Shifting My Priorities

Being unemployed and currently exploring opportunities, I had to shift my priorities.

I'm so glad I read Danny Brown's blog post "It's Good to Say No." When I first joined Twitter, I was under the impression that I had to immediately have a blog and presence on every single social media site on the internet so I could be effective to my potential clients, colleagues, friends, neighbors, dogs (I'm kidding about the last two). It was an overwhelming thought, and immediately I started creating a new blog on WordPress, which is about 85% done by the way.

I lost my job as a director of marketing & business development for a technology company in late January. Since then my whole world has changed. It's no longer about getting my blog finished but more about networking and getting back in touch with former colleagues and co-workers to update them on my status. While I could be working on finishing my new blog and writing posts, I felt it was much more important for me to interact with people both on-line and off. Twitter has been a huge help, and I've connected with some terrific folks regarding potential projects and jobs. I simply listened to myself and felt this is where the bulk of my energy should be spent for now.

So, when am I going to finish my blog? When am I going to start writing posts? True answer? When I get to it on my To Do list. Right now I would much rather be interacting with people. A beautiful thing happens when you do that - amazing opportunities come right back at you.

Instead of dwelling on the doom and gloom of the economy and being unemployed, I put 150% of my energy into positive, productive things. This is what my instincts are telling me to do, and I am listening!

If you are reading this, I hope you've already reached out to me, whether it's to say hello or if there's any way my skill set is a benefit to you and/or your business. You will always find me on Twitter at @abarcelos. Hope you say hello!

In a transition...

I noticed my last post was a couple weeks ago. That's not good! Main reason is I'm transferring my blog from Blogger to WordPress, and before I can announce it, I want to make sure my new blog has everything it needs to be user-friendly and informative.

So if you come here and read this, please bear with me. I've got lots of great things to write about and will soon!

In the meantime, you'll find me on Twitter daily.

Anna

10 Things About Me

1. I love all things marketing! Have been in marketing since 1994. I have evolved from traditional marketing to online marketing and now to social marketing and know a lot of stuff. The challenge for me right now is what to do with it all!

2. I like horror movies. Don't know why since my eyes are more closed than open when I watch them. Stephen King is my favorite, but I like all types from Wes Craven to Dean Koontz to Jon Carpenter. The list is endless. Main reason: they don't bore me.

3. I love bubble gum, particularly Dubble Bubble.

4. I once had a breast cancer scare. Luckily it was benign and removed. With two- and seven-year olds at the time, I remember thinking, "I don't have time to die."

5. I do what I say and say what I do. Those who know me, know I'm there for them.

6. I am blunt to a fault sometimes, but people respect it and never forget it. They initially need band-aids. ;-)

7. I am positive and try very hard to be at all times. I have a high amount of energy, and it's usually contagious.

8. I love to read, write, and listen to all sorts of music from Beethoven to classic Pearl Jam.

9. I love all things spiritual and inspirational.

10. I am 100% Portuguese. Unfortunately, my reading and writing skills aren't fluent, but I still know enough to be dangerous.

Um...No I Won't Be Moving Over to WordPress...

So why didn't anyone tell me these things, huh? I was all excited to move over to WordPress and then last night, in the comfort of my couch I found out that WordPress wasn't for me, the hard way! Despite advice from friends and colleagues that WordPress is the "cat's meow" when it comes to things like layouts and plug-in's, I must admit I was not impressed. Here are the turn-off's for me.

1. While it easily imported all my posts from Blogger and automatically categorized them, I had tons of categories that I would have to manually edit. Um, I don't have that kind of time. Why did it have to go and do that for? Why couldn't I create my own on my time?

2. There is a charge for posting WordPress to my domain (lifeinmarketing) and yet again, it's yet another process I have to manually go through getting servers to point here and there...I'm a marketer not a techie.

3. WordPress won't allow any ads like AdSense or affiliate programs like Amazon on my blog. Hey I already have accounts with those two companies. I'm not blowing them off! Yet, WordPress tells me that from time to time, they will be putting ads on my site. What's up with that?

4. Lastly, I want to keep it simple stupid. The good old KISS rule.

So it looks like I'm going to put more efforts into my existing Blogger account.

I have friends whose websites are built using WordPress and many others who swear by it. But for me and my needs, it doesn't work for me at this point in time.

Any feedback would be great! I'm sure there's so much about WordPress I still don't know about.

I'll Be Moving Soon...to WordPress

I'm officially moving this blog and my lifeinmarketing.blogspot.com blog over to WordPress. Why? It's been real with Blogger, but WordPress has many features. Some of which I don't even know about yet.

Not sure which blog name I will keep, but it will be interesting. Everyone who reads my blog will be updated on my transition.

Thanks!
ALB

2009 - Focus, Fresh, Full Speed Ahead

I have been blogging and writing on various topics related to marketing in both B2B and B2C for a little while now and have realized the impact of social networking on marketing. For 2009, I'm going to move on over to WordPress for one, focused blog. New name, new blog tool, and really diving in to helping others get the most out of their marketing efforts. Since I've been in marketing so long (14+ years), I am familiar with traditional and the latest and greatest on-line and social marketing strategies. Additionally I have the resources and sometimes I call it luxury of working for a technology company that offers cost-effective marketing solutions to help businesses stay ahead - recession or not!

Stay tuned and keep in touch because it's going to be so much fun!

Happy 2009!

My Latest Blog Posting

Hi there:
I've been frequenting Twitter so much, it's causing me to neglect my blog and we can't have that now, can we? LOL

This week, my monthly AMA Boston blog entry got posted and it was on Social Media...surprise, surprise.

I am really liking Social Media and it's getting hotter and hotter!

Last but not least, please check out Perry Belcher. I've seen a couple of his videos and am so impressed. His social media knowledge and lively personality just blows you away and is inspirational!