The Most Important Aspect For Readers
If we step outside of the sphere of selling for one moment, and if we're serious about promoting a quality blog and building a readership, then we must identify the most important aspects of the blog's content to our readers.
This can be done through using a tool such as Google Analytics, to see what posts are looked at and most read. We can also analyse what posts earn the most questions and comments, and through watching trends in our chosen field.
Conversely, looking for opposite trends and seeing what posts earn the least interest is just as important. Thankfully, we can use the same methodology as looking for the most popular items on our blog.
In effect what you are doing is identifying your blog's unique selling point. This is what sets your blog apart from thousands of others which are out there on the web.
Good Practice
Make a list of the popular items over the last six months and expand these posts. They will more than likely be popular among your readership.
Do a little research as to what is popular and what is likely to be popular very soon in your chosen field and do a few pieces about it.
It is worth identifying what is important to your readership as this will make your work more relevant and more appealing.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Code 19 Windows 7 Error Fix
I noticed that my DVD drive wasn't working on my computer, and under Device Manager Windows was reporting the error Code 19.
After some frustrating Google searches, I found this article which after following the steps appears to have fixed the problem.
Nice job whoever wrote it
If you have this problem use this article: http://www.ehow.com/how_5504897_fix-code.html
The Lovely Thing About WordPress…
Of all the content management systems I have used, WordPress is by far the best. It has a very simple user interface and its range of customisable options make it hard to beat. Possibly the greatest thing about it, is that it makes you want to write.
Occasionally, it can misbehave especially where formatting is concerned. That aside, it really is the best.
The Importance of Breaks
As a freelance writer, it is important to take a few minutes between articles just to keep the head working.
I'll elaborate more on this in the future, need a break!
Proofread, for Success
It is quite obvious, that proofreading is a necessary and important step after you have written your content, but hear are a few pointers I have learnt from practising my craft.
Always look out for your bad habits. You probably have developed a few, maybe putting letters in a word the wrong way round, missing a letter of the end of the word, or possibly misuse of apostrophes? Look out for these in your work as you proofread.
Do not rely on spell checkers. Though spell checkers are an invaluable tool do not rely on them. You can still insert the wrong word into a piece and, providing it is spelt correctly, a spell checker will not pick up on it.
Check other fields are spelt correctly. I had a client tell me that I had spelt thumbnail incorrectly in a field the other day, and that was because I did not proofread.
Best of luck!
To be a Successful Freelance Web Content Writer You Need…
This articles focuses on skills a good freelance web content writer needs rather than other posts which focus on a writer's qualities.
To that end, here are some useful skills to acquire which will make you more successful as a web content writer.
Content Management Systems. CMS knowledge is a must. At some point you will use one and a good rudimentary knowledge of their inner workings will make you faster and enable you to complete more work.
Make yourself familiar with WordPress and Blogger as a minimum, and consider using a CMS on your own website.
File Management. Understanding file management is essential for today's web content writer. Many of us are transferring files via flash drives, email, and scanning to name but a few. To know where your computer stores, and how to access these files is essential knowledge for any writer.
Photo and Video Management. Knowing how to change the sizes of pictures in content management systems is a very useful skill to acquire. As is learning which pictures you can use and which ones you can't. The world of pictures and video can get quite complex, and that's before you start learning how to edit it.
This list is far from extensive, but will serve you in good stead throughout your career.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Developing Your Craft as a Freelance Writer
A writer's craft, regardless of the type of writing is what he or she is all about. It has in my opinion a life of its own and develops at a natural rate to the needs of the writer. There are ways however, that a writer can develop his or her craft deliberately to the benefit of the writer and their readership.
Weaknesses. If a writer concentrates on his or her weaknesses with a view to improving the weakness, a writer not only becomes a better writer, but becomes more in tune with his or herself. As the development of a writer works on a subconscious level, being in tune with one's self allows this to happen.
Volume. As with all things, practise makes perfect. It is believed that should a person practise an activity for 1000 hours, that person will attain professional standard. Best you make a start.
Copywriting. Often the tone of the writing is dictated by the client where copywriting and web content writing is concerned. Nonetheless, your craft will be evident within the body of work.
Through developing your craft you will develop your style. Overtime, you will become a better writer. Good luck.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
What a Writer Needs to Know About a Job
Should you hire a writer, you should be aware that the more information you can give the writer the better. To help you to help us, consider the following points.
The purpose of the writing - Is it to promote a product? Is it a web page, a press release, an article for link building purposes?
Who are the target audience? A target audience of 16-20 year olds requires different language to 30-35 year olds.
The subject matter - Essential, I'm sure you'll agree.
The type of article - Link building, press release, blog post, the list is endless.
Word count - These work best if a minimum is stated. Some articles are better if they are shorter rather than longer.
Bonuses - Always make a writer happy, and he or she will work harder for you
I find the best clients and the most satisfied provide me with the information stated above. If you are hiring or looking to hire, you are best advised to answer those questions yourself and relay the information to your writer or writers.
Best of luck.
Blogging, and the Dangers of Self-Indulgance
If you are a regular blogger for something you are passionate about, you are probably carving a nice little readership for your blog.
Around the time you start to feel your blog is, or becoming successful, is when you are most at risk of becoming self indulgent. This creates a problem as your content's usefulness and relevance is replaced with rants and opinions that have little universal appeal.
As you can imagine this leads to all sorts of problems from loss of readership and related income, to simply not being taken seriously as an authority in your field.
Signs That You Are Becoming Self-Indulgent.
Comments are largely negative or nondescript. This goes further than controversial opinion, and lean toward disinterest of what you have written. In short your readership have lost interest in your blog.
Loss of Readership. If you find readership numbers are falling, then this could be due to self-indulgence. Other factors could be at work as well, so self-indulgence is just one part of what you will have to explore to identify what is going wrong.
Your Mindset. If you feel what you have to say is more important than content that is relevant to both your subject and your readers, then it is fair to say your ego is out of control and this is damaging you and your reputation.
What to do?
Ask a person you can trust to review articles that you may feel were written in a particularly self indulgent tone. If possible, get them to read them out loud. Take an honest look at them and ask your trusted guide what was self indulgent about them. Do not try and defend them, but think about what the person has said. If you conclude differently that's fine, as long as you have considered your trusted friend's opinion.
If possible, use that person as an editor for future articles.
Make a list of relevant articles to the topic, and focus on these with your audience in mind. Refrain from giving an opinion on the subject at least until your ego has stopped spiraling out of control.
Look at your first articles and try and recapture the tone. This will be before your self indulgence started to influence your work.
Good luck.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Marketing: The Essential Factor to Freelance Copy
One element that should always be infused into your writing is marketing. To be clear, this article is not about traffic promotion, but rather making whatever you write appealing and relevant.
Let's explore a basic marketing concept: People do not by products and services they buy the benefits of that the products and services provide. From a writing perspective, a reader reads an article not because the article is well written but because the content at least in part provides some benefit to them.
Therefore, by working out the elements that are important and appealing to the reader, and constructing your articles around them, will always make your articles relevant, and significant in the minds reader.
Before you begin to write, list what you feel is important to readers. It is an effective way to build a readership which has obvious benefits in the long and short term.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
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