Drum roll…

Copywriting Master Class: Creating Successful Link Bait

Designed for beginners, and those already creating their own link bait, this 40-page book and accompanying workbook will make creating quality content and generating links a breeze.

Unlike many of the others out there, this ebook doesn’t start with how to write the post or article. It starts right at the very beginning, with a look at what link bait is and isn’t. Then, I walk you through the entire link bait creation process, step-by-step, including what you need to do after you’ve published your content.

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify your target audience.
• Research and find out what they’re interested in.
• Plan your content.
• Write a powerful headline.
• Format and present your content.
• Market and push your link bait.
• Monitor traffic and make changes on the fly.
• Perform a content audit

Find out more about Copywriting Master Class: Creating Successful Link Bait here.

If we’re going to sign up for a newsletter, we want to get something for it. We want something of value that every other man and his dog who visits the website doesn’t get. That’s why we created Hot Topics from Angie’s Copywriting.

A New Kind of Newsletter

By signing up to our email list, you’ll get access to unique, in-depth information you can’t get anywhere else.

You’ll also get:

• great discounts that actually amount to something
• access to products/services before anyone else
• opportunities no one else will get
• and insider news about Angie’s Copywriting, tests we’re running, contest we’re holding
• much, much more

In short, this is a newsletter you actually want to be on, and we know you’ll be upset if you miss it!

Your Sneak Peak of This Month’s Issue

We won’t give you all the goods found in this month’s issue of Hot Topics. (You can get access by signing up here.) That would be cheating, but but we will let you in on a few of the juicy tidbits you’ll find inside it.

If you’ve been searching for a decent book on SEO copywriting, look no further than Practical SEO Copywriting, by Glenn Murray. We’ve reviewed the book here before, but if you look in this month’s issue of Hot Topics, you’ll get a huge 35% discount on this and other books Glenn has written.

He’s never given such a huge discount before, so combined with his money-back guarantee, you can’t go wrong. Get it. You won’t be sorry.

We also gave list members access to our exclusive report on writers, education, and quality content. If you hire writers, are a writer yourself, or produce quality content, you definitely want to see this report.

Inside the exclusive report, you’ll find out what 8 of the industry’s biggest experts had to say about:

• hiring writers
• how much education plays a role in producing quality content
• what they look for in a writer
• what degree a writer should consider to improve their content
• what university education (or lack thereof) has done for their business
• what traits content has to have to be effective
• and much more insider information

This report is huge. We learned a ton doing it, and we’re sure you will, too.
In fact, those who got a sneak peak at it were shocked by the huge amount of information in it. They also said it’s a really engaging read (which convinced us to release the entire report, instead of just half of it.).

(Courtesy of April Allen of Aprill.net)

Wanna know something else? It’s also the only one like it available online.

What are you waiting for? Get signed up and get your copy now!

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Angie’s Copywriting is no exception. The company and I both experienced exponential growth last year, which has prompted me to make a number of changes in order to serve you better and achieve even more success.

Angie’s Copywriting Brings On Some Extra Help

Currently, Angie’s Copywriting has a full workload, and with upcoming changes, it’s simply more than one person can handle alone. So, I’m thrilled to announce that Annetta Ribken of Word Webbing is joining Angie’s Copywriting. She’ll be taking on much of the article and blog post writing, as well as editing and researching tasks.

I’ve known Annetta for a number of years, and am honored to call her friend. Her delightfully creative flair is unmistakable. She has an amazing ability to make the boring topics interesting, and is an excellent researcher. She works hard and knows her stuff. I can’t wait for you all to meet and work with her!

I’ll still be editing and approving all pieces before they go out, but I’ll be able to dedicate more time to various other projects and plans, as well as the sales and web copy.

On a side note, we’ve also partnered with a number of product, software, and service providers over the last year, so watch for these announcements (and maybe even savings) soon!

Your Very Own In-House Copywriter

You know how you need an in-house copywriter, but you don’t have enough work or the budget to hire one full-time? Angie’s Copywriting has the solution.

Starting January 1st, 2011, Angie’s Copywriting began offering a Copywriter-On-Call service. You can get a copywriter when you need one, without paying for one when you don’t. As an added benefit, the work is done as quickly as possible, sometimes even immediately. It’s the affordable alternative to hiring a full-time, in-house copywriter.

Here’s how it works: You pay a flat fee per month, and in return, you’ll get a copywriter who will edit your documents, assist with emails and internal memos, create correspondence, and much more. You’ll love this fast, flexible service.

The End Of Discounts

Discounts have caused a lot of headaches, and after examining them and their effects on everyone, I’ve decided they’re not providing the value you deserve. So, after a lot of thought and consideration, Angie’s Copywriting will no longer offer discounts to new clients. No exceptions. This is effective immediately.

The only discounts offered will be to loyal clients who regularly support Angie’s Copywriting. We feel this is the way it should be, and think you will too.

Customer-Specific Service Packages Now Available To the Public

Previously, certain packages and products were only available through special promotions, sponsorships, and arrangements. No longer!

Soon, all packages and services (as well as a few new ones!) will be available to everyone. This should better meet your needs and make it far easier to order. I’ll be sure to publish more on this later.

Pricing and Communication Changes

Yes, we all hate the idea of price changes and I hate to bring it up, but along with all the new information, skills, conveniences, and offerings, prices have changed. On the bright side, you’ll receive an even better value for your money than you receive from Angie’s Copywriting.

During the last six months, I’ve enjoyed speaking and interacting with you all very much. However, I’m working a lot of odd hours and have a very busy schedule, which makes it extremely difficult for me to take everyone’s calls. I’ve also found it much easier to have a record of our correspondence in my email where I can refer to it at a later date.

So, to reduce the number of interruptions and allow me to be better prepared, phone calls, instant messages, and direct meetings will only be available by appointment. However, you are free to leave a message via Twitter, Skype, or email, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

The Soon-To-Be-Famous Angie’s Copywriting Email List

In case you haven’t noticed, Angie’s Copywriting now has a mailing list. If you haven’t signed up already, you’ll want to do so right now. Very soon, people on that mailing list will start receiving monthly content you can’t get anywhere else.

Mailing list members will also receive free copies of books I release, tips, hints, news, special products, services, and much more. Most of them won’t be offered to the general public, so you’ll want to make sure you get on that list as soon as possible.

I promise not to spam you, share or sell your information, or use it for anything else other than sharing news, information, offers, and tips that I personally approve of and wouldn’t use/enjoy myself. Plus, it will only come out once per month, so it shouldn’t stuff your already full inbox.

Angie’s Copywriting and Search Marketing Wisdom

Alan Bleiweiss recently honored me with a position on his elite team of search and internet marketing experts at Search Marketing Wisdom. This amazing opportunity will have me appear alongside people I both enjoy speaking with and admire a great deal. I promise you this site will be publishing some amazing content, so make sure to add it to your RSS reader and follow the site’s Twitter account. (The first two posts are already up.)

To kick things off, Alan is giving away an iPad and some other amazing stuff, so get your name in for them while you’re having a look around!

I have many other great announcements coming soon, along with some huge changes I can’t wait to tell you about. Those will come as soon as I can safely share them with you. You’re going to love it!

Before I end what was supposed to be a quick note, however, I’d like to thank you all for your support, patronage, interactions, and giggles over the last few years. I’d have never gotten here without you!

Here’s hoping your holidays were amazing and 2011 is even better.

I have a theory about why this happens…

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Think Of Web Professionals Like Babysitters…Sorta

You see, I look at the online world and the real one as being the same. The only difference is that the Internet has put real life on demand and under a magnifying glass. Mistakes and the true characteristics of human nature are far more noticeable, but when it gets down to it, you’re dealing with the same types of people, who have the same goals and methods as those we pass on the street every day.

Think of the Internet like hiring a babysitter. Even if you hardly know this person, you leave her in charge while you’re gone because you feel she’s trustworthy and will keep your kids safe. I mean, if you didn’t, you’d never leave her there by herself, and certainly not with the children!

Plumbers and electricians are similar. They could be one of the gangbangers on the corner at night, but once they don their ‘day clothes’, you let them into your home without a single thought about your safety. You have some level of trust in them.

The Internet is similar, in my opinion. Once we allow it into our home, we still feel secure and trust it as we would a good friend. We get so caught up in all the benefits and how much *better* it makes our lives, we often forget about the bad. We simply don’t give the dangers the same weight in the virtual world that we do in real life. Why? It doesn’t look dangerous.

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We Lack the Visual Incentives That Trigger Self-Preservation

When walking down the street, it’s not unusual for people to clutch their purses and bring their kids closer as they pass a gang of kids in a parking lot. It’s not odd for some to cross the street when passing a homeless person. They look undesirable, and maybe even frightening.

Getting back to the babysitter thing, most parents would never consider hiring a homeless person and putting them in charge of the kids. That’d just be dangerous! At least they look trustworthy enough to make us feel safe, right? Well, in some instances, the homeless person might be the better choice.

On the Internet, we can’t differentiate between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ people just by looking at them. Almost everyone ‘seems’ nice. Well…what I mean is the creepy ones are kind of obvious, but it’s the dangerous ones who appear ‘nice’ that people need to be most wary of.

Things Sound Different In Text

The other issue professionals and businesses have is that even the most innocent of things can sound terrible when they’re typed and out of context (i.e. in a tweet or email). Sometimes, even the simplest of sentences can seem snarky, angry, or perverse. The same goes for someone who ‘sounds’ trustworthy. Since we can’t read a person’s body language or hear their tone when they speak, a lot of our perception is based on previous interactions with that person and pure assumptions.

So where am I going with all this? Simple.

Don’t just hand money over to someone you’ve never met without checking things out first. If you don’t feel confident with a particular company or provider, or if there are any serious doubts about their reliability, move on.

Be diligent, for Google’s sake! If you don’t know enough about the process to be able to identify the scammers, get recommendations from someone you trust or speak with someone who does know about the process. Both the provider and the client can tell when the other doesn’t know as much about a particular subject as they should. Trust me!

The other point I’m making with this whole thing is that both online professionals and clients need to protect themselves. While things like deposits might be annoying and make both sides uncomfortable, they’re there to protect everyone involved. There are times when a full upfront payment is necessary, and times when it’s simply not needed.

Don’t believe everything you hear, either. This world is full of miscommunications and complications that might seem one way at the start, but is actually something completely different when you get down to it. I’m not saying you should disregard good and bad reviews, for example, but use each of the puzzle pieces you find while doing research to determine what the entire picture will look like.

In short, use your street sense!

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What Happens When You Know Too Much

Here’s the scenario: A client comes to you wanting to write a book on a subject you just happen to know a bit about. They give you the outline and main points for each chapter. Unfortunately, they’re wrong. And it isn’t a ‘I know I’m wrong but I just want to make money’. It’s a ‘I’m not wrong. I’m the expert’. Now, if you write this book, your name isn’t on it, but others will still be reading and learning from this book. Also, these mistruths aren’t glaringly obvious to anyone other than those who are familiar with the business, so it would be hard for anyone else to prove otherwise.

Do you write it, take the money, and shut up? Or do you turn away the cash and run with it?

The “Take the Money and Run Camp”

A lot of industry experts I’ve talked to about the subject say it depends on a number of things including whether or not their name is on it, how much money the project is worth, who it’s for, how big of a factual mistake it is, and many other variables.

The argument is that if it’s worth enough money, if the mistake isn’t that huge, and their name isn’t on it, they’d likely do it.

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“No Way In Hell Buddy Boy”

On the other side of the fence are those who say they wouldn’t take the job regardless. They don’t care who it’s for, what it could do to or for their career, or how much money they could make. They know what’s right and what’s wrong, and they refuse to allow something false like that from hitting the virtual shelves. They’d never be able to look at themselves in the mirror if they did.

“It’s Money. Duh”

The third opinion of this is that it’s a business transaction. This is doing a job for money. Nothing more. Nothing less. Their morals and values don’t enter into the picture because their morals and values aren’t for sale. They run a profitable business, and as such, they will do what keeps that business profitable.

Personally, I have to admit I’m torn. I really abhor the idea of writing the same garbage that I’ve argued against, but at the same time, I do have a family to support. From the client’s perspective, they may know I know about the subject, but they don’t know how much I know about. Also, they’re supposed to be the experts on the subject, not you. Why would they trust you?

I’m left in a position where I don’t want to touch the project because I know a portion of it is incorrect. The client won’t just change it because the writer said so either. There’s no real way to prove it, so what do we do?

Whether you like him or hate him, you have to admit Dr. Phil’s a smart cookie. His quirky, down to earth way of giving advice gives everyone a little piece of advice they can understand, and it’s always entertaining.

After watching the show the other day, I realized a large number of the tips and wise words of wisdom he gives are great for business too. In fact, I think we could all learn from the great Dr. Phil.

Dr Phil Business Lesson #1: “So, how’s that workin’ for you?”

When guests insist they’re doing things the right way, and they’re obviously not, Dr. Phil usually comes out with this great line. The guest instantly goes quiet and the blank stare of self-realization comes over his face. Maybe his methods weren’t so great after all.

I think we should all stop and ask ourselves that question as we build and refine our businesses. It can also be a pretty powerful question in our personal lives once in awhile. How many times do we do something just because it’s the way we’ve always done it? It’s always worked in the past, so why change now?

How’s that marketing plan really working? Is your business going in the right direction? Are we working with the people we want work with/for? Personally, I’ve always got a ‘target’ list I’m working on. It’s filled with companies I’d like to provide copywriting for, people I’d like to meet, and those I’d love to collaborate with.

The way I see it, if what we’re doing isn’t producing the results we want, we need to change our strategy and try again. Don’t be afraid to question everything; the real answers might just surprise you.

(greggoconnell)

Dr Phil Business Lesson #2: “You need to find a target rich environment”

This sentence generally comes out on shows where women or men have difficulties getting dates, but what Dr. Phil says makes sense. How can you attract or find what you want, if you’re not looking in the right spot?

So, if I’m launching a product aiming at teenagers, what am I doing advertising on LinkedIn, for example? I need to be making myself known on places like MySpace and Facebook…that’s where they are. Of course, all this will depend on the market and what you’re doing exactly, but the point is that you need to go to where your target audience is and draw them out from the places they’ve already conjugated.

Dr Phil Business Lesson #3: “She’s got your manhood in a Dixie cup’

Ok, I have to admit this was probably as funny and as shocking as I’d seen Dr. Phil get, but even this had a great lesson. In this episode, a mother was controlling her son to the point that his long time girlfriend/fiancé was ready to leave.

This situation made me wonder…how many times to we make decisions based on the wants and needs of others? And while we should always consider the effects our choices have on others, how many times do we end up hurting ourselves in an effort to make someone else happy? I think we do it a lot more than we think. I know I do.

Each time we make a decision, we need to weigh the pros and cons of each option. I’m not saying we should step on someone to get what we want, but I think a lot of us would make far better decisions if we asked ourselves why we’re making a particular choice, and who that choice really benefits.

Dr Phil Business Lesson #4: “It’s like my dad used to say: You wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought about you if you knew how seldom they did…”

This one is so telling isn’t it? How many times do we come up with a great idea only to pass it over because we’re worried about what others will think? All things considered, isn’t that one of our biggest mistakes in business? Isn’t it this simple thing that holds us back and prevents us from achieving our goals? In fact, some of the most successful business people became successful because they just ‘did it’.

I find I often edit content because it might be ‘too edgy’ or it ‘might offend’ someone, particularly when I write for myself. At the same time, it’s been the posts or articles I take a chance on that generate actual conversation and become the most successful. Why? I’d like to think it’s because the real me comes through to the reader much more effectively.

So, simply put, if we took more risks, our businesses would become much more successful. Galileo, Shakespeare, Einstein, Elvis, Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington…they all took a chance and did something new.

I don’t know about you, but these four points sound like some pretty good business advice to me. And, it’s not that we don’t know these things. I think we simply get so caught up in everything we forget. Do you have any of these lessons to share?

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‘Cash Grabbing’ Businesses

We all want to make money. And with the way the economy has gone, the drive for cash seems to have intensified. The faster and easier we can make it the better, but this isn’t always a good thing. You see, these techniques may work very well, but the results only last for a short time. They can also have serious, negative effects on your business.

Spamming is a great example. You know what? It works. As much as we all hate it, I can prove it works. If you know what you’re doing, and you choose the right industry, it’s almost guaranteed to work for a short while. Even if the site is only live and ranking in the search engines for a day or two, it’s long enough for people to make a few thousand dollars.

Unfortunately, the search engines try to get rid of these types of websites as quickly as possible, so you don’t have long to make money. It doesn’t help your reputation, and you can guarantee that you’re going to make a lot of people mad. In fact, an image of a large, angry mob with pitchforks and torches comes to mind.

Article marketing is another popular way to build links. While I won’t debate the value of the method in this post, I will mention that this portion of marketing is famous for being loaded full of…well…junk.

Now, if I were to do this, I believe it would damage my business. How? Because I’m a copywriter and I make my money by providing quality content. Have used article marketing? Yes, but like anything, it has a time and place. There’s no rule that says it needs to be crap content, either.

This is why I use a completely different form of article marketing. I create high-end pieces that people want to link to and place on authoritative sites. This reflects my quality and improves my reach at the same time.

The same thing happens in real life. You know exactly what I’m talking about. I mean those marketing tactics that rival those of our biggest political figures. These tactics aren’t necessarily illegal or wrong, but they still make you cringe when you think about them.

Again, these business models make a quick turnaround and die. It doesn’t mean  you can’t make a living off them. It just means that you’d better not get attached to it. You’ll be starting numerous companies and websites simply to keep your income at a decent level.

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Building a Brand

When you build a brand, you rarely make large amounts of money at the start. It’s a long, hard slog that can be downright disheartening, but the result is a legacy you’ll be proud to leave behind. These businesses also run completely different from the cash grabbing businesses mentioned previously.

Brand-focused businesses rely heavily on word-of-mouth advertising, social media, and…well…advertising. But, you need to be cautious. Every move you make will reflect back on your company and have either a positive, or negative effect. This includes your marketing tactics, networking, charity, community events…everything.

If you are building a brand, quality is absolutely vital in everything you do. You need to look and act the part. You need a quality website, quality advertising materials, marketing program, and a good connection with your target audience.

In addition to appearance, you don’t want to risk having something fall apart during one of the most critical moments in your business’ life either, so there are no short cuts. Everything you purchase and do has to match your image.

When I set up my new website, for example, absolutely everything from the architecture and keywords, to the services and business model I went with were all chosen for specific reasons. The same can be said for my marketing strategy. I don’t want my clients to feel hunted or pressured. They can trust me to help them, and they know if I don’t know the answer, I can find it for them.

As for how far you’ll get by building a brand, it’s hard to say. You might become the next Richard Branson of Virgin Mobile. Or, you might only make enough to live a comfortable life. Either way, you know you made the best choice for you. And regardless what you do, remember that it isn’t worth having, if you don’t have to work for it.

So, how will you choose to build your business? Do you prefer one method over the other?

Anyway, there’s lots of little glitches roaming about and a move to a new URL in the mix, but it’s certainly coming along. In the meantime, please excuse anything that isn’t quite yet up to snuff. I will launch the site officially once I get everything done and will kick it off with a really cool contest my husband and I came up with. I can’t wait to get it going!

In the meantime, a few huge, massive thank yous (in no particular order). These people truly are the best in the business and some of the best friends I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I  have put my business and life in their hands and would do so again any day. These people have given me everything and more.

To you guys: Even though I’m a writer, I just can’t seem to find the right words to thank you quite enough. You played a huge part in helping me get to where I am, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful. Hopefully, the good Karma comes back to each of you tenfold, and if there’s anything I can do to repay you, please let me know. I can only hope to give you all a fraction of what you have given me.

Tim (Tim Nash) — My development wiz and resident bacon-saver. Not only did you help me out immensely, but you’ve outcoded everyone I know and helped me see the light when I thought I was seeing the end. I thank you for the support, conversation, laughs, friendship and willingness bravery to tolerate the rant of the century.

Ian (MC3 Design) — My designer… You truly are the very, very best. Your work is as beautiful as your kindness. I am forever a devoted fan and friend. Again, thank you.

Glenn (Divine Write) — Confidant, Smarty Pants, Mentor and Friend. You have been the voice of clarity and reason from the day we started Tweeting. Your great business sense and willingness to give me a listening ear have made it possible for me to be where I am today. I am forever in your debt.

Netta (Word Webbing) — Best friend and goddess extraordinaire — Netta girl, we’ve laughed together, cried together, gotten angry together, and made good use of each other’s shoulders. It’s people like you that make this world wonderful. Thank you for always being a call, tweet, or email away. I love you like a sister.

Albert and kidlet (My devoted family) — You’ve been there with me through thick and thin, give me the gears when I needed it, a hug when I thought I was going crazy, and have made all of this possible. I love you two with all my heart and don’t know how I could ever go through life without you.

To get a little farther into the topic, Charles came up with the excellent post I am sharing with you today. This post really got me thinking about what would happen if I was no longer here. What would happen with my company? My website? Would my husband think to check? Heck, my poor darling doesn’t know how to check my email. The entire situation would be quite a nightmare, I’m sure.

Webmaster Disaster Preparedness for Small Business

In memory of all of the on-line small businesses that did not weather the storms; but with a little forethought, possibly could have.

Like many small businesses on-line you have poured every penny you could get your hands on into the business. As well as devoted hours upon hours of your time to get where you are today. Business is good, your brand has a following, and your family business is paying the bulk of your personal and operational expenses.

Yep, we have all done the Snoopy dance at one time or another. But lets bring in the evil thunderclouds and rain on your parade.

You awake one fine morning and find out that your business or ecommerce website is no longer online. Your money tree has vanished overnight; you think to yourself… what shall I do? The reality is that you’re in a complete state panic and you can’t think clearly at all.

Ok so you managed to calm down enough to make a call your hosts support department (that is providing they offer 24/7 support). The support technician finally answers and informs you that the RAID controller went out last night and IT is working on it. Whew, glad it’s a problem with the RAID controller and not my site. Even though you have no idea what a RAID controller is, you take the tech for his word and make the assumption that it will soon be fixed.

Minutes have now turned into hours and support is now telling you the repair is estimated to take a few days. Assuming you are financially dependant on your ecommerce site, you are now faced with some important decisions. I am willing to bet that very few SB have any idea what to do next.

That is why you need a Disaster Preparedness plan for your small business. Hint: Your first step is for you to go out and buy a tabbed notebook. Also keep in mind that my suggestions and comments below are not intended to be a business or site specific nor a comprehensive plan. But I do hope they make you give thought to this important, yet seldom talked topic.

• Your site is down and you have determined that you need to move to a new host. Time is money and researching prospective hosts can be time consuming. Do it while things are rosy, once you have decided on a backup host, write down all of the pertinent information in your book under the Hosting tab.

• Shipping API’s, what could go wrong there? I mean all those do is retrieve the shipping cost from the shipping service. Ok smarty pants, your pinging USPS during the holidays and their service is down for an unspecified time. Folks, you just lost your ability to make strong holiday sales. Without a shipping rate being returned, its most likely that your shopping cart wont allow the user to proceed and or close the transaction.

• One solution is to ready an API for a backup shipper. Some 3rd party carts have multiple shipping options so all you may need to do is pre-configure it, and then it’s just a flip of a switch. Regardless, note it in your notebook so you have a quick reference.

• Site management. If you’re like many SB you are probably the cook as well as chief bottle washer. If your stricken with an illness that lays you up for weeks, maybe even months, do you have someone that can fill your shoes?

You probably don’t, so it’s highly advised that you discuss this amongst those who will be impacted by your absence. In your site management section, document where, what and how the site is managed, as well as any passwords that may be needed, etc.
Don’t forget things like domain renewal, management of auto payments etc

• You give up the ghost in your sleep. Ok that’s certainly not my idea of an early retirement, but I could happen and does. I asked my wife Peggy what she would do in that situation, she so elegantly said she might place a for sale ad in the paper. I steered clear of the “its an Internet business” discussion and asked what the selling points would be and how she would conduct the transaction. Her response then changed to “I don’t know”. Well that’s an honest and respected answer because I don’t either. Is there such a thing as a website Realtor?

• Accounting. Well you may say that it has nothing to do with the actual website, indirectly it does. As Webmaster you’re probably in charge of managing your payment gateways and reporting features. In your notebook, document the critical processes as well as offer some insight on how to access them. If your temp bookkeeper is under the gun to file your estimated state sales tax and they can’t access the data, you’re in a heap of trouble.

• It’s all on your PC, what can go wrong there? I say anything and everything can go wrong with a PC. When your hard drive blows up just how do you plan on accessing all your important files? Answer, you don’t. So play it smart and buy a thumb drive with a fairly large amount of storage capacity. On it you can store a backup of your web, as well as important files and other information. Also if MS Outlook email is a key component of your business operation, make a copy of the .pst file and store it on your thumb drive. Microsoft’s .pst files have a size limit and once you hit it you will loose all core functionality and access to your local emails and settings. You will get no warning that its about to happen.

So that’s my short list for a Webmaster Disaster Preparedness plan for small businesses. Think about your own business, discuss with those concerned, and document an escape plan. It just might help you survive an otherwise cataclysmic web event

Mahalo

Charles Stankovich, co owner of Wave Shoppe Hawaiian Shirts

(On a personal note, Charles creates stunning Hawaiian dresses, shirts, and sarongs from fabric he has designed himself. They are truly beautiful, and worth checking out.)

In case you haven’t noticed, things have been quiet. Well, I have no excuse except to say I’ve been very pleasantly busy! And I have an announcement:

Angie’s Copywriting is getting a new look, a new brand, and a new direction. We’re doing away with all of the old stuff and bringing in lots of new and exciting things. When is this going to happen? A few weeks hopefully depending on the copywriter and the technical side of things.

In the mean time, hope things are going well with all of you, and if you need anything, please give a shout!