The Blog Engage $500 USD Guest Blogging Contest #1
Blog Engage $500 USD Guest Blogging Qualifying Article
I have a confession to make.
10 minutes ago I had never heard the term “guest blogger.” A week ago, I really wasn’t sure what Twitter is. Three weeks ago I was wallowing in shameful ignorance: I had no clue what favicon meant. Meta keywords – er, no. SEO – let me guess…um…“Sell everything online”? Nope – never heard of that either.
Blogging sites like BlogEngage?
You’re kidding, right?
So what happened in the last 21 days to reform me? What monumental event occurred that changed me into a – well, a Tweeting/Friending/Blogging/favicon-loving machine?
A friend of mine – a website designer/marketing whiz – told me, as only a good friend can: “Your website sucks. I’m embarrassed to send people to look at it.”
And then she created a new site for me. And a marketing plan. And told me to get my ass in gear.
Or else.
For those of you who haven’t met Gale, she can be pretty scary. I recently was permitted to make small changes and updates to the new site myself. Not 30 minutes ago I got an email from her “ripping me a new one,” as we used to say on Wall Street, because my two entries in the new recipe blog didn’t match exactly. I didn’t capitalize all the letters in both titles, for a start, which is a capital offense. (A capital offense! Get it? Who’s funnier than me?!) And even worse, I didn’t use a caption box under the photo of my Asian peanut chicken dish, as I had under my shepherd’s pie. HORRORS. I hid under my desk for awhile and only dared come back up after she’d accepted my apology which went something like, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I swear on my sons that I’ll never do it again!”
I have spent hours and hours these last three weeks learning how the Internet can be more to me than a place to read science articles (well…while I’m confessing, I may as well lay my soul bare), play Words With Friends, and buy things from Amazon. The Internet can be my friend.
I’m very good at a lot of things – but not so good at others. The two things I always considered rock bottom were my handyman skills and my knowledge of marketing. The first I can get away with because God invented the Yellow Pages. However, the second is ruining my life. Ok, that’s an exaggeration for dramatic effect, but honestly, it is hurting me, hurting my business, hurting those who are sick and in pain and can’t find me because Google doesn’t know I exist. So the time has come for me to get with the program.
I now have a new website that is visually appealing, easily navigated, and actually tells people who I am and what I do. It tells people how I can help them. It has a backend, page titles, page descriptions, meta keywords, favicons, footer codes, header codes, Share buttons, Like buttons, Tweet buttons, BlogEngage button (ok…a little brown-nosing there),a Facebook news feed (OMG – how cool is THAT?!), and of course, a searchable/archive-able blog. Two blogs, actually. Because one just wasn’t enough for The Blog Queen.
And now that I’m on the subject of blogs…I originally started blogging as a mistake. Well, that is, I didn’t know I was blogging really. Several years ago, I gave a talk at a conference about a fairly funky yet wonderful treatment for autoimmune illnesses, helminthic therapy, and managed to pretty well freak out the entire audience when I explained that helminths are parasites, in the same family as tape worms…and that like the Internet and Gale, certain helminths can be our friends. (I’m a hoot at dinner parties ‘cause there’s nothing like hearing about my trip to Tijuana – with parents, sons and doctor in tow – to get us all infected with hookworm, when you’re trying to eat your vermicelli. (My younger son named his Ponchito, Burrito and Jose. That always has ‘em rolling in the aisles.)) As you might imagine, people were shocked and horrified (much like many of you may have been when you read the first paragraph of this post.) Afterwards, many came up to me and asked me to write about how my family was faring with their new little buddies. And so I started what has morphed over the years into Gut Reactions. (It was bound to happen. There are few things I like more than writing because I amuse myself endlessly. Now I have a valid excuse: “This is WORK, people! I’m MARKETING!”)
Scary Gale told me to spend time today reading about blogging. I do as I’m told, since she is Scary Gale, and read a bunch of articles. (I’m just glad that Brian of BlogEngage won’t hate me as a blogger. (http://www.blogengage.com/blogger/five-reasons-i-hate-you-as-a-blogger/)) I’m a natural blogger: I’m already a super tidy person (in spite of my missing caption in my new blog), hate clutter, messes, dirt, being bored, and bad grammar (damn that Ivy League education!) I’ve learned a staggering amount – and hope to continue to improve and hone my skills going forward. (That was for you, Gale.)
So, as I sit here now and work on this post, I realize that I am a woman transformed. Well, at least a woman in the midst of a transformation. This morning I did not know what a Gravatar was. I didn’t know what the term backlink meant. Now I do. All this means one thing: you can teach an old dog (although WAY younger than Michelle Pfeiffer) new tricks.
Yesterday I hung a towel rack by myself.
Andreas Pazer (152)
abhibalani (136)
Jafar Dhada (128)
Holly Jahangiri (101)
bbrian017 (62)
Justin Germino (51)
Kris Edison (47)
James Pruitt (46)
Rahul Kuntala (31)
Hajra (26)
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi judyhope, I think your story is inspiring. Inf act ti’s so motivational because we have Blog Engage members that have been here years and have never mustard up the courage to guest blog. Imagine you have already surpassed them and you did it in a matter of days. I wish you best of luck in the contest and I welcome you to our community as it’s a pleasure to have such optimistic people to post for us!
bbrian017 recently posted..Win a Free Year Gold Membership from @AnaTrafficCafe
Thank you, Brian, for your help in getting this up – and also, with giving me the challenge of writing this. It is not a topic I have ever written about before, but then again, as it says – I never paid the slightest bit of attention to marketing or anything related to marketing before. I appreciate it very much.
Hi Judy, I love how make a different twist in the story. Very well written Maam. Good Luck!!
Herbert recently posted..Spice Up Your Social Photos with Pictarine
Thank you, Herbert!
Twitter: sandipan23
Usually I do not learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very nice article.
And thank you for the very nice comment! I have to say, I’ve actually really enjoyed what I’ve learned so far, and am very much looking forward to continuing this process. So good luck to you with it!
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
You ARE a woman transformed – but thank goodness you haven’t yet learned how to write sterile, completely devoid-of-personality, expository prose at a carefully orchestrated 5th grade reading level! Never lose the freshness of your own voice, and with Gale’s help, you’re obviously well on your way to success.
I enjoyed this post enough to give you – my competitor – points by commenting on it. @#$% it. You see why my friends and family hide the weapons – I have this uncontrollable urge to shoot myself in the foot. Repeatedly.
Now, off to check out your blog, Judy – nice to “meet” you!
Hi Holly. Nice to meet you too! I laughed when I read your response – and will certainly check out your blog as well!
Inspirational story, me too going to start guest post for quality backlinks, this boosts my confidence.
Hi Bharat. I’m glad it had that effect!
Very enjoyable reading. I can easily tell that you were born to blog. Good luck with your M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G
M Mark
Thanks for the good-luck wishes, Mark. I do think I was born to blog. Who knew I had it in me?!
Guest blogging is a great way to establish your authority voice and this post is a great example of doing it, but I find it hard enough to do all the other things associated with promoting my own sites to find time for it.
Linda Campbell recently posted..A Review of Medication for a Yeast Infection
It is very time consuming, Linda. I literally spent an entire day on this. I’m not sorry I spent the time though – I had fun writing the piece, and am very much enjoying “talking” to people here.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for being so open and honest about your blogging situation. Most people would be too proud to admit to any mistakes. I’m glad that now you have your website in gear. I just went toit and it looks great! Good job!
All the best,
Eren
Eren Mckay recently posted..Cupcake Baby Shower Theme
Hi Eren. If there’s one thing I know, it’s how little I know. The only way to rectify the situation is to admit it – and learn!
thanks for taking the time to look at my site!
Judy
Hi Judyhope,
How are you?
“So, as I sit here now and work on this post, I realize that I am a woman transformed. Well, at least a woman in the midst of a transformation. This morning I did not know what a Gravatar was. I didn’t know what the term backlink meant.
Isnt it nice to awaken from deepest sleeps and realized and discovers that there is a light from the darkest region of the bad dream. I love that feeling. Thanks for very inspiring message. So I think , I have a great future…
All the best,
Avatar
Hi Avatar. Yes, it is nice, actually!
Twitter: ForteProperties
Very inspiring post. As a new blogger just starting to get serious about writing, this has motivated me a LOT!
Thanks, Chris. I have to say – it’s a lot of fun. And having people respond to it, and “talk” to me is even more fun.
Judy, I loved this post. It sounds like you have come a long way. I’ve been working in internet marketing for years but yet there is always so much to learn. What I love about the journey is you get to meet so many awesome people along the way. Some dot their i’s and make sure every punctuation is in perfect place and others just do it. You are just doing it and doing it well. Keep it up.
Candi recently posted..DIY Rustic Wood Desk with Cedar Log Legs | Part 1 – Inspiration
Hi Candi. There’s an incredible amount to learn and what makes it interesting, is the continual change – always more to learn. What really amazes me is that I worked at the first website development company in the UK, back in 1995. To see what this all has become since then just blows me away – in a good way!
Judy
Guest blogging is a good medium to speak your words freely and can share own ideas and views. I wish you all thew best to keep this work on. Thanks.
Thank you, Anne!
Judy
Twitter: Makewebworld
Hi Judy, Many blogger do recognize but failed to take action, at least you have a start…best of luck!
Sanjeev recently posted..How to Remove Article From Your Feedburner Feed
Hi Sanjeev. I am certainly making an effort. I’m sure to experts and those experienced in all this, it seems like nothing, but to a novice like me, it’s actually fairly overwhelming. I’m doing what I know – but there is probably a million more things I could be doing.
Still, I guess you’ve got to start somewhere…
Thanks,
Judy
Twitter: hajraks
Hey Judy,
I enjoyed your post a lot! It took a long long time for me to learn about so many things about the blogging world. I am still shocked by how much I still don’t know!
But yes, I try my best, but there is something new which keeps coming up every second (that’s the feeling I get!)
I entered blogging when I was unemployed and people suggested I should get back to my love for writing. And that is what I am still doing; but yes, the abundance still amazes me!
Loved reading about your metamorphosis!
Hajra recently posted..Will they call you over for a Bloggers Party?
Hi Hajra. And it’s not just blogging. I’ve been on LinkedIn for ages, but am just starting to learn how to use it effectively. Plus, learning how to maintain cohesion between all these things is a job unto itself. Might actually go to a couple of continuing-ed classes on all this stuff. There’s just so much I can do on my own!
Judy
Quite an inspirational article. You rose from nothing to something today. SEM only benefits you if you’re capturing the right audience.
Nimsrules recently posted..How to fight plagiarism
Thanks very much!