I'VE MOVED TO HOTPINKNCHOCOLATE.COM!

I bit the bullet and purchased my own domain, set up WordPress and now I'm hosting my blog over at www.hotpinknchocolate.com, so come on over and bookmark the new site!

Also, be sure you are following me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

XOXO, Rachel

I'M BEING FEATURED ON BLOGHER.COM!

I just received an email from an editor at BlogHer.com and I've been chosen to be featured in the Money section on BlogHer next week! Woohoo!

Follow @BlogHer and @BlogHerMoney on Twitter so you can be a part of the conversation!

Things are timing out perfectly! There's another really cool event taking place here at hotpinknchocolate.com next week, and I can't wait to share it with you! Be sure you are subscribed to my Twitter and Facebook accounts as well, so you can be in the know when I unveil it!

XOXO,
Rachel

IS FACEBOOK THE BLOGGERVERSE?

The past couple of weeks I've been noticing a lot of other bloggers spending more and more time on their Facebook postings. I've been told that the more 'likes' you receive the better your chances of your post remaining in the feed system.

I haven't experienced this for myself. I don't know if you would notice if you weren't aware that it was happening.

But, what I do notice is how much bloggers are gravitating toward Facebook. I'm feeling the pressure myself. I have my own Facebook page, but I post personal information there and I'm feeling that it's just about time to make the move to a Hot Pink & Chocolate Facebook page.

If you've been in my position, or have always had a Facebook page for your business, blog, etc., please share your experience and why you think your decision was good or bad. I would love to hear more about your personal story.

I'm currently working on a migration to WordPress, so I think it's a good time to just get all my ducks in a row before 2012. In a couple of weeks I'll be moving the whole site over. Hopefully it will be an overnight migration. I'm already working on the new site and once it's ready I plan to just re-direct my url to the WordPress site. However, glitches happen, so if something goes haywire, you'll know why! Just hang in there and I'll get it taken care of asap!

xoxo,
Rachel

Free shipping on select items!

HOW TO START YOUR OWN BLOG - 5 TIPS TO SUCCESS!

So you know you want to start a blog but you’re not sure how to go about it. Here are five easy steps, and a few good tips, to make the process quick and easy.

#1  Choose your niche. What’s your blog going to be about?  You may want to do a bit of keyword research here. If you already have a business, then your blog will be related to your online business and those keywords, however, you can still narrow your blog niche.

For example, if you have an online business on dog training, your blog could be about positive reinforcement training, about housebreaking, or even about a tangent topic like feeding your dog – because health is important to training.

#2 Choose your platform. WordPress, Blogger, Typepad and Moveable type are only a few of the options. You can also explore the blogging platform your website host offers. Analyze and compare each platform to find the one that best meets your needs. Many people choose WordPress because of its easy to use nature and the ability to customize your blog.

#3 Create your blog site. Depending on the platform you’re using you will either be working with the template and customizations offered or you can have your blog site designed by a professional. There are thousands of templates, some paid and some free, available by WordPress developers and they’re easily customizable – you can get an original WordPress blog.

#4 Choose your blogging schedule and blog. How often are you going to blog?  Create a realistic schedule and stick to it. Remember that even if you decide you’re going to blog once a week, you can always blog more. Blogging less than that isn’t recommended. Blogs are active sites and people expect frequent content updates.

#5 Drive traffic. Once you feel comfortable with the number of posts you have on your blog and you’re happy with the way it looks, it’s time to drive traffic to your blog. Social networking, PPC, registering your blog with relevant directories and commenting on other related blogs helps drive traffic.

Starting a blog isn’t the difficult part, the tough part is deciding to actually start! Visit Blogelina's Blogging Video Tutorials to learn more about what a blog can do for you.

xoxo,
Rachel

Blog Post Courtesy Blogelina.com

EARN MONEY BY TWEETING!

I'm a member of Sponsored Tweets and it's a great program. As a blogger, I'm already sharing tips and deals with my followers, so it just makes sense to help businesses get the word out about their deals and coupons while I help folks find great savings opportunities. 

WHY I TRADED MY HP TOUCHPAD FOR A SONY VAIO LAPTOP

How much are we willing pay for pieces of a laptop?

  

I scored an HP Touchpad! Yes, I did! I found it on Craigslist and I bought it. And then... I sold it. "For a profit?" you may ask. Well, a tiny one, but that's Ebay's fault. I actually wanted to keep it when I bought it. That's why I got it in the first place. And oh, I was so very excited to be "that girl" who scored a Touchpad. People stared at me as I walked around with it. I felt special. I felt elitist. I felt "in." And then, about 2 days later, I felt sorry.

     Well, let's just get one thing straight... I love technology. Gadgets are awesome, and the thinner, smaller, and lighter, the better. Right? Well, not so much. See, I'm a blogger (hence this blog), and I'm a tweeter, and a forum groupie. But the Touchpad is great for all that high-techy stuff. Right? Well, maybe. Actually, not really at all in my opinion. And yes, I know. Droid is a'comin' blah-dy blah. I don't care. Why?

     I'm a right clicker. A wha? A right c-l-i-c-k-e-r. I'm addicted to the right click. I can't be a Mac girl because there's no right click.(Let's be clear, there IS a right click, but the Mac OS functionality of that right click is so very limited and meager compared to the Windows' right click, it's not worth even acknowledging) Everything is backwards, upside down, and inside out in Mac world (comparatively speaking). I don't like it. Try as I might, not even a bit (aside from the rockin' graphics, I mean). But I digress, the biggest thing that the Touchpad taught me was as a result of something it couldn't do. Right click. And, yes, the whole blogging on an unanchored keyboard is a nightmare for a blogger, but what's the value of typing in a hen-pecking world? Everyone is convinced we'd all like to chicken peck our messages or take 4x more time to email, blog, chat, tweet, what have you. Why? Because "they" said we like it more. See the smiling faces on the über savvy peeps in the Touchpad/Ipad commercials? They are all so happy to be reduced to one handed pecking motions.

     Ok, I know, there are those of us out there who are SO excited to FINALLY own a tablet like Dr. Beverly Crusher (Star Trek reference, sorry). But, it's true. The tablet is history made in my lifetime. Star Trek technology right here in my messenger bag. But then the shiny wears off and I'm left hen-pecking this fabulously over exaggerated iPod.

     So, I faced my fear of buyer's-turned-seller's remorse and I sold it. Yep, put it up on Ebay and let the free market decide what it is worth. I'll not be telling you what the free market says that is... I'm not a fan of hate-mail. But, I'll say this, it afforded me a nice little budget for a used Sony Vaio T7100. With a DVD/ROM. And WiFi. Also, it rocks. Did I say that? And my favorite part? Yep, you guessed it, right-clicking!

Clickity click click...

xoxo
Rachel
All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone. I have not been paid by Sony to sell laptop propaganda in a tablet world. Also, thanks Shopper.net for the Sony pics. The Touchpad image source is unknown.