The Caffeinated Blog

Tweeting In President Obama

Photo Credit: primplan

Living in the Washington, DC area, I've been feeling the excitement build for weeks.  Now that Inauguration Day is upon us, it's reached a fever pitch - and I'm not even going anywhere near the huge crowds on the National Mall.  I'm experiencing it all through my social networks who are there amongst it all.

As I watch Barack and Michelle Obama climb into their fortified limo on CNN, I'm watching a barrage of tweets coming in from people who are on the Mall, next to the Washington Monument, on the Metro heading to Smithsonian station, etc.  I'm looking at the photos that people have posted on Flickr - and watching as the number of items in their Inauguration 2009 group album increase by the second.  I'm checking out the various websites offering live streaming video of the inauguration.

In the weeks following the election, there was a debate about how social media changed this election.  Some people thought it did, others weren't so sure; but you can't deny one thing - social media certainly has changed this inauguration.  So much has happened since the last inauguration in 2005, and now we don't don't have to rely on the news networks to watch this one - we can experience it through social media.

This inauguration is historic in so many ways - and we're all lucky enough to be a part of it, whether we're at home, sitting in an office, or in the crowds on the Mall.

American Independent Writers-"Pushing the Electronic Envelope"

I've been eagerly preparing for my first panel discussion, "Pushing the Electronic Envelope: Sharing Your Writing and Selling Your Work in Cyberspace" held by the American Independent Writers.  It will take place tomorrow (Sept. 6) at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.  If you're in the DC Metro area, I hope you can make it.

I'm participating in the first panel with 3 other talented online writing and marketing experts:

9:00-10:15 a.m. Writing for Online Audiences: Writing Web Copy, Selling to e-Markets, and Standing Out Online Writing for the web is vastly different from writing for print. Readers have different expectations, different reading patterns, and a veritable flood of content to pick and choose how they will spend their online time. This session will teach you how to make your writing stand out from the crowd and land your dream e-signment.

Here are some of the topics we'll be discussing:

• What are key differences between writing for print and writing for the Web?
• How can writers find work in online markets, whether e-zines, blogs, web content, etc? In other words, what's out there?
• What makes a GREAT Web writer vs a good Web writer?
• What kind of work do you do and how did you get started?
• What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?
• What is the best advice you could give someone who wants to break into web writing?

Here are the top experts joining me on this panel:

Beth J. Bates is a Web and Social Media Consultant and the owner of Web Strategies Internet Solutions, LLC. She consults with small businesses and non-profits on social media tool selection and strategy. She helps her clients find effective ways to leverage these new mediums to meet business goals. With 11 years experience in web development and online marketing, Beth brings a unique blend of traditional technical knowledge and a passion for emerging technology to marketing strategies.

Jill Kurtz, A.P.R., has spent 20 years in communications and public relations and thinks that the greatest value she brings to her employers and clients is an enthusiastic interest in always learning about the new “thing.” She enjoys finding ways to make new technologies help individuals and organizations to accomplish their most basic

Mayra Ruiz-McPherson is a virtual marketing consultant and publicity assistant, long-time DC Web Women member, who possesses more than 14 years of working in the marketing trenches of business. As a marketing strategist, she works with multiple clients to solve their marketing challenges no matter how simple or complex, no matter their industry or market vertical or how affluent or limited their budget. She also maintains the DCWW blog, performing interviews, designing graphics and composing original editorial to keep the blog’s momentum fresh and moving forward. Her previous professional experiences include serving in various marketing leadership positions throughout the Washington metro area such as Assistant Director of Marketing for the University of Maryland’s Professional Studies division, Director of Marketing for a metro-based legal technology firm, Director of Marketing for a Northern Virginia health care facility, Executive Director for a community-based non-profit and Director of Web Communications for ATM/Debit network giant STAR. Presently she authors the Marketing Misfit blog, a blog providing real-world insight, tips and forethought as well as sharing true-to-life marketing blunders for the purposes of learning from the mistakes of others. Ruiz-McPherson holds her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Strayer University and seeks to begin her Masters in Education.

Again, if you're in the DC metro and interested in attending, I hope I'll see you there.  For more information, check out Kristen King's Inkthinker Blog.

Inspiration for Freelancers (or anyone, really)

I'm a member of a local group for women in tech/Internet-related careers called DC Web Women.  It's an extraordinary group, consisting of highly intelligent, incredibly talented, and really supportive women who are in various jobs (ranging from development and design to writing and marketing) and in various stages of their careers.  Being a part of this group has been such a God-send for me, as they provide an excellent local resource of information and help.  It's also a great place to find jobs.

As a member of DC Web Women, I'm on a Listserv list and receive tons of messages through the list, including job postings in the DC Metro area.  I saw one posted today which caused quite a stir among the group.  It was for a Web Project Manager position that was paying about $20 an hour.  I didn't pay much attention to it because it's not a position I would be interested in; however, I paid attention to the chaos that ensued as a few other members began to complain about the ridiculously low rate being paid for that position.  The person who posted it was not the hiring manager and had begun the post with a standard "Just the messenger" line; but nonetheless received the brunt of the criticism (although not necessarily aimed directly at her).

She replied with a truly inspirational story that rallied everyone (even those who initially complained) behind her.  Here is that story (it's a little long, but well worth it):

"I know there is some talented tech diva out there looking at a $25 or $30/hour gig and wishing they had it, because sometimes when you're trying to keep a roof over your head, put food on the table for your kid, and keep the phone from being turned off (again), being able to pay SOME of the bills is better than paying no bills at all. I've been there (except the kid part).

"Back in 1999, before I had any clients to speak of and when no one knew my name, I was undergoing a painful transition myself. I had totally burned out on my retail e-commerce business. I knew I needed a change and wanted to transition to freelancing/consulting but wasn't quite sure what to focus on or how to go about it. To pay the bills while I figured it out I took a $18/hour temp job. Not a web temp job, but a receptionist, go-make-copies, please-format-my-Word-doc temp job. I did such a stellar job making crystal-clear copies and being on time that I got bumped up to $20/hour. Oh, joy. The climax of that miserable three months was when some office big wig wished me a 'Happy Secretary's Day. Or whatever.' I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or wring her neck. Actually, I did cry. Pretty much daily. I was feeling worthless, hopeless and the bill collectors were calling non-stop.

"I was trying to get out of there and applying for gigs all over the place. I was registered with all the web staffing agencies. I got all excited when I landed a decent-paying 2-week consulting gig through Aquent, but then it was right back to temping when it ended.

"What saved me was the DC Web Women list.

"Someone posted a 'freelance web producer' gig on the list. I couldn't believe it -- it was like the job was written JUST for me. It needed my specific but rare blend of writing AND design skills, and it was for a topic that was close to my heart. And it was for a major, big-name organization.
And the pay was...Guess what? $20 per hour. It was ridiculously low, insanely even. No benefits. In fact, it wasn't even a staffing agency doing the recruiting and taking their cut -- this was a post directly from the company itself. And it was offering the EXACT same rate I was making to befriend the photocopy machine and phone.

"Even though the pay was pretty insulting for the skills required and for the kind of project it was, I applied anyway. I knew that position was for me. I figured at least it wasn't LESS money, and given the high-profile nature of the project and the prominence of the organization, maybe I could get my foot in the door for something better. At minimum, I would have a big-name client on my resume. I had nothing to lose.

"I was offered the 3-month on-site contract. Desperate for a little more money, I talked them into paying me $3 more per hour by ditching the payroll processing firm they used for freelancers and letting me invoice them directly. They agreed. Ooh-wee, a whole $23 per hour. I was feeling bold, so I also asked for free parking so I could cut back the overhead required to service their project. They agreed to that, too.

I" went in there and did that job like they were paying me $123 per hour, not $23. The project went well and was a big hit. They extended my contract for another 3 months. Eventually, that project went on to win a bunch of national awards. But before that happened, my phone was already ringing. My work got noticed. Big name people were calling me for projects, and I had to pretend like it was no big deal that I used to watch some of these people on TV or read their books. But they were calling little ole me. They all assumed I was making respectable money, so that's what they offered. Once I even tried to apply for an 'HTML coder' gig and got turned down -- they said that 'we have a much better use for someone of your talents' and a month later offered me a more senior project with fantastic compensation. And the folks at the original project were more than happy to give me glowing recommendations. And even a few more small freelance projects (with more money).

"If I hadn't taken that measly project that offered a mere $20 per hour, I wouldn't be here to type this long-A email today. That project jumpstarted my career in a big way.

"Don't get me wrong, I've been through lots of business ups and downs, but I'm happy to say that, with the exception of those 3 months of temping hell, I have been continuously self employed for 11 years, 5 months, and 2 days. Considering that I'm just 34, I can't complain.

"That is why I always forward job posts and freelance gigs to DCWW, even when the pay is ridiculously low. As long as it's web related and in the DC area, I'm posting it. I'm very fortunate that I don't need the gigs right now. But I KNOW someone else does. It's rough out there. There's some really talented woman out there, struggling, just trying to make it. That low-paying gig (or even high-paying one) might be just the break she needs.

"Don't get me wrong. I think many of these companies need to GET A GRIP and start paying people what they're worth according to their valuable experience and skills.

"I guess I just took a long way to say just two things with this email:

1) If you're struggling, keep your head up and your eyes open for possibility. There is hope. If all you see around you is lemons, find a way to make some friggin' fantastic lemonade.

2) Thank you, DCWW, for all that you have done for me. This continues to be THE BEST professional network I've ever belonged to, hands down, online or offline."

Thank you to Jamila White, the E-Commerce Diva, for posting this really awesome story.  I think that no matter what profession you're in, what level you're at, or what gender you are - this should ring true.