I just wanted to say hello to everyone out there and tell you to have a happy Halloween! Hope this one is fun and profitable!!!
Samantha
www.your-writer.com
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
How to Write a Quality Article
While I do this for my clients every single day, there are many of you who might want to produce your own web content. If you have a talent for writing and want to try it out, the following tips may help you.
Assuming that you know about the subject you're writing on, and don't need to do any research, the first thing you will do is outline your article. When I begin writing articles for my clients, I create a rough outline. For example, if I'm doing an article on 'Designer Handbags,' I will think about the construction of the article. This is how I normally do my article outlines:
Usually I begin with a snappy introduction that will grab the reader's attention. Since I am a humorous sort of person, I like to add humor to my articles if it's appropriate. If the article is a very serious subject, I still want to grab the readers attention, so I might just shock them. Adding a beginning sentence that really captures the attention is a good idea. For example, "3 people will die in the next second from _____" This is a beginning sentence that grabs you and makes you stick with the rest of the article.
In different projects, I like to tie in current events to make the article more interesting. I don't do this for article marketing though, because I don't want the article to become dated. For an article that will be published once this is great though. For example, if you can tie an article about Designer Handbags in with a celebrity who loves a certain brand, or something like this it will really make it interesting and readable.
Another thing I really try to do is 'talk' to my readers. I think about explaining something to a friend, and I write in that tone for friendly articles. Unless the content needs to be formal, I like to make them friendly and easy to read. 'Talking' to your readers can really help you accomplish this. There is no need to show off your vocabulary because you want the article to be readable by everyone. If the article is medical related, I try to explain terms and situations in a simpler level, because not everyone is privy to medical terms.
With my recap, I shortly explain what I have already told them. This helps the reader retain the information better. I will do this sometimes by saying something like, "Since you already know...," or "Now that you know..." This is a clever way to sneak a recap in. With my closing, I try to end with humor or something else that will leave a lasting impression. Overall, I try to make the article easy to read, easy to understand, and something that the reader will remember.
If you plan on trying out your own hand at writing, I hope the tips and info in this post will help you do that. For more info, visit http://www.your-writer.com/.
Assuming that you know about the subject you're writing on, and don't need to do any research, the first thing you will do is outline your article. When I begin writing articles for my clients, I create a rough outline. For example, if I'm doing an article on 'Designer Handbags,' I will think about the construction of the article. This is how I normally do my article outlines:
- Introduction.
- What is it?
- Where did it come from/what are it's causes?
- How does it benefit/affect people?
- What to do about it/Why you should act on it.
- Small recap of what I've already written.
- Closing.
Usually I begin with a snappy introduction that will grab the reader's attention. Since I am a humorous sort of person, I like to add humor to my articles if it's appropriate. If the article is a very serious subject, I still want to grab the readers attention, so I might just shock them. Adding a beginning sentence that really captures the attention is a good idea. For example, "3 people will die in the next second from _____" This is a beginning sentence that grabs you and makes you stick with the rest of the article.
In different projects, I like to tie in current events to make the article more interesting. I don't do this for article marketing though, because I don't want the article to become dated. For an article that will be published once this is great though. For example, if you can tie an article about Designer Handbags in with a celebrity who loves a certain brand, or something like this it will really make it interesting and readable.
Another thing I really try to do is 'talk' to my readers. I think about explaining something to a friend, and I write in that tone for friendly articles. Unless the content needs to be formal, I like to make them friendly and easy to read. 'Talking' to your readers can really help you accomplish this. There is no need to show off your vocabulary because you want the article to be readable by everyone. If the article is medical related, I try to explain terms and situations in a simpler level, because not everyone is privy to medical terms.
With my recap, I shortly explain what I have already told them. This helps the reader retain the information better. I will do this sometimes by saying something like, "Since you already know...," or "Now that you know..." This is a clever way to sneak a recap in. With my closing, I try to end with humor or something else that will leave a lasting impression. Overall, I try to make the article easy to read, easy to understand, and something that the reader will remember.
If you plan on trying out your own hand at writing, I hope the tips and info in this post will help you do that. For more info, visit http://www.your-writer.com/.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Ghost Writer Prices
Okay, so I've been working my butt off and haven't had much time to post, but recent events have made me want to visit the pricing issues with ghost writers. I've never had a client tell me that my prices were too expensive. In fact, most people expect to pay a decent amount to their writer for the work that they do. However, I feel like there are two different kinds of business men and women. There are the ones who don't mind paying extra for quality work. Then, there are the ones who want a writer to produce content or article miracles for less than what it costs to buy a Coke.
With places like getafreelancer, that second kind of business men and women feel right at home. The problem is, that most of the work I've seen done on getafreelancer is not good copy. Don't get me wrong. There are a ton of excellent writers who bid on jobs there. But, they don't usually bid on the jobs that are willing to pay no more than $3.00 an article. That kind of price is insane. Freelancers make a living on what they are paid. If you want a 500 word article, and you are paying them three dollars for it, factoring in time spent on research, that freelancer is getting paid somewhere around $1.50 an hour at the most. No wonder they are sending you back crappy work.
Buying a piece of writing from a freelancer is like buying art, and the old saying really does apply. You get what you pay for. So, if you're going to look for quality work that is really going to increase your sales, expect to pay a reasonable amount, because you're not going to get it at three dollars an article. It's like the difference in purchasing quality, name brand appliance. If you get a great one that is going to last for years, you're going to pay a little more. If you buy the cheap stuff, it's probably not going to work right, and then it's definitely not going to last long.
Here's another bit of advice. If you find that perfect writer, don't be afraid to pay a little more to keep him or her wanting to write for you. It' s very hard to find a writer that you mesh well with, and who understands time after time what you need and how to get it done. Similarly, if you're a writer, give your best clients discounts from time to time. When they provide you with steady, good paying work, show your appreciation. Buying an article for the price of a Coke is not using good business sense. Writers, bidding on a job that offers to pay very little is not having respect for who you are as a writer. Let's respect each other and work together to improve your business and make some money.
With places like getafreelancer, that second kind of business men and women feel right at home. The problem is, that most of the work I've seen done on getafreelancer is not good copy. Don't get me wrong. There are a ton of excellent writers who bid on jobs there. But, they don't usually bid on the jobs that are willing to pay no more than $3.00 an article. That kind of price is insane. Freelancers make a living on what they are paid. If you want a 500 word article, and you are paying them three dollars for it, factoring in time spent on research, that freelancer is getting paid somewhere around $1.50 an hour at the most. No wonder they are sending you back crappy work.
Buying a piece of writing from a freelancer is like buying art, and the old saying really does apply. You get what you pay for. So, if you're going to look for quality work that is really going to increase your sales, expect to pay a reasonable amount, because you're not going to get it at three dollars an article. It's like the difference in purchasing quality, name brand appliance. If you get a great one that is going to last for years, you're going to pay a little more. If you buy the cheap stuff, it's probably not going to work right, and then it's definitely not going to last long.
Here's another bit of advice. If you find that perfect writer, don't be afraid to pay a little more to keep him or her wanting to write for you. It' s very hard to find a writer that you mesh well with, and who understands time after time what you need and how to get it done. Similarly, if you're a writer, give your best clients discounts from time to time. When they provide you with steady, good paying work, show your appreciation. Buying an article for the price of a Coke is not using good business sense. Writers, bidding on a job that offers to pay very little is not having respect for who you are as a writer. Let's respect each other and work together to improve your business and make some money.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
What the heck is that???
So, I got a new client recently who wanted a few articles and a press release. I was pretty excited, because it was a pretty popular product with a large target market. Getting ready to go check out the client's website to get some information for the job, my first thought was, "What the heck is that???"
The client had hired a writer previously to work on his home page. Not good. The writer did a great job of including key words and plenty of relevant information, but that's about it. The presentation was sloppy. There were no feelings or pictures created with the writing. It looked as though the writer slapped something together in 15 minutes, threw in some key words and called it a day. I had a hard time sludging through what the home page was trying to convey.
Great!!! What was I to do? I didn't want to insult the client, but I knew one thing. When I submit the articles and press release for him, he might get a good bit of new traffic, but he probably wasn't going to get a lot of sales from that traffic. It's almost like getting exciting and full color fliers with great pictures that advertise a club party, but getting to the club and finding it's a rinky dink second rate bar in some part of town no one has ever heard of.
I had to let him know. He actually agreed with me and said that he was considering having it rewritten. I immediately typed up some new content and sent it over to him. He was extremely pleased with the way it turned out. It was much easier to read, it flowed well, and it included his keyword phrases. Now, I don't want to come across as someone who enjoys tooting their own horn, but I took the time to think about the presentation. The other writer got paid and that's all that concerned him or her. I want my clients to come back. And I certainly didn't want him to think he wasn't selling anything because my press release and articles weren't good.
Turns out the client did get lots of new traffic, and a good amount of sales from that traffic so far. It's so important to have a good presentation for your potential customers. Don't promise them a great club party and send them to a shack with a few bottles of tequila!
The client had hired a writer previously to work on his home page. Not good. The writer did a great job of including key words and plenty of relevant information, but that's about it. The presentation was sloppy. There were no feelings or pictures created with the writing. It looked as though the writer slapped something together in 15 minutes, threw in some key words and called it a day. I had a hard time sludging through what the home page was trying to convey.
Great!!! What was I to do? I didn't want to insult the client, but I knew one thing. When I submit the articles and press release for him, he might get a good bit of new traffic, but he probably wasn't going to get a lot of sales from that traffic. It's almost like getting exciting and full color fliers with great pictures that advertise a club party, but getting to the club and finding it's a rinky dink second rate bar in some part of town no one has ever heard of.
I had to let him know. He actually agreed with me and said that he was considering having it rewritten. I immediately typed up some new content and sent it over to him. He was extremely pleased with the way it turned out. It was much easier to read, it flowed well, and it included his keyword phrases. Now, I don't want to come across as someone who enjoys tooting their own horn, but I took the time to think about the presentation. The other writer got paid and that's all that concerned him or her. I want my clients to come back. And I certainly didn't want him to think he wasn't selling anything because my press release and articles weren't good.
Turns out the client did get lots of new traffic, and a good amount of sales from that traffic so far. It's so important to have a good presentation for your potential customers. Don't promise them a great club party and send them to a shack with a few bottles of tequila!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Who I Write For
Someone honestly asked me why someone would pay to have something written for them. They thought that my clients must be lazy, or not very knowledgable. That couldn't be farther from the truth. My clients hire me because they're extremely smart. Outsourcing your writing is a very smart thing to do, and many people realize this and are taking full advantage of it.
The people I write for are extremely busy, hardworking and brilliant people. By hiring me to take care of their business writing, speeches, press releases or article marketing needs, they wisely free up their time to handle other aspects of their business. They are able to focus more on growing their company or other ideas. They often quite simply don't have the time to sit down and put together an article, a press release or any other writing project.
Many of my clients are extremely capable writers themselves. That gives them the benefit of knowing good work when they see it. I am also able to look at past work that they have created and match their writing style. Companies all over the United States and other places are realizing the need for outsourcing. That's why customer service and call centers are being outsourced everywhere. For one, having a freelance writer to work for you when you need it eliminates the need for a costly staff writer. Some companies may not need an article or a press release weekly, and to have a staff writer on the payroll just for being 'on call' isn't very smart.
Also, when I work with my clients for a period of time, I am able to look at their companies with an outside view but still with a care for how their business succeeds. This gives me the advantage of offering valuable tips on what should be covered in writing pieces, and how they should approach certain topics. So, no, my clients are most definitely not dumb or lazy. They are at the forefront of internet and other businesses, and I truly enjoy being a small part of their success.
The people I write for are extremely busy, hardworking and brilliant people. By hiring me to take care of their business writing, speeches, press releases or article marketing needs, they wisely free up their time to handle other aspects of their business. They are able to focus more on growing their company or other ideas. They often quite simply don't have the time to sit down and put together an article, a press release or any other writing project.
Many of my clients are extremely capable writers themselves. That gives them the benefit of knowing good work when they see it. I am also able to look at past work that they have created and match their writing style. Companies all over the United States and other places are realizing the need for outsourcing. That's why customer service and call centers are being outsourced everywhere. For one, having a freelance writer to work for you when you need it eliminates the need for a costly staff writer. Some companies may not need an article or a press release weekly, and to have a staff writer on the payroll just for being 'on call' isn't very smart.
Also, when I work with my clients for a period of time, I am able to look at their companies with an outside view but still with a care for how their business succeeds. This gives me the advantage of offering valuable tips on what should be covered in writing pieces, and how they should approach certain topics. So, no, my clients are most definitely not dumb or lazy. They are at the forefront of internet and other businesses, and I truly enjoy being a small part of their success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
