Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement deploring the state GOP for its failure to censure Duke.

Thesis

A thesis is a statement in a non-fiction or a fiction work that a writer intends to support and prove. One can find examples of thesis statement at the beginning of literary pieces. These thesis statements are of utmost importance, as they provide clear indicators as to which direction the writer will follow in their work.

A thesis statement is carefully crafted by a writer, and is marked by vigilant selection of words that will never miss its target. Generally, such a statement shows up in the first paragraph, or what is called an introduction. Despite writers’ efforts to prove their thesis statements, not all of these statements can be verified for their exactness. Nevertheless, they do develop an argument.

Importance of a Thesis Statement

In writing an essay, a thesis statement determines the worth of the essay by its capacity to stay focused on its thesis statement. For instance, if a writer fails to clearly mention or define a solid thesis statement in his or her essay, it will be difficult for readers to track the issue the writer plans to discuss and explain. Suppose a writer wants to write an essay on how to make a perfect fruit salad, the quality of his or her writing will exceedingly improve if he or she lets the readers know the subject matter at the start of the essay, for example:

“In this essay, I will tell you how to make the perfect fruit salad. Not only will it be tasty, but also healthy for your body.”

Narrative Thesis

In a narrative essay, or narrative section of a piece of literature, a thesis statement is called a “narrative thesis.” A narrative thesis can be an apparent one or a hidden or implied one. In both cases, such a statement is a powerful, propelling force behind an entire work, that guides it toward its ultimate purpose and the lesson it intends to instruct.

Narrative Thesis Examples

Below is a list of a few narrative thesis examples – opening lines that determine the entire course of the narratives.

Example #1: Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen)

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Example #2: One Hundred Years of Solitude (By Gabriel García Márquez)

“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”

Example #3: Lolita (By Vladimir Nabokov)

Example #4: Anna Karenina (By Leo Tolstoy)

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Example #5: 1984 (By George Orwell)

Example #6: A Tale of Two Cities (By Charles Dickens)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Example #7: The Catcher in the Rye (By J. D. Salinger)

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”

Example #8: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (By James Joyce)

“Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.”

Function of Thesis

The above arguments clearly reveal the function of a thesis statements or a narrative thesis as a driving force behind a literary composition. It guides the narrative toward its ultimate purpose, which is the moral lesson it aims to inculcate.

Related posts:

Narrative Thesis

In a narrative essay, or narrative section of a piece of literature, a thesis statement is called a “narrative thesis.” A narrative thesis can be an apparent one or a hidden or implied one. In both cases, such a statement is a powerful, propelling force behind an entire work, that guides it toward its ultimate purpose and the lesson it intends to instruct.

Below is a list of a few narrative thesis examples – opening lines that determine the entire course of the narratives.

Example #1: Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen)

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Example #2: One Hundred Years of Solitude (By Gabriel García Márquez)

“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”

Example #3: Lolita (By Vladimir Nabokov)

Example #4: Anna Karenina (By Leo Tolstoy)

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Example #5: 1984 (By George Orwell)

Example #6: A Tale of Two Cities (By Charles Dickens)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Example #7: The Catcher in the Rye (By J. D. Salinger)

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”

Example #8: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (By James Joyce)

“Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.”

Example #1: Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. The thesis statement is widely taught in the humanities, especially in English classes in high school and college, to teach students how to make persuasive arguments that cite and analyze evidence and examples researched from literary, historical, or other texts.

“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”

Resources:

Thesis

https://www.thoughtco.com/thesis-composition-1692546
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/thesis-statement
]

Keep track of homework with a built-in task list, manage your schedule and always know when assignments are due.

Juggle Homework and College Apps Without Going Insane

How many plates does a high school junior or senior have spinning in the air? Between homework, extracurriculars, and social life, it can be stressful to keep up. Add one more spinning plate in the form of college applications, and it all might come crashing down.

We can help! With some planning, it is possible to add one more element to that already long to-do list without losing your mind. Take a deep breath and follow these tips.

How to Keep Your Grades Up While Rocking Your Applications

1. Make a List

Have you created a college checklist of all the things you need to do for your applications? From asking teachers for college recommendations and prepping to retake the SAT to applying for financial aid, assign yourself deadlines and put them on the list. Thinking early admission? Better get going!

2. Keep a calendar

Plot your application-related deadlines in a calendar along with your homework and long-term studying needs. Include everything coming up in the next month, from your weekly French vocab quiz to your 5-page history essay.

3. Factor in extracurriculars

Don’t forget to schedule time on the calendar for your away games or work shifts. The goal is map out everything you have to accomplish over the next month—including clubs and social plans.

4. Where are your pressure points?

Do an important college application deadline and major chem exam fall on the same day? Avoid a head-on collision by finishing up your application early. You can’t study too far in advance, but you can get your college app done anytime.

5. Start early

This will save you from scrambling at the last minute. For example, request letters of recommendation as early as possible. You’ll avoid chasing them on deadline when teachers get overloaded right before the holidays. And as for college essays, everyone’s writing is better when it’s been put away and reviewed (more than once) at a later date.

6. Take advantage of free time

How often do we waste 10 minutes here and 5 minutes there? Create a list of tasks you can do on the fly, like making flash cards or outlining an essay. Even if you can’t finish it, you’ll feel a surge of energy when you reopen a document and see that something is already there…instead of a blank page.

7. Cross stuff out

Crossing something off your list just feels inspiring! Break your big projects into little ones. It’s easier to plan, and every task you get done helps you feel more accomplished.

8. Pad your calendar for the unexpected

One trick is to look at the actual due date and mark it down one day before. Sometimes things go awry and you need that last day. But if you don’t, just sit back and smile while everyone else stresses.

9. Just say no

Accept the limits on your time and realize there might be a weekend when you have to say no to the extra babysitting job, to hanging out at your BFF’s house, or to running mom’s errands (You can even tell her we said that!).

10. Ask for help

Call on The Princeton Review for a brain boost when you’re running low. Our online tutors can help you understand that challenging concept in calculus or give an extra polish to your college essay.

Remember, there is light at the end of this tunnel and it comes with the click of the “send” button. College application season ends with you accepting an offer of admission!

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The Staff of The Princeton Review

For more than 40 years, students and families have trusted The Princeton Review to help them get into their dream schools. We help students succeed in high school and beyond by giving them resources for better grades, better test scores, and stronger college applications. Follow us on Twitter: @ThePrincetonRev.

Class Manager

Whether or not that s cheating and how to stop it is one of the concerns surrounding a new app that can solve math equations with the snap of a camera. Packaging together favorites like Gmail, Hangouts, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Drive with Classroom, a digital hub for organizing assignments and sending feedback, the goal of this collection is to make learning a more collaborative process.

Taking the search giant’s suite of free browser-based apps and sandboxing them so they are safe for school use, Google Apps for Education is an excellent alternative to the mainstream installable productivity software, but this one has a perk that almost school board will love—it’s free. Packaging together favorites like Gmail, Hangouts, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Drive with Classroom, a digital hub for organizing assignments and sending feedback, the goal of this collection is to make learning a more collaborative process.

Resources:

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/juggle-homework-and-college-apps
https://time.com/3545695/homework-answers-apps/
https://www.metroparent.com/education/tutors-classes/best-homework-apps-students/
]

Is copying the exact statement of a definition or a theorem considered plagiarism?

Let’s say in a paper when I am talking about a theorem someone else proved, I state the result in the exact same way, word for word, as in their paper. Is this considered plagiarism? I would still give credit and citation to the result, just that I don’t paraphrase the statement.

It is plagiarism only if you state it without reference, implicitly claiming that it is your own discovery. If you say: "The well-known Mean Value Theorem" and then state it, you are OK, even if your statement is word-for-word identical to the version in some book. When stating something not as well known as that, provide a reference (to help the reader, more than to avoid accusations of plagiarism).

@Louic I think copying an equation is fine, but not paraphrasing seems like I am stealing people’s hard work.

@kosmos in sensible systems, that flag would go a human marker (academic or TA) would would spot the citation and context and not worry. Not all systems are sensible; I’ve heard recently of students being auto-failed for plagiarism scores on turnitin, and I’ve also seen scores reach over 20% just from the bibliography and a few short common phrases.

3 Answers 3

In mathematics, often there are highly optimized/perfected statements of theorems. It would be silly to alter them (introducing damage?!) just for the sake of avoiding exact quoting. Cite, that’s all.

That is, unless you have something to add to their idea, there’s scant point to changing the wording. apart from the risk of mis-stating them. just to meet a sort of fake goal. Cite and acknowledge. Be honest. With citation, what could possibly be the objection to quoting a perfected assertion of a good theorem?

‘unless you have something to add to their idea, there’s scant point to changing the wording’ Unless, for example, you’re an undergraduate and one of the learning outcomes you’re supposed to demonstrate that you’ve achieved is something equivalent to "students will be able to review and rewrite key theorems". Learning outcomes or items in marking rubrics that involve the word "understand" often are equivalent to that.

I believe there is one subtle issue. Copying a theorem is not plagiarism, provided that the source is cited. In fact, even copying ten theorems from a single source is not plagiarism, provided that the source is cited. However, from the perspective of the copyright holder (often a corporate entity) the latter may appear as a breach of copyright. Whether something like fair dealing/fair use exists and is applicable (and to what extent) depends on the jurisdictions involved. Thus, if one has an intention to "copy" a significant part of a scientific work, it may be safer to paraphrase.

@user9716869, I strongly agree. Copyright must also be considered. It is a separate issue from plagiarism. But also note that there is a rule (usually included in copyright laws) that you can’t copyright something that can be said in only one way. Some math falls under this rule.

@user9716869 math.meta.stackexchange.com/a/1854/152317 Basically it depends on how much "idea" vs "expression" the theorem is. If it is the mathematical equivalent of simple language then it may not be copyrightable at all. even if the idea is quite complex, because ideas aren’t copyrightable.

I’d say "the well-known Mean Value Theorem" doesn’t need a citation because (a) it is well known, and (b) calling it well-known tells us that you didn’t invent it, even if I personally didn’t know it.

Plagiarism is the representation of another author’s language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one’s own original work.

If you state a result or definition that someone else came up with, (in your own words or theirs), and say that you came up with it, then that’s plagiarism.

If you state a result or definition that someone else came up with, (in your own words or theirs), and properly attribute it to the original author, then that’s not plagiarism.

Things are a bit different when talking about "classical" results, if I would have need to state, say, the fundamental theorem of calculus, I would either:

The point here is that in this case there is no risk of me giving the impression that I’m trying to pass off the result itself as my own. Further, in the case of 1, I am actually using my own words, so there is no risk of plagiarism. In the case of 2, I am using someone else’s words, and thus give proper attribution.

It should be noted that plagiarism is distinct from, but related to, copyright infringement. If you directly copy a passage of text (or piece of music, etc.), no amount of correct attribution can absolve you of copyright infringement. However, this does not mean that you can never copy text directly. Doing so might be considered fair use, or you could have permission from the copyright holder, or the work might be exempt from copyright in the first place.

In general, you should make sure that you commit neither plagiarism, nor copyright infringement. (In the above example, I would feel confident that copying a single theorem from a textbook, and using it in a longer work would not be copyright infringement, but I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice.)

2) Use Quotes

If you say The well-known Mean Value Theorem and then state it, you are OK, even if your statement is word-for-word identical to the version in some book. This is still considered plagiarism in the world of academia because the student is still guilty of copying the structure of the authors arguments which is a key element of their delivery of ideas.

When you use several quotes, then you will be increasing the similarity index causing your papers to have high plagiarism.

Resources:

https://www.scanmyessay.com/plagiarism/what-is-plagiarism.php
https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/167906/is-copying-the-exact-statement-of-a-definition-or-a-theorem-considered-plagiaris

Is Copying a Definition Plagiarism: How to Give Definitions Well

]

Introduction

The cover letter is one of the most important parts of your job search. It’s the first impression you make on a hiring manager, and it can mean the difference between getting an interview and not getting one at all. In this book, you’ll learn how to write a cover letter that will help you stand out from the crowd and get your foot in the door of the company you want to work for. You’ll also learn the dos and don’ts of the cover letter so you don’t make the same mistakes that other job seekers have made in the past. This book will teach you everything you need to know about writing a winning cover letter, including:

– How to write the perfect cover letter

– The best cover letter mistakes to avoid and how to fix them

You’ll also discover the top 10 cover letter tips that you can use to make your cover letter stand out and get you the job you want. This is a must-read book for anyone who is looking for a new job, whether you’re looking for your first job out of college or you’ve been out of the workforce for a while and are looking to get back into the job market. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this book will show you how to make a great first impression and land the job of your dreams!

Whether you’re applying for a job at a company you’ve never worked for before or you’re an experienced professional looking for that next step in your career, you’re going to need a great cover letter. A cover letter can be one of your most powerful job search tools, but it can also be your biggest job search mistake. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you get it right. With this book as your guide, you won’t have to worry about making a bad first impression or wasting your time and energy on a job application that won’t get you any closer to your dream job. You’re about to discover the secrets to writing the perfect job search cover letter and using it to get the job that you want!

The Cover Letter

When it comes to the job search, there’s no such thing as a bad cover letter—as long as it’s written correctly. A well-written cover letter will get you an interview, and a poorly written cover letter could be the reason you never hear back from the hiring manager. If you want a job, you’ve got to be willing to do whatever it takes to get it, and that includes writing a killer cover letter! In this chapter, we’ll talk about the different types of cover letters, and we’ll show you the best way to write one. We’ll also show you some cover letter examples so you can see what a good cover letter looks like and what a bad one looks like. Then we’ll give you some tips on how to avoid the most common mistakes that job seekers make when writing their cover letters. Finally, in the last section of this chapter we’ll tell you what you should and shouldn’t include in your cover letters and give you a checklist to help you make sure that you’ve covered all of the important points. By the time you’re done reading this chapter you’ll be able to write an effective cover letter for any job you apply for, and you’ll know exactly what to include and what to leave out so that you get the interview you want and the job offer that you deserve. Let’s get started with the basics of writing a great job application cover letter:

1. Know What Type of Cover Letter to Write

There are two main types of job applications: the online application and the paper application. The online application is the one you fill out on the company’s website. The paper application is a paper form that you mail in to the company. Both of these types of applications have their pros and cons, so it’s important to know which one you should be using before you start applying for jobs. For example, if you have a lot of experience in a certain field, you may want to apply for jobs in that field, but if you’re just starting out in a new field, it may be better for you to apply to jobs in your current field. The type of cover letter you write will depend on which type of job application you’re using, so let’s take a look at both of them and see which one is best for you.

If you’re filling out an online application, you should use the same cover letter format that you would use if you were filling out a paper application, and vice versa. The only difference between the two is the type of application form you use, so make sure to choose the one that’s right for you before you fill it out.

Online Applications

Online applications are the easiest and fastest way to get a job. All you have to do is fill out the form on the website and submit it. You don’t even have to print it out—you can just fill it in on your computer. Online applications are great because you can fill them out at any time of the day or night, and they’re easy to fill out and submit. The downside to online applications is that they’re not as personal as paper applications, so you may not get as many interviews as you would if you applied for a paper job. The good news is that online applications are much easier to write than paper applications.

The most important thing to remember when writing an online cover letter is that it should be short and to the point. Don’t waste your time writing a long cover letter when you only have a few minutes to do it in. The cover letter should be no more than two or three paragraphs long, and it should include the following information:

1. Your name and contact information (phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address)

2. A brief explanation of why you’re interested in the job (for example, “I’m interested in this job because it’s a great opportunity for me to advance my career” or “I’d like to work for this company because I’ve heard great things about it”)

You don’t need to go into any great detail about why you want the job, but you do need to explain why you think you’d be a good fit for the position. If the job posting doesn’t tell you anything about the person who will be interviewing you, it’s up to you to convince them that you’re the right person for the job. In your cover letter, you need to make it clear that you have the skills and experience that the company is looking for, so be sure to include information about your relevant work experience, education, and any other skills that you think will help you stand out from the other applicants. If there’s a job posting for a specific position, you can use that job posting as a guide for what information you should include in the cover letter to make your application stand out.

3. Your resume

4. References

5. Salary requirements

6. How to apply

7. When to apply

Paper Applications

Paper applications are the traditional way of applying for a job—you fill out a form, mail it in, and wait for the company to get back to you. Paper applications are a little more time-consuming than online applications, but they’re also a lot more personal. You get to write a cover letter that’s tailored to the position you’re applying for, you get to include more information about yourself than you would on an online form, and the company gets to know you a little better before they decide whether or not they want to interview you. The downsides to paper applications are that they take a little longer to write and they can be a little harder to submit, so if you don’t have a ton of time on your hands, paper applications may not be the best option for you—but if you do have the time, they’re a great way to make a personal connection with the hiring manager and get your foot in the door. Here are some other things to keep in mind when you’re writing a paper cover letter.

Don’t use a generic cover letter—make sure to tailor it to the specific job posting you’re responding to. If you’re not sure what kind of job you want, ask the company what they’re looking for in a candidate. If they don’t give you any information, ask them why they’re hiring and what they hope to get out of the person they hire. You can use this information to help you write a more personalized cover letter for that specific job.

What is a business plan?

Before we get into the details of how to write a business plan, let’s define what it is. A business plan details the services or products your non-profit provides, the people on your team, the community you serve, your non-profit’s financials, the goals you plan to achieve, and how you’re going to achieve them.

“But my non-profit doesn’t sell anything!” you might object. While that may be true if you rely strictly on grants or donations, non-profits can and do sell goods and services. And a non-profit is still considered a type of business. Here’s how Investopedia defines a business:

“An organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities. Businesses can be for-profit entities or non-profit organizations that operate to fulfill a charitable mission or further a social cause.”

Executive Summary

You can draft this up first, but it should be the last thing you work on. This is the most important part of your business plan. Here you must summarize, on one page, every critical aspect of your nonprofit. This summary will determine if someone, be it an investor or potential staff member, will continue reading.

If your nonprofit organization has a significant list of achievements and needs a dedicated space for them, this is the place to do it. At its best, this section will demonstrate how past goals were met on-time. It can also show real examples of how funding challenges were met or goals were exceeded. This should go directly after your Executive Summary.

What Should You Include in a Nonprofit Business Plan?

1. Executive Summary. The Executive Summary is the first thing that any potential partner or supporter will read, and it introduces the mission and purpose of your nonprofit.

You can customize this section of your business plan depending on your purpose in sending it out. For example, the Executive Summary might have a very different focus if you are trying to recruit an expert in your service sector to the Board versus applying for a small business loan to open a gift shop.

2. Organizational Structure. This section should identify the type of nonprofit organization that you have and how you’re set up.

For instance, if your nonprofit is a 501(c)(3), you will list that in this section. (There are other types of nonprofit organizations such as fraternal beneficiary organizations, or horticulture, labor, and agricultural organizations that are structured as nonprofits as well…so be clear here.).

Also, talk about whether you have employees or are all-volunteer. Do you have (or will have) a facility? Paint a picture of your organizational structure so the reader can understand quickly what your nonprofit looks like from an operational point of view.

If yours is an established organization, you can discuss how you started your nonprofit and the milestones you have reached. Listing previous successes and accomplishments in this section can be convincing for potential partners and reassure them that you will use their funding efficiently.

If your nonprofit is just getting started, explain your vision and why you are creating your organization. Focus on the problems you see and the practical ways you intend to alleviate those problems.

For example, if you run a homeless shelter, you should mention the number of people who are homeless on any given night in your area. Talk about the number of beds you have, the number of beds you are planning on for the coming year, and exactly what services you provide in addition to shelter.

If your shelter offers wrap-around services or plays a key role in connecting those you service to other vital services, talk about those too. Do your beneficiaries have access to medical care once a month? Does your organization provide a meal? Do you have volunteer tutors who can help students who are homeless with their work? Note who carries out your programs and services and whether you use mostly volunteers or whether you have paid staff in place.

Also, talk about any other nonprofits who are addressing the same need and how your services are/will be different. Donors don’t like duplication of services, and getting grants will be tough if you can’t articulate how your approach is unique.

4. Marketing Plan. Your marketing plan should describe the specific target audiences you want to reach for both programs and fundraising, key messages you’ll use, and which methods or vehicles you’ll use to reach the right people.

5. Operational Plan. This section should describe both day-to-day operations and long-term plans for operating your programs.

What do you and your staff do every day to run programs and provide services? Be specific. How much does a single unit of service cost per person? Who delivers the service? Where and how?

Note expanded services. If you are planning on growing or expanding your services what would that mean in terms of operations? For instance, if you run a food bank and you are actively planning to double the number of people you feed in the next year, how will that affect operations? Will you need more refrigerators? More trucks? More staff or volunteers? Will you expand hours? Be ready to share in the Financial section how this growth will impact your budget, both in revenue and expenses.

If you haven’t spent time making long-term plans, this is a good time to sit down with Board members and staff and think about it in detail! Decide if you’ll start the program or secure funding first (there’s a big difference!).

Evaluation is critical to determine your effectiveness as a nonprofit — and particularly important for grants. How can you tell if a program is providing the benefit that you are promising? Potential donors and grantors will want to know how you will make sure that funds are used to their highest potential and that you are flexible enough to change if need be.

You should also talk about methods in place to evaluate various aspects of your nonprofit to make sure you’re getting a good return on investment for the time, energy, and resources you put into each area of operations.

Sources:

How to Write a Non-Profit Business Plan

https://www.moonclerk.com/how-to-write-a-nonprofit-business-plan/

Write Your Nonprofit Business Plan in 9 Sections

How to Become a Better Writer

Great writing is magic, but there is no magic to being a better writer. It is an exercise in time and suffering. The more time you spend writing, the more your writing skills will improve. No writing tips can eliminate the pain.

To begin, begin. “I don’t think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won’t be good at it,” writes novelist, activist and teacher Anne Lamott in her excellent guide “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.” The book is named after the writing advice Lamott’s novelist father gave to her brother when he waited until the last minute to complete a big school report on birds: “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”

Showing up is the hard part. Even great writers have to push themselves to grapple with the blank screen every day. But once you sit down and start, progress can be made. It gets easier every time you write; you just have to write frequently to make progress.

Believe me, I understand this is easier said than done. I sometimes will organize my office and do less pressing administrative tasks to avoid an urgent deadline assignment. I’m not alone in this. Most people struggle with finding the time to write, or worse, underestimate how much time it will take to complete an assignment well.

That said, I do get it done. I’ve been writing professionally for more than two decades. I can say from experience that writing and communication skills are learned best by doing. I can also say there are ways to make starting simpler: For instance, breaking a project into digestible chunks is an excellent way to approach any writing assignment, whether it’s a blog post, a white paper or a bestseller.

Timebox Your Writing Assignments

I like to write first thing in the morning after a run. Many writers I know work best late at night. It doesn’t matter if you are an early bird or night owl as long as you set aside distraction-free writing time, ideally during your personal golden hours.

How long you can timebox writing tasks in one go depends on the writer. Remember that it takes some time to warm up. Setting aside 90 minutes on your calendar doesn’t mean you’ll be cranking the entire time.

You should, however, be able to make progress. Seek to set aside enough time to allow for this progress, while also recognizing the realities of your schedule. (Say, if it’s a day when you have multiple meetings and you’re taking your child to the doctor, an eight-hour writing block may be unrealistic.)

If you’re on deadline, that’s another story that we will address shortly. But blocking out time consistently to write will enhance your writing ability. You don’t have to write every day, but it sure helps.

Finding enough time to write is the biggest excuse writers give editors when they miss deadlines. And sure, content marketing workloads can be challenging. Most of us are using our limited resources to the max.

However, I argue that the difficulty in writing is more of a time management problem than one with words. Writer’s block is a myth. This next tactic will help you overcome this imagined self-harm.

6 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer

1. Learn the Difference Between “Better Writer” and “Great Writer”

I hear this all the time from my coaching clients, who range from first time authors to old hands who have written millions of words. “Tim, I don’t want to become a better writer. I want to become a great writer!”

When I ask what that means exactly, they usually drop a few names off the top of their heads to give me a point of reference. “You know, like Hemingway, Capote, King, Vidal, Chandler, Christie, Grisham, Patterson, Dr. Seuss (seriously, it’s been dropped).”

Come on folks, who among you under the age of say 40 has ever read a word Hemingway wrote that wasn’t mandatory reading? Or Capote? Or Vidal? Then stop namedropping them, even though they are among the greatest writers of all time.

Probably not. I can offer tips and advice that might make you a better writer in the future than you are right now. Someone else may help you become a more successful writer, or a more notable writer. But becoming a great writer is up to you, and depends more on your God given talent and abilities than anything you can learn in a video or blog post from me or anyone else.

We writers wear our hearts on our sleeves and our egos around our necks like heavy gold chains. We would all like to be considered great writers by our audience and peers, but what matters is your opinion of yourself and how you define great.

Greatness in our industry is typically based on sales volume and dollar signs, not true talent. I’ve seen terrible books sell millions of copies, and great books languish in the Amazon basement.

2. Write Every Day

This should go without saying, but here goes. To become a better writer, you must write every day. Writing is like every other skill that can be improved through repetition and practice. Or a muscle that must be exercised to grow big and strong.

Or the “10,000-hour rule”, which states that to master any skill, you must practice for 10,000 hours or more. If you want to become a better writer, write more words more often. End of story.

3. Don’t Follow the Herd

The herd mentality is alive and well in the writing business. You look at what’s selling on Amazon and decide that you should follow that herd because if other writers are making a killing in sci-fi, why shouldn’t you?

Or you hear of someone in a Facebook group who is making a bundle writing romance, so you figure, why shouldn’t you, even though you’ve never even read a romance, much less written one.

4. Write What You Love

Again, this should go without saying, but many authors forget this simple rule because what they love to write isn’t selling, so they try to write in other genres they think will offer faster, easier paydays. That’s when writing becomes a chore, and quite often, the joy of writing dies along with your desire to become a better writer.

When you write what you love, you bring passion to the work. You focus on the writing, not the sales numbers. You put your heart and soul into it, not to mention a fair amount of blood, sweat, and tears. And you do it because you love it, not because it pays the bills. You’re proud of what you do, because doing it makes you happy.

When you write what you love, you also tend to write more words, more often (see tip #2). You will become a better writer in that genre. And maybe someday your dedication to writing what you love will pay off. Even if it doesn’t, you would have followed your heart and not the herd (see tip #3).

5. Read as Much as You Write

Stephen King said it best, “If you want to be a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” I believe if you want to become a great writer you have to read a great deal of books in your genre. For example, if you want to become a great sci-fi writer, read the current bestsellers and classic sci-fi books (bestsellers to determine what’s selling in the market today and classics to see what has stood the test of time). Listen to King. He knows his stuff. Read as much as you write.

6. Write with the Reader in Mind

Have you ever read a book that left you scratching your head, wondering what point the author was trying to convey to you, the reader? I see this quite a bit with coaching clients who are new to the craft of writing. They write their masterpiece without ever giving a single thought to the reader, the person they expect to buy, enjoy, review, rate, and recommend their work.

As an old entrepreneur, I believe you should consider the reader to be your customer, and everything you do in creating your book, i.e. your product, must be done with the reader in mind.

Resource:

https://managingeditor.com/how-to-become-a-better-writer/
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/improve-your-writing-tips-for-becoming-a-better-writer
https://emplois.ca.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-better-writer

The Iowa Teaching and Certification Resource

Like all US states, Iowa requires teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree and complete an approved teacher education program at an accredited institution. Additionally, applicants are required to take the Praxis Subject Assessments to evaluate knowledge in the subject(s) to be taught. There are three types of Iowa teacher certification: Initial, Standard, and Master Educator.

The Initial certificate is valid for two years and is issued to new teachers who meet the state’s basic requirements. Once two years of successful teaching are accomplished, based upon local evaluations, teachers may apply for a Standard License which is valid for five years. Both Initial and Standard certificates may be renewed. Teachers may also earn a Master Educator License, which is valid for five years, by successfully completing five years of teaching and earning a master’s degree in the appropriate endorsement area.

Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in Iowa

Projected Job Growth

Candidates for teacher licensure in Iowa must complete a bachelor’s degree as well as a state-approved Iowa teacher preparation program at an accredited school. You can see approved programs on the Iowa Department of Education website. You can also compare key metrics for these state-approved teacher preparation programs by using the sortable table on our Iowa schools page.

Additionally, schools may be accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) This organization was formed by the consolidation of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). CAEP accreditation is a highly respected marker of excellence in teacher education.

FAQs about preschool teachers

1. Do preschool teachers need to take continuing education courses?

Some states require preschool teachers to hold a license to legally work. To keep their credentials current, preschool teachers are required to complete continuing education classes. State requirements vary, so individuals should find out the continuing education rules in their state.

2. Is it necessary to earn a master’s degree?

While it’s not necessary to earn a graduate or master’s degree to work as a preschool teacher, pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree can help you advance into administrative education positions. If you want to advance your career, you need to have a graduate degree to achieve those goals.

3. What is the typical work schedule for a preschool teacher?

The work schedule of preschool teachers varies, but their day usually begins around 9 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. Some preschool teachers work a regular school calendar (10 months), with a two-month summer vacation. However, daycare teachers typically work all year to accommodate working parents.

4. Are preschool teachers required to complete specialized training?

Because working effectively with young children requires understanding their intellectual, emotional and physical needs, you may need to take training in child development. Child development training allows you to learn more about developing age-appropriate activities and best practices to help preschoolers build essential skills.

Some employers may require you to participate in specialized training related to the type of learning system that they use, or the curriculum being taught. For instance, if you plan to work in a Montessori preschool, you may be required to take special training to understand and implement the Montessori methods of teaching. Likewise, if you want to work with children with learning disabilities, you may need to attend training that helps you understand children’s unique needs.

5. What skills are required to become a successful preschool teacher?

Communication skills

Preschool teachers must have exceptional communication skills to tell colleagues and parents about students’ progress. They also need excellent speaking and writing skills to convey this information effectively. They should be able to communicate effectively with young children.

Creativity

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Physical stamina

6. What are the working conditions for a preschool teacher?

Preschool teachers usually spend much of their workday on a playground or in a classroom. Learning facilities vary from a single room to large buildings. The class size that preschool teachers handle also varies. Some preschools handle only a handful of children, while others handle several hundred.

Alternative Teaching Opportunities

If you already have a college degree, spending a few more years in school before becoming a teacher might not appeal to you. You might qualify for an alternative approach instead.

In some states, there are programs that allow you to hold a paid teaching position and go through a training program at the same time. For example, Teach for America recruits people to work in underserved communities.

Some states offer alternative certification programs for professionals with backgrounds in high-demand subject areas. For example, if you have a degree in a science field, a school that is having trouble recruiting a certified science teacher may hire you for the job. You could start teaching while working toward certification.

Also, not every teaching position requires teacher training classes and state licensure. For example, many preschools don’t require their teachers to be licensed. Some private school positions don’t need licensure either. Teaching overseas might be another option.

Resource:

https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/certification/iowa/
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-preschool-teacher
https://www.mydegreeguide.com/what-degree-do-you-need-to-be-a-teacher/

How to Start a Retail Business in Singapore?

Starting a retail business in Singapore can be one of your best decisions ever. A retail business, which is commonly referred to as shops, kiosks, and many more, is an efficient and innovative means to sell consumers’ needs or products.

The extent of retail sales growth in Singapore can not be overemphasized. Singapore is home to craftsmen, local artisans, and business personnel. In addition, we have areas in the retail sector such as speciality retail, food & beverages, general retailing, work, home & lifestyle, and wholesale & logistics. These areas vary but are the major retail sectors in Singapore.

However, it should be noted that not all companies or persons can start a retail business; a license has to be obtained. In addition, not all grounds can be implemented for commercial practices; for example, residential environments can not be used for any exchange services.

What is a Retail Business?

In contrast to wholesaling, the retail business is a common way of selling one’s goods or services to customers by inducing their pleasure, usage, or consumption to earn profit. Therefore, if you are buying from that local woman kiosk in your neighbourhood, you are patronizing her retail business. And in other terms, you may have the goal to buy from a manufacturer or wholesaler and sell in smaller quantities. This is also retailing.

Retail businesses influence the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country’s economy. In Singapore’s economy, the retail sector contributes 1.4 per cent to the GDP and employs 3 per cent of the country’s workforce.

We can verily say that retailing can begin in numerous forms. For one, you can obtain your goods from a manufacturer or wholesaler, offer your services to your customers, or work digitally and make deliveries of the customer’s product without a physical shop or kiosk insight. In Singapore, every e-commerce retailer that falls under Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) Act, all other licensing broadcasting services, online computer services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Internet Content Providers (ICPs) inclusive, must be licensed. And since all internet content is considered broadcast content, individuals must then take note.

Either way, it can be rightly said that the nature of the retail business would determine the approval needed or licenses required to create a retail store in Singapore. The process is quite straightforward and easy to obtain. In this guide, we are to explore the various processes needed to achieve this. Be rest assured.

Moneyyy, it’s a gas!

Very few things have more power in altering the course of your business than money. It’s an essential commodity that you need to open a store and hence it’s imperative that you plan this aspect of building your business in the best possible way. Here’s how you can get started on this.

How much will the whole affair cost?

What if things go south?

Opening a retail store is one thing while owning a retail shop for a substantial period for it to get established is an entirely different thing! Have a rough estimate of how much time it’s going to take for you to reach the break-even point, that is when the total cost and total revenue are equal.

Is there a deficit?

Don’t worry, you don’t have to Google “how to open a retail store with no money”, and bang your head around getting those finances in place! To make things easy for you, In this section we exclusively talk about how you can look for alternate means of getting the required funds:

• Bootstrapping: This basically involves anything and everything inside of the outside circle! So all the money that you invest from your own savings + all the money that you borrow from your inner circle such as friends, family, colleagues, etc., fall into this category, as there’s no external funding involved herein.

• Small business loans and grants: The U.S. Small Business Administration is a special government agency that supports small shop businesses and entrepreneurs in their journey of starting up. There are a variety of schemes under which you can avail loans and grants to acquire funds for your business.

• Angel investors: These are affluent individuals who invest their own money into startup ventures. They typically help you take your business off-ground, and get started on selling. The best way to find angel investors is through networking. Ask your friends or family members if they know any such investors. Besides, you can also find angel investors on different platforms or websites such as AngelList, Angel Capital Association, Gust, Angel Forum, Angel Investment Network, etc.

• Venture capital: VC is a form of private equity and a type of financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential. Although VCs won’t be of much help at the beginning of setting up a business, they will come in handy at the later stages when you want to expand your business further.

• Crowdfunding: It basically is a method of raising funds for a business or project by collecting relatively small amounts of money from a large number of contributors using an online platform. Indiegogo, SeedInvest Technology, Mighty Cause, StartEngine, GoFundMe, and Patreon are the top 6 crowdfunding platforms that you can look into.

Again, planning financials is something that all of us inherently seem to know for whatever reasons. However, if this looks intimidating, you might want to consider roping in an expert to take care of this because this is an essential aspect of any “steps to open a retail store” handbook that you’ll ever come across.

Deciding on branding, concept, and design

Your branding is effectively the common thread that ties together your shop’s name, your business’ logo, the shop’s interior design, the tone of voice you use when communicating with and advertising to customers, the way the shop’s website looks and feels, and the posts you share on social media – making all of these facets recognisable as a part of your business.

Why? Because the new design did not connect with Gap’s target market. Instead of warning its target market about its rebrand, Gap simply released its new designs, taking away the identity of the brand. Its audience simply did not resonate with the corporate-esque replacement, which meant they quickly reverted to the original design and wasted lots of money in the process!

When you’re thinking about your brand design, make sure it’s accessible. Many startups are all guilty of wanting to be perceived as ‘top end’ – however, you can achieve this too well, and frighten off your customers with the perception that your products will be too expensive and out of their budget.

Branding should also be memorable. Isobel Perl, founder and CEO of Perl Cosmetics, told us that creating a standout brand is key to attracting new customers: “There is a plethora of competition in the skincare/beauty industry with tens of thousands of new businesses being set up each year.

It’s also about the finishing touches. Branding might seem like an area you can save – but it’s actually the most visible aspect of your business in most cases. I nvest in the services of a designer or design company who’ll put time, skill, and effort into transforming your vision and energy into an amazing branding concept.

Sources:

https://timcole.com.sg/start-a-retail-business-in-singapore/
https://blog.appointy.com/2022/06/06/how-to-start-a-retail-business/
https://startups.co.uk/guides/how-to-start-a-retail-business/

How to Prepare for an Interview

You can prepare for an interview by researching the company and the person interviewing you. Study the job description and consider what the employer is looking for, and how your skills and experience could help. Make sure to jot down potential talking points and questions, dress in business attire and pack a few copies of your resume, references and pens.

“As soon as you get the call or email saying you have been chosen for an interview, the first thing to do is do some more research into the position you applied for,” said Steven Brathwaite, a career advisor at SNHU. “Companies will know if your interest and energy are off in the interview or if you’re not fully invested in the position. Start to get into the mindset of what it will take day in and day out to be successful in that role.”

Conduct a Self-Assessment

Another important step in preparing for an interview is conducting a self-assessment. Reflect on your career. Think about what you’ve accomplished so far and what you want to accomplish in the future. Also, consider your preferences for workplace culture. What kinds of personalities complement your own? You’ll want to reflect on these topics as they will likely come up in an interview.

There are many options for online self-assessments. Although some are designed to guide people when deciding on a career, many assessments are also helpful for interview preparation. The results may help you find the right words to describe yourself.

Conducting a self-assessment is also a good time to search for yourself online. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to research job candidates and 66% use search engines. It may be too late to do a complete overhaul of your online reputation if you’ve already scheduled an interview, but there’s still time to make some last-minute edits to your LinkedIn profile. Familiarize yourself with what employers see when they search for you so you’re prepared to answer any questions about their findings.

8). Ask Intelligent or Provocative Questions at the end of the Interview

It is important to conduct meticulous research about the recruiter, the business, and credentials before attending the job interview. Every interview session ends with the interviewer asking if the interviewee has any questions. Preparing answers that depict your superlative analysis or intelligence can help you create a positive impact on the interviewer during this phase. Avoid controversial or confrontational interrogations and ensure that your questions are not naïve or baseless when responding.

When the interview is complete, retrieve the documents and accessories from the desk and thank the interviewers. It is recommended to offer a good handshake to at least one member of the interview panel to show your amiable attitude. After getting back to your desk, send a follow-up email with thanks, for the interviewing opportunity you were offered. This helps to create a memorable account of the candidate, boosting the chances of being hired. It is best to follow up with an email after the interview to assess if you’re hired or not.

10). Practice Mock Interview

It is important to prepare thoroughly when you have a job interview coming. Collect common interview questions, tips, and advice from your contacts working in the same company or industry can help immensely during the time. Ultimately, being prepared is vital to boost your self-confidence as a candidate. To convince the recruiter to hire you must first convince yourself. It is best to seek assistance from a friend or family to help you with practice interviews. Candidates can also use a mirror to prepare and analyze the dialogue delivery, pronunciation, and vocabulary of themselves. Moreover, all your achievements are futile if you can’t prove your competencies in a personal interview!

Regardless of how thoroughly prepared you are, the interview will have many unexpected questions and moments. To overcome nervousness, anxiety, and self-doubts during the interview, candidates must prepare their pitch until confidence sets in. Practice, practice and more practice is the biggest secret to a great interview. It is useful to prepare answers to common job interview questions that apply to your industry to hold your poise and give your best at a job interview. Good Luck!

Resource:

https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/career/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview
https://www.columbiasouthern.edu/blog/blog-articles/2020/january/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview/
https://www.qwikresume.com/resources/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview/

7 Social Media Tips for Small Business Success

The biggest failures small businesses encounter in social media come from not knowing who their customers are, who they’re competing against, which channels to target, and how to engage their audience. Most are unaware of native analytics available in all major social networks and don’t know how to integrate their online and offline marketing activities or how to automate their social scheduling.

Remember that having competitors who target the same people is great because you can always check what worked for them and what didn’t, and use this knowledge to adjust your own strategy.

My advice is to start with the big fish. These guys are doing something right to get the kind of follower count and engagement they have, so why not learn from them? There are a few ways of doing this.

Use Facebook’s Pages to identify your best-performing competitors and compare their activity, engagement, and audience growth to your own. You can see exactly what content they’re posting, how often, and at what time of day they’re posting. Remember to not only look at follower count but total engagement: it will tell you how their followers are interacting with the content. Brands with high engagement rates are typically the ones to watch.

Not entirely sure who your competitors are? That’s ok. There are tools out there that can help you find the competitors you might not have been aware of. For example, with SEMrush’s Competitive Positioning Map all you need to do is to enter your URL, and the tool will automatically compile data showing you your top competitors, how much traffic they’re getting and the keywords they’re ranking for:

Pay special attention to the bubbles located above you and to your right. They represent the competitors whose total traffic exceeds yours and who are ranking for more keywords than you are.

This report will give you a good idea of who has a strong online presence, and who is investing heavily in marketing. Brands investing in marketing and getting plenty of traffic typically have strong social presences, so they’ll be good ones to check out.

If you need more advanced social media competitive analytics, tools like Rival IQ, SproutSocial, Klear, or SEMrush can provide them. They will help you track your competitors’ social pages to see how their posts perform, how much engagement they receive, which hashtags they use, and what special offers and competitions they’re running on social.

Tip #2: Pick the Right Channel to Target

If you are starting your social media journey from scratch, it’s advisable that you pull together a survey and ask your customers which social media channels they prefer or use the most.

If you’re already active on social media channels, check their efficiency. Compare the size of your audience across different channels, your engagement, and engagement rate metrics. For example, the overview report in Social Media Tracker shown below will give you an idea of which channels are worth putting effort into:

Another way to pick the right target channel is to analyze your competitors’ activity. Check which channels they put their energies into, and start targeting them too: your chances of getting noticed by the relevant audience will double.

Bonus Tip: Be ruthless in getting rid of some of your accounts and prioritize your social media marketing capabilities. Not ready to make videos? Skip YouTube. Don’t have time for blog writing? Leave it for now and concentrate on one or two channels.

Define Your Business Social Media Marketing Goals

Defining your social media marketing goals and objectives is the first step in enhancing your brand awareness. Ensure that you set appropriate and achievable goals when starting your social media marketing. Experts advise that you consider the SMART goal framework when breaking down the achievement you want from your online strategy. The goals or objectives you choose for your small business must be specific, measurable, timely, attainable, and relevant. Having clear and timely goals for your business makes it easy to plan and execute different social media strategies, track the progress and make wise decisions.

Committing to social media is the essential thing that any entrepreneur or small business must do to enhance successful marketing. Like other marketing alternatives, you might find it challenging to create good content, grow your audience or increase engagement when using social media marketing. Therefore, it’d be appropriate to commit to the marketing option by consistently creating great and attractive content. It’ll also be good to have a plan and goals, which you must follow to enhance your brand awareness through social media.

Reveal Your Personality and Identity

Revealing your identity and personality on these platforms is an integral way of enhancing the success of your brand. Creating a significant social media presence will be good when choosing the social media marketing alternative. A great social media presence attracts more followers to read your content or your brand’s website, leading to prospective customers and generating more sales. Therefore, after getting online, it’ll be necessary to show the value of your services or products and also enhance connections.

Experts reveal that most entrepreneurs build great social marketing platforms and programs by listening more to the customers. Instead of promoting your small business on various social media platforms, you must consider listening to customers’ views and opinions. Preferably, use social media to interact with your customers or prospective clients. The interaction and engagement allow the customers to provide their views or issues on your brand. Working on the customer’s concerns will be essential to establishing the best ideas to suit their needs.

8 Tips to Quickly Master Social Media for Businesses and Entrepreneurs

1. Make a commitment to social media

Like any other form of marketing, social media for businesses can be a real challenge. It’s hard to grow an audience, create great content, and increase engagement. All too often we see brands giving up on social media after just a few months.

We’ve found that it takes eight months to one year to really get the hang of social. Not only to get a consistent content stream going, but to figure out what your audience resonates with and what they don’t.

It all starts with planning. Create a social media strategy and write it down in order to hold your business accountable. Your strategy should include a basic company mission statement, content plan and goals. And most importantly, a powerful statement on “why” people would follow you on social media, what kind of content you plan on creating and posting, and what you hope to achieve.

2. Show off your personality

Creating a great social media presence isn’t only about showing the value of your product or service to your audience. It’s about connection and experiences. The best brands out there share a common point of view with their fans.

3. Listen to customers rather than promote

Social media is becoming a customer service platform and people are coming to expect it. The tricky part is, the better you get at social the more engagement you’ll get, and in turn, the more comments. So be prepared for an influx of love from your fans!

The other side is that your customers are the best source of inspiration for content. Lots of businesses are sitting on a never-ending gold mine of content ideas by simply looking at their frequently asked questions, or what people are asking on social media. If you’re stuck on what to post, look to your customers first for ideas before anything else.

You can also listen to competitor’s customers as well, as funny as that sounds. Tools like Twitter Lists, BuzzSumo, Facebook Pages to Watch, Google Keyword Planner, and YouTube are all great places to find what’s working in your industry.

4. Focus your efforts on a select networks

Social media networks are like shiny new objects. We want to be everywhere at once and try everything because we’re sure that this network will be the one for us. But the fact is we’re all strapped for resources. So if you try to focus on lots of social networks then you’re setting yourself up for a long road ahead.

We tried! At one time we were everywhere. We were on all of the standard networks along with lesser-known networks like Anchor, Beme, Tumblr, and Whale. What we found was that we were getting average results across the board. Not to mention it was taking full days to post content to each platform. It wasn’t sustainable.

For example, let’s say we write a blog post about social media marketing. Writing the copy that will get attention and clicks on LinkedIn is much different than what works on Facebook, which is dramatically different than what works on Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter.

5. Remember that success follows passion

The only way to ensure long term commitment and that social media doesn’t become a burden is to follow your passion. The nice thing about social media is that your content doesn’t have to be directly related to your brand or industry. Meaning it doesn’t have to be what everyone else is doing.

6. Experiment with video marketing

Many marketers tell us that they struggle with “what” to create video about. The best solution we have for you when it comes to “what” is to start with what works. Sort your blog content in order of most traffic and create videos around those topics.

Again, use Facebook Pages to Watch to figure out what kinds of videos your competitors are making and generate topic ideas based off of that. Use your customers as resources. Look outside of your specific industry to your favorite brands. The key is to start with what works and gain some confidence.

In terms of video best-practices, there are some scientific factors that people are more likely to interact with. One is video length. On Facebook, for example, the highest engaging videos are between 60-90 seconds. The second highest are between 30-60 seconds. Same holds true for Twitter. So keep your videos short and to the point. Save the best for first, if you will.

If you’re going to feature a person (or group of people) in your video, you’ll need a good lavalier microphone, natural light from a window, and a tripod. Sound, lighting, and camera stability are key in creating a quality video.

Sources:

https://blog.marketo.com/2019/01/7-social-media-tips-for-small-business-success.html
https://socialwebsuite.com/blog/20-tips-to-master-social-media-in-2022-for-small-business/
https://buffer.com/resources/social-media-for-businesses/