The Circadian Rhythm – When Are We Vulnerable?
There are a number of fascinating studies about the human body clock and adapting to our circadian rhythm. Our body clock is a powerful thing; we all know the hopeless feeling of jet lag or the danger caused by severe lack of sleep. Interrupting our natural circadian rhythm can play havoc with our reactions, thoughts and emotions making us vulnerable and susceptible to coughs and colds among other illnesses.

It’s reported we are at our most productive mid-morning making this the time to make decisions in the workplace and complete your most difficult tasks. There are times of the day when we are most susceptible to illness too but with regards to the working day and productivity levels, our concentration peaks around 10am. One pm is the dreaded “munchy” hour; that mid-afternoon drowsy feeling hits hard with an extreme energy drop and we struggle to stay awake, let alone be productive. See below for five tips to help arm you against the fatigue:

1. Have a Break
The people running the Kit Kat campaign have it sussed! Trying to work straight through is bound to result in lapses of concentration and fatigue. By leaving a task for a while, taking your mind off it completely and coming back after a break you can often think far more clearly. By frequently taking small breaks you can increase overall productivity.

2. Prioritise
At the beginning of the day – especially a busy one when you have 101 things to do grab a pen and paper, iPad, open up a word document (whatever your technological preference!) and make a list. In addition to an uncanny sense of satisfaction when you tick things off this can increase productivity, keeping your mind focussed and helping prevent deviation from a task.

3. Good Nutrition
People who eat well tend to feel well. Eating nutritious food throughout the day as well as staying hydrated with plenty of water can most definitely contribute to increased productivity. Although caffeine from the nation’s favourite hot beverage and energy drinks will give us a boost, this is short term and more often than not accompanied by a crash afterwards!

4. Enjoy What You Do
There are elements to every job that are tedious. However working in an industry that you love can help you be more productive. Minutes can become hours and you can easily lose half a day in a job that you love. There is little more powerful than natural enthusiasm so find something you love doing and use this to your advantage.

5. Know Yourself
We all know at what point in the day we struggle – an afternoon walk, some music or reserving a fun task until this time can help us get through these periods. No one knows us better than ourselves so work with your body to optimise your time and remain productive throughout the day.

Productivity can be increased and harnessed from your workforce using advanced psychological techniques and efficiency tools, click here to find out more.

Telesales

Work is office based and involves selling products and services to private clients or businesses. The role is often commission based and high-pressured, with a requirement to meet set sales targets. People who work in this sector need to be well spoken, with a pleasant telephone manner. They need to be able to spot opportunities to sell additional products or services during the call, so a convincing approach is desirable. Workers in this sector need to be ambitious and dedicated.

Retail

Sales representatives work within shops and stores, approaching and advising customers on their purchases. A friendly and approachable manner is needed for this type of work, and the salesperson should have a good knowledge about the products that are available, so as to help the customer choose the best product. An effective sales representative will also try to maximise opportunities by suggesting additional products that may complement the original purchase.

Direct Sales

Direct salesmen usually go from door to door, visiting people in their homes in order to sell products or services. Examples of this type of work would be double glazing sales, insurance sales or utility sales. People in this type of job need to be able to work in all types of weather. The work can be difficult, with a high rejection rate and is often commission based, meaning that they only get paid if they sell something. This type of work is generally easy to come by, but few people have the skills to succeed at it. Workers in this type of job need to have a convincing approach and a good knowledge of the products that are being sold. Direct sales work could also cover smaller businesses, or self-employed individuals selling products such as cosmetics or cleaning accessories to friends and neighbours.

Property Sales

The property sales sector offers a high rate of pay and good training opportunities for employees. Work is office and field based. The job involves showing clients around properties and highlighting the desirable points of the property in order to make a sale. Someone in this role needs to have a good eye for detail, as well as a friendly manner when it comes to meeting with prospective clients.

If you’re looking for a job, speak to a sales recruitment agency such as Adecco who can help you find the perfect job for you.

Kodak: Kodak was one of the biggest casualties of the digital revolution through no fault of their own. Unfortunately Kodak relied on prints of photographs, and once digital photos became vogue they quickly found themselves struggling to stay relevant. Actually though, they have shown an admirable ability to adapt and have managed to catch up in a number of ways – by providing digital printing booths available in Boots for instance, and by producing printers and SD cards. Only time will tell if it’s too little too late.

Sony: Sony has been struggling for a while, and while once there was a Sony device in almost every home, they have recently been hit by floods, fires and economy troubles in their homeland, as well as stiff competition in some key markets (such as TVs and games consoles). This lead to a reported $2bn loss, but hopes are that new CEO Kazuo Hirai might be able to change their fortunes.

MySpace: MySpace was perhaps the first indicator of just how big social media could be, and once looked poised to take over the world. Unfortunately for the social network though that’s when Facebook came along which was quite simply better designed. The site still has 33.1 million users and boasts a celebrity owner (Justin Timberlake who interestingly played Sean Parker in the film ‘The Social Network) but is hardly relevant in the way it could have been.

AOL: AOL once rather ubiquitous in the early days of the web as one of the foremost service providers. They were well known for their ‘online software suit’ which provided users with an online community as well as a specific browser and e-mail. Unfortunately the software was clunky to use even then (rated by PC World in 2006 as the ‘worst tech product of all time’ and was described as the ‘service for people who don’t know any better’), and has failed to capture the imaginations of the current age of web users. Between 2001 and 2006 AOL’s stock dropped from $226 billion to $20 billion.

RIM: RIM is the telecommunications company that produces the Blackberry. The phone was a huge hit for a long time thanks to offering e-mail and quick typing before those features were available on other devices. However it has since lost its mojo somewhat thanks to the success of the iPhone and Android. The small screen, necessitated by the large keyboard, is relatively unpleasant to use and a recent high profile network issue has since damaged their reputation further. It’s do or die time now for RIM’s flagship device, and they are in dire need of invocation if they want to avoid becoming completely irrelevant.

Sega: Sega was once the king of home games consoles and the arcade scene, and managed to briefly knock Nintendo off its mantle with the help of a certain blue mascot. However the decline of Sega has been a slow and distressing one for fans, as they released several unsuccessful consoles (Sega CD, 32X, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast) and were hit by the drop in popularity of arcade machines. They then decided to drop out of the hardware game and focus solely on software, but this then didn’t go so well either and after a promising start an apparent lack of innovation resulted in further decline. Last year they reported making a large number of layoffs, but they are optimistic nonetheless for the future.

Nokia: There was a time that everyone had a Nokia 3210, and Snake was the most successful phone game in the world. Today though Nokia’s old-hat Symbian OS offerings seem somewhat measly compared to iPhones, Androids and Blackberries, while projects such as the N-Gage have failed to catch on. Hopefully that can change though now that Nokia have made an agreement with Microsoft to start featuring the Windows 7 OS (though that in itself could use a bit of a boost).

Yahoo: Yahoo was once the search engine of choice thanks to good marketing and a memorable name. However the fact that it was based on Google’s own technology meant that it was destined to be the inferior product, and that coupled with a very overburdened homepage in comparison with Google’s slick and clean presentation sealed its fate. Perhaps Yahoo’s most successful product today is Yahoo answers, but this is a somewhat measly claim compared to its old status.

Jeet is a ardent technology fan and does a lot of guest postings on tech and internet marketing blogs.

Inspect all Locks

Locking up at night becomes part of your routine, so much so that sometimes you will do it on autopilot and not really pay attention to the locks themselves. Organise a time to check every lock the building features including window locks and ensure they are all functioning correctly.

Protect IT Equipment

Expensive computers are usually the first thing burglars want when they choose to break into commercial premises, therefore you need to take extra precaution in protecting your equipment. Specialist computer locks are an ideal way of adding additional security in your IT suite, but failing that it is highly recommended you take work computers out of the building overnight and especially over the Christmas period.

Update the Shutters

If your property benefits from shutters now is the time to inspect their condition and see which ones could do with updating. When working fully, roller shutters provide excellent security against intruders as well as being easy to use so make sure yours are in optimum condition at all times.

Add Security Grilles

Even with strong double glazing, intruders can still use force to break the glass and enter the property in this way. If you are looking for a visual deterrent that protects the windows from being targeted then window grilles are a good choice. Available in fixed and retractable options, you can choose how flexible you want this security option to be and with many designs to choose from, you needn’t worry about them looking out of place on the exterior of your property.

Install CCTV

The presence of CCTV is often enough to deter criminals from attempting to enter the property for fear of being caught on camera. CCTV is available as simply a recording unit or as a monitored security solution which gives businesses a security product to suit a range of budgets.

When looking for ways to improve the security at your business premises, these tips are a sure fire way to do so on a variety of budgets, giving you peace of mind instantly that the property is protected from potential intrusion and damage.

Sophie has written numerous articles relating to business security and understands that Advance Security roller shutters are a high quality way to secure a building together with CCTV and computer locks.

1. Enter with a Smile

One of the most important things to do is to ensure you come across as approachable, so making sure you enter the room with a smile and a pleasant greeting is an absolute must. Throughout the interview, take the time to show that you are interested in what they are saying, starting and finishing with a firm handshake as well.

2. Choose an Appropriate Outfit.

No matter what kind of job you are going for, it is always imperative to dress smartly. Leave the trainers at home and wear smart, polished shoes and ensure a formal top such as shirt is both clean and ironed. Jeans are also a big no no so make sure you have dark trousers or a skirt that goes at least to the knee.

3. Research

You have read the job description and therefore are aware of the role, so now you have secured an interview it’s time to research the company as a whole. Most businesses will now have a website so go online and take some notes with regards to the services they offer and the history of the business as this may come in useful during your interview.

4. Prepare Questions

During an interview, there will often come a point whereby the interviewer asks if you have any questions; it always looks great to say yes and therefore taking the time to prepare a couple of questions to ask is a great way to impress. Questions such as “how much is the pay” are not appropriate at this point and will generally be covered by the employer, but asking about the structure of the workforce or what the typical working week is like show initiative and interest in the company you are applying to work for.

5. Take a Notepad and Pen

Taking out a notepad and pen during the interview shows that you are keen to retain the information you have been given and it also gives you a nice prop to focus on! Try not to scribble down everything as you need to make sure you continue to make eye contact on a regular basis with the interviewer, but jotting down a few key points looks nice and professional.

Make a great impression at your upcoming interview by taking these top tips into consideration ahead of the big day.

Sophie works alongside TSR Select, a company specialising in IT sales recruitment, therefore has plenty of experience in advising interviewees on how to prepare for an interview successfully.

There’s Five Key Ways to Keep Work Fun

I’ve found there’s five key ways to keep SEO copywriting fun.  Each of them may or may not work for you, but seem to be the basis of how all of us get through our days as copywriters in the team I’m with.  It’s important, of course to remember that if you’ve already got methods in place to preserve your work/life separation, and to find ways to get enthusiastic about work, that these might be less important to you – but if you don’t, these tips might actually save your freelance career.

Freelance Tips

1)      Write what you know – and don’t fudge – ‘Fudging’ is what normally leads to corrections, so if you’re not an expert on what you’re writing, consider researching before writing.  Even if you’re a complete newbie, your understanding of a subject might help someone else new understand what they’re doing in the ‘area’.  Whether that’s neurosurgery or cleaning stains from a carpet.  Remember that it’s your client’s reputation on the line as well as yours.

2)      Regular breaks and exercise keep you sharp – I run every morning.  I bundle the kids out the door to school, I go for a run, and then I sit down to work.  I think about my work while I’m out running, and I make sure that I take a lunch break (at least half of which away from my computer) and that if I’m really stuck, I get up and walk away and do a chore.  And I work in a mostly dedicated area of the house too (the guest room/office).  When I’m done, I close everything and walk away, and spend time with my family, or on my hobbies.  This means that the best of my work is done when I’m ready and I’m not procrastinating.  I found if I didn’t do that I’d check into Facebook every day and would get nothing done, overall.

3)      It’s ok to say no when your plate is full – I’m very lucky that my clients ask me for deadlines rather than saying ‘this is the deadline’ – in other words, as long as I can fit it in before they need it, I get the job.  Many freelancers find though that their clients set deadlines that might be unreasonable, when you factor in other commitments.  Consider negotiating if you’re stuck and want to take on the job – most clients do understand ‘I’m sorry, my SEO copywriting schedule is full until… can I fit you in on…?’

4)      If I’m not working, I do other stuff – I queue up extra blogs – I write content that normally repeats (so it’s ‘on stock’ if a client wants it – but only for things I can repurpose and use if they’re not interested) and I work on my professional sites and commitments.  Or I take the day off to read and catch up on errands.  But if I’m in a quiet streak, I still write every day.  It’s a good habit to keep.

5)      Work and life don’t mix unless there’s an urgent deadline – one of my biggie, final rules is that I don’t mix work and life.  It’s just a no no, unless there’s a crunch on.  And I only do that rarely.  If I get into the habit of crunching, my home life really suffers and I get grumpy, and the work doesn’t ‘work’ either.  So, I keep my weekends as much as I can, and I write during set hours.

Choosing the best SEO copywriting team for your needs can be as easy as ABC, if you know how they work.

You have been hearing rumours on the best professions that you should take. The problem is, you are unsure if these hear says are real. Worry no more because in this article, I’ll give you the most in demand jobs in the US. For sure, you can get a job that allows you to enjoy what you earn.

Are you ready?

• IT Professionals. It is evident that we are living in a technological advance era. If you want to be at par with the fast changing world, you should know how to use at least a basic computer.  

If you will notice, most companies require an IT professional. These people help in maintaining the overall process of a specific industry. Yes, you can call our business sects dependent on computers. Given that, you should take advantage of it.

• Health Care Professionals. Health is always our number 1 priority. Hence, year after year, the demand for HCPs increases. If you want to be in the loop, get a job that is cohesive with this.

What I like about this profession is that it is not purely work. You actually serve. If you are scared of blood like me, you can get other degrees. Let me remind you that HCP industry is quite lucrative.

• Customer Service Representatives.  How do companies earn? The answer is really simple. By increasing their sales. The question is, how can they get more customers? Again, it should be easy. All you have to do is to build relationship with the customers.

However, building relationship is something that experts should do. It’s actually an art. If you feel that you are fitted in this line of work, go ahead and start applying.

• Construction Workers. The last industry might be funny for some. After all, we think that only people in great business suits earn a lot of money. You got that all mixed up. Construction workers like welders, carpenters are also considered professionals. In fact, a lot of colleges in the US are offering short welding degree courses for those who are interested.

According to researches and studies, welder training schools are becoming a big thing.

Now, I’m going to ask you. Are you ready to earn? Choose jobs from the above fields and get ready to have a fruitful life.

Kim Bookman is an avid writer for one of the best websites to learn about Welding. You can learn about the different techniques in MIG Welding and everything you should know in order to excel in this profession.

In recent months, it has become even more important. Now, Google Places are display higher than organic search results, while means they grab more eyeballs. Thus, if you haven’t paid attention to optimizing Places yet, it is important to do so now. Here are some tips to optimize your Google Places listing:

Always give out accurate information

Make sure you always give out accurate and unique information when it comes to listing your business address on Google. Unique refers to having only one listing for your business. However, an exception to that rule comes in when you have a business that is into season stuff unrelated to each other. In such cases, it is best to have separate listings for each particular activity.

Make sure you are on trustworthy online directories

While ranking its listings, Google Places refers other popular directories to check the authenticity of the information. Thus, it is important to be on popular online directories, including your online local phone directory. The information on these directories should be exactly the same as it is on Google.

Use all the fields

Not using all the fields is a cardinal sin people make when it comes to listing on Google. In order to rank higher on Google, it is important to make use of all the fields.

Make sure you use relevant categories

Google gives you the option of having 5 categories in order to describe yourself properly. Out of these 5, one needs to be out of Google’s suggestions. It is a good practice to use a couple out of Google’s suggestions and keep the rest custom written. While writing it yourself, keep in mind the popular phrases or keywords that might be used to search your business. Of course, you don’t have to go overboard with keywords. Keep it subtle and natural.

On-page optimization is important as well

Optimization of listings on your website is important too. Having a location map and having your address and phone number in text throughout your website is critical for higher rankings in Google Places.

There are other factors which come into play, but for beginning with it, the above techniques work pretty well.

Abhishek Khandelwal is a content writer and google places expert. He is currently working with clients in more than 20 countries and likes to write on a range of topics. Please click here to contact him on Linkedin.

There are a number of ways that you can earn money online from Internet marketing. For example, you could make money helping people with their search engine optimization techniques. You could get involved with a cost per action campaign where you earn money when someone clicks on a link on your site and then takes some specific action. If you have a website, getting involved with advertising programs like Google Adsense is another way to earn money. With this program, you make money every time someone clicks on an ad on your site. Creating a blog can also provide you with many opportunities to earn money. You can make money from affiliate commissions, selling advertising space or even from consulting.

If you want to work for a company online, there are many companies that hire workers in this capacity. For example, Leapforce hires people to work as search engine evaluators. Alpine Access hires people to work in a virtual call center. You can find plenty of online job listings at sites like SimplyHired.com or LinkUp.

Setting Your Goals

Regardless of what type of online career you choose to get involved with, you need to set some goals in order to be successful. Working in this type of capacity requires you to discipline yourself and stick to a schedule if you want to be able to make it work.

You need to set both long-term and short-term goals for your marketing business. For example, you may want to set a short-term goal of having 100 unique visitors to your site per day. You could set a long-term goal of having 10,000 unique visitors per day. If you don’t have something to work toward, it can be difficult to stay motivated.

Motivation and Persistence

It’s been said that the only thing that separates the individuals who are massively successful from those who are not is persistence. If you are persistent, you can weather any storm and get through any potential problems that you might have. Because of the need for persistence, you have to make sure that you are motivated everyday. Read inspiring books, watch helpful videos and keep your goals in front of you at all times to help with motivation.

Be Patient and Well-Organized

Success in the Internet marketing business is probably not going to happen in a short period of time. This is an industry that typically takes some time to get established in. Search engines have a “sandbox” philosophy that essentially keeps new webmasters out of the search engine results until they have been around for a certain amount of time. You’ll need to be patient if you plan on succeeding in this industry.

In addition to being patient, you also need to be well-organized. You should break your tasks down into groups and have a schedule for daily action. If you are dedicated to taking regular action toward your goals, you will have a much better chance of success.

Getting involved in Internet marketing is definitely not easy. However, if you are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, you can definitely make it worth your while. All of the hard work that is required of you to make it in online marketing will be worth it once you start creating relatively passive income that comes in at all hours of the day and nigh

Citations:

• Photo with CC license. Taken from Flickr. Author: DavidErickson

Benjamin Sawyer is well known Internet marketing consultant and a passionate blogger. Ben  often writes about SEO and SMM tactics, sharing his knowledge and experiences. Beside that, he is also SEO consultant and content marketing strategist for Divorce Lawyers Long Island matrimonial NY law firm.

However, there are some people who would love to stay in their current positions, if they could just find the reasoning and motivation to do so.

Here are five things you can do to like your job a little more:

1. Don’t work so hard. Chances are you’re used to being an overachiever – most working adults today are. But if you’ve been going above and beyond for as long as you can remember, and maybe not getting recognized for it, it’s okay to sit back and let someone else take the reins for a while. I’m not saying to slack off, you should still get all of your necessary work done, but you don’t always have to be the one who volunteers to help with that extra project or take on more work than you can handle.
2. Show up on time and leave on time. We often place an importance on getting to work on time, otherwise your co-workers and superiors will look down on you, and you might even get reprimanded. But far too often, we stay past quitting time in order to finish whatever project we’re working on, or just so we look good. You should allow yourself the same courtesy you give your employer and leave when the work day is done – you’ll thank yourself for the extra time to relax and destress.
3. Take breaks. It’s important to take regular breaks throughout the day, especially if you work at a desk job. Taking breaks allows you to clear your mind and refocus on your priorities for the rest of the day. And taking a break doesn’t mean looking away from your computer for 30 seconds, it means getting up and stretching your legs, using the restroom, and getting a drink of water or having a snack.
4. Focus on what you like. There are probably a few aspects of your job that you do like, so do whatever you can to focus more on those. Ask your superiors to put you in charge of projects dealing with things you like and ask someone else to help out with the other projects you don’t like as much.
5. Find meaning. You might work for a money-grubbing corporation with no soul, but there’s probably something that company does for the greater good. Whether it’s a small part of your everyday work or your company’s involvement with local charities, find something in your job that has meaning and makes your day a little brighter.

By following these simple tips, you might be able to tough it out at your job for a little while longer, and who knows, you might even start to like where you work and what you do.

Writer and content creator specializing in everything from recruiting and job searching to social media and technology. Visit this site to learn more.