Maricel Rivera

5 Remote Work Best Practices for 2021

The pandemic accelerated the transition to remote work, but it has its challenges. Here are five best practices for working remotely for your small business.

6 Freelance Writing Tips to Try in 2021

There are a ton of freelancing writing jobs available on the internet; you just have to look. Here are six tips to launch your career as a freelance writer.

7 Ways to Find Freelance Jobs in 2021

The demand for freelancers around the world is expected to grow in 2021. In this guide, The Blueprint lists seven ways to secure a job fast as a freelancer.

Top Tips for Working Remotely and Increasing Productivity

With people being forced to work from home because of the pandemic, employees have had to scramble to set up remotely. Here are five tips for working from home.

Top 6 Job Boards for Finding Remote Work

A work-from-home job can provide you a safe and convenient work environment. Here are six job boards to help you get started in finding that perfect remote job.

A Beginner’s Guide to Scope Management

Scope management refers to the management of activities the team implements to ensure the project is a success. Here are six best practices for scope management.

A Beginner’s Guide to Project Cycle Management

Project cycle management is designed to manage projects effectively and efficiently from planning through execution. Here we outline the different phases.

How to Create a Project Quality Plan

A project quality plan defines how to validate the quality of a project and its expected outcomes. Learn how to write a project quality plan in five steps.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Project Intake Process

The project intake process is designed to identify and prioritize project proposals. Learn how to create this process for your small business in five steps.

How to Build a Successful Creative Workflow

A creative workflow covers what team members must observe throughout the project. Here we give you four tips to create the perfect workflow for your business.

A Beginner’s Guide to Time Management

Business owners need to manage their time to increase effectiveness and productivity. Here are seven time management best practices you can implement now.

Concept Maps: What They Are and How to Create Them

A concept map is a visual tool used to illustrate connections between several concepts. Learn the key characteristics of a concept map and how to create one.

How to Create a Flowchart in Google Docs

A flowchart is a simple graph that shows the workflow process in sequential order. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a flowchart in Google Docs.

How to Make a Timeline in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making a timeline in Google Docs is a bit time-consuming because everything is done manually. Here are the steps to follow to create a timeline this way.

How to Use Slack for Project Management

Millions of people use Slack as a project management tool to communicate with colleagues worldwide. Here are five ways you can use Slack to manage your project.

The DACI Decision-Making Framework Explained

DACI is a decision-making framework that helps you make informed and timely project decisions. Learn how to make quicker and more effective decisions with DACI.

Kanban Boards: What They Are and When to Use Them

A kanban board is a visual project management tool that shows work at different stages of completion. Here are the components of kanban boards and how to use them.

Project Management Office (PMO): Benefits, Roles, and Types of PMOs

Project management offices (PMO) maintain the standards for project management within a company. Learn the core functions and three types of PMOs.

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Adaptive Project Framework (APF)

The adaptive project framework (APF) is a project planning framework designed to help project managers respond to constant change. Learn the five phases of APF.

4 Popular Change Management Models Modern Organizations Use

Change management attempts to reap the benefit from organizational changes while minimizing disruption. Here are the four best models to implement change.

Agile Environment: What It Is and How to Create One

An agile environment creates a culture that encourages employees to work toward a common goal. Here are the benefits of creating one for your team or business.

Top 5 Online Collaboration Tools for Increasing Productivity

Online collaboration tools support chat, instant messaging, file sharing, and more. Here are the best online tools for collaboration based on features and price.

Capacity Planning for Small Businesses: What It Is and How to Do It

Capacity planning finds the right balance between production capacity and customer demand. Here are five tips to help your small business balance capacity.

Schedule Performance Index 101: Measuring Project Scheduling Efficiency

The schedule performance index (SPI) measures how close a project is to being completed compared to the schedule. Here are some tips to work with SPI.

Requirements Gathering for Beginners: What It Is and How to Do It

Projects have certain conditions that need to met, and it's done by gathering requirements. Here's why requirements gathering is important for your project.

What You Need to Know About the 5 Phases of Project Management

A project manager needs expert skills to ensure each phase of the project is completed on schedule. Here, we break down the five phases of project management.

PERT Chart vs. Gantt Chart: Which One Should You Use?

PERT and Gantt charts are essential tools for communicating about and managing projects. In this guide, we explore PERT vs. Gantt charts benefits and drawbacks.

5 Top Gantt Chart Software Options for Your Small Business

Teams use Gantt charts to measure and track a project's progress, but which software should you use? Here are five of the best Gantt chart software solutions.

How to Create an Action Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide

An action plan is a document outlining the steps to achieve your project goals. In this guide, The Blueprint has some tips for implementing an action plan.

Schedule Variance 101: Keeping Your Project on Schedule

Schedule variance helps you identify if your project is running on schedule. The Blueprint explains how schedule variance is calculated and why it matters.

Project Communication Management: A Beginner’s Guide

The key to efficient project management is communicating with stakeholders. The Blueprint outlines some tips for successful project communication management.

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Project Milestones

Hitting milestones is a critical component of project management. The Blueprint outlines the benefits of setting and meeting your project’s milestones.

Project Management Reports for Beginners: Definitions, Types, and Best Practices

Project management reports provide visibility and keep teams on track with minimal risk. The Blueprint outlines how to create a project management report.

3 Smart Project Management Examples to Inspire You at Work

Leadership and critical thinking are two project management skills you need to succeed. There's even more to learn from these smart project management examples.

A Beginner’s Guide to Project Cost Management

Cost management is essential for smart and efficient project management. Learn how to handle cost management for your projects with this Blueprint guide.

Resource Management 101: Benefits and Best Practices

For projects to go as planned, the right resources need to be allocated to a specific task. The Blueprint discusses the benefits of resource management.

Stakeholders vs. Shareholders: An Important Distinction to Make

Shareholder and stakeholder may sound similar but there are key differences. The Blueprint goes through the difference between stakeholder vs. shareholder.

Agile vs. Scrum for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Agile and scrum are very similar, but what are the key differences. The Blueprint goes through agile vs. scrum and decides which is better for your needs.

7 Work-From-Home Hacks to Implement Today

Are you looking for productivity tips to make your work-from-home situation manageable. The Blueprint goes through work hacks you can implement today.

A Guide to Resource Allocation for Your Small Business

Resource allocation assigns resources to project tasks to keep the schedule on time and meet quality requirements The Blueprint covers how to allocate resources.

The RACI Matrix Explained

The RACI matrix defines the roles and responsibilities stakeholders have during the life of the project. The Blueprint discusses how to create a RACI matrix.

Risk Breakdown Structure: A Guide for Beginners

In project management, controlling risk is a critical component of the project plan. The Blueprint discusses what risk breakdown structure is and how to use it.

A Beginner’s Guide to Earned Value Management

Earned value management is a way for project managers to control the project’s performance. The Blueprint shows you the benefits and how to calculate it.

How to Create an Effective Timeline Chart

Completing projects on time help keep costs under control and running on schedule. The Blueprint discusses how to create and use a timeline chart.

How to Create a Vision Statement for Your Small Business

Having a clear vision of what your company is trying to accomplish is essential. The Blueprint discusses how to create a vision statement.

Your Guide to Working With Project Stakeholders

Stakeholders have a vested interest and are impacted by the project's outcome. The Blueprint goes through the essential steps to running a successful project.

Top 5 Recruitment Strategies for Attracting Top Talent for Your Business

Attracting top talent for your business is not an easy task. The Blueprint discusses several recruitment strategies that you can start implementing today.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Matrix Organizational Structure

The matrix organization follows a reporting structure that dictates how activities, roles, and responsibilities are directed. The Blueprint looks at this structure type.

How to Write an Executive Summary That Gets the Job Done

An executive summary gives a short and concise description of a much larger document. The Blueprint shows you how to write an executive summary step-by-step.

A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Project Communication Plan

Effective communication drives successful projects. The Blueprint discusses how to create a project management communication plan.

How to Create a Performance Improvement Plan Employees Will Appreciate

A performance improvement plan (PIP) is a people management tool used to make staff decisions. The Blueprint discusses the steps needed to write a good PIP.

Email Marketing Tips Small Businesses Can Use to Drive Conversions

Are your email marketing initiatives not getting the results you’re hoping for? The Blueprint explores several email marketing tips you can implement today.

Cost Per Acquisition: The Ultimate Guide

Small businesses need to keep costs down to stay profitable. The Blueprint discusses different ways to reduce cost per acquisition to maximize sales.

Strategies for Employee Management in the Workplace

Employees are critical to a company’s success. Keeping them happy requires employee management. The Blueprint discusses the strategies to manage employees.

Conflict Management Strategies for Easing Workplace Tension

Managing conflict at work can help bring your team together and increase work performance. The Blueprint explores conflict management strategies.

Salary vs. Hourly: Which Pay Scheme Is Better for Your Employees?

A successful employee compensation plan keeps employees happy. The Blueprint discusses the difference between hourly vs. salary payments.

A Small Business Guide to the Prioritization Matrix

The prioritization matrix helps project managers figure out which projects are worth their time and attention. The Blueprint takes an in-depth look at this.

What Strategic HR Management Can Do for Your Business

Strategic human resource management ensures you're aligning HR processes with business goals. The Blueprint walks you through this HR strategy and how you can use it in your business.

7 Best Wix Alternatives for Creating a Website

Considered using Wix as a website builder but wanted to see other options? The Blueprint has compiled the top Wix alternatives to help you pick what is best for you.

A Guide to Properly Formatting Your Business Emails

Sending professional emails is key to building a trustworthy brand. Using a proper business email format can improve your communication with customers and prospects.

Top HR Metrics Small Businesses Should Be Tracking

The right HR metrics can help you evaluate your recruitment process and determine if you're hiring the right talent. Learn the top HR metrics to improve your workflow.

How to Build a Website From Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building a website from scratch can be daunting, especially for small business owners. This guide shows you the different tools you will need to build a high-converting website.

The Beginner’s Guide to Waterfall Methodology

Interested in learning more about waterfall methodology? This guide explores the principles and phases of the waterfall method and when you should use this model for projects.

How to Write a Project Charter: Tips & Tricks

A project charter provides an overview of a project’s objectives and scope. The Blueprint discusses the elements of a project charter so you can feel confident writing one.

A Guide to Writing a Statement of Work

Need to write a statement of work (SOW) but not sure where to start? Here, this guide provides an overview and best practices on how to write a successful statement of work.

A Beginner’s Guide to Project Planning

Project planning is an essential ingredient for project success. Discover the five steps and best practices to follow when creating a project plan.

Getting Started with Project Integration Management: A Guide

Teams collaborating on projects could conflict when using different project management tools and methods. Project integration management ties them all together.

How to Use the Project Management Triangle to Your Advantage

The project management triangle is used by project managers to balance scope, time, and cost. This guide reviews common constraints and best practices for your team to try.

5 Critical Steps to a Successful Software Implementation Plan

To maximize your organization's software investment, you need a software implementation plan. The Blueprint looks at what you'll need for a seamless transition.

Strategies for an Engaging Drip Campaign

Heard of drip campaigns, but not sure where to start? In this guide, The Blueprint reviews drip marketing and strategies to use when building an email drip.

Marketing vs. Advertising: What's the Difference?

If you're deciding between marketing vs. advertising for your business, The Blueprint shows what each looks like and how you can be the most effective with both.

How to Leverage Account-Based Marketing for Your Business

Account-based marketing (ABM) is a hyper-personalized form of marketing. The Blueprint looks at how you can adopt this type of marketing strategy.

Marketing Channels Your Small Business Should Utilize

Leveraging the right marketing channels allows you to reach the right audience. The Blueprint takes a look at which channels you should be marketing through.

EDM Marketing and How You Can Develop Your Own Campaign

Companies use EDM marketing in order to directly target large groups of potential clients. Learn how EDM marketing differs from email marketing with our guide.

What Are Project Deliverables and Why Are They Important?

Every project has a deliverable. But what are deliverables and why are they important in project management? We explore what every project manager needs to know about deliverables.

7 Steps to Writing the Perfect Project Proposal

A project proposal is crucial for getting approval from your boss. The Blueprint outlines how to write perfect proposals to keep your projects moving forward.

5 Strategies for Effective Communication within Your Team

Research shows that 1 in 5 projects fail because of poor communication. The Blueprint explores different communication strategies project managers can leverage.

How to Successfully Manage Your Email List

Good email list management helps your meet email marketing goals while avoiding the trash bin. Here are six best practices that will increase deliverability.

Example of Types of CRMs and When to Use Them

CRM software falls into three buckets: operational, analytical, and collaborative. The Blueprint examines each type and how to best utilize it.

Lead Management 101: What It Is and How to Manage It

Good lead management allows you to monitor your customers activities and engage them at the most opportune moment. Here’s how to manage your leads in four steps

Sales Forecasting Fundamentals: A Guide for Beginners

If you're planning for next quarter, you're probably crunching numbers to make a sales forecast. Here's how you can accurately forecast your business's sales.

16 Project Management Terms You Need to Know

Communication is a primary ingredient for success in project management. The Blueprint breaks down the best project management terms every PM needs to know.

6 Popular Project Management Methodologies and When to Use Them

The project management methodology you select for your project can improve things or slow them down. Take a look at the different methodologies you can choose.