I’m Not Naked, BUT Get Ready To See A Lot More of Me

I’m getting really geared up for the next 30 days (adding up to 60) of my 90 Day Challenge.  Really, the last 30 days, I really focused a lot on getting the word out about my life, and trying to blog almost daily.  One of my goals was to blog every day but I ended up missing about 5 days of the past 30.  I am still going to focus on the goal of blogging everyday, but I am committed to incorporating video…video of my singing, my different exercise routines of choice, and just of some of the knowledge I’d like to share on how to live your dream life, and the steps I’m taking to get there myself, that you can do too. 

I am very excited about the next 30 days because you are also going to see some of my “favorite things” (kinda borrowing that from Oprah…she’s on my list of people I would love to meet and speak with one day, like I am sure several hundred thousand other folks…lol), that I have incorporated into my life to make it more wonderful everyday.  So be on the look out to check out some my favorite music, books, guitars, videos, candles, jewelry and much more.  It may take me a sec to get it all together but it’s coming. Peace, Songs, Blessings…Nichole Ayanna

90 Day Challenge To A Better You

OK.  I heard about a 90 day challenge where you post your blog comments or a YouTube video blog everyday for the next 90 days, from September 1st to December 1st.  These posts are documenting your commitment  to improve your life in some way.  I am going to take the challenge and go full force with it.  The post can be about anything that documents areas of your life you would like to change and improve.  I can’t say that I stuck to blogging over the past months and half, due to analysis paralysis ( I was trying to figure out how my blog actually worked instead of just doing it) but I am committed to doing it now.

My focus of, course is on singing, health, and family and spiritual health.  I want to take you on the journey with me for the 90 days.  You can do it with me too.  My goal is to, each week, put up at least one video performance of some great songs I always wanted to learn and perform or those that I had written myself.  Singing makes me happy, it uplifts my spirits.  I just feel an overall sense of fulfillment when I sing and that happiness translates into every aspect of my life.  Some say that music resonates in your being and can actually change the cell make up in your body from rigid and sharp to rounded and harmonious ( I think it was in the movie “What the Bleep”).

I also still need to work on my weight loss.  So that I keep myself accountable, I am announcing to the world that I am committed to an exercise routine and cutting down on my food intake.  I also need to work on getting my baby to sleep through the night so that I can get enough proper rest to be my best in all areas of my life…which aint been happenin’ with my little 14 month old. 

So, let me know if you are down to go through this journey with me…what are your commitments?  I have an accountability partner  and  we state our specific commitments for every 30, 60, and 90 days.  Even if we don’t reach every commitment we just re-adjust, acknowledge each other for all that we have accomplished and keep going.  You would be amazed at how it really keeps you on track with your goals and gives you clarity in the direction you want to take in life.

I want to sing…I love to sing…so watch me sing like crazy over the next 90 days.

Marketing Your Music-Blogging Tips

One of the best ways to brand yourself as an indie music artist online is to create a blog. It can be about your experiences as the band, where you are going and what you are planning for the future, or it would be set up like a diary of some sort. It can also be set up to share information on how to produce music, or play an instrument using some original chord progression or something. Whatever your blog covers, has got to relay info from your experience or your opinion to really be good and intriguing to your readers. Here are few tips to great blog writing.

1. Be consistent with your Posts – You should post your blog regularly so that your readers have fresh content to look at, at least once week. One way to set up your blog so that you are not tied to it all the time is to write some of the posts in advance and then set them for the date you want them to post in the future.

2. Find Your Niche – Make sure you are targeting those people that you want to reach with the messages in your blog. Hone in on the audience you are addressing and make sure you are giving them the content that they are seeking. For instance, are they your fans, or are fans of hip-hip underground you write about, or are they guitarist who want to learn more about playing acoustic…you have to choose your audience and focus.

3. Refer to Other Blogs or Articles in your Niche – By referring to other blogs or articles that can give your audience the information they are for, you become a resource that they can come back to. While I’m on this point, there is great course called www.thenicheblogger.com, where this house wife, Amy, created a day by day instructional program to help you get started blogging, and shows you how to make money with your blog.

4. Become a Decent Writer – You should concentrate on writing well, gramatically, as well, as in how you relay the information that you are writing about. I learned from June Jordan, famous poet, that you should write how you would speak, and someone would understand you. Make it easy to read and not too stuffy. I’m not the best writer, but I hope I’m getting my point across.

5. Write About Things You Know – Write about this that you can back up with experience and stories about the experince you have. You’ll become some what of an expert as your blog grows.

6. Be a Real Person- Let people know that you are real by including a bit of your personality in your blog. Do you have any special sign off at the end of your posts? Can you share a little story that reflects the kind of person you are, that your readers can relate to? Do that and your readers will become more connected to your blog.

7. Make it Easy to Look At – Make the design of your blog inviting but don’t over do it. You want to make it easy for your readers to stay on your blog and read each post.

8. Blog, Blog, Blog – Sometimes blogging can get a little boring, but it can be so rewarding, financially, if you use it as a tools to market your music. You can also market affiliate programs you belong to as well. For instance, you can talk about certain books that you like and link people to them on amazon.com and make money if they buy it, if you are member of Amazon.com’s affiliate program. For more affilate programs check out clickbank.com

9. Use Tag Keywords – Use some great tag keywords. Maybe your blog can relate to something else that is “hot” going on. Use those “hot” tag keywords to attract more people to your blog.

10. Market Your Blog – Make sure that everybody knows the name of your blog. Allow search engines to search for your blog for relevant content.

Stick to it and you will be successful. For more help on blogging go to www.thenicheblogger.com and join the course.

Marketing Indie Music – Gotta Set a Schedule

Time blocking!!! The one thing that we can never get back in life is more time. After one hour, one minute, or one second passes, we can never go back to it. Does it feel like you never have enough time in the day to get things done…I mean things that are truly important to you?

Really take a look at all of the “things” you are placing on your plate daily. Are you checking email for hours at a time, replying back to people who have sent you email chain letter…”If you send this to 10 of your friends then…” Are you on the phone, talking small talk. You have got to prioritize what is truly productive for you during the day and then fit in those things that are not as important for you.

Here is one solution for you to be able to fit in the things you really want to accomplish in life. I’m not talking about all work and no play…you’ve got to schedule that in too. We want to focus on scheduling a balanced lifestyle.

Take a piece of lined writing paper and write at the top the days of the week from Monday to Sunday. Draw a line vertically in between each day. On the left side of the paper enter in the time from 6 am to at least 8 pm in half an hour increments…so you’ll see 6:00, 6:307:00, 7;30 etc. Then for each day write in schedule what you would like to accomplish for the week and block out the time that you think it will take to do it. Include working out, drive times, time doing your dream, a little time for responding to those important emails, phone call return times, family time, cleaning time etc. Focus on the things that really matter and try to stick to your schedule. If something doesn’t get done one day, don’t kick yourself, just add it to another day and see where you can fit it in.

After a week, look at all that you have accomplished…things that you thought you couldn’t get to, but you did. You’ll feel sense of satisfaction, and relief that you don’t have certain things on your schedule still not done. This “time blocking” method really works if you have a hard time with procrastination. It will also help you get in a little or a lot of time on working on your dream or setting aside some “me” time to replenish to start the next week all over again. Don’t forget to pencil in the “me’ time….which makes for happier “we” times with your family and friends.