A link roundup to jumpstart your thinking and planning!
Embracing What I Am, What I'm Not: knowing yourself is the key to successful goal setting
The Blogger's Guide to Goal Setting John Chow shares words of wisdom.
SMART Goal Setting for Bloggers from Standout Blogger. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound.
Blogging Goals linkup at Savvy Blogging!
Share your favorite site that helps you be a better blogger in the comments!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 2011 meeting
Houston Blogging Chicks will be holding their January meeting at Central Market, in the upper meeting room. You can purchase something from the store, deli, or cafe to snack on (no outside food and drinks).
Thursday, Jan. 13
8 pm
Central Market
3815 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX(713) 386-1700
RSVP on Twitter (@milehimama) or email Lisa. Come join us for a Blogging Girl's Night Out!
Any area female blogger is welcome to attend- if they can make the meeting, they can come even if they don't live in Houston.
We'll be talking about goal setting and plans for the New Year, and I'd also love to hear from anyone who's gone to Blissdom or has tickets for this year!
This is a great time to find someone to mentor, choose a goal partner, or just share your plans for accountability.
Optional "homework":
Before the meeting, please spend a few minutes setting goals for your blog for the next year. Why are you blogging? How do you want to see your blog grow? Do you want to earn an income from your blog, and if so, do you want a little extra, a part time income, or a full time income? Maybe you don't want to monetize, but you want to be an influencer, practice your writing skills, or create a thriving community.
Determine what you want. You can share with the group at the next meeting for accountability, encouragement, and support or just keep your goals private.
If you don't know where you're going, you won't know how to get there!
Check back or subscribe via RSS - I'll be putting up links to great goal setting articles soon!
Map:
View Larger Map
Thursday, Jan. 13
8 pm
Central Market
3815 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX
RSVP on Twitter (@milehimama) or email Lisa. Come join us for a Blogging Girl's Night Out!
Any area female blogger is welcome to attend- if they can make the meeting, they can come even if they don't live in Houston.
We'll be talking about goal setting and plans for the New Year, and I'd also love to hear from anyone who's gone to Blissdom or has tickets for this year!
This is a great time to find someone to mentor, choose a goal partner, or just share your plans for accountability.
Optional "homework":
Before the meeting, please spend a few minutes setting goals for your blog for the next year. Why are you blogging? How do you want to see your blog grow? Do you want to earn an income from your blog, and if so, do you want a little extra, a part time income, or a full time income? Maybe you don't want to monetize, but you want to be an influencer, practice your writing skills, or create a thriving community.
Determine what you want. You can share with the group at the next meeting for accountability, encouragement, and support or just keep your goals private.
If you don't know where you're going, you won't know how to get there!
Check back or subscribe via RSS - I'll be putting up links to great goal setting articles soon!
Map:
View Larger Map
Friday, December 10, 2010
Blogging and Taxes
I've put together a list of resources. Check with your tax advisor if you have any questions. Please note I am not a professional accountant and I am not giving tax advice.
If you are a sole proprietor, you'll need to fill out a Schedule C with your taxes.
Remember to include ALL compensation - including products you were given in order to write a review (if you kept that product). If you were given a carpet cleaner from Bissell, tickets to a Yankee game which you attended, and a pound of Ghiradelli chocolate you'll need to claim it! But if you didn't keep it - you picked up the tickets but held a giveaway for them on your blog, for example, and the tickets merely passed through in the course of your business, you do not need to claim it as compensation. If you accepted the tickets, couldn't use them, and gave them to your sister, though - you have to claim it. (See, this is why you need to check with your accountant if you have questions!)
Common deductions might include: cost of hardware and software used exclusively for blogging, promoting online, etc.; hosting; domain name; design/graphics; postage and shipping if you mail items to readers from promotions and giveaways; postage if you send your readers notes, cards, etc. via snail mail; cost of conferences, webinars, ebooks, or regular books if used for training. So, if you bought an ebook on SEO, CSS for Dummies from Barnes and Noble, and went to BlogHer, those are deductible expenses.
If you've incorporated this year, the legal costs are deductible. If you are required to have a license or permit by your city, county, or state, the cost is deductible too. PayPal fees may be deductible.
Be careful- don't claim so many deductions that your blog business is unprofitable more than one year in a row!
From Blog to Business - what you need to know to stop treating your blog like a hobby.
Is it a hobby or a business? How the IRS classifies it.
John Chow on Blog Earnings and Income Tax
IRS guide to Business Expenses
101 Deductions from the incomparable Wisebread.
If you are a sole proprietor, you'll need to fill out a Schedule C with your taxes.
Remember to include ALL compensation - including products you were given in order to write a review (if you kept that product). If you were given a carpet cleaner from Bissell, tickets to a Yankee game which you attended, and a pound of Ghiradelli chocolate you'll need to claim it! But if you didn't keep it - you picked up the tickets but held a giveaway for them on your blog, for example, and the tickets merely passed through in the course of your business, you do not need to claim it as compensation. If you accepted the tickets, couldn't use them, and gave them to your sister, though - you have to claim it. (See, this is why you need to check with your accountant if you have questions!)
Common deductions might include: cost of hardware and software used exclusively for blogging, promoting online, etc.; hosting; domain name; design/graphics; postage and shipping if you mail items to readers from promotions and giveaways; postage if you send your readers notes, cards, etc. via snail mail; cost of conferences, webinars, ebooks, or regular books if used for training. So, if you bought an ebook on SEO, CSS for Dummies from Barnes and Noble, and went to BlogHer, those are deductible expenses.
If you've incorporated this year, the legal costs are deductible. If you are required to have a license or permit by your city, county, or state, the cost is deductible too. PayPal fees may be deductible.
Be careful- don't claim so many deductions that your blog business is unprofitable more than one year in a row!
From Blog to Business - what you need to know to stop treating your blog like a hobby.
Is it a hobby or a business? How the IRS classifies it.
John Chow on Blog Earnings and Income Tax
IRS guide to Business Expenses
101 Deductions from the incomparable Wisebread.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
December Meeting at Dot's
The December meeting of Houston Blogging Chicks will be at:
Dot's Coffee Shop
7006 I-45 South (I-45 and 610 loop, at Gulfgate)
Houston, TX 77087
(713) 644-7669
Our topic will be bloggers and taxes, and we'll be discussing what kind of records you need to keep in the next year. If you have any burning questions, leave it in the comments or start a discussion on BlogFrog!
I was not able to get a CPA to speak, but we will have a bookkeeper (me). If you are qualified to speak or would like to moderate the discussion, please let me know!
Meeting Agenda:
7:00 Meet and greet
7:15 Formal introductions, surveys. Practice your "elevator speech"!
7:30 Roundtable, free discussion - How does your family, spouse, children see your blogging, and finding balance.
8:00 Bloggers, paperwork, and taxes - getting ready for the new year
8:45 Free discussion. Share what's on your mind or heart
Leave a comment to RSVP or send a tweet! We have a hashtag - #houstonbloggers
Dot's Coffee Shop
7006 I-45 South (I-45 and 610 loop, at Gulfgate)
Houston, TX 77087
(713) 644-7669
Our topic will be bloggers and taxes, and we'll be discussing what kind of records you need to keep in the next year. If you have any burning questions, leave it in the comments or start a discussion on BlogFrog!
I was not able to get a CPA to speak, but we will have a bookkeeper (me). If you are qualified to speak or would like to moderate the discussion, please let me know!
Meeting Agenda:
7:00 Meet and greet
7:15 Formal introductions, surveys. Practice your "elevator speech"!
7:30 Roundtable, free discussion - How does your family, spouse, children see your blogging, and finding balance.
8:00 Bloggers, paperwork, and taxes - getting ready for the new year
8:45 Free discussion. Share what's on your mind or heart
Leave a comment to RSVP or send a tweet! We have a hashtag - #houstonbloggers
Thursday, November 11, 2010
December Meeting!
Save the date!
The next Houston Blogging Chicks meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 at 7 - 9 pm
Location to be announced.
Agenda:
7:00 Meet and greet
7:15 Formal introductions, surveys
7:30 Roundtable - How does your family, spouse, children see your blogging, and finding balance.
8:00 Bloggers, paperwork, and taxes - getting ready for the new year
8:45 Free discussion. Share what's on your mind or heart
I had a great time with the free flowing informal discussion at the November meeting. I'm so glad I'm getting to know you all! Many thanks to Michelle Price, Bobbie Byrd, Vickie Powers, and Kristin Holt for sharing their opinions and expertise.
Don't forget we have a Twitter hashtag #houstonbloggers, and a Houston Blogging Chicks Twitter list.
Also please connect with each other through BlogFrog on the right sidebar. Shared joys are increased, shared sorrows decreased. Let's support each other in the discussion forums. Anyone can start a topic.
The next Houston Blogging Chicks meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 at 7 - 9 pm
Location to be announced.
Agenda:
7:00 Meet and greet
7:15 Formal introductions, surveys
7:30 Roundtable - How does your family, spouse, children see your blogging, and finding balance.
8:00 Bloggers, paperwork, and taxes - getting ready for the new year
8:45 Free discussion. Share what's on your mind or heart
I had a great time with the free flowing informal discussion at the November meeting. I'm so glad I'm getting to know you all! Many thanks to Michelle Price, Bobbie Byrd, Vickie Powers, and Kristin Holt for sharing their opinions and expertise.
Don't forget we have a Twitter hashtag #houstonbloggers, and a Houston Blogging Chicks Twitter list.
Also please connect with each other through BlogFrog on the right sidebar. Shared joys are increased, shared sorrows decreased. Let's support each other in the discussion forums. Anyone can start a topic.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Blogging Ethics
The next meeting of Houston Blogging Chicks will be Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 pm, Panera Bread at FM 1960 and Eldridge (just a tiny bit NE of 290 and FM 1960)
We'll be talking about blogging with integrity, ethical dilemmas, disclosures, and more. This is our second meeting and we won't have a speaker, but we will have a round table where everyone can share their experience and expertise (and of course get to know each other!)
Some links that might be of interest to you:
Actual text of FTC regulations (81 pages, try not to fall asleep)
What it means for you (just disclose your relationships, even if it's just products, not money, changing hands.)
Blog With Integrity (take the pledge, post the badge!)
Copyright Myths (educate yourself so you don't accidentally steal from someone)
We'll be talking about blogging with integrity, ethical dilemmas, disclosures, and more. This is our second meeting and we won't have a speaker, but we will have a round table where everyone can share their experience and expertise (and of course get to know each other!)
Some links that might be of interest to you:
Actual text of FTC regulations (81 pages, try not to fall asleep)
What it means for you (just disclose your relationships, even if it's just products, not money, changing hands.)
Blog With Integrity (take the pledge, post the badge!)
Copyright Myths (educate yourself so you don't accidentally steal from someone)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
November 2010 Meeting!
The next meeting of Houston Blogging Chicks will be in the N/NW area
12220 Fm 1960 Rd, Houston, TX 77065-4805(281) 469-5623
If your blog supports a charity, please bring info to share!
Meeting topic will be blogging with integrity, disclosure, and best practices for transparency in sponsored posts and giveaways.
If you are able to speak authoritatively on the subject, please let me know. We will have a brief overview of the topic, then open it up for a roundtable Q and A.
Also, before the meeting, why not set some goals for your blog?
Determine what you want. You can share with the group at the next meeting for accountability, encouragement, and support or just keep your goals private.
If you don't know where you're going, you won't know how to get there!
Don't forget, this group is open to all women bloggers in the area so please forward the link and pass along the invitation!
12220 Fm 1960 Rd, Houston, TX 77065-4805
Thursday November 11
7-9 pm
7-9 pm
If your blog supports a charity, please bring info to share!
Meeting topic will be blogging with integrity, disclosure, and best practices for transparency in sponsored posts and giveaways.
If you are able to speak authoritatively on the subject, please let me know. We will have a brief overview of the topic, then open it up for a roundtable Q and A.
Also, before the meeting, why not set some goals for your blog?
- Why are you blogging?
- How do you want to see your blog grow?
- Do you want to earn an income from your blog, and if so, do you want a little extra, a part time income, or a full time income?
- Maybe you don't want to monetize, but you want to be an influencer, practice your writing skills, or create a thriving community.
Determine what you want. You can share with the group at the next meeting for accountability, encouragement, and support or just keep your goals private.
If you don't know where you're going, you won't know how to get there!
Don't forget, this group is open to all women bloggers in the area so please forward the link and pass along the invitation!
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