Ocean Crest Creative

Tag: Blog Writing

  • Importance of a Search Site Submission Service

    Importance of a Search Site Submission ServiceThe importance of inbound links to your website is paramount. Your website includes three types of links: Internal links, Outbound links, and Inbound links. While all have merit in your quest for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) perfection, it is the Inbound links that are the most coveted and often the most difficult to establish. Search Site Submission is one of the easiest and best ways of accomplishing the goal of increased Inbound links.

    Who cares if your website is significant?

    When the major search directories review websites for inclusion in their indexes, one key component in their placement consideration is popularity. For your site to catch their algorithmic eye, it must have some level of standing online. Inbound links represent a significant measuring stick that they use to gauge the status of a web presence.

    In general, search engines are not actively crawling the Internet looking for sites that are just hoping to be discovered. Even when submitted through traditional channels, the inclusion battle is far from over.  So, one of the best ways to “submit” to the search sites is to focus on building links to your site and, therefore establish an online reputation.

    One very effective way to do this is to persistently, without being overbearing, submit your URL and its associated info, to search engines and directories, including the smaller ones. For the most part, these lesser search sites are much more simplistic with their algorithms (if any even exists), and submission works the good old fashioned way – submit often and let them know your URL is still alive. This method will build Inbound links to a level not commonly attained.

    Subscribe to a Search Site Submission service

    Search Site Submission services take the hassle out of the submission process, guards you against an onslaught of submission confirmation notices, and are inexpensive. While a website’s content will always be king, a Search Site Submission service is a sound investment.

  • Getting Extra Eyes On Your Content

    Getting extra eEyes on your content. Hire a freelance copywriter to edit your contentAh, if only we were perfect we would never need to edit our work. With the onset of the new year, everyone is focused on the nips and tucks that are needed in their life. One New Years resolution you may want to consider strongly is getting extra eyes on your content.

    You can’t do it yourself

    The word, “editor,” can take on many meanings, but in its most basic form, Merriam-Webster defines the noun as,

    “Editor: someone who edits especially as an occupation.”

    You just cannot edit your own work to the degree that someone else can. Even after twenty-six years as an expert copywriter, errors still slip through the net, and may I say I am most horrified when I find them. As discussed in my other blogs, there are ways to limit these oversights, and I do get some solace knowing that even organizations such as the Associated Press miss glaring errors.

    Nevertheless, when it comes to the text you present to your followers, you must do everything possible to assure that what they read is correct. After all, your reputation is riding on it.

    Say, “Hello Copywriter!”

    While copywriters are best known for creating content, they are also very adept at making sure that what is written by others is properly produced. It makes sense if you think about it. One of the most significant stages of creating incredible copy involves the proofreading and editing steps. As a result, professional copywriters always find themselves elbows deep in massaging grammar.

    Editing hotspots

    I can’t think of any place where writing errors are more prevalent than on websites. The reason for this may be because websites are multifaceted animals by nature. In such, text often gets overlooked amongst all the other proofreading shiny objects. About the time someone gets down to reviewing the big picture, ADHD kicks in, someone yells, “SQUIRREL!” and down the rabbit trails everyone goes. The best advice I can offer is, once your website is done to your satisfaction, hire a freelance copywriter to come in with a fresh perspective to comb every page for you.

    You should also want to grab a second opinion on any of your own writing that you plan to share with others. Let’s take blog writing for example. I recently had one of my clients write-up several potential blog entries on his return flight from Tahiti. He asked me to give them a look over, spruce them up as needed, and then get them back to him for posting. Great idea! Not only did it relieve me from much of the reconnaissance work involved in a standard copywriting assignment, but, as a result, the job cost him less.

    Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish

    The British have a way with coining phrases, and this one fits. Too many people make themselves look unprofessional, unpolished, and even worse, incompetent, by letting the words that represent them meet the world unedited. Do those you associate with, the ones you represent, and yourself a huge favor in 2017 – hire a copywriter to edit your content. You won’t regret the investment!

  • Copywriters Are Your Ghostwriter

    Copywriters Are Your GhostwriterA ghostwriter is a person who is hired to write on behalf of others. In fact, under this arrangement, the proper credit for the writing does not go to the actual writer, but rather those they write for. Regarding your organization, copywriters can be thought of as your ghostwriter.

    Navy SEALs with a pen

    The United States Navy SEALs are known as the best at what they do. However, there is one other commonality to their endeavors. It is that, despite the fact that they are always being deployed on missions, little, if any, news about their undertakings ever makes it to public light.

    Likewise, copywriters are the hidden face behind the printed and spoken words of the world. They operate in the shadows, producing some of the most significant outcomes. Think of all that you read…websites, food labels, mail circulars, newsprint, advertisements, and so much more…thank a clandestine copywriter. The majority of what you hear uttered on television was authored by a speech writer – aka copywriter. Even movies often only credit their writers via some small font trailing the end of the film.

    Words make the world turn

    Without words, the silence would be earsplitting.  But can you envision it all without great copywriters? Imagine if everything was written at the level of the common text message? Yikes! We’d all sound like mumbling, jungle primates!

    As for numbers, well they are important too, and they have their place. But when was the last time you tried to describe the loving gaze of a child, or the perfect sunset by way of a mathematical equation? It just can’t be done. Words rule!

    Adopt a copywriter

    Every business uses words to persuade, promote, and raise brand awareness about their offering. Just think of the impact that a freelance, word warrior would have on your efforts?

    At Ocean Crest Creative, we’ve built handcrafted copywriting and content solutions for those involved in the travel and tourism industry since 1991. There are copywriters who specialize in nearly every trade sector. You’ll even find general practitioners ready to help you with your needs. Adopt a professional, freelance copywriter today. Your communicative life will never be the same!

  • Blog Writing Keeps Copywriters Busy

    Blog Writing Keeps Copywriters BusyOn the popular television show, “Mad Men,” you’ll find copywriters vigorously supporting the efforts of the Madison Avenue advertising firms of the 1960’s. While copy creation specialists continue to apply their mastery to “all things words,” it is blog writing that keeps copywriters busy these days.

    The new way to sell

    The path to the consumer has changed. While brands use to focus on a “push” approach to marketing their offering, “creating solutions to challenges” has taken its place. Buyers care more about how well a supplier can meet their needs then responding to that which is thrust in their face.

    As a result of 24-hour television, email, text, and social media noise people face every day, they are going directly to the Internet to search for and feel out answers to their quests for consumer satisfaction. This means that purveyors of goods and services must stay very aggressive in their online presence.

    Why is there so much demand for blog writing?

    One of the easiest and most productive ways to stay proactive on the web is by way of the company blog. The goal should be to introduce at least one blog post each week. It should be made up of content that is both beneficial and applicable to the needs of your clients and prospects. On top of this, your flow of information must be consistent.

    Unfortunately, many businesses lack the time, talent, or human resources to produce high-quality blog posts and keep up with the required timetable. As a result, the blog sites of many organizations feature dated or erratic posts that, at best, reflect poorly on their offering, ability and customer service.

    It is for this reason so many of today’s professional copywriters find themselves up to their ears in writing blog posts for their clients. What’s best is that much of the blog copy they create can easily be used in other projects. It is the pinnacle of a coordinated marketing approach when well-viewed, online content is used within press releases, brochures, email campaigns, website copy, and the like.

    We’ve got your back!

    If you can’t keep up on what is most important in your writing world, give us a shout. We are here for you!

  • Writing and Promoting Your Weekly Blog Post

    Writing and Promoting Your Weekly Blog PostOne of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “How often should I create a blog submission and what’s the best way to promote it?” As a business, your goal should be to produce, publish, and promote at least one blog article per week. So, let’s discuss the fundamentals of writing and promoting your weekly blog post.

    Topic

    At first, the idea of writing at least one blog theme per week may seem daunting. However, in reality selecting fifty-two subjects should be pretty simple. Try to focus on challenges that those you serve commonly have. Balance this with a subtle but clear demonstration as to how you can be part of the solution.

    The all-important title and first paragraph

    It is important that your blog post has a title with a bit of “grab.” While your title doesn’t always have to have the hook of a top forty song, it must solidly address the challenge your readers face.

    Secondly, make sure that your title is included in the first paragraph of your piece. Did you notice the last sentence of the first paragraph of this post? Doing this each time is not only an important Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consideration, but it also immediately ties the header to the text.

    The body

    Regardless of your audience, try not to get too formal in your writing style. Why? Because a “web log,” aka “blog,” is your chance to converse with your reader on a one-on-one basis. When humans talk with each other, they rarely carry on in a manner reminiscent of a technical schematic or corporate white paper. There is a time and place for that, but it’s not on your blog.

    Also, keep your word count to a digestible number. 400 – 1,000 words per composition is a good guideline.

    Finally, round out your blog with a simple, straightforward call-to-action. Hopefully, you’ve given your reader some valuable ideas and solutions. Hence, don’t be afraid to let them know that there’s more where that came from.

    Weekly promotion

    Social media is still the go-to location for self-publishers. I start by building three tweets related to that week’s blog post. Each has a unique title, but the same shortened, trackable URL and promotional hash tags. For example, the tweets for this blog will be:

    1) Did you write your weekly #blog post? http://bit.ly/2elgumb #copywriting, #copywriter, #travelmarketing

    2) Writing & promoting your weekly #blog post http://bit.ly/2elgumb #copywriting, #copywriter, #travelmarketing

    3) Produce, publish & promote at least one #blog post per week http://bit.ly/2elgumb #copywriting, #copywriter, #travelmarketing

    Next, I like to utilize a tool called TweetDeck. It lets me post my tweets immediately or schedule them for a later date and time. Monday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon and Friday mid-morning are generally your best bets for releases.

    I also tie all of my Twitter tweets to my Facebook page so as to capture the maximum exposure. Likewise, I will make sure that my most recent post is loaded up to my LinkedIn page, another important social media conduit reaching my professional following.

    It’s important to remember that many social media outlets may fit your business’s information dissemination needs, but what I have cited covers the indispensable channels.

    Blog away!

    I hope that these ideas help you in writing and promoting your weekly blog post. If you find yourself challenged by ideas, time, or talent (here comes the call-to-action), know that I am here for you and, as a professional, freelance copywriter, would be honored to be a part of your success!