by Pamela | Oct 13, 2014 | Small Business Marketing, Website Content
Photo courtesy of seeveeaar (CC No Derivatives)
If you’re considering website content writing services for the first time, you may not know what to expect. While each content writer or service provider will have their own processes and requirements, here’s what you can expect when outsourcing website content writing: benefits, communication, and commitment.
Benefits of Using Website Content Writing Services
You’ve hired a content writing service for a reason, and you should expect to benefit from that arrangement. Below are a few of the benefits you can expect:
- More time to focus on other areas of your business. Writing takes time, especially if you have a big project or require regular content. It takes even more time if you’re a perfectionist, a procrastinator, or unsure of yourself.
- Content that communicates your message appropriately for the medium selected. Not sure how to format a white paper or write a blog post? Let the pros communicate your messaging using the right medium and format.
- Timely and professional service.
Keys to Success: Communication and Commitment
- A good writer who understands your company, your customers, and your goals. This may involve several phone calls, email exchanges, filling out a questionnaire, sharing examples of websites like yours, and so forth.
- Guidelines. Your content writer will need guidance from you. For example, do you prefer a fun, lighthearted tone written in first person or would you rather have the writer use a more academic approach? Do you prefer short, 200-words-or-less pages or longer pages packed with information?
- Commitment. Commitment runs both ways. You deserve a writer that’s committed to making your project a success. At the same time, most website content writing services want you to be as invested in the process as they are. Writers understand that you’re busy, but they often need your input before they can begin. If you’re committed to making your next website content writing project a success, be prepared to supply your writer with the information needed to understand your company, customers, and goals along with any other specific guidelines.
- A deposit. Most website content writing services require a deposit to begin and then the balance due upon completion. This common arrangement shows the writer that you are committed to the project’s success and will not disappear once the work is complete. If you work with a reputable content writer, you shouldn’t have to worry about the writer taking the money and disappearing. If you’re not comfortable with such an arrange, use PayPal or a third party escrow service. Another option is to start with a smaller project with a smaller deposit requirement. Most website content writing services will be happy to work out a series of smaller deliverables and corresponding payment dates if that makes you more comfortable.
- Revisions. When your content is delivered to you, read it promptly and communicate any change requests you may have with your content writer promptly. Writers are used to revisions. Minor changes are expected and usually included in the total cost of the project. Changes in scope or direction after the fact, however, may result in additional charges.
As you can see, outsourcing website content writing can be beneficial, and success comes from two-way communication. Start that conversation by contacting Celestial Content Services.
by Pamela | Oct 6, 2014 | Small Business Marketing
Good advice for business networking from the folks at Entrepreneur.com…
2. Be clean and connect. A recent study published by Harvard Business Review analyzed workers in North America and Europe, asking them: Would you rather work with a lovable fool or a competent jerk? Nearly every person preferred to work with a lovable fool.
“A little extra likability goes a longer way than a little extra competence in making someone desirable to work with,” wrote the authors. Walk into a room as an open, friendly human being without an agenda. This is how I naturally live my life. What I have noticed is people respond unconsciously and relate automatically.
It seems so obvious, but it’s a good reminder to relax and just be yourself.
by Pamela | Dec 5, 2012 | Blogging, Content Marketing, Small Business Marketing
An online marketing study published last year by Hinge Marketing recently caught my eye. While it’s loaded with interesting information about the most effective online marketing strategies, I absolutely loved this conclusion:
“Respondents reported that white papers, ebooks and articles, SEO and company newsletters were the most effective techniques.”
After all, I make my living writing white papers, ebooks, articles, SEO copy, and newsletter articles, so the validation feels great. But it’s not about me. It’s about you and your online marketing strategy. Are you using any of the above or are you taking a build-it-and-they-will-come approach?
Blogging was also listed as an effective online marketing strategy though the report had this to say: blogging is a long-term initiative that can take six months to a year before you see results.
Discouraging, isn’t it? However, if you think about it, why would anyone stick around a five page website or even return for that matter? It takes time to fill a website with the content that Google prizes so highly.While you build your website, think of ways that you can reuse some of the content strategically. For example, if you write about a particular dog breed, you’ll likely discuss heredity, health issues, breeding, training, and grooming – all of which would make sense as chapters of an ebook. How about an in-depth white paper on that breed’s genetics that draws on and expands upon some of the research you’ve previously presented in articles and blog posts? By slowly building your blog, you’ll also be laying the foundation for larger content pieces such as white papers and ebooks.Need help with your online marketing strategy?
Contact me
to learn more about my content writing service.
by Pamela | Oct 4, 2012 | Blogging, Small Business Marketing
Think blogging is just for, well, bloggers? Business blogging is powerful, too. With a business blog, you can:
- Show your expertise in your field
- Pre-sell your services
- Build confidence with potential customers
- Attract more traffic to your website
- Have something interesting to post on your social media sites
- Keep customers browsing through your website
- Engage users
- Interact with website visitors
- Encourage repeat visits
- And more…
The benefits of business blogging continue long after each blog post has been written. Each blog post you write is a long term investment that will continue to perform for your business 24/7. In order to build a powerful business blog, you’ll need to commit to it. Plan on posting a new entry at least once or twice each week. This will keep the search engines happy and show your users that you’re current and relevant. Many will even subscribe to your business blog and look forward to your next blog posts.
No time for business blogging?
Your blog posts don’t need to be 1500-word essays or 3000-word research papers. In fact, blog posts are generally short and focused on one topic. This one, for example, is just 200 words long.
Celestial Content Services can help. Our business blogging services are reliable and affordable.
by Pamela | Sep 28, 2012 | Content Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Creating an online presence involves more than creating a small business website. While that’s certainly a good start, people need to be able to find your business online. Creating links to your site from high authority sites is a must. Here’s a great small business marketing service to start with: MerchantCircle.com.
What are MerchantCircle’s Small Business Marketing Services?
MerchantCircle is a local small business marketing service. It’s city specific, so you’ll be connecting with customers and other businesses in your community. It’s like a blend between a phone book and a social network.
MerchantCircle allows you to create a free business profile with a link to your website. MerchantCircle has an impressive PageRank of 8. It’s links are “do follow” links. While this is good, there’s much more including:
- A blogging platform
- Customer reviews
- The ability to connect with other businesses
- A newsletter platform
- A built-in audience
- A coupon & special offers tool
- Advertising opportunities
- A community forum
- And more…
Even if you have your own blog, it’s not a bad idea to post in your MerchantCircle blog thanks to the site’s authority and built-in audience. Plus, you can add more links back to your site with each entry. Is networking with other businesses in your area part of your small business marketing plan? If so, make sure to use its “connections” tool to invite other members to your network.
Like many free services, MerchantCircle also offers paid listings and other advertising opportunities. For now, I’m going to stick with the free service and see how that goes. After just one week, my business profile has received 85 views and 31 visits from Google. I’ll report back in a few months with an update. In the meantime, consider creating a free profile on MerchantCircle.
