Hope Writes

New eBook In The Works

Posted by Hope

So I decided to put the classes here on hold for now while I work on a new eBook. Based on one of my online classes, it is tentatively titled Article Marketing For Writers.

While some writers understand the basics of article marketing and how it can be hugely beneficial to your writing career, many writers have never even heard of this concept. I decided to compile my thoughts and experience into an eBook that will (hopefully) help other writers learn more about article marketing and how to use it to build their writing career.

Be sure to subscribe to my free newsletter, as I’ll be sending updates while I work on this book.

Popularity: 38% [?]

Put Your Own Polls And Surveys On Your Website

Posted by Hope

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, but a few months ago I added a poll plugin to my blog. I love reading polls and I love getting people’s input on all sorts of topics. If you’ve been wanting to add a poll or free surveys to your website but don’t know anything about HTML or creating databases for them, I found a website that makes it super simple.

Easy Poll lets you sign up for a free account and then you can start creating your own poll and surveys to place on your website. You go through a series of steps and then when you’re finished, you get a snippet of code to copy and paste into your website. Very easy! This service is pretty cool and if I didn’t already have a poll plugin installed on my blog, it would look very enticing to try out for my own website.

Popularity: 26% [?]

[Guest Post] Creative Marketing: Your Marketing Idea Box

Posted by Hope

Today’s post is from Cathy Stucker, better known as The Idea Lady. Cathy really does have some terrific ideas, and this is just one of them. As writers, we know the importance of keeping a stash of ideas. This article will give you yet another method of collecting ideas that can be used to draw inspiration from later. Enjoy!

By Cathy Stucker

Do you ever find yourself looking for a great promotional idea? Or staring at a blank computer screen, trying to come up with just the right words for marketing copy? Do what savvy marketers do: Consult your idea box.

If you don’t have an idea box, start one today. The next time you see an ad that really seems to work, or you read copy that makes you sit up and take notice, put a copy in your idea box. The things you save don’t have to be related to your industry or for products or services that are similar to yours. They should simply be examples of great marketing.

Then, use your idea box as brain food. The next time you are stuck, pull out the idea box and review the items you have there. Your idea box may include books, sales letters, clever advertising specialties, print outs of Web sites or emails, and other materials.

The point is not to copy the items in your idea box, it is to use them as inspiration. See how they are constructed, what buttons they press, and how they present benefits, and learn from them. Use bits and pieces of ideas from several to create something that is uniquely yours.

Don’t copy the words, and don’t duplicate what someone else has done, but do learn from what has worked for others.

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the IdeaLady, Cathy Stucker helps authors, entrepreneurs and professionals attract customers and make themselves famous. To learn more about marketing and publicity and get free articles and tips, visit Cathy at http://www.IdeaLady.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Stucker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Creative-Marketing:-Your-Marketing-Idea-Box&id=126222

Popularity: 38% [?]

Put Some Meat On Those Bones - Part 1

Posted by Hope

I have noticed something lately that is interesting, but a little disheartening. I wanted to write about this, but wasn’t sure exactly how to approach the topic. Then my title came to me this morning, so I knew it was time to talk about it.

Here’s what is bothering me…choppy, seemingly incomplete articles. I see this a lot, and I’m not referring to blogs. What I’m talking about is in the article directories and on websites.

If you have ever taken part of article marketing, you already know the process. Sign up at an article directory, then write and submit articles in an effort to gain backlinks and, hopefully in time, more attention to your website. (That’s the short of it.)

Many of the larger article directories take their job very seriously and refuse articles that aren’t of the highest quality. This is a good thing. But what about articles that don’t really say anything?

I’ve read quite a few articles that contain the bare essential (250 words at many directories) word count, and yet seem to be just a rambling thought and not really a complete article. I make it a special point to visit certain authors’ pages just because I like their writing style and I (usually) enjoy reading their articles. But it’s getting to the point that I’m left feeling let down…like there was something more that I could have or should have learned from the article, but didn’t.

So what makes a good article then?

If you look back at some of my articles at Ezine Articles, you’ll notice that there are several in there that meet the minimum requirements, too. I’m not saying I’ve never done this myself. However, regardless of my word count, I try to make sure that each article I write and submit contains something of value to my readers.

For example, let’s take a look at one of my articles that contain exactly 250 words, which is the minimum requirement for Ezine Articles. The title is: Writing Articles - You Can Write Articles With Great Speed And Ease. I look at that article and I know that I can do much better than that. I probably could have expanded that one to at least 500 words, if not more. However this article, as is, has received 197 views (to date).

Now let’s take a look at another article that’s just a little bit meatier: Top 7 Topics People Love To Read About. This article contains 343 words (okay, but again, I probably could have written a few more words on that one, too) and has been viewed 307 times (to date).

The first article is just a general overview of article templates and how they can help you write quicker. To add more meat to the bones of this one, I could have added a sample article template at the end. To take it even one step further, I could have included an article sample from the sample article template.

In the second article, even though the article itself contains some really great information, I could have expanded it by listing a few topic ideas below each hot topic.

One of the things article marketers always say is, “Don’t give away the kitchen.” Meaning, don’t give everything away in your article. Leave your reader wanting more so they’ll click on your link at the end of the article. I do believe in doing this, but I also think we can/should provide our readers with a greater reason to want to click our link.

More on this tomorrow…

Popularity: 40% [?]

Keyword Research Made Super Simple

Posted by Hope

I stumbled across an excellent video tutorial on keyword research, by NicheRockets.com today, and I knew I had to share it with you.

Scott breaks down keyword research and makes it so easy that anybody can do it. If you write for the web, or if you are thinking of becoming an online marketer, you know that keyword research is an important piece of the pie. Article marketers rely on extensive keyword research to help them write and submit articles to very targeted, tight niches.

For many people though, keyword research is elusive. At one time it was very difficult for me to wrap my brain around it, too. I couldn’t “get” it because there were lots of people telling a variety of ways to do it. There are some free keyword research tools available, which render limited results. Then there are paid programs available that make it easier to do keyword research as well, and give you the long-tail keywords.

Let me just say that once you watch this video, if you know little to nothing about how to do keyword research, you’ll learn the simplest method of digging up lots of great keywords in very little time at all. I’ve just finished my first round of research using this method and I’m loving it already. I’ve come up with a little gold mine of keywords that I’ll be able to use for more in-depth research later. There’s already some good stuff in here that is sparking article and blog ideas, too.

Go check it out! Watch the video here first (opens in a new window), then follow along. Let me know what you think…

P.S. When you do the second step, be sure to actually look at each list BEFORE you click “Add” to include them in your list. Some websites will return a lot of keyword phrases that you won’t want in your list.

Popularity: 40% [?]

Do You Leave Comments On Blogs?

Posted by Hope

If you use blogs for networking purposes, you probably leave quite a few comments in a week’s time, right? Have you given much thought to your comments, or do you just leave them on a whim after reading a nice post?

Darren, at ProBlogger.net, wrote a terrific post, offering great tips on how to get your comments noticed on a popular blog. I must admit that I am guilty of leaving hasty comments without thinking my process through good enough. I read something I like and leave a quick comment.

You might think that just by dropping a few random comments on several blogs will get your business (or name) noticed. You’re right about that, but you could become recognized as the serial blog commenter who has no etiquette, morals, or brains.

Darren’s post really woke me up to the realization that I need to be more thorough when commenting on other blogs. His suggestions cover everything from commenting etiquette to formatting. This one is truly a must-read: 11 Tips for Getting Your Comments Noticed on a Popular Blog

Popularity: 65% [?]

Article Aces Is Open And Ready For Your Articles!

Posted by Hope

EXTRA! EXTRA!

I’m proud to announce the launch of my new article directory, Article Aces. We’re open and ready to accept new authors and articles. Come on over and sign up for your free account and start submitting.

Don’t forget to blog about it!

Technorati Tags: article directory, free article directory, article aces, writers, writing, articles, article marketing, writing articles

Popularity: 44% [?]

ASK HOPE: Do You Do What You Love?

Posted by Hope

I’ve heard quite a few marketers say that in order to make money online you can’t do what you love, but rather what brings in the money. So today I’m wondering what your thoughts are on that. (Thanks to Becka for the great question!) Let me just give you my thoughts on the subject…

Doing What You Love
Perhaps the biggest argument for doing what you love is that you are happy with what you do. Does doing what you love mean that you won’t make as much money? Maybe. But if that’s a chance worth taking for you, you’ll probably find that you’ll be a lot happier than if you were making triple that, doing something you loathe.

I can tell you from personal experience that my husband, being the main bread-winner in our family for the better part of 10 years now, has had quite a diversity in well-paying jobs. The best-paying job he had lasted for several years with a large, well-known company in the United States. We both thought he would retire there. They paid very well and had excellent benefits. Yet, my husband didn’t “love” his job. That never stopped him from giving 110%, but deep down he just was unsatisfied.

When that job downsized, and eventually shut down the entire plant, my husband was left without a job. He started all over again with a local factory job. He took a big cut in pay, but they treated him well. Overall, he was okay working there, too, but still just not happy.

Every since I’ve known him, he has always wanted to be involved in law enforcement. He tried to get on every police and sheriff’s department, but even those who knew him couldn’t seem to pull the right strings to help him get a job. He eventually went back to school through the Army and earned his E.M.T. license. He never used them though, because taking an E.M.T. job meant he would have been cutting his pay nearly in half, and we just couldn’t afford that.

Fast forward to a year ago…

We moved two states away, to my home town. He didn’t know anyone, except for my family. He decided to apply for a job at the Sheriff’s office. Wonder of all wonders, he got hired! He just graduated from the Academy Friday morning, and is finally doing the work he’s always wanted to do.

I can definitely tell you that doing what he loves to do has made all the difference in the world. He’s so happy and content. He never says things like, “I wish I could…” anymore.

So the debate stands. Should you do what you love, even if it means you might not make as much money? Or should you do something that you don’t really enjoy in order to get a few steps up the ladder quicker? I suppose in the end, it’s all up to you. You have to decide what, if anything, you’re willing to give up. And if you’re not willing to concede, then do what you love and do it with all your heart.

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: doing what you love, do what you love, Ask Hope, writer

Popularity: 27% [?]

Business Blog Tip: Do Ads On Your Blog Erode Your Content?

Posted by Hope

The frequency with which I visit blogs is based on specific things:

1) Blogs I enjoy reading.
2) Blogs I read for personal/business development.
3) Friends’ blogs.

There are some blogs that I have bookmarked, but may only visit once a month or two. These are usually the ones that don’t update frequently, yet when they are updated have some great thoughts on them. So I’ll visit every now and again, and catch up on a month’s or two worth of posts.

Then there are blogs that I am compelled to read on a daily-to-weekly basis. These are my favorites, or blogs that I enjoy reading and glean helpful or useful information from for personal and business development. I read these more often because they are more “informational” for me, rather than recreational reading.

I don’t read blogs nearly as much as I used to. At one time, I could sit for 3-4 hours and read blogs. What a time killer! Of course, I wasn’t a work at home mom then, either. Even though I still enjoy reading them, blogs have evolved to a whole new level, just in the last 4-6 years. So I am extra careful about where I spend my time. Which brings me to the reason for this blog entry…

I’m noticing a growing trend on a few blogs that used to be personal faves. While the blog posts are rich with great information, it’s almost as if the blogs are being taken over with advertisements. This is beginning to irritate me. When I have to scroll through a few ads before I can even read a blog post, something’s wrong.

Maybe it’s just me, and if it is, then so be it. It just feels like some of my favorite blogs are being taken over by weeds, so to speak. This saddens me because I’m not enjoying my visits nearly as much as I once did.

So where do we draw the line? Do we allow advertisements to take over the bulk of our blogs, in hopes of making a few extra bucks every month? Do we sacrifice faithful and loyal readers for the hope of earning some sort of income from all the ads? Are over-advertised blogs to be expected now?

What’s your opinion?

Technorati Tags: blogs, business blog, business blog tip, blog ads, advertising on blogs

Popularity: 19% [?]

Is Twitter Harmful To Your Health?

Posted by Hope

I joined Twitter a little while ago after I saw murmuring about it on the Warrior Forum. At first, I wasn’t very sure what to do with it. Then I started adding friends and interacting with others. At that point, Twitter took on a life of its own.

The first thing I did every morning as soon as I sat down at the computer was turn on Twitter. I’d catch up on all the latest blurbs from everyone while I was sleeping. Then I’d jump in and start Twittering with the best of them.

It didn’t take very long until Twitter consumed quite a bit of my time during the day. I’d get my work done, but boy I’d Twitter up a storm every few minutes. One day I sat down and figured up how much time I’d spent on Twitter that day and I was…shocked, to say the least.

It’s funny how these simple little “conveniences” can eat up so much of our time without us even realizing it. Now, I’m not saying don’t use Twitter. Lord knows I still Twitter with the best of them even still! But what I’m saying is that if you do use Twitter, be very careful. Allow me to elaborate…

Today I did some serious thinking. (Yeah, if you heard thunder clap and saw lightening strike, that’s probably why!) What I realized is that I have been using Twitter as more of an instant messaging system, rather than a “mini blog.” Hmmm…interesting!

Furthermore, a lot of my Twitters on a daily basis sometimes consist of nothing more than “LOL! @so-and-so” or “Yeah, me too @so-and-so”. Is this type of social communication really profiting my business?

Sure, I’m forging new friendships and relationships with others through Twitter. I guess my main concern right now is this: Is Twitter doing more harm than good for my business life? Is it merely a distraction? Is it really furthering my business in any way? I’m afraid at this point my answer to this would have to be “no.”

I love chatting with others. I especially love the sense of “community” that social networking like Twitter can bring to the picture. However, I’m not sure if my using Twitter is really anything more than truly a social tool or if it can become something more useful for my career.

What do you think about all this? Have you thought about it in this perspective, if you’re already using Twitter? In what ways have you found Twitter useful in business-building relationships? Or am I the only one who is being unproductive in using Twitter?

Technorati Tags: Twitter, social networking, social networking for writers

Popularity: 15% [?]

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