Hello My Lovelies,

Before I begin my weekly musings, I’d like to apologize to everyone who is still waiting on a reply from me on my last two Bring IT! posts – 17 Things About You and What Attracts You to a Blog?

I’ve been a bit slower than usual lately but I am going through them one by one. I would have replied to many of you sooner but it seems my clones or mini Gridzilla’s (as Stuart likes to call them lol) have taken their summer vacation early this year.

Speaking of summer…is anyone else being peer pressured by the sizzling sun?

You know…the kind where you wake up in the morning on the weekend and the sun is there staring at you – telling you to ignore all the work you need to do, all the reading you’re behind on, all the tweeting and sharing you so enjoy. Instead, it’s telling you to lay on a mattress at the beach sipping Margarita’s and wine while you glaze out at the ocean and forget your worries if just for a moment.

Anyone?

Okay…so maybe it’s Corona’s instead of Margarita’s and the Mediterranean Sea instead of the Pacific – but still!

Oddly enough, I’ve been spending a lot less time doing what I love most these last couple of weeks. By that, I mean writing and blogging. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but the summer weather has a way of persuading you to spend more time outdoors, and it’s kinda what I’ve been doing on the weekends.

Come to think about it, I should really go back to hibernating behind the computer cause for one – I really miss the hours I usually put in and the many interesting conversations I have and two – I’m looking pretty black already lol.

You see, I’m one of those lucky people who doesn’t turn red like a tomato in the sun. I get dark rather quickly and it’s pretty cool because my teeth seem so much whiter :D. It’s like I’ve swallowed a hanger lately – I’m just flaunting those damn things as much as I can. But it’s a great feeling isn’t it?

Come on ladies – you know what I mean.

You look at yourself in the mirror and you smile. It doesn’t matter that you’ve got raccoon eyes because you forgot to take your sunglasses off (nothing a little makeup can’t fix lol) or that you’ve been eating like a whale for the last few months and gained 10 extra pounds. Everyone knows you look thinner tanned.

You might be annoyed because you’re sucking in your frickin’ tummy to button your jeans that all of a sudden look like they’ve been sewed on to your skin, but it’s all good – cause once they’re on (after the 20 crouches and stretching exercises) and you’re desperately gasping for air, you think to yourself…”Daaamn I look fine. Who’s gonna carry me anyways?”.

Of course – it’s an entirely different feeling when you’re back in that bathing suit on the weekend and you realize that swallowing your stomach won’t help you much when you’re walking over to the pool to take a refreshing dip ;).

I’m presuming that some of you can relate to all this. As to the skinny bitches (no offense) who can’t, I say to you…grab a couple burgers and a shake and make me a feel a little better about myself will ya lol?

Don’t mind me. I’m just envious of those size 4’s. I didn’t say 0 – I love food way too much to even bother aiming for that.

All jokes aside – what truly matters is how you feel and that you love yourself the way you are – small, medium or large!

Alright, I’ve treaded enough on Oprah’s favorite topic for the last 20 years!

It’s time for the Goodies

Without further ado and blah blah,” here are this Sunday’s fantabulous SuperPosts on all things Social Media, Blogging Tips, SEO, Internet Marketing, Traffic Building, Online Money Making Tools and more…

Social Media

• I’ve invented the perfect comment system. Mine. – by Davina Brewer, 3hatscommunication.com

When discussing the quality and quantity of blog comments, the system makes a difference. First: Major hat tip to Judy Gombita, we’ve had some wonderful exchanges on this subject. Second: The choice of a commenting…

• 60 Women whose praise must be sung – by Margie Clayman, margieclayman.com

Recently, I had the great honor of appearing on a list called 200 Fearless women online and in Social Media. As I scanned the names, I had two sensations. First, I could not believe my great fortune in appearing on such a list…

• Don’t Influence, Connect And Build Trust – by Adam Singer, thefuturebuzz.com

Many continue an unhealthy obsession with influence. Except the web isn’t really about influence. It never was. The mere fact so many use influence as jargon of choice to define their web startups which tout ability to show…

• The Legal Implications of Social Networking: The Basics (Part One) – by David Navetta, infolawgroup.com

We are in the midst of a communications revolution.   Use of social media for communication purposes continues to grow, while “old school” messaging media like email is on the decline.  Facebook reportedly has reached…

• Introducing “Social Maturity”: How Social Media Transforms Companies – by Sean Corcoran, blogs.forrester.com

We’ve been working on a major piece of research to answer a fundamental question now affecting our clients: “How do companies change as they adopt social technologies?” Today, we’ve published the report…

Blogging Tips

• CommentLuv 2.9 – Guide for Blog Owners & Commenters – by Kristi Hines, kikolani.com

The new version of CommentLuv 2.9 was released yesterday, and it is has a lot of new features. This guide will cover what is new for both blog owners and blog commenters alike as well as how to install and configure…

• What makes a great blog comment? – by Christian Hollingsworth, smartboydesigns.com

First of all, thank you for the incredible response I’ve received in regards to this three part “blog comment” series. You’ve left some incredible comments, Tweets, links & encouragement. It was wonderful to…

• Optimizing WordPress Excerpts for Maximum Clickability [Redux] – by Shonali Burke, waxingunlyrical.com

As I’ve been paying more attention to blogging—not just the writing thereof, but the look and how the posts come across—one of the fields that I believe is little-used is the “excerpt” field in one’s WordPress blog…

• 7 Reasons Your Blog Isn’t Growing – by Michael Stelzner, blog.hubspot.com

Do you blog? Have you been working hard to build a loyal following for your business, but it’s just not happening for you? The good news is you’re not alone.  Most blogs don’t get the traffic or the attention they desire…

• Applying Game Mechanics to Blog Design to Drive Engagement – by Dino Dogan, diyblogger.net

On average, our standard of living is higher now than it was for our parents. The basic needs for survival, shelter and safety have been met and the thing that we are all searching for now is more fun, engagement, more…

• Your Blog Post Sucks – 6 Easy Ways to Reinvent It – by Mariam Noronha, thefriendlyblogger.com

As bloggers all of us have good days and bad days. On good days we write really great posts that win rave reviews, attract comments and strike up discussions and debates. On bad days we churn out posts…

• Honest Blogger is Honest – by Elise Moreau, elisesreview.com

Some of you might be wondering, “WHY DOESN’T ELISE COMMENT ON MY BLOG ANYMORE?” Others have asked on Twitter if I’m even still alive. My lack of blog activity has diminished due to a number of things…

• Why It’s Important To Humanize Your Blog Content – by Francisco Rosales, socialmouths.com

I used to think that you should not talk about yourself in your blog content. I actually read it somewhere and for a while I was careful not to do it. “Always think about your audience. Nobody cares if you’re having coffee…

• When To Pull The Plug On Your Blog – by Stanford Smith, pushingsocial.com

“Dead Man Walking!” I guess things are not going as planned. Your blog is limping along with low traffic, low excitement, low support from your readers. You suspect that it’s time to take a hiatus or close down your blog…

• 9 Values and Characteristics Any Serious Blogger Should Possess – by Marko Saric, howtomakemyblog.com

here are millions of blogs posted all over the Internet and it is possible to run a successful blog, even making money through selling products and advertising on it. But many bloggers fail where other bloggers succeed…

SEO

• Keep Your Visitors Hostage by Giving them What They Want – by Brankica Underwood, searchenginejournal.com

There are times when you will think you reached the top of the traffic mountain your blog can achieve. You will be too tired to write more and more pages and think that unless you do, you can’t move forward with your blog…

MishMash

• The Force That Drives – by Stuart Mills, unlockthedoor.net

I recently questioned the value of life. I don’t say this because I’ve been thinking of taking my own life, or anything else in that extreme, far from it. I’m happy, I’m healthy, and I generally feel good about life…

• The Deadliest Business Trap Ever and How To Avoid It – by Tito Phillips, naijapreneur.com

Business, whether online [virtual] or offline [brick and mortar], small or big is governed by the same principles and calls for the same set of basic functions – production, marketing,finance, staffing.

• How to Hit Rock Bottom and Come Back a Business Owner (Without Breaking a Nail. Or Going Insane. Or Resorting to Prostitution. Mostly.) – by Ashley Ambirge, redheadwriting.com

It wasn’t long ago that devastation quickly and quietly ambushed my life, culminating one night in a deserted K-Mart parking lot in the slums of South Philadelphia. I sat in my car, underneath the unforgiving glow…

• Stop Looking for More – Start Looking for Better – by Brittany, firepolemarketing.com

It’s part of human nature. We are always wanting MORE. MORE money, MORE friends, MORE followers, MORE customers. Sometimes, that’s okay. Numbers are an excellent measurement of how we’re doing…

• Why The Mad Hatter Would Rock In Business – by Troy Claus, troyclaus.com

Here is my breakdown as to why Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter) would rock as a sales rep. He is captured by a higher power and is held hostage with his hands shackled – he is powerless against it…

• What Robert De Niro Knows That You Don’t About Business – by Neil Patel, quicksprout.com

From Meet the Fockers to Casino to Limitless, Robert De Niro is one of the most successful actors in the world. The next time you are watching one of his movies, do me a favor and don’t just watch them for pure entertainment, but watch them as a source of education.

• What’s the Greatest Barrier to Your Success? – by Obaidul Haque, famousbloggers.net

Success means different things to different people. For some, success is all about earning dollars. Many define success as peace of mind. Success sometimes means a healthy lifestyle. For some, success is about getting out…