Tag: udemy

Portable Income Opportunities (PIO) – Programmer

March 18, 2019 / Tammy Wunsch / 0 Comments

Just about every company on the planet can use a good computer programmer. Whether they hire someone in-house or use freelancers, programming is a skill that will always be in demand.

Do you know any of the following programming languages?

Java
Javascript
SQL
C
C++
Python
PHP

If so, then you can build a portable, and lucrative, income with the skills you already possess. You can either use one of the micro-job sites to find clients or launch your own business as a Freelance Programmer. If you’re good at what you do, then word-of-mouth may be enough to keep you as busy as you want to be. To ensure that your clients refer you to other companies or provide testimonials for your website, you need to focus on customer service. Focus on the client relationship, stay organized, and ALWAYS deliver your projects on-time!

If, however, you looked at the list above and thought they were written in a foreign language – technically speaking, they are – learning to program can be relatively easy and quick. It is best to focus on one of the programming languages and make it a specialty. After learning some basic programming skills, your abilities will increase with usage and studying the code on websites, apps, and trial and error.

Here are some of the best-rated, FREE, computer programming courses:

MIT OpenCourseWare: MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity. There are over 2,400 courses available. Through OCW, educators improve courses and curricula, making their schools more effective; students find additional resources to help them succeed; and independent learners enrich their lives and use the content to tackle some of our world’s most difficult challenges, including sustainable development, climate change, and cancer eradication.

edX: Founded by Harvard University and MIT in 2012, edX is an online learning destination and MOOC provider, offering high-quality courses from the world’s best universities and institutions to learners everywhere. We were founded by and continue to be governed by colleges and universities. We are the only leading MOOC provider that is both nonprofit and open source. Enroll in the latest computer science courses covering important topics in artificial intelligence, cyber security, software engineering, and big data. Add a portfolio of programming skills or get an overview of the field with Harvard University’s Introduction to Computer Science, a free course that you can start today.

Coursera: Every course on Coursera is taught by top instructors from the world’s best universities and educational institutions. Courses include recorded video lectures, auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, and community discussion forums. When you complete a course, you’ll receive a shareable electronic Course Certificate. Courses are online and open to everyone. You can learn a new skill in 4-6 weeks. Courses are priced at about $29-$99.

PVTuts: PVTuts (PVT) is a free website devoted to providing concise text and video tutorials in all popular programming languages. The goal of our tutorials is that they only explain what is relevant and practical without any repetition or needless theory, so as to give you a highly efficient learning experience.

Udacity: Learn in-demand skills, build incredible projects, and gain an industry-valued credential. Take your first step by exploring our schools to find your perfect program. Programming is a critical skill in today’s economy, and there is a shortage of qualified developers. Whether you’re new to coding, adding more skills, or advancing your career, 10 hours a week will prepare you for your ideal developer job.

Udemy: Udemy is a global marketplace for learning and teaching online where students are mastering new skills and achieving their goals by learning from an extensive library of over 80,000 courses taught by expert instructors.

freeCodeCamp: freeCodeCamp is a donor-supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission: to help people learn to code for free. We accomplish this by creating thousands of videos, articles, and interactive coding lessons – all freely available to the public. We also have thousands of freeCodeCamp study groups around the world.

The Odin Project: The Odin Project provides a free open source coding curriculum that can be taken entirely online. Since it’s inception, it has helped many students get hired as developers and has assisted countless others learn enough programming to work on their own personal projects. The Odin Project is now sponsored by Thinkful, a new type of technology school that provides 1-on-1 learning through its network of industry experts, hiring partners, and online platform to deliver a structured and flexible education. The Odin Project is maintained and continually improved by a team of volunteers, many of whom learned to code with us. This curriculum itself is free and we tried to link to resources that are themselves free so anyone in the world can use them. The Odin Project curriculum is full of projects that will help you build a strong portfolio of work on Github to fill out your resume. We’re committed to connecting students together so they can stay motivated and learn faster.

Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We’ve also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content. No ads, no subscriptions. We are a not‑for‑profit because we believe in a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. We rely on our community of thousands of volunteers and donors.

Codecademy: Whether you’re trying to level up your career, build your side project, or simply play around with programming, you’ve found the right place to start. Our online coding tutorials with easy-to-follow instructions, immediate feedback, and a tested curriculum take anyone from non-technical to “I can code.” Our courses are designed to keep you on track, so you learn to code “today” not “someday.” Most of our free courses take fewer than 11 hours. Our global community of coaches, advisors, and graduates means there’s always someone to answer your question.

Portable Income Opportunities (PIO) – Editor/Proofreader

December 27, 2018 / Tammy Wunsch / 1 Comment

Dictionary.com defines an editor as “a person having managerial and sometimes policymaking responsibility related to the writing, compilation, and revision of content for a publishing firm or for a newspaper, magazine, or other publication.”

A proofreader is someone who “reads (printers’ proofs, copy, etc.) in order to detect and mark errors to be corrected.”

There is so much web content generated, sales emails composed, online advertising copy written, and so many self-publishing authors, that the job of an editor and/or proofreader has never been so necessary. If you are meticulously detailed and a stickler for spelling and grammar, then editing or proofreading may be the job for you.

There are plenty of methods on the journey to becoming an editor. A college degree in English is always beneficial, as is coursework in editing or proofreading. If you are at a different stage in your life, is it too late for you to become an editor or proofreader?

Of course not! The need is huge in every industry, so look below for courses you can take to learn this valuable skill. You’ll also find job sites listing both editor and proofreader positions.

Courses:

ed2go: ed2go is the industry leader in affordable online learning for adults. We provide the highest-quality online continuing education courses that are easy to use through a network of over 2,100 top colleges and universities.

Proofread Anywhere: This is the perfect course to dive into the freelance world of proofreading. Learn the detailed mechanics of proofreading AND how to market your services to find clients, even if you don’t have any experience. This course is packed with 40+ lessons in 8 modules, grammar-specific worksheets, and real-life example jobs. After passing with 90% or higher on the final exam, receive a Certificate of Completion and access to the Self-Publishing School Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex.

Small Revolution is an online school that teaches online workers how to hone their skills and become more marketable. They provide information and links to 80 Authority Websites Offering Legitimate Proofreading Jobs Online [A Comprehensive List] and a list of online employers who are looking for a skilled and reliable online workers. Small Revolution also has a resource list which is titled “Online Job Boards: A Complete List.

Udemy: Udemy is a global marketplace for learning and teaching online where students are mastering new skills and achieving their goals by learning from an extensive library of over 80,000 courses taught by expert instructors.

Universal Class: Become a skilled Proofreader or Copyeditor. If you’re looking for a new career path or if you’re a writer who wants to improve your writing skills, learning how to proofread and copyedit with our easy to follow, in-depth course, may be just what you need. The course is completely online and self-paced.

The Writers Bureau: As a freelance proofreader and copy editor you can earn a good income making sure that written copy is professional and error free. To help you succeed we offer you a first-class home-study Proofreading and Copy Editing course written by professionals, expert guidance from your personal tutor, tutor-marked and self-test assignments, advice on how to set yourself up in business, and valuable resources to get you started.

Job Sites:

Upwork: Upwork is a great place to find more clients, and to run and grow your own freelance business. On Upwork, you run your own business and choose your own clients and projects. Clients are now posting jobs in hundreds of skill categories, paying top price for great work. The greater the success you have on projects, the more likely you are to get hired by clients that use Upwork.

Remote.co: Find the best online editing jobs here. Are you hoping to proofread from the comfort of your own home? Or, maybe you’re a digital nomad with a keen eye for detail, and you want to take your copy editing skills on the road. Regardless, one of these online editing jobs could be the right next step in your remote career.

Cactus Communications specializes in academic and medical writing. If you have a background in academia or the medical fields, you can work as an Editor remotely or freelance.

EditFast: EditFast provides a free service to freelance editors. There are promotional tools provided to help the activated editors promote their free Web pages and their skills and talents as editors. When new projects are received from clients by the EditFast administration these projects will be sent out to the best-qualified editor, taking into consideration the needs of the client and the needs of the document. Our goal is to provide fast, quality service to our clients and send work to as many editors as possible.

Scribbr: Since 2012, Scribbr has helped thousands of students earn their degrees. Our team of 400+ academic editors on 6 continents help students across the globe perfect their theses and graduate. Enhance the language and structure of term papers, essays, and theses. Help students finish their bachelor’s master’s, or PhD program. Coach students to become better writers.

Scribendi: Scribendi is a pioneering internet-based language company that offers document revision services to clients in all sectors, including business, academia, and publishing. Our transparent, per-order pricing makes it clear how much a job is worth before you accept it.

Conclusion

If you have ever considered proofreading or editing online, check out one of the fantastic companies above and get started on making your dreams come true!

Portable Income Opportunities (PIO) – Writer/Blogger/Content Creator

December 23, 2018 / Tammy Wunsch / 0 Comments

Writing is one of my favorite methods to make a portable income. You only need a laptop and an internet connection to submit assignments and post content online.

Please note that clicking some of the following links may result in me earning some income, however, it will not affect your costs at all.

Writing Courses

If you are confident in your writing skills, dive right in. Choose the method you would like to help you generate income and get cracking. If, however, you would like to learn some writing skills and find out information about different niches and types of freelance writing, then there are a number of online writing courses available to you.

American Writers & Artists, Inc. (AWAI). Helping people develop skills to acquire financial security, independence, and freedom – that’s been American Writers & Artists Inc.’s (AWAI) mission since we opened our doors in 1997. And since then, we’ve helped thousands of people discover how to become a highly-successful copywriter and business owner so they can live their dreams, on their terms.

I have taken a number of their courses and learned a lot of valuable skills. The instructors are very hands-on and always willing to provide guidance and assistance.

ed2go: ed2go is the industry leader in affordable online learning for adults. We provide the highest-quality online continuing education courses that are easy to use through a network of over 2,100 top colleges and universities. Improve your job prospects with a certificate that employers will recognize. When you complete your ed2go online education, you receive a certificate from one of our 2,000 educational partners.

Udemy: High-quality and affordable courses. Learn writing today. Find your writing course on Udemy and learn techniques to be more productive and get the most out of your writing education. They have 190 courses – paid and free – for beginners through expert writers.

Coursera: Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online. Build in-demand skills and earn valuable credentials. Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes, and projects.

Blogging

Starting a blog about a topic where you have experience and great interest sounds like an intriguing method of obtaining the portable income you’ve always coveted. You will need a laptop, an internet connection to upload your posts, a domain name, and an internet host provider. There are a lot of internet host providers. I recommend SiteGround. It’s what I now use and I have found their customer service to be very customer-focused and efficient. I am an affiliate, but I switched to SiteGround from another provider and am much happier now.

After settling on your domain name and internet hosting provider, you need to determine which blog platform you would like to use. I use WordPress.org for three of my sites and find it very user-friendly. There are loads themes and plugins to customize your website, including monetization, e-commerce, and forum options. There are also free blogging sites available, WordPress.com and Blogger.com.

Blogging is a misunderstood writing niche. People start their blogs with plans to monetize them and lead a relaxing life. This may work for some people, but not for most. While starting a blog and writing about topics that interest you is not very technically difficult, ensuring that you drive traffic to your site and build your list are two facets of blogging that can be difficult. Even with a healthy list, it is often not easy to generate income.

Now, you could struggle and try strategies that a cousin’s friend used, or you could get some training, tips, and well-proven advice on how to develop, launch, and monetize your blog. Following are some courses in which you can enroll to start you on the road to financial freedom.

Blog Life & Blog Life Pro: Blog Life will help you to learn to develop a strong brand identity with personality and vision, to create a content plan that keeps you inspired every single day, to connect with your readers, to overcome periods of burnout, and to efficiently manage an editorial schedule. You’ll learn about networking and self-promotion, and honest, organic ways to increase your blog traffic. You’ll learn how to create content that has viral potential. You’ll also learn the basics of online advertising and how to assess your blog’s value. You’ll learn the basics of how to price, scale, and build an ad program including pitching your first campaign.

Copyblogger: At the heart of great content is powerful writing. If you don’t consider yourself a writer or you’re just starting out, we’ve got you covered. The free information on our Copyblogger blog will help you get started mastering content marketing so you can use it in your own business, or for a client.

Our Authority advanced content marketing training program teaches you today’s most-effective content marketing techniques, so your content attracts and converts. Our Certified Content Marketer program takes it a step beyond with training for professional content marketing credentials.

Elite Blog Academy: Eliminate the overwhelm. At Elite Blog Academy®, we believe that blogging doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve worked hard to figure out what works-and what doesn’t-and to put together a plan that gives you everything you need for massive success (and nothing you don’t). Because let’s face it, the problem with creating a successful, profitable blog isn’t that there’s not enough information out there, it’s that there is way too much! But that’s exactly what makes EBA® so effective. From figuring out what to say to getting people to notice and earning an income from your efforts, we’ve pared it down to only the most important and game-changing details.

List Building Academy: Learn how to create a list of raving fans and clients to end the cycle of feast or famine in your business. Learn the what & why of list building, how to design and create a Lead Magnet that your audience wants, what systems you need, how to create your own Lead Magnet Strategy, to set up a sales & marketing funnel for your business, how to promote your Lead Magnet, and proven strategies to get noticed.

ProBlogger: ProBlogger is all about inspiring, teaching and supporting bloggers from around the world to create blogs that not only serve their readers and make the world a better place – but which build income streams for the bloggers behind them. The course is organized into 8 portals: Start a Blog, Create Content, Find Readers, Build Community, Make Money, Be Productive, Understand Technology, and Get Work.

Billionaire Blog Club: Billionaire Blog Club is a community of bloggers that understand it takes work to make money with a blog. This is not a get rich quick community but a community of bloggers that support each other in their quest to build a better lifestyle. It includes courses, books, challenges, forums, and lots of other stuff that benefits bloggers and their journey.

Web content job sites:

There are A LOT of job sites that want to match you up with businesses seeking writers. The pay scale varies by project and by site, but working for one of these sites is a great way to build your portfolio and practice your writing skills. I worked with one for about a year and obtained some great experience and exposure to different writing requirements and styles. Sign up for a few – you’re not obligated to take any job and this can help determine what writing niche suits you best.

Media Shower: Media Shower focuses on the financial technology and cryptocurrency industries. They can help you make money, build your reputation, get better, and build your career. They look for financial and technology enthusiasts and great writers who are rock solid reliable and flexible.

Upwork: Upwork is a great place to find more clients, and to run and grow your own freelance business. On Upwork, you run your own business and choose your own clients and projects. There is a wide variety of jobs and high pay. The greater the success you have on projects, the more likely you are to get hired by clients that use Upwork.

Writer Access: Grow your freelance income with 25,000+ agencies and businesses that pay fair rates to freelancers for high-quality work. They have a pool of freelancers to deliver on the full spectrum of content marketing solutions required for success. Freelancers get paid more than fair rates either by the word or by the project depending on their expertise, experience, and performance.

Constant Content: Constant Content is trusted by thousands of businesses including Uber, Zulily, The Home Depot, Walgreens, Hayneedle, CVS, eBay and others, and is one of the largest and most established platforms for facilitating connections between big brands and you — the best freelance writers online. You can create your profile, apply for projects, connect with brands, and advance your career.

Copypress: CopyPress lives to help clients tell amazing stories, and to help creatives get paid to do what they love. Creating things is our passion at CopyPress. Since 2009, we’ve fed that passion by building software, products, and services that help creatives and advertisers do the same. We built a Community where writers, designers, and developers can create their own micro-businesses centered around their passion. Then we designed ways for these creatives to connect with advertisers in order to create campaigns centered on beautiful, compelling content.

Jobbatical: Work where you’re happy. Use Jobbatical to find a tech, business or creative job anywhere in the world. Because your skills matter more than your passport. Jobbatical thinks beyond borders to help the world work together. We connect globally minded companies with a community of ready-to-relocate tech, business, and creative talent.

FlexJobs: The best remote and flexible jobs, and a better way to find them. With FlexJobs, you can access hand-screened remote, part-time, freelance, and flexible jobs – quickly and easily. And there’s much more. We want to help you find your better. But what does better mean for you? It’s different for each of us, but also often similar. Maybe it’s about work-life fit or having more time for our families, paying our bills with less stress or being able to find a good job without having to move, getting rid of a long commute or having more freedom in where and when you work.

Portable Income Opportunities (PIO) – Dropshipping

December 18, 2018 / Tammy Wunsch / 0 Comments

What is dropshipping?

Shopify defines dropshipping as a retail fulfillment method where a store doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a store sells a product, it purchases the item from a third party and has it shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the merchant never sees or handles the product.

Shopify also says that the biggest difference between dropshipping and the standard retail model is that the selling merchant doesn’t stock or own inventory. Instead, the merchant purchases inventory as needed from a third party – usually a wholesaler or manufacturer – to fulfill orders.

Why use the dropshipping method?

Dropshipping is an effective solution for running an online store if you are a digital nomad. There is no need to maintain inventory or ship your goods. Your store is run from your laptop and inventory is managed and shipped by your suppliers. That is slightly over-simplified, but dropshipping also helps ensure that you do not end up with a load of unsellable merchandise stacked in your garage.

Can I set up dropshipping with my existing online store?

Yes! When you run a digital store, you choose your suppliers and the merchandise you want to sell. You can choose to buy or import your goods and maintain an inventory of the products you are offering for sale, or you can choose suppliers who offer dropshipping.

How can I learn about dropshipping?

You can certainly try to figure out how to choose suppliers and set up your dropshipping business on your own. There are, however, a number of online courses and guides that make it easier to set up your dropshipping business, start selling your products and improve your profitability.

Full disclosure: I may earn an affiliate income – at no cost to you – if you click on some of the links below.

Alidropship*: We take education seriously. Alidropship 7-day dropshipping course offers free access, convenient form, experience-based approach, consistency, and practical focus.

Udemy: Learn on demand. Study any topic anytime. Explore thousands of courses starting at just $10.99. There are 190 results for dropshipping courses on Udemy

eCom Elites: A step-by-step online entrepreneurial masterclass that covers topics such as sourcing products, creating your store, Facebook traffic, Advanced Facebook traffic, Instagram traffic, organic Google traffic, Email marketing, and Business 101.

The Product Winner Blueprint: A Proven Blueprint To Find Winning Products and a step-by-step system to SCALE them using Facebook Ads.