Yes, it’s a new series. I have an uncontrollable need to talk - apparently, and you are my ears to listen.
And… let me know what you think while at it.
So, this is an open invitation to come by every Sunday, have a cup of coffee with me, ask me a question or two, and see if we can make this a win-win situation.
This coming week on TGC:
Monday: we’ll talk about the state of SEO affairs for 2010.
Tuesday: a spin on keyword research
Wednesday: my link building plan for 2011
Thursday: it’s a surprise (I don’t have anything scheduled yet, in other words)
Friday: my Blog Audit Friday is back!
Your Questions…
…are always welcome. Please ask below in the comments or use the contact form.
If there is anything in particular you would like to see a post on, let me know.
If you have a question about a post, let me know.
I think it’s about it. You get the gist.
Love it or hate it? Comment to show me that you’re alive!
Great plan for the upcoming week. I too am surprised by your haircut. Actually you look so cute and charming with the short hair. But surely does contradict with the header image 🙂
BTW I drink a lot of coffee. So I can be your buddy I guess.
Jane.
Women… you never know what my hair color will be next time. 🙂
See you next Sunday, if not sooner, Jane!
Hey Ana! Great to see your sweet face 🙂
Happy New Years to you! And yes I’d join you for a coffee (or tea). If you are in Phoenix anytime, I will take you out to one too!
Have a wonderful week.
Thanks, Andrea - I’ll see you next Sunday then!
Its a great idea Ana. I have to say i have had a chuckle at some of the comments. Regarding your organization… I think you’re outstanding… I’m so far behind these days - I think I’m in front….
To be honest I can hardly keep up with you. I spend so much time reading, I can barely get pen to paper…. I think i’ll have to start taking my laptop to bed… and having a coffee there so I can be more effective during the day.
See you Sunday!
Jayne
So sweet you are, Jayne. 🙂 You are so far behind, you think you are in front - priceless!
By the way, I am very good at appearing that I am in front, but the truth is I am just learning how to do it. This is the first time in my blogging career that I already have a few posts written so I feel like I am ahead. But trust me, a step to the left or right and I am right back behind. I think it’s the name of the game. 🙂
I am honored you still take time to come visit me sometimes - thank you.
Ana
Hey Ana,
This is a cool idea. Well done!
Look forward to a fantastic 2011!
Mavis
Thanks, Mavis; we’ll see how it goes next Sunday.
Hey Ana
So nice to see you face to face so to speak.
Okay, I will be over next Sunday and I will bring the donuts 🙂
Peter
What am I - a police precinct? 🙂
Look forward to it, Peter; we’ll make it into a party.
Hi Ana,
What a fun idea. I’ll join you as I’m a big coffee drinker too. I’m looking forward to your posts and think the idea of a conference chat would be even more fun!
As far as questions, I do have one. I’m getting some errors on blog grader that say my meta descriptions on several of my posts are too long, but my goal is usually between 100 and 160 characters, and from what I’ve researched, that seems to be a pretty common recommendation. Am I mistaken on my numbers?
Thanks!
Heather
I think most mothers are coffee drinkers, Heather; we have to keep up with life somehow…
Your description should be under 150 characters; anything above that will be too long for search engines.
Thanks for the question!
YaY Ana, I love this Sunday coffee idea of yours :). Brilliant! However, I’m gonna have to join ya with a cup of cocoa instead. I can’t stand coffee and I know it’s rather strange - me being from the Middle East and all. But Nesquik or Swiss Miss will have to do!
As for the vodka hmm…. a bit too early, don’t ya think? lol
I was so hoping I wouldn’t have to start one of my comments here with “I love this and I love that” but what can I say?
I’ll be looking forward to seeing the discussions as well as your dual post. They’ve got nothing on you Ana, Nothing! hahaha
I was thinking…would it be too complicated or not feasible to have some kind of conference live discussion using something like Skype?
Danny Brown did a live Q&A session on his blog a few weeks ago (using Livefyre) and I think it quite a success. Not saying that you should use Livefyre but maybe just seeing if something like that could work - where at a certain time you’d be here to have answers shooted at ya with direct responses.
Anyhooo, just a thought. But the Skype one could be interesting - as long as the delay time is minimal if at all.
I refuse to end this with “Awesome post Ana - as usual” so I won’t! Damn, I think I just did lol.
Cheers Tzarina
You are beyond cool, Ingrid - you know that? 🙂
I think it’s a brilliant idea to have a live session. I am a bit intimidated since I have to come off smart on the spot and all, but I think it’s worth a shot.
Do you know if Danny recorded his session, by any chance? I’d love to see what he did. Also, what time did he do it? With international bloggers, I’d love to pick the best time possible.
Thanks, Ingrid - see ya!
Hello again,
“Beyond cool”? Well, coming from you - that’s “beyond awesome!” 🙂 Thank you.
Here are 2 links to Danny’s post regarding the live chat session. One is about it and the other the actual session.
Hope this helps.
Whatever you end up doing - you’ll be great. We already know you’re smart Ana - and whatever you say - you know better than us - so you can say the sky is green - and we may look up haha.
Best of luck and make sure to let us know when, how, what and all that! Can’t wait!
Cheers
http://dannybrown.me/2010/12/08/smarter-faster-cheaper/
http://dannybrown.me/2010/12/10/livefyre-future-of-blog-comments/
Thanks so much for the info, Ingrid - so many ideas, so little time.
Ingrid:
I have to smile everytime I see “Tzarina!” It reminds me of that Smashing Pumpkins song, “My Czarina.” And now, thanks to you, when that blasts on my iPod, I think of traffic generation and vodka!! You pegged it right though, when we want answers, this is where we should be.
Lisa
Ok Ana:
I just poured some Vodka IN my coffee and I think that means I am internationally covered here. This is such a fantastic idea and I too look forward to your link building post. One thing I can say is that with you laying out your week for us shows EXACTLY how organized you are and why you are a success…well besides your brilliant, innovative content…but that’s a given. So, here’s to some Kamchatka and columbian blend!
Lisa
Lisa - where did you pick up your spectacular sense of humor??? Loooove it!
Organized… Did you miss the part where I don’t even have all the posts scheduled for this week? 🙂 It’s one of my goals for the year - to always be ahead and not behind.
We’ll see how that one works out…
Love your ‘conversational’ approach to this blog Ana….looking forward to it. 🙂
Thanks, Marcus - I assume it means I’ll see you here next Sunday, right? Better! 🙂
You can find lots of American coffee buddies (and some vodka buddies too) =)
I miss your Friday blog audit! Still hoping to get you to tear mine apart some day!
Love the new hairdo!
Keep reminding me, Ray - it just might show up one of these days. 🙂
Friendships involve time, which most of us don’t have or don’t make time to have… I can’t believe I’d rather spend time online talking to my readers rather than have a face-to-face with someone…
This is a perfect world for hermits!
Hey Ana.. I was waiting for you to take a sip of your coffee 🙂
I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s post, can’t wait to see what your link building plan is for this year. Hope you have an awesome week
talk soon
Hector
I’ve got to figure out my equipment and how close to the camera I need to sit first (who knew drinking coffee could be so tricky! 🙂 )
Every time I tried to bring the cup anywhere close to my face, it seemed to be the size of my head - at least…
So much to learn…
See you next Sunday? 🙂
Hehe.. yea, I’ll be here next Sunday… I’ll have my cup of coffee in hand, too.
technosuman
Well Ana! Really it is a pleasure to read your blog while have a cup of coffee. I think your blog is really innovative and fresh.
Your blog post is really great and my family also like it. Thanks Ana!
Well, thank you very much! I had no idea reading my blog can be a family affair…:)
Have a great week!
This is a very nice idea Ana
You remind me with Tea and Turkish Coffee I used to have with my friends at Cairo! I miss this a lot as I don’t have friends here where I live in the States, I’ve moved one year and 3 months ago! So it’s going to take a while before I can make new offline friendship, of course my online business is taking me from the outside world which makes it even more harder!
I Drink a lot of coffee, and when I say a lot.. I mean a lot 🙂 but anyways.. There is no joy without buddies!
I hope I will be around next week!
You’d better be around, Hesham - I need all support I can get. 🙂
By the way, you need to get out of your house more - cyber air just isn’t as fresh.
Jokes aside, thanks for coming my; it’s always a pleasure.
Hi Ana
Looks like we are going to get some great things over here on your blog in 2011. I’ll get my cuppa (cup of tea) ready and enjoy 🙂
Thanks for the heads up on what we have waiting for us Ana. Looking forward to my continued learning curve, some of it here at TGC.
Patricia Perth Australia
Thanks, Patricia.
I was wondering if it’s a good or a bad thing to let people know beforehand what I am going to publish that week.
What if they decide it’s not exciting enough and won’t come? 🙂 What do you think?
I don’t think you have to worry about people not visiting cos it’s not exciting enough Ana! Your blog is extremely popular and for good reason. Quality posts that we can learn from. Thanks Ana for all you bring to the blogging community.
Patricia Perth Australia
That’s good to know, Patricia… Thanks for your input; I’ll keep pushing!
Hi Ana,
I’d love to enjoy sunday coffee with you. I am very much a coffee drinker. Are you going to keep these sessions as youtube videos or would you consider opening it up to a more interactive platform such as skype?
I love the concept. It’s a great way to make blogging way more interactive.
Wow, love the Skype idea… I wonder how I can work that out…
Not too good with that yet; just recently broke down and started using it.
Could use help on how to set it up, Richard - if you know!
Sure Ana,
I’ve been using skype to talk to my family for the last year or so. It’s fairly straightforward. The traditional skype only allowed video chatting between two parties, but they’ve just started open beta for group video calling which would work for your sunday chats.
I’d start a separate skype account for traffic generation cafe though, just to keep it separate from your personal calls.
Forgot to say, you can contact me with skype questions, so we don’t end up spamming your comments here.
I love using my comments as a forum of sorts, Richard - that’s one of the ways we learn.
Definitely love your idea; will give it careful consideration.
Thanks for being willing to help me out with this!
Can’t wait for the new posts coming up, and love the new video idea! Love it, always cutting edge with you, and your accent is too much.
Meaning: love it (this is going to sound LAME but…we used to watch a lot of Rocky and Bullwinkle, your accent reminds me of Natasha).
BTW - can I watch these videos with a cup of tea? I don’t want to step on your toes, I mean.
A cup of tea it is, James.
By the way, I once auditioned for a video game voice-over and was told that my accent wasn’t Russian enough for them. I think they ended up hiring an American… Go figure. 🙂
The Expensive copywriter? At least your are calling it what it is. 🙂