However, designers seeking to gain a toehold in the nonprofit market should be mindful of fundamental differences between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, however. The biggest and most obvious difference, of course, is for-profits seek to make money for owners or shareholders. Nonprofits seek to achieve a purpose.

While customers of goods and services support a for-profit, nonprofits get the bulk of their money from sources that include supporters, donors who believe in their mission, grants, and public funding.

Why nonprofits are good prospects

There are a number of reasons to solicit business from nonprofits, reasons that can vary at various stages of a career.

If you’re just starting out, nonprofits can offer the opportunity to build a portfolio if you offer free or reduced price services. Perhaps a nonprofit will consider promotional considerations in lieu of payment, acknowledging your services on their website, in printed materials or in other ways. If services are rendered in connection with an event, for instance, programs, tickets and other items carrying your name and logo can be invaluable advertising.

More seasoned designers might choose to pursue nonprofits because there is less competition for their business and it can be a profitable niche if approached correctly.

Profiting from more than just money

Even if you’re an established business, offering free or reduced price services can be extremely beneficial. A nonprofit can offer a great opportunity to showcase your work, especially to its board members, who are often business and civic leaders. And nonprofit work can create excellent opportunities to network with those board members.

Self-promotion of your charitable work can also be highly effective advertising, since it conveys positive attributes other prospects will find appealing. And since self-promotion is a natural consequence of promoting the nonprofit, it doesn’t appear self-serving.

Also, staff and board members of nonprofits in particular geographic areas typically network, and a job well done for one can easily translate into work from others. Naturally, the ripple effect of a job done poorly can have opposite results.

Finally, there’s the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping a good cause, especially if it’s one you have a personal stake in. But for most designers, the best reward is fair and reasonable pay for their services.

Pitching to nonprofits

While the cost of services is a big consideration for most nonprofits, it is not the only or always the most important.

Show empathy – Since nonprofit directors are typically idealists, it’s natural they prefer to do business with individuals and companies of like mind. Doing your homework to understand a nonprofit’s history, mission and needs can go a long way in getting your foot in the door.

Multiply your value – Nonprofits typically work on long-term goals with long-term budgets and are always looking to stretch their dollars. With website design, for instance, one obvious way of doing this is for an organization to handle its own routine maintenance and upkeep of the site. While some designers might consider offering training to help a nonprofit accomplish this is losing potential business, it and similar cost-saving solutions can help seal the deal.

Don’t limit the possibilities – Just because nonprofits keep tight reigns on their budgets doesn’t mean they’re not open to new ideas, especially if those new ideas help raise more money or better disseminate their message. What social networking and ecommerce needs might you offer, for instance, and how would an organization benefit?

Don’t sell cutting-edge technology – While many for-profit businesses want to be seen on the cutting edge of technology, most nonprofits could care less. They don’t have the budgets or existing infrastructure. Instead of selling the latest technology, concentrate on how your knowledge, the organization’s existing technology and low-cost or no-coast technologies can best serve their mission.

Getting started

Getting started with marketing to nonprofits is as simple as an online search for “Yourtown nonprofits” which should result in a number of directories listing nonprofits in your area.

For more in-depth research, Guidestar offers nonprofit reports and IRS Forms 990, which lists where an organization’s money came from and how it was spent. A free registration is required. A similar site geared more toward nonprofits seeking funding is FoundationCenter.

Other websites worth checking out include VolunteerMatch, which can help target organizations seeking specific services like website design, and the federal government’s official nonprofit web portal.

About the Author: This guest post is written by Eric Nacul, a tech enthusiast who enjoys writing freeware reviews at BestFreeOnline.net.

1. Determine your areas of interest for freelancing

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You might think that all writing is the same however this is a myth. Writing could vary from business writing to creative writing. It could mean writing for the web or writing for magazines or writing for online media or offline media. Choose the area which fascinates you. You should have flair for writing for that specific area. Only then will you able to excel in freelance writing.

2. Set attainable goals and targets

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Establish the time you can dedicate towards freelancing writing. Make clear decisions – do you want to quit your job completely or do you want to freelance as a part time writer. How many hours in a week can you contribute being a part time freelancer.

3. Self-Discipline

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During freelancing, you are your own boss. You need to be self motivated and committed to your work. Being your own boss gives you the freedom along with added responsibility to maintain professionalism while you work.

4. Create some writing samples for yourself

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When you start approaching clients to trust your writing skills, first thing you would be asked would be your writing samples. If you have samples relevant to your client’s requirements, half of your battle is won. When you prepare your portfolio of writing samples, consider compiling a variety of work rather than restricting it to a particular industry or style. Get a business card for you to be more presentable in front of clients.

5. Understand the scope of work

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Before you begin working for a particular client, understand what is required from you. Get all the necessary clauses in writing. Get clarifications in case you are not sure about any aspect. Attain a clear picture of all the essential information and do not leave anything ambiguous.

6. Understand your contract terms

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Know your contract before your begin working on a project. Agree on your fee in writing in advance. Understand the payment terms which should include date of payments, mode of payments and more. Various aspects like word limit should not be left ambiguous to avoid any miscommunication and re-work at a later stage.

Freelance income can prove to be really beneficial in meeting costs of your luxuries. This can be your additional monthly income or can also be your full-time earning source. If you are considering foraying into freelancing, make clear decision about the kind and style of writing. Trust your instinct and make wise decisions around your freelancing career. It could be a great self-employment opportunity for you, if you understand the market scenario well. A career in freelancing can give you the freedom of expression without any restriction or boundaries.

About the author: Margaret is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently did an article on automotto. These days she is busy in writing an article on gizmo watch.

Quick earning
Yes, it is hard to be patient at first. There are still people in this world that doubt that freelance writers really make money. So when one of these people wants to build up their beliefs, they need some money quickly. Other forms of writing do not pay upfront and have a long process of approvals and revisions before one finally gets paid. Catalogs are easy, short and do not always require revisions and hence good option for new freelance writers to maintain their cash flow.

Low work pressure
The deadlines in catalog copywriting process are more reasonable than others. There are no last minute changes like sales letters and mailers. There will never be a crazy deadline that keeps you up all night and if you are a little organized you would be able to handle it easily.

It builds your skills
Catalogs have no place for fluff or bad grammar. The text should be to the point and if it goes in print, there is no way you can correct it. So you need to be perfect with your words and the punctuations. You need to be crisp and capable of creating an impact within a small space.

Leaves you time
Catalog copywriting is not as exhausting and leaves you the time to write for yourself. If you have a business and you write for your own products, they sell like a dream. If you want to work at your own blog or even write a book, you have time to work on your own project rather than just writing for money. You need not do it full time and can club it with another job or studies. There is also an option to remain a freelancer or get a full time high paying job in future.

Hassle free job
Writing for catalogs is relatively hassle free writing job. If you are into writing an ad copy, you might earn a lot writing just a few lines, but the responsibility is great too. The cost of such writing is not in the number of words but the impact they create. In addition, it is a big industry with lot of money so you don’t have to worry about things working out with one person or the other.

Of course, no job is perfect and every job requires hard work and sincerity. Once you do it, you know whether it is working out for you or not. There are many examples of successful writers starting elsewhere and making it big. There are good chances of you doing well if you start working as a freelance catalog copywriter.

About the Author: Margaret is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently did an article on styleguru. These days she is busy in writing an article on gizmowatch.

Concept of Logo

It is important to first understand the concept and purpose of logo before designing one. A logo is the recognition of a company or product and created in the form of a flag, symbol, signature or a mark. A logo does not describe a business nor does it sell the company. The characteristic of the business or product is conveyed through a logo. The objective of logos is to identify and not to explain. The appearance of a logo is not more important than what it means.

Logo Designing and Names of People

The concept of recognizing people is same when it comes to logo designing. People remember us by our names like Peter, Bob, Kate etc. as compared to descriptions like “girl with blonde hair who always wear pony tails”. Similarly, a logo is not supposed to fully explain about the business but it is intended to identify the business in a simple way which could be retained in the memory.
A logo has to be retained in the mind and to form some familiarity before its benefits can be actually reaped. It is just like remembering people’s names before we can identify them. A logo is the simplest way to identify a business or product.

Some important tips you should consider for creating an effective logo:

Mind retention
One should be easily able to memorize a logo which depends on its simplicity. An appropriate logo with a simple design can make it memorable.

Uniqueness
For a logo to be effective it should carry some uniqueness or surprising feature without overdoing anything. Hence the purpose of a good logo design should be versatility.

Lasting
A good logo is one which is able to cast a spell even after a considerable time. It should be futuristic and able to appeal even after 10 or more years.

Versatility
A logo should carry versatility. It should be consistent with scores of mediums and applications.

Appropriateness
Whatever the business or product for which you are creating a logo, the logo should have the capacity to match.

Teachers today have more choices than ever before when it comes to Internet tools. No more is simple Internet access the extent of the wired classroom. A number of programs allow teachers to build an education experience that extends well beyond the few hours spent each day behind a desk. Below are five examples that educators can explore and synthesize with current lesson plans.

1. Blackboard
Blackboard is a general teaching platform based on a digital experience. It is one of the most adaptable tools available. Blackboard provides tools to create online lessons that teachers can share with students in real time. The aptly named “Connect and Collaborate” feature allows teachers to create and moderate a student network. This can be especially useful for sharing time-sensitive information or setting reminders for projects, quizzes, and other assignments. Blackboard also has texting, email, and social media applications, and comes with mobile capabilities so that users can manage lessons and discussions on the move.

2. Podcasts
Podcasts are digital audio files that can be easily uploaded and transferred from the Internet to a computer or portable music player. While most teachers do not need to turn every lecture into a podcast, audio clips can make an excellent supplement to classroom teaching. Accessing podcasts enables students to listen to interviews, reports, and in-depth explanations of specific topics. Narratives and dramas in podcast form work well for literature classes, too. Teachers who use podcasts frequently can easily create unique podcast channels for specific students or classes.

3. Interactive Science Participation
Particularly in the elementary grades, the Internet can be harnessed to bring science learning to life. Science projects are much better when they become collaborative activities instead of stay-at-home drawing contests. With the help of a few simple online instruction tools like Molecules and BrainPop, teachers can easily access or create a community science project online. Students can log in to interact with classmates, as well as input their own data results. Like podcasts, there are many ways to create these interactive projects. Pathfinder Science and The Bugscope Project are two examples of places to start, but many options exist.

4. ClassTools
ClassTools is a simple tool application that allows educators to create templates for educational games and activities that are hosted online. While students get personalized and dynamic activities to take home, teachers gain the ability to track progress and watch participation. The application also allows users to store favorite templates.

5. Digital Youth Network (DYN)
The DYN supports a digital learning environment designed to supplement in-the-class lectures for students who are struggling with reading or literacy. It provides social media literacy tools and connects students with network mentors who can help them with homework and extra drills. The DYN focuses on middle school, sixth through eighth grade, studies. It has its own requirements, such as mandatory lessons, but is still a great way for administrators to help students achieve a greater level of education outside of school hours.

The possibilities for the future of Internet-integrated education are vast, and are growing. New tools are emerging almost as fast as tech-savvy teachers are creating their own innovations . While there are some setbacks and downsides to online learning, many in today’s schools find that the benefits are more than worth the climb.

These kinds of logos are created using typefaces. Using typography helps to recognize and memorize the name of the brands easily but on the other hand it may look quite common if it is not designed efficiently.

Mostly new brands opt for typographic logos to make the names clear and prominent in front of their customers. Through typographic logos the new entrants want to let us know about their entry into the world of business and marketing. But while using this type of logo the organizations should remember that their logo should be designed in such a way that it can grab the attention of the customers at the very first look at the logo. Many organizations hire design farm to design a unique logo for them. It is necessary to check their logo design portfolio to get the best result.

Scope for Experimenting
We commonly think that typographic logo does not provide much space for creativity. But it is not always true. If it is designed professionally and skillfully it can alone promote a new entrant brand or organization and hit their target customers.

Use Effects in Typographic Logos
Different types of effects can be added to the typographic logos to make them unique and eye catching.

Use small and creative images
You can use small creative images in your logo. But remember that the image should be related to your business. Using such tricks can make your logo more appealing to the customers. This type of logo is called iconic logo where symbols and typographic are used altogether.

Iconic logos are quite popular these days as they are quite cost-effective and can communicate better with the target customers than other forms of logos. As this type of logo conveyed the brand name and their products and services all at once through a single logo, it does not require separate marketing campaign to promote the name of the brand.

Experiment with the Alphabets
A flat typographic font may look dull and simple in a logo. As a designer you have the freedom to play with the alphabets and their fonts. A simple addition of a creative twist can change the logo as well as the image of your brand. Brands like Bata, Cadbury have made their mark in the business world only by using typographic logo right from the beginning.

Word mark Logos
Word marks logos are mostly used to promote a brand. This type of logo mostly concentrates on typeface and text. Sometimes it is included with some graphical elements as we see in Nike’s logo. A number of logos are also there who do not use graphical elements in their logos. Instead, they use their business name to communicate with their customers. Companies like Nokia, Toshiba use such formula.

You can opt for word mark logos if your budget is limited you are unable to afford a huge marketing campaign. If you clear your business name through your logo you will not have to spend extra amount of money in brand building. It is necessary for the companies who have images in their logo to promote the name separately.

Letter mark Logos
Letter mark logos also contain typographic face. These types of logos usually carry the abbreviated form of the companies or the organizations. Sometimes these abbreviated forms used in the logos become more famous than their original names. For example, America Online is famous as AOL, General Electric is mostly known as GE. Today these abbreviated forms have become so famous through their logos that very few of us even know their original business names.

Now it is up to you how do you want to promote your business and then only you can proceed to design a logo that will be unique and complementary to your brand. If you are thinking of hiring an individual logo designer or a company to do the job for you first go their logo design portfolios. The list of clients they worked for and their feedback. If possible contact with them personally to verify their claims.

With the advent of online media, writers have found many additional ways to make money. Below are listed some of the popular ways through which a writer can make money.

Writing for newspaper columns

This is considered one of the traditional means of earning money in the writing arena. However, with the advent of online media, much has changed and newspapers are hiring freelancers in increasing numbers for writing columns. One does not need to have a degree in journalism to be able to be a newspaper writer. Passion for news and great writing skills will do. A regular contributor can make a decent amount of money by writing for newspaper columns.

Writing for magazines

Magazines are another source of income for writers to make money. With scores of magazines being published on varied topics, it is but natural that writers can expect a good deal. Writers focusing on a particular aspect as travel, beauty and health writing can expect work on a regular basis. In case a writer is able to establish his/her dominance in a particular niche, regular work flow is assured.

Writing for trade publications

Those having interest in writing and deep rooted knowledge of any particular trade can expect good money from writing. Trade publications as Plumbing Today and Dairy Farmer’s Monthly pay much more than regular magazines, in case one is able to come up to their expectations and match the industry standards.

Writing for government publications

If you thought that only private players pay well, you are sadly mistaken. Government publications focusing on travel pay handsome money to anyone coming up to their standards. Publications as Arizona Highways and Texas Highways Magazine pay for contributing informative write ups.

Writing for chamber of commerce magazines

Those having interest in finance and business can look forward to writing for publications related to chamber of commerce. Every city and town has its chamber of commerce and usually comes with a publication monthly or quarterly. Once a writer is able to contribute an informative bit, regular work is sure to come through.

Copywriting for firms

The advent of online media has given rise to a new breed of writers. Increasing number of students, homemakers and professionals are writing for websites. If one has interest in writing and can focus on a particular niche, a wide variety of work is available online. As one is able to contribute on a regular basis, the writing skills get refined.

Writing has emerged as a full time career and young professionals are finding this as a wonderful medium of expressing and sharing their thoughts with others besides making good money in the bargain.

You have probably found yourself scrambling to do what you promised you would after realizing you have frittered away the day watching YouTube clips and posting anonymous comments on blogs that feature funny cat pictures. But it doesn’t have to be that way – not if you are willing to admit you have a problem.

Here are five serious productivity killers and five tools that can help you to beat each one.

1. Procrastination

“I will just finish reading this article, and then I will get to work.” How often do you say this to yourself? More importantly, how often do you really start working after the article instead of finding another one to immerse yourself in the moment you finished reading the first?

This is one of the most common problems people encounter, and it is amazing how quickly time can be wasted. Hours will pass before you even realize you have spent the entire morning reading. Because this is such a frequent problem, I usually recommend Read It Later. This excellent little thing can be associated with an account that is then accessible from your mobile device, browser or desktop, no matter where you are. While it is meant to bookmark articles, it can actually save any web page. So you can use it to keep track of things you want to watch, as well.

2. Distraction

You can be in the middle of work and find yourself distracted in seconds. Maybe it is a link that caught your eye, or you suddenly remembered some lyrics but you can’t remember the title of the song. You might have received an email that doesn’t have to be answered (or even read) immediately, but you just can’t help yourself and open it anyway.

The best thing to do is cut out any distractions, but when you work on a computer that can be hard to do. That is why I like LeechBlock. Made for Firefox, this add-on blocks specified pages – or even all Internet use – for a certain amount of time that you set in advance. You can give times during the day to block or just say how many minutes per hour, several hours or day can be spent on those sites. Every browser has its own version of this kind of program.

3. Over planning

It isn’t the planning that is the problem here, from what I have seen. It is the sheer amount of time people will use finding, signing up for and then customizing elaborate planning programs that then do absolutely nothing at all for them because they stop using them within a day. Spending too much time planning, or just putting in too much detail, is a waste of a lot of time. Instead, keep a simple checklist of what you need to get done and then do it, removing things as you go.

One of my favorite productivity tools is a super easy one that anyone with Windows has: Sticky Notes. You might laugh, but there is no simpler or effective way of keeping a visual list that will keep you moving to finish it than this free program on Windows. The Tasks app on Gmail is also very effective if you spend a lot of time with the page open.

4. Unawareness

Sometimes we don’t know how much time we waste every day, which makes us complacent. You might not even realize how badly your productivity is off. I knew a person who owned his own graphic design company. He got his deadlines done on time, though just barely.

The problem was that he didn’t understand where all his time was going and thought he might have been undercharging hours. So he used RescueTime, a great monitoring and analysis software that works for free, to see where he was going wrong. It turned out he was spending an average of three hours a day on Facebook – most of it spent playing Mafia Wars. Seeing that, he started blocking Facebook while he worked using LeechBlock and found himself finishing projects days, and sometimes even weeks, ahead of schedule.

5. Disorganization

Not taking the time to make sure you are organized can be a really big problem. According to a number of studies, the average person loses a full hour a day when they have not properly organized everything. From making sure you have a clean workspace to being able to find files and have information ready when someone asks for it, you need to be organized and focused.

One of the biggest things to organize is your time. That is why I like Focus Booster. It basically uses the old tried-and-true method of working for 25 minutes without any distractions before taking a five-minute break, only through an actual app. During that 25 minutes you only work on one single thing, avoiding everything else, including email.

Conclusion

These are the five biggest productivity killers for most people. But the tools above can really help you to cut down on wasted time and get more done when you need to, whether you are a business owner, a freelancer, a student or an office worker. Check them out today!

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A logo introduces a brand or a company to its target audience through marketing collateral obtain through online printing services. It is the launching pad of an organization. If the logo obtains the attention of the target customers then the brand becomes immediately intriguing to the client. If we look logos like Cadbury or Google the words that come to mind are innovative and unique. According to today’s SEO(Search Engine Optimization) trends it is proven that users not only search for the contents but also the images that relates to their search.

Once a logo draw the customers in then its the websites job to convert them to paying customers. The website is developed to provide information customers want and need to further pursue the purchase of your product. All though a lot visitors stop by the website, few of them actually read the content of the site in detail. Most of them just check out the website to get an impression of the business. Therefore, it is necessary to design the web site in such a way so that it is attractive as well as informative to the leading visitor. The main motto of a web site should be to inform, to identify and to entertain.

To make a site popular amongst their visitors it is important to develop a good relation between the home page of the site and the logo of the brand. Since there are chances that people will not check each and every page of the site in detail, you should try to put as much necessary information as possible into the home page of your site. As most of the people will be dragged to your website through the logo, therefore the logo should be simple yet creative enough to draw people in.

Getting this done will sound disastrous if you are new to the business world and do not have experience in promoting a brand and products. If this is the case you may have to keep the following things in mind:

• Design the site and place the logo in such a way that it represents the brand and conveys the message to the customers at the very first glance. You need to introduce the brand, the product and the services provided on the home page of your site.
• If you are dealing with high-end goods you should have a logo that conveys that. Starting from the colors to graphic images it should be top quality. If you are a real estate dealer and have a huge database containing high-end clients you cannot have a logo that contains a picture of a hut. It should be classy enough to attract wealthy customers.
• A website is the visual representative that divulges the details of your brand. Apart from good looking it should be useful as well. The logo should be visible on the each page of the site. It helps the visitor to connect the website with the brand.
• The visitors of your website should feel free enough to navigate through the pages of the site without any hassles. They should easily reach their destination of information that they seek. The content of the site should be brief and reader friendly.
• Finally, your website and the logo should be unique. If not, then your money and the purpose of the site will be completely wasted. You may take help from the professionals be it individual or website designing company who can create a perfect blend between the logo and the website successfully.

Thanks for reading.

The above article is written by SP who is an associate writer from Infographic Design Team. She is an expertise writer for writing articles related to Graphic Design, Viral Marketing and anything that is related to this niche. Her latest work can be find here : Infographic Design Agency.

Every blog design is, as a matter of fact, unique in itself. In this sense, all blog designs are unique blog designs. However, there are qualities that mark a blog design out from the crowd. As a blog page designer, you need to work on four key design elements, to make your page exceptional and unique from others. These four vital elements include simplicity, space, content, and navigation. Every Uniquely designed blog has ten essential traits that mark it out from others. Hence, the ability of the blog designer to manipulate these ten traits gives the blog a unique design. These ten essential traits include the following:

1. Readability
2. Focus On Content
3. Easy Navigation to Contents
4. Good Comment Section
5. Integration with social networking sites and social media sites
6. Good and memorable Header
7. Effective visuals
8. Semantic HTML structure
9. Organized content
10. God Title Design

Based on these ten essential traits of an excellent blog design, it is very easy to spot out when your blog design is going the unique way. There are a few unique blog designs known to have explored these ten traits. It is vital that while designing your blog you take a clue from some of these unique blog designs. Some of such blog designs include the following:

1. Hand Drawn Design

Hand drawn blog designs come with a dose of artistry and natural aesthetics. The essential quality of such blogs is that they appear like fine art pages or with pure doodle-esque designs. Some major qualities of hand drawn designs are that they are customizable, and they often reflects the personal style of the designer, or blog owner. As a blog designer, there are over 40 hand drawn fonts on the internet to help you make a hand-drawn blog design.


2. The Minimalists Design

This blog design comes with lots of creativity. However, what makes it unique is the ability to utilize white space or negative space. It comes with simple topography and simple images. In order to use the minimalist design, a blog designer must be able to appreciate and communicate with space and simplicity of images and scenery.


3. The Grid and Magazine Style

The blog design has the peculiar quality of bringing order to chaos. When you have many blogs with a heavy dose of information to be squeezed into one, then the Grid and Magazine style helps you to manipulate page structuring, in order to bring a sense of order to the blog page. This is the perfect choice for news blogs. Examples of this design include Juice, Edition, and Champagne warehouse. There are many other unique blog designs a blog designer can draw inspiration. However, the fact is that what makes these blog designs unique is that they are able to employ the 4 essential elements and ten essential traits of a unique blog page design.


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