Lindsey D. Toth

Dietetic Intern, Frances Stern Nutrition Center

M.S. Nutrition Communications Candidate, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University

http://www.HealthyBlogSnack.com

Lindsey.Toth@gmail.com

So you’ve finally started your own website or blog.  Congratulations!  You’ve taken advantage of a wonderful marketing opportunity the www provides, and put your name out there as an expert in the field of dietetics.  Getting started is half the battle.  Problem is, the other half is getting people to read what you have to say.  Let’s face it, blogging may be fun, but it just doesn’t seem worth it if there’s no one there to hear your cries of “Eat leafy greens!”  So how do you increase traffic to your site?

A month ago, I was asking myself this same question.  I finally had my first website and blog up-and-running, and couldn’t wait to start posting.  Too bad I only had two subscribers – and I’m pretty sure mom and dad don’t count.

 As I write this article, the one month anniversary of HealthyBlogSnack.com approaches.  Within that one month, I went from zero readers, to over 1,200 site hits and 152 regular subscribers – all thanks to social networking.  I experimented with every social networking site under the sun, tracked my site’s statistics, delved into the realm of social networking research, and played with titles and keywords to find the most effective ways to increase traffic.  I’ll share some of the tips and tricks I picked up from my experiments and research to help you tweet, poke, and ping your way to increased site traffic!

1.      Spread the Word

If you aren’t social networking, I think by now you know you should be.  Get out there and make profiles on the big social networking sites.  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and MySpace are good places to start. Others that may help you spread the word outside of your own social bubble are Reddit (one of my favorites) and De.lic.i.ous.  Most of these sites offer a status update area, where you can let the world know what your latest post is about (Facebook, Twitter), or even applications that link your blog directly to your profile (LinkedIn).  The more visible you and your blog are, the more traffic you’ll get.

2.      Updating, Update, Update Your Status

Every time you post, let the world know!  I found that on average, I had 70% more traffic on days I updated my social network status with a link to my latest post, than on days I didn’t.  For ease of updating, use a service like Ping.fm to collectively update all of your social personas in one swipe.  It will even automatically crunch your big links down into more manageable ones for you.  Experts have found (and my experiments concur) that for optimal visibility, the best time of day to update your status is 3:00pm.  This tends to be one of the busiest times of the day for social networking sites, as everyone is checking their favorite networks one last time before they head home from work.  This makes it a perfect time to update your status with a link to your latest blog post.

3.      Tits, Tots, and Terriers

Ok, so while this marketing trio may not be so applicable in what we do, the concept still applies.  A post about those chocolate dipped strawberries you made titled, “Chocolate Dipped Strawberries,” is just not going to get the same amount of traffic as the same post titled, “Deliciously Decadent Berry Aphrodisiacs.”  Sex, babies, and puppies sell.  Remember this when choosing titles and keywords, people will be more likely to find you in a search, and more likely to check out your site because of your intriguing titles.

4.      What’s in it for ME?

Remember, people didn’t come to your site to hear about your cute niece Suzie and the latest family BBQ.  You are the health, wellness, and food expert, and they came to hear about what you can do for them.  When writing, always ask yourself if there’s something in it for the reader.  If not, chances are they aren’t going to stick around as long term subscribers.  Recipes, diet tricks, power foods, etc.  Make sure what you’re posting about is relevant to and useful in your readers’ daily lives.

Now let’s get out there and improve our social networking scene.  Tweet me @NutritionTalk (c’mon, set up that profile – www.Twitter.com) to let me know how social networking has helped you.  Your blog will be an online hot-spot faster than you can cry, “Eat leafy greens!”

For Ann Arbor Real Estate information, call 734-669-0337 or tweat us  @ AnnArborRealtor

Every day it is important to be thankful and grateful for what we have or what is coming our way.  This is a diversion from the Ann Arbor Real Estate market and a super way to share in one of life’s great triumphs. 

During times like this it’s more important than ever to reflect on the simple things in life that make us happy and bring us together as humans beings.  To surpass our fears and prosper despite the obstacles.  Perhaps stopping our busy commercialized lives for just a few minutes each day to savor those things we may have overlooked, those simple traits of pure human nature that bring us joy.

While the following story may be “off the beaten path” by way of Rochester, NY - it’s an inspiring example of such joyful human nature.  Please take a minute to watch this video. I admit I cried with inspiration. I’d love to share this hope and spread the desire to stay positive here in Michigan.  Take a look at Greece Athena High School’s enthusiastic new basketball hero - Jason Mcelway!  I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did

Since video embedding has been disabled by request, please just follow the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q9wSp8sdEI

NORAD has been tracking Santa since 1955

Ann Arbor Santa Claus

NORAD, the North American Air Defense Command has been tracking Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve ever since a misprinted phone number was placed in a Sears Roebuck advertisement. This “wrong number” put boys and girls through to the Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline”. The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup had his staff use their radar to begin checking Santa’s progress from the North Pole and they have been providing this service to kids everywhere ever since.

This year you can also track Santa from your mobile phone using Google Maps for mobile. If you have an iPhone, T-Mobile G1, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, or Nokia phone with Google Maps, just search for “norad santa” to see Santa’s location. (Note that you’ll have to resubmit your query whenever you want to update Santa’s location).

Santa

If you have a supported phone but do not yet have Google Maps, you can download it for free at the Norad website or from the above Google link.

If you’d like also like to follow Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve go to this website http://www.noradsanta.org/ to follow the action.

Kathy Toth and Team

www.KathyToth.com

Keller Williams Realty

Jeff Daniels has been doing a great job with commercials promoting Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  I hope to see him again live unplugged when my kids come home over Christmas break.  Besides his great acting, he actually is pretty easy on the ears with his guitar.

Once you have the privilege of hearing him unplugged at The Purple Rose Theatre with his wife Kathleen working behind the scenes, you recognize it is very personal and intimate experience - one worth repeating.

 Below is a video of Jeff playing, courtesy of the Ann Arbor News.  Just leave it on while you read.

Jeff Daniels has written his own plays and productions including “Shoe Man,” “The Vast Difference” and “The Kingdom’s Coming”.  You can see many original productions at The Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.   You can hear some more of his tracks/discography here. 

For a schedule of 2008/2009 Onstage and Unplugged with Jeff Daniels showing from December 26 - January 4 just clich this link for more details.

Pictured below are my daughter Lindsey and I with Jeff following a previous show.

Jeff, Lindsey and Kathy

For more information on Jeff Daniel’s home town of Chelsea, Michigan please visit our tour. We our very proud to be a part of and to showcase this area.

Graphic artist Jonathan Wright has been living with fairy doors in his Ann Arbor home since the mid- 1990s, when the kids in his wife’s day-care discovered one under the stairway.

When the precisely detailed 6-8 inch tall doors started showing up in downtown Ann Arbor businesses, Wright (who deftly sidesteps questions about any personal connection to the doors) decided to study this teeny, tiny real estate phenomenon. He planted journals in fairy-friendly establishments, gathered the observations and artwork of the masses and put together a book, “Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors?”

Since that first tiny door appeared under the stairs, others have shown up in the kitchen and living room of Wright’s home, in his wife’s kindergarten classroom, and at Sweetwater’s Cafe, Peaceable Kingdom, Selo/Shevel Gallery, The Ark, Red Shoes, the Ann Arbor District Library, Google, and Nicola’s Books. Other doors have appeared and disappeared from the Jefferson Market and Ann Arbor Framing.

Wright also documented the phenomenon of “fairy droppings” - which aren’t what you may think. It turns out visitors sometimes leave things for the fairies - pennies, paper clips, notes, and buttons. “One little girl told me she left some pennies for the fairies to show them that not all people are mean,” Wright said. Because fairies have no idea what to do with money, he says, they donate their loose change to local charities.

Wright now has a website devoted to the urban fairies, and they’ve gotten press in the Ann Arbor News, the Ann Arbor Observer, Metro Parent, the Toledo Blade and even the Washington Post. The site includes information about the doors, fairy door-related merchandise and a printable Fairy Door walking tour map.

In the wake of all the attention, some establishments have started selling install-it-yourself fairy doors. They come in a variety of colors, but lack the distinctive detail of the original Ann Arbor fairy doors.

hear-no-evil

I am so exhausted from the news negativity!  Walk on the positive side with me and my friend Jay Kinder.Read on and tell me what you think:

    ‘Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!’

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one…. Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, ‘It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!’

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up….

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher….

This one wouldn’t give up! At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the
one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out …. that the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is:  Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be negative or pessimistic…. because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you — the ones you have in your heart! Always think of the power words have. Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore:  ALWAYS be …. POSITIVE!

Dexter Daze annual festival held in Monument Park had entertainment, crafts, face painting, parade, music and plenty of food.  To help organize next years events visit  Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce or call them at 734-426-0887.   

I have to say that in spite of construction for Main Street Bridge and Gordon Hall for The Cedars of Dexter, there was a successful turn out and support of local merchants.  The Dexter Area Historical Society conducted tours of Gordon Hall.  The Dexter Rotary Club raffled and built another playhouse. Also participating was Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department and the Dexter Area Fire Department. 

We cannot wait to welcome you to Dexter and to find your dream home here.

Related Posts:

Dexter Daze Activities in Dexter, Michigan 48130

Who doesn’t love pie? Watch Dexter Daze Pie Eating Contest

Wishing You & All The People You Know Happiness On Thanksgiving & Always!

I was searching around for something interesting about Thanksgiving Day.  I found a site that I thought was great.  There are all sorts of interesting and funny Thanksgiving Facts including:

• The First Thanksgiving
• The Pilgrims’ Menu
• Thanksgiving Fun Facts
• Mayflower Myths
• Thanksgiving Quiz
• History of the Turducken and Much More!
  

One of the joys of Thanksgiving is the chance to tell people how thankful we are for them, so Thank You, I hope that you have a great holiday!

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According to the 2007 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from National Association of Realtors, the top five sources of down payment money follows:

1.        Savings
2.        Proceeds from the sale of a primary residence
3.        Gift from Relatives or Friends
4.        Sale from Stocks or Bonds
5.        Equity from Residence (continue to own)

I was surprised to learn that 73% of first time buyers are using money they had saved to come up with their down payment on a home.  We see many of our clients as first time home buyers as a result of attending the seminars.

Per the study, 43% of repeat buyers will use money from savings to at least help partially cover the down payment of their new home. Many people get proceeds from sale of primary residence.

For more information on what  how you can buy a home, go to the buyer section for Special Reports and see the Home Buyer Steps.  Also be sure to check when our next First Time Home Buyer Seminar is with free pre-approval.  If you need to get your credit under control, let our lenders help you step by step, like fitness training for your wallet.

Nationally the median down payment by first-time buyers was 4 percent, up from 2 percent in 2007; the number purchasing with no money down fell from 45 percent in 2007 to 34 percent in the current survey. “The study covers transactions through the middle of 2008, so we can assume the down payment numbers have shifted recently because credit tightened and no-down payment loans all but disappeared around the close of the survey,” Lawrence Yun, Chief NAR economist, explained.

Of first-time buyers who made a down payment, 69 percent used savings and 26 percent received a gift from a friend or relative, typically from their parents. Another 7 percent received a loan from a relative or friend, while 16 percent tapped into a 401(k) fund, stocks or bonds. Ninety-two percent chose a fixed-rate mortgage.

Remember to tell any one looking to buy a home about our…

ANN ARBOR HOME BUYING SEMINAR
January 20th at 6:30 pm

Click here to search all Ann Arbor area Michigan homes
and condos with pictures and tours - FREE!

Kathy Toth and Team

www.KathyToth.com
Keller Williams Realty

ann arbor homes

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Savvy Michigan homeowners are battling all-time-high energy costs by incorporating building techniques to make their homes more energy efficient. As more people begin to struggle to meet rising utility costs, these practices are expected to grow in popularity.

Just as current Ann Arbor homeowners are renovating with energy savings in mind, new home builders are seeing increased demand for green buildings and energy-efficient homes.

Here are some ideas for how you can reduce your energy consumption – and costs – this winter by selecting building materials and appliances that promise to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

1. Use Highly Rated Energy-Star Appliances: This is not a new idea, but as costs rise, Ann Arbor real estate buyers are looking at the yellow energy-consumption tags on new appliances more seriously. Retailers know that buyers are paying more attention to the higher-rated appliances, and this could lead to more advertising and discounts for such products.
2. Consider How You Heat Your Water: Most homes have a traditional tank-style water heater. However, with rising heating costs, this practice may change. Other options for heating water in your home include solar heating and tankless water heaters.
   ~Solar water heating requires a significant upfront investment, but once it is installed you no longer need to pay for heating the water. Installation includes a pump, plumbing through which the water circulates for exposure to the sun, and possibly large glass tanks for storing the hot water.
   ~A tankless water heater has no storage tank and the water is heated as you need it. Heating water on demand is much less expensive than heating water and storing it until it is needed.
3. Supplement Your Electricity: Installing photovoltaic roof shingles instead of standard asphalt shingles lets you use the sun’s energy to generate supplemental electricity for your home. A wire is pulled from each shingle and connected to the home’s power grid. You might not be able to generate enough electricity to meet all your needs, but with rising costs, every bit of savings can be a huge help during the middle of our freezing Michigan winters.
   ~If you are considering a new roof or you are building a home, consider using this roofing material to decrease your utility bills.
4. Consider Your Home’s Placement: If your home was built 50 or more years ago, it probably is already more energy efficient than most new homes. This is because central air-conditioning was not prevalent in the past. To keep homes cool in the summer, windows were located strategically for cross-drafts. Also, the largest windows were designed to receive the morning sun, thereby helping to heat the home.   As energy prices declined, many homes were built without these considerations. However, today’s builders are beginning to return to traditional building practices in order to have more energy-efficient homes.
5. Consider Your Window Treatments: Whether you live in a new or old home, or are building your home, you can control your window treatments. What you put on your windows can make a serious different in your home’s heating and cooling costs. Light- and heat-filtering blinds and heavy draperies may significantly reduce the need for continuous air-conditioning.

Hopefully, this information has given you some ideas for countering rising energy costs. By using one or more of these suggestions, you can make your Michigan home more energy efficient. If you decide to sell your home in the future, these updates may make your home more attractive to buyers.

The US Department of Energy has a very informative website which includes a Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  There is a ton of great information available.

Related Links
See What Ann Arbor is Doing to GO GREEN | Click here
Ann Arbor Green Building Continues on Downtown Projects