Kreative Ramblings
Archive for the 'Righting Your Writing' Category
Dem bones, Dem bones: 3 Article Must-Haves
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityA popular song many years ago had lyrics, “Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones”…and then went on, “the leg bone’s connected to the hip bone, the hip bone’s connected to the…” you get the picture.
Well, writing an article and getting it noticed is a bit like the “dem bones” connection.
Like this…
You know that in order to get people to your site, they need to “first find you”, which might be to click on your link at the bottom of your article.
But before they can even click on the link, they need to read your article.
So, what would make someone want to read the article you’ve worked on so hard, where they then click to your site?
Three very important things:
A great headline.
An interesting opening paragraph.
A call to action
In other words, you want a great headline that will pique the curiosity enough someone will want to read your article.
You then need a good first paragraph that furthers that curiosity so your reader to actually read the article.
And, last but not least, you need to flow into a compelling bio call to action that has your reader with his or her finger on the mouse to click through almost before he’s read your last word!
Jewels of Life: Believe, Dream, Internet Marketing, Resources
read comments (0)A Rose is a rose is a rose
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityAnd a blog is a blog is a blog!
Except if it’s yours!
So here’s where you need to stand out.
You’ve already noticed there are lots and lots of blogs on the Internet. And many of them have the same target market as yours. You may have even noticed that many of those same blogsall look alike. If you haven’t noticed it; go look again!
The sameness may confuse the customers, yours included, so it’s up to you to change your blog up to attract and keep visitors.
Figure out a way to make your blog unique so it appeals to your readers. Graphics in the header and footer and site layout are two areas where you might change things up a bit. But keep flash to a minimum, however.
Jewels of Life: Believe, Dream, Internet Marketing, Resources
Getting to “Open”
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityWhat to do, what to do?
You know that if you’re going to send an email to your clients and prospects, one of your main objectives with that email is to get them to open it. They don’t open; they don’t know what you’re offering. And nothing else can happen.
Along with this, when sending an email your usual procedure generally is to capitalize the first letter of each word, the whole way through whatever your title is.
Next time you send an email, see what happens if you try a subject line that’s more natural…one like you might send to a friend. No capitals, except for the first word, and maybe even a bit chatty. Or at least, less formal and more relaxed.
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
Get to the Point
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityWhen you set out to write, anything at all, you may or may not be surprised to know there are a few guidelines to use that ought to help you make reading your writing more enjoyable. For instance…
• Be clear and precise in your message, with simple, straightforward language
• Use short sentences
• Refrain from using “rambling paragraphs”, where you use more than three or four sentences
• If at all possible, use language and terms that are familiar to the person to whom you are sending your letter/email/ebook, or where you are posting your web copy
• If you use acronyms or technical terms, include footnotes or ( ) to explain what you just said…unless you know for sure your reader will know what you’re talking about. And then, really don’t do it.
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
Just A Little “Do” Will “Do Ya” When You Write Copy
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityIt’s a new year, and you’re back to thinking about, among other things, copy writing or getting our words down on paper to “sell you” or your product.
In so doing, and because it can’t be repeated enough, there are some words you want to remember to refrain from using on a regular basis (if at all), such as “like”, “if”, “should”, “but”, and “could”. (You may even be able to think of a whole lot more!)
It’s also really, really good to use words like “proven”, “free”, “breakthrough”, “discover”, “learn”, “benefit”, “complete”, “first”, “exclusive”, and other positive words.
And then, of course, while you’re at it, avoid using too many fo the “me, me’s” or the “I, I’s”.
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
Writer’s Block? Really?
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityYou’ve probably said it before…that you have “writer’s block”…so you just can’t seem to get started with an article you want to submit to the online article directories.
But, do you really? Have writer’s block, that is? Here’s how you might sort it all out…
• If you have no idea what to say on any given subject, you do not have writer’s block, you have a “lack of knowledge” problem.
• On the other hand, if you have the facts in front of you and still do not know what to say you can chalk it up to writer’s block!
And the basic act of getting enough material together so you can complete your writing task should never be confused with writer’s block.
Writing does take leg work, tedious legwork, though.
Before the Internet this “legwork thing” could seem like something that might be hard to accomplish; but these days with the Internet and worlds of knowledge at your fingertips, you ought not to have any problems finding enough background material on any subject.
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
It’s All About the Profile
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityIf you have a Facebook account, you’ve most likely set up a profile; but is it complete?
Have you “filled in all the blanks”, so to speak?
Since your profile is what represents who you are as a business or company on Facebook, it’s especially important that you leave no stone unturned when setting up that profile. As it could either be your ticket to success or your quickest route to disaster!
It all comes down to how you create your profile to generate traffic to your website and to boost your sales.
Now, it’s not just about setting up the profile, as in doing so, you want to make your Facebook profile interesting.
If it’s not, then how do you expect to attract visitors and potential customers? Also, when you are interesting, it makes people want to listen to what you have to say.
And while you’re creating and maintaining your Facebook profile, be sure you keep your information on your profile up-to-date and current.
Here’s a really neat little book by Chris Treadaway, Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
Say Your Piece
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityYou’ve spent all that time (or maybe not) writing an article about whatever it is that you write about for your business, for fun, or to put a price tag on to help to increase your profit.
So now’s your chance to make it work for you.
Besides do the same old, same old like submitting it to article directories, try breaking your article into bits, and posting parts of it on your blog.
Or, if you’ve written a “how to” article, you might take one of the “how to” points and create another article with it. Or…
Say your piece
Get out your microphone, hook it to your computer and start talking! You can even “read your article”, to make an audio.
You can then make it available as a download at your site as incentive to your visitors to leave their email information. In turn, you grow your list!
Audio is especially great because you can then “burn” the audio to a disc, to be carried about and played while your clients/visitors/interested parties are driving, having some quiet time, doing a hobby, etc.
And you and your expertise are staying in front of your audience!
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
When It Comes to SEO, Listen to the “Neighbors”
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityIf you know a bit about search engine optimization (SEO) and finding keywords, you most likely know there are several tools like Word Tracker and Google Word Tracker, designed to help you find keywords and keyword phrases to use in your article writing and web content creation.
But have you considered asking your family, friends, peers and colleagues–even customers–what terms they would search for when looking for your business services and/or products!
You might find that they may come up with very different keywords from what you would ever think of.
Sometimes it can be difficult to step outside of your own head about your business because your business is a “living, breathing” extension of what you do.
So what others have to say in terms of keywords may be much more useful and effective to you than anything you could come up with.
What’s it that Mikey says? – Try it, you might like it!?
Michael Fleischner has put together a handy little book, SEO Made Simple (Second Edition): Strategies For Dominating The World’s Largest Search Engine
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing
You resource box needs one…
Author: KMcGreevey: KonceptualityAs an online business owner, how do you let the world know you can do what you say you can do?
Well, you might write articles and submit them to online article directories.
To which you add a Resource Box.
But here’s a twist! Write a Resource box that’s brief, yet loaded with information.
Along with your name, your website address, your pitch, and your call to action, be sure to include your contact information. Make sure your email address is a professional one.
Jewels of Life: Believe, Tips and Tricks, Working with a VA, Righting Your Writing, Writing