Imagine going to University for say, about seven years. Imagine studying hard for more than 40 hours a week. Imagine trying to hold down a job while you do that just to make ends meet at the end of the month. Imagine fitting in friends, a social life family… You work hard, get exhausted, study long, crunch for exams and push to reach your goals. It’s tough. You have to want it pretty bad. Then the day finally comes. You walk out of the classroom for the last time. You’re on your own now. You
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Book Review: Don’t Make Me Think
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“Don’t make me think.” People often say that when asked to choose, but I’ve found this phrase to also apply to designing websites. The less a visitor has to think, the less he has to click. The easier a site is to navigate, the more likely that person will be to stay, read or buy. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across a book that confirmed what I already knew. Don’t Make Me Think is a real gem among gems. If you’ve ever wanted to know what makes a good site great – and in
> Read MoreShould You Ask Potential Customers Their Budget?
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Do you ask potential clients about their budget? The question came to mind recently after I entered into discussion with someone interested in design. We exchanged some emails, shared thoughts and tossed around options. I liked the customer, the project was interesting, and the talks seemed to be going well. Then I quoted her our standard rates. The potential client didn’t respond. Nothing. Nada. Not even a, “I’ve changed my mind.” That in itself isn’t surprising and it’s not unusual. Sometimes people can’t afford our services or expected to pay next to nothing for a
> Read MoreWhich Theme Did You Choose?
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Part of our job involves helping people choose the right theme for their goals and aspirations. Customers often already have an idea of which theme they’d like to use, but we often have to ask, “Why do you want to use this theme? Is there a reason that you’ve made this your choice?” In other words, we want to know if clients choose specific themes because they’re popular, or cool, or because all their friends are drooling over the “in” thing these days. The wrong theme choice can often cost people more money than they
> Read MoreTwitterranting: On Ego Pedestals and Auto Following
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If you have something important to say, do you say it? Or do you discuss it? Who do you talk about it with? These questions came to mind recently as I watched people on Twitter use the social media tool as some personal soapbox to talk out at the world. Note that I said talk out, not talk with. What’s Your Thing? Granted, we all use social media in the ways that feel comfortable to us. I use Twitter as my local hangout. I talk to people because I want to get to know them
> Read MorePutting the “Social” Back Into Social Networking
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If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time at the computer. You also probably engage with others using one or more social networks, like Twitter or Facebook, or use social media methods to promote your products or services. That’s networking, whether you realize it or not. You’re meeting new people day in and day out, making new contacts and widening your circle of friends. Have you ever thought about social engagement, and what it can do for you? At the WordPress Las Vegas WordCamp, Aaron Hockley told a story about the amazing effect social
> Read MoreDo You Feed Your Muse Well?
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Writers are typically desperate to find inspiration. They seek creativity like a desert cries for rain. They quest for the perfect undiscovered angle, turning over ideas like a grub-hunter turns over stones. I know this to be true, because my life is much like that – at least, half the time it is. I’m either overflowing with fantastic ideas and thoughts about everything under the sun, or I’m staring at a blank page thinking my muse went and died on me. I wasn’t even invited to the funeral. I try the usual tricks to combat
> Read MoreThree Writing Tips from People Who Aren’t Writers
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I have no clue who this guy is. No, really, it’s true. Alright, well, I know he emailed me to let me know I had a broken link in a post. And I know he was interested in what that link led to, which made me think well of him, so I emailed him back. And I also know that he was fast on the replies, quick with the wit, and he had a nice-looking blog. Oh, and he’s written a book. Two books, in fact. I know something else. His name is Phil, and
> Read MoreThe Unlimited Freelancer: Your Ultimate Freelancer Potential
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I have a secret. I cheat. A few years ago, I decided to become a freelancer. With a strong business background and plenty of skills, expertise and knowledge, I had exactly what it takes to make it. But I didn’t just make it. I wanted to make it big. I got off to the right start. I paid attention, I researched, I learned, I applied my skills, my talent, and my charm. I worked hard to make a name for myself and worked harder to create a solid reputation. I worked hard on building my
> Read MoreFiction Writing: Don’t Touch My Character!
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Fiction writers care deeply about the characters they bring to life. They think up personalities, quirks and flaws, they romanticize the image, and then they allow the vision of their character to pour forth in words. As writers, we all want characters that come alive on the pages. Characters make or break a story. Get them wrong, and the book gets set aside. No one wants to read a dull, two-dimensional creature of fiction with no more depth than a flat piece of glass. Get a character right, though, and readers fall in love. You
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