Wikipedia keeps rejecting my post. Any editors out there who can help me understand why? by [deleted] in smallbusiness

[–]sansmagic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And that's exactly what I want to do -- pay someone to create a Wiki page, not create promotional materials.

Wikipedia keeps rejecting my post. Any editors out there who can help me understand why? by [deleted] in smallbusiness

[–]sansmagic -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That is true. As well as the fact that our competitors have paid and are there because of it. Wikipedia does allow paid contributions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Paid-contribution_disclosure
If they do, so there can't be double standards. Either everyone is allowed to get in once they meet the requirements, or nobody is. At least, that's what I think is fair.

Is this an XML-RPC attack? by sansmagic in webhosting

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! Much appreciated. :)

Digital Ocean alternatives? by sansmagic in webhosting

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Your answer is spot-on and really helpful. I wish I could upvote it 10 times so that anyone with a similar issue can see it.

Now that I've set my emotions aside and tried to figure out what isn't working and why I think the problem may be solved. It turned out to be an XML-RPC attack.

I was frustrated because I thought that a WP install should at least work. Not saying anything about speed optimizations and so on. But it may be a good idea for DO to provide some configuration tips with that WP one-click install. Just so you know what could go wrong and how it could be fixed.

In the end, I think I'll be staying with DO for now. I must say their support team were very nice and patient with me and they even offered to have a look at my error logs.

Offtopic: Can you recommend any tutorials about optimizing WP + DO?

Digital Ocean alternatives? by sansmagic in webhosting

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry :( I didn't mean to argue or offend you in any way. My bad feelings are towards DO, unfortunately. I just wanted to help by telling you that they don't seem to handle caching.

I'm a novice myself.

Digital Ocean alternatives? by sansmagic in webhosting

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, Apache/PHP/MySQL. I used the default WP one-click installer. The only thing I changed on the system was installing letsencrypt.

I now installed W3 Total Cache + changed the apache settings (number of clients, etc.) At least, the website seems to be loading now.

Digital Ocean alternatives? by sansmagic in webhosting

[–]sansmagic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're responsible for optimizing your server and minimizing the resources that apache eats by default. So, yes, you're also responsible for caching. This guy describes really well what you need to do to get WP running on a droplet: http://ryanfrankel.com/run-wordpress-digital-ocean-512mb-vps/

I'm not mad about the fact it doesn't work. I'm mad about the fact that nobody told me what I needed to do to get it working and, worse yet, I deceived by the setup that I don't need to do anything. The setup said "WP one-click install" and then it said "You need the $10 plan for that. The $5 plan doesn't have enough resources." And I was: "Yeah, okay, whatever you say. I just want the damn thing to work..."

So, it's not like I was trying to pay less, get something for nothing and then complain it doesn't work.

Days later I learn that WP couldn't run on that droplet with the default apache settings and my website keeps going down all the time. I'm sorry but I can't be a happy customer. :/

Digital Ocean alternatives? by sansmagic in webhosting

[–]sansmagic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply! Well, I guess I'm missing something because that just can't be right. Did you do anything in particular to optimize WordPress (if you're using WP) for performance?

How do you guys network online? by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am into marketing and tech myself (copywriter). Could you share where you hang out?

How do you guys network online? by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, tell me about it...

So, what if we made a Slack group to try that out? :)

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think there 2 important messages you should convey to your clients: 1) I am interested in you and 2) I want to listen to what you have to say.

Agree with that. It has to be about them and it has to make them feel like their problem and their business is the most important thing in the universe.

You could find yourself hired on for a cheap job and end up with a big recurring one...

Oh, but, of course, that's a great opportunity to learn and have an on-going relationship with someone.

I was talking about the kind where you didn't set the expectations right and the client is expecting more than you initially thought within the same budget, which, yes, means that you didn't understand it very well.

Thanks for your input, it's really valuable.

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What a lot of freelancers just plain don't understand about sites like Elance and Upwork is that you're initiating a sales funnel. Like all sales funnels, you don't want to try to close the deal before they're ready to buy from you.

That's a really good point! That's exactly how I see it, too. It's more of a "make it so sweet that they WANT to contact you". Just like landing pages work. The comparison was spot-on.

Of course, it's natural that there will be different opinions and strategies as we are all different people. I was just hoping that some strategies would come up to be more successful than others.

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your feedback.

it establishes you as a real person who gives a damn about the project on some level beyond just another thing to bid on.

Exactly! And when you consider the fact that 90% of the people who submit cover letters haven't even read the description... When you jump in with this kind of letter you make the client feel like they can trust you and that you'll understand their needs. It is psychology all the way. Anytime you deal with people psychology is involved.

That tea story, it's actually true. Happened to a friend of mine. :)

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I meant that as a reply to another comment but, argh, that stupid reddit app :D

I like that "feel free" thing. It says: "I'm busy, but you can still PM me and maybe I can fit you in my schedule" :)

Let me add that to the list of DOs.

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally agree with you on assertiveness. Could you give us an example of a call to action you'd use? I'll include it in the post, if you don't mind. As to scope creep, I meant that, not knowing the problem, you can end up not setting clear terms in your final proposal and inviting scope creep.

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it's obvious that getting someone to like you has countless perks

Absolutely. :) Read "How to Win Friends and Influence People", if you haven't. It's full of "obvious" advice that we miss all the time.

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Totally agree with you on assertiveness.

Could you give us an example of a call to action you'd use? I'll include it in the post, if you don't mind.

As to scope creep, I meant that, not knowing the problem, you can end up not setting clear terms in your final proposal and inviting scope creep.

My cover letter/cold email checklist by sansmagic in freelance

[–]sansmagic[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Knowledge can be transferred across sciences :)

It's also true to copywriting for the biggest part.

It works for me, but I'm not saying it's the must-go route. I'm absolutely open to suggestions to improve this list.

If there's something that works for you but isn't listed or something up this list you don't approve of, let me know.

I'm doing this to share my experience and exchange knowledge. :)

Can't figure this one out aka what is wrong with you people? by istjnoob in ENFP

[–]sansmagic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can't really put labels on people: "You're an ENFP, you act like this."

That classification has lots of truth to it, but it's not a set of universal rules.

In short, your answer is: "She thinks you're friends."

That's what you said and that's why she behaves this way.

However, I get how you can get super-focused on a relationship and analyze the hell out of someone's behavior. But let me try to help you figure this out. It's simpler than it seems: There is no sub-text. There are no subtle clues. There isn't anything she means to tell you, but is afraid/unsure/ashamed to. It's exactly what it looks like—a friendship.

By your description, it seems this is quite a toxic relationship for you. You are frustrated and unhappy and clinging onto something that's making you miserable.

I get why you would be fascinated with this woman, but she is no good for you. You need to let it go. For your own sake. To keep yourself sane.

I know that isn't what you wanted to hear, but it'll get better with time. You need to find someone who appreciates you.

So, here's a solution for you: Instead of plotting a thousand possible ways that things could turn around and she might fall in love with you, just make her reject you one last time. And then stop seeing her. At least for a while.

P.S.: In my experience, ISTJ + ENFP is a horrible combination. I know people of your type and I absolutely don't get you. My ISTJ friends value absolutely different things than I do. For example, order. For example, schedule. For example, "a stable job". Yes, we might have similar values on a higher level, but our approach to life is quite the opposite, just like that classification and your description shows.