Cultured Views

Social Spark invites YOU to launch your career in Social Media Marketing

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Yep it’s finally here folks; Social Spark is up and running at last. If you are a blogger who spends even a small amount of time online you will no doubt be familiar with the words IZEA and Social Spark as there are very few forums and sites where these words have not been on the lips of the online community in the past few months.

In my opinion this is very probably the most highly anticipated online marketing innovation in recent years - and, you would agree, the most intensely debated topic. It seems as though Social Spark had the sparks flying from it’s earliest stages and now, after what has seemed a lifetime, she is live and open for business. So let’s take a look at what has been the focus of so much controversy and, yes, excitement…

For those initiates I will outline the concept quite simply: you get paid to blog. Just like that. Maybe you have considered getting involved but have not yet tested the water ? if you are after a company which offers a broad range of advantages then making SocialSpark your first step will pay you dividends which are not just financial. As well as being paid to review products and services you have the opportunity to really increase your incoming links and gain wider exposure for your site/s. If you have a product/service to market then SocialSpark can provide you with a growing community of very keen bloggers, all with their own style, from which you can choose to suit your marketing needs.

The basis of the concept is truth in advertising. The blogger will openly disclose each time that a paid post is exactly that (see bottom of post) ; this increases the credibility of not only a blog but the author and the whole process. The code of ethics are straightforward:

-100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure
-100% Transparency
-100% Real Opinions
-100% Search Engine Friendly

For those of you who are well familiar with IZEA’s other baby PayPerPost your first experiences with SS may be a little confusing; but be aware that there is plenty of assistance from the support team as well as a very well frequented forum should you need clarification on any issue. As a member you can create a wide network of friends and help others get more exposure for their sites - example: Blog-U-Back - this is simply writing a review about a blog for which in return that blogger will reciprocate. The outcome? you both get links. Make a habit of this and the links to your site will increase.

I have long been an advocate of the need for bloggers to get on board and improve their skills in the paid blogging industry; I truly believe that the term social media marketing will replace the old paid blogging concept and become the way forward for online marketing and those wishing to create for themselves a niche in this industry - a bona fide career if you like. From a personal point of view I see it as a great chance to reinvent myself as a reviewer/writer; take a look at what I do and how I do it. The chance for you to do this has arrived and all you have to do is sign up and take your place; find out for yourself what everyone has been talking about.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Is it too soon to say ‘welcome back’ to Britney Spears?

Okay, from one human train crash (Amy Winehouse) to another let’s take a brief look at how Britney Spears is doing these days…

Well, happily there is not a lot to report! and this is a great thing wouldn’t you agree? no more pictures of her driving erratically down the road; no more pictures of her waving her arms at the pap’s; no more arrests or men with butterfly nets dragging her out of her house.

Brit’s has been quiet of late because she really seems to be getting her life back together. Obviously whatever treatment was prescribed for her during her recent sectioning is showing signs of success; she is looking great and getting fit.

She is seeing her kids again and has fortunately dumped that weirdo with the caterpillar on his chin by the wayside - something she needed to do at the start. I think we could be seeing the rebirth of Britney Spears as a mature woman; if she can relaunch her career and keep everything together for keeps then she will surely serve as an example to many of those who are also experiencing the depths of despair.

Amy Winehouse…are you listening?

Popularity: 6% [?]

Ever been to a real music festival? - now’s your chance

America gave the world the biggest musical love-in with Woodstock; in Australia we had Sunbury in Victoria and Narara in NSW but one thing that summer brings in the United Kingdom is the best selection of music festivals in the world.

Now you might think that music festivals are only associated with rock music, rain and lots of mud - not always the case. There are a variety of festivals to choose from and once you have been to one you will want to go back for more. Never been to one? then now’s your time. Festival Planet has the complete guide to UK Music Festivals for this year. Of course the biggest one on everyone’s list is Glastonbury which offers music to suit all tastes and takes place on the last weekend of June.

But there’s more: consider Wavestock Blenheim at the magnificent Blenheim Palace in June; Latitude Festival in Suffolk featuring literature, poetry and theatre in July and the Reading Festival in August which will feature the band Metallica.

There is a very useful guide detailing what to take along with you to one of the festivals, and what to leave at home (they are huge events don’t forget). Also where and how to purchase tickets and, more importantly, how to get there. Don’t forget that the best way to travel is by public transport - the festivals are all well serviced by transport links in order to keep cars to a minimum as most of the festivals are held on private land and estates. It’s also the green way to do the festival thing.

So go on - spend a weekend in the open air and take in some culture.

Popularity: 7% [?]