I’m firmly convinced that your website and/or blog must be the hub of your online presence.

In the August issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, you’ll learn why.

I’m trying something new with this issue because this is an important topic and, well… I got carried away writing content.

Part of the content will be delivered to your Inbox, as usual, on Tuesday, August 3.  As you read through your blogzine, watch for a link that will take you to a private page on the Blogging Bistro website, where you’ll find even more content, exclusively for Bright Ideas subscribers.

I’ll address the following questions:

1. Is blogging overdone?
2. What publishing platform should I use?
3. Is Blogspot.com truly the slum of the Internet?
4. What’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
5. How can I create an all-in-one website/blog combo?

And that’s not all! We’re offering two fantastic discounts on services during August, so be sure to read about our Special of the Month.

Subscriptions to Bright Ideas are free. To sign up, enter your name and e-mail address into the big yellow form in the righthand sidebar, OR send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com.  You’ll instantly receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription. Click the link in that e-mail and you’re good to go. You will receive your August issue within 7 days of the day you activate your subscription (do it now and you’ll receive your issue August 3).

You can read all the past issues of Bright Ideas Blogzine from our Archives page. Lots of great info there to help you enhance your social media presence.

You won’t want to miss the June/July issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, which is landing in Inboxes everywhere today.

This issue features five fab Facebook tutorials. You’ll learn how to create business pages (pages that are and aren’t connected to a personal FB profile); vanity usernames; add cool forms and widgets; stream your blog posts into your Facebook account, and more.

Subscribe now to receive this issue. You can either use the bright yellow form in the righthand sidebar, or send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com.

You’ll receive a confirmation message in your Inbox within seconds. Click the link in the confirmation message, and you’re all set.

You can read all the back issues of Bright Ideas from the Archives page.

Well, folks, it finally happened. I am now a Cover Girl.

It’s not Glamour or Vogue, but it is a magazine cover!

Here’s a sneak peak at the cover for the May issue of the Snohomish County Business Journal.

For those of you who don’t have the slightest idea of where Snohomish County is, or even how to pronounce it, it’s pronounced snow-HOME-ish. Located 25 miles north of Seattle, Snohomish County has 16,000 businesses.

The county seat is Everett, Washington. In Everett, Boeing builds its 747, 767, 777 and the new 787 Dreamliner; it’s also home for Naval Station Everett, home port of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

So… how did I become a cover girl? Cast your vote:

You guessed it – it was because of my business blog. The one you’re reading right now, in fact. (If you voted for “stunning beauty” or “celeb status,” I owe you a latte!)

I’ll share the whole intriguing story – and reveal the secret for how you can achieve social media stardom – in the May issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, my free monthly e-newsletter.

To read my “tell all,” simply add your name and e-mail to the bright yellow form in the righthand sidebar (or send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com). Within seconds, you’ll receive a confirmation e-mail. Click the link and you’re officially subscribed.

Bright Ideas Blogzine will arrive in your Inbox Tuesday, May 4.

Before and After shots of our front yard

I’m excited about this month’s issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, which will be arriving in your Inbox Monday, April 12.

We’ll be discussing Curb Appeal, an important issue many of us overlook when we create our Web site, blog, and social media accounts.

“Curb Appeal” refers to how your home (or business) looks from the street as people are driving by. The Curb Appeal Factor has become significant to me lately, as we’ve just completed a remodel of our front yard. Now, instead of zipping past, our neighbors slow down and stare (hopefully in a good way) at our beautiful new landscaping.

In the same manner, your Web site and blog must have Curb Appeal if you hope to capture the attention of impatient Web surfers. The April issue includes 10 things you can begin doing — today — to clean up the clutter and enhance your site’s Curb Appeal.

Spring Cleaning Challenge for brave souls: Send me BEFORE and AFTER screen shots of the Web site, blog, or social media account you’re adding Curb Appeal to, and I’ll feature them right here on my blog.

Subscribe now to receive the April issue (it’s free).  Fill in the bright yellow form in the site’s sidebar or send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com. You’ll receive a confirmation message in your Inbox within seconds. Click the link in the confirmation message, and you’re all set. (You can subscribe anytime during the month and you’ll receive your first blogzine within a week).

P.S. Access all the back issues of Bright Ideas Blogzine from my Archives page.

Google is now indexing your blog, Facebook, and Twitter updates in real-time.

Learn how Google ranks a Web page’s value and what that means for you, in terms of how you should be planning your social media marketing strategy. You’ll find it in the February 2010 issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, my free monthly e-newsletter.

There are two ways to subscribe:

1. Enter your name and e-mail address in the form located in the upper righthand corner of this page
2. Send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com

You’ll receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription. Click the link in that e-mail and you’re good to go. You will receive your February issue in six days or less.

As soon as you confirm your subscription, you’ll be routed to a page where you can download guidelines for how to create your own social media plan.

If you’d like to read past issues of Bright Ideas Blogzine, you’ll find them all on my Archives page.

Last night, at the meeting of our local writers’ association, a woman approached me.

“I really like getting your Social Media Tip of the Day in my Inbox,” she said. They’re helpful, and they seem to come at the exact time I need to hear that particular bit of advice.”

Social Media Tip of the Day is a one-sentence tip intended to inform or inspire you regarding some aspect of blogging, Twitter, Facebook, or social media marketing in general. I don’t try to sell you anything. It’s just a tip. Period.

Here are two ways to access the tips:

1.  Become a fan of Blogging Bistro on Facebook.

We post a fresh tip daily on our Wall — we’re on Day 33 today! You can scroll through all the previous tips there, too.

2.  Subscribe to Bright Ideas Blogzine, our free, monthly e-newsletter.

When you confirm your subscription, you’ll receive two items:

Your Social Media Plan: How to create a coordinated attack that integrates your blog, Web site, Facebook, and Twitter content. This 9-page report contains lots of practical action steps to help you develop your own social media strategy.

About five days after your subscription kicks in, you’ll begin receiving social media tips in your Inbox. You’ll get one each day for two weeks, and then weekly after that.

To subscribe to Bright Ideas, just enter your name and e-mail address in the form in the righthand sidebar of my Web site, or send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com. You’ll instantly receive a confirmation e-mail asking you to verify your subscription request. Just click the link and you’re all set.

The feature article in the January 2010 issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine asks:

• When you look back at the past decade, what do you say about yourself?
• As you look forward to the coming decade, will you do “business as usual?”

Start your subscription today so you can receive this brief, inspirational article (I invite you to share it with others who need encouragement).

There are two ways to subscribe:

1. Enter your name and e-mail address in the form located in the upper righthand corner of this page
2. Send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com

You’ll receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription. Click the link in that e-mail and you’re good to go. You will receive your January issue in six days or less.

As soon as you confirm your subscription, you’ll be routed to a page where you can download guidelines for how to create your own social media plan.

If you’d like to read past issues of Bright Ideas Blogzine, you’ll find them on my Archives page.

I’ve received more spammy e-mails and e-newsletters than I can count — some of them are from people I know!

But what about the e-mails and e-newsletters you send? Could they be considered spam? Could you be unknowingly breaking the law?

Perhaps. That’s why it’s critically important understand the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. In the December issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, I briefly explain the CAN-SPAM law and give you a few simple guidelines you must follow to ensure that the e-mails you send are on the up-and-up.

Start your free subscription to Bright Ideas Blogzine today; just fill out the form in the upper right corner of this page or send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com.

As soon as you confirm your subscription (yes, I’m abiding by the CAN-SPAM law!), you’ll receive a link to download Your Social Media Plan, a 9-page checklist to help you create an integrated strategy for your blog, Twitter, and Facebook content.

Does anybody really know what time it is?

On the Las Vegas Strip, the answer is a resounding “No.”

In the September issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, you’ll learn about the Vegas “no clocks” conspiracy, and three other marketing ploys the mega resorts use successfully.

We’ll show you how to adapt these techniques so you can lure new customers and assure loyalty among your current customers.

You’ll hear about:

• The Room Key Caper

• The All-Day Buffet Foray

• (How to) Walk Like an Egyptian

Bright Ideas Blogzine is free – just type your name and e-mail into the form (top right sidebar) or send a blank e-mail to bloggingbistro@aweber.com. You’ll instantly receive an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription. Click the link and you’re done. You will receive your first Blogzine within 7 days of activating your subscription.

Want more? View past issues of Bright Ideas Blogzine.

In the August issue of Bright Ideas Blogzine, we’re discussing the importance of a blog comments policy.

You’ll learn:

• How to develop a comments policy
• Three important elements to include in your comments policy
• View sample comments policies from other bloggers

The August issue also includes a subscriber-only half-price special on my e-book, Blogophobia Conquered.  Subscribe today to  take advantage of the special offer. If you are a new subscriber, you will receive your August issue within 7 days of the time you subscribe.

You can also read complete past issues of Bright Ideas Blogzine in our Archives.

Start your free monthly subscription now; just type your name and primary e-mail into the form below (you’ll immediately receive a confirmation e-mail. Just click the link in the e-mail to activate your subscription):