Entries Tagged 'blog' ↓

Copywriting is the key to a successful blog. Stale, insipid and repetitive content will kill business. Fresh, insightful, path-breaking and paradigm defining content will attract traffic to a blog like nothing else. Fortunately there are enough high quality freelance content creators whose services can be utilized.

Blogs are critical tools used by websites. These can be written on a regular and consistent basis to help promote a business or a personal message. Blogging in fact is the most important SEO tool. The addition of fresh original content indicates to the search engines that a site is contemporary and evolving. Sites that lag on this front are relegated to the back of the queue.

The importance of SEO to the process of content creation is crucial, especially for new sites because this is the only way that search engines get to know about the thrust of the site till the time there are enough back-links in place. Using the services of a good copywriter is the best way to have your site filled with SEO content, that not only provides for a good search position, but also satisfiers the visitor compelling him or her to go for the product or service being promoted by the site.

The demand for copywriting is tremendous and there is not a better way than blogging to propagate one’s cause. A blog can help one showcase one’s content creation ability on a regular basis and have direct interaction with one’s clients. Typically a copywriter will write on what he or she is most conversant with. But it is good to focus on a few core areas, so that the blogging establishes the person’s credentials in those particular areas.

Blogging today is easily amongst the most powerful media today. It can reach out to one’s target audiences in ways not possible with conventional media. It can establish a blogger as an industry authority or thought leader and have traffic queuing up to the site. The most important part of a blog is how unique and original it can be. It has to be distinct and distinguishable from the others.

Moreover search engines have an affinity to blogs. This is because of the freshness and large size of the content; the fact that there are regular additions and feedback often accompanied by links to their favorite post on your blog. The advantages of hiring professional copywriters are many. One can have amazing content up on one’s site without ever having to write a word. Professional blog writers understand the world of blogs and are up to date with latest styles and trends. What they provide is complete blog management, rather than plain blog writing.

Moreover blog copywriters do thorough research on every blog post, so as to come up with content of the top drawer. There is a degree of consistency in their writing, and there is no possibility of a slip up by them, and therefore one will never have an adverse impact on one’s blog. Blog copywriters have the advantage of being able to come up with high quality writing on a range of subjects. To top it all blog copywriters have a strategy and their writing is always focused and target audience oriented.

If the intention of any business enterprise is to send targeted traffic to one’s website, so as to showcase its industry website, get the search engines interested and have excited customers queuing up for its products or services, it makes eminent sense to hire professional copywriters or content creators. Any company which is not blogging in this day and age does not belong in this day and age. Blogs are a tremendous medium for establishing one’s credentials, informing the customers about the latest product or service offerings, sharing tips, and old fashioned bonding with people to let them know what an authority one is in a particular field. All in all a win win situation for everyone concerned.

This is a guest post written by the webmaster of the freelance blog www.freelancer-online.com

If you follow me on Twitter you may already have seen this information. But if you’ve not seen it grab a pen, you’ll want to make a note of what is about to follow.

Websites you should know about

The first website is http://gethuman.com/numbers/uk.

This one is fab for those of you who’ve experienced the frustration of trying to get through to a real person on a customer service line.

The site lists short cuts to a human voice for a number of UK companies. It will save a lot of time and frustration.

The second site is www.saynoto0870.com. Many companies use 0870, 0500 etc premium rate numbers which we pay through the nose for. This site allows you to search for the geographical equivalent number saving you £££££s!

So there you go – my handy hints for the day 🙂

Hands up everyone who understands why you should have a blog?

Good – now hands up those of you who actually blog?

I thought so. Just about everyone understands the power of a blog when it comes to driving traffic to your main business website. It acts as a tool for building links and as a way to elevate yourself to expert status in your chosen field. Your clients and readers will love you because you are providing them with excellent and valuable information – you are giving them something for nothing.

So, if you understand all of that, why aren’t you blogging?

Yes it takes time, results aren’t immediate and you have to have a degree of creativity to produce a post that someone is going to want to read, but surely the benefits far out weight that?

If you are humming and harring about setting up a blog, or you have one but have let it slide, have a read of this fantastic post by Coppyblogger about the 7 Deadly Sins of Blogging and push those hurdles out of the way and get blogging.

OK, how many of you realise the potential a blog could have for your business?

Out of those who put your hand up, how many of you actually blog to help generate traffic to your main website and raise your profile?

I thought as much. Blogging is one of those things that most of us know we should be doing. Most of us realise that it is one of the best ways to generate traffic and links to your business site. But few of us actually take time out to create one and make it work.

I guess the biggest barriers to blogging regularly and well are time and energy. When you throw into the mix the fact that results are slow and only become apparent over time, people give up before they’ve even got started.

Blogging well takes time and patience, but it is well worth it.

If you have a blog but don’t think it’s working for you take a look at this recent post on Copyblogger and make sure you’re not committing any of the 7 deadly sins to blogging.

As you’ve probably guessed by now I am a great fan of Copyblogger. This is a post I came across on the site a short while ago which proved to be very relevant.

Blogging is a huge thing for me and my business and often when I try to extol its virtues I’m met with the usual response – ‘I wouldn’t know what to write about’.

As Brian Clark explains below you have to think about what buyers of your product are interested in and then write about that. By linking your posts back to your main sales site, you will be generating a supply of targeted traffic to your website which should equate to more sales.

Anyway, that’s enought from me. Brian, take it away…

The Golden Rule of Online Marketing

You’re familiar with the Golden Rule, right?

Roughly translated across cultures, it boils down to:

Treat Others as You Wish to Be Treated.

Those are words to live by, even online. But the truth is, when it comes to online marketing, you’ve got to treat people better than you wish to be treated.

So the Golden Rule of Online Marketing is:

Give Something Valuable Away in Order to Sell Something Related.

Simple enough, but what does it really mean?

The Media is the Marketing

After giving it a lot of thought, I’m afraid the phrase “social media marketing” is a tragic mistake. It gives people the wrong idea.

Some people see social media as an opportunity to shove a business card in your hand with nary a “hello” first. It’s like getting bent over at a Tupperware party without a hint of verbal foreplay.

Such a waste.

The amazing thing about social media is the ability to own true media assets. To reach niche audiences on your own terms, for your own ultimate benefit.

As long as you provide the audience a benefit first, that is.

In traditional media, content producers give people something they want in the form of entertainment or information. Then they sell access to those people to advertisers who want to sell something to those people.

In social media, smart content producers understand that they play both roles. They provide people something they want and sell something… but in this case, what they sell is something extremely relevant to the content, and therefore, to the audience.

Being a new media content producer naturally creates awareness for your products or services. That’s what marketing is supposed to do, and that’s how it’s done effectively online.

An Example: How Daniel Can Sell More Art

Daniel Edlen sells really cool portraits of rock stars hand-painted in white acrylic on an actual vinyl recording from that artist. I got to know Daniel on Twitter, and now own renditions of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain portrayed on classic albums from each.

Along the way, Daniel asked me how he could sell more of his stuff.

I get this question a lot.

Daniel has an interesting marketing problem. He creates unique stuff (like he’s supposed to), but suffers from this one simple fact:

No one knows they want his stuff until they do.

No one likely searches for rock stars painted on vinyl. I certainly didn’t.

He needs an effective media vehicle to drive his sales to a whole new level. One where he converts a large number of followers into a smaller but vibrant group of customers who begin to market for him.

So the Golden Rule of Online Marketing is especially pertinent here. What can Daniel give away that has value and also stimulates desire for his art?

Daniel blogs, and I personally like reading his stuff. But it won’t work the way he wants.

Here’s what I’d do.

What do people who buy this type of art really want? What drives the desire to hang this art on one’s wall?

I’d say it’s mostly nostalgia and identification. An opportunity to gaze upon a vivid memory from the past, and to place yourself within the sphere of that sensation.

So what kind of content puts that person in the mood?

Rock trivia.

I know it sounds simple, and that’s a good thing. People want what they want, and our desire as marketers for complex answers is an insecurity, not a virtue.

Rock trivia is something huge amounts of people will opt-in to receive daily. There’s a demonstrated desire for this type of content, so you’re not forcing anything.

You now have their attention, which is critical, but there’s a lot more to it.

Facts and little-known details about rock stars and the lives they lead put people in a certain mood. If nostalgia and identification are what you’re really selling (as Daniel is), then you’ve got to put a bunch of people in the mood within one click of your solution.

This is how Daniel could sell a lot more art. It may not be the only way, but I’m betting this way works.

What Are You Really Selling?

The day you make a breakthrough is the day you understand what you’re really selling. What’s the ultimate benefit people get from you?

When you understand that, you can make media that works as marketing. Without it, you’re likely just pissing people off.

And please… until you get it, stay away from me at Tupperware parties. Yikes.

About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and co-founder of DIY Themes, creator of the innovative Thesis Theme for WordPress. Get more from Brian on Twitter.