Article Writing Guidelines - Creating Quality Content
February 13, 2008
A frequent question from many of our clients is “what do I write” or “how do I write.” Here are some good ideas for creating quality content for your site. Keep in mind that the article and/or post will be used for the first initial posting and/or initial article marketing efforts.
It must be unique – different from the information on your website.
This content is used to promote you as an authority in your field. You will need to compose (or have someone compose) an initial individual or company bio that invokes authority. It should say who you are, what your experience is and why they should respect your opinion and recommendations.
Many customers provide two posts, initially:
One as an introduction which contains a bio or description;
Another post, containing content that can be used for promotion.
Example: An article offering tips and advice or discussing industry-related problems and solutions.
Sample Posts
In order to illustrate this, here is a sample ABOUT/ARTICLE section of the questionnaire. In this example, Blue Widget, Inc. manufactures and provides specialized service and support for blue widgets in the widget industry. Their current website is a brochure site that encourages visitors to buy blue widgets and offers support information.
Author Bio:
Paul Smith is the president of Blue Widgets Inc, a manufacturer of premium blue widgets. He has 15 years of experience in the widget industry, dealing with small businesses as well as large corporate clients. He is interested in helping people discover blue widgets and has worked for hundreds of clients over the course of his twenty years in the field. Paul is a member of the Blue Widget Professionals’ Organization and holds an MBA from Washington State University, where he focused on blue widget fabrication techniques. Paul enjoys playing golf on weekends and spends as much time as he can with his family.
Examples of types of posts you can write:
1. Tip post
Top 10 Tips for using Blue Widgets in your industry.
Hundreds of companies have discovered the value in premium blue widgets. Once you’ve bought a blue widget there are some easy things you can do to get more out of them. Here are ten simple tips to optimize your blue widget usage:
- Be a _____
- Watch _____
- Be sure to ______
- Know ____
- Use ___ when _____
(Recap of news / industry related item)
“Blue Widget Sales up 1,000%
In the past week, Widget Magazine (link here) published a story about blue widget sales being up 1000%. This is another example of mainstream media giving attention to the new blue widget phenomenon. I expect growth to continue for some time, now.”
“From my experience as president of Blue Widget Inc, more and more smaller companies in the widget industry are seeing the tangible quality difference that sets blue widgets apart in their field. This shift is paving the way for a more large-scale industry migration towards blue widgets.” –Paul Smith, as quoted in “Widget Monthly Digest”.
2. FAQ Post
Q. What the difference between green widgets and blue widgets?
A. That’s a question I run into a lot, both from those who are new in the field, as well as those who’ve been involved in widgets for some time.
3. Further Ideas
a. Comment on a news item in your industry / field;
b. Answer a basic question that a perspective user / buyer may have;
c. Post and comment on some type of metric or article published somewhere else;
d. Relate personal stories or anecdotes, this is the place to be human and speak directly to your audience.
Here are some quick links to excellent articles about creating valuable content and a more effective blog:
http://socialmediasystems.com/11/12/business-blogging-tips-for-non-writers/
http://socialmediasystems.com/10/24/dont-be-an-im-a-realtor-too-site-stand-out-market-your-site-with-quality-content/
http://socialmediasystems.com/04/11/10-rarely-used-quick-and-easy-tips-to-supercharge-your-blog/
Business Blogging Tips For Non-writers
November 12, 2007
I run into a lot individuals and companies afraid to jump into blogging, because they aren’t natural writers. Here is a video with some tips on how you can use blogs to increase your business even if you’re not a natural writer.
Don’t Be An I’m-a-realtor-too Site - Stand Out! Market Your Website With Quality Content
October 24, 2007
What makes you stand out as a realtor from the dime-a-dozen me-too sites that abound in the real estate industry? Is it the cool graphics? Usability? Layout? These are all important factors, but people tend to pay more attention to them and less to simple components like good content, which can make a big difference in how successful your site is online.
For example, take a look at some of our local authors, especially prolific writers like Legacy Real Estate and Gitta. These clients have gotten tons of leads and traffic. Why? Because they consistently provide good content that is totally relevant to their readers.
In a competitive industry like real estate, everyone is searching for the best way to stand out and creating a steady flow of good content, from video and text to podcasts, is integral to gaining a strong presence online. People searching for real estate in your area WANT to know about it. They’re searching for the best location for themselves or their family; they want to know everything: where to find the best schools, markets, neighborhoods and more.
And who better to help them than you?
With years of experience as a real estate professional, you can help your readers and potential clients find what they need, when they need it, just as you do in every-day interactions offline. Approach any creation of content the same way you would approach a potential client and keep in mind the audience for which you’re writing. There is goldmine of information inside your mind, you just need to sit down and start typing. If you don’t want to write, record yourself talking and upload it as a podcast or create a video blog; there are numerous options available.
Text Specific Content:
The most common form content takes currently is text, but this is gradually changing. “But I’m not a writer” you might say. However, think about the accumulated knowledge in your head and how much you know about the areas you service and the real estate industry in general.
Before you start writing, take a moment and pick two or three target keywords. For example, a target keyword phrase if you’re a realtor in Orlando Florida might be “Finding Homes for Sale in Orlando, Florida” or “Real Estate in Orlando Florida.” Just think about what you’re going to write about and choose the keywords based off your topic. If you’re writing about home mortgages, make sure you include home mortgages once per paragraph. Simple elements like this will make your articles seo-friendly.
Here are a couple forms of common, highly effective article formats:
The Top Ten List
10 (or 5 or 7) Tips for Finding a Home in (City, State)
Intro paragraph - give a little background and stats about the city and state here.
1) Consider where you want to be in City, State
Always look at the areas in and around City, State. Decide which are is ideal for you and your family…
2) Find the right realtor
Find a realtor who really knows their stuff…
Tip 3
….
Tip 4
….
Tip 5
Tip 6
Tip 7
Tip 9
Tip 10
Conclusion- tell the reader why this area is great and why they should think about buying a home here, e.g. neighborhoods to see and things to keep in mind.
The Topic List
Buying Your First Home
Selling Your Home
Getting Your First Mortgage
Topics like those above can take any format you want, but the most effective are short paragraphs with headers:
Selling Your Home
Intro - Introduce and reiterate topic, then follow with something like ” If you’re thinking about selling your home in somewhere, here are some things to keep in mind:”
Get an experienced real estate agent.
An experienced real estate agent can make all the difference in getting a great price for your home…
Take your family’s home needs into account.
Think about the type of neighborhood or home that is best suited for your family…
Conclusion-why, when, how and where.
9 In 10 Parts: Open Source Vs Proprietary Solutions: Buyers Beware Of Vendor Blues:
July 15, 2007
One of the most important considerations when purchasing products, services and/or software solutions for a website is the reliability, versatility, and loyalty of the vendors on which this important facet of your business depends.
There is much misinformation and scare tactics are common among vendors who have an ax to grind: they seek to scare you and keep you in the dark to control you and your purchases by keeping you ignorant and/or dependent on them for your technology.
Custom written, proprietary solutions have this disadvantage, and, unless you are a huge company with the resources to own and replace if necessary the personnel on which such an application depends, I must recommend that you use only open-source solutions. The problems with proprietary solutions are many: Read more
Web Services, Contract And Copyrights - Part 2 - Service Providers
March 2, 2007
PART 2 - What’s the Deal With Contracts, Copyright and Web Related Services?
Okay, we’ve covered copyright and contract issues for clients; now its time to examine how they affect service providers. Service providers, like their clients, almost always benefit from a contract, especially if they’ve agreed to relinquish their rights to any finished work. This holds especially true in the freelance world, where service providers are generally more susceptible to getting screwed over by various companies.
Web Services, Contracts & Copyright - Part 1- Clients
March 2, 2007
PART 1 - What’s the Deal With Contracts, Copyright and Web Related Services?
If you’re the client, make sure you include the following steps when hiring a service provider to ensure you don’t get involved in a mess like a copyright or legal battle, no matter how much you trust them. While this may change after you’ve worked with them and established a relationship, there should always be a WRITTEN agreement in the beginning, signed by both parties. It may sound simple, but too many times people forget, or make one and don’t give specifics. Now whether you need a contract for the $200 graphic design or writing job is up for debate, but for larger projects you should always have a contract.
Writing up a contract, even if it’s just a paragraph, can help immensely with any disputes that may arise. Keep in mind that despite popular opinion, a lawyer isn’t necessary for a contract to be legally binding. There are some excellent templates available for free or for a small fee. Just make sure each of yous signs the agreement. You can even prepare what’s called a copyright assignment, which assigns you, the client, with full, long or short time copyrights.
Read more
What’s The Deal With Contracts, Copyright And Web Related Services?
March 2, 2007
INTRODUCTION:
You’d think the answer to this question would be simple–always sign a contract, period– but it isn’t. While this question applies over a broad spectrum of fields, it is especially ambiguous in the freelance world. This series of articles is geared towards individuals or companies looking to hire service providers like web designers, copywriters and internet marketers on a contract or freelance basis.
Too often, there seems to be a strange reluctance between service providers and clients to sign a contract. Why? Only they can answer that question. Maybe they don’t want to be locked in, or feel like they’re obligated (which is a little silly, considering the situation). Maybe they really trust the person and feel like a contract isn’t needed, or perhaps they want to keep things open. Maybe one person feels like its an insult to the integrity of the other to request a contract. There are any number of reasons, but the bottom line is that a contract is completely necessary; furthermore, it is in the best interests of both parties to negotiate an agreement.
How User Valued Content Will Affect Search Engines
March 2, 2007
The internet writing market is oversaturated; you can get content anywhere for any price, even decently written content; writing on the web is fully commoditized and has created an environment of perfect competition that is great for buyers and dismal for writers.
For content writers, this means standing out from everyone else is getting more difficult; luckily, standing out to major search engines like Google is becoming easier. As Aaron Wall (of seobook.com) mentions, search algorithms will become increasingly sophisticated and start using visitor feedback as a quality signal; thus high quality content will become increasingly rewarded and poor content will cease to be profitable.
Give Em What They Want | Redefining Quality Content For The Web
March 2, 2007
When I first started writing for the web as a freelancer, my conception of content was, naturally, focused on writing. As I was drawn further and further into the online world and my understanding of the web grew, I realized that content applies to a broader spectrum of web-related mediums besides writing. Recently I was browsing online and thinking about some forums I’d visited that were debating the definitions of quality content; needless to say, it got me thinking.
