Plenty of stuff in here today to get you thinking! I’d love to hear your thoughts – let’s chat in the comments cos I seem to have a lot of opinions today!
11 Authors’ Strategies for Overcoming Writer’s Block // Mashable
Ah, it happens to the best of us. Nothing a few tips from the pros can’t overcome, though!
Why Manual Link Building will Never Be Obsolete // Search Engine Land
I’ve seen so much discussion about manual link building recently, and whether it should be done or not. This was food for thought.
4 Ways to Boost Your Social Media Presence // Entrepreneur.com
I do number one the most – and I find it the most fun! It’s also super-revealing into the hearts and minds of your readers.
How to Create the Right Content at the Right Time: 6 Tips to Get You Started // HubSpot
Awesome basic tips to help you stay in the know if being current and timely and blogging on trends is your thing.
How to Create an Epic Mail Course as an Opt-In // By Regina
Well there’s something different to your standard free report/eBook/printable opt-in! A whole course. If you want to take the plunge, Regina’ll help you!
What I Learned (the Hard Way) About Becoming a Full-Time Writer // Jeff Goins
What happens when you’re always chasing your ‘big break’ (and never finding it!)
How to Use Periscope to Attract Followers // Chalene Johnson
Ok so it’s established itself as the next big thing that everyone’s jumping on – find your new audience there! (and find Darren here).
Twitter Says Hearts are a Success with 6% Increase in Usage over Stars // BBC
Did you even notice? Instead of “starring” a tweet to favourite it, the icon is now a heart. I always wanted something like a Facebook “thumbs up” to show that I liked a tweet, which sadly, I still don’t have. I use the “favourite” function to save favourites I can refer to later, even though I know lots of folk who use that as a virtual “like” button. Maybe this will help me psychologically move beyond the favouriting that’s always held me back and like a tweet for the sake of it! (but then I’ve still got a list of crap I need to wade through to find the thing I want… hm…)
Google’s New “About Me” Tool Lets You Control Personal Information Shown by Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and More // Venture Beat
Google Plus is now no longer a user requirement for anything Google-related, and so from last week, Google rolled out the new tool that allows you to modify how much personal info users see of you online.
Adam Gopnik on Darwin’s Brilliant Strategy for Preempting Criticism and the True Mark of Genius // Brainpickings
Oh if it’s one thing I’m sick of doing, it’s preempting criticism. It can really strangle you as a writer, entrepreneur, or creative. Thinking of all counterarguments before you’ve even published anything is exhausting. And probably stupid in many blog cases, because you want conversations, not to be the final word on everything. It is difficult when people take issue with what you’ve written (especially if they’ve misinterpreted you), but I wonder about covering off every possible angle to ensure nobody can complain and if it’s necessary. But this article totally made me think… especially because the practice of criticising one’s own ideas is actually a very useful one, and not just to shut down arguments before they happen! What do you think?
Stacey Roberts is the Managing Editor of ProBlogger.net: a writer, blogger, and full-time word nerd balancing it all with being a stay-at-home mum. She writes about all this and more at Veggie Mama. Chat with her on Twitter @veggie_mama or be entertained on Facebook.
This is a great round up. I have been working my way thru the list. One thing that I would like say is that I am digging the Twitter hearts. At first it seemed silly but the little animation is fun and it has more meaning than a star.
Is that weird?
haha not weird at all. I totally get it!
Hi Stacey,
Neat round up here ;) I am heading in the reverse direction with criticism, which is neat. I just blog for fun, feeling largely detached, and that level of clarity and confidence attracts the very readers who love how I blog and who dig what I have to say. Honestly, works like a charm BUT the level of clarity I’ve worked to achieve to get here was quite difficult to do. Having to sit with my doubts, and fears, and attachment, so I didn’t critique myself was hellishly uncomfortable at times but oh so worth it.
This is a double-edged sword though. With that level of detachment I am blogging much less which also feels uncomfortable as heck sometimes. Tough to do at times BUT the quality of my work, the authenticity behind what I am doing and my presence seem to be expanding with each and every post. It almost feels like magic yet it is how we’re all designed when we detach a bit, have fun and let the really fun-loving, inspired, playful ideas hit us. My work is fab because I don’t feel the desperate, needy vibes, HAVING TO post, like I did in the past and even if I do, I don’ honor these feelings by acting on them.
I was my own worst critic. Then I was my own biggest fan. Then I needed neither the critic or fan, the Jekyll and Hyde bit here in paradise, because I just created for the fun of it, not for seeking approval or feedback or any of that stuff. When I blogged for the fun of it I already received my reward, and all I needed: the fun. All else just feels like extra, and although I am open to feedback I don’t feel that pressing need for anything else through my blogging exploits these days.
All of these look like awesome reads. I will happily dive into a few of ’em over the next few days. Thanks so much for sharing with us Stacey!
Ryan
Oh the needy vibes! They’re the worst!
This is a great round up Stacey. For me, the article that really stands out from this list is ‘Why Manual Link Building Will Never Be Obsolete’. No bots or softwares can beat human in producing high quality links.