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  • Is Divi A Good WordPress Theme?

    Is Divi A Good WordPress Theme?

    Undecided if Divi is the worth it? Is Divi a good WordPress theme?

    In this article, I hope you share some light on this website builder. The latest version for Divi theme is Divi 3.0. It is the brainchild of the team behind Elegant Themes, Divi 3.0 is used by many web developers and bloggers.

    What makes Divi such a powerful and highly sought after WordPress theme?

    Let’s dive in for more information.

    1. Divi allows you to build anything (and everything

    There is nothing you cannot build using Divi. The Divi theme is powered by Divi builder — an insanely fast and incredibly intuitive front end editor like nothing you have seen before.

    Believe it or not, it will change the way you build websites forever.

    Using Divi theme, you can change the width of a column perform changes in typography and update the content in real time using the front-end visual editor.

    divi 3.0 drag and drop website builderdivi 3.0 reviewcheap drag and drop website builder 2018

    The usage of Divi 3.0 allows beginners to create custom website designs without any coding skills.

    For web developers, Divi will be a powerful website builder to help create websites for clients faster and cost efficiently.

    BONUS: Divi 3.0 is voted as one of the top 5 WordPress website builder for 2018. Click here to read more.

    2. Intuitive drag and drop visual editor

    Organizing content on your site could not be any easier with Divi theme.

    Not only you can drag and drop, you can even zoom out and rearrange any element on the page with a bird’s eye view!

    3. Responsive editing using Divi 3.0

    You know the importance of search engine optimization and mobile first by Google.

    With Divi 3.0, you can easily change the layout to ensure that each website design is mobile friendly.

    You can easily switch between mobile and tablet previews, and adjust your design for each device independently.

    For the record, this is one feature that no other WordPress builders are able to perform!

    4. Editing content in real time

    Inline editing as what called by Divi theme — you can now edit the content in real time by highlighting the text.

    You can edit literally anything, from adjusting the font, color, sizing and styling.

    Divi 3.0 is one of the most powerful WordPress builder in 2018. Click here to try Divi 3.0 demo now!

    5. Customization at its best

    This is by far my favorite feature.

    The Divi Builder is the first WordPress page builder to offer a truly customizable interface.

    Feel free to adjust the interface elements to compliment your screen and your content with just a few clicks!

    6. Go crazy with MORE elements

    Why would you use WordPress builder?

    Chances are you want to customize your website design or content without using coding skills. Don’t be shy, admit it!

    Using Divi 3.0, you can choose a wide range of elements to make your content interesting and stand out from the crowd.

    divi elements

    The best part? There is no coding skills required of any sort.

    All you need to do is to select the elements and add them into the respective places as seen below.

    divi builder plugin review

    7. Pricing matters!

    Last but not least, Divi is a good WordPress theme because it is affordable.

    Divi WordPress theme doesn’t come as a standalone theme and it is based on either yearly subscription or one-time payment.

    Divi membership costs $89 per year (that’s $7.41 per month) and comes with unlimited access to all themes and plugins that Elegant Themes offers.

    divi 3.0 pricing

    Divi 3.0 is cheaper than its alternative, Thrive Architect if you compare them based on the membership model.

    Here’s a good article if you are comparing between Divi 3.0 and Thrive Architect.

    Is Elegant Themes really worth it?

    The answer is subjective. For me, Elegant Themes comes with multiple plugins and themes that are important for web developers, freelancer designers and niche bloggers. You can also read my full Elegant Themes review.

    Is Divi a good WordPress theme?

    Yes, Divi 3.0 is flexible, highly customizable and affordable. It is user-friendly and low learning curve makes it the perfect WordPress builder theme for bloggers and website developers. While there are options, like one of the most popular portfolio WordPress themes, Divi is still better.

    Want to try Divi 3.0 today?

    Click here to see Divi 3.0 demo

  • The ULTIMATE Guide In How To Start Freelance Writing

    The ULTIMATE Guide In How To Start Freelance Writing

    How to start freelance writing?

    If this is your concern, you are at the right place. In this article, I will share with you some quick and efficient ways to start freelance writing in just 3 hours.

    But before that, freelancing makes my day … every day.

    I love freelancing and I have been doing for years. As a matter of fact, this is what happens to me when I talk about freelance writing.

    how to start freelance writing

    Wait, who am I?

    My name is Reginald and I’ve been a freelance writer since 2004. It all started as a hobby and soon, it turned out to be a full-fledge business.

    Freelance writing is also my base which helped me launched my creative agency.

    During my freelance writing career, I was lucky to be featured on many authority websites and recently, by Freelancer.com as one of the top freelancers in Malaysia. You can read the article here.

    Question: How much can you make through freelance writing?

    I believe there is many concepts and ideas pertaining to this topic. Here’s what I can tell you.

    You can make at least $10 per article (approximately 350 to 500 words) and on average, a moderate freelance writer can earn around $20 to $25 per article.

    You can earn even more when you are doing ghost writing for eBooks and website contents/redesign — that’s an easy $200+ per project.

    The total amount you can earn often comes hand in hand with your experience. For example:

    • What is your writing experience?
    • What are the perks you are offering?
    • How fast can you complete an article?

    If you are serious in starting a freelance writing career, you can easily earn at least $500 or $1,000 a month by just writing!

    In most cases, this is often more than what you earn from blogging or through Google Adsense.

    1. How to start freelance writing?

    The first step is often the easiest of all — take some time to determine the type of content you want to write.

    For example, you should have some sort of writing experience now (be it blogging or any other forms of writing).

    Defining the niche of your writing allows you to create a better portfolio to attract the right and potential employers (more on this below).

    For me, I am very into business writing. Therefore, all my freelance writing projects are aimed heavily on small-medium sized businesses who require professional ghostwriting services.

    Note: You should take your time to understand the capacity of writing as well as your target audience before moving to the next step.

    2. Choosing a freelance writing platform

    There are many freelance writing platforms and for me, my go-to platform is Freelancer.com.

    The advantage of using Freelancer.com is the free account creation. You can easily try out the platform for free (30-days trial) which is extremely important especially when you are new to the freelancing writing industry. You can register a free account here.

    Once you get several projects in, consider going for a paid account for better visibility and faster withdrawal rate.

    freelancer pricing

    Want to get a free 30-days trial? Register for a free account using this link and enjoy 30-days complimentary upgrade to Plus account worth $9.95!

    3. Creating a professional profile

    If you want to attract potential employers, having a professional profile is critical for success.

    What should be included in a professional freelancer profile?

    A professional freelancer profile should include information such as your past experience, a little about you and of course, what makes you different from the rest of the freelance writers.

    Your profile should be short but precise. Here’s an example.

    About

    Reginald Chan

    A TEDx speaker and Chief Marketing Officer, Reginald is highly passionate in writing. His writings had been published on authority sites such as Harvard University, Yahoo! Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine and SEMrush.

    You can also see my Freelancer profile here.

    If you have a blog, you can even create a single page profile page to sell your services. Single page landing pages can be created easily using WordPress website builders. I use Thrive Architect and head over to this post to learn how you can easily create a landing page under 15 minutes.

    4. Bidding professionally

    Want to know how to become a freelance writer?

    You need to have a highly effective template when it comes to bidding for a project.

    I know. There are guru’s and coaches out there that tell you not to do so. But hear me out.

    Having a template allows you to bid faster and sending the relevant information to your potential employers.

    What should be included in the template?

    • checkA quick introduction of you (people like to know who they are dealing with)
    • checkAn overview of what you do (sharing experiences for example)
    • checkHow you fit into the project?
    • checkWhat makes you different from the rest of the freelance writer?
    • checkWhat are your commitments and promise?
    • checkThe expected completion time
    • checkPitch for future works

    Having the right pitch at the end of your bid is critical because you want to showcase your interest for long term work and not just one off projects (like what most freelancers are looking for).

    5. Communication is key

    If you want to be a highly sought after freelance writer, you need to be really good with your communication.

    This means that be courteous during the conversion and ensure that you respond with an acceptable time frame. For example, I love responding within 10 minutes and if it is in a different timezone, within the day will create a lasting impression.

    The key to successful freelance writing business is creating a clear path for communication before, during and after completing the project.

    6. Ask for more future jobs

    Lastly, do not be afraid to ask for more future jobs. If you have done a great writing job, then the employers will have no problem giving you more jobs in the near future.

    find freelance writing jobs

    The trick here is to make it clear that you are always looking for long term business partnership and have no problem working with him/her again.

    Are you ready to start freelance writing?

    I love doing freelance writing as it is not only fun but extremely rewarding.

    Have you started freelance writing?

    Tell me what you think in the comments below!

  • Best Podcast Equipment: Helping You Find the Best Podcast Gear

    Best Podcast Equipment: Helping You Find the Best Podcast Gear

    Planning to start your own podcast but no idea which is the best podcast equipment?

    In this post, we will discover the best podcast equipment including the best headphones for podcasting, the best podcast recording software and of course, the best USB micrphone.

    Why should you use the best podcast equipment?

    Buying equipment for podcasting is an area that can be incredibly frustrating. Many podcasters suggest poor equipment, software, and set-ups.

    What equipment you decide to purchase will depend on your technological comfort level and your budget. However, it’s important to understand all your options before deciding.

    Using the right podcast equipment is going to produce better (and often times higher quality) podcast output. In return, you will be able to create better user experience and engaging with your listeners in a way that most new podcasters couldn’t!

    Without further adieu, let’s start going through the best podcast equipment (without burning a hole in your pocket).

    Best microphone for podcast recording

    cheap microphone for podcasting

    Audio-Technica ATR2100 is a popular microphone for podcasters

    When it comes to recording a podcast, sound output and recording is critical.

    As a podcaster myself, I wouldn’t recommend you to go with the cheap microphones available.

    Luckily for you, there is a wide range of microphone recommendations that you can find on Amazon.

    How cheap is cheap microphones?

    I would say buying a good microphone for podcasting will cost you under $100.

    For me, the best USB microphone is Audio-Technica ATR2100 which you can purchase for only $74 on Amazon.

    Wait, how good is Audio-Technica ATR2100?

    With 1,684 customer reviews averaging 4 out of 5 stars review, this is the best microphone for podcast recording that is used by top podcasters!

    If you are looking for cheap microphones for entry level podcasters, this is a great USB/XLR microphone.

    Click on this link to get the best deal for Audio-Technica ATR2100 on Amazon.

    Best podcast recording software

    best podcasting software 2018

    There are many different audio editing programs that will work to edit podcasts, but we’re just going to focus on the best podcast recording software.

    Getting the best podcast recording software is important because it allows you to:

    • Record audio without issue
    • Perform advanced setting to make your audio clearer and sharper
    • Manage and edit your audio easier (especially during the podcast editing stage)

    Best podcast software for Windows

    I’m a Windows user (for ages now) and Windows users are pretty darn lucky.

    There is the all-time-popular Audacity which is free to use and Adobe Audition which is a paid version.

    1. Audacity

    Here’s what you need to know about Audacity — it is a free cross-platform audio editor.

    Audacity is a very popular podcast equipment for podcasters and it is comes packing with some features (even when you can download it for free).

    The only downside about Audacity is that it lacks the intuitive user interface and it can be very confusing when you are first getting started. Once you get the hang of it, I’m sure you are going to love it!

    2. Adobe Audition

    If you are looking for the best podcast equipment, Adobe Audition must be in your list of tool!

    This software is designed for podcast production and editing, and comes with many advanced tools just for that matter. There are a number features including noise-reduction capabilities, advanced compression and EQ.

    Want to perform batch processing and saving time? You can do so with Adobe Audition! In just a few clicks, you can apply various effects to one file, save it, then apply those same effects to a “batch” of other files.

    Best podcast software for Mac

    There are several podcast equipment you can install on your Mac for podcasting. The top two podcast software for Mac are GarageBand and Logic Pro.

    1. GarageBand

    GarageBand is a free digital audio workstation (also known as DAW) and it is a great podcast software for podcasters, regardless you are a beginner or advanced podcaster.

    Using GarageBand, you can create separate tracks for music, intros and outros, ad spots, and many other features. You can also easily fade them in and out as needed, move them around and adjust levels in just a few clicks.

    If you are a Mac user, GarageBand is definitely a no-brainer for your podcasting business.

    2. Logic Pro X

    Logic Pro X is a pretty interesting podcasting software for Mac. In short, Logic Pro X is a full-featured music production and audio editing program.

    Logic Pro X does a lot of features similar to GarageBand and the biggest advantage of this software is the Remote App which you can use on iPhone or iPad.

    The only downside using Logic Pro X is that it comes with a one-time purchase fee of $200.

    The best headphone for podcasting

    best podcasting headset

    If you are planning to publish lengthy podcast episodes, getting yourself a decent quality headset microphone is an awesome choice.

    Most of them are super easy to use, generally pretty inexpensive, and they serve double duty by also helping you out with better quality when you’re using Skype or Google Hangouts day to day.

    Here are the top 3 podcast headset I highly recommend you to use.

    1. Sennheiser PC 8 USB – Stereo USB Headset for PC and MAC with In-line Volume and Mute Control

    I love this podcast headset because it is light and comfortable. Plus, it comes with in-line volume and mute control which are definitely pluses for me.

    You can check out this product on Amazon (it costs like $32+).

    2. Audio Technica ATH-COM2 Stereo/dynamic Boom Mic Combination Headset

    Audio Technica isn’t just selling cheap microphones for podcasting, it also offers a nice range of podcast headsets such as this one.

    This headset is great because it gives a very comfortable grip when wearing it and offers very good build quality (feels expensive).

    It is sold on Amazon for only $35 (purchase link).

    3. Logitech High-performance USB Headset H540 for Windows and Mac, Skype Certified

    This Logitech podcast headset is one of the best value for money headphone. For only $29, this is the by far the cheapest headset for podcasting and offers one of the best features.

    • checkVery high build quality of the group – big and chunky (in a good way)
    • checkPadded headphones and headband offer excellent feel
    • checkThe microphone arm is solid, easily adjusted and kept to the side of your mouth

    If you are looking for a cheap podcast headset, go for this one and you will never regret it. Check out the product page here.

    Best mixer for podcasting

    best podcast mixer under $200

    Mixer for podcasting isn’t cheap — but they are important podcasting equipment if you are looking for success.

    Question: Why should you use a mixer for podcasting?

    Answer: Using a mixer will improve your audio quality. The pre-amps will be nicer and will really help your microphone shine. Podcasters buy mixers for the advanced features/options and the control that they offer, as well as the efficiency they can bring to your recording workflow.

    So, which is the best mixer for podcasting?

    1. Yamaha MG10 10-Input Stereo Mixer

    If you are looking for the best budget mixer for podcasting, you don’t have to look any further. The Yamaha MG10 mixer is going to serve you well.

    The Yamaha MG10 is a brilliant little mixer with an amazingly quiet noise floor, especially at this price. It has features normally found only on expensive units, such as in-built compression, and it also has Aux Out so that you can run a mix-minus setup.

    For $150+ on Amazon, this is definitely one of the best podcast equipment you need to have in your toolbox. Check out the product features and review here.

    2. Behringer XENYX X1204USB

    Behringer mixer is not your average mixer. As a matter of fact, it is one of the best mid-range mixer for podcasting, alongside Yamaha MG10 mixer.

    The Behringer Xenyx 1204 is a fully featured mixer that’ll do the job for any podcaster out there that needs a lot more channels and the full set of mixer features.

    You can check it out on Amazon (price tag at $179+) here.

    Summary: Best Podcast Equipment

    If you are serious in starting your own podcast, you should focus on getting good podcast equipment to produce the best audio experience to your audience.

    Using the best microphone, mixer and podcast recording software are all equally important and you should not take lightly on.

    What is your favorite podcast equipment? Share me with it using the comment form below!