Hawthorne by Pennyfarthing

Pennyfarthing Homes brings a stunning new development to Vancouver’s West side. This amazing development will consist of 1-3 bedroom residences ranging from 680 sq ft to 1,433 sq ft over 7 storeys.

The Hawthorne is situated next to the lovely Queen Elizabeth park and just a short walk along Cambie will bring you to the Oakridge mall where you will satisfy all you shopping and dinning needs.

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

 

The post Hawthorne by Pennyfarthing appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Buildings – Vancouver New Condos http://ift.tt/2fxPwIh

Contessa at Queen Elizabeth Park – Spacious Cambie Corridor Presale Luxury Condos

Pure West Property Investment in partnership with GBL Architects is proud to bring you their new Luxury Development Contessa located in the very popular cambie corridor. This stunning development will feature a six-storey mid-rise building which will include 18 1-bedroom, 19 2-bedroom, and eight 3-bedroom condominiums. Sizes will range from 608 to 1,177 sq ft. There will also be 3 lane way townhouses. Located on the corner of West 37th enjoy the stunning views of Queen Elizabeth park and withing close proximity you will also have great shopping and dining options.

Be apart of an Amazing community and register now for more information and pricing.

 

The post Contessa at Queen Elizabeth Park – Spacious Cambie Corridor Presale Luxury Condos appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Buildings – Vancouver New Condos http://ift.tt/2f0kg0g

Online Writing Jobs: The Inside Scoop on 17 Job Boards

Do you regularly scan job boards looking for online writing jobs, but only find low-paying gigs? If so, you might need to get a little choosier about where you look.

If your typical rates are above what the listings offer, it may be time to stop checking the job boards altogether. In general, you’ll do better with proactive prospecting to find your own clients, rather than applying to mass-online-job ads where you compete with hundreds of writers.

But if checking online job ads is still a part of your regular marketing routine, at least be an educated freelancer and target boards that are the best fit for you. We interviewed site owners and researched listings to bring you this inside look at what’s available on 17 top boards:

1. Be a Freelance Blogger

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: free
Typical rates: nothing below $50 per blog post or $0.10/word
Number of jobs posted weekly: 3
Email job alerts: no
Year founded: 2013

Although small, Be a Freelance Blogger, owned by Sophie Lizard, offers higher-paying gigs than some larger boards. It also has a space targeted for freelance writers and bloggers. Most listings include an email address to a real person, plus a link to the original posting.

Listings from all over the country are available, and some request that writers reside in a specific location. Commonly featured positions are for editorial articles, blogging, and marketing content, plus niches like tech, teaching, real estate, and fashion.

2. BloggingPro

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $30 for 30 days
Typical rates: $0.05/word-$0.60/word; $35-40/hour; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 9
Email job alerts: no
Year founded: 2007

Writers looking for specific jobs should consider BloggingPro, since it filters some higher-paying gigs from big boards like Indeed. “We screen ads as strictly as possible in order to make sure they’re legitimate jobs,” says Noemi Tasarra-Twigg, Editor of Splashpress Media, via email. If there’s negative feedback on an employer, BloggingPro removes their ads.

Listings must indicate a rate. Jobs focus on freelance writing, blogging, and copywriting. It’s mostly freelance and contract jobs, but there are also part-time gigs. Most are remote or telecommute, with a few in specific cities like Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Montreal.

Each listing contains a link to the original posting or a contact email. Popular opportunities include content writer, blogger/writer, editing/proofreading, tech writer, social media, copywriting, restaurant critic, and journalist. Common topics include food, travel, firearms, books, business, and healthcare.

3. Online-Writing-Jobs.com and Freelance Job Openings.com

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: free
Typical rates: $0.05/word-$0.35/word; $16-60/hour; $20-$100 per post
Number of jobs posted weekly: 50-80 (OWJ); 85 (eNewsletter); 6-12 (FJO)
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2006 (OWJ); 2008 (FJO)

Longtime freelance writer Brian Scott started these sites and approves each listing. Freelance, remote, offsite, home-based, telecommute, contract, and virtual jobs are included. Scott says popular jobs are content writing/SEO writing for digital or traditional marketing agencies, creating industry-specific content, and commercial copywriting for businesses and ad agencies, crafting web pages, brochures, emails, white papers, and marketing materials.

Common job listings are for freelance writing, magazine writing, blogging, SEO writing, copywriting, technical writing, and resume writing. Common topics include food, fashion, travel, automobiles, sports, and real estate. Scott says certain jobs exclude rates because “clients want to assess the writer’s experience beforehand and then negotiate a rate, instead of committing to one.”

4. Contena

Cost to view: $500-$1000/year
Cost to list: only Contena staff post listings
Typical rates: $0.03-$1.30/word; average of $70,000/year full-time
Number of jobs posted weekly: 60
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2015

Contena is new and pricey, but offers a lot. Currently, you must join a waiting list and pay a high fee when you get an invite to join. Scout, the name of Contena’s job board, allows you to filter for category, job quality, minimum rate per word, full-time, contract, or submission as you search for online writing jobs.

Each job has a quality rating from low to very high to give a sense of the pay, even if the rate isn’t provided. Plus, members can review Rates, which includes over 1,600 company pay listings. Kevin Fleming, founder of Contena, says their full-time, remote writing positions pay an average of $70,000 per year.

Staff at Contena find all listings. Common requests are for a writer, editor, web content writer, email marketing, content creator, journalist, copywriter, or medical writer. Frequently mentioned niches include education, sports, architecture, food, travel, business, social media, accounting, finance, and business.

5. Ed2010

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: free for paid jobs; unpaid jobs cost $30
Typical rates: $20-$25/hour; $25-$150 per article; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 23
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 1996

If you’re looking to break into editorial writing, Ed2010 is the job board for you. Many of the top newsstand magazines post ads here, and you can grab editor emails to use in your pitches. Even though this site is for beginners, rates are good.

Ed2010 has full-time, part-time, temporary, and freelance positions, as well as paid and unpaid internships. Many jobs are remote work. “Eighty-five percent of our jobs are for people who are just breaking in, so zero to four years out of college, and looking to gain as much experience as possible,” says Chandra Turner, founder and president of Ed2010, and executive editor of Parents Magazine.

Listing employers—a recent search found Hearst, Meredith, Time Inc., Food Network, Martha Stewart, Redbook, and Rodale—must provide a name and email. Ed2010 is particular, and if an applicant has a bad experience, they put the company on probation and won’t run their ads.

The most commonly posted positions are for a content writer or content editor for lifestyle websites, plus editorial writing gigs at newsstand magazines and start-up websites. “We’re very picky about paid positions for freelancers. I need to know what the salary is, because I want to make sure they’re paying at least minimum wage,” explains Turner.

6. FlexJobs

Cost to view: $15/month-$50/year
Cost to list: free; premium placement costs $99
Typical rates: $10-$40/hour; $100-$125 per article; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 188
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2007

Going to cruise just a handful of boards? Make FlexJobs one of them as they offer great gigs with flexible schedules from high-quality employers. Beginner and seasoned writers will find telecommuting, flexible schedule, full-time, part-time, contract, and freelance positions.

Jobs are scattered throughout the world, with a few having location requirements. “Writers, in particular, will find a huge variety of positions, from blogging to white papers, technical manuals to lesson plans, respected news outlets to popular how-to websites,” explains Brie Weiler Reynolds, senior career specialist at FlexJobs, via email.

Recent listings include offers for a technical writer, desk writer, copywriter, proposal writer, medical writer, content marketing specialist, government editor, digital content author, and script editor. FlexJobs listings supply a link to the company’s website.

7. FreelanceWriting.com and the Morning Coffee Newsletter

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: free
Typical rates: $12-$50/hour; $30-$300 per article
Number of jobs posted weekly: 113 (FW); 65(MCN)
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 1997

If you’re frequently on Indeed, Freelance Job Openings.com, Freelance Blogging Jobs, Ed2010, Craigslist, Mediabistro, or BloggingPro, you could skip them and use FreelanceWriting.com and the Morning Coffee Newsletter, which filter a ton from these sites. Top companies like Under Armour, Google, Houzz, Dell, and Amazon have jobs posted, along with universities and magazines. There’s also a writing contests board, plus submission guidelines for 700-plus publications. Many listed full-time gigs pay well.

Jobs include blogging, editing, copywriting, social media, journalism, and technical writing. Hot topics consist of science, law, fashion, and tech, says Erik Episcopo, project manager of Freelance Writing.com and the Morning Coffee Newsletter.

8. Freelance Writers Den’s Junk-Free Job Board

Cost to view: $25/month
Cost to list: free
Typical rates: nothing below $30/hour, $50 per post, or $100/article
Number of jobs posted weekly: 20
Email job alerts: no
Year founded: 2011

If you’re a seasoned freelancer looking for well-paid, thoroughly-vetted gigs, the Freelance Writers Den’s Junk-Free Job Board is for you. This board is one of the few listed here that includes other writer resources in that subscription fee—300-plus training recordings, 24/7 support forums, and multiple new trainings each month. Job-board manager Millie Lapidario says she includes a link to the original posting.

Jobs are pulled from FlexJobs (the Den has an arrangement that allows the Junk-Free board to post up to a dozen of the best FlexJobs writer gigs a week), as well as from Journalism Jobs, Gorkana, LinkedIn, Indeed, the Morning Coffee Newsletter, Dice, Monster, Twitter, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter, just to name a few. All types of freelance work situations are included, along with the occasional full-time job.

Listings are heavily screened—Lapidario visits the list site or Glassdoor and determines if there’s a budget for a writer. If she receives negative feedback on a posting, she bans the company. Freelance writer, copywriter, reporter, and journalist are common jobs, as are blogger, marketing content writer, social media specialist, and content marketing specialist.

9. Freelance Writing Gigs

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $30 for 30 days
Typical rates: $10-$20/hour; $12-$35 per article
Number of jobs posted weekly: 5-150
Email job alerts: no
Year founded: 2007

Searching Craigslist or Indeed? You may want to cruise Freelance Writing Gigs instead for the best of what’s available on those mass boards. This site, headed by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg who is the freelance writing jobs community manager and editor of Splashpress Media, has one of the smallest boards with rates on the lower end.

Commonly featured jobs include copywriter, content writer, blogger, freelance writer, editor/proofreader, tech, marketing, education, and content marketing writer. Ads provide either a link to the original posting or a direct email. 

10. Glassdoor

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $99-$249 for 30 days
Typical rates: $50-$250 per article; $11,000-$132,000/year full-time
Number of jobs posted weekly: 1,200
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2007

You’ll need to create an account and sign up for Glassdoor to view their listings—but it’s worth it. Big companies are prevalent, as is detailed information to help you meet the right clients. It also includes info on freelance writer salaries.

Unlike other sites, Glassdoor’s job postings come with stats like company size, revenue, headquarters, founding date, reviews, salaries, CEO approval rating, and percentage of workers who recommend their company. Allison Berry, Glassdoor community expert, recommends signing up for an account to save jobs, using the job search tool to filter results, and uploading your resume for quick submission.

Jobs are based across America, with many remote and telecommute. Recent posters include Thrillist, Time Warner Cable, Ghirardelli Chocolate, AOL, newspapers, magazines, universities, and other Fortune 500 companies. Freelance writer, freelance copywriter, blogger, SEO marketing specialist, magazine jobs, and technical writer jobs are posted frequently.

11. Gorkana

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $200
Typical rates: $18-$20/hour; $10,000-$100,000/year full-time; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 10
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2003

For writers wanting to break into newspapers in business, finance, law, or general news reporting, Gorkana is your best bet. You may also be able to pitch freelance writing to posters of full-time jobs.

Many listings are based in New York City or Washington DC, but there are remote and telecommuting options, too. Common titles include reporter (financial, law, antitrust, business, technology), writer, editor, and copyeditor. News channels including Bloomberg and Dow Jones are listed in addition to local papers and universities.

12. Indeed

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $0.10-$5 per job seeker click
Typical rates: $15-$50/hour; average $28.79/hour; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 175
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2004

If you want to only scan a single board, Indeed is an aggregator site that provides a good roundup of freelance writing jobs from many sites. The downside: You’ll have to wade through the low-paying gigs to find the good ones.

Companies like CBS, Time Warner Cable, and Fortune 500 companies are featured here. Many listing show a company star rating (1-5) as well as a link to the company page with info on salaries, management, culture, and work/life balance.

The full spectrum of job types are represented. Common positions sought include freelance writer, web editor, freelance journalist, content writer, healthcare freelance writer, business writer, food writer, blogger, social media manager, contract journalist, and SEO writer.

“I’ve used Indeed a lot, but don’t anymore because client quality appears to be low,” says freelance writer Kaitlin Morrison. “I did land one client, but they were a nightmare, really cheap, and disorganized.” She says it was hard to land gigs, even with well written, custom letters of introduction.

13. Journalism Jobs

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $100 for 5 weeks
Typical rates: $15,000-$68,000/year full-time; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 438
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 1998

Due to the volume of jobs posted per month, Journalism Jobs is ideal for writers who want to target newspapers, magazines, and TV or radio stations. About 85-90 percent of job listings are full-time, but you’re free to pitch and see if they also use freelancers. There’s a huge range of pay, from good to poor.

Journalism Jobs posts opportunities from across the US. “Look at as many opportunities as you can,” says Journalism Jobs founder Dan Rohn. “See where you’re a good fit, apply, and follow up with letters inquiring if the job is still open. Be aggressive.”

14. LinkedIn

Cost to view: free and paid subscriptions ($30-$100/month)
Cost to list: roughly $195/month
Typical rates: $20-$30/hour; $15-$250/article; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 400
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2003

LinkedIn is ideal for freelance writers who want to use a single online board. The vast amount of high-ranking companies and well-paid full-time jobs make it a great pool to select clients from. You can see the number of applicants on listings, view company info, and apply with your profile, too.

Jobs are throughout the country, with many in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and Atlanta. Recent listings include calls for writing, editing, freelance copywriter, blogger, technical writer, content writer, marketing writer, social media manager, and medical writer.

Additionally, LinkedIn offers ProFinder: a new, free service set up specifically for freelancers to connect with employers. Create a profile, set up job alerts, and answer only requests you like. When a potential client posts a job that matches your skills, you get an email that includes all the info you need to submit a proposal and bid on the project. As of September 2016, it has 52,000 members, and delivers highly targeted job alerts. 

15. Mediabistro

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $297 for 30 days
Typical rates: $20-$75/hours; $45,000-$110,000/year full-time; not all listings include rates
Number of jobs posted weekly: 212
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 1994

Mediabistro is a wonderful niche board, as it has many beginner and experienced writer opportunities at high to mid-range companies. Full-time, part-time, freelance, remote, contract, work from home, and internships are offered. “There’s a lot to be said for looking at a job board that addresses your niche because the advertisers and employers are targeting that audience,” says Katie Hottinger, senior content strategist at Mediabistro.

A majority of the jobs are based in New York City, with California, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Illinois, and New Jersey also prominent. Freelance writer, email marketing specialist, social media strategist, copywriter, and digital content/copywriter are common job titles featured in Mediabistro ads.

16. Paid to Blog Jobs

Cost to view: $260/year
Cost to list: free
Typical rates: $10-$50/hour; $40-$50/post; $25-$100/article
Number of jobs posted weekly: 75
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2013

If you join Paid to Blog Jobs, you can stop combing Craigslist or ProBlogger. Paid to Blog Jobs compiles writing and blogging listings from these sites; some pay decently, others pay little. Started by Tom Ewer, founder of Leaving Work Behind, Paid to Blog Jobs has positions all over the US, with some remote and telecommute.

Catherine Here, lead jobs researcher for Paid to Blog Jobs, says they offer part-time and freelance jobs plus paying internships. Most jobs are topic-based requests for writers in food, technology, business, travel, news, and law.

Writer and editor Evan Jensen says he joined this board a few years ago, but unsubscribed after a month. Although he saw many jobs in his niche, they were at low rates, and originated from boards he could view for free.

17. ProBlogger

Cost to view: free
Cost to list: $50 for 30 days
Typical rates: $7-$300/article
Number of jobs posted weekly: 20
Email job alerts: yes
Year founded: 2004

ProBlogger provides great resources for bloggers, but gigs listed on their board usually don’t pay well. Part-time, virtual, remote, or telecommute jobs are available, with few location-specific requests.

Many smaller companies and websites post here, some seeking extremely specific skills for minimal pay. Niches such as technology, fitness, parenting, finance, healthcare, and business are common along with titles including content writer, freelance writer, marketing/SEO writer, and freelance journalist.

Find your best online writing jobs

Now that you see the variety of sites out there, think about the best place for you to look for writing gigs. Is it a board fewer writers see because they have to pay for access? Or maybe one where the companies pay big, and it qualifies better prospects?

Have you found a gig through an online job board? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

Mandy Ellis is an Austin-based freelance writer who focuses on food, travel, and health topics. 

The post Online Writing Jobs: The Inside Scoop on 17 Job Boards appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://ift.tt/2dL8oDr

5 tips to stay fit for the holidays

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

With the Holiday season just around the corner, it can be difficult to stay fit for the holidays when you want to bake with the grand kids or attend your friend’s annual Friends giving dinner.

The good news is that media’s claim that people tend to gain 5 pounds around the holidays isn’t true. The average weight gain is actually 1 pound, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

Your Health Mate family understands the importance of enjoying the holidays and maintaining a healthy mind and body. Whether it’s 1 pound or 5, we know the importance of maintaining your health and fitness routine, all year round.

Our top 5 natural tips to stay fit for the holidays!

1. Embrace the staycation

If you find yourself indoors to keep out the cold or you can’t bring yourself to drive to the gym, there are still ways you can keep moving! YouTube offers numerous fitness videos for free, such as Yoga With Adrienne. There are even apps that give you structured workouts like Nike Training Club and you can track your performance on the go or in the comfort of your own home.

2. Hydrate!

You’ll hear it over and over but hydration is essential to optimum health. According to the Institute of Medicine, about 75% of the American population suffer from chronic dehydration. So remember to get your daily dose of water and stay rejuvenated!

3. Fun holiday activities

Sign up for a fun holiday activity like the local turkey trot to stay motivated throughout the holiday season. Invite some family along and inspire each other on your wellness journeys!

4. Make holiday errands a workout

Have a long list of shopping or errands to get through this season? Go to your local outlet or shopping mall and slip on your comfy workout shoes. There’s nothing better than keeping your body fit and finishing your to do list at the same time.

5. Infrared sauna heat therapy

Paired with a healthy diet and exercise routine, infrared heat will increase detoxification and burn anywhere from 400-600 calories in just one 30 minute session. With a warm and relaxing infrared sauna session, you’ll gain a positive mood and help burn some extra weight lingering from holiday treats. View our infrared heat saunas to see which Sauna is meant for you!

We hope these natural tips will guide you on your health and fitness journey this holiday season and savor the special moments (and treats) that the holidays have to offer.

Here at Perfectbath we aspire to come along side you and help you reach your fitness and wellness goals with rejuvenating infrared sauna heat therapy.

 

Contributed by: Aaron Gruenke foremost sauna expert and author.

The post 5 tips to stay fit for the holidays appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2eT931A

3 Reasons Why Carpets Buckle

Image Source: Flickr

Wrinkles, ripples, bubbles – no matter what you call them, you should have them fixed right away. It’s from the carpet being loose and forming air pockets, which can pose a significant threat to people who might trip on it. Check out 3 of the main reasons why your carpet buckles:

Dragging Heavy Furniture

You should make it a point to never drag any heavy furniture across the surface of a carpet. The tackless strip that holds the carpet in place has little nail-like spikes that grip the backing of the carpet.

The force exerted by dragging a heavy object across the surface can easily be enough to rip the carpet right off the tackless strip, damaging the carpet backing or loosening the strip in the process.

Also, some carpet fiber types such as olefin have a very low melting point and the heat generated by dragging an object over it can be enough to melt it, causing permanent damage in the form of a line across the surface which cannot be removed by carpet cleaning. Source: DenGarden

Improper Installation

Carpet buckling may occur as a result of poor installation of the carpet. When wall-to-wall carpet is installed, it must be stretched tightly, and then is secured in place with tack strips along the edges of the carpet. If the installer has not stretched the carpet tightly enough, it may loosen slightly, which could cause it to ripple. Ideally, carpet should be stretched during the installation using a power stretcher, which will reduce the chances of buckling.

If the carpet is being installed in an area in which the conditions are significantly different than where it was previously stored (for example, the carpet was stored in an unheated warehouse and is being installed in a heated home) the carpet should be allowed to acclimate prior to installation, to reduce the possibility of buckling. Source: RugsAndCarpets.About

Humidity and Temperature

These are two more factors to consider. Humidity at the time of installation can affect the carpet. It is a good idea with all flooring materials to let it acclimate to the environment, which it is going to be installed for at least 24 hours. Another cause for wrinkling can be from a house or room being left closed for an extended period of time in high temperatures (above 85 degrees Fahrenheit).

If you make use of your resources, research what you are buying, follow the manufacturer’s specifications and hire carpet installation professionals for your project, you and your carpet will be happier. If you find your carpet needing a “facelift,” remember that it can be repaired or re-stretched by contacting a carpet repair professional in your area. Source: AngiesList

The post 3 Reasons Why Carpets Buckle appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

from Curlys Carpet Repair http://ift.tt/2eanHkY

3 Picture Window Decorating Tips

A picture window is a type of window with a single pane of glass which usually does not open. It doesn’t provide ventilation, but it is designed to provide a great outdoor view in the living room where it’s commonly placed. Know how to decorate this type of window by checking out the tips below!

Image Source: Flickr

Blinds
Because they were built into post-war homes, which were predominantly modern in style, blinds suit them particularly well. Depending on the width of the window and the look you want, you might want to use one large blind or multiple blinds side by side.
Cellular and Venetian blinds are typically easier to fit on these large windows than softer blinds like Roman shades. You can find blinds for them by searching for “large window blinds” in addition to “picture window blinds.” Source: DIYNetwork

Valances
To allow light in and still be able to showcase a great view, try a valance. When you measure for the height it will be, add more inches if you can to mount it closer to the ceiling so the windows look taller. Valances should cover any blinds or shades you may want to add underneath. You do not need to spend a lot on the blind or shade underneath your valance, because it won’t show when not in use. Source: Houzz

Framing Architecture
The physical structure of the window may also affect the window coverings you have room to mount. For example, a roller shade requires at least two inches of frame clearance for an inside-mounted system. Low-profile shades, such as pleated or honeycomb may need as little as one inch of clearance for mounting. Window-opening devices, such as handles and cranks, can also affect your available shade choices. If your picture window is a single pane of glass and is over eight feet wide, it may require a custom-made shade, further limiting your choices either through design or budget constraints. Custom-made fabric window shades, such as Roman shades, can be made for oversized windows. Source: SFGate

To learn about more window treatment ideas for your picture window, feel free to contact us!

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

The post 3 Picture Window Decorating Tips appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/2f5TN6o

How to Keep Your Whirlpool Tub Clean

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

A whirlpool bathtub is a great addition to your home. It provides numerous benefits and it can be something to look forward to at the end of a long, tiring day. To maximize the experience, keep your tub at its best by following these useful cleaning tips:

• Following the manufacturer’s recommendations in avoiding oil-based soaps, bubble bath soaps, and bath and mineral salts is an important part of preventative maintenance. Avoiding these products will eliminate potential pump issues and ensure that an excessive amount of residue is not sticking to the interior walls of the piping. Depending on its use, a whirlpool tub’s circulation system should be flushed of residue accumulation on a monthly or bi-monthly basis or, if possible, after each use. Source: Buildipedia

• Before cleaning your jets for the first time, check the manufacturer’s manual. Some manufacturers recommend closing the air controls, while others recommend leaving them open during cleaning, and certain manufacturers recommend specific cleansers for their tubs. Source: ApartmentTherapy

• Once a month — or more often for tubs that get a lot of use — you should also remove any accumulation of bath residue (from body oils, dirt, soaps, shampoos, lotions) from the whirlpool system. First, fill the bath with hot water (up to 140° F) and add 4 tablespoons to 1/4 cup of a low-foaming disinfectant (such as powdered dishwasher detergent). Some manufacturers suggest adding 1/2 cup of household bleach. Turn off the air induction and run the water jets for 10 to 15 minutes. Then drain the bath and refill with cold water only. Run the whirlpool for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain again. There are also commercial cleaning products made specifically to do this job. Source: GoodHousekeeping

• Residue accumulation or scale deposits may persist on the interior walls of the piping, even after cleaning. You should consider having the whirlpool tub cleaned professionally on a yearly basis. A professional cleaner should flush, descale, and disinfect a whirlpool circulation system. Source: Knoji

Planning on getting a new whirlpool tub? It would be our pleasure to assist you with finding the perfect one for your home. Contact us!

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

The post How to Keep Your Whirlpool Tub Clean appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2eEyFjm

The City of Lougheed

After years of planning, like Brentwood Mall before it, Lougheed Shopping Centre is about to go through a $7 Billion major rejuvenation and expansion. Over the next 20 years, the 40 acres in this prime Burnaby location bordering Coquitlam (effectively known as Burquitlam) will soon be home to 23 new towers in a master planned community which includes thousands of new homes, as well as over 300 new shops, and restaurants.

The Residents will be able to enjoy and experience a unique lifestyle within a community designed for livability.  The carefully designed streets will consist of lush green walkable boulevards, endless supply of shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Each neighbourhood to be phased into the development will be offer a unique character added into the previous neighbourhoods charm, as well as continue the pedestrian friends streets, plazas and storefronts. Tower 1, Neighbourhood 1 will consist of the first 500 units sold

 

•$7-billion master planned community

•23 towers at centre of Metro Vancouver
•300+ new shops and restaurants
•The Millennium and future Evergreen SkyTrain Lines—directly on site
•8 minute drive to Simon Fraser University

The post The City of Lougheed appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Buildings – Vancouver New Condos http://ift.tt/2ePBw9A

Challenge #217 - Make Your Mark

Welcome to another challenge here at Addicted to Stamps and More. It is great to see you join us this week.

We are up to our 

Get out your markers, pencils, paints, whatever will make a mark on your creation.

Our wonderful 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. 

Blog: http://ift.tt/1V2wR47

Prize: 3 digital images 

and

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor of Addicted to Stamps and More. 

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. 

Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion. 

Website: http://robynsfetish.com

Prize: 3 digital images (does not include designer papers)

Our Designers have created amazing inspiration for you -

Monika

Carol S

Nandini

Julie

Bobby

Carol

Lee Ann Barrett

Suchi

Kamila

Don't forget to pop on over to their blogs - say hi and see how they came up with their ideas :)

Over to you now -

An InLinkz Link-up

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

The #1 Reason You Can’t Sell Your Product Or Service

 

 

 

Ever wonder why you can’t sell your product or service?

Wondering which training program or seminar would help?

Wanna learn the world’s simplest way to improve your sales ability?

 

 

Let’s start with the problem that is hindering your ability to sell.

YOU DON’T TRULY BELIEVE IN YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

If you did, it’d show through how you speak and how you act.  The charisma and passion would show.  But most people don’t show passion when they are trying to sell a product.  Most people aren’t even sure about the product themselves and so it shows.  

You say, 

 

But Gary, I do believe in my product…

 

Ok, maybe you do believe in your product but for some reason you’re not able to convey your passion to the other person.  Why is that?  

Maybe you believe in the product but you don’t believe in yourself which is the bigger problem.  

 

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

I’m a Christian and I believe that you were created by God.  I believe God sees greatness in every one of us.  I don’t believe God thinks we’re meant to be in inferior.  I’m not saying that you’re supposed to be suddenly competent in anything you touch.  

The post The #1 Reason You Can’t Sell Your Product Or Service appeared first on Gary Wong Realty Vancouver, BC.

from Gary Wong Realty Vancouver, BC http://ift.tt/2ePakI9

Amazing Basement Remodeling Ideas

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

The basement is often the largest but most underused space in the home. Piling it up with storage boxes and old electronics means missing out on a great opportunity to expand your home’s living space. Basement remodeling will not only add more space to your home, it could also boost your selling price.

The basement comes with the advantage of being a large, unobstructed space. This allows you to put it to many uses. You can create a single room or split it up into two or more rooms. Instead of letting it stay dark, musty and unused, consider undertaking a basement remodeling.

No Shortage of Ideas

When you think about basement remodeling, the first question on your mind is probably what you will turn it into. There is no shortage of ideas. Some homeowners opt to create an extra bedroom or two while others go as far as creating a personal museum down there. This is obviously a big decision and you need to go slow on it. The most important thing is to consider what your greatest need is. If you have a shortage of bedrooms, turn the basement into an extra bedroom. If you work at home and need a home office away from the noisy little ones, a home office it is. If the kids’ toys are cluttering up the living room and causing endless injuries, consider creating a playroom for them.

If there is no pressing need, then you can add a room for entertainment purposes. Some good ideas include a home cinema, a game room, a bar, a kitchenette or even an extra family room or deluxe bathroom for your home spa. If you love photography, you could turn it into your own personal gallery. If you have a priceless collection of sports memorabilia, consider creating a mini museum to enjoy with friends.

You can even create more than one room. Use a creative divider, such as a sliding barn door, to separate the two rooms. You could turn it into two bedrooms, a game room and bar, a kid’s play area and adult game room and so on. Discuss with your contractor what each idea involves. Consider the complexity and cost of each and choose the one you are most comfortable with.

A Word on Safety

Before going ahead with your project, check what the local code says on basement safety especially if you plan to turn it into a living space such as a bedroom. A basement fire is a major hazard and could cause major damage to your home and even worse, injuries or death. Talk with your contractor about installing basic safety measures such as an egress window, smoke detectors and fire sprinklers. Additionally, check that the basement has been well protected against moisture entry and damage.

Inspiring Ideas

To help you get started on basement remodeling, we have put together an in depth article: 8 Awesome Basement Remodeling Ideas, which includes a beverage center, a wine cellar and a private gym.

 

Contributed by: Perfectbath.com  experts in bathroom design and quality fixtures.

The post Amazing Basement Remodeling Ideas appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2eE8Y4c

Is it Content Marketing or Just Blogging? 10 Big Ways They’re Different

Content marketing is such a buzzphrase these days. And I meet a lot of bloggers who say, “Yeah, I’m doing content marketing.”

But often, when I look at their blog, I can tell right away that they’re not.

There’s a reason bloggers get asked to write posts for $20, while content marketing agencies pull down contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars. It’s because there’s a lot more that goes into effective content marketing than simply writing a blog post.

Wondering what makes the difference? It’s worth finding out, because of the huge income increase writers can see promoting themselves as a content marketing strategist, rather than simply a blogger.

Here are 10 things content marketers do that most bloggers don’t bother with (full disclosure: some links below are affiliates):

1. Keyword research

Do you toss off blog posts about whatever strikes your fancy? Content marketers don’t do that. They begin their writing process with keyword research on their topic, to find out what phrases are both popular and relatively easy to rank for.

Then, they build them into fascinating headlines their readers will be unable to resist. For instance, in looking at what headline to use for this post, I learned that ‘content marketing’ was a way better key phrase to go for than ‘content marketer.’ Weirdly, hardly anyone searches on that second one, yet it’s actually a harder phrase to rank for, my Kwfinder search indicates. Go figure:

2. Read competitors

Do you know what the top blogs in your space published this week? Content marketing depends on having this intel, so you can position your blog (or case study, or white paper, or infographic) to mine similar territory in new — ideally, even more useful — ways.

3. Study analytics

Once a blog has even a half-dozen posts, you can begin developing stronger posts by studying what’s done better in the past. Content marketers are obsessed with this sort of data, while many bloggers have never once looked at their trends. For instance, here are the top-performing posts in a recent month for my blog; this shows me which topics and keywords I should use again in new posts:

4. Build relationships

Content marketing relies on relationships with other influential bloggers. Smart content marketers get out and start building connections, long before they need to ask for an interview or a retweet from a top influencer.

By contrast, amateur bloggers reach out with emails that essentially say, “Hey total stranger, would you do me a favor?” And then wonder why they don’t get any shares.

5. Tweak post SEO

If you don’t have a tool like Yoast SEO that helps you improve the SEO of your post, you’re pretty much wasting your time writing the post. Think about how many posts come out each day that you’re competing with! You’ve got to help Google realize what yours is about, or you’re never going to get the readers you want.

Here at Make a Living Writing, checking our SEO analysis and tweaking to improve it is something we invest serious time in. Yoast gives us messages like this, that we can then take action on to improve the SEO of our post (without being keyword-stuffing and spammy):

6. See the post as a starting point

Most bloggers write a post, press ‘publish,’ and figure their job is done. Maybe they tweet it out once.

For content marketers, creating the post is just the beginning. It’s the ‘content’ half of content marketing. Next, the marketing half begins…and goes on. And on.

For instance, I’ve noticed that the content-marketing team at Entrepreneur.com continues to promote a popular “50 business blog-ideas” post I wrote in 2012. They even share it from their Spanish edition, @SoyEntrepreneur:

That’s a company re-sharing its own content over and over. Anybody can understand why that would make sense. But more sophisticated content marketers take it a step further.

I’ve been watching top social-media influencer Sam Hurley‘s approach. If he finds a post of mine that he likes, he retweets it dozens of times. He’ll retweet it every day for weeks on end, as he did with this post (note the nice number of retweets he gets, with his big social-media audience):

Content marketers fire up their scheduling tools (I like HootSuite), plug good content in, and schedule it out for weeks at a time. This means that when they have stuff of their own they want to promote, they have a deck of other good stuff to sprinkle it into, so they don’t seem too salesy and self-promotional.

Also, repeatedly sharing others’ content is a terrific relationship-builder. I now happily follow and share Sam’s content, right back at him.

7. Create posts with built-in virality

Ever sit down before you write a post and think about how easy or hard your topic would be to promote? Content marketers do. They engineer their posts so it’ll be fairly easy to get tons of shares.

Tried-and-true ways to do that include mentioning big brands or quoting top influencers who you hope will share the post with their larger audiences. I did a double-hit on this post, which mentioned editors with decent-sized audiences of their own from big online sites with huge follower numbers. No surprise, it ended up the most popular post of the month:

8. Have editorial and marketing calendars

Do you know what you’ll be publishing on your blog a month from now? Content marketing strategists do. They know what they’ll be selling months from now, and are busy devising complementary content that will drive the right sort of readers. This is a time-honored strategy that began with complementary copy in magazines, where an article about how to put on makeup is always sitting right next to that Maybelline ad.

I’ll just say the last time I was out guest posting to promote a new e-book, some of the top blogs I contacted let me know they were booked out about three months. Content marketers plan ahead!

For instance, here’s a post I did the week we were selling my new Small Blog, Big Income e-book. Obviously, it was designed to attract readers who might be interested in buying that particular book:

9. Write posts with a CTA

Do readers know what to do at the end of reading your blog post? Content marketing involves creating content that’s released in service of getting readers to take a particular action. That call to action (CTA) moves readers along the road to being buyers.

Content marketers close the loop by letting you know what they’d like you to do next, even if it’s just subscribing to their blog. Here’s the engagement question and ad that sat at the bottom of that post above about blogging:

One final note on this — the days when “sign up for posts!” worked as a CTA are long gone. Create a useful freebie if you hope to build a list.

10. Build a social-media audience

I wish I had a dime for every blogger I’ve met who says they hate Twitter, or plan to get into using social media some day, but just never seem to have time. Social media is one of the primary content-marketing tools. I’d say these days, I’m recruited to write in part because I have a decent-sized Twitter following. Being a content marketer means showing you can offer more than just good writing — you’re a total package of good writing and promotional savvy.

Stop thinking it’s too late, or too hard to get many followers, and get started in social media. Connect with popular bloggers who already have a big social-media audience, and you may be able to build up pretty quickly. Every day you wait is a day longer it’ll be until you have enough followers to move the needle on clicks.

Want to learn more about how to get great-paying content marketing gigs? Join me tomorrow at a free training.

The post Is it Content Marketing or Just Blogging? 10 Big Ways They’re Different appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://ift.tt/2dCly0y

Winners - Challenge #215

Time to announce our winners from our last challenge (#215 Photo Inspiration). We LOVE your participation and support of ATSM. The amazing entries we get in our gallery each week really makes it hard to choose our winners. But choose we must :)

On to our winners - 

Our 

HONOURABLE ADDICTS

#4 Kuni

#31 Zora

#37 Macimbalo

Congratulations to you all. Please grab your badge to display on your blog. 

Our 

TOP ADDICT

and the winner of the prize from

         

is

#43 Kathy S

Congratulations Kathy, please take your Winners Badge to post on your blog and don't forget to claim your prize you must contact me at kyliepurtell@gmail.com within 5 days.

Don't forget to play along with our current challenge!

from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://ift.tt/2ezCbe1

The BELMONT at Heritage by Infinity Properties

The Belmont is a collection of 1-3 bedroom executive condominiums in Langley’s Murrayville neighbourhood. Located close to Murrayville’s historic Five Corners and shops at Murrayville Square, these homes offer the chance to be part of a charming community that values local businesses, good neighbours and simple living.

The post The BELMONT at Heritage by Infinity Properties appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Buildings – Vancouver New Condos http://ift.tt/2ecoMy6

Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Hire Professional Carpet Cleaners

Image Source: Flickr

Carpets are exposed to constant wear and tear from people, pets and more.  Here are the top 3 reasons why you should hire a professional carpet cleaner the next time you need to combat dirt in your carpets and rugs.

Saves Time

When you clean your carpets yourself, you have to move the furniture, vacuum all of the carpets, spot treat your carpet to remove stains, apply pre-treatment solution to your carpet, fill and empty the tanks, and carry and cleaning the equipment when you are done. Phew! Using a professional service means an experienced technician takes care of all of those tasks for, saving you time and a trip to the chiropractor. Source: EnlightenMe

Expertise

These services are usually equipped with machines that make the entire floor cleaning process go much more quickly.  They tend to have wheels that are designed not to leave marks, and a rubber bumper for the protection of furniture and walls. Brushes and pads can be attached, as well.  Depending on the kind of dirt and the type of hard surface, these machines can switch tasks and go from washing to polishing based on the attachments and setting.  Technicians generally undergo a training program for the operation of the machines and stay abreast of industry advancements.  Some businesses also specialize in repair and may be able to remove small scratches or chips, or at least make them less noticeable. Some charge by the hour, while others base their prices on the area being attended to. Services and prices vary from business to business, so doing some prior research can allow a potential customer to be well aware of what they are paying for. Source: IICRC

Protects Your Investments

The flooring in your home is a big investment in the health and comfort of your family. Over time the same contaminants that reside in the fibers can begin to break them down, particularly in higher traffic areas as each footstep causes friction.

An improperly maintained carpet will show wear and tear and will require replacing much sooner than one cleaned regularly, helping to protect and prolong your investment.                   Source: RainbowIntl

If you would like to know more about carpet cleaning services, contact us now!

The post Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Hire Professional Carpet Cleaners appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.

from Curlys Carpet Repair http://ift.tt/2enJAyv

3 Tips for Choosing Drapes and Curtains

Having a hard time picking out window coverings for your home? Continue reading to check out some tips for choosing drapes and curtains that will best fit your decorating scheme.

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 3 tips for choosing drapes and curtains:

Length and Lining
Measure from the top of the window (plus the added inches of height where the curtains will hang from) to the floor. For a more traditional look, with the curtain slightly puddled on the floor, you’ll want to add another two or three inches to your length. For a modern, crisp look, have the panel fall flush with the floor.
When measuring the width of your window, be sure to add four to eight inches on both sides and double the total number to ensure curtain fullness. “Then you won’t block a lot of window glass when the curtains are open, and they won’t get in the way,” says Lawrence. Source: ElleDecor

Color and Fabric
Neutral curtain colors are a popular choice because they’re easier to blend into the rest of a room’s décor and are less likely to fade. But don’t be afraid to go with a pop of pattern like a quatrefoil or stripes to add some visual excitement to a room.
Lighter fabrics like linen, silk and variations of these materials filter light beautifully and hang nicely, making them good choices for a sunny room. Blackout curtains in velvet, suede, tapestry and other heavy materials are excellent for blocking light and controlling room temperature. Source: HomeDepot

Privacy and Lighting
Depending on your space, consider how much light you want to filter in or out:
If you’re choosing curtains for a common area like a living room or sunroom, opt for sheer curtains to allow more light into the space. Consider a heavier fabric in a room where you want more privacy or less natural light, such as a bedroom or theater room. Source: WayFair

We hope these tips will help you feel more confident about selecting drapes and curtains for each and every window in your home. For more information, contact us now!

 

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

The post 3 Tips for Choosing Drapes and Curtains appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/2ejWte0

4 Tips on Accessorizing Your Bathroom

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

Put the finishing touches on your bathroom space with these bathroom accessory ideas, including: vanities, shelves & medicine cabinets, mirrors, floor rugs and decorative accessories.

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 4 tips on accessorizing bathrooms:

Vanities, Shelves & Medicine Cabinets

• If there is space on the wall adjacent to the sink, consider adding a hotel shelf to hold folded towels of various sizes right in the bathroom.
• Install a toilet tissue holder within arm’s reach of the toilet bowl. Consider an open ended design for ease of changing the roll.
• Place wire baskets in the corners of the shower. Vary both the heights and the depths of the baskets to help hold soap, shampoo and other items in a method that will not collect water or soap scum.
• Place at least one medicine cabinet in the bathroom. This can be placed on a wall adjacent to the sink or on a wall adjacent to the shower to help keep things right at hand.
• Install a shelf directly above the sink, below the mirror, to hold small toiletries.
• Place a soap holder and toothbrush holder either on the wall above the sink or directly on the sink itself.
• Use an over-the-john cabinet above the toilet to hold additional toiletries and tissue in bathrooms without vanity cabinets or extra storage. Source: wikiHow

Mirrors
Get a large mirror and mount it above the vanity or sink. It will reflect the light and spread it around the room, and increase visual space. A large round mirror with interesting frames is always a great choice. Try to add two rectangular mirrors, or a grouping of smaller mirrors, leaving a small portion of space between them. It will look compelling, while still reflecting your head and torso. On the other hand, you can also try to make your old mirror more stylish by simply adding a decorative frame cover for achieving a classy and chic look. Inspiration is everywhere, you can even get amazing ideas just by looking at Sydney bathroom renovations showrooms. Remember, since you won’t have enough place for two mirrors, go with the one that you will use when you wash your face, or shave. A full length mirror should definitely go next to your wardrobe, where your clothes are. Therefore, do not exaggerate. Source: StrategiesOnline

Floor Rugs

• Include pretty washable area rugs for color, pattern, and warmth for cool feet. Treat yourself and your room to several in different patterns — and change them when your mood changes.
• And don’t forget the little things — scented candles, potpourri, fresh flowers from your own garden, sachet packets for drawers, and a display of pretty bottles (perhaps with different fragrances). Source:  Dummies

Decorative Accessories
This photo illustrates a couple of great examples!  If you’re slightly nervous about hanging art in your bath or powder room, gallery-style is the answer. Simply gather a collection of art you love.  Anything goes. You can arrange pictures close together or far apart. Watercolors can stay together or let them mingle with photographs; frames and sizes can be matched or mismatched. You can even work in some dimensional pieces like the letter “C” here or a clock.  Whether it’s an entire powder room or a portion of one wall in your master bath – a gallery-style display can take you “outside the box” and let your creativity shine! Source: SimpleBathOhio

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

The post 4 Tips on Accessorizing Your Bathroom appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2ekLfnK

Need Story Ideas? 20 Free Online Tools to Fire Up Your Brain

If you want to write for magazines, story ideas are your bread and butter.

The days when big editorial staffs thought up most of the ideas and simply assigned them out to freelance writers are over. Instead, these days overworked editors are looking to their writers to tell them what’s fresh and interesting out there.

You want to be the writer with a million story ideas, to earn well.

Despite this, I often hear from writers that they’re stymied because they have no ideas.

Let’s fix this! Once you know how to troll for ideas, it becomes a fun hobby. Get out your favorite tracking software, whether it’s an app like Pocket, an Excel spreadsheet, or (like me) just a plain ol’ Word doc, and start developing your idea-finding skills.

These days, you don’t even have to leave the house to come up with a lot of great ideas, because so many online tools can help stimulate your brain.

Ready to fire up your computer and find some great ideas? Here’s my list of creative idea-finding tools (in alphabetical order):

1. BuzzSumo

This is a fun site for spying on competitors, and seeing what’s getting the most traffic on a particular topic. Just pop a site name or keyword into BuzzSumo‘s big search-engine box, and see what you get. The free level will get you a dozen results on a topic.

2. Digg

Using a site such as Digg, that’s curating what’s hot online, can really be a timesaver. Once you sign up, you can customize what Digg will email you about, or use Digg Deeper to get notices about the most-shared stories from your own Twitter timeline to help you quickly zoom in on interesting topics.

3. Diggbot

Don’t have time to poke around on Digg? Me neither. But you don’t have to visit this content-curation site yourself to learn what’s hot.

I use Slack to communicate with my team, and discovered there’s a Diggbot that will pop a digest of hot headlines onto your Slack thread each morning. You can also add the Diggbot to Amazon Alexa or to Facebook messaging.

Here’s a look at the little digest it delivers to my Slack each day:

Click into one of those entries, and you get Digg’s daily Morning Edition, full of tasty popular stories:

4. E-newsletters

You subscribe to these — you know you do. At one point, I had a cache of more than 100 of these babies, sitting in my email inbox waiting to be read!

There are many ways to troll your e-news for ideas, including simply scanning all the subject lines you get. If you read through those emails, ask yourself about how the topic of that e-newsletter could be developed into a feature story, a guest blog post, or some other format.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are a great place to ask questions, gather facts, find sources, and watch trends on any topic you’re looking to write about. For instance, hanging out in a self-publisher’s Facebook group helped me identify several good topics for posts on the challenges of self-publishing and making sales on Amazon, including this one.

6. Google+

If you’re like me, you haven’t been spending a lot of time on here lately to leave posts or share things. But Google+ is definitely still a great place to brainstorm ideas. Click on ‘Collections’ to get some quick topics you can browse, join Communities to eavesdrop on topic-focused conversations, or Search for ‘What’s hot and recommended’ for more.

7. Google Alerts

This was my bread and butter anytime I was doing business blogging for several different clients at once. Just set up a Google alert on each niche topic, get an email a day, and you’re set to write newsy posts about what’s going on in that industry.

8. The Latest

This automatically-generated list of what’s hot on Twitter can be a fun place to shake up your idea-finding habits. My recent visit to The Latest brought me links to stories on everything from iPhone addiction to problems with Uber’s drones. You can sign up to get notifications — or just follow The Latest on Twitter, where it posts all its picks.

9. LinkedIn Pulse

Many freelance writers are posting (or re-posting) content on Pulse for the exposure — but have you thought about mining it for new article ideas? There’s a ton of great content on here, which when you’re logged into your profile is curated by what your connections are posting. You can also go to the Pulse homepage to see Pulse ‘Editor’s Picks,’ see what’s trending on Pulse that was posted by major magazines, and more.

10. LinkedIn Groups

Join LinkedIn groups that focus on the industries you cover, and you’re privy to the top questions that industry confronts. Just take a look at which questions get the most response each week, and you have an instant list of the hot topics you might explore for stories.

11. List.ly

Do you like to create list posts? One of the best idea-joggers for that is List.ly, a site where people post lists. I first learned about this site when the List.ly was a conference sponsor at an event I went to, and it’s a fun place to browse around.

Visiting List.ly while writing this post, for instance, I discovered a list of the best songs to test headphones with, a list of 22 iPad apps for making classroom videos, and the top 10 best cities to visit to see fall color. Great fodder, no matter what sort of topic you’re looking to develop ideas on. You can search for topics you want, or click on the trending topic tags at the top.

12. Medium

Many freelance writers are experimenting with posting content on Medium for exposure — but don’t overlook its potential as an idea-generation site. You can search on topics you like, browse editors’ picks, top stories, or save authors you want to track.

13. Panda

This handy app can be a great way to browse for ideas while you’re waiting in line at the bank. Panda has a focus on all things tech and design, but ‘copywriting’ is also a category topic. It’s currently in beta, so watch for more developments here.

This can be a great place to quickly scan multiple streams of information. Featured channels I’d love to keep up on include Mashable, TechCrunch, the Verge, and hey — Medium and Quora are on here, too.

14. Pinterest

I’ll admit as a WORD person, I find Pinterest a little baffling. I mean, I’m happy to pin my own posts on a few relevant boards, but it’s not a place I spend a ton of time.

If you’re into it, though, it’s a great place to troll for ideas! First off, Pinterest serves you up pins based on your past interests.

Bored with that? You can click on a category and browse around to new categories, then click on some pins to see posts of interest:

15. Quora

Some 2.2 million people a month ask questions or post answers on Quora. Set up a profile, and you can enter topics of interest and see questions and answers about them.

P.S. Quora can also be a place to answer questions and build your own authority as an expert — so this can be a doubly useful site. More and more big names are popping up on there answering questions, including President Barack Obama.

16. Slideshare

More and more people are turning presentations they’ve done into Slideshare posts, making this site a gold mine of information, particularly on business topics. This site is owned by LinkedIn, FYI.

Doing a random search for ‘entrepreneurship’ recently, I found several different slideshares about the principles of ‘disciplined entrepreneurship’ — maybe a buzzworthy topic for an article I could develop. Win!

17. SmartBriefs

This has been another staple of my idea-finding process for many years. SmartBrief has more than 200 different newsletters on specific industries and topics. Sign up for the ones relevant to your writing career and get a nicely curated daily (or weekly) list of the hottest topics.

18. StumbleUpon

On StumbleUpon, you can set up a profile of your interests, hit the “Stumble” button, and see relevant popular content, from accounting to toys. For instance, on a recent browse, my stated interests in business and entrepreneurship brought up a cache of in-depth white papers on tech topics from one company. If you’re browsing dozens of popular sites in your topic, StumbleUpon could be your one-stop shop instead.

19. Subreddits

Like StumbleUpon, Reddit is a vast article-sharing site where roughly 1 million people a day post and upvote interesting content. If that sounds overwhelming, good news — there are smaller, topic-focused subreddits. Sign up to follow subreddits on topics you’re interested in, and you’ve tapped into a never-ending stream of information about what people are talking about and liking on that subject. Or, click on ‘Rising’ or ‘Controversial’ to just see what’s trending.

20. Twitter lists

I have to admit I’ve slacked off of using my Twitter lists, and I should probably get back to it. You can create your own lists on Twitter as useful places to save resources or contacts, and you can also subscribe to other peoples’ lists. They’ve made it harder to locate your lists these days — but it’s under the ‘More’ tab you see on the right here:

In fact, a quick browse of my lists prepping this post helped me discover a list of over 40 job-finding sites for writers that may provide fodder for upcoming roundup posts here on the blog. Ding!

Spinning new ideas from old

Once you’ve gathered interesting bits of news you like, how do you spin new story angles out of them? Here are a few of my favorite ways:

• What’s next? What will happen next with this trend or news event? Often, you can revisit the topic a month or a year later and write a new story.
• What’s missing? Articles and blog posts often raise new questions you could answer, with some additional interviews, or you can discover an aspect of a popular topic no one has explored. For instance, I recently loved this story’s fresh angle on Donald Trump.
• Change geographic focus — Find a local angle to a national story for a city magazine. Or do the opposite — see if a local story might also be nationally relevant. The Seattle Times does a great job of localizing national stories like the presidential election — watch your local daily to learn how it’s done.
• Mix ‘n’ match — Collect news about a topic that interests you, and look for connections between the different news stories. For instance, I saved news releases about new grilled-cheese sandwich restaurants opening up until I could create this story.
• New audience — Is there another type of publication where the readers would find an existing story interesting? Maybe you could re-slant it. In fact, this post you’re reading was inspired by a post I read for content marketers on how to keep up on SEO developments. I cut all the SEO-specific tools and kept the ones that I like for story-idea development. Presto! A new story for a new audience.

You can never have too many story ideas. I have a 40-page leftover note file of unused ideas from the Forbes blog I wrote for 3 years, for instance.

More ideas mean you have more choices, and you can keep prioritizing what the hottest ideas are on your list, and pitching them.

What online tools do you use to troll for story ideas? Share your faves in the comments.

The post Need Story Ideas? 20 Free Online Tools to Fire Up Your Brain appeared first on Make A Living Writing.

from Make A Living Writing http://ift.tt/2e5kOVD