January 28, 2017

Hi there! This week, my sister told me about a hospital here in Texas that puts preemies in gallon Ziploc® bags to keep them warm. It sounded dubious to me, but after watching the video I'm a believer. It gives the term "lifehack" an entirely new meaning. Also, at the beginning of the year I started a chronological Bible reading plan (see II for the printable; I prefer the iPhone app). This week was all about Abraham and his early descendants, always a flabbergasting bunch. Four words: major family dysfunction Batman. Takeaway: God wasn't thwarted by their crazy, so I trust He's not thwarted by mine either. Hallelujah. On to the tips...

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1. Productivity music that knows your brain (or something)

A few weeks ago I decided to try the lite version Brain.fm app to help with my focus and productivity. (Unfortunately there isn't an Android version, but there is a web version.) It's similar to focus@will which I mentioned in 2014 (and does have an Android version) but I heard others say they preferred Brain.fm's original music, larger selection and better quality. Plus, the App Store reviews are significantly higher. I didn't use focus@will extensively so I can't make an informed comparison, but I have been pleasantly surprised by my Brain.fm "Focus" results, so much so, when I saw this lifetime access deal, I snagged it. P.S. If I can figure out how to not choke myself with my earbud cords, I'm going to give the "Sleep" or "Nap" modes a try too.

2. How to take a screenshot of an entire webpage

I typically use Skitch to take screenshots because I like its features and its integration with Evernote. However, one thing Skitch doesn't do is take a screenshot of a whole webpage, not just the visible part. But there's a solution for that: Chrome extension Nimbus.

3. An easy yet effective addition to a post

If you know Neil Patel, you know he invests a lot of resources in data collection and analysis. In a recent podcast, How to Write a Killer Blog Post, he offered several tips, but a simple one that jumped out at a me (I like simple) is to include a conclusion heading and paragraph at the end of blog posts. You can hear his short explanation of their research starting at minute 4:45 (the play button is at the bottom of the page and you can click anywhere on the play bar to jump ahead).

4. Heads up!

5. Behind the scenes

I got a good #HeyAmy question this week regarding cloaking affiliate links. I posted my email response on Facebook in case others have the same question. Also, a funny story. (At least I thought it was funny. Then again, I get a kick out of myself.) OK, so my savvy friend Gretchen asked me about updating her Useletter subscription email address. I emailed her back explaining how bummed I am that Mad Mimi doesn't have a feature which allows subscribers to do this on their own. (Did I ever think to ask Mad Mimi? Well no.) Anyway, Gretchen wrote back and told me very graciously that, well actually, Mad Mimi does have this feature and it's been available since...wait for it...2013...if only I had turned it ON. (Did I ever turn it on? Well no again.) And so I'm like, SAY WHAT!?!? You mean to tell me all these years I've been doing this manually for people and it's been there all along? Oh my stars. Practically inexcusable. Gross negligence for sure. Not to mention highly embarrassing. :) All that to say, if you ever need to update your subscription to receive the Useletter at a different email address, click the Preferences link at the bottom of any issue. As my dad always says, "It's simple...if you know how to do it." To which I say, amen...if Amy will turn the silly thing on. (Thanks Gretchen!)

Popular: How to Start a Blog (To Make Money or Otherwise).

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Have a great weekend,

Amy