Posts Tagged ‘writing’
January 19th, 2010
by Justin Harrison
It is incorrect believe that the top search terms are good choices for keywords. This seems logical but it doesn’t take into account other competition. Picking keywords that match the advertiser’s business usually have more of an impact.
The use of special modifiers narrows the field a bit so that you will attract a higher quality audience. For example, use the term “flower gardening” instead of just “gardening” and you will eliminate the crowd that is more interested in vegetable gardening. “Perennial flower gardening” would be even more specific.
There isn’t much benefit to an advertiser if the receive many clicks but below average conversion rates. Viewers who are merely clicking on ads and not purchasing anything are only costing the advertiser money. Drawing more likely candidates requires well targeted keywords. This results in a better conversion rate and better ROI.
Creating keywords requires examining your web site and picking out the words and phrases that describe it. You should also look at other web sites in the same target market. Try to figure out why those sites are good or not and look at how they word their advertisements and content. If they are reaching the target market you should attempt to leverage their terms and phrases where possible.
It can also be helpful if you learn to think as a customer would. Google offers the recommendation to list all the things a customer might type into a search engine while looking for a certain product or service. Consider the possibility that there may be several different spellings for those words. As an example, foods which are low fat could also be called “light” or “lite”. Either spelling should be a keyword so that every potential customer is reached.
Keeping track of how effective a campaign is is a critical component. You can use Google’s conversion tracking tool along with Google Analytics to see how a campaign is doing. If you see advertisements that are not generating as much traffic as estimated try to make some changes. Then, keep watching the results to see if the change improved things.
November 14th, 2009
by Andrew Poblano
I’ve been a blogger for several years now, and I’m always open to the idea of trying out new blogging platforms. I’ve blogged about a wide range of topics, and my friends often laugh at me about this. From the tongue scraper to wine goblets, I’ve blogged about just about everything.
As far as using a platform goes, I’ve always had different opinions about this, as I’ve never known which way to go with things. I’ve tried so many different options, and at the end of the day I want something easy to use that looks great.
While many were great, there are some that I’ve liked more than others. Generally, I stick to three now and what I go with really depends on the needs of the blog. Here are my top three, as I’m sure that one of these will be a great fit for you.
First of all, I’d definitely recommend taking a look at Blogger, which is offered free of charge by Google. It’s very easy to set up a blog this way, and you get the benefits of having your content indexed shortly after it’s published.
Secondly, I would definitely look into Wordpress if you want to be a bit more adventurous. The many widgets and plugins offered through Wordpress are phenomenal.
There are so many different ways to take advantage of Wordpress plugins, and I’d definitely suggest playing around with it if you have a decent knowledge of the Internet.
The last one I’ll mention is a more recent addition to the blogosphere, and it’s called Posterous. This is a great service that allows you to post to your own blog without ever having to set it up. As long as you email them your post, they’ll have it up automatically for you in less than a minute.
The same can be done for pictures and videos too, making it very, very convenient.
November 6th, 2009
Freelance writing is a very competitive business, and it’s not hard to see why so many beginners can get frustrated and quit before ever coming close to their full potential. Everyone knows how hard it can be as a first timer at anything, so the following article will provide five great tips for getting started as a new online writer.
My first tip for beginning writers is to get started right away. While there is a lot you need to learn, it’s easy to get information overload. Learn as you go, but find a place to start writing right away!
Second, make sure to research all the jobs and opportunities available to you online. Most beginning writers are amazed by the sheer number of possibilities available to them online. A key part of succeeding in this business is doing great research to line yourself up with the best online set ups.
My third tip is to diversify. Instead of trying to concentrate on just one website, take a look at a few. Many of these places have very diverse requirements for articles, which makes writing less repetitive and more fun in addition to creating many different streams of income.
The fourth tip for beginning freelance writers is to believe in yourself. A lot of people mock freelance writers or don’t understand them. Writing is hard and takes time, so you’re going to need self-confidence in order to get through the hard times.
The fifth bit of advice is good for any entrepreneur: under promise & over deliver. Sometimes half of performance is perception. If you promise 50 articles in two days, but it takes three, then you’ve hurt your reputation. But what if you promise 50 articles in five days and deliver in three? Then you look amazing even though the work took the same amount of time. That’s the key.
The advice in this article isn’t the end all, be all, of freelance writing, but should give beginning writers a good jump start on their careers. Following these tips will help speed up the process of getting to where you want to really be with your career.
This article is only the beginning. There are many amazing freelance writing resources online that every writer should take advantage of. Follow the information gladly offered by authors who have already been through the process and you’ll be glad you did!
October 27th, 2009
by Michael Fleischner
Writing articles can do a lot for you and your business. It allows you to promote your business for free, place quality content in front of your target market, all while drastically increasing your traffic volume. Using automatic article submission software can take your writing to another level by helping you build a reputable image.
One of the greatest benefits of using article writing and submission software or services is that you can quickly get information in front of a large audience. Software that can create engaging content and instantly distribute that content to leading information sources builds traffic to your site, established you as an expert, and improves your recognition.
The proper research prior to writing your articles is a great way to ensure that you have written meaningful content that will be consumed by your audience. Although you can do this research manually, you can also leverage the power of automated tools that can quickly find keyword rich information to build your articles from. After you have generated this content, submission software can distribute that content instantly.
Search engines are always looking for new and engaging content. The more unique your content and the more that individuals interact with you content – sharing, commenting, etc., the more that content appears in search engine results. If you can create effective content and distribute it to the right sources you can quickly see the benefits in traffic and sales.
Obviously, the benefit of using article submission software is that you can submit your articles to countless directories. The more directories you submit to, the better chance you have of gaining exposure and building a respectable image.
Save time with the help of article software. There are a significant number of article writing and submission tools to choose from that can save you loads of precious time in the area of content creation and distribution. Spend more time interacting with your market as opposed to simply writing and submitting articles to leading directories. Use article software to take your article marketing to the next level.
Improve your image with quality content that is easily accessible. If you want to be recognized by those in your niche or target audience, then you need to be in front of them on a regular basis with valuable information. Let article marketing and article submission software help you achieve your marketing and branding goals. This is a great way to not only improve your reputation but to also build traffic and sales via your web site.
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October 13th, 2009
by Terrell Monteath
There are many beginning writers who want to get started writing online but don’t know where to start. Technology now offers more chances than ever for writers to get their work published, especially because of the online world. The hardest part for many is figuring out exactly how to get started as an online freelance writer.
The first part of learning to get writing gigs online is to learn about the many websites that pay writers. There are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of websites that offer the opportunity for people to get paid for their written work. As with print publications, it’s always important to review the contracts and online agreements before writing for anyone.
Research is important. See what other writers have to say about any online writing website. Match critical reviews against positive ones, and try to get a feel for whether a particular website is a good deal or not.
Also realize right off the bat that you are going to write for more than one website to make a career as an online freelance writer. There are many different sites that pay in many different ways. A portfolio of good paying sites is the best way to create a diverse online income.
Another important part of the process is to realize that there are different ways for online writing websites to pay their writers. There are auction based writing websites, sites that pay via splitting advertising revenue, and some that simply pay up front for work. The point is that there are a lot of different ways for websites to pay their writers, and you will want to learn about all of them.
Anyone who wants to get started writing content online needs to learn to write in the right style. Every type of writing style is different, and to write online you’ll also need to write in the type of genre that’s required for most online writing.
Look around to decide what type of online writing site is best for you. Some of the biggest names include Constant-Content, Associated Content, eHow, Guru.com, Elance, oDesk, and Xomba just to scratch the surface. There are many more places to write online for money, and you need to find out what fits your skills and goals.
While there is tons of advice for writers, one piece of advice above everything else is to simply be persistent and keep at it. Getting an online writing career doesn’t take place overnight, but if you keep at it you will succeed.
September 29th, 2009
When considering how to market your web site, or apply techniques for improving web site ranking, you may have heard of article marketing. To be effective with article marketing, you need to develop original content and distribute that content in the proper way to your target audience. In recent years, online marketers have developed helpful tools for developing and submitting articles to the top article directories. This generates exposure and drives traffic to your website.
The first thing article creation software can help you with is understanding the importance of appealing to your target market. You do not want to write an article that will appeal to anybody and everybody. Focus on a particular audience that you want to submit your articles to. This will make it much easier to convert visitors into customers.
After writing your article, consider the appropriate category the article belongs to. When creating content for a specific audience, you want that content to appear before the right individuals who will benefit from and act upon the content. Choose your category carefully because it could make the difference between low and high conversion rates.
A number of different article submission software comes with spell check which can be a lifesaver. No matter how good your ideas are, they mean nothing if you do not execute them properly with correct spelling and grammar. Having software that looks out for this can be extremely beneficial.
From there, you will find that article creation software will help you identify everything needed to submit to various directories. You will be forced to go through and submit the different information that directories require such as keywords, a brief summary, title, the article itself, and a resource box. If you are confused with any part of this, the software will walk you through to help you better understand.
The last feature of article software that is very helpful is image verification support. Many article directories require some type of verification before you submit your article. The right piece of article writing software can support captcha text and quickly move you through the submission process. This improves the speed and accuracy of your article directory submissions.
Article writing can be a tremendous marketing tool if done correctly. You need to know everything about writing the article, filling out the form correctly, and sending it off to the appropriate categories in directories. These are just a few of the many ways you can benefit from article creation software. While all software differs from each other slightly, all will help smooth over the process so you can begin benefiting immediately.
September 12th, 2009
Introduction to Blogging The best way to learn to blog is to get involved with blogs that interest you. It can be a passion of yours or it can be a writer that you enjoy reading. If you admire a writer, think about why. Is it his or her writing style? Is it the format of the site? Do they get a lot of traffic (most important)? Find some other people who cover the same subject, contrast their styles. Consolidate the best of what you find with your own style to create a blog that will attract readers. Work everyday at making your blog work. As you blog more, you will find that you had more to say than you thought. You will find new ways of covering and observing your blog subject. You can become your true self as you blog. And as you write on a daily basis you will find that you may create new views that you had never thought about before. Then you can turn these ideas into a profitable venture.
Do you have to be a highly skilled in something to train people? All the best people in any field have coaches. They may, on occasion, switch coaches, but they would never say since Im the best, I can go without. They rely on the coaching skills that they can bring to the table.
Whose to say that you need to learn to blog from a fellow blogger? There are many skills that people from other fields can bring to the blogging field.
Blogging is just writing. Since we first entered school we have been taught composition. All those grammar lessons that made us better writers over the years can be put to work. You should find your authentic writing style and use it in your blogging. You will not only learn to blog, you will become a blogmaster.
Because the blogging style relates to journalism, perhaps the best background for training is newspaper writing or editing. Great journalist, particularly a columnist creates a following. This is a skill that needs to be appreciated.
But, as we have said above, to blog is to find your own voice. How do you learn to blog? Perhaps blogging is a chance to find a writing style that suits you best. Perhaps the best way to learn is to blog by trial and error until you have found what works.
Well, Ive been going on now. Its time to say goodbye to those still listening. Learn to blog and you can go on too:-)
September 1st, 2009
by Adela Thomas
Some people ask me how I am sometimes able to type 500 words in just about 5 minutes. There are actually many ways to increase your typing speed but not everything works for everyone. If you learn how to improve your writing speed, you will find that you are able to make more money online.
The best thing I can teach you is to TEST what works. Write an article normally, and see how many minutes it takes you on average per word. But don’t stop at one. You should do about 5-10 in a row, and figure out the total time and divide by the number of articles. This will give you an idea of the average time it takes. Now try using dragon naturally speaking, and speak the articles. Do 5-10 and figure out average per article. Then you can try all the other methods and time as well.
So what exactly does it take to write an article? It requires knowledge of the area you are writing about. If you know a lot about a specific topic, it obviously will be a lot easier to write, because your words will naturally flow. In addition, the more you type, the easier it will be. You can try taking typing lessons to increase rate at which you can type, but I prefer to just learn by experience.
So now that you know testing is the important thing, you still have to understand your ultimate goal. If your goal is to make the most money from your articles, you need to figure out both the average time and the average cash earned per article. If you can write 50 articles a second, but every article is rejected, it’s a worthless practice. Where as if you write 1 article in 5 hours, but it earns you $10,000 it is obviously worth a lot more.
Once you have figured out how many articles per hour on average you can make, you need to figure out how much you make on average per article for each method. Then simply take what you make per article then multiply by how many articles per hour you make with that method. This gives you a number in dollars per hour. If you are using your articles to just get viewers to your website, you may try tracking viewers instead. The important thing is that you know what you want, that you track what you get, and you continue to adjust and tweak until you start moving in the direction of your goals the fastest.
August 12th, 2009
by Michael Fleischner
Did you know that you can significantly improve your overall search engine rankings with the help of an online press release? For those of you without a marketing background, let me explain the nature of a press release and how you can use this little known SEO technique to improve your search engine rankings.
A press release is essentially news or information that is being distributed to individuals within the media business. This includes newspapers, tv studios, radio stations, and smaller outlets as well. For quite some time, these press releases have been distributed using the world wide web and emailed to media contacts.
Many companies distribute press releases on a regular basis to inform their industry of key changes or information they wish to communicated. Companies are hoping they “get ink” where by a reporter will take notice and publish their news online or in print. Reporters have come to depend on press releases as a way to find relevant news that is fit to print.
A press release is simple to create and follows a pretty standard format. Many releases include a date, headline, body, and company description. Online releases include the same information with an added feature, a link back to the company’s website. The challenge and opportunity with an online press release is to create a release that is newsworthy and finds itself being distributed across the web.
Today there are hundreds of online press release websites designed to guide reporters through a significant amount of clutter to find what is most relevant to their given audience. The benefit to those doing business online is that an additional outlet exists for publishing information about your website or product and building in-bound links to your website at the same time.
Press releases are a valuable tool for anyone trying to promote a new website or blog. Years ago, when I began in Internet marketing, my belief was the PR was all about writing a fantastic press. The truth is that press releases today are only partly about the news. For me, they are more about the back links that are created when your news travels across the internet and gets posted on thousands of websites.
There are a few press release services out there, much like article directories that allow you to submit your release and include a link back to your website. Unlike article directories, many of these sites are not free. However, a small handful cost nothing, dozens charge less than twenty dollars and others will charge more.
When I want to build a large number of back links to my website in short order I always look to press release distribution. You can implement this simple strategy quickly and easily. It’s not hard to think of something newsworthy and over time it gets much easier to find something that will resonate with your target audience the media the cater to them.
I am comfortable with fees as long as I’m seeing the value. Some sites charge $300 for a release service but many more charge only a few dollars. The reality is that it doesn’t take much to put your SEO efforts into over drive using press release services. Do some research online and start sending out those releases. You will be pleasantly surprised by the results you get.
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August 6th, 2009
by Mike Long
If you do not take the time to do your article marketing the right way, even though the method is regarded as the most powerful traffic and lead-generating instrument nowadays, it will do nothing for your e-business. However, you too can become a marketing genius using short, well-written articles, if you follow the strategies below:
1. Get those articles read! The greatest article on earth is useless to you if you can’t get anyone to read it. Make sure that you spend the time to create a title and article summary that will grab hold of the person who finds it, and won’t let go of them until they open it up and read it. Everything else flows from this critical point.
2. Encouraging additional reading. You need to ensure that people will read your articles in their entirety if you want to improve upon your conversion rate. Use a conversational tone and pepper your articles with anecdotes and examples that will make them interesting to read. Don’t overlook the benefits of packing your articles with all the bits of information that your customers are seeking, so they have a valid reason to read further.
3. Improving your conversion ratio. In order to do this, you must make your resource box sound absolutely convincing and very appealing. To raise the confidence level of your prospective customers, put in your name, skills and key accomplishments. It would help if you can offer giveaways like short ebooks to further entice your readers.
Always keep in mind that whatever you put into your article marketing efforts is largely what you will get in return. If you make sure to create your content in a way that includes a compelling title, and effective summary, useful, informative content, and a resource box with an undeniable offer, you will soon find yourself with a constant stream of new prospects flowing in.