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The next is a Blab recording I did with Gina Horkey. In it, we discuss slightly bit about digital helping and lots about running a blog – particularly tips on how to higher monetize and repurpose present content material. Watch the video or catch the transcript beneath.
https://youtu.be/dQezb2fsitw
Gina: Good day, everyone. My identify is Gina Horkey of Horkey HandBook. At the moment, I’ve with me, Angie Nelson, from The Work at House Spouse. If in case you have by no means met me earlier than, I’m an expert author and digital assistant, sort of making my transition into the merchandise market as nicely. I’ve a few programs, “30 Days or Much less to Freelance Writing Success” and one other one to “Digital Assistant Success” after which “The Course Course,” educating you tips on how to write and launch your personal course. It comes out subsequent month, which is thrilling.
Angie, give us slightly background about your self.
Angie: Certain my identify is Angie Nelson and I’ve been working at residence since 2007. I began out as a digital assistant and right this moment I personal thetheworkathomewife.com and that’s primarily at I spend my time doing and what brings me my revenue and I assist folks discover authentic work-at-home jobs and residential enterprise concepts. I share just a few running a blog ideas now and again as nicely. That’s how I spend my time.
Gina: Now, has that website been round since 2007, or when did you launch it?
Angie: I feel I began running a blog in 2008 as a technique to sort of get enterprise for my digital assistant enterprise. I discovered that most people that have been following my weblog have been individuals who needed to study extra about being a digital assistant. The Work At House Spouse was launched in 2010, I consider.
Gina: Okay. You dabbled in just a few totally different URLs or blogs earlier than then and you then’ve had a number of since too?
Angie: Proper. WordPress.com. Yeah.
Gina: Okay. Don’t begin there. Begin with self-hosted.
Angie: Yeah.
Gina: If anyone has any questions as we’re speaking right this moment, be at liberty to speak them in and we’ll try to deal with them. In any other case, we’re simply primarily going to speak about weblog monetization. That may go anyplace however particularly round re-purposing content material.
I’m curious. 2010 is when The Work At House Spouse was established. You’ve been rising all of it of this time. Six years is a very long time for an internet site. That’s superior, initially. What have been you doing then for promotion versus what are you doing now? I’m assuming it’s fairly drastically totally different?
Angie: Yeah. Once I began running a blog, Twitter and Fb have been actually simply getting began. There was no Pinterest. There wasn’t all of this social media. Blogs again then weren’t even on Fb. You have been counting on looking out engine optimization and getting out into boards and issues like that. It’s completely totally different.
One of many issues that has been an enormous benefit to me is as a result of again then, you needed to depend on your e mail listing. That’s what you had. You didn’t have folks following you on social media. If anyone was going to come back again to your weblog, it was as a result of they have been in your e mail listing.
Gina: Now, have been they on an e mail listing that they opted in or was it extra of like that RSS feed?
Angie: I’ve all the time had an e mail listing. Even again then, I began on AWeber and had an e mail listing from virtually day one.
Gina: I feel that’s actually good. I’ve to really feel like you’re a little distinctive in that space. I don’t really feel like once I was following blogs again then that they’d an e mail listing. They’d the RSS factor and wasn’t it like feedly or one thing like that was actually well-liked, the place you would see the entire feeds and the blogs that you simply adopted?
Angie: Proper.
Gina: I didn’t get too many in my inbox again then.
Angie: Proper.
Gina: That’s thrilling. We do have one query to this point and it’s, “Why is self-hosting so vital?” To which, we are able to completely deal with that proper now.
You had the expertise of going from a non-self-hosted website. I all the time get them confused. There’s WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Dot-org is self-hosted?
Angie: Proper. Dot-com is simply their free little factor over there and you’re so restricted in how one can even monetize that as a result of WordPress.com has strict guidelines about what you’ll be able to even do. That’s the reason once I determined that this was one thing I needed to do and earn money, I instantly obtained off of there as a result of you’ll be able to’t … If you begin entering into internet online affiliate marketing, the vast majority of the affiliate applications aren’t going to approve you if you’re running a blog on … If in case you have a Blogger.com deal with or a WordPress.com deal with. They need you to be self-hosted as a result of it reveals slightly little bit of your … What do I wish to say? You’re really in it for the long term. If you’re paying your $10 and $30 a yr is how a lot you may get self-hosted for to begin out. You’re actually limiting your self if you’re not getting self-hosted.
There’s all the time that chance that any individual can come alongside and so they can take your weblog away. You don’t personal it.
Gina: Proper.
Angie: When you discover you’ve gotten completed one thing improper, they’ll simply delete it and that’s it. You’re completed.
Gina: You’re restricted in terms of plugins and that sorts of stuff too, proper? You possibly can’t use the total spectrum.
If you’re not tech-savvy, how do you’re employed with self-hosting? I don’t learn about you, I’ve a tutorial on Horkey Handbook on getting a branded web site arrange inside per week due to that query and since I used to be not tech savvy and I figured it out, which is nice. It’s important to level stuff. There’s the entire of small nuances which might be laborious at first, however then when you get into WordPress, then the backend is definitely actually user-friendly for essentially the most half. You possibly can YouTube. In any other case …
Do you’ve gotten a tutorial on the Work At House Spouse too, on establishing a website?
Angie: I feel there’s one on there, sure. It isn’t that tough. If you’re prepared to get in there and begin pushing buttons, you’re high quality. Your host goes that will help you. If one thing goes improper and also you do one thing terribly improper, they will assist get it again up. Don’t be afraid. It isn’t that tough. Most of them right this moment are only a one-click set up. You get arrange and click on the button and you’ve got your weblog, so you’re able to go.
Gina: Yep. I feel the most important tip that I realized after the truth that made it slightly bit extra difficult or difficult is I didn’t understand that the majority internet hosting firms will embody your URL without spending a dime. As an alternative of going out and shopping for your URL from Identify.com or HostGator, I don’t know, no matter. You’d purchase it from the identical place as your internet hosting supplier and that saves you a step in addition to having to redirect these issues that I talked about.
Then, you are able to do a free theme. Simply choose one thing that’s fundamental and clear and it is possible for you to to make modifications and sort of have it come into your personal over time. Don’t fear about it being excellent, day one.
Angie: Proper.
Gina: Horkey Handbook or The Work At House Spouse, neither one in every of them seems like they did, I think about.
Angie: You continue to change issues on a regular basis. I do know I do continuously.
Gina: Completely. What number of weblog posts do you’ve gotten from the final five-and-a-half years?
Angie: I’m going by them proper now and I wish to … There’s nicely over 1,000.
Gina: Okay.
Angie: That’s one thing that I’m engaged on proper now.
Gina: What number of new weblog posts do you add per work or monthly?
Angie: Proper now, solely two or three per week is the place I’m at now. Issues are lots totally different there than they was. You needed as a lot content material as you would get and again then, 350-word posts was completely acceptable. Now, we’re striving for these nice large useful resource posts. We’re down to 2 or three per week now.
Gina: Okay. It is a private query. Be at liberty to fireside again any questions that you’ve for me too. Do you promote each with a publication when it goes out? What’s your promotion schedule like? You’ve a brand new put up revealed after which what do you do?
Angie: I do a weekly publication. I don’t simply do an RSS feed for my publication. I spherical little issues as much as make it one thing that’s not nearly me. I’ll discover issues that they’re concerned with from different locations and embody them as soon as per week is what I normally do.
Gina: Cool. I’m sort of on this grey space or transitional interval with my very own as a result of I posted as soon as per work after which twice per week and proper now we’re at thrice per week as a result of we’ll do a visitor put up. Then, I’ve my very own put up and within the center now we have been doing these spotlights or interviews, which have been sort of enjoyable. I’ve been selling with the publication on each Tuesdays and Thursdays after which mentioning the opposite one. Then, you’ll speak about different issues which might be occurring or personalize it another way. It’s attention-grabbing to learn the way folks do issues in another way.
Angie: Certain.
Gina: Like , in the event you don’t inform folks to learn one thing, they don’t all the time keep in mind to come back and discover you and see what’s new on the weblog and that is without doubt one of the fundamental causes.
Angie: Precisely. I’m fairly good about monitoring all of that stuff so you’ll be able to see an enormous leap on these days that the publication goes out of when these persons are coming to your weblog. They won’t come all week. They’re ready for you. I’m responsible of that too since you don’t do … Then, oh, they obtained one thing occurring. I higher go over there.
Gina: Yeah. If I don’t get sure issues in my inbox, there isn’t any means that I’d keep in mind to go learn it.
Angie: Proper. Precisely.
Gina: We’ve got a query from Brenda. She needs to know what sorts of issues that we do or have completed as a digital assistant to a blogger. I don’t know. Do you’ve gotten any digital assistants in your crew? Do you’ve gotten folks working and serving to you together with your web site and weblog?
Angie: I don’t at this … I get assist sometimes. I don’t have somebody that’s everlasting to me. I prefer to be in there and I prefer to know what’s going on. I’m sort of Sort A that means however I must know what’s going on and the way it’s working and all of these issues.
Gina: Have you ever ever served in that capability as a VA to any individual else, to a blogger?
Angie: Sure.
Gina: Okay. Are you able to inform us about your expertise and what you used to do for them?
Angie: Certain. It’s a enormous, enormous market proper now for that as a result of there are such a lot of bloggers on the market. It’s large the potential that you’ve there. You will be doing issues so far as simply scheduling posts and moderating feedback or you’ll be able to go over to issues like social media administration and ensuring their pages are up to date and that persons are getting their questions answered. I’ve completed emails, the weekly newsletters and optimizing older posts and doing all the pieces. The whole lot that I do is one thing that any individual else can do. The potential is limitless there.
Gina: Completely. I feel that one of many nice methods to place your self if you’re a VA and also you wish to get into that sort of work could be optimizing these outdated posts. Any person like your self, you’ve gotten 1,000 posts, you’re doing that by yourself. Possibly you aren’t on the lookout for assist proper now however there are in all probability a pair different Angies on the market that possibly don’t have the capability or are centered on various things, and place your self as any individual to undergo them. It might be for formatting and modifying as a result of that has modified lots over time.
We wish to ensure that our posts are actually readable and that they’re utilizing header tags. There’s sure issues just like the Yoast web optimization plugin and so possibly they didn’t have that optimized with a meta tag or for key phrases. Then, one other actually nice alternative is for affiliate hyperlinks. You in all probability don’t have a number of affiliate hyperlinks in your outdated posts though they could nonetheless be learn. You possibly can refresh a put up, do an ideal new picture. Put in some affiliate hyperlinks. Optimize it for web optimization after which begin selling that just about like new content material. That’s one thing that might be actually beneficial to, I feel, a blogger that has slightly little bit of a finances.
Angie: Completely. Even going again by these posts and simply one thing as small as making a Pinterest picture as a result of there was no Pinterest again then. That’s one thing that one of many issues that I’m going again by proper now’s getting these photos on the market as a result of they’ve by no means been promoted on Pinterest. Pinterest is a big, enormous visitors supply proper now. If you’re not advertising your weblog on Pinterest, you’re loopy. That could be a enormous market proper now if you are able to do graphic design and it doesn’t need to be something fancy. Simply getting photos in there may be it.
Gina: Mickey is my digital assistant that does all of my photos. I suck at graphic design. I do know what I like and I do know what seems good however we began working with this gal, Kristen, and he or she does all of our Pinterest advertising utilizing Tailwind and he or she is implausible at it. She has obtained me on a bunch of collaborative boards. I get a number of visitors from it. She doesn’t cost that a lot. She ought to elevate her costs however Mickey then does the graphics for my blogs and he or she wrote a put up for Horkey Handbook that’s superior so far as getting began and optimizing your pictures with overlays and a few totally different tweaks. I’ll discover that after I ask Angie a query and put it within the chat part in case anyone is .
If in case you have another questions, be at liberty to chime in.
In any other case, Angie, why don’t you discuss to us about re-purposing content material? You stated that you’ve been doing {that a} ton proper now. We talked about going by and optimizing outdated posts. How are you re-purposing?
Angie: You possibly can re-purpose in a number of other ways. A method, we talked slightly bit about e mail lists and that’s one thing that could be a enormous precedence for me regardless or whether or not it was six years in the past or right this moment. One factor that’s going like gangbusters proper now’s the content material improve.
Every particular person put up has one thing distinctive about it that possibly you’ll be able to provide. I’ve a listing that’s like 101 methods to do one thing. There isn’t a means that any individual goes to hop on that put up and undergo and do 101 issues. One thing as straightforward as that as turning that right into a PDF and making that out there that they’ll join my e mail listing and they’re instantly going to get that listing to take with them, has made an enormous distinction. It might not be an enormous distinction, a whole lot and hundreds of individuals signing up for my listing, but when 5 extra persons are getting on there a day, I’ll take it for one thing so simple as turning that listing into one thing that they’ll take with them.
Gina: Completely. For those that don’t actually know, content material upgrades are particular usually to a put up, a weblog put up. The easiest way that I’ve had it described to me that makes a number of sense is let’s say you’re a meals or a recipe blogger. The simplest means that you would do one thing is take that recipe after which flip it into a reasonably little PDF that any individual can then print and it’s on one web page after which they’ll cook dinner with it or regardless of the case could also be. To ensure that them to obtain that PDF, they need to choose into your publication listing. If they’re already in your publication listing, it’s okay. They don’t get any extra e mail from you or something, which I feel folks don’t all the time perceive.
You’re looking at a particular put up and you’re saying, “Okay. What would any individual need as they’re studying this? What would make it extra useful to them?” If it’s a new reader in your web site, then they’re like, “Oh, I like this previous. Oh, I can’t get this obtain.” An additional tip, an additional one thing. That’s the reason they put of their e mail and that’s how they get to be a follower of yours hopefully.
Angie: Proper. Let’s see. One other factor is video is large proper now, whether or not it’s Periscope or Fb Stay or YouTube or Blab, you will have a complete totally different set of individuals which might be watching on video than are possibly studying your weblog posts. Something that’s good meaty content material is one thing that it is best to think about turning right into a video of some kind. That’s a good way to re-purpose.
Gina: On the video observe, I’ve been experimenting with Fb Stay. It piqued my curiosity. I’ve completed Blab. Blab is the interview kind or the multiple individual type of Periscope. Periscope is the place you’re filming your self reside. Then, Fb Stay, I really feel like is the Periscope for Fb.
I did slightly experiment as a result of I used to be just below 1,000 Fb web page likes, proper? It isn’t enormous or something however you’ll be able to see now that your content material isn’t being promoted until you actually increase posts or pay to play. I did my first Fb Stay one the opposite day and I used to be in entrance of just about half of my folks, which usually it’s like 10 to 50, so actually low proportion. That’s a good way, I feel, to combine it up. If in case you have a Fb web page and other people aren’t seeing a number of your content material is to do a Fb Stay put up. Plus, I feel it humanizes you. It’s in all probability one or two minutes on the most and you’re simply with the ability to discuss to them about one thing particular, so I agree.
Angie: Proper. Persons are so sympathetic to how nervous you’re. It isn’t one thing that you have to be afraid of. Folks perceive that you’re scared to loss of life the primary couple instances that you’re doing it. A variety of these persons are desirous to do it themselves, so don’t be apprehensive about how nervous you’re, it will be so scary and you will screw it up since you are in all probability going to screw it up the primary couple instances. They don’t care. They’re simply blissful that you’re on there, speaking to them.
Gina: They don’t see you the way in which that you simply see your self. Like you will choose your self extra critically. I do know I’m an enormous big dork and now everyone else is aware of it too however I determine that … That is the true “Gina,” so there you go.
Re-purposing content material. We talked about content material upgrades for weblog posts. We’ve got talked slightly bit about video. You have been shifting onto one thing else after which I chimed in.
Angie: No, you’re all proper. Let me see right here. There are going to be issues that you simply discover that would simply be changed into one thing larger. I do know you’re entering into a number of product creation and stuff proper now. If there’s something that basically struck a nerve together with your viewers, think about how one can flip that into one thing larger, whether or not it’s an e-book or a course or turning it into an even bigger free report that you would be able to disclose to new subscribers. Something like that may re-purpose it or in the event you did a collection. I do know I’ve taken some classes which might be on my weblog that may simply be run collectively and despatched these out in a means. There’s a million other ways that you would be able to get issues re-purposed and that’s a good way to get one other revenue stream going too is in the event you can flip it into an e-book or a course or video tutorials or something like that that you would be able to cost for, even when it’s a small quantity, it’s one other passive revenue potential.
Gina: Now, I haven’t completed it myself however I’ve seen a few different folks do it. I don’t understand how profitable it has been however they’ve completed like a paid content material improve. Have you ever tried that earlier than? Mainly, doing the entire content material improve method however as an alternative of it attending to be a publication subscriber, you’re really simply asking for cash.
Angie: I haven’t completed that. I do know there’s a number of these locations that do just like the 30-day problem issues. They could have all 30 posts on there however they are going to flip that into an e-book as nicely and it’s massively profitable as a result of folks don’t wish to sit there in your weblog and skim 30 posts.
Gina: Proper.
Angie: Or like I stated, persons are not going to take a seat there and do 30 various things at one time. They are going to pay that $7 to take it with them and do it later.
Gina: Proper. That, I feel, and I feel persons are beginning to worth paid content material slightly bit greater than free content material as a result of everyone is giving all the pieces away without spending a dime and attempting to offer worth in an effort to get readers and all of that great things.
Angie: Proper. That psychological swap too, the place in the event you assume it’s beneficial, they will see it as beneficial too. We do it, we don’t prefer to admit it but it surely’s true. You possibly can learn that 10,000-word put up and never assume it’s price something however when any individual begins charging for it, it sort of has extra worth to you.
Gina: Yeah. I simply tried to pin that put up. I don’t know in the event you noticed that up there. Angie has a weblog web page. It’s a Weblog Success Package and once I scroll up, it all the time disappears. Thetheworkathomewife.com/gina. I attempted to pin that as a result of apparently it provides you that possibility right here within the chat roll after which one other field got here up and that’s what it’s however then it’s the improper hyperlink as a result of it’s giving me an error. I feel it’s as a result of there was a interval on the finish as a result of it was like a sentence. I don’t know what’s going on there. Anyway, that’s out there for folks if you’re on the lookout for some templates for revenue monitoring in addition to a pair different issues.
Angie: Proper. Monitoring your affiliate applications and revenue and a few stats, various things like that that you have to be monitoring. I’m a stat junkie, so I like these issues.
Gina: It’s good to be a numbers lady, I feel.
Can we dive into slightly little bit of discuss round affiliate applications? Is that okay?
Angie: Certain.
Gina: Okay. How lengthy you’ve gotten been doing internet online affiliate marketing?
Angie: I’d say that is without doubt one of the fundamental causes that I began The Work At House Spouse is as a result of I needed to dive into that. I used to be fortunate within the first month that I had my weblog, I made $50 as a result of any individual obtained my internet hosting. That was the massive factor that stored me going there. In fact, it wasn’t all the time that constant and it gained’t be however you get fortunate generally.
Gina: Yep. Like being an Amazon affiliate and you place a hyperlink to an e-book and any individual buys a bath?
Angie: Yeah. Precisely. Yeah. Any person purchased a diamond ring or one thing final Christmas and I used to be like, “Holy smokes.”
Gina: That’s superior. You’re an Amazon affiliate. You’ve a internet hosting that you’re an affiliate for, these are each quite common issues. What different extra favorable internet hosting relationships do you’ve gotten?
Angie: Nearly all of my affiliate revenue comes from selling programs and e-books and issues like that. That’s what my viewers is on the lookout for is data. For me, that’s the place a number of my revenue comes from is these issues. The place if you’re running a blog about issues, DIY and crafting and issues like that, you will be extra of a products-based affiliate. Mine is the knowledge facet largely.
Gina: Okay. Received you. Then, one of many issues, I feel, that scenes that’s modified fairly a bit in all probability from if you began your website too was promoting. Doing banner adverts and that type of factor. Did you ever tip your toe into that? If that’s the case, what made you alter or is it a present technique you employ?
Angie: I’ve one other weblog that the complete revenue is simply promoting. Banner adverts and textual content adverts. That’s what that weblog, that’s the entire cash it makes is simply cash from promoting. For my weblog, personally, when any individual involves me and says, “How can I get my stuff in your website?” I don’t say, “Let’s place a banner advert,” as a result of I simply don’t care and it’s not price it to them when there are higher choices.
Gina: You’re in all probability like me and also you don’t like to go to websites which have a complete bunch of promoting as a result of it’s sort of a turn-off however there are specific websites which might be niche-specific that [inaudible 00:24:11]
What’s your different website that you’ve it on that it really works for? What sort of area of interest is it in?
Angie: It’s a direct gross sales website, so clearly that’s … One other factor with my fundamental website is simply 25% of my persons are coming in on desktop lately. 75% of my visitors is from cell.
Gina: That’s loopy.
Angie: My cell website doesn’t show facet bars. I can’t justify telling an advertiser to spend a whole lot of {dollars} to position a banner advert on my website that no person goes to see. I can’t be ok with doing that to an advertiser. I’ve just a few up there however they don’t make some huge cash and it isn’t one thing that I actually … It doesn’t convert, so I don’t a lot put a number of time into that.
Gina: Completely. It is smart. Yeah. Cellular is loopy lately so far as how that’s altering.
Do you’ve gotten one or two targets that you simply’re engaged on this yr? Is that one thing that you’d share so far as development for The Work At House Spouse?
Angie: Cash is all the time large on my objective listing. I wish to get that up considerably since you don’t know what it will be like 10 years down the street. I’m a type of let’s make it now sort of folks. Cash is an enormous one.
Simply ensuring that … Like I stated, I’m going again by all of my outdated content material proper now simply to ensure that my website as clear and tight as it may be. There’s a number of stuff that’s simply junky outdated stuff that doesn’t even make sense to right this moment’s readers.
Gina: Do you delete posts like that or disguise them or one thing?
Angie: I’ve been deleting if it isn’t one thing that may be written-
Gina: Re-purposed.
Angie: To be related now, I delete, however that you simply’ve obtained to fret about redirects and all of that sort of junk. That’s not one thing you wish to simply do with out fascinated about it.
Gina: Brenda is asking about data on getting began at Amazon. I feel the simplest factor that you are able to do is Google “Amazon,” it isn’t associates. It’s Amazon …
Angie: Associates.
Gina: Say it … Associates.
Angie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Gina: Okay. Then, it’s a must to ensure that your state or nation is without doubt one of the gamers, I suppose, of their program. Minnesota is the place I’m. They have been and so they weren’t and now they’re once more. You’ll discover that occurs generally. It’s based mostly on each state at the least right here in the USA can have their very own legal guidelines. That is step one is ensuring that your state qualifies. Then, you’ll be able to apply to their program and get arrange. Then, their backend just isn’t tremendous user-friendly in my view.
Angie: Proper.
Gina: Amazon Associates, Brenda, is what you’ll want to Google. That’s sort of low-hanging fruit to get began with. Being an affiliate for any individual. Their payout isn’t enormous. What’s it, like 3? Possibly.
Angie: It’s tiered. I feel to begin out it’s like 4.5 after which as you get to 25 gross sales, you bump as much as one thing. I’m not even positive how a lot it goes as much as. Possibly 9% or one thing like that relying on what number of gross sales you go. Observe: The usual promoting charge schedule is 4% to eight%.
Gina: The attention-grabbing factor is that any individual can come by your Amazon hyperlink after which they don’t even purchase the product that you’re promoting or that you simply speak about in a put up and so they go and purchase one thing else and you’ll nonetheless get credit score for that, which is sort of enjoyable.
So far as I all the time assume the authorized or compliance a part of affiliate hyperlinks is sort of attention-grabbing as a result of it’s ever-evolving. Are you aware what the present guidelines or laws are so far as disclosing affiliate hyperlinks? Do you’ve gotten a phrases and circumstances web page in your web site and that’s the place the entire data is so that you don’t need to disclose each single affiliate hyperlink you place in, or do you? How does that work from you?
Angie: I’ve it on the high of each put up. It says, “This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. When you click on by my hyperlinks and make a purchase order, I’ll get a fee.” I simply have it there completely as a result of I do know that if I don’t put it within the affiliate hyperlink now, six months down the street, I’d come again and do it then, so why not?
Gina: That’s good.
Angie: Folks don’t actually care. I don’t assume anyone is like, “I’m not clicking any of your hyperlinks.” ?
Gina: Yeah.
Angie: We’re nonetheless making a living. That basically wasn’t there once I began and we’re nonetheless making a living, so don’t fear about disclosing. It isn’t that large of a deal. Folks will-
Gina: If any individual does get offended, then they’re in all probability not going to stay round in any case. Bloggers need to earn money if they’re treating it as a profession and that is without doubt one of the methods to monetize.
Angie: Proper.
