social media Archives - Tammie's Take~

Reasons To Appreciate Life

Reviews · November 24, 2018

Life is a truly crazy thing. It changes so much and leads in so many different directions that it can be hard to really look at it objectively and appreciate what you have. Many people are always looking for something else or looking forward to the next thing, rather than keeping their current situation in their mind and looking for the positive even in what might be a negative time at first glance. Here are some of the best reasons to appreciate your life and make the most of what you have.

You Can’t Go Back

One of the biggest reasons to spend your time appreciating what you have now is that the past cannot be revisited. You can remember it, think about it, enjoy those memories, but you can never actually go back there. This is why it is so much better to enjoy the present. This involves being what is known as mindful – appreciating the present time, even if it isn’t what you might have wanted. It can be hard to do, but it will make you less stressed, worried, and more able to focus on what you are doing, and do it well.

You Can Change Things

When you appreciate what you have and what is good in your life, you are better placed to see what is not so good in both your own life and other people’s. When you can do this successfully, you then have the power to change things. Create or sign a petition such as the call to end daylight saving time if it will make lives better. Change what you are doing so that you are able to be more positive. Help other people make changes in their own lives. If enough people were to do this, real positive change can be achieved in every part of every life.

You’ll Waste Time

If you are constantly waiting for the next thing to happen, or looking beyond what you are doing now to the next big achievement, then you are wasting the present, and that is something you can never get back. You might not enjoy school so you wish for graduation, for example. However, this means that you aren’t really looking at what you could be doing now to make yourself happier. The same is true in every aspect of life – take the time to appreciate what you have right now, and you’ll realize that you can always find something to enjoy, and you don’t have to always be striving for the next event or achievement to happen.

You’re In Control

When you step back and look around you and start to appreciate you life more, you put yourself in control. This means that other people and the circumstances you find yourself in don’t have any power over you anymore, and you are more easily able to stay happy and positive. For those who don’t appreciate what they have and are always looking for something more, the actions of other people and circumstances beyond their control can easily serve as an excuse for not changing how they live or how they feel. Remember that it is always your choice to be happy and positive, no matter what is going on around you – keep this in mind and practice it all the time and you will always be the one in control.

No One Is Perfect

If the reason that you don’t take the time or have the inclination to appreciate your life very much, if at all, is that you see everyone else around you doing better, having more fun, with more money or with a great family – perhaps things that you don’t necessarily have – then you need to think again. It is likely that you are seeing these things on social media, and this is the problem; people portray a life that they want others to know about on social media. This doesn’t mean that it is their real life, and it doesn’t necessarily show how they really feel.

Take a look at your own timeline, and you’ll see; much of what you have written, much of the content you have shared, and the photos you have posted will be positive, showing off what you have and how much you are loved. Then relate that back to your real life; in between all the good things that you were posting about, there will have been bad things that you didn’t mention. This is what everyone’s life is like, and comparing yourself to others is useless. The less you do it, the more you can appreciate what you have. Even if you aren’t happy all the time, the good times will hopefully outweigh the bad, and this is what you need to focus on.

Money Won’t Buy You Happiness

Many people feel that more money would buy them happiness, and so they work harder than ever, spending less time with their families, even making themselves sick because of worry and exhaustion. However, if you have food, water, somewhere to live and people you love around you, this is what you should be thinking of and appreciating. Ambition is a good thing, but not when it takes you away from your family and makes you sick. With more money you could buy more things, but do you really need them, or would it be a case of spending the money just because it is there? What would a bigger house, a newer car, or a five-star vacation really do for you that a small house, older car, and a vacation in your own home town couldn’t? Appreciate what you have, and you’ll be much more content, and happier too.

Other People Aren’t So Fortunate

Finally, it’s important to remember that no matter how little you have – or think you have – there will be someone who has less. This doesn’t negate the fact that you might want or need more, but it should give you a little more perspective and allow you to appreciate what you do have a little more.

4 Great Ways to Get Something for Free

Reviews · March 15, 2018

Spending less and saving more is something that’s important to most people, no matter their level of income or savings. Whether you’re on a tight budget or hoping to increase your growing savings balance, as the old saying goes, when you look after the cents, the dollars will take care of themselves. But, when there’s so much great stuff to be had, keeping spending to a minimum can be difficult. This is especially true in today’s online shopping era, where it’s easier than ever to spend your money without even getting up from your chair. We’ve listed some of the best ways to get free stuff and save money.

#1. Sign Up for Loyalty Schemes:

If you purchase something regularly, then you may be able to benefit from freebies, money off vouchers, and more by signing up for a loyalty scheme. This could be something as complex as a points card at a large grocery store that tracks your shopping and offers deals accordingly, or as simple as collecting stamps for a free hot drink at your local coffee shop. Sign up for as many free loyalty schemes as you can – even if you don’t use them regularly, your rewards will add up over time.

#2. Become a Product Tester:

One of the best ways to get free stuff is to offer your services as a product tester. This role involves being provided with some of the latest upcoming products on the market, which you’ll use before giving feedback about what you liked and disliked, features you think should be kept, or improvements that could be made. You could be testing anything from health products to the latest tech gadgets. In most cases, the product is yours to keep.

#3. Ask for Samples:

Many companies are more than willing to offer free samples of their products, but you’ll have to ask. When it comes to items such as cosmetics, skincare and fragrance, asking for a free sample will help you decide which product is the best for you. In some cases, free samples are large enough to be used for a while and don’t forget that you can always ask for more. Check out myfreedeals.com for the latest information on where you can find the best free samples.

#4. Social Media and Selling Sites:

Lastly, you can get some great things free of charge simply by finding people who are looking to get rid of their stuff. Every day, ads are posted on sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You can find clothing, furniture, home décor, DIY and garden products and more for free if you’re taking it off somebody else’s hands. You could even consider posting your own ad detailing the items that you’re looking for – somebody may have one that they’re looking to give away.

Regardless of their financial situation, everybody loves a freebie. From free samples to home clear-outs, these are just some of the best ways to get something for free.

Let us know what you think – we’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Should Social Media Be Banned in the Workplace?

Reviews · January 18, 2018

This debate seems to be ongoing and is, unfortunately, getting more heated than ever before. While there are valid reasons an employer wouldn’t want to see employees spending the better part of their workdays on social sites like Facebook or Twitter, what employers need to also realize is that there really is no effective way to block social media on the job. Here are some of the pros and cons – you decide what is right for your company. That’s the best answer, in the end.

Everyone Has a Smartphone, Don’t They?

While you could always ban employees from using your company’s computers from accessing the Internet, if it were really possible to do so, they still have a smartphone, don’t they? Before the advent of smartphones, it would have been easier to prevent accessing social sites, but where there’s a smartphone and Facebook app, there’s Facebook.

Proxy Servers Are a Dime a Dozen

So, you’ve gone to the expense of setting up firewalls which are ‘supposed to be’ impenetrable, but there are dozens and dozens of proxies which can be accessed to get past those firewalls. All you need to do is search for a proxy site for Facebook 2014 and beyond to find countless proxies which will easily get you past your company’s firewall. Some experts ask, why even bother trying to block access?

At the Core – Productivity

At the heart of the issue is the whole question of productivity. Many employers still feel that employees who access social media while on the clock are spending time which should be spent working. However, at least one major study indicated that workers who are allowed to access social media are just as productive, and even more so in some cases, than those who are restricted from using company computers to log into Facebook or Twitter.

The Cost of Blocking Social Media

So then, as you can see, it’s almost impossible to block employees from accessing social media from work. If they have a smartphone, they can easily pull it out to PM (private message) on Facebook or tweet on Twitter. The cost of setting up a firewall is going to be extremely high and to what effect? Since workers can access social media on personal smartphones or through proxy servers on network computers, why would you even consider spending all that money setting up a firewall? Few employees are that IT illiterate to know how to work around firewalls. Bear that in mind before wasting money.

Big Brother Is Watching You

Perhaps the best answer of all is that you don’t want to run an establishment that feels like something out of an Orwellian nightmare. Do you really want your employees to feel like Big Brother is standing over their shoulder watching their every move? Do you want them to hide in some corner where they can’t be seen while they pull out their smartphone to touch base with family and peers? How is that a healthy work environment?

In the end, only you can decide what you will and will not allow employees to do while on the clock, but perhaps you should find a happy medium which will keep everyone happy. If productivity doesn’t suffer, why not at least allow them to access social media from time to time throughout the day on their own devices. Yes, there is always a concern that your network can be hacked, but isn’t this a happy medium? If the University of Melbourne’s study has anything to show, it would be that restricting access to social media can actually interfere with productivity. Even so, the choice is yours. What do you choose?

Better Blogging: Becoming A Pro

Reviews · February 14, 2017

Most of us have tried blogging at one stage or another, even if it was only an activity of leisure. However, the industry has become huge business in recent years. If you’re a creative that loves the thought of making money from expressing your views, those online opportunities are amazing.

However, creating a blog for commercial reasons isn’t an easy challenge. It requires a lot of hard work and commitment. Nevertheless, when you get it right, it can become a fantastic side hustle. Or maybe it’ll even become your primary source of income.

Either way, those incentives are massive. Here’s what you can do to accelerate your rise to the top.

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Make First Impressions Count

Ultimately, it’s the quality of your content that will keep readers coming back for more. Having said that, you’ll never have that chance to impress them unless your website makes an immediate impact. Modern audiences have high expectations regarding design and layout; your blog cannot afford to fall short.

Thanks to modern advancements, you no longer have to be an expert to create a great looking blog. WordPress is a particularly effective platform, especially when you install a professional theme. The best thing about taking this option is that the widgets offer a versatile approach that gives the user complete control.

Given that audiences have a sense of familiarity with the WordPress appearance, it can ease their navigation too.

Add Personality

Let’s face it; you aren’t ever going to beat the news corporations when it comes to breaking the latest stories. So why are online audiences becoming more interested in reading posts from their favorite bloggers? Quite simply, it’s because there is a level of transparency and honesty.

As a blogger, the only way you’ll ever build that connection is by showing your personality. People want to know about you, which is why it’s important to give an insight into your life while developing a writing style too. Ultimately, readers want to feel as though they know the person behind the blog. Once you achieve this response, you’ll have a far better shot at gaining loyalty.

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Besides, your work will become infinitely better when you let your passion shine through. Have fun while working too, and it will feel like a hobby too.

Think Outside The Box Room

If you tend to work solely from your box bedroom, this could be limiting your success. Modern technology makes it possible to create far more exciting content. Don’t be afraid to embrace it.

A photo paints a thousand words, and using a smartphone will allow you to take snaps on the go. Meanwhile, blogging on the go will provide a far greater insight into the personal journey that is your life. Alternatively, a drone can allow you to grab unique video footage from the sky.

Aside from the increased insight, the mixture of different content can go a long way to keeping readers entertained. After all, this should be a leisurely activity for them; easily digested content is king.

Treat It Like A Business

Arguably the worst thing that any blogger can do is fall into the trap of treating it like a casual project. If you want to make money from the blog, you need to employ the same level of professionalism as you would in any other business.

Investing in your business with a domain name can instantly boost credibility. Meanwhile, hiring experts to produce additional content for your blog is a great way to maintain a regular source of work. In truth, a lack of updates is one of the most common problems holding back modern bloggers. Let’s face it; no reader is going to stay loyal if your blog updates only on a sporadic basis.

Conducting your business in a suitable manner now will encourage better habits for when it becomes your primary income. What more incentive could you ever need?

Interact With Customers

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As already mentioned, readers want to know about the person behind the blog. And there’s no better way to generate those positive vibes than by getting to know them too. Learn to interact with them at every given opportunity, and the brand will soar.

Social media is a particularly useful tool for this function. Enter debates and discussions with your readers, ask for their opinions with polls, and let them participate. By playing a more active role, they’ll naturally want to visit your site on a more regular basis. Moreover, their friends and family will see that they are communicating with your blog, which could encourage them to follow suit.

If nothing else, this will help you gain a stronger understanding of what your audience wants from your blog. If that doesn’t point you in a better direction, what will?

Collaborate

It’s only natural for entrepreneurs to believe that it’s them against the world. While the fierce competition can be problematic in many industries, blogging is not one of them.

Frankly, there’s nothing to stop online audiences visiting dozens of blogs on a daily basis. With this in mind, you no longer need to view other blogs as competition. Instead, you can work with each other to produce guest posts, create backlinks, and boost the presence of both projects. Furthermore, you could even team up to run a joint campaign or competition.

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Anything that grows the presence and readership can only be good news, even if it does the same for your partner. Do not underestimate its influence for a second.

Generate Money

As a business, your main goal is to generate money. Advertising is a great starting point, whether it’s through PPC banners or affiliate schemes. However, you shouldn’t let the task end there.

You can make additional money through many different methods. This could involve selling merchandise like phone cases and t-shirts. You might also get paid to create content for external companies and advertising companies.

Essentially, earning a greater level of revenue will only allow your blogging venture to grow at a more rapid rate. And the bigger you become, the more stable the project will be too. Get this right, and you’ll be a professional full-term blogger in no time.