Jack D. Deal's Free and Inquiring Mind Applied; Change before you have to...831-457-8806

Amazon'a new Kindle will change the way books are bought and read...

The $359 device, which is about the size of a thin hardcover, has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity that allows customers to purchase and download e-books in less than a minute. Users can also preview chapters before buying and subscribe to periodicals. No wireless bill or contract required. --Jessica Shambora

R.I.P. www.thisbyus.com

thisisby.us has discontinued operation as of February 1 2009.

thisisby.us has thrived as a writing community since its launch in the Spring of 2006. We have seen over 50,000 posts by over 15,000 different writers, numerous (self-organized) meet-ups around the country, and dozens of features on some of the Internet's most popular websites.

Sadly, thisisby.us could not be economically sustained. Though the site attracted a base of dedicated writers, the advertising market that caters to writers is neither large nor fast-growing; even given alternative business models, we could not afford the maintenance and labor required to sustain TIBU.

If you have any remaining questions regarding your thisisby.us account, you can e-mail [email protected].

Again, we cannot tell you how sad we are to announce this. We are extremely proud of the community we have built at thisisby.us. We hope that you will continue to practice the art of writing through other venues.

All our best,
bill and Elle Dee

Search and Article directories and article syndication comment from Searchcap jan 29 2009

Article directories and article syndication websites are one the earliest forms internet marketing, but do they still work and are they worth the effort? The main problem with syndicated articles is that they will most likely be seen as duplicate content, which Google claims will be filtered out of organic SERP’s. Article directory owners tell a different story. In a style reminiscent of late night infomercials, they will talk about the exposure benefits and tidal waves of traffic that contributions to article directories can bring. So where’s the truth? --Searchcap

Helium.com's Answer to the Newspaper Downturn jan 30 2009

Helium’s community continues to revolutionize the writing world

Hi Jack,

The achievements of our writing community have proven to the world that a democratic publishing platform – open, competitive and rewarding -- leads to high quality. Helium’s meritocracy allows published authors, career journalists, professional freelancers, subject matter experts and talented writers from all walks of life equal publishing opportunities and rewards. Now we want to recognize your expertise at Helium.

Quality rises to the top, and Helium has risen in the eyes of the nation. Check out Helium’s CEO on national TV talking about Helium’s answer to the struggling newspaper industry.

Helium has also begun to recognize the professionals among us. Later this year, we’ll add badges for subject matter experts who’ve written a significant number of high-quality articles in each subchannel. Differences between amateurs and professionals can be measured in titles and degrees, but sometimes it’s a matter of hours and experience. By identifying our experts, we can open the door to more specialized publishers who will higher pay in Helium’s Marketplace.

The first professionals recognized by Helium represent an important cross-section of our population.

Medical professionals: The caregivers of the world who practice the healing arts. (We recognized nurses first because they hold the front line.)

Legal professionals: The enforcers who help ensure our society follows the rule of law and protects the innocent.

Journalism professionals: The reporters who form the fourth estate to hold our government accountable and keep us informed of breaking news.

Now tell us what you do: If you’re a medical or legal professional, please send us your Helium About Me page URL, plus a website link and license-verifying information. If you’re a professional journalist, send us your About Me URL, resume, clips and a reference we can contact. Email [email protected] with your information.

We want to introduce programs for social workers, teachers, financial professionals and more. Let us know your profession so you can get your byline the recognition you deserve at Helium.

Article Marketing Rule Numero Uno by Brad McGovern jan 29 2009

Publishers on the Internet have a certain set of criteria they require an article to follow to be published on their sites. Try to meet as broad a spectrum of publishers as possible with your article. Determine what the allowable rates of submissions are with these different entities. Many publishers also have minimum-maximum lengths for articles. --Brad McGovern

www.helium.com writing opportunities jan 27 2009

New assignments have just been added to the Helium Marketplace. Take a visit, read the publisher's guidelines, write an article, get paid fast! Tell all about effective SEO Weigh in on Vermont town meetings Write about US travel How can we protect ourselves from Ponzi schemes? These are just a few of the many assignments in Marketplace this week. Check back early and often to see the latest. Marketplace Tips You need a professional name and photo – Really! So don't blow it like these two writers just did: A new publishing partner (part of a huge national chain) posted a title on Helium. The editor liked the top articles and was willing to run a byline with photo for the authors. Problem was one author had a very poor quality picture and the other one had no picture posted at all! As newspapers work on a tight turnaround time, sending emails and getting pictures wasn't an option. Don't let this happen to you! Present your professional best on Helium all the time PS: This Marketplace Alert was sent to a limited number of writers. How did you get so lucky to receive it? You've probably written about subjects related to the above assignments. It could also be that our publishers are looking for articles with a stamp local to where you live. Or maybe you're a new Helium member, and we didn't want you to miss this opportunity!

Know other writers? Do you know other good writers? You can tell them about the opportunities in the Helium Marketplace by forwarding this email. Writer's Guide to the Helium Marketplace.Get the answers to all your questions. Enjoy the Helium Marketplace – and good luck with your articles! Helium is now on Twitter as "HeliumWriter"! Get the latest word on what's happening—as it happens!

More Writing Stars Info from Helium.com

Are you ready to improve your star status and increase your earnings? This information will give you the ammo needed to track, improve or keep your high ratings while grabbing extra earnings with Upfront Payments and Empty Title Bonuses.

What does it all mean?

Writing Stars: Stars are based on the intersection of your number of articles and your writing score. Find the details on Writing Stars, as well as the chart that explains where you are, on the Helium Stars & Badges page of our User Guide.

Writing Score: Seeing your stars twinkle on and off? You’re probably on the cusp between scores. Focus on getting your percentage up, especially before the end of the month when Upfront Payments are calculated. Need a little feedback to improve? Visit the Writing Critiques Forum.

Total non-Creative Writing articles: At Helium, we help you determine how your Creative Writing pieces are doing separately from your other work. Your Writing Stars are based on the number of non-Creative Writing pieces only.

% of articles in competitive titles: Basically, you need to maintain at least 25% of your non-Creative Writing articles in competitive titles. (A title becomes competitive when it has three or more articles written to it.) Caution: If this percentage nears 25% or dips below 25%, add more articles to competitive titles or you’ll be in danger of losing your Writing Stars! (See Point 1 under the Writing Stars section on the Helium Stars & Badges page.

Rating stars: Your Rating Stars are based on the higher of your 90-day and 30-day scores.

Rates in past 30 days: Great news! You now need only 10 quality rates in 30 days to get that first Rating Star and maintain 30 rates over 90 days. Get the low-down on Rating here in the User Guide.

Rates in past 90 days: You now need 30 quality rates in 90 days. Get the low-down on Rating here in the User Guide. Your Rating Stars are based on the higher of either your 90-day or your 30-day score.

There are more statistics just for you on your My Helium page!

Log in, write, rate, earn!

Team Helium

Writing Opportunities at helium.com jan 23 2009

New assignments have just been added to the Helium Marketplace. Take a visit, read the publisher's guidelines, write an article, get paid fast!

• How will the bailout benefit the economy?

These are just a few of the many assignments in Marketplace this week. Check back early and often to see the latest.

Marketplace Tips

You need a professional name and photo – Really!

So don't blow it like these two writers just did: A new publishing partner (part of a huge national chain) posted a title on Helium. The editor liked the top articles and was willing to run a byline with photo for the authors. Problem was one author had a very poor quality picture and the other one had no picture posted at all! As newspapers work on a tight turnaround time, sending emails and getting pictures wasn't an option.

Don't let this happen to you! Present your professional best on Helium all the time

PS: This Marketplace Alert was sent to a limited number of writers. How did you get so lucky to receive it? You've probably written about subjects related to the above assignments. It could also be that our publishers are looking for articles with a stamp local to where you live. Or maybe you're a new Helium member, and we didn't want you to miss this opportunity!

Helium's Marketplace Premier Titles Program Helium.com

Dear Jack,

You may have noticed a new badge on your About Me page labeled "Premier Writer." Here's the scoop:

This is actually "Marketplace Premier Writer." Many of our Marketplace publishers have asked for a way to tap into Helium's quality by offering their titles only to writers who pass a certain threshold of credentials.

You're one of them! This is a great opportunity for Helium's top-quality writers.

You have:

• A writing score of 55% or greater
  OR
• Sold at least one Marketplace article since March 8, 2008
  OR
• Been a money winner in a Helium writing contest

Soon, you’ll see titles on the Marketplace page marked "Premier" in the "title class" column. Only you will be able to write to them. Here are the details on the Marketplace Premier Titles program.

Why Obama Cannot Afford to Have His Campaign Be Perceived as Anti-Family

	Obama can't afford to let this get to the point where his campaign may be perceived as anti-family...groan... about 1 hour ago from web
	if McCain needs women to win, why does Burton insist on giving those votes to McCain? groan...what kind of strategy is that? about 2 hours ago from web
	doesn't Burton know that many women will react negatively to attacks on motherhood and family? duh... about 2 hours ago from web
	Burton is forgetting that we out here in California don't matter; we are Demo regardless...but Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Colorado et al? about 2 hours ago from web
	the emotional response to Burton's attack family strategy is going to create an upswell of sympathy, anger and resolve...real smart Burton. about 2 hours ago from web
	Burton apparently has a problem with cause and effect or causation; he doesn't get it that having a pregnant teenage daughter is ok... about 2 hours ago from web
	so the strategy is to attack a 17 year old girl that got pregnant and 'has' to get married...what is Burton thinking? or not thinking? about 2 hours ago from web
	the glee with which some reporters are showing over "Babygate" is going to infuriate many...and they are getting married to boot? about 2 hours ago from web
	it shouldn't be close in those swing states but it's going to get closer as we Demos are perceived as anti-mom and anti-family...groan... about 2 hours ago from web

Publishing Online

Publishing Online

---

Reply to: serv-67313craigslist.org
Date: 2008-05-08, 12:57PM PDT

Promote your business or your own talents by publishing online. Author or co-author your own articles, publish and distribute your articles online generating backlinks, search term domination and keyword phrase domination. Improve your exposure and search engine rankings while targetting the keywords and phrases you need to get results. All the world craves fresh, unique content so why not give all the world what it wants? Google "Jack D. Deal" in quotes to see writing samples. If you are interested in looking at the possibilities and realizing your writing potential reply to this ad or contact JD Deal Online Marketing and Zuniweb.com at 831-457-8806.

• Location: Santa Cruz
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 67313

Business Writing: What You Write is a Direct Reflection on You and Your Company

One of the true laments from management today is that employees cannot express themselves with the written word.   Owners and stockholders have the same complaints about management.  Today in the age of the paperless office the importance of the written word is increasing especially as direct live voice contact becomes more and more problematic. 

If you want to communicate, you have to write.  The written word, whether digital or etched into stone, remains the primary means of relaying data, information, thoughts and ideas.
      
Many businesses lack the ability to generate a well written business letter or well scripted marketing collateral.   Not having this ability puts these businesses at a competitive disadvantage.   

Who wants to consider a business proposal that is awkward and full of errors?  What impression does a homepage with spelling errors project?  Good business writing is not just a nice frill -- it is a necessity.
 
Every text that is written by your business is a reflection on your business.  Misspellings, poor grammar, awkward syntax and weak logic project a negative image.   These weaknesses can relay the impression that you are uneducated, unsophisticated, lack personal pride, are lazy, ill or all of the above.
 
Since the consequences of poor writing are surprisingly severe, it is better to not write anything than to write poorly.   No writing leaves the issue up in the air; poor writing tells the world just where you establish your standards.

Pick up three or four pieces of written material from your company.  How does your company rate?   Do you require employees use spelling and grammar checks before sending out important letters or email?   A spell and grammar checker can act as an editor and prevent simple typos and oversights; a first line of defense against poor writing.
   
Or do you or your people have difficulty clearly expressing themselves?  If so, take a step back and look at your capabilities.  You can either send everybody to Adult Ed and Junior College to learn how to write or hire someone that already can.
         
For your people that can write having their own writing style is fine as long as it is correct and in good business taste.   You don't have to go to military speak but neither is this the time to wax poetic and verbose. 

Using slang in a memo to a company CEO may look cool at first but be perceived as 'low rent' when the CEO reads it.  Always think first, what impression do you want to give?

If you are hiring for a position that requires writing skills, ask the applicant to write several paragraphs about what attributes they will bring to the company.  For assessing writing skills what they write about is not as important as how they write it.
 
For managers this is more important since written reports are part of a manager's job description.  Never hire a manager before you clearly know their writing skills.
   
To write well it helps to read.  Read whatever interests you and read as much as you can every day.  If you read a newspaper; look how style and syntax relay the message.   

By reading well written material the rules of grammar and syntax become more formalized in your brain.  Simply put, the more you read, the better you write.

Clearly writing practice makes for improvement if not perfection.  Good writers write everyday and take pride in each piece they write.  Good writers make sure the intended meaning is the meaning expressed.  It is not only challenging to write well but fun if one develops positive attitudes about writing.  Besides, what's not to like about writing well?
   
Only basic common sense should tell you that anything that is written or in text, such as a webpage or a handout brochure needs to be reviewed thoroughly before posting or printing.  If you dare put out 'junk' that is full of holes, you will be shooting down your efforts before you start.  So don't even try.
 
Review all of your written materials to see if they need to be improved or rewritten.  Be your own editor first and then have some "outside eyes" look at it.   Take all criticism constructively and use that criticism to improve.

Look in the mirror when you come up with excuses for poor writing.  Excuses such as lack of formal education do not count in the marketplace.  Some with little or no education have excellent writing skills while many university graduates cannot write a simple sentence correctly.
   
If you write poorly your message will be muted and not accomplish what you intend it to do.  Good writing is a challenge and not something one can fudge or postpone.
 
If you can't do it, hire someone that can. Always remember that for better or worse you and your company are what you write.