I've come to the conclusion that a lot of things that might trigger a blog post are less than positive. I usually find that when I'm motivated to make a blog post that I'm complaining about something and I really hate to admit that. However, I just had an experience that motivated me to write and was not negative. On the contrary, all I can say are good things.
So what happened? Well, I had been forced to stop accepting new clients through oDesk because I could not get paid through them. I live in a small area some might call it will rural, I have no scanner, no copier, and no local Kinko's. ODesk requires you submit a signed W9 form before you can receive payments you have accrued, it's the law and though bothersome it is important.
Now, that was a quandry for me, because not even a postal address was included in their information page. Being who I am, I did not bother to go through the chat system and get help, I just searched the forums, and gave up oDesk as a lost cause for the time being. I did not want to, but could not think of an alternative at that time.
As it happened, a project came but I would really liked to have bid on, however I couldn't because I object to working and not being paid. After I thought about this for a little while I decided to do another search on the forums for a possible answer to the W9 problem. I found a possible solution, and deviated from my norm by instantly opening up a help ticket. I even went further and used for live help chat function.
I was greeted politely by an oDesk staff member named Barbara. She inquired as to the particulars of my problem, expressed sympathy over the problems I had getting paid because of my lack of a W9 form on file.
When I mentioned that other sites for whom I wrote for accommodated persons like myself who did not have the means to fax or e-mail or scan, she asked how they accommodated users like me. She further explained the question was in order to improve the oDesk user experience.
She offered a snail mail address, and also explained why certain policies were in effect, she even ventured an opinion (making sure I knew it WAS only opinion) as to the possibility of my W9 form being accepted without a signature.
Now, I did exactly she suggested and e-mailed the form, as well as used snail mail to send and sat back to wait figuring it would be at least a couple of weeks. I didn't have long to wait.
Literally, the next day I went to my account on oDesk and found that she had indeed been correct, and the form was accepted.
So, why would I blog about this? Well, it could be the speed of response by accounting whom I would like to thank as well, but it isn't. It could be the ever so polite and very helpful staff member, on the live help session, yeah that's part of it, and big part of it.
It was the fact, that this live help staff member who doubtless had many other duties to take care of, not only took the time to let me know she understood and even sympathized with my problem, but went even further to suggest possible ways within the oDesk policy to handle it. Not all that she suggested suited me, but she took the time she doubtless did not have and used everything she knew to try and resolve my issue and did it politely.
It just goes to show that a little care in handling people goes a long way even if they are only a provider. I can now bid on the job that interested me, and will do so happily because I will also be paid.
Note to self: the help function is there for a reason, so next time use it before giving up totally.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Fussy Freelancer Working At Home
As competitive as today's market is in the area of writing, you would think it would not pay to be a fussy or picky freelancer, right? Maybe not, but that is me exactly. I still have clients through oDesk and occasionally bid on projects, but my time there made me understand I have some very strong biases, and can be considered fussy.
What makes me think it is ok to be fussy, and how do I feel I can get away with it while competing with persons from India or the Philippines or Pakistan who would be delighted to write the stuff I snub, and would do it for the miraculous rate of $1.00 per hour?
Not to sound conceited but I charge far less than I am worth per hour. I am a native-English speaker and no editor will ever have to clean up text written by me, that reads "and u can get a happy home safe family with our road driven pedal cycles" (yes, I have had to clean up such debacles in the past for others).
What makes me call myself fussy or picky? I think it is what things I avoid when looking over buyers that is the proper answer.
I avoid any buyer how has a history of hiring a freelancer at $1.00 or $2.00 an hour to write for them. That type of hiring history indicates to me they are persons to be avoided. I tend to be really a stickler about the quality of writing I produce. Besides, those types would never bother with a writer with MY hourly rate.
Sue me if the reasoning seems frivolous, buyers can reject me for far smaller reasons, like not providing a photo with my application. I can assure anyone in doubt, that not a single photo of me has ever produced an article, story, or opinion piece. Man, what are they doing with those photos?
I refuse to ghost-write full length books for any person based on anything at all. I might be a starving writer, but I am a good one. I will save that talent for my own books with my own name, thank you very much. Having an idea is not a unique talent, delivering the idea in a readable and entertaining fashion is.
On the same topic I will not write creative fiction on a "per hour" basis, with what seems to me to be unrealistic expectations on how long it should take. Short stories take longer to pass out to the various voices in my head, than the 1 hour you have allotted for your project. In fact as quickly as I type, that 15,000 word story would take longer to type out, proofread, and edit, even if pre-written, than you have allowed for the entire creative process. Find someone who doesn't care about plot or story continuity and who is willing to work those extra hours for no pay.
I refuse how-to articles on keylogging, pirating, cheating, or hacking, dialers or how to deliver spyware. Yes, I know the topics, but that doesn't mean I will write for anyone about how to do them. I won't touch blackhat SEO either. In the long run it is counterproductive, and worse, it's wrong.
I also try and avoid articles deemed "rewrites". That is not because they are wrong, or that they are in any way bad. It's because it is tough for me to take some other person's words and ideas and just rearrange them with no attempt to make them unique. Early training about plagiarism left me with an inability to do that in a timely fashion. I add that to my fussy list because a starving writer really can't afford those sensibilities.
I avoid topics I personally deem just plain wrong, violent or exploitive. That's not to say I am a prude. I have done adult topics over the last four years and see nothing wrong with adult content writing. I do however object to violence in adult topics, anything underage, and things that go against what is generally regarded as common morality. I suppose that is another fussy item on my list and that maybe should not be, but everyone has their limits.
I avoid any project that requires a writer butcher quality, or content in favor of brevity. I know, it's a skill, and one I have not mastered even after all this time. I enjoy words, I revel in ideas, and the thought of leaving out important items, just makes me cry. I would love to be able to, but I just can't.
Again I ask myself, with such hardcore biases against certain topics and buyer types what makes me think I can get away with being fussy and still survive?
I have no idea why I think that way. However, the proof is in the pudding as they say, and I make a nice living for a starving writer.
I suppose it comes down to a balance that includes being able to express yourself creatively, survive by doing what you love, avoid things you feel you do poorly, and still to maintain personal ethics in the face of economic pressure.
What makes me think it is ok to be fussy, and how do I feel I can get away with it while competing with persons from India or the Philippines or Pakistan who would be delighted to write the stuff I snub, and would do it for the miraculous rate of $1.00 per hour?
Not to sound conceited but I charge far less than I am worth per hour. I am a native-English speaker and no editor will ever have to clean up text written by me, that reads "and u can get a happy home safe family with our road driven pedal cycles" (yes, I have had to clean up such debacles in the past for others).
What makes me call myself fussy or picky? I think it is what things I avoid when looking over buyers that is the proper answer.
I avoid any buyer how has a history of hiring a freelancer at $1.00 or $2.00 an hour to write for them. That type of hiring history indicates to me they are persons to be avoided. I tend to be really a stickler about the quality of writing I produce. Besides, those types would never bother with a writer with MY hourly rate.
Sue me if the reasoning seems frivolous, buyers can reject me for far smaller reasons, like not providing a photo with my application. I can assure anyone in doubt, that not a single photo of me has ever produced an article, story, or opinion piece. Man, what are they doing with those photos?
I refuse to ghost-write full length books for any person based on anything at all. I might be a starving writer, but I am a good one. I will save that talent for my own books with my own name, thank you very much. Having an idea is not a unique talent, delivering the idea in a readable and entertaining fashion is.
On the same topic I will not write creative fiction on a "per hour" basis, with what seems to me to be unrealistic expectations on how long it should take. Short stories take longer to pass out to the various voices in my head, than the 1 hour you have allotted for your project. In fact as quickly as I type, that 15,000 word story would take longer to type out, proofread, and edit, even if pre-written, than you have allowed for the entire creative process. Find someone who doesn't care about plot or story continuity and who is willing to work those extra hours for no pay.
I refuse how-to articles on keylogging, pirating, cheating, or hacking, dialers or how to deliver spyware. Yes, I know the topics, but that doesn't mean I will write for anyone about how to do them. I won't touch blackhat SEO either. In the long run it is counterproductive, and worse, it's wrong.
I also try and avoid articles deemed "rewrites". That is not because they are wrong, or that they are in any way bad. It's because it is tough for me to take some other person's words and ideas and just rearrange them with no attempt to make them unique. Early training about plagiarism left me with an inability to do that in a timely fashion. I add that to my fussy list because a starving writer really can't afford those sensibilities.
I avoid topics I personally deem just plain wrong, violent or exploitive. That's not to say I am a prude. I have done adult topics over the last four years and see nothing wrong with adult content writing. I do however object to violence in adult topics, anything underage, and things that go against what is generally regarded as common morality. I suppose that is another fussy item on my list and that maybe should not be, but everyone has their limits.
I avoid any project that requires a writer butcher quality, or content in favor of brevity. I know, it's a skill, and one I have not mastered even after all this time. I enjoy words, I revel in ideas, and the thought of leaving out important items, just makes me cry. I would love to be able to, but I just can't.
Again I ask myself, with such hardcore biases against certain topics and buyer types what makes me think I can get away with being fussy and still survive?
I have no idea why I think that way. However, the proof is in the pudding as they say, and I make a nice living for a starving writer.
I suppose it comes down to a balance that includes being able to express yourself creatively, survive by doing what you love, avoid things you feel you do poorly, and still to maintain personal ethics in the face of economic pressure.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Gamer Writer - Maybe Not
You know, about every gamer I have ever met has said "I would give my left "insert body part here" to write about games for a living. Sure they have but what is the reality?
I am a writer, and whatever my client asks for that is what I write about. Lately, my clients have asked for game material. I am also a gamer and it seemed ideal to me. Write about something I enjoy? How sweet.
The reality though is not so sweet, as I found out. First, the games that my clients ask for are not always the ones I really enjoy playing. No problem, I don't particularly enjoy cleaning my fridge out but I have written about it before, and there's always the chance that I will be asked to write about one of my favorite games.
Here's the real deal on writing about games. You spend a lot of time researching the game itself and a lot more time reading what other people are saying about the game before you ever load it up, and when you do finally get to play, it is to be able to write knowledgeably about the game mechanics, controls and general playability.
Oh and beta keys, yeah those come with game writing too sometimes but in my experience, well it's not always the most pleasurable thing to play a game and every moment be thinking about what you will be saying about it.
Recently I had to opportunity to write about a game that I enjoy, World of Warcraft. I reviewed certain paid guides that are out on the net. Believe me, it wasn't as fun as it sounds when you are not doing it.
Maybe it sounds like a dream job but believe me every "job" has it's drawbacks and in game writing it is paid for in loss of time in games you like.
I am a writer, and whatever my client asks for that is what I write about. Lately, my clients have asked for game material. I am also a gamer and it seemed ideal to me. Write about something I enjoy? How sweet.
The reality though is not so sweet, as I found out. First, the games that my clients ask for are not always the ones I really enjoy playing. No problem, I don't particularly enjoy cleaning my fridge out but I have written about it before, and there's always the chance that I will be asked to write about one of my favorite games.
Here's the real deal on writing about games. You spend a lot of time researching the game itself and a lot more time reading what other people are saying about the game before you ever load it up, and when you do finally get to play, it is to be able to write knowledgeably about the game mechanics, controls and general playability.
Oh and beta keys, yeah those come with game writing too sometimes but in my experience, well it's not always the most pleasurable thing to play a game and every moment be thinking about what you will be saying about it.
Recently I had to opportunity to write about a game that I enjoy, World of Warcraft. I reviewed certain paid guides that are out on the net. Believe me, it wasn't as fun as it sounds when you are not doing it.
Maybe it sounds like a dream job but believe me every "job" has it's drawbacks and in game writing it is paid for in loss of time in games you like.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Freelancing At Odesk - Some Thoughts
I follow the forums at oDesk as well as apply for projects there. I have had a good level of success through them, that gets better daily, and have noticed the "I can't get a project" threads popping up like a room full of wails. I had no trouble getting projects through them in fact, now I would do only a few crucial things differently.
What follows are some thoughts about what I would do differently though if I started freelancing for them today. as well as what I would in no way change.
Things I Would Do Now For My First Job At oDesk
I have been registered at oDesk since March. I did not get my first job until May 14 because it was not until May 9th that I filled in a profile and actually applied for a project.
Yes, I would start as soon as I opened my account.
I would read the help manual thoroughly. I read quickly, I comprehend most of what I skim and that's what I did for the oDesk readiness test which is simple to pass.
If I started today, I would read it slowly thoroughly and then re-read it. Things I skimmed over were important.
I would start reading the forums immediately. I did not start until it occurred to me I needed profile help. I learned a lot here. I also would immediately take the advice I was given from it, instead of trying my own way first.
I might even skip looking at other provider profiles this time. It's intimidating to see the level of talent and education I am up against. However, it has made me even more grateful when I got a project.
I would assess my own skills more realistically. What I mean by that is, understand my own limitations and yet still maintain my sense of worth in the company of some far more talented people with amazing skills.
I would definitely value what I CAN do more right from the start, instead of worrying about what I can't do.
Things I would not do differently
I would still approach every single application individually. I would continue to assess whether I felt fit to perform this job and then proceed to attempt to convince the employer that my skills are just what he needs. Yes, I would sell myself every time to the best of my abilities, but only when I was sure I could deliver.
I would read every job posting carefully and proceed with caution, always remembering that if it seems too good to be true then, it probably is. "Money for nothin' and your chicks for free" is just a song.
I would re-re-read the odesk rules of conduct and especially the part about working outside of oDesk with buyers contacted through oDesk. Sure, that rule protects Odesk because they don't get a dime if the buyer takes me outside oDesk, but it protects me too. At least there, I get to leave negative feedback if they don't pay me.
I too have received invitations where it was stated they would be making payment outside of oDesk. Knowing the rules protected me and I avoided a lot of heartache.
I would continue to examine the buyer before I made a bid. I would check their payment method right off, make sure it's verified. I would check to see if they have other jobs posted and especially completed. They have a lot more information about me, but at least it is something to go on. I am careful because I prefer fixed rate projects.
I would approach every job with enthusiasm and honesty. That buyer's satisfaction would be the first thing on my mind because I am not Jane Doe who was hired, with a pension plan and benefits or tenure, and they keep around because it's too much trouble to fire me and train a replacement.
I am a freelancer, and a buyer can easily replace me on a whim, so it behooves me to make it so he doesn't want to.
Every single time I get a project it is because I sold myself. For every position there are tons of well qualified applicants. I would continue to remember that.
Final Thoughts
How did I get my first position so easily compared to others experiences?
It surely is not because I possess more talent than others, in fact I possess less than many others.
A fat portfolio? Hardly.
Education or certifications? No. A BA is barely enough to get a job at McDonalds these days.
High test scores? No, my high scores are in areas not even applicable to what I do.
Those things are contributing factors. They help but they don't make the entire picture.
Enthusiasm, honesty, communication. Approach each buyer as an individual, they are. Impress them the same way you would in a real life interview. Nothing is owed to me - ever. I earn it and others can too.
Most of all communicate. Even if English is not your first language and especially if it is not their first language. I have some long standing (4 years now) Dutch, Russian, and South African clients.
I take the time to communicate clearly. If I need a word that will convey something to them I look it up with the help of a translator. English is my first language but it's not theirs.
Not every freelancer is a writer, and communication skill levels vary.
However anyone, and I do mean anyone, can take the time to sit down and construct a decent cover letter built JUST for that project and addressing everything the buyer has focused on in the project outline.
That person who reads your cover letter is human. Talk to him as if he were and show concern for this concerns.
If it is nothing more than saying "I understand you desire people in green tights sitting in blue chairs typing nonesense characters into a blank computer screen. I own a pair of green tights, and my desk chair is blue, and I can easily turn off my monitor." and adding "I have not done this sort of project before, but I believe that my experience in sitting in green chairs wearing a blue tutu typing random phrases with my keyboard disconnected is very close and will help me shorten my learning curve and produce better quality nonesense more quickly".
Then I might add, "Though the random phrases I typed in my last project are covered by a non-disclosure agreement and I can't provide a link to the finished product, the link to the project is in my feedback listed under "Can you type stylish nonesense?" (and then insert the link). It was a great project and a lot of fun and I just know I would enjoy green tights too."
I might finish with "I understand you want a blank monitor. For this project would you prefer the monitor be turned off or fully disconnected from the computer? I can do either."
Ok, so that's an exaggerated example but the principle behind it holds true. I took the time to reflect back to the buyer that he wanted those qualifications and I understood and was excited. I went further and also asked questions that occurred to me as to obvious means of producing this product.
In a real project, qualifications and concerns are much more logical to the buyer than this fanciful example but sometimes just as detailed. It is his money he is spending on a project, address his concerns!
Now I feel better. I just had to say it. The lack of success that some people report on oDesk seems to me, not to be a reflection always of their skill or their willingness to work (sometimes though). It seems more a failure on their part to communicate their concern for the client, and their excitement at a topic or a particular project, and their related experiences as they apply to that project and that buyer's needs.
What follows are some thoughts about what I would do differently though if I started freelancing for them today. as well as what I would in no way change.
Things I Would Do Now For My First Job At oDesk
I have been registered at oDesk since March. I did not get my first job until May 14 because it was not until May 9th that I filled in a profile and actually applied for a project.
Yes, I would start as soon as I opened my account.
I would read the help manual thoroughly. I read quickly, I comprehend most of what I skim and that's what I did for the oDesk readiness test which is simple to pass.
If I started today, I would read it slowly thoroughly and then re-read it. Things I skimmed over were important.
I would start reading the forums immediately. I did not start until it occurred to me I needed profile help. I learned a lot here. I also would immediately take the advice I was given from it, instead of trying my own way first.
I might even skip looking at other provider profiles this time. It's intimidating to see the level of talent and education I am up against. However, it has made me even more grateful when I got a project.
I would assess my own skills more realistically. What I mean by that is, understand my own limitations and yet still maintain my sense of worth in the company of some far more talented people with amazing skills.
I would definitely value what I CAN do more right from the start, instead of worrying about what I can't do.
Things I would not do differently
I would still approach every single application individually. I would continue to assess whether I felt fit to perform this job and then proceed to attempt to convince the employer that my skills are just what he needs. Yes, I would sell myself every time to the best of my abilities, but only when I was sure I could deliver.
I would read every job posting carefully and proceed with caution, always remembering that if it seems too good to be true then, it probably is. "Money for nothin' and your chicks for free" is just a song.
I would re-re-read the odesk rules of conduct and especially the part about working outside of oDesk with buyers contacted through oDesk. Sure, that rule protects Odesk because they don't get a dime if the buyer takes me outside oDesk, but it protects me too. At least there, I get to leave negative feedback if they don't pay me.
I too have received invitations where it was stated they would be making payment outside of oDesk. Knowing the rules protected me and I avoided a lot of heartache.
I would continue to examine the buyer before I made a bid. I would check their payment method right off, make sure it's verified. I would check to see if they have other jobs posted and especially completed. They have a lot more information about me, but at least it is something to go on. I am careful because I prefer fixed rate projects.
I would approach every job with enthusiasm and honesty. That buyer's satisfaction would be the first thing on my mind because I am not Jane Doe who was hired, with a pension plan and benefits or tenure, and they keep around because it's too much trouble to fire me and train a replacement.
I am a freelancer, and a buyer can easily replace me on a whim, so it behooves me to make it so he doesn't want to.
Every single time I get a project it is because I sold myself. For every position there are tons of well qualified applicants. I would continue to remember that.
Final Thoughts
How did I get my first position so easily compared to others experiences?
It surely is not because I possess more talent than others, in fact I possess less than many others.
A fat portfolio? Hardly.
Education or certifications? No. A BA is barely enough to get a job at McDonalds these days.
High test scores? No, my high scores are in areas not even applicable to what I do.
Those things are contributing factors. They help but they don't make the entire picture.
Enthusiasm, honesty, communication. Approach each buyer as an individual, they are. Impress them the same way you would in a real life interview. Nothing is owed to me - ever. I earn it and others can too.
Most of all communicate. Even if English is not your first language and especially if it is not their first language. I have some long standing (4 years now) Dutch, Russian, and South African clients.
I take the time to communicate clearly. If I need a word that will convey something to them I look it up with the help of a translator. English is my first language but it's not theirs.
Not every freelancer is a writer, and communication skill levels vary.
However anyone, and I do mean anyone, can take the time to sit down and construct a decent cover letter built JUST for that project and addressing everything the buyer has focused on in the project outline.
That person who reads your cover letter is human. Talk to him as if he were and show concern for this concerns.
If it is nothing more than saying "I understand you desire people in green tights sitting in blue chairs typing nonesense characters into a blank computer screen. I own a pair of green tights, and my desk chair is blue, and I can easily turn off my monitor." and adding "I have not done this sort of project before, but I believe that my experience in sitting in green chairs wearing a blue tutu typing random phrases with my keyboard disconnected is very close and will help me shorten my learning curve and produce better quality nonesense more quickly".
Then I might add, "Though the random phrases I typed in my last project are covered by a non-disclosure agreement and I can't provide a link to the finished product, the link to the project is in my feedback listed under "Can you type stylish nonesense?" (and then insert the link). It was a great project and a lot of fun and I just know I would enjoy green tights too."
I might finish with "I understand you want a blank monitor. For this project would you prefer the monitor be turned off or fully disconnected from the computer? I can do either."
Ok, so that's an exaggerated example but the principle behind it holds true. I took the time to reflect back to the buyer that he wanted those qualifications and I understood and was excited. I went further and also asked questions that occurred to me as to obvious means of producing this product.
In a real project, qualifications and concerns are much more logical to the buyer than this fanciful example but sometimes just as detailed. It is his money he is spending on a project, address his concerns!
Now I feel better. I just had to say it. The lack of success that some people report on oDesk seems to me, not to be a reflection always of their skill or their willingness to work (sometimes though). It seems more a failure on their part to communicate their concern for the client, and their excitement at a topic or a particular project, and their related experiences as they apply to that project and that buyer's needs.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Some Thoughts On Lolcats And Internet Marketing
If you don't know the term lolspeak, or have never seen an lolcat, then, for shame. I also extend my pity to you professionals in web marketing. You have missed the evolution of a phenomenon that demonstrates how one talented and driven individual can take an idea on the web and make it grow and pay and eventually even extend to the physical world.
First off the name Lolcats and Lolspeak has become recognizable to a large group of surfers and they are a surprisingly diverse crowd.
The idea of captioned cute kittens or other animals was not his own. They have been passed around on boards and emails for a little bit of forever in scattered collections or odd posts. It's what he did with the idea and that makes the site memorable even if you don't fall for those big eyed kittens doing impossibly cute kitteny things. If you don't observe Caturday or subscribe to the existence of either basement cat or ceiling cat this site is still incredibly notable due to the way it is optimized and utilizes every social bookmarking and web 2.0 concept he can find.
I mentioned the idea of such cuteness did not originate with the site owner. It was floating all over the web and tough to find though. It's what he did with the idea that matters. He took this scattered and uncategorized collection of cuteness and built a site. Good idea huh? Great and a super name for it. Tagged after a super cute cat too the name is Icanhascheezburger.com. The lolcats as they are called were categorized, tagged, dug, tweeted, rssed, and marketed well. Even his photo names are search engine friendly and of course the ever present viral marketing where he hosts the photo at the price of leaving a link to Icanhascheezburger.com in place. Marketing done right works, and this marketing has been done right.
He has an uploader in place where cat photos can be uploaded and captioned by users though I suspect most of the very memorable catchword cuteness might come from his own or his staff's brains.
As you may suspect already I am a huge Lolcat fan and though I find the lolspeak rather difficult to use, I still appreciate it.
I have followed the site from the days when the ads were much fewer and no big names advertised there in fact it seems there were google ads at one time (I could be wrong), and there was no lolcat game sponsored by Walmart. In other words from the small days and I must admit not only the cuteness draws me but his astuteness in building and marketing and utilizing every tool available to a reputable website.
Yes there are actual real world occurences of lolcats people loved them, love them still and the craze grows instead of fading. There are lol gatherings, art shows, t-shirts and other things. In some places online and in the real world to say "I can has *fill in the blank*" elicits not only a burst of laughter but perhaps a response like "I has a bukkit". Trust me, he has done his job well and many online marketers could do worse than to study his methods.
I have no insider knowledge of his site just observations by a fan and a few scattered tidbits picked up here and there in various places. However what he has done and how it is presented is evident to anyone just by viewing his site. After all this build up and talking about this unknown to me, person's efforts and successes it is only fair I also put in a link. Yes, an organic, unasked for, unpaid, unreciprocated, natural link to his site - oh I know, he has plenty of incoming links, but he worked hard for them. So here's my favorite lolcat of the hour. Enjoy and maybe learn something from this incredible marketer with a great sense of humor and horrid spelling.
First off the name Lolcats and Lolspeak has become recognizable to a large group of surfers and they are a surprisingly diverse crowd.
The idea of captioned cute kittens or other animals was not his own. They have been passed around on boards and emails for a little bit of forever in scattered collections or odd posts. It's what he did with the idea and that makes the site memorable even if you don't fall for those big eyed kittens doing impossibly cute kitteny things. If you don't observe Caturday or subscribe to the existence of either basement cat or ceiling cat this site is still incredibly notable due to the way it is optimized and utilizes every social bookmarking and web 2.0 concept he can find.
I mentioned the idea of such cuteness did not originate with the site owner. It was floating all over the web and tough to find though. It's what he did with the idea that matters. He took this scattered and uncategorized collection of cuteness and built a site. Good idea huh? Great and a super name for it. Tagged after a super cute cat too the name is Icanhascheezburger.com. The lolcats as they are called were categorized, tagged, dug, tweeted, rssed, and marketed well. Even his photo names are search engine friendly and of course the ever present viral marketing where he hosts the photo at the price of leaving a link to Icanhascheezburger.com in place. Marketing done right works, and this marketing has been done right.
He has an uploader in place where cat photos can be uploaded and captioned by users though I suspect most of the very memorable catchword cuteness might come from his own or his staff's brains.
As you may suspect already I am a huge Lolcat fan and though I find the lolspeak rather difficult to use, I still appreciate it.
I have followed the site from the days when the ads were much fewer and no big names advertised there in fact it seems there were google ads at one time (I could be wrong), and there was no lolcat game sponsored by Walmart. In other words from the small days and I must admit not only the cuteness draws me but his astuteness in building and marketing and utilizing every tool available to a reputable website.
Yes there are actual real world occurences of lolcats people loved them, love them still and the craze grows instead of fading. There are lol gatherings, art shows, t-shirts and other things. In some places online and in the real world to say "I can has *fill in the blank*" elicits not only a burst of laughter but perhaps a response like "I has a bukkit". Trust me, he has done his job well and many online marketers could do worse than to study his methods.
I have no insider knowledge of his site just observations by a fan and a few scattered tidbits picked up here and there in various places. However what he has done and how it is presented is evident to anyone just by viewing his site. After all this build up and talking about this unknown to me, person's efforts and successes it is only fair I also put in a link. Yes, an organic, unasked for, unpaid, unreciprocated, natural link to his site - oh I know, he has plenty of incoming links, but he worked hard for them. So here's my favorite lolcat of the hour. Enjoy and maybe learn something from this incredible marketer with a great sense of humor and horrid spelling.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Portable Wi-Fi Booster – Four Simple Items To Make Your Own, Even While Travelling!
I prepared this piece first, because I needed some portfolio pieces for Odesk to show buyers what I am capable of. Most of my earlier work is covered by contracts and non-disclosure agreements and other nasties that come with being a writer-for-hire. New content was in order!
Of course when figuring out what to write about I chose something that was of interest to me. That doesn't narrow it down very much because there is seriously little that doesn't interest me.
Anyway I came across several plans for parabolic boosters for wi-fi antennas. I even examined and tried the famous cantenna, I found it was a bit more complex than the average traveller or aged geek-want-to-be might prefer. I finally found a video on youtube and modified the instructions (a lot) to suit what I wanted and needed.
Unless you are in the perfect spot in your home with nothing between you and your router or maybe you are wired with cable then you have probably experienced weak signals and unreliable wi-fi connections.
I own a home pc in the perfect spot in my home, unfortunately it is also the spot with the weakest signal from my router, and I also have a laptop with an external antenna which was not doing the job while travelling. I tired of buying $50.00 boosters that did not seem to work, or worse worked and then broke quickly with continued use and dismantling (pigtail connectors are delicate, expensive, and with continued use from insertion and removal as in the case of a traveler with a laptop, they will wear out speedily).
Oh yes, one more detail, I could not build a simple lever even if provided the pre-cut part! Does this sound like an impossible situation or even worse, a familiar one?
The situation wasn’t hopeless though. I found the answer for me in the parabolic antenna booster! The name sounds a bit intimidating and strange, doesn’t it? It’s actually a home-made wi-fi booster that can be built by even the clumsiest of people (that would be me). If I can, then you can too, given only a few minutes and some very simple items. There are a number of variations and of course levels of skill in building boosters but when working with the technologically impaired (myself namely) then simpler is always better.
The wi-fi booster I chose to explain today is a easy one perfectly suited for travelling – the simplest I could find – in terms of tools and skills needed. I discarded the idea of a cantenna for today, because the tools required are a soldering iron a Pringle’s can, a pigtail (pigtail weaknesses have already been mentioned) and some heavy wire, and these are not items the run of the mill traveler might carry about or care to obtain routinely.
If by chance you don’t happen to have these simple items they can be picked up cheaply if you are travelling. If you are home, the chances are you have these items already on hand. Also you will need to be able to print out a template available from freeantennas.com. This is important in that it will make your job easier and your booster more efficient (someone has already done the math). The template I used is EZ 12 Parabolic Reflector Template.
The equipment list is as follows:
1. Scissors
2. Adhesive – Elmer’s glue or contact adhesive, contact adhesive is somewhat less messy.
3. Tin foil of any sort, though I used the heavy variety.
4. Thin carboard – a cereal box, manila folder, or even a couple of microwavable popcorn boxes. Use your imagination as long as the cardboard is pliable and yet has some rigidity, and will fit at least one segment of your template, it should do the job nicely.
The steps are easy after you gather your materials. Print out your template and place the template upon your cardboard and glue in place. I glued the entire sheet of paper to the cardboard ( I told you that I was construction impaired) when the pieces had dried I cut them out carefully (this gave me a more rigid surface that could stand some handling than the plain printing paper would have) If you have a steadier hand than mine you can cut the template paper and trace to the cardboard and avoid gluing the template to the cardboard, or if you don’t plan using the amplifier with a laptop and traveling, which requires dismantling frequently, you can use the plain paper version and skip the cardboard.
The square piece I then glued to a matching square of tin foil. After it was dry, I trimmed it out and cut out the slots, those are the six holes you see on the template.
It was home free after that, after folding the curved segment of the template over to fit into the slots in the square segment and give it the proper curve – voila I had an quick and very cheaply made wi-fi booster that can stand some handling and travel!
Of course when figuring out what to write about I chose something that was of interest to me. That doesn't narrow it down very much because there is seriously little that doesn't interest me.
Anyway I came across several plans for parabolic boosters for wi-fi antennas. I even examined and tried the famous cantenna, I found it was a bit more complex than the average traveller or aged geek-want-to-be might prefer. I finally found a video on youtube and modified the instructions (a lot) to suit what I wanted and needed.
Unless you are in the perfect spot in your home with nothing between you and your router or maybe you are wired with cable then you have probably experienced weak signals and unreliable wi-fi connections.
I own a home pc in the perfect spot in my home, unfortunately it is also the spot with the weakest signal from my router, and I also have a laptop with an external antenna which was not doing the job while travelling. I tired of buying $50.00 boosters that did not seem to work, or worse worked and then broke quickly with continued use and dismantling (pigtail connectors are delicate, expensive, and with continued use from insertion and removal as in the case of a traveler with a laptop, they will wear out speedily).
Oh yes, one more detail, I could not build a simple lever even if provided the pre-cut part! Does this sound like an impossible situation or even worse, a familiar one?
The situation wasn’t hopeless though. I found the answer for me in the parabolic antenna booster! The name sounds a bit intimidating and strange, doesn’t it? It’s actually a home-made wi-fi booster that can be built by even the clumsiest of people (that would be me). If I can, then you can too, given only a few minutes and some very simple items. There are a number of variations and of course levels of skill in building boosters but when working with the technologically impaired (myself namely) then simpler is always better.
The wi-fi booster I chose to explain today is a easy one perfectly suited for travelling – the simplest I could find – in terms of tools and skills needed. I discarded the idea of a cantenna for today, because the tools required are a soldering iron a Pringle’s can, a pigtail (pigtail weaknesses have already been mentioned) and some heavy wire, and these are not items the run of the mill traveler might carry about or care to obtain routinely.
If by chance you don’t happen to have these simple items they can be picked up cheaply if you are travelling. If you are home, the chances are you have these items already on hand. Also you will need to be able to print out a template available from freeantennas.com. This is important in that it will make your job easier and your booster more efficient (someone has already done the math). The template I used is EZ 12 Parabolic Reflector Template.
The equipment list is as follows:
1. Scissors
2. Adhesive – Elmer’s glue or contact adhesive, contact adhesive is somewhat less messy.
3. Tin foil of any sort, though I used the heavy variety.
4. Thin carboard – a cereal box, manila folder, or even a couple of microwavable popcorn boxes. Use your imagination as long as the cardboard is pliable and yet has some rigidity, and will fit at least one segment of your template, it should do the job nicely.
The steps are easy after you gather your materials. Print out your template and place the template upon your cardboard and glue in place. I glued the entire sheet of paper to the cardboard ( I told you that I was construction impaired) when the pieces had dried I cut them out carefully (this gave me a more rigid surface that could stand some handling than the plain printing paper would have) If you have a steadier hand than mine you can cut the template paper and trace to the cardboard and avoid gluing the template to the cardboard, or if you don’t plan using the amplifier with a laptop and traveling, which requires dismantling frequently, you can use the plain paper version and skip the cardboard.
The square piece I then glued to a matching square of tin foil. After it was dry, I trimmed it out and cut out the slots, those are the six holes you see on the template.
It was home free after that, after folding the curved segment of the template over to fit into the slots in the square segment and give it the proper curve – voila I had an quick and very cheaply made wi-fi booster that can stand some handling and travel!
Geekdom For The Old And Infirm
In this blog I am not obliged to assume any voice but my own. My own is a rather opinionated older woman who came to techdom as well as writing later in life.
My first computer (I shudder at the memory) was purchased by me shortly after my husband's death. I actually used a 28.8 modem and had aol (hides from the screams that are sure to come from the purists who remember what aol was), but not right off the bat, and certainly not in that order because you see, I had no idea you needed an isp to connect to the internet or that a modem was in turn used to connect to said isp and hence to the mysterious but mightily desirable internet.
I was determined to master this beast, and it was delivered to my house and set up on a brand new computer desk fresh as a daisy, a plastic enclosed daisy. I followed the instructions faithfully, inserting cord A into slot B on piece C.
I stood back and surveyed this wonder of modern technology and was inordinately proud of myself. However there remained some questions that the beginner's book on windows and the compaq (yes I cringe to say I owned one even way back when) computer manual did not answer.
For instance:
Do I leave the plastic on the mouse to protect it from dust? I heard that mice wore out? Or was that meeces or something even more disturbing?
Seriously. I had to figure out where the ON button was the book did not seem to say. I mean. there was an on off button on the monitor but that did not make anything happen.
Those books really should include a section for the clueless on WHERE to turn the computer on at.
I had my computer on though after some trial and error, mostly error I admit.
Great! Now I was ready to connect to the internet.
Now. please forgive me or at least don't spit your coke out at your screen when I tell you that to me the internet was a wonder that must surely come packaged with a computer, after all the t.v. advertisements said "internet ready" and here I am with an internet ready computer all plugged in and no internet. I was not prepared for the complexities of plugging in a modem to a phone jack.
I did eventually find those instructions.
Fine...the phone jack was in the modem which was in the mysterious back of my new computer but WHERE was the internet?
I played happily on my new toy for a while, it came with some pool game or other, and pondered this question while browsing the help files in windows 95.
I also had finally unwrapped the mouse from it's plastic packaging when it failed to respond no matter what I did while it was wrapped (I swear to you the book did not cover that). It was some days before I removed the plastic from the monitor screen though.
It took a house call from the technician at our local computer shop to teach me to actually shut down windows properly and not to unplug it or push the power button he also said the mysterious words "modem" and internet connection and even asked me "Who is your service provider".
Oh yes and during this several weeks learning period i reinstalled windows via the restore cd some four times much to the technician's amusement.
I am so happy that it never occurred to me to call the toll free help number included with windows and with the computer. I would have been some tech's nightmare call of the month.
Those were the early days. What I discovered in the process of learning was a dogged persistence in myself that I wasn't aware I possessed. I refused to give up on a problem until I found the answer. It was like a mission and I could not seem to stop.
The computer became a hated and beloved friend of sorts in those early and lonely days after my husband's death.
Learning about it and how it worked was accomplished first, by reading the manuals that came with the computer, then going to our local computer shop and asking incredibly stupid questions. Then, finally when I found that to connect to the internet, an isp was required, I used online search engines.
As I said even the old and infirm can come to a sort of geekdom albeit somewhat limited.
It's now 12 years later. My hard drive blew last week and I managed to get the old one cloned onto a new and much bigger drive, upgrade my memory from 2 gigabytes to 3 and install a new nvidia video card that was long overdue and could handle a dual monitor system.
Yes, I did that. I purchased and installed the hardware myself. Sometimes I really do surprise myself.
I am actually using this somewhat lengthy post as a lead-in to an article I recently wrote on a wi-fi antenna. I not only wrote this article but built the antenna myself and am currently using it.
My first computer (I shudder at the memory) was purchased by me shortly after my husband's death. I actually used a 28.8 modem and had aol (hides from the screams that are sure to come from the purists who remember what aol was), but not right off the bat, and certainly not in that order because you see, I had no idea you needed an isp to connect to the internet or that a modem was in turn used to connect to said isp and hence to the mysterious but mightily desirable internet.
I was determined to master this beast, and it was delivered to my house and set up on a brand new computer desk fresh as a daisy, a plastic enclosed daisy. I followed the instructions faithfully, inserting cord A into slot B on piece C.
I stood back and surveyed this wonder of modern technology and was inordinately proud of myself. However there remained some questions that the beginner's book on windows and the compaq (yes I cringe to say I owned one even way back when) computer manual did not answer.
For instance:
Do I leave the plastic on the mouse to protect it from dust? I heard that mice wore out? Or was that meeces or something even more disturbing?
Seriously. I had to figure out where the ON button was the book did not seem to say. I mean. there was an on off button on the monitor but that did not make anything happen.
Those books really should include a section for the clueless on WHERE to turn the computer on at.
I had my computer on though after some trial and error, mostly error I admit.
Great! Now I was ready to connect to the internet.
Now. please forgive me or at least don't spit your coke out at your screen when I tell you that to me the internet was a wonder that must surely come packaged with a computer, after all the t.v. advertisements said "internet ready" and here I am with an internet ready computer all plugged in and no internet. I was not prepared for the complexities of plugging in a modem to a phone jack.
I did eventually find those instructions.
Fine...the phone jack was in the modem which was in the mysterious back of my new computer but WHERE was the internet?
I played happily on my new toy for a while, it came with some pool game or other, and pondered this question while browsing the help files in windows 95.
I also had finally unwrapped the mouse from it's plastic packaging when it failed to respond no matter what I did while it was wrapped (I swear to you the book did not cover that). It was some days before I removed the plastic from the monitor screen though.
It took a house call from the technician at our local computer shop to teach me to actually shut down windows properly and not to unplug it or push the power button he also said the mysterious words "modem" and internet connection and even asked me "Who is your service provider".
Oh yes and during this several weeks learning period i reinstalled windows via the restore cd some four times much to the technician's amusement.
I am so happy that it never occurred to me to call the toll free help number included with windows and with the computer. I would have been some tech's nightmare call of the month.
Those were the early days. What I discovered in the process of learning was a dogged persistence in myself that I wasn't aware I possessed. I refused to give up on a problem until I found the answer. It was like a mission and I could not seem to stop.
The computer became a hated and beloved friend of sorts in those early and lonely days after my husband's death.
Learning about it and how it worked was accomplished first, by reading the manuals that came with the computer, then going to our local computer shop and asking incredibly stupid questions. Then, finally when I found that to connect to the internet, an isp was required, I used online search engines.
As I said even the old and infirm can come to a sort of geekdom albeit somewhat limited.
It's now 12 years later. My hard drive blew last week and I managed to get the old one cloned onto a new and much bigger drive, upgrade my memory from 2 gigabytes to 3 and install a new nvidia video card that was long overdue and could handle a dual monitor system.
Yes, I did that. I purchased and installed the hardware myself. Sometimes I really do surprise myself.
I am actually using this somewhat lengthy post as a lead-in to an article I recently wrote on a wi-fi antenna. I not only wrote this article but built the antenna myself and am currently using it.
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