Think and Say Good Words about Yourself

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

“Think and Say Good Things about Yourself” by Joan Y. Edwards

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”
– James Allen

“Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a takeoff. Don’t just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won’t happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you’ll love it up here.”
― Donald J. Trump

“Thoughts Become Things…Choose The Good Ones!”
― Mike Dooley

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
―Proverbs 23:7

Self-Talk is very important to your survival. Words in the mind or spoken aloud create reality. Believe you can become what you wish. The reason I say that is because whatever you say to yourself, your brain will find situations to make it true for you.  I have seen this with my own words and I’ve witnessed it with others. What you say and think brings it to you. What you’re afraid of, sometimes comes. Listen to the words that come out of your mouth. Maxwell Maltz says that you have an automatic success mechanism. You can also have an automatic failure mechanism. The image you are sending out will come back as a reflection of your beliefs.

Have you heard these statements?:

1. “I get sick every year at Christmas.”
   Guess what? This person got sick every year at Christmas.
   What to say instead: I am healthy all year long, especially at Christmas.
2. “There are no jobs.”
   Guess what? This person didn’t find a job.
   What to say instead: There may not be many jobs, but there’s one for me.
3. “I don’t have money.”
   Guess what? This person never has any money.
   What to say instead: I have an abundance of money for everything I need or want.
4. “I can’t get an agent.”
   Guess what? This person gets turned down, time and time again.
   What to say instead: I have an agent who sells my books to great publishing companies.

Your thoughts and your words attract what you describe. Believe that all good things are possible for you. Be excited and thankful that God has granted what you wish for. Cut pictures out of magazines. Print out your goal statements on 3 x 5 inch cards or 11 x 14 inch poster board. Make your statements declare what you are going to be, what you are going to have. You can put a date if you wish or leave a date off.

You say. “But, Joan. I can’t see it. I can’t imagine these good things happening to me. I don’t see any hope for creating what I want.”

On the television show, Let’s Make a Deal, they have Door #1, Door #2, and Door #3. Pretend that behind each door is a videotape of you saying those exact words and the proof is around you in the video. It hasn’t formed in the present time. It hasn’t formed yet. It’s on the way. Like a baby you can’t see yet without x-ray equipment. If you had special x-ray equipment, you’d be able to see your dreams come true.

The “I am” statements that you think and say are very powerful. Make sure they are positive and what you want. Proclaim a change. It takes the same amount of energy to say both the negative and the positive:

I can’t imagine becoming a pilot.
I can’t become a pilot.
I am a pilot.

What would have happened if the Wright Brothers said, “I can’t build an airplane.” Others may have said it. But the Wright Brothers did not repeat those words. The put the power to their completion of their vision instead of the defeat and destruction of their vision.

Choose the statement that says in a simple positive manner what you truly desire. Choose the power-filled words for what you wish.

Would you choose these words for your thoughts?

I am fat.
I am dumb.
I am ugly.
I have no friends.
I’ll never get married.

Or would you choose to think these words instead?

“I am lean and healthy.”
“I am intelligent.”
“I am attractive.”
“I have an abundance of friends.”
“I’ll find a good person to marry.

Many times when we explain what has happened to us to another person, it reveals underlying thoughts and beliefs. Listen carefully to your words.

Sit with your journal, a piece of paper, or a computer. For ten minutes, monitor your thoughts. If you find any negative statements, change them to a positive statement.

Now release on these statements.

Say it’s okay if I’m fat. It’s okay if I’m lean. Then focus on your goal as being lean as true now.

Say it’s okay if I’m dumb. It’s okay if I’m intelligent. Then focus on your being intelligent.

Say it’s okay if I’m ugly. It’s okay if I’m attractive. Then focus on your being attractive and beautiful.

Say it’s okay if I have no friends. It’s okay if I have an abundance of friends. Then focus on your having an abundance of friends.

When you release on these things, you are letting go of the pull from your resistance. You have to drop the excuses. Every last excuse has to be released and let go.

Have you ever noticed what happens when a father tells his daughter, don’t you ever date that guy? You’d better not date that guy? What happens? The daughter dates that guy because of the resistance. Saying your can and will survive either way is a way of releasing this friction you may have with the goals. With no pressure and friction, your instincts will lead you to the right action to make your dreams come true.

Good luck.

Thank you for reading my blog. Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you. If you need help rephrasing a statement, I’ll be glad to try to help you.

To subscribe to my blog and receive a free gift, click “Sign Me Up” in the left hand column. You’ll receive a link and password to download a free logo image that says: Never Give Up Build It One Block at a Time. Thank you to the 128 people subscribed now. When I reach 200 subscribers, I’ll give a free MP3 recording of positive affirmation statements to all who are subscribed.

Connect with me. I’d be honored.

Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

References:

1. Bob Proctor. You Were Born Rich: http://www.amazon.com/You-Were-Born-Rich-Proctor/dp/1920909028
   
2. Earl Nightingale. The Strangest Secret. http://www.amazon.com/The-Strangest-Secret-Earl-Nightingale/dp/161720286X/
3. Hale Dwoskin: The Sedona Method (There are books, CDs, and DVDs) – http://www.amazon.com/Sedona-Method-Happiness-Emotional-Well-Being/dp/0971933413/
4. James Allen. As a Man Thinketh. http://www.amazon.com/As-Man-Thinketh-James-Allen/dp/1612930220/
5. Rhonda Byrne. The Secret: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1582701709/
6. Maxwell Maltz. Psycho-Cybernetics(Mind Steering): http://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Cybernetics-New-More-Living-Life/dp/0671700758
7. Napoleon Hill. Think and Grow Rich: http://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Napoleon-Hill/dp/1612930298/ Do what you love as a service to others to grow rich.
8. Sabre. “Bible Quotes Manifesting Abundance:” http://manifesting-reality.blogspot.com/2010/04/jesus-quotes-manifesting-abundance-and.html
9. Tina Unique Faith. “Pay Attention! to Your Attention!” http://sta.rtup.biz/profiles/blogs/pay-attention-to-your
10. Wallace D. Wattles – The Science of Getting Rich, The Science of Being Great & The Science of Being Well: http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Wallace-D-Wattles-Including/dp/1612931057/ The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles is the basis for the movie the secret, it explains the laws of attraction.

The Winner of the Free Consultation to Make Your Blog Zing is Karen Tomas

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

“The Winner of a Free Consultation to Make Your Blog Zing is Karen Tomas”

Thank you to everyone who read my post. Seventeen people left a comment on the Celebrate 50,000 Views with Me before midnight, Thursday, May 23, 2013. Thank you for commenting.

1. Juliana Jones
2. Joy Moore
3. Susan Hornbach
4. June Phyllis Baker
5. Carol Federlin Baldwin
6. Kittyb78 (Katrina Barton)
7. Sharon Willett
8. Sandra Warren
9. Widdershins
10. Linda Martin Andersen
11. Karen Tomas (Baublekat)
12. Joy Acey
13. Karen Cioffi
14. Kathleen Burkinshaw
15. Mary Lash
16. Rohan 7 Things
17. Sarah Maury Swan

I asked Random.org to choose a number between 1 and 17. It chose number 11. Number 11 was Baublekat, better known as, Karen Tomas.

Congratulations, Karen. You won a free 30 minutes personal consultation to help you Make Your Blog Zing. I’ll analyze your blog:

1. Make suggestions on how to improve what you’re already doing.
2. Give tips on how to organize your time.
3. Most importantly, answer your questions about your blog.

If by chance you don’t have a blog yet, I’ll help you get one started or give you a choice of a 2,000 word manuscript critique, instead.

Please let me know what you wish for your prize, Karen.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Celebrate you.Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

 

 

 

How to Use and Why Use Hangouts on Google Plus+

“How to Use and Why Use Hangouts on Google Plus+” by Joan Y. Edwards

It’s fun to do a Google+ Hangout!

On May 20, 2013 June Phyllis Baker joined me in a Google Plus hangout. Thank you, June.

Before you go to the Google site. Turn on your webcam. Good to have a separate microphone, but it’s not necessary. June didn’t have one, and I heard her fine. I had earphone and microphone combination. She could hear me fine.

1. Sign into Google Account.
2. If you don’t want your Hangout recorded, go to: http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/index.html. There are three words at the top right-hand side. Hangouts, On Air, and Schedule. Click on Hangouts to begin an unrecorded Hangout. This page lets you download applications and software to use Google hangouts for your computers, phones, Apple devices, and webcams. You can browse around in the unrecorded hangout, to see what it’s like. If you’ve been in a chat room, it’s similar but larger. On the left are choices of things to add: chat, show screen on computer, put on hats, etc. Below a line are pictures of what’s showing from people in the Hangout with you. If there are ten people, there would be ten images there. In the big screen area, I saw June. If there are ten people, it might switch to the person talking.
3. If you want your Hangout recorded, go to http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/onair.html. There are three words at the top right-hand side. Hangouts, On Air, and Schedule. If you use the On Air option, they record your hangout and post it on the YouTube account of the person who started the Hangout. You can edit the recording before you share a link to it. Others can witness it On Air (live) by going to the above link and scrolling down. To watch one, click on the video arrow.
4. You can invite others to join you from your circles, by email addresses, or by phone.
5. If you don’t have a webcam, you can use a chat box.
6. There is an option to share what’s on your computer screen. That worked really well. I had a four-page presentation Word document that I shared. June could read it great. She could read along as I read it aloud. We stopped for questions and discussion along the way.
7. I emailed her a copy of the presentation at the end of the Hangout.
8. When using the chat, it has little smiley faces you can use.
9. Fun effects – It also has party hats or crowns you can choose to wear.
10. Time Limit – There is no time limit.
11. Limit – Only ten people may be in a hangout at a time in the free version; 15 people in the pay extra version.

I believe that a Google Hangouts are good for five reasons.

1. The hangouts are simple to use.
2. You can connect with a group of people by computer, cell phone, regular phone, iPads, Apple devices, laptops, and webcams.
3. A presenter can either show on the screen his information, share with Google-docs. All can see and work with the same information together.
4. They can record Hangouts so that people can review them later.
5. It’s free.

Giveaway – Free $50.00 value must follow directions before midnight Thursday, May 23, 2013 for a chance to win a Free 30 minutes personal consultation to Make Your Blog Zing. For entry details, read http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/celebrate-50000-views-with-me/.

To celebrate 50,000, here is a new Never Give Up log you can use on your emails, websites, or blogs. Thank you for reading my blog.

I sent a new Never Give Up logo to all subscribers for whom I have an email address to celebrate them helping me reach 50,000 reads. If you subscribed before May 18, 2013 but didn’t receive it, let me know.

Connect with me. I’d be honored.

Celebrate you today.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

Celebrate 50,000 Views with Me

Copyright  2013 Joan Y. Edwards and Her Licensors

“Celebrate 50,000 Views with Me” by Joan Y. Edwards

On October 9, 2009 I decided to start a blog. I had no idea what I would write about, my goal was to write things to encourage people to never give up on their hopes and dreams. Today 44 months later, I reached 50,000 views. Yee Haw! What a fun experience! Last night I was waiting like someone waiting for the ballots to come in for an election. At 11:30 there were 3 to go. Sometime early this morning, the tally of reads for my blog reached 50,000.  That equals 1,136 reads a month.

In my blog, I write:

1. Things that interest me.
2. Topics requested by my readers.
3. Things I know from experience.
4. Things I discover through research.

What do I get out of my blogging experience?

1. Interacting with people wonderful people who like the same things as I do.
2. A great feeling of helping others when people say these words to me:

• “Your blog is addictive” …Karen Tomas.
• “You motivated me to take action.”
• “You inspired me to keep on going.”
• “You gave me great information.”
• “I’m saving a link to your blog for future reference.”
• “You made me laugh.”
• “Your simple steps make it easy for me to understand.”

My Top Twelve Posts with the number of reads beside them.

1. How Many Words Should Your Sentences Contain? 5,153
2. Family Sewing Projects – Jedi Robes and Princess Leia Ponchos 2,843
3. Put Universal Conflict, Theme, and Emotions in Your Story 1,882
4. 17 Days to Repaint a Wooden French Provincial Bed 1,879
5. What Is Your Story’s Premise? Editors Want to Know 1,646
6. Wonderfully Funny Analogies and Metaphors 1,560
7. Eight Character Archetypes to Emphasize the Conflict in Your Story 1,423
8. Twelve Ways to Get Over Disappointment 847
9. What I Learned about the Adams Literary Agency 757
10. God Will Show You How by Mary L. Kupferle public domain 536
11. God’s Emergency Phone List 534
12. 18 Publishers Who Accept Unsolicited Manuscripts 498

I held a Hangout on GooglePlus+ on Monday, May 20, 2013 from 7:00-9:00 p.m to celebrate my 50,000 reads. It was entitled: “How to Make Your Blog Zing.” June Phyllis Baker joined me. Thank you, June. I didn’t see the button to choose Hangout on the Air, so it wasn’t recorded. It’s really a neat way to get together for a meeting. Thanks, Google.

Giveaway – Free $50.00 value

Free 30 minutes personal consultation to

Make Your Blog Zing

Everyone who leaves a comment on this blog post before midnight Thursday, May 23, 2013 will have a chance to win a free 30 minutes personal consultation by phone or Skype or FaceTime or other web-cam or other computer method agreed upon to help the lucky winner Make Your Blog Zing. If you’re the winner, I’ll analyze your blog:

1. Make suggestions on how to improve what you’re already doing.
2. Give tips on how to organize your time.
3. Most importantly, answer your questions about your blog.

To celebrate 50,000, here is a new Never Give Up log you can use on your emails, websites, or blogs. Thank you for reading my blog.

I sent a new Never Give Up Go. Go. Go. logo to all subscribers for whom I have an email address. If you are subscribed and  didn’t receive it, email me at the email address in the left-hand column and let me know.

Connect with me. I’d be honored.

Celebrate you today.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

Which Social Media Is Right for You?

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Facebook Glogster	Google Plus+ Goodreads	LinkedIn Pinterest Twitter

“Which Social Media Is Right for You?” by Joan Y. Edwards

I know. I know. I’ve thrown so many Social Media possibilities out at you: Facebook, GooglePlus+, Glogster, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter. You might be confused. There are others that I didn’t include yet. I put a little information about blogging below. I may add a separate post for Blogging and Goodreads later. I added the signup page link for Goodreads now. Guess what! You can’t do them all. Nor should you do them all. Relax. Here is a little information and a few questions to help you decide which social media is right for you.

Which social media do you believe will get you the most new connections and good prospects for your business, service, or product? Which one will help you be better known across the internet? All of the tools below can create a good following of new people. Which is right for you?

1. Blogging – Many bloggers create a good following. In the references, I put articles written by Anne R. Allen and Jane Friedman discussing whether a writer should or shouldn’t have a blog.  Personally, I use my blog for my major focus for marketing. I use the other social media to spread the word about my blog, my books, and my workshops. When you sell your book, your publisher may require you to have a blog. WordPress or Blogger are two simple platforms to use for a blog. Don’t blog any information or material you wish to have published by a publisher. Make sure your blog and each blog post has your copyright information on it.
2. Facebook Author or Company Pages – can create a good following, with links for special deals, links to websites, blogs, information, pictures, videos with links, special events.
3. Glogster If you like to make a collection of different formats, Glogster might be for you.
4. Goodreads lists your published books and reviews, lists books you read. You can do giveaways.
5. GooglePlus+ can be a message with a link, with a picture, with a video, with a slideshow. You can interact with businesses, friends, family, organizations, people with the same skills and profession as you. You can organize them in circles of any name you choose: family, friends, writers, illustrators, lawyers, editors, agents, and/or plumbers.
6. LinkedIn can connect you with professionals you already know online and/or in person. You can upload resumes and list your skills and expertise. You can check out possible employers. You can start or join groups with same interests as you. You can also find out events related to your skills or profession.
7. Pinterest gives you a place to post messages with a picture attached. If you don’t have a picture or image for your post, Pinterest might not be the best one for you.
8. Twitter with its short 140 character tweets and retweets. Tweets can be words or links to webpages, blogs, images, videos, sales, books, products, etc.
9. Websites can provide visitors but usually you don’t have any way to interact with them unless you do a newsletter and have them sign up on your website. Adding a blog or guest book on your website can help this.

Before you decide, here are more questions to help you make a good decision:

1. What is your marketing goal? WikiHow says this should be your first decision. I say choose two or three social media that seem to fit your needs. Then focus on one main one, and one minor one.
2. How much time do you have to spend on it? Specify a certain amount of time and limit it to that. Time is money. Leave time for your job, your family, your friends.  If you’re a writer, do your major writing project first, then do your social media.
3. What will you get out of it?
4. Which one is calling you? Which one do you like? If one intimidates you, leave it alone for now. Do the ones that your inner self says, “I can do that.”
5. If you need more directions, look at the blog posts in my series, to help you get started.

Good luck to you.

Here are links to my social media posts:

1. Joan Y. Edwards. “Collect Images for Fun and Research – Use Pinterest:” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/collect-images-for-fun-and-research-use-pinterest/
2. Joan Y. Edwards. “Facebook: The Pros, Cons, and How to’s:” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/facebook-the-pros-cons-and-how-tos/
3. Joan Y. Edwards. “How to Use Glogster – A Personal Electronic Poster Maker:” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/how-to-use-glogster-a-personal-electronic-poster-maker/
4. Joan Y. Edwards. “9 Reasons to Use Google Plus+:” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/9-reasons-to-use-google-plus/
5. Joan Y. Edwards.”Seven Advantages of Using Twitter:” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/seven-advantages-of-using-twitter/
6. Joan Y. Edwards. “Ten Reasons to Use LinkedIn:” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/ten-reasons-to-use-linkedin/
7. Joan Y. Edwards. “Which Social Media Is Right for You?” http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/which-social-media-is-right-for-you/
   

I hope this article has given you a few ideas to help you decide which social media, if any, is right for you. There are more references at the bottom. Please feel free to ask a question or leave a comment below, be sure to sign your first and last name.

As a way to celebrate my 50,000 reads (only 402 views to go), I’ll do a Hangout to “How to Make Your Blog Zing” and field questions from participants. We can only have 10 people in a Hangout at a time. It’s free. Those unable to join the hangout can view it on YouTube a few hours later. Leave a comment below if you’d like to join me. It’ll be on the first Monday after I reach 50,000 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It looks like it’ll be in the next two weeks. Connect with me on Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/108439424078672286967. I’ll send you an invitation, be sure and tell me you want to join the hangout.

Giveaway – When I reach 50,000 views, a lucky winner will receive — a free 1/2 hour personal consultation by phone or computer on Making Your Blog Zing. I’ll analyze the lucky winner’s blog and make suggestions on how to improve what he’s already doing;  give tips on how to organize his time; and most importantly, answer questions he has about his blog.

Connect with me. I’d be honored.

Celebrate you today.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

References

1. Anne R. Allen.  “Is it Really Time for Authors to Stop Blogging?” http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2013/03/is-it-really-time-for-authors-to-stop.html
2. Ellie Mirman. “30 Terrible Pieces of Social Media Advice You Should Ignore:” http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/34180/30-Terrible-Pieces-of-Social-Media-Advice-You-Should-Ignore.aspx
3. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/emig45ffhe/myth-1-social-news-aggregators-are-dead/
4. Finance Magazine. “What skills do you need to become a professional blogger?” http://www.financemagazineonline.com/2012/02/what-skills-do-you-need-to-become.html
5. IT World Answers. “How Do I Blend Facebook, Twitter, and Google-Plus:” http://www.itworld.com/answers/topic/internet/question/how-do-i-blend-facebook-twitter-and-google-plus
6. Janet Friedman. “It’s Time for Many Experienced Writers to Stop Blogging:” http://janefriedman.com/2013/03/15/its-time-for-many-experienced-writers-to-stop-blogging/
7. Jennifer Lonoff Schiff. “6 Tips to Build Your Social Media Strategy:” http://www.cio.com/article/732975/6_Tips_to_Build_Your_Social_Media_Strategy
8. Kasper Mikiewicz. Better Way to Add Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Any Other External Scripts:” https://coderwall.com/p/27jmwq
9. Simon Kuper. Prezi. “How to Choose Your Soap Box: Picking the Right Social Media:” http://prezi.com/lh1jrt0sjufj/how-to-choose-your-soap-box-picking-the-right-social-media-platforms/
10. “How Social Media Improved Writing:” http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9083e598-90ee-11e2-a456-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2ROjIcL2p
11. WikiHow. “4 Ways to Select a Social Media Monitoring Tool:” http://www.wikihow.com/Select-a-Social-Media-Monitoring-Tool

Ten Reasons to Use LinkedIn

“Ten Reasons to Use LinkedIn” by Joan Y. Edwards

Wikipedia says that by March 2011, LinkedIn had 100 million users worldwide. As of October 2011, LinkedIn had over 14 million students and recent college graduates as members. Now, they have over 225 million users. LinkedIn is a place for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and professionals to network online.

USA TODAY College says joining LinkedIn before graduation can benefit students during their college and professional careers.

Trade publication TechRepublic says LinkedIn has “become the de facto tool for professional networking.

Here are 10 reasons to use LinkedIn:

1. Connect with someone you already know who is on LinkedIn. Don’t ask to join the network of a person you do not know.  I have accepted from people whose names and work I am acquainted with, although I have not met them face-to-face. For instance, people I have interacted with by email or who have subscribed to my blog.

2. Endorse your connections for skills and expertise. You can also add other skills for them. Sometimes others endorse you for skills you hadn’t put on your list.  This is quite an honor.  By seeing the skills listed for you, an employer can check his needs with your skills and request an interview for a job with his company.

3. Design your own profile with a photo for Identification purposes.

4. Upload a resume listing all of your qualifications for a potential job. This will showcase your education, honors and awards, publications, work and community experiences. This can help you find jobs, people and more business opportunities.

4. Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates within LinkedIn.

5. Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.

6. Send private messages to people in your network through LinkedIn.

7. Post links to websites, blogs, and other social media connections.

8. Join different focus groups for organizations, industries or products; for instance, SCBWI, social media, writers, illustrators, kitchen and bath designers, lawyers, plumbers, architects, etc.

9. See events that relate to your job and/or skills and who is going; for instance, conventions,  conferences, seminars, workshops.

10. Regular LinkedIn is free: http://www.linkedin.com/. You can join premium services for a fee.

I hope this article has shown you 10 reasons to use LinkedIn. Always remember it’s a choice.

If you don’t feel 100% percent comfortable in doing it yet, there are 14 resources listed below to help you decide if it’s for you and to help you get started.

As a way to celebrate my 50,000 reads (only 621 views to go), I’ll do a Hangout to “How to Make Your Blog Zing” and field questions from participants. As I understand it, we can only have 10 people in a Hangout at a time. But it’s free. I hope you’ll join me. Leave a comment below if you’d like to come. It’ll be on the first Monday after I reach 50,000 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It’ll either be in May or June. Connect with me on Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/108439424078672286967. I’ll send you an invitation. If it works out, we can do one every month about varying topics. We’ll see how it works.

When I reach 50,000 views, I’m also going to have a Give-Away to a lucky winner — a 1/2 hour personal consultation/critique on Making Your Blog Zing. I’ll do this by telephone or via computer (winner’s choice). I’ll analyze the lucky winner’s blog and make suggestions on how to improve what he’s already doing;  give tips on how to organize his time; and most importantly, answer questions he has about his blog.

To subscribe to my blog and receive an email when I post an article, click “Sign Me Up” in the left hand column. You’ll receive a free logo as a gift. Thank you.

Connect with me. I’d be honored.

Celebrate you today.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

Resources

1. Christina Wodtke: Announcing LinkedIn Events:” http://blog.linkedin.com/2008/11/07/announcing-linkedin-events/
2. Guy Kawasaki. “How to Change the World: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn:” http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/ten_ways_to_use.html
3. Joel Elad. “Benefits of Using LinkedIn:” http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/linkedin-benefits-of-using.html 
4. Kevin O’Keefe. “LinkedIn Is 10 Years Old Now a Personal CRM System for Lawyers:” http://kevin.lexblog.com/2013/05/06/linkedin-is-10-years-old-now-a-personal-crm-system-for-lawyers/
5. Kenna Griffin. “Why You Should Use LinkedIn More Than Facebook or Twitter:” http://www.profkrg.com/why-you-should-use-linkedin-more-than-facebook-or-twitter
6. LinkedIn. Video. “The Value of LinkedIn:” http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/45
7. LinkedIntelligence. “100+ Ways to Use LinkedIn:” http://linkedintelligence.com/smart-ways-to-use-linkedin/
8. Neal Shaffer. “What is LinkedIn and Why Should You Join?” http://windmillnetworking.com/2009/08/26/what-is-linkedin-and-why-should-you-join/#ixzz2Sl3rlGpZ
9. Neal Schaffer. “Why Use LinkedIn? 7 Reasons for Every Professional to Join:” http://windmillnetworking.com/2009/02/02/7-reasons-why-every-professional-should-be-on-linkedin/
10. OutSmarts. “Why You Should Use LinkedIn for Business:”   http://www.out-smarts.com/2011/08/05/why-you-should-use-linkedin-for-business/
11. Rick Vanover. “Five benefits of LinkedIn for organizations (and IT pros):” http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/networking/five-benefits-of-linkedin-for-organizations-and-it-pros/1471
12. Ruth A. Harper. “Why You Should Use LinkedIn before Graduation:” http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/blog/why-you-should-use-linkedin-before-graduation
13. Slim Jackson. “Why You Should Use LinkedIn:” http://www.singleblackmale.org/2012/07/19/why-you-should-use-linkedin/
14. Tess C. Taylor. “Why Use LinkedIn?” http://www.brighthub.com/internet/web-development/articles/112183.aspx

9 Reasons to Use Google Plus+

Google Plus+

“9 Reasons to Use Google Plus+” by Joan Y. Edwards

Here are 9 reasons to use Google Plus+. It has many ways to help you with marketing.

1. Google plus has circles. You decide what the name of your circles are. Here are the names of circles I chose to have on Google Plus. You will communicate with the people in these groups.

• Family
• Friends
• Writers
• Illustrators
• Marketing
• Publishers
• Agents

You can name the circles whatever you wish. Just click, add circle and give it the name you like. No one but you knows the name of your circles and who is in them. You can put people in more than one circle. You choose which circle(s) receive your shared post.

On Facebook, I have to share on my friends page, on my author page, and on the PubSubber Page, separately. On Google, I could do all three, if I had all those connections in a circle.

2. People do not know which circle you put them in. You can put people in as many circles as you want. For instance, some people might be friends and writers. If your product is for men, you could make a circle consisting only of men. Then you could target this particular circle of men with posts about how every man needs “YOUR PRODUCT.”

3. The Google Plus Profile Page has a place to broadcast your blog(s) or website(s). Put a place on your blog(s) and your website(s) for people to follow you on Google Plus.

4. You can gain new connections. Perhaps new customers for your product or service. And as marketing consultant, Linda Sherman, wrote in a recent blog post, “GooglePlus can give you access to influencers who might not notice you elsewhere.”

5. You can make a page for a business, blog, book, product, or service. I made a simple one for Flip Flap Floodle and for Joan’s Elder Care Guide. I may add one for this blog. It’ll all be in one place.

6. You can add people to a circle using their email address. If you have a Gmail account, it’ll use your contacts, if you want to ask if you wish to add them to a circle. Then it sends an email asking them if they’d like to join Google Plus and add you to their circles.

7. You can add your location, remember special events, post pictures, videos, and links.

8. Having more information on Google Plus may give you more hits on your blogs or websites which will help you statistics, gain your audience, and hopefully increase your sales.

9. Google Plus has Hangouts. A hangout is similar to Skype or FaceTime, but you can have up to ten people from 10 different webcams hanging out with you at the same time. Now listen to this: It sends you a video of your whole hangout to your YouTube account. Each time a different person talks, it switches their webcam picture on the screen. If you don’t have a webcam, if you give me your phone number, I can invite you by phone. Phoning from United States and Canada is free. Here is a link to my blog post about Google+ Hangouts: How to Use and Why Use Hangouts on Google Plus+

I hope this article has shown you 9 reasons to use Google Plus+. Always remember it’s a choice.

If you don’t feel 100% percent comfortable in doing it yet, there are 15 resources listed below to help you decide if it’s for you or to help you get started.

As a way to celebrate my 50,000 reads (only 1,323 more to go), I’ll do a Hangout to “How to Make Your Blog Zing” and field questions from participants. As I understand it, we can only have 10 people in a Hangout at a time. But it’s free. I hope you’ll join me. Leave a comment below if you’d like to come. It’ll be on the first Monday after I reach 50,000 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It’ll either be in May or June. Connect with me on Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/108439424078672286967. I’ll send you an invitation. If it works out, we can do one every month about varying topics. We’ll see how it works.

When I reach 50,000 views, I’m also going to have a Give-Away to a lucky winner — a 1/2 hour personal consultation/critique on Making Your Blog Zing. I’ll do this by telephone or via computer (winner’s choice). I’ll analyze the lucky winner’s blog and make suggestions on how to improve what he’s already doing;  give tips on how to organize his time; and most importantly, answer questions he has about his blog.

Do you have any suggestions for fun and exciting ways to celebrate 50,000 views? Let me know.

Join the 126 subscribers to my blog. To receive an email when I post my next article, click “Sign Me Up” in the left hand column. You’ll receive a link and password to download a free logo that says: Never Give Up Build It One Block at a Time. It’s my free gift to you for subscribing to my blog. Thank you.

Would you write a review of my picture book Flip Flap Floodle? Click here to Hear Flip’s Song. I have 14 reviews. I need 15 to meet my goal for 2013. 48,677

Joan’s Website: http://www.joanyedwards.com (Gospel-related devotionals, puzzles, and skits)

Connect with me. I’d be honored.

Celebrate you today.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

Copyright © 2013 Joan Y. Edwards

Resources

1. Chris Brogan. “Getting Started with Google Plus+” (privacy settings)
   http://www.chrisbrogan.com/startgoogleplus/#
2. Digital Unite. “How to join Google Plus:” http://digitalunite.com/guides/social-networking-blogs/google-plus/how-join-google-plus
3. Dorie Clark. “Why You Should Be On Google Plus (Even Though No One Else Is):” http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorieclark/2013/01/04/why-you-should-be-on-google-plus-even-though-no-one-else-is/
4. Fraser Cain. “Tips and Tricks for Hangouts on Air:”
   https://plus.google.com/+FraserCain/posts/PaeeynDx34L
5. Google. “Invite People to Hangout.” https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1215839?hl=en
6. Google Plus Daily. “How to’s for Google Plus:” http://www.googleplusdaily.com/search/label/how-to
7. Lee Jarrett. Google Plus Daily. “How to Get around Google+:” http://www.googleplusdaily.com/2013/01/how-to-getting-around-google.html#.UYFsgsr95VI
8. Mark Traphagen. “Your Google Plus Network is More Powerful Than You Know”  http://windmillnetworking.com/2013/01/30/your-google-plus-network-is-more-powerful-than-you-know/
9. Martin Shervington. “Complete User Guide: Google Plus Pages for Business and Brands:” http://www.martinshervington.com/google-plus-pages-for-business-and-brands/
10. Michael Carney. “How to Use Google Plus for Business.com Smart Video Chat Marketing with Google Plus  Hangouts.” http://howtousegoogleplusforbusiness.com/2012/01/smart-video-chat-marketing-with-google-plus-hangouts/
11. Neal Schaffer. “How to Use Google Plus for Personal Branding and Establishing Author Rank:” http://windmillnetworking.com/2012/11/29/6-ways-to-leverage-google-plus-for-personal-branding-and-author-rank/
12. Paul Maplesden. Google Plus Daily. “10 Things to Do after Joining Google+:” http://www.googleplusdaily.com/2013/03/10-things-to-do-after-joining-google.html#.UYFsCLUT-sj
13. Paul Maplesden. “Differences between Facebook and Google Plus:” http://www.googleplusdaily.com/2013/02/differences-google-plus-facebook.html#.UYFzErUT-sg
14. Ronnie Bincer “Learn How YouTube Connects YOU with Google Plus:” https://plus.google.com/u/0/108210288375340023376/posts/YBiofdrkb3T
15. Roshan Khan. “How to Use Google Plus” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-nIcIzCq5