Develop a New Weekend Habit with iVolunteer Philippines

Have you ever dreamed of doing volunteer works but don’t know where to go or what to do? I suggest you visit iVolunteer.com.ph.

The iVolunteer Philippines website is made by volunteers. It is a portal containing information about various institutions in the Philippines that need volunteers – in other words, organizations that need you!

Once in the website, all you have to do is to browse among various volunteering opportunities posted in the site, click on the advocacy and activity you like, and register. That's it! You can volunteer by yourself or in groups. The important thing is you should come once you register.

Here are some of the things you will like about iVolunteer Philippines: 

1. Updated list. Every week iVolunteer updates their page with new requests and schedules for volunteers for different institutions. Available slots remaining are also updated real-time so you know if help is still needed or you should go wait for another time.
2. The orgs in the portal are legit.
3. You can join for as many times as you like. At the same time you are not obliged to join all the time unless you pledge directly with your chosen institution.
4. No money is necessarily involved except for your own transportation and or food expenses and when extra funds are requested like sponsoring a child to an educational field trip, etc.
5. They recently held a Volunteer Expo! I went to this event held in Glorietta, Makati and saw the volunteers were serious with their work but they were all having fun!

What are you waiting for? Start your volunteering journey now that it is Araw ng Kagitingan! With them, you will have more options and worthwhile activities every weekend. :)

I would not miss having a photo with Jenny, one of the officers of iVolunteer Philippines.
I met her two years ago at the Dream Expo MNL.

--------

Related reads... 

How Busy People Are Finding Time to Care

Social Enterprise: Negosyong Makalipunan (English Translation)

Unexpected Opportunities Are Welcome

Let me tell you about January 8. I like it. It is so symbolic. And many people pretty much think that way too I suppose! People choose it as wedding date, business launch date, or a date to file important documents and make big decisions. January is the first month of the year, while the number eight is circular and thus "it never ends" as it is written like the infinity symbol, only upright. What day could appear luckier than that?

I myself have reserved that date for the launching of my education project, but the year is an open date. Nonetheless, January 8 of this year has become remarkable for me too because Shoppersguide.com.ph (SG) has been launched! But if I had been rigid, I wouldn’t have seen it launched and skyrocketing now, albeit with some bumps as it is only in its beta stage, but nevertheless! Does the success have to do with being launched on a lucky day? Perhaps, but I think it has to do with preparedness and taking a leap of faith. That’s what happened to me when I joined SG.

Shoppersguide is “the one-stop national online directory and guide for shoppers, diners, and travelers to find stores, restaurants, and resorts offering specific brands, food, or services with just a few clicks.” I work part-time at SG and have been rendering editorial services for them.

I shop often and I love dining out every now and then, but traveling hasn't really been my priority for some reasons. When I was offered the gig, for awhile, I thought I would be a misfit. And besides, what would happen to the project I am working on?

Fortunately, I had the chance to weigh things over and went on to accept the job. They wanted someone who can write and edit have knowledge and interest in shopping, dining, traveling, and web writing. I am all that except for the traveling part, but I am quite an armchair expert on that. I have explored many places in my reading and watching. And now, thanks to this project, I have already been traveling for work assignments and have gone to Bacolod and Cebu City. Closest friends say it's my luck, and they are right, but I would like to consider it more than anything else a blessing waiting to arrive when I have found my courage and the timing is right.

Take a leap of faith and fly!

Two months since it has launched, Shoppersguide has been ranking No. 1 for many of its articles. We couldn't be prouder. I have a learned a lot and have shared so much of my knowledge too. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) have been my greatest passions (with arts and sciences trailing closely behind), which I intend to focus on in my dream project. But now, with SG, I am able to do it already together with intelligent friends and colleagues. SG is a dream project by itself. I believe in its mission of giving chances for small businesses around the country, even those from the remotest of places, a chance to be heard of and reached online.

I guess the learning to be taken here is that I should be more open to opportunities that come my way. I shouldn't limit myself to my comfort zone or to what other people will say. Even money to be earned shouldn’t be my primary motivation, but the experiences to be gained: if the opportunity will be a great vehicle for learning and improving myself, even if the income isn’t very appealing, I should take it! That’s Robert Kiyosaki speaking too.

In welcoming unexpected opportunities, no matter the date or time of year, we should choose those that will make us grow. Ultimately, we’d be surprised where the experience will take us, and often it could even be beneficial in attaining our "fixed goals."

Paano Ayusin ang Contents sa Isang Website?

Noong nakaraang linggo ay pinag-usapan natin kung ano ang business website at kung ano ang mga dapat na nilalaman nito.

Ngayon naman ay tatalakayin natin kung papaano aayusin ang mga content sa isang website.

Tulad ng brochure, ang isang website ay mayroon ding pages. Ang bawat page ay dapat mayroong specific na purpose at nilalaman. Narito ang mga common na pages na dapat mayroon ang isang business website:

1. Home Page  - ang home ay ang pinakacover page ng website mo. Ito at tinatawag rin na "landing page" dahil ito ang unang makikita ng mga bibisita sa website mo.

a. Name and logo of business. Dito sa home page dapat makita ang pangalan at logo ng iyong negosyo. Dapat itong nasa pinakaprominenteng puwesto (sa taas) upang makita agad ng bibisita sa website mo na tama ang website na napuntahan niya. Ilalagay mo rin ang logo at business name mo sa lahat ng pages mo kaya dapat rin ay pareho ang logo at font style ng pangalan sa website mo sa kasalukuyan mong ginagamit na design sa iyong physical na shop. Ito ay para ma-establish ang look ng business mo at magkaroon ng recall sa customers. Kung napansin mo ngayon na baduy o kaya ay hindi pala akma sa negosyo mo ang logong ginagamit mo, then it's about time for you to make a new one. Pwede kang magpadesign sa mga fine arts students. Marami ring nag-aalok ng logo design sa internet.

Note: Merong isa pang purpose ang logo. Ito ay maaaring gawing link pabalik sa home page. Kapag nasa ibang page ng website mo ang iyong visitor, iciclick lang nya ang logo at babalik na sya sa home page.

b. Tagline - Dito mo na rin ilalagay ang maiksing paglalarawan tungkol sa iyong negosyo. Ito ay tinatawg na tagline. Kumbaga sa pelikula, ito ay ang iyong subtitle na nagsasabi in as few words as possible what your business is all about.

c. Photos. Dahil ito ay ang cover ng iyong website, dapat mo rin itong lagyan ng kaaya-ayang larawan ng iyong shop o kaya ng iyong pinakapopular o pinakabagong produkto o serbisyo kasama ng maiksing description tungkol sa product. Pwede rin lagyan ng slideshow ng mga pictures. Medyo kailangan ng pag-aaralan mabuti kung paano gawin ito or sabihin sa iyong web designer na gusto mo ng ganito. Please click thairoyalspa.com for sample.

d. Promos. Maaari ka ring maglagay dito ng poster tungkol sa mga promo, discount o freebies na kasalukuyan mong inaalok sa iyong shop.

Sa ganitong paraan, maeenganyo mo kaagad ang bisita sa iyong website na bumili o pumunta sa shop mo para makuha ang iyong mga promo.

e. Maganda ring lugar ito para sa naihanda mong documentary video tungkol sa negosyo mo. Ang video ang isa sa pinakamadaling paraan para ipakilala ang isang negosyo sa mga tao. Maaari pang ilagay sa youtube ang naturang video.

f. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc. icons. Kung merong account ang iyong business sa mga naturang social media sites, puwede mong ilagay ang link ng mga iyon sa iyong home page. Kapag nag-click sila sa facebook icon ay mapupunta sila sa facebook page ng business mo at maaari nilang i-like iyon.

2. Products/Services - Dito sa page na ito ilalagay ang larawan ng iyong mga produkto o kaya ay ililista ang mga serbisyong inaalok mo sa iyong negosyo. Maaari mong ilagay rito ang presyo ng iyong mga produkto at serbisyo upang mas madaling makapagdesisyon ang bisita sa website mo kung bibilhin niya ang inaalok mo. Kung ayaw mo naman ilagay ang presyo ng iyong mga paninda (marahil dahil nag-aalala ka naman na baka makita ng mga kakumpetensiya mo ang presyo ng mga produkto mo at magamit nila ang impormasyong iyun para daigin ang negosyo mo), maaari kang magbigay na lamang ng range.

Halimbawa: Pagsasamasamahin ang larawan ng mga damit na halos magkakapareho ng presyo at ilagay ang range: Available at P2,000 to P4,000.

Puwede rin namang hindi ilagay ang presyo, depende sa strategy mo. O kaya ay maglagay ka ng ganitong note:
To know the prices or for any inquiries or orders, please call or text us at 0910Xxxxxxx or send us an email at forevermoreboutique@gmail.com.

3. About Us

Dito mo maaaring ibahagi kung paano nag-umpisa at ano ang nagsilbing inspirasyon sa iyo upang pasukin ang iyong negosyo. Kadalasan dito rin ikinukuwento kung sino-sino ang mga pangunahing personalidad na nag-umpisa o tumulong sayo sa pag-uumpisa at mga kasalukuyang katuwang mo sa pagpapatakbo ng negosyo. Mahalag ito dahil may mga bagong customer na gusto malaman ang pinagmulan ng isang negosyo bago siya magtiwala at kunin ang serbisyo nito.

4. Gallery - Ang kadalasang laman nito ay mga karagdagang pictures na maaaring maging interesante sa iyong mga kliyente. Halibawa ay mga larawan ng inyong business launch or opening day, ng inyong anniversary, ng mga kilalang personalidad na nagpunta sa store ninyo o testimonials mula sa inyong mga suki.

5. Contact Us

Ito ang lugar para sa iyong address, contact number, email address at map papunta sa iyong negosyo. Maaari ring maglagay ng email box o form upang doon makapag-type ng mensahe ang iyong kliyente at agad itong maipadala sa iyo.

So again, ang mga important page ng isang website ay ang Home, Products/Services, About Us, Gallery at Contact Us. Next topic naman natin ay paano gumawa ng website at paano ito ilalagay sa internet. Of course ang pag-aaralan natin ay iyung libreng website creator lang na madaling gamitin. Hindi dito kailangan ng advanced knowledge sa paggawa ng website at walang bayad.

If you want to read my previous article about websites, here it is: Kailngan ba talaga ng business mo ng website?



Hanggang sa muli! :-)

Kailangan ba ng business mo ng website?

(Note: Ang write-up na ito ay para sa mga nag-uumpisa pa lamang pag-aralan kung ano ang website.)

Oo. Kailangan ng negosyo mo ng website dahil ito ang isa sa mga pinakamahuhusay na paraan sa panahon ngayon para makakuha ka ng mga bagong kustomer para sa iyong negosyo. :-)

Ngunit, ano nga ba ang website?

Ang website ay ang sariling lugar mo sa internet kung saan maaari kang bisitahin o puntahan ng mga taong kilala at hindi mo kilala. Ang website ay maaaring pang-personal o pang-business. Maihahantulad ito sa isang brochure tungkol sa business mo ngunit imbes na nasa papel, ito ay nasa internet.

Ano-ano ba ang mga pangunahing bagay na dapat laman ng isang business website?

1. Ang pangalan ng iyong business. Halimbawa: Forevermore Boutique o Isa Spa

2. Isusulat mo rin kung anong klaseng negosyo ang meron ka. Kailangang mayroon kang nakahandang maiksing paglalarawan ng iyong negosyo na madaling maintindihan, mabilis basahin at interesante ring malaman. 

Halimbawa: Ang Forevermore Boutique ay isang dress shop na kung saan ang telang ginamit sa mga damit ay gawa sa mga pinya mula sa Benguet. 
Ang Isa Spa ay isang lugar kung saan maaari kang mag-relax. Mayroong steam baths at massage gamit ang Pinoy na Pinoy na mga kagawian at kagamitan.

3. Mga larawan ng iyong mga produkto o serbisyo.
Maaari kang maglagay ng larawan ng samples ng mga produkto mo o paraan ng iyong pagseserbisyo. Dahil sa mahilig ang mga tao na manood sa internet, maaari ka ring gumawa o magpagawa ng maiksing video documentary o advertisement  tungkol sa negosyo mo at ilagay rin ito sa iyong website. Siguraduhin lamang na pulido, angkop, at magaganda ang pagkakakagawa ng mga larawan at video na iyong gagamitin sapagkat maaaring iwan ng bisita mo ang website mo kung hindi sya nagandahan o naaliw sa mga nakita nya sa website mo.

4. Kung saan ka nila mapupuntahan o macocontact.
Kung mayroon kang physical store, office, o shop, natural lamang na gusto mong puntahan ka doon ng mga kliyente mo. Ilagay sa website ang address ng iyong shop.

Maaari ka ring maglagay ng map or gamitin ang isang image ng iyong lugar mula sa Google Maps.

Kailangan din ng contact number (landline man o cellphone) mo para matawagan ka ng mga kliyente o kaya ay iyong e-mail address upang madali ka nilang ma-contact kung may mga gusto pa silang itanong na hindi nila nakita sa website mo.

Ngayong alam mo na ang mga pinakamahahalagang bahagi ng isang business website, maaari mo nang umpisahang maglikom ng mga detalye at mga larawan. Itabi mo lamang ang mga ito dahil sa susunod, pag-uusapan natin ang pinakamadaling paraan para buuin ang iyong website at kung paano mo ito ilalagay sa internet.

Hanggang sa muli! :-)

Words, pictures, websites, and businesses

Welcome to March! After this month, the first quarter of the year is over. Don't you think it is the best time to assess how you are performing with your goals for the year? It is a great time to revisit and realign your priorities. With day time appearing longer in the coming months (summer's here!), you will feel like being given more chances to accomplish more tasks and develop habits that will enable you to reach your goals.

 "Life is a series of choices" from Stress is a Choice. 

Talking about realigning priorities, I am doing just that this year, starting with this business blog. I initially started this blog to chronicle my progress with my very own business venture (a semi-NGO actually) called Dream Job Superhero. And now that I am putting up an official website for DJS, I would also like to share that experience with you too. 

Creating a website is much like establishing a business in itself. It takes a lot of planning using both creative and analytical thinking. Perhaps you have already heard that having a website (online presence) is a very crucial component that could help a lot in giving life to any business, young or old, micro or giant. If you haven't, then here are two articles for your guidance: Why your business needs a website and Why you need a website. 

Meanwhile, http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph/, http://www.abs-cbn.com/, http://www.metrodeal.com/, and http://www.wowphilippinestravelagency.com/ which are among the most visited Philippine websites, are proof that any kind or size of business will benefit from a website.

Research is a vital part of online shopping. 

Image from http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/32985/20-Revealing-Stats-Charts-and-Graphs-Every-Marketer-Should-Know.aspx

Well I may not be able to discuss here how to design a website per se. Although I have some knowledge about html and css, I still rely on my website designer friends to help me create a professional-looking website. I am actually more enamored with creating and improving content for websites. In fact, I am doing just that for two years already as an independent copywriter and copy editor. And I love it because I love words, pictures, websites, and businesses (Yes! It feels nice to be able to include the title of this post inside the post article itself :-)) So you see, it is fun weaving words together and making them work to make a business work!

For the next posts, we will be talking about the plans and studies I make as I create a website. Right now, I am thinking about topics like why a business should have a website, what should a website contain, what to do next now that your business has a website, and many other things about the creative side of business.

So if these things interest you, please feel free to visit this blog again!

Thanks and good day! :-)