Plants and Mental Health

It’s no secret that plants can do wonders for mental health. Whether it’s the act of caretaking, the return to nature, or the escape from modern-day stresses, taking care of plants makes us feel good. I thought it would be fun to delve into some of the reasons why plants can be so beneficial to mental health.

Let’s start with the act of caretaking. Taking care of something can make us feel fulfilled. Watching something thrive can make us feel satisfied. Feeling fulfilled and satisfied lays the foundation for positive mental health. Sometimes, just the act of taking care of a plant can tip the scales from feeling worthless to feeling useful.

green plant on white wooden table — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Being the reason that something is successful not only makes us feel good but helps us with our own success. We may not always feel self-worthy and proud, but we can look at our small accomplishments and feel good about ourselves. It really can be a model for how we live if we let it. A little bit of sunlight, some water, and the right conditions is what a plant needs to thrive. Similarly, we as people need simple constants and conditions to be healthy.

Nature makes us feel good. Whether it’s the feeling of sunshine on our skin, the sound of running water, or the presence of wildlife, being outdoors helps us feel better. I know that for me, the lockdown for COVID-19 was a wake-up call. Being isolated and stuck indoors did not feel good. I was able to realize how important it was for me to spend time outdoors. And how much better it made me feel when I took the time to do it.

person in blue denim jeans lying on brown wooden table — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Bringing a little piece of nature indoors with a houseplant can be so beneficial to the atmosphere of your space. For example, when our living space is full of clutter, it often reflects our mental state. I know that when my kitchen counter is messy I simply can’t focus. It just doesn’t feel comfortable. Likewise, putting plants in our living space can make us feel happy. It can create a moment of escape from our daily lives, or our jobs, and promote a return to nature.

Sometimes we get so busy and focused on our jobs or daily chores that we simply forget to look up. There might be laundry to do, sheets to change, dinner to prepare, or just long days at work, navigating coworker relationships, and trying to make enough money to live comfortably. Whatever it is, it’s always nice to have a break. Plants can offer that escape.

Taking time to water, inspect new growth, treat for pests, repot, prune, or even just taking a moment to look at your plants gives your mind a break. It’s these moments from daily stresses that are so important to your overall well-being. I know for me, that if I didn’t let myself take breaks I wouldn’t feel as accomplished about my day. It’s these little moments that houseplants create that are so beneficial to mental health.

photo of plants on the table — Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

So whatever is going on emotionally in my life, I can always turn to my gardening hobby for a moment of peace. That’s not to say that it’s all sunshine and daisies. I’ve had my fair share of plant losses, pest infestations, and other stresses that are created by having plants. Not to mention things that actually happen in my day-to-day life that are anything but plant related. But getting through these and creating small victories only helps me with everything else going on in my world.

Today, I’m going to try to let myself take a moment and appreciate why I have plants and what they do for me. Tomorrow, if I see a spider mite or torn leaf I’ll probably freak out about it. But that’s okay too.

Are You Scared of Working From Home? Here’s How to Stay Positive and Productive During the Coronavirus Crisis.

Are You Scared of Working From Home? Here’s How to Stay Positive and Productive During the Coronavirus Crisis.

Amidst the suggested social distancing, you may be finding yourself working remotely. The initial transition from a more social office life to a more isolated home office setup can be challenging. But we’ve put together some tips to make the transition as positive and productive as possible.

Define Your Space

At first, it may seem appealing to work on the couch in your PJs all day. I’ve certainly been there myself, and I agree it can be AMAZING, but it isn’t the easiest habit to sustain. You’re simply just not as productive in an unorganized work environment.

Little decisions like claiming the kitchen island or dining room table as your desk can have a huge impact. Try your best (I know it’s hard!) to keep this newfound desk area clean and organized. Remember, this is your new “office,” let your family or roommates know your goal and ask them to respect it. It may seem like you now have infinite time to do anything and everything, but when you’re in your new home office space, you are doing one thing – working.

Make a Schedule (and stick to it!)

So it’s your first day working from home – and you think to yourself, “Hey, I might as well sleep in and just not shower. I mean, does it really matter?” Well, it turns out it does matter. A few daily goals and a casual schedule can transform your entire day.

This isn’t to say that you don’t let yourself relax and you just isolate yourself in your office. It’s more about creating a flow to your day. Let yourself take a break every hour and do some house chores or make a phone call. Cook yourself a nice lunch. Break out that old french press you never use – you know the one.

Put Your Clothes On

I know, I know. No one is going to see you, so why should you bother? Mental attitude is a fickle thing. A little morning routine can make a world of difference to your overall attitude.

When I first started working from home, I skipped the makeup routine and kept the skinny jeans in the closet. I donned slippers and sweatpants all day every day. And yes, at first it felt great.

When you’re that relaxed, it’s definitely not hard to find yourself napping and snacking more than usual. Taking the time to get ready for your day will reward you greatly. It’s a lot easier to try a little when you feel good about yourself.

Try to not make it easy for yourself to give up. Set yourself up for success with the right headspace. Take some time, and get ready to slay your day.

Be Positive

It’s easy to linger in the “could haves” and “would haves.” Don’t beat yourself up for not reaching your goals, or for letting yourself take a nap (It’s okay, I promise!). Working from home can take many forms and it takes a little time to find your groove.

With a little dedication, you’ll be conquering this new lifestyle in no time.

A Retrospective of Computer Advertising: Do You Compute?

The history of our relationship with technology is certainly interesting. Having tech in our houses or our pockets has become so normal that it is pretty weird if you don’t have the latest iPhone.

I came across a book by Ryan Mungia and Steven Heller called Do You Compute that offers a broad survey of the best computer advertising from the 20th century. Here is a summary from the publisher’s website:

Before Alexa and the iPhone, there was the large and unwieldy mainframe computer. In the postwar 1950s, computers were mostly used for aerospace and accounting purposes. To the public at large, they were on a rung that existed somewhere between engineering and science fiction. Magazine ads and marketing brochures were designed to create a fantasy surrounding these machines for prospective clients: Higher profit margins! Creativity unleashed! Total automation! With the invention of the microchip in the 1970s came the PC and video games, which shifted the target of computer advertising from corporations to the individual. By the end of the millennium, the notion of selling tech burst wide open to include robots, cell phones, blogs, online dating services, and much, much more.

It’s quite amusing to look at these advertisements. The magic and wonder of new technology, the total fascination with an eery nod to science fiction. Here are some of my favorite images from the book:

Why Houseplants Rule

Alright, so I’m new to this green thumb thing. And I won’t lie, I’ve definitely murdered my fair share of house plants. Like, total obliteration. But that’s the beauty of this plant process. It’s just a great example of trial and error, persistence, and patience.

I decided to get into house plants quite recently. And I must admit that I have henceforth become obsessed. I definitely look at Pinterest daily for terrarium and exotic plant ideas. Specifically, moss.

Somehow moss has become my peak interest lately. I find moss to have such a peaceful existence. Plus, it turns out moss is resilient and survives through all sorts of weather. I just think of it as this quiet and wise being – just hanging out and being mossy.

I’ve learned that keeping houseplants is no easy task. They require daily inspection and usually weekly watering. It also happens to be possible to overwater and overcare for your plants – something I know very well.

It sounds very similar to self-care. It’s possible to overindulge, overrelax, oversleep just as it is possible to under indulge, overwork, and not sleep enough. It’s all about finding the right balance and harmony for each specific plant. No two plants react the same to their environment, and this rings so true for individuals as well.

My work schedule as an independent contractor probably doesn’t make sense to someone who works a 9-5 lifestyle. What I choose to eat for breakfast probably doesn’t work for others. For example, I recently tried a no-carb diet, I thought I was going to die! My body needs bread. That’s just my truth.

So if you’re looking for little potted metaphors for life, I highly recommend investing in some houseplants. They really do make you feel motherly, fulfilled, and just useful.

How to Keep the Focus on What Really Matters

You’ve probably done your fair share of research on marketing services. In fact, you may feel a bit OVER-researched. It seems like there is an endless amount of articles boasting the “Top 5 Marketing Tips” or “The Best Ways to Generate Leads.” So, how do we sift through all of this noise and find what really matters?

Make a List

My favorite way to keep the focus and accomplish a task is to create a list.

There’s something so cathartic about making a list and crossing off each of the To-Dos. Try making a list of your ideal outcomes for your marketing.

What are you trying to accomplish with your marketing plan?
What is your business lacking?
Where do you need to increase effort?
Why do you want an increased marketing effort?

Shift Your Focus

A simple shift of focus to the basics can be very helpful here. Just evaluating why you think you need a good marketing plan can be a great way to set up some goals. It doesn’t need to be something fancy or well worded.

Creating the best marketing plan by shifting your focus

Simply writing down your basic desires for your business can lead to a fully developed marketing plan down the road.

For example, we can find ourselves working really hard to develop something that may not need to happen right now. Like a really advanced website with fully developed pages, subpages, and call-to-actions. Don’t get me wrong, a website is obviously important. But it may not be immediately beneficial to your marketing plan to spend all of your time and effort developing something that goes unseen and unused.

Set Small Goals

That’s why it’s so important to focus on your businesses’ immediate needs. What can I do today to enhance how my business functions? What are some feasible goals to focus on?

Setting small goals for ourselves and accomplishing them in a timely manner is a great way to feel successful. It goes back to checking off that To-Do list. It just feels really good to accomplish things.

Accomplishing these small goals will make the journey to the bigger picture a bit more pleasant. Focusing on an end goal can often seem daunting and impossible. While little bite-sized morsels can seem totally doable.

Focus on what really matters by shifting your focus to the basics. Create foundational goals to develop on. Let yourself brainstorm and focus on daily tasks. Allow yourself time to develop a longterm roadmap, and focus on the basics!

Why You Need Content Marketing

People are pickier than ever about marketing. Whether it’s the countless email newsletters, the annoying commercials interrupting YouTube videos, or the abrasive Call To Actions on websites, it’s clear that consumers expect better.

That’s where content marketing comes in. Providing consumers with useful information that they are actually interested in is one of the best ways to convert leads.

Not only does content marketing help expand your reach, but it can also help your business:

Build relationships
Create a community
Boost leads
Educate
Boost brand awareness

One of the easiest ways to grow your content marketing strategy is to take advantage of social media. About every single company is using social to market their business. And guess what? It’s working. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and so many other platforms are being used to boost leads.

That new project your landscaping company just completed? Post it to Instagram. That new home renovation? Post it to Pinterest. Better yet, link it to a blog on your website with tips on how the reader can achieve it!

You may think that posting tips and tricks to your site may take away your business. But in fact, it does the very opposite. Consumers want to see what you know. And they want to learn how to do it. You’ll still be the expert, but sharing and building a community gains trust. And trust boosts credibility and leads.

It’s easier than ever to get in touch with businesses about customer experiences and comments. Not to mention the hype built around new releases and services. Social media is one of the best ways to keep consumers interested and to grow long term relationships. The relationship does not end after the product or service has been sold. The goal is to create an ongoing conversation.

That’s why it’s important to think twice before you schedule your next set of remarketing ads or plan your next email newsletter. It’s time to offer something more substantial to your potential customers.

It’s Time to get the Most Out of Your Content

“Content Marketing” is one of those buzzwords circulating the internet. But what does it really mean?

Unlike traditional marketing, content marketing needs to be entertaining. Rather than just aiming to sell, it’s aiming to please.

Today, we are looking to social media for entertainment, guidance, and even company. So it’s no surprise that we expect the same from our favorite businesses.

We crave something more than just an ordinary advertisement. As James O’Brien wrote for Mashable:

“Instead of the commercial, be the show. Instead of the banner ad, be the feature story.”

We want valuable information. We don’t want spam!

Spend the Resources

As it turns out, it costs a fair amount of moolah to keep a steady stream of content flowing.

Try using the resources you already have at your disposal. Get your colleagues and clients on social. It’s time to get the conversation started!

Find the right creative agency to help you where it counts. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Work with someone reputable who is in it for the long-haul. Developing a social media content strategy takes time and effort.

Likewise, ask your marketer for a long term strategy. Make sure to outline your goals, determine your audience, and voice your opinions. Be sure to clearly dictate exactly what you want and expect from their services!

Be Consistent

Don’t just post when you have big news. It’s important to be consistent and keep a steady flow of activity.

You want your audience to remember who you are. And more importantly, you want them to actually read and interact with what you are saying.

Offer them something more than just a spam of announcements. Try starting a conversation or asking some questions.

Be Helpful

You probably know a good bit about the niche you specialize in. Why not write about it?

Push out some blog posts offering your insight. Likewise, share what you’ve been reading and thinking about. You may be surprised by how eager people can be to learn.

One of the most overlooked ways of gaining an organic following is offering resources. It isn’t all about the lead generation. You want to build brand awareness too!

Interested in a long term content marketing strategy? Let’s talk!

Developing a Content Strategy

Develop a content strategy | content writing services

So you want to up your content strategy? Chances are you already have some good content to build on.

If you already have a website, then you likely already have some written content. And maybe even some landing pages and blog posts! These are all great resources for developing a cohesive content marketing strategy.

Like any good strategy, let’s evaluate where we are and where we need to go.

Do you currently have a strategy in place? If so, is it actually written down and actionable? It turns out it’s a lot easier to follow a strategy that is written out than trying to remember one on the spot.

Take the time to write down your strategy. You’ll thank yourself later!

Plus, taking the extra step and time to determine your strategy and write it down will make it seem legitimate. It’s like making a to-do list. Writing down your daily tasks make them more actionable and accessible. Likewise, it’s time to write down what you want to accomplish with your content strategy.

Who do you want to talk to?

Determining your target audience is a great place to start. In fact, if you have a buyer persona figured out then you are already sitting pretty.

Figuring out who you want to target makes content marketing a whole lot easier. And not to mention more successful. Where on the buyer journey do you want to meet your customers?

Consider the projects you want to gain or the products you want to sell. Where do you want to meet the customer? For example, if we wanted to promote content creation, we would probably want to meet the customer in the “how to” step of their journey. That is, meeting them when they are researching how to write good content, where to promote content, or how much content marketing costs.

Similarly, we would probably want to push out content addressing these topics. As a result, it looks like we already have a couple of ideas for our first few blog posts. From this starting point, you can continue to develop a roadmap or content strategy.

It’s time to gather some ideas.

In the world of content, there’s nothing more important than research. Do some keyword research and see what relevant topics come up.

Did you know how many awesome research tools exist?! At DGD, we love using Buzzsumo, Flipboard, and Feedly. These are just some of the many free tools that exist at your disposal.

What are your competitors writing about? Taking a look at what is already out in the world is one of the most overlooked steps. You don’t need to be concerned about making content from scratch. There’s a ton out there for you to choose from!

Let’s make it happen!

Lastly, one of the most important features of developing a content strategy is doing it! It’s very easy to say we are going to do things. But taking the time to do them is a whole other ball game.

Need help with developing a content strategy? Let’s talk!

Written Content is Still Queen

Marketing has certainly developed over the years. It’s exciting to see that content marketing has become one of the most effective disciplines for brands. Let’s see how the Queen has taken her iron throne.

The State of Content Marketing

According to Zazzle’s 2019 State of Content Marketing, ” 96% of our marketing decision makers say content marketing is effective for their brand. This has risen by a third in the last 12 months, which is huge!”

The Realm Has Changed

With the impact of GDPR, the realm of data processing has shifted. It’s more important than ever to provide subscribers with valuable content. No longer is the goal to reach droves of people. It’s more important to focus on quality subscriber lists.

And how do you do that? With awesome content of course! People want more than just the announcement that it’s National Sandwich Day. In fact, they crave it.

People Are Reading More

Did you know that millennials read more than any other generation? They even prefer to read the news than to watch it.

Written content is here to stay. And it’s time to take advantage of it.

Interested in amplifying your content game? Let’s talk!

What Should Content Writing Cost?

Content Writing Cost | Content Writing Services

When it comes to freelance services like content writing, you might be wondering how much it should cost. Some clients ask if we charge per word, by the hour, or even by click!

We thought we’d take the time to outline some basic principles for pricing a content writing project.

First, let’s decide what we’re writing.

What’s the scope of your project?

We’ve broken down our most popular writing projects into 4 categories.

1. Landing Pages

The homepage, about and services pages all need to be written clearly and concisely. Ideally, they should include call to actions and SEO keywords that you want to target.

A well-crafted landing page can convert a web viewer into a buyer. That’s why they are so important and prove to be the most challenging to write.

Some writers charge upwards of $3,000-$4,000 per landing page. That means that for your five-page website you’re looking at $15,000-$20,000. Others charge as little as $100 per page, for instance.

Well, that’s quite a variation, so what should you expect?

At Dee Glazer Design we charge by the word for landing pages – $1 per with a project minimum of $500.

Typically, landing pages are about 250-500 words each. Most of our clients need about 3-5 pages of content written. As a result, an average 3-5 page website writing project costs about $750-$2,500.

This is for copy alone and does not include web design, web page design, or graphics. But don’t worry, we offer those services as well!

2. Blogs

Blog writing is pretty different from landing page writing, so naturally, the pricing is also different.

In the same vein of landing pages, we charge for our blog services by the word. And did we mention that we can write and research about any topic? Seriously, throw a challenge at us, we love it!

Most of our clients choose from the following predetermined lengths:

A 150-word blog post typically costs $50, 250-words $100, 500-words $150, and 1000-words $300.

This includes the writing and editing of the blog post.

Of course, other lengths are available and we can discuss your project to figure out exactly what you need!

3. Email Newsletters

A newsletter is a great way to keep your clients engaged. But writing one that is more exciting than annoying takes a special kind of wordsmithing.

Likewise, an email blast campaign is a great way to spread updates about company news or announce special deals and insider tips.

At DGD we price our email blast writing services at $100-$200.

The main variable here for the price difference is the length of the email. We also offer design services for email marketing campaigns. So if you’re in the need of a complete email marketing campaign from start to finish, we’ve got you covered.

4. Press Releases

If you’re in the business of announcing things, you know how important a well-crafted press release is.

Like landing pages, press releases require a specific type of writing and formatting.

Whether you’re announcing a property for sale, a new company acquisition, or even a new ice cream flavor, we can handle it.

Some big-time PR agencies charge upwards of $3,000 for a press release. Meanwhile, you can probably find someone to do it on craigslist for less than $20. So like landing pages, there is a range of variation, and it really depends on the services offered.

We charge a flat rate of $100 per press release, which includes the writing and editing.

In conclusion, it’s important to determine the scope of work and outline expectations. If you’re a business owner, make sure you know exactly what you are paying for. Similarly, if you’re a freelancer, make sure you know exactly what you are charging for.

Have a project you’d like to work on? Let’s talk about it!