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Tag: newsletters
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7 Ways A Blog Helps Your Business Succeed
In today’s business environment, a “Web Log,” more commonly known as a “Blog,” is an integral part of connecting you to those you serve or hope to serve. Here are 7 ways a blog helps your business succeed.1) Tell your story in real time
Websites, brochures, and traditional media are great tools for giving your clients and prospects a snapshot of who you are. But it it’s impossible to update their content continuously, and so they are essentially a static form of communication. On the other hand, blogs, when properly maintained, are living, breathing entities. They continuously tell your story in real time.
2) Your least expensive marketing method
For the minimal cost of a great copywriter and a blogging tool like WordPress, you can start sharing how your offering solves the challenges of the world.
3) Keeps you coordinated
In addition to going viral on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and all of your other social media outlets, the constantly created content from your blogs can be re-purposed for other projects. Your blog themes can, and should, be tied into web page copy, print media, and even internal documents that get your whole team on board with your current message.
4) Lets you talk with your followers, not just to them
The comment section after each of your blog posts gives you the opportunity for you to engage respondents directly. These conversations can also draw others in and grant you valuable one-on-one time with new and old friends.
5) Blogs are Search Engine Optimization rocket fuel
In the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) world, change is good. Top search sites are always on the hunt for websites that offer fresh and valuable content. As you build a constant stream of new blog copy, search engines will perk up and take notice, and that means more people will discover you.
6) Makes you an authority
People utilize the Internet as their main source of realizing solutions to their needs. Your blog posts will establish you as an authority and the go-to source for answers in your field.
7) Keeps you on your game
Coming up with the content for regular blog posts forces you to stay on the leading edge practices within your industry. This knowledge will support you in propelling your business forward.
User warning
Do not start a blog if you don’t intend to keep it current. There is nothing that will drive people away from your offering faster than an outdated blog page. Fortunately, professional copywriters, like Ocean Crest Creative, are fully capable of taking your raw content and converting it into magnetizing blog posts that will translate into the bountiful benefits that we’ve discussed.
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Retain a Copywriter
Many businesses make the mistake of contracting a copywriter only when the have a copywriting project. The reality is that if your company utilizes “words” in any way, you need to retain a copywriter. On the surface, this may seem like common sense. But, beyond the self-evident need for a wordsmith as one of your everyday human assets, there also some less evident benefits as well.More time to be you
While some content creators focus on one specific industry, most are general practitioners. This means that, with each project, they will need to take the time to orient themselves to your offering. Alternatively, you will not have to educate a retained writer continually. Working with one copywriter or copywriting firm on a regular basis frees up time for you to focus on other areas of your business.
Save money and budgeting perks
You will save money over a project quote. That is because a retainer relationship is a financial win-win for both you and the copywriter. As a rule, copywriters reward clients who partner with them for the long term by setting lower rates for their work. It assures that they have an ongoing income, and that is a good thing for any business. As a result, you will pay less for their services if you agree to work with them on a consistent basis.
Along with this, once you have an agreement in place, your organization can better manage cash flow and budgeting. The need for word management will no longer be an unexpected fiscal challenge.
Faster project turnaround
When a copywriter continually creates content about your offering, they get to know it intimately. This allows them to hit-the-ground-running with new projects and limits the training time inherent in one-off project campaigns.
This knowledge also lets them get to know your target audience inside and out, appreciate how you and your organization operates, all of which will allow them to turn things around quicker and on schedule.
Greater flexibility
A writer who experientially knows your offering has more latitude in the types of copy they write. From websites to white papers, a copywriter on retainer provides superior project flexibility.
Project collaboration
Your regularly scheduled content partner will deliver great results because they will be able to collaborate, track, and measure your campaign goals and results. If something is not working, change and modification to the plan are easy.
Offer ideas
Finally, an experienced copywriter who has a few miles beneath their business keel will be able to provide fresh ideas. Their breadth of involvement in the professional world will allow them to look at your big-picture objectives, and how they can efficiently work toward achieving them.
Ocean Crest Creative is an imaginative word artisan shop that builds handcrafted copywriting and content solutions for those involved in travel and tourism, as well as others who demand professional attention paid to their word-related needs. If you’re thinking of retaining a copywriter, we are one of your options.
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Travel Agents Need Copywriters
There is a misconception that only travel suppliers require and have enough money to contract a freelance writer. The fact is that travel agents need copywriters desperately, and will find them well worth the investment.Your relationship demands a solid bond
Unlike travel suppliers who often service their customers from afar, travel agents are the local experts whom people seek. Sure, travelers could go online for their vacation purchases, but they have elected to come to you, their resident travel counselor.
How to communicate
What’s the right way to communicate with your clients? Well, this is highly subjective. For some agents, it is via email, and for others, it’s good old-fashioned snail-mail. Blogs are also highly effective tools for communication and getting more eyes on your website’s content.
Whatever the case, you are going to have to produce content that motivates and captivates your clients into action. This is the realm in which professional copywriters live.
How often
How often to communicate with those you serve is another question that can be answered by looking at the type of people who use your services. Generally speaking, the “Goldilocks” principle prevails – not too much, and not too little, but just right. For example, at three blog post per month is often a well-balanced goal.
Even in consideration of how often to connect, we still come back to the challenge of skillfully crafted words. As a travel agent, you have to ask yourself if you want to sell travel or be a professional, full-time writer. As one involved in the travel industry for over thirty years, I assure you that you can not be both.
Yes, a copywriter is affordable
While copywriters who specialize in serving the needs of those in the travel and tourism industry are hard to come by, they do exist. Because these experts have chosen to focus on this particular field, you won’t have to train them as you would a copywriting general practitioner. As a result, they offer better rates on their work.
Contracting a travel copywriter on a retainer basis is the only way to maximize cost savings. Make sure that the writer you choose performs their content creation for a living. There are far too many people with kitchen table laptop computers churning out subpar work. Sure, these folks usually offer bargain-basement rates, but the copy they produce is rarely worth the low rates they charge.
How much
A quick search of the Internet should turn up travel industry copywriters located in your area. If that doesn’t work out, give me a shout. I’d be honored to help!
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Are Copywriters The New Travel Agents?
While travel agents are still on duty and a truly valuable asset, they no longer exist in the numbers, they once did. Yet travel suppliers still need to sell their offering to travelers. This begs the question – are copywriters the new travel agents?
Back in the day
In the 80’s, when I was a young sales representative for a tour company, there was no need for a GPS. There were so many travel agencies that all you had to do was tell me the name of your nearest travel agency, and I could find your location.
The traditional distribution highway rolled like this: Supplier -> Travel Agent -> Traveler. Try to alter that route and all kinds of challenges would arise. However, airline commission caps, the Internet, and “9/11” were the hammer that smashed that chain and forever changed the distribution channel. As a result, for better or worse, the majority of today’s travel is sold directly to the traveler by the supplier. There are a number of conduits to these suppliers, but by far the most common is the Internet.
Try to sell travel without words
Imagine, you are considering taking a nice vacation to the Caribbean. You search your options, settle on an island, and then bring up the website of the perfect hotel. However, one major component is missing. While there are beautiful pictures of the property and its surrounds, there are no words. In fact, you can’t even navigate the site because the menu bar is devoid of words. Checking for flight times, you are met with the same conundrum; no words.
So, where are all the words? Well, without copywriters, everything stops. Words capture, cajole, direct, and complete the entire picture. Quite simply, without properly crafted words on a website, travelers will never buy into the offering of any airline, airport parking operation, car rental company, cruise operator, destination, hotel or resort, rail line, travel activity company, travel service, tour operator, or yacht charter.
Using the wrong words
Sure, anyone can wave their hands in front of an orchestra, but not everyone is able to bring such an ensemble to musical perfection. Words are more persnickety than even the most demanding, high-maintenance musician. If your website, brochure, or blog is what stands between you and paying bills and related financial freedom, never leave the production of your copy to an amateur writer. Let management manage, web designers design and well-intentioned friends remain your friends. Invest in a professional travel copywriter because without them, your world is silent.
