Trust

People say that respect is earned. I disagree with this statement entirely. I believe that everybody deserves respect unless they give you a reason that proves that they don't deserve it. Trust, however, is a very different story. Today I would like to share with you a lesson that I have learned over the last few years...

In my teens I was probably one of the most trusting people alive. As innocent as I was, I never expected anyone to have anything other than good intentions. After all, why would anyone want to betray someone? Or purposely cause somebody else pain? Turns out, this was probably the most naive view of the human race I could ever have had. After being thoroughly screwed over by someone who I loved and trusted with my whole heart, I started to realise that very few people can really be trusted. The truth is- it is probably a bad idea to trust ANYONE.

Trust is dangerous. Trust makes you vulnerable and it gives others power over you. If you don't expect people to be loyal, or you don't expect people to do what they say they will, then they cannot surprise you in any way when they aren't or they don't. While I realise that this is probably a negative and cynical view to possess, at least nobody can hurt me, right?

Trust is not a word that should be taken lightly. When one says 'I trust you.' it actually means that they are placing their life, their feelings into your hands. It is a huge responsibility... which is why when I know that people trust ME, I work very hard in order to make sure that I don't let them down. Unfortunately, not many people value trust as highly as I do.

I feel as though I must apologise for the negativity of this post... but a big part of my inspiration for my writing comes from analysing human flaws, pain and the interconnectedness of us all. And yes, I have trust issues. Severe trust issues. But hey, that's me! I just had to get all of that out into the open. *Phew* I feel so much better now!

Anyway, hopefully I am feeling a little bit more cheerful as the week goes on... you may be able to expect a happier post in a few days time. But, trust me, you can never really be sure *wink*

B
xx

SEO, SEO and More SEO

Working as a copywriter for a SEO company means that you learn something new everyday! Here are a few interesting tips for South African businesses to take into consideration when creating, or updating, their company websites.

1. Write unique, new and interesting content for your website: By writing articles for you website on a regular basis, you are utilising keywords relevant to your product that could come up when internet users use Google to search
2. Use Titles on EVERY page: Use unique titles for each page and avoid using symbols such as * / & @ in these titles.
3. Host your website on a South African Domain - .co.za
4. Use Headers: Use the formatting buttons at the top of Microsoft Word (H1 and H2) to indicate importance and highlight services you which to emphasise.
5. Avoid using Flash: Flash is invisible to Google

For more information and other amazing SEO tips, be sure to visit Ipcoweb's website!

Have a great week, everyone!

B
xx

Fifty Shades of Grey

Purely because everybody has been raving about this book, I just had to read it to see what all the fuss was about. I must say, despite the fact that I found the writing to be slightly juvenile, I enjoyed it. Why? Duh. Christian Grey.

 In the fantasy world, I find Christian's character to be undeniably sexy, however, in reality, if a man tried to control everything I did, I would probably laugh in his face and throw him through a window. I give EL James serious kudos for being able to make Christian's character so likeable and- even more amazingly- irresistible. Anastasia's character, on the other hand, was a little bit less endearing. Her awkwardness got really old, really fast and she began to annoy me pretty early on in the book. She is a little bit too pathetic and naive to be entirely 'relatable'. Her childlike thoughts and qualities put a dampener on the 'boiling over sex pot' that is Christian Grey. Despite this though, the dynamics of their relationship are still very interesting and,  ultimately, make her character tolerable. Hopefully she becomes a little bit more mature as the trilogy continues.

This is a book that makes it possible for people all around the world to embrace their sexualities and to not feel 'dirty' or 'strange' for exploring- or wanting to explore- the realms of the 'taboo'. I love the freedom that the book allowed me to experience and I cannot wait to read the next two books of the 'Fifty Shades' trilogy. Even if this is not your kind of novel (I must admit, it wasn't mine either), it is a must-read. I have a small feeling that it could become the next 'big thing' and even exceed the popularity of the 'Twilight' series!

Till next time...

B
xx

Kindle- The Best Present Ever!

Happy Saturday everyone :) As usual, I am at home enjoying some mindless TV with my fantastic mother (the social scene is not really my thing). Now, before I go to bed to indulge in my brand new (belated) birthday gift, I thought I would share my opinion with you... the Kindle is the greatest invention EVER. Seriously, while I understand the sentimentality when it comes to a tangible book- the smell, the feel of the pages between your fingers... in truth, all of that means nothing at all when you compare it to the convenience of a Kindle. Here are the reasons why I am in love with my Kindle:

• Great Discounts: You can buy books for HALF the price you would pay for them in a conventional book shop- this includes best sellers... AND the classics (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens etc.) are FREE,
• Instant Access: Once you have purchased your book, it automatically downloads onto your Kindle. You can read it right there and then!
• Font Size: You can adjust the font size of the book you are reading to suit your preferences- great for people like me with bad eyesight.
• Percentage Progress Bar: The Kindle does not show page numbers, but rather shows you a status bar which tells you the percentage of the book that you have read, as well as the different chapters. With ordinary books, I tend to get pretty OCD about page numbers- with the Kindle I can relax and just enjoy the story. FAB.
• Storage: The Kindle can store hundreds of books, so you can keep your entire library in one place- AND it only weighs a few grams. 

There are so many other reasons, I just can't record them all. But seriously... take my advice- if you are a reader, this is the ideal gadget for you! Save a tree, buy a Kindle! You will never, ever look back.

Hope you all have an eventful weekend... as for me, I am off to hop in the bath and then I am jumping straight into bed to enjoy my latest, greatest toy ;) Ciao for now.

B
xx

FREE Internet Marketing Workshops

Is anyone out there interested in attending FREE internet marketing and SEO workshops? The company I work for, Ipcoweb, frequently holds these workshops and they are becoming more and more popular as the days go by. Guys, seriously, I cannot explain to you just how beneficial these workshops can be if you own a business. The SEO tips that you will receive are truly priceless and will make all the difference when it comes to learning how to take advantage of the internet for the marketing of your business.

The Ipcoweb internet marketing/SEO workshops cover the following topics and more:    

• How do I get on Google? How do I increase your ranking using SEO techniques and strategies?
• How to SEO like an expert. Which techniques for SEO are ethical and which are not.
• What is PPC?
• How do I get PPC?
• How do I use Google analytics with my Website? How often should I use Google analytics?
• Do I need a website for my small business? How will having a website improve my small business and generate new clients?
• What is the difference between a sponsored link and organic links? Why are backlinks necessary?
• How will the Google Panda Update affect my ranking?
• Basic ad words and what to do with your vouchers
• Creating an effective key word strategy and why regular keyword research is so imperative.
• The different types of keywords
• SEM

Take advantage of this opportunity and look out for the dates and times of our next workshop. You will be so glad you came!

B
 xx 

Sister Reunion

This blog post is dedicated to my brave, beautiful, hilarious, intelligent, crazy sister, Roxanne Leigh Delport. I saw her again last weekend for the first time in 10 years. You know that someone is really and truly your sister when you have been apart for so long and yet, when you see each other again, it is as though you have never been separated at all. I love you, big sis. I can't wait to see you again.

"Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister?"  ~Alice Walker

"Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister. " ~Katherine Mansfield

"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden."  ~Author Unknown

"When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?"  ~Pam Brown

"Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow."  ~Benjamin Disraeli

 "A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life."  ~Isadora James

Sisters forever <3

B
xx

It's a Miracle!

I am so happy right now!  I have just experienced a miracle! Where do I start?

Right, so those who know me are aware of the fact that I am a HUGE animal lover and I literally wouldn't hurt a fly (once, there was a fly buzzing around my head while I was trying to sleep and I tried to shoo it away without really looking. The next thing I knew, I had accidentally smashed it against the wall and murdered the poor thing. I had a funeral for it the next day. Yes, seriously).
So, every single night, before I go to bed, I put food out for the hungry birds to eat in the morning. I have a bird feeder for the smaller ones (although the pigeons still  manage to get inside and chow down somehow) and I sprinkle bread crumbs on the ground for the larger birds. Then, every morning, as I drink my first cup of tea, I sit and watch them eat. Over the few months that I jave been doing this, the birds have become like my children. I know most of them and have even named a few. Recently, they have become a bit more tame and don't tend to fly away when I come outside. I really love my birds.

Now, my little dog has got an obsession with chasing birds and she's really,really quick. Today she caught one of my pigeons. Somehow she got the poor little thing stuck under a tarpaulin and I heard her shaking it really aggressively. When I shouted at her, she dropped it and came running out from underneath the cover. I was so upset, in tears and bawling my eyes out. When I lifted up the cover, the bird was motionless and looked like it had a broken neck. Devastated, I ran back inside and cried myself sick. I felt so guilty that I had let something like this happen to one of my birds! After a good half an hour of sobbing, I went back outside to get my bird so that I could bury it. The bloody thing was walking around and chowing bread crumbs like nothing had ever happened!!! I could not believe it! Besides a few ruffled feathers around his neck, he was perfectly fine. All that I can think of is that my pup must have knocked the poor thing unconscious? Either that, or it was a real miracle! My birdie is alive. Hallelujah!
 

B
xx