More and more individuals are choosing to work from home.

The reason why is there are more and more entrepreneurs and freelancers entering the workforce.

Some do so out of necessity. Some do so out of pure enjoyment or thrill. There are also some who do so part-time to help augment their household incomes.

Whatever your reason, it is not as though you can snap your fingers and get work done. You need a place to work, even if it is just a place to set a notepad and use your cell phone.

You need some sort of space to call your own, right?

Not all of us are blessed to have a place that is truly a separate room called a home office, or simply an “office.” And even if your house is equipped with a home office, maybe it is inconvenient.

It could be too close to a loud air conditioner or near where your teenage kids and their friends like to make noise. You might need to find another place to call your own for times when you need peace and quiet.

The Bedroom

For some, it works to convert a corner of the bedroom into an office. If you live alone, you might even prefer to work from your bedroom.

Doing so has many advantages, such as when you have those late night moments of inspiration and come up with your most brilliant ideas.

Instead of wandering through the house to your office, you can pull out a sticky note at your desk in the corner. Then you can write down the idea right away so that it is ready for the next day.

Some of you don’t want to be ruled by the need to work during the day.

You like the idea of working from your bedroom with your favorite cup of tea or other drink. You like being cozy while you get your work done.

Working at night also allows you to be more global and work with those halfway around the world.

For a bedroom office, all you really need is a desk. If you have a corner, you could face the desk outward, toward the bedroom, and put a nice lamp on the desk or a tall lamp in the corner.

You could purchase a small rug or a rolling mat for your fancy office chair. You can create ambiance even in that small corner.

If you do not have that large of a bedroom, you can still create your space by putting a desk along an empty wall in the room.

Place a motivational painting or whiteboard on the wall in front of you, allowing for space to dream as you work. Or maybe you can place your desk facing a window so you can see the view and get some fresh air.

The Attic

Another creative idea that you could consider is converting the attic into office space.

Not all houses have attics. But if yours does, working in it could be a creative way to reclaim the space.

An attic can also feel like a secret hideaway where no one else can find you. It will feel like a true out-of-the-way office space.

Depending on the access to the attic, working in one might not be ideal in if you’re in your later years of life. But maybe at that point, you can convert it into a fun hideaway for the grandkids. Then you can convert an unused bedroom into your office space.

No one ever said that your home office has to be permanent.Click To Tweet But if you have an attic (or a basement), it makes sense to use that space for something.

The Guest Room or Dining Room

This idea perhaps should have been listed first. It is the obvious choice besides an actual office. What is it? It is the guest room, unused former bedroom, or even the dining room.

Some houses are equipped with these extra rooms, and maybe you are not inclined to have a dining room. If that is the case, this kind of room is a perfect location for an office.

Even if that room does not officially have a door (like the other half of a split living room), you can create one with Oriental screens. These are room dividers that create a private little alcove that works perfectly as an out-of-the-way office.

The Mobile Office

Some of you might be most comfortable moving around.

Maybe you are the type who likes to work in the kitchen this week and then the living room the following week. Maybe you actually travel quite a bit, so hotel rooms become your office.

If this description fits you, you might want to make sure that you have TV trays available. That way you can work from one of the rooms in your house that does not have a convenient table.

Even a card table or some other type of foldable table will work. Then again, if you have a lightweight laptop, maybe you don’t want a table at all and you will just use the laptop.

Consider what you need for your mobile office, so that what you need is easily available.

Maybe while you are home, you have a simple bag where you store your necessary items. That way you can grab the bag when you have decided to change to a different room.

You might also use a sturdy satchel that can handle air travel, protecting your laptop. By using some sort of bag, you can have your pens, sticky pads, and anything else you might need for your office ready for you at any time.

And, of course, that mobile phone!

Garages or Outbuildings

If you are blessed to have outbuildings, even stables, they can provide an option for an outbuilding-to-office conversion. It is possible to set up a desk in one of these outbuildings, but depending on the building, you might want to actually convert it.

It is possible to grab a desk and set it up in one of these outbuildings, but depending on the building, you might want to actually convert it.

In doing so, you could consider putting up sheetrock and fresh paint and really take the opportunity to do it up right, creating a fresh new office.

It is like you are building your own office from scratch, but the foundational building already exists.

Some people prefer an office in a building that is separate from their homes. That way, you can invite clients to the office without having them visit your home.

You might even want to consider adding a restroom, a portable drink area (ice cube maker, refrigerator, coffee maker), and a waiting area (using those portable screens).

In Conclusion

Wherever you decide to create (or recreate) your office, doing so is about finding a place where you feel comfortable.

If you feel comfortable, you will be more likely to be able to create. Just remember: your office space doesn’t have to be permanent. Follow your dreams, even if you dream of a new office space idea every year. If that works for you, go with it!

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Deborah Anderson wears many hats and her addiction to acquiring knowledge. From professional training as a sound engineer at the Los Angeles Film School, to graduating summa cum laude in software architecture, and then on to becoming the director of Information technology at the high profile Bel Air Investment Advisors, she often comments that she is only just beginning. She enjoys sharing her knowledge discoveries with her readers and is always ready to offer a helping hand.

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As you all know by now, social media marketing has been around for a while. It used to be new and almost considered a novelty, but now it is becoming the mainstay.

That doesn’t mean that any of us knows everything there is to know about social media. So the limitations on our knowledge leave room for the unexpected.

What do I mean by the unexpected? We will get to that. 🙂

When it comes to promoting your small business, YouTube gives you more bang for your buck than other channels do. It is a great place to start today in our quest for additional social media marketing knowledge.

Let’s begin with the unexpected and finish out with some of the more expected tips for any YouTube marketer. Either way, we are going for an increased return on investment (ROI) when using YouTube for our online marketing needs.

Be sure to also check out these other GrowMap articles on the topic of YouTube:

Mastering the Unexpected

If you were to ask yourself what would be “unexpected” when it comes to YouTube, what would come to mind? For that matter, what comes to mind in general if you think of the word “unexpected”? What about in terms of marketing, and specifically online marketing?

These days, we see all sorts of things on social media. Some content we probably shouldn’t see and some of it we don’t want to see.

But the reality is, that is just what attracts the views. So if you are looking for exposure, meaning high numbers of views and subscribers, the outlandish content is what seems to do it.

Here is an example of a YouTube video that really hit home if you are only considering the quantity of views (and likely subscribers, too): YouTuber Fined for Operating Video Gambling Site Accessed by Kids.

Ok, I know. That is not something we should recommend, especially for all of you parents out there who are concerned about what your children are viewing online.

But the point is that as outlandish as the content is, it did attract attention. Obviously, that example is an extreme one.

So we go back to our original question and ask ourselves what it is that we can consider unexpected content. What might attract our curious friends out there on the internet?

Let’s add another question to that. What are you willing or desirous to share? In other words, please don’t sacrifice your ethics or your brand. Look for something that fits what your brand would represent or share.

For example, if you happen to be somewhere where news is happening, you might be able to pick it up on your cell phone. Then you could share it on YouTube, getting some views and subscribers. However, if the content of the video is something that is adverse for your brand, you will want to reconsider.

Something else to think about is creating another YouTube Channel. You could make one for news items that are a little more unexpected than those on your normal YouTube Channel. Then be sure to link back to your original YouTube Channel to get some traction (and traffic!).

Seven Common Tactics for Growing Your YouTube Channel

While you are letting your unexpected approach to YouTube percolate, let’s list some of the more common tips and strategies for YouTube.

1: Target Your Audience

Before you record, you need to know whom you are trying to reach. This is the same sort of idea that applies to writing a blog post. You need to profile your target audience.

When you think of your ideal customers, how old are they? What is their gender? What do they do for a living? Since it’s impossible to market to the masses, you need to create buyer personas for each group you’re trying to engage with your videos.

Or realize that your videos might only engage a certain sector of the population. This fact will also help you understand what you should write in your YouTube description when enticing your viewers to hit the play button.

2: Take Advantage of Free Resources

There are a lot of tools built directly into YouTube. Make sure you take advantage of those tools, including the ability to edit your videos. Keep in mind that you can make your videos available to the public and still make modifications later if needed.

When you are ready to move beyond the basics, there is a plethora of information on additional and advanced YouTube marketing tips.

Also, make sure you write a detailed title and accurate description for each of your videos. Don’t forget to use appropriate keywords that are relevant to your brand. That way the videos get the traffic they deserve and people can easily find them.

3: Family Comes First

Start promoting your videos to people you already know, including your family and friends. You can also market your business to online acquaintances. Ask them to share your content with others to increase your exposure organically.

Granted, this is sometimes a tactic that is not allowed for businesses and possibly makes you uncomfortable. But the key is to ensure that you use this strategy to the extent that you are able and are comfortable using it.

4: Rub Elbows

Take full advantage of online networking capabilities when promoting your videos. As a brand ambassador, you should become active on Google, Facebook, and other social media platforms to spread the word. Creating an online presence across the board will help you promote your business.

You can even make use of videos in Twitter. Don’t forget to utilize the social platforms available to you for getting the word out about your YouTube videos.

In addition, utilize public relation techniques, such as press releases, to contact editors, bloggers, and other influencers to generate free media coverage. Word of mouth is the best type of publicity. Not only does this marketing technique give you mainstream media coverage but it also helps you cater to your target audience’s wants and needs.

Oh, another thing—for word of mouth, if it is tricky to tell someone where to find you on youtube.com, consider creating a domain redirect that takes them directly to your YouTube channel. That may help you in your discussions when you do not have a pen and paper. Of course, adding the link to your business card is another great tip because it will help people find you.

5: Collaborate

Try to collaborate with other brands that are already successful on YouTube. Doing so allows you to capture the attention of your target audience without worrying about your competition. This can include running banners, having the brands mention you in their videos, or working together on video projects.

6: Create a Budget (Advertising)

If it’s in your budget, consider paying for keyword advertising on Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Facebook. Google Adwords is a powerful, cost-effective tool for YouTube video promotion. I have used it and it has been very successful!

Of course, the first step before the advertising is to create a budget. That way, you know what you are getting into and can set some limits. Remember, you can always increase your budget if you find that your advertising is going well.

7: Take Action

Encourage viewers to like, comment, rate, and share your videos by including a call to action at the end of your videos. It seems strange that you need to ask, but it is true that asking people to act increases the chances that they will (versus waiting for them to think of it themselves).

In Summary

Starting a new business is like learning how to swim. It takes time, patience, and quite a bit of practice before you’re able to jump into the deep end of the pool. But if you stick with it, you’ll be jumping off the high dive in no time.

Add a little of that unexpected and we might be seeing YOU on the news—in a good way, of course. 😉

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Deborah Anderson wears many hats and her addiction to acquiring knowledge. From professional training as a sound engineer at the Los Angeles Film School, to graduating summa cum laude in software architecture, and then on to becoming the director of Information technology at the high profile Bel Air Investment Advisors, she often comments that she is only just beginning. She enjoys sharing her knowledge discoveries with her readers and is always ready to offer a helping hand.

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You have heard the term “business analysis” or even “business analysts.” Business analysis sounds important, but is it something that you need as a small business?

You are not sure if you should add it to your list of worries or if it is just a fancy phrase to help the big companies sound official.

Business analysis is actually a crucial aspect of any company. To some extent, as a small business owner, you have more likely than not already participated in the process, even if you didn’t notice.

What Is Business Analysis?

What do you think of when you think of the word “analyze”? If you can imagine an analysis by thinking back to high school or other courses, you are on the right track.

An analysis is the process of examining what is in front of you (in this case, your business).

You identify what exists and then what might be needed. There is obviously much more to it than that, but that is a basic definition to get us going.

If you really want a geeky answer and are feeling academic, check out Bloom’s Taxonomy. You’ll be able to understand his view on analysis as part of a larger view on how people think and process ideas. Warning: it really is geeky/academic, so if you are not in the mood, pass on the link. 🙂

Many perceive business analysts as being part of a bigger corporate structure. But having a business analyst assist in your small business is equally important.

Why? Analysts help determine where you are and where you are going.

They help you develop a plan and use it as a road map for your future. They help you to reach your much-needed goals for business growth (and income!).

Acquiring a Business Analyst

Sometimes there are business analysts right within your organization capable of doing the job. Other times, you might need to pull in a contractor to help you with your analysis.

Small business owners usually have hectic schedules managing clients and ensuring delivery of goods and services. It can be difficult to step back and devise a more strategic approach on how to grow their businesses.

But if you have a qualified business analyst (even if that is not what he or she is currently doing) within your organization, by all means, keep the job home-bound, so to speak.

If you do not have a business analyst within your four walls (after all, we are speaking of small businesses here), that is ok. That doesn’t mean you are any less of a business.

Look at it this way: it means that you have economized the use of your business staff in other areas. So either way, whether you already employ a business analyst or you need to contract one, you are ready for that next step.

We have already mentioned that strategy is a part of the definition of business analysis. Sometimes, it helps to hire a business coach or business strategist to help you get started with that analysis.

These coaches/consultants/strategists have experience in understanding small businesses and their needs. So even if you hire someone who is not an official business analyst, you can still be in the process of starting down that road.

Fortunately, here at GrowMap, there are services to help you with that strategy. Go ahead and check out the GrowMap Services page.

Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed by all of the wonderful opportunities. Rather, focus on Gail’s availability as your business strategist. Checking out GrowMap’s services would be an unabashed wonderful first step for you and your business.

Role of a Business Analyst

A business analyst can determine what small business owners can do to increase their return-on-investment (ROI).

There are even times when a business analyst sees the bigger picture when the business owner only sees the bottom line. Click To Tweet

This situation is where you really see the advantages of involving a business analyst in your business. Check out this article for additional information about business analysis.

There are several forms of business analysis. If you want to stay ahead in the game, it’s important to know them. You need to be able to identify the changes that will affect your company’s stability and performance.

Business analysts play a vital role in a company. They can influence strategic planning, provide technological analysis, and analyze economic models.

If your business is small, it’s impractical to have numerous people handling your company’s analysis. Since analysis can take a toll on your financial resources, it’s a good idea to limit the number of people who perform business analysis for you.

Benefits of Business Analysis

When effective, your business analysis allows you, your managers, and any other stakeholders, to ensure that accurate information is circulated and understood by everyone on their team.

Having accurate information permits the team to work together in an organized manner. By doing so, there is the opportunity for better ROI and for you to achieve your objectives.

With today’s modern technology, business analysis software enables managers to stay on top of the constantly changing shopping trends of consumers.

This component alone is a valuable addition to any analysis. It is not required, but certainly desirable (and helpful!).

Managers can also tweak their marketing strategies and plan for projected future trends.

In addition to a business analysis, you should perform a financial analysis, even if you own a small business. Your financial analysis should include budget analysis, inventory costs, cash flow, balance sheets, and profit and loss statements.

An effective financial analysis will help to provide information to allow for the streamlining of operations. It’s imperative to understand your primary marketing areas to increase revenue and cut waste.

In Conclusion

Regardless of industry, the business world is a competitive market. Small business owners cannot thrive without a complete understanding of their customers and their spending habits.

Business analysis ensures that the decisions you make are beneficial for both yourself and your customers. It also diminishes any unrealistic expectations that could lead to loss of revenue down the road.

Too much to consider right now? That’s ok. Let’s keep it simple. Just consider your business strategy for today so you can understand what to do tomorrow. And remember, if you need help working through the fog, GrowMap has services that are right up your alley and ready for you.

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Deborah Anderson wears many hats and her addiction to acquiring knowledge. From professional training as a sound engineer at the Los Angeles Film School, to graduating summa cum laude in software architecture, and then on to becoming the director of Information technology at the high profile Bel Air Investment Advisors, she often comments that she is only just beginning. She enjoys sharing her knowledge discoveries with her readers and is always ready to offer a helping hand.

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Have you ever considered relocating to another area to benefit your career? What about another country? My family has actually relocated a few times, so we have some experience with what that’s like.

It has been quite fun, but it also comes with its challenges. It is helpful to be as prepared as possible. Managing your expectations is also important. By doing so, you will help to minimize any disappointments.

There are pros and cons to the decision to move. One way I have seen moving as a huge benefit is how it’s affected my children. Because we’ve moved so often, they are able to adapt to a multitude of cultures. This ability is not something they would have been able to learn from attending a class (no offense to teachers everywhere who are teaching cultural concepts to their students).

There is nothing quite like being immersed in a culture and facing the possibility of sinking or swimming. Our attitude has always been to put the mother country’s (or even the state’s or region’s) culture at the forefront. We want to respect the culture we are visiting and learning how to adapt in order to show that respect. We need to remember that we are the visitors.

Develop and Implement a Strategy

The key thing you need to have when moving is a strategy. This includes doing the appropriate research to determine if your plans will work and if you have considered every aspect of your move.

For example, perhaps you have a few options available. If you are still trying to decide exactly where you want to move overseas, you should consult an overseas moving guide.

You want to ensure you don’t forget anything and to get an idea of what you need to know. So do your research before developing your strategy, let alone implementing it.

Career-Inspired Move

When it is your job that asks you to move, it is often easier in some ways. For example, if your company has an office overseas, they might have a place (even if temporary) where you and your family can live while getting settled. Also, you are more likely to have paid transportation as you fly around the world to your new home. That financial help is very helpful indeed!

Another benefit that people do not necessarily think about with this type of move is that you have a built-in family. In other words, even if there are new acquaintances, you are likely to have co-workers there and they will provide you with some socialization. If the employees have periodic get-togethers, especially with their families, these gathers provides some opportunities for your family to socialize as well.

One final benefit to mention is the knowledge that your company would have when it comes to things like cost of living, etc. Whatever North American office doesn’t know, you can ask of those who already work in the office in the new country. By experiencing the move, you have that knowledge to share and will be able to help others who also have to transition.

Freelancer Move

If you are moving to another country because you find that your client base exists there or because you intend to work with a company as a contractor, you are likely making a freelancer move. In some ways, moving as a freelancer is easier because you control all of the aspects of that move. This control is good, but it also means that your financial needs and everything else falls on your shoulders.

Planning is helpful when you make a corporate move, but strategy and planning are essential when it comes to a moving as a freelancer. You don’t want to get halfway around the world, only to realize that you do not have enough money to make it all the way to your destination or to return home.

It is not a bad idea to consult with a group that understands all of these factors and can help you with your research and the strategy. In fact, compared to getting stuck in a foreign country, spending some money on an agency to help you with your strategy sounds much more appealing, doesn’t it?

Now, what are YOUR thoughts on moving to another country? Any plans?

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Deborah Anderson wears many hats and her addiction to acquiring knowledge. From professional training as a sound engineer at the Los Angeles Film School, to graduating summa cum laude in software architecture, and then on to becoming the director of Information technology at the high profile Bel Air Investment Advisors, she often comments that she is only just beginning. She enjoys sharing her knowledge discoveries with her readers and is always ready to offer a helping hand.

Latest posts by Deborah Anderson (see all)

Are you looking for an additional way of making money? Making more money doesn’t mean you need to give up your “day job.”  Whether you work a nine to five job or are a small business owner, this particular idea works for any situation.

What is the idea? It is domain investing. Or another, more descriptive way to look at it is “domain flipping.” I prefer to look at domain investing as a process. It is similar to buying a house that needs some TLC (tender loving care) and to improving the house before selling it.

That said, domain investing is not a push button success. You can’t go out and register a domain that you like and expect to easily become a millionaire by selling it the next day.

That is not to say that making money quickly absolutely cannot happen. But the odds are against you that doing so is that easy. On the other hand, you can do well by carefully implementing certain plans with a solid strategy behind them. For example, check out these successful domain “flips” from the past.

The Strategy

To help make the process easier, we based the following strategy on the investment cousin of domain flipping: real estate investment. There are quite a few similarities between the two. Let’s take a look at them now, via the investment solution site of triple net property.

Location (What Does the Domain Say?)

In real estate, location is almost everything. If you purchase real estate in a slum, the value that you will receive, in flipping it, is a lot lower than if you purchase a fixer-upper in an elite neighborhood.

In the same way, the domain name itself is very key to your ability to flip it for a good return on your investment (ROI). I once accidentally (I wasn’t paying attention) registered the domain, opportunites.com. I thought I had hit the jackpot; after all, it was “opportunities.com.”

However, it was a misspelling. Fortunately, I was able to get $300 out of it, which covered my $10 fee for registering it and then some. I was lucky. If I had been paying more attention, I would not have registered a domain with a misspelling. But, hey, I benefited in the long run.

Asset (What Is the Initial or Potential Value of the Domain?)

“Asset” is related to the previous strategy component, “Location.” You need to look at the domain (including the spelling!) and ask yourself what potential (if any) there is with the registration of that domain. But you also need to evaluate the initial value of the domain.

So the first question is the question of the initial value of the domain “as is.” The second question is the potential value of the domain.

My example of opportunites.com indicates an initial value that does not seem to add up to very much. However, the person investing in the domain might have some inside information. This is not to be confused with “insider information” that violates Securities and Exchange Commission laws in the United States.

The inside information is there might be an investor who is interested in the misspelled domain. If so, there is a future for the potential value of the domain. In that case, investing $10 in the registration of a misspelled domain was the right decision, even if you didn’t know the inside info at the time.

That said, I don’t recommend taking that risk unless there is more of a guarantee on the ROI. If you already have a client interested in the misspelled domain, purchasing it would be worth the risk.

By the way, there are even options to hire agencies to do the initial work/research for you for a fee. One example is wishcanvas.com.

Tenant (What Is Your Plan for the Domain and Is It Lucrative?)

In real estate you want to find the right tenant so you can make money off of monthly income instead of flipping the property. In a similar way, there are other ways to make money off of a domain investment besides selling the domain.

One example is selling the website. However, doing so requires registering the domain and then building the website into a lucrative investment. You’ll need to build traffic, valuable content, and more. Oftentimes, preparing to sell a website also involves hiring an agency that specializes in building sites.

Another tip is to register a domain that was registered a long time ago (like twenty years). Age matters in domain or website flipping. However, in that case, you actually want to purchase the domain from a site like flippa.com so you are obtaining a domain without any interruption in the registration.

When you own a domain that was registered twenty years ago, you know you have one with a consistent registration and no interruption. You might also want to consider flippa.com when the time comes for you to sell your domain or website.

Lease (How Can You Increase Your Profit Margin in the Correct Way?)

You need to make a decision. Are you going to register a potentially new domain and flip it? Or will you opt for a method like the flippa.com site and purchase an existing website, build it, and then flip it?

Either decision works, but consider what you are investing. Also consider what you expect to receive for those efforts, including any work or payment for services. The key is that you want a return on investment.

Obviously, the larger that ROI, the better. But you want to have a plan that at least has a good chance of being failsafe in giving you return for your costs in time and money. Doing your research ahead of time helps to increase that opportunity.

However, if a valuable domain comes your way, sometimes your research time needs to be cut down so you can invest before someone else does. It is all about making the best decision you can in the amount of time you have available.

Ownership (What Are Your Final Plans for the Domain?)

This part of our strategy is a matter of summing up much of what we have already been discussing, especially the previous two sections.

What IS your plan with this domain or website? Don’t feel guilty if your plan is to make something out of the domain for a few years and then sell it. And don’t even worry  about allowing yourself to hold onto it for several years before coming up with a plan. Remember, you can make money with it in other ways (i.e. advertising and building traffic) while you are deciding on that final plan.

Nothing has to be absolutely set in stone from the beginning, but the more that you have a plan/strategy in place, the better.

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Deborah Anderson wears many hats and her addiction to acquiring knowledge. From professional training as a sound engineer at the Los Angeles Film School, to graduating summa cum laude in software architecture, and then on to becoming the director of Information technology at the high profile Bel Air Investment Advisors, she often comments that she is only just beginning. She enjoys sharing her knowledge discoveries with her readers and is always ready to offer a helping hand.

Latest posts by Deborah Anderson (see all)

In today’s digitally obsessed world, building a reputable online presence is a must. If you are a blogger and at the same time you are the owner of small startup, you might not be able to afford to hire a digital marketing agency. You might not even have the time! So, how do eager bloggers and entrepreneurs compete with little to no budget and even less time? When we boil away all the chaff, the answer really comes down to a case of doing it ourselves. Hey, it is what it is and isn’t that truly how you have gotten where you are today? That and a lot of passion, eh?

How Do We Learn (in our current culture)?

Not too long ago, my friend (and expert User Interface Tester and Designer) Kim Krause Berg posted a poll, asking people how it was that they learn new skills for their career or job. The options in that poll include:

• Online forums;
• Online class/course;
• Q & A software / app;
• Educational videos / tutorials;
• Books;
• Blog posts;
• College / University;
• Conference/ Seminar;
• Other.

Personally, I think I have tried a little of all of those options. What about you? By the way, I would love to give you access to the poll (and/or poll results) but the poll has been completed and is no longer available at the original link. However, if you want to check out Kim’s site and see what you can learn and apply to your own business and endeavors, you can visit her at CreativeVisionWebConsulting.com.

You know what the little hiccup is, in trying all these things? Sure it is great that most of them are free, but there is no connector between them. There is no proof that we attended or succeed. I mean, other than the browsing history, how do you prove that you watched a YouTube video and that you actually paid attention while watching it? You may know that you paid attention and that you learned something, but where is the proof, or at least proof that “looks” respectable to picky clients who have the money to pay you (not to mention moving your own business forward in the right direction).

That is where this thing called “Digital Marketing Certified Associate” (DMCA) and training comes to the rescue!

What About Certification in the Digital Market?

Years ago, even many years ago, it was all about SEO (search engine optimization). However, the world has been changing and a more accurate term is “digital marketing.” It doesn’t mean that SEO has completely gone away, but it is time, in our industry, to ensure we are on top of what it is that will give us the most success.

Also, remember that proof we were talking about earlier? With the option (below), there is a certification option to prove that you have the knowledge. That means that you get two things: the knowledge and expertise to improve your business; and the opportunity for proof to show to future clients to increase your success and business income (potentially).

Fortunately, a company called SimpliLearn has come up with a solution that fits the bill. It is the DMCA (Digital Marketing Certified Associate) training program that I mentioned above, as that solution that pulls it all together. That means that even if you only know a little bit and you want to fill in the gaps and learn more about digital marketing, you are all set because there is a training program that will get you settled in AND certified!

Ok, I Need to Know More About this DMCA…

DMCA is made for the digital marketers of today. Although you may already have a degree, there are many people who do not. Since there are no specifically targeted degrees for digital marketing (in many cases), gaining as much insight as possible is what will set you apart from your competition. That even includes the competition who already have their degrees and/or advanced degrees!

Why do I Need Certification?

This definitely is not the first time that digital certifications have been unveiled. As a matter of fact, there are tons of social media certifications, along with several content marketing certifications. Unfortunately, many of them have failed because they simply didn’t live up to the hype.

DCMA helps you to overcome the barriers that online marketers face!

Two of those barriers include:

1. The Educators — It’s no secret that a digital marketing certification course is only as good as its instructors. DCMA uses digital marketing experts who actually have that real world experience to back up what they are teaching!
2. The Practical Knowledge Factor – Many businesses are left frustrated after attending other online digital marketing certification courses because the courses are not practical enough. DMCA’s self-paced program allows you to learn at your own pace, so the need to “fit” it in your busy day no longer exists. Instead, you make the program work for you, not the other way around, which is what the failed programs were trying to do (obviously without success).

Looking to the Future (Marketing Your Expertise!)

Earning your digital marketing certification is only worth as much as potential employers or new clients want it to be worth. And although your qualification is priceless, it will not do you any good unless others subscribe to see it online. Part of this is about you marketing your expertise and how you earned that expertise.

Let’s face it, while it works for some people (like used car salespeople), going out and saying “I am an expert in XYZ” moments after they popped out of their mother’s womb, it is not really going to ring as true with most people. There just isn’t enough time for that credibility to have been earned or cultivated yet.

On the flip side, one doesn’t want to hide their skills under their hat and tell no one just how talented and skilled they are. There is a reasonable balance. Let it be known that you are knowledgeable, experienced, and certified, but don’t brag so much about it that people start to think you ARE that used car salesperson!

Need Some More Convincing?

Designed by experts, the Digital Marketing Certified Associate course is specifically created to help you fine-tune your digital marketing skills. You learn firsthand about the numerous marketing tools and how, in spite of their differences, those tools are there to help you create successful marketing strategies time and time again. Through real-life projects, you learn how to create your own marketing campaigns. With practice, comes success. As Malcolm Gladwell says, after 10,000 hours, you ARE the expert.

When This Course Was Designed, Who Was the Intended Audience?

The digital marketing sector is rapidly expanding and continually offering many different career opportunities. DMCA certification is specifically designed for these groups of people:

• Aspiring digital marketers just entering the workforce.
• Entrepreneurs who have great extraordinary ideas but need to learn how to execute them successfully.
• Seasoned marketers who want to stay abreast of the latest digital innovation and marketing techniques.
• And many more!

In Conclusion…

The digital marketing world knows no limit. And, that seems to only be increasing, as time moves forward. Those who stay on top of their game are the ones who will walk away with the biggest paycheck.

It is time.

It is time to actually let the DCMA help pave the road of success for you. So, what are you waiting for with this program? Have you signed up for your training and certification?

The game of golf is very popular the world, over, with many people participating in the game for fun, as well as its popularity as a professional (whether you are the pro golfer or you are the one who watches the pro golfers)! Whether the interest in the game started when you were a kid taking your shots at a mini-putt golf facility, or you were drawn to the smooth strokes of the pro golfers as you watched them on the big screen, as a game, golf has the ability to draw the interest of those of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures.

Enter Technology

We can all appreciate technology, right? Whether we are using technology to get the job done (yes, I mentioned that wonderful word, “job”) or we are using it for fun (like gaming), or we are using it for something we enjoy (as simple as hooking an iPod to a speaker system), the list can become extensive. One of these easiest ways to realize how much technology affects our lives is to try to imagine life without technology. Just imagine what you did the last time the power went out in your area. I tell you, I am about pulling my hair out after an hour of an outage. Fortunately, we have a few movies on the iPad, and we all huddle together and watch those movies until the iPad power runs out of juice.

Get the picture? Yes, we like/love our technology, no matter how we use it.

Now, picture this. For all of you who love a competitive game that involves the outdoors, like golf, picture the introduction of technology into the game. You are thinking, aren’t you? I can see those wheels turning, and you are starting to imagine what can be done with the combination of an outdoor game like golf (notwithstanding your WII games of golf and other non-outdoor versions) and the use of technology.

Enter the Company, The Golf Pad Team

There is a company out there, made up of golf enthusiasts, as well as technology enthusiasts, who have made the dream of the marriage of golf and technology a reality. More on that later, but this is a group of people who have done their research and made it a reality.

Get in on the action! There is a Kickstarter campaign for Golf Pad LINK going until around March 8, 2017. This is your opportunity to show your support for the game of golf and the innovation that technology brings to golfers everywhere at Golf Pad LINK – automatic golf game tracking DONE RIGHT.”

I love golf, but I am not an enthusiast (yet). However, I am a technologist, and I am pursuing my Ph.D. (in an unrelated field, to be transparent). There are two things that I can say before we start talking about this specific awesome technology, based on my own background.

First, as a technologist, this is so cool that yes, it could turn me into a golfing enthusiast who visits the greens (is that the right term?) weekly, myself! And, I’m not your fair weather technologist, I am seriously into technology (why do you think I love Dragon Blogger so much!).

The second part is that as a Ph.D. learner, we are forced (ok, that isn’t a nice word).. to put a lot of work into research. I have learned to actually love it. I know. That is strange. Nonetheless, from that standpoint, I can say that the Golf Pad Team has done it right! As we get deeper into this discussion, you can see for yourself where they have done their research and applied it in all the right ways.

Let’s Get Warmed Up When It Comes to Golfing Improvement

The Golf Pad Team is not new to the world of technology innovation in the world of golfing. Simply take a look at the YouTube video, below, called “Tracking shots with Golf Pad GPS.”

It makes sense, doesn’t it? The idea of using GPS to know where your golf ball is, where it has been, and through the use of technology, where it is likely to go is a really cool concept, and it makes a lot of sense!

For more information on this technology, you’ll want to visit the Golf Pad Team and venture further, in understanding the Golf Pad Tags, or “smartening up your clubs,” as the team puts it.

The whole concept of the combination of the technology of GPS and Golf Tags that insert easily into the golf club(s), without damaging them, is already taking the golfing industry by storm. It is already an option to use to improve your golf game and become a better golfer faster! The technology was very well received in a previous Kickstarter campaign when The Golf Pad Team introduced it. The newer Kickstarter campaign, for the LINK technology, demonstrates that happy golfers are coming back for more!

The Next Generation in Golf Technology

So what is all the hoopla? Well, part of it is what has already been created (and available for you, in either the color black or the color blue). Those are the “Tags” that we mentioned.

The other part is what is coming your way.

With Golf Pad LINK, your golf strokes will result in statistics that are practically guaranteed to improve your game. The Golf TAGS (mentioned above) that are inserted into the end of your golf clubs are simply tapped against a sort of receiver (the LINK) that registers that you are using that club and getting ready for that stroke. You tap the chosen golf club at each golf hole to sort of register it and get ready for the reading.

It is compatible with the Android devices, and you do not have to have the device in your hand while you are golfing (with LINK, since it attaches to a belt, etc.)! All you need to do is tap that golf club and play the golf game. Then, as you review the incredibly thorough, detailed results, you can see where you need to improve your game.

Ok, at first, I was thinking that the LINK was only compatible with Android and I had a response ready for you. Here it is… Another thing that is nice about the Android is how affordable it is! Yes, I digress a bit here, but seriously, even if you are a Mac/Apple user as I am (did you note the mention of the iPod, above?), you can probably still add that Android device to your stable of devices. I have. I think I might have about three Android devices in the household and they do live happily ever after, even with the Apple devices sitting right next to them.

But wait, I have good news for you fellow Apple users! LINK is iPhone compatible! That says a lot. So, even if you are not an Apple lover, you have to admit it is pretty cool that the Golf Pad Team has thought of everything, even us Apple lovers. It says something about them, their research, their thoroughness, and the overall caring attitude that they have about including the masses.

Now, the best way to see the LINK in action is to watch this YouTube, below, and the opportunity check out how easy it is to use this technology! Also, read all about the LINK on their site.

In Conclusion

If you are a golfer (or soon to be a golfer) and you are a technology enthusiast, these really cool “tools” were made for you! Impress your friends with the stats! Even if your friends are not there golfing with you, you technology lovers can post your stats on your site (or blog post) and brag about how wonderful you are doing. Add a YouTube video or two, and you have it!

And, for any of you who are not enthusiasts in either of these areas, you are not out of the game. In fact, this product is your opportunity to be in the game! I know I’m on my way to read more about it and guess when hubby and I will be doing this weekend!