Best European Cities to Visit in 2016

Europe is a fabulous, bustling continent, full of culture, quirkiness and charisma. It is home to many extraordinary countries with fantastic cities that you simply cannot miss out on.
Europe and Asia meet in Istanbul, this year's #3 Travelers' Choice Destination in the World, where breathtaking ancient architecture coexists with modern restaurants and nightlife. The city's mosques, bazaars, and hammams (Turkish baths) could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip. Start with the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), visible from many points of the city. Stroll the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniaturk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to browse, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits.

10. Berlin, Germany.

This city has been underrated because of the disputes Germany has had, but rest assured, the city is one not to be missed. The hot summers and freezing cold winters attract many a tourist but the city itself is the main attraction. From the Berlin Wall to the Brandenburg Gate, the story of Germany is beautifully carved into the architecture of this marvellous city. The nightlife is a big hit with tourists as well, causing quite a stir across Europe. Berlin is simply unmissable for travellers of all ages.

9. Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Danish capital is definitely a great destination for the typical traveller. The old style city is beautiful, complete with a picturesque coastal view of the quaint little city, renowned worldwide for its beauty, tranquility and serenity. Copenhagen is bursting full of gorgeous gardens and intriguing castles, but it is the historical mysteries the really puts this city on the map. The Danes are home to some fantastic museums, monuments and architectural delights to interest everyone. From The Little Mermaid to the Nyhavn, Copenhagen is not to be overlooked.

8. London, England.

The British capital is an energetic, hyper active city, full of lights and laughter. You can enjoy shopping experiences that are unforgettable with the likes of Oxford Street fulfilling all your dreams. Buckingham Palace is a fab view for all the monarchy lovers while the Tower of London is a great place for anyone wanting a frightening history class. The traditional English food with afternoon tea is a hilarious experience for any foreign traveller. From the fashion industry to the blissful reality that is London, you will be sure to love your English adventure.

7. Athens, Greece.

This beautiful city is a superb city for any new traveler. It hosts a wide range of things to do, especially if you love history, like me. From the Parthenon to the Acropolis, the ancient Greeks were centuries ahead of their time and their wondrous architecture still stands today. Tours of the city are common as well with taxis and shuttle buses being the main means of transport. For the more traditional travelers, there is a wide range of stunning beaches to visit and soak up the sun. Greece is a travelers must.

6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Dutch capital is bursting full of character, charm and beauty. From cycles along the colourful streets to a ride along the canal, it truly is a gorgeous city. You can explore wonders such as the Anne Frank House to the Vondelpark and beyond. This vibrant, quirky city has to be a hit with any traveller. The Rijksmuseum is a fantastic opportunity to submerse yourself in an interesting history lesson while the Artis Zoo is fantastic experience for everyone. Amsterdam is top of the class in best European cities.

5. Dublin, Ireland.

The Irish capital is a fantastic city, full of fun and laughter. It is full of exciting things to do, especially for the pub-goers from hundreds of puns to a tour around the Guinness factory. The streets are packed full of vibrant music from buskers and is stuffed full of great items for all the family. The city hosts lots of fabulous restaurants for you to enjoy which a classy view of the River Liffey. The Irish will charm you into one of the best holidays of your life.

4. Paris, France.

This marvellous city has been a hit in Europe for centuries. From the towering Eiffel Tower, to the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe, Paris is a city full of surprises around every corner. The French are famed for this fabulous food and womanising attitude and is a must for anybody wanting to go on a romantic break. Sitting on the river Seine, Paris is one of the most breath-taking cities Europe has on display, and it must be a first on your European road trip.

3. Budapest, Hungary.

The Hungarian capital has become increasingly popular in recent years, with its natural charm and historical significance making it a must for any interested traveller. The old city vibe is swarming in this magical city. From historical buildings and museums to fun tours on bicycles and Segways, there’s a side to Budapest that everyone can explore. It has been made very prominent to in recent times after George Ezra’s hit song ‘Budapest’. The many speciality museums are becoming a hit with travellers as you can now explore what it was like living in a Jewish country during World War Two. This marvellous city has so much to offer and has to be a must in everyone’s bucket list.

2. Rome, Italy.

Italy’s capital is home to some of the most brilliant wonders Europe has to offer from fantastic food to amazing architectural wonders to the cheeky Italian charm, there is a Rome for everybody. Rome has been cited as they most beautiful European city, which also hosts the world’s smallest nation, the Vatican City. From the amazing Colosseum and Pantheon to the many churches and tours, this city is a place you have to visit.

1. Kraków, Poland.

Poland’s hidden gem is one of the greatest cities ever to appear. This amazing city is a must for any traveller, of all ages. From the dazzling Main Square, complete with St. Mary’s Basilica to the enormous shopping malls, it truly is spectacular. The quaint little streets offer many fun items and there are tours in the city and to places like the notorious Nazi camp, Auschwitz. This astonishing city is one of the best Europe has to offer with its vibrant personality and illustrated history. Kraków, in one word, is majestic.

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Prettiest Towns in United States

These beautiful towns are not only thriving economically, they’ve also got all you could want in a place to raise a family: plenty of green space, good schools, and a strong sense of community.

 

10. Edgartown, Massachusetts

 

Edgartown is a town located on Martha’s Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the county seat of Dukes County. Widely known as an exclusive enclave for the affluent and famous, the island is at its most charming in Edgartown, the largest and most expensive community on the Vineyard. Meticulously maintained Victorian sea captains’ houses and a beguiling collection of shops and galleries sit near the harbor. “Stroll about its manicured streets with some home-made ice cream from Mad Martha’s (a local institution since 1971) and you’ve got the makings of a perfect day,” says Arabella Bowen, executive editorial director at Fodor’s.

9. Key West, Florida

Closer to Cuba than it is to the mainland United States, Key West exudes a laid-back and casual vibe that is different than almost any other town in the country. It’s a place that marches to its own (usually steel) drummer. Take the kids dolphin-spotting, charter a boat to snag a marlin, or just relax on the beach beside crystal blue waters. And getting there is half the fun: the 127-mile Overseas Highway is the only road in or out to the mainland, and there’s no road in the country like it. If that’s not enough, Key West is also home to the only National Park that is accessible only by boat, Dry Tortugas National Park, where the snorkeling, diving, or just exploring are unparalleled.

8. Longview, Washington

 

Not even the port industry that clusters around the Lewis and Clark bridge can block the scenery of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most charming towns. “It is one of the only, if not the only planned community in the west at the time,” says Foster Church of “Discovering Main Street: Travel Adventures in Small Towns of the Northwest. “It was planned by a wealthy lumber magnate who decided to build two lumber mills in this location because it was close to the Columbia River.” He needed 14,000 workers to help run his two mills, so in 1921, he built a city that could house up to 50,000 people. Today, the town retains its old town lumber mill feel, and is home to the well-planned but serene beauty of Lake Sacajawea Park, which Foster says is “one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever seen.”

7. Athens, Georgia

 

A university town that enjoyed a small measure of renown in the ‘80s and ‘90s, thanks to a fertile music scene which gave birth to the B-52s and R.E.M., among others. Athens is earning a more recent reputation as a post-industrial success story. Old factories have been rehabilitated and now house galleries and boutiques, but though the manufacturing may have left, the town still holds onto its identity with pride. “It has kept ruthless development at a minimum,” says Jason Cochran, editor-in-chief of Frommer’s.com. “You can still find avenues of those stately old Georgia mansions that the best towns retain. So you’ve got this vibrant blend of slouching red-brick warehouses and bold Greek Revival mansions.”

6. Tarrytown, New York

 

Tarrytown’s rich history, including being a throughway on the Underground Railroad, name-dropped by Washington Irving in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and, later, one of the preferred Upstate getaways for New York’s rich and powerful, is visible wherever you go in this Hudson River-side town. Lyndhurst, the widely-regarded robber baron Jay Gould’s castle-like mansion in town, is toured by throngs of visitors every year. The town has played host to recreational and cultural options aplenty, including the famous (and former, running from 1971 to 2006) Tarrytown Film Festival, which was more of a film salon hosted by noted ‘70s and ‘80s film critic, Judith Crist.

5. Fort Benton, Montana

 

Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established in 1846, a full generation before the U.S. Civil War, Fort Benton is one of the oldest settlements in the American West. Founded as a fur-trading post in 1847, the town flourished well into the 1860s, when the Gold Rush cash was flowing back eastward. The railroad would eventually put the brakes on the town’s growth, however, but not before Fort Benton earned a reputation as the sort of place where disagreements were regularly settled with sidearms. “Jesse James and all the other characters used to have shoot-outs on these streets and you can relive it all on Main Street today,” says Andrew Evans, National Geographic Traveler’s Digital Nomad.

4. Breckenridge, Colorado

 

In a state known for its charming alpine ski towns, Breckenridge stands out both for its stunning vistas, charming streets, family-friendly vibe and – most importantly, for many visitors – unsurpassed proximity to a wide variety of world-class ski options. With giant peaks, more than 150 trails, North America’s highest chairlift, and a wide variety of options for everyone from the shakiest of beginners to the most jaded back-country daredevils, Breck really does have something for everyone. Though the town really comes to life from November through early April, there’s still a lot to do during the warmer months, from hiking to fishing to mountain biking.

3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

 

With its charming, quaint old buildings in the centre of town, its dramatic mountain backdrop and the only ski resort in Tennessee, Gatlinburg has become a popular tourist destination for regional fun-seekers. Located on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg benefits from its location as a tourist draw and reinforces it with attractions such as an aerial tramway, an aquarium, white-water rafting, hiking, and even a haunted house. But let’s not kid ourselves: as pretty and irresistible the town is, the real draw in this part of Tennessee is the nature. “The wildflowers around Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are absolutely spectacular in the spring as they burst with wild-flowers at their peak,” says Zain Habboo, National Geographic’s director of travel.

2. Camden, Maine

 

Camden is a famous summer colony in the Mid-Coast region of Maine. Similar to Bar Harbor, Nantucket and North Haven, Camden is well known for its summer community of wealthy Northeasterners, mostly from Boston, New York and Philadelphia. “It’s like a movie set. In fact, it has often been a movie set.” Camden retains a certain salty grit and allows more of its working-class roots to show — though, like many New England seaside villages, the residents are more likely to be affluent these days. “Where the mountains meet the sea,” boasts the town, and indeed one of the best ways to see Camden is from a perch high above the harbor on nearby Mt. Battie. The white sailboats pepper the water in Penobscot Bay, and the waterside seafood beckons. Visit during September’s peak leaf season for an autumnal fireworks display of reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.

1. Newport, Rhode Island

 

Known for being the city of some of the “Summer White Houses”. Like a town stuck in time but with the occasional hole in the space-time continuum to allow for modern touches, Newport, with its stunning harbor and bevy of old homes, is the quintessential New England town. Newport’s fame began as a 19th century summertime visitors’ magnet of a town, and it still reliably draws in clusters of visitors, both for the daytime shopping, eating, and sightseeing options. At night, one of the town’s many music festivals or varied collection of bars draws in local students and stalwart party goers for good times that can run late and loud. But the town itself is chief among American small towns in the category of most well-preserved colonial homes and Gilded-Age mansions – a testimony to its tony residential reputation, and to its history as the summer destination of choice from 1953 until around 1963. It is also the location of an important collection of naval training centres.

Sources Forbes &  realestate.msn

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How to Meditate: 10 Important Tips

Here are some simple tips on how to meditate.
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1. Posture

Whether you sit on a chair or cross-legged on the floor, make sure that your spine is upright with head up. If you are slumped your mind will drift. Mind and body are intertwined. If your body is well-balanced, your mind will also be in balance. To straighten up, imagine that your head is touching the sky.

2. Eyes

Try and keep you eyes open. Open eyes allow you to be more present. Just lower your eyes and let your gaze be soft. If you close your eyes you will be more likely to drift away on thoughts and stories. However, it’s important to do what is comfortable for you. Some people find closing their eyes much more effective. It’s good to experiment and see what feels best for you.

2. Focus

In ordinary consciousness we are hardly ever present. For example, sometimes we drive the car on autopilot while being preoccupied with thoughts. Suddenly we arrive at our destination and don’t remember anything about the drive!
So, meditation is a wonderful way of waking up to our life. Otherwise we miss most of our experiences because we are somewhere else in our mind! Let’s take a look at what focus is. In ordinary life, we tend to equate focus with concentration. That’s like using the mind like a concentrated beam of light. But in meditation, that kind of mind isn’t helpful. It’s too sharp and edgy. To focus in meditation means to pay soft attention to whatever you place in the centre of awareness. I suggest using the breath as a focus. It’s like a natural door that connects ‘inside’ and ‘outside’. Zen Master Toni Packer says:

Attention comes from nowhere. It has no cause. It belongs to no one

3. The breath

Paying attention to the breath is a great way to anchor yourself in the present moment.
Notice your breath streaming in and out. There’s no need to regulate the breath – just let it be natural.

4. Counting you breath

If you are having difficulties settling, you can try counting the breath – which is an ancient meditation practice. On your outbreath, silently count “one”, then “two”, and up to “four”. Then return to “one”. Whenever you notice your thoughts have strayed far away or you find yourself counting “thirty-three”, simply return to “one”. In this way, “one” is like coming home to the present moment. It’s good to return without a backward glance.

5. Thoughts

When you notice thoughts, gently let them go by returning yous focus to the breath. Don’t try to stop thoughts; this will just make you feel agitated. Imagine that they are unwelcome visitors at your door: acknowledge their presence and politely ask them to leave. Then shine the soft light of your attention on your breath.

6. Emotions

It’s difficult to settle into meditation if you are struggling with strong emotions. This is because some emotions tend to breed stories in the mind. Especially anger, shame and fear create stories that repeat over and over in the mind. Anger and shame make us keep looking at past events of the past. Fear looks at the future with stories that start with, “What if…”
The way to deal with strong emotions in meditation is to focus on the body feelings that accompany the emotion. For example, this could be the tight band of fear around the chest or the hot roiling of anger in the belly. Let go of the stories and refocus on your body. In this way you are honouring your emotions but not becoming entangled in stories.

7. Silence

Silence is healing. I know that there are is a lot of ‘meditation music’ around, but nothing beats simple silence. Otherwise the music or sounds on the tape just drown out the chatter in your mind. When we sit in silence we actually get to experience what our mind is doing. There is steadiness and calmness that comes from sitting in silence. In time outer and inner silence meet and you come to rest in the moment.

8. Length

Start with 10 minutes and only sit longer if you feel the length is too short. Don’t force yourself to meditate longer if you are not ready to do that. In time you might like to extend your meditation to 25 minutes. That’s a length that allows you to settle your mind without causing too much stress on your body. Most importantly, shrug off any ‘shoulds’. Some people enjoy sitting for an hour at a time. Others find that they can’t sit longer than 10 minutes. Do what feels right for you!

9. Place

It’s lovely to create a special place to sit. You can even make a shrine or an altar that you can face when you sit in meditation. You might like to place a candle on your altar and objects that have meaning to you. It’s lovely to find objects for your altar as you walk. Maybe you find stones, or seashells, or flowers that speak to you.

10. Enjoyment

Most of all, it’s important to enjoy meditation. You might like to try sitting with a hint of a smile. Be kind to yourself. Start sitting just a little each day.

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Top 10 Education Tech Blogs

1. The Innovative Educator

If you have ever felt that school was boring or irrelevant, the Innovative Educator, Lisa Nielson, understands how you feel. Motivated by her own disillusionment with the way public schools today approach teaching, Nielson focuses on showing other educators ways that they can use freely available resources and technologies already within students’ grasps to make classes more engaging and relevant. Not only does Nielson deal with broad ideas about technology in the classroom, but also the nitty gritty details of implementation, so that teachers will be able to use her ideas without having to struggle against a budget process or other restrictions.

2. The Daring Librarian

Gwyneth Jones, the Daring Librarian herself, knows that librarians can have lots of fun. Approaching ed-tech with a sense of humor and plenty of Vines and cartoons to illustrate her stories, Jones writes a blog that entertains as it informs. Not only does she provide plenty of excellent content on new apps and ideas on how to use everyday websites as learning opportunities, but also a good measure of fun stories that will have you laughing out loud.

3. EdTech RoundUp

With weekly posts on the state of technology in education, EdTech RoundUp is the best place to go to find out the latest news related to education tech. The comprehensive coverage of news and recently released apps and devices allows you to find out the latest happenings in just one place every week. While this blog may not have as many original ideas as some other blogs in the field, the RoundUp provides you with the best place to keep informed on progress in the field.

4. Edudemic

Easily the largest hub for education content out there, Edudemic provides teachers with advice, ideas, and lesson plans to better integrate technology in the classroom. While a visit to this site may be a bit overwhelming at first due to the sheer amount of attention-grabbing content, you will always be able to find new ideas that make your visit worth your time.

5. MindShift

When you are tired of reading the same ideas over and over again written in different words on different blogs, head over to MindShift for something unique. Focusing on slightly edgier, more fringe topics within the educational technology field, MindShift opens your eyes to totally new ideas. With its wide scope and its dedication to sharing all unique opinions on education, MindShift will give you plenty to talk about with your colleagues.

6. Free Technology 4 Teachers

While ideas are great, implementation remains the biggest challenge for many teachers. A lack of resources and tools plagues many schools, making it more difficult to use technology in the classroom. Richard Byrne addresses this in his blog, Free Technology 4 Teachers. His well-organized site is a treasure trove of free apps, software, videos, and graphics that teachers can use in the classroom right away. Practical and clear, Byrne gives suggestions that even the least tech-savvy teacher can use.

7. Cycles of Learning

Who doesn’t like a good life hack? Ramsay Musallam recognized how useful hacks could be in classrooms, so he set up Cycles of Learning to share practical education tech hacks to make teachers’ lives just a bit easier. Once you see his TED Talk on sparking learning, you won’t be able to get enough of his content. By focusing on simple ways to inspire real learning in students using technology in the classroom, Musallam shows us that even learning can be hacked.

8. Edutopia

Hosted by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia has plenty of well-indexed information on how technology can be used in classrooms. Since information is filed by age group and topic, teachers can easily get practical ideas that are relevant to their current curriculum without wading through lots of ideas that won’t quite work for their individual situations. With plenty of videos and fun quizzes, Edutopia can be a fun place to browse even if you aren’t looking for anything specific. Make sure to click on their “Trending Topics” section to find out what the hottest topics are currently in education technology.

9. Steve Hargadon

Don’t let the simple design and lack of flash fool you; Steve Hargadon’s blog provides plenty of worthwhile current information on educational technologies. A true ed-tech leader, Hargadon is the director of the Web 2.0 Labs, host of the Future of Education interview series, chair of the Social Learning Summit and the Learning 2.0 Conference, and co-chair of the annual Global Education and Library 2.0 worldwide conferences. As Hargadon is one of the top experts on educational technology, you can be assured that reading his blog will give you plenty of innovative ideas.

10. My Paperless Classroom

Sam Patterson, K-5 tech integration specialist, talks about his own experiences trying to implement tech ideas in classes in My Paperless Classroom. Not only does Patterson have some excellent ideas on how to effectively use technologies less commonly allowed in classes, including MineCraft worlds, toys, and video games, but he also candidly reveals some of the challenges and pitfalls of these technologies. Be prepared to learn what tech integration really means in the classroom.

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Post Ideas That Will Make Your Blog Famous

 #1 Run a contest –on this site before, and all I can say is that it gives great attention and new traffic to your blog.

#2 Review books/products/films – Reviews deliver a lot of value to your followers, and people are constantly looking for honest opinions, not the fake ones that the web is full of.

#3 Make comprehensive guide/tutorial – If you’re a professional in a field or know some topics extra well, feel free to help the ones who have less skills and experience than you do. Tutorials and guides provide a lot of value, which can help drive traffic and convert followers. As an experienced blogger.

#4 Interview someone – Know any celebrities or people who have great stories behind their work/life/career? Interviews are extremely popular in two cases: a) you deliver an interview with a famous person who rarely speaks in public or b) your shares rally insanely useful and practical tips and content.

#5 Post a cool infographic – Infographics help to visualize complicated data, and they’re hugely popular these days. As always, when something becomes mainstream, the overall quality is poor. So, if you’re not a designer, hire one to get a viral infographic that stands out from the crowd.

#6 Criticize a website/blog or a person – The web and blogs are great for discussion, opinions and criticizing. Nevertheless, if you are brave enough to say some crispy words about someone, make sure your text has strong arguments and is based on real facts. Random ranting is pointless.

#7 Make a post full of GIFs – GIFs are the symbol of online entertainment and humor. There are thousands of GIFs and generators that help to produce new ones.


#8 Create a photo post – Share your favorite photos from your niche or personal photos from your latest traveling adventure. Keep in mind that if you’re not the author, you should always give credit to the original photographer by providing a link.

#9 Tell a personal secret – We all have our dreams as well as secrets. Sharing them publicly gives very engaging content to the followers. As much as people love rumors, they love to know the dirty little secrets of other people.

#10 Write inspirational/motivational post with famous quotes – People need little kicks to get going and get things done. Big things start from small ones, and motivational posts can do miracles. Here’s one of the best quotes from Steve Jobs: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else´s life.

#11 Share recent travel experiences – Travel blogs and posts are popular, and there are people who earn a living solely from writing about their adventures. Sharing inspiration and tips from your adventures is very useful to your audience, whether you’re in the travel industry or not. In case you haven’t traveled for a while, publish the best or worst experiences you’ve had in certain countries/airline companies/etc.

#12 Host a giveaway – Have you ever thought why products like GoPro become more and more popular with each day? They do giveaway campaigns regularly. People love free stuff, and taking advantage of that helps you reach new audiences.

#13 Write down a conspiracy theory – Have you heard about all the number theories behind important events and people? Now it’s time to start a new one; let your imagination free, or simply share you opinions about the known ones.

#14 Show log files of intense conversations – Who doesn’t like to read log-files that are somewhat offensive?

#15 Write a short story – No previous experience with writing fiction? Publish your short story (about 200 – 500 words), and ask your followers for feedback.

#16 Sing a song – Great artists and singers are not born overnight. First, they’ll have to discover their talent. Find your new hobby or passion in music.

#17 Create a list of something – People are lazy. They don’t want to waste time on searching and gathering information. That’s the reason why lists are popular. Create a TOP10, or better yet, a TOP100 list. Lists of movies, books, influential people, or any other topic can easily generate buzz.

#18 Write down all the thoughts you had in mind today – This is pretty mindf*#?, but if you are bored, then you can try this method as well.

#19 Share your goals/dreams publicly – Write down all your goals for the current year or dreams where you want to be in 5 years time. It gives nice pressure and motivation to achieve the goals, and it will excite your loyal followers.

#20 Make a link carnival and ask others to join – All sorts of link carnivals and linky parties are becoming very popular.

#21 Announce that you’ve turned the comments into “do-follow” so you can get more comments – You will probably get 50% more comments in that way. However, the downside of this technique is that you might receive a lot of “spam” blog comments as well. Comment Luv is a great plugin to start with.

#22 Build your to-do list – There are many to-do list apps and services, but try to publish your tasks on your blog. Other people will have the opportunity to learn from you. How you build your tasks, how broad or narrow they are, etc. can all be helpful to your audience.

#23 Write a post in response to some recent post/news –
 In other words, become an opinion blogger or analyst. When you manage to write high-level content on hot topics, your blog can be featured on major newspapers and websites.

#24 Make a full case study about something – We covered tutorials already, but case studies reveal what you’ve done, how you’ve done it, and what the results are. This is extremely interesting for many folks, especially for me.

#25 Share your favorite blogs/bloggers in one post – It’s a bit similar to “Make a list” idea, but sharing the blogs and bloggers you follow is never a bad idea. Give the resources to your readers; believe me, they are grateful and won’t stop following you.

#26 Invite your readers to submit guest posts – Are you struggling with new posts or have to leave for some time? Ask people to write guest posts. It’s a win-win situation; you get the content, and they can build up their name or brand.

#27 Publish the best comments that your blog has received throughout the history – Are you using a vote system on your comments or just know the posts where some comments have raised very fruitful discussions? Share them in a separate post.

#28 Share your blogs income + traffic numbers – Prove that a blog in your niche can have reasonable traffic numbers and maybe even be profitable. Bring Google Analytics data to daylight and it’s very nice if you provided some analysis in important points, for example a major change in traffic numbers etc. 

#29 Tell a joke – That’s pretty straight forward. Humor never gets old, and great jokes are really entertaining.

#30 Bust a myth – There are thousands of well-known things that actually are not true. In other words, they’re called myths. Take some time and do some research to disprove some of them. If your follower love it, feel free to become a MythBuster.

#31 Produce or publish your art – Online galleries and portfolios look cool and can be the first step to the world for artists. So publish your paintings, comics, graphical design masterpieces, and other creations as well.

#32 Publish a post about your success and epic failures – Being successful means making mistakes (or in other words: failing). But failing is not all bad. It’s a learning experience that allows you to be better the next time. So, that’s the reason why you should talk publicly about your success and failures, to let others learn from it.

#33 Ask your readers to tweet, like, and share the posts they like – Spreading the word about your blog or posts is important, but sometimes people need a little extra kick to do that, so write a post for that.

#34 Start a poll – That’s simple. Want to know what other people prefer or think about a certain topic? Start a poll to get quick overview.

#35 Write a post about things you regret doing/not doing – When you surf around Quora or Yahoo Answers, you’ll find many very popular topics and posts about the things people regret doing and not doing. Try to write down your own list.

#36 Pose a rhetorical question in your blog post – This blog post idea is similar to posting random quotes just to produce some content, but it can really spark a discussion, even if the question is rhetorical.

#37 Post a picture that speaks more than thousand words – Sometimes you can and SHOULD post images that tell us a story. It does not only grab attention and increase your visitors average time spent on the blog, but it’s also extremely interesting. 

#38 Publish some little or unknown facts – The Internet and different encyclopedias are full of facts, some of them really random. For example “Did you know that the pink/red/white color of flamingos comes from the food they eat?” You can gather those facts in your own post to generate buzz.

#39 Publish an In Memorian post – It’s polite to commemorate the people who pass away.

#40 Bring out the most important dates in history – Pick a country/war/invention/company, and write down the important dates of it. People love to get general but detailed overviews.

#41 Tell about your latest event experiences – Visited a concert or a festival lately? Write a review about it.

#42 Publish your CV online – Show your previous experience and the things you are good at. You might get a job offer for doing that.

#43 Post an obvious lie – You can turn things upside down when you tell an obvious lie inside your blog post. People might get mad at you, but that doesn’t matter.

#44 Write where you’d like to travel – … and encourage others to do the same in your comments. This kind of conversations usually turns out pretty big.

#45 Blog about marketing secrets – Tell your readers about your top secret strategies, techniques, and tactics you use to get more followers and traffic.

#46 Write about the most important lessons you’ve learned in your life – What is more kind than helping others and analyzing yourself at the same time?

#47 Tell your readers what they should do to succeed – Create a blog post that explains your readers what they should do in order to become successful as you are.

#48 Do a video post about your day – Let your readers see about your daily life. For me, it’s extremely interesting, but you also need to have some courage to do that. In either way, it’s up to you.

#49 Show off your personal stuff; car(s), house, accessories – This is something that creates many different opinions among your readers. Don’t be scared to show your stuff. It can also turn out as a motivational blog post from someone who doesn’t own those kind of things.

#50 Build a list – Build a list of your readers. You can use Aweber or Mailchimp for that; in that way you can inform your readers about the new posts you’ve made.

#51 Create a blog post about your bad habits – Smoking, alcohol, drugs. Tell them something shocking!

#52 Offer free help in your industry to get new contacts – Free help gives you great reputation and people will start sharing your blog more often as well as suggesting to their friends. It helps to grow into a branded expert.

#53 Research and analyze a topic in your industry – Well written and analyzed posts get great attention. Invest time and grow your followers by that. Many professional bloggers write one post for more than 12 working hours, they invest a lot of time to produce perfect posts.

#54 Answer to every single comment personally – Make your readers feel special and honored. It takes only a couple of minutes to answer them personally but you can get new friends, co-authors or even business partners.

#55 Write a longer “About Me” post – Classical About Me posts are a couple of lines but introduce yourself more and write a longer one. People like to know what’s the background of the content they’re reading but they usually don’t have time to check LinkedIn accounts or just Google the name.

#56 Create a post that utilizes a bar chart or pie chart – Infographics is one of the hottest keywords in the web industry. Visualizing data makes it easier to read, gather interesting data and build charts!

#57 Write down your monthly personal budget and expenses – You can document what ever costs you like. Take your website and show how many dollars you’ve spent on it and also show the income/revenue side of it. Additionally, you can use the same model on your family budget.

#58 Participate in reciprocal guest blogging – Talk to your followers and look for people who’d like to write you a guest post and you’ll write one by yourself.\

#59 Post linkbait – Don’t know what linkbait is? Have a look at here:
#60 Make a post about your most popular posts – Gather the data behind the most popular posts (traffic, shares and comments) and write them down in a single post.

#61 Publish a “What If” post – Use your imagination and write a post about what if you’re going to move to another country or travel the world or win billion dollars. People love to dream and believe that these things will happen to them.

#62 Publish online courses/e-books – If you’re an expert in your field, invest time in writing and publishing courses and e-books. Create quality content, and people will be ready to buy it for nice amount of money. When money is not an important aspect, publish the content for free.

#64 Turn on Gravatar images on your blog comment – Make it as a real conversation by turning on Gravatar images (just like my blog has).

#65 Build your portfolio – A portfolio is a great way to showcase experience. It’s a wide-spread myth that only artists and photographers can use it. Build a portfolio of projects you’ve run, the applications you’ve coded, and so on.

#66 Write in your own everyday language/writing style – Forget the well-known rules, and use the expressions you use every day. It’s a great way to make your posts more enjoyable and stand out.

#61 Share food recipes – Don’t know what to write about? Share the recipes of your favorite meals and desserts.

#68 Publish a post about cons and pros about something – Things are never black & white, and there is nothing perfect in this world. There’s always some cons about something.
#69 Show others how to secure their blogs – This is something that is useful and interesting at the same time.

#70 Hold a conference or a webinar through blog post – Have a “group” meeting at next Saturday 9 PM. I’m more than sure that if you hold a live event through your blog then there will be people watching it.

#71 Ask for general feedback on your blog – Sometimes you can improve your blog by the way your readers want. Minor tweaks here and there can add value that can bring you more traffic and returning visitors.

#72 Curate or summarize someone else’s work – Write short summaries to bring out the most important aspects or points in other published writings. This helps save a lot of time for the readers who are only looking for the most important information.

#73 Publish a list of your most successful Tweets/social media posts (based on re-tweets & likes) – Have you had any success with massive re-tweeting, liking, or sharing? Share the tweets and posts with others.

#74 Compile a list of common mistakes in your niche – Many people don’t know the basics and make common mistakes. Write tutorials to help them prevent these misunderstandings.

#75 Publish a manifesto –

#76 Make a post about future plans – Dreaming of being a world-class analyst or an entrepreneur in five years time? Looking to start studies at a university? Write the plans down; it’s interesting to read them later on, and it gives new ideas to other people as well.

#77 Write down an extremely long blog comments – In that way you can show your readers that you actually care about their comments & opinions.

#78 Thank your audience for following you – Show that you respect them.

#79 Write about why you actually started blogging – Simply tell your followers how it all started…

#80 Abandon your blog for a week and make others think “what happened to you” – It’s pretty risky, but if you are famous blogger – this will get you a lot of buzz.

#81 Write the list of things and activities you want to do before death – Ever seen the books in the bookstore called “1001 places to visit/foods to eat/artists to listen before you die?” Build your own list, and inspire others to do that as well.

#82 Show others how to do something extremely FAST – Everybody likes to do something quickly. As you know, time is the most valuable thing in our lives.

#83 Write a satirical blog post – Satire never gets old, but don’t be too harsh. These posts can easily go viral, but be sure you’re prepared for backlash.

 #84 Write a series of blog posts – To make your readers constantly engaged with your blog.
#85 Publish a questions and answers blog post – Make a “Questions Monday.” Promise to answer all the questions your audience has.
#86 Post a quote – People adore quotes that make them think and spread motivation, so use them wisely.

#87 Launch a free e-book about your best blog posts – Gather the most viewed and commented posts together and convert them into an e-book that can be published on Amazon or other online bookstores.

#88 Run PPC campaign through Facebook to your blog posts – It costs a little, but this option means a lot of new traffic and followers.

#89 Update/invest in customized blog post design – Great blogs and posts need great design to keep the readers coming back. Hire professionals; never try to do “something” in PhotoShop unless you’re not a designer.

#90 Make 404 page that is a game – That’s a fun way to get people staying on your page. 

#91 Make a handwritten post and publish it by taking a photo – Hand-written texts look amazing and shows your creativity as well as character.

#92 Make an ultimate resource post – Operating in fishing niche? Publish a list of most useful resources for that.

#93 Invite experts to comment your posts – Busy people work the most, but they’re quite often ready to help if you offer them value from your side. If you ask them, do it kindly, and state clearly why they should do it and what they get for doing it.

#94 Publish a post as an audio file (mp3) – Write your post and record it as an audio file. It allows the readers to follow the blog on the go; all they need is an mp3 player or a smartphone.

#95 Make list of useful & interesting people to follow in your niche – This is another “TOP” category post idea. List the useful people who provide great insights; these posts become viral quickly.

#96 List nostalgic post about different blogs in your niche, and show readers how they’ve changed from 2000 by using web.archive – Web design and trends have changed a lot. It creates great WOW effect for people to see how ugly the websites used to be back in the dot.com bubble times.

#97 Link to new or interesting patents in your niche that amazes people – Ever heard that Apple patented the two-finger movements on smartphones and tablets? Here’s your chance to shine.

#98 Ask some billionaire to write a post for you – As these people are often too busy to respond, they enjoy fame and publicity. This is definitely worth a try, even when you fail.

#99 Rant about something that REALLY disturbs you – Ranting on the Internet is sometimes pointless, but well-argumented posts may get a lot of attention.

#100 Create a list of online tools you find useful – There are literally dozens of tools that can make life a lot easier, create a list of the ones you use or would like to use.

#101 Dare your readers to do something – And then ask them to report back on how it went. Or, have them dare you to do something, and then post a video of you doing it.


#102 Host a voting contest – Ask your readers to nominate the best blogs in your niche. This can turn into several posts since you can take those nominations and write a “Top 100 Blogs in the Industry” post. Notify the winning blogs so that they’ll send some of their followers your way.

#103 Curate content in your niche – Did you read some interesting articles this week? Link to the best ones in your blog post as a resource for your readers.

#104 Wish yourself happy birthday – Are you entering the second year of your blog? Wish it a happy birthday, and then show readers how far you’ve come.

#105 Make a list of interesting stats in your niche – Want to blow your reader’s minds? Create a useful resource of stats in your niche.

#106 Repost a long email response to a reader’s question – Do you often get personal readers’ questions only to respond in a long email? Share that response with your other followers. (Just be sure you’re keeping any emails, names, etc. confidential.)

#107 Write a FAQs post – What questions do you get asked constantly, either about yourself or your industry? Create a FAQs post answering all these questions. Repost this as a page on your website so that it’s easy to find for newcomers.

#108 Write an ultimate list – Choose a topic and write an ultimate list of ideas so that it’s the first go-to resource for your readers.

#109 Create an A-Z post – For example, write an A to Z post on travel tips or an A to Z post on the best WordPress plugins.

#110 Develop a profile on an influential figure – Is there someone in your niche you admire? Write a profile on them detailing who they are, what they do, why you love them, and where your readers can learn more.

#111 Shoutout to your mentors and fans – Write a post naming specific people who have influenced your blogging journey. Be sure to let them know when the post is public to help drive their followers to your site.

#112 Showcase a reader – Do you have a strong relationship with some of your loyal readers? Ask one of them if you can interview him or her and post his or her responses on your blog.

#113 List the best apps in your niche – Are you in the finance industry? List and review the top 50 mobile accounting apps. The more apps you list, the better.

#114 Write a makeover post – Did you just get a haircut? Maybe you remodeled your kitchen. Show your readers the before and after photos.

#115 Run a month of giveaways – Each day, post a new blog post (or have a guest author), and then include a quick gift for one winner at the end of each post. Be sure they have to earn it, such as by leaving a blog comment to be eligible. Add in a few “surprise” gifts so they don’t always know what’s coming.

#116 Hold a guest post pitching contest – Do you accept guest authors on your blog? Hold a pitching contest where readers can pitch their idea in the comment section and give each other feedback before you decide which pitch will turn into a published blog post on your site.

#117 Develop a quiz – Use a quiz-building application like Online Quiz Creator, and make your next post into a game for your readers.

#118 Create a glossary – Do people get confused about terminology in your industry? Write a post detailing the definition to commonly confused words in your niche.

#119 Write an open letter – Do you have someone you’ve always wanted to say something to, whether it’s your child or a celebrity? Finally say those things, and then post it on your blog for the world to see.

#120 Share a worksheet – What’s the number one thing your readers want to know about themselves and your niche? Create a worksheet that will help them answer that question. For instance, if you’re in the finance industry, you might develop a “Get out of Debt” worksheet that will help readers better plan their finances.

#121 Share coupon codes – Do a bit of research and find out which online stores in your niche are offering discounts or coupon codes right now, and then share that information with your readers.

#122 Create a list of free eBooks – People love free stuff, so help generate some buzz by creating a long list of helpful and free eBooks in your niche.

#123 Predict the future – Tell you readers where you industry is going in the next five years, or talk about where you think a celeb will be in a year or two.

#124 Compile a list of jokes – People love to be entertained. Make them laugh with a list of jokes related to your industry.

#125 Draw a comic – Show your personality by drawing and uploading your own comic. Try to make it clever and funny to drive more traffic.

#126 Write a poem – This is a great option for lifestyle bloggers, but if you can provide enough entertainment value, your poem can become wildly effective in any niche.

#127 Tell your readers who to follow on Twitter – This type of posts provides a lot of value to readers, and you just might get the attention of some influential people in your industry.

#128 Make a list detailing influential people’s response to a single question – Connect with a dozen or so popular individuals in your niche, and ask them all the same question, such as, “What’s your go-to marketing tactic that you believe is the most successful?” Compile their answers in a blog post, but be sure to ask their permission and to give them credit for the answer.

#129 Highlight the key takeaways from a recent conference – Are you planning to attend a conference in your niche? Be sure you’re taking notes so that you can report back to your followers the most important points covered.

#130 Make a list of hacks – People love it when they discover something that will make life easier. Write a list of hacks that will make your readers say, “Why didn’t I ever think of that?”

#131 Write about your plans for the holidays – No matter what holiday is approaching, share with your readers what you’ll be doing. This gives them a heads-up if you’ll be gone, but it also sparks conversation. Be sure you ask them to share their plans as well.

#132 Record a Skype call – Get in touch with a well-known person in your niche and talk with them via Skype. Record the conversation and post it for your viewers to see later. You can also host live calls via Google Hangouts.

#133 Put on a skit – People absolutely love short entertaining videos. Video tape a quick skit, whether you want to send a political message, educate your viewers, or just produce a spoof that will make them laugh.

#134 Host a free live workshop – Who would pass up something free, especially if you have something valuable to offer? Share some of your training and consulting material with your readers via a live online workshop.

#135 Write a blog post about 135 blog post ideas (or more) in your niche – List down 135 blog topics in your niche; a lot of people find it useful :).

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Highest Lakes in the World

When you think of lakes and beaches, what comes the first to your mind is their beauty and relaxing atmosphere. The lakes and oceans are nestled in mountain ranges like the Himalayas. The following list is the list of top 10 highest lakes in the world. These have been amongst the lovely tourist attractions.

10. Aguas Calientes Pool, Chile

It is a volcanic lake that is present at the top of the Cerro Aguas Calientes in the Antofagasta region of Chile. It is situated close to Acamarachi, Lascar and Chiliques. It came into being thousands of years ago. It is about 5,831m above sea level, and is a great tourist attraction.

9. Lake Licancabur, Bolivia/Chile

This is another volcano lake of Chile/Bolivia. It lies miles away from the south fo Poquentica and its altitude is 5,916m. Its shape is very different and it looks like a deep volcano with messy shape. It is bigger and long as compared to many other lakes at 100m by 70m and with a depth of 8m.

8. Acamarachi Pool, Chile

The Acamarachi Pool is present in Chili. It is known to have its own crater pool, and has diameter of just 10-15m. it is impressively high, about 5,950m above the sea level. The lake is said to be dangerous and is not chosen for vacation or visiting purposes.

7. East Rongbuk Pool, Tibet

It is a Tibetan lake. The lake/pool appears during the times when snow starts melting. It is named after the East Rongbuk Glacier, one of biggest glaciers in the world. This was first explored by Graham Hoyland, followed by many others. It is 6,100m high.

6. Changtse Pool, Tibet

The Changtse Glacier is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. It is present at 6,216m above sea level. It has appeared on the tropical maps, and is said to be 180m by 230m. The Changtse Peak has been connected with the Mount Everest and was first discovered in 1924 by George Mallory.

 

5. Lhagba Pool, Tibet

This lake has an altitude of 6,358m above sea level. It is located on the slopes of Everest, around 6km north of the summit and 3km east. It has not been a major attraction, but is said to be a surprisingly deep and wide lake with 180m by 50m width and length respectively.

4. Nevado Ojos del Salado, Argentina

It is an impressive lake of Argentina. This is 6,390m above sea level. It is like a small crater having diameter of only 100m and a depth of 10m. It is a dangerous and high volcano on the Earth. The peak surrounding is, however, a lovely place.

3. Damavand Pool, Iran

The Damavand Pool is present on Mount Damavand, a volcano with magical powers. It is one of the most amazing tourist points. The pool itself sits 5,650m above sea level in the crater summit of the mountain. It remains in frozen condition almost all months of the year.

2. Poquentica Lake, Bolivia/Chile

This is a spectacular and beautiful lake, present on the border of Bolivia and Chile. The Poquentica Lake sits 5,750m above sea level on the summit of a volcano. It is mostly frozen, and as first discovered by Nathalie Cabrol and his companions years ago. It is a large and dangerous lake, you must stay away from.

1. Ridonglabo Lake, Tibet

In the mysterious mountains of Tibet, this beautiful lake is present. It is about 5,801m above sea level and is a moraine lake formed from melting of glaciers thousands of years ago. It is present close to Ridonglabo Peak and only 14km away from Mount Everest. You can consider visiting it when the weather is appropriate.

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Happy New Year 2016

New ideas, innovations,unprecedented aspirations to inspire the world in future times is abound to you this year. Enjoy winning.....Happy New Year. :)
Happy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New YearHappy New Year

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