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A Recap of my 1st Wonderful Year using StumbleUpon

Happy 1st Anniversary StumbleUpon

July marked my first anniversary being a member of the StumbleUpon Community. It has been an incredible year for me. I have met some wonderful, wonderful people. And, I have stumbled across and discovered some truly amazing websites. Sites that if it wasn’t for StumbleUpon I probably wouldn’t have come across them in the first place.

I spent this past weekend going through my stumbles over the past year. It was a lot of fun to see the sites and my reviews over the past year. There were tons and tons of Stumble-Reviews to go through…. After all, at the time of me writing this post I had stumbled 7,357 pages, 27 videos and 876 photos. It truly has been an amazing year.

I love StumbleUpon. I love it for so many reasons. Here you will find 113 things I have learned from using StumbleUpon

113 Things I have Learned from using StumbleUpon

Inspect all food before you purchase.

We could learn a lot if we listen to the wisdom of children.
That a Nintendo System can be completely homemade.
That Business Strategy Can Be About Love
Helped me Learn Sign Language
Learned to Identify where I was Sacrificing my Freedom
Multiplication Songs & Raps to help me teach my Children.
Mother Nature is AMAZING & Beautiful!!

That I can use my Local Newspapers to Promote my Blog Offline
That even the Busiest of People will Lend a Helping Hand to a Newbie
100 Painless Ways to Cut Calories
I can be a Positive Parent
You and I can Erase our Fears.
I can find awesome recipes using only what little ingredients I have at home.
How to Relieve a Bee Sting in under 30 Seconds.
I found out what Tarot Card I am. What Tarot Card are you??
Found Tips to Immediately Increase my Confidence.
There are certain things I need to remember when launching a new site.
That it only takes 90 minutes a day to become a better blogger.
There are special ways to draw StumbleUpon Users into your blog.
How to Run a StumbleUpon Advertising Campaign for my Blog.
How even Blogging can make a Difference in the World.
That a 5-year old can Deliver a Baby.
10 Things You Can Blog About On The Weekends
Creating a Sneeze Page can Propel Readers Deep Within my Blog
There is actually a time when Getting Lots Of Visitors To Your Website Isn’t Good.
There are at least 5 essential things you ought to know about StumbleUpon
PageRank can be explained with a Cool Graph.
Why Top 10 Lists are still the Best
Found out that there are 7 Easy ways to get more Weekend Traffic to my Website.
Tons of Fun Activities that Moms and Dads can do with their kids.
What it would look like if SEO’s mated.
Learned that I need a Seasonal Search Engine Optimization Strategy.
Found out that Social Media has a Direct Influence on Search Engine Ranking.
A Splash of Colo r can make me Smile

I learned that even I can open a Beer with a Lighter. Thanks for that Pat…. I love showing off to men in the Bar.
Saw what Google Search would look like if it was designed in Comic Sans.
Found Sphinn shortly after it was born…. another turning point in my professional life.
Avatar Optimization - Why Top Sphinners have photo avatars while top Diggers have graphic ones.
How I can deal with Criticism.
That there are unusual ways that I can use StumbleUpon.
I found that I love to learn SEO from Patrick with the Hitchiker’s Guide to Linkless SEO.
It sucks to be on top - the downside of Social Media.
I learned there are 10 Steps to Building an Online Media Empire
Muhammad showed me 4 reasons I should be blogging on weekend.
Found out how to get traffic & links from Popular Blogs…. thank you Maki.
Apparently, random funny pictures are good for my health.
Brian Wallace taught me taught me the Ode to StumbleUpon.
That I can become a Success in Online Networking.
5 StumbleUpon BuzzKills
That I can get help for Writer’s Block.
I even learned How to Read a Painting.
I found out that my good friend Brian Wallace thinks my StumbleUpon reviews are verbose. No worries, Brian…. I still love ya.
What I already thought was reinforced when I read that a Blogger can be successful by being nice.
I learned there is such a thing as Time Management when it comes to Social Media.
Learned to Optimize for Universal Search.
Kind of Morbid, but I found a web page that tells me how many people died the day I was born. Approximately 130,755 people died worldwide on my birthday.
The difference between SEO & SMO.
Pictures can help explain The Difference Between Marketing, PR, Advertising, and Personal Branding
I was reminded what makes for a successful Blog.
Logos can be freaken funny!!
Which Hook Attracts the Right Fish?….. in regards to Link Baiting.
Dosh Dosh has taught me so much about the Importance of Social Media Marketing.
I learned that blogging is a lot like Sex.
I had no idea until I can across this page that there are 23 types of Social Media Users.
I learned that People in the SEO & Marketing Industries are some of the Funniest People I know.
Kim of Cre8pc showed me how to build a better website by writing about her son’s challenges with his sport, football. Such a loving post…. absolutely unforgettable.
There are ways to build traffic that have nothing to do with Google or SEO.
A Web Page of Words that Feel Good. Thanks Michael.
Found that Others Felt the Same Way about Sphinn that I did.
Tips to writing my Best Post Ever.
Tons of Free SEO Tools
Found out there was such a thing as "Social Media Hangovers".
Darren showed me how my StumbleUpon Profile put me on his Radar.
Learned how to divide my time for maximum exposure.
Size does matter when it comes to blog posts.
Stumbled across the best explanation of what it feels like to live with a chronic illness (PDF file).
A simple workout for Bloggers.
Why some pages don’t get stumbled.
The Importance of StumbleUpon categories.
I learned Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to babies.

How to find out if I am a Social Media Addict.
I can now say, "I Love You" in 100 different languages.
10 Commandments of Social Media
Chris Brogan reminds me that I need to recognize when to scale back…. I don’t need to say "yes" to everybody.
I found out Why Guys like Girls.
I came across a Comprehensive Guide to Keyword Research for Bloggers
Finally I learned how to fold a fitted sheet correctly. Normally I use my arms to wound it up.
I learned how to Go with the Flow.
How to write a report that a client will "get".
I learned how to blog and work-off 600 calories at the same time.
That photos can say so much more than words. What do you think this photo is saying??

I learned that there is a difference between healthy and toxic love.
How to simplify my life with kids.
Even Digg can play some April Fool’s Jokes.
Found out ways to reduce stress.
Food can taste as good as it looks.
I located a bunch of great moms on Twitter thanks to Wendy.
I was shown a bunch of reasons why Twitter is a great Social Media Too l.
I was surprised to learn that it wasn’t only MY children who don’t recognize when the bathroom door is closed.
How to make a dollar stretch during a recession.
How to bury negative posts about you or your company.
Tamar with the help of Weezer shows me a thing or two about Viral Marketing.
More ways I came across to say, "I Love You".
StumbleUpon gets my mind thinking with a question that stumps me.

Little did I know that there was something called, "Blogger Imposter Syndrome". You can even take a test to see if you suffer from it.
How to Find the Perfect Image for your Blog Post.
I had no idea that cigarettes could teach me something about branding.
Kids can teach us how to be happy.
Learned that there are certain techniques that will make your blog or website sticky.
I stumbled across a thing or two about Link Building Optimization.
That I can actually SEO my site in less than 60 minutes.
And, apparently I will stumble into the happiness of my life.

Posted in Blogging, Humor, Link Love, Parenting, SEM, SEO, Social Bookmarking, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking, Sphinn, StumbleUpon, Time Management, Tips and Tutorials, Web 2.0 Basics | 21 Comments »

My Love / Hate Relationship with Social Media

Monday, December 17th, 2007 |

Photo by Fabbio

I love you so much I hate you!! Or, I hate you so much I love you!! Oh boy, is my head Sphinning!! I keep Stumbling over things and getting Mixxed up because my head is totally in the Social Media clouds. Let me explain my battle a bit…

I love you, Social Media…. Let me Count the Ways:

People – I have met so many people from all over World. Many of these people I would consider a dear friend and/or Colleague.
Traffic - With the correct Social Media Marketing Strategies you can bring a lot of amazing traffic to your site.
This is Work?? - I can call Social Media part of my job, but yet it is so much fun.
Voyeurism - I can be a Voyeur and it’s okay…. Watching where my friends have been and what they did while they were there. (StumbleUpon, MyBlogLog, etc…)
Conversations - Conversations via blog comments, Instant Messaging, blog posts, facebook, twitter, blah, blah, blah.
De-Stresser - Take my mind off of my Stressful Work / Life.
Not all about Google - No longer have to rely on Major Search Engines for all of my traffic.
Keep Updated - Easy to keep up with new and updated information on the topics that interest me. RSS Feeds
Link Building - Building Links is fairly easy with Social Media and a lot of fun. No more emailing for link exchanges.
Creativity - I feel More Creative now than I ever was.
Sweet Dreams - I love Social Media so much I even dream about it at night while I’m sleeping.
Opportunities - Joined in on projects with fellow colleagues I have met online
Standing Out - Social Media Activities can make you Stand Out - A successful Article or Blog Post can do very well on Social Networking Sites which can make you stand-out in your Niche.
Social Media Fame - Having a Blog with a Readership can make you feel like a Superstar.

I hate you, Social Media… Let me Count the Ways:

Pressure of keeping up the Pace - Feeling if I slow down I will get lost and no one will be able to find me.
Inevitable that someone will be unhappy - This is very difficult for a people pleaser such as myself. Unable to make everyone happy. If you make someone unhappy you might hear about it in a follow-up post or a blog comment.
Voyeurism - Just like I can watch other people travel through the Blogosphere, people can watch me too. Knowing this makes me feel a bit weary about popping on to someone’s blog or StumbleUpon Profile too many times in a row. Not sure why, but it does.
This is Work!! - Social Media is very time consuming. And, even though it is a lot of fun it is so much work!!
People - Most people that I have met online have been wonderful!! But, not everyone is as nice. Some people pretend to be your friend because ultimately they want something from you. Don’t use me!! I hate that!!
RSS Feed Reader is Too Full - As I mentioned in #8 above I use a RSS Feed Reader to keep updated. However, my Feed Reader has become so full that lately I have been missing important posts. Because my Reader is so full I tend to read the Titles of the Posts to see what sounds interesting enough to read and landed up missing some really wonderful posts.
Poor Time Management - What little Time Management Skills I have had in the past have totally went down the toilet since I added Social Media Activity to my To-do list. UGH!! I think I’ve already complained about this in the past, huh?!
Productivity - Productivity on some of my other duties has begun to slip.
Sleepless Nights - Don’t get enough Sleep. Even my dreams are overcome by Social Media Activities.
Social Media Pressure - The pressure to achieve a certain Social Media Status or keep this status is incredibly intense. Sometimes it is hard to enjoy the fame due to the constant fear of losing it.

I will be following this post up with other posts detailing the specifics on each of these Love/Hate dilemmas.

Technorati Tags:social media, social networking, social bookmarking, sphinn, stumbleupon, social media marketing, blogging

Posted in Blogging, Facebook, Humor, Mixx, Social Bookmarking, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking, Time Management, Twitter, Web 2.0 | 21 Comments »

Help Me… Social Media is Trying to Take my Life!!

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 |

Social Media is an important part of my daily routine. Since I started adding Social Media to my Daily Schedule I’ve seen an increase in daily traffic, incoming links, sales on my Preschool Curriculum eCommerce site and I’ve met the most amazing, brilliant people that enjoy the same interests as I do.

It sounds wonderful, right? Well, up until last Friday I would have said an energetic, “YES!!” Now, I’m not so sure.

Last Friday I was comparing what my goals were for that week and what I actually accomplished. I was horrified to see that I fell short on many of my goals for that week. For me, that rarely happens. I am ridiculously structured. I need to be… I run a business out of my home while taking care of three children. Schedules and "To-Do" Lists are what helps keep my crazy busy life a bit more sane. So, when I saw my list having tons of items not crossed off I was determined to see where all of my time was going. This is what I came up with:

The following times aren’t exact, but gives you a rough idea of the time I spend doing particular daily duties.

7:30 am

Get up and start getting my 5 year old ready for School and make sure my 11 year old is awake and getting himself ready for school.

8:30 am

Feed 4 year old Breakfast.
Check email
Print off ABC Home Preschool orders for the last 24 hours
Process all Credit Card transactions
Email Customers with their ship dates.

9:30 am

Use my Feed Reader to check out the new Posts on my Favorite Blogs
Stumble and Sphinn posts appropriately.
Comment on any Posts that I feel I can contribute to.
Bookmark posts to come back to later.

10:30 am

Check out what’s new on Sphinn. Sphinn items I find interesting
Stumble and/or Bookmark items I find interesting from Sphinn.
Comment on Sphinn items.
Check what’s new on FaceBook. Respond to FaceBook messages and Notifications.

11:30 am

Quick Stop at MyBlogLog to see who stopped by my Profile
Reply to Messages
Quick Thank-you emails for Stopping by.
Check what pages StumbleUpon friends sent me to check out…. Respond to each.

12:30 pm

Lunch for 4 year old and myself.
Work-out and Shower.

2:30 pm

Finish Writing a Post for one of my Blogs

4:00 - 9:00 pm

Dinner, Homework and Family Time (Trust me, this time is not a break…. I’m sure you Mommies and Daddies know what I’m talking about.)

9:00 pm

Begin online research on the next days post.
- Make Notes on the direction I want to go with post and any outbound links I want to use

10:30 pm

Process orders for ABC Home Preschool
Package Orders for tomorrow’s shipment

12:00 am

Go through Feed Reader once again
Make Posts and Comments on other Blogs
Sphinn / Stumble Posts
Go thru Sphinn once again
Stumble a bit
Twitter
Try to finish catching up on emails

Bedtime is between 1 am and 3 am. Lately it is closer to 3 am.

Keep in mind a few things about the above generalized schedule:

Nowhere did I mention any interaction or quality time with my children. I have a 4 year old who spends his days with me. So, the work I mentioned above is done around my time with him during the day.
I mentioned nothing about extracurricular activities for my children which happens at least 3 times a week in which I also attend.
In addition to this blog I have many other sites that I work on.
On a daily basis I speak and / or chat with the people I network with online. This must be squeezed into my daily schedule.
Daily tweaks and article writing for my static websites

The above schedule was just to give you a very rough idea of how my basic work day goes. And, how much time, at a minimum, I work on Social Media. My plate was full before Social Media entered my life. Today my plate is over flowing. I love Social Media I just need to learn how to manage my time with it better.

If I attempt to keep going at this pace with a schedule like this I’m sure Social Media will take my life. I am determined to come up with a Time Management Plan for Social Media that works for me. As it is something that is not only working for my business, but that I love very much.

During my research in the past couple of days I came across three wonderful posts that offer some time management skills when it comes to Social Media.

My Half Hour Social Networking Plan - In this three part series Kevin Palmer gives us the details of his 30 minute Social Networking Plan. Kevine breaks his plan down into three posts 1. The First Ten Minutes 2. The Second Ten Minutes 3. The Final Ten Minutes
The 10-Minute Daily Guide to Building Your Social Media Profile - Ben Yoskovitz offers some of his amazing Time Management Tips for Social Networking.
7 Ways to Own Social Media Before it Owns You - Brian Wallace explains that Instead of suffering from social media overload, look at a few other disciplines and tips for help.

So, please…. please Help Me!! Social Media is trying to take my life…. Do you have any suggestions? I would love to hear them.

Technorati Tags:social media, time management, social networking

Posted in Blogging, Facebook, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking, Time Management, Twitter, Web 2.0, Web 2.0 Basics, Websites | 23 Comments »