Imagine writing a few words, several times a day, and receiving checks for $ 10, $ 50, $200 or more. I was shocked to learn this, but freelance writing, especially filler writing, provides exactly that. This could blossom into a full time career or at the very least a wonderfully profitable hobby.
Fillers are short written pieces, sometimes just a few words, ranging from a letters written by a reader, to verses, jokes, cartoons, homemade recipes and tips, something amusing you heard children say, and so on.
Demand for fillers is growing as people are spending less time reading, preferring instead to read shorter pieces, full of facts that can be read during coffee breaks and the little free time in between.
Becoming a freelance writer, one that publishes quality work starts by you sitting down, freeing your mind and just start writing.
Start making a list of possible topics you feel comfortable writing about, topics that appeal to you. Feel free to begin collecting letters, jokes, tips, etc. from other writers who write on the same topic as you do. But don’t copy other peoples work – try to be different. Even if the subject is common, look for a unusual feature or aspect of that focus. Relate to your reader with your writing. Think in pictures and illustrations. Instead of just putting words to your target publication, include a photo, maybe a cartoon or line drawing. This increases the possibility of being read.
List the main points you could include in your letter or filler. Make a list in order of importance, starting with#1 for the most important point and add sequential points. Write your piece, in a simple language. Make sure your words ‘fit well’, and mark off key points as you review the ones that could be deleted. Study at least a dozen publications you would like to submit your work to. Sort them in order of preference, according to filler types, payment, subject matter, and begin to write and send them material.
This may not be the easiest work, but for a few passionate writers, it’s enjoyable and profitable fun.
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As online marketers, we spend a surprisingly large amount of time in front of the computer, either in a traditional office or our home office. Something we should always ensure, regardless of where, is healthy work environment. A healthy environment equates to a healthy body, healthy body, healthy mind. Healthy mind – more sales 
. Heres a quick overview:
The Office:
- Comfortable temperature for optimum work performance (and clean air is a must. If you need to, go shopping for hepa air cleaners, as these remove up to 99% of the smallest and nastiest particles)
- Good lighting, preferably natural light to reduce eye fatigue
- Neutral and relaxing colors on the walls also help us relieve stress in the office
- Plants help us to have better oxygen, absorb moisture and improve our creativity
The Desktop:
- A good ergonomic chair reduces future spine and neck problems
- The monitor should be at the height of our sight for good posture
Good work habits:
- Take breaks, and talking groups of people to escape the boring routine. Sunlight and fresh air will help us clear our heads too
- Snack healthy. If you’re hungry between meals, eat fruit or another healthy snack
- Work out. Going to the gym is a good way of releasing stress and improving overall health.
Why are these important recommendations? Notice these statistics from companies that implement some of these suggestions:
- 59% of employees say they have improved their productivity.
- 82% of employees said that a place of relaxation improved satisfaction and thus retention
When you feel better, you work better. As affiliates, the better we work, the more we earn.
To your health…
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As environmental issues continue to have a bigger say in the media, we see a marked increase in preference for anything “green”. Let’s not confuse going green with eRecycling solutions, such as ROUND2, Inc. Typically eRecycling offers 100% green compliant e-recycling and computer demanufacturing solutions. Think of them as the final destination for your used and abused electronics.
Today, both advertisers and consumers are showing an increasing interest in the environment, in the organic, the natural. Thus was born the concept of greenvertising , green advertising, both in traditional media and new media of mobile and online. That’s the green we are focusing on in this post.
What does being green mean? The definition most used refers to being conscious and living in harmony with the environment. But the concept goes much further, and reaches the health sector (organic food, toxic-free products) and the general welfare (botany, homeopathy). Today, even products outside these areas begin to send “green” messages.
Various factors contributed to this trend, mainly the growing concern of consumers. Many experts point to the documentary by Al Gore, An inconvenient truth , as the source of this awareness, while others opt for the obvious visual effects of climate change. Green advertising trends go a little further back in years. For some time now, companies have been making large investments in going green, such as in the automotive sector. What we see now in advertising is a reflection of that effort.
But there are apparently different tones of green. Recent interest in ecology has been labeled light green . The other side of the coin are the greenies , those whose lifestyles revolves around ecology. These two share different messages. “The average consumer needs more general messages, while the greenies need more specific messages, “says Holly Bornstein, director of marketing for Clean Well .
Some problems
But greenvertising also faces various challenges. The largest of these, according to a study by USA Today is that consumers perceive “green” products as more expensive and hard to find, so that messages need to be more “friendly,” says Larissa Kundanmal, vice president of marketing. Another problem is that some advertisers try to sell “green” when they really aren’t, and this discredits everyone.
Online advertising offers great opportunities for advertisers who are following this trend. Many websites offer contextually relevant sections appropriate for those who want to sponsor a “green” site. Blogs and online communities are also ideal places for this type of advertising that caters to a very specific audience. So check it out, this niche good put more ‘green’ in your pocket…
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Remote digital payments for goods and services amounted to 167,000 million in 2010 and is estimated to exceed 633,000 million in 2014. Long gone are those days when stores were the only point of contact with the consumer in the sales cycle and the only environment to establish a relationship of trust with the customer. Consumers today have higher expectations and demand a personalized shopping experience through multiple channels and value added services. This creates an opportunity to capture more customers and build brand loyalty through mobile marketing. But what can organizations do to go mobile?
Loyalty through mobile coupons
Retailers in particular have a great a opportunity to lead the mobile channel and its adoption by end users through mobile coupons. According to the research firm Aberdeen Group, 57% of retailers are seeking new sales channels. Consumer mobile phone use is at an all time high, providing an opportunity for additional revenues streams for savvy businesses. A study by ComCost states that 52% of Smartphone users make purchases via mobile as a result of the coupons.
Mobile coupons create value for both customers and retailers because of its simplicity. In the U.S. mobile coupons have become very important in the sales arena. One simple way to create user engagement via couponing is with the use of a mobile tagging platform. These have built-in QR code generators for creating and managing content on line, bridging the gap between business and consumers.
Affinity Growth via mobile
Besides retailers, the consumer products goods (CPG) industry is trying to find ways to communicate with consumers via mobile. The mobile phone allows this industry to connect directly with consumers, providing more value than through other traditional channels. Using the phone, they can build brand loyalty collectively, and not through individual brands. In an industry where some of the biggest CPG companies offer thousands of products, companies are using mobile to increase customer value through multi-brand-in-one strategies, as evidenced in TV spots by companies such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and others.
Conclusion
Don’t be surprised to see many companies begin to engage and experiment with mobile to enhance brand loyalty programs. Mobile marketing, specifically through coupons, will be the catalyst for growth in helping consumers make informed choices by offering value to them. The channels may have changed but the message remains the same. Technology allows business to acquire more consumers, but always as a result of it’s successful implementation.
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Business leaders today are so obsessed with going global that they risk loosing foothold on local markets. But usually, the best global brands are those that are also the best local brands. McDonald’s, for example, penetrates into local markets through agreements with local businesses in order to adjust their menus to local tastes.
At HSBC , “The world’s local bank”, global and local go hand in hand for two reasons: local customers believe that you are accessing the best services if they are with a global bank, while global corporations want you to believe “Your” bank really understands local needs so that they can penetrate those markets.
All this really does underscore that the world is getting smaller. As social networks go more location-based, and hyper local communities and local searches continue to attract the interest of users, smaller brands are realizing that they have no choice but to go local. Does it pay? According to the results of a recent study, the vast majority of national brands in North America (88%) are investing a good portion of their budgets on local business marketing.
“Brands recognize that while they don’t market on a local level, many purchases are made locally by consumers”, Pete Gombert, CEO of Balihoo, said in an interview with eMarketer. However, measu
On the other hand, 37% of advertisers say they their local ROI is higher than national trends and 44% expect an ROI similar in both markets. Only 19% expected that their national marketing ROIs are stronger than the local marketing efforts.
As brands maintain their local presence and strive to integrate their local and national strategies, the process of creating a more detailed picture of their marketing ROI is increasingly necessary.
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I read an article today about the how far the medical teaching course has come.
A new area of a hospital is called Clinical Simulation and Patient Safety, where medical personnel training is done through virtual reality systems and innovative technology. The new lab simulate real clinical situations in order to train professionals on the decisions that need to be made in the areas of diagnosis, treatment, care and monitoring, becoming a unique medical management course.
These courses allow all health-related professionals an opportunity to broaden their training in patient care using innovative teaching methods and generation tools, with the main aim of acquiring knowledge and skills to ensure maximum quality and patient safety. Doctors who train other health professionals can make use of the program, which then becomes a “teach the teacher course“.
This projects goal is noteworthy: improve patient care, for which $750,000 has been allocated for tech equipment, including robots, mannequins and virtual reality software, making the center a national and international resource center among health workers, who will come to train at any level within the three programs offered. The area is structured into three distinct units, which share resources: surgical, endoscopic and interventional simulation. Training will be provided partly in operating rooms, providing critical and emergency simulation, as well as clinical care simulation.
So, don’t be surprised if a new niche market is developing, one where we can sell robots to hospitals in the near future…
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My wedding anniversary is coming up next month, and we are heading to the beach!!!
One of the best things about affiliate marketing is that, since you are your own boss, you have the flexibility to take time off whenever you wish and do things most people may not have the opportunity to do. For instance, I’ve never been surfing, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. Guess which hawaiian beach is famous for awesome waves?
Waikiki, once the hangout for Hawaiian royalty, is the now the playground for people from all over the planet. It has a modern infrastructure of hotels for all tastes, and wide spectrum of all types of cuisine and flavors from all over the world. It also offers an active nightlife.
But, Waikiki Beach, with its crystal clear waters, white sand, coconut trees is the place to be for surfing! Waikiki surf reports indicate waves can reach up to 10 feet high. I never been on a surf board before, so waikiki surfing lessons are in order.
A search for “surf board rental waikiki” brings up Moku Hawaii, which rents boards for as little as $30 per day. Yay!
Surfs up!!!
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Much is the anxiety and uncertainty caused by lack of employment. Many are in a daze just due to the shear effort in trying to find a job, especially when you don’t have a specific strategy. My brother left Florida about a year ago to Las Vegas NV. About three weeks ago he and his wife moved again to Phoenix, AZ. A marketer himself, he found it necessary to get full time employment with a firm to make ends meet.
A quick search for “ az marketing companies ” and “ marketing companies phoenix ” showed some good potential employment opportunities, ranging from b2b to b2c marketing agencies. “ Phoenix marketing companies ” even displayed results for social marketing firms. This got me thinking: Many are trying out the affiliate space, but need a stready income stream before their business becomes a full-time opportunity. How do you find the best jobs?
Here are some tips when you got to do what you got to do regarding employment:
Apply networking techniques to the fullest.
Forget the traditional way of sending resumes to Human Resources departments of companies. Start off by meeting up with people who, besides knowing your target market, also have many contacts. The best strategy is to request the meeting by explaining that the purpose of it is to pick their brain on a job search and that you are seeking an expert opinion about what is happening in the market during these tough economic times.
The goal at this stage is to get between 10 and 12 to. Surely each one of them will give a different view and therefore a valuable range of expectations.
The other important point to remember is to ask them if they two people who they recommend to interview. Never, never ask for job! Remember that your network is working as a professional, only asking advice on a market in which you “like” to work in, hence you are seeking advice from these ‘experts’.
Eventually some of these people will know of a company looking for someone. Of course, to do all this work of networking you have to have prior relationships, contacts or whatever you call them….
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As an online marketer, maybe working from home, sometimes doing the same thing, over and over again, can get old. How do you keep yourself motivated? What can keep you focused and moving forward? One way is by visualization.
Visualization is the ability to imagine and to create in our minds what we want to achieve or do. It is based on the principle that the brain thinks in pictures. So why not put a pic next to your computer monitor or on the fridge of that dream house you want to live in, that awesome vacation you want to take, or that cool car you want to own?
Myself, I would love to own a BMW 335d. It’s got more torque than a Dodge Hemi, gets highway mileage like a Toyota Prius, and sips fuel in the city better than a Toyota 4-cylinder Camry. I live in Orlando, FL, but there are deals to be had a little more further south. Doing a search for ”used cars Tampa” or “tampa used cars” takes me to http://www.parkautomall.com, where you can browse for any used vehicle. But I digress.
In any case, I recommend that during the next ten days try to identify something of value to you, something you want to achieve and see and do. This requires a measure of faith, faith is believing – in yourself! In the visualization process, in addition to intent, you must believe. There’s a message that says “to he who believes, anything is possible.” We must stay focused on what we do, recognize what we want. This process feeds visualization, visualization strengthens our values, and values build character, one that is constantly motivated to create action. And, well, there you go…
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As online marketers, we sometimes need to prepay for stuff. But what if we could use others people’s money get what we want (or need)? That’s where our credit comes into play.
If you have credit problems, it’s a good idea to try to repair it. Not only will it help your business, but your personal finances as well (the lines are sometimes blurred though, aren’t they?) Understanding credit and the effects bad credit can have can be difficult for many to understand. So I asked a credit repair colleague to give me the deats. He says the 5 most common questions are:
* In what way will I be affected by my credit problems?
* Is it possible to repair my credit?
* How long does it take to repair my credit?
* I can repair my credit myself?
* What are the benefits of hiring a credit repair specialist?
First, if you have credit problems, you need to understand the effects this will have. Most creditors use credit scoring system (FICO Score), which gauges the risk that lenders or vendors or employers take when offering you money, or credit or a job. The lower your score, the greater the risk. If you have a low score, your application will most likely be denied him, and if approved, you most likely be charged a higher interest rate and you may get a shorter term. A low score can even make your higher insurance rates and bad credit can prevent you from being hired by some employers.
Second, you should know that credit repair is possible. There are several creditors, and even government agencies that disappoint people when they ask, “Is it possible to repair my credit?” True, your credit report contains your history and in many cases, history can not be deleted. However, many reports could be improved. Sometimes they have missing information or wrong information. Addressing these areas can improve your score.
Third, “How long will it take to repair my credit?” Your score can not be improved within 30 days. If you work the system, you’ll need at least 35 days to see some improvement. Over a period of six months, your score can be improved dramatically if erroneous info is found in your file.
Fourth, “I can repair my credit myself?” You can try to repair your credit yourself, however, there are lots of confusing things to try. Taking the accounts that are clearly not yours is easy. You must fill out a dispute form and if the creditor can not verify the account information within 30 days of investigation, it will be removed from your record by Credit Bureus.
If you don’t feel comfortable dealing with consumer rights issues, it’s likely could get better results by hiring a credit repair specialist. There are many benefits of working with a professional to repair your credit. He will have the necessary knowledge of the credit system and consumer protection laws and get them to work for you. This means less stress for you and more money in your pocket.
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