The Aphrodite Files: Ouzo, Camels and the 60 Day Challenge

As many of you will be aware, the 60 Day Challenge is a great way to write good quality hubs quickly and then follow it up with the promotion and other stuff that makes sure that they are successful.

The last challenge was a blast and we assembled a great team of people with a good spread of marketing and writing expertise, all guided by the wisdom of Guru Sunforged. The idea was simple; to use collective marketing to bring success and increase our reach with a battery of techniques.

In the same way that a phalanx of Spartan warriors was far greater than the sum of its parts, every team member made lasting contributions and we encouraged each other to keep rolling on. Of course, trying to organize writers is akin to herding cats, but we managed to get there relatively unscathed.

With the rise of social sites and a shift in the way that internet marketing works, this communal approach may well be the future and I want to be in from the start.

Importantly, we didn’t forget to have a little fun on the way and we enjoyed some great banter in the 60DC forum. Unsurprisingly, Frogdropping was the main instigator of the resulting mayhem.

My goals were:

1. To learn how to promote online and attract at least 1000 hits per day to my Hubpages.
2. To clean out my collection of half-finished articles and Hubs.

I just about achieved my goals, although I am not yet at the 1000 hits per day. No mind; Amazon and Adsense are up and I have had some good referrals to my writing site.

I managed to clear out the load of half-written articles that were loitering around my hard-drive, picking fights and causing trouble. It was a good result all round and it is time to take things to the next level; I made a few mistakes in the last challenge but I now know a few more techniques and hope to put all of this knowledge into practice.

For the last challenge, I used a scattergun (scatterbrained?) approach, throwing up a few random subjects and hoping that they would stick. Some did well; some sank without a trace into the bowels of Google, where they are really not worth reviving. The ones that did not do too well are still a source of backlinks for my site, so they were not a complete waste of time.

I now have an idea of what topics worked and which ones didn’t. Unsurprisingly, I will be concentrating on the ones that worked – with the new Hubpages keyword checker, Google Analytics, and sophisticated keyword research techniques involving a dictionary and a pin, I expect nothing short of success. I am aiming for more views, more money, and the final, total annihilation of the sinister ducks.

Using the topics that worked also ensures that I can reuse some of the techniques from the last challenge, saving a lot of time and effort in the promotion phase. Many of the techniques used came in useful for promoting older Hubs, and some of those have taken off, too.

Some things I did learn from the last challenge:

• I was too cautious. Some of my best performing Hubs are from highly competitive areas. As a rule of thumb, I was going for less than 30 000 monthly global searches. I am upping the ante to 200 000 for certain topics and keywords, trusting in the power of Hubpages and targeted promotion.
• I hate writing product reviews, but I found that you can make money from Amazon with generic hubs. I have made some big sales, so I also need to sell more low value items to push me up to the higher earnings threshold every month.
• Article rewriting works well, so I am looking to rewrite every article two or three times and submit them elsewhere, with lots of juicy links pointing towards HP. They should also earn in their own right, which is a nice side effect.
• Google is dull. I cannot link to any sites selling hard liquor, which includes most Ouzo distilleries. Thus, I cannot write any more Hubs about my beloved Greek Ouzo, even though they have performed reasonably well.
• 40% Ouzo is not up to the job. To face the stress of this intense challenge, something stronger is required. Time to break out the 48% Aphrodite Ouzo – it has the same effect on drunken hippies that nitrous has on the internal combustion engine.

• There is an economic crisis in Greece and the government is raising taxes on tobacco and cigarettes. If I want to carry on smoking Camel, rather than imported Russian cigarettes made from straw, sawdust, and dried rat-droppings, I need to make more money from Adsense. I am currently averaging about 3 Euros per day and want to double this.
• I want to make the final push towards hitting 1000 views per day.
• I will carry on with a few writing based Hubs; they don’t earn much directly, but they do generate traffic for my writing site, Freelance Writer Editor

• Beds and Mattresses
• Office Partitions and Cubicles
• Warehousing and Logistical Equipment
• Exterior Doors and Hardware
• Why Hire a Writer?

Buy Discount Beds Online

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We would all love to spend a few thousand dollars on a new bed but, sadly, most of us are stuck at the budget end of the range. Looking for discount bedframes and cheap mattresses can be a daunting task considering the huge number of retailers online, offering a dazzling array of types and styles. Trying to buy discount beds online can mean that you end up with inferior quality bed frames and uncomfortable, poorly constructed mattresses.

This useful guide shows you what to look for when you buy discount beds online, helping you to avoid some of the pitfalls lying in wait for the unwary. Buying a cheap bed without making any compromise on comfort is possible if you know what to look for, and you can look forward to finding an elegant bedframe and comfortable mattress at the right price.

How to Buy the Best Discount Mattresses Online

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Arguably, the mattress is the most important component of your bed, making the difference between a comfortable, relaxing sleep and a broken night’s rest, tossing and turning. Poor quality sleep can lead to tiredness and irritability during the day, as well as creating postural problems and aggravating back and neck pain. The obvious answer is to buy a high quality orthopedic mattress, which will support the body and allow you to enjoy an unbroken slumber.

Sadly, these mattresses are often extremely expensive, well beyond the budget of many families who have to look at the lower end of the budget range. The danger with shopping in the bargain basement is that you can end up with a mattress that collapse and falls apart quickly, taking you back to square one. This useful guide will show you how to buy the best discount mattresses online, helping you to find a budget mattress without making too many compromises on comfort and durability.

Buy Natural Latex Mattresses Online

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In recent years, natural latex mattresses have risen in popularity, as a comfortable alternative to memory foam mattresses and sprung mattresses. These hypoallergenic mattresses avoid many of the disadvantages found with the other types and guarantee a comfortable sleep all year round. Of course, the major disadvantage with latex mattresses is the steep price, as even the cheapest varieties cost over a thousand dollars.

Because of this huge initial outlay, you want to make sure that you buy a high-quality latex mattress, one that will provide sterling service for many years. This guide shows you the advantages of this mattress type and shows you how to find a good natural latex mattress that will enable you to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing sleep, helping to alleviate posture-related aches and pains and improve your mental wellbeing.

Buy a Bed Frame and Mattress Online

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Setting out to buy a bed frame and mattress online is a daunting task, with countless online retailers offering a huge array of styles and types. Do you opt for a traditional brass bedframe with a sumptuous sprung mattress, or do you buy a simple pine divan base and orthopedic memory foam. Trying to find the best combination at the right price is exceptionally difficult, especially when budgets are tight and families are cutting back on their spending.

However, using price as the only important factor invites disaster, because many discount bedsteads are of very low quality and collapse within a few months. Cheap mattresses soon sag and deteriorate, condemning you to restless nights and various aches and pains. Knowing what to look for is crucial when buying a bedframe and mattress, helping you stretch your budget and find a good bed without making too many compromises on quality and comfort. This guide will help you through every step of the process, helping you to buy a good bed frame and mattress online.

Best Sprung Mattresses Online

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The traditional sprung mattress is a stalwart that has survived for decades as a comfortable and durable alternative. Despite intense competition from new technology, such as memory foam mattresses and latex mattresses, inner coil mattresses are still extremely popular. Mattress manufacturers have not stood still, and they have continued to refine and improve the technology, developing pocket spring mattresses and composites, designed to improve comfort and durability without racking up the price.

As with any mattress, there is a huge variation in quality, and sprung mattresses range from extremely uncomfortable to truly sublime, with price acting as a rough guide to comfort level and durability. However, if you know what to look for, you can find the best sprung mattresses online at a very reasonable price, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing sleep without worrying about the impact upon your bank balance. Coil mattresses have certainly rallied against the new pretenders to their throne and continue to go from strength to strength.

Find the Best Futon Mattresses Online

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Futon beds are a practical and elegant addition to the home, seamlessly blending the function of bed and sofa, maximizing your use of space and giving guests somewhere to spend the night. Futon beds are available in a wide range of shapes, styles and themes but, ultimately, comfort is the overriding concern; as a result, a futon is only as good as its mattress. Sadly, many homeowners forget this when shopping for futons and end up with one that looks great but is painful to sit or sleep on!

A futon mattress must excel at a dual role, soft enough to make a comfortable seat yet firm enough to make a supportive bed. Choosing the best futon mattresses online is a difficult task because you have to find the perfect mix of durability, comfort and price. This useful article will help you through the process, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of the various futon mattress types and guiding you towards the best futon mattress for your home, whether cotton, memory foam or sprung.

The Best Mattress Types

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Until fairly recently, buying a new mattress was a fairly simple process, involving visiting a local mattress retailer, trying a few for size, and handing over your money. Most mattresses were constructed from coiled springs, or stuffed with wool or horsehair, and tended to deteriorate very quickly, sagging and developing holes in the upholstery.

This has changed, and manufacturers now offer a huge array of mattress sizes and types, from luxurious king size latex mattresses to memory foam twins. Choosing the best mattress types from amongst the options is a daunting chore, and an online search will reveal countless manufacturers and retailers loudly proclaiming that their particular brand is the best.

This article sets out to guide you through the process of choosing a new mattress, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the various types. Armed with this information, you will be able to navigate the online maze and find the best mattress types for your home.

Buy Memory Foam Mattresses Online

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Memory foam mattresses have risen in popularity over the past couple of decades, as a comfortable and practical alternative to the traditional inner spring mattress. These orthopedic mattresses are great for people with postural problems, molding to the body to give great support and alleviate the various aches and pains. Initially, these mattresses were very expensive but, as the technology improved and manufacturers developed mass production methods, prices have fallen. Memory foam mattresses are now a similar price to inner spring mattresses of the same quality, making them a realistic alternative.

With such a huge range of options, knowing what to look for when you buy memory foam mattresses online is the key to success. With a little forethought and planning, you can scour the internet for some great bargains, finding a comfortable and durable memory foam mattress at a great price. This article will guide you through the process, helping you to make the right choice and find a mattress that will be a faithful servant for many years.

Front Entry Doors – What To Look For In A Front Door

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A quick search online reveals a wide range of front doors, in every conceivable style and theme. From rustic wooden estate doors to secure steel doors, there is a front entry door to suit every home and protect your property and family from harm. Choosing from amongst the various types can be a herculean task, as you try to find an option that balances security, style, durability and price. Your front door must be secure, protecting your home from criminals, and it must be elegant and stylish, creating a great first impression and complementing your architectural theme.

This useful guide explains the pros and cons of the various types of exterior door, including tasteful wood, sturdy steel, cost effective vinyl and modern fiberglass. This will allow you to sift through the offerings of the various online retailers and install the perfect front entry door for your home.

Commercial Steel Doors

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Steel doors are still the best option for protecting commercial premises from criminals, forming a formidable barrier that is difficult to breach. For many years, hollow steel doors have adorned business premises around the world, where their combination of security, strength and durability makes them invaluable. A sturdy steel door fitted to a steel frame and fitted with high-security locks can turn business premises into a fortress, whether fitted as an external or internal door.

Hollow steel doors are constructed from heavy gauge steel, powder-coated to protect the door from physical damage and rusting. Where high security is a concern, these are the best choice. Other types of commercial steel door include roll up doors and accordion steel doors, designed to protect an inner door, making them popular on retail premises where a steel entry door can be very unwelcoming to potential clients. This guide reveals how to find a good steel entry door for your commercial premises, giving you and your staff peace of mind.

Finding the Best French Doors

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Finding the perfect French doors for your home can be a little tricky when you consider the sheer number of options available. Manufacturers and retailers offer a range of French doors, from traditional wood to steel or fiberglass, covering the entire budget range. French doors are a beautiful way to enhance the front or rear of your home and let natural light flood in, but you have to balance a number of factors, including privacy, durability and security.

This guide to French doors will help you through the process, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each type and allowing you to find the perfect balance. From the security of steel to the excellent insulation of vinyl French doors, you can make the front of your home stand out while protecting your family and keeping your home warm.

Find The Best Accordion Doors Online

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Accordion doors have acquired a very unfair reputation over the years, as ugly monstrosities better suited to business premises than a family home. Until recently, the only accordion doors that most people were familiar with were the hulking steel accordion doors used to protect commercial buildings, or the cheap and tacky doors that became popular during the 1980s. This stigma has remained despite the fact that manufacturers now offer genuinely beautiful doors in wood, glass and vinyl, complete with elegant door furniture.

Accordion doors are the perfect solution where space is limited and there is no room for a traditional swing door. In many apartments and small homes, they are a great alternative to narrow door frames, allowing you to use a standard frame. These doors are commonly found closing off closets or laundry rooms, where floor space is at a premium, and they are available in a huge range of colors and styles, allowing you to find the perfect option to suit your architectural theme.

Choosing The Best Entry Doors

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Buying new entry doors for your home can be a little more difficult than you might think, and involves taking a number of factors into consideration. A front entry door should be beautiful and striking, but it also has to be durable enough to handle the elements without flinching. In many areas, where crime is a problem, your humble front door needs to be resilient and able to shake off the attentions of criminals, protecting your family and home from harm.

An entry door must perform all of these functions yet remain affordable and constructed from the highest quality materials and to a high standard of manufacture. Despite these difficulties, online retailers offer a wide range of front entry doors at reasonable prices and, as long as you know what to look for, you can find the perfect option for your home. This guide will help you with the process, revealing the advantages and disadvantages of each front entry door type.

Vinyl Exterior Doors – The Pros and Cons of Vinyl Entry Doors

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Over the past few years, vinyl exterior doors have carved out a significant proportion of the marker, offering a low-priced alternative to wood and steel doors. Vinyl doors are cheap to buy and are extremely well insulated, contributing to a significant reduction in your utility bills. Because of the low price and easy installation, they are particularly common on new homes, often fitted as part of a uPVC double glazing package.

As you would expect, vinyl doors also carry some disadvantages, so they are not the best choice for every situation. This guide reveals the pros and cons of fitting uPVC doors to your home, allowing you to decide if they really are a better option than steel, fiberglass or wood. If you decide that vinyl doors are the best option for your home, you will be able to navigate the vast number of options online and buy doors that are secure, durable, and suit your budget.

Steel Exterior Doors – Steel Entry Door Pros and Cons

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Steel exterior doors are a great option for many homes, providing durability and resilience at a very competitive price. These doors have been popular for many years, protecting commercial premises and employees from the attentions of criminals. They have moved on since those days, when they were little more than an imposing lump of steel resplendent with industrial locks, and have found their way onto the residential market. Manufacturers offer steel doors in a range of styles, from contemporary to traditional, allowing you to find the perfect option to blend in with your architectural theme.

Choosing the perfect steel entry doors from amongst the range of options available can be a daunting task, especially when you intend to spend a considerable amount of money. This guide will help you to evaluate the various choices and find a steel door that combines the traditional virtues of security and durability with sophistication and a good price.

Fiberglass Exterior Doors – Fiberglass Entry Door Pros and Cons

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For a long time, the exterior door market was dominated by wood and steel, materials possessing their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Wooden doors are beautiful, but often succumb to the weather and need regular treatment. Steel doors are strong and secure but cannot compete aesthetically. Recently, manufacturers have started to produce fiberglass entry doors, as an excellent compromise between the two types.

Fiberglass is a very strong and durable medium and is largely immune to attack by the elements, ensuring that fiberglass doors will endure for many years. Sophisticated techniques allow manufacturers to create imitation wood fiberglass doors that are practically indistinguishable from the real thing, passing all but the closest inspection. Because of these undoubted benefits, these doors are capturing a larger share of the market and they are growing in popularity, with online retailers offering an assortment of styles and finishes. A fiberglass door will last for many years, enhancing the front of your home and making it stand out.

Wood Exterior Doors: The Traditional Front Door Solution

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The front door is one of the most important features of the home, defining an architectural theme whilst protecting your home and family from harsh weather and determined criminals. A well-maintained, striking front door makes your home look warm and inviting, especially when matched with complementary door hardware. Of all the front door types, wooden doors still stand apart as the most elegant option, filled with character and adding a touch of individuality to the front of your house.

With this popularity comes the major disadvantage of wooden doors, because the internet is packed with retailers offering a stunning array of styles and themes. Picking your way through the options and finding a wooden door that is reasonably priced but also of sufficient quality is difficult without knowing a few tips. Ultimately, a poor quality wooden entry door will need frequent treatment with paint, stain, or varnish, deteriorating and rotting within a few years. This guide reveals a few tips about finding a quality wooden door at a reasonable price, ensuring that your money is well spent.

Best Exterior Doors: Types of Front Entry Door

Choosing exterior doors for your home involves taking into account a number of factors, including budget, aesthetics, durability and security. Blending these aspects together should give you the perfect door, protecting your home from criminals and adverse weather, while maintaining its beauty and welcoming feel. A well-selected door speaks volumes about you as a proud homeowner and as a person, ensuring that guests feel welcome before they even set foot over the threshold. Of course, this perfect door is an elusive beast and, unless you have a huge budget, compromises will have to be made.

All of the various types of doors have their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages, and finding the perfect type for your home includes prioritizing the various traits. You can opt for the traditional elegance of wood, the strength of steel, the simplicity of vinyl or the versatility of fiberglass. All of these types of door have their pros and cons and, if you know exactly what to look for, the entire process of shopping online becomes much easier.

Log Home Kits For Sale – Live the Dream

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Log home kits have grown in popularity, as a cheap and environmentally friendly way of owning a beautiful home. Most people still imagine log cabins as rustic dwellings, best suited to the set of Hollywood westerns and rugged outdoor types. In reality, the technology has moved on and log homes are sophisticated and stuffed with all of the mod cons, allowing you to own a character-filled home without sacrificing any luxuries.

Many people opt to use a specialist contractor to erect their log house, using their expertise and skill to build the home quickly and for a reasonable price. Many people, faced with a limited budget, elect to buy a self-build log home. These are largely pre-fabricated, allowing you to put them together with relatively little expertise, bringing your dream of homeownership a little closer every day. In this article, you will find some of the good reasons for buying a log home, helping you to begin the process of searching online and looking for a reliable, experienced manufacturer.

Modular Office Dividers – The Flexible Temporary Office Walls

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Modular office dividers are an excellent way to make the most of your available space and give employees a private place to work, without distractions. For many businesses, where leasing or building permanent offices is far too expensive, they allow the easy division of large spaces, with the open plan layout also fostering a good team spirit. Of course, modular dividers are not restricted to large businesses, and many home workers use them to separate off a dedicated office space, allowing them to work in peace.

There is an astonishing array of options available online, and finding the right modular room dividers for your business can be a daunting task. This article will show you how to find the perfect office partitions at the right price, taking advantage of their flexibility and usefulness. Whether you want the temporary partitions for dividing up a large workspace or conference room, or you want a little privacy at home, you can find modular partitions online.

Temporary Office Dividers – Creating Home Office Space

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As society embraces the electronic age, high-speed communications are fuelling the work-from-home revolution, making life easier for businesses and employees alike. Businesses can slash overheads by cutting down on office space, while employees can avoid the daily commute and the associated costs. Of course, working from home means setting up a home office, which, if you have a spare room, is easy. If you do not have this luxury, then finding a quiet place to work can be extremely difficult.

Buying temporary office dividers is the answer, allowing you to section off a corner off your home and enjoy a little privacy. These temporary dividers block out a lot of the sound and allow you to concentrate upon your work, away from the distractions of everyday life. Online, you will find a huge array of styles and types, from Japanese-style Shoji screens to temporary walls, ensuring that you can find an option that is functional and elegant, blending in to your interior design theme.