Helpful Talk

This website is here for freelance, part time and full time writers and authors who want to better utilize the Internet. If you’re a blogger, you will find this website helpful however you may find some advice specifically pertaining to freelance writers.

Due to the fast changing world of technology and the Internet many  find it difficult to stay on top of all the possibilities that such technology brings along. New websites, new services, new devices, new terminology, new magazines, e-zines, new ways to publish, new ways to research, and even more importantly, constantly changing rules that govern search engines, marketing online that can easily stay under the radar only known by professional marketers.

Here, I bring the world of Internet & Online Marketing with the world of Writing to help my readers be better writers and find new ways to research, write and discover new revenue streams so they can keep doing what they enjoy the most, writing.

I use my unique background in computer science, website development, running online stores and managing online marketing campaigns along with my interest in freelance writing to bring technology insider information to you, the writer.

The topics discussed show you how to better utilize the Internet. These articles cover the following areas:

• Getting published
• Conducting online/offline research
• Connecting with others
• Building a platform.
• Building a web site (domain names, hosting, marketing, etc)
• Better designing a web site
• Blogging tips and tricks
• Monetizing your web presence
• Using Social Networking websites
• Using free software, free resources and more free stuff
• Saving money by shopping online
• Marketing yourself online and off-line
• Selling your books, work or other products online
• Making money online
• Getting paid for your written (and other) works
• Finding magazines, e-zine and websites to get published on
• etc …

Who am I?

I am so many things. I do not like labels, it is hard putting what a human is in words, the following is a (partial) list of my skills:

• Researcher - Areas:
  • Health, psychology, spirituality, alternative and complementary medicine and holistic healing
  • Alternative Fuels & Transportation
  • Co-existing with Nature (eco living, green city/building design)
  • Space & Astronomy
  • Religions & Culture
  • Internet Marketing
  • General Science / Technology
• Inventor (no patents yet, but hopefully soon)
• Writer / Author (love to write in the areas of my research)
• Entrepreneur (owned a couple small online businesses and one offline)
• BS degree in Computer Science (Magna Cum Laude 2004)
• Property management (2yrs)
• Web Software Used:
  • OsCommerce: Built and ran an online store for 1 year (shut down due to lack of time)
  • Word Press: Developer/User since 2004
  • Drupal: Developer/User since 2007
  • phpBB: User since 2004
  • MediaWiki: Installed and used
  • Used Joomla, Xoops, CMS’s, Moodle, Zen Cart, wiki’s and others
• I.T. & Online Experience:
  • Small Biz Experience:
    • Google Adsense (user since 2003)
    • eBay and PayPal (user since the 1999)
    • Online Marketing and Advertising (since 2005)
    • Domaining: Finding, buying, assessing domains
    • Affiliate Marketing experience
    • Parking Domains experience
    • Online retail (ran a couple online retail stores)
  • Professional I.T. Experience:
    • The use of PHP, MySQL, ASP, Java, Javascript etc..
    • Graphic Design / Web design
    • Managed multiple MS SQL 2000 and 2005 servers - DB Admin
    • Managed Windows 2003 Servers - Windows Admin
    • Created (built) CMS systems &  Knowledge Base systems
    • Knowledge Base Administrator
    • Technical Support (remote, on site, software, hardware)
• Professional Business Experience:
  • Business Analysis (Project documentation and planning)
  • I.T. Project Management (training and limited work experience)
  • Business Process Design (training)
  • Trained help desk staff
  • Technical Writing

I will publish high quality pages that I hope you’ll find helpful. I’ll always be looking forward to reading your comments, contributions, criticism and the likes.

I make a point of sharing what I know here. If and when I read or learn something useful, I will write about it here. I urge you to also share your feedback and opinions so please do leave a comment, as many comments as you like!  — I mean it.

I can’t stress enough; your comments are always welcomed.

Thanks!

Ethan