Ms. Babble on Twitter!

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Internet Marking from the Real Experts [cough... me!]

I’m really excited to be included in the just published compilation book “Internet Marking from the Real Experts: The Gang of 88″. The amazing Shawn Collins and Missy Ward over at Affiliate Tip put this gem together and packed it full of 3 minute lessons from the cream of the crop of affiliate marketing, email marketing, SEO, and social media experts.

Regardless of whether or not I was chosen as a contributor, I’ve really enjoyed reading the other 87 contributors entries. The way the book is organized is really great because it doesn’t require you to sit down and read it from front to back.  They’re kept short for a reason and it pays off for us “too busy to breathe” types.

When I have a few spare minutes in my day (and let’s face it, us online professionals rarely have a few minutes to spare in our day), I flip to a page and get a shot of advice in a matter of minutes.

Plus they included an image of each author which is fun to look at because often times we read about the same person online but have never seen what they look like.

I’ve come a long way from hammering out blogs in the middle of Iraq in the U.S. Army to being included in this book. Thanks again to Shawn and Missy and if you have even a remote interest in online marketing, get this book!

The article I wrote was originally printed in Feedfront magazine and can be read there: “Emotionally Charged Affiliate Marketing“.

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Veteran’s Day at Applebee’s

I never thought I’d write this because who thanks a chain restaurant but, “Thanks Applebee’s!”.  I admit that I was a little skeptical when I saw a commercial announcing that they were allowing a free meal to all military veterans on Veteran’s Day yesterday.  If anything I thought it was just going to be a tiny appetizer or something.

When my class got canceled last night, I decided to go check it out with a few old friends who were also in the Army at one time or another.

We arrived to a PACKED restaurant.  Most of the vets who came with a hat or shirt announcing their unit and term of service.  Armored Divisions from WWII.  Infantry Company from Vietnam.  Many came with (what appeared to be) half their unit too.  The Army had literally invaded Applebee’s!  And a few gentleman came quietly by themselves and ate their free meal while observing their fellow veterans enthusiastically talking about their service with each other.

It was a mixture of young and old merging together on the one day that we all have something unique in common with each other:  service to our country.

And the funny thing is that the trick to getting us to come together was a simple free meal to enjoy and reminisce about days past.

What a free meal too!  They gave us massive entree’s.  Special menu’s were made for the vets who showed up which offered six different choices including a 6oz sirloin steak, pasta, chicken, salad, they had it all covered.

A wonderful gesture and concept.  Thanks again, Applebee’s.

Pictures taken on KC’s Blackberry at Applebee’s.

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Signed, Sealed, and Preserved

I finally got around to adding my “Overseas Service Stripes”  underneath my “Uniform Service Stripes” to the display pictured below.   Last month was my three year anniversary of landing back in the U.S. from Iraq. I’m not sure why it took me so long to get around to updating my “military wallpaper” but it’s better late than never.  It’s important to preserve these moments in history.

Each diagonal stripe equals 3 years of military service (I served nearly 7).
Each horizontal stripe equals 6 months engaged in an overseas war.  I’m authorized 2.

Other awards listed:

Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device
Rifleman Sharpshooter

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BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas Days 2 & 3

My first blogging convention has come and gone so quickly!  It feels like I just landed in Las Vegas and now the Blogworld Expo is over already.

On Friday I arrived bright and early to listen to “The State of the Blogosphere” keynote address by Technorati’s own Richard Jalichandra. The energy in the room was bubbling! Having never attended a conference of this magnitude (and subject matter) I got a big kick out of everyone mashing away on their laptops during the sessions. I was equally entertained by the large screens displaying a live feed of everyone Tweeting about the event in real time.

From there I dove right into the many presentations offered and kicked things off by sitting in “The State of Technology and the Real Time Web” by Louis Gray.  It was great to see Louis in person as his face is definitely a familiar one throughout the blogosphere.

Then it was straight into “Affiliate Marketing Blogging Secrets” which featured an array of panelists.   While I admit it wasn’t particularly enlightening, I did find Kim Rowley’s talking points very interesting and she gave me a great idea for e-mail list building.

I also had a chance to experience  Jim Choma’s Flash Animation lecture.  He’s the prolific creator of Showbiz Newsy News.  Crude.  Hilarious.  Downright smart.  Check him out.

What else.  What else.

Oh!  I missed most of the celebrity keynote address this morning but made it over to the convo center just in time to see Anthony Edwards make his first Tweet on stage!  Remember him?  The dude from ER?  Mr. Goose from Top Gun?  Yep.  We’ve sucked him into our new media world.  mwahahahha!

One thing I have to point out is the United States Army booth on the exhibit floor.  Military blogs (like this blog was originally) have exploded exponentially since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were initiated.  In response, I think the Army has done an amazing job in recognizing both the benefits and drawbacks of milbloggers and are working hard to build a relationship with us.

With that being said, I made sure to take a photo of their booth this weekend at the Blogworld Expo.  They really went all out in their efforts to reach out the blogging community with a lounge area, complimentary food, free swag,  and drinks.  Two officers (a major and a colonel) were there to answer all the questions people wanted to ask them.  And believe me, they were busy!  I never once saw them NOT talking to someone.

So a big thanks to the effort of the U.S. Army for making a big impact on the convention.

Overall it was a great experience and one that I’m eternally grateful for having been given the opportunity to attend.  In the end this experience has inspired me to make a vow to myself:  The next time I go to Blogworld, I’ll be a presenter instead of an attendee.

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