Posts Tagged ‘Networking’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Refining Your Web Site

9/13/2009 10:37 AM By

Maybe you've already got a website promoting your freelance work. Is it as good as it can be? Does it showcase your best, most recent work? Is the design up-to-date and easy to use?

Janet Green, marketing director for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, suggests going through the same process for yourself that you would for a freelance website client. If you aren't a web designer by trade, you may want to trade favors with a web designer friend to help you come up with a plan.

  • Start by refining your needs and objectives. Be specific — not just "more money" but "income of at least $XX,000 a year from freelancing."
  • Identify your target audience, and do research to learn as much as you can about these people's tastes and preferences.
  • If you don't already have a serviceable domain name, get one that is easy to remember and clearly indicates your name and/or what you do.
  • Map out the content that is going to be on your site. Put the most used links — including, of course, your resume and portfolio — on the home page.
  • If you're not a designer, keep it simple. If you are, keep it simple and incredibly visually appealing.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Design Resources | Comments Off

Groups On Facebook

8/28/2009 11:40 AM By

Facebook gives users a great networking opportunity–groups. Most of the free social networking sites have these, but on Facebook they are fairly easy to find and use. First of all, think of a keyword that will connect you with people in your field. For example, Web designers may want to type in "designers" to see what the return brings. Once you have entered a term in the search box, simply select "groups" and the site will give you a list of results that you can browse through. Another way to find industry groups is to look on the profile pages of other people in your field and see what groups they belong to.

There are several advantages to joining these groups. One is that you can raise your profile by being a member and you can also post on the group wall. Some groups have active discussion boards which can be a great way to network. Another perk of being involved with groups in your career field is that there are often a good amount of updates. Many times these groups will post current industry news or helpful tips. The best part is that there is no obligation. You can spend time on these pages when you have it, and skip participating when you are busy. This makes joining Facebook groups a win-win situation.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

LinkedIn And WordPress

8/26/2009 11:37 AM By

LinkedIn has a feature that is perfect for professionals that have a Wordpress blog. Using the "Wordpress Application," you can add your blog feed to your LinkedIn profile. Once you do this, it automatically updates when you post on your blog. This is a great way to keep people in the loop as to what you are doing. It is also a timesaver since you don't have to do it manually once you install it. This is one of several social media services that LinkedIn offers, and you can browse the rest in that area to see if any others might be helpful for you.

To find this feature (and others), go to the "applications" tab on the left-hand side of the page. Locate WordPress and install the application–this only takes a minute. Next, it will take you step-by-step through how to finish adding your blog and then–you are done. Double-check to see that it is installed by clicking on your profile to make sure it is there. This feature helps you use social networking technology to the fullest to promote yourself on the Web. BlogLink is another application that you can use to add a blog to your LinkedIn page.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

Communicating On Twitter

8/22/2009 11:42 AM By

If you are using Twitter for business purposes you will need to know how to communicate with people on the Website. Social networking information is available everywhere, but here are a few key things to know about Twitter that will help you use it more effectively from the start:

  • Using the DM. DM stands for direct message. Think of this as your inbox or e-mail on Twitter. When you send something this way (or receive it), the content is between you and the person you are communicating with. It is private. A key thing to remember is that you can only send messages to those who are following you.
  • Using @username. This is another way to send messages on Twitter, but it is a public one. Simply type the @ symbol and then the person's user name that you want to message and the information you send will appear on their home page. People can also contact you the same way.
  • Using the RT. RT stands for retweet and it is a way to share information with others that you picked up on Twitter. Be sure to type RT and then include the person's @username that first posted it before sharing. It's considered polite.

These are some of the main ways that people communicate on Twitter, and it is a good idea to get comfortable with them. Practice a bit and soon they will become a natural part of your social media strategy.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

No Dues Networking

8/20/2009 10:34 AM By

Networking for no dues? Impossible! No, actually it's not. For the price of a decent meal and a drink you can hob-nob with the best of them tonight at Salerno's on Grand as part of the non-profit group called the Chicago Creative Coalition. This is a tremendous opportunity to talk with people in the know about who's working, who's in-the-know, and who can help. Just pass a business card and make a connection. RSVP is required. Check out more about CCC on their website.

Tags:
Posted in Career Resources, Industry Events | Comments Off

Staffing Agencies Offer the Best Jobs for User Interface Designers

8/13/2009 11:10 AM By

Obviously, defining the “best” jobs for User Interface Designers is a more subjective, than objective decision. Still, there is no question that the top staffing agencies for User Interface Designers often deliver on their implied promise to offer excellent opportunities. There are some solid reasons why these firms can help you.

• They have credibility. Clients around the country – often the world – have used the best agencies to post online jobs for years. They continue to post their web design jobs with the top agencies because they get excellent results.

• They help clients find User Interface Designers that are professionals. Technical talent alone does not create an interface design professional. Hiring Interface Designers involves finding those that combine high-level electronic talent with perceptive business ability and strong communication skills. Clients and employers often find the professionals they want at better staffing agency sites.

• Staffing agencies for User Interface Designers are more than just a job website. They often offer Interface Designer job search tips (like these), qualify design jobs and clients as legitimate, and offer advice for clients hiring Interface Designers. These value added features help you and employers feel more comfortable posting and responding to opportunities.

As you can see, good staffing agencies can help give you the exposure, credibility, and access to better design jobs than other sources, including many larger career sites.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

Using Backtweets

7/26/2009 11:29 AM By

BackTweets is a great Website that can help you track when someone has posted a link to your Website or blog. Using the search function on Twitter doesn't work well for this type of thing because shortened URLs are harder to track, but BackTweets can find them for you–and it couldn't be easier. Simply type the URL into the search box and hit search. The Website will provide you with a list of people and posts that include the URL you entered. This is a great way to see who is tweeting (or retweeting) about your business. Check it out here: http://backtweets.com. There is also an advanced search function that will let you look for tweets/retweets within a certain time frame.

Online social networking is more effective if you enable people to use it. BackTweets also has a widget that you can use on a WordPress blog that will show how many tweets you have. It also will allow users to retweet your post without a hassle. This is a terrific marketing tool that can really help raise your profile on Twitter because it does much of the work for the user. If you are interested in putting this in your posts, check this page out: http://www.backtype.com/widgets/tweetcount for instructions on how to do it.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

The Society for Environmental Graphic Design

7/22/2009 1:14 PM By

The Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD) is a membership group for those who shape the idea of a building or other structure by using signage, graphics and other methods to communicate the identity of a company, business or product. The group has more than 1,600 members and they come from a variety of different fields. The interdisciplinary network is one of the main advantages of membership.There are several membership categories, but the "design professional" heading is geared for those in visual communications. The cost to join for one year is $305 for residents of the United States, plus an application fee of $40. The organization publishes The International Journal of Environmental Graphic Design, and they keep an archive of publications related to the field as well. A yearly conference offers many opportunities for networking with professionals in the industry and the SEGS also gives out awards each year as well. Learn more about this unique organization and the value of membership here.

Tags: ,
Posted in Career Resources | 1 Comment »

The Organization of Black Designers

7/20/2009 1:13 PM By

The Organization of Black Designers (OBD) was formed in 1990 and it currently has more than 10,000 members. Although the organization seeks to foster awareness within the design professions of the contributions of African Americans and other designers of color, membership is open to everyone. Professional membership costs $175 annually, and there are several other membership categories as well, including a student membership at $75 per year.Discussions and presentations take place at the OBD's weekly meeting in Washington, DC. The group also has mentoring initiatives and continuing education opportunities throughout the country. The organization is also actively partnering with furniture, apparel and product manufacturers to market some of the African American designers from within its ranks. Advocacy and networking are both good reasons to join this organization. To review the eligibility requirements for professional membership and to learn more about this group, visit their Website.

Tags: ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

Offer Testimonials

7/19/2009 10:36 AM By

A great way to sell your work is to offer testimonials from past clients who have appreciated your work. Whenever a client praises you, thank the person and ask if you can use his or her words in your promotional materials. Often the answer will be "yes." Write down what was said, and offer to show it to the client for approval before publishing it.

Don't be shy about asking for a testimonial after a successful design job is done. If the client seems reluctant, offer to write the testimonial yourself and let the client approve it. Write something reasonable, highlighting the skills and qualities you exhibited on the job. If you go overboard and proclaim yourself "the master of all Flash artists" it will sound fake.

When you include a sheet of testimonials with your resume, or put them on your website, be sure to state the person's full name, title, and organization. This will lend credibility to their praise.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career Resources | Comments Off

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »