All posts by April M. Williams

April M. William of Cyberlife Tutors, a social media coach, speaker and author of Algonquin. She creates, implements and teaches business social media strategies in McHenry County. Connect with me on Google. Email April.

Google Penalizes Mobile Unfriendly Sites

If your website is not mobile friendly, your sites’ search engine rankings will soon tank. This means if you have a traditional website that does not automatically adjust in format for readability by smartphones and tablets, your site will not show up in search results optimized for these devices. Non-responsive is another term used to describe these sites that are harder for mobile users to navigate.

Why is this change occurring? Google’s announcement states:

Starting April 21, 2015 we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.

To find out if Google considers your website Mobile friendly, use the Google Mobile Friendly Test. Paste in the link to your website and click “Analyze.” If your site passes, your done. If your site fails the test, now is the time to update your site to a format friendly to mobile devices.

Over 80% of internet users own a smart phone according to a report by Smart Insights. They state that consumers prefer to use websites through a variety of devices.

You can use your Webmaster Tools account to get a full list of mobile usability issues across your site using the Mobile Usability Report.

If you need help with these updates, feel free to contact me to aid in updating your site or offer a referral.

 

CyberLife Tutors site is mobile friendly

CLT mobile friendly

CLT mobile friendly

Twitter Tricks and Tips

The Sisters In Crime Chicagoland and Mystery Writers of America Midwest conference for authors is November 8 at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Rd., Schaumburg. The day includes a variety of workshops.

  • “How Insects Tell Us Time of Death” will be presented from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. by Marlene Lanz, former McHenry County Coroner.
  • “Twitter Tips and Tricks,” led by April M. Williams, is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • A lunch break will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., followed by “Research Methods” from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., taught by Raymond Benson.
  • “How to Write Serial Killers,” from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m., will be instructed by Michele May & Michael Major.
  • “Editing Tips: Cleaning It up Before Sending Your Manuscript to Your Editor,” led by Diane Peron-Gelman, Mary Welk and Emily Victorson, is slated from 4 – 5 p.m.

Download my “Twitter Tips and Tricks” presentation and comment below.

Google Privacy Policy Changes November 2013

Google is updating their privacy policy with three changes as of November 2013. The biggest change is the way Google may use our profile name and photo in Google products specifically advertisements. Google refers to this as a Shared Endorsement. This may include reviews, advertising and other commercial contexts. When our connections are on Google products, they may see our photo near a product in those cases where we “Liked” (+) or posted a comment.

Google says this is a way to give our friends the “most useful information.” By posting our profile picture within a product ad, Google is implying that we endorse the product. This may or may not be the situation.

If you choose, you can adjust this Shared Endorsement setting on Google’s Shared Endorsement page.

Google makes lots of money from search and advertising. Do you think it is right for them to use our personal profile image to promote products and services to our connections? Click below and let us know what you think.

Google Plus Circles
Add CyberLife Tutors to Your Google Plus Circles

Six Interview Tips to Land Your Next Job

Your resume grabbed the hiring manager’s attention. Now it is your job to seal the deal with your interviewing skills. Preparation is the key to successful interviewing. When you know your subject and properly prepare, you set yourself up for success. There are many types of interview styles used by hiring managers today. No matter the interview method, you will be asked to respond to questions during the discussion. Here are six tips to prepare for the three most important questions you will be asked to answer.

1. The beginning and end of the interview are most important

The interviewer has a list of questions to ask you during the meeting. Of these, three of the questions are especially critical to you success and likelihood of a call back. These three questions are the first question and last two questions of the interview.

2. Tell me about yourself

Get ready for the first question which sets the tone for the balance of the interview. In the beginning, the interviewer will start out with a question like this, “So, tell me about yourself.” Be ready to concisely and directly answer this question. The interviewer will begin to form an opinion of you right at the onset of your response so be sure you get off on the right foot. Answer the question using positive words and phrases. Highlight your experience and qualifications which are relevant to the position you are inquiring about. Cite results from your employment history to demonstrate past results. Provide details why you are the ideal candidate and are the right person for the open position. State your unique value proposition only you bring to this job.

3. Do you have any questions for me?

You’ll be asked a variety of other questions during the body of the interview and of course all your answers are important. At the close of the meeting, comes the second important question. You will be asked a closing question, “Do you have any questions for me?” Be prepared for this moment by doing your research ahead of time. Check the company website for press releases, news and annual reports. Research the Wall Street Journal and other business publications for news, commentary and competitor information to formulate thought provoking inquiry. During the interview, listen for points to ask for more definition or gain clarity. Look back at your notes you made during the interview for question ideas.

page1image22368

4. Is there anything else you want to tell me about yourself?

You are in the home stretch and can see the end of the race. Don’t let your guard down yet. There is still one more key question lurking out there. This is your chance to lay the capstone on the interview. The interview will ask, “Is there anything else you want to tell me about yourself?” Don’t let this opportunity slip past you. Here is your chance to bring up achievements and results you were not able to work into previous responses. Take this moment to summarize your best qualities and value proposition. Bring home how you will either decrease the hiring manager’s pain or increase their pleasure.

5. Say What You Mean

By preparing for these questions to come up at the interview, you will feel confident and prepared when you are asked to respond. Take the time to think about your responses to each of the queries. Write your answers down on paper and check what you wrote. Ask yourself these questions then update your answers.

  • Is my answer concise or rambling?
  • Am I highlighting my value proposition?
  • Does my answer focus on results?

You want to tell a story and talk in flowing sentences. Capture their attention with your tale. Continue to refine your replies as needed.
6. Practice Makes Perfect

After you write your answers, read them aloud. Work on your technique by practicing with friends and family. Ask them for feedback on both content and delivery. Learn these answers so you can respond without looking at your notes.

Get Started!

Refine and review your three well thought out and rehearsed answers and you will make a great impression with your interviewer. Take the time to do your homework upfront including practice time. This is your chance to wow them with your sales presentation and you only get one shot at it. Don’t blow it by not being ready.This technique works both for formal job interviews and less formal informational interviews. Your prep work will give you confidence and clarity during the question and answer session. You will feel more relaxed and at ease. Practicing your public speaking skills will be helpful for both your personal and professional life. Be prepared to shine at the interview!

Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark V2 Submissions Welcome

We are accepting submissions for second volume of Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark anthology. Do you have a story inside?

You are a passionate person, actively pursuing your passion in life and I encourage you to share your story with others. I invite you to join me in creating an anthology about your passion:
– What passion means to you, why it is important, how you found your passion, how others can find their passion.

This is the second volume in a series, first volume published Winter 2013 on Kindle and Amazon.com paperback. Click on the links then click “Look Inside” to read the first chapter.

"Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark" now availble in paperback and Kindle

Here’s the scoop:
Theme: Importance of understanding your passion and how to find your passion.
* What we are passionate about
* How you found our passion
* How the reader can find their passion

  • Chapter: about 2500 – 3000 words. This is about 3 pages typed or the lenght of a 5-7 minute presentation. You are responsible for editing the chapter you submit. You may use stories, experiences or facts.
  • Goal: To motivate, inform and inspire readers.
  • Bio: Include your 75 word bio and contact information which will be included with your chapter. You may include links to your website, products or services.
  • Cost: There is no cost for submitting a chapter. Contributors will not be compensated for their contributions. The final product will be available for purchase.
  • Format: Text including .txt or .rtf submissions welcome including email. Contact me if you would like to submit a chapter in another output type. All chapters will be uniformly formatted for Kindle and paperback.
  • Due by: Please submit final chapters by October 1, 2013. All submissions will be reviewed and selected authors will be notified by October 31, 2013. Anticipated publish date late 2103.
  • Benefits of participating: You will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the book. Inclusion in the book will bring you exposure to new audiences. Each chapter will include links back to the contributor author including contact information and website or products. Showcase your writing with your own Amazon.com author page.

You will, of course, receive full credit for any materials you submit both, in connection to the book and as possible inclusion in any future publications.

PLEASE NOTE – BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS BOOK YOU GIVE PERMISSION AND FULL RIGHTS TO April M. Williams and AMW INC. TO UTILIZE THE WRITTEN MATERIAL, IN FULL OR PART, IN ANY PRODUCTS INCLUDING TRANSCRIPTS.

Questions? Just let give me a call (414) 502-7745 or email me april at cyberlifetutors@yahoo.com
April M. Williams

Publish Your Book on Kindle and Amazon Personal Coaching

How would you like personal coaching to publish your book on Kindle and Amazon.com? You can self publish your fiction or non fiction book and begin collecting royalties this month! Over the past two years, I spent lots of time researching, reading and taking classes to learn how to self publish. With two books published and a third in progress, I learned much. I documented the steps to publish my books, now I am ready to work with you and others to publish your book on Kindle and Amazon/Createspace.

Product Details

Product Details

In these coaching sessions, I’ll customize the content based on your specific situation and meet your goals.

We will cover:
* Typical book layout and length
* ISBN options
* Creating book covers
* Different formatting processes for each publishing channel
* Previewing and resolving display issues
* Choosing categories for increased sales
* Pricing your book
* Royalty options
* Marketing tips
* How to build momentum for your book launch
* Plenty of time to answer your questions

Investment for personalized coaching – $500
* Four – 60 minute telephone or Skype calls, scheduled at your convenience over 2 months (1 hour session can be split into two 30 minute calls)
* Short calls and emails between scheduled calls

For everyone you refer who signs up for my Publish Your Book on Amazon and Kindle coaching, I’ll give you a 20% discount on your coaching.

Payment is per person and due before our first coaching session. Check is the preferred payment method. Of course, all my products and services come with my 100% happiness guarantee.

Call me at 414-502-7745 to let me know when you are ready to get started.

To your success!

Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark Now in Paperback

“Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark” anthology is now available in both paperback and Kindle.

Have you lost your passion and excitement for work? Not sure how to get the thrill back? Then “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark” will fire you up. Our authors share their insights to help you find your passion in life.

Don’t stay stuck in a life that is not fulfilling. Find out how to take control of your destiny, find your purpose and get what you really desire. In the “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark” anthology, twenty-five authors share their stories of how they found their passion and how you can ignite your internal spark.

These personal narratives reveal techniques you can use immediately to get more from every day as we lead you through exercises and proven approaches. We live in a time of change and opportunity. This book supplies readers with proven methods they can use to transform their greatest hopes into reality!

Authors include Christopher McCann, Gaye Mack, Lisa Deon, Tara Bider, Peter Gault, Izzy Kharasch, Doug Elwell, Mark Frietch, D’vorah Lansky, Michelle Kabele, Sheri Bland, Andy Hughes, Julia Gorelik, Sandra Larkin, Lynnette Phillips, Linda Eenigenburg, Dick Hattan, Mark Cummuta, Matt Lossau, Stefan Levy, Maria Odiamar Racho, Mark Stelzner, Sue Schuerr, Wally Amos, April M. Williams. Editing Lori Albert and Lou Camp. Cover design Kyle E. Williams.

Don’t stay stuck in a life that is not fulfilling. Find out how to take control of your destiny, find your purpose and get what you really desire. In the “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark” anthology, twenty-five authors share their stories of how they found their passion and how you can ignite your internal spark.

These personal narratives reveal techniques you can use immediately to get more from every day as we lead you through exercises and proven approaches.

We live in a time of change and opportunity. This book supplies readers with proven methods they can use to transform their greatest hopes into reality!
"Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark" now availble in paperback and Kindle

Here is what others say about “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark.”

Want to change your life? Want to start a new career while your friends are already planning their retirements? Wish you could just talk to somebody about it, somebody who understands what you’re going through? I’ve been there. This book can help. – Hardie Karges

What I really liked about this particular compendium of stories on pursuing your passion was the real-life stories. And I’m not talking about those “real-life” stories like you see on TV that are just too Pollyanna to be believed. I could certainly empathize with a number of the circuitous routes that brought the contributing authors to realizing their life and work passion. Definitely worth a read, especially now as we kick off a New Year. – Heidi Thorne

Good read…passionate people are inspiring. Think about what moves you and take a bold step to get involved. This book will give you inspiration. – Jeff Lossau

This book is an excellent tool to help you discover what makes you tick. So many people have jobs that they hate. If you’ve hit the doldrums in your life, if you daydream at work about what you REALLY want to do, pick up this book and read how it’s possible to follow your heart and do what you love. – Lisa Deon

If I have one criticism of Ignite Your Passion it would be to say that it left me wanting more. Each essay presented here is well crafted and insightful and inspirational. Reading it is akin to sticking one’s toe in the water. Be assured that the water’s fine. – Douglas J. Elwell

What I really love about this book, is the 25 different perspectives offered. Each chapter is bite-sized, and you’re sure to resonate with some of the authors’ stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for inspiration, or guidance in finding their passion. – Matthew J Lossau

If you really want to learn how to discover your passion and get going on pursuing it, this is the book for you! The stories of the authors will help you see how to identify what you love and then go for it. Barbara K

Would you like to share your personal account of finding, following or living your passion? Do you know someone who exudes passion in all they do? We are collecting personal narratives for our next volume of “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark.”

Click on Comment to join the conversation.

Craft Your Social Media Strategy Writers Workshop

Permission to forward granted and encouraged*

Registration is now open for YARWA’s April online class, CRAFT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY. This workshop is designed for published AND unpublished writers of any genre, and YARWA members receive a 50 percent discount! *

*Craft YOUR Social Media Strategy*
Instructor: April M . Williams
Dates: April 1-26, 2013
Cost: $15 for YARWA members (non-member fee is $25)
To register: http://yarwa.com/programs


About the workshop:
*Are you new to social media and overwhelmed by the number of sites to choose from? Professional online social media offers incredibly powerful marketing potential for authors!

* Which tools are “right” for you?
* Where do you begin and HOW DO YOU KEEP UP?
* How often should you blog, post video, “tweet” to readers and other authors?

This class is focused on getting the most out of small marketing budgets with free social media tools. With your new skills, you will be able to quickly implement effective social media marketing, attract new readers, connect with reviewers, and gain a unique competitive advantage. We’ll focus on the using the creating a strategic plan, choosing the right tools, developing an editorial calendar and creating content that gets attention.

After the first session you can begin applying cutting edge strategy to your marketing efforts!

* About the Instructor: *April M. Williams is the author of the book Social Networking Throughout Your Career: What’s All the Buzz About? April worked in Fortune 50 companies managing information technology projects before transitioning into a career as an author, coach and speaker. She takes her years of experience in technology & marketing and merges it with years as a writer and coach to create a programs designed to help authors brand themselves in publishing. April presented at the UWRA 2012 Heart of the West conference, which had over 150 trade show booths and displays of participating companies. April has guided learners of all levels, from the social networking phobic to experienced, on how to develop credibility and create a brand. Most importantly, April helps those of all levels connect through communities and then maintain a relationship to generate long-term income streams. You can learn more at http://www.cyberlifetutors.com

For any questions, please contact the workshop coordinator, Lea Nolan, at vp-programs (at) YARWA (dot) com

Lea Nolan

CONJURE, book one in The Hoodoo Apprentice series, Entangled Publishing, October 2012

www.LeaNolan.com

@Lea_Nolan

Sheri Bland Ignite Your Passion Author Interview

An interview with our “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark” Amazon Kindle anthology co-author Sheri Bland.

CyberLife Tutors: You are a co-author of “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark. “What is it that you are passionate about?
Sheri Bland: I am passionate about holding onto the truth that “life is good”. With all the obstacles, struggles and negativity in life, I want my life to matter, to be a life well lived so that I can end well and say, “it was all worth it, I did my best, helped change my world and had a good time doing it!” I don’t want to just survive life- I want to live it ABUNDANTLY and bring others alongside me to do the same. As I said in my article-conceptualizing what your passion is can be confusing; but thinking about what excites you, energizes you, what cranks up your interest helps you identify your passion.

CyberLife Tutors: Why did you contribute this specific story to “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark?”
Sheri Bland: In my own season of change and transition, I was ignited by the idea of how to hold onto, discover and re-invent my own passion. I recalled writing out my personal life statement at a leadership training I presented, and that has been an anchoring statement for me. I see that I continue to do and be all that I wrote out in those 2 sentences, though the way I do it differs in various seasons. I thought it might be helpful to others to be able to actually write out what their personal passion and mission statement is in “The Passion Equation”. Thinking about it is one thing; actually doing it will help you articulate your passion and purpose.

CyberLife Tutors: Is this your first published book? If not, what other books have you published?
Sheri Bland: This is my first chapter in a book, but I have several magazine articles published and have authored in newsletters, professional publications and newspapers.

CyberLife Tutors: What else would you to share with our readers
Sheri Bland: Through my experiences as a business and life coach, business trainer, counselor for 30 years, manager, and parent, I have seen people who have lived life well, and those who have succumbed to obstacles and live in a defeated way. I believe that there is always a new and better way to overcome. I have come alongside many to be help them be authentic, find their way through the fog, become strong and victorious and gain new ways to solve problems. My passin is to help others live the life they want through making the changes they need, both personally and in the business world. My “sweet spot” (which is also my mission statement for Sheri Bland Solutions) is helping others to “move to the the next level with strategies and solutions for their personal and professional life.”

CyberLife Tutors: How can our readers contact you?
Sheri Bland: Readers can contact me My blog through my website at Sheri Bland Solutions.

Tara Bider Ignite Your Passion Book Author Interview

An interview with our “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark” Amazon Kindle anthology co-author Tara Bider.

CyberLife Tutors: You are a co-author of “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark. “What is it that you are passionate about?
Tara Bider: My curiosity is my passion! It leads me to discover things that affect my life in ways big and small. Curiosity opens up the world to me. It leads me to being passionate about helping people understand how travel (a little or a lot) influences our view of the people we interact with on a daily basis. When we see how others live, it promotes tolerance of our differences and also highlights our similarities.

CyberLife Tutors: Why did you contribute this specific story to “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark?”
Tara Bider: It is important for me to help others understand that sometimes the answer to what your passion is may not be clear. My experience with passion is that it evolves over time.

CyberLife Tutors: Is this your first published book? If not, what other books have you published?
Tara Bider: This is my first published book!

CyberLife Tutors: What else would you to share with our readers
Tara Bider: Bravery is easier through writing…

CyberLife Tutors: How can our readers contact you?
Tara Bider: Readers can visit my Everest blog at http://suburban-sherpa.blogspot.com, my monthly blog at GenevaPatch.com , via email at NextStopKili45 at @gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @Suburban_Sherpa.