Successful Blogs, and How To Write One

What makes a successful Blog?

Well, I suppose the answer to that question could vary, depending on what you want the blog for.  If you just need a place to vent and let out your frustrations and questions to no one in particular, than creating a blog that is successful for you probably wouldn't be too difficult.  You'd just sign up, type whatever you want, post it, and log off. 

The thing is, a lot of people have a different definition of a 'successful' blog.  To the majority, a successful blog would be one that received a large number of views, or one that brings in money.  This is a little harder to achieve, but with a little effort, you can have one of your own.

First of all, write about something you actually care about.  Seriously.  If you're just writing about something you have to write about, without any passion or care, it's never going to turn out as well as you would like, no matter how much effort you put into it.  Remember that your audience isn't stupid.  And when you're bored writing the post, that boredom will seep through the screen and make them bored as well. 

A successful blog is a reliable blog.

Don't just throw stuff in your blog that you think is true.  Do your homework!  Your audience wants to be able to trust you.  They want to be well informed about whatever the subject is and, as the author, you absolutely must provide them with worthwhile information.  Besides, you learn a lot too, when you do your research.

As far as getting blog traffic, there are more than a few tricks to the trade.  I don't know even close to all of them, but I'm learning.  Slowly but surely.     For starters, a teacher of mine tells me that the key to blog traffic is making Google happy.  There are certain things you can do in the HTML that Google can read and then use to 'categorize' your blog, making it more available to Google users. I use header tags, or H tags.  Another way to let Google categorize them is by using the "Labels" section at the bottom of the posting window.  There, you will put in keywords; anything that relates to the blog.  For instance, I will be putting the words "Successful Blog Posts" and, "How to write a successful blog", and "Good Blogs" and, "H-tags" etc., etc.  Any key words in my post.

If you want a successful blog, your going to have to do homework, not only on the subject of which your writing, but on the specific blogging website you are using, and certain "Google tricks" like the ones I've shown above.

Here's a guy named Matthew Winn who has a few really good video tips for you guys as well.  Check it out!

Monetizing Your Blog

If you're looking to make your blog successful in the way of making money (monetizing your blog), then there are lots of ways to do this.  I'm just starting my research in this area, but I've found that once you put in the time and effort, it can be a great way to "supplement your income", as a teacher of mine would say. 

There is something called AdSense which is where you allow Google to insert advertisements on your blog page, and then every time an ad is clicked on, or something is bought, you receive a certain amount of money, or a certain percentage of the sale.  There are a lot of other things you can do, like inserting specific web site's advertisements, or commercials.  You can also insert an Amazon tab to your blog.  There are tons of ways to do this, and I'm excited to learn more about it.

One thing's for sure though.  If you want to have a successful blog, you're going to have to care, and you're going to have to spend a little time and effort into making it that way.  Just like everything else in life.  For some people, it's worth it 100 times over.  For others...not so much.  I believe it's going to be worth it for me, and I can't wait to find out for sure!

The 10 Best Jobs, and What Makes Them the Best

This week someone asked me what I think the 10 best jobs are.

  And when you think about it, 'best' could have a completely different meaning to one person than it does to another.

Best: The most fun?
Best: The easiest?
Best: The most challenging?
Best: The most variety?

I read about a man, Ben Southall who was selected as a Paradise Island Caretaker.  A 6 month job that paid $111,000.  His requirements?  Lay in the sun, explore, swim, snorkel, try out the beach-side barebeques and so on.  Basically, Ben was being paid buku bucks for having the best vacation imaginable.  Now he has to live on this tropical Australian island rent free in a 3 bedroom villa, complete with a pool.  Poor guy, huh?

And what about Roisin Madigan, age 22, who was paid over $1,500 to test out luxury beds for a month?  Can't feel too sorry for people like that.

There are all kinds of cases of people who acheived some of the 'best' jobs.  A 12 year old was appointed the Official Candy Taster for The Derby Firm, a candy production company; Quite a few people are employed as testers for video games such as World of Warcraft and Black Ops.  Oh, and it's just impossible to ignore the 29 year old Tommy Lynch who works for First Choice, testing waterslides in countries all over the world. 

You see, there are a lot of jobs that would be described as "great!" by many, but are they really the best?  These jobs are all nice, but most of them don't really last, and a few of them don't allow much time for being home with the family...but what if you don't have a family?  'Best' will always depend on your situation and lifestyle. 

However, I think there is one thing that most people can agree on: Salary is key.  I agree that doing something you can enjoy is important, but when I hear "10 Best Jobs", I automatically think of the 10 highest paying jobs.  In this economy money is, unfortunately, becoming more and more important to people all over the place.  In some cases, it's becoming much too important than it really should.  Nonetheless, in a general view; an accross-the-board perspective, I would consider best to mean the highest paying.  So here they are:

The 10 Best Jobs Out There!

#10- Psychiatrists.  Yep, that's right.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, A psychiatrist's average annual income is $163, 660.  Well...that would be nice.

#9- Chief executive officers.  These people are in charge of a company.  They run the whole business, and while their salary depends on what kind of business they take care of, they can do very well; some of their annual salaries totaling up to $167,280. 

#8- Next in line is Family and General Practitioners.  They're rolling in the dough with their average annual salary being upwards of $160,530. 

#7- Physicians and Surgeons, All Other.  What's 'All Other' mean?  That's what I asked at first, but it's simple.  It's any surgeon or physician that doesn't fall under the main category of expertise. Any non General Physicial or Surgeon.  These guys are making, on average, $173,860 per year.

#6- Internists, General.  Oh my soul!  These internists are makin' an annual average of $183,990.  And by the way, a General Internist is someone that treats people who have diseases and sicknesses that can't be fixed by surgery.

#5- Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Now we've passed the two-hundred thousand dollar mark!  Obstetricians/Gynecologists make an average of $204,470 per year.  Sheesh!

#4- Orthodontists!  Hmmm...I wouldn't consider most orthodontists to be in my good graces after my horrifying orthodontic experience, but props to them for making an annual average of $206,190 per year... just a couple thousand more than the OB/Gyn's.

#3- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.  Sounds a little scary to me, but they've got the third highest paying job in the country, making $210,710 per year on average.  That's just impressive no matter which way you look at it.

#2- We're almost at the highest paying job in the country!  Anesthesiologists have got the number 2 spot though, with a whopping salary of $211,750 per year!

And Finally: The Highest Paying Job in The United States!

#1- Can you guess??? Yes! Congratulations to General Surgeons for bringing home the most bacon!!  They bring in a mind-blowing $219,770 every year.  Amazing.

Now I don't know how much any of these people enjoy their jobs or what they do, but I do give them a pat on the back for working hard; no matter what they do now they had to go through a lot of school to get there. So, if you don't mind school or using your brain, I would suggest any one of these 10 jobs in order to bring home the most money.   For me, I don't think I would enjoy any of these things enough to through college for it, but if you do...congrats! :)

Dear Indiana...

Boring Indiana

When I tell people I live in Indiana the most common reaction I get is a look of sympathy.  I know what they're thinking. 

"HOOSIER!!! Man, that stinks.  Indiana is the most boring state in the country."

Then I watch them take an extended blink...which is actually them closing their eyes, offering up a prayer of thanksgiving that they are spared from the monotonous drudgery of Indiana-living.
You know, I don't really blame them.   My house is surrounded by...you guessed it!  Cornfields! And MORE Cornfields!

 Sometimes I hear my friends talking about their adventures in downtown Chicago, or their great, shark-fishing times in Florida, and I hear them talk about how great the food, fun and football is in Alabama. I visit my relatives in West Virginia.  It's always exciting to experience what I call, "true, downhome, hillbilly hickness"  We come back with an accent for a day or so before we remember what the real world is like.  Anyway, I got to thinking, and couldn't think of a single great thing about Indiana.  Maybe it really is as awful as people think.  So I did a little work.  I took it upon myself to do some research.  Turns out, Indiana's not that bad!  There are some amazing things that happened, and continue to happen in  as I type.

So here is my list of 10 interesting facts about Indiana.  I had planned on writing the "10 most interesting facts about Indiana", but that proved too difficult.  So here it is.  Enjoy!

Interesting Indiana

#1- Edward R. Sitzman was born in Cincinnati, Ohio where he studied Art.  He later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and became a reknowned watercolor painter.  He was a member of the Indiana Art Club and the Indianapolis Art Association.  His work is beautiful.  A couple years ago, my grandfather was garbage picking (a usually unfortunate hobby of his)  and he found this dirty old picture in a beat up picture frame.  He thought it would look nice in our house along with the wooden Indians, flourescent pieces of furniture and numerous, half-broken toys that have graced our home since he began this hobby.  So he brought it to us.  Mom actually thought it looked relatively nice, so she hung it on the wall in a corner of our laundry room.
  A few months later, she was reading a column in the paper about a man named E.R, Sitzman, born in 1874, died in 1949.  Mom thought the name was familiar, but couldn't place it.  Not until two days later, that is, when she was throwing in a load of laundry.  There, in the bottom right corner of the painting was his signature.  So Mom took it upstairs and did a little research.  She talked to a collector of his work, and he offered to buy it for $300 dollars. It would be worth more if the frame was in better shape.  But my mother, happy to have something of actual value decided to keep it.  She moved it though, to the center of our living room wall.  I don't think it deserves the spot, but there's no arguing with her on the subject. 
It is a nice painting, and we don't complain too much about Grandpa digging in other people's trash anymore.

#2 We have Shipshewana!  Shipshewana, Indiana is such a great place to go.  It's Amish country and holds a huge flea market and auction.  There's beautiful bed and breakfasts, buggy tours, a gorgeous carousel with hand carved farm animals, and many, many other things to do.  I've been there one time a few years ago, and it was some of the best fun I've ever had.  The smell of the dirt underfoot and the different foods cooking, the kind smiles of the Amish and Mennonite people, with long beards and black hats the bustling people buying and selling their wares...it all makes for a great weekend getaway. 

#3 Indiana is the 'Crossroads of America'! Our motto was adopted in the 1930's after J. Roy Strickland ran a column in the Evansville Courier & Press stating that Indiana had no real motto, as many other states did.  He offered up several suggestions to the Indiana General Assembly as well as took requests from people all over the state.  He took every suggestion and put them in folder-form with the name and address of the person who submitted the entry, and provided them to the Indiana General Assembly as well.  After a little while, they decided on 'The Crossroads of America'.

The Indiana Department of Administration states:

"'The Crossroads of America' signifies the importance of waterways, railroads, highways and other transportation facilities in the state, viewed by many as some of the finest in the nation."

#4 We have a town called Santa Claus!
I feel badly for the residents and post office there around Christmas time.  They get over one-half million letters and requests every year at christmas time.    The town, originally found by German settlers, went nameless for many years until, finally, it was named Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in 1852.  It's a charming story that you can read about here.

#5 "On the Banks of Wabash, Far Away", by Paul Dresser is Indiana's state song.  How cool is that?  As soon as I found that information I ran to YouTube and listened to it.
Here's a version I found.  Give it a listen, and tell me what you think.

#6 There's an old town called Crown Point about 10 minutes from where I live.  It's a neat old place with a courthouse and an old movie theater where they play couple movies every week for 3 dollars.  The courthouse is where The filmed the movie 'Public Enemies', the story of John Dillinger starring Johnny Depp.  Hundreds of people flocked to the courthouse every day they were here to try and get a glimpse of Johnny Depp, or shake his hand or get an autograph.  People waited out there for hours sometimes.  I don't really think it was worth it, but maybe it was to some people.

#7 Lots of Interesting People were born in Indiana.  We're not all toothless, hillbillies with no edumacation.  People such as David Letterman, Steve McQueen, John Mellencamp, Clifton Webb, Michael Jackson, Larry Bird, and Gregory Kinnear were all some form of hoosier or another, just to name a few.  It gives me hope that I might have an interesting future one day. :)

#8 Indiana has a lot of awesome beaches!  There are so many places to go beaching here in Indiana.  Indiana Dunes has 3 miles of shoreline and sand dunes with really nice camping to boot. There's biking, swimming, hiking, and nature centers and they're open all year!  My family has gone there numbers of times and had a blast!  We've also got the Gary Indiana Air Show that comes around every year in July.  We sit on the beach and watch all kinds of fascinating trick planes, and U.S. Airforce jets go by, including the USAF Thunderbirds, which are my favorite!

#9 We love our Indy 500!  Actually, I don't.  Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the home of the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400.  It's a huge attraction. I must say I didn't really get it.  Watching NASCAR can make me want to kill myself sometimes.  It seems so boring and pointless.  Just watch a bunch of cars drive in circles for a couple hours...fun? What fun?  But then, a friend convinced me to go with her and we had more fun than I can ever remember having before that.  Even I, a racing skeptic, couldn't help but to be swallowed up in everyone else's excitement before the race started.  Sitting in the stands with a good ol' hot dog and some coke, the place was just buzzing.  Literally and Figuratively.  Then the race started and it wasn't buzzing anymore...it was roaring.  The cars are so loud and they go so fast it's captivating.  I've never been in that kind of atmosphere before, but I must say, that even if watching it on television seems awful to me, being there in person was a whole 'nother thing.  I hope you get a chance to try it sometime!

I love Indiana

#10  Last, and probably least, I live here.  I live in Cedar Lake, Indiana (sometimes called Cedartucky).  It really is a beautiful place.  I love the country.  Sometimes I complain about the cornfields, or the pig farm a mile down from our house, but it's home, and it always will be.  There's absolutely nothing like watching the sunset on the golden cornstalks in autumn.   There's absolutely nothing like walking into the Casey's gas station a mile in town and knowing the clerks by name.  There's nothing like swimming in the lake on a hot summer day, even if some would call me brave to go near that water (it's really not as gross as people make it out to be).  Even though the pig farm smells pretty bad when the wind blows just right, it's beautiful in it's own way and adds an interesting piece to the landscape.  I have more memories than I can count of playing in the green cornfield's and having hide-outs in them.  Even though some call Indiana boring, it clearly is not, and I'd love it even if it were. 

I'm Homeschooled and I love It

Homeschooling benefits?

Yep, that's right.  I'm a senior in Highschool and I'm homeschooled.  I really wouldn't have it any other way, though.   I have to deal with a lot of flak because of it, but I couldn't care less because I've had so many great opportunites.

There's so many benefits, I couldn't name them all.  And the great thing is that those benefits change depending on what kind of life, and students you have.

One of the biggest benefits is that the parents have control about what their children learn, and when they learn it.  For example, my parents can teach me what they believe about the creation of the world primarily, and then teach me about the opposing evolution views, and why they might be right or wrong.  Another example, I give better results in English and writing/speech homework than I do with math or science.  If I need to go at a slower or quicker pace than my 'grade level', it's no problem. 

Homeschooling advantages?

There are tons, and tons of advantages.   From all the people I've talked to about the subject, I've noticed that a lot of people would never want to be homeschooled because of the supposed 'lack of opportunity' 

"Oh my goodness! How do you live without prom and homecoming?  I would just die!!"

Or, "But you don't get to play sports!"

Or, "But you don't get to meet people!"

I don't get to meet people?  Seriously?  Actually, I do go to prom.  We host them for homeschoolers, too.  I play volleyball, and my brothes play basketball and take mixed martial arts.  Finding friends has never been a problem for me.

Homeschooling = flexibility

The beautiful thing about homeschooling is that you're flexible.  We can do so many things that Public and Private school students can't.  We can get a job and work during the day and do school at night.  We can do all sorts of projects and sign up for things that others can't because they would be in school.  There is absolutely no lack of extra curricular activities for us to do.  We can take vacations in February if we want.  We can do school in the car, at the park, on our trampoline, and wherever we want.  We can get other homeschoolers together and take field trips based on our personal interests.  It's definitely not the problem most people make it out to be.

It's really been a great experience for me to be homeschooled and I'm so thankful my parents made the decision and sacrifice to educate my brothers and I at home.  I believe it's made me into a better person.

Organization Blow Up!

Get Organized???

One word:  FAILURE.



Yeah.  This week hasn't gone very well.  As in, at all.



I've been late to half the places I've gone, I haven't worked out a SINLGE time since last Monday.  Not yesterday, 7 days before yesterday.  My room's a disaster and so's my car.  I'm trying to figure out what exactly happened, because last week I felt like I was really getting into this.



The only excuse I can come up with is that I'm disgustingly sick.  Coughing, sneezing, sore throat, painful breathing... the whole shabang.  I can't really use that for much of an excuse, though, since it's only been that bad for the last couple days.



Anyway, I've been pretty mad at myself for doing such a bad job; for not following through.  At the same time, I've just been completely avoiding any thought of organization.  That's what I do, you know.  If I'm behind on something, or not working on a job I should be, I tend to completely push it out of my mind, because that way I don't feel overwhelmed or guilty.    It's the most awful way to deal with a problem.  It's weak, really. 



These are all the things running through my mind this last week, but today I came upon a comforting and startlingly true thought.   It's okay!  Changing my ways, and making a big lifestyle change, such as getting organized, is a really big project.  It's hard for me, and to be honest, I was a little nervous about starting this thing.  I still am.  So, I miss a week.  So what?  I'm still motivated, I still want to 'clean up' my ways, and I will.  I just took a week off. 



I'll be alright.



Here's the deal though, I'm not even going to try to do anything 'til I feel better.  This sickness, and a certain snowstorm outside, is keeping me in the house for a couple days.  I'll accept that.  It gives me more time for thinkin' and research, anyway.



Keep checking in.  I'm hopeful I'll have my act together soon.  :)