Monthly Archives: July 2011

Why I read Twodolla.org

Posted by contentsmatter in CM Team Posts None comments

I decided that one of my main goals with this site was to explain more about blogs, technology and how and why I use them. I mentioned in a previous post that I used to read around 50 blogs, but I do not read any of them today. Why is that? I am not sure. But on the same token, why have I been reading some of the sites for so long?

I decided to figure out why I read twodolla aka Wendy’s Site. To begin, I guess I need a little bit of a history refresher.

Wendy started out as a reviewer for me around August of 2000. It wasn’t very long before I realized that I had a good reviewer on board. One who actually cared about the site she was working for. I started reading her blog a couple months after she became a reviewer. It was a “new” thing I was doing with all of the reviewers at that time. I read their blog to see if they were saying anything important, or not so nice about The Weblog Review.

I remember her having some funky light blue layout. Since then the site has had numerous layouts, some of which are memorable, others of which are not. But the design changes aren’t what keeps bringing me back to her site. So what is it?

To review her site for all of you would be stupid. You can find my review of it here. But what I will say is that it is what many would call a personal blog.

Personal blogs tend to be the hardest, I think, to actually enjoy. Most are drab and boring, every day life things. I am sure that I fall guilty to it too. It takes a specific type of person to actually read, enjoy, and understand what the author is trying to get across. While I am sure there are 1000′s of people reading Evhead each day, I wonder how many actually can say they enjoy and understand what he is trying to get across.

Wendy’s site has a lot of ups and downs in it. Just like a good book does. It doesn’t read like an autobiography, but yet you have that sense of knowing who she is. (More later)

Her charm, sense of humor and above all personality really shine through when it comes to her blog. From creating nicknames for people, to figuring out lyrics for music, it is all there. I guess the main reason why I continue to read her blog, after almost 3 years, is that it is still entertaining, and I still enjoy it. She has grown, and I have grown. It isn’t like we could map out the growth, but it is something that has happened.

I finally met Wendy for the first time last week. It was completely cool. There was no awkwardness to it. It was like going and seeing a good friend who moved away. We ate, we talked, we had a good time. I think the fact that I still read her blog makes a big difference as to why it wasn’t awkward. So why do I read twodolla? Because it keeps bringing me more of what I love, and then some surprises.

My personal guide to ‘Noodle’ Marketing

Posted by contentsmatter in CM Team Posts None comments

Spaghetti is pretty easy to do – just noodles and some meat sauce. However, sometimes, while we’re so busy tending to the sauce, we forget that we have a pot of boiling noodles. The pot boils over. The noodles get soggy and the pasta has pretty much turned into red pudding.

Such is the case when we forget to market ourselves as freelancers when we get too busy tending to existing clients. The sauce is great, but the noodles need redoing.

1. Allocate time

Noodles need time to become perfectly al dente, so does marketing.

Don’t forget to allocate time to marketing yourself, even if you are determined to be extremely focused on a project. Remember, a project doesn’t last forever; but the way you build yourself up will have a lasting effect on your reputation as a freelancer, and consequently on the potential jobs you acquire in the future. Balance time between working on your project and marketing yourself.

2. Salt it up

Adding salt to noodles make them more flavourful.

Just because you’re busily tending to projects, doesn’t mean your marketing strategies should go stale. Continue on strategizing, networking and looking for media wherein you could further your career as a freelancer and gain for you more future projects and clients.

3. A simple stir

All you need is to stir the noodles to keep them from sticking. Over-stirring can ruin the noodles’ form and texture.

Sometimes simple strategies are sufficient marketing steps to take while you tend to projects at hand. A simple reply to a client inquiry or answering 3 client calls a day instead of 20 may be enough marketing strategies for now. You have to learn how to balance your time. You are only human after all.

4. Check if al dente

When noodles have become al dente, stop cooking them.

Don’t over-market yourself. Once you’ve taken enough steps to market yourself, there is no need to go overboard. Tend to your existing clients and the clients and projects you acquired because of the marketing you’ve done. You wouldn’t want too much on your plate.

5. Top sauce over pasta

After cooking the noodles, top them with sauce.

You’ve done your duty of marketing yourself properly; but you should always remember that the projects and clients at hand are your top priorities. By having this mindset, you also effectively build your reputation and market yourself as a reliable and efficient freelancer.