RedShoeWay, a many faceted blog, brings you wit, wisdom and whimsey!

Yes, we have to be connected at all times.  We must be available when our client has a website issue, or just needs a quick fix, but it really can be a drag to lug around that 15″ MacBook Pro and related accessories when traveling.  Not saying that I don’t love the Beast, but it can weigh you down.

Recently, I finally succumbed to a MacBook Air.  I resisted for a long time because I thought the slower processor and lack of a CD/DVD drive as well as only 2 GB of RAM would cramp my style.  I had no idea how I would cram my files and programs onto such a small hard drive.

Well, I am pleased to report that the experience is beyond my expectations.  My Air has the following specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus
• 2GB Memory
• 128GB solid-state drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

The Pros

• The solid state drive is so speedy that programs open and close in an instant.
• It is tiny, and can fit into other bags when traveling.
• It is a sexy computer that is fun to use.

The Cons

• The small size of the hard drive was troubling.  No way to fit the iTunes Library.  I had to use VMWare Fusion with Windows so I could use my VPN and exchange email, and the smallest I could get the virtual machine down to was 38GB.
• No way to watch a DVD while traveling.
• No built in ethernet (there is an adapter) or SD card reader, and only one usb port.

I figured out a way to utilize this beauty and be extremely  happy with my purchase.  In my next post, I will tell you how I solved some of the dilemmas mentioned in the Cons, and what accessories and apps I use to stay connected.

Don’t Post So Quickly That You Forget to….

What is the biggest problem with the “quickie post”?  It is the few little things that the author might forget to do from a housekeeping standpoint that hinder the SEO of a site or embarrass you later.  So you decided to do a really quick post on the run (or by mobile).  You enter the text and add an image perhaps, and think you are good to go.

Wrong!

Did you check your permlink (especially if you fiddled with your title)?  Add a category?  Add your tags?  Check your spelling (come on – that one is easy, and we all make typos, so don’t skip this)?  Modify anything necessary in All in One SEO?

Just for laughs and giggles, look at your Edit Posts list and see how many post are missing tags or categories.  Can you all raise your hands and say that you have nothing missing?

Housekeeping aside, a clean blog is a good blog.

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The Wordpress Video Series with 46 videos is now available here only for 50% off using the orange button.   This is a limited time offer.

Nearly 5 HOURS of step-by-step video training! And don’t worry, no geeky tech talk! Just simple guided videos.

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- Using FileZilla FTP.
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- How to create new content, add images etc.
- How to install and manage plugins and themes.
- How to Use WordPress Widgets in the sidebar.
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- How to use Feedburner.

And much more!

You can download them to keep in various formats, even mp3 and PDF transcripts!

These are the newest videos in the collection:

41 – Quick Start Guide to Google AdSense (7m 11s)
42 – Setting Up and Using New Adsense Ads (9m 29s)
43 – Publishing Free Articles on Your Blog (5m 31s)
44 – Quick Start Guide to ClickBank (6m 16s)
45 – How to Create and Use a ClickBank Hoplink (7m 38s)
46 – How to Use The ClickBank HopAd Builder (10m 26s)

I have been passionate about having the tiniest, slimmest camera for a while.  My theory is that if it is small and tiny, it will always be with me.  My slim camera is Casio EXILIM S10.  I started looking for an additional camera for when I needed some shots that required a little more horsepower.  I didn’t want anything large or heavy.  It still needed to be something that was easy to take with you but took a little bit better pictures.  I decided not to get an SLR for the size and weight.  I had it narrowed down to 2 cameras that are still considered point and shoot, but have some qualities of SLR, like the ability to add an external flash.  I was also glad to get a viewfinder and pop up flash.  I liked the fact that the Nikon Coolpix P6000 was really lightweight for this type of camera, 13.5 megapixels, 4x wide-angle optical Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens, image stabilization and a reasonable price.

Today, I was on a business call and looked out my office window and saw a fawn up close and personal.  While still on the phone, I got the blinds up, the camera out, and got these pics right from the window without missing a beat on the phone call.  A few hours later, a red bellied woodpecker was perched in view also.  Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge in the lightbox.

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Getting some good pictures for your blog is important as it helps engage your readers, but you don’t need to break the bank and spend over a thousand dollars.  This Nikon lists for $500, but get it for under $400!

Do you have a WordPress blog and need help learning how to do something?

Do you hate reading instructions?

Do you hate searching online in forums for the answers to your problems and frustrations?

The solution: WordPress Blog Training Videos

This is an incredible bargain.  For $97 you get 40 videos on a wide range of topics that relate to blogging including:

• How To Set Up a FeedBurner Account and How To Use It

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• How to Create a Static Front Page in WordPress

• How to Use WordPress Widgets in The Sidebar

• How To Install and Upgrade Plugins Automatically and Manually

You can watch these online or download to your computer.  The videos work on PC and Mac and require no exotic software.  You even get a transcript!

Learn tips and tricks for improving your blogging.  Add the features and services that will make you more successful.

If you are a newbie and want to start a blog from scratch, there are videos that guide you through everything from getting your domain and hosting to installing wordpress and your theme.

So, at 3am, when you are stumped trying to fix something on your blog, just view the appropriate video on your own.  Pause when necessary so you can resolve your own problems.

Check out WordPress Blog Training Videos with 30 day guarantee.

Contact us for information about our July Sale for Advance Booking of your Complete Customization.  Sale is for new and existing customers.  Use this as an opportunity to have us do an extreme theme makeover (our version of a blog or website redo), or start a brand new site.

“We needed a professional blog appearance to compliment our web  site.  We have a technical team in house, but they didn’t have the  expertise or the time to work on this project, so I decided to outsource it.   We met Customized Marketing through Twitter, when we sent out a request for help –  she immediately responded with recommendations and a plan for us.  Her  pricing was reasonable, and she did a very effective job managing us to  acquire feedback, settings, color schemes, and overall layout and design  questions answered, and worked rapidly and fluidly.  She also helped  with our SEO efforts by getting us listed in a prominent blog index.   Even though the engagement is complete, she still offers suggestions  and assistance – she invested in us.  The result is a very attractive  and well-organized blog that has helped enhance our online effort.  She’s a  very knowledgeable professional and a social media expert – I’ve already  recommended her to several business colleagues!”

Joe Stubblebine

JobCircle.com

This business site with companion blog serves a multi location martial arts center as well as fitness, nutrition and personal training areas.

Visit United Martial Arts Center.

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