Archive for the 'Tools and Resources' Category
Do you have some extra time planned for this weekend? If so, Online Universities has put up a new blog post detailing the top 25 movies for writers. It includes some really great ones like Adaptation, Shakespeare in Love, and The Shining.
I have to say, while I love the list, I’ll have to add my very own favorite movie (for right now) to the ‘based on writers’ category. Becoming Jane, based on the life of one of the most incredible writers of all time – Jane Austen – is a fabulous movie! Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy were phenomenal and who isn’t inspired by a woman who dropped everything to follow her dream, even when everyone told her it was impossible?
Thanks to Online Universities for the heads up. Let us know your favorite movie in the comments below!
Would you like to analyze the substance of your Twitter dialogue? What ideas are you exchanging the most in the world of social marketing, and are you conveying the right message as an individual or business? An easy method of tracking your Twitter presence is to create a Tweet Cloud. @icodeforlove is the mind behind a convenient online tool that analyzes and then creates a colorful arrangement (or cloud) regarding the keywords you use most on Twitter.
Interested in your own Tweet Cloud?
It only takes three easy steps:
1) Do you want to analyze your activity for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year?
2) Do you want a small, medium, large or huge cloud (a little or a lot of keywords)?
3) Do you want to post a link of your Tweet Cloud on Twitter? Then click “make cloud.”
Our @PricelessTeam medium cloud above analyzed one year of Tweets and it looks like we’re staying in line with our goal of providing green news, eco-friendly information, writing tips, and sharing a little bit about ourselves along the way.
Have you ever left your home and then had a funny feeling later that you may have left something on? Keeping your home safe while you’re traveling out of town for your business not only gives you peace of mind, but also protects your possessions and privacy. Before traveling out of town for business, get rid of ‘that’ nagging feeling before you leave by taking a quick walk around the house with a checklist to remind you of the essentials. Make sure you:
- Turn off all appliances and electronics you wouldn’t normally leave running, like your coffeepot, stove, DVD player, computer monitor, and toaster.
- Lock all the windows and doors in your home.
- Don’t forget to set the alarm as you leave (if you use one.)
While these things are pretty standard things to check, there are a few other tips and tricks you can use to keep your home safe while you travel. Thieves are very good at paying attention – especially on holidays and times when people travel, they are watching for empty houses that promise a lot of loot! Don’t fall victim to burglars – use the following simple tips to help prevent a tragedy.
1) If you have a few reliable neighbors, make them aware of the fact that you will be traveling. Most neighbors won’t mind keeping an eye on your home to be sure that there is no strange activity. Although the chances of being robbed or having your house vandalized while you’re gone are small, being safe is always better than being sorry. Another great thing you can do is leave a few lights and a television or radio on so that your home doesn’t appear to be completely empty. This will make a sketchy stranger think twice before entering your home with bad intentions.
2) If you can, have a neighbor, family member or friend pick up your mail daily. Thieves can often get the most from you without even entering your home. A bank statement, credit card statement or other financial report hanging out in your mailbox is like a payday for a thief who takes the time to investigate unattended mailboxes. They can easily obtain some of your most personal information just by swiping the contents of your mailbox. Prevent this from happening by making sure nothing is waiting for them while you’re away on business.
3) Have your grass cut while you’re gone, especially if you will be gone for a while. Hire someone in advance and ask them to cut your grass on a certain day. In the wintertime, have your snow shoveled while you are out of town. This way, everything will be neat and tidy – eliminating another clue that you’re gone which potential robbers can pick up on easily.
When you take these extra steps to make sure your home is safe while you travel, you will have more peace of mind and less to worry about. No one wants to spend their entire business trip worrying about what’s going on at home. So, go on and seal that business deal – knowing everything’s OK on the home front!
Do you know the appropriate time for using uppercase or lowercase letters in your writing?
For a freelance writer, the further you are from your high school or college days, the blurrier capitalization rules become. For starters, let’s get the obvious out of the way – capitalize the first letter of the first word at the start of every new sentence – even if it’s not a complete one. For some of the brick walls you may hit while writing Web content, reporting a news story, or penning the next great American novel – consider the following:
Academic Degrees
Earning an academic degree or professional designation earns you capitalization, whether you are Janice Jones, Ph.D. or Joseph Jones, M.D.
Bible References
All names for the Bible are capitalized, including all parts, versions, and names of other sacred texts. Examples include the Old Testament, Lord’s Prayer, Word of God, and Gospel of Luke. All deities are capitalized, such as Almighty, Lord, Holy Spirit, Messiah, and Holy Trinity. The Devil also receives capitalization honors, including Lucifer, Prince of Darkness, Satan, Evil One, and Beelzebub.
Continents, Countries, Counties, Districts, Cities, and Towns
Capitalize the names of political divisions, such as the United Kingdom. Other examples include Africa or Sierra Leone. Synonyms for a country are also capitalized, like the Nation or the Republic.
Courts
Capitalize federal, state, provincial courts when used with a definite name, such as the United States Circuit Court or the State Court of Appeals. However, do not capitalize district or city courts, such as the magistrate’s court.
Compass Points
When compass points indicate geographical parts of a country, region or city – capitalize. Examples include Southwestern states or Eastern troops. Capitalize northern, southern, western, eastern, east, west, north, and south when used as part of a proper name to refer to a world division, like the Western Hemisphere. However, if you are identifying a certain part of a state or province, such as eastern New York – do not capitalize.
Eras and Historical Periods
Common names for historical epochs, periods and events are capitalized, as well as scientific names for eras of the world, like the Iron Age, the Great Depression, and the Renaissance.
Flags
Show a little respect for the flags of our nations by capitalizing names and synonyms, such as the Star-Spangled Banner and Old Glory.
Government Departments
When writing that government mystery novel, make sure to capitalize any departments, boards, bureaus, offices, agencies, commissions, committees and services of the government when mentioning them by name, such as the Federal Reserve Board, Environmental Protection Agency, and the infamous Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Military
When referring to the Army, Navy, and Air Force, use capitalization. Examples: French Army, Marine Corps, 1st Regiment, the Army, and U.S. Air Force.
Names
While one of the first things we learned about capitalization was to give proper nouns their appropriate respect (like Cory Barker and Sandra D. Wilson), not all capitalization rules are easily committed to memory. Capitalize epithets added to proper names, people, and places, such as the Golden Gate, Alexander the Great, or the Dallas Mavericks.
When it comes to family, capitalize references to your parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins when personally addressing them, but not when used as a possession pronoun.
Examples: Aunt Mary had a heart of gold, but Cousin Jack didn’t care much for charity.
“You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Mother.”
My father and brother started a business, while my mother looked after the rest of my siblings.
Organizations
Established groups, clubs, societies, associations, companies, foundations, institutes, and organizations receive capitalization, like the Mooseheads, Democrats, Google, Knights of Columbus, and the National Breast Cancer Society.
Personal Titles
In academic and religious circles, capitalize a personal title when it precedes a name or if you are personally addressing an individual, as seen in Professor Joey Cantone, Dr. Paula Dupree, or “Doctor, am I going to live?” When using the titles Doctor and Reverend, please note that they are typically abbreviated, but often spelled out for formal instances.
Capitalize the titles of government employees, and people with titles associated with rank, respect, and honor, such as Senator Todd Thatcher, Secretary of Defense, Queen of England, and President of the United States.
Quotations
When quoting a source or giving a voice to your characters, remember to capitalize the first word of every complete quotation set within quotation marks, such as: My teacher asked, “Which literary figure do you like most?” However, never capitalize the part of a quote that resumes within the same sentence, like: “Which literary figure do you like most,” my teacher asked, “out of Shakespeare or Poe?”
Streets, Buildings, Parks, Statues, and Monuments
Capitalize the names of churches, thoroughfares, schools, parks, squares, and towers as well. Examples include Empire State Building or Mulberry Square.
Didn’t find an answer to your capitalization question? Ask the Priceless Team.
Online networking takes your business to an international level of competition.
Are you tired of hearing about Twitter and Facebook? I was a skeptic too, but soon learned that it’s hard to overlook or underestimate the power of online interaction on a social level. Millions of people are congregating on the Internet and you don’t have to leave the comforts of your computer chair to tap into this networking energy.
I encourage you to dip your hand in the honey pot and you’ll be surprised at some of the golden opportunities waiting just around the corner. While it isn’t a guarantee you’ll become a success story overnight or even in a couple of months, smart social marketing campaigns have resulted in increased sales, new customers or web visitors, and at the very least, cost-effective advertising.
On a personal note, I’ve been introduced to a wide-range of business professionals, as well as leisure indulgences. From recycled journals and cheap magazine subscriptions to gourmet taffy, I’ve purchased items advertised on Twitter that I would have never found browsing my typical online haunts.
Still wish to resist current trends? There’s more to business networking than just Facebook and Twitter. Other networking platforms to explore include:
LinkedIn: More than 40 million professionals have already established their online identity with LinkedIn without worrying about their next Tweet or updated vacation pics. You can connect with past colleagues and classmates, but your interaction is not on display for the rest of the world to see. Industry experts are available to lend a helping hand, but for the most part, I see this professional network more on the minimalist side of business networking.
StartUp Nation: Expect helpful advice and networking opportunities geared towards small businesses. From getting feedback on a new website design to asking burning business marketing questions, StartUp Nation is an explosion of effective community resources. Set off on a fact-finding mission or simply mingle with like-minded entrepreneurs. Forums are constantly filling with new ideas to spark your own creativity and send you off in the right business direction.
Biznik: Network with indie business owners in a community-wide general discussion forum or ask questions of fellow participants. Unlike LinkedIn, Biznik doesn’t focus on posting resumes and credentials, but instead – concentrates more on the sharing of ideas and building support systems for entrepreneurs.
Ecademy: Allow Ecademy to bridge the gap between you and the next entrepreneur. Gaining access to this online network opens many doors in the business world with the help of blog posts and message-board chats. For a more rewarding experience, the site offers an exclusive BlackStar membership program.
Focus: Sometimes you need a little help obtaining the goods and services to make your business ventures truly shine. With Focus, you gain the necessary assistance in an online community atmosphere to make important business decisions, conduct efficient research, and benefit from the expertise of others.
NetParty: If you live in cities like Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Orlando – then NetParty offers an opportunity for you to mingle both online and offline. Connect with qualified, thirsty-for-success professionals across the Net and then reconnect at happy-hour events about town. Dust off those business cards and get ready to pitch new job openings. Visit the website to find additional participating cities.
Photo Credit: nookiez
Wonder how the entrepreneurs and business-savvy individuals in your niche are getting ahead of the game? One of the reasons could be that they are constantly wearing their thinking cap and taking full advantage of their time when away from the computer, outside of the office, and even on vacations. They use their off-time wisely – incorporating their business aspirations into all aspects of their life. This doesn’t mean you have to become a complete workaholic, ignore your family, and sleep with your business cards – simply think outside the box and get creative with the ways you market your business.
A couple of examples include:
The gym. Whether you’re taking an aerobics class or pumping iron, you’ll always bump into an interesting cast of characters at the gym. Some people can’t help but to strike up a conversation and dive into your personal life. Usually, the topic of ‘where you work’ comes up. This presents the perfect opportunity to network with potential clients, customers, or professionals in your same field. You never know when someone will need a good mechanic, lawyer, or chiropractor. Don’t forget to carry business cards in your gym bag.
A simple airport shuttle ride can turn into a time to network. I can’t tell you how many times I wish I had a business card handy when chatting it up with complete strangers while on vacation. Take advantage of a long airplane ride by listening to the traveler beside you. Some people have stumbled upon potential partnerships and new ideas just by lending an ear and engaging in genuine conversation.
Even when on vacation, you can still keep your business in mind.
Actively seek out potential business by becoming involved. Stop ignoring PTA notices. Lend a helping hand to the local baseball team. Support the Girl Scouts. Certain niches can benefit from community outreach. Try providing customized T-shirts for a local Little League for free to gain interest in your silk-screening business. Supply chatty parents with something to talk about with cookies from your bakery. Always keep business cards on hand. Also, pass out coupons to drum up further interest.
Image Credits: yoshiaka (bottom)
It's important to think global!
What can the Internet do for you? As an entrepreneur, you are constantly thinking of new and inventive ways to push your product or sell your services. Somewhere between print ads, conference calls, and attending seminars, you have either created a website or thought about establishing an online presence. With all of the millions of websites floating about the World Wide Web, how will you take advantage of the Internet and use it to best benefit your business?
Reach New Clients and Markets
The World Wide Web is an ever-growing hand that stretches across the world to reach potential clients, consumers, and markets. With the help of the Web, you can locate the customers most interested in listening to what you have to say. Use the Internet to go beyond the typical parameters of location. Think outside the box. Think national. Pursue global prospects.
Feed Your Creativity
The software and online capabilities of today are absolutely amazing. Whether its providing website visitors with a helpful video demonstrating the benefits of your product or supplying live customer service, the Internet allows you to tap into the never-ending possibilities of your creativity.
Turn the “Interested” Into Customers
From a T-shirt shop in the mall to a brick and mortar business on the boulevard, the Internet can turn the casual observer of your business into a new customer. After a potential consumer has scanned your ad in the newspaper, heard someone else mention your company name, or passed by your store on the way home – a website can encourage the “interested” to walk through the doors of your business or order from your catalog once they’ve learned more about your business.
Create Repeat Business
With the help of email postcards, online newsletters, and your website, you can encourage repeat business from current customers or clients. A few ideas include:
- Send alerts regarding new products.
- Publish articles centered on your niche.
- List events and activities of interest.
- Email periodic coupons and discounts.
Kill the Confusion
In this day and age, it’s better to save time, money, and energy by reducing the number of bad leads that come when interested parties aren’t quite clear on who you are, your location, skills, and what you have to offer. A website allows you to “kill the confusion” regarding your business by answering important questions without ever having to open your mouth.
Boost the Impact of Press Releases and Ads
Press releases and other forms of advertisement inform the world about new businesses, products, and services hitting the marketplace. Capitalize on this connection with the public by allowing potential customers to gather additional details through your website. Keep in mind that this is a great way to bolster business sales.
Save Money
If you invest in printing and postage for your business, consider the prospect of saving money by replacing your printed materials with online advertising delivered through your website and email. Not only will you save a few bucks, but you’ll also place less strain on the environment.
Gain A Heads Up
A website allows you to gauge some of the most appealing aspects of your business. By routinely checking site stats, you can follow the surfing habits of visitors and get a sense of the products, services, and information attracting the most attention. This practice will also help you plan future events for your business, tweak advertising, order appropriate inventory, and predict sales.
Committing social marketing no-nos and don't even know it?
If you’re on the computer very often, you’ve almost certainly heard the terms ‘Web 2.0,’ ‘Social Marketing,’ and ‘Social Networking.’ In fact, they are a very important part of doing business online in today’s world. However, it seems that many business people and website owners aren’t quite sure what they should be doing in the Web 2.0 world.
Here are 5 things to avoid while taking advantage of social networking.
#5 – Do Not Neglect Your Social Networking ‘Friends’
These are the people you’ve added to your MySpace, Facebook, Digg or other social networking site. A lot of times, business or website owners will just add a ton of people in order to get their friend count up – and then ignore them. These are the people that will be voting for your site or blog. If they send a shout or recommend a page, take a serious look at it and let them know your thoughts.
This way, you can be sure that they will do the same when you send a page or a shout. Rather than adding a gazillion friends right off, look through the profiles and add friends who have similar interests as you. This will cut down on the chances of you getting pages or recommendations of things that you are not interested in at all.
#4 – Do Not Leave Generic Comments
When leaving comments on pages or blogs, read through the information and leave a comment that really adds to the conversation. If there’s one thing that irritates most social networkers, its comments like ‘nice post’ or ‘good job.’ What’s even worse is when you just get a little smiley face. Then you don’t know if they really even read the information.
Leave meaningful comments or comments that actually add some thought to the post. If you don’t have time, don’t leave a comment at all. Just return to the post later when you have a few minutes to actually comment in the correct way.
#3 – Don’t Get Too Personal
If you’re taking advantage of social networking sites in order to drive traffic to your business, you should maintain a professional image. Getting too personal is really not a good idea. I’ve read arguments, insults and some very colorful information while browsing through profiles and it’s not attractive. I kept thinking that I wouldn’t hire these businesses for anything – especially since they don’t know how to maintain professionalism in their own business.
If someone has written something that you don’t agree with, simply don’t comment. Or, comment in a professional way. Rather than telling the person how wrong and stupid they are, find something in their comments that you agree with. Then you can use a professional approach by telling them that you agree to an extent.
#2 – Never Post Something that Doesn’t Belong to You
People do it all the time – find an article that is well-written, remove the current links and add their own links back to their site. Never use someone else’s work at all without getting the proper permission. Not only does it make you look terrible in the online business world, but it is very illegal. Write your own content or hire a professional writer to do it for you.
#1 – No More Spam!
Do not spam your social networking friends with business information over and over again or leave spammy comments all over the place. This is one way to become quite unpopular in the social networking world. If you do it enough, you can even get your profile locked. There are ‘report this user’ buttons with each social marketing platform and since spam is the most annoying thing in the world, people will most likely report you. Only send valuable links or pages to people and never the same one more than once.
By avoiding these things in your social networking ventures, you can have a better chance of succeeding and really becoming a valuable and respected social networker.
Take the time to market within your own community.
Looking for new ways to market yourself? Become involved locally.
Image is all about perception, and if people see you as someone that cares about their local community, they will feel more inclined to deal with your business. Of course, make sure that you’re becoming involved for the right reasons – doing something with the sole intention of furthering your business is easily found out.
Some of the ways to give back to others include:
- Sponsor a local event or sports team.
- Offer yourself as a mentor for local school students.
- Build associations with worthy causes – cleaning up the local beach or park, for example.
Marketing yourself within your local surroundings will help define your business profile, whether your business is primarily an online or offline one. Once potential clients see your name in numerous areas, particularly if they’re areas that benefit others as well as you, then their natural inclination will be to do business with you. For this reason, marketing yourself is an essential and invaluable way to market your business effectively.
Don't count newspapers out when marketing your business.
While searching the Internet has become an obvious leader in providing information for curious consumers, business marketers still benefit from taking advantage of the many other advertising avenues waiting in the wings.
Let’s take the newspaper for example – from local PennySavers to the New York Times – this form of media continues to grab the attention of commuters, scrapbookers, avid readers, and those who simply enjoy lounging in bed with a morning cup of coffee.
Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of people who cannot resist flipping through the Sunday comics, browsing the classified ads, and making contact with news and information that is tangible. Sadly, many business owners miss out on a valuable opportunity to tap into the local market when they ignore the power of the newspaper.
Advertising in Local or Regional Newspapers
If you are a small business owner, you must get the word out about your business, especially if you are new to the market. Advertising in the newspaper is a great place to start. However, don’t fall victim to assuming that a large, flashy ad will attract the most attention. Instead of focusing on size, concentrate on frequency. You will gain the best chance of reaching your target audience if you remain visible for a longer period of time. Tailor your ads to alert consumers that you are “the one” to call when it comes to solving a problem or making life easier.
Remember – display ads quickly lose their luster, especially when you can’t afford to keep posting on a regular basis. Choose an uncomplicated classifieds ad to enjoy effectiveness through repetition; and always include your website address so that interested individuals may follow up on your business.
If you’re tallying up the price for promoting your goods and services on a weekly basis (especially when it comes to the Sunday paper) – think again. Getting your name in the newspaper is easier and less expensive than you think. A few suggestions include:
1) Write a letter to the editor. Consider voicing your opinion about a topic that pertains to your industry, market or niche. This will provide a decent opportunity for you to mention your company or business.
2) Ship out press releases with an attached professional image or photo. This tactic helps the public associate a business name or company with a representative image. Brand recognition often plays an important role in persuading consumers to buy.
3) Sponsor an event that receives local coverage. Many times, advertisements are placed in the newspaper displaying the name or logo of sponsors who have contributed to a particular cause. This is also a great way to become a positive presence in the neighborhood.
4) Land a contributing writer position. Gain exposure for your business when you become a familiar face or voice in the community by writing a column in the local weekly or submitting articles to larger publications as a contributing writer. In your bio, make sure to include your website address and company information.
Photo Credits: Jean Scheijen AKA Vierdrie (top), Alvimann @ Morguefile (bottom)
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