Posts Tagged With: advice
· August 1, 2007 at 7:04 am · Hot Web Topics, Web Development
Every so often I get an e-mail from a web host who is running a blog and they tell me they have run out of “blog-like” things to say. “Hogwash!” I yell back at them. Ok, so I have never actually used that word exactly - but you get my point. If all else fails, promote yourself.
Yes, corporate blogs and bloggers should be more egotistical and talk more about themselves when there is nothing else left to say.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
1. Tell the story of how you came to be. Have you told your rags to riches story yet? Let people how the company started up and how it has grown since then.
2. Pitch one of your products and let me know how real people can make use of it. Don’t pitch it to me as a salesman, give it to me as a person to person conversation and win me over on why it might be for me or somebody that I might know.
3. Who are you? You might also do a type of “profile” post where you tell people more about the folks behind the scene. Let me know who worker number 1,356 is and why he is so important to the day to day business. (and if he’s not, time to give him the pink slip!)
As you can see, when talking about one’s self you could really go on and on. Have any other suggestions as far as ideas go for more corporate writing spot on the Web?
· June 19, 2007 at 7:29 am · Personal
I have been a “contracted worker” for my fair share of years, since 2003 to be exact. Over that time I have figured out both the easy way and the hard way a few good tips to pass to others who might do freelance work - no matter what industry you might call home.
1. Don’t be afraid to speak up and pass your suggestions about the business you work for to the business you work for.
2. If it feels strange to you to get out of bed and get to work, then make yourself think you are going somewhere else. Get dressed, comb your hair and have some downtime before you get started. You have to get yourself in the mind that when you sit down at that computer you are in “work mode” and can not be bothered.
3. Don’t under sell yourself. If the company that hired you isn’t living up to their end of the deal or they are forgetting about you, let them know. Sometimes with freelance workers or contacted positions little things get overlooked. Don’t let it happen.
4. Want to read more about freelancing and the world around it? One cool source I just found the other day is at the Freelance Blog at FreelanceSwitch.com. Highly suggested reading if you are in the freelance business or your looking to get started.
I guess those would be my biggest ‘bits of advice for anybody wanting to “work for themselves” out there. If you know of any more good nuggets of advice, don’t be shy - pass them my way.
· May 9, 2007 at 7:43 am · Web Hosting
I’ve worked in Web hosting and customer service for a number years. Over those years, I have noticed a lot of little things that might help you get your issues solved faster and help you build a better relationship with your own hosting support team.
Give me a preview of your issue, question or problem in the title of the E-mail or help desk ticket. Don’t put in “Dude, Site is Lik the BrockeN!”
Make sure you include every bit of information you think might be needed to solve your question. Usually a Web host will let you know what type of verification they need from you for certain things. Provide that stuff first and you’ll take at least one step out of the support process.
Don’t insult your Web host. I don’t care if you had twelve servers and they all just went down and now your in all on the floor crying. Yelling and insulting your Web host is not going to help things any. Take a deep breath and do your best to work with your Web host in getting the issues taken care of. No need to make things more stressful than they already are.
· August 22, 2006 at 6:00 am · Hot Web Topics
I have noticed more places and people mentioning how to make your blogging habits better. Sure, we all need help from time to time - but I have noticed something. I always seem to do my best writing when I toss the rules to the side, open up NoteTab Pro and just start to “go” from whatever is on my mind at the time.
Try not to get yourself too stress out over making a comment about everything. A lot of folks just want to jump on everybody’s bandwaggon and add that, “Yeah, me too!” to the conversation. I want to read something that either informs me or entertains me. Before you make that next post on your blog, ask yourself if you are doing either one of those first.
For more tips and help check out the post Chris made a few days ago about eliminating the echo chamber. He lists a lot of things even I had not though about till I read it.
