Ten Tips for writing a blog post

The following post on tips for writing a blog was submitted by Lyndon from Flockblog who in his email to problogger with it described it as a simple ‘back to basics’ kind of post. Thanks Lyndon.

Here are ten tips that help me with my blog writing.

1. Make your opinion known
2. Link like crazy
3. Write less
4. 250 Words is enough
5. Make Headlines snappy
6. Write with passion
7. Include Bullet point lists
8. Edit your post
9. Make your posts easy to scan
10. Be consistent with your style
11. Litter the post with keywords

1. Make your opinion known
People like blogs, they like blogs because they are written by people and not corporations. People want to know what people think, crazy as it sounds they want to know what you think. Tell them exactly what you think using the least amount of words possible.

2. Link like crazy.
Support your post with links to other web pages that are contextual to your post.

3. Write Less
Give the maximum amount of information with the least amount of words. Time is finite and people are infinitely busy. Blast your knowledge into the reader at the speed of sound.

4. 250 is enough
A long post is easier to forget and harder to get into. A short post is the opposite.

5. Make Headlines snappy
Contain your whole argument in your headline. Check out National newspapers to see how they do it.

6. Include bullet point lists
We all love lists, it structures the info in an easily digestible format.

7. Make your posts easy to scan
Every few paragraphs insert a sub heading. Make sentences and headlines short and to the point.

8. Be consistent with your style
People like to know what to expect, once you have settled on a style for your audience stick to it.

9. Litter the post with Keywords.
Think about what keywords people would use to search for your post and include them in the body text and headers. make sure the keyword placement is natural and does not seem out of place.

10. Edit your post
Good writing is in the editing. Before you hit the submit button, re-read your post and cut out the stuff that you don’t need.

from www.problogger.net

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Copywriting Businesses - How Can I Get Started?

Do you have the training and skills needed for copywriting?

Are you looking for a way to get your foot in the door?

Will you have what it takes to succeed with your copywriting businesses?

For many, these three questions drive them day in and day out to become the person that people demand time with. Still for others, the business aspects of copywriting have just been easy to get. Others still have no idea even how to start effective copywriting businesses. Where are you?

First of all, as with any type of business, you need to have the training and knowledge needed. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can just wing it. This is not a high school term paper that needs proofed or a college essay you write the day before it’s due. Copywriting is a business, where people stand to make money from the words you place on the pages, on the ads you help develop, on the e-books you write. Having an effective knowledge basis is crucial to success.

From this point, it is a matter of establishing yourself. You will need to get your foot in the door somehow. It could be as simple as calling friends that you know have websites, browsing websites that offer opportunities, or even placing ads throughout the web showcasing your talents. All it takes is one person to get you moving in the right direction. But, when you do get your first client, whether you are freelancing or not, you will need to make it count. Give them the best you can, ask them for a reference or to pass your name along.

You can also avoid the freelance world and find a copy writing company to work for. These companies can be found throughout the internet and often are large enough to hire on many people who can show that they are worth it.

No matter how you plan to work with copywriting businesses, you can be sure that if your work is of value, you will find a position, freelance or not, waiting for you. Website owners, advertisers, and other people are always looking for a new, fresh face with fresh ideas and an open mind to work with.

By: Niall Cinneide

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Discover Your Creativity

You have a choice. Do you want to be constructive and positive in a unique way? Or do you want to be destructive and negative in a unique way? History has proven the futility of the latter goal. So let's focus on your unique capacity to better yourself and those around you.

In western music there are 12 notes per each octave on the keyboard. Only 12 notes. From these simple 12 notes come the various musical works of Mozart, Brahms, Rossini, Beethoven, Donizetti, Bach, Strauss, Wagner, Puccini, Verde, Gershwin, Gilbert & Sullivan, Rogers & Hammerstein. The Beetles, Merle Haggard, Marti Robbins, Louis Armstrong, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Pointer Sisters and countless other unique performers, composers, and musical forms. What a variety from 12 basic notes!

As a growing copywriter and Cyberspace Marketeer, I often seek new ideas and ways of doing stuff.. But before this process can happen, I have to pay my dues. I do this through research over the Internet. I get out and socialize, during work time and play time. Only afterwards am I able to discover and lay out creative, unique solutions.

When I am given a set of parameters, I must intensely focus upon these, and then forget about them. Within a week a unique idea entered into my consciousness. Several weeks ago, I was consulting with a new client. He had Hummingbirds as part of his logo. He needed a slogan. He is in the restaurant trade. How can I tie the concept of hummingbirds in with food service? Over time we discovered, Every Bite - Hummingbird Light. Now he has a powerful slogan. We created a good headline featuring his current offering. We listed bulleted benefits (yes, a tiny hummingbird was used as each bullet). And a great slogan. His publicity pulls very well. He is unique in a positive way.

Logo. This is usually a unique graphic. Sometimes it can be a simple choice of font face, relative sizes, and placement. But a killer graphic logo is best. The logo reflects your whole, unique business philosophy and image. It has to be so crystal clear the public recognizes it instantly. The Colonel's bucket. The golden Arches. CocaCola Bottle. No words are needed. Never Copy. You may Modify. Create New is best. Focus on this task. Then let it go. You might “dream” the solution. Perfect your own unique logo.

Headline. Vital to keeping interest of your target market. Going further with the above Hummingbirds copy we told basically what it was, Sunday Evening Roast. Then, right below that line, we painted a picture.

Imagine yourself dining with your special someone on a secluded terrace. Your cozy wooden table and chair - your temporary sanctuary from a hard plastic world. Your candle gently flickers with each passing breeze. You are enjoying the intimate lightness of Hummingbirds™ unparalleled Sunday Roast.
Needs a little fine tuning - but it works.

Bulleted Benefits. Continuing down
Sumptuous Starter-dishes
Mouth-Watering Main Course-dishes
Seductive Desert-Your choice
Free Glass of Red, Rosé, White
(Enjoy wines a step beyond - We taste and recommend)

Slogan (modified) follows.
Your Traditional British Roast -
Every Bite - Hummingbird Light

After that comes phone number, location, directions etc.

However, at the last minute we decided to add in this area.
Twiggy 2-Course (price)
Henry VIII 3-Course (price)

Our target market was the British couple or foursome looking for a great Sunday Evening Roast.

Over the years I have collected aids and studied various areas of marketing. Long ago I got copy of active verbs. Recently I got list of Hypnotic Words and successful headlines used over the years. Also a list how different colors effect emotions. These are all great references when I am stumped or want to make my copy even better. Some of the “greats” which come to mind are Claude Hopkins, Jay Abraham, Ted Nicholas. Actually, some of the best ideas can be found on current Internet sales letters. Occasionally I find the rare good headline in SPAM sent me. Yes, I even study some SPAM.

I have discovered my target market. They need my copywriting skills...the under capitalized, open-minded, serious entrepreneur. Nobody in my immediate vicinity practices principles of good copywriting. I am unique. I am creative. My clients are unique. They seek creative solutions. They are fun to work with. Our creative ideas keep amplifying each others.

No matter what profession(s) you are into at this time, develop your uniqueness, discover your creativity, dream your solutions. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. By the way, I had no idea what I would write about this month. I kept thinking and thinking. Then - here it is. Now to polish it up 24 hours from now. 828 words now and finally edited down to 794. Robert Leggett serves individuals and business owners globally. He helps them grow their business and enrich their lifestyles. Article Archives: (http://www.CyberspaceMarketeer.com) Products & Services: (http://www.EarnYourLiving.com)

By: Robert Leggett

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Business Writing Checklist

You're ready to do it. You've accepted an assignment from your
boss, agreed to put together a sales presentation, or were asked
to write a report about last week's meeting results. Where do
you begin? Before you venture off into the land of writing for
your job, be prepared with the items on this checklist.

1. Adjust your attitude. Writing doesn't have to be like drawing
blood. In fact, many times in business writing, much of the work
is already done for you. Your job may be as simple as rewording
or organizing information that you already have.

2. Quiet. No matter how much you like your music or AM radio
talk show it is best to work in a quiet spot. Even if you work
in a noisy place like a newsroom or a cube farm, reduce the
amount of noise around you so you can concentrate better. Wear
earplugs if it helps you!

3. Your thinking cap! Colored markers, pencils, or a large easel
pad may help you with brainstorming. Or, you may find it easier
to work with a team first to generate ideas and then have one
person write the first draft. Whatever works for you, make sure
your brain is in creative mode, not editing/criticism mode.
Creativity comes first; editing and refining later.

4. Eliminate distractions.

Turn off the phone, close your office door, and don't check your
email every 10 seconds. Have your assistant tell everyone you're
in a meeting and you can't see him or her unless they're dying.
For at least 1 hour, work with no interruptions.

5. Computer, pen, scratchpad, or other tools you like.

You may prefer writing longhand; it can help you connect with
your thoughts and emotions. Or, you may be quicker at typing
directly on the computer. Either way, don't expect a perfect
draft the first time. You will be scribbling a lot (or cutting
and pasting) at first.

6. Contact names and phone numbers, etc.

Be sure you have handy a list of people you might need to talk
with to verify information. For example, if you are writing an
article for your company newsletter, you may need quotes from
the CEO.

7. Dictionary and Thesaurus. The ones that come with the word
processor are not sufficient. Get yourself some good old
fashioned books, or a dictionary hesaurus on CD.

8. Company style guide. Some companies are very strict about
their internal or external communications. They may have rules
about style (different accepted spellings, for example) so that
everybody who reads your company's literature or correspondence
receives a consistent message about your company. You may lose
credibility with your readers if everything sounds like it came
from XYZ Corporation, except the letter you are writing.

9. The right atmosphere. If your office doesn't cut it, find a
better place. The library may work. A conference room might
provide more space for you to pace as you're dictating your
masterpiece. If you're writing about your company's
manufacturing plant, it might help you to actually be there
while you're writing.

10. Writing is rewriting. Remember that nobody, even
Shakespeare, gets it on the first try. Your first draft is
exactly that - a rough copy, a sketch. Think of it as the
equivalent of a doodle when artists paint. They don't start with
the canvas - and neither should you. Unlike many other jobs, in
writing, it's okay to make mistakes as you go along. Your final
draft will be vastly different from the few sentence fragments
you begin with.

Using the checklist items will set you up for a successful
writing session. Have on hand as many of these items as you can
each and every time you sit down to write something -- whether
it's a letter to your customers or an annual report. By keeping
all the tools you need in one place, your writing session will
go smoother and will be easier on your stress level than without
them.

About the Author

Linda Elizabeth Alexander is a business writer and marketing
consultant based in Longmont, Colorado, USA. Improve your
writing skills at work! Subscribe to her FREE ezine. Write to
the Point at lalexander@write2thepointcom.com or visit
http://www.write2thepointcom.com/articles.html.

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