Fighting project scope may sound like a fresh breath campaign but it’s more important for project managers who find themselves going over budget and missing deadlines. A little preparation goes a long way (but we can’t promise minty fresh breath when all is said and done).
A Daily Record article promoting a project management training course is just an advertorial but it does provide good insight and thoughts on dealing with the issue. As the article points out, “Managing project scope has a lot to do with establishing limits and defining what needs to be done by who from the beginning, and scope creep only occurs later when these restrictions are exceeded.”
Project scope needs to be set when the project is defined – and not while in the midst of the project. ” Managing project scope has a lot to do with establishing limits and defining what needs to be done by who from the beginning, and scope creep only occurs later when these restrictions are exceeded. The term applies to situations in which additional work is added to the project without corresponding changes to budgets or schedules and this takes a toll on resources, finances and time the project team are able to devote,” is the advice given.
Scope creep is an odd phrase but it has a major impact. “In fact, many failures in project management can be attributed to scope creep and its associated problems, and the ability manage this problem is vital for project managers. There are many reasons for its occurrence too, as sometimes it is the project manager’s fault when requirements are not properly outlined, or the client has allowed extra work to be done without addressing the situation,” the article advises.
MBO Partners, a provider of management services, says on its website:

The early signs of scope creep are visible long before there are scope changes. Warning signs of scope creep include:
Project is vision-oriented but without clearly defined, measurable tasks and/or deliverables
The project does not have a clear business case
Lack of strong executive support
Stakeholders are not involved or supporting the project
Internal project manager lacks experience dealing with size and/or complexity of project
Actual work takes longer or is more complex than initially identified
Issues are not being resolved or require a project change in order to close
So, what can be done to tackle the problem? “Project managers must thus be clear about what the client should expect from the service their organization is providing, thus eliminating confusion later in the day, and specific about the benefits they can expect to enjoy on their end. Without this, the expectations of the client may begin to exceed the actual ability or intentions of the project team and this will inevitably lead to scope creep when these two ideas collide,” the article says.
Of course, some scope creep is inevitable. “Changes are something that happens in almost all projects, and the ramifications of these changes are what a project manager needs to track and manage so as to avoid scope creep from negatively impacting the overall quality of a project. Communication and planning are key here, with a mutual understanding reached between the client and project manager vital to managing shifting requirements and circumstances,” the article concludes.
Project management consultant Shelly Doll, writing at TechRepublic.com, says not all project scope creep is bad. “For in-house software development, additional features could give your product the edge over your competition. But, that edge is lost if you release a month or two late. Regardless of the perceived effects of scope creep, cost is the bottom line. By controlling your cost of development and by delivering on time, your project can be a success, without compromising flexibility in production,” she says.

What is Email Marketing?

Email marketing is one of the best strategies you can use for growing a profitable blog.

A list of names and email addresses of people who signed up to receive updates and promotional emails from you is called an Email List. As a blogger, you will be collecting emails using opt-in forms on your blog. When you use email to promote your blog and services to your email list, it is called email marketing.

Why Should you Use Email Marketing for your Business?

According to the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing yields an estimated 4300 percent ROI, says entrepreneur.com.

Most new bloggers are slow to adopt email marketing because they think it is a slow and time-consuming process. Most would change their mind if they knew email marketing was the best way to connect with, and retain, customers. You get to land directly in your reader’s inbox and no other channel can get your business more visibility. People may not check their social media sites every day but they will certainly check their emails. With the prevalence of smart phones, people tend to check their emails several times a day. In fact, it is likely the first thing every person checks in the morning.

When you post on social media sites, you have to compete with other content to be seen. Moreover, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest can change their algorithm any time, which might limit your reach.

For example, Neil Patel mentions on his site (neilpatel.com) that on June 2016, the Organic Reach of a Facebook Page fell to a mere 2%. My friend’s DIY blog was hit severely by this update and her traffic plummeted overnight. Her Facebook page with 500K followers would reach only 10,000 people each time she made a post and only 200 of them clicked through to her blog. That is when she started to focus more on building an email list. She now has a list that is 50K strong. Every time she sends out an email, 30% of the people open it and 15% of them click through to her website. For example, just one email she sent out brought 6300 visits to her Crochet Baby Blanket Roundup post and earned her $150 in ad revenue in just one day. The bigger your list, the more revenue you can generate from it.

Recommended Article: 13 Free Crochet Baby Blankets

The saying “never put all your eggs in one basket” is not just true for your finances, but for your business marketing as well. Your email list is the only audience you will never lose to changes in ranking systems, which can plunge your traffic overnight on other channels.

How to Build an Engaged List

Your email marketing efforts will fall flat if you don’t have an engaged list. You have to warm your list and form a connection with them. The best way to do this is to write on a personal level. Start every email with a personal story but keep it short. People are more likely to buy from someone they know and trust. Be that person. For example, I have been sharing my struggles during this pandemic with my audience and that has really helped strengthen my bond with them. Write to them like a friend and not a salesperson. Do not sell in every email. Only 20% of your emails should be sales emails and the rest 80% should provide value to your readers.

Another way to engage your audience is to ask a question. I asked my audience what their biggest struggle was with managing money. If people respond to your emails it can increase your open rate and your emails are less likely to end up in their spam folders.

You can also ask questions that help you plan content for your blog. Ask them what they would like to see on your blog. The responses can give you valuable insights for future blog posts. When you publish the content they requested, it will help foster an even greater bond with your readers.

Formatting your emails properly is also key to the success of any email campaign. Make your links big, bold and easily clickable. Most people check their emails on mobile devices and a tiny font can make it harder for them to click. When you link to your new article, link to no more than 3 related articles. Stuffing your email with links is not a good marketing practice.

How Often to Email your List

Not emailing your list for a long time will make them forget that they even signed up for your emails in the first place. So, do not make that mistake. You have to email your list at least once every 2 weeks. Weekly is what works for most bloggers. If you don’t have new content to share every week, you can share old posts that are right for the season, roundups, or even some valuable tips for your audience. After emailing my list for a year, any week I don’t have a new post, I just resend an email I sent last year. This can save you time and help keep your audience engaged. You probably would have added a lot of new subscribers in a year and your old subscribers might not even remember posts you shared a year ago. You just have to make sure the blog topic is still relevant.

Little changes in life can mean so many things. The same applies in home remodeling; such little changes can give your home a new and improved look. It can also enhance the living environment inside it. A simple home improvement guide can do great things for better living.

An effective home improvement guide must tackle important issues on building projects that alters and improve existing homes. These projects can be improvements to various areas like lawns, outdoor structures, gardens, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, attics, and so many more. Some examples of home improvement issues are the following:

1. Budget – These days, budgets will always come first, and will heavily influence the planning and other decision-making processes. Most of the time, we all need to come up with an economically sound budget before we can proceed with our home improvement activities. A home improvement guide will tell you to take your time and jot down each and everything that you will need for this undertaking, especially with the materials needed. Once written down, you can shop around and compare prices. Choose those that present you an opportunity to play with your budget.

2. Design and Planning – Now that you already have your budget, you can now start planning how your ideas and designs will be implemented, considering that everything revolves around your set budget. Venturing away from this can cost you more, and this will prove impractical along the way. If you want to get the best of the designs and the planning you pour through it, you can start by reflecting it on your mood. This will give you a sense of direction that will always lead to satisfaction.

3. Comfort – It can never be successful if comfort is not part of the plan. We renovate or remodel our homes simply because we want more comfort in it. Comfort can be defined by so many things; like upgrading the homes’ heating, ventilations, and air-conditioning systems. A modified plumbing and electrical systems is also very important. Such systems are the workhorses inside homes that when functioning well, can do so many things to support other areas. Waterproofing basements can make it a livable extension inside the house.

4. Maintenance and repair – You may have fancy and well-planned home improvement designs, but all these are for nothing if your precious home will be plagued with pesky maintenance problems or unfinished repairs. A real home improvement is one that includes maintenance projects for the complete package. Such projects can include replacement of roof tear-offs, concrete and masonry repairs surrounding the foundations or chimneys.

An effective guide must also encourage creating additional living space inside your home. Marginal areas can be effectively transformed into livable spaces. The basement is a very good example. If you are really serious about home remodeling, you can turn this dusty and unused room into a recreational area for the family, complete with home theaters and other entertainment systems, or as guestrooms. Whatever you reasons for home improvement are, remember that little changes always bring so many good things inside the house.