I’ve got a guest post and contest over at Shannon Vannatter’s blog where I talk about dating online. You can also win a copy of my book, Internet Dating Is Not Like Ordering a Pizza. Hurry, tho, the contest ends Dec. 19th.

I did a radio interview last week on the subject of friendship, and I think you can still listen to it here. You’ll notice I have a habit of saying “you know” a lot. I’m working on this!

Here are some new articles this week:

• How to Apologize
• Do You Need More Friends?
• How to Reuse Old Books for Gifts
• Being Happily Single
• Gift Ideas for Neighbors
• Gift Ideas for Last Minute Shoppers
• How to Set the Pace for a New Friendship

And your writing links and news items:

Michael Hyatt has a really good post about “How a Shift in Your Vocabulary Can Instantly Change Your Attitude.”

Daily Blog Tips has a post about “How to Write a How-To Post: 7 Simple Steps.”

ProBlogger has a post I really enjoyed: “9 Steps to a Daily Blogging Schedule.”

Amazon has released it’s “Best-Selling Books of 2011.”

Real Simple offers “11 Unique Gifts for Techies.”

Rachelle Gardner talks about the platforms for nonfiction authors.

I liked this one from the Smart Passive Income Blog, “Productivity Hacks – Making Time by Shaving Time.” (Who doesn’t need to save more time??)

All Freelance Writing has some great advice on creating a cold call list. You know, I really dislike cold calling, but I’ve done it a lot over the years to build my freelance business. You need to master this if you want to get the variety and quality of jobs that you’re looking for.

BookBzzr has a great post on “Have a Holly Jolly Promotion Season for Your Book,” which is taking advantage of the holidays to get sales for your book.

The Daily SEO Blog has a good one on, “Freshness Factor: 10 Illustrations on How Fresh Content Can Influence Rankings.”

Really good one from Social Media Today which answers the question, “How Much Time Should I Spend on Social Media?”

Also by Social Media Today, “How to Create a Distinctive Blog.”

Daily Blog Tips has some interesting advice on guest posting called, “Creating A Funnel with Your Guest Posts.”

The folks at All Twitter ask, “Should Twitter Really Be Broadcasting The Fact That Someone Is Blocking You?”

Here’s something that could be of interest from All Facebook, “Report: High Click-Through Rates For Facebook Ads Between Christmas, New Year’s Eve.” Something to keep in mind for advertising your book or writing service perhaps?

CopyBlogger has a helpful post about “7 Marketing Links You Can Use in the Field.”

A lot of writers have a hard time speaking in public, so I thought the points from Michael Hyatt were good ones, “What an Acting Coach Taught Me About Public Speaking.”

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I used to do a ton of giveaways here, and while I still think they can be a really great source of traffic on some blogs, they really weren’t working here. Let me tell you why.

Feedback!

You guys tell me what you like and don’t like. I love that about you. You let me know when you disagree with mine or a guest author’s advice, when I misspell a word, or when you really love an interview. You’ve also given me feedback on giveaways. What I’ve found is that many people here liked the free articles, and they enjoy my ebooks related to writing and promoting your work, but the giveaways were always hit or miss. You’ve let me know this by participation, comments, and traffic. (And I thank you for being the group of attentive, engaging readers you are.)

Some Products Do Better Than Others

Some books (which was primarily what we gave away) did really great with giveaways, but most didn’t. If you really loved an author, you entered. But I found that some people took a “wait and see” approach with new authors, and let’s face it – I love highlighting them here. I think new writers deserve a fighting chance and I like giving them a place. I found it interesting that even when the book was free, you waited to see until you heard more about the author.

Also, the people who did enter were folks who would have bought the book anyways. And why not give an author his due by making a sale?

Information Over Free Stuff

Overwhelmingly here, you have told me you enjoy the info but the free stuff you could take or leave. In fact, if the info was valuable you bought it. But free just to give away? Not so much.

I’ve received wonderful feedback on the guest posts and interviews here, and plan to do more of them. Many of you like finding a new author that you “keep an eye on.” So you might see them here and there and then put them on your radar. I think this is good info and should prompt all new writers to keep marketing themselves so readers can get to know them.

Should You Do Giveaways?

Giveaways are still a good traffic building tool for some blogs, and a wonderful way to give back to readers. What we’ve learned about blogging is that, while there are some “best practices,” it’s not a one-sized fits all solution. Some affiliates work great on certain blogs and bomb on others. The same goes for giveaways. Should you do a giveaway? Here are some tips:

• Test it out! Sometimes the only way to know whether it will work for your blog is to give it a test. See how many enter and what kind of feedback you get.

• If you enjoy giveaways, do them anyways. Even if giveaways don’t drive traffic, if your readers enjoy them go ahead and do them.

• Be sure to promote them. There are numerous places to promote giveaways online, and if you can get the word out about them you’ll be better off in the long run.

See who enters. Sometimes it isn’t the number of entries you get but who is doing the entering. If you’re getting lots of entries and no additional traffic, you may have a case where people are coming to your blog for the giveaways only. Is that what you want? If yes, then great. If not, do some more testing to determine if giveaways are right for you.

More blogging and promotion resources:

• Blogging All-in-One For Dummies
• Your Blog, Your Business: A Retailer’s Frugal Guide to Getting Customer Loyalty and Sales-Both In-Store and Online (Survive and Thrive Series)
• 21 Ways to Promote Your Book on Twitter

Image: Morguefile

Did you enter the giveaway for Debby Mayne’s Sweet Baklava? We’ve got our winner today!

Before I announce the winner, I have to say I loved some of the comments. The book title certainly makes you hungry, doesn’t it? Some of you commented on your love of baklava, while others said you enjoyed the backdrop for the book of Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Without further rambling, our winner was the 10th commenter, Carol Wong! Carol said, “Love baklava and the Greek culture. Please enter me for this book.”

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Carol. If you entered and didn’t win, the book is also available on Amazon:

We’re thrilled to have author Debby Mayne here visiting us while on her virtual tour for her book, Sweet Baklava. Debby was kind enough to answer some interview questions for us, so be sure to check those out.

As for the book, doesn’t the cover just make you want to snatch a piece of that baklava? Here’s a description of the book from Amazon:

The product of a split home, Paula Andrews is conflicted about the only guy she’s ever loved, Nick Papadopoulos, on leave from the military. When the two see each other after years of separation, the awkwardness is replaced by pounding hearts and memories sweeter than the baklava in Nick’s aunt’s bakery.

Nick’s dad begs him to leave the military and join the family to keep their struggling sponge-diving business alive. Although Nick loves the military, he’s willing to put it aside to be with Paula. However, she doesn’t want to do anything that will make him resent her.

Paula experiences all sorts of emotional tugs – from Nick going back to his base in Texas to her mother coming to her for emotional support. Nick’s cousins are relentless in their scheming to keep the flame burning.

Years later, and after their lives have grown apart, is it possible for these two people to rekindle what they once had?

Want some more info? Here’s a book trailer that gives a flavor of the story:

Here’s my review:

I loved this book so much. So many couples go through exactly what Paula and Nick do: they have their own goals and passions and giving it up for a chance to be with someone they love is risky. Perhaps the timing hasn’t been right before, perhaps they each have been working for something and aren’t sure if the other person is ready to commit, or perhaps the couple has been on and off. There are so many times I hear about something like this, and I thought Debby Mayne did a wonderful job capturing what is a real-life situation for many couples.

The characters are really lovely. I so enjoyed coming back to this book every day and seeing what was going to happen. Paula runs a soap and candle store, and the descriptions of her business made me smelling those candles every time I cracked open the book. I liked the backdrop of Tarpon Springs, Florida, and could picture the sights of the town and just about smell the ocean air from the descriptions of the restaurants and shops.

I especially loved the Papadopoulos family with their generosity and endless supply of food! In fact, if you aren’t hungry by the time you finish Sweet Baklava, you will be when you see the small collection of recipes at the end.

I could so relate to Paula, who loves Nick but isn’t sure if she can give up her business and the stability that Tarpon Springs has provided. I also found her a wonderful example of what God’s grace can do. This was the first Debby Mayne novel I read, and would recommend it. (I’m also going to pick up a few more from her.)

Best of all? I have a copy to giveaway! So if you want to win, just leave a comment on this post by Sunday, March 13th. I’ll choose a winner at random and announce the lucky guy or gal the following day. Good luck!

Review copy provided by author.

I’ve got an interview with Linda Weaver Clark where I am also giving away a copy of my book, 21 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Someone With Diabetes. But hurry! The giveaway only runs until Monday. To enter, leave a comment over at Linda’s blog.

How has your week been? Here are some links and news items I found of interest.

From All Twitter: 15 Hashtag Chats You Should Be Following.

Great list here: 100 Twitter Feeds That Will Improve Your Writing.

On BookBzzr, How to maintain your privacy on Facebook.

Interesting post from BookBzzr: Readers Who “Like” You, or Readers Who “Friend” You — Which Is Better?

Who doesn’t want more tips on how to sell books? Blogging Authors mentions 7 Book Selling Tips for Authors. Good info.

Very funny post from Terrible Minds: 10 Reasons Why Your Novel Won’t be Published.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Additional resources on novel writing:

• Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days
  
• You Can Write A Novel
• This Year You Write Your Novel

Image: Morguefile

Hey all! I apologize I was supposed to announce this yesterday, but the week has gotten a little ahead of me. Or behind me? Which is the right way to say that?

Anyway, we have a winner in our latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book! Like always, I used random.org to choose the winner. This time the fifth commenter was the lucky one:

That person? Darcy K! She said, “What a wonderful thing to give away! Thanks for the opportunity!”

You’re welcome, Darcy, and I hope you enjoy the book.

If you entered the contest but didn’t win, the book is also available on Amazon.

Hope you are all having a great week.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Also:

• Free ebook on work at home success strategies

Just in time for Christmas! Here’s another great Chicken Soup book with a focus on the holidays. I’ve got one copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic: 101 Holiday Tales of Inspiration, Love, and Wonder to give away to a lucky reader.

Here’s a description from Amazon:

Christmas is a magical time of year — a time of family, friends, and traditions. Readers will revel in the 101 holiday stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic that spread the special joy, wonder, and blessings of the season with its tales of finding the perfect Christmas tree, being with family, seeing the awe in a child’s eyes, and enjoying the magic of the season.

Hey, at this time of year, we’ll all looking for a little happiness. Right?

To enter, leave a comment on this post by Monday, December 27th. I’ll choose a winner at random and announce the lucky guy or girl the next day. Good luck!

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Also:

• Free ebook on work at home success strategies

Blog contests are a fun way to reward visitors while also driving traffic to your site. Find out how to get prizes, create content, and make the most of your giveaway. They also provide an opportunity to create new material, get feedback, and have readers interact with you. Here are some tips to make the most of your next blog contest.

Find Prizes

Sites like ProfNet allow you to get connected with speakers, authors, and organizations looking for places to promote their products. Register as a “journalist,” then go to “create opportunity.” You’ll have a spot to list your blog, the types of prizes you are looking for, and what items your readers might enjoy.

Or, approach companies yourself. Find products that relate to your blog and ask the organization for a giveaway item. Offer the company links to their site for the initial contest and on the winning announcement page in exchange for their donation.

Several online sites allow you to post links to your contests. Some of them include:

• Online Sweepstakes allows you to register and then post details of your contest.
• Contest Blogger allows you to join and post in their forum threads. They offer spots for blog contests, free samples, and contests and sweepstakes.
• My Blog Contest lets you sign up for access to their WordPress blog, and then provide contest details in a post.
• Contest Beat provides a simple online form to have your contest listed.

Ask For Feedback As Part of the Entry

Want an endless stream of ideas for your blog? Ask responders a question and insist that the answer must be part of their comment. For example, if you write a celebrity blog, you could ask about the favorite song, movie, or video related to your blog. If you run a lifestyle blog, ask for a tip, recipe idea, or even run an informal poll.

Use the answers as part of a new blog post going forward. Readers will appreciate the fact that you’ve included their feedback. Posts that discuss opinions are also a great way to get people to “argue” and chat about preferences. Getting readers involved will encourage them to visit your blog more often.

Have Readers Click on More Than One Post

Don’t let old blog posts die. Give them new life by including a link in a new blog contest. Have your readers comment or vote on something in a previous blog post. It will encourage new visitors to peruse your blog and will remind loyal visitors of your thought-provoking work.

Randomly Choose Winners

Need an impartial way to choose a winner for your contest? Visit the website Random.org, and choose the true random number generator. Type in the number range of responses to generate a winning number. Then, write a new post that includes the announcement of your winner. Always let readers know who won the contest, and provide a link back to the original post.

Contests are a great way to help advertise your blog and encourage new visitors. They also help generate discussion and interaction with your readers. These tips will allow you to reward visitors and also increase traffic.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Also:

• Free ebook on work at home success strategies

One thing I’ve learned from doing giveaways, is that people are always looking for ways to improve their life and be happy. That’s why so many of you entered our giveaway for Dr. Ian K. Smith‘s book, Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life. I wish I could have given a lot more away! But I only had one.

Once again, I used random.org to choose our winner, which was…

… commenter number 6. Or Susan S., to be more exact. (Susan, I’ve sent you an email so be sure to watch for it in your inbox.)

For anyone else that entered and didn’t win, the book is also available on Amazon.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Also:

• Free ebook on work at home success strategies

I heard from a lot of Mad Men fans that they couldn’t believe the book Sterling’s Gold: Wit and Wisdom of an Ad Man was a real thing. They thought it was only something that the fictional Roger Sterling was doing. Not so! The smart people at Mad Men decided to make that book a real thing. And we got to review it and give it away!

Once again, I used random.org to select the winner. Our winner this time was the 6th commenter, Paul. Paul said, “I’ve been watching the show since the first episode…and equal to any of Roger’s epigrams is what Don Draper told Pete Campbell; “You think the world is one giant brassiere strap waiting to be snapped”.

haha – Yes, that about sums up the show. Glad Paul is a fan and hope he enjoys the book.

For those of you who didn’t win, you can still get Sterling’s Gold on Amazon. Makes for a great gift for Mad Men fans.

Additional Writing Resources:

• Freelance Writers Needed
• How to Write Your Own Ebook in 7 Days
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Also:

• Free ebook on work at home success strategies