http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/ creative freelancing resources en-us http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=245 The web developer and designer resource website <a href="http://www.stiepoint.com">sitepoint.com</a> has a great article, "<span style="font-style: italic;">10 Rules for Driving Traffic Using Forums</span>" authored by <a href="http://www.joshklein.net/">Josh Klein</a>. Josh is a web strategist and consultant based out of New York City. He writes a blog about how to make and promote web sites that are worth caring about.<br /><br />He is a frequent poster in the sitepoint.com forum and he lists three specific reasons why he likes to use that forum to drive traffic to his website:<br />"1. It's a forum largely for web developers, and I have experience in this field, so I can have thoughtful discussions with my peers.<br />2. My expertise as an online marketer complements the typical forum member: web designers and developers. <br /> 3. My site's target audience overlaps with the forum's audience."<br /><br />And he goes on to say, "Although the SitePoint forum does not deliver thousands of visitors to my blog each month, the forum traffic is of the highest quality. They read more, participate more, and come back for more."<br /><br />What's most striking is the compelling evidence he offers up as reasons for using forums.<br />He states that:<br /> > 71% of the non-forum visitors leave before viewing a second page<br />   Only 30% of forum visitors leave immediately<br /> > 83% of non-forum visitors are new to the site <br />   75% of forum visitors are returning for a second time (or more)<br /> > Non-forum visitors view 2.5 pages <br />   Forum visitors typically view over 9 pages<br /> > Non-forum visitors spent 3 minutes on average on his site<br />   Forum visitors spent an average of 18 mins on his site<br /><br />Below are Josh's 10 rules to successfully leverage forums to increase the quality of web traffic to you site.<br />1. Build Your Profile<br /> 2. Follow the Rules<br /> 3. Start by Responding<br /> 4. Contribute Your Expertise<br /> 5. Don't Be a "Me Too" Poster<br /> 6. Don't Self-promote<br /> 7. Explain Yourself, but Be Brief<br /> 8. If You're Wrong, Say So<br /> 9. Write Intelligently and Correctly<br /> 10. Negativity is a No-no<br /><br />Definitely a good read. Make sure you <a href="http://articles.sitepoint.com/article/rules-driving-traffic-forums/1">visit the blog for full explanations of each step.</a> Administrator 09/22/2009 11:11:48 AM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=244 <a href="http://www.kiasoulcollective.com/home/tour/washington-dc/"><img src="http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/images/postimgs/soul_time.jpg" alt="" /></a> Administrator 09/17/2009 09:46:41 AM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=243 <br /><img src="http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/images/postimgs/panasia.jpg" alt="" /><br /><strong>Chindia. <em>Esquire</em>. July 2008.</strong><br />The enormous populations of China and India have elevated both countries from the butts of bad jokes to world powers.<br /><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/images/postimgs/house.jpg" alt="" /><br /><strong>Feeling the pinch. <em>TimeOut.</em> November 2006.</strong><br />Home foreclosures are a common occurrence in this day and age. But the real story is about what happens to those people who lose their homes.<br /><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/images/postimgs/alcohol.jpg" alt="" /><br /><strong>The realities of alcoholism. <em>The Guardian</em>. November 2005.</strong> <br />This bloodied face defined by an upturned booze bottle and a wine glass accompanied a journalist's autobiographical account of her struggle to overcome alcoholism in light of a UK proposal that would permit alcohol to be sold 24 hours a day. Administrator 09/16/2009 03:39:37 PM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=241 <img src="http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/images/postimgs/death_taxes.jpg">

From <a href="http://www.wallstats.com/">wallstats.com</a> "<a href="http://www.wallstats.com/deathandtaxes/">Death and Taxes</a>" is more than just numbers. It is a uniquely revealing look at our national priorities, that fluctuate yearly, according to the wishes of the President, the power of Congress, and the will of the people. Thousands of pages of raw data have been boiled down to one poster that provides the most open and accessible record of our nations' spending than ever before. If you pay taxes, then you have paid for a small part of everything in the poster. "Death and Taxes" is an essential poster for any responsible citizen or information junkie."

Jess also has another interesting poster called "<a href="http://www.wallstats.com/389yearsago/">389 Years Ago</a>." Inspired by the election of President Barack Obama, Jess presents a record of 'progress and setbacks' of African Americans in a compelling visual manner. Administrator 08/14/2009 10:34:42 AM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=239   Administrator 08/13/2009 02:08:06 PM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=238   Administrator 08/11/2009 03:53:49 PM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=234 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Focus on the hidden job market.</span> I recently was told I wasn't being considered for a job because the employer had gotten so many responses already, they'd stopped accepting new resumes. Here's the kicker: the job posting hadn't even been out there for 12 hours. <br /><br />That's the problem with advertised positions: everybody knows about them. So what I've started doing is targeting the places I'd like to work and finding ways to stay on their radar. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use LinkedIn to get yourself in front of people.</span> LinkedIn can be a great lead generation tool. I'll type in "Interactive" in the company field, "Creative Director" in the title field and then I'll get 10 pages of results back with a free account. And once I have the names of decision makers, it's pretty easy to figure out their email addresses. <br /><br />Typically, I'll send an email introducing myself, then follow up every six weeks with news of what I've been working on as a freelancer. On average, a quarter of the people I write will actually write back with questions, comments and more. When they do, I'm quick to add them to my LinkedIn network and frequently update my status to keep people in the loop. <br /><br />Recently, when I updated my status regarding a freelance project, I had a Creative Director reach out wanting details. As it turns out, his agency does work for the same client and he wanted to get to know me. A couple of weeks later, I had an hour-long conference call with him and another CD about how we could work together. So while doing all of this may sound like a lot of work, it actually does pays off. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Start a dialogue through Twitter.</span> Twitter is another indispensible tool for job hunters, as it provides a platform to share your expertise. I maintain a "pro" account that's separate from my personal account. I use it to post comments on advertising, link to my blog, and share articles and other stuff. <br /><br />My approach to Twitter is that I aim for quality over quantity. So I shoot to follow the same decision makers I seek out through LinkedIn. In many cases, these guys (and gals) will talk about what they're thinking, what they're working on, etc. It's great insight into what's happening at their agency, and something you probably wouldn't know otherwise. <br /><br />Twitter also provides a unique opportunity to have conversations with those you wouldn't normally speak with. When I've posted I was looking for freelance work, my followers have retweeted to their followers. And when I commented on my job hunt, a CD that was following me asked if I wanted to interview at his agency. Much like LinkedIn, tweeting can be a real commitment. But based on my experience, it's certainly worth the effort. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use Facebook to keep tabs on agencies.</span> Facebook can have a role in your job hunt, too. Many agencies have Facebook fan pages with frequent updates on what they're doing. Yet again, it offers the chance to put yourself where potential employers are. A word of warning though: once you become a fan, I believe that the agency can see your profile. As such, I recommend creating a separate profile (under a different email address than your main Facebook account). For my "pro" Facebook page, I created a resume, filled a photo album with my portfolio samples and linked my status to my Twitter account. That, however, was probably overkill. Just be sure to create an account that lets you monitor your targeted agencies. It's really all you need to do. <br /><br />Of course, these are just a few of the strategies that can help you stand out in today's crowded job market. Luckily, with the advent of social media, there's so much you can do now as a job hunter. And because many people aren't taking advantage of that, you can gain an edge over them. So good luck out there, and feel free to share any ideas that work for you. <br /><br />Chris Boyles is currently looking for a job as a Sr. Writer, ACD or CD. His area of experience is in direct response, with a concentration on print, mail and online tactics. He has over 13 years of experience, which you can learn more about by visiting hirechris.com. Chris Boyles 07/27/2009 11:26:12 AM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=233 Administrator 06/26/2009 11:47:40 AM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=229   Administrator 06/23/2009 04:24:25 PM http://www.thebossgroup.com/modules/blog/?p=228   Administrator 06/23/2009 09:34:36 AM