Why do my blogs seem to cover anything from financial, personal, mildly controversial, or even silly subjects, such as beer?

The short answer:  It helps me learn more about the search engines and apply it not only to my website, but other websites.

For instance, I can tell you that my recent blog about beer received 5 times as many views in 4 days as the previous blog regarding "the recession" did in 2 weeks. 
Watching blog entry vs traffic trends can be valuable when applied to medium to high traffic sites, where small changes can make a huge difference in traffic.  It's important to keep tabs on which words are searched for in the search engines, which ones do/don'thave fierce traffic competition and which are can be used to quickly create web traffic.

As many of you know, in my job, I promote and "operate" an automotive performance directory, owned by a friend and associate (The DDD Directory). The things I learn in my personal endeavors not only are often applied to my day job, but my personal site offers a "safe" testing facility to see which ideas work and don't work.

I know this is a relatively short blog, but I wanted to offer a simple answer to the question.

p.s.
I played my first "real" round of golf today.
It was one of those "shotgun start, best ball" charity tournaments.  We went out in foursomes everyone took their shot at each hole.  Teams could choose which drive was the best, and take the next shot from that position.
Play continued in the same fashion until the hole was done.

My shot contributed about 20% of the time....pretty good for a fresh newbie who has never seen a golf course.
I drove a few balls into bizarre places, but so did everyone else =o)

Anyways, I've discovered that I like the game a lot (being outdoors, the strategy, the challenge and bonding...not to mention networking opportunities) and I'm going to see if this develops into a "real" talent by practicing and playing more.
We finished in 3rd place at 3 over par, which frosted my @ss a little bit because we were two under until the last 4 holes where we just lost momentum.

It was fun and I will play again...SOON!

JF

(Fair warning: This is going to be a fairly sarcastic / controversial blog, and I might bash your favorite beer)

Life is too short to drink lousy beer....especially when "expensive beer" cost what, $1 more?

I'll clear the record here, and I don't care what you say, I'm right about this one.

Bud sucks
Miller sucks
Coors sucks

I'll admit, when you're 21, at spring break and broker than broker than broke (getting dimes under the car seat for Taco bell, that kind of broke), you'll take that 24 pack of Natty Ice or Bud Ice and like it.  Sure, it tastes awful, but how else can you get inebriated so inexpensively?

Here's what gets me:  Guys who go to the bar for a social drink and say "I'll have a Miller Lite"
What?  You're a responsible drinker, and your going to "savor" a Budweiser?  Are we in a new millennium of self-sacrificial behavior, or did marketing actually trick you into thinking it's good beer?

This is the same guy who goes to the sub shop and and eyes the day-old olives in the garbage can, lol.

Miller lite is garbage. Yes, I said it.  You can disagree, but it doesn't make it any less true.
In fact, most of the mainstream American brews use "substituted ingredients"...you aren't even drinking beer!

I'll say it again:  If you drink Bud, Miller or Coors (among many others), by definition, you aren't even drinking beer!

When I make the case for drinking better beer, there are some that say "some people drink certain things, only so people will think a certain way about them".
Wha?  Do I really give a damn if the glote next to be likes my Guinness or not? LOL

Some people raise an eyebrow when I order a Guinness, Sam Adams, Bass or Harp at the bar.
A few have actually told me "you can't even tell the difference", or "Ohhh, Bud Light not good enough for you?"
Damn right it's not!

To those who feel that way, I'll offer this: a $100 challenge (only because I can't lose) to anyone who can sit me down with 5 "clean" beer glasses (a clean beer glass does not involve soap, but baking soda) and 5 non-skunked mainstream, ice cold beers. 
Blindfold me and hand me each one.  I'll identify them each within 10 seconds, and don't screw with me on this either!  If you lose (and you will), you'll owe me $100 =o)

"So, Jim, whats a good beer?"

Some of this will be up to opinion and personal taste, but (out of the mainstream) I like:

Guinness (The Nectar of the Gods is actually very healthy to drink)
Sam Adams (See, America can make good beer!)
Harp Lager
Dos Equis Amber / Lager
Boddingtons
Bass Pale Ale
Blue Moon
Hoegarden
Newcastle

(I'll stop here, there are a lot)

There are obviously many fine beers on the market for varying tastes (a further case to stop drinking that Bud crap), but I'll talk about my favorite:

Guinness!

Guinness is probably the best beer I've ever tasted. (There are a few that come close, like Sam Adams)
Since personal taste comes in to play here, I'll tell you some things you may not have known about Porter / Stout beers, Guinness in particular:

1.  It's actually healthy for you
2.  Even though its super dark and a little thick, it has less calories and alcohol than Budweiser
3.  Guinness has a ton of Iron in it and is good for your skin.  Drink Guinness while your friends are
     pounding Bud.  You'll wake with glowing skin (seriously), while your friends are barfing and have headaches
4.  Guinness is Pasteurized.  It's taste is consistent, it's clean and NO HEADACHES!
5.  Guinness, unlike other beers, has high levels of vitamin B.  Vitamin B contains homocysteine, which is known
     to help prevent clogged arteries.
6.  Guinness is full of flavonoids, those very healthy anti-oxidants that create the dark color in many vegetables.
7.  Guinness is lower in alcohol, calories and carbs than Sam Adams.
8.  The level of anti-oxidants in Guinness, consumed regularly, can reduce your chance of cataracts by 50%
9.  Guinness contains a high level or Iron, great for skin, nails, hair, etc....

No wonder expecting mothers in Ireland drink Guinness:  It's low in alcohol, high in Vitamin B and extremely high in antioxidants.
No wonder malnourished children during the depression were often "prescribed" a glass of Stout to regain their health...

Did you know there are women in the U.K. that use the "Guinness Diet" to lose weight?
It fills you up far more than higher-calorie beers, and has less calories/carbs than many less-filling beers, so if you enjoy a glass before dinner, you'll eat less and benefit from the antioxidants.....it's like having two servings of greens =o)

Guinness suppresses fevers.  Guinness helps settle the stomach.
Should we go on?

Want a lighter, more refreshing guinness?  Order a black and tan (Guinness over Bass) or a "half and half" (Guinness over Harp Lager, one of my favorites).

Enough carrying on =o)
If we are to stop this epidemic of flavored, headache inducing hop dish water, all I ask is this:
Next time you are at the bar and they ask what you want, order a "half and half"......or something different, ANYTHING other than Bud, Michelob, Coors or Miller.

Think of your first beer. 
"Wow, that tastes nasty".....you weren't used to it.
After a couple, you acquired a taste.

If you were trapped in the Amazon, you might acquire a taste for dung beetles if properly motivated.

Now that you know good beer from bad beer, give good beer a chance.
If you give good beer a real chance, you'll wonder about all of the years you wasted drinking bad beer.

I promise =o)

Suddenly, the "R" word, RECESSION is all over the news.

What took them so long?  Those of us who sell products or services (or buy them!) have known
about it for a long time.

What is the simple way to handle it?

Cliché' Alert:  "Don't Panic, just get to work."

Seriously.  It's commonly said that 10% people (in a given business) get 90% of the business. 
That same 10% (0r 5%, or 1%) seems to not be worried about the big "R" word. 
Why?
Because they already know how to adapt, react, make their own success and adjust for the slow times. 
Rather than sitting back and waiting, they get up and make their own future. 

"Ok, Jim... that sounds like a bunch of bull out of a financial book."

Or maybe just a true statement, poorly worded to belittle the reader without any data that truly helps.
Maybe.  I struggle with it too.  I'm in a slow run myself (for the moment).
Solutions are what matter.

Which brings us to a real solution:

Get Creative

Is money tight?  I know the feeling!
Sometimes, a tough situation is what you need to establish good financial habits.
Instead of blaming your boss, your company or your paycheck, get off your butt and do something new.
While you're doing it, the recession you were so depressed about might be your new reason for prosperity.

Here is what "a good friend of mine" did.
He trimmed the fat.  All of it.  The numbers and situations below are real.  Only the names have changed.

Scenario:

1.  The lease ends soon on your 2006 Audi or Lexus, BMW or Escalade.
Instead of getting another at $525 a month,  let it go back and buy a used A6 (or whatever holds value well)
with 58,000 miles.
$325 a month instant savings, plus, if you shop long enough, you can probably find a car that you
can drive a year and sell it for the same price paid.  If you shop and buy from a motivated seller, it can
become a "rolling savings account" or at the very least, much less of a loss each month and over time.

You really can "win" buying cars if you buy right.  Unfortunately, most people buy on emotion, "need it now"
and go more upside down with each car, assuming a loss is inevitable.  Not so!  Research is rewarded.

Savings: $325 a month

2.  Dump Cable for Dish Network.  If you situation is really dire, go without completely.

Savings: $25 a month

3.  Shop your Auto Insurance.  We saved $100 a month by combining our coverage with the same company. 
I saved another $15 by when I changed vehicles.

Savings:  $115 a month

4.  Consolidate. 
Business startup and personal debt got you paying tons per month on credit cards?

Did you know $14,500 in debt can quickly become $800 a month in credit card payments? (Plus late fees, which
are likely if you have this much debt or are still reading this blog). 

In this study case, it was over $900 a month, and that's at the MINIMUM payment. 
How would you like to pay $900 a month for 20 years?
Those high balances are beating up your credit too!

Do this instead:
You may not think its possible, but go to your credit union or bank with a PROACTIVE consolidation plan.
Chose a local, personable institution.
Be cordial, get to know the loan officer.  Focus on the positive.  Most people don't realize how much of a
"personal call" these loans can be!
If it makes good sense, your credit isn't too terrible, and you let them know you have no interest
(no pun intended) in using those credit cards in excess again, they just might grant you a "signature"
(unsecured) loan and pay those cards off for you.
Sure, it might still be $15% interest.  But $14,500 over 4 years becomes around $400 a month, even
at that rate.  Last time I checked, that was better than $900 =o)
Your credit score will usually skyrocket due to the lack of credit card debt.
If you can, make it your goal to pay off the signature loan in 2 years.
Do not allow yourself a new car or major luxuries until it is paid off.

DO NOT put anything on your credit cards that you can't pay at the end of the month.
Use them a little to keep your accounts healthy.
The whole idea is to avoid interest!

Savings:  $500 a month


At this point, we've saved $965 a month in minimum payments with the big stuff and no real lifestyle change.  No changes yet in starbucks trips, dinners out, fishing trips, etc...


How can you save more and give up less?

5.  Shop Wise.  We all like nice stuff.  Buy less of it (and don't buy any until you have the money for it)
and buy what you buy smarter.
Go to the store, get the item number or try it on and search for it on the internet.
I get my Tommy Bahama shirts at 1/2 price or less (this takes a little research due to some counterfeits
on the market).
If you save a few bucks on most things you buy, it adds up really quickly.
Find some wholesalers you trust and keep buying from them instead of Macy's.
When you do go to Macy's, hit the clearance rack.

This adjustment is not about buying garbage.  It's about buying nice things at wholesale prices...or less.

When purchasing, always ask yourself "Do I need this?".
If you need it, can it wait?
You can save a lot by shopping wise.

...and I know about that $130 bottle of Caymus Special Selection you love so much...

Give it up.  There are $25 bottles that are every bit as complex and satisfying.
Instead of one a week, buy one a month, or none.
When you're making $50,000 a month, you can drink whatever wine you want.

You'll position yourself for more fun later by giving up things you don't need.

6.  Find better ways to market your business.  Find new ways to DO business.
How?

That will be the subject in our next blog.

For now, stop worrying about the recession and go save yourself $1200 a month!

Jim Ferraro
Web Consulting, SEO, Online Services




    


  
   
    



    

I'd just like to share something with those of you who feel its OK to go drink, get yourself wasted, and hop into your car as if there were no possible consequences.

YOU SUCK!

Just the other day, my wife and I were patiently waiting at the light on SR 434 (facing east), ready to turn left onto Markham Woods Rd.  A drunk driver heading west (in the left lane) swerved a couple times, and came completely out of their lane and almost hit us head on.  I had the RPM's up, foot coming off the clutch and was about to launch myself into Eastbound traffic to avoid the accident.  I almost crapped my pants.  They swerved back at the last minute.

I employ everyone, if you see an obviously drunk driver this holiday season, call 911, and follow the suspect (don't pass them) until the police pull them over.  I have done this more than a few times now.  You may call me a "narc", but you know what, if we all did it, how many lives a year would we save?

I encourage all CONSTRUCTIVE comments from people who feel the same way.
Any flames or drunks posting "I'm gonna kick your *ss will be removed before they display here, so save your fingertips for your beer glass.

Heres to a safe holiday, taxicabs, and DESIGNATED DRIVERS

JimFerraro.com is up and running, and it's purpose is simple:

To create a platform to remind myself and others where I've been, where we are going and top it off with some personal branding and networking.

I'm also going to use it for some SEO experiments so feel free to ask for link swaps, I'll swap with you as long as your site isn't offensive or against any of my personal views (you can forget about any New York Yankees links =)

JF

If you're looking for a top notch handyman in the Orlando area, visit my father-in-law's site:

www.watkinshomerepair.com

Mitch Watkins has the experience and know how to make your home project come out perfect!

You can view his blog here