Just in case you haven't seen the hullabaloo about YouTube.com – I'll update you.

YouTube is an entertainment site. It's owned by Google.

Google is an advertisement site. They make money through advertisements.

YouTube is a free video site. It's also high page rank and gets a lot of traffic – which means that spammers went crazy putting crap on there along with advertisements for their own products and services.

Google decided they didn't like giving free advertising to people on YouTube. Which I can totally understand.

So, they started banning accounts – even legitimate ones – if their videos were promotional in nature or talked about making money online.

Since Google is the boss when it comes to YouTube, their opinion is the only opinion that matters.

You following so far?

So, how do you protect yourself?

Make sure that you're not using the terms “Make money” in either your titles or your tags. If you are – then change those, pronto. Also, read their terms of service regularly in case they change.

Understand that your goal isn't to try to game Google. (You try to game Google, and you'll lose every time – eventually.) It's about playing by the rules.

The only problem is that you can *THINK* you're playing by the rules and still be cut – if Google disagrees with you.

So, just in case…  you should also do these two things.

1. Submit your videos to other sites, too.
2. Make sure that you have backups of ALL of your videos. Get it organized now.

Here's how to get your videos from YouTube if you need to do it.

1. Login to your YouTube account.
2. Go to “My Videos”
3. In your list of videos, there's a dropdown box. Click it and you'll see “Download mp4.”

Do that for any videos if you don't have copies of them.

Note: It appears that you can only download 2 at a time and then you have to wait awhile. I think they're protecting their bandwidth.

So – go through your files on your computer first. Locate any that you're missing and just grab those few.

I hope this saves some of you some heart-ache.

Hugs,
Nicole Dean

PS. This doesn't just apply to YouTube.com. If you've got 100 articles submitted to EzineArticles.com – I'd have those backed up, too. If you're doing a BlogTalkRadio.com show – I'd have backups of your episodes, too. I would not trust any of your content that you care about to 3rd party sites. Back that up!

Recommended Resource:

Protect Your Online Business BEFORE Disaster Strikes

Check it out here: Teach Me How to Protect My Online Business

I interviewed 16 moms who are all making full time money online and asked them a few very direct questions. “What was your #1 mistake?” and “What was your tipping point?” for instance. They were not shy in answering at all.

The funny thing was that I kept hearing a lot of the same answers. So, maybe being an online success isn't such a mystery after all.

I found it fascinating and I think you will, too.

To learn how these women earn a full time living on the internet on a part time basis, visit http://www.fulltimewahm.com

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. I would love to hear what YOUR tipping point was, as well. Please post it below.

I was tagged by my friend, Lynette, today to complete this Meme. I have to answer 5 questions about myself as an online business owner so here goes…

1. How long have you been blogging?

Since Feb. 2005. (Probably within a week of joining www.MomsMastermind.com and learning about it from you, Lynette!)

2. What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?

I'm sure it was Lynette who got me started. I'm a techno-phobe in many ways, so it sometimes takes a firm hand to get me to leap. (Uh… push me off a cliff…)

My blogging mentors? I love Kelly McCausey's blog and I've recently started reading Lynn Terry's blog, too. Other than that, I mostly just pop around based upon who shows up in my word press dashboard as having talked about me recently and I hang out there a bit before getting back to work.

3. Are You trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?

Both. I enjoy it, and I have bills just like anyone else.
4. Tell me 3 things you LOVE about being online.

1. I love having the freedom to work from home and the flexibility that comes with it.
2. I love my amazing friends that I've gotten to know.
3. And, I love being able to express myself and teach online. It's a great feeling to have people tell me that I've made a difference in their lives.

5. Tell me 3 things you STRUGGLE with in the online world.

1. Balance. I love what I do, and I could work 12 hour days, if I don't keep myself in check.
2. Computer-butt. (‘Nuff said.)
3. Standing out from all the Internet marketing crap that's being sold by people who have no idea what they're talking about. Obviously that's not everyone since there are many people online who DO know what they are talking about, but you know what I mean.

Who's next? I'd like to call on a few of my Twitter friends… Tish, Carrie,and Arika.

How about you? When did you start blogging? Who are your mentors? And, do you blog for fun or profit? Please post your answers below…

Nicole

Well, guess what? I made a bunch of them!

I wanted to let you know that even successful marketers do make mistakes in our businesses.

My good friend, Kelly McCausey, who I admire a lot, even admits to making one recently.

Want to know what it was? Here's the dirt...

There are two reasons I'm sending you that link.

1. So you let yourself off the hook for being human. Heck, we ALL are. At the moment, my dog is EATING a big fat rat and I'm freaking out. No one's life is perfect. (And, did I mention that I HATE rats?!)

2. I'm also telling you about this because I'd like you to consider signing up for the WC. It's not just fun, but it's a pretty cool deal. (If I didn't believe in it, I wouldn't be a regular featured contributor.)

(offer no longer available)

Well, that's it for today. I really hope you have a great weekend.

Warmly,
Nicole

You're getting to know me better, but I also would like to get to know YOU better, so I can make sure I'm providing you with the information you need.

Will you please bare YOUR guts for me?

If you have 2 minutes, could you please complete this survey for me? I'd really appreciate it. All answers are confidential and your name will not be used if I answer your questions on my blog to ensure your privacy.

click here for the GETTING TO KNOW YOU SURVEY

If you think the survey tool I used to set that up that survey is cool, here's the service I used to set it up. It only took a few minutes…

click here to make EASY SURVEYS IN MINUTES

Well, I think that's it for today. I hope you're having a wonderful week, and have a relaxing weekend.

Looking forward to getting to know each other better.

Warmly,
Nicole

I just got some exciting news. My friend, Alice Seba, A.K.A. “The Internet Marketing Sweetie” has just told me that she is going to be holding a completely free teleseminar to reveal exactly why some people make it for the long-haul in Affiliate Marketing & others just don't quite get there.

She'll also be exposing a number of so-called Internet marketing software products that are, unfortunately, designed to make you fail. (UG. I HATE scammy stuff. I can't wait to hear this!)

But, first, if you don't know what affiliate marketing is …it's covered here: http://www.showmomthemoney.com/affiliates.asp

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online, no matter WHAT business you are already in. You can add affiliate marketing to any business to put more money in your pocket, doing what you're already doing — referring people to good quality products that you enjoy.

To learn more how you can make it for the long-haul as an affiliate, sign up for the free call at:
http://freeaffiliatearticles.com/affiliatesweetiecall.htm

Also sign up for Alice's affiliate program here. It's a good one.
http://freeaffiliatearticles.com/aliceseba-affiliate.htm

I hope you can make the live call, but, if not, it'll be recorded.

Have a GREAT week!
Nicole