Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
How to Create a Personal Website
If you have a ton of pictures and videos that you'd like to share with your family, the best way to do this is with a personal website. A personal website is a great tool for people to stay in touch with friends and family because it allows you to share media and information such as birthdays, weddings, parties, and more. The good news is that nowadays you don't need to know HTML; anyone with some spare time and patience can make a great looking website
1. Find a host. The host is the company that will store the files that make up your website. Whether it's free or paid (see Tips), you'll need to set up an account first.
2. Get a domain name (optional). If your host doesn't provide you with a domain or sub-domain name, you'll need to get one. It is easier for people to remember a simple domain name (ie: www.wikihowexample.com) than a tediously long URL (ie: http://www.wikihowexample.com/user/creator/index/pg223/creatorhmpg.html).
3. Decide on the content. You know this is a website for your friends and family, so think about what you will offer them when they visit. Some great ideas are tools like photo galleries, a calendar, a guest-book or forum, an e-mail list, and news on your front-page. Write down your thoughts as you come up with what to include.
4. Create a logo. Even though you may think a personal website doesn't need one, a logo unifies and makes your website more comfortable for your guests. Use a program like Adobe PhotoShop or Corel Paint Shop Pro to manipulate some text (possibly your name or family name) into an attractive and pleasing design. You could just save yourself the money and look for some open source software, gimp or inkscape should do just fine. They are also free and just as useful as Photoshop and Paint.
5. Create pages. Using HTML or a Web-Publishing tool like Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver, create a "Home" page with an introduction to the website, news, and basic instructions on how to navigate it. Other pages such as a "Biography" page and a "Contact" page may soon follow. Save the pages as .html.
6. Publish. Upload your pages and files to your root folder ("/"). Use an FTP program or your web browser to log in to the server. On your browser's address bar type "ftp://your-domain-name.com" and hit "Go" or the Enter key, then fill out the prompt with your username and password (provided by your host). You can browse your folders as you would on your PC or Mac.
7. Update. Keeping your family and friends up-to-date with news and photos is invaluable to them. Share new stories and jokes with them frequently to keep them coming back.
1. Find a host. The host is the company that will store the files that make up your website. Whether it's free or paid (see Tips), you'll need to set up an account first.
2. Get a domain name (optional). If your host doesn't provide you with a domain or sub-domain name, you'll need to get one. It is easier for people to remember a simple domain name (ie: www.wikihowexample.com) than a tediously long URL (ie: http://www.wikihowexample.com/user/creator/index/pg223/creatorhmpg.html).
3. Decide on the content. You know this is a website for your friends and family, so think about what you will offer them when they visit. Some great ideas are tools like photo galleries, a calendar, a guest-book or forum, an e-mail list, and news on your front-page. Write down your thoughts as you come up with what to include.
4. Create a logo. Even though you may think a personal website doesn't need one, a logo unifies and makes your website more comfortable for your guests. Use a program like Adobe PhotoShop or Corel Paint Shop Pro to manipulate some text (possibly your name or family name) into an attractive and pleasing design. You could just save yourself the money and look for some open source software, gimp or inkscape should do just fine. They are also free and just as useful as Photoshop and Paint.
5. Create pages. Using HTML or a Web-Publishing tool like Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver, create a "Home" page with an introduction to the website, news, and basic instructions on how to navigate it. Other pages such as a "Biography" page and a "Contact" page may soon follow. Save the pages as .html.
6. Publish. Upload your pages and files to your root folder ("/"). Use an FTP program or your web browser to log in to the server. On your browser's address bar type "ftp://your-domain-name.com" and hit "Go" or the Enter key, then fill out the prompt with your username and password (provided by your host). You can browse your folders as you would on your PC or Mac.
7. Update. Keeping your family and friends up-to-date with news and photos is invaluable to them. Share new stories and jokes with them frequently to keep them coming back.
Interested in Freelance Copywriting? Follow the Money
You’ve heard all the promises of working at home in your pajamas, taking long vacations on your private beach, and relaxing each afternoon with money pouring into your bank account from your lucrative copywriting gigs.
Well, it won’t happen if you don’t follow the money.
The biggest key to success as a freelance copywriter is, was, and will always be to follow the money. Who is actively spending (and making) money on marketing today? A few years ago, for example, the “health and wellness” market was all the rage. That’s started to die down with the current recession. There’s still money to be had there, but copywriters in that market are a dime a dozen anymore, and only the big players with solid reputations are getting the high-paying jobs.
Everyone else? They get the scraps - the small projects that barely pay a minimum wage and offer no prospect of advancement.
So where’s the money today?
As far as I can tell, it’s online. Businesses are spending more money for their online marketing today than ever before. They want to update their web pages, optimize their sites for the search engines, create videos, write and syndicate content, and create information products they can sell to help with their bottom line.
I’m talking about B2B businesses and B2C businesses, not the small-time entrepreneur. Of course, the best way for you to make a lot of money as a writer is to pick your own niche market online, create your own information products, and market them yourlelf. Most of you won’t have the time or resources to pull that off effectively though.
My recommendation? Start learning how to write for the web - web pages, case studies, landing pages, and search engine optimization. Then, create your own special report that you can use for lead generation, and go market thyself to real businesses.
Best of luck to you.
Well, it won’t happen if you don’t follow the money.
The biggest key to success as a freelance copywriter is, was, and will always be to follow the money. Who is actively spending (and making) money on marketing today? A few years ago, for example, the “health and wellness” market was all the rage. That’s started to die down with the current recession. There’s still money to be had there, but copywriters in that market are a dime a dozen anymore, and only the big players with solid reputations are getting the high-paying jobs.
Everyone else? They get the scraps - the small projects that barely pay a minimum wage and offer no prospect of advancement.
So where’s the money today?
As far as I can tell, it’s online. Businesses are spending more money for their online marketing today than ever before. They want to update their web pages, optimize their sites for the search engines, create videos, write and syndicate content, and create information products they can sell to help with their bottom line.
I’m talking about B2B businesses and B2C businesses, not the small-time entrepreneur. Of course, the best way for you to make a lot of money as a writer is to pick your own niche market online, create your own information products, and market them yourlelf. Most of you won’t have the time or resources to pull that off effectively though.
My recommendation? Start learning how to write for the web - web pages, case studies, landing pages, and search engine optimization. Then, create your own special report that you can use for lead generation, and go market thyself to real businesses.
Best of luck to you.
5 WAYS TO REJUVENATE by Mary DeMuth
* TAKE A DAY OFF
Set aside a day each week for rest. On those days get away from the computer and phone, if possible. Go outside. Create something, take photos, play music, draw pictures.
*CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
particularly silence and solitude. Spend extended time with God for your own spiritual development, not for the sake of bettering your teaching. Write out your prayers. Fast from media. Take long walks.
*INDULGE IN A LIFE GIVING HOBBY
Find a hobby that limits adrenaline demand. Consider something you've always wanted to do but never gave yourself permission to enjoy. Like art? Take a class. Always wanted to fix up old cars? Join a local car club.
*INVEST IN QUARTERLY RETREATS
Once every three months take a planned break from ministry activity for rest, reflection, and prayer. Read classics or novels for personal growth, no ministry how to books allowed. Find a place where God's natural beauty will rejuvenate you.
*HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS
Who are outside your ministry responsibilities. Having a rich tapestry of relationships unrelated to the pastorate will keep you sane when inevitable ministry issues arise. You need safe relationships where you can "let down your hair" and be you, where you are not tempted to play a role.
Set aside a day each week for rest. On those days get away from the computer and phone, if possible. Go outside. Create something, take photos, play music, draw pictures.
*CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
particularly silence and solitude. Spend extended time with God for your own spiritual development, not for the sake of bettering your teaching. Write out your prayers. Fast from media. Take long walks.
*INDULGE IN A LIFE GIVING HOBBY
Find a hobby that limits adrenaline demand. Consider something you've always wanted to do but never gave yourself permission to enjoy. Like art? Take a class. Always wanted to fix up old cars? Join a local car club.
*INVEST IN QUARTERLY RETREATS
Once every three months take a planned break from ministry activity for rest, reflection, and prayer. Read classics or novels for personal growth, no ministry how to books allowed. Find a place where God's natural beauty will rejuvenate you.
*HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS
Who are outside your ministry responsibilities. Having a rich tapestry of relationships unrelated to the pastorate will keep you sane when inevitable ministry issues arise. You need safe relationships where you can "let down your hair" and be you, where you are not tempted to play a role.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Make an Eternal Deposit
WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL wroto to the Philippians thanking them for their financial gift, he made it clear that his greatest joy came not from his own personal benefit, but from theirs:" Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account" (Phil.4:17). In doing so he used an accounting metaphor, envisionin a heavenly ledger with huge credit, the implication being that in addition to meeting needs in the moment the generous also receive a future benefit. In this life we partner with those who spread the gospei, joining together those who "sow" with those who "reap" and "gather". And in eternity we benefit from the rewards God lavishes on us for having the faith to invest in what we cannot see.
Perharps you'd like to talk with people who can help you forge such partnerships. The Dallas Seminary Foundation (DSF) exsists to do just that. You can find information on the internet by going to www.dsfplan.org . There you can view donor stories, see a personalized presentation, read one of the weekly articles, learn about personal finance news, meet the Foundation's planned giving staff, and sign up for a free weekly personal finance newsletter. A member of the Foundation staff would love to tell you about the many free services they offer to help you invest in what lasts.
Perharps you'd like to talk with people who can help you forge such partnerships. The Dallas Seminary Foundation (DSF) exsists to do just that. You can find information on the internet by going to www.dsfplan.org . There you can view donor stories, see a personalized presentation, read one of the weekly articles, learn about personal finance news, meet the Foundation's planned giving staff, and sign up for a free weekly personal finance newsletter. A member of the Foundation staff would love to tell you about the many free services they offer to help you invest in what lasts.
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