Okay so I'm behind

Alright well it appears that I've revealed one of my flaws. I have been so sidetracked with all of my recent projects that I have been very neglectful of my blog and I have missed it.

Here's a brief (or not so) recap of what's been happening for the past few weeks:

The Red Wings lost in Game 7. As previously mentioned, I HATE game 7's!! Book club was held the night of the game and against my better judgement I attended and TiVO'd the beginning of the game. My next door neighbor (a Penguins fan) did the same and as we walked home from book club we agreed that we'd still be friends in the morning (we are but it's tough! LOL!). I was so supremely confident is was scary. We were at home and we're the Wings! Well apparently the coach didn't get that memo and he went away from several key things that had been working - namely using some very talented rookies from the AHL. But I digress (or at least I force myself to or "my playoff aneurysm" might return) - there's always next year!

As for books, I am deeply immersed in the Twilight series. I will wait until I complete the final book (Breaking Dawn) to post my full review but suffice as to say, I am enjoying the journey immensely.

Now we come to one of the things that I have been most concerned with since my last post. Affiliate Marketing. Some people love it, some people hate it. There is no denying however that if done properly, you can make money. The great state of North Carolina however apparently could care less about people who earn their living this way. The NC legislature is in budget negotiations and is prepared to enact new tax provisions that would now force companies like Amazon and Overstock to charge state sales tax to consumers (no matter their location) purchasing via links originating from associates and affiliates in NC. So in a state where the unemployment rate is 11.1% (as of May 2009), the legislature is creating a tax structure that has forced several large businesses to end relationships with NC residents and taking away income with no recourse. And now that the big companies have terminated these relationships, what's to stop every other affiliate program from following suit? The "honorable" Governor Bev Perdue stated within the past week, “I will be very surprised if any of the major click through retailers refuse to sell to our state, which is the seventh largest in America". I'll bet she's surprised when the Groundhog sees his shadow in February too!

Also included in this budget is a provision that will tax digital downloads (such as iTunes). Very surprisingly I haven't heard many complaints in regards to this particular provision but I feel pretty confident that if this particular phrasing goes into effect there will be a huge backlash especially for those consumers in Charlotte who will suddenly be paying almost 5% more for their iTunes than their SC counterparts a mere 15 minutes away. And that's only if Apple and Amazon agree to collect the sales tax instead of eliminating the sale of digital products to residents of the state.

I have talked to numerous staffers for state congressmen (and women) and state senators as well as a particularly unhelpful aide within the Governor's office trying to voice my incredibly strong opposition to this taxing. The aide in the Governor's office told me that the Governor would not address complaints until the (passed) budget was on her desk. So much for "For the People, By the People".

So since I have rambled on at length on this topic, I urge anyone who lives in NC to please call their representatives in the Legislature and tell them how unfair this tax is to each and every North Carolinian.

I miss Mamah

Okay so maybe I was wrong. (Please note date and time for future reference) While I am still firmly against the style that the book was written in, I now find myself wishing that there were more of Loving Frank to read. I really enjoyed the character of Mamah Borthwick. I was stunned by the events near the end - if you haven't read the book and you don't know anything about the characters, please don't spoil it for yourself and Google Mamah. I have found myself over the past couple of days actually missing the book now that I have finished. If you've read any of my previous entries regarding this book you'll know that this was not an easily reachable feat. I resisted this book from the start and only continued because I wanted to finish this for book club.

Mamah (pronounced MAY-muh) was a very intriguing character. Combine the choices and struggles that she made and faced with the fact that she made them in the earliest years of the 20th century and you have a heroine that is likeable, detestable, consistent, heartfelt and very sad. I would assume that women of today reading her story will find many similarities in the struggles that are faced a hundred years later. So many women wrestle with work and family obligations with being responsible yet still free enough to still find and acknowledge the "real" person inside of herself.

In reading the author's notes at the end of the book I was disapponted to know that there was not much more material available to give me more insight into the real life of this amazing woman who made me actually want to read more about an architect.

Since finishing I returned to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which I was about 20 pages into while reading Loving Frank. I LOVED this book. I am sure that I could use much more flowery prose to tell you all its virtues but this is hand's down the BEST book that I have read in years (yes bypassing Firefly Lane) . Written in a series of letters, the authors (there are two - one of which who unfortunately passed away before the book was released) created a family of characters that was funny, endearing, heartbreaking, frustrating and altogether inviting and warm. Given that these characters have just come through the German Occupation during World War II, this was a daunting task, I'm sure.

Very often, I want for more when a book is over but with Guernsey I ache to know more about the rich characters that I got to know. There are so many stories left to tell and I am so sad that Mary Ann Shaffer is no longer with us to continue the incredible journey that "the society" has taken me on. I think that given the reception that this book has received from reviewers and book clubs alike, there could defintely have been a host of sequels.

In addition to the fabulous characters this book celebrates the universal love of books that I have and that I hope to share with my children. I will definfitely share this book with both of my girls as they get older.

On a completely different note, I am so mad tonight! My Detroit Red Wings had the chance to finish off the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight and win the Stanley Cup - no luck and now its on to a winner take all Game 7 on Friday. I hate Game 7's!

StephieB in NC

Twitter......My New Obsession

I am a relatively new participant in the Twitter craze but somehow I have been quickly addicted.  

The very first person that I "followed" was Karl Rove.  I know, I know that sounds silly even I as I say but I thought it would be fun to watch all the "interesting" things that he would have to say in the Twittersphere.  He does have some interesting posts and some good links but mostly he reminds his "followers" to tune in and watch whenever he's on one of the FoxNews shows.

Little by little I added new people to follow and was (pleasantly) surprised when some even decided to follow back.  In the beginning, I had convinced myself that I would only use Twitter for business purposes so I continued to search out people that shared interests (conservative policies, tea parties, etc) so that I could promote my t-shirt designs that featured the same types of topics. 

In my desire to keep my tweets for business, I was actually drawn into one of those "Increase your Targeted Twitter Following on AutoPilot" posts.  I can't even really tell you why I clicked on it because normally I would never click on some get rich quick link.  However, I am really glad that I did - and probably not so much for the reasons that most would think.

Yes, I did purchase the Twitter Traffic Machine product and I must say it is the best $27 I have spent in the past 6 months!  I learned so much about Twitter and the different types of applications out there.  This is the newbie Twitterer's best friend.  Can you make money?  I would have to say that all depends on how you utilize the tools that are given to you. 

I found cool applications like TweetLater and bit.ly that will help you manage your Tweets and Content.  I learned a lot more about some Google products that I would have never even known about.

I have taken the tools, tips and tricks provided in the Twitter Traffic Machine information and have begun to apply them in different ways for my differnt business' needs.  The automated follow tools that are outlined have been EXTREMELY beneficial to me and I have absolutely generated new sales that would not have been possible without Twitter and these tools and applications.

For example, I started an account for my cellular accessories website (CarolinaCell) and began to find people who were interested in the latest and greatest cell phones and technology.  Within ONE day, I was able to see sales for models that I hadn't had sales for in months!  The only difference being the traffic generated to my website from the Twitter page.

Another example is for some new tshirt designs I have from one of my other venures (FunTShirtOutlet).  I launched several new designs last week and only announced them via Twitter in order to gauge success.  Within two days we've had our first sales on the new designs. 

So yes, very enthusiastically, I would encourage everyone who wants to learn to use social marketing effectively for YOUR business (affliate based or not, which I am not) to take $27 (come on, you know you have it in your PayPal account) and learn how to make Twitter work for you!  I did and I am making money from my real businesses and not just because I talk about a system or product.  

Give it a try - you'll be glad that you did.

I now have several Twitter accounts (and no not all for work anymore, I broke my own rule and now both my husband and I have personal Twitter accounts as well) and follow all kinds of fun and interesting people.  

Twitter is growing by leaps and bounds - adding almost 19 million users in April 2009 bringing to over over 30 million total.  Some estimates have users growing to 100 million by the end of the year (although that was before China limited use).  A recent survey showed that 84% of businesses polled felt that Twitter usage could increase their business.  With stats like that, it makes sense to be sure that you know what you are doing and how to do it easily and efficiently.

Sure, I still follow Karl Rove and various other "big" Twitterers, but I also follow people that I would never have known about if not for Twitter and most of them are funny, engaging and super smart.  And some of them are even consumers that are interested in my products!  My guess is that they might be interested in yours too!

I'd love to hear your feedback!  Post a comment or follow me on one of my many Twitter accounts - StephieBinNC  and send me your Tweets!

  

A Little Better .....

So I have gotten a bit farther into Loving Frank and it may be marginally better than my first impression.  I am liking the character of Mamah Borthwick but still not in love with the style that this entire book has been written.  I should have it finished within a day or two in plenty of time for book club next Friday.

I am finally feeling better from all of the crazy allergy symptoms and my nose feels almost normal again.  I must say Zyrtec D is a wonder drug - thanks to my pharmacist for the suggestion.

I have posted a link on the side of the blog to one of my web ventures!  Please feel free to browse the designs that I have done and put onto t-shirts and other fun stuff!  If you like what you see, please tell your friends.

Has anyone else been watching Harper's Island for the past few (okay several) weeks on CBS?  I must day I am completely hooked and have a couple of interesting theories on the killer's identity - anybody else wonder if the first victim (under the boat) was really the cousin that they made us think that it was?  I also wonder why they have chosen to try so hard to make me think that its not Jimmy.  (as a side note, I just took a minute to try go look up Jimmy's name - I couldn't remember it - and so just found a very addicitng discussion thread at harpersglobe.com  Yikes!)

Well enough random thoughts for the day - thanks for listening!