Do you know how good it is to wake up in the morning, get your coffee, flip on your computer, log in to your twitter account and find that YOU are the person being twittered about?  I do, it’s great!   It is exactly what happen to me last week. There were a great many “mentions” on twitter about my being listed as one of the Top 100 Women Bloggers to Watch.   I was surprised and honored.

It is the second time that I have been listed in a Top 100 List and both times I have been surprised and honored. I know that I am not the best blogger on the net and I am not the most prolific, but I do blog from a place that I have passion. As I said in a previous post, passion draws people to you like bee’s to flowers.

That being said, I also spend time on my social networking sites promoting my blog.  If you too are new at blogging use some of these tips to help drive traffic to your site.

1. Comment on other peoples blog – comments let bloggers know that you are reading their material.  It is always a morale boost when I get comments from others even if they do disagree with me.

2. Post your blog on your Facebook account and tweet your link now and then, let people know when you have posted new material.

3. Add links to other peoples blogs. If you are writing on a topic that others have written on, link back to them. It will build visibility and credibility for both of you.

4. Put your blog link on the bottom of your email, on your website, and even on your business card. It is a great way for others to get to know you.

5. Be brief, people do not take the time to read the long rambling blogs.  Say what you have to say in 300-500 words you will get more people to read your content.  And blog frequently, that has been a challenge for me this summer.

I am a novice blogger compared to many on the internet and I am sure there is so much more for me to learn, but I am proud to say that I have made to 2 top 100 list and I can’t wait to see what happens when I get really good at this.

Hazel M Walker, owns three award winning franchise’s. She is a 10 year owner of two BNI Franchises where she teaches members how to leverage their time and network to build each others businesses. She is also a Referral Institute franchise owner and teaches Business Owners how to harness the Science of Referrals to develop Referrals for Life. Hazel is a published author in New York Times best sellers Masters of Networking and Masters of Sales. As a member of the National Speakers Association she travels the world speaking to businesses and women’s organizations on the topics of networking to create a life you love.

“So you really hurt yourself, didn’t you?”  Tiffany asked me the other evening.  “It has to be bad, because I know you.  You’re a shake-it-off kind-of-gal.  I’ve seen you run through some pretty bad pains.  You rest and then you’re back on your feet in no time.  But this has got to be bad if you’re not running for weeks.”

Yes, it really is that bad.  Taking deep breaths still hurts, so I can’t even imagine how I could run when it feels like I am being crushed.  The pain conveniently sits under my bra line, so underwire brasseries only make it worse. 

For the past two weeks since I crashed my bike, I’ve tried differently physical activities to test my limits.  Swimming hurts.  Mopping and sweeping the floor is a painful chore, but at least now I have a valid excuse for an untidy house. 

Fortunately, sitting at my computer is pain free, which is doing wonders for my backside.  Blogging, shopping on-line, tweeting on Twitter, updating my Facebook and watching videos You Tube do not require heavy breathing.  Well, I guess it would depend on what videos I view on You Tube and of course, I am referring to comedy sketches, because laughing still really hurts.  What did you think I meant?

“What does a mommy blogger runner write about when she can’t run?” Lori asked me the other day.  Then, Tiffany also commented on the variety of interesting topics on Run DMT since my injury.  At least I am expanding my blog’s reading audience!

So, what exactly does a “mom on the run” write about when she isn’t running?  She writes about how she has missed running for a fortnight and feels like her body is turning to mush.  And have I mentioned my face is breaking out too?  I need my stress release again.  I want my ultimate “me time” back before I lose my mind as well as my body.  Since bruised ribs take about month to heal, I only have one more fortnight to go!

Before I get to the point of this post, I feel I should say one thing: David Gregory is a great journalist whom I respect a lot. And come hell or hangover, I still get up to watch Meet the Press every Sunday morning!

But, respected journalist that he is, David Gregory is not a blogger. A few months ago when he became the host of Meet The Press, he started a blog and a Twitter account. And everyone fawned all over him and how great he was at “embracing new media,” something that old-media journalists love to talk about doing.

Has anyone else but me checked out David Gregory’s blog recently? I will admit when I heard the MTP host was starting a blog I went and subscribed right away. But lately, his blog is just a stream of once-a-week posts of “some reads this morning” highlighting a couple articles he’s reading each morning.

That’s great, but that’s what GOOGLE NEWS is for. And Memeorandum. And RealClearPolitics. A famous journalist, talk show host, and political media personality should have a real blog, not simply a regurgitation of any political news aggregator. People actually listen to this guy — or at least pay attention to what he says — so can’t he say something useful on his blog?

(It’s kind of like how social media people got annoyed when Oprah got on Twitter, because she has such a huge audience and everyone fawns over the fact that she’s on Twitter, but she doesn’t really use it! I take issue with David Gregory’s blog for the same reasons.)

I’m not saying he should have a blog. He’s wildly successful enough in his career already that he can do whatever he wants. But what I am saying is this: if he’s going to publicly try to embrace new media by starting a blog and using Twitter, he should actually do it well, not half-ass it. A collection of “what I’m reading” lists is not a blog.

Nisha Chittal is a writer and journalist who currently serves as Associate Editor of CitizenJanePolitics.com and is a political columnist for UniversityChic.com. Her personal blog is Politicoholic, where she offers commentary on a range of topics, including but not limited to politics, technology, and the changing role of women and Generation Y in politics today.

Here are the three most commonly asked questions about Twitter:

1. What the heck is Twitter?
Twitter is a free social-messaging tool for staying connected in real-time. It is sometimes called a “micro-blogging service” that enables its users to send and read other users’ short (140-character) updates, known as tweets.

2. Why should I use it?
The jury is out on this, but proponents say it’s a great way to begin and maintain a direct dialogue with your customers. This value really depends on your customer base, though and whether they are on Twitter and following you. At the very least, when done correctly, Twitter can increase your search engine visibility, but again, this only matters if your customers are the type of people who are searching for you online.

3. How can I get started?
The best thing to do is to sign up for a Twitter account (it’s free) and start following some other people on Twitter. Start with any friends or colleagues you know who are already on Twitter (I’m @virginiagins), then check out Twellow - the Twitter directory for people in your field or industry to follow. Once you have a feel for how/what people tweet, dive in and give it a try!

Virginia Ginsburg is an entrepreneur and business & marketing consultant who delivers strategic, affordable marketing services through her company accordionmarketing. She also writes a blog called Body > Mind > Business, which discuses the connection between business health and personal health, and the struggles she faces in pursuit of work-life balance. Virginia has an MBA from the University of Southern California and is currently (slowly) pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology at UCLA. She has more than 12 years of experience as a senior marketing consultant, and has served as a trusted partner, coach and consultant to more than 100 sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations. 
Virginia lives in Santa Monica, CA with her husband and daughter. As part of her passion for working with entrepreneurs, Virginia is actively involved in small business development projects in the U.S. and in developing countries.

Bizzywomen.com had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Chandlee Bryan, career management consultant and the founder of  Best Fit Forward.

Can you tell us about yourself?   

I am a career management consultant and the founder of Best Fit Forward (www.bestfitforward.com), a boutique provider of resume writing and career coaching. I currently serve as the “resume specialist” for Microsoft Office Live’s My Resume Talks program (www.officelivestudent.com), and facilitates programming for New York City Job Seekers Meet-up (www.meetup.com/nycjobseekers).

Prior to founding Best Fit Forward, I worked in Career Services at Ivy League schools for eight years, serving as Director of Career Services at Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering. I have also worked as a recruiter. I write and speak about a diverse range of topics, from resume writing and interviewing skills to using social media in the job search.

There are a lot of coaches out there. What do you feel separates  you from everyone else? 

Like many coaches, I have a diverse set of skills and experiences that help inform my work with clients. As I spent over eight years working in Career Services at Ivy League schools, I would say that my personal “nitch” is entry-level career management strategies, and that my “secondary” differentiators are my experience in working with professional development of scientists and engineers as well as my experience in teaching others to use social media.

Do you think that there is value in using social media sites such  as Twitter and Linkedin to get a job? 

I feel that there is enormous value in utilizing social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter to find a position, and that–in fact–the use of such sites has become virtually essential in the current job market. Consider the RiseSmart statistic that job seekers spend an average of 50 hours a month online as part of their search, and the perennial wisdom that 60 to 80% of job offers are the direct result of networking–clearly any technique you can use to increase personal one-to-one exposure and interaction is enormously helpful.

Social networking sites facilitate these connections and can be incredibly powerful when used with intention. (A key element to position yourself for success is to communicate interests and experience in a consistent, concise manner across social networking platforms and to demonstrate willingness to help others.) 

In today’s situation of high unemployment, what would you tell job seekers to focus on in order to get a job? 

In today’s market, you have to “lean forward” to approach the market rather than “lean back,”  apply and wait for an offer to happen. 

Be clear about what you can do, and what value you offer others before you jump into the market. Research trends, employer needs, and demonstrate your knowledge of a position/industry throughout the application process. Ask questions to determine how your skills fit organizational needs, and articulate the impact that you can offer. 

Strive to be less than “an anonymous applicant.” When possible, identify hiring managers and stakeholders in advance of applying for positions…and let your contacts within an organization know that you’ve applied for a job with their company.

Be willing to consider contract work as a way inside the door. Many employers can make short-term commitments before they can make long-term ones.

Thank you.

The popularity of Twitter is twinkling some eyes, while tweaking anger in others.  If you don’t Twitter, you’re painfully uncool- just take a look at the Twitterati.  Twitter can be addictive, fun and give you connections.  But can it affect your relationship?  The good and bad news for romance:  the Twitter singles scene is the new hot spot and already makes claims on success rates.  On the other hand, with Twitter there’s a new, faster way to be cheated on by your tweetheart.

Naysayers call it ‘blogging on amphetamines,’ but there are some benefits.  Staying in touch with and meeting people seems to rank highest on the list.  In other words, you’re never alone nor are you lonely.  While a lot of social sites are good for daily contact, Twitter is minute-by-minute.  For relationships, it’s a way to spend consistent time with your love when you’re apart.  With a new romance, it’s similar to speed dating, but sped up.  In business, those that Twitter have an edge on those who don’t.  Bloggers report an increase in visits, since the Twitter messages are so short,  leaving readers curious for more information.

There are many advocates for Twitter, but the drawbacks are plenty.  Yes, you might actually stay in touch with your family on a more regular basis, but you can also find yourself suffering from cravings or depression if no one contacts you.  Twitter addiction could destroy your relationship.  Look at Jen Aniston and Jon Mayer.  How romantic, going on a date with someone who’s describing their feelings to the world, instead of telling the person across from them.  That lack of personal connection increases the chances of a break-up.

How is this affecting communication?  Compiling all of your thoughts into 140 symbols, every time you think, is good for self-expression.  Sacrificing your realities, however, into sound-bytes isn’t.  As if we weren’t dumbed down enough by abbreviations and lack of real contact, we have less space and time.  There’s also the fact that social networking sites were already hotbeds for opening the cheating door.  Twitter doubles the speed, doubles the fun.  It allows for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it transgression.  And don’t forget that the details can be publicized after, to entire communities of people.  Quadrupled humiliation in a fraction of a moment.

Twitter might be the little black dress of gadgetry at the moment, but it won’t be long before someone comes up with even shorter, faster communication.  Perhaps one day soon it’ll be the freshest, hottest trend to just send electronic grunts, reverting back to caveman speech.  Via technology.

With Twitter and other forms of social media taking the world by storm, the question is how PR people can use these new media outlets to help their clients?

Here are 3 top blogs that deal with the issue.

Lara Kretler’s blog deals with these very issues. She has a really fresh take on many social media issues. For example, in a recent post: ” Who Owns Social Media? (aka PR vs. Marketing vs. Advertising vs. Interactive). This is one argument that you really can’t win because there are good points on all sides. Ultimately, it comes down to who’s doing social media well, who’s measuring it, and who’s showing great results. I don’t think it’s hard to figure out where I fall in this debate – social public relations FTW – and I’m proud to see so many amazing, smart PR people leading the way in social media. Even Charlene Li, whose fantastic Altimeter Group Wiki is shaping up to be a top resource for social media pros of all stripes, includes a special section for social media PR firms. The jury’s still out on this debate but I think as time goes by, we’ll see PR continuing to take the lead on social. After all, it’s all about relationships.”

Over at Your PR Guy you can find information on bridging the PR/social media divide. ” Yes, Twitter is a union of advertising, PR and branding — doesn’t matter if it’s personal or product specific. Tweeting and building your followers and those who you choose to follow is important. Still confused?”  Hi quality posts.

The India Pr Blog has great content and is recognized as a top PR blog. In a recent post Bhawna Sharma says, “One of the ways I have used social tools successfully in my PR job is in the media relations bit – forming new contacts, pitching to journalists, getting fast information about the media, etc. ”

There is some great content out there on this topic. Let Bizzywomen know some of your favorite PR/Social media sites.

This was Startup Nation’s first-ever Leading Moms in Business contest, and more than 621,000 votes were cast, supporting a variety of exceptional mom entrepreneurs. Startup Nation’s goal was to spotlight mom business owners and praise their entrepreneurial spirit, creative ideas and business savvy.

The Mom Entrepreneur’s Online Support Group provides resources, advice, feedback and discussions around topics that are relevant to mom entrepreneurs. Our organization’s online network helped promote members who were in the running for this contest through our newsletter, in group discussions, on our blog, and through online social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

Approximately 50 of our members were part of the competition, and everyone in our online support group was encouraged to vote daily for members who were running. It was due to this huge collaborative effort that many of our members were able to get the votes they needed to win this contest.

As a result, The Mom Entrepreneur members who were recognized as Top 2009 Leading Moms in Business include:

• LTDchix, LLC (#41 from Sparta, NJ)
• Old World Limited (#43 from Shakopee, MN)
• Lily Lane Cakes (#68 from Springfield, VA)
• whippersnappers studio (#71 from Bend, OR)
• Psi Bands (#82 from Pacific Grove, CA)
• CouponDivas (#85 from Matthews, NC)
• Sweetsation Therapy (#115 from Hypoluxo, FL)
• The Adventures of Scuba Jack (#118 from Gloucester, MA)
• Cottonseed Clothing (#122 from Chicago, IL)
• Cushie Pushie Company (#131 from Lawrenceville, NJ)
• Madama Griffitts O’Hara LLP (#172 from New York, NY)
• Personal Child Stories (#185 from Pine, AZ)
• Stroller Strides (#196 from San Diego, CA)

Startup Nation held this contest to celebrate the triumphs, tribulations, capabilities and achievements of moms running businesses across America.

We know first-hand that mom entrepreneurs are tremendous multi-taskers, juggling business and family responsibilities. As a group, we’re resourceful, driven, creative, motivated, passionate about our beliefs, and committed to achieving a successful work-life balance. It’s a great joy to celebrate the achievements of our members, and I am so genuinely pleased that they were recognized in this competition.

Great job moms!