When I was looking for work as a designer I used a long, drawn-out cover letter that got little results. But when I shortened it (after MUCH experimenting) and just gave them some short “teaser” (meaning I left more out then I put in) copy it worked like gangbusters.
————————————————————————- Here is an example of what to say, short and simple:
————————————————————————-
I enclose my resume in response to your recent advertisement for Part-Time Adjunct Faculty positions at GCC. My experience is most relevant to electronic/digital imaging and Web design.
As my resume shows, I offer over 12 years of experience in marketing and design for large companies like Xerox and ABB to smaller, more dynamic organizations like Meansbusiness and Freshdesign, Inc. I have worked in all phases of design and communications (including partnership alliances) from initial concept to final product in channels as diverse as print, radio, web and multimedia.
You can reach me at my office during business hours or at home during evenings and weekends. Thank you for your consideration.
Adobe Systems will lay off 680 staff, or 9 percent of its workforce, in its latest move to cut costs, the company confirmed Tuesday.
The job cuts will be made worldwide and are designed to bring Adobe’s costs in line with its 2010 budget and “the realities of the business environment,” the company said.
The 2009 edition of Wolda, the Worldwide Logo Design Annual, is now open for entries.
Wolda is the high-profile award scheme that rewards the best logos and trademarks designed throughout the world, and the
only award scheme in the world endorsed by over 100 international design associations and schools (see www.wolda.org for
the full list of endorsers, entry fees, rules and prizes).
Wolda is the high-profile award scheme that rewards the best logos and trademarks designed throughout the world, and the only award scheme in the world endorsed by over 100 international design associations and schools.
I am sure you all know about AdSense from Google and how you can make money by putting a piece of code in your web pages and Google pumps ads that are contextually related to your content, right?
But did you know you can also do the same with PDF files?
That’s right, you can now start to monetize any type of PDF content, including articles, newsletters, technical or journals articles, reprints, whitepapers, sellsheets and more.
How this works is that Adobe has formed a relationship with Yahoo so it is Yahoo ads that are pumped into your PDF files. When readers then click on the ads (like AdSense) you get paid.
2. Then upload your PDF (or your clients) content to register it for ad placement
3. The PDF content is automatically analyzed to receive relevant ads that match your PDF content
4. Sit back, sip your iced tea and wait for he checks to roll in
Additionally you also have the ability to block competitive ads from appearing in your PDF.
I think there is a real opportunity for smart creative owners to take advantage of this opportunity. Once you set it up it’s a breeze to replicate the next batch of PDF’s.
Start Earning Money Today From Your PDF Content
Doug Farrick
I am sure you all know about AdSense from Google and how you can make money by putting a piece of code in your web pages and Google pumps ads that are contextually related to your content, right?
But did you know you can also do the same with PDF files?
That’s right, you can now start to monetize any type of PDF content, including articles, newsletters, technical or journals articles, reprints, whitepapers, sellsheets and more.
How this works is that Adobe has formed a relationship with
Yahoo so it is Yahoo ads that are pumped into your PDF files.
When readers then click on the ads (like AdSense) you get paid.
The steps to get started are easy.
1. Register for an account here: http://tinyurl.com/6ehrxs
2. Then upload your PDF (or your clients) content to register it for ad placement
3. The PDF content is automatically analyzed to receive relevant ads that match your PDF content
4. Sit back, sip your iced tea and wait for he checks to roll in
Additionally you also have the ability to block competitive ads from appearing in your PDF.
I think there is a real opportunity for smart creative owners to take advantage of this opportunity. Once you set it up it’s a breeze to replicate the next batch of PDF’s.
Learn how to use Visual Psychological Triggers in your environment to program your subconscious for greater success.
Not long ago I read a story about Arnold Palmer where early in his carer he had a table where he would inset the various medallions he won at the golf tournaments he played in.
But he also did something interesting – when he finished mounting the tournament medal he just won he would always carve out an empty circle for the next medallion.
This is an excellent example of using a Visual Psychological Trigger for self motivation.
How can you use VPT’s to your advantage?
There are many ways.
You can emulate Arnold Palmer by putting up a medal (or certificate or picture) each time you secure an A-List client.
Another example is to put yourself on a magazine cover.
I also read of a noted network marketer who “mocked-up” his picture on Success Magazine and in a little less than a year he was actually featured on that very same cover.
Here’s a site that can help you with your own magazine cover:
http://www.magmypic.com/
You can also do this with other meaningful pictures, trophies, plaques – really anything that will help trigger you in a positive way.
So take the time to set up your environment(s) with some VPT’s where you can subtly re-program your subconscious for greater success.
Notes: Make sure the VPT’s are in your normal path of site throughout your day. It does no good to put them in a back room which you never visit or see.
Also, to add prestige and importance you might want to mount, frame or create some type of display to your VPT.
Doug Farrick
Learn how to use Visual Psychological Triggers in your environment to program your subconscious for greater success.
Not long ago I read a story about Arnold Palmer where early in his carer he had a table where he would inset the various medallions he won at the golf tournaments he played in. But he also did something interesting – when he finished mounting the tournament medal he just won he would always carve out an empty circle for the next medallion.
This is an excellent example of using a Visual Psychological Trigger for self motivation.
How can you use VPT’s to your advantage? There are many ways.
You can emulate Arnold Palmer by putting up a medal (or certificate or picture) each time you secure an A-List client.
Another example is to put yourself on a magazine cover.
I also read of a noted network marketer who “mocked-up” his picture on Success Magazine and in a little less than a year he was actually featured on that very same cover.
Here’s a site that can help you with your own magazine cover:
You can also do this with other meaningful pictures, trophies, plaques – really anything that will help trigger you in a positive way.
So take the time to set up your environment(s) with some VPT’s where you can subtly re-program your subconscious for greater success.
Notes: Make sure the VPT’s are in your normal path of site throughout your day. It does no good to put them in a back room which you never visit or see. Also, to add prestige and importance you might want to mount, frame or create some type of display to your VPT.
An important part of any business is understanding and anticipating trends. What will be the next big digital trend? What are some of the latest design trends that can give you competitive advantage. Read the article to find out more and check out some resources you can you in your trend research.
“The Trend is Your Friend” is originally a phrase from the financial markets where you can SEE in graph form which way certain markets are trending. It makes trends very evident.
And a large part of any business (including design) is being aware of and anticipating trends in your particular marketplace.
Being aware of trends can really give your business competitive advantage by positioning your company (and yourself) in line with the trend and not against it.
As in the financial markets, the most important thing is not really to get in on the very beginning of trends (as that is just sheer timing) but to capture the “meat” of a market trending upwards.
For example, if you notice in your trend research that web designers are using Adobe Flex to develop and build apps it might be a good idea to schedule time to research and possibly implement it in your design business.
Here are a few resources that can help you in your trend research:
Million dollar ideas come to a lot of people — so why not YOU. The trick is, you need some type of system to capture these elusive “slippery fish.”
There was an article in Wired magazine titled, “Eureka.” It profiled a number of prominent people and where and when they received their breakthrough inspiration.
For example, J.K. Rowling received the idea for Harry Potter almost immediately on a stalled train on route from Manchester to London.
Authur Fry received the idea for sticky notes while singing in a church choir. And Reed Hastings came upon the idea for Netflix while upset over a late fee in his local video store.
The lesson here? You never know when inspiration might strike — so you need to be prepared to catch these often elusive and fleeting ideas.
One of my favorite (and I guess old fashioned) ways is to record notes in one of those moleskin notebooks. I like the fact they are fairly small, hard-bound and portable. I take it everywhere.
Other folks prefer to use a voice recorder which can capture your ideas quicker than writing.
Keep in mind, ideas do not often come fully formed. They often arrive in bits and fragments — so be sure to record them anyway. A key in this process is not to be too judgmental about your ideas. If you have one worth noting just write it down and forget about it.
Note: for those just starting: it’s a good idea to try to make notes at least 3-4 x per day. Even if you have nothing *seeemingly* noteworthy to jot down just put something down anyway.
The important thing is that it “programs” you into the HABIT of physically accessing your notebook and writing (or recording).
Who knows, your million dollar idea could happen TODAY while picking up the newspaper or a quick walk around the block.
