Hope Writes

Push Back The Chair & Walk Away From The Computer

Posted by Hope

*Edited and reposted from the Warrior Forum

Anyone who knows me knows that I *rarely* take breaks. I hate it. Breaks make me feel unproductive and lazy. But this break was of necessity. I knew I needed it, and as bad as I hated to walk away, I did. Yesterday I left the house altogether and stayed out all day with my little sister (Christmas shopping). I don’t like crowds and don’t really like shopping either, but I had the best day.

This evening I’m sitting here alone in the quiet (something VERY rare at my house!) and reflecting on the last couple of days. As much as I hate breaks, I realize that everybody NEEDS one every now and then. There’s no way to keep the candle burning at both ends forever. So I thought I’d share some reasons why you should push your chair away from the computer and walk away for a little while, too…

Your mind needs time to recharge. Despite what you think, you can run out of ideas and energy if you don’t take frequent breaks. Even people who work jobs in the “real” world are required to take a 10-15 minute break every couple of hours, plus a lunch break. Those of us who work at home should require the same of ourselves.

Taking a break, whether it’s a short 30-minute break three times daily, or a 2-day break away from the computer and work, can make a huge difference in your mental power. Giving your brain this “down” time actually helps to recharge your batteries.

Ideas abound in places other than the Internet. There have been many times when I felt so dry and low on ideas. But when I take a step back, get out, mingle among real-live people, ideas abound everywhere. Some of the best places to get great (and sometimes weird and funny!) ideas are: gas stations, small hometown cafes, Wal-Mart (God forbid!), magazine racks, grocery store, coffee shops…

More time with your family. I will be the first to admit that I don’t spend nearly enough time with my children. Even though I’m at home and I homeschool some days it feels like there just isn’t enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done. Stepping back from your work for a bit can truly open your eyes to what you’re missing out on, as well as help you to appreciate what you have even more.

I know that our business IS the Internet. But I just wanted to post a little reminder that our lives shouldn’t revolve around it.
Go take a break…

Popularity: 78% [?]

Are You Skilled Enough To Be A Writer?

Posted by Hope

Yesterday I talked about how writing extremely brief articles can leave your reader feeling cheated. Today I want to continue this discussion and look at closer at writing in general.

Deborah Ng, over at Freelance Writing Jobs wrote an excellent post yesterday about freelance writing, but it relates to writing in general so I think it applies here. In her post, Deb said that everyone cannot be a freelance writer, because:

1. It takes skill
2. You have to be able to work well alone
3. You have to be able to find enough work to survive
4. You have to have people skills
5. You have to be willing to network

I agree with Deb and I wanted to post her list to give you a wake-up call if you are thinking of becoming a freelance writer. But for today, I want to talk about #1 on that list: It takes skill to be a writer.

The Internet has given every human being a means of expression like never before. You can launch your own website or blog and talk about anything. And lots of people do. Internet marketing has exploded the market and need for writers. Internet marketers (IMers) put out calls and search for writers every week to generate content that can be used on their websites and/or for marketing.

This mad rush for the need of a constant flow of content has generated something that is becoming uglier by the minute. Some who are not writers by trade stumble upon this market and decide to cash in on it. They turn themselves into “writers” overnight, set up shop and start drawing in customers, literally charging as little as $1 or $2 for a 300-400 word article. This isn’t a problem….unless the content is crappy.

Another issue caused by the Internet marketing world is that many who are just getting their feet wet in the world of IM know they need content, but can’t afford to pay the better writers. Intead, they turn to the “new” writers, who will charge very little to write an article.

This creates a whole new level of interesting things happening. Now you have people paying for writing services, and getting junky articles in return. The IMer ends up using the content either because (A) she didn’t read it first, so she doesn’t know it’s no good, or (B) she figures content is content and uses it anyway. Imagine if 100,000 IMers are doing this….See where I’m going with this?

Hone Your Writing Skills Before You Accept New Clients

I ghost write articles, special reports, and ebooks for IMers. Earlier this year I had an extremely heavy work load, so I decided to outsource a small portion of my work. I (thought I) found a good deal through a special offer on a forum I participate in. So I snatched up the writer and sent him an assignment. When I received the content from him I was both irritated and disgusted. It was total junk.

I ended up having to rewrite almost all the content before I could send it on to the client. There was no way I was going to associate myself with the awful writing this person produced. I will never refer that writer to anyone else either. No skills = no more work.

Your writing skills are important. I’m not trying to discourage you from becoming a writer, if that’s what you want to do. What I’m trying to get across is that you must be willing to read, study, and practice writing in general to improve your skills all the time.

Sure, you could probably land a few writing gigs that pay OKAY. But wouldn’t you rather become a professional, skilled writer that has clients waiting in line for you to write for them?

So let’s talk about skills. What skills, in addition to Deb’s list above, do you need to be a good writer? Here are just a few I can think of off the top of my head:

• Good grammar
• Excellent spelling
• Effective communicator, both on paper and face-to-face
• Ability to do damage control when necessary
• Flexibility
• Organization (you don’t have to be perfect, but you need to be able to find what you need at the drop of a hat)
• Pleasant personality

What other writer skills would you add to this list?

Popularity: 26% [?]

Mining Your Site Stats

Posted by Hope

This evening I sat down and took some time to go through my site stats. After yesterday’s post about planning ahead, I decided I needed to truly dig down deep into my site stats to see what I’d find.

Let me begin this by saying that I’m obsessive about my site stats. I check all my site stats quite frequently throughout the day, nearly every day. One of the biggest ways I’ve been using my stats is to see what search phrases people are finding me with. (This is very interesting info, by the way, and if you’re not checking your stats, you’re missing out on it!)

So, like I said, this evening I had some extra free time and I decided to use it by digging into my site stats here at Hope Writes. I’m going to give you a peek into what I discovered so you can see for yourself and hopefully use it for yourself.

Here’s the video….

Popularity: 34% [?]

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% [?]

4 Big NO-NOs of Online Networking for Business

Posted by Hope

If you run a freelance business or work totally online, you probably use networking quite often. Networking is a good thing, when done proper. But one wrong turn and it can all head south really fast.

I am learning all the time about networking etiquette. Just when I think I’ve got it conquered, I learn something else. This is a good thing though!

Here are the four most important business networking lessons I’ve learned. I call them the big NO-NOs of online networking for business.

NO-NO #1 - Be disrepectful to your peers. This is probably the quickest way to ex-communicate yourself from anyone who might have considered teaming up with you or offering you work. It’s also the fastest way to make a bad name for yourself. If you constantly put others down or are almost always negative in your responses, you will become known for it.

Respect is a two-way street. In order to get it, you have to give it. Be respectful of others’ opinions and thoughts. Remember the old saying: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

NO-NO #2 - Network only to find business. I have to be honest with you and tell you that in the beginning days of my getting started online, I did this way too much. I was so eager to get started earning money independently online that I neglected to nurture a lot of relationships. Instead, I spent a lot of time getting to know people then trying to find ways to get hired by them.

The problem with this is that you can become known as a leech. It is extremely important to remember that every contact you make could be a potential business prospect…but don’t treat them as such. Remember #1: Be respectful.

Over the last few years, I have met some amazing people who work from home and are experiencing great success in doing so. Some of them have turned into clients while others have become great friends. Best of all, I form mutual relationships from which there is a give-and-take action that happens on any given day.

One such colleague emailed me a couple of weeks ago, asking if I had a solid source of information for “x” topic that he was writing a short report about. I quickly returned his email, pointing him to a few good resources.

Networking online with other business owners is not just a form of advertising yourself or your services. It’s a way to interact with other business-minded individuals where you can learn from each other.

NO-NO #3 - Get on your soap box. I see this more often than I care to lately. Sometimes I get so irritated that I, quite frankly, have to step back for a week or so, just so I don’t get sucked into it myself.

The one thing that really crawls under my skin is watching a thread pop up on a networking forum from a fairly new, or maybe less experienced, member asking a question or for advice, only to get flamed by “advanced” members.This usually happens when someone with more experience attempts to offer well-meaning advice to the newbie, but somehow gets sidetracked. The advice usually turns into a rant about how newbies should know better than to ask dumb questions.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I can get on my soap box sometimes, too. But when you are socializing in an online (read: open) forum with others, it is important to remember to keep your attitude in check. Ranting and spewing hateful or mean things at someone else, regardless of your social status, just looks plain bad. It’s usually how heated discussions get started. Don’t do it.

NO-NO #4 - Always take, but never give. (This is similar to #2, but a bit different so I’m adding it seperately.) One of the cornerstones of networking is giving back to your (online) community. It’s important to remember that your community will only be as good as you make it.

Some ways you can give back include, but aren’t limited to:

• Write a detailed article for free that offers solid, helpful information to others
• Offer your expert help to others who need it
• Make a donation to the website/forum owner as a show of support
• Reply to questions others have and give informative tips to help them out
• Share business resources that could be helpful to others

BONUS TIP: I just thought of this one, so I’ll throw it in for free. Don’t spread yourself too thin. I have found many networking communities online, and boy have I tried my best to be a part of all of them. It just doesn’t work that way, though. If you try to become involved in too many networks you’ll end up spending more time trying to fit in and be a part of them all, instead of building your business.

Networking is important, but so is your business. Find an equal balance that you can maintain safely without harming your work ethics.

Do you have another tip you’d like to add to this list?

Popularity: 35% [?]

Holiday Writing: Capitalizing on the Holiday Spirit

Posted by Hope

While lots of people in the United States are celebrating all sorts of holidays through the months of November and December, it is important to remember (if you work online) that these holidays do not necessarily apply to the entire world. I recently read a discussion about this on an internet marketing forum and learned that way too many of us have tunnel vision when it comes to the holidays.

What so many of us fail to remember is that even though some celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is a huge, ripe market out there who do not celebrate these holidays. Are you capitalizing on this market, or are you sitting at home twiddling your thumbs and telling yourself that you won’t make any sales because nobody’s online right now?

Ask yourself how you can promote your business or service right now. Brainstorm several unique ways to land those new clients or break your personal sales record. Don’t use the same old hum-drum Santa-and-the-reindeer tactics. Think out of the box.

Even in the U.S., I can guarantee you that after the turkey and stuffing is eaten, people will be on the Internet in droves will they nurse they full, aching tummies. What can you do to create targeted actions towards increasing your bottom line?

Technorati Tags: business, business tips, internet marketing, IM

Popularity: 38% [?]

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: 64% [?]

Offer A Solution

Posted by Hope

I just quickly skimmed an info product I downloaded, and boy do I already have something to chew on early this morning. You hear it all the time in the world of Internet Marketing: Offer a solution. But you know, sometimes it takes reading the same thing worded in a different way for me to “get” it.

When you are trying to build a new business, it can be difficult and challenging to land new clients. You can get so wrapped up in just trying to build your business and get new clients to come aboard that you forget the bottom line—offering a solution.

When you sell a solution, you are essentially reaching out your hand to potential clients or customers and saying, “Here, let me show you in three easy steps how you can stop snoring forever.” You are giving them the golden key to solving their huge problem.

The flip side of this is selling a product, which is not what you want to do. Yes, you read that right. You do NOT want to sell a product. Take a look at the difference, using the example just given…

Selling a solution: “I have 3 proven steps you can take right now that will stop your snoring forever–starting tonight. Your wife will never complain again about being kept awake by your obnoxious nasal noises.”

Selling a product: “My ebook will tell you how to stop snoring.”

Which would grab you immediately? The first, of course. It appeals to your emotions. Your snoring has kept your wife up for so long now that she gripes and complains all the time. You need help–NOW. I’m going to give you the easiest–and PROVEN–way to stop that awful snoring. It’s so simple that it can be done in 3 easy steps, PLUS if you put these steps into motion today, you won’t snore tonight.

You can easily see how selling a solution, and not a product, can make you more money. I’m getting excited about this, even as I type this blog post because I can see how I’ve been slacking and offering way too many products and not enough solutions. I think I’ll go now so I can jot down some notes and start revamping…

Technorati Tags: offer a solution, solution verses product, business, builder, selling, selling tips

P.S. Could your business use more articles like this one? Get your own profit-pulling articles and ebooks here.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Frequently Asked Ghostwriting Questions

Posted by Hope

Some of my recent visitors have never worked with a ghostwriter before. So I thought it fitting to compile a list of some of the most commonly asked questions about ghostwriting and then answer them. If I don’t answer your question here, leave it in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer it in a future post.

Frequently Asked Ghostwriting Questions

#1) What kind of qualifications should a ghostwriter possess? A competent ghostwriter should have some experience, at the very least. Some ghostwriters hold college degrees in English, journalism, etc. However, don’t be disillusioned into thinking a degree means that person has better talent than someone who doesn’t have a degree.

Overall, a good ghostwriter should:

• Reply to email or phone calls in a timely manner.
• Be courteous and friendly.
• Produce samples of previous work upon request.
• Work well with deadlines.
• Provide frequent updates if the project is a large one.

#2) How much should I expect to pay a ghostwriter? Rate of pay varies widely, as you’ll soon discover upon doing some research. That being said, a ghostwriter’s rates should usually reflect the amount of experience she has. If she is new, then her rates probably won’t be as high as one who has a decade or more experience.

Another thing that always surprises me is that some people purposefully seek out a “cheap” ghostwriter. In many cases, you get what you pay for. So if you’re looking for one that is less expensive, don’t complain if the work isn’t what you expected it to be.

#3) Why am I asked for full payment up front? Aren’t I taking a chance on him running off with my money and not producing the work I hired him for? Again, do your research before you decide to hire a ghostwriter. When you find a truly competent ghostwriter, you will more than likely be asked for payment in full before the project is started. At the very least you will be required to pay a deposit up front and then the rest when the project is completed (but before you receive the final product).

#4) What are some things I should look for when hiring a ghostwriter? When searching for a good ghostwriter, ask the following questions:

• How much experience does she have?
• Can he produce samples upon request?
• Does she have at least three references you could contact to inquire about her job ethics and performance?
• Have you seen his name in certain circles? If so, what kind of reputation has he built for himself?
• Can she work with you to map out a time line on when your project will be finished?

#5) What is the best way to work with a ghostwriter? This is a really good question that some don’t stop to think about. Working with a ghostwriter is more than hiring someone to write something and leaving it all up to him.

The first thing you need to do before you hire a ghostwriter is to be sure that you know exactly what you want in a final product. The worst thing for a ghostwriter is a client who changes their mind fifty times during the writing process. Not only is it frustrating for the ghostwriter, but it wastes an enormous amount of time. Know what you want before you hire a ghostwriter.

Second, you should provide as much information to your ghostwriter about the project as possible. One of my most favorite clients to date is one that knew precisely what he wanted in his book. When he hired me, he provided me with not only an outline and tentative title for his book, but also with copious notes and research he’d already conducted on the topic. I was able to write his book in record time because he knew what he wanted and he presented me with every bit of information he’d already collected.

Article writing is the same. I do not take on article writing clients any longer unless they provide me with the article titles, keywords, or topic idea that they want their articles written on. It simply makes for a more amiable and productive working relationship.

#6) Why are ghostwriting fees so expensive? One thing you have to remember about ghostwriters is that we do all the work, while you claim all the glory. “Ghost” means we are a silent and invisible part of the “writing.” As such, a greater price is required to compensate for this. You get a polished book ready for publication, with your name on the cover, and I simply get paid to write it.

#7) What is a specialist? A specialist is someone who is an expert in a specific area. Whereas a generalist tends to write on any subject. Ghostwriters who are just starting to build their career, or who don’t want to limit themselves to any certain topic are referred to as generalists. I’ve been a generalist up to this point in my career. Beginning in 2008, I will start specializing in writing about:

• Self-Improvement
• Writing
• Internet Marketing & Business
• Parenting & Family

As a last, closing thought, I’d like to remind you that clear communication is absolutely essential to working with any ghostwriter. The lines of communication must be open at all times, on both ends.

Technorati Tags: hire a ghostwriter, ghostwriting, ghostwriting questions

Popularity: 24% [?]

Time Is…Money?

Posted by Hope

“There’s a myth that time is money. In fact, time is more precious than money. It’s a nonrenewable resource. Once you’ve spent it, and if you’ve spent it badly, it’s gone forever.”
- Neil Fiore

I’ll bet you’ve heard it said as much as I have, “Time is money. Stop wasting time!” When I read this quote, I sat at my desk mulling it over for a few minutes. Nobody’s ever told me that time is more precious than money. Okay, so it’s one of those things I should know, but just never took the time to think about. So this quote was a nice little wake-up call for me.

How do you spend your time every day? Do you plan ahead and stick to the plan for the most part? Do you plan, then play? Do you not plan at all?

Time really is our most valuable resource. And once it’s gone, that’s it. There’s no getting it back. Ever. Are you a good steward of your time?

Technorati Tags: time management, time, money, time is money

Popularity: 17% [?]

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