Office Wife

As a writer, you need to acquire a readership, whether you write articles, advertising, fiction, and/or nonfiction. You’ve probably heard that you need a website to help promote your writing and start building that readership.

It’s true. The Web is a fabulous means to build a writing biz. You can connect with like minded individuals, you can present opinions, you can experiment with your writing (beyond what our predecessors could ever imagine), you can interact with your readers… you can have fun.

The thing nobody tells you about this process is that once you’ve got the website up, you have to generate traffic to start this incredible web adventure.

That can be an interesting task.

In fact, lately this “web traffic” situation seems to be on more minds than mine. I get e-mails (nearly) daily promising me that (for a hefty price) some company or another will get one of my sites “to the top of the major search engines.”

Yeah. Right.

There are effective ways to get your website listed in the major search engines. There are also some not effective ways as well.

This article outlines one ineffective way to get web traffic.

I’ve coached a few writers, so-called professional communicators, this past month who were discouraged because although their websites were rising through the Google ranks and were receiving a good amount of organic traffic, they weren’t making any book sales.

I had a hunch I knew what was going on.

When a well-written book doesn’t sell, it’s usually for a number of reasons, the most probable being that there isn’t a large enough market for the topic, the price point is too high (or too low), or the web page doesn’t properly sell the title.

One look at the site confirmed my suspicions. In all the instances brought to my attention, the problem was with the website. Every single writer was more concerned about web site optimization rather than properly describing and selling their book.

It’s one thing to make your website favorable to search engines, in fact Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an important part of building a website, but it’s quite another to engage in clumsy tactics to make your site climb up the ranks.

Disclaimer: I’m not, nor do I pretend to be an SEO expert. The following is pure opinion based on my web adventures.

What each of these people did was, as they built their website text, they inserted copious numbers of “keywords” to the point that they were literally “keyword packing.”

Keyword Packing occurs when you take a particular keyword and pack that keyword into a keyword sentence as many times as possible so that when the search engines spider your site they’ll see your keyword and assume that keyword accurately represents your “keyword” website and will appear when someone inserts that keyword into the engine. (Note: this sentence is packed with a keyword.

Betcha you’ll never guess which one it is.)

As you can see, keyword packing makes for some very awkward writing. Combine keyword packing with keyword placement on menus, subheads, and titles and you’ve got one, big keyword, mess.

Here’s the problem. When you receive good search engine rankings, you will receive traffic. Problem is when you do receive that traffic, you’ll quickly discover it evaporates once your visitors experience your awkward writing style.

It takes a writer with the skill of a master to elegantly weave keywords into a website while maintaining flow and sales effectiveness.

Very difficult.

So, suppose you’re not an SEO expert (like me). What can you do to get website traffic without sacrificing content?

There are multiple ways to generate some website traffic including writing articles, article distribution sites, creating videos, visiting forums, blogs, zines, Google Adwords, and much more. I’ll discuss these more in upcoming issues of Writing Etc.

You’ve got options, many of them not costing one red cent, to generate web traffic. Approach SEO carefully, never sacrificing content for keywords.

Remember, a site receiving a few relevant, smart, interesting, and engaged visitors is far more powerful than a bunch of people who visit and leave thinking you’ve got an awkward, repetitive, unnatural writing style.

My two (very opinionated and probably antiquated) cents.

Got a comment? Head on over to my blog.

http://blog.bethannerickson.com

~~~

Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of numerous titles including “101 No Cost and Low Cost Secrets To Turbo Charge Your Freelance Income.” Pick up your copy today at http://filbertpublishing.com/101.html She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers.

How many books, articles, newsletters and informational pieces does it take to create a successful business? to create a successful affiliate marketer? To create a successful ????

None, not really. You can read everything that comes your way, overload on information and get no where fast. Spending money on the latest, hottest book means nothing if you just read it and let it collect dust. How many dust collectors do you need?

My library is relatively small right now. So is the list of people I will pay for their information, or link to their blogs. Becoming a discerning, educated consumer takes some work, you do need to read a few books to get the feel for what it is you need to help create the path that fits.

Today I want to share one of those resources with you. Recently I decided to go through and do some spring cleaning of my book marks. One of those tasks that have kept getting put off because it was not important, but it really is since I decided to get more involved in my online life. The first step is reviewing some of the programs that I signed up with to be an affiliate.

One of the programs is the tall banner on the side of this page, just scroll down. It is Link Share, some of the larger names use their services to market their products. I decided rather than signing up for some of the pages that give you an opportunity to become a member and save shopping from their merchants, that I could do my own and earn as well as save. You can too, plus earn from those who join you. So I am inviting you to join me in pursuing a better income to create a greater life. You can start with Link Share, it is free to join. Pick the programs you want to represent, add links to your blog, web page or where ever you choose to put them. Link Share offers programs like ShopNBC, Tiger Direct for your computer needs, or try stores like David’s Cookies. Choose banners, text links for email signatures, banners to include in your web page, there is not limit to your imagination.

Get started today and build your affiliate income now.

Spend the day at the beach if you want, go on a vacation, or take an extra long lunch break with your kids at the park! It’s no secret that working from home gives entrepreneurs the freedom to choose their own hours, avoid commuting each day, and have the potential to make more income than a “9 to 5” job. But one of the greatest risks with operating an online business is that your income can greatly fluctuate, especially if you are unfamiliar with search engine optimization. When there’s not enough time or expertise to market your business online, outsourcing is the very best option! Contracting out SEO experts brings you the best of both worlds:

• No training to worry about which keeps you doing what you do best
• High-quality services that are guaranteed to promote your business

First, let’s look at one major expense of running an online business: search engine optimization. You may all of the motivation in the world to learn what you can about good SEO and how to get your site to the top of the search engine rankings. But managing this takes you away from running your business. However, with outsourcing you eliminate the learning curve involved in getting up to speed with link building, social networking, and keyword optimization. Your team of qualified SEO people can handle it efficiently, effectively, and with the best results because that’s what they’re good at! Look for providers that have had years of experience (and the positive feedback to prove it) so you’re sure they provide superior services to their clients.

The next advantage to outsourcing is that you can choose exactly the services you need to build your traffic. Take, for example, an online store with 3 employees: the owner, his wife, and a stock person. The owner of this company may be an expert at establishing vendor relations and controlling the financial aspects of the business, while his wife handles customer service and their stock person packs and ships the products out. But how about marketing their business online? With an online-based outsourcing service, SEO professionals are standing by to provide these valuable services. People like SEO marketing experts, social media professionals, and webmasters can be hired “by-the-project” or on an on-going basis.

When an SEO professional is needed to get more exposure for your Web site, why not outsource? You’ll gain the best reward for running an online business… more traffic to your site and more sales! With outsourcing, no matter what type of SEO improvements you need, you can hire the same quality services without having to hire your employees in-house. Now, your business can be even more profitable from home while outsourced SEO specialists are working hard for you from the comfort of their homes!

About the author: Nicole Munoz is the owner of Start Ranking Now. She is an SEO Outsourcing, Link Building, and Social Media Expert. She also conducts SEO training in San Diego to other entrepreneurs and Internet marketing professionals.

Fair Trade is important, rather than employing people in Third World countries as slave wages, companies that support Fair Trade are paying living wages and providing benefits to their employees. Those companies that support Fair Trade as a general rule also supports the Green initiative and renewable energy, plus find ways to care for the environment.

These are two of my favorite companies that do their part to support the environment, take care of their employees and best of all provide some terrific products.

Go shop now, get your own coffee maker and share with everyone in your office. Green Mountain Coffee provides an auto-ship service so you never have to worry about running out of coffee. You pick the schedule and Green Mountain Coffee will deliver. As an added bonus when you set up your auto-ship they will take $2 off every box of K-Cups, $1 off bagged coffee & 10% off all non-coffee items (including brewers).This is a terrific deal, click the banner and set your schedule now.

Thank you for visiting, I appreciate your time. Enjoy your coffee.

I am well on my way to developing my spiritual guidance business, this is my forte, my heart and my vocation. Not that I do not enjoy this blog, developing Office Wife as a referral service now is preferable. Although if someone needs clerical, data base, web site, or other administrative services I will remain available part time. I am also developing a data base for virtual assistants, so if you would like to be listed let me know, just go to my contact page and find me.

Here is where you can contact me for the spiritual guidance and perhaps dating/single living advice.

I am an ordained minister, have 20 years of experience working with individuals in regards to substance abuse, trauma impact, and other such issues. It is always great to have a confidante, someone you can talk to about anything and not worry that it will be shared. For more about living life in recovery please take a moment and visit my Spiritual Living Blog.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit. This is how it works. By the way if you want me to feature your site here, send me an email with the information you wish posted. I will be happy to take a look and give you a terrific recommendation here. All I ask is an exchange of links. Thank you, go to my Contact me page. (still learning how to set up internal links here, so please look for the link in the upper side bar… Thank you.)

WHY YOU?

Today more than 63% of all internet users are searching online for local businesses and services. We believe through our People-to-People model that we can help 95% of all local businesses that do not have an online presence. Who better to “LINK” those companies with a solution than “YOU” – their customer. The FUN is that YOU will be rewarded to visit all of the local businesses in your area that are partnered with LocalAdLink.

WHY US?

LocalAdLink is AFFORDABLE and SMART
Unlike old, traditional advertising that lists big business results first on their search engines, LocalAdLink search results start with your local businesses. LocalAdLink is the quickest way to accurate and refined local ad links which better serves your wants and needs!

For as little as $49.95 a month, LocalAdLink offers its clients featured business listings on LocalAdLink’s popular local search engine, while in addition, ensuring that links to these business clients rotate in top positions throughout LocalAdLink’s distribution of partnering sites such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, MySpace, BOOMj and hundreds more. LocalAdLink’s exclusive ad-technology finally gives every local business an opportunity to reach more targeted customers in their neighborhood.

“The cost for small businesses to get top search engine placements on their own is prohibitive – both in hard costs and man-hours lost. As recognized experts in our field, we are able to get our customers internet search engine exposure that would be extremely difficult – and very time-consuming – for them to achieve on their own.”

WHY NOW?

“No doubt local companies want to connect with local customers in an affordable way. This is the next way for companies to lure customers!”

“This ad link business model is harnessing how local companies use their advertising dollars for local growth on the net. This is smart for companies and consumers!”

Timing is everything in business…Today we are positioned perfectly in the marketplace. Now more than ever more people are looking for Local businesses online. With traditional print advertising declining rapidly today, we are the future for connecting Local companies and customer together. It starts now with you. Timing to business is what location is to real estate. Be a part of the New Online Economy! You can own a piece of history…It is all about YOU!…

Join me Now watch the presentations and then click Get in Now.

You cannot go wrong here.

I am grateful for Akismet because the comments that I do not find beneficial get caught before they can be posted. Then I can peruse them and decide if they are beneficial to you my readers. Hence this note.

There are more spam comments than beneficial comments. What I mean by spam are blatant advertising, pushing a website that has nothing to do with my blog or jibberish a mix of alpha, numerical and symbols. The latter I do not understand because the links are nonsense and go nowhere. The advertisments do not get published because they have nothing to do with the blog content I publish either.

Comment etiquet states that you should make comments that are relevant to the post, your signature and links get published with your comment so there is no reason to force an advertisment. Not only that but you breed contempt among the bloggers where you force your ads. I know I am not alone when I state this and tell you that if it is a blatant advertisement it will not get published.

I prefer that your comment ads to what I write, informs my readers and inspires them to make further comments. I write to inspire discussions, gain outside information and reviews. Even when I am writing about my latest discovery.

When I visit your site or blog you will find that I am more than willing to make my comments substantive rather than “Great blog!” We know our blogs are great, I am speaking for bloggers everywhere, that is why we have them. Well, that and to keep you the reader informed, entertained and inspired.

Please, know I appreciate your advertising efforts and look in the side links under training and you will find several resources that can help you learn to market your sites. Also, my contact page is filling up with other sites where I have great success in marketing and gaining input from others.

Great success today, many blessings. And Thank you very much for taking the time to visit.