Happy Begets Happy

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Kim Kishbaugh

My “One Moment” this week

A long time ago, on a dare, I gave up swearing and grumbling. I was working in a newsroom at the time. My college education was in journalism, and the first 15 years of my professional life were spent in newsrooms — which is a lot like being raised by sailors. I’ve heard and used almost every kind of foul language, and almost nothing you can say would shock me. Swearing in a newsroom is pretty much second nature.

A reporter came into work one morning, either on or just before Ash Wednesday, and said she didn’t know what she should give up for Lent. Laughing, I dared her to give up swearing. She looked at me and said, “I will if you will.” Continue reading →

You’ve Got Spam!

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Kim Kishbaugh

I’m a success!

Really. I am. I know this because my blog is starting to be inundated by spam. I’m getting spam comments at a rate of 6-to-1 versus actual comments. I could ask y’all to get more engaged by submitting real comments (wink), but I’d rather celebrate my little successes.

The thing about spam comments, as annoying as they are, is that it means someone outside my usual network has started finding my blog. Continue reading →

10 story ideas for your organization’s blog

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Kim Kishbaugh

I wrote yesterday about the need to have a content plan in place for your blog or website, including either a formal editorial calendar or at least a list of article topics that you plan to write about. This both helps keep you focused on your site’s mission and gives you a jumping-off point when it’s time to publish a new article. You don’t necessarily have to start from scratch and come up with a new idea every time you sit down to write.

If you don’t have that list – or if, as happened to me, you misplace it – I said you were pretty much out of luck; there was nothing I could do for you.

I’ve changed my mind. If it’s time to get some new content out on your organization’s blog, but you just don’t have any ideas, here are 10 story suggestions – topics you should always be able to draw on to write something useful and compelling for your members and supporters: Continue reading →

Living proof that you need a content plan for your website

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Kim Kishbaugh

I have violated one of my own best-practice rules for bloggers. Inadvertently. Accidentally. But still…

What have I done? I find myself without a list of article ideas for a rainy day. I keep this list, of course. When I have an idea for a blog post, but no time to write it, I jot it down for future use. That way, when I feel the need to write something, but the muse isn’t visiting, I can always come up with something worthwhile to write. Continue reading →

Seriously? This is how we celebrate King Day?

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Kim Kishbaugh

Martin Luther King Jr. has finally achieved the pinnacle of true greatness as an American.

No, I’m not talking about the fact that we celebrate his birthday with a federal holiday; that’s old news. I’m talking about the true gauge of greatness — what really determines whether someone was a great player in this nation’s history, an achievement matched only by the likes of Presidents Lincoln and Washington, our military heroes and the founding fathers who declared this nation’s independence. Yes, not only do we have a holiday marking the anniversary of Dr. King’s birth; now we celebrate it with appliance and electronic ssales.

After all, in the United States, it’s not really a holiday unless we have huge blow-out sales to draw shoppers into stores, right? This year, I discovered that we’ve extended the practice to Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. From consumer electronics superstores to neighborhood thrift stores, everywhere I look I see retail outlets offering sale pricing for King Day.

Am I the only person who finds that more than a bit disgusting?