Your Article Goes Live! Now What?

In this Blog and elsewhere, we talk a lot about the process of researching, developing, writing and submitting your articles. Once your new articles are published, they usually take on a life of their own and will go to work for you almost immediately. That’s the real beauty and simplicity of article marketing: you need only sign up and then write and submit articles – we’ll take care of the rest (things like automated tweets and RSS feeds).

However, some Expert Authors want more from their articles. They want their articles to be more than a creative outlet or an adjunct to their other marketing efforts. They want their articles to be part of a living, breathing, article marketing machine.

For these members, article writing and marketing is an ongoing process, not a series of stand-alone events. They see it as a repeating cycle of writing, submitting, promoting and analyzing their articles to produce truly extraordinary results.

If you’re ready to take this next step into the article marketing process, read on …

his Article Marketing Process has 3 distinct, yet concurrent and repeating, phases:

1. Phase One – Write and submit your articles. Once they are approved, they’ll be published on our site.
   
2. Phase Two – Promote your article to potential readers and publishers (this is in addition to what EzineArticles provides automatically). You have several EzineArticles tools at your disposal to get the word out about your new articles. Most have step-by-step videos explaining how to make the best use of them:
   
   • EzineArticles Widget Creator – This tool allows you to promote your articles automatically on your Website or blog.
     
   • Author Alert Sign-Up Box – Your fans can sign up here to receive email alerts when you publish new articles.
     
   • Article RSS Feed – This device pushes an automatically updated list of your articles to your website and links directly to your articles on EzineArticles.com.
     
   • Email Recommendation (“Article Promotion”) – Give us the names and email addresses of up to five friends. EzineArticles.com will send them your article title, summary and personal message.
     
   • Automated New Article Tweets – Link your Twitter and EzineArticles accounts. This authorizes EzineArticles to automatically send out a Tweet as soon as your article is published and to tweet your Expert Author link in rotation.
3. Phase Three – Analyze the performance of your articles. Are they doing what you’d hoped? How do they compare to other articles in your niche?
   
   • Track Your Article Reports – Spend a few minutes every day viewing your article reports to see what’s working … and what’s not. Look for spikes and trends in the numbers, especially CTR, and then write your articles to what works.
     
   • Track Other Authors in Your Niche – And track their articles to see where you can improve or find under-served niches. You can find who the top authors are in your categories by using the category links in your articles or at the EzineArticles home page. Also check the “Most Viewed” and “Most Published” lists at the end of each published article to see if your article appears there. Then track both using our Email Alerts.

And the circle continues: Write/Submit/Analyze … Repeat.

If you’re only writing and submitting articles, you’re probably still getting some great results. But if you’re ready to step it up a notch, you’ll discover that even better results can be realized with a comprehensive article marketing plan. If you’re not already embracing this circular process, you may want to spend a little time thinking about how you could be promoting and analyzing your existing articles. Then build that practice into your daily activities.

There are many other ways to promote and analyze the success of your articles. Which do you use that we haven’t already mentioned?

True love and God

1. God Loves You!

The Bible says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"

The problem is that...

2. All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God.

The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God forever. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.”

The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago

3. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."

God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.

4. If you want to accept Christ as Savior and turn from your sins, you can ask Him to be your Savior and Lord by praying a prayer like this:

"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to follow you always."

"I love you"

“I love you.”

It’s a sentence most of us have probably used at one time or another, though we probably don’t want elaborate on the context we’ve used it in.

But hey, what’s wrong with love?

Love is one of the central human emotions. We all experience love for someone or something, to varying degrees, at one time or another. Most of the time, when we think of love, it brings a warm, fuzzy, and sometimes naughty feeling – the type that makes us feel that nothing in the world matters, with the exception of our beloved.

We are often hushed up and reluctant to discuss love with anyone, except for maybe our close friends. But if we think about it, love isn’t something bad. In fact, it too is a blessing of Allah. Think: if there was no love in the world, every single person would fight everyone else. There would be no peace and happiness. The world would be a terrible place without love.

One of the strongest (if not the strongest) bonds of love are between family members. Thus, Allah has made all believers brothers (and sisters). That’s why we should try to love all Muslims as our brothers and sisters.

Allah (SW) has said:

"The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion)." (Quran, 49:10)

Love is natural. It enters the heart and leaves at will, and we don’t have much control over it. While we don’t have control over love, we do possess control over the actions it can lead us to.

In essence, love is good, but it is the actions that result from it that are of concern.

As with anything, there is a certain limit and transgressing the limit turns the good into bad. For instance, praying Salah is a good thing. No Muslim disputes this fact. However, if one prays Nafl (non-obligatory) Salah all night and misses Fajr (a Fardh or obligatory Salah) in the morning, then his praying Nafl all night becomes something bad. Likewise, if a man spends all day praying and doesn’t provide ample food, clothing, and shelter for his wife and children, then his praying all day becomes bad.

Similarly, if love for something or someone begins blocking us from the worship of Allah and from following his orders, the love also becomes a bad thing. If a person, for the love of his children, works all day long (so he can feed and clothe them well) and doesn’t pray and remember Allah, then his love for his children has evidently become bad for him. Allah Almighty says:

"O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allâh. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers." (Quran, 63:9)

In the same way, if the love leads us to forbidden acts that displease Allah, then again it becomes something bad.

Many times, the love for our beloved can lead us on to a very treacherous path. It can happen very slowly – so slowly that one often fails to realize what is about to transpire, and “things” just “seem to happen”.

In the Holy Quran, Allah has said:

"And come not near Zina (unlawful intercourse). Verily, it is a Fâhishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allâh forgives him)." (Quran, 17:32)

Note here that Allah has said “and come not near” instead of saying “don’t do”. What does this tell us? The following hadith of the Prophet (SAW) explains the verse:

“The zina of the eyes is the gaze (at that which is unlawful); the zina of the ears is to listen (to talks that excite the carnal desire); the zina of the tongue is to speak (what is evil); the zina of the hand is to touch (the opposite sex which is unlawful to you); the zina of the feet is to walk (towards immorality); the zina of the heart is to desire (what is unlawful), and it is the private parts which either commits or shuns the actual act of fornication.” (Reported by Muslim)

If the love for a person leads us to any of the above, it is obviously crossing the limit. Be it through meeting, talking, or simply chatting, we must be careful that our love for our beloved doesn’t take us overboard. Love is natural, yet what it can lead to is what’s dangerous.

We all fall in love one time or the other. The key is to control the love and put the brakes on any potentially unlawful actions it may lead us to, no matter how minor they may seem.

Verily, short-lived is the love that leads to the displeasure of Allah (SW).

May Allah (SW) protect me and all of us from the love that leads to His displeasure. Ameen.

Funny Questions to Ask on a Date

Dating can be one of the most challenging tasks in a person's life, so having a few funny questions to ask your next date can certainly break the ice.

Why is Dating so Hard?

Dating is horribly painful for a very large majority of the population. Those who have found a partner, or have gone on to get married, swear that they **never** want to have to enter the "dating scene" ever again. Why is it so painful?

It is painful because most people are terribly self-conscious, and they find it extremely difficult to come up with topics to talk about with a perfect stranger. Throw in the fact that the perfect stranger might actually be so handsome, or so beautiful, that you are caught off guard - and your nerves may get the best of you. This kind of situation can turn a potentially wonderful dating opportunity into a disaster that you could regret for the rest of your life.

Funny Questions On a Date

Yes, dating is a time when you are informally "interviewing" someone about their life, their desires, and their life goals. You are hoping to find a decent match with your own life goals and dreams. But this process of "interviewing" someone doesn't have to be a nightmare. In fact, learning about someone new in an intimate way can be wonderfully exciting and fun, especially when a little bit of humor is throw into the mix.

The following are some questions that you can toss into the conversation, in a light-hearted and joking way, that can serve to break the ice and help both of you realize that you don't have to take this "dating game" so seriously.

Have you ever been arrested?

Now, you should never ask your date if they've ever been arrested at the very start of the date. But this question is best asked after a few serious questions. It will interject a tone of humor into an otherwise serious discussion, and will hopefully get your date laughing and will set you both at ease. The conversation would go something like this.

You: "So what do you do for work?"
Date: "Oh...I'm a beautician, I cut hair, and I also do makeup."
You: "Oh that's great! You must enjoy talking to people then."
Date: "Absolutely, I love people - I'm totally a social butterfly."
You: "I love it! I am too..and do you have a big family, brothers..sisters?"
Date: "No...I'm an only child. My parents pretty much ignored me..that's why I'm so independent now."
You: "I'm an only child too! Wow, we have so much in common...we're both social, we're both the 'only child'...have you ever been arrested?"

As she looks at you with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look, you should wait a few seconds and then laugh..."I am SO joking..."

The question immediately breaks up the monotony of a question and answer session, and prevents it from feeling like a formal job interview. As she laughs, it will help her reflect on the fact that this isn't a job interview - and that you are willing to take matters lightly. You will immediately notice her relax.

Other Funny Questions for a Date

Some other odd questions to toss out in order to lighten up the mood includes:

• What's your favorite midnight snack?




• What is the one, single food that you would never give up?




• What is your weirdest "quirk"?




• Do you have any relatives in jail?




• Have you ever gone cow-tipping?




• What's your worst pet peeve?

The important thing is to come up with a question that would catch someone off guard, but you should also avoid being vulgar or rude. The question should be light-hearted, and just odd enough (and asked with the right inflection or tone of voice), so that your date can't help but chuckle.

How To Be A Good Boyfriend

A man can easily learn how to be a good boyfriend. All it takes is a little bit of practice and determination to do it. Willingness is the key for any man to learn how to be a good boyfriend. Unfortunately not all men are willing to study and do what it takes to be a good boyfriend.

Most men foolishly adopt a ‘love me or leave me' attitude wherein they are too stubborn to admit their shortcomings. These are usually the type of men that bank on the frailty of most women, the kind of women who would rather die than be left alone without a man.

However, men of this character must be living in the dark ages, as many women today would not tolerate this type of behavior. The modern woman of today is more discerning. Any man who would want to be in a relationship with her would certainly have to brush up on how to be a good boyfriend in order to keep her interested.

Fortunately there are still a lot of men who believe in giving their best in a relationship. These men take the initiative in learning how to be a good boyfriend to their significant other. And in the end reap the rewards of their labor with a loving and satisfying relationship.

Learning How to be a Good Boyfriend

Learning how to be a good boyfriend has a lot of advantages not just for women but also for men. A man that makes an effort to learn how to be a good boyfriend can look forward to a better and stronger relationship with their partner. An appreciative girlfriend will most likely shower her man with more love and affection than before. In addition, there will probably be less nagging that will surely be a welcome respite for any man.

However if a man still experiences the same type of treatment even after learning how to be a good boyfriend then there is something wrong. It would be a good idea to assess the relationship at this point. Perhaps the man is not to blame and the fault lies elsewhere.

Keep in mind that there are some women in the world that cannot be content unless they are nagging or criticizing something. At this point, a man may want to think if the relationship is still worth pursuing or if it would be time to move on and probably find someone who would appreciate them better.

A Guide on How to be a Good Boyfriend

A good boyfriend knows how to keep his girlfriend happy. Satisfying a woman is a comprehensive plan that does not only involve the sexual aspect of a relationship. A good way to do so is to make her feel special by complimenting her on how well she looks.

Women do their best to look pretty for their man and a little flattering remark goes a long way to show her that her efforts are appreciated. It is also a good idea for a man to evaluate his own physical appearance. As a woman takes the time to look good for her man therefore a man should also look good for his woman.

To show respect for her and her family is a trait of a good boyfriend that every man should adopt. A well-mannered man is polite and nice to his girlfriend's family. Women are particularly appreciative of a man that accepts and loves her family. Communication is a vital part of every relationship. Women cherish a man who listens and pays attention to what they have to say.

There are no hard and fast rules on how to be a good boyfriend. And learning how to be a good boyfriend is not easy. The enthusiasm to learn must be present. It is also important to be comfortable and at ease with oneself when undertaking such an education.

Being true to oneself is an important part of the learning process. A man forced into learning how to be a good boyfriend can develop negative emotions that would not be healthy for the individual and for the relationship. If a man were not interested in learning then he would only be fooling himself and his partner.

Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?

Since 2006, the electronic cigarette has attracted millions of people around the world who have switched from traditional cigarettes to the e-cigarette, also referred to as the "safe cigarette, the e-cigarette, and the smokeless cigarette".

Electronic cigarettes share some aspects of there traditional counterparts, such as appearance, feel and taste of a normal cigarette. But the differences are substantial in that the "safe cigarette" gets it's name because it produces none of the negative aspects of traditional smoking like tar, ignition (heat), up to 4000 types of chemical additives that often lead to respiratory and cardiac system diseases, nor the carcinogenic effects of traditional cigarettes.

Ever since the Surgeon General determined that cigarette smoking is hazardous to your health, cigarette companies have searched for ways to reduce tar and nicotine levels, in efforts to create a more safe smoking experience. Nothing, however, has ever come close to the electronic cigarette.

This revolutionary new smoking alternative, not only simulates cigarette smoke but also the temperature associated with dragging off a common cigarette (50-60 degrees Celsius), thus adding to the psychological habit without adding the hazardous substances which have proven to cause cancerous, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocyanic acid, acrolein, arsenic, lead and hydragyrum.

Smokeless cigarettes were first viewed with trepidation but more and more have become embraced by the public as well as the Medical Association. E-Cigarettes are now manufactured by a number of different companies throughout the US and China and are readily available across the United States and Europe, even the some of the most ardent skeptics have become believers once they try the electronic cigarette.

Adding to the safety benefits, the electronic cigarette has also been proven as a way for smokers to quit the habit, as the level of nicotine can be carefully monitored, thus giving the smoker the option of gradually lowering the level until he/she can quit without fear of withdrawals. Most electronic cigarette refill cartridges are available in full, medium, light and none, and while electronic cigarettes are not yet approved as smoking cessation devices, the potential for the devices to be used as such is somewhat obvious.

It's recommended that people who have demonstrated a sensitivity or allergy to nicotine, pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have unstable heart conditions should discuss the use of an electronic cigarette device with a doctor before using one. Additionally, electronic cigarettes may not be used by anyone under the legal smoking age in your state.

The Top Ten Most Difficult Truth or Dare Questions

One of the most common party games is "Truth or Dare." The player has to choose between telling the truth, or completing a dare, and they receive points for one or the other. While there are thousands of truth or dare questions that you can ask players, in this article I will outline the top ten most difficult truth or dare questions, and what they can potentially reveal about the person.

Proceed With Caution

The following truth or dare questions can reveal more about your friends or colleagues than you ever wanted to know. Also, try to be cautious about who is present at the party. If a friend of someone's current boyfriend is at a party, keep this in mind when you are asking the girlfriend particular "truth" questions. Inevitably, her answers will get back to her boyfriend, and if it's something that she didn't want him knowing, it could have a disastrous affect on the relationship.

Question 1: Describe your First Intimate Experience

While this may often result in a fairly tame response, such as the typical intimate experimentation of school kids or younger kids, some people have somewhat traumatic experiences from their childhood. So exercise caution when asking this truth or dare question, because you may get far more than you bargained for.

Question 2: What is the most annoying habit that your girlfriend/boyfriend has?

This question is great to ask the person who is constantly bragging about their boyfriend or girlfriend. It will force them to admit something about them that isn't "perfect." Be careful though, the answer to this question can sometimes be fairly disgusting!

Question 3: How well "endowed" is your boyfriend or girlfriend?

This question is much more fun for a party of girlfriends, because with guys it is not quite as obvious which boyfriend is "well-endowed," and which isn't. On the other hand, guys will always know which girlfriend is better endowed than others. When girls get together and one of them is asked this very sensitive question, the answer you receive can sometimes be quite surprising!

Question 4: Have you ever not made it to the bathroom in time and had an "accident?"

This question will be very hard for someone to admit if they are a "prude" or very self-conscious. However other people have absolutely no problem answering this question, and will sometimes give you far more information than you bargained for.

Question 5: Have you ever been extremely "intimate" with someone in a public place?

The most common answers to this question, if the person is truthful, can range from in an airplane, an elevator, in a crowded theater, or in the same house (or sometimes the same room!) where parents or siblings are unaware.

Question 6: What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

While this is often a fairly tame answer, sometimes people can really get themselves into trouble. If the answer is embarrassing enough, and someone in the room is unscrupulous enough, the answer can be potential ammunition for blackmail. Use this question with caution, and answer it with even greater caution!

Question 7: Have you ever cheated on your boyfriend/girlfriend?

This is a very common truth or dare question, with very common consequences. If the boyfriend or girlfriend is a current one, they **inevitably** discover how this question was answered, and the relationship is destroyed. Avoid this question at all costs, and if you are asked it, and can't answer with a "no" - chose a dare instead. The embarrassment of the dare will be far less than the damage from sharing such information with friends.

Question 8: If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?

While this question isn't dangerous at all, the answers to it can sometimes be very entertaining and unexpected.

Question 9: What is the strangest dream you've ever had?

Almost everyone has a strange dream, and often it's a recurring one. Hearing someone else's dream is sometimes very surreal, and often it can tell a great deal about the person's deepest fears.

Question 10: If you could make anyone in the room your servant for the day, who would it be and what would you make them do?

The answer to this question runs the gamut from lame, to extremely provocative and sometimes very disturbing! If you are brave enough to ask this question, be prepared for anything
.