The Bloggers Corner

Thesis Wordpress Theme

2008-07-27T00:18:00.001-07:00

Looking for a good Premium Wordpress Theme for your blog? I've got a recommendation to make... try Thesis Premium Wordpress Theme.

What's Thesis Premium Wordpress Theme?

Thesis Wordpress Theme is the best Wordpress theme optimized for search engines. You should know that search engines are the best sources of traffic online. According to studies, traffic from search engines are the best to monetize. Hence, it is important that you consider search engine optimization in your blog. The best way to start optimizing your blog for search engine is to start it with your Wordpress theme.

If you are wondering why you get little traffic from search engines despite the many posts you've already published... then it's about time you check on your Wordpress theme. The problem is probably with your "UNOPTIMIZED" Wordpress theme and if you don't act now, you'll be losing tons and tons of traffic.

I'm a satisfied user of Thesis Wordpress Theme designed by the Wordpress Theme god... Chris Pearson. I'm also confidently recommending it to anyone who want to buy the best SEO'd Wodpress Theme. My index rate with Google (number of page indexed by Google) has increase since I've used Thesis. Right after using Thesis Wordpress Theme, the number of pages indexed by Google go up to over 70 from 21 pages.

Why Thesis Wordpress Theme?

1. Thesis Wordpress Theme is the best Search Engine Optimized Wordpress Theme.
2. Lifetime upgrade and support. (No additional payment necessary to access the updated version.)
3. Thesis Wordpress Theme doesn't require you to be knowledgeable to html, css and php. Anyone from code geeks to newbees can actually use it.
4. Easy customization.
5. Helpful Support community.
6. Elegant design.
7. Publish like a PRO with its styling features.
8. Exciting future updates. (You can even suggest what you want to see in the coming updates).
8. Of course, it's another work of Chris Pearson so expect only the best.

What are you waiting for? Head over to Thesis Wordpress Theme and grab yourself a copy....

You can also check these Free Search Engine Optimized Wordpress Themes...

How to Drive Website Traffic Using StumbleUpon

2008-02-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

StumbleUpon is a second generation website that allows its users to discover interesting web pages and sites without doing a search in a search engine. You install a tool bar in your browser and channel surf the web by clicking a button on the tool bar.

You sign up at StumbleUpon website and list your interests. When you click on the surf button in your browser tool bar, you are randomly directed to a webpage that matches your interests. If you like the contents or the website offerings, you can tag the page and give it a thumbs-up. If you don't like it, simply ignore the site or give it a negative vote, a thumbs-down, if you feel the site has employed some trickery to draw your attention.

You can also use the StumbleUpon tool bar for social bookmarking. When you find a new and interesting webpage, you can tag it and share it with others. Click the Send to button in the StumbleUpon tool bar to send the webpage you are on to a friend in your StumbleUpon network.

It is possible to get a massive amount of traffic from StumbleUpon. If you have an interesting or useful article, blog page, or an entire site, you can include it in StumbleUpon. If lots of StumbleUpon users thumbs up your page, you will get a large amount of traffic in a very short time period.

Besides a sizable number of thumbs-up by StumbleUpon users, there are other factors that help drive traffic to a site in StumbleUpon. The number of StumbleUpon friends, the type of friends and their profiles, the number of sites you have stumbled, and the number of reviews you have gotten in the past all determine traffic volume to your site. Another factor is the broad tagging of your article by other StumbleUpon users.

What are the other benefits of being stumbled besides a short-time traffic surge? Your website will get exposure and many visitors will comeback regularly. If your site is a blog, you will instantly increase your reader base. You will also get numerous backlinks from other StumbleUpon users who run websites.

To increase the repeat visits by StumbleUpon users, your site should have a professional design, in-depth contents, richly blended ads, and a memorable URL.

StumbleUpon users like video, humor, and web 2.0 sites. However, the monetization potential from StumbleUpon users using affiliate or contextual ads like Google Adsense is very low because these users are very fickle and want to click to the next site using the StumbleUpon button in their tool bar.

Like any social network, your goal should not be to use the system for driving traffic only to your site. Stumble other high quality and useful sites for others to benefit from information you posses. Develop a good online social network using StumbleUpon, share websites with others and have fun.

Dr Deepak Dutta, creator of oldest online free classified site, has launched DigMyPage.com to help website owners build links and increase traffic using MySpace type free pages and Digg style free submissions.

MORE BLOGGING TIPS

Special Contest - FruitfulTime Task Manager Giveaway!
Netizens - Immune To Advertisements
50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank - Submit Your Blog For Free With No Reciprocal Link Needed
Make Money From Your Blog With BlgAds.com
Sunday Link Love - The Better Blogging Platform (Blogger vs. Wordpress)
Simple Blogging Tips To Improve Your Blog’s Page View
Entrecard Traffic - Disliked By Advertisers
How I Broke Alexa Top 100K In Less Than 3 Months
How To Get More Information About Your Blog Readers
The 3 Benefits Of Knowing Your Blog Readers

The Secret Of Writing Successful Business Letters

2008-02-03T05:33:00.000-08:00

The business letters help communicate with business acquaintances just like the other popular mode of communication but with a major difference. Business letters go down in a transaction, as having evidenced whatever matter of relevance, being communicated. But on a normal business day, a business letter puts on record facts and figures which can be referred later unlike what telecommunication does.

The Basics of Writing an Effective Business Letter
To get to the basics, you must understand that business letters are bound by sort of unwritten regulations of which, some are specific to the type of letter you are writing. Point number two: Business letters are always written on the organizations? letterheads. Three: The language used must be formal regardless of the occasion and matter.

Address the person by titles like Dear Mr., Dear Ms. Director; General Manager, if you don?t know their names and it is fine to use their names when you know. The title Ms., is an important one to watch since you can?t write Miss or Mrs., unless you know for sure.

Then there is the section on reference on which you are writing; give a subject title to your letter indicative of the body of your letter.

Blogging tips begin the matter by explaining your intentions to write and straight away come to the body. For example, you can begin with ??I am writing to enquire about?? if this is a general or a purchase enquiry letter. For communicating discrepancies, begin something like ?We are deeply disappointed to see your fax message regarding ... treating the ....? continuing the letter, you can suggest or state in definitive words, as the case may be, ?We demand a complete refund of?? or ?Our management has decided to return the consignment for??

The closing remarks must be in their formal best. While thanking the reader, you can end it like, yours sincerely, in case you have addressed the letter to none in particular, and then thanking by yours truly is appropriate.

Secret of Business Letter Writing
Business letters are also documental evidences apart from being tools of communications. The language, the tone and the format always remain broadly same regardless of the relation you share with the person whom you are writing to.

The business letter drafter must be communicating the matter in full awareness of the subject matter and the eventual consequences of writing it. A wrong or omitted statement could severely deal a blow (Missed skill in your job application, for example.) Make use of common sense and internet guides, if needed.

Blogging Tips From Blogging Mix

Why It Is Better To Network With Non Probloggers
Win Your Blog a New Wordpress Theme
Submit Your Blog At Baidu.com
Promote Your Blog For Free Through Social Bookmarking Sites
34 Sites That Pay Bloggers To Blog
The 7 Wonders of the Blogosphere
Win A Block Magazine Wordpress Theme Designed By Wordpress Rockstar Adii
Update On Adsense Referral Programs
2008 - Blogging In The Year Of The Rat
Advertise at JohnChow and Problogger Through Entrecard

MLM: Turning a Profit on Your Investment

2008-01-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

When we commence our MLM business, we are preoccupied with the thoughts of money making within a short period. But many hopes which we build in the air, are baseless and falsifying. Let's do a short study to know what a businessman requires to do before we come to know how to generate income quickly. Surf the internet websites to have the phone contacts of the franchises like blogging tips, McDonalds, GNC, Subway or a Verizon Wireless store. Ring those franchises up to get an idea of the time period required to get profit from your business. It is guaranteed that the answer must be more than two years; even some replies will be three or four years.

Ask the same question to any buddy of yours who is the proprietor of a construction business, convenient store or a nail salon, if you are reluctant to ask the franchises. You will get the same reply.

You can now argue that network marketing business is different. But it is a crazy idea to expect profit peeping out at the end of a week. If we don't think this way, we go ahead and think childishly that our company or sponsor is the culprit.

A survey done recently about a high traffic home business blog unveiled the result given below....the question was how quickly you are capable of turning a profit in MLM business.

1st month - 25%
2nd-3rd month - 44%
3rd-1year - 19%
1year-2 years - 15%
2-3 years - 0%

So the result shows that over 2/3 of the people polled think that they will be able to turn a profit within or less than 3 months. The real picture is different - less than 10% are capable of turning a period within that short period. Sometimes we get informed that many big MLMers see money as soon as they enter into a company. It is possible if those MLMers have brought lots of new recruits with them at the time of joining the business. An average networker like me and you and like the 95 % of MLMers should focus on the 3 months to a year category.

A new MLM business is quite different from a new franchise business. The former doesn't require a couple of years or more to turn a profit like the latter. Still not expecting anything before 3 to 12 months will relieve you from stress. The first 5 months should be used in covering the cost of monthly autoship product which is around $100, cost of buying leads or marketing which is around $100-200 each month. You make profit when your residual income is more than the money involved in marketing and autoship. But it will be foolish to think of recovering your capital in the business.

In short, you have to be pragmatic and practical. Remember that business is an unpredictable venture. You never know about the future. So instead of pondering over the thoughts of quick money making, work diligently to be showered with money in the future days! God bless you.

Tips From Blogging Mix

Tips On Maintaining And Keeping Your Blog Readers
The Art of Link Seduction
Increase Technorati Authority and Blog Ranking
Blogging Is Not Always About Writing
Blogging Mix - Quick News Update

Do You Want to Know Why Blogging is so Popular?

2008-01-13T05:21:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard of blogging, you are probably living under a rock. There are many reasons why blogging is so popular these days, but the biggest reason is probably that blogging is so simple, and so accessible to everyone. Blogging Tips. Everybody wants to be heard - no matter who they are or what they think. We all have thoughts and opinions - and we are finally able to express those thoughts and opinions!

In the past, only people who understood the in's and out's of creating a website were able to get their thoughts, opinions, feelings, or interests in print. Now, anyone with access to a computer with an Internet connection can be set up and blogging in five minutes flat. If you don't have a computer in your home, you can visit your public library and blog. You can visit your friend's house and blog. You can go to an Internet caf? and blog. Students even blog from their computer classes during school hours! Everybody can blog, and that is why blogging is so popular today.

Blogging does not require a website. A domain name is not required. You do not need to know how to set up a webpage. All you need to know is how to type - and if you can even do that with two fingers - 'search and peck style' - you can blog. It really is that simple. If you want to set up a blog, just visit a site like Blogger at http://www.blogger.com and set up a free account. It takes less than five minutes.

The wide variety of uses of a blog is another reason why blogging is so popular. If you want to keep a personal journal, you can do so with a blog. If you want to set up a way to keep family members in touch, a blog provides the answer. If you need to keep employees up-to-date on projects or company news, again a blog can provide you with a very simple, very fast way to do it. Visit Blogger and surf around and take a look at the things that people blog about! Every topic that you can imagine is there!

Blogging has become what newsgroups used to be - only instead of being accessible only through a newsreader or email blogs are accessible with any web browser, on any computer system that has an Internet connection - no membership required, and no fees to pay - unless you choose a blogging service that is fee based.

People who were unknown and unheard yesterday have a huge following today. People are interested in other people's thoughts and opinions - and even in the day-to-day events in their lives. As a global society, blogs offer us yet another method for sharing and exchanging information - no matter what the topic is.

Individuals have even learned to make money with their blogs. You can sell ad space if your blog is popular. You can also sign up with some of the blog advertising networks to find advertisers. Google AdSense is a popular way to profit from blogs. Another option is to promote affiliate products and services that are related to the content of your blogs. Some people have even figured out how to earn a living with their blogs! Is it any wonder why blogging is so popular?

Weekend Link Love

2008-01-06T06:09:00.001-08:00

Here are some great reads for you to enjoy. :)

Great Posts - Link Love Sunday

Lessons I’ve Learned About Networking

Elite Numbers Up For Grabs

Why It Is Better To Network With Non Probloggers

34 Sites That Pay Bloggers To Blog

Link Building Services Help to Obtain Page Rank and Web Traffic

2007-11-18T04:31:00.000-08:00

It is the act of making other websites link to your site allowing flow of traffic. It is one of the ways of making a website stand out in the web. Our company provides link building services to obtain quality external inbound links through various link building campaigns.

We realize that link popularity is the way to expand the popularity of the site and help the site get indexed for higher search engine rankings. The foundation of any link building campaign is to get links from authority websites. Our link building services includes obtaining links from quality, relevant and niche sites for our clients’ sites.

• We provide directory link building services that can boost traffic to your site and literally increase your position in major search engines. We can assure you of submitting your site’s URL to niche and relevant directories.
• Our press releases submission services include publishing press releases to different PR sites so as to bring out the updated news regarding your site to the online readers. We are also in the service of writing press releases for you to let your message spread across the web.
• With our article marketing service we submit articles, either written by you or by our content writers, to different article sites. This kind of link building campaign can help to virtually increase traffic to your site.
• Business blogging is another way of link building practice. As blogging is considered as the way to share your views online you can use our business blogging service to develop business blogs and communication with the customers.
• Our link building service manages quality links for your site from related and reputed sites. These kinds of links include both one-way and reciprocal link building.

Link building is significant as they boost traffic, increase the page rank and ranking in SERPs as well. However, care should be taken to perform the task carefully and effectively. With our link building service you will get continuous observation on your site’s performance in the search engines.

Search engines consider quality external inbound links to be votes or recommendations for the site. Our credible link building service can increase your site’s popularity in World Wide Web and hence, meet your expectation of online business.

RELEVANT ARTICLES

Blogging Challenge : Improve Alexa Rank

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Monetize Your Blog With PayPerPost

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Promote Your Blog Content For FREE!

Bloggers Unite In BlogCatalog's Act of Kindness Challenge

Free Blogger Templates and Free Webmaster Tools

2007-10-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a screen shot of one of the 4 column blogger templates you can found at 4 Column Templates For Blogger.

You can find more free four column Blogger templates when you visit the blog.

Here's a link to my previous post on free three column Blogger templates.

Wordpress Themes Converted For The New Blogger.

Create Your Own Free Three or Two Column Blogspot Templates

Free Templates For New Blogger

Free Unique, Themed, Two and Three Columns Blogger Templates

Free Blogspot Templates Converted From Wordpress Themes

Free Blogskins For Blogger, Xanga, Movable Type etc.

Free Templates For Blogger (Classic Templates, Blogger Beta or New Blogger) - Part I

Free Templates For Blogger (Classic Templates, Blogger Beta or New Blogger) - Part II

Cost Free Three Column Templates For New Blogger

I hope that you'll find the links useful. The links and posts on Free Blogger templates will continue to grow over the coming days as I search for more websites or blogs that offers free Blogger templates. If you know of a website or a blog that offers free Blogger templates that hasn't been included on my list, please inform me through my email - bloggingmix[at]gmail[dot]com or you can just leave a comment on this post.

You might also be interested in these free useful tools you can use to evaluate your blog's performance.

Check Your Alexa Traffic Rank
View and compare Alexa Ranking graphs.

Check Your Website for Broken Links
Use this tool to check for broken links on a website.

Reciprocal Link Checker
Check your reciprocal links to see if link partners are still linking back to your site.

Website Speed Test
Find out how fast a specific website loads.

Google Banned Checker
Discover whether a website is banned on Google.

Index Checker
Check for the total number of pages of a specific website which are present on search engines.

Page Rank Checker
View Google PageRank on different Google servers.

Source Code Viewer
View the source code of a page.

Search Engine Position
Check your search engine positions on Google Search Engine.

Keyword Density Checker
This tool is useful for helping webmasters achieve optimum keyword distribution.

Search Listings Preview
Create a preview of how your website will appear on Google, MSN and Yahoo Search.

Domain Whois
Find all the information you need on any domain name. Check the DNS settings, Registrar details and much more.

Google PageRank Prediction
This predictor tool does what it says, it predicts your future Google PageRank.

Keyword Suggestion
Find related keywords matching your search.

Meta-tags Generator
Generate and configure your meta-tags.

Meta-tags Generator
Make a long web address short and easy to remember.

Link Price Calculator
Estimate how much to pay for a link.

Domain Availability Checker
Check for available domain names.

Thank you for using these free tools. I hope you found them useful.

Web Accessibility - The Law and The Opportunity

2007-09-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

“What are my legal obligations in (the UK, Ireland, Australia, or the US) regarding web accessibility?” This or some variation of it is one of the most common questions heard in this business. If positive publicity and increased business together make “the carrot”, as it were, questions of legal responsibility or vulnerability to litigation make up “the stick”.

It would be nice if companies would make their web presence as accessible as possible to those with handicaps just because modern technology makes it possible or because they feel it’s the right thing to do but that just isn’t the world we find ourselves in. The carrot and the stick guide most of our decisions.

So what does the law say? Well, in most of the English speaking world as well as the EU a company or organization providing information, a service or selling something must make “a reasonable effort” to make their sites accessible. But this reasonable effort is the stickler. It’s something which defies easy or absolute definition. One could interpret it to mean that just about any nod toward website accessibility could suffice, but that attitude could prove dangerous. As web owners and developers become more educated about this issue it seems more likely the bar defining “reasonable” will rise.

It is becoming common knowledge that accessibility need not compromise a site’s visual style nor need it increase the cost of development or maintenance much. It therefore becomes harder to defend a low minimum accessibility standard – in the boardroom and in the courtroom.

Think of it as something similar to sexual harassment law, policy, and response. There was a time when the concept of workplace sexual harassment was not broadly understood or known in the professional world. It had to be argued that it existed, was a problem, and required positive action in a workplace becoming more modern and diverse. Some companies were quicker to understand and adopt policies and to understand that they weren’t written in stone but need to be adaptable in an ever changing environment. Some went further and sought ways to take advantage of the changes, to embrace them. Other companies held more old fashioned attitudes and only faced up to necessary change after expensive litigation. In 1950, for instance, I very much doubt even the most forward looking advocates of gender rights would have predicted attitudes held today by most professional women and men alike regarding fairness in the workplace, what contributes to a hostile working environment, and the various other related issues. And I also doubt that same advocate would have predicted that fear of lawsuits and bad publicity associated with them now make most firms very pro-active in their sexual harassment policy. Once again – education followed by carrot and stick.

We are now in a time when companies, governments, and the general public are becoming aware of website accessibility issues – some faster, some slower. It is a time when technology, for the first time in human history, is making information available to people with a broad range disabilities. For instance the blind can now “read” the daily newspaper online without assistance, they can research vacation packages, comparison shop for good and services, and hold jobs which only a couple years ago would have been inaccessible. The laws and attitudes concerning what is necessary to help those people access that information are certain to evolve and as with gender issues a few decades ago – the companies who accept and even embrace these new developments the fastest will reap the most benefits. And, I suspect, there will be plenty of firms which refuse to understand either the necessities or the opportunities presented in these changing and exciting times. The ones who today stay fixated by questions of law and obligation are really asking about minimums. And they will have to continually asking that question instead it looking for how best to profit from new opportunities.

Web accessibility testing and design obviously helps people who might otherwise find a task difficult or impossible. But it also helps make a website easier for everyone by forcing designers to be more thoughtful and present information and functionality as clearly as possible. But more importantly by embracing the idea of web accessibility for all it helps one be more creative, to think “outside the box”. And that is where we will find the greatest rewards. It’s a mistake to dwell on the minimum effort required to stay on the good side of the law or to avoid litigation. It’s far more fruitful to meditate on how best to capitalize on opportunities presented by web accessibility.

About The Author

Nik Page has been working in website and user interface testing for over 10 years. In 2005 he launched Page Accessibility Labs (PAL) in order to broaden the world of possibility for handicapped web users. PAL utilizes the unique skills and experiences of visually impaired test specialists to ensure complete test coverage. PAL specializes in Accessibility Testing and Target Audience Usability Testing Solutions.

pageaccessibilitylabs.com

info@pageaccessibilitylabs.com

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Consider Mattress Reviews before Buying a Mattress to Avoid Back Pain

2007-09-08T07:55:00.001-07:00

There is nothing more welcome than a comfortable mattress after a tough day at office. A good mattress provides support and comfort, which are prerequisites of sound sleep. The right kind of mattress also helps to be away from back pain. If you intend buying a mattress, you may visit a store and ask for Mattress Reviews from the salesperson. Mattress Reviews are handy tools to help you decide on the type of mattress you should buy.

You would find a wide variety of mattresses at the mattress store. Look into some Mattress Reviews to ascertain their benefits. If you are seeking a mattress that gives maximum support and firmness, you should opt for innerspring mattresses. The growing number of young people with back pain can find a good ally in an air mattress. Air mattresses are known to provide relief from back pain. You will be amazed to note that you can actually purchase a mattress to help your allergy. Memory foam mattresses eliminate allergens to ensure a good night’s sleep night after night.

While going through mattress reviews, take a good look at mattress sizes. A single mattress is 75” in length and 39” in width. This smallest sized mattress is also known as twin sized mattress. A variation of the twin sized mattress, the twin extra long mattress, comes with 5 inches of extra length. Its dimension is 39” x 80”. Full sized mattresses are also known as double sized mattresses, which measure 54” x 75”. These mattresses can accommodate two people, with each person having a space of 27”. This space is even lesser than that of a twin mattress. Queen sized mattresses are sized 60” x 80”, while king sized mattresses measure 76” x 80”.

Firmness of a mattress defines comfort levels. Apart from the type and size, your Mattress Reviews should include the firmness factor as well. The resistance a mattress provides to body weight can be termed as firmness. It also includes proper distribution of body weight, support and comfort level. The proper balance of body weight and support is essential to keep away the back pain. Make sure that you consider the aspects mentioned here before buying a mattress.

About The Author

Saurabh Jain is the Executive Editor of Online Back pain resource, www.backpain-resources-online.com. He has developed this site to provide valuable information to people suffering from back pain. This site enumerates different causes and factors related to back pain, guides through the different back pain treatments and suggests exercises for treatments of different types of back pain. The site is a free online resource for back pain and its remedies. The visitors can also find valuable information and reviews about the different equipments and therapies for back pain relief. Visit www.backpain-resources-online.com for more information.

Exchange Blog Reviews - An Open Invitation

The Secret To Making Money Online

2007-09-06T09:15:00.008-07:00

As with anything in life, those in the know will always get ahead. So when attempting to get ahead it is always about a search for knowledge. If you want to be a great driver and you have not driven before, you can learn by your mistakes or get tuition. Obviously getting driving tuition is recognized as the way to learn to drive quickly and hopefully without any accidents.

If the principle of learning from an expert proven in there field, is accepted in driving and many other daily activities such as swimming or learning a trade. Then why is it when it comes to making money online that people try to go it alone and learn by their mistakes. Often people will spend many hours and much more money than they can really afford trying to make money online, and this is the paradox brought on by the fact that people understand that you have to speculate to accumulate.

So I here you say what is the answer, well my friend the same as always. Find an expert in there field and learn from them. I know there are thousands of Guru’s out there offering to teach you to make money online, and I know it can be confusing. However if you look in the forums and read some of the relevant blogs you will find some of the same names will crop up again and again. Once you have found a legitimate pro you can follow them as many will help you get on in joint venture type programs.

The best of these programs will teach you about which products are worth promoting online and which are not, and they will also teach you many ways to promote these products and which ways have become obsolete. Whatever you decide to promote to make money online and however you do it, starting on the right footing should save you time and money.

About The Author

Jeff Whenman is a business professional working online. To learn more about making money online Jeff Whenman recommends you visit http://www.onlineprofits.ws

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Create Buzz for Your Business via a Contest!

2007-09-04T00:47:00.001-07:00

A very easy way to get more people to your site and also more interested in what you offer is to start your own online contest. It is something that is very easy to do. You probably can even get other companies to become sponsors in return for posting their logo and link to their website on your contest page. This will also help you bring in more viewers but if you get sponsors you will now have a wider selection of prizes to offer. Also see if the sponsor will post the contest link on their site as well.

It is actually an interesting thing that many other sites don't do it. Not only is it a good way to increase the amount of visitors to your website but it also rewards people for coming to your website. Running multiple contests every so often will keep visitors interested and coming back to visit your website to see if there are any new contests going on. It can help build your whole site up or specific part like your forum.

Not only will people come back to your site but after they enter into the contest they will tell other people about it so that they can enter as well. Then those people tell their friends and then they tell their friends and so on. So you can see how it can spread out. Also while visiting your website to enter the contest they will browse around to see what you are offering. This can lead to increased sales as well as an increase in the number of people who sign up on your forum and newsletter.

Prizes can range from cash prizes or to virtual products such as software, web design packages or web hosting packages. When you start your contest be sure to set a cut off date for entries, limit number of entries allowed and when the draw date will help. Have them either email you with a certain line in the subject header or enter via web form online. Then take all of the names and set them up so you can draw randomly(such as putting them in a hat). Then choose what prize you are drawing for and pull out a name.

So as you can see the benefits of a contest are not only for your site but for your visitors too. They will love you for it and will keep coming back for more. Plus it is easy and fun to do, so why not!

About The Author

Anthony Jewell has over 6 Years experience in the Web & Graphics World. You can visit my business at http://www.logo2d.com

©Copyright 2005 Logo2D.com : Feel free to use this article freely but please keep in the copyright

Blog Contest, Blogging Contest - Win Prizes

Script Mechanics—Suggestions for Writing Effective Voiceover Copy

2007-09-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

As with any of the performing arts, an effective voiceover begins with a well-crafted script. You don’t have to have many years of writing experience to create copy that is both effective and a pleasure for the voice actor to perform. Here are some ideas to consider before you put your pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Commericals: Radio and TV

Determine the purpose of the ad, e.g. drive traffic to a store, produce direct response inquiries, announce a grand opening, move end-of-season merchandise, etc.

Determine who your customer is and speak to that person one to one, and, ideally, present one main idea in the copy.

Use A.I.D.A.: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. Get the listener’s attention to the ad; get the listener interested in what you’re offering; get the listener to want to take some action on your offer; give the listener a means to act and urge that action.

Narrations (also called “Industrials”)

For a video script, use the story board, if you have one, to guide the development of the script. This will help you time the voice over to the video’s scenes.

For audio only, where no storyboard exists, do a rough outline. This will help you create a basic logical structure before you start writing. The result will be a script that flows much better for the narrator and the intended listener.

All Scripts

Leave room for “verbal white space.” Just as a large block of densely printed copy is intimidating and difficult to read, a voice-over script that’s crammed with copy is difficult to follow and understand. A good rule of thumb for 30-second radio or TV copy is eight lines down (double-spaced), 10 words across the page. For a slower, more intimate read, go with seven lines, 10 words across. The same idea applies for a briskly paced 60-second ad: 16 lines down, 10 words across. For a slower pace, 14 lines, 10 words across. This 60-second guideline is helpful in timing long-form scripts, too. Just count the pages and you have the total number of minutes.

Numbers are words, so be sure to consider them in your word count. A phone number, such as 1-860-291-9476, is eleven words. That’s more than one entire line of copy! Try spelling out numbers as words to get a good handle on the actual length of your copy. For example:

1-860-291-9476,

when typed or written out, is

one-eight-six-oh, two-nine-one, nine-four-seven-six.

You can see how long the line really is when the numbers are spelled out. Then, after you’re ready to print your final draft, convert the words back to numbers.

Write for the ear, not the eye. Construct short, conversational sentences, with natural breaks for taking a breath. This is especially helpful to narrators when they voice technical or medical copy, which contains large, complicated, and difficult-to-pronounce terms.

Read your copy out loud, just as you intend the voice talent to read it, and time it. Then adjust your copy accordingly for timing.

Try to write in the active voice, not passive voice. This is a passive construction: “When writing a script, be sure you’re saying some exciting things, or else you’ll be losing the attention of the listener.” Instead, use the active voice, structured something like this: “When you write a script, say something exciting, or you’ll lose the listener’s attention.” Active voice is more conversational and easier for the ear and mind to follow.

Happy writing!

February 2004

About The Author

Peter Drew, a freelance voice-over talent and copywriter/producer with 28 years of experience, is heard on radio and television stations, corporate presentations, web sites, and messages-on-hold across America. To hear samples of his work or to send an email regarding this article, please visit http://www.peterdrewvo.com/ .
pdrew@portone.com

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Writing For Free: When & When Not to Do It!

2007-08-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

Right off the bat, I want to say that there is no right or wrong answer to this topic. A lot depends on your end goal — to get a job, garner publicity, build a portfolio, etc. However, there comes a time when every writer should say no to writing for free. Below are some issues that I've been pondering about freelance writing.

Issue 1: Content for websites. Content is king on the Internet and everyone wants something fresh and unique on a regular basis. If you are promoting a product/service and write articles to generate publicity, then by all means, give the content away.

However, if what you are selling is your writing skill and are not promoting anything, then don't give it away. You'd be better off doing a direct mail campaign and spending your time creating pieces for your portfolio — even if they are only make-believe companies.

One could argue that the reason good writing is taken for granted is so many give it away. I give a lot of content away, but only within the framework of WIIFM (what's in it for me).

Issue 2: Writing on spec: For those of you who don't know what this is, see this excellent primer article at http://inkwelleditorial.com/beginnersguideglatzer.htm. This established freelance writer explains spec writing brilliantly. The bottom line, once your portfolio is complete with good samples, stop this practice.

The exception would be if it's a credit from a noted source that you really want. After all, who's going to turn down Fortune? However, I believe there's a big enough need for good writers that you don't have to sell your soul for one credit, even if it is a "biggie."

How many samples should you have? I advise between five and ten. Try to get them from different sources — eg, two newspaper, three websites, two brochure, one sales letter, etc. This will give your portfolio a range. Nonprofits, friends with small businesses, neighborhood shops — all are possible non-paid sources to build your writing credits.

A tip: Choose a small business and do the brochure, sales letter, etc. first. Then, send it to your target and ask if they would mind if you included it in your portfolio. I don't know any small business that would refuse a well-written promotional piece that doesn't cost them a dime. Bang, a legitimate credit!

Issue 3: Original Content & Rights: I don't believe in giving away original content — again, unless you are promoting a product/service or are just starting out. I am constantly amazed at the number of publications that want original content but don't want to pay for it.

An example. I write a small business column. An editor saw it and approached me to be a regular contributor to their publication, which is quite noted in business circles. The kicker? They didn't want my column but wanted me to contribute original content with no pay. I had to turn them down. I offered the column at no charge (since I already write it), but explained that original content outside of this without payment was not possible.

If you write, then you know it's not easy coming up with original content on a regular basis. Some subjects are so covered that nine times out of ten, new ground is never being broken. We are usually just putting a new spin on it. This costs brain cells! And, trust me, not everybody can do it.

So, the next time you put finger to keyboard, think about your objective. If we all stopped giving away our pearls of wisdom, then the pay level across the board would be raised.

About The Author

May be reprinted with inclusion of the following: Yuwanda Black is an entrepreneur, author, speaker and syndicated small business columnist whose focus is controlling your destiny through small business ownership. Her most recent e-books, How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer and Advice from Successful Freelancers: How They Built Their Careers & How You Can Too! are available for immediate download at http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/bizguides.html Visit her on the web at http://www.EntrepreDoer.biz for a complete list of how-to, small business books and articles.
columnist@EntrepreDoer.biz

Blogging For SEO: How To Get Maximum Search Benefit From Your Small Business Blog

2007-08-28T19:59:00.000-07:00

If you have a small business blog, or are thinking of starting one, you should be aware of the ways you can use your blog to drive traffic to your Website. It's simpler than you think.

The first thing to understand about your blog is that each entry is counted as one Web page. Even if you have your blog set to display 10 blog posts on the same page, each of them is counted as a separate Web page by the search engines. That's why it is important to treat each blog entry as an SEO tool. The following tips should be kept in mind for each blog entry in order to optimize them for the search engines and drive more traffic to your Website from your blog:

1. Optimize each blog post around a single keyword
2. Make sure your keyword is in your blog post title, preferably at the beginning
3. Use subheads with or tags that also use your keyword
4. Include 1-3 keyword links (anchor text) in your blog posts
5. Sign every blog post with a signature link that uses your keyword
6. Use bold and italics effectively to emphasize certain keywords and phrases
7. Be sure to ping the directories
8. Include tags for all of your blog entries
9. Use categories effectively
10. Make links appear natural by linking to internal pages of your Website

Because each blog entry is a separate Web page, the search engines will crawl them and index them just as they do your Web pages. Optimize each one heavily around a specific keyword related to your Website and that's an extra doorway into your Website for each page indexed at the search engines. Also, by adding anchor text to a couple of those keywords and pointing those links to relevant internal Web pages of your Website you are improving the SEO effect of your blog entry. A poll of top SEO experts by SEOmoz revealed that a majority of those SEO experts said these type of keyword links are among the top 10 most important SEO factors for ranking Web pages. Don't give up on keywords and anchor text.

You'll also want to include keyword tags with each blog entry. Those tags will be used by the search engines to index your pages appropriately for your keywords. Also, social bookmarkers will find it easier to tag your blog entry if they like it and this makes it easier to share among their social group.

Your blog category should indicate an important element of interest as well. Unlike tags, you should only choose one category for each blog post. Don't use "main" or "uncategorized." Those are too generic. Use a specific keyword-related category as that will make your blog posts more crawlable by the search engines.

There are more than 100 blog directories that you can ping to let them know you have updated your blog. I suggest you do this every time you update your blog. With WordPress, and several other blogging software platforms, you can input each directory into a field and the software will send out an automatic ping each time you update your blog. If you are not using WordPress you should go to Ping-o-Matic and use it to ping your blog for free.

Finally, if you sign your blog posts with a keyword-rich signature that points to a relevant internal page of your Website, this will make your Website more crawlable and give you another anchor text link. Use something like, "Find Out More About Keyword." Then add another link that points to your home page.

The important thing to remember about keywords and links, whether on your blog or your Website, is to make them appear natural. The benefits are enormous.

About The Author
Caroline Melberg is President and CEO of Melberg Marketing. She has over 20 years of experience creating exciting marketing campaigns for some of the most successful companies in the world. She publishes the popular eZine, "Blue Chip Tips: The Secrets of Blue Chip Marketing...Revealed!" Learn more today at http://www.melberg.com.

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Love Links

2007-08-26T08:22:00.001-07:00

Common Misconceptions about Developing a Web Site

2007-08-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

As a web designer who practically spends their entire day online, I realize there is a lot of misinformation about the Internet and many false expectations of what it can accomplish. I thought I'd share some of the comments I've received from people and try to clear up some of the myths about the internet.

I don't want or need a web site because I don't want to be overwhelmed with sales/orders/requests.

That's not going to happen. There is a common misconception that if you build it, they will come. Not so. Just like getting a bunch of business cards printed, they look nifty sitting on your desk, but if you don't hand them out, they aren't helping you.

The same applies to a web site, just because you have a presence online doesn't mean people will see it. It doesn't just magically propagate itself to all the people that may possibly be interested in your specific product or service. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to promote one's business online. It's like those old Mail Pouch Tobacco ads painted on the sides of barns. They're really neat, but unless the road goes by the barn, nobody will see the billboard.

One of our long term clients is an excellent example of how it takes time and effort to promote online. He sells kettle corn, popcorn, nuts, jams and jellies. It's taken 5 years for him to approach being 'overwhelmed' with orders, and that only happens around Christmas time. This has, in part, been due to a continuous effort of trading links with other similar businesses, keeping the site up to date and adding products on a regular basis. This way, each time the search engines come around and 'index' his site, they can see the site is busy, changing, growing. This helps keep his ranks high in the search engines for keywords that are relevant to his business. While there is no guarantee of being at the top in search results (regardless of what some claim), a constant effort will help make sure you get hits from relevant keywords. Think of keywords as your target audience. You bring the right keyword hits, you get the sales.

I have all the business I can handle so why do I need a web site?

I don't need or want to sell my product or service online.

You may have all the business you can handle today, but markets and economies can and do change. A web site can be useful in helping you spread the word about your business as well as working as an educational tool to teach your potential clients. It can go into more detail about what you provide than even a brochure can do.

It can come in handy when you are pressed for time and someone asks you about a specific service you provide. It's also more reliable than you! It won't forget and leave out a crucial detail that may be important to a potential client. Perhaps you're a massage therapist. While you may not be interested in actually 'selling' your services online, a web site could be used to list any certification or training you've had. It could go into detail about each type of massage you provide. It could even show photos of your facility to show people what a professional operation you run. This can free you up to do what you do, give quality massages.

A web site is also handy because it's never written in stone. You had 1,000 brochures printed up and now your address or prices have changed? Now you've got 1,000 brochures that need to be recycled. A web site is a quick fix if anything about your business changes.

I've got a web site, how come I'm not getting rich?

As web designers we repeatedly run into clients who just can't be sold on long term marketing maintenance for their site. They have a hard time justifying such a monthly expense. While the technology surrounding search engines changes at the speed of light, one thing remains constant: Content is King. Yes, it's a clich? phrase, but true. Just as those old barn billboards are fading into obscurity because the highway now takes all the traffic away from those rustic back roads, you need to keep up to compete.

In order to successfully promote online, you must continually be adding to your site, whether it's adding updated articles, trading links with similar businesses, or archiving your monthly newsletter online, it takes an ongoing effort. Sure, you might be able to do these things yourself. However, sometimes you need to decide when to concentrate on what you do best, which is run your business and let a web designer or internet marketer do what they do best, which is promote your site.

It's also essential that you promote your web site off-line as well. It takes everything from putting your web address on your business card to sharing the address in conversation, to including it on any and all advertising you do.

Remember the popcorn vendor I mentioned earlier? This gentleman also spends a great deal of time and effort promoting his site off-line. He literally stands on the street corner to do it! If you ever frequent the eastern panhandle of West Virginia you may have seen him. He sets booths up on busy roads full of people headed weekend fun on the Potomac river and has a storefront in Frederick, MD. So, he's obviously busy promoting his business off-line! His web site address is www.catoctinkettlekorn.com. You should check it out. His popcorn is delicious and I'm told the kettlekorn is pretty healthy, too! See, I just promoted him! It takes all kinds of promotion, from paid advertising to word of mouth, to make a business a success.

I don't need a professional web site designer, my uncle's friend knows some html.

While that ultimate decision is up to you, it's important to keep in mind that your web site is an extension of your business. It should appear just as professional as your business. It should also be targeted towards your specific audience just as any printed marketing collateral should be.

While little animated kitties are cute, do they help sell your product or service? Maybe they do if your business is related to animals, but otherwise, probably not. Using professional graphics is very important. There's a trick to saving graphics for the web to allow for a nice looking image, while still providing something that is quick to download. Will the graphics match any off-line imagery used? Can someone who knows a little HTML create them, as well? Maybe, but not always.

In this day and age, in order to compete, every marketing tool at your disposal should be used to its fullest potential. It takes more than HTML to create a successful web site. A successful web site takes not only a coder who knows HTML, XHTML, PHP, CSS and a bunch of other acronyms, but a graphic designer and a marketing expert to pull it all together. The most successful sites will blend seamlessly with your off-line materials.

My market is local, I don't need or want to sell to the world.

Just because your market is small or local doesn't mean a web site can't work for you. It's all in how the search engine promotion is handled. You can certainly gear your site towards a region as well as a specific target audience. Again, the fear that you'll be overwhelmed with inappropriate orders is groundless.

I can't afford a web site.

Yes, a professionally designed web site isn't necessarily cheap. However, it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg either. It most definitely should be planned into your marketing budget as any other marketing tool would be. Today, a web site is as necessary as a business card, brochure or a yellow pages ad. In fact, it may be becoming more so. You can certainly share much more information about your products and services on a web site than a yellow pages ad can. In some locations, a web site can even be cheaper than a phone book ad!

By being able to quickly share information like testimonials from satisfied clients, your history or philosophy, experience, a showcase of your work, contact information, your prices, or your personnel, half the job of selling can be done for you, online.

It then just becomes a matter of how can you afford NOT to have a web site?

About The Author

Terry Kent is the Co-Owner and Operator of http://www.thewritemarket.com, a web design and internet marketing firm. http://www.thewritemarket.com also contains extensive do-it-yourself tutorials and articles on web development, search engine promotion and online marketing.

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