Getting Off My Bottom

One big problem as a freelance web designer is that, for a lot of my work, I have to be sat at my computer. I’m always trying to find a way to get my body moving a little so here’s some of my suggestions…

1. Put on a favourite song and dance around your workspace. Most songs are around 3 – 5 minutes and if you’re clever you’ll pick something energetic that will get the blood pumping.

2. You’ll have to go to that bathroom at least once a day. Run up those stairs, run down and then run back up again. Once you’ve made your visit run back down, up again and then down again.

3. Making a coffee? Dance or jog on the spot on do some stretches. I’ve put my small step machine infront of the table where my coffee machine resides. While it’s making my coffee I try and see how many steps I can make before it’s finished.

I was going to say ‘go for a walk around the block just after/before lunch’ but then I saw the weather outside. When did May become the new October?

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Staying healthy is necessary when you run your own business. Exercise is important.

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Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

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How the Internet Works

This isn’t a technical post, it’s a very brief overview of what happens when you put an address in your web browser …

Domain Name / URL

You buy a domain name from a provider such as 123-Reg. Of course, browsers (and computers) don’t really like to work with words but prefer numbers. When you buy a domain name it is automatically linked with a unique IP (internet protocol) address. For instance amazon.co.uk is actually 178.236.6.251 (copy & paste that number into your browser and see what happens).

Hosting

The files for websites are kept on big huge computers throughout the world called ‘servers’. When you buy hosting you’re getting a unique space on a server. These servers have back ups, rollbacks, crash plans etc to minimise disruption. You tell whoever you bought your domain name from where your file space is – that’s why you will sometimes be asked to modify the ‘nameservers’ on your domain.

Browsing

You ask the browser to show you a website, the browser goes to the domain name and asks where the files are. The domain points the browser to the correct file address and the browser ‘serves’ the correct pages back to you.

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This is a very quick explanation to give you an idea how domains & hosting work together.

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Freelance Tales – Networking (part two)

You’ve all read Networking (part one) haven’t you? No? Then go ahead and read it … I’ll wait.

People network for different reasons. People network differently in different groups.

Try and think why you want to join a network, what you hope to get out of it and even what you hope to put into it. Do this before you join and you’ll get a better return for your money.

I’m a member of Pink Link Ladies for the social interaction, the help and advice and the giggles. I am also a member of my local ESTA group, however, I joined that to make local connections with companies who feel and work like I do and to create a better community for my local area.

When you join a network please don’t think that you will immediately get referrals and customers, often it doesn’t work like that. In today’s business world it is a lot about making connections and building relationships and it doesn’t happen overnight. Increasingly I feel that people buy from people they know and (more importantly) trust.

So don’t be all ‘sell, sell, sell’ take the time to get to know the other members, start conversations, find mutual points of interest. It may be slow and steady but those connections you make will stand the test of time.

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Delicious resources

Did you know that whenever I find an interesting article I not only pass it around social media (especially Google+ – read why) but I also bookmark it to Delicious.

So, if you’re looking for something maybe you could try looking at what I’ve already bookmarked in Delicious.

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