The Secrets to Web Content that Sells

The best web developers understand that a critical part of every website design is the actual web content on every page. This content is what drives viewers to the website, and it is what keeps viewers interested in what the website has to offer. Additionally, web content compels website viewers to take action and either buy something or want to learn more. In order to write excellent web content, it is important to understand the basic fundamentals of writing search engine optimized copy. Here are some guidelines for writing web content that sells.

Web Content Research

Expert web content writers understand that before one word is every written for a website, research must be done first. This research consists of learning more about the niche industry or hobby that the website is about. This means reading up on the industry, as well as finding out what the top competitors are including on their websites. Any business that wants to get ahead in a smart way will take the time to research competitors first. Do this right and you have a great start to creating web content that sells!

Web Content Keywords

When consumers are looking for something on the Internet, they will generally type in a series of keywords into a search engine. These keywords are what lead viewers to particular websites. The websites which have enough of these keywords included in the web content get the best results in the search engines. This is often referred to as search engine optimization, or SEO. When writing content, be sure to use keyword research tools to indentify the top five keyword combinations for the best results for your website.

Web Content Word Counts

Another way to web content success is to make sure that you follow the rules when it comes to the actual word count of your web copy. Many people do not understand that if you do not have at least 250 words on a web page, it will simply be ignored by most major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Be sure to write at least 250 words for each page. In addition, do not get carried away with your keywords, which will only cause your pages to be dropped entirely!

Web Content Paragraph Structure

Most readers will spend approximately 30 seconds or less reading your web content, so keep your sentences easy to read to keep them interested. Limit each paragraph to no more than 3-4 sentences and make sure that they make overall sense. Each paragraph should start with a compelling sentence and end with another compelling sentence to lead readers to the next paragraph. Remember, you are not writing a novel here, just great web content!

Call to Action in Web Content

Lastly, if you want to write the very best web content, you must include a call to action for your readers. Near the middle to the end of the web content, be sure to ask the reader to take action such as exploring other parts of the website (through imbedded links), pick up the phone to call, make a purchase, or send an email through a web contact form. The goal of the website is to not have people get stuck reading through many pages of content, but rather to take clear action.

As you write your web content, be sure to take the time to proofread it and spell check it so that your website comes off as intelligent and authoritative to readers. The basics of good writing apply to web content and will help your copy to sell to viewers. By following the above tips, your web content will improve and you will get positive results in terms of selling your ideas, services and products on a website marketing platform.

Should You Use Facebook to Talk to Copy Writing Clients?

Facebook has opened up a bright new online community of socially conscious people who are using this website as a platform for sharing information, making new acquaintances and marketing businesses online. While this is a great way to build a following of loyal fans and readers, there is still some etiquette that needs to stay in place when communicating using social media.

A new relatively phenomena has emerged in which copy writers are communicating almost exclusively with clients on facebook, as opposed to traditional telephone or email methods. Writers (and other freelancers) are searching for potential clients on facebook, befriending them, followed by sending introductory messages. On the other side, businesses, web content companies and web developers are seeking out talented copy writers and inviting them to get on board with writing gigs. It’s basically business networking on speed!

But before you get all excited about using facebook to find and communicate with new copy writing clients, here are some things to watch out for:

1. Facebook messaging can lead to miscommunications. Sure, sending off a nice little message to a potential client can be fun, but it can also lead to certain communication snafu’s. For example, some companies prefer to be contacted through other means like email or contact form. Many get bombarded with so many inquiries, they simply block out these messages. Some may even look at your attempts as a form of unsolicited “spam” and you could turn some people off or worse yet – get banned from facebook. Remember, don’t go overboard with your inquiries and research the company fully before attempting initial communication.

2. Facebook is not a sales platform. One of the biggest pet peeves of users of social media is that some people use it as a way to continually pitch their products and services. Nothing is more annoying than allowing someone onto a followers list and then seeing just a bunch of poorly written sales pitches in every micro-feed. Think of it in terms of meeting new people in person for the first time. You wouldn’t immediately launch into a sales speech, would you? Respect others and lay off the overly sales oriented posts. Limit yourself to a sales type post once a week.

3. Beware of links in facebook messages. Unfortunately, we live in a world where scamming others and stealing information run rampant. When getting a facebook message that includes a link to a so-called “opportunity”, use extreme caution. There are an  increased number of scammers sending out links that include malware, viruses and other nasties on facebook, twitter and other social media websites. If something looks fishy, report it to facebook security and don’t allow your computer or personal information to become easy prey.

4. Nothing beats old fashioned forms of communication. I would like to say, from personal experience, that using facebook as a primary means of communication with copy writing clients is not really a good idea. For one, it’s impersonal. Messages don’t always reach the other person in a timely fashion. As much as facebook has become a place to share personal thoughts, these can also backfire and offend some people. Additionally, as a business person you should be using the telephone and email as much as you use facebook to get to know your clients. It’s the sign of a polished, and confident copy writer to be comfortable with all forms of communication, so don’t limit yourself to facebook for this purpose.

What do you think? Do you use facebook to communicate with clients – why or why not?

Are Freelance Writing Jobs on Craigslist a Scam?

If you are starting out as a freelance writer looking for opportunities to earn a little cash, you may find that there are many jobs posted on Craigslist. These jobs can vary from one-time projects to ongoing work with content companies, web development firms and private people who just need some articles or blog posts. Pay rates also vary widely depending on the scope of work and what hiring companies deem as “fair” wages for freelance writing.

While Craigslist can be a great source of freelance writing work, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when applying for work there. Why? Because oftentimes scammers use this free advertising website as a place to steal information from job seekers. Craigslist is a place where people of all types post information annoymously. This means it can be a playground for unscrupulous scammers who use email as a way to gather information on citizens.

So what do you look for to avoid being scammed as a freelance writer?

1. Does the job sound too good to be true? If the job advertisement says something like ” Work from home part time and earn full time wages” or “Make $50 an hour in your spare time”, chances are you’ve found a scam ad. Do not apply to it, but rather promptly flag it so Craigslist will take it down.

2. Does the advertisement ask you to click on a link that takes you to a work from home website? If so, you may be dealing with a scammer who uses Craigslist to get traffic and steal information online. Again, avoid it like the plague and flag the ad as spam.You won’t get a job there.

3. Does the ad ask you to write a “sample” and send it in for approval (with no mention of pay)? This is a common ploy that some scammers will use to get free content to use as they please. You do the work, and never get paid. Instead you get a blanket email that says “thanks for your sample, but you are not what we are looking for”. Do yourself a favor, and never work for free. Get payment terms in writing before you send an unpublished writing sample in. Or send in something you’ve already published online under your own name.

4. Does the ad ask for your personal information (social security number, birthdate, home address, etc)? This is clearly a scammer who acts like a potential hiring manager but who is actually an information thief. Never send your personal information to anyone online, especially through email. Keep your resume neutral and leave off your personal information until a job offer is made by a real person.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Craigslist is not a bad place to find freelance writing gigs. In fact, it can be a very good source of work on a regular basis. Other career-oriented advertising websites can also fall prey to online scammers. The point is to be cautious when applying for any work online. Check out the company further by reviewing their website, pick up the phone and actually call to speak to a hiring manager whenever possible, and protect your information at all times. By following these “rules” you can avoid becoming a victim of online scammers.

A Very Taylor Resources Wordle for You

For the 2011 WordCount Blogathon, we were given the task of creating a unique “Wordle” for our blog. I hope you enjoy mine. Click on it to see it in full size!

Want to create your own Wordle? Go to http://www.wordle.net/create and make your own!