Source: ‘What is depression?’ is a question that can be a little difficult to answer
Roll up roll up… my personal details are for sale!
It is alarming how often personal details are harvested by cyber-criminals looking to imitate, trick, or simply track unsuspecting internet users.
In the most unlikely places, personal information can be posted online without the person who the information is actually about even knowing.
So where are cyber-criminals finding this information?
A quick search online will provide a good starting point to get information on most of us; with the electoral role, land registry, and social networking sites all giving a powerful insight into our personal lives.
As if that’s not enough, blog sites, reviews, comments, and even pictures can provide an insight into our backgrounds, habits, and even personality.
We often get asked whether it really matters if someone can obtain an address, a photo, or date of birth, and the answer in short is yes! Whilst these snippets of information may be harmless on their own, if they are part of a larger profile on you, than it can become a very serious issue.
We were recently engaged to look after a new client who had fallen victim to online fraud:
Client X posted comments on an online forum complaining about a bad experience he had had with his mobile phone company. He used his real name and listed the town he was from. A cyber-criminal noted this information and tracked his details on the land registry and obtained his postal address and home phone number. The criminal sent Client X a very expensive phone bill posing as his mobile phone company, which looked completely legitimate. The phone bill related to calls made from America, and Client X became worried that he hadn’t been to America recently and his phone must have been used without his knowledge.
When he called the number on the letter (which he thought was his phone company), they admitted there indeed had been a mistake, and they would gladly “refund” Client X with the money. Keen to resolve the issue, Client X provided his bank details so that the “refund” could be made.
Unfortunately there was no refund, and Client X had been conned out of £3,500. Whilst many of us may think that we wouldn’t fall for such an obvious con, legitimate looking emails or letters which contain personal information, and are from a service provider you currently use, can be very difficult to spot; so keep your eyes peeled.
‘What is depression?’ is a question that can be a little difficult to answer
What Is Depression?
A lot of people will say they are depressed when they are just feeling a little down, but this feeling usually passes in a day or two. And it is perfectly natural to experience sadness when somebody close to us dies, or something traumatic happens in our lives, but again these feelings generally ease over time.
If feelings of sadness develop for no particular reason, last for longer than a few weeks, and start having an impact on your life, it is possible that you could be depressed. Studies show that 18.8 million Americans are affected by depression each year; women are more likely to become depressed than men, although men can find it harder to seek help for their depression. Some people may experience one period of depression in their life, whereas others may experience recurring episodes.
Depression can vary in severity. An individual with mild depression can find going through their daily routines more difficult, but they are generally able to function. More severe depression can have a bigger impact on peoples’ daily routines, and in the most severe cases, they may become completely withdrawn from life and unable to function. There is also a risk that they may take their own life if they are experiencing thoughts of suicide.
Depression comes in a variety of forms;
Major Depressive Disorder, also known as Clinical Depression, is diagnosed when someone experiences depression symptoms lasting for most of the day, every day, for at least a two week period. Symptoms include feeling low in mood, losing interest in day to day living activities or experiencing a loss of pleasure in activities they previously enjoyed. For a clinical diagnosis to be made, these should also be accompanied by additional symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, interruptions to the sleeping pattern or changes in appetite, loss of energy, fatigue, difficulty making decisions of feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.
Bipolar disorder used to be known as manic depression and is characterized by mood swings which alternate from periods of depression to periods of mania. During these manic phases, the individual is highly stimulated and may try to carry out extravagant or grandiose plans.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) generally affects people during the autumn or winter months and is thought to be linked with inadequate daylight levels. Using special light boxes or light bulbs which simulate natural daylight can relieve symptoms.
Post-Partum depression occurs soon after the birth of a baby. Also known as the ‘baby blues,’ it is a quite common phenomenon and passes after a short period of time. Occasionally it can develop into a more serious depression that may require treatment.
Managed IT Services
Computer Network Maintenance and IT Management Support
Fed Up With Computer Problems? Have you ever thought “I wish I could afford for someone else to handle my IT support for me!”? Take a deep breath and relax, you’ve come to the right place.
AgathaGMaiti can provide you with IT Support and IT Management that will take your mind off technology and put it back on your business where it belongs.
With AgathaGMaiti IT Services as your trusted partner in IT support, we will:
- Spend the time necessary to understand your business requirements, your needs and your budget then deliver only IT services that YOU want. If you don’t need or can’t afford the “coolest” or newest gizmos we don’t recommend them. Sometimes even when you do want them we may counsel against it! That alone makes us significantly different from the “other guys” who expect you to fund their love affair with technology.
- Prevent potential down time and data loss disasters from happening using our proactive approach to computer support instead of reacting to the fire.
Whatever your business sector is, you are aware that an efficient and performing IT structure is at the heart of your success
o We’re having difficulty staffing qualified IT professionals.
o We’re concerned about the security of our data.
o We’re concerned about the security of our transactions.
o We’re concerned about the security of our communications.
o We aren’t always able to respond quickly to market demands.
o We need to reduce overhead costs.
o Staying up to date with evolving technologies is difficult for us.
o Maintaining current hardware and software is time consuming.
o We need to operate in real time to meet 24-hour demand.
o We need to deliver services to remote offices or workers.
o Our growth depends on our implementation of new technology.
o We need to upgrade our infrastructure.
o We need to relocate our infrastructure.
o We’re undergoing a merger or acquisition.
o The scale of our operations is going to change.
o We want to expand into new markets.
o We’d like to focus our efforts on our core competencies.
o We need to focus only on mission-critical activities.
o We need to implement a global IT network, but we lack the resources.
o We’re concerned about our ability to keep up with the latest security threats.
o We’re affected by privacy or security regulations.
o We’re experiencing dynamic business growth but have a hiring freeze.
o We need to maintain our current IT capabilities but are downsizing.
If any of the items apply to you, you may want to consider Managed IT Services.
Layered Hairstyles Guide
Most of the women still love wearing their hair sleek and sexy. What is the secret to beautiful hair? Well, for hair that makes an impact, there’s relatively no room for mistakes, and shine and healthiness are key.
So What is Layered Hairstyles About?
Don’t be afraid to add long layers and some side-swept bangs to shoulder-length hair. While hair is damp, work a dollop of smoothing creme through your hair. Begin by drying the bangs first- use a round brush to curl them under, lifting up slightly at the roots so that they don’t lay completely flat against your head.
Make sure they are dry before you move on to the rest of your layered hair. If they don’t want to go in the diagonal direction, then take a smidgen of pomade and use it on the ends of your bangs to make them stay put.
Next, separate your hair into six sections to make blow-drying easier. As you dry each section, make sure you curl the ends under. At the crown of your head, lift hair up at the roots as you blow-dry to add volume.
6 Headline Secrets That Will DOUBLE Your Response
If you want to “ramp up response” from your ad, consider revising the headline. Many business owners don’t realize how critical the headline is to an ad’s success.
Over the years, marketers have tested what works and what doesn’t in print ads and direct mail. And tests have proven many times that the headline is responsible for at least 50% and as much as 75% of an ad’s success.
So what guidelines can you use in creating your next online or offline ad? Here are some powerful ways to create an ad that gets noticed:
1. Appeal to self-interest. Providing a benefit is the most powerful technique you can use in a headline. That was the conclusion of early marketing pioneer Claude Hopkins, who would test nearly 2,000 headlines for just one product during his time at Foote, Cone & Belding’s forerunner, Lord & Thomas.
Benefit-oriented headlines also tend to “select” the audience — that is, by its very nature, an IT manager would be attracted to a headline that promised, “Job tickets never stack up with new SuperHelpDesk.”
2. Appeal to news. People are always interested in “the news” and “what’s new.” In business, “new” could mean a competitive advantage or perhaps something that can solve a problem.
According to research, the “news” headline is second only to the “self-interest” headline in pulling power. Headlines that are news-oriented often use the words, “new,” “now,” “finally,” and the ever popular, “announcing.” However, there are other ways of implying “new,” as illustrated by this fictitious headline: “Hungry Market Snaps Up Latest Jaguar Model.”
3. Appeal to curiosity. Humans are innately curious, so headlines that appeal to curiosity can be very strong. However, they’re not usually as strong as headlines that contain a benefit or that imply news.
The best way to use curiosity is to combine it with an appeal to self-interest, or newsworthiness. Compare, for instance, the headline that provokes curiosity, “Here’s one question you should never ask your CEO,” with one that stimulates curiosity and offers a benefit: “Here’s one question you should never ask your CEO before you get your raise.” See the difference?
While self-interest, news, and curiosity “lead the pack” for powerful headlines, there are other strong approaches, such as:
4. “Question-based” headlines. These are more powerful than statement-based headlines, but be sure not to ask a question that could elicit a “no” response.
5. “Problem-based” headlines. These are more powerful than “solution-based” headlines. Why? Because “problem-based” headlines tap into the reader’s pain. For instance, note the difference between “Having ROI Troubles?” (problem-based), and “Get a Better Bottom Line” (solution-based).
6. “Fast” and “easy.” If your product or service makes something “faster,” or “easier,” or both, try to convey these powerful benefits in the headline. Tests prove that readers respond well to “fast and easy.”
And what about headline length? There are always those who say a shorter headline is better. And it may look better on the page.
But that doesn’t make it pull better. Tests continually prove that a good headline can be short, or long, or even very long… 20 or 26 words. The best headline is the headline that attracts readers’ attention, and pulls them into the copy.
According to the direct marketing industry bible, Scientific Advertising, it’s not uncommon for a change in headlines to multiply returns from five to ten times over. That’s 500% to 1,000%!
So why does the headline for this article say a good headline can double response?
Because there’s another time-tested rule of headline writing and that’s “make it believable.” You can always modify your message in the body copy to match the facts. But if your facts are hard to believe, and you use them in your headline, tests prove you’re flirting with disaster.
10 Tips for Working with a Freelance Website Copywriter
Your website is designed. It looks great. But the content has become a Mount Everest-sized obstacle. What to say and how to say it. Who knew it would be so hard?
Those blank pages are calling out for clever words. Lots of them. You may have received an A in high school English, but you’re at a loss when it comes to writing sales copy for your website.
What’s the best way to get over your case of writer’s block? Call a professional copywriter. She’ll get the job done right and usually a whole lot faster than you will.
An experienced website copywriter will craft text that is search engine friendly, which will help to generate traffic for your site. At the same time, she’ll make sure the text is persuasive, encouraging visitors to become customers.
Since your website is likely to become an important marketing tool for your company, its quality will have a direct affect on your success. Just as you’d seek out a specialist to assist with a medical problem or a homeowner project, you’ll get a better outcome if you hire a pro rather than taking the DIY route.
Here then, are 10 tips for working with a freelance website copywriter to ensure the best possible results:
1. Provide some background on your company, its products or services. Your information will help give the copywriter an understanding of the big picture.
2. Explain your main objectives for your website. What is your goal? Is it to generate leads, build your brand or sell product right off the site?
3. Describe your unique selling proposition. What makes your company unique? How are your products superior to the competition’s?
While you may prefer to not mention your competition by name, you can still sell against them by highlighting your product’s superiority in certain areas and by raising questions that the consumer should ask before making a selection.
4. Provide previously written marketing materials.
If you have any ads, brochures, sales letters, press releases or promotions, review them with your copywriter. Identify any concepts that you’d like to include on the website. Are there certain phrases or details that have become associated with your brand and should therefore always be used?
Copywriters are not mind readers. So the more information you provide, the better prepared she’ll be to write your copy.
5. Allow your copywriter access to key people. The people in your organization are the experts. Allow your copywriter to interview them in person or by phone or email. The information they provide will give your writer a deeper understanding of your company. That means your copy will be factual and not just fluff.
6. Set realistic deadlines. Sure you can pressure your copywriter for a fast turn-around on the copy, but do you really want a rush job for content that could remain on your website for months and possibly years? Ask the copywriter how long he needs, and then work from there. Quality is more important than speed.
7. Expect to make revisions. While most professional copywriters will be able to provide you with a first draft that’s close to what you had in mind, most likely it will still need some fine tuning. Revisions are an important part of the process.
8. Give constructive feedback.
When your website copywriter asks you to review the copy, read it closely. Every word. Then make specific suggestions for any changes.
Be receptive to the copywriter’s suggestions as well. She may have a reason for why she did things the way she did, and that could influence your revisions.
9. Review the final draft. Once you’re happy with the copy, let the copywriter know you’re pleased. Beyond making her feel appreciated, you’ll be helping to define your preferences, which could be useful down the road when working on future projects.
10. Leverage your investment in copy writing. You own the website copy your copywriter wrote. Look for different ways to use it. Can some of the content be used in sales letters or proposals? Can you lift a paragraph for an ad? Using the same copy will create consistency across your brand and help spread the costs over multiple projects.
23 Ways to Improve Your Productivity
5 years ago I was a big slacker. I procrastinated most of the time and had very few helpful habits for when I actually did some work.
These days things are a different. I usually get more done in a day than I used to get done in a week back then.
I’ve been able to thrive as a Self Help copywriter (promotional writer) all because I taught myself how to tap into my full potential, and use every minute of every day productively.
So today I would like to share 23 habits that have helped me – and still help me – to make such a big shift in my own life over the past years.
I hope you will find something helpful in this article.
1. Do the most important task of the day first thing in the morning.
Getting the most important task of the day – this is also most often one of the hardest ones – done early in the day will lift a weight off your shoulders. You’ll feel good about yourself and feel less inner resistance towards taking action and getting more things done for the rest of the day.
2. Use a very limited to-do list.
If you have a to-do list with 10 items then it can very easily feel overwhelming. Or you become unfocused or confused about what to work on. Or you procrastinate on the few really important tasks as you work on the rest of the list. So instead, limit your daily to-do list to just 2-3 of the most important items.
I sometimes only have 1 item on my list. But if I get that one done then it usually means more than getting 10 of the less important tasks done.
3. Single-task both work and rest.
Multitasking might feel like you are doing things quicker. But it usually winds up in depleting your energy faster, in several things being done not as well as they could have been and in few things actually being finished.
So instead, do just one thing at a time. No matter what it is that you do during your day, if it is work or something you do while resting and recharging.
It will reduce stress either way.
4. Keep a minimalist work space
I find it is easier to focus on the most important things, to keep the stress away and to single-task when my workspace is simple and uncluttered.
I keep a minimalist work space with only a laptop and a glass of water on a black and small wooden desk.
5. Take small steps.
By just focusing on taking one small step at a time you can greatly reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and the impulse to flee into procrastination. So break projects or daily or weekly tasks down into small and actionable steps.
Then single-task it one step at a time.
6. Take even smaller steps when needed.
If you have a small step you want to take but find that you just get lost in procrastination when you think about it then go even smaller.
Find an even smaller step that will move you forward. Perhaps just getting started with your essay for 2 minutes or even just 1. Instead of the 10 or 30 minutes as you had originally planned.
7. Go slow.
One good way to do more focused work is to simply to slow down. To take a step forward but to do it slowly. I have found that by just doing something at a slower pace it also feels less like a mental burden and so I am less likely to procrastinate.
8. Eliminate.
Regularly ask yourself: what tasks can I simply eliminate and not do with few or no consequences? It is easy to just keep doing things because “you should” or because it is what you have always done.
So question how you go about things to free up time, energy and your attention. There is often room in life to simplify through elimination.
9. Block out the common time-wasting sites online.
When I write then I am usually not even connected to the internet. This greatly reduces the risk of being distracted.
If you have to be online while working then try using an extension for your browser like StayFoucsd or some similar program to block your access to the websites where you know you are likely to waste time or procrastinate.
10. Work in a cone of silence.
Don’t’ stop at being disconnected or with blocking time-wasters online. Shut the door to your office if possible. Shut down instant messaging programs and notifications for new emails. Put your cell phone on silent and put it in a drawer where you can’t see for a while.
Then enjoy the silence and being able to focus with a lot less risk of distractions.
11. Balance fully focused work with fully focused rest.
By doing so you’ll be able to keep your mental sharpness and energy up for the whole day and workweek. I do this by setting my egg-timer for 45 minutes. During those minutes I only focus on the task at hand and it becomes easier to do so because I know that I only have to do it for this limited time period.
When the egg-timer rings I set it for 15 minutes. During those minutes I focus fully on just resting by having a snack, taking a short walk or resting with closed eyes on my couch.
12. Celebrate both small and bigger triumphs.
If you achieve something big then celebrate it by treating yourself to something for example.
And if you have only had small triumphs during the day then still take 2 minutes at the end of it to appreciate and celebrate what you have accomplished.
This will motivate you to get going tomorrow too. And it will make you feel good about yourself and that feeling will spread to the people in your life too.
13. Don’t beat yourself up when things don’t go as planned.
Be kind to yourself and ask yourself: what is one thing I can learn from this?
Use what you can learn to do things better and to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Instead of spending time and energy on regretting the past that you cannot change anyway.
14. Do what you really, really, really want to do.
When you are doing what YOU deep down find fun, exciting, interesting or fulfilling then the motivation tends to come naturally and in big doses. So try to find ways to spend more of your time on doing what you really want to do.
15. Refuel your enthusiasm regularly.
On some days the enthusiasm may be lacking. If so, try to refuel it. Get an enthusiastic vibe by listening to a podcast or audio book or by reading a book or blog for just 10 minutes created by someone who is enthusiastic.
Or talk to an enthusiastic person in your life and let his or her feelings flow over to you.
16. Write down your top 4 priorities in life.
Post that note where you can see it every day to stay on track with what matters most to you. And to not get lost in busy work or in what may frankly matter more to other people than it does to you.
17. Let emails and other checking wait until the end of the day.
Or at least a few hours. Don’t start your day with processing email – if possible – because it can add a lot of stress and suck away energy early in the day.
It can also make it hard to truly focus later on as you try to work on the most important tasks of your day. Or even to find enough time for them if you get too distracted by your inbox.
18. Limited your daily information input.
Regularly unsubscribe to blogs, podcasts, forums and email newsletters that you rarely spend any time on or that doesn’t add much value to your life anymore.
Keep only the most helpful, inspiring and best ones. This very simple thing can free up quite a bit of both time and attention in a month.
19. Have a disconnected day or weekend.
I usually take at least one internet free day a week. I rarely check my emails on Saturdays or Sundays. Instead I spend time with the people in my life, a good book or movie, being outdoors or I do some other fun activity.
This recharges me and by having this clear boundary between work and rest I do not get stuck in worries, stress while trying to rest or in being distracted by work in my mind while trying to have quality time with the people in my life nearly as much as I used to.
20. Focus more on the how to and not so much on the what-ifs.
Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis, overthinking and the worry and lack of self-confidence that usually comes from that. Instead, focus on what you can do, on what action you can take to move forward.
Ask yourself: What is one small step I can take today to move forward towards my goal or out of this situation?
21. Each day ask yourself questions that help you to focus or refocus.
It is easy to get off track during a regular workday. To stay on track or to get back there if you get lost use questions like:
• What is the most important thing I can do right now?
• What would I work on if I only had 2 hours for work today?
If you like, write these questions down on a note and put that note where you cannot avoid seeing it during your day.
22. When overwhelmed, breathe and then say to yourself: just take care of today.
Focus only on that. Forget about all those tomorrows and your yesterdays that could be bouncing around in your head. Go small, narrow your focus greatly and just take care of today.
And then take care of tomorrow when it comes.
23. Don’t forget about the 3 fundamentals of energy.
By that I mean getting enough sleep, exercising a couple of times a week and eating healthy. This may seem very obvious in theory.
But in practice and in my experience it makes a world of difference for your optimism, energy levels, ability to handle stress and to think clearly.
How to increase your Conversion Rates by using a Sales Letter
The use of sales letters had been around for as long as direct response marketing have been practiced in the conventional “brick and mortar” world. And ever since the Berlin wall came down and the World Wide Web came up, it did not take long for people from business backgrounds to tap into the growing world of E-Commerce. Not surprisingly, it certainly didn’t take long for direct response marketers to carry their offline practice into the online world. Thus, you see the practice of one-page-long sales letters being used widely today by businesses of various sizes to sell and push their products and/or services into the Internet marketplace.
This is the case, because sales letters in this fashion have been proven to be all time-tested. As you probably know by now, sales letters are really just one LONG page with one goal in mind: to help sell the product to the prospect.
It’s like an electronic salesperson on your behalf, and it certainly beats having you to prospect and sell to someone else face-to-face or gamble on sending out hard copy mails (that can span 5-20 pages long when printed) and face the chance of not covering your investment on printing back.
A sales letter is considered to produce a good decent conversion rate at 2 to 4 percent. You are doing better if your sales letter produces above 4 percent. Some marketers reportedly produce 6% and some as high as 20-30% to cold prospects!
Believe it or not, online sales letter consists of mainly the use of mostly words and then some images. And words are indeed powerful tools; you should consider them double-edged swords. If used correctly, words can sell literally. If used improperly, not only would your sales letter suffer in conversion rate, it might just deliver the wrong message and the worst case scenario can be that of offending your prospects (besides not closing the sale).
If your sales letters are currently not producing the kind of conversion rates you want or this is your first try at developing a lifelong asset or skill where marketing online is concerned, pay close attention to these key elements of an effective sales letter.
1. Attention Grabbing Headline. Write headlines and sub-lines that really force people to keep reading. This will force people to “fall for” everything you say. Let’s be honest, clever marketing is good marketing!
2. Keep Their Attention with a Great Introduction. Many average sales copies today are written in such a boring manner. You can immediately hook your prospect’s interest by relating a fable or preferably a true story on your account.
3. Close the deal with your Body Text. If you’ve done everything the right way, your readers will be more and more interested in what you’re saying. What they don’t know (because you’re such an effective copywriter) is that you are actually closing the deal once they get to the middle. They needed a little more reassurance so they checked out some testimonials now they are going to make up their mind and buy!
4. Use results-oriented testimonials.
5. Don’t quit without a Call to Action! Tell the reader what you want them to do. Make it simple.
Writing Copy to Catch the Eye
Professional copywriters know that choosing the right words is only half the battle when creating an effective sales letter. You also have to present those words so that they catch the eye.
Keep paragraphs short, no more than six lines, because small chunks of text are less daunting to readers, especially those reading your sale letter on a monitor. Some other copy writing techniques to make your sales letter more visually attractive are:
• Bullets
• Call-outs
• Headlines
• Subheads
• Grabbers
• Calls to Action
• Postscripts
You can also consider using color, different fonts, bold type and italics to help draw attention to specific words or phrases. Employing a variety of visual styles will help keep the reader engaged. Just don’t go overboard or your sales letter will look like a ransom note.
Leverage Your Sales Letter Copy
While crafting the ideal sales letter can be challenging, it’s well worth the effort. Once perfected, the copy can likely be modified to fit a variety of applications. You can use selected paragraphs and phrasing on your website, in your ads and in other promotional materials. If you hire a professional copywriter, the price of the sales letter can thus be leveraged over several marketing projects.
Remember too, sales letters can be sent via e-mail or regular mail. Both have their benefits and their place in a comprehensive marketing program. When you have a qualified list, sales letters can be effective no matter the delivery method.
Writing Online Sales Letters
Here’s one more option for you to consider. In addition to e-mail or regular mail, you can post a sales letter online where visitors to your website will see it.
Your online sales letter can be just a few paragraphs or one of those lengthy pages that seems to scroll endlessly. Contrary to what you might think, marketing research has shown that long copy, when well crafted, outsells short. The trick is include a wealth of persuasive information without overwhelming the reader.
You’ll want to incorporate most or all of the following 10 elements in your online sales letter:
1. Headline – Grab the reader’s attention with a benefit-oriented title
2. Opening paragraphs – Explain why you’re writing, establish your authority in the field and reveal your empathy for the reader’s situation
3. Features and benefits – Describe the product and results the buyer can expect
4. Details – Provide specifics that lend credibility to your claims
5. Subheads – Break up big chunks of text and make it easy for readers to skim the copy and still get the gist
6. Testimonials – Quote real people who know and like your product
7. Offer – Describe exactly what the reader gets for the price including any bonuses
8. Guarantee – Give a guarantee that makes the purchase risk-free, a no-brainer
9. Solid close – Use a persuasive call to action that summarizes the benefits and creates urgency to buy now
10. P.S. – Briefly restate the key selling points and again push the buyer to take immediate action
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