Thursday, June 28, 2012

Job Opening: Online Marketing Manager

Do you want a job like mine? Where you work social media, write and edit blog posts and other content, and think of new cool ways to market your company?

We're hiring a Marketing Manager, and are looking for someone with experience in content marketing, email marketing and social media. If you think you fit the bill, write to me at unmanad at affinityexpress.com with your resume. Don't forget to include examples of blogs or websites or social media profiles you have managed or content you've written.

Here's the job description.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Have the Monsoons Arrived Yet?


May the monsoons always arrive on a weekend.

You will await the rains eagerly, hope for an end to the dry dusty heat.

On the Saturday, you will be excited to see the sky partly covered by grey clouds. You will suggest to your partner that you drive out and meet the rain.

When you drive out, it will start drizzling, and you will be hopeful and excited. But the few drops of water on your windshield will soon dry off.

But there is a nice breeze, and you have your window down end enjoy the weather and talk to your partner as he drives.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Commenting Changes

I've had requests and complaints from people who couldn't comment on my blog because I didn't allow anonymous comments. But each time I tried allowing them, a lot of spam got in. So I'm trying out Disqus for commenting, and I hope you'll try leaving a comment and tell me if you have any problems.

Thanks!

Edited to add: I hadn't realized all the older comments would disappear! I'm really sorry--I love getting comments from you. Hopefully they'll turn up again if I decide to discontinue Disqus. If you have an opinion either way, please say so!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Read This Book: Close, Too Close

I have always said that Chicu is an awesome writer, so when she told me her story was to appear in an anthology of queer erotica, I was very excited. And what a beautiful story it is. I liked it--and a story by Michael Malik G. about a gay narrator and his friendship with a young man--most of all the stories in the book.

And I might be biased, but you should all go read my review and then buy the book.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Mid-Week Reads: Fiction!

I'm glad no one noticed I missed this last week! I considered skipping this week too, but instead here's a short edition.

If you read Gone with the Wind, you have to read these texts from Scarlett O' Hara.

I loved this excerpt from When the Time is Right (by Buddhadeva Bose, newly translated by Arunava Sinha). The book went up on my Flipkart wishlist on the strength of that chapter. The next chapter is here.

These celebrities don't own a TV. I'm only surprised this is news (especially when some of those celebrities admit to watching movies on their computers or projectors). I don't have a TV and enough of my friends don't so that I don't think it's weird (and while I still spend some weekend evenings whining "I'm bored!" like I did when I was a little girl, on the whole I'm pretty happy with this).


Here are some of Cosmo's most ridiculous sex tips. You're welcome.


Monday, June 18, 2012

How To Not Do Email Marketing: A Primer

Step 1: Use an email service provider (a few popular ones are Constant Contact, Aweber, ExactTarget, iContact, RatePoint, and there are probably hundreds of others, for all budgets). Don't just send the email out from your mailbox--it makes you look cheap and tells me you're not serious about your marketing.

Step 2: Build a list the hard way, by asking for subscribers and by providing good reasons for people to subscribe. Don't spam people who don't know you and never asked for your emails.

Step 3: If you do spam people, do some research first. Don't send a "Daddy's Day" email to a blogger who has frequently written about her father's death. It's not likely to endear you to her.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Book Notes: Short Girls, Undressing the Moon, Husband and Wife, and My First V.I. Warshawski Novel


I've been reading some fantastic books lately, so if you're looking for reading matter, here's some I recommend. Let me start by saying the first three of these books were sent me by my awesome boss (who's so often referred to as such I'm hereby christening her AB). She has sent me some really interesting books (including Mockingbird), which I might not have come across otherwise.

Short Girls is about two sisters and the differences between them, as well as what binds them together. Van and Linny were born to first-generation immigrants from Vietnam, and therefore felt a little less normal than other American kids. The book works best because the characters feel very real. The chapters alternate between Van's viewpoint and Linny's, but I liked Linny--the rebel who tries to carve out her own life--so much more than Van, who's always tried to do what's been expected of her rather than figure out what she really wants. Linny just seems so much more interesting than Van, who always gets straight As and never rebels, even in teenage. (Also, as someone who did well in school but was still a rebel and a loudmouth at home, I somewhat resent the author's setting up these two archetypes. But well.)

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Mid-Week Reads: What Do You Want to Read?

I have been really tired lately and kept forgetting to save interesting stuff I read, so this is a short edition.

If you like this series, do drop a comment to tell me what kind of content you like most, out of these topics:
  1. Career
  2. Marketing and social media
  3. Gender issues
  4. Life tips (sleeping better, improving relationships etc.)
  5. Inspirational stories
  6. Humor
 Now on to it.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Any Women Entrepreneurs Out There?

Women's Web is doing a survey on women and entrepreneurship in India, so if you're a woman and an entrepreneur, or know anyone who is, please participate or pass it on!

Women's Web says:
The results of the survey would be shared freely on the Women's Web site. We feel such a study will be useful to entrepreneurs, women who want to start businesses as well as mentors, advisors and anybody who works with entrepreneurs. 
Please click here and respond to the survey. I think this is very interesting and can't wait for the results!