10 Step Beginners Guide to Blogging Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Step Beginners Guide to Blogging Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career 1) Learn about blogging Before you even start a blog around your brand, introduce yourself to the concept. It helps to know what youre getting into before you rush in and only fools rush in as they say. If you want to know the difference between traditional media and social media, check out this New York Times article (static), followed by a New York Times blog post (dynamic) on the same topic. Notice the difference in formatting and how the blog has comments open but the regular article doesnt. The blog is more opinionated, while the traditional news article is straight fact. They both have sharing features, such as the ability to submit the news to Digg, Facebook and even LinkedIn. You can also view the Wikipedia definition of blog, which contains the history, types of blogs and how they have blurred the roles in media. Alltop.com can help you locate the best blogs in several categories. 2) Listen to current conversations In order to start a successful blog, you need to know what youre getting yourself into and what has already been talked about in the blogosphere. To do this, I recommend a few tools, such as Google Reader, Technorati, Google Blogsearch, Google News Search and Summize. Google Reader: I use Google Reader as a way to collectively gather all news and information related to my interests, such as recruitment, marketing, branding, social media and public relations. After subscribing to each news source, I skim all the headlines in the morning and use del.icio.us to add the sites I want to refer back to in the future. This is an extraordinary combination. Its helped me track all the research for my new book. Technorati: Conduct a search for your name and all the topics that might interest you. Subscribe to each on RSS and list each result by Technorati Authority (# of blogs linking to a blog). Click on the blogs with the highest authority and subscribe to them. Google Blog/News Search: Just like with Technorati, you will want to search for all relevant terms, including your name, and subscribe to each on the left hand side of your screen. Summize: This website will help you listen and monitor conversations on Twitter. As stated before, search for everything you want to track and subscribe through RSS. The end result of this exercise is a flood of content delivered right to your feed reader. When this happens, you can actively monitor your personal brands reputation. As blog posts teleport to your feed reeder, you can comment on your favorites by clicking the title and absorb new ideas for your own blog. 3) Take a niche After a few weeks or even month, you will have a thorough understanding of what people are talking about, how they are responding and how you can join in on the discussion. Find a way to take a niche of a popular category or trend. The tricky part is that you need passion and expertise to backup your niche. Once you can lock down what youre good at and enjoy, then find some angle, application or topic that coincides with it. 4) Get your equipment ready Believe it or not, the technical part of blogging is the easiest part. Many blogs have really bad design layouts, but with 5 star content and are extremely popular. Some choose poor platforms, while others are technically proficient so they can build their own. This post is for beginners though, so here is what I recommend. Domain name: Ive posted about this at least 4 times since Ive started blogging. Please visit GoDaddy.com or another domain registering service and search for yourname.com. If its unavailable try yourname.net or yourname.org. If they are all taken, try your middle initial. If that is taken, find a way to use your niche as keywords for your domain (keywordkeyword.com, etc). WordPress.com: For free, you can start a blog in minutes. WordPress.com gives you Gigabytes of space to upload pictures, audio or video. It uses Akismet to block all blog spam and people get thousands of spam comments daily. The downside is that you have to play by his rules, meaning no javascript or AdSense. Take your domain name and click on Upgrades on your WordPress Dashboard after youve signed up. There you can mask your domain over yourname.wordpress.com, such that is reverts back to yourname.com. 5) Pick your logo and theme There are over 20 different themes on WordPress.com. Start by filtering the themes by header. The resulting themes will all allow you to upload a custom header that you can create using Photoshop or another graphics program. This is important because it allows you to brand yourself as the one and only and not a copy. Select the theme with your favorite colors and with a flexible layout. I recommend right sidebars because people read from left to right and you want to play up your content. 6) Create your personal brand page Your personal brand page is more important than any post youll ever write. Everyone wants to know the credibility of a personal brand before taking his or her posts seriously. Think about it, if a 5-year-old kid is blogging about marketing and CEO is blogging about marketing, whose are you going to pay more attention to? Describe yourself to your readers before even posting; it will make or break your blog.   When titling your page, dont use author, but rather your own name. Best practice Name Personal brand statement Professional picture Summary of qualifications Short paragraph about personal life LinkedIn profile badge (as a resume) 7) Get an RSS feed Get an RSS feed at Feedburner.com. RSS is important for acquiring loyal readers and establishing a community. Its also essential for having posts be shared from feed reader to feed reader (Google does this with Google Reader). Your RSS count is VERY IMPORTANT because perception is everything. I really dont care what the critics say, your RSS subscription base is one of the most important blog statistics. Trust me, PR people arent going to pitch their clients to you if you have 3 RSS subscribers, even if they are Barrack Obama and Madonna. Subscribers remain anonymous, so the number matters. DO NOT promote your RSS chicklet (shows the # of subscribers you have) unless you have over 150 subscribers. Otherwise, by the law of social proof, people will automatically perceive your blog as being just another blog or unpopular. 8 ) Claim your blog on Technorati Use the same website you viewed in Step #1 to claim your blog; Technorati. All you have to do is sign up for Technorati, fill out your profile information and claim your blog. Once you claim it, Technorati will track all links your blog receives. You can keep a running tab on who links to your blog, so you can return the favor and view your Technorati Authority go up or down. 9) Widgetize your blog I consider widgets to be glitzy. They arent too necessary but do add value or I wouldnt have used them on my own blog. The one widget that will really make a difference for you is your blogroll. When you first start blogging, a blogroll is your way of establishing some quick traffic and relationships with bloggers. Add your favorite bloggers to your blog roll, email them and tell them you like their site and that you linked to it, WITHOUT asking for anything in return. You might want to add in a few comments to some of their posts first. Other widgets you should add: Search: Ive posted over 300 times and if didnt have a search area, I might not even be able to refer back to any posts I did last year. Add search, not just for yourself, but for the good of your readership. Tag Cloud: As you tag each post, a tag cloud is any easy way to present categories to your readers. Recent Comments: This widget will both help you build a community and reward those who comment on your blog simultaneously. ) Write 5 remarkable posts As a blog coach for a Fortune 500 company, I always recommend executives writing at least 5 posts before they publish a single one. I give this advice because no one wants to visit or read a blog with no content. A lot of people dont trust blogs with only one or two posts. To launch your blog successfully and seriously, put some thought into 5 remarkable posts and then publish each one in a given week.

Oral and Writing Fluency Resume Tips

Oral and Writing Fluency Resume TipsIf you are an oral and writing fluency resume writer, you probably know that just the fact that you're employed should not mean that your employer will accept your resume for consideration. Why? Because it has to be able to convince your potential employer that you're the best candidate for the job, it has to show how you can perform the tasks being requested of you, and it has to be detailed enough to demonstrate the skills you possess.While the oral and writing fluency resume itself can be an excellent tool in the hands of an experienced professional, there are still a number of important things that you'll want to keep in mind when you're writing it. In order to avoid getting your resume rejected, there are some key tips that you can use to make sure that you get your job applications reviewed.One of the first things that you should do when you're writing your resume is to make sure that it's presented in a way that makes sense to the prospectiv e employer. Remember that when you are writing a resume, it's one of the first pieces of communication between you and the employer, so you should make sure that your resume looks like a professional presentation. Make sure that you don't use a lengthy and confusing sentence structure, as this might come across as rude and abrupt.In order to make sure that you don't come across as unprofessional, you should always start your written communication in an effective way. Be concise and to the point, and if you're addressing the prospective employer directly, you might even consider writing out a letter or email to them. This gives them the impression that you're not just trying to get your resume reviewed, but also that you've taken the time to try and get to know them, as well.You should also focus on finding jobs where you are most likely to be employed and try to find as many jobs as possible that you are most qualified for. If you already have a certain type of job that you would li ke to change to another, your oral and writing fluency resume should reflect that.However, it might be helpful to you to branch out of the same specific career fields, and take some other job opportunities. Having some of the same skills and abilities as what you have is helpful for getting in some other types of positions, such as a nursing assistant, at a nursing home, or at a medical office. By doing this, you might even be able to position yourself better for those other employment opportunities.Lastly, you should use keywords in your oral and writing fluency resume. Don't include the name of a city, state, or zip code, because it might come across as impersonal, but rather include something like 'Work in Cincinnati, OH', or 'Address Cincinnati, OH'. This makes the person who reads it more inclined to believe that you know something about the city you're looking for.In order to be a more convincing candidate for the positions you apply for, you should use some of these tips on y our oral and writing fluency resume. Keep in mind that using professional written communication and proper grammar skills, coupled with a resume that is clearly written, will definitely increase your chances of being hired.

Considering Accounting as a Second Career Read this First - CareerAlley

Considering Accounting as a Second Career Read this First - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Making a career change can be a nerve-wracking decision but a rewarding experience. For some it comes after years of indecision, for others, its straightforward and easy to take the leap. If youre considering new career paths and have settled on a role in the accounting field, consider these facets of the industry first. Why Is Accounting a Solid Choice? There are many reasons a career in accounting can be a valid path for a person of any age, at any point in their current career. For one, it offers stable career progression. According to recent statistics published by the United States Department of Labor, job growth for both accountants and auditors is forecasted to increase by a whopping 12 percent before 2022. With such solid job prospects, individuals of all ages are considering accounting as a second career option. Compensation rates are also enticing individuals from all industries; in 2018, the median salary for auditors and accountants came in at $67,190. While this can vary based on firm size, location, and experience, accounting offers plenty of opportunity for a lucrative career. source Youll Need a Bachelors Degree in Accounting If your current career has nothing to do with accounting, youll need to get the right education pre-requisites in order to be considered for any accounting jobs. If you dont already have a degree in accounting, youll need to get one. Few employers will hire accounting staff that doesnt have some sort of educational background in this discipline. Luckily, there are numerous ways to achieve this degree, whether you take online classes or attend courses in a traditional university setting. While school reputation can be important if youre looking to work your way into one of the Big Four accounting firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PriceWaterhouse Coopers), generally youll find that an accounting degree from any certified institution will be sufficient to grant you access into a variety of roles and companies. What youll think of an accounting career depends on your personality, working style and life priorities. Once you understand the possible pros and cons of an accounting career, you can make an informed decision on whether its the right career path for you. Rasmussen College College Accounting: A Career Approach (with QuickBooks Accountant 2015 CD-ROM) Price: $77.36 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 Immerse Yourself in the Accounting Industry One of the biggest struggles youll encounter during a career change into accountancy is the need for experience. Many find that they must first take low-paying internships to gain access to the industry. While it can be a financial struggle for many, the experience gained in these internships can be invaluable to future employers and cement your chances of being gainfully employed in years to come. When it comes to the private and public sector, career changers should consider public accounting first. Working in a public accounting firm can give you experience in a wide variety of industries, including working with multiple clients and gaining understanding about the various aspects that play into a successful accounting business. Check out the job listings for public accountants. Photo by William Iven on Unsplash What You Can Expect In Compensation Of course one of the most enticing aspects of a career change to accounting is the promise of rewarding compensation. According to recent statistics, the mean annual salary for an auditor or accountant hovers around $75,000. However, it is important to understand what youll trade in return for such competitive pay rates. Many accounting professionals find themselves spending far more than the traditional 40 hours per week in the office. There are seasons where you may find yourself working upwards of 80 hours just to get things done, especially if you decide to work in a public accounting firm in which you work with numerous clients. Entry Level Accounting Jobs There are quite a few paths to take in Accounting. Typical entry-level positions include: Bookkeeper Budget Analyst Financial Analyst Tax Analyst Bookkeeping Essentials: How to Succeed as a Bookkeeper Price: $26.17 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 What Do Accountants Do Accountants prepare and review financial records. They help ensure that the financial records of companies properly reflect profitability and that they are efficiently operating. Responsibilities typically include analyzing data, finance reports, budgets, tax returns, and accounting records. Accountants might also make recommendations based on their review. A few typical tasks include: Reviewing financial statements to ensure accuracy. Prepare and maintain financial records. Ensuring that financial statements and records comply with local laws and regulations. Take a look at this Accountant Job Description Sample. Get CPA Certified There are numerous certifications that give accounting professionals a step up in the industry; these will help you differentiate yourself from the competition and earn higher salary rates. The most popular of these designations is becoming a Certified Public Accountant or CPA. Anyone considering a career change in accounting should consider pursuing this certification. Individuals must possess a certain number of years of experience, then pass a difficult exam. In accounting, there are a variety of jobs that may suit you. Many of these jobs also offer a great income! The majority of accountants who worked for tax, payroll, and bookkeeping services, averaged $75,000 a year. However, there are far more jobs and many of them can help you to earn far more! Tweet This This test is composed of four parts, and many find they have to retake the various portions multiple times before passing. If you do decide to become a CPA, give yourself plenty of time to prepare for the exam. Always use review courses; going in blind almost always assures failure. Sites like http://beatthecpa.com offer study materials and mock tests to help individuals prepare, and its best to begin studying as soon as possible, even if you dont intend on taking the exam for another year. Before taking the leap into accounting as a mid-career change, consider these aspects of the industry and determine if this position is the right choice for you. CPA Exam Review 2019 At Least Know This Financial Accounting and Reporting Price: $25.00 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 1, 2020 What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

3 Practices You Need to Do When Building Your Online Presence - CareerEnlightenment.com

3 Practices You Need to Do When Building Your Online Presence Ever since you were a kid, you wanted to work in sports. You loved watching baseball games with your family, and you knew you belonged with your favorite team.When you enter the workforce, you realize that finding jobs in niche industries is especially tough because they are highly competitive. You discover that when searching for work in sports you need something special to stand out from the crowd.The best way to earn attention in your niche is by creating a strong online presence. That means more than just keeping your Facebook professional and adding a catchy summary to your LinkedIn account.Let’s take a look at three things you’re overlooking when you build your online presence:Managing Personal SEOIf you’re applying for a position with your favorite baseball team, the hiring managers are bound to search your name in Google. In fact, according to a 2017 survey from JobsInSports, 22 percent of employers say this is the first action they take when they get an application.Wh en you know the basics of search engine optimization (SEO), you can manage your reputation by pushing negative search results out of the higher ranks. Start creating content that shows your passion for your niche.When the baseball team’s hiring manager searches for you, are they going to see how passionate you are about finding work in sports? Show them why you fit in their organization.Sharing Your ExpertiseCreate content that highlights your passion, skills, and experience. Employers also want to see how you interact with the industry.The JobsInSports survey found that 64 percent of employers prefer to see candidates who joined professional organizations, and 26 percent prefer candidates who have an industry-specific blogIf you want to get into sports marketing, start a blog where you can comment on trends, dissect marketing campaigns, and demonstrate your knowledge of marketing and sports. Use your online presence to highlight your involvement with professional organizations. W ant to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. In fact, the JobsInSports survey also found that 15 percent of employers say the best way candidates can show their enthusiasm for a niche industry is by attending industry events. Your professional organization helps you to stay up-to-date on them.After attending seminars and events, share what you learn online. Document this on your blog and social media accounts.Engaging EverywhereThe JobsInSports survey found that employers love job seekers who are actively engaged with their industry online.  They prefer to see candidates who comment on industry discussion boards and forums (49 percent), share industry content on social media (37 percent), comment on industry blogs (32 percent), engage in LinkedIn groups (30 percent) and engage in Facebo ok groups (26 percent).Start using your online presence to expand your network. Start conversations, offer your input on forums, and link to industry blogs.When you expand your network, you may even earn referrals. As the JobsInSports survey found, 60 percent of employers say they give referred candidates more attention and consideration than other candidates.Your online presence is crucial to building your credibility, expanding your network, and showing your passion to potential employers. This is the best way to stay competitive in niche industries.How are you standing out in niche industries?

How to make more money -

How to make more money - Have you ever thought about launching your own business to make more money? Or, perhaps youve considered starting a side hustle an entrepreneurial venture in your free time, while you are still toiling away at your current job? In Social Networking for Business Success: Turn Your Ideas Into Income, Hannah Morgan and I coined the term MOXIE to refer to people engaged in side hustles.   We thought side hustle sounded kind of like you were trying to swindle or hustle someone. We wanted to put a more positive spin on this important new workforce model.  MOXIE stands for: Managing Other (secondary) X-tra Income Engagements How to make more money using social media If you are thinking now might be the time to get started on an extra income, you are in good company. Take a look at our book trailer for Social Networking for Business Success to learn why you want to start thinking about how to launch an income-generating business and to see how the book can help you do exactly that! Buy your copy tomorrow Tuesday, September 3rd and win several bonuses, including an opportunity for a QA call with me and Hannah to ask all of your social media questions! Buy your copy tomorrow and check back for a link to sign up for the bonuses.

Job Searching Tips For Cleveland, Ohio

Job Searching Tips For Cleveland, OhioIf you are interested in career and employment opportunities in Cleveland, then you should consider hiring professional resume writing services. In today's business environment, it is necessary to have good resumes on hand so that you can easily meet prospective employers and ask for job openings. However, there are many things that you need to think about before you start your career search.First, a good idea is to plan the budget. Make sure that you have all of the things that you need to afford while you are shopping for resume writing services. Remember that the cost is not only related to the services; it will also be an indication on how much time you have to devote for your job search. With that in mind, you should not forget the importance of time management.The other thing that you need to consider is that you will not be able to search for your resume on the internet if you have a limited budget. This means that you will be limited to h iring one or two resume writing services in Cleveland Ohio. Remember that if you want to compete with the other companies, you will need to make sure that you invest your time in finding the right jobs.Also, the online job market has become crowded so you will need to have the ability to search for jobs quickly so that you can meet potential employers as soon as possible. If you don't find the right person at the right time, it will be hard for you to keep the relationship going in the future. Since this is the case, you need to get hired as soon as possible.Now, you will also need to take into consideration your various perspective. You will want to have a person that you can look up to if you are new to the company. These are people who can give you some basic information on what is expected of you and they can also help you get started on your career in Cleveland Ohio.However, you will also need to have some personality traits that can get you started. Take some time to think abo ut your personality. What do you want to gain from a career in the field? When you can answer these questions, you will have a better chance of making the right decision when hiring a resume writing service in Cleveland, Ohio.In conclusion, you will have to be very careful when deciding on the right resume writing services for your needs. It is important to make sure that you spend enough time in your career search, which can get quite costly when you are trying to be very selective when it comes to hiring a company. You can make the right choice by planning ahead, getting quality information about your target companies, and doing some research into the field of your choice.

How to Ask for More Vacation Time When Negotiating at a Job

How to Ask for More Vacation Time When Negotiating at a Job People are pushing for more time off, but the majority are failing â€" miserably. When accepting a job offer, only 54% of people even asked to negotiate their vacation time, and 59% of those people failed to get their companies to budge, according to data from a new survey on Monster.com. “It proves that employers still do have the upper hand, as much as we’d like to think it’s not the case,” says Hannah Morgan, job search strategist and founder of the professional education and advice site Career Sherpa. In the past, vacation time came secondary to salary or benefits. Even as recently as 2015, 56% of American adults reported not taking a single trip in a year. But the culture around time off is slowly changing. “There is a paradigm shift,” says Alexandra Levit, career expert and author of They Don’t Teach Corporate in College. But she adds, “the policies are lagging behind the reality.” The importance of time off is being championed today by researchers, psychologists, and economists who emphasize the health and productivity benefits. Even top business leaders â€" not typically known for their work-life balance â€" are saying vacation time is crucial. And companies are luring workers with enticing time-off perks. The World Wildlife Fund gives its U.S. employees every other Friday off. And the software company FullContact â€" in addition to offering three weeks of paid vacation â€" also gives employees an extra $7,500 to go on vacation as long as they promise to fully disconnect. Other companies are going as far as to offer unlimited vacation policies. With the unemployment rate at its lowest in decades, this should be a job-seekers’ market. As the number of available workers drops, employers should, in theory, be more inclined to offer potential hires more benefits â€" like vacation time â€" to secure new employees. So if you’re job hunting â€" or about to accept an offer â€" it’s time to get the vacation days you deserve. You can get two weeks off to go to that destination wedding in Australia â€" and still have extra time to spare. Here’s the best advice from career experts on asking for what you want. Consider company culture Remember, a potential employer isn’t only interviewing you. You are also interviewing them. Ask about workplace culture. Ask about work-life balance. This will give you a clue into what the company values in terms of time off â€" or if vacation time is even on the negotiating table. “You can start to look into the bigger picture this is painting,” says Vicki Salemi, career expert for Monster.com. As crucial as it is to be observant through the whole application process, it’s also important to do your research. Sites like Glassdoor and PayScale are helpful places to gain insight into office culture, flexibility, and time-off policies, according to Levit. If you’re interviewing in an industry or at a firm that has a reputation for working long hours and having little time off, keep your expectations in check, Salemi says. Consider your priorities in the workplace, and ask yourself if the company you are applying for is the right fit for you. In fact, the 22% of people surveyed who were able to snag extra days off said their company’s vacation policy was one of the reasons they applied for the job. Find out the vacation policy in advance Be proactive. Experts suggest using research to gain insight into a company’s vacation policy on your own. But if that information is not readily available, it’s okay to ask during the interview process. “If the job seeker candidate is more informed about what the company’s policies are then they can structure their requests to better align with the employer’s guidelines,” Morgan says. But don’t make “Can I get more vacation time?” your first question in an interview. While there is no hard and fast rule, experts suggest waiting until after your first or second interview and asking the recruiter rather than the hiring manager. Have the right attitude The goal is to not put the employer on the defensive or for you to be offensive. “If you are implying that you are entitled to more vacation, then that’s going to backfire,” Morgan says. Being demanding or abrasive can have broader implications reaching beyond how much vacation time you get, according to Morgan. It could be a sign that you might be a difficult or inflexible employee. Or that you might not be willing to adapt to new ways of doing things. “It can be an indicator that this employee is trouble,” Morgan says. During the entire interview process, you want to make a good impression. Even when negotiating, it’s important to make sure your tone is respectful and polite. One example of how to frame your questions professionally, Salemi suggests, is asking: “Is the personal day policy more flexible? I was hoping for more time. Is that possible?” Aim high â€" but not too high Once you receive an offer, remember this is a negotiation. Employers want to feel like they are part of the conversation. “When companies are extending an offer, they don’t expect you to accept on the spot,” Salemi says. But don’t be outlandish. That will shut down any conversation before it even starts. For example, you don’t want to be unrealistic and ask for an additional month of vacation beyond the standard policy. “I wouldn’t go in guns a-blazing.” Levit says. “You risk alienating them.” Negotiating more time off is a less expected request than negotiating extra pay, according to Levit. “I would be a little less bullish on something like vacation time than I would be about salary,” she says. Salemi suggests asking for an extra five to seven days and see where you go from there. And to remember that some days are better than none. And be sure you ask in person, rather than in an email. It’s also important to nail down any extra days you do get in writing, preferably in the offer letter. Most importantly, ask before you accept an offer. After that point, your window to negotiate is closed. And remember, asking is better than saying nothing “If you don’t ask, the answer is automatically no,” says Salemi. Consider the 24.6% of workers who reported that they didn’t ask for any extra time â€" and said they later regretted it. You don’t want to be one of them. Even if you don’t get the time you want, you can always use the negotiation experience as solid practice and you’ll become more comfortable with negotiating when interviewing for your next job, according to Salemi. And if you do land that extra vacation time? Make sure you use it.