Why Visualize Data #THURSDAYTIPS #NanoPoblano2019

What is Data Visualization? It is the visual presentation of data to inform your target audience.

These data are meant to complement the relevant information you share. They serve as proof or factual evidence to support any claims you have and to help people understand the value of the data being presented.

Image from PCMag.com

The Evolution of Visual Presentations

In the old days, these visualization tools were simple graphs, charts, tables, timelines, and maps. They were materials you could physically touch. Over time, with the arrival of better technology, we learned to make more effective presentations. They were created using computer graphics and online spreadsheets.

In the Internet age, however, visualization tools have become much more sophisticated and interactive. Various software, widgets, Application Program Interface (API), and other programs are used to make them instead.

Today’s data visualization tools include the usual but more detailed charts (bar charts, pie charts), infographics, geographic online maps, and sparklines, which are small designs for numerical and statistical information. Heatmaps are included, too, as they are snapshots that indicate two things: what catches your website visitors’ attention, and where they stay the longest in your site.

The Advantage of Newer Technology

A visualization software helps give people a better idea of your data by showing the relationships between items and the patterns and trends. They can be more detailed, able to show information that would otherwise be missed. Unnoticed details could cause unexpected problems or misinterpretations.

Meanwhile, visuals attract more attention. They help the audience to understand data. People normally get bored with dull and cold presentations. With today’s technology, we are able to maximize a material’s potential while we improve how people interpret our data.

For instance:

With the Timeline JS widget, you can show stunning, interactive timelines to impress people. But it’s not just to impress, rather, to emphasize the significance of the presented data. The timelines can have slideshow and embedabble capabilities.

ZingChart is a feature-rich API and is very interactive. It allows animation to be used in its visuals. People are attracted to visuals and they love animation. ZingChart’s JavaScript library has hundreds of chart types to choose from, which also means hundreds of ways to let your audience digest information. 

TheTableau software updates information in real-time and is great for team collaboration. It allows you to create powerful, beautiful visuals and is very easy to use with its drag and drop ability.

Now MS Excel, Google Charts and Google Sheets maybe “old”, but they are still popular. In fact, they keep up with the modern times quite well—the better to stay competitive. Try out their library of data visualization tools and see that they are not at all behind when it comes to new technology.

The Importance of Data Visualization

The question is, why get these newer tools when you can use the old ones? The problem is, it is not really advisable, especially if information may be lost using the older technology.

You like to inform. You like to write. But how do you make sure your presentation sets you apart and shows you as an authority? Today, content is king. Part of that content are data that, as said earlier, should support any relevant information you share.

 

If you want to be seen as an authority in your field, show it. Make people know you are trustworthy, competent and knowledgeable. Use effective data visualization tools. Remember, though, that being resourceful is good, but it does not necessarily make you an authority. No matter how visually striking the look, if content is lacking, you will only be wasting both your and your audience’s time.

 

*************************************************************************

NOTE: This was written in 2018 (never published, at least, not without my consent) so the visualization tools mentioned may not be that updated. Technology changes fast.

DISCLAIMER: I am not endorsing any product, tool, or company. Any mention was just for information purposes.

Four Tips From Seasoned Bloggers

In my line of work, I’ve already read much about blogging and have written stuff and tips about it as well. I have to say I don’t exactly follow them all, but that is because I have a different focus or different agenda, plus I am not that bothered about gaining a huge following, not yet anyway, Maybe someday, I’ll have more time and decide to be more active. That said, I think this post and tips from WordPress.com should work for anyone who is serious enough to be one of the best bloggers out there in the blogosphere. Congratulations to those whose names and blogs are mentioned. 🙂

WordPress.com News

Some of the best blogging advice we hear is from you. On Discover, we publish interviews and profiles of bloggers around the world, who also impart their own tips on how they’ve gotten the most out of WordPress.com. If you’ve missed these interviews, not to worry — we’ve compiled some of the best bits of blogging wisdom here.

Join communities that sustain your interests.

When you start to click around, follow blogs, and fill your Reader with posts to read, you’ll discover that WordPress.com is full of many smaller communities. For example, some participate in black and white photo challenges led by blogger Cee, while others join our multimedia Discover Challenges, hosted every Tuesday.

Novelist Claire Fuller credits two communities on WordPress.com for supporting and influencing her: Friday Fictioneers, a group of bloggers that writes a weekly 100-word story inspired by a photograph (hosted on the blog of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields), and The Prime Writers, a…

View original post 964 more words

Blogging Ethics: Five Ways to Keep it Proper

Call it ‘online journaling,’ ‘weblogging,’ or simply ‘blogging.’ Gone are the days it was called ‘writing in my diary,’ which we kept under lock and key, stacked away where no other person could find it. Nowadays, we write in our own journals for others to find and (gasp!) read.

Blame it on technology. Due to social media, weblogs emerged out of people’s need to be heard and seen, and to return to others the favor. It’s neo-exhibitionism and -voyeurism in a more positive context.

Everyone can now have his own blog. A web content writer like you, however, is not everyone.

Creating Your Brand

Brand awareness is the key to landing projects. You don’t just write and hope what you’ve written is good enough. “Good enough” is not good at all if it fails to capture and keep your intended clients’ attention.

Let them know that if an article is by you, it’s all about originality, credibility and quality—YOUR brand. That will definitely keep them interested in getting you especially when they outsource article writing.

Always keep that in mind when you are blogging. By now, you’ve heard of the famous line “Content is king.” Concentrate on that, make it your blogging mantra.

Meanwhile, a part of building your brand is to make sure you are doing things properly when you blog. This is important as many employers do tend to check how applicants “behave” when they don’t think the employers are looking.

They want to make sure it is really you who have written the samples sent them, if you can be trusted with company information, if you can do more than write content,…The reasons are for them to know and for you to find out, hopefully, not the hard way.

Becoming a good writer isn’t just through writing well. Half of it is practical know-how, common sense and discipline.

Blogging Ethics 101

As a blogger, there are several things you must remember and that are listed below. These are quite important, considering that as a web content writer, writing is your life and, most probably, your bread and butter. You’ll want to look as professional as possible.

1. Post more articles rather than photos and videos of yourself so that clients can have a look-see on your potential as a writer, not as a photographer, filmmaker or party animal. Not to go off-tangent here, be careful with what audio-visuals you choose to share either. Wholesome is the word.

Remember, this is the word to follow when posting stuff in your social media accounts as well. If you’re going to be unwholesome, make sure you keep your account private. Stay hidden from prying eyes.

2. Blogs are often where some share private thoughts and vent their spleen on various angsts. Well, it’s your blog so you can do that, but if you want to be taken seriously, don’t. Treat your blog as your own business, ergo, professionalism and discretion are in order.

Write less about your emotional baggages. In fact, reserve that for a more personal, more private blog.

3. Be trustworthy. Prospective clients, for instance, won’t be impressed by you dishing out dirt and trade secrets of past employers.

4. Never plagiarize. In a comment somewhere, somebody shared “…what you can do is pick up the content from that website and modify its language so that the language that appears on your blog does not match with it. So you get your content as well as escape from plagiarism.” Uh, not really.

Clueless or just plain evil, I don’t know. Changing clothes, however, does not change who you are. So plagiarism is still plagiarism, no matter how you dress it up. Any self-respecting writer will never do this and try to fool himself. If you’re worth your salt, you”ll be a decently working professional. It gives that pop-culture born phrase “Honest to blog!” a whole new meaning.

5. Don’t be a snob. Reply to comments to your posts. If others find time to read what you’ve written and comment, say even a simple “thank you.” That’s being respectful, showing appreciation and a sign of professionalism.

Don’t be afraid to read and comment on others’ posts either, although always make sure you comment wisely. That can widen your network and build up your reputation as a credible writer.

Very easy tips, really, but highly important. So keep to the right and you’ll never go wrong. You can only get better.

*****************************************************

Before anyone reacts violently and say we should blog what we want to blog about, let me say that first, I agree with you (as long as it’s not any kind of discrimination), and second, the target audience for this (though not strictly just for them) are web content writers. This is actually a sort of reblog of Blogging the Ethical Way.

As a guest blogging venture, the deal was the article provider would get exposure but the publisher got exclusive rights to the unique article. However, the publisher’s site has been missing for many months, so to speak, and now it’s Domain For Sale! That’s hardly fair, is it? So until they come back, this stays here.

Why I Won’t Be Famous (But Here’s the Authority Black Book, Anyway)

Why I’ll most probably be never a famous blogger, it’s because I don’t do all the best practices there are. That’s because I’m not in it to earn anything.

I mean, earning would not be bad per se, and if anything of what I do as a blogger gets any kind of compensation, thank you oh-so-much! I will not be a hypocrite and say a no-thank-you (unless something of an unscrupulous nature is asked of me, although I can’t think of any at the moment…). But I’m not doing this for business. I’m just…writing.

I want to write. I want to share. I want to share what others share. I want to have fun writing. Sometimes…Okay, a lot of times, I have trouble finding time for it, but I think about it everyday. That is the reality I live in and I’m okay with it. I can’t be selfish. Not that I’m saying other writers are, but I’m just saying that in my personal world, it can’t be just all about writing and to Hades with all other people. It’s not always about me. It does not have to be.

So if it seems that I’m not practicing every tip I have shared for bloggers, don’t hate me for it. It’s just that I don’t mind it that much and I choose not to worry. I’m a serious blogger. Just not your idea of a serious blogger.

Why am I saying these, though? Nothing serious, too. Just reflecting because I am actually going to share a free e-book meant for bloggers. I have read it, it’s simple. concise, easy-to-read (won’t take an hour to finish), and would most probably be more helpful to more “SERIOUS” bloggers out there unlike myself. “FACT: More than 80 million blogs are inactive.” Surprised?

Sharing this doesn’t cost me anything because it also got shared to me and all it takes is to go to the link below (the title), give your email there, click on the button, and voila! Your PDF copy of BlogSuccess.com’s

Authority Black Book 

is ready! (see what I did there? I colored the letters in red instead of bla…never mind…he he)

 

Learn How to Blog, Dummy

“Many businesses are on the lookout for writers to join their creative teams or to outsource content writing. Whichever route you want to tread as a content writer, freelance or otherwise, you’d like to be The Chosen One, right? But how to do this is another matter.” 

Are you a budding writer? a blogging newbie? Get a blog! How to blog? Fortunately, I’ve whipped out this How to Blog guide just for you.

Special thanks to In2Town for offering to publish my article.

THE WRITING DUMMY’S GUIDE TO BLOGGING

New to blogging? A few tips to help you blog right

 

Feel free to LIKE, Tweet, Pin it, share…Just link to it or to the published article itself. If you have other stuff or tips that we can include in the list, let us know! Leave a comment below 🙂

 

Blogging the Ethical Way

Are you a blogging web content writer? Do you know that there are certain dos and don’ts in blogging?

“As a blogger, there are several things you must remember… These are quite important, considering that as a web content writer, writing is your life and, most probably, your bread and butter. You’ll want to look as professional as possible.”

Here is my newest published piece, a blogging web content writer’s brief lesson on the importance of brand awareness and following blogging ethics. Thanks to Techie Boom for publishing 🙂

BLOGGING ETHICS: FIVE WAYS TO KEEP IT PROPER

If you’re a web content writer who loves to blog, you might want to read this

 

Feel free to LIKE, Tweet, Pin it, share…Just link to it or to the published article itself. If you think I have left out more important points, let us know! Leave a comment below 🙂

 

Guest Blogging Articles

Good day or evening to you all!

I’ve been doing more guest blogging lately about content writing and related stuff (blogging, some web development and designing, how to hire web content writers for business and why,…). Loving it!

So far, I’ve been guest blogging through the help of MyBlogGuest, and no, I am not mentioning them just because they asked me to. When I have the time, I’ll find more guest blogging sites and write about other topics. Meanwhile, my own blog is still my priority. That said, I always make sure that I know what I am writing about, based on experience and a lot of research (to make sure I’m right and to get more ideas that I might miss). Sincerely, I want a viewer to see my article, read it, like it and learn something new, even if it’s just one thing.

So far, I have published these: Practical Tips to Hire a Web Content Writer (the first that got published through MBG),  The Five Writers You Don’t Want: Spotting the Bad Apple (seems to be one of my most-read posts), and The Web Content Writer’s Newbie Toolkit.

I have four (4) articles now to be published within the week. Four because I was not able to submit for more than a week and my writeups accumulated. I’ve got basic site auditing tips, a blogging guide for web content writers, brief lessons on brand awareness and blogging ethics, and answers on why businesses should hire web content writers. There’s one more that I’ve just posted and I’m waiting for offers, one specifically giving seven (7) reasons why it is better to hire a web content writer for business.

Will post them one by one once published. Forgive me for the shameless plug ;p

Meanwhile, I am not sure if the website I wrote for before is still there because last week, the site was nowhere to be found. If it’s already gone, I’ll see of I can post my articles from there.

So what have you been up to, guys? ;p

The Newbie Writer’s List of Must-Haves

“Tricks are for posers. Instead, focus on what resources you have and don’t have. Start with the WEB CONTENT WRITER’S NEWBIE TOOLKIT, your list of simple must-haves and could-dos that should help you prepare and hopefully land writing jobs.”

What are these? Here, let me break it down for you at GuestBlogList:

THE WEB CONTENT WRITER’S NEWBIE TOOLKIT

Listed are practical ways for any new web content writer to consider. They are simple and mostly basic, with a few more tips thrown in

Feel free to LIKE, Tweet, Pin it, share…Just link to it or to the published article itself. If you have other stuff that we can include in the list, let us know! Leave a comment below 🙂