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My Home Office Setup for Remote Work During The Emergency Lockdown

manuela / January 8, 2021

It’s a time of change, it’s a time of novelty. Now that working from home, telecommuting or working remotely is a new reality for many due to social distancing and lockdowns, I am preparing myself to teach and blog from my living room for the foreseeable near future. Recent studies show that remote employees that work online from anywhere are far more productive than in a standard office as they require less time to get ready or commute to work. Let’s see if I can put this theory to the test while creating a comfy home office with hopefully the best home office layout design I can come up with. Analysis of my Current Work Situation at School and Home So far, I have mainly taught in the classroom on a daily basis so this was my main work place. Here, I would have a desk with a laptop and I would spend probably one to two quarters of my day documenting, communicating and sharing my classroom work on the computer. The rest of the work day would be actively teaching, preparing activities, cleaning or tidying and of course most importantly interacting. I have therefore never really set up a so called home office. I usually work on my laptop when blogging, sitting on my sofa, my bed or my bean bag when I am at home. With the majority of my time being spent using the computer during this isolation period, I probably will have to change that. Because apparently posture and efficiency are better in a properly set up home office. How to rearrange the Home and Routine for a better Home Office Experience? Online orders have shot up during national lockdowns and so it is only natural that I start to browse Amazon and Co. for some home office equipment. However, I don’t want to rearrange my whole living room, so I try to look into options to use the furniture I already have and how to optimise it. What can I change in my living room/main home office space? I have a dining table and an office chair. It’s a good height and provides sufficient space. During the first few days I work from here. I feel good, I hold video conference calls and write documents, emails, articles, but somehow I don’t enjoy facing the wall opposite me. I remember that I have an empty space next to my big balcony window with a view out to Canary Wharf. I purchase a foldable home office desk with two slim tables that are adjustable in height and wheels so that it is mobile. I create space for all my things and I feel better looking out the window every now and then and enjoying the light coming in. Another plus is that I’m not next to the fridge any longer, which is tempting to eat more and take more short breaks. Maybe because I am “locked in”, I have more of a desire to look out. I improve my posture by alternating between working while sitting and standing up whenever I feel a need to. This also helps me from getting a stiff neck and back, which I tend to get easily. In between I can stretch or do a few yoga poses to refresh my body and mind. What else to consider apart from the office space? Since I won’t spend much at this stage, I want to focus on the basics plus the non-material aspects. Light Looking at the light, I feel having the desk by the window is a good choice as I’m utilising the natural light as much as possible. I won’t really need a desk lamp for most of the day and by that I also save energy. The sunlight streaming in doesn’t cause any disruption as my desk is in front of the wall, so not directly in the sun. We all know that natural sunlight has a lot of health benefits like being a good source of Vitamin D or increasing energy levels and productivity, so I’m happy with this decision. Space Organisation Taking a look at the organisation of the space around my desk, I have everything I might need to grab or get near me on my shelves. By that I’m avoiding time loss to fetch documents, gadgets or office tools. It’s not cluttered, but organised in different drawers and shelves, so it’s easily available. Nutrition and noise My living room is open plan and the kitchen is part of it. The good thing about it is that I don’t have to go far to grab a drink or food. The bad thing is that it can be tempting to take more snack breaks. However, staying hydrated throughout the day is important for a good performance level. And obviously eating healthy and light meals, so having fruits and vegetables handy should do the job. The other aspect is noise. There aren’t many loud noises around me usually, but of course, preparing food in the kitchen can be distracting. If that was the case, I could consider wearing headphones, playing my music playlist on Spotify or my audio book on Audible. Another tip for people who work better with white noise are sites like Coffitivity or Noisli for background noise that improves focus and productivity. Movement As already mentioned, my adjustable desk allows me to stand up instead of sitting when I feel like it. While standing I could make calls, hold video chats and virtual meetings or record videos such as tutorials. Writing also works while standing, but works slightly better when being seated I feel in terms of my posture. Because my office desk is mobile, I can move it around in my living room, which enables me to watch something on my laptop while cooking for example. However, it is also important for me to allocate time slots where I stretch, do some yoga or a quick workout. Scheduling I realise that I need to

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All posts, Blog Writing, SEO copywriting

Best 5 SEO Copywriting Success Factors Every Content Writer Needs To Rank

manuela / September 4, 2020

Writing effective copy for your website is tough. It’s even tougher to write content that gets recognized by search engines, captivates your audience, and increases conversions organically. It is more vital than ever before to know how to write content that ranks high, gets clicks, and improves sales. The goal of SEO copywriting is to drive traffic and attention to a blog or business website. But this is not straight forward and requires many steps and skills. At SeekaHost University I teach some of the aspects I cover in this article in my SEO content writing course, so if you want to know more you should check it out. Let’s take a look at the most important elements that attract your audience, increase traffic, and boost conversions. 1. Write For Human Readers, Optimize For Bots As an SEO copywriter, the most basic rule you must always apply is to create content for humans before optimizing for robots. Time and again, SEO copywriters, marketing specialists, and decision-makers think of controlling the entire process and try to influence algorithms. But the aim of great content should be to benefit and engage readers, as audiences make purchases, search engines don’t. The key to creating outstanding content is to consider the content consumption and interests of your readership. This includes the 5 Ws of writing – who, what, when, where, and why. Who identifies the demographic factors such as age, gender, education level, income level, marital status, occupation of people searching your content. What type of content are they searching for, their precise question(s), what’s their requirement, what’s their objective? When does the search for content take place dives into seasonal SEO (air conditioners during summers or chocolates during Valentine’s Day)? Where are they, not only geographically, but are they accessing content on the move, are they interacting with your content on mobile devices, etc. Why answers the user intent, why people are searching for your content, why they need your services or solutions. You need to research all of these five components with SEO tools to optimize your content, and you will achieve this by being attentive towards your potential readers and customers. By creating that valuable content with the help of SEO you will also optimize your content for robots crawling your posts or pages. 2. Related Terms – LSI, Synonyms and Keyword Variations Matter Using related terms in your content is one of the ways that you could create content that triggers a surge in qualified leads, and expands your sales. Algorithms over the years have advanced, so, to get your content to rank higher in search engines, you can use LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords. Use LSI keywords and keyword variations throughout your content to achieve a far-reaching footprint. This also encourages search engines to recognize you as the trusted destination for the solution you are promoting with your content. Having a larger and deeper keyword footprint will enable you to gain a profound association with your prospective clientele. Give this a try yourself by using LSIGraph! 3. Length And Quality – Elaborate To Get Ranked Have you considered the role length and quality play in your content? To get listed in the top search results page of a search engine, you need to generate content regularly that’s beneficial and serves a purpose for your customers, but it also must be in-depth. The lengthier your content, the higher are your chances of ranking. Lengthy content offers you as a content writer a larger ground to operate with and create content that includes LSI keywords, keyword variation, and addresses questions in depth. To incorporate this strategy, expand on what your customer’s needs and questions are, what they are looking for, what their issues are, and how your content can address their demands. Providing value and vision will naturally create lengthier content, and consequently, achieve better rankings by covering more relevant keywords and search terms. You can see how we as SEO experts at ClickDo Ltd. and SeekaHost University go about that in some of our case studies: https://www.clickdo.co.uk/case-studies/ 4. Long-Tail Keywords – Extend to Win The online competition is getting fierce increasingly, whether it’s giant or niche businesses trying to capture and monopolize your industry. The optimum content optimization method to expand is by incorporating long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords face lower challenges as compared to short-tail keywords when it comes to rank difficulty (RD), as a result, they are easier to rank. Even if the search volume is lower, by applying the long-tail keywords approach, your content will compete with less competitive content and you can gain qualified leads. Long-tail keywords are easier to rank and bring in high-quality traffic as they are more specific in answering the who, what, when, where, and why questions of your consumer. You can see how I use long-tail keywords in blog posts successfully to drive more traffic to a client’s website: Together with my team at ClickDo Ltd. I researched and found the long-tail keyword “how much does Invisalign cost” and because the orthodontist client offered this treatment we composed an article about it, adding this and other related short and long-tail keywords to the headings and main body text. You can see that the monthly page visits to this blog post grew by over 22,000+ within six months. Clearly, this is a very effective method. 5. Answer Questions – Answers are Key People make countless queries on search engines every single day. It’s your responsibility as an SEO copywriter to research and answer your target audience’s questions, so they understand your solution better and are persuaded to use it. Work with exact match keywords and users’ questions in your H2, H3 headings, or content that will allow search engines to recognize your text as highly beneficial to your audience’s needs. By using an exact match, you are incorporating questions that customers are asking, and through your content, you are providing valuable answers, leading to higher ranks of articles or pages. The easiest

All posts, Blog Writing, Copywriting

11 Home Business Ideas For Freelance Copywriters For An Extra Income

manuela / July 3, 2020

Do you usually get judgemental looks saying you work as a freelance copywriter or are striving to become one? Or do you yourself have doubts about becoming a freelance content writer? Then here’s a secret from one copywriter to another: you can completely change your income potential once you start thinking like an entrepreneur and tweak your approach towards freelance copywriting. Let’s look at a few avenues of freelance copywriting that can be your home-based side hustle you can start even while working full-time as I do: 1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Writing Every organization wants its website or mobile-optimized site to rank higher in the search engines. The search engines are more likely to rank a website with original quality content. SEO copywriting should capture the search engine traffic to serve the potential customers, and at the same time, be SEO friendly. You can offer this service on freelance content writer job platforms to have some extra cash coming in. 2. Resumes and Cover Letter Writing It is a well-known fact that recruiters spend just 6 seconds to evaluate an individual’s resume. A job seeker needs to make those seconds count and grab eyeballs. Often job seekers tend to write lengthy resumes losing focus on important details. A copywriter can leverage their skill to craft compelling resumes, highlighting the right skills of the job seeker in an engaging way, making a strong impact on the potential employer. They can turn into a professional resume writer and be a game-changer for many job seekers, who will happily pay for their writing services to land that dream job. 3. Blog Writing Blogs are easy to use and an important marketing strategy tool to share thoughts, opinions, insights, and news. Blogs can be personal, niche-based, or business-oriented. In a personal blog, the copywriter has the freedom to choose the topic, tone, theme, approach, and direction. The stickiness of the content will bring in viewers and ultimately make it profitable. You could also work for a blog network or a company to blog about and for them as I do. Working for a digital marketing company like ClickDo Ltd. helped me learn about blogging and managing a range of blogs in various niches, where I act as a chief editor and also manage the guest posting services. 4. Event Marketing Collateral Writing Collaterals at a business event, workshop, or conference help create a brand identity, weave a story for the brand, and support the business message. Collaterals such as brochures, leaflets, product catalogs add value to the delegates and help them take something tangible from the event. A killer copywriting for such collaterals is essential to reach the right audience and promote the business also online via email marketing for example. 5. Biography and Memoir Writing Biographies and memoirs provide a closer look at an individual’s life and vision. Well written biographies and memoirs for a magazine, brochure, website, or even LinkedIn, have a high impact in influencing and inspiring people. Best-selling biographies or memoirs of celebrities, politicians, notable personalities, or even regular people with a compelling story have a chance of being turned into a movie, TV show, or web series. 6. Script Writing This is a great time to be delving into scriptwriting, as it’s not just for feature-films anymore. Today a script can be written for short films, web series, YouTube videos, video games. If you have a passion for drama or digital storytelling and providing entertainment to an audience then you can start to promote your services online on sites like Craigslist, Glassdoor, Indeed, to mention a few. After you get a few projects assigned, you can build your own website to showcase these in your portfolio. 7. Annual Report Writing Every public company is required to publish an annual report, incorporating all the important details without putting its reader to sleep. A freelance writer can provide their proficiency to simplify, but at the same time give the report a professional tone. 8. Writing eBooks Publishing has become easier in the digital age, and eBooks are a great way to create a passive income stream. You could either work with an organization or self-publish. Organizations use eBooks as a marketing tool to entice customers to make a purchase. As a self-publisher, you have complete control over the topic, tone, marketing, and customer base. See my Kindle eBook here, in which I also explain in detail how to earn an income as a writer. 9. Specialist Writing Over the last few years, technical or specialist writing has become an upcoming profession. Technical writing entails documenting software manuals, product details, help guides in a readable, user-friendly manner. Freelance copywriters have an opportunity here to upskill and discover a niche market such as medicine, law, or education. With distance and online learning becoming a common feature, you could be a subject matter expert to lead the academic curriculum design to meet the needs of students and teachers. Or you could write a niche blog about your own expertise like the money-saving expert did, which you can read more about in my article here. 10. Ghostwriting You probably have a fair idea about ghostwriting and how it works. Ghostwriters are hired by people who are not good at writing and don’t have the time to invest in learning the craft. Ghostwriting takes the pressure off of marketing and promotion of the work and provides you the exposure in various niches such as books, columns, eBooks, blog posts, speeches, social media, white papers, and even song lyrics. 11. Business Plan and Business Proposal Writing With everyone riding high on the start-up business wave, it is essential to have a kickass business proposal and business plan to instantly win an affirmative nod from the investors or a client. A writer can infuse life in the vision and mission of the entrepreneur and business with words. Other forms of freelance writing are grant writing, speechwriting, press releases, media kits, PowerPoint presentations, translation, and transcription, so you’re left with so many options to

All posts, Copywriting

4 Most Popular Copywriter Jobs And Content Writer Jobs Platforms For Freelance Writers

manuela / May 19, 2020

As economies in different countries are struggling to stay afloat and combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Labour Organization has estimated a staggering 305 million job losses worldwide. A lot of employees across the world are either worried about their job status or are facing the threat of a salary reduction. On the other hand, the opportunities in the world of freelance writing have been thriving. Stay at home is definitely the mantra of the year 2020. And so is ‘work from home’. If you are interested in building a career as a freelance content writer, read my expert tips for an insight into the world of freelance writing. Content Writing Jobs Every Freelance Writer Should Know 1. Script Writing According to recent studies, the global online streaming market including Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Disney+ to name a few, is slated to grow by a whopping $149.96 billion. The fast-growing popularity of web-based video platforms makes them a perfect hotspot of opportunities for content writers. Storytelling, scriptwriting, and plot creativity for digital videos including documentaries, movies, web-series, and even influence videos is a serious business. If you have the flair for creative writing and the love for drama, scriptwriting as a freelancer is sure to keep your cash registers ringing! 2. Product Reviews Product review writing is a great way to add extra bucks that every freelance writer should know about. Several companies are employing freelance writers for creating positive awareness of their products and services. A product review writer is expected to: Connect with prospective customers Provide details about the product in detail Enlist both pros and cons of the product Provide technical specifications about the product. Product review freelance writing is lucrative work, with the chance of earning both in cash as well as by keeping the product that is being reviewed. 3. Freelance Blogging Freelance blogging is an ocean of opportunities for freelance writers. There are blogging prospects available in different industries including travel, health, finance, insurance, technology, and lifestyle. You may also explore opportunities as a guest blogger, content creator, speechwriter, ghostwriter, and influence blogger. Many businesses expect all freelance bloggers to be up to speed with their SEO and capable of applying it to their content for better search results on search engines. 4. Educational Content Being an educational blogger is a big business. Not only students and teachers, but also administrators, parents, and professionals rely on education blogs to enhance their learning outcomes. Educational bloggers create content for enhancing education learning patterns, improving teaching strategies, bringing innovation and diversity to mundane education techniques, and aiding in special education needs. For more home business ideas in the content writing arena, check out my latest book. Content Writer Job Platforms Worth Knowing And Testing 1. Mediabistro If you are keen on exploring the world of digital marketing, PR, journalism, and creative writing, it’s time you explore Mediabistro. Along with providing freelance job opportunities Mediabistro also provides members with different resources and online courses to hone their professional skills. Their job board helps you connect with several reputed companies for both freelances as well as full-time jobs. Their list of featured companies includes Bloomberg, NBC Universal, Fox Corporation, Penguin Random House, and Meredith Corporation to name a few. If you’re looking for more affordable online course options, browse our digital marketing courses at SeekaHost University. 2. Contently Contently is a comprehensive content marketing platform that helps brands from different industries and across the world build upon unique, engaging, and one of its kind content. Contently connects the world’s best talent to companies in search of their services. Along with a wide range of work options, Contently also offers resources like e-books, case studies, reports, and expert guidance for building up on freelancing skills. 3. Upwork Upwork is one of the most renowned names in the world of freelance opportunities. One of the biggest advantages of Upwork is the wide range of projects to freelancers from across the world. It is ideally suited for both beginners as well as experts. All you need to do is create an engaging profile and submit proposals for projects that interest you. You should, however, note, that Upwork deducts admin fees for every project you are paid for via their platform. 4. Review Stream If you are good at writing reviews, then Review Stream is the online platform that you are looking for. Simply said, you get paid to write reviews on Review Stream. Review Stream offers freelance writers the opportunity to write genuine reviews for genuine customers. You may write reviews on not just different products but also on electronic items, fashion products, hotels, and restaurants. It’s pretty simple to use – select your favored category, write the review, upload it along with a suitable picture. The website will accept or reject your content based on their analysis. Next Chapter Whether you work full-time or part-time, freelance writing is a flexible option you can pursue in your free time. At least, that’s how I started out as a blogger and content writer. But if you’d rather let someone else do it, why not post your job on one of the above-mentioned freelance platforms? That way, you can still publish the blog posts, eBooks, or scripts you’ve always wanted to finish. Alternatively, you can speak to me directly, if you feel confident that I could help, saving you time and possibly money.

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All posts, Blogging, London lifestyle

Working from brilliant London Hotels and Co-Working Spaces as a Digital Nomad

manuela / April 8, 2020

London is my home and home to some of the most prestigious and sought-after hotels and coworking spaces in the world. As a remote worker, I spend the majority of my time working from my apartment in East London where I have everything I need and love. But having such a selection of leisure facilities at my doorstep, I can’t help but venture out every now and then. Setting up my home office elsewhere for Co-Working inspires I find it inspiring and motivating to head to a new space to work from and experience a change of scenery. In a vibrant city like London, this is easy to do as you find an endless number of luxury hotels, cafes, libraries, and coworking spaces. I personally am a sucker for a room with a city view and spa facilities as it allows me to take a time out from working in front of the computer all day and to complete a short digital detox. It helps to refresh the mind, refocus on the tasks ahead, and process some more blogging or content ideas. It’s the ideal way to combine work and pleasure for the perfect work-life balance. Staying at an iconic hotel that you’ve always wanted to visit gives an extra kick. I may indulge in such a venture once or twice a month. I do this instead of going out or spending money on clothes as I find this much more rewarding. Plus, most hotels and coworking spaces have nice restaurants and bars where you can still enjoy a cocktail or meal in the evening before calling it a night. In fact, one of the conveniences of setting up my home office at a London hotel or coworking space is that I am served a wonderful breakfast buffet in the morning. By that you already have a fantastic start to a productive day, saving time and being offered healthy fruit salads, smoothies, and ok, that odd pancake might slip in there. But wouldn’t you be tempted to test this pancake maker? Leading a healthy lifestyle while working remotely Should I really feel guilty after breakfast, fortunately, I have the option to make use of a gym or swimming pool for my personal fitness regime? As a remote worker spending a lot of time sitting in front of the laptop, this is a daily ritual I hardly ever miss. My body craves movement and exercise after hours of barely moving and I use this time to completely switch off from work and focus on my well-being. I have come to learn that this is vital for my productivity and health and will therefore only stay at hotels and coworking spaces that offer such facilities. I usually do 10-20 minutes of cardio exercises and then around 20 minutes of toning, finishing off with stretching. A daily 15-20 minute yoga routine is also included usually and a short 15 minute guided meditation on a comfortable beanbag or seat either after getting up or before going to bed. You may be wondering where to find these London hotels and coworking spaces at a good price and I can assure you, there are many great finds if you just look in the right places. People often think that London is super expensive and it totally can be, if you pay the full price. But as a very competitive marketplace, you can often dig out great discounts and offers. I usually compare prices on lastminute.com and booking.com. If I’m not happy with what I find there, I look for vouchers on Groupon, TimeOut London, or VoucherCodes. That way I would achieve a price cut of at least 15% and at times of up to 40%. So, doing your research can certainly pay off, especially for that luxury experience you have in mind. Manuela’s favourite Coworking Places to work from So, what are my recommendations as a London blogger, writer, and enthusiast? I’m still planning on checking out many more hotels and coworking spaces here, but for now, I’m a fan of The Collective in Canary Wharf Top facilities like swimming pool on the 20th floor with stunning views, cinema, playroom, café, restaurant/bar with imperfect service, but seriously good prices + calm workrooms with printers and speedy WIFI. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manuela Willbold (@manuw_blogger) Novotel London Canary Wharf Modern hotel with cool features like bathroom wall changing to transparency with a push of a button while enjoying stunning views of London, basement gym and swimming pool with jet for advanced swimmers and sauna. 38th floor bar and restaurant looking out over the river Thames and London where you can comfortably sit and work with free WIFI. If you prefer a quieter space they also offer work areas on the first and second floor and meeting rooms or bookable work spaces. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manuela Willbold (@manuw_blogger) Ibis Hotel Stratford London Stylish hotel with a fantastic breakfast buffet included, featuring a pancake maker + a lovely gym overlooking Stratford, decent sized rooms with a good working desk space and even a kitchenette for self-catering. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manuela Willbold (@manuw_blogger) Aloft London Excel A sleek modern hotel with a lovely and colourful lobby area, featuring darts and a soccer and pool table game + a big gym and swimming pool, steam room, and sauna. The lobby offers a lot of space to work from in the calmer corners and other little treats like a foot massage machine help you relax even more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manuela Willbold (@manuw_blogger) Novotel London Heathrow The inviting lobby in the entrance hall offers great spaces to either work or conduct meet-ups and record videos with wonderful natural light flowing in. It features a nice pool with jacuzzi and sauna and is obviously a great choice if you’re about to

All posts, London Blogger, London lifestyle

Will a Cocktail still taste the same alone in Isolation?

manuela / March 30, 2020

London, my home and a city that normally never sleeps is about to be in lockdown as I write this with bars, pubs and restaurants closed from tomorrow as the government announced today. So, I decided to have my last drink in public before I have to have it at home in isolation. I sit by the river Thames with a view over St. Paul’s. While I look through the menu, I ask myself: which flavour do I want to taste last before I live in isolation? It’s tough, I’m indecisive. I hate having to do this and without sounding dramatic here, I feel I can slightly relate to someone on death row having to choose their last meal. Tough Decisions lie ahead Ok, I can do this. I go for something cheerful, full of life, refreshing yet grounding. A cocktail with a strong pineapple flavour, however, not overpowering, not sweet. Well balanced with gin and topped with lavender foam. I am in love; I feel free looking out to London’s ever-changing but continuously impressive skyline. In the background I hear legendary Abba singing “there’s not a soul out there, no one to hear my prayer”. The bar is not full on this Friday night, but a few people are enjoying a drink like me. I reminisce on the days where I would enjoy a glass of wine on a Canary Wharf rooftop bar while writing blog articles under the sun. The uncertainty of when I will be able to work outside my home again while freely choosing where to work from gives me an eerie sensation. I take a sip and realize that the intensity of the flavours and notes in my cocktail, the colour, the shimmering foam – they would not feel the same in isolation. The surroundings of where I have my drink, the atmosphere, the view, they all add to my sensory experience. Working from Home during Isolation I see an empty boat passing and I wonder how I will make it through this isolation period. Thankfully, I have so many pleasurable experiences to go back to, so many amazing people I can have a drink with in virtual meetings. And I have my main work tool with me all the time so that I can write, communicate and record everything I do – my laptop & smartphone. For now, I will have to work from home. No matter how much I love to travel and work from different places, I know this is the time to put my head down and work hard. Because there certainly will come a time where I can live the laptop lifestyle again and when it comes, I want to be ready for it. And for the cocktail, I’m confident it will taste so much better once I can truly appreciate it again. Alone or with someone somewhere again.

Top 12 Blogger Content that went from Zero to Hero - best blogging tools

All posts, Blog Writing, Blogging, Copywriting