BLOGS

Introduction

Blogs (short for weblogs), are websites that anyone with computer access can create to publish online personal journals or diaries. While most blogs take the journal format, some also go further and provide commentary or information on a particular subject such as food, politics or local news. However, personal journals are by far the most popular way of writing a blog, with millions of people around the world using them as a way to share their thoughts, feelings or everyday lives with the world at large. A large number of Australian teenagers host blogs and this is discussed will be further below.

The personal journal is a well known method for individuals to engage in reflective thought, but blogging presents a way of taking it to another level, as it is a way for individuals to publish material on at no cost on a global scale. Some of the reasons that people blog are for self development, to improve their writing skills, as a way of collecting information or developing an expertise on specific subjects, for making and extending relationships or for building a community with people who share similar interests. For others the blog serves a social need to share - information, advice or experience in the name of social responsibility or caring.

Blog Overview

In order to become a ‘blogger’, you firstly need to locate a blog hosting provider, which is as easy as doing an Internet search. Commonly utilised websites are www.blogger.com, www.blgosome.com or http://spaces.msn.com/. Some have charges attached to their use, but most are free. Once you join a provider you name your blog, add information about yourself such as favourite movies, books or interests and add any video, audio or pictures of your choosing. Most blogs tend to be a mixture of text, links to other sites and pictures.

Each time you wish to update your blog, say add some information or make a comment, you do what is known as ‘making a post.’ This is done by clicking a button on the blogsite which brings up an area, (somewhat like an email) in which you are able to share your thoughts. Anybody reading your blog is free to comment on anything you have written and the choice is generally there for them to do this anonymously. While the people that visit the blog are able to post or comment, only the blog owner or editor can initiate new subjects or frame discussion

BECOMES AN EVENT PLANNER

In the midst of the excitement and chaos of planning a social event, you are looked to as a steadfast beacon of decision-making and organizational talent. Your creativity and social know-how lend that special something to any gathering, so that the attendees feel compelled to ask the host or hostess in astonishment as they leave, “How do you do it?” The secret is: you do it!

An event planner is, quite simply, someone who organizes an event. While we generally think of an event as something grand and spectacular, any occasion where people gather – weddings, festivals, grand openings, meetings, reunions – need someone to ensure their social success. This is where you come in! And the good news for aspiring planners is that the job requires no formal training or education; event planners generally rely on natural talent, creativity and determination to succeed.

As long as you have the desire, you can become an event planner. No special education or experience is necessary to break into this career and succeed. If event planning sounds like the career of your dreams, here are ten steps to follow based on the fabjob.com Guide to Become an Event Planner:

1. Learn about the profession: “Event planner” is a broad term that encompasses everything from corporate meeting planners to wedding specialists to catering and hospitality coordinators. Spend some time initially reading books, searching online and talking to working event planners to see what areas interest you the most, and to become familiar with what is expected of you on the job.

2. Take stock of your talents: Successful event planners combine excellent interpersonal skills with organizational ability to find out exactly what their clients want, and get the job done. Other key talents include resourcefulness (accomplishing what you set out to do in the face of challenges) and a creative flair or an artistic nature that sets your skills apart from the competition.

3. Educate yourself: While no degree is necessary to become an event planner, areas of study (which you may already have) that impress potential employers and clients in this field are public relations, marketing, advertising, human resources, business, and retailing, as well as hotel and restaurant management, hospitality and tourism. If you want to strengthen your skills and supplement your natural abilities, degree programs are available specifically in event management, as well as industry educational seminars and at-home study courses.

4. Develop your materials: Before you begin job-hunting, you will want to organize your self-marketing materials so that they present you at your best. If your resume is lacking in actual experience, try volunteering to work with an event planner or organize a smaller, local event on your own. Make sure you ask those involved to write letters of recommendation for you to show your future employers or clients. Take pictures of all your work, and use them in your portfolio to demonstrate what you have done, and can do, for your clients' or potential employers’ events.

5. Find out who’s hiring: In addition to job advertisements (found on related job boards and classified ads), you should also directly contact organizations you wish to work for. Larger businesses, associations and not-for-profits, universities and municipalities all have a need for event planners, as do hotels, tourism bureaus, casinos, cruise lines, theme parks, and event planning firms themselves. Be creative in your job search – the simple question, "Who plans your meetings and events?" can open doors in the unlikeliest of places.

6. Interview success: Prepare for the interview by thoroughly researching the company. This will help you be prepared for their questions and to also know what questions to ask yourself. Have your portfolio and other materials with you and be prepared to discuss them at length. Remember that your choice of dress can give you an opportunity to show that you are both professional and creative, so put some thought into your appearance. During the interview, use confidence and enthusiasm to sell yourself and your talent. Above all, relax and be yourself!

7. Setting up your own business: When you think you're ready, self-employment could be the next exciting step in an event-planning career. In fact, many people break into the event-planning field with this goal in mind. You will want to look into the financial and legal aspects of the venture, and study the market and your competition so you are ready for the challenges that await you. Decide on an image you want to project to your clients and market yourself accordingly, using a variety of media.

8. Finding clients: Your main source of business will likely fall into one of two categories: corporate or social. Your local chamber of commerce can be a great resource to find the contacts in the corporate world and word-of-mouth is generally your best bet for social clients. Promoting yourself for free (through seminars, newspaper columns, etc.) is a cheap and effective way to let people know who you are and what you do, and their referrals may lead to even more work for you.

9. Networking: You can have the best ideas and be the most creative, perfect person for the job, but without the right contacts, you might as well stick to throwing birthday parties for your family! Plan to attend tradeshows, join clubs and organizations and socialize as much as possible to meet potential clients and business contacts. Get comfortable talking about what you do to everyone you meet, and always hand out your business cards.

10. Boosting Your Creativity: The more events you do for one client or company, the more challenging it gets to generate fresh ideas. When you need a boost, turn to TV and movies, retail stores (for materials), consumer magazines, the Internet, or even a walk in nature to reawaken your senses and inspire you to new creative heights. Your suppliers can also be a source of innovative ideas (that use their products, of course!) Maintaining your creative edge is essential to staying on top of your game in this business, so seek inspiration constantly.

THE BEAUTY OF WORKING AT HOME

Working at Home is growing at a phenomenal pace around the world. The beauty of it is that your time is your own and you can dig in anytime you want. Even Large multinationals are now seeing the benefits of employingpeople in the home workplace.

Because of the vast improvement of communications in the last 10-15 years, the home is now becoming its own office or company in its own right. All of the machines and instruments that
were once only located in the work office can now be located and used just as efficiently in the home office. Powerful computers, fax machines and internet connections can now be easily installed in the home.


Discipline and honesty are huge traits that have to be addressed when working from home. Procrastinating yourwork is not a problem as long as the work gets completed. When working from home, the important matter isnot when the work is done, it is that the actual work is being done.


Many entrepreneurs that work from home will tell you that if they have missed work by running some errands during the day, they will complete the work later on that evening or they will do extra the following day. Until you reach a point in your life where you can pick and choose when and where you work, discipline is the foundation on which your work at home business will thrive.


If you have a full time job and are insecure about trying a work at home job, I would first suggest doing it part time. By doing it part time you will start to understand if this life is for you or not.


There is definitely people (of which I am not) that love the great out-doorsand want to be constantly out of the house 9-5 Monday to Friday. No matter how good an opportunity came along, these people still would not like to do it. On the other hand I believe there is the majority crying out for change. These are the people that would love to try something new if it only would increase the quality of their lives.


These people are the new leaders in internet and network marketing. These people are the people that provide the real determination to succeed in their home based businesses. By reading this article, if you think you are one of these people, then you are in the right place. Give your home based business a try, you have nothing to lose only a regret that you didn’t start it sooner!

10 TIPS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT BUSINESS

With so many opportunities available today, it is hard to decide which business is the right one for you. Choosing the wrong business can cost you both time and money, not to mention the loss of your hopes and dreams.

Use the following tips to choose the right business for you on the first try.

1. Make a list of your hobbies - Often hobbies can be turned into a business. You want to enjoy your business, so begin by making a list of the hobbies that you enjoy. Look at each item on your list, and determine which ones could realistically be turned into a business that you can start and operate.

2. Make a list of what you know - other than hobbies; there are plenty of things that you know about. Do you have a college education? Make a list of the things that you consider yourself to be extremely knowledgeable about. Do not list things that you have little interest in, or things that bore you. Look at this list and determine which of these items can be realistally turned into a business that you can start and run.

3. Make a third list from the information on lists one and two. On the third list, only write down the items that can be turned into a business that you can realistically start and run.

4. Loving what you do isn't the only thing to consider when choosing a business. Other people must also love what you do, or need the result of what you do, or you won't have any customers. With your final list, start doing some research. Begin at http://www.overture.com. Click on "Advertiser Center" at the top of the page. Using the Keyword Selector Tool, type in keywords for the businesses you are considering. How popular are those words? Are people already looking for what you can offer them? If your business will be an offline business, what is the need for what you can offer in your community? It is important to have this information before investing time and money. Mark off the items that are not popular, or are not determined to be needed.

5. With the potential businesses left on your list, work up an estimated cost to start and operate each one for the first three months. What is your budget? How much money can you afford to spend on your new business. Remember to add in costs for advertising. You should also consider the costs for your personal/living expenses if you do not have another source of income. Which businesses can you actually afford to start? Is financing an option? Mark the businesses that are no longer realistic off your list.

6. Make new lists for each of the businesses that remain on your list. You need to know what is required to start and operate each business. You need to know everything. What equipment will you need? How will you advertise the business? What space is needed? How much start up money will you need? What are you local and regional requirements for running a business from your home? How much money should each business realistically earn each year? Make a list of questions, and answer those questions for each of the businesses remaining on your list.

7. How much time are you willing to invest in your business? Look, realistically, at the time requirements for each potential business on your list. Are you willing to put in the required time?

8. Locate people who are in the businesses that are left on your list. Find a way to talk with them. Find out what all the pitfalls are, and how to avoid them. Learn as much as you can from them about how they started their business, what it took, from a financial and time standpoint, and what they have done to make their business succeed. It is not a good idea to choose a competitor for this research. Either choose someone who would not be considered a competitor, or don't let them know that you are a potential competitor. Make the call or arrive at the meeting armed with a list of questions to ask.

9. Think about the remaining potential businesses on your list. Think about each one individually. Imagine yourself taking the steps necessary to start up each business. Imagine yourself running each business. Which ones feel right? Which ones feel wrong? Your gut instinct should never be ignored. With some businesses, redundancy can become a problem. Will you get burnt out doing the same tasks over and over? You need to think long and hard about your options, your personality, your likes and dislikes, etc.

10. With all of the information you have gathered in your research, you are finally in the best position possible to choose your new business. So, simply make a choice...but don't throw your list away. You may want to try one of the other possibilities in the future - after you've made a success of your first home business!

10 Hiring Tips for Small Business Owners

As a successful small business owner, you're accustomed to long hours; non-existent holidays and weekends spent working.

When was the last time you went to your dentist? When was the last time you had an uninterrupted night out with your partner?

Whether your goal for 2005 is to find more time for family or personal enrichment --like attending classes and conferences -- you'll want to consider bringing on some help.

The following tips can help you get started whether you want to bring on a team of 10 or an occasional backup!

1. Don't expect to hire a replica of you! Each person you meet and interview will be a living, breathing human, with his or her own habits, mannerisms and even ideas! This is fine - -as long as their ideas and habits are not philosophically opposed to yours. My first hire, Jen, was pursuing a graduate degree, had just moved to the area and is nearly 20 years younger than I am! She's detail-oriented and relies on schedules to get things done. I'm a bit more 'seat of my pants' type of operator. She's a perfect fit because she complements my way of working! Over time she's grown into managing portions of my business that I neglected - like maintaining scheduling and billing.

2. Know exactly what you expect from your new hire. Before you advertise for help, sit down and write a job description. List your goals for the new hire - do you want someone who can fill in on short notice when you need to take a day off, or do you want someone who can work a regular schedule? Do you want someone who can meet with clients, set their own schedules and attend meetings and events on your behalf or do you simply need someone who can pick up your overflow? By spending time working through your thoughts on hired help you are setting yourself up for a great working relationship. If you can clearly articulate the job to all applicants, they will have the opportunity to determine if this is a mutually agreeable fit. Be sure to concentrate on specific job-related descriptions, and not subjective information.

3. Determine what type of manager you are! It's imperative that you're honest about your work style. After all, if you say you want an independent thinker, but really do a lot of 'checking-in' you may end up with an unhappy helper. On the other hand, if you hire someone who needs lots of feedback, you need to be sure that you are cut-out for the 'people part' of the management process.

4. Set aside time. If you expect to hire someone by the 15th of next month you may be setting yourself up for failure. Just as you can't expect to find a perfect replica of you - you can't always put a deadline on your hiring process. In other words, plan to advertise, interview and train until you find the RIGHT person. (SECRET TIP: If you find the right person - Hire them right away and then find work for them! Never pass up a great hire!)

5. Ask your insurance carrier about your responsibility for insuring your team members. Whether you hire Independent Consultant's or Employees is a topic for another article, however, you need to make certain that your company is covered.

6. Determine your time-off policy. Just like you, your team members will need time off - whether to recover from the flu or just to recharge. How will you handle these absences?

7. Create a disciplinary and review process. Whether you need to tackle issues of poor performance, or chronic absenteeism -- have a policy in place before you bring on your first team member. Questions to address in this process include: How many emergency absences are acceptable in a given time period? How will you deal with customer complaints and concerns? How will you reward outstanding performance? What format will you use to communicate with your team?

8. Find a reputable company for conducting background checks. If your company's product or service requires your employees to access clients' homes, children or possessions, do not overlook the importance of conducting a background check. You can search on the web, ask your insurance provider, or talk to your local police authorities for recommendations on companies to conduct this check for you. In each instance, you will need the applicant's signature and understanding that you will have a third party conduct a background check as a condition of employment.

9. Create a Fact Sheet for Applicants that you can provide along with an application to interested candidates. This sheet should cover your basic job description, expectations and hiring process.

10. Create your training program. Whether a detailed manual or one-on-one training for a specified period of time - make sure you have a written outline. Your training program should include all aspects of the job you expect your new hire to complete. Many misunderstandings and frustrations occur simply because a new hire didn't understand the expectations of the boss.

By following these tips, you are well on your way to a happy and productive working relationship with all your new help!