24 January 2010
Fastfood Websites: Drop the Fancy Flash!
It's year 2010 and websites are expected to load quickly. If your websites are not loading quickly, you may be losing customers.
The family has been clamoring for lunch and we are all hungry.
I went over to visit the KFC delivery (Philippines) website and looked forward to eating their yummy chicken for lunch.
At the front page: Waiting for Flash... waiting for flash... waiting for flash. I have 4 files downloading so it may be affecting the speed of the flash. Hmm....
I clicked menu hoping to find the food offers and prices.
Again, waiting for Flash... waiting for flash... waiting for flash. Getting impatient here...
Waiting for Flash... waiting for flash... waiting for flash.
Hurgh! All I wanted is the name of the food item and the price! Not worth it. Click X.
Website developers, Usability workers: Fastfood websites invite the interest of HUNGRY PEOPLE. They want quicker results more than the usual. Remove all elements that bog down speed, such as flash items.
It's a simple matter of putting yourselves in the shoes of the user.
Free Usability Tip: If you really want to include the pretty flash pages for a fastfood site:
HURGHHH.
Sorry but I'm really hungry.
I've been checking the other fastfood delivery sites just now, may require another post. HURGG!
The family has been clamoring for lunch and we are all hungry.
I went over to visit the KFC delivery (Philippines) website and looked forward to eating their yummy chicken for lunch.
At the front page: Waiting for Flash... waiting for flash... waiting for flash. I have 4 files downloading so it may be affecting the speed of the flash. Hmm....
I clicked menu hoping to find the food offers and prices.
Again, waiting for Flash... waiting for flash... waiting for flash. Getting impatient here...
Waiting for Flash... waiting for flash... waiting for flash.
Hurgh! All I wanted is the name of the food item and the price! Not worth it. Click X.
Website developers, Usability workers: Fastfood websites invite the interest of HUNGRY PEOPLE. They want quicker results more than the usual. Remove all elements that bog down speed, such as flash items.
It's a simple matter of putting yourselves in the shoes of the user.
Free Usability Tip: If you really want to include the pretty flash pages for a fastfood site:
- On your home page, list the most popular food items and the prices and put your phone number in big letters
- At the side, put a navigational menu to links that contain all your pretty pages.
HURGHHH.
Sorry but I'm really hungry.
I've been checking the other fastfood delivery sites just now, may require another post. HURGG!
17 January 2010
On Paid Blog Posts
My 2 cents on sponsored blog posts.
Some people, online workers included, are wary of paid blog posts. They think that all blog posts are somehow dishonest.
For someone like me who
1) Blogs because I want to write
2) Blogs because I'm enthusiastic about the blog topic, and
3) Has been blogging for years without compensation of any form - just now,
I have no issues with getting paid for posts.
I have my own opinions. If I blog about a product, I will do so because it's what I really think about the product.
Plus, if I do write anecdotes about it, those are real stories.
If I have issues about the product to be written about, then I can decline the request. Simple as that.
And truth to be told, I do not see the need to have a Full Disclosure Policy about paid posts because EVERYTHING I WILL EVER WRITE ABOUT IS TRUE. If it's not true, or a tad dishonest, I won't write. If I get paid for liking something and being honest about it, I have no issues about that either.
So I don't really understand why some online workers are whining and whining about paid blogging but doing it anyway.
Bottomline: If you have the need to whine about doing something. Just don't do it and zip it.
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
Some people, online workers included, are wary of paid blog posts. They think that all blog posts are somehow dishonest.
For someone like me who
1) Blogs because I want to write
2) Blogs because I'm enthusiastic about the blog topic, and
3) Has been blogging for years without compensation of any form - just now,
I have no issues with getting paid for posts.
I have my own opinions. If I blog about a product, I will do so because it's what I really think about the product.
Plus, if I do write anecdotes about it, those are real stories.
If I have issues about the product to be written about, then I can decline the request. Simple as that.
And truth to be told, I do not see the need to have a Full Disclosure Policy about paid posts because EVERYTHING I WILL EVER WRITE ABOUT IS TRUE. If it's not true, or a tad dishonest, I won't write. If I get paid for liking something and being honest about it, I have no issues about that either.
So I don't really understand why some online workers are whining and whining about paid blogging but doing it anyway.
Bottomline: If you have the need to whine about doing something. Just don't do it and zip it.
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
14 January 2010
Online Filipino Workers Have Staff Dev too - Or, Waking Out of Sked for Webinars
Today I woke up at 3:45 am to catch a webinar, to add more to my little but growing knowledge on web marketing.
The webinar (web seminar) is a staple of the online Filipino worker. There are so many things to read in the web for your own development, usually having an interactive class is a pleasant break.
Webinars are usually hour-long classes held by organizations and usually have the most reputable net people as the teachers. Topics vary, there will always be one for your niche. The "class" is quite interactive. Depending on the software, some webinars have IM and the audience can type in their comments and the speaker sees the feedback. This way too, the speaker can ask questions and audience can give in their answers.
Some webinars are for free, some require payment. Organizations like giving webinars as it helps establish their credibility and reputation as an expert in the field.
However, don't sign up for each and every webinar you see. Do seek out the more established companies or ones with more reliably-excellent speakers. Some companies who host webinars may want to establish themselves as authority but the content is blah. This can piss off the sleep-deprived online worker more than usual. Definitely, sleep is more important than unoriginal lectures. So choose to sign up for webinars with the idea leaders.
My tiny problem as an online Filipino worker is that webinars are usually held at the other side of the globe, and for some consecutive times now, always had the wrong time conversions. Like today, I converted the time and was informed the webinar would be at 4am. No, it started at 5am. These days, because of DST on the other side of the planet, I have always been late or too early for a webinar. Please don't ask me which time conversion website I use. hurggh
But despite the little sacrifice, it's okay because I learn a lot more than I would reading a 400 word article on a topic.
If you see an advert for a webinar and are interested to attend:
The webinar (web seminar) is a staple of the online Filipino worker. There are so many things to read in the web for your own development, usually having an interactive class is a pleasant break.
Webinars are usually hour-long classes held by organizations and usually have the most reputable net people as the teachers. Topics vary, there will always be one for your niche. The "class" is quite interactive. Depending on the software, some webinars have IM and the audience can type in their comments and the speaker sees the feedback. This way too, the speaker can ask questions and audience can give in their answers.
Some webinars are for free, some require payment. Organizations like giving webinars as it helps establish their credibility and reputation as an expert in the field.
However, don't sign up for each and every webinar you see. Do seek out the more established companies or ones with more reliably-excellent speakers. Some companies who host webinars may want to establish themselves as authority but the content is blah. This can piss off the sleep-deprived online worker more than usual. Definitely, sleep is more important than unoriginal lectures. So choose to sign up for webinars with the idea leaders.
My tiny problem as an online Filipino worker is that webinars are usually held at the other side of the globe, and for some consecutive times now, always had the wrong time conversions. Like today, I converted the time and was informed the webinar would be at 4am. No, it started at 5am. These days, because of DST on the other side of the planet, I have always been late or too early for a webinar. Please don't ask me which time conversion website I use. hurggh
But despite the little sacrifice, it's okay because I learn a lot more than I would reading a 400 word article on a topic.
If you see an advert for a webinar and are interested to attend:
- Check out the company and the speaker first.
- Double check if content matches your skill level.
- If everything is cleared with you, sign up. You will have to fill up forms.
- Check your inbox for a confirmation message.
- You will get another message with the meeting link.
- Prepare early, check your audio and stuff.
- Prepare your notebook and pen for taking notes.
- Get some coffee and enjoy learning!
13 January 2010
Handy Character Traits to Have When you are an Online Worker
In my few years as an online Filipino worker, I have noticed that some people are naturally matched to working online. Working at home is something they thrive at, compared to those who do want to but do not thrive as much.
Do you think have what it takes to be an online Filipino worker? We usually have the same stuff as office people, but some personality traits are more distinct when you are working by yourself, at home, most of the time. The traits below may seem easy as pie, but usually we'll only know once we've taken on that first online work assignment.
More self-motivated than usual. Online workers are very independent, more than the usual office worker, maybe. Since the online worker mostly talks to a monitor, it is easy to slack off and sleep through the day. Regular online workers have a proven track record of automatically doing the tasks needed even without anybody watching them. People who like supervisors, nannies or mommy to pressure them to do something may not be the best match to online work.
Strong sense of commitment. Word of honor to deliver is enough to automate the self-motivation. The online worker dismisses any excuses, real or imagined, to deliver an agreed project.
Comfortable with doing different kinds of tasks. When you are an online worker, whether you are freelance or a resident contractee, on some level you are your own boss, secretary, sales, marketing, operations, admin services in 1. You are also the janitorial services, so it really helps to be flexible. Being cheerful in doing "lowly" tasks to boss tasks indicates you can be an online worker in the long haul.
A little more patience, especially for moms with small children working at home. I salute the work-at-home moms with small children and are still very professional. Like any office work, we have deadlines. In the office though, there is the privilege of focusing on only the tasks at hand. At home, there is the ever-lovable but still breaks the peace, "Mommy, look at me! Mommy may I have juice? Mommy, hold my hand." Some online worker moms still make sure their babies/ toddlers have baby sitters so that they can work and deliver. It's still much better to be physically present at home and keep an eye out for baby and yaya while working, than not be there at all.
Cheerful with almost no "real time human contact" through out the day. This may seem easy to do, but I have found that this where most people are challenged. Yes, online workers have their online bosses and online friends. They may suddenly laugh out loud in real time from all the amusing conversation they do online. However, it is still online, conversations that pop out on a monitor. Some people who are super efficient in the real-time office will suddenly feel "lost" with no human contact throughout the day. Me, being naturally self-absorbed, thought this was easy to breeze through. But then, I have been surprised at people who did not match up to online work because of this "lonely" part of the work.
These are the main ones that I can think of. By now, you may be able to identify if online work is for you, or if the real-time brick and mortar office with people is better.
Do you think have what it takes to be an online Filipino worker? We usually have the same stuff as office people, but some personality traits are more distinct when you are working by yourself, at home, most of the time. The traits below may seem easy as pie, but usually we'll only know once we've taken on that first online work assignment.
More self-motivated than usual. Online workers are very independent, more than the usual office worker, maybe. Since the online worker mostly talks to a monitor, it is easy to slack off and sleep through the day. Regular online workers have a proven track record of automatically doing the tasks needed even without anybody watching them. People who like supervisors, nannies or mommy to pressure them to do something may not be the best match to online work.
Strong sense of commitment. Word of honor to deliver is enough to automate the self-motivation. The online worker dismisses any excuses, real or imagined, to deliver an agreed project.
Comfortable with doing different kinds of tasks. When you are an online worker, whether you are freelance or a resident contractee, on some level you are your own boss, secretary, sales, marketing, operations, admin services in 1. You are also the janitorial services, so it really helps to be flexible. Being cheerful in doing "lowly" tasks to boss tasks indicates you can be an online worker in the long haul.
A little more patience, especially for moms with small children working at home. I salute the work-at-home moms with small children and are still very professional. Like any office work, we have deadlines. In the office though, there is the privilege of focusing on only the tasks at hand. At home, there is the ever-lovable but still breaks the peace, "Mommy, look at me! Mommy may I have juice? Mommy, hold my hand." Some online worker moms still make sure their babies/ toddlers have baby sitters so that they can work and deliver. It's still much better to be physically present at home and keep an eye out for baby and yaya while working, than not be there at all.
Cheerful with almost no "real time human contact" through out the day. This may seem easy to do, but I have found that this where most people are challenged. Yes, online workers have their online bosses and online friends. They may suddenly laugh out loud in real time from all the amusing conversation they do online. However, it is still online, conversations that pop out on a monitor. Some people who are super efficient in the real-time office will suddenly feel "lost" with no human contact throughout the day. Me, being naturally self-absorbed, thought this was easy to breeze through. But then, I have been surprised at people who did not match up to online work because of this "lonely" part of the work.
These are the main ones that I can think of. By now, you may be able to identify if online work is for you, or if the real-time brick and mortar office with people is better.
12 January 2010
Wow! Quick Paypal Withdrawal in the Philippines
Of course, 1 of the most crucial aspects of online work is how to get paid. Your clients may be anywhere in the world, so you must make sure payments to you are quick and pain-free.
I most prefer Xoom for my payments so I don't know much about Paypal.
All I know about Paypal is that 2 years ago, I had a headache having my account verified. When I did try to withdraw funds it took me, I think, 4 or 5 days for the money to appear in my account. My contractor, a very considerate person, knew this was not the best way to go, so we agreed to have payments sent through Xoom. (More on Xoom in a later article, I suppose.)
Yesterday, I chose the "withdraw to bank" option, landing the funds through China Bank This morning, I took a peek (even if I didn't really believe the funds would be there) and the status for bank transfer was pending. But this noon, the transaction was already completed.
I'm guessing credit goes to the bank for this relatively quick affair.
China Bank, you are so lovable for online Filipino workers. As they click in Facebook, "Like eht!"
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
I most prefer Xoom for my payments so I don't know much about Paypal.
All I know about Paypal is that 2 years ago, I had a headache having my account verified. When I did try to withdraw funds it took me, I think, 4 or 5 days for the money to appear in my account. My contractor, a very considerate person, knew this was not the best way to go, so we agreed to have payments sent through Xoom. (More on Xoom in a later article, I suppose.)
Yesterday, I chose the "withdraw to bank" option, landing the funds through China Bank This morning, I took a peek (even if I didn't really believe the funds would be there) and the status for bank transfer was pending. But this noon, the transaction was already completed.
I'm guessing credit goes to the bank for this relatively quick affair.
China Bank, you are so lovable for online Filipino workers. As they click in Facebook, "Like eht!"
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
08 January 2010
Online Worker Business Hours
Similar to any overseas Filipino worker, or a call-center agent for that matter, online Filipino workers also have a variety of odd schedules to fill.
Most freelancers work on their own schedules. However, in the initial phases of coordination with a newly-met client, the online Filipino worker has to stay up late or wake up reaaal early to be able to speak to a client. Luckily, staying/ waking up late is a 1 or 2-shot deal. As soon as matters are ironed out, the online freelancer can go about the usual schedule.
Some online workers who are resident contractuals work simultaneously with the regular business hours of the country of the contractor.
Some are lucky and get to work on their own hours. That is, the regular 9am to 6pm Phlippines time (9PM to 6AM EST, or 6PM to 3 AM PST).
Busy online mommies work around the sleeping time of their babies. Once baby drops off to sleep, (or leaves for school) expect mommy to park in front of the pc and work away until she hears the wakening cry of her child... (or the honking of the school bus). It's the signal to change to Charlie Chaplin mode, where mommies always move about a bit faster than the regular rhythm to get family stuff done.
Me, I mostly work Philippines business hours time. My communication matters are mostly done mornings here, so I'm lucky. However, I have this habit of not counting hours that I think are not so productive, even if those are work-related, so I tend to extend hours a lot. Yeah, not so wise, but it's the only way I go to bed with peace (and a smile) in my heart.
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
Are Online Worker Topics Unfunny?
I enjoy writing blogs, especially if these are :
- humorous
- informative
- or give a glimpse of life that nobody thinks about but are important
- teaches life lessons
- BIG BONUS : a combination of all
I started this blog expecting my posts to have a light feeling. But so far, I'm blah.
Maybe I should sleep more? hee hee...
- humorous
- informative
- or give a glimpse of life that nobody thinks about but are important
- teaches life lessons
- BIG BONUS : a combination of all
I started this blog expecting my posts to have a light feeling. But so far, I'm blah.
Maybe I should sleep more? hee hee...
04 January 2010
It's Also Back to Work Day for Us Online Filipino Workers
Today was particularly busy day for everybody I'm sure, as we've all just come back from the holidays. I'm guessing that online workers are also catching up, since we can take off from work, as long as we accomplish what is expected. And I know during the holidays we all somehow spent time away from the computer to make sure our loved ones had some fun over the holidays.
I've returned to all my December emails and TRIED to redo the list of stuff left behind last year. Starting at December 31, moving backwards, I've only gotten to December 23. I stopped because I already have X # of tasks in my list. I didn't goof off, I promise, except for the holidays when everybody else wasn't working anyways, and we did submit all the urgent stuff even during the non-working days.
Plus the tasks left behind are continuous tweaks to the website, so no harm done with leaving all tasks since Dec. 23. The boss just likes to send in ideas before he forgets.
My target is to finish all these 18 tasks, then start again from December 22 backwards, even while doing the current tasks.
Yes, we have had our conference today and already have current tasks. So finishing the past ones will be quite tricky.
I can do this! :-)
Hope you all had a nice day back at work!
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
I've returned to all my December emails and TRIED to redo the list of stuff left behind last year. Starting at December 31, moving backwards, I've only gotten to December 23. I stopped because I already have X # of tasks in my list. I didn't goof off, I promise, except for the holidays when everybody else wasn't working anyways, and we did submit all the urgent stuff even during the non-working days.
Plus the tasks left behind are continuous tweaks to the website, so no harm done with leaving all tasks since Dec. 23. The boss just likes to send in ideas before he forgets.
My target is to finish all these 18 tasks, then start again from December 22 backwards, even while doing the current tasks.
Yes, we have had our conference today and already have current tasks. So finishing the past ones will be quite tricky.
I can do this! :-)
Hope you all had a nice day back at work!
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
03 January 2010
Wow, Philippines Time is Already Included in Blogger
I've been fiddling around with this blog's settings.
I was going to change it to Philippines time since I noticed I was on Pacific Time.
I've been used to forever looking for GMT+8 Singapore in all time settings of all sites.
So I saw there is now GMT+8 Manila .
Yeah, it's shallow but I've been around online long enough it makes me... proud?
We're finally becoming human? heehee
Thanks, Blogger!
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
I was going to change it to Philippines time since I noticed I was on Pacific Time.
I've been used to forever looking for GMT+8 Singapore in all time settings of all sites.
So I saw there is now GMT+8 Manila .
Yeah, it's shallow but I've been around online long enough it makes me... proud?
We're finally becoming human? heehee
Thanks, Blogger!
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
Online Filipino Workers Relax Too
Sometimes, online workers have breaks too.
Some online workers have resident stints that only have them work Mondays to Fridays.
Some work on per-project basis. These people diligently work even Saturdays on Sundays.
Some with Monday to Friday regular online work accept little projects, so they work on these mostly on Saturdays and Sundays.
But since it's the last leg of Filipino christmas, a lot of us are sitting back and relaxing. It's also 1 of the rare times of the year to go out and catch up with friends 1 last time before work starts again.
Yes, some of us tend to forget to go out and socialize, since we do a lot of socializing online anyways. So now is the best time to do it, while everybody else is on holiday mode.
When the wheels of 2010 roll, expect our Online Filipino Workers to work themselves til their computers hang.
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
Some online workers have resident stints that only have them work Mondays to Fridays.
Some work on per-project basis. These people diligently work even Saturdays on Sundays.
Some with Monday to Friday regular online work accept little projects, so they work on these mostly on Saturdays and Sundays.
But since it's the last leg of Filipino christmas, a lot of us are sitting back and relaxing. It's also 1 of the rare times of the year to go out and catch up with friends 1 last time before work starts again.
Yes, some of us tend to forget to go out and socialize, since we do a lot of socializing online anyways. So now is the best time to do it, while everybody else is on holiday mode.
When the wheels of 2010 roll, expect our Online Filipino Workers to work themselves til their computers hang.
A little request from OFW Din: If you liked this post, please click the title, then click the cute buttons below the title. It will let Google and the others know you sent me some love.
01 January 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
