Category Archives: Reviews
Reviews of websites, services, and gadgets
Handy Tool: CatchFree.com
As I am sure you have noticed, NighLon has a new look.
Even though I had been wanting to redesign, I accidentally changed my them (more on that and tips later). I wasn’t going to take on that challenge quite yet because I am participating in The SITS Girls 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. I have learned many things, and this is just the start of the second week. This week, I am taking a “look under the hood” of NighLon. This will include: checking for broken links, creating a best of page, making NighLon mobile friendly, and some other nitty gritty stuff. (I promise that you guys will benefit!)
I have already made some great blogging buddies and have some project in mind to work with them on. These guys have inspired me to write this post. We have all had so much fun sharing our tips, tools, secrets, and favorite websites.
Today, I am sharing one of my favorite websites, that I only discovered this week. I am already addicted.
Catchfree.com is basically my new go-to site. Catch free highlights the best of the web. There’s a catch though: Its only free services. AMAZING! Their tagline describes it perfectly: Perform everyday tasks for free.
One of the features I really like about it is that Its not just site-owner opinion, users also rate services and give critiques. You can even narrow searches down and see how closely the service matches your criteria. I have only begun to explore. This will definitely be my first stop when searching for useful web services.
Google: Watch out, I won’t be spending as much time sweet-talking you!
Some of the services featured on CatchFree are:
listen to children’s books
backup computer files
share files
build a website
build a landing page
creating surveys
I stress that this is just a very few services highlighted at Catchfree.com
To all my readers (and SITSTAS) I hope you find this as beneficial as I do.
Like this:
Another Episode in my Facebook Love/Hate Relationship
I have written before about how much I love Facebook, yet I hate it all at the same time.
There is another installment of this: The Facebook Timeline
I got my timeline several months ago as a special release to developers only.
I love the idea of it.
However, If you play games, its not so great when it starts.
The reason for this is when others go to your wall, its hard to fine all of the game posts.
Its wonderful for just pictures, status updates, and the new addition of LIFE EVENTS.
I LOVE this new addition.
I went through and added all of my biggest life events; like my wedding, when my son was born, and when I started NighLon!
Farmville 12 Days of Christmas & Lots of Goodies to Choose From
This funny poem was written by my amazingly talented MIL.
This is what happens when she gets irritated at Farmville:
On the First day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,one Winter Wonderland with the chance of a new Farming Degree!
On the Second day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Two lost turtles, out of sync errors, and encouraged me to buy a special tree!
On the Third day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Three snow hens, some useless sheep,
and a silver Mastery for my farming degree!
On the Fourth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Four flighty birds, no place to put them, now I need an upgrade,
and property doesn’t come cheap or free!
On the Fifth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Five quests to follow, Reindeer for reward, bugs in the system,
and encouraged me to buy a special tree!
On the Sixth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Six geese a-straying, a new pen to build, many supplies needed,
I have to have more boards pretty please.!
On the Seventh day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
seven penquins lost, 10 quest to find them.
I need to start it now! But the game just will not un-freeze!
On the Eighth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Eight hours of playing, seven penguins lost.
Think i’ll make my farm look Christmassy.
On the Ninth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Nine new ways of paying, have to get that farm cash,
so i can go and buy a special tree.
On the Tenth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
10 more pens to build, new seeds to buy, more Quests to follow,
and I forgot to harvest my new tree!
On the Eleventh day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
Eleven neighbors spamming, viruses and threats, people going crazy,
because we need completion of our Mastery.
And on the Twelfth day of Christmas, FarmVille gave to me,
12 major headaches, 11 neighbors angry, 10 pens to fill, 9 empty game-cards, 8
things for storage, 7 useless penguins, 6 geese not laying, 5 ugly lamas, 4 strange ducks, 3 winter hens, 2 turtles I deleted, and
my artificial, but completed Farming Degree!!!!
On to the
Today’s blog of the day is a little bit different!
Perfect for anyone with an interest in the Paranormal.
Whether it be ghosts, aliens, crop circles, Cryptozoology, or anything else among the Paranormal
There are several links you may find useful.
http://www.carolina-paranormal-investigations.net/
http://theparanormalcolloquy.blogspot.com/
http://paranormalcolloquy.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=viewprofile&user=admin
http://oauth.twitter.com/ParanormalCollo
There is a newsletter, that is quite interesting.
Along with Lady M Graphics, I am giving gifts to anyone who signs up for their newsletter.
All you have to do is send me a message HERE
that includes your email address, and what you want as your free gift.
Here is what you have to choose from:
and
anything on my site personalized for you!
Pretty great deal, huh?
Now You Know: Convert Your Blog into and Ebook
I’ve wanted a BLOOK now for a while, so here goes!
I decided to try my hand at turning NighLon into a BLOOK…
Here are my results
Booksmith
With Booksmith, you can choose to either include up to 100 posts or within a certain time frame (this would be great if you want to do it annually or semi-annually)
- Go To http://blog2book.pothi.com/
- Select how many posts you want to include -or- the time frame to include
- Select the posts you want to include
- Customize
- do you want to include images?
- do you want to include dates?
- customize cover
- add dedication
- add preface
BlogBooker
- Go to http://www.blogbooker.com/index.php
- Click on your blog platform
- Enter your url
- If you need help with your xml file, just follow the directions (that’s what I did)
- Select the options you want
- Click create ebook
- See your Blook
Like this:
Now You Know: Adding a Newsletter Signup to Your Website
In this post, my main goal is to show you solutions for adding newsletter signups to your website.
I chose to base it on websites because with a blog, Its more automated. Just add a Widget.
Websites get a little more complicated. But, all-in-all, its pretty simple.
I will share some websites that offer free newsletter services, as well as how to do it without the assistance of a service.
1. MailChimp
From my experience, MailChimp offers the best free service for creating and distributing a newsletter.
They also offer paid services.
source: mailchimp
With the free plan, you can:
- store up to 2000 subscribers
- send up to 12,000 emails per month
- keep track of VIP subscribers
- customize
- send mini newsletters
- add signup form to your Facebook page
- enable comments on your newsletter
- customize signup button
- so much more
2. MadMIMI
MadMimi is simple, yet powerful. It is utilized by Squidoo and Northwestern University.
It is free for up to 100 contacts with limits to the features available.
It requires no prior skills and is customizable.
3. Simply Cast
Simply Cast offers a free for life plan for sending unlimited emails per month and storing up to 1000 contacts.
Features:
- drag and drop customization
- free HTML templates
- customize with fonts colors and company logos
- tracking tools
- content checker
- image hosting
- text only messages available
- opt-out management
- customer care
source: Simply Cast
Another Solution
If you want to manage your subscriptions yourself and send out forms, there is a way to do it.
- Use ZOHO CREATOR to create a form that will send to your email.
- Use FOXYFORM to create customizable forms with anti-spam capabilities.
- Sign up at EMAIL ME FORM. Create a Form with enless possibilities.
TIPS
- Make sure to send newsletters out on schedule
- Include information that is exclusive to the newsletter
- Include offers for subscribers only
- Include a coming up section with what to expect from upcoming newsletters
- Make it interactive. Encourage readers to give feedback
- Make it visually appealing
- Have fun with it, your readers will appreciate this
Like this:
My Latest Obsession: PINTEREST
I want to share with you my latest antipsycotic: PINTEREST!
It seems to be an overnight phenomena.
Note to whoever marketed Pinterest: I would really love to pick your brain!!!
I often enjoy going “brain dead” and browsing what others have pinned. I scroll through the pin boards (virtual idea boards) of those I follow, and see some of the most amazing things.
As I was browsing earlier today, a lightbulb came on:
Why not use pinterest to market my blog?
Its visual… Pinterest is visual.
Seems like a match made in heaven.
Adding a “pin this” button to my posts was pretty straightforward.
1. Of course, you have to have a Pinterest account first. GO HERE
2. In the ABOUT tab, click PIN IT BUTTON
3. Scroll down until you see the “Follow button for websites” area
Place the provided code on your website or blog where you wish
4. After where the follow button code is, you will find the
GREATEST THING EVER… “Pin It Buttons for Websites”
5. Follow the directions and place the provided code on your post…
6. Let the pinning begin!
I’m sure that as Pinterest ages a little, there will be more sharing tools with Pinterest buttons.
For now, however, this is the easiest way for WordPress(without using a plugin).
I then had another epiphany…
There has to be many more uses for Pinterest.
I was amazed at the things I thought of
Here are some uses for Pinterest:
1. Promote your blog
2. Gather ideas for event planning
3. Inspiration (gather pins that will encourage you or get you moving)
4. Home decorating ideas
5. Really cool products
6. collecting recipes
7. Organizing ideas
8. Styleboards
9. Plan a wedding
10. Gather craft ideas
11. Gift giving ideas
12. A visual to-do list
13. Gather ideas, no matter the project
Hop on over and glance at my pinboards, maybe something there will inspire you!
My absolute favorite thing about Pinterest,
besides that it makes life as a procrastinator so much easier:
Its so new that all of its potential has not yet been released!
Get Featured
Interested in being featured on Nighlon’s Featured Friday?
Just go here and answer some questions!
If you are featured, you will get a custom tag and a blog link button for your participation!
I will always let you approve the post before I publish!
Thanks for your support.
5 Cool Ways to Market Your Blog with QR Codes
qr code from goqr.me
I know, I know, qr codes are for big time marketing campaigns. Really? no, I don’t think so.
I have been fascinated in these codes since I first saw one in some random magazine I read, and knew that I could find a use for them!
I started looking for qr code generators and discovered goqr.me. My favorite thing about this particular generator is that you can customize it! No more plane jane black and white qr codes for me. You can change the color and even the border around it. You can embed phone numbers, pictures, websites, or even contact information. I think, I would even buy a mug with my qr code on it… yep! I have opted to have my qr code direct the reader to my about.me business card. Why not… it has all of my information and links on it. Killing several birds with one stone!
On a serious note, when you opt for a qr code, please be sure to also provide the customer/ audience with a link to a free reader. This is quite important. If they can’t read it, its just a bunch of pretty squares.
Kaywa is a great reader, even with extras. You can even get a mobile blog through them.
Here are some more: i-nigma, scanlife, quickmark, and mobiscan
Over time I have thought about some uses for them. To advertise sales; to create a “member’s only” type group for mobile deals; or even to direct customers/ audience to a “splash page” where you can advertise something special.
QR codes can be used anywhere: bumper stickers, clothing, business cards, advertisements, or email signatures.
The internet is endless, and so are the possibilities of QR codes.
Enjoy my website of the week!
