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In this new year, many people will undertake different goals for our health, lives and businesses. The best part of that, is that any improvement in one area often bleeds over into another. So, make a plan and stick to it as best you can. Nobody is perfect and no plan is perfect, but action is always better than apathy. Alongside the more standard ‘live healthier’ plan, I decided to purge down as much as I can, including electronics that are no longer in use.

I began in the usual way, thinning out the closet. Why are t-shirts such a difficult thing to toss or donate? The answer is the fact that like a song, they take us back to an event in our lives that brings on emotions. You can turn your old t-shirts into a blanket if you need one more of those. Project RePat offers that service, or you probably can find a local person to do it for you. Moving along.

My relationship with computers began an early age. By the time I was looking into college, I was already building my own computer using sites like NewEgg, well over 20 years ago. As I shifted back and forth from PC to Mac, I ended up with the latter. Today I have a 2006 MacBook, a PowerMac G5 with dual cinema displays and a 27 inch iMac. To add to the pile, my father was in need of a new machine – so his 2007 iMac found it’s way here.

I checked Reddit, eBay and Marketplace to see if there was any demand for a computer that will be 20 years old in 48 months. The findings were varied, but for my time – it just makes more sense to recycle. Happily, Apple has a great program for anybody looking to recycle a old machine – and it does not have to be an Apple product. The end goal is for them to reclaim precious metals and materials so that they may go on to live another life in another device. Cycle of life stuff, in computer form. I guess we ALL get recycled eventually. Is the box checked for organ donation on you license? 😉

From there, it was simple. You provide with the serial number of your product and they will either give you credit towards a new machine or a gift card. If it’s too old, like this 2007 iMac, they will simply send you a prepaid label. Box it up and you’re done. You get a little piece of mind that it won’t rot in a landfill and a feeling of ‘I helped a turtle cross the road‘.

So, if you are trying responsibly recycle your gear in 2023, you have options!

Start here: https://www.apple.com/recycling/nationalservices/

If you have any questions or are ready to begin, we’re here and ready to help you on your digital journey. Need help? Drop a line to hello@sevenind.com

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In a world completely filled with platforms to shout “me, me, me” from, it’s important to remember where you fit in. Depending on a few variables, it’s often a missed opportunity for businesses of all shapes and sizes when it comes to content creation and distribution. Social media sites are great for a lot of businesses and individuals, as well they should be. But, let’s not lose site of what you’re engaging in and what you actually own. If you spend each day creating content for a certain medium, be aware of that. Not that it’s right or wrong, but stay tuned in to what you are feeding.

For the majority of businesses out there a website is commissioned, fine tuned and sort of left alone. Focus gets shifted to posting on the hottest social media channels with frequency, and not as much on the website. In most cases a website ‘lasts’ about 5 years before needing to be updated/rebuilt, but the good part is – all of the content, news blogs, images and so on that you create, are yours. They help give your site more weight and prestige that comes with time and age. So, when you have news items break, or videos and images to share – take the time to publish those to your property.  News blogs don’t have to be stogy, they can in fact be whatever you make of them. So, be creative and have fun with them. Just remember to make a point and perhaps a solution to a challenge.

It’s often difficult to change our thinking about anything once we’ve made our mind up – but, it’s necessary. When we use “free” platforms to discuss our views, business ideas and otherwise – keep in mind that you are their product. It is in fact, not free. Your time, investment and everything you produce becomes a catalyst for their success. So, by simply recalibrating the way in which you view any given digital platform – you can improve your own value in the digital world. This is why so many people share the first sentence or two of their news/blog page and then lead you to their site. Should you click, this removes the distraction of other properties, and allows you to have a closer conversation with your visitor.

Pay attention to your website. Remember that you own it, and it is a direct reflection of you and your offerings. Keep it update and fresh. Create and publish useful content as often as you like, it will only help your cause. Your website your own corner of the digital landscape focused on whatever your choose, so be intentional in your color choices, imagery and everything else that elicits an emotional response. Remember, we all remember how an experience makes us feel before anything else. When you consider the vast emotions you might experience when you hear the word “TikTok” or “Facebook” – think about how others may feel when they experience your content. The important part here is that you participate and that you consistently add new spaces to your own website so that it may flourish into the future.

If you have any questions or are ready to begin, we’re here and ready to help you on your digital journey. Need help? Drop a line to hello@sevenind.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.