Log of what of Joyce Wu has learned at Techie Youth

Thu. Aug. 11, 2022

How free games make money

Since free games require no money to download, install, or pay for, companies have to find another way of making money. The solution to this is to find a way to monetize their game by adding in store/in app purchases. In order for this to be effective, they will need to understand that people will find it harder to pay in “cash” rather than with something that is not seen by the naked eye. They will also create an unfamiliar exchange rate between the in game currency and the real currency. Creators of

games also actively imbed inconveniences so that the players can purchase convenience at ease which build incentives. The rise of free games will always dominate over the purchased games due to the fact that they will never see their money “leaving their hands”.

Wed. Aug. 10, 2022

how to crowdfund

Crowdfunding is an increasingly popular option for small businesses to raise some money and it’s one of the most financially friendly as well. Crowdfunding radishes small amounts of money from a large group of people. There are many ways to crowdfund and one of the most popular is using crowdfunding websites. This is a win-win situation for both the seller and the site because the site will host your campaign for a percentage of the money raised. The types of crowdfunding include equity where crowd funders are given partial ownership or the business, donation where there is no reward from the business, and rewards which is the opposite of donation where you will be given incentives to contribute. Crowdfunding helps to build a following and reach out to others to help grow your business.

Tue. Aug. 9, 2022

What is a business analyst

A business analyst helps to facilitate solutions for stakeholders in a company. This means that when a business needs a solution to a problem, it is a business analysis job to help facilitate a solution to it. Their main responsibility is to ensure that the requirements are visible and met by everyone in the company whether it is a new product, service, or computer system. They will also determine how useful or effective the solution will be in the long run to ensure that it is the best option for the company. There are 2 different types of business analysis’, one being an internal analyst where it is an employee who works within the company or an external analyst where it is someone from outside the company who is brought in to help solve their issue.

Mon. Aug. 8, 2022

Getting Hired as a Product Manager

A product manager is a very broad term, however the main role is to be responsible for the development of products for your business. They will need to design, code, and analyze the data from your product. There are multiple ways of getting hired as a product manager, one being from previous product management experience. As you’re working, you may get referrals and be offered interviews from others. Another way is by reaching out or getting in contact with start up founders where you can ask about the vision of their team and see if you would be a good fit. The last way is by an internal transfer which is more common than you’d expect. This is basically the process of being transferred from one team or company into another where you’d just work with them instead. Many companies look for product intuition, design intuition, technical knowledge, and strategic thinking skills.

Fri. Aug. 5, 2022

Everything you need to know about wechat

First off, wechat is a multipurpose Chinese instant messaging app. Within this app, you’re able to message, play games also called mini programs, and even use them as a form of gifting and payment. When messaging someone, you only need to scan a QR code in order to add them and you can chat away. Once you have added them, you can also see their posts and comment under their “moments”. If you want to use wechat to pay for something, all you need is a chinese bank account and then you can just scan your barcode. Since everything is integrated into one service, you can’t forget about their games. Their mini programs allow for all sorts of games and activities you can play with either yourself or your friends for hours of enjoyment.

Thu. Aug. 4, 2022

How to recruit good job candidates

Finding good job candidates and employees is one of the most critical parts of a company. They will make or break the environment and the company as a whole. When searching for candidates, be clear on what you’re looking for. This means that you will need to look into the technicality and personality which will be the best fit for your position. In order to find these types of people, you will need to query and filter out the jobs, positions, and titles on linkedin so that you’re able to see who will potentially fit in at your business. Make sure to know who you’re looking for and what you will need to make sure that they will accept your offer. Look at their location, job experience, and how long they’ve been working at their current job. All of this information can be used to determine whether or not they’ll be willing to talk to you. Once you’ve found someone who’s right for the job, you will need to stand out by reaching out to them on more than just their linkedin messages, calling or emailing them will be your best bet.

Wed. Aug. 3, 2022

Making money on twitter

As a business or an individual, you’re able to make money on twitter from various ways. The first way being ads, this is where bigger businesses and companies will pay and sponsor you to post content about their products. Another way is affiliate marketing where you will sign up for the brands affiliate program so you’re able to feature brands your audience knows and loves. If these don’t work out, you can always sell your own products from your own business and market to your target audience. This allows you to have full control over what and who you’re selling to. Keep in mind when you’re making money on twitter, it is important to have a niche so you can stand out from the crowd, create and advertise your products in a way you know your audience will love, and keep up with the trends to make sure you maximize your reach.

Tue. Aug. 2, 2022

Things to know about cryptocurrency

What exactly is cryptocurrency? It is a digital asset that circulates without the need for the government or bank. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin are all examples of cryptocurrency. Crypto is supported by a technology known as blockchain which helps to maintain records and transactions of the crypto activity. Cryptocurrency was created through a process of mining which is an energy intensive process where computers solve puzzles in order to verify the transactions. When looking into investing in cryptocurrency, you may want to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages for both. For example if you’re looking into the most valuable, you may want to invest in Bitcoin, or if you’re looking for the most commonly used for financial transactions, you may want Ethereum. All of these just depend on what you’re looking for and what is right for yourself. Keep in mind that cryptocurrency has a lot of pros and cons to it. For example, it could grow and become more and more valuable as the technology is advancing, but it could also be very risky as the blockchain technology has yet to fully adapt.

Mon. Aug. 1, 2022

Basics of film composition

Before you start film composing, you will need a good understanding of music theory, making melodies and harmonies, and learning how to put these together. All of these will make it easier to compose cohesive pieces of film and music. When you’re applying to get hired to compose film music, you will need your resume along with records/recordings of your previous works to reference who you are. To create this, it is important to find your sound/niche because that’s what differentiates yourself from others. If a director or filmmaker requests a style of music that you do not specialize in, you should always be honest and tell them that you’re unable to do what they’ve asked for which happens quite often. Even if you reject or get rejected from an offer, you are able to put yourself out there and potentially gain more connections to others in the field.

Fri. Jul. 29, 2022

What is a copywriter

A copywriter is someone who writes words that cause people to take action. They’re also the people who write the words to buy, sign up, or pick up the phone for a business. A copywriter is not a ghost writer who creates and writes content for advertisements. They’re able to work as a team or become a freelance writer for themselves. Copywriters are able to work online where they create ads on websites, emails, or articles and/or offline where they create words for newspapers and magazines. In order to be a copywriter, you will need strong writing, communication, and problem solving skills to help create texts that persuade consumers to buy things. When copywriting, keep it short and clear while also talking about the benefits of your product or company. This is an easy way for consumers to understand what you’re advertising and how to access it.

Thu. Jul. 28, 2022

Writing a novel

When writing a novel, there are multiple steps throughout this process. Before you begin writing, you will first need to establish who your characters will be. This will allow yourself to create an attachment and narrative for the character and helps guide you throughout the plot. You will also need to stay consistent with your writing in order to stay motivated enough to finish your book. Something to keep in mind is that time is important and you will need a lot of it to brainstorm, write, and make corrections. When you start to do all of these things, you may have ideas for future scenes that come later in the novel which is fine and can even help to build your story. The entire time you’re writing your novel, your character has to stay in control. If you are controlling your character, your character does not exist and will never really be a part of your story.

Wed. Jul. 27, 2022

How to gain web design clients

Starting off as a freelance web designer may be very difficult and hard to achieve as the industry is already so competitive. In order to attract more customers, you will need a few steps. The first is to work for little to no money. This allows for reviews, networking, expanding your portfolio, and being able to improve yourself. The second is to find your niche. It is easier to grow in a specific area and gain a bigger following for a certain group of people. You will also need to be unique and show who you are because that will make you stand out from others and you’ll be able to show your true self. Networking wisely will also be a key part in web designing as you will find and build more connections that way which will in turn help with your success in the future.

Tue. Jul. 26, 2022

SSL Certificates

SSL stands for secure sockets layer which is a security protocol which creates an encrypted link between a web server and browser. Whenever you’re using a website, the link should start with “HTTPS” which means all communications between your browser and server are encrypted and secured. The SSL certificate is used when the server sends a public key to the server which is a public key signed by the third party. This is important because the digital signature makes sure it is valid and safe to use. When you’re using the secured browser, the client (user) and the server each get a copy of their key, however the browser will encrypt their key into the public key so it is not easily accessible. All the data and activity will be encrypted and decrypted with the same key to secure and verify the owners and client.

Mon. Jul. 25, 2022

Business TikTok’s

Tiktok is rising in popularity and is an easy way to help boost traffic for your business. A tiktok is primarily a short video where you can show or do anything for up to 60 seconds. Naturally, this is able to help businesses highlight the best or most eye-catching parts of your business. All you will need to start is a mobile device, interesting videos, and creativity. After you have gathered everything for your new Tiktok page, you will need to find your niche, this is what you will focus on to make your business stand out from the rest. It is important to have your video land on the “For You Page”, this is where you will gain most of the traffic for your videos, and you will do this by using hashtags that relate to your video, participate in trends/using trending sounds, and interact with others. Being able to grow you Tiktok page will be a huge advantage for small/new businesses and allow them to have a chance at generating more sales and a reliable fanbase.

Fri. Jul. 22, 2022

Guide to Niche Websites

A niche website is a site that focuses on a smaller part of a bigger business to help consumers understand and answer their questions. If your niche website(s) have enough traffic and demand, you could potentially earn a full time income through it. The advantage that niche websites have over bigger, complete websites is that the more broad the topic is, the more competition there will be meaning there will be more potential for niche websites to stand out. In order to create a niche website, you may need to consider the smaller, nested details within a topic to write about. Your niche website should also be an authority website meaning that it will be a go to resource on its target subject for its audience. Niche websites are easy to get started on, delivers fast results, allows yourself to have a passive income, and you’re able to guide yourself and choose which topic to talk about.

Thu. Jul. 21, 2022

Creating a database

A database is an organized collection of information on a file or computer that makes it easily accessible for yourself to keep track of data. If you’re designing a database, you may need to consider a few things. You need to know what your goal is and what the purpose of your database is so you can design around that and create a cohesive database, how you’re going to analyze your data so that you’re able to see whether your data will be useful for the database, and how effective your database will be so that it could be used for future projects and businesses. After this, you will need to create a database design which is a model or a format for how you’re going to do this. After creating a physical database design, you will implement portion and move your ideas onto the computer and digitize them. Keep in mind that this will be a process of trial and error so don’t be discouraged if your database isn’t working and keep trying to fix any errors or issues that may come up.

Wed. Jul. 20, 2022

The role of marketing

Email marketing is very important for a company’s branding, engagement, and generating traffic in order to help grow their business. However, the main reason businesses use email marketing is to assist a customer's movement from one stage of the value journey onto the next which in turn creates a path for your customer to follow in order to help increase profits and stability to a business. There are many types of email marketing which include transactional to provide customer service, relational to engage in consumers, and promotional for generating sales. All of these types of emails are used for different purposes and can help customers navigate themselves into the business. Within a company, the marketing, sales, and editorial departments should be trained in marketing emails to distribute their services throughout. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways for a company to reach out to people and should not be overlooked.

Tue. Jul. 19, 2022

How to sell a product

In order to sell a product, you will need to use the method of “The 4 P’s”. The first P is promise, this sets the tone and grabs the audience in to make sure that they’re interested in what you’re selling to them. If you’re able to grab the audience’s attention within a minute, you’re set and have a good punch line. The next P is the picture, this creates an image in the consumers head which puts your product in a good light and makes the consumers imagine why the product will be useful and good to have. When using the picture, always try to put emotion into the advertisement because humans buy with emotions. The third P is proof, this is where you show them instead of telling them why your product is unique. Make sure to highlight all the things your product or business can do for the people. The last P is the pitch, this is where you give the call to action and give them something that you want your customer to do after the advertisement. Remember to master the first 3 P’s before making the pitch.

Mon. Jul. 18, 2022

Building a membership site

A membership website is a gated part of an online business that provides subscribers or members to access exclusive content to your business whether it is free or paid. There are different types of membership sites that allow your business to charge at different rates and provide exclusive content for different sites. A membership site is useful because it is a strategic way of networking and building your business to allow itself to expand and create customer loyalty. When having a membership site, always make sure to identify your target audience, have a membership model and software in mind, create and reuse content, decide on pricing and branding, and promote and monitor your results to improve on it.

Fri. Jul. 15, 2022

Laser cutting products

Laser cutting is a way to cut and create your products by using a laser to precisely cut out shapes from various materials. Laser cutters help to create smaller objects that have lower manufacturing costs so you’re able to gain a bigger profit on them. Before you create it in a software, always draw it on a piece of paper or plan it out beforehand so you can get a better understanding of how things will work. Buying your own laser printer will be an expensive investment and may be more beneficial to outsource these services. It is always useful to understand how softwares work and what you will need in order to use them because they will be needed in the process of laser cutting.

Thu. Jul. 14, 2022

How to design clothes

Fashion is always rapidly evolving and new styles and designers are continuously coming out. If you aspire to be a part of the fashion industry, you will need to start by having the basic skills like drawing, brainstorming, and sewing down. Once you’ve created your basic skill set, learn how to design clothes and understand the proportions of everything. While you’re doing this, you’re most likely going to stumble across other designers and learn about the fashion industry to help develop your knowledge. Once you’ve hit all of these key steps, you’re ready to let your imagination run wild in order to help yourself thrive in the fashion industry as an entrepreneur.

Wed. Jul. 13, 2022

How to create your business: Brainstorming

The first step in creating your business is to figure out what your business will be and what it will offer. You may want to ask yourself questions like what do people want to buy or what is a trending item that will draw people in? Once you have an idea, you should play “devil’s advocate” with it in order to find weaknesses or issues you may face with your business. When you have followed through with all these steps, try and create a prototype either digitally or physically so you’re able to get an idea of how well your products or services will do. An important thing to keep in mind is to find out what makes your product or business unique and different from the rest, that will make your business successful and keep customers coming.

Tue. Jul. 12, 2022

Sole Proprietor vs. Corporation

Both sole proprietors and corporations operate at “businesses”, however they are very different in terms of legalities. Being a sole proprietor is easier than being in a corporation, but they are not provided with as much protection. When you’re operating a sole proprietor and simply do business without filing any fees, you’re a sole proprietor. Be careful of this because there is a chance that if your company gets in legal troubles, your business and personal items will be in danger. Being the owner of a corporation means that you’re also an employee and your corporation is its own entity. This protects the workers and the company from getting their personal lives involved and is much safer for everyone. However, corporations do end up being taxed and charged more for their businesses.

Mon. Jul. 11, 2022

What is a profit model?

A profit model is very important and is one of the key components to starting a business. A profit model refers to your company’s plan to make the business more profitable and valuable. It helps to set the businesses goals and layout what their business will sell, manufacture, and/or provide for consumers. There’s many types of profit models, for example; production model where it shows the creation of a product or service, rental/leasing model where they rent services out to consumers, an advertising model where others can promote their own businesses, and finally the commission model where the company charges consumers a commission/small price for an outside service. Without a profit model, businesses will operate blindly and without any idea what their next steps or future will be.

Fri. Jul. 8, 2022

being a virtual assistant

As more and more jobs are transitioning to online work, virtual assistants are needed in almost all areas of work these days. In order to be able to meet the standards of becoming a virtual assistant, you will need both personal and group skills. The first thing you will need is personal management, this includes being able to have good time/scheduling and bookkeeping skills in order to keep yourself and the company organized. You will also need to be tech-savvy which includes web designing, advertising and marketing, and possibly even editing skills in order to accommodate for most company’s needs. Although being a virtual assistant is a remote job, you will still need social skills if you’re required to respond and help with customer/e-commerce support which is important to keep the image of the brand you’re working for.

Thu. Jul. 7, 2022

being financially aware and managing your money

Being financially stable is one of the most important things you need to focus on when you’re a working adult. This allows you to be able to have the necessities you need to live while also enjoying life and experiencing new things without having to worry about being tight on money. In order to improve on your financial management, you need to have a budget where you’re able to track all of your expenses. During this, you will likely see what you can cut back on so that you can save extra money which helps to increase your savings. Overtime, as your income increases you should look into long term investments to help your money grow and gain more opportunities. While all of this may be overwhelming and you may be tempted to spend more and treat yourself, which is good once in a while, you should always try to just live and spend your money how you used to so that you will have more money saved up for your future.

Wed. Jul. 6, 2022

tips a good job interview

Job interviews are opportunities for yourself to present yourself to future employers and/or companies so it is important that you are able to show what you have to offer. Whenever you are going into a job interview, it is always important to look the part so that people get the best impression of you. Whenever you go to an interview, always answer honestly to emphasize your objectives and accomplishments. At the end of an interview, try to ask questions and engage with your interviewer to show that you would like to work there. After the interview is over, try to send out follow up emails thanking the people you’ve interacted with the day of the interview.

Tue. Jul. 5, 2022

The benefits to working remotely.

Whether you decide working remotely or in person is completely up to your preference. However, if you would like to work remotely, you should ask your current company if there is a remote option or find a job with that option available to you. In order to find the right job, it is suggested to have a proper cover letter and resume that clearly and accurately represents yourself and your skill set. The benefits if working remotely is that you’re able to work on your own tike and create your own schedule which allows for the freedom and flexibility to work everywhere and anywhere. However, with this youre also subject to feeling lonely because you do not have coworkers along side you when you work so you cant create a connection with them.