Ezinearticles.com – On The Warpath!
For many years ezinearticles.com has given article marketers the best exposure for their work. As with all good vehicles for internet marketers though, the site has felt the impact of those who would abuse it, to submit second rate articles that have been changed minimally from ones already on the site. But no more.
In the last few weeks there has been much whining and bitching in the internet marketing community about the tough stance ezinearticles is making on this. It is going to hurt a lot of them, especially those who are outsourcing the ‘spinning’ of articles, or who are using PLR. The more astute ones already know the value of quality articles, and now maybe, perhaps, the also-rans will stop the moaning long enough to realise that this is a GOOD thing! That maybe if they invest in what ezinearticles wants – ‘original, exclusive’ articles, their articles will find their way out of ‘problem status’ and be published..
Now by ‘exclusive’, EZA CEO Chris Knight, is at pains to point out that he is not saying that you can’t put your articles on your own website AND EZA. Of course you can. But what you cannot do is take that article, change the headline and the first few lines, and then submit it everywhere else. This is called ‘derivative content’ and it devalues not only the article on EZA, but the article on your website as well – and THAT is bad!
By using a human (with a good command of English!), and not spinning software, to rewrite your article will provide you with yet another original article for submission to EZA or one of the other article publishing or distribution sites. Treat EZA with respect and you will be rewarded with nice traffic.
Chris Knight explains more here: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/2009/10/derivative-content-be-gone.html
Affiliate Marketing Articles – Know The Rules!
Affiliate Marketing is a a type of internet marketing where a business (or ‘merchant’) rewards others (‘registered affiliates’) by way of an ‘affiliate commission’ for each customer or sale resulting from the affiliates’ marketing efforts.
If you are writing for affiliate marketers, or are an affiliate marketer yourself, here are some tips on how to place and format links to ensure they are accepted by most article distribution sites:
- Write quality articles that provide real information about the topic
- Don’t include the ‘whole story’. You need to provide just enough information on the topic to encourage readers to click on your link to find out more!
- Where Resource Boxes are used, make the information you include relevant to the article. Don’t use the same Resource Box over and again, unless it relates to the article.
- Don’t put your life story in the Resource Box. Rather demonstrate that you have particular knowledge on the topic of the article.
- Place affiliate links in the Resource Box if one is provided.
- Ideally the author should own the linked redirected URL
- Some directories require that links be to the primary domain (e.g. http://website-name.com), and disallow links like:
- http://subdomain.your-company-name.com/
- http://your-company-name.com/page.html
- http://your-company-name.com/subdirectory/page.html
- http://your-company-name.com/subdirectory/
- There is no substitute for quality! If you cannot write a good article, get someone who can to do it for you!
Writing Project Management Tool
From July 1 I am phasing out managing my projects via email – too cumbersome with my growing client base. I’ve looked at the various project managemet tools around, and decidedon one that is middle-of-the-road techie. I don’t want this to be a difficult system to use, for me, my valued clients or talented writers.
I’ve decided on ClientSpot, and am busy populating it with client and writer details now. It is going to provide a central point for me to post my projects, notify writers of the requirements, and for them to upload the files to this one spot. I can then let my clients know when the material is ready, and they can download direct from the site.
It’s great because both the writers and clients will only have access to the projects that I nominate, yet I can see them all and track their progress from one overview.
I’m hoping this will streamline my business and enable me to continue to delivery quality writing services to my clients.
Writing For Internet Marketers
Online businesses and internet marketers need a regular supply of relevant, original and unique content if they want traffic to get to their websites, and for those websites to be ranked will by the Search Engines.
Because business people are business people and internet marketers are often ‘ideas’ people, they are not necessarily great writers. And in this business it is best to play to your strengths. If writing, and writing in a way that the search engines love, is not your thing, then outsourcing makes sense. By spending your time on what you enjoy, what you are good at, is a smart way to work.
Outsourcing your writing and article distribution is a great first step – but why stop there? You should outsource things like bookkeeping, database management, Search Engine Optimization – the list is endless!
>>Online Businesses and Internet Marketers: Outsource your writing
The Value Of Outsourcing
As more and more internet marketers look to outsource their writing to me, it became obvious that I would need to start outsourcing myself if I was to stay on top of my business.
I’ve never been a numbers person, and while I can manage my accounts on a month to month basis (I would dedicate a day to this each month), I found that my brain was constantly reminding me that this task would soon need to be done, should be done tomorrow, should have been done yesterday. I’ve found that with each new grey hair I earn, my brain’s bandwidth decreases, and the fact that it was using space thinking about my bookkeeping meant that I was being hampered in doing the things that actually make money and that I enjoy – writing and marketing.
So this week I called on a buddy of mine, and she is going to take over my bookkeeping, from July 1. You have got no idea how good that feels! I’ve already given her an overview of the different types of transactions internet marketers can have – in my case Clickbank, Elance, Paypal, direct deposits etc, in both Aussie Dollars and USD. That she will soon be up to speed on some transactions that are very IM focused means that she will be ideally positioned to become a “bookkeeper for internet marketers” – her own little niche! (And guess who will build her webiste!?)
I am looking forward to the new Aussie financial year without the spectre of bookkeeping to distract me, and knowing that I can show one more person how to make money from the internet.
Overnight Writing Income
Have you always wanted to have your own business, but the set up costs made it out of the question? Would you like to work from home, but don’t know how to start?
Well, just a couple of years ago that was me too. In the last two years I have learned so much about writing for internet purposes. I understand the huge opportunities that are available for everyday people, like me, to earn money by providing writing services for internet marketers.
Everyone, from retired folks, stay at home parents, students and those confined by disability can start earning money by writing – no experience necessary. If you have the 
willingness to start small and build up your clients, you can start making money right away.
In Overnight Writing Income I’ve listed the resources you’ll need (and the set up costs are……. zero!). I even show you where to go to get work, and some tips on winning these freelance jobs.
Learn more at Overnight Writing Income.
Webinar – Internet Marketing Writing
Aussie Heather Richards has commenced a great Webinar series “Successful Women On The Web”, and I was very flattered when she asked me to be her guest presenter on the topic “Writing For The Web”. Now I have to tell you, this was the first time I’d ever held a webinar. I no longer blush when I have to speak in front of a group of people – mastered that one – but running a webinar was a real learning curve.
I tried to explain to my 84 year old mother just what a webinar was, and just when I thought she understood, she asked “So where do you go to see these people?”. So if I felt it a learning curve, imagine how she felt? So I decided she just had ‘to be there’. I picked her up and brought her to my home for a sleepover.
Heather and I had done a glitch-free run through earlier in the night, but I realized that because I would have a headset and mic on, Mum wouldn’t be able to hear anything apart from my voice. So out came my netbook and another set of headphones. I registered her for the webinar and then about 15 minutes before the start time, I logged in. And waited, and waited…..
Finally Heather phoned me to ask where I was! Turns out I logged in in my mother’s name and it was now a few minutes past start time, and I wasn’t there. So the first few minutes of the recording (link below) was poor Heather juggling the spanner I threw into her works. Sorry again Heather!
Anyway, the webinar went very well, and the feedback has been great. So many questions – not just during the webinar, but ongoing.
Here is the link to the webinar, where I share some really good tips for anyone writing for the internet, especially internet marketers!
>>>>>>>> Kerry Finch Webinar <<<<<<<<
Writing Brief
When outsourcing a writing project, it is really important to provide as much information to the writer as possible.
Consequently I have put together a Brief, which covers most of what I would need to know. Obviously depending on the project, you won’t need to provide all of the information, so completing it to the best of your ability is all that is needed. Anything more, and I will ask.
>>> Brief is here <<<
Interviewed by James Schramko
How flattered was I when my mentor, and best client, James Schramko, asked if he could interview me about my book Overnight Writing Income?! (The answer, of course, was VERY.)
James is one of the top internet marketers in the world today and I’m proud to consider myself one of his ‘success stories’. With his constant encouragemet, I morphed from a part-time tour director/receptionist to the owner of a very successful writing business.
The interview is here – I hope you enjoy what I have to share:
