Organization Tips

One of the most frequent questions that I get is how I keep everything in my life organized. I have always considered myself to be an organized person, but I had to step up my game in a whole new way when I started freelancing a couple years ago. I love being my own boss and having a lot of projects going at once. However, it also takes a lot of discipline and daily effort to keep it all going. I don't have any magic answers, but there are a number of things that have worked really well for me that I'm going to discuss today.

Daily To Do Check List

I have a daily check list of work related things to do each day from reading blogs to working on at least one HubPages article. I have one list for weekdays and one (considerably shorter) list for weekends. Recently I've also designated a few tasks for specific days of the week (i.e. Monday, Wednesday, Friday). I don't have a specific order for completing them. It largely depends on my schedule for a given day. I also find that I do better if I mix up my routine frequently and don't stay too regimented.

Weekly Task List

Under my to do checklists for the week, I have space for keeping track of freelance writing work, Etsy treasuries, and additional reminders for myself (which can be everything from scheduling blog sponsor promos to picking up cat food at the vet). Lately I've also found it helpful to leave a blank page on the backside of each week list for further freelance organization. When I have a huge work list, particularly large quantities of short assignments (i.e. 40 product descriptions, each 250-300 words), a quarter of a page just doesn't cut it.

Blog Calendar

If you blog more than 2 or 3 times per week and don't already have a blog calendar, I highly recommend starting one. Free printable monthly calendars are readily available online. Typically I print out a new calendar a week or so before a new month starts and outline 80-90% of my content before the first day of the month. Of course none of this content is set in stone, and I do change a few things throughout the month. Having a rough outline in advance is still a huge help.

Lately I leave a blank page after my calendar page for keeping track of my color combination inspiration suggestions and general brainstorming for the next month. Paper is really cheap. There is no reason to cram all of those lists into the calendar margins.

Outlining

Sometimes I get large batches of freelance assignments on specific topics (i.e. 10 landing pages for a car dealership), and I find it helpful to create a handwritten outline that I can refer to throughout the assignment. Of course you can type your outline, but I don't like having one more tab to click over to when I already have three or four windows and documents open. I also like to outline the majority of my HubPages articles before I start the writing process.

Brainstorming

I stress the importance of brainstorming all the time. I keep lists of ideas for blog posts, HubPages articles, jewelry pieces, and photography shoots. It is important to keep in mind that you don't have to use all of your ideas. Believe me, I definitely don't. Writing down the possibilities as they come to you is a great way to keep the creative process flowing.

A few general tips

• Keep your lists organized. Some of you may remember that one of my 2012 goals was to organize my lists. I used to keep the vast majority of all of the above lists in a single notebook, and it got cluttered really quickly. I completely changed that in 2012 and have stuck with it. It's made a huge difference for finding what I need when I need it.
• Find a system that works for you. I love writing by hand and enjoy having these lists and notes in spiral notebooks. There are numerous options for list making and calendars both on and off the computer. There is no one system that works for everyone. Figure out what works for you so you can stick with it.
• Don't be afraid to make changes. Even the best system is not going to work forever. I have tweaked the format for my daily to do list and weekly task lists a number of times over the past two years. There are things that I used to keep detailed notes of offline, such as Etsy listing information, that I have since streamlined in some sort of digital form.
• Don't beat yourself up over things that don't happen. Do I accomplish every daily to do list every single day? Absolutely not. Does this mean that I've failed? No. Sometimes I get a huge batch of freelance work all at once and have to let other things slide like HubPages writing. Sometimes I'm really busy with non-work commitments and have to double up a couple days worth of work. As long as I'm getting through the majority of the tasks every week, I don't sweat it.

If you're looking for even more information on this topic, I wrote an article about time management on HubPages a while back.

Time Management Strategies, Techniques, and Tips: How to Find Time For Your Hobbies and Personal Goals

How do you stay organized? Share your input!

summer photography tips

Yep, I probably should have put together at least a month ago. But as this is my first summer with an SLR, I feel like I've kind of been making it up as I go. Now that we're more than halfway through the summer (kind of in denial about that), I feel like I'm actually somewhat qualified to write this post.

1. Be Prepared For the Weather

In the Midwest, we seem to completely forget how to handle any type of weather that we are not currently experiencing. After months of freezing weather and not being able to leave the house without a coat, it's really easy to get sunburned and dehydrated after just a few hours out in the heat taking pictures. Here are a few ways that I've been preparing for the weather for photo shoots this summer:

• Check the weather forecast. Since I started planning regular photo outings, I've been a little obsessed with checking the weather forecast and radar every day and doing my best to plan accordingly. I don't want to be an hour from home and get caught in a huge rainstorm (although it is going to happen one of these days).
• Dress in layers. You never know when the weather will change or when you'll end up in freezing air-conditioning or a stuffy, un-air-conditioned building. I like to keep a cardigan or long-sleeved shirt on hand.
• Wear comfortable shoes. I wear sneakers for virtually every photo shooting session during the summer. There have been several occasions like Solvay Coke when it really wasn't safe to wear open toed shoes, and it's better to be safe than sorry. It's also best practice to wear shoes that will be comfortable for extended periods of walking.
• Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, and/or a hat. I really don't like to carry a lot of gear with me...ever, but I got serious about keeping sunglasses and sunscreen with me this year.
• Bring water. If you're going to be out anywhere on a regular basis in the summer, it's well worth investing in a plastic or aluminum water bottle that you can wash and re-fill.

2. Consider the Time of Day

This hasn't been a huge factor for me at this point because I've mostly been focused on getting out regularly and checking out new places in Milwaukee instead of setting up certain kinds of shoots. However, if you're doing things like portraits, even for personal use (i.e. taking pictures of your own kids that you want to frame), or certain types of SLR specific shooting (i.e. long exposures of water), it's really important. As such, you should plan accordingly.

(photo taken by my friend Steve)

3. Develop a System for Managing Your Gear

The SLR undertaking has been a whole new ball game for me, and it's taken me a while to figure out how I can manage all of my gear. It's one of those things that will keep changing as I purchase new items and adjust my "must have" list, but there are a couple big things that have made a huge difference for me.

• Great camera bag. No matter what type of camera you have, SLR or not, you should have a camera specific case and/or bag. Throwing it in a purse, backpack, or shoulder bag is not acceptable. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted, and I actually stumbled on an awesome option completely by accident. Currently I'm using a bag from this shop and am so happy with it. There is no single bag that works for everyone. Find something that fits your personal style, that can comfortably house everything you need, and that will be comfortable for extended wear.
• Get a comfortable camera strap. Some people choose not to use a strap, even with an SLR, which is totally fine. It's a personal preference. I do like the neck strap but decided that I needed a padded strap with my 28-135mm during the warm months for the weight and the heat. There are so many great, affordable strap options. There is no reason not to have one that you really like and can use all the time.

4. Keep a List of Ideas

If you've been following my blog or reading my HubPages articles for a while, you've heard me discuss the important of keeping a list for any creative endeavor. I've been keeping lists of ideas for jewelry, HubPages articles, and blog posts for years now. This spring, I also started keeping a list of places and things that I want to photograph. Some projects are really simple half an hour ideas right in my neighborhood while other projects are day long excursions. Don't be afraid to jot notes down in your phone while you're out or away from your computer or your permanent list so you don't forget.

Additionally, I get a number of ideas for photo shoots and projects on Flickr and like to mark those photos as favorites, which is what you see above.

5. Challenge Yourself

Sometimes I have a short period of time or get an opportunity to photograph a place that I've shot before. I want to take advantage of these opportunities, but don't want to take the same photos over and over again. I try to challenge myself during every shoot, but this is especially true for repeat locations. The above photo is a perfect example. I've been going to Greenfield Park at least once almost every season since we moved to Milwaukee two years ago. The last time I was there earlier this month, I wandered through a little bit of the golf course for the first time, which was pretty awesome.

Don't get overwhelmed at the idea of coming up with new challenges. Many times I do little things like experimenting with new angles and shooting with manual focus.

6. Take Risks

If you told me even a year ago that I'd been itching to go take pictures in cemeteries and abandoned factories during my time off from writing, I would have laughed. You should be taking risks with your photography all year round, but summer is such a great time as the weather is often favorable and most people have more free time. My current schedule simply doesn't allow for as many all day excursions during any other season, so I plan as many outings as possible during the summer.

Do you have any photography tips for summer?

Top 10 Most Viewed HubPages Articles

One popular topic among freelance writers and bloggers is what topics, posts, and articles do well. Since I've mentioned a couple times this fall that I already have a Christmas article getting a lot of traffic, I've gotten a number of inquiries about that particular post. I thought that it would be interesting to share my top 10 most viewed HubPages articles to date as well as some insight about online writing.

I am certainly not an expert about freelance writing, but I've had a lot of success with HubPages this far. Here are a few pieces of advice that I share with others about this type of writing. Many of these tips are applicable to blog writing, too.

• Write about your passions. A lot of people urge freelance writers to write about what they know. While this is a great place to start, it is a little limiting. A huge component of freelance writing is research. There are lots of topics that interest me but that I don't necessary know a lot about so I do a little research. If you enjoy the topics that you're covering, this will be somewhat enjoyable.
• Use pictures and other media as it is appropriate. During the past year, Pinterest has been one of my top five traffic sources for HubPages. Needless to say, this is largely because of the high quality photos that I include in many of my articles. Not all articles warrant lots of pictures, but if you write about certain topics, such as crafts, fashion, and food, you should strongly consider it. Other media such as video may be appropriate, too.
• Pay attention to what does well and maximize on this success. When I started writing on HubPages, I never imagined that I would write about crafts and holidays as often as I do. My first articles on both of these topics did so well that I decided that it was worth pursuing. There is nothing wrong with branching out once in a while, especially because you never know when you'll hit on a new gold mine. But you should capitalize on success areas on a regular basis.
• Don't discount seasonal topics. Many people are wary of writing articles about holidays and other seasonal topics because they have a limited time frame for significant traffic. While you won't get major amounts of traffic on a St. Patrick's Day food article in July, if it's a high quality frequently searched topic, it will get some traffic year round. Also, if you get enough seasonal content going, you'll always have something doing well. Finally, even though these articles don't get steady high traffic, they are still considered "evergreen" because they will be relevant again the next year.

Here are my current top 10 most viewed HubPages articles.

Valentine's Day Card Ideas: How to Make Unique Homemade Handmade Cards

While people may send more cards for Christmas and Mother's Day, there is a huge market for Valentine's Day cards. This article went crazy the entire two weeks before Valentine's Day last year and has continued to have regular traffic since.

Professionalism in Education: Teacher Etiquette Tips for the Modern Professional

This article went viral on an education forum in February. This gave it a huge search results boost. This will never be an article with as much as traffic as a great craft or food topic, but thanks to its early success, it's continued to do significantly better than many of my education articles.

10 Free Christmas Stocking Pattern Tutorials

This is my Christmas article that has already done so well this year. It is really hard for me to predict what seasonal articles will do better than others. However, this is kind of a niche topic and it's something that people will search for well before the holiday so it gets a longer traffic run than other Christmas topics will.

Maternity Clothing: Free Tutorials and Patterns Round Up

This articles goes against several successful article standards, such as that they should be 500 words or more (it's around 450), which just goes to show that there are exceptions to every rule. When I did the research for this, I couldn't find any round up resources that had been updated during the past six months. Sometimes having the most current resource that you update on a regular basis will help you stay competitive.

Beaded Beads: Jewelry Inspiration, Patterns, and Tutorials

My earliest craft articles were all related to beadweaving and have been some of my most successful craft articles to date. This is a great niche area without a lot of resources for any particular subtopic, such as beaded beads.

Beaded Beadwoven Flowers: Jewelry Projects, Components, Patterns, and Tutorials

Coaster Tutorials: How to Make Coasters from Fabric, Tile, and More

This article went crazy on Pinterest right from the start, which has largely contributed to its steady traffic stream. It is my most successful article on Pinterest to date.

Homemade Handmade Greeting Card Making Ideas with Balloons: Birthday Cards, Pop Up Designs, and More

Who knew that balloon cards were so popular? Actually birthday cards in general are popular, which is how this gets so much search engine traffic.

Frugal Storage Ideas for Small Homes: Creative, Unique Organization Methods

This was a great challenge for me away from my normal topics. It's had one of my best international audiences, as many areas of the world have much smaller residences than the US does.

Listen to Children's Story Books Online (for free!): A Link List

I don't have a lot of competition on this topic, and it's a great resource for both parents and teachers.

What topics and/or articles have you had a lot of success with on your blog or freelance site?  Share your stories and tips!

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