When working in Apple Programs such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Apple Mail, the Font Panel is a quick, easy way to manage your font styles and colors. Whether you want to simply preview all the font styles that are available or you want to add styles and colors to your writing it's easy. Here is a short video demo to show you how to use these shortcuts to apply some of the following styles:
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Professional Organizers like many other solopreneurs, face the challenge of not only having to perform the work but are also responsible for creating an on-going pipeline of new clients. Effective marketing, networking & advertising is essential to keeping a business thriving. Online “brochures” or websites are powerful vehicles for generating leads. With a little effort and learning in how your site is constructed combined with a clear focus on content posted you can increase your online visibility resulting in more visitors helping to keep that pipeline flowing.
SEO is “the process of improving the visibility of a website or webpage in search engines via the "natural" or un-paid algorithmic search results” Wikipedia It is a great “equalizer” because it allows the owner of a small company to build a strong presence on the internet and compete with the “big boys” simply by applying targeted SEO techniques.
The key is understanding how search engines work. Google and others are all about relevance to the specific words that are input. The links that appear are a direct result of the EXACT words searched. But how exactly did those results rise to the top? Keywords, or the words searched, were “built” into those website or webpage in headlines, blog content, HTML code, and graphics to mention a few ways. Taking the time to construct your site with your target audience in mind will go a long way in increasing your online visibility.
Some site construction tips:
Internet searches benefit those who specialize. Think about it, if you put in a search for “golf clubs” you’ll get tens of millions of results. But if you are the manufacturer of a special kind of left handed putter you’ll end up with targeted visitors who are looking for “exactly that item.” So think about what your specialty is in your organizing business. Think about who your ideal client is. Do you love working on kitchen organizing projects with a particular focus on pantries, or prefer closet organizing specializing in helping people in small apartments or houses manage their lack of storage space? What might that targeted client want to know? What might they be searching for online? When you have that identified create matching content reflecting your expertise and specialty in the area throughout your site.
Posting blogs is a terrific way to target a specific audience. Each blog page is a separate distinct web-page on your site capable of showing up as a separate search result. So posting blogs that are directed to your market broadens your visibility with each and every page posted. If you love panty kitchen organizing, then do a series on tips and tricks for organizing a pantry. Be sure to focus on writing copy that is keyword heavy targeting your ideal client and location. The more you can tap into what your ideal client might be searching for online the more likely you will be seen by those potential clients if your website content matches their goals & objectives.
So when crafting your marketing strategy for your business consider focusing on SEO for your website. You'll increase your companies presence on the internet helping to keep that pipeline of work flowing.
For additional SEO and other technology & organizing articles, tips, resources and information be sure to visit TechOrganizing.com
]]>While most Apple Computer users know that you can access the colors palette window by selecting "Show Colors" from the Menu Bar (in most programs) what many do not know is that you can save your own custom colors for future use.
Say for example you've got a website with your own special version of blue that matches all of your marketing materials or you have a logo and you want to use that same color in other programs on your computer so you can color coordinate email signatures or other business documents - You can, it's easy, here's how.
1. Open up the colors palette from within the Apple Program (Pages, Mail, Keynote, etc.,) by selecting "Show Colors" from the menu. Depending on the program in might be in the Format Menu or the View Menu.
2. Next, open up the website page or photo, or logo, or whatever image has the color you want to capture. You'll need that graphic up on your desktop so you can grab the color to then save to the colors palette. Make sure the Colors Palette Window is still visible next to the item - you may have to re-select the program you used to access the palette window to bring it back up.
3. In the color palette window select the little magnify glass (it's located near the top left of the window just under the color wheel. When you click on it the curser turns into a magnifying glass.
4. Move the curser (which is now looks like a magnifying glass) over the specific color on your computer you want to capture. You will see the inside of the magnifying glass actually change colors as you pass over items on your desktop.
5. Once you are on the specific color you want, click your mouse or trackpad to select the color. That color will now be in the large rectangular box in the color palette window.
6. To save that color for future use select the little small circular "dot" at the bottom of the colors palette window and drag it down to see rows of blank palette squares.
7. Now drag your "new" color from that larger big rectangular color swatch (next to your magnifying glass) and place that new color in one of the little squares. That color is now saved and you can access it anytime you open up the color palette window.
Now that you've got that color saved you can use it for your email signature or for your business docs to give all of your marketing and communications a professional polished company branded look.
]]>Tech SIG members Karen Simon, Nicole Chamblin and Alix Longfellow will be addressing key issues to help Professional Organizers feel comfortable working with clients (both Residential & Business) and their Technology related issues and solutions. Here are just a few of the areas we wil be covering:
Still have questions feel free to contact us directly. We look forward to seeing you in Baltimore!
]]>As a member (and as of July 1st leader) of the NAPO Technology Special Interest Group I meet regularly with fellow organizers who specialize in Technology Solutions to help clients become more productive and get organized. Recently we collaborated on an Article for the Association Newsletter (NAPO News) on ways organizers can help clients go paperless. There are some terrific ideas and resources mentioned that I wanted to share with you. Whether you are looking for some solutions for business or personal use there are some ideas mentioned that may be of use.
To view article click on the document below.
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If you have a lot of medications in your medicine cabinet and want to get rid of them, the DEA September 25, will be coordinating collection of old medications from 10:00am - 2:00pm at collection sites throughout the country. You can locate a collection site near you by searching at this link.
I recommend you take the time to properly dispose of your medication so they don't get thrown down the drain and pollute the water supply. And if you can't do it Saturday check out this resource that can help you locate disposal areas throughout the year.
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Making the entire application process a breeze!
Are you a parent with a College Bound high school student and feel anxious about the college applications process? Are you planning on applying for financial aid or scholarships? Are you worried you won't have the necessary essay's to complete to application or concerned you'll miss college application deadlines? If so, being organized is the key to making the entire process stress free. At the National Association of Professional Organizing annual conference I found just the tool to help with that. It's the College Caboodle and it's designed to help you keep track of important documents so that the application process is a breeze. The system is set up to help your organize all the information you need to help your child gain admission to the colleges of their choice. Just think, 72% of parents don't have a plan or a system in place to help manage all of the paperwork and with aplications on the rise it is as important as ever to have a plan. The college caboodle takes the worry out of the entire process. Check out this short video to learn more, but if you are worrying about preparing your kids for college and the entire application process this is something that can really help. Want to learn more click here: College Caboodle.
]]>Having used the iPad for the past month i can say it exceeds my expectations. Prior to the release there were many online discussions about how this would fit into someones toolkit -- can it replace a laptop? is it just an oversized iPod touch? The truth is the iPad is a new category and it's a great addition. It's best when you are consuming content such as watching videos, TV shows, checking out web-sites, listening to music, reading a book or sharing photos. As a Professional Organizer though I'm all about productivity and I can safely say as a productivity tool, the iPad is great.
Ten days ago i was in Columbus, Ohio for the National Association of Professional Organizers annual Conference and for the first time in 6 conferences opted to not bring my laptop and instead rely solely on the iPad. I was of course able to access the internet (via WiFi) and check my emails, check out my schedule, look up contacts in my database but the iPad turned out to be great for other things. I opted not to bring the keyboard-dock as I really wanted to check out how "regular" typing on the larger keyboard compared to the smaller iPhones would be and while I did have to get used to the touch keyboard and had to correct several mistakes in my typing I was able to take notes easily and had the added benefit of emailing myself those notes afterwords so I had clear typewritten notes to work from when back at the office. Prior to heading to Columbus I also downloaded GoodReader which is an application that allows you to load PDF's onto your iPad. This years conference organizers opted to go digital instead of supply a printed workbook so it was extremely helpful to be able to have over 400 pages of session presentation notes, files, meeting room floor plans and other PDF's that I wanted to access during the conference on one small digital device. And loading the documents was really easy. Like the iWork Apps (Pages, Numbers & Keynote) you can simply upload files from within iTunes. Everyday i'm finding new, useful iPad applications (i'll be posting more of those in later posts,) but i'm extremely satisfied with the iPad as a productivity tool.