BOO!!! First things first… I want to thank everyone who has followed my blog, bookmarked the site, and for all the encouraging comments. My first Treat was Vintage Agenda shot up in the search results this past week, and I am truly grateful ! I’m also really loving Google right now for loving me! It is AWESOME to go from the abyss to page 1 in the 3 MAJOR search engines! WHEW HOO!!! Now being inquisitive by nature, I can’t help but “look a gift horse in the mouth”. Just how did this happen? Well, it would probably be a long story, as I’m not entirely sure of the magic trigger…. Beginners luck? Divine Intervention? Perhaps a little of both, in addition to applying some basic and honest principles. I am willing to share any useful tidbits that may possibly be helpful to newbies getting started in the blogging world, but just keep in mind my technical savvy is somewhat limited. This is basically my disclaimer. HEHE!
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I am a firm believer in learn as you go , or you risk never getting started. The written word is a valuable resource but no substitute for some hands on experience, which you will never get if you don’t take the plunge… Dive in head first if you are passionate and your heart is in it! Or follow along with me and learn from my mistakes and mishaps… LOL!

Okay! So here I am… I have finally landed in cyberspace, and have no intention to be “the deer caught in the headlights”, and come down with a case of writers block… The floodgates are open and I’m overflowing with ideas for my posts and BOOM!!! I get my Trick!!! OH NO! NO! NO! My website stops working!!!! I was attempting to correct a loading issue with my Twitter account, and working on a Halloween post when I ran into some technical errors on my website. Whew! What a mess ! I was trying to deliver the goodies with a new post on Halloween and got a Trick instead of the Treat !!! (Tweet).

The reality was instead of getting my post up, I spent the past week attempting to diagnose and repair my site while working a full-time job, changing dirty diapers, and cleaning cat hairballs off the floor!!! So I says, “Failure is not an option.” I had to prioritize, and let the end of the year yard sale go out the window. One can hardly plan and execute a big yard sale when their WordPress site is static… I really, really needed to have that sale though because of the hodge podge of junk and baby clothes packed up in a corner! What a dirty Trick!

All right. I’m over it. Thanks for listening… I’m taking the high road, and looking at it from a positive perspective. The end result is I whooped the” little bugger”. ( that’s what my mama called me as a child when she was angry!) HEHE! I’m back and blessed for the mishap, as now I’m armed and also learned some valuable lessons on websites and blogging!!! TREAT!

OH! Before ending my Trick or Tweet post, I want to address many comments I received from newbies and readers thinking of starting their own blog. Blogging is hard work!!! I want to leave you with 10 Useful Startup Blogging Tips. These are basic tips and not all inclusive; just to get you started… My Treat for Beginners…

1. Before blasting off into the blogging world, spend some time following and researching successful sites, and see what works for them. It is probably better to emulate a successful site in your own particular genre, and then add your unique touch.

2. Set a time limit for yourself on when you will hatch. 6 months tops… read a book on blogging if you must?

3. Pick a good domain name. Think about how it applies to what you will be blogging or your business. The shorter the better.The best high level domain is (.com).

4. Research the Host for your blogging platform. I use HostGator.

5. Research different blogging platforms first. Do your homework! Are you planning to monetize on your site? If you are not sure, but want to have the option and/or would prefer a shorter URL to type into a browser , I recommend wordpress.org.

6. This one is very important; If your blog is going to be part of another website, it is okay to install in a subdirectory; http://example.com/theblog. If not, and I believe this is the best option, install in the root domain, http://example.com.

7. Write down a rough draft mission statement, your goals, and what your site is about. You will need it when you submit your site to the Attracta Business Directory. You can edit this later if your goals change but I believe it may affect your page rank, so put some careful thought into this listing…

8. Submit a site map for the search engines to find you!!!

9. Purchase some spam and site protection.

10. Go ! Write a post! Preview first, and save to drafts if need be. Remember, when you publish it is permanent.

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So there it is, my Trick or Treat post… I got my Trick and My Treat! Now… I just need my TWEET!!!!

Here is my agenda… Presently, I’m interested in developing my social site over at Twitter. I’m starving over there for some Tweets and followers for my barely hatched egg!! LOL!!! It would be a REAL TWEET if you were to share at the end of this post and/or follow me @ twitter.com/Pennys2Sense.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! TRICK OR TWEET!!!!

Mess Penny