Category: Views & Ramblings

1. 7 insane work from home productivity hacks

   Posted on 10:00pm Wednesday 11th Nov 2020

   The year is coming to end and never in recent history, have we all collectively worked from home for this long. But now employees are finding a little delight in this new work approach.  

   

   Among its innumerable benefits – zero commuting time and working in your most comfortable clothes, it still poses some challenges. One of them being a lack of productivity.

   So if you fall asleep in the middle of your work, or take frequent breaks, here are 11 insane work from home productivity hacks for you.

   1. Desk over the bed

   While working from your bed might provide you with great comfort. But with it, comes the ordeal of battling the temptation of a deep slumber. And most often, we succumb and fall back to sleep.

   Therefore it is important to set up a desk or workstation for yourself. Maintaining a straight and firm posture as you sit would further help you concentrate more.

   Additionally, you can take a 2-5 minute walk to chase away the slumber if it knocks you on your desk.

   2. Make a plan/ schedule 

   If you used to plan your day when you worked in the office, what’s stopping you now? It’s important to keep in mind that only your work location and timings have changed but the professional obligations remain as it is.

   Therefore, set targets for the day, set proper mealtime, and rest time, and don’t take too many breaks, this is all you need to stay productive.

   3. Don’t assume too many changes. 

   Work from home essentially comes with the perk of flexibility. However, being so flexible that you wake up at 11 isn’t a go-to approach if you want to boost your productivity. The reason being, your mind would so much be at leisure that you’d feel lazy when you start working.

   But, it’s fine if you give yourself an hour more to sleep. For example, if you used to wake up at 7 am to reach the office by 9, (1 hr to get ready + 1 hour to travel). You can cut the commuting time and wake up at 8.

   4. Note and analyse

   One highly dependable method of boosting productivity is to work as if you are experimenting upon yourself.

   In simpler words, note the time you take to complete a task. When the next time you do it, try to complete it much quicker than you did before.

   5. Stay away from distractions

   If there is anything other than laziness and lethargy that can prevent you from being productive, it’s the little distractions you find yourself submitting to.

   What is chiefly meant by distraction in this context is your urge to check your social media every five minutes. Every five minutes you waste this way, eventually piles up to become an hour. I am sure you can do better than that.

   Therefore, if you cannot keep your phone away, turn off the internet while you work to minimize distractions.

   6. Maintain a semi-work attire (Disclaimer: Completely subjective)

   Working from home allows you to work in your most comfortable clothes. For some, it boosts their productivity but for others, it does otherwise. The reason being, it robs them of the work-related, formal, and professional vibe they need to be productive.

   Hence, consider wearing a combination of clothes that are both formal and comfortable.

   For example, Top – formal shirts, Bottom – Loose formal pants. Skip the heels.

   7. Make use of writing pads

   Whether it is school or work, noting things down has always had the upper hand. The reason being, it helps you to be structured and systematic.

   So if there’s something you feel you should note down, feel free to grab a paper and get down to writing.

   Lastly,

   If you think work from home is a challenge, it is not. In fact, this is what these hacks are for, to help you through this change. Just think that there is a change in the situation and you are working like before.

   How do you conquer a lack of productivity while working from home? Or do you love it?

   

    

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2. Google-Friendly Ways to Make Guest Blogging Work for You

   Posted on 5:00pm Thursday 22nd Oct 2020

   We have been having a discussion this week about whether guest blogging a dead technique and we don't think so. It is no longer just about getting backlinks to boost traffic on your website. Guest blogging is also about expressing your authority while writing for other businesses and thus gaining confidence and acknowledgement from clients. 

   

   Ranking on Google and other search engines depends heavily on the type of content you are offering and your individual touch to the website. In reality, people don't usually have time to spend on refining each blog post. That is exactly where guest blogging comes into the picture. Today, let's talk about some ways in which you can make guest blogging work for yourself.

   1. Look for guest blogging opportunities on search engines

   As said before, a lot of people are looking for bloggers who can write quality content for their website. One better way to find such people is to research on search engines - especially on Google. 

   You can search for something like "guest blogging opportunities" or "looking for guest bloggers" along with the niche you are interested in guest blogging for. See what the people offering are looking for and convince them how you can help them using your skill palette. 

   2. Focus on providing content that is worth something

   As a guest blogger, your main motto is to write a blog post that provides some kind of valuable information. You should not focus on promoting your website when you are writing a guest post for someone.

   The website owner for whom you are writing the post will take the responsibility of mentioning your name or your website. You don't have to specifically keep pointing to it in every other sentence of your content. If you want to link something relevant to the topic, then you can go ahead and do that though.

   3. Make sure your blog is ready for the traffic as well

   Just because you are spending a lot of time guest blogging for someone else, doesn't mean you can completely ignore your website. Because then you won't be able to make the new visitors stay for a long time.

   Keep your blog up-to-date with blog posts based on the latest trending topics and also pay attention to the overall look and feel of your site. Your website has to be interesting enough to keep the viewers coming back for more. 

   4. Instead of stuffing the post with keywords, focus on satisfying the searchers. 

   When it comes to writing a guest post, it doesn't demand a lot of keywords to be present in the content. The reason for that is simple - guest blogging is more about answering questions. 

   Instead of focusing on trending keywords or phrases, try to write content that solves a problem or answers an industry-specific question. People are more likely to enjoy reading your content when you are helping them solve a mystery. 

   5. Try to write for blogs you have never guest blogged for before

   It is always an easy idea to pitch to authors for whom you have already written. But that doesn't really allow you to spread out and seek new viewer dynamics.

   Try to write for blogs that you have never connected to before. It is great exposure for you and your website as well as a great new way to learn something new. 

   Conclusion:-

   In this article, we have suggested some ways in which you can make guest blogging a thing for you in 2020. Using these smart ways, we hope that you can write amazing guest posts and showcase your authority in the blogging world. 

   
   
   

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3. 5 Cool Things You Can Do With Pumpkins This Autumn

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 21st Oct 2020

   We have been pumpkin picking this week as Halloween is just around the corner, and if you always end up with more pumpkin than you can put to use, we have you covered with a few tricks and ideas. Read on to discover some cool fun and creative ways to make use of this versatile Autumn fruit. 

   

   Pumpkin Face Masks

   Pumpkin face masks are exactly what you need for a baby soft and silky skin. You can also try teaming up pumpkin puree with honey, milk, or eggs depending on your skin type. Not only is pumpkin loaded with antioxidants, but it also contains fruit enzymes that help in naturally exfoliating dead skin cells. As pumpkins are a rich source of vitamins A, C, and E, they also help combat skin damage, prevent wrinkles, and improve skin texture.

   Pumpkin Crafts

   Pumpkin candle holders are an easy DIY craft that you can make with the leftover pumpkin as a beautiful thanksgiving centerpiece. Simply carve out the stem portion of the pumpkin in the shape you want and add some melted was with a wick; alternatively, instead of adding melted wax to your pumpkin, you could carve out pumpkins and use a tea light candle.

   Pumpkin Pickle

   Pumpkin pickle is a delicious addition to all your meals and is a great source of beta- carotene which is responsible for a healthy immune system, skin and mucous membranes. As pumpkins are loaded with fiber, they help eliminate toxins from your body; therefore, making it a good addition to a detox diet. Most carving pumpkins are edible but using the sugar pumpkins that are small and round have better flavor and consistency. Interestingly; pumpkin pickles, if stored correctly, can stay good for up to 6 months.

   Pumpkin Planters

   Love the Halloween look on your house? Enhance the Halloween look by using pumpkins to plant your favorite plants and flowers. Pumpkin planters set up in an outdoor arrangement will remain good for up to a month, just dab some petroleum jelly on the outside to keep the pumpkin looking fresh for longer. Additionally, you can make good use of pumpkins as bird feeders. All you need to do is clean the inside, add two sticks to act as bird perches, and finally, add some bird feed. When you are ready to discard these pumpkins, you can proudly compost them.

   Pumpkin Soup Bowls

   Why spend on ceramic soup bowls when you can make your very own pumpkin soup bowl using real pumpkin? Making pumpkin soup bowls is quick and hassle- free. Slice off the top of the small pumpkins, scoop out the pumpkin flesh and bake these miniature pumpkins to use them as serving bowls. You can use larger pumpkins for serving juices, appetizers, salads, or desserts.

   

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4. How can your business win at Halloween marketing?

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 20th Oct 2020

   Halloween is literally in only a few weeks and most people are excited about it. Just like people who celebrate it, it is also an exciting time for businesses. Festive season means getting creative with your marketing and attracting new clients using it. 

   

   You cannot just use your regular marketing strategy in the time of halloween and expect to gain attention from new people. You have to do something extra special, extra spooky to impress them. In this short article, we will show you ways in which you can win over clients during this Halloween season.

   Promote using content that shows your Halloween excitement

   Let's be honest for a second - the content on your website is the first image of you in front of potential clients. That is why it's the first thing where you need to show your Halloween spirit.

   Add some Halloween inspired pictures of your products on the website. Some spookiness is all you need to make your clients get into the Halloween mood. Be in the festive mood but don't forget your main motto which is to market yourself to customers. 

   Optimize your business to support halloween celebration 

   Interesting content is what you need to make your customers interested in scrolling through your product catalogue. But how can you get them to click the purchase button after that? How can you convert those blog post viewers to leads that will boost your sales?

   For that what you need is amazing and irresistible deals on your products and services. Give some discounts or coupons so people feel like buying your stuff. If you have an online store, try to optimize it first as that's where a lot of people like to shop normally. 

   Know exactly how to promote your business 

   If you have been in the marketing industry for a long time, you know there are unlimited ways to promote yourself. But when it comes to Halloween, there are some specific ones you definitely need to use. 

   Social media promotion is one of the best first ones that you need to tackle. You can even use email marketing as one of the ways to gain a new audience. Get in contact with influencers in order to promote your business better. These are some of the ways in which you can increase your customer base this Halloween season.

   Improvise your business website to show your Halloween readiness

   Along with adding themed content on your website, the visual aspect also needs to be enhanced. Because when a new user clicks on your website, you have to amaze them with stunning visuals. 

   Your company's homepage can be the first thing you decorate. Add some gorgeous banners to the top of your webpage. Bring your creativity mind to the table and think about various ways in which you can showcase your Halloween spirit. Be it banners, landing pages, logos - you have to figure out how to wow the customers at the very first visit. 

   Conclusion:-

   Any festive kind of season is the perfect time to re-design your business and think about unique ways to promote it. Halloween is also one of the most important holidays to look forward to when it comes to boosting business revenue. 

   In this article, we have talked about some creative ways to get ready for Halloween. We hope that these tips and suggestions help you in preparing your business as well. So without wasting any more time, start adding spookiness to your business to take your business through the roof this Halloween!

   

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