Wednesday, December 28, 2016

3 Decorating Ideas for Winter Window Treatments

Inspire your windows with these 3 decorating ideas for winter window treatments and keep cozy during these cold months.  Consider the following ideas: adding a cheerful statement, considering bold prints and dressing up plain curtains.

Image Source: Flickr

Adding a Cheerful Statement
Think big and bright when making these bold ornaments. Red and green scrapbooking paper in fun patterns adorns shapes cut from poster board. We found ornament silhouettes online then enlarged them to suit the window. Glue three papers onto each ornament. Punch a hole at the top, then hang them on red cording or yarn taped to the top of the window. A valance of live greens finishes the display. Source: MidwestLiving

Considering Bold Prints
Bright florals that attract traditional tastes and graphic geometric patterns that offer youthful spunk are some of the bold prints being seen on windows lately. “With pattern becoming more important, it will change the way a designer designs for the window and how the client views her [or his] window fashion,” says Barrett. Source: HGTV

Dressing up Plain Curtains
Although it’s hard to go wrong with simple, solid sheers or panels, why not take them a step further? Give them a custom look by painting on a pattern or stencil, try glueing on embellishments such as silk flowers, beads or pom-poms. Or add bands of contrasting fabric to the bottoms of curtains that need a little boost.
Budget: Modest. Pretty trims can be had for a few dollars, and unadorned curtain panels for not much more. You also can go heavy on humble fabrics and light on expensive ones to get a more upscale look for less cash.
DIY: Absolutely, whether you’re working the sewing machine or wielding a glue gun. Source: DIYNetwork

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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Affordable Waterproofing

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

 

You want to find a company that is experienced and trustworthy? Nice company to work with and one that you can count to the job right? Look no further –you have found them. At affordable waterproofing, we understand how stressful it can be for you to choose a bathroom contractor with the right skills to make your shower- room perfect and one that suits your bathing desires. However, our company has found out the solution to your concerns and we are now here to make your bath easy, healthy and enjoyable by providing affordable waterproofing services to all our clients. Bathroom Waterproofing

About Us

Affordable waterproofing LLC is a family owned company based in Delran, New Jersey, South jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware with cost-effective and superior waterproofing services for over 30 years. We pride ourselves on supplying the best bathroom waterproofing system installation, mold removal, and foundation and structural repairs around. Because of our commitment to our clients, we back all of our services with watertight guarantee and unparalleled customer service. Our friendly no-pressure approach to the business has earned us an A+ BBB rating and outstanding reviews from customers. We look forward to continuing to provide dry, confortable bathrooms for years to come.

Our Featured Products

There is no doubt that you are wondering why you should go for our products; the answer is simple, we carry quality bathroom fixtures that are not sold in big box stores. Our featured products section has been carefully created to bring you the ultimate home SPA experience. Steam showers, whirlpool tubs and far electromagnetic steam bath in this selection are the latest European design. These models will transform any bathroom into an ambient oasis for health, well-being and pure soul pleasure. We believe our products improve people’s lives daily and contribute to vitality and vigor. We have included our best-selling units that offer an elite array of features to bring you the perfect bathroom makeover and make a dramatic statement. Check out what we have to offer and you will be pleased with what you find.

Why Us

Our affordable waterproofing company is trustworthy, efficient and cost-effective. Our customers will vouch that we can fix bathroom leakage problems both big and small, from a moldy crawl space to full-out bathroom flooding; leaving your bathroom super dry, healthy and confortable for daily stress less bath. We take customers satisfaction very seriously, so we provide free inspections. Competitive pricing, lifetime warranties and a guarantee of excellent customer service. Put simply, we will get your bathroom dry and keep it that way, and do so with smiles on our faces.

What Our Clients Are Saying

We got the last of our shower together and connected without so much as a micro problem. You have a great product and it is our delight and privileged to do business with such an honorable and honest business which is a rare thing these days. We will be recommending you and your products to all of our friends and associates and our contractor is also equally impressed and said he will be ordering your products for his future projects as well. (Debbie and John G. Halifax NS)

 

 

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Best Posts 2016: The Top 10 Things Freelance Writers Need to Know

Best posts 2016. The top 10 things freelance writers need to know. Makealivingwriting.com

Every year, at the end of the year, I look back and discover the things freelance writers need to know most.

How can I tell? By looking at which posts here on the blog saw the most readers. Those are the topics freelance writers needed to learn about the most.

This year, there’s an interesting variety to the list of things freelance writers need to learn and want to know. As always, this provides a road map for me to what kinds of posts I should bring you more of next year!

To qualify for this list, by the way, the post has to have been published or re-published in 2016. Oldies-but-goodies that keep getting traffic for ages don’t count! But you can check out the sidebar for those.

Here are the 10 things you wanted to know about the most in 2016:

  1. Earn Money Online: 92 Websites that Pay Writers 50+  By Jennifer Roland. Yes, markets that pay freelance writers well continues to be the most popular topic around here! Expect an updated list soon. (Be sure to read the comments in this one — there are more markets, and some markets stopped paying. Boo!)
  2. 2016 Forecast — Top 12 Great-Paying Freelance Writing Gigs — Everybody wants to know the future, right? Now’s your chance to see how well I did predicting the best opportunities for writers this year. Watch for this year’s predictions coming in January.
  3. The 3 Types of People Who Fail at Freelance Writing — I try to keep it upbeat, but sometimes telling it like it is, is one of those things freelance writers need to hear. This one is a primer on the habits freelance writers need to break, and the mentality that needs to change, to be a successful.
  4. Get Paid for Traffic: The Scoop on Writing for Blasting News by Jennifer Roland. Investigative posts about working conditions and pay rates at emerging markets continue to be another popular topic. Be sure to read the comments on this one, too.
  5. How One Query Letter Got $6,000 in Assignments — I’m glad I republished this early post, as it proved of high interest for things freelance writers need and want. Concrete examples of exactly how to pitch and get a ‘yes’ from great-paying prospects — we’ll keep ’em coming.
  6. How to Become a Freelance Writer — Even If You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck by Molly Carter. Tales of breaking into this career — especially if you’re broke, or having to work a day job — continue to be useful to my readers who are still at the starting line.
  7. Online Writing Jobs: The Inside Scoop on 17 Job Boards by Mandy Ellis. I keep trying to discourage freelance writers from relying on job boards. But since I know many won’t listen, this detailed roundup on the relative merits of the popular boards proved a helpful guide.
  8. 12 Great Writer Websites That Magnetically Attract Clients — It seems that one of the biggest mysteries to freelance writers is, “What should I say on my writer website?” This fresh set of examples is a sequel to an older post. Best practices for mobile layout and how to display a portfolio keep changing, and it’s helpful to see examples of writers who’ve put together terrific sites.
  9. How I Got Freelance Writing Jobs Worth $15,000 — in 7 Days Flat by Jedha Dening. Jedha has been a marketing star in my Freelance Writers Den 2X Income Accelerator (she’s graduated now, naturally). I was happy to get her to share some of her best strategies in a post. Knowing how to scare up a chunk of business fast is definitely a top desire of writers! Learning to market your business and do it consistently is one of the most important things freelance writers need to learn to move up and earn more.
  10. Writing for a Content Mill for $400 a Post: This is Happening — Another look at an emerging market, in this case ClearVoice. New places to earn better blogging rates — isn’t everybody looking for that? Any time I can educate writers that they should charge more for blogging (especially with posts getting longer these days), I’m jumping on it.

There you have it! I was excited to see so many guest posts about things freelance writers need to be successful make the top 10 this year. Our standards for posts are high, and I’m happy to see it paying off in strong posts that made for compulsive reading for freelance writers this year.

What’s your writing plan for 2017? If fears are holding you back from earning, check out my Write Big Fear-Busting E-Course — you’ve got a chance to catch it with support, one time only, in January.

Write BIG: A fear-busting e-course for happy writers.

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Thursday, December 22, 2016

5 Ways to Turn your Bathroom into a Spa Retreat

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

After a stressful day of our daily routine, all we want is just a little relaxation to soothe all our worries away. Going to the spa on a daily basis might not be feasible due to time and money constraints, so why not just invest on turning your own bathroom into a spa-like retreat? Check out these ideas below:

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

 

Consider All Your Senses
Start with neutralizing the things that might stress you out first. Loud noises from construction down the street or neighbors? Include white noise or soothing music to cover up sounds you don’t want. Hate the overhead light in your windowless bathroom? Bring in candles. Source: ApartmentTherapy

Arrange Artfully
Consider your counter: Are your beauty and hygiene supplies just strewn about randomly? If so, adding a few small trays can mean the difference between a mess and an artful arrangement. And don’t write off apothecary jars just because they’re a cliche — they’re a beautiful way to display the small but necessary items that often come in gaudy packaging (cotton balls, q-tips). Source: ElleDecor

Reflect Nature with Materials
N
atural textures like wood and stone breathe life into a bathroom. A pebbled tile floor feels amazing underfoot.  If a new floor is not in your budget anytime soon, treat yourself to a pebble bath mat. Source: Houzz

Just Add Flora
A simple potted plant or two can change the whole mood of a bathroom. Look for something that’s OK with moisture and low light, like an orchid or a begonia. Source: BirchBox

Steam Saunas and Showers
Warm, moist air has soothing qualities. But forget the crowded gym sauna or steam room. Install one at home for privacy and convenience. Special pre-fabricated steam shower units trap billowing steam and set your stress free. Source: WebMD

If you’re in need of sophisticated bathroom products that will complement your spa theme, contact us and we’ll help you find the perfect one!

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? Why It’s One Freelance Writer’s Success Strategy

Is LinkedIn Premium worth it? Why it's one freelance writer's success strategy. Makealivingwriting.com

Need to find prospects that can turn into well-paying clients? Don’t we all. But too often, writers hit all the wrong places hoping to land a gig. You’re not likely to find good clients on job boards, content mills, Craigslist, and bidding sites. But that doesn’t mean they’re not out there.

In fact, if you use the right strategy, you can tap into a massive list of potential prospects in your niche using LinkedIn Premium. (Is LinkedIn Premium worth it? I’ll explain.) But I didn’t know that when I got serious about freelancing. I used to troll job boards and send LOIs to people I wasn’t always sure were the decision makers. I had some success with this approach. But I struggled to find the right clients. Sound familiar?

I needed a better way to zero-in on my niche (FinTech), find the right people to pitch and land better-paying clients. But how? The truth: I stumbled across the answer when I started using LinkedIn Premium.

I signed up for Lynda.com, an online learning platform. And by chance, I scored a one-year subscription to LinkedIn Premium along with it (LinkedIn Premium now costs $29.99 to $79.99 a month).

I had heard plenty of buzz about LinkedIn Premium. But I was on the fence. I had the same question as a lot of freelancers, is LinkedIn Premium worth it? With a free subscription, I decided to jump in and see what I could do with it to grow my freelancing business. It didn’t take long to get results. I found a $1/word client and developed a strategy to use LinkedIn to move up and earn more. Here’s how I did it:

Use keywords to find people in your niche

At the top of your LinkedIn profile, there’s a search box. Click the down arrow and select People.linkedin-people-search

Enter a keyword that describes the industry you want to target. I like to work within the FinTech niche, but you may choose a niche like travel, fashion, or publishing, for instance.

Financial technology is a small niche and this one keyword linkedin-keyword-searchsearch returns more than 50,000 results for me. That’s too many leads to manage, but it’s easy to narrow those results.

Use LinkedIn filters

On the left side of your browser page, you’ll see some advanced search filters. Not all of them are available to Basic LinkedIn members. With a LinkedIn Premium account, linkedin-resultsI have access to all the filters. Still, with a Basic membership, you should be able to narrow your list of prospects with some of the advanced search filters like:

  • Relationship. For Relationship status, I use all the filters. I want to be able to find new clients even if they are not yet 1st or 2nd degree connections, so I search all of LinkedIn.
  • Location. For location, I also select All, but you can narrow it to your own country, or your own city, if you’d like.
  • Industry. One of the filters I’m most interested in is industry. Just by selecting “Financial Services,” I can narrow my search results to 13,751. The more industries you choose, the wider you’ll cast your search net.
  • Groups. If I want to narrow my search to specific LinkedIn groups, I can do that just by selecting those groups I want to include.
  • Function. More important to me is function within the organization (sorry, Basic members, this one’s not available to you). I like working with marketing professionals because I write white papers, case studies, blog posts, e-books, and reported articles. Selecting that filter narrows my search results to under 1,000. Then I drop down to seniority level and choose Manager. That narrows my results to under 400.
  • Company Size. Finally, being firmly planted in the “size matters” camp, I want to find clients with 10,000 or more employees, so I make that selection under the “Company Size” filter.

Save your searches to get more leads

By narrowing my search using LinkedIn Premium features, I cut the list of 50,000-plus leads down to just over 100 and created criteria to find my ideal client.

Now you want to use the “Save Search” feature. Why? New linkedin-filtered-resultspeople are signing up for LinkedIn daily. You’ll want to save your search criteria so you can be notified periodically of new people who match your lead qualification filters.

  • Here’s how: Click the “Save Search” link in the top right corner of your browser window. You’ll get a pop-up that looks like this:

Because I like to contact leads a few times during the week, I linkedin-saved-searcheshave my list sent to me weekly. LinkedIn will send you a weekly or monthly prospect list by email.

Is LinkedIn Premium worth it? With a basic LinkedIn account, you can save three people searches. You can save more searches if you upgrade, which can be especially helpful if you write in more than one niche.

Use InMail to connect with prospects

The InMail feature of LinkedIn takes the guesswork out of finding email addresses for prospects you want to pitch and connect with. You can use it if you’re already connected to someone on LinkedIn. But if you’re not, you may need a LinkedIn Premium account to get through.

Is LinkedIn Premium worth it? This is one of the features that has helped me connect with people faster than taking the time to track down their email address.

  • How to contact prospects without LinkedIn Premium. LinkedIn can still be a very effective way to find the right people. With a basic account, use the search features to find people you want to pitch. Then use an email search tool like Hunter.io to find email addresses and contact your leads that way.

LOI basics for LinkedIn

On LinkedIn, sending a shorter LOI to a prospects you’ve never met is better. My goal is to get them off LinkedIn and into their email inbox or on the phone, so I send a short note explaining who I am. If there is a natural way to break the ice with a personal message, I’ll lead with that. For instance, “I see we’re both alumni of XXXX University….” Otherwise, I just cut right to the chase. Like this:

linkedin-safwan-zaheer-email
I got an almost immediate response from reaching out to this prospect via LinkedIn:

linkedin-safwan-zaheer-reply

Exactly the kind of people I want to reach in my target market: FinTech, works at a global consulting firm in marketing. Sent over some samples, and we’ll see what happens. On to the next.

Is LinkedIn Premium worth it?

It’s changed my perspective on marketing. There’s nothing wrong with the old-school way of finding clients and digging up email addresses. But LinkedIn Premium has made it much easier. I like being able to target business professionals where they hang out. LinkedIn is a great B2B marketing tool if you use it correctly. I’ve already score some solid gigs and made great connections with potential clients using LinkedIn. And I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

How have you used LinkedIn to grow your freelancing business? Let us know in the comments below.

Allen Taylor is a former newspaper editor turned content strategist in the FinTech and career management niches. He currently edits Lending Times and VisionAR, and runs the website Taylored Content.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

4 Tips for an Effective Vacuum Cleaning

To maximize your carpet’s life span, cleaning and maintenance are necessary. But did you know that there are also rights and wrongs when it comes to your vacuuming routine? Here are 4 tips to remember to ensure you’re vacuuming your carpet correctly:

Effective Vacuum Cleaning

Image Source: Flickr

Choose the Right Attachment

Most vacuums come with a few basic tools that suffice for most cleaning jobs: a crevice tool for tight spots, such as under large appliances; a small upholstery brush, good for furniture and mattresses; a round brush for dusting steps and windowsills. Pay attention to carpet-height adjustment, a feature which matches the height of the vacuum to a carpet’s pile height for easy movement and thorough cleaning. On canister vacuums, a power nozzle cleans carpets more thoroughly than a simple suction nozzle. Source: ConsumerReports

Spot Treat

Vacuums are not stain killers. If you spill something on your carpet, you should treat it immediately to minimize the likelihood of a long-term stain. When you notice stains on the carpet while you are vacuuming, it is a good idea to treat them with a spot cleaner before you finish vacuuming. This will keep your carpet in better condition and enhance the result of your vacuuming efforts.

Additionally, if you do notice stains, whether new or old, you should consider using a steam cleaner to help remove some of these stains. Spot treating them is the best move, but utilizing steam on those same spots is just another tool to help you keep your carpets clean and looking good. Source: Learn.AllergyAndAir

Start with a Clean Bag or Filter

A dirty bag, dirt cup or filter can cut a vacuum’s suction power in half. The main reason bagless vacuums stop working is that the filters aren’t changed often enough. Replace or wash (if possible) the filters on bagless vacuums every three months. Replace vacuum bags when they’re three-quarters full. Source: FamilyHandyman

Keep Carpet Cleaner By Moving In Slow Motion

Carpets and rugs often feel great when brand new, but if vacuuming incorrectly, they will “ugly out” before they wear out. “Don’t vacuum like you are driving a race car,” cautions Paul Iskyan, president of Rug Renovating, a rug and carpet cleaning company in New York City. Instead, use a vacuum with good suction and move in slow, repetitive, overlapping strokes. This will remove up to 85 percent of dust and allergens, while also making high-traffic patterns less noticeable. Source: Today

For more information and other carpet concerns, contact us!

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Monday, December 19, 2016

4 Sauna Safety Tips for Beginners

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Whether it’s at a professional health spa or at home, a sauna offers a variety of major health benefits. Despite the many benefits, it also comes with its share of dangers. Below are 4 of the most important safety tips to keep in mind.

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Drink Plenty of Water
You will be sweating heavily in a sauna, so be sure to drink plenty. Water is probably best for you, but beer and cider is what Finns enjoy the most. Roasting sausages either on open fire or in tin foil directly on the stove is another key part of the sauna experience. Source: VisitFinland

Skip the Creams, Lotions, and Jewelry
Metal heats up fast in saunas, so while you might go in looking fashionable, you’ll leave with painful burns. If you have any jewelry, take it off, and put it in a safe place. Do not take it into the sauna with you. You also don’t want to wear any creams or lotions. If they don’t run with your sweat and make an oily mess, they will clog up your pores and keep your skin from breathing and sweating. Source: WikiHow

Wait an Hour After a Meal
Saunas increase the flow of nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and oxygen) via the circulatory system. While it may seem like the perfect time to be pulling in more via digestion, the reality is that digestion gets put on the back burner while the circulatory system ramps up nutrient delivery to the muscle and skin. For that reason, it’s best not to eat a heavy meal right before stepping into a sauna. If I’m hungry I opt for a light snack, then eat when my session is over. Source: MommyPotamus

Don’t Go Too Hot
For a far infrared sauna , most people set the temperature for anywhere between 100-140 degrees. If you are a beginner, and particularly if you are not in great health, you’ll want to start at 100 degrees or less. This way you’ll give yourself a chance to get used to the heat.
It’s okay to get into an infrared sauna 10-15 min. after you’ve turned it on, even if the temperature is not up to your target temperature yet.
It doesn’t take longer than that for infrared sauna heaters to warm up, and once they do, you’ll be getting the infrared heat effect. The infrared-emitting heaters will be on continuously until the heat gets up to the temperature you set.
For a traditional sauna, most people set the temperature for anywhere between 160-200 degrees (come back for our upcoming Finnish saunas page). In this case, you’ll probably want to wait until you’re within 5-10 degrees of the temperature you’ve set it at to get the full effect throughout your whole home dry sauna session.
Remember that heat rises, so choose whether to sit on an upper or lower bench (or change positions) accordingly. Source: The-Infrared-Sauna-Effect

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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5 Last Minute Christmas Decorating Ideas

With all the rush and parties that happen during the holidays, you might not have been able to prioritize decorating your home. With only a week left before Christmas you might think time has run out, but it hasn’t!  Here are 5 last minute decorating ideas you can try before Christmas arrives:

Image Source: Flickr

Nostalgic Photo Display
A fireplace mantel mimics the function of a Christmas tree when festooned with ribbon, beads, and nostalgic photos. Decked in blue and white, this display can last all winter long. Simply remove the Christmas-theme ornaments and leave the snowflakes and photographs in place. Source: BHG

Good Wish Tree
Fill the house with holiday cheer by hanging holiday card cutouts from branches in a vase.
Cut recycled holiday cards into small rectangles and punch a hole in one end. For the blank side, invite guests and family to write notes of thanks and hope. Hang on fallen branches displayed in a vase. Source: MarthaStewart

Bottles and Branches
Gather empty soda or olive oil bottles and place branches with red berries inside to make these simple and elegant decor pieces. Green-hued bottles give off the right amount of Christmas cheer, but clear bottles will do the trick, too. Tie tags with holiday greetings onto the bottles for a finishing touch. Source: WayFair

Dress the Doorknobs
Yes, trust us when we tell you, it looks great. Add a bit of holly to your doorknob for a fun holiday/Christmas touch. Add a satin ribbon, tie a wee sleigh bell and you are done. If you do not have holly or don’t want to buy one, just snap some leaves out of any tree and tie them to your door knob with a ribbon. It will look just as pretty. Source: HuffingtonPost

Window Dressings
There’s more to holiday decorating than just the tree and the mantel―consider window ledges and empty bookshelves, too. Place pine boughs in a large vase and hang a handful of ornaments on them. Fill old jars with pistachio nuts, winterberries, or red peppercorns and nestle a tealight on top. Or go for a seashore motif, assembling an array of starfish draped with a length of plain red string. Source: RealSimple

We can surely help you out with all your window treatment needs. Contact us!

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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Sunday, December 18, 2016

Asking for Referrals for Fraidy-Cat Freelance Writers

Scared to ask for referrals? One Writer’s Essential Tips. Makealivingwriting.comFor some freelance writers, it seems like asking for referrals and selling comes easy. They have a huge network of people they’ve cultivated relationships with. Their network hooks them up with new clients. And it’s easy for the same freelance writers to talk about their business in any situation, and get referrals.

That’s what successful freelance writers do. And I wasn’t sure I was cut out to be one of them if asking for referrals was part of the gig.

If you’re afraid to ask for referrals, you’ve probably heard that fraidy-cat freelance writer voice inside your head. You know, the one trying to convince you that:

  • People will think you’re desperate
  • You’re running some kind of scam
  • You can’t possibly provide a service valuable enough to help in any meaningful way

That cat needs to go. It took me a long time to figure this out. But when I finally did, I got a response in 10 minutes, a potential project, and scored another referral for more work. Here’s how I did it:

Is fear of asking for referrals holding you back?

The roots of my aversion to sales and asking for referrals go back to a time when I was old enough to love camping, but not old enough to work or drive. To support my camping habit, I had to walk from house to house with a tattered cookie-order sheet, knocking on door after door. The goal: get people to sign up for boxes of Girl Scout cookies. I hated every minute of it. But for our group to go on two camping trips a year, we each had to make our cookie quota, so I did it.

Marching orders from the Den Mother
Decades later, I joined Den 2x. I wanted to make more money from freelancing to support my modern-version of camping: international travel. My new Den Mother Carol Tice challenged me to map out a plan to grow my freelance business, and I did almost everything she told me to. Like put together my website, update my LinkedIn profile, set up Twitter, and create a marketing plan. I even suggested projects to current clients and asked for testimonials.

I was on board with everything, except one thing…asking for referrals. I was afraid. I didn’t think it would work. I wasn’t sure what to say. In my head, asking referrals felt too much like begging for crumbs and cookie orders.

When a client purrs, ask for a referral

After months of freaking out about asking for referrals and avoiding it, something happened. Two people at the same company sent me emails with positive feedback about a piece I wrote. A loud voice inside my head said, “You really should ask for a referral.”

So I did what any fraidy-cat-freelance writer would do about asking for referrals. I agonized over a big, long, rambling, ridiculous request, feeling like a little kid in a green uniform going door to door.

Essentials of asking for referrals

Luckily my inner editor took over. And I cut the message down to the essentials like this:

Ways to reach out
Start your email with a brief message about why you’re reaching out. It doesn’t have to be long. Here are some ways to get that ask-for-a-referral email started:

  • Say thanks. In this case, I was responding to a prospect who emailed to compliment me on a piece I wrote. So it was easy to respond, and say “thanks.”
    Example: Hi John, Thanks for the email about my recent blog post. It was an interesting one to research and write for my manufacturing client.
  • Catch up. You can also ask for referrals by reaching out to people in your network. For example, congratulate an editor for making a move to a new publication. Check in with a former co-worker climbing the corporate ladder. Or email a former colleague to catch up.
    Example: Hi Brenda, How’s it going? I noticed you just made the move to senior editor at the magazine. Congrats.
  • Share information. Come across an article, report, or news story that might be helpful to someone in your network? Share it. Send an email and tell your contact you thought they might find the information helpful.
    Example: Hi Lisa, How are you? I just came across this article on new strategies in content marketing. Thought you might find this helpful to get some ideas for your next campaign.

Ask a question
Think about what it’s like when you haven’t seen an old friend for a long time. You have a million questions, right? How are the kids? How’s work? What about that trip you took to Israel? Asking a question is a great way to reconnect with your contacts and let them know you’re thinking of them.

The more specific, the better.  People are genuinely blown away when you remember little details about their life/career. It’s why some sales people practically keep a little black book on everybody they’ve ever met.

  • Example:How’s it going since you made the move from newspapers to PR in Chicago?
  • Example: I’d love to know the back story to the Super Bowl commercial you helped produce. Can we catch up?

Provide a brief update on your freelance writing business
If you’re reaching out to a relatively new contact, give them a brief reminder about how you met. For other people in your network, you might just give them a brief update about your business, or the elevator-speech version of what you do as a freelance writer.

  • Example:I just landed a new blogging client writing about manufacturing and technology.
  • Example: I’ve been writing about grant funding for non-profits for about a year.

Ask for a referral
This is where a lot of writers start acting like they’re high on catnip. You don’t need to ask your contact, “Do you have any work?” It just comes across as looking a little desperate, even if you’re not. So you can go ahead and shut down those looping thoughts about your career imploding by asking for a referral. Just ask your contact a simple question:

Do you know anyone who needs a freelance writer?”

Ask if they have any colleagues who could use a healthcare writer, B2B marketing writer, or whatever kind of writer you are. It’s really that simple. 

Does asking for referrals really work?

I reached the tipping point where I had to find out. I finished the email to my contact and clicked send. Instantly, I felt a twist in my gut, and even vented to my Den 2x mastermind group about how much I hated asking for referrals. asking for referrals

While I was freaking out about finally asking for a referral, I went to make myself a cup of stress-buster tea. And before I even got back to my computer, I had a reply in my inbox. The marketing director had someone she wanted to refer me to, and she had a bigger project coming up she thought I’d be great for. Translation: asking for referrals works.

Strategies to improve results when you ask for referrals
I’d built asking for referrals into a big, huge deal, all for nothing. Was it really so hard? No. I sheepishly confessed to the Den 2x mastermind group that my referral request went better than expected. It’s really not a big deal to ask for referrals, if you understand the essentials and follow a few basic rules like:

  • Take advantage of good timing. Having several people praising me meant I was top of mind, making a positive result more likely.
  • Include a short list of other services. Doing this effectively helped me upsell my current client. Here’s what I wrote: Besides blogging, I also write case studies, newsletter articles, white papers, brochure copy, website pages, and press releases.
  • Keep the message short and the tone confident. I’m sure they had no idea I was nervous.

Ask for referrals to get more clients

Asking for referrals is now easy for me. I understand that it’s a win-win for everyone. I get more work from new clients that are similar to a client that’s already a good fit for me. And my client gets to be the hero who refers an excellent writer to a colleague. Along with traditional marketing efforts to find more clients, I regularly look for opportunities to ask for referrals, because I know it works. As a bonus, I can even buy Girl Scout cookies (Thin Mint are my favorite) from the kids who go door to door while I plan my next trip, paid for by my newest clients.

Karen Smock is a freelance B2B marketing writer for manufacturing and technology clients. She also likes Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies, world travel, and spending time with her family.

Has asking for referrals worked for you? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Leave content mills -- Freelance Writers Den 2X Income Accelerator

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

How to Punch Your Own Ticket to Triple Your Freelance Writing Income

How to Punch Your Ticket to Triple Your Freelance Writing Income. Makealivingwriting.comA lot of freelance writers have a poverty mentality. I hear a lot of, “I’m just hoping to make a fraction of what I made at my day job. I need to earn enough from my writing income to survive.”

That’s one mindset of some freelance writers. But there’s another way to approach your freelance business.

If you take the attitude that your freelance writing income is unlimited, you can see your income explode.

That’s what happened to Canadian freelance writer Sylvie Tremblay, who recently graduated from my Den 2X Income Accelerator. After a year in the program, which starts with making a mindset shift to believe in yourself, she tripled her writing income, going from subsistence, paycheck-to-paycheck living to having money in the bank, traveling, and feeling financially secure.

Among the highlights of Sylvie’s story that you’ll see in the video:

  • The simple analysis that triggered massive change
  • How Sylvie overcame doubts and insecurity to move forward
  • How the Den Road Map helped her create a pathway to higher freelance writing income
  • The marketing methods that paid off big
  • How she got out of her comfort zone to find clients in new places
  • The power of finding community with other mid-career freelance writers
  • Exactly how she connected with major companies
  • How her lifestyle has changed
  • How to acquire the mindset of a high-earning freelance writer

Watch here — it’s just under 30 minutes long:

Or read the transcript.

Inspiration to grow your writing income

It’s exciting for me to see a writer I coach grow their freelance business and their writing income a ton. Sylvie was in the same situation as a lot of freelance writers a year ago. Making a mindset shift and thinking strategically about her freelance business changed everything. Her confidence grew, along with her income and portfolio of well-paying clients. If you want to move up and earn more, double or even triple your freelance income, you can. I hope this provides inspiration for writers who feel stuck in a low-pay trap and reminds you to believe in yourself!

How are you growing your writing income? Let’s discuss in the comments.

Leave content mills -- Freelance Writers Den 2X Income Accelerator

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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

3 Winter Carpet Cleaning Tips

Winters aren’t just tough on the outside of your home, they can also be challenging to the inside as you and your family track snow, dirt and salt inside – all of which can potentially stain and damage your carpet. By following a few simple cleaning tips, you can keep your carpets clean during the winter months.

Image Source: Flickr

Hire a Carpet Cleaning Professional

The easiest and best way to clean your carpet completely is by hiring a professional. Having your carpets professionally cleaned in the winter has its advantages. First advantage is that carpets generally stay cleaner in the winter because dust and allergens are less prevalent. Removing these allergens from your carpet in the winter will make for a much cleaner and fresh home. Source: WestchesterCleanings

Vacuum and Spot Clean More Often

You probably have already noticed that your cleaning schedule needs to get bumped up a little in the winter.  Salt, dirt, and even slushy stains require you to be more diligent.  As you notice more mess coming in, make sure you clean it up before it becomes a bigger problem.  Vacuuming dirt away will guard against ground-in stains, and regular spot-cleaning will keep stains from setting in. Source: Any-Spot

Protect your Carpet from Future Stains

  • Keep your walkway free of snow and slush by shoveling, snow blowing or hiring a snow-removal service.
  • Avoid the dirty snow all together if you can by parking and entering your house through a garage.
  • Set up a shoe rack at your front door and ask that family members and guests remove their shoes at the door
  • Invest in two welcome mats–one to stomp on outside and remove as much snow as possible and one inside to stand on while removing shoes.
  • Use runners or winter rugs along heavily trafficked hallways and rooms.
  • Put a pen around your pet door so pets can come inside, but can’t leave a rug-covered area until you get the chance to wipe their paws. Source: GreentCarpetCleaning

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3 Care Tips for Your Window Treatments

It’s important to ensure that your window treatments stay in great shape all year long. Continue reading to learn more about some care tips, including: follow the manufacturer’s instructions, install window film and use air.

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 3 care tips for your window treatments.

Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions
Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning, care and handling instructions for window treatments. Check the tag for care instructions.
Do not apply water-based solutions to wood blinds. The water will warp and discolor the wood. Only use products specifically formulated for wood. Source: wikiHow

Install Window Film
Sunshine and dust are a pain in the pane to most curtains. Installing window film to block UV rays will help reduce fading while a gentle tug when closing your curtains will prevent dust from collecting. Source: Angieslist

Use Air
Window treatments can last a long time, looking beautiful for many years…as long as they are treated well. Many of our clients or their house cleaners wear jewelry and while cleaning their rings or bracelets and watches have harmed their window coverings in the past. Not touching them and using only air helps protect your investment. Source: Houzz

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please give us a call or contact us here.

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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Tudor House – Vancouver – Cambie Corridor

Arriving to the Cambie Corridor is a new boutique development by Formwerks called Tudor House. This stunning development is going to have 15 residences in a 4 storey building. We can expect to see luxurious finishes and spacious floor plans.

Tudor House will consist of 1, and 2 bedroom garden-level suites along with 3 bedroom townhouses. Situated near by is the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park and Langara Golf Course.

Pricing for Tudor House

Pricing has not yet been determined.  Please register and join our VIP list to be one of the first to receive information

 

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Challenge #224 - CAS {Final Challenge for 2016}

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Welcome to our final challenge for 2016. Our Design Team is going to have a well earned break over the Christmas period. We will be back in January with new challenges and lots of fun!

Our challenge this week is


Create something CAS !

Our wonderful sponsor this week is


Happy Little Stampers was created in 2015 by Kylie (owner of ATSM and ATCAS). Kylie wanted to bring out a line of stamps that were useful for every day crafters. From cute to whimsical images, from everyday to funky sentiments there is something for everyone!

Prize: $15 gift certificate

Here is the inspiration from our team -





















Wonderful inspiration for you!

If you do create a Christmas Card, please also play along in my 12 Days of Christmas Cards Challenge which runs for a few more days until the 17th December 2016.


Over to you now :)




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Yukon Residences – Vancouver – Cambie Corridor

Albaster Homes is proud to announce there newest development to the Cambie corridor Yukon Residences. This Gorgeous development of boutique town-homes will be situated within walking distance of Winona park & Langara Golf Course.

Yukon Residences will consist of 33 3-4 bedroom homes Spread out over 4 buildings with spectacular views of Winona park and Langara golf course. Floor plans have not yet been finalized but finishes will certainly be high end and luxury in style.

Nearby the development there will be everything you need including Supermarkets,Restaurants,Bars,Fitness centers and if this is not enough Oakridge mall is only a few minutes ride on the Canada Line.

Pricing for Yukon Residences:

Experience living on Vancouver’s well sought after Cambie Corridor and be apart of an Amazing community, register now for more information on floor plans and pricing.

 

Expected Completion:
To be announced.

 

 

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Monday, December 12, 2016

Grosvenor Pacific Vancouver

Grosvenor are excited to announce there newest development Grosvenor Pacific in Vancouver. Located on the corner of Hornby and Pacific this stunning 375 foot building will have approximately 212 homes including 1,2 and 3 bedroom condos along with 3 two storey town-homes. Expect Grosvenor to have spectacular views.

This development does include plans for amenity space and landscaping which will be finalized soon.

This amazing development will be within walking distance of Yaletown’s best restaurants bars and shops, also enjoy Vancouver’s gorgeous seawall.

 

Experience Vancouver living and be apart of an Amazing community, register now for more information and pricing.

 

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Sunday, December 11, 2016

4 Popular Types of Bathroom Sinks

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

There are various designs to choose from when it comes to selecting your bathroom sinks. In choosing the right sink, one has to consider not just the added value to the overall aesthetic of the bathroom, but also its functionality. Below are 4 of the most popular types of bathroom sinks and their features:

Ceramic Basin – BA139

Vessel Sink
A vessel sink is one that generally sits completely on top of the countertop, although there are some models that sit partially below the counter.

  • Pros:Unlike most other sinks that are exposed above the counter a little or not at all, vessel sinks demand attention and are a great way to create a statement in your bathroom. As the name suggests, a vessel sink is basically like a large bowl, so it is a great choice if you like a deep sink that can hold plenty of water.
  • Cons:Due to the height of vessel sinks and the way they sit above the counter, careful planning of the counter height, and of the height of the cabinets below, is required to ensure that the sink doesn’t end up being too high and uncomfortable to use — this often leads to less storage space under the counter. Cleaning around the base and back of the sink can also be a bit tricky.
  • Good for:En suite bathrooms. Source: Houzz

Drop-In Sink
The drop-in sink is often called a self-rimming sink or surface mounted sink and is typically installed in a vanity counter top. This style sink is very common to older and newer construction and remodels alike. These sinks can be installed into any type of counter top including plastic laminate, stone, tiles or synthetic composite tops such as Corian® or Silestone®.
These sinks have a lip that is over-sized to the hole and they simply “drop in” a counter top and are pressure fit to the top surface with a clamp system from underneath.
This creates a self-trimming installation without the use of a frame. The bathroom sink itself is typically made from porcelain enameled cast iron or vitreous china. (Kitchen sink versions are often stainless steel). Plumbing waste and supply lines are concealed in the vanity base. Source: HomeRepair.About

Wall Mounted Sink
Wall mounted sinks
 are affixed to the wall and work well in small bathrooms, allowing for usable space below the sink. Even if there’s only room for a wastebasket, the space that it offers gives the bathroom a larger visual feel. Some wall mounted bath sinks feature a decorative cover that’s installed over the plumbing and drain pipe. Source: Home-Style-Choices

Undermount Sink
Installed underneath the countertop, undermount sinks are growing in popularity because they’re easy to clean and offer a seamless appearance. Set beneath marble countertops, this bathroom’s white basin sink gives the space a clean-cut, contemporary feel.  Source: HGTV

If you need help with choosing the perfect one for your home or establishment, contact us!

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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3 Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors

If you have sliding glass doors at home, you might have wanted to cover them at one point or another. Luckily, there are window treatments that can be made to fit them. Whether you’re trying to cover for privacy, or for insulation, there’s a window treatment that will fit your needs. Here are 3 examples:

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Sliding Solar Screens
Perhaps no other design option complements a clean, modern sensibility like sliding solar screen panels. Particularly effective at blocking both glare and damaging UV rays, these can be paired with a clear window film to boost protective power even further. They’re an intuitive and incredibly elegant layer for sliding doors, as they mimic the style and function of the door itself. Source: Houzz

Plantation Shutters
When talking about window treatments for sliding glass doors, plantation shutters are often forgotten.  Most people equate plantation shutters to mean a double paneled shutter with a matching frame that covers a window opening.  The fact is, plantation shutters can also be created to cover your sliding glass door.  These are usually referred to as bypass doors.  The doors each slide past one another and usually overlap to block out light.  Depending on the size of the opening, and the depth of the door enclosure, will determine the number of door panels to use in a bypass door.  Two to three panels are used for smaller doors, and four or more are reserved for larger openings.
The door panels have a wheel mechanism attached to the top of the door.  This wheel then fits into a track that is installed to the top inside of the door opening.  The track normally accommodates two doors, one in the front and one in the rear.  If more than two doors are required for the door enclosure, a second track can be installed if there is enough room.
If your room already has plantation shutters in the other windows, bypass doors for your slider can make a nice addition and keep with the theme of your room.  The one downside of bypass doors is you never get the full view of your sliding glass doors.  You will always have at least one shutter panel visible when they are all stacked together. Source: DenGarden

Curtains
Curtains not only bring along advantages such as privacy and light regulation along with them, but they also genuinely help in elevating the look of your home. While the corner next to the sliding glass doors might otherwise go unnoticed, by adding an L-shaped curtain to the area, the entire appeal of the space can be uplifted with ease. Innovations like illuminated curtain pelmets also add a inimitable dimension to the room. Drapes that come in the same hue as your décor or fabric that is similar to your couch cushions exude a sophisticated and refined atmosphere.
Curtains also turn your sliding glass doors into better insulators and hence aid in cutting down the power consumption of your heating or cooling systems. While they appear like simple additions that often take a backseat to the more fancy furnishings, curtains for sliding glass doors can truly uncover a whole new world of benefits for your home. Source: Decoist

For questions or more options, feel free to contact us!

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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How to Become a Freelance Writer: My Best Resources

How to become a freelance writer: My best resources. Makealivingwriting.com

Every day, writers email me and ask how to become a freelance writer. Where is the door that you go through where you can start earning a living as a freelance writer?

Well, I’ve created a door.

There’s so much to know when you’re getting started as a freelance writer — how to find and approach clients, what to charge, how to negotiate, and more.

But now that there are nearly 900 posts on the blog, it’s increasingly difficult to find the most useful posts that answer your particular question. Sure, I’ve got those categories in the ‘we talk about’ sidebar, but it’s still a lot of slogging given how many posts there are, and you end up looking at the most recent posts on the subject, not necessarily the best ones.

My best new writer resources in 1 spot

That’s why I’m finally getting my act together and creating resource pages that bring together the very best Make a Living Writing posts of all time on popular topics. The first page is now up, which offers my best resources for new freelance writers:

http://ift.tt/2hckQwr

What resources have I got for you on this page? I’ve stashed links to a dozen of my all-time most useful posts for new freelance writers, for starters.

Then there are a few other super-helpful free and cheap items that are perfect for when you’re just getting started. Plus, this page also links you to the most recent posts aimed at new freelance writers, too.

In other words, it’s a one-stop-shopping spot for learning how to become a freelance writer.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused as a new writer, if you read through scores of posts on a topic. I’m hoping this resource can serve as a primer for launching your freelance writing career.

As you’ll see, there are no dumb questions to ask! This resource page starts at the very beginning and teaches you the lingo, defines the career, and gives you those first steps.

I’ve known for ages that I needed to create topic pages on popular topics, to help you quickly find the best resources for your situation…but it takes a little work to get them in place.

This is the first in a series of resource pages I’m developing on important topics I write about here on the blog. With help from my awesome team, I’ll be creating additional resource pages on blogging, self-publishing, how to move up and earn more as a freelance writer, and more.

What would you like to know about freelance writing? Leave your hot topic here — I’d love your feedback on what other resource pages you’d find useful.

Freelance Writing Questions Answered

 

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Wednesday, December 7, 2016

How One Query Letter Got $6,000 in Assignments

How one query letter got $6,000 in assignments. Makealivingwriting.com

It’s been nearly 6 years since this post was originally published — and it’s been one of my most popular ever. The need to write strong query letters has only grown in the years since, so I thought it would be a good time to put it out there again. Enjoy!–Carol

I often have freelance writers tell me they don’t think writing a query letter is worth the effort. They get a lot of rejections, and feel it’s basically a crapshoot…and so much easier to sign on to a content-mill dashboard for a guaranteed few bucks’ worth of work.

It’s true that querying isn’t a sure thing. But if you take the time to learn this skill, it can really help you move up and earn big.

I regularly get lucrative assignments off of query letters and guest post pitches, and I continue to believe querying is a vital skill for successful freelancers.

With so many writers turned off of queries, taking the time to learn how to write a compelling query letter is well worth the effort, as it makes you stand out in today’s marketplace. Querying can open doors when you don’t know anyone at a publication or company, and make a connection that could turn into an ongoing relationship.

For instance: I recently sent one query letter that got me $6,000 of assignments. And I’m reproducing it in full below.

 

The magic of multipitch

This query used one of my favorite strategies: Multipitch, or the technique of sending two or three story ideas in a single, one-page query letter.

Multipitch sort of reminds me of the multiball feature on old pinball machines. If you’re old enough to remember these, you’d load more than one ball onto the board, and then if you could hit it right, you’d get them all to activate and start scoring you points at once, multiplying your score.

In queries, multipitch multiplies the impact of your query letter — and also multiplies your possible earnings. Submitting more than one story idea shows:

  • You know how to be brief. In multipitch, each idea only gets one short paragraph. This impresses editors that you understand how to write short, which in this era of shrinking wordcounts is a valuable skill.
  • You have a lot of story ideas, not just one. This communicates instantly to the editor that you could join their list of go-to freelancers who can be relied upon to have a steady stream of quality story ideas. This is how you want to be viewed by editors.
  • You’re confident. You don’t feel a need to blather on and on about your ideas — you can sum up each one in a couple-three sentences. The format also requires a very short personal bio, which you feel OK about, too.
  • You could handle multiple assignments. Presenting several ideas at once telegraphs that you have the capability of taking on more than one assignment at a time from this publication — another key skill editors often seek.

There was one other factor that made this particular pitch even crazier…

Taking up the challenge

Here’s the part about this query win that really had me elated: When I sent in my pitch, I was told this outlet had never accepted an outside query before. All the story angles had up to that point been developed by the editor.

Instead of discouraging me, that news only made me more motivated to deliver strong pitches. I was hoping maybe one of my three ideas would make the grade.

I about fell over when the editor let me know all three pitches had been accepted, for a total of $6,000 in assignments.

Since this was my most lucrative single query letter ever, I decided it would be useful for readers to see exactly what this query letter looked like.

This pitch went to a major financial-services company that operates several business-information websites. The site I targeted publishes well-researched, 1,000-word articles. Pay is $2,000 per article. I initially reached out to the editor on Twitter and asked if it would be OK to pitch her.

My 3-idea pitch

To avoid having my editor inundated with queries, I’ve omitted some identifying details about this market and the sources I proposed.

This is what I sent the editor:

Dear [editor’s name]:

As I mentioned on Twitter, I am a longtime business writer with expertise in finance. Here are three ideas I think might be a fit for your site:

1)Why Now’s the Time for a Sale/Leaseback Deal – Conditions are ripe for companies to liberate cash by selling property and leasing it back. Known as “net leasing,” these deals can fund growth without a company having to seek bank or investor funding. Whether a company owns an office building, warehouse, or retail stores, net leasing allows it to operate in the same facility with a long-term lease and assurance there’ll be no disruption to operations. Another plus: sale/leasebacks get companies out of the property-ownership game and back to focusing on their core business. Net-lease is booming this year as companies are strapped for cash and investors like the guaranteed tenant that comes with the deal. For this story, I would interview several company finance managers who have recently done sale/leasebacks, as well as commercial-realtor experts and [source name], an online exchange for commercial property that company owners are looking to sell and lease back.

2) To Save More, Send Your Workers Home – A recent study from [well-known research house] shows mid-sized companies can save $11,000 per worker by letting them work from  home just half-time. Telecommuting has other benefits as well, including reduced absenteeism and increased productivity on work-from-home days, according to the report. That’s $1.1 million in savings for a company that puts 100 workers on part-time telecommuting schedules. With Congress passing legislation requiring more home-based work by government-agency employees, it’s a great time to examine how telecommuting can help businesses save money. For this story, I would talk to experts and business owners who’ve implement telework programs to glean best practices for making it work.

3) Starting a Joint Venture? Plan for Its End – Joint ventures often start with the best intentions, but a few years down the road, one or both parties may determine the partnership isn’t working. That’s when things can get sticky — unless the original agreement included careful planning for how the joint venture would be dissolved. For this story on how to structure a prudent joint venture agreement, I would speak with company finance executives who’ve been involved in recent JV partnerships that needed to be unwound, including one where planning was good and the process was fairly straightforward — and one where the agreement didn’t contemplate the breakup and problems were encountered. I’d also get recommendations from well-known business attorney [source name] on how to structure these deals. Readers would come away with concrete information on how to structure partnerships to protect their interests and prevent costly litigation or loss of vital assets created in the partnership.

My work has appeared in Entrepreneur magazine, Washington CEO, The Seattle Times and many other publications. You can view recent clips and my list of awards won at http://ift.tt/HxCgYP.

Thanks in advance for considering my query.

Enjoy!

–Carol Tice

I’d say one key element that helped this query succeed — which I often don’t see present in many queries I’ve reviewed for writers in my mentoring program and in our Freelance Writers Den query-review forum — is the research into the topic and citing of possible experts.

Editors tell me many queries seem lazy — they propose a vague idea without laying out a clear road map of who would be quoted and what information the story would contain. Including those specifics made this query stand out for my editor.

Final note: You’ll notice I have an unusual signoff. I believe developing a creative conclusion for your queries can help you stand out and get noticed. It’s worked well for me.

Had success lately with query letters? Leave a comment and tell us about your approach.

Query letters - reviews available in Freelance Writers Den

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3 Tips on Keeping Your Carpet Safe During a Move

Moving into a new house signifies new beginnings, and that’s why, as much as possible, you’d like everything to be perfect. But with all the people helping you unpack, and all the furniture being moved around, keeping your carpet clean and damage-free can be a tough task. So, consider the following tips to help you keep your carpets safe while moving:

rugs

Image Source: Flickr

Self-Adhesive Carpet Film

One of the best ways to prevent any damage to your carpet is to purchase a special self-adhesive plastic film made for protecting carpets. These products allow you to easily cover your carpet with a tear-free, non-slip surface. Most brands of carpet-protecting film won’t leave adhesive residue behind on your carpets and are available in a variety of sizes. You can even purchase a paint roller-like applicator to help you lay the film out. However, although they are great products, they don’t come cheap.
If you can’t find the plastic film, or don’t want to spend the money on it, there are a few other things you can do. You can place any bed sheets, blankets, towels, or drop-cloths over your carpet. If you have any old rolls of carpet lying around, you can cut these into strips and place them on top of the existing carpet.

Though these materials provide for an inexpensive way of protecting your carpets, they can easily bunch up and possibly cause someone to trip. You can try to prevent this by taping them down with blue painter’s tape. Still, you and your movers should be extra careful when walking on these surfaces. Source: Movers

Plywood

Use plywood to protect floors when moving appliances and electronics that are larger like a freezer, refrigerator and washing machine. You can put that in the kitchen. The plywood sheets will also protect floors when moving being damaged since paper is going to be too thin to rely on when it comes to appliances because they have sharp edges unlike the soft couches and the mattresses from the living room or bedroom, for example. Source: MyMovingReviews

Shoe Booties

If you worry about dust, dirt, and grass stains more than crushing carpet pile, you can encourage everyone who helps you move to put on shoe covers whenever they enter your home. Since you likely will only want shoe covers for the first few days of moving, you should buy a large pack of cheap, disposable booties rather than one or two expensive, longer-lasting covers. Source: Bekins

For carpet installation and repairs, contact us!

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Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Challenge #223 - Holiday

Hello December! We have the perfect challenge for you right now. Need to catch up on some Christmas Cards and need some inspiration?


Our amazing sponsors this week are


QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps was purchased by Stamp On It in 2013 from the state of Colorado and moved to its new home in Michigan! We(Stamp On It) had its humble beginnings over 25 years ago and is now a mobile(on-the-road) family owned and operated business. We travel coast to coast and attend as a vendor over 25 retail stamping and scrapping shows each year. 
Prize: 3 digital images 



Founded in June 2013, California-based STAMPlorations™ is owned and managed by husband-and-wife team, David & Shery Russ. From just a handful of stamps, we now have 100+ stamp designs, 4 stamp designers, our exclusive line of stencils, and 20 amazing crafters spread across 3 teams who constantly produce gorgeous projects featuring our products. Our clear stamps are perfect for creating CAS, one layer, and mixed media cards, and they can be combined to create a variety of paper crafts. All of our stamps are proudly made in the USA. Our clear stamps are made from the finest, non-yellowing photopolymer resin. Through our stamp line, we hope to encourage crafters of all ages and
experience levels to "Stamp with all your ART!" 
Prize: 2 digital images


Let's get this party started!












If you DO create a Christmas card, please feel free to link up at my personal blog where I am having a 12 Days of Christmas Cards challenge!


Over to you now - just create anything that has a HOLIDAY theme :)





from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://ift.tt/2heJ6yH