novel Writing Month website, and I have decided to give it a try. Naturally I joined at the last minute and don’t even know what I will write about. Nonetheless I intend to give it a good try! Just 50,000 words in 30 days and I’ll have a novel? This I have to do!

So, check in now and then to see how I’m doing, what I decided to write about and how far I will get. (that’s 109 words right there!) Ha!

      UPDATE:  11.01.11   3:00 P.M.        

WORD COUNT – 2059

UPDATE:  11.02.11  8:00 P.M.

WORD COUNT – 3619

Second day did not go as easily as the first in the marathon of writing.  Several unexpected obstacles in daily life and a poor nights sleep. Neglected to even get my word count updated until this morning! Hoping today will fair better.

    UPDATE:  11.04.11  MIDNIGHT

WORD COUNT – 10,011

Learning to NOT edit and words are flowing much smoother. Plenty of time to edit after the 50,000 goal. Moving right along!

UPDATE: 11.05.11  8:00 P.M.

WORD COUNT – 13,520

Moving right along, busy day outside the home so not making huge progress but skipping through the creative process fairly well.

UPDATE: 11.09.11  2:30 P.M.

WORD COUNT -18,726

No writing today, but had neglected to update from last two or three nights so ran another word count and here I am! Only 22 days left to finish. I am averaging 2080 words a day, so IF I can keep up the pace I should cross the finish line (for purposes of NANOWRIMO) by November 24th, 2011.  I am feeling much more freedom now that I am not editing myself to death! Just go with the flow and write what’s in my mind. Edit in December….and so on.

UPDATE: 11.12.11  5:30 P.M.

WORD COUNT – 27,840

Found the story taking many new roads! Characters splintering off on their own with new ideas, plots and twists. Interesting! Maybe I will have the works for four or five novels by the time this month ends.

Just a mile down the road from my home is this fabulous mountain in full color. What a treat to live with such beauty.

Same photo from a different angle zoomed out.

The road to my favorite fishing hole this morning.

Wonderful colors reflected in the lake.

A camera and a fishing pole- what a combination for pure contentment.

Can’t beat that for a view!

My favorite fishing is at Lake Wilhelmina.  I go quite often, and always take my camera’s.  Today was a little overcast, but the lake was smooth and reflected the beginnings of the beautiful fall changing of the colors.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Caught some ducks resting on the fallen branch in the water next to a colorful tree. Trees from other side reflected in the water.

Another of my favorite fishing holes on the lake. Always has a great view through the trees.

A slightly different view of the ducks on the branch in the water.

My granddaughter and I were privileged to participate in this video as part of the Thirty Day Challenge charitable contribution to the Kiva organization. Many thanks to Ed Dale and his staff for their annual month long free classes, and Phill Mason and his staff for their expertise and talent in putting this video together.

For more information on Kiva or Phill Mason please visit www.PhillMasonFilms.com.

Invest your energy in positive things, and let go of things you can not change. Practice enthusiasm. Embrace empathy.

Give up hate. Play games and read books. Expand your interests and explore your thoughts. Sit in silence and really listen to inner self.

Eat well and drink plenty of water. Take care of yourself with exercise and proper rest.

Keep in touch with friends and family. Smile on purpose.

Forgive often an indiscriminately.

Make peace and keep within your own limits.

Sleep well at night and dream often while you are awake.

Take long walks to remind yourself of the beauty around you and trust that the best is yet to come.

Always, always , do the right thing.

Neale Donald Walsch

Marketing to your buyers convenience will earn you additional income. The limited time of many busy men and women makes it worthwhile to create solutions your buyers can download and listen to while they multi-task.

With so many high-tech toys available to the masses, you can create great information products for the iPods and CD players that appear to be professionally produced. Most systems have wizards that walk you through production.

Audio information products are easily produced and downloadable directly to the end users iPod. Burning a CD from your own computer and shipping is equally done with ease these days.

In addition to audio, many marketers assemble amazing information products on video. Using state-of-the-art video software like Camtasia, marketers can now create top quality products for their customers showing them how to put their ideas into action.

A video tutorial helps your customer get the most out of your product. If you have something the buyer should see, like step-by-step instructions to uploading images, then you need to be making videos.

You may want to implement the combination of more than one format for your information product sales. This increases your profits considerably and gives the buyer added value.

If you have created a 75-page eBook on how to utilize forums and chat settings to bring traffic to their website, you could give away a video guide showing them how to set up their signature files and an audio file teaching them how to develop the mindset of social marketing geniuses.

*illustration used with permission from Hiking Artist> and under creative common license

www.hikingartist.com

I choose Gary Vaynerchuk, aka Gary Vee.  Gary is not aware of this and I fear he would balk at the idea when he discovers I am sipping a cheap Sangria! But he is my choice and he is “here” because he allows this to be. His short video about shaking hands with the online world is what prompted me to invite him into my home.

The Virtual Handshake

My take from his short video is that regardless of your level of expertise, purpose or involvement online, we are all humans who can interact with each other. While I may not hear from Mr. V nor anyone else regarding this post, I still extend my hand to you all. We are here, and we share this online world.

So Gary here’s to you! I am sending you a handshake and tipping my glass of Sangria to you. Welcome to my party!

You are marketing your words when you take your business online. You want to influence your target market with your message. One of the best ways to do this is with your own E-Book.  The E-Book can be a   re purposed combination of your old posts, articles and newsletters, reworked and polished.  Links to your website or landing page should be placed in the appropriate pages to draw more traffic to you as the digital book becomes viral when shared with others.

Just as the printed and bound books of our Public Libraries, the E-Book may be saved by each individual and reviewed as needed.

Your E-book needs to be interesting and informative.  Include images and links as well as text. In a prominent section encourage readers to give your E-book away. Let them know that they can post it on their site as a free download, that they can use it as a bonus, and that they can bundle it with other products. This is the way to create viral marketing for your products or services. Remember your links back to your site are contained in the E-book.

Double check spelling and grammar and be sure that you have tested every link to verify that it goes where it is supposed to go. Poor editing with errors will reflect badly on you and could even be damaging.

It is relatively easy to build an E-book from past articles and posts. Reorder the content, add new information and present a good looking package. While you are working on your second E-book, your first viral salesman will be busy spreading the word!

Don’t forget to submit your E-book to some of the E-book directories.

*illustration with permission of Hiking Artist and under creative commons license