Self Publishing 100 Activity Books - A Huge Personal Goal

Most of you who know me know that I have a goal of publishing 100 activity books.

Although this goal is ingrained in my being, I had no idea how to achieve that milestone.

My Newest Activity Book, Easy Sudoku for Adults, Helped Me Breakthrough Being Stuck - Let me Share How

Since 2019, I've published 14 activity books and 1 poetry book for a total of 15 books. That figure includes the newest book "Easy Sudoku for Adults." I've been stuck, and it is absolutely part of the process.

"The How Breakthrough"

I'm not one to wallow in problems. Without a doubt, finding solutions is part of who I am. In the case of finding a way to publish 100 activity books, I've had to think and think and think!

There are numerous 'how-to' videos on self-publishing; I've watched many of them. The guidance is out there; however, finding what works for you and how to implement suggestions is hard.

Most importantly, many how-to's include an automation process that isn't personal. 

Automating is essential, but not at the expense of your product's quality or personalization. Having said that, I've found an efficient way to automate WITH personalization.

So, in summary, work as hard as you can to automate and duplicate, but still, keep your books personal to you. In other words, don't just upload auto-generated activities or content, but do find a way to generate them so you can personalize them!

Never Compromise Quality

• Finding programs that generate your puzzles (or whatever your project is) can help. However, they are not the answer to speed! 
• To achieve volume, you need speed, but not at the expense of quality.
• You still have to find a way to personalize your book. Make them a reflection of you!
• Check the negative reviews on the competition of other books in your genre. Use those negative reviews as tips for your newly created book.
• When creating a book, always think about fulfilling a need or solving a problem. 
• Think about the consumer.
• Take pride in your creations; after all, your name is attached to them.
• Oh, that's another thing; I only use my given name, which keeps me honoring my own personal level of integrity.
• Don't take negative reviews to heart. You will get them; they do hurt. But use those to improve your books! 
• With Amazon self-publishing, I aim to stay within a three to five-star review rating on each book. So far, so good. 
• I'm all over negative reviews! I read them, and if the complaint is legitimate, I modify my book based on that review ONLY if it makes sense!
• Don't be afraid to completely revamp a book if you believe it will help your overall reviews to be positive. I re-did the layout of all 7 of my riddle books for both paperback and ebook versions! That project re-do took me three months!

Automating Includes Developing a Functioning, Duplicatable System

• Find and use a word processing systems that allow for easy duplication for the next book in a series.
• Develop consistent templates that can be used, reused, and modified.

For Those Who Don't Have Expensive Word Processing or Other Graphics Programs, Here's What I Use

• I don't have the paid version of Microsoft Word, so I downloaded "Liberty Office" for free. I use those for my Riddle Books.
• I use the free version of Canva for my Wordsearch and Sudoko books and probably all other activity books I have yet to create.
• I create my own book title pages using the free version of Adobe, Adobe-Spark.
• I use the free version of "Gimp" to change the DPI on my book covers to printable quality.

Create a Website That Will House All of Your Books

• I plan to expand to other self-publishing companies. I'm only publishing on Amazon's KDP, but my long-term plan is to expand to other self-publishing services. I'm in the middle of learning more about that process. My brain hurts, lol. With your own website, you can direct all your marketing to your website so that when you do expand to other self-publishing companies, you can simply add those options directly to your website. 
• I rarely ever direct link to Amazon when marketing my books. I don't like having links out there that could potentially change! For that reason, I link to my website.
• Decide upon a navigation system on your website that makes sense with the books you are creating. I have created a menu on my website that features; Riddles, Answers, Wordsearch Books, and Sudoku Books. I can expand that as I make more books. 
• When you're creating your site, give thought to your planned growth.

My Final Tip for Today:

You HAVE TO LOVE what you're doing. If you don't, doing the work necessary to achieve any goals is challenging.

I've been stuck along the way, and it's very frustrating. So frustrating that I questioned myself about my goals. But I've long since realized that my goals are real and attainable. 

The biggest tips I can offer anyone taking on a project/passion like this are:

1. Don't quit.
2. Keep going.
3. Take breaks.
4. Develop duplicatable systems.
5. Be willing to learn from your own mistakes.
6. Be ready to make changes.
7. Take breaks when you're fed up.
8. Celebrate every book you publish.
9. Don't let that look of doubt on the face of others affect you in any way.
10. Monitor the sales activity for the books in your genre.
11. Keyword research every book you create.
12. Make sure your goal is what you want.
13. Visualize where you want to be in a year.
14. And as my friend Margaret said to me once, "Trust Yourself." I have carried that piece of advice with me for years. Thank you, my friend.

Introducing My 15th Activity Book - Easy Sudoku for Adults

Additional Self-Publishing Articles:

1. Basic Tips for the Newbie Self-Publisher
2. Matte or Glossy Book Covers
3. Confessions of a Newbie Self-Publisher
4. 5 Helpful Self-Publishing Tools
5. 3 Tips for a Newbie Self-Publisher
6. How to Get Started on Your First eBook
7. 5 Handy FREE Tools for Self-Publishing

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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The Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz – Book Review

Dean Koontz is a master storyteller. His fiction journey began when he was a senior in college and won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition. Since then, he has never stopped writing.

Koontz latest book published in 2022, The Big Dark Sky, is all we have come to expect from this master of suspense.

Synopsis

Image by Daniel Burkett  from Pixabay 

The setting is Montana where, as a girl, Joanna Chase lived on a ranch until tragedy changed her life. At age 9, after both parents die, Joanna goes to live with an aunt in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Now it is twenty-five years later. Joanna is a writer still living in Santa Fe. She has only vague memories of the past until she begins to receive pleas – by phone, through her TV, in her dreams.

I am in a dark place, Jojo. Please come and help me.

Unable to ignore these desperate pleas, Joanna is compelled to return to Montana.  Unknown to her until she arrives back at Rustling Willows Ranch, other people, including a scientist, a boy from Joanna's childhood, a private investigator and a computer expert, have also been drawn to this isolated area in Montana, haunted by a sense of imminent danger.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of this remote ranch, a madman lurks with a disturbing vision which tells him that mass murder is the only way to save the future. 

Summary

Available on Amazon

The synchronicity of coincidences brings together this band of strangers under Montana's big dark sky. Will they be able to defeat the threat that could spell the end for humanity? 

The Big Dark Sky is listed as a #1 Bestseller in Amazon's Science Fiction Adventures~

More Reviews of Books by Dean Koontz:

• Elsewhere
• Devoted
• Quicksilver
• For More Book Reviews by the writers on Review This Reviews, click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*The Big Dark Sky – Book Review by Wednesday Elf

  

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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A Regrettable Proposal: Memorable Proposals Series - Book 1 Reviewed

A Regency Romance

This is the first book written by Jennie Goutet that I have read, but it won't be the last! 

I have stayed up late, into the wee hours of the morning, for the last two nights reading "A Regrettable Proposal" because I was so absorbed in the story. I simply could not put the book down, even though my eyelids keep closing out of sheer exhaustion. I would wake with a start and begin reading again.  While I desperately needed sleep, I hated it when I got to the ending of the book. Fortunately, there are two more books in the series.  I will start reading book 2 tonight and I can hardly wait. 

Like all Regency Romance novels, this historical story takes place in 19th century England. "A Regrettable Proposal" follows the traditional style of writing by being clean & wholesome to read. It beckons us back to a time of elegance, balls, elaborate ballgowns, horse drawn carriages, and high society. 

In my personal opinion, it is the mark of an extraordinary writer to be able to captivate a reader with a romantic story absent explicit sex, foul language, or extreme violence. 

 

A Regrettable Proposal Synopsis
1812 - London, England

 A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1)Check PriceStratford Tunstall never expected to be the fifth Earl of Worthing, but when both of his male cousins were killed in war and his uncle died, he fell heir to the Worthing estate, title, and responsibilities. "Family members who had not cared to know him before now would descend upon him at Worthing."  Also, his uncle had taken a ward under his protective wing many years ago and she was also being summoned to the reading of the will.

Eleanor Daventry had no idea what was about to happen to her, but she knew she would survive somehow.  She had been fortunate that her father's long time friend, the fourth Earl of Worthing, had provided for her since her father's death. Under his guardianship, she had received an excellent education and he had already provided for her upcoming "first season" to be presented to society.  While the expectations would be for her to secure a titled suitor, she would prefer to secure a job and marry for love. Regardless, she would try to enjoy her season in London with her best friend, Lydia Ingram, from school.    

The reading of the will surprised everyone, especially Eleanor. Now, what must she do?  

The reading of the will also made Stratford wonder what he must do.  

___________

 

While the Regency time period paints the picture of elegance, beauty, gentility & tranquility, people have always been human. Therefore, there has always been pride, arrogance, envy, & harsh realities. 

This Regency Romance novel is one I can highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical romantic fiction.

At publishing time of this review, "A Regrettable Proposal" is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited Subscription. Or, you can purchase it with the link below.

 A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1)Check Price A Faithful Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 2) [Paperback] Jennie GoutetCheck Price A Daring Proposal (Memorable Proposals Book 3)Check Price Memorable Proposals Boxed Set: A Complete Regency CollectionCheck Price

 

A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1) by Jennie Goutet Reviewed by:

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Sharing Your Memories

Sharing Your Memories

Have you ever wanted to share your memories for your grandchildren and future generations?  There are so many ways to accomplish that and yet, sometimes it is hard to know where to begin.  You could record yourself talking about your memories, write them out by hand into some type of book or type them into various memory book programs.  In this post I will review three of the different methods I have used to share memories with my grandkids.

Memory Book

When my oldest two granddaughters were 13-14 years old, they went through Confirmation at their church. As a gift for each of them I presented them with a book of memories from my life.  The book I used was called, Grandmothers Memories to her Grandchild (a journal of faith and love).

This book has pages for you to write small paragraphs about yourself and other family members.  The paragraphs are interspersed with beautiful photographs of Thomas Kinkaid paintings and faith-based prose.

The book has a place to add the members of your family tree and a page about your birthday, full name and place of birth.  In addition to these pages there are many other topics for you to write your memories.  Here are a few of the topics:

• What happened in the world when you were born?
• My favorite verse about love.
• The best thing about being your grandmother.
• Memories of my Mother.
• Memories of my Father.
• Favorite photos of you and me.
• Favorite Bible verse.

There are many other subjects that help to give you ideas of what to write.  I found this book easy to write and I like the way it turned out.  I wrote in the book over a 6-month time frame to give me time to think about each subject and then put down my thoughts.

Story Worth Book

On Mother's Day, my son and daughter-in-law gave me a subscription to the "Story Worth" memory book.  Each week I was emailed a question from the company and then I would write my answer to the question and add any photos that I had that would go with that subject.  At the end of 52 weeks the questions and answers, along with the photos were put into a book.   Here is the cover from my book.

Here are a few of the topics from my book.  They are all listed in the index of the book.

• How did you feel when your first child was born?
• Which fads did you embrace while growing up?
• Describe one of you most memorable birthdays.
• What is one of your favorite memories of your mother?
• Did you have a car in high school?
• Who are the best cooks in your family?
• What did you read as a child?
• Who inspires you?
• What simple pleasures of life do you truly enjoy?
• If you could choose any talent to have, what would it be?
• Tell me about your siblings.

This is just a sampling of the questions to give you an idea of the types of questions in the book.  If you are sent a question that just doesn't work for you, you can ask for a replacement question.  I did this a couple of time during the year but after some thought I found I could find something to write for every question.

Shutterfly Book

After making memory books of my life, my husband and I decided we would also like some books made of his memories.  I have always made a photo book each year using the format in Shutterfly.  In looking at their options I found that I could also use pages of text in Shutterfly in addition or instead of photos.  We decided this would be a good option for making a book of my husband's memories.

We started with some basic questions that he answered, and that I put in the book along with corresponding photographs.  We then looked at all the questions that I answered in my books, and we used those questions as a starting point for his book.  Each week I give him one or two questions.  I then add the answers to the book.   I also go through old photo albums and copy any photos that will work with the questions.  We are still in the process of creating this book, but I really like the way it is turning out.

Whatever method you decide to use, I encourage you to get started.  I think it is good to do it over several months to a year.  At the end of the project, you will have a wonderful sense of accomplishment and your family will have a wonderful gift from you.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Two Replaced Knees and a Broken Elbow Equals.......A Product Review

No this is not one of Barbara's Riddles, although she has some great Riddle Books! (You can check them out on Review This Reviews if you like right here!

 But the answer to my riddle is dirty floors!  

I must admit that I like clean floors but I don't particularly like cleaning them!  Getting down and dirty in order to clean those tiles can be back breaking at the best of times.  But after having double knee replacements and a broken elbow, getting down on that floor is impossible.  Plus, since I started my Keto Lifestyle (with Margaret's help)  a couple of years ago, my Hubby decided that is was his turn to take over the cooking chores!

I'm not complaining because he is very careful and cooks for me with my Carbs ever on his mind.  But after my wonderful husband has been in the kitchen chopping and peeling and generally making a mess, the floor looks less than fantastic!

Now I must admit, I'm a little bit of a nut when it comes to having the kitchen floor clean.  There is nothing like getting down on the hands and knees and scrubbing  all those little nooks and crannies!  But since arthritis and recent the knee surgery, that is not happening anymore.  I had to find someway to get my floors as clean as I like them.

Yes, I have a mop and bucket, many different types of cleaning apparatus with micro cleaning attachments and several different kinds of cleaning cloths.  None of them were satisfactory for my personal tastes.  Plus, I needed something that I could use quickly and have it really do the job!

Well, after much searching and lots of different products, I think I found the one I like the best.  It's the Bissell Powerfresh DeLuxe 1806 Series!  

It is compact, lightweight, easy to use and it really does make the floors look great.  I was sceptical about how well it would work, because nothing up till now matches the cleanliness of getting down and scrubbing!  But surprise, surprise, after giving the kitchen a good sweep (to get the big stuff up), I plugged in my new little friend and within 10 minutes the floor was steam cleaned and dry!  Hubby walked by and took a quick look and then came back and looked again.  His comment was that the floor looked like it did when we first moved in to the apartment.  Now I have to agree with him.  This is the cleanest I have gotten the floor since my knees were replaced last year.  I am a happy camper!

If you are looking for something that will help you get your floors looking great, I would highly recommend this little but powerful Electric Steam Mop!  

My only regret is that I did not find this appliance sooner.  Shiny clean floors are something that makes me happy!  This mop is one that I will use on a weekly (or more often depending on how the cook is doing) basis!  It's easy to use and doesn't take forever to heat up.  I had my floor cleaned in less than 10 minutes yet they looked like I'd been scrubbing for hours!  Now that to me is a Big Win!

Now, Two replaced knees and the broken elbow equals nice clean floors for sure!  And healing joints as time goes forward!  The cook is no longer worried about the messes he makes either!  All around this was a great investment!  I have a happy cook and a happy housekeeper (me)!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Ten Ways To Keep Garden Plants Alive During Drought

 

 We have been going through a period of heatwaves with 35-40 degrees Celsius and now have drought conditions that are unusual for where I live in the UK. 

I love our garden and have found that I need to change the way I garden under these conditions. Many of the plants I love to grow are not drought tolerant and while this may need to change if we have frequent droughts in the years to come, for now I want to try to keep them all alive.

However, it is also very important in a rough situation not to drain necessary water from the system so as to preserve as much as possible both inside and outside our homes. 

So here are a few tips I have picked up from other gardeners and my own experience

1. Water Plants Deeply Once A Week.

Doing this is a much better approach than watering a little every day. We need the water to reach the roots not just wet the top few inches which will just evaporate in the heat anyway. 

Always water either very early morning or late in the day when the sun is fading and there will be less moisture loss. Put your finger into the soil to check how far down the soil is wet. 

2. Use Shade For Plants.

For plants in containers move them into the shade wherever possible. Place plants in pots under the shade of a tree or by a north-facing wall of a house or garden shed or garage. That way they will be shaded for more of the day. Group plants in pots together. Sharing space will help each other stay cooler. Also if you can place smaller pots above bigger pots any water that drips through will help to water plants below, thus saving more water. 

3. Make Shade For Plants

If the containers cannot be moved into the shade try to provide them with shade. I like to use the shade of other plants, especially those who don't mind the sun so much but even an open umbrella over them, a patio umbrella or a cardbox box strategically placed will help. 

4. Use Large Drip Tray Containers.

For plants that do not mind being in standing water and are in pots, put any container that holds water under the pot.

I find that these drip trays that we often use for houseplants are good to hold some water underneath our garden plants in pots, but not so much that the plants then get waterlogged. I tend to use larger sizes to hold more water.

GRESPRI 18 Inches Sturdy Black Plant Saucers 6 Packs Heavy-Duty Large Plant Trays, Durable Plant Pot Containers, Plastic Plant Drip Trays for Indoor/Outdoor Plants. (16.2 inches in Base)

5. Prioritise Plants For Water.

Concentrate on the plants that you know need more water such as roses and also plants that look dry, dropping leaves or droopy. Prioritise plants in pots and perennials over annuals. Plants that are more suited to Mediterranean or hotter environments and those like Bottlebrush, Lavender, Thyme and Rosemary will cope better than roses and new cuttings or young plants. I rarely water any existing shrubs or trees in the ground, the hope is that their deep roots will seek water low down.  

6. Leave The Lawn.

Do not water the lawn- most lawns are robust and will recover once we start getting rain. Also, our lawn is now mainly brown and not growing at all so there is no point trying to mow it. When autumn comes we will feed it and take care of it but for now the best thing is to leave it. 

7. Use Watering Spikes.

Use some of these water spikes devices. They release water slowly into the pot. If you make a hole first deep into the pot. Connect a water bottle to the spike, turn upside down and very gently insert the spike into the hole so that you do not break it or injure any roots. The water will seep to where the roots are rather than wasting water at the top of the pot. I use them for when we go on holiday and I prefer the terracotta ones, although you do need to take more care of them being more fragile, they do a better job in my opinion. Now they are valuable for simply giving a gentle water source. A litre bottle should last about a week to ten days.

REMIAWY Plant Watering Devices 8 Pack Terracotta Vacation Plant Waterer Wine Bottle Watering Stakes Slow Release Plant Watering Spikes Perfect Self Watering Devices for Indoor Outdoor Plants (8)

8. Stop Feeding Plants.

Do not feed plants as this encourages growth. I am finding that many of my plants are going to seed much more quickly and some are already adopting their autumn colours. I think this may be a way of ensuring their survival. If they are under stress they want to make seed quickly in case they die and by losing their leaves they need less energy.

9. Use Rain Barrels Or Water Butts.

Install a Water Butt or Rain Barrel to prepare for any future drought. The water butt will fill up when we do have rain in winter and then can be used in a summer heatwave or drought when water is in short supply.

57%

RTS Companies Inc Home Accents 50-Gallon ECO Rain Water Collection Barrel Made with 100% Recycled Plastic Spigot, Black

 

10. Use "Grey Water" To Water Some Plants. 

Watering plants If there is a ban on using hosepipes or using house water can be difficult. Instead, we can use water from handwashing clothes or washing up water on our plants. Always allow the water to cool down first though.

However, never use this kind of "grey water" on fruit, vegetable or herb plants. Do be careful though as some plants may be sensitive to chemicals in your grey water. This is another reason a water butt will be useful.

People say you can always replace plants but they are expensive and this is not always possible when a plant has a special memory or was gifted to you by a loved one.

It breaks my heart to see them suffering in the heat and drought so if I can do these small things to help them I certainly will. So far I have to say they are doing remarkably well and I do feel while I have had one or two losses that most will come through this and recover once we get some good rain.

It may be in the future that we will have to adapt our gardens even further and grow more drought-resistant plants but we will see. So for now I will do what I can to keep them alive while keeping the drain on the water systems to a minimum.

In addition, while caring for our plants never forget the wildlife and do leave out a shallow bowl with a few pebbles and water in it to help hedgehogs, bees and other insects get through the drought and a birdbath to help the birds care for their feathers, bathe and drink. 

As a final thought and this may be unpopular among people who love the sunshine and hot weather, I am hoping for lots of gentle steady rain very soon!! 

More Gardening Articles

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Moving House With Your Garden Plants Reviewed

Reviewing The Benefits and Drawbacks Of A Manual Lawn Mower

Growing Magnificent Magnolias In The Garden Reviewed

Reviewing Restoring A Metal Garden Swing Seat

How To Grow Camellias In Your Garden Or Container Reviewed

Review Of Wolf ByPass Secateurs

Reviewing Growing Annual Sweet Pea Plants And Flowers

Reviewing The Growing And Care Of Bottlebrush Plant

Reviewing How To Put The Garden To Bed For Winter

Metal Wind Spinners For The Garden Reviewed

Spring Woodland Walks For Wellbeing Reviewed

Why Insect Hotels Are Good For Wildlife And Gardeners Reviewed

Growing Vegetables In Outdoor Containers Reviewed.

Review Of Wolf Garten Shears For The Garden

Gardening Reviews By Contributors On Review This Reviews

Diary Of A Wild Country Garden 

Essential Wildlife Gardening Gifts  

Raintree Earth Designs

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Shopping Online For Camera Equipment Review

 Back in the day, way back in the day I originally learned to develop film old school in college. Where students were ushered into an itty bitty pitch black room armed with a camera and metal spools where we learned how to remove the film from the camera and thread the film on the spool - in the dark! And then learned the process of developing film and then learned how to manipulate the "picture" in the developing process with the developing chemicals, time of exposure etc etc. Lots of etc's for novices to learn! Fast forward a few decades through many a camera and I have found myself back to wanting to up my photography game and return to a 35 mm camera albeit digital.

Where To Buy Photo Equipment?

This led me to the vast array of products offered at online retailers for camera and photography equipment. I reintroducing myself to a 35 mm camera by purchasing a used Canon Rebel 2 any today the current Rebel is 8 so you can see I went back quite a few model years. I did this intentionally as I wanted to ensure this was an avenue I wanted to pursue (and knowing, suspecting that it would be, much more investment would be forthcoming).

I purchased the Canon Rebel 2ti used from B & H Photo online. The camera arrived quickly. The packaging was excellent and the camera looked brand new. The only negative though very typical of buying any type of used equipment is the lack of a hard copy manual, but that is easily accessible online. 

Since the original purchase I wanted a few accessories and a different lens and back online I went to shop. I would love to support my local camera shop; in my area there is only one bricks and mortar camera store left, but unfortunately though understandably they did not stock the older equipment.

I have purchased equipment from B & H Photo, Adorana, Amazon and eBay and have had positive experiences with all. When seeking a specific pieces of equipment I will surf each of the stores and cost and compare prices, shipping charges. With older accessories that may be model specific the item may very limited in supply so that limits comparison shopping. 

Review of Buying Camera, Photography Equipment Online

I have found B & H Photo and Adorana are quick if not quicker when using Amazon Prime. The items were securely packaged by all 4 sellers/companies which is very important with delicate and breakable equipment. The packaging on Amazon I found really varied in quality and quickness to ship even with Prime; on the flip side items purchased are also shipping quicker than promised on Prime. 

 It is critical to vet the sellers on eBay and Amazon. Returns to third party sellers on Amazon can be a slower process than if sold directly by Amazon. Some third party sellers also require you apply for permission to them to return an item prior to processing on Amazon which is another layer of administration. For eBay sellers research their ratings and the comments by clicking on the number of reviews next to their ebay name.

Top Four(In No Particular Order)

• B&H Photo in New York, family owned
• Adorana in New York, family owned
• Amazon (check if the seller is amazon or a third party)
• eBay (vet the seller closely)

Adorana has a bricks and mortar superstore in New York at 42 W. 18th Street

B&H has a bricks and mortar superstore in New York at 420 9th Avenue. 

Recommendation 

While online shopping has never been easier it does 'pay' to comparison shop. I've had positive experiences with all the sellers/stores. As mentioned above if a third party is the seller make sure to vet the third party on the site. If seeking discontinued or older equipment eBay or Etsy can be a great resource!

Review This Reviews contributor mgbphoto has an excellent review of her favorite photos of 2021 using three different cameras including an iphone camera. If looking to up your photo editing skills Mary Beth reviews Lightroom and Photoshop which really are a game changer for novice photographers.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Newbie TikTok for Business Tips - Check it Out

A Review of Newbie TikTok for Business Tips

In my last post, I talked about how I was just starting out with my plunge into the world of TikTok. 

Today's post will expand a bit further on some of the additional things I've learned.

The Previous Post Focused on How You Can Upload Photos to TikTok, Versus Creating Videos

Many who stay away from TikTok for Business do so because they don't want to put themselves on video. 

Most of us small businesses can't afford to hire companies to create videos, so we believe TikTok is not a viable business tool.

I was like most everyone: I thought TikTok only worked for video creations. Having said that, uniquely interesting, useful, and even funny video creation is the best way to market for business on TikTok.

However, because I write Riddle Books featuring my own written riddles, I found myself potentially being an exception to that rule. 

Using TikTok to feature my riddles is an excellent marketing tool. 

I upload my created graphics for each riddle, then enhance their interest with special fun characters and music.

Do you have interesting images you could enhance and promote on TikTok?

You can enhance your photos with:

• Text to Speech
• Voice Over (if you want to use your voice)
• Special Elements (funny icons etc)
• Text
• Background Music

Did You Know There Are Places Online to Get Royalty Free Video?

I hadn't really thought about it before ... that I could access royalty-free video just like we access royalty-free photos.

The two places I've used so far for photos and videos are Pixabay.com and Pexels.com. Be sure to check the commercial license use for each image and video.

When you select a video for TikTok, use a vertical video.

Newbie Ways to Use TikTok for Your Small Business - Ask Yourself These Questions:

1. Do you have premade, attractive graphics that people would find interesting to look at? 

If the answer is yes, consider TikTok. Enhance that photo with special elements and background music.

Here's an example of one of mine on TikTok.

2. Do you have text that you've incorporated on your photo?

If the answer is yes or no, consider TikTok. With TikTok, you can add text to your photos, so there's no need to make photos with text if you prefer not to.

Here's one of my riddles on TikTok with a plain photo background, text entered from TikTok, with text-to-read activated, directly on TikTok:

3. Would adding text to a stock video be appealing for your product or brand?

If the answer is yes, consider TikTok. I'm currently experimenting with this by putting riddle text typed onto the background of stock videos. It's working artistically so far.

Here's an example of one of my riddles on TikTok using a stock video.

4. Are you able to make short videos from your cell phone?

If the answer is yes, consider TikTok.

These videos don't have to be fancy.

Just panning my backyard, I was able to put a short background video together. 

I uploaded that short backyard video to TikTok, and commenced the creative journey. You can view that riddle here.

Here's an Example of One of My Riddle Graphics Used on TikTok:

Check out how I enhanced this for TikTok

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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