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They did it, folks! This week, Erin and Nicole celebrate FIVE WHOLE YEARS of f****d up sh*t! And thanks to several listeners, they were actually surprised and delighted, reading your stories. Plus, Nicole really surprises Erin with the gift to end all gifts. Update: You now have the option to watch new episode on Spotify! Check it out in the app! SHOW INFORMATION Hosted and produced by Nicole Mackie and Erin Saul Merch: Dude, That's F****d Up Store Patreon: Patreon.com/DTFUPodcast Facebook Page: @DFTUPodcast Facebook Group: Listeners of Dude, That's F****d Up Instagram: @DTFUPodcast Twitter: @DTFUPodcast YouTube: DTFUPodcast Website: DTFUPodcast.com Email: DTFUPodcast@gmail.com Music: The Hands of Stone Artwork: Brad Walters Design Subscribe: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts

Entrepreneurs who have been fortunate enough to mass success sometimes forget the labor that was required to build their careers. When we say labor, we do not mean the physical or mental labor, nor do we mean the financial investment. No, we are talking about the emotional labor that an entrepreneur must endure while they work to turn their dreams into reality. In this episode, host James Patrick chats with FITposium alumni Bridget Therese Romo on the true journey that entrepreneurs go through, the publishing of her book and the launch of her digital agency. Listeners can connect with Bridget on Instagram @bridgetthereseofficial UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254 or go to https://my.community.com/jamespatrick - There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES PATRICK www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

We need to stop waiting for permission from others to create the future we want for ourselves. While we are waiting for this permission which will never come, others are out there getting started. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick shares a story of when others tried to force him to ask their permission before launching the FITposium conference and how he responded. UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254 or go to https://my.community.com/jamespatrick - There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with mastermind member Jill Bunny on charting a new direction in one's career. This critically important episode teaches entrepreneurs how to make important pivots or changes in their journey so that the work they are doing is in alignment with their own goals and values. Jill shares her own story and the launch of her business CBT Meets Fitness and the inner struggles that came with the new direction she felt called to take. Listeners can connect with Jill on Instagram @FitBunnyJill or on her website CBTMeetsFitness.com UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254 or go to https://my.community.com/jamespatrick - There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES PATRICK www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

It has become increasingly difficult to get your brand to stand out online and it is easy to understand why. We are constantly being bombarded with thousands upon thousands of digital messages every single day and as entrepreneurs we are trying to break through all that noise. In this episode, host James Patrick dives into the four steps that entrepreneurs need to take to stand out online. To get the FREE GUIDE that accompanies this episode, text James at (480) 605-3254. UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254 or go to https://my.community.com/jamespatrick - There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

This question came up this morning on a coaching call. Am I good enough? Am I qualified enough? Do I know enough to do this professionally? It is questions like these that slow down and hold back impact. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick discusses the call to action that all entrepreneurs feel and how it confronts with the hesitation of impossible to achieve standards. UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254 or go to https://my.community.com/jamespatrick - There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs only realize they have hit the point of burnout once they are already in the midst of it. The lack of creativity, drive, passion, influence, productivity and energy is infectious and difficult to work through. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with licensed psychotherapist Kelly Patrick - and, no, the last name is not a coincidence. James and Kelly discuss the early signs of burnout and various ways that entrepreneurs can support themselves so they avoid the burnout crash. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

Are we allowing our own confirmation bias to seek out reasons to quit? In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick peels apart the difference between accepting advice from someone versus dismissing critique. Unfortunately, we as entrepreneurs far too often accept critique from those we would never turn to for advice and it is a habit we need to break. UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

The Bois Watched Smokin' Aces & Update You on Jerome & Nicks Goal Of Watching 200/201 Movies This Year. @therealpleeka @notjeromeking @therealnickking @myspinonsports Youtube - http://bit.ly/2UdDdFT Facebook - https://bit.ly/2TFDUFk --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/randomramblings/support

Facebook Advertising can be complex, confusion and often overwhelming. But it does not need to be. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with Bob Regnerus, the author of the Ultimate Guide to Facebook Advertising (4th Edition) on how to build the right ads, at the right time for the right audience. In this episode, James and Bob discuss how advertising fits into an entrepreneur's overall marketing strategy and the essential facets that need to be understood before one begins to run ads.  Listeners can learn more at UltimateFB.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

We are going to be blunt and level with you... 2021 is not going to be an easy year. It is going to be a difficult, grueling and intense battle that we as entrepreneurs are going to be faced with. And as a result - we are all terrified. In this New Year episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick dives into the real palatable fear that all entrepreneurs are facing off against right now and what we need to do to recognize that and respond to it. UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

Hey, we get it, 2020 was a rough year for a lot of business owners and as we get closer to 2021 many are planning where they want to invest in efforts to grow their business. STOP! This episode of Beyond the Image is all about the five main areas you want to be extremely careful about investing in the new year and how to better shift those investments for a better return! Host James Patrick shares alternatives and tips for what to look out for as you are investing in your business growth. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with Sports Physical Therapist Dr. Stacie Morris on the power of content marketing. Since she launched her business less than four years ago, Dr. Morris has been able to provide services to more than 1500 clients in almost every country in the the world harnessing the power of social media to create both active and passive income streams. Listeners can connect with Dr. Morris on Instagram @ThePhysioFix This episode is brought to you by FITposiumPLUS.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to (480) 605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Unless you've been ignoring marketing trends, there has been an overwhelming wave of information for business owners to "share their story." However many entrepreneurs are still wondering How do I share my story? What is my story? I don't think I have a big enough story to share! In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick interviews story focused communication coach Alex Street on everything entrepreneurs need to know to craft the right story for the right audience to stand out! Listeners can connect with Alex on his website AlexStreet.ca or on Instagram @StreetSays Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick shares the story behind how he photographed more than 500 magazine covers and the lessons learned that you can apply to your own client on-boarding process. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

Attention Beyond the Image subscribers! We are now accepting submissions for features in our two new publications IconRefined and IconFIT Magazine! This episode features host and publisher of IconRefined and IconFIT Magazine James Patrick and the Editor in Chief of both platforms Cassie Douglas sharing the details on what you need to know to submit to both publications! Pitches are to be sent to IconRefinedMedia@gmail.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

We are constantly on coaching calls, zoom meetings, doing videos for YouTube and Instagram and by the end of the day our voices are thrashed! In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with vocal coach Sarah Sawyer on what entrepreneurs need to do to not only protect their voices, but what to be aware of to increase the power of their voice for greater resonance with their audience. You will never sound the same and if you implement the exercises in this episode, you will never have to lose your voice again. Listeners can connect with Sarah on Instagram @SarahSawyerStudio Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

There is a secret hack to achieving any goal you want in business and in life and this episode of Beyond the Image reveals that secret! Host James Patrick shares the story of his first online business and the compounding choices that nearly crippled the launch before it ever was released to market and how a single decision changed everything. What idea have you been holding back on? It is time to move it forward. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support! CONNECT WITH JAMES www.JamesPatrick.com https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto/ This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!

As if the emotional labor required to become an entrepreneur was not hard enough, consider how increasingly difficult it is when you don't have the full support of those around you. In this important episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with Dr. Kelly Lamoreaux, also known as The Abs Doctor, on her journey to take what many could pass off as nothing more than a hobby or a small side hustle and turn it into a massive business. The true theme of this episode is the importance for entrepreneurs to learn to trust their vision. Listeners can connect with Kelly on Instagram @drkellyfitmomof4 This episode is brought to you by FITposiumPLUS.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to (480) 605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Technology should not be a barrier between you and your target audience, but an effective tool. This episode will get you moving forward confidently in the right direction In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with digital marketing strategist Jim Carter III on the techniques you should know about and implement as you go into 2021. This episode covers social media marketing, list building, sms marketing and more. A must listen for any entrepreneur looking to grow their business in the new year! Listeners can connect with Jim on Instagram @CauseHacker or at FourWestDigital.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

In this episode of the Beyond the Image podcast, host James Patrick discusses the Top 7 Rules for entrepreneurs going into 2021. The rules come from understanding and honoring consumer behavior and demands along with trends in the marketplace. It is essential for any business owner to start discussing how to incorporate these 7 rules into their business including the last one which is the most important marketing asset you have. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

In this special edition episode of the Beyond the Image podcast, host James Patrick shares insights from his own entrepreneurial journey and the impact that three different individuals had on his trajectory over the course of a decade that still apply now. The important lesson for listeners is that w are all only one step away from anyone else. Our mission is to figure out what that next step is and to take it. So who next to you can show you that next step? Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to (480) 605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Effective copywriting is equal parts art with science as we craft a compelling narrative to build trust and resonance with our audience in efforts to increase our sales. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick talks to copywriting expert Blair Badenhop on how to use effective copy to stand out to the right audience and write copy that sells! Connect with Blair on BlairBadenhop.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

If you are noticing a lack of traction and engagement in your posts and as a result you are nervous your sales are suffering - then this episode of Beyond the Image is for you! Host James Patrick deep dives into how and why many entrepreneurs are actually selling and promoting the wrong things! Through a series of examples he breaks down the semantics and deliverables for what marketing messages actually resonate with your audience to support the growth of your business. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Making the leap from being employed to becoming an entrepreneur is one of the most, if not the most terrifying actions that one can take. But you know what makes the leap both possible and manageable? A relentlessly supportive group of clients! In this week's special edition My Entrepreneurial Journey, host James Patrick talks with personal trainer Shane Kokas on how he made that leap, the lessons he learned in the process and why having the strongest client relationships matter! Listeners can connect with Shane on Instagram @ShaneKokas Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to (480) 605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

It is insane to realize that we are already half way through the final quarter of 2020. This means a lot of entrepreneurs are scrambling to both close out their years as well as to set the framework for a more successful new year. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with business coach Jill Coleman about the path to build highly qualified leads that can convert into better sales. The episode covers lead generation, nurture sequencing and how to own your brand positioning. Listeners can connect with Jill on IG @JillFit or JillFit.com Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

We have been told that "content is king" and that we need to be content curation machines, always pumping out new social media posts, videos, blogs, podcasts, reels and more to satiate our audience's needs. Meanwhile we barely have enough time to do our real work! In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick discusses how to get more content created in less time. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Imagine wanting to quit a job that was well paid during an economic recession because you know that you are being called upon to achieve something greater. That is exactly the space our guest Samantha Wallace was in when she chose to go all in on her vision of growing her own business where she was able to grow her client base from 0-to-100 in only six months! Connect with Samantha on Instagram @SamWallaceFit Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick interviews the 2020 FITpreneur of the Year winner Kristen Crowley on why she chose to walk away from what many others would see as a dream job to cultivate her own dream future. The discussion covers the reality of pivoting, the missing elements in the health and fitness industry and how to generate momentum despite fear. Connect with Kristen on Instagram @KristenCrowleyTV or @ReframeYourBiz Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Entrepreneurs will often exclusively focus on either doing heavy marketing on their brand awareness to generate more leads or they will invest all their time and energy into closing leads into sales. However these is a critical middle step that many are missing and in this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick reveals the middle step and the best practices for entrepreneurs to master all three. Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

You have a choice. You can choose to be accountable with your goals or you can cling to deniability. But you can't do both. This episode of Beyond the Image features Adriana Morrison who was forced to change the entire trajectory she had planned to be on - but in doing so, made the choice to embrace her call to serve others and is now seeing the amazing results of her efforts. Listeners can connect with Adriana on Instagram @adrianamorrison_ Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

It is time to cut through all the clutter and noise on business advice that is not actually helping you, but instead causing you an overwhelming sense of frustration. In this episode of Beyond the Image, host James Patrick chats with fellow business coach Tiffany Carter on where entrepreneurs need to focus their time and efforts for the remainder of 2020 and going into 2021. It does not matter whether you are a seasoned pro or new to starting a business - this episode will give you clarity over confusion! Check out Tiffany's FREE 5 Essential Things Entrepreneurs Need to do at http://projectmewithtiffany.com/fiveessentials and connect with her on Instagram @Projectme_with_Tiffany Be sure to click subscribe to get all the latest episodes of Beyond the Image! UPDATE: You can now connect with host James Patrick directly by texting him any of your business questions to 480-605-3254! There is no cost and James will respond to all your questions with helpful answers and support!

Is he the love of her live? Did she peg that guy? THE UPDATE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, Garbage girl part 5.

Episode 26:  Collagen Induction Product List For Cheap!   If you seriously want to create all new-skin then check out the link below for the "Wound and Repair Your Skin Blueprint" where I show you how to wound your skin in a controlled manner so that you get all new baby skin!  It works on every part of the body.   It’s called Collagen Induction Therapy https://the-wound-repair-your-skin-blueprint.teachable.com/p/the-wound-repair-your-skin-blueprint DISCLAIMER: This video may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. Platinum peel 20% (https://www.platinumskincare.com/#_l_11m)  For all your skin peels.  I started out using the Jessner peel and the TCA 13% and then I went up from there.  Derma roller, 6 in 1  (https://amzn.to/2ocdJKe)  The first step in collagen induction therapy. For micro-needling - Dr. Pen A-6 (https://amzn.to/2lCZdtW)  The second step in collagen induction therapy. The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% (https://amzn.to/2mH6mcP) To use every morning and can be used to help heal collagen induction therapy.   The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA 30ml (https://amzn.to/2nlfLal)  To use during and after your peels and collagen induction therapy.   The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 30ml (https://amzn.to/2nhXD0N) to use when derma rolling and healing after a skin peel and to retain moisture. A good eye cream. The one that I love and doesn’t cost a bunch and is Loreal Revitalift (https://amzn.to/2MHqCp5) A Good moisturizer!  Again, the one that I love and doesn’t cost a lot is Loreal,  Wrinkle Expert (https://amzn.to/2N0TOpS) Retin A (by prescription from your health care provider or you can get it online, just Google it!  UPDATE: You can get Retin-A  generic here:https://www.alldaychemist.com  (not affiliated) Sunscreen.  This is the link to the one that I use Loreal, Revitalift Broad Spectrum SPF 25 (https://amzn.to/2P9WODj) 11.  For re-applying sunscreen during the day over your makeup I use the Mineral Fusion Brush-On Sun Defense, SPF 30, UVA and UVB (https://amzn.to/2Je7kWc) You really can’t wrong with Loreal products and for the price! Lastly, just as an option if you do body peels, you will want to prep your body with this before doing your peels (https://amzn.to/2XzcG2R) This has Alpha Hydroxy Therapy to smooth out your skin on a daily basis. wish.com Alliexpress.com If you would like to get in touch you can email me @ theresaskrobanek@yahoo.com FB  https://business.facebook.com/MYAGINGANDWELLNESS/ IG  https://www.instagram.com/myagingandwellness/ youtube https://www.youtube.com/justawomanaging https://www.pinterest.com/myagingandwellness If you would like to get in touch you can find me @ theresaskrobanek@yahoo,com 

The news media and investor market is certainly embracing the "Softer" side of Microsoft introduced since the appointment of Satya Nadela as CEO. While the company's stock is at an all-time high, it seems Microsoft's network of Partners are being gradually introduced to a new "Harder" side. Update: You can still read this, but Microsoft reversed this decision. Partners Pummeled In recent months, partners have seen a continuous barrage of changes that are catching most off-guard. Many have described some of these changes as types of "Partner Taxes". For example: Mandatory, but unnecessary, requirements to purchase Advanced Support for Direct CSP Partners (Minimum $15K/yr) 10%-20% of ISV's Revenue to now be shared with Microsoft The elimination of Internal Use Rights licenses (IUR), as I was the first to tweet about last week. Add to these, recent changes to the Competency Requirements, tripling the number of certified individuals. It all has a lot of partners wondering... WTF! Let's break it down. The Purge What most of these things will have as a common result, is a reduction in the number of partners. Fewer Direct CSP Partners, fewer Gold Partners, fewer Silver Partners, fewer ISV Partners... fewer partners across the board. It seems that Microsoft is struggling with how to achieve a new goal: dramatically increase the "Quality" of partners in their channel. One part of reaching that goal, is reducing the "Quantity". Quality Partners Ask 20 partners what defines a "Quality Partner", and you'll get 20 answers. But none of them matter, because the definition of a "Quality Partner" is determined by Microsoft, and always has been. Over the years, Microsoft's own definition has evolved, along with changes in technologies. A "Quality Partner" ten years ago, may well be an irrelevant partner to Microsoft today. Irrelevant partners aren't removed from the program, they're just ignored. This is not on Microsoft, this result sits squarely on the shoulders of the partner who did not evolve. Over the years Microsoft has increased the number of their partners significantly, but today they actually see many of them as irrelevant, serving only to boost numbers on brag slides. So why not just remove them from the program? Re-read the first paragraph if you don't already realize that's what's happening. Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder So what is a "Quality Partner" to Microsoft... today anyway. This will vary significantly from one internal group to another, but it does seem that there are some common themes. The first is that they are usually big. Big partners sell big deals, small partners sell small deals, simple. There are exceptions, small partners that somehow sell big deals, or small partners that sell big logos. Microsoft's only interest in small partners is whether they have the potential to become big partners... soon... and most do not. This is not Microsoft's fault, they are not a charity organization. With success on Wall Street, comes extreme pressure to increase that success, this is all new to Microsoft, but clearly small partners won't cut it. Big is not the only metric, in addition to that, the partners have to be selling the right things, like Azure. If you are not selling Azure today, your relevance to Microsoft is significantly diminished. Again, Microsoft's Azure Powered Cloud is the force-multiplier on their stock value, and there will be no re-trenching. Irrelevance? So, if big Azure selling partners are the holy grail, are all others irrelevant? Not "irrelevant", just "less relevant". Out of Microsoft's 120,000+/- employees, a percentage of them do not have Azure as their highest priority. Although, if you followed the string connected to whatever their priority is, it often eventually leads to Azure, down the road or behind the scenes. If you look at the intentional "culling" efforts underway, it is fairly clear that Big Azure partners are immune. Second to the last Partner Standing If you are not a big Azure selling partner, and you are not able to become one, what is your next best option to remaining or becoming relevant to Microsoft today? You better follow the bouncing balls. Today, it is not important "how" good you are, what is important is "what" you are good at. On my side of the Microsoft house (Business Applications), you better be good at verticals, and migrating customers off of competing solutions. And, if you're not racing towards the Power Platform, you're racing towards irrelevancy. Whatever part of Microsoft's business you're in, you better be listening to their signals. Your agreement with the directions they take is not relevant. Effects of Motions Let's look at what I think the effects will be of some of these recent motions: Increasing the number of required Certified individuals for a Competency. This will dramatically reduce the total number of partners with competencies. Many Gold Partners will become Silver Partners, and many Silver Partners will simply fall off. Is it fair that Microsoft has decreed that your "Competency" with a product (which the dictionary defines as "the ability to do something successfully or efficiently"), is specifically proven by the quantity of certified people you have? Advanced Support Requirement for CSP Partners. Clearly this is Microsoft fixing their own mistake. In their zeal to grow this program initially, they lowered the bar to entry for Direct CSP partners. The predictable result was too many partners who were not qualified or capable of managing and supporting the Direct CSP arrangement. Coincidentally, the vast majority of those were small partners, and what's the best way to shake off a bunch of small partners? Add a significant new cost. It has the added benefit of not appearing like Microsoft took anything away... small partners removed themselves! ISV Revenue Sharing. I already wrote at length about both sides of this coin here and here. Elimination of IUR benefits. This will primarily impact smaller partners, who we have already determined are less relevant anyway. I expect there will be a lot of noise from those small partners, but if a tree falls in the woods... Microsoft won't hear it. This one has some fairly clear motivation behind it. Back in the day, IUR meant giving you a license key to on-premise or desktop software. It may have been foregone revenue, but at least there was no cost to Microsoft. Today, most of the IUR benefits are not free to Microsoft... they have a cost. Imagining the number of IUR services activated across their huge network, this cost is significant. Eliminating this benefit will have the dual effect of reducing costs, and increasing revenue... and who doesn't want that? What does it all mean? If you thought, with the dramatic and rapid evolution of Microsoft from near irrelevance, to the most valuable company in the world, that your life as a partner would remain unaffected... well then you're just a moron. Like Microsoft, you also have to let go of the past. All the old "favors" you racked up, have no value today. The cronies that protected you, are all gone. All of your storied history with Microsoft... pfft! What have you done for Microsoft lately? That is all that matters, and frankly, all that should matter. Microsoft is "Culling the Herd", which by definition means "Literally, to separate or remove (and usually kill) inferior animals out of a herd so as to reduce numbers or remove undesirable traits from the group as a whole." To me, this sounds like exactly what's happening...    

Is Body Groove for You? (A Body Groove Review) The Body Groove program is ideal for some women. But not everyone. I'll break it down for you here and give you my recommendations about this unique workout program. I've been excited to review the Body Groove program. Why?  Because Body Groove is about as far outside my comfort zone and normal fitness style as you can get.  Which is why I knew it would challenge me (in a good way). At one point in Workout 1, Misty Tripoli says something I love, “You're never too old to roll around on the floor.” She's right, of course.  That quote captures how you get the most out of these workouts.  You have to let your mind go and connect with your younger, freer self—back to when you were uninhibited and stress-free. I participate in the Amazon Affiliates LLC program.  Some of the following links are affiliate links.  If you use one of my links to purchase something it helps support my business.  Thank you! (No hard feelings if you don't.)  You can get more information about that here. If you can find that place (which isn't easy for me) then you'll have fun with Body Groove. What is Body Groove? “This is about the funnest dance class you're probably ever gonna take…and it's based off the groove method.  What makes grooving so unique…is that you're going to do it your way.  Your going to explore every level, every possibility, every angle that's possible in your body.  We truly believe how important it is to take care of your body, to love your body, to move it creatively…and accept the body that you're in.  When you do start to move your body your way, magic will literally happen in your body.  The cells in your body will become happy.  And with a happy body it's much easier to have a healthy body.”—Misty Tripoli, Body Groove   Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Body Groove program... Some Important Information about Body Groove The beautiful Misty Tripoli is the coolest person you'll never meet. Her hair makes me think of Jericho McMatthews in Core De Force because it's kind of awesome.  She's got a unique style that's fun and never intimidating and ideal for the Body Groove workout. The music is fun and really goes with each combination. I can't stress enough how important good music is when you're doing a home workout.  I wasn't disappointed with the music. Misty Tripoli does a superb job cueing you for each move. Once you get used to the style of the workout (after doing it once or twice) you can stop watching her and her team and just listen to Misty and the music.  That's how you'll get the most out of the workout. The team of athletes in Body Groove is diverse. You'll see every age, size and color.  You'll also see that everyone has their own way of moving their body.  There are definitely some pro dancers in the group but most of the exercisers are just like you and me. There's no warm-up in these videos so be ready to start dancing the second you hit play. Shoes are optional. (I usually wear them but I have bad feet and I'm a rebel. haha) You don't need any equipment to do the routines in Body Groove You don't need a ton of space to do the routines but you should use every inch of space you have (to burn the most calories) Each of the 3 main Workouts (Series 1, 2 and 3) are made up of a specific number of ‘routines'. Each routine is actually a dance combination that you'll repeat for 3-5 minutes (a few are slightly longer).  So, for example, Workout 1 has 7 routines, or 7 segments of dance combinations that you do for 3-5 minutes.  Misty Tripoli uses perfect prompts and music to keep you moving for the entire interval. Workout 2 is my favorite set of routines of the 3 Workouts. But my favorite individual routine is Pump It, which you'll find in Workout Series 3. The bonus workouts Stretch & Flex (as well as Mind & Body) sound like the titles of a post-workout stretch but these programs actually follow the same format as the other workouts and are made up of a set of routines (using 3-5 minute intervals) of dance combinations. Before you do Stretch & Flex say this phrase out loud >> “I'm the sexiest person alive.” (That mindset will help you get the most out of Stretch & Flex.) How Many Calories Will You Burn Doing Body Groove? You won't burn the same number of calories I do but you can use my numbers as a reference point. Workout Series 1 (39 minutes)-163 calories Workout Series 2 (28 minutes)-186 calories Workout Series 3 (27 minutes)-168 calories Stretch & Flex (33 minutes)-136 calories Mind & Body (24 minutes)-140 calories Can You use Body Groove to Train for an Event? I don't think you can use Body Groove alone to get you prepared to participate in any obstacle race or run. BUT, you CAN (and should) use Body Groove in between your runs and more intense workouts when you're training for an event to give your mind and body a chance to relax and refresh for the rest of your training.  In fact, I recommend you use Body Groove for that. Who Will (Probably) Love Body Groove? People who love to dance A new/beginning fitness enthusiast who wants something different than the traditional group fitness style exercise A new/beginning exerciser who doesn't want to buy any exercise equipment Anyone looking for a new low-impact, rejuvenating workout to add to their high-impact, intense exercise schedule (Body Groove is the perfect ingredient to balance out an intense, advanced fitness program) How Much is Body Groove (and where can you buy Body Groove)? I purchased the Body Groove DVD's and my total cost (with shipping) was $42.99*. *Prices change over time.  I update my information regularly but remember to check the current pricing. Update>> Misty Tripoli has added some new workouts to her program since I did them.  You have more options now but the style of all the workouts is the same. Body Groove on Demand* is another way to get access to all the workouts in Body Groove.  The service is $9.99/month and allows you to stream the workouts like you do Netflix, whenever and wherever you are. *I LOVE streaming (exercise on demand) services so I recommend you look into this option. So, unless you don't have internet access then there's really no reason to purchase the actual DVD's (I honestly can't remember why I bought the physical discs). As of the day I'm writing this post Body Groove was unavailable to purchase anywhere but the Body Groove website. *Update>>>You can get Body Groove from Amazon now! Yay! While anyone can do the Body Groove workouts, not everyone will like this style of exercise. But if you're looking for a new workout then I challenge you to think about Body Groove.  It's fun and easy and a great way to reinvigorate your mind and body. You can learn more about Body Groove on the Body Groove website and on the Body Groove Facebook page.   Click over to the 'Episode Webpage' to see my full post and links to all of the equipment mentioned in the episode. LINKS TO SITES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: You can email me: ccpodcast@onestrongsoutherngirl.com Subscribe to my VIP email list over at: www.onestrongsoutherngirl.com  

I'm so excited (and a bit nervous!) to share with you that I'm writing a book. UPDATE: You can buy the book here: https://lovefrommim.com/book Hey, this is Mim Jenkinson and you're listening to the Busy Mum Balance Life Podcast. I've gone back and forward on whether to share this for a good few weeks now, and I spoke to someone today who was like, "Nope, share it. It's good news, and it's something to talk about." So I thought, "I will." But, basically, I wanted to bring you in on the secret that I'm writing a book. Which I'm like so excited about. Seriously, you go on to social media and every other post is someone saying, "I'm writing a book," these days. And, I mean, personally, I love to read, so I get super excited when I see those. I know for other people it's like, "Yawn. You as well." So I guess I'll tell you more about what the book is about before you, hopefully, shut this down. As most of you will know, though, I've shared quite a lot in the past few months about my issue and addiction to alcohol. And one of the most common themes, kind of in the questions that I've had, because I've had hundreds, probably 1,000 or more now, messages and emails, particularly, asking me about my experience, about ... Mainly the common theme is that people didn't understand that I had a problem. And the question is coming out of concern for both me and for themselves a lot of the time. Like they don't understand how ... Do I have a problem? Am I sure I've got a problem? Is it not just that I need to cut back a bit? How have they missed the fact that I've had a problem, if it's been a friend or family member? And then for them if I've got this issue with alcohol, does that mean that they have, too? And I've shared quite a lot about the reasons I was drinking alcohol too much, how I was abusing it, the results of that, but I haven't gone too in depth. It's obviously highly personal, and it's really embarrassing as well. Like it's not ... Whilst I feel very proud of the fact that I've overcome this issue, I've been incredibly embarrassed about the fact I had it in the first place. However, I did find that the more I shared, the more it helped me, and I really started to feel like I was helping other people as well. And I don't mean by that helping make the world a better place by everyone quitting booze. Like I really don't think that everyone has to go out and be as drastic, if you like, because I have done. But I have had so many messages to say that me sharing has helped them. It's helped them acknowledge that maybe they've got an issue or it's made them feel better that they don't, or it's given them ideas of what they can do if they do want to cut back a little bit and kind of, I don't know, take a minute to think about their own life and recognize ... You might be one of these people, perhaps, recognize is it something that was spiraling a little bit for you, too? Anyway, back to the book. So I basically started writing. I wrote about my experience, what led up to this, some really, really personal and very embarrassing stories throughout my whole life about the kind of things that happened when I've abused alcohol, very significant things, some of them, and how it's kind of led me to where I am, or where I was a few months ago. And yet part of the reason for writing this book is because it is cathartic to share and for me to get everything down on paper. I'm a writer by trade, so it helps me to do that. It's just always been great therapy. When I was going through my experience of breast cancer, writing like an online diary, I mean, nobody may have read that, but just being able to write that down and get the thoughts out of my head and onto paper, on my blog, I just found that as such therapy. And this has been the same. But then to have so many people tell me that my words have resonated with them and it's helped them, that, to me, is something I did not expect. I didn't expect for a moment that by sharing my story I might help someone else in any way. It wasn't something that I intended to do when I started sharing. I was interested to see whether anyone else was going through the same thing, but I didn't have this purpose of, "I'm going to help someone." However, the more I write, the more that I am told that I am helping. Absolutely, It's driven me to continue to share and to continue to try and just lift the lid a little bit on the fact that this connection between motherhood and alcohol exists. And I've been doing some research. You may have already completed the survey. I'm going to keep that open just for a few more days and I'll link the survey below. If you're a mother anywhere in the world you can complete it. But, wow, that's really put into perspective for me some of the misconceptions between alcohol and motherhood and how it's portrayed on social media. And like I said earlier, I'm not ... Like I don't judge people who drink now. I'm not kind of on a soap box of telling the world and telling mothers that they shouldn't drink. That's absolutely not me whatsoever, and I'm not out to do that at all, but the more I've thought about this, the more now I want to continue to help. And I do believe that the book will help somebody else. And that's now my intention to continue to share what's happened with me, but hopefully to help others and to make other women, other mums, feel that ... You know, is this something that they might want to change when it comes to consumption of alcohol? Do they just want to have a good old read and cringe at my sad story? I don't know. That might help someone feel a lot better about themselves, perhaps. That that's helpful still, isn't it? Anyway, I was going to keep this a secret because when people say, "I'm writing a book," you kind of think, "Oh, what a nob." Not all the time, but you know, I mean, when so many people share that they're writing a book, it's like, "Got on the book of bandwagon." And so many of my peers in the blogging field have written some amazing books and I'm so inspired by them, but I don't have an inclination to write about blogging. This is something though that's really, wow, it's like pulled out a passion in me that I didn't actually realize that I had. And, yeah, this is kind of where I'm at. So I only started writing very recently, so it's kind of early on in the game, but the words are kind of flowing so far. I'm about 30,000 words in. It might be complete trash. It might never ever be released from my PC. Like it might ... Nobody might want to publish it. Nobody might want to read it. It might turn into absolutely nothing, but I feel like it won't. Like I'm feeling really positive, and it just feels like the right to do. I'm really sharing my heart now. Please don't laugh and judge me. I'm sure you won't, but I just wanted to share this because I would love you to be on this little journey with me of writing a book. I've never written a proper adult-sized book before. I've written a lot. I'm a copywriter. If you've read much of the things that I do write, the pieces I write in the articles, it's the way that I speak, like I don't try and be somebody else. This book is not for the fanciful highbrow reader. This is going to be ... It's very much an online diary. It's very much my opinion and my thoughts and my experiences, and that's about fancy as it gets. So not very fancy at all. But I would love you to encourage me and keep on checking with me to see that I'm hitting deadlines because I actually have given myself a deadline to have finished my, I think that Brene Brown calls it the "Shitty First Draft", by the end of the month, which is this week. So it doesn't give me very long. It might take a little bit longer, but that's the deadline that I set myself anyway, because I really want to get cracking with this. I don't want this to stop flowing. Like I want to keep on going with all the enthusiasm that I've currently got. Anyway, this has been going on a lot longer. I did just intend to come online and say, "Hey, I'm writing a book. That's exciting." And then put the phone down. But I've now waffles on for eight minutes and eight seconds, so I'm going to stop. Wow. If you've got this far, I love you so much, and thank you very much. And, yay! I'll let you know what happens next. Hooray!

Hi everyone! Come and join the Next Level Money Mindset Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/232109381421665/ - learn how to EARN your worth, up-level your bank account and live a FIRST CLASS life! If you want to strengthen your belief in The Law of Attraction then this is the episode for you! I'm showing you examples of my manifestations and synchronicities to show you how to do the same. UPDATE: You can now access my new Money Mindset Workshop for FREE click here I'm talking about how to STOP self-sabotaging around money and there's a live demonstration of a Mindset technique I use with my clients to REMOVE the negative beliefs around money that are holding you back. You don't want to miss this! I'd love to know your manifesting stories so hop into my DMs in Instagram and let me know what you have been manifesting and what your goals are! www.instagram.com/victoria.maskell Sending you love and abundance Victoria x

Hi there! I want to invite you to our free Facebook group "Grow Your Speaking Biz" at www.SpeakingBizCommunity.com see you over there! :)  Ok on to the show ...   Today I talk about attracting the best speaking engagements with videos. Update: You can replace the QR code I mention with your Facebook code if you want them to be directed to your Facebook page. Take a listen to this podcast and join us over at www.CharliJane.com  Also, if you have a few minutes I would love a review, this would really help me out! Thanks so much :)

Update - You will observe as we go through Deuteronomy once again you will notice that usually each CD will commence with a news item upon which some comment is made. Some of these will appear to be dated. However, we have taken the decision to leave these in rather than omitting them. In most cases it will show how public opinion has moved on, usually for the worst! We have all heard the expression used “What’s on your heart?” In this talk today, God is enquiring and seeking to know what is on the heart of his people! God still asks me today, “What’s on your heart?” I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer. 17:9 And Jesus said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15

Pensions, Health, Education, Referendum all hot topics discussed with Ambassador in the Embassy organised meeting today. The 5th round of negotiations just finished a couple of weeks ago. The most important news was we are in “Touching Distance” from an agreement for citizens. Touching distance being a couple of months with this recording taking place on 7th November 2017. There are 3 million Europeans currently in the UK and 1 million Brits in the EU and so there top 3 priorities are citizen rights, Ireland and financial arrangements In the last negotiations the PM suggested an implementation period post Brexit on the 29th March 2019 that would last for 2 years. Ambassador Llewellyn communicated that progress is being made on the issue of  citizens rights “they are uppermost on the minds of British Ministers and the PM” . Citizen rights is “priority number 1” . Britain made a proposition for the EU citizens in return they are hoping for reciprocity – this was a key word. Nothing as we know has yet been formally agreed or signed but it would seem that at the moment things are looking hopeful.   Britains proposition, is a new status and term called Settled Status would cover the EU people living in the UK lawfully for over 5 years in the UK and for those that are already there at the point of Brexit, they would be allowed to continue staying until the 5 years has been accrued at which point they would then apply for “Settled Status” This proposition means same benefits, same access to healthcare  pension rights as British citizens. So the HOPE is that the remaining countries will do the same back! It needs to be a reciprocal agreement. There are still some issues to be resolved but again he reiterated they are in touching distance.   Gov.uk the Government website and the chart describes where they have reached the agreement in Red Amber and Green – lots of it is now green.   Not a fan of public speaking I did the 5,4,3,2,1 ask it and I asked the first question For Teenagers who will be applying to University at the moment he will apply the UK Brexit’s so in March 2019 for September 2019.. he wasn’t in a position to answer that negotiation is underway but we were put in contact with Michelle from the Embassy who will be ensuring that there is a follow up and they will write to me. I would say that if this is going to be possibly your case you also need to contact the     Tracy Leonetti was there and asked a question for early retirees and asked a question around the 5 year criteria for those that have moved to France and how the healthcare and pensions would work for them. Pensions from the UK here in France it will remain the case and is governed buy domestic UK regulation. Will it continue to be uprated – yes it will . Under this proposed settled status the S1 would continue for those that are already permanent residents. If you were on holidays at the time of Brexit then the EHIC would still be valid If you come after departure then this detail hasn’t yet been negotiated. Check the FCO website for more details – I’ll put that it the show notes.   Re the 2 year implementation period after will people still be considered as Europeans or not ..the proposal of course hasn’t yet been agreed – during which the current arrangements would continue to apply a “status quo”   If you are having a carte de sejour refused you can flag this to the Embassy as it is our right to have these ( I don’t mean whether it’s one of 5 or 10 years here)   There was obviously a lot of comments and questions from Brits who feel unheard and disenfranchised. Lots of anger around the lack of having a vote and denied the vote from our home country – we do not have the civil rights. Which reminds me that if you are a European living in France you have until the end of December this year if you want to vote in European and local municipal elections next year 2018. Get yourself down to your townhall with your Passport and proof of residence do it today or at least this week. Your right to vote as we know from being British and not having been able to vote is a privilege – use it.   There is a call to action here – you should get in contact with MPs in the UK and try and get this raised in the houses of parliament – it has been on the manifesto for the last 2 PMs so there is no reason it doesn’t get actioned. While I know they are focusing on Brexit I think that we need to  join our voices and get some action. Please share , like, review this episode – the more people we can get informed the better. Join our community on Facebook its 100% free and I will be sharing the latest information on this and many other issues facing us here in France https://www.facebook.com/groups/cotedazurliving/   Someone raised the question of Monaco . negotiations with regard to Italy has been progressing greatly but he wanted to go and check the details about Monaco.   I also asked the Ambassador on behalf of my sister who runs www.pebbles.fr an Au Pair, and Language placement company to flag up the issue of small businesses here in the Alpes Maritimes trading back in UK who’s whole livelihood depends on free trade . Some of these small businesses are already being affected. He replied that trade between our two countries is  of great value “we do a huge amount of trade every year and we obviously want that to continue and put into place arrangements that allow exactly that. He said he would take that point back to London for us.   The question of working visas was raised. It will depend on what France and the other 26 countries agree – it will depend on reciprocity.   There was also discussion of course about the referendum and its validity…   To the points of Associated membership and wills , the Ambassador was not able to comment or confirm on those at this time.   So there is the update from today’s meeting – while I know that many of you already will be up to date on this I thought it was worthwhile sharing the latest from our Consulate and Embassy as it stands. The clock is ticking let’s check back in on this in 2 months time if not before.   Tracy Leonetti’s Update You can find out more from her www.lbsinfrance.com/       IMPORTANT LINKS Cote d’Azur Living https://www.facebook.com/groups/cotedazurliving/ The Government website and the chart describes where they have reached the agreement in Red Amber and Green – lots of it is now green. Official website www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-paris The current Settled Status offer: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-detail-provided-on-new-settled-status-for-eu-citizens www.gov.uk/government/publications/voisins-voices-a-newsletter-fr-the-british-community-in-france Voisins Voices Newsletter – sign up on the Gov.UK www.gov.uk/world/living-in-france  for info on how to get access to healthcare, get documents legalised, lawyers and how to vote abroad etc. Twitter @UKinFrance and @BritishinFrance Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/ukinfrance www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213 for naturalisation www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F16003 (for carte de sejour)   This Riviera Podcast was sponsored by www.kidooland.com The Little English School in the South of France.   #brexit #ambassador #cotedazurliving #rivierafirefly #health #rights #kidooland #pensions #fco #gov.uk #monaco #italy #pebbles #aupairsbypebbles #visas #lbsinfrance

UPDATE: You can now find all the details for the MEN'S companion reading challenge here. Wrangle your husband into doing the challenge with you or send to a man in your life who might want to dig into some amazing Gospel-Centered books.  Reading is one of the best ways that I invest in myself, in my homemaking, and in my spiritual life. But with four little munchkins and one on the way, it can be really tough to find the time to read (and to find books that are actually worth the time)!  Jason and I are both avid readers and love to do so, but if we don't plan to make time for reading (and put together reading lists) then it just doesn't happen. I've been thinking about my reading goals and lists for 2017 this month and just came across Tim Challies' 2017 Reading Challenge late last week.  Listen to the Podcast: Listen in to my podcast episode from this week to find out more about why I developed this reading plan, tips for following along, and the reasoning behind the books and categories I chose. Or skip the podcast and head down below for all the info :)  And don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast in iTunes.  Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. On Friday night, Jason and I sat down with a pen and paper and started mapping out the books we would read to follow along with this reading challenge. We are doing the highest reading tier which is 104 books in the year (yes, we are crazy)!  But as I started writing out the categories and trying to pick books, I realized that I was going to be fitting into books that I really didn't interest me and leave no extra time for other Christian books I knew I wanted to read.  I'm ALL for broadening my reading horizon, which is why I was so excited about this new reading challenge idea. But in my busy life and schedule, I just don't have the time for some of the categories: read a book that won a prize, a book of poetry (poetry so does not speak to me), a graphic novel, a book of comics, etc.  So then I started thinking about this wonderful community here on my blog and that while I'm putting together this reading challenge, since I'm going to go off of it anyway and create my own, that you might want to follow along with me!  So I sent out a quick email to my weekly newsletter ladies and got hundreds of responses that you would love to join a reading challenge if I created it geared towards Christian women. And thus, my 2017 Christian Reading Challenge was born. Ready to jump in?  Please note: Jason (my hubby) is putting together a companion lists for men. So if you're husband wants to follow along the reading challenge with you, stay tuned for that list coming tomorrow or download the free toolkit to get access to it immediately.  2017 Christian Reading Challenge for Women Here's how it works:  I have given you category suggestions for each book as well as my book recommendation. I personally recommend all of these books and tried to think about the very best books I recommend all women read. If you've already read that book or simply want a different suggestion, scroll down and you will find more book recommendations for each category (OR feel free to choose any of your own books).  Then download and/or print off the reading list to follow along.  A note about fiction: This list does not include any fiction. I LOVE reading fiction and read many fiction books throughout the year. However, since this is for entertainment and relaxation for me, I don't need to add these in as reading goals. When we are on vacation, or I have more down time (like during Christmas), I read a lot more fiction. But I'm already prone to being lazy and reaching for a fiction book more than a book to help my spiritual growth or draw closer to the Lord, so I don't need any extra reading goals to re-inforce that habit ;) But I know several of you requested fiction options worked in,

UPDATE: You can now find all the details for the MEN'S companion reading challenge here. Wrangle your husband into doing the challenge with you or send to a man in your life who might want to dig into some amazing Gospel-Centered books.  Reading is one of the best ways that I invest in myself, in my homemaking, and in my spiritual life. But with four little munchkins and one on the way, it can be really tough to find the time to read (and to find books that are actually worth the time)!  Jason and I are both avid readers and love to do so, but if we don't plan to make time for reading (and put together reading lists) then it just doesn't happen. I've been thinking about my reading goals and lists for 2017 this month and just came across Tim Challies' 2017 Reading Challenge late last week.  Listen to the Podcast: Listen in to my podcast episode from this week to find out more about why I developed this reading plan, tips for following along, and the reasoning behind the books and categories I chose. Or skip the podcast and head down below for all the info :)  And don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast in iTunes.  Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. On Friday night, Jason and I sat down with a pen and paper and started mapping out the books we would read to follow along with this reading challenge. We are doing the highest reading tier which is 104 books in the year (yes, we are crazy)!  But as I started writing out the categories and trying to pick books, I realized that I was going to be fitting into books that I really didn't interest me and leave no extra time for other Christian books I knew I wanted to read.  I'm ALL for broadening my reading horizon, which is why I was so excited about this new reading challenge idea. But in my busy life and schedule, I just don't have the time for some of the categories: read a book that won a prize, a book of poetry (poetry so does not speak to me), a graphic novel, a book of comics, etc.  So then I started thinking about this wonderful community here on my blog and that while I'm putting together this reading challenge, since I'm going to go off of it anyway and create my own, that you might want to follow along with me!  So I sent out a quick email to my weekly newsletter ladies and got hundreds of responses that you would love to join a reading challenge if I created it geared towards Christian women. And thus, my 2017 Christian Reading Challenge was born. Ready to jump in?  Please note: Jason (my hubby) is putting together a companion lists for men. So if you're husband wants to follow along the reading challenge with you, stay tuned for that list coming tomorrow or download the free toolkit to get access to it immediately.  2017 Christian Reading Challenge for Women Here's how it works:  I have given you category suggestions for each book as well as my book recommendation. I personally recommend all of these books and tried to think about the very best books I recommend all women read. If you've already read that book or simply want a different suggestion, scroll down and you will find more book recommendations for each category (OR feel free to choose any of your own books).  Then download and/or print off the reading list to follow along.  A note about fiction: This list does not include any fiction. I LOVE reading fiction and read many fiction books throughout the year. However, since this is for entertainment and relaxation for me, I don't need to add these in as reading goals. When we are on vacation, or I have more down time (like during Christmas), I read a lot more fiction. But I'm already prone to being lazy and reaching for a fiction book more than a book to help my spiritual growth or draw closer to the Lord, so I don't need any extra reading goals to re-inforce that habit ;) But I know several of you requested fiction options worked in,

The Real Book Spy Podcast: Episode 1 UPDATE: You can now download and subscribe to The Real Book Spy podcast on iTunes by clicking here! Click the audio link below to hear about two new thriller novels that are in stores today!  

I’ve had a few people ask me about how they can podcast about things that are strictly visual; think hand lettering, or programming, or gaming. That’s a great question, so I want to talk about it in today’s episode. When I started thinking about this, my first reaction was "Well, there are just some things you can't do with a podcast." Then I started thinking about why I love podcasts so much, and what makes them more appealing to me than videos or screencasts. My key points for this episode are: Podcasts are great, but you can't do everything with them Different people learn best in different mediums, so if you want to reach the most people most effectively, you need to learn how to create different kinds of content (audio, video, screencasts, writing, courses) My guest this week is friend of the show Garrett Mickley. Garrett started a podcast called Learn to Learn with Garrett Mickley, and he's passionate about helping other people optimize the way they learn. He joins me for this episode to talk about the different ways people learn best, and why podcasting isn't the right medium for learning for everyone, and why podcasters need to create content in other mediums to supplement their podcasts. Update: You'll also want to check out Forecast, it's a great app for adding chapters with artwork to your podcast: https://medium.com/simplecast/forecast-by-marco-arment-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-why-podcasters-should-take-a-look-ba446ffa8a35 Cool Stuff to Check Out: Recommended Gear: https://kit.com/thepodcastdude Podcast: https://thepodcastdude.simplecast.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepodcastdude Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thepodcastdude Successful Podcasting: http://successfulpodcasting.com Simplecast Blog: http://blog.simplecast.com/

This Week’s Episode I’m continuing my Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about photographing your pattern. I’ll be focusing on 3 topics: the photographer, the model (or backgrounds/props for non-wearables), and tutorials. Let’s talk about the photographer! As the online world has shifted to becoming more and more visual, pattern photography has become increasingly important. As a self-publishing designer, you may be your own photographer or you may choose to work with another amateur or professional photographer. Designer as photographer If you take your own photos, you have complete control. You control the styling, the framing, the editing, etc. of each photograph. (If you don’t happen to be a professional photographer, this may not always be a good thing, though!) Other benefits of taking your own photos is that it is cheaper (in money, though not necessarily in time) and you can photograph on your own schedule. If you decide to take your own pictures… Be sure to read the manual for your camera (or smartphone or tablet or whatever you use to take pictures) so you understand all the features and how to use them. Use natural lighting when available, and/or consider investing in a light box. You can buy one affordably and there are also many online tutorials for assembling your own light box. Take many, many pictures, and then choose the best ones. Get some professional development. Here are some suggestions. Read The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos by Heidi Adnum (which I reviewed here). Though it is mostly geared towards product photography (i.e., of toys and home decor items, not wearables), it is a great photography resource. Craftsy has a vast array of photography classes.  There are many online photography courses available on Udemy as well. I took Beginner Nikon DSLR Photography and found it quite helpful. I have several Pinterest boards with links to photography resources that you may find helpful. Photography: General How To Product Photography: How To Photo Editing: How To Photographing People: How To Photography Classes & Books And of course, these days most large fiber festivals offer photography classes. Since your photographs will form the first impression most people have about your designs, if you are your own photographer, make those impressions as good as you can by investing in yourself and your skills. Amateur photographer Some designers rely on a spouse, partner, family member, or friend to take pictures. This has the benefit of being free (or very inexpensive/paid with barter), but it has all of potential disadvantages of being your own photographer. To make the most out of one of these partnerships, ask your amateur photographer to get more training and make sure the emphasis is on the samples, not on you or the models. Professional photographer Working with a professional photographer will likely lead to the highest quality photos. This can be a worthwhile investment in your business. If this photographer isn’t familiar with handmade items, you may need to be more involved with styling or be more explicit about your needs. Some designers are able to work out barters or trades in exchange for professional photography services if paying a photographer is outside of their budgets. Let’s talk models! If you design wearables, you will have to decide whether to be your own pattern model, have other (human) models, use a dress form/mannequin, or take flat product photography. Designer as model The advantages of being your own model are keeping costs down, making scheduling easier, and associating your face with your designs and brand. You will definitely need to become comfortable with posing, and if you are also your own photographer, you will need to become very familiar with your timer and have an excellent tripod. Working with amateur and professional models You may choose to work with models for sizing reasons, diversity, or because you are camera shy. When working with models, a release form is critical. The American Society of Media Photographers has several release form samples that you can customize for your business. Friends and family are often a first choice for designers, but they may not be comfortable in front of the camera. Consider bringing another friend along as a stylist or to chat up your camera-shy friend while you or your photographer take pictures. Taking breaks to switch accessories or change outfits can be helpful in allowing your model to relax and look more natural. These days, many people have concerns about sharing images of children online. If you work with child models, consider taking photos from behind or the side so the full face isn’t in view. I have had good luck photographing local college students. Their rates are generally reasonable. You may want to make recommendations to your models about what to wear, or bring clothing props. Working with dress forms/mannequins Your dress form or mannequin presumably doesn’t have an active social life and is always available when you or your photographer have time to take pictures. If your dress form/mannequin fits into your light box, then you are also able to take pictures even when no natural lighting is available. Some people feel that models are preferable to dress forms, but I’ve heard just as many people say the opposite. When in doubt, go with the preferences of your target audience. Consider the “look” of your mannequin/dress form, as well. Do you want something with a neutral background and/or no face, or something with decorative fabric and/or a “lifelike” appearance. Ideally, you would make a choice that both fits your brand and budget. Taking flat/product photography If you primarily design home decor items and toys, this option may be right for you. However, if you primarily design wearables, consider whether flat photographs do your designs justice. Think carefully about what is in the background of your photos, especially when taking flat photos. Having random junk in the background can be distracting, but having some common decorations can help support your brand. 2019 Update: You can find my 10 tips for how to photography your handmade crafts with flay lay photography here. Let’s talk tutorials! Some designers never shoot tutorials, some only shoot tutorials when they are deemed necessary (by the designer), and others include tutorials with all of their designs. If you never shoot your own tutorials, you don’t need to worry about the photography of tutorials. Considerations for tutorials Whether you create tutorials occasionally or always, here are two things to consider. Will you only include specific elements (e.g., a difficult stitch or unusual construction method) or a complete project in your tutorial? If your tutorial is photographic rather than video, will you include your hands in the shots? If you plan to include tutorials for each pattern, you may want to develop a cohesive format (akin to a style sheet). What size photos will you use, and at what distance? For video tutorials, will you introduce each one face-to-camera, or will the video start with a product shot or yarn in your hands? Final thoughts on photography Consider bringing a stylist if you are the photographer. Not only can this person serve as a second set of eyes, but s/he can also help the models feel pampered! Post-production (photo editing) is also important. This can be even more important as you are developing your photography skills. If you enjoyed this episode The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in June, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated. If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).

Today’s interview is with Erica Stone, one of the best ‘real’ Amazon affiliates I know of. Her super popular course, Extreme Review, has helped hundreds of people dial-in their Amazon affiliate efforts. This interview is long and has a lot of great content– Make sure you read the whole thing. I really appreciate Erica taking the time to do this for us. UPDATE: You can now get Erica’s most popular course, Extreme Review, for just $29 here… What got you interested in starting an online business and how did you get started? In 2008, I developed an interest in HTML.  At the time, I was not looking for a new career.  I had a senior management position at one of the largest banks in the country and was just looking for a hobby.  I received a book on how to write HTML for Christmas that year and decided I’d build a family website.  I was a bit frustrated with the limitations of the free site platform I was using and began researching how to build a more substantial site.  That led me to WordPress and I started a personal blog.  Jumping into WordPress with no website experience at all was a challenge.  I enjoyed it but it only led to more research and that led me to Squidoo.  I was hooked.  I had no idea you could make money online unless you actually ran your own online store.  I’d never heard of affiliate marketing.  I joined a group on Squidoo to learn as much as I could, abandoned the idea of a family website, and spent every spare minute online building Squidoo lenses.  When I felt I had the concepts for keyword research and marketing down fairly well, I went back to WordPress and started building Amazon review sites. Did you have any failures early on and what did you learn from them? Ha!  I’m the queen of failures.  I don’t think there’s a better way to learn in the whole world.  My first WordPress site was hacked in the first couple of weeks.  I’ve broken my own sites, accidentally deleted them, and made tons of Squidoo lenses that have no hope of ever making a sale because I completely misunderstood how to target buyers with my content when I was building them.  I’ve had sites, too, that never made a sale.  I’ve tried PPC and spent plenty that never resulted in a gain no matter how analytical I am and exacting in studying the results.  I’ve chosen stupid domains, spent weeks spinning useless content and tried tools that aren’t helpful. I was online probably six months before I made my first dime and it was just that – almost exactly a dime.  Something like $0.11 or $0.16.  It was the most exciting money I’d ever made and I was earning a healthy six figures from my day job.  Why I’d be so excited by that first sale only other internet marketers will ever understand. What’s the main thing that made the difference for you in becoming successful? Only when I focused on one project exclusively for months at a time did I see any real success.  I decided to build a site around a keyword that only gets about 500 exact searches a month.  It seemed important to find something simple to work on so that I could see how the strategies all came together.  I wanted to know what it would be like to rank really well for just one keyword.  Ninety posts later the site was getting 500 visitors a day and making money through Amazon sales and a Clickbank product every day. Focusing on just one keyword, one site for an extended period of time just seemed so strange.  When you read the internet marketing forums – which so many of us do when we’re new and trying to get our arms around how to make money online – they’re so bloated with strategies and advice that they almost make you think you have to have your hand in five or ten different business models in order to be successful.  That’s just not true.  It’s also not what the forums intend you to think but it seems a natural outcome of seeing so much information in one place. Even today, I get emails from people who list out the 20 different projects they’re working on and they’re asking for help understanding why they’re not making any money.  I get tired just reading how much work and energy they’ve put into everything they have going on.  Makes me feel almost lazy in comparison. It shows that energy and effort are not the issue, in most cases.  It’s knowing what to do first, second, and third on a single project to carry it to fruition. Almost any single, niche can bring in a full time income.  Giving up too early and spreading myself too thin were probably the biggest hurdles I had to overcome. What’s the best piece of “big picture” advice you would give to someone just starting their online business? Everyone has a unique set of skills.  Those skills might work really well with one online business model and not well with another.  This means everyone has the potential for success but they have to know what they’re good at, be able to compensate for what they’re not good at, and choose a model that plays to their strengths.  I love to write, enjoy numbers and analysis, and find researching products a satisfying challenge.  This makes me a good match for affiliate marketing and review sites.  Find your strengths and make sure you choose a path that plays to those strengths. As I mentioned, almost any niche can bring a full time income.  When you think about the millions – billions, even – of dollars in sales that take place for just a single product and that you’d be happy with just a small percentage of that income, then it starts to make sense how this is true.  If manufacturers and retailers make millions every year selling baby cribs and you get into the baby crib niche, even 1% of the sales that take place is a great deal of money.  The potential is almost always there. What could you have done that would have made you successful sooner? I think the only thing that would have helped me see success more quickly would have been to start sooner.  I understood the mechanics of how to get material online but not the art of putting the right content together with the right keywords and I’m not sure you can gain much of that without taking action and seeing the results.  A lot of people that I work with struggle with over-analysis and it prevents them from getting content up online.  They have ebooks, they read all the forums they can find, they ask questions, and they study different business models but they don’t actually BUILD anything.  It’s taking the time to TRY that will teach you more than you can gain from any other resource. What would you tell people just starting out that they should focus on? Focus is really the key.  Write a plan and follow it out.  Make adjustments only when you think they’ll make a material difference to your results.  I don’t care if the plan is just a set of hand written notes or a detailed spreadsheet of what you want to do but come up with steps you want to take to get started – find a niche, get a domain, get hosting, write my first post, etc.  Write them down somewhere and start working through them.  There is a ton of information available that outlines step by step action plans for you to follow. Find one that resonates with you and work it from start to finish. Then, take the time to analyze the results.  There’s a concept that businesses of all sizes have followed for years.  Launch, analyze, refine, and keep going.  For affiliate marketers, we should put up content and then analyze the results – what keywords are bringing traffic, what is that traffic doing when they land on our site, are they finding your affiliate links, are they following them?  There’s a ton of information in tools like Google Analytics or stat plug-ins you can use for WordPress.  Look for problems and then refine your site to address those problems and keep going.  This doesn’t have to be done daily.  Keep building your site but once every month or two stop for a couple of days and just digest the site statistics and see if there’s something you should change to improve traffic, clickthroughs, or conversions. Why do some people succeed online and others never do? That’s a tough question.  There’s no one single reason that divides those that are successful from those who are not.  For some people, it’s a lack of taking action but there are many people who take so much action that I’m awed by their energy and yet that doesn’t lead to success, either.  When action IS taken but doesn’t achieve the desired results it seems to boil down to a few, common issues First, a lack of quality content can be a problem.  I don’t necessarily mean that the writing is poor and unpolished.  I mean that it doesn’t help the reader.  We can all put words on a page but it’s putting the RIGHT words on the page that will answer whatever the visitor was hoping to find when they entered the search term in the search engine that makes the difference. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and you don’t have to use big words, you just have to lead the reader through important points to consider when they’re considering buying this product. In the case of review sites, people are looking for honest, well-researched reviews of a product that give them information they can’t find on Amazon. Posts like the “Best Such and Such for 2012″ can be great traffic getters but if all it does is showcase a product without any explanation as to why it’s the best product, then it lacks the reasons people need to feel comfortable that the product really is the best. Second, using shortcuts in hopes of speeding things up doesn’t usually bring success but it’s easy to think that they will.  In fact, we really want them to so we pin our hopes on them and give it a shot because it sounds so easy.  Easy isn’t always good. People are amazed when I tell them I don’t use a lot of sophisticated tools or a large team of assistants to do what I do.  I put up my own sites, I write my own product reviews, and I write all the content I use to promote my sites (web 2.0 pages, articles, or press releases).  I have occasionally outsourced these things but I’d say that I’ve done 90% of the work myself. Outsourcing is fine but it does require that you stay heavily engaged with the content that you’re putting up.  If you’re not really reading it for understanding and if you aren’t in touch with the products you’re promoting, you’ll miss opportunities to expand your site.  Some of the best posts I put up are those that compare one product to another and it would be hard for me to know which products I should compare if I didn’t know them as thoroughly as I do. Third, I think passion for the niche and the process has a lot to do with success.  I’m just finishing up with some one-on-one coaching with a number of students.  Those who did the best had such dedication to their topic and the process that it was like they were unleashed by just having a plan to follow.  All they needed was some guidance in the right direction and they’ve come up with amazing ideas for distinguishing their sites from their competition.  They’ve added their own, unique spin on the niche and it’s simply amazing to watch them go.  While they’re certainly hoping for sales (and making them), they’re almost more driven by putting together something they can be proud of. How has running your own online business changed your life? My life is about as 180 degrees different from what it was and it’s all due to affiliate marketing.  In 2010 I left my job at the bank and became self-employed.  I’ve had moments of sheer terror wondering what I’d done but also moments of incredible freedom.  As the sole provider for a family of 5, there’s a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders and I often lose a great deal of sleep because of that pressure. Taxes, medical insurance, and retirement planning when you’re self employed are way more challenging.  I’ve easily got several more years before I’ll feel I’m as stable as I was when I was working for someone else. My lifestyle is very different, too.  My previous work life involved a great deal of meetings, travel, and long hours.  I still work long hours but only because I choose to do so and not because I have to do so.  I get up when I want (unless the kids are in school), we travel when we want, and I work in a tank top, jeans and flip-flops (something you can do just about year round in Arizona) sitting on my patio and right by the pool. Seriously, it’s like an amazing dream!  My parents have been extremely supportive of the change even knowing it was a big risk.  My mother asked me the other day if I would ever go back to working for someone else and I told her I couldn’t ever see myself doing so again. What motivates you to keep going and become even more successful? I’m highly motivated by achieving new goals.  Once I made my first dime, I wanted to make my second dime that much more quickly.  Soon it was $100 a day and then I wanted to make it $200 a day.  Supporting my family is also a huge motivator.  I have a son entering college and another son who will need a car in a couple of years.  I want to be able to help pay for those things.  My husband and I have travel goals we’d like to meet, too.  Hawaii, Greece, and a comfortable retirement. Each new financial goal I meet means I can achieve another level of success and so I keep striving for that next level.  I have a fixed amount I’d like to make each month and I won’t slow down until I’m there. You’re obviously an expert Amazon affiliate… what are some of the best tips you have for creating successful Amazon affiliate sites? One of my best tools for creating a successful site is content.  Content can be a great traffic getter all on its own.  If you write useful, relevant content about a niche, you will get traffic – long-tail at first but then you’ll gain traction when your site continues to explore that topic in depth.  I use very targeted posts that go after long-tails so that my sites become a sort of full-service, authority site around a niche.  Once the visitor lands, I want them to have all the information they could possibly need before deciding which product to buy. When you’re researching a product, ask lots of questions.  Why does a product have a particular set of features?  Who would need those features?  When are they important and when are they not useful?  Find the answers and include that information in your posts.  It will connect your content with more readers through long-tailed searches and it also makes your site unique from most competitors. Ignore products people don’t buy online.  If a product appears to be something people would prefer to buy in person, it’s not worth your time when there are so many products available that people DO buy online.  Why work harder than you have to? Find products that people buy online and buy in multiples.  When I buy lawn chairs, I never buy just one – I want a set of 2, 4, or 6.  Products like these might have lower ticket prices but when you sell multiples of them at a time, you’ll see higher commissions more quickly. How do you go about choosing niches or topics for your Amazon sites? For my Amazon sites, I tend to pick complex products that have lots of features, buttons, controls, motors, and accessories.  The more complex the product, the better, because I know that I’ll research it more thoroughly than most people will attempt.  By doing so, I’ll get more traffic in the long run.  These kinds of products also tend to have higher prices and the commissions are good for each individual sale. I make sure that there are signs that these products are bought online by checking the number of reviews that are on Amazon.  The more reviews, the more people have purchased these online before and the chances are good they’ll continue to do so. At the root of things when it comes to getting Amazon sales, the overall goal is just to get the visitor to click thru to Amazon.com. Have you found any tricks to really increasing conversions or seen big differences in what types of calls to actions work best? For my sites, I link almost every image in the post to Amazon, I include two Amazon style buttons, and I include at least 3 or 4 text links.  Those have worked well for me.  For my Squidoo lenses, I’ve been testing out using a button that says something like “see today’s favorite such and such” and link it to a search listing page on Amazon.  This gets a good clickthrough volume but a low conversion rate.  However, it showing incremental sales and I’ll take every one of those I can get. What traffic strategies are working for you right now, and are there any that will always work? My favorite traffic strategies – which also make for good backlinks – are several web 2.0 sites.  Squidoo is by far my favorite.  They rank well, they’re fun (in my opinion), and they can earn a strong page rank in their own right if done correctly.  I have some sites where the site and a Squidoo lens rank on the first page for my main keyword.  If I don’t capture a searcher one way, I stand a chance of getting them through the other link.  Squidoo has a great system in place for referral traffic that your lenses can gain from other lenses.  If you can tap into that traffic, you can use your lens to drive that traffic to your sites. Where can people go to learn more from you? I don’t have an internet marketing blog only because I’ve not carved out the time to set one up.  I do have a list where I routinely send out informative emails, updates, and tips and a set of ebooks around Amazon affiliate marketing. Erica’s main course is Extreme Review. If you’re not making money with Amazon yet but you want to then get it. If you want to get as much in-depth info from Erica on being an Amazon super affiliate, then check out these products of hers: Reviewers Edge Squidoo Niche Blaster Amazon Niche Master Here’s a tip: I buy a lot of products and guides to see what’s out there, but I end up sending only the very best ones to my Kindle so that I end up reading them over and over. Tip inside of a tip: Each of Erica’s products above are on my Kindle. The post How Erica Stone Quit Her 6 Figure Job by Building Simple Websites appeared first on StrayBlogger.

The cool Ruby hackers from OpenRain (http://OpenRain.com) forwarded us a recording from their recent Ruby developer roundtable. If you are interested Javascript and Rails, you'll love this episode! UPDATE: You can now contribute to the Rubyology podcast by participating in supplementary discussion, sharing relevant links, giving show feedback and suggesting Ruby-related topics for future episodes by joining the new Rubyology Google Group.