(Source)

“In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community…either accidentally or with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.” (Wikipedia)

It’s inevitable: you will encounter an internet troll at least once in your life, especially if you are a frequent blogger, tweeter, vlogger, person of interest etc. There are people out there who lurk in the shadows behind their computer preying on individuals who voice an opinion or present an idea that is different from their own. Nothing you say or do will stop them from making nasty comments.

There are varying levels of internet trolls that you should know about. Some produce harmless, negative comments that might annoy you or anger you, while others threaten harm or even death. How do you differentiate between the trolls, and when should you react?

Aggressive troll: If you’ve ever scrolled down to the comments section on YouTube (it’s a guilty pleasure), you will find the worst of the worst when it comes to internet trolls. This type of troll is easier to spot. They use profanity, racial slurs, wish death upon the author of the content, bodily harm, harm to their family or employees, and other violent things. Don’t let this type of troll get to you. Trolls survive off of defensive, over-emotional responses, and they feed on those victims who respond that way. Don’t take it personally. Let’s use an example:

Anonymous writes, “This blog post sucks. I hope all your fingers get broken and you never get to write again because you clearly have no brain function to produce decent ideas. I also hope you get in a car accident that permanently disables you because this planet has no use for you,”

Ouch. Your heart is racing, you have never read such awful things being wished upon you, and you want to respond emotionally because you don’t deserve such a fate. Stop. Breathe. No matter how nasty the comment is, don’t take it personally. Chances are you have never met this person in your life and you never will. You have three options on how to deal with the comment: erase and forget about it, ignore it, or respond politely.

“Thanks for the feedback. What sort of topics would you like me/us to cover in the future?”

If the troll responds with more aggression, you can ignore it. If there is no constructive criticism, you will gain nothing from it. Remember that you are not posting content online in order to preserve or defend your sense of self. You’re posting content that represents your ideas, your opinions, your product, your creativity, etc. Not everyone will agree, and that is ok.

The troll trying to change the world: You will come across this troll by voicing your satisfaction with a certain product, company, political or religious stance. This troll will come out of nowhere and attempt to make you feel embarrassed about your personal opinion by stating facts that support the opposing view. They may or may not include any curse words or racial slurs. Respond in a passive, emotionless way. Thank them for their input, state your own facts if they’re questioning your brand or product, ask how it could be improved, and move on.

The fake profile troll: This troll will create an account on a social media site posing as a somebody else or somebody you might know. They will try to get a rise out of you by spreading rumors, sending vicious messages, threats, and posting inappropriate photos where they may tag you. This could be a difficult troll to ignore, but ignoring them is your best weapon of defense. Do not argue with them, and certainly do not threaten legal action as that can only worsen the situation. Block that person from your own account and continue to do so even if they keep making new profiles. Trolls eventually tire and go onto the next victim when the current one isn’t giving in. The only way you will win is by remaining calm and collected – or at least appearing so.

Sources:

http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/How_to_deal_with_vile_nasty_comments_online_11553.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)
http://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/resources/tips/pc-security/you-cant-win-an-argument-with-a-troll
http://www.business2community.com/blogging/how-to-handle-nasty-comments-on-your-business-blog-0570591

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Robin Farr, the woman behind the popular postpartum depression and motherhood blog, Farewell Stranger

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

I have a day job, but for the purposes of this interview my title is Blogger. I have a bachelor’s degree in family studies from the University of British Columbia and a master’s in professional communications from Royal Roads University.

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

Mine is totally a sea shell. I was born near the mountains but grew up by the ocean. As a kid I spent hours playing on beaches and poking in tide pools and those things became a central part of my identity. And yet when I grew up and got brave enough, I moved back to the mountains because that’s where I thought I should be. So many of the good things in my life are because I was brave enough to take a leap and find my wings on the way down.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

I started blogging about postpartum depression on New Year’s Day 2011 (because part of me is neat and tidy like that; no random Tuesdays for me).  I had been struggling for 2 ½ years by that point and I was trying to take back control. I had a story to tell and I thought that if I told it, it might help me get better and might just help someone else along the way. It did both, and also released my long-hidden inner writer. I missed her and didn’t realize how much until she came out to play.

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

In terms of blogging, I have two very different best parts. One is that I love sitting down to write knowing that I can write whatever I want. I can publish it if I want to, or not. I can break all the rules of writing. I can play with images. Each post is how I’m feeling in that moment and no one gets to dictate my content but me.

The other best thing is when I hear from other moms who are struggling and have come to me for help. That’s such a huge indication of faith and trust and it humbles me every time. And to know that something I have written or said helps another mom through an incredibly difficult thing makes all the times I’ve been vulnerable so worth it.

What’s the most challenging?

There are times when I have nothing to say and, given how much I have processed my world through words since I started blogging, it makes it feel very much like something is missing. Just as bad—worse, maybe—are the times I have something I want to say that won’t come out. That usually means it’s not time for it to come out, but I haven’t yet learned to be patient while waiting.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

It depends on the day. Some days I look ahead and see more of the same, and I pray that I don’t get to the end of my life and wish I had done more with it. One of my best friends and I have what we call the goat-pant analogy. You know those people you see on the bus to work day in and day out, who sit there looking bored and unhappy and whose office-appropriate pants smell a little bit musty when it rains? No one wants to be stuck in goat pants forever. So most of the time I look into that ball and see someone who has taken risks and pursued joy and figured out how to make time for the things in life that matter. (And yes, sometimes that’s ice cream.) Three years ago I was climbing the corporate ladder. Now I’m climbing out the bus window, shedding the goat pants and wondering what else I can do that will leave some virtual “I was here!” graffiti on the walls of my world.

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

I’ve always enjoyed change, whether that’s a new job or an opportunity to rearrange my living room. Stagnant=boring. I am, and always have been, a fatalist. I believe things happen for a reason and we have to learn something from every experience. It’s taken me longer to accept it, but I also think sometimes we don’t get to know why things happen.

My experience with postpartum depression and the massive disruption that caused to both my work (because of a four-month leave from my job) and personal life has reinforced those beliefs. I never asked for that experience. I never wanted it or saw it coming. But it had a purpose, all right. So I’m just embracing the opportunities that something incredibly hard has brought to me.

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

The TEDx talk I did in 2011.I shared my experience with postpartum depression and how for so long I wore a mask to hide it, and how when I finally took that mask off and asked for help I realized how common it is and how much we can help others by sharing our struggles. I was supposed to have six minutes and one of the producers was going to give me time signals, but he didn’t because people were engaged. So, lost as I was in my very emotional story, I just kept going. It ended up being 18 minutes and at the end I got a standing ovation. It was something I’ll never forget.

Do you support any initiatives or charities?

I informally support all kinds of things. If a friend is fundraising for something I try to contribute to that, but my own work focuses mostly on charities and programs that support postpartum mood disorders or cancer (which both my parents had – at the same time!). Those include:

Postpartum Progress: http://postpartumprogress.org/

Ovarian Cancer Canada: http://www.ovariancanada.org/

Movember: http://ca.movember.com/

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

Writing, travelling, playing with (or eagerly anticipating) grandchildren, enjoying ice cream (and my husband’s pie), continuing to speak up on behalf of those who can’t do it for themselves.

Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

That’s a really mean question. The boring answer: a white noise app. (The one thing I don’t like having disrupted is my sleep.) The slightly more interesting answer: Camera+ because I love playing with iPhonography. (I realize that’s not a whole lot more interesting. But hey, at least I’m not a Candy Crush addict, right?)

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Julie, the woman behind popular lifestyle blog, SoberJulie!

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

Author/Speaker…ok I’m really not into titles but I’d say someone who is connected to the online world and enjoys the unlimited possibilities available for sharing purpose.

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

I am the mother of two girls and the wife of a very patient man. Also known as SoberJulie in social media circles you can imagine why people are referring to me as a straight-shooter. After facing my alcoholism and being involved in a car accident, I began writing at Sober Julie where I take the tired, unappetizing reputation about sobriety and turns it into a day at the circus. Jam-packed with ideas for delicious food, mocktail recipes, tips for sobriety, reviews & giveaways SoberJulie.com provides tons of ideas for leading a better (more creative, more enjoyable) life.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

After a debilitating car accident I realized I wouldn’t be able to return to my past corporate career and began writing as more of a journal than what you see today.

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

The moments when I have correspondance with people or brands I wouldn’t have without social media. Watching the power of the internet spread positive purpose.

What’s the most challenging?

Saying no. The requests to promote charities or products come daily and it’s a fine balance between being a blog which people read for inspiration vs a review/giveaway blog.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

White hair and continued learning. A life where I’m connected into each moment, determined to learn all that I is available.

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

With open arms! How mundane life would be without disruption, being “different” and embracing new opportunities fits me just fine.

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

There are many, from having articles published on major networks to a simple email from a stranger seeking help with alcoholism.

Do you support any initiatives or charities?

Ronald McDonald House Toronto is my charity of choice, I shaved my head to fundraise for them last year.

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

Writing while sitting on a dock near some beautiful water with my amazing husband.

Posting quality content frequently and consistently is one of the biggest challenges of maintaining a good blog. Keeping an editorial calendar can greatly increase your blog’s chances for success by enabling you to plan and track your content strategically. Here are some tips to keep in mind in order to effectively manage and organize your editorial calendar.

1. Access to calendar: If you’re working with more than one person on a blog, have the editorial calendar uploaded on one central location, such as a Google Calendar or Drive. This enables other users that have access to the file to edit it and add new ideas at a moment’s notice. If it’s just you working on the blog, it’s still great to have a copy of the editorial calendar living online so it’s always readily available.
2. Sync to mobile calendar: If you aren’t checking your calendar frequently, you could be missing important information or deadlines that are coming up. If you sync the calendar to your phone, you can set alerts or reminders so you never miss a beat.
3. Deadlines: If you plan to publish a certain number of posts per week, an editorial calendar will help you keep publishing dates consistent. For example, if Tuesdays and Thursdays will be your main posting dates, put those two days down in your calendar as deadlines.  If necessary, make the deadlines red so they stand out. It’s easier to keep track of publishing your content when you see it highlighted in front of you on a calendar.
4. Content: This seems like a no-brainer, but if you don’t have ideas for future posts clearly written out, then it might become difficult to keep up with the main theme or idea of your blog. The content of your blog is the structure of your blog. If you have inconsistent content, your blog will be a random, jumbled mess of posts. Jot down notes for what you plan to write about at least a month in advance.
5. Purpose: Always keep a solid reminder as to why you’re writing about that particular subject and the audience for which you’re writing. For every post you plan on publishing, make a note for yourself below it that tells you the audience and purpose of that particular post. This helps you decide whether the content is suitable for the overall theme of your blog.
6. Keep notes when on-the-go: If you’re old school, carrying around a small notebook and a pen is great for those spontaneous bursts of inspiration. When you’re on the go and don’t have your computer near you, make sure to write it down in the notebook and later add it to your calendar. Alternatively, if you’ve synced your editorial calendar to your smart phone, you can input notes on the calendar right from your phone. Whichever way you do it, just make sure you always have an accessible place to write down those ideas! There’s nothing worse than getting a great idea and forgetting it five minutes later.
7. Social media: If you’re going to be promoting your blog on social media sites, be sure to include a separate category on your editorial calendar for tweets, status updates, etc. For example, you can include a light blue category as a reminder to post on Twitter that day, or a dark blue category to post on Facebook. Include what you’ll be posting so its available when you need it.
8. Images: Gather photos in advance for every blog post you plan on publishing. This eliminates having to search last-minute for the right photo to go along with the blog post, which can be stressful when the deadline is an hour away. Don’t forget to include any links to the original source of the photo, unless its your own.
9. Tags/SEO: This can easily be overlooked when planning content for a blog post. Make sure  you list all the tags or SEO keywords you plan to use, that way you can save time by having them available on the calendar and transferring them directly into your blog post.

Although we do admit that it’s a bit time consuming in the beginning, creating an editorial calendar will help keep you and your blog on track. Once you already have a calendar established, you will find it much easier to keep all of your content organized.

Sources:

http://properpropaganda.net/2013/08/13-tips-to-create-a-killer-editorial-calendar-for-your-company-blog/
http://blog.journalistics.com/2013/how-to-create-an-editorial-calendar/

This week, we’d like to introduce you to talented founder of Cashmere & Camo, Brandy Faris!

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

Admittedly I lead a bit of a double life, on my corporate side I’m the Vice President and owner of Boann Ventures Corp, the company manages water & environmental issues for Oil & Gas Producers out of Calgary, AB. I’m also the Founder/ Owner of the blog Cashmere & Camo and the associated online store that is being unveiled soon!  I attended the University of Alberta and graduated with a BSc in Environmental & Conservation Sciences.

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

On my blog, I describe myself as a bit of a conundrum with one foot in the concrete jungle while I’m at work and my heart set in the outdoors, hence the name, “Cashmere & Camo”… So I guess in a nutshell I’d describe myself as someone with an entrapreneual spirit and an adventurer’s heart. I love innovations and have a rebellious side to the word, “conventional”, so I always seem to be striving left of center.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

By 2011 I had spent over 10 years in the oil & gas industry becoming somewhat of a technical specialist in my field.  As fulfilling as my career had been up to that point, I still felt that there was a creative side to myself that wasn’t being challenged. So at the urging of my brother, I started a blog “Cashmere & Camo” Jan 1^st as a New Year’s resolution. The goal was to document lifestyle pieces I found inspiring that fit both my city and country views on the world. And since then it’s been a fantastic experience and grown in ways I would have never imagined!

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

I love being my own boss and setting my own schedule. I’m an early riser I feel most creative in the mornings, which is when I do most of my writing.  The diversity of being able to work with my love of fashion and still appease my “science geek” side makes me feel extremely fortunate on a day to day basis.

What’s the most challenging?

Leading a double life as I like to call it can have an extreme of challenges day to day. One minute I’m discussion new legislative changes with a client, the next I’m doing an interview for a style piece.

My corporate background and learned expectations of how to function in a business environment can be on opposite ends from working with creative functions. Realizing that expectations on deliverables and urgency is very different industry to industry and so teaching myself not to impose those expectations and structure on others has been one of my biggest challenges.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

It took me a long time to realize the legitimacy of the blog past the point of being a fluffy indulgence I just did in my personal time. I mean I was really having fun, and was passionate about the topics I was writing about. Surely work has to feel way more serious than that? So I’ve had to break out of my own personal boundaries or perception of what a “career” should look like.

Something in me has wanted to push it in a direction I guess I’ve always secretly desired. I’m always wanted to own a store that’s authentic to my own interests. People are always asking if I sell the clothing that I feature on the blog, so I figured why not take it a step further and offer that shopping experience to the readers. My rule is that everything is handpicked and a mix of unique artisan with affordable items and if I wouldn’t wear it or use it, then it doesn’t fit within the C&C lifestyle.

I’m really excited for the next chapter with the blog and to continue to build a sense of community. With my environmental background, I want to continue to support vendors and provide education to issues such as outdoor conservation, sustainability and stewardship on certain issues. As much as our readers enjoy the lighthearted fashion and lifestyle posts, they are proving to have a refined appetite to articles on hunting ethics, sustainable travel, environmental conservation- you name it.

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

Disruption in life is a given, I’ve learned that whether it’s a mere speed bump or total detour to take a step back and recognize it’s part of life (although sometimes that can be hard to see), face it head on and realize that not one person is superman. Sometimes the best you can do is just face the tasks or the day in front of you and always try and have gratitude for what you currently have and what you are going through. Recognizing what I’m grateful for always seems to be the most calming and energizing exercise for me.

I also have the benefit of having a 1300 lb “therapist”, as I call her in the form of my horse, Nameoka. I completely believe in the benefit of animals helping people with stress relief and achieving wellness.

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

From my corporate side, the first time I was key note speaker for conference and my dad had decided he was going to buy me a new suit for the address. Shopping with him was a great memory and I don’t think we’ve ever been clothes shopping since, but I still have that suit.

From the blog, I had the chance to chat with Tom Mora who is head of Women’s Design at J.Crew. Sitting there chatting with him about the fall line and inspiration leading to it, I sat back and thought, “Wow this is more than I ever thought C&C would be”

Do you support any initiatives or charities? 

I’m a big supporter of the Dress for Success Organization. They provide professional attire, support and career development tools to disadvantaged women.

http://www.dressforsuccess.org/

We also support various Canadian Cancer Foundations but one we want to do next year is the Ride to Conquer Cancer

http://www.conquercancer.ca/index.html

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

65! Wow, ok let me see….

I hope that by 65 I’ve had a chance to realize my professional and personal goals to some degree. To have the ability to share some adventures with my loved ones and be in the position where I have the time and ability to help out with causes that are near and dear to my heart. To my 65 year old self, Connie Reeves is my inspiration. If I could live up to a fraction of what she had done I’d been very happy.

Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

Hand’s down Instagram! Although I don’t think my daily pics are overly inspiring, I love the photo diary concept and the fact I can keep up with friends and family who are scattered all over the globe. It makes me feel like I’m part of their day to day.

Seeing this recently on PRdaily, it only seemed natural to share it will all you disrupters. Often times there is a lot of mischievous behaviour in the online marketing world, and these 10 tips will help keep your hands clean. Granted, we’re all guilty of an improper tactic or 2 – but print these out, look at them daily, and hopefully you’ll keep on track!

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF ONLINE MARKETING ETIQUETTE

Perhaps there isn’t a one-size-fits-all equation, and maybe you’re simply focused on numbers instead of conversions, but I’d like to think there is some online etiquette we all should consider.

Therefore, I created the 10 commandments of online etiquette:

1. Thou shalt not add anyone to a newsletter list without his or her consent.

2. Thou shalt not send a LinkedIn invite that says, “I’d like to add you to my professional network.”

3. Thou shalt not post news releases as blog posts.

4. Thou shalt not talk about yourself in communications.

5. Thou shalt not use Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn accounts as news feeds for an organization.

6. Thou shalt not create newsletters that talk about how great you, your leadership, products, or services are without putting them in the context of the buyer.

7. Thou shalt not build lists, fans, followers, connections or circles just for the sake of numbers.

8. Thou shalt not abuse your online power.

9. Thou shalt not email bloggers, journalists, influencers, or target audiences without doing research, building relationships, and giving them something of value.

10. Thou shalt not engage in black hat email marketing.

1. How did you get started as a ‘mommy blogger’? I actually started my blog over a couple years ago after my mom suggested I try it.  She already had a “dog blog” and since she knows I’m passionate about writing, thought it would be a great fit.  Writing has always been a creative outlet for me, and the chance to share my thoughts with other people from all over was intriguing and motivating!  I was home with my two young kids and had the itch to start writing again, so what better way than to base my blog on what’s most familiar to me; my family.

2. How did you build an audience, and how long did it take?  My blog was casual and slow in the beginning, as the first year was just odd postings here and there since my kids were so small and demanded so much of my attention and time.  I actually only had a few followers during that time! Once I started posting regularly and joining blog hops, I saw a steady increase in my audience and it was encouraging to see my blog growing and attracting different people from all around the world.  Being active in the blogging community is key in gaining traffic and building an audience.

3. You do a lot of reviews and recommendations on your site – was this always the objective?  Not at all actually.  When I first started my blog, my daughter had just been diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy and it was a way for me to express my thoughts and feelings about that, and connect with other parents going through similar experiences.  As my kids got a little more independent and I could focus on my blog more, I started posting my thoughts on favourite products I use in my own home.  I’ve always loved sharing with friends and family products that I love and have made a positive impact in my everyday living.  If you find something good, why not share it, right?  I noticed other bloggers were working with companies on reviews and once I started reading more into it and learning about it, felt it would be perfect for my blog.  I wanted to share family friendly products to my readers and present them with my honest opinion on them.  I want my blog to be a place people can trust and feel confident in knowing that the reviews presented are 100% my own honest opinion of my experiences with the products.

4. Do you work with companies/brands to expose their products? What happens if you don’t like something?  The one thing I love, is introducing readers to companies/brands that they haven’t heard of before, have heard of but haven’t tried or have wanted to try but needed to know an opinion first.  I’ve worked with so many companies who have AMAZING products that I would have never known about otherwise and am now in love with that deserve the exposure.  So many people will read a review and comment similar to, “Wow, I’d never heard of this (company and/or product) before but am now intrigued and want one or want to learn more!”.  It’s a great feeling working with companies who are doing something wonderful and deserve the recognition.  Fortunately, I have not come across a product for review that I’ve had a completely negative experience with (knock on wood), but if that were to happen, I would simply let the company know my thoughts first before posting a review and leave that up to them whether they’d still like it posted or not.  I would never post a negative review without alerting the company first.  I prefer to keep an uplifting atmosphere on my blog and introducing positive products that will compliment any lifestyle and family.

5. What do you enjoy most about being a mommy blogger?  I love the connections and friendships I’ve made with people, like other fabulous bloggers, as well as relationships I’ve built with some wonderful companies.  I am so fortunate that I’m able to be home with my kids, while pursuing my passion of writing and staying socially connected.  Social media is such a great platform for being involved with others and keeping up with our world as it evolves and my blog allows me the freedom to be with my family while doing something enjoyable for myself as well.  The possibilities with blogging are endless and there’s so much to explore!

6. What advice do you have for aspiring mommy bloggers? Be unique by being yourself.  Write about what comes easy to you and what’s most familiar in your life.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help either.  Bloggers are extremely generous in offering advice to others and I’ve learned a lot from my fellow blogger friends.  Also, be involved!  If you’re involved in social media and supporting other blogs, you’ll find your blog will benefit as well.  Establishing those relationships with others is important to keeping your blog active and gaining support.

Remember to check out Brandi’s blog: Yee Wittle Things, and follow her on Twitter!

1. Use WordPress: All in all, the options are endless with WordPress hosting. You get a fairly seamless user experience, and unlimited customization based on your theme choice. Google is your best friend when building out your first blog – any question you have will have an answer living somewhere on the internet.

2. Don’t Get Hung Up On Design: I could spend HOURS re-tooling my site, and certainly did. That said, once you have something functional and somewhat aesthetically pleasing, it’s far more important to focus on your content and iterate on design down the line.

3. Post New and Relevant Content: Don’t constantly talk about the same stuff over and over – that certainly won’t give your readers any reason to come back. Find your focus, but make sure you diversify.

4. Be Consistent: There’s nothing worse than an  ‘occasional’ blogger. As a reader, it’s easy to get frustrated and give up, or even forget about a blog if they aren’t posting regularly. Make your mark, and keep contributing to your audience!

5. Stick It Out: Consistent blog traffic is never built in a day. Sometimes it can take years to attract the kind of desirable traffic you’re after – so keep at it. The reality is, blogging should be something you’re passionate about – as with anything in life, if you’re passionate: success will follow.

Do you have any tips for bloggers starting out? Share them in the comments!

1. Be sure to shower and dress when you wake up.

This may sound silly, but it really is necessity. Get out of those PJs, and into some fresh clothes – psychologically, you’ll be more prepared to work effectively.

2. Set up a work station.

Don’t you dare contemplate laying in bed – make sure you either move to a room that can work as a functional office, or set up a table in the kitchen.

3. Make a to-do list.

Put together a full list of the tasks and work that you want to accomplish throughout the day. You’ll be able to track your progress easier, and accomplish more with a step by step layout.

4. Take breaks.

Don’t feel guilty about it either. Make sure you take time to grab water, a coffee, and even step out for lunch. A stimulated brain is one that maintains diversity.

5. Check-in with your co-workers, or colleagues.

It’s easy to feel isolated when you’re all alone and working away. Be sure to get some human interaction in your day, and update others on some of your progress/offer your help (if you have the time). Engaging with others is key to keeping your mind focused.

6. Make sure you’re always available during your working hours.

Whether it’s through email or by phone, be sure that you are always reachable. Your co-workers will appreciate that you’re always around – and it makes it easier for everyone considering you’re not at your desk to consult throughout the day.

Have you got any tips or tricks you use when working from home? Share them in the comments below!

Looking for a new job usually means the joyful process of interviews. While you should dust off your resumé, you should also polish up your wardrobe, since making a good first impression is a key part of nailing the position you really want. Being sharply dressed and well-groomed can be almost as important as previous experience and the number of degrees under your belt, or at least could fool them into thinking you look the part.

What you need to purchase to outfit yourself perfectly doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and all the pieces that you need are those that should be an essential part of your wardrobe regardless of where you work. Think of them as the basics – pieces that will take you from work to a date to jury duty.

Image Source: http://www.HM.com/ca

For Guys:

Guys need a nice pair of dress pants, a crisp dress shirt, and a stand-out tie. If you’re interviewing for the Vice President of International Corporate Banking, a jacket would definitely be appropriate. Check out the choices at H & M, where you can find a veritable rainbow of men’s superbly cut dress shirts for a mere $29.95, as well as jackets that range in price from $49.95 to $149. And you can easily pick up a nice designer tie at Winners or Marshalls that will only look expensive.

I love the Banana Republic Factory Store for finding really well made career clothes at incredible pricing. Sign up for their emails and you’ll receive a welcome discount offer as well as notification of upcoming sales events. And I always check out the clearance section where you can score some amazing deals.  Last week I found men’s suit jackets that were regularly $179 for a mere $39.99.

For Girls:

Image Source: http://www.gapcanada.ca

Girls can go with pants or a skirt, just follow some of the same rules. Basic black or gray bottoms and the ubiquitous crisp shirt. Check out the Gap for their ‘perfect shirt’ for $49.50, which offers a beautifully tailored fit and a quality which will last for years. Jazz it up with some bold jewelry or a bright scarf.

Don’t be afraid to shop in places you may never have thought of to score some great basics at unbelievable prices. Walmart has a fantastic selection of career dress pants and basic shirts from their George™ line, with a variety of pants in modern cuts available from as little as $20.

One of the most important things to make sure of before you leave the house – check that your shoes are clean and polished if necessary. One of my little tricks to spiff up a pair of black shoes is to grab a Sharpie marker and colour in any worn spots, just a couple of dabs of ink can make a huge difference. My mother always said you can tell a person’s pride by the way the care for their shoes.

Always carry extra gum or mints with you. There is absolutely nothing worse than speaking to someone and having to inhale their latte breath or remnants of the extra onions you got on your sub at lunch, but never, EVER chew gum during the interview. And NEVER wear flip flops – unless you’re interviewing at the Head Office of Havaianas.

Don’t Forget!

And don’t forget the most important thing to wear – CONFIDENCE! With enough of it, you’ll be sitting in the big corner office in no time at all, and your assistant will gratefully polish your shoes for you.

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1. CasieStewart.com

Nope, there’s no relation (besides maybe being members of IAA – Internet Addicts Anonymous). Casie is always on the cusp of digital – constantly sharing her perspective about product/conference/more. Her image heavy content is always a pleasure to sift through, and you can literally get LOST in her site for hours, so have some fun!

2. ListenToLena.com

A social media expert, lifestyle blogger, and mom. Lena always is able to take relatable experiences and share her insights with the world. She also has a great perspective on new products – and some sweet giveaways!

3. OnTheFourthFloor.com

This blog is run by rock-it promotions. The entire staff is dedicated to highlighting the best in lifestyle, fashion, digital, and more. Each day marks a new and exciting post into the world of this PR firm, and they continue to churn out great content for their readers! Definitely worth checking out, if only for the DIY tips.

4. BunchFamily.ca

A fab site for the foodie in me. I can always count on Bunch to serve up some delicious content, along with some family fun. A big shout out to Bunch recently for their coverage on LGBT parenting – this topic is often sifted over by some family-oriented sites, and Bunch makes a real effort to provide their perspective. Definitely a fun place to look for the whole family.

5. 12Most.com

The name says it all. The 12 Most ______________ – articles that are all based around lists of 12. From professional to ridiculous, it’s always fun to just explore what this team of bloggers have come up with each day. Caution – you will spend a LOT of time looking around on this page!

Also, I mentioned yesterday that I would be posting video of the FourPin+ presentation I gave today. Sadly, the video on my iPhone did not produce the quality I would’ve liked – so I’ll be posting an updated narrated version of the slides from yesterday. Look for that in the near future!

1. Search Their Username: Generally speaking, a truly engaged twitter user will have many mentions and retweets throughout the day. A simple and easy way to see if people are talking with them is to either search up their username in twitter’s search field – or use a simple tool like Twinitor. Remember, it’s not always the number of followers a person has, it’s WHO and HOW they’re engaging with them.

2. Look At Their Follower Count Ratio: This can be a very telling sign that someone is using a ‘bot’ to gain followers. If someone has 12,000 followers and they’re following 13,000: you can easily deduct that they simply followed a ton of tweeps to gain the ever-so-precious follow back.

3. Klout or Kred: These 2 sites are built to assist in measuring people’s online influence. Although they’re not the be-all end-all in scoring, they can (along with these other tips) gain you a more well-rounded perspective.

4. Look At Their Followers: Don’t be lazy. If you spend a few minutes going through the follower list of the person in question, you’ll get a pretty good idea as to what kind of influence they have (and what kind of people they’re influencing)

5. Fully Connect: When involving influencers and bloggers, it should be more than a couple of minutes of decision-making. In essence, these people will end up being extensions of yourself or your brand. One wrong selection could have a rather nasty effect – so make sure you’re googling, reading past blog posts, and even connecting with them personally before the moment of involvement.

Have some other tips, or want to recommend some fab bloggers or influencers? Sign off in the comments!