Content Mastery Guide

Editor and Ghostwriter

I’m blog-hopping this week!

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I do have two new posts about article marketing for you this week, but you won't find them here on the Idea Generator blog.

To watch my new video about "How to write lists using parallel structure," please visit the New Coach Connection blog.

And to read about "How to make a L.O.V.E. connection in every article you write," please visit the snap! virtual associates blog. [Update December 24, 2012 – The article is no longer available from the snap! site, but it is posted on this blog.]

AquaNotes: My initial impressions of this idea catcher for the shower

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Well, I popped the AquaNotes onto my shower wall and gave them a spin. It was pretty remarkable to see the water just beading up and rolling off – I think kids would have a lot of fun with this in the bathtub 🙂 And I love that the paper and pencil are natural and non-toxic.

One thing I’m not sure will work for me is that the paper was too wet to immediately bring over to my desk and put with the other notes in my idea catcher.

There was a page enclosed in the box that read, “May you always be blessed with inspiration and great ideas in the shower…and enough AquaNotes to write them down! Thank you for order!” with a handwritten signature from Mark and LeAnn – a very nice touch.

I might add a few suggestions to that page, such as:

1. Before you apply your AquaNotes, stand in the shower to see where it’s most comfortable to write. (I moved mine twice before I did that!)

2. Leave your pages on the holder to dry so they don’t drip onto other papers. (Mark and LeAnn might be able to provide an approximate drying time.)

Overall, I think AquaNotes are a useful, creative and fun product that definitely do what they’re meant to do. I haven’t had any earth-shattering ideas in the shower since Nov 17th, but the next time I do, I’ll be ready!!

Pick up your own AquaNotes at www.myaquanotes.com.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein.

Article marketing: Does your article need more eyes or hands?

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The Editors' Association of Canada defines 12 distinct editorial skills that your piece of writing may benefit from.

Personally, I find it difficult to stop at proofreading – my eyes are always on the lookout for how to make a piece better, and that's why I use the term editing across the board. Even when I'm editing, I'm often re-writing or restructuring something, which takes me into ghostwriting territory.

Here are some distinctions between ghostwriting (when you want to hand off the writing task completely) and editing (when you want to do it yourself, with support).

Ghostwriting
An extra pair of hands		 Editing (Proofreading)
An extra pair of eyes
Gets you started Takes over once you've finished
Offers my subjective opinion about how to best express your ideas in writing Offers my objective application of an established style guide
Addresses general writing issues, marketing effectiveness and content choices Addresses grammar, typing, spelling and readability issues
Sometimes involves research and creation Strictly focused on the document in hand
Still needs proofreading/editing to address grammar, typing, spelling and readability issues May identify the need for ghostwriting to address writing, marketing and content issues

Don't send your writing off into the world all alone! Whether you need extra hands or eyes, I'd be happy to help!

Article marketing: How to be keyword rich AND creative in your article titles

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I fully admit that I haven’t put much effort into SEO – search engine optimization. I prefer to focus on creating great content, and building relationships with people who will help me share it.

On the other hand, I believe that by using SEO techniques, you can be of service to the people out there who desperately need what you have to offer. You are putting yourself in their path so they will find you and you can help them.

Now that’s something I can get on board with!

Three Tips for Keyword-Rich Article Titles

While I think we’ve already established that I’m not an SEO expert, here are three things I’ve learned about writing keyword-rich titles:

1. Do a little research. Find out what terms people are actually searching for (Google has a tool for that), related to your article topic.

2. Fish in a smaller pond. Choose the keywords people aren’t searching for THE MOST. There is less competition to deal with.

3. Be top-heavy: Use your keywords at the beginning of your title. Instead of “The Top 10 Ways to Discipline Your Teenager,” try, “Out of Control Teens (6,600 searches worldwide last month): Top 10 Discipline Techniques.”

So is that it? Just stuff your title with keywords and fight for a spot on the front page of the search engine results? Nope. I would always encourage you to write for people first, and search engines second.

Three Tips for Creative Article Subtitles

You might notice that I’ve used titles and subtitles in my examples. As a loose rule, put your keywords in the title and get more creative in your subtitle.

Here are three ways to bring more creativity into your article subtitles, so they’re attractive to your ideal readers:

1. Play with your words. An alternate title for this article might have been, “Article Marketing: How to be creative AND rich.” It’s a play on words – a deliberate deception, if you will – since instead of finances we’re talking about keywords. Be cautious here. If your article content is too much of a departure from your title, you risk losing the trust of your readers.

2. Make an outrageous connection. Get people curious to find out how the two things in your title could possibly relate, e.g., “Business Planning 101: What My Kitchen Renovation Revealed About My Business Goals.”

3. Repeat what works. What do YOUR readers respond to? Look at your open rates, click-through rates, comments and email replies. Which titles got the most response from your specific readers?

Also consider the type of article you’re writing, and for what purpose. For stock articles that you’re going to submit to general directories, you might want to experiment with a plain, descriptive, keyword-rich title.

But for specialty articles that you will email to your subscribers or submit to a membership site or specialized directory, you will want to inject more personality and flair.

Ideally, your titles will be rich enough to show up in front of hundreds of people, and creative enough for your ideal readers to self-select and click through.

Remember that click-throughs are only part of the story. You need that reader to get all the way to the bottom of your article so they find and follow your call-to-action (hopefully an offer for your pink spoon) and join your tribe.

Green writing tips

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As I promised Joan Bell in my post about saving water, here are five ways to reduce your carbon footprint as a writer:

  1. Don’t use a whole sheet when a half will do. For my idea catchers, I use a small memo pad of lined paper, and I tear each sheet in half.
  2. Recycle your shredded paper. Whether you’re protecting your own ideas, or you’re like me and you’re writing for clients, make sure to recycle what you shred. If your local shredding service won’t do small pick ups, pool together with other business owners to organize a pick up at your regular networking or association meeting, and share the costs.
  3. Print sparingly. Install the free GreenPrint World program. It helps you save ink by not printing images or extra pages you don’t need.
  4. Recycle your printer cartridges. When I purchase a new cartridge, I can use the same box to dispose of the old one properly.
  5. Declare a computer-free day. This not only helps YOU to rest and recharge, it reduces the energy drain your computer draws from the grid every other day. David Suzuki has more power-saving tips.

What green writing strategies or other green business tips can you share? Write a comment below!