During my time in the Fundraiser unit, I found out more about methods that can be used to fundraise online. After that, I looked into ways to get media press coverage.
As I learned more about methods for fundraising online, I came across great advice about email lists and the costs and risks of purchasing them. Purchasing email lists can come with the risk of annoying people due to the spam emails that would be given. The worse part of that is how it could lead me to get my email invalid due to excessive spam. This would only lead to worse situations for me such as having such a bad reputation all because of an email list I didn’t even make myself. That is not to say there aren't any benefits from buying these lists, however. There is the fact that the speed and scalability that can come with purchasing a marketing list. Based on what I learned about the strategy, it is not easy having Inbound marketing as it can take a tremendous amount of time to generate a large email list. Despite this, it seems that I would be better off making one on my own by creating gated assets so there's a reason for people to give me their email addresses. I could then Promote these gated assets on my marketing channels.
After I completed that section of this unit, I went on to learn about what it means to gain media press coverage and the many things to consider. The first art is considering my demographics to even know what kind of content I need to send. It also helps me know where to send that content and know the right social channels to help my goals. Once that is out of the way, I can then keep track of my campaign and measure to see how it is going. It would also help for me to tag people with the @ symbol to help further my reach. I would need to be active and not simply ignore my campaign, especially if it is all about growing it as best as I can. One last part of my content is that it must not only talk about my cause. While it is important to advertise and explain my cause t people, it would not help people be interested in just calls for help or assistance. Sometimes it helps to show that you can prove something that is either useful or helpful to the audience so they would feel more committed to my goals.
According to what I learned in that section, another important part of the coverage is getting a press release. A press release is considered a standard way of promoting a message to the news media. The goal of a press release is to pique the interest of a journalist or publication. The most critical piece of a press release would be the angle. Before I could even write, I must find a newsworthy angle based on my type of press release, then craft my story around that. I would have to first start with a basic draft of my ideas in concept and then fine-tune it by putting the most compelling information I can to hook journalists or readers early. After writing your press release, the next step is to get a local press outlet depending on what type of coverage I choose. This could range from printing coverage, radio stations, television stations, or local website. All in all, this method is a worthwhile investment of my and many other people’s time that can yield great rewards if done correctly.
During my time in the Fundraising Unit, I learn a lot about the methods used for fundraising online.
One of the first things I learned was how crowdfunding worked. Instead of seeking a large sum from a single source, like investors or a bank, crowdfunding works by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people who wants to see a project succeed. It also has the benefits of validating my ideas thanks to crowdfunding allowing me to plan and scale my business based on knowing what people want. It also helps build a following when done properly. Doing this would need the right tools such as a good platform such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Patreon, GoFundMe, and many others as they are known for helping push ideas into success. There is also a need for a plan to make crowdfunding work. The first step is to Prepare for success with research and a clear plan. The next step is to make sure my campaigns reach 30% of its goal to entice backers in believing my campaign can succeed. After that, one of the most important, but difficult, parts is to evaluate the strategies for my campaign and make sure they are feasible or even possible to work.
Another method I learned that can be used for fundraising is social media campaigning. Marketers have quickly noticed the importance of targeting their customers through social media due to the number of active users on these kinds of platforms. As such, billions have been invested for the sake of social media investment. To make a successful social media site, the first step would be to identify my target audience to know what kind of content I would need to make and how to make it. After that, There would need to be a content calendar to know when the content would be placed as know you help promote my campaign without doing too much or too little. After all of that is complete, I can then develop visual and written content for the campaign and ensure it is on brand while also being reusable in certain cases. It also helps to not only send content, but I must also monitor and respond not to make myself distant from those who would support me.
Celebrity/influencer fundraising can also be used to help to fundraise when done right. Social media influencers are trusted voices that drive conversation and action within their communities. While a lot of people hype this type of method of fundraising, there are things to consider. For one, a social media influencer must be trustworthy to have an effect. They must also have a large enough reputation to make the campaigning noticeable to as many people as possible on many social media platforms. There is a hierarchy of sorts with influencers from lowest to highest: Micro-influencers, Middle influencers, and Top-tier influencers. A superfan is also a type of influencer that can help but are more so people within my network that organically want to promote your content. In this case, I would treat them similarly to other influencers because while they may not as popular or noticeable, they are dedicated and loyal, making them invaluable.
As I was finishing my Niche Website Unit, I continued to find out more about monetizing on my niche website. After that, I went on to learn some things about fundraising and what it means to get support.
As I continued in the Niche Unit, I took into some consideration the importance of being able to manage my finances. This can be done through the usage of Google Spreadsheets or Excel. They might take some time to tweak it to your business but once you do it will be easy to keep track of your business expenses and income using this free excel profit and loss statement. It is important to keep a check on business expenses and income no matter what. It helps accountants and shows that I am organized and ready to operate a business. I also learned about how I can memorize on my niche website through selling email newsletter sponsorships. This can be done by promoting, services, apps, or anything in my newsletter. This allows me to continue on niche websites while still making money through my sponsorships, as long as I can find the right sponsor.
After I finished with the Niche unit, I went on to learn about fundraising and how it works. Fundraising isn’t just about promoting thought and ideas. They organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. They also may design the promotional materials and help increase awareness of an organization's work, goals, and needs. Overall, they are essential to campaigning and are needed for it to be successful to have an impact on whatever someone could feel strongly about.
There are some essential things needed to do well in fundraising, one of which is how to approach donors. While it is obvious that donors are needed as part of a campaign, mistakes can be made in doing so. Some of these include not letting people finish what they have to say or think, being too unnecessarily complicated, being too informal, giving an overly long story about the organization, or even forgetting to ask what is needed to help the organization. What should be done is to simply explain the background f the organization and what I do as means for people to get the gist. I must then be able to give a story of some form to help convey emotion and make the call to action. Conveying emotion is essential since, without it, people would not care as much as I would. The point is to make them feel how I feel about something to get them to understand and possibly join and support my cause.
While this can not be done all the time in person, it is still possible to do in several other ways. The uses of social media platforms, videos, or even email to help connect those we can not see eye to eye for whatever reason. Emails can also be used to help write pitch letters to potential supporters of my organization. This has to be done similarly to how anyone would be able to get donors to face to face. I would know if they work if the person responds with interest and even offer their contact information to set a time to speak to them about what I have to say. Major donors make the largest contributions that your organization receives, so your organization will want to work hard to find and keep their support so connecting is a must.
As I continued to learn more about niche websites, I learned a lot about the means to get visitors and how to monetize off of getting visitors.
The snippet is one of your most valuable pieces of online real estate. This is the doorway to my site, and I would need to make it as enticing as possible. I need people to click my link without lying or misleading them. While search engines have the last say in how these snippets appear, I can give them options. If they deem these worthy, they will use them.
Featured Snippet can bring less traffic, which can be an issue for some. Of the clicks that go through, they are proportional to less traffic, making less traffic cause fewer people to be interested in going to a website. Some marketers would be concerned with less traffic because of feature snippets. This is mainly because people want definition and do not need to go to the site. Only when they want more detail about it, only then will people go to the site.
Website traffic is important as it would help me build a brand name and get known. Building my brand name can dramatically increase my ideas or business as people tend to trust people they know more and this reflects in buying. However, I still need to give myself more exposure, so I need more traffic. While there are ways to get traffic through instant website traffic generators, it is not highly recommended to do such a thing for a few reasons. One reason is that auto website traffic generators can hurt my rankings as Google can detect spammy behavior, and gets suspicious of spikes in activity. My website might also be avoided or even banned as people would see that my website is not really in the sense of people being in it.
There are many ways to help improve my website traffic. Some of these include having a business blog, writing irresistible headlines, creating awesome visuals, and having target keywords. Having a business blog strengthens my social reach with blog content and drives new website visitors to my blog through my social channels. Headlines are one of the most important parts of your content. Studies have shown effective blog headlines can drive way more traffic than they would have without them. Without a compelling headline, even the most well-written blog post will go unread. Master the art of headline writing so readers will choose your post on the SERP. Creating amazing visuals helps attract more visitors as it would show visitors that my website is worth something to look at based on appearance alone. This can be done by using design tools like Canva to illustrate concepts, visualize data, and recreate charts in your branding.
After being able to gain more visitors to my website, I would need to monetize my site somehow. One way I could do it is through email marketing. Email marketing isn’t just sending emails to subscribers. It is the process of sending optimized commercial messages through email to targeted consumers. It includes the process of developing promotional emails, testing, and maintaining them as well. Email marketing can be used to increase sales, improve brand loyalty, and deliver important information. Email marketing is beneficial because it is fast, efficient, and cost-effective. Using this method of marketing provides me with the means of reaching out to potential customers and retaining existing ones by encouraging repeat visits to a site to better engage with them.
Another way to monetize my niche website is to run display ads. Find any large, well-branded website; you will almost always find them running display ads. I think that the modern website user is used to ads and expects them, so don’t be afraid to put ads up. The main benefit to running ads is that I can every page or visitor of my site while having higher than normal earnings per thousand visitors (EPMV) than usual. Ads have a strength that affiliate sales can’t match: you can monetize every page of your site with more-or-less equal success.
Today I decided to learn more about niche websites and what makes them so special. Niche websites are sites that focus on a smaller or specific part of a bigger market, providing helpful content that answers questions or solves problems.
These types of websites provide several advantages such as less competition, better customer loyalty, and lower marketing expenses. These are the result of the fact that since niche websites are focused on one specific topic, it not only makes it easier and cheaper to focus on, it provides less competition as there are not too many websites that could be that specific, making it easier to gain and keep customers with the content I provide.
When building a brand and a website, the first things I will need are a domain name and an SSL certificate. A strong domain name is important for adding professional credibility to your business and separates you from the millions of get-rich-quick-scheme websites out there. It also provides Provides visibility for my brand or topic, which is important, especially when creating a niche website. Much like a storefront window or a catchy slogan, a good domain will create awareness and attract customers. I could acquire a domain name through planners such as GoDaddy, which carries multiple plans across various hosting types and offers some great features with their plans, making it all the easier to make a good website.
The main function of an SSL certificate is to protect server-client communication. On installing SSL, every bit of information is encrypted. While dealing with sensitive data such as IDs, passwords, credit card numbers, and other picked of sensitive data, SSL helps protect against hackers. Another purpose of an SSL certificate is to provide authentication to a website. Identity verification is one of the most important aspects as far as web security is concerned. There is no doubt about the fact that the internet is increasingly deceptive. When acquiring an SSL certificate, I must go through the validation process by an independent third party. Once I have proved your identity, my website gets trust indicators vouching for your integrity. When users see them, they know who they are talking to. This also helps improves my search engine ranking as it makes it more likely to be truncated by other search engines and more likely to gain attention it.
There is also a need to consider the content required for the niche website, for instance, the website needs to speak in a way where it is not too narrow to maintain a higher number of visitors but not too broad to not seem irrelevant or forgettable compared to many other websites what would do the same. As a result, I would need to consider the purpose of what I am writing and how credible I am being with my website. High-quality content extends beyond my blog and every page of my site is important for search engine ranking. I must also be able to know many questions my new clients would have and the solution for them. This not only adds high-quality content to my website but also shows I am capable of helping. I also need to still be relevant and useful to people. While this may apply to certain Show that I am up to date in your field and that your primary goal is to provide meaningful information. In addition to providing your readers with your expertise, link to resources that lead them to other useful sources as well as to the facts you use to support my work. Taking the work of others without my input would not make me a good writer, it would make me a liar and unreliable. People want to know more content that while similar, still provides originality with my perspective and personality in it.
Today I learned a lot about how to do well in web Web Design, what is the importance of Google Analytics, and how to get hired as a web developer.
Based on what I learned about Web Design and Getting Hired as a Web developer, it is not easy to get hired, especially if you do not have a portfolio to show your skills and talents. However, based on some of the videos there are ways to help with that situation. For instance, I could offer to work for free or cheap to entice people to hire me. While I would not get paid or make much, it would help with getting experience to add something to my portfolio to show my capabilities. Another tip would be for me to make a niche as it is much easier to create content for that niche. I must show I am making the website for somebody to give me the ability to focus on one thing instead of being overwhelmed by many other subjects. One last thing that could help is telling my story. Making a story about myself would help me stand out from others as it shows there is more to know about me instead of just professionally.
Another thing I was taught about was how people mess up trying to gain the interest of clients. Some people would go on about what they know and what they can do, but sometimes, they would not explain the things clients would want to know. Those things sum up in one simple phrase, “how will this help me?” Clients are more concerned about their websites and their situations and want something to help them in their predicaments. As such, it is important to focus on my best skills and show how I could help them in their dilemmas, preferably their biggest ones.
Google Analytics is an awesome plugin/tool that allows me to track & analyze all of my website traffic, another word for visitors to my website. This would allow me to know how many total visitors I get, how long they are spending on it, and where they are coming from. Getting Google Analytics requires me to first use a google account to head to analytics.google.com and sign up for Google Analytics. After that, I would get the code for it in the form of a script containing a unique tracking ID to integrate into my site. I must then test to see if it will work or risk having errors or mistakes when tracking and checking my website. While it may seem tedious and pointless to do all of that just to simply be able to keep track of events that happens on my website, it would be essential in the long run. Having a website while not having google analytics would make it near impossible for me to manage it. I would have no idea where I going with my website and will most likely go nowhere.
As I continued in the web Development Unit, I learned much about Website Administration and Version Control and how they are essential for web development.
A Domain Name Server, or DNS, translates a domain name to an IP address that a computer can understand. This makes it easier to understand how to find a website without having to remember the long and complicated numbers of IP addresses When a user types in a URL on the browser, the address gets fetched from Domain Name Servers and the server displays the requested website on the screen.
The way a DNS operates was a lot more complicated than I imagined. For it to work, there are various servers involved even when searching for a single website on the Internet. The root server is at the top of the DNS hierarchy and can directly answer queries with records stored or cached within itself. The Top Level Domain ( TLD ) server stores information that further distinguishes websites from one another, and also helps identify the content of the website. They can fall to the right of the dot, such as .COM, .NET, .ORG, and more.
Another major part of website building is the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). SSL is essential to make a website legitimate and can be helped identify with a green padlock means the website belongs to a web server and not someone else. However, it does not necessarily mean a website is safe or good as Hackers can get SSL certificates for their sites. regardless, SSL certificates are important and even though they would cost money, they would help make people come to your webpage.
I also learned a lot about Subversion SVN. SVN is a free, open-source version control system (VCS). It helps manages files and directories over time and keeps records of activity with it. Subversion permits to be utilized by individuals on a distinct computer could work across the network. Conflict can arise however when there would be changes made by a colleague and someone else can not afford to lose those changes when passed to them. Despite this, SVN allows individuals to alter and handle a similar set of information from their locations and promotes collaboration.
There is also the matter of Git. Git is a VCS that allows usually used for coordinating work among programmers collaboratively developing source code during software development. Some of the commands that be used are git add, git commit, git status, git push, and many others. The git add is used to include files to and index for your website. Git commit allows for changes to be made in an index and is the next command after the git add. The git status allows individuals to check on the state of the repository and staging area. It makes it so I can see any tracked or untracked files and changes. The git push command is used to upload local repository content to a remote repository. Pushing is how I could transfer commits from my local repository to a remote repo.
As I was looking at web Development, I learned more about HTML and parts of it. I also learned about different kidneys of jobs that can come from web development.
When it comes to HTML, there is a lot to understand in regards to it such as CSS and tags. The tags are needed to alter my website in any way I desire. I could add certain headings and set them up with different styles to make them more appealing. The most notable tags I learned about were div tags, which help separate parts of my website into what I intend to use. Nav, Section, and Footer are also div tags but allow me to describe my web page in a way that's much easier to read and easier for search engines to understand what is being read.
Another thing I learned about web development is how to add images. To put a simple image on a webpage, we use the <img> element. This can be done for either background images or content images, depending on if the image is part of the design or content of my website. I also understood how to add images but make them so they can be understandable for those who are visually impaired by having alternative text or having semantically correct titles for the images.
I also learned about the various jobs that can come from web development such as front-end development, back-end development, Data Architect, and System Administrator.
Front-end and back-end development are quite different from each other but are still two aspects of the same thing. The front-end is what users see and interact with and the backend is how everything works. The front-end is the part of the website users can see and interact with such as the graphical user interface (GUI) and the command line including the design, navigating menus, texts, images, videos, etc. The backend, on the contrary, is the part of the website users cannot see and interact with.
Data architects are IT professionals whose concerns are with designing, creating, deploying, and managing an organization's data architecture. They use their knowledge in computer science and design to review and analyze the data infrastructure of an organization to plan future databases and implement solutions to store and manage data. Data architects are also responsible for design patterns, data modeling, service-oriented integration, and business intelligence domains. This kind of work can be done almost anywhere since almost every company uses data.
A system administrator is also an IT professional, responsible for maintaining a computer-based environment. They are in charge of maintaining networks, managing servers, upgrading or improving them whenever possible, helping ensure network security, and many more in regards to networking and systems. Overall, they ensure that everyone can work without trouble in their workstations, making them very important.
Today I went back to the Intro Unit to look back on some articles and videos I missed. I then proceeded to start looking into a new unit that discussed Web Development.
As I was in the Intro Unit I learned more about interviews and how to put myself in a good position. The articles spoke about having to conform to a schedule, be active, be professional, and also be positive. It is also helpful for me to prepare myself to understand the kind of questions I would be asked about.
For instance, if I were to be asked about what I expect my salary to be, I would need to avoid telling such an amount. Doing so would put me in a position of lack of power, making it easier for people to take advantage of me. As such, I realized that it would be better to try to avoid answering that questions by admitting my interest in the job but not providing a number. This may not look good, but it would help show that I am interested in the offer but I am also smart and aware enough not to be tricked. Another thing that is also vital for me is to not put myself in a position of desperation. It is better to show I have nothing to lose as exemplified in some of the videos.
During my time in the Web Development Unit, I learned much about the basics of its functions and what kind of career it entails. Web development is a position about building, creating, and maintaining websites. It includes aspects such as web design, web publishing, and web programming. Working in web development would require an understanding of concepts such as HTML. HTML is a standardized system for tagging text files to structure a web page and its content. Creating a web page also necessitates knowledge about Javascript and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
JavaScript is a client scripting language that is used for creating web pages. It helps by adding more aesthetics and adds interactivity to websites. CSS is also something that can help style web pages. It can change the appearance and the layout of the webpage. However, CSS is not a programming language like JavaScript, which is more focused on the interactivity of a website, while CSS focuses on stylizing parts of the webpage. CSS is also more simple compared to Javascript when it comes to web page designing.
As I continued learning from the Service Unit, I found out more about a few more career options and what they entail.
Online Modeling takes a lot more than simply having the right looks, it also requires great presentation. To do that, there would need to be a market to choose from as there are different types of different people such as catwalk models for slim, attractive people and commercial models for less specialized looks. Models also need an impressive portfolio website to represent themselves online and distinguish themselves from others in the field. A high-quality online modeling portfolio can make a big difference.
Becoming a graphic designer requires not only relies on the right gear, but also the right software to go with it. To pick the right software I have to understand the industry. Despite this, the three main ones to know for any graphic designer are Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Indesign. Photoshop is where you are going to perform all of your photo editing and photo manipulation. Illustrator is used to making logos, or scaleable graphics. Adobe Indesign is essential for layout. It has all the necessary Grid, automation, and functions for peak accuracy in your graphic design work.
I already knew SEO stood for search engine optimization and it is meant to help make sure websites are popular and the services involve making the websites worthy of being ranked by search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. What I didn’t know about SEO, however, was that I would need to understand techniques such as keyword research, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO to be successful. Keyword research would allow me to know what people are looking for is the process of discovering popular words and phrases that people are typing into a search engine to find the information they’re looking for. On-page SEO is the process of optimizing web pages with title tags, meta descriptions, heading tags, and others ways to improve your standing with search engines. Off-page SEO is where I would need to get other websites to link to my web pages. This would allow me to have my web pages supported by others, thus higher rankings in search engines.
During my time in the Service Unit, I learned about other potential careers and how they work. PR agencies and advertising agencies share the same goals: promoting clients but are still different in how they do it. A PR agent would require getting eyes and ears on a person or business through writing and distributing press releases and speeches or creating and executing special events. I must also be aware if my press release is too long, targets the wrong audience, or isn't trustworthy enough by being too self-promotional. Another career that I learned about was online advertising and how effective it is. Online advertising is one of the best ways for businesses of all sizes to expand their reach, find new customers, and diversify their revenue streams. This can be done through many options, with pay-per-click advertising, or PPC, being of the most common and effective types of online advertising. For this to work, I would need to have a clear goal to define my objectives before I create an ad, have relevant landing pages to not risk losing potential customers, and use the right keywords as they are one of the most important parts of an ad. One last career topic that I was interested in was photography. This type of work can be done by starting with the photos I already have such as landscapes, and animals, to distinctive colors and patterns, I can turn any subject into beautiful prints. This, in turn, could be used for merchandise for people to buy. However, there are other uses of photography. It can also be used for helping businesses have images for promotional purposes, helping with photo editing online, or even teaching others about photography.
Today I was studying the writing Unit and came across some topics that interested me. I already knew that freelance writing is the practice of writing for money while working on one's own and not being employed by a company or organization. However, what I did not know though was that freelance writers are not only writers but also marketing themselves and their skills to potential clients. I also didn’t know that freelance writer can also be business owners. To be a successful freelance writer, I would need to have a combination of skills in creative wordsmith and shrewd business. Writing well is just the start as I must be also able to sell myself effectively and manage my finances. Another topic I learned about was digital marketing, which refers to all marketing efforts that occur on the internet. This is done through the use of digital channels such as search engines, social media, email, and other websites to connect with current and prospective customers. Based on the articles I read, digital marketing is better than traditional methods of marketing because it helps reach a larger audience and is more cost-effective. To do digital marketing, I would need to be able to first start identifying and defining my goals since my strategy would depend on those goals. I would also need to identify the target audience and have them engage in my content. One last subject I learned about was data entry. Data entry is where you transcribe some form of information into another medium, usually through input into a computer program. This can be done in the form of documents, information from spreadsheets, and sequences of numbers. Some careers are exclusively involved in data entry, while others may include performing other tasks occasionally. To do this kind of work, I would need knowledge of operating a computer and basic skills in Microsoft Office and researching. All of these topics I learned were very interesting to me, especially the data entry part as it felt like the most likely of the three subjects I may be able to do in the future with the skills and knowledge I already have.
While I studied in the Writing section, I came across some parts that discussed some interesting things to me. For backlink content, I learned how backlinks are links from one website to another and their importance comes from the fact that they can help gain more notoriety through referral traffic and help search your pages faster. To write content that other people link to, I would need to be the best in my category, simplify a complicated process, create "reference content", and be unique, controversial, and remarkable. When it comes to customer service, it involves reaching out to current and prospective customers with new offers, preemptive solutions, product news, and more. However, rather than working in-office, they work from home or another remote location. To do well in this type of role, it helps to be friendly, concise, and try to be more personal with my interaction to show that they aren't just talking to some recording or automated response, but rather a person. it is also important to be as polite as possible as a bad attitude can be a bad experience for anyone. As such, even when disagreeing with others, it is best to do so by being formal. Another thing I learned was about technical writing and things that are required to be on. Technical writing Communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications or medical procedures. It also requires communicating through technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites. There are multiple requirements for this position, the most notable being having to work with technology, staying indoors, and being well detailed in my writing pieces. One last topic I learned was grant writing and how it uses clear, specific language to persuade the readers to fund or supposer their proposal. Based on the articles I read, this is not easy, but it can become easier with practice and awareness of some important features of a grant proposal. The most important part would be to keep it simple because even if the project may be complex, it would be wise to keep it simple. If I can't get a reader to understand what I have to say, they won't be able to help and my proposal would not work.
As I continued to learn more about what it means to be a writer, I discovered a lot about copywriting and blogging. Copywriting is a way of writing for the conversion of people's ideas on certain topics. It is used to fuel business and it is normally used in sed in sales pages, catalogs, and advertising. Copywriting is one-directional and focused on one thing. The features are something that a product has or is but it is not what entices the customers. The benefits are to explain why a customer would buy the product and what is used to bring customers to buy instead. As such, good copywriting requires knowing why rather than should but the product and ensuring the big promise from it. Good copywriting also requires the usage of some tools such as Google Drive for sharing and editing with others, Google Calendar for planning and knowing what to do, and Boomerang for Gmail to help schedule out emails further in advance. Another thing I learned was blogging and how it is more than simply a regularly updated page website. It is something where I can take my unique thoughts and my writing style together in the form of written expression. although I was confused as to what makes a blog different from something like a website I learned how it is more complicated than them being the same or different. In a sense, a website can be a blog, have a blog, or have no blog. Regardless, a blog is something that is regularly updated as means to create personal journals, express yourself, teach and coach others, sell products, or promote brands. Guest blogging is another thing that can be done by inviting someone from outside of your company to write a blog that will be published on your website. The writer will usually work in the same industry as the organization or be an expert on the subjects done with that organization. This can help brand awareness and provide more refreshing content by having someone not affiliating with the company show their thoughts on it. This also helps the bloggers since it provides access to a new audience and a chance to get your business noticed. To be a guest blogger, I would have to be able to understand the company I am writing about and find the right approach to any organization or site I want to work with.
Today I learned about what it means to be a writer and learned about certain aspects of it based on what I learned about magazines, journals, and books. Magazines are written to inform or to entertain with broad information for a more general audience. To be successful as a magazine writer, it requires the ability to accept criticism to learn from past mistakes. Sometimes it may not be possible to have people accept my pitch for one reason or another. However, according to the video I watched, it helps to learn what went wrong as means to improve in the future. Journals, on the other hand, are scientific articles that usually focus on original research in a specific subject field or discipline. It requires a great understanding of what I would want to write about. Writing a journal isn't just talking about something in detail, it is also about how something can be done regarding what is being discussed. It is also important for me to know where I want to submit my work. I would need not just pick one out of an online search but rather learn more about them to feel loyal to share my writing with them. For books, it requires a few essential things to write a good book. For one, my story has to start at the right time as taking too long would make the book boring. Secondly, there needs to be more showing as too much telling makes for a crummy reading experience. Thirdly, the story needs to be something where the character is people enjoyable and the story is something people can look forward to reading.
I learned through the videos about the first steps of Data analysis and its importance in the world. According to the videos, analytics will continue to gain popularity as businesses are becoming more and more connected through apps and services such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It is all the more vital as it is a science of using data to build models that would lead to better decisions being made and improve companies. This is the result of the many uses for analytics in business, such as trying to improve situations of products and promote their product to their customers. They can also help people in general as they can be used for analyzing regions or areas in case of anger such as hot spots for tiger crimes, or even help identify risks for people's health like heart disease. I also learned about CRISP-DM and how it is processed for data mining. Data mining is the practice of examining pre-existing databased to discover or generate information. It works by understanding the data, preparing the data, partitioning the data, modeling the data, evaluating the model made, and then deploying that model to make a decision. This can be used for businesses to understand consumer behaviors, track information, and engage more customers in their marketing databases. As I learned more about data analysis, I also tried to learn more about the languages used for it such as Java and Python. Java and Python are both sought-after programming languages in terms of career opportunities as they are both useful in web development. As I discovered from the videos, there is a lot to learn about how to use these things but is worth learning despite the time it would take.
Today I decided to look back into jobs of being an analyst and I would then learn about what it means to be a data analyst and the skills needed for it. Data analysis is a job that typically uses computer systems and calculation applications to figure out numbers. The data must be regulated, normalized, and calibrated so that it can be extracted, used alone, or put in with other numbers without causing issues. As a result, it requires skills in, critical thinking, communication, data preparation, Structured Query Language (SQL), and R programming. Understanding SQL and R programming are especially important as they are languages in a sense of programming. R was made for data analysis and graphics, while SQL was made for databases, making them useful together. After watching the videos, I realized that while it is not impossible, it certainly isn't simple. There are many things I need to know to better understand what to do with SQL and R. Despite this, it would be helpful in the long run as many businesses, big or small, requires some knowledge of the two. Data analysis is a highly transferable skill and can help me be open to many jobs across the private and public sectors. Even if I can not become a data analyst, I may still be able to put what I learned to good use.
As I continued to learn more about being a virtual assistant, I found out about what it means to sell products and other services that I could provide such as working in transcription. Selling things in eCommerce can appear simple, yet they are a lot more tricky as shown in the videos. By going on an already existing website, I could already possess a means to sell without much cost, but I would face great competition and not gain as much profit as I would like. On the other hand, if I made my own website, I could face less competition and keep more profit for myself, but I would risk not being known as my website would be not as popular as others. Regardless, when it comes to selling, it requires a good understanding of how to sell and the steps to do so, called a sales funnel. A sales funnel is the process people go through to entice a customer into buying. Each stage of the funnel takes the buyer one step closer to making a purchase. A well-planned sales funnel will define the actions a business would need to take to push prospects to the next stage. I also learned how important it is to properly send the products customers would want to ensure success. If a product is fragile or at risk of ruin, I need to keep it protected but also avoid using too much material to not face excessive fees. Transcription seemed to be very similar to a virtual assistant at first, but as I soon found out it is a lot more complicated than that. Transcription jobs can be a great option for those looking to work from home, but it requires skills in fast typing, along with having great hearing and grammar skills. Though there are jobs that may not require experience, it still takes time and dedication to function in such a job. After taking some of my practice tests, the results were not well as I have made many mistakes due to mishearing or being too slow. This is not such a surprise for me but after reading and watching videos about what I could do, it still catches my interest.
I continued to learn more about being a Virtual Assistant and further requirements to be one. So far, I learned about the possibilities of what kind of jobs I could acquire even with little to no experience. I could work for places like Fancy Hands or Belay Solutions should I so choose. I may be able to find jobs like these with the many websites I read about, such as Time etc, Smith.ai, Delegated, 24/7 Virtual Assistant, and Zirtual. I also tried to learn more about the requirements for being a virtual assistant and I found felt I did not know too much at first. In virtual meetings, to look professional, I would need to fix things such as my lighting and perspective. I tend to have issues with lighting due to my window, which often causes shadows that obscure my face. As a result, I need to find rooms where there aren't windows to mess up my lighting. While it may be a bit tricky for me, I feel like it will help in the long run. The cameras on phones and webcams are usually wide-angle m, causing me to look distorted. As such, I will have to step away from the camera to make myself less awkward looking. I never really gave much thought to these concerns since I thought they weren't worth bothering myself over until I realized the consequences. If I do not look presentable, it may cause people to question if I am worth speaking about or believing in. If I am to have a chance to speak with professionals properly, I would need to improve myself so I can make a good first impression.
I learned what it means to be a virtual assistant and the skills required to be one. According to the article I read, a virtual assistant worker assists with administrative, business development, marketing, and other tasks. By taking on recurring tasks and administrative work, they free up time for business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers. Their responsibilities include responding to emails or phone calls and scheduling meetings or appointments. Becoming a virtual assistant requires many skills such as time management, bookkeeping, writing, e-commerce support, and data entry. A lot of these skills can be managed with the usage of certain platforms or apps such as Google Calendar to better set up meetings, Google Sheets to better organize information, and Google Docs for writing assignments with colleagues and superiors. Understanding commerce platforms such as Shopify would be important as knowing these service platforms well enough can help get in good graces with business owners or entrepreneurs who would need someone to help manage or create their selling means on those websites. It is also important to know how to speak properly on the phone by being positive, respectful, and clear with the people you talk to. Overall, it takes a lot to be a virtual assistant and the most essential part of being one is to always be able to manage and organize anything, whether it be a phone call, an email, or a website.
At Techie Youth, I learned how to improve my health to be more productive and improve my lifestyle. Improving one's health is essential as health can determine energy and productivity in life, which can be helped by diet and exercise. Buying the right gear for myself is also something I could work with as having the right things needed to be more active and motivated, whether it be buying better running shoes or purchasing a treadmill. Seeking out others for help such as friends, family, or coaches helps since having someone would allow me to stay more focused on my goals. Not only will these pieces of advice help improve me physically, but mentally as well, as having better health can improve my confidence and motivation in any of my actions, such as working or performing tasks. Another thing I learned that I found vital was finding a mentor I can have as a guide. However, as taught to me by the lessons, I can not simply have the mentor solve all of my problems without doing something about it myself. Instead, I wish to have a mentor to give me advice on what I can base on their personal experience or knowledge. I also learned how it is important to not see a role model and mentor as the same thing. A role model is not someone we can be guided by on a personal level as a true mentor could. We may want the people we idolize as the ones we follow, but that does not denote a real connection and the lesson helped me be aware of that in the future.
I learned how important it is to be aware of one's finances and what I can do to do so. One thing I could do is cut back on my spending by not purchasing unnecessary things such as games or snacks. Another way for me to save my money would be to simply save what I possess and keep it in case I would need it most. One more action I could take would be to invest my money in things such as ETFs, stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies. This would help me put my money to work and help earn more and save myself from potential financial burdens. Although the last part is tricky as an investment could go wrong, it helps to try and see how far you can make. One last important lesson I learned for today was how I need to manage my time better. I always felt like I could never manage my time better than I already knew how, but this lesson taught me a few things I have never done. For me, these include setting up a reward for my tasks as a means to feel more motivated for what I complete and making plans to make sure I do whatever I plan and stay focused. I found this two surprising because I never feel like rewarding myself very often or planning everything I do but after watching the video and reading some articles, I feel like these two pieces of advice might help me be more productive with my time.
Today I learned what it means to network with others and how to make those connections. According to the videos I watched, If I am in a conversation with someone with no advantage, I should leave the conversation as it is not worth it. While it may seem harsh, it would make it easier for me to manage my connection if I didn't have many unnecessary connections. To have any conversations in the first place, I should go to events and find people to speak to who are willing to talk to me as a means to have a conversation without making them feel uncomfortable or uninterested. The events that I could go to to do this could include job fairs, professional meetings, the office, cultural events, or volunteer opportunities. It is also important to message the people I met before 24 hours or else I risk forgetting about them or them forgetting me. Another major thing I learned is what it means to be a digital nomad and how to properly live as one. While it may sound simple to do, it takes a lot more than simply traveling and doing your job. I would need to find a means to afford living quarters which can sometimes be an expensive thing to do if you wish to move to other places constantly. As such, it helps to work abroad in exchange for room and board or even find a no-cost place to stay such as Workaway or Workpackers. Being a digital nomad also requires the commitment and ability to even be able to travel constantly many would eventually find it tiresome. It takes more than having a computer and going out and enjoying the outside world to be a digital nomad; it also takes time and money, two things that are needed to be taken care of to have a future.
I learned how to manage work at home without the negative effects of it. For instance, to still be productive, I would need to make a schedule to avoid not working and to know when to take breaks. This is so I can still be a productive person without risking being lazy due to being able to work wherever I please. Also, I learned that it helps to know the right places to work so as not to ruin your morale from working by yourself. These places could include a room that you dedicate to work, a cafe that allows you to do your business, or a special coworking space with others like you. Another thing that I learned about is how it helps to still interact with a co-worker even if it can not be done in person. This is solved by simply having an informal meeting to talk and spend time without feeling so distant from colleagues. One more major thing I learned is that I should be very aware of offers that could be too good to be true. a lot of people would exploit people who would be in desperate situations such as needing a job or needing help. This would allow others to try and scam you and there are ways to tell. Sometimes, what they have to offer could be too good to be true or can be offered at a price that seems too low. They could also make grand promises that would not be feasible for you. As such, it is vital to learn about what you are offered and who is offering it before blindly committing yourself to it as it may be too late to go back on your decision.
Today I learned about what it means to gain a job and how it can be affected by small but surprisingly vital factors. For instance, you may be denied a job should you have a bad reputation on social media in which you may have done something unappealing to many. This is important as many other places, not just companies would rid of you once they find anything scandalous, showing the lack of tolerance from those who expect good examples in the organizations they run hold. Also, it is vital to know how to properly speak to employers by showing you are confident, ready, but also curious, and dedicated to the job and should be worth hiring. This aspect takes time and is best helped according to some of the videos, with practices where you feel like you are in a real one as a means to learn what you can do and what you can improve. It won't be easy the first time but after many attempts, it will help you prepare for the real thing. It is also important to avoid acting overconfident or apathetic to the job and only focus on the benefits for yourself, making yourself undesirable to employers. It helps to show you care about the place you wish to work at and are ready to join without acting like you can do anything and feeling like money is more important than the work you do for others.
Today I learned a lot about how people receive, save, and use money and how this can help me in the future. The first thing I read about is how people used their checking and savings accounts as a means to hold their money. The main difference between the two is that there is usually an interest rate for a savings account, unlike a checking account. I also learned how a checking account can provide a lot of benefits such as being able to transfer money, withdraw funds from ATMs, write checks, pay bills, or manage my account online. Another interesting thing I learned about is how important it is to make sure you write your checks when using them as a means to avoid risk. A lot of these tips include keeping my checks from growing, having a consistent signature, and the avoid writing checks payable to cash as means to secure myself from the risk of fraud. Another interesting thing I learned is how payments can be made online in the form of payment aggregators or true merchant account providers. Payment aggregators are more for smaller businesses or normal individuals as they do not come with extra costs and are more simple than true merchant providers, which offer a more robust account with the ability to but at a higher cost. This makes me see payment aggregators as viable as I do not require something that I feel won't be necessary for me.
I learned how come people work remotely and what it entails. A lot of people who work remotely do so as a means to be able to work while being able to enjoy their lives with hassles to time, health, and energy. I also learned how to live one's life remotely presents the options of different jobs such as a YouTuber, blogger, travel photographer, or even a digital nomad. What they all have in common is that they all involve being able to go and enjoy their lives while being able to fulfill their responsibilities of work. I also learned how to get such jobs, it requires a good account to present who you are, a resume to show what you can do, and a cover letter to familiarize yourself with the company and your desire to be in it. The main thing I learned when making all three of these important parts is that for it to work, one can not just simply write a lot of things and expect that alone to help. Instead, having fewer words in them helps as long as each sentence or work shows you who you are without being tiresome.
Today I learned all there is about Business Analysts and how they work. The articles and videos I watched about it taught me how it is different from Data Analysts as Business Analysts require more communication with other people in the business as it is your job to not only solve problems in the business but to also help the business with a conversation between people, most notably IT workers and Stockholders. I also learned that, for Business Analysts, it takes a lot of work to write business requirements. It starts with having to understand the problem you want to solve, hold a meeting with stockholders to do discovery, and only then can you start making the requirements for the company. Some of those requirements would include processes and rules for those processes for things to work and would further require better knowing the business first to ensure no complications. Overall, I learned how being a Business Analyst is a lot more complicated than I used to think they were, which honestly makes me respect them more for being able to do things that would require a lot of skill and knowledge.