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Writer's Notes - By Jeanne Dininni

 
WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!


Every writer’s business is different – or should I say unique. Some writers work exclusively online. Others write for print media. Many work for local clients, and a considerable number do more than one of the above. That’s why every writer’s method of marketing his or her work will be different.

Of course, I can’t be sure whether you use postcards or other similar printed materials when marketing your writing services. But, if you do, you might be interested in PostcardPrinting.com, a site that offers quite a few options at prices that appear quite reasonable.

Whether you’d like to send a postcard to remember your clients on holidays or offer a special discount to increase business, PostcardPrinting.com offers a selection that can help you express your brand with class. From their line of Promotional postcard designs to their Holiday, Special Occasion, and "Styles” selections, the site offers a variety of attractive styles from which you may choose.

For those who would prefer something a bit more unique, the site also offers the option of personalizing its standard designs or creating your own by uploading your artwork and either using it exactly as uploaded or using the site’s online editing tool to add additional text to your uploaded postcard design. If you have artistic talent and/or have your own logo for your writing business, this option will help you create postcards that truly reflect your brand.

Visit PostcardPrinting.com to see all your post printing options and view the prices for various quantities of standard and UV-coated postcards in selected sizes in either single- or double-sided styles. Your options are virtually endless!


Here’s to effectively marketing your writing!
Jeanne



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Got Cell-Phone Clutter?

Writers, like practically everyone else in today’s world, depend on their cell phones to do many things. Depending on how busy we are, how much wear and tear our phones get, and how many features we may need as our businesses grow, we usually find ourselves deciding to upgrade – or just replace – our hard-working cell phones eventually.

If you’re anything like me, when you do decide to buy a new cell phone, you end up with not just one, but two cell phones – one in almost-constant use and the other lying around the house taking up space and creating clutter. Some people recycle their old cell phones. Others donate them to organizations that send them to soldiers overseas or give them to needy people at home. And I certainly wouldn’t want to imply that these aren’t good ways of disposing of a cell phone we no longer use.


Mini Cash-Flow Fix

But, those of us who have a cell phone or two lying around the house gathering dust, while we sit here waiting for the next freelance writing check to come in, sometimes need to look for creative ways to bring in a few extra bucks. One way we can do that is by selling that cell that’s sitting unused in a drawer. I know it’s only a temporary – and very small – fix to the freelancer’s frequent cash-flow problem, but it could just help a little while also encouraging us to get rid of an item we no longer need.

I have to admit that the option of selling my old cell phone has never really seemed worth the trouble to me (which is one reason I ended up giving my last one away). But, hearing about the sell cell phone site, a price-comparison website that makes it easy to find the best buy-back deal for a used cell phone, makes it seem as if it might just pay off -- even if in just a small way. I’m certainly under no grand illusions about the amount of money I can bring in this way (particularly with the conventional, low-tech cell phone models I buy). But, anything is better than nothing, and I think most people would do much better than I, since practically everyone owns a fancier model than I do.


Have a Look

While I’ve never actually used the service personally, it does appear to be pretty comprehensive. Here's a link to the site's How it Works page. Have a look. Maybe it will turn out to be worth your while. If not, all you've spent is a bit of your time. In fact, it won't even cost you anything to use the service. You'll also get free shipping from the company you decide to sell your phone to -- and apparently, even broken cell phones bring up to 90% of their value. Sounds like there isn't too much to lose.


Till next time,
Jeanne


This post sponsored by PayPerPost.



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Printed Promotional Materials for Your Business

Do you use professionally printed products to promote your business? Writers are among the many small business owners and independent business people who can often benefit greatly by using professional printing services to help us create printed materials that effectively illustrate our skills, describe our experience, and promote our services.

Depending on our chosen marketing method, we writers may need such printed items as business cards, letterhead and envelopes, brochures, or greeting cards. And, if our work keeps us too busy to write and mail our own greeting cards, we might just decide that we'd benefit from outsourcing the task to a reliable go-between. After all, such a tailor-made opportunity to favorably impress our clients or business associates is not only tempting but easily accomplished via the right resource.

We might even decide that our marketing or PR campaign would benefit from imprinted promotional items, such as calendars or bookmarks, to distribute to clients or prospects. Yet, whatever our precise printing needs may be, we'll want to find a company that offers quality products which are compatible with those needs and with the goals we've determined to be important to us.


PsPrint: Combining Quality with Convenience

PsPrint is a company which provides business printing services of all kinds to entrepreneurs everywhere. Combining the speed and convenience of online ordering with the personalized service of a neighborhood print shop, PsPrint gives today's busy writer the best of both worlds. With an impressive list of print products and services, ranging from basic business card, letterhead, and postcard printing, to complete graphic design packages, PsPrint can become your one-stop professional print shop, catering to all your business needs.

While I haven't yet had the opportunity to personally use its services, a few things about PsPrint's website impress me. The first is the free sample kit which allows the potential client (you) to see firsthand the quality of the paper and printing used to create its products. The second is the wide variety of options available for customizing your print package to make it better fit your unique needs. The third is the list of weekly deals that help make your professional print job more affordable.

Every business owner must decide for him or herself what qualities are most important in a printing company and how much these qualities are worth. So, why not visit the PsPrint website today and see exactly what the company has to offer your business. You may just find that the happy marriage of convenience and quality makes PsPrint's products and services worth every cent.


To your great PR!
Jeanne


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Books, Books Everywhere!

If you're anything like me, you've got quite a large collection of books--and that's putting it mildly! In fact, if you haven't taken stock lately, it's quite possible that you've got a much larger collection than you really need or even have enough room for. You may have writing books, textbooks, gardening books, health books, diet and nutrition books, fiction books--and all these in addition to the myriad reference books we writers would never be without.

If the above description sounds like you, you've probably noticed that your bookshelves are literally bulging with books. Or, perhaps you haven't noticed. After all, we writers are a busy lot, and it's easy for us to overlook a lot of what's going on in our environment while we're hard at work on that article, story, blog post, or chapter. Yet, it's quite possible that, while you've been busy working, your books have begun overflowing their shelves onto every convenient surface and into every available nook and cranny in your home or office, and you've simply been too busy to notice.


Now Is a Great Time to Take Stock of Your Book Collection

What better time could there be than now to pause, take stock, and consider selling some of the books you no longer need? Though parting with our beloved books can sometimes be tough, we can always benefit from cutting down on the clutter in our workspaces--as long as we make sure we hold on to those books that we really want or need. And if we can pick up a few bucks for the books we no longer need, we reap a double benefit.


SellBackYourBook.com Makes Selling Your Books Easy

Sell Back Your Book is a U.S. website that offers instant price quotes for your books. All you'll need to do to get a price quote is enter each book's ISBN into the proper field. (Books must be in good condition, as described on the site's FAQ page, for the price quote to be valid; quotes are good for 10 days.) The company covers 100% of shipping charges on purchases over $10 and 50% on purchases under $10. It also provides a free, pre-paid shipping label, which you can print out and use to avoid paying up-front shipping charges, meaning you won't be required to wait for reimbursement later. Payment for your books is made by either PayPal or check.


Sell TextBooks and More Online at Sell Back Your Book

College or homeschool textbooks, along with many other types of books, can be sold through the Sell Back Your Books website. And while the amount offered for each book is generally modest (my offers ranged from $1.70 to $8.50, with the vast majority falling somewhere in the middle of that range), you'll be able to pick up a little money for a box of books, while clearing out your living space for you and your family. I've managed to collect a batch of books for which they're willing to pay me about $50--which I don't consider to be bad at all for a stack of books I might have gotten rid of for nothing.

If you don't mind packing up your books, taking them to the post office to ship them, and waiting until the company receives them before you receive your money, this might be a great way for you to pick up a little extra cash for something you have lying around the house anyway which you aren't even using.


Happy de-cluttering!
Jeanne


Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts to share about keeping/selling/giving away used books? Do you have a large number of books that are causing your bookshelves to burst at the seams? Or are you good about getting rid of old books before buying too many new ones? I'd love to hear your thoughts!



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Need a Bit of Musical Inspiration? Try HD Digital Radio

Music can be a real source of inspiration for writers, artists, and other creative people. Many find that listening to their favorite music while they work sets the appropriate atmosphere to enhance their intellectual and perceptual abilities, stimulate their imaginations, focus their minds, and fuel their inner urge to create. And, while artistic people have been creating to music for years, with the advent of such modern, state-of-the-art HD digital radio systems as the Jensen JiMS 525i, there's never been a better time for enjoying top-quality sound in your home or office.


HD Radio Advantages and Options

Upgrading to HD digital radio can provide many advantages over traditional, analog radio, including better sound clarity, greater convenience, and easy building of your music library through iTunes Tagging. With an iTunes Tagging enabled HD Radio™ receiver, you can quickly and easily tag your favorite songs as soon as you hear them on the radio, conveniently marking them for later purchase and download from iTunes® to your iPod®.

If you live in the U.S., you'll also be able to search for new music stations on the HD radio website, by using the drop-down menu, which lists the stations by city and state. Many HD stations are also offering added HD2 and HD3 channels, which are subscription-free, making it even easier for you to surround yourself with that inspiration that comes from the magic of music.


Price vs. Quality of Life

HD digital radio receivers come in various types, including clock radios and compact desk systems with or without iPod® docks. And while the cost of some such systems can be fairly significant, the JiMS 525i is quite reasonably priced. Offering numerous great features, this system's cost-to-benefit ratio is a solid one, and people whose music systems are an important expenditure for their quality of life will likely find this one well worth the cost.


To your inspiration!
Jeanne


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Thoughts.com: A Friendly Place to Blog

September 18th 2008 19:09


Blogs, Forums, Free Polls, or Exciting Prizes, Anyone?

Are you looking for a free online blog community where you can share your thoughts, photos and videos, music files, podcasts, and more--without pressure, deadlines, or stress? Would a friendly and active forum where you can meet new people and discuss current news, events, or any other topic that strikes your fancy, or the opportunity to win expense-paid retreats to fabulous places excite your interest? Does unlimited free space for your postings sound like a great deal to you? You might even already have a blog of your own and would simply like to create free polls to post on it. If any of the above features sound good to you, you might want to check out a new community which is growing up at Thoughts.com--a community which focuses on Blogs, with a capital B!


Thoughts.com: A Great Place to Try Your Hand at Blogging

For those who have the creative urge, yet who've mainly focused on reading other people's blogs, possibly going so far as to comment occasionally, and have begun thinking about trying blogging out for themselves, yet up till now, have been a little shy about doing so, Thoughts.com can be a great place to start. The friendly, casual, easygoing atmosphere of this site can help make the sometimes-frightening prospect of becoming an official blogger a positive, enjoyable, even fun experience, helping you get your "Web feet" wet, with zero performance anxiety.


Something for Everyone

Whether you've always dreamed of blogging, but haven't yet had the nerve to try it, or are simply seeking a site where you can engage others in conversation--or pick up a nifty, free poll for your own website or blog--Thoughts.com could just be the site you've been looking for. Why not stop by and check it out? You may just like what you see.


Happy blogging!
Jeanne


Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? If you've never blogged before, would you be more inclined to try blogging on a more casual, low-profile website or an "official," high-profile site? Why? If you're an experienced blogger, do you often check out forums and other social media sites where you can connect with others of like mind? I'd love to hear your thoughts!



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Could You Use Internet for Life?

How would you like to know that your high-speed internet service would be covered for life? I know I would. That would be a dream-come-true for any online writer or blogger. Well, it could happen.

If you live in an area that offers Charter Internet service, you may be eligible to bid, auction-style on Charter High-Speed Internet service for life, including a modem and installation. (Starting bid is $10, and Charter has no idea what the final bid will be.) It would certainly be helpful for any online writer or blogger to win that bid.


Or Perhaps You'd Like to Win a Wii

Aside from bidding on Charter's internet service, you can also enter their drawing to win a Nintendo Wii. The Wii comes complete with a whole list of accessories--everything you need to use the system, including several games. (More on that later.) If playing video games is a form of relaxation you enjoy between articles, poems, or blog posts--or if you happen to have a teen at home who would just love to own a Wii--the contest might be an opportunity for you to get one of your own.


More Info on the Bidding

Bidding on the Charter High-Speed Internet service for life package will begin March 12th and run until March 26th. Registration is required to participate, and you may register between now and March 11th. You'll need to qualify by zip code. (This is how Charter will determine whether you live in an area serviced by Charter High-Speed Internet.) Once you've qualified, you'll be able to participate in the bidding for the fastest internet service offered by Charter. You'll find complete auction rules at the link below.


More Sweepstakes Info

You'll also be able to register for the drawing to win the Nintendo Wii. If you're the winner, here's what you'll get: "a Nintendo Wii Console, Wii Stand, 5 Sports games (Boxing, Baseball, Tennis, Golf and Bowling), 1 Remote Controller, 1 Nunchuk Controller, 1 Sensor Bar, 1 Wii AC Adapter, 1 Wii AV Cable"--everything you need to play. If the sweepstakes interests you, Click Here for a Chance to Win a Nintendo® Wii™!

It sure would be great if you won one or the other--or both!

Good luck!
Jeanne



This post sponsored by PayPerPost.



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Save Money By Buying Prescription Glasses Online

If you're in the market for an inexpensive pair of prescription eyeglasses to see you through your next writing project--or perhaps to use as a backup when you've misplaced your main pair--you might want to look into buying your glasses online, which can save you money.


Prescription Glasses for $8.00 a Pair? How is this Possible?

Zenni Optical, an online seller of prescription glasses, offers a variety of eyeglass types and styles, as well as a number of added features/treatments at very reasonable prices, which can help stretch your eyeglass budget. Their basic, single-vision lens eyeglasses, which are available in a wide variety of frame styles, start at only $8.00 a pair complete. This very competitive price is possible not only because Zenni Optical sells direct to the customer, eliminating the middleman, but also because the company's advertising budget is virtually non-existent.


A Few Details About What You Get from Zenni Optical

At Zenni Optical, all eyeglasses come with free anti-scratch coating, UV protection, lens edge polishing and beveling, hard case, and lens cleaning cloth. In addition to single-vision glasses, Zenni Optical also offers bi-focals and progressive eyeglasses, as well as a number of different lens and treatment upgrades for your chosen style, at various prices. Shipping charges are a flat rate of $4.95, regardless of how many pairs of eyeglasses you order.


Zenni Optical: A Company Well Worth Checking Out

All in all, this company's prices, practices, perks, and product choices appear quite reasonable, and they look, to me, like a company which would be well worth checking out. The only downside I can see here is that you wouldn't be able to try the glasses on prior to purchase to be sure you like the style; but I think this could be fairly easily overcome by experimenting with different frame shapes/styles at your local optical outlet to find out which eyeglass shapes and frame types look best on you. At any rate, it would be hard to go wrong for $8.00 a pair.

So, why not check out this Great Discovery: www.ZenniOptical.com, and see if it doesn't save you money on prescription eyeglass purchases in 2008.






Here's to clarity in 2008!
Jeanne



This post sponsored by PayPerPost.



Did you enjoy this post? Was it helpful? Have any ideas or experiences to share? We'd love to hear from you!


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Secure Remote Management

If you administer—or use—a remote computer network that experiences technical problems periodically, you know how inconvenient correcting those problems can be. To reduce that inconvenience, one solution you might want to look into—or have your network’s administrator look into—is Secure Remote Management, by Uplogix. When you experience network connectivity problems, the Uplogix remote management system eliminates the need for travel to a remote office or server, drastically reducing your mean time to recovery. This can prevent many added problems caused by time-sensitive business issues.


Uplogix Envoy: Always Connected

The Uplogix Envoy tool is always connected—even when your network goes down—which allows you to effectively monitor connectivity, automate maintenance tasks, and perhaps most importantly, address connectivity problems from a central location as soon as they occur. Check out the Telecom Trends article at the above link to learn more about how you can keep your computer network humming along with minimal interruption even when those inevitable connectivity problems occur.

Happy networking!
Jeanne


This post sponsored by PayPerPost.



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Time Out for Travel

During the holidays, we writers often think of taking a little time off from our daily writing routines. While many travel during the holidays, others prefer to treat this time as a season of rest and relaxation and would rather plan their travels for a less-hectic time of year. But whether you prefer to travel during the holidays or at other times, Trusted Tours and Attractions can help make your travels to 21 U.S. destinations more memorable.


A Newsletter and (Maybe) a Nano

Not only will signing up for the Trusted Travel eNewsletter bring all the travel info you need for trip-planning right to your inbox; but when you sign up before December 31st, it will also give you an automatic entry into a drawing for an iPod Nano.


Vegas: Visible from Space?

One city to which Trusted Tours and Attractions offers discounted tickets is Las Vegas. Everyone should see this city at least once! It’s been said that Las Vegas is so brightly lit that it’s literally visible from outer space! I don’t know how true this claim is, but I do know, from my own visit a number of years ago, that it’s definitely a sight to behold!


My Trip to Vegas

At the time of my visit, my parents lived there, which was the reason for my trip. When I arrived, Mom and Dad were eager to show me a few of the casinos that weren’t very far from their home. While I’m not much of a gambler, I brought $20.00 with me to the casino, along with a $5.00 bill my landlord had given me to “play the slots” for him. I decided to play video Keno, which looked like fun.


A Conservative Gambler

As conservative as I am, I found this game which required only nickel bets to be right up my alley. I could play one, two, three or four nickels at a time, with any winnings of course being dependent on how many nickels I played. After playing one or two without much of a return, I decided to “go for the gusto” and play four. I played for a while losing a little here, winning a little there. (I’ve never seen so many lights or heard so many sounds in one place as I did that night!)


Flashing Lights and Clanging Bells

After I’d played for a while, I looked up from my cup of nickels to see the results of my latest play, realizing suddenly that my machine was clanging, flashing, and definitely attracting attention! I had won! Needless to say, I was pretty surprised! And while I didn’t leave that casino a rich woman that night (or a poor one either, since I didn’t use any of my jackpot winnings to bet with), I had won $160.00 in that one play! Not bad at all, considering that I hadn’t even spent the whole $20.00 I’d come in with.

A little while later, after trying a few other machines, with no real success, I played the slots with my landlord’s $5.00, reinvesting my slight winnings each time, until, before leaving, I had finally hit a $15.00 jackpot (which my landlord, who had originally planned to split the winnings with me, told me to keep, on my return).


Las Vegas: A Fun Place to Visit

I had a lot of fun in Las Vegas that night—partly because I’d won, and partly because I had done so without spending any more money to play than I’d originally planned to spend. I’d used the “fun” money that I might have spent to buy a pizza to buy myself an evening of fun instead and happened to win a few bucks in the bargain. That was my first and only visit to a casino for the purpose of gambling.

There were many other things to do and see in and around the casinos of Las Vegas aside from gambling, though. Most casinos had very impressive and elaborate shows that provided entertainment, and the casinos themselves were amazing pieces of multi-million dollar architecture—definitely worth a sightseeing tour!

If you’re interested in visiting Las Vegas or another U.S. city, visit the Trusted Tours and Attractions website for info on the destinations they serve and their ticket discounts. And don’t forget to sign up for their eNewsletter before December 31st—to place yourself in the running for the iPod Nano!

Happy travels!
Jeanne







Did you enjoy this post? Have any of your own travel stories to share? Please feel free to comment!



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Bloggertizer is Different

Bloggertizer is a bit different than other paid-to-post sites. Whereas most such sites post opportunities for bloggers to bid on or simply claim on a first-come, first-served basis (if they qualify), Bloggertizer is basically a listing service for bloggers who are interested in writing paid posts.


Bloggertizer's List of Available Blogs

Once a blog has been approved, it is added to the Bloggertizer list of available blogs and pertinent information is added to each blog’s listing, including blog title and URL, brief blog description, Google page rank, type(s) of advertising accepted, and tags. In addition to this info, each listed blog is linked to real-time stats from Google, Yahoo!, and Alexa, which provide up-to-date page rank, Alexa rank, and number of Google and Yahoo! backlinks and indexed pages.


Advertisers Search the List, Contact Bloggers, and Work Out a Deal

This list is then searched by advertisers who are looking for a suitable blog to review their product, service, or website. Tags help advertisers find appropriate groups of blogs from which to choose. Once an advertiser finds a potentially suitable blog, contact is initiated by the advertiser directly with the blogger, and a deal is worked out between advertiser and blogger for the desired service.


Visit the Site to Learn More

Bloggertizer is an intriguing concept in blog advertising, and it will be interesting to see how this works out in practice. If you’d like to have your blog listed with Bloggertizer, check out their What is Bloggertizer? and Blogger FAQ pages. These will explain more about the service and what it has to offer you.

Best of luck to you!
Jeanne



This post sponsored by Bloggertizer.



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Ring In Some Melodic New Writing Deals in 2008

If you'd like to start the new year right, a new ringtone might be just the thing. Hearing a new tune the next time your client calls with a writing assignment could just sweeten the deal--or at least sweeten your disposition enough that you might be able to talk them into sweetening the deal!


A Ringtone for Everyone

MSN Emotions has a huge variety of Free Ringtones just waiting to brighten your new year. The site offers both Monophonic and Polyphonic Ringtones for such cell phones as Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Sony, and others. R & B, Pop, Country, Hip Hop, and Rock Ringtones are just a few of the ones available at the site.


Brighten Your Business Calls

If you've been thinking of changing your current ringtone and you're bored with the ones you have to choose from, drop by the site and see the many choices available. There are 9,000 ringtones on this site; so I think it's safe to say that there's a ringtone for every taste. You never know what gem you might pick up there to brighten your business--and personal--calls. The folks at MSN Emotions even offer to get that polyphonic ringtone that you like but haven't been able to find. Add to that their free cell phone wallpapers, and you really could be talking in style in the new year.

May your cell phone bring you many profitable conversations in 2008!

To your success!
Jeanne



This post sponsored by Blogsvertise.



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A Great Comparison Shopping Site

If you'd like to find the best prices on Christmas gifts for friends and family, and save buckets of money at the same time (and who wouldn't want that?) you'll want to visit the SaveBuckets website. At SaveBuckets, you'll be able to comparison shop via search for over a million different products, including MP3 players, iPods, laptops, plasma TVs, and that digital camera that special someone has been wanting--to name only a few.


The Shopping Site That Doesn't Sell Anything

But the really interesting thing about the SaveBuckets site is that no products are sold on the site. It's simply a price-comparison site where you can compare product prices* at hundreds of different online shops to find the best deal for your money--and you even have the option of limiting your search to shops that you know, if you prefer. In fact, if you're unable to find the item you want at a low enough price, all you have to do is tell the folks at SaveBuckets your budget, and they'll notify you by e-mail when the product you want becomes available at the right price. And best of all, use of the site is free.


Search for the Right Gift at the Right Price

The holidays are practically upon us. So, why not take a moment out from that article, story, or blog post and check out the SaveBuckets website? You'll very likely find it to be just the place where you can locate the gifts you want at the prices you can afford.

It's certainly worth a look.

Happy holiday shopping!
Jeanne

*This site is located in the UK, so products are priced in pounds.



This post sponsored by Smorty.



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Free Business Cards to Promote Your Blog

Ooprint.com, an online printer of a number of different types of written materials is currently offering a special deal for bloggers--one that would be difficult to refuse. They actually want to give away 100 FREE business cards to bloggers.

For nothing more than the cost of shipping, any blogger may order Ooprint's "Business Card 2.0," which is the latest way to advertise your blog. These cards offer an easy and attractive way to let potential readers know about your blog, as well as to network with fellow bloggers, allowing you to promote your blog in the real world as well as in the blogosphere--and adding a new dimension to your publicity efforts.

Each card contains a customizable tag cloud, which can be personalized to reflect the keywords that are appropriate to your blog's topic, making the cards uniquely your own.

Check out the Ooprint website for your 100 free blogger business cards, and become part of the latest trend in blogging.

To your blogging success,
Jeanne



This post sponsored by PayPerPost.







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Ride the Wave

Bloggerwave is a new paid posting company based in Europe which helps bloggers from all over the world make money blogging about various products and services. While Bloggerwave doesn't offer blog hosting services, if you have an already-existing blog, you can earn a little extra money by occasionally writing short posts that give your honest opinion about the offerings of bloggerwave sponsors. This way, you'll not only help yourself by putting a few much-needed dollars into your pocket; but, if you choose your opportunities wisely, you'll also provide a useful service to the readers of your blog. That doesn't sound like such a bad combination to me.

Thanks for reading!
Jeanne




This is drawn from a hidden folder



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Mortgage Needs Change

If you're a freelance writer or writing contractor who is trying to make ends meet through the sale of your writing and you're also a homeowner, you may be feeling the pinch that rising interest rates can place on home buyers--particularly if yours is a variable rate mortgage. It's also possible that, if you didn't qualify for the best of terms when you first took out your mortgage, but your credit has improved since that time, you might be able to do much better today with a new mortgage. You may be wondering whether you might actually benefit by refinancing--or remortgaging--your home.


First-Time Home Buyers Needs Must Also Be Addressed

You may not even be a homeowner yet, but are perhaps saving as much of your freelancing income as you can with the hope of soon purchasing your first home. You may be concerned about the matters mentioned above, as you mull over the types of mortgages that are available and the possible scenarios you could face after committing yourself to one or another type of home loan.


All Home Buyers Need Security

You may worry that, should interest rates rise again, you might not be able to afford to pay the mortgage on your new home. Again, this is where the knowledge that remortgaging is an available option could make all the difference. You may further worry that, if you should lose your job or become ill and unable to work during the term of your loan--which could very well happen during the relatively lengthy period of time that it takes to pay off a mortgage--you may be unable to make your payments. This is where mortgage payment protection insurance comes into play.


The Thrifty Scot: A Website That Has the Info Home Buyers Need

There's a great deal of information available about such matters which can help you make informed decisions on financing, refinancing, and acquiring mortgage payment protection for your current or future home. One such source of helpful and balanced mortgage information--for those based in the UK--is The Thrifty Scot website. In fact, even those who don't live in the UK will find this site's advice valuable. Check out their informative articles, and if you are not based in the UK, simply use them as a starting point in your mortgage research. They'll help you know what you should look for, how to evaluate various mortgages, and how you can go about finding the best mortgage for your particular circumstances.

Once you've found the best mortgage for your needs, you'll be free to focus on other, equally important things--like writing.

Happy home buying!
Jeanne



This post sponsored by PayPerPost.







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Relax Those Muscles After a Hard Day's Writing

The writing life can be rewarding. There's no question about it. Yet, it can also be very tiring and--with imminent deadlines often dictating our schedules--more than a little stressful. Those are the times when, after a busy day of writing, blogging, research, or querying, a relaxing soak in the hot tub may be just what the doctor ordered.


Variety, Quality, Availability, & Price = Value

HotTubWorks can help you keep your spa in pristine condition for just such times of rest and relaxation with quality spa covers designed for virtually every make and model spa manufactured today. Offering some of the lowest prices available on the internet, HotTubWorks can provide just the spa cover you need at a price you can afford. This combination of quality, availability, and price makes the company's hot tub covers highly sought-after. If you do a little research, you'll see that hot tub covers such as these will not be found everywhere.


Spa Covers of Superior Quality at HotTubWorks.com

If the above features aren't enough to pique your interest, HotTubWorks also offers one of the most comprehensive hot tub cover warranties in the business. The reason they can do this is because the construction of their spa covers is "second to none," a claim of which the company is rightfully proud.

Not only do all HotTubWorks covers meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) safety standards, but they also include a long list of quality features that will keep your spa cover in great shape for years to come, including rugged marine-grade vinyl top, tapered virgin-foam insulation, and exclusive, moisture-lock heat seal, to name just a few. A sturdy, four-layer hinge and super-strength recessed handles top off construction to give you the best spa cover for your money.


Top Notch Sales & Service Support

Add to this HotTubWorks' excellent live phone sales and support service and prompt e-mail response time, and you've found the winning combination that will put your mind, as well as your body, at ease. And to help make your ordering experience even more positive and ensure the seamless integration of your new spa cover into your life, HotTubWorks also provides easy-to-use ordering tools, an instructional video, printable instructions, and a highly detailed FAQ section.

So, why not check out their website today, and see whether their spa covers, as well as their responsive support team, might not be exactly what you've been looking for.

Here's to peace of mind,
Jeanne








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The Holidays Are Upon Us & Coupon Chief Is Here to Help

With Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas soon to follow, this is a good time to remind everyone about the wide variety of great gift deals that are available through the Coupon Chief website. Gifts for everyone on your list, as well as your choice of a whole array of gift ideas to round out your own wish list, make Coupon Chief your convenient one-stop gift shop. With all these deals centrally located on the Coupon Chief website, you'll be able to take a minimum of time away from your writing tasks to find the perfect gift for everyone you need to shop for.


Hundreds of Coupon Deals & Scores of Retailers All In One Place

At Coupon Chief, you'll find literally hundreds of coupon deals offered by your favorite retailers--stores like Hallmark, Best Buy, and Target and scores of others, as well--which can help you find the perfect gift for every member of your family and all your friends and business associates.


Some of the Deals You'll Find at Coupon Chief

For the artist on your holiday list, you'll find Blick coupons offering as much as 59% off selected items, such as sable paint brushes, as well as deals on acrylics, drawing pads, easels, and other art supplies (though offers vary and new deals are added daily). This is one that particularly interests me, with its generous discounts, since I have two artists in my family.

And for the avid readers you'll be buying for--not to mention yourself--BooksAMillion coupon codes (as well as BAM's 80%-off Clearance Sale) will help you bring the gift of the written word into the lives of those whose intellectual fulfillment you'd like to contribute to without having to contribute too much of your hard-earned cash to do it. (While you're waiting to write and/or publish your own book, you might as well supply them with other good reading materials in the meantime.)

For the technologically oriented members of your inner circle, CompUSA deals will help you make their season bright when you choose computers, notebooks, flash drives, media players, and more. CompUSA also offers TVs and camcorders, to help you please everyone on your list--whether they enjoy watching movies or making them. Your photo-savvy folks will enjoy unwrapping the deals you've found on digital cameras, too.

Even your pets will benefit when you take advantage of a whole variety of PETsMART deals this Christmas. And if you happen to be a pet owner who is more oriented toward natural pet products, your cat or dog's holiday gifts and goodies can be purchased using Only Natural Pet Store coupons, pleasing both you and your pet at the same time.


Coupon Deals for Everyone on Your Gift List

Whatever gift category you may be looking for, chances are excellent that Coupon Chief will have a coupon deal that will help you bring home not just the gifts but the bargains this Christmas. So, why not check them out; you're bound to find something--and likely just the right something--for everyone on your list.

Happy shopping,
Jeanne







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Earn More or Save More This Christmas?

As we enter a new holiday season, we may be thinking of our need to earn a few extra dollars from our writing to cover the expenses that the holidays inevitably bring. To most of us this means seeking new clients, new opportunities to sell our work to old clients, and perhaps even new ways to market our previously published works. But, while hunting down these new means of bringing in holiday money, we might also want to consider a few simple and relatively painless ways to cut down on holiday expenses and make the money we already have go a little farther.


LED Christmas Lights Save Energy & Last Longer

One way we can do this is by using energy-saving LED Christmas lights in place of last year's incandescents, which use 10 times the electricity of the LED version. Aside from using much less electricity, LED Christmas lights also last about 25 times as long as incandescents: more than 50,000 hours compared to about 2,000 for regular incandescent bulbs. That seems like a pretty impressive difference to me.


Durability

One reason these LED bulbs last so long is because of their durable epoxy plastic construction. Unlike regular Christmas light bulbs, LED Christmas lights contain no glass. This makes a big difference in durability, as one might well imagine. Another reason they last so long is that they don't burn out anywhere near as quickly as regular Christmas lights because they don't contain the fragile filament that standard bulbs use, which happens to be the major cause of burned out bulbs.


Safety

LED Christmas light bulbs are also far safer than regular Christmas lights, because they don't generate nearly as much heat and actually feel cool to the touch. Because they only hit 1 degree above ambient, or surrounding, temperature, they've been approved by the Home Safety Council and can help you have a merrier, more safety-conscious Christmas.


Variety

As if these reasons aren't enough, LED Christmas lights come in three different bulb sizes/shapes: the mini light, the raspberry light, and the strawberry light, each of which fits a different decorating need. All have a textured finish, which adds to their brilliance, and each style comes in one of several individual colors, multi-color, warm white, or crystal white. The appearance of these bulbs is quite attractive, and they look as if they would add an air of festivity to the home during the holidays.


Great Reasons to Switch

There are many great reasons to switch to LED Xmas lights this season. Why in the world would we want to stick with the old-fashioned, outdated Christmas light variety, which is more costly to use, far less efficient, hazardous to our families, and much worse for the environment? Visit the HolidayLEDs website and check out their selection. I think you'll be impressed. And once you've switched to LED Christmas lights, I doubt you'll ever go back to incandescents again.

May your holidays be bright!
Jeanne



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Monster.ca: A Resource for Writing & Other Jobs

Quite a few different websites focus specifically on helping writers find gigs. These can prove invaluable by helping us to find as many different markets for our work as possible. Yet, often, we tend to overlook the more mainstream job sites, simply because they aren't focused primarily on writing jobs. This could be a mistake, since many sites such as Monster.ca, contain an Arts, Entertainment, and Media category, which often lists jobs for writers, as well as other creative individuals. And if you're looking for a day job, to help supplement your writing income--because, let's face it, we often find it necessary to do that--Monster.ca or one of its affiliated job sites also offers a large variety of other job opportunities in many other categories.


The Monster Global Job Network

While Monster.ca focuses on Canadian jobs, it also contains links to the Monster Global Network, which lists jobs worldwide, making it a convenient resource for those seeking employment in other parts of the world, as well.


A Versatile Site for Job Seekers & Employers

At Monster.ca, both conventional job seekers and independent contractors will find a convenient place to search for employment opportunities, as well as one-time gigs. Similarly, both traditional employers and those interested in hiring temporary help for specific projects or sporadic assistance with regularly recurring, though periodic, assignments will find everything they need to advertise their opportunities to a wide variety of potential talent.


For Job Seekers

With such helpful resources as Employer Profiles, Featured Employers, and sections on self-evaluation, success coaching, resume, interview, and salary info, self-assessment, career change, networking, and employment law, Monster.ca can help job seekers get the most from its job listing service. And for the writer who functions as an independent contractor and the conventional employee alike, many if not all of these informative sections will no doubt prove helpful.

The site also includes a Targeted Jobs and Advice section, which contains helpful information on many aspects of job-hunting and various employment fields. Many of these sections will prove beneficial to employers, as well. Other features of the site that both job-seekers and employers will find useful are the Monster Employment Index and the Latest Career Headlines.

Appropriate sections also enable job seekers to post resumes and cover letters to the site, search for jobs, manage their accounts, and learn exactly what's involved in owning a franchise. Another helpful feature for job seekers is the ability to search by job category, job location, or both, which enables job-seekers from nearly every country to find opportunities in their own local areas.


For Employers

Monster.ca also offers a comprehensive Employer Site, which includes sections that aid employers in all important aspects of hiring, recruiting, and staffing, including posting and managing jobs, finding and managing candidates, and managing their employer accounts. The employers' site also includes the ability to search resumes for suitable job candidates, advice and training in effective hiring, best employer practices, and area-specific labor market information.


A Comprehensive Employment Marketplace

All in all, Monster.ca appears to be a comprehensive marketplace of job opportunities and employer/employee resources with the potential to greatly benefit job-seekers and job-listers alike. So, why not give it a try the next time you're checking the usual freelance writing sites. You never know what you might find.

Good luck!
Jeanne



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