A Brief History of My Digital World

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This is a sponsored post courtesy of Copper.Net Internet Services

desktop 300x284 A Brief History of My Digital WorldIt’s hard to believe how much, and how fast, the digital world has changed. Less than 2 decades ago we purchased our fist computer. $2500. A 10 GB hard drive. A monitor that could be used as a boat anchor. We, like a lot of our friends, used AOL for dial-up internet, which tied up our sole phone line and booted us out at random intervals with little or no warning. We used the internet primarily for email and instant messaging. Once in a while we would join online card games. Everything we did online took seemingly forever. There was no Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram … or Smart Phones and Phone Cameras!

When we wanted to be able to keep track of our (then) teenager we bought her a pager and developed a system of code phrases. 143 = I love you. 45 = good night. 303 = mom. Etc.

Somewhere about 10 years ago we upgraded to a dsl connection and our first cell phones. We gave up AOL and changed our email addresses. We spent more time online and learned to be annoyed when pages didn’t load instantly. E mail had begun to take over as our preferred method of communication and even bills started arriving in our Inbox rather than our mailbox.

Not long after we upgraded to a vastly better computer … which cost less than half of what the first one did! I set up a Xanga account in order to keep up with my (then) teenager and his friends. One day at work, when there was nothing keeping me busy, I started a blog on the Blogger platform. I wrote and wrote and wrote some more. Nobody (that I know of) read what I was writing. I didn’t even know they were supposed to. I grew weary of writing in a vacuum and went back to playing card games as my primary online activity.

Xanga was quickly replaced by Facebook. And when I started journaling my way through depression in 2008 I journaled in Facebook notes. The I decided that I needed more separation between my digital world and my real life. I moved all my Facebook notes onto my idle blog and resumed blogging. That was when I discovered that I didn’t have to blog in a vacuum. I could interact with other bloggers and they would return the favor.

My digital world has become so much smaller … while at the same time … my real world grew by leaps and bounds! Today, I carry a smart phone, in my pocket, with a bigger memory than that first computer. It’s always connected. I got it free with a 2 year contract. My digital world and personal world have meshed and melded until I don’t know where one ends and the other begins. The people that I have discovered through blogging, and on Facebook and Twitter, are just as much my real friends as the ones I meet in here in town!

 

April 29, 2013

To Do List

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to do list To Do ListAccording to the Oklahoma Women Bloggers, ‘Today is Blah, Blah, Blah Day! We have things we have to do … things we need to do … blah, blah, blah. Well, today, we’re celebrating getting them done!”

Does that mean I need to actually DO the stuff? Or can I just stay here and celebrate?

Things that I have checked OFF my to-do list already:

Things that are still ON my to-do list:

  • Laundry – it’s ALWAYS on the to-do list
  • Sweep & Mop kitchen and bathrooms
  • Dust and vacuum
  • Clean and organize my office
  • Closets (but I can just close the doors so this will probably stay on the list for a while)
  • Write an endorsement for Alycia’s About page. (Such a good idea. I may hit y’all up to do this for me some time.)
  • Reply to comments.
  • Visit blogs.
  • #DoItAllMom Twitter Party
  • Write a sponsor proposal for FitBit
  • Think about writing a book (this one’s for Charlene)
  • Write another (legal) sponsored post
  • Get my nails done

I have a lot to do! See y’all later!

OKWB Celebrations 300x300 To Do List

April 17, 2013

So You’ve Decided to Start Blogging

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Today’s prompt for the Boost Your Blog Challenge wants to know what advice I would offer to new bloggers. Interesting question because I have a friend who just started a blog and has been asking me about some blogging basics that I might otherwise not have thought to include.

guest blogging resized 600 300x230 So Youve Decided to Start BloggingGetting Started:

Give some serious thought to your blog name because you are going to be living with it for a while. Ideally it should fit the theme of your blog. For instance this blog is Beth Zimmerman which doesn’t tell you much about what you’ll find here but the tagline provides a better hint. My other blog is called Masterpiece, which is based on Ephesians 2:10, and combined with the tagline will alert the reader, or casual browser, to the fact that this is a faith based blog.

Consider purchasing a domain that matches the name of your blog. For around $10 a year there is really not a reason to not do this. I purchased mine through BlueHost which is also where my domains are hosted. You can use your domain (address) for either WordPress or Blogger blogs.

wp vs blogger 300x180 So Youve Decided to Start BloggingWhich brings us to the BIG question in blogging. Blogger, free WordPress or self-hosted WordPress (aka .org). I started on Blogger and it worked well for me for quite a while. Once I knew I would be blogging for a long time, and I wanted to own my own content, I switched to WordPress. It costs me less than $100 a year for my domain(s) and hosting. Totally worth it to me and honestly I would recommend any serious blogger to make the same choice. But for a quick opportunity to dabble in the blogging world … Blogger is perfect … and when you’re ready to move, transferring to WordPress is easy. Especially if you hire a professional (which I strongly recommend).

Design:

I did my own design for a long time. Then I started learning about branding. Branding is basically a promise to the consumer that they will find a certain type or quality of content with that brand. What’s a brand? McDonald’s (golden arches), Target (red and white bullseye), Shell (yellow seashell), etc. Chances are that each of those words brought an image, and perhaps an emotional response, to your mind. They have very strong brands. You should do that with your blogs too and a designer will help you to achieve that.

blogbutton So Youve Decided to Start BloggingOnce I decided to hire a professional to design my blog(s) I contracted with Jacqui Layne, of Wacky Jacqui’s Designs, to help me with it. It took us several months but that was totally me! Jacqui is usually pretty quick. (I think her current wait time is 5 – 7 days.) The reason it took so long is that I (was having a rough summer) am incredibly indecisive and I changed my mind about what I wanted every day all summer long! The things you have to decide? Theme (mine is Genesis), Child Theme (mine is Glitter & Lace), preferred layout (which I am going to contract with Jacqui to do a mini-redo because I have changed my mind about what I want), colors, fonts, and an image that will be central to your brand (mine is the butterfly tree). The image, colors and fonts are especially important and deserve some careful thought.

The Don’ts:

Autoplaying music! Unless you are Ann Voskamp, who somehow gets away with it, auto playing music annoys visitors to your blog and that is not the impression that you want to leave!

captcha So Youve Decided to Start Blogging

image courtesy of Geeks and Pokes

CAPTCHA! Those annoying little nonsense letters that people have to type into a little box in order to leave you a comment. DO NOT use it! There are other ways to control SPAM. Like the music it annoys the reader and it can prevent people from leaving comments. And you want comments, right?

The Basics:

Ideal Post Length is 300 – 500 words. Less is hardly worth clicking over to read. More than 500 and you are running a chance that your visitors will not actually read your post.

Use images. Your own photographs as often as possible. If you use images that you find online, get permission if possible. If not possible … give credit to the source of the image.

Use a font and color that are easy to read. Nobody wants to read a blog that uses neon green letters on an orange background.

Write from your heart using your voice! Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Honesty comes across in the written word. So does being fake! Be you!

Don’t expect to become rich blogging. It’s not likely.

Understand that not everyone who reads leaves a comment. You are not being ignored. We’re all busy. If someone is gracious enough to leave a thoughtful comment … respond to it! Responding on your blog is great because it shows future readers that you are engaged in conversation BUT many comment systems, including the Blogger default, do not send an email to the commenter letting them know that you responded. Which makes this next point even more important. If the commenter is also a blogger … return their visit and leave a thoughtful comment on their blog. They like comments too!

Remember … you are not blogging for numbers! Too many bloggers get caught up in the desire for more (and more) followers and comments and higher statistics. It’s a joy sucker! Don’t go there!

5 minute friday 1 So Youve Decided to Start BloggingFind a good/fun meme (usually a weekly themed prompt in which a number of bloggers participate … a good example is Gypsy Mama’s 5 Minute Friday) or Challenge (like this Boost Your Blog Challenge) to participate in. This is one of the best ways to meet other bloggers.

There are so many more things I could write but I’ve already nearly doubled that 500 word limit so I will close with one last admonition …

Blogging is fun! Enjoy it!

January 24, 2013

More Blog History

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betterwriter More Blog History

Part 1 of my blogging history is here.

Once I transferred from Blogger to WordPress, I started to take my blogging a little more seriously. Less quantity perhaps as I began to wander away from the memes but more quality. I participated in 31 Days to Build a Better Blog (Darren Rowse/ProBlogger) with the SITS Girls. Click here to visit ProBlogger. (I highly recommended this program by the way and here is a link to get it for 40% off the regular price! Click here to view more details .) My blog grew by leaps and bounds and I was learning all sorts of wonderful things about some of the more technical aspects of blogging … as well as writing.

hacker 248x300 More Blog History2011 was not, by and large, a year that I would want to repeat. I signed up for the Relevant Conference in October and that was the high point of my year. I would definitely recommend it to any Christian Woman blogger. In fact it could benefit any blogger whether they are a Christian woman or not! But before I got on that train to Pennsylvania … we had a lot of family stress brought on by an adult child who chose her addictions over her kids in addition to job, financial and health stress. I blogged about all of it without much reservation. Then in August of 2011 my mom contacted me and told me that her antivirus would no longer let her visit my blog. Similar messages followed from a number of friends. Some how a hacker had gotten into my website (through a Tim Thumb vulnerability in a plug-in). I did a number of things to try to get rid of the malware to no avail. I didn’t have the money to hire someone to fix it for me and I wanted it fixed now. I backed my content up as well as I knew how, held my breath, and deleted all 3 of my blogs! Yep … I wiped them out completely!

Then I rebuilt them from scratch. I’ve always done my own blog design and building. Still learning some of those things. I couldn’t figure out how to restore my content so I just started over. New beginnings are one of my favorite things anyway and I decided I had a choice. I could be miserable over what had happened or I could embrace the opportunity for a fresh start. I chose to embrace the chance to begin again.

I went to the Relevant Conference in October and came home to jump headfirst into our busy season at work so I didn’t have a whole lot of blogging time available until February. Then I made a comment about wanting to go to Blissdom but it would take a miracle … and a blog friend paid my way so I could go. It was beyond awesome and I heard a couple of speakers with the potential to rock my world … blogging and otherwise. Jon Acuff  & Jeff Goins I came home determined to write more and better and to quit worrying about numbers and comments! I decided to give up my health and fitness blog because I didn’t just love it and I didn’t have time to keep 3 blogs going. And I started pursuing opportunities to hone this writing craft.

Okay … so what is my blogging dream? I want to find a way to make this blogging thing make enough money to support my family. Whether I do that through advertising (dubious), e-books, or conventional publishing … I want to write and make a living at it. I also want to encourage and inspire … especially women. I want to share my struggles, not for your sympathy, but to encourage you that God is faithful … even in the darkest places.

I am still a niche-less blogger. Solidly faith-based but other than that … I write whatever I feel led to write in the moment. And I’m loving it! Thanks for reading!

April 7, 2012

From Me to You

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Yesterday was a hard day and I shared that here. I am trying to keep this blog inspirational. But I am also trying to keep it honest. I want to be an encouragement to other women who have to walk depression’s path. And I think that part of being real … is admitting that some days the depression can nearly take me out. Yesterday was one of those days. Today is better.  Thanks for sticking with me … through the highs AND the lows!

February 7, 2012

Little Bit Snarky

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letterbutton3 1 Little Bit Snarky

Are the holidays sneaking up on you and you’re starting to panic? Are your kids making their lists and checking them twice a million times to make sure they’re just right? Is someone demanding money from you every time you turn around and you’re not sure how you will manage to put presents under the tree? Did you buy presents in Game Stop while your kids were browsing the games and tell the guy at the register to hurry up so you could stuff them in your purse before one of your boys walked up and saw what you were buying? Or maybe you just won the lottery and Christmas is going to be the.best.one.ever. this year! Write the who, what, when, where, and why of the happenings of the week (in letter form of course) grab the button from Julie‘s sidebar, and link up at the bottom. We look forward to your Letters of Intent!

Dear Readers,

Letters of Intent tend, by nature, to be a bit snarky. I usually try to temper mine but tonight I am giving the snark free reign. Please read with tongue firmly in cheek! These letters were written in an attempt to find some humor in what could have been a REALLY bad week! Thanks!

Beth

3 Little Bit Snarky

Dear Google,

These random, and unpopular, changes are making you look even MORE like Facebook and I must say … I am NOT impressed! And hearing that you will be doing away with Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger blogs would have been the low point of my week were it not for the fact that it has been a REALLY bad week! And hearing that your proposed solution is for me to create a Google+ Page for my blog? Really? Do I look like I need something else to stress over? And how many people are ON Google+ anyway? So far I only know one (ONE!) person who really likes it! So … once we stress and fuss and finally get Google+ where we want it … will you shut it down too? Did I mention that I am NOT happy about this?

Signed with GREAT irritation,
A WORDPRESS Blogger

3 Little Bit Snarky

Dear Readers,

PLEASE please please do not lose me when Google Friend Connect disappears! You can subscribe via Feedburner (another Google product … sigh), by e-mail, follow on Facebook, etc. Just … please …. don’t abandon me just because Google does! That would make me really sad!

Beth

3 Little Bit Snarky

Dear Gossipers,

You got me in trouble with your wagging (and exaggerating) tongues and I am NOT happy! In the meantime if you are reading this and wonder if it’s about you … the answer is yes!

Hoping You’re Happy Now

3 Little Bit Snarky

Dear Family,

There is not a contest to see whose life can most closely resemble a soap opera! Or to see who can drive me crazy first. You can stop now! Really!

Mom

3 Little Bit Snarky

I really want to write a letter to my employer but I’m choosing my wording with great care, and will probably NOT publish it, so you might want to pray for me. I need to remain employed and don’t really want to change jobs but there has been some recent friction and misunderstandings. If I could quit, and be a stay at home mom again, I would do it in a heartbeat. I can’t. So I either need to change jobs …. or make some changes that will make this one more pleasant. I can’t be specific. I can ask those of you who pray to please pray that God will provide me wisdom and tact! Don’t ask for patience! I can’t handle the usual answer to that prayer request!

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving vacation with family in Texas! It was exactly the rest, calm, love, etc. that we needed for a few days. And then we came home and were hit from all angles. I’m about ready to throw my Jesus Calling Calendar across the room!  (Not really.) It has been exactly what I have needed to see as I faced each day! I’m looking forward to getting back  to it in depth when I have more time!  (I do that over on Journey if you’re interested in checking it out.) I’m thinking about doing a book club “Grace for the Good Girl” either here or on Faith Walk, after the first of the year. Please let me know if you would be interested. I’ve heard a LOT of good things about this book and would enjoy digging in together. More details to follow.

Took my bedtime meds before I started this post. They have now kicked in! icon smile Little Bit Snarky

J will be home 2 weeks from tonight! My mama heart is so ready to have my boy home …. for as long as God loans him to me!

Guess I ought to go to bed …

3 Little Bit Snarky

For the sake of my self-appointed supervisors … let me assure you that I wrote this Thursday evening … at home! I am SCHEDULING it to post tomorrow at 8:00. Just because a blog is posted at a certain time does not mean it was just written! In fact … with a little luck … I could have a post scheduled to publish after I’m dead! Bet that would really shake you up, huh!

December 2, 2011

Why I’m Thankful for Blogging

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help Why Im Thankful for Blogging

I imagine that those of you who make a habit of joining me here on this fledgling meme are probably busy with family, friends, and an abundance of feasting, and therefore too busy for a Top Ten List but I wanted to publish mine anyway. You are welcome to join me but I will understand if you are too busy today. If you do have time … share ten things that you are especially thankful for today and link up here. Thanks!

Why I’m Thankful for Blogging

1. Blogging has widened my world far beyond Tulsa, Oklahoma, even the USA. It has connected me with people world wide.

2. Bloggers have offered me friendship and unconditional acceptance. You have grown, in my heart, past friendship and have become my family!

3. Blogging, and reading your blogs, has taught me to be slower to judge, more tolerant of decisions, choices, and beliefs that differ from mine. And it has shown me that even when we are different … we are still very much the same!

4. Bloggers inspire me with their faith, their character, their strength … and with their honesty and openess! Some times life is hard. It hurts. And we want to give up, crawl in a corner, and cry. And when we admit those things …. other bloggers crawl into those dark places with us and surround us with prayers and loving support!

5. Blogging has given me a creative outlet for words that have long lived in my heart but never found the courage to verbalize. Somehow it is easier, and more healing, to write it down.

6. Reading your blogs entertains me. You make me laugh. Some times cry. Often nod in understanding and fellowship as I see evidence that your life is not so different than mine.

7. …. I’ll be back …. I’m needed in the kitchen … Okay …. 7. Your stories inspire me! I thought about listing names here but there are so many of you who fit this category and I don’t want to leave anyone out. You face challenge, hurt, loss, etc. with courage and determination and you enourage me to believe that I can do likewise!

8. You lift ,me up when I am down. You come beside me. You pray for me. You hold onto me and refuse to allow me to fall too far into the pit of depression. You do not let me go unnoticed. You help me carry my pain and you rejoice with me over my victories!

9. You remind me of the truth. God is good and He is working in my life. You remind me that a thankful heart is a happy heart!

10. You have given me the gift of friendship! And I am eternally grateful!

November 24, 2011

Dear Hackers

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letterbutton3 1 Dear Hackers

I have often said that Letters of Intent is one of my very favorite memes! Today I am especially delighted to have the opportunity that Julie gives us, every Friday, to vent! Want to join in? Run on over to Foursons and link up your own letters of intent!

Dear Hackers,

I don’t get it! No … really … I don’t! What possible pleasure does it give you to practice some random destruction? I kind of, almost, understand sabotaging the government or “sticking it to the man”, but why attack little independent bloggers like me who want nothing but a place to share our hearts and build relationships?

I want you to know something … well a couple of things … so you listen and you hear me …

I have poured my heart and soul into this blog for over 3 years! I have blogged through depression,  bankruptcy,  rebellious kids,  health problems, worries, fears, doubts, failures and victories! I have blogged about our best days. And our worst! This blog was my journal … my safe place … the place that I ran, almost every day, to pour out my words that had nowhere else to go! This blog was my testing ground for my future as a writer. The place where I dared to try writing fiction. The place where I shared my faith. The place where I admitted to my health and fitness struggles.

You … without any thought as to what you were doing or how it might affect me … you STOLE all of that! It’s gone … and I can’t get it back!

BUT …

Hear me now … you DID NOT steal and CAN NOT take that which is MOST precious to me! The reason I blog … even bigger than a journal and a place to keep my thoughts … is to build relationships and friendships in a world that is too big to wrap my arms around. And you CAN’T TOUCH those! They survived! They are still here and we still love each other.

So you have not defeated me! You knocked me down and I’ll admit that it hurt! But …

I GOT BACK UP! I have rebuilt all 3 of my blogs from the ground up! And I have begun to post again. I will do a better job of securing things around here and making sure my data is backed up and preserved. Because this is also supposed to be a place where my children and theirs can see who I was and what I thought. But even if you sneak in and destroy it all again … I will get back up. Again and again!

Because you cannot take what I value most! You can’t!  You don’t hold that much power!

Beth

September 2, 2011