Hey there, thanks for stopping by! If you want to know a little bit about me, here are the main bits - I'm a writer, working mainly for online clients writing articles and books to their requirements. I also run an eBay business with my partner (you can check out our Shop Smoo lens if you like toys and games!). My mission is to build lots of useful lenses that are all worth a visit, so I hope you enjoy this one. Allison   http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/Allison_Whitehead Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:29:46 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.squidoo.com/smoo_publishing Welcome to my lens about making money from writing. Here I will reveal the sites where I am doing well, and where there are loads of jobs to apply for. There is a wealth of resources below, and if you put your mind to using them (as I did) you'll soon be in a position to start selling your writing - and receiving cash in return. And check out my 'spin off' lens on copywriting too. I've designed it so you can see brand new available copywriting and ghostwriting jobs every single day.  I've also highlighted some 'featured sites' below, so why not check them out?  You could be richer for it. If you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. But if it's jobs you want, you've come to the right place. CLICK HERE to add Online Freelance Writing Jobs to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Online Freelance Writing Jobs to your Lensroll! STOP PRESS - My own website is now live! Visit now to take a look; it's still having content added to it and I will soon be starting my own writing blog as well that will be linked into it, but you can find it here. arts Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:29:33 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/sellmyarticles It's been eighteen years since that first article sale, but I still get excited by every new one that gets accepted. I'm mostly asked to write them in advance now, so I don't suggest too many ideas to magazines like I used to; I just stick to the ones I like (and the ones that seem to like me!) nowadays. Writing is a fantastic part time occupation, and it's even better when you finally get to do it full time. I'm now in the position of having to turn away work on some occasions, so I can tell you there is no shortage of it when you actually start getting yourself out there. This lens was created to share the story of how I first got published. I'm hoping that by doing this I can help you get further along the road towards your own acceptances. The best advice at this stage? Read on, learn from what I did and persevere. I can't stress that enough.  I have just gone full time as a writer, purely because I have so many sources of online writing jobs and magazine work that I can't manage it all part time anymore - so believe me when I say it CAN be done. There are plenty of online writing gigs out there for everyone. Read this article on how to earn money with online writing, then check back here for some more of my experiences. Let's get going! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add How to Write and Sell Articles to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add How to Write and Sell Articles to your Lensroll! arts Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:21:29 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/successful_copywriting Thanks for visiting! This is the companion lens to Online Freelance Writing Jobs, with plenty of information on how to become a successful copywriter and/or ghostwriter - and where to find the jobs that will get you there. Copywriting can take on many forms - from writing a single page press release, to writing keyword articles to promote your own website (or someone else's), right through to writing the content for an entire website, including product descriptions, sales material and much much more. I've also written sales letters, wikis, blog entries and assorted other strange things from time to time as well. The variety of subjects is amazing and it really keeps you on your toes! This lens will be updated virtually every day with information, tips and hints on how to develop an income from copywriting. So bookmark it now and visit daily to make a start on your whole new source of income! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Online Freelance Copywriting to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Online Freelance Copywriting to your Lensroll! arts Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:59:39 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/writing_for_helium Welcome to one of my writing lenses, which is dedicated to helping you make the most of the fast growing writers' website Helium - and that includes earning some cash from it too. Together we'll explore the site, discover the many advantages of writing for and getting published on Helium, and look at a wide range of tactics you can use to earn more for your writing. I'll also be sharing my own personal experiences of Helium (I joined the site back in May 2006, when it was called the Helium Exchange), so you can benefit from what I have learned - and continue to learn from it. I don't write so much for it at the moment, as I have too much other writing work to do (deadlines, always deadlines!), but the money at Helium still continues to add up for me, and that's the great thing about it.  Bookmark this lens now, as I will be updating it regularly with new tips and hints, and together we can learn a lot more. Please do share your experiences in the guestbook, as I will be updating this lens regularly - if I know what questions or issues you have about writing for Helium, I can then address them as best I can, and together we can learn more about what makes Helium tick! Helium is a great site - not only have I made money from it, I have also found a lot of new writing sites recommended by its members. It's really a no brainer! There is a lot more to being a member of this site than just writing for it. By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Writing for Helium to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Writing for Helium to your Lensroll! So if you're ready, let's get going... arts Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:05:28 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/write_niche_articles Writing articles for websites tends to bring in varying amounts of money.  We've all come across the people who pay a dollar for a five hundred word article - now this might be an acceptable way to start if you have no portfolio of work behind you, and you want to get some experience, but if you follow the advice contained in this lens you won't be writing for a dollar for long! You can also write articles for different reasons: $$$  purely to earn money $$$  to promote your affiliate products $$$  to drive traffic to your websites Whatever your reasons are for wanting to write articles, the one thing you need to aim for is SPEED. This lens is going to tell you how to write faster without compromising on quality. It will also reveal: $$$  where to find paid work $$$  where to post your articles for free to promote your website and increase your traffic $$$  how to get more sign ups for your affiliate programs with the help of writing short articles in double quick time Okay, no more time to spare.  Let's get going and see exactly what becoming a faster article writer can do for you and your business.   By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Write Niche Articles to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Write Niche Articles to your Lensroll! business Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:17:05 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/web_promotion_jobs We're always being told we need to promote our own websites to be successful. That's true of course, but there's big business in undertaking web promotion for other people. Think about it for a moment. Promoting a website takes lots of time and effort, and it can be a lot easier getting someone else to do it for you than it is to try and find the time yourself. This is where you come in. This lens is intended to help you find out more about freelancing in this area. Bookmark this lens and visit often to find out about the latest job opportunities and resources for web promoters everywhere.  There are plenty of jobs available and you can apply for FREE. By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Web Promotion Jobs to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Web Promotion Jobs to your Lensroll! Let's begin! business Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:37:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/howtobuildamarketingblog Do you have a website, an online business or a skill that you would like to market online? If you do, you're not alone. Lots of people would like to get more attention and more business coming their way but it can seem like an uphill task to even get close to finding your ideal market. Luckily there is a solution and that is exactly what this lens is all about. Business blogging is being taken up by a lot of different people from all walks of life who want to find a way to get in touch with their audience and connect with them in a way that a standard website won't let them do. So keep reading to find out the ins and outs about how to make this work for you. You'll soon discover that it doesn't matter what kind of business you're in, or whether you're selling products or services. Business blogging could be the answer you've been looking for if you want to let more people know who you are and what you're good at. business Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:08:17 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/shop_smoo Welcome to Shop Smoo, our eBay store - packed with toys, gifts and gadgets for all ages, not to mention those curiosities you just can't resist buying! We combine postage on multiple purchases, and we are always pleased to hear from our customers.  If you have any queries or questions - before or after your purchase - please do let us know. Check out what we have to offer below... Our new range of summer toys is coming in any day now, including rope quoits (a strong seller last year), jump rockets, tri wing boomerangs, water pistols, water bombs and frisbees, and parachute balls! In fact, we've just taken delivery of them - they're in our shop right now and selling already. STOP PRESS! We have a hotline to Santa himself! Discover it in plenty of time for Christmas 2008 and then bookmark it for when the time is right! Check out our related lens here! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other shopping related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Shop Smoo to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Shop Smoo to your Lensroll. Thank you! shopping Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:36:36 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/funky_fridge_magnets Yep - they are cool. They jazz up your boring old refrigerator, not to mention your dishwasher and anyplace else that will take one. They also say a lot about the kind of person you are. Kids love 'em, but us adults own some pretty cool ones too. Retro fridge magnets are particularly popular, with Anne Taintor being a real market leader in this field. Check out some of her best 1950s humor retro magnets below. If you're new to this world of magnetised offerings, stay tuned for some eye-opening stuff. If you're a old hand, share your favourite magnet in the guestbook at the bottom of this lens. We buy one from every single place we visit - whether it's on holiday, abroad, our own country, a day at the beach... whatever.  Our fridge is a fridge of memories!  An alternative to a holiday photo album I suppose. Are you ready? Then strap yourself in - it could be a bumpy ride... (and yes, that's a small selection of our very own best buys in the picture above!  We may just add more fabulous photos so you can see where we've been on our travels over the years...) By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can see some of my other shopping related lenses - including a very cool one on iPod socks and covers! CLICK HERE to add Funky Fridge Magnets to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Funky Fridge Magnets to your Lensroll! shopping Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:26:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/creativegiftsforwriters Writers are easy people to buy gifts for. There's books, journals, software for writers, writing guides, and much much more that would all make fantastic and welcome gifts for us. So this lens is kind of my indulgence - a list of creative and inspiring things that I would be delighted to receive as a writer, things I have received, and some items that are just too good to leave out. If they make one writer happy, they might just make a whole bunch of other ones happy too, whatever the occasion may be. So if you know a writer, browse the suggestions below and find the perfect creative gifts for writers right here and right now.   And if you ARE a writer, check out my other lenses on writing - Online Freelance Writing Jobs and Online Content Copywriting Jobs - you're guaranteed to be better off for doing so! Thanks for visiting. By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Creative Gifts for Writers to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Creative Gifts for Writers to your Lensroll! shopping Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:26:05 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/party_bag_toys If you are, you've come to the right place. Finding and filling party bags for children's birthday parties is a regular task for hardworking mothers everywhere.  Now it's time you had a helping hand and got some cool resources to look at. Fillers come in all shapes and sizes, and can be themed to suit both boys and girls parties - whatever age group you might be creating your loot bags for. Read this article if you want to know more about how to create themed party loot bags! So whether it's pirates or fairies, cars or craft items you're after, this lens will provide an excellent starting point to get you going in the right direction. So let's begin! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other shopping related lenses, including a very cool one on Ipod socks and covers! CLICK HERE to add Party Bag Toys to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Party Bag Toys to your Lensroll! kids Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:23:52 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/ovarian_cancer Back in 1983, when I was eleven, I lost my mum to ovarian cancer. She was just forty nine. I'm now thirty five, and there is still a huge void in my life where my mum should be. I felt I wanted to do something positive in her memory, and where better place to do that than on Squidoo? All royalties generated by this lens will go to the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, so you have already done something wonderful already simply by arriving on this page. For that I thank you - and while you're here, you might just find some other goodies and reasons for staying on a while longer. You can help still more by rating this lens and leaving a message in the guestbook at the bottom of the page - and if you can help me spread the word by linking to this lens from your own, or from your blog or website, I would be eternally grateful. Positive things really can come out of negatives. If every single person that comes by this lens tells one other person about it, and that person does the same, imagine how much we could do together to let people know about this type of women's cancer, and to raise money to help move towards eradicating it. For good. Thank you. We can do a lot here! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other lenses on all kinds of different subjects. CLICK HERE to add Understanding Ovarian Cancer to your favorites. CLICK HERE to add Understanding Ovarian Cancer to your Lensroll. Many thanks. health Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:31:09 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/seo_jobs Search engine optimization is a skill that is well worth learning. Not only because it will bring more visitors to your website, but also because if you know what it entails, you can earn some good money supplying those skills to others. That is the aim of this lens. There are many ways to make use of your computer skills to make a good income working from home, and learning about SEO is just one way to do it.  So if you're looking for a work from home job, bookmark this lens now and visit often for the latest in homeworking SEO jobs. Read on and find out more - and I'll even reveal where you can find and bid on REAL TIME current SEO related jobs for free! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Search Engine Optimisation Jobs to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Search Engine Optimisation Jobs to your Lensroll! seo Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:56:30 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/ipodsocksandcovers Whatever type of Apple iPod you've got, buying it is just the first step. Next up, you've got to be able to protect it and keep it looking as good as the day you first got it out of its box. Luckily you've got plenty of help on this front - and that's where this lens comes in. I'm going to introduce you to the wonderful world of socks, covers, cases and skins. You're about to discover that a protective cover doesn't have to be dull and functional - it can actually cover your Apple iPod with pride and tell the world something about its owner as well. Cover your Classic in shocking pink. Encase your Nano in solid aluminum. You can even holster your iPod if you really want to. The most important thing is to keep your iPod safe and use the right cover or case for the right occasion. With plenty of choices to suit everyone with every budget, this is truly an eye opening journey into the world of the iPod accessory! So strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. CLICK HERE to add this iPod lens to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add this iPod lens to your Lensroll! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other shopping related lenses. shopping Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:31:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/groups..thebuddingwriter Tips, Tricks and Resources for the Budding Writer Since I have an ever expanding group of writing related lenses (with more planned and in the pipeline) I decided it was time to group them all together. Use them, learn from them, give me feedback and check back for regular updates. Enjoy! arts Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:12:13 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/losingweightwithweightwatchers I started compiling this lens on the 5th April 2008, two days before getting back onto the Weight Watchers diet again. I'm hoping that as I start to lose weight on the plan, the lens will grow and develop and I will be able to share my experiences with you along the way. I have been on the Weight Watchers diet before, some three years ago, and successfully lost almost three stone. Unfortunately I fell into the blissfully wonderful trap of meeting someone and falling in love - which as we all know almost always results in putting on weight! So now I want to lose that weight again (although I hasten to add I am still very much in love! lol). This lens may well act as an incentive to keep me on the straight and narrow, and if I can help others who are trying to slim down at the same time, then that is wonderful. Do make sure you leave a note in the guestbook near the bottom of the page; I aim to update this lens almost every day, so it will be good to hear from you. So to all you slimmers out there, good luck and let's continue our journey together. health Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:17:52 -0600 http://luckiest.allison-whitehead.ever.com/ This is a first for me.  I've never made a lens about, well... me before.  But if it's okay for Kimberly Dawn Wells to do it, then it's okay for me! First up, I'm a writer. And as of January 2008 I'm a full time writer - achieving an ambition I've held for years. And it's the best paying job I've ever had. What's more, I love it! But however much I have or haven't earned from my writing in the past, I've always thought of myself as a writer.  It's not just what I do, it's who I am. NOTE:  this is a lens in progress.  Mark it in your favourites and check back often for plenty of links to more of my work - I'll even share some of the places I've found good work at. For now, you can visit http://www.squidoo.com/smoo_publishing to discover more. By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other writing related lenses - and much more besides. CLICK HERE to add me to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add me to your Lensroll! arts Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:58:06 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/frenchandsaunders Okay, all you Dawn and Jennifer fans, take it from someone who has twice seen their show being filmed at the BBC - they are fantastic! Go for a stroll down memory lane and enjoy some of the highlights in the clips below. Then tell us all about your own favourite sketch in the guestbook! Thanks for dropping by! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other lenses on all kinds of different subjects. CLICK HERE to add French and Saunders to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add French and Saunders to your Lensroll! people Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:34:42 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/letter_from_santa As everyone knows, we are fast approaching that day when Santa gathers up his gifts for all the children in the world and gets on his sleigh to deliver them. Now, even though he is a really busy man (you'll get to read a bit of history about him further down this page) he has very kindly agreed to send special letters to the children of those parents that contact him and request it. He is also attempting to keep up with the times and as such is prepared to take on the challenges of the telephone and even the mobile, meaning that parents who request it can make sure their child receives a phone call or even a text message from the great man himself. So without further ado, let's explore the world of Father Christmas, and learn a little more about him. Season's Greetings! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other lenses. CLICK HERE to add Letter From Santa to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Letter From Santa to your Lensroll! kids Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:29:04 -0600 http://best.ebay-shop.ever.com/ Shop Smoo burst into life in January 2007. And what a year it's been...  2008 promises to be even better, as we are on the verge of launching our new e-book website, as well as Shop Smoo's very own website to run alongside our eBay shop. Stay tuned for further information! By the way, if you click on the link to the left of this column (the one that says 'lenses by Allison Whitehead') you can also see some of my other shopping related lenses. CLICK HERE to add Shop Smoo to your favorites! CLICK HERE to add Shop Smoo to your Lensroll! shopping Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:38:05 -0600