Nicki Elson's Blog, page 49

Flexing Writing Muscles With SEO

Given the plethora of writing-related blog hops, I gather I'm not the only one who enjoys a writing challenge.  I don't often get to join those hops, as I'm still trying to figure out how to keep all the balls I'm attempting to juggle in the air, but I'm very fortunate in that more than one of my balls---okay, can we please switch to oranges or something?  Thanks---as I was saying, more than one of my oranges involves writing.

Added to my ever growing list of duties at work is writing about products for my company's website and blog.  This can get dull at times, but being the writing dork that I am, I get huge kick out of wooing the search engines with my words, i.e. Search Engine Optimization (SEO).  The challenge lies in packing the entries with key words without looking like I'm doing it.  The most important thing is to have something informative and appealing to potential customers, and that ain't gonna happen if I simply parrot the same words over and over.

Since most of you have your own blogs and websites, you might want to give SEO a whirl if you haven't already.  When writing a post on a topic that has appeal beyond your current circle, spice it up with some SEO basics and help more people find your post via a Google search.  I'm by no means an expert, but I've learned a lot an have had decent success.  The first time I tried it with my personal blog was during the A to Z Challenge with 80s TV Shows.  That's a really tough nut, with lots of active 80s websites out there, but if you Google "80s tv shows blog" you may see a familiar name in the #3 slot.

For those totally new to search engine optimization, here are four simple SEO tips to get you started:

1. First step:  Determine your key words.  Think about which words people will actually type in to find your article.  One of the shops I write for sells bras and forms for women who've had mastectomies or lumpectomies.  The PC terms used by surgeons these days are "after surgery" and "prosthesis" but when real people are doing a Google search, they're typing in "post mastectomy" and "breast forms." So the webpage has to incorporate those terms while still sounding professional for the doctors who visit our site. 

Google Wonder WheelSEO tools can help you determine effective key words. My favorite tool is Google's Wonder Wheel, which shows related search terms.  It can be useful for building a website hierarchy or, the way I use it, for more key words to work into the text.

To get to the Wonder Wheel, type your primary key words (I used "seo") into a Google search, then select "show search tools" in the left column and click on "Wonder Wheel" in the list that pops up.  You can click on any of the terms on the wheel to open up a sub-wheel with more terms.  For this post, I incorporate related search terms: seo tools,  basics, tips, google, tutorial (and see---I just used them again).

2. Incorporate the key words naturally into the post. Work them in as often as possible, but not so much that readers get annoyed.  Most people don't use quotes in their search, so go ahead and split the words apart if necessary to make it flow better---for example, I can say search engine in one place and optimization in another, and that'll still help someone typing search engine optimization into the Google search bar to find me.  Also, be sure to incorporate key words into your titles.

3. Images, use them.  And make sure each image's title includes key words. For example, the Wonder Wheel image above is titled seo-search-engine-optimization-tools. As with anything else, images should be relevant to what you're writing about.

4. Links!  Links to relevant external sites are great, and even internal links to relevant pages at your own site are good for SEO (ala Wikipedia, the king of internal links).  Getting relevant external websites to link back to you is incredible for search engine optimization, and having valuable content is the best way to get others to link up.  When linking within your own writing, make sure the text you anchor the link to is meaningful, i.e. gives an accurate indication of where that link is going. 

And there's my mini SEO tutorial.  Click on any of the links throughout the text for more detailed info.

Now, to optimize your blogging experience, check out the fabulous authors in this week's Meet an Author Monday blog hop, hosted by Lisa Sanchez (future hostess of the Sizzling Summer Author Extravaganza)!  

80s TV Shows Trivia Finale

Alrighty then, here are the final 80s TV Shows Trivia answers.  Much thanks to everyone who played. :)  If you see your name below, this badge to the left is all yours. 



Remington Steele
One of the show's early writers and producers, Glenn Gordon Caron, quit after the first ten episodes to start his own production company.  He went on to write and produce another hit 80s TV show, also about a pair of bickering "I hate you/I love you" detectives.  Know what it was?
A: MoonlightingWho got it right? Tara Tyler; Alex J. Cavanaugh; Anne Gallagher; Lynn Reed.  I'm on the bubble about Michael Di Gesu because he was going for "McMillon & Wife" but did switch to the correct answer when he saw other guesses, so, hrm, 1/2 point?

Saved by the Bell
Only four of Saved by the Bell's seven regular characters (pictured here) appeared in each of the TV show's eighty-six episodes. Can you name them?
A: Zack, Slater, Screech & Lisa
Who got it right? Carrie. You were soooo close, Michael Di Gesu with 3 out of the 4, So 3/4 point.

thirtysomething
This series was influenced by a 1983 movie that also featured an ensemble cast of baby boomer yuppies.  What move was it? 
A: The Big Chill
Who got it right? Anne Gallagher; Tara Tyler

Unsolved Mysteries
The concept of the show is based on a series of three specials run on NBC in 1986.  The success of these specials, which focused only on missing persons, led to an expanded focus and the creation of Unsolved Mysteries as we know it today.  Does anyone remember the name of those three 1986 specials?
A:  Missing...Have You Seen This Person
Who got it right?  Well, nobody. But Anne Gallagher demonstrates an excellent 80s memory and named the 1981 missing persons incident that caught America's attention and thus spurred TV network's interest in such shows. I'm giving her 1/4 point (and I think you're beginning to see why nobody ever lets me count the ballots...) 

The Wonder Years
This coming of age TV series was inspired by a classic 1983 movie. Can you name the movie?
A: A Christmas Story
Who got it right?  Nobody :(  But "Stand By Me" was an excellent guess by Anne Gallagher---it was made in 1986, two years before The Wonder Years started and is named by tv tropes as the show's spritual successor, soooo 1/2 point.

Max Headroom
What is Max Headroom's name derived from?
A: A British sign warning of low clearance 
Who got it right?  Alex J. Cavanaugh

The Young Ones
What was the occupation of three of the four cast members (all but the actor who played Mike) before The Young Ones?
A: Stand Up Comedians
Who got it right? Gyran Gymble

The Equalizer
In the pilot episode, a regular from Seinfeld appears as the character who gave McCall his nickname, the Equalizer.  Anyone care to make a guess what actor that was?
A: Jerry Stiller, George's dad
Who got it right?  Another tricky one---nobody got it, but lots of fun guesses. :)

And now... our top three:
Alex J. Cavanaugh - 6 points!
Anne Gallagher - 6.75 points!!Michael Di Gesu - 7.25 points!!!  Congratulations!
Michael wins a belated birthday drink & a signed copy of a to-be-released "summer lovin'" anthology with short stories by Omnific authors, including moi.

Since Anne has proven herself an 80s diva, I'm hoping she'll enjoy a romp back in time and will send her a signed copy of Three Daves.    And because I know deep down he really wants it, Alex wins a One Hit Wonders of the 80s CD.
I...I think I'm ready for another blog hop...assuming my morning gardening goes okay, and the boss doesn't e-mail me with anything too pressing...I do miss my Monday Author buddies, so, yes, I'm going to do it...It's Meet an Author Monday!
A great chance to mix & mingle with other authors.  Sign up below & post the icon on your blog, or just hop around, whichever you prefer.

Here, Have Some Wine with Your 80s TV Shows Trivia

Last week was my wine tasting/book signing event at Gibby's Wine Den.  The experts at Gibby's paired a wine with each of the Daves, and it was SO much fun!  I'm grateful to everyone who came out ready to laugh, sip, and talk Grapes & Guys.

I did a guest post about the event at the very cool book review blog Chick Lit + Wine, where hosts Syrah and Chardonnay review Chick Lit books and then pair each book with a wine.  If you're wondering what kind of wine goes nicely with a bad boy, Mr. Perfect, etc., please stop over. 


And now it's time to reveal more answers to my 80s TV Shows Trivia! (Scroll over the black bar to see the answer)

Jake and Fatman
Jake and the Fatman was supposed to be canceled after its first season, but it was saved when another 80s TV show ended and CBS wanted to make use of the expensive unexpired lease on that show's studio facilities in Hawaii---what show might that've been, hm?
A:  Magnum P.I.
Who got it right?  Michael Di Gesu

Knight Rider
On KITT's jumps, the shot often switches to another angle---like Michael driving---because more often than not, the stunt car's front end was totaled upon landing.
What is KITT's exact make and model (year too)?
A: 1982 Pontiac Trans Am
Who got it right?  Weeeell, technically, nobody...however, Anne Gallagher gave a tremendously respectable guess with 1982 Chevy Camaro, which shares the same platform (whatever that means  ) so I'm going to give her the point.

L.A. Law
What was the name of the law firm they all worked for?A: McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak
Who got it right? Alex J. Cavanaugh

Magnum P.I.
Throughout the series, we never get to see Magnum's mysterious absentee employer, Robin Masters.  Producers had eventually planned to reveal a very famous actor/director as the mysterious Masters, but the actor died before the end of the series.  Any idea who that might've been?
A: Orson Welles
Who got it right? Michelle Gregory

Night Court
Harry Anderson, who played unconventional judge Harry Stone on Night Court, also played the recurring role of trickster con-man Harry the Hat on which of the other "Must See Thursday" shows?
A: Cheers
Who got it right? Alex J. Cavanaugh; Tara Tyler; Theresa Milstein

Out of this World
The famous actor who did the voice of Evie's alien father (who's never seen) asked for his name to not be in the credits, since he was only doing this as a favor to the producers.  Care to guess who that was?  Hint:  He was also involved in another TV show at the time---Evening Shade.
A: Burt Reynolds  
Who got it right? Nooooobody

Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers is set in one of the greatest cities in America, nay the world, with many famous city icons featured in the opening credits.  What city is it?
A: Chicago
Who got it right? Michael Di Gesu; Alex J. Cavanaugh

Quantum Leap
Scott Bakula was recently (type) cast in as another scientific genius with recurring appearances in a contemporary NBC show.  He played Orion, the long-missing father of what lovable nerd/spy?
A: Chuck
Who got it right?  Anne Gallagher

Thanks for playing! If your name is listed above, help yourself to the 80s TV Shows Trivia Winner badge in the post below. I've got one more set of answers to reveal on Monday, and the blogger w/ the most answers right will get a reward for their ultimate 80s awesomeness.  Here are the current front runners with their points so far:
Michael Di Gesu - 6 Alex J. Cavanaugh - 4 Anne Gallagher - 4 Liz P - 2

Answers to 80s TV Shows Trivia

I don't know about you (although I have my suspicions) but I'm exhausted after AtoZ.  And I didn't even make it through a tenth of the entrants!  But I sure did have fun at those blogs I did frequent. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and made me laugh and smile with your comments about crazy 80s TV Shows.

Double thanks to those of you who played along with 80s TV trivia madness.  I've got something for you:

1. The answers to the first 10 trivia questions (scroll over the black bar to reveal the answer).

2. An award!  I've listed anyone who answered the question correctly---if you see your name listed, please help yourself to the award to the left.

Stay tuned, because I'll reveal the rest of the answers over two more posts---one later this week and the final one next Monday---and I just may have a special prize for the blogger with the most correct answers. [image error]  (To be fair, I'll only count answers entered during April for the prize)  


ALF
Q: ALF is actually an acronym.  Know what it stands for?
A:  Alien Life Form 
Who got it right?  L. Diane Wolfe;


Bosom Buddies
Q:  The series was short-lived (and rightly so) but when Tom Hanks started attracting attention for his role in a popular 1984 movie, ABC bought the rights to Bosom Buddies and re-aired select episodes.  Know what that movie was?
A:  Splash
Who got it right? Liz P; Michael Di Gesu; Anne Gallagher

Cheers
Q: One of the original regulars wasn't even in the script until the actor (after auditioning for and not getting the part of Norm) created an impromptu character on the spot and impressed the producers. Everybody at Cheers knew his name...do you?
A:  John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin
Who got it right?  Alex J. Cavanaugh; <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eMtwa9dGCTI/S-WPFUoe4YI/AAAAAAAAAAk/SJhIjVgaA5s/S45/2010April%2B011.JPG" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=Jennifer Lane; Michael Di Gesu; Hart Johnson; Marie Rearden; Anne Gallagher 


Dynasty
Q: One of the main cast members regularly vetoed any story lines involving adultery.  Whoever could that have been?
A: John Forsythe
Big surprise, huh?  Nobody got this one.

E/R
Q: A regular cast member of the later ER was also a regular on all 22 episodes of this E/R.  Do you know who?
A: George Clooney
Who got it right?  Suzanne

Family Ties
Q: Who's picture was on lil' Alex's lunchbox.
A: Richard Nixon
Who got it right?  baygirl32

Golden Girls
Q: Two of the actresses were originally supposed to play different roles, but they worried about being typecast so they traded.  Which of these two do you think it was: Sophia, Blanche, Rose, Dorothy?
A: Rose and Blanche
Who got it right?  Liz P; Michael Di Gesu ;Susan Oloier

Hill Street Blues
The show is set in an anonymous city, but do you know which real city it's based on?
A: Chicago
Who got it right? Elliot Grace;  Michael Di Gesu ; <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_51kkSL7_Hg0/TRIYiROeTSI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qSsQxYHdSwo/S45/Thumbnail.jpg" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""> Milo James Fowler


<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_51kkSL7_Hg0/TRIYiROeTSI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qSsQxYHdSwo/S45/Thumbnail.jpg" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""> 

80s TV Shows: Zealous Zone

The EqualiZer1985 - 1989
Click image to watch opening...yeah, still ringing no bellsKind of a bummer that I have to end this blog challenge w/ a show I'd never even heard of before.  Other than The Young Ones, I just didn't watch too much TV between '85-'89, so if it didn't stretch into the 90s or come back in syndication, it was lost on me.  Anyone out there ever watch this detective show starring Edward Woodward as Robert McCall?
Quote:"Don't do something you won't live to regret."
Trivia:In the pilot episode, a regular from Seinfeld appears as the character who gave McCall his nickname, the Equalizer.  Anyone care to make a guess what actor that was?  
More info. on The Equilizer and other 80s TV Shows
On Monday I'll post all the answers to my 80s TV Show trivia questions along w/ links and kudos to everyone who got them right. :) It was lovely seeing you all and getting to visit your A to Z posts.  Much thanks to Arlee, Alex, Talli, Jen, Jeffrey, Candace, Karen & Stephen for organizing the fun! 

80s TV Shows: Youthful Yutzes

The Young Ones1982 - 1984
Watch hilarious clip that includes Hugh Laurie!Aha, so I guess it was the reruns on MTV that I was glued to during college.  Before that it was only on BBC. I imagine if you weren't just the right age at the time Rick, Vyvyan, Neil and Mike might've passed you right by.  
The Young Ones was a great show, even if it did mark the beginning of the end of strictly videos on so-called Music Television.  But hey, at least it featured a live band on every episode---and the reason for that was there was no money in the BBC budget for a sit-com, and adding live music allowed it to be classified in another category.
Quote:It was horrible. I sat in the big hall and put my pocket of Polos on the desk. And my spare pencil and my support gonk. And my chewing gum and my extra pen. And my extra Polos and my lucky gonk. And my pencil sharpener shaped like a cream cracker. And more gonks with a packet of Polos in each. And lead for my retractable pencil. And my retractable pencil. And spare lead for my retractable pencil. And chewing gum and pencils and pens and more gonks, and the guy says "Stop writing, please."

Trivia:What was the occupation of three of the four cast members (all but the actor who played Mike) before The Young Ones?

More info about The Young Ones and other 80s TV Shows

80s TV Shows: Xenohuman Xanthrocroid

MaX Headroom1987 - 1988 (Come on, I can't be the only one cheating on X day)

Click image to watch Max in a Coke commercialI never even knew before now that Max Headroom had his own series; I thought he just did Coke commercials (1986).  But he started with The Max Headroom Show in the UK, in which he played videos and talked in-between.  Then there was a TV movie, Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future, which provided Max's background (he's the result of an experiment in a world taken over by television).  ABC took interest and asked the producers to make episodes of an all-new Max Headroom sci-fi TV series for the U.S. market. 
...Anyone else's head hurt?
Quote:"How can you tell a network executive is lying? His lips move!"
Trivia:What is Max Headroom's name derived from?

Next week I'll post the answers to all my 80s TV trivia questions.:) 
More info on Max Headroom and other 80s TV shows

80s TV Shows: Wild about Winnie

The Wonder Years1988 - 1993
Click image to watch original show openingPossibly thee cutest series ever on TV.  This is a double look back, because we're looking back at this 80s show that looked back at growing up in the 60s/70s.  What made it even more fun for my family was that my sister was Winnie Cooper's 1980s doppelgänger---no wonder Fred Savage's character had such a crush on her throughout the series!


Quote:"When you're a little kid you're a bit of everything: scientist, philosopher, artist. Sometimes it seems like growing up is giving these things up one at a time."

Trivia:This coming of age TV series was inspired by a classic 1983 movie.
Can you name the movie? 
More info on The Wonder Years and other 80s TV Shows

80s TV Shows: Visiting Viking

Voyagers!1982 - 1983

Click image to watch Voyager! openingThis was a one-season time travel series about a pirate from the past who travels around fixing "problems" throughout time with a boy he saved in 1982.  I don't believe I ever saw this one, but in this photo, the pirate guy looks exactly like my high school boyfriend (or at least how I remember him).  It's kinda freakin' me out, actually.  Moving on...

Quote:"When the omni's red, it means history's wrong, its' our job to get everything back on track."


Trivia: The guy who looks like my boyfriend, Jon-Erik Hexum, was expected to be the next big thing in Hollywood, but he tragically died in 1984 as the result of an accident with a prop revolver on set of his new TV series, Cover Up.

More information on Voyager! and other 80s TV Shows

80s TV Shows: Unraveling Uncertainty

Unsolved Mysteries1987 - It's still going!
Click image to watch a 1987 promoAlthough it's hopped around from network to network and had gaps in production, for the majority of the last quarter century, Unsolved Mysteries has transmitted goosebumps over TV airwaves as it re-enacts real life mysteries---including unsolved crimes, missing persons, conspiracy theories, and unexplained paranormal-like phenomena. Mwahahah!

Quote:"Whenever possible, the actual family members and police officials have participated in recreating the events. What you are about to see is not a news broadcast."

Trivia:The concept of the show is based on a series of three specials run on NBC in 1986.  The success of these specials, which focused only on missing persons, led to an expanded focus and the creation of Unsolved Mysteries as we know it today.  Does anyone remember the name of those three 1986 specials?

More info on Unsolved Mysteries and other 80s TV shows