1. Like Blogging Basics 101 on Facebook.
2. Sign up for the Blogging Basics 101 newsletter.

Why You Should Like Blogging Basics 101 on Facebook

Even though I haven’t been posting faithfully over here, I’ve been posting several times a day on Facebook. I’m answering questions, sharing links, and generally enjoying the community of savvy people like you. Why aren’t you over there with us? We really want you to come and join our conversation. I have my Wall set so you can upload relevant pictures (did you attend a blog conference recently? Show us what happened!). You can even link to your own posts if they’re relevant to blogging theory and development. I only ask that your posts not be spammy in nature or too salesy (that hasn’t been a problem so far). I encourage you to come over and share.

Why You Should Sign Up for the Blogging Basics 101 Newsletter

I’ve been teaching some local classes helping businesses understand how to set up and use their Facebook business pages properly. I’ve had more than a few people request an online option for these classes and I’m going to oblige them (I’m hoping to get those going this month!). I’m currently focusing on Facebook business pages, but I’m also developing classes on SEO, analytics, beginning blogging, and several other topics. I’m very excited about this venture because teaching and interacting with you is my favorite part of what I do! If you’re signed up for my newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about which classes are being offered and when. As you complete the Blogging Basics 101 newsletter sign up form, please be sure to fill in as much information as possible. I will never share your information, but, for instance, if you share your city and state with me, then I can exclude you from newsletters that are pertinent to my locally held classes. That way you aren’t inundated with irrelevant information. However, you’re not required to share anything more than your e-mail address and you have the option of unsubscribing at any time.

Finally, I just want to say THANK YOU. Thanks for subscribing to the blog, liking the Facebook page, and subscribing to my newsletter. I appreciate your support.

Do you have a Facebook business page? Leave your Facebook Business page URL in the comments so we can check it out!

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Let me tell you why I liked the Chevy Equinox.

• Mid-size is a great size. A few years ago, it wouldn’t have been big enough because I regularly had four extra kids with me and I really needed a van that could hold seven people comfortably. These days, though, my kids are older, we aren’t carpooling as much, and we just don’t need that kind of room.
• Plenty of room for comfort. Just because we don’t need the seats of a van doesn’t mean that we don’t need room. The Equinox had enough room that my tweens could keep to themselves (without touching) in the backseat. And my kids are not light travelers. They each have a backpack filled with trip essentials like books, video games, music, etc. They are over-packers like their mother and they had plenty of room in the Equinox.
• Gadgets. My husband and I are cheap. We save up and buy nice things, but we never, ever get the upgrade package. That’s a mistake I’ll be remedying. The Chevy Equinox I drove came with all the extras I’ve never bought: in-dash GPS, a little screen that shows what’s behind me when I back up, and two (yes, TWO) screens so each child could watch a DVD without complaining that one or the other had more of the screen tilted their way. Oh, what mother doesn’t love that? And wireless headphones! I didn’t have to listen to the movie! Thank you, Chevy, for your brilliance (yes, I know you probably didn’t invent those, but you included them in my ride and I’m grateful just the same).
• On-Star. Every Chevy car comes standard with On-Star for one year. After that you can decide whether to keep (and pay) for the service. My bet is that once you taste the On-Star, you won’t be able to give it up. I’m sure you’ve heard about On-Star and how the program can tell if you’ve been in an accident and they call for help and contact you to see if you’re OK. Which is great in and of itself. But there’s more. Did you know that On-Star is turned on automatically for natural disasters? Last month, when the Eastern Seaboard was in danger from a hurricane, all Chevy cars had On-Star turned on in case of an emergency so the On-Star operators could be there to help if/when needed. I found the OnStar GPS to be invaluable. Initially I was hesitant to use the service because I didn’t want to bother anyone (a flaw one develops when raised in the South). Donna at Chevy assured me that the operators were expecting me to call; that, in fact, if I did not call them, they’d be twiddling their thumbs and bored to death because they were waiting for me to call. So I did. And oh my word. I asked for directions, they found them and sent them magically to my in-console GPS and then I had turn-by-turn instructions to my destination. It’s the only way I could possibly navigate our downtown. When I gave the car back, the On-Star is the feature I missed the most.

Was there anything I’d change? Two things:

1. Road noise. It’s not a big thing, but the Equinox was a little loud on the road. Not in a distracting way, more like a “I need to give a balanced review and this wasn’t perfect” way. Test drive one and let me know what you think.
2. Cargo room. If I were going on a short trip (like an overnight trip to Great Wolf Lodge) there was plenty of room for our suitcases. But if we were going much further for much longer, we’d be in trouble. Remember how I said three out of four of us over-pack? We’d never get everything in the back. Especially if my husband and son were going to play golf and needed to bring their clubs. Here’s the back with our suitcases for GWL:

The bottom line? I’m willing to look more closely at Chevy and other American-made cars when it comes time to do so. (And, help me, it’s coming. My son is 12 and that means we’re a mere four years away from driving!) If someone I knew was looking for a car, I’d definitely point them in the direction of a Chevy dealership — and On-Star is my number one reason for doing so. You just can’t beat that feature.

Thanks, Chevy, for loaning me an Equinox for a week and for partnering with Great Wolf Lodge to give me and some other blogging buddies a weekend to remember!

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• Em loved the serenity of the floating in the wave pool. No, you didn’t read that wrong. The GWL wave pool is more like a gently wavy bathtub that is the size of an Olympic pool. If you’re looking for thrills, try the Tornado.
• Ry loved standing under the 1,000 gallon bucket of water (no, it doesn’t hurt, but don’t hold your child or you’ll drop them because of the pressure).
• Bill and I kept a running tab on the medium-sized slides. If you like fun and fast, the Tornado is your best bet.

For those who are concerned about water safety (and what parent isn’t?), I can assure you the lifeguards are of the highest caliber and GWL takes water safety very seriously. I was able to talk with Amanda, one the GWL PR reps, specifically about my concerns. She told me there is constant surveillance of the park, the lifeguards switch their posts every 30 minutes to keep them alert, and they have random checks and test emergencies (like secret shoppers, but in this case, it’s secret swimmers). You’ll notice that the inner tubes for the lazy river and the wave pool are clear. That’s so the lifeguards can see if anyone slips down or is caught below the water. I particularly loved that feature since my own daughter decided to (unsafely) try the lazy river without a float. (She was fine and nothing happened, but I wasn’t happy and let’s just say she won’t be doing that again.) If you tire of the water and want to relax, GWL has several watering holes and restaurants. We were pretty tired after a day of sliding, so we opted for Pizza Hut (on the lower level) and took it back to our room. Later that night we headed to the arcade to win some loot, then ended up Bear Claw Sweets and Treats Cafe for some fudge and milkshakes. Did I mention we don’t focus on diet a lot when we’re on vacation? Here’s a tip, though: The Bear Claw in the Grapevine GWL has some good looking salads and sandwiches for a reasonable price. I wished I’d seen those before the Pizza Hut trance. A few things we didn’t take advantage of, but you (OK, your KIDS) might love:

• MagiQuest. Buy your wand, trick it out with magical baubles, then embark on an adventure like no other. MagiQuest is an interactive treasure hunt that takes you all over the hotel to battle goblin kings and defeat dragons. Your wand unlocks the mysteries and clues.
• Scoops Kids Spa. Does your tween/teen long for a mani/pedi? A facial? You can spoil them rotten right here with ice cream- and frosting-themed packages. The lotions and potions they use here are the same as those in your room, I believe, and they smell divine!
• gr8 space. This is for teens only — no adults, no kids under 12. Your teen will love competing with new friends in gaming tournaments, releasing their inner rockstar with karaoke, or just hanging out.
• Cub Club. Need someone to watch the kids while you indulge yourself at Elements Spa for adults? Or have a quieter dinner with the spouse? Take the kids to Cub Club where they can sign up for one of these programs: Junior Lifeguard, Backyard Birdies, Bouncin’ with the Bullfrogs, or Bugs on a Rug. Some of the activities are educational, ALL of the activities are FUN.

We loved our weekend at Great Wolf Lodge. LOVED it. The next time we need to get away, but need to find something close to home, Great Wolf Lodge will be our first thought. If you have the chance, I highly recommend trying it out!

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The Background

People who know me know I’m not a sports fan (although I married a man who loves sports to his very core, so I can tolerate having it on TV if I’m in another room). So I wasn’t surprised when I started tweeting and Twitpic’g my adventure and people responded with, “WHAT? You’re at a sporting event? It’s like I don’t even know you any more.” And really, it’s true. Sports don’t appeal to me. So when @BarbaraJones contacted me to see if I wanted to attend a Shock game, I said yes only because a) I have a policy that I always say yes to Barbara because I love her and b) my husband really wanted to check out a game and I love him and like to make him happy. When we got there, though, I had caught the fever and was enjoying myself like a regular sports fan!

The WNBA Tulsa Shock Fun

You know what I love most about live sporting events? A good mascot. Not just someone in a suit pretending to steal your hat. A good mascot is one who makes you forget there’s a guy in a suit trying to steal your hat and then makes you laugh. And Volt, the Shock’s mascot, delivers. He’s constantly moving and interacting with the crowd.

When they introduced the Minnesota Lynx, he brought out his cot and took a nap:

The Shock marketing team kept the audience entertained by offering several giveaways: tagged seats with prizes, a parachute drop with prizes, a huge t-shirt gun shooting shirts into the audience (and a few times Volt threw the shirts himself — he has quite the arm!)

See the seats with yellow tags? Those tags alert you that you’ve won a prize of some sort (the ones I saw had dollar signs on them & some of those dollar signs were followed by numbers like 200). So, you know, buy a ticket, maybe win money. Not bad.

My whole family had a great time. The game was fast-paced and the ladies played hard. They were definitely there to win (and we did!). There were so many opportunities to meet the players, too! They have autograph sessions after the games and people line up after the game to give high-fives to the team. I noticed that many of the Shock team members were stopping right there to sign things or shake hands.

To those of you who, like me, may not be huge sports fans, I’m here to tell you: if you have a WNBA team in your area, you need to go check it out. It was so much fun! We had a great time, laughed a lot, cheered a lot, and generally got our game on.

The WNBA Shock Venu: BOK Arena

Oklahoma is a late bloomer when it comes to professional sports. Until recently, we haven’t had a lot of options. When Katrina hit, though, Oklahoma City offered to host the NBA Hornets and they agreed. Oklahoma got a taste of what professional sports can be to the community. Professional sports means more money for the local economy, more options for families who want a night out, and, frankly, FUN. We finally see what we’ve been missing. So, after the Hornets returned to their NOLA home, Oklahoma stepped up and recruited some professional teams of our own. We now have the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) and the Tulsa Shock (WNBA)!

The BOK Arena (where the Shock games are played) is beautiful and spacious; there’s plenty of room to accommodate fans. You can even plan to have dinner at the arena. You can get a family meal deal for $39 that includes 4 hotdogs, 4 drinks, and a large popcorn! (That’s cheaper than going to the movies and getting snacks, y’all, and this is way more fun because you can talk and interact with your family.) If you’re in the mood for a great burger, Billy’s (from On The Square fame) has a place, as does Pizza Hut. If you’re more interested in regular concession fare, you can get popcorn, pretzels, sodas, and even shaved ice (among a plethora of other things). If you’re a fan of real beer (here in Oklahoma, we have 3.2 and anything above requires a liquor license; consequently, sometimes we don’t have the option to purchase delicious beer like Sam Adams) or want a mixed drink, the BOK Arena can fix you right up.

Apparently, Volt also likes real beer:

The WNBA Shock Ticket Discount

You’ll notice in my pictures there are plenty of open seats. That’s the one thing I couldn’t understand: the arena was not packed. In fact, there were fewer people here than at an OSU basketball game and that ain’t right. These women are putting on a heck of a show and playing their hearts out. The vibe in the arena is high-energy and fun. Volt, the Shock mascot, is working it hard to get people to make some noise and get into the game. And that’s hard to do when you don’t have a house full of fans. So listen up, Oklahoma (and, truly, any state hosting a professional team): We’ve gone a long time without a professional team of any sort and we don’t want to blow this chance. If we want more business in our state, we need to show that we can support it. Get yourself to a Shock game (or even a Thunder game if you’re in the OKC area and can’t travel to Tulsa). The WNBA is even making it easy for you with some ticket discounts:

• $10 tickets are discounted to $8
• $19 tickets are discounted to $12
• $25 tickets are discounted to $15
• $55 tickets are discounted to $30
• $60 tickets are discounted to $35

To take advantage of those deals, just head over to http://bit.ly/WNBAShockTix and enter code WNBABLOG. Not in the Tulsa area, but have a different WNBA franchise close to you? No problem! Each WNBA venue has it’s own deals so the WNBABLOG code will work for you too! Note that you’ll need to create an account to get the deal. Just enter your e-mail address and I password and voila! Take advantage of discounted family fun. If you’re traveling this summer, check to see if your destination has a WNBA team nearby. It would make a great addition to your vacation plans!

More Shock Info

• Shock website
• Shock group ticket information
• WNBA Facebook
• WNBA Twitter
• WNBA YouTube

Disclosure: One2One Network and WNBA arranged for me to have four tickets to a basketball game and sent my family t-shirts to wear to the game. They asked me to blog about my experience. While I could have blogged about it at my personal blog (where I rarely post, but have a few loyal readers) and met my obligations, I chose to write about it here because I really thought it was a fun night for our family and I wanted you to be sure and see the opportunity and the discount code.

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Today Mashable linked to Blogging Basics 101 as an example of what to do when you’re picking the perfect name for your startup. And they put up a screenshot of my header. And then I died.

I tried to explain to my husband how big a deal this is, but I started laughing so hard I couldn’t finish. So he said, “BOOM!” and I wheezed, “More like BOOM! to the power of Chuck Norris!” and died again.

So if you’re here from Mashable, welcome! I’m really glad you’re here.

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• A basic explanation of blogging technologies, geared toward newbies to get them up to speed. We explain RSS feeds, Rich Text, SEO, and more.
• We explain why TypePad might be a good fit for you (and why it might not), breaking down its features in comparison with other blogging platforms. We show you how to set up your TypePad account and determine the pricing level you need, and we tell you how to import your existing blog to your TypePad account.
• We explain every single element on your TypePad dashboard, walking you through left-to-right, top-to-bottom. You’ll be navigating the newly redesigned dashboard easily before you know it.
• We explain setting up your blog (and what all those optional settings mean), writing your posts, and how you can read your stats on your dashboard.
• We give you some solid ideas on what makes a good blog post and we show you how to maximize your use of your Compose Editor — you can format your font, insert files and images, and change how and when you schedule your posts to publish.
• Social butterflies will appreciate two chapters devoted entirely to interactive aspects of blogging: comments and other social media (such as Twitter). We tell you how to integrate all of this with your TypePad blog.
• Want to customize your blog design? TypePad’s design module recently went through an overhaul, but we walk you through the new module step by step. We show you how to make the most basic design changes (such as applying existing themes) to the much more complex (tweaking your own CSS). We explain how to put an image, text, or list in your sidebar.
• Want to earn some money via your blog? We explain some of your options for monetizing and show you the tools you need to make it happen.
• Lastly, our “Parts of Ten” section lists our top ten blogging tricks, our ten favorite TypePad resources, ten Typepad bloggers we think you should watch (and learn from!), and ten blogging etiquette tips to help you make your (positive) mark in the blogosphere.

This is just a sampling, of course; the book covers a huge range of TypePad-related issues (400 pages’ worth!). If you’re a beginning-to-moderate TypePad user, we feel confident you’ll find plenty in this book to help you make your TypePad experience even better.

The TypePad Giveaway

Now, a giveaway!

• One lucky winner will win a free copy of the book plus a free year of TypePad service which is good for any level of TypePad except Business Class (approximately a $145 value).
• Nine winners will receive a copy of just the book.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. I’ll close down comments Friday night and draw ten random winners. I’ll announce the winners on Monday and contact them via e-mail. At that point, winners will have three days to contact me or I’ll have to choose another winner.

Thanks so much for your support! Shannon and I do what we do because of readers like you and we appreciate you.

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A few weeks ago, I researched Tumblr for an article on mini- (or micro-) blogging. I created an account for Blogging Basics 101 and I started using it. What am I using it for?

• I share links to the articles I’m reading and, lately, I add my own discussion of the article.
• I encourage you to ask me blogging questions so I can answer them.
• I provide a feed to the Blogging Basics 101 Tumblr account so you get links to the top stories relevant to blogging.

So, if you love the Helpful Blogging Links feature at Blogging Basics 101, might I suggest that you visit and subscribe to the Blogging Basics 101 Tumblr account? I’ll still post a few links here every Friday, but if you want to know what I’m reading every day, Tumblr’s the place you’ll find it. I’m adding about 10 or more links to the Tumblr blog every day.

If you’re using Tumblr, Posterous, or another mini-blogging platform, please feel free to tell us about it in the comments and leave a link to your account. Unless you’ve commented before, your link may be held for approval. I won’t be approving any NSFW links.

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What do the new FTC guidelines expect from bloggers?

The newest FTC guidelines require bloggers to disclose any relationship with an advertiser and to make “verifiable” claims. Relationships with advertisers include any compensation received in exchange for a review–including receiving a free product. As BlogHer.com’s own Liz Gumbinner has said, “The intent of the FTC guidelines is to protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices.”

Richard Cleland is Assistant Director of Advertising Practices at the FTC. He’s been providing interviews around the country and clarifying the FTC’s expectations for bloggers and disclosure. In a phone interview with Ed Champion of Reluctant Habits, Cleland told Champion that “the FTC’s main criteria is the degree of relationship between the advertiser and the blogger. . .If there’s an expectation that you’re going to write a positive review, then there should be a disclosure.”

However, the FTC does acknowledge that some cases are different from others. In an interview with Virginia Prescott at New Hampshire Public Radio, Cleland had this to say about receiving sample products versus being paid for a review:

“That’s going to depend on the circumstances. If we’re talking about getting one free product or something sent to you and you happen to write about it on your blog, that’s not the type of relationship that has to be disclosed. But if you’re part of a network and you’re consistently receiving products to test and blog about, then that raises the implication that these gifts are quid pro quo and that’s why you’re writing the positive reviews.”

In answer to Ms. Prescott’s question about how the FTC will hold bloggers accountable for false claims, Cleland said, “It’s going to be on a case-by-case basis. It’s going to have to be a situation where it’s actually justified, the extent of the injury is such that it justifies using our resources to look at the possibility of an enforcement action.”

It’s worth noting that those of us with Amazon Affiliate links are expected to disclose those as well. Champion says Cleland “didn’t see any particular problem with a book review appearing on a blog, but only if there wasn’t a corresponding Amazon Affiliates link or an advertisement for the book.” Though that example is specific to books, it could apply to any product linked to an affiliate.

Do the new guidelines include Facebook and Twitter?

Yes. Many bloggers type paid tweets and/or become Facebook fans of certain products, then share those tweets and fan pages with their friends. Just because the advertising relationship is outside a blog, it’s still a relationship and the blogger is still compensated–the rule for disclosure and true testimonials applies. Caroline McCarthy at Cnet gives this example of how the FTC guidelines apply to a blogger (or, in this example, a celebrity) on Facebook:

“[A] celebrity or other prominent figure with loads of friends on Facebook receives free hotel stays from Hotel Chain X in exchange for running Hotel Chain X ads on his or her blog. If that person then signs up as a Facebook fan of Hotel Chain X–which, remember, could mean that the person’s name can show up for his or her Facebook friends alongside Hotel Chain X display ads on the social network–he or she could be held liable by the FTC.”

As for Twitter, the FTC expects you to fit in a disclosure regardless of the 140 character limit. Cleland told McCarthy, “There are ways to abbreviate a disclosure that fit within 140 characters. You may have to say a little bit of something else, but if you can’t make the disclosure, you can’t make the ad.”

How can the FTC monitor every blog out there?

As Richard Cleland made the rounds of interviews, this question often came up. Cleland’s answer was that the FTC’s goal right now is to educate people on what is expected of them. He also indicated that the FTC would be “looking primarily at the advertisers to determine how the relationships exist” (from Ed Champion’s interview).

In an article on CNN, Eric Kuhn reports that “Richard Cleland . . . admits there will be no new team to monitor all the blogs, and that enforcing these guidelines would be a ‘game of whack-a-mole’ given the numbers involved.” Kuhn goes on to say that, “The new guidelines are viewed as more of an educational tool than any kind of requirement, and geared at advertisers more than bloggers. If numerous complaints are filed regarding a blog, the FTC is likely to investigate that the advertiser has properly advised the blogger of these guidelines.”

In his interview with Caroline McCarthy at Cnet, Cleland said, “…in the bigger picture, we think that we have a reason to believe that if bloggers understand the circumstances under which a disclosure should be made, that they’ll be able to make the disclosure. Right now we’re trying to focus on education.”

What about the $11,000 fine for bloggers who don’t disclose payment?

Mashable.com, TechCrunch, CNN, and several other trusted news sources were reporting early Monday that bloggers who don’t disclose payment will be fined $11,000 per violation. In fact, the updated FTC regulations (link downloads a pdf) don’t mention an $11,000 fine at all. Eric Kuhn of CNN tweeted Monday night, “I just spoke with an FTC spokeswoman. She said there is NOT a $11,000 fine for breaking the new guidelines re endorsements.” Unfortunately, none of the original articles with erroneous information have been updated to reflect that there is not currently a fine for violations.

Do I need to go back to my old posts and disclose for previous gifts or payments?

Lisa Stone, one of BlogHer.com’s founders, gave this advice:

“Since we started this network in 2006, BlogHer’s editorial guidelines have prohibited putting advertising in editorial space on blogs. So if you’re talking about posts you’ve made on BlogHer.com or in your blog IF it’s in the BlogHer publishing network, this question should not apply — it’s against the rules!

If you’re not in the BlogHer Network, we recommend that you update your “About” page with your blog policy about payments and review your blog for the current year and disclose any gifts or payments. For previous years, I think you can disclose on your “About” page the date on which you began your disclosure practices. We are not your lawyer, but as a a general practice we recommend that bloggers disclose any kind of payment at the top of every post written because of a payment of cash, goods, or services.”

Most of us are already doing the right thing and we’re not who the FTC is after. To be sure you’re in the know, download the current FTC guidelines. Then write up a disclosure policy and post it clearly on your blog. Not sure exactly how to write your policy? DisclosurePolicy.org can generate one for you.

This post was cross-posted at BlogHer.com.

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Y’all, I love blogging and I love Iowa. So when my friend Jody Halstead of Iowa Geek asked me to speak at I Blog, a blogging conference she’s hosting in November, I jumped at it. I’ll take any excuse I can find to visit Iowa and my family who live there. You know what would make it even better? Seeing you there. I want to meet you. I want to sit down with you and talk blogging. I know, I know. You’re thinking, “Iowa? What’s there?” And I’m answering, “A lot. For a start, a bunch of other women who share your passion and want to talk shop.”

The weekend will take place at the beautiful Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa. The hotel has its own bowling alley and a spa so there will definitely be things to do during any down time. Won’t it be kinda fun to hang out, have a drink, and bowl with some funny, smart women? You can see the I_Blog conference schedule at the web site. Note that your breakfast and lunch on Saturday and your breakfast on Sunday are included in the conference price (which is $75 for both days). I’d love to see you November 14-15 at the Hotel Pattee. We can have dinner, hang out, and talk shop! Why not register for I_Blog right now? I can’t wait to see you!

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