You've Been Blogged! Level Up Blogging

Due to insistent bloggers demand from FrugalYetFab's Mary Jane Dionela and Arra Ordeza of

Acodeza.com who sent me unrelenting PMs to use my blog in the same way that they do, it has been less than a month since I have decided to be part of the local blogging groups. And it is a fun experience, going to events and writing Press Releases that keeps me busy until the wee hours of the morning, and I have made new friends and get to see others more often. Blogging for the local market has made me make changes to the design of this blog, which is still in the making with minor tweaks still needed to be done and brought about the challenge to be more active in expanding my reach with social networking sites.

I have always geared most of what I write for an international audience with this blog and my other blogs, do sponsored posts for selected restaurants, other business, and musicians, which I aid in their online marketing, and for charity posts and complaint posts as do get urged by many of the contest joiners to "use my blade" with the powerful reach of my online network, and notably, Twitter does get results. As a #Promonatic, meaning a contest joiner, sadly, some promos and contests do have marketing fails and there have been solutions achieved, as I desire to bring about awareness to the company heads keeping in mind that people do make mistakes, that sometimes things happen, and that it is in the best interest of any company to resolve matters immediately as we are the consumers and contest joiners are vital to sending their message out. And, for the generous companies that do give out prizes properly, I would like to state, thank you so much and do share the joy and opportunity to win online. I do not blog about restaurant issues as I do believe that it is best to talk with the management for any complaints so that there can be changes made, instead of jeopardizing their business with a bad review. 

Wielding Power Wisely 

#ResponsibleMedia is one of the hashtags of Blogapalooza and with great power comes great responsibility. Note that it just takes one tweet to send a message out to the entire world. Thinking before I write and choosing to post only about the products that I believe in, and what is worth writing about does make the difference.

And, as one of the so-called "mentors" like when many of #Promonatics suddenly became writers to make a tremendous amount of money with Bubblews and now, seeing that my meeting with the marketing of a certain brand has brought about improvements to our sponsored PR posts, I would like state that there are more positive changes that need to be done in the blogging world.

Protecting the Bloggers

To post is work. We have internet to pay. We spend time posting. We have the reach. All-around, photographer, writer, social media marketer, us bloggers do need to get the rate we deserve. This I state because I have heard lousy feedback on the way certain bloggers have been treated upon being invited. Not enough products or a token to cover for the transportation and the effort made, and not even adequate food? That is blogger abuse. 

Not all bloggers are equal. Though I like the fact that this is the case right now, that everyone gets the same kind of loot bag or token, marketing and brands should assess each blogger. It's not just the number of followers, views, but the results, the reach, and the way that the blog posts are written.

And, all bloggers that are requested to post should be compensated, with products or with a token amount. Our free ad space is reserved for businesses of family and friends, what we want to blog about such as a prize we won or a restaurant that we willingly wish to promote, and for charity. If a company starts up and needs bloggers, they ideally should factor the cost of online marketing as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and other social networking sites are not enough - blogs do appear in search engine results and provide that vital backlink.

Leveling Up Blogging Skills

If we don't get paid enough, there is no motivation, and the results is repeated content as the 'favor' press release might be picked up by some bloggers - and then Google will shoot down the content. These press releases can be placed with a few edits, ensuring that the essentials are there, which are the who, what, when, where, and why, and the how, and then a call to action. Then, each post will be original and greatly aid in the ranking of the blog.

Longer content, more information, testimonials, and more can be done with each post. Blogging is just like talking, and when doing so, it should be done in an engaging and informative manner.

Blogging can be made better by using the free online tools available such as Ginger which is a grammar and spell-checker, Pixlr Expess for editing images and Canva for creating those awesome images for social media posts.

Blogging is a skill. It can be learned. Constant, never-ending improvement. C.A.N.I.

In less than a month after entering the local blogging groups, I have become a Blogapalooza blogger. I am thankful for the recognition and the invite. And, I urge each and every blogger to constantly improve, as that is what I do, learning all the time, sharing the knowledge, and bring about results by working on each post carefully, taking time to share it with the right hashtags, and aiding the companies that do make the time, budget, and effort to treat us bloggers fairly.

Follow me on Twitter @cpdominguez 

When Your Memory Card Breaks

Life seems to more difficult for some people. There are more challenges to overcome than others. Sometimes, it seems like an uphill struggle all the way. How can one be an overcomer?

Changing and touching peoples lives to make a difference daily with kind words, a helpful nature, and genuine concern is what one of my loving daughters, Sarah, is known for. She is an exemplary example of how Greatness Starts @Home.

As a child, she would do her responsibilities at home and for her school work before going out to play, to spend time with her friends, listen to their problems, and treats them as family. She still does the same until today.

When she was in grade school, she divided a sheet of yellow pad into 4 columns to make a list of people she knew.  One column was for family, the other one for friends,  and the next two for schoolmates and neighbors. She filled up the pad at the age of 7.

At that time, connectivity was sweeping the globe. Starting of with texting to keep in touch, then going online to use Friendster, MySpace, Yahoo Messenger, then she went on to using Facebook and Twitter.

Sarah has with the use of  these tools was able create an enormous database of people that she knows and tries her best to keep closely in touch as many as possible.

Now, the 2 essential must-haves for her, as with most of her teenage friends, is unlimited texting and unlimited Internet connection so she can greet them on their birthdays and during Christmas, know how they are doing even if they live abroad, and be there when they need to talk to her about problems with family, school, and relationships, and more.

Sarah seems to be a typical.teenager.

But, little do people know that behind that ready smile, the witty joke, and while multi-tasking to get things done as soon as possible, there is a determined character who works hard and places all her faith in God that she will succeed. And, she is the living testimony on how God's Grace and Mercy has shined in her life - and making other people's life better along the way.

Yes, there are moments of triumphs that one can keep for the rest of our lives, even if our memory card breaks.

In Sarah's young life, having recently turned 18, she has shown that Greatness Starts @Home with a few of her achievements such as:

First. Having graduated high school from Living Heritage Academy, a home study program.

It takes a lot of discipline to do this kind of school work, with minimal supervision, and to be able to focus to complete the work with high grades despite the numerous activities she has with church and with her friends.

After graduation, she was gifted with a scholarship.

Sarah is currently studying Hotel and Restaurant Management, has recently won 3rd place in a cooking contest, and had passed her TESDA NCII test with only 2 mistakes.

Second. Sarah takes care of her grandfather. When my Dad had his stroke, he got half paralyzed. He could not feed himself nor move from the bed.

Sarah is the strongest in the house, and she would move him to sit him up to be feed and more, and was over-all, like a nurse.

Dad has recovered from his paralysis.

Sarah and Mom take turns in doing his massage therapy, and with the right food and proper medication, today, Dad can walk short distances without his cane, can travel long distances, attends parties, converses, uses the computer for games, and is dictating letters again and managing everyone in our home.

I believe this shows how Greatness Starts @Home but this matter cannot be documented. If you had seen Dad after his stroke, this photo happy and healthy photo of him would warm your heart even more.

Third. Sarah is an editor and is listed as an author in the archives of the National Library.

With Sarah typing and editing, and the invaluable contribution of her two older sisters, Timi and Maxi, we were able to create "The Beef Lover's Cookbook" at home.

It was approved by National Bookstore for publishing, and passed the rigorous testing of San Miguel Corporation for them to become our primary sponsor.

This was in 2006. We took a year to make the cookbook and get it published. As of today, we are still getting royalties from the bookstore.

How does Greatness Start @ Home?

There is this popular poem about how to rear children. Though you might know it, it is worth sharing again.

A Child Learns What He Lives 

If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice.
If a child lives with security, He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, He learns to find love in the world.

I am not the perfect parent, but I try to bring up my children as well as I can. I firmly believe that I have great children - like Sarah. I believe that every child can be great, no matter what the circumstances are, as long as   they have developed the strength of character to overcome the obstacles that life puts in their way with patience, by developing the skills, and having integrity.

The dictionary definition of great includes markedly superior in character or quality, remarkably skilled, and marked by enthusiasm. This definition fits my daughter.

Sarah, like my other children, do have lives that show how Greatness Starts @ Home by first being content with what we have and pooling our resources together to achieve more. Success can be measured in many ways, and some can be documented, but I think that the meter ideally should be how happy the child is with their family and how their goodness is shared with the greater community.

Many people say that if Sarah ever decides to run for a political seat in the Paranaque, Las Pinas, and Muntinlupa area, she would surely win. From the junk collector to the richest villagers, the poor and the noblesse will vote for her. If ever this happens, which she right now has no plans of doing, many more people will greatly benefit from her attitude of never-ending constant improvement.

With her busy schedule because of school, her church work with the youth projects in New Life, teaching a Bible study, and going to numerous events such as concerts and birthday parties - Sarah always makes the time to treat people kindly and makes it a point to ensure she is always connected so she can be there when you need a friend to be with, to text, to tweet, or to IM, and share with the most wonderful moments, the saddest events, the plans for the future, and updates about the ordinary happenings of life.

Here's a few photos of Sarah that I compiled. Thank you for allowing us to share some of the highlights of our lives.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Greatness Starts @Home Blogging Contest

Tattoo@Home believes that nurturing a child’s potential can lead to achieving greater things. And what better place to start the road to greatness than at home! Whether a parent or not, share with us those great moments of achievement that started at home and and get the chance to win great prizes such as passes to Mind Museum, Samsung Phones and Galaxy Tabs!

Here’s what you need to do:
1. Write about Greatness Starts @Home with one of the following topics:

IF YOU’RE A PARENT: What is your child’s greatest moment of achievement and how did it all start at Home?

IF YOU’RE NOT A PARENT: What is your greatest moment of achievement Who inspired and helped you at Home to achieve it and why?

2. Include a photo or video of you or your child’s greatest moment of achievement with your post.

3. Include the Tattoo@Home badge (image above) on your post linking to http://tattoo.globe.com.ph

4. Post the direct link to your blog entry as a comment under this post for you to get qualified.

5. We will be featuring your story on our official Tattoo Facebook page (http://facebook.com/GlobeTattoo) the day after your submission

6. Contest will run from February 25 – March 17. Great prizes will be given away every 2 days to lucky participants!

7. Grand Winners of Samsung Champ phones and Samsung Galaxy Tabs will be announced on March 25.

GREAT PRIZES:

Twenty (20) winners of 4 FREE PASSES to Mind Museum (scheduled visit on February 28, 9AM-12PM) for the first 20 posts. This will be awarded on Monday, February 27.
Twelve (12) Samsung Champ phones (Two (2) phones will be raffled off every 2 days to lucky participants for the next 3 weeks)
Two (2) Samsung Galaxy Tabs AND Two (2) Samsung Champ phones for the Best Blogs (One (1) from each topic) based on the criteria below:

Criteria:

Creativity – 40% (Does your blog post successfully integrate well-crafted text with engaging images or video?
Content – 30% (Does your blog post embody what it means to start Greatness at Home?)
Originality – 15% (Does your blog post present your story in a unique way and highlights the subject’s individuality?)
Interaction on Tattoo’s FB page – 15% (Number of likes and comments from unique users about the story on the official Globe Tattoo Facebook page – http://facebook.com/GlobeTattoo)