Tag Archives: filedby

lifestyle, resources

The Freelance Feed

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This post is sponsored by FiledBy – where authors can claim their free website and build their online marketing platform.

by Catherine L. Tully

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OK. I have a small confession to make. I stink at keeping up with blogs via an RSS feed. I’m simply no good at it, and I hate adding it all the time. I know it is supposed to make my life easier, and I appreciate that, but it just doesn’t work well for me.

Enter “The Freelance Feed“. This handy little resource is an aggregator that features hand-picked, quality freelance resources and gives you everything on one page–including the titles of some of the latest posts on the site. You can have this e-mailed to you or even set it as your home page. I’m loving this resource!

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The site was launched in 2009 by Grace Smith, who is a freelance designer from Northern Ireland. Among the sites you will find listed in the “General” category are Freelance Switch, Freelance Folder, Guerrilla Freelancing, Seth Godin and Freelancer Magazine. (We’re in it too–that’s how we found the site!)

Don’t miss out–get everything in one place. It’s a great way to keep up on your favorite sites and take the pulse of the freelance industry at a glance. Thanks Grace!

This post was sponsored by FiledBy – where authors can claim their free website and build their online marketing platform.

blogging, lifestyle, resources, social networking

Social Media For Writers

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This post is sponsored by FiledBy – where authors can claim their free website and build their online marketing platform

donnanoseby Catherine L. Tully

I stumbled across a real gem of a site in Social Media for Writers and thought I’d share it with you today. It was great to see something specifically devoted to writers out there, and this site has a little something for everyone…

If you are a rank beginner when it comes to social media sites, the author (Donna Talarico) provides a good overview of two of the best out there–Twitter and Facebook. More advanced users will appreciate things such as information about promoting your blog on Twitter or information on how to use Twitter lists.

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One of the most refreshing things about this site is the easy tone that Talarico uses. She communicates good information without talking down to writers, but it isn’t so basic that you’ll be bored. Take a few minutes to check this site out and see what you can learn about making social media work for you.

And if you haven’t already joined us on Twitter or Facebook, please drop by and sign on. We should all be connected!

This post was sponsored by FiledBy – where authors can claim their free website and build their online marketing platform

advice, blogging, resources

Writers: Get The Most Out Of WordPress

This post is sponsored by wordpressFiledBy – where authors can claim their free website and build their online marketing platform.

If you use WordPress, how can you be sure you are getting the most out of it? As a hard-working writer, you can’t afford to miss out on the simple things that will make a big difference. Take a look at these strategies for maximizing your time and effort…or for getting started…

Brian Horn gives some great basics in terms of tagging and SEO.

Concerned about security? Check out Lorelle on WordPress for the real scoop on how safe you are.

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Just getting started with WordPress? How about some recommendations in terms of themes? Editor Unleashed has a great post on this subject.

Google Analytics is a fantastic tool for understanding who is using your site, where your hits are coming from and how many you are getting. It has an amazing number of features you can check out. (FYI…you can’t use this with WordPress.com accounts since they use their own tracking system.)

Blog maintenance is crucial. Take a look at this basic checklist for keeping yours up-to-date. And don’t forget to back up your blog too.

This post was brought to you by FiledBy

editorial, podcast, reading, resources, social networking

Grammar, Grammar, Grammar!

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This post is sposnored by FiledBy – where authors can claim their free website and build their online marketing platform.

grammarby Catherine L. Tully

I know I have mentioned this great resource before, but only in passing. Grammar Girl is a heavy-duty tool for the writer–new or experienced. Mignon Fogarty is the name behind this character, and her “Quick and Dirty Tips For Better Writing” include goodies such as:

  • Affect vs. Effect
  • Toward vs. Towards
  • All Right vs. Alright
  • Lay vs. Lie

These are excellent, bite-sized tips for the writer that can mean the difference between getting a query nod and having the editor hit delete. Let’s face it–in this business, you’ve got to know what you are doing when it comes to grammar and sentence structure.

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It doesn’t really matter how you decide to keep up with Grammar Girl. She’s on Twitter and she even has her own podcast on iTunes. A little honesty? It’s the only podcast that I have actually downloaded and listened to on my iPhone.

Naturally, if you prefer a good, old-fashioned book you can go that route as well.

Why am I so excited about this? Well, grammar is huge, and it is usually presented in the most awful, boring format. Grammar Girl gives it to you straight, but in a palatable way, without taking too long to get the point across. I’m a serious fan.

This post was brought to you by FiledBy