Simple Sales Copy | PLR Copywriting Software

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How to Maximize Your Site Reponse Using SEO Copywriting Services

How to Maximize Your Site Reponse Using SEO Copywriting Services

Article writing is a key internet marketing tool and you must get your search engine optimisation copywriting strategy right. In this piece we are going to look at the steps in preparing an article for use with your SEO campaign and look at some of the tools and techniques available to maximize search engine impact as well as deliver interesting content for human readers. By following this step by step guide you will improve your search engine optimisation copywriting.

The first point to remember is, “Who are you writing for?” ultimately, human readers will determine whether your SEO campaign is a success simply because they spend the money on your site and not a web crawler. Whenever you prepare content, human readers should have priority over the content and not the search engines; on the other hand, search engines will determine how many human readers are going to actually land on the content so we have a chicken and egg situation.

The answer is simple; cater for both human readers and the search engines by striking a balance between interesting content relevant for users while also achieving the aim of promoting search engine rankings for the web site and content.

By following this step by step guide you will improve your copywriting services .

Step One – Headlines are there to get someone to read the first line of your article and more!

The basic copywriting maxim is to come up with a headline that will grab the attention of the reader and entice them to read the first line of your search engine optimisation copywriting article.

Include your keyword or phrase within the title as your anchor text and this satisfies SEO requirements.

If you are targeting “London hotel” as a key phrase, look at how this can be incorporated into an attention grabbing headline:

“London hotel deliver best deal for tourists!”

“The cheapest London hotel reviewed”

“Best London hotel for business users”

Step Two – Generate interest with the first sentence of your SEO copywriting content

You’ve gained a user’s attention with your search engine optimisation copywriting headline, and now you have to suck the user into the body of your piece by activating their desire.

You can do this by a variety of methods such as promising to save money by following the article’s advice or solving a problem the target audience is likely to have.

At the same time, ensure you use the search engine optimisation copywriting keyword within the first sentence to satisfy SEO requirements.

Using our example of “London hotel”, we can create an opening line such as;

“How does a London hotel generate the highest levels of repeat business when the rest of the sector is experiencing difficulties?”

“We reviewed the cheapest London hotel for tourists and had a fantastic surprise in store; “cheap” can mean high quality and hard to beat value when stretching your holiday budget and here’s how you do it.”

Step Three – Use your headers to give structure for improved SEO copywriting

Using headers and sub-headers will give your search engine optimisation copywriting structure and allow your users to focus on the relevant content for them.

Users scan internet content and tend not to read it from start to finish so use headers as mini-headlines which make your key information stand out at a glance to a human reader.

Look at this article and the use of sub-headers to split up the piece and highlight key points.

Use the keyword or phrase in the sub-header as well as when you come to upload the content to your site, you can use the h1,h2 and h3 tags to further underline the importance of your keyword to the search engines.

Step Four – Review your search engine optimisation copywriting for human users

You’ve finished! Now look at copywriting services providers to assist you if you need a high volume of articles – then you are ready – almost!

Read it through and edit it; best advice is to leave the article alone for a day and return to the piece and read it through. The reason for this is as a writer, you will be too wrapped up in what the content has to say and not the actual English language such as the grammar and typos. Seeing the piece with fresh eyes will allow your mind to concentrate firstly on the standard of English (or other language) and secondly, you can assess whether the piece actually makes sense and runs together as a fluid piece of writing.

Specifically, look out for jarring use of keywords and phrases where the writer has inserted keywords in places which make the search engine optimisation copywriting appear disjointed and written by a ten year old. Keyword stuffing is not good practice and will deter human readers from following through on your advice or call to action.

How long should a search engine optimisation copywriting piece be?

The answer is “How long is a piece of string!”, however between 500 and 1,000 words is probably ideal depending on the subject matter and the purpose of the search engine optimisation copywriting in respect of human readers; sales copy should be short and snappy while instructional or technical pieces will be discursive and lengthier.

Step Five – Review your SEO copywriting for search engines

Finally, review your search engine optimisation copywriting for keyword density and use of anchor text and tags where appropriate.

Do not overdo the keyword insertion; too much and the search engines will recognise you as keyword stuffing and discount you in the rankings while too little and you may be deemed as not relevant enough to warrant high rank. Typically, keyword density between 2% and 4% is recommended – but more importantly you should use synonyms and variations of the keyword as the search engines are becoming quite savvy and assess your ‘theme’ words as well. The best policy is to write an article organically then integrate the words appropriately.

How Do I Become a Successful Freelance Copywriter?

How Do I Become a Successful Freelance Copywriter?

Many new internet business endeavours disappear very quickly, whilst others appear to be doing well only to grind to a halt. Statistics from the Small Business Administration confirm this by telling us that only a third of all new businesses eventually turn a profit. This information is not intended to scare you, because you do not have to be one of those statistics. All you have to do to join thousands of other successful copywriters, is to avoid common internet business start-up pitfalls. Here are some guidelines to ensure your online copywriting business success.

Developing the right mindset

1. In order to become a successful online copywriter you have to develop the right mindset. The copywriting business is not a get rich quick scheme. It won’t make you a millionaire overnight. But if you follow a few relatively simple steps you could set yourself on the road to financial independence and possibly great wealth!

Action Planning

2. According to online marketing guru Steve Wagenheim, in an ereport entitled The Mindset Of The Successful Marketer , 95% of the people who try to run an online business fail. This is because, they have no plan and they have no idea of what they are doing. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and this could spell disaster for your earning potential as a copywriter.

3. Avoid this problem by focusing on a particular area of copywriting. Nick Usborne writes in The Top Ten Mistakes Made by Freelance Writers and Copywriters that it is “far better that you establish a clear niche, an area in which you specialise and then become an expert”.

4. In order to decide on which area of copywriting to specialise in you may want to refer to sites which provide detailed information on the different types of copywriting opportunities available. Business Planning

5. All successful online business owners have developed a realistic business plan for their ventures. Business planning will give you a clear sense of direction and enable you to measure success within your copywriting business. The Business Link website provides a template for writing a business plan in addition to clear guidelines on what information to provide in each section.

Goalsetting

6. Write down how you would like to develop your business within the next 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and so on. As a newcomer you might set yourself a financial goal to make at least £6,000 in the first year of your copywriting career.

7. Using Robert Bly’s calculations in 10 Ways to make a 6-Figure Income as a Freelance Writer, you will have to make £120 a week for 50 weeks. To achieve your weekly target you might plan to do two assignments a week at £60 each. Focus on Quality

8. Dr. Ken Evoy, creator of Site Sell Inc emphasises the importance of offering your customer high quality information. In doing so, you become a trusted expert and many customers will want to work with you. As a result, your income will actually soar. Once the word gets round you will establish credibility for yourself and you will be able to command higher fees.

Market Your Services

9. Go to copywriting internet forums such as Google groups and Yahoo Groups. Post an ad stating that you are offering a free copywriting service. Some online marketers will give your free service a try. Make sure you obtain testimonials for each project you complete.

10. Build a website to promote your copywriting services. Assemble the free copywriting assignments into a portfolio and provide a statement reflecting your work. Don’t forget to include the testimonials received from your customers.

You can drive traffic to your site in many ways:

* Consider delivering informative content for free article directories such as Go Articles and Ezine Articles. Don’t forget to include a hook to your website.

* Write a blog about your business using Blogger or WordPress.

* Send out news releases * Network on discussion boards get to know people in the community and swap services with other members

You can expand your work opportunities by signing up to a freelance writing agency such as Academic Knowledge.

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12 Job Application Tips For Copywriters

12 Job Application Tips For Copywriters

I recently advertised for freelance copywriters to work for my copywriting business and received some 200 applications. I’ve done quite a bit of recruiting in the past, so, from the outset, I knew exactly what sort of expertise I was after. I also knew I’d be inundated with applications, and that the applicants would come from all sorts of backgrounds with varying levels of copywriting expertise. I was very specific about the application requirements, and I had systems set up to filter and categorize applications. I thought I had it all covered. I should have known I couldn’t be that lucky!

When the applications started rolling in, I was dumbfounded. All of my best intentions and systems notwithstanding, the applicants seemed intent on ruling themselves out of contention by sending sub-standard application emails. They were so bad that, at times, I felt like I was shortlisting based on the quality of the application, rather than the quality of the applicant.

This article is for any writer – experienced or not – who plans to apply for a copywriting job. It presents 12 tips (in order of importance) on how to apply in such a way that you stand a chance of making the shortlist.

1) Follow Instructions

If the job ad contains instructions, follow them. If it contains instructions which are labelled “IMPORTANT”, and which are formatted bold and red, you can assume they’re somewhat important and that there’s a reason for them. Follow them! Read and re-read the ad to make sure you’ve followed every instruction. If the ad says apply via email, apply via email! If it says to use “Copywriter Application” as the subject line, use “Copywriter Application” as the subject line! If it says to visit a website, provide a quote, supply three copy samples, and include your resume, DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS! If you don’t follow the simple, obvious instructions in a job ad, the employer will have no faith that you’ll be able to adhere to a complex copywriting brief!

2) Less is More

Don’t waste the employer’s time. Remember, they’re hiring a freelance copywriter because they need someone to take on a bit of their workload. They’re ‘time poor’. Keep your application short ‘n’ sweet. This is your chance to show what you’re capable of, so don’t fall into the trap of using big words and complex sentences. Less is more.

3) Show How You’ll Help Their Business

Try to see things from the employer’s perspective. Most employers who advertise for freelancer copywriters are looking for people who can help them streamline their business. Employers – particularly copywriting studios, advertising agencies and web design agencies – who want freelance copywriters are trying to ‘productize’ copywriting. They want to be able to ‘turn the handle’: they want an affordable freelance copywriter who can be relied upon to deliver client-ready first draft copy, with minimal supervision. They’re trying to build a copywriter factory line. Remember this when you apply, and try to show how you’ll help them achieve this goal.

4) Make Your Application Scannable

Once again, remember that the employer doesn’t have a lot of time. So make your copywriter application easy to scan. Don’t just write one long block of text. Use short paragraphs, headings and bullets, and bold the important bits.

5) Address the Requirements

If the copywriter ad lists the requirements of the job, make sure you address them, individually. (But remember, keep it short ‘n’ sweet.)

6) Be Open and Honest

Don’t oversell yourself; if the story told by your samples and resume doesn’t match your sales spiel, you’ll be discounted. If you don’t have the experience or expertise to satisfy one or more of the requirements, say so. And don’t lie about your experience or include samples you didn’t actually write. This may get you one job, but you may not get paid for it, and you’ll certainly never get another. And remember, the copywriting world is very small; everyone knows everyone, and warnings about deceptive freelancers travel very fast along the grapevine.

7) Provide Relevant Samples

If the job ad asks you to supply samples of your copy, do everything in your power to find and supply samples that are relevant. The ad may specify the kind of samples you need to supply, but if not, take a look at the employer’s website, and send samples that are relevant to their main service offering. If they do mostly web copy, send web copy samples. If they do short copy, send short copy samples. And if you don’t have any relevant samples, try to identify the core qualities required by the employer, and send samples that show you possess those qualities. (e.g. If the employer does mostly online brochure-type web copy, you’ll need to supply samples which show your ability to simultaneously capture a product and an audience, and maybe even educate the audience.)

Don’t Expect Immediate Feedback

Because most job ads attract hundreds of applications, and because the employer is still trying to run their business, you can’t expect immediate feedback on your application. Don’t send a reminder email after a day or two days. If you’re going to send a reminder, do it after a week or two weeks. And, unless the ad says to call, don’t call! Phone calls take up a lot of time, and this can be very frustrating to a busy employer who, most likely, has no feedback to give yet, anyway.

9) Don’t Use Broken English

If you’re applying for a job as an English-language copywriter, you have to have a solid mastery of English. If your application is written in broken English, you WILL NOT get the role; you’re simply wasting your time and the employer’s time.

10) Proof-Read Your Application

Nothing undermines a copywriter more than mistakes in spelling, punctuation, grammar and syntax (he says as he nervously scans his article!). Pay close attention to detail. You may be applying for quite a few roles, but don’t hurry through your application; always take the time to proof-read and spell-check. TIP: Although it’s not a show-stopper, try to spell the employer’s correctly!

11) Don’t Ask for Work Experience

Unless the ad specifically states that unpaid work experience is a possibility, don’t ask for it. While it certainly indicates great enthusiasm, most employers simply don’t have the time to mentor a junior copywriter, even if they’re not paying the writer anything.

12) Don’t Ask for a Critique of Your Writing

If your application is unsuccessful, feel free to ask why not, but don’t ask the employer to critique your writing. Explaining why your writing is inadequate is a very time consuming task, and it’s not the responsibility of a prospective employer. If you ever had a chance at a call-back somewhere down the line, this is the surest way to lose it.

Conclusion

You’d be surprised how many freelance copywriter applicants DON’T observe the above guidelines. These applicants make the employer’s job extremely frustrating and time consuming, and they all but rule themselves out of contention. Follow all of the above tips when applying for your next freelance copywriter position, and you’ll be a very big step ahead of your competition.

Happy applying!

Copywriting expert John Carlton explains the difference between a product’s features and benefits, and why you need to know the difference. For more insights, visit John’s blog at: www.John-Carlton.com To learn more about marketing, copywriting, and salesmanship, visit www.MarketingRebel.com

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Copywriting Grab Bag — Questions & Answers

Copywriting Questions & Answers – www.BenSettle.com
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American Writers and Master Copywriters Jen Stevens & John Forde

Find Out What Happened to the Copywriting Industry Over the Past Year and What the Best Opportunities are for the upcoming year from American Writers and Master Copywriters Jen Stevens and John Forde. Visit www.AWAIOnline.com to learn more! Learn from copywriting experts like John Forde, Jen Stevens, and Bob Bly at the AWAI FastTrack to Copywriting Success Bootcamp!
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Sales Copywriting “How To” – Fact Sheet – (Video 1, Part 1)

www.brenthodgson.com In this video Sales Copywriter Brent Hodgson shares how he begins writing a salesletter, starting with developing a Fact Sheet
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Do you have the “write stuff” to be a prosperous freelance copywriter?

Do you have the “write stuff” to be a prosperous freelance copywriter?

Some so-called writing experts say you don’t need much skill or talent to be a freelance copywriter for businesses and professionals. Don’t believe it. This article looks at the specific writing skills you must have to be successful and prosperous in this field. If your abilities are not up to par, all hope is not lost: We’ll also look at some ways to hone your skills so you can be competitive in the business market.

How much writing talent do you need to succeed in the world of freelance copywriting (also known as corporate writing)? If you listen to the advice of some writers, you’d think the only requirement is the ability to hit keys on a keyboard.

Okay, I’m exaggerating…a little. But a fair share of supposedly “expert” freelance writers proclaim that you don’t need much writing talent or skill to make a lot of money writing for businesses and professionals. Some even say you’ll be raking in 0,000 annually almost right away-even without training or experience in copywriting. I’ve come across such claims in several books and web sites about freelance copywriting. These claims mislead many copywriters-to-be into thinking it’s easy to break into the field. Here’s the truth: People who don’t have at least a moderate amount of writing talent and skill will have difficulty getting copywriting assignments.

Businesspeople and professionals who know they need a copywriter are also smart enough to recognize poor copy when they see it.

Look at it this way: Would you hire a mechanic whose definition of a screwdriver was vodka and orange juice?

Easier, but not easy

It’s true that freelance copywriting is an easier way to make a living than trying to write the Great American Novel and then convincing a publisher to pay you for it. Freelance copywriting is also easier and certainly more lucrative than sending countless queries to magazine editors and waiting for a reply that is statistically destined to be a rejection slip. (About 99 percent of all traditional queries and proposals are rejected.)

But freelance copywriting is not as easy as many self-proclaimed experts say. Copywriters really do need some amount of writing talent and skill. Otherwise, they won’t get very far.

Business clients know what they want and like, and they eventually will know whether a copywriter’s output meets their needs. Writers who can’t deliver good copy won’t get the repeat business and referrals that are so necessary for successful freelancing.

You can’t “fake it until you make it” in this field. Many unskilled writers have tried and failed. However, if you’re reading this article (which I’ve targeted to writers with some skills and a desire to gain more), you probably have what you need to get started as a freelance copywriter.

How much talent do you really need?

You don’t have to be the Ernest Hemingway of the corporate world to succeed as a freelance copywriter. Besides, Papa’s style probably wouldn’t suit most business clients. Here’s what counts:

· You need the ability to write clearly, concisely and sometimes cleverly.

· You must use proper grammar or know when and why to break a grammatical rule. Don’t be surprised if your client thinks your intentionally broken rule is an error and calls you on it. You will need to explain why you purposely made the “mistake” and defend it. Even then, the client may ask you to undo it. Joe Customer is not always right, but sometimes you need to let him think he is.

· You must be able to gather extensive information about the subject at hand, then translate it into meaningful copy that meets the client’s objectives. Interviewing and research skills are handy, and they improve with practice.

· You need to know how to write strong-selling copy. After all, most copywriting is sales writing, designed to persuade consumers or businesses to buy your client’s products or services. Brochures, newsletters, ads, direct mail and many other corporate materials are basically sales or marketing pieces, and the sales message may be hard or soft. Your writing must convince readers to buy. If your copywriting is not yet powerful, compelling and effective, take heart–and heed: The ability to write strong-selling copy is a learned skill, and you probably can learn it too. Look for advertising or copywriting courses on the Internet or in nearby community colleges. Read up on the subject of writing to sell. Carefully examine written materials from a wide range of businesses. (Some of it might be considered junk mail, but you can learn a lot from it.). Then practice, practice, practice.

· You need the ability to write with some amount of flair or panache. Business clients don’t want a dry, dull thesis or a high school term paper. They want writing that’s persuasive, interesting, easy to read and sometimes humorous. They expect writing that captures attention and encourages the reader to take a specific action.

· You need to know copywriting, advertising and basic marketing terms, such as unique selling proposition, target market, advertorial, branding, systems marketing,

· You must be flexible enough to write in different styles. Let’s say you get assignments to write newsletters for two clients. Client A is a laid-back travel agent who requests a breezy, informal newsletter; you can break some rules and have fun. Client B, on the other hand, is a buttoned-down engineer who expects a formal style to match his company’s image and serious nature. You’d better stick to the rules of grammar and avoid cleverness.

The other keys to your success

To succeed and prosper as a freelance copywriter, you’ll also need several non-writing-related talents, including:

· The ability to establish and maintain relationships with clients

· Basic business skills, such as invoicing, keeping records and managing time

· An entrepreneurial spirit

· The courage and know-how to market yourself

· Occasionally, a little mind-reading!

I suspect that most people who want to be freelance copywriters already have at least some writing talent. The other essentials-copywriting and business skills-can be learned through self-education, formal education or the guidance of other writers. Just remember: Despite what some “copywriting gurus” say, you do need talent and skills to succeed in this exciting field. When you’re equipped with both, wonderful things will happen. Enjoy!

Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

Since 2003 I’ve helped many new copywriters select the niche that’s right for them, and those niches have been strong and varied.

Nutraceuticals is big, and so is financial; technology is popular, as well the technology sub-niches of software, hardware, and to a much lesser degree, telecom.

In addition to the more obvious markets I have copywriters specializing in the human potential industry, the seniors market, marketing communications (marcom), publishing, the government, white papers, veterinary, insurance, global markets, and more.

As a niching expert, I know there are dozens of niches open to the freelance copywriter, but the one that has continually stumped me…the one I haven’t been able to safely recommend…is non-profit.

Although I’ve written for non-profit a number of times throughout my agency and freelance career, the pay was paltry (or none), and few of my colleagues had much to say about the niche.

Yet there are those who sing its praises. And many copywriters are drawn to the niche, energized by the idea of doing good and getting paid for it.

After four years it had become apparent to me that the only way I’d be able to recommend this niche, or not, was to do a formal study. So I did.

I wanted to answer some basic questions:

Can you really earn six figures or more in this niche? If so, how long will it take? What recommendations would those working in the niche pass down to newcomers? What pitfalls await the unsuspecting? How would one go about creating a successful career in this niche?

In order to get reliable information, I identified five non-profit copywriters who would represent a healthy cross-section…everyone from the “dean” of non-profit himself to a newcomer who’d recently found success in this niche.

I interviewed each of the copywriters with the express purpose of learning the truth about working in this niche; and each knew the purpose of this report was “truth” over sales; that his or her response would influence the course of copywriters’ careers for years to come.

I wanted to know the good and the bad, the pearls and the warts! And my interviewees gave me both, with generosity, honesty, and candor.

In addition I sponsored a survey of non-profit copywriters, who revealed their incomes, their niche markets, and shared a flood of passionate and cautionary advice about working in this niche. Between the interviews and the survey, a clear picture began to emerge…

A picture that looks something like a map of the United States…one whole homogonous entity made up of numerous smaller entities…revealing a very strong but complicated market!

Some of the findings:

You don’t go to a non-profit and say, “I’m a great copywriter. I write killer copy.” You have to be a specialist to grow a thriving business. There is a significant difference between non-profits and fundraisers, and knowing the difference is fundamental to your career as a non-profit/fundraising copywriter. Non-profits split out into three groups: advocacy (caused-based organizations such as Greenpeace); charity (such as the Christian Children’s Fund); and political (Democratic National Committee). Copywriters can specialize by the kind of funding they help organizations raise, e.g., a government grants, giving from wills and estates, and capital campaigns (such as helping a hospital add a new wing). Some non-profit copywriters specialize by media: letters only, or grant writing only, or online only…direct mail, radio, and so on. You can get a lot of business just from your web site if you correctly optimize your keywords (according to your specialty). Creating an ezine is a particularly effective marketing tool for this market. Two of the biggest non-profits are universities and hospitals. (One could sub-niche into either of these huge markets.) Non-profit is a huge niche market and accounts for 2 percent of the Gross National Product. What’s more, it’s a growing market but it will need copywriters in the future even more than it does now.

That’s because, according to non-profit copywriter Alan Sharpe, the new generation did not grow up in a culture of giving, so its going to be more challenging for non-profits to gain the funds they need.

Says Alan: “…the parents of baby boomers are the last generation to give out of habit…my parents’ parents and your parents’ parents…they were basically raised to give…

“And that’s not true today. You’ve got 15-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds… You can approach a 20-year-old and ask them for a donation for Hurricane Katrina and they’ll say, ‘Well, how are you going to use it? How can I be sure? Can you email me photographs of my donation at work?’”

So as non-profits find it more and more challenging to collect funds, they will find talented freelance copywriters more valuable to their marketing initiatives.

Other finding on this niche include:

Survey evidence that copywriters can earn 0,000 per year and more…but that the majority earn much less The non-profit sector has doubled since the early ’90s, and according to non-profit guru Mal Warwick, “continues to grow faster than the economy.” 65 percent of surveyed non-profit copywriters believe non-profit will be a good niche for copywriters in the foreseeable future Only 23 percent of surveyed non-profit copywriters felt there was a high level of competition in the space

“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” offers six months of research and analysis, 78 pages of survey data (16 questions posed to 54 participants), interviews with successful non-profit copywriters, including the “dean” of non-profit copywriting Jerry Huntsinger, and today’s reigning guru, Mal Warwick; and analysis and commentary by myself, copywriter’s coach Chris Marlow.

“ChrisNotes: The Truth about copywriting for non-profits” is designed to help freelance copywriters determine if non-profit is a good niche for them…one that will fill them up emotionally, financially, and perhaps even spiritually…or not.

A niching mistake can be a critical mistake, and can even destroy a fledgling career. It takes time and money to build a business. Knowing with certainty that your chosen niche is the right fit is the first step to business success.

Frank Kern Mass Control $23 Mil Copywriter

www.FrankKernMassControl.com See How Frank Kern used Mass Control marketing to launch of “StomperNet” with Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkins that produced .3 million dollars the first day. His other campaigns have generated millions in revenue in an hour.
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