ITList Information Technology Blog » Daunting Task http://itlist.com Current IT field related information Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:35:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 Professional Networking For Shy People http://itlist.com/professional-networking-for-shy-people/ http://itlist.com/professional-networking-for-shy-people/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:04:47 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1744 Trying to network when you happen to be a shy person can be a very daunting task.  The hardest thing to do sometimes in your professional life is stepping outside of your comfort zone.  But in an economic downturn, it’s more important than ever to get your name out there.  Maintaining a good score card at your current company just isn’t enough anymore, as that position is not as guaranteed as in the past.  Only by making sure others are aware of your skills, and track record, can you ensure that you’re as hirable as possible, should anything happen.

Preparing for the worst is never a bad idea, and that’s especially true of your job.  Try to keep that in mind as you brave the networking world, despite your shyness.  It’s rough, but try going to professional networking events around you.  Whether it be seminars in your field, or any other gathering of the like where other professionals are likely to be found.  Or if it helps don’t think of this as just job related, but rather a chance for you to meet more people in the same area as you are.  Developing professional relationships with others that know what you’re going through is always a good thing.

Now you just have to battle the route cause of your tendency to be shy in public gatherings.  If you fear that you don’t have anything interesting to say, prepare for that beforehand.  Because a professional atmosphere is much different than a regular social gathering, just being knowledgeable about your industry is a good start.  If you’re good at your job, you’re already well prepared.  Just make industry related insights, and you can make connections either with people that share those thoughts, or those that are intrigued by such thinking.

Finally, it’s always a good strategy to bring someone you know to an event, so that you have a partner.  You may feel more at ease by bringing a colleague, or friend that you have in the same industry.  Anything that helps you feel relaxed and casual.  Stay courteous and positive, and you’ll find networking to be pretty easy.  You just have to extend your hand so someone else can take hold.

]]> http://itlist.com/professional-networking-for-shy-people/feed/ 0 Successfully Restart Your Career http://itlist.com/successfully-restart-your-career/ http://itlist.com/successfully-restart-your-career/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:45:19 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1635 Restarting or rejuvenating your career can be a daunting task, and terrifying thought.  To leave your current comforts for the unknown can be a scary thing.  In fact when most people feel they’ve hit a wall in their career, the sort that makes you feel as though you’ve no option but to try again, most of the time you don’t really know where to start.  But don’t be afraid, because sometimes you have to take a few steps backwards so that you can really choose the right path forward.  Nothing in life worth doing is easy, and making the best of your career is no different.

First off, education is your friend, so in reinvigorating any career, participating in new educational opportunities is a must.  Go back to school part time, get an associates degree in some aspect of your field, or go further, go for a masters degree.  Anything that helps you understand the field better, and that also helps you show others you’re well qualified for today’s job market.

Volunteer to help network yourself, as well as learn vital new skills.  Opportunities like internships at major companies are always available, and go a very long way in helping you get vital career skills as well as get your name out there.  The connections you make with other people while volunteering together could prove invaluable down the line.  So always look to make new social connections, and look for new opportunities to learn new skills.

Finally, make the most of a new job opportunity once you receive one.  Work hard, and show that those educational experiences paid off in full.  Show the boss that you’ve become a very important component of the team that they can’t do without.  Nothing says that like excelling at your job, and earning the recognition that you really deserve.

]]> http://itlist.com/successfully-restart-your-career/feed/ 1 More Tips To Go Green At The Office http://itlist.com/more-tips-to-go-green-at-the-office/ http://itlist.com/more-tips-to-go-green-at-the-office/#comments Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:23:36 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1472 Going green in the office involves more than just conserving power while you’re at work.  That’s all well and good for helping the environment, but that doesn’t help with the amount of trash you’re producing.  Not to mention the amount of new products coming in that don’t comply with good recycling standards.  Which is exactly why to really go green at your office, you need to keep an eye on everything that you’re doing, throwing out, and bringing in to your workplace.  Sounds like a daunting task, but it’s not as difficult as you may think.

Start out by just paying better attention to the label on the products that you buy.  Most stores, like Office Max or Office Depot, will offer a list of products located at the store that are considered more environmentally friendly.  Try to stick to these lists for anything you purchase, as these products are usually much less harsh on the environment to produce, and tend to biodegrade faster.

For your printer, either use a reusable printer cartridge, so that you can just refill it when you run out of ink, or purchase remanufactured printer cartridges.  Either option is recycling and will save a ton of extra plastic from being just wasted and dropped into the local landfill to rot.

Concerning the paper for your printer, try to stick to PCR, post-consumer recycled, paper.  This way you are using paper that is almost 100% recycled content, and as long as you remain good about recycling the paper that you use, you are greatly reducing the amount of resources lost producing and then maintaining that paper.

Finally, try to cut out using paper at all.  Purchase an external hard drive, or even a big flash drive, as a back up device for your important information.  This way you can protect your information without burning through a lot of paper to keep your sensitive info on file.

]]> http://itlist.com/more-tips-to-go-green-at-the-office/feed/ 0 Using Google’s Adsense As Effectively As Possible http://itlist.com/using-google%e2%80%99s-adsense-as-effectively-as-possible/ http://itlist.com/using-google%e2%80%99s-adsense-as-effectively-as-possible/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:06:20 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1167 Google’s Adsense program is a ridiculously good way to make money online through advertising, without having to go through the daunting task of trying to solicit advertisers yourself.  The problem is, most people don’t use Adsense properly, and so don’t see as much of a return from the program as they should.  If you figure, it’s a good idea for everybody to have a personal blog in the first place, whether for professional reasons, or just for the sake of putting your ideas out there for other people to read.  But if you’re going to go to that trouble, why not make a few dollars from your efforts, all you need is a few pointers on how to make the most of Adsense.

First and foremost, target your audience.  Go through Google’s Adsense options and choose categories that have something in common with your blog.  So obviously if you’re here reading this, you’re either an IT professional or in the field, so you want computer/internet products and services first and foremost.   After which, make sure you pay close attention to which sorts of ads are receiving the most attention, as you can use that to your advantage by replacing any banners that nobody pays attention to, instead adding ads that are more likely to get clicked.

There’s no point in wasting ad space on something that’s not doing anything positive for you.

Be careful in picking your Adsense banner colors also, as there’s a huge mistake that most people make when formatting Adsense content for their blogs.  And that huge mistake is, you do not want your ad banner to match your blog’s background color scheme.  It’s a proven fact that a contrasting vibrant color will attract more attention to the advertisement, increasing the likelihood that Dave Websurfer will click on the banner, netting you some money for your trouble.

But the main attraction, as I always say it, is writing relevant intriguing content.  That’s your blog or website’s lifeblood.  The longer that Billy Interweb-Browser stays on your site, reading whatever it is you choose to write about, the more likely he is to notice an advertisement.  And that’s the whole purpose of using your blog to generate any sort of cash flow.

]]> http://itlist.com/using-google%e2%80%99s-adsense-as-effectively-as-possible/feed/ 0 Internet Marketing is a Valuable Part of Business http://itlist.com/internet-marketing-is-a-valuable-part-of-business/ http://itlist.com/internet-marketing-is-a-valuable-part-of-business/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:47:05 +0000 bizblogger http://itlist.com/?p=1001 Business growth and success is based on fundamental principles that help you to achieve your goals. The first thing you need to do is make a decision regarding what you want for your business. This helps develop focus in a specific direction. The next thing is to develop a plan of action. In the last few years, the internet has become a major part of most businesses. People use the internet to conduct market research, search for products, information, services and even for entertainment.

Most successful people have recognized the need for an integrated marketing approach. There are many important reasons to have a web presence, especially since it has become so much easier and affordable. The internet can offer you valuable exposure for your product or service. Many people find it a daunting task because they have  limited technical knowledge, and automatically assume that getting set up is going to be an expensive exercise.

Before setting up your internet site you need to decide what your message is going to be. Take some time to write a list of what you hope to achieve from your site. You can have access to a vast reservoir of information and intelligence, but it is of little value if you are not prepared to spend the time thinking about what benefits you can offer the consumer. If your information is honest and accurate your site will have credibility. Take the time to work out a definite plan, know what you want your internet marketing to achieve. Unless you are able to monitor the results you have no way of knowing what value this avenue is adding to your business growth.
There are many different approaches to suit the needs and budget of every kind of business or individual. Before you make your decision check out www.gossimer.biz. They offer many different options and there is sure to be something to suit your needs. They can provide you with templates and even give you the option to customize your own web page with just basic computer knowledge. In addition to a customized service they also have many other valuable resources which you can incorporate into your business strategy. It is always best to work with a business that is a specialist in the field of internet technology. 

Once you have your site you need to turn it into a valuable promotional tool that will attract visitors. The real reason for a website is to communicate with a potential consumer. The bottom line of any marketing action is to get new clients. Focus on the reasons why your service will improve the consumer’s life. They must be able to visualize the benefits they are being offered in a clear and concise way. It is the benefits that will motivate a potential client to take action and buy into your message.

If you keep these principles in mind you will find that the internet is a valuable tool that helps you grow your business, and you will generate consumer interest and action.

]]> http://itlist.com/internet-marketing-is-a-valuable-part-of-business/feed/ 0 Things to Do to Choose the Right Web Hosting plan for you http://itlist.com/things-to-do-to-choose-the-right-web-hosting-plan-for-you/ http://itlist.com/things-to-do-to-choose-the-right-web-hosting-plan-for-you/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:59:52 +0000 IT List http://itlist.com/?p=295

Guidelines for the Things You Have to Look at when Choosing a Web Hosting Plan

In today’s world, more and more, the internet is playing a larger role in our lives. People use it to express themselves. Companies use the internet to sell their products to wide range of people. This is where we get our news and ideas. The internet has become so important that it now dominates our lives.

How do they do it? You may ask. Well, the answer lies in websites. As you go through the World Wide Web, you can view thousand upon thousands of websites. There are websites for keeping in touch. There are websites used in commerce. There websites that lead to other websites. The diversity and activity just makes you want to jump in on the fun by creating a website of your own.

If you are a person of humble means with little to no technological inclinations, building a website for the World Wide Web can be a daunting task. This is where a web hosting service can help. The web host service provider can get you web presence for what ever purpose it may serve you. Whether it is for fun or for business, a web hosting service will set your website up on the internet.

However there are hundreds of web hosting services out there that are claiming to be the best, making it hard to choose from all of them. This guide will show you what to look for. Follow these simple steps and you will be able to find the best possible web hosting service that will fit your need and budget.

Action Steps

What are your needs?

List down all the things you will need in your web hosting. Do you need more space? Or, is a higher bandwidth a greater concern? If you are a total newbie and you do not know what to do, then you should be looking at the plan that offers add-ons that will help you develop your website the way you need it to. Then you must look at your budget. How much will budget allow you to spend? The more features you add on the more expensive it will likely get.

I recommend: You could learn more about web hosting by going www.wikipedia.com and typing in web hosting. They have a very informative article about web hosting. You can also learn more about the history in this article.

What is your skill level?

Have you been working in the internet for long? How much do you know about setting up your website? These are some of the questions you need to ask before you choose the web hosting package for your website. If you have below average knowledge and you do not have enough free money to pay a consultant to handle this it would be best to sign up with a hosting package that will help you set up your site for free.

I recommend: Try the free features of the web hosting packages from www.gossimer.biz, where you can get free software for forums, blogs, shopping carts and image galleries. For an additional fee you can also take advantage of their plans for site building software.

Look at your budget

You do not want to pay to the teeth for a web hosting package, so you have better shop around. Get a second, third and fourth option. Don’t be fooled by the lower prices though. Some plans might offer a lower rate but could offer fewer features. Review the rate carefully and look at what each company offers before making a decision.

I recommend: Use review sites like www.hosting-review.com to compare rates and review their features. If you do not have the budget to buy web hosting, check out this article about free web hosting and how it can work for you or against you.

List down everything and compares

With all the information you have collected so far, choosing the right web hosting plan for you can get a bit confusing. Start by listing down all things you need for your website. The next thing you need to list down the plans that you can actually afford. Then, list down the features that you really need. A lot the unnecessary expenditures come from buying features you don’t really need.

I recommend: docs.Google.com has a set of tools that are totally free. You can use this to collaborate with other members of your team to see what works for you and your entire organization.

Try it out and then make a decision

There are some web hosting companies that offer free trials on their web hosting services. Give these a try first before committing to a contract. If you like their services and it fits your needs, then, by all means, go for the one that you have seen work. In case your free trial does not work out keep one of the plans you like as insurance. Remember to take note of the expiration date of the free trials. Read through the fine print as well. You don’t want to go back and return the product only to find out that you are no longer qualified.

I recommend: There are a lot of web hosting companies out there that offers free trial periods. One such company is www.homestead.com which is a company owned and operated by Intuit.

Tips and Tactics

  • Choose phone over email support. When choosing a company to host your website it would be best to have phone support. Email is an effective means of communication most of the time but it can fall through the cracks. For really urgent issues, it would be best to go directly to a phone support personnel.
  • Leave room for growth. Murphy’s Law states that all empty space will eventually be filled. The same goes for a website. As you start slow you will eventually grow your business. As your business grows your need for greater bandwidth and server space will grow. Leave room for growth without breaking your budget.
  • Do it right the first time. If you are working on a website for the first time and you have no experience with computers, you would be best served getting someone to build your website for you. Try to find affordable web services in the internet. If your budget does not allow for an outside hire, try finding a hosting company with easy to use tools for web development

Recommended Solutions Providers

  • If you are looking for the most bang for your buck then www.gossimer.biz and their many free features should be perfect for your needs.
  • Comparing web hosting rates is a long and tedious process. The review site www.hosting-review.com compares the rates for you while reviewing all the features.
  • Intuit’s free web hosting service http://www.homestead.com/ provides free web hosting service by one of the largest business software company in the world
  • Google Docs is a surprisingly powerful free online service that allows you to create presentations, documents and spreadsheets while collaborating with other people on the internet.

Best Sites to Learn More

Best Blogs and Forums

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