How do you know what is shaping what you see when you search these days?

• Is it your previous searches?
• Your Facebook likes?
• Your Amazon purchases?

That’s why I was interested to learn about RTBot, a new information service whose stated goal is to “simplify the access to information and content stored in different sites, reducing the time it takes to find relevant and fresh information on the internet.”

The way it works is you enter a search term in the search field and RTBot returns search results in a number of different venues and formats.  For example, a search for Mari Smith comes up with quite a few videos on the first tab.  Each tab reflects a different category of result – a helpful and time-saving innovation right there!

Here’s how they describe what they do:

Access the freshest information and multimedia content about almost any subject, person, place or event in one single place.

• Complete research tasks quickly and easily.
• Get a multi-perspective vision and real-time context for every topic.
• Eliminate the need to visit different online resources separately.
• Obtain new information each day – even if you are looking at the same article.
• Visualize multimedia and social-media content related to every topic.
• Embrace a didactic, intuitive, holistic approach to learning.
• Discover new, relevant content about your favorite topics and interests.
• RTBot offers a fun and engaging learning experience.
• Topics research is moving from being “stateless” to being very much in the here and now.

And, of course, one interesting way to test out their search engine is to search for yourself and see how RTBot sees you!

Here is a video that will give you a quick glimpse of how the site works.

I don’t know that RTBot is more accurate or comprehensive than other search options, but the way it is organized, and its speed, make it an interesting alternative … it certainly doesn’t hurt to explore the possibilities that RTBot offers.

And while you’re in learning mode … are you interested in learning more about the Heart-Based Time Management™ Path?  Here’s one way that you can transform and deepen your relationship to time in the Heart-Based Way … I invite you to explore Secrets of Heart-Based Time Management™ – my chapter in the book I co-authored - Stepping Stones to Success!  In it I share my proven system for exploring and harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you deepen your experience of time and of your life.

As you work with the ideas I offer, you’ll explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them.  You can give yourself the gift of this wonderful resource today, and get started on your journey toward success, Stepping Stone by Stepping Stone …just click this link to get the details!

Let’s explore time together …

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with RTBot and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

Related articles

• RTBot: a New Tool to Search the Internet (michaelhartzell.com)
• Social Search Trends: Google Search Plus Your World and Local Marketing (reachlocal.com)
• Finding Time for Google Plus – Timely Resources This Cyber Monday (thetimefinder.com)

Founded in 2006 by Alan Levy and co-founder Bob Charish, BlogTalkRadio was, according to Wikipedia, originally intended to provide another venue for bloggers to connect with their readers.  Since its inception, BlogTalkRadio has grown into, well, here’s how they describe themselves on their website:

BlogTalkRadio allows anyone, anywhere the ability to host a live talk radio show online, simply by using a telephone and a computer. BlogTalkRadio’s unique platform, powered by Cinchcast, empowers citizen broadcasters to create and share their original content, their voices and their opinions in a worldwide public forum.

Today, BlogTalkRadio is the largest and fastest growing online talk radio network. A truly democratized medium, BlogTalkRadio has tens of thousands of hosts and millions of listeners tuning in and joining the conversation each month. Many businesses also utilize the platform as a tool to extend their brands and better communicate with the people that are most important to their business.

BlogTalkRadio offers lots of information for new users (screencast tutorials), and has both free (for shows up to 30-minutes) and paid plans.  No special software is required, and you can, quite literally, be up and running within minutes.  BlogTalkRadio is also the home of cinchcast – another powerful venue for sharing audio content.

Today I’m excited to share that I’m going to be interviewed by Sharon Ball on her show, “Reinventing Yourself with Sharon Ball” on BlogTalkRadio tonight!  If you’d like to join us, here’s the information you’ll need:

Date/Time: Monday, January 30 at 6:30 PM ET

What You’ll Hear: I’ll be talking about “Boundaries for Boomers: Proven Heart-Based Boundary Tips to Start You Living the Life of Your Dreams”

How will you find us?  You can listen to the show by clicking this link … or you can dial in at (858) 777-5903.  The radio program is free; however, if you call in, long distance charges will apply.

I hope you’ll join us as we discuss this very timely topic!  It’s one of my favorites – and a fundamental key to fashioning the kind of life you want to live.

So, are you considering using more audio?  I encourage you to explore the possibilities that BlogTalkRadio offers.

And are you interested in learning more about the Heart-Based Time Management™ Path?  Here’s one way that you can transform and deepen your relationship to time in the Heart-Based Way … I invite you to explore Secrets of Heart-Based Time Management™ – my chapter in the book I co-authored - Stepping Stones to Success!  In it I share my proven system for exploring and harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you deepen your experience of time and of your life.

As you work with the ideas I offer, you’ll explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them.  You can give yourself the gift of this wonderful resource today, and get started on your journey toward success, Stepping Stone by Stepping Stone …just click this link to get the details!

Let’s explore time together …

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with BlogTalkRadio and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

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• Find Time to Create Quiet-Some Timely Thoughts (thetimefinder.com)
• Find Time to Do What You Can Because You Can Absolutely Thrive in 2012! (thetimefinder.com)

Well, now there is a new ‘player’ in the mix – Google Plus.  Not-so-new, actually, as The Economic Times reported this morning that:

Google’s online social networking service ‘Google Plus’ has crossed 90 million users mark since its launch in June.

Google Plus now has attracted 90 million users, reflecting the huge interest in the social networking site which was opened to the public on September 20. That more than doubles the 40 million that Google reported in October.

Interestingly, they note that this growth is quite a bit faster than Facebook’s was (although the social-networking landscape was significantly different back when Facebook was getting started).

Google Search Plus Your World is one of the aspects of Google Plus that makes it so powerful – AND controversial.  What does it do?  Well, here’s what they say about it in PC World:

Get ready for more Google+ data in your Google searches as the company aims to personalize your results by including more Google+ profiles, business pages, posts, and Google+ and Picasa Photos. The search giant recently announced the significant change to its search engine, calling it Search plus Your World. The new feature is baked right into Google and aims to personalize your search results by including Google+ data when you are signed into your Google account.

Many are predicting that this is likely to raise legal issues for Google down the road.  And it will definitely affect your search results, as  they are increasingly targeted to your preferences (as reflected in Google Plus).  Happily, if you don’t want your preferences to affect your Google Search results, you can change your search settings.

Here’s a brief video with some basics about how to navigate Google +.  If you’re familiar with Facebook, you’ll recognize some of the functionalities …

With the power of Google behind it, it’s hard to see how anyone wanting to boost his or her presence on the web could NOT jump on the Google Plus bandwagon.  While there remain controversies about how Google Plus is embedded in Google search results, it seems clear that this is a social-networking tool that is going to stick around (unlike some earlier attempts by Google).

So, are you getting started with Google Plus?  Let’s connect there (here’s my page and my company page) and explore it together!

And are you interested in learning more about the Heart-Based Time Management™ Path?  Here’s one way that you can transform and deepen your relationship to time in the Heart-Based Way … I invite you to explore Secrets of Heart-Based Time Management™ – my chapter in the book I co-authored - Stepping Stones to Success!  In it I share my proven system for exploring and harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you deepen your experience of time and of your life.

As you work with the ideas I offer, you’ll explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them.  You can give yourself the gift of this wonderful resource today, and get started on your journey toward success, Stepping Stone by Stepping Stone …just click this link to get the details!

Let’s explore time together …

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with Google Plus, and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

Related articles

• Google’s Biggest Social Search Update Yet Features Google+ Content (hubspot.com)
• Social Search: Google to crawl Google+… and only Google+ (scienceintelligence.wordpress.com)
• Find Time to Share Using Google Circles and Google +1: Timely Tech Tips (thetimefinder.com)

We recently received an e-mail from TwAitter letting us know that they are soon replacing this tried and true friend with a new and improved social media tool called Gremln.  In addition to the functionalities that TwAitter provided (which Gremln continues to offer) this new tool, as described by Kyle Welborn in his post on Tech.li, provides “… web-based software for businesses to engage in social networks and calculate the return on investment for the time and money they spend doing it. In addition, Gremln provides a consumer sentiment tool to help businesses understand how people are talking about them on the web.”

One of the things that made TwAitter unique was that, as part of it’s free service, it allowed users to rotate and repeat their tweets. Other applications might provide a similar functionality – but we haven’t seen it offered for free elsewhere.

Repeating tweets is helpful, because Twitter, in particular, is a platform that people generally visit for brief periods.  If they aren’t on line when you happen to tweet, it’s likely that they will never see it … unless you tweet again.   I remember reading a post about this in Social Media Examiner where Dino Dogan wrote that, “Guy Kawasaki repeats his tweets four times with at least several hours in between. I repeat my tweets every few days but do not limit myself to four.”  So, for putting out information that is helpful to tweeple, we think this is a great capacity to use (not abuse)!

We are especially pleased to hear that, at this time at least, the plan for Gremln is to continue to offer the free service that TwAitter has provided, and to also offer an enhanced subscription service for businesses and power users.

Do you use a tool like TwAitter … or are you interested in taking a look at Gremln?  Here’s a quick video outlining Gremln’s features … and we’ll let you know when we get word that it’s gone live!

Maybe Gremln can help you simplify and amp up your social media efforts … and find more time for what matters most!

Are you interested in learning more about the Heart-Based Time Management™ Path?  Here’s one way that you can transform and deepen your relationship to time in the Heart-Based Way … I invite you to explore Secrets of Heart-Based Time Management™ – my chapter in the book I co-authored - Stepping Stones to Success!  In it I share my proven system for exploring and harnessing the power of your mind, your body and your spirit to help you deepen your experience of time and of your life.

As you work with the ideas I offer, you’ll explore your patterns, clarify your values, identify and prioritize your goals … and create your path for achieving them.  You can give yourself the gift of this wonderful resource today, and get started on your journey toward success, Stepping Stone by Stepping Stone …just click this link to get the details!

Let’s explore time together …

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with TwAitter or Gremln, and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

Related articles

• 10 Fundamental Tips for Social Media Community Managers (hubspot.com)
• The Social Media Rabbit Hole: How to Grow Your Networks And Manage Your Time (forbes.com)
• Find Time to Use Hashtags: Give Yourself a Powerful Boost on Twitter (thetimefinder.com)
• Find Time to Streamline Online: Have You Checked Out New Seesmic Web Yet? (thetimefinder.com)

That question came up for us here at The Time Finder, as we were looking at our annual stats and noticed quite a few of those spammy links appearing in our AWstats under “Links from an External Page.”  These were clearly links from sites that were not remotely related to time management of any sort.

After searching around on the web, we found that the short answer is No – we needn’t worry about these links – at least not now.

Here are two videos from Google on the subject – neither of which put up any big red flags:

and

Unfortunately, spammy links are likely to be a constant on the web.  But the good news is that, annoying as they are, those links should not harm your reputation or your SEO.

Want to learn more about optimizing your time and efforts, both on-line and off? Here’s a great way to explore avenues to increasing your time skills and heart-based power – whether it’s in your business, or your personal life.  I am so pleased to be able to offer my expertise and support as The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to “Time Management”.

You can visit by clicking the link, and when you do you’ll find lots of time management articles by experts in the field, along with a vibrant and welcoming on-line community. Stop by my Expert Page and leave a comment or question … or just say hello.  There are lots of ways to connect … I’d love to get started!

You may remember that I tend to be a paper person.  Not that long ago I carved out some time and worked hard to de-clutter my office, removing pound after pound of paper.  It was a great feeling – and an awful lot of work.

So, while I am not likely, myself, to go paperless, I was intrigued by the post “Why I Went Paperless” by Jamie Rubin when my VA shared it with me.  Jamie also has a companion piece on his blog, offering an update on his paperless process.  Jamie’s focus is on how Evernote can help with moving toward a paperless lifestyle; however, I would add that there are lots of other tools available (and constantly in development) that can also be used.

Many of the advantages of going paperless are self-evident.  It cuts down on clutter, may help reduce your carbon footprint, and can make it easier to find important documents.

However, finding time to move in a paperless direction necessitates making some fundamental changes in the ways that you work.  Jamie outlined his everyday process as follows:

1. Check the mailbox after work
2. Toss out the junk
3. If anything is left, determine if I need to scan it.
4. Scan to Evernote
5. Do I need to keep the original? If not, shred it, otherwise file it.
6. Check my paper inbox
7. Repeat steps 4-5

NOTE:  The “paper inbox” is a receptacle for any paper received during the course of the day that needs to be processed/decided about.

Here are the three time and productivity tips that I would suggest you try, as you think about going paperless.

• For starters, I suggest that you do an inventory of how you currently use and retain paper.  Are there paperless systems that you already have in place?  Do you have a repository of important documents already on your computer, for example?  You can build on this!
• Remember, if you decide to move in this direction, it isn’t something that you need to do all at once.  You will be making a significant lifestyle change.  Choose one area of your life where you would like to explore going paperless.  Maybe you have a recipe box that you’d like to be able to access and/or share more easily.  Or maybe you’d like to keep track of your tax bills or car repair invoices.  The possibilities are really endless … but the key here is to start small so that you don’t overwhelm yourself.
• While it’s very important to start small, as with any change, it’s also important to persist steadily.  The adage, “Practice makes perfect” applies here.  Keep at it, so that the processes you are putting into place become habitual.  This generally means sticking with it for at least 21-28 days.

BONUS TIP:  At the end of that time period, assess your progress and give yourself a big pat on the back.  Now you have more information and can decide whether you want to continue on your paperless path, and what you’d like to add to your digital cache!

And while I’m on the subject of finding time for making the most of your efforts toward less clutter and more efficiency, are you an entrepreneur, consultant, or small business owner who’s ready to take the next big step?

If you want to learn how to create and to keep a successful business running on your own, then this is for you! “How to Create Credibility as a Freelancer” is a booklet with 70 expert-proven tips that will help you recharge your energy and motivation, increase your visibility, and sharpen those vital organizational and time management skills.

Success is within your reach, so don’t wait, click this link and get started today!  http://bit.ly/FreelanceTips

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have no material connection with Evernote and have not received any compensation for writing this content.

Related articles

• Find Time to Clear Out the Clutter That Weighs You Down, Trips You Up and Holds You Back! (thetimefinder.com)
• Find Time to Transform Your Feelings About Time by Tuning in to the Words You Use to Describe It (thetimefinder.com)
• Find Time to Thrive with Flexible Focus-2 Timely Touchstones (thetimefinder.com)