Squidoo : Lenses by johndilbeck

Site Build It, a revolution in website design, hosting, and promotion

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:55:11 -0600

A few years ago, Ken Evoy started Sitesell, a small Canadian company that has revolutionized the process of creating, hosting, and promoting websites. Sites built by individuals using the guidelines and procedures Ken and his company have developed over the years have a very good chance of outperforming expensive websites created and promoted by professionals. The key to this is a multi-module, database-managed, fully-integrated system that manages much of the technical complexities behind the scenes so that ordinary people can concentrate on their business, follow the step-by-step action guide, and build an online business. This system is called Site Build It!

Should You Tweet Your Blog?

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:41:23 -0600

John Merrick and Soren Jordansen just released a tool called Tweet My Blog that makes it easy to automatically post new updates to your blog to Twitter.com using a WordPress plugin. (Please note that I have removed my affiliate links to Tweet My Blog. I still recommend it, if it suits your needs, but I want this to be a place to discuss your opinions and not have to compete with my affiliate links.) Tweet My Blog provides a way to link your blog postings to Twitter so your followers there will be informed each time you update your blog. They also provide a widget that you can add to your blog that takes the information flow the other way. You can show your latest tweets on your blog. The use of both the plug-in and the widget completes the flow of information between Twitter.com and your blog and provides more links to what you are writing about, and this should increase the number of people who read your blog. If they then decide to follow you on Twitter, you should see an additional increase as more people learn about you and what you are doing. Both the plug-in and the widget are provided for free, at least for now. John and Soren are both good at earning an income, so I don't know if Tweet My Blog will continue to be free in the future. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. In the following sections of this page, I'll tell you more about John and Soren, and about Tweet My Blog. Act on your dream! JD

Promote Your CafePress Store

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:59:02 -0600

CafePress is a great way to sell your designs, music, books, and other original creations. You provide the content and CafePress handles the production and sales. For example, in my John Dilbeck's Shirts, Mugs, and Hats store, I have a lot of mostly text designs that are sold on, well, shirts, mugs, hats, and other items. I create the designs, upload them to CafePress, add products that will have the designs printed on, set my prices, and do the marketing and promotion. CafePress maintains all the computers, warehouses, production facilities, and other things that are needed to take orders, produce the products, ship them, and handle all customer service. Then, when my commissions have cleared, they send me checks to deposit. I'm earning from work I did two or three years ago. How cool is that? You can, too. Open your store at CafePress for free. You need to remember that opening a store and uploading some designs will not earn you any money. You have to do the marketing and promotion to get people to your store so they will purchase. The more items you sell, the more checks you'll deposit. It's just that simple. Act on your dream! JD

Georgia Drag Racing

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:45:32 -0600

Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events. GeorgiaDragRacing.com David Dilbeck, a lifetime fan of drag racing in Georgia, is the editor of the site. We invite you to rank this lens by clicking on the stars above. 1 star is the lowest rank and 5 stars is the best. If you like the lens or the website, please tell a friend.

Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:45:50 -0600

Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) is widely recognized as the founder of modern personal success literature. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time. Napoleon Hill was born into poverty in Virginia and began his writing career at the age of 13 as a reporter for a small-town newspaper. He entered law school but had to withdraw because of finances. In 1908, Hill's career reached a turning point when he interviewed Andrew Carnegie, the richest man in the world at the time. Carnegie commissioned Hill to interview over 500 of the most successful men and women, in order to discover and publish a formula for success that could be duplicated by the average person. For over twenty years Napoleon Hill continued this research. In 1928, the forumula for success that Carnegie and Hill devised was published in The Law of Success. The current version of this work comprises two volumes and well over 1,000 pages. (Read more...)

Famous Quotations

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:23:00 -0600

Sir Winston Churchill once said, "It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is an admirable work, and I studied it intently. The quotations when engraved upon the memory give you good thoughts. They also make you anxious to read the authors and look for more." Quotes, parables, sayings, proverbs, and other phrases often condense a lot of wisdom and experience into one or two sentences. I enjoy reading good quotations made by famous - and not so famous - people. As Winston Churchill observed, a good quote has often led me to read books by, and about, the people whose quotes I had read. I have a copy of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations that is dog-earred, heavily underlined and highlighted. I've had this book for a couple of decades and alway find something new and interesting when I have a few minutes to look through it. Do you know any famous quotations you would like to share? Come vote for your favorites. Your comments, ratings, and links to this lens are alway appreciated and welcomed.

Cherokee County, NC

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:28:24 -0600

Cherokee County is located in the far southwest corner of North Carolina. We are about an hour's drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and about a two-hour's drive to Atlanta, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Greenville, South Carolina; and Asheville, North Carolina. Murphy, NC is the county seat and Andrews, NC is the second-largest town in the county. To our east is the Nantahala River and to the west is the Ocoee River, both of which provide whitewater adventures to thousands of people every year. We have friendly people, lots of scenic splendor, great outdoor recreation, and much more to offer the lucky people who live in, or visit, Cherokee County.

Marketing With Squidoo

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:48:43 -0600

I enjoy marketing with Squidoo and it is working better every month. Squidoo is rather difficult to explain. Here is part of the explanation of a Squidoo lens, taken from the FAQ: "SO, WHAT'S A LENS?" "A lens is one person's view on a topic that matters to her. It's an easy-to-build, single web page that can point to blogs, favorite links, RSS feeds, Flickr photos, Google maps, eBay auctions, CafePress designs, Amazon books or music, and thousands of products from hundreds of other trusted merchants. You can pick whatever content you want to put in your lens to bring context to your topic. Then, when someone is looking for recommended information, fast, your lens gets him started and sends him off in the right direction. It's a place to start, not finish." I have been experimenting with a few different approaches to marketing with Squidoo, and I like using the link lists, RSS feed syndication, Amazon products, CafePress products, and feedback modules the best. If I create a new category of lenses on Squidoo, I add that category to one of my main blogs and syndicate the blog posts in that category on the appropriate lenses. It works. As more modules are added, it takes a bit of experimentation to find what works for you and what doesn't. Marketing is an art, not a science, so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. It takes testing and tweaking to improve the effectiveness of your lenses. Squidoo ranks highly in the search engines and this is a good way to build link love back to your other sites, blogs, and forums. Try it. Highly recommended.

Squidoo Marketing Community

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:59:07 -0600

Squidoo has become a very important part of my online marketing mix and I want to learn good marketing tips and techniques from other Squidoo lensmasters and also share what I know. I have found Squidoo lensmasters to be intelligent, knowledgeable, and helpful, and look forward to your participation. In addition to interacting on this lens, you are invited to join our Squidoo Marketing Community. After a brief disruption, the Squidoo Marketing Community I created on Ning.com is once again alive and well and ready for your participation. You are also welcome to come and tell us about your Squidoo marketing lenses in the Squidoo Lenses section of my A Year From Now Forum. Act on your dream! JD

Discount Coupons in Asheville, North Carolina

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:52:42 -0600

Here are the latest discount coupons for Asheville, North Carolina. I got off to a bad start with this lens, because the system I was using to mange coupons was discontinued. So, I'm in the process of building a new one. Look for it in early 2009. There is more to come.

Favorite Success Quotes

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:48:53 -0600

Success comes in many forms and from many directions. Often it does not come easily and all the obstacles and distractions thrown in our direction will do their best to stop us from acting on our dream and achieving the success we want. I find it helpful, when I'm going through a difficult time and the obstacles look insurmountable, to read about how others have succeeded -- in whatever way they were pursuing their dream and working to make it real.

Images By Courtnie - Murphy, NC

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:55:25 -0600

We specialize in Newborn, Children, Teen, Senior, Engagement, Wedding & Portrait Photography. We are located in The Smoky Mountains in Murphy, NC; the county seat of Cherokee County, NC. Our central location serves the Tri-State area of North Georgia, East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Our service area includes the following counties: Georgia: Fannin County, Union CountyTennessee: Polk CountyNorth Carolina: Cherokee County, Clay County Images by Courtnie is owned and operated by Courtnie Howard. Meetings are by appointment, only. Images By Courtnie Murphy, NC 28906 828-557-3347 or 828-361-3877 courtnie@imagesbycourtnie.com

Western North Carolina

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:14:21 -0600

Western North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. Some of us are lucky enough to live here, others are lucky enough to visit. I wasn't born here, but I got here as soon as I could.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:32:50 -0600

For more than three decades, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has been one of my favorite musical groups. Their album, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," quickly became one of my favorites, and I've worn out at least a dozen cassette tapes and 8-track tapes before I finally got a CD version of the album, which is holding up pretty well. I was already a fan of Earl Scruggs' banjo playing, and John McEuen quickly caught my attention, too. Because of the two of them, I bought a Gibson Mastertone banjo and taught myself to play. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" was just the first of their albums that I have enjoyed over the years. I created this lens mainly to link to their site and to publicly thank them for entertaining me for so many years.

Social Networking Sites for Business

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:15:41 -0600

Are you making use of all the opportunities offered to you by the growing number of free social networking sites to meet new people and to build relationships with them as part of a long-term strategy to grow your business? Some people say that this takes too long and requires too much work, and that may be true in the early stages of implementation. This is probably true if you want to advertise and make immediate sales. However, I look at this in much the same way as building goodwill in a local community. The difference is that the community is world-wide but is defined not by geography, but by interest. The social networking that you would do to build your business is probably very different than what I would do and the main reason is the focus of each of our businesses. Can you imagine being a rock star without a fan club? With free social networking, you can build a following no matter what type of business you own or manage. Do not confuse social networking with advertising. That's the short-sighted view. Think of it more as building a reputation that can grow over a lifetime. The better your reputation, the more people you will attract into your sphere of influence, and that's how you can grow your business over time.

Make Your Knowledge Sell!

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:05:33 -0600

Make Your Knowledge Sell!, written by Monique Harris and Ken Evoy, is the best ebook I have read that tells you how to write an ebook or other electronic report or manual and then sell it online. For years, MYKS! has sold for $49.95, but now it has been totally revised and is a free download. You don't even have to give your email address to get it. If you have been wanting to make more money by writing and selling ebooks, reports, manuals, or other electronic documents, you should investigate becoming an infopreneur - someone who sells information. Make Your Knowledge Sell! won't make you a published author overnight, but it will help you decide what you want to write, how to write your ebook, how to price it, and how to market it. Then, it's up to you to do the research, organize the information you find, and present it to your readers in the form of a well-written ebook that offers your knowledge in an easy-to-download form. Make Your Knowledge Sell! won't do the work for you, but you'll be much better prepared to get paid for your knowledge after you learn what it offers. Download your copy now.

Discount Coupons

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:59:08 -0600

As the economy tightens, many people are taking advantage of special offer coupons to save money - or to get more for the same amount.

Murphy, NC 28906

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:11:05 -0600

Depending upon which direction you are travelling, Murphy, NC is the first or last town in North Carolina. We are a small town located in the southern Appalachian mountains in Cherokee County, the most south-western county in the state. We are located about one hour from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and less than that from the Nantahala River and the Ocoee River, both very popular whitewater rivers in southwestern North Carolina. Murphy has retained the small town America flavor, with low traffic, less noise, friendly people, and a variety of small stores and shops. Yet, we are still only about a two hour drive from Atlanta, GA; Greenville, SC; Asheville, NC; Gatlinburg, TN; Pigeon Forge, TN, Knoxville, TN; and Chattanooga, TN.

Can AWeber and Squidoo Work Together?

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:47:02 -0600

This is an open letter to Tom Kulzer, CEO and Founder of AWeber, and Seth Godin, Founder of Squidoo. We have a problem that I think can be solved. As both of you already know, permission marketing is one of the most effective ways of attracting prospects, educating clients/customers, and building our businesses. Seth wrote the book about it, Permission Marketing, and he is the founder of one of the fastest-growing recommendation websites in the world: Squidoo.com. Tom founded the best service for managing autoresponders, mailing lists, newsletters, and email subscriptions to RSS feeds: AWeber.com. One would think that these two outstanding marketers and entrepreneurs would find a way to work together in what I think is a perfect match. What am I talking about? It is impossible to put an active AWeber subscription form on a Squidoo lens using either javascript or HTML. The reasons date back to problems that Squidoo has had in the past related to spammers and devious people who misused the javascript and iforms tools to do unacceptable things. I believe that most Squidoo lensmasters who are aware of these past problems are happy that Squidoo took actions to stop these people from misusing the great service that Squidoo provides to us. However, in the fallout, legitimate uses of forms are also thwarted. One such legitimate use is to add active sign-up forms for the mailing lists we manage using the outstanding service that AWeber provides. Quite simply, it is the best in the industry. Presently, AWeber provides two methods of putting subscription forms on our sites: javascript and HTML. Neither of these can be used on Squidoo lenses, because Squidoo allows no javascript and only limited HTML. The iform and form tags are not allowed to be used on the lenses we create. Perhaps this is a tempest in a teacup, but I've been looking for a way to do what I think should be a simple task and I've been stymied at every turn. I have plans to greatly increase my use of both AWeber and Squidoo services, but those plans are centered around the permission marketing tasks I want to incorporate into my activities. I believe that I am not the only one who would like to see these two great companies work together to find a viable solution that would allow us to add our sign-up forms to our lenses without violating the security measures that Squidoo knows to be necessary to protecting the entire community of lensmasters. Can AWeber and Squidoo work together? I hope so. Act on your dream! JD

Site Build It! 5 Pillar Affiliate Program

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:18:34 -0600

It has been said many times since the introduction of Sitesell's 5 Pillar Affiliate Program that it is the best affiliate program on the planet. Why? That's the mission for this page - to tell you why you should join the 5 Pillar Affiliate program and promote Site Build It! Get a free education in affiliate marketing and earn good commissions in the process. Promote a real product that is helping people change their lives. Want to learn more about Site Build It? Visit my Site Build It, a revolution in website design, hosting, and promotion lens. Act on your dream! JD

The Village Grill - Murphy, NC

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:01:11 -0600

The Village Grill is closed January, 2010 - I am sorry to inform you that The Village Grill was totally destroyed by a fire and is now closed. We extend our deepest sympathy to Wanda and all the employees and to everyone who loved eating there. The Village Grill is a family restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. It is owned and operated by Wanda Rice. It is conveniently located on the four-lane about a dozen miles west of downtown Murphy, at 11295 W US Hwy 64, making it a great place to eat for visitors passing through Murphy or residents living in the Ranger community and the western-most parts of Cherokee County. The easiest way to contact The Village Grill is by telephone: 828-644-1894.

Traffic Exchanges Bring More Visitors To Your Websites

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:38:38 -0600

Everyone builds a website with the expectation that you will have, in the next few days, a flood of traffic to your website, visitors who are willing and ready to buy your products and services, read your witty and wise remarks, and make your site the raging success you want it to be. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. With many millions of websites on the World Wide Web, new sites may have difficulty in attracting the thousands of visitors every month that will make a site successful. It is much easier to build a site than it is to get people to (1) learn about it, (2) visit and see what it is about, (3) make it a part of their routine activities by visiting on a regular basis, and (4) (best of all) telling their friends to come visit, too. So, how do you get a flood of regular visitors to your site? There are many ways. This lens presents traffic exchanges as one way to get more visitors to your site. I welcome your comments. Please sign our guest book at the bottom of the page and tell me what you think.

Favorite Social Networking Sites

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:01:30 -0600

Social networking sites are popping up everywhere. I'm sure you've heard of some of them, such as MySpace and Facebook. The purpose of this lens is to make a list of some of the best and most popular social networking sites. I hope you'll take the time to vote for yours and offer any comments you'd care to share in our guest book.

Ken Evoy

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:51:34 -0600

I first met Ken Evoy (online, not in person) around the turn of the century. I had been working hard to sell my Steel Roses That Never Wilt (tm) online and was meeting with limited success. I found Ken's ebook, "Make Your Site Sell!," and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made. As a result of what I learned in that book and it's subsequent edition, I rebuilt my website and people from all around the world started finding my website and purchasing them from me. Later, when I joined his 5 Pillars affiliate program, I learned a lot of what I know about affiliate marketing from Ken. When Mom had nerve problems following cancer surgery, I was able to bring her home and care for her, instead of sending her to a nursing home, because I was able to earn a living while working at home in the room next to her. I don't believe I would have been able to do this if it weren't for what I learned, and continue to learn, from Ken Evoy. I recommend Site Build It! for a number of reasons, because it is an outstanding product that is being continually improved, because I use the tools provided by SBI on an almost-daily basis, and because I believe in Ken Evoy and want to see him and his business prosper as much as possible so he can continue helping others find "it" and improve their lives. Ken is a treasure and I'm not the only one who feels that way. Act on your dream! JD

Rumors Clothing - Murphy, NC

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:50:28 -0600

Heather Rice, owner of Rumors Clothing, is dedicated to finding and bringing trendy women's clothing to her valued customers in Murphy. Heather says, "I have the latest fashions, hot off the runway. I grew up in Murphy and always had to go out of town to Atlanta or somewhere else to get trendy merchandise." Now, she is dedicated to offering you fashionable clothing in the latest styles right here in Murphy. She carries the Roxy clothing line, MISS ME JEANS, Junk Food Clothing, Volatile Sandals, and a selection of Biagi bead jewelry. MISS ME JEANS will give you that precise, individual "just for me" feeling. It's the perfect fit with details that reflect the fun in every moment of your life. MISS ME JEANS is strictly jeans in the best sense of the concept. With fits that compliment just about any figure, MISS ME JEANS designs are truly unique stand-outs in a vast sea of denim. Junk Food's tees are soft, weathered shirts that incorporate retro and contemporary pop culture images as well as original artwork. Heather offers the Biagi line of bead jewelry as a less expensive alternative to other similar lines. In most cases, you'll find that Biagi bead jewelry is compatible with Pandora bracelets, Chamilia beads, Trollbeads, Granchelli, Lovelinks, and possibly others. Ask her if you have questions concerning your favorite bead jewelry and its compatibility with the Biagi line she carries. Specializing in juniors and misses clothing, Heather strives to provide quality clothing at great prices for young women from 13 to 40. Rumors offers lots of choices for young ladies and women in various size ranges. If in doubt, contact Heather and ask her. She invites you to come and look around. You'll probably find something you will want to purchase and take home with you.

How to build a successful website

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:00:48 -0600

Do you want to save time and money and build a successful website the first time? I'm sure that's what everyone wants. The next question: how much do you know about all the technical aspects of building and maintaining a website? If you are an expert and don't intend to change what is currently working for you, then this lens has nothing to offer you. For everyone else, beginner to expert, you can build a successful website without wasting time or money and without tearing out your hair in the process. I've watched it being done. Over the last several years, I've built dozens of websites. Most have not thrived, or even survived. Some just failed to capture reader interest and I dropped them. Others were hacked and destroyed by people who don't know me and don't care. I lost interest in others and took them down. Now, I have about 20 sites, a few blogs, and a couple of forums that are doing okay to very well. It occurred to me last year that I've had to change - or even completely rebuild - almost all of my websites sometime in the last couple of years. The single exception is my Act On Your Dream! site, and this is the only one built on and hosted by Site Build It! I don't know how many thousands of dollars and thousands of hours I've spent building, maintaining, and rebuilding my sites, but that one site is the only one that has never had any problems. It is also the site I've spent the least amount of time and effort building. I add a few pages now and then, and it keeps plugging away for me, night and day. I picked a difficult topic when I started AYearFromNow.com and it has been harder to conceptualize and write than my other sites, and, still, thousands of people visit it every month. It more than pays for itself, and that wasn't even the purpose of the site when I started it. I have two other sites in the planning process and both of them will be built using Site Build It. I've learned my lesson. You can build a successful site, too, no matter your experience level. I've watched hundreds of people do it. Act on your dream! JD

Apple Computer's iPad

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:36:10 -0600

In January, 2010, Apple computer introduced the iPad. It won't be available for purchasing until at least March, 2010, but already millions of people are interested in this new product that will define a new category of portable computing. All of the built in applications are designed from the ground up to take advantage of the iPad's large Multi-Touch screen and they work in any orientation. Rather than describing what the iPad can do and missing some of the main points, here's a link to Apple's iPad features page that describes it in great detail.

Independence Day Firecracker

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:59:23 -0600

On July 4th, 1776, our founding fathers formally adopted the Declaration of Independence from England. Over the next several days, the Declaration was signed and the United States of America took on a new life of its own. Now, we celebrate Independence Day with feasts, parades, celebrations, concerts, and - at the end of the day - with fireworks. It's our national birthday celebration and we enjoy it. However, that's not the only reason I created this lens. I have a personal story to share with you.

Murphy, NC is a growing community with small town charm

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:14 -0600

Murphy, NC is the county seat of Cherokee County, the western-most county in North Carolina. Depending upon which direction you're heading, Murphy is either the first or last town in the state. Located in the southern Blue Ridge mountains, Murphy is located between some of the major cities of the area, including Chattanooga, TN; Atlanta, GA; Asheville, NC; and Knoxville, TN. We have lots of outdoor recreation activities including fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, hiking, cycling, bird watching, and much more for anyone who loves the beauty and diversity of nature.

Merchant Circle - Advertise to your local community

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:24:39 -0600

The MerchantCircle Network is a great way for local businesses to find new customers. In the next section, you'll learn just a few of the many reasons why small business owners will be interested in signing up to the MerchantCircle community. Submit your business listing for free to the MerchantCircle.com business directory.

John Dilbeck

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:24:11 -0600

Ever since I first discovered Squidoo, I've loved building and revising my lenses. I have a wide range of interests and very limited time, so that means I have a long list of lenses I want to create whenever I can. One of the things you may not know about me is that I have a gift for building websites, forums, and lenses that don't seem to interest anyone but me, but ya gotta be who you are. I'm going to try to organize the lenses I've already built and list them here on this lensography page, but it won't be easy. I have a wide-ranging and eclectic set of interests. I would be building many more lenses if I didn't have so many other websites to manage, so I'm going to add a section for my other sites, even though they may not strictly belong on a lensography. I hope you find something you like on at least one of these lenses, and I welcome your comments and suggestions. Please feel free to rank the lenses, vote in the Plexo lists, and favorite any you like. Act on your dream! JD

Tim Russert - Moderator of Meet The Press - a Tribute

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:23:13 -0600

From About Meet The Press' website: Tim Russert was the Managing Editor and Moderator of "Meet the Press" and political analyst for "NBC Nightly News" and the "TODAY" program. He anchored "The Tim Russert Show," a weekly interview program on MSNBC. Russert also served as senior vice president and Washington bureau chief of NBC News. He died Friday, June 13 after being stricken at the Washington D.C. bureau. He was 58. His two books-Big Russ and Me in 2004 and Wisdom of Our Fathers in 2006-were both New York Times #1 bestsellers.

Best Advertising Books

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:43:02 -0600

We all know that there is wisdom in numbers. Do you have any thoughts about books on advertising? If you do, we invite you to rank the books on this list by voting for your favorites. If you don't see your favorite, please feel free to add it. The more people who vote on this list and add books to it, the better it will be for all of us who want to use it as a resource to further our education in the field of effective advertising. Act on your dream! JD

John Dilbeck's Zazzle Gallery Showcase

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:18:58 -0600

John Dilbeck offers an eclectic selection of designs that appeal to blacksmiths, computer geeks, people who are proud to be Americans, and others who appreciate styled text designs. I made this page because I work hard on my Zazzle gallery and my designs, and wanted a fun way to reach new people like you. Here's the link to my Zazzle Gallery. Head on over and look around. http://www.zazzle.com/johndilbeck

Intergalactic Cyber Hugs Day

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:43:51 -0600

I have friends around the world that I've never seen, and yet we exchange cyber hugs on a regular basis, especially when we need a bit of cheering up. Today is the first day of spring, 2008, and it brings a smile to my face and a warm feeling, too. The long winter is coming to an end and we can look forward to warmer weather, flowers blooming, birds singing, and all the other things that are a part of spring and summer. So, to make it even more special, I'm declaring that today, and each first day of spring henceforth, shall be known as Intergalactic Cyber Hugs Day! Share a cyber hug with an e-friend, today. Hugs, JD

Act On Your Dream!

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:50:21 -0600

It all begins with a dream. Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true. -- Napoleon Hill, author of the best selling book, Think and Grow Rich Once you have the dream, you begin to develop it by visualizing exactly how you feel when it is completed. Do you feel better or worse? If you feel better, it is a sign that you should pursue this dream. The more you see it in your imagination, the closer it comes to appearing in our 3-D shared reality. Eventually, there comes a time to take the dream, the vision, and bring it forth into the real world and share it with the rest of us. You may feel hesitant or even foolish, but unless you can do it all yourself, eventually you have to share your dream and attract others to help you. That's when you begin to act on your dream!

Which is better for building an online business? Site Build It! or WordPress? Why?

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:40:22 -0600

What do you think is the best way to build a successful business website? In this case, I am defining successful as being effective in getting business and generating revenue. To be successful, a business must be profitable. While it can feel good to do what you love, you won't be able to continue doing it for very long unless you are earning a profit from your efforts. If you are subsidizing your business with income from a job or other sources, can you really call it a business? Perhaps it's a hobby, instead? So, what do you think works best? Building a website with Site Build It or blogging with WordPress?

Social Networking at Ning.com

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:41:41 -0600

Did you know that Ning.com has created a platform for hosting multiple social networking communities? It's true. You can join one or more existing communities or create your own. It's free. If you want, you can pay to upgrade your community and add special features to it, but the free sites are fully-functional.

Castle Freedom (tm)

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:06:04 -0600

You can help build the first castle dedicated to freedom and built through the cooperative efforts of ordinary individuals around the world. Castle Freedom (tm) will be dedicated to peace and freedom and will be a place where people gather to help each other find more freedom in their lives. Act on your dream! JD

BuildBiggerDownlines.com

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:33:46 -0600

MLMs are growing and many people are building a home business in one or more network marketing companies. Before you waste a lot of time and money by approaching network marketing from the wrong direction, take a few minutes and read Ann Sieg's free ebook: The 7 Great Lies of Network Marketing. Learn from an expert what to avoid and how to build an MLM business the right way. Downline builders are sites that help you promote multiple business opportunities to new people. They allow you to build your downlines in several programs at once, rather than just one, should the new affiliate choose to join more than one. In the next section, you'll find links to downline builders you may choose to explore.

Favorite Science Fiction

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:45:02 -0600

I have been a huge fan of science fiction books and movies since I was a teenager. This lens will list some of my favorite science fiction and will link to other's lists of their favorites, too.

My Unauthorized Autobiography

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:34:26 -0600

(...as told by himself, to himself, in some obviously altered state of reality, in a weird stream-of-consciousness style...) I am a tall, slim, tanned, healthy stud of indeterminate age who sometimes walks around in battle armor, sometimes in a dark blue cloak, sometimes in jeans, suspenders, and a tee-shirt, and sometimes totally nude showing off a body that would make Adonis envious. I am usually surrounded by a bevy of adoring and adorable nubile young wenches, who scatter rose water and flower petals in my path. Women who are dating the sexiest movie stars sometimes imagine they're with me, just to get into the proper mood. I am a dynamic figure, able to crush ice between my toes, climb ropes with one hand, and stare down raging bulls while licking whipped cream off a rose bud without damaging the petals. I've been known to tread the ice-filled waters of the north Atlantic for days on end, lie nude in the sands of the Sahara, and run for the sheer joy of it through the deserts of southern Arizona while being chased by Immigration officers. I've smuggled snow into Iceland, refrigerators into the Yukon, saunas into Panama, sun lamps into Nigeria, lumber into Oregon, and tobacco into North Carolina. Once while a friend and I were standing in front of four Mexican Federales, who were pointing machine guns at us at the time, I watched in awe as he had the presence of mind to order a cheese omelet in French. He later said it was the only thing he could think to say in any language other than English, but I know better. That's how cool he really was! That was the day I learned that it is much better to smile and be friendly and to try to converse in Spanish than it is to spend the rest of your life in a Mexican prison or cemetery.

John Dilbeck's Shirts, Mugs, and Hats

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:49:19 -0600

Welcome to John Dilbeck's Shirts, Mugs, and Hats store. The good thing is that I have quite a few designs and products I think you are going to like. The bad news is that it is an eclectic mix that is difficult to describe in a few words. I invite you to browse Shirts-Mugs-Hats.com and look for products that interest you. Some of my best selling designs include: Because I'm the Mommy, That's Why! USA Webmaster Animal Images Blacksmithing Designs When you browse Shirts-Mugs-Hats.com, you will see a list of all the designs in the left column and a drop down list at the top of the page that helps you find designs on specific products. If I have a design, but it is not on the product you want, please leave feedback and tell me what you want, or email me at jd@johndilbeck.com and let me know what you want. Please put "CafePress request" in the subject line. If you don't find what you are looking for, leave feedback at the bottom of this page and I'll do my best to help you, or refer you to someone else who can help. I would appreciate it if you would rank this lens by clicking one of the stars at the top of the page (1 = worst, 5 = best). Your comments and other feedback are always welcome. Thank you for visiting my CafePress store lens here at Squidoo. Please come back - and tell your friends!

Private Success Team

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:23:21 -0600

The Private Success Team is a simple 3-step system that enables you to build your business at absolutely no cost! To build an online business you either need your own product or become an affiliate marketer of a stable and long term program with residual income. Secondly you need traffic and lots of it. Through our system we build solid, long term residual traffic again totally free. It's very hard to build trust in people because of all the false promises, hype, & scams. No one can blame you for being skeptical. This system is absolutely free to enroll, start your home business, learn our methods, and become part of our sales team. We work together for the betterment of all. Building an Internet business requires two things. Product (something of value to sell) and a system of creating traffic to your sales page. The commitment of time and effort on your part determines your success, nothing else. It's that simple, we will not overly complicate this system.

Get A Free Marketing Site

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:32:22 -0600

When I first encountered LinkScout, I didn't really understand why it was important for my marketing efforts. Now, however, after using it for a couple of years, I've learned that it is a very powerful suite of marketing tools that helps me market as many sites, products, and services as I want. It is a powerful marketing tool, even in the totally free version, but it becomes much more effective when you upgrade to the associate level. For one thing, for only a few dollars, you get 15,000 hits to your site, or you can use the credits to increase the position of the websites you are promoting on various parts of the LinkScout system. I get tens of thousands of hits to my Linkscout page at Get A Free Marketing Site and this is accomplished by promoting it on other sites, including here, as well as buying hits directly from Linkscout. You can advertise as many sites as you want, but I tend to promote only the sites I really believe in. In fact, I recently took some pages off and added a few new ones. One of the beauties of Linkscout is that you can start totally for free and see how it works for you. It will take some time and effort before you really realize the power of the system built into the site. Why free? Because, if I sponsor you, some of my advertising will be shown on your page, below your links. I don't promote anything you would be ashamed of, but, when you realize the power of LinkScout, you can eliminate all my ads by upgrading to Associate level. At that point, all of my links will be removed from your page, but your links will be shown on the pages of the people you refer, under their links, unless they choose to upgrade. With a bit of work and promotional efforts, you can have your ads shown on dozens or hundreds of sites, all for the price of advertising on just one. I highly recommend LinkScout and you can get a free marketing site of your very own at no cost and no obligation. Test it today.

Promotional Products

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:46:40 -0600

I remember the very first time I became aware of promotional products, and I didn't know what they were called, but they were neat and they were free. I was a kid in the third grade when my family moved from Atlanta to Vero Beach, Florida. We moved into a new housing development and a few days later a woman drove up and asked to speak to my Mom. Mom invited her inside and the lady welcomed us to the community. She gave mom all sorts of things like calendars, fly swatters, can openers, a thermometer, and other things I don't remember. What I do remember was that every one of them had the name of a bank, insurance company, or other business on them, and even a phone number to call them. I thought that was a good idea -- and I still do. Promotional products, or advertising specialties, can be just about anything. Some of the favorites are pens, pencils, rulers, calendars, thermometers, key chains or fobs, umbrellas, t-shirts, and hats. As we progress into the 21st century, we're seeing more high-tech products, such as CD case openers, keyboard brushes, USB devices, memory cards, and similar products. The common issue is that they are all used more than once -- they have a long life. Everytime someone picks up a product with your name and contact information, you are reinforcing your brand, even if it is mostly subconsciously. Promotional products are used in all industries and are frequently used to promote events, fundraisers, and the people who participate and volunteer. You'll see t-shirts, hats, water bottles, and many other items being used to commemorate and promote races, concerts, festivals, and other community events. Some people refer to these promotional gift items as swag or schwag and love getting them for free. Promotional products are frequently given as free gifts, but there is no reason you can't sell them. It's done all the time. In addition to being a good marketing device, your promotional products can also be a profit center, should you so desire. Have you ever bought a shirt with a design of your favorite band or musical group? Do you have Christmas ornaments, shirts, caps, and other items with company logos and names like Coca-Cola, Nike, Apple, and other national and international brands? Were they free or were you happy to buy them? What are you doing to promote your business or organization? Are promotional products included in your marketing plan? Advertising specialty items are great at cross-promoting similar and non-competing businesses. For example, car dealerships can distribute promotional products from insurance companies at the time of purchase, and insurance companies can distribute freebies from car dealerships when their clients renew their insurance policies. Builders can offer free products with the names of local banks, building supply businesses, restaurants, schools, and other companies that offer products and services to new homeowners and people who have just moved into the community. Businesses with no prominent locations can co-promote with other businesses that have lots of foot traffic in their stores. Think outside the box. Promotional products can be used to interest new prospects and help move them through your marketing funnel until they convert into customers. Items with your company logo can be used to thank new customers and remind customers who have bought from your company that you're still around. You can build and reinforce your brand image with all kinds of products that feature your company logo. There are many uses for promotional products. Put them to work for your company, today.

Murphy Gold

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:08:10 -0600

Get more for your hard-earned money at Murphy Gold! Some of the best locally-owned businesses are cooperating to help you get the best value for the money you spend by offering you special deals that provide a discount on their products and services or offer additional value for the same price. Unlike many other similar sites, you don't have to purchase a discount card nor buy a book of coupons. There is no cost to you to take advantage of these generous special offers. Just go to one of the businesses listed and show them anything with a Murphy Gold logo on it, or even the words "Murphy Gold" or "MurphyGold.com," and you can take immediate advantage of the special. This is an outstanding way for these business owners to express their gratitude to their valued customers and clients and to invite new people to visit their businesses. Would you like to receive our Murphy Gold newsletter? Just go to any Murphy Gold business and give them your name and email address and we'll add you to the list, or, if you prefer, you can subscribe to Murphy Gold News online. Support locally-owned businesses that help support our community. Visit a Murphy Gold business today!

Business Build It?

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:03:23 -0600

There are a lot of people who have serious misconceptions about Site Build It. Now that there are all kinds of sites promising an easy way to build a site, you are likely to confuse one of them for what Site Build It! can do to help you build not just a website, but a successful online business. Now, I want to be as objective as I can about this, and even though I love Site Build It! and all I've learned from using it, SBI just isn't for everyone. There are lots of things you can't do with SBI, at least not directly. However, if you really want to extend your SBI site to include things like forums, blogs, PHP scripting, and so forth, then it can be done. If you want to build lots of little sites for a few dollars each, SBI isn't for you. If you want to build a successful business and are looking for time-tested advice and guidance combined with top-quality tools to help you, then I don't know of anything that compares to Site Build It!. Is it time to rename Site Build It! to Business Build It!? Act on your dream! JD

S&L Auto and Tractor Parts - Murphy, NC

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:09:33 -0600

If so, then why don't you contact Paul Beaster, owner of S&L Auto and Tractor Parts in Murphy, NC. He offers a full line of auto repair parts and auto accessories. The best way to contact Paul is to drop in during normal business hours or call him at 828-837-2392.

Western North Carolina Forum

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:31:22 -0600

If it concerns living, learning, working, playing, or visiting the mountains of North Carolina, this is the place to talk about it.

SiteSell Services - Build my website for me using Site Build It!

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:12:31 -0600

Before I tell you about SiteSell Services and Site Build It!, I want to say this: I know Site Build It! isn't the only way to build a successful website - providing you are an expert or have a (very expensive) team of experts working for you. However, if you are like most small business owners, you know a lot about how to run your business, but building a website just isn't in your skill set and you don't have the time to learn all that is required while still running your business. If that description fits you, then I urge you to learn how the SiteSell specialists can put the power of Site Build It! to work for you to build a website that will bring in new prospects and add to your bottom line. Of course, you'll have to cooperate and work with your specialist, just as you already work with other specialists like your lawyer and accountant. While practically anyone can learn how to use Site Build It! to build a profitable online business, you just don't have the time to do it yourself. You have worked hard to grow your own offline business. Now you need a Web site, one that takes your business to a whole new level. Building a site is easy, but building a high-traffic site requires special online business-building expertise that your local Webmaster doesn't have. Our specialists have this experience and are waiting to build your profit-pulling website for you, at a very attractive price. Don't delay. See how SiteSell Services can help you. Do it today.

Conference Call Services

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:27:12 -0600

It hasn't been all that long ago that participating in a conference call was much more difficult than it is now. Not only is conference calling much easier, it's much less expensive, too. Several conference calling services will be linked to on this page.

Site Build It!: The Greatest Webhosting Ever

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:46:09 -0600

Site Build It is the best way to brainstorm a profitable niche, and to design, host, and promote a website. It is much more than the greatest webhosting ever, it's a way to learn how to build a profitable online business for less than a dollar a day.

Dolly Parton

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:09:48 -0600

What can you say about Dolly Parton? I love her and I love what she has accomplished. Dolly grew up as a poor country girl with a bouncy personality and a gift for music. She has written hundreds of songs in her life and I'd be surprised if you don't like at least a few of them - or most of them! Dolly is extremely successful in the fields of music, movies, entertainment, and has built a very popular vacation destination in eastern Tennessee - DollyWood. I am not officially connected to Dolly, but I am a huge fan.

Favorite destinations in western North Carolina

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:03:54 -0600

Millions of people visit the mountain region in western North Carolina every year. They come from all parts of the world and visit for all kinds of reasons. Some come to see the scenic natural beauty. Others come to learn a new skill or to challenge a wild river. Others are looking for a peaceful refuge away from the bustling cities or summer heat. Why do you visit our beautiful little corner of the world?

Play Music

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:02:52 -0600

Many years ago, when I was still a teenager, I managed to buy a guitar. There was nobody to teach me how to play it, so I listened to the radio and taught myself to pick the melody as I listened to a variety of Rock and Country songs. It was years later that I bought some books on how to play a guitar and discovered chords, tablature, and music theory. My guitars and banjos have been a joy and comfort to me, and you'll often hear me playing my guitar while I'm thinking through a tough project or idea. However, as much as my friends liked hearing me play guitar and banjo, that's how much they were happy when I gave my violin away. Everyone should learn to play music, even if it's just a kazoo. Music calms the savage beast, and you, too.

21st Century Affiliate Marketing

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:56:22 -0600

I have owned several home businesses over the last 30 years, including consulting, programming, printing, page layout, and blacksmithing, and I think affiliate marketing is a relatively easy way to earn extra money online. Of course, it's a business, so you have to continue to upgrade your knowledge, keep up with your industry, learn new skills, and do the work necessary. That's right. It takes work. And nobody is going to do it for you for free, no matter what they say. You'll have to invest time, effort, and money to build your business - otherwise, you just have another hobby. I'm no expert and I still have lots to learn, but I do earn 100% of my income from affiliate marketing and I'm willing to share what I learn. Thanks for visiting. I hope you'll take a moment to rank this lens and leave any feedback you'd like to share. Act on your dream! JD

John L. Dilbeck

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:05:18 -0600

Hi, My name is John Dilbeck, but my friends call me JD and the folks who don't like me don't call me very much. I'm a laid-back loner who likes to read, learn, experiment, and then pass along to others what I've worked hard to learn for myself. Most of the time, I'm in my cave, uh, I mean small cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, working feverishly on one project or another. You won't find any moss growing on my ganglia. (Look it up.) I'm always looking for another educational experience, which is good, because I keep getting thrown into one after another. For three decades or more, I was a computer consultant, programmer, analyst, trainer, manager, and college instructor. It was my goal to learn as much about computers as I could and then to pass along that knowledge and at least part of my skill set to others. I've helped hundreds of people learn to use their computers more effectively. After burning out on that, I left the dead-end world of computers and went back to an old family tradition - the skyrocketing world of blacksmithing. You can see one of my world-famous steel roses in my pic. When Mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, I did all I could to help her through the treatment process. After the surgery successfully conquered her cancer, it unfortunately left her with nerve damage and she was no longer able to completely care for herself as she had done for over 80 years. So, I closed my metalsmithing business, and became Mom's full-time caretaker, which I continue to do. When my savings were gone, I needed a way to earn a living and still stay home full-time, so I turned to marketing on the Internet. For the last few years, I've been testing a lot of things to see what works best for me. Now I'm in the process of ceasing to run my business by the seat of my pants and moving towards a more rigorous and scientific way of marketing. My goal is to help businesses and organizations in western North Carolina market themselves more effectively. If you live in the NC mountains, maybe I can help you, too. I succeed by helping you succeed. My long-term goal is to find the right people to help me build the first castle ever built by normal, ordinary people. Yes, it will be very expensive, but big dreams become reality when many people are inspired to be a part of making it happen. Act on your dream! JD

Marketing With MySpace

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:43:11 -0600

Last year, I signed up for MySpace but wasn't too interested in what I encountered there. A couple of months ago, however, I took another look and saw possibilities for marketing without being obnoxious and intrusive. As a social networking site, I'm sure business and advertising is not high on the list of interests for the great majority of members, but there is an ever-growing number of people who are interested in business and marketing. The ability to write to your blog, join or create groups, and easily keep in touch with friends and associates makes MySpace very attractive. There are things to watch out for, also. As with most popular sites, there are people who don't play nice in the sandbox and will bother and cause harm to other members. I don't understand this mindset, but I know these people exist. I have found a very interesting and supportive group of people there and look forward to meeting more MySpace friends.

The Poltrock Team at RE/MAX Mountain Properties - Murphy, NC Real Estate

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:16:53 -0600

Then you need to contact The Poltrock Team. Right now. A professional team of real estate brokers in western North Carolina can help you find just the right home in the mountains that you've been dreaming about. If you're looking for acreage in western North Carolina, they can help you find what you are looking for, too.

Site Build It Webmasters Headquarters

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:16:27 -0600

Site Build It Webmasters All Site Build it Webmasters are welcome here. Build a lens about how you use Site Build It to build your online business. (SBI sites only.)

Jimmy Buffett

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:49:59 -0600

Jimmy Buffett has been one of my favorite entertainers for almost three decades. I fell in love with his music the first time I heard Margaritaville and I've enjoyed almost all of his songs since then. If you are a fellow parrothead, here are some links to items you'll enjoy. Tell us your experiences related to Jimmy Buffett and his music; sign the guest book at the bottom of the page. (I can't believe I misspelled his name when I created this lens!)

Act On Your Dream!

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:17:29 -0600

What is your dream? What do you want to achieve during your lifetime that will outlive you. How will you be remembered? Do you even have a dream? Identify your dream and find a way to make it real. You have the power right now to decide what you are going to do with your life. Act on your dream! Who will you be a year from now?

Custom T-Shirts

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:03:09 -0600

Most people -- well, most cool people -- love t-shirts. If you don't love t-shirts, then, by definition, you are obviously not cool. Really cool people not only wear t-shirts, they create them, design them, collect them, sell them, and personalize them for a one-of-a-kind, unique artistic creation. T-shirts can be funny, controversial, political, naughty, patriotic, offensive, lovable, cute, and a thousand other descriptions. You can make your own or have someone else personalize one for you. Upload those photos from the last office party or family reunion and make t-shirts to remember the good times and embarassing moments. Promote your business, school, church, organization, club, team or event. Give them away or sell them as fundraisers. T-shirts have a million uses and there are millions of designs just waiting for you to find and wear.

The Powerful Intentions of John Dilbeck

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:52:54 -0600

My name is John Dilbeck and I am a happy member of PowerfulIntentions.org. It is a special community and you may enjoy being a part of it since you were attracted here. Recently, Powerful Intentions moved their community from PowerfulIntentions.com to PowerfulIntentions.org. If you find broken links related to Powerful Intentions, try looking on the new site. Learn more about Powerful Intentions and the Law of Attraction in the section, below. I hope you will take a moment to rate this lens (above) and offer any comments or feedback you care to (at the bottom of the page). Thanks for visiting.

North Carolina Headquarters

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:16:14 -0600

North Carolina Anyone who has a lens about North Carolina or something located in North Carolina is welcome to join the North Carolina group.

Site Build It Video Showcase

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:53:46 -0600

Site Build It customers love SBI so much they make their own videos to tell you all about how it has changed their lives.