Tuesday, February 28, 2017

3 Curtain Rod Alternatives

From time to time, it’s good to change things up a bit. Instead of going with a traditional curtain rod, why not try one of the following alternatives for a more creative option?

Image Source: Flickr

Rod-Free Curtains
Curtains don’t have to be hung with rods. Instead of using a store-bought or homemade rod, hammer a line of nails across arched and straight windows. Evenly space the nails and paint them to match the walls or the curtains. Once the paint is dry, loop the curtains over the nails or hang them with ribbons or large hooks. Another unique option is to space old door or cabinet knobs about 12 inches apart along the top of the window; use wood screws or nails to secure them in place. Cut holes in the curtains or use tab top panels and loop them over the knobs. If you’re using brass or metal knobs, paint them to ensure that the curtains won’t be stained should the knobs tarnish. Source: EHow

Coat Hangers
You can use coat hangers as another alternative for curtain rods. Put the coat hooks on the window frames. You can simply attach the curtain to the rods. Or, if you want something really eye-catching, you can use a ribbon to tie the openings of the curtain to the rod. This will add a whimsy appeal to your curtains. This style goes best in the living room or children’s room. You can even paint the coat hangers to make it stand out or blend with the colors of the walls. Source: DoItYourself

Branching Out
Sometimes the perfect object for a lightweight drapery rod may be sitting right outside your window. Branches can make for excellent, sculptural drapery rods with a few simple do-it-yourself updates. Search for a branch with the proper length and width to fit above a window and handle the weight of the chosen drapery panel. Next, cut it to size and spray-paint it in a color which contrasts well against the wall. Lastly, secure standoffs, ready-made drapery rod brackets or L-brackets directly to the wall using plastic drywall anchors, then attach the branch with screws or bailing wire. Source: HGTV

Tell us your creative plans! We’ll try our best to help you out. Contact us!

 

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

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3 Tips for Buying Bathroom Faucets

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

Having a hard time looking for faucets that best match your bathroom style? Luckily, we have some tips for buying bathroom faucets, such as: knowing the different styles, choosing the quality and matching with the number of mounting holes.

Below are 3 tips for buying bathroom faucets:

Knowing the Different Styles
Widespread: Most commonly found on pedestal sinks, widespread faucets are made for sinks with three pre-drilled holes that are 8″ apart. When purchasing a widespread faucet you’ll receive three individual components: two handles and one spout.
Vessel/Single-hole: On single hole faucets, the handle is attached to the spout and is for use on a sink with 1 pre-drilled hole. If you are in the market for a vessel style faucet but have a sink with 3 pre-drilled holes, it’s sometimes an option to purchase an additional deck plate to cover the existing holes on the sink. Contact the faucets manufacturer to see if that is an option before buying.
Wall-mounted: Ready for it? Wall-mounted faucets are mounted to …the wall! Normally, your water supply lines come up from the sink, but in this case they’ll need to be installed into the wall. One thing to be aware of when purchasing these types of faucets is that the spout is actually long enough to reach from the wall over the sink basin.
4″ Centerset: These faucets are found on sinks with 3 holes set at 4″ apart. The components sit on a deck plate that connect the handles with the spout body, and can also be found with single handle components.
4″ Minispread: Similar to centerset, these faucets fit 4″ configurations on sinks with 3 pre-drilled holes. But instead of purchasing a faucet with a 4″ deck plate, a minispread faucet looks more like a widespread faucet with three individual components: two handles and one spout. Source: ApartmentTherapy

Choosing the Quality
You’ll have to pay for it up front, but buying quality now means you won’t be paying during the life (or lack thereof) of your faucet. Look for an all-brass body, as opposed to brass- or chrome-plated. And keep in mind that the tub faucet has a larger flow rate than other household faucets, which means you can’t use a kitchen faucet or your tub. Bathtub faucets should have a 3/4-inch supply line, as opposed to 1/2-inch for the rest of the house. Some tubs hold up to 60 gallons of water, so you’ll want a faucet that can get the job done in a timely manner. Source: HGTV

Matching with the Number of Mounting Holes
Most sinks come with mounting holes pre-drilled for faucets and accessories such as side sprays or soap dispensers. If you’re keeping your original sink, you’ll need to match what you have or get a base plate to cover any extra holes. The base plate sold with your new faucet can be used to cover holes in your countertop, but don’t buy a faucet that requires more sink holes than your sink has; it’s not a good idea to try to drill additional holes in an existing sink or countertop. Get additional information on how to best match sinks and faucets.  Source: ConsumerReports

 

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

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Parc East – by Trillium Development

Coming soon to Port Coquitlam is Park East by Trillium Developments. Park East will be centrally located on the corner of Atkins and Shaughnessy, a short walk to the Main Village with its all it shops and services, as well as the West Coast Express.

Park East will be consist of 57 condos consisting of one bedroom, one bedroom plus den, two bedroom, or two bedroom plus den, with size ranging from 446 square feet to 1077 square feet. Each suite at Parc East will be designed with quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, and large islands in the Kitchen, with laminate flooring throughout.

Amenities include a gym, furnished amenity room that includes a lounge area with kitchenette, and an outdoor entertaining space, as well as outdoor play area for the kids (little kids, not the big kids, thats what the lounge is for 🙂

Sales expected to start in the late winter of 2017 or early Spring with price to starting the mid 200’s. Register with us to be kept up to date with floor plans, and vip sales.

 

 

 

 

 

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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The Arden

 

The Arden is coming soon to Port Coquitlam  The Arden will be a boutique building with just 22 executive size suites with Quartz countertop, stainless steel appliances and laminate flooring.  The Arden will sure be a great spot for first timers or down-sizers.

Pricing is expected to be:

1 bedroom from high $200’s

1 bedroom + dens from Low $300’s

2 bedroom 1 bathrooms from Mid to high $300’s

2 bedroom 2 bathroom over $400,000

Completion anticipated to be Fall of 2017.  Previews start soon, register with us today to get access to this development and many others

 

 

 

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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Winners - Challenge #228 and #229

We have our winners to announce! Congratulations to all our Honourable and Top Addicts.

CHALLENGE #228 - HOLIDAY








Congratulations everyone!!




Congratulations. This valentine's wreath is amazing!



CHALLENGE #229 - CLEAN AND SIMPLE









Congratulations everyone!




Stunningly CAS!


Congratulations everyone! We will be back in the morning with a brand new challenge!




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Monday, February 27, 2017

Brooklynn

Much like Maplewood Village and Lions Gate Village, Lynn Creek/Seylynn is undergoing a transformation into a walkable, transit oriented hub.  Brooklynn by Wanson Developments will be the next development to come up in the Lynn Creek/Seymour Village centre. Brooklynn will be a mixed use building consisting of ground floor retail and 63 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom condos.

More information and sales are expected to be released in March of 2017, register with us today to be kept up to date on this development and may others like it coming to the North Shore.

 

 

 

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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Cedar Reach at Maplewood

After the very successful development of Loden Green by Guildford Developments and Maplewood Place by Anthem, as well as the Northwood Estates Rental suite and shopping centre,  Maplewood Villages is rapidly becoming a hot spot in North Vancouver. Cedar Reach is the newest development coming soon to the area.  Cedar Reach will be modern collection of homes featuring 163 One, Two, and Three bedroom homes in the heart of Maplewood Village.  Within a short stroll to Northwood Shopping centre, including Strong’s Market, Deep Cove Brewing. banking and liquor store, Cedar Reach will be designed with West Coast architecture and storage space for all your gear to fully enjoy the outdoors its surrounded by.

If you’d like to receive more information on this development or any other coming to the North Shore, register with us today to be kept up to date.

 

 

 

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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Belle Isle by Citimark Developments

Lions Gate Village was approved under the new OCP a couple years ago, we are now seeing the changes coming with Park West slated to begin sales in the coming months, as well as Larco’s rental community, but Belle Isle will be the first ground oriented townhome development, when all phases are completed will include 164, 1, 2

, and 3 bedroom townhomes and garden flats.

Belle Isle will be centrally located in a new community within walking distance of Park Royal, a 15 minute drive to downtown and quick access to bus routes directly downtown, or anywhere on the North Shore

To be kept up to date on this development or any on the North Shore register with us today.

E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act

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How to Make Money Blogging: All My Best Tips

How to make money blogging: All my best tips. Makealivingwriting.comHere’s something I hear a lot: “I’ve got a blog, but nothing’s happening. I’d love to diversify my income and lessen my reliance on freelance clients. What am I missing? Can you tell me how to make money blogging?”

Over the years, I’ve shared a lot of my own blogging journey, as I grew this blog into the platform for a thriving online business.

But as the blog got bigger, it’s gotten harder to quickly find my best earn-from-blogging tips.

As a coach dedicated to helping writers find financial freedom, I think helping writers develop their own income streams is super-important.

The answer? I’ve created a special page that pulls together all my best information, blog posts, and resources in one handy spot.

Introducing: How to Make Money Blogging Central

I’ve combed through the 900+ posts on here, and created a headquarters for all my best information on how to make your blog earn.

It’s one-stop-shopping for learning how to make money blogging. The new page is right here:

http://ift.tt/2muYyGr

You can find quick links to a hand-selected group of my very best posts on this topic, and even some of my best guest posts about blog monetizing, too. It’s also got info on my e-books on this topic and my small-group blogging mastermind (currently open for new bloggers to join!).

That page will also keep automagically adding my new posts about blog earning as we go along. Nice, eh?

I hope having a well-organized resource HQ will help more writers to avoid wasting time on strategies that don’t work for small-audience bloggers, and find the tips that help us garden-variety, ordinary bloggers earn real money.

This new blog-earning page is part of my newly revamped ‘Start Here‘ tab. That’s the home base for all the topic pages I’m creating to help writers sort through the resources here and find what they need — fast.

Enjoy!

P.S. Last week, on free blog review day, I promised you a look at the winning three blog-review videos. To see the video reviews and get ideas to improve your own blog, watch for an email in a few days, or sign up here.

How to make money blogging: Small Blog Big Income mastermind

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

Free Blog Review Day! Let’s Make Your Blog Earn

Free Blog Reviews by Carol Tice. Makealivingwriting.comWould you like advice from a successful pro on how to turn your blog into a money-maker? Well, today’s your chance, because I’m calling a free blog review day.

Why?

Well, I’ve been quietly working on a whole new blogger training program that’s getting some pretty cool results. But I suspect many of my readers don’t even know about it!

So I’m here to give you a free taste of my blog coaching and introduce you to what I’ve got. And celebrating by putting my two Small Blog, Big Income ebooks on a 2-for-1 bundle sale this week.

These e-books outline my 7-Step system for positioning your blog to earn (without a huge audience).

They unpack all my tips from 9 years (!) writing this blog, and building it into the basis of a multi-six-figure business.

First tip: When you have a small blog audience, one way to stand out is to surprise readers with fun, free goodies. That way, your audience thinks you’re awesome, and they never want to unsubscribe.

And so…free blog reviews today!

Ready to turn your blog into a money-earner? Here are the blog-review rules:

How to get your free blog review

It’s simple: Every blogger who leaves a comment on this post the day it’s published gets a piece of feedback on their blog from me.

A few ground rules:

  • Put your URL in the right place. If you leave your URL in the body of your comment, the comment will go straight to spam. To get your free blog review, don’t get lost in the shuffle — leave your URL only in the box provided. It’s right at the top of your comment form. I don’t want to miss you, and won’t have time to dig through my spam to hunt for lost comments. It’s going to be crazy here!
  • State the age of your blog. When I know how long it’s been around, it helps give me a sense of where you’re at.
  • Tell me your top blog question or problem. That way, I can give you the feedback you need most. If you have a question, I’ll just pick the thing that jumps out at me as the biggest issue.
  • Deadline is midnight Pacific time. That should be enough time to see this post and leave me your URL, no matter where in the world you live.
  • Allow 48 hours for response. I usually get pretty swamped when I offer free blog reviews! So please be patient.
  • One blog per customer. Be fair and let everyone have a chance. Remember, if you try to list more blogs in the comment text, you’ll just go in spam.

Small Blog Big Income ebooks - free blog review dayI’m excited to give back to my terrific readers. I check out your URLs when you post on my blog comments, and I know a lot of bloggers really need help!

Happy to share my (sometimes contrarian) advice on how small bloggers can earn real money. This post’s comment thread will be like a free taste of those Small Blog, Big Income e-books.

Extra: 3 winners get review videos

To give you an even more robust taste of what my blog mastermind group is like, I’m going to pick three interesting cases and do a more thorough, 15-20 minute blog review video for each of those.

I’ll get those video reviews on a page and share that link with everyone on the next post coming up.

The videos will give you a much better sense of the level of feedback you get as a member of my Small Blog Big Income small-group mastermind.

On beyond blog reviews

If this whets your appetite, how can you get more feedback from me on your blog?

That’s what my blog mastermind is for. In this small group, I help you execute on my 7-step system, saving you a boatload of wasted time and helping you see your best earning opportunities.

The mastermind has got room for a few more members — and once it’s full, the price is going up. A lot.

It’s an application process to get in, so if you’re interested in that, read up on the group and apply now.

Ready to get started? Then let’s fix your blog!

What’s your biggest question about your blog? Tell me in the comments, and I’ll give you a quick free blog review.

Make your small blog EARN BIG! Join the Blog Mastermind with Carol Tice, Author of Small Blog, Big Income: One Niche Blogger's 7-Step Formula

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

3 More Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors

Choosing a window treatment for a sliding glass door can be a challenge because you don’t want to hinder the usefulness of the door. Consider these 3 common window treatments as you dress up your sliding door.

Image Source: Flickr

Vertical Blinds
Sliding door blinds are the most common window treatments and provide the best solution for privacy concerns in a home where sliding doors and French doors are used. Sliding doors are attractive and efficient, but they need to come with the proper kind of treatment to preserve privacy and filter sunlight.
But choosing the wrong kind of blinds can ruin the beauty and efficiency of a sliding door. So in order to keep this from happening, you need to know the different choices you have when it comes to sliding door blinds. Sometimes having tons of choices can be overwhelming, but it is a blessing in this case if you know what options you have.
Blinds are commonly made of PVC plastic, Faux Wood, Real, Wood, and Fabric. They are constructed using slats or vanes that can be adjusted using a cord, a wand, or a remote control. Their slats slightly overlap, making the blinds and shades very easily adjustable. Because they are easily adjustable, blinds can provide privacy whenever you want it. You can also control the amount of light that can get in your home. Source: DecorSnob

Side-Mounted Panels
Purely decorative treatments, such as these side-mounted panels, are perfect for sliders that receive constant use or that frame unbeatable vistas so the view remains barrier-free. The panels don’t move, so go ahead and mount the rods out of reach (these are positioned 12 inches above the top of the door’s frame) for a design trick that visually adds height to a low ceiling. Source: BHG

Privacy Sheers
If you are looking for a classical, elegant look, Luminette Privacy Sheers are a good choice. The sheer facing resembles traditional sheer draperies, while the 180-degree rotating vertical fabric vanes give you complete control over light and privacy to create the perfect ambiance you desire. Source: HunterDouglas

 

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

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3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Vanity

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

The vanity is one of the first things you notice when you enter a bathroom. In addition to its aesthetic value, what’s also important is how the vanity will fit your needs. There are also many other factors to consider as you choose which one to buy. Check out these 3 tips to help you in your decision-making.

Determine the Number of Sinks
You’ll need to find a vanity style that can accommodate the number of sinks you want.
If they had their choice, most homeowners would prefer double sinks. Unfortunately, there often are space restrictions.
Vanities smaller than 60 inches wide usually have only one sink. The sink can be in the center, to the right or to the left. Your sink cabinet can have drawers or standard cabinet doors.
Vanities more than 60 inches wide can comfortably accommodate two sinks. However, if one sink is enough, you can use the extra room for additional counter space. Source: Forbes

Which mounting options are available?

  1. Free Standing:Also known as standard, this is the most common bathroom vanity. It resembles a chest or buffet, and is your best option for maximum storage space.
  2. Wall-Mounted: Most wall-mounted vanities hang or float on the wall without legs touching the ground. This modern style opens up floor space in a small bathroom.
  3. Corner-Mounted: If you need to save space, this is the best option. Corner-mounted bathroom vanities have a 90-degree angle at the back so that they fit perfectly into a corner. Source: Wayfair

Plumbing
If you need to change your bathroom’s plumbing to install your new vanity, it’s going to account for a chunk of your budget. Even switching from a traditional floor-mounted vanity to a wall-mounted version will mean rerouting pipes and drains.
“Locating the vanity far from other bath fixtures requires a higher cost for rough plumbing,” says contractor David Lawson of Ironwood Builders. Source: Houzz

 

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

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Buying A Steam Shower? Don’t Make These 3 Common Mistakes!

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

 

help with choosing a steam shower to buy

Ah yes, the life of luxury. That’s where it’s at! All you need is your very own steam shower – complete with aromatherapy dispenser and chroma lights. (Because, if you’re going to buy a steam shower, why not go all out, right?)

But, before you get to the part where you relax in your steam shower, you’re going to need to know something super important. There are 3 mistakes that can end up costing you a lot of money. Do your research now. Save some headaches and possibly money later.

  1. Measure, measure, measure. Believe it or not, many of us think we know how large our bathrooms are. We walk into a store and buy a steam shower only to discover that it’s an inch or more too large for the space. Looks can be deceiving. But so can tape measures. Give us a call, and we’ll help you figure out exactly how to ensure that your steam shower will fit along with any electrical and plumbing needs that factor in. The delays and extra work can end up adding thousands of dollars to your budget
  2. Know thyself. There really are a whole lot of different kinds of steam showers available to you. Consider whether you want it to include a whirlpool tub with a combo steam shower and bathtub. Do you want it to accommodate two people? How about accessories, like Bluetooth? Will pets or children use it, too? Once you start looking at all the possibilities, it really is easy to get carried away! Start with a firm budget. Then determine who will be using and how often. Talk with one of our experts to make sure you’ve covered all the bases.
  3. Running hot or cold. Does your existing shower valve protect you from water temperature extremes? You’ll know the answer if you’ve ever turned on the spray only to be met with ice cold or scalding hot water. If you are building your own tiled shower to Make sure you ask the plumber to install a thermostatic valve. That little device will automatically mix hot and cold until the water is the perfect temperature. All steam showers sold at Perfectbath come standard with thermostatic control valve.

Contributed by:

Perfectbath
Calgary, AB.
Phone 1-866-843-1641
Email info@perfectbath.com

 

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Challenge #230 - Photo Inspiration

Welcome everyone. We have a brand new challenge starting. We hope you will join us this week!

Our theme this week is


Use the theme of the photo, the colours, the shapes, the images etc. Let it inspire you!

Here is our amazing design team with their makes -





















Over to you now! 





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Monday, February 20, 2017

Inside 4 New Content Mills: What Freelancers Need to Know

Inside 4 New Content Mills: What Freelancers Need to Know. Makealivingwriting.com

You don’t have to look far to find content mills paying freelance writers ridiculously low rates these days.

It’s a reality—one that isn’t good for your writing career, portfolio, bank account, self-confidence, or sanity.

Does anyone actually make good money writing for content mills?

Well, here’s the news: Not all content mills suck. Wait, what?

There’s an emerging breed of content mills that may be a game-changer for freelancers.

According to some writers who’ve worked on these platforms, you can earn big coin if you do it right. But there are some pitfalls you’ll need to watch out for.

Are these content mills just a new take on the lowest-bidder game?

Or do some content mills actually provide value and pay pro rates?

Here’s what you need to know about an emerging class of content mills that may offer better opportunities:

Content mills: In the beginning

When I started freelancing about 10 years ago, content mills were just getting rolling. I set up a profile (soon to be abandoned) on the content mill site Guru.com. It seemed like an easy way to find clients.

The same year I picked up my digital pen, a former MySpace executive teamed up with a private equity investor to launch Demand Media—the mother of all content mills at one time.

Their specialty was trading table scraps for low-quality content from freelancers, and gaming SEO to rank their content high in Google.

After Demand’s CEO cashed in big with a public stock offering, many more content-mill sites started up, whose founders dreamed of a similar payday. A series of Google algorithm updates nearly killed the industry. And now, Demand Media has changed its name to Leaf Group. But renaming this company is like that old joke about putting lipstick on a pig.

Just as content mills were dying, though, a new breed of mass writer platforms began popping up. Now, there are at least a handful of sites where pro rates and pro writing go together.

Here’s a rundown on the top contenders in the emerging field of ‘move-up mills’:

Contently – Founded 2010

Contently defines itself as a “technology company.” The home page states their audience is brands in the market for content services — and Contently’s service offerings go beyond writing. They offer videography, photography, and infographic design, too.

Billing themselves as a content marketing platform, Contently is a place where brands can log in and manage their content marketing from one dashboard. Their network of freelancers are paid by Contently upon completion of their individual contributions.

Rates

Jordan Teicher, a senior editor at Contently, said their average freelance writing rate is $1 per word.

“There are other factors that go into deciding what tier a story falls under on our rate card,” he said. While he wouldn’t share details, he did say blogging typically pays less, while other projects such as white papers pay more. Technical projects also tend to demand more pay.

Tom Bentley, a 25-year freelancing veteran, confirmed this. He said he made $250 for a piece that required one hour for research and as little as $100 for a 700-word article.

“I don’t pitch unless I get a minimum of 40 cents per word,” he said. “I try to hit 50 cents.” What he likes about Contently is that they pay immediately upon completion of each assignment. No waiting.

How Contently connects clients with writers

The process of finding work at Contently differs drastically from that of content mills. There’s no job board, and no project bidding. That was one of the few things Bentley said he didn’t like.

“It’s understandable that writers want the ability to apply for jobs,” Teicher said, “but that system requires a balance. If anyone can apply to any job, then you’re talking about platforms like Craigslist where quality varies wildly. Our approach is more controlled, to ensure the right writers are recommended for publications that suit their skills and experience.”

Build your own portfolio

You get a public-facing portfolio at Contently, which you can update at any time (you can see Bentley’s right here). However, to get an assignment, you must wait for Contently’s talent team to contact you. Depending on the writer’s skills and breadth of experience, that could take a while.

Opportunities to earn more

Contently also has two publications of its own that freelancers can write for. Teicher said writers usually earn $300-$400, depending on the piece.

When asked why a writer should use Contently if they can earn top dollar through their own marketing, he said, “By all means, do it. I don’t think it has to be either/or.” He added that paying writers a fair rate was an important part of their service.

While Bentley likes that Contently does the legwork in finding clients for him, he still does his own marketing and works directly with other clients.

ClearVoice – Founded 2015

There are two clear differences between Contently and ClearVoice: The manner in which you’re selected for assignments, and the way in which each service pays. At Contently, you know what you’ll make before taking an assignment. At ClearVoice, they quote you the rate, then take out their finder’s fee — and it’s substantial.

“It’s frustrating that they take 25 percent,” said freelance writer Ronda Swaney, who’s only received one assignment from ClearVoice. “I wish they’d send more work.”

How to find gigs

When you sign up for ClearVoice’s service, you select a minimum rate for receiving notifications about available projects. When a brand offers an assignment, you are sent the ones that match your criteria, and can raise your hand if you want to work on it.

“We then present five to 10 writer options for the brand to choose from,” said ClearVoice CEO Jay Swansson. The brand then chooses the writers they want to work with from that writer pool.

Rates

Swansson said the range of pay writers can expect starts at 10 cents per word and goes up to $1 per word. Bentley said he joined ClearVoice, but hadn’t received any assignments so he emailed support. He received an email within five minutes with the following message:

Bentley had listed his minimum at 75 cents per word. After receiving the customer response email, he changed it to 50 cents per word. One month later, he received two offers but turned them both down because “neither of them were suitable for me.”

ClearVoice is proud of its customer support and responsiveness, and writers appreciate it, as well.

Done-for-you portfolio

According to Swansson, writers have a public-facing portfolio. The site crawls the Web to find writers with bylines at top publications, then creates a portfolio for them, even if they haven’t joined the service.

Swansson said I had one, but I had difficulty finding it. He mentioned a few publishers I’d written for, so I knew he wasn’t bluffing. After Googling it and coming up empty, I stumbled upon another writer’s portfolio and reverse-engineered the URL to find my own. (To see a sample portfolio on ClearVoice, check out Swaney’s.)

Tools and communication

“We built a messaging system into the app,” Swansson said. “We encourage as much communication as possible between clients and writers. They know who each other are.”

Swansson also mentiond that brands have access to an editorial calendar. When I asked if there’s one for writers, he responded, “That’s a good idea. I’ll see about adding a calendar to that side of the platform.” And when I suggested a tool that would allow me to keep track of all assignments in one place, even those not acquired through ClearVoice, he got excited about that idea too.

When asked about the ease of using the platform, Bentley said all of the services he’s tried are a little clunky. “The interfaces can always be improved,” he said.

I can vouch for that. I signed up for ClearVoice, Contently, and eByline, just to try them out. While I found ClearVoice’s dashboard to be the most attractive, it’s also least user-friendly, with eByline a close second.

The one thing Bentley, Swaney, and Swansson all agree on is that writers using the ClearVoice platform want more work. At least, the happy ones do.

Skyword – Founded 2010

Skyword’s browser tab reads “The art and science of content marketing,” and its official tagline is “Moving stories. Forward.” They attract brands with a quiz on where they stand on the “content marketing continuum”

Agency-style content marketing

One subhead reads “Content marketing works.” In our interview, Community Manager Molly Berry described her company simply as a “content marketing agency.”

“We work with a wide array of clients,” she said, “from short blog-like articles to in-depth e-books and whitepapers for very well-known tech enterprises.” And they’re even venturing into videography and video design.

Brand journalism

What all three companies have in common is they target their services toward brands looking for content, and see freelance writers as core assets. This might be a defining distinction between these so-called content agencies and content mills.

That and the fact that content mills paid beans and existed primarily to feed search algorithms. Compare Carol Tice’s $400 experience with ClearVoice to, say, Writer Access, whose top-paying writers earn a whopping 7 cents per word.

Nice rates — and big brands

At Skyword, writers can earn $150 to $800 per article, Berry said, “depending on the type of content and length.” They pay twice a month through PayPal for all projects a writer works on in that period. The good news? “The client pays the PayPal fees.”

Skyword really does act like an agency, going so far as to plan the content strategies for its clients. Bentley got an assignment from Google and Swaney worked with Hewlett Packard. She said she’s never earned less than $350 for a blog post at Skyword. Her gigs have primarily been ghostwriting and tech writing. “Those two areas seem to have a hard time finding experienced writers,” Swaney said.

The editing process

One thing both Bentley and Swaney agreed on is the editing process isn’t ideal. Some clients have their own in-house editors, where others rely on Skyword staff. That’s true of Contently and ClearVoice, as well, but Bentley mentioned a particularly irritating experience at Skyword. An editor (an employee of the client’s, not Skyword) said one of his assignments was “crap.”

While Swaney has had a good experience with her editors, she mentioned that one writer friend had a different experience. “There seems to be a lot of turnover in companies like this,” she said. “You don’t know who you’ll be working with, and there are various levels of experience. Some may not be experienced working with writers.”

Despite that headache, however, both writers said they like working with the agencies.

How Skyword connects clients with writers

Skyword has two ways of operating. They offer the full-service setup for clients where they plan the content strategy, set the writer pay rate, and act as intermediary between the writer and client. Skyword also allows brands to search their writer pool and select writers.

eByline – Founded 2009

Like the other platforms, eByline sees itself as a connector between brands that need content marketing and writers who provide content. Their goal is to meet the needs of both audiences.

Rates

eByline founder Bill Momary says their freelancer pay at eByline is all over the chart.

“It’s an open market,” Momary said. “Buyers dictate rates. The rate for a 500-word article in Pennsylvania might be different than in L.A. or New York.”

Journalists wanted

One reason for this is because eByline works with a lot of journalists and news agencies. Momary said the platform has more than 17,000 freelance journalists registered, which makes it unique among the freelance marketplaces in this article.

In fact, Momary recounted, eByline was started when he and a colleague left the L.A. Times when newsrooms were laying off staff. “We asked ourselves, ‘What if we built software that kept people in one environment?’ We decided we’d cover sporting events, the courts, business, everything a newspaper would do.” Companies looking for content marketing services came later.

Formula for pricing projects

Today, Momary is the senior vice president of content at Izea, the company that purchased eByline last year. Izea is a publicly traded company and bills itself as “The Creator Marketplace.” Three factors that determine writer pay at eByline, Momary said, are:

  1. Assignment scope and complexity
  2. Content type
  3. Volume

“We’re seeing more freelancers willing to offer a discount if they can get more work,” he said.

How to find work

There are two ways to find work at eByline. If a brand is familiar with a your work, you can be offered a direct assignment. The other option is to use the platform’s job board, where brands post jobs for the marketplace. Writers set up alerts for the types of jobs they want. If a writer sees a job she wants, she creates a pitch and the company chooses from among the pitches received.

One plus to eByline is that the pay you negotiate is the pay you receive. If an assignment pays $100, you receive $100. eByline charges companies extra for making the connection and keeps the difference. That’s one of the things Bentley said he likes about the platform, where he recently earned $200 for a 700-900 word article.

The application process

Momary also said eByline approves only 1 percent of the writer applications they receive. It took a little more than a month for my application to get approved, and only then it was after contacting them and inquiring as to the status of my application.

From the time of my inquiry to the time of approval, I lost an assignment that was available that would have been right up my alley, for a significant fee.

However, less than a week after approval, I landed my first gig, a 600-word blog post for $225. That client also added me to their Favorite list.

The reason most applications are rejected, Momary said, is an incomplete profile. In terms of criteria, what eByline looks for is quality of work, recent publication credits, and whether a writer has worked with “quality publications.”

“We also look at subject matter expertise,” he said. “If we have 3,000 travel writers and not enough demand, there isn’t enough work for another travel writer. So we look at that.”

The new content mills: Worth your time?

Are there any downsides to writing for this new breed of mills? Consider these:

  • Pay rates vary. While top writers can earn 50 cents per word or more, most writers shouldn’t expect that kind of pay. Experience, skill, availability, and ability to persuade a brand to choose you over the competition are all factors. Some of the spokespeople I interviewed admitted openly that some writers earn as little as 10 cents per word.
  • You need more than a profile. Getting a profile does not guarantee work. Sure, you have another channel through which opportunities may come, but don’t think this replaces your own outbound marketing such as your LinkedIn profile or writer website.
  • Keep up your own outbound marketing. If you decide to work through freelance marketplaces, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Do as Bentley does and use them as supplemental income. Work on getting the majority of your income from other sources—like your own website.
  • Communication and editing process may vary. As noted by Bentley and Swaney, you may run into frustrations with assignment editors. In the interest of fairness, however, I’ve had similar frustrations with clients I’ve worked with directly.
  • Work can dry up easily, or not come at all. Both Bentley and Swaney mentioned they’ve gone weeks or months without an assignment at one or more of the marketplaces they signed up for. If you want to eat, you shouldn’t rely solely on the marketplaces.

Ultimately, you have to decide whether it’s worth your time to pursue work through these emerging content agencies.

5 Rules for writing for the new content mills

If you want to write for content mills, go for it. On the right platforms, it’s possible to make some decent money.

But after 10 years of online marketing that started with a freelance marketplace profile, I’ve learned that my best customers come either through my website or through my own content marketing.

That’s not to say you can’t, or shouldn’t, pursue business through a content mill. Especially for young writers just starting out, these could be a starting point.

However, if you do, follow these 5 rules for writing for content mills:

  1. Set yourself a minimum pay rate. Make no exceptions.
  2. Establish a niche and seek work within that specialty. You’ll be perceived as an expert and can command higher pay. In fact, choose a marketplace that’s the best fit for your specialty.
  3. Never compete on price. Compete on quality.
  4. Take some time to understand each marketplace. Learn to write an effective profile, choose the best clips for your portfolio, and make use of customer service if you need help optimizing your marketing channel.
  5. Do quality work and always meet your deadlines. It’s the best way to keep your existing clients and get referrals to grow your business.

The bottom line: Setting up a bunch of profiles on content-mill sites might earn you some extra money. But it’s not a reliable way to market your services and find enough clients that pay pro rates to pay all your bills.

Your best marketing tools are still likely to be an effective website, a social media presence, great clips, and the discipline to consistently pitch prospects with queries and pitch letters.

Have you checked out any of the ‘move-up’ content mills? Share your experience in the comments.

Allen Taylor is a former newspaper editor turned content strategist in the FinTech and next-generation technology niches. He currently edits four niche Web publications through his boutique freelance writing service Taylored Content.

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

4 Top Obstacles Young Writers Face — and How to Beat Them

4 Top Obstacles Young Writers Face — and How to Beat Them. Makealivingwriting.com

When you’re trying to build your freelance business in a sea of young writers and seasoned veterans, there’s a good chance it feels like you’re floundering. I know I did.

When I first started writing, I spent a ton of time worrying, procrastinating, and making excuses for why I couldn’t make a living doing what I loved. I wanted to break free from the corporate world and find success on my own terms.

For the first 6 months, I let my fear of being under-qualified hold me back. As one of those young writers, I thought it might take me years to earn well as a freelancer. But I desperately wanted to find a way to speed up success.

I took courses, read freelance blogs like this one, and tried to learn everything I could about being a successful writer.

The only problem? I didn’t know how to get out of my own head and actually do the work.

Today, I make six figures, have a full client list, and teach other young writers how to overcome the same roadblocks I struggled with. As I’ve coached students in my Earn Big as a Young Writer course, I realized that my obstacles were very common.

Here are the top four obstacles young writers face (including me), and how to overcome them.

1. You feel your age is a disadvantage

It’s easy for young writers to feel like age and lack of experience are insurmountable challenges. Some writers have been at it for years (looking at you, Carol Tice) and make the whole writing thing look so easy. Yet, when you compare yourself to someone who has already put in the time and effort to make their career successful, you’ll inevitably fall short.

One day, you’ll be a seasoned writer. But right now, your youth is actually an advantage. If you want to succeed as a young writer, you have to treat it like one.

Want to know how being young is an advantage? Well, Business Insider released an article last year titled “Top 100 Brands for Millennials,” which shows that brands (and publications) are targeting our generation. This is because, as of 2015, there were 75 million millennials who wield $170 billion per year in purchasing power. And those numbers are only rising.

The fix: Use what you know. You are a young writer, so use that to help brands that want to reach young customers. Use your knowledge of trends, social media, and content to help companies understand what Millennials want to read.

2. You don’t have writing samples

Hopefully, I’ve convinced you that being young can be turned into a selling point. The proof is in the numbers. But how then, with no clips to show, do you get high-paying writing gigs?

This is one of the questions I hear nearly every day. Young writers fear that, without physical (or digital) proof of their ability to write well, they’re destined to write for content mills while living in their parent’s basement. I’ve been there and I get it, but here’s the truth: everyone starts somewhere. And not having a full portfolio is not always a deal breaker.

If you don’t have writing samples, you can get some. A few simple ways to do that:

  • Write for a friend or family members business
  • Write your own blog
  • Write a sample for a brand you want to work with
  • Pitch a personal essay to a publication like xoJane (this is actually where my first piece of writing was published)
  • Submit a guest post on a friend’s blog

It turns out, brands and publications alike are often more interested in the fact that you understand their mission and target audience than they are in reviewing your portfolio. Yes, there’s always a chance you’ll get turned down for not having any clips. That’s OK.

Move on to the next prospect and keep going. You won’t ever have samples to show if you don’t at least try to get work!

The fix: Pitch without samples. If you don’t want to work for free or low rates just to get samples, pitch without them. Share your story ideas and show how your age makes you a perfect candidate to create content young people want to read.

3. You lack the confidence to charge pro rates

In a survey of young writers, Carol Tice found that over 50 percent named lack of confidence as a top challenge. It’s important for young writers to understand the value they bring to the table. This seems to be a “catch-22” for many young writers.

You think you’ll gain confidence as you gain experience. But when you charge low rates, you’re actually undermining your confidence — and your professionalism.

The fix: Fake it ‘til you make it. To build confidence, treat your writing as a business that needs to turn a profit. Show clients, through your professional rates, that you’re serious about what you do and sure of the value you provide.

4. You don’t get started

One writer I know has reached out to me every few weeks for almost a year. Her message is always the same, “Ok, I’m ready to do this. Finally. I’m going to start pitching!”

Still, she never follows through. Her excuses range from being too scared to being too busy. I see this all the time with young writers — and I used to do the same thing.

The fix: Just do it. Get writing samples. Pitch with or without them. Set professional rates. Pretend you’re confident until you actually are. Even if you only take one small action a day, do something.

Young writers: Face fear and take action

Overcoming these obstacles may seem scary. And when you overcome one, another will pop up in its place.

But even the most experienced writers have fears they have to face. It’s a matter of deciding whether you’re going to throw in the towel or get out of your own way.

I got out of my head and did the work, so I can confidently recommend the latter. There are plenty of opportunities for young writers to earn big money and do work that they love. If you want it, you have to get started.

What are your biggest obstacles to building a good-paying freelance writing business? Leave a comment and tell us about it.

Christina Vanvuren is an Atlanta-based health and wellness writer. Find her at Christina Vanvuren or check out her course, Earn Big as a Young Freelance Writer.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

6 Guest Bathroom Design Tips

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

We all want our guests to feel completely at home when they stay for the night. There are many ways to make them feel welcome. One of the things you can do for them is to have a great guest bathroom. Here are some tips to make sure that you’ve got everything covered:

Image Source: Flickr

Replace Broken or Leaking Fixtures
There’s nothing like the looming deadline of out-of-town guests to fast-track repairs you’ve been putting off. If you’re handy with a wrench, swapping out or repairing a leaky shower head is something you can quickly tackle yourself. Source: HGTV

Dual Sinks
A pair of side-by-side pedestal sinks increases convenience for a couple in the guest bath, allowing them both to get ready at the same time. Source: BHG

Choose Neutral Colors
It’s important to realize that, even though this bathroom is part of your home, it’s destined for your guests so they’re the ones that need to be comfortable when using it. So avoid using bold colors that some might find unappealing. It’s best to use neutral colors that most people feel comfortable with. Source: Homedit

Fresh Towels
Fluffy new towels are a must! Have some artfully rolled towels on a rack or in a big basket– bath sheets and towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Turkish towels are a wonderful choice since they are especially soft and absorbent. Towels are a great opportunity to add pops of color to a neutral palate. Source: SheKnows

Tidy Up
The small space of a bathroom is no place for clutter. Utilize a stylish bathroom storage unit that fits right over the toilet to wrangle all those bath supplies while keeping everything looking sharp. Be sure to provide those little luxuries that make a visit feel extra special, like lotion, shampoo and mini soaps. Source: CountryDoor

Bring In a DIY Air Diffuser — It Makes ‘Scents’
Ensuring that your bathroom always has a fresh scent is a hostess must! Guests will immediately feel more comfortable in a new place if it’s inviting to their senses. Make your own potpourri or air diffuser to sit atop your toilet tank, counter or shelf, and freshen up the room. Source: Redfin

For the best looking bathroom fixtures, contact us!

 

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

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4 Ways to Hide an Unwanted Window View

Every time we look out a window, what we want to see is a pleasant view. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The good thing is that there a number of things we can do to make it more bearable. Here are a few:

Image Source: Flickr

Double Up Curtain Panels
Pairing sheer and opaque curtains together will make your windows look dramatic, romantic, and high class. Hang heavy opaque curtains on the outside and on the inside hang light, silky and sheer curtains. You’ll be amazed at how good your windows look! Source: BetterDecoratingBible

Frame the View with an Adjustable Window Treatment
Like clerestory windows, the Roman shades on these windows bring in light from above while maintaining privacy. They might also help conceal an offending feature outside. Source: Houzz

Window Sill Flowers, Plants or Herbs
Get natural and use an array of lovely alive things to hide a view you don’t love. You can just use your window sill (though be sure you’re protecting the wood from leaking pots if you do) or you can build an extra ledge or box to plant in. Or you can just use a narrow table set in front of the window to arrange a lovely little garden in front of.  Source: ApartmentTherapy

Install Stained or Etched Glass
If the window is in a prominent part of the room and if it is generously sized, consider using stained glass to block the outside view. Your stained glass should be precisely sized so that it can fit over or replace the existing glass. This way, you can still open the windows when you need to.
Just remember to choose an eye-catching design with plenty of transparent pieces if the window you are working on is the room’s major source of natural lighting. Make sure you use a temporary stained glass option and follow the proper steps to remove it if you end up moving out.
If you don’t like the stained-glass look, you can use etching to give the window a lovely design, while still letting in some natural light. Note: Etchings on glass windows can be removed with buffing or chemicals, but please get your landlord’s written permission just to be on the safe side. Source: Blog.Rent

To figure out which window treatment would suit your home the best, contact us!

 

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

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Challenge #229 - Clean and Simple

Hello and welcome back! It is time for another of our weekly challenges here at ATSM! and we hope you will play along.

Our theme this week is


Please make sure you follow our rules each week. The Design Team have amazing creations to inspire you!

















WOW! Please pop on over to the designer's blogs to see how they came up with their ideas and just to say hi!

Over to you -




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