WOW -  What a journey this year has been! 

Actually, it's been an amazing 3 years. All of our lives we have been entrepreneurs, marketers and big internet users. About 3-4 years ago, we noticed a shift in the Internet. The explosion of Web 2.0 and Social Media. We decided it was worth exploring. We started dabbling with blogs and various Social Media groups and started having these “Ah-Ha!” moments! We discovered if we did certain things, we could get in top Google searches. If we belonged to certain groups, we could get free PR for what were doing. Our phone started ringing. People were finding our sites. Within time, we had a dozen sites and started consulting for others on how to build their web presence by using blogs and other tools that are widely available.


 We met Robert Hruzek, in 2007 thru   Liz Strauss's and Terry Starbucker's  brainchild, SOBCon  (which is an amazing event!) in Chicago.  Robert's site, is  Middle Zone Musings,

Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. "I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax... "  Well, last year he started something called  BLOGAPALOOZA. And this years  BLOGAPALOOZA  09 just wrapped up! 

All this month  he has been  posting collections of  What I Learned From 2008 ,  from various bloggers.  He has been cranking out the best of the best posts! Take some time and look  at all the great posts and great writers, inparting  great knowledge! People like Best of Mother Earth Karen Hanrahan,  Phil Gerbyshak, Sheila Glazov, Derrick Sorles and Terry Starbucker.

We have learned SO MUCH in the last 3 years, Derrick and I have invested over 10,000 hours, learning the best of the best of practices, SEO, SEM Content Attraction, importance of keyword and domain selection,  ....we made all the early mistakes...so YOU DON'T  HAVE  TO! And we try to pass on those tips at our Business Blogging Tips. And on  Life By Design, we are always looking to pass on a random sampling of thoughts and ideas to help people discover their inner happiness.

My  WHAT I LEARNED FROM 2008  were a selection of posts that I felt were thought provoking or at least resonated with readers.

  Robert runs 12 tips....if I had to pick only 3, they would be...


April we explored how the happiness from a pet can change your life!
Miss Trixie deluxe… A Dog’s Life

July we ran a list of 10 easy things to help make your day a better one!
10 Things You Can Do Today to Make It Amazing!

August examined if we are givers or takers? Are You a Giver or a Taker?



Congratualtions Robert on a GREAT  event!