2/27/2008
Get It In Writing featured in the Christian Science Monitor
| Get It In Writing's Allison Nazarian is interviewed in a January 11, 2008, Christian Science Monitor article entitled, "Meet the fake Steve Jobs... ... and several other satirists blogging in the guise of famous CEOs as interest in captains of industry grows." Amazing how P.R. works: We didn't even know this article exsited until one month after it ran! Labels: blog, blog ghostwriting, ceo blogs |
Thank you for letting me share this amazing SEO copywriting success
| I am floored by an amazing success my client, Larry Zerner, a Los Angeles Entertainment Attorney, experienced this week. Along with Teri Tucker, a great web designer from T&I Grafix , we created a new site at http://www.zernerlaw.com/ Larry’s goal, like so many others out there, was to raise his search engine rankings, Google in particular. [This is what is referred to as "organic" or "natural" search engine rankings, as opposed to "paid inclusion" which includes Pay Per Click (PPC).] As a solo practitioner, Larry wanted to maximize his web presence (who among us doesn’t?). What we want and what we may get aren't always the same, right? Now this is no exaggeration, nor is it a promise of what could happen to you and it is certainly not a guarantee, but here is what happened: Within 24 – 48 hours of the new ZernerLaw site going live, Larry’s firm, which previously had had little to no search engine presence whatsoever, was on the first page of Google, and in some cases in one of the three top positions, for a slew of terms he had wanted to rank for for years, including but not limited to: Los Angeles Copyright Attorney, Los Angeles Entertainment Attorney, Los Angeles Copyright Infringement Attorney, Hollywood Entertainment Attorney and Copyright Infringement Lawyer Los Angeles. Again, all results differ based on a million different factors BUT this is a HUGE testament to the fact that GOOD SEO COPYWRITING WORKS. (And notice I didn’t say “SEO Copywriting” – I said “GOOD SEO COPYWRITING.”). There is a big difference. Labels: copywriting, seo, seo copywriting |
Do all entrepreneurs have ADD?
| I don’t know about you, but I have days (and nights) during which I have one million-dollar-idea after another (Donny Deutsch are you listening?). Apparently, I am not alone. In fact, I read in a couple of places that roughly half of all entrepreneurs have (or maybe think they have?) Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Now I know little about ADD, I do not have the condition nor would I ever diagnose myself or anybody else. I use the term here to describe the constant flow, at least in my brain, of new ideas, approaches for clients or for my own business, better systems and so much more. (And that's all before the additional millions of ideas I have for kid-friendly products and other gadgets that will make our busy lives easier in the kitchen, at home and in the office.) There will never be enough hours in the day to develop even a small fraction of the copywriting and marketing – related products I am dying to bring to life. NEVER. Yes, the entrepreneur’s mind is a busy, excited and innovative one. I don’t know about you, but I know for me that while money certainly plays a role, it’s so much more the idea and product/service development that keep these brain juices flowing. And the more I see and accept how infinite the world of ideas is, the more ideas come to me. Of course many never see the light of day and of those that do, just a small slice are actually viable and successful. But the thrill of the idea is a great one, don't you think? Labels: ADD, big idea, entrepreneurs, inventions |
2/25/2008
Does this hit too close to home?
| In our most recent e-newsletter, I discussed a real person/friend who wasn't interested in negotiating, bartering or lowering his prices with potential customers. I received a few VERY HEATED negative responses to this and wondered what you think? (BTW, none of the responders were our actual clients.) Here is the inspirational info verbatim: When my dear friend I.R., a business owner, has a potential customer attempt to negotiate pricing, this is what he tells the individual: "We have two problems: one if that you are too cheap and the other is that I am too expensive." You may want to remember that next time you are asked to reduce your pricing, barter or, worse, give away your expertise for free. Labels: bartering, negotiating, potential customers |
2/24/2008
The Art of the Relationship
| I had a few interesting "situations" this week. All were slightly uncomfortable, all tested me, all made me angry (at least for a fleeting moment) but all, at the end of the day, were great learning experiences. What I have learned is that it is precisely in that incredibly frustrating, perhaps fed-up or awkward moment that we (or at least I) have to step outside of ourselves and see things for what they are rather than blow this up into the biggest deal ever. More than that, we need to remember that this instant, while not so much fun, is a lesson, sometimes a very valuable one. For me, another reminder I constantly need to give myself is that no matter what, it's not personal. Instead of letting my emotions get out of control, I try to tell myself that this is about business, and about the other person, and their needs, frustrations and issues. Instead of taking it to heart, I try to learn from it and, at least emotionally, walk away. This all got me thinking about when business is personal and when it is totally on the other end of the spectrum and completely not personal. Read my "Art of the Relationship" tips in earlier Blog postings and let me know what you think. Labels: business relationships, relaltionships |
2/22/2008
Getting Your Blog Noticed
| We all know by now that the Internet is filled with literally millions of blogs – millions! Based on this number, the amount of blog posts floating around in cyberspace would appear to be endless, right? So how can you make your business blog stand out among the many? I have no idea. OK, just kidding. There is no magic formula, but there is much you can do to tip the scales of success in your favor. According to social media marketing blogger Scott Monty, the answer comes down to timing and technique. In a recent post, Monty revealed that bloggers who post on major developments as they happen are far more likely to attract readers. Because Google has the ability to quickly index blog posts as they come online, bloggers who are fast to post breaking news are rewarded with high placement in search engine results. (The saying about luck is where preparation meets opportunity comes to mind.) Timing, however, isn't the only great tool. Monty also recommends adding humor to your blog entries that should already be chock-full (but not overdone with) details and to-the-point information. |
2/20/2008
The Art of the Relationship (Part 2 of 2)
| In my last post, I gave you the first three of my "art of the relationship" tips. Here are the next three: Remember their human needs. No, I don't mean anything that personal. We are all emotional beings who want to feel appreciated and loved (bring out the violins). Your clients are no different. Thank them when necessary, tell them how much you enjoy your relationship with them or how much you respect them in their business. A little goes a long way! Listen. You know the saying about having two ears and one mouth and using them accordingly? This could not be more relevant than with your clients. Listen to them. Really listen to them. Don’t assume you know their expectations and needs -- ask (and then listen to the answer). Picture-perfect. Lastly, share your picture with your customers. In today's world we work with so many different people, some daily, and we never even see them face-to-face. It may be an old adage, but a picture is still worth a thousand words. Labels: business advice, business relationships, relaltionships |
The Art of the Relationship (Part 1 of 2)
| True or false: Your clients and the relationships you foster with them are the most important aspect of your business. (Obviously true.) Through good working relations, you not only can generate more business, but credibility and visibility (and ultimately profitability) that money really can' buy. By extending them the courtesy of open communication and meaningful attention, you ultimately develop a strong relationship. There are a few "musts" that I live by with all clients no matter how "big" or "small" they are. What really blows my mind is that not all businesses abide by these basic tenets. Here are my Top Six "art of the relationship" tips for entrepreneurs, small business owners and all of the rest of you no matter where you fall in the business spectrum: Be on time, every time. If you promise to deliver a project at a certain time, deliver it accordingly. If you must break or miss a deadline, contact your customer immediately and be prepare to provide them a good reason for missing it. Same goes for a meeting – if you're late, just call someone and let them know. Connect in different ways. Try to connect on a personal level by inviting your clients to joining a social network, such as Linkedin or Ning. When you send e-mail, inquire about their day or ask about something mentioned in a previous e-mail (such as a wedding or a child's illness). Be on the lookout…and take action. Something I have always naturally done is send articles, either by snail mail or by e-mail, to clients and even people I met way back at an event or through a client or colleague. I am big on sharing information and it is amazing how significant and potentially valuable such a small gesture may be to the recipient. See my next post for the next three "art of the relationship" tips. Labels: business advice, business relationships, relaltionships |
2/19/2008
Getting Out Of Your Home Office ‘Cave’ (Part 2 of 2)
| As I said in my previous post, working from home, whether as an entrepreneur, freelancer or employee/telecommuter can be one of the best, most effective, most liberating gigs around. Before moving out of my home office, I called home “my office” and my office “home” over five years. I managed to be incredibly productive and growth-oriented by following these rules every single day:
Labels: entrepreneurs, freelance writer, freelance writing |
2/18/2008
Getting Out Of Your Home Office ‘Cave’ (Part 1 of 2)
| Working from home, whether as an employee or as the master of your domain, is no longer the exception to the rule when it comes to where you work and what you do all day. Many people decide to leave full-time employee positions to “go out on their own.” Others remain employees but are allowed to telecommute some or all days of the week. Many see the “freelance life” or the “work-from-home life” as a perfect, idyllic existence. Freelancers and telecommuters have a seemingly perfect life of hanging out around the house in their pajamas and doing much of nothing at all, right? (Similar to what many view, so wrongly, as the relaxed, pajama-and-soap-opera-days of stay-at-home-moms.) Wrong! The truth is, working out of your home is a lot harder than it sounds. You have to keep yourself motivated and productive at all times -- not an easy feat in today’s distraction-filled world. Discipline and scheduling will make or break you. On a personal note, I ran my business, Get It In Writing, from a super-cool home office for about five years before moving to outside office space about 15 minutes from my home. My problem was not distraction or ineffectiveness, but actually the opposite: I was working too much, too long and too hard. I needed a separation between church and state (or between home and office). I needed my home to be a haven away from the busy-ness of the world, not be a part of it. See my next post for my top tips on getting out of that cave you call your home office cave. Labels: entrepreneurs, freelance writer, freelance writing |
2/15/2008
Understanding Key Words
| Everyone wants to be at the top of Google and Yahoo! listings but so few seem to understand that you don’t just magically appear there! SEO copywriting is not what I would call a mystery, but I am convinced that it is something that most people do NOT do well (sorry…). It is SO important for marketers and writers writing, editing or developing online copy to truly understand what keywords are, what they do, what they need to do and how to use them effectively. Yes, we all know that a keyword or key phrase is a word or phrase your potential customer would ostensibly use when searching for a company that provides your services or products. Clearly, this is an even more basic explanation than a SEO Copywriting or SEO Keywords 101 primer would give you. This world is infinitely more unknown and complicated than this, but I like to be clear and simple so that we are all getting the same point. Simple example: if you want to learn more about copywriting, or about how to hire a copywriter or procure copywriting services, you would search the term “copywriting” or “copywriter” or maybe “how to hire a copywriter” through your search engine of choice, usually Google or Yahoo!, right? These words are almost like the trail of bread crumbs you are leaving so that these potential customers can find you, huh? So when you are writing copy for your website, blog or other online marketing vehicle, you need to remember you are writing for two audiences, both equally discerning, both equally busy and rushed: your potential customer and the search engines. It’s a fine line, to say the least, to write effectively, simultaneously, for both audiences. Labels: blog, Internet Marketing, online marketing, web copy, writing for the web |
2/08/2008
The care and feeding of your blog
| In a recent blog entry, I talked about the all-too-common trend of setting up a blog and then not doing anything with it. Here are some basic but key tips for keeping the care and feeding of your blog: Investigate. Become a journalist whose beat is your industry. What are your competitors writing about? What trend or news items are the associations, trade publications and periodicals of your industry discussing? (And what are they not writing about?) Don't go TMI on us. One of the attractions of blogs and blogging is the casual, conversational tone you can adopt. But don't take the reduction in formality to mean that you can let it all hang out. Your business blog is not a place to discuss your child's potty-training, or your search for Mr. (or Ms. Right or your personal habits) UNLESS there is a very definite and specific business-related and sales-related reason to do so! (And by all means if you want to get down to the brass tacks of your personal life, create a personal blog on the side and go for it.) 80/20 rule applies here too. I believe in an info to sales ratio of 80/20. Teach, inform, comment and show yourself and your business to be the leader of the pack. Establish your expertise and sprinkle in some related services or products you’re selling. Go for the hard sell and you're sure to lose out, no matter how often you're blogging. Labels: blog, blogging, unattended blog syndrome |
2/07/2008
Cross it off your to do list
| Do you ever find yourself with a business "to do" item that you never manage to get done? I am super-guilty of that one. Sometimes, it is something I just dread doing and will do anything instead. Other times, I am not sure how to approach "the thing" and to protect myself from that uncertainty, I skirt the issue of that item as much as possible. And then in a third scenario, it's actually something that isn't smart, valuable or even doable in terms of your business. Almost like the Universe's way of telling you that this thing shouldn't even make the to-do list. One of my goals is to pare down the list, not only by completing tasks and crossing them off but, more importantly, to being more selective about what makes the list in the first place. If it is confusing, uncomfortable or unworkable, it may be, to the contrary, the best thing you can do for the business. On the other hand, it may be all wrong and you need to know that and act accordingly. So as I strive to be discerning, I'm looking for better results...and I won't accept anything less! Labels: completing tasks, to do list |