Stephanie Manley

5 Guiding Life Principals

Stephanie Manley — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:52:24 +0000

I currently work for what I think is a brilliant man. He can put together points so well in life, that he can make what often seems like life’s struggles something much easier to manage. We were having a discussion over some a presentation, the discussion was substance over presentation style. I am personally its all about the message, and I think the message will speak for itself, but others like the wow factor more than the message. I was commenting on that sometimes it is difficult to compromise your beliefs to meet others expectations. He told me that isn’t the point, and then proceeded to tell me the advice he gives to his children. So according to my boss these are the five things you could focus on in life.

1. Health – without health you have nothing.

2. Wealth – without wealth your life is made more difficult.

3. Happiness – you can have health wealth, but if you don’t have happiness it doesn’t matter.

4. You should be grounded – your feet always need to be on the ground, and you should realize you have limitations, and you should not make people angry. Be humble.

5. What service you can provide to others – your value in life is what you provide to others, this is where our spiritual side comes in.

He said if you aligned yourself to those basic five principals other things would fall into line. I know my life lately has had a lot of random struggles in it, and this seems to be what I needed to hear to help put things in perspective. I am hopeful that using these five principals will help eliminate the arguments that I feel I need to hang onto, so I can grasp other things in my life.

New Video Release – Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

Stephanie Manley — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:39:56 +0000

Here is the second video in the CopyKat Recipes season one is my version of Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce. You can make this recipe at home!

New Video Release – Hooters Fried Pickles

Stephanie Manley — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:36:16 +0000

First in my season one of CopyKat recipes is my first video. You can learn how to make Hooter’s Fried Pickles Copy cat style.

How to Use Twitter Effectively

Stephanie Manley — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:26:00 +0000

You might be asking yourself, how can I use Twitter effectively, and maybe even why would I want to use Twitter. Twitter is a great tool of social media. Twitter is a great way to stay in touch with other with common interests. It is also a great way to find people that think similarly. As you can search peoples tweets and see what they have to say. A tweet is a 140 character message, so you have to be skillful, and learn to use the backspace key to get out a concise message. The first thing you need to do, is to go to Twitter, and sign up for a free account there. I recommend picking a login name as close to what you want to promote.

I must be honest with you, twitter has one of the worst interfaces imaginable, so I prefer to connect to twitter using Hootsuite, this is a *FREE* application. So you can sign up, for free. Why use Hootsuite? I have a lot of followers, I have over 25,000 people I follow, so I categorize them into different interests, and then when I am interested in a particular subject, I scroll through that particular interest. I can also schedule my tweets, and send out messages when I think people may be interested in them. Not too many people are awake at 12 midnight, but lots of people are on at noon, so if I have something to say and I want feedback, I will schedule that tweet.

Ok, so now that you have a twitter account, and now that you have Hootsuite, you want some followers. I am familiar with two applications when it comes to finding twitter followers. I have used Tweetadder, and Tweetspinner, and both are good for finding people that have similar interests as you do. You simply select a few key words, and let the programs search for you, and then you follow those people with similar interests. Sometimes they follow you back. Now, if you want to use this to gain followers, you simply follow people that have similar interests, and wait a few days, and if they don’t follow you back, you unfollow them, and follow someone else.

You might wonder why you should use twitter, it is a free marketing tool. I use it to announce whenever I create a new post, I have it feed to twitter, and let people know the subject of my new post, and if they are interested they will come to my site. I also tweet about other people’s websites with similar content, and to simply sent out informative facts. You will want to become an authority in whatever you choose to talk about. It is up to you, there are many people that have thousands of twitter followers, and they all tweet about different subjects.

You may want to integrate your Twitter and Facebook together. This way you can post to Twitter, and have it show up on Facebook, two messages for 1. Here are a few links to help you integrate the two. Now, if you are promoting a business, I would urge you to set up a fan page on Facebook. (You set up a fan page on Facebook, because one day you will have more than 5,000 followers), How to Set up a Facebook Fan Page, 5 Ways to Integrate Twitter and Facebook, additional ways to Integrate Twitter and Facebook.

So we have gone over a very light overview of Twitter. First you need to sign up for a Twitter account, and then to really start utilizing Twitter, I suggest using a client like Hootsuite to interact with Twitter. If you are anxious to find followers try using a third party client like TweetAdder, or Tweetspinner, to find new followers. TweetAdder is very easy to use, and you will be finding new people to follow in no time. Then I suggest you integrate Twitter and Facebook together. Another big tip I suggest is in all of your official communication that you include your Twitter ID, for me that would be @copykatrecipes. Put this on your stationary, your business cards, and on your website, so when you meet someone, they can follow you.

SEO – Do what is effective

Stephanie Manley — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:51:04 +0000

I have spent the better part of the past six months trying to optimize my blogs, I haven’t always been effective, but I would like to share with you some of what I have learned over the past six months. My biggest gains in SEO have been in determining my key words, and trying to capitalize upon my keywords. Improving the quality of posts, I now try to write longer posts, and make sure I use my keywords within the posts. I have stopped checking out how my competition is ranking on various key words.

So you can determine what keywords you use, look within your google analytics, what words are driving traffic towards your site. Look at those words carefully, do they match how you have your site designed? Are your major keywords categories? They should be categories, because this is how organic traffic is arriving at your site. Use this as your first guide, consider writing more content within the keywords that your audience is naturally attracted to you. This will bring you more traffic, and hopefully make your traffic more sticky.

I have worked very hard in lengthening my posts. I am horrible about writing short posts. I have written hundreds of posts that are sadly less than 250 words. You really need to write longer posts, the longer posts will increase your chances of pulling people into your site through search engines, because we use a variety of words. I also think people like to read content that isn’t written like a robot. When people enjoy writing about something they naturally write a great deal about a particular subject.

Finally, I have stopped watching the rankings of my competition. I used to spend a great deal of time watching my competition and seeing where they were ranking. This was in ineffective use of my time. What I should have been doing, was looking at their methodology if they had one, are they using more photos, are they annotating their photos, how long are their posts. This was honestly a sinkhole of my time. I had gradually moved away from it once I started to work on my own content, and guess what, the traffic came.

Perhaps in this next year, or the next few months, take a look at the keywords, look at how your audience is coming to your site, and go with that. You already do well there, small changes there will bring you more traffic. Improve the quality of your posts, write about what you audience wants, and what you enjoy. Make sure your posts are at least 300 words, add photos, make them interesting. Finally stop watching everyone else so much, that you fail to spend quality time on your blog. If you improve upon what you already do well, you will see the traffic follow.

Dawn of a new decade

Stephanie Manley — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:53:17 +0000

You know I was at a party recently, and someone said they were thankful this decade was over. I had not really considered it to be a new decade, I thought last year was the new start, but apparently, I was wrong. I am glad I was wrong. This particular person also stated he was so glad that this decade was over because it was his worst ten years ever. I concur. It was almost my ten worst years, ever.

In my past ten years, I had lost more than half of my family, being an only child, this is pretty significant. My husband and I divorced, and then my fiancee passed away. My employment situation was difficult, I was laid off 3 times, and I moved across the country and back. On the other hand, I earned two college degrees, published a book, and had other successes on the web. I never wanted to have a boring life, but I wasn’t thinking this was the life I wanted either.

I think of what I want to accomplish during the next ten years. Some of you may know I am going back to school for a career change. I am looking forward to changing careers. I am looking forward to being in a role where I can assist others and help people change their lives. I want to make real differences in lives. I also look forward to maybe another book, we will see on that one Maybe I will finish up those 30 days of honesty. I found some of those difficult to publish online, while it may be ok to share my thoughts, but it isn’t fair of me to drag others into this on the web.

Commentary on the TSA and the naked body scanners

Stephanie Manley — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:46:12 +0000

Normally, I don’t get riled up about political issues. The TSA body scan is another issue. Our government is asking us to submit to body scans that have harmful radiation, and if we opt out, we are essentially sexually molested before we travel. We teach our kids that no one should touch certain areas of our bodies, yet, this does not apply when they fly. This is an injustice. We are not criminals.
I am all about flight safety, I am. I don’t have words to express for the familes that lost the people they loved on September 11, the tragedy is too profound. I have a family member who worked in one of the Twin Towers, and luckily was at a dentist appointment that morning. She lost the lives of several of her co-workers. This tragedy personally touched my life.
I ask you why pilots, who fly the planes must be subjected to additional security measures, we trust them to fly the airplane, why do we not trust them pass through TSA?
I ask you why flight attendants who are in charge of our safety while in flight must be subjected touched in their private areas before they board the plane, ready to aide us should anything happen?
Why should our children be essentially sexually molested before they go to Disneyland, if we chose to opt out of a naked body scan?
Body scans flood our bodies with harmful levels of radiation that haven’t been fully tested.
Body Scans may have harmful levels of radiation
Body scans floods people with high levels of radiation
A government official who promoted the body scans is now a prominent member in a company who profits from the sale of body scans.
Gorge Soros and Michael Chertoff Profiting off Controversial TSA Scanners
The TSA has been known to save the images of the body scans.
Government Officials Save Images
TSA Procudures regarding saving of images

Our constitutional rights are being violated. We haven’t been suspected of a crime when we step onto a plane, but yet, we are being treated as a criminal. Why?

30 Days of truth – Day 9 – 12

Stephanie Manley — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:56:42 +0000

Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.

I don’t think I have anyone in this catagory. I am generally good at maintaining relationships, a few relationships I have chosen to let go because they became too toxic, and to painful to continue. I am generally the person that tries to maintain a relationship until it becomes too unbearable. I know I have stayed in some friendships beyond the real life of the friendship.

Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Thankfully no one fits into this box right now Life changing events helps you put things into a priority, and when these things happen you change your perspective radically.

Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

People tell me that I can handle or endure a lot. I completely disagree, these aren’t the people that see me in private, or see me when I am not calm, or not ok.

Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.

My wonderful grasp on the english language. I hate to tell you how often I get told I misspell something, or I have used the wrong word. Now that I have a book under my belt, this pains me even more

Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)

Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)

Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.

Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.

Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?

Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.

Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)

Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.

Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

30 Days of truth – Day 7

Stephanie Manley — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:54:49 +0000

Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.

Wow, this is a diffcult question for me to answer. So many of those who I loved have passed away. At times for me, this is most difficult for me to answer. I can’t say anyone at this point in my life that is alive today makes my life worth living for. I dedicated my book to Michael simply because I think he was the person who was the most influential person in my adult life. I am simply alive at this point in my life because God wills it, and I don’t understand why. I am honestly no longer certain of the purpose of my life, and I wish that an answer would be made clear for me, but I doubt that will happen.

Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.

Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.

Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.

Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)

Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)

Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.

Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.

Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?

Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.

Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)

Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.

Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

30 Days of truth – Day 6

Stephanie Manley — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:50:42 +0000

Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.

I hope I never have to work retail again. I did several years of retail managment. I enjoy people, I enjoy helping people solve problems. I haven’t appreciated times when I have had product people have purchased in stores thrown at me, or have had my life threatened because I refused to cash two party checks. I may have to do this again one day.

Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.

Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.

Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.

Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.

Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)

Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)

Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.

Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.

Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?

Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.

Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)

Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.

Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself