The Major Thing You Need On Your Blog
photo by robayre
Aw, thanks for your well-wishes yesterday. My head’s still somewhere near the summit of Mt. Everest while my body sinks deep in the ocean (at least that’s how it feels to me) but I think whatever cold or sickness I have is fading. A good, good thing because I’m not about to spend my weekend feeling all flighty.
Two things today:
1. My 90-year-old massage therapist says you should try this:
The other day I mentioned how working at a desk all day contorts my muscles into some horrible knots, and you all pretty much agreed that desk work will be the downfall of all humanity. (That is what you agreed to, right?) Anyhow, I thought I’d pass on another tip I learned from a massage therapist I had once.
(Actually, I learned it from a ninetysomething year-old massage therapist who was a teensy little thing that didn’t even reach my shoulders. And yet somehow this frail woman dug in deep and hard and got all my knots out. Go figure.)
After she told me my back was in pathetic shape (yeah, seriously) and that I needed to stop doing so much sitting in front of the computer (yeah right) she suggested I get a back cushion. The idea is to lay on the cushion after a long day and let the pose work your spine into alignment.
The cushion I use (here’s what it looks like
2. Your Media Savvy Tip of the Day: Put your e-mail address on your blog.
Here’s the thing: Sometimes reporters who need to interview real humans stumble across THE MOST PERFECT SUBJECT EVER! and, naturally, do a Google search of their name. And then they might find a blog, which is great because they can study up on the person before an interview. But sometimes there is no contact info on the blog. None.
Do you know what a reporter does then? I mean, after crying and wishing this MOST PERFECT SUBJECT EVER! would have just put a derned e-mail address on her site? That reporter cuts her losses and moves on to someone else.
So if you like the idea of ever being featured in a newspaper or magazine article, a book, or television or radio story, the reporters must have a way to contact you. Here’s where I look first: On the homepage, the About Me page, or under a Contact Me tab.
I came across this today when I found someone who was perfect for an article I’m writing. I spent way too long searching her site for anything—e-mail address, phone number, twitter handle, address to which I might send a carrier pigeon. Nothing.
But if you’re happy never having the possibility of the media not contacting you, that’s fine, too.
Finally, today is the last day to enter my beauty giveaway. The details are all here, but the Cliff Notes version is this: 12 never-been-used beauty products, one winner, three ways to enter today.
Have a great weekend!
24 comments
Very awesome tip. The “about” and “my story” pages are always the first ones I visit, so I think it’s very important for them to be interesting and concise. Actually, I’m not one to talk because mine is very very vague… :S
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Tracey Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I agree, though mine isn’t so concise!
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[...] This post was Twitted by notsuperhuman [...]
I didn’t even know a back pillow like that existed! I spend waaay too much time sitting, hunched over, and thus ruining my back for life. I then remind myself that one day I will be able to afford a personal massage therapist as well as an on-call chiropractor, or both of these in one person, so any damage done now won’t matter. This makes me feel a little better about it.
Your late-night dinner tip is great! I actually started eating dinner later which worked for a little bit. Then it didn’t. I am pretty serious about cutting this habit, though, so I am actually looking to buy a sugar-addict book (haha, that sounds so lame) and just cut sugar completely out….at least for now.
Great email tip!
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Tracey Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Good luck! That’d be like quitting heroin cold turkey for me, but I admire you for doing it.
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My back pillow in my car has been amazing for my back pain!
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I totally agree about needing your email address on your blog!!
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Thanks for the advice…I think my email address is on my About page but I need to double check. I can be so lazy about those sort of things which is really dumb on my part!
I hope you are feeling better Tracey! Have a fantastic weekend.
PS – If you ever want to interview me I promise you won’t need to utilize a carrier pigeon!
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Tracey Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Good because those can be expensive to keep and feed. And they’re messy and gross roommates.
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New to your blog!! Had to comment…
90 year old masseuse!!! Hard Core!!!
You should invest in a foam roller! I have been using them since they were invented!! Seriously, the most AMAZING thing I ever rolled on, and I get massages once a month. My clients have a love/hate relationship with them though, lol.
I totally get the shoulder tightness, I am a trainer and spend A LOT of time blogging and doing other stuff on the comp..luckily, I moved from the laptop to the desktop–WORLD of a difference…laptops are HORRIBLE for your neck and shoulders, bio-mechanically we are NOT supposed to be looking and typing in that position all day! I even feel it when I go on the laptop for like 15 minutes now…kills me
Have a great night!!!
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Tracey Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:20 am
I have a foam roller, but I never thought about using it for my back. That’s a great idea, though. And I agree–laptops are the worst for posture, especially if you sit with one on the couch like I do.
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I am so feeling the neck and shoulder pain today. Going home to cry it out, lay on a foam roller and convince the hibs that the only thing that will sabe me is Indian Food and Kingfisher beer.
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wow! that cushion looks so comfortable! i might think about investing into one. i bet it’ll make falling asleep MUCH easier too!
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Haha I seriously love your blog and your exaggerated way of talking. Cracks me up every time. And seriously, your massage therapist was 90 years old?!?! That’s….like…ancient. I used to have a sports massage therapist back when I was training intensively. She was about 60+ and just like yours – a thin, frail looking old woman, but boy, could she dig deep into me and make me cry and wriggle and grab at pillows and bite into them! Scary how all these therapists are all so old but so strong!! Sorry to hear you’re sick, I hope you feel better soon!!! Eat more fruits and greens!!
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Tracey Reply:
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 am
Thanks for stopping by…glad you enjoy my blog!
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You are SO right about the reporter/contact thing! It’s so frustrating when I can’t find someone’s contact info! Especially if it’s for a business. I was writing an article a couple weeks ago and I had to call everyone and their mother to find this business owner’s phone number. It took me THREE DAYS to contact him.
If the story wasn’t assigned to me, I would have given up!
I hope you feel better soon! (Ps. I need that pillow.. stat.)
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Tracey Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Exactly. Sometimes it’s easier to give up and try someone else. No contact info = publicity swirling down the drain.
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I want one of those pillows!
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So you’re telling me that I can lie down on a cushion all day? Sweet!
Great tip about the contact info. I also like to include my e-mail address in e-mails that I send, even if it sounds silly. I try to have contact information and links to my others sites everywhere I go.
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Tracey Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Me too! Why not make it easy on a girl and just put all the necessary info in one place?
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Um, I think you just sold me on the back support thingy. Seriously. I have an Amazon gift cert burning a hole in my pocket and I also have back pain from computer sitting. Has it really made a big difference for you?
And hey-o, my e-mail addy is right under my picture on my homepage! Feel free to contact me anytime you want, Tracy – I love doing interviews;)
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Tracey Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
At first I couldn’t tell if it was doing anything, and laying there for a full 15 minutes got kind of painful. But as I adjusted it didn’t hurt to lay there for that long anymore. And I really do think it helps straighten me out. I wouldn’t say it erases tension from sitting at the computer, but it’s helped my posture.
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Oh man, I really need one of those aligners. As a blogger/online teacher/writer, I spend SO much time hunched over my computer. I know it takes a huge toll on my back. Thanks for the tip!
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Tracey Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:44 pm
That, or a really great (cheap) massage therapist.
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