I was Held Hostage by Bloghology!

I return once again - ummm, I was held hostage by 'Bloghology' - what, you may ask? (I'll keep you in suspense, see below) :)

Gosh its good to be back! I've tried writing several posts, but each time, my browser crashed (uggh!).

I was also hoping to have my promised new WP self-hosted blog up soon too, so I delayed writing here, but have discovered that more people have been visiting and then leaving because I haven't posted for awhile!

:-0

I haven't abandoned you - so please do return (and I appreciate the new friends in my BlogLog Community - see the sidebar widget for recent visitors)! I have much exciting news to report, some of which is relevant to this site, and most of which is relevant to my other 'Web2.0 Resellers Blog' :)

Time - It Escapes Us All!



Time escapes us so fast doesn't it?! Yes, our parents told us - "you will see, as you get older, time will speed up". What they FAILED to tell us (or me!), is that it passes faster each and every year, at an exponential rate. I'm still 'living' back in March of this year. I cannot believe that it is nearly Christmas. So much has happened.

So, ok, its my fault, I take full responsibility (as we should in life!) - I have neglected to write. Shall I list a number of excuses here :)

Yes, of course I will :)

My Excuses: Blogosphere, Social Media & "Bloghology"

My recent ventures into the blogosphere and social media world resulted in my 'hostage' experience with Bloghology below. I have had an incredible journey, especially on Twitter and I hope to share this journey with you, as it will help grow this selfhelp4growth site.


Please as I share some great free resources with everyone - I love making new friends too :)

A 'busy beaver' I have been, joining, learning and creating my online profiles to share with others, to create a network of friends, to find lots of free resources for my friends, so that when ready, there are more opportunities to share the forthcoming, new and improved 'SelfHelp4Growth' Blog! :-) (this also makes it easier for me to find more great resources for you).

Squidoo Self Help Lens:

I have also spent some time updating my Self Help Squidoo Lens, which has some more articles and great videos, articles, tips and free resources, to help you feel better about life, in finding greater happiness now. You might want to read about 'Bloghology' below first, but if you are interested in reading my updated Squdioo Lens later, Left Click here (don't forget to rate me and feel free to leave any comments - I will continually be improving it!) - hehe

Anyway, if you are a fellow blogger (and I assume many of you are, or perhaps aspiring bloggers wanting to share your thoughts?), you probably know that the world of social media and networking is amazing and you can meet some great people you may not usually have the chance to meet - many of these people can also be helpful for you in both your personal and online journeys in life (social media is all about conversation, making new friends, and always giving first!).

I have met some amazing new friends and contacts.

Through this, I became involved for a short time in the World's 1st Blogging Magazine - aptly called 'Bloghology' (based on the concept of 'anthology') .......


BLOGHOLOGY - NETWORKING & MAGAZINE FOR BLOGGERS

Hostage!! But I enjoyed every moment of my involvement in this new project for bloggers. This is very exciting -not only for me, but also for you, if you are also a blogger or online marketer - and that's the biggest part of my excuse that delayed the promised move to my more 'professional' wp self-hosted blog! Yes, its coming (eek)!

Even though you are actually reading a 'self help' blog here, I thought many of you might be interested, as fellow bloggers, or aspiring bloggers (yes again, perhaps I should have written this on my other blog, which actually does focus on blogging and social media among other things - oops!).

But as usual, I digress
Has the suspense built up yet :)

Get to the point Megan - What 'IS' Bloghology!?


WORLD'S 1ST BLOGGING MAGAZINE



Bloghology has a range of platforms, but its key product, is the world's 1st Blogging Magazine, produced by Bloggers for Bloggers and Marketers. It comes in both digital/online and printed/offline format, and contains top quality information brought to you by a successful team of editors and writers/bloggers, who are dedicated to your success online. The digital version is free and the first edition was read by approximately 85,000 readers I think, when it launched at the BlogWorldExpo in September of this year.


The publisher (Interactive Global Media, IGM) has invested in some amazing software, so you can view the online version of the magazine in a 3D, animated format, and flip through the pages like its the real thing.

(it also has a smiley picture of Yaro Starak on the front cover as you can see, a well-known and highly respected problogger, who was interviewed for this edition)

I am sure you will find the topics in the digital September Edition very useful if you are also a blogger (ranging from blogging lessons, SEO tips, keyword research, making money online, planning and setting goals for your blog, traffic building tips, social media and networks, podcasting, useful widgets for your blog and more)! Each edition also contains interviews with some top bloggers, including Yaro, John C, Guy K. and more ..... and coming soon, Joel Comm, Steve Pavlina, Caroline Middelbrook and Shaun Taylor.

You can see the list of topics by left clicking here, or you can directly view the online digital, interactive September edition for free by left clicking here (and forthcoming October edition, although this has been slightly delayed I think, due to some technical issues).

The above 'snapshot' may be a bit 'fuzzy', so I suggest you have a look for yourself. You do need to subscribe to view the whole magazine online, but its free :-)

(Note: if you do visit the magazine site, click on either the magazine cover or the 'subscription offers' - and scroll down the page a little, and then click on the smaller magazine cover. This will bring up the special magazine viewer where you can flip through the pages online. You can also pay to subscribe to the printed version, but if you want to view the free digital version for now, please do - remembering they are quite different products though).


BLOGHOLOGY'S NEW "SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE" (beta):

The other exciting news is the launch of the related Bloghology Social Networking Site, which is in beta, and which connects Bloggers and Marketers, and aims to lift the online profiles of all members.

Another 'fuzzy' screenshot! Bloghology's Social Site Home Page

While the Bloghology Social Site has many similiar features to MySpace or Facebook, Bloghology is unique in that it is targeted mainly at bloggers. You can learn more in the recent world-wide press release announcing its launch by left clicking here.

Some Features of the New Social Site:

(I think membership is still open to the public, but I heard that they may be closing the doors to beta members only again, until all of the features are ready - so you may need to be quick).

There is already lots you can do on the beta site, as more modules are being added - for example:

- Create a customized profile page and tell the world about you, your blogs, sites, products and services (yes, you even get some templates and can access the code to modify your profile template yourself!). See my profile below - more templates coming soon!)

You can view my profile and add me as your friend by Left Clicking Here :)


- Help people find and follow you online by adding your social site user ids (eg twitter, stumbleupon, linkedin, blogger, youtube, bloglog and more)

- Add and invite friends and grow a great social network and group of contacts in your special areas of interest

- Create special Groups of like-minded people - hmmmm, maybe I'll create a special 'SelfHelp4Growth' Group :)

- Create Events (other members can RSVP to any event you create) - this would be a great opportunity to finally start my selfhelp podcast and announce it!

- Instant Messenger (IM) feature (any 'buddies' online and you can speak to them directly without having to go into separate IM software)

- Classified Advertising feature (expose your expertise and services)

- Add comments, send messages to your friends, and even view 'wall-to-wall' conversations!

- Upload and create video, and photo albums

- Create your own blog (in addition to an 'update box', or a 'what am I doing now' feature, a bit like Twitter)

- Plus many more features coming soon (including widgets, RSS feeds, points/reward systems and more).

If you Click Here, you will be taken directly to the Home page to read more, but feel free to join through my special 'referral link' by Left Clicking Here - if you use this link to join, the bloghology team can know that you joined from here - I don't receive any monetary value but I might get some 'points' - and you can do the same too! :)

As a beta member, you also have the privilege of testing the features, requesting more features, submitting feedback, together with the opportunity to participate in some exciting competitions and increasing your exposure as a blogger. Already members are making lots of new online friends and contacts, and building their traffic and blog exposure.

That is the aim - to lift blogger's online profiles :)

Find Out More about Bloghology:

If you would like to find out more about 'Bloghology' and its range of online sites and features, you can also view the web media kit online, in the same interactive magazine software (this kit also highlights the value of advertising on bloghology, when it reaches its full potential and is out of beta stage). While its predominantly for bloggers, its a new and unique approach for advertisers too, where they can make use of 'softer, social media-style of marketing, rather than traditional advertising. Left Click Here to read more about Bloghology in the web kit (if that link doesn't work, just click on the 'advertising' menu tab on the magazine site.

You can also find out more at Bloghology's main home site at: www.bloghology.org and by visiting a special friend of mine (Mert), at his main blog - www.searchforblogging.com (Mert was the originator of the concept - 'bloghology', before it became a fully-fledged magazine and social networking site, and is now the Editor-in-Chief).

*******
So, Yes, I was held hostage by 'Bloghology', but it was worth every minute! :) While this is a relatively new project, it has already created quite a buzz in the blogosphere, so I really do hope it takes off - both the Magazine and the Social Network Site for Bloggers! With your support it can :)

Anyway, enough of my excuses for not writing (albeit good excuses if I do say so myself). I will write again soon, hopefully to announce the launch of the new-look SelfHelp Blog!


I would also love to hear what you think about Bloghology?
Did you view the Magazine?
Did you join the Social Site?
Do you have any feedback or thoughts?

Let me know by adding a comment to this post, and I'll have a look at your site too :)

Warm Regards and Be Kind With Yourselves :-)

Meg


Posted by Megan McCarthy, PhD
Adelaide, South Australia

PS If you read below, you will find some free audios to help you through your days and don't forget the 'Goodies Basket' at the bottom of this page (or the front page of this blog) - with lots of ebooks and audios you can either download, or listen to online. I will be adding more there soon for you.