In honor of my favorite day, I added a Weekly Roundup on my blog where I share some awesome posts of stuff I find week to week that I know you can benefit and learn from. Some bloggers you will recognize and some you won’t. Either way, I hope you enjoy each post as much as I did reading them

Social Media

The $1 Billion Instagram Success Story, Instagram Style- by Danny Brown You can’t blame a company like Instagram to turn down a lucrative offer and by now you all know that Facebook paid a pretty penny for this gem. Danny brings it home and chronicles their story from how they began (with images) to their fairy-tale ending with Facebook. Stop Crying About Free Services, by Michael Schechter Are you upset when a company sells out by a company you don’t like? Do you think they are evil or just plain lucky? We all use social media outlets and while most are free we still complain. I love this well-thought out post asking why some of us still whine about Free services. Why Facebook Will Become The Most Dangerous Company On Earth, by Michael Schaefer Here we go again with Facebook and the topic of them becoming public. What does that mean for you and how will it shape Facebook for years to come. Remember back in the 90’s when Yahoo was the darling of the internet; they went public and saw success. But what happened after that: Google and Yahoo’s dominance went down the drain. Since becoming public they have found it harder to turn a profit and have become a distant 3^rd when it comes to advertising. It’s no wonder I sold my stock years ago. Will Facebook have the same fate when they can’t turn a profit? The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun: A Rant, by Dan Perez Not everyone likes Pinterest, but this post can definitely cover some annoying things some people post on their boards. I can’t say I agree with this rant, but I appreciate diversity in his thoughts. Take a look and decide for yourself. How to Use Social Media to Take Your Brand from Zero to 100,000, by Sarah-Jayne Gratton, via The Top 10 Blog.com Do you have a Twitter or Facebook page that seems obsolete with no comments or interaction? This post covers the 10 simple steps you can take to help build, listen and engage with your readers. Sometimes the biggest impact is made by the smallest change. Facebook Custom Tabs Are Not Dead, They’re More Alive Than Ever, by Francisco Rosales By now I am sure most of you have seen posts with about Facebook Timeline Covers that you can create, but do you know how to add additional buttons too? This post really showcases how Francisco (he is so cute…sorry relapse) created the kick-a—tabs on his new Facebook Page. This post helps you get your timeline cover in order to create a professional seamless presence online. Also, check out Adrienne Smith’s post about some other tools to add to your Facebook cover as well.

Business

What Golfer Bubba Watson Can Teach You About Blogging, by John Paul Aguiar If you haven’t heard, Bubba Watson, not Tiger won this year’s coveted “Green Jacket” at the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament a week ago. I have to say he came out of nowhere and just hit the right shots that needed to be made, but the best part was that he deserved to win. John tells a story about a golfer that did it his way and how you can do the same.

Blog Design

How Much Should A Website Cost? By Carol Lynn Rivera You have decided to create a blog or website and now need help after careful consideration. Do you hire a designer or freelance developer? We all face this dilemma starting out and choosing the right designer to help you build it is just as scary. Not just from the sticker price, but from the unknown in knowing if the designer you pick will see your vision and get the job done. This post really breaks it down on what costs you will incur and why. Sometimes seeing the perspective from the other side really makes picking the right web designer the first time. Remember: you get what you pay for.

Blogging

How Can You Find Your Own Blogging Voice? By Sylviane Nuccio Let’s say you built your blog website, the design looks great, but now you have to fill it with content. What do you write about and how should you sound? We all have thought about this from time to time in the beginning and for some it comes naturally, while others struggle to find their place in line. This post really deciphers the tricks we play on ourselves and to help find the real person itching to come out on paper. 6 Blogging Tips For Dummies …By A Dummy, by Dan Perez I like this guy. Talk about edgy, but straight to the point. Sometimes we go so wrapped up into what someone else is doing that we lose sight of the big picture. You. Read the post and you will see what I mean. Take Your Small Biz Videos to the Next Level with Viewbix, by Ileane For those of you that have started creating videos, this is a tool for you. Have you ever thought how you can add your own stamp within the video? Your social media icons linking back to your site or to a particular page? Then you need Viewbix. Take a peek: What do you think?

• Got a post you can share with everyone? Post a link and title in your reply.  (Spam will be deleted..sorry)

Photo Credit: 365icon