THE WRITE TOUCH 4U

Learn to Write Articles That Maintain the Readers Interest

2010-01-19T11:13:00.004-05:00

Hi All,
Have you ever thought of changing careers? Well there may never be a better time for that than now, especially with the economy in the dumps and jobs being so scarce.

Have you ever thought about a career in writing? Again, there may never be a better time to try your hand at it. Once you know the basics, the rest will come to you.

One area to concentrate on is content! Content is king on the net and many companies pay good money to have content written for them. One of the best ways to provide content is through article. Article are easy and quick to write and can easily be added to a website. Today our guest article by TJ Philpott features advice on writing articles that hold the interest of an audience, the only kind of articles to write I might add. Read it well, it may just be the push you need to change careers, maybe a writing career!
Until next time,
Happy writing!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

GUEST ARTICLE:
Learn to Write Articles That Maintain the Readers Interest
by: TJ Philpott

If you want to learn to write articles that maintain the interest of your readers you want to avoid wandering from the intended topic too often. Your article writing efforts should always focus on the subject or point you're trying to make to the reader. By deviating from the main topic you risk confusing and losing the reader while also making the writing process more difficult.

Let's face it writing articles can be challenging enough as it. By adding content that is meaningless to the reader you are also creating more work for yourself.

Effective writing skills should include trying to make your point using as few words as possible while keeping the reader's interest.

Let's look at 5 major advantages you gain when writing articles that are concise and don't stray from the intended point.

Increases Authors' Focus

By sticking to the subject or theme of the article the writer can maintain better focus and complete the composition quicker. Allowing yourself to ramble needlessly requires more time and effort to be invested into the article writing process.

Keep Reader Attention

The reader selected your article based upon a given point you made to attract them to the content either thru a snippet or headline. The more you deviate from that point the less interest the reader will maintain.

Prevents Long Rambling Articles

Concentrating on the central theme of the article helps prevent the author from going off on tangents of no interest to the reader. This focus thus allows the article subject matter to be presented in a more concise fashion.

Another benefit of a more concentrated focus when writing is there is less likelihood of important points or issues being forgotten and left out altogether.

Easier to Read, Easier to Complete

An article that sticks to the point is generally easier to read due to the content being consistent and therefore more flowing. With fewer distractions or diversions the readers' interest is held and the content is easier to understand.

Withheld Content = New Article

You know all those diversions and tangents you didn't take but wanted to when you were writing that last article? You can now use them to base a brand new and totally separate article on. More content means more articles which in turn translates into a greater circulation and increased exposure for you.

As you see when you learn to write articles using as few words as possible you automatically make your own article writing efforts easier. By focusing primarily on your intended subject you shorten the entire writing process by excluding any additional and useless content. Effective writing skills like this not only benefit the reader with more concise and interesting content but also save the writer extra time and effort. So remember the next time you sit down to write an article just focus on making your point. Your readers will be happier as will you with the time and effort you save.

About The Author
TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.

For additional online success tips and a free guide that demonstrates how to find both profitable markets and products visit: http://affiliatequickstart.com

Make Your Own Postcard Advertisements Work For You

2009-10-20T09:35:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

Today I thought I would tackle one aspect of marketing a business. I know for my own business, when I think in terms of marketing, one area I often neglect to think about is post card marketing. Post card marketing can be very effective if done correctly and also very cost friendly. It is not as expensive as other forms of marketing and advertising can be. Yet, it is often one of the least used methods to get a businesses message/image before their respective audiences. So today, I would like to share an article from a savvy marketer named Lynne Saarte. follow along and let Lynne fill you in on teh right way to use postcards in your marketing efforts. Until next time, happy writing!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
Http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

by: Lynne Saarte

You of course should be familiar with travel postcards. You get it when people you love go on vacation and send the postcard as a reminder of where they are. The “wish you were here” print postcards is indeed a classic, one that most people are familiar with. What if I tell you however that you can use this same postcard printing method to help your business? Indeed, some businesses have started to use postcard printing for direct mail advertising, while slowly moving away from envelopes and letters. If you are interested to see how this postcard advertising works, then read on. In this article I will teach you how to make your own postcard advertisements work for you.

Thinking of the right advertising angle for postcards
The first step into making a custom postcard for advertising is to think of your angle. Your angle is basically the “wish you were here” counterpart from travel postcards. You have to think of a great message that gets your reader's attention. For most marketing postcards, they try to display the certain lifestyle that their products and services represent. The message basically is “wish you can be like this”.

So if you are advertising some fitness products for example, you can display pictures of fit men and women, and tell your readers that they can be like that. For educational services on the other hand, a picture of graduating student with high grades should be great. Of course this message must be distinct from your rivals. The more distinguishing your message is from others the better that postcard message will be. So take your time and compose the right advertising angle for your color postcards. This is a very important step.

Producing good postcards for marketing
Once you have that message already figured out, you should then start on the business of producing them. In this regard you will need a designer and a printer for postcards. The layout designer for your postcards should be a good graphic artist. You can of course hire a free lancer if you like, or you can even recruit yourself if you are willing to learn some basic graphic design. There are plenty of templates and tutorials out there so you can learn fast enough with no trouble.

For the printer, you have two options. If you plan on a mass postcard marketing campaign, you will need a professional printer with mass production capabilities. An online postcard printing service should be fast enough for most campaigns. You can search for them of course via the Internet.

Your second option on the other hand is when you plan on only printing a couple of custom postcards for local distribution. If your aim is this, then printing from your own color printer should be more feasible. Whatever you choose though, it should be easy enough to create and print postcards since they are pretty easy to understand. A picture and a little message on the cover, and some mailing lines and guides at the back. That's all there is to it.

Knowing how and where to send them
The final hurdle for postcard advertising is distribution. You must know where to send them for your postcards to work. If you plan on a large advertising campaign, you might have to buy the addresses provided by research firms and other marketing companies and then use the addresses for mailing. If you want advertising on a more local level however, you can just hire a person to give them out in your city. You might also want to try hiring the printing service to help you since some of them also have distribution options for postcards.

Whatever your mode of deployment is though, make sure that you decide smartly on the houses you will be distributing to. It is best to distribute them on areas where you know will have a better chance of relating to your postcard. So if you plan on advertising to a richer crowd, distribute your postcards to richer residences, while common products should be pretty comfortably sent towards more main stream residences. This should maximize the impact of your postcards, getting them to the people that will be most interested.

Once you get the hang of the distribution, more or less, you should already know how to postcard advertising works. It is not as easy as posters and brochures, but they do get a lot of work done and they can be used to reach out to a very wide area. So do not underestimate their powers.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit:
http://www.printplace.com/printing/postcard-printing.aspx

About The Author
Lynne Saarte is a writer that hails from Texas. She has been in the Internet business for some years now, specializing in Internet marketing and other online business strategies.

How To Decide On A Brochure Template

2009-10-06T13:58:00.001-04:00

Hello all,

A business needs to be armed with many types of marketing tools to effectively get the word out, a brochure is just one piece in a marketing strategy. However, it is an important piece and should be carefully planned out, that’s why choosing the right template to convey your business message can make the difference between getting your business noticed in a positive way or in a negative way. So read on and see what Janice Jenkins has to say about choosing the right brochure template to make your business stand out among the crowd! Until next time, happy writing. You can contact me at The Write Touch 4U site and let’s discuss how I can create the right brochure template for your business.

Lorraine

The Write Touch 4U

http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

How To Decide On A Brochure Template

This article is by Janice Jenkins.

What makes a good brochure template? How do you decide which template to use for brochure printing? Are there criteria involved? Or do you need a critical eye to spot the proper details in brochure templates? Whatever the case, if you are trying to decide on what brochure template to use, here are four tips that should help you pick the right one.

1. A good file format
A good brochure template is usually a digital file format that works well with others. You should target a template with a good file format so that you can use it in different applications and platforms. What I usually recommend if you work on different computers is to choose brochure templates that are made from image formats. Image formats can be opened by almost every desktop publishing software out there, so you can instantly change anything on any platform or application if possible. It should also be easier for your brochure printer since there will be a minimal number of conversions involved.

2. Useful and functional
A brochure template must also be useful and functional. You cannot just choose templates just because it is in a format you like. After seeing a good format, you should see if it has a couple of useful features. Does the brochure template have guidelines and margins? Does it have the standard dimensions for brochures? Are the folds marked and is it in the fold configuration that you want? Determine all of these things before really deciding on a template. You need to be clear about your preferences to truly get the useful template that you need.

3. Easily adaptable or customizable
Also, if at all possible, a brochure template should always be easily adaptable and customizable. This means that certain areas of the template should be really left blank so that you can put your own content easily. If there are things like watermarks, company logos and other things in there, you might want to choose another template since those aren't really supposed to be in a template. So choose something that can really be made into your own custom brochure.

4. Free and unhindered
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you have to know that brochure templates are usually given freely. While there are those that charge fees for their templates, for the most part, the Internet offers a lot of websites that provide brochure templates for free. Those templates are usually very good and very useful for those who want to create their own unique brochures. So do not get sucked in by the marketing talk. You do not have to buy something that is freely available on other websites.

So that is how you decide on a brochure template. It must have a good format, useful, adaptable and free. If you get all four criteria, then that template should be a candidate for your use.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit:
http://www.printplace.com/printing/brochure-templates.aspx, http://www.printplace.com/printing/brochure-printing.aspx

About The Author

Janice Jenkins is a writer for a marketing company in Chicago, IL. Mostly into marketing research, Janice started writing articles early 2007 to impart her knowledge to individuals new to the marketing industry. The author invites you to visit: http://www.printplace.com

Tips For SEO Friendly Marketing Content For Your Website

2009-09-21T08:58:00.003-04:00

Hi all,
I thought that I would share a great article I ran across by Neil Page that enforces the importance of SEO writing in web content. I hope you find it as helpful as I did and take action to implement the elements discussed to get your site or the sites of your clients a better page ranking. They will appreciate you all the more! Until next time, happy writing.
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4 U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Tips For SEO Friendly Marketing Content For Your Website
by: Neil Paige

Getting your website positioned as high as possible in SERP (Search Engine Result Pages) is one of the main goals for everyone who has a SEO strategy.

Statistics prove that the percentage of getting a click to your website keeps on reducing as the searcher moves down the result pages on a Search Engine.

What does a SEO friendly content have?
• Uniqueness
• Appropriate Language
• Relevancy
• Descriptiveness
• Scanable & Skimmable structure - Lists or Bullet form
• Presented in Q/A format
• Powerful Keywords and their placement
• Structured Flow
• Proofread for any mistakes

SEO friendly content does not mean that you start writing for search engines. Write content that search engines would adore automatically. The first and most important rule of content writing strategy is to write for visitors and not for search engines. Search engines ultimate goal is to provide their users with the unique and most relevant content. They will prefer your content if it is written for users.

It is not a coincidence that writing strategy for good contents makes for SEO as well.

Uniqueness: Name a subject and you will find it on web, so dig deep and write something that you own. Something that makes you stand out of the regular web shops.

Appropriate Language: Write in the language of your prospect. The language determines the kind of visitor your site will attract. If you are writing for Business owners who are generally non-technical, write in plain business language. It is always easy to write if you know your readers.

Relevancy: Write what is relevant to your topic and business. Search engines have their own algorithm to check the relevancy of the content. Please avoid playing around with search engines. Even if you get successful in bringing few visitors to your site and they find the content irrelevant to their search, they will immediately bounce out of the site.

Descriptiveness: Descriptive here does not mean to start writing stories. Describe your services or products in an informative manner. Try to display important information with a link to the detailed information. This could give you an extra edge over your competitor

Scanable & Skimmable: Most of the web users do not read they just scan the web. Research shows that visitors read about 20% of content on a webpage. Write content which is easily scanable by readers. Some points to be kept in mind are-
• Use of font color which is easy to the eyes
• Variable Eye catching font sizes
• Use list or bullets instead of paragraphs to improve recall value
• Use of Headers and sub headers - can create interest

Presented in Q/A format: Present your content in a form of questions and answers. Most of the websites miss this opportunity to answer reader’s question and they land up increasing their bounce rate. This can be best done by addressing the user’s pain with a simple yet effective answer.

Powerful Keywords and their placement: Keywords play an important role in SEO strategy. Do not just sprinkle your keywords into the content rather build it around the selected keywords and phrases. The denser the keywords towards the top, the better they are. Use of synonyms is good, however, try them a little lower on your web page.

Structured Flow: It is very important to flow your visitors in a desired manner. Do not leave them to search their way. Guide them with doorways. Do linking within your content that makes the visitor flow with the content. This is called Flow design.

Proofread: Do proofreading to give an additional support to all your writing and SEO efforts. The spelling and grammar errors make your content look unprofessional.

We at AfterTheNet – The Web Strategy Company (http://www.afterthenet.com) keep supplementing our clients with the most basic to the most advanced techniques for any goal they decide to reach with their website. Our step wise approach gives them the complete visibility of their website, which often they are deprived of in absence of a trustworthy resource.

About The Author
Neil is a member of the Knowledge Centre Team at AfterTheNet, http://www.afterthenet.com

Our expertise helps clients' Marketing Teams to align to their business goals and targets. We are led by diversely experienced Business Executives giving you that cut above the rest advantage.

Put Your Copy To The Test

2009-08-19T12:34:00.003-04:00

Here is a great article from one of the greatest copywriters of all time, Michel Fortin, A.K.A. The Copy Doctor. He shares his insights as to what works and what doesn’t when it comes to creating great copy. Read on and hopefully you can add some polish to your copy with the tips Michel shares here.

Enjoy!

Lorraine

The Write Touch 4U

http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

By Michel Fortin

In my critique consulting services, I’ve found the most common mistake clients make is the ignorance of, or indifference to, split-testing. Little do they know this underutilized marketing practice can be one of the most profitable.

Split-testing is the simple process of splitting your audience into reading two or more versions of your copy — whether it’s your website, sales letter, email, etc — to determine which version pulls the best.

I’m a big fan of testing. And I teach it as much as I can, and if my critiques are any indication, I also believe 99% of marketers out there do not test at all. It’s a shame, because they’re leaving so much money on the table.

I applaud those people who do test. The problem, however, is that some of them reveal their test results, share their insights, and make claims, which can be a bad thing.

Sure, test results are cool. Perhaps even insightful. But some may be misinterpreted, and doing so also feeds into this lackadaisical mindset of those non-testers, thinking that such test results are universally applicable and therefore testing is unnecessary.

Taking any test result as gospel, without validation, can be an expensive proposition…

I always recommend you test everything first. Never take any test result as applicable to your specific situation. Even mine, as I do share my test results from time to time.

Why? Because only a handful of these test results, if any (and believe me, they are rare), are statistically significant enough to be truly portable to other offers or markets.

So, you’re probably scratching your head, wondering:

“What good are test results, then?”

Now, I agree that some results, tested thoroughly under various conditions, can be widely accepted. They have slim margins of error, and they’re statistically valid enough that the likelihood of achieving the same kinds of results in another area is higher.

(Then again, those “surefire” test results are equally limited in their application, as they were generated at specific points in time. They may change over time as markets evolve. So even the best test results are never constant.)

It’s true, however, that having access to someone else’s test results — like the ones I reveal in my Copy Doctor membership website — puts you several steps ahead of trying to blindly test anything without any help or direction, let alone of testing nothing at all.

Knowing what to test is an awesome benefit.

Never discount other people’s test results. Look at them as pointers, which are great ideas for testing. But they are not, and should never be taken as, absolutes.

Each “pointer” any marketer gives has been achieved under very specific and sometimes very unique conditions. Duplicating those results is highly contingent on duplicating the same conditions under which those tests were conducted.

For example, if you’re testing colors, then the target market, the type of product, the price point, and the offer have all played immense roles in the weight of those test results. And even if there’s a small chance that they are the same as yours, the time during which the tests were conducted is definitely different.

Let me give you some examples.

Last year, another copywriter posted his test results on a popular Internet marketing forum. I agree with most of them, largely because they seem to parallel mine, but there were a few exceptions. So I’ve added some of my comments, reprinted here…

1. Your headline should always be in Tahoma, dark red, size 20. It must also have quotation marks before and after. Also, headlines that start with “Who Else” always gets a higher response.

Yes, that’s what I’ve tested, too. But the results do vary. On average, the increase is less than 100%. Even less than 50%. (Meaning, they don’t double or more, as some marketers suggest.) And in some cases, the response went down rather than up.

In the majority of tests, we found the greatest bump in results has less to do with colors than it has with the headline’s distinctive appeal. In other words, when the headline is distinctly different than the rest of the body copy, it draws more attention.

For instance, sans-serif fonts for headlines and headers (i.e., subheads within the copy), when the body copy uses serif fonts — and vice versa — have the best results. Dark red headlines, and then dark blue, seem to outpull other colors.

Sans-serif are proportional width fonts with no curlicues, such as Tahoma, Trebuchet, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, etc — this blog uses Arial, for example. Serif fonts have curlicues, such as Times New Roman, Schoolbook, Georgia, Garamond, etc.

Serif fonts are best with a primarily technophobic audience.

(Technophobes are people who are not technically inclined, such as newbies or people who are averse to technology. Granted, as more and more people use technology on a regular basis, technophobes are a shrinking bunch.)

With technophiles, on the other hand (i.e., people who love and use technology a lot), I’ve had better results with sans-serif fonts used within the body copy, and even sans-serif fonts for the main headline and headers throughout the copy.

My guess as to why all of this is so? For technophobes, serif fonts mimic direct mail and offline communications, which non-techies are used to. Objectively, delivering copy in the format your audience is used to as much as possible is the key.

The middle ground for both seems to be fixed-width fonts, such as Courier or Courier New. If your audience is comprised of both ends of the spectrum of what Jupiter Research calls “technographics” — similar to demographics — Courier is your safest bet.

My theory is, Courier mimics plain text email for technophiles and typewriter type for technophobes, thus appealing to both. So if you’re not sure of your target market’s technographics, use Courier or Courier New as your main font to play it safe.

Bottom line, it depends on the audience.

And without a doubt, doing proper market research before you do any split-testing — or worse, guessing from the get-go — will tell you a lot about your audience as to what will appeal to them best. (I’ll come back to the whole “who else” argument a little later.)

2. Your headline should be simple and focus only on the SINGLE biggest benefit of your product (don’t try to get fancy and do heaps of benefits at once). Make it clear and compelling.

True. But again, that’s a suggestion. In fact, I’ve found that using less and less benefits in your headline increases response, likely because benefit-driven headlines alerts the reader that what follows is a salesletter. (And people hate being sold.)

I’ve had good results with headlines that didn’t have any benefits at all. Such as…

Newsy, editorial-like headlines,
Headlines that introduce a story,
Headlines that ask a question,
Headlines that give an incomplete idea,
Headlines that start a conversation,

And so on.

These headlines pull the reader into the copy, especially because they start an idea, imply a benefit (rather than state one outright), pique the reader’s curiosity, ask a question, or continue the conversation going on in the mind of the reader.

Here are some examples of classic headlines that are not benefit-driven but have historically proven to be for some of the most profitable ads in history:

“Do You Make These Mistakes In English?”
“The Tale Of Two Young Men”
“The Insult That Made A Man Out Of Mac”
“When Doctors Feel Rotten, This Is What They Do”
“Often A Bridesmaid, Never A Bride”
“Using A Lawyer May Be Dangerous To Your Wealth”
“Have You Ever Seen a Grown Man Cry?”

Again, there are no real or direct benefits in these headlines. But there’s either an implied benefit, or a statement that tickles people’s curiosity and forces them to start reading, which is the whole purpose of a headline in the first place.

Now, some people have ranted and raved about the “who else” headline. I tested this headline like crazy. Personally, I hate it. But like it or not, it seems to pull more than any other headline I’ve tried — granted, it is slowly declining in recent times.

In fact, while I’m at it let me share with you five headline types I’ve tested, which have produced some of the highest responses — and the reasons I believe they work…

1. “Who Else”

The “who else” headline is based on the original classic, “Who Else Wants a Screen Star Figure?” This type of headline is the winner is most of my tests, and now used by countless marketers. I’m sure you’ve come across at least one of them.

Mind you, the second winner in line is not too far down. So “Who else” may be the winner but the margin is slim. Plus, recent tests show that the response for a “who else” headline is declining, likely due to is overuse.

In other words, just like the benefit-driven headline, too many marketers use “who else” nowadays, and therefore people are becoming more aware of it. It screams “salesletter!” and thus scares readers off when they see it being used.

2. “If/Then”

This headline is very close to “who else” in terms of concept.

It was used in one of the most successful ad campaigns for self-made multi-millionaire Charles Givens, written by one of my favorite copywriters, Gary Bencivenga.

Since then, it has been used in many other industries with great success. For example, it also worked in an ad for exercise guru Richard Simmons, which basically said something like, “If you give me 20 minutes a month, then I guarantee you will lose weight.”

I’ve also used this type of headline with John Reese’s Traffic Secrets, the salesletter that sold over a million dollars worth of product in under one day. It started as, “If you can copy and paste, then you have what it takes to…”

Simply, it promises a benefit but only if the reader can meet a very simple, very obvious condition. In other words, “If you meet this condition, then I will make this promise.”

The key is that the condition must be easy to meet. If the condition is too hard, it defeats the purpose of using such a headline. Also, if your target customer can easily meet the condition, this type of headline can also act as an effective qualifier.

3. “Give Me/And I’ll”

This is close to the “if/then” headline. Essentially, rather than asking if the reader meets a condition, it makes a promise or offers a benefit when the reader meets it.

In other words, it doesn’t put any condition on the reader but rather asks a small favor from her, which is a simple request that’s obviously easy to do, and disproportionate to the value of the benefit they receive in return for complying.

It goes something like this: “Give me something (i.e., do something or meet this condition), and in return I’ll make you this promise (i.e., you will enjoy this benefit).”

This highlights a classic Cialdini principle, the Principle of Reciprocity. Dr. Robert Cialdini, in his famous book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” states that when you do someone a favor, people will feel obligated to return it.

In this case, the headline is asking for a favor and promises to return it.

Take a look at Alex Mandossian’s Traffic Conversion Secrets course, which was a teleseminar series delivered over eight months. The headline goes: “Give Me 8 Months, And I’ll Spoonfeed You My Tested Methods For Converting More Visitors Into Cash.”

4. “How To”

The “how-to” headline is self-explanatory. Any headline that says “how to [achieve a result]” has been a surefire winner in many cases. I use it all the time. And the reason is, the headline makes the salesletter look more like an article or editorial.

Regardless of whichever headline method you choose, your salesletter should always provide some informative or educational content. But the goal is to deliver the “what” and to sell them on the “how,” which is only achieved by buying your product.

For example…

“How to Transform Your Unproductive Website Into a Raging Cash Machine.”
“How to Grow Bigger, Plumper, Juicier Tomatoes in Only Two-Thirds of The Time.”
“How to Get a Near-New Car For 60% Less at Government Seizure Auctions.”

5. Third-Person Verbs

Headlines that start with a verb have always produced really good results.

Verbs that direct the audience to do something, often to receive a benefit or to achieve a certain result, have always given great test results. Verbs like “Discover,” “Master,” “Access,” “Get,” “Learn,” “Conquer,” “Build,” and so on work well.

But here’s the kicker. In recent tests, I’ve learned that, in some instances, putting your verbs in the third person increases response. It’s an idea I got from copywriter Bob Bly.

He tells the story of an ad that had a typo. The ad was for a course on how to play the piano. The intended headline was, “Put Music Back Into Your Life.” The typo was an extra “s” accidentally placed after the verb “put,” as in “Puts Music Back Into Your Life.”

At first, the error was disconcerting to the ad owner.

But to their surprise, they realized that error multiplied the ad’s response. My theory? The third person makes the headline appear as if the product or service does the work for you rather than you doing it yourself. It seems effortless.

In Bly’s example, rather than asking the reader to “put music back into her life,” the ad implied that the course does it for them.

Again, it goes to the natural human propensity of getting things done. It’s all about convenience and laziness. And after I heard about it, I’ve tested it with great results.

My friend Armand Morin tested this, too, with his directory generator software. The headline says, (this software) “Instantly Creates a New Breed of Website…” rather than “Instantly Create a New Breed of Website” (with this software).

3. Add audio directly underneath your headline. But not just any audio. You want audio that excites your reader and keeps them reading. Don’t waffle on. Keep it short and sweet.

I agree. This is a test I made based on a suggestion from my friend John Reese. John used it with his AuctionSecrets.com website, and told me his sales increased significantly. So I tried it. And after testing it got a 44% increase in response.

It is particularly effective when combined with a “who else” headline. The question in the headline, using “who else” (or any other question, for that matter), immediately engages the reader — at least to listen to the audio, since the audio answers the question.

Used in concert with the “If/Then” and “Give Me/And I’ll” headlines, the audio finishes the statement, answers the question, or offers a benefit when they meet the condition.

After it asks you, “do you meet this condition?” the headline directs the reader to listen to the audio for a very special message if they do meet it. In other words, the audio says, “I can make this promise (or you can enjoy this benefit),” or “you should read this copy which is meant specifically for you (because you meet this condition),” etc.

4. Pepper your order links throughout your copy (not just at the end like most people). Repeat them again and again before the end.

Now, this is a bit contentious.

I found that it depends on the product. What I discovered was that removing all links and leaving only the one single order link increased response dramatically, especially for long copy, one-time purchases — especially with information products.

Why? Because more often than not, adding too many links gives people an opportunity to procrastinate and bail out. If you have long copy, and since people never read long copy at first, they will then scan your copy to justify the need to read it in the first place.

Often, they will want to know the price, not to discover if there’s any value in the offer — besides, how can they know when they haven’t read it yet? — but to discover if the price justifies the time it will take to read the long copy in the first place.

Increasing the number of links adds “eye gravity,” and gives people a chance to skip the long copy, check out the price before they start reading, and then… leave.

On the other hand, if you sell an inexpensive product, a commodity product, or a digital product, if your audience is on a list to which you can follow-up, and if the copy is highly targeted to an audience that’s already pre-sold (i.e., it’s generated through affiliate promotions that endorse the product), then many links do increase sales.

Because most of the time, people are already sold. They just want to buy.

Armand Morin has tested this extensively — in fact, some of his salesletters have over 100 order links! At first, when I heard he saw a jump in sales because of adding more order links, my assumption was that this was true for all products.

It’s not.

Remember, Armand uses affiliate marketing, a “namesqueeze” process (i.e., an opt-in page before hitting the sales page, so they join a list whether they buy or not), and a carefully crafted autoresponder series that pre-sells the recipient very well.

So when they’ve decided to order, they’re simply led to the sales copy — which is a webpage with many order links. And in this case, doing so boosted sales.

Otherwise, if you sell an expensive product and you really want people to read your copy first, then don’t put too many links. You want to give the least amount of distractions as possible as well as the least amount of opportunities to bail out as possible.

John Reese said it this way:

“Use only one link, mainly in your call-to-action section. And if you want to add more, simply add some after that section, which are not order links but simply anchored bookmarks that jump people back to the call-to-action section.”

(The latter part of John’s tip is presumably because, when people scan, they usually pay attention to the top and the bottom. Which is why headlines and P.S.’s at the end are crucial. But in this case, adding “live” order links after the order section is just another opportunity for people to bail out. That’s my theory, anyway.)

5. Pepper testimonials throughout your copy. Don’t limit your testimonials to blocks somewhere in the middle. Use the first one early on and pepper the others throughout your copy.

My answer to this one is both “yes” and “no.” Yes, you should pepper testimonials throughout. But adding a few together, particularly if they’re similar and serve a specific purpose, also helps to cluster them for greater impact.

However, the real key here is to make them congruent with the thoughts and flow of the copy. Because too many people nowadays plunk their testimonials in huge clusters in the middle of the copy with no purpose or relevance to that particular point in the pitch.

I’ve seen better test results when testimonials are meaningful, not only in themselves but also in terms of how they relate to the rest of the copy at that point. So pick and use testimonials that are relevant to specific sections of your pitch.

For example, say a section in your copy is meant to handle objections pre-emptively. This is a good place to add testimonials from people who were also skeptics, had the same objections, and became convinced after buying the product.

In this case, the testimonial is answering the objection (more specifically, a seemingly objective third party is answering the objection), and not you.

Say you sell a software that promises to increase your search engine rankings. So your copy at some point starts to talk to the skeptic who’s been burnt by other search engine software, and discusses how it really is different than the others.

You tell your reader how different it is from others on the market — likely software people were burnt with — and that the software really does deliver on its promises.

But instead of stating it outright, use testimonials to drive that same point home. The copy might say, after the objection was stated in the copy:

“Mr. Prospect, as you can see, my software truly is unique and better than most alternatives on the market that only offer [lesser result or benefit]. Take the case of John Smith, who nearly didn’t buy my software because he’s not only a diehard skeptic, but also bought other alternatives that produced less than favorable results. He was extremely doubtful and almost didn’t buy the software. But after he reluctantly agree to try the software, here’s what he had to say [followed by his testimonial].”

In my tests, I’ve found that adding testimonials too early in the letter decreases response. Perhaps for the same reasons mentioned earlier: they scream “sales letter!”

Unless you’re selling to an established client base, to a highly targeted audience, or to traffic created by affiliates who pre-sell your product for you (which, in this case, testimonials early in the copy do work well), try to put your testimonials a little later.

I prefer putting them near the introduction of the product, the objections, the offer, the benefits (near a bulleted list of benefits, for example), and of course, the price.

A final note. Actually, a caveat.

Keep in mind that anything I say here may or may not work in your copy.

Just like I said about other people’s test results, mine should be used as guidance, not gospel. I know the chances that they will work are high since I’ve tested them thoroughly.

But never, ever take my word for it. Sure, try them. Test them out. Validate them for yourself and your particular market, industry, and offer. See if my test results match yours. If they do, great. If not, test them again but with other variations, or move on.

And if you have several websites or salesletters, don’t stop there. Test it some more. You’ll be glad you did. Or like some of my students, you’ll be mad — mad because you’ll soon realize how much money you left sitting on the table all this time by not testing.

About the Author

Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker, and consultant. Visit his blog and signup free to get tested conversion strategies and response-boosting tips by email, along with blog updates, news, and more! Go now to http://www.michelfortin.com. While you're at it, follow him on Twitter.

Tips to Get a Google AdSense Account

2009-08-03T14:14:00.003-04:00

Hi all,

Today I thought I would stray from my normal writing content and bring you an article that will help you get the most from your website or blog in terms of income streams. It’s all about AdSense today and the article will address how to get an AdSense account so that you can start monetizing your site or blog. After all, if you have an online presence, you are here to make some money, AdSense can help do that for you. Some marketers actually make a living from AdSense alone, but that is a story for another day!

So read, enjoy and happy monetizing!

Lorraine

The Write Touch 4U

Tips to Get a Google AdSense Account
by: Henri Suryanto

To whom it may not familiar with AdSense, It is a Google’s marketing program which allows website/blog owners to generate income from displaying relevant Google ads on their websites. AdSense matches the content of the website to ads within their AdWords program and displays the relevant ads on the website. The website owners will get income from their website visitors clicking the ads. And there are some success stories from people who profiting and earning thousand dollars from Google AdSense

So how you can get those kinds of ads displayed in your website? Basically you have to register you website/blog and get Google’s approval. But unfortunately not every request will get approved. I have a tip for you based on my experience obtaining approval from Google in my first try, here are the steps:

1. Set up your blog with www.blogspot.com. Blogspot is a Google own blogging service. Make a certain theme for your blog and make sure that the theme is a marketable theme.

2. Put several relevant contents to your blog. Google loves contents! If you choose “health” as your theme, then you can write anything about health. But let me remind you, you have to write them in English. If you think you can’t write and not really confident with your English, don’t worry about that. You can find relevant contents in free articles directory such GoArticles.com and Ezinearticles.com but don’t delete the author names and their links (usually available at the bottom of the articles). Don’t take credit on their works.

3. If you have put some relevant contents, wait about two or three days. When you edit the layout or format of your blog, it will appear an offer from Google to apply for Google AdSense account. If the offer does not appear, just visit www.google.com/AdSense and register there.

Believe me, your AdSense account approval will send to your email address in several days and start make money with Google AdSense.

About The Author

Henri Suryanto is a financial analyst and optimize his spare time by making money from the internet. For more tips and internet money making ideas, visit his blog http://sources-onlinebusiness.blogspot.com

List Building And Email Marketing Tips

2009-06-26T08:24:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope your day is going as planned and that you are all healthy and happy. Well, today I thought I would feature an article by a man that I have long admired and followed. Jeremy Gislason of SureFireWealth. Jeremy has offered PLR products through his membership site for awhile now. He also offers a free “silver” membership where you can get some free PLR products to use for your own site. You may want to take a wander over to his site and see for yourself. In any event, I hope you enjoy the article by Jeremy on email marketing; it may just help boost your sales!

Enjoy,

Lorraine

The Write Touch 4U

http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

4 List Building And Email Marketing Tips That Work Like Gangbusters
by: Jeremy Gislason

List building is one of the most effective ways to make money online and build a rock-solid foundation for your business. The more quality subscribers you have, the higher you will earn when you promote a certain product.

But it’s not about accumulating as much subscribers as you can, and then bombarding them with ads and promotions. If that’s the only aspect you’re focusing on, then your list building efforts are a waste of time.

Here are some red-hot tips to help build a list who will trust and like you, and to establish your credibility with your subscribers. Most important of all, these strategies would make your list more willing to buy anything you promote that is beneficial to them.

Tip # 1: Create An Exceptional Squeeze Page.

The more people who signs up to your list, the more prospects you will have. So the first thing to consider is to build an excellent squeeze page that catches their attention and entices them to give their name and email.

Some experts suggest that having eye-catching graphics can boost your opt-in rates, while some advise to focus on the copywriting aspect and the benefits they will get upon subscribing. There are no hard and fast rules. The only way to really know what works is to test, test, and test.

But despite different recommendations, make sure you create a professional-looking squeeze page that is easy on their eyes. This is the first real impression you make with a prospect. Even if you have minimal graphics, you want to make your customer “attracted” to your site and confident enough to spread the word to others who might benefit from it.

The average person does not spend more than three to five seconds on a website that is not pleasant to look at, or does not offer what they want. So make sure your squeeze page looks decent and offers something beneficial in exchange for their subscription.

Tip # 2: Build Friendly Relationships.

Building rapport and good relationships with your list is necessary to secure a profitable business in the long run. Getting the trust of your prospects is a high priority.

Many marketers hard sell their products immediately when someone subscribes; this is not a good idea. A single one-time offer could be a lucrative idea after they opt-in; but it has to end there, at least until you’ve given them enough valuable content and information to build trust and credibility.

Studies by sales and market research companies, confirmed by the top professional sales people, have shown that it regularly takes seven or more communications before potential patrons make a purchase. Make every one of them count.

Want to give value and earn at the same time? Send a free helpful e-book branded with your desired links. You could also ask them to read articles that they might find interesting. Post these articles on separate web pages; and in these article pages, you could insert Google AdSense and/or include your offer after the article.

Another way you could give value without being too promotional is to subtly put a soft sell message in the P.S. portion of your email. It’s best if this P.S. complements your non-promotional content.

After you’ve given enough value to your subscribers, you’re ready to earn big time and send solo promo emails. But you should still maintain the right balance between sending content messages and promos. Some marketers suggest sending 2 to 3 content (or semi-content) emails for every 1 promotional email. But each case is different, so you need to test and analyze your unsubscription rates for every email you send out.

Tip # 3: Give Them The Special Treatment.

Most people hate being sold to. But here’s a way to make your subscribers love you despite promoting to them:

Give them huge discounts or coupons they can avail on your products. If you’re promoting an affiliate product, ask the owner to give your subscribers an exclusive discount. Persuade the owner by telling him that the quantity of the sales will offset the reduction in earnings for each product sold. If the owner is hesitant (and if you’re feeling generous enough), you could even suggest that he reduce your commissions in exchange for giving your subscribers the special deal. Even if you’re earning less per product, the number of units sold could multiply many times over.

If offering a discount, coupon or rebate is impractical, you could give away special bonuses when they buy through your recommendations.

Your aim is to satisfy your customers to the best of your abilities. If you do that, they will continue buying from you, because they know you’re looking after their best interest.

A good reputation will drive in more traffic and customers, as your clients will spread good things about you or your products, and recommend you as a reliable source. Just as in a brick and mortar business, treat your customers well and they will in turn treat you well.

Tip # 4: Let Other Companies Promote To Your List.

Apart from selling your own products and recommendations, you may also use your list to earn additional profits. How? Allow other companies to put an ad in your mailing for a fixed fee. This works quite well if you have a newsletter, where you could insert sponsor ads. This doesn't mean sell to the competition, but a company with a product that compliments yours. You are basically renting email space to another company that will market to your list.

But the big question is… would it be better to promote your own recommendations, or earn a fixed income by letting other companies advertise to your list? It depends on your purpose. Many gurus suggest promoting your own recommendations (especially if your promotion has been tested to convert really well). But the downside is that there’s no assurance of how much you will earn. By letting others leverage from your subscribers, you will earn a fixed income (but in this case, you’re limiting your earning potentials). Again, it’s best to test and analyze your results to see which will bring the highest profit margin for you.

Hope these list building and email marketing tips help bring your business success to the next level.

About The Author
Want to discover the most incredible and intuitive membership site software today, including breakthrough email marketing software? Then go to http://www.memberspeed.com for details on the world’s leading client and content management system.

Also visit Jeremy’s PLR membership website at http://www.surefirewealth.com

How To Hit Your Writing Stride

2009-06-23T09:09:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone!
Today I thought that we would tackle the subject of patience. Patience as it applies to writing. I don't know about you, but I have very little patience, especially when it comes to writing. It sometimes takes me awhile to get my thoughts arranged on the page the way I want them to appear. Sometimes, I also keep going over the work editing it until I think I will pull my hair out! In any event, read the following article from Beth Rodgers about patience with your writing. It is not only interesting, but enlightening.
enjoy!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Help You Hit Your Writing Stride by: Beth Rodgers

Writing requires patience. It is as plain and simple as that. There are obviously moments of sheer inspiration, when words fly out of your head and onto the page in front of you faster than you could have ever imagined. However, there are also those times when ideas don’t spring forth, and you feel the need to dispel this momentary lapse in thought. Sometimes patience is the most helpful idea to have at moments like these. Read on to find three patience tests that will have you working on how to be patient and hitting your writing stride – all at the same time. Jot your thoughts down in a journal as you engage in each activity so you will have an adequate remembrance of what it was like to practice patience, and how it helped set you on the appropriate writing path.

Patience Test #1: Be inconspicuous. Set aside some time to sit quietly and reflect on your day. Delay your list of errands for a day and take in the sunrise. Listen to the chirping of the birds, and watch as leaves rustle in the wind. There is an old phrase, “a watched pot never boils.” Ironically, though, this phrase does not hold true for us as writers. Being patient and setting aside time to do some of the things you regularly take for granted will allow your mind to start brimming with ideas and boiling over with the intricacies of your imagination.

Patience Test #2: Reminisce. Chat with an old friend over coffee at your favorite café. Look through old photographs that you didn’t even realize you still had. Remember the time when you did the craziest thing you can ever remember doing, and then think back on what made you do it. Create nostalgia that you can’t get past and consider why those memories were so magical, horrifying, emboldening, or inspirational for you. You must be patient as you wait for these memories to come to the forefront of your mind. Sometimes it’s been so long that it takes a while to remember the impenetrable details that make your story so unique.

Patience Test #3: Accept inevitability. Sometimes things can’t help but be changed. You must learn to roll with these punches, or life will become one upsetting trial after another. Be patient with the changes that life throws at you. Some of them may seem scary or undependable at first, but turn out to be the changes that make our lives worth living. We must depend on our patience to see us through these times of uncertainty. Think of a time in the recent past when something changed in your life and you were unsure about the consequences of what might follow. How did it turn out? Whether it is a good or bad result that came from your example, the inevitability factor still remains in place. It happened, and therefore had some sense of being bound to happen, so take it as it comes, practice patience, and you too will get through this. You’ll probably even come out a better writer on the other side.

About The Author

Beth Rodgers is founder of the popular website http://www.writers-block-help.com - visit the site for a wealth of information regarding overcoming writer’s block with the help of creative writing story starters, poem starters, writing tips and techniques, and high-quality writing examples. Be sure to sign up for the free ezine and eBook on the website. The author invites you to visit:
http://www.writers-block-help.com

Michel Fortin Blog Post Today

2009-06-04T09:22:00.002-04:00

Hello Everyone,
Hope your day is going fantastic. Just a quick post today.

Michel Fortin, one of the great copywriters of our time (at least in m y opinion and that of his many followers) has a great post on his blog today about people who are freelancers and provide services. It is all about how valuable your time as a freelancer really is. Check it out here: http://www.michelfortin.com/land-sale/

, it is on the money!

Enjoy,

Lorraine

How to Select a Logo Designer

2009-06-02T11:41:00.003-04:00

By Ben Johnson

The image you develop for your business is fundamental to overall success. At the heart of your efforts at crafting and creating the most appropriate, attractive and vibrant image for your business enterprise in this day and age is the design of an ideal logo. With this in mind, the selection of a logo designer is a task that you must take very seriously. There are a number of important considerations and steps that you will want to take as you go about selecting the best logo designer for your business needs, goals and objectives.

Experiences Matters

On the surface you might think that designing a logo is not a complicated task. You may assume that nearly anyone with some taste and artistic inclinations can design a logo for you. The reality is, however, that logo design is a more complex task that requires consideration of a number of important facts.

Therefore, if you are seeking a logo designer at this point in time you absolutely need to understand that experience matters. Experience is fundamental when it comes to ensuring that you obtain the most attractive, most effective – the very best – logo for your business.

Check References and Get Recommendations

Even in this high tech age, keep in mind that word of mouth can be very important. When you are looking for a logo designer, you will want to visit with other people, with other business owners. You will want to obtain recommendations from other business owners who have had to obtain logos for their own enterprises.

If possible, you may want to focus your attention on getting recommendations from business who are involved in the same industry in which you operate your own venture. In this way you will be able to identify a logo designer that has worked with a business in your own field in the past.

Beyond obtaining recommendations from other business owners or managers, ask a logo designer with whom you are considering doing business to provide you with references. If a logo designer has done a good job for others, he or she will be more than happy to provide you references from satisfied clients.

Portfolios are Fundamental

When you are seeking a professional, talented logo designer for your business you will want to take a look at the designer's portfolio. By checking out a portfolio you will be in the best possible position to really understand the quality of work that a particular logo designer will be able to provide to you.

Shop Around for the Most Reasonable Price

Another factor that you will want to pay attention to when you are seeking a logo designer is taking steps to get the most reasonable price. Keep in mind that the cheapest logo designer may not be the best. Rather than look for the lowest possible price around you will want to find a quality logo designer that will do work for you at a reasonable price.

Particularly during these more challenging economic times when you need to pay close attention to the bottom line you definitely will want to take the top to shop around for the best possible price for excellent services.

Consider Available Customer Support

In considering which logo designer to engage for your services, find out in advance what a particular provider will offer in the way of customer service. You need to know what will be available in the way of customer service both during the time the designer is working on your logo and also after you obtain your logo. You may need assistance with your logo after the design process is finished for one reason or another and you will want to be sure that appropriate assistance will be available to you.

Working at the Drawing Board: Understand the Policy on Revisions

There is an old adage that really does apply to selecting a logo designer. That saying goes something to the effect of “if at first you don't succeed, try again ...” When considering a potential logo designer, you need to know what the policy will be in regard to revising logo designs. Odds are that the initial logo design that you will be provided may not perfectly fit the bill. You need to know how many revisions you will be able to obtain without having to pay an additional fee.

Ensuring Your Satisfaction with a Money Back Guarantee.

Finally, as you go about the task of seeking and finding the logo designer that will be the best match for you and your business, find out what type of satisfaction guarantee a designer will offer to you. For example, you will want to focus your attention on finding a professional logo designer that will offer to you a money back guarantee.

This is guest post from Ben Johnson of Logoinn, a custom logo design service provider based in UK. Visit Ben’s site at: http://www.logoinn.com

This article is the intellectual property of Ben Johnson of Logoinn Log Design and may be used and distributed provided that this copyright and bio stay intact and are not altered in any way. Copyright © 2009, Ben Johnson, All Rights Reserved.

Promo Secrets

2008-08-20T14:08:00.005-04:00

Here is a great article by Elizabeth Kuhn that will give you some insight into the secrets of good promotion. It’s all about the copywriting!

Until next time…enjoy!

Lorraine

The Write Touch 4U

http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Promo Secrets - How to Use Just the Right Words to Make Your Promotion Irresistible - And Successful

By Elisabeth Kuhn

Have you ever read a promotion or a sales letter and couldn't get your credit card out fast enough, only to wonder later what the heck had happened? That was good copywriting at work, an essential ingredient for a successful promotion. Wouldn't you like to be able to do that?

A start could be to experiment with the words you use in your offer. Think about how you feel when you hear the expressions "Limited Time Offer", "Act Now" or "For the Next 10 Minutes Only...". For many consumers, these phrases cause a subconscious emotional reaction that makes them far more likely to sign up for your newsletter.

Of course, it isn't enough to simply toss up a headline that reads "This is a Limited Time Offer - You'd Better Act Now in the Next 10 Minutes!" Nor is it possible for me to predict exactly which headline will earn the most sign-ups to your newsletter. That's why it's vital to continually test every aspect of your offer.

And the way it's usually done is by setting up a split-test. You use a small snippet of code or a specially designed program that produces two nearly-identical copies of your offer page. These two copies are shown to visitors randomly, with each copy being displayed roughly 50% of the time.

The only difference between these two copies should be a single variable of your choosing. For example, if you want to test whether the opening "Limited Time Offer" or "Act Now" is more effective, you'll create a separate copy of your offer page that displays these different titles randomly to viewers.

You can use the results of your split-test program to determine which title is more effective. If 90% of the visitors to your "Limited Time Offer" page sign up for your newsletter, compared with only 20% on your "Act Now" version, you can adjust the headline and move on to the next variable. Just remember to only test one variable at a time - otherwise, you won't be able to decipher which specific change will give you the most sign-ups!

Of course that's only one small aspect to a successful promotion, but a very important one. If you wish there were an easy way to figure out just how to set up a successful promotion, start to finish, check out my new favorite helpful solution: Marlon Sanders' new promo dashboard, with its step-by-step, paint by the numbers tasks, all explained in detail, with tools provided. Take a look at http://www.mypromodashboard.com and discover how it can help you too.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elisabeth_Kuhn

Test Your Copywriting

2008-08-07T13:54:00.002-04:00

Here is a great article by Mitch Carson that will give you some insight into why it is important to test, test and test your copywriting. Enjoy!

Lorraine

http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

ARTICLE

Is your copywriting getting the type of results you want it to get? How do you know? Testing and tracking your copywriting is essential for achieving success in your marketing endeavours and you will need to have a strategy for testing that enables you to determine exactly what is and what is not working.

Split Testing Your Copywriting

One of the first methods you can use to test your copywriting is to split test. This means creating two ads, sales pages, or sales letters that are virtually identical in every respect except for one that you are testing. You can then determine which got better results and you will know that this can only be due to one factor. By having too many differences between your different copies you will not be able to determine which the deciding factor was, so stick to one difference.

Where are Your Results coming from?

Another thing you will want to know is where your results are coming from. Online this can usually be done using either tracking software or tracking codes and assigning a different code to each piece of marketing material. Offline you can ask people to tell you where they found out about you, to call different numbers on different pieces of marketing material, or to quote a code when they call that helps you determine where they saw you.

Conversion Tracking

You don't only want to know where people came from when you test your copywriting but also how many of those people are turning into sales. A marketing piece that attracts plenty of visitors but no sales is actually not achieving what you want it to achieve and so needs to be changed or discarded.

Testing your copywriting is essential for getting the results you want and working on improving your copy to get better results. This can be done by determining where your visitors come from, how many turn into sales, as well as the effects of different advertising copies.

Mitch Carson is an award-winning direct marketer, consultant, author and columnist who has consulted for the BEST of the BEST in marketing including, Legendary marketer Dan Kennedy, Jay Conrad Levinson author of "Guerilla Marketing", Joe Vitale, Ron LeGrand #1 How to Get Rich in Real Estate, Ted Thomas, Internet Marketing Guru Yanik Silver, Mark Victor Hansen, Co-author #1 Best Selling Series, "Chicken Soup for the Soul", and other marketing experts on advanced direct marketing techniques. He has had been written up in over 140 newspapers worldwide (including the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Washington Post and more), over 600 radio stations, and has been featured in over 200 spots on QVC, Home Shopping Network, Fox News, and Reuters Worldwide. He can be reached at 818-280-0199, http://www.mitchcarson.com and http://www.impactproducts.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitch_Carson

Thirty Day Challenge TV -Pre-season

2008-06-02T10:36:00.002-04:00

Get ready to ROCK and ROLL with the 30 day challenge 4!!!! The great Ed Dale once again takes us through the exciting journey of starting your own Internet business and making money on the net. Also, again he is doing this absolutely FREE! You heard me, it will cost you NOTHING! So what do you have to lose? Get on board through this link and I'll see you on the other side. http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/1423

How To Find Freelance Writing Jobs Using Craigslist

2008-04-30T13:38:00.002-04:00

This is a great article about finding freelance writing work on Craigslist. I have to admit that it is not a site I even thought to look for work on, but I think I may give it a try to generate more clients for my writing biz, can't hurt to try, right? Hope you enjoy and that this article helps you in some way to get your freelance writing career off the ground! Until next time,
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

How To Find Freelance Writing Jobs Using Craigslist
by: David Drake

Craiglist is a massive portal for online classifieds and forums varying from job opportunities, housing, goods, services, and local activities plus just about everything else. While the site is active in 450 cities around the globe, it attracts over 9 billion hits per month.

If you are in to freelance writing, Craiglist will be your perfect starting point. To begin with, login to craigslist.org – The first method to get about finding a job is by performing a search. For this you will need to select a country and/or a city that you would like to take the job from; e.g. London. Then you can browse through the ‘jobs’ category to find freelance writing jobs that suit you.

Once you spot interesting opportunities, you can follow its hyperlink to read through details of the job. On any given job posting, there will be a posting ID and a phone number, email address or other contact information. If you are interested in trying out the opportunity, simply go ahead and contact the relevant party.

Here’s another approach to performing a search. When you go to the city level (in some cases country level as well) you’ll see a search box on to your left hand side. Simply enter keywords such as “writing” or “editing” and select “jobs” from the dropdown to begin your search. You will see search results matching your keywords presented in chronological order. As you may already assume, finding a job this way can consume a lot of time as there will be thousands of listings. So one option you’ve got is to narrow down the search by selecting or deselecting parameters below the search field, which will produce more accurate results.

If not, your best deal is to post your own advertisement. To do this, simply navigate up to a city of your choice and use ‘post to classifieds’ link. Select the link ‘Service Offered’ and then, follow the link ‘writing/editing/translations’. Depending on the city or country you have chosen you, might be asked to select a specific geographical area; however your next step is to come up with a creative advertisement. Once you submit the advertisement, you will have to accept Craigslist terms of conditions.

If you agree, you will be notified via email on how to publish your entry. Simply follow the guidelines and your advertisement will be published at the website for the coming 7 days, free of charge. However, make sure not to post too many ads as you may risk being suspended from the website. So if you are posting multiple advertisements, make sure to make them each unique and possibly use different email addresses too.

However, the most effective way of finding writing jobs on Craigslist is by subscribing for RSS feeds on writing jobs from each city. You will find the RSS feature at the bottom right corner of the website. So, with the help of a RSS feed aggregator, which you can find on Yahoo or Google for free, you can find the latest job listings delivered straight to you.

About The Author
Get the real insider secrets to make money writing online. David Drake is the author of the ebook6 Figure Freelancer.It reveals powerful strategies and a step by step blueprint to lay out a 6 Figure action plan with online freelance writing.Visit at http://6figurefreelancer.com

A Book Writing Guide for Professional Speakers

2008-04-11T10:30:00.002-04:00

Here's a great little article that will give you more insight into what you can do to get your reading audience to connect to the content of your books. You'll find a few golden nuggets that you can tuck away and use when you need them. Happy reading!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

A Book Writing Guide for Professional Speakers – Tip #8, The Principle of Antagonism

By Latham Schinder

How do you get readers to engage with your story or idea? The answer lies in how fully you outline your antagonist. Your book can only be as interesting and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism make it. By antagonist, I’m not talking Darth Vader or Lex Luthor. I am talking about boosting the antagonistic forces within your story to the point that a reader feels a need to change.

Readers never do any more than they have to, expend any energy they don’t have to, take any risks they don’t have to. If you want readers to change (to buy your products and services, create new habits, or just read your book and recommend it to others), you have to give them a compelling reason to do so.

Antagonism is Everything

Seth Godin, in his 1999 nonfiction bestseller Permission Marketing, does an outstanding job of introducing his antagonist early in the book. On page 25, he gives it a name—“Interruption Marketing.”

Interruption Marketing is the traditional approach to getting consumer attention. It includes junk mail, spam, the flashy ads in People magazine, tacky billboards, all television commercials, and mass advertising in general. As consumers, we do our best to ignore these nagging intrusions, so marketers do all they can to interrupt us with bigger and dumber and trashier advertising messages. This old school approach to marketing is wasteful, time-consuming, and, in many ways insulting. So now we know the bad guy—Interruption Marketing and interruption marketers.

Seth Godin’s good guy, on the other hand, is the primary focus of his book, Permission Marketing. Permission Marketing offers consumers an opportunity to volunteer to be marketed to. By talking only to volunteers, Permission Marketing guarantees that consumers pay more attention to the marketing message. This new approach encourages consumers to participate in a long-term marketing campaign in which they are rewarded in some way for paying attention.

The More Memorable the Antagonist, the More Memorable the Book

The principle of antagonism gives your readers someone or something to hate. That someone or something is the antagonist, and it’s a critical part of your book whether you’re writing about marketing, business process improvement, life balance, or any other area of expertise.

The more powerful and complex the forces of antagonism opposing your idea, the more compelling your solution becomes. Without a thorough understanding of the intellectual, emotional, social, and financial conflicts inherent in traditional marketing, Seth Godin’s notion of Permission Marketing is nothing but a catchy slogan. However, by giving us some background and showing us just how infuriatingly annoying mass advertising can be, Godin has created a solution (Permission Marketing) that not only sounds feasible but is long overdue.

Before You Begin Writing That Next Book

A book is both a product to sell and a tool to help express your ideas. A well-written book can help launch your professional speaking career to the next level. However, before you get started, decide on the bad guy in your story. Don’t pick a weakling. Choose a story antagonist with the willpower to wreak havoc on your reader’s world if nothing is done to stop it. Ensure that your story contains negative forces of such power your solution must be implemented to gain the upper hand. Do that, and you’ll likely create some buzz. Do that, and you’ll most certainly keep readers reading.

About The Author

Latham Shinder is author of The Graffiti Sculptor and founder of Shinder Consulting, a network of professionals who provide writing, editing, and proposal management services for organizations and individuals. Visit Latham at http://www.15secondbookreviews.com.

Basic Structure of the Sales Copy

2007-10-26T09:58:00.000-04:00

By Chris Elmore

Once you have an idea of what you are going to create and there is a market for it, the next step is to either set up your sales page... or a pre-sales page.

A pre-sales page is just a page with a little sales material - but is more so designed to get users to provide you with THEIR comments and feedback... before you write your sales material.

Usually the sales copy is around 8 - 15 A4 pages in length, but I have seen pages up to 45 pages for higher priced items.

They primarily promote your main product in a long letter style format and are very important aspect to learn.

Your website will work like this:

Poor sales page - poor results.
Excellent sales page - excellent results

You need to place a lot of emphasis on creating sales copy that provides your visitors with proof of your credibility, benefits of your product/service and to overcome any objections that may arise while they read it.

In needs to act as your face-to-face salesman that leads your visitors to purchase. In saying that, there is never a perfect sales copy but it does need to the follow the basic structure outline below if you wish to succeed and make money from having an online business.

1- Intro headline

2 - Main Headline Goes Here 3 - Sub headline goes here

4. Establish problem you are going to solve

5. Credibility

6. Re-emphasize further problems before introducing product as solution

7. Explain why product is better than others

8. Benefits, Benefits & More Benefits

9. Introduce price & why you've chosen it

10. Additional Bonuses

11. Guarantee

12. Asking for the order

13. Sign Out

14. PS'S

We use this structure for all our websites as it is a proven model for top performing sales copy.

If you are working on a shoe string budget, you may have to learn how to write sales copy yourself... just to get you off the ground.

If you have some capital, by all means hire a sales copy writer, but don't be surprised when you get the bill.

Some top copywriters charge anywhere from $8,000 - $25,000 to write a sales page, depending on who you hire.

Or the last option is to use automated software that you fill in the blanks and it produces your copy ready to upload to your site.

You need to remember that writing your sales copy is like baking a cake. You need all the right ingredients mixed together to make it taste delicious. Miss one step and your cake will not be a winner, it will taste rubbery.

Chris Elmore is a pro guitarist who has featured on Channel 7 News, produced 3 CD's, and appeared on Hits FM Radio... as well as perform live on stage to thousands of people. He has 5 online guitar websites which produce over $350,000 a year and they only take 2 hours of work a day to run.

For a detailed recipe on how to create your killer sales copy visit: http://www.elmore-ebusiness.com/creating-compelling-copy/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Elmore

Ed Dale's 30 Day Challenge

2007-07-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

WHAT IS THE THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE?

In a nutshell... The Thirty Day Challenge is about making your first $10 online. For a full 30 days Internet marketing guru's Ed Dale (Underachiever fame) and Dan Raine (Immediate Edge fame) have teamed up and are going to be showing you exactly how to start your own Internet business and generate your first income online without spending a dime. Step-by-step and best of all it is absolutely FREE!

That's right, this is going to cost zip, diddly, nothing, nada, ziltch. The entire training program is free, and you won't have to spend a thing to get your business started and begin making money. No credit card required.

At the end of the 30 days, you will have your very own Internet business up and running! NO kidding. It doesn't get any better than that! I have taken the challenges with Ed for the past 2 years and I can tell you he is the REAL DEAL and extremely generous! Nothing to buy, no pitch fest at the end of training. Just great information on making money online.

WHEN DOES IT START?

This year's challenge starts on August 1st, but sign up now by entering your first name and email address in the boxes above to receive updates and access to all the pre-challenge training.

http://www.thirtydaychallenge.com/

Get on over there and sign up now before it begins August 1st. This stuff REALLY works!

Good luck
Lorraine

10 Steps to Better Writing

2007-07-28T22:00:00.001-04:00

Found this great short article on Clippit!

clipped from www.copyblogger.com

Write.

Write more.

Write even more.

Write even more than that.

Write when you don’t want to.

Write when you do.

Write when you have something to say.

Write when you don’t.

Write every day.

Keep writing.

Web 2.0 The New Phenomen

2007-07-06T00:51:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone,
Just wondering if web 2.0 has crept into your life yet? It's the latest rage for sharing information, pictures, files etc. Not to mention the free traffic it can generate for your site or blog. Imagine getting tons of traffic for nada! Goodbye Google PPC!

I spent hours yesterday signing up for web 2,0 and social bookmarking sites. I am hoping that it generates more traffic to my Copywriting website and to this blog. Time will tell. I'll sure be keeping an eye on my traffic sites.

Try signing up for some of these web 2.0 sites yourself and let me know if it makes a difference in yoru traffic. I'd love to hear yoru results.

Here you go, have a great time!
squidoo.com
del.icio.us.com
digg.com
stumbleupon.com
myspace.com
youtube.com
facebook.com

These are just a few that I found. If you stumble on any, please share, I am sure others would be interested.

Take care,
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4u.com

Newsletters That Beg To Be Read!

2007-06-27T09:50:00.000-04:00

You've spent time writing your latest newsletter and you've now e-mailed it to your list of subscribers. You're disappointed to discover that your 'open' rate is very, very low. For every 600 subscribers, only 9 have opened it (and may or may not have read it!). Even fewer have then visited your website. It doesn't seem like newsletters are working for you. But don't give up just yet. Here are few helpful tips.

Grab the Interest Of Your Readers

It's possible to attain around an 80% 'open' rate, but to do this you've got to grab the interest of your readers right away. Here are a few important things to consider:

1. Are You Getting Through?

Not sure if your newsletter is getting through to your subscribers? Well, contact your Internet Service Provider and ask them to check that it's reaching all your intended subscribers and that there are no problems in this area.

2. Get Creative

It's as well to spend some time on your subject line. Get creative and come up with something that grabs the attention of your subscribers. You need to encourage them to open the newsletter. How many newsletters have you received with subject lines like, "June Issue #6?" That's not going to make many people want to go any further.

Try to come up with a subject line that's so interesting your subscribers feel they have to open your mail there and then and read on further.

3. Help and Advice Goes a Long Way

Your newsletter is not only a means to promote your products or services, it's also a perfect opportunity to offer your readers good advice, interesting articles and helpful tips. Why not ask them to respond to a particular question or topic and see what kind of response is generated. Your newsletter needs to add value. For instance, if you sell corporate gifts, include some tips or advice on building client relationships and corporate gift giving.

4. Get Personal

Try and personalize your mailing lists. Target your products to particular subscribers - they may be corporate gift buyers, individuals, groups, clubs etc. Make them feel that your newsletter is aimed at them exclusively.

Role Models

Amazon.com is a very good example of how best to do this. They personalize information based on their customers' interests. They know what each and every customer is looking for and when they last visited their website. They also record every item purchased. In this way they have a record of customer preferences and can now offer them products and content that meets with their approval.

Apply the same thinking to your mailing list. Ask your subscribers to tell you what topics they're interested in... what advice or helpful tips they'd like you to include. By doing this, you'll make them feel very special and practically guarantee that they'll open and read your newsletter time and time again.

Tips on Content

Bear in mind that most people today are busy and in a hurry and don't have the time to read lengthy, boring newsletters. Here's a 3 content tips:

1. Newsworthy Info

Give your readers interesting news. For instance, point them to a link to an upcoming tradeshow at which your company will be an exhibitor or proudly tell them about a recent press release or shout about an event that your company will be sponsoring.

2. Product Articles

Always include an article about one of your products or services, but make sure the focus is on helping or assisting your readers. You can build a resource library that contains all your other valuable articles and, at the same time, provide your readers with a link so that they can access these easily.

3. Satisfied Customers

A testimonial from one of your satisfied customers is still one of the strongest marketing tools around. Quote an example of a client who's had great results from using your products or services. Your readers will respond well to this kind of information and it gives your company added credibility... and once again provide a link for additional product or service testimonials.

When All Is Said And Done

Finally, when writing articles remember to keep them between 600-800 words and section them into easy-to-read blocks each with bold headlines. In this way, your readers will be able to skim quickly through the content and pause at places of interest.

If you follow just a few of the steps suggested above, your newsletters will have a lot more impact and will generate more interest. But more importantly they will be opened and read by many more of your subscribers.

About the Author

Phil McCumskey is over 50, bow-legged and dribbles down his chin! His mum and dad are English but he was born in South Africa and like a swallow he flips back and forth. His background is sales and marketing but for the last fifteen years or so he's been writing and making a decent living! He's written video scripts for launch presentations, copy for radio and print ads, newsletters, speeches, flyers, brochures and website content.

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2007-03-23T11:58:00.000-04:00

Jason from Article Announcer fame who definitely knows content has written a very compelling and free report about using content in 2007.

Grab it here and see for yourself. Share your thoughts on it.

Enjoy!

Until next time...
Lorraine

A New Look

2007-03-17T15:33:00.000-04:00

WE HAVE A NEW LOOK!

Well I did it, I gave my web site a much needed makeover. When I first created my copy writing service site, I really didn't know what I was doing. Sure, I know html and how to use front page, but I didn't have a clue what to put on the site or how it should look to visitors.

So I created a site that was very BUSY! I mean lots of silly graphics, freebies, etc. I thought if I offered everything possible, they would come. Well, they did come but many didn't stay long and I can't say that I blame them. Who wants to be hit in the face with screaming graphics and content that has nothing to do with my business.

So, I broke down and spent the last couple of weeks creating a site from scratch. New colors, new look, new content, less graphics etc. Less really is more. I think it looks a lot better now and is much easier to navigate.

Time will tell of course if it is better or worse, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for now. I'd really appreciate it if you take a peek and leave some comments here on the blog. Your opinion does matter a great deal.

Anyway, it was a long daunting task that hopefully I won't have to undertake again anytime soon. It is always a good idea to get things in order though, especially when you do business on the web.

Take a peek!

Thanks
Lorraine

Get FREE Press Coverage

2007-02-16T11:40:00.000-05:00

By Beth Ann Erickson
http://filbertpublishing.com/guide.htm

Advertising is expensive. A small classified ad in my local paper costs around forty bucks to run a four-liner ten days. Four dollars a day probably isn’t that expensive but those four-dollar increments add up to well over a hundred dollars over a one-month period. To make matters worse, it’s almost impossible to make your ad stand out in the cluttered classified section, especially if it’s only four lines long.

Luckily, there’s a way to snag those column inches for free.

Write a press release.

Every time something good happens in your writing business – whether you decide to host a seminar, whether you land a new client (get their permission before you announce your affiliation, of course), or if you ink a book deal – write a snappy press release and fax, mail, or deliver it to as many media outlets as you can.

Each press release should contain the elements of a good article. The better written your release, the better your chances of getting it published.

Here are some basic rules you can use to get your press releases read:

 Be sure to include the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How in every release you write. Answer these questions and the press release practically writes itself.
 Make your headline snappy and relevant to their audience. It should summarize your article succinctly.
 Write it in the “inverted pyramid” style. This means you lead with the most important information knowing that if an editor is going to shorten your press release, he’ll usually cut it from the bottom and work his way up.
 Press releases sent to printed media can be longer than ones sent to auditory media. Fill an entire typewritten page if you’re sending the release to a newspaper. When you send it to a television or radio station, edit it until you can comfortably read it aloud in around one minute.
 Read every press release aloud before you send it. ESPECIALLY those releases sent to radio and television stations. The less a news director has to edit your work, the better your chances are that they’ll use it. And when you get a reputation for producing easy-to-read writing, you’ll get even more coverage.
 Send your release to an actual person. Releases sent to “The New York Times” will probably get tossed by a secretary. If you send your press release to “John Doe at the New York Times,” chances are he’ll at least scan it before he decides if it’s newsworthy.
 ALWAYS remember to mention your credentials. Remember, a BIG reason you’re contacting the press is that you want to spread the word about your writing services.
 Don’t be afraid to “touch base” with the person who supposedly received your release. I had to send a press release to our large local paper three times because they kept “losing” it. I was always polite, professional, patient, and pleasant (how’s that for alliteration?) when I spoke to them. My persistence resulted in a 1/3 page article on the FRONT page. Wahoo!

When you send press releases, your worst-case scenario will be that they won’t use it. Don’t give up. It’s not personal. Media people are extremely busy. Keep trying, build a good reputation and you’ll eventually hit pay dirt.

Sometimes your press release will run as you wrote it. Sometimes they’ll run it but it will be edited – sometimes it will be edited a LOT.

Best case scenario? They’ll send out a reporter and photographer and you’ll get an entire article. That’s when your job gets fun….

Next time we’ll talk about how to structure your press release. In the mean time, you can take a look at one of the first releases I drafted when “The Almach” was just hitting bookstores. Feel free to copy its general form and use it to promote your business/product/book this week. And let me know how it goes! Here’s the URL: http://filbertpublishing.com/guide.htm

Beth Ann Erickson is the publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers. Make Your Writing Sparkle. Write Killer Queries. Get Published. Subscribe to Writing Etc., the FREE e-mag for writers. Receive the e-booklet "Power Queries" when you subscribe. http://FilbertPublishing.com

Shopping For the Perfect Gift For the Writer In Your Family

2006-12-04T16:10:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again, Christmas. You are probably trying to figure out what to give your friends and loved ones as presents this year, especially the writer in the family. I think that choosing just the right gift for a writer or budding writer can be a little mind-boggling. After all, how much more that paper, pen and a computer does a writer need? Well, you would be surprised.

First of all, almost all writers are avid readers, so a good book is always appreciated. Secondly, depending on what type of writing, the writer you know does, can trigger many creative gifts that you can give them. For instance, if you know a copywriter, maybe a little gift basket containing the latest book by an accomplished copywriter plus an assortment of other goodies to include colored markers, a great pen and a small pocket notebook. I know as a copywriter myself, that would be a great gift.

However, if you have a writer whose focus is on writing novels such as mystery novels, you may want to consider putting together a gift basket that contains several new mystery novels by various writers in addition to other writing related implements. The point is that when shopping for the writer in your family, skip the fru, fru, and lacy things and give them something related to their type of writing that can be used and will be cherished for a long time to come. Keep it simple. It doesn’t have to be a big elaborate gift basket. Just make sure to include items that will not only stimulate their imaginations, provide them with new knowledge about a particular style of writing and also helps make the writing easier.

It takes just a little planning and a list of items for the gift basket. You can even visit your local bookstore for ideas and suggestions for filling the basket. It will definitely be worth the trip and will most certainly put a smile on the face of the writer receiving the gift. You can bet that it will be one of their most cherished gifts. Who knows, they may even write you a touching thank you note that you will cherish.

Copyright 2006 Lorraine Cote

This article may be freely reprinted as long as the author’s information and copyright notice remain intact.

Lorraine Cote is the CEO and Owner of The Write Touch 4U, Copywriting Service. She is also a published freelance writer who has written over 100 ebooks on various topics for clients as well as all types of other written materials. She also has 16 years experience in the corporate world as a Trainer and Business Writer and is an Internet Marketer as well. Visit her at http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Punctuation Marks: Power Tools for Clear Writing!

2006-11-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

by: Michael A. Jones

Is punctuation becoming less important? Certainly there is less of it in modern writing. But less important? Emphatically NO!

Just look at three examples to see how punctuation marks can add style and power to your writing.

BULLETS

Bulleted lists are extremely effective in capturing the interest of your audience.
Persons who browse the internet want to find information quickly. They want to be able to read it easily without having to wade through pages of text.

Bullets direct the eye to the main points quickly.

They encourage writers to be brief, stating the main point in a few words or a phrase.

They summarize a list of points or conclusions.

Bottom line: If you want to write effective copy, USE BULLETS!

COLON :

Enrich your writing style with discreet use of the colon. It is generally used to introduce something that follows. Here are some places where a colon is well used

To introduce a list

Example: Send the letter to the following departments: Sales, Marketing and Admin.

To introduce a quotation

To introduce a question

To introduce a conclusion

Example: The conclusion of the matter was: Let bygones be bygones.

QUESTION ?

The most obvious use of the question mark is at the end of a sentence which asks a direct question.

Example: Where are you going this weekend?

However, when an indirect question is raised a question mark is not needed.

Example: She asked me if I enjoyed her cooking.

The question mark can also be used to create other effects:

To declare

Example: Did you really think you could get away with this?

Here the question mark tinges the expression with anger and frustration.

To exclaim

Example: Isn't that a beautiful sunset?

The question adds force to the statement making it an exclamation.

To invite an answer

Example: This seems the wrong color, don't you think?

About The Author

Michael A. Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. For a complete explanation of 17 key punctuation marks that can add power to your writing, click here:
http://www.about-goal-setting.com/punctuation-guide.html

For the #1 ranked public speaking course click here:
http://www.about-goal-setting.com/public-speaking-course.htm

For an exceptional course in personal development, Michael recommends what has been called “The Program Of Presidents” – read about it here:
http://www.about-goal-setting.com/personal-development.html

Write For You - A Reader Focused Writing Primer

2006-11-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

by: Dave Davis

http://www.redflystudios.com

You want to write better, more engaging articles and content right? You want to get your message across and you want your call to action….actioned right? I am no writing expert, but I can tell you one thing, the secret to writing better starts with one tiny word….. YOU!

Your readers (And maybe your potential clients/customers) read what you have written for a reason. They read because they want to gain something from it. THEY want to gain something. They are not interested in how YOU are this, that and the other. They want to find out how what you are writing can benefit THEM. People are greedy. Even when they are not trying to be. They are greedy at a subconscious “Brain Sponge” level.

How many times have you read an article or blog and stopped reading half way through? How many times have you thought “God…this person likes to talk about himself”? And don’t you just hate conversation when someone else always talks about themselves? READ ON!

ALWAYS FOCUS ON YOUR READER

When you are writing, and especially when you are writing to sell something, focus on your reader. They (Usually) don’t care about how great your product is, they only care about how great it will be to them. Use the Words “You” and “Your”. Make your reader feel how much it is going to benefit THEM.

A great testimonial to this fact is a test I ran on a single eBook I used to sell. It was a single page website that sold an eBook on setting up a website. I played around with the copy a lot and the product was great, but it was not selling. I invested in a split testing software and created two different versions of the sales page. One was the normal sales copy and the other was the sales copy focusing on the user. So rather than “With our eBook” I had “With your eBook” etc. The results were surprising. By minimizing the use of “I” “We” and “Our” and increased the use of “You” and “Your”, the sales of the book increased by 60%. That’s a lot!

ASK QUESTIONS

Asking your readers questions is also a great way to engage them. Make them think. Make them ask the questions YOU WANT THEM TO ASK! Questions that YOU have an answer for. Have a specific call to action and lead them down the path.

I have used this technique on many sites in my network from the beginning and have seen great results. I am sure you will too.

***It should be worth noting that I (tried) to keep you engaged in this article by using the word you/your 30 times (Including this sentence) and asked 5 questions. Seems like a lot now but it worked, didn’t it?

About The Author

David Davis, is the lead developer and project manager of RedflyStudios LTD. Web Development Ireland For more information visit http://www.redflystudios.com.

Confident Writing

2006-10-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

By Jenna Glatzer

You know how, when you’re watching a speaker, you can tell if he or she is nervous? There are those tell-tale signs: trembling hands and voice, lack of eye contact, perspiration, twitches, lots of "ummms," and a myriad of other idiosyncratic gestures and signs that show he or she is not fully at ease in front of an audience.

Did you know that I can spot those same tell-tale signs in your writing?

If you’re not completely confident in your skills as a writer, and in what you’ve written in particular, there are warning signs that can tip off an editor or reader. I find them in query letters all the time, and, to a lesser extent, in articles and stories themselves.

The first tip-off? Stilted language.

Stilted language is formal and proper. It employs big words when small ones would suffice just fine. It "sounds" canned and over-prepared.

Example: "Marjorie was required to submit to a physician’s examination prior to the interview in which she would be considered for the position."

Doesn’t it sound like the writer is working too hard to impress here? Like she’s trying to SOUND like a journalist? "Real writers" don’t have to use big words and serious language to effectively get their point across. In fact, the more direct and simple the language, the better.

"Marjorie had to go for a doctor’s exam before the company would consider her for the job."

Is it "dumbing down" your language? No. It’s cutting through the thicket and allowing the words to flow as naturally as they would in your speech—just with the benefit of editing. It’s being purposely as understandable as possible, so that if someone was skimming your query/article quickly, he would still get the meaning, without tripping over S.A.T. words or unfamiliar phrasing.

Many professional writers (myself included) believe in writing first drafts quickly, so as not to give our brains enough time to censor, doubt, and question each word as it flows through us and onto the paper. When I write, whether it’s an article, story, or just about anything else, I pretend I’m talking to a friend. I want my friend to hear about this interesting thing I learned. So, I tell him in the same manner I’d tell him if he were sitting next to me in my living room. I don’t need to impress him (or confuse him!) by "spicing up" my writing with words like "proceed" and "consume" when the words "go" and "eat" would have worked just fine.

Stilted language is a sign that the writer is not confident that her OWN words—the words she would really use—are good enough. It’s puffing up the writing to suit an editor. But think about this: the more formal and convoluted the language, the harder the editor will have to think just to get through the piece. Too much thinking equals rejection, unless you’re writing for an academic or very intellectual market. Editors want clarity. They don’t want to have to reread sentences to get the meaning of your words. Once the eyes glaze over, you’re in trouble.

Another giveaway: namby-pamby qualifiers that shift the responsibility for the statements away from the author. Example: "It seemed to onlookers that Mayor Ross might possibly have been suffering from exhaustion."

Were you one of the onlookers? Was it pretty obvious that the guy was falling asleep at the podium? Then don’t shift the observation into a passive voice. Be confident in your own powers of observation and reasoning. "Mayor Ross seemed exhausted."

The same goes for overuse of "experts" and studies when none are needed. We all know that you’re supposed to get eight hours of sleep a night, right? Then why do people insist on writing, "According to doctors, eight hours of sleep per night is optimal"? You don’t need the doctor to say that for you. If you know it to be true, you can skip the "according to doctors" and get straight to your point, without pulling out of your own voice.

Another example: "usually," "probably," "most likely," "often," etc. Watch for these words in your writing. There are times when they’ll be necessary—and, then again, there are plenty of times when you can omit them.

I once had a psychology professor who prefaced every statement she made with the words "basically," "usually," or "typically." It undermined what she was saying, because it felt like she was unsure of herself. When you write these words, it translates to uncertainty—did Mary Beth go to church on Sundays, or did she "typically" go to church on Sundays? If she skipped once or twice a year, she went. You don’t need a qualifier. If she skipped every other week, then you can add a qualifier.

Be confident in what you are writing. Every time you shift away responsibility for your words by attributing them to someone else, or by watering them down with adverbs, you give the reader leeway to question whether or not you really know what you’re talking about.

Another tip-off: fear of making a point.

Similar to the problem with too many qualifiers, pulling out of your article too soon shows a lack of confidence in your message. Let’s say you wrote an entire article about how a certain kind of duck is going extinct. You talked about all the reasons why it’s happening, and you explained what people can do to help. Then you end it with a lame conclusion like "Further studies are needed" or "Experts will continue to examine the causes…" blah, blah. Again, if you know that what you’ve just said is true, you don’t need to end off with anything that detracts from your conclusion. Sure, further studies may be conducted, but does that take anything away from the evidence you’ve just reported? Let your point come through loud and clear. Make the decision to take a risk and be accountable for your words.

You don’t need to tie it all up neatly with a moral, a la Aesop’s Fables ("And that’s why we must all stop throwing plastic in the garbage"). Just let the strength of your entire article carry the message—let your readers come to the conclusions to which you’ve directed them, and don’t let them second-guess those conclusions by giving a wishy-washy ending.

Be bold. Be confident. And let your very best writing shine through.

Jenna Glatzer is the editor-in-chief of Absolute Write (www.absolutewrite.com), where writers can get a free list of more than 180 agents who are open to new writers! She is also the author of OUTWITTING WRITER'S BLOCK AND OTHER PROBLEMS OF THE PEN and other books for writers, which you can read about at http://www.absolutewrite.com/jenna/books.htm if you want to make her day.

Jenna is an expert writer, her articles have shown up throughout the Internet. Visit her site, absolutewrite.com to see what writing gems she has available. Sign up for her invaluable newsletter, you won't be disappointed. Until next time, keep writing!

Lorraine Cote

The Write Touch 4U

www.Thewritetouch4u.com

Give More Than You Get

2006-10-26T09:14:00.000-04:00

By Jenna Glatzer

A member of one of my writing groups confided in me that she was fed up with the way that she was feeling used by other writers. This writer is very talented and accomplished, and she's a member of a few different groups that trade feedback and critiques of each other's work. "I feel like I get back 10% of what I put in," she said. And she was losing her energy, thinking about quitting these groups. As she put it, "I'm getting tired of needy people."

This writer was the victim of what I'd call parasitic networking. When some people think about networking, they think, "How can other people help me?" They join writing groups, hoping to get feedback on their own work, with no regard for how they can help other writers. They write to experienced authors, asking for leads and free advice, without ever planning on "paying it forward."

Some people would call it karma. I'm not new age-y enough to use that term, so I'll just say this: when you help a fellow writer, you help yourself. And if you expect free help from someone, you should be thinking about how you can do something in return.

I'm not saying that we have to be "tit for tat" in our exchanges with fellow writers. But here are some examples from my own life:

I have often traded critiques of screenplays with fellow writers. When I do a critique, I try to be thorough, fair, detailed, and helpful. And when someone gives me that same courtesy in return, I remember it—and I try to pay it back.

I got a phone call from a producer who wanted me to write a script for him. I was too busy with my own work at the time, so I said, "I have a few other great writers who I can recommend to you instead." I sent this producer a list of about three writers who (a) were very talented writers and (b) had helped me in the past with substantive critiques. The producer wound up using one of the writers I recommended, and the last I heard, the film is now in pre-production. That writer then wanted to do something to pay ME back, so he nominated me for membership in an "exclusive" screenwriting group. See how the circle continues?

I once sent an e-mail query to Men's Health. The e-mail address I had bounced, so I tried to think of who I knew who had written for the magazine before. I recalled that freelance writer extraordinaire Linda Formichelli had written for them, so I wrote to her to ask if she had a current e-mail address. She didn't, but she did have a contact at Men's Fitness, and asked if my idea would be appropriate for them. Of course, I wanted to do something for her in return, so we wound up writing back and forth all morning, trading contact information for editors. I don't know if anything's come of it yet for her, but I wound up with my first assignment for Prevention.

Numerous times, when a writer does me a favor by writing for Absolute Write, I've referred that writer to one of my editors, or written a letter of recommendation for them to use with potential employers.

A wonderful screenwriter offered to field questions for Absolute Write, and it just happened that he was interested in breaking into writing nonfiction books. I offered him my advice, and mailed him a great book I'd read about writing book proposals.

Ideally, my view is that whenever you seek to network with a writer, you should first think about what you can offer in return.

Now, here's where some writers get tripped up:

Let's say I'm an unpublished writer. I desperately need some help—maybe some career advice, maybe feedback on my queries or proposals, maybe a referral to an agent or publisher. I've found an experienced author who I want to approach for help.

I may want to do something in return, but I think... "What could I possibly have to offer this experienced author?" Good question.

If the experienced writer in question is a book author, here's what you can offer:

	You can review her books. You can review them on online bookseller sites like Amazon.com and Bn.com, or you can offer them to e-zines, newspapers, and magazines. Authors are ALWAYS in need of good reviews!
	You can help the author with public relations. Help him her set up a book signing, or offer to put flyers for his books in your doctor's office, your grocery store, or tack them up around town.
	You can pitch articles about the author to magazines and e-zines. (Ask permission first, of course, but most authors are thrilled to get publicity like this!)

If the writer is a magazine writer, you can offer to help her with research, locate experts for her next article, transcribe an interview, pass along leads, or give her your old magazines (hey, we magazine writers can't afford subscriptions to all the magazines we want to write for!).

If you have experience in one area (let's say, magazine writing), and you want to break into writing novels, find a novelist who's interested in breaking into magazine writing and swap information.

There will be some situations where there's nothing you can do in return except gush your thanks and promise to someday return the favor by helping another writer. Genuine appreciation is payback in itself. Take a moment to write a thank you card, or send flowers, to a writer who has helped your career.

In this life, I believe you usually get what you give. If you see writers as adversaries and aren't apt to share your contacts, your feedback, or your advice, then don't expect anyone to help you, either. But I challenge you to see your fellow writers as cherished colleagues. Whenever you can help someone, do it. Kindness has a way of coming back to you.

Lighten Up On Your Writing

2006-05-26T13:44:00.000-04:00

Don't Take Your Writing So Seriously!
By Lorraine Cote
The Write Touch 4U

Maybe you are an aspiring writer or maybe you have been writing for quite awhile. Regardless of how long you have been writing, every once in awhile you need to take a step back and look at your writing, really look at it.

There is all types of written material in the world, each with an different purpose. You may be writing a children's story or something more business-like such as a press release or even an ebook on dogs. Whatever you are writing, stop and take a look to see if you are writing with the right tone. By that I mean that some things that have been written that I have read were written for an entirely wrong audience, or the writing itself was too business-like and stuffy. It simply had the wrong tone to it.

The key is to know your audience! Those who will be reading what you have written. Having said that, let me also say that regardless of what you write, you can write it in a lighter more conversational tone. It doesn't all have to be straight-laced.

One way to approach writing is to think of each piece you write as a written conversation between you and someone else. Picture sitting down and having coffee with this person and having a casual conversation about your intended topic. In this setting, you wouldn't use big fancy, technical words would you? Of course not. You would discuss things in a casual light-toned manner, that was easy to understand. This tone is the key to reaching your target audience, every time.

Unless you are a journalist writing hard-hitting news stories where a lighter tone wouldn't fit or make the kind of impact you are looking for, you can inject a lighter conversational tone in just about anything else you write.

Take for instance Sales materials, you can write a "soft sell" article or one that leans more towards a "hard sell." However, on the hard sell side, most people will back away because they don't feel the need to be beat over the head with your pitch. They would prefer a lighter-toned, more conversational soft sell pitch.

So, the next time you sit down to write something, try to inject a lighter tone to all your writing and lighten up!

Copyright 2006 Lorraine Cote

This article may be freely reprinted as long as the author’s information and copyright notice remain intact.

Lorraine Cote is the CEO and Owner of The Write Touch 4U, Copywriting Service. She is also a published freelance writer who has written over 100 ebooks on various topics for clients as well as all types of other written materials. She also has 16 years experience in the corporate world as a Trainer and Business Writer and is an Internet Marketer as well. Visit her at http://www.thewritetouch4u.com or visit her blog at http://writetouch4u.blogspot.com

Becoming A Ghostwriter

2006-05-08T11:05:00.000-04:00

By: Lorraine Cote

Ghostwriting can be rewarding in two ways.
a) You get a chance to research and write about all types of topics that you wouldn't normally have a chance to learn about. The old theory in writing "write what you know" doesn't apply to ghostwriting since your clients will dictate what topic you will write about.

b) You can make a decent living at it.If you're new to writing, it may take a while to get clients but it is possible. It just takes a little hard work and perserverance. There are several ways to get clients. Here are a few.

1. Bid on writing jobs on contracted work site such as Elance.com, Guru.com and Getafreelancer.com
You basically signup as a service provider to begin bidding on projects posted by clients. If you win the bid, you do the writing project as a ghostwriter.
2. Place ads for your ghostwriting service on free classified ad sites. It doesn't cost anything to
post ads on these sites and is a good way to get your services out there in front of potential
clients.

3. Post responses in forums with a signature that defines your ghostwriting service and an email address or website URL. Something along the lines of "Affordable Ghostwriting Services,[your website url] or email for more details [your email address].

4. Introduce your services in forums where you are allowed to do this. Many forums have a section where you can introduce your business. See out writing forums for this.

5. Have business cards created showcasing your ghostwriting business. Pass them out every chance you get. Put them on bulletin boards in supermarkets etc. You can create your own or have them made.

6 Write a press release announcing your services. There are plenty of no-cost or low-cost distribution services on the web to get the message out for you. Ghostwriting may not be for everyone because you don't get credit for your work, the client does. If that doesn't matter to you and you like writing on a variety of topics, it can be an enjoyable way to earn some money.

Copyright 2005-2006 Lorraine Cote

This article may be freely reprinted as long as the author’s information and copyright notice remain intact.

Lorraine Cote is the CEO and Owner of The Write Touch 4U, Copywriting Service. She is also a published freelance writer who has written over 100 ebooks on various topics for clients as well as all types of other written materials. She also has 16 years experience in the corporate world as a Trainer and Business Writer and is an Internet Marketer as well. Visit her at http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

When Writing Gigs Slow Down

2006-05-03T14:05:00.000-04:00

When Writing Gigs Slow Down

By: Lorraine Cote
The Write Touch 4U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

So you have been busy writing lately. You may have had more work than you wanted and were not in short supply of clients, which is great for you and for business. Now, all of a sudden, the well seems to have run dry, things may have slowed down quite a bit, so now what? What do you do when your writing projects seem to literally dry up?

The first thing you should know is that you shouldn't PANIC, it's bound to happen and things will bounce back, sooner or later. I have been running my writing business for twelve years now and there hasn't been one year when I didn't experience at least one slow down. For me, things usually slow down around holidays, expecially around Christmas. It's understandable that people are wrapped up in shopping and the festivities of the season and are not likely to move forward with projects. I also experience a little lull during summer months when people enjoy the outdoors or are on vacation. As I said, it is expected, especially if you run your own small business, but usually doesn't last very long.

The key to taking advantage of these slow times in business is to stay busy. Keep focused on your business. It's not the time for you to slack off. So what can you do to make the most of your downtime? Here are a few suggestions that may help you use this time productively.

1. Organize your office. Use the time to do tasks you couldn't keep up with during peak business times. Things like filing, cleaning and organizing your office space. Catching up on correspondance and so on.

2. Review your business plan. If you don't have a business plan, learn how to create one or have one created for you. If you don't have a plan, you won't know where you are coming from and certainly won't be able to get where you would like to go in business. You should check your business plan yearly to see if you are on track and to make any changes that reflect changes in the way you do business.

3. Learn something new. Take online classes or classes at your local college and learn a new skill or hone an old one. Learn a skill that will be beneficial to your business in some way. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

4. Expand your business. Maybe you will need to hire more personel to help with additional work or maybe you will need to purchase equipment/tools or software to automate things. In any event you should always plan to expand your business at some point. After all, you are in business to make money and expansion of your business is a good way to generate additional revenues to grow your business.

5. Catch up. Touch base with clients you have done work for in the past but have not heard from recently. You never know when you may get additional work from them. Sometimes they may be planning to get in touch but something keeps them from it, so they may need a reminder that you are there to help them. It's a good way to rekindle relationships with former clients and drum up a little extra business in the process.

6. Get with the program. Maybe you can outsource some tedious administrative tasks by hiring a virtual assistant. This will free up time to market your business more agressively and generate new opportunities. You can also purchase software to help you automate tasks.

Whatever the reason for a slowdown in business, take it with a grain of salt. Know that it won't last forever and things really happen in cycles. You can't stop the slowdown, but you can make the most of the extra time on your hands by doing something productive, that will pay off in a big way down the road.

Lorraine Cote is the CEO and Owner of The Write Touch 4U, Copywriting Service. She is also a published freelance writer who has written over 100 ebooks on various topics for clients as well as all types of other written materials. She also has 16 years experience in the corporate world as a Trainer and Business Writer and is an Internet Marketer as well. Visit her site at http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Writing Great Articles

2006-04-28T13:09:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
It's been awhile and things have been hectic. Read on to learn the in's and out's of writing a great article. Article writing is a skill that is absolutely necessary today, especially in regards to promoting your web site. It is the easiest traffic generation tool available and best of all, it only costs you time! Enjoy.
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U.com
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

How To Write A Great Article
by: Lori Osterberg

Content is king. If you’ve been online any length of time, you’ve seen the phrase, “content is king” everywhere.

But understanding what content is, and how to continually add content to your site is a full time job for many businesses.

One of the best ways to grow the content of your site is by adding useful articles to your resources. Articles are typically rich content that pertains to one or two keywords. An article is typically between 250-750 words in length. And the best thing about an article is it can be promoted not just on your site, but can also be picked up by article directories, other websites, and ezine editors looking for quality information for their subscribers.

The hardest part of adding an article to your site is often times the writing. Where do you come up with your ideas for new articles? Here are five tips on how to find articles that will be informative for your target audience.

1. What is the top news feature in your industry? If you follow trade journals, (and you should) you can always find one or two topics that everyone is writing about. Pick up on that thought, and write an article in your own words.

2. What questions do your clients and prospects ask you over and over again? Common questions can make motivating articles because they answer a question everyone wants more information on.

3. How can you relate your industry to a seasonal event? If you’re a plumber, writing an article on preparing your pipes for the deep-freeze of winter can be much needed. Likewise, an article on planting shade-loving plants would be a perfect addition to a greenhouses website.

4. Follow your newspaper for current events. Every day, around the world, there are events that you can use to base an article off of. Think back to the first 2 ½ months of 2006 – you could write articles based on the Olympics, Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, winter, snow, hurricanes and tornados. A personal trainer could write an article about how it doesn’t take an Olympian to stay fit. A health spa could write an article on preparing for the spring thaw, and looking your best in your new spring wardrobe. And so on.

5. Still can’t think of anything? Hire someone else to write articles for you. A copywriter can write several articles for you in a short period of time. If you have a dozen or so written, you can have a several months supply of high quality content, ready to share on your site, and with others throughout the Internet.

You have valuable information. Find a way to share what you know with your customers and prospects. You’ll show your expertise; they’ll reward you by becoming your customers.

About The Author

Lori Osterberg helps business owners build an online marketing strategy. She consults with owners to show them how to develop a strong Internet presence, and provides many services such as paid search, search optimization, and copywriting for press releases, articles and other online marketing tools. Receive her FREE ezine at http://www.VisionOfSuccess.com and http://www.GetKnownMarketing.com.

Make The Most of Adsense

2006-03-14T11:33:00.000-05:00

Hi All,
Take a look at this great article by Sharon Housley, she gives great tips on how to get the most from adsense ads on your site.
Enjoy!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

AdSense allows website publishers to display contextually relevant advertisements on their website. If a web visitor "clicks" on an advertisement, the web publisher will earn a percentage of the advertising revenue generated as a result of the click. Many webmasters have built content websites around the Google AdSense model. In many cases the specific intent of the webmaster is to profit from Google AdSense Other webmasters use Google AdSense to supplement their revenue. Regardless of the webmaster's intent, the following tips will help webmasters looking to profit from AdSense.

Top AdSense Tips:

1. Niche Sites.
Targeted niche sites that have a clear theme, tend to generate more advertising revenue simply because it is easier to achieve decent search engine placement. Be warned though, you want to chose a niche where there is a sufficient number of advertisements available.

2. Target Keywords.
When determining the sites focus, consider how much the advertisers pay for the advertisements. If the site is focused on ringtones, like Ringtone Central http://www.ringtones-central.com the payout per click is going to be very small, as ringtones are not high ticket items, advertisers will not spend a lot on pay per click advertisements. With less obvious markets use Overture to determine how much advertisers pay per keyword, it is usually similar on Google. Search Overture for a keyword then click "View Advertisers' Max Bids" in the top right corner. This will show the Overture inventory and how much is paid per keyword. Because the market has become very competitive, it will be difficult to rank well in search engines with a new website that is optimized for the terms that have the highest payout. Consider targeting terms that are moderately priced.

3. Aged Sites / Time.
Over time as a website is spidered by Google, advertisements will generally increase in relevance. In general, older websites will rank better in search engines. The closer the advertisements relate to the webpage's content; the higher the "click-through" the publishers will see.

4. Coding.
In order to minimize a websites maintenance place the Google generated AdSense code in the website template or an include file. This will allow you to easily experiment with different advertisement sizes and ad placement, and keep the web maintenance to a minimum.

5. Tracking Channels.
In order to know how effective a specific website or ad placement is use distinct channels and subchannels within Google. This will allow you to discern what performs best on a specific website. Using channels will tell you what sites are making money, what advertisements are making money and what ad position is the most profitable on a specific website. Keep in mind that you should run an advertisement for a full week, in order to properly test its effectiveness, different days of the week will vary the web traffic so comparing one week to another will give the most accurate reflection of how effective a campaign performs.

When testing different advertisement sizes, placement or color schemes be sure to leave campaigns in place for one week, different days will often result in web traffic fluctuations. Comparing web traffic, week to week will give a clear indication of what ad formats perform the best.

6. Integrated Ad Placement.
Many webmasters have been successful at integrating advertisements into a website. The easiest way to integrate an advertisement into a website is to remove the advertisement border. This will allow the ads to better blend with the webpage. Google recommends contrasting the link colors with the website colors to increase click-throughs. It is also suggested that webmasters randomize the color of the advertisements, so that frequent users will not naturally "filter" the ads.

example of integrated ad placement: http://www.golf-clubhouse.net or http://www.security-protection.net

7. Number vs Value of Advertisements.
Up to three advertisements can be listed on each page. This decreases the value of the advertisements served, so publishers should cautiously add advertisement units, as it dilutes ad inventory. In other words you want to serve the most expensive ads at all times.

8. Hot Spots.
Like web copy above the fold holds true with AdSense as well. This means that advertisements that appear without having to scroll will be read more frequently. Hot Spots are areas on a web page that result in a higher percentage of click-throughs. According to Google the highest paying advertisements are located on the hot spots.

hot spots map - http://www.small-business-software.net/heat-map.htm

Google does not indicate if image advertisements or text ads perform better, so webmasters are encouraged to experiment with both.

9. Highest performing Ad Sizes.
According to Google the 336 x 280 rectangle, the 300 x250 rectangle and the 160 x 600 sky scraper result in the highest number of click-throughs. Depending on the website's design and layout, publishers may experience different results with different ad sizes, placements and color schemes. Expirement and track the results for each website to maximize the AdSense payout.

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

The Power of Ebook Marketing

2006-02-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

Hi All,
Have you ever thought of just how powerful an ebook can be in marketing your online business? No? Well, think again! Read the following article to get an idea how ebooks can play an integral part in your own marketing strategy.
Enjoy!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Ebook Power
by: Duncan Judson

An ebook is one of the most powerful ways to promote your business, while educating people with the knowledge you already posses as a business owner of a specific product or service. An ebook is the easiest way to reach any large niche audience of any type. Ebooks will not only promote your business, but will establish you as an expert in your field.

The largest reason people read books is to answer some type of question, or questions about a specific topic, or niche. You as the author are now in a position to establish yourself as an expert about your topic or niche. Your readers diligently read to answer their questions, success means delivering solid content about your topic or niche to your readers. Don’t guess about how much information to write into your book just over deliver the content to your readers. You will develop a reputation for writing books with solid content that is a value at any price. But, where to start as a writer? As a novice writer with an overflowing base of knowledge, short books are a great way to get your feet wet!

Write a short book first.

If you have a topic or information you want to sell, than just write a small ebook to start out with. Write 10 to 20 pages of your book and than ad some graphics. If your book is packed with good content, people will not mind paying 20 bucks for a 20 page book; quality. Once you have your feet wet with a short book, than plan your next book. You can than plan and organize your next book, after all, you have gained a wealth of experience from writing your small book.

Create Volumes Of Information

One effective tactic is to write a series of books, and label them as volumes, and promote as Volume One, Volume Two, etc. . Create a buzz about your next volume in the current volume you are writing. Offer incentives to the readers for example; a discount, or special bonuses for purchasing the next volume of your book.

Organizing Your Ebook

Organizing your ebook is not as difficult as you may think. If you can write a grocery list, than organizing an ebook will be simple.

1. Start out with writing on paper or computer 1- 10. Write the topic you want to cover next to each digit on your paper. You now have outlined your chapters

2. Write capital A, B, C, under each topic (Chapter). These will be your chapter sub headings.

3. Below the capital letters (subheading) write lower case letters a b c. By writing a, b, c, you now can write one or two keywords or phrases to be anchors to remember what information you will put in you subheadings. You are now ready to write your book.

When you use this format on paper or computer, and you read the text laid out in an organized manor, your mind will automatically want to fill in the gaps. The human brain just will not tolerate gaps in anything. Your thoughts will compel you to finish the job. By using this technique you will accomplish an amazing amount of work. After all your hard work how will you tell the world about your ebook?

ADVERTISING METHODS

1. Articles

You can write articles to brand your work in the minds of readers. Write your articles relevant to the topic of your book, but don’t give away the farm. The articles are also making quality content for your website. Remember search engines love quality content.

2. Blogs/RSS

Blogging is another way to create content for your website, and by using RSS, you can easily distribute your content. Most don't understand what RSS really is, or how it can most effectively be used to drive traffic to their sites. Basically, RSS is a form of code that's very search engine friendly. With RSS feeds, which you can add to your website or

blog, you can create content that updates itself. Because of this self-updating, the search engines will spider your site more often, raising your rankings. But, the primary reason is you are reaching a larger, and more specific audience. Blogs and RSS readers are choosing the content they wish to read. Always remember your target audience is attempting to answer their questions.

3. Search Engine Optimization

Optimizing your site for the search engines means creating keyword rich content, exchanging links with other sites, submitting your site to directories, which create back links pointing to your site.

5. Distribute a Free Chapter to Your Readers

One of the best ways to advertise is give away a free chapter of your ebook away. Place links in the book where your readers can purchase your ebook. Giving away chapter one is the best because you are telling the reader what they are going to learn; but not in any detail. The readers grow hungry for more information and want to buy.

Make It Viral

If you make your ebook brandable, which means others can place their links, and affiiate id inside your ebook, your ebook becomes viral. You give others an incentive to share your ebook and spread it across the internet. Once you implement these content strategies on your site, add streams of revenue to your site like Adsense and Virtual Portals. These sites will allow you to monetize your site.

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid of writing ebooks it is a great way to build your expertise and credibility with the internet community. You also will bring a lot of customers to your website. Implement these strategies and you will be successful. Remember, your reputation depends on the quality of the product you produce.

About The Author

Duncan Judson - owner/webmaster of the Viral Source http://www.theviralsource.com. Visit and download free ebooks.

duncantracking@yahoo.com

Being a Writing Parent

2006-02-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Take a look at how hectic things can get when you are a writer, trying to work at home and also the parent of little ones. It is not an easy task but it can be managed successfully. It's a matter of balance!
Enjoy,
Lorraine

The Gifts of Being a Writing Parent
by: Dawn Colclasure

You have a deadline. Your work is due within hours, your contact keeps giving you the runaround and your e-mail account suddenly crashes. You’re ready to dive out the window of a highrise because you’re this close to losing your next paycheck. Suddenly, a tiny pair of arms circles around you and a cherubic smile appears. A small voice peeps out from underneath you, saying, “I love you.”

This scenario is just one of those moments you can count on when your day as a working writer gets chaotic. Because not only are you a working writer, but you are also a working writer parent. You have one or more children there to remind you how much your being a writer is important, how it can help you to keep the bill collectors away and how you will always have someone there to say “I love you” right after an editor has said “I hate you.” And the former statement will always erase the latter.

As a writing parent, you can count on going through many ups and downs. You can count on constantly being interrupted, faced with little time to write or having to learn how to type with one hand while you tend to a child with the other. But what you can also count on are the gifts which being a writing parent offers: You have the gift of never-ending support, instant feedback, a source of inspiration and ideas, and a shoulder to lean on for those days when nothing seems to be going right.

Being a writing parent is a blessing. It’s one of those very rare moments of your life where you absolutely must plan your workdays better, use the power of brevity when faced with scarce writing time, and where you learn the art of prioritizing your work. You are also in a position where you can write from the unique angle of a parent. Who else can better understand the labors of insufficient sleep, potty training or seeing your child off on their first day of school? You. Even better, you, the writer. Because now you are able to write about these experiences in a way that almost makes you an expert on the subject. You are an expert, because you’ve been there.

There won’t be any other time in your life where you can write about a child’s first step, the intrigue of a lightning storm, how to fight monsters in a closet or how to talk to your child about drugs, sex and violence. Children grow up and we, the writing parents, are there to experience every single moment of it. We are there to relive our first crush, our first date and graduation from high school. We are there to live through it and write all about it.

And that, above all else, is perhaps the greatest gift of all: The gift of forever.

About The Author

Dawn Colclasure, who also writes as Dana Mitchells, edits and publishes the Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine, which is a product of her book: BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How we Survive as Writing Parents (Booklocker.com, Inc., http://www.booklocker.com/books/1743.html ). She is also a contributing writer to the newspaper SIGNews and a staff writer for the Web site, The Shadowlands. She’s been published both on and off the Web, in magazines such as Mothering and American Fitness, and Web sites such as Absolute Write, Writing Etc. and Writing World. Visit her on the Web at http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/.

DMCWriter@mail2desert.com

Writer's, It's a New Year!

2006-01-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

New Year's Resolutions for Writers
by: Amber McNaught

Whether you're an experienced writer looking to boost your career or a complete novice desperate to break into the world of freelance writing, there's a good chance that you'll be using the New Year as the excuse you need to start a whole new writing regime.

New year is a good time for freelance writers. It's a time of chance, when staff writers start looking for new jobs (leaving editors desperate for freelance contributions), and editors start thinking about new directions for their publications (and hence need new freelance writers to help them out).

If you're determined to make this year the year that your writing career really takes off, here are some of the resolutions you should be making.

1. I will write every day

Freelance writing is a job, just like any other, and that means you have to do it every day (weekends and holidays excepted). Make writing a habit by sitting down at your keyboard at the same time every day, and don't allow yourself to leave until you've got some words down on paper. Start taking your writing seriously, and other people will take it seriously too.

2. I will set goals for my writing

It doesn't really matter what your goals are. Maybe you want to finish that novel you've been "working on" for the past three years, or perhaps you want to get a feature published in a national newspaper or magazine. It's important to have goals to give yourself something to work towards, to motivate yourself, and to measure your success. Make goals for each week, each month or each year – just make them.

3. I will get a website to showcase my writing

If you're really serious about your freelance writing career, you need a website, it's as simple as that. A writer's website allows you to find new clients, display your portfolio, and present a more professional image to the world. Who wouldn't want that?

4. I will try different types of writing

Sometimes when you're good at something, it's hard to move away from it and try something else. If you're used to writing articles for the web, for example, you may not even consider trying to write and sell a short story. You should. By trying out new types of writing, you'll not only have fun, you could also discover something else that you're good at. If you're a novelist, then, try writing some non-fiction: if you're a business writer, try a short story. You might even like it.

5. I will find new markets for my writing

If you've kept resolutions one to four, you should by now have a whole lot of new writing just waiting to find markets. Now you have to try and sell it. Make a resolution to spend a part of each day or week finding and querying new markets for your writing. Let this become as much of a habit as writing every day, and sooner or later you'll start to see results.

6. I will make new contacts

In the world of freelance writing, contacts are everything. Make the effort to write down the names and contact details of all of the editors, employers and other useful contacts you come across in the course of your writing. These people are your ticket to freelance writing success: keep in touch with them and the next time they need a freelance writer, they'll be the ones getting in touch with you.

About The Author

Amber McNaught is a freelance writer and the owner of http://www.WritingWorld.org, an online community for freelance and creative writers.

Amber also co-owns website design and copywriting firm, Hot Igloo Productions – http://www.hotigloo.co.uk

Capture the Spirit of the Moment

2005-12-19T13:55:00.000-05:00

Finding Your True Voice
by: Seth T Mullins

There's a prevailing sense in the world of writing that everything has already been said. Truly, it has. The human race has always experienced birth, the triumphs and tragedies of life in a transitory world, and death; and mankind has written of these experiences for as long as there has been the written word.

The themes are universal. Comparative mythology has demonstrated that they've cropped up, throughout history, within all cultures around the globe.

But look around at our own culture in this day and age. There has never been a human situation to replicate this one, not since the dawn of time. And our age needs the nourishment of stories as much as any other that has been or is yet to be. What I'm describing here is the artist's imperative to capture the spirit of the moment, to clothe something universal to human experience in a form that's relevant to people in the modern day.

Find your own voice. There has never been - nor will there ever be - another person like you. Perhaps everything has been said before, but not in the unique and particular way that YOU can say it when you're allowing your own true voice to ring through in your writing.

Our world is in constant flux, ever evolving. There can never be a definitive statement made on any topic to stand for all time. The spirit of invention must constantly be revived, else all humanity flounder in the mire of fixed ideas and beliefs, like old fossils and stones in the river that the flow of life rushes passed.

Don't worry about being original; to be yourself should be your only concern. You came into this world to express something that no one else could. If you stifle that inner need to communicate out of fear of retreading old ideas, then we'll all be made the poorer for it.

There seem to be dual personalities existing within many writers. There is the exhibitionist self that always has an eye on the readers and the market at large. "Look at me!" it says. "Look at what I wrote!" It's easy to identify writing that comes from such an ego place; it smacks of self-satisfaction, and though the prose may be immaculate it resembles a kind of exotic flower - something to be admired from a distance. Luckily there is another self within the writer that is motivated by the desire to communicate. When we're in touch with this aspect of ourselves then we understand, intuitively, that art is meant to bring people together and create a sense of unity. Then we write with gracious humility, offering what knowledge and skill we have towards the purpose of touching others.

THIS kind of writing is easily perceived, too, because it reaches directly into the heart. It honors and dignifies the soul of writer and reader alike.

In other words, if we write for love of art and humankind - and not primarily from a place of desiring recognition, wealth or fame - then we come into our own authentic voices. That's where the true potency of our words is derived from.

About The Author

Seth Mullins is the author of "Song of an Untamed Land", a novel of speculative fantasy in lawless frontier territory. Visit Seth at http://authorsden.com/sethtmullins.

Headlines That Stand Out!

2005-12-15T13:41:00.000-05:00

Hi All,
Do you want to learn how to create headlines that stand out? Well read today's article to find out how.
enjoy,
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Secrets to Creating Great Headlines
by: Catherine Franz

Great! You finished your piece and now need a headline. Usually headlines are less than ten words and need to be expressed in short, expressive, active words. This provides quick focus and pull in. By waiting until you know what you are ending up with, it will save you time. You can give a temporary headline while drafting.

If you have a good lead paragraph, you will find the headline. If you want to intrigue or hook your readers, look at the significant points instead. Which idea or thought can you use as that hook.

Here are some tips on how to write that headline:

* Grab a highlighter and underline the nouns and key words in your lead paragraph.

* From the key words, imagine yourself composing a telegram, and each word is costing you $10. Avoid articles -- A, An, The -- and prepositions -- On, Under, Beside, etc.

* Substitute simple but effective synonyms to keywords. Say "polls" instead of "elections" or "go on" instead of "continue."

* Write headlines that are simple and easy to read. Don't use heavy words. Use words that are short and familiar.

* Directly give your story's main idea at the beginning of your headline.

* Try and working in the main benefit the reader gets for reading further. Also, add another benefit in the lead paragraph, to keep them moving forward.

* Use dynamic and powerful words. Not what you think is powerful but what you reader is going to think as powerful.

* Always be specific and avoid generalities. "Do this and you will get this" needs to be specific to be believable. Provide examples or statistics. Give the result that is believable to the reader.

* Only use a person’s name in the headline if they are well known. Provide a link to where someone can find out more about this person.

* Repeating key words, using weak verbs such as a, an, is, are, or starting the line with a verb is not recommended.

* If you have to use abbreviations, do so only when the abbreviation is commonly known to your main target market. Create a footnote for a definition or place the abbreviations in parentheses.

* Use numbers only if important and write them in figures -- use B for billion and M for million.

* Even if your statistics are out standing you might night want to state them. If they are too unbelievable, people will not buy.

These thirteen tips are not all inclusive to all the tips and techniques you can use to create headlines. When I wrote these I wanted to convey some suggestions for the frequent mistakes I see made or unique recommendations that will get your headline noticed quickly and build curiosity.

About The Author

Catherine Franz, business and writing coach, resides in Virginia and is a syndicated columnist, radio producer, International speaker, and author. Ezines and other articles: http://www.abundancecenter.com.

http://abundance.blogs.com

Website Copywriting

2005-12-07T13:52:00.000-05:00

Hi all,

Is your web copy helping your site or hurting it? Ready today's article to find out!
enjoy,
Lorraine

Watch Out! Copy Mistakes Are Sinking Your Site

By: Janet Gratz

No matter how well you write, or even if you have a professional writer create your web site copy, you're going to have errors. Misspelled words, awkward sentences, phrases that don't make sense, and words that are used incorrectly run rampant through many sites. And it's no wonder. Writing well is hard work. Even a good writer will be too close to the copy and won't see ALL their mistakes, even when re-reading the copy carefully.

Mistakes in your copy can sink your web site. The online audience who accounts for most of your customers are a rather literate group of people. Studies show a large percentage have a good knowledge of spelling and punctuation. If they find your copy has several errors in it, prospects will figure you do sloppy work.

The solution is simple. Get a proof reader to carefully check your copy. You can enlist the help of a friend who has a sharp eye for spelling and punctuation. Better yet, get a professional proof reader to read your copy. Proof reading is almost always affordable and the investment will pay off big time in avoided embarrassment and missed sales.

Don't get too comfortable with spell checkers. Many have limited numbers of words they recognize, and will skip past some misspelled words. One of the most common problems is that a spell checker can't help you if you use the WRONG word.

Don't feel like I'm picking on you. I worked in the TV and movie industries for many years. I can tell you from personal experience that even Hollywood's writers struggle with typos and other errors in their copy. None would dream of turning in a script without first having a capable proof reader go through their drafts and revisions.

Article Source: http://www.content-edge.com

Janet Gratz is founder of www.ProofYourCopy.com. She can proof and edit your web site, ebook, sales letters, and more -- all at very affordable rates. Reach Janet at janet@proofyourcopy.com or 818-901-0035.

Your Own Best Editor

2005-12-06T12:03:00.000-05:00

Writing Well-- 6 Steps to Being Your Own Best Editor
by: Marige O'Brien

One of the first important lessons a writer learns is that writing is a process, a series of steps that take an idea from concept to completed work. This is true whether the work is an article, a poem, a report, a short story or a book. Understanding this process -- and the role a writer plays in it -- is crucial to their success.

One of the most important steps in this process is learning to look at one's own work objectively. To focus on the intended message and ensure that it is delivered properly. While that may seem obvious enough, as the work progresses, it can become blurred. As the old song goes, "I have so much to say; but the words get in my way." To clarify that 'blurring' effect, it is essential to be able to edit your own work. But how does a writer edit their own work? While the process may vary depending on the writer, there are six steps that are integral to editing.

1) COMPLETE THE DRAFT

Novice writers should not attempt to edit as they write. Even experienced writers, who learn to smoothe over the copy as they go, know this is not editing and must wait for that separate step later on. The most important point of a first draft is to simply get the idea on paper, in whatever fashion that's comfortable for the writer. An outline is helpful and can serve as a rough draft for smaller projects. But if that format seems too limiting, just write out the first draft, understanding it is only the first go-around.

2) WALK AWAY

Even if it's only for a long enough period of time to get a glass of water. With longer projects, try to lengthen the time to a few days or weeks. This step allows the writer to gain perspective by "stepping back". Mostly, it allows the writer time for the subject to settle in their mind, plus it gives them time to mentally shift gears from writer to editor.

3) ASSESS OBJECTIVELY

While reading over the copy, the writer must learn to view it as a reader. One should be neither overly critical, nor overly attached to certain pet phrases or side remarks, but simply read it as if reading it for the first time. When done earnestly, this will make any errors, flaws or awkward points more apparent.

4) BE BRUTAL

This is the most difficult step, especially for the young or insecure writer. Heck, it's tough for the pros. Think of the classic image of an editor-- from the old Superman comics, for instance, wielding his red-ink pen with flourish, only interested in the facts. Especially when writing articles or in business, this is your best ally. With this image in mind, really look at what is necessary to make a logical progression. One trick is to put yourself under an artificial word restriction. Nothing helps cut unneccesary copy better than a specific word limit.

5) CRISP, CONCISE, CLEAR

These are the "3-C's" of good writing. While each writer has his/her own way of expressing themselves (and, in the case of fiction, more latitude is acceptable), these three points are integral parts of any successful writing.

CRISP - A fresh or meaningful viewpoint. Take a stand. The purpose of writing is to say something-- so say it!

CONCISE - Do not wander from the point. At least, not without a reason that directly relates to the original idea.

CLEAR - Make a steady progression from beginning to end. Don't leave major gaps in the progression.

Whether a report, a novel, an essay or an article -- even in poetry or song -- this rule applies. While editing, a writer must ask themself if the work succeeds in these three areas. If it doesn't, WHY? Analyze when and where it strays, even if that means working backward to the beginning.

6) PERSONAL WEAKNESS

Just as an athlete must learn to be aware of any physical weakness and compensate for it, so a writer must familiarze themself with their own bad habits or tendencies. A classic example is when a young writer masks their insecurity with a flourish of fancy words. But each writer has their own faults and must learn to guard against them. For example, when I was young, I had a nasty habit of using at least three adjectives whenever I described something. Eventually I saw this as the annoying flaw it was, and learned to choose the very best adjective and commit to it. Seeing this habit as a flaw was difficult. But it made me a stronger writer.

And that is the entire purpose of learning to edit one's own work: to grow and strengthen as a writer.--mo

About The Author

Marige O'Brien works as a writer, web designer and affiliate/internet marketer. Check out her website, Tracker Mo's Den (www.trackermo.com) and look for her past articles, as well as latest marketing tips, on her blog, Tracker Mo's Latest Finds (trackermosfinds.blogspot.com).

Are you an author?

2005-12-02T10:44:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Read on to find out what gogod content really is.
Enjoy,
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

"I Am An AUTHOR" - Is This The Next Big Fad?
by: Martin Lemieux

Write an article, get the traffic. Well sort of! Since the birth of writing articles, our industry has caught on to the phenomena of increasing your website’s traffic by becoming the professional in your field. The only problem with this is that for every serious professional in one field, there are a thousand other writers who are jumping on the "band wagon".

This article phenomenon is hurting every industry!

From bloggers, column writers, and e-books, the writing industry is yearning for more great writers. The internet marketing community is especially hurting for better content.

With the birth of SEO (search engine optimization), people all over the world are searching, browsing, and reading everything they can on how to promote their business on the internet. Because of this demand for different content, the supply of writers are increasing everyday but the quality of articles is decreasing exponentially.

Everyone is writing about the exact same thing! My company receives on average 10-20 articles per hour submitted to us. I would have to say that only 1 in about 100 articles submitted are ever published within our website. Those numbers are extremely low and for good reason.

It's all about "substance" - or lack of it!

Many articles we review are nothing more than simple "babble" and most of them are pointless. You can seriously tell right away whether the article is just a promotional piece or something with actual substance within the content.

Great content is very important. There is a misconception out there that most people won't read your content and you can pretty much post anything you want within your website as long as your website is clean, professional looking, and can be found online.

YOU ARE SOOOOO WRONG!

If there is one constant online, it's the fact that the general public is getting smarter and more knowledgeable on how to research for honest, reputable companies on the internet.

Unfortunately, authors these days are simply stealing from other great authors!

I am not talking about posting someone else's article on your website! Copying content from other leaders in your industry will only hurt your company. This is why the writing industry is getting worse; many writers out there simply select a topic they want to write about, then they go online and find 5 articles on that topic. Once they have some other great articles, they simply proceed to combine each article for themselves, by personalizing the content a little.

Do you ever wonder why for specific topics within your industry, you can find hundreds of authors that wrote almost the exact same thing? I call these people "Content Copiers".

Even worse are people who buy articles to post online ! ! !

This gets me every time. Did you know that you can now hire a company to write something for you and insert your company information as the source and author of the article? This strategy is seriously sad considering I can almost guarantee you that the article you just bought was also sold to a handful of other companies. All they do is tweak the article a little bit and insert a different title.

No one knows your business more than you do. If you are seriously good at what you do, 9 times out of 10, you probably have enough knowledge to write an article that makes sense, that is unique in content, and that has your personal touch.

We've all come across different situations while operating our businesses. These small but important situations are what gives us confidence in what we do. When you learn from your mistakes, you should also consider educating people on what you've learned in order to help your potential clients or even help better educate your industry.

Think beyond yourself and write down something helpful.

I hope you've enjoyed this article!

About The Author

Martin Lemieux is the president of the Smartads Advertising Network. Smartads is here to help grow your business online and offline through effective marketing strategies. Visit our network today!

International: http://www.smartads.info

Canada: http://www.smartads.ca

For more of Martin's articles, go here: http://www.smartads.info/newsletter/archive

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article, just make sure everything remains the same.

Essay Writing

2005-11-29T13:48:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Ever try to write an essay? It can be a daunting task can't it? Take a gander at today's article to pick up some valuable nuggets on teh art of essay writing.
Enjoy!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Art of Essay Writing
by: Susan Kassel

I love essays! I enjoy reading them, checking them, teaching my students how to generate them, but most of all I enjoy writing them! You want to ask why. I hope after reading my article you will understand. And I so much believe that you will also fall in love with the incredible world of essays. Let’s start our trip from a short background. The word “essay” originated from French word “essai” which means “attempt, effort, sketch”. And this translation reflects the essence of the task you are assigned at your college. Really, it is your personal attempt to give a challenging sketch on some engrossing issue. Unlike other academic assignments, essay suggests freedom of your creative work. Its main advantage is that you can write it on any topic, in any style. Essay is your own point of view on something you have heard, read, seen etc. The forefront of the essay is your personality, your thoughts, feelings and your life position. You have a unique chance to enter a reasonable controversy with other authors, as the teacher expects you to show your erudition in the subject. However, you should remember that regardless freedom of the writing process, it is not that easy at all. Because you are expected to find an original and capturing idea (even in the traditional context) and exceptional opinion on some problem.

The title of essay does not strictly depend on the essay topic: the title can also serve as a starting point in your reflection; it can express the relation of the whole and the parts. A free composition of essay is subject to its inner logic, it is an emphasized position of the author.

The style of the essay is marked by its aphoristic, paradoxical and figurative character. To convey your personal perception of the world you should: employ a lot of capturing examples, draw parallels, choose analogies, use various associations. One of the characteristic features of essay is the wide usage of numerous expressive means, such as metaphors, parable and allegoric figures, symbols and comparisons. Your can enrich and make your essay more interesting if you include in it: unpredictable conclusions, unexpected turning points, interesting clutches of events.Essay presents a dynamic interchange of author’s arguments, supporting evidence and questions.

Be brief, but at the same time avoid absolute simplicity. No one will like reading a monotonous narration. Completing the draft of your essay, read it aloud, yes, aloud. You will be struck by the number of rough details in your essay. You should get rid of them with no regret. If you have to say something new, original and exclusive, then the genre of essay is your genre. Be creative, free your mind and may be you will reveal a great essayist in yourself.

About The Author

Susan Kassel has been working as a leading editor at BestEssayTips.com for more than three years. She possesses extensive experience in writing psychology and philosophy essays, research papers. You can find out more about term paper research services provided by http://www.bestessaytips.com.

Writing Holiday Stories

2005-11-23T09:27:00.000-05:00

How to Write a Holiday Tale That Isn't a Turkey
by: Caterina Christakos

When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them with others, we enter into an agreement where we allow our reader to see a glimpse of our heart, our souls and our memories. If we truly want them to be immersed in the tale, we actively immerse ourselves in those memories so that a glimmer of what we saw, heard and felt comes through.

This is especially true with holiday tales. The best way to convey a holiday scene is to take a trip back in time through the wonderful world of our unconscious. Here are some great ways to delve back into our child hood memories and incorporate them into our holiday tales.

1) Sit in a darkened room and close your eyes. Allow yourself to go back in time to the very first Christmas that you can remember. Take a deep breath and relax. What are the scents, sounds and feelings that come up? What is the first picture that pops into your mind?

Is it the sound of children racing down the stairs that comes to you first? The feel of your heart pounding when you awoke and found that Christmas was really here? The warmth of your parents’ blankets as you bounced on them, anxious to wake them up?

The autumn and winter holidays will always be associated, for me, with my grandmother’s cooking and pumpkin pies. I remember running into her little house, and the sound of the front door’s slam behind me. I was immediately engulfed in warmth. The scent of nutmeg and cinnamon and pumpkin seeds physically drew me forward, until I was wrapped in my grandmother’s embrace.

2) Recreate the scene. Since a prime trigger for me is the scent of pumpkin pies, I often order pumpkin scented candles from Yankee Candles. I sit on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, light the candles and wait. Within moments, the scent has pulled me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. And I hear the sound of my cousins pounding down the hall after me, each of us anxious to win the first warm treat.

You can do the same. If a scent triggers your memories, you can either bake the cake or cookie or brew the eggnog. Or you can get one of those scented candles and simply light it.

If the feel of sweaters immediately transports you back to your snow throwing days, slip one on. If you are like me and live in Florida, turn the air way up first. Close your eyes and hear the sound of children shouting as they try to nail each other with snowballs. Picture their fresh flushed faces.

3) If there is a particular holiday character that sparks your memories, rent holiday movies. Some of my favorites are Frosty the Snowman and Miracle on Thirty fourth street. Watch one for a while, until you get the holiday feeling, then turn the sound off. Watch the pictures and let your mind go.

4) Use all of these pictures and sensations and feelings in your story.

If you are writing about a little girl in a big family, think back to what holiday dinners were like for you. Did everyone talk at once? Does your character like this or does she feel overwhelmed? What is it like to be the smallest one in a room full of adults? Is there a cousin or neighbor that is constantly picking on her? Do the children get bored and decide to explore the forbidden attic?

5) Once you have a scene in mind, write down all of these questions. Don’t worry about answering them until you have run out of questions. Then think back to the picture, sound or feeling that you associate with and answer the questions.

6) Now describe everything that you can about the characters. What are their ages? What do they look like? Are they the youngest or oldest in their family? Where do they live? What is their favorite thing? What are their best friend’s names? Who is their arch nemesis and why?

Get as much detail as possible down.

Once you can describe all of these things, the pieces of your story will begin to fall into place. More importantly, your characters and your scenes will be real and alive. Be brave and put as much of yourself into these stories and your characters. Your readers will love you for it.

About The Author

Caterina Christakos is the author of How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or less. For more writing tips go to: http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com

Articles - Promoting Your Business

2005-11-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Today we will look at 8 facts on using articles to promote your business.
enjoy!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

8 Facts on Promoting your Business with Articles
by: Rhonda White

Business owners have the greatest potential for writing successful articles. Most people usually start a business because they have a particular interest in certain products or services. Business owners usually have already gained much knowledge in their particular market. They can optimize their potential by setting aside time to research and study their area of interest to become even more knowledgeable in their market. One good resourceful book can help ignite the enthusiasm to gain more and more knowledge. Business owners can use this knowledge to write informational articles and will easily obtain their title as "expertise" once they do so.

Articles highly target your potential customers. Writing articles is actually something that anyone can easily do even if they have never really considered themselves as a "talented" writer. A little effort to compile some valuable information, can produce great results in targeting your potential customers. If you write articles related to your business industry, the visitors you receive from your articles will usually be highly targeted, eager and ready to see what else you have to offer. With your articles, you have already established yourself as a means of a "professional" in your visitor's mind. For this reason you can create open-minded potential customers ready to seek what you have to offer them.

Resourceful information should be included about the author. Marketing with your articles work best when you give them away to be redistributed and used for webmasters seeking content for their sites, blogs, ezines, etc. When your articles are submitted to free article directories and groups for distribution, a resource box or area below your article is always included. You may give your name, a small piece of information about you and your business (make it short and state directly what you do), and your URL to your website. Having your article hosted on numerous other sites and blogs is a great way to gain many "incoming" links to your site. The URL that you provided is also a great tool to generate traffic to your site.

You only have one small chance to catch the eye and interest of the reader. Time should be well spent on creating a interesting title and introduction paragraph for new articles. The world is full of information...newspapers, magazines, commercials, flyers, mail, bill boards, emails, banners and text ads on websites. All competing to catch our eye. We have learned to quickly tune out what does not interest us and proceed on. Do not try to use a title that you believe will catch "everybody's" interest. It just cannot be done anyway. Target only your potential customers and what information they are looking for. If you are targeting people who are fascinated with their hair, they want great hair...forget the clothes...forget the makeup....it's the hair! You've got the answer! You provide hair care products. Don't write in general about "beauty tips" trying to catch every woman's eye. Write to those hair fanatics. Provide specific articles targeting those hair fans. "100 Ways to Poof your Hair". (And...um...of course you've got the product they're looking for to make this happen. Include the exact link in your author's resource area.)

The length of your article does not have to be long. Some people feel they must practically write a book to complete an article. Four to six paragraphs can complete a well-written article. Instead of trying to cover a whole topic about "Work-at-Home Moms" try narrowing your articles into more specific pieces, for example, "How Work-at-home Moms Manage their Time", and perhaps next, "Three Simple Ways Work-at-Home Moms Relieve Stress". Creating one huge article that covers a broad subject can take a lot of time and effort and may end up losing the interest of your reader. Distributing smaller articles targeted on a specific subject will allow you to write and distribute more articles and will target the interest of your reader much easier.

Articles can bring you large amounts of traffic when distributed frequently. "Frequently" is stressed when speaking of generating large amounts of traffic through article marketing. Generally, one article will not do this wondrous deed. For this reason, writing numerous, narrow-targeted articles and distributing them with frequency will create the results you want. On the other side, don't overdo it. Creating articles like you are some vending machine and popping out one article after another, may cause you to lose focus on quality. Quality takes more time and effort, but produces much better results and greater chances of having your articles sought after and read.

Articles are successful when they are not advertisements. Use your articles to give your reader valuable content and information that will have them coming back to you for more. Don't try to be sly and sneak in a couple of ads here and there. People sense right away what is intended to be an ad. Some may continue to read on, but others won't. Save your ads for appropriate places on your site and not in your articles. Take time to check your spelling and grammar. If this is an area that you lack in, then find a family member or friend who can help you proofread and determine what sentences may need improvement.

Use small fragments of time to write your articles Most business owners are extremely busy. They do not have much extended time just for writing articles. Today you can have time to start writing your first article. You can use very small fragments of time to write successful articles. Keep a notepad with you at all times and you will be surprised at the numerous opportunities you get to jot down some ideas for your articles. Whether you're waiting at the doctor's office, stuck in traffic on the way home, or simply lying in bed at night trying to calm down and relax before turning out the lights...you've got the potential of creating success with your tidbits of time. Write one paragraph at a time if that is all the time you have. You will soon see that this will actually energize your thoughts more into the process of writing articles. You will find yourself coming up with new ideas at odd moments...and glad that you have your notepad to jot it down. Right now take a small fragment of your time and start your way to successful article writing.

About The Author

Rhonda White is an internet marketer for work-at-home moms. She currently owns and manages http://wahm-announce.com, http://small-budget-advertising.com, http://OklahomaCityShoppers.com.

Reviewing Writing

2005-11-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Today let's take a look at some guidelines to help you review the writing of others. Critiquing someones work is not always an easy task, but the guidelines below should make it easier.
Enjoy!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Guidelines For Reviewing Writing
by: The StoryMaster

Writing detailed reviews is time well spent.

Reviewing itself is a writing exercise. At Writing.Com, creating detailed feedback for a fellow writer is one of the best tools available for improving your own writing. That said, if you're going to spend the time to do it, helping the author is important. There is a better chance for the ideas in a review to get through to an author if they are well presented.

Key Characteristics For Reviews

* Reviews should be honest. Helping writers improve their craft should be the mission of any reviewer. Honest opinions are what help writers improve. Giving false feedback doesn't help anyone and can lead an author down a long road to bitter disappointment.

* Reviews should be encouraging. Everyone at every level should be encouraged to continue writing! Encouraging reviews are more likely to be used by an author which means the time creating the review was well spent. Whether the author decides to use the reviewer's honest suggestions or not, the review should be motivating and encourage the author to keep writing.

* Reviews should be respectful. Regardless of an author's level of skill or talent, a reviewer should always respect that the author is an individual person. A reviewer flaunting that they are better than the author they're reviewing is not respectful and is counter productive.

* Reviews should be well rounded. While honesty is very important, a review that points out only flaws without any mention of an item's positive points is not nearly as helpful to an author as a well rounded review with both positive and negative remarks. Don't forget, the same goes for reviews that only point out positives! Even the greatest pieces of writing have room for suggestions and opinions.

* The rating should reflect the review. If you're sending a review full of corrections, it's important to consider that with your star rating selection. 5.0's shouldn't need any corrections. On the other extreme, a 1.0 should have endless errors and you couldn't possibly list them all. Offering to return and rerate the item after a round of updates makes it more likely your suggestions will be considered.

* Reviews should make good use of color, bold and italics. When reviewing, presentation is very important! Color can be used to make corrections stand out or quote small portions of the work. Emoticons can highlight important points in the review and can be creatively used to make the review feel more friendly.

The Content Of A Review

Keeping in mind the six (6) points highlighted above, a review should contain your opinion. While grammatical, typographical and other errors can be included within a review, don't forget to tell the author how the piece made you feel. Give them your thoughts about the inside of their writing, not just the outside.

Some example questions you may ask yourself about the piece to help you get your opinion across are as follows: Did the plot interest you? Were the characters believable? Did the story fit the time, place and other setting characteristics? Is there anything you would change within the story?

Incorporating these thoughts within your reviews will expand your own analytical skills allowing you to better analyze your own writing. Whether the author agrees with any of your suggestions or ideas is not relevant. You have given them another perspective on their work they would not have otherwise had. They may hear the same thoughts from a number of different people which may give them a better understanding of their readers as a whole.

Use "copied and pasted" portions of the item you are reviewing as little as possible. Posting sections of an item within your review leads to "review bloating" and takes away from the impact your comments and suggestions will have on the author.

Your Own Review Format

Developing your own format for reviewing can be a great asset. Determine what aspects of writings you like to focus on most, create a short outline to follow and start reviewing. Following this process will help keep your reviews honest and consistent. As your experience grows, you'll find ways to improve your format and your skills.

Get into the good habit of using a custom tag-line of encouragement within your reviews. Including a "Keep Writing!" or something unique and individual within your reviews goes a long way to motivating an author. We know you mean it, so don't forget to say it!

Make Reviewing a Daily Creative Writing Exercise

Remember, reviewing grows your own writing skills unlike any other writing tool. Critically analyzing and reviewing others' writings makes a writer stop and think about what works and what doesn't. Putting that into words and communicating that to another writer, ultimately helps the reviewer to improve his or her own writing skills, as well. So it's about helping others, but it's a valuable way to help ourselves!

Have Fun & Happy Reviewing!

About The Author

The StoryMaster is WebMaster @ Writing.Com ( http://www.Writing.Com/ ). Established in 2000, Writing.Com is the online community for readers and writers of all ages and interests. Whether you're a casual reader searching for a good story or a creative writer looking for the perfect place to improve your skills, Writing.Com is the site for you!

Article Writing

2005-11-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Happy Friday!!! Today's article deals with the importance of writing articles. If you want to get your website noticed, it is the quickest and easiest way to do it.
Take a gander.
Enjoy!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Well-Written Articles Can Help You!
by: Hans Hasselfors

You've heard it time and time again: if you want to get your name out there, write articles and allow them to be freely reproduced (with a resource box pointing back to you, of course). Largely, that is true. Well-written articles can:

- help you build your profile as an expert

- draw traffic to your website, and

- help you to build a database of potential clients through associated e-courses or a newsletter.

So far you probably haven't heard anything you didn't already know. What YOU are likely to be struggling with is the process of actually writing the article. Sure, you can come up with the content - but how do you really grab those readers? How do you keep their attention all the way through? And most importantly, how do you make them want to come back for more?

Let's assume that you understand the basics of constructing and editing an article (it has a beginning, middle, and an end and you know how to check the grammar and spelling.) Most of us can manage that. But if you're not content with simply "getting something out there" - if you want to WIN readers - then you need to start thinking about what they want to know, rather than what you want to tell them.

Put your readers first - every time. Give them what they want, and they'll be queuing up to read anything you produce. Give them something bland (or worse, blatantly self-serving) and they'll blast by you so fast you'll be spinning in the back draft.

The following four steps will give you a blueprint for writing articles that captivate your readers - whatever the topic.

== 1. Find Out What Your Readers Really Want ==

Sometimes you'll know what they want because you're an expert in the field, and understand the problems. If you don't know the subject area well, you'll have to do more research. Look for forums on your topic and see what people are discussing. What are the problems that need solving? Can you provide an answer? ("If they have a headache, give them an aspirin.")

== 2. Start With An Attention-Grabber ==

Spend time working on your opening. Try to avoid trite questions like "Have you ever wondered why so many people find it difficult to lose weight?" Firstly, it's dull. Secondly, it's not targeting the person reading the article - what do they care about the difficulties "many people" have with losing weight? They only care about THEIR weight problem!

Try to come up with an opening paragraph that gives the reader that warm "Hey, this is about me!" feeling right away. Better still; try to generate a rush of excitement - "This could be the answer I've been looking for..."

Example: "The diet gurus make it all sound so easy: to lose weight, all you have to do is expend more energy than you take in. Huh! If it were that simple, the "Big People" stores would be out of business in a heartbeat. Luckily for those of us who are tired of diets, gyms and dull group meetings, there is a back-to-basics way to tackle this. A way that won't cost you a fortune or leave you feeling deprived."

== 3. Write As You Speak... Then Edit! ==

The sample opening above also illustrates the importance of the tone you use in your article. You need 'meat' in each article, of course, to make it worth reading - but make sure it's not indigestible!

You're better off writing your article in a natural, relaxed style that's akin to normal conversation. It doesn't matter if the first draft is a little too informal - you can fix that when you edit. Naturally you don't want to irritate your readers with a too-breezy style, but too-formal is worse. Readers may want facts, tips, and strategies, but they hope to be entertained, too! Let your personality shine through.

== 4. End On A High ==

What's one of the biggest problems with most articles? They fizzle out! Writers often don't know how to end on an upbeat note. They either just stop dead or they come up with a trite ending like: "So what are you waiting for? Get started today!"

The beginning and the end of your article are the two parts that make the biggest impression. Start by creating a feeling of anticipation... and leave them feeling satisfied (or excited) when you finish.

If you are offering advice to help them solve a problem (like obesity) gives your readers a reason to feel optimistic and good about them. Don't make rash promises... but do offer hope. If you are giving hints on marketing or business, sum up the benefits of acting on your tips. You can also experiment with using a pithy/humorous quote, or giving readers a specific action to get them started. Be creative - and don't rush it.

Here's a final tip: create an article-writing cheat-sheet for yourself. Divide it into beginnings/middles/ends and add more useful strategies as you think of them. (For example, using the tips in this article, you might write: ENDINGS - end on a high, offer hope, use funny quote, suggest action to get started.)

Do this, and you'll be steadily cranking out articles that everyone wants to publish!

About The Author

Hans Hasselfors is a successful business entrepreneur and internet marketing consultant. Get the net working for you. Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and make your living online. Become a member of The Business Professional network. http://www.internet-marketing-experts-online.com.

Resume Writing

2005-11-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Today I focus on the all important resume and why it is important to add accomplishments to it. Accomplishments on a resume can give you the edge you need over the competition. So read on, learn alot and add accomplishments to your resume before sending it out!
Enjoy,
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Why is It so Important to List Accomplishments on Resumes?
By Carla Vaughan

Your accomplishments are what distinguish you from your competitors in the job-search process. All things being equal, if a hiring manager were looking at two identical prospective employees who could handle the tasks of the job perfectly well, but one had accomplished more than the other, who do you think is going to get a phone call? Obviously, the person who accomplishes the most “wins”.

What exactly IS an accomplishment?

An accomplishment is when you do something successfully. If you make a positive difference at work, you are accomplishing something. From an employer’s standpoint, it is even better if you can state your achievements in a measurable or quantifiable way.

What does that mean? Use numbers whenever you can to state HOW you achieved the results you are affirming. Being able to quantify your skills and abilities makes other people perceive you in a very positive way. Why? Quantified accomplishments mean RESULTS.

Employers are all about results. Employers are all about the bottom line.

For instance, if you increased production of the best selling product at your company, by HOW MUCH did you increase it? 15% 20% 25% Quantify your statements whenever possible. Numbers SHOW results.

Remember being in kindergarten? Wasn’t it great when you could bring something to school for SHOW AND TELL? Lesson #1: It’s awesome to be able to bring something that no one else has. You get more recognition. Lesson #2: If you show your classmates something, it has significantly more meaning than if you tell them something. They literally have something to grab a hold of.

In your resume, you have to show the employer why you are the best person for the job. SHOW the employer that you have something to offer that no one else does. You have to be credible. You should never lie. You can, however, make yourself look better than your competitors. Use descriptive active language to engage the employer when reading your resume. Make your words jump off the page and grab the reader’s attention.

At the same time, you have to guide the employer through your resume clearly and eloquently so that only one conclusion can be reached: YOU are the best candidate for the job. if you simply state your previous job title and the duties you performed, you are not helping them to SEE who you really are. You’re just telling them. Quantify your accomplishments and let them see just what you can do for them.

Let your accomplishments sing your praises for you. When writing your resume, let yourself shine through the job duties in a way that resonates with employers. Show results by quantifying your accomplishments.

You will be the one getting the phone call for an interview – and isn’t that what it’s all about?

Carla Vaughan http://www.professional-resume-example.com/accomplishments.html

Carla Vaughan is the owner of http://www.Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored a book titled, “The Do-It-Yourself Resume Kit” soon to be available on her site. Resume blog: http://professional-resumes.blogspot.com/

Effective Online Communication

2005-11-05T19:17:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,
Hope you are all having a great weekend.

Do you communicate efficiently and effectively online? Do you run an online business that requires communicating with customers or vendors? Then you need to know how to communicate well with them. So, you are in luck because today's article will show you how to do just that.
enjoy!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Tips for Efficient and Effective Online Communication
© 2005 Linda Stacy

If you market your business online you likely spend a lot of time communicating with customers and prospects via e-mail. You may also spend time networking on message boards and other online groups. Here are a few tips to help save time and to help make sure the message you want to send is the message that is received.

1. Use meaningful subject lines.

You want to convey the content of the message. Make sure your subject line is as specific as it can be in a few words. “I have a question” doesn’t offer any clue to the content, but “question about shipping” does. You may think that the subject line isn’t that important since your question will be in the message, but a recipient who may receive a hundred emails a day will prioritize by subject line and the more specific subjects will likely be read first.

You also want to choose email subject lines that are less likely to be blocked by a spam filter. Avoid spam filter trigger words like “free,” “info you requested,” and “save”.

When posting on message boards and news groups you want your subject line to attract the people who can answer your question or who are interested in the topic. Many message board participants have limited time and they only open the topics of interest. If your subject line simply reads, “help me” the experts may skip over it. But “need help with search engine optimization” will likely get the attention of someone with more experience on the topic.

Don’t change the subject line in your reply unless you are completely changing the topic of the message.

2. Your message should be concise, but complete. Get to your point early in your message and make sure you provide all the necessary information.

Some people still pay an hourly rate for Internet access and others are limited in the amount of information they can download. Unnecessarily long messages may be ignored or deleted by those individuals and unnecessarily long email messages add to an already overburdened email system.

By providing complete information in your first message you can often get your request taken care of right away. For example, if you email a website to ask for a change to your ad or your reciprocal link, don’t just ask, “how can I change my ad,” but include the changes you want to make. Often, changes are made by email so if you include the information in your first email the change will be made right away.

3. When replying to e-mail, be sure to include enough of the original message to convey the context of the reply.

The person you’re corresponding with may receive hundreds of messages a week and your message will be answered sooner and more accurately if the rest of the correspondence is included.

An exception should be made when you’ve written back and forth quite a few times and the email message starts to get very large. In that case, delete some of the earlier messages that are no longer necessary. Additionally, if you are emailing a newsgroup that offers daily “digest” be sure to remove most of the original message. It becomes very difficult to read the digest when every response includes the entire original message.

On threaded message boards it’s not necessary to quote the original post in your reply as most visitors are following along the entire thread and know the context. Use a quoted reply only to highlight and refer to a particular section of the original.

4. When sending e-mail to multiple recipients, be sure to use the blind CC address line. Do not reveal all the e-mail addresses to all the recipients.

In most cases you shouldn’t be sending messages to multiple recipients unless it’s a mailing list (in which case you should be using a mailing list program that individually addresses the messages to your list). But if you sometimes find the need to send one message to multiple recipients, be extremely careful to use the blind CC. Leaving everyone’s email address visible to all the recipients will anger many and lead the rest to mistrust that you’ll safeguard any of their personal information.

5. Make sure your business email can get through to you.

In your effort to reduce the amount of spam you receive, make sure your aren’t eliminating business email. Avoid e-mail accounts that filter spam for and find your own effective spam filter that lets you decide what is and isn’t spam. You need to make sure your business email gets through. In many cases your ISP email or one of the popular free email services will likely be heavily filtered at the server. If you don’t have a website that includes several email addresses consider purchasing another domain name and hosting service for your business email and make sure the hosting company allows you to turn off all filtering at the server level.

Those are just a few tips to help you communicate more efficiently online. If you’re new to the Internet you’ll want to do a little research on “netiquette.” You’ll find tips about online shorthand and emoticons (icons that indicate expressions like smiling and frowning), information on “flaming” (angry or insulting personal attacks), and simple conventions like typing in all caps is considered shouting.

Communicating online is very different from communicating in person. With just a little effort your online communication can become efficient and effective.
_______________
About the author: Linda Stacy owns and manages a unique service connecting network marketing business owners with potential team members through instant online chats. Visit iRepNetwork.com for tips and tools to help you generate leads and build your team.
http://www.irepnetwork.com

Article Writing

2005-11-04T08:37:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Today's post deals with the importance of article writing as a means of promotion. Articles are one of the most viral ways to get your message out and drive traffic to your website. Give it a try, it just may be the magic bullet needed to get your business noticed.
enjoy!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Article Writing 101 - Write for Promotion
By Jason DeVelvis

If you have a website or product to promote, you may want to start writing for promotion. Writing and submitting articles is one of the most effective forms of online promotion. The first thing any business person should learn in Article Writing 101 is the importance of writing and submitting articles, and the benefits that you can enjoy by doing this one simple thing.

Each time you write an article and submit it to the various websites around the Internet (like www.Content-Articles.com) using an article submission site like www.Article-Marketer.com you are using a form of viral marketing. When people need content for their websites, they usually start their search for free content at these sites. If your article pertains to the topic of their website or newsletter, and it is well written, they will probably post your article on their website, or use the article in their newsletter. When this happens, several other things happen.

First, your article will get wider exposure. It will be seen by the visitors to those other people’s websites or their newsletter subscribers. Since the people who use your articles must include your author’s resource box, traffic to your website will increase as well. This helps to increase sales. The article of course becomes viral. More than one person will use your article for content.

You receive even more benefits if the person uses your article for website content, or if they post their newsletters on the web. This improves your link popularity, by providing inbound links to your website. By improving your link popularity, you improve your ranking in the search engines. You further improve your link popularity and website rank in the search engines by the simple act of submitting the article to websites that accept article submissions and post those articles online.

You that you can easily start establishing yourself as an expert by writing and submitting articles related to the topic of your website or product. Establishing yourself as an expert considerably increases your credibility as well, making people more open to making a purchase through your website. Establishing yourself as an expert and increasing credibility is vitally important for anyone who does business online.

You can also use your articles to promote specific products that you sell, as opposed to promoting your website where you sell products. You can write review type articles that give your readers more information on the products that you sell. This helps to increase sales. It is important, however, that you not write articles that appear to be more like long sales copy than informational articles.

You can write articles that tell people how to get the most out of products that you sell, or how to use the product or service to enrich their lives, help them make more money, or to improve their looks. These are popular items of interest to a large majority of people around the world. Words are very powerful, and the words that you use in your articles can be the difference between making a sale, and not making a sale.

As you can see, the there are a great many benefits to writing and submitting articles. Articles really don’t take long to write, and you should try to write and submit at least one article per week to promote your website, products, or services. If you aren’t sure how to write an article, look around online for a free Article Writing 101 class that will teach you the basics – there are many such classes available. The articles that you write don’t need to be complex – simple articles will do nicely!

Jason is a successful Internet Marketer, and posts regularly on his Adventures In Internet Marketing blog. Take a minute right now to sign up for his newsletter for more great information!

Creating Graphics

2005-11-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Today's topic get's off the writing track a little but is important element of writing. Creating graphic elements to combine with your writing makes for more interesting written materials. A picture really is worth a thousand words!
Enjoy!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
http://ww.thewritetouch4u.com

Graphic Creations With Software
by: Sintilia Miecevole

A basic understanding of computers is all a person needs to create their own graphics with today's design software. Even with just small amount of design understanding, people can still use simple design programs to build their own cartoons strips, holiday cards, flyers and invitations. Your business and yourself can save money on special occasions by using one of the several user friendly affordable programs that are out there.

The number one choice for design software by both professionals and amateurs is Adobe PhotoShop. By cropping, recoloring and adding special effects, PhotoShop allows users to change photos anyway they wish. Entirely new pictures can also be created by using special drawing tools, or existing pictures can be modified anyway the user desires. PhotoShop uses a system of “layers.” By using layers, separate pieces of a picture can be changed while keeping the changes separate. For example, you can change the color on the bottom layer without affecting the color on the top layer. If you wish to draw more than creating full pictures, Adobe Illustrator may be the choice for you.

PhotoShop is a pixel-based program while Adobe Illustrator is vector based. What does this mean your probably asking yourself? When you make a picture in PhotoShop, you must use a certain resolution. A computer screen displays 72 pixels per inch for a clear picture, but when you print a 72 dpi picture, it appears blocky and blurred. If you are making a picture for printing in PhotoShop, you need to use 300 pixels per inch to get a nice, sharp image. Because Illustrator is vector-based, it uses a system of paths rather than pixels. In simple terms, it uses lines rather than colors. This means that everything you create in Illustrator can be enlarged up to any size you wish without ever becoming blurry or grainy. Designers often use Illustrator software to build logos for a variety of advertisements. The same picture or logo drawing can be used on a small business card or enlarged to fill an entire billboard.

For those wishing to create simple greeting cards or party invitations, there is a variety of user friendly software programs made specifically for these purposes. Many offer templates for several print sizes and folding options. For the more experienced user, the software program Quark is an excellent print layout tool. Adobe InDesign also offers professional quality layout options along with many of the same tools used in Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator. If you are to use these two programs, you will easily be able to create professional quality materials with InDesign.

There is a wide variety of file types used in graphic software programs. Most have their own native formats that can only be read by the parent programs. PhotoShop files have a .PSD extension, and Illustrator files are AI, making them only accessible by PhotoShop. When you are working with a work in progress, it is a good idea to save files in these formats, as they offer you the greatest flexibility in altering your creation. However, once you have completed your work and are ready to print your materials, you can save them in a variety of ways. Web pictures should saved as JPEGs, GIF or TIFF files. Pictures ready for printing are best saved as EPS files, to preserve color accuracy. If you plan to send graphics via e-mail, PDF offers the greatest flexibility, as most computers have Acrobat Reader, the program needed to read the PDF file type.

No matter what software fits your needs, making digital graphics can be a enjoyable and simple hobby, or even a professional career. It can take some time to get used to the terminology, but once you learn the tools of digital art, you will be on your way to building functional and decorative graphic masterpieces to share with the electronic world.

About The Author

Sintilia Miecevole has a great deal of experience in computers and technology. Click on http://www.fmlasoftware.com to see the huge selection of software and the latest downloads available. Be sure to visit http://www.fmlasoftware.com for your favorite software tools.

Affiliate Marketing

2005-11-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

Writing Articles As An Affordable Internet Marketing Method
by: David Riewe

Ever heard of affiliate programs? These are forms of Internet advertising that rewards the affiliates for driving traffic to the advertiser or for other transactions. The advertiser pays the affiliate to place a link on their website, and the affiliate sends traffic to the advertiser in return. Simply put, it's about paying commissions to people who help you make sales. It's that easy. NOT.

Affiliate marketing has its ups and downs. It could be draining if you are not armed with updated information and the technical how-tos. But this article's sole objective is to reach out to you and not to badmouth affiliate marketing.

Here are the following reasons on why web marketers go gaga over affiliate marketing as a form of Internet advertisement.

1. Low cost

Many are scared to go on a home based business because of the capital required. In affiliate marketing, you don't have to spend much to start raking in moolah.

2. Inventories not included

Product management fuss could be very stressing. An inventory is not asked to be maintained. The merchant does the maintenance required.

3. Unlimited income through leverage

When you have a paid job, your monthly income mainly relies on whether you go to work or not. With affiliate marketing, your affiliates could all just lead traffic to your site without having to lift a finger after providing them your ad copy and links. Though not every web marketer earns limitless, it still is a fact that all the necessary matters for the advertiser or Internet marketer are all there to be successful.

4. Go worldwide

With affiliate marketing, you are dealing with a global market place. All you have to do is choose a niche product and prepare all the necessary tools for your affiliates to lead traffic from just about anywhere to your website.

5. Low risk

The very main reason for Internet marketer's enthusiasm with affiliate marketing is its having a low risk factor. Especially for those with low budget set aside for advertising, affiliate marketing is just the way to do it.

6. No closing time

With affiliate marketing, your business works every single second of the day while targeting a worldwide market! What could be better than that?

But all of these will be put to waste if you don't have the right niche product and all the other important tools to make it big in affiliate marketing, i.e., well-SEO-ed website. So better work on this first before ever considering those benefits.

About The Author

David Riewe

Little Known Minnesota Man Making Six Figures Per Year Online, From the Comfort of Home, Reveals His Top Internet Money-Makers to YOU!" Click here: http://www.push-button-online-income.com/pbi

Do You Journal?

2005-11-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

Do you journal? Today's article will take the mystery out of it and get you started in the right direction. Keeping a writing journal is a smart thing to do. Read on to see how.
enjoy!
Lorraine
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Journaling Demystified
by: Cory L. Kemp

Have you been considering journaling, but have questions about how to get started? Journaling is a wonderful way to explore your faith through prayer, reflection and personal narrative. Shared here are some of the popular questions about journaling, and the opportunity to formulate your own answers to see if journaling fits for you and your journey.

Why do people journal?

Journaling is a simple process of putting writing instrument to paper to express a thought, an idea, a belief, as it relates to your own life. Journaling can also be about creating order in one's mind, clearing out the cobwebs of a stressful time, assigning categories for life experiences worked through and shelved away from a time long past. Journaling creates a process by which we can integrate our faith with our life process, and include God in the dialogue. People journal for all kinds of reasons, including all of the above, as well as to mark an occasion they hope never to forget, a vacation of a lifetime and a lifetime well-lived. Individuals journal to connect with their souls, to enrich their conscious experience and to document the details which can slip away so easily. Mostly, people journal because they want to, and they love to.

Who journals?

Anybody who wants to journal and makes the time to do so can. Author Virginia Woolf, women journeying to settle the West in the nineteenth century, Mary Chestnut, Civil War-era Southern woman, war veterans from Revolutionary times to the present, and Anne frank, teenager killed in a World War II German concentration camp, all wrote journals which survived their writers to tell of their lives. Most of us have no intention of publishing what we write, in this lifetime or the next, so this is not a point of perfectionism or a belief that journaling is only for those who consider themselves good writers. Journaling is for anybody who wants to write, feels compelled to write, especially if only for themselves. As people in our culture become more comfortable with expressing their feelings, journaling has increased in popularity. Today you will discover journaling crossing gender and generational lines, as well as being a self-discovery /cheap therapy for many people to work through personal issues, family crisis and as part of the process of grieving. Frequently used situationally, journaling is also a life-path sounding board for those who consider doing journaling as important as their morning coffee.

What do people use to journal?

Partly, those who don't journal want to know what to write about, but they are also asking what can possible be so important as to spend money on bound books of blank pages and fancy expensive pens with your name engraved on them. What you write about are considered personal tools, while what you write with are considered practical tools. Personal tools are abundant because they are what life is made of: thoughts, feelings, ideas, experiences, everyday issues, world events, community situations, faith issues and relationships among all of these, are personal tools with which to establish, nurture and continue your journaling process. If you are happy using the cheapest pens and paper you can find, have at it. If you like pretty, bound books, fountain pens and colored markers to create companion illustrations, you will have a great time journaling too. I personally have one foot in both camps. I use bound, unlined books purchased en masse at clearance sales, and any pen that feels good moving across the paper. I am, however, not opposed to leather bound books and elegant pens if I have the financial resources and the luck to find them.

How do people journal?

Unless you already journal regularly, it is difficult to imagine squeezing one more task into your day, especially one that can feel quite daunting in its newness. Journaling is a habit like any other activity you do on a regular basis. And, like any other addition to our lives, we make the time if we are serious about wanting to do it. Frequency, length of your journaling sessions and the amount of pages you would like to journal are all up to you. Each writer is on her/his own path, and has the luxurious responsibility of choosing these ways of framing their journaling experience to create the results they want.

When do people journal?

Whenever they can. There is no right time of day to journal, although there are times that are better for you than others, perhaps different times on different days. What i believe is most important is to commit to the journaling itself, then map out when you will journal, so you don't pretend with yourself that you will get to it when time comes available. It doesn't, and you and I both know that. Be honest with yourself, look at your schedule and figure out the ways you can carve out time for yourself to do this. Maybe you are a morning person and you would do well getting up thirty minutes earlier to write a few days a week. Or perhaps your children nap at a fairly regular time and you would enjoy that as some adult time for yourself. Perhaps in the evening, when your home is settled in, is a peaceful, reflective time that suits you. Journals can also be brought on vacation to record your experiences, special events and these events as they relate to your everyday life.

Where do people journal?

Most people who ask this question cannot conceive of making space in their lives, let alone space in their homes, to create a journaling experience. Sometimes knowing the writing location helps ground a journaler, connects her/him to the place and the process. The three guiding principles here are privacy, intention and comfort. You may have plenty of desks and tables in your home, but you will need to scope out which spaces provide you with quiet and no interruptions. Choosing that spot and making it your own, perhaps with a storage space for your practical tools, will help you keep connected to this new adventure in your life. Making the space, comfortable, even if it is in a corner of the least used room in the house, with a simple chair, table, a seat cushion and a pretty candle, can give you a great boost to creating this experience for yourself. It can also be fun to take your journal to a favorite coffee shop or park to change your surroundings and to stimulate your senses.

The great gift of journaling is two fold. In creating a journaling life for yourself, you sow the abundance of life and reap its benefits for yourself ten times over. A conscious life, well-lived, is also a blessing of immeasurable worth to those around you. You simply cannot lose when you give yourself the gift of journaling.

About The Author

Cory L. Kemp

As an ordained minister I have worked in educational ministries in several congregations, as well as pastoring a congregation. My writing has focused on nonfiction essays and I have recently submitted a theological memoir for publication. My ministerial background and love of writing have combined to develop Creating Women Ministries, a website dedicated to encouraging theological dialogue, particularly among women, through workshops, journaling and personal spiritual development. My website can be found at http://www.creatingwomenministries.com, and I can be reached by email at creatingwomen@irun.com. My blog is located at http://creatingwomenministries.blogspot.com.

Writing Poetry

2005-10-28T11:11:00.000-04:00

How To Write Poetry
by: Steve Gillman

If you want to know how to write poetry, the first thing you have to do is write some. It doesn't matter how it turns out. Your own mistakes will become your teachers. Your own writing will motivate you to greater creativity. Now, once you start the process, how do you improve it? Here are three tips.

1. Use nouns and verbs more than adjectives. Which is stronger: "She was as beautiful as a flower..." or "Roses wilted in shame as she passed by..."? "He looked at the depressing clouds..." or "He watched as dark clouds moved in, covering his sky..."?

2. Don't tell the reader how to feel. Let the words elicit the emotions directly, without explaining. "The tragedy touched them all," is more touching to the reader as "Men and women, doctor and workman... thirteen people looked upon the scene... with tears in their eyes."

3. Use dramatic and emotional words. Not all words are equal in their ability to "grab" a reader or elicit emotion. "Fell," "take," and "love," will probably be weaker than "plunged," "siezed," and "worship."

Look at the following lines, written two ways. The second way applies the three rules above. (From the poem "Gratitude.")

The mountains and lakes were beautiful

I looked at them, heard them and smelled them

And I felt in awe

Mountains stand against the sky

My little lake at their feet

And in the middle of this creation

Which I see with my eyes

Hear with my ears

Smell and taste...

Words fail, as they should

I hope you agree that the second version is better. Again, if you want to know how to write poetry, you have to start writing. Use these and other rules to help you, but remember that all rules in poetry need to be broken at times. Read your poems aloud to yourself and others as a final "test."

About The Author

Steve Gillman has been playing with poetry for thirty years. He and his wife Ana created the game "Deal-A-Poem," which can be accessed for free at: http://www.dealapoem.com

Work From Home

2005-10-27T09:05:00.000-04:00

A Home Business Career – Work From Home

By: Peter Alderton

Having a home business career has become a real possibility with the dawn of the Internet. This brought about the beginning of a new way of life for many people. Instead of struggling to make ends meet with a low paying job, now you can have a business career at home by operating your own Internet business. This is not a difficult task and the cost of getting everything set up is not at all high. You can stay at home, work when you like and dress how you like with a home business career.

Many people shy away from the idea of a home business career because they feel it means door-to-door selling or managing home parties to sell products. With the advances in technology, you can have your own turnkey Internet business with just the click of your mouse. Getting started with this type of Internet home business does mean you have to do a little research to find out what it is that consumers want to buy.

Online shopping makes it possible for you to have an Internet home business career that you operate from home. With the convenience of the online retailers being open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, more and more consumers shop for just about everything they need through the Internet. An online pharmacy, for example, is a very profitable type of turnkey Internet business as is selling hard to find products, such as plus size clothing.

The wealth of information available on the Internet about various turnkey businesses and how you can get started right away is overwhelming. You do need to find a home business career in something that you really love, whether it is jewelry, address labels, or hot tubs. Anything and everything is sold on the Internet and setting up your own website is the first step involved in having your own home business career. You can write articles to lead in to each product and link to another company if you wish to become an affiliate and make money this way. Either way, a turnkey Internet business is profitable.

You do have to be patient because success with a turnkey Internet business does not happen overnight. You do have to build up the website in the search engine rankings so that people looking for the product you sell will find it. In addition to setting up your own home business career with an Internet site, you can have Google ads that pay you every time someone clicks through on one of them. Having a home business career is an excellent way to have more leisure time, but you do have to put in time getting it started.

So if you want a home business career an internet home business is a very viable alternative.

To download a free copy of Peter's Guide To The Ideal Home Business visit Peter's Website Work From Home Solutions at http://www.work-from-home-solutions.com/ and find out about The Best Home Business and more, including Internet Home Business at http://www.work-from-home-solutions.com/internet-home-business.html

What a "Blog" is

2005-10-26T16:03:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
Today's article is great for those who are still not sure what a blog is for and how to create one. Also, take advantage of the free tutorial on blogging an pinging at the end of this article. Just click on the link.
Enjoy!
Lorraine
The Write Touch 4U
http://www.thewritetouch4u.com

Blog Your Way to Success - What a "Blog" is?
by: Pavel Lenshin

Blog is a short of "weB LOG" or a method of storing any kind of information online. Such organized informational posting and archiving was named "Blog".By the form Blog represents an updated web-site of current and archived posts. A dead-simple concept turned out to be extremely powerful in terms of satisfaction of Internet community needs.

People online look for fresh, relevant information on a certain topic and this is where Blogs come into arena and win that battle for a visitors' attention hands-down.

They give you exactly what you need - targeted, updated information on any given topic, with an access to archive, search functions and even some sort of interactive experience as you can usually read comments of other visitors and participate in a small discussion like on a message board.

Why Blog can be just the perfect solution you have been looking for and how it can solve massive publishing problems at once. Here is why Blog can be your website and money-making system in one:

1. Blog is a simple CMS (Content Management System). It helps you solve hundreds of little hassles webmasters were forced to waste months before in order to solve each of them such as means of easy creating new pages with automatic cross-linking and archiving functions, installing visitor feedback script, managing and updating navigational menu, republishing RSS feeds and creating own feed and so on.

2. Built-in promotion. RSS feed is also a great viral marketing tool by itself. You don't have to stuff your head with "how-to-make-my-content-viral" problems any "traditional" website webmaster faces.

As a Blog publisher you use the same RSS feed as a way of syndicating your Blog content for any other websites. What they need is adding your RSS feed to their Feed rendering software. The technology is highly popular, so you will not have any problems with that.

Just add your RSS feed to a number of Blog Directories, ping (notify) Blog servers each time you make a new post (a common built-in feature for almost all Blogs) and in 90% case it will be enough to start your marketing ball rolling plus reassure fast search engine indexing.

3. Built in RSS (Atom) feeds are considered by many to be the ideal solution for all SPAM and filters problems of "traditional" email marketers.

RSS feeds are updated automatically as soon as you make a new post to your Blog. No more troubles with managing "email lists", subscribers, unsubscribers, email filters, HTML forms, SPAM complaints, follow-ups and so on and so forth. Forget about it. RSS will help you do everything, including follow-ups and even email courses publishing.

The difference, and many consider it to be the true benefit, is that RSS uses so-called "pull" method of delivering a message. Unlike "traditional" email, you don't have to send (push) anything to anybody. When you publish a new post, your RSS feed updates automatically, pings syndicating websites with a new Blog post and notifies (or not) your RSS subscribers about your new post, so they can load (pull) it and read.

That is how RSS solves SPAM emails and SPAM filters problems with one stone. Your subscribers just don't receive anything to be complained or worried about. They just personally subscribe to your RSS feed (no one can subscribe for them) with their special RSS reader program (RSS aggregator, available free everywhere on the net). Then they periodically and mostly automatically load your new Blog posts. If they don't like it, they just remove your RSS feed from their RSS feed aggregator software and that's all. Unlike email you cannot "push" your post to their RSS soft without their wish. Depending on set options, they need to manually, semi-automatically or automatically load your Blog post themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against email. Quite the contrary, at some point, when you feel that you have a lot of spare time because of advantages that RSS brings, I strongly advise you to add email marketing to your arsenal. It does help you out in some special occasions. It is just you won't rely on email as the only money-making resource and will use it professionally as a great add-on instrument, limiting its possible negative effects.

From what you can see, blogs are perfect and simple software machines to run and maintain your informational business. They proved their efficiency in small niche markets as well as multilevel blog systems generating stable income for their glad owners. You can be one of them.

About The Author

Pavel Lenshin is an Internet entrepreneur. Discover how to use blogging for deep and fast website indexing and maximum profits by reading the $47 "Blog N Ping" online tutorial at http://FortuneService.com/ebooks/blog-n-ping-tutorial/ for Free.

Create Powerful Ad Copy

2005-10-25T11:57:00.000-04:00

7 Must-Do Tips To Create A Powerful Ad Copy
By Azwan Asmat

When creating an ad copy, you should make it believable and persuasive. Some of us are missing some crucial things to include. Here are 7 tips to help you create a powerful ad copy.

1. Use a "P.S." at the end of your ad copy. This is where you either want to repeat a strong benefit or use a strong close, like a free bonus. For example, "P.S. You can get (product), worth over ($), for the low price of ($)!" Another example, "P.S. I can not guarantee the (No.) bonuses will be here tomorrow!"

2. You could end your ad copy with a discounted price. Just list your regular price and then offer a discounted price off the order ‘right now’. You could also offer a rebate that takes effect instantly. For example, you could say, "Instead of paying $99, you could order now and get an instant rebate of $20 - you only pay $79!"

3. You could end your ad copy with a free sample or trial of your product. If your ad didn't attract them to buy, maybe a free sample or trial would. If you were selling an e-book, you could give them a free sample at the end of your ad copy. For example, you could say, "If you're still not sure about ordering, download a FREE sample chapter!"

4. Motivate people to buy your product. Tell them positive things. For example, you could say, "You can now reach your goals and change your life if you buy our product.” If you come across positive in your ad copy, they will become positive about reaching their goals using your product.

5. Never assume people believe the information in your ad copy. You need to back-up all your claims with indisputable evidence. For example, you could include testimonials, expert endorsements, third party tests or studies, strong guarantees, a list of customers, pictures of customers, etc.

6. Create a bond with your visitors by bringing up likes or dislikes you have in common with them in your ad copy. Just make sure you do your research. For example, you could say, "I hate it when you have to wait in line for a long time at the drive-through." Another example, "I really like it when I have extra money to spend."

7. Ask people at the end of your copy why they decided not to buy. This will give you new ideas on how to produce ad copy that’s more profitable. Have a web form or e-mail link in place so they can answer you. You may find out they don't like your guarantee or graphics. It could be anything.

Use these 7 tips and you’ll create your own powerful ad copy.

Azwan Asmat is the author of Ecom Blog. For more tips,tricks,articles,freebies and much more on online business, visit his blog. http://www.ecommerce-newbie.com/ecom

Web Copywriting

2005-10-23T12:47:00.000-04:00

The Importance of A Website Copywriter
by: Niall Cinneide

A website copywriter has several jobs. They will need to provide the information, the words, and the persuasive text that is used within any site that is visited. For many individuals, this means that they will need to know the products, understand the site owner’s needs, and to be able to draw customers into the site by providing interesting and informative information. Getting into this field takes a true understanding of how the World Wide Web really works. And, it takes diligence, hard work, and perseverance as well. A copywriter has a very important job to do.

A copywriter needs to understand how people get to the site. They need to do copywriting that will encourage others to visit and to eventually purchase the products available at the site. Copywriters have some of the most important jobs online because they help to get traffic to go in the right way. For example, many people open their web browsers and go directly to a search engine to find what they need. Good writing will allow the search engine to get the person to the right site. There, they will find the products or information they need.

Many individuals who are copywriters are also in the freelance business. For those that work alone like this, it is important to find lasting opportunities in the field. To find work, it is important to build through trust in relationships and strive to provide quality work each and every time. For those looking to get started in this field, they will want to work on their skills first.

From there, they can find job postings throughout the web that can offer them exciting ways into this freelance environment. It will not be easy work, though. Many of the individuals who try to do this type of work believe that it is simple and easy to do. In reality, it takes true dedication and real responsibility to deliver quality work to clients.

About The Author

Niall Cinneide

Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Proofreading and Copy Editing.

Website Copywriting

2005-10-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

The Importance of A Website Copywriter
by: Niall Cinneide

About The Author

Niall Cinneide

Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Proofreading and Copy Editing.

Clear Content

2005-10-22T13:33:00.000-04:00

The Secret Source of Clear Content
by: Susan Raab

You can do anything in four easy steps!

An outrageous claim, no? But I can prove it. Because you're doing it now.

Imagine your laundry basket. What are you going to wash today? Ah, socks. How will you wash them? In the machine. Now you do the wash and when the socks come out of the dryer, you wonder, "are they done?" Are they really clean and dry? Are they both there? Don't you have to match them and fold them and put them away? Because what you really want is socks that are ready to wear. And soon enough, they'll be back in your laundry basket again.

This is the circle of life: you decide what you want to do and how you want to do it; then you do it and check whether it's really done. The pattern's easy to see with a simple project, but when you're facing a complex project like writing a book, it's easy to get muddled.

To get where you're going, know where you are.

Many of my clients just start writing, trusting that their urge to say something will produce something someone (maybe even everyone!) will want to read.

This urge is valuable. It proves that deep inside, you have the power to complete your task. But to be effective, power must be directed. Like your car's drive shaft, process concentrates your writing power where it has the most leverage. And to get to the end of the process, you need to know where you are in the process right now! If you're not sure where you are, review these questions:

* Can you describe what your book does for your reader in eight words or less? * Do you know the demographics of your ideal audience, what they read to find information similar to yours, and how you can contact them? * Can you measure the value your book gives your reader, as well as the rewards you need to receive to make the book worth your while?

If you answered No to any of these, you have more work to do to define what value your book must deliver. Defining what gives you the ultimate guideline for creating a clear, easy-to-read book, and communicating its worth to a publisher.

* Can you picture the environment where your ideal reader actually reads, and visualize the style of content that's easiest to use in that environment? * Do you know your reader's goals and expectations for outcomes, and how to fulfill them? * Do you have access to all the information you'll need to deliver your book's solutions?

If you answered No to any of these, you have more work to do to define how your book will deliver its value. Knowing your book's structure and style as well as its content builds your confidence and helps you write it right the first time. If you answered Yes to all of the above, congratulations! You've done the hardest work and could probably turn the book over to someone else to actually write.

* When you sit down to write, do the words flow easily? * When you look at your work, do you feel a sense of accomplishment? * Do you have a complete draft?

If you answered No to any of these, you still have work to do. If the words aren't flowing or you're not sure you're making progress, your time might be better spent clarifying your what and how, or in examining and overcoming any fears or doubts that might be blocking you.

* Is every sentence, paragraph, and topic clear, crisp, and error-free? * Does every word contribute to the solution your book delivers? * Is your book ready for publication?

If your manuscript does not deliver the value you want for you and your reader, you are not done. The plan you created for what you want your book to deliver is an excellent guideline, but expect some "oh, yeah" moments, like "Oh yeah, those socks aren't really done till I put them in the drawer."

Take the next step, even if it's backwards

Perhaps you've been writing a little, outlining a little, and wondering how to get a publisher. Now that you know where you are in the process, you can put what you've already accomplished in perspective. Each phase builds on the one before, so you're best served by doing them in order.

If you don't have solid answers to the first three questions--answers from which no one can dissuade you--you're not finished with what. What is the hardest, the one you're most likely to revisit as your project progresses, and the secret to your success.

If you've already started writing, don't worry-your work is not wasted. Just keep it on file until you get your what and how defined. With those tools in place, you'll finish your book with confidence, get your message out, and be ready to start the next one!

About The Author

The award-winning creative force behind hundreds of non-fiction titles, Susan Raab has brought the Power of Clear to corporations like Sony, Microsoft and McGraw-Hill. For her FR*EE how-to articles, visit http://www.ContentWheel.com.

Defeat the Writer's Block Monster

2005-10-21T13:39:00.000-04:00

6 Easy Ways to Defeat the Writer's Block Monster
By Regina Paul

We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. You sit down at your computer, or you’re at your desk with a pad and pencil all ready to write your heart out…..and nothing happens. Your mind is a complete blank. You feel as though you will never string ten words together in a coherent sentence again. You’ve been attacked by writer’s block. The sad thing about this particular monster is once it sinks its teeth in and begins to work on your psyche, if you don’t defeat it immediately it can be around for some time. Writer’s block can eat away at your mind, and make you think, “Why can’t I write anything?” or “I just had the next scene complete with dialogue in my mind perfectly an hour ago, how come I can’t remember any of it now?”

The following are some techniques that have worked quite well for me:

1. Write anything, even if it doesn’t pertain to what you want to write. Even if you feel what you are writing is crap, it’s important to continue. Just write, even if it doesn’t make sense, even if it has nothing to do with your current project. Who knows? Somewhere in all that “crap” might be a few gold nuggets!

2. If weather permits, go for a walk outside. Something you see might unplug the dam that’s holding all those good ideas hidden in some far flung place in your mind.

3. Take a nap. I’ve gotten some of my best story ideas from dreams I’ve had. And it’s a proven fact that we often dream the solutions to our problems.

4. Meditate. Meditation is easy, even if you’ve never practiced it before. There are many reliable sources on how to meditate both on and offline. I’m sure you can find one if this technique interests you. Like taking a nap, meditation allows the mind to be quiet long enough to find the solution or idea you are looking for.

5. Exercise. Do some yoga, aerobics, or maybe go to the gym and walk on a treadmill or take a spinning class. While you’re at it, watch all the other people and see if it doesn’t jog your brain into giving forth those great ideas.

6. Call another writer. Sometimes it just helps to talk to another author. We’ve all heard the expression before, “Only another author would really understand this.” It’s true, and it’s hard to explain to a non-writer how sometimes our minds just don’t want to work with us when it comes to our writing and coming up with ideas for it. So, call a friend who’s also a writer and talk about your writer’s block, and your current project. Sometimes two heads are better than one.

Everyone suffers from writer’s block even those who don't consider themselves writers per se. These techniques are designed to rekindle the muse’s flame whether you’re writing a research paper for school, a Dear John letter, or the next New York Times Bestseller. The important thing to remember no matter which technique you choose, is not to let the writer’s block monster defeat you!

Regina Paul is the author of the science fiction novel GETTING OUT ALIVE, and editor of the free bi-monthly writer's e-zine Regina’s Universe. You can read the first chapter of her novel, sign up for her e-zine and find many other writer’s freebies at: http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com

SEO Copywriter – Finding The Website Writer You Really Need

2005-10-20T14:19:00.000-04:00

Finding The Website Writer You Really Need
By Pete Wise

Search engines and the way they work are constantly evolving. What works today is ineffective or even illegal tomorrow. Writing for search engines is a skill that involves specialist and up-to-date knowledge. Here’s what to look out for if you need someone adept at search engine copywriting.

Have they written websites before?

It may seem an obvious question, but web copywriting is a very different game from writing for print or broadcast. Ask for URLs of websites they’ve written and see for yourself how well written they are.

Are they experienced in search engine copywriting?

Your prospective SEO copywriter may not have been asked to optimise many sites - even now, a majority of websites aren’t optimised. However, he or she should be able to point you towards any that have. It’s easy to work out for yourself how effective the search engine copywriting has been. Simply look at the front page, and one or two other key pages as well, if need be. It should be straightforward to work out what the keyword phrases are. Then enter these keywords into Google, Yahoo or another leading search engine and see where the site ranks. Unless the site is less than a few months old, it should be up near the top of the rankings.

Do they have a site themselves?

Is it simply a site to showcase their work, or is it optimised to attract customers like yourself? (If you found them via a search engine, they must be doing something right.) Does it link to examples of websites they’ve written? If their site isn’t optimised, ask them why it isn’t. If they’re serious about search engine copywriting, the first site they optimised should have been their own.

Have they balanced the needs of the search engines with those of the reader?

A seasoned SEO copywriter knows that there’s always a compromise between appealing to the reader and appealing to the search engine spiders. The optimised web copy they write should never appear stilted, forced or overly repetitive.

What will they charge you?

They should give you a fixed price, which should include one or two rounds of revisions. Assuming you don’t change the brief, they should stick to this price. Make sure they don’t charge you extra for including keywords. Assuming you supply them with the correct keywords at the outset, it’s no harder for a good SEO copywriter to incorporate them into the copy than it is to write non-optimised copy. (Supplying new keywords after a first draft is another matter.)

Do they know how to research keywords?

It's worth budgeting extra to let your SEO copywriter help with the initial analysis. They should also check to see which keywords your main competitors are using and decide whether it’s worth going head to head with them, or whether it makes more sense to optimise alternatives. However, bear in mind that some keywords are seasonal, and that the worth of many other keywords can change over time.

What should you expect from them once the site is finished?

Before hiring an SEO copywriter, ask them how often your site should be updated. The correct answer is ‘very often’, if you want your site to stay high in the rankings. Then, assuming you don’t want to do it in-house, ask if they are prepared to add extra content or articles which can act as pages for you on a regular basis.

Should I let the web designers supply the copywriter?

Web design or search engine marketing companies may have their own in-house copywriters who can create content for you. Or they may use their own freelancers. However, this can have two drawbacks. In the first place, companies are going to cost a lot more than individuals you find yourself. Secondly, if you cease to work with your marketing company, you risk losing your online voice and style. So you may prefer to find your own copywriter – any good and experienced freelancer will happily work with your designers to ensure you achieve the best possible result.

Are they local to you?

This is not essential by any means, but it can help in certain projects. If you do favour a local copywriter, remember to build in the cost of the meetings, although most copywriters are happy to attend an initial local meeting or briefing for free.

Have they got experience in writing for your field?

You might think that this is one of the most important criteria. Actually, it’s one of the least, which is why I’ve left it until last. Don’t worry if they haven’t done work specifically in your field before. A good copywriter can communicate anything. If you specialise in UK holidays, don’t go for the copywriter who has written average work for one of your competitors. Go for one who’s written excellent work in several fields, but not necessarily yours. He or she will almost certainly do a better job.

* Peter Wise is an advertising copywriter, website copywriter and SEO copywriter based in London, UK. He also writes direct mail, brochures, newsletter articles and press releases. You can reach him at +44 (0) 7767 687524. For further information, please visit http://ideaswise.com/.

Resumes

2005-10-19T13:38:00.000-04:00

Can You Afford To Write Your Own Resume?
by: Ann Baehr

Why would someone pay a professional resume writer to write their resume when they have a computer, can use resume templates, and can find resume samples online and in books to get ideas on setting up and composing their own resume?

The answer lies in what type of position they are targeting and their level of resume writing skills. Whether basic or complex, a resume must be attractive, focused, and interesting to read. Failing to achieve these objectives means failing to make a good first impression. Many things need to be taken into consideration in order to accomplish these goals. Here are five things to consider:

1. You must understand the technical aspects of resume development. This includes resume design (what fonts to use and spacing), use of industry specific key words, career synopsis and company profiles, appropriate resume style and formats (reverse chronological, functional and combination), and page length.

2. You must have good word processing skills!

3. You must understand what the hiring manager is looking for and what you've done so you can make a match between their needs and your qualifications.

4. You must have grammatically correct, creative writing skills to communicate what you have done in the positions you have held using a reasonable amount of detail.

5. You must avoid wasting the reader's time by listing too much irrelevant information or going back too far if the position does not warrant it.

Some positions such as waitress, car wash attendant, and cashier might not require a resume. If they do, it would be a general resume with a traditional objective statement and chronological listing of jobs held with a sentence or two under each to indicate responsibilities, along with job-specific skills, and education. In a word: simple. However, sometimes a resume needs to be strategically developed to emphasize the value you offer a company, especially if the position is very competitive and you need to stand out from the rest of the potential candidates.

Often, a job seeker finds himself or herself in a pickle because they have held many different positions over the years and do not know how to keep the resume focused for a particular position. Maybe you are returning to the workplace after raising your children and are concerned the gap will put you at a disadvantage. Maybe you are just starting out in your career and do not think you have enough to offer a company. Or, maybe you are ready for a career change and do not know how to create a presentation that will position you for a new field.

If you have done your homework (which we believe you have since you are reading this article!), you know that a resume is often referred to as a "marketing tool." No different than a commercial advertisement, your resume needs to entice the reader to buy the product (you) by grabbing their attention, listing the product's benefits (your qualifications), and compel the reader to make a move - in this case, to invite you to an interview. As you know, time is money. The more time that passes after sending your resume out, the more money you lose if it is not generating responses. If you cannot afford to be out of work for several months, you should make the decision to have your resume professionally prepared. Here is a quick quiz to help you put things into perspective:

Client A: wanted to save money, so she prepared her own resume. She faxed and mailed her resume to over 50 companies over a period of six weeks, but nothing happened. While she kept her fingers crossed, she depleted half of her savings. She eventually landed an interview in the seventh week through someone she knew.

Client B: understood that having her resume professionally developed was a good investment. Without one, she knew she could not launch her career in the right direction. She faxed and mailed her professionally prepared resume out to ten companies over a two-week period. By the end of week two, she landed a great interview that resulted in a fabulous job.

Quick Quiz: who came out financially ahead in the long run?

If you answered the job seeker that invested wisely in consulting with a professional resume writer, you are 100% correct! So, in summary, the question is not whether or not you can afford to write your own resume. The question is whether or not you can afford not to have it done properly.

About The Author

Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. Notable credentials include her role as former Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers' Association and published contributor to over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes of New York at www.e-bestresumes.com.

Radio Copy Writing Success

2005-10-18T15:33:00.000-04:00

Public Service Announcement (PSA) Radio Copy Writing Success
by: Scott Perreault

What if the Super Bowl television commercials were all public service announcement (PSA) advertisements rather than beer, cars and soda commercials? Imagine, The Red Cross followed by the Make A Wish Foundation and the Shriners Hospital. Would the world still remained glued to the television? If the writers approached the copy for these PSA with the same creativity as the beer commercials, we believe the answer is yes. Why? Because a good commercial, is a good commercial. Period.

Radio voice and copy writing experts at www.scottradio.com know that the assignment of writing a PSA is often put on the back burner in most copy departments. The paying customer is first in the cue. When the time arrives to write the PSA copy, the energy and enthusiasm has often expired. But it should have never evolved this way. Thanks to misguided copy departments of the past, we all suffer today with less than stellar radio public service announcements. The time to change is now.

Radio stations are required to air a certain amount of PSA’s each year. Because the quality is often second rate compared to other commercials in the rotation, a station cannot air these on prime time. If given the opportunity, they will. In fact, scottradio.com has experienced such results. Write a good commercial, be it for soda or Cancer research and it will makes its way into the rotation. Why? Because radio stations are begging for quality public service announcements.

About The Author

Scott Perreault is a radio and narration voice veteran with over twenty years of broadcasting and voice work experience. From the writing, production and development of radio campaigns to the recording of a two-hour audio book, Scott has experienced many facets of the voice business. Scott resides in both California and Minnesota.