This Post is Optimized…

Did you notice that I’ve optimized this post with the keyword “internet writing”? Maybe, maybe not. How many times have you read an optimized blog post only to feel that it missed something? It takes practice to be able to insert keywords into your writing so that it reads in an interesting way.

However, this is a skill worth developing. A well optimized post will get people to your blog, articles, and how-to pages. Good writing on top of that will get them to come back.

Good Internet Writing Has a Voice

Bad internet writing looks like it could have been written by a robot. There’s no personality, no life. But good writing is one that shows the writer’s personality. You don’t need to write in the first person to achieve this either. It could be in the second or third person.

What’s really important is that the writing reads in a conversational tone of voice when writing online and this applies to articles, web pages, how-to’s, and blog posts. If people wanted to read an encyclopedia entry they’d go to the library for information. When people search on the internet they are looking for something that is both informative and also entertaining.

So when writing for the internet, remember to follow the rules of good SEO. However, don’t forget to breathe life into your writing by letting your own unique voice shine through. Even the most informative internet writing should also be entertaining and a joy to read. Then when you work to build traffic to your page, people will want to stay.

Throughout history, there have been architects that have raised eyebrows and some that have seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Frank Lloyd Wright comes to mind, with his famous design for Falling Water, a house with a glass floor built over a running stream.

My father studied how to be an architect. He didn’t go as far as a specialized architecture school, and ultimately went into another art field, but I grew up with an appreciation for architecture, and wanted to share that with you this week.

And if you’ve never seen Falling Water, I urge you to check it out… it is simply amazing.

If you’re always busy with work you might think you don’t have time to plan your course of action before getting to down to business, but doing so can save you time and effort in the long run. You’ve got to know what your goals are if you’re ever going to accomplish anything. Setting clear, definite goals, both long-term and short-term, is essential in determining how you are going to reach them. Goal-setting is a necessary part of how to be successful in work. You’ll need to write these goals down so you can measure your progress along the way.

The principle of working harder, not smart applies to all kinds of tasks and goals. Exercise, dieting and home improvement are all activities where you’ll want to work smartly. Getting those tasks organized and prioritized are important in getting your paying work done. You’ll feel better, physically and mentally once you figure out a plan to organize all of your projects and maximize your efficiency.

Too often employees treat their jobs as a right and not a privilege. They surf the Internet at work, play online games, take personal calls, and even walk off with office supplies as if they own them.

What do you think the world would be like if everyone knew when someone was unethical? Business Ethics – My Life in Headlines gives a unique view into a world like that.

Gone is the day when employers could trust their employees. Today we have security personnel who’s sole job description is just to monitor the employees – checking their Internet activity and watching to make sure the company equipment and proprietary information stays secure.

It is said that art imitates life… this is frequently true if you look at what is on television nowadays. The following two videos illustrate this point.

The first is a spoof on the show The Office.

The Office Ethics

And the second is a recap of an actual episode of The Office which addressed the issue of ethics in the workplace.

The Office Business Ethics In 60 Seconds

The slacker mentality is rampant in this world of ours. And it is not just limited to the hourly employees — management is putting in their fair share as well.  However, I do have hope that this lackadaisical approach to responsibility can be turned around. I am seeing bread crumbs around the Internet leading back to the place where we can expect people to be responsible for themselves and their actions.

Rachel Zupek at CareerBuilder.com recently wrote an article entitled “My Co-Worker Is a Slacker… and My Boss Doesn’t Care!”. In this article she gives seven practical steps you can take to deal with this situation in a non-threatening manner.

Over on Mahalo there is a great article on how to deal with a bad boss. This is another example of someone not stepping into the role they agreed to take on when they started the job. This page gives step by step actions you can take to protect yourself from the lack of ethics around you.

No matter what the problem, there is a way to deal with it that can resolve the conflict peacefully. And on that note, there is a character education program that teaches adults how to be responsible and how to use conflict resolution techniques and other problem solving skills… something they should have been taught as children. Today’s employers could see a lot of improvement by offering this program to their employees… in fact, some already have.

If enough of us make a stand and refuse to give in to the lack of ethics in the workplace… if we stand up and take it upon ourselves to set the example, I know we will see a difference.

College professor is the #3 Job on Money's Top 50 2009 List

If you’re just interested in financial compensation, the top 5 jobs by pay are Anesthesiologist (median income $292,000), Obstetrician, (median income $222,000) Psychiatrist (median income $177,000), Sales Director (median income $140,000), and Attorney (median income $115,000).

There was also a category for the least stressful jobs – and these jobs also paid fairly well. The least stressful careers were considered to be Education Training Consultant (median income of $77,800), Physical Therapist (median income of $74,300), College Professor (median income of $70,400), Software Developer (median income of $79,400), and Technical Writer (median income of $67,400).

You can access the full list at CNNMoney.com.

October is upon us and Halloween decorations are popping up left and right. It’s time to get into the spirit of the spooky holiday and decorate. Don’t stop at decorating your house though. If you, like many people, spend the majority

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Give Yourself a Hand!

of your weekdays stuck in the office, you should take some of the holiday fun to work.

There are some great tips on how to decorate your office for Halloween at Mahalo. Have a blast and go crazy–just make sure your boss and co-workers share your enthusiasm. Funny tombstones with co-workers’ names on them can bring laughter to the workplace, but make sure you don’t work with a sense-of-fun-impaired spoilsport who will claim that his or her name on a tombstone is some kind of threat. Talk to your boss first if you plan to go wild with the decorations and be sure to get permission for any decorations in common areas. Finally, try to do as much as possible of the work outside of office time, so no one can accuse you of neglecting your work responsibilities. Office rules and politics can be tedious at times, but fun Halloween decorations might just be something that can bring some cheer and youthful fun to the workplace.

Most of the Mahalo staffers have returned, safe (and mostly) sound from TechCrunch50. There were some amazing start-ups presenting their products to the judges on stage—and equally amazing companies presenting their work in the demo pit.

The companies that caught MY eye—since my area of interest is Mahalo’s “How Tos”—were the ones that dealt with community building, and mobilizing a labor force. Basically, companies that were finding solutions to the issues we tackle every day at Mahalo’s How To Task system.

Read about the highlights after the jump!

CardFlower

From the people who started Dolores Labs, CardFlower taps into “large pools of casual workers” to spend a few minutes performing micro tasks—like making phone calls to local businesses to check their hours of operation, or gathering contact information for financial aid offices. At Mahalo, we know there are tons of casual, online workers out there, who are eager to take on menial, short term tasks to supplement their income. CardFlower is tapping into these workers, and mobilizing their services. It seemed like a great idea! CardFlower presenting at TechCrunch50

TheSwop.com

If you’ve ever freelanced, went into business for yourself, or built a start-up, you are probably familiar with the practice of giving and getting favors in order to network, or build trust among your clients and peers. This company takes that unofficial business practice, and turns it into an online “job” board and global community. “Swop” your graphic design services, and get back points from the community, then use those points to “swop” a developer to build an iPhone app.

I thought this was a compelling idea, because, as unemployment rises, more and more people will be attempting to go into business for themselves. The judges didn’t feel like TheSwop.com was a compelling concept—one said something about bartering having died thousands of years ago. But, these are changing economic times. And this service might fill a great niche. TheSwop.com presenting at TechCrunch50

RedBeacon.com

This one won the show! It’s a more advanced, specialized version of classified ads. You need some specific service done—need a house cleaner? A personal trainer? A mover? Request it, compare quotes from service providers, then book the job. Simple, straight forward, and much more immediate than Craigslist. RedBeacon presenting at TechCrunch 50

It was a great show! Exciting to see so many great ideas and innovative start-ups…

These are just a few of the opportunities that await you as a mystery shopper! It’s a field that requires good observation skills, an excellent memory, and the ability to blend into a crowd. If you think you have what it takes, this Mahalo guide to how to become a mystery shopper will get you started!

• Do not go into minute detail about what you’re suffering from. Someone who really has food poisoning will not have the time or energy to detail what he ate that could be responsible for his predicament.
• Keep up the act when you’re back at work–if you said you were at death’s door on Monday, you’d better at least look pale on Tuesday!
• Calling in sick on a Friday or Monday, particularly before or after a long weekend, is much more suspicious than doing so in the middle of the week.

Need more tips–visit Mahalo’s page on How to Call in Sick to Work.

Want a raise? Then it’s time to compile your awesome file. As corny as it may sound, you need to make a case for yourself if you’re angling for a raise, and that case had better amount to more than a red-faced ultimatum based on what you “feel” you deserve. Before going into a salary negotiation, put together the following:

A Salary Comparison: Use sites like Salary.com and PayScale to figure out how your salary compares to other professionals with similar jobs in your region.

The Awesome File: It’s nobody’s job but your own to document your workplace successes. Write down how you’ve met and exceeded your employer’s expectations. Assign quantifiable numbers to those achievements as often as you can. And, don’t forget to dig up all the emails and reviews you’ve received praising your performance on the job.

A Game Plan: Know what it is you’re asking for. Do you want a 10% raise, an extra week of vacation, tuition reimbursement or a four-day work week? Are you willing to expand your workplace responsibilities to justify a substantial raise? You may have to give a little to get a little.

Need more advice on how to get paid what you’re worth? Check out Mahalo’s Guide to Asking for (and Getting) a Raise.

Image courtesy someecards.com.