Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Control Queen: Part II
My puppy died a few days after writing that last blog post. I have stopped feeling sorry for myself and asking why (a control queen characteristic) and starting to accept the outcome. He must've been needed somewhere else, for some purpose forever unknown to us. We loved him for a few very short and blissful weeks! God bless you Parker. Now you are a sweet puppy angel, with no suffering.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Control Queen
On the other hand, an individual with controlling characteristics can be highly organized, productive, and handle many responsibilities at once. They can also be annoying to themselves and others and create unneeded stress by sweating both the small AND the big stuff.
We adopted a yellow lab rescue pup a few weeks ago, and despite being the cutest furball on the planet, he has come with a very high price tag. He's been in and out of the animal hospital with serious infections from the first day he entered our home, and was unfortunately diagnosed with distemper. This nasty virus apparently kills half of dogs that contract it -- and we are in the gray area for a few more weeks.
Sweet little Parker has finally overcome his pneumonia and respiratory infections, but lately has developed a twitch, accompanied with heartbreaking whimpering. Is this the beginning of the end? I cannot know. We are doing everything we can for this dog -- lots of love, an aggressive treatment regime, high-quality food, a comfortable bed, fresh air and the best of veterinarian care. The vet bills are now taking place of a possible beach vacation for us next year, but I don't care if he can just survive. I worry incessantly. The Ambien is out of the medicine cabinet again. Will he make it? Is he in pain or just annoyed when he whines? These are the worst kind of unknowns. I'm going to have to just let it go -- even though letting go is definitely not my thing. I come from a long line of hard-charging matriarchs who don’t accept no for an answer!
Our need to control must relate to the fundamental fear of something bad happening. It's not as if nothing bad has ever happened to me, right? I'm still here. If I can tone down my control queen tendencies, I’m sure I can deal better with any outcome and the journey, too. What do I need, people-- more yoga and green tea, or a psycho-therapist?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Social Media: a Waste of Your Company’s Time?
By Polly Traylor
There's a wealth of content on the Web about how to maximize your social media presence and gain the most from this exciting new media. But wait: should your business spend much time on social media in the first place? For small companies, the ROI can be tricky. You probably have a small marketing staff, and it's unlikely you can dedicate even one person to a social media program. Despite popular messaging from social media pros on the ease-of-use and affordability of social media, it's actually a time-consuming and increasingly complex marketing vehicle. If you want results, you'll need to spend time on quality content, regular updates, community interaction and integration of your social media pages with SEO and overall marketing strategies. You've also got to keep pace with new features and privacy issues of top social media channels. Can you justify the time?
The first determination is whether your customers are hanging out on social media -- and on which sites. Do your targets regularly use social media for researching products and services in your space? If you're not sure, you'd better find out.
Secondly, you need a distinct plan and a strategy. Most marketing experts don't advise ad-hoc social media posting. How will social media fit into your overall marketing program?
Thirdly, you have to measure social media marketing efforts regularly. This is usually not expensive -- but it does take time and diligence.
Recently, I wrote an article for Business on Main, a Sprint-sponsored community for small businesses on the MSN network: "Are You Wasting Your Time on Facebook and Twitter?”. The story was an attempt to shatter a few myths about social media marketing. Here’s an excerpt:
-----------
"The cost issues are critical for a small business," says Paul Verna, senior analyst with eMarketer. Larger companies can afford to hire an agency or even a team of people to handle the time-consuming chores of creating content, making regular updates and monitoring corporate social media pages. A small company may only have a part-time resource. “Even having one person dedicated to your social media profile better have an intense payoff at the other end," Verna warns.
It's no wonder that a recent Hiscox survey of more than 300 participants found that just 12 percent of small companies described social media as a "must" for their marketing and promotional strategies, and nearly 50 percent of respondents aren’t using social media at all.
"Most people go on Facebook to connect with people like family and friends or to play games, and they really don't care about your ball-bearing company," observes Mark Schaefer, a blogger and consultant in social media marketing. "At the end of the day, you have to go to where your customers are.”
-----------
While social media can be a useful investment for many small businesses, Facebook and Twitter aren't always the top choices. Twitter is an excellent vehicle for science and technology companies and communities. Facebook can be fantastic for consumer goods and services. But don't forget: there's also LinkedIn, YouTube, Yahoo and AOL communities, your company's blog, industry discussion forums and local social media sites. As Facebook and Twitter grow larger, their steady flow of new features may be overkill for small businesses. This article on Social Media Today does a nice job of outlining the issues with Facebook, and offers some helpful alternatives.
Before jumping into social media, understand your choices, customer preferences, and if social media is likely to meet company goals. If it still seems worthwhile and you know which sites will resonate with customers, start small. Once you start posting regularly and develop a community of followers, you have set an expectation for activity.
There's a wealth of content on the Web about how to maximize your social media presence and gain the most from this exciting new media. But wait: should your business spend much time on social media in the first place? For small companies, the ROI can be tricky. You probably have a small marketing staff, and it's unlikely you can dedicate even one person to a social media program. Despite popular messaging from social media pros on the ease-of-use and affordability of social media, it's actually a time-consuming and increasingly complex marketing vehicle. If you want results, you'll need to spend time on quality content, regular updates, community interaction and integration of your social media pages with SEO and overall marketing strategies. You've also got to keep pace with new features and privacy issues of top social media channels. Can you justify the time?
The first determination is whether your customers are hanging out on social media -- and on which sites. Do your targets regularly use social media for researching products and services in your space? If you're not sure, you'd better find out.
Secondly, you need a distinct plan and a strategy. Most marketing experts don't advise ad-hoc social media posting. How will social media fit into your overall marketing program?
Thirdly, you have to measure social media marketing efforts regularly. This is usually not expensive -- but it does take time and diligence.
Recently, I wrote an article for Business on Main, a Sprint-sponsored community for small businesses on the MSN network: "Are You Wasting Your Time on Facebook and Twitter?”. The story was an attempt to shatter a few myths about social media marketing. Here’s an excerpt:
-----------
"The cost issues are critical for a small business," says Paul Verna, senior analyst with eMarketer. Larger companies can afford to hire an agency or even a team of people to handle the time-consuming chores of creating content, making regular updates and monitoring corporate social media pages. A small company may only have a part-time resource. “Even having one person dedicated to your social media profile better have an intense payoff at the other end," Verna warns.
It's no wonder that a recent Hiscox survey of more than 300 participants found that just 12 percent of small companies described social media as a "must" for their marketing and promotional strategies, and nearly 50 percent of respondents aren’t using social media at all.
"Most people go on Facebook to connect with people like family and friends or to play games, and they really don't care about your ball-bearing company," observes Mark Schaefer, a blogger and consultant in social media marketing. "At the end of the day, you have to go to where your customers are.”
-----------
While social media can be a useful investment for many small businesses, Facebook and Twitter aren't always the top choices. Twitter is an excellent vehicle for science and technology companies and communities. Facebook can be fantastic for consumer goods and services. But don't forget: there's also LinkedIn, YouTube, Yahoo and AOL communities, your company's blog, industry discussion forums and local social media sites. As Facebook and Twitter grow larger, their steady flow of new features may be overkill for small businesses. This article on Social Media Today does a nice job of outlining the issues with Facebook, and offers some helpful alternatives.
Before jumping into social media, understand your choices, customer preferences, and if social media is likely to meet company goals. If it still seems worthwhile and you know which sites will resonate with customers, start small. Once you start posting regularly and develop a community of followers, you have set an expectation for activity.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Getting Outside of the Box
How many times in your career has someone asked you to step away from your desk and… "Think Outside of the Box!" I've always hated that phrase. Who says I'm in a box, anyway? I like to call my life a cruise ship -- although it's not always as much fun. There's a full agenda on my ship most days: meetings, appointments, errands, social gatherings, work deadlines, after-school activities, homework, housework, volunteer work, and yes -- even exercise. It seems to never end. Yet at the same time, sometimes I think my thought patterns are in a rut. It's easy to find yourself feeling as if you’ll be doing the same damn thing for the rest of your life.
That "same damn thing" might be raising your kids, helping elderly parents, or maintaining a career track that you've been on forever and which would be way too difficult (expensive, time-consuming, stressful) to change now. Take heart: life does change, and usually when we least expect it.
But you have to rock the boat a little bit, once in a while. This fall, I started coaching an after-school girls running program called Girls on the Run. The program (a national non-profit) targets third to fifth-grade girls, who might find themselves stuck in the "girl box."
The girl box is a nebulous concept but it contains anything yucky: kids are saying mean things to me on the playground; I don't have the cutest, latest clothes; my teacher gave me a dirty look; my best friend is playing with someone else this week; I am the worst kid at soccer during P.E., and a million other reasons why, sometimes, it's hard to be a girl.
Talking to these young girls about their "girl box” issues makes me think about my own box: I’ll never have time to write a book, I will never be a good cook, I am too hard on my daughters, I am not positive enough, I am a nagging wife… the list goes on.
I'm beginning to think that this community service coaching gig is going to help me more than the girls. They’re funny, they smile a lot, and with a little encouragement, they'll try just about anything.
If that's getting outside of the box, I think I can handle it.
That "same damn thing" might be raising your kids, helping elderly parents, or maintaining a career track that you've been on forever and which would be way too difficult (expensive, time-consuming, stressful) to change now. Take heart: life does change, and usually when we least expect it.
But you have to rock the boat a little bit, once in a while. This fall, I started coaching an after-school girls running program called Girls on the Run. The program (a national non-profit) targets third to fifth-grade girls, who might find themselves stuck in the "girl box."
The girl box is a nebulous concept but it contains anything yucky: kids are saying mean things to me on the playground; I don't have the cutest, latest clothes; my teacher gave me a dirty look; my best friend is playing with someone else this week; I am the worst kid at soccer during P.E., and a million other reasons why, sometimes, it's hard to be a girl.
Talking to these young girls about their "girl box” issues makes me think about my own box: I’ll never have time to write a book, I will never be a good cook, I am too hard on my daughters, I am not positive enough, I am a nagging wife… the list goes on.
I'm beginning to think that this community service coaching gig is going to help me more than the girls. They’re funny, they smile a lot, and with a little encouragement, they'll try just about anything.
If that's getting outside of the box, I think I can handle it.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Crowdsourcing: Outsourcing on Steroids
Recently, I wrote about crowdsourcing for one of my clients, a small business-focused site called Business on Main, on the MSN network. It’s fun for me to write about how the Internet continues to change everything including business models and how work gets done. Crowdsourcing isn't for every business, but it does seem to apply to many diverse business tasks.
Companies often find they get as good or better quality results with crowdsourcing. Depending on your needs, you may have a virtual team of people working for you on one or many projects. "Crowdsourcing allows you to tap into the creativity and diversity of an entire community," Johnston says.
I answered a question on the site about how crowdsourcing can help a small business, which I'm reprinting below. I'd love to learn more about how small businesses, even consultants like me, are using crowdsourcing:
- Is crowdsourcing appropriate for activities such as PR, marketing communications, and even, journalism? What cool examples have you seen?
- Is the crowdsourcing "member" (a.k.a. worker) getting screwed financially from these arrangements?
If only I could use crowdsourcing to get my house in order and laundry done every day.
Anyhow, here is how I responded to the Business on Main question. What do you think?
[Reprinted from MSN Business on Main]
Sites such as CrowdFlower, crowdSPRING, Trada and uTest enable a business to complete projects using the collective intelligence of a knowledgeable and skilled community. Instead of spending hours finding the right contractor to do a job, such as designing your website or translating copy into Japanese, post your project on a crowdsourcing site and then review the bids from people who have been pre-qualified.
Crowdsourcing can save you time looking for skilled workers, and may be more affordable, too. “It is usually cheaper, up to 30 percent less than offshoring,” says Matt Johnston, vice president of marketing and community at uTest, a site for software testing.
Companies often find they get as good or better quality results with crowdsourcing. Depending on your needs, you may have a virtual team of people working for you on one or many projects. "Crowdsourcing allows you to tap into the creativity and diversity of an entire community," Johnston says.
Sarah Harris, marketing manager for Norman’s Rare Guitars, says she had mediocre results with freelancers before using crowdsourcing. She used crowdSPRING to source a logo design and Web design project, and was delighted with the result and the service. “I had a lot of revisions for the designers and they were all receptive and completed everything so quickly,” she says.
As crowdsourcing has evolved, there seems to be an unlimited number of ways a business can use it. Beyond Web design, marketing and software development, companies are using crowdsourcing to make videos, do fundraising, conduct market research, transcribe audio files, take customer orders and provide customer support, and even to solicit ideas for new products and services.
Crowdsourcing is a novel and efficient way to hire experts for short- or long-term projects. Give it a try, but don't shortchange the processes you use for hiring contractors on your own. Provide ample guidance up front about your business and goals when requesting bids for a project, says Niel Robertson, CEO of Trada, a site for paid search advertising experts. “If you frame the problem better, you can get much better results," he says.
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Home Office: Haven or Hell?
You happily left the serenity of your air conditioned office to work from home, so you could have more quality time with the kids. Now instead of the boss, the little monsters are yanking your chain. Did you make a big, sticky mistake?
Today, my friend Howard shared with me a San Jose Mercury News story about the challenges of stay-at-home working parents. I don't know why he thinks I would care -- after all, it's not like I work at home and have two loud youngsters or anything. Oh, wait. It was the dream I had two nights ago about working in a quiet office wearing grown-up clothes that was untrue.
On most days, I wouldn't give up my situation for anything. Instead of spending two hours a day dressing, primping and driving to and from an office, I maximize time with my kids. I get to go to their swim meets and baseball practices and help them with homework after school. I save money on gas and nice outfits. I am my own boss and for the most part, set my own schedule. I almost never have to attend a useless meeting instead of working out.
Even so, summertime has reminded me how distracting and unproductive working at home with kids can be at times -- even, or perhaps because of, hiring babysitters. Here's an interesting quote from the Mercury News article: “A recent study by TheBump.com and Forbes Woman showed that, while 92 percent of working moms are stressed out, 89 percent of stay-at-home moms feel the same way. Parents say much of the stress comes from trying to give both work and kids enough time, especially when children are used to getting attention when mom is around.”
Kids find you like a heat-seeking missile when you least expect nor want them. They are genetically wired to interrupt you during an important business call or deadline with a screaming crisis concerning misplaced items or a dessert emergency. The worst arguments between siblings always seem to happen when you're swamped. Babysitters are by and large inept at keeping children occupied with acceptable activities and out of parents’ offices, unless they are over the age of 25, and with significant life experience. Good luck there! Grandmothers are often not much better. The smart, creative, nurturing, patient and highly responsible babysitters are usually former teachers and you can't afford their (deserved, granted) astronomical hourly rates. To be blunt: sometimes it's a real pain in the ass to work from home.
Sadly, I have no advice to share about this, after five years of doing it. But if you're a parent and thinking about giving up the office job for the blessed home-office gig, think twice. Do you have the balls to maintain discipline, clarity of purpose, and when needed, install and use the lock on your office door? Can you discover a coping method for the madness of working when the kids are home, other than twisting opening a bottle of Jack?
If so, enjoy the ride. It's fun, rewarding, and challenging to work from home -- but it's rarely smooth.
Today, my friend Howard shared with me a San Jose Mercury News story about the challenges of stay-at-home working parents. I don't know why he thinks I would care -- after all, it's not like I work at home and have two loud youngsters or anything. Oh, wait. It was the dream I had two nights ago about working in a quiet office wearing grown-up clothes that was untrue.
On most days, I wouldn't give up my situation for anything. Instead of spending two hours a day dressing, primping and driving to and from an office, I maximize time with my kids. I get to go to their swim meets and baseball practices and help them with homework after school. I save money on gas and nice outfits. I am my own boss and for the most part, set my own schedule. I almost never have to attend a useless meeting instead of working out.
Even so, summertime has reminded me how distracting and unproductive working at home with kids can be at times -- even, or perhaps because of, hiring babysitters. Here's an interesting quote from the Mercury News article: “A recent study by TheBump.com and Forbes Woman showed that, while 92 percent of working moms are stressed out, 89 percent of stay-at-home moms feel the same way. Parents say much of the stress comes from trying to give both work and kids enough time, especially when children are used to getting attention when mom is around.”
Kids find you like a heat-seeking missile when you least expect nor want them. They are genetically wired to interrupt you during an important business call or deadline with a screaming crisis concerning misplaced items or a dessert emergency. The worst arguments between siblings always seem to happen when you're swamped. Babysitters are by and large inept at keeping children occupied with acceptable activities and out of parents’ offices, unless they are over the age of 25, and with significant life experience. Good luck there! Grandmothers are often not much better. The smart, creative, nurturing, patient and highly responsible babysitters are usually former teachers and you can't afford their (deserved, granted) astronomical hourly rates. To be blunt: sometimes it's a real pain in the ass to work from home.
Sadly, I have no advice to share about this, after five years of doing it. But if you're a parent and thinking about giving up the office job for the blessed home-office gig, think twice. Do you have the balls to maintain discipline, clarity of purpose, and when needed, install and use the lock on your office door? Can you discover a coping method for the madness of working when the kids are home, other than twisting opening a bottle of Jack?
If so, enjoy the ride. It's fun, rewarding, and challenging to work from home -- but it's rarely smooth.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Getting Organized…Or Not
This afternoon I was planting some bright orange cosmos in my garden, freshly purchased from the nursery. My daughters and our babysitter were quietly coloring with sidewalk chalk, when suddenly my eight-year old daughter looked up and asked: "Mom, why are you gardening when Ila is here instead of working?" I told her that I was waiting for some clients to answer e-mails, and I couldn't move forward on work until they did. Always the responsible one, she prodded: "Well, maybe you'd better go check your e-mail again now?"
When work slows down for a few days or a week, it's hard to know what to do with the spare time. I could have exercised, but I did plenty of that already over the weekend. I could have folded the pile of laundry that's been sitting on my couch since last night. I could have even cleaned my desk and filed away the stacks of business documents and the kids’ artwork that have been gathering dust for a month. I could have done a lot of things to make my life more tidy. Instead, I high-tailed over to the nursery for the cosmos, two packs of begonias, a large bag of cedar mulch and some helpful advice on my wilting columbine flowers.
When it comes to client work, I am Little Miss Organized. I keep meticulous notes about projects and contacts. I color-code my e-mail messages according to whether they are personal, related to kids, urgent, or for networking purposes. Long-term clients get their own special e-mail folder. I do not miss deadlines.
When duty isn't calling, however, I'd rather have fun. My college roomies can attest to my apathy for household activities. Warning notes were constantly posted on my bedroom door about what I didn't clean that week. Once, I found dirty dishes on my bookshelf. It's likely that I was at the beach or going on a nice long run instead of loading the dishwasher. (Who can blame me, really, considering that I attended the University of California, Santa Barbara)
I've come to believe that people who have a spic and span desk are also the same people who vacuum the insides of their cars every week. This is not me. I envy them--- but I will never, ever be like them. And that's just gonna have to be good enough for me. My dog Bo (pictured here) is fine with my choices.
![]()
He never misses his daily walk.
When work slows down for a few days or a week, it's hard to know what to do with the spare time. I could have exercised, but I did plenty of that already over the weekend. I could have folded the pile of laundry that's been sitting on my couch since last night. I could have even cleaned my desk and filed away the stacks of business documents and the kids’ artwork that have been gathering dust for a month. I could have done a lot of things to make my life more tidy. Instead, I high-tailed over to the nursery for the cosmos, two packs of begonias, a large bag of cedar mulch and some helpful advice on my wilting columbine flowers.
When it comes to client work, I am Little Miss Organized. I keep meticulous notes about projects and contacts. I color-code my e-mail messages according to whether they are personal, related to kids, urgent, or for networking purposes. Long-term clients get their own special e-mail folder. I do not miss deadlines.
When duty isn't calling, however, I'd rather have fun. My college roomies can attest to my apathy for household activities. Warning notes were constantly posted on my bedroom door about what I didn't clean that week. Once, I found dirty dishes on my bookshelf. It's likely that I was at the beach or going on a nice long run instead of loading the dishwasher. (Who can blame me, really, considering that I attended the University of California, Santa Barbara)
I've come to believe that people who have a spic and span desk are also the same people who vacuum the insides of their cars every week. This is not me. I envy them--- but I will never, ever be like them. And that's just gonna have to be good enough for me. My dog Bo (pictured here) is fine with my choices.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
A New Philosophy on Diet And Exercise: Don't?
I haven't exercised all week, unless you can count 10 minutes in the "home gym" screwing around with my 6-year old last night. I have been beating myself up for the last few months for my steadily declining regular exercise regime and a perceptible increase in alcohol units. This doc below (name unknown) is putting my heart at ease. God love him!
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain...good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food are fried these day in vegetable oil. In fact, they permeated by it. How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain...good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food are fried these day in vegetable oil. In fact, they permeated by it. How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Consultants and Writers: Be Transparent, Avoid Conflict of Interest
As a freelance writer who also has PR and marketing clients, I have to be transparent in my work. I do not cover companies that I represent, for instance. I do not contact interview subjects for marketing work. However, if they contact me: great. And I will never interview them again. A good friend and former colleague of mine once said: "Keep everything in the sunshine." That's a good rule of thumb, to avoid potential conflict of interest.
Today, whether you are a consumer of online information, a creator of online information, or both, there are risks. Can you trust the source that you are reading for objectivity? (Blogs with generic names are often co-sponsored or owned by companies. Look for the fine print.)
Random bloggers with "news" sites are often just rewriting press releases. Read carefully.
Freelance journalists are not always what they seem.
Anyway, I do believe it's possible to write objective articles and also do PR and marketing work, as long as those two activities remain separate. I've been doing this for several years now. Check out the blog that delves deeper on this which I wrote for TGPR, a virtual PR agency in Menlo Park, California, whom I have been working for since 2009.
I'd love to get your thoughts about how lines are blurring and how this affects your work.
Today, whether you are a consumer of online information, a creator of online information, or both, there are risks. Can you trust the source that you are reading for objectivity? (Blogs with generic names are often co-sponsored or owned by companies. Look for the fine print.)
Random bloggers with "news" sites are often just rewriting press releases. Read carefully.
Freelance journalists are not always what they seem.
Anyway, I do believe it's possible to write objective articles and also do PR and marketing work, as long as those two activities remain separate. I've been doing this for several years now. Check out the blog that delves deeper on this which I wrote for TGPR, a virtual PR agency in Menlo Park, California, whom I have been working for since 2009.
I'd love to get your thoughts about how lines are blurring and how this affects your work.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wasting Away in Messageville
I spend anywhere from 30 to 40 hours per week working at my computer. A few years ago, life was comparatively simple. Open up inbox, send e-mail, receive e-mail, file e-mail, complete tasks. Send text messages, but only to friends. But now, I feel like an old boat without a sail, hopelessly adrift.
A few of my clients have set me up on their corporate Google e-mail. Sometimes I receive an e-mail to the Google account, and sometimes to my Comcast address. I am never quite sure how to respond, or which account to check first. (Yes, I did ask said clients for preference, but the advice never came)
Other clients have set up project sites to share information and tasks. But again, it's hard to know, when to use that site versus simply, e-mail.
And then there's Twitter and Facebook. Should I DM her or retweet? Send him a Facebook message or write on his wall? I have many contacts in LinkedIn who are not close acquaintances. Should I e-mail them through LinkedIn, or send them a note to their work email? Maybe I should just pick up the damn phone.
Call me a Web 2.0 Luddite, but how many hours a week am I wasting trying to figure out which contact method to use? Those brain cells could be used more efficiently, such as, to write something magical for a client.
How do you deal with the "communications" challenge? Please, don’t tell me I need another tool.
You can reach me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, and Skype. And oh, email.
A few of my clients have set me up on their corporate Google e-mail. Sometimes I receive an e-mail to the Google account, and sometimes to my Comcast address. I am never quite sure how to respond, or which account to check first. (Yes, I did ask said clients for preference, but the advice never came)
Other clients have set up project sites to share information and tasks. But again, it's hard to know, when to use that site versus simply, e-mail.
And then there's Twitter and Facebook. Should I DM her or retweet? Send him a Facebook message or write on his wall? I have many contacts in LinkedIn who are not close acquaintances. Should I e-mail them through LinkedIn, or send them a note to their work email? Maybe I should just pick up the damn phone.
Call me a Web 2.0 Luddite, but how many hours a week am I wasting trying to figure out which contact method to use? Those brain cells could be used more efficiently, such as, to write something magical for a client.
How do you deal with the "communications" challenge? Please, don’t tell me I need another tool.
You can reach me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, and Skype. And oh, email.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
On Wishes, Dreams and Pet Projects
When we graduated college, we all had grandiose dreams. Then life got in the way. We got ambitious, and decided to climb the ladder. Maybe we moved around for different jobs. We made new friends, traveled and experienced all kinds of adventures. Pretty soon, some of us found a life partner. We got married, took an overpriced honeymoon, got domestic, perhaps got a little crazy because we knew kids might be coming. And pretty soon the kids came. The babies took over our lives and our emotional state of being. The days consisted of laundry, feedings, doctor appointments, blockading toddlers from every possible danger in the house, preparing healthy organic meals for growing bodies, baby gym, baby swim classes, baby art, teething, exhaustion. Then the kids got older and started school, giving you 6.5 hours of uninterrupted work time. That's liberating for a while....but then one day you stop in the middle of writing an email and remember the dusty old dream. You post a note on your office wall with the dream in bright letters...and it sits there for a few months. You begin to hate the note.
Then one night you set your alarm for 5 a.m., and the next morning you get up after hitting the snooze button five times and start working on your dream. Some days you don't get up, or your work takes over, but the next day you get up and go at it again.
It doesn't matter matter what your dream is: maybe it's getting in shape or learning how to make the perfect crème brûlée or going to church again. Maybe it's writing a book or novella, which is mine. A dream may change over time, but the point is: pick one no matter how small or big and work on it until it's done or until you've realized it wasn't the dream your really wanted after all. If that's the case, change your dream into another pursuit. I have no idea where my dream journey will lead me or if I will abandon it eventually. I'm afraid about giving up in boredom and disillusionment, or not having the time or energy to keep chasing after it. I am deeply afraid of failure.
Our lives are filled to the brim with work, family, parenting and trying to stay healthy so we can meet our grandkids someday. It often feels like there's no room for anything else. But if you can, make time for that something else. It might lead you somewhere completely unexpected.
Happy dreaming! What's yours?
Then one night you set your alarm for 5 a.m., and the next morning you get up after hitting the snooze button five times and start working on your dream. Some days you don't get up, or your work takes over, but the next day you get up and go at it again.
It doesn't matter matter what your dream is: maybe it's getting in shape or learning how to make the perfect crème brûlée or going to church again. Maybe it's writing a book or novella, which is mine. A dream may change over time, but the point is: pick one no matter how small or big and work on it until it's done or until you've realized it wasn't the dream your really wanted after all. If that's the case, change your dream into another pursuit. I have no idea where my dream journey will lead me or if I will abandon it eventually. I'm afraid about giving up in boredom and disillusionment, or not having the time or energy to keep chasing after it. I am deeply afraid of failure.
Our lives are filled to the brim with work, family, parenting and trying to stay healthy so we can meet our grandkids someday. It often feels like there's no room for anything else. But if you can, make time for that something else. It might lead you somewhere completely unexpected.
Happy dreaming! What's yours?
Friday, January 7, 2011
How to Keep the Good Clients
It wasn’t long ago when I was happy to keep any clients that came my way. Now, I have the luxury of focusing on the good ones -- the ones with smart and supportive people, challenging and consistent work, competitive rates, and of course, who pay on time.
I haven't always been the most diplomatic person. Sometimes, I have to fight my tendency to speak my mind. Working with clients of all temperaments has helped me to be more adaptable, flexible and might I say, a people-pleaser. Because at the end of the day: the customer is always right. Well, almost always right.
Here are a few ideas I have for keeping favorite clients happy. What are yours?
1. Respond quickly. My top job as a service provider is to be an excellent communicator. When a request comes in, even if I can’t tackle it that day, I reply as soon as I can so they know I’m on it. If I don't understand what they're asking of me, I clear that up right away and also make sure I understand their deadline. If I can’t meet it, I’ll always ask if there’s any leeway before flat-out saying no. Very rarely have I had to refuse a client request based on the deadline.
2. Be a perfectionist--or try. My second top job is pretty simple. I treat every job the same -- matter what I'm getting paid. If I agree to write an article, I'm going to make sure it's the best content I can possibly deliver in the timeframe and with the materials provided. I try hard to understand their goals and audience, and make extra effort to minimize work on the client’s end. I'm human. I can't catch everything, but I feel I owe it to the client to proof my own work a few times before the client sees it.
3. Be humble. The client is the expert in their field, not me. I try to get as much information from them about their industry and needs as I can, and I don’t pretend to know something that I don't. If I know I'm right, but the client thinks I'm wrong – I bite my tongue. After all, they're paying for the work and they make the rules. If I make a mistake, I admit it, and then we can all move on.
4. Don’t nickel and dime. It's okay and probably a good thing to occasionally do something for free. If the client has 30 minutes of extra work at the end of a project and I have already sent in the invoice, no problem. If the client wants to do a third or fourth revision, I do it. Once in a while, I have to set a boundary. But for a good client, it does pay later to go the extra mile today.
5. Have fun. If you have a sense of humor and it's clear that you enjoy your work, it rubs off in a positive way on your clients. Don't take yourself too seriously: try to get to know your clients a little bit. If you're a pleasant and interesting person to work with, and you deliver excellent work to boot, they're going to keep you around.
One of the toughest parts about being a consultant/freelancer is managing expectations. When you have multiple clients, sometimes they all want something from you at once. That can be stressful. Or, they may ask for something that's just unreasonable during the timeframe of a project. Those are the times when you have to get diplomatic and make sure you're not setting yourself up for failure. You may have to negotiate a little, but still ensure that the client knows you have a “can-do” attitude. It's a tricky balance, but nurturing client relationships is just part of the job.
I haven't always been the most diplomatic person. Sometimes, I have to fight my tendency to speak my mind. Working with clients of all temperaments has helped me to be more adaptable, flexible and might I say, a people-pleaser. Because at the end of the day: the customer is always right. Well, almost always right.
Here are a few ideas I have for keeping favorite clients happy. What are yours?
1. Respond quickly. My top job as a service provider is to be an excellent communicator. When a request comes in, even if I can’t tackle it that day, I reply as soon as I can so they know I’m on it. If I don't understand what they're asking of me, I clear that up right away and also make sure I understand their deadline. If I can’t meet it, I’ll always ask if there’s any leeway before flat-out saying no. Very rarely have I had to refuse a client request based on the deadline.
2. Be a perfectionist--or try. My second top job is pretty simple. I treat every job the same -- matter what I'm getting paid. If I agree to write an article, I'm going to make sure it's the best content I can possibly deliver in the timeframe and with the materials provided. I try hard to understand their goals and audience, and make extra effort to minimize work on the client’s end. I'm human. I can't catch everything, but I feel I owe it to the client to proof my own work a few times before the client sees it.
3. Be humble. The client is the expert in their field, not me. I try to get as much information from them about their industry and needs as I can, and I don’t pretend to know something that I don't. If I know I'm right, but the client thinks I'm wrong – I bite my tongue. After all, they're paying for the work and they make the rules. If I make a mistake, I admit it, and then we can all move on.
4. Don’t nickel and dime. It's okay and probably a good thing to occasionally do something for free. If the client has 30 minutes of extra work at the end of a project and I have already sent in the invoice, no problem. If the client wants to do a third or fourth revision, I do it. Once in a while, I have to set a boundary. But for a good client, it does pay later to go the extra mile today.
5. Have fun. If you have a sense of humor and it's clear that you enjoy your work, it rubs off in a positive way on your clients. Don't take yourself too seriously: try to get to know your clients a little bit. If you're a pleasant and interesting person to work with, and you deliver excellent work to boot, they're going to keep you around.
One of the toughest parts about being a consultant/freelancer is managing expectations. When you have multiple clients, sometimes they all want something from you at once. That can be stressful. Or, they may ask for something that's just unreasonable during the timeframe of a project. Those are the times when you have to get diplomatic and make sure you're not setting yourself up for failure. You may have to negotiate a little, but still ensure that the client knows you have a “can-do” attitude. It's a tricky balance, but nurturing client relationships is just part of the job.
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