Monday, October 21, 2019

What Should High School Students Do After School

What Should High School Students Do After School SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips High school studentshave a lot of options for what they can do once the school day ends: they can study, do homework, participate in a sport, watch TV, work at a job, play video games, attend a club meeting and more.Some of these activities are more useful and productive than others, and spending your time after school wisely can help you become better prepared for college and the rest of your future. Whether you're a student or a parent, read on to learn about the benefits afterschool activities can have and which are the best ones for high schools students to participate in. Benefits of Afterschool Activities Afterschool activities refer to any organized program that students participate in once the school day has finished. While after school activities vary widely, they can have many similar benefits. Below are some of the most common. Become a Better Student Students who participate in after school activities often perform better in class compared to those who don’t participate in them.A study conducted in 2011 showed that high school students who attend after school programs are less likely to drop out, have better attendance records, and have a more positive attitude towards school. They also often had an increase in their GPA and standardized test scores, so participating in an afterschool program can raise your grades! Improvements in grades were seen regardless of what type of afterschool program the student participated in, so you don't necessarily have to be in an academic afterschool activity to get this benefit, sports and clubs work just as well. Afterschool activities can also increase your chances of being accepted to college because you can include your participation in these activities on your college applications. Colleges love to see students who were involved in high school, and participating in an afterschool activity is a great way to show your interests and academic motivation. Learn New Skills Afterschool activities can also teach you new skills and hobbies or allow you to continue current activities you enjoy.These can be hobbies you do for your own personal interest, or you can also choose to participate in afterschool activities that give you skills that will be useful for college and future careers. For example, if you are interested in being a doctor, you can be a part of your school’s Science Olympiad team or volunteer at a hospital.Because there are so many afterschool activities available, there’s a good chance you can find one that matches your interests. Meet New People One of the most popular reasons to participate in after school activities is that they give you an opportunity to spend time with your friends as well as make new ones.Participating in the same activity as someone else often means you have a shared interest, such as volunteering or playing a sport, and that can make it easier to become friends because you already know you have something in common. Safety Afterschool activities can also increase student safety by giving you a supervised environment to be in after school. If your parents are worried about you being on your own before they come home from work, an afterschool activity can put their mind at ease while allowing you to participate in something you enjoy. Much like this crossing guard, afterschool activities can help keep students safe. Read on to learn about different types of afterschool activities you can participate in. Types of Afterschool Activities Below are five of the most common and productive ways for high school students to spend their time after school. I've includeda short description for each one, along with any particular benefits it offers and some common examples. Traditional Afterschool Programs Afterschool programs were originally designed as a way for younger students to be supervised while their parents were at work, but with the benefits of these programs becoming more apparent, they have expanded to cover high school students and include a variety of activities. Today, roughly 2 million high school students participate in afterschool programs in the US. Some of these programs are less structured and simply offer a place for you to study or receive homework help, while others offer activities and sports you can participate in, similar to a school club or sports team.There are also many special interest afterschool programs available now, focusing on topics as varied as preparing for college, doing volunteer work, or learning a new language. Because these programs are so varied, they can have numerous benefits. Many provide tutoring and homework help that you can use if you are struggling in school or just need some help in a certain subject. These programs are often designed to encourage teamwork and group activities, so they can also be a great place to make friends.They also often have mentors who can teach you new things and give you advice when your parents are not around. Examples: Your high school may offer its own afterschool programs, or it may be affiliated with one or more national programs, such as those listed below: Boys and Girls Clubs of America Scouting (such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts) After-School All-Stars Future Business Leaders of America Sports Sports are a common afterschool activity for high school studentsto participate in. Many students enjoy being part of a team, feeling a sense of competition, and being active.These can be sports teams through your school, such as the school football or soccer team, or they can be club sports or community teams. Examples: Common high school sports include football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, hockey, swimming, cross country, and tennis. Less common sports include karate, fencing, skiing, and horseback riding. Clubs Joining a club is a great way to gain a new interest or continue to pursue an interest or activity you already enjoy. There is a huge variety of clubs available, and your high school likely offers a large number of clubs to choose from.Besides giving you the opportunity to spend more time on a particular interest or hobby, joining a club can also give you leadership experience if you choose to organize a new event or become a club officer. Examples: There are clubs that cover nearly every interest, from writing club, to math team, to a painting group. Your school’s website or student handbook will likely have a list of all the available clubs; if not, ask your academic adviser about club offerings. If your school doesn't offer a club you're interested in, you can also start your own. Check out our guide to starting your own high school club! Job/Internship If you are looking for a way to earn money or gain experience to include on your resume and college applications, getting a job or an internship can be a great way to spend your time after school.Getting a part-time job as a high school student can help you gain new skills and become more responsible, as well as earn some spending money. Internships can be a great way to get experience more directly related to a future career you’d like to have, but be aware that it can be difficult for high school students to get an internship, and many of them are unpaid. Examples: Common jobs for high school studentsinclude babysitting, working at a grocery store, being a waiter/waitress, tutoring, and working as a sales associate. Many places now offer internships, from a large business to your local museum. To learn more, check out our guides on the 8best jobs for high school students and how to get an internship as a high school student. Volunteer Work If there is an issue that you care about or a group of people you’d like to help, then volunteering can be an excellent after school activity.Volunteering is a great way to spend time helping others or working on a cause you’re passionate about. Many organizations accept volunteers, so you are likely to find a volunteer opportunity that interests you. You can also use your volunteer work as experience on your resume and college applications, and it can be a good (albeit non-payed) alternative if you can’t find a job or internship that you find interesting. Examples: There are a wide variety of places where you can perform volunteer work or community service. Check out our guide on the 9 best places to do community service as well as 129 great community service project ideas. How to Get Involved Now that you know some of the best ways to spend your time after school, you can begin thinking about what activities you’d like to get involved in. Follow the steps below to help choose the best activities for you. 1. Think About Your Interests Afterschool activities are much more enjoyable when they’re focused on something you care about, so start by making a list of your interests. This can include your favorite classes, hobbies you enjoy, sports you’ve wanted to try, or what you plan on studying in college. If you need more ideas, check out our guide to the complete list of extracurricular activities, which includes hundreds of examples for you to look through. What do I like to do? 2.See What Your School Offers The next step is to see if your school offers any afterschool activities that align with your interests. Check your student handbook or the school’s website to see if they list the clubs, sports, and other activities they offer. If you need more help, ask your guidance counselor. You can also ask your friends if they are a part of any afterschool programs that they enjoy and would recommend. 3. Look for Other Activities in Your Community While participating in afterschool activities through your school is often easier because you don’t have to travel to get there and you likely know some people already, your community may also have great opportunities for you to spend your time after school, such as part-time jobs or volunteer work. Your adviser or your school’s career services may be able to help you find opportunities, but you can also ask around your community.Check job boards or your town hall, or you can also contact places where you’d like to work or volunteer directly. 4. Consider Logistics Before you join any afterschool activities, you should think about how much time you’ll be able to devote to them.Afterschool activities can be a great way to have fun and strengthen your college application, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of your academics. Think about how much time your afterschool activities will require and how much time you’ll have to devote to them. If you’re unsure about the time commitment for a certain activity, ask the coach or supervisor for an estimate.Don’t sign up for more activities than you have time forbecause doing sowill only cause you to feel stressed out and couldcause your grades to suffer as well. If you have trouble motivating yourself to study or complete your schoolwork, you may want to consider participating in an afterschool program that offers tutoring and academic guidance. Popular programs include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and After-School All-Stars, or your school may offer its own program.These programs are great for anyone looking to improve their academics, and they can be particularly helpful for freshman who are just getting used to high school workloads. Bottom Line As a high school student, there are many ways you can spend your time after school, but some activities are more productive and beneficial than others. Look for activities that you will enjoy and that will give youuseful skills and experience in order to best prepare yourself for college and the future. What's Next? Interested in learning more about community service? Check out our guide on what community service is and how it can benefit you. Trying to decide if you should get a job? Read our guide to the pros and cons of getting a job as a teen. Want to find the perfect extracurricular for you?Check out our list of hundreds of extracurricular activities for high school students. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Content Marketing Editorial Calendar How to Get Organized (Template)

Content Marketing Editorial Calendar How to Get Organized (Template) Using a content marketing editorial calendar sounds like a great idea, but do they really help? When it comes to content marketing, many companies that struggle with consistency have found an editorial calendar to be the perfect solution. Even those that dont  have that problem have been using a content marketing editorial calendar for years. So, what about your organization? Could you benefit from adding an editorial calendar to your content marketing plan? Most of us know that the answer to that question is yes. We know that the  number one way to get traffic is through  the very habits that an editorial calendar will help us develop- organization  and consistency. However, a lot of marketers  still struggle with knowing exactly how to set up and use a calendar to achieve their goals. If that sounds like you, its time to learn what journalists have known for decades: editorial calendars are essential for maintaining busy, successful publishing schedules. The Best Way to Get Organized With a Content Marketing Editorial Calendar via @ Table of Contents: Free Editorial Calendar Template What Do You Need to Build an Editorial Calendar? What Is Content Marketing? What is a Content Marketing Editorial Calendar? Why Should Content Marketers Use an Editorial Calendar? Two Types of Editorial Calendars: Spreadsheets vs. Software Getting Started With Your Editorial Calendar Strategy Outline a Basic Publishing Schedule Building Calendar-Based Workflows Managing Your Calendar First, Get Your Free Editorial Calendar Template Failing to plan is planning to fail. Youve probably heard that quote before. Theres good reason for that. It holds true. Especially for content marketers. Without proper planning, content is liable to fall flat. Or not get done on time. Or at all. Speaking from experience, creating better content more consistently starts with strategic use an editorial calendar. If you dont have one yet, though, youre in the right place. You can build one fast with this free Excel-based template below. Then when youre ready to upgrade, consider an alternative like . Now, theres no excuse not to get organized.What You Need To Start A Content Marketing Editorial Calendar There is no shortage of free templates available for creating your editorial calendar. Some are digital, and some are even written out on paper, but none are more prepared for the modern age than the fully digital options. The best part about using a  paper editorial calendar is that it can help you start the habit of using one to plan your content marketing. Eventually, you'll need bigger and better tools, but this is a great way to start out without making a major financial investment. No More Spreadsheets: The Digital  Content Marketing Editorial Calendar When you're ready to upgrade, a tool like   can provide a fully digital solution, connecting  your content calendar directly to your WordPress blog and social media networks. This powerful tool combines social media and content marketing scheduling with a robust productivity tool that will allow you to share tasks with your team and leave comments or critiques on their work. You can also schedule your blog posts with a drag-and-drop ease. Start a free 14-day trial or schedule a demo now. What makes @the best marketing calendar platform available right now? What Is Content Marketing? Before we get too much farther into the importance of editorial calendars themselves, it's essential that both you and your team fully understand what content marketing really is. We often  hear buzz words like "content marketing" and "editorial calendar" without fully understanding their implications. According to Wikipedia, content marketing is: "Any marketing  format that involves the creation and sharing of  media and publishing content  in order to acquire customers. This information can be presented in a variety of formats, including news, video,  white papers,  e-books,  infographics, case studies, how-to guides, question and answer articles, photos, etc." In short, it's marketing that doesn't suck. It's  marketing that's actually helpful to its audience. But, what does strong content marketing actually look like? Let me share a simple example. Weber Nation Popular grill manufacturer Weber knows how to do content marketing. A few years ago they launched a new site called "Weber Nation" that is  100% committed to helping its audience. It  provides tips on grilling the best steaks, caring for your grill, and how to use a great grill to entertain your guests. While the advice works  great for customers of actual Weber grills, owners of any grill brand can benefit from their information. Their efforts paid off so well, they doubled down with an iOS app. What does that tell you? Content marketing is worth the investment, and it's not just for startups. Does this mean that everyone who visits  their site will purchase a Weber grill?  Probably not, but it's likely that Weber has gained millions of new fans that could all be potential customers. It's not about a quick sale. It's about building an audience that trusts you long-term. That is the ultimate goal of content marketing. Recommended Reading: The Most Complete Content Marketing Process You Need to Get Organized What Is A  Content Marketing Editorial Calendar? Most of us are familiar with the idea of a traditional editorial calendar that helps us visualize our content publishing on a calendar-like interface, but how does that differ from a content marketing editorial calendar? Content  marketing is highly strategic. That means you need to understand your audience, what motivates them, and what they need to hear from you in order to make a connection to your brand. A content marketing editorial calendar is essentially a planning document that gives your team a plan of attack. Like a traditional editorial calendar, it gives you a bird's-eye view of what is going on. However, it should be expanded to fit all the different channels a marketing team specifically would care about. Overall, it should accomplish the following: Provide a place to generate post ideas and key topics. Assign writing and other editorial tasks to key members of your team. Create a publishing schedule that helps you maintain a consistent presence. Allow you to make in-process adjustments with drag-and-drop ease. Visualize your marketing strategy in a way that everyone can understand. Act as a communication point to team members. A content marketing editorial calendar gives you and your team a framework for being deliberate and intentional about how you are reaching and building trust with your audience. In part, it is a strategic marketing tool. In another way, it is a place to keep your team organized and on top of things. Both of these things are going to be very important as you move ahead. Recommended Reading: 81 Most Essential Content Marketing Tools and Software You Need to Be Successful Why Should Content Marketers Use An Editorial Calendar? Journalists and news publishers understand the value of editorial calendars. They’re essential tools for planning ahead and sticking to deadlines. Without them, it’s extremely difficult to plan content around centralized themes (think how magazines target themes each issue), or to even know who’s doing what, and when. In other words, creating content consistently without a calendar is like driving a car without a steering wheel. It doesn’t work. Smart content marketers understand this, too. However, even if you know why you need editorial calendar software, it’s possible your boss is tougher to convince. This may be especially true if the person holding the credit card isn’t actually a marketer. If this situation sounds familiar, stick with us through this post. We’re going to show exactly what you can accomplish with editorial calendar software. If you want to create great content consistently, it pays to know what you’re going to do before you do it. As we like to say at , â€Å"plan your work, then work your plan.† When it comes to planning, too many content marketers just wing it. â€Å"Winging it† isn’t a real editorial strategy, though. It leads to creating directionless content that doesn’t produce results. Deadlines get missed, projects get planned haphazardly, and teams waste time spinning their wheels. Winging it is not a real editorial strategy.An editorial calendar helps create order out of chaos. It provides a simple planning tool for laying out: What content you’ll create. Why you’re creating that content. Who will create each piece of content. When that content will be due. That sums up the basic functionality of a content calendar. Take things a step further with editorial calendar software like , and you can also achieve the following: Successfully plan out coordinated content campaigns and themes. Lay out your content publishing schedule alongside your social media promotion. Manage your team member’s workflow. And that’s just scratching the surface. Let’s dig deeper and see what an editorial calendar app can do for you. What can an editorial calendar app do for you?Keep All Your Content Ideas and Projects Organized Having a great idea, only to forget it later, is frustrating. Having a great idea and simply not executing on it may be even worse. At , when we have a great content idea, it goes straight on our editorial calendar. That way, nothing gets forgotten, and those ideas get turned directly into actionable content that helps our audience and makes us more successful. Stop Missing Deadlines and Get More Stuff Done According to Parkinson’s Law, â€Å"work expands to fill the time available for its completion.† Without constraints, people take as much time as they have to get their work done. This isn’t necessarily because they’re lazily, but because it’s built into the way humans operate. This is why we also often feel like we get more done under pressure. When deadlines are fast approaching, we’re more motivated to get the work done. With a clear content calendar to keep track of your deadlines, it’s a lot harder to forget when things are due. Clear deadlines, combined with a tool for ensuring they’re enforced, results in more content getting created. It’s as simple as that. When deadlines are clear, more content gets created. Two Types of Editorial Calendars: Spreadsheets vs. Software Spreadsheets are a common editorial calendar solution. They're free and flexible. If you're just getting started, they're better than using nothing. But, they do have some downsides: Lack of automation. There's no way to automate publishing or content promotion via spreadsheet. Disconnected workflows. The calendar is separate from social networks and email platforms used to promote content. Communication is missing. Without commenting functionality, teams must rely on outside communication tools. Fortunately, there's a solution. Why Use Editorial Calendar Software? Technically, you can use spreadsheets to build editorial calendars. They work well enough and they’re cost-effective. However, their functionality is fairly limited, they can be time-consuming to maintain, and ultimately, they aren’t a ton of fun to use. Using an app instead can turn your content calendar from something you have to use, to something you actually want to use. See Everything In One Place The value of seeing your entire editorial strategy in one place can’t be overstated. With , you can see all your content in one place. This includes blog posts, social media messages (which can be toggled on or off), and anything else you're working on. You can also connect your Google Calendar so events and meeting times can be synced on your calendar: See your entire editorial strategy in one place with @Drag-and-Drop Convenience If you want to move something on a spreadsheet, you have to copy and paste it. When you have a lot of stuff on your content calendar, this can be a pain. With , you can drag-and-drop content anywhere you want on the calendar. This makes adjusting your calendar to reflect shifting priorities easy. Collaborate In One Place With spreadsheets, your calendar and communication tools are separate. As a result, discussion around projects can easily get lost. That’s why collaboration features are built directly into . Integrate With All Your Other Tools connects with other tools you’re likely using to help you get more organized and save more time. Here are some  examples: Transfer content from Google Docs or Evernote directly into WordPress. Or, use 's built-in text editor: Connect your WordPress blog to schedule posts to publish automatically. Then, use either our WordPress plugin or web app to manage your calendar. Hook up all your social networks to schedule all your social media promotion in advance: Plus, with advanced features like Best Time Scheduling and ReQueue, keeping your calendar full of social media posts takes minimal effort. Automatically add UTM tags to every URL on every piece of content published through . This helps improve tracking in Google Analytics. Convenient Color-Coding It seems like a small detail. However, if you’re used to planning content in spreadsheets, you probably have elaborate color-coding schemes set up to make them easier to understand. You don’t have to lose this when moving up to . Every item you place on your calendar can easily be color-coded for quick recognition. Store Drafts for Later (and Never Lose an Idea Again) Have an idea for a post you don't want to lose? Or, do you have something in progress you won't be able to finish until a later date? No problem. Just click an item on the calendar drag it into your Drafts bin: Getting Started With Your Editorial Calendar Strategy If you're going to try and implement an editorial calendar with your team, you will need to be able to make the case as to how it will help you grow your traffic and improve your business. This will take you right back to some of the things we discussed earlier in the guide about the business value of content marketing as a whole. Here are some key benefits to communicate: Better visibility across projects and campaigns. Everyone knows when each piece is publishing, and who is responsible for it. Ability to finally get organized. Disorganization leads to frustration and lack of productivity. Reducing the number of missed deadlines. No one likes missing deadlines. But, without a calendar to track them, it happens. Spending less time planning and more time executing. Spending time planning and getting organized saves more time later on. Those are some strong benefits that most any marketing team will get behind. Understand Who You're Talking To With Personas It's cliche to say that you need to understand who your audience is, but it couldn't be more true. Not only do you need to make sure that you understand your audience, but your entire team will need to know who they are as well. A good place to get started would be with some basic customer profiles  or audience personas. Take An Inventory Of Your Team Who's on your team, and how will each of them be contributing to the end product? This may sound simple, but it is an important question. If there is only one of you on your team, this step may be better spent writing down some of the tasks that will need to be completed and the order in which you will do them. Here are some roles that'll likely be working off your calendar: Writers. Designers. Project Managers. Social Media Managers. SEO Specialists. Content Strategists. If they're on your marketing team, they can get value from your editorial calendar. Develop a Basic Channel Strategy Not all content is equal, so you should decide what yours will look like. The basic starting point is usually a WordPress blog, but you might have other channels, too. Those include: Social media (broken down by network). Email marketing. Video platforms. Landing pages. Webinars. Courses. The world of content marketing is vast. And all of it can be planned on your calendar. Find Your Content Core The content core is the intersection between your brand's purpose and your customer's interests. Understanding this will help you plan content that's both: Relevant to your audience. What do they want from you? Delivers results for your business. How will it attract the right audience to your company? How Will You Plan? Most teams that use content marketing editorial calendars like to have regularly scheduled meetings to plan out their content. Decide if you'll do one of the following: Run group brainstorming meetings. Great ideas can come from anywhere. Leave content planning to an editor or strategist. These folks are closest to the data that will guide you to success. A mix of both. This way, you can take advantage of the pros for each approach above. Recommended Reading: How to Overcome Makeshift Marketing: The Buyer's Guide Outline a Basic Publishing Schedule Determining how often you will publish new content will also determine how far ahead you plan your content. This is a very subjective question. Now, your publishing frequencies may vary depending on each channel. Here are some starting points if you're fresh to the content game. Your Company's Blog Your Brand's Social Media Presence Your Organization's Email Marketing Schedule You're most likely sending marketing emails either daily or weekly per list segment. So, here are the best times to send those emails (according to 10 studies): Videos, Landing Pages, White Papers, eBooks and More If it's content, it can go on your editorial calendar. Not everything necessarily needs to be on a fixed schedule. For example, landing pages and white papers might be things you create on an as-needed basis, rather than making up your bread-and-butter content. But, the best way to keep it all organized is to plan everything on your editorial calendar. That's the key takeaway here. Building Calendar-Based Workflows Calendars can support your entire content marketing workflow. Here's how. Brainstorm Topics and Campaigns Before you can use your calendar, it needs content. One simple process that's worked well at is to run a 30-minute content planning session. Here's how the process works: Spend ten minutes writing down ideas. Have each team member jot down ideas on Post-It notes (one idea per note). Spend ten minutes scoring those ideas. Put those ideas up on a board. Read each one out loud. Then, have each team member score them on a three-point scale (3 = Awesome, 2 = Meh, 1 = Dud). You'll end up with ideas that fall into all three categories, and that's okay. This isn't about shaming anyone. Spend ten minutes selecting the very best topics. Take all your ideas that scored mostly 3's, and decide which are the very best. These will go on your calendar. This video offers a more detailed breakdown on how this process works:Map Content to Marketing Funnel Stages Next, map each topic to a marketing funnel stage. You'll need content that fits each of the following stages: Top of funnel. This is content that broadly interests your audience, but is only loosely connected to your brand. People looking for this content are likely not aware of your company or product yet. Middle of the funnel. This is content that speaks to potential customers who are considering buying the type of product or service you offer. Bottom of the funnel. This is content that converts shoppers into customers. Here's what a basic marketing funnel looks like: The majority of your content will likely be top of the funnel, since these topics typically generate the most interest. However, content increases in value, even as it decreases in volume, the further down the funnel you go. Establish Clear Workflows Figure out which steps are required to create a single piece of content. Then, determine how long each step should take. You can do this easily by first figuring out what needs to be done. Create a list: Generate an idea. Determine deadline. Do keyword research. Write an outline. Write content. Handoff for graphic design. Review and content. Ensure content is optimized. Write social media posts to promote content. Draft email copy to promote content to your list. Schedule publish date and time. That's a hypothetical checklist for a single piece. Next, figure out who is responsible for each step. Now, this list might look like this: Ideation (team/strategist). Determine deadline (editor/manager). Keyword research (strategist/SEO specialist). Write outline (content writer). Write content (content writer). Design graphics (graphic designer). Review content (content writer/editor/manager). Ensure content is optimized (editor/SEO specialist). Write social media posts (content writer/social media manager). Draft email copy (content writer). Schedule publish date and time (editor/manager). These don't necessarily need to be assigned to specific job titles; just tasks or roles different team members may fill, depending on your team size and structure. Now, figure out how long each step should take. Having your team use a time tracking app like Toggl can help you estimate this more accurately. To get started, determine how long each task usually takes right now, per step. At this point, the list might look like this: Ideation (team/strategist - 30 minutes). Determine deadline (editor/manager - 5 minutes). Keyword research (strategist/SEO specialist - 2 hours). Write outline (content writer - 2 hours). Write content (content writer - 8 hours). Design graphics (designer - 4 hours). Review content (writer/editor/manager - 1 hour). Write social media posts (writer/social manager - 1 hour). Draft email copy (content writer - 1 hour). Schedule publish date and time (editor/manager - 5 minutes). These times are completely hypothetical for example purposes only. Next, determine how many work days this entire workflow will fill. Then, add two weeks. That's how far out in advance your content should be placed on your calendar. Finally, map this all out to a checklist your team can use. If you're a customer, this can be done with Task Templates. These are reusable checklist templates that can be added to each piece of content on the calendar. Select a piece of content on the calendar and click the Template icon: Next, click Add Template: Then, enter steps to complete each task. You can also assign team members and due dates to each step: These can easily be re-ordered any way you'd like: When you click each task, it'll show the whole team that step is complete. This will be reflected by the completion percentage on the calendar: Each time a team member checks off a completed task, it'll be reflected on the Team Performance Report, which tracks everyone's overall productivity:Add Content to Your Calendar Now you're ready to add content on the calendar. As a reminder, take the estimated amount of time each piece, and add two weeks. This will give your team enough time to get each piece created, without constantly pushing up against deadlines. If you're using the template in this post, complete each field in the spreadsheet per piece of content: For customers, select a day on your calendar. Then, add the Content Type: Give your content a headline (plus add a description and any tags you'd like to use for organization): Assign an owner, color-coded label, and set the publish date and time: Hit Create Blog Post (this button text will change according to the content you're creating). Next, you'll be able to add tasks or a task template: The content will now appear on your calendar: Communicate and Collaborate on Content As you're creating your content, you'll need to communicate with everyone on your team. You've got two options here: Use a chat app. Slack and HipChat are popular options. Use calendar software with built-in chat. incorporates Discussion Threads for this purpose. If you're using , click the Contributors icon on the right, and make sure all required team members are assigned to your piece of content: Now, you can pass comments and trade files back and forth: This ensures no notes get lost  and helps manage version control. Publish! If you're using with the WordPress integration, your post will automatically publish at your specified date and time. If you have social media campaigns and email newsletters promoting your content, you can create and manage those in , too. For those using spreadsheets, you'll need to make sure everything is lined up in your Excel or Google Sheets calendar, your social scheduling tool, and email platform. Recommended Reading: Marketing Workflow Management: How to Prevent Last-Minute Emergencies Managing Your Content Marketing Editorial Calendar So, you've decided to take the plunge and start using an editorial calendar for your content marketing. You've made the right call. Not only will you find yourself producing better content, but you'll also become more consistent with your publishing. In turn, it should lead to a steady increase in traffic. As you go, there are seven things that you are going to need to keep an eye on at all times. 1. What's Happening This Week? What's Happening Next Week? If you are doing it right, you should have an answer to these questions at all times. How does your calendar make this easier? 2. Does Your Team Know What To Do? Tools like allow you to assign tasks to each member on your team, making communication easier than ever. Everyone should know what they are supposed to do, and when they are supposed to do it. 3. Is There Healthy Communication? Discussion about a new piece of content and how to make it better should be a normal part of the process. You should have something in place that allows you to have discussions, and share thoughts with your team. 4. What About The Assets? Images and graphics can be important elements for great content marketing. Who will be responsible for them, and how will they be assigned? Again, makes this pretty easy with simple tasks that can be assigned to each team member. 5. Implementing Editorial Review At our office, we use a peer review process to improve the quality of our work. Gathering feedback from our peers is a low-cost way to constantly improve the content that we create. Your calendar and editorial plan should accommodate for a step like this. 6. Reschedule As Needed One tip for users of a paper editorial calendar is to use colored sticky-notes rather that just writing on the paper calendar itself. This gives you the same drag-and-drop flexibility that you will find in a tool like . Keep Your Social Media In Check Too While it is often missed, promoting your content on social channels is also very important. It is really the best way to spread your content online. makes this easy, allowing you to schedule your blog posts and your social media messages on the same calendar interface. No matter what tool you choose, you need to select something that will set you up for success. I often find that those who take the time to plan, edit, and execute their editorial calendar are far more likely to succeed, and build the traffic that they need for the long run. Recommended Reading: The Social Media Schedule That Will Boost Your Traffic By 192% Start Creating More Consistent Content Now Content marketing editorial calendars aren't necessarily new, but you might be surprised at how many people choose to not use them. That's their loss  and your advantage. The content marketers that dedicate themselves to great planning and content creation  will always come out ahead. Good luck! Ready to manage your marketing with ?  Start a free 14-day trial or schedule a demo now.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Strategy to foster the sustainable growth in Hong Kongs retail trade Assignment

Strategy to foster the sustainable growth in Hong Kongs retail trade industry under the situation of soaring shop rents - Assignment Example was the leading causes while strategies like promotion of commercial spaces on vested lands and ceiling on rent prices can be the alternative measures. Retail trade has contributed towards employment and economic growth in Hong Kong. This study will be focused towards identifying various strategies to achieve sustainable growth in retail industry of Hong Kong during soaring shop rent situation. In this particular research paper, different factors will be outlined which has caused turmoil in Hong Kong’s retail sector. The value of retail sales has drastically decreased in recent years, approximately by 6.9% over previous year. It has been observed that sales value of certain products such as jewelry, clocks and valuable gifts, photographic equipment and electrical goods, and consumer durables has decreased by 28.2%, 15.3% and 23.9% respectively. Retail business operators in Hong Kong market are facing major challenges in present scenario in terms of retaining their market share and gaining high revenue margins. This problem has mainly occurred due to decrease in purchasing power of China’s mainland tourists and increas ed total costs in form of wages and shop rents. It is clearly evident that minimum wage legislation of Hong Kong Government and anti-corruption policies of Chinese government are policy variables. These external factors are not under control of retail operators. However these operators can adopt the best strategy for reducing shop rents so as to achieve sustainable growth in Hong Kong market. The retail trade sector is a vital component of utilities, transportation and trade supersector. This sector encompasses establishments in terms of engaging into retailing merchandise and rendering services in context of merchandise sale. Retailing process can be stated as final step in merchandise distribution. Retailers are generally organized to sell specific merchandise to general public in small quantities. There are two main categories of retailers

Friday, October 18, 2019

Care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease Essay

Care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease - Essay Example Helen Erickson, Evelyn Tomlin, and Mary Ann Swain developed the modeling and role-modeling (MRM) theory. This grand theory of nursing provides holistic care to clients by understanding their needs and providing client-centered interventions to meet the needs. It identifies the nurse as a â€Å"facilitator† who uses the modeling and role-modeling processes to help individuals â€Å"achieve a perceived optimal state of health and well-being†. Nurses use the process of modeling to develop an â€Å"understanding of the client’s world as the client perceives it† by accepting the individual’s belief. While the planning and implementation of client-specific nursing interventions are ongoing, the role-modeling process follows. This theory uses five aims of intervention as a standard in providing individualized care.The MRM theory also integrates Maslow’s theory, Piaget’s theory, and the concept of object attachment. The theory describes many c oncepts and their relationships in nursing and individuals since its original intentions were to guide the nurse-patient relationship. The nursing concepts include facilitation, nurturance, and unconditional acceptance, while concepts in individuals include similarities and differences in people. The commonness among human beings includes basic needs, holism, lifetime development, and affiliated individuation, while differences include inherent endowment, adaptation to stressors, mind-body relationships, and self-care.... The commonness among human beings include basic needs, holism, lifetime development, and affiliated individuation, while differences include inherent endowment, adaptation to stressors, mind-body relationships, and self-care (Erickson, 2010). There is an interrelationship of these differences and similarities. Following its publishing in 1983, there has been extensive research, examination, and adaptation of the MRM theory in diverse settings. It further guides undergraduate nursing curriculum, weight reduction programs, chronic illness management, and practice in hospitals (Frisch & Bowman, 2011). Strength and Limitations Some general strengths of the MRM theory include clarity, simplicity, and generality (Erickson, 2010). Theorists Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain clearly explained the theory while providing examples of their experiences to give a holistic understanding. The theory has a simple structure since it focuses on two steps of modeling and role-modeling. However, the interacti ons of its major concepts with the role of nursing add depth and complexity to the theory (Erickson, 2010). Nevertheless, its standard form allows its applicability in many nursing and patient situations by researchers and clinicians. However, its major limitation is that inexperienced nurses find it difficult to apply (Frisch & Bowman, 2011). While clinicians learn to perceive the client’s world by â€Å"unconditional acceptance† of the client as a unique individual easily, the theory requires experience and understanding of nursing in order to avoid confusing the role of a â€Å"caring professional† with that of a â€Å"caring friend† (Frisch & Bowman, 2011, p. 536). The MRM theory’s focus on client-centered care is

Exhibition Paper; Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exhibition Paper; - Essay Example The most renowned statues from the era include the Donatello and Nanni sculptures (Burgio, Clark, & Hark, 2010). Both masterpieces are held at the Museo dell’Opera de Muomo exhibition. The study seeks to implement the visual description of the sculptures as seen in the exhibition with a contextual inclusion of sculptural production in the Florentine Age of the 15th century. The renowned sculpture of Donatello remains an uncontested artifact of the period because of its unique inclusion of proportion in a rather hard to shape material. The 1418 sculpture depicts a biblical version of the events surrounding Isaac’s sacrifice. The sculptor engaged in the use of marble, and it is apparent that his knowledge in the field compelled his conclusion that he would deliver an exemplary artwork in the end. Arguably, the sculptor developed a theological concept prior to the beginning of the work; hence, the evidence shown in the sculptures facial expressions depicts the application of â€Å"scientific naturalism† (Long, 2013). The prevailing evidence from the visual surveillance inclines knowledge to a contemporary viewer that the use of grey almost brown colors emerges from the philosophical freedom held by the sculptor during the Florentine culture. While at the exhibition, a viewer could define the emotional expressions shown in the sculpture of Donatello on Isaac’s sacrifice. Such credentials declare the fury that Abraham felt once ordered by God to honor him through sacrificing his only child. In the contemporary culture, a viewer would agree with the sculptor’s perspective in developing the 191-centimeters’ tall sculpture. The taller figure of the sculpture seems to dominate the smaller one who is in a kneeling position (Burgio, Clark, & Hark, 2010). The rust-brown sculpture depicts a Biblical expression that the sacrifice was to accord God’s will as the taller figure looks upwards while holding a knife on the smaller

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Global Issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Issues - Assignment Example ent is not solely responsible for all the decisions made regarding foreign policies even though he is the primary architect and his participation is very important. The following groups also help in shaping the foreign policies; the senate, congress, intelligence agencies, departments of the cabinet, and the military (Ramachandran, Sita.  40). President Obama’s approach employs targeted force in a way that is of a responsible fashion. He is caring, respectful, confident and respectful. His leadership style is one that is mindful in decision making. He was a senator before his election to presidency. He was give birth in 1961 .He is a Harvard Law School and Columbia university graduate. He was a community organizer prior to graduating. Worked as for civil rights and taught constitution law. Former president George Bush used pragmatic and conservative approach in foreign policies. He was hard working, unpretentious, practical, ambitious, determined and forceful. He was born in 1946, a politician and a business

Report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Report - Research Paper Example In discrete market segments the consumers have relatively little power and in a less discrete environment, the relationship leads to less consumer loyalty and greater consumer choice on account of greater mobility enjoyed by the consumers. Background The technological developments in telecommunications and media in the recent past have opened up new avenues for marketing of the products. The developments have also enhanced the awareness among the consumers about their rights, quality of the products, pricing pattern of the similar products, track record, servicing in respect of the products and host of other factors related to marketing. Therefore the changing business environment has necessitated revisiting of the strategies hitherto adopted by the companies in marketing of the products and services and streamlining their strategies in line with the developments in the industry for their survival. Upgrading of the products and processes is a continuous process keeping in tune with t he changes in technology and tastes and fashions of the consumers. Objectives This paper discusses consumer behavior with reference to an ongoing concern. An ongoing concern has to approach the issue from two angles, one in connection with the existing consumers and the other with the prospective consumers. Though there may be an element of overlapping, strategies vary for collection of information. The paper seeks to analyze the issues with regard to the existing and potential consumers. In the case of existing consumers, the information about them is already available with the company. The techniques such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) would be useful for the management of these customers as well as the potential consumers. In the case of prospective customers, the information from the industry, community and other external sources will be required and the techniques such as market research would be useful for collecting information. In this connection a clear perspecti ve formed by the management with regard to Consumer psychology and Consumer behavior is essential. Consumer psychology Consumer  psychology  deals with the study of issues most relevant to the decisions taken by the people in purchasing a particular item, determining the value of a service and the influence of advertisements in the media in their decisions, especially when they are confronted with the new products or services, consequently interrelated to the consumer behavior. The entire gamut of consumer psychology encompasses marketing, advertising and social psychology apart from economics and cultural diversity or differences and extends to several other related areas such as product packaging as well. For example, Choi, Kwon & Lee (2007, p. 10) state that â€Å"mortality salience has an impact on materialistic consumption. People with a greater fear of becoming a terrorism victim showed a greater tendency for brand name consumption and compulsive consumption†. This is an extension of the application of Terror Management Theory to consumer behavior. Likewise, the opportunities afforded are endless and includes new uses for the existing products which may give rise to new ideas in marketing a product. The economic and social background of the consumers and the psychological interplay in this backdrop is very crucial in the product placement and positioning, considering the target consumers,