Marcia Ming

Blogging — any writing really — is a lonely sport. You sit in front of a computer sharing your thoughts and ideas without a strong sense of what your readers may be grappling with.

At such times I use my imagination. I also use my web stats – even spam comments that have been posted on my blog to gain insight into my readers. From those activities, I sense there are a lot of people out there who are struggling with the present economy. These are people who may be looking for jobs that are not yet available.

So while they wait, they are dabbling with internet marketing – trying to determine if there is anything to this make-money-online phenomenon. I say dabbling because many of these individuals have not yet set up their own websites or blogs. Or if they have, they have stuck a few banner ads up but not much else.

I know it is confusing. There is so much to learn. So much to stay on top of, including the constant need to drive traffic to whatever it is you are trying to promote.

I don’t want my blog to be just another preachy tome telling you how to do things you are never going to do. So it would be REALLY helpful to hear from my readers. Don’t just leave spammy posts full of affiliate links that don’t tell me about you.

Take the time to tell me who you are and what you are trying to do. Are you a recent graduate still looking for your first job? If so what is your training? Perhaps I can help you turn that into an internet business. Or maybe you were laid off from a job and you are trying to figure out what your next step should be. You can talk about it here. Tell me what skills you developed in your last job and I just might be able to come up with some ideas for an internet business that’s just right for you.

Maybe it would help if I told you my story.

My daughter says I have reinvented myself more times than Madonna. That’s because I grew up before personal computers really existed. I definitely was something of a geek but it was before geeks existed so I pursued my other passions.

I liked to read and write. In fact reading probably saved me from a life of poverty. I grew up very poor in poor neighborhood but there was a library right down the street. Later I became a librarian first before moving on to journalism. In a way I moved full circle from reading to creating works for others to read.

I worked on a daily newspaper covering businesses for a number of years before leaving to start a small business offline. My first PR business died an unceremonious death in the recession of 1992. I should mention that I have had a lot of experience with tough economies. I’m a baby boomer and the year I graduated from college, you couldn’t find a job unless you were well connected or carrying a very in-demand degree. It was one of those times when things were so bad, you just kept going to school.

Back to the present: Since about 1993, I have been battling a chronic illness which was first diagnosed as lupus but later turned about to be RA or rheumatoid arthritis. This provided me another good reason to pursue a career in front of a computer.

I spent almost 10 years working for a non-profit creating programs to help micro businesses succeed and IDAs or Individual Development Accounts to encourage people to save and to achieve their financial goals. When I lost that job in 2004, I decided to put all my energy towards creating a business on the Internet.

It has been a challenge, but also fun. I’ve learned a lot that I hope to share.

Now with that as a backdrop, please leave a comment to “tell me your story.”  As you may know if you’ve read earlier posts, I am working on my blog editorial calendar for the year and I would like this blog to speak to your needs.

 Have a wonderful New Year!

 Marcia Ming