My Beach

I have been super busy this summer marketing my business, but I wanted to post a quick blog to let you guys know I'm still alive. I haven't been to the beach yet this summer, but if I had been able to go this is where we usually go. It's called the kiddie pool at St. Andrews State Park. I highly recommend it to anyone....that doesn't mind a few SHARKS.






I can't really remember, but I think the sign may say:

Caution

Sharks Past This Point

The Need To OutSource

I've got a headache, plus I'm feeling a bit drained at the moment. However, I'm excited because I just received an e-mail from someone saying she is very interested in writing articles and press releases for my website. She loves to write and is excited about the opportunity to make some extra $$. She also shares my drive and passion for business.

I've been putting off writing press releases and articles since my time is so limited. I could write them myself, but it takes me a while to figure out exactly what I want to say. I would rather spend my time (and I feel more useful) working on other areas of my business. As a result of writing fresh content being one of my weaker strengths, I think outsourcing the task is a smart option for me.

Summer Is Here!

With Memorial Day weekend being the official kick off to summer, I'm looking forward to the next three months. My son finished his first year of preschool last Thursday so we'll be getting used to having him home every day. I'm not sure that it has sunk in that he wouldn't be seeing his classmates for a while. He also won't get to see his little girlfriend, a blonde hair, blue eyed cutie cause she is moving over the summer. So sad.

Business wise, I'm really looking foward to the next few months. I'm in the midst of the busy wedding season and sales are really picking up. I also enrolled in a very intensive program last Thursday that should work wonders for my business. I'll be learning from the pros on how to effectively market and grow my business. The program is pricey to say the least so I'm going to be soaking up as much information as I possibly can.

Fine Tuning My Website

I just had my website reviewed by an authoritative company in the SEO (search engine optimization)market. This review was pretty comprehensive which was very surprising since it was free. I think my head is spinning from all of the information that I received. I have so many ideas of things that I want to do now to promote my website.

Looking at my Google ranking for many of my keywords, I'm delighted to see that I have moved to within the first 4 positions in the search engine return results. I was very happy to see that I'm now appearing in the #1 position in many cases. Now I have to focus on moving closer to one of the first 4 positions for two highly competitive keywords. It will take a lot of hard work, but I can do it.

One of the things my site review said was that I need to get a better Alexa and Technorati rank. I have heard of the websites, but I'm not very familiar with them. Educating myself on how they work is definitely on my list of things to do.

I was also told that I need to write press releases, ezine articles, and more blogs. I've known this fact for a while, but simply haven't had the time to do them. I'm thinking outsourcing may be the way to go. I know some bloggers use PayPerPost to earn extra money. If anyone is interested in writing some short articles and press releases for me then let me know.

I've Been A Very Busy Party (Favor) Girl

It has been way too long since I've posted a blog I know. I have been very busy the last few weeks, filing my income taxes, sales tax, and corporate renewal paperwork, updating my MySpace, and updating as well as marketing my website, CherishedGiftFavors.com. I have also been working my butt off nonstop telling everyone I can think of about my wedding favors, party favors, and personalized gifts for any occasion. Sales have really been picking up for me and wedding season hasn't quite started. Needless to say I am thrilled!!

The last couple of weeks have also been stressful. For the last year I have enjoyed being listed on the first page of Google for my two main keywords. To keep my site looking fresh and more in line with what my competition is doing I decided to move a majority of the content from the top of my home page to beneath my product pictures. I also added some new content (content is king with search engines).

After I did that my home page was more visually appealing to my customers, but Google was not impressed. I kept my number two position for one of my keywords thank God, but Google kicked me to the top of the second page for my main keyword. I put the content I had before back above my product pictures and now I'm back on the first page again. It has taken me about 3 weeks to get back and I'm still lower in the search results than what I was before. Unfortunately, my sales suffered during the time when my website was kicked to the second page.

To attract more business anywhere I can get it , I just ordered signs for my car, post cards, and flyers. I happened to drop by a local bridal/gift boutique a couple of weeks ago to pick up a copy of a magazine that I advertised in and was blessed with the opportunity of meeting the owner. She loved my favors so we began talking. My favors don't really fit into her product line, but she happened to mention that her brides have a very hard time trying to find one the wedding accessories that I carry. I made up some flyers for her and she is going to start referring brides to my website. After I finish this post I will be spending my Saturday night adding the new wedding accessories to my website.

What Do You Use Your Dell For?

Single For The Weekend

Hubby and son are visiting his parents so I'm single for the weekend. I'm trying to make the most of my free time by adding many new wedding and party favors to my website. I've been working hard marketing and tweaking my website, MySpace profile, and my business blog for the last couple of weeks so I'm thrilled to be able to concentrate solely on my business for the next couple of days.

While I was getting my game plan ready for the weekend and eating dinner I started flipping the TV channels to see what was on. I came across a show on TLC called "I Can Make You Thin". Needless to say, the show caught my attention. I really want to lose some weight so I can get back to 110 lbs like I was just before I became pregnant..almost 4 years ago.

The show is about reprogramming your mind regarding the way you think about food. The host asked the audience and the TV viewers to think about a food (or foods) they crave. One(s) they can't resist. Like many people it is sweets for me. He had everybody close their eyes and think about a food that repulsed them. I hate liver and onions. I can't get past the smell of them cooking let alone trying to actually eat the nasty stuff.

After picturing the food in our minds, he asked for us to imagine taking a fork and eating a big plate of it.

While doing this, we are supposed to squeeze our thumb and finger on our left hand while thinking about the smell, the texture, and the taste of the food we hate.

Next he said to imagine the food covered in hair from a barbershop floor. I started feeling uncomfortable at that point.

It gets worse, we were then told to imagine it also covered with spit from a spittoon. OMG! I started gaging and my eyes started watering. With tears streaming down my face, he said to imagine our favorite food covered in the liver, hair, and spit. I almost threw up.

The next step of the exercise was to squeeze our right thumb and finger while thinking of a time in our lives when we were really happy. Perhaps while we were on vacation, at a party with friends, falling in love for the first time, or even enjoying a beautiful day.

The host said from now on when we crave a food that we need to squeeze our fingers on our left hand and think about it covered in something that repulses us. Then we need to squeeze our thumb and finger on our right hand and think about the thing that makes us the happiest.

I'm going to try it this week to see if it works for me. If you want more info on the show check out TLC's website.

I'm Pregnant

As an April Fools' joke, my mom told my grandmother that I'm pregnant. My mom thought it was hysterical. I didn't find the humor in it....at all.

Happy Easter!

glitter-graphics.com


I know I have been MIA for a while. I haven't had a chance to post lately because I've been busy freshening up My Space Profile and Cherished Gifts & Favors. I've added new pictures and lots of new party favors. My MySpace profile is finished for now and I'm hoping to have my website done in a few days.

Taxes have also kept me busy, but I finally took all my info to the accountant Friday so that is a huge weight lifted off of me! I'm thrilled to say the least.

Panama City Gone Corrupt

The problems that Joe Francis has faced here in this good ole' boy town is wrong on so many levels. You may not agree with what he does, but he pissed some people off here and they were out to get him as soon as he arrived in Panama City. Two weeks later they got him.

He and his company were charged with taping 17 year old girls who lied about their age. It was against the law to tape them, but its ok for the state attorney to show the tape to Nightline. Hmmmm.

Of the many things he had to agree to in the plea bargain was to accept his seized car "as is". Interesting. The car looked in mint condition in the police photos. By the judge's comments it doesn't really sound like it is now. Strange, I wonder what could have happened to it?

He is also banned from coming back to the Florida Panhandle for 3 years. That sounds a bit strange too. How did the three years come in to play? Do you think he wants to come back?

Ick!!

Spending my morning trying to clean up grape juice puke from my living room floor. It is not going well. The little one is sick and I'm about to be.

How is everyone else spending their Sunday? Please share, it may be a long day at my house.

Playing For The Crowd

My son, sitting on the bar last Saturday night at Beef O'Brady's. He's already stealing the show at such a young age!...And hanging out in a bar...Like his father. Sports and beer on the weekends. I can see it now, much to my dismay!

Rainy Spring Break 2008

Unfortunately for the Spring Breakers in Panama City Beach the weather is once again rainy. To make for an even better hair day, the wind is blowing like mad.
I think it is pretty ironic that Puddle of Mudd is performing tonight at Club La Vela.

The guys may be happy the weather is turning cold tomorrow because the girls on the beach will be freezing their asses off. Perhaps they will be looking for someone to keep them warm.

Spring Break 2008!

Spring Break 2008 is here! I live in Panama City, Florida and we are well known for Spring Break. I thought PC Beach was trying to get away from the image of drunk high school and college students causing trouble, getting arrested, and killed after jumping from balconies, but I guess not.

As I am driving this morning I hear Club La Vela's radio ad announcing the Spring Break 2008 kick off party this weekend. I could care less. I'm 35 so I'm not really a part of the Spring Break crowd. Plus its still cold as hell here, so there is no way I'm gonna be in a bikini anytime soon.

Anyway, I'm listening to the lady with the sexy English accent (awesome marketing tragedy on La Vela's part) announce who is coming for Spring Break...

She says there will be guests appearances by;

top pop stars,

fashion models,

blah, blah, blah,

Victoria Secret will be doing a run way show (interesting..that is something new this year),

Maxim magazine will be looking for a centerfold model,

The Olly Girls will be making a guest appearance,

blah, blah, blah,

Playboy's The Girls Next Door will be stopping by on their tour,

blah, blah,

OMG! Did I just hear The Girls Next Door?? I love that show! I so want to go!

Hmmm...I might actually enjoy this Spring Break!


Update ~ Bridgette from The Girl's Next Door will be here on my husband's birthday. Happy birthday to me...I mean him.

The Twins Are Here

Jennifer Lopez gave birth to twins this morning. A 5 pound, 7 ounce girl and a 6 pound boy. The US and Latin American rights of the first pictures are going to People and other international rights were sold to OK! magazine. People magazine reportedly paid between 4 to 6 million dollars for the photos.

The money is suppose to go to charity so hopefully a birth of a different kind will take place in giving some needy people new hopes, new dreams, and lots of help.