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Don’t you just love it, when you “get it”?

Published on January 21, 2016January 20, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Me too!

Thanks to J.A. Stinger for sending me to a new blogger, at least new to me, for another light bulb moment.

I’ve been a member of Amazon Associates for years. I’ve never understood how to use it. Now don’t y’all get all uppity on me, I’m sure there are a few things that has confounded you over the years. Well, back to my issue with Amazon Associates. Since I couldn’t figure out how to link anything to my blog with the Associates link, I just forgot about it. Until today when I read J.A.’s blog and followed her link to AnaSpoke.com for the rest of the story.

Folks, this is why reblogging is so important.

As I read and then reread Ana’s post a second time the pieces clicked into place and I finally got it.

When I’d finished, I went a bit further and discovered a couple of tricks of my own. So after you’ve read Ana’s tips keep reading, I’ve got a few more for you.

Even more fun with WordPress widgets: how to create an Amazon affiliate link and make a ton of cents! By Anna Spoke

Here’s what I learned:

1- After you’ve found the product, click on “Shorten URL with amzn.to?” above the HTML code.

This gives you a short URL link that you can copy and link to any image.

2- Click on the “Build more links” button on the right below the HTML code.

This takes you to the screen below where you can select from 3 different customized links, Text only, Image with Text, or Image only.

I like the image only, as it will give you a widget you can use on your website. That’s the one I have on the upper top left of this website.

3- Select one of the 3 and click Highlight HTML and copy.

4- Paste the HTML code in the widget you want to use on your website.

Now go sign up on Amazon Associates.

Hope my tips were as helpful as Ana’s. If they were, or if you’ve had good success on Amazon Associates, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

I’d like to introduce you to my latest character

Published on January 19, 2016January 19, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

Many of you got to know Ben, a very timid boy.

Now I’d like you to meet…

“A Most Reluctant Princess”

Hopefully, I won’t make as many mistakes getting her story told and published as I did with poor Ben.

This book will be for preschoolers. So anyone looking to be Beta Readers, leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Look for her debut the end of February or first of March.

This time, I’m not going to rush the process, no matter how excited I get. Maybe that way I’ll make fewer mistakes.

Wish me luck with my little Princess!

On another bit of news. I was thrilled to discover another 5 star review for Tryouts for Ben at Amazon.com! Yay!

How to ease those writer’s aches and pains

Published on January 15, 2016January 14, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

I bet you’re just like me, trying to find ways to write and stretch the kinks out at the same time.

Ain’t easy is it?

I think writers suffer with these aches and pains because we sit too long-lost in our thoughts as we breathe life onto a blank page.

If you’ve sat at a desk any length of time, you know what I’m talking about.

I started sitting at a desk when all typing was done in triplicate on a Selectric Typewriter. My hands have more knots than a boy scout climbing rope. And don’t get me started about my neck and back.

But what’s a writer to do? Me I’ll take a little cheese with my whine…. LOL

All joking aside, as a young woman I didn’t worry about taking care of my joints. Wish I had. Like so many today, thought I was invincible. Now, its hot baths and lots of Ibuprofen.

Each year I’m amazed at the ever evolving technology. I can’t seem to take advantage of it as I should. Seems to change way too fast for me.

I watched a doctor recently dictate into his computer instead of writing or typing into my chart. Unfortunately, it took him three tries to get it right. As I watched, my first thought was, maybe I could use something like that to write with. My second thought was, I don’t have that kind of time. I’d throw my computer out the door if I had to repeat myself that many times. Not to mention, I’d probably forget what I was writing about by the time the software got a paragraph right.

Do any of y’all use voice software to dictate your writing?

So, apparently not all technology is for me. But, one gadget I do use is an alarm that buzzes me when I’ve sat too long. A small reminder to stand and move about a bit. It’s not as much of an intrusion as I first thought. If I’m in the middle of a good thought, I just hit okay and keep writing. The alarm will buzz me again soon.

I also love my ergonomic mouse with the little roller thingamajig on top.

Here are a couple of good articles that y’all might find helpful.

Writing: How to Take Care of your Hands and Wrists by Debbie Young

The Best Seating Solutions for Indie Authors at their Writing Desks by Debbie Young

This is for my sisters! And anyone else who enjoys Yoga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppToA1N0CgE

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

What makes your blog float to the top?

Published on January 14, 2016January 13, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

Is it a catchy title, fancy SEO or what?

Anyone know where to order a website life jacket?

Do you know what an SEO is?

This writer hasn’t a clue!

Learning to market and use SEOs is just one of the many things writers are faced with everyday.

In fact the more I write, the more I discover writers need to wear many hats.

Writers need to market what we write, whether it’s a blog post, a children’s book or a 600 page novel. If we want people to buy it, we have to sell it. It seems writing is also a business of sorts.

Writers have to be editors, before we send it to a proper editor. Writers have to be illustrators before we hire someone who can draw. And the list goes on.

Neil Patel said, “Your content marketing campaign will fail unless you integrate SEO.”
Read more at Business2Business. At his blog, Kissmetrics.com, he explains that marketing your blog is like having a conversation between two people. SEO meets Content. Their conversation gets Google’s attention.

Nope, still don’t understand.

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Branding?? Nope, no longer done in Texas. The cattle here are bar tagged just like everything at Walmart.

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Hey, but the Cowboys still look just as hot.

Steve Masters lists 5 Ways To Come Up With Original Blog Post Ideas Over at the business 2 business community blog.

So SEO and Branding are two jobs I’m just going to let dust cover for now. These two things are just way over my head.

How about you guys? Any of you pros at this SEO and Branding stuff?

Did this help? Anyone? Anyone still there?

All this info made my head hurt. I need a glass of Merlot. I’m going to go find something to do now that will let my brain rest. Maybe watch Judge Judy.

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.