Creating Your Brand with Clothes - Hallie Crawford

Creating Your Brand with Clothes I was excited to have recently been featured in this article from  Kiplinger.com, 5 Ways to Dress for Success on a Budget: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/dress-for-success-on-a-budget.html. Here’s an excerpt: For young professionals, dressing appropriately for work can be just as important as showing up at meetings on  time or making project deadlines. With a professional wardrobe, you can help battle negative stereotypes associated with Generations X and Y and show the higher-ups that you’re serious about your career, says Hallie Crawford, a career coach based in Atlanta. You want to let people know that, despite your age and lack of formal professional experience, you care about your job and take it seriously, she says. Check out this video I did on a similar subject from my  YouTube Channel. Peoples perception of you can really have an impact on your life and career. Because of this, it is important to always try to make a good impression in the workplace. Your attire can impact other people’s perspective of you, and therefore impact your job success. When you get dressed in the morning think about how people might perceive you. Remember, how you dress is part of your brand. It sends a message about who you are. Be mindful of this and choose carefully when you buy clothes for work. For further career advice, please  contact us  for a complimentary consultation today. Hallie Crawford Career Advice Coach

The Pros and Cons of Using Stock Photography

The Pros and Cons of Using Stock Photography The Pros and Cons of Using Stock Photography On the off chance that you state stock photography to anybody deserving at least moderate respect in a promoting agency creative office, that individual likely will look at you with a blend of disdain and dread. In spite of stock houses benefitting from their photographs each year, most large organizations once in a while contact them. Be that as it may, for what reason is it so generally loathed by the big enchiladas and adored by littler shops? Before plunging into the issues, lets see what stock photography is. Fundamental Definition Stock photography resembles garments you purchase as-is at a famous retail chain. Regardless of how wonderful it looks, you wont be the main individual wearing that plan. Stock photographs are taken with no task or brief from an organization or customer. Picture takers make efforts and submit them to stock houses to be authorized. These shots would then be able to be bought at a particular cost dependent on utilization or a level charge. The shots are accessible to any individual who needs to get them, bringing about certain shots being utilized again and again by a wide range of customers. The Problems Stock photography is commonly viewed as a poor substitute for a custom photograph shoot. The shots are taken ahead of time and conveyed with no guarantees, leaving zero chance to divert the topic, change the lighting, or make the effort from an alternate point. Also, that is only the beginning. Here are the absolute most serious issues with stock photographs and representation: Stock Photography Is Not Original: Not really close. Photographs are never taken in light of explicit items or thoughts and ordinarily are unclear in execution. Search destinations like Getty Images or iStockPhoto for something like cheerful family or playing with pets. Youll be welcomed with numerous photographs that all seem to be comparable, with changing degrees of quality.Stock Photographs Can Be Bought by Anyone: The enormous issue with this is brand personality. On the off chance that you produce anything utilizing a stock photo, be it a flyer or an announcement, you are utilizing pictures accessible for any other person to purchase and use. Numerous littler organizations have seen their promotions closely resemble advertisements from different organizations since they contain similar pictures. That is bad for sticking out. You can once in a while arrange selective rights, yet those rights come at a powerful cost and will run out sooner or later. Stock Photography Often Is Cliche: Look through any stock photograph site, and you will be shelled with tired old pictures of specialists adjusting on tightropes, families chuckling before TVs, and individuals pointing at something out yonder. On the off chance that you have a great thought for a battle, you in all likelihood won't think that its executed in a stock photograph library. What's more, on the off chance that you do, recall that anybody can utilize it. The Advantages Stock pictures do have their utilizations, which for the most part come down to speed, spending plan, and media. Here are a portion of the biggest advantages of stock photographs and outline: Stock Photos Are Great for Comps and Mock-Ups: This is the most compelling motivation creatives like stock. When youre dummying a thought for a customer introduction, theres no time or cash to do a shoot. It would be an exercise in futility when you consider what number of thoughts are introduced. You can get a thought across rapidly by comping together different stock pictures to make a special picture. Obviously, its unpleasant and low-goals for any utilization, however its enough to depict what the last picture can resemble. Stock photograph libraries commonly permit you to spare low-res comps for nothing. Stock Photography Is Cheaper and Quicker Than a Photo Shoot: In most cases, it takes a little while (or even months) to facilitate a unique photograph shoot. What's more, that takes cash, as well. With stock photography, everythings accomplished for you and all set. You should simply make sense of the cost and get customer approval.Stock Photography Is Available for Instant Download: When time is of the embodiment, stock is accessible immediately.For Brochures, Websites, Editorials, and Smaller Jobs, Stock Is Fine: If you have a constrained spending plan, stock can be a decent fallback for the limited time strategies that arent getting broad communications consideration. In addition, you dont consistently need a costly custom shoot to come to your meaningful conclusion. Take this article. The picture originates from Getty, an immense stock library, and is an incredible method to lead into the topic. A costly shoot would be cost restrictive and take excessively long. The Two Main Types Numerous kinds of stock pictures are accessible nowadays, however the fundamental two remain rights-oversaw and sovereignty free. Both have qualities and shortcomings, and the expenses contrast extraordinarily between the two. Rights-Managed (RM) Stock Photography Is More Expensive: With RM stock, you have a lot of charges to contemplate. The last cost for the stock picture will rely upon numerous elements, including use, media, length of the crusade, print run, area, size, industry type, and eliteness. Therefore, RM pictures can cost ordinarily more than eminence free shots. In any case, RM shots regularly are higher quality.Royalty-Free (RF) Stock Photography Is Less Expensive: Its significant that free doesn't mean no cost. It basically implies the picture is liberated from sovereignties and accessible to buy for a one-time, fixed expense. You can utilize a RF picture on various occasions, and there is no time limit. Notwithstanding, there are cutoff points to the occasions the picture can be repeated, and eminence free shots by and large are not too executed as RM shots.

Best Social Media Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses 2018

Best Social Media Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses 2018 Credit: Gonzalo Aragon/Shutterstock For private companies, web based life is not, at this point discretionary. With the correct web based life showcasing plan and devices, you can make compelling efforts, advance your business and market your items. Web-based social networking showcasing arrangements can smooth out battles, and make it simple to oversee posts and records. The best web-based social networking arrangements make it simple to calendar to distribute posts, screen discussions, have inside and out diagnostic capacities and coordinates with different projects you use. Here are some incredible internet based life showcasing answers for assist you with arriving. Searching for a particular apparatus? Snap the fitting connection beneath to bounce to that area of the article. Interface with clients Drive traffic and gather leads Make content Oversee and unite social records Associate with clients SparkCentral Client assistance via web-based networking media stages can likewise be a ground-breaking type of advertising by indicating the world how much a business esteems its clients. SparkCentral furnishes organizations with a web-based social networking help-work area stage, permitting them to rapidly react to potential and current clients questions and concerns. This continuous commitment both refines online networking and brings marks nearer to leads and supporters, helping transform them into faithful clients. CX Social One reason web based life is compelling for promoting is that it enables brands and organizations to communicate and connect with more individuals, all with only a couple of snaps of a mouse. CX Social is a complete stage that encourages you better draw in with your clients progressively. It encourages you screen discussions about your image and items (just as contenders and your industry by and large) over all significant informal communities, news sites, web journals and gatherings. The stage likewise has its own investigation and revealing highlights, which show you your crowds socioeconomics, who your fans and influencers are, and then some. Moreover, it offers instruments to make cooperation more straightforward among online life chiefs. CX Social offers a free preliminary. Call CX Social for a statement. Editors note: Looking for the privilege web based showcasing administration for your business? Round out the beneath poll to have our seller accomplices get in touch with you about your needs. Livecube Hashtags arent consistently the best answer for expanding online networking commitment during live occasions. Livecube takes the inborn issues with hashtags incorrect spellings, absence of support and awkwardness of returning to tweets and uses gamification to boost and prize investment. It not just gives an incorporated spot to discover occasion related tweets, thoughts and associations, yet additionally supports cooperation by compensating clients with focuses, identifications and genuine prizes for adding to conversations. Different highlights incorporate occasion the board instruments that coordinate internet based life, for example, speaker booking, coordinations the executives, investigation and long range interpersonal communication. Livecube offers valuing data and demos upon demand. Drive traffic and gather leads Respondology Individuals dont simply tweet about occasions and arbitrary nothings, however they likewise tweet searching for exhortation, items and administrations. Discover them withRespondologya Twitter aim based promoting web application that enables independent companies to transform discussions into clients. This self-serve stage lets clients look over Twitter for potential clients utilizing exceptionally focused on measurements, for example, those in their neighborhood or those looking for their particular item and administrations. For example, a café can look for tweets containing the terms caffeine fix or need espresso, at that point banner them to straightforwardly answer to the client. LeadSift LeadSift mines a huge number of web based life discussions, slicing through the commotion to convey applicable, quality leads dependent on measurements set by clients, for example, geographic data and watchwords. For example, in the event that you own a bloom shop in San Francisco, LeadSifts calculations will discover tweets from clients situated in San Francisco who are hoping to purchase blossoms, rather than simply tweeting about blossoms when all is said in done. You would then be able to start commitment, target battles and make connections to transform them into beneficial clients. Custard Media Custard Media is a web based life advertising the executives and conveyance device that goes the additional mile by helping clients circulate around the web. The Custard Media group can oversee online life advertising efforts on stages like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, just as substance circulation interpersonal organizations like Pinterest. The organization additionally represents considerable authority in SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) promoting, which direct people to a businesss site, yet in addition apply to web based life showcasing efforts to expand publicizing spend. Contact Custard Media for a statement. Make content HashAtIt.com Knowing whats slanting is vital to contacting the correct crowd. HashAtIt.com offers an approach to discover whats hot over different interpersonal organizations progressively. Named as The Social Search Engine, HashAtIt.com gathers notices, tweets and different posts, permitting clients to look for the most well known hashtags on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest across the board place. This free hashtag search stage additionally offers an easy to use interface that incorporates adaptable hashtag sheets to channel and compose hashtag look, just as the capacity to quiet superfluous indexed lists. WebiMax In the event that you dont have any internet based life advertising experience, WebiMax can help. Rather than exploring the whimsical web based life showcasing waters yourself, WebiMax can make and keep up custom crusades on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and other interpersonal organizations. To guarantee an exact portrayal of a brand, WebiMax crusades are deliberately created and custom fitted to a particular business and its shopper base. WebiMax likewise offers site assessment to decide the best crusade outlets. SnapRetail Web based life isnt for everybody, except SnapRetail transforms the normal entrepreneur into a web based life promoting powerhouse with prepared to-utilize online networking content. The administration offers a library with a great many adjustable, prewritten web-based social networking presents on look over, disposing of the trouble of making eye catching updates. Clients can utilize posts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. You can utilize a schedule interface to effortlessly plan refreshes. Clients can likewise add some spirit to posts through the SnapRetail application, which empowers them to take their own photographs to supplement their posts. SnapRetail offers yearly plans that start at $33 every month. Deal with your social records VerticalResponse This email and web based life promoting stage lets organizations send email showcasing efforts and timetable presents on their informal communities from one dashboard, dispensing with the requirement for various, separate instruments to do their web based advertising. VerticalResponsescontent square email plan editorial manager lets clients effectively add tail us and offer to social catches to every one of their messages, and give their perusers extra approaches to lock in. VerticalResponse is free for up to 4,000 messages to up to 300 contacts. Past these numbers, you need to choose a paid arrangement, which start at $11 per month. Sociota Experiencing difficulty dealing with various web based life accounts? Sociota is an interpersonal organization the executives and observing stage offering the capacity to coordinate various Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+ accounts. The stage is anything but difficult to use with highlights that permit you to post Facebook refreshes, track Twitter streams, screen industry-wide discussions and the sky is the limit from there. Sociota is free for people, and paid plans (generally for organizations) start at $5 every month. HootSuite With HootSuite, clients can deal with numerous interpersonal organizations, plan messages and tweets, investigate online life traffic, track changes, and measure crusade results across the board easy to understand dashboard. HootSuites Social Analytics lets you make boundless custom reports, so you can follow measurements like top substance, likes and offers, adherent socioeconomics, traffic sources and that's only the tip of the iceberg. These highlights help organizations effectively measure reach, increment commitment and augment perceivability over a wide range of social channels. HootSuite underpins in excess of 35 informal communities, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Free HootSuite accounts offer constrained highlights and are best for people. Paid business bundles start at $19.99 every month following a 30-day free preliminary. Cushion With in excess of 4 million clients, Buffer is one of the most mainstream and notable online networking the executives instruments available. This stage offers planning for the significant informal communities like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Google Plus, just as point by point investigation to show post movement, influencer commitment, possible reach and that's only the tip of the iceberg. Cushion makes it simple to make modified social timetables (counting the planning and recurrence of posts for each system), and permits you to Re-Buffer (re-share) any posts that need an additional lift. Vivial Vivial is a social and portable advertising stage intended for nearby organizations. To drive in-store deals, Vivial incorporates things like SEO, versatile sites, promoting and online recordings. The administration additionally lets organizations support web-based social networking reach and can help with nearby print indexes. Vivials dashboard is anything but difficult to utilize, and you can without much of a stretch see the improvement of your social, email, SEO, versatile and neighborhood crusades in a single spot. Extra revealing by Jill Bowers. Editors Note: Looking for data via web-based networking media promoting administrations for your business? Utilize the survey underneath, and get immediately associated with our seller accomplices to become familiar with a tweaked system and estimating for your business:

End of the Year Reflections Setting Meaningful Goals (Which You Are More Likely to Achieve!) - Hallie Crawford

Year's end Reflections Setting Meaningful Goals (Which You Are More Likely to Achieve!) With one more year practically finished, huge numbers of us set aside some effort to examine our achievements. Regardless of whether they are close to home or expert, we as a whole have a type of objective throughout everyday life. Did you arrive at your objectives this year? On the off chance that you didn't achieve your objectives, you are not the only one. Truth be told, as indicated by look into, just 9.2% of individuals who set New Year's objectives for themselves feel that they have effectively accomplished their objective. This could be because of numerous components. In any case, maybe you aren't moving toward objective setting in the correct manner. To set significant objectives, there are three fundamental advances: Distinguish irregularities Characterize your qualities Append your objectives to values We should begin with the initial step, recognizing irregularities. This is significant on the grounds that this has to accomplish with work/life balance. One of the components that makes us incapable to arrive at an objective is the point at which we get excessively got up to speed in day by day exercises and we neglect to progress in the direction of our objective. Different occasions the objective was rarely plainly characterized. At HallieCrawford.com, our group of mentors utilizes what is known as a Life Balance Wheel with the entirety of our customers to assist them with recognizing irregularities. On the off chance that you might want a free duplicate of our simple to-utilize instrument, reach us at admin@halliecrawford.com and request the New Year's Worksheet. To make your own Life Balance Wheel: Draw a major circle and make an eight-piece pie. In every pie fragment, compose the numbers 1-7, 1 being at the tightest piece of the bit and 7 being at the vastest piece of the bit. Mark each fragment: Companions/Family Wellness/Health Profession Cash (your relationship to it) Individual and Spiritual Growth Fun/Recreation Sentiment/Significant Other Physical Environment/Home Since you have made your Life Balance Wheel, you are prepared to finish the activity. Inside every zone, circle the number that best speaks to your degree of fulfillment in that part of your life for the most recent year. (7 = Satisfied; 1 = Dissatisfied) Presently draw an obvious conclusion. What does your circle resemble? Probably, it's a sorry circle. Set aside some effort to consider why your circle looks the manner in which it does. Presently set aside some effort to consider what your life would resemble if every territory was evaluated as a 7. What sort of individual would you like to be? Diary your contemplations and thoughts. Each territory that you evaluated as a 5 or less ought to be thought about when defining new objectives. This activity causes us to recollect that each apparently discrete segments of our lives are associated with one another and sway one another. In an expert setting, these viewpoints can affect your profession. For instance, if your vision of a 7 in your family classification is fraternizing, you may conclude that work that requires a ton of movement wouldn't be the best decision for you. Presently, from the zones that were evaluated 5 or less, list 5 things that you figure you could enhance. From your rundown you will locate that new objectives will rise. Return to your wheel at regular intervals. This will assist you with staying on target and think of new objectives also. Next, it's an ideal opportunity to recognize your qualities. Your qualities are things that are critical to you by and by. Now and then these are difficult to characterize, so attempt the accompanying activity: Distinguish an individual and profession top understanding. What made it so unique? Recognize catchphrases from the experience and record them. This straightforward exercise can give some knowledge into your own qualities. Investigate the catchphrases or topics you have recorded. How well would you say you are respecting those qualities in your vocation at present from 1-5? (1 = Dissatisfied, 5 = Satisfied) Presently you are prepared to append your objectives to values. We will examine how to do this in the following article in this arrangement. On the off chance that you need assistance distinguishing your qualities, we couldn't imagine anything better than to help! Calendar a free Career Strategy Session today!

How to Gain essential IT skills (for free)

How to Gain essential IT skills (for free) by Amber Rolfe Want to improve your tech skills? You don’t need to break the bank… Basic computer skills are now essential in a wide range of industries, making them a pretty invaluable asset â€" whether you’re looking for a new job or want to progress in your current one. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to get up-to-speed with the latest software â€" and not all of them come at a cost.We spoke to vision2learn, one of the UK’s top providers of free courses, to find out how you can gain essential IT skills (for free):  What IT skills do I need? IT skills are becoming more and more essential in the workplace â€" no matter what field you’re in.And with many employers considering IT proficiency a prerequisite, there’s never been a better time to brush up on your knowledge.Here are a few of the most useful, versatile, and essential IT skills that everyone should learn:Word processing. An ability to use word processing software (e.g. Microsoft Word) efficiently is valuable across a wide range of sectors. This includes skills in data entry, layout and formatting, editing tools, and more.Spreadsheets.  With software packages like Excel used daily in a number of different roles (in sectors from marketing and sales to HR and finance), your ability to create, manage, and analyse spreadsheets (along with charts and graphs) is vital.Presentation software. Alongside the ability to present confidently, it’s also useful to be competent in the software that allows you to put together an informative and engaging presentation. From slide editing and formatting, to animation and preparation, excellent PowerPoint techniques could drastically improve your skillset.Soft skills. It’s not just hard skills that employers are looking for when it comes to IT competency. From problem solving and analytical abilities, to communication skills and attention to detail, there are a number of soft skills needed to work in this industry.  How to gain essential IT skil ls So you know what skills you need; but how do you get them?Here are a few great ways to gain and develop your IT abilities:PracticeOne of the best ways to learn is by doing. Just ask whoever invented the phrase, ‘practice makes perfect’.Because whether it’s by watching/reading   tutorials (or just going it alone) to get to grips with the basics of computing, creating your own projects, carrying out training and development at work, or taking an online training course â€" there are a number of ways to advance your skills.From essential skills like web, email, and Microsoft Office, to more advanced industry-specific skills, you might find that all it takes is a proactive attitude (and access to a computer) to expand your knowledge.Learn from an expert OK, so it might not always be possible to learn everything alone.Luckily, there are a number of ways to gain essential IT knowledge and hands-on experience from tutors, mentors, employers, or other industry professionals.Pursuing voluntary positions or internships within a field that allows you to work with computers, for example, is a great way to learn practically, with the guidance of others. If you’re able to work alongside IT professionals within your current organisation, that could also help to build your skillset.In addition, attending conferences, listening to webinars, or taking a course with a dedicated tutor, are all great ways to gain valuable insights into not only the field of IT, but also on the best way to grow your skills.Take an online course Taking an essential IT skills course is the perfect way to combine all of the above learning techniques to develop your understanding of tech; and also boost your CV with an industry-specific qualification.And, with vision2learn, you can study completely free of charge â€" gaining intermediate knowledge of some of the most widely-used Microsoft Office programmes, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.In fact, it’s perfect for anyone looking to de velop their computer skills and improve their IT productivity â€" whether it’s to find a new job, enhance their performance in their current role, or fulfil a personal learning goal.  Why study with vision2learn?vision2learn offer courses funded by the UK government, that are delivered and accredited in partnership with a further education college.They’ve helped thousands of people to advance their skillset and progress in their career, studying everything from customer service, business and IT, through to nutrition and healthcare.Benefits of studying with them include:Access to FREE courses in work-related areasA convenient way to update your skills and boost your CVGaining a Level 2 nationally accredited qualificationFlexible studying optionsUK-based support team and a one-to-one dedicated tutorFind out more  Interested in taking a free course?  Talk to vision2learn today.  vision2learn  are one of the UK’s top providers of free courses, helping thousands of people across th e world to get certified and progress in their careers.

Workplace Stress And Health

Work environment Stress And Health We are toward the start of this season's flu virus season and you know the drill: wash your hands much of the time, hack into your elbow, clean surfaces, get an influenza shotstay solid. In the working environment, disease influences more than the one inclination wiped out in light of the fact that you are confronted with remaining at home or spreading germs. Its an extreme call, since we are encircled by imperceptible intruders bringing sickness constantly. Stress is known to debilitate our capacity to battle those trespassers. I am a colossal adherent to this. The moment I feel exhausted or overpowered, my throat begins harming. Since we invest the majority of our energy at work, worry in the work environment can be a tremendous factor in whether we become ill. Holding the worry down will assist us with remaining sound. Question is, how would we do that? You can just control what you can pick. You probably won't have a decision about where your work area is, yet you do have a decision about keeping it clean. Air quality is as a rule outside your ability to control, however you may have the option to have a plant that cleans it, and you surely can go for strolls outside. Grumpy colleagues may dump on you, yet you could utilize that to search for approaches to improve things. Choose now what the special seasons will resemble, and be practical about what you do and why you do it. Dont plan for flawlessness. Plan for adaptable family time and let the incidents become stories you will snicker about one year from now. What occasion work duties will be normal? Do you realize how to deal with blessing giving in the corporate world? It may appear to be right on time to discuss it, however you will have less pressure in the event that you recognize what to do. Recall that pressure isn't terrible in little portions. Its like exercise for your spirit from numerous points of view. The issues come when stress is gathered upon pressure and doesnt stop. Making sense of how to keep that pressure an infrequent exercise will keep YOU sound and at work.

How to Nail a Phone Interview - Affordable Professional Resume Writing Services

How to Nail a Phone Interview It’s become common practice for most hiring positions to host a first interview by phone. The initial phone interview is often held by a recruiter or hiring manager and is used to sift through a pool of applicants. Managers use this process to screen you to ensure you are a good fit before spending time and resources needed for an in person interview. You are often one of many applicants who will receive a phone interview. This is your one chance to make a good enough impression to get a foot in the door, so it’s imperative to nail the phone interview. Sometimes managers or recruiters will call to offer an interview, and when you accept, they may ask for an on the spot phone interview. If this happens, it’s perfectly acceptable to say, “I am sorry, but this is not a good time. I would love to schedule a time to meet later,” if you are busy when they call. It is far better to be assertive and tell them that a later time would work better for you than it would be to take this interview unprepared, or in a distracting environment. When you are ready to take the phone interview, follow these three steps to nail it: Prepare.  When you are preparing for your phone interview, make sure to take the call in a quiet place with no distractionsâ€"this means no children in the background, no dogs barking, and no TV or radio on. Do your research on the company. Make a list of reasons you’d like to work for this company. Make a list of common interview questions, and rehearse your answers. Make a list of questions to ask about the company and position. Think about your past experiences and why you would make a good candidate for the position. Interview. Make sure to stay positive and remain confident once the interview begins. Take this interview as formally and seriously as you would an in person interview. Remember to share specific examples of past experiences that would make you a good fit for the position. Smile when you are speaking. I know this sounds strange, to sit on the phone smiling with no one there to see, but a smile can actually be heard in your voice. It will make you sound much more pleasant and friendly. Follow-Up. Ask when you should expect to hear back on next steps for the interview process. Ask for the interviewer’s contact information. After the interview, send a thank you note and reaffirm your interest in the position and qualifications that set you apart from other candidates. If you are still feeling nervous about the interview process, we are here to help. Contact us today for more advice or interview coaching. VIDEO: How to Nail a Phone Interview!