1. Blogging
Amy says - As I’ve been trying to improve my website, I’ve searched for a lot of articles about “Search Engine Optimization.” (SEO) Basically, how do you make it so Google can find your blog, and get your readers to read your articles?
Article says - One Way to Future-Proof Your SEO
We reside in a digital world of 301s, 404s, anchor text, link building, and keyword metrics. Search engines continue to evolve and become smarter and more efficient at deterring would be SEO-bandits, and the people keeping up with this knowledge are doing everything they can to stay relevant, and keep up with the changes.
So how can we possibly take on the task of spearheading and maintaining an organization's marketing efforts and be on top of the ever-changing SEO landscape? Take SEO back to the origins of what search engines are really created for: human beings.
2. Finance
Amy - The Simple Dollar is a finance blog I read every day. Not only does the author write in a style that I attempt to emulate, he’s really smart about how he approaches his finances. I’ve gotten a lot of tips from him that have made my life much less stressful, when it comes to my money. Just an awesome author, and you should read the rest of the article.
Article - External and Internal Motivation
The only person that I know will always be with me, right to the end of my life, is me. If I want to maintain good moves throughout my whole life, I need to find internal motivations for those good choices, not just external ones.
Sarah and my children are both external motivators. They are constant encouragement for me to be the best that I can be, but they may not always be there. If they fall away, will my healthy habits fall away?
The conclusion here is simple: I need to find strong sources of internal motivation for good financial choices in my life.
3. Biology
Amy - I try to keep up with Biology and the exciting and interesting things that are happening. Part of that is through the NABT (National Association of Biology Teachers) LinkedIn group. If you aren’t subscribed to any groups where you discuss your profession or your passions, you are missing out. It’s like the new academic conference, but without the hefty travel fees!
NABT Open Group
4. Web 2.0
Amy - I want to order this course! It’s essentially a webinar course on how to improve your blog, work with social media, and produce great content. If I ever have an extra $199 hanging around, I’ll buy it!
Article - Writing for the Web 2.0 audience (CD)
Blogging changed it all—the way companies communicate, how employees and customers want information, and how fast they want it delivered. There is so much information obtainable immediately that in order to stand out, your blog must be relevant and interactive. It is one thing to have your audience visit your blog but it is another to have them get involved through comments, uploads and feedback.
Today, companies that skillfully blog are engaging employees and gripping customers—and you can too! But before you jump in, or continue blogging, you'll want to check out this presentation.
You will learn how to:
- Make your blog as good as—maybe even better than—the 10 best corporate blogs out there
- Create irresistible content that blends a multitude of mediums, including video and audio
- Write blog headlines for audiences with short attention spans
- Adopt the fundamentals of writing a good blog, including how to identify—and avoid—blogging pitfalls
- Convince management that your company needs to blog or should continue blogging
- Develop a blog and gain a following—without increasing your workload (too much)
5. The University of Akron and Jim Tressel
Amy - I am pretty sure Jim Tressel will be the next UA president. All signs point to him being picked. I waver back and forth between “He can’t follow the rules,” to “He took a lousy situation (being forced to resign), and is attempting to get back to the top.” No doubt that students, parents, and the community love him. He raises a TON of money for UA. He is essentially a rock star. Maybe he will be a charismatic leader. But there is also the possibility that he will continue to break rules, and will need to be watched like a hawk (I’m sure he will be! He has a ton of critics). Whatever happens, I will do my best to work with him to continue helping as many students as I can.
Article - Promoting Jim Tressel
The second refers to his “enthusiastic application” for the position. Yet it is the first that reflects Tressel writing with more zest and drive, making the case for why the trustees should tap him to serve as the interim president. He sees the university facing “urgent demands” and “tough decisions,” the moment “better served by a leader who has been ‘on the ground’ with the current team.”
Tressel seeks to turn weakness into an advantage. If he lacks the academic credentials, not to mention preparation for running something as complex as a public university, he has been in charge of “an ambitious student success agenda” as a university vice president the past two years. Thus, he warns “the university finds itself at a crossroads that a newcomer may not be able to competitively navigate.”