Writing Information
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Communicating When A Crisis Strikes

How would you handle communication if your business or practice got into a crisis situation? I was pleasantly surprised when my Internet service provider responded competently and quickly to a technical crisis. And, we can learn to communicate more effectively by studying its response. The crisis occurred when hackers attacked its system at the same time that the company was upgrading its syste. . .

Contrarian Marketing at Benetton's

Perhaps, with apologies to Dale Carnegie, we should call this article: "How to make enemies AND influence people." The subject: United Colors of Benetton's campaign to promote its clothing, using photos and stories about death row prisoners in the U.S. It's what journalist James Bone of the Times of London called the "latest in a string of deliberately provocative campaigns". In an age when mos. . .

I was probably The One Jesus

I was probably the one who shook you as violently as the storm was to wake you, and pleaded for you to calm it. I was probably the one who sank into the ocean when you called me to come to you. I was probably the one who scolded the women for washing your feet with precious oil, and wasting it. I was probably the one who had forsaken you for 30 pieces of silver. I was probably the one who. . .

The Significance of the Mundane

This article begins with a tip of the hat to a scholarly publication called the Journal of Mundane Behavior. Unlike other publications, which herald important issues, this one trumpets everyday, but rarely noticed, behaviors. It sees what the rest of us overlook because that stuff is so, well, mundane (my dictionary defines 'mundane' as being ordinary or common). For example, I just read an art. . .

Print ads: Relics or Revenue Generators?

Remember print ads? Those dusty, musty, fusty old relics of the century past? Well, they’re still with us, and if your company isn’t running them in newspapers and magazines, they probably should. Despite the ubiquity of commercials on radio and TV; despite the onslaught of banners, pop-ups and all manner of intrusive online ads; newspapers and magazines are, and always will be, a mainstay foru. . .

"The Real Secret To Finding Hot Niche Markets!"

Finding a niche market is simple. Finding a PROFITABLE niche market is a little harder, but it's still easy once you know what you are doing. Otherwise, you will end up like 90% of the other niche marketers out there who spend weeks or months on a niche market only to find out there is no money to be made there. Luckily I will reveal the secrets to finding a profitable niche market later in th. . .

SEO Copywriting Makeover: Finding the Right Trigger

by Karon Thackston © 2005 http://www.copywritingcourse.com You've got a great product or service. Now, how do you make buyers sit up and take notice? How do you get them excited about what you're offering? You have to pull the trigger. There is at least one trigger for every product or service on the market today. Finding it is the hard part. Once you determine what will set your customer. . .

How to Be a Freelancer in Demand: Become a Busy Client’s Best Friend

The best clients are the busy clients. Why? Because they're the ones with successful businesses, so they have enough money to pay you. They're also the ones who are busy enough that they really need you. And they’re the ones who are likely to have ongoing work for you. They’re also the ones who are the easiest to keep because you know exactly what you need to do to keep them. It’s simple – jus. . .

Review: Words That Sell

by Karon Thackston © 2005 http://www.copywritingcourse.com/wordswork.html It's the Golden Rule of copywriting. "Know your target audience." It is impossible to persuade someone you know nothing about to take any type of action. But the question remains: How - exactly - do you get to know your prospective customers? For copywriters, this task is the most time-consuming. When you're faced . . .

The 8 'Must Do' rules for effective website design

To succeed at your online business (whether you are selling your own product/service or are selling for other merchants as an affiliate), you need a Web design must be just for that - a simple, focused site. One that is easy to build, maintenance-free, low cost, credible, and a powerful traffic-builder and customer-converter. Having the right tool and the right product alone doesn’t insure the . . .

5 Reasons Your Marketing Communication is Falling Flat

The Five Reasons Your Marketing Communication Is Falling Flat One of my associates sent me a promotional email she'd received. “I know this marketing communication doesn't work,” she told me, “but why doesn't this make me want to buy?” I took a look, and what I saw was familiar and sad. The promotional piece was for a weekend retreat. I could feel all the good intentions behind it, but the word. . .

Profiting from Articles - A Step-by-step Guide

"Content is King" - that's a given, there's no debate. But how do you get content? Like most projects, breaking into bite-size, easily digestable chunks makes the process realistically achievable. By creating articles, you build and develop that content. So how do you profit from articles? I, personally, find the best way to approach the 'process' of making mony from articles is to work backwa. . .

How to Write a Resume That Stands Out From The Crowd

Today’s job market is competitive. Many companies receive hundreds of resumes a year, making it difficult for yours to stand out from the crowd. However, that should not keep you from getting interviews. The following 10 tips will help you learn how to get employers to read your resume and get your phone ringing. 1. Include a profile Begin your resume with a profile, which contains a synopsis o. . .

Advertising on a budget — Part 2: Thinking small

This is the second article of a three-part series. I'm illustrating the marketing challenges of a small business, PrescottWeddings.com. Our goal was to both build the PWC brand and drive traffic to the Web site. Advertising regularly was essential. Yet it was also essential to keep our costs down. So we leveraged our monthly newspaper advertising to stretch our marketing dollar as far as we cou. . .

Overcoming Obstacles: 7 Tips to Build Your Self-esteem

Overcoming Obstacles: 7 Tips to Build Your Self-esteem by Dr. Cynthia Barnett One of the most difficult things we face when trying to improve our self-esteem is overcoming obstacles. It's an unfortunate fact that obstacles are a part of life; they often show up when least expected and threaten to undermine our coping mechanisms. There is a way we can work with obstacles - to see them in a diff. . .

GRACE FROM THE GARDEN

As a contributing writer for Country Home magazine, Debra Landwehr Engle has known that gardens are more than an open bed for planting flowers and vegetables. Gardens are gifts that are shared between gardeners and their communities. In her book, GRACE FROM THE GARDEN Changing the World One Garden at a Time (Rodale Books; May 2003; $19.95) Engle shares her visions and that of twenty other gard. . .

Water Into Wine: The Meaning of Jesus' First Miracle

The second chapter of John's Gospel offers a most interesting account of the beginning of Jesus's ministry of miracles and teaching. Yet, where is John going with this, and why did he include it? But before we undertake to solve this mystery, let us first read the text in question. John 2:1-11 [with comments in brackets] reads: And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the . . .

Why aren't you using the right Coffee Maker

It's unbievable, but when you start your search for a new coffee maker, you will find a huge variety to choose from. The first step in choosing the right one is deciding what type you want. This depends on what kind of drinks you want to prepare. Your basic decision here is if you want traditional coffee or a specialty drink. A standard machine is preferred by people who like the taste of weake. . .

How to Connect Features and Values

"Buy this magazine or we'll shoot the dog," went a memorable cover for the satire magazine National Lampoon many years ago. On the cover, along with the threat, was the picture of an attractive dog with large sad eyes - and a pistol pointed at its head! Want a powerful way to make sure your message leaves an impression on the people who receive it? Talk about the consequences that will occur as. . .

Signs You Might Be A Cat

SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE A CAT Copyright 2005, Michael LaRocca You can get cuddles whenever you want them. You yowl loudly if your litter box is not clean. You yowl loudly at the full moon. You yowl loudly for no reason. Floor swimming! Ping Pong balls! You find yourself bathing Daddy every day because he doesn't know how to clean himself. You don't understand the language that your pet humans use, b. . .

Reprint article headlines – the reader is secondary

A great headline can be the difference between having your free reprint article published once (on your own website...) and having it published hundreds, if not thousands, of times all over the Internet. Sure, the content has to be worthwhile; it has to be helpful, informative, and not just a sales spiel. And there’s no denying that a well written article can be very compelling. But if your hea. . .

Hurricane Cats

HURRICANE CATS Copyright 2005, Michael LaRocca You like cats, don't you? Some people don't like cats. Daddy doesn't like cats. Daddy's best friend, Bill Ball, loves his cats. Their names are Clipper and Keebles. Clipper and Keebles are large cats, longhaired blurs of gray, ginger, white, brown, and maybe something else. Whenever Daddy visits Bill Ball, they sit on the porch and drink beer. (The. . .

Is your employee newsletter management propaganda?

It should not be. If it is an effective newsletter, it will serve the needs of readers (employees) as much as it serves the needs of the publisher (management). Let me explain how to ensure it serves employees as well as management, by reviewing four key points I make in A Manager’s Guide to Newsletters: Communicating for Results. Objectives and reader responses: First, state your objectives i. . .

Letting Go of Control

Living your joy is more than just the tasks on your to do list. This article teaches you how to open your heart and make a quantum leap in your impact. One of the most wonderful aspects of living your dream are the unexpected gifts that appear along the way. As many of you know, I have spent the winter writing a two-character musical which my partner and I will soon perform in various location. . .

Dump that Overhead Projector!

What is it about overhead projectors that causes us to become lousy communicators? Why do our speeches or presentations lose much of their steam when we use overheads? Well, for starters, we often give more attention to the overheads than the audience. It can't be helped. After all, we have to pick up the right overhead, separate it from the next one, get it on the projector properly, check it . . .

Is PR Right for You? 6 Questions to Ask

When most people think about marketing, they think advertising. While advertising is a part of marketing, marketing is much bigger than advertising. There are lots of different marketing methods floating around out there, and the challenge as a business owner is figuring out when it's appropriate to use each one and the best way to use it. Public relations, or PR, is the art of getting someone . . .

Two-Step Your Communication

Ever use someone else to get your message out? For example, big, multi-location companies sometimes make important announcements through local plant or office managers, rather than at head office. Another example: advocacy groups that ask their members to individually write or call politicians. Both examples illustrate what's called a two-step communication strategy - getting extra mileage out . . .

Students Searching for a Job

Searching for a job has become easier than ever for those who are graduating from school and looking to enter the workforce. Many schools offer guidance services as well as networking opportunities for graduates looking for work after finishing school. Recruiters often work hand in hand with career services on a number of campuses to connect with the kind of individuals they have in mind for . . .

Searching for Employment

Searching for a job can be a daunting and confusing task for anyone, whether he or she is just entering the job market, looking for a better job or find him or herself without a job after several years with one employer. A job search can be successful when the person looking for a job knows exactly what they should and should not do when looking for a new job. Once a person has located a job . . .

Searching for an IT

Looking for an IT job is one of the easiest to perform due to the incredibly high demand in the IT field. As the Internet grows, corporations network through Intranets – even the advancement of science has the demand for anyone with IT skills at an all time high. Computer technology continues to advance, change and grow and, in turn, increases the demand for new and diverse IT jobs. A job se. . .

Negotiating a Raise, New Job Title, or Bonuses

Written by Teena Rose, a columnist, public speaker, and certified/published resume [http://www.resumebycprw.com] writer with Resume to Referral. She’s authored several books, including "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer" and "Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales." Negotiation is a give-and-take process until an eventual agreement is reached between two or more parties. To understand the art of . . .

Searching for Jobs Online

Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also more confusing than ever. Any Internet user doing a job search online will find that they can choose from hundreds of national employment listing web sites and the numbers can often be staggering. When performing on online job search, it is a good idea to choose from an online employment classified web site that allows for regional searc. . .

Searching for an Executive Job

A job search for executives is far less complicated today than it has been in the past. Anyone who is looking for an executive job can simply look to the Internet where there are hundreds of employment websites, with many specifically geared towards executives. These websites offer individuals the opportunity to network with other executives in order to share ideas, offer communication about o. . .

When Gifts Say More

What's a gift mean? If you're like me, you probably focus on the giving and the getting. But, have you thought of gifts as a medium, a channel, for communication? In a book called The Gift, French anthropologist Marcel Mauss argues that gifts are universally used to create and manage relationships. For those of us interested in business communication, the idea of managing work relationships wit. . .

Pray for the "Peace of Jerusalem"+

Please pray, daily, for the next chapter in The LORD GOD Jesus Christ's plan [this will please Jesus, the 'Maker of all Things', a lot]: Psalms 122: 6-9 [GOOD NEWS BIBLE-Industrial Strength 1976 Edition] "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you prosper. May there be peace inside your walls and safety in your palaces.' For the sake of my brothers and friends I say to Jerusalem,. . .

Change, or Reinforce?

Do you know about the distinction - and it's a useful one - between communication that tries to reinforce and communication that tries to get change? If you follow politics you'll already be familiar with this idea: Incumbents send messages that reinforce existing voter behavior, while challengers call for changes. Any thoughtful marketing communication (and political communication is marketing. . .

Who are you?!?

A lot of people never find their niche, or place in life because they don't even know what their name means, and how it applies (sometimes now a 'figure of speech') to 21st Century life. God gives us all our names, and they indicate where our potential lies to fully express ourselves, to become something we love to do, or even survive sometimes! The first name on the birth certificate is the . . .

Inside Your Customer's Shoes. Comfy, or..

Article URL: http://WorkatHomeSupertips.com/Article/cust_shoes.html?az Article Autoresponder: mailto:cust_shoes@WorkatHomeSupertips.com?az Examining customer buying habits is as old as selling itself. In pre-historic times, Mr. Slate could have watched Fred Flintstone's buying habits, invested in Bronto Burgers, and made a killing off Fred alone. All he needed to do was make them more acces. . .

True Spirituality

The world is full of religions, and none of them work....is life improving, with love for all, or getting worse? (The world, then, is full of what?) When one is serious about a relationship with the 'Maker of All Things', that person needs to know who he is talking to. With the fall of Adam & Eve (real history), the spiritual connection between GOD and the human race was broken. We are all bo. . .

LOVE is the Real Thing!!

Love was designed by GOD for relationships between himself and his angels & humans, and between each other. You cannot "love" yourself...that is why masturbation, with all its fantasies, is sin...it is self-centered (which is the fallen sin condition that Eve & Adam caused)! When we are saved by the Holy Spirit, we become others-centered like GOD is, and He begins to re-create us from the insi. . .

The Declaration of RE-Independence

The Declaration of RE-Independence [Prospectus: The Individual vs. The Corporate Conscience] While the term "individual", as regards each of us, has "gone to seed" in the human race, the ethics of the corporate has gone to hell. We humans have lost sight of our own horizon. While a nation of participants ("We the People" turned into a loose collection of spectators, the business of America m. . .

1st Class on the TITANIC---

***365 of the planet's richest people, (including Bill Gates), have as much $$$ as 2.6 BILLION of the poorest [which is totally obscene!!!]. That is only 43 more people than were in 1st Class on the TITANIC! [There were 322 of them] In order for these greedy rich to be so wealthy, they have to keep billions poor, many homeless! In this ordered Universe, there are specific blessings distributed. . .

'great satan': The REAL people's war!

[ "The trouble with ignorance is that you don't know it when you need it!"---Jim Sorrell ] For years ignorance & emotion has clouded the issue when Arabs, or anyone else, point to some country or people and call them "the great satan"! (As Iraq cleric al-Sadr has done.) When will people learn that Satan, himself, IS the 'great satan'? [The very real, as Real as YOU are, fallen angel Lucifer, . . .

Communicating Across Time Horizons

There was a time in my life when I sold life insurance. Well, to be frank, I tried to sell life insurance. With little success. And while I didn't sell any insurance, I did learn a thing or two, and I'd like to explore one of them with you today - time horizons. Some of the prospective policyholders I met could visualize themselves well into the future, say 20 or 30 years into the future. They . . .

Searching for a Federal Job

Many years ago searching for a federal job was a long, complicated and drawn out process. Today, it has been become far less complex and is now just a three-step process. Finding a federal job used to be accomplished through postings in a government office branch and sometimes in libraries. Today, finding an opening can be done right on the Internet. There is a web site that lists federal j. . .

Communicating In Chaotic Environments

How do you, or would you, communicate in a chaotic environment? That question was put to me by a reader who works in big, frantically-paced telecommunications company. Many projects operate at the same time, and many connections exist among the project teams. In this environment, teams work independently, but at the same time depend on each other for critical information. Without that informati. . .

Subtle Emotion - The Key To Copy That Works

by Karon Thackston © 2005 http://www.marketingwords.com Say the word "emotion" to a man, and he'll immediately jump out of his seat and run from the room! Utter the word "emotion" to a woman, and she begins to conjure up thoughts of romantic, long talks centered around feelings. However, speak the word "emotion" to a copywriter and s/he should see dollar signs. Why? Because a good command . . .

Why good installed plantation shutters can add protection to your home

Plantation shutters offer both to today’s homeowner. These unique window treatments trace their roots to ancient Greece. The Greeks used them for both privacy and security. Interior shutters were used to close windows. Along with imposing columns, shutters are hallmarks of Classical Greek Architecture. This ancient order and form in building design later influenced buildings and architect. . .

Creating More Effective Proposals

The need for good proposals - the business kind, not the marriage kind - struck me again a couple of days ago, when I received a poor proposal. I had talked on the phone with a sales rep, and then she followed up with a proposal. You know what? Her proposal was even worse than her live sales pitch. It was a completely canned message, which wasted her time and mine. With that, some thoughts on c. . .

Communicating with Offsite Workers

How do you, or would you, communicate with employees who work offsite? Perhaps you have telecommuters reporting to you, or sales reps who work out of offices in other cities. How do you communicate with them? Let's start with the strategic issues: what do you want to accomplish by communicating with them? And, why would they want to communicate with you? Strategic means you'll probably want to . . .

The SEO Rip-Off

I have decide to write this article as a result of numerous emails. It seems more and more people are falling victim to bad SEO. The main complaint is that they are paying entirely too much for little or no results. Additionally, many fall prey to bad SEO practices. If you plan to hire an SEO pro in the future, I suggest you use this article as a set of guidelines. Before going with any SEO fir. . .

Get Speaking

On a recent Sunday evening, I watched a friend ‘graduate' from a beginner's class for stand-up comedians. Needless to say, I saw many levels of competence and talent as the nine students gave their 10 minute ‘commencement speeches' before an audience of perhaps 250, mostly friends and family. Some, obviously, would never make it to prime time. Others have a good chance, given determination and . . .

Getting to Consensus

The need to get people in an organization to pull together comes out often in discussions about communication. Let's think of it as getting to consensus, to roll a bunch of similar issues into one ball. Further, let's think of getting to consensus as a process. That is, something that happens as the result of a series of deliberate actions on our part. We start the process by analyzing the curr. . .

Pitching to Employees

The senior flight attendant on the WestJet flight was starting the routine safety talk: the bit about flotation vests and emergency exits that we ignore at the beginning of every flight. "If we could have your attention, please, we would appreciate it - in fact we'd be downright shocked," she said. The passengers and the rest of the crew laughed along with her and then, having captured our atte. . .

Listening Strategically

Usually, we're most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our messages out to others. But finding ways to hear what's going on around us can be just as important. Let's start by identifying three different types of listening we do. The first type - informal listening - comes naturally, as in listening to another person. I take in what you have to say, and how you say it. A second type,. . .

Linking Features & Benefits

I'm sure that you've had those Eureka! moments, too. When a piece of information suddenly helped you see or understand something that hadn't been apparent before. For me, one came when I discovered means-end analysis, a marketing concept that helps us understand why listeners or readers might respond -- or not respond -- to our messages. It does this by clarifying the relationship between produ. . .

Email Newsletters: Privacy and Unsubscribing

As you likely know from personal experience, the value of email has been greatly tarnished by spam, unsolicited messages, online junk mail. So, many subscribers and would-be subscribers care very much about the exposure of their email addresses. Since this issue is so important, articulate a privacy policy for your newsletter. Will you rent, sell, or exchange the names of your subscribers to ot. . .

Email Newsletters: The Header

Managing Subscriber addresses: At the top of your email message you see the header, where you insert addresses and a subject heading. It all looks simple enough, but there are some tricks and tips you should know, and one very important warning. Let’s start with that warning: In addressing your newsletter, do not put subscriber names or email addresses in the TO or the CC (Carbon Copy) field. A. . .

Strategic Clarity for Communication Management

Over the past few weeks I've been developing plans for a communication project, a media relations campaign. That's prompted me to reflect again on the communication management process by which we transform communication ideas into operational activities. For me, the communication management process has four phases: conception (strategy); development (tactics); operations (execution); and review. . .

Managing Internet Addresses in Your Email Newsletter

Web and email addresses pose a special challenge for writers and publishers of email newsletters and ezines. I don’t know about you, but I find it frustrating when I have to copy and paste an address into a browser, or into a separate email window. Especially when I know how easy it is for the writer or publisher to put in ‘live’ links that allow readers to reach a destination or to create a n. . .

How to Format Your Email Newsletter

When subscribers’ email readers (programs) receive your text newsletter, they will display it in all kinds of ways. Not only are there different programs, but each one has several customization options. One of the problems arising out of this diversity is line length. In extreme cases, recipients will get one extremely long line for each paragraph, because their email programs have not wrapped. . .

Email Newsletter Software

What software do I need? Should I create my newsletter in a word processor or email program? Which email program should I use? Those questions came from a visitor to the Manager’s Guide to Newsletters website. She planned to start an email newsletter that would go to parents of students at her school and wanted to know about the software she would need. In response, we’ll look at these two imp. . .

Mind Mapping

Ever been on a project where you had trouble keeping all the 'if' questions straight? "If this happens," you say, "we'll do one thing. But, if that happens, we'll do something else instead, but only on a Wednesday." In cases like these, especially with high stakes, you may have drawn a diagram on a piece of paper. That way you could visualize the forks in the path ahead, while still seeing the . . .

The Kolbrin – Ancient Warnings of Modern Threats

Free Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. TITLE: The Kolbrin – Ancient Warnings of Modern Threats AUTHORS: Marshall Masters and Janice Manning PUB DATE: May 2005 CATEGORY: Comparative Religon, Space Threats, Philosophy W. . .

"End-Times" and the "Other" Bible

Free Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. TITLE: “End-Times” and the “Other” Bible AUTHORS: Marshall Masters and Janice Manning PUB DATE: May 2005 CATEGORY: Christian, Prophecy WEB SITE: http://yowbooks.com ARTICL. . .

Top 5 Rules of English Grammar

Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules make the written words understood. A writer should make the reader's job easier by communicating what he or she wants to communicate. If you also want to write, pay respect to your readers. Don't take them for granted. Learning and understanding the basic rules of English Grammar, you will surely be able to avoid ill-formed, c. . .

Army recovers terrorists’ bodies from avalanche-hit areas in South Kashmir

Source: www.himalayanaffairs.org JAMMU, FEB 26 As the death toll in the avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir is increasing day by day, the security forces have recovered the bodies of few terrorists who had taken shelter in the foothills of Pir Panjal mountain ranges to escape the clutches of security forces. Little did these terrorists know that they wouldn’t be able to escape Nature’s fury even if. . .

Marketing Your Agency's Writing Services In An Environment Dominated By Free Content

There is some wisdom in saying that when you are in the jungle and are faced with a hungry bear, you’d better be good at thinking on your feet. If you’re not strong, be quick. This is also the case in today's publishing environment. If you are looking at these ezine articles, you are either in need of content, or have just submitted your own article and are now seeing if it stands out from the . . .

Need a Great Idea? Feed Your Brain

A lot of great ideas happen when two or more other ideas collide to form something completely new. Think of this like those old chemistry movies we used to watch in school. You had all of those atoms floating around and when two collided -- bam! A chemical reaction. Maybe something new was created. Maybe something exploded. Or maybe it all fizzled out and nothing happened. Well, a similar reac. . .

Do Ezine Articles Still play a vital role in online marketing?

When you frequently post articles on ezines, you might be aware that you are an active participant in the art of publishing at grass roots level. You will know that 'planting your seeds’ is part of a longer term strategy. But what in reality is happening on the trajectory from planting the seed to seeing traffic numbers jump and your site’s visibility increase? And is this in line with what’s h. . .

Author Publicity Kit Items

If you're a new author that has been requested to send publicist materials, you may feel left in the dark on what to send. Here's a list of the usual items. 1. Author Bio This is no place for modesty. You're competing with many other authors out there and need to show how your hot and worth it. Remember to include your accomplishments and give a little background information. Often readers want. . .

The World's Oldest Democracy Was Truly Romantic

You can still see the visible remnants of the world’s eldest democracy in a town in the Carantania region in what is now Austria. Here, during the early Middle Ages, the tribal society of a Slav people managed to live for over 100 years without being invaded. Out of sheer happiness, they invented a democratic system of rule. They did not call it a democracy but the word invented later a direct . . .

Features vs. Benefits vs. End Results

by Karon Thackston © 2005 http://www.copywritingcourse.com If you've been in the copywriting realm for very long at all, you've heard the phrase "features vs. benefits." It's a fundamental copywriting principle and driving force behind much of what we, as copywriters, create. But there's also another aspect to this equation. What happens after customers buy your product or service? Once t. . .

Marketing Your Agency's Writing Skills

How does a writing agency market itself effectively in a cyber reality that’s bursting with free content? Writers these days are having a tough time competing for business. The game is complicated and the rules are changing. The mini culture of ezine publishing is quite representative of the wider internet; if you write an article about your very own writing boutique, you generally are expected. . .

Search Engine Marketing with Blogs

Blogs are fast becoming the SEO tool of choice by many webmasters. Why? Content. Search engines love content. The more content your blog can provide on a steady basis, the better your ability to increase traffic. Blogs are easy to start and anyone can for more effective SEO management. What content do you place in your blog? You can place any useful information or articles about your product o. . .

Setting goals -- Your ticket to success

You know that old saying -- if you don't know where you're going, any path will get you there. That's what happens if you don't take the time to figure out what your goals are and WRITE them down. There's power in writing things down. Trust me, I'm a writer. I KNOW. Figuring out your goals is probably one of the most important and one of the most overlooked steps for creative professionals star. . .

Writing and Publishing In a Changing Climate

A few years ago, I worked for a specialist Africa news publishing house and encountered for the first time in my journalistic career the phenomenon of publishing expert articles written by non-journalists. The idea of making a publication the centerpiece of a number of a number of readers that had an interest in knowing what their competitors were thinking, doing and who they were talking to wa. . .

Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

We've all met people who are "negative" – negative thinkers who consistently see the glass as half empty. In certain situations, particularly stressful ones, even the most positive person can fall victim to this distorted thinking. As a creative artist, this kind of thinking can keep us away from our art and can keep us from enjoying it even when we manage to keep at it. Distorted Perceptions S. . .

6 Steps to Clear, Acne-Free Skin

6 Steps to Clear, Acne-Free Skin Hundreds of medications, treatments, cleansers and cosmetics are available for people with acne, but the most important elements of an acne-fighting program won’t cost you a cent. 1. Nourish your skin by eating a healthy and balanced diet. Most health care specialists agree that a healthy diet will benefit your skin. Cut down on caffeine, sugar and refined carb. . .

Inside Elance: Thirteen Writers Explain Why Elance Works for Them

Browsing through the writing projects at Elance, one thing stands out. It’s the “Recent Earnings” figures listed with each bidder’s name. These aren’t fake figures – these figures show what real writers have been able to earn and they range from $1000 to $60,000. If some writers are making $60,000 a year, then Elance looks like a great opportunity for writers. Yet, a lot of the talk is against . . .