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How to Create Facebook Video Ads: A Step by Step Guide

by | Nov 23, 2015 |

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Interested in creating Facebook video ads? Looking for an easy-to-follow guide? Facebook video ads don’t require a lot of time or money. All you need is a script and some basic gear. In this article you’ll discover how to design and record your own Facebook video ads. Why Create Facebook Video Ads? According to data from […]

This post How to Create Facebook Video Ads: A Step by Step Guide first appeared on Social Media Examiner.
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How to Discover Social Media Insights About Your Competitors

by | Nov 23, 2015 |

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Want to raise the bar on your social media? Are you monitoring your competitors? Knowing what works for the competition helps improve your own social media marketing. In this article you’ll discover six ways to reveal insights about your competitors’ social media marketing. #1: Analyze Your Competitor’s Content Share Rates Ahrefs is a handy tool […]

This post How to Discover Social Media Insights About Your Competitors first appeared on Social Media Examiner.
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Staying Focused at Work this Holiday Season

by | Nov 22, 2015 |

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As we draw towards the end of the year and as the holiday season kicks in, you’re likely to find most of your friends or family asking you about the plans you have for this holiday away from your regular job. This gets your mind thinking about travelling, shopping, budgeting for holiday activities and probably even the weather that will be. It is however important to remember that at the end of the year, you are expected to continue with your regular job or take part in different seasonal initiatives.

This means that you have to remain focused on your obligations at work. Here are some relatively simple ways to maintain your focus this November and December.

Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Interrupted In Any Way

Being a holiday season, interruptions are bound to be very many. You’ll be tempted a lot to keep on checking your mail while in the office, to reply mails from maybe your travel companions or to check notifications of retail promotion and flash sales. Yes, it may take just a few minutes of your time, but did you know that recent studies conducted by Carnegie Mellon University have proven that such short regular spans of interruptions can significantly cause the decline of the quality of your work output? Well, if you didn’t know, there’s no cause for worry because the studies have also provided a viable solution for this.

Bob Sullivan and Hugh Thompson, who were part of the study, explained that the individuals who were fore-warned of a possible interruption that actually never happened at all, had a performance improvement of up to 43%, outperforming by far the individuals who were not warned of any possible interruptions. The former, used the expected interruption as a sort of deadline which enabled them to channel all their brain power into the task at hand remaining focused throughout the test study.

This means that, for you to be focused and in-turn be more productive, you have to do two things this holiday. The first being, accepting within yourself the fact that interruptions are bound to be there during this holiday. Secondly, and most importantly, promise yourself not to give into any of them. Set the time to work and time to take a break, then work fast but keenly while looking forward to your set break time only. Any break invitations you get midway should not derail you from focusing on your work.

Take Up Projects That Are Favorable For You

During the holiday season, you and most of your coworkers will be working different schedules. You may find that your shifts or schedules are slated for the days before major holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. At such a time, most of your friends or coworkers will be out of reach. This may seem a very boring time, but if used wisely, can be fun. You could use this time to catch up on the very many mails you hadn’t read or replied. You can also take advantage of this time to focus on some self guided projects because you have all the time to work on them exhaustively.

Always remember that the holiday related activities and projects that you take up, such as socializing with coworkers at a party or retreats with colleagues, are a meaningful part of your work.

Use Your Off Hours Well

It is very important to separate work time from free time. It may seem like a good idea to cut into your free time in order to complete office tasks early, but this is what causes distractions and interruptions in future. This is because of your failure to use your off time to do things that you needed to do outside the office such as shopping, budgeting or planning. They come back to distract you during your office time.

Create a detailed and exhaustive in-office and out of office schedule, allotting adequate time for each of the tasks you need to do. This gives you inner confidence that you have time to do everything eliminating the need for working late or leaving work early to do personal things. The holiday-season-at-work is all about finding the best ways to cope with interruptions and distractions. This way, you’ll be starting off your new year with your head perfectly in the game.

The post Staying Focused at Work this Holiday Season appeared first on Project-Management.com.

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The Logic Pros: Making MIDI FX in Logic’s complex Environment simple

by | Nov 22, 2015 |

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In this week’s episode of The Logic Pros, we will be taking a user-friendly look at Logic’s mysterious and powerful MIDI Environment. Along with what seems like a countless number of possibilities, tools, MIDI FX mods and more, the Environment has an interesting little item known as Touch Tracks that can do some pretty amazing things once it’s set up properly:

The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-04

The Environment is certainly more for advanced users, and it isn’t recommended to go poking around down here without expecting some wacky things to happen to your input path and with the way Logic starts to behave in general. Having said that, there is a whole plethora of things that can be done: creating alternate MIDI routing paths and other interesting custom MIDI FX using arpeggiators, chord memorizers, virtual sequencer inputs and, well, a whole lot more. For our purposes today we will be looking at the Touch Tracks item.

Touch Tracks is basically a MIDI tool that allows us to trigger MIDI regions in our Logic songs from a typical track on the arrange page. In fact, we can even trigger entire groups of MIDI regions, entire songs we have created, or parts of a song (verse, choruses, etc.). One way of thinking of it might be that it allows us to essentially sample elements of our song without having to create audio files: a single MIDI note can trigger an entire section of a song with an essentially limitless number of individual instruments, for example. This technique can be handy for creating alternate arrangements/chord progressions, experimenting with layered motifs/parts, and even with complex, micro level (right down to granular vertical slices) reorganization techniques found in some electronic music and more.

Like just about anything in the Environment, Touch Tracks can be used in a number of different ways. But for today, we are just going to go over one basic set-up that will allow you to assign just about any combination of MIDI/Audio Instrument tracks to a single MIDI note (or key strike).

1. First we will need to make a few decisions on which portions of our song we want to “sample” or assign to keys on our new Touch Tracks track. For our example, I will choose the intro, verse, and chorus of a song we are working on. Now let’s copy those sections of our song down to the end of the timeline so they are out of they way: Just click and drag your desired regions while holding the option key down to the end of your timeline.

The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-08 The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-07

2. Now we need to make scissor edits in order to separate the different sections of our desired regions for our new master Touch Tracks track. Push the T key to bring up to Toolbox and select the Scissors. Highlight the selected regions and use the Scissors tool to create a beginning and end to each section.

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3. If you are only dragging a single MIDI region you can skip this step. For those of us that will be using multi layered MIDI regions on top of each other, we need to Pack them into a Folder first (this is why we made a copy in step 1). Highlight the regions in one of the sections you just defined in step 2. Then hold Control and click one of the selected regions, and choose Folder > Pack Folder from the menu that pops up.

4. Repeat step 3 for each of the sections or portions you want to sample (assign) on your new Touch Tracks track. You’ll want each portion to be packed into separate, individual Folders.

Note: After making your first folder, it can be handy to manually create the next folder tracks by pushing command + D after selecting the one you just made. This way everything stays organized and each section gets its own folder track.

The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-02

5. Now hit command + 0 (zero) on your keyboard to open the Environment. Go up to the “New” menu option on the top left of the Environment screen, and select Touch Tracks. A small, odd looking object will appear along with an equally odd-looking menu that looks like this:

The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-09

6. Form here on out, All we need is the above window, Feel free to close the main Environment window. This menu can be thought of as the brains of what will be our new Touch Tracks track. We can manually drag any MIDI region or folder of MIDI regions from our project directly to one of the keys represented by the Piano Roll looking background display.

7. Drag and Drop the folder made in steps 3 and 4 onto keys (the horizontal slot looking things) on the Touch Tracks window.

The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-01

8. Ok now that we have set up our live “samples”, let’s create a new track on the arranger page. Any kind will do (option + command  + N). Now hold control and click on the newly created track’s header and choose: Reassign Track > Mixer > (Touch Tracks)

The Logic Pros-Environment-Touch Tracks-03

9. OK you’re ready to go! Now simply create a MIDI region on the new Touch Tracks track and MIDI notes corresponding with the note you dragged them to on the Touch Tracks window in steps 3 and 4 will trigger your sections! Remember, Touch Tracks will only trigger when Logic is in Play.

Note: one thing to keep in mind throughout your travels in the Logic Environment: It is not a pretty place in terms of UI and upkeep. It almost seems as though the Logic development team has forgotten about it completely, and that it just remains so legacy users won’t complain (cause we would). Having said that, there are a ton of interesting goodies when you dig deep and it doesn’t have to be all that complex all the time.

The Logic Pros is a regular series exploring all of the most interesting gadgets and software for making music on your Mac/iOS devices. If there is any gear you would like us to take a closer hands-on look at, let us know in the comments section below or shoot us an email.

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Filed under:
How-To, Tips and Tricks Tagged: arrange page, environment, how to, Logic Environment, Logic Pro X, LPX, MIDI, Pack Folder, the logic pros, tracks

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9to5Toys Deals: Apple TV (4th gen) from $135, iPod touch (6th gen) from $143, Bose SoundTrue Headphones $75, more

by | Nov 22, 2015 |

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Heads up! During Black Friday/Cyber Monday you’re going to have to follow us on Twitter to get the best deals since many sell out too quickly to post.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

apple-tv-siri

Pick-up the new Apple TV for 10% off today 32GB $135, 64GB $179 or the 3rd Gen (refurb) for $40

iPod touch

Apple iPod touch (6th gen) in multiple colors: 16GB $143, 32GB $179, 64GB $215 + free shipping

bose-soundtrue-on-ear-headphones

Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones (multiple colors): $75 shipped (Reg. $90+)

black-friday-mac-bundle

The Black Friday Mac Bundle offers 10 productivity-boosting apps including Drive Genius 4 for $34.99 (Orig. $533)

apple-holiday

Best of Black Friday — Apple: deals on iPad Air 2, iPhone 6s/Plus, Apple Watch, Macs, more!

Amazon’s Black Friday deals go live later this week w/ mobile shoppers getting extra perks

Top 5 ways to score the year’s best online Black Friday deals

10 can’t-miss deals for the holiday season: HDTVs, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6s, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

logitech-wireless-solar-keyboard-k750-sale-01

Amazon Gold Box – up to 55% off Logitech accessories: wireless mice from $30, solar keyboard $38, much more

BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:

apple-tv-siri-2

Best of Black Friday – Streaming Media Players: Apple TV 64GB $180, Roku SE $20, 2-Pack Chromecast (2nd gen) $50, more

Best of Black Friday – Smart Home: Nest Thermostat $250 + $50 GC, Philips Hue kit $130

Best of Black Friday – HDTVs: 40-inch from $149, Samsung 55-inch Smart $580 (Reg. $1,200), more

Best of Black Friday – iPads, Tablets and e-readers: iPad Air 2 from $360, Amazon Fire $35 (Reg. $50), more

Best of Black Friday – Games: Xbox One/PS4 console bundles, deep discounts on games, more

Best of Black Friday – wearables: Fitbit Flex $59/Charge $90/more, $100 off Apple Watch, Android smartwatches, more

best-buy-black-friday-ad

Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

anker-mfi-apple-certified-3ft-lightning-cable

USB roundup: Anker MFi 3ft Lightning cable $4 Prime shipped, Power Banks from $6, more

stackables-layered-textures-effects-and-masks-sale-06

App Store Free App of the Week: Stackables – effects & masks image manipulation app ($3 value)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

leica-m-typ262-close

Leica introduces a new low-cost M series camera, but don’t expect bargain pricing

dlink-komfy

D-Link takes all the smart things and puts them together in one Komfy light switch

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon Black friday, Amazon Prime, apple deals, Apple TV, Black Friday, Bose, coupon codes, Cyber Monday, Daily Deals, Deals, free, free apps, free shipping, IPod Touch, New Toy of the Day, video games

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How to Improve Your Website Experience: 10 User Testing Tools to Try

by | Nov 22, 2015 |

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This post originally appeared on Agency Post. To read more content like this, subscribe to Agency Post.

When our jeans no longer fit, we buy new ones. When our coffee pot starts to make a funny noise, we beeline it to Bed Bath & Beyond to pick up a replacement. Seems reasonable, right?

So what makes your website any different? When performance declines, will you settle for the same results month after month? Or will you make a change?

Your website should be viewed as a constant work in progress. Your designs are not intended to be permanent, but rather, they should evolve to fit the needs of users over time. 

So to get you started on the path of continuous improvement, we’ve collected a list of helpful user testing tools and resources that will have you analyzing your website in an entirely new way. 

10 Usability Testing & Research Tools

1) CrazyEgg

CrazyEgg is a heat mapping software that enables users to gain a better understanding of how visitors are interacting with their website. With this tool, you can track multiple domains under one account and uncover insights about your site’s performance using four different intelligence tools:

  • Heat map: Uncover where people are clicking on your site to determine what elements are converting and which aren’t.
  • Scroll map: Identify how far down users are scrolling so you can optimize the content above the fold. 
  • Overlay: See the number of clicks different elements on your page are receiving to evaluate performance.
  • Confetti: Distinguish clicks from different referral sources, search terms, and more to see where you should be focusing your efforts. 

Pricing: CrazyEgg offers four different pricing packages that range from $9 per month to $99.

2) Loop11

Loop11 is an easy-to-use tool that allows users to create a new usability test by entering a few simple details. Once created, it allows you to customize your test template, assign tasks and objectives, and ask usability questions such as “how would you describe this website?” or “what features stuck out most to you?”

Once you finalize the details, you’ll be able to source participants through a number of different avenues. For example, you can create a pop-up for your website and recruit testers using a service like Ethnio. 

Pricing: Loop11 offers three pricing packages based on the size of your company: Micro ($158 per month), SMB ($410 per month), and Enterprise ($825 per month). Users also have the option to pay as they go, starting at $350 per project.

3) Mouseflow

Missing out on conversions? It could be your form design … but how can you know for sure?

Mouseflow is an analytics tool that gives users the ability to record their visitors experience with their website to identify patterns and trends in terms of mouse movements, clicks, scrolls, keystrokes, and form fills. The tool also offers heat maps to help users visualize what aspects of the page visitors are viewing and interacting with most. 

The best part? Mouseflow makes it easy for agencies to keep their clients informed by enabling multi-user accounts, session-based page support, as well as an easy way for users to download and share reports. 

With access to these insights, you can optimize your website based on user behavior to create more meaningful interactions. 

Pricing: Mouseflow offers four different set packages ranging from $19 per month to $399 based on the number of recorded sessions you want. 

4) Attensee

When a visitor lands on your site, they’ll decide in moments whether or not it aligns with what they’re in search of. This makes determining how to position your website content to ensure that it speaks to the right audience and in the right way a priority. Rather than guess-and-check, the Attensee software mimics eye-tracking — without the extra hardware and cost — to generate data that helps users understand which content is drawing and holding the attention of their visitors. 

Pricing: $49 per month

5) HotJar

HotJar is an all-in-one analytics and feedback software that helps users identify opportunities for improvement using a number of tools including:

  • Heatmaps
  • Visitor recordings
  • Conversion funnels
  • Form analytics
  • Feedback polls
  • Surveys
  • User tests 

Using the insights generated from these tools, users can then improve the usability of their navigation, remove ignored content, identify confusing areas, adjust page copy, etc. 

Pricing: Hotjar offers three different packages that range from free to $89 per month based on the page view count your site sees each day. 

6) The User Is Drunk 

Richard Littauer is a UX professional and developer. Outside of his regular day job, Littauer developed The User is Drunk to provide users with an alternative view of the traditional user test. 

You see, the difference between Littauer’s service and almost all the others on the market is that he performs each test under the influence. He writes: “One of the core tenets of UX is that you’ve got to design like ‘the user is drunk.’ Any feature of your site has to be able to be used by someone who could be drunk — because, invariably, the user will mess it up otherwise. Wonderful idea. The thing is, it is hard to test. I and a lot of beer will test this for you.“

Littauer sends each website owner a document outlining the problems of the website and a screencast of him reviewing the site. 

Sound offbeat? That’s because it is … but we tried it anyway. Here’s what Littauer had to say about HubSpot’s website. 

Pricing: $250 per site 

7) The User Is My Mom

Organized by The User Is Drunk’s Richard Littauer and entrepreneur and developer Scotty Allen, The User Is Your Mom employs Allen’s mom to review your website. 

While it may sound a little silly, the review is designed to uncover barriers and distractions that well-seasoned web users are often blind to. 

“My mom tutors high school students and likes quilting and hiking. She yells at her computer, doesn’t know what a Twitter is, and struggles to find windows she’s minimized. You should design with your mother in mind. If she can’t understand your site, others will struggle as well,” states the website.

Pricing: $100 per site

8) Morae

Morae — one of the leading usability software tools on the market — offers a sophisticated suite of tools to help users collect data that can be used to inform their optimization strategy.

  • Recorder captures audio, video, on-screen activity, and keyboard or mouse input.
  • Observer allows users to observe a tester’s website engagement in real time.
  • Manager makes it easy for users to bring their tests full circle by calculating metrics, generating graphs, and creating highlight videos.

Pricing: The software suite is priced at $1,995.

9) Userfeel

Userfeel is an online usability testing service that provides users with a way to quickly understand how visitors are responding to a website or specific landing page. 

A key element of this platform is its multilingual network of testers, which will be useful for those with global clients and campaigns. 

To give you a better idea of what you can expect from your investment, check out this sample results page which includes a usability video as well as written responses to user questions. 

Pricing: Each online test is priced at $39.

10) Peek

Looking to get a “peek” into the mind of your users?

Peek from UserTesting is designed to give you just that by making it easy for you to connect with a real person to uncover real insights about your website’s usability. 

The tool is both fast and free, making it the perfect solution for marketers who are looking for a quick turnaround. All that’s required is your website URL, name, number, and email address, and you’re on your way to receiving a five-minute video of input that can be easily shared with your colleagues. 

Pricing: While Peek offers an entirely free version of its service, users can upgrade for more features starting at $49 per video. 

What are your favorite using testing tools? Let us know in the comments section below. 

50 examples of beautiful website design

MacPhun offers up to 85% off Creative Kit 2016 for Black Friday: 6 apps & extras for $89 (Reg. $630)

by | Nov 21, 2015 |

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MacPhun is getting in on the Black Friday fun early with a great deal launching today through the Black Friday shopping festivities.

Up to 85% off its Creative Kit 2016 means you get six of the company’s popular Mac apps– Snapheal, FX Photo Studio, Intensify, Focus, Noiseless, and Tonality— for just $89, plus a bunch of extras the company is throwing in for free that are normally worth $300.

In total, you’re saving around $630 with this bundle versus purchasing the apps individually at full price.

In addition to the six apps in the Creative Kit, you’ll also get these extras with the deal:

●      ViewBug Premium Membership (http://ift.tt/16Mx7g2)

ViewBug hosts the world’s best photo contests, judged by world-renowned photographers, and powered by great brands. It is a place to be creative, be inspired, and receive recognition.

●      Watermark Plus (http://ift.tt/1QycnyY)

The completely all-in-one watermark maker on Mac that helps you batch watermark photos, quickly resize, rename and convert bulk of photos at a time.

●      Picture Collage Maker (http://ift.tt/1Qycnz0)

An easy-to-use and automatic collage maker that helps you create eye-catching photo collages on Mac OS X with just a few clicks.

●      VeprIT Resize Sense (http://ift.tt/LXkQh7)

Flexible batch image resizing and cropping for Mac

●      Pro Photography Training (HD videos) with RAW photos

Professional HD Video training on Photography that includes RAW photos.Users can learn how to shoot w/ their DSLR’s and then process their images with Creative Kit

●      $10 Aurora HDR Gift Card

10€ Gift Card towards Macphun’s latest piece of software, Aurora HDR, the most advanced HDR photo editing software in the world, co-developed with globally celebrated photographer, Trey Ratcliff.

●      Presets and Textures worth $35

Pack of presets and textures to use in Creative Kit apps

We recently reviewed MacPhun’s Creative Kit 2016 and told you about the company’s new Aurora HD software, which you can get for $10 now using a coupon included in today’s discount bundle.

Grab the discounted Creative Kit bundle from MacPhun now. 

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Aurora HDR, Black Friday, Creative Kit 2016, Macphun, Picture Collage Maker, VeprIT Resize Sense, ViewBug, Watermark Plus

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iOS 9 How-To: Put your iPhone in Low Power Mode & extend your battery life

by | Nov 21, 2015 |

iOS 9 battery

Have you ever wondered how much of your battery is being used? Or been in a quick pinch and you’re desperate to make your device last the whole day? Even though it’s at 18% and you won’t be able to access a charger for several hours?  Or have you ever wondered why sometimes when you use certain apps your battery dramatically drains? New in the iOS 9 Settings application is the ability to put your device in Low Power Mode.

Low Power Mode temporarily reduces power consumption until you can fully recharge your device. When it is turned on, the system notifications, mail fetch, background app refresh, automatic downloads and visual effects are reduced or turned off.

When you are using the device and have the battery get down to 20%, you’re iPhone pops up with a notification in the middle of whatever you are doing. The notification informs you that you have a low battery with 20% remaining, and suggests turning on Low Power Mode. To activate Low Power Mode, just tap on the option on the alert. Normally when the battery has less than 20% remaining, the color in the battery icon in the upper right hand corner is red. When you turn on Low Power Mode, the color in the battery icon is yellow to indicate reduced activity.

iOS 9 Low Battery Alert
iOS 9 Selecting Low Power Mode

Alternatively, to manually put on Low Power Mode at any time, open up Settings and scroll down until you see Battery.

iOS 9 Settings Battery

Then you are able to turn on Low Power Mode by tapping on the white circle toggling to green.

iOS 9 Low Power Mode Settings

When you charge the device, Low Power Mode will automatically turn off when the battery gets sufficiently charged, usually around 80% charge.

Low Power Mode Turned Off Notification

With iOS 9, by default the Battery Percentage is turned off except when using Low Power Mode. For everyday usage, I recommend turning it on, as it will immediately give you a better representation of what your battery life is as opposed to the picture of the battery.

Here you also have some information about the battery, which is very similar to the battery settings in iOS 8. You will see a list of the apps and how much the app has used the battery. It will display the information for the past 24 hours as well as the last several days. This information can help you determine if you are constantly using certain apps or it could be due to background activity. Tapping on the clock icon next to the battery usage will break down the data even further, telling you how long the app has been on the screen, and how long it’s been running in the background. All the way down at the bottom shows the Time Since Last Full Charge. It shows you your Usage, how long you have actually been engaged with the device using the display and it will show you Standby, how long the device has been idle and not been used.

iOS 9 Battery app % usage
iOS 9 Battery Usage Times
iOS 9 Battery Time Since Last Full Charge

There are several different reasons why apps will use a lot of the battery:

  1. The app is being constantly used by you. In my example above, that is precisely the case with Tweetbot.
  2. The app is being used in the background. It could be downloading content, uploading content, using location services or streaming audio.
  3. The app is being used in an area with poor cellular service. When this happens, it puts more work on the battery and drains it quickly. If this happens, the Phone app will be listed and it will list low signal.
  4. The app is not working properly. For example the app can be constantly crashing. Or the app you barely use, but yet it is at the top of the list.
  5. The app is using AirPlay. The app is streaming audio to AirPlay speakers, or video to an Apple TV.

Now that you know how to turn on Low Power Mode and how to monitor your battery, your iPhone battery life should last longer.

Filed under:
How-To, iOS Tagged: iOS, iOS 9, iPad, iPhone, IPod Touch

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7 Scheduling Hacks to Help You Regain Control of Your Day

by | Nov 21, 2015 |

Calendar_Tips.jpeg

This post originally appeared on HubSpot’s Sales Blog. To read more content like this, subscribe to Sales.

I don’t know about you, but my calendar is one of the most valuable tools I use.

Between calls, meetings, lunches, trainings, outings, and events, I rely on my calendar to keep me organized — and sane. Trouble is, sometimes things can get a little messy. Whether I’ve overbooked myself or forgotten to make important updates, there are times when my schedule could certainly use a facelift. 

Know the feeling? Check out these seven strategies for decluttering your calendar and regaining control of your schedule. 

Before You Begin: Complete a Calendar Audit

Before you can fix a problem, you have to understand where one exists. Perform a calendar self-audit: Review the past month and ask yourself the following questions:

  • When are you most productive?
  • On average, how many meetings do you have per day?
  • Are there any recurring meetings on your calendar that only happen sporadically or have stopped occurring?
  • When do you generally take breaks?

Once you know how you’re spending your time, you can optimize your schedule.

7 Scheduling Strategies to Streamline Your Day

1) Schedule internal meetings strategically.

It takes about 25 minutes to return to productivity after an interruption, and while you can’t minimize the number of unexpected distractions you encounter throughout the day, you can design your schedule to make yourself more efficient.

Schedule internal meetings right before or after lunch, or back-to-back if you have multiple meetings in a day. That way, your day isn’t punctuated with several short interruptions from your regular responsibilities. 

If you’re a manager, hold one day per week for all of your one-on-ones with your direct reports and your administrative work. This way, you’ll be able to devote the rest of your time to crossing things off your list. 

2) Hold specific hours for meetings with international folks.

Often times you’ll run into a situation where you’ll need to defer to someone else’s preferred meeting time. This might be an international colleague, partner, or vendor that you have frequent calls with. 

If that’s the case, make sure that you hold specific hours for those calls in advance, as the window might be small depending on the time zones you’re dealing with. This will make it far easier to schedule consistent meetings that make sense for both of your schedules.

3) Put “available to book” times on your calendar.

Don’t leave your colleagues in the dark. Make it explicit when you’re free for internal meetings or quick chats. This way, they won’t have to ping you asking if you’re available during a certain time — they can just book you.

4) Remove unnecessary recurring meetings.

Take a step back and evaluate the importance of all of the recurring meetings you have on your calendar.

Have your responsibilities shifted? Are you adding value to these meetings or just filling up a chair? If it’s not absolutely necessary for you to sit in on all of them, get them off your calendar.

5) Build lunch into your schedule.

Ideally, you’ll be able to take breaks from your work throughout the day, but sometimes things get busy and you just can’t. Something you can’t afford to miss is lunch.

Not only does eating improve your productivity, but the extended time away from your desk gives you the mental break you need to enter your afternoon refreshed.

6) Leave 10-15 minutes between each meeting.

Always leave buffer time between meetings in case it starts late or the conversation runs over. This will help to ensure that you don’t wind up having to choose between cutting off a meeting and being late to the next one.

The extra time can also be used to fire off a follow-up email or write call notes while the memory of the meeting is still fresh in your mind, instead of at the end of the day when the finer nuances may have escaped you.

7) Every Sunday, review next week’s schedule.

Often times our calendars act more like a suggestion than a prescription — last-minute things seem to always come up. But you should start your week with as organized of a schedule as possible. We recommend spending 10 minutes every Sunday reviewing next week’s meetings to make sure everything that’s on your calendar needs to be there.

How do you organize your calendar to safeguard your time? Let us know in the comments below.

productivity tips

Google Reshapes Google+: This Week in Social Media

by | Nov 21, 2015 |

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Welcome to our weekly edition of what’s hot in social media news. To help you stay up to date with social media, here are some of the news items that caught our attention. What’s New This Week Google Rolls Out a New Google+: Google introduced “a fully redesigned Google+ that puts Communities and Collections front […]

This post Google Reshapes Google+: This Week in Social Media first appeared on Social Media Examiner.
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Man arrested in Fifth Ave Apple Store trying to slash prices with real samurai sword (Video)

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

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Customers and employees at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York had somewhat of an interesting experience today. According to a report from ABC 7 NY, a man entered the store and headed to the iconic clear glass staircase and began waving around a samurai sword while screaming.

He was then escorted out of the building, with Apple Store employees building a wall between him and the customers as a layer of protection. When he was outside in front of the store, the man allegedly went back to screaming and waving around his samurai sword. He was taken into custody by two New York Police Department officers. According to eyewitnesses, right before the man was taken into custody by the NYPD officers, he looked as if he was preparing to harm himself with the sword. The suspect was then taken to a New York City hospital.

The suspect’s name has not been released yet and no one in or around the Apple Store as injured. It’s still unclear at this time what the man’s motives were or if he meant any harm to himself or other shoppers. Apple has not commented on the issue, either.

You can view a video of the suspect waving the sword around inside the Apple Store by heading to ABC NY’s report. View a report from the scene below:


Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Store, New York, video

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Apple shares new Guided Tour video highlighting Apple Pay on iPhone 6/6s

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

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Apple today has shared a new Guided Tour video to its YouTube channel that highlights Apple Pay on the iPhone. Apple has previously shared a Guided Tour showing off Apple on the Apple Watch, but this is the first video in which Apple has demonstrated the feature on its smartphone.

In the video, Apple highlights the ease of use that Apple Pay provides. The company demonstrates how you can use it at compatible checkout terminals in retail locations, as well as use it in apps for buying goods and apps like Uber for buying services.

Apple closes the video by demonstrating how easy it is to setup Apple Pay, including adding the card, verifying the card, and finally actually using it in stores.

You can view Apple’s new Guided Tour video for Apple Pay on iPhone below. Apple has previously shared a plethora of Guided Tour videos for Apple Watch. The company likes to use the format to showcase features that take some explanation to truly understand.

 

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Apple pay, iPhone, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, video

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How-To: Use iPad keyboard shortcuts in iOS 9 and work more efficiently (Cheat Sheet)

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

iPad Pro Magic Keyboard 16-9

Yesterday I mentioned a useful tip for using physical keyboards with iPads in my guide to unlocking the full potential of the iPad Pro. The tip actually works with all iOS 9 iPads connected to external keyboards over Bluetooth, Lightning, or the Smart Connector: hold Command (⌘) to see a list of supported keyboard shortcuts for the Home screen or app you’re in.

This works in most of Apple’s built-in apps and plenty of popular third-party apps as well, but it can be monotonous prompting that sheet in each app to get a sense of what keyboard shortcuts work. Instead, I’ve compiled a cheat sheet of which keyboard shortcuts work in all the system apps and several popular third-party apps. Whether you’re using Apple’s Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard, Logitech’s excellent K811, or any other physical keyboard, these will make you more efficient when working on your iPad.

Enter the shortcuts by holding down the ⌘ (command) and, if applicable, shift or option keys together, then hitting the letter, number, or symbol. So for ⌘ shift H, hold down ⌘ and shift, then hit H to execute the shortcut.

App Switching + Search

  • ⌘ shift H — Go to Home Screen
  • ⌘ space — Search
  • ⌘ tab — Switch App

Calendar

  • ⌘ N — New Event
  • ⌘ F — Search
  • ⌘ T — Show Today
  • ⌘ R — Refresh Calendars
  • ⌘ 1 — Go to Day View
  • ⌘ 2 — Go to Week View
  • ⌘ 3 —  Go to Month View
  • ⌘ 4 — Go to Year View

Camera

  • Volume +/- to take a photo or start/stop a video recording

Contacts

  • ⌘ N — Create a New Contact
  • ⌘ F — Search for a Contact

Mail

  • ⌘ R — Reply
  • ⌘ shift R — Reply All
  • ⌘ shift F — Forward
  • ⌘ shift J — Mark as Junk
  • ⌘ shift L — Flag
  • ⌘ shift U — Mark as Unread
  • ⌘ up arrow — Go to Previous Message
  • ⌘ down arrow — Go to Next Message
  • delete — Delete Message
  • ⌘ shift N — Get All New Mail
  • ⌘ option F — Mailbox Search
  • ⌘ N — New Message

Maps

  • ⌘ 1 — Switch to standard
  • ⌘ 2 — Switch to Transit
  • ⌘ 3 — Switch to Satellite
  • ⌘ F — Begin Search

Messages

  • return — Send
  • ⌘ N — New Message

Notes

  • ⌘ B — Bold
  • ⌘ I — Italics
  • ⌘ U — Underline
  • ⌘ option T — Title
  • ⌘ option H — Heading
  • ⌘ option B — Body
  • ⌘ option L — Checklist
  • ⌘ shift U — Mark as Checked
  • ⌘ N — New Note
  • ⌘ F — Find Note

Reminders

  • ⌘ N — Create New Reminder
  • ⌘ control I — Show Reminder Details

Safari

  • ⌘ R — Reload Page
  • ⌘ [ — Back
  • ⌘ ] — Forward
  • ⌘ F — Find…
  • ⌘ L — Open Location…
  • ⌘ T — New Tab
  • ⌘ W — Close Tab
  • control shift tab — Show Previous Tab
  • control tab — Show Next Tab
  • control shift \ — Show All Tabs

Pages

  • ⌘ F — Find
  • ⌘ shift W — Show Word Count
  • ⌘ N — Create Document

Keynote

  • ⌘ N — Create Presentation
  • ⌘ F — Find
  • ⌘ shift K — Add Comment
  • ⌘ option P — Play Slideshow
  • ⌘ option A — Show Transitions and Builds
  • ⌘ option N — Show Presenter Notes

Numbers

  • ⌘ N — Create Spreadsheet
  • ⌘ F — Find
  • ⌘ option C — Copy Style
  • ⌘ shift N — Insert Sheet

You may discover that additional keyboard shortcuts you’re familiar with from the Mac also work, including ⌘ plus X/C/V for cut, copy, and paste, while some shortcuts within apps only work in certain parts of those apps. Several popular apps from the App Store also support external keyboard shortcuts. Just hold the Command ⌘ key for a few seconds in each app to find out, or try out shortcuts you know from other apps if you don’t see a list. Here are some examples from popular apps:

Facebook Messenger

  • ⌘ N — New Message
  • return — Line Break
  • ⌘ return — Send

Fantastical

  • left arrow — Previous
  • right arrow — Next
  • up arrow — Earlier
  • down arrow — Later
  • ⌘ return — Accept
  • esc — Cancel
  • ⌘ N — New Event
  • ⌘ S — Save
  • ⌘ delete — Delete
  • ⌘ F — Search
  • ⌘ R — Reminders
  • ⌘ I — Get Info
  • ⌘ , — Preferences
  • ⌘ shift F — Full Screen
  • ⌘ T — Go to Today
  • ⌘ K — Toggle Type

Google Chrome

  • ⌘ T — New Tab
  • ⌘ shift N — New Incognito Tab
  • ⌘ shift T — Reopened Closed Tab
  • ⌘ L — Open Location…
  • ⌘ W — Close Tab
  • ⌘ D — Bookmark This Page…
  • ⌘ F — Find in Page…
  • ⌘ R — Reload
  • ⌘ left arrow — Back
  • ⌘ right arrow — Forward
  • ⌘ Y — History
  • ⌘ shift . — Voice Search

Hipchat 

  • ⌘ F — Search chat history
  • ⌘ option 1 — Chat tab
  • ⌘ option 2 — Info tab
  • ⌘ option 3 — Files tab
  • ⌘ option 4 — Links tab
  • esc — Dismiss

Microsoft Outlook

  • ⌘ up arrow — Select Previous Message
  • ⌘ down arrow — Select Next Message
  • ⌘ R — Reply
  • ⌘ shift R — Reply All
  • ⌘ J — Forward
  • ⌘ 1 — Switch to Mail
  • ⌘ 2 — Switch to Calendar
  • ⌘ 3 — Switch to Files
  • ⌘ 4 — Switch to People
  • ⌘ 5 — Switch to Settings
  • ⌘ N — Create New Message
  • ⌘ shift N — Create New Event

Slack

  • up arrow —Move Up
  • down arrow — Move Down
  • option up arrow — Jump to previous channel
  • option down arrow — Jump to next channel
  • option shift up arrow — Jump to previous unread channel
  • option shift down arrow — Jump to next unread channel
  • option ` — Toggle the channel list
  • ⌘ K — Show the Quick Switcher
  • ⌘ T — Show the Quick Switcher (two ways!)
  • ⌘ F — Perform a search
  • ⌘ W — Close window

Tweetbot

  • ⌘ 1 — Timeline
  • ⌘ 2 — Mentions
  • ⌘ 3 — Messages
  • ⌘ 4 — Stats
  • ⌘ 5 — Search
  • ⌘ 6 — Faves
  • ⌘ 7 — Profile
  • ⌘ 8 — Lists
  • ⌘ 9 — Mutes
  • ⌘ N — Compose

Does your favorite app support keyboard shortcuts with iOS 9 on iPads? If you know about additional keyboard shortcuts hidden in iOS, let us know in the comments.

Filed under:
How-To, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Bluetooth, Bluetooth keyboards, iPad, ipad air, iPad mini, iPad Pro, keyboard, keyboard shortcuts, shortcuts, Smart Connector, Smart Keyboard, Typing

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Review: NanoLeaf Ivy, a HomeKit lightbulb made from a foldable printed circuit board

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

The new Nanoleaf Smarter Kit with HomeKit support comes with a Smart Hub and two Nanoleaf Smart Ivy Light Bulbs to get you started. Like other popular connected lighting systems including the Philips Hue, you can purchase more bulbs individually once you’ve bought the Smarter Kit with the hub that allows a wirelesses connection for control from your iPhone or iPad and support for connecting up to 50 bulbs (the standard limitation among these types of products). But the Nanoleaf Ivy bulbs have a lot to offer in a package unlike anything else I’ve tested. The bulb is made entirely from a foldable printed circuit board with embedded LEDs…

Design:

Immediately noticeable is the unique design of the Nanoleaf. It’s made of a flat foldable printed circuit board that folds into an almost-lightbulb-shape with eleven flat sides where individual LEDs are mounted. It’s makes for a super futuristic look that I quite liked, and the hub too includes a Dodecahedron-inspired shape. It makes the Hue and others look like your Grandpa’s lightbulb, and likewise the hub’s design won’t make you want to hide it out of sight like the other guys’ bulbs. The build quality of the bulb itself overall feels solid, which is something I thought might not be the case due to the origami, puzzle-piece design with the printed circuit board. 

The all black color of the bulb and the design in general might be a bit too out of the ordinary for some, however, especially if you’re looking for bulbs that go into a fixture without a shade covering the bulbs. It’s certainly not a traditional look.

The company says the new Nanoleaf Ivy bulbs use around 7.5W to produce light equivalent to a 60W incandescent bulbs and will last up to 27 years. In my tests, using the bulb in the desk lamp pictured throughout this review, the light was blindingly bright at 100% and felt a lot brighter than a standard 60W incandescent bulb, but that’s certainly not a bad thing given you get full control over dimming (more on that below).

Setup is pretty standard, although it uses the Zigbee protocol, opposed to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the hub will need a direct connection to your router using an included Ethernet cable. After you’ve screwed in the bulbs and connected the router, you can download the companion app for iPhone and iPad, hit a button on the hub to initiate the setup, scan a barcode on the hub, and follow a quick and easy configuration in the app.

Using Nanoleaf:

You essentially only get control over the brightness of the bulb, but the Nanoleaf Ivy has a few unique features mostly courtesy of HomeKit support. But even before getting into the app and HomeKit, the bulb has a unique dimming feature that doesn’t require HomeKit or the app. When on, a double tap of the on/off switch for the bulb will make it start dimming while another double tap will set it at the desired brightness. It’s a handy feature to quickly set the brightness in a room with Ivy bulbs without having to grab your phone.

The lights get 50m signal coverage, and in my tests didn’t prove to have any reliability issues like many of the Wi-Fi connected home automation products I’ve tested. Perhaps thanks to Zigbee.

Nanoleaf-Ivy-HomeKit-03

And because of Zigbee, it also works with other competing bulb products including Philips Hue, Osram Lightify, GE Link and Cree Connected. so you easily integrate your current setup or expand with other bulbs in the future. And you’ll be able to use any HomeKit compatible app to control the bulbs.

Even with using Zigbee, the hub builds in the ability to talk with Apple’s HomeKit, its platform for allowing Siri voice commands to control home automation products. Apple allows rival platforms like Zigbee to communicate with HomeKit via a bridge, and Nanoleaf Ivy takes full advantage to offer all of HomeKit’s functionality…

HomeKit:

Because the product supports Apple’s HomeKit platform, that means you get access to Siri voice controls and the ability to setup what Apple refers to as “Rooms” and “Scenes”. In fact, those are the only ways to control the Ivy bulb using your smartphone.

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The app doesn’t include any controls beyond HomeKit, so there is no virtual on/off button or brightness controls in the app itself. That is all done with Siri or the physical light switch connected to your bulb.

You can tell Siri to turn the lights on or off, set the brightness to a certain percentage (for example 100% or 10%), or you can ask it to initiate a Scene or Room. Scenes are setup for things like “Dinner” or “Movie Night” to automatically set lighting for a specific occasion, while Rooms allow you to group bulbs together to control a specific group of bulbs with a single command. You can view, setup, and initiate Rooms and Scenes from the app, but that’s it for the app.

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The bare minimum app features, or rather the reliance on HomeKit, would be more of an issue if HomeKit wasn’t in my experience typically the better way of controlling these products. And it’s also easy to get features you’re looking for through another third-party HomeKit app, while the Smarter Kit’s firmware is upgradeable and will likely see additional features added in the future (Android support is planned).

You’ll be able to control the bulbs when out of your house, but keep in mind HomeKit requires an Apple TV for remote control access.

Should you buy it?

The company doesn’t have a color adjustable bulb yet (which means you can’t get that super warm amber glow that some like), and that’s probably the biggest downside of the Ivy. But in my use cases the full control over dimming from 1% through 100% is enough to set the mood in most situations.

The company originally launched on Indiegogo in October and surpassed its goal of raising $40,000. This week it’s officially launching with the first orders being shipped to preorder customers and the new Nanoleaf Smarter Kit going up for sale at retailers and online.

The Nanoleaf Ivy is by far the most interesting connected, HomeKit lightbulb I’ve had in for review, and at $99 for the Smarter Kit ($$24.99 for individual Ivy bulbs after that), it’s competitively priced with its boring competitors. 

Grab the $99 Nanoleaf Smarter Kit for $99 now.

Filed under: HomeKit, iOS, Reviews Tagged: foldable printed circuit board, homekit, Hue, Ivy, nanoleaf, review, ZigBee

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iPhone 6s Plus vs. Moto X Pure – How does Motorola’s premium phablet compare to the best? [Video]

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

moto x 6s plus wp

Apple got in to the high-end phablet game for the first time last year. And just a couple of months back, it released its follow up to the 6 Plus just as Motorola turned its Moto X into a giant. Can the X Pure compete with what many consider to be the best phablet around?

Like Apple, Motorola has a big focus on design. Although their focus takes them on a slightly different path, the value for aesthetic appeal is there nonetheless. The metal-framed phone can be customized with a number of different color frames, front panels, metal accents and materials to personalize it before it even arrives at your door. With the iPhone 6s Plus, you have four colors. Only one if you want a black front panel. If you want to add leather, wood or a grippy plastic texture, your option is limited to buying a case.

While Motorola went with a curved back that sits comfortably in your palm, Apple went with a flat, smooth all-metal design. Motorola’s is undoubtedly more ergonomic, but in truth, both phones are big and reaching the corners of either screen is a stretch, even if you have large hands. Of course, if you have the iPhone, you can double tap the Home button and make any content at the top of the screen drop lower, making it far easier to reach.

If there’s one thing the iPhone has going for it, it’s an elegance and finesse. Although I’m not a fan of the antenna bands, there’s something quite luxurious about the way the glass curves perfectly in to the metal chassis, almost creating a seamless experience. Even the protruding camera, Lightning port and machined speaker holes are attractive. And you have to admire Apple’s ability to make really slim devices. At just 7.3mm thin, it’s nearly 4mm thinner than the Moto X Style’s thinnest point.

On the flip side, Apple’s insistence on relatively fat bezels means the iPhone 6s Plus is both taller and wider than the Moto X, that’s despite the fact its screen is 0.2-inches smaller. The Moto X Style has nice, slim bezels and still manages to fit in two stereo front-facing speakers in a front panel that’s 4.3mm shorter than the iPhone’s.

What this means in actual day-to-day life is that the Moto X feels like it belongs in your hand and fits easier in to your pocket, while the iPhone 6s is prettier to look at.

On to displays, and very little separates them. Despite being Quad HD resolution, the 5.7-inch LCD panel on the Motorola almost indistinguishable from the iPhone. Colors and sharpness are pretty much the same on both, despite being different resolutions. The Motorola is maybe slightly cooler, which makes blues pop a little bit more, but there really isn’t anything in it. That’s to say, they’re both very good displays with good viewing angles, color accuracy and detail. Neither offers the saturation, deep blacks or vividness of AMOLED screens, but that’s to be expected from LCD tech.

One piece of tech built in to the iPhone’s screen which isn’t on the Motorola is 3D Touch. In essence, the touch panel knows how hard you’re pressing the screen, and can enable special actions within apps, or direct from app icons on the home screen. Having used them for a little while, it’s very easy to get used to, especially when wanting to send a text message really quickly. I sometimes find myself pressing hard on the Moto X Screen, subconsciously hoping something happens. It never does.

As multimedia experiences go, having a slightly larger screen doesn’t quite make the Moto X Style an easy winner over the iPhone. But what does, is the stereo speakers. As always, Apple’s smartphone has a single loudspeaker placed right on the bottom edge, where your finger or palm will undoubtedly rest when watching movies or gaming. That doesn’t make for an immersive audio experience. Having two speakers blast at your face does, and being stereo means you get a proper feel for how the audio should sound.

As software experiences go, it’s the age old arguments of Android versus iOS. Although currently, the Moto X doesn’t have the latest version of Google’s operating system. It runs Lollipop, although an update to Marshmallow should be coming soon. In most regards, it’s a stock Android experience with a few tweaks. iPhones always run the latest version of iOS, so you get all the new tweaks and tricks offered by iOS 9. If your reason for choosing a phone is based mostly on which platform it runs, the decision is already made for you.

Putting the OS argument aside, both perform like flagships. The iPhone’s powerful dial-core A9 processor powers through most tasks with ease, performing Geekbench tests reveals why too. Its single-core performance is staggeringly high at over 2500 points, while multi-core performance is still 1000 higher than the six-core Snapdragon chip inside the Motorola. In daily use, you probably won’t notice any difference. Both phones are fast and fluid, while the iPhone will load graphically intense content a little faster.

It’s a different story with battery life. The iPhone’s battery may have a lower capacity battery at 2,750mAh (compared to the Moto’s 3,000mAh) but it seems to last longer in daily use. Most days, I can almost get to the end of a second day on a full charge with the iPhone 6s Plus, while the Motorola might get me to 1.5 days. But, if you ever want to charge it, the Motorola does so much quicker. With TurboPower, the Motorola can charge almost 70% of its battery in half an hour. That’s enough to get you through a full day.

Again, like the displays, there’s not much difference in quality of imagery when comparing the Moto X and iPhone. Motorola proudly exclaimed its new camera module is better than the iPhone 6 when it was launched. While that may be the case, it’s not immediately obvious. Both cameras can take great pictures, with good color accuracy and sharpness. Neither is particularly wonderful in low light conditions, and both can shoot 4K resolution video. Motorola’s boasts 21MP vs. the iPhone’s 12MP, meaning pictures are much bigger from the Moto X.

As an overall package, in many ways, both represent what’s best about their respective platforms. The Moto X might not have a fingerprint sensor, or a pressure sensitive display, but everything else about it is superb. As a kicker, the Moto X Pure costs just $399 in the US SIM-free and unlocked for the 16GB model. The same storage on an iPhone 6s Plus will cost you a princely $749. What’s more, you can expand the storage of the Moto X Pure up to an extra 128GB using a MicroSD card. To get that kind of storage an iPhone 6s Plus, you’re paying nearly $1000.

Many an Apple fan will argue that the company’s continued software support, fantastic app ecosystem and customer service are worth paying nearly double for a comparable piece of hardware. I don’t disagree too strongly. If you want an iPhone, you have to pay for it. On the flip-side, if you’re wanting to find out what life’s like on the ‘Dark Side’, it’ll set you back just half of the cost of an iPhone to get a very compelling, fantastic device.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Android, iphone 6s plus, Moto x Pure, Motorola, Smartphone, video

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10 Time Wasters That Limit Your Blogging Productivity (And How to Avoid Them)

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

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When it comes to blogging, there are tons of excuses we give ourselves (or sometimes our bosses) explaining why we just can’t get to writing them right now. While many of these excuses (not enough time, too busy with client work, no writers on staff to create content or edit it, etc.) may in fact be valid and perfectly understandable, it doesn’t change the fact that in order to have successful content marketing, you must also have frequent, relevant content to actually post, too.

So instead of continuously finding reasons to put blogging on the back burner, why not define what the time wasters at work are that are preventing you from getting it done, and change them? Here are a few common ones to start off with that may help at your place of business:

1) Ineffective Multi-tasking

For many of us, our day-to-day routine at work requires wearing a lot of hats and being an effective multi-tasker. But the truth is, we’re not as great at it as we think. In a recent study, Earl Miller—a Picower professor of neuroscience at MIT—claimed that it is actually very difficult for people to fully focus on more than one thing at a time, but are much better at switching focus between tasks very quickly, giving the illusion of effective multi-tasking.

An example might be someone thinking that they are effectively writing an email and talking on the phone at the same time. Because both involve communicating (whether verbal or written) and thus are competing to use the same part of the brain to complete them, we are not really multi-tasking—we’re simply switching our focus very rapidly back and forth between tasks.

Tips for better blogging productivity:

The goal is to be as effective as possible when it comes to productivity so you actually can have time for things like blogging. Try to stay focused on one task at a time. If your schedule allows for it, you can also try to prioritize your tasks into groups (i.e. lumping together tasks that are more communication-based, analytical-based, and so on and so forth.).

2) Sitting in on Every Meeting

When it comes to meetings, there are often many that are unnecessary for everyone to attend, or at least not for the whole duration of them. In some cases, meetings are planned with a clear topic and objective in mind, but often spiral off in tangents once the meetings have begun. Maybe that type of discussion is necessary for some roles, but it’s likely that the bulk of the staff are not needed in those.

Tips for better blogging productivity

For those roles in a company that are designed to see things from a broader view (more managerial and directorial positions), these meetings might be necessary to attend. But other more task-oriented positions may benefit from just getting the highlights from one person who attended, as these individuals often have pressing deadlines that can get interrupted with too many meetings.

Each meeting should also be directed with a clear topic of discussion that leads to each person’s/department’s specific action items, a realistic timeline and a follow-up meeting to go over the progress.

3) Getting Sucked into the Black Hole that is Social Media

Almost every one of us who have social media accounts are guilty of over-frequenting our news feeds at some point or another. Even if interacting on multiple social media platforms is a big part of your job, it’s important to set aside time for personal use, rather than during work hours. Overusing or stopping sporadically to check your accounts (even if for business purposes) can make it much more challenging to get back into a strong workflow.

Tips for better blogging productivity

Instead of reading up on current statuses, try scheduling out a short 30 minutes to read up on some of the top blogging best practices from the pros. There are a ton of great online resources for beginners and regular bloggers alike that discuss best practices for different types of blogs, too, including corporate/professional, personal, hobby/interest, community, etc. 

4) Having a Disorganized Workspace

This is something that frequently gets overlooked, but can nonetheless be a big time waster. And many aren’t afraid to admit it. In fact, in an OfficeMax survey, it was found that out of 1,000 workers, 90 percent of them believe that clutter does, in fact, create a negative work environment. And 77 percent of them claimed that clutter also negatively affects their productivity. This accounts not only for tangible documents on your desk, but files on your desktop, unopened/unsorted emails and other similar digital materials that require sorting.

Tips for better blogging productivity

Try making it a habit to file a document away every time you create or acquire one. It will keep you from spending hours trying to search for something and prevent you from dedicating entire days to giving your workspace a thorough cleaning. Similar to the advice given by popular chefs and cooks today, forming the good habit of “cleaning as you go” will clear up a lot of time for you to do other things—in this case, getting crackin’ on that blog.

5) Procrastinating

Procrastination almost never works out for the better in any situation, but especially when it comes to the workplace. Waiting until the last minute to get things done can force you to push back other time-sensitive tasks, looping you into an endless cycle of overdue items.

Tips for better blogging productivity

Setting daily or hourly goals for getting things done can help you stay on track and avoid procrastinating. Treat it the way you would a bank account: you have X amount of dollars (in this case, hours) to get something done and once that’s gone you will have to get a loan with interest (hours from the next work day) to pay for your expenses.

Sticking to this “budget” can help you visualize that procrastinating can actually accumulate a lot of work for you in the future, and hopefully help you find the time to squeeze in some writing time for your blog.

6) Losing Focus Due to Noise

Many workplaces are now adapting to more collaborative spaces, ditching the individual offices and setting up cubicles/desks within an open, spacious area. The problem that often comes with this type of setup, however, is distraction due to high levels of noise in any one space.

While some may argue that listening to music helps keep them focused, it really depends on the individual—how they work best and what type of work they’re trying to complete. In an inbound marketing agency, for example, someone in more of a designer or producer role might function more efficiently with some background music.

A marketing strategist or content writer, on the other hand, may function better in silence. Either way, if the noise (music, internal conversations, conference calls on speaker phone, etc.) is not being controlled by the individual, it’s likely to distract them.

Tips for better blogging productivity

If you’re wanting to make time for writing blog articles, you probably fall into the category that does better without noise. So if your office is typically on the noisy side, instead of staring at your computer screen for 10 minutes trying to finish writing the same dang sentence, try using some ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones at the first sign of distraction. You can then get in your own zone and tune your rambunctious coworkers out while you type.

7) Socializing for Too Long

Let’s face it: many of us like to socialize. Not necessarily because we’re all a bunch of gossips, but because we spend the majority of our days (and our weeks) with the people we work with, so we develop a desire to connect with them on a personal level.

The problem comes in when a morning catch-up session or an afternoon instant-message conversation lasts for a couple of hours or half the day—it can certainly impede on productivity.

Tips for better blogging productivity

One way to avoid this is by redirecting these chats to happen first thing in the morning, during a group lunch, at an after-work happy hour, or on a break. Set up a meeting in your calendar (even if it’s just with yourself) to block out some time just for blogging. If someone wants to chat during that time, simply ask to continue the conversation after your time block is over or at another time.

8) Being a Literary Perfectionist

Perhaps one of the biggest time wasters in the office has to do with the actual process we have for writing blogs. There’s a fair chance you may just be overdoing it. Similar to how a designer can sometimes forget the value of white space, many of us wordsmiths sometimes forget the value of conciseness. Just because you’re creating a piece of content doesn’t mean your viewers are going to spend time like they would reading their favorite novel to absorb it all.

In fact, in an article by the research company Nielsen Norman Group that discusses how little online materials are actually read by users, results showed that the average viewer only has time to read about 28 percent of the words on any given Web page. That’s why it’s important to stay focused and get to the point.

Tips for better blogging productivity

Start your process by creating an outline. It should consist of:

  • The blog topic or headline you’d like to write about
  • A list of the direct points you want to make
  • A clear CTA, or direct action you’d like the viewer to take

Outlining these basic components (and actually writing them out) can help serve as a reminder of what’s really important in this piece.

9) Not Asking Questions

Sometimes the reason we procrastinate is because we’re unsure of how to get something done or we’re not entirely sure what the objective of the task is. Not asking questions for clarification right off the bat, or even along the way, can become a huge waste of time.

Whether it’s not knowing where to research something, who to contact, what message you’re trying to convey in an email, or something similar, being confused about a task and not asking for clarification can lead to procrastination or double the work later on.

Tips for better blogging productivity

Ask a bunch of questions right off the bat if you’re unsure of how to complete the task at hand, and be sure you have (or can quickly get) the answers before blindly attempting to do it. With all the right tools and information, you’re bound to increase productivity. And increased productivity means more time for blogging.

10) Visiting Non-Work Related Websites Throughout the Day

Another big distraction and time waster at work is the Internet. Of course, many of us depend on it to get work done for our employers, but according to a Salary.com survey, approximately 64 percent of employees visit non-work related websites every day during work hours. The survey also concluded that these websites also kept most employees off-task and unproductive.

Tips for better blogging productivity

If you find yourself needing a quick break from your day-to-day tasks and find yourself wanting to browse the Web a bit, try visiting a few popular blogs from leaders in your industry to get some inspiration for content to use in your own blog. This way, taking a break from the grind of work can be still be productive, as it’s helping you research for your next article.

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: MFi 3ft Lightning cable $4, MEE Air-Fi Bluetooth Headphones $40, Free App of the Week, more

by | Nov 20, 2015 |

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Heads up! During Black Friday/Cyber Monday you’re going to have to follow us on Twitter to get the best deals since many sell out too quickly to post.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

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USB roundup: Anker MFi 3ft Lightning cable $4 Prime shipped, Power Banks from $6, more

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Daily Deals: MEE audio Air-Fi Bluetooth Headphones $40, SanDisk Ultra Fit 128GB Flash Drive $28, more

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App Store Free App of the Week: Stackables – effects & masks image manipulation app ($3 value)

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The Black Friday Mac Bundle offers 10 productivity-boosting apps including Drive Genius 4 for $34.99 (Orig. $533)

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Amazon’s Black Friday deals go live later this week w/ mobile shoppers getting extra perks

Top 5 ways to score the year’s best online Black Friday deals

10 can’t-miss deals for the holiday season: HDTVs, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6s, more

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Apple Watch sale at Best Buy, $50 off across the board, starting at $299 shipped (Open box $278)

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20% off iTunes Gift Cards: $100 for $80, $50 for $40, $25 for $20

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Giveaway: mophie juice pack reserve battery case for iPhone 6/s (multiple winners)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Stocking Stuffer Alert – Anker 31-inch Bluetooth Selfie Stick: $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $17)

BLACK FRIDAY AD LEAKS & NEWS:

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Best of Black Friday – Streaming Media Players: Apple TV 64GB $180, Roku SE $20, 2-Pack Chromecast (2nd gen) $50, more

Best of Black Friday – Smart Home: Nest Thermostat $250 + $50 GC, Philips Hue kit $130

Best of Black Friday – HDTVs: 40-inch from $149, Samsung 55-inch Smart $580 (Reg. $1,200), more

Best of Black Friday – iPads, Tablets and e-readers: iPad Air 2 from $360, Amazon Fire $35 (Reg. $50), more

Best of Black Friday – Games: Xbox One/PS4 console bundles, deep discounts on games, more

Best of Black Friday – wearables: Fitbit Flex $59/Charge $90/more, $100 off Apple Watch, Android smartwatches, more

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Best Buy’s Black Friday ad brings deals on Apple Watch, Macs, HDTVs, games & more!

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

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Ultimate Ears (UE) BOOM Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker: $100 shipped (Orig. $200)

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Verizon launches its Thanksgetting freebies promotion: 1GB of data, $5 iTunes credit, more

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Apple iPod Touch 5th gen 16-64GB sizes, multiple colors: $149-$199 shipped

Huge savings on pre-owned Apple Watches, deals from as low as $261 shipped

Apple Magic Mouse 2 (open-box): $68 shipped (Reg. $80)

Apple iPad Mini 2, space gray or silver: $199 shipped ($70 off)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

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D-Link takes all the smart things and puts them together in one Komfy light switch

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The ultimate 4K set-top box battle [Video]

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, Anker MFi 3ft Lightning cable, app deals, Best Buy, Black Friday, bluetooth headphones, Daily Deals, free apps, Gold Box, Selfie Stick, video games

For more news on Tips and Tricks, 9to5Toys, and Daily Deals continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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