WooThemes Wordpress Club Premium Wordpress Themes Sale Is Here!! MUST SEE!!

When it comes to developing AFFORDABLE WORDPRESS THEMES, WooThemes Wordpress Theme Club continues to prove itself the undisputed Wordpress Theme Club leader. In fact, I was so stoked about WooThemes Halloween Sale that I took advantage of it then.

But now, WooThemes has done even better...! WooThemes Wordpress Themes Christmas Sale offers a WHOPPING 4-FOR-1 SALE! And I've taken advantage of it NOW, too!

Click the Picture to See for Yourself!

Yea, that's FOUR PREMIUM WORDPRESS THEMES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

Read my lips:
*** NO-BRAINER! ***

Click Here to See What 4-for-1 Costs!

I'm not one for threatening "doomsday" or "regret", but let me just say that I have a very, very, strong appreciation for an irresistible deal, and this one is, so clearly, the quintessential "no-brainer" that if, for some reason, you do not TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NOW, you are certifiably OUT-OF-YOUR-MIND!

Even if you're not ready to start a Wordpress blog today, to have FOUR PREMIUM WORDPRESS THEMES LICENCES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE is that "perfect deal" that so many Wordpress bloggers often dream about.

Let me repeat that one more time: FOUR PREMIUM WORDPRESS THEME LICENSES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

CLICK HERE to See These Fresh Wordpress Themes Now!

And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

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Expert Wordpress by Alex Sysoef Rocks the Blogging for Money Community!

Question...

Do you have 4 minutes to install a fully customized and Web 2.0 enabled WordPress blog? And it even comes with a professional, search engine optimized Niche theme.

Just watch this video to see what I mean...

Blogs are the most direct way to communicate to your customer. And they are also most favored by search engines. In fact it is not uncommon for a properly optimized blog post to appear in search engine results on front page within MINUTES after publishing!

The key is... "properly optimized"!

Blogs are one of the best ways to earn from sharing what you know and love and do it in the most natural way - by communicating to your target audience. But first you need to know your target audience and how to monetize your blog without annoying them.

A task 90% of bloggers fails at miserably! Are you one of the 10%? Did you say no or not sure?

Than you simply got to see this site

What perhaps is even better - you don't have to pawn off your car to get the benefits of all above. Alex and his partner Dmitriy have just released a package that completely changes how blogging is done from now on. And since they are nearly giving it away, response was dramatic.

They're increasing the price every 50 customers so go see this now before it goes up again...!

Click Here to See Expert Wordpress

To your success,
Sam

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WordPress Theme Club - The Irresistable Offer!

Who'd have thunk it?  All internet marketers know that one of the keys to success is known as...

The Irresistable Offer

Well, when it comes to Wordpress themes, that's what you're about to encounter.

While I usually like to write lengthy, fun posts with lots of pictures, this is one is just plainly and simply about one HECK of an irresistible offer for anyone who ever needs a Wordpress theme...

WordPress Theme Club

ps.  Even if you just like to download awesome WordPress themes "for that rainy day...", you can, in no way, shape or form, ever regret taking advantage of what you're about to see.  Way to go, Small Potato!

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Advanced Entrecard - Increase Website Traffic With A Strong Alternative to Chain Dropping

If you're an Entrecard user who is looking for an alternative to "chain dropping" (drop your card, click thru to the next ad, drop your card, repeat), and you want to maximize your efforts even further with some insightful, exploratory strategies, then read on....

Since writing an article titled, "10 Simple Ways to Squeeze the Most Out of Entrecard for Your Greater Advantage" , I've read all kinds of articles that range from amateur to insightful.  Some trashed Entrecard, preferring to blame the "quality of the traffic" rather than the "quality of their marketing skills", while others have just been elated to start getting any traffic at all.

Some have whipped out traffic stats and made wild inferences based on how much time visitors have or haven't spent on their sites while others have simply looked at ANY influx of traffic as an opportunity to win over some new readers.

Let Me Give You A Tiny Example
Converting So-Called "Junk Traffic"

Some people have referred unfavorably to the questionable quality of chain dropping traffic.  They quote "average time" statistics and infer that since people aren't staying long enough to read an article, that the traffic is junk.

Well, Put Something Irresistible to Entrecard Users Under the Damn Widget!

like a little pony

After all, every single Entrecard users is, by nature of doing what they're doing, someone who has wants and needs.  So, if you know that, then either give them something they want or give them something NEW to want.  It can even be FUNNY, after all, we could all use a little relief from this madness every now and then, but don't blame them, or their "quality"... that's like blaming an acorn for not being an oak, or a child with ADD for not being able to learn.  Provide the right sunlight, or the right medicine and you should become better known as a good "gardener" or "doctor."

Let Me Give You Another Tiny Example
Placing Your Widget Strategically

By now, any Entrecard user over a week old realizes that searching a site for an Entrecard widget can be a royal pain in the ass.  Especially if one is interested in testing out one of the high cost blogs and needs a lot of credits.  As a result, they're going to start realizing the value of blogs that have their Entrecard widget at, or near, the top versus those who either jam their widget at the very bottom or have it buried undiscernibly amongst a bunch of other similar looking ads on the sidebar (the sidebar is a horrible place, by the way, because no one is LOOKING for your ordinary ads but they ARE looking for your Entrecard widget).

In fact, I just dropped 70 cards for a very specific purpose and found widgets, like mine, either NEAR or AT the top to be of great service to me.  Ironically, I was more disposed to look around if the initial impact of the blog looked nice and easy to read.  I felt a strange gratitude towards such blog owners for not forcing me to have to search all over the place under the assumption that MAYBE  I would like their blog. 

The widgets near the top suggested that these blog owners not only understood what Entrecard card-droppers want but also weren't looking to squeeze every dime out of me.  It's subtle, but it IS conveyed.  As a result, I've bookmarked those blog owners into special folders and will, in the very least, bless them with a dropped card every time I go card dropping.

A Strong Alternative to Chain Dropping

I've never been a "good boy" - that doesn't mean I'm only a "bad boy", it just means I'm very inquisitive and have a special gift for finding the outer limits of others' comfort levels.  More so than wanting to know how things work, I like to know how they can work BETTER and in clever, unexpected ways, for that would give me a little while to play with something and then share in the discovery. 

But it's really just human nature to want to be more efficient - even procrastinators like to be more efficient when you think about it.

The Multiple Dead-Ends of Chain Dropping

Most Entrecard chain-droppers eventually start running into widgets whose current ad displays contain an ad for a site they've already card-dropped.  Essentially, it represents a temporary dead end to their chain-dropping rhythm.  It doesn't take a whole lot to click the E and go back to Entrecard to find another starting point but if you're trying to build up a bunch of credits and that starts happening more and more frequently, well, let's just say it defeats the purpose of chain-dropping.

So I've come up with something a little better.  Not necessarily brilliant, but a little better AND there's more benefit to it than meets the eye.

Use Your Bookmark Folders and Labels

Whether you use Firefox or IE, or something like the Google Toolbar Bookmark Button, you should be familiar with something that looks like this:

At the very bottom, there's an option to "Open In Tabs" so I could open all those websites at once.  Assuming it won't bog down my computers resources, that's a pretty powerful way to get all those EntreCard sites to come up.  Now remember, there's currently over 3180 people using EntreCard and more coming in every day.  Not all of them will read this article and, following lackluster, inside-the-box, A-list bloggers, they won't think to put a juicy tidbit under their widget... like I have... and like you will.

But That's Just Plain Evil!

Why?  Are you in denial?  Chain-dropper?  I am talking to a chain-dropper here, aren't I?  I AM talking to someone who is reading my Entrecard articles because they want to understand how to use things to a greater advantage, aren't I?  We are not breaking any EntreCard rules, are we?

But keep in mind, we might be chain-dropping or mass-opening but we are still human.  If you see a site that has some immediate appeal to you, by all means, bookmark it under a separate folder or label for further review.  THAT is the ultimate power because you're chain-dropping for credits AND you're bookmarking Entrecard-friendly (widget near top), eye-pleasing sites for further review... to maybe advertise on them, or get to know the site owner for some other reasons.

Either way, what you're doing is not evil at all.  It's INTELLIGENT.  Instead of dropping cards at sites, one by one by one, you're loading up 10 and then running down the list and you're bookmarking friendly sites for further review.  It only makes sense that any site that impresses you from the first few seconds deserves the prize of your attention.

Suggested Setup of Your EntreCard Site Folders

Obviously, you aren't going to setup 3180 sites into 318 or so folders or labels.  But setup WILL probably take a mere 5-20 minutes depending on how many credits you want to blaze each day.  That's just enough time to get the academics to complain that you could make a lot better use of your time. 

But they don't quite comprehend your fascination with EntreCard - and I do. 

So I'm just trying to help you make it more satisfying and more efficient.  And the added bonus is that the "way of thinking" you will learn here, will help you in later ventures with, or without, me.

This Is REALLY Simple...

Did you know there is a page of Entrecard users who are the "Most Recent?"  Not everyone does because the mention of it is somewhere in the instruction pages that few read word for word.  Here it is...

The Most Recent Entrecard Users
(opens in a new window)

Now, you can lurk there and hope to pick up some new cheap advertising... like 100s of others people (and, therefore, truly waste your time), but I'll show you how to use it differently.

Those are the newest people. 
They are the most hungry people. 

You and I once appeared on that page and we can remember what it was like coming into Entrecard and being hungry.  We wanted to get right to it.  We wanted to start dropping cards and advertising on others' sites.  We were thrilled to see others dropping cards on us.  And we thought it was cool that a bunch of people actually wanted to advertise on our site...

But at EntreCard University,
We're Now Sophmores, and Juniors
and (dare I say?) Seniors...

Alright, here's a Suggested Method for a More Effective Alternative to Chain Dropping

1. Choose and visit 20 of the most recent Entrecard users;

2. Drop your card so they get to meet you nice and early;

3. Put them in 2 folders or under 2 labels depending on how you bookmark

4. Have a SPECIAL folder or label for those whose widgets are right at the top.

5. Do the same for 20 Entrecard users in your category.

6. Do the same for 20 of the most popular Entrecard users.

7. Several days later, do the same in all three areas with new people until you are satisfied.

8. Then, each day, just open the folders of your choice and start dropping!

The unspoken benefits of this are...

1. The simplicity and just opening 1 folder and dropping 10 cards should be obvious;

2. Just like Coca-Cola, you get your ad in peoples awareness over and over, and early;

3. New people appreciate you giving them a consistent, early boost;

4. You will appear more consistently to select people in your category (rather than randomly via chain-dropping)

5. You will appear more consistently to the Most Popular and that can have further unseen benefits.

You see, the sky really IS the limit. 

While naysayers will wring their hands and glow academically about how X.z% of Q traffic spent (A/b)*C minutes doing LMNOP, you are, in the very least, learning the HOW of finding unorthodox, yet highly intelligent, ways of getting your brand noticed, making your presence felt, building your relationships, maximizing your efforts, thinking outside the box and, in general, increasing goodwill.

Now, Tell Me, How Is THAT Bad? 
It Isn't.

CLASS DISMISSED!

entrecard, blogging, blog tools, blogging tools, increase website traffic, traffic exchange, web 2.0, social media, social networking, social bookmarking, social news, blog widgets, website traffic, internet marketing, make money, webmaster tools

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10 Simple Ways to Squeeze the Most Out of Entrecard for Your Greater Advantage

Ok, so you've taken the plunge and signed up for Entrecard.  You read my previous article, "Entrecard Madness - My First 24 Hours" and decided that you really need the traffic.  You need the traffic so badly that you're going to risk life and limb, focus and attention, and, possibly, increased symptoms of ADD, ADHD, OCD or Depression, in order to get it.

Well, Congratulations...!

HOW YA DOIN? HOW YA DOIN? HOW YA DOIN?

So being the kind of person that I am, I thought I would create a Top 10 kind of list of things to do in order to both save time and maximize your efforts while using Entrecard.  In other words...

Get In, Hit Hard and Get Out.
So, here they are...in no particular order (wrong!)

10 Simple Ways to Squeeze the Most Out of Entrecard for Your Greater Advantage

The Following Assumes You Already Have an Account

1. Definitely Have a 125x125 Ad Graphic Made for Your Card.  If you need one, I'll help you make one in exchange for a link or a post pointing here.  Otherwise, you can try Caveman's blog, "Caveman Conclusion."  In that post, he makes a "backlink for payment" optional, and I don't.  I guess I'm not that nice but, somehow, I'm nice enough to point you to him, though.  Ya get my drift?  We just value our time differently.

   Either way, GET A GRAPHIC for your Entrecard or people will realize your an amateur.  A graphic will help you hide that fact... for a little while, anyways.

2. Make Sure Your Entrecard Widget is NEAR THE TOP of Your Blog.

   Some people are trying to come up with ways to get "chain droppers" (people who drop their card and then just click the ad to go to the next site) to stay on their blogs longer.  One person suggested putting the widget at the very BOTTOM so people would have to scroll past stuff in order to find it.

   Well, let's think this through for a second:  if you're chain dropping (which is perfectly legitimate) just to rack up your credits (1 credit per card drop), are you REALLY in the mood to stop and peruse blogs?  Theoretically, maybe.  In reality, no.  When you're on a mission, you're on a mission.  And anyone who has to play "Where's Waldo?" looking for the Entrecard widget can just as easily take any easy route back to Entrecard home page and start over.
   But most importantly, who's gonna want to advertise on your blog if your Entrecard widget is jammed half a mile down the page?  No one.  And that would suck.  So place your widget in a RESPECTABLE place.  Near the top is nice for the advertisers and card droppers - and if placed next to a tantalizing ad or your list of recent posts, that would be good for you, too; as long as it was near the top. 

   Note:  Middle isn't bad, either, but top sidebar area is best. Just keep it fair and reasonable.

3. Drop Cards With Those Who Dropped Cards With You First. 

   (Working in a NEW BROWSER WINDOW and in the DASHBOARD area of your Entrecard back office) Within moments of signing up, you're going to see Entrecards in your INBOX column (to which, by the way, you can subscribe).  Those are from people who just dropped their card to "say hi", hoping you'll click on the card and visit their site.  You want to RIGHT CLICK on each of them and open them all in new tabs (or new windows if you've got an old browser).

   This will not lead to each Entrecard's owner's website but rather to an information page about that Entrecard user.  From there, you can decide whether you want to advertise with them or not but that's for later.  For now, you just want to click on the links leading to their websites.  While you're running down the tabs, clicking to each one, the previous one's are loading. 

   Then you just go back and click "drop card" on each site's Entrecard widget which will earn you like 5-10 credits very quickly.  And remember!  Dropping cards is nothing more than for YOU to get a credit, for YOU to see a widget owner's site, and for YOU to have your ad seen in the site owner's inbox.  Dropping cards has NOTHING to do with accepting or requesting advertising although dropping cards DOES affect advertising costs.

   Note:  Some will argue that "chain dropping" is faster and, therefore, better.  But the reason I suggest you first drop cards with those who dropped cards with you first is because they just proved that they are actively working the system.  You can start chain dropping on the last card in your inbox.

4. Click the Campaign Tab and Choose an Appropriate Category to Advertise. 

   After "card dropping" those who dropped cards with you AND "chain dropping" about 10-20 sites, you'll have 1 credit for each card you dropped and 1 credit for each card that had, in the meanwhile, been dropped on your site widget.  This will give you some credits to start making advertising requests.

   We all know the value of a "good deal" and newbies blogs cost only 2 credits to advertise on them.  But if a lot of cards get dropped on them, then their advertising charge goes up rapidly and their ad queue fills up quickly.  That's really no cause to rush because there'll be new people just like you coming in but it will help get your credits up to get your ad on, at least, 1 blog pretty quickly.

   The question remains as to whether it's better to get your card seen quickly on a bunch of newbie blogs where most of the traffic will be from low-value chain droppers or whether to get on only a couple of newbie blogs and make a few higher-value purchases to get on a more highly travelled blog.  In other words, will 10 ads on newbie bloggers sites for 20-30 credits be any better than 2 ads on 2 sites that cost 15 credits each but have better non-Entrecard traffic?

   I think the latter, but if your blog is eye-popping, and interesting enough, even chain-droppers can be persuaded to stick around a while.  They're only human, after all. 

   So pick a few new Entrecard users' blogs on-the-cheap, and save some credits for a couple of expensive blogs.

5. Quickly Check Blogs Before Advertising On Them. 

   It doesn't matter that they SAY they are relevant, it's up to you to verify.  It's also a good idea to see if their widget is placed fairly or buried near the bottom.  Unless it's placed fairly, it's going to seriously curtail the number of eyeballs you get on your ad and that sucks.  Do this quickly as there are many others doing the same and ad queues can get filled up quickly (limit of 10 ads queued per site).

   Remember to drop your card while you're checking them out for an extra credit but, if you decide to advertise with them, drop the card AFTER you make the advert request or your card drop could make the advert cost go up for you! ;-)

6. Quickly Check Blogs of People Requesting to Advertise With You. 

   It's entirely up to you whether you want to allow UNRELATED ads to appear on your site.  If you do, it would probably mean less of your organic visitors would probably click on that ad when it appears in your widget but it could, at the same time, make your blog appear pretty wierd.  After all, how attractive, and/or sensible, is a "bald Britney Spears" in your sidebar?

   Remember here, as well, to drop your card when checking out Entrecard advert requests for relevance to your blog.
7. Thank Everyone Who Advertises With You Via EntreCard's Messaging. 

   By thanking everyone who advertises with you, you don't exactly get any credits, but you DO get their eyeballs on your card again AND it lets them know, by what you say, that you might be the kind of person they'd want to visit or do business with, again, in the near future.  In short, it can't hurt, and...

   Remember, there's no rule against you including a friendly invitation to do something else such as, "By the way, if you Twitter, feel free to follow me on Twitter and I'll follow you back!"

    

8. Subscribe to the 3 Feeds in Your Dashboard:  Requested Ads, Your Ads and Inbox.

   This will accomplish several things:

   1. Being notified of Entrecard advert requests will allow you to approve them quickly.  This will decrease the likelihood of an advertiser cancelling an ad request due to a concern that you might not get around to it soon, or at all.  Meanwhile, they are watching other juicy ad spots go by for which they might only have sufficient credits were they to cancel the one they placed with you.  The sooner you verify and approve advert requests, the better.
   2. Being notified of what's happening with YOUR Entrecard ad requests allows you, for example, to quickly find other places to advertise should one of your advert requests be rejected.  You spent your credits for a reason - you want them working for you, not just sitting there looking pretty.  The sooner you can replace a rejected advert request, the better.
   3. Being notified of what's happening in your Entrecard Inbox can be useful as it gives you both a way of seeing how steadily the flow of cards dropped at your site remains.  If, most days, you get 20 cards dropped at your site but, next day, there's only three, then you know you have some trouble-shooting to do.  It also reminds you to get back in there and bring up your credit stores by performing Steps 3 through 5.

9. Make Yourself Very Visible in the Forum. 

   START, in the very least, 1 NEW post in each of the (currently 4) main categories.  Also contribute to 3-5 threads authored by other people.  Preferably newer posts so they last longer and, also preferably, where your post will be one of the first three. You may just post naturally as you would anywhere else, too.  These are just guidelines for more traffic but without looking obnoxious.

   Remember, it certainly can't hurt to do the SAME on the Entrecard blog.  Just a few intelligently placed, relevant comments will do.

10. GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS!
    Everyone loves having something nice said about them.  It inspires them to want to be nice to you in return, sometimes.  Recommendations are simply testimonials.  They can be about anything so if you haven't had any direct experience with the site owner, you can still compliment about how nice his or her site looks, how well they write or how something they wrote might have opened your eyes, etc.
    Recommendations can be left by clicking on a persons card WHILE AT ENTRECARD (clicking a card that's displayed on a site's widget will only follow through to the next website).  That will bring you to that person's info page with the recommendation link on the right side.  The rest should be pretty obvious.

START HERE

Leave an EntreCard Recommendation for Me and I Will Leave a Recommendation for You.

If you leave one, you may also leave YOUR EntreCard info in the comment section so that you can exchange recommendations with OTHER EntreCard users who are passing through. 

To get your link to put in the comment section, use the following code, just exchange the x's below with your usernumber:

<p align="center"><font size="4"><a target="_blank" href="http://entrecard.com/details/XXXX">Exchange Reviews with Me at ENTRECARD!</a></font></p>
I WILL be checking them so please keep it real, thanks.

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Entrecard Madness - My First 24 Hours

((You + Entrecard) * 24hrs) = Insanity - Me

Quite frankly, I don't even know where to start, so I'm just going to get out my mental "walker" and just proceed forward at a kind of wobbly, handicapped pace, thanks to Entrecard.  Others have written about the EXISTENCE of Entrecard but I've found few posts regarding one's actual moment-to-moment experience of trying to use it. 

So This Is My Gift To You

The "Drop Your Card" Avalanche

My Drop Card

You see, never mind my first DAY using Entrecard, in the first hour ALONE, I got slammed with people dropping me their "cards."  They do this because it earns them 1 credit and causes their "business card" to show up in my Entrecard Dashboard.  Even though all the traffic and attention coming so quickly can be overwhelming, it's considered a good thing because each card that is dropped at your site increases the "cost of advertising" at your site.

Dropping a card earns a credit for the dropper and the biz card shows up in the dropees dashboard as if to say, "Hi, stop on by!" and having a card dropped on your site beefs up the cost of anyone having a biz card actually SHOWN on your site (which is why potential advertisers try to get ads on newbies sites early before all the card dropping causes the cost of advertising to go up).

And We All Want That, Right?
More Credits, More Ads, More Eyeballs, Right?

But the geeks will ask, "Yeah, but is it targeted, quality traffic?"  And my answer is... who gives a #$@!?  It takes 3 minutes, at most, to set up and it gets eyeballs on your page.  It's networking, pure and simple and it works, period.  If people need to get out their slide rules and pie charts to see whether this is viable for them, then they are just totally in the wrong ballgame.  Those who REALLY know how to do all kinds of site metrics, and so on, won't be hanging around Entrecard asking such questions. 

Those who do are either sincere and need a little education or they're "emulators" trying to sound like they know what they're doing.  Next...

An Avalanche of Advert Requests

When you USUALLY join a club of like-minded people, it's pretty cool.  You can talk about your favorite fun things all day long whether it's surfing, biking, playing video games or drinking beer.  But when you join a "club" of attention seekers (aka business opportunity seekers), you're pretty much screwed if you're not prepared for what comes next. 

Just imagine that the moment you step in the door you're confronted with at least 100 overly-jubilant people wearing all kinds of eye-busting colors and patterns getting right up close in your face and shouting...

HI, HOW ARE YOU? HI, HOW ARE YOU? HI, HOW ARE YOU?

Well, It's Going to Happen at Entrecard

And as always, there's those who've left the primordial muck before you and so they're set up to chow down on your ass the moment you finally try to hurl yourself up onto the beach to join them.

For example, there's ALREADY people using 1000s of credits to hold contests or offering 100s of credits for you to jump through hoops for them or wear their mothers underwear - things like that.  And there's already talk about "gaming the system" and how to defend against it (if you or they really can).  And you're also going to get a bunch of advert requests from people who aren't even remotely related to your topic simply because the cost to advertise on a newcomers blog is dirt cheap. 

But have no fear, the cost of advertising on your site will go up as more people come up to you and scream (drop their card),

HI, HOW ARE YOU?
HI, HOW ARE YOU?
HI, HOW ARE YOU?

But, by then, you might be feeling a bit dull and woozy, as if you took the wrong anxiety medication - you won't actually mind it but you'll still know that under the thin film of glaze that surrounds your brain, something's not exactly right.

CAN YOU REALLY HANDLE IT?

I'm not saying whether YOU should or shouldn't use it.  However, I WILL give you a way to qualify yourself...

Those Of You With A.D.D. or A.D.H.D to the Left...

And Those of You With O.C.D and Mild to Severe Depression to the Right.

First, I want to remind you of an article I wrote last month titled, "Sir Samuel Freedom: Social Media's Errant Knight."  In it, and elsewhere, I mentioned fellow blogger, David Armano's, article about "social media fragmentation" in which he says,

"By now most of us wouldn't argue that the media landscape has been fragmented.  In the old days if you wanted to communicate something—you had a few choices.  A marketing campaign fueled mostly by television, magazines and newspapers.  You had all the usual PR methods and of course the press.  Digital happened—eyeballs went to the Web and now you had to add a whole new mix of tactics.  Social Media picked up steam and now you've got another set of options to take seriously."

[....]

"If we want to influence folks regarding our personal or corporate brands, we've got multiple ripples happening all at once not only in the digital space, but drilling down to the social aspect of it.  It's enough to make your head spin.  But here's the big takeaway from all of this.  Successful personal and corporate brands alike will be the ones who take a holistic view when creating, maintaining and amplifying their ripples.  This means avoiding the temptation to hyper fixate on one venue thinking it's a replacement for another." Influence Ripples + Social Media Fragmentation

In other words, and in Sam Freedom style, if you have ADD, ADHD or don't want your attention split up, yet again, think twice before joining Entrecard, or check with your doctor about doubling up on your Ritalin.  Also, as you'll see in my next article about "gaming Entrecard", you're going to end up seeing a LOT of new blogs... and I mean A LOT!  Two things can possibly result from this

1. Information Overload

2. A Sudden Realization of The Bigger Situation

And, Therefore, DEPRESSION

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, entrepreneurs, without ill intent, generally consider the downside of their products inasmuch as it helps them profit, or avoid major profit loss.  As I'd said in my aforementioned article,

Like ANY technology, the positives are stressed AD NAUSEUM by both those who KNOW they are in the ripe position to gain handsomely from it; as well as by those who are utterly naive in IMAGINING they might POSSIBLY gain handsomely from it.  So the battle lines get drawn and each begins to fall into rank as to what kind of soldier they're going to be in this new "social media" vacuum, this same old, same old war for POWER.

As you drop your card, again and again, and check out others' dropped cards, while qualifying more and more blogs seeking to advertise on yours, you're going to start seeing TONS of blogs.  Now let's get serious for a moment:  how many of you can even make it to your kitchen and back without getting side-tracked?  You know, deep inside, that cruising all these blogs in order to gain credits and more exposure is going to mess with your head, don't you?

Ideally, you'd find a couple of new blogs you like and add them to your newsreader.  But, in reality, you're going to find 300 new blogs you like while trying to NOT add them ALL to your newsreader.  And is that what you need?  Do you need another 150-200 blogs to read, or DO YOU NEED TO ESCAPE THIS RAT RACE BY ACHIEVING FINANCIAL FREEDOM?!?!

Oh Dear, I'm Starting to Sound Like A Broken Record

From Day 1, I've constantly referred to FINANCIAL FREEDOM and NOT about chasing, chasing, chasing, more and more and more of what?  the feeling of belonging?  the antidote to feeling that you might miss out on something important?  And that's all I'll say about it here.

But if you're a NEWER blogger, you're going to suddenly realize just how many other bloggers and internet marketers are competing for the same tiny, little piece of the pie you're going after and, unless you've got Florence Griffith Joyner's genes (or are a liar), you're going to end up depressed.  And if you think your life is a bit overwhelming now, just think of how it's going to be when you have 300 more blogs to read, and 300 more ads to qualify and approve, and 300 more cards to drop and 300 more excuses to make about why you didn't take out the trash...

Oh yeah, you forgot to take out the trash...

IN CONCLUSION

If you want to play around with Entrecard, go for it... because now you know what you're up against.  Now you have DISTINCTIONS and the possibility of noticing when your focus and attention are becoming more shredded and flaked than a serving of Wheetabix.  So go have fun!

If, however, you want FINANCIAL FREEDOM then calculate your monthly expenses (including emergency funds, leisure and some savings) and get back to me.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go check my EntreCard Dashboard, view my last 300 Twitter messages, read my MySpace and Facebook email, write my next article on "10 Simple Ways to Squeeze the Most Out of Entrecard for Your Greater Advantage" and make a few new submissions to Mixx, Digg, StumbleUpon and Sphinn.

Cheerio!

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Review and Rebuttal of 10 Reasons You Might Be a Pussy Blogger

Kudos to the author of  "LEARNING SEO BASICS: Search Engine Optimization Resource Center" for her blog post, "Review of Sam Freedoms, '10 Reasons You Might Be a Pussy Blogger'"

In it, she (henceforth referred to as "seo basics") graciously called me out - something I neither discourage nor fear, for it provides me with yet another opportunity to find out that indefinable stuff from which I'm made.  My goal here, then, is to rebut her review point-for-point.  And for those of you stumbling in for the first time, here is the original article, "10 Reasons You Might Be a Pussy Blogger".  At present, it is receiving 100s of visits from both Sphinn and Stumbleupon.

Well Sam, here’s what I think:

“You Moderate Your Comments”

Well, maybe sometimes people don’t know of any other options for weeding out cursing and foul doo doo that others may infiltrate it with. But, I totally disagree with omitting comments simply based on the ‘Opposition’ factor.

First, finding other options is as simple as asking.  Second, I was not referring to newbies but specifically mentioned "captcha" and "akismet" to highlight those who know of it (even possibly use them) but still moderate their comments.  See, after each point, there was a short explanation.  Omitting those explanations, which you did, makes your rebuttal seem relevant but none of your rebuttals are relevant in light of the points I made after (though I still appreciate your bravado).

“You Repeat Tips and Suggestions That You Never Experienced, Especially With No Attribution”

Not everyone that blogs, blogs to hear themselves talk. Maybe, there are those that post comments that they believe in, expecting the reader to be wise enough to research it further themselves. Maybe they are posting a comment that they hope will bring responses to ‘set-them-straight’ if disputable. Besides, I have heard some comments from people that are experts who are supposed to know all who have been publicly declared ‘Full of Doo Doo” too. Blogging is a journal…an online diary of sorts. And, a diary is observations .

Assuming that any mass of people who you don't know are wise enough to do anything is a big mistake but perhaps you need to learn that by making it a few times.  If you are going to post something in hopes of being set straight, then that ought to be stated so that people don't mistake you for an authority only to end up in the jaws of a lion. Your having heard comments from so-called experts that were declared "doo-doo" was covered because, in the very least, you know the source and can knock their block off.

“ You Try to Be Top Commenter On Popular Bloggers’ Blogs”

This one is funny actually. Is there actually 1 person that gives a comment that they hope will be a flop?

You misunderstood (again).  Top Commenter refers to the very first position in the comment queue - or, at least, the top 3 positions.  Some people actually hover over their RSS feeds trying to get top position in the comment queues of high-traffic bloggers.

Is there really some reason that people that comment should BEWARE of those lurking that may hate you? Like SamFreedom is really worried about being mindful of not stealing the show. LoL. You’re ability to do that is one of the reasons I enjoy reading your blogs. And, isn’t that similar to the ‘Moderating’ theme of question #1? Not a huge difference. Either be yourself, or fall in line with the masses. Of course, having respect for those you may be infuriating by being the top commenter is something to take a look at. If a Top commenter’s sole purpose is to steal the show, others will see and disregard or applaud. We’re all grown.

The point is that if people are caught up in the game of trying to be a "top commenter" amidst the comment masses, then they are wasting their time and energy and are, therefore, pussy bloggers.  They should focus more on leaving useful comments and, perhaps, some light, attention-grabbing formatting.

“ You Give ALL Your Experience Away for Free”

I don’t really know of too many people that’s hanging out at their computer giving away all their goodies for free.

Then you must be living a sheltered existence.  And be careful, I said "experience", not "goodies."  If you don't know the difference, that's ok, but there is one.

But, for those who are, who are we to formulate an immediate assessment of WHY they are doing so?

We are not all the same; some of us are more experienced than others and can make better, quicker assessments than others.  It's like the US Constitution says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,..." which many slackers interpret to mean that their potential worth is equal to someone else's actualized worth.  And it just ain't so...  We are all regarded as equal so that, ideally, we can have equal opportunity to develop our understanding of life.  So some people are more understanding than others and can make that "immediate assessment" to which you referred.

Maybe ‘Free’ is a great practice for the real thing. You say it’s a sign of weakness, not strength. Why is that? Here’s an example…I requested a free sample lotion online a few weeks ago. It came, I tried it, it was great, I bought. I don’t think it’s a whole heckuvah poor idea to give away what you have to offer because it allows for gaining experience and followers if what you have is useful.

You might have completely missed what I wrote because I referred to.... "giving away all your EXPERIENCE" which has nothing to do with lotion samples.

For those who don’t have experience to speak of, what can be a better way of experimenting and dipping your foot into the waters to give it a test run? People follow free. If all goes well, maybe in the end, it becomes what you need on your resume’. Also, not to be overlooked. SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE! It makes them feel like a positive contribution to society instead of the same old same old taker that can be found on a bazillion SERP’s . Wha’ts so wrong with that? Having a little bit of unselfish qualities can also be what gives you an edge my friend. You get what you give. It all comes back to you, good, bad, or indifferent.

I wrote , "Giving away something of value for free is ok as a lead in to a bigger offer but to give oodles of your hard-earned pearls away at no charge is a sign of WEAKNESS, not strength."

A little bit of unselfishness is not only fine but recommended (see this example).

And I would gladly bet that you are the kind of person who, out of the other side of your mouth would say something like, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."  Giving away ALL your experience is both a weakness and, I'd also bet, a sure sign of CO-DEPENDENCY.

YOU ARE AFRAID TO TYPE IN CAPITAL LETTERS!”

Uh, well, yea! It’s part of the appeal or lack of that we all experience when reading. Take a survey for this one: “How many people feel that using capital letters in comments is equal to yelling?” Some people actually enjoy fact without drama. Then again, sometimes drama is fun. One of your best qualities, I might add.

As far as capital letters go, if someone typed in them all the time, maybe something might be said.  But how is it that otherwise mature adults can't simply skip over any msg in capital letters without having to scream about "screaming"?  I still say capital letters can be used better than they have been to-date.

“ You Think Because You Do SEO By the Book That Black Hatters Are “Beneath” You.”

Now, this is great…once again, we enter the zone…Didn’t you just answer #4 with “b) you’re saturating the market and making it harder for them to make a living.”? Don’t the “Honest Abes” deserve the same respect? Hello? Sheesh.;Honest Abes?"  How dare you besmirch the reputation of president Lincoln by likening a bunch of white hat SEOs to him.

The Honest Abes are the ones who take a full 20ft pole up the backside when 100s of their sites plummet off the chart each time Google tries to redefine its algorithm based on what it thinks is fair.  The black hatters are flexible and nimble and are usually either untouched or capable of just setting up another operation in short time.

And the point was that the "by the book" lambs are pussies for considering black hatters beneath them.  That doesn't make either one honest or dishonest - they just have different ways of getting their needs met.

“ You Never Sphinn or Digg Your Own Posts Because of What People Might Think.”

Ok ok, I’ll Sphinn and Stumble this. Will that make you happy?

Why would it?  The article was about whe r not a blogger is a pussy.  Not whether or not I was happy with their status.

“ You Don’t Sphinn or Digg or Bump an Article That Mentions You Because You’re Afraid You’ll Be Accused of Doing It for Yourself.”

Actually, I have held the position of underdog most of my existence, so I actually agree with you on this one. Live and learn.

I had figured that out from the outset.  And I'm still not sure with what you precisely agree.

“ You’re Afraid to Use Something Like This!”

Once again, back to #2 “better have experimented with everything you’re saying or AT LEAST cite someone who HAS. That way, your readers have someone’s actual block to knock off if the tactics fail.” Maybe I am too busy trying to learn how to do it the right way the first time around.

It's a semi-automated aid for those who don't have the time or friends to submit to social media on the scale of those who got in first, spend hours there and have huge cliques of friends.  But your "trying to do it right the first way around" is the kind of condescension  to which I was referring.  Web2Submitter is not "the wrong way" - just like anything, it can be used or misused and the creators constantly promote responsible use.

“You Don’t Take My Advice.”

Ok ok…maybe I’m just no there yet. Gimme time. But, hey! I’m Sphinning you! That oughtta count for something! *>) SORRY…DOES IT FEEL LIKE I AM YELLING??

Nope, I kinda like it. ;-)  Take your time and thanks for the Sphinn..

Thanks for letting me share. Oh, btw, I love your blog.

My pleasure, and thank you for the kind compliment.

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10 Reasons Why You Might Be a Pussy Blogger

1. You Moderate Your Comments

Oh like you're so important that a combination of captcha and akismet can't solve your problems.  Were you so overwhelmed by a domineering person in your past that you have to play out your "retake control" fantasies in your comment section?

2. You Repeat Tips and Suggestions That You Never Experienced, Especially With No Attribution

It's ok to post something like "How to Comment on Others Blogs for Traffic" but you damn well better have experimented with everything you're saying or AT LEAST cite someone who HAS.  That way, your readers have someone's actual block to knock off if the tactics fail.

3. You Try to Be Top Commenter On Popular Bloggers' Blogs

It's WISE, for example, to be top commenter on a high traffic, low comment, dofollow blog.  It's imbecilic to try to be top commenter on a popular blog under the impression that all the other commenters might visit you.  The truth is that all the other commenters will hate you because they were trying to be top commenter and you beat them to it.  Oh yea, that's gonna sit will with them.

4.  You Give ALL Your Experience Away for Free

You are too afraid of failure so instead of putting your experience into a book and charging something for it, you give it away to everyone like a dazed hippy chick at a biker rally, believing that they're really going to love you and support you.

If that's you, then "Earth to you!  You are not Mahatma Ghandi or Mother Theresa.  People are here to make money and giving away all your experience for free makes them secretly resent you for two reasons:  a) you're showing them how to NOT make money - which they already know; and b) you're saturating the market and making it harder for them to make a living.

Giving away something of value for free is ok as a lead in to a bigger offer but to give oodles of your hard-earned pearls away at no charge is a sign of WEAKNESS, not strength.

5.  YOU'RE AFRAID TO TYPE IN CAPITAL LETTERS!

If you're still saying something lame like, "Hey, don't yelllllllllll...!!!" when people type in capital letters, it can only mean you (or your parents) were avid users when CompuServe, TRS-80 and Apple ][+ were all the rage.

If you still do that to your commenters, or are afraid to use capital letters yourself, self-esteem issues could very well need some prompt attention.

6.  You Think Because You Do SEO By the Book That Black Hatters Are "Beneath" You.

Black hatters do what they do because they actually have an offline life they'd like to visit once in a while.  And I'm not talking about the "offline life" due to necessities like going potty and walking the dog.  I'm talking about like dating, having a glass of wine/brandy with the neighbors or taking their Lamborghini out for a sphinn.

They don't have all day to sit at home waiting for the GREAT LEADER GOOGLE to send them the next transmission on what is, and isn't, acceptable.  After all, Google never asked them whether or not it was ok to use their websites in order to build a for-profit search engine.  Google never did things by THEIR book, so why should they do things by GOOGLE'S book?

7. You Never Sphinn or Digg Your Own Posts Because of What People Might Think.

Darlings, if I have something time-sensitive on the menu, I'm not waiting for Little Red Riding Hood to traipse on by and post my articles to social media sites for me.  I'll be glad to take the lesser amount of traffic ON TIME than a greater amount of traffic TOO LATE.

This one also reminds me of that last piece of pizza that no one wants to take because everyone knows everyone else wants it and the person who takes it is going to get all the psychic daggers.  So then the last piece ends up getting cold and the fat kid ends up eating it like usual.

8. You Don't Sphinn or Digg or Bump an Article That Mentions You Because You're Afraid You'll Be Accused of Doing It for Yourself.

Ok, turn up your hearing aid... SO #!*&%* WHAT?!

The truth is, as long as you do such things with flare, there are people who will still support you because they want to learn to be more like you.  So what if you don't get max traffic because of it.  Most people who will admire you for being fearless don't get ANY traffic to begin with so start thinking in two directions instead of one.

In other words, fearing being disliked or fearing less popularity and therefore less traffic is just as narcissistic as submitting an article by, or about, you.  So go ahead, try it... it's like ripping off a Band-Aid; the faster you do it, the easier it'll be.

9.  You're Afraid to Use Something Like This!

Oh my, how could you DARE use such a nefarious piece of software to help semi-automate your submissions to dozens of social media sites?  That's right, just keep doing things LIKE EVERY OTHER NEWBIE WHO JUST CAME ONLINE THIS WEEK and some day you'll be RICH, RICH, RICH! lol

Seriously, my doggies, if you're somehow under the dastardly illusion that "getting a little help from your friends" is somehow unfair then make sure to tell everyone how clean and pure you are so when the holidays roll around they can each send you a nice card.

Really now... just try such a program even once and you'll suddenly realize that while I might not be your "friend" friend... I'm definitely your "friend".

10. You Don't Take My Advice.

Don't worry, there's no rush.  There's all kinds of people around the globe who are suffering right now, so you're in good company.  But if, perchance, you want that to change, even just a little, then think about everything I've said for a second... then make a clearly stated wish, "I wish to be more free of suffering." 

Then go re-read the "10 Reasons Why You Might Be a Pussy Blogger" and see if anything jumps out at you a little differently.

And if that fails you, ask questions.

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Quick Free Tip on How to Get Followers on Twitter Fast!

PREPARING THE SOIL FOR HOW TO GET FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER FAST
(if you don't need a spanking but just want the straight dope, skip to the last section)

What I'm about to say in this section is because what I'm about to share in the final section is the kind of tip you likely won't find anywhere else (even Mashable couldn't find a use for what I'm about to show you).  And before I give it, it's my responsibility to crack the shell of the war-weary blogger/visitor that comes here AS IF this were just another blog amidst the 1000s of blogs that are telling you such things as "how to comment properly on other blogs" or how "pagerank is (insert any adjective here)" or that you need to form teams instead of going it alone.  All stuff that can be found in 1000s of other similar articles for merely the price of Googling.

Instead, you need to start realizing that the world doesn't need another typical article on how to properly comment on blogs for traffic (article coming soon).  It also doesn't need yet another slew of rants or treatises on the mysterious, frustrating nature of Pagerank.

What to do now.

What the blogosphere needs are more people who think even outside the "thinking outside the box" crowd.  And that's what you'll find here - even if it upsets certain segments of the blogging community, my loyalty is to freeing and expanding the mind, not to cramming myself into a tiny suit just to belong somewhere.  Visitors here will benefit from this the more they observe, the more they participate.  The more they dare to say, "Shit, now that took balls."

THE WARM-UP FOR HOW TO GET FOLLOWERS FAST ON TWITTER

A Small Dose of Reality

It's just a fact that marketing online is a numbers game.  There ARE definitely warm connections to be made but don't even dare attempt to tell me with a straight face that you, or anyone else, came here with simultaneous intentions of making money AND making friends.  You didn't.  And if you believe you DID, then challenge me in the comment section and you'll get an even bigger lesson (but if you're sincere about it, you'll also get my respect).

The fact is you already have REAL friends.  And if you don't, then you need to examine why because it's definitely going to interfere with your online business.

So no more of the fa-la-la-la garbage about communities and friends.  It doesn't get more disingenuous than that.  Marketers talk about communities and friends in order to keep you in THEIR community and thinking that they are YOUR friend.  It's CLASSIC marketing tech and you fall for it every time.  And not only that, when someone like myself warns you of it, you have a tendency to say, "Oh, not me... I know why I'M here." and that's only because I haven't CHARGED you for this information.  If I were charging you, you'd feel compelled to think more carefully about what was being said instead.  It would be FRAMED through the doorway of a payment you value. 

HERE'S THE DOPE ON GETTING FOLLOWERS FAST USING TWITTER

1. Consider Making a Second Account on Twitter.  You'll be getting a lot of new tweets coming in this way and you don't want to miss your most cherished Tweeters tweets.

   • If you don't want to create a second account, you can always search for, or set up a feed, for tweets mentioning your name at TerraMinds.  This is not an essential step but it is one that I'd be remiss to leave out.

2. Go to any place that lists Top Twitterers (Big Twits):  TwitterPoster or Twitterholics (thank to Twitter Facts for news of TwitterPoster).

   • Note: It doesn't HAVE to be Top Twitterers.  Any relevant Twitterer is fair game.  It just might take more time and work for your following to grow using smaller Twitterers.

3. Find and visit Top Twitterers' Twitter page and determine those whose Tweets or presence seems to match the field of your blog's topic.

   • Using 21c as an example, they would be useful if your blog was about global warming or environmental concerns.  They happen to be following a lot of people so they might have done the same thing you'd be doing.  Using them this way could prove fruitful but I think you are better off doing this with the Big Twits who seem more judicious and focussed in who they deem "follow-worthy?"

   • It's also perfectly acceptable to go UNTARGETED if you're just starting out.  It won't be as effective but it's still better than kissing your boss's ass.

4. Then FOLLOW the Twitterers THEY (Big Twits) are following.  Many will follow you in return (say hello to them if you can).

 

CONCLUSION

It's ok to do all your hugging and hand-shaking in your cherished blogging communities but don't ever get so blinded by it that you forget this is truly (and forever will be) a numbers game - relationship marketing could not have existed without the "numbers" to back it up.  When dropping a simple TWEET into Twitter can result in a very quick rush of 50-500 visits to your blog article - ALSO TRIPPING THE COUNTERS OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOG DIRECTORIES (therefore pushing your blog closer to the top) - AND EARNING YOU MORE CREDITS ON BLOG RUSH-LIKE TRAFFIC WIDGETS (resulting in more traffic to do not only the same but to also join you on Twitter), is it any wonder why all the allegedly great minds out there that everyone is following haven't yet thought of how simple and powerful this is?

That is why I say you are getting railroaded.  

You are told from so many established bloggers that Twitter either has NO USE or else they're acting all GA-GA over the most OBVIOUS USES (like Twitting out fire or earthquake alerts and ZzzZzZzz boring stuff) but if you want to build your readership and businesses up like the PIONEERS did years ago, you have to start using things in NEW, UNEXPECTED ways to get better than dismal or average results.

And screw the people who suggest that doing so is bad for your online health.  It is if you want to be an internet marketing cheerleader the rest of your life .  Just imagine what Christopher Columbus had to tolerate.

Thanks to Dazzling Donna, Andy Beard and JoiKoi for Sphinning a couple of my articles this week.

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4 Out of 5 Twitterers Surveyed Said....!

Any ensuing Twitter search, performed at TwitterVolume, are in no way intended to represent anything accurately.  They are done mainly for fun BUT... are also meant to convey a latent possibility about Twitter that, if properly understood and developed, can be VERY, VERY powerful and, quite possibly, VERY, VERY dangerous..

But for now, you need to know that there are...

The 3 Quintessential Groups of People Twittering and Tweeting On and About Twitter:

1. The early adopters:  you could take the old "tin cans and a piece of string", repackage it and throw it to a pack of these types and they'd tell all their friends about it as if it were the next best thing since Marconi came out with Morse code.  Early adopters don't even necessarily care about all the nooks and crannies, twists and turns, or potentials of a new technology.  They just know that it's markedly different and it [enter some benefit here like "made their pizza warmer" or "cancelled out the frequency of their bosses voice"] and that's good enough for them. 
   Early adopters will spread the word faster than a case of dysentery passing through a boatload of stowaways.
   So if you're an early adopter, nothing short of a long stay at a top-notch mental health facility will make you aware that your habits mirror those found on MTV's, "The Real World." (hint, none of it's real).
2. The curious but skeptical:  these people are reminiscent of those mid-sized bass who circle a bait for like an hour before finally saying, "Okeedoke... ain't seem to be no hooks 'round here!" even though 2 million other bass have just gone tearing through "the sky" on the wings of an exact copy of the "dinner" on which they're about to "Pownce." 
   The curious but skeptical will almost always bite if you can keep their attention long enough and/or keep new, flashy competition at bay.  If you're one of them, a good exercise for you would be to visit a Zen monastery in Burma and study Visspasana meditation for about 6 months.

3. The "what-the-heys":  this clan's holy symbol is a Guinness Book of World Records size question mark.  Not only do they not get Twitter but they also don't even try to get it... unless you consider blogging an "I don't get it!" post as some kind of an unconscious cry for help.  A good example of their being stymied would be single-serve coffee makers. 
   What-the-heys could easily understand how making coffee at home could result in $X saved every year but they wouldn't fathom why anyone with a good old-fashioned coffee maker would want to pay more, on a per-pound basis, for the single-serve packages.  How about, "because good coffee is already $7.99+/lb and if you're wasting 1 or more cups per brew then single-serve is a potential money-saver, ya stooge!" 
   What-the-heys tend to not order a $4 glass of wine on a flight because they know they can get if for a dollar less at the airport.  So if you're a "what-the-hey", a good exercise for you would be to watch re-runs of McGuyver.

Ok, now that I've unintentionally insulted about 95% of my readership, let me explain why it's useful to know that...

YOU (go look at the date) are only seeing the "humble beginnings" of the Great Starship Twitterprise.  As far as I'm concerned, it is THE MOST INSIDIOUS social media application I've ever seen.  And since I don't sit at home doing full-scale, techno-droid analysis of each one, feel free to discount that statement to your heart's delight.  But mark my words....

If You Think You Have Issues With the Patriot Act...

If government jackals start kicking down doors in the middle of the night without issuing warrants, in the very least, you have the power to revolt.  But what can you do when you have 100s of tentacles in you, feeding voraciously on the most precious stuff you, or any human being, have to offer:  ATTENTION.

Oh shit!  So you meant the Scoble Starfish is EATING me?

Link to Video In Case It Doesn't Appear

"Argument One--The Mediation of Experience

"As humans have moved into totally artificial environments, our direct contact with an knowledge of the planet has been snapped. Disconnected, like astronauts floating in space, we cannot know up from down or truth from fiction. Conditions are appropriate for the implantation of arbitrary realities. Television is one recent example of this, a serious one, since it greatly accelerates the problem." Jerry Mander, The Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television

Now, I am not a conspiracy theorist but, if your head has been in this game a while, you'll have undoubtedly found a number of the "What-the-heys" who are blogging, "I just don't get Twitter!" or "What's the big deal with Twitter?" and I believe they deserve a response that doesn't, AS USUAL, emphasize only the "happy-happy-joy-joy" aspects of it.

After all, wouldn't emphasizing only the positive and ignoring all of the negative about social media applications, like Twitter, pretty much put you in a similar category as Donald Rumsfeld?

The fact is, any benefit of individuals (or local organizations) using Twitter is vastly overshadowed by what it portends in benefit to major corporations (or individual rogues who know how to tap into and/or manipulate its data).  For what you really have on a MOMENT-TO-MOMENT basis are a bunch of fairly intelligent, technologically savvy individuals blurting out whatever the heck they want, from pretty much wherever they want and have it almost instantly read by others however they want from wherever they want. 

Almost Sounds Like Freedom, Huh?

I would almost bet you ANYTHING that Twitter gets snapped up by Google because data mining MINDLESS activity of this kind and magnitude is simply PRICELESS.  We're not talking about the oh-so-revered "targeted search" at Google, or the supremely glorified site metrics from your favorite analytics.  We're talking about what millions upon millions of people do WHEN THERE'S NOBODY HOME.

The joke backfired and the house burnt down.

Oh I know many people reading this will think that they're perfectly fine and conscious when they're mobile twittering from the local car wash:

click here to see 2 months worth of car wash twittering!

I know, I know... we're all perfectly conscious all of the time, right?  But are we?  With Rich Schefren citing studies showing that the average CEO is productive for about 28 minutes per day and most of us unable to drive 30 feet without going into a hypnotic trance, are we REALLY so conscious?

So now, TWITTER is going to be the ultimate, REAL-TIME honey pot data center for how millions of otherwise "intelligent", tech-savvy people behave when they are free to communicate whatever they want, however they want, to whomever they want, whenever they want, from wherever they want in a totally hypnotic, tranced-out, unimpeded state.

"Welcome to TWITTER, the ultimate data repository for tapping into humanity's TRUE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS living.  We hope your stay is enjoyable."

Essentially, it's data mining your unconscious behavior on a much deeper level than ever before without having to follow you around with a camera or install one in your living room.  You've done it for them!  On your mobile phones, too!  Awesome, huh?!?!

And Now for Something Completely Different...

The title of this article is "4 out of 5 Twitterers Surveyed..." and it began by saying, "Any ensuing searches, performed at TwitterVolume, are in no way intended to represent anything accurately."  So here's a few simple, fun searches I conducted using TWITTERVOLUME:

R - Rated:  What is the drug of choice for TWITTERERS?

I think you'll be surprised.  Oxys came in so low they were barely a blip.  Seems Twitterers are right in line with the national past time of a good ol toot every now with puff and shoot going neck-and-neck for second place.  Hippies came in a dismal last place with their trippy stuff.

But you'll be surprised which drug Twitterers preferred most!

X - Rated: What are Twitterers favorite Sex Act?

I think readers will be surprised who "came from behind" to win this one.  But you'll see that the data is going to rain hell down on men when Twitter reveals that things between men and women are still truly not, cough cough, so equal in this area.

G - Rated: What do Twitters Like to Drink Most?

The first soda company that comes out with coffee soda is going to rake it in... with or without an account on Twitter!  And let's just say that 7-up was no damn slouch!

Conclusion

As was previously stated, the examples given were meant for fun.  But they're also to make people aware that when the right billion dollar corporation comes along and invests in a decent piece of Twitter data mining software, all those seemingly insignificant tweets that people think are either cool, or not a big deal, or totally insignificant, are going to end up making someone a lot of money...!

The end-game for "Big Money" corporate entities is to get into the heads of as many people as possible so they can trigger calls-to-action, at-will.  Twitter is going to be an abnormally useful tool when it comes to achieving that.

But for now, have fun... and remember, Big Brother is watching you!

"And Please Stop By "The Big Twitter Experiment - And the Most Awkward Twitter Comment Ever?" And Help Out. 

Thanks...!

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