Okay, based on previous posts, you know that Susan Boyle knocked my socks off this past year. With a voice of an angel, she’s realized her dream and her album is out.

All indications are it could be THE hit of the year.

So my hat’s off to Susan for sticking to her guns, avoiding pulling out all the stops and (deliberately) coming in at second place on Britain’s Got Talent.

In the long run, I believe this was a wise strategic marketing (and emotional) move on her part

Read: ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ could become bestseller of the year (video)

And Happy Upcoming New Year to All!

With the Super Bowl behind us (those who follow the game, if even for just the commercials), I’ve got to say first that the commercials were a let down this year. The only one I thought was worth the money spent was the commercial for eTrade. But that’s just my opinion.

In the meantime, after your (probable) eat fest yesterday, you might be looking in the mirror thinking, “Holy cow! I look like a ____!” (Fill in the blank yourself)

So today’s post isn’t about marketing or social media strategies, instead I’d like to reference you to a great place to begin to get a handle on your health – after all it’s a new year and this year could be that new you look you’re longing for!

I use the weight loss formula on this page.

On the 30th of October (this past year), I decided it was time to turn back the clock and look and feel more than just a little bit better. Working online can (and most likely does) mean sitting on one’s backside for hours on end (no pun intended).

What I did was a tad different. I did of course figure out what my height, age, and current weight was using the formula above. I also allotted 30% extra (slightly active, I pace a lot when I’m on the phone) which also accounts for just breathing and getting through the day.

However, my next step was to figure what I wanted to weight, calculate the formula for that, and eat as if I already weighted my targeted goal!

I gave myself until the end of February (birthday time) to hit my “target” weight. And guess what… last week, yes even before January was over, I was there (which means… I’m 19 lbs. lighter already)!

Actually though, I have an “ideal” weight in mind – which is oh another 5 (who knows maybe 10) lbs. And with all of February ahead of me, and following the formula above, I’m positive I will hit that ideal weight.

Turns out losing weight and getting healthy so you’re better able to conduct business online actually do go well together

Enjoy!

The new year has brought us some new ideas, along with the return (revisiting) of some old concepts.

Scott and I have been working on programs outside our typical realm of “service oriented.” Strangely enough, our newest blog, a facts about what other people are searching for blog named ImWebNiches.com, is a return to one of those “old” concepts. It’s an experiment really to answer the question, “Is adsense really dead or not?”

(However, while there are some adsense ads on that blog, it is not just an adsense page. That’s the experiment part.)

With other projects in the works, I’ve also discovered that ImWebNiches is a fun blog to put together (like this one). The difference between the two is that this one deals with internet and social media marketing strategies, and the other… can be about anything we want it to be about. That brings a bit of freedom to me (in particular) since I’m a gabby sort and like stepping outside the realm of marketing every now and again.

Our other projects? Well since they are still “under construction” we’ll keep them secret for now. In the meantime, a test of our new search engine directory blog is underway.

We shall see.

Articles of Interest

• 12 Marketing Minds, One Free eBook
• Marketing in 2009 (free eBook)

This morning sitting in my inbox was a link to a money making program that I just had to post about… Get Paid to Draw.

Now being a stick figure person myself, at first I was thinking, “Well this won’t do me any good!” But, curious, I headed on over to the page to see what it’s all about.

A one-time fee of less than $35 might be your ticket to starting out the New Year pulling in some cash.

o  Submit your images for cash
o  Learn the ins and outs of animation & illustration
o  Sell your drawings online
o  Make money from your digital photos
o  Discover freelance opportunities and much more!

Above, I admitted I’m no artist, but I will tell you the digital photos portion caught my eye!

Here’s just a tiny bit more (an overview really) of what you’ll find by clicking here:

o A Jump Start Setup – they swear requires no experience – to begin a new career working entirely online.

o Step by Step Videos – to help you get started making “thousands on the Internet by drawing pictures.”

o Company Directory Database – where to go to get reviewed by the “best directories in the world.” Also includes submission companies you sign up with for “great free money making opportunities.”

o The Get Paid to Draw eBook – sort of self explanatory.

o Strategies – learn “all the secrets” top artists and designers use to make (what they claim) hundreds of dollars an hour and up.

o Tools and Resources – material to get your make money drawing business up and running apparently.

There’s a ton more, including lots of bonuses.

So if you ever thought of trying to pull in cash online via art, photography, and more, this system might be just what you need!

We often talk about writing for a living online, but here’s an almost no brainer and potentially your newest source of revenue for 2009!

Happy New Year!

This morning, while talking with Janet Giacoma, we discussed the value of guest posting, or more precisely, pursuing the idea of guest posting on other people’s blogs.

So after a lengthy conversation about marketing strategies for the upcoming New Year (and of course once I was off the phone), I started doing a bit of digging. (Guest posting is not something new to us, but it never hurts to do a bit of background research to bring yourself up to speed.)

Guest Posting Secrets (How to Get Published on An A-List Blog), posted a little over a year ago, provides the information anyone considering adding such a marketing strategy to their business should take the time to read… first!

“In this post, I want to share the strategies I used to secure guest-posting spots at three Technorati Top 100 blogs (ProBlogger, Copyblogger and Zen Habits) without any prior contact with the owner. I don’t include that information to boast – I simply want to show you that these methods work. If they worked for me, they can work for you.”

This informational post provides specific guest post directions such as:

o  Why guest post on popular blogs?
o   Choosing where to guest post
o   Coming up with the perfect idea
o   Pitching your post (includes email template)
o   Opportunities to look out for
o   And important things to remember

Not surprising, it also appears that the post about guest posting may itself BE a guest post. How clever is that?

Our suggestion? Make the time to study up on, and implement, this social media marketing concept as soon as possible, and reap the benefits.

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