Blog Archives

Some tips to remember in business & in life:

4/18/2024

Today I had a potential client that had re-scheduled his free, no obligation call with me when I called him at the time of our call to an hour later. I did commit to that re-scheduled time and was able to make it work in my schedule, but an hour later when I called him at that time I let him know that I understand that you can't predict everything in life and things happen and how I wouldn't have committed to re-scheduling with him if it didn't work in my schedule, but that is why I mentioned when booking (he received it in his confirmation email that he was required to respond to & did) that if he needed to cancel/re-schedule his call to let me know ASAP by emailing me AND if it's on the day of his call (cancel/re-schedule/running late) to let me know ASAP via email AND via text. I then proceeded to let him know that I wanted to set the expectation that he was going to make his appointments & deadlines (in general) & respect my time as any professional even if the call is free to him as time is money. And that if we were going to work with each other & discussed what services he'd be hiring me for & a timeline that I ask my clients then BEFORE signing any agreement or handing any money to me that if during that month (or whatever timeframe I'm blocking out to be working with them) if they know they aren't going to be available (i.e. vacation, out-of-town for work with no cell service, out-of-town guests are visiting, etc.) that they let me know what then & I can extend the deadline when developing the agreement for a month and a half (as just an example). I explained how most clients understand that except one who when we already committed to a timeline & an agreement was signed when I made a comment about staying on track for the timeline, she immediately just said we could extend it. That is not the right mindset/attitude to have. Sure, I'm flexible with extending timelines for unforeseen circumstances that I can assess on a case-by-case basis & even explained this in my agreements that clients sign (i.e. an unforeseen illness or other emergency) but just to expect an extended deadline for work with me RIGHT OFF THE BAT with no special situation and I've already lotted that timeframe to the client for me to be available is NOT right. I basically explained how ideal clients who work with me are ones who are open to constructive feedback and criticism (just like relationships I want in my life) NOT ones where they fall apart when you talk to them or that you're walking on eggshells for. And that they can take that [constructive feedback & criticism] to do better next time. And I do the same when others tell me things and try not to react. All (this potential client) had for me was another apology (no explanation) and no desire to improve and do better when I was saying if this won't be a problem for you (which I don't think it would I said) & we can proceed with the call, he let me know how he didn't want to waste anymore of my time and was going to hire someone else. I was nice and commented how he had my info. should he decide he wants to work with me if it doesn't work out with his professional & wished him the best of luck with that professional.

I thanked God after the phone call that I am attracting clients who are great fits for me and them always. Amen.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THIS POST: Make sure to respect professional's times and their rules and ALWAYS be open to constructive feedback and criticism (in business & life).

Thank you for reading 🙂,

Carly Calabrese

I help unhappy/unchallenged professionals land their dream career (whether it's starting a business or otherwise)

Work Solutions - "Providing career assistance/career coaching/career prep, business marketing, writing, editing, and LinkedIn services for individuals and freelance opportunities."

Visit: worksolutionstoday.com

I also have a Covid awareness & support blog visit: corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com

“Independence is happiness.”—Susan B. Anthony

0 Comments

Why you need this for your next business goal

4/16/2024

0 Comments

If you're thinking what should I do next as another business goal to get business, why not consider hiring a professional writer to write about topics related to your business for your website?

I first learned about how the more original written content that's published on a website, the higher it places in search engines in a previous position I had (back in 2010 for a little over 3 years) writing articles for Tacoma.com, an online business directory about various news, businesses, and prominent business leaders and professionals in and around the Tacoma area. That was actually one of the reasons why my boss (at the time) and owner of the company had hired me.

We are all familiar with search engines on the internet (i.e. Google, Bing, Mozilla, Norton Private Browser, etc.) and that's what I'm referring to when I say that the more original content (original meaning never written before content) on your website will place higher in search engines. That means that when your potential customer searches for your products and services using one of the search engines I listed (or another one) your website will place higher on their search results pages because of having regular original written content posted on your website.

And the more SEO (search engine optimized) words that are used in your original written content, the higher your website will place in search engines as well. What are those SEO keywords you ask? Well, it depends on your business and the services/products it provides. For example, for the career assistance services that I provide in my business, some of the keywords my ideal client may search for in search engines include:

resume writing assistance
resume assistance
resume help
resume update
career assistance
career prep services
career coaching
career guidance
career help
career development
changing careers
find a job
job interview practice
successful job interview negotiations
successful job interview strategies
job assistance
job help
LinkedIn help
LinkedIn update
LinkedIn setup
LinkedIn coaching
cover letters
marketing myself for a job
how to land the job
how to get the job offer
how to get the job promotion
should I start a business
how to land my dream career
career success
career happiness

It then wouldn't be hard to write original content (articles) about topics related to the above keywords and/or using those keywords when writing about various topics in your industry.

How did I come up with the list of keywords that I provided for my business example? I thought about what most people would search for online that I provide in regard to career assistance and the services that I provide in my business.

As if placing higher in search engines and potentially getting your ideal client to your website isn't enough for a reason to see the value of a professional writer for your business, how about educating your customers about your business industry to build credibility and position you as the authoritative person in your industry?

Why would you need a professional writer when you can just use AI (artificial intelligence) you may think?

I'll give you 6 reasons based on a Forbes article "14 benefits and drawbacks of using AI tools to write business content" dated 5/30/23 (link to the article can be accessed by clicking on the title of it prior to this parentheses section):

1) AI can't duplicate human emotion such as personal storytelling and personal experiences.

2) AI can't replace real wisdom and content solely generated by AI, which will lack content & originality.

3) A key to using writing functions is to have someone who is already an expert at managing it to improve its productivity (i.e. a professional writer). You must research, correctly cite sources, and add proper tone & human touch. It does not replace a job necessarily.

4) AI cannot generate creative ideas. A client that hired me for a one-year business contract for writing 2 articles a month on health & wellness related articles also hired me to develop article ideas for this project.

5) AI cannot capture a specific voice and tone which is critical to brand identity. Many AI tools are unable to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources, research-based content often requires fact-checking and revisions. Plus, according to Elisa Camahort Page of BlogHer.com that provided insider tips for a successful money generating blog in an income generating activity featured in Woman's World Magazine 9/5/2016 issue: "People don't just want the news from you--they want your perspective. When people meet you, they should say, "You sound just like your blog!"

6) AI written content may create a risk of plagiarism. Since AI tools generate content based on pre-existing content, the risk of duplicate content increases significantly. Google may penalize you for using such content on your site.

So, if you're a business owner and haven't been regularly writing original content on your website and/or don't have someone that you're satisfied with doing it for you, consider putting this as another "to do" on your list to get business/keep marketing your business (if now isn't the right time) OR if it is, consider setting up a FREE, no obligation phone call with a professional writer (myself) to discuss further at this link: worksolutionstoday.com/setup-a-free-no-obligation-phone-call.html

Not a business owner? You can still help me by providing me leads and/or introductions to editors you may know at publications that hires freelance writers (also referred to as "independent contractors"). I have over 14 years' experience successfully working in a freelance/remote capacity and the same amount of time in positions which required heavy writing (this also includes the 11 years I've been in business with this business). 🙂 I have written for & been published in various publications including: Woman’s World Magazine (TWICE), Eatonville Dispatch (newspaper) 6 months, SouthSoundTalk.com for over 3 years, Tacoma.com over 3 years, the Tacoma Art Group for 1 year, and have also written for contract projects for: the Federal Way Mirror (newspaper), South Sound Magazine, Showcase Media Magazine, the Business Examiner, & the Puyallup Herald (newspaper).

AND my latest 2 articles I wrote were published on a new publication last month, the Tacoma Daily Index. Article #1 was on how local game nights at restaurants in Tacoma has helped improve business for them you can check out my article here: https://www.tacomadailyindex.com/blog/local-bars-embrace-trivia-nights-to-bolster-business/2470912/

Article #2 was on the growth of Stack's Burgers (how it started as a sit down restaurant in Federal Way in 2014, but changed their business model & have succeeded as a result) you can read about it at this link: https://www.tacomadailyindex.com/blog/stacks-turns-to-food-trucks-to-raise-its-local-burger-profile/2470899/

My latest Covid support & awareness blog post:

Below is a screenshot of what it looks like at my recent blog post NOT a direct link to it so clicking on the image below will NOT take you there. 👇

To read the rest of my blog post, you'd have to visit this link: https://corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com/2024/04/did-you-know-this-over-counter-covid.html

Don't forget to click the "READ MORE" blue text in the bottom right-hand corner when you visit the above link to see my whole post.

To read other popular posts from my Covid awareness & support blog

Visit the (above)👆 link for my recent post and see the other posts below it OR visit: https://corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com/

Once there, don't forget to click the "READ MORE" blue text in the bottom right-hand corner when you visit the above link to see my whole post.

Below are just screenshots of what it looks like at my blog NOT a direct link to it so clicking on the image below will NOT take you there. 👇

Please follow me on my blog. Steps to do so are here:

1.   Sign into Blogger.com (it's free to create/have a blogger.com account).
2.   In the left menu, click Reading list.
3.   In the top right, click Manage reading list.
4.   Click Add.
5.   Type "corona-virus-awarenessandsupport.blogspot.com" to follow. Please note those are dashes in my blog's web address and NOT underscores.
6.   Click Next.
7.   Choose whether to follow publicly or anonymously.
8.   Click Follow.

I'd also love it if you would make productive & appropriate comments to my posts at this blog. To post comments, you would click the "Post a comment" button right below my post OR clicking in the "Enter a comment" box which is also at the bottom of my post. I've enabled it so that even those who don't have Google accounts can post comments. 🙂

When you are at my blog, you can share my posts (individually if you want to share a specific one) to someone else by clicking the sideways triangle with circles at the end in the upper-right hand corner of the post. I've provided a screenshot below with a red circle around the "Share" button that I'm referring to. Once you click on that button, it gives you options to get the link to my post, or share the post via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or email it directly to someone.

Thank you in advance for supporting my blog and I in the ways that I listed (above). 🙂🙏

Thank you,

Carly Calabrese

I help unhappy/unchallenged professionals land their dream career (whether it's starting a business or otherwise)

Work Solutions - "Providing career assistance/coaching/prep, business marketing, writing, editing, and LinkedIn services for individuals and freelance opportunities."

“Independence is happiness.”—Susan B. Anthony

0 Comments

﻿news & updates

Some tips to remember in business & in life:

Why you need this for your next business goal

My latest Covid support & awareness blog post:

To read other popular posts from my Covid awareness & support blog

Please follow me on my blog. Steps to do so are here:

Archives

news & updates