Social Media Marketing World 2019

Last week I attended Social Media Marketing World 2019. I have been following its parent organization, Social Media Examiner, for years. The conference truly is the world's leading conference in digital marketing education. What made this conference unique is the quality of the content I received.

One thing I did not expect, was the happy atmosphere of the conference. The staff made this large conference feel like a tight community. There were around 5,000 participants from all over the world. I met people from from Israel to Italy and beyond. Everyone was interested in taking their social media strategies to the next level.

Experts taught us the latest trends and techniques in marketing with Facebook, Instagram, Messenger bots, live video, social strategy, content marketing, analytics, video creation, YouTube for business, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat and more. The information was accurate, applicable and up to date. It was also informed by research, which really matters to me.

There were a lot of opportunities to meet other people and hear about the work they do. The connections with other professionals was amazing.

Social Media Marketing World 2019

I learned that I am up-to-date with the latest social media marketing information. I know all the crucial information and I already started applying that knowledge to my digital strategies.

Before attending the conference, I had the same questions as everyone else who can't make it. The question is: "what was the big takeaway?" The answer for 2019 is engage!

I'm also thankful about the road that lead me to where I am. I have been blogging here at SimplyCintia.com since 2003. I know, I'm not the oldest blogger out there but I can say I have been consistent. I offered my first social media for business workshop 9 years ago and I have continued to help businesses and non-profits to reach their social media goals. I understand that business owners are occupied running a business so I help them save their precious time with strategies and advice that make a difference.

I'm thankful for my training in computer science communication. I specialize in making complex information simple. For the past year, I have been writing about the latest computer science research. I write in ways that connect and inspire. I'm in constant connection with people who work and do research for the major tech companies and startups in the U.S. I am thankful because this niche is rare and precious.

I would love to help you reach your social media goals. Whether you need advice or want help reaching your business goals, contact me and I will be glad to help you move from frustration with social media to assurance of effectiveness. Click here to work with me. 

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New things to fill your day with Inspiration!

Hey friends, happy day to you!

I'm hoping to be the biggest loser. Follow me on Youtube!

I wanted to tell you that if you want to hear from me more often, I’ve been recording 7-minute Live Audio messages on Facebook. Just follow my Facebook Page and be inspired! The topics will always encourage you to reach your goals because you have what it takes!

I’m back on Youtube! I’m recording weekly videos about my weight loss journey. I love Youtube, I’ve been there since 2009. I am enjoying being back and I want to ask you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. I’d love to see you there.

On the Instagram front, my Insta-stories are pretty entertaining. I show my #glamlife there more than in any other platform. Follow me if you are there!

My goal, no matter where I am, is to spread hope, one social media platform at a time. Connect with me and let’s live a life filled with hope! Have a great day my friend!

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How to Exit Social Media the SMART way

So, you're leaving that Social Media platform again? Okay. I want to help you do it in a more strategic way. Let's jump right to it friend. 

1. Do NOT announce your exit - I don't know if anyone told you this but that's the lamest thing you can possibly do. Most of your friends roll their eyes when they read that you are leaving a particular social media platform because we all know you're coming back... with a vengeance! It's really funny to watch the trend. You may post: "friends I'm leaving this platform and I'll see you or won't!" If you could hear the other side of the screen you'd hear that slow 80s clap as well as the sound of your friends scrolling down to see what's really interesting in their feed. Whatever you do, please do not announce your exit. You may be wondering how would your thousands of followers find you in case of an emergency. I'd have to tell you that when people want to get a hold of you they are smart enough to figure out just how. 

2. Plan a S.M.A.R.T. exit - if you are abandoning the social media ship, make it S.M.A.R.T.:

S - Specific - how long will you be gone and why? If this is a forever thing, erase the app and forget about the website. If you know you're coming back, agree on a timetable and the goal of your exit. 

M - Meaningful - why are you leaving? Is the platform consuming your life or are you just pissed with some of your online friends? Are you leaving because your real life benefit from the time you are mindlessly browsing? Make it meaningful, make it work for you. 

R - Results oriented - Knowing your "why" comes in handy right here. If working on a real life project (such as your new year's goals) is the reason of your exit, be sure that you have your goal in mind. Think, "I will exit for ___ amount of time to write my book." Make it work for you every time my friend. 

A - Achievable - If 80% of your job includes social media management, we all know you can't possibly have a true social media exit. Be specific about what you would like to achieve and be sure your goals match that thought. If you are one of those folks who must be on Social Media because it is part of your job, maybe you need to recalibrate your usage. Reassessing your work goals comes in handy in this instance. 

T - time-bound - Because Social Media is not going anywhere (thus the fact that most exit announcements flunk) it is wise to give yourself a timeline for your exit. Do you need 10 days off? Do you need to erase the app for a few weeks until you reach that career oriented goal? Do you need to leave forever? You get to decide. 

3 - Get ready for withdraws - give yourself some grace because you will likely have withdraws. If you know that you will be tempted to see who Liked your "I'm leaving all y'all" post (I told you not to do that!), erase the App. Expect withdraws but commit to your plan. 

4 - Start Small - If you are going to have a successful social media exit, start really small and then move on to larger chunks. Remember that you must have a solid goal for this thing to work, it needs to work for you, not for the people who will be possibly rolling their eyes and giving you the 80s slow clap as you announce your exit again. 

Social Media is not going anywhere but you are. You have goals, you have dreams and I understand that sometimes you need a break to recalibrate. Do yourself a favor and plan a silent exit this time. Let me know how it works! 

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How to overcome Comparing yourself with others in Social Media or in Real Life

Today as I looked at social media, everyone seemed to be doing something interesting. Yeah, I was comparing myself with others. Here I was, cleaning toilets, washing dishes, nursing kids back to health and everyone else was in fantastic locations, doing fantastic things while eating fantastic food. Comparison is a bad, bad idea, no matter how many times it shows up in my life. 

I realize that I can keep on being defeated by the effects of Comparison (none of them are good) or I can learn how to manage the urge to compare myself to others. Here's how I'm managing it: 

God loves me. It's simple, but this truth impacts the very soul of me. God loves me so much He created me for such a time as this. This is the time to be wife and mother. He created me to clean toilets and wash dishes and to be sure kids stay as germ-free as they can. God gave me this life so I dare not think that the abundance He gave me is "less than." Now friends, we're all affected by bad circumstances (loss, grief, sickness, etc) every now and then. If you are navigating one of those, please know that your Heavenly Father will get you through it. 

Be happy for others. It takes a level of maturity and humility but I believe that this is possible and this is healthy. Here's the way I think: "So, you are living the dream I have? I am going to congratulate you from my heart and I will celebrate you. I am not where you are my friend, but today it's not about me, it's about YOU and your accomplishment." This mindset allows me to be sincerely happy for others as I "rejoice with those who rejoice." I often go ahead and pray that God will bless that person even more. I'd be lying to you if I told you I never experienced jealousy. I quickly realized how ungodly that is, repent and ask God to fill my heart with true joy and love for others.

That social media image might not God's best for me. How many times have you heard "the heart wants what it wants?" We are a people who are driven by emotions. Instead, when I allow God to guide me, I surrender to His perfect plan for my life which is ideal. Take my wedding for example. We planned our dream wedding 11 years ago. In the course of the year we got engaged I got a job offer out of State so things changed drastically. To make a long story short, God gave me everything I needed in the simplicity of a living room wedding with 7 people in attendance. Our marriage journey has had a foundation of Christian love and it has been a blessing. I often think about my "dream" wedding plans. I keep them in a journal and we laugh about it at times. I'm thankful that God gave us what we needed. 

Jealousy and Comparison are not a popular topics and most won't admit to it. I pray that you find tools to manage it. The first step is always to pray, repent and ask God to guide you. He's a very present help in your time of need. 

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What to Expect from SimplyCintia.com in 2016

Happy new year dear reader! It is my habit to start the year by telling you what to expect. Before I do that, I'd love to hear what you expect from me. Click here to fill out a short, 3-question survey please. I always get great feedback from you and I appreciate you so much! 

Take my survey will you?

I have several projects in the works for this year. I try to be sure this whole thing adds value to your life so here's just how I plan to make this happen:

• I am redesigning my personal website CintiaListenbee.com where you will be able to get more help for some of the topics we discuss here. You will also be able to buy my books there. That's right, I am currently working on books and I hope you will enjoy them.

• I am relaunching my Podcast. If you are a LONG, long time reader, you remember I used to have a Podcast. Here are a few:
- Social Media for Business 
- Counseling Demystified
- Beneficios da Corrida
This time I am putting it on iTunes so the whole world can enjoy it.

• This year I will give you more of a "behind the scenes" view of the Chevron Houston Marathon because I'm an Ambassador and volunteer. I can't wait to show you the 2016 gear this week!

• I will continue to give you quality over quantity as far as posts. I will include all the suggestions you are giving me in the Reader Survey. Thanks for helping me out!

I love blogging and I am looking forward to publishing some great material this year. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, just reach out and I will be glad to listen to you.

Have a fantastic year my friend!

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Best Social Media Practices for Teachers

Social Media can be a teacher's best friend. Today, I want to encourage educators who want to be relevant online. Teachers should keep their educator's hat on when engaging with others online. This strategy can lead to big opportunities.

Consider these 3 steps I call "Teacher's Digital Strategy."

1 • Provide Enrichment - Your readers or viewers should learn something after reading/watching your posts. Even if you reposting content, ask yourself the question: "what am I teaching through this post or video?" Providing enrichment online is a way of extending the reach of your resume. Never use social media casually, remember that you are always teaching and you should always provide value to your digital circle. 

2 • Think Longevity - whatever you put in digital form will live forever. Be wise in choosing what you post because digital content lives forever. Whether you tweet, share on Facebook or pin on Pinterest, your content will be out there permanently. If you are providing enrichment every time, you will be fine. If you are venting and may repent later, refrain from publishing it. Remember you consent to every content you post. 

3 • Build your Resume - It is possible (and wise) to build your resume through strategic social media use. Your blog posts can make a way to a greater readership in an Education magazine you respect. Your Facebook Live talks can lead you to a keynote speaker gig (this actually happened to me). Your Pinterest boards can lead to partnership with companies you've grown to love and respect. It is wise to use your social media channels with a goal in mind so think goals before you post.

Part of your digital strategy as an educator should include LinkedIn. Update your profile and your resume. Add new certifications and awards. Make yourself digitally relevant, accessible and marketable. When opportunity knocks, you want to be ready to open the digital door.

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Blog Elevated 2014 Recap

All-access, empowering and friendly are some of the ways I describe Blog Elevated Conference. I was at Moody Gardens last weekend with the goal of improving my social media knowledge but I gained so much more. 

I heart Blog Elevated!

Blog Elevated has an all-access feel to it. Speakers, presenters and mentors are all available to answer our questions. I came back home with a lot of information that helped me to better plan for my blog and other writing projects. Just to show you a little of bit of the heart of the founders, I contacted one of them before the conference with a social media related question and she was so kind to give me solid advice. I appreciate their generosity and openness when it comes to information that will help us become better bloggers.

Blog Elevated Co-Founders at the Conference's Opening.

Blog Elevated is Empowering. I appreciate this conference because they empower you with tools that will really help you move forward as a blogger. I met many bloggers who followed the advice from last year and made a lot of progress in their goals. Each year I attend I am challenged to improve. I can honestly say that a lot of the knowledge stretches me to growth, which is a great thing. They also have designated times for "study hall" and let me tell you, I got a lot of work done during those times. I was able to talk to different mentors who gave me some practical advice to improve my social media platforms. 

Beautiful Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX

Blog Elevated is a great place to find friends. I met Lisa last year and we became friends. This year I met her sister and we all had a great time as roommates. I also tried to get her mother to adopt me so I can become the third sister in their blog. Blog Elevated is a great place to find friends who understand what bloggers are all about. It is also one of the few places I don't have to apologize about posting on social media and checking it often. I also enjoy talking to people in person and online simultaneously. It can be done!   

Lisa and Shelly from SoundMindandSpirit.com

I am thankful to God, to Blog Elevated and to my family and friends for making my experience so wonderful. I hope that if you can attend Blog Elevated Conference in 2015. When you follow them on Twitter, you can be a part of weekly Twitter Chats where they share wonderful social media information. It's a great learning experience! For more photos, follow me on Instagram.

Question: Have you ever been to a Blogging Conference? What was your favorite part of the event?

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Blog Elevatd 2014: I'm Going!

I'm so excited because I will be at Blog Elevated 2014!!!!

Join me!

Last year's conference taught me a lot. I left empowered and assured that "bloggers are their own media company." I never really thought about myself that way but I found it to be true.  I enjoyed Blog Elevated because the heart of the organizers is felt in every detail of the conference. They believe in empowering you to be the best blogger you can be and they are selfless about information. This year I am excited about not only the speakers but also about the new Blog Elevated Mentor aspect of the conference.  Last year, I remember the organizers encouraging us the participants to seek out the speakers and ask them questions. I totally did that and got some wise advice. Another thing I gained from Blog Elevated were friendships. I met so many amazing bloggers and I've been blessed to stay in touch with a good part of them. I can't wait to go back this year and experience Blog Elevated in a new way. Join me in this amazing conference! Go to BlogElevated.com for more details. I want to thank God for all the people who make it possible for me to attend Blog Elevated. You reap what you sow but if you know anything about a harvest, they come in a greater measure than the seed you planted in my life. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. • Blog Elevated 2013 Recap

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Lowlights and the Highlights of 2013

I'm really enjoying everyone's highlights of 2013 on Social Media. The more highlight videos I watched on Instagram, the more puzzled I became. I was sad because my year had a lot of lowlights. 

I had challenges in my marriage. The cute date pictures an App would choose as my highlight for the year knows nothing about the low moments we went through. It was because of those low moments that we emerged more unified in our relationship. I'm thinking there might be something good about the lowlights of my year. 

Another lowlight of my year was the death of both my grandmothers. I can't begin to tell you how sad I still am because of these losses, 6 weeks apart from each other. There's no selfies of myself crying on Social Media or any pictures of me trying to be a good mother while suffering the pain of grief. Some lowlights just suck. A last lowlight of my year has to do with the stress of unfulfilled friendship expectations. I clearly brought this one on myself and I learned my lesson the hard way. I am thinking that this lowlight taught me not to be frustrated but to accept people as they present themselves to me.

I love looking at the happy faces and the happy places that are the highlights of everyone's year on social media. It's just hard to ignore that life (at least mine) is also full of the lowlights which makes the highlights much, much brighter.

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Flashlights on Facebook

My husband often reminds me of my lateness in joining Facebook. I honestly didn't have time back in 2007-ish. I also wanted to 'be different' but ended up joining once I became a stay at home mother. Now that I'm there, I have seen all the stuff that made me hesitant to join and more. What keeps me there is the fact that I love being connected with people from all over the world and I also get a small platform to talk about the things I believe.
I believe that if I'm going to be on Facebook, I need to be sure that I can make someone have a little more hope, a little more joy after they read (or watch) what I post. Jesus said in John 8:12 that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12).
This morning I ran in the dark (or should I say pitch black) for 1 hour. What an unpleasant thing to do! Of course I was prepared and I had the biggest flashlight known to mankind with me. It felt safe to have that light because I could see where I was going. I haven't been part of the sport for long but I know that runners need to be visible for safety and security. At 7 a.m. I noticed it was rapidly getting lighter and I no longer needed my huge flashlight.
I see myself holding a flashlight when I'm navigating through social media. I'm aware that according to Matthew 5 I am the light of the world. I am commanded to let my light shine before others so they see my good deeds and glorify my Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
As I use social media, I know it's not really about me but whatever I do serves the purpose of glorifying my Father in Heaven. There's no reason for others to fear me as some kind of online bully because that won't bring any glory to God. Instead, I choose to always encourage, always uplift. I believe that brings glory to God.
I always hope and pray that my behavior online mirrors the way I life off-line. I want to be an encourager, I aim to bring hope one post at a time.
My challenge for you today is to analyze your online activity. Are you acting like the light you are? Are you glorifying your Father in Heaven? The good news is that we all (starting with me) have room for improvement. Let's spend the rest of this year focused on showing others how amazing our Father in Heaven is in word and deed.

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Blog Elevated 2013 my Recap

I had the honor of attending my best Blog Conference yet: Blog Elevated last weekend. I want to thank God for the amazing people who made my attendance possible. I thank you for your generosity, love and belief in me. May God bless you abundantly for all you've done for me! Here are some of the amazing people who spoke at the conference:

Rae Hoffman gave us some great information on SEO. I really liked the fact that she was down to earth on and off the stage. She's really transparent and passionate about her business and family. 

SEO Madness with Rae

I didn't stay very long but I had a chance to see some of the models from the Blogger Fashion show. The food was super delicious too!

Blogger Fashion Show & Dinner

I didn't get any Likes on Facebook for this but this quote really resonated with me. It's quite empowering!

I loved this quote!

Karen Walrond was so lovely to take a question from me during the break. I appreciate her wisdom as well as Mr. Frederick Goodall's on preparing for speeches. 

Karen of Chookoolonks is very kind

This is a photo of me after my 10-miler with my running group (post with details later this week).

I sneaked in a 10-miler before the Saturday morning session

I learned a whole LOT from Erik Tung's workshop. I'm looking forward to some time alone so I can apply all the great things I learned about making Social Media work for my blog. Exciting!

I learned so much in the social media session!

This is a photo of my Tofu salad before Jenny Ingram's workshop started.

I missed Friday lunch so I got tofu salad at Ruggles Green

She taught us on YouTube. I learned I have A LOT of homework to do on my channel! I found Jenny to be really friendly, open and real. I also loved the fact that I have the same sandals as the ones she's wearing on this picture. 

Got my YouTube skills sharped by Jenn

Katie Laird talked about working with Brands. I heard she had knee surgery recently and she stood and presented like a champ for 45 minutes! She added her own flavor to the presentation which was so refreshing. 

Very good knowlege on working with Brands

Holly Homer was amazing! She brought a lot of energy and information to the Google Plus breakout session. Again, I have a lot of homework to do and I have started on it!

G+ and I are friends and I learned how to become even friendlier

Stacy Teet is my new favorite person. She talked to me the first night of the conference when I had no idea she was a presenter and she had no clue who I was. I love her heart to make friends for friendship's sake. She taught the Pinterest session and I was so blessed with so much amazing information! I'm applying her advice to my account. Follow me on Pinterest if you haven't already please.

I learned so much from this awesome friend on Pinterest!

I really had a great time at Blog Elevated. I will always remember the people I met but more than that, I will remember that the hear to the organizers was so evident in every little detail. Congrats to organizers Lisa and Bobbie and thank you for making this amazing conference happen!

Isn't she lovely? I loved meeting Jenny Ingram!

Also read:

• Blog Elevated Day 1

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Blog Elevated 2013: I'm going!

I am so blessed to be attending the Blog Elevated Conference next month here in Houston! I hope you can join me and many other bloggers for this great event! 

I am expecting great things from this conference which will help me take my blogging to the next level as well as learn new things about social media. I am also looking forward to meeting new friends and hanging out with old ones. 2 years ago when we moved to Houston I was blessed to connect with Texas Bloggers. I met some neat bloggers through face-to-face meet ups and twitter chats. I can tell you by experience that this group of folks is sharp, smart, funny and generous. I am thankful to God for making a quick connection with them!  After I had my youngest one I haven't been able to attend meet ups but I will be seeing everyone at Blog Elevated. I am going with a smile on my face, an open mind to learn and eagerness to encourage someone to keep blogging.  Just wanted to share the great news and encourage someone to join me and many others are Blog Elevated. 

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Hello Darling: iPhone 5

I've had phone problems: this avid social media user and instructor couldn't even make phone calls! It was time for something new and I was blessed with an iPhone 5.
Eu tive muitos problemas com o meu telefone anterior. Eu nem podia fazer ligações! Estava na hora de mudar e eu fui abençoada com um iPhone 5. 

We decided we are Apple people because it just works for the type of work we have. I researched and researched. I asked my friends' opinions and I was even blessed with a Youtube Video on the reasons why I should go with the iPhone:
Nós usamos muitos produtos da Apple porque eles funcionam melhor pro tipo de trabalho que fazemos. Eu pesquisei, perguntei a opinião dos meus amigos e até ganhei um video no Youtube sobre porque o iPhone é uma boa opção:

My wonderful husband and I happily went to get my upgrade and we got a few other things with it such as a case and an armband for running.

Meu querido marido e eu fomos comprar o iPhone e também compramos umas outras coisas como uma capa e um armband pra corridas. 

I'm happy with a product that is faster and more effective than my previous one. I've been taking pictures of everything.
Estou feliz com um produto que é mais rápido do que o outro que eu tinha. Tenho tirado fotos de tudo.

Overall I came to the iPhone family for necessity. I needed to make phone calls. I needed a faster phone where all my apps work. It didn't hurt that iPhones are cool and working phones are cooler ya hear me?
Pra falar a verdade, fiz a decisão pelo iPhone por necessidade. Eu precisava de fazer ligações. Eu precisava de um telefone onde os meus aplicativos funcionem. O iPhone é bom, mas ter um telefone que funcione é melhor ainda.

Previously in this Series:
• Hello Darling: Nikon D5000
• Hello Darling: iPad 2 

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Changing Strategy

Mondays are about changes around here. I'm making a few for the better. I decided to do less posting on weight loss and more posting on other topics such as Scripture Journaling. I heard some interesting Podcasts on using Twitter (hear Twitter Goals and Humble Brags) and decided to rethink my personal social media strategy. The truth is, blogging on weight loss gets boring to me and there are many other things that bring me way more life than that. I do plan on giving you a follow up or two on my goal of arriving at a healthy BMI so you will know how my journey is going. 

If I was going to talk about what gave me life today, I had to start with my pursuit of God. Prayer, studying Scriptures and writing them in a Journal are a lot of fun.  

I'm in the middle of a Bible Study on Psalms and I am loving every minute of it. I am learning a lot about the Bible as a whole and God has taught me a lot about how to live a more abundant life. The Bible is such a positive and incredible Book!

I have decided to be more mindful of my social media use. I thought I could be more relevant and positive. I pray that your day has been fruitful and positive!

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Curiosidade dos Estates: Pinterest

Aqui nos Estates o Pinterest tem sido uma rede social muito bem sucedida. O Pinterest é simplismente um lugar pra você organizar e compartilhar coisas interessantes que você acha na internet. 

Usar o Pinterest é simples: depois que você abre uma conta, você cria "boards" onde você organiza o que você encontrou. O que faz o Pinterest uma rede social é a possibilidade dos seus amigos verem os seus boards e também de você compartilhar o que acha em outras redes socials.

Eu tenho conta em tudo quanto é rede social (porque trabalho com isso) e com certeza não preciso de complicar mais a minha vida. Tento manter o número de boards bem pequeno, mas tem pessoas que tem uns 15. Só incluo coisas que são tem interessantes ou que realmente vou tentar fazer. Por exemplo, tenho um board chamado "Foodie" onde coleciono receitas saudáveis. Semana passada usei 3 receitas e ficaram boas mesmo. Também procuro por idéias pras crianças no Pinterest. Tem muita atividade educacional e divertida que eu nem sabia que existia. Como em todo lugar na internet, é bom ter cuidado com spam e com imagens más. O Pinterest tem sindo bem eficaz em lidar com spam, mas em relação as images, eu só visito categorias que são boas pros olhos infantis. É bom ter muito cuidado pra eles não verem o que não devem e você também. 

Se você estiver no Pinterest, me siga! É só ir nesse link.

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Thank you Internet!

Hello from Baby/Toddler heaven! I have been taking some serious education courses on the Internet and learning some great things. I've been known to take from foreign language courses to cooking classes online so I wanted to share a few neat things I've been learning in between diaper changes, feedings and potty training. Enjoy! (click the image for links)

I buy these often, it is an easy and tasty recipe!

This really works. I usually use nail polish remover but this tip really makes it easy and beautiful.

This is my version of this Simple Every Day Up Do. Watch the Video

Last but not least, I've been convinced that I can make bows like a pro. This is the easiest tutorial ever. I'll be saving lots of money by making bows for my little girls.

• What's the coolest thing you learned how to make through online tutorials? Leave me a link!

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Apps for Mothers of Infants

Three years ago I used to manually write down everything my babies were doing: from dirty diapers to how long they slept and let's not forget the endless feedings. Once I got a smart phone I dreamed of an App that would do all of that for me. I even asked for info on Twitter but never heard back from anyone. This time around I have found two apps that have made my mommy life a breeze.

Feed Baby graph

Feed Baby

Labor and Delivery Nurses beware: I am a believer in Feed Baby! I was asked to write things down in the hospital but who wants to do that if an App can easily manage that?

The free version of Feed Baby has helped me keep up with feedings and it also serves as an alarm clock. It also records diaper changes like a champ. Here’s more information on this wonder App.

iBaby graph

iBaby

I also use this app but to measure diaper changes. I think it’s because I like the graphs better (shame on me) but I know that iBaby has some of hte similar functionality that Feed Baby offers. Here’s more information.

If you are in that season when every pooped diaper need to be accounted for, take advantage of these wonder apps for the Droid.
• What are your favorite Apps for babies?

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Blogging for Non-Writers

Photo Credits

Let's face it, not everyone is a writer but everyone can agree that blogging can take your business or non-profit to a new level. I have a few ideas for those of you who are not writers but feel called to have a great blog. 
1. Find an fr-editor - a fr-editor is a friend who is an editor. Small Businesses often do not have a huge marketing budget, so that's when your friends come in to help. You can also find interns who need the experience. Remember that an editor is your best friend when it comes to writing. 
2. Give Vlogging a Try - some business owners say it better than they write it. Take advantage of the growing popularity of digital videos and turn your traditional blog into a Vlog. I always advise my clients who are Potters to invest in video blogging. Photos of a firing process for example are good, but a video of the artist explaining the process is amazing. Artist also know that people love the story behind the art. Video can offer amazing results. 
3. Take a Creative Writing Class - Maybe you would like to improve your writing skills and taking a class is always a great investment. No need to enroll for 4 years, a writing class can offer the skills you need at a quicker, yet effective pace. 
I hope these tips will help you get a jump start at drastically improving the quality of your blog.
Related Posts: 
• Finding Photos for your Blog
• How to Find Blog Post Ideas

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A Pinterest-ing Life plus, Giveaway Winner

If you haven't heard, Pinterest is the cool thing to do. It is a virtual pinboard where you can organize the beautiful things you find in the web. My virtual friend girls have been spending hours in this social media platform lately. Me? Once I got the concept, I started to really enjoy this site. I do two major things with my Pinterest account (you can follow me here):
1. Treat it as if it was a magazine. I look at other people's pins and really enjoy it as if I was looking at a never-ending magazine. Pinterest has been known to put me to sleep a time or two. Not in front of the computer but with my iPad 2 before a much needed nap.

2. Dream about decoration projects. If you know me well you probably know that home decor is not my forte. I enjoy getting new ideas here. Last night for example as we were decorating our home, my husband asked what has been the trend at Pinterest when it comes to hanging pictures. There, my virtual hobby made it to my real life.

Pinterest is awesome for creative people. I learned that getting the Chrome plug-in helps me to use it more often when I'm sitting here with my iMac.
You do need an invitation to start using Pinterest, so if you need one, e-mail me at simplycintia at gmail.com and you got it. Happy Pinning my friend!

We have a winner

• Congratulations Vicki Mehaffey! E-mail me your address so we can get your books to you! Thanks for a fun giveaway everyone! I'll have another next week!

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How to Effectively Tweet for your Boss

3 Rules for Success

Rejoice! Being a Ghost Twitter is a cool job. You know what's cooler? Doing it right. Here are three simple rules that will make your work flawless:
1. Make it plain • Use your twitter description to tell followers who tweets in the account. People love transparency, thus, tell them who's behind the magic. If you are just starting an account, you can tweet letting people know how to recognize when your boss is actually tweeting.
2. Follow the Golden (Grammar) Rule • Do your boss a favor by following basic Grammar Rules. It is okay to use 'text language' when tweeting but in order to effectively deliver a message, you must observe basic English grammar.
3. Learn his or her Voice • It's imperative to learn your employer's voice and to deliver it on Twitter. Don't tweet as if your employer is from London if she's a down home Mississippi girl. Talking about your strategy is always a good idea.

I hope this simple rules help you be excellent at your work. Happy tweeting! For more Social Media Posts, click here

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