#BTSBH....Familial Trafficking: What kids can do

Bringing the Story Back Home Press Conference

5 ways to start a blog with $0

What is a blog? This is a question that I get asked by people who have never blogged or done any writing for the web. According to Google search, a blog is “a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.”

Webopedia defines it as “a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.”

Daily Blog Tips defines it as, “… a type of website, like a forum or a social bookmarking site. As such it is defined by the technical aspects and features around it, and not by the content published inside it.”

With these few definitions, I think you now understand what a blog is about. I will like you to know that blog is not just about writing personal content. It can also be used to write about or promote your work and other subjects that interest you.

The question I will like to answer here today are five ways that you can start a blog with $0 down, meaning, no financial commitment but just your time.

1. Blogger: Open a blogger account at www.blogger.com and start your blog. After setting it up, which is very simple, create your first post. If you are having trouble, there are lots of resources on Google. In fact, Blogger has a help section, where you can learn more about this platform. The good thing about using blogger is the fact that it is a google product, so you will enjoy the search engine optimization of your site. 
   
2. WordPress: Sign up for a WordPress account at www.wordpress.com. WordPress has some free templates that you can use for your blogs. The downside to having WordPress is that you have to really work hard to get your site optimized. You may have to buy some templates like the Genesis Framework to help you with your free WordPress site. So, as you can see, you may have to spend some money. But the purpose of this blog is to show you how not to spend a dime if you don’t have or don’t want to. 
   
3.  Facebook: Make use of your Facebook “Notes” page. The “Notes” page is designed for you to write a long entry. You can start your blog that way. The good news about that is the fact that you have a captive audience already. Your friends and your friend’s friend may see your blog entry. The bonus you get in addition is that, you can even get comments and shares really quickly. Smart Rebrander, wrote an in-depth article on Facebook “Notes” and how to use it. You can click on this link to read http://www.smartrebrander.com/Home/VisitourBlog/tabid/139/entryid/87/How-to-Use-The-Notes-Application-on-a-Facebook-Page-as-Your-Blog.aspx. 
   
4. Instagram: Start using your Instagram as a blog site. Instagram is set up for pictures, so it is a bonus for you if image has a lot to do with your blogs. You have the luxury of using unlimited characters under your image description. So, what are you waiting for, turn it to your blog and use pictures. Picture is one of the ways that makes blogs popular, so take advantage of this free platform to starting “Photo blogging.”  According to Instagram, there are 300 million active users on the platform. Classifying the platform into three unique elements – engaged community, a visual medium, and a beautiful environment, Instagram stated, “Instagrammers are passionate about the platform and their love for amazing imagery. You'll reach people who are open to new perspectives. Instagram's simple design allows captivating visuals to take center stage. Each image or video fills the screen with nothing to clutter the experience. On Instagram your brand's story will be surrounded by other beautiful content in a creative and inspiring environment.” 
   
5.  YouTube: Open a YouTube account. There are so many people using YouTube for personal or business communications. That is another interesting way that you can start your blog without a penny commitment. Plus, you can share your video on other platforms and you can get subscribers.
   

Do you know any other way that a person can start blogging without paying a dime? Share your comments below.

Thanks for reading, until next time.

Imprisoned Book Reading: Chapter 1

Follow me as I read Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim for the first time via live broadcast on Periscope.
Download the app here. Also if you're on a desktop, just go to the @bukolaoriola twitter feed and click on the link. Better still, you can search for Bukola Oriola on Periscope to follow me.
Once you do that, you can view directly from the desktop.

When you get a notification, I am doing a live broadcast, check in and chat with me!

You can ask questions or leave comments during the live broadcast.You can leave your questions or comments below. If you need help or know anyone that needs help, you can get help by contacting The Enitan Story.

The Surgery: Wasn’t as bad as I thought

This is the fourth of my oral surgery experience. I started writing about this four days ago. My goal is to encourage you to help someone who may be in dental dilemma.

More so, I hope that you can pay a visit to the dentist for check up. I have learned that it is not until you have pain that you need to go to the dentist.

In fact you need to visit the dentist at least once or twice a year for dental cleaning. It is for your total health.

Below is the first paragraph of the fourth story.

When I was making the appointment with the urgent care clinic, I was asked to come in early because it was on a first come, first serve basis. Grandma Annette and Grandpa Jim picked me up one hour early for a thirty minutes’ drive. We arrived at the clinic on time and I checked in. I was called in and was given a pair of safety glasses to put on. The nurse, Christy (I think) examined my mouth and said, “I think you have to go to the other side of the hall to do a procedure. We can’t take out the tooth.” I told her that I was supposed to have two teeth extracted – number 31 and 32.

You can read the rest of the story by following the link http://bukolaoriola.com/2015/07/01/the-surgery-wasnt-as-bad-as-i-thought/

Thanks.

Bukola

Getting into live broadcast with Periscope

This is my first live broadcast to be shared on Periscope. Periscope is a Twitter app that lets you broadcast live as if it's a live show or football game.

I learned about it when two of the pages I follow on Facebook shared about Periscope. As a curious entrepreneur and marketer, I decided to find out more. I learned how to sign up and did. As you can see, this is one of the live broadcasts that O have made through Periscope.

If you have something to share with the world, I will encourage you to join. If you think that you don't have anything to share or are shy, I will encourage you to join by following me and some other broadcasters so that you can learn or be inspired.

See you on Periscope.

The Consultation, cry baby, I want my teeth

Taking vital signs

Thanks for following my oral surgery story. If you are just finding out about it from this post, you may want to check other articles to give you the full story.

This is the third of a four-part story I wrote about my recent experience with oral surgery. I wanted to share it hoping it may be helpful to someone else.

I must confess that it was a scary one year experience but I made it through.

Now to the third part. Read the opening paragraph below.

I thought my appointment will be to take the teeth out and be over with it. Little did I know that it was just a consultation session. I had been told to come with my insurance card, photo identification, and disc with my dental referral. I was checked in at my appointment and when I got on the dental bed, I was made to watch a video about dental surgery. The video showed the patient what to expect during such a complicated procedure. And, it was scary.

Read the rest of the story on my website, http://bukolaoriola.com/2015/06/30/the-consultation-cry-baby-i-want-my-teeth/

Talk to you soon.

Bukola

The teeth cleaning, chopping, sharpening tools, scary experience

Now, part two of my oral surgery experience is now ready for your reading. This part of the story was not fun. Like I wrote in the article, it felt like volcanic eruption in my mouth at the end of my visit with the dental hygienist.
I hope that you will make it a point of duty to visit the dentist if you have never been to the dentist. You don't have to let pain take you to the dental clinic like me as you have already found out if you read the first part of this article entitled Dental Death Sentence.

Below is the opening paragraph.

The end of this session felt like volcanic eruption in my mouth. However, I must say that my hygienist welcomed me with a smile when I arrived at my teeth cleaning session. However, little did I know that it will be a session that will be almost an hour long. More so, it was a traumatic experience. I don’t remember if she asked me to take off my earrings, however, I asked if I could leave my sunglasses on. Luckily, I had pink eye when I went in. I was not afraid or guilty of going to the clinic with pink eye because I assumed the clinic is the safest place to go with any kind of disease or infection.

You can click on this link to read the entire story on my website http://bukolaoriola.com/2015/06/29/the-teeth-cleaning-chopping-sharpening-tools-scary-experience/

About Dental Death Sentence

The compulsory video to watch on oral surgery

The article, Dental Death Sentence is an article about my experience with oral surgery. I had just gone through the procedure about a week ago. 

I have also put it together in short pieces in other to make it a fun reading for you. Below is the opening paragraph of the first part of the article.

When I was diagnosed to have teeth and not just tooth extraction, it was like receiving a death sentence. I had gone for physical and at my appointment, I had told my doctor that I was having tooth ache. She referred me to the dental clinic. At the dental appointment, the female dentist examined my teeth and told me that one of my wisdom teeth did not grow well and that it had affected the tooth beside it. She said the only option was extraction of both teeth. Worse still, she was not competent enough to do such a complicated extraction.

You can read the rest of the article on my website http://bukolaoriola.com/2015/06/28/dental-death-sentence/

Leave your comments and question. Have you had oral surgery? What was your experience.

It's the 2nd Annual Taste For Hope Fundraiser

The first was an awesome event. The second is here already. It's the 2nd Annual Taste for Hope Fundraiser. A benefit to support victims and survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse through The Enitan Story.

The event will take place at the United Methodist Church of Anoka, 850 South Street, Anoka, MN 55303 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The Enitan Story is a local nonprofit organization with a mission to advocate for victims and empower survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. Since its inception in August 2013, the organization has provided direct services through emergency funds, immigration specified medical with civil surgeon, ethnic food, survivor empowerment training, and referral to other organizations within and outside the state of Minnesota.

I hope that you can join me at this event to support a worthy cause - human trafficking and domestic abuse prevention, rescue for victims, and empowerment for survivors.

To support, you can give your tax deductible donations to The Enitan Story  or buy a ticket for yourself or a group of eight.

Hope to see you there. It's a night of Live music and food tasting from across the world.