Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t fit in writing, especially if you take advantage of modern technology.

I just got a new cellphone with a keypad, internet, and all sorts of cool features, so I can quickly type out blog topic or even a blog post while I’m out and about. When an idea pops into my head, of course I can write it on a piece of paper or in a notebook, but that hasn’t worked for me.

So now I’ll be writing my quick ideas on my phone. If I have enough time, I’ll even login to my blog and write a whole post while mobile!

Have you used your mobile device to keep your writing “on” even when you’re out and about?

As “Maria” from The Sound of Music says, starting at the very beginning is a very good place to start.

Recently I wrote Anne over at AboutFreelancing.com because I realize I feel like my freelance writing career needs to start over. While I don’t have to start over from scratch (I do have a good portfolio), I do need to get started again.

One piece of advice she had for me was to start writing on Crayon Writer again, even if it’s just a little bit, so here I am.

Next, I need to figure out what’s holding me back from being the writer I know I am.

What about you? Are you living your dreams? Any advice for those of us who aren’t quite ready?

Just imagine…

You’ve heard about the blogging phenomena making the rounds lately.

And you’ve even though about setting up your own blog.

But perhaps the biggest question you’ve had so far is:

“What on earth shall I blog about?”

But don’t worry, you’re not alone.

And there’s some good news for you as well…

Not many people know what they want to blog about when they’re just getting started.

And that’s why Yaro Starak and Gideon Shalwick have just created a special X-Factor Strategy video that shows you how….

If you’re in any doubt as to what you should be blogging about, this X-Factor strategy video will get you off to a great start.

The video is an elaboration of one of the X-Factor strategies inside Yaro and Gideon’s report – The

Roadmap To Become A Blogger, which has already been downloaded 8,789 times in the last week!

It looks at a little-known feature of the social media giant Facebook, and shows you how to use it to your advantage and uncover multiple exploitable niche areas.

You can watch the whole video, without paying a cent or even giving away your details, over here:

X-Factor Facebook Video

Just go ahead and watch the video…

It really won’t cost you a thing, and it even comes with a full transcript that you can print out and follow along while you watch the video.

It’s a no-brainer – just go and watch it now:

X-Factor Facebook Video

If nothing else, you’ll get to know how to make friends with people from all over the world at the click of a button. And that could be very handy when you’re doing research for your new blog project.

I’ve watched it myself, and it’s really very straight forward and easy to understand. Let me know what you think.

Subscribing to others’ blogs is a great way to keep up with your interests, make new online friends, and learn new things. I’m subscribed to several, but hadn’t made the time (until today) to read through them.

As I peruse my feeds, I’ll let you know when I find some interesting articles.

There’s a wonderful list of resources, for any type of entrepreneur, over at Cath Lawson’s Tips for Success in Business & Life. I’ll be regularly checking her blog, since I seem to need lots of motivation to get my business(es) off the ground.

Stay tuned for more!

Okay, so after my last post, you’ve decided that blogging is your cup of tea. Perhaps you’re even serious about making your blog (future or present) into a money-making tool.

But one thing I’ve noticed in my short time blogging is that everyone has a blog now. There’re millions of them, about every conceivable topic. Along with tons of blogs, there are also lots of social media sites now. I’ve finally joined Facebook (look me up, add me, and make sure you tell me how I know you), and also Twitter. (I’ll put the appropriate links in my sidebar later.)

My point here is that there’s so much out there, it’s hard to figure out where to start if you want to carve out your piece of the blogging-for-money pie. And there’s a lot of competition. One thing that can work out for you, though, is that a lot of people give up on their blogs. I’ve had a few that have come and gone, for instance.

I just got my hands on a very detailed report about blogging. It’s a free download, The Roadmap to Become a Blogger, and the authors also have free videos to teach you various blogging tools. Whether you want to start a blog from scratch or take your current blog to the next level, take a look at the report or the videos and see what you get from them.

I learned that I have some soul-searching to do, and that I can use Facebook and Twitter to really skyrocket my blogging business. I don’t make a ton of money here at Crayon Writer, but it’s definitely a nice addition to my pocketbook.

If you’re serious about blogging, you have to keep learning or you’ll fall behind fast. Read everything you can and change with the times.

After you read the free report and/or watch the videos, leave a comment here to let the rest of us know what you thought.

Recently I wrote two posts, one about Barack Obama’s election, and the other about using holiday cards for marketing. Both mysteriously disappeared, and the only thing I fiddled with today was my Google Adsense.

Has this happened to you? Have I been hacked? Have you ever been hacked?

From now on I’m going to save all of my posts on my computer separately from my blog. Maybe we should all do the same.

Talk amongst yourselves while I try to sort this out.

When the internet started, I’m sure more than a few of us thought it would be a passing phase. Or at least something that most people would never need.

Well, as we all know now, the internet is here to stay. It’s now crucial to many aspects of our lives, especially if we’re looking for side income.

Serious bloggers and business owners must have their own websites, so now it’s just a matter of choosing the right web hosting company. Whew! What a daunting task, with hosting companies popping up left and right.

I just found a cool website, Web Hosting Geeks, that offers side-by-side comparisons for various hosting companies, as well as customer reviews. Their site also offers lots of information, including links to relevant articles about web hosting. If you’re considering switching companies, starting a new site on with a new host, or you’re just interested in keeping up with what’s out there, check it out.

Do you have multiple blogs or websites? How do you keep up with the latest companies?

Crayon Writer has been around for more than a year, and it’s attracting a variety of visitors. I use Entrecard.com to boost my daily readership, and I have loyal subscribers as well. I’ve also been receiving inquiries about advertising with Crayon Writer, so it makes sense to make it easier for you.

You’ll notice the new advertising spots in the side columns. The smaller spaces are for 125×125 pixel ads, while the large one on top is negotiable (currently it’s 300×300).

The rates on the Advertise page are also negotiable. If you want to purchase several months in advance, I know we can work out a deal.

Why advertise on a blog? Readers are more likely to go directly to an advertised spot. Paper ads mean the reader has to put down the paper, pick up their phone or go to their computer, and then dial or type in the information. Advertising online just makes sense.

Have you ever advertised on a blog? How did it work for you?

With a new business comes a new blog, so head over to My Desert Spirit to see my latest project.

My Desert Spirit is a blog about starting a network marketing/MLM business. Similar to Crayon Writer, it’ll be my journey in the field. There’ll be articles about network marketing, sales, my personal goals and accomplishments, and of course some “product placement.”

The goal? To introduce people to Warm Spirit, the product line I’m selling. Hopefully the blog will generate new customers and new business partners. Also, I’d like to educate other MLMers through my own success and trials.

One thing I don’t like about the network marketing field is that I don’t hear enough about how people build their businesses. Often we hear about the great successes, or the super-power marketers who get 10 new recruits each day. My Desert Spirit will be about an ordinary person (well, maybe a little extraordinary) figuring it out daily.

There are only a couple of posts right now, but feel free to leave comments or email me suggestions.

Enjoy!

No doubt you’ve heard about people making money with their blogs. You may be one of those lucky folks, or maybe you’re just now considering monetizing your blog.

Crayon Writer makes a little money, which is definitely a plus in this economy. But I know I could, and should, be doing more. What about you?

Luckily we don’t have to figure it out by ourselves. People like Yaro Starak, a successful Australian blogger, are willing to teach what they’ve learned. One of my readers joined Yaro’s Blog Mastermind program last year. She renewed her membership monthly, so I’m sure she’s a satisfied customer.

This year’s Blog Mastermind just opened, and there are some cool offers for the first 100 who join. You’ll get three teleconferences and 6 videos with a wealth of extra information. The program opened at 10a.m. EST today, so hurry!

Even if you’re not one of the first 100, join the class if you’re serious about making a living blogging. If you need more convincing, just check out the FREE Blog Profits Blueprint to get an idea of his teaching style (and learn some methods for making blogging profitable).

Have you made money with your blog? What methods have worked best for you?