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What Is My Domain Authority And How Can I Improve It?

7/5/2020

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by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network
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As a website domain owner, it's important to stay informed on the most current ways to keep it in front of the most people at all times. Part of that involves using measurement tools to see what your website looks like to outside sources that may be used to find you. Therefore, you may be wondering what is my domain authority? Learn how to find your domain authority, learn what is domain authority and page authority,  what is a good domain authority, and more.

What Is Domain Authority?

Ranking on or near the first page with the biggest search engines is essential to getting your website seen. Domain authority is a score developed by Moz that measures your ability to rank on the search engine result pages (SERPs). This score ranged from 1 to 100, with 100 being the best score possible and 1 being the lowest.

How To Check Domain Authority And How DA Works

To check domain authority, you'll need to use a domain rating checker. The Moz Link Explorer is the best place to find your domain authority or the page authority of any given page on your website. Many online marketing platforms and SEO tools will quote your website’s domain authority. This useful tool will provide the domain authority ranking, which will be a number between 1 and 100. 

New websites always begin with a DA score of 1. As a website gains high-quality backlinks to it over time, this score will gradually increase. Keep in mind that because it’s figured on a logarithmic scale, it’s much easier to get to 10 than it is to 20, and so on. In order to track your progress, you’ll want to check domain authority history and use a domain rating checker periodically to check and log your current score.

What's A Good DA Score?

What is a good domain authority? A “good” DA score for a website is one that is higher than that website’s competitors in search. It all depends on what the website you’re trying to rank is about. In some niches, a 20 or 30 is a good score if your competitors in search rank below 20. Other niches will require that you have a DA of over 70 to even have a good chance to appear on the first page of Google.

Domain authority is a predictive metric. It should be used to compare competing websites or tracking the ranking of a certain site over time. It’s not an absolute metric. Also, while DA is not an official metric used by Google itself, it is recognized as a benchmark that other SEO tools refer to all the time.

DA VS. Page Authority

What is domain authority and page authority and how do each of these relate to each other? Page authority looks at the ranking strength of individual pages on a website. It’s ranked the same way, but compares individual pages in search results instead. So, you could have a website with a low DA but have individual pages with much higher PA (page authority).

How Can I Influence My DA?

Because DA is an approximation based on many different factors that Google uses in ranking websites, it’s difficult to influence it directly. As a general rule, you should focus on building high-quality backlinks. Track and log your domain authority ranking often. Then, check domain authority history periodically to see how you're doing. This will help you find patterns in what is increasing your score.

Why Did My Domain Authority Change?

There could be many reasons your DA would change, some of which are out of your control. The first and most common reason for it to change is that Moz recently crawled more or fewer domains that were linking back to your domain. It can change based on the number of links, as well as the quality of said backlinks. The DA also may have changed because of a higher authority domain having its score raised or reduced. This can change the ranking of other indexed domains in the category, including yours. 

How To Improve My Domain Authority

The easiest way to improve your domain authority is to create content that people want to link to. Also, making sure backlinks use keyword rich anchor text is important. Keeping track of your link profile and disallowing poor quality links with Google’s Disavow Tool also helps. DA is not something you can change overnight, so you have to continue to work on it.

In short, your domain authority ranking will tell you where you are in relation to competitors. Tracking it frequently will help you learn how much you are improving or of your score drops. To search for your domain authority score, use a domain checker, such as Moz Link Explorer. Improve your score by gaining quality backlinks from reputable sources.

Need help with proper SEO for search and/or increasing DA or PA? Hire Us!
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Creating Excellence in Your Healthcare-Related Organization - An Interview with Brad F. Pollins of “Awakening Your Organization”

7/2/2018

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by Lyn Lomasi; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network
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I recently had an interesting conversation with Brad F. Pollins about the subject matter of his book, “Awakening Your Organization.” In his book, he talks about how to “awaken” the healthcare field with a commitment to excellence. Learn what Brad recommends, based on the subject matter of his book, as well as his experience in the healthcare field both as a professional and a patient.

Q: What inspired you to write “Awakening Your Organization”?

A: Actually, the experience with my father as he battled cancer coupled with my fifteen plus years leading improvement efforts in healthcare where I saw first hand the opportunities to re-humanize healthcare. I believe that everyone, despite their clinical condition, should receive compassionate high quality care from a team that is passionately committed to excellence from before the patient arrives until after the patient leaves and every touch-point in between.

Q: In what ways do you feel healthcare organizations need awakening?

A: In many ways, I believe those of us who work in healthcare are rushing, frustrated, fatigued or complacent based on a number of environmental factors.  When we are rushing, frustrated, fatigued or complacent we cannot be truly present. This has resulted in many healthcare workers being principally task focused/task-centric which blinds them to what it truly means to be patient focused and centric. I have worked with and for so many different industries and what sets healthcare apart from other industries is we are dealing human beings who are experiencing pain, anxiety, stress, uncertainty, and even tragedy. This requires healthcare workers to be incredibly emotionally intelligent, empathetic, compassionate and clinically exceptional.

Q: Who can get the most out of reading this book?

A: Every healthcare employee including providers and leaders. Especially leaders because they foster the culture that influences behavior which determines the results achieved. I believe there are incredibly talented and committed healthcare workers who are constrained by ill conceived processes and outdated policies and procedures designed to govern behavior.

Q: Do you feel that lessons from this book could help awaken organizations in other industries, as well?

A: I do. The Awakening Organization Model is transferable to any industry or business. Every business should be setting clear and consistent direction, building a strategy supportive culture, staffing the enterprise with high performing employees and multiplying the efforts through continuous process improvement. I believe the performance of people is the physics of organizational performance because the behavior of people (actions and decisions) determines the results the company will experience.

Q: If readers can take away just one or two things from reading your book, what do you expect them to learn?

A: First, performance of an organization is not based on any single element - it's not just leadership, it's not just culture, it's not just people, it's not just strategy and it's not just processes - it is the synchronization of all of these components. Second, culture is critically important and most organizations only pay it lip service. There is a reason that enlightened people say “culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch and dinner” - because most of the time it does. This is because culture either engages or disengages people, it energizes or de-energizes people and it connects or disconnects people.

A healthy and fit culture engages and energizes the people to behave in strategy supportive ways.  The connection between strategy and culture becomes clearer in this context – for successful strategy execution people have to behave in a strategy supportive manner, which has to be reflected in the core values of the organization and everything has to reinforce this imperative.  Culture can either be designed, or it happens by default.  A culture by default is what naturally emerges whereas a culture by design is a deliberate reconstruction of the elements that purposefully develop the desired culture needed to execute the strategy.

Q: Where can interested parties purchase your book, “Awakening Your Organization”?


A: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and BookVenture
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Increasing Page View Traffic to Earn More Money on Your Blog or Website

2/25/2017

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Website Traffic
The more your content is seen, the better the performance of your ads, services, and products, which leads to more revenue. But how do you get your content out there? What’s the best way to get more pages to receive the best traffic for ad revenue? In the years I’ve spent as a web writer, website owner, blogger, and all-around content creation specialist, I learned quite a bit about getting quality traffic, leading me to receive millions of pageviews  on my content. Like me, you too have the power to increase your blog traffic with several different methods that can be applied right away.

Optimize your content for search. Framing one very specific topic in each article helps attract both readers and search engines. Stick to the point throughout your page, article, or blog post and also within your title and descriptive overview. Use words people would use to find information like yours via search engines. Easy SEO Techniques for Online Article Writers and Using Google Autocomplete to Find Longtail Keywords will also help. Correctly using these and other whitehat SEO tips can help increase your article’s relevance to search engines, which can have a significant impact on on your page views. Using SEO techniques improperly (such as with blackhat SEO) might work at first, but will lead to a very negative impact.

Use social media to spread the word. Word of mouth is a strong force, especially on the Internet. People look to social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, for valuable information. Many are very likely to read what their friends and family members recommend and will show that same content to their friends and family. This circle of sharing that happens on various social media sites can help increase an article’s performance in a significant way. In addition to sharing content on your Facebook profile, all writers and website owners should consider starting a Facebook fan page to build their brand. Creating a Twitter account around a specific niche can also be a helpful tool for increasing readership, thus increasing page views. Social media tools, such as HootSuite can help writers and website owners manage those profiles and give you an idea of how effective your efforts are.

Backlinks from quality websites and blogs get you noticed. When your content is linked by multiple valued sources, that looks good to search engines. It also gets your link in front of more people. Make sure not to overdo the linking when linking back to yourself, however. That can have the opposite effect. The best backlinks are those that happen organically, meaning another person has noticed your work and linked back. You may not be able to control whether someone links back to you or not. But writing quality content that people are interested in can increase those chances. Guest posting on relevant sites with a link back to relevant work is an acceptable form of backlinks as well. Never pay for backlinks, as this can have a very negative impact if discovered by search engines.

Start a niche blog or website. If you are an expert in a topic, make it known by blogging regularly or keeping an up-to-date website. Link back to your existing content when relevant.  Not only does this draw more attention to your content. But it helps you build your brand, which is also good for gaining and keeping readership. Regularly updated blogs and websites draw attention of search engines and readers alike. When you link your content by publishing in multiple (relevant) places regularly, that increases the chance of those articles performing better. Be careful not to place too many links in each post or to do overdo the linking, however. It should always be relevant and natural.

Include a related section where possible. Regular readers may be familiar with this section in some of my articles. At the end, I sometimes include a section labeled “More from Lyn”. Once I started doing this, my page views increased significantly. This section gives more value to the readers while increasing the chance of greater performance of the linked content. Be sure not to include more than three to five links, however. They also must truly be related to the content. Unless a venue doesn’t allow it (or you have already placed enough links throughout the content), it is always best to include this section.

Never Use Ad Removers or Ad Blockers: Here's Why

1/7/2017

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Sometimes ads can be annoying. So, you may be enticed to install an ad remover app or program. Before installing ad blocker or ad remover programs, consider all these reasons not to. Doing so can actually be harmful in many ways.

Ads Keep Your Information Coming

In order to be able to display that information you’re reading, website owners often rely on payments from those ads. Without impressions (aka you viewing the ads), this can’t happen. If not enough ads are getting impressions (and clicks and sales), that means the website owner no longer can afford to display said content and you lose that reading venue. It costs money to maintain a website (hosting, domain, time and effort, possibly employees and freelance creators, and so on). Therefore, when website owners don’t earn enough via ads, they sometimes have to downsize or close that venue.

Many Content Creators Get Paid Solely From Ad Views and Interaction

Similar to the website owner, many writers, videographers, and photographers get paid based on the ad revenue made from their content. If the ads have little to no impressions (due to the ad blocker or ad remover), that person makes little to no money on the content and can no longer afford to display it or create more. Therefore, you may no longer see content from this person and they make no money from the hard work they did getting the information out there for you to see.

Can you imagine going to work every day, say 5-8 hours per day, and then getting no paycheck as a result of that work? This is what would happen to a content creator if everyone blocked the ads. Sure, not everyone does. However, each blocked ad does ad up and count toward a loss for the people who worked so hard to create that content you love. Just like you deserve to enjoy it, they also deserve to be paid for the work put into it.

Blocking Ads May Encourage Publishers to Charge For Their Info

The display of ads is often the only way publishers and writers can afford to freely display their content to the public. Without funds from ad revenue, many publishers look to other options, such as paywalls, eBooks, subscriptions, and other paid access choices. In order to keep information free for all to access, sometimes those seemingly annoying ads just have to be there without the intrusion of ad blocking and ad removal programs. I think most people would agree that seeing an annoying ad here and there is  a much better option than having to pay for each item they want to view online.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section.

How to Get More Fans & Followers on Your Write W.A.V.E. Media Content

1/30/2016

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image © Hurca!; Flickr.com
Does your Write W.A.V.E. Media (WWM) content need some extra love? Do you keep checking your fans and followers on social media in hopes that more people will appear? If they haven't yet, you're probably going about things the wrong way - or you just got started and haven't given people time to find you yet. There are many different ways to get more fans and followers. The methods I find the best might surprise you.

Just be you. My number one rule in gaining fans and followers is to just be yourself. This should radiate in the comments you leave, in the content you publish, in your forum posts, and on social sites outside of WWM. There is no model form that everyone should fit into. Readers like to see the real person behind the writing.

Don't seek fans. Huh? Yes, that's right. If you want to gain the trust of your readers and writer friends, don't look at them as fans. Certainly don't seek out people, hoping they will like your Facebook page or subscribe. So, why is my fan base so large if I don't seek out fans? I consider my readers and fellow writers to be my friends. Some are closer than others of course. But, I do not go around saying "Please be my fan" or "Please subscribe to my work". Instead, I make friends and it doesn't bother me if they choose not to read my work. Not everyone is interested in the same things.

Fans and followers don't necessarily equate to high page views. Most large amounts of page views do not come from having fans and followers. They actually come via the search engines. So, why create those connections, then? Well, just for the sake of having like-minded friends and even for networking purposes. This is not to say their views don't count for anything. They absolutely do. Every view counts. But please don't look at your friends as page view insurance. Treat them as you would any other friend. There are real people behind those computer screens - not just numbers to add to your fan tally.

Don't expect people to subscribe or fan you just because you follow them. Sometimes people will fan you back or follow your work if you do the same with theirs. But don't get hurt feelings if they don't - and as mentioned above, don't ask. They simply just may not enjoy your topics or they may just be too busy to read more often. If someone has good content, I am going to read it whether they read mine or not. I never want anyone to feel pressured to read my work just because I read something of theirs. Of course, I appreciate every view I get. But, the most valuable and rewarding fans and subscribers are those that truly are interested in what you have to say.

Promote. Now, this may seem to contradict not seeking fans. In fact, it doesn't. It's alright to promote your work. Just do it where appropriate. For instance, don't spam message all your Facebook friends asking for reciprocal subscribing or liking of pages. It would be much more effective (and polite) to post a parenting article link on your profile, fan page, or even on a parenting site where that's allowed. There are ways to find a targeted audience that will be more interested and less irritated with you. Social sites are a great way to get the word out about your work. Just be sure to post other things and not just links to your work. Friends may be interested in your work. But, if that’s all you ever post, it may be considered spam.

Go about your daily routine. Just doing everything you normally do on WWM will eventually lead to fans over time. Comment on articles you enjoy. Subscribe to the topics and writers you enjoy. Find their blogs outside the WWM sites, as well. Visit the forums and participate in whatever interests you. People will naturally be curious about you and possibly check out your work, too. If they like what they see, they may even subscribe.

By following the advice above, you will soon find yourself gaining more than just fans. You'll be gaining valuable friendships - something much more important than a tally number.

Blogging for Write W.A.V.E. Media: Why Should You?

9/27/2015

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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We need you to write for us. But why should you? What makes us different from any other company out there? For your convenience, we have listed some of the benefits cited from writing for us.

More control over your earnings

We leave ad placement within your content solely up to each writer (not inclusive of any ads we may already have on any given venue). This means that you get to choose which ads are placed with your content and you manage the account surrounding those ads. We do this to ensure that Our Writers get their ad view counts from someone other than us, in an effort to keep trust.

More control over your content
Any content published on our venues remains your perpetual property. We simply ask you for display rights to place it on any of our sites. Those who go through the Blogger Application process and get approved have access to their designated categories and can post, edit, and delete their own content as they please.

Extra exposure just for being you

When we notice a writer who’s doing an awesome job at providing quality content on the topics that interest them, we give them even more exposure. That means more promotion and more recommendations simply for being you! This is a great opportunity for those promoting causes and ideal near and dear to them, such as animal rescue, LGBTQ rights, homelessness awareness, and many more. The subject is up to you. The exposure is up to us.

We network you

Our Writers are featured across our network of sites, as well as in various social venues. We feature them on our facebook and twitter pages, in emails to prospective clients, and in many other ways. We even allow links to your other content, within reason according to our Submission Guidelines. Our main goal is to spread the word about quality writers and help them find work they deserve.

We teach you

We don't just post your content and profile and ignore you. We offer our blog as a learning tool. But we also will answer questions from writers directly -- things that help you succeed in what you do. This not only ensures Our Writers always produce the best content for us. More importantly, it helps them become better writers overall. Again, our main goal is to tell the world about you and help you get contracts and gigs you deserve.

We want you to have other clients

Say what? Yes, that is correct. Our goal is not to be your only venue of choice. In order to truly know the ins and outs of the writing game, we believe that all web writers should submit to multiple clients and venues. This provides you with a range of experiences that adds to your overall quality as a web writer. In fact, we prefer that you do not use us as a sole source for your writing needs for this purpose. Diversification equates to knowledge and experience.

Ultimately, it is up to each individual which venue or venues will suit their personal needs. We hope this guide has helped in your decision.

Blogging for Write W.A.V.E. Media: How to Get Started

9/27/2015

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image © freeblogphotos; Flickr.com
Are you unsure exactly what direction you should take with us as a writer? Not quite understanding how things operate? This simple guide should navigate you through the beginning steps. If you have questions beyond that, please use our Contact Us form or join the Facebook group, WWM Blogging & Beyond.

Step One: Read, read, read!! -- Before submitting any content or applying, be sure to read all about us and how we work. The Submission Guidelines should be your very first stop to make sure you can write in the free-form styles we are looking for and follow rules. After that, take a look at Our Sites to view content and get an idea of what type of work we accept. We promise you we are very open-minded, but we do of course need to have some grammar and style rules, like any reputable publication should.

Step Two: Decide your goals -- Which of our options best fits your needs? Do you want to write for us on occasion or just once? The Guest Submissions page is probably what you are looking for. We love to hear from a variety of people and this is a good way to get your message heard on one or more occasional issues. Are you looking for a contracted gig? Please check out Gigs With Us and Other Gigs. Perhaps you are looking for a flexible blogging platform with an established audience. Check out our Blogger Application to determine if that may be your answer. We all have unique needs and once you determine what you are looking for, that helps us both decide where to go.

Step Three: Wait and Learn -- At this point, you should know what you would like to do and you will likely be waiting to hear back from us. We generally don't take that long. But we have some experience with that waiting game writers experience. We know it's tough -- even when it's a short time. While you're waiting, brush up on the Submission Guidelines, follow our Blog, browse Our Sites, or chat it up with fellow writers on the Write W.A.V.E. Media Facebook page. We have found as writers that the best way to conquer the waiting game is to read, learn, write, edit, rinse, and repeat.

Good luck!

We look forward to working with you!

Web Community Managers: Dealing With Spam

2/11/2015

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image by Judith E. Bell via Flickr.com
Part of managing an online community includes keeping it as spam-free as possible. In order to do this, you’ll need to be clear and consistent with members. This doesn’t mean you have to be mean. In fact, as a community manager, you should have team spirit. Following these simple actions can help you keep control of spam in your community, while still being a team leader and friend.

Set Guidelines

If members are unaware of what they should and shouldn’t do it’s easy for things to get out of hand. Set clear guidelines that people can understand and access easily. This will help members to understand what they should and shouldn’t be doing. Some people may break the rules anyway. However, most people will follow the rules if they are visible and made clear.

Have Security Measures in Place

Do you know what you’re going to do if someone gets out of control in your community? Have you set up an easy plan for banning people or contacting authorities (if necessary)? While these actions should be as minimal as possible (on an as needed basis), you do need to have a security plan in place. Your community should have security plans for banning, spam control, hacking, and more. These can all occur separately or together. Therefore, you should be prepared as such. 

Remove Violations as Quickly as Possible


When a member violates a rule, act as quickly as possible. This keeps things clear, safe, and secure for all members. It also lets violators know you won’t tolerate their spammy behavior. The longer spam is left up, the more it can bother legitimate members and encourage the behavior from other possible violators. Let people know you are serious about avoiding spam in your community. When violations are removed, it is wise to let community members know the reasons why it was removed and point to the violating rule, where possible.

Stick to the Rules When Punishing Spammers


Follow the same rules for all members and for all types of spam. This way, most people will feel they are being treated fairly. Sometimes people can feel actions are unfair. But if you treat all actions as streamlined as possible, it can help avoid these feelings. It’s important to let people know you are serious about violations. But you still want your members to feel like they are part of a team and they need to know that you appreciate and respect them all. You simply have to follow the rules to keep the community safe and desirable for everyone.

Best Article Writing Tips from Career Professionals

1/27/2015

 

Freelance Writers Share Their Best Advice

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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When getting started in writing, it can be very useful to consult the pros. But perhaps you haven't met any yet and are just looking for some quick hints before networking with other writers. Maybe you just want some extra hints or a reminders to keep you going. I recently asked a group of my writing peers to share the best writing advice or tips they ever received. What are some of the best tips you've heard?

"Do your homework before jumping in. If you write an article without knowing what a company expects, you set yourself up for failure and will be discouraged. There are an infinite amount of resources of available, take time to read them so you know what the company wants." - Amy Brantley in Bryson City, North Carolina

"Don't write for only one site or client. That way, if the site or client stops requiring your services, you have other sources of revenue." - Sandra Petersen in Two harbors, Minnesota

"Write about things you are passionate about. Your readers will be able to tell, if it is something you really believe in." - Brett Day in Moore, Oklahoma

"The best writing advice I received when I first started writing, was to make my articles reusable, as most of my work will never go out of style, I can promote at will, to maximize page views." - Cheri Majors in Covina, CA

"Rewrite! Edit! Refine! Restructure! Delete! Spend as much time editing as you do writing. Editing, to me, is a ruthless process of removing anything that gets in the way of saying what I want to say." - Tsu Dho Nimh in Phoenix, Arizona

"'Write what you know.' It sounds corny, but as a Montessori educator, it has helped me find a niche in an area where there hasn't yet been a lot published." Andrea Coventry in Rochester, NY

"The best advice I received and initially scoffed at was "write what you know." Time and again, the work bears this out. Writing on topics that you have an intimate knowledge of shows in ways no amount of research can make up for and the rewards or pay supports this." - Theresa Leschmann in Southern Illinois

"The best advice I received when I began writing was not to take criticism personally. Now I take it with a grain of salt and see what I can learn from it. It's made me a better writer even though I'm still improving my skills." - Laurie Childree in Dothan, Alabama

"Learn what SEO techniques are, and how to use them in writing articles. This especially applies to article titles; I used to write 'Game Review: Title' until I learned SEO methods." - Lori May in Wheat Ridge, Colorado

"I never knew I could write until my college friends asked why I didn't. Feedback, positive or negative is always helpful. I'm a good writer but I'm a great re-writer." - Jeff Rogers in Honolulu, Hawaii

"Break the rules. When I started knowing what you shouldn't do in terms of approaching editors and the like, I had a tougher time. In the beginning, I could not be deterred. If you have no clips, work for free in areas you want to be an expert in. Donate your words to causes that mean something to you. Then, know your worth and be able to walk away from a job." - Kim Remesch in Baltimore, Maryland    


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

How to Get Private Clients as a Freelance Writer

1/27/2015

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image (c) Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved
There are many different online sites to write for, many of which I love utilizing. However, freelance writers also have the amazing opportunity of acquiring private clients. There are so many different ways to do this. I will share some of my most successful methods.

Get Your Name Out There

Start a blog. Submit articles to various websites. Websites that give you a profile page can work very well for this. You basically want to establish one or more areas where there are many examples of your work to showcase. The more the better, but this can still be beneficial to beginners as well.


Be sure that wherever you do this, there is a way for potential clients to contact you. You don’t want to put out your email address all over the web, unless you like spam emails. However, there are ways to set up contact forms that you can link to or post as a widget on any blog or website with a little html. Don’t worry newbies, it’s just a little copy/paste stuff – you don’t have to know what it means to use it. Visit EmailMeForm for an example of what I’m talking about.

Start a Website

Start up your own website. It doesn’t really cost that much to start a website. There are many websites that will host yours for free and domain names are pretty cheap and easy to obtain. If you know how to write code (html, Java, CSS…), you can start from scratch and completely build the site layouts and everything yourself. Or, if you either have no clue what I just said or are lazy, there are sites out there that have ready-made templates and you just plug stuff into it where you want it.


Anyway, I noticed that once I started my own website, it was easier to implement other methods of finding clients. Either they come to my site through a search for me or for a freelance writer. Also, there are other ways to use the site to my advantage as a freelance writer, which I will mention below.

Post On Freelance and Job Boards

Throw your name out there on freelance and job boards. Show your writing skills in what you post. If you have a website, your ad or resume does tend to look more professional. If your website also displays or links to samples of your work, you have an even better chance of being contacted.

Post On Craigslist

Craigslist also is a great place to post a resume if you’re looking for private writing gigs. Just like with the job board thing, having a website to reference makes your resume or posting look more professional. When clients can actually see what you are doing for a living via a website, they can have more faith in your abilities and that’s what you want.


Print Up and Distribute Business Cards

If you want freelance writing to be your career, treat it like one. Print up some business cards and keep them with you at all times. You never know when you’ll have that opportune moment to pass one out. Also, you never know who will need a professional writer. Give extra copies to close friends and family that don’t mind helping out. They can pass them on to others who might be able to use your services. Network with businesses that may need the type of writing that you do. At the right moment, let them know what you do and present them with your business card. Business cards show professionalism and a business card that displays a website is even better.


Do a Web Search

Search for phrases such as "online writing gigs", "submission guidelines," "get paid to write," and "article submissions." I spend a ton of time doing this and you'd be surprised at how many results there are. I love coming up with new phrases to look for and seeing what I can find. After that point, it's all about contacting whoever has posted the info you find.

The Truth About Free Government Grants

12/11/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Free government grants do exist, but the government does not refer to them as such. They simply call them grants because, after all, that is what they are. Gurus, companies, and others out to make a quick dollar will try to reel you in and get you to buy their information on free grants. Do not give in to them. This information is already free and readily available to the public by The United States Government. You should never have to pay to receive this information.

Why would someone want to pay for something that is free? Better yet, why should they have to?

The United States Government already has topic-specific websites in place full of this information, as well as 1-800 numbers to call if you choose to gain the information that way instead.

Not only have the sellers of this "top-secret information" lied to the public by claiming that you must buy their programs, books, or other products to receive this information, but they have also led innocent people to believe that most of these grants are available to an individual person. While there are specific grants that are available to individuals, most grants are reserved for small businesses and non-profit organizations.

An individual person is not likely to get a grant to pay off a mortgage. Statements like this are simply made by these companies to get you to purchase their products. They tell you that unless you purchase what they are offering, you cannot find out about these grants. Well, in a sense they are correct, but not in the way you are led to think. That statement is correct because once you purchase their product, you will find out what they say about it. However, you will likely be disappointed when you contact the government agencies they mention. The reason for the upset is simple. The government will tell you that what you are asking for does not exist.

While the government does give farming, housing, business, college, education, and house building grants, these grants are given to non-profit organizations that help people. They are not given to individuals.

While individual grants do exist, the types of grants more commonly given to individuals is different than our expectations based upon what we are seeing and hearing in these ads.

An individual grant falls more along the lines of food stamp programs, section 8 vouchers, FAFSA, job training (not college; these are small courses designed to help those who have never worked or those who haven't worked in a long time transition into the working world), nursing traineeships, Head Start program, welfare/TANF/AFDC, scholarships, free vaccinations, and other such programs.

As you can see, while free government grants do exist, we are oftentimes misled as to what exactly they are.

For more information from the United States Government, please refer to the links below:

  • Grants.gov
  • StudentAidEd.gov
  • SBA.gov (Small Business Administration)
  • Benefits.gov (Government Benefits)
  • Search for Grant Opportunities on Grants.Gov

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Choosing a Debt Recovery Agency for Your Business

12/11/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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If your company has one or more clients with an outstanding debt, you may be considering hiring a debt recovery agency. Doing so could be beneficial to your company. Before choosing one, there are some things you should know about using a debt recovery agent for your business.

What is Debt Recovery?

Debt recovery is the process of collecting monies owed from clients for goods or services. Debt recovery collections are used when a client either refuses to pay monies owed or cannot pay due to financial constraints.

What is a Debt Recovery Agency Used For?

A debt recovery agency is used by businesses (and sometimes private parties) to recover debts owed by clients. These debts might be for services performed or for goods sold to the client. The debt recovery agency takes over correspondence with delinquent account holders. It is their job to get these clients to pay the debt. Debt recovery agencies provide services such as billing and invoicing, legal services, recovery, collection services and judgment recovery.

How to Choose the Right Debt Recovery Agency

The first thing to remember in choosing a debt recovery agency to work with your business is to look into multiple agencies. A simple way to find multiple sources is by using a company that provides matching services for business-to-business transactions. By researching the practices, services and prices of multiple companies, you can better ensure that your company has made a good choice and is getting a fair deal. If you simply go with the first debt recovery agency you see, you might not be getting a fair price or full potential in services, but you won't know if you haven't looked into other debt recovery collection companies.

Ask questions of each debt recovery collections company and observe their debt recovery in action if possible. Are they fair and ethical with clients? Do they or are they willing to practice business in the same manner as your company when handling your clients? Are they following the law in their debt recovery process? Do not be afraid to examine each debt recovery agency. This will help you determine which one is right for your company and its needs. If you go with business-to-business matching services, this process will be much smoother, as companies will be matched to yours, based on specific criteria.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network


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How Do Debt Collection Agencies Work?

12/10/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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If your business needs to recover client debts, you may be considering hiring a collection agency. Before deciding whether you'll use one or not, you need to know how debt collection agencies work. There are various fees involved in utilizing debt collection agencies, as well as various reasons a business would benefit from using one.



How do Debt Collection Agencies Work?


Debt collection agencies are entities hired by businesses to recover debts owed for goods or services. Debt collection agencies often have a proven track record of getting results and are considered experts in debt recovery. Debt collection agencies work exclusively on debt recovery, allowing you to concentrate on the more pleasant aspects of your business.

Why Use Debt Collection Agencies?


A business may choose to use debt collection agencies for a variety of reasons. One reason is their proven track record of success in debt recovery. Sometimes clients will respond more readily to a debt collector than to the business they are dealing with. When a debt owed has gone to collections, the client knows that it is one step closer to being reported as debt on their credit report, if it hasn't been already. This prompts many to pay immediately. Also, most people want to avoid court, which is where some companies will take them if the debt cannot be settled through collection agencies.

What Type of Fee Structure Do Debt Collection Agencies Follow?

There are various fee structures depending on the particular debt collection agency used, as well as the dollar amount of the debt. For smaller debts, it would be wise to choose between collection agencies that will charge a flat fee rate. For larger debts, you may want to choose from debt collection agencies that will take a percentage from the debt upon collection or will directly purchase the delinquent account from your business.

Choosing Between Debt Collection Agencies

When choosing between debt collection agencies, ask a lot of questions to make sure you understand how each of the debt collection agencies work. You want to choose a company that is open to following your company's practice in dealing with clients. Also, you want to choose a company that has a proven track record for success as well as professionalism in dealing with clients. The company must also follow ethical collections practices, which are laid out by the law. This is why it's important to review multiple debt collection agencies before making the final decision.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Favorite Business Lunch Restaurants in Houston

12/10/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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Business lunch spots are a must in any city. Houston, one of America's largest cities, is certainly no exception. But, in a city so large and full of options, how do you find the best dining spot for your business solution?

Whatever option you choose, be sure that it fits your business needs. For instance, if you are meeting your boss about an important client, you don't want to choose a fast food restaurant. You would choose something more upscale and formal.

Below I have compiled a list and overview of what I consider to be the best business lunch spots in Houston. There are a variety of options, so no matter your lunchtime business need, these suggestions should be able to help you out.

Texas Land & Cattle


If you're looking for a steakhouse, Texas Land & Cattle could be your choice. There are many menu options at this popular steakhouse. You don't have to be restricted to steak here. You can also find many chicken dishes, as well as specialty salads. The only qualms some have about this restaurant is the lack of choice for vegetarians. It seems the only menu item available for a vegetarian is a salad. While this is a steakhouse, it is still a great spot for either one-on-one lunch meetings or group meetings. Group dining is available here. Texas Land & Cattle is at the average price range for steakhouses.

Pappasito's Cantina


Pappasito's is the ideal business lunch location for a variety of business needs. Pappasito's is a Tex-Mex restaurant, boasting a variety of flavorful menu options. Not only is this a great sit-down restaurant for one-on-one business lunches, it's also perfect for larger parties. There is even a separate area that can be rented out for private parties or meetings - and a Mariachi band will play for you as well. The prices are fair and the food is exceptional. If Mexican food isn't your thing, the same company chain (Pappa's Restaurants) also has Pappadeux Seafood Kitchen, Pappa's Bros. Steakhouse, Pappa's BBQ, Pappa's Seafood House, Pappa's Greek Kitchen (Yia Yia Mary's), Pappa's Burger and Pappa's Grill. All of these are favorites among Houstonians. These restaurants have various locations around the Houston area.

Taco Cabana


If you enjoy Tex-Mex, but aren't looking for the restaurant feel, Taco Cabana might be your choice. You can dine-in or get your food to go. Taco Cabana also has a drive-thru if you and your business partners prefer to take your lunch back to the office or elsewhere. If you choose to eat at Taco Cabana, expect to order your food at the counter and choose your own seating area. Once your order number is called, you'll need to go to the counter to pick up your order. There is also a salsa station so that you can add the salsas of your choice to your food tray. Taco Cabana has many locations all over Houston.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant that is famous for its salad. The lunch menu has items you would expect to see at an Italian restaurant, such as lasagna, filled pastas, soups, salads, pizza and chicken scampi. There are many more delectable foods to choose from, including a wine menu and dessert. This restaurant is great for one-on-one business meetings or average-sized groups. If your party is a fairly large size, you should call ahead to alert the staff.

Chili's

Chili's is a traditional American-style bar and grill restaurant. Here you can get most traditional American foods, such as hot wings, salads, burgers, nachos and also some specialties exclusive to Chili's. Southwest Eggrolls are a favorite among many Chili's patrons. There is also an alcoholic beverage menu. These items can be ordered from a table or from the bar. If your business meeting is casual, Chili's is an excellent place to go for lunch. You can expect to pay an average of about $9 per entree. However, some are less and some are more.

P.F. Chang's


P.F. Chang's is a bistro-style Chinese restaurant. Here you can find traditional Chinese food, such as lettuce wraps, peking dumplings, wontons, spring rolls, spare ribs, wonton soup, lo mein and more. At P.F. Chang's, you will find menu options for vegetarians as well as meat eaters. This is a more formal dining experience than the previously-mentioned restaurants, which makes it perfect for important business meetings. You’ll get your meal served to you in courses. Expect to pay above average prices for this meal.


*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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How to Incorporate Social Media into Your Small Business

12/10/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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There often comes a point in time when a small business needs to offer a solution for effective communication. This could be communication between employees. It might even be communication between clients, customers or the general public. This is when social media comes into play. A small business may choose to use social media for only one of these groups. Yet another may choose to make social media accessible to all.

What is Social Media?

Social media is the combination of technology and social interaction. Generally, social media is that which is accessed through various Internet tools. The purpose of social media is to have interaction between a group of people involved with the company either directly or indirectly. Each company's specific use will differ.

Social Media Platforms to Consider

Blogging is one social media platform that has become popular for the small business. It allows a company to keep everyone updated on what is going on. Those who read the blog may also leave comments, which create more opportunity for open communication. Another social media platform that a small business might find useful is an online forum where users can post and reply to messages.

Networking websites (like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus) are also great for a small business to join, as they can help existing people affiliated with the business to communicate, as well as draw in new people and ideas. These are only some of the many social media platforms a small business may consider.


Getting Started With Social Media

The first part of incorporating social media into a small business is deciding whether it will be run from the company's own website or whether various existing websites or platforms would be utilized. If a small business already has a website, it is wise to see which types of social media would be easy to implement into that site's design. This will make it more readily accessible to those who will utilize it.

If that option does not work, the decision should then be made as to whether the small business will pay for its social media or utilize free services. For instance, there are various websites that offer free blogging accounts, free forums and other types of social media. There are also websites and services that may charge a fee to the small business for specialized social media services.


Choosing the Right Social Media

A small business should make its social media decisions based upon the needs of the business, its clients and its customers as well as those of the employees. For instance, let's say a company is looking for simpler communication between its employees when they are not at work. That small business could create a password-protected Internet forum for employees to post and reply to messages at their own convenience.

Yet another small business may want to instead create an Internet forum for interaction between its customers or clients to allow them to relate to each other, as well as to get a feel for what they are looking for. Still another small business may not even have a need for an Internet forum, but prefer to operate an interactive news source instead.

It is important to wisely choose social media and how it will be used. A poor choice in this area could waste time and money that could have been utilized for a more effective social media plan.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Benefits of Hiring a Debt Collector for Your Business

12/8/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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As a business owner, you may find yourself in a situation where a client or customer is refusing to pay or ignoring inquiries. It may go something like this:                        

"Mary, when I spoke to you last week, you said you would pay me Thursday. It is Sunday, and I still see no evidence of a payment."

"I'm sorry, Charles. I tried to get a payment in, but I just can't right now. Can I have another extension?"

"Mary, I've already given you three extensions. I cannot afford to wait for this payment any longer."

If you have been in a scenario like this, you are not alone. Unfortunately, it’s fairly common. Thankfully, a debt collector can help take away some of the stress involved.

What is a Debt Collector?

A Debt collector often is hired by businesses and sometimes private parties to help collect debts that are owed by patrons of the business. There are many ways that a business can benefit from the services of a debt collector. Some of the benefits are obvious, such as the collection of the debt. However, there are many subtle benefits as well.

What Types of Services can Debt Collectors Provide?

A debt collector can handle the job of contacting your clients when they are delinquent in their financial obligations to you. Phone calls, bills and other correspondence related to the financial obligations of your delinquent clients can be handled by a debt collector.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Debt Collector?

It can be difficult to collect a debt. Clients may give any number of excuses or reasons as to why they have not satisfied their financial obligation to you. If you know your clients well, this can pose a problem. It can be difficult not to sympathize with clients you have established a long term business relationship with. A debt collector will not have the disadvantage of knowing your clients as well as you do. Debt collectors are simply there to collect debts.

Debt collection agencies often will keep track of all correspondence with your clients. In some instances this will not be needed, because hearing from a debt collector often is enough incentive for many people to go ahead and make the payment. But in some situations, people either just will not be able to pay or will flat out refuse to pay. In some of those cases, it may go to court. The records that a debt collector will keep can provide evidence in the case of your business.

How Do I Choose a Debt Collector?

When choosing a debt collector, you should learn about their track record. It's important to look into multiple entities. Choose a debt collector that best suits your business needs. A good debt collector will be willing to handle collection matters legally, as well as in a way that benefits your company and follows its policy.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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What is POS Software? 

12/7/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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POS software is what tells your point of sale system how to perform certain tasks, as well as how information is to be sent across multiple systems and the Internet. Exactly which tasks your POS software will perform depends on what software you choose and what needs your business may have. Be sure to get free price quotes and product details from a variety of vendors before making a purchase.

Using POS Software

All small business POS software does not work the same, so it is important to examine different packages before making your final decision. Try to pick software that has all the features your company is looking for, but also is easy to learn and use for both you and your employees. Once it has been determined which POS software your company will use, and you have become familiar with its workings, you will likely want to offer a training session to instruct employees how to operate the system.

POS Software: Features

One feature you will see in most point of sale software is the ability to operate the cash drawer. A POS cash drawer cannot be opened or operated without a user ID and password. Another feature is the ability to transmit data to various business locations. This can be helpful to businesses that have more than one location, including small businesses with both a home office and a professional location. The small business POS software tracks everything that is done over the POS system. This can help prevent errors, process refunds and paperwork, find out which products sell most, and much more. POS software can come in forms compatible with both monitors and LCD touch screens. LCD touch screens are the most popular as they offer ease of use and quicker transactions than keyboard operation does.

Customizing POS Software

POS software is very versatile and can be customized to fit the needs of your business. For instance, if your company is a retail location, the POS system can not only track the sales, but also keep a record for bookkeeping as well as for restocking inventory. That same system might also keep a record of customer information, sales and promotions, price lists and more. This can make it simpler to look up information for refunds, check item stock for a customer, and to help control inventory loss.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network



RELATED:

Should You Buy a Used POS System?

Do You Need a POS Cash Drawer?

Benefits of Electronic Point of Sale (POS) Equipment

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Should You Buy a Used POS System?

12/6/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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When considering a point of sale system for your company, there are times when it is practical to purchase a used POS system. There also are times where it will be more cost effective to buy a new one. It is important to pay attention to minor details and get price quotes and product descriptions from several different vendors before making a decision.



Used POS System: Pricing


While pricing could play a role in your decision, it shouldn't be the deciding factor. The money that a POS system will save your business in the long run is likely far greater than any discount you will receive on a used POS system. Instead, look for the best system you can get that will fit your company's operational needs. Cheap POS systems are not always the best deal.

Software Support

POS software sometimes requires support, as does most software. When there are questions or difficulties that need to be resolved, it is the software support that your business will be consulting. The problem with some used POS systems is that support for the software may no longer exist. To run the system efficiently, you may have to purchase support or even a whole new software program. Doing so could cost you more than a new system.

Compatibility


Be sure to find out if all the POS components you are purchasing are compatible with each other, and whether anything extra will be needed for the system to operate. Individual components aren't worth much, if anything at all, without compatible components and software. Be sure to pay close attention to this detail, especially when choosing a used POS system.

Customization

The biggest benefit to a POS system is the ability to customize it to each company's needs. When considering a used system, be sure to examine how much customization is possible. Pay attention and make sure it is what your company is looking for. If the system cannot meet your company's needs, then it is not a wise choice. A POS system without all the desired features is usually a waste of money.

Upgrade and Management Options

As businesses grow and technology changes, upgrades will need to be made to the system. Be sure that the used options you are considering allow the ability to upgrade. If a system cannot be upgraded, it will not be good for your business. Software often requires upgrades to process data in the most current format.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Do You Need a POS Cash Drawer?

12/6/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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Deciding whether or not your company needs a POS cash drawer depends on many factors. Though most businesses will benefit, it is best to weigh all the pluses and negatives when deciding whether to make a purchase or not.

What Makes a POS Cash Drawer Different?


A POS cash drawer can only be operated in conjunction with the right POS cash register equipment and software. This helps prevent theft and also helps keep better track of sales. Sales are tracked in real time over the Internet through the POS software. On a manual cash register, sales might be added up, but they are not saved or transmitted in real time. A POS cash drawer also tracks inventory, customer information, refund dates and more.

Why Use a POS Cash Drawer?


Accounting is made simpler through the use of a point of sale cash register. There are fewer steps and less paperwork to be processed compared with a manual cash register. If your company has several locations and your customers wish to use their accounts at more than one of these, point of sale equipment makes that simpler.

For example, say that a customer purchases a vacuum on Saturday. The customer has an account with your business, so his information, along with all of his sales transactions, are stored within the POS system. On Monday he decides he no longer wants that vacuum, but he has lost his receipt to prove he has paid for it. With a POS cash drawer, this isn't a problem because the customer's information can be looked up easily.

Do You Really Need a POS Cash Drawer?

Compare the benefits of a POS cash drawer to your company’s needs. Most companies will likely find that the benefits outweigh the risks. It’s much less difficult to track valuable customer data that is within easy access. That being said, if your company only does a few transactions per day, you may want to stick with your current method or use the most simplified version of POS cash drawers available.

A regular cash register can be operated by anyone. However, a POS cash drawer can only be operated by registered users with a password. This adds a measure of security. The best POS cash drawers are made of steel for durability, since they are opened and closed so many times during the day. Getting price quotes and product details from various vendors can help you choose the right system for your company's needs.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Managing Late or Missed Deadlines when More Are Ahead

12/5/2014

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Tips from an Overachiever

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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Are you worried about being late turning in writing assignments? Have you missed some deadlines, but still have more work ahead? All is not lost. This is the kind of experience I don't like to admit to. But hopefully my past mistakes will help someone else manage late or missed deadlines with more writing on the horizon.

Apologize and Explain but Don't Overdo it

Your client may need an apology and explanation for your tardiness. I say 'may' because some clients are more relaxed than others and would rather you just get it done without explanations. But if you don't know how your client will react or you know they are expecting the writing, they need an explanation. Don't tell them your whole sob story. A simple explanation that outlines why you were late and when they can expect the work is good enough. Some may not even want a why, but a definitive date they can count on is pertinent.

Don't Panic

When you have a pile of wok due in a short time - or worse, past due, it is very easy to panic. But doing so could reduce your productivity. Instead of panicking about the late or missed deadlines, just relax and enjoy the writing as you would normally. Forcing it might show in your work. Many clients would rather have late work that is exactly what they wanted than on-time work that looks like a 5 year old produced it. If you simply cannot produce a quality product on time, don't panic. Explain and then relax and get it done.

Prioritize Immediate Tasks

Look through your work and decide which assignments could be held off and which need to be done right away. When figuring this out, consider what each client is using the assignments for as well as how they will feel about the tardiness. If the client absolutely needs them right away and will not be happy without them, those need to come first. It's not good to have any late assignments, but if you find yourself in this position, know the wants and needs of your clients and prioritize immediate tasks based on that.

Turn in Close Deadlines Before Certain Late Assignments

If you have deadlines very close and you also have late assignments, write the articles on deadline first if possible. This helps ensure you will not also be late for those assignments. Better to be late for only a few articles than add several more. It's easy to get in a pattern of being late when you write for a living because more and more work keeps coming in.


Make an Action Plan

If you are habitually turning assignments in late, either you have unavoidable life issues or you just need to rework the schedule - possibly both. As a mom of multiple children, I often have things come up that keep me from my work. This is one of the major reasons I decided to freelance for a living. I love writing and I can be at home with my kids and make money. But of course, as a mom, the kids must always come first. This can sometimes be bad for business. Therefore, each time it starts to look like things aren't working, I must make an action plan. This may mean reorganizing the schedule, but it also may mean recommending another writer to certain clients. It's important to realize the point at which you just cannot handle anymore work.

Break as Needed

You can't work 24 hours. OK, yes, it's possible. Sadly, I speak from experience. I've done it - more than once. But it's not wise and I would never recommend it. In fact, on one of such binges, I once published a private message as an article that I could not delete myself. Very bad idea. The message was not anything special or revealing and the issue was resolved by staff of that particular venue, but it was embarrassing and unnecessary. Had I gotten some rest, it likely would not have happened at all. Take breaks when you're tired, no matter how many deadlines are in front of you. No deadline is worth risking your health over. Clients will appreciate the quality work that comes from you being well-rested.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
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Benefits of Electronic Point of Sale (POS) Equipment

11/28/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Electronic Point of Sale Equipment: Cash Drawer Operation

Electronic point of sale equipment makes it simple to operate a cash drawer. Every transaction made on the POS cash register equipment is recorded. Sales can be tracked in real time using electronic POS equipment. Real time sales tracking is beneficial in handling accounting, merchandise returns, voids, inventory control, processing credit cards and gift cards, check processing and more. Features such as touch screen menus and online price lists can help keep transactions fast and accurate. Also, the POS software can help ensure that sales and promotions are given to the customer at time of purchase.

Record Keeping

Everything done on electronic point of sale equipment is tracked. This is a great benefit for record keeping. Not only does it save a large amount of paper, but it also can save time and money. Some of the records kept by a POS system include inventory, customer accounts, sales transactions, restaurant orders, and current sales and pricing. With a manual cash register, these tasks would need to be handled individually and would require many more steps and manpower to complete. Accurate record keeping is also more easily attained with all the data and facts being stored in real time. For companies with more than one system or location, the ability to link multiple systems through the Internet and software is a big plus when it comes to keeping records.

Safety and Loss Prevention

Point of sale equipment can help with many safety and loss prevention issues. Because the system can only be operated using a registered ID and password, only certain people can open the cash drawer. This ensures that only the right people are in contact with the money. It also is tracked by transaction, as well as by registered user. This keeps the money safe and helps pinpoint where any money loss may have occurred and who may have processed the faulty transaction. Loss prevention can also be curtailed by the inventory tracking feature.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network


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Rude Customers Turned Around

11/20/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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If any of you have worked in retail or other forms of customer service, you know just how rude we humans can truly be. Having held several of such positions since I was old enough to do so, I've had many, many frustrated customers over time. Time and again, my best strategy has always been to basically kill them with kindness. I'm naturally a nice person (most of the time), so it works for everyone involved. Besides, people aren't always actually being rude. It may just seem that way. Maybe there's an issue or maybe they had a bad day and you can help change that.

“Please don't scan that in self check. Here, let me scan it for you.”

If a cashier says that to you, that should be an indication that it isn't going to work. One customer didn't heed such advice from me on one occasion and proceeded to get rude. He was attempting to scan a heavy bag of concrete on the self check machine. We didn't allow those at this store, as it was common for the bags to break in process and ruin the machine or get all over the customer.

The fact that I was manning 4 self check machines, as well as my own register, yet still offered to help him should have been an indication that he needed me to do it. I nicely attempted to come scan it for him with my handheld scanner. However, he insisted on doing it anyway. Lo and behold, the bag of concrete broke across the machine, causing us to have to call for an expensive repair. Even so, I politely ran and grabbed him another bag of concrete, scanned it myself, and sent him on his way.

Sometimes you just have to let people figure things out for themselves. He was pretty polite after that and upon return visits always chose my line and never scanned his own concrete again. Sometimes what can be perceived as rude may just be a preference of independence or someone having a bad day.


Speak another language, eh? No problem.

One busy day, while working customers quickly through my line, I heard two women speaking in French. No problem with that part. However, what they were doing was speaking in French to cover up the fact that they were making fun of one of my co-workers, who happened to be an extremely nice lady.

She hadn't done anything wrong to them. They simply didn't like her looks, as well as a few other superficial things. Now, some people might get upset, but instead I chose to to give the same excellent service I always do – but in French. I wasn't rude, nor did I say anything at all about their rude behavior. I simply killed them with kindness.

The expressions on their faces were great when I started speaking in French and they were shocked as I completed the entire transaction that way. I doubt they were expecting that. The next time they came in the store, they were extremely friendly to both myself and the co-worker they were so rude to before. Imagine that.


I have many more stories like these, as I've worked in customer service since I was a teenager. But maybe I'll save some of the others to tell you about another day.

*I originally published a version of this on another network (no longer published there).

0 Comments

How to Build Residual Income Writing Evergreen Web Content

11/20/2014

3 Comments

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Residual income is that which continues to pay after you've already completed the work. Writing evergreen content is one way to earn residual income on the web. There many ways to utilize your evergreen writing skills when looking to earn residuals.

Write for Content Sites

Many content sites offer performance-based or revenue share payments. This could be on top of an upfront payment or might be the only source of pay. Once a piece of content is published on that site, as long as it exists and the program is in place, that content can continue to earn money. This means that you do the work once and keep earning. If you focus on evergreen content, you have a greater chance of earning residuals for a lengthy amount of time.



Build a Blog and Post Often

Much like writing for content sites, you can also use blogs to build residual income. Place ads on the blog to earn profits. Linking from your blog posts to the articles you write for content sites can help you earn more in both places. Keep posting your original content regularly for the best results. Some choose to re-post articles they've written and still have rights to on their blogs. This can bring in some ad revenue. However, writing original posts and linking to those articles on the content sites can be more profitable.


Write for Other People's Blogs and/or Sites

Some sites or networks (like Write W.A.V.E. Media) have blogs or article categories they allow guests or members to post on. Benefits usually include linking back to your existing work or a byline. This is beneficial for drawing attention to your other writing that may earn from views. Some sites (such as ours) may also have earning options, like ad revenue or flat payments.

Use Article Marketing


Article marketing can also help increase residual income. Write articles and share them in one or more locations. The byline in the articles should link back to a central location (like your website or your profile on a content site) where readers can find more of your work. When allowed, you can also link back to other articles of yours within the article text. Blogging is one form of article marketing. But you can also share articles on more popular sites, using marketing techniques. When participating in article marketing, be sure to follow the terms and guidelines properly at each site. Getting banned for marketing improperly is not a good idea and can ruin your writing reputation.

Create Niche Blogs

Rather than having one blog for everything, try creating several niche blogs. For instance, if you know a great deal about exhaust fans, create a blog about them. Write about where to buy them, review various models, write about how they work, and more. If you also write articles for content sites, don't forget to write some on this topic. Link to them from the blog posts. Do the same for several blogs and several topics. Don't forget to put ads on your blogs to build that residual income. Niche blogs can get more attention from the search engines because everything on the page is relevant to the topic. If you post regularly, this shows the search engines that your blog is active. Activity combined with relevancy tells search engines your blog is the place to go for a specific topic.

Create Niche Sites

Much like niche blogs, niche websites also can be great for building residual income. With a website, you have even more versatility than a blog. It's also recommended to add a blog to your website to draw traffic and show that content is updated regularly. Here again, you'll need to display ads and link to any relevant content you have on the subject elsewhere on the web.

Use Social Media and Networking to Increase Exposure

Social media and networking help to spread the word about your content. Be it your website, blog, or article, you need to get it noticed. Good SEO can do the trick. But well-optimized content does even better when promoted through social media and networking. This helps to get your content out there and it also helps increase exposure to your name - your brand. The more places that people know you for your specific type of content, the better.

Use RSS to Increase Exposure

A large part of making money with evergreen web content is ensuring people know it's there. Custom RSS feeds are an excellent way to do that. Many content sites provide writers with an RSS feed of their content. You can also create RSS feeds on your own site. Blogs are naturally equipped with RSS. Submit your RSS feeds to directories (submit to each one only once) and also place them on your sites and blogs so people can subscribe. Some services, like NewsGator allow people to email content directly from a feed widget. All of this increases the exposure to your content by outside parties, which helps to build residuals.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network






3 Comments

Web Community Managers: Keeping a Clear Objective

5/15/2014

0 Comments

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved
Every community needs to have a clear objective. What is your community about? Do your members know the full purpose or intent? Is your community’s objective obvious when people visit the web space?

Make new on-topic posts as often as possible

In order for members to be able to interact with a similar objective, things need to be fresh and on-topic. If other members aren’t posting relevant topics regularly, as the community manager, you should step in and do so. This ensures that both new and old members understand what the site’s objective is. If things aren’t kept up-to-date, they may lose sight of what your community is truly about, which also leaves room for spam and other unwanted behavior.

Monitor member posts for relevancy

In addition to making those new, relevant posts, it’s important to keep an eye on what community members are posting. Part of a community manager’s job is to make sure that what’s being posted is relevant to the community. It’s fine to have an area for off-topic things. But if you want your community to be user-friendly, most posts should match what your community is about. Those that don’t should be moved to an off-topic area or removed entirely. Use your better judgment based on what your community members would prefer.

Keep an updated “About” or “Mission” section or page

E very web community should have an area that describes the community’s purpose. If your community consists of a website with multiple conversation areas (like comment sections, private messaging, and forums), you can create a specific page for that. Usually, that page should be titled along the lines of “About Us” or “Mission statement”.  If your community is just a forum, you may want to include some community info within the main/welcome/guidelines post. That way, it’s immediately visible.

**I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there)
0 Comments

Freelance Writing Tips: V is for Variance

4/26/2011

 
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Misfit
Tired of writing about the same topic all the time? Your readers may be tired of looking at it as well. While it's great to specialize in something, you should also throw in other topics now and then too.

You can specialize in more than one topic without losing credibility with your readers. In fact, you may find they are glad to see random topics mixed in with what they are used to seeing you write.

If you want to succeed in freelance writing, variance can be a very good thing. Clients love writers who specialize. But they also like to see some versatility. This way, if they have a topic that shies away from your usual routine, they know they can at least consider you for the project. However, if you only write on one topic, how will they know if you are able to handle anything else.

Are you showing enough variance in your work?

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