Tag Archives: content writing

WAC Updates

Writing According to Calvin & Hobbes

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C & H writing1

I love Calvin & Hobbes! Their imagination, silly antics and exciting adventures are a great example of of living life to its fullest—even if some their ideas and  supposed adventures may be a bit far fetched! Of course, it is the most outrageous adventures that often have the most profound comments.

 It’s a lot like the life of a copywriter. We are often asked to write about products or processes that are unfamiliar and that results in an adventure in learning —and for me, that never gets old.  I love it when I am approached by a  new client as that means I will be learning about a new topic, and conversely, it is awesome when I am asked by an existing client  if I would be willing to learn how to (fill in the blank) so they can take that particular job off their To Do list. In both situations, I get to learn something new, and that is part of what makes my job so much fun.

So to those who are already a part of the Write Away family, thanks for all the opportunities to learn. And, to those who are in need of a copywriter, be sure to drop me a line at jslagell@writeawaycopywriting.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

WAC Updates

Creativity: Writing is not for Everyone!

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writing help

The writing process is more than merely having a good idea. It is time spent researching your topic and determining the best way to present your findings. For some people, the writing process is far more intimidating than the development aspect, but both portions are necessary in showcasing your new idea. If you have realized that you would much rather be on the design and developing side rather than the writing and advertising side, then don’t beat yourself up over it. After all, everyone had different skill sets.

And, even if your product is unlike anything that has ever been showcase, Write Away Copywriting can help you promote your product. Janet S. is happy to tour your facility to see what you can do, will take notes so that your product or services can be well represented and even get you set up on social media pages, so that you can get the word out about who you are and what you do. You don’t have to be a writer…just focus on the creativity and let Write Away do the rest. If you have questions about WAC can help, please contact Jan S. today.

 

WAC Updates

8 Things Being Involved in Ministry Has Taught Me about Being a Business Owner

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(image from dae-lee.com)

I have been involved in church ministry for over 2 decades. I have worked with preschool children,  elementary children, behind the scenes as an admin assistant, been involved with the music and currently work with the youth. And while the level of involvement, the responsibilities and the manner in which  communication is accomplished has changed over the years, much has stayed the same.

Recently, I was thinking about how often my ministry involvement and having my own business are alike. Here are my observations. If you have others to add to the list, I would love to see them!

  1. If you don’t have a plan for the day, the children/teens will. From time to time I get up and turn on my computer for the day expecting my workload to be light and thinking that I might take time to chill out. More often than not, those are the days that rather than simply working just a few hours, I end up with a full day’s work! (Not a complaint, just an observation.)
  2. You have to be flexible. Just because you have a plan, it doesn’t mean that the lesson prepared will be the lesson taught. In business, you have to be open to new approaches in getting a job done. After all, the Web and the way one does business is always changing.
  3. Mistakes happen; don’t dwell on them! Find a way to correct the problem and deal with it effectively and efficiently. Sometimes that great object lesson or game completely backfires and you have to be able to address the situation and move forward. In business, that idea that sounded so wonderful in your head might not be a great in practice. Be willing to step back, re-assess and move forward again.
  4. You can’t please everyone; sometimes you have to sign off on a project. This doesn’t mean failure, just the need to find a better way. Also keep in mind, that some people refuse to be pleased with a product/service. These people are always going to be there. Learn what you can in those situations and move forward.
  5. The client/customer must feel valued. Even if you cannot provide the exact service or product one might want, going out of your way to provide service with a smile is a great way to build repeat customers. In a ministry, you must make each person, from the team members to the people being served, feel like they matter…because they do!
  6. Everything eventually works out, It might not always be the way you envisioned it, but a solution can usually be found that pleases most of the people involved.
  7. It takes work. There is always something to be done. Whether it is planning the next meeting, writing another blog post, visiting with new clients or ministry team members, etc. Like in business, you can count on ministry taking time.
  8. There is always room for improvement. No business, regardless of its size, can’t be improved with more training, better procedures, etc. Ministry is no different. There will always be ways to make the space more inviting, help leaders to be stronger and attendees feel more welcomed and connected.
WAC Updates

5 Ideas for Blog Posts

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5 Blog post ideas for the tired blogger (pic from www.gapyear.com)

Having a blog on your website is a great way to boost your site’s SEO, but only if you take the time to post to it on a regular basis. In fact, many experts recommend posting at least once a week. But for many of us, that is a steep assignment as life and the daily needs of running a business can get in the way of blogging. For others, it might not be the time involved for blogging so much as having ideas for the posts.

If you fall into this latter category, then you are not alone. Write Away Copywriting has some ideas and tips for your next blog posts.

Be informed of the latest changes, new products, etc. in your industry so you can share that information with your readers.

Lessons learned about running your business are not only inspiring but lets others know that they can overcome obstacle, too. It also lends some credibility to you and your business.

Ongoing saga of what is going on at your company. Do you have a new product or service? Perhaps you have hired a new sales rep or expanded your service area. Letting your readers know what is going on helps them connect and builds loyalty.

Goals you are working towards also lets people know where your company is headed.

Surveys are a great way to get customer feedback or to ask leaders in your field for their input. Consider posting pictures with names and companies of the survey contributors, as way to boost link opportunities, as well.

Blog posts are a fun way to generate interest and excitement about what is happening at your company. They don’t have to be long, technical diatribes, just something that keeps site guests engaged and wanting to hire you or use your products. So, don’t let that blog page sit empty…write a blog post this week!

WAC Updates

Having Fun yet Staying Busy!

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busy-calendarWhen one owns their own business, it is nice to stay busy. Consequently, it is easy to say, “Yes” each time someone asks if you can do something.  But sometimes I look at my calendar and I think, “My goodness, what was I thinking when I agreed to that many projects for this week!” It is then that I realize that I truly do love my job because no matter how daunting a calendar might look, I find that I love the challenge and the opportunity to learn new things. Yes, there are weeks that are busier than others, but I also love the feeling I have when on Friday afternoon, I look back and realize that my crazy busy week was also one filled with learning and adventures.

This month, I have been asked by a client to read the book, Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung.  In reading it, I have learned many tips that will help in both my business and personal life. Also as part of this month’s work, I was blessed to be asked by ClickReady Marketing to write about one of my other passions–cooking! So for a few days, I got to read -then write – about grilling, barbecue and seafood. Yes, I love my job!

So, while I have been busy with work, there are often times that the work feels more like play. Those are the weeks when I am especially glad that I don’t punch a time clock.  Rather, I am blessed to work hours that suit my schedule and fill my calendar with work I enjoy. So to all you who help send me work requests, thanks! You allow me to have fun while staying busy!

 

(Image from stickyegg.com)

WAC Updates

It’s in the Cookies!

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2014-01-12 21.28.43

I love Chinese food! From Moo Goo Gai Pan to Wonton Soup and Egg Foo Young to Spicy Orange Chicken, the spices and textures there comprise a well-planned Chinese meal. But, perhaps as much as the food brings pleasure, I love to open the fortune cookies and read their words of “wisdom”. (By the way, did you know that fortune cookies are not actually Chinese? Rather, they are based on a Japanese recipe and then made popular by Americans.)

Shown here are some fortunes I have received in recent months. No, I don’t base my work – or life- on the little slips of paper, but I must say these four have definitely given me something to think about.

What about you? Do these statements inspire you? What actions do you need to take? If your answer includes developing SEO web content, publishing blog posts, writing newsletters or making the most of social media, then talk to Jan at Write Away Copywriting to learn how to get started. I will be happy to help.

SEO Content, SEO Copywriter

SEO Copywriting and Your Business

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Having a Website that looks like it was written by an SEO Copywriting Expert

If you have spent any time on the Web, then you know that it is a vast and varied world. With just the click of the mouse and a few keywords, you can find information on virtually every topic in existence. That said if you are a business owner, then you want to take steps to ensure you rank high in the search results, should someone do a search using the keywords for your business. This is best accomplished through using SEO or hiring a SEO copywriting provider.

What does a SEO Copywriter do?

An SEO copywriter understands what is necessary to make your website be found. By employing SEO copywriting methods, your site will rank high in the search engine results. So what are those SEO copy writing methods? Here is a brief overview of the steps taken.

•    Develop a list of keywords. These keywords may be derived by you, from talking to friends, or by research you or your SEO copywriter does.
•    If you have no idea what keywords would be for you site, you can also use tools like the Google AdWords Tool, Free Keywords.com or SEObook.com.
•    Optimize your site by using these keywords. This is what your SEO copywriting provider can help you with through articles, the written content, photo captions and other web elements.
•    Keep in mind that copywriting for SEO is geared toward people, not machines.

Doing SEO Copywriting: Optimizing Your Website

SEO copywriting, unfortunately, is not an exact science but rather it is more of a carefully crafted art. However, there are some steps that you or an SEO copywriter can take. Here are 10 steps from author Steven Holzner of Small Business Websites Made Easy that are necessary in building a search engine optimized website.

1.    Put your keywords in a <meta> tag with the name attribute set to keywords. You are allowed 200 – 240 characters for this.
2.    Have a description of your of your page in a <meta> element with the name set to “description”. This has a limit of 240 characters/spaces. However, don’t just stuff keywords in your text. You want to stay between 3% and 5%.
3.    Use keywords in your title, in headings and in the body of your webpage(s). Be sure to use the appropriate <meta> tag.
4.    If your site has multiple pages, be sure that the pages are linked to each other.
5.    From time to time, have some of your keywords <bold> or <strong> to add emphasis. You may also wish to attract the attention of search engine robots. Be sure that your pages are not gear your pages specifically to the robots, though as this can actually lower your page rank.
6.    Select a domain that includes your most important keywords.
7.    Be sure your page loads quickly; pages that are slow are unlikely to be indexed.
8.    Have a sitemap and be sure it has an easy link trail to every location on your site.
9.    Include an About Us page on your site and ensure that your entire site’s pages link to the Homepage.
10.    Do not have identical pages but different URLs if you have more than one site for your business.

These are just a smattering of the SEO copywriting techniques you will want to follow. If you are unable to implement these elements, or perhaps do not have the time, talk to Write Away Copywriting, an SEO copywriting, to learn more.

Additional Reading about SEO Copywriting

•    SEO Copywriting Made Simple
•    Web Workshop: Search Engine Optimization Copywriting
•    14 SEO Copy writing Writing Tips
•    Top 5 SEO Copywriting Tips
•    What is Copywriting? Common FAQ’s

 

Carolina Blogger, Content Writing, Write Away Copywriting Blog

NC Blog – Blogging in North Carolina

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As a North Carolina blogger, there is plenty to blog about. Whether it is the vast and varied topography, the abundance of Carolina historic locations or being able to tour the campuses of some of the most respected colleges in the southeast, the North Carolina blog expert can easily keep busy, writing about this beautiful state. Of course, for the North Carolina blogger there must also be time spent writing about other elements of life. Consequently, when blogging in the Carolinas, it is also necessary to be able to write web content about topics such as SEO, WordPress, heat maps and other web-related matters.

When you are looking for a North Carolina blogger, you want someone who can combine their love of the region with the knowledge of the Web while utilizing SEO content writing techniques and White Hat practices. As a Carolina blogger, Write Away Copywriting of the Piedmont Triad region is here to help. In fact, Write Away Copywriting will provide you with well-researched material for blogs on virtually any topic you would like within a reasonable amount of time–often within a week or less of the work request!

Since moving to North Carolina, blogger, SEO copywriter and researcher, Janet Slagell of Write Away Copywriting, has carved out a niche of the web with articles on Suite 101.com. E-zine.com and Hubpages.com as well as providing blogs and content writing for nearly four dozen websites and several newsletters. As a North Carolina blog writer, writing web content is serious business. Whether it is keeping a proper ratio of keywords or searching out long tail phrases, this North Carolina blogger will do what it takes to see that your web content is all you want it to be.

For Your Carolina Blogging Needs

So what should you look for in a Carolina blogger and copywriter? Simply put, it should be someone who can improve and enhance your website. As you begin your search for a Carolina blogger, here are some questions to consider:

  1. Does the Carolina blogger have a good reputation for completing jobs in a reasonable amount of time? When the best bloggers make a commitment to do a job by a specific date, they should meet the deadline. In fact, the best blogger will endeavor to finish an assignment ahead of schedule.
  2. Is the North Carolina blog person willing to work with you and make revisions on web content they have provided? Sometimes, even the best blogger may not have an exact understanding of your web content need or wants. As a result, it may be necessary to make changes to their content. Be sure that your Carolina blogger is willing to work with you to develop the web content you desire.
  3. Are the rates the Carolina blogger charges comparable to others? In an age where one wants to save wherever possible, this is something to keep in mind. However, to get the best blog expert settling for lowest cost may not be the best idea.

Hiring a Carolina blogger is a great way to add content to your website, and here at Write Away Copywriting that is the focus. So, if you are looking for a Carolina blogger to provide content for your site, drop this Carolina blog guru a line or give me a call today.

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