The Office Maven is now Maven Mauve
I’m rebranding and will be slowly winding up The Office Maven name. Check out https://mavenmauve.au or click the button below.
New business; focusing specifically on website builds plus maintenance.
Featuring inspiration to help you get started;
tips and tricks to elevate your content and site;
security topics to keep you informed;
allowing you to get the best out of your
content, social media and website.
Featuring inspiration to help you get started; tips and tricks to elevate your content and site; security topics to keep you informed; allowing you to get the best out of your
content, social media and website.
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May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein
For the month of May I read the book May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein. What’s it about? This book is described as a 40 day guidebook of subtle shifts fo radical change and unlimited happiness. Reason I chose this book When I purchased The Universe Has Your...
May Blog Round Up
The following blog post is a list of blogs I read during May that I found worthwhile of sharing with others. They cover a range of topics which relate to websites, marketing, social media and other topics. The No-Trick New Blogger Strategy for Content Creation...
What do you mean, that costs extra?
I’ve had this question asked to me several times and I get why it can be frustrating for a client to be expecting to pay one amount for a site and then to have things added to the cost. However, as a designer/developer this is something that is essential for me to ask...
4 Tips for Meeting Website Send Live Deadlines
You’ve got a website in the works and you have a deadline in mind. These tips are there to help you ensure that your deadline is not missed, based on my experiences with clients. Content I’ve mentioned in my blogs before about having content ready to go before getting...
Balancing Act
I’ve recently struggled with balancing my writing for my own website with my clients’ needs. I’ve mentioned before that this kind of thing happens and I know that it’s hard to get back on track once it occurs. So far, I’ve missed two weeks’ worth of content; including...
June Blog Round Up
The following blog post is a list of blogs I read during June that I found worthwhile of sharing with others. They cover a range of topics which relate to websites, marketing, social media and other topics. 4 Simple Ways To Develop A Strong Brand Voice On Instagram...
How far ahead should I schedule content?
I’ve been asked this question by several people who have started looking at their content and trying to develop a plan for how they go about it. And the easy answer to this question is: that it depends! Yep, so helpful I know! I...
A Burst of Colour
A few weeks ago, I talked about why negative space is so important while designing your website. Today’s topic is looking at how to utilise the white space, how to help it match branding without filling it with content. This week, I’m talking about Colour Blocking and...
Getting in the Colour Mood
I’ve been doing a lot of reading recently in relation to what colours and fonts help evoke in potential clients and why some choices are more effective than others. Let’s look at a few of my favourite colours and the emotions they can evoke. Keep in mind, for each...
Why Negative Space Is Important
Negative space, often referred to as white space, has as much importance in designing a website as the positive space (elements on your website) does. Shouldn’t I Put As Much On My Site As Possible? Definitely not! There is a balance you need to achieve between having...
Reasons I Use Mood Boards For Inspiration
One of the biggest challenges I have when working with new website clients is working out with them what the colour scheme (if they don’t already have a logo to draw inspiration from) and layout should look like. Everyone knows what they like on a website when they...
Flexibility in Design is a Must
After building websites for a while, you begin to discover that it isn’t always easy to meet the exact specifications of your clients. You do everything in your power, but sometimes, it just isn’t always feasible to do so. I don’t tend to work often from a design...
Why a Clear Vision is the Ultimate Resource When Designing a Site
I know that this is a common question asked to potential clients who are looking for a site to be built: do you have any examples of things you like on a website? Often, it’s followed up with a request for examples of websites you like, with notations on why you like...
What do you mean, that costs extra?
I’ve had this question asked to me several times and I get why it can be frustrating for a client to be expecting to pay one amount for a site and then to have things added to the cost. However, as a designer/developer this is something that is essential for me to ask...
#everythingiscontent
NB: I can't stop laughing at my facial expression in the featured image. Yes, I've totally stolen Chenae Carey's hashtag but I told her I was going to! But, more to the point, Chenae was spot on with the use of it and it was nice to get a reminder. Let me know what...
One Important Tip!
Blogging, vlogging and podcasting is something that is pushed by so many people as a means to build reach, gain authority and educate your clients. Yet once the content is up; it’s not the end of what you need to do to gain attention and help to further your reach....
Content Issues
Have you ever gone to write a blog post and sat there staring at the screen? You write a sentence and then deleted it because you couldn't think of where to go with it? I have to admit, I get that way too. Yet, it's not all bad. Here's some of my other tips for...
Important for Content Creation
I'm focusing on two areas, the first one briefly, the second one in depth to do with content creation.
Brainstorming When You Work For Yourself
In my prior blog, I mentioned that I brainstorm to come up with ideas to write about. This can, at times, be difficult when it’s just you coming up with them. Unlike when you work within a team; where brainstorming can be easy as you have a range of people surrounding...
Notebooks are Important
I’m going to start this blog with a note of importance: whether you use a physical notebook or electronic, find whatever method works for you. Using both physical and electronic notebooks works for me well but might not for you. I’ve been writing content on my own...
Content Sharing
You will have noticed that once a month, I share content that comes from other people as one of my blogs. I have had a few people ask me why I do this as to them it doesn’t make much sense for a few reasons. Aren’t you in competition with those you are sharing? In a...
Instagram for Coaches
I recently took the plunge into using Instagram for my business after only using it personally and I love it. I've been getting heaps of likes and several comments on various tips that I am sharing on there but the main reason I love it is because it allows me to...
Don’t Let Your Fear Of Videos Stop You
One of the most common reason people don't vlog is their fear of being in front of a camera. I know I was like that too. Yet, it's one of the best ways to get your clients to connect and resonate with your message. What do you have to loose to give it a shot?
Taking Some Action is Good, Taking Regular Action is Better
Become known as a source of good content, build your brand by taking action. By only posting ocassionally, you not only have to win over new people, but those who have lost interest. And those are harder to win back. If you're struggling for ideas for what to talk...
Should I Batch Content?
I've seen a bit of discussion around this topic recently and thought I'd add my take on the matter. What do you think about the idea of batching?
Scams
With my work background, I have had a lot of exposure to the types of scams out there but since running my own company, I've noticed a lot more other types of scams that target businesses in ways I hadn't seen before. The following are a couple of ones that could...
Sharing passwords
Passwords are supposed to be private. It gets reiterated to you whenever you sign up to a new account. Add in the secret questions and what not when you aren’t sure of your password and it becomes a nightmare trying to remember it all. A lot of business people also...
Passwords
Passwords can be the bane of everyone’s work and home lives. Nearly every system requires a password, has their own rules about what can be used as a password and then there is the recommendations about not using the same one for multiple things! How are you ever...
Caution: ATO Scam Warning
Last week I received an interesting phone call. One which I had heard of last year, but until now had never received it. So what was the phone call? One which would lead me to believe was from the ATO. It was warning me that there was an affidavit out against me and...
Understanding the Cloud
One thing that I’ve heard a lot of people talk about but not really understand is having things “in the cloud”. What is “in the cloud” exactly? Having something in the cloud is just another way to say cloud computing; in other words storing things online instead of on...
Sharing passwords
Passwords are supposed to be private. It gets reiterated to you whenever you sign up to a new account. Add in the secret questions and what not when you aren’t sure of your password and it becomes a nightmare trying to remember it all. A lot of business people also...
Passwords
Passwords can be the bane of everyone’s work and home lives. Nearly every system requires a password, has their own rules about what can be used as a password and then there is the recommendations about not using the same one for multiple things! How are you ever...
Build A Video Habit
What's a good way to build a habit for something you don't feel comfortable doing? Basically, do it a lot!
Accountability and Content
I know that for a lot of us, whether we're determined to keep a schedule or not, life gets in the way. And it's so true that there are times where you just can't focus on anything else but whatever it is that has your attention. Stopping to write a weekly blog is not...
Alternatives to Blogging
Want to blog but feel you don’t have time? Struggling to write the ideas and thoughts in your mind? Want someone else to write your blogs for you, yet they don’t quite match your concepts or voice? We all struggle at times to be consistent with putting content on our...
5 Quick Ways to Enjoy More Success
During my research while writing blogs for clients, I discovered that people kept telling me the same thing when it came to those who were successful. As I read and listened to the information, these same five categories kept coming up. So here is my five ways to...
Book Review: Everybody Writes! by Ann Handley
For the month of March, I was finishing reading the book Everybody Writes! by Ann Handley. What’s it about? This book looks at the fact that regardless of what you do, you write. It looks at the types of writing and how to write better for those types. Reason I chose...
March Blog Round Up
The following blog post is a list of blogs I read during March that I found worthwhile of sharing with others. They cover a range of topics which relate to websites, marketing, social media and other topics. Six Strategies for Creating Digital Content that Engages...
Book Review: The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
For the month of February, I was reading the book Everybody Writes! by Ann Handley. Wait... what? I thought this review was for The Universe not Writes. Yep, it is. I had all intentions of reviewing Everybody Writes! until I went through a stressful period where I...
February Blog Round Up
The following blog post is a list of blogs I read during February that I found worthwhile of sharing with others. They cover a range of topics which relate to websites, marketing, social media and other topics. Like A Boss: How To Be Consistently Productive For Huge...
May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein
For the month of May I read the book May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein. What’s it about? This book is described as a 40 day guidebook of subtle shifts fo radical change and unlimited happiness. Reason I chose this book When I purchased The Universe Has Your...
May Blog Round Up
The following blog post is a list of blogs I read during May that I found worthwhile of sharing with others. They cover a range of topics which relate to websites, marketing, social media and other topics. The No-Trick New Blogger Strategy for Content Creation...
Balancing Act
I’ve recently struggled with balancing my writing for my own website with my clients’ needs. I’ve mentioned before that this kind of thing happens and I know that it’s hard to get back on track once it occurs. So far, I’ve missed two weeks’ worth of content; including...