Content Magician, Freelance web content writers

Archive for the ‘Search Engine Marketing’ Category

There is a very good reason people hire ghost bloggers and freelance writers to tend to their websites, web content and blogs and that is to keep things fresh and updated. What’s the point?

OK, let me illustrate this with a real life experience.

I have quite a few friends who are in the search engine optimization industry. I do help my clients with SEO articles but I make friends with my competitors for a very good reason: HELP. One can only take so much when you are a ghost blogger and freelance writer. One needs help once in a while.

I get quite a lot of queries about work relating to SEO so yesterday, I got an enquiry about a SEO project. Here’s what I did. I messaged a friend….the friend who kept the closest contact with me, one who consistently spoke to me, and gave me projects, someone who was basically more than just a competitor. In reality, we were competitors but friends at the same time.

Here’s the thing about being in business in this technolgically-charged era. Be everywhere. Despite having so many friends in the same business, I can only remember two of them because they are there in my twitter and facebook. They update their stuff often, they blog and share stuff with me…stuff that I can understand.

The moral of the story is simple and that is that you have to constantly remind people of what you do or at least tell people that you are still around. As long as they remember you via your twitter, facebook or other online social networking sites, your name will be the first that they dig out when they or someone else needs your services.

Blog often, tweet often, update your facebook and write consistently to tell people that you are around. Because if you don’t, people unintentionally forget about you when something good comes up.

*** ***

This article was written by Marsha Maung for an online web content blog that she runs with a group of energetic (crazy), enthusiastic (temperamental), creative (PMS), and talented (incredibly unpredictable) bunch of people. But ah well….

Google’s adopted some babies in the past and it’s really interesting. I can’t name them all but I sure can name you the biggest few. YouTube (of course), Blogger (another of course!) and Picasa.

Google bought up these baby companies and have been babysitting them, raising and nurturing these little ones for a long few years and I am sitting here, wondering how Google’s trying to bring back those BILLIONS or at least, not lose any more MILLIONS. It was mentioned here that Google’s losing more or less (perhaps MORE) four-hundred-and-seventy million bucks on YouTube alone. Every year.

We all love YouTube. Who doesn’t? My kids love YouTube. You find loads of interesting stuff on YouTube. You learn to cook on YouTube but it’s funny because Google’s big enough to run their very own Google video which makes the acquisition a little nonsensical. I think the purpose of the purchase was the initial hope of turning those jaw-dropping page views into an ass-kicking jaw-dropping money-making machine monster Godzilla!

Based on reports, it’s quite clear that they’re still a little off-mark but can we blame it on the economy? Can we blame it on the fact that not as many people are interested in clicking on advertisements that actually LOOK like adverts?

<Click Read More to continue reading>
(more…)

written by Marsha Maung

It’s lucky for some of us who started out with the whole web content writing thing when it was still raw out of the fridge.We’re lucky because we see how NOT to do things now.

Back in those days, web content writers were rare and we didn’t really know how to capture the audience we wanted, so we wrote rubbish and planted them everywhere. Then we frantically plugged words together and combine them in random order with keywords we wanted to rank highly with. We sent them out and the spider-bots picked them up and thought dumbly, ‘Wow, lookie here….this page here, lots of ‘making money online’ keyword. Must be really important. Let’s rank it on first page.’

As if it’s of any surprise at all, people found out how dumb we were trying to do things and caught on. It’s easy to do, so, this is no-brainer stuff.

Soon, everyone was doing it and the search engines were buggered up.

It’s amazing because the search engines have gotten smarter – the sad part is, some folks have not. They’re still adopting the old-school SEO techniques and they’ve got to realize that the web content writing style is not only out-of-date, it’s disrespectful of the readers and the audience.

The audience have grown smarter now that even dogs have blogs. If they could bark their way to promote their blogs, they would. So, we need to evolve with that. The moment readers find out how you’re making use of them to get traffic from them, they’re never coming back. Once they realize you’re committed to publishing utter rubbish, they’ll keep their wallets as far away from you as possible.

Is THAT what you want?

If you want success in your business and you want to provide good web content for your readers so that they learn how to respect you, you need to add true value to the stuff that you publish for them. Otherwise, it’s simply adieus and they’re never coming back.

Whenever I fall for fake links and pages, bear in mind that I take a good, long look at the web URL. I try my best to remember the name (there are too many, however) so that I know where NOT to click the next time the link comes up. Feed the readers and fool the search engines with links that are merely filled with ads, publish rubbish reviews and something will happen….it’s only a matter of time.

In conclusion, I honestly wish that more people realize that the readers are getting far too smart for us to fool the way we used to fool them now.

But that’s just me.

Note: Photo credit

The economy is in a slump and people are turning to the internet to make some money. As a professional freelance writer, I sincerely feel that while it’s great that the internet is providing many people a rope to cling on during this troubling time, businesses trying to find professional freelance writers for their web content or online marketing methods should be cautious about it.

The internet has become a breeding ground for all sorts of aspiring professional freelance writer. I am not being jealous because I am, frankly, thankful that there is a whole pool of new talents out there for me to tap into. I love that part of the bargain. But based on my experience as a professional freelance writer, there are problems that we need to face. There are so many of them out there right now, how do we know who is a good professional freelance writer and who isn’t?

The line has been blurred once again. The only time I remember this happening was when blogs become popular. Everyone became a journalist! As fun as it was to read into the lives of all those people who write blogs, it’s hard to find one that really rocks.

I hire one or two professional freelance writers to help me out with my work sometimes when I am bogged down with work or when there’s an emergency. I value the availability of my professional freelance writer…but I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences in the past. Hiring a professional freelance writer who does not write well and writes for SEO purposes ONLY gives me a blinding headache! Thankfully, over the years, I’ve found some professional freelance writer who are, indeed, very professional about their work, puts their heart into every single word that they write.

SEO writing is fabulous, I know, but it’s hard to find someone who can write SEO stuff without compromising on the quality of the articles. The professional freelance writer has to be experienced in balancing out the SEO part of the writing process and also the connectivity of the article. There’s really no point in writing SEO articles without trying to make SOME sense.

So, before you hire a professional freelance writer, check into the writer’s background and ask for some samples. Don’t make the mistake of hiring the first SEO writer that promises you a low price because you may regret it, at the end of the day.

If you’re really good at what you do, usually, it results in being paid more for the same kind of stuff that other newbies have to offer simply because when you’re an experienced freelance web content writer or search engine marketer or online promoter, people have the assurance of knowing that you know what you’re doing. It’s as simple as that. But because many of my clients are new to internet marketing, they tend to compare.

Anyway, that’s not what I am gripping about today.

The thing with some website owners is that whenever they think of search engine marketing, they think that search engine optimization is the be-all and end-all. Sadly, I am here to tell you that THAT cannot be further from the truth.

Listen, if you expect loads of traffic and an incredible jump in sales just because you’ve had your website search engine optimized, you’re in for a big disappointed. There’s more to internet market than just SEO (search engine optimization).

SEO is merely when you get someone to make your website really search engine friendly….and also place some important keywords here and there. That, in itself, makes you an acquaintance with the spiders that crawl your pages. What you’re really, REALLY looking for if sales is your target, is for the search engines to fall in love with you.

As with a woman prettying herself up to impress a potential life partner, you need to promote your website or blog out there in cyberspace CONSISTENTLY. It’s a lot of work but if you do it right, I promise you that you will reap the rewards in a couple of months’ time.

So, in conclusion, I would like to help you understand that search engine optimization is not the end-all and be-all. It’s not a magic wand, and it’s only the start of a very intriguing, manipulative, challenging but profitable online presence.

Where I live, people…business people tend to be more than a little uncomfortable about trying out internet marketing ideas and search engine optimization tactics. They would rather sit it out and WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN to their websites. A relative, with whom I spoke extensively with about search engine optimization and internet marketing, said that it would be OK with him if he just waited it out and see if he could get lucky!

There is no such thing as getting lucky with internet marketing. It’s either you put effort into it or you DON’T. Look, the Internet is a wonderful stage for business website owners. It’s the single one available vehicle to us that allows us a stage as big as television….bigger. And everyone’s fighting for footspace in cyberspace.

My question would be this…how does LUCK come into the picture when there are tens of thousands, perhaps millions, of people fighting for the first three pages of a popular search engine results page? If it’s so easy, why don’t everyone just hold back on the search engine optimization and internet marketing startegies, save the money and just wait for Lady Luck to smile at them.

Who knows? Maybe she takes turns?

If one wants a piece of the pie in cyberspace, it’s imperative for one to out effort in promoting one’s website or blog online. It just does not appear on your lap for no resaon whatsoever.

And frankly speaking, it’s not even that hard to do on your own. All it takes is a willing heart and an open mind….or is it the other way around.

It still continues to stun me every time someone asks me, “Is there such a thing? Freelance blog content writer? A freelance what….web content writer? Is there a NEED for it?”

I give up.

To say that I am a veteran freelance blog content writer, I probably am not. I can point you to some of the biggest online movers and shakers in terms of online content production or blog content development. But I HAVE been writing freelance for more than a decade….PROFESSIONALLY….which means for more than TEN YEARS, I’ve been continuously paid to produce web content, write blog content and advertising copy for people.

And when people ask me something like ‘Is there a NEED for it?’, I can’t help but feel a little insulted.

On a website, navigation is something I would rate as NUMERO UNO. If your website is not easy to navigate, WELL….good luck to you! I mean, it’s the truth. The second would be content. At the very least, I am pretty honest with you and I am trying to shove a sales talk down your throat. Navigation of a website is more important than the web content or blog content because…who do you think would have the patience of clicking through from one page to another just to find the web content or blog post that they want to read?

I guess, as a freelance blog content writer, I am a pretty lucky gal. I’ve never had to struggle through a difficult conversation trying to explain the whole search engine optimization, internet marketing or online promotion methodology to them. They know how it works – and they set me to it. End of story. With that said, I am also lucky that my blog content writing clients are willing to pay for quality.

They know that if they pay peanuts, they get monkeys. There are a lot of monkeys out there, unfortunately.

Anyway, I would describe the content on your website as the meat attached to the skeleton. Your website would be nothing without it, hence, if you’re not a writer yourself, it makes sense for you to hire a web content writer (ahem, like me), who can do the job quickly, efficiently, independently and affordably.

Hiring a blog content writer for your blog posts, some say, if like lying. Oh, I was so hurt at one time when someone else ‘flamed’ me for ghost blogging for my clients. “It’s like a lie. You’re a liar. A bullshitter”. Not exactly. You see, when someone hires me as their blog content writer, what I do is that I do the research on my part. If it’s an industry that I am not familiar with, then I would have to put a lot of hours to find out what makes the readers tick. It’s not as simple as picking up a pen and just sucking it up to the corporate leaders or the company’s CEO.

If that was the case, my life as a web content writer would have been much easier, trust me. The role of a ghost blogger like me is very important for the company’s image. If I do a good job, I attract regular visitors, help with the branding process, and help the company collect data and feedback from the blog or website visitors. If a blog content writer (I am not saying me! LOL) does a bad job, the website or blog owner suffers. And the writer gets off Scot-free.

Anyway, my point is that you need to hire a web content writer who knows how to write and make sense, and then make the message stick in the minds of the readers….ideally, forever, but in reality, for a long time. Even if someone was just stumble onto your website or blog without really intending to and likes the content that you have placed there, you’ve created an impression. If this person REALLY likes the blog content on your website, then he or she would come back for more later on.

Makes sense, I am sure.

And there’s one other thing about hiring a blog content writer that you should always remember. That search engines love content…the fresher, the more links it contains and the more people linking to you equals a good website or blog. So, remind your web content writer to do just that lest he/she gets carried away with writing non-seo optimized content for your website.

The most important page that your blog content writer should focus on is the main/home/index page of your website. or in the case of your blog, the first page that the search engine pulls out when it crawls into your url. I’ll leave the whole ‘linking’ hullabaloo for another time because it’s not something that your blog content writer can control too much. Linking is more your job, as a website or owner or your webmaster. It’s something you and your webmaster should sit down together (or online) to discuss on an extensive basis.

Till this very day, I am still surprised with the number of people and companies in my own country’s, Malaysia, ignorance and indifference to the importance of search engine promotion. Malaysia search engine promotion industry is still at an infancy stage whereby the SEO industry and online marketing sector in other countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan has grown tremendously over the years…well, after Facebook came about, I guess everyone started realizing just important it is to be ‘present’.

Not only should a Malaysia company focused on search engine promotion be ‘present’ ONE TIME but all the time, as many times as possible! I’ve said many times before and I guess I’ll waste those precious few taps to say it a few times again…it’s all about online activities and communication with the readers. Malaysian companies who are looking for search engine marketing and promotion methods should look beyond the ‘paid advertising’ method because there’s more to online marketing than placement of banners and text links.

I assure you, Malaysian companies, that the banner advertisement is the easier way to doing things but in terms of search engine marketing or a Malaysian company, that’s a short term solution and if you do your math, the ROI isn’t impressive at all.

Focus, instead of bringing in good content through good search engine marketing methods for your Malaysian website selling Malaysian products and services in the International arena. Rope the readers in and do everything you can, within your power, to keep the Malaysian or readers from other countries from clicking away and never coming back.

To me and to a lot of other search engine marketing experts, this is the essence of search engine optimization and building an online presence – regardless of whether you’re a Malaysian company serving only Malaysian companies or individuals or an International brand.

The world is your stage where internet is concerned and when you use the right internet marketing methods and search engine marketing strategy for your Malaysian-based website, you can reach beyond what you dream of.

Right now, the focus of your attention could be merely Malaysian consumers…but think in the long run. What happens when you are looking for foreign investors? What happens when you need help in terms of technology? How are people going to view your Malaysian company with very little internet marketing and search engine optimization done to your website if they see that you’re not innovative and quick enough to catch on the digital wave?

*** *** ***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is a Malaysian-based freelance writer, graphic designer and occasional singer who’s been in the internet marketing, content development and search engine optimization field for more than a decade. For more info, visit her website at http://www.marshamaung.com or her blog at http://www.marshamaung.blogspot.com.

<a href=”http://www.social-bookmark-script.com/” target=”_blank”>Social Bookmarks</a>

While there aren’t too many reasons why one should change the content of one’s web content on a home page, especially if it’s listed well with the major search engine, I strongly encourage people to consider giving the web content of the important pages of their website a little bit of a facelift once in a while. Why? Well, here are some reasons.

Changes…the search engine might come back and find new web content

Search engines generally like to see some form of activity on a home page, especially when they come back from time to time to index your web pages. If you let the web content remain stagnant for too long, the search engines might think that you’ve abandoned the webpage or website hence, there will no longer be any changes to it….ultimately, without changes to the web content on your website, the search engines might think it’s either a dying one…or a dead one.

Readers love changes to the web content too

There’s nothing duller than to come back to a website to find the same web content over and over again. Not only is it a lackluster approach to marketing, it’s also the lazy man’s way of selling. If you want to keep your readers, it’s advisable for you to consider changing the web content to your web pages accordingly.

To add something new, inform potential clients and attract new results

If you have a good listing in major search engines, I can understand why you are apprehensive about changing ANYTHING in your website, not to mention the keywords! I know I would be thinking twice, three times no, ten times before I changed a single thing on the homepage of my website if it ranked well for the keyword that I wanted.

But this is the way it is. Sometimes you need to alter the web content a little bit here and there. Or you can take the opportunity to release some news bits or inform or excite your website visitors.

Web content is an extremely powerful marketing tool. Don’t believe a word I said, just ask around amongst the search engine marketing experts yourself!

***Tina Park***

<a href=”http://www.social-bookmark-script.com/” target=”_blank”>Social Bookmarks</a>

If you’ve set up your website and done a few ‘Google’ searches on Search Engine Rankings - you’ve probably learned that keywords are at the heart of Internet searches. They are the link between the searcher and their destination - the journey of any internet searcher starts with typing those few words into their favoured search engine. Everyone who has ever used the internet has started this journey so you are very well placed to appreciate the psychology of the process.

Let me make a simple but perhaps not obvious point in this article to help you choose the keywords to center your site around ( this is what you need to do to attract search engine traffic)

The pursuit of some common single keyword is often the goal of the new webmaster. To reach page one in Yahoo or Google for a common keyword is no easy task and it will definitely gain you traffic. Yet before you pour huge resources, time and effort into achieving this goal - step back and think about who would actually type these words into a search engine…

Some examples Double Glazing firm decides to target the keyword - ‘windows’. Firstly they are in for a shock if they hadn’t already realized they are now in direct competition with one of the World’s largest companies - Microsoft. Of course Microsoft probably don’t have an interest in installing double glazing in all the homes in Birmingham but that’s who you are competing against. The problem is the search engine has very little way of working out what the searcher wants if he types in just ‘windows’. Most will focus on the software but toss in a few high ranking non-software windows web sites just in case - try it and see what you get. This query is typed in approximately 9 million times a month - lets be honest how many of these are potential customers of our west midlands double glazing firm. Lets compare this with the phase ‘double glazed windows’ which is searched for by about 27,000 in the UK - which group would you want to view your website ? (please click the read more link below) (more…)