OUR AWESOME PLANET

4 Powerful Reasons Why You Should Join Maven Secrets 4.0

Maven Secrets Batch 3.0 Graduation Dinner

We just completed Maven Secrets 3.0, and due to insistent demand, I'm launching Maven Secrets 4.0 from August to November 2010.

I would like to invite you to join this 90-day program. Here are 4 Powerful Reasons Why You Should Join Maven Secrets 4.0:

1. Be part of the Last Maven Secrets. This will be the LAST coaching/mastermind face-to-face group that I will be conducting for the year. If you want to capitalize on the Internet Marketing Boom in 2011, now is the time to set up your internet marketing business.

2. Attend IM-BC 2010 for FREE. You can attend the two-day Internet Marketing Boot Camp 2010 for FREE (worth P12,294) as an early registration bonus for the Maven Secrets 4.0 Program.

[Contest] Top Blogging Tools I use in OAP; What's yours?

Top Blogging Tools I use in OAP; What's yours?

Contest Duration: July 12, Monday, 12.00am to July 25, Sunday, 11.59pm

I'm often asked variants of this question: What camera / hosting / tools do you use for blogging? 

So, for this blog post, I would like to share my answer to that question with you, but I also want to know what blogging tools you use.

As an incentive, the best answer (via the comments section, blog post or Facebook entry) will win my favorite Flip Ultra 120 HD 120 minutes! Thanks to Flip Camera Manila Distributor for sponsoring the prize for the contest!

My Top Blogging Tools

• Blog Hosting: Typepad Pro

Typepad is a managed hosting service that has the easy blogging interface of Blogger and the sophistication and nice template of Wordpress. I love Typepad because I don't need to worry about hosting, bandwidth and security of the site. I've been using Typepad ever since I started. And Seth Godin also uses typepad.

• Digital Camera: Canon 20d 17-40mm L Lens

Ninety-five percent of the photos you see in OAP are produced using my Canon 20d. I love Canon -- this has been my camera ever since I started. What makes the food shots crisp in OAP is the fine 17-40 L lens by Canon. The other 5% is produced by my back-up camera (when my Canon is in the shop for repairs).

• Video Blogging Camera: Flip Ultra HD Camera 120 minutes

I love Flip because you can shoot a video and immediately upload it to YouTube in a matter of minutes. The video is HD quality and the audio is quite good already in a relatively quiet environment. For blogging, use the Ultra HD version and not any other version if you want to publish the video in your blog.

• Mobile Phone and Subscription: iPhone 3G with Globe

These days, you already need a GPS-enabled camera so that you can participate in location-based services like Four Square. I like the simplicity and seemless integration of the iPhone with my Mac and other online services.

I'm a proud Globe subscriber ever since -- 0917-LOVEOAP (5683627).

• Laptop and Blogging Client: MacBook Pro with ECTO

I love Mac! It is easy to use, especially for blogging. I specifically use a Macbook Pro version so that it can handle my simple video editing needs.

There is a special blogging client called ECTO (for MAC only) where you can blog offline and just publish your post when you are online. Also, ECTO can manage multiple blogs in multiple platforms.

• Photo Editing, Watermarking and Hosting Tool: Lightroom 2.0 with Flickr.

After 5 years of blogging in OAP, I now have 78,841 photos, and they all need to be managed. I have all my photos managed by Lightroom, which automates a lot of the post-processing like cropping, renaming the filenames, placing the watermark, and automatically uploading it to Flickr.

I would recommend you also use a separate photo hosting tool like Flickr instead of just uploading your photos to your own server or hosting platform.

******

That's it! Now it's your turn. What are the top tools you use for blogging?

To officially enter the contest, just put your answer or link your answer in the comments section of this blog post. Deadline for the contest is on July 25, Sunday, 11.59pm. :)

And the winner is...

Thanks for all the great entries! It was actually very very hard to choose. I didn't expect a lot of people to join so thank you all for joining!

I learned a lot from the entry of the winner and it made me rethink the webhosting I use and the putting watermarks on my photos. You should read the winning entry.

The Geekette Speaketh's My Blogging Tools

Congratulations Charo, you just won a Flip Ultra HD Camera!  To claim, just email my wife rachediaz@gmail.com and we will arrange a meet-up :)

As a runner up, I need to mention this post because I like it:
Cher Cabula's Mindbox My Top Blogging Tools

Live an Awesome Life,

 
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
Follow Me FacebookTwitterFlickrYoutube

Disclosure: We are distributors of the Flip Ultra

The Flip Ultra HD camera selling price is at P9,995. Yes, it is now locally available in Manila! Just email my wife at rachediaz@gmail.com or text/call her +63917 5318949 if you are interested. Ask for the special OAP friend discount. :)

P.S. Join Maven Secrets 4: A 90-day Internet Marketing and Professional Blogging Program!

10 Common Mistakes Freelance Writers Should Avoid

( My freelance writer friends are launching their first How to Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career Workshop this coming Saturday, April 24. They are among the best Freelance Writers in the country today. I've asked them to share some of their learnings with OAP readers. Enjoy! )

10 Common Mistakes Freelance Writers Should Avoid
by Writer's Block Philippines -- Ana Santos (SexandSensibilities.com), Nikka Sarthou &
Nina Terol-Zialcita (TheArtofChangeMaking.com) 

Like any other business, you need to organize a working system to manage your own freelance career – all three of us found that out the hard way. We want to share with you what we have learned from our personal experiences, so you’ll know what mistakes to steer clear of and what to do about it. Here are 10 tips to help you become more successful as a freelance writer. 

1. Never take contracts for granted. As a freelancer, the only person who can ensure your financial and professional security is yourself. Pay special attention to contracts and terms of reference, and don't be satisfied with simple verbal agreements. Learn to operate like a small business and keep yourself protected from abusive colleagues or from lawsuits from clients. 

2. Be clear about the scope of work. It's easy to assume your scope of work when you're simply writing an article for a publication. However, the minute you start taking on larger projects with more tasks and more coordination work (managing a publication, for example), be clear about your scope of work and expectations from both your clients and team mates. Never assume anything and always put terms, conditions, and payment agreements in black-and-white. 

3. Even when dealing with friends, be professional. It's easy to cross professional boundaries when dealing with friends whom you've known for a long time and whom you trust. However, when it comes to freelancing and managing your own micro-enterprise, you need to draw professional lines. Let friends sign contracts and agreements, prepare payment vouchers, mind your paperwork, do everything professionally.

AIM Survey on Market Trends (Please Answer)

Hi, OAP Friends!

The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) is conducting a market survey as part of efforts to remain responsive to the needs of prospective graduate students.

Can you do me a favor and answer this brief survey? Rest assured that your identity and the results of this survey will remain strictly confidential.

Please click on the link to the survey: AIM SURVEY ON MARKET TRENDS

(I'm hoping you can answer the survey before December 11, 2009.)

Professional Blogging Workshop in AIM

In collaboration with AIM Graduate School of Business, I would like to invite you and your friends to attend the one-day Professional Blogging Hands-ON Workshop this coming Saturday!

I've gotten a lot of requests to hold a one-day Hands-ON Workshop to teach readers and friends on how to get started with blogging. Learn directly from me on how I launched Our Awesome Planet and how you can launch your own popular blog too.

Professional Blogging Hands-ON Workshop

Date: August 22, 2009, Saturday

Time: 9am to 3pm (6 hours of Hands-On Training)

Location: Asian Institute of Management Case Room

Price: $99 (~P4,500). 

(Includes 30 days of personal online coaching to help you launch your blog)

(Group discounts are available)

Digital Daddy Blog Contest

I need your help to create my Digital Daddy presentation.

During the Expo Dad, I will be giving a talk entitled "Digital Daddy - How to take your Fatherhood to the next level with the power of the Internet". Expo Dad is a trade fair for Dads which is open to the public for P25 entrance fee. My talk is scheduled at 3pm on July 18, Saturday at the Rockwell Tent.

It is easy to join the Digital Daddy Blog Contest. Here are the mechanics:

3 Things I learned on My First Day in AIM

This week is very significant for me in my blogging/ internet marketing career. It is my first time to teach in the Internet Marketing elective in the AIM MBA class and the first day of Maven Secrets.

Here are the 3 Things I learned on My First Day in AIM:

1. I'm now a professor...
I felt old at the same time honored. The label of  "professor" or "guru", I think needs to be earned and since I'm just starting, I'm here to prove that I'm worthy of the title. I like to be Professor X of the X-Men who nurture young people to enhance their  natural capabilities.  (Not the stereotyped image of an old power tripping professor)

A Personal Invitation to Become a Maven!

 

Congratulations to Lord for winning the Maven Secrets Scholarship Contest! His "Fresh Buko ala Ube Ice Cream" blog post stood out from all the entries. Why did I choose his entry? 

First, I've never been to the Balatoc Gold Mine in Baguio. 

Second, his entire post is entertaining for someone who is just starting to blog. 

Third, I like his advocacy and I want to help him launch it effectively. 

Fourth, I would have entitled the entire post as Fresh Buko ala Ube Ice Cream as a headline. 

Fifth, it was a toss up between his entry and the Artful Hooker's entry. But I promise only one.

Sixth, he had me at the Buko ala Ube Ice Cream -- I'm craving for one now.

Seventh, the photos he used with his ballerina gf were eye catching.

Eight, I like his natural passion of living life to the fullest.

Ninth, If someone was to surpass OAP, I would like him/her to be coming from Maven Secrets :)

I'm giving a 40% off discount to the 2nd and 3rd prize winner.

2nd Prize: Claire, Heck yeah!

3rd Prize: An Apprentice Wants to be a Master!

Maven Secrets Register NOW:

A Personal Invitation to Become a Maven

I'm giving out Fast Action Bonuses to people who will register immediately. I will reward the bonuses based on the time they register and pay. The fastest way is to pay through Paypal but of course, you can also pay in the bank during lunchtime. 

Fast Action Bonuses ($2,537.00 or P127,000 Total Bonuses!)