SEO made easy!

Che Marty

You may have heard of “search engine optimization” or SEO, and everyone seems to talk much about this new hot thing going on in the World Wide Web. You want to join in the conversation when you suddenly realized that, hey, wait a minute! Do you know something about this SEO? Unfortunately, you hardly have any idea!

SEO, or the search engine optimization, refers to the methods wherein a website is optimized in order to make its rank higher in various search engines such as Yahoo, Google, Bing and many more. According to online gurus, SEO is deemed as the “holy grail” when it comes to marketing online.

A number of people get confused about the methods used in SEO and that is understandable because not everyone has the access to the information about this thing. Online companies are in abundance offering SEO services and other related stuffs and most of these are seemingly similar that is why an online marketer gets all mixed up and confused.

Here are the steps to get the ball rolling in optimizing a website:

1. Make sure that you do your research on the right keywords that most people search for using the search engines. In the sea of thousands and thousands of topics in a mountain of websites, the visitors and consumers will type some specific keywords to find the things that they need. For example, if a person is looking for tips to have a greener lawn, avoid using “green lawn” as your primary keyword. You may use “Lawn maintenance tips” or “Natural lawn care” to attract more visitors.
2. After finding the right keywords, make sure to distribute the keywords properly. Designate your primary, secondary and even a tertiary keyword and use these accordingly in your title and in the text. Make it appear “naturally” and avoid being redundant. You may use the keywords few times all over your text but ensure that the thought of your content is cohesive.
3. Do not forget to double check the placement of the keywords. You can search for tools online to help you analyze your text, such as the Textalyzer (http://textalyser.net/). You will just copy and paste your text into the “textalizer” and submit for analysis. Afterwards, it will send you the number of words, the percentages, the readability and other pieces of information. These will help you adjust your text to attain the desired percentage of the keywords.
4. Edit your work. Good SEO work employs usage of correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and many other things that you have probably forgotten since these were so boring when your teacher discussed them way back.
   

   Google should find you

5. Make sure to garner enough ratings and recommendations for your website. These will enable spiders of Google to crawl on your site and guide readers towards it. When you have good ratings from the readers, your website will surely appear on top of the list in search engine results. Now, who would not want that?
6. Finally, never forget to update your website. Do this as often as possible. Site content is like bread that gets stale after some time, and people do not really want stale bread or article, so replenish your website at least every week with fresh content to keep them coming back.

yummy and fresh!

Wendi Peneyra-Garcia & Che Marty

It’s true what they say, it’s a dog eat dog world out there. The world of online business isn’t any different. If you own an online shop that sells similar items with a hundred other stores, say shoes, toys, or cleaning services, expect that it would be extremely tough to get noticed.

The solution? No, it’s not to opt for out-of-this-world products that hardly ever sell. The solution is using FRESH CONTENT.

Approximately 70 percent of online shoppers rely on search engines to find the items or services that they want. And most of the time, search engines such as Yahoo, Google, Bing and many more look for fresh content with high quality.

The key to attaining success in your online business is generating fresh articles regularly and writing web content using the right keywords that people generally use to search for items or services on the Internet.

Take for instance, if your store sells skin products, you must select the right keywords so that your site will appear on the results page. “Skin care product” may not be the best keyword to use because it is too general. You can try “homemade skin care products” to specify your items and lead buyers to your site.

By this, you are sure to have your website producing positive results in search engines. Every website owner should realize how important search engine optimization (SEO) is when it comes to e-commerce.

The first thing that you need to look at when writing web content is the set of keywords that are relevant to the products or services you are offering. Common sense will tell you that you need to use keywords that can help you boost up the sales of your items. Consider the obvious keywords and all the other terms and secondary keywords that you could use.

What's in a keyword?

You can search for related keywords in the World Wide Web by using free keyword research tools like Google AdWord and Wordpot. It is important to know the keywords and the amount of advertiser competition and also the volume of the words being used.

When we say that fresh content rules the world of online businesses, we are referring not only to keywords and related terms but more importantly, the updates that you supply to your website on a regular basis.

You can do this by employing several methods such as creating a blog for your website. Blogging provides fresh and new content for your customers and for the search engines as well. Customers will be regularly visiting your site if you are able to draw and sustain their attention through your interesting and informative articles.

Fresh articles are like fresh sea foods that people patronize and look for. Only the freshest in the bunch get picked and purchased, so better replenish your site with new articles at least every week.

You can also make an impact by submitting articles to article directories. These article directories post articles for a long period of time, increasing your exposure in the virtual world.

Backlinks to your site will remain active and help achieve success for your online business. In addition, interesting and creative articles that provide valuable information to readers will help increase traffic on your website.

Go ahead and write your heart out! (Or hire a reliable a team of freelance writers
that can do all the work for you!)

tumble, tumbling, tumbled

By Charlene Owen

Facebook, Multiply, and Twitter are social networking sites that have more or less established themselves able to skew towards marketing  ventures.  Almost all businesses have gone digitally social through them.  Unfortunately, not all realize that the internet is a big, big world with a lot more to offer — such as a deceivingly straightforward blog platform called Tumblr.

Here are a few facts: Tumblr is a cross between a blog and a social media site with a simple interface that makes it addicting and conducive to online pass-on readership.  Its blogging component is presented on the “dashboard,” which offers options to post text content, photos, quotes, links, chats, music and videos.

Sharing and networking is powered by the “follow” function, which allows you see posts of blogs you like on your dashboard, while the “reblog” function immediately allows others to share what you have posted on their respective Tumblrs.

Tumblr has more than 6 million users from all parts of the globe, and approximately 1.5 billion pageviews in a month.  That’s a big audience for anyone to tap – from established marketing firms to upstart creative groups.

Freelance writers and design groups such as Pencil Head Creative Studio have already taken their artistic know-how to the World Wide Web mainly to touch base with global markets.  It would be easy for a large company to conquer Tumblr by complex viral marketing schemes, but for people who write and design for a living, wouldn’t its almost indiscriminate sharing prowess be a tad bit frightening?

The answer is no.  Tumblr is in fact very conducive to freelance writers and designers.  Aside from the fact that it gives them a large playing field to market themselves in, it also protects the one thing that they hold very dear – copyright.

are you ready to tumble?!

Tumblr shows exactly from which blog the post has come from amidst all reposts, and though it is very easy to copy and paste content, it comes as a comfort that the platform has efforts to help freelance writers and designers fight plagiarism and copyright infringement.

Other interesting Tumblr Goodies are applications that sync the platform to your Facebook News Feed as well as to your Twitter account.  This can help in rounding up your online marketing efforts.  There are also applications for Iphones and Blackberry phones, as well as a third party application for Andriod phones for those times that you have to be on the go.  Site traffic can be measured via Google Analytics, which can be embedded on your Tumblr account.

Tumblr is indeed a good place to invest your time in, but remember: as in any social networking platform, it cannot replace having your own website or domain that you can call your home.  Tumblr is best used as a supplementary marketing tool for wide-range publicity, not as the end-all and be-all of your campaign.   Also remember that Tumblr has a great and active community which can either worship you or tear you to bits, so post discriminately and with taste.  Lastly, be creative.  You are showing more than 6 million people what you’ve got, after all.

So, are you ready to Tumble?

Speed is your ally

By Wendi Garcia

If you are a newbie in freelance writing, one thing you have to know is that speed is your ally. Producing more articles a day means more money in your pockets.

However, speed can also be an enemy because writing too fast can result in low quality articles that would drive clients away.

So how do you write quickly but ensure good quality? I’ll let you in some of my secrets.

First, you need to create a work schedule. Determine the number of articles you can do comfortably in a day and accept projects based on this. Don’t worry if you can only write one article per day, I started with that and now I can write as many as 10 to 15 articles in a day! Your goal at this point is to set a realistic quota for yourself and then work on to increase that over time.

As you go along with your day-to-day freelance work, you will notice that it takes you a shorter time to write articles. You can further shave off some more minutes by doing these tips:

• Research the day before. If your work schedule tells you that you are going to work on 5 health and fitness articles tomorrow, you can start the research today after you are done with your day’s quota.
• Structure your research. It is not a good idea to bombard yourself with tons of research. Filter in only those that can provide valuable information. Get research only from trusted and reputable websites. Choose information structured in bullet forms so it is easier for you to read them. Don’t spend more time than you need in research.
• Create an outline. After you’ve gathered enough information for your research, arrange this into a structured outline. It would be great if you can create a draft for the introduction for each of the articles because intros are often the hardest things to write. If you already have an intro, the rest will follow on easily.
• Wake up early. This technique only works if you were able to get an early good quality sleep the night before. Waking up early enables you to write with a fresh mind.
• Eat breakfast. It is not a smart practice to wake up very early and then jump right into the computer without having breakfast. It is hard to think and write with a grumbling stomach.
• Improve your typing skills. Even if your mind thinks fast, if your hands cannot keep up, you won’t be able to write quick and quality articles. A fun way to enhance your typing skills is to play typing games online.
• Read and write in your spare time. Sharpen your writing skills by putting up a personal blog and writing on this when you are not loaded with projects. It would also help to read up on niches that you usually write about so you can use the bits and pieces of knowledge you learn on your next assignments.
• Increase your quota gradually but don’t force yourself. In the desire to earn money, some writers force themselves to write as many as 8 to 10 articles per day even though they are not comfortable with it. This can result in low quality articles that will make your clients unhappy. Instead of forcing yourself, gradually increase your quota by one article every few weeks so you can adjust more easily.

When I started working as a freelance writer in 2007, I could only do one article per day. After a week, I worked to improve my quota and increased it to 3-5 articles per day. A few months after, I found myself writing 7 articles and still, my clients were happy. Now, I am proud to say that I can write as many as 10 to 15 high quality articles each day that never cease to amaze my clients at Pencil Head Creative Studio.

yes, you definitely should!

By Wendi Garcia

You’re the boss of you.

That’s probably the best perk you’ll get being a freelancer. You don’t have to worry about having a cold, heartless, and slave-driver boss who makes your life miserable. Instead, you get to work at your own pace, make your own decisions, and do almost whatever you want to do.

But you know what? Having no boss can be a disadvantage too. For one, you need to have the focus and discipline to work hard even with no supervision. For some people that can be a challenge especially if you are the type who can only work efficiently when put under pressure. Otherwise, you just sit around lazily, unable to get off your butt to work.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make yourself a better boss. Here are some of them.

• Set a schedule.

Schedules are crucial for freelance writers. If you’re loaded with projects, you will be able to work more productively and efficiently if you have a timetable to follow. Determine the quantity of articles you can finish per day and accept projects based on this. Line up your projects according to deadlines so you know which ones to prioritize. You will be more motivated to work if you see the list of articles that you need to finish for the day.

• Stick to your schedule.

You just can’t keep on creating schedules if you’re not going to follow them. If you tell yourself and your client that you will finish 7 articles today, do it. See to it that you set a realistic quota for yourself so quality of your work will not be compromised.

• Reward yourself.

Give yourself a wonderful treat for a job well done. Get a massage or eat that ice cream parfait you’ve been craving all week long after you have made a client happy with your work.

• Punish yourself.

If you failed to complete a particular project because you were too busy looking at your ex’s photos in Facebook or reading every spam mail you’ve gotten, be sure to give yourself some form of punishment as well. Don’t get a massage and don’t eat that ice cream!

• Avoid distractions.

Speaking of Facebook, you need to avoid all sorts of distractions that may come your way (check this article, Get Rid of Writing Distractions Now!). If you are a good boss, you won’t let yourself get distracted with Facebook, YouTube, or any other Internet thing that can interrupt your workflow.

Many freelancers find it hard to shift from this kind of work to a regular job setting. Once you get used to being your own boss (especially if you have become a good one), you will have trouble working for others again. This is why, it is a must that you succeed as a freelance writer so you can forever be the boss of you.

Distractions, distractions, distractions!

By Wendi Garcia

Next to writer’s block, what comes in second as your most treacherous enemy? Come on, take a guess. No, it’s not that client who has been bugging you for endless revisions on that same article you wrote light years ago.

Your next biggest enemy is no other than distractions.

How many times has it happened to you that just before you are about to start writing, you take a quick peek in your Facebook account and before you know it, hours have already gone as you have clicked on other people’s accounts, checked their photos, and even chatted with some friends?

Once? Twice? Probably many times.

Facebook is just one among a hundred other distractions that you have to battle with in your every day career as a freelance writer. To get rid of this and the other ones that come your way, use these tried and tested techniques.

Websites
The Internet is your friend, but it can also be your enemy. Email, YouTube, eBay, Twitter, Failblog, Multiply, and any other site that you have the compulsion to check every five minutes—these are the biggest distractions ever.

Your favorite phrase: I'm only going to take a second

To get rid of these Internet distractions, you simply need to discipline and control yourself from browsing the web until you are done with your articles. It would also help to turn off email alerts so that while you are writing, your workflow won’t be interrupted and you won’t get tempted to see what’s new in your email or Facebook.

Now if you are the stubborn one, you can block Facebook or any other site that you are addicted to using a free online service or parental Internet control software. One example of the free online service is opendns.com, which allows you to filter incoming traffic on your computer through DNS filters.

Chat
Skype, Yahoo Messenger, MSN, and Meebo are some platforms that you use to communicate with family, friends, and clients. However, chat can also be a distraction if people “buzz” you all day long and you cannot help but get into juicy conversations with your long lost pals.

The best way to deal with this distraction is to have two separate accounts, one for professional purposes (clients, co-writers, colleagues) and the other for non-professional chit-chats (family, friends, classmates). This way, you only have to open one account while you work and the only “buzzes” you get are from clients or co-workers that are urgent and necessary.

People
Your mom going into your room ten times a day to bring you milk, your little brother who keeps on bugging you to use the computer, or your nosy neighbor who is always looking into your window wondering why you’re there all day—people can be great distractions as well.

While you appreciate your family’s interest in what you do, you would certainly be relieved if they can give you space when you are working. Talk to them nicely about it then have some privacy by locking your room or putting up a “don’t disturb” sign on your door. If they love you, they would understand. As for the creepy neighbor, just shut down your curtains.

Some More Quick Tips Before you Go
• Turn off the television.
• Put on some headphones to drown the noise away.
• Put your cell phone in silent mode.
• Listen to soothing music.
• De-clutter your workspace.
• Find a comfortable working area.
• Don’t eat while you work.

Being a freelance writer, you very well know that every second counts because the more articles you produce in a day, the bigger money you earn. But more importantly, getting rid of distractions enables you to produce high quality articles on time that will satisfy clients and keep them coming back for more.

And your answer is?

By Ana Lorenzo

A web log or blog for short can be one of the most important tools of a freelance writer’s arsenal. A blog will immediately let your readers know what piques your interest. It can also serve as a showcase for your writing style. You can direct potential clients to your blog, where they will be able to see your skills on display.

Think of a blog as your most effective form of self-advertising. A number of websites such as Blogger or WordPress will let you publish your blog for free. All you need is access to the Internet and a little technical knowledge in writing, editing, and uploading your blog.

Internet readers are notoriously fickle. To keep their attention, you need to keep your blog alive. Here are a few tips to make sure that your readers keep coming back:

Establish an online identity
Choose a niche where you are an expert and where you can contribute new content. Are you interested in food, fashion or photography? If you are then you can write blog posts that will showcase your knowledge about these topics. Freelance journalists can establish a blog dedicated to reportage on various topics.

Put your blog’s mission statement immediately below its title. This way, readers can tell at a glance exactly what your blog is about.

Update your blog constantly
If it’s possible, try to update your blog at least once a day. This will encourage your readers to make your blog a daily habit. If you don’t constantly offer new content, people won’t bother to check your blog.

If you can’t update your blog every day, then let your readers know when you do plan to update. Post the notice in a prominent position near the top of you blog so that readers will know when to expect updates.

Plenty of topics to explore

Vary the content

Scrolling down a page full of nothing but text is boring. No matter how scintillating your writing is, people will not bother to read it if that’s all there is. Vary the content of your blog by posting photos, video and audio files. If you don’t have a digital camera or video camera, try using your cellphone.

Most cellular phones are equipped with cameras that will allow you to take photos and video and upload these to your blog. While the picture and video quality may not be as good as the output from a digital camera and videocam, you can at least post different content while you save up for the more expensive gadgets.

Utilize social networking
You can use social media to actively promote your blog. You can write short teasers on Facebook and Twitter and add the link to your blog’s latest entry. You can also comment on other people’s updates and leave a link to a relevant blog entry of yours. The effective use of social media can get your blog across to a wide audience.

If you keep your blog alive, you will gradually gain readers. Eventually, you’ll be able to make a name for yourself and carve out your niche in the worldwide web.

The race is on!

By John Red Paduano

Becoming a freelance writer sounds enticing. You get to be your own boss and you can work on your own time.

There are a number of freelancers out there living hand to mouth but there are also a few living a lavish lifestyle.

Here are a few tips to make it big as a freelance writer.

Success Secret # 1 – Create a portfolio

The first step in becoming a writer is to write something. If you have been writing in the past, create a portfolio of your previous works and save it in your computer. Clients will always require a sample of your work before they give you a project.

If you haven’t written any articles yet but you feel that you have what it takes to be a successful writer, write about something you’re interested in. Writing new articles is also a good way of developing your writing skills.

You also need to diversify your portfolio. Your expertise must not be limited to a few topics. Potential clients will require you to write about anything under the sun so make sure your portfolio shows that you’re ready for it.

Success Secret # 2 – Be Active Online

Most freelancers breathe Internet day in, day out. It becomes a part of their routine. The Internet is the best way to market your self globally. You can create a blog or put up a website. For beginners, blogging is highly recommended because it’s free. You can compile your works online for clients to see.

Putting up a website requires a maintenance fee but it will make your business more credible. You can also advertise yourself as a freelance writer by joining popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Your profile should state that you are a freelance writer available for projects. You can also create a link from social networking sites to your website so potential clients can see your written works.

Another way to make yourself available for potential clients is to submit your work in article directories like Ezinearticles.com. You can submit articles in this website for your works to be published online. Some clients will require you to have a published article before they hire you so make sure to submit your best articles.

Success Secret # 3 – Develop your skills

Writing is a dynamic profession so you need to continually sharpen your skills. Reading regularly is the perfect way to improve your grammar and expand your vocabulary. It will also help you get acquainted with different writing styles and ideas.

You don’t really need to read books about writing (although they can help a lot), you can start with magazines, newspapers, or any books available to you. You can also learn from the best by reading the works of acclaimed writers. It will help you acquire taste to determine what is good writing and what is not.

A good educational background can help attract potential clients. Pursue a formal education related to writing if you can afford it. One of the advantages of working as a freelancer is you can work and study at the same time.

There are no easy steps in becoming successful as a writer. Like any other profession, it takes hard work and dedication. The effort you put in will determine the size of your paycheck.

Evil laughter in the background

By John Red Paduano

A client from hell is every writer’s nightmare. At least once in your career you will meet a client that sets a standard so high, you’ll think that you’re writing an article for the New York Times. So how do you survive such hellish experience? A bottle of energy drink and following these tips will help you make it.

Know what the client wants

A client from hell will not make you write an article just to torment you. The first thing that you should know is the purpose of the article. Ask probing questions. Is it for a website or a school project? If you can’t ask the client directly, the title of the article is the perfect indication of what it is for. You should also know his target market.

If he requires you to write an article and meet the 8.0 Flesch-Kincaid grade level, the article must be for average readers so you better use simple words and write short sentences. If he wants keywords to appear for a certain number of times in the article, he might be after the search engine optimization. Knowing what the client really wants will help you understand and meet his demands, including the unreasonable ones.

Read the instructions from hell over and over again

Rereading the client’s requirements is extremely important. A difficult client often has too many requirements and writers just scan them to save time. Scanning might cause you to miss small but important details. A few minutes spent in reading and rereading can help prevent hours of revisions in the future. But if there are too many requirements to remember, save a copy of the requirements on your desktop as you write so you can check them from time to time.

Make room for revisions

A client from hell is very difficult to satisfy. The client will ask you to rewrite your article more than once (some clients set a limit for the number of revisions) so be ready for it. You need to allot some time for future revisions. It would help to submit your articles earlier than the deadline so you can have more time for revisions. If you’re still working on hell’s article after the deadline you will be losing other possible clients. Another ill effect of working with a difficult client is you get burned-out (no pun intended). The more you anticipate revisions the less frustrated you’ll get.

Expect the worst

The only thing that’s worst than several revisions is not getting paid after the revisions.  It’s part of the risks of being a freelance writer. Consider it as a learning experience. Just look at the bright side, even if you’re unpaid; you have still survived a difficult client. And you know that he/she won’t be bothering you anymore.

Hell is not so bad after all

It takes a lot of patience to deal with a client from hell but you will surely learn a lot from it. Surviving a difficult client will make you a better writer.  If you’ve been to hell and back all the other projects will be child’s play.

What's the magic formula?

By Honey Firmalo

You cannot imagine how many web content articles are on the World Wide Web – and their number is growing by the second. When faced with this kind of scenario, how do you compete as a writer?

Should you even try or just give up? You don’t have to be a writing expert to produce articles that will get read. Aside from complying with your client’s specifications, take note of the following tips to make sure you will produce effective materials.

Be Direct

Readers of online articles usually don’t have the time nor the patience to read long sentences that beat around the bush. Write an effective web content article by getting your point across with the least number of words possible. You should be especially succinct when providing explanations or descriptions.

Consider your Readers

You should find out what your readers’ interests are so you can write articles that cater to their needs. Take some time to research about the kind of topics that they’ll likely respond to in a positive way. To let your readers feel truly important, you need to write articles that they will understand.

The reading level of an average online reader is similar to that of eight graders or lower. Make sure you article meets this readability requirement by writing short words and sentences. This is sure to keep your readers coming back for more.

Exercise Prudence

The hardest thing to do when you’re a writer is to keep words at a minimum. It is normal to want to depict something in as much detail as possible so you end up using far too many words describing something that can be described in a word or two.

Remove words or sentences that do not provide significant or additional data. Remember that overwhelming your readers with too much information will not only confuse them but it will also drive them away.

Be Organized

When writing about a topic with subchapters, it is important to present them in an organized and logical manner. Discuss one part and then proceed to the next. This makes it easier for readers to appreciate your point better.

Use Bullets and Subheadings

Bullets and subheadings make scanning (which many online readers are prone to do) easier. Bullets serve to break up the flow of the text, making the document more comfortable to read.

On the other hand, subheadings allow readers to locate the parts of a topic they are interested in; it is also a great tool for optimization when keywords are included in the subheads.

Emphasize with Style

There are some points in an article that you may want to emphasize or direct your readers’ attention to. Using bold letter and italicizing are two of the most effective ways to stress a word or a phrase.

Minimize Exclamations!!

Exclamations are great for letting readers know that you are excited about something, therefore, they should be excited, too. Nevertheless, you need to keep the use of exclamation points at a minimum because an article filled with exclamations is evocative of a sales pitch.

Avoid this because many people are normally put off by sales promotions in any form. Use exclamation points only when necessary and if it’s effective in getting your point across.

Build Credibility

Building credibility means you need to get your readers to trust and believe what you write. Although one of the reasons to write web content articles is to earn money, you first goal is to write something that others will find helpful.

Be as impartial as you can and write as if you were the reader. Include the information your readers might want to know so they can make informed decisions.

Get Linked

Getting linked lets your readers know what you are writing about. In addition, it also builds your credibility as you associate yourself with other sites that publish relevant and useful content.

Proofread

“To err is human” but spelling and grammar mistakes in a web content article are inexcusable. You will look unreliable and foolish. This is why proofreading should not just be an option after writing. Proofread enough times until you are confident to put your work on the web where the entire world can see, read, and judge your work.

Writing effective web content articles requires practice. In any case, nothing less is expected from a writer. So, keep writing and aim to do better every time.