Who IS Listening I Wonder

Have you ever paused for a moment in your daily lives, in your internet presence, to speculate as to Who is listening to you? Who is reading that message you have put out there? How many of your readership base is totally getting what you are putting out there? Are they maybe "hearing something else?" You know, not hearing what you originally intended for them to hear?

Well, I was wondering this morning "Who IS Listening?" And, more importantly "do they really get IT?" I honestly think that worldwide there is a bit of information and meaning that gets lost in translation. Sometimes you may have a humorous message and you wonder if that "humor" is totally understood?

I was curious as to what specific countries make up my Squidoo readership base, the platform that occupies a pretty good majority of my time.  Take a look at this chart.

There is no surprise here that the United States is the top country on the list; however, I might have thought the percentage would be a bit higher than 58.55%.

The Top 5 countries responsible for bringing in the readership base to my Squidoo lenses or article base include, in descending order: the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and India.

Gosh, can I make the assumption that about 60% of my readership base will TOTALLY get what I am saying and understand the entire message?  Perhaps, perhaps not.  It's important to understand who is listening when you craft your article and message you know.

You know, it does make sense that Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia are in the Top 5! These 5 countries account for 79.62% of the overall readership base.  So, an assumption could be that, on the very best day, and in the very best crafted message or article, I might be lucky to have 80% of the people TOTALLY get what I am saying.  You know what I am saying?

So, thirteen other countries comprise 9.0% of the overall readership base: Philippines, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, Italy, France, Netherlands, Hungary, Malaysia, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, and Romania.

And, it is an OH WOW for me to see this particular list of countries.  You know why?  Well, I write a LOT about Eastern European topics and about Hungary, Poland, and Romania ... so that is sort of a plus for me to be connecting to a readership base from those very countries, you know?

What countries comprise your readership base?  Who are your Squidoo readers?  Who is listening to you?

P.S. I also write on a second blog, the Topicability Blog. Gosh, I wonder if the worldwide readership base for that blog is comparable to that which comprises my Squidoo lenses or article base? You think?

What the heck am I talking about?

Hello people! Have you ever had somebody ask you, "what the heck do you write about?" Or have you asked yourself, "What the heck am I talking about?" Well I just asked myself that.

In a creative sense, I've been showcasing on the Topicability Blog the Top 100 Squidoo lensmasters and lenses that are occupying the various topics or categories. You know, you can look at those Top 100 lists day in and day out and think you have an idea of what's there on top, but until you generate a Wordle tag cloud, you just can't really know.  A Wordle tag cloud really does creatively sum it all up. You know what I mean, jelly bean?

So, I turned the artistic Wordle microscope on myself today. You see, I really did have an idea of what my Wordle would say, but then again, after I ran with it, I was surprised!

Well, I had expected to see Jaguar Julie and say Hungarian front and center; however, I do honestly believe the word that is popping out of that Wordle is Art!  Yes indeed.  And, how life does imitate art sometimes or is it art imitating life?

I'd say Love and Christmas are tied for second place followed up by Best and Fashion and Showcase tied for third place.  Hungarian and Julie seem up next and then we have quite a variety of "topicable" words like Jaguar and Cat and Sweet and Designer and so much more.

What's that YOU say?  Stuffed Cabbage?  Yes?  Where do you see that?  I don't see Stuffed Cabbage or Stuffed Cabbage Rolls there, but I did spot Goulash as in Hungarian Goulash ... you know?

Lately, I've been spending more time blogging ... maybe you noticed that? I've divided up my time here on Jaguar Julie :: Blog On and On and over at Topicability. Here is that topicable line-up of  the Top 100 of the various Squidoo Topics as found over at Topicability:

• What POPS with Pop Culture and Celebs?
• Hey People! It's About the People Today!
• Spotlight on Parenting and Kids
• It Is All Local Folks Oh My!
• Computers, Gadgets and Tech Oh My!
• Do It Yourself this Summer

Have you caught my profiling of the top Squidoo lens, for more than a year, on Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens? Have you participated yet in my Hey Monkeybrain debate about Squidoo Stats -- Public or Private?

Why all the tweets on toilet seats oh my!

Good grief Charlie Brown!  I started off thinking I'd see a handful of Twitter tweets on toilet seats and then it kept going and going and going just like that Energizer Bunny, you know?  Holy mackerel Andy, but I am all weirded out this morning that SO many people are talking about toilet seats ... and NOT good things either.  Sorry, you'll have to search that for yourselves as I am not providing a courtesy link ... my grandma is stopping me from doing that.

Gadzooks, but my grandma surely taught us some etiquette you know?  Grandma wouldn't get all the toilet seat and toilet bowl humor and I can see her shaking her head, "Oh no!"

My generation of old foggies wouldn't dream of tweeting personal things like those that I saw this morning on toilet seats in page after page after page of Twitter tweets.  YIKES!  In my personal opinion, a lady just doesn't talk with a potty mouth in public.  But, hey, that's ME, folks!  I am a lady dinosaur me thinks.  And, I apologize for bringing up such a sensitive topic today.  That's OK ... I will continue on my merry way with being a lady; being as polite as I can; being as gracious as I can; being my original and unique self ... striving to be as authentic as I can possibly be ... all things considered, you know?

So, I happened to catch a forum post by somebody asking for visitors and blessings to a particular lens by another lensmaster, a multiple ID lens? Oh gosh, I thought, isn't that coincidentally interesting? That is the very same debate I have on one of my toilet seat lenses.  But, my debate, created in November 2009, is a lonely puppy, feeling empty and unloved ... ah!

You know, I do distinctly remember seeing a recent Amazon Affiliate newsletter, promoting the best toilet seats and I did think, why how topicable that is!! And, I was smiling because I had done a couple of toilet seat lenses in 2009, to talk about the brand of elongated toilet seats that we use at home.  Size, shape and style do matter after all.

Did you catch the June 17th Topicability blog post, Stuck on the toilet oh my?

You know, I know, because I do talk about A Quiet Toilet by Comfort Seats and take 2, Quiet Elongated Toilet Seats by Comfort Seats.  So, I get the subtle humor of it all that the toilet ads keep playing out for me day in and day out.

Hey ... see those first TWO elongated toilet seats by Comfort Seats?  YEP, those are authentically the very toilet seats we have in our home ... the light yellow one and the light pink one!  Hi, grandma!  Yes, I was being polite about toilet seats and the toilet humor that I shared in all those YouTube videos. Hope you got a chance to see it!

Oh, by the way ... I won't be asking for any blessings on my toilet seat lenses. A special thank you to all the visitors and readers who took time to weigh in on that TOPICABLE debate of elongated vs. round!  Ah, I was obviously flushed with excitement to have you all drop by.

And, I do apologize for having to make a commentary like I did earlier ... you know about the etiquette of sharing too much information on toilet seats and toilet bowl humor on Twitter.  Sorry folks!  Oh, I guess, when you've got to go, you've got to go ... but let's keep that between ourselves, shall we?  Cool, ;)

Oh, Oh ... see ya ... I have to go you know?

Let's get analytical and look at that bottom line

Normally, an analytical type blog post such as this one would be earmarked to appear on the Topicability blog, but today is a special day -- July 29th is the one year anniversary of Seth Godin's remarkable Triiibes! For me, having that opportunity to be a part of such a remarkable group -- well, I have been changed and it is all good. Thank you Seth Godin. Thank you fellow Triiibesmates!

So, let's get analytical and look at that bottom line shall we? How many times have you read a lens, article, or blog post from someone saying that they've earned hundreds of dollars in a day online. Really? Well, I know it can be done -- want to sell a quality book, an art print, poster, or maybe a mousepad? Pick the right one and you might see a hundred dollars in royalties for that sale or sales.

For me, I'm looking at the moment at my bottomline and putting the other side of my brain into drive to get analytical. For those of you following along, I'm looking at my big earners of all my lenses. That's a handy tab that can do some summary calculations to give you an idea of how well you are doing in banked royalties.

Some interesting tidbits that I am willing to share today:

• 2 big earner lenses are in the top tier for additional royalties
• 9 big earner lenses are in the second tier for additional royalties
• 2-3 big earner lenses are lowly ranked to be out of the additional royalties
• The remainder of big earner lenses are in the third tier to earn $0.08 perhaps each!
• Average LR of all big earner lenses = 29,344

Double Take on a Google Ad on Squidoo Lens

It was a double-take this morning when I saw that google ad about how to cure yellow teeth as seen on Rachael Ray! I was editing and lensrolling the lens, Jaguar Julie Lensography when I saw the ad, "I Cured My Yellow Teeth!"

Take a look at the picture above! Wouldn't you too do a double-take on that google ad?

It made me think about the topicability of those google ads on Squidoo lenses. I've heard plenty of lensmasters commenting about the wrong type of ads appearing on their lenses; how they don't seem to relate or be topical. Well, I'm happy to say that this fine morning, I found this particular google ad to be spot on!

Google is fast at indexing

Google search is FASTER than a speeding bullet! Google is fast at indexing!

Blimey! I noticed the MOST interesting thing today when I did a Google search for jaguarjulie. On the first page of the search results, I found nearly all the results were what I expected them to be -- it found this blog, my websites and Squidoo lenses, and my twitter page. However, at the end of the results, I saw my Topicability blog listed.

What was odd that within the listing, rather than show an entry from THAT blog, it was showing some twitter updates from THIS very morning, but linking to my other blog. I don't know what to make of this as it's quite peculiar. Don't YOU think?

Google search is faster than a speeding bullet -- in that you can see information searched and seemingly indexed in real time. WOW! Google is absolutely amazing!


P.S. It is over 10 years later that I am reviewing this blog post and thinking, yes! Google is fast at indexing. However, today I am thinking Google is NOT careful on indexing ... to be indexing content scrapers who have stolen authentic and original images and content and making it difficult for the visitor to find the ORIGINAL ... why that is most concerning!! For me, it is particularly concerning because I have added my original photography, designs, images and content to Google blogger. It would seem such a blog content would be treated better by the "owner?"

A Poem Miracle On The Hudson Flight 1549

A Poem -- Miracle On The Hudson - Flight 1549

... And Today I Said: Enough!

Enough News About Hatred And Greed.

I'll Send You Someone Whom You Desperately Need.

I'll Give You A Hero, A Man Who Can Fly.

His Family Of Travelers Will Number 155.

The Day Will Be Wintry And The Water, Ice Cold.

Before The Night Falls, A Miracle Will Be Told.

This City Of Heroes Will Once Again Save

Their Sisters And Brothers From A Watery Grave.

I'll Send My Earth Angels To Show To The World

That I Do Bless America. I Do Keep My Word.

Can Anyone Doubt My Love For You All?

I Heard Your Prayers And

I Heard Your Call.

In Your Beautiful City Where The Twin Towers Fell

You Suffered, My Children. You Witnessed Pure Hell.

You Needed A Sign And The Sign Is Of "Life"!

Away With Your Pain. Away With Your Strife.

I Meant For This Man To Be With You This Day--

To Show All Mankind That I Mean What I Say.

I Heard Him Plead "Oh God Don't Let Them Die".

His Prayer Was Answered When I Heard His Cry.

I Am With You, New York.

I Am With You My Children.

My Gift On This Day

Is A Brief Glimpse Of Heaven.

When You Think I'm Not With You

And You Cannot Go On.

Remember This Miracle

And Embrace A New Dawn.

I've Given You Heroes - You Know Who They Are.

They Light Up The Earth...Each One Is A Star.

Now All My Children, Who Today Have Been Saved,

Go Do Unto Others In Your Own Special Way.

I Shall Always Hold You

In The Palm Of My Hand.

I Love You, My Angels!!

I Bless This Great Land!

Your Loving Father.

Written by: Mary Ann Valentinetti.

Buy a new all-in-one printer or keep the old one

In an economic quandry: To buy a new all-in-one printer or keep the old one? Have you seen the latest OfficeDepot specials where you can buy this all-in-one HP printer for only $104.99? It normally sells for $149.99, but for a limited time, you can save $45.00. Personally, that $104.99 price makes it mighty tempting to me.

You see, I have an all-in-one printer that can also scan and fax. It's an Epson RX-500. I love my all-in-one, BUT, it costs me more than $104.99 for the 6 OEM ink cartridges. I'm into being green and eco-friendly, so I do recycle all those OEM cartridges for a whopping $0.50/each. CompUSA used to give me $3.00 a piece, but stopped that practice a couple of years ago. Some of my friends have their cartridges refilled, but I prefer the OEM cartridges.

This is what doesn't make any sense to me: You can get that brand new all-in-one HP printer for only $104.99 AND it come with INK, of course. Or, you can simply keep your old Epson printer and restock it with ink cartridges that cost you MORE than $104.99. What would you do?

Let me see, I can probably donate the Epson RX-500 to Goodwill if they will take it. You see, the last time we tried to donate our computer and monitor, there was a big sign at the local donating station: "NO COMPUTERS OR MONITORS." One of my former coworkers Gary says he has a bunch of 'old' printers stacked up some place in a corner. "Hey, it's cheaper to buy a new one rather than restock the old one with ink."

Hey, it's an economic quandry in this day and age when we are looking at where we can cut costs.

DIY becoming more complicated

Hmmm, ever notice that DIY is becoming more complicated these days? Yep, the next time you decide to tackle a so-called do-it-yourself [DIY] project around the house, you better have the yellow pages handy! We didn't need to resort to the yellow pages, but we did know better to call a friend of ours, Roy, who is a handyman of sorts freelancing since he retired from his normal programming job.

We have been debating for more than a few months about replacing our beat up front door. After shopping Home Depot online, we identified a few possible fiberglass doors that would work for our 36" x 80" wooden door. Before committing to that Home Depot door, we consulted with our next door neighbor Joe who happily offered to help us get a door through his construction company. When Joe came back with the initial figures, we opted for a so-called cheap fix with the Home Depot door.

On September 27th, we picked up the door and brought it home. It was too heavy for me to lift with hubby, so we engaged Joe's son to help put it in the garage. It wasn't until Saturday, October 11th, that Roy was able to schedule time in his busy schedule to help with the install. The idea was that we would take the new door out of the frame and simply swap out the hinges and install it where the old door was.

Well, that was until we got to the final step after measuring to confirm the hinge placements. Those were supposedly spot-on. But the other side of the door wasn't lining up. It looked like we would need to fill the holes where the deadlock was placed. Next thing I know, hubby is in my office reaching for my tape gun. "What are you doing?" I asked. "The door isn't going to fit." he says. "What?"

The Feather River fiberglass door is NOT a 36" x 80" door after all! It actually is more like 36" x 79-1/4". If you want to have that door, you will need to totally 'tear apart' your front door frame to put it in ... in the frame that it comes in! It will not work in the existing door frame.

Hmmm, I do recall the young man in Home Depot telling us that it is RARE, extremely rare, that a door, any door, will fit exactly. Now why is that I want to know? Isn't a front door standard? Shouldn't a front door be standard? Well, I guess after all, size does matter! Must have been a man who designed those doors. After all, 79-1/4" is 80".

By the way! You might have heard that I am one of the blondes that DIY. Oh, I have been doing it yourself, or myself, for so many years.

The Importance of Topicability

Topicability : The Importance of Topicability -- Squidoo Lenses and Elsewhere. Ah, the importance of being TOPICAL! Inspired by Squidoo, I'm announcing the launch of Topicability : The Blog which made its debut on April 8, 2008!

Topicability : that which is relevant, of current interest, contemporary, spot-on.

Being a Giant Squid, Squid Angel, and prolific Lensmaster, I have learned first-hand the importance of Topicability particularly in how that translates to lensranking. I'm no stranger to blogging either, having womaned this very blog Jaguar Julie : Blog On! since December 2004.

I hope that you'll take some time to check out Topicability : The Blog where I'll be featuring Squidoo lenses that I happen upon which are spot-on topical!

HOW TO ADD YOUR LENS: Oh, want me to check out your Squidoo lenses for topicability to be featured in my Topicability Blog? Add your comment to this blog post and let me know how your Squidoo lens is topicable!

P.S. I guess you could say that a bit of my inspiration from 'yesterday' is the Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Earnest. Have you seen the movie or read the book yet?

Martha Stewart is Reading My Lenses

Martha Stewart is Reading My Lenses! Have you been watching Martha Stewart's TV Show lately?

Well, I have and I have thought for quite some time that she's obviously reading Squidoo lenses for ideas to feature on her TV show! Some of you might say it's just a coincidence, but I don't know about that! Maybe Martha Stewart is just on the same wave length as me? Or, better yet ... she and her staff have recognized the topicability of Squidoo lenses? Hey, Monkeybrain, is topicability a word?

UPDATE: I have deleted the lens: Martha Stewart is Reading My Lenses.

Let me show you what I'm talking about ... come take a look at this lens and make up your own mind! You can actually voice your opinion at the end of the lens, after doing your own empirical research within my lens. I present the segments from Martha Stewart's TV Show and follow that up with my lens -- all of which were created well before Martha's segments aired.

P.S. Be on the lookout for upcoming Martha Stewart TV Shows as she may be reading YOUR lens and featuring YOUR topic. Have YOU recognized the topicability of Squidoo?

By the way, you do know that Martha Stewart helped to popularize Polish Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipes along with Polish Pierogi? Yumm ... some of my favorite ethnic comfort foods.

Thinking back on this lens, it sure was funny at the time! Very topicable stuff. Martha Stewart and I have moved on to other things. She was even working with Snoop Dog! arf arf ...