Archive for the ‘motivation’ Category

Reasons to Offer Prizes and Gifts For a Website Promotion

Monday, September 21st, 2009

If you have a website and want people to do something for you, one of the best ways is through a website promotion. This can include prizes and gifts if the people that visit your website do what you want them to you. Whether it is a daily gift giveaway for subscribing or a random prize giveaway for people who write on your forum, or comment on your blog, this can significantly help grow your blog traffic.

Why I Offer Prizes and Gifts On My Website
Sometimes people need a little incentive. The thought of winning something can be just enough motivation to get my websites growing without spending a lot of money. One of the current deals on some of my forums is that if they start 100 new topics they get a t shirt. Though 100 sounds like a lot in order to get a prize or gift, it actually has motivated more people to start writing for me.

They get the tshirt and I get even more additional advertising (when they wear the t shirt). Plus, they will want to wear the tshirt because they worked for it. This might motivate other people they tell to want to write on the forum too. Overall offering prizes and gifts can multiply your traffic greatly.

I tend to stay away from monetary prizes and stick with something like a tshirt or other prize that could cost any amount. This way they aren’t working for $5, but rather something that could be worth 5, 10, or even 20 dollars depending on how the person values it.

Importance of Goals for Your Blog

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

I’ve talked a lot about goals in the past.  Goals can help set direction for your blog and keep your blog from being just something you update on a daily basis.  Goals can help you increase your profits in the future.  Goals can help you determine where your blog is going, what your future plans are, and what you can start doing today to reach your goals.

Setting Your Own Blog Goals
Start looking at what can be improved on your blog.  Do you have design flaws? Need to improve your search engine optimization?

Now is the time to start making improvements.  Make a list of your blog flaws and what needs to be done.  Set a timeline in which you need to accomplish these goals. It’s easy to be lazy and put if off, I’ve been in this situation.  Better it’s often good to set a timeline of importance in which you’ll actually start working on your blog.

How to Travel Alone and Not Feel Lonely

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

A lot of people don’t like traveling alone.  They have fear that they will feel completely alone, so often they stick to comfortable arounds, rather than going out alone and having to meet all new friends. Not only does this limit yourself but being afraid of being lonely keeps your trapped in a place you might not want to be.

Ways to not Feel Lonely When You Are Alone
1. Keep Yourself Open – Anyone is a potential for a new converstation.  All it takes is for you to ask a question, then just transition it into further conversation.  Just the other day I was alone at dinner and had an hour conversation with a random stranger.  Then as I went clubbing alone, I suddenly became friends with two girls.  Potential for new friends is everywhere.

2. Stay in Social Situations  – Go where the people are, and stay there awhile.  Whenever you stay put for awhile, say at a cafe or even just at the beach, the potential for finding a new friend is greater.  If you constantly keep walking it’s going to be harder to strike up a conversation.

3. Don’t Be Afraid – Not everyone is going to be nice.  There are plenty of bad people out there too.  Just move on from them quickly.  Just don’t let one bad experience effect you from forming good ones.

So when people ask me how I can just travel alone, I just tell them, be open, and if you get really lonely call someone from home.

Flying First Class from Atlanta to Hawaii

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

I just landed in Hawaii and booked a hostel in Waikiki out in Honolulu. Lucky enough I ended up flying first class from Atlanta to Hawaii direct, a 9 hour flight. Flying first class I will admit is definately better than flying coach.

So far Hawaii is hot, sunny, and the street names are very confusing. But I made it on the $2 bus ride from the Honolulou airport in Hawaii direct to the island center.

So why go to Hawaii?
I spent a long time debating where to go. So long in fact that I didn’t go anywhere. I sat at home for nearly three months thinking about leaving. But I did so much planning that I never ended up anywhere. Finally one day I just decided I’m going to Hawaii with no plan and no idea what I’m doing there.

What I learned is, 1) Don’t overhtink anything or you’ll end up getting nowhere. 2) Be willing to take risks to reap the rewards. 3) Sometimes you just need to leap without thinking. Do what your heart tells you to.

Just whatever you do, pick a goal and go with it. Just dive in straight head first!