We’re all guilty of this: wasting time checking stats. The problem is that once you get hooked, it’s like an addiction to crack. Statistical crack isn’t easy to wean yourself off, but you’ll fail to do so at your own cost. Just how much time do we waste peering at log files and CTR reports? Too much! In light of that revelation, here are a few ways to break the habit and free up more productive time.

Traffic Analysis

There’s nothing that can while away the hours like analysing traffic data and SERPs.

1. Checking Log Files: It’s true that if you want to be really anal analytical about where your visitors come from and what they do, there’s nothing like analysing a raw log file. The problem is they are such massive wastes of time! Check them every now and then or archive data for the month before running a report.
2. Analytics: O boy! Once you get hooked on this one it’s nigh on impossible to get out of. You start off looking into referrals and keywords then get hooked on bounce rates and end up glued to ecommerce values. Analytics is without doubt brilliantly useful and simultaneously a massive waste of time. If you want those numbers to improve then it’s time to break the addiction.
3. Wordpress Live Traffic Plugins: Ultra addictive and incredibly interesting, these plugins let you see traffic as it hits your blog live. It’s the live bit that does the damage, the ultimate in time wasting distractions. Don’t even go there, unless you have a spare screen and can let it stay open in a window where it could be hacked to look like something out of The Matrix.
4. PMetrics: Like the many free Wordpress plugins, PMetrics will show you where traffic comes from. However, it’ll give you enough information to get you hooked like you wouldn’t believe. IP addresses, geographical locations, keywords, pages viewed; it’s all here and more. A great package indeed, but keep that tab closed if you want to get anything done.
5. Checking SERPs: There’s nothing like getting into the morning routine of checking SERPs to waste time, particularly if you check manually. It’s easy to address though, get some proper tracking set up and make sue of that time to rank higher. SEOMoz have some good tools, as does SEO Book.

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If you are starting a freelance business, chances are you want the freedom to be your own boss. However, there are a lot of responsibilities that come with this freedom and if you want your business to be successful, you’re going to need to get some management techniques in place. No matter what kind of freelance business you’ll be running, you will only be successful if you can be a good boss of yourself. Here are 50 tips to help you make sure that your freelance business is successful and, most of all, profitable!

Planning

Probably more so than any other business, being a successful freelancer has effective planning at the core. Plan everything. Plan for lean times as well as for success.

1. Set up a schedule: Although you now have the freedom to work when you feel like it, you will need to have some sort of schedule in place to stay productive. It is all too easy to shirk your duties when you’re working for yourself.
2. Set up a home office: You can greatly improve both your productivity and your state of mind if you have a set space for your work. This is also important for tax reasons, since you can write off this portion of your home.
3. Manage your family: You may want to spend more time with your family, but they will also need to understand that work time is sacred. Set boundaries so that you have enough peace and quiet to function.
4. Keep your office space sacred: Sure it’s tough when you’re in your own home, and toys or other stuff can easily migrate to your office. However, you need to keep this space sacred by keeping it work related and free from clutter.
5. Communication: If you don’t have a separate phone line for your home office, you should get one installed. You’ll sound a lot more professional if your kids aren’t answering the phone.
6. Set up a break time: This is similar to your lunch hour at work. You need time to recharge during the day and although it’s tempting to eat lunch at your desk, separating the two is very beneficial to your state of mind.
7. Set boundaries on work time: When you work at home you quickly find that it starts encroaching on all areas of your home life. Set up specific work times and don’t let the two overlap on a regular basis.
8. Dress the part: Sure, working at home means that you can stay in your pajamas as much as you want. However, studies have shown that making an effort with your appearance can greatly improve productivity.
9. Learn to be flexible: There may be times when home life interferes with work life and vice versa. You’ll need to be flexible to avoid stressing out. Even though a schedule is important, you may not always be able to keep it.
10. Master the art of the deadline: Part of being a freelancer is burning the midnight oil to make a deadline. Learn not to procrastinate so that you’ll get your projects done on time.

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Presenting a good CV can truly make or break your chances at getting a job. The CV is your voice telling the perspective employer what makes you stand apart from your competition. It also highlights your experience and unique qualifications. It is essentially a marketing tool that is selling you instead of a product.

In essence, your CV is the gateway to a job interview so it had better be good. Listen up!

Getting Organised

1. Organise your information: Organise your information before getting started. Have all of your dates and documents prepared and close by for easy reference.
2. Plan your CV layout: Set up a template or background for your CV. Design a heading at the top of the page and create any other formatting you will be using.
3. Examine the field: Look at the field in which you are looking to get a job. Read some job ads for that field and use the information you find to determine what you need to be include in your resume.
4. Include relevant personal contact details: Fill in your contact information. Name, address, e-mail and phone number should all be neatly placed at the top of the page.
5. Verify your information: Make sure that you verify all of your information and fact check all of your dates, phone numbers and addresses.
6. Know the job requirements: Know the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Make sure that when you list your responsibilities you include tasks and skills that are relevant to what the requirements of your desired job are.
7. Decide on objectives: Decide on what you want your professional, vocational or research objective to be. Formulate your wording and fill it in.

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So the call has come in and you’ve finally gotten that much anticipated job interview. What do you do now? Run out and celebrate with your friends or make sure that you are both physically and mentally prepared to do your very best on your big interview day? Being prepared for your job interview can be the difference in whether you get the job or not.

An interviewer can easily tell which candidates for the job came in prepared, and which ones are just winging it. By making sure that you are both mentally and physically prepared for your job interview, you give yourself a much better chance at coming in a winner. Here are 50 tips for before, during, and after a job interview to make sure that you are completely prepared for the entire interview process.

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