First Wave Media

Media Buying, Direct Response Advertising and Marketing Projects

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Dealing with Horror Clients if You’re a Freelance Web Designer or Writer

August 31st, 2010 · Freelancing

Content Writing

Content writing for clients has its risks.

I just read an interesting post at CharfishDesign’s blog on Ways you can recognise the client from hell. It covered some warning phrases that any freelancer should be aware of when they hear it coming from a client.

These warning phrases include ones like “I don’t care”, “It’s up to you”, “You can do anything you want”, and a here’s beauty, “We need to make a few changes”.

I used to do wedding videos, run a home services franchise and be a sales consultant for several residential project building companies. So over a period of 15 years I got to deal with hundreds and hundreds of clients. Thank God most clients are kind and good natured. However when dealing with the general public you do get to deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unfortunately it’s the last two types that we generally tend to remember the most.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine which clients will be good and which ones will be bad when we first meet them. Over time we do learn to read the warning signs. But there are a few things we can do to prevent a difficult situation arising if we decide to take someone on as a client.

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-21

August 21st, 2010 · Tweets

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Product Review Sites to be Produced by First Wave Media

August 20th, 2010 · Product Reviews

Product Review Rating

Rating in a product review

Product review sites have been popular on the web for many years. If you do a search for product reviews at Google it will return 378 million results. That’s a lot of product reviews online. If you put that same search term in quotations for an exact phrase search you still get 62.5 million results. And that’s just at Google.

People that want to buy a particular product maybe a bit suspicious about manufacturer claims. They are wary of sales hype. Rather they would like to read some real reviews from others that have either tested the product who use it for themselves. They want to know if the product is any good. Is it reliable, does it do what the manufacturer or retail store claims. Is the product good value for money.

That’s where a good product review comes into play. The reviewer gives their assessment on whether the product is good, just OK or bad in their eyes. It helps the reader to decide whether they want to go ahead and buy that product, or look for an alternative model or brand.

I personally use product reviews a lot myself when buying products. Especially expensive products or ones that will take up a fair bit of my time. Reading the opinions of others helps in making that decision. But if I feel those opinions are a bit biased or based on poor information, then I like to read more scientific based product tests. Like those that are done by the Australian Consumers Association at their Choice website.

[Read more →]

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-14

August 14th, 2010 · Tweets

  • @hughhefner What sort of games? Dare I ask! ;) ;) in reply to hughhefner #
  • Plenty Of Fish back online. #
  • Plenty Of Fish free dating site is down today. It affects the dating and advertising sections. Waiting for problem to be fixed. #
  • @VictorEWANet I meant I *use* POF, FB and PPV. But maybe I should sue them for exhorbitant ad costs anyway. :D in reply to VictorEWANet #
  • @VictorEWANet Do you know which ad networks Christian Mingle (25+) is converting best? I sue POF, FB (although not happy with them) and PPV. in reply to VictorEWANet #
  • @hughhefner Angelina is certainly better than the cocky Tom Cruise. :) Can't wait to see Salt myself. in reply to hughhefner #
  • Learning a lot about how to do it right on Google Adwords, Adsense and the SERPs. Trying to understand their definition of a quality site. #
  • @ewanetwork Pets with PPV. Are you referring to TrafficVance? Or another PPV network? in reply to ewanetwork #
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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-07

August 7th, 2010 · Tweets

  • @hughhefner Wow Marilyn would be 84 if she were alive today. Doesn't time fly? in reply to hughhefner #
  • Boy oh Boy! Things are changing online in 2010. If things are going South for you, prepare to change or suffer the consequences. #
  • @EagleWebAssets Even tried Proxify US. Server not found. Yet Nicki can access it from California. in reply to EagleWebAssets #
  • @EagleWebAssets Hi Ryan, I cant access either ewanetwork.com or affiliates.eaglewebassets.com from Australia last 2.5hours. in reply to EagleWebAssets #
  • Amazing how several IM gurus are now promoting doing business with offline businesses. Is IM getting that bad (expensive/tricky) in 2010? #
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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-31

July 31st, 2010 · Tweets

  • Pumping out Google ads like there's no tomorrow. But no mass dumping of keywords. This time its keyword by keyword. Low cost highly targeted #
  • case study on facebook advertising – shows you what to split test http://bit.ly/9TklQp #
  • A new week. Where do I start? So much to do! #
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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-24

July 24th, 2010 · Tweets

  • Went to another instructors Zumba class this morn. Did a couple routines on stage. Great to see it from a students view. We ROCKED IT OUT! #
  • Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. But it always costs. That's the price of testing. #
  • @JohnChow So cool John! Does this Fab 4 sound good too? in reply to JohnChow #
  • @NickiEWANet Nicki can I pls get reply to my Tweet yesterday. I just lost money promoting Cupid UK at POF. You said it converts! Where? in reply to NickiEWANet #
  • @nickycakes Massive jugs for a little Asian girl haha! Her name sounded more like some bad skin infection. in reply to nickycakes #
  • @adhustler Try to beat <5 min support response by ticket with Gigenet. Got a dedicated server there. Very fast. Been happy since Feb 2010. in reply to adhustler #
  • Now need to scale up campaigns at POF. Split testing and pimping! WOOT! #
  • Plenty of Fish is bringing in great returns for my offers. All it took was to use the best images & redo headlines & ad copy. CTR +50-100%! #
  • @EagleWebAssets Bon Apetit! in reply to EagleWebAssets #
  • @NickiEWANet Which age brackets & sex are converting best for each of Cupid UK & Match.com CA offers? Traffic source you're referring to? in reply to NickiEWANet #
  • @JohnChow Hmmm fish'n'chips looks tasty…but all that saturated fat! Thnk God I zumba lol :) in reply to JohnChow #
  • @NickiEWANet Which type of targets work for FreeScore 360 on PPV? I tried it on TrafficVance with credit report targets but ctr was too low. in reply to NickiEWANet #
  • @wesmahler Sorry disregard my previous Tweet. I just saw P202.1.6 Beta link. Will test it for new campaigns. Good luck. in reply to wesmahler #
  • @wesmahler How's the upgrade to P202 going? Been 7 days since you said less than a week. Hope all is OK. Thought I missed the notice. in reply to wesmahler #
  • @ImnicaMail Thanx. I got the forum reply. Already joined. Great to see someone replies to tweet replies….many dont. :) in reply to ImnicaMail #
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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-17

July 17th, 2010 · Tweets

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-03

July 3rd, 2010 · Tweets

  • Mobile advertising a new area of interest. Researching the US, Australian & UK markets. Which products or services could benefit? CPA? #
  • Last 3 days for the Aussie financial year. Spend up some company money before the tax man wants his share. #
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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-26

June 26th, 2010 · Tweets

  • It looks like Kevin Rudd is about to cry on national TV #
  • Julia Gillard is Australia's new & first female Prime Minister. A sudden leadership challenge overnight. Kevin Rudd is out! #
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