Archive for the ‘Article Marketing’ Category

After fidgeting with my website design for more than 3 years, I finally really, really like my website! I’ve always liked pink/grey but couldn’t find a good balance of the two colors to represent my professional services business. That is until Kim came along and made it all happen! I found that Kim is an excellent website designer with knowledge of marketing, she was able to make my website SEO friendly PLUS reader friendly.

About Kim!

In my 10+ years of experience in working with small business website design, I have learned a couple of things:

• Your website should reflect your personality or that of your business.
• Each site is as unique as the owner and should be treated as such.

For the purposes of example, I will be using Buckeye VA and the owner, Stephanie Fish to explain a little of the process I use in designing a site tailor-made for each business. Stephanie was using WordPress already, which is almost always my first recommendation because it is so user-friendly and versatile. Almost anyone can handle blogging and updating a website built on the WordPress platform, with a little training.  If you can work in Microsoft Word, you can do it!

Since Stephanie already had a website, my first step was to analyze what she had and see where we could make improvements.  I asked her a few questions, such as:

• What is the feeling you want to evoke from your visitors when they visit your site?
• Who is your target audience?
• What colors do you like?

The previous design was a very dark background with white in the center and in the sidebar.  It seemed a bit cold to me and Stephanie also mentioned that she wanted to soften it a little.  Realizing that many of her clientele are women, this worked out just fine.  So, instead of black, I went toward a grey pinstripe–still very professional, but when paired with some pink accents and swirl glares, it turned out feminine, but very professional and business-like.

A simple photo to the right in the header graphic balances the swirls on the left side of the background and shows a professional in action on a laptop.  The laptop gives the impression of up-to-date technology and the woman typing shows that this is a serious business focused on action.  It instills a sense of trust in the competency of Stephanie’s work.

So, as you can see, design is important.  Stephanie’s new design–apart from whatever her site says in the content–tells us:

• She is feminine, but professional
• She is knowledgeable about the current technology
• She is confident in her abilities and you should be, too.

I always love to hear feedback about my designs and this is no exception.  You may leave a comment below or contact me at webmaster@dramatic-design.com

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Kim Smith is the owner of Dramatic Design, a Michigan Web Design (Grand Rapids) Company and the creative behind this new site design.  She focuses on helping small businesses succeed with web design and marketing consultation.

Did you know that online internet marketers need professional editors and proofreaders? If you’re a mom who wants to work from home using your editing skills then starting your own proofreading and editing business might just be the business for you.

The written word is a big business. Just walk into your local bookstore and browse the latest selections, and it’s easy to see that there are new books being written all the time. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

In addition to the vast selection of fiction and non-fiction titles that hit the market every week, there’s the Internet. New web pages, and even entire new sites, are cropping up every day. Then there are newspapers and magazines. And let’s not forget all of the technical manuals and product instructions that are needed to accompany software, electronics, and even that new piece of furniture.

All of that adds up to a lot of written words, which have to be written by somebody. And smart writers know that they need someone else to look over their work. Fresh eyes can catch mistakes, misspellings, and typos more readily than the eyes of the person who wrote them.

Sure, most word processors come packaged with spelling and grammar checking programs. But those are limited in their capabilities. There are many words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings, and spell checkers usually do not pick up on the improper usage of those words. And grammar checkers, while worth using to catch obvious mistakes, are also not completely reliable.

Have you ever read a website or instruction manual that was riddled with mistakes? It doesn’t make a very good first impression, does it? In the case of the instruction manual, you may find yourself wondering if you purchased the best product. A poorly written website often leaves visitors with a bad taste in their mouth, and it could even cause them not to return.

These problems could easily be prevented by having the writing proofread by someone with a good eye for spelling and grammar. Those who do not recognize the need for quality writing are often informed through customer feedback and lack of sales. Still, even those who are keenly aware of the value of proper spelling and grammar sometimes don’t know where to find a good proofreader.

The need for proofreading and editing opens a door for those with an excellent grasp on the English language. Proofreading and editing jobs can be found online and locally. Simply getting the word out about your services and demonstrating the ability to produce results could be all it takes to start getting clients. And those clients will often recommend a good editor to their colleagues, providing even more opportunities.

There is abundant demand for proofreaders and editors, and that demand provides an excellent opportunity for work at home moms. Starting your own proofreading business could provide you with a steady income for years to come.

To find out exactly how you can start your own proofreading business from the comfort of your own home click here to instantly access your step-by-step guide.

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Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. enjoys assisting online business owners with their social media and article marketing business tasks. If you’re looking for a virtual marketing assistant, please contact Stephanie at Buckeye V.A.

The need for general transcriptionists is good. This is due in part to the fact you’re able to take on a variety of different clients. Some transcriptionists choose to niche into a specific field such as real estate, insurance or marketing and still have plenty of work to keep them busy.

Whether you chose to concentrate on one specific field or transcribe for various fields, there are always plenty of opportunities to find clients.

As with many other service-oriented businesses, many of your clients may come from recommendations from past clients. By providing a high quality service and meeting the needs of your clients, you’ll greatly improve your chances for success in this type of business.

Here are just a few people may need your transcription services:

” College Students – Students will often record lectures on hand-held recorders. Many times they like to have these lectures and recordings transcribed.

” Social Work Agencies – Government agencies often times record their meetings and need these transcribed. Some agencies have “on the record” interviews with legal witnesses or parents who are being investigated by the courts and will often need these recordings transcribed so the transcripts can later be used during legal proceedings.

” Realtors – Realtors may record a variety of letters which then need to be transcribed.

” Insurance Companies – Insurance companies need an accurate record of all claims made. The loss adjustors will often record notes about the claims and you will need to go through a standard template and transcribe these notes for the client’s records.

” Charities and similar organizations – Many charities make an audio recording of their meetings and then like to have these transcribed for their official records.

” Book Publishers – Although book publishers often have personal letters and meetings they like transcribed, they also often have work to be edited. Good transcriptionists are also good at editing as it goes hand in hand with the job. Book publishers need people with a keen eye for detail to help edit transcripts.

Internet Marketers-Life coaches, business consultants, online marketers and speakers are just a few more busy professionals who also need transcription services. Many of these people like to maximize their content and will have their speaking events or client coaching sessions transcribed. With online marketers, there are tele-seminars, coaching events, and audio products which can all be transcribed too.

As you can see, there is a lot of general transcription work available; the key is to know how to find it and how to approach potential clients.

Grab your
Moms Talk Biz Guide to Starting a Transcription Business – Step-by-step instructions, resources and inside information to start your own transcription business from home.

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If you are an internet marketer that needs a virtual assistant to transcribe your mp3 recordings, youtube videos, or coaching calls, please let me know!

Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. enjoys assisting online business owners with their social media and article marketing business tasks. If you’re looking for a virtual marketing assistant, please contact Stephanie at Buckeye V.A.

Article Writing Tips from SpongeBob SquarePants
By Nicole Dean

Wisdom can be found in the most unexpected places. Today, wisdom bubbled up from a pineapple under the sea. I suddenly realized that everything you’d want to know about writing articles for your website can be taught by SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends.

When you write for your newsletter, blog, or website, which character are you most like?

Mr. Krabs: This crustacean is focused on one thing and one thing only, making more and more and more money. Only a cartoon could actually have dollar signs drawn in his eyes. He thinks of no one, only how he can benefit. Are your articles focused on you or on the reader? Are you providing information or do you have blinders on, thinking only about how you can make money from the article you are writing? If your article reads like an ad or is self-serving or full of affiliate links, you might write like Mr. Krabs.

Plankton: The smallest creature in the sea is also the sneakiest. He’ll do anything and hurt anyone to steal someone else’s work (the Krabby Pattie secret formula). Write your own material. Don’t be Plankton. Don’t copy and paste someone else’s work, edit it, and try to pass it off as your own. You will be caught, and it just isn’t worth it. Take the same amount of effort and work on your own thoughts and ideas. Plankton never gets away with his schemes, either. He’s on Plan “Z” and is still pathetically failing at his attempts to steal the secret formula.

Patrick: SpongeBob’s best friend, the starfish, has a good heart, but isn’t the brightest creature in the sea. Do your articles make you sound like an expert? Are you providing valuable content or just pushing out sloppy articles as fast as you can? Always double check for typos and grammatical errors. If you’re challenged by spelling and grammar, hire a Virtual Assistant or Copywriter to proofread and submit your article for you. Or slow down, set your article aside for a day and then reread it before you click the “submit” button.

Squidward: Squidward is B-O-R-I-N-G. When writing articles, are you a Squidward? Do you just get the words down on paper or are you finding a fun twist to entertain your audience and keep them coming back for more? Take time to make your articles stand out from the thousands of other dull articles out there by including personal stories or just having fun while writing. For instance, this article could be entitled “How to Write a Good Article”, but would it stand out from the hundreds of other articles about article writing? Probably not.

SpongeBob: This little guy always tries to do the right thing, and is a hard worker. He may not always end up getting the results he hoped for, but he bounces back and tackles his work with a renewed vigor. SpongeBob works very hard, he’s a good friend, he always thinks of others, and tries to have fun no matter what he is faced with. Hardworking, friendly SpongeBob is the guy to be when writing articles.

Although this is a silly lesson in article writing, I hope you’ll remember the important messages our underwater friends have taught us.

1. Write articles to help others, not with dollar signs in your eyes.

2. Write your own material. Don’t copy others.

3. Proofread your articles carefully, and provide valuable information.

4. Be entertaining. Not boring.

5. Be a SpongeBob! Hard work and persistence pay off.

Before you know it, you’ll develop a following for having informative and entertaining articles and you’ll be King or Queen of the sea.

Author Resource – Nicole Dean is published all over the web, under numerous pen names. She welcomes you to visit EasyPLR.com to get started using article marketing to boost your business today.

PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?
by Nicole Dean

Content is always in high demand. Right now the focus seems to be on Private Label Rights (or PLR) articles. PLR articles are pre-written and sold in packages to online businesses looking for content. The big selling points of PLR articles are that you may edit the articles and that there is no author bio required (so they don’t have any outbound links).

Compare PLR articles to free reprint articles. Free reprint articles from places like ezinearticles.com or freeaffiliatearticles.com are written by people who have something they’d like to share. (Or, they are sometimes written by people just publishing junk, in the hopes that they’ll get some incoming links. But, good article directories will delete those, so we’ll focus on the good ones here.)

So, which is better? Honestly, each has its place. Sometimes you’ll find an excellent free reprint article that you’ll want to share with your readers and you won’t mind a bit having an outbound link, especially if there is an affiliate program associated with it. The free reprint article added value to your readers, and you didn’t have to write the article. That’s what free reprint articles are all about.

Other times you’ll already have an idea in mind for a topic and you’ll just want a boost getting that section of your website done. If you run across a high quality PLR package on that niche, you’re set to go.

So, how do you know which PLR service or membership to choose? Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Some PLR sites offer a monthly membership where you receive a grab-bag of articles – on any topic. If you already know what you need, this may be a waste of money. Other PLR sites will list topics and you can buy the articles in a shopping cart. That ensures you receive the articles you need when you need them.

2. Are the articles written by professional writers with experience? Or are they outsourced to the cheapest overseas help they can find – no matter the quality? If the articles are going to be a reflection of your business, you’ll want to ensure that the articles are well-written.

3. Who’s running this thing? Is the PLR site run by someone who knows about content or someone who thinks they can ride the content wave and make a quick buck? Make sure you’re hitching your wagon to someone who knows what they’re doing.

Those are just a few tips to keep you from wasting money on a PLR site that you can’t use. Continue to use free reprint articles, but look into PLR articles as well. They can both benefit your website and your business.

Nicole Dean invites you to check out EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles on niches sold in very limited quantities.

I, personally, recommend this site for all your PLR article needs.
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Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. enjoys assisting online business owners with their social media and article marketing business tasks. If you’re looking for a virtual marketing assistant, please contact Stephanie at Buckeye V.A.

Nothing says “professional” like having quality written content on your website and blog. As a busy entrepreneur you may be struggling to find the time to write for your business, but have no fear, there is a way to have quality content written by a profession at an afford price. It’s called “PLR Articles“.

Nicole Dean, of EasyPLR.com has the solution for busy internet marketers such as:

• Coaches
• Virtual Assistants
• Product Sellers
• Wed Designers

EasyPLR.com offers quality PLR articles,PLR eCourses, and PLR Reports.

You’re invited to learn more about EasyPLR.com by clicking here.

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Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. enjoys assisting online business owners with their social media and article marketing business tasks. If you’re looking for a virtual marketing assistant, please contact Stephanie at Buckeye V.A.

First off, let me say “HAPPY NEW YEAR“! Did you make any business resolutions? Instead of resolutions, how about making a business goal with action steps? One of the most important business goals an internet marketer (like yourself) should include is article marketing. Article Marketing can be a challenge when you look at it as an “extra” business chore, but it doesn’t need to be seen that way. Instead of making article marketing a challenging business task, why not outsource it to your virtual marketing assistant?

There are basically 4 steps you could take this new year that will help you with your article marketing challenge:

1. Write your own articles.
2. Find a Ghost Writer who knows you and your business, who will help you come up with a article writing plan. Once you determine  how many articles per week or month you want to have written.
3. Send those written articles to your virtual marketing assistant, who will create a marketing plan that fits with your business goals.
4. Request that your ghost writer send the articles directly to your virtual marketing assistant, so they can immediately begin your article marketing campaign.

You may be asking “how many articles should I be submitting”? I’m glad you asked! As a virtual marketing assistant, I would recommend a minimum of 1 article every week, to a minimum of 10 article directories that your target market frequents. On a consistent, monthly basis, you should see a ROI (return on investment) either by increased webvisitors, ezine sign-ups, product sales, speaking opportunities or even blog comments (think SEO).

You are not limited to article directories only, oh no, you also can mix some social network marketing also. By spending a minimum of 1.5 hours a week on your article marketing business campaign, for Article marketing shouldn’t be seen as “challenging”, instead it should be seen as a positive business “challenge”, one that will help increase your business exposure and help you become the expert in  your chosen business field.

Let’s work together by making 2010 the year that your business sees the success in growth that you desire!

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Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. helps business internet marketers create a social media and article marketing plan that fits their business goals. You are invited to connect with Stephanie by visiting her website http://www.buckeyeva.com to sign-up for her marketing ezine and social networking groups.

Congratulations! You made it to: Day # 10 of a 10 day series entitled :

“10 Reasons to Market Your Business with Articles”

Outsourcing (delegating) a minimum of 5 hours of article marketing per month can benefit your business.  Perhaps if you have a better understanding behind the “why” you should be marketing your business with articles, then this task will never see the end of your to-do list again.

Day 10:  Recap Your Article Marketing “Why”

In the previous 9 days you’ve learned some very powerful “why’s” of article marketing and how it plays an important role in your business. So let’s recap what you’ve read:

1. You build relationships with potential clients you may not have otherwise met.
2. You use your article marketing to build trust wit h your readers.
3. You become known as the “expert” in your chosen field.
4. You generate publicity.
5. You gain pre-qualified website traffic.
6. You feed your “content hungry” target market.
7. You have the potential to be seen by thousands of people in your target market.
8. Article marketing allows you to pre-sell your products or services.
9. You market your business without having to meet face-to-face.
10. You reap the benefits of continual web traffic for years to come.

My hope was to inform and educate you, the professional business owner, on how powerful article marketing can be for your business. If you market your business on a consistent basis, perhaps as little as 5 hours per month, you should reap the benefits for years to come.

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Please contact me, today, for a free 30 minute consultation to see which service you can use for your business needs!

Being your own boss is freeing, but not when you have the mindset of thinking you have to control every business related task by yourself. Outsourcing or delegating, as little as 5 hours of business marketing per month, can free up your schedule and keep you on your path of success.

If you have found yourself stuck in a marketing rut, then its time to start delegating some of those business marketing tasks. Remember, being in business for yourself doesn’t mean you have to be in business BY yourself.

Please contact me today for your free 30 minute consultation.

Enjoy this video from Metromom.com,

Outsourcing is the exchange of money for time. The older business trend would have been to read over resume and applications,  interview possible employees then take more time to hire that person. The newer business way is to seek a virtual assistant, someone that works remotely from their own office. This saves you time and money without sacrificing your business success.

By outsourcing business related tasks that take up quite a bit of your time, you can actually regain those lost hours and still see the business growth you desire. I’ve compiled a “Top 5 List” of the most outsourceable tasks that I’ve compiled over the past year.

Top 5 Time Consuming Tasks may include:

• Transcription
• Customer Service
• Email Support
• Online Marketing
• WordPress Set-up

The benefits of outsourcing, even the smallest task, can open new doors for you to further your business goals. By outsourcing the “busy” work to an assistant, you are opening up your schedule for that needed vacation or speaking opportunity.

Contact me, Stephanie, for your free 30 minute consultation and let me help you find that perfect service package.