Bytepowered Articles Blog

Articles on Writing posted on Bytepowered Articles

2007-07-09T17:01:00.000-04:00

These Articles have been posted in the Writing (General) category. Not everything an author writes is always the best advice. Authors are human too and strive to give information to best of there knowledge. Do your research and get second opinions.

The Difference Between Rich Authors and Poor Authors By : Steve Manning
Why some authors make a lot of money and some don't. Here's the reason.

The Secret of Writing a Book Instantly By : Steve Manning
Start writing your book faster than you ever thought you could. Starting right now!

A Look At Some Of The Best Classified Ad Writing Strategies By : Gregg Hall
There's no better way to learn how to be successful at anything than by following what successful people do. Obviously can't copy a successful classified ad word-for-word but as you study these ads you'll start to see common elements which you can utilize in your own classifieds.

6 Honest Reasons to Write a Book By : Yvonne Garcia
A different slant on reasons for writing a book: some are obvious and others you may have not considered. Hopefully you will get inspired to write a book.

Eliminating Writer's Block By : John Abate
This article describes techniques to help eliminate writer's block.

What to Say When Speaking in Public By : Adrian Kennelly
The student of public speaking will do well to confine his first efforts to simple forms of speech-making. Plain narrative and clear statement of fact should be his primary objects. The ornamental graces of rhetoric and oratory may advantageously be left for subsequent consideration.

Making The Most Of A Career In Writing By : Tony Jacowski
If you are tired of the traditional 9 To 5, consider a career in writing. Here we give you the benefits of this non-traditional career.

The 5 Minute Ebook Authoring Technique By : James Pearson
Use the "5 Minute Ebook Authoring Technique" to quickly produce high quality ebooks for any niche or need.

Why a Literary Agent is So Important to Your Success By : Steve Manning
Why your literary agent is essential. And what they know that you don't.

Writing A Reference Letter When You Don't Really Want To Recommend Them By : Ben Franklin
Before agreeing to write a reference letter for someone, remember, if you don't feel comfortable in writing the letter don't. If you have reservations about the person's abilities or skills, that will come through in your writing.

Write And Embrace Life With An Optimistic Approach By : Gautam Hosahalli Nagaiah
The world is ruthless, our emotions and sentiments hold less value in others lives.

Blogging Communities Bring Benefits To Bloggers By : Melvin Ng
Blogging communities can be extremely difficult to understand.

Tidbits On Monetizing Blogs By : Melvin Ng
Blogging for profit has increased in popularity since its inception. The irony is that the original blogs were not at all designed with profit in mind.

Blog Tools For The Gadget Lovers By : Melvin Ng
I am a gadget addict. Unfortunately it doesn't end with gadgets. I have so many programs that I've downloaded and tried on my computer only to never use again.

Blogs Give Voice To Those Unheard By : Melvin Ng
If you're wondering why people blog in today's society there are as many answers as there are people. However, there is one answer that seems to be the overwhelmingly most popular reason for blogging-to be heard.

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10 Tips For Your 30 Day Article Marketing Challenge

2007-07-09T14:27:00.000-04:00

By: Thom Kingsley

Article Marketing Experts developed the 30 day article marketing challenge to get business owners motivated enough to write twenty 750 word articles in 30 days. If you're following the "multiple streams of income" approach to developing online business you need to adopt a systematic approach.

Once you've determined the affiliate program you'd like to make money with, registered your domain and built your first blog then you're all set to get started on the 30 day article marketing challenge.

1) Set Absolutely Ridiculous Deadlines for Yourself
The chances are pretty good that you don't want to spend your time writing. Why then should you labor for hours over your articles? When it comes to article marketing through article directories you should lean more towards quantity than quality.

Ensure that you're able to meet your challenge by giving yourself only an hour to write each 750 word article. And that includes edits. If this doesn't light a fire under your behind then article marketing might not be your marketing bag, baby.

2) Organize Your Article Before Writing
Your grammar school teacher gave you the same instructions. She was right. Always organize your thoughts before you begin writing. Having to shift mental gears between planning and writing is deadly to your momentum. Writing articles is all about momentum so take out all the stops!

3) No Research
If you have to conduct research then you're writing the wrong article. Sure, you might include 5 minutes of fact checking in your hour-long article writing schedule, but if you find yourself on a 10 or even 15 minute meandering trip through search engine queries about your subject then you need to get back closer to writing from your own personal knowledge. Write what you know. And only what you know.

4) Focus on 10 Tips Style Articles
Again, it's easier for you to write these kinds of articles because you don't have to pay as much attention to process and you can simply stay in your writing flow. Further, 10 tips style articles are popular, accessible and by their very nature force you to write more compelling article titles.

5) Target SEO Keywords with Your Articles
Each article you write in your 30 day challenge should focus on different keywords - unless there are only a couple of keywords that you know for certain bring you paying search engine traffic. Again, don't spend too much time doing research, but do give it at least 5 minutes on the keyword research tool of your preference.

6) Expect a Learning Curve for Automated Submission Services
It's naive to expect that you can purchase an automated article submission service and get your articles through on the first pass. It will take time for you to learn a service and figure out their ins and outs. Expect that, allow for it and plan it into your time allowance for article marketing.

7) Write Different Articles to Test Different Services
Don't put the same article in all the article submission services out there. Also, don't expect just one service to cover all of the article directories out there (more and more pop up every day). Plan to spend some time with testing various services and tracking their value in your article marketing efforts.

8) Have Appropriate Expectations for Your Efforts
After you distribute your first article don't expect instant checks to start pouring in. You have to wait for the hundreds of directories you've submitted to, you have to wait for secondary publishers to accept your work and finally you have to wait for the search engines to see that these sites are linking to you.

9) Write 750 Word Articles
750 words is a good round number for a length of your articles. For one thing, that's the minimum word allowance for one prominent article submission service. For another, it allows you to really round out an idea or concept. Further, it gives you a goal for each of your top ten tips - they have to be around 75 words each.

10) Plan for the Devaluing of Article Directories
It's simple to create your own article directory. This means that there are thousands of folks out there who are contacting the article distribution services with their urls and accepting articles. It's inevitable that search engines will value links from article directories less and less. Therefore as you distribute your articles and get in the swing of writing you should be on the look out for potential publishing partners who will publish your one-off original articles on their site.

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Thom Kingsley took the 30 Day Article Marketing Challenge and set about to maximize links, traffic and profits through article advertising in 30 days. Read article marketing tips on his blog, http://www.MyArticleProject.com.

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The Virtual Edge - The Website that Shines

2007-04-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

By: Diana Ennen

Do you have the Virtual Edge with your business? That website that when people go there they say, Wow, I want to work with that company. If not, here are a few pointers.

Packing a Punch

Your website is the one thing that defines you and your business and has the potential to draw the entire virtual world to your products or services. How important is it? Well, I just recently had mine redone, and I immediately starting gaining more clients. Also, because I added a more professional edge to my site, I started getting clients who were a higher caliber and who paid more, now it don't get any better than that.

Here are a few pointers I think you might find useful:

§ The First Glance - Hook Them!! Keep in mind that the first thing listed in the main body of your site should be the best you offer. The main thing you are bringing people to the site to see. It has to clearly state what is it you want to sell, offer, feature, etc. Go look at your site, have you done it?

§ Buttons That Tell & Sell - Those side and top buttons-you need to clearly set up so that people want to click on them and find out more. Also, you need to have these labeled correctly so they know what they are clicking on to see. That name is critical to making them take the time to check out that page.

§ Bullet Power- Clients often skim sites and rarely read through the entire site. They look for items that interest them. If you list paragraph after paragraph, it won't get read. Think back, do you read those paragraphs. I don't! Therefore use bullets or symbols instead. And try the slanted bullets or a different bullet style for more eye appeal.

§ Chose Your Words Wisely - Every word on your site should say something important. Absolutely you need to use keywords, but you also need to use convincing words to sell you and your business. Don't get so caught up in keywords that you lose the focus of the site. Write the text, edit and delete, and repeat that last step over and over until you have it just right.

§ Convenience -- Clickable Links -- In the body of the website itself, whenever you are providing a reference to a site, make sure you have a clickable link, even if you have it on the side panel. People often won't take the time to go look for the button, so make it easy for them.

§ Colors Are Cool -- Match your colors to your business or your book. For example, for one of my clients who has a science fiction book with an awesome green cover, I designed the website to match. Now you immediately make the connection.

§ Front Page Magic - Offer Something FREE - On your front page, it helps to offer something for FREE. I offer a free booklet on obtaining clients in a pdf format. How about a free 10 ways to do whatever it is you do? That sort of thing. Let people long after they leave your site remember you and want to come back to you with their money and business.

§ Contests - Come One- Come All -- Yes, we know they work. They get people to your site and that adds to your traffic. But, here's a tip to make them really successful. Follow-up each response with a personal e-mail. Now, the key is not making it a hard sale sales letter they will never read. Instead, a "Hi, thanks for entering the contests, I'm sorry you did/didn't win, but I'm ..." And then give them something special, including a coupon off of your services. Make them feel special.

§ Newsletter -- List your newsletter on numerous pages if not all. This is what is going to be reconnecting you to your clients and potential clients.

§ The Eyes Have It - I strongly suggest you have another friend or business associate view your site and offer opinions. It's incredible what they can see that you don't as you are too close to it.

§ Eyes -- Take Two -- Right now, stop and check out your site. Have you looked at it from a potential client's viewpoint? What did you think? Did it clearly define you and what you offered? Did it spark your interest?

I hope these tips help you to get the virtual edge you need for your business.

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Diana Ennen is the author of Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and publisher of fiction thriller Sledgehammer, http://www.pauloreyes.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author's bio remains intact.

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The Power Of The Written Word or Why This One Skill Could Potentially Bring In Millions

2007-04-06T14:12:00.000-04:00

Is the "art of writing" the ultimate business power? We all know that writing skill is a necessity on the Internet. Without written communication business transactions would never happen. Can studying the art of writing make you wealthy? Dave Origano gives some insight.

By: Dave Origano

There is one sentence that is all around my notebooks, in my workbooks and stuck on my monitor, with so much truth and power in it, it takes me to a new level of doing business every time I read it. This one sentence simply forms a barrier for a lot of marketers, though when you developed this one skill, a world of abundance opens for you.

Many people have used this subject all over their works, and therefor it has reached a lot of people. Those who apply it and live by it are set free from a lot of limiting beliefs. They have found abundance, creativity, energy and freedom. Now I prepared this article for you, that is meant to teach you why this is such an important skill.

You are experiencing it right now, the very power that made my business and that same power can build your business too faster then you can say "pepperoni pizza". I'm sure, if you got a penny for everything you read or heard about this subject, you would have been rich by now. If not, then you have been hiding under a rock since World War 2. I really do hope that's not the case!

I'll let you know what this sentence is, within a minute. But first I urge you to relax, take a few deep breaths. Let it flow in your mind for a while and only continue with your work when you feel that you have absorbed all the knowledge, power and vision of this sentence.

Now let's get to the point. You're now going to learn what the single best skill in the marketing world is. The skill that can change your life for good!

This skill, or I prefer to call it an art, is writing. Harness the power of the written word and you can do whatever you want to do. You can reach any goal you set, and make every dream come true.

Why is this the most superior skill to learn in the marketing world? Why is it one of the most superior skills in the whole world?

It is because you need to write every single day. You need to write a job application, a letter asking for promotion, letters for joint ventures, affiliates, sales letters and much more. There is enormous power in the written word. Therefor a few words or pages of words can open all parts of the world.

You can see everything you write as an invitation letter, asking for people to invite you into their world. Inviting them to buy from you. Inviting to become a friend or fan of you. All can be done with the skill of writing.

As writing is a very complex skill, you can visit my website for the next parts of this article series. It's just not possible to discuss every asset of writing in one single article. At my website you can find more articles discussing the secrets of writing. There I will also show you how to use this power for your own benefit, and what the best books and courses are.

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Dave Origano is author of "Motivation & Inspiration" and "Momentum Based Marketing". For his free newsletter with articles, gift ebooks, training materials and more, go to http://www.MrOrigano.com

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Your Entire Article Content Is Under Scrutiny From Google

2007-03-30T19:53:00.000-04:00

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By: Taff Martin

If you are writing articles for the purpose of off page SEO it is time to consider just how swiftly Googles algorithm is changing over a short period off time. We don't need to concern ourselves too much with the other search engines at this time. You will have heard many times that unique content is King, and it still is, but you must also consider that contextual relevance is now Queen.

The whole way of thinking behind article content is being changed. Semantics, overall page theme, phrase matching, (comparisons with millions of other similar pages in their index to see if phrases are relevant to the topic / theme), and even the use of buzz or niche words - eg woodworkers, surfers, stamp collectors or whatever all have their own specialised words and phrases which would mean nothing to the rest of us. This is just a part of what Google will use to determine how important and relevant your article actually is to them.

This ongoing war between the guys who find a chink in Googles armour and then write software to exploit it will never stop. This is human nature. The thing is that these guys pushing their "latest, most powerful" scripts and PC applications have a good job for life. There are always millions of people who are quick enough to snap up their $97 products if there is a hint they can get to #1 without doing any work.

They have customers for life. As soon as Google addresses an issue then another script is on the market and so the loop continues. The sad thing is that the buyers of these scripts are spending so much time trying to be "smart" they probably never actually build a business.

A similar problem exists with the use of Private Label Rights articles. There is little wrong in principal with using PLR properly, they can give you some great ideas to get started, but the vast majority of users who have downloaded 1000 articles either free or for next to no cost simply load them up and fire them out onto the Net without even looking at them! This, together with spinning software is the cause for the incredible amount of useless and senseless junk on the Internet that Google is determined to deal with. And rightly so.

There is no doubt that the duplicate content issue is presently a huge cause for concern for Google. We all know that there was never any penalty imposed by Google for Duplicates. They simply ignored them. Weight being given to the oldest most relevant content.

It is unlikely that we shall see any penalty against duplicate content as it is quite reasonable to expect more than one version of an article on different websites. What we may see is penalties against what Google determines to be spun, low quality content with no relevance. I will not speculate on these penalties but we may have an issue on exactly what is determined to be sub standard content.

It would seem that the days of us "leading" Google into what our content is all about through the use of titles, keyword density, file names and so on is coming to end. Once the programming is in place it may well be that all we have to do is to write naturally with a certain amount of passion about a theme we have an interest in or have researched well. MMmmmm! Didn't we use to do this before search engines and algorithms and programmers came on the scene?

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Visit Taff Martin's Internet & Article Marketing Blog. Leave a comment.
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2007-03-28T15:04:00.000-04:00

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Freelance Copywriting Jobs

2007-03-28T14:24:00.001-04:00

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By: Ronald Piper

You can find that there are numerous freelance copywriting jobs out there. Within this article today, we'll look at a couple of the different websites and how you can make sure to set yourself apart from all of the other freelancers out there.

Our first task is to identify the different marketplaces where you should have a subscription. The website that will be profiled first is www.elance.com. This particular marketplace has a very strong following as more than 100,000 potential customers come by the website each week. You are able to sign up to sell your services and the system allows you to upload your best work to sell yourself to potential clients. There is also a search agents in place so that you can have jobs that meet your criteria e-mailed to you on a daily basis. Cost for a subscription to this particular website can range from eight dollars per month up to one hundred twenty dollars per month.

The second website which you should look to register for it is www.guru.com. This is actually the largest online freelance marketplace on the Internet to look for online jobs including freelance copywriting jobs. The capabilities of this website are similar to the ones that were posted in the paragraph above for that particular website. It has a service provider base of over 481,000 people. If you live in Europe, you can use both of these websites as well as a European challenge to these two, which is found at www.getafreelancer.com. There are many other websites that also offer a freelance online marketplace and one of these is www.directfreelance.com.

This should get you started in being able to find different websites and which you can bid on projects. When you are bidding on projects, companies that are looking at the bids will not be looking just at price but also at how their work will be done. To do this you will want to set yourself apart. The way that you can set yourself apart in creating a bid is to include copies of your best work but also make sure that you include testimonials along with a sales letter on why you will be the best party bidding on this particular project. By doing this, you will be tailoring your message to the particular party and you will be showing them examples of your past work along with happy clients. This will help improve your credibility and firmly anchor you as a potential candidate who can get the job done. Many copywriters do not have a website today so if you take the opportunity to create a website, you will find that you could have a competitive advantage in the freelance copywriting jobs market.

Hopefully this article on freelance copywriting jobs has helped you. It is important to know which websites you should use in finding work but it is also important to find ways to set yourself apart. By creating a website as well as creating an advertising package that shows off your best side, you are setting yourself up to stand apart from other freelancers. You are selling yourself when you create this package so keep that in mind.

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Ronald Piper is an online researcher who publishes new information on specialized topics. He provides daily, relevant information and updated content on your favorite interests. To view more articles related to this particular subject, please visit his website at: ronaldpiper.com

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Submit Articles to Rise to the Top of the Internet

2007-03-16T16:27:00.000-04:00

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By: Anthony Kristovich III

So, you have the best thing since sliced bread. With the right marketing, you could really make an impact on the internet. You might even corner your niche, or even become a top 30 website.

But you need to become more important on the internet (backlinks) and you need to get the word out about your website.

You've done the usual submit to link directories, maybe even swapped a couple of links with like-topic websites. But, from there it keeps coming back to paid advertisements, which can take a hefty budget.

Don't despair, there are simpler ways that most webmasters won't mention.

Articles.
Yes, just write articles. There are some guidelines however that you need to look at.

LENGTH
You really need to write 500 words or more to get the attention of most websites and article directories. Many consider under 500 to not have enough substance. Easy one to fulfill.

CONTENT
You need to give something to the reader. Free advice, free information, something of that nature. You are not selling with this article, and it is not an ad. You are giving to receive, and if you provide good information, readers will want to follow the link in the resource to your website. You are trying to show your expert status in your topic, afterall.

RESOURCE
Normally at the end of the article is a resource paragraph, a small blurb about you and your website. This is where you quickly entice the user to find out more information. Remember to send them to a relevant page, which is not necessarily your main website page.

WHERE TO SUBMIT IT
This is the fun part. This is where you actually submit your articles to article directories to start them in their circulation. Just search for article directory on Google and you'll find many very quickly. The more places you can get it out to, the more you'll stand to gain from the article. In this aspect, many like article submission services as it frees time to write articles and take care of other website-related issues.

There are a couple of things you should research before writing up your article.

One is, who is your target audience, and what info do they want to devour?

The second is, what are your target keywords that you should be using in your links back to your website, and note that these should vary.

In addition, absolutely deep-link your website instead of sending all links to your main page. For one, search engines love this. It shows a more thorough integration into the internet, and helps establish your importance. This also can really give your potential page rank a boost.

You stand to gain many things from writing articles and giving out free information. It makes you an instant expert, you get very valuable backlinks, your search engine ranking will go up as a result of the backlinks, and the target you get from your articles is laser-targetted and they are ready to see what else you have to say. Pre-qualified traffic, the perfect kind.

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Tony Kristovich is the owner of http://www.eArticlesOnline.com, an article submission directory where you can find more great information on writing articles, site promotion and also submit your own articles for massive exposure.

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To Write Or Not To Write

2007-03-15T14:22:00.000-04:00

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By: Chris Kennelly

She was sitting inside a public transportation; then, all of the sudden, thoughts suddenly seem to swirl inside her head and she ached to be with a notepad and pen so she could write them all down. She finds a notepad and a pen, she is lucky and the thoughts became words. She does not find them, she gets upset as the thoughts she was nursing so tenderly like a baby dissipated like dust into the winds.

That is how writers go about in their daily lives. There are moments when they could think of nothing to write at all and times when they are bombarded with so many ideas that their hands could not keep up or the inks of their pens would run out, whatever comes first.

But there is always a question that bugs every writer, and that is, To write or not to write? When they are faced with the opportunity of writing about something that is not their forte, would they or would they rather not write about it?

Writers who desperately need to earn a living will have no other choice but to go on and write anything that will get in the bucks. But, comes the mental block, how will they go about writing about something that they are not even passionate about? How could a poet write about the technical aspects of a car? How could a literary writer do a news article on something as horrid as a vehicular accident?

Here are tips on how to be a flexible writer:

Research, research, research...

Freelance Writing Online: Some Hard and Fast Facts

2007-03-11T01:14:00.000-05:00

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By: Scott Salter

If there is one maxim that has continued to remain true about the Internet it is that "Content is King". The fact that website owners need fresh and relevant content to keep browsers coming back to their website means that there is a secondary market for content creation.

This of course has created a wonderful opportunity for freelance writers who can spend their time creating content for others and be paid for it. But before you throw in your day jobs, register your profile with Elance or Guru and start banging away on your laptop, let's look at some of the truisms of the market so that you can enter the opportunity with open eyes.

Firstly, let's deal with the question of how much money you can make. Will you make a million dollars? No. Only very high profile offline authors make this sort of money. Is it possible to make $80- $100k per year. The answer is yes but like anything it will require some hard work and a dash of entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, to be truly successful you will need to spend nearly as much time marketing yourself as you will creating content. To command this type of income you will also most likely need to augment your writing efforts with some affiliate marketing. This isn't difficult: you still create content but you will also make sure that you embed some of your own affiliate links in the content that you create.

It also depends on your agenda. If you're looking to make a full time income then those figures are within your reach. If however, you're a student for instance and therefore do not have as much time at your disposal, then a $20k per annum secondary income at the upper end would be the more likely scenario.

Do you have to be a good writer to succeed online? No. In fact being a good writer may actually be a hindrance: simply for the fact that your work may not be appreciated and command the price that you feel it's worth. The nature of the market that you will be dealing with is one that is after fast and relatively cheap content. They're not after high quality writing so don't try and be Shakespeare. All you really need is a decent grasp of spelling and punctuation and be able to write in a conversational tone. Easy? You bet.

Do you need to have a subject specialty? Once again the answer is no and if you do specialise then you may be severely denting your income prospects. The secret here is to not put all your eggs in one basket. You want to have multiple sources of income: this means not only a multiplicity of subjects but also a multiplicity off avenues to get your writing out there. Bidding at auction sites such as Guru.com and Elance.com is certainly one way of getting the dollars in but it does not preclude creating monetised blogs or writing and submitting articles with embedded links.

It helps when writing online for a living to think outside the box. You can certainly make a steady income from just writing alone but by tweaking and monetising your approach with affiliate marketing you can put yourself in a position to really explode your income.

Why Your Freelance Writing Talents Are Desperately Needed

2007-03-07T19:40:00.000-05:00

By: Scott Salter

You may or may not have heard this before - On the Internet: Content is King. Or to put it another way: the websites that deliver the most up-to-date and relevant content also tend to be the most popular. And if the website(s) in question have a commercial aspect to them, which is most of them; then popularity goes onto equate with increased income for the website owner.

The explosive growth of the Internet and the attendant growth of Internet related commerce has created an unprecedented demand for written content. Now the fact of the matter is that is very rare for webmasters to go about each day creating this content themselves. They simply don't have the time. What you will find is that they source the content from elsewhere and are happy to pay for it.

You can see where this is going, can't you? If Webmasters are happy to pay for outsourced content then there is an obvious opportunity for freelance writes to create that content and get paid for it.

It gets better: Not only is there a demand for freelance writing skills but some specific online markets have sprung up that allow freelance writers to present their wares as it were. Webmasters know to go to these markets to secure outsourced content so it really streamlines the process of selling your writing skills.

It gets better still: The constantly evolving nature of the Internet means that new avenues are continually springing up - all of which are in need of new content. If it's not website owners that need sales copy, then it'll be bloggers who need fresh content for their blog readers. And if it's not blog owners that need content, then it'll be article directories looking for more content so that webmasters keep coming back to them. And so on and so on. If there's one thing the Internet is not: it is static. Opportunities abound wherever you look and content creation is one of the biggest of them.

Two of the biggest and most popular online auction sites are Elance.com and Guru.com. Webmasters know that they can go to these central resources, create a job description, and then have freelance writers bid to do that work. It works like a dutch auction with the lowest bidder usually, though not always, winning the bid and securing the job. Of course once you've done good work for someone once, they may opt to bypass the bidding process the next time around and work with you directly.

The beauty about selling your freelance writing skills these agencies is that not only do they provide an efficient marketplace for you to sell your skills but they also act as a governing body to ensure that your invoice is paid within 30 days or sooner. People that do pay you late on these sites tend to get kicked off. In that respect it is very similar to the eBay auction system except that you are dealing with writing services instead of "shipped goods".

If you're a writer looking to make an income by writing online then it behoves you to make yourself visible where the buyers of content all go to shop. Elance.com and Guru.com are the best places to start.

How to Create Winning Concepts and Copy Every Time...Even When Faced With a Terrifying Job!

2007-02-15T13:29:00.000-05:00

By: Chris Marlow

Afraid your concepting abilities aren't up to snuff? Buddy up with a pro to gain confidence and increase the chances of your copywriting success!

It doesn't matter how new you are to copywriting, or how old...the fact is, there will be times when you'd feel more confident with the brains, talent, and experience of a writing partner.

Perhaps you're writing for a new client who's in an industry you know nothing about. Perhaps you've been asked to come up with some very high level concepts. Or maybe you're getting paid partly based on response rate, and you simply want to make sure your package is as good as it possibly can be.

The answer to these and many other copywriting situations is to...

Master copywriter and coach Chris Marlow publishes a free ezine for copywriters who want to quickly build a profitable business. Visit:
http://www.FreelancersBusinessBulletin.com

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Copywriting Training: The Fundamentals You Need To Understand When Writing Copy

2007-02-15T11:27:00.000-05:00

By: Jo Han Mok

Writing powerful copy is quite simple if only you understand your market and know what their needs, wants and wishes are. All too often people are quick to write a sales letter to close a sale yet never give concerted thought to WHO they are writing to and what they want and need. Research into your market is key but once you know who your market is and what they want, your sales will skyrocket as a result.

When you are trying to learn how to write an effective sales letter in any copywriting training course, you need to first recognize and understand the basics. The basics are crucial in order for the sales letter to flow nicely. I will briefly elaborate on them.

Jo Han Mok is a #1 bestselling author and one of the world's most powerful copywriters. Discover his copywriting training secrets that have generated millions of dollars! Visit his website at http://www.internetmillionairecode.com

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Five Easy Ways To Shake The Writing Devil Off Your Shoulder

2007-02-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

When asked if he ever talked to himself, Woody Allen liked to respond: "Yeah, it's the only way I know to have an intelligent conversation with someone." Ba-da-bum.

Seriously, though, talking to yourself is big problem for many of us writers. That's because we spend a lot of each day in our own heads, lost in our own thoughts. And our interior selves are prone to nattering. Occasionally, they say helpful stuff like: "don't worry," or "buck up," or "it'll be better tomorrow." But more often they say hurtful or downright nasty things like:

Gee, you're a crummy writer
In a million years, no one will ever read this
This lede (beginning of an article) is incredibly dull
No one is going to buy what you're trying to sell
You can't write a call to action to save your life
That headline sucks
B-O-R-I-N-G
You're no good at this
Let's face it, this is just too hard

Are you old enough to remember TV cartoons from the 1960s? If so (or if you're a 'toon fan), you may recall a miniature devil, complete with pitchfork, who sat on the shoulder of many a main character. This little devil whispered bad advice and spiteful ideas into the character's ears -- egging him on to do the wrong or rotten thing.

You might visualize the malicious little voice inside your head -- the one that tells you you're a crummy writer -- as that cartoon devil. Gleefully, he focuses on the negative in your writing, particularly on what you're doing "wrong."

Of course, this devil can be dealt with. But first you need to recognize him and his mouthy ways. Your first step is to start auditing what he tells you. Pay attention! Write down what he says. Note the time of day. Notice how often he pesters you. Once you start listening for his voice, you may be surprised at what he's telling you. Perhaps you had no idea how effectively his comments were tying you in knots.

Then, when you've completed your audit, you can move on to exorcising him. Here are five extremely effective strategies for fighting back:

Bully him in return. When the devil starts to tell you that you're a crummy writer, "yell" (silently, in your mind) "STOP!" Shake your head, shrug your shoulder. Wiggle your fingers. (And if, like me, you're a fan of the '50s musical, you could even consider humming a salutary chorus of "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair...")

Negotiate. When the devil says your writing is boring tell him: "You may be right, but I don't have time to deal with this." If you're feeling generous, you might add: "I'll think about it later when I'm not so busy writing."

Agree with him. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to disarm people when you suddenly and unexpectedly agree with them? It takes the wind right out of their sails and they tend to become very silent. Say to your devil: "Yeah, you're probably right; I'm a crummy writer. But, you do know what? I'm going to finish this writing anyway." Then do it.

Argue with him. Start by deconstructing what the devil is telling you. Notice how so many of his comments are absolutes and over-generalizations: "You always write such boring introductions." Or, "Why don't you ever write anything pithy?" Do those comments make any sense at all? Can you honestly say that every single introduction you've ever written in your entire life, from kindergarten until today, has been boring? Do you know for absolute certain that the word "pithy" does not apply to a single sentence you've ever crafted? Of course not! The devil needs to generalize because the devil doesn't speak the truth. Call him on it.

Replace him. And this is the most fun step of all. Give your devil an alter-ego -- a little white angel who sits on your other shoulder. (They did that in the cartoons, too, remember?) And for every nasty comment the devil makes, have your angel say the opposite. If the devil whispers: "You're a crummy writer," your angel should reply: "You're a BRILLIANT writer." Note: It doesn't matter whether you believe this is true. This is a battle of over-generalizations. Be bold!

Negative thoughts will not only hurt your writing; they'll also make writing slower and more painful. Don't let the devil get away with it. Be sure to fight back.

A former journalist, Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach who helps people writer better, faster. Visit her website at http://www.publicationcoach.com where you can sign up for her free weekly newsletter on power writing.

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Top 20 Abused, Misused, And Mistreated Words

2007-01-25T12:03:00.000-05:00

By: Christine Harrell

Many words in the English language are used incorrectly. Every writer can benefit from a refresher that outlines some of these most commonly misused words. If you are not always sure of when to use some of these words, you're in good company. Many intelligent and well-educated people continue to use these words incorrectly. But before you publish your next document or click the 'submit' button on that email, double check for any violations of these 20 abused, misused, and mistreated words.

Read the Top 20 Abused, Misused, And Mistreated Words.

While spell check quickly catches misspellings, misused words can easily slip past spell check and into your documents. One way to identify words used out of context is by turning on your word processor's grammar check feature. However, though grammar check will identify a majority of misuses, it shouldn't be your final proofreading expert. Some misuses, particularly those that involve uses of 'that vs. who/whom,' can pass through grammar check but still need repair.

For important and published works, consider sending your documents to a professional proofreading service. Even professional writers use proofreaders. After staring at your document for hours on end, it's easy to skim over sentences with missing words, typos, and words used out of context. Professional proofreading services are affordable, fast, and ensure that readers always associate you and your company with top-notch quality work.

Author is a skilled and professional copywriter. For more information about proofreading your work, visit http://www.WritersRelief.com

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The Friendly Editor: 5 Ways You Can Help Others Write Faster and Better

2007-01-22T14:56:00.000-05:00

Editor Note:I have decided to post this article by Daphne Gray-Grant in it's entirety. Daphne's expert advice and excellent writing is just too good for my readers to miss! If you write for any purpose I recommend signing up for Daphne's News Letter.
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By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Do you ever have to edit the work of others? Here are five tips for making the process easier, getting better copy out of people and helping the writers who work with you become happier and more fulfilled.

1) Give your writers explicit directions, so they have a detailed idea of what you expect and need. Don't say, "I need an article about the autumn fundraiser," or "I want to know all about the launch of the new stain remover." Instead, describe the purpose of the article and the key questions it should answer for the reader. Describe who is likely to read the article and where in your publication it's going to appear. Will it be accompanied by a photograph or illustration? (And, if so, what?) A good story assignment may be 200 words or more; it should never be a single sentence! Investing half an hour in drafting a thorough assignment upfront will save you many hours of grief later on.

2) Be especially clear about deadlines. Make them reasonable -- the longer or more complex the story, the longer the time needed. And try to build in a "cushion" for emergencies. For example, if you need the article by May 15, ask for it by May 12, so you have a couple of extra days in case anything goes wrong.

3) If the writer you're working with is not a professional, be sure to warn him or her it's inevitable you're going to have to edit. (Professionals understand this already. Even brilliant fiction writers like Alice Monroe and established journalists like Bob Woodward have editors.) You might say something like: "I need to edit all the articles to match the style of the publication" or "to achieve a unified voice." Make sure they understand that editing does not mean they are "bad" writers or, heaven forbid, "bad" people. And be sure to honour the writer's effort by giving him or her feedback in a timely fashion. If you ask for the story on May 12, edit it soon after -- otherwise your deadlines are not going to be perceived as "real" and you're likely to be seen as a jerk.

4) Use "praise sandwiches." Many would-be editors mistakenly focus on only what they don't like. But you should also make a point of highlighting the good stuff. If you can start by commending something that works, move on to something that needs fixing, and end with something that works (a praise sandwich) people usually respond positively. As you do this, try to avoid the word but. "I really liked the metaphor you used at the beginning BUT thought your quotes were a bit weak." The but is a big red flag that will cancel out the positive statement. Use and instead. Or, don't link the thoughts at all.

5) When you're editing, never, never ever use the colour red to mark corrections or comments. We all have bad memories of being edited harshly by grade school teachers who "bled" red ink all over our precious compositions. Use blue or green ink instead -- it's much friendlier.

It's not hard to help others become better writers. Follow these tips and you'll not only receive better copy, faster -- you'll also have more friends.

A former journalist, Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach with an international practice helping corporate communicators better, faster. Visit her website at http://www.publicationcoach.com where you can sign up for her free weekly newsletter on power writing.

Article Source: Bytepowered Articles

How to Write Attention-Grabbing Headlines

2007-01-19T20:45:00.000-05:00

Editor Note: Your headline might be the most important part of any body of writing on the web. Shane Wilson gets right to the point of how and why.
This article is written with sales letters and advertising in mind but the guidlines Shane has outlined below work equally as well with any type of article. After all, when you write an article you are selling yourself.
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By: Shane Wilson

Reach out and grab your readers with attractive, click persuasive and winning headlines. Watch as your promotional ROI (return on investment) increases fast! Follow the steps below and turn those browsers into buyers by sucking them into your advertisement or sales page with irresistible Headlines.

Below are 7 ways that you can attract readers and more importantly buyers of your product or service. If you use one or all of them it does not matter, just use these techniques I have outlined for you.

(a) How To... This is one of the top performing headlines...

Shane Wilson has been marketing online for years. He has many successful sites that cater to up and coming business people online. You can learn more about Shane at his blog located at my Blog http://www.nexusgate.com/blog. Thank you.

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An Expert's Tactic to Finding Popular Topics for Website Content Revealed

2007-01-15T00:06:00.000-05:00

Editor Note: Sometimes deciding what draws visitors to your web site is a webmaster, blog or ezine author's biggest challenge. Jason Waganer has some good ideas about finding the right content for your theme or topic.
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By: Jason Waganer

Are you seeking a tactic to generate ideas for content that will make your blog elite? Do you need articles that provides readers with precisely what they're looking for and keeps them returning again and again?

If so, you may be curious exactly how to accomplish this feat. After all, you're not a fortune teller. But you can be the next best thing - a savvy marketer. There's a way to learn what your market is looking for - and it's simpler than you probably thought.

Let's say your blog is about German Shepherds. This is just an example. What you would do is become a member of every German Shepherd-related message board and online forum you could find.

Then read anything you can. You will learn more about what dog owners need to know at these places than anywhere else.

Look for questions - then look for a way to answer them through in-depth and enjoyable articles. Your target audience will see...

Jason Waganer runs the popular "Free Monthly Content" membership site, which provides 100 percent original; keyword targeted free web site content each month. Website owners are encouraged to visit www.FreeMonthlyContent.com today and sign up to start receiving absolutely free web site articles each month.

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Article Writing: How Do You Write For Quality?

2007-01-13T16:57:00.000-05:00

Editor Note:

Steve Dempster has seen the short cuts authors use to crank out articles quickly. I too see these short cuts on a daily basis and they just don't work in the long run. This article is good advice for new authors and pros alike.

By: Steve Dempster

Article directories receive hundreds of articles daily - but why do some articles perform better than others? In this article we examine some of the reasons.

Article writing, for a competent writer, is a fairly easy discipline. The task is to write an informative and interesting piece of work in the range of some 400-1200 words. Yet many articles that I, as an article directory editor, have seen are just not up to the mark. Why is that? Let's leave aside for the moment the ones that are grammatically poor or have been obviously assembled by cherry-picking several sources of information.

The function of an article written with the express intent of being reproduced throughout the internet on blogs, ezines and the like is to sell a product - indirectly. It should be written in such a fashion that the reader's interest is piqued and then held until the article's conclusion, resulting in a level of interest that stimulates the reader to click through to the author's site, link or whatever.

Poor articles do not achieve this goal for a variety of reasons and most of these can be summarised by the following points: ...

Steve Dempster writes fiction, copy and articles for the web. His directory site can be found here or for more writing info see his site I Want To Write!

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Five Optical Illusions To Make Your Writing Look Smarter, Sharper

2007-01-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

Editors Note: Daphne Gray-Grant has posted another must read article for web writers that offers 5 tips for making or articles look great. Article directories and webmasters love to see articles formatted in a clean, clear and easy to read way. These 5 tips will make your articles stand out from the ordinary.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

*The artwork of M.C. Escher shows crazy worlds in which staircases appear to go nowhere and people "sit" upside down or sideways.

*The plywood pillar at your local museum is painted a creamy, mottled white, with deep grey veins and other imperfections so it looks like real marble.

*When you put your dinner on a 12-inch plate instead of a 17-inch one, you eat less food and feel more satisfied by it.

What do these three facts have in common? They are all optical illusions. Illusions are important in writing, too. A piece that looks great will read better than one that is visually dull or confusing.

I'm old enough to have attended college when students commonly submitted essays written by hand. But even back in those dark, pre-computer ages, I learned pretty quickly that typewriting my work guaranteed a grade that was at least 10% higher! Anyone who doesn't pay attention to presentation is like the college student who insists on writing by hand -- or the chef who slaves over a luscious five-star meal and then slops it onto a blue plastic plate. But here's the good news. It's easy to improve your writing presentation. Let me give you five simple tricks you can adopt.

1) ...

The Three Biggest Mistakes That Webwriters Make

2007-01-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Writing for the web sometimes seems like a mysterious, almost mystical process. It's also the subject of much conflicting advice.

"Write short," say some experts. People who read the Internet only scan. "Nah," retort others. "Be absolutely sure you answer all of the customers' questions. Write as long as you need to make the sale."

Instead of getting stuck in the long-versus-short debate, I like to cut through the bafflegab by focusing on a web writing trick that's wonderfully simple, straightforward and non-controversial. It is: Think like your customer.

Why? The reason is simple. If you think like your customer, more people will read your website and if you're selling something, more of them will buy.

If you doubt the effectiveness of this advice, I urge you to imagine yourself walking into a retail shop. How would you feel if the clerk was dressed in a Chanel jacket, looked down her nose at you, frowned and turned in the opposite direction when you asked her a question?

Not a very welcoming thought, is it?

But funnily enough, many websites give the impression of being "guarded" by an equally fussy, snobbish clerk. How?

It's the writing...

Need to write better, faster? Sign up for Power Writing. Daphne Gray-Grant, a former journalist, and author of this article, is a writing and editing coach. Power Writing is her weekly newsletter and it's free. Sign up at http://www.publicationcoach.com

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The 3 Things You Must Remember When Writing Your Sales Letter

2007-01-03T20:13:00.000-05:00

By: Jo Han Mok

Writing sales copy is a learnable skill. You aren't writing the next great novel but a short novella that persuades your reader to your desired action. Sales letters are really salesmanship in print. Have you listened to a good salesman before? Not the typical used car type but the smooth salesman who has a quality conversation with you. You have walked out of the store with a new widget and you are convinced it is the smartest purchase you've made all year.

This type of salesmanship is learnable and easier since it's in print. In print you have the opportunity to change your mistakes before publication. However, you don't have the chance to modify your information based on the reader's objections.

The first step is to outline and plan your information so that the points flow seamlessly through the letter. In order to do that...

Jo Han Mok is a #1 bestselling author and frequent featured speaker at Internet Marketing bootcamps and conferences. Visit his website for a simple step-by-step plan to profit online in 21 days or less!
http://www.SuperFastProfit.com

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The Effect of Language Translation Scripts on Author Professionalism

2006-12-30T23:49:00.000-05:00

By: Angela Abbette

You may have seen some of the latest releases of translation software on the market these days. The ones that will translate your website into 8 to 10 different languages seamlessly. These translation programs, to some extent, do work and add some benefit. But how much benefit?

For many of us, English is our first language, and at least in America, it is the language for business. The internet is chalk full of websites authored in the English language. But business and communication is global. Recent statistics reveal that for the vast majority of internet users online throughout the world, English is not their first language. Roughly two thirds of the global internet user crowd, do not use English. What does this mean for the English language business or communication internet industries? Well, simply, that they are not "language friendly" to the majority of internet users world wide. The solution ...

Angela Abbette writes for http://www.hitkingdom.com and is a user of the language translation script found at http://www.upublish.info/translate.html

Article Source: Bytepowered Articles

Proofing - A Critical Function Not to be Overlooked

2006-12-20T04:10:00.000-05:00

No matter how hard I try to get it right I always find errors in my writing after it has been posted on the web. Pj Germain has come to the rescue by submitting this article with some great advice for finding mistakes and learning new habits before it's too late. Pete

By: Pj Germain

Business people universally agree that mechanical mistakes detract from the professionalism of communications. However, those with proofreading responsibilities commonly experience real frustrations in producing error-free work. They typically identify certain specific obstacles to accurate proofreading.

1. Overlooking mistakes when proofreading
2. Making time for proofreading in a pressured environment
3. Lacking self-confidence in a reliable system
4. Providing helpful, non-critical proofreading support to others
5. Lacking certainty about acceptable guidelines.

In the rush and pressure of sending communications, writers are often tempted to skip the final proofreading step. They send it to their printer, and approve it without really proofing it. After all, if the content is clear, who will mind a few mechanical mistakes?

In reality, readers do mind. Many readers report that their opinion of the writer's professionalism goes down a notch with every error they see. Mechanical mistakes send a message that writers are not investing much effort in the communication that, in effect, writers do not care.

In addition, overlooked proofreading errors can sometimes change the content often with some significant financial results.

1. One government agency wasted $3 million by not catching a hyphen error when proofreading a purchase order. In originally writing the order, the agency had meant to say, "1,000-foot-long radium bars." The order was typed, "1,000 foot-long radium bars."

Read More...

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Writing On The Web - Part 7

2006-12-18T11:02:00.000-05:00

Basic Punctuation

By: Bytepowered.org Staff, Ally

End Punctuation

Here we will start with the end. If it weren't for end punctuation a person would not know if the writer is making a statement, an exclamation or question. Punctuation provides clarity in meaning for its readers.

Period

A period of course ends nearly all sentences, except direct questions and exclamations. If the sentence contains an indirect question then end the sentence with a period, not a question mark.

Example: Ally asked her English composition teacher when Steven King wrote The Shining.

Abbreviations and Periods

A period follows most abbreviations and for some a twenty eight day cycle. Others can be used or not as in the examples below with initial abbreviations.

Standard abbreviations: Mrs., Inc., Dr.

Initials abbreviations: C.P.A, R.N., Ph.D. or CPA, RN OR PhD

Acronyms

Acronyms are abbreviations spoken as words like the examples below. Think we are all familiar with CRS.

Examples: ESP, IRS, USA, SNAFU or CRS

Periods are not used with postal service abbreviations!

I'm guilty of this one, are you?

Examples: PO Box, OH, FL, GA, NY, USA, RD, TSR, LN, AVE,

Comma

The comma is probably the most abused punctuation mark just because it has such a variety of uses. Natural pauses are the most common errors. Commas help to clarify the meaning of your sentences. Reading a sentence to yourself will help you decide where to place it correctly. Again don't over use it and make your writing look cluttered.

If there is more than one comma, start a second sentence at the second one. At that point your heading for a confusing run-on sentence for your reader anyway. Can you tell the subject of the example below? No, because there are more than one. If there is more than one subject in your sentence, then you should have more than one sentence for clarity and ease of reading.

Example: Went to the grocery store today, ran into an old chum while I was there, however, finding the tartar sauce, was foremost in my mind.

Example Fixed: Went to the grocery store today. Ran into an old chum while I was there. However, finding the tartar sauce was foremost in my mind.

Question Mark

Use a question mark at the end of a sentence when asking a direct question. Basically, a question mark in parenthesis, should be used when your information is lacking--such as a birthday, correct number of the year or a word as in spelling. Notice no space needed either between the number and parenthesis.

Example: Robin Williams was born in 1957(?) and went on to be a great actor as well as comedian.

Exclamation Mark

Exclamation marks are used to emphasis or show emotion. As with most punctuation, over usage of an exclamation point lessens its meaning and element of surprise. More than one exclamation point or grouping of them only clutters your work.

Examples: No way! Get out of here! Go home!

Reference: For the grammar unknown to me and research material, the credit goes to The Writer's Brief Handbook, second edition published by Alfred Rosa and Paul Eschholz. Copyright ^© 1996 by Allyn & Bacon.

Ally is an accomplished writer of poetry, essays and articles as well as expert editor at bytepowered.org. She has won two Editor's Choice Awards from The National Library of Poetry(1996-98). These awards were for works of poetry published by The National Library of Congress in a series of anthologies. Also she has some background in graphic communications technology. Contact AllyC: Bytepowered Articles
Copyright^© AllyC 2006

Writing On The Web - Part 6

2006-12-07T20:36:00.000-05:00

Making The Most Of A Career In Writing

By: Tony Jacowski

Writing is a skill that can be learned; it is a craft, and words can be used to craft pieces that express a lot. It is also a gift that involves a writer's ability to spin magic out of simple words. If you feel that you can make effective use of words in your writing and create something that will be more interesting and thoughtful than talking, then you can seriously think of a career in this field. A career in writing does not necessarily mean just playing with words; it means making an effort to mold them in order to express something that you cannot achieve when you speak. This is where the magic of writing lies.

Every writer has different reasons behind writing. Some do it just for fun and some take up writing as an income source to earn their living. No matter what the reason, the most important thing is that you should have the ability to create magic on paper by penning down words. Writing can give any individual a chance to profit. If you have the flair for writing and you want to take it up as your career then you have several opportunities in this field.

Career Options

Each career opportunity in writing may come with certain drawbacks and since it is not a get-rich-quick scheme, it will take some time for you to start earning real money. The career opportunities that lie in this field range from positions such as print journalist, editor, freelance writer, content writer, technical writer, copy editor and more.

You can make a career in print journalism by taking up the profession of a newspaper and magazine reporter. This profession will give you a chance to write on various topics from politics to fashion to human interest. The best part is that you will get the opportunity gather the information yourself, in order to create a story or an article out of it. People with good writing skills can also opt for content or technical writing. If you don't want to work under someone you can also opt for freelance writing, although there is uncertainty of your articles getting published, but you can surely give it a shot. People with good writing skills can write novels and short stories and get them published. Although publishing a book is again not very certain, once completed it can ensure a good profit. It requires a lot of commitment as far as time is concerned. You can also try your hand at corporate writing, which again is lucrative and tightly controlled.

Blogging

Creating a blog account is another option for people who are interested in writing. You can create an account on the free blogging sites on the Internet and promote it through article marketing and link development. You can also try online writing where you can place articles on the Internet.

Writing may not seem to be a very promising career to many, but it certainly provides a great deal of satisfaction to those who find it interesting and have a penchant for it. It is advisable to practice writing everyday and be open to reading articles written by others, as you will get to learn more and improve your writing skills. There is no quick fix magic formula that will turn you into a good writer. It is a life's work.

Article Source: http://bytepowered.org/articles

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Writing On The Web - Part 5

2006-12-02T18:38:00.000-05:00

Mind Games: How To Eliminate The 5 Negative Thoughts That Shut Down Your Writing

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Have you ever reached for a brownie when you were trying to lose weight? Or stayed in bed when you intended to go to the gym? Or put off paying bills because it was "too much of a hassle"?

There are lots of different ways in which we sabotage ourselves. This is true of life in general and also true of the writing life.

Writing depends not just on discipline but also on the complicated interplay between what we know and what we feel.

I've worked as an editor for just about 30 years (honest, I was really young when I started) and I've noticed there are five key negative feelings or thoughts that tend to shut down our writing -- in much the same way that a circuit breaker shuts down electricity. BOOM and the lights go out.

Often, simply being aware of these thoughts is enough to take away their power. At other times, it's important to challenge them head-on. So let's see which ones are disrupting your writing (and therefore taking a bite of your income) and figure out what you can do about them.

1) I'm a lousy writer; I don't have the talent to do this.

This is probably the most common negative thought of all. My theory is it's usually born in high school when writing teachers single out one or two people in the class for praise and use their red pens too liberally with the rest. (To this day, when I'm editing, I make a point of never using red to make suggestions or corrections!) And too much of a focus on grammar and spelling in childhood often mean trouble for the adult writer.

But here's the interesting truth: We're all born lousy marketing writers. The people who become "good" are the ones who are prepared to do the following simple things:

- Read good writing and work to emulate it;
- Write a lot -- because writing is like exercise: the more you do, the better you get;
- Spend double the time on self-editing that they spend on writing.

If you discover that you're constantly bad-mouthing yourself as you write, replace the inner negative chatter with the following statement: "Writing is about practice. The more I do, the better I'll get. When I finish this article (letter, report, etc.) I'll have more experience and I'll have improved."

2) I don't have the time to write.

This is one of my favorite negative thoughts because it's so common and sooo easy to blow out of the water. The writing world is littered with people who quit their day-jobs so they could work on their books. But here's the secret: The published novelists and non-fiction writers are almost always the people who continue with their regular work and write in their spare time.

Just as the cactus thrives in a hot, dry environment, writing thrives in the absence of time. Yes, you read that correctly. Writing not only can be done quickly; it is better done quickly. That's partly because, if you're fast enough, you can usually out-run and out-write the negative chatter in your head.

People often make the mistake of trying to set aside huge chunks of time for writing (especially for reports). Me? I love writing in 10-minute bursts. Not only does this allow me to get ideas out of my head and onto paper when they are fresh, but it also gives me a big payback down the road. That's because when I go back to the document I often discover my article is much further ahead than I'd realized. No blank page. It's a great feeling.

I do like having a decent chunk of time to self-edit -- a different task from writing -- but I'm talking maybe 30 to 60 minutes. Not all day.

When you're planning your writing time, think in small increments, not big chunks. Remember: If you write 300-350 words a day, you'll have written a decent-length book by the end of a year.

3) I'd better do a really good job on this (article, report, letter) because my reputation/sales results hinge on it.

Of course you want your writing to be good. And of course certain pieces of work you do can be important to your business or career. But to understand why this negative line will do you in, it might help to think about professional sports. Take tennis for example.

Do you think Martina Navratilova won a record nine Wimbledon singles championships and 58 Grand Slam titles by telling herself, "I really need to win this game; if I don't, I'm in trouble." Of course not! I don't know about Martina, but I do know many professional athletes work with psychologists precisely so they can learn to turn off this unhelpful chatter. After all, this sort of self-talk is more likely to cause them to choke than to win.

Similarly, when you're writing, you need to shut down the tiny yet persistent voice that tells you how much you have riding on this job. Instead, do what the athletes do. Focus on the ball -- in your case that means: focus on what you're writing.

And if that doesn't work, tell the voice that you don't have time to listen to it while you're writing, but you'll attend to it when you're editing the piece (when it can't do so much damage.)

4) I need to write about this topic.

Truth is, unless you're a journalist or someone else who writes professionally, there are precious few topics that anyone is going to force you to cover. Sure you might need to write a pitch for a bank loan or sales letter to promote your product, but if you're writing an article for your e-zine or website, don't be bound by duty. Instead, focus on topics you feel passionate about.

Readers can smell disinterest the way lions can smell a steak. I've seen too many consultants who start an article by saying to themselves: "This is a hot topic in my industry right now." Or, "I want the search engines to pick me up on this one." Or, "People expect me to be an expert on this." Yawn.

Instead, choose a topic that excites you and has you fairly bursting to write. Then think hard about how to make it relate to your business, your keywords or your target market. Your enthusiasm will not only captivate your readers, it will also inspire you to write quickly and fluently.

5) Writing is too hard.

Let's get something straight. Lifting bricks is hard; waiting tables is hard; telling someone they have cancer is hard. Writing is not hard. Writing is just writing.

There is a romantic notion -- perpetuated by Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Chandler and others -- that writers must be tortured. In fact, writing is just a job. Sure, sometimes it's more difficult than other times -- just like it's hard to return voice mail messages when you're headachy and grumpy or hard to go for a run when you're bone-tired.

But overall, writing is actually pretty cushy. You get to sit in a warm dry place. You can have a steaming cup of tea or coffee beside you. You don't have to do any heavy lifting (with Spell check, you don't even have to lift the dictionary!) And best of all, you get the privilege of sharing your thoughts -- the ones inside your head -- with other people.

So, dismiss the notion that writing is an onerous act. Writing is something we all can do. Sure, some of us are better at it that others than others. But that's mostly because of practice. And if you write more, you too will improve.

Get at it.

Article Source: http://bytepowered.org/articles

A former journalist, Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach who helps people writer better, faster. Visit her website at www.publicationcoach.com where you can sign up for her free weekly newsletter on power writing.

Next: Writing On The Web Part 6; Making The Most Of A Career In Writing

Writing On The Web - Part 4

2006-12-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

Writing Articles - 3 Common Mistakes to Avoid

By: Nick Summers

Calling all writers and non-writers - now is the time to start enhancing or preparing those creative writing skills!

Alongside the development of modern communication technology, the popularity of information-based marketing has grown; it is now one of the best established and most effective techniques in getting targeted prospects to sites and converting them into buyers. This is why article writing, submission and publication is also increasingly popular.

There are already many tools that people can use to make the process of distributing their articles easier. Although wide distribution of articles is invaluable in getting their contents more exposure, that is only half the story.

First, let us take a quick look at the common mistakes that some people make before submitting their contents to article directories:

1. Confusing the reason to promote the articles with the reason to write them.

When you write articles, there are three key benefits from distributing them: branding, lead generation and promotion. These are all part of your search engine optimization and traffic generation efforts.

However, there should be only one real reason why you write any article - informing your audience. If your article is not focused on this crucial and most significant purpose, it will fail to achieve any of the three promotion benefits because no one will be interested in reading it!

To make your articles work for you, people must want to read them and then want to find out more - so they will then click on your resource box. You can only achieve this by producing well written articles with high quality information and other content.

2. Failing to maximize the promotional opportunities of article marketing.

You may know already that your articles can help you generate additional links back to your site. But do you know that you can get more visitors and better search engine results from those same articles?

To optimize traffic generation and search engine results, you will need to mention keywords at strategic places. However, you must be sure not to overdo them or your search engine ranking can actually decrease. You can also use keywords effectively in anchor texts but do bear in mind that many directories are not able to support this.

Remember that is not only about the links back to your site from your resource box once the articles are distributed. Part of doing well in your article marketing is being recognized by major publishers who will have a large audience. You can then gain the ability to leverage and joint venture with other brands because of the quality of your work. Relevant links and promotion from related sites will lead to better search engine results.

Having said all that, these things might not put much money in your pocket. There are other factors that can turn your article marketing efforts into an opportunity that can boost your earnings rather than just increasing the number of visitors to your site.

The main principle to ensure your success is to plan you article to make sure that it will fulfil the function that you intended it to have.

3. Publishing content that does not help your readers.

Maybe in the process of writing articles, you fall into the trap of thinking that all that you want is to have links back to your site, and that any visitors it can generate are fine. But guess what? Not all article banks and directories are going to accept your content automatically. They regularly have guidelines and specifications on the type of articles that they accept.

You can double the number of sites you can submit to when you are writing articles that the directories will want to share with other people. All it takes is one publisher with a hundred thousand regular readers and your potential audience will increase overnight.

You should be aware and make use of the fact that general articles submitted on directories may not receive the same level and type of exposure as targeted, specialized content articles geared to a narrow group of people. Learn the difference between these two and it will surely help you know what kinds of articles to write and to submit.

Basically, you need to write articles that publishers want in their publications if you want your article marketing to work in the most effective way. This also means you have to obey the standard guidelines: spell checks, correct grammar, well researched content and an interesting and relevant topic. It may even mean that you have to hire a writer to produce good content on your behalf.

In the end, it is all really a matter of choice on your part. You can start getting a little exposure from increased links back but on a very basic level, or enjoy massive exposure from the relatively small amount of extra time it takes to research and produce quality content.

Article Source: http://bytepowered.org/articles

Nick Summers runs Content Cow Article Directory, a directory dedicated to offering the best of the web's articles formatted the way you want them. Visit www.contentcow.biz today for all your content requirements.

Writing On The Web - Part 3

2006-11-24T18:23:00.000-05:00

Bytepowered Article Writing Tips

Where to start or First rough draft

Start anywhere--it doesn't matter. Putting words on paper is like planting a seed in your subconscious. Your mind will go to work on it while you're busy doing your daily tasks. No need to consciously dwell on it. When you go back to your writing, suddenly out of nowhere, ideas will come. That's the power of the subconscious, use it to your advantage.

You might try writing with the monitor off or using pen and paper to start. This way you are not inhibited by your error correcting and can get the thoughts down quickly without interruption. Also this frees the mind for roaming creativity. This is a first rough draft so grammar does not matter--just type. Having said that... Always use a text editor to spell check your writing when you are finished. If you would like some inspiration take a look at Article Writing Questions For You, by James Lowe.

Can a newbie, novice or high school dropout be a writer?

Yes! No college English degree needed. It's not always what you know, but whether you can tell others what you know! Everyone has a head full of knowledge about some topic. That doesn't help anyone but yourself if you're unable to relate it to others.

Common Writing Mistakes or Things that make your readers go away

Avoid using 'I' frequently

Forms of 'I' such as 'me' or 'myself', should be used infrequently. Over use will make you appear self-absorbed and self-centered. Readers are not too likely to finish reading this article as it is obviously all about you.

Example: I went to the college of my choice and I made good grades. I then graduated with honors.

Fixed example: Went to the college of my choice and graduated with honors.

Avoid run-on sentences

Run-on sentences are a common error. Take the time to make shorter more understandable sentences. The longer it is the more confusion ensues for the reader. Break it up! In the example below for each comma a period and new sentence should start as well as some conjunctions deleted. As a general rule if it has more than one comma in it, start a new sentence where the second comma is. Can you tell the examples subject below? No, because there are many.

Example: Went on a trip to my sister and brothers house so we could work on my computer and I took the pups with me so they could play with the other critters there.

Fixed example:Went on a trip to my siblings home. Needed my brother to work with me on this computer. Took my pups with me so they could play with their critters.

Delete unnecessary words, phrases and commas!

This is one piece of advice I will always remember because of the startling effect on the readability of my writing. The most common mistake made by new authors are unnecessary words and phrases, the killers of readability. Consider the example sentence below and lets try to make it more readable.

“I have written this article because of a huge and growing interest that there is in MySpace, the sort of explosion of interest that has not been seen for quite some while.”

First - Remove unnecessary words. The reason for your writing should be obvious after reading the first paragraph even if the title does make it clear! This example is not a good way to start an article.

"I have written this article because of the huge and growing interest in MySpace,..."

Next - Consider removing and reordering words to make the sentence more readable.

"...the sort of interest explosion that has not been seen for quite some while."

Finally - the sentence revised: Wouldn't the sentence sound better this way?

"I have written this article because of the huge growing interest in MySpace. This sort of explosion in interest has not been seen for quite some while."

BIG Words

Don't use big complicated or techie words unless necessary. Don't try to use big words to impress your readers. If you are not sure of the exact definition of a word--look it up in a thesaurus for a better word. If you don't fully understand a word there is a good chance your readers won't either.

If you don't understand the rules of punctuation and grammar, get an English book or search the Internet for grammar tips or tutorials. Most importantly, let other people check your writing. Choose people not as knowledgeable in the subject as you to see if it's easily read and understood. The process of allowing other people to check the grammar and readability of your article is used by even the most accomplished writers. It is extremely easy to over look simple grammar or spelling mistakes.

More Bytepowered Article Tips coming soon.

Next: Writing On The Web Part 4

Writing On The Web - Part 2

2006-11-20T13:21:00.000-05:00

The Five C's of Quality Writing

By: Scott White

"Good content has five elements: it's clear, concise, compelling, consistent, and correct. Learn how to achieve each of these with your writing."

There are two components of any copy, whether it's an article, a Web site, or a book: content and appearance.

Content means the words that actually appear on the page - your message. It can be serious, humorous, elegant, bold, technical, or conversational in tone. But the message is the words themselves. What you're saying and how you're saying it. Content includes grammar, spelling, jargon, acronyms, and the like.
Appearance relates to the way the words (content) look on the page.

These are things that affect the way the words look on the printed page (or monitor, for Web copy) - all of which goes in to making your copy easy to read.

Are your paragraphs all piled up, one on top of the other, with no graphics, subheadings, or other means of breaking them up? Are they manageable in size and easy to digest? A paragraph is supposed to contain one chunk of related information. Sometimes they can get fairly lengthy and still be in correct literary form . . . but keep your reader in mind. If there's a way to break up one big, gigantic, one-and-a-half-page paragraph, DO IT!

THE 5 C'S OF CONTENT
Make your content CLEAR. Avoid the overuse of jargon and acronyms in your copy. Unless you are writing for a specialty Web site where only people intimately familiar with your industry and/or business will visit it, make sure your language is understandable to the broadest possible audience. Get someone objective (i.e., not in your industry) to read it for you. If they don't get it, chances are some of your other readers won't get it either.

Make it CONCISE - even for books and long-copy sales letters. Most people have a tendency to overwrite. Be precise with your language. Avoid run-on sentences. Avoid long, meandering phrases when one or two words will do.

Rule of thumb: Polish your written piece until it gleams. Get it to where you think it's perfect. Then go back and cut it by 25 percent.

"Not possible!" you say.

Oh, but it is. Get rid of phrases like "of the" and all the extra instances of "that". Delete redundancies like "simple, effortless, and easy-to-use." Sometimes more is better. Other times, more is just more - and might actually work against ease of reading and understanding - which means it works against you.

Make your content COMPELLING. Use motivating language. In sales copy, for example, detail your features and benefits. Give people a reason to want to buy from you or use your service. An isolated product list probably is not going to compel anyone all by itself. However, whatever you do, do not ever lie or misrepresent yourself! This will only come back to harm you in the long (or not-so-long) run.

If you claim to have contacts who are producers at Warner Bros., you'd better be sure the person you know at Warner Bros. is not the sister of the assistant to the catering manager. Or if you offer 2-day delivery at no extra charge, you'd better be ready to fulfill that promise, even if you receive 1,000 orders in a day!

Also, tell stories. Don't forget you're the expert. If you're writing a book about job hunting for baby boomers, and you've helped a lot of baby boomers get jobs, use those stories in your writing to illustrate your points. Stories are compelling because they help your readers relate to your material. They can be entertaining, offer lessons, or dramatize particular elements - but use stories in all of your writing to create and maintain interest.

Make sure your content is CONSISTENT. This is another place where you can tell a sloppy writer from one who takes time to double- and triple-check their work before they submit and/or publish it.

There is not necessarily a correct answer to these ones. Simply determine what your personal and/or company standard is, and stick with it. One of the worst offenses of inconsistency appears when there are several different spellings or phone number styles within a single document. Mistakes like these make your work - and by extension, you and your company - appear sloppy.

Is it on line, online, or on-line?

Is your style ABC Deli or A.B.C. Deli?

formatting phone numbers: Do you use 602.253.8463 or 602/253.8463 or (602) 253-8463?

Make your content CORRECT. Proper grammar and spelling are essential!!! There's no way to state this strongly enough, particularly with respect to Web copy. There is so much competition for business on the Web - if you have sloppy copy that is badly spelled and riddled with grammatical mistakes, the next site is just one click away - and you won't get a second chance to bring those lost visitors back.

Although everyone makes a mistake now and again, please do not underestimate the importance of correct grammar. If you don't know whether it's correct or not, ASK someone who knows, LOOK IT UP in a book or online resource, or PAY a professional editor/proofreader.

The most glaring grammatical errors:

Stupid spelling mistakes. Write your copy in Word and SPELLCHECK before you dump it into html (or Publisher, PowerPoint, or whatever other format you might use for delivery).

Missing and incorrectly used apostrophes. Again, there's no excuse for this mistake - and it is one that will set you apart from the others in your industry. Apostrophes are NEVER used to create plurals - but you see this all the time. A ridiculous sign of sloppy writing and a complete lack of editing.

Extreme Example of Common Errors:
In this writers opinion, dumb grammer mistake's cost people more business than they realize.

TIP: If you use ALL CAPS, change your text to lower case or initial caps to run SpellCheck. SpellCheck will not catch errors in text in ALL CAPS unless you set it to do so.

TIP: Use ALL CAPS sparingly. Text written in ALL CAPS is exceptionally difficult to read. The fact is that the shape of a word, as much as its spelling, facilitates quick reading. Words written exclusively in capital letters lose the shape differentiation caused by the ascenders (b, d, f, h, k, l, t) and descenders (g, j, p, q, y). As a result, words written in ALL CAPS take a great deal more effort to read.

(Editor's Note: Using all caps in any document is a very bad idea. I blame American institutions of higher learning for this bad habbit. Times New Roman font in ALL CAPS, is not easier to read!)

Remember, it is virtually impossible to edit your own work. You're too close to the material and have seen it too many times to even notice errors any longer. If you find yourself in a position where you must edit your own writing, take a significant break from it - two hours, at minimum, but two days is suggested. This will allow you to return to your work with "new eyes," able to spot errors you would likely have missed had you not taken the break.

Article Source: http://bytepowered.org/articles

Scott White designed a top SEO Program to Gain More web site Traffic Learn how to rank your website at the top with: SEO DVD, SEO Book, And SEO CDs on SEO Tutorial Program. His company provides awesome Freelance Editing.

Next: Writing On The Web - Part 3, Bytepowered Writing Tips

Writing On The Web - Part 1

2006-11-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

This is the first post in a series of posts to this blog I will call "Writing On The Web." The series will include article writing tips from Bytepowered Articles and guest writers chosen by yours truly. If you have submitted articles to any of Bytepowered Articles writing categories, your article might show up here.

The intent of this series of posts, "Writing On The Web," is to emphasize the importance of good writing skills to all authors or authors to be.

Writing on the Web is booming because publishers understand that fresh and creative content is vital for Search Engine ranking. Webmasters, Ezine Authors and Bloggers are cranking out articles, blog posts and E-books by the thousands. The lure of page ranking and viral marketing has brought an onslaught of new authors and with new authors comes a boom in poor writing.

As the owner and webmaster of the free articles directory Bytepowered Articles, I see more writing mistakes than most Web surfers. Honestly, the writing skill of some supposed experts that submit articles to Bytepowered Articles is appalling.

When I am reviewing articles for acceptance into my directory, I have the following options .

Accept the article as it is. (Posted to the directory immediately.)
Edit the article. (Automatically accepted after edit.)
Reject the article. (Puts the article on hold for the author to edit.)
Delete (We all know what that means.)

How I use these options.
Bytepowered Articles is a niche articles directory which simply means that articles are accepted to a limited number of categories. All articles are read, edited and accepted manually to maintain excellence in quality. In this case, articles that are relevant to Computers, the Internet and Communications. You can view accepted categories at the bottom of the Bytepowered Articles index page.

Accept:
Well written and relevant articles are always posted immediately.

Edit:
If an article has very minor errors such as a common misspelling or is obviously missing a line break, I will manually make the correction and the article will be posted.

Reject:
If an article is well written but has poor spelling, too many personal hyperlinks in the body or is not well formatted, I may choose to Reject the article. Rejecting the article puts the article on hold and sends an email to the author describing the reason for rejection and gives the author the opportunity to correct the mistakes. After the author makes corrections the article is automatically resubmitted for review.

Delete:
What would you guess is the most common reason for deleting and article?
Spelling?
Too many hyperlinks?
Bad formatting?
Poor grammar?

My number one reason would fall under poor grammar. Articles are most often deleted because of bad sentence structure. The kind of sentence structure that leaves you wondering how the author could possibly fill out a job application or resume.

After reading the first paragraph of an article if I still have no idea what the article is about--I just delete it. The sad truth is that happens more often than you might think. At least two of every fifty articles reviewed read like the author just took some bad LSD. It begins with gibberish and ends with babbling. Words are in the wrong order or the author uses words that change intended meaning. This indicates that the author does not fully understand the meaning of the words being used. Sometimes using two or three redundant adverbs or prepositions where none is needed just causes further confusion.

I will stop ranting now and describe this in more detail later in this series of posts.

Next, "The Five C's of Quality Writing," By: Scott White

The Secret of Writing a Book Instantly

2006-11-17T22:15:00.000-05:00

By: Steve Manning

This article will take you through every step of learning how to write a book. From start, to plot, to editing, to finished manuscript, to getting it ready for the agent.

Volumes have been written to show you how to write a book, so you know I won't be covering every step of writing a book in detail. For more information, look at the other articles in this series and for all the instruction you'll ever need make sure you sign up for the email lessons at the bottom of this page.

Do Optimized Press Releases Really Work?

2006-11-16T11:15:00.000-05:00

By: Jeff Burdic

Optimized press releases combine the best of both new age and traditional modes of advertising. As the world becomes one singular global village, internet marketing is slowly making headway in being the medium of choice for companies to effectively publicize their brands and services.

What constituted as Public Relations between the company and the media has now become a more sophisticated tool to reach out to a larger audience worldwide. Publicity is no longer restricted to a geographical zone but transverses across countries in one single click of a mouse. The magic of internet is instant reach. And internet promotions have made brand awareness and PR easily achieved. You can give a better exposure and promotion to your online business by an optimized press release.

How To Get 100% Hot Targeted Traffic Directly To Your Website!

2006-11-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

By: Martyn Brown

How many of us have had a well-built web site with everything working correctly, including links, search engine optimisation and Pay Per Click ads, only to find that you don't sell much, if anything at all?

If you have your own website with good quality, original, content on a niche subject that you enjoy writing about, there is one sure-fire way to get hot, wallet in hand, customers to rush to your home page.

Writing Articles That Get Read, Remembered And Recommended

2006-11-15T04:54:00.000-05:00

"By: Mark Silver

You already know that writing articles will help your business. You know they establish you as an expert, as someone with authority. And they also create a depth of connection and trust with your customers.

But, maybe you still have a question.

How do you write a great article for your business?
(Meaning an article that someone actually reads, remembers, and recommends.)

Well, now, that's a mighty big subject. Obviously, there are many ways to do it, so I'll just give you one simple way, so you have something to jump in with. It involves three things: a Keyhole, a Drama, and a Stepladder."

What To Look For In The Perfect Ghost Writer

2006-11-10T19:04:00.000-05:00

"By: Sandra Clair

As an online entrepreneur, good writing skills are important to your website business. Informed webmasters know that running an online business involves a variety of written communication including, blogs, press releases, articles, newsletters and other written information.

Since proficient writing skills are crucial to the success of your business, you want to make sure that your content is grammatically correct, unique and interesting. If you lack the time or the skills to write your own website content you need to hire a ghost writer to write for you. "

The Difference Between Rich Authors and Poor Authors

2006-11-10T12:05:00.000-05:00

"By: Steve Manning

There's a real difference between what rich authors do and what poor authors do, and the difference has nothing to do with their writing ability.

How many times have you read a poorly written book and then wondered why it was a best seller, only to then read a really well written book that languished in anonymity. No one had ever heard of it and it had sold only a handful of copies.

It's not the writing, it's not the cover art, it's not the author's sincerity or the accuracy of the information. It really has little to do with the publisher, the distributor or the bookstore.

But it has everything to do with the author."

Article Writing Questions for You

2006-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

"By: james lowe

Pretend for a brief moment that you are an article. Not a physical but a storied one. You can be a force more powerful than anything in the world if you share it.

Why would anyone care about you and your story of being an article? Maybe you know good ways to get along with others and have a lot of knowledge about it. You could tell others about it and share with them what you know in your oral article.

Another way to share your article is to write it down. This way it does not go away the minute you are done saying it. You have to be careful here though. A written article could last forever and it will have your name and reputation on it.

What if someone reads your written article, 50 years from now, and learns how to get along better with others? What if he or she becomes a country leader and a planet wide influence, for the better? Your article can be more influential and a building influence now.

What if one man stops beating the hell out of his wife because his father, before him, did the same thing because he read your article and learned to let his shoulders come down, relax and behave? How would that make you feel?

What if a dictator stopped concentrating on wiping out freedom or religions other than his own and learned to build and hel"

Innovation with Microsoft Access

2006-11-05T05:23:00.000-05:00

"By: Christine Harrell

Microsoft Access is perhaps the most underutilized powerhouse application in any office today. Because most people haven't had Access training, they generally attempt to organize their data using Word or Excel; applications with only a fraction of the functionality. Without Access training, most managers and employees don't even realize that they are missing out on serious functionality that could make their tasks exponentially easier, faster, and more accurate.

Who Uses Microsoft Access:
Access is a relational database program that allows the user to connect lots of pieces of information without a complicated mess. Just about every manager, inventory specialist, or customer relations specialist has a need to quickly access different types of data relating to one employee, product, or customer respectively."

6 Honest Reasons to Write a Book

2006-11-05T05:19:00.000-05:00

"By: Yvonne Garcia

The way I see it, learning how to write a book is not about you struggling with much of anything at all. If you can talk, you can write. So writing a book is not as difficult as you might think. And actually many experts say that you should write like you speak. Your writing will be more real, instead of more like a thesis or scholarly-like essay. Which do you prefer to read? A personal communication or a thesis? Once you get inspired you might not be able to stop! These reasons for writing a book might just inspire you. I hope they do."

How to Create Better Excel Spreadsheets: Part Two

2006-11-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

"By: Christine Harrell

One of the most exciting things you'll learn in Excel courses is how to go beyond the toolbar and begin creating powerful formulas inside the worksheet cells themselves. During your Excel course, you find that Excel formulas can handle a lot more than simple equations. In fact, there is most likely an excel formula that will solve just about any problem you're having with your spreadsheets. Though classroom Excel courses will go into much greater detail and cover a lot more ground, this article will touch on some ways to handle common problems with Excel formulas."

How to Create Better Excel Spreadsheets: Part One

2006-11-02T21:52:00.000-05:00

"By: Christine Harrell

If you've tried to create and print spreadsheets in Excel, you've likely been frustrated by disappearing row or column headers or by parts of your spreadsheet getting cut off upon printing. But don't give up on Excel too quickly. Excel is one of the most powerful programs available for managing and displaying large amounts of complicated data. After taking even some of the very basic Excel courses, you'll learn how to tame Excel and have it performing in ways you may have never thought imaginable. In this article, you'll learn about a few tricks taught in Excel courses that can help you to create better spreadsheets."

Learn the truth about your web design company by its portfolio

2006-11-02T21:49:00.000-05:00

"By: Julia Ramyalg

When you start building your online business and search for a web design company that will implement all your needs for the web site you must understand that it is very serious step because you are entrusting your business along with its reputation and future.
That's why it's very important to make the right choice.

There are several factors that must define your choice, and one of them is portfolio of previous web design works the company has done. It can tell you more than all words and promises, just be attentive and try to analyze. I will tell you what you must pay attention to."

5 Microsoft Excel Charts for Creating Stunning Business Documents

2006-11-02T21:43:00.000-05:00

By: Christine Harrell

Whether the goal of your business document is to attract investors, satisfy stockholders, or gain new customers, it's critical that they convey the precise message intended and look absolutely professional. Just about every business Excel user knows how to create basic line graphs and bar charts, but there are a wide variety of other graphing and charting tools better suited for many types of statistical data. This article will touch on 5 Excel charts covered in Excel training that can take your business documents to a new level of professionalism.

OpenOffice.org training, Tips, and Ideas

2006-11-01T14:54:00.001-05:00

OpenOffice training, tutorials, and discussions.
It's the free Microsoft Office comapatible office suite.

Solveig Haugland maintains the OpenOffice.org training, Tips, and Ideas blog. Solveig's daily posts include tips and ideas on how to use the OpenOffice.org suite.

The site also includes OpenOffice training resources, tutorials and detailed OpenOffice workbooks written by Solvieg.

If you use OpenOffice Suite or are interested in OpenOffice training, you must see the this wonderful website of resources.

OpenOffice.org training, Tips, and Ideas

2006-11-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

OpenOffice training, tutorials, and discussions.
It's the free Microsoft Office comapatible office suite.

Solveig Haugland maintains the OpenOffice.org training, Tips, and Ideas blog.
Solveig's daily posts include tips and ideas on how to use the OpenOffice.org suite.

The site also includes OpenOffice training resources, tutorials and detailed OpenOffice workbooks written by Solvieg.

If you use OpenOffice Suite or are interested in OpenOffice training, you must see the this wonderful website of resources.

Macromedia Dreamweaver Vs Microsoft FrontPage

2006-10-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

By: Rich Talbot

If you are new to web design and don't know where to start, it is probably best that you devote some time initially in selecting the most appropriate web editor. The two most popular WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors are Microsoft's FrontPage and Macromedia's Dreamweaver.

This leads to the often heated and delicate debate, 'Which is the best editor?' Fortunately this article informs you of the pros and cons of both and the level of experience that is required. At this stage, I would like to make it clear that I am not an advocate for Microsoft or Macromedia and have substantial experience of using both web editors."

How Implementing a Project Management System Can Double Your Small Business Profits

2006-10-30T13:29:00.000-05:00

By: Christine Harrell

Any small business can double, or even triple its profits if they truly desire to. Plenty of businesses do it each year and the key element is accountability. When people set lofty goals and are then held accountable for achieving the results, businesses tend to grow by leaps and bounds. The process of setting specific goals to be accomplished within a set time period of time is called a project system, and many of the most innovative and successful businesses operate this way today."

How Many Times Do I Have To Pay The Internet Marketing Dumb Tax?? Part 1

2006-10-29T23:11:00.000-05:00

By: Brooke Hayles

Recently, I went to an evening seminar presented by a Google Adwords certified web developer who runs a business not 5 minutess from my home. He was talking about how often newbies to Google Adwords, target the most competitive keywords, end up copping very high Costs-per-click (CPC) and finding themselves in the position where they have 'paid the Google Dumb Tax', as this guy rather humorously put it, I thought :-) "

Tutorial, Install Windows XP Built-in Fax Service

2006-10-29T23:09:00.000-05:00

By: petec

Hey, wouldn't it be great to send and receive faxes from your Windows XP computer without having to buy expensive software? If you have a fax modem installed or you can have one installed, you can do just that. But you'll need to take a few steps because the fax service is not installed by default.

This is a great idea if you have a home office since the business world seems unable or unwilling to let go of Faxing and move on to E-mail. At least, Faxing with the computer allows you to send the Fax to a printer and eliminates one more ancient office machine.

Here is a tip for you business owners and office managers: I know from personal experience that Faxes can be pulled from the Fax machine unreadable. You can reduce cost by pitching the Fax machine and making a company wide policy change to E-mail only. You will never have to call a customer and ask them to waste their time by resending a fax again.
"

Online Survey Scams

2006-10-25T00:03:00.000-04:00

By: Larry Bregman

Getting paid to take online surveys is a legitimate work at home Internet business opportunity. Many sites, however, that say that they offer you a home Internet survey business opportunity are really offering you only the opportunity to pay upfront money for a listing of those who will pay you to take surveys. Most of these firms you could have found for yourself, and some aren't even current. One consumer advocacy group reviewed hundreds of sites and firms offering survey taking as a work at home Internet business opportunity. Of the hundreds they reviewed they were able to recommend only five. "

Software vs. Hardware Business Models

2006-10-24T23:52:00.000-04:00

By: Phil Morettini

Much of my consulting practice centers on working with early stage software companies. But I have substantial hardware market experience in my background, and I do take on consulting assignments with hardware companies.

So what are the differences and similarities between successful software and hardware businesses?"

Changing to a Computer Career for Retired Baby Boomers

2006-10-24T23:13:00.000-04:00

By: Richard Stooker

Us baby boomers're going to shake up the world in retirement, and so we better get ready. The first baby boomers become eligible for (early) Social Security retirement benefits in 2007.

Those of you who really want to change to a computer career, now's your chance.

In the years to come, large numbers of boomers are going to leave the workforce. Many of them, I believe, will simply change from full time jobs they hate to full or part time careers they enjoy."

Is Advertising the Future of Software Revenue? Part I

2006-10-24T23:02:00.000-04:00

By: Phil Morettini

There is a strong movement toward Internet-based software applications. Of this, there is little doubt. I have written on the SaaS trend in the past, and believe it is real. But sometimes market trends such as the move toward SaaS are overstated, both in terms of the speed of change, and also how much change the trend will ultimately affect a market. We have a word for this overstatement of a trend: 'hype'. So, is traditional software revenue model of licensing dead? Will all software eventually be 'given away' to the end user, and supported solely by advertising revenue?"

Extending The Range Of Wireless Networks

2006-10-24T22:59:00.000-04:00

Extending The Range Of Wireless Networks:
"By: Ken Snow

Although a wireless transmitter is limited in its range, wireless extension points can be installed to boost its signal and make the range of the network much larger. These wireless extension points are commonly known as repeaters."

4 Simple Steps To Blogging For Business

2006-10-24T02:09:00.000-04:00

By: Bre Hopkinss

Blogging is a practice that has been around for at least 5 years. It began with average, but opinionated people with something to say, who wanted to share their opinions with anyone who would read them. While it has been popular with the general public, it hasn't caught on with many businesses until recently. Blogging can be a powerful tool for marketing and exposure for any business if done properly. This article will cover the first steps businesses will need to take to set themselves up for successful blogging."

What Does It Mean To Be Politically Independent?

2006-10-24T02:04:00.000-04:00

What Does It Mean To Be Politically Independent?: "What Does It Mean To Be Politically Independent?
By: Bill Wallmuller

I have concluded of late that I could only consider myself a political independent if there is such a thing. I do not think I should be labeled Republican or Democrat, on the Left or on the Right or any other affiliation except to be a proud citizen of this United States and live by the principles on which this great nation was founded.

As far as I am concerned, our government, as it stands today, is in great need of an overhaul and a wake up call. I firmly believe that if our founding fathers could see the way our government and institutions run today, they would be greatly disturbed and dismayed on how far We The People have strayed from the principles that our republic was built on."

What is Latent Semantic Indexing, and How Can It Bring You More Web Traffic

2006-10-24T01:46:00.000-04:00

What is Latent Semantic Indexing, and How Can It Bring You More Web Traffic: "What is Latent Semantic Indexing, and How Can It Bring You More Web Traffic
By: Ron Jones

Latent Semantic Indexing (or LSI) has become the most recent buzzword among web master communities. There is already a mystique about the term, yet so few seem to understand it's ramifications and the real benefit to any web site owner."

What You Need to Know about Anti-Spam Software for Outlook

2006-10-22T15:29:00.000-04:00

What You Need to Know about Anti-Spam Software for Outlook: "What You Need to Know about Anti-Spam Software for Outlook
By: Dave Poon

Most people would define spam as unsolicited e-mail. They are e-mail messages which are mostly marketing schemes which crowd your Inbox. If you do not have an anti-spam software, you would have to sort through hundreds of junk mail before you can even get to read the e-mail messages which came from contacts whom you actually know.

This is not just time consuming but annoying as well. Some people even find it offensive when companies get a hold of their e-mail addresses and send them marketing correspondence through e-mail.

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most common e-mail programs used by Windows users. There are a lot of anti-spam software which can work seamlessly with Outlook, and this is one way of filtering junk mail from going through your mailbox.

Take a look at some of the top-rated anti-spam software which would work well with your Outlook e-mail program: "

Knowing More About Cord Blood Banking

2006-10-22T15:25:00.000-04:00

Knowing More About Cord Blood Banking: "Knowing More About Cord Blood Banking
By: John Morris

When a mother is still pregnant with her child, the umbilical cord is actually considered as the lifeline between the mother and the baby. Once the umbilical cord has been discarded after the baby's birth, then you will lose the chance of being able to obtain precious cells that the cord contains which are an exact match with your baby and that you can have preserved. By preserving your baby's stem cells through cord blood banking, your baby will be ensured to have a guaranteed source for perfectly matched cells that can help your child during unfortunate events (like a life threatening illness). These cells would actually come in handy when it comes to combating this disease. All you have to do is just have it set up during the time of your delivery."

ISPs, Hijackers and Hostages

2006-10-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

ISPs, Hijackers and Hostages: "ISPs, Hijackers and Hostages
By: petec

As a computer technician I encounter many misconceptions about computers. Internet provider software is one that is often misunderstood. Internet service providers often give customers the false impression that their software is necessary to connect to the internet. If you are one of these folks, you may be asking yourself what other impressions your cheap Internet service provider is giving you."

Digital Photography: In Focus

2006-10-22T15:21:00.000-04:00

Digital Photography: In Focus: "Digital Photography: In Focus
By: John Darby

Imagine taking pictures and printing those moments later. Unleash the power of digital photography and this is what happens. All that are required for taking a digital photograph is a digital camera, a PC, a USB connection to the computer, a printer and a photo-editing program. The first step in taking a digital photograph is to familiarize yourself with the digital camera. Now, do not get frightened! Here is how you can deal with it."

PDF or EXE: The Ebook Format Debate

2006-10-22T15:19:00.000-04:00

PDF or EXE: The Ebook Format Debate: "PDF or EXE: The Ebook Format Debate
By: James Pearson

Writing your own ebook is an excellent way to promote any on line business. Not only does it set you apart from you competition by making you an 'expert' in the field, but it is an excellent way to attract new customers, generate affiliate income, and grow your mailing list.

However, one of the biggest decisions you will make is what format to use for your ebook. There are two common types of ebooks, a compiled ebook that runs like a computer program, or a PDF that opens using products like Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Each of the two format has pros and cons. Which one is right for you will depend what you need to achieve with your book. Let's look at each format and the benefits and drawbacks it presents."

Blogging as a Business Tool: Reading and Writing Effectively

2006-10-22T13:01:00.000-04:00

Blogging as a Business Tool: Reading and Writing Effectively:
"By: Laura Watkins

Whether you provide corporate information or intend to supply it, one avenue you may not have considered is blogging. 'Blogging,' or writing a blog or weblog is an online journal of sorts, whereby the blogger self-publishes information that he or she deems relevant. Regardless of whether or not you are all that familiar with the blogosphere (a term created to reference the culture of all things blog), you should begin to ask yourself, 'How does blogging impact me and my business?'

Creative Zen Vision - Shall We Take A Look At An Award Winner?

2006-10-22T12:51:00.000-04:00

Creative Zen Vision - Shall We Take A Look At An Award Winner?:
By: Mike Singh

The Creative Zen Vision is Creative Labs' newest addition to their successful line of portable media players. A 30GB video player it plays songs, displays photos, along with video collections. Creative Labs is the well-known C.E.S. award-wining family who, in May of 2006, won the 'Red Dot Design Award' for Zen Vision's superior design quality, lightweight pocket-size, and innovation from Essen Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, in Germany. Also, in November of 2005, it was the winner of the '100 Best Gadgets of 2005' for the personal video player from Gadget Magazine, Indonesia. "

Location, Location, Location - Is Your Site Located Where Your Customers Are?

2006-10-22T12:49:00.000-04:00

Location, Location, Location - Is Your Site Located Where Your Customers Are?: "Location, Location, Location - Is Your Site Located Where Your Customers Are?
By: Ben Kemp

Another thing the web hosting company forgot to tell you... An aspect overlooked by many site owners, and one that gets minimal coverage in web design or SEO articles etc, is the importance of server location to your site rankings, traffic and consequent success. Most articles are written by web design & SEO practitioners in the USA, and are therefore written from 'The Inside, Looking Out.' However, if you happen to be like many site owners in the world, 'On The Outside, Looking In,' the view is slightly different! "

HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC - A PDA With Un-Matched Graphic Screen, But Is It worth The Investment?

2006-10-22T12:47:00.000-04:00

HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC - A PDA With Un-Matched Graphic Screen, But Is It worth The Investment?: "HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC - A PDA With Un-Matched Graphic Screen, But Is It worth The Investment?
By: Ron Heller

Many people consider the HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC to be a truly unique PDA. This is no wonder as the most notable feature about this PDA is it's relatively big screen of 4 inches. It's also equipped with a high speed processor (624 MHz)and a big memory capacity (192MB). But is this pocket pc really the best choice for everyone? Clearly not, as every person has his or her own needs. Let's have a closer look at the benefits this outstanding PDA can give us, as well as it's shortcomings:"

3 Things You May Not Hear In Sales Pitches For Data Storage Devices

2006-10-22T12:45:00.000-04:00

3 Things You May Not Hear In Sales Pitches For Data Storage Devices: "3 Things You May Not Hear In Sales Pitches For Data Storage Devices
By: Christine Harrell

When comparing different types of data storage devices, you'll certainly read and hear about all of the great things that each product has to offer. But what about the downside to each type of media storage? Optical drives, tape media, and disk storage, all have their own set of pros and cons that you'll need to evaluate before making a decision about which type data backup strategy to implement."

Hard Drive Partitioning Stategies For Data Loss Prevention

2006-10-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

Hard Drive Partitioning Stategies For Data Loss Prevention: "Hard Drive Partitioning Stategies For Data Loss Prevention
By: petec

Many years ago I developed a strategy for building a customers' home PC in a way that helps avoid future technical support problems and increases customer satisfaction. Part of that strategy is partitioning the hard drive in a way that can prevent data loss when Windows crashes. By creating multiple partitions, the operating system can be installed on it's own primary partition, allowing user created data to be saved on another partition. When the operating system crashes or becomes corrupt, data saved to logical drive partitions are not affected. If needed, the primary partition containing the operating system can be formatted or the OS reinstalled without the loss of saved data. ( More information about my PC building strategy )"

Temporary Internet Files - Truth and Consequences

2006-10-21T17:37:00.000-04:00

Temporary Internet Files - Truth and Consequences: "Temporary Internet Files - Truth and Consequences
By: petec [Comments (1)]

Much has been written about temporary internet files. To my amazement, there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about how these files are put on your computer and the effect they have on your computing experience. Some articles claim these files slow your computer to a crawl, others indicate they are memory hogs. While some suggest that these files only affect the MS Internet Explorer browser."