tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69385768698155669332024-03-05T02:06:42.425-08:00Dyfed's Adventures in PublishingArticles on eBook publishing and marketing, written by a newbie who is slowly getting to grips with the state of the art.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-27367817048202284222013-10-09T21:54:00.002-07:002013-10-09T21:54:49.727-07:00Books, and More Work Than can be HandledIt has been quite a few months (almost 6!) since I last updated this blog. Since then there have been quite a few changes in my life, most of them for the better... but they have meant that I have been crazy busy.<br />
<br />
I am back to doing mad things with computers... sysadmin, installations, testing and building. That's creating lot of useful things for me to play with, which is why I've started a new blog: <a href="http://nix-bio.blogspot.com/">Bioinformatics Adventures in Unix</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaJcXi_yTJCuHnyO76c87kW6eL3PiZzI-KDrfRw0ulLdxK9q_LfB13FVEtqTOSw9cQyK3x8EbvWsnFhHlIryrZLHdHwNjcLnsP2MhpaDKbWbOprGm9MLeGhs2vvrORTaR3RjYnCBDcTcg/s1600/books-fanned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Artistic installation of a book with pages folded and fanned out" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaJcXi_yTJCuHnyO76c87kW6eL3PiZzI-KDrfRw0ulLdxK9q_LfB13FVEtqTOSw9cQyK3x8EbvWsnFhHlIryrZLHdHwNjcLnsP2MhpaDKbWbOprGm9MLeGhs2vvrORTaR3RjYnCBDcTcg/s320/books-fanned.jpg" title="Book opened as a fan" width="320" /></a></div>
Rather than being a blog, this is more like a live journal where I can write down and document things that I learn about unix systems and software installs in the area of Bioinformatics. This brings in a few dollars per month from advertising and visitors... but it also acts as a place where I can store ideas and methods that, later, I want to turn into a book.<br />
<br />
I've also restarted writing for my <a href="http://celtnet-recipes.blogspot.com/">recipes blog</a> and my main <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/">recipes website</a>. These have languished a little and I need to increase my earnings from them again. What this really means is that both sites need a complete overhaul of their underlying code to make them faster, more responsive, and more standards compliant for today's web. As always, there is more work to do than I can handle.<br />
<br />
In addition I've persuaded my wife to start working on a book of African recipes. She does most of the cookery whilst I take the photographs and write down the recipes. Then I handle recipes from those regions of Africa that my wife does not know about yet. I'm also trying to persuade her to write her own blog on African cookery and our move to South Africa...<br />
<br />
The African Recipes book is a long-term project and involves travel and plenty of work. We reckon that a first draft of the book will be ready in about two years' time (I never realized just how much work the photography and presentation is for a book like this). So we have plenty of work set out for us.<br />
<br />
I'm also taking the recipes and text I have for <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/the-forme-of-cury.php">the Forme of Cury</a>, along with my new translation and I'm editing this into a book which I hope to have ready about August next year. A lot of work has gone into the website for my translation and redaction of this book, including a novel font. This is an important book, the first cookery book in the English language and no-one has tackled it properly since the 1790s! So it's time a modern version of the book came out, particularly as I now have a font to represent the original text in a facsimile form.<br />
<br />
If that were not enough, I'm also back into academic writing and getting plenty of work writing up technical reports and custom research.<br />
<br />
As always, work is where you find it... and, thankfully, I'm getting more than enough work to keep me busy!<br />
<br />
With Halloween just around the corner, I do have a free gift for you. Simply go over to the <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/free-celtnet.php">Free Celtnet Recipes page</a> and you can grab your FREE (no strings attached) Halloween Recipes eBook. (Yes, the book is completely free for you to download, I don't even ask for your email address!)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-8107236646685653602013-03-21T06:47:00.001-07:002013-03-21T06:47:05.312-07:00Don't Forget to Advertise your Other Books!<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
Today we have just a little tip for all you eBook authors out there. You have sweated over your book, checked and re-checked your copy and everything looks good.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBNWu58jG0NkyzM_i21b0EbxuWzgbYiYtXFIdPNS8kjOOCvHi_t2maXT-YzjQQsAtjzUpEr6JmwsXMytl3lMtEODE8d05YzgXddOle6U3buupFAkumO9uYcrA4rbutZ5ElZdWiDTxNIUN/s1600/ebook-marketing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="ebook marketing channels" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBNWu58jG0NkyzM_i21b0EbxuWzgbYiYtXFIdPNS8kjOOCvHi_t2maXT-YzjQQsAtjzUpEr6JmwsXMytl3lMtEODE8d05YzgXddOle6U3buupFAkumO9uYcrA4rbutZ5ElZdWiDTxNIUN/s1600/ebook-marketing.jpeg" title="" /></a></div>
<br />
You've already informed your potential readership that your new volume is coming out, you have press releases and initial marketing ready to go.<br />
<br />
The eBook has been produced to the highest possible standards...<br />
<br />
But have you forgotten something?<br />
<br />
Have you advertised your other books in the book you are about to publish?<br />
<br />
Many authors forget this, and it's a very easy thing to do. When you publish your first books, you do not have any others to remind your readers about.<br />
<br />
But when you are on your third, or maybe your tenth book, then it's high time that you reminder your avid readers about the other works you have on offer.<br />
<br />
Since my last eBook, I now always include a section something like the one below in each and every one of my eBooks:<br />
<br />
<br />
===================================================<br />
<br />
<br />
Dyfed is an Author and you can find his other works on Amazon:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYx8EBrN43z59Li8ZSS7X6amikWrV1C21LcJiYfWQ4FvkuPx2wawGRjBpk1pTe5VrCbW8k7B0zDJDlVN63jM9r6UqaQTLG4VnKMEJy5F5-Omo36Bz2pgqu2pQOTRLLxOXD4s1CNiVOEb6/s1600/curry-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYx8EBrN43z59Li8ZSS7X6amikWrV1C21LcJiYfWQ4FvkuPx2wawGRjBpk1pTe5VrCbW8k7B0zDJDlVN63jM9r6UqaQTLG4VnKMEJy5F5-Omo36Bz2pgqu2pQOTRLLxOXD4s1CNiVOEb6/s320/curry-cover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
The Big Book of Curry Recipes contains almost 1000 recipes for curries both traditional and modern. Find out about the history of curries and how they evolved. Also covers restaurant curries and curries from every corner of the world. This is one of the most comprehensive eBooks of curry recipes available today.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008K9EXII">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008K9EXII">Amazon.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiT2TOHlk_FFhB3pkTBzHuY4mKDfYUuT-QrL0jOFS_OoB4RV1jM0HthmmCmNi9ttq5imkWDG7luwlWJneZnUMwuIUH6axOCIcJyaVkw3YkKawqEnofh-o_2YgstuxjhOvhd9w_w-jt-RBt/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiT2TOHlk_FFhB3pkTBzHuY4mKDfYUuT-QrL0jOFS_OoB4RV1jM0HthmmCmNi9ttq5imkWDG7luwlWJneZnUMwuIUH6axOCIcJyaVkw3YkKawqEnofh-o_2YgstuxjhOvhd9w_w-jt-RBt/s320/cover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
The Big Book of Christmas Recipes contains over 800 classic Christmas recipes from around the globe. Find traditional Christmas recipes for every one of your Christmas meals. Also recipes for Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations and treats for Kids. All the recipes you need for a fantastic Christmas.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061LRLFY">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0061LRLFY">Amazon.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjoL8soaGznSZH5XKdn3_XpfJ_ifLbKoZveFPr0kyFsX-WOrUr7Fe93hTuEhw0onnP2_6QN5gi-fg1LacbTmtPc3dkvOlUEdNtbJoU96_iMcaOX7kasGdsu6Dyv83bEqWzSx6yzU8hyxf/s1600/cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjoL8soaGznSZH5XKdn3_XpfJ_ifLbKoZveFPr0kyFsX-WOrUr7Fe93hTuEhw0onnP2_6QN5gi-fg1LacbTmtPc3dkvOlUEdNtbJoU96_iMcaOX7kasGdsu6Dyv83bEqWzSx6yzU8hyxf/s320/cover2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
The Guide to Spices and Their Uses takes you through the history of the spice trade and why spices from the four corners of the earth became so commonplace. 85 spices are described in detail, some common, some rare. Each spice is illustrated with a host of recipes so you can find out how to use that spice properly in your own cookery. This is the biggest guide to spices avialable today.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XBDLWK">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005XBDLWK">Amazon.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNoTFLsRo_zDWBMPPq6qq_1qIX7pnb82RaOpP8qjNc89F2bUbwDerk6D3otgayGFYzos-QzAP30d5gvsmvSV_adxC5M9uAK5X5nSPkX52fd2PGeWlsS6TkZP7_hG1zcpMHuGKuUTQlKcO/s1600/big-book-soup-cover-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNoTFLsRo_zDWBMPPq6qq_1qIX7pnb82RaOpP8qjNc89F2bUbwDerk6D3otgayGFYzos-QzAP30d5gvsmvSV_adxC5M9uAK5X5nSPkX52fd2PGeWlsS6TkZP7_hG1zcpMHuGKuUTQlKcO/s320/big-book-soup-cover-small.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
The Big Book of Soup Recipes takes you through the whole world of soups. With over 1000 soup recipes, this is one of the most comprehensive soup-based eBooks ever published. Covers all the classic soups, but you also get a chapter on the history of soup and soup making as well as chapters on soups from around the globe as well as modern soups for the microwave, crockpot and poressure cooker. Also covered are Asian soups and African soups. Find all your favourites as well as soups you will never have seed before.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7OI7EE">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7OI7EE">Amazon.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibojuXTdoVArLV8t2kq4IlOqthE7WNwTbID3pmYgTE0HYnkR0o-8c27Ev5xmCyCvXkjHGQXyfT3gOrOcBYk0Z64tbroFZSKYKWP0YpXYOdgHKUcF4eA6RKcf4kvwHHm1y18zJy7eFi7IjZ/s1600/BigBookBarbecueRecipes_frontcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibojuXTdoVArLV8t2kq4IlOqthE7WNwTbID3pmYgTE0HYnkR0o-8c27Ev5xmCyCvXkjHGQXyfT3gOrOcBYk0Z64tbroFZSKYKWP0YpXYOdgHKUcF4eA6RKcf4kvwHHm1y18zJy7eFi7IjZ/s320/BigBookBarbecueRecipes_frontcover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
The Big Book of Barbecue Recipes takes you through everything you need for your barbecue. In almost 1000 recipes, all the dishes for a berbecue party are covered from the starters to the drinks and desserts. All types of dishes cooked on a barbecue (grill), including sections on vegetarian barbecue dishes.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PGQ582">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008PGQ582">Amazon.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_RD2Yk4ZfQhfPNTFOO6TxqNFCg_-T-vdhK8tw2uO9z12C7WnE-msnW4UKKmst_cvavkj08Rol5gyhyphenhyphenrBuz_h21icOLhXqUWDOyod4PNXXWjdchyphenhyphenu1T-ECTa0GhK0V8gkAU_6xVjuHK7a/s1600/scottish-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_RD2Yk4ZfQhfPNTFOO6TxqNFCg_-T-vdhK8tw2uO9z12C7WnE-msnW4UKKmst_cvavkj08Rol5gyhyphenhyphenrBuz_h21icOLhXqUWDOyod4PNXXWjdchyphenhyphenu1T-ECTa0GhK0V8gkAU_6xVjuHK7a/s320/scottish-cover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
Classic Scottish Recipes takes you through over 500 classic Scottish recipes. These are traditional Scottish recipes taken through Scottish history. Here you will find classic recipes for every meal, as well as suggestions for traditional and modern dishes for Hogmanay and Burns night. All the recipes you need for traditional Scottish meals.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ABL7SDA">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ABL7SDA">Amazon.co.uk</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ci2Rug-nbpdLmARBuS-r4drWm5Sc0R3REjknt6B4dolv8ru8A3J2GKmAuqWJGrcqOPVsb5ceMnUM2Oov5PTdSzHR41F8ZK1fNVgxYFA03g1T8xEQ_KHDvi-lRw7qRallOdnoBEs38PQ_/s1600/cornish-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ci2Rug-nbpdLmARBuS-r4drWm5Sc0R3REjknt6B4dolv8ru8A3J2GKmAuqWJGrcqOPVsb5ceMnUM2Oov5PTdSzHR41F8ZK1fNVgxYFA03g1T8xEQ_KHDvi-lRw7qRallOdnoBEs38PQ_/s320/cornish-cover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
Classic Cornish Recipes takes you through over 300 classic Cornish recipes. These are traditional Cornish recipes taken through Cornish history. Here you will find classic recipes for every meal, as well as a comparison of that Cornish classic, the pasty, as it’s made around the world. Everything from Cornish pasty, through Stargazy pie to splits, clotted cream and tea cakes. But as well as the traditional there are also modern Cornish recipes from the new wave of Cornish cookery.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AKYVTVU">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AKYVTVU">Amazon.co.uk</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8NYZGdwKNacO1_JB3F1cpZ9YiDe_Yge2rpntyK3QZfewf8YimRZNKk1ji7WDIx8a30L4Hbqd95sdJ63IZ6obJYKRKk_spORhyphenhyphencNvTXB2eA5WMc1PqT1TR682-En2u3wqRqkV9eRUWdCm/s1600/ModernCookery_frontcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8NYZGdwKNacO1_JB3F1cpZ9YiDe_Yge2rpntyK3QZfewf8YimRZNKk1ji7WDIx8a30L4Hbqd95sdJ63IZ6obJYKRKk_spORhyphenhyphencNvTXB2eA5WMc1PqT1TR682-En2u3wqRqkV9eRUWdCm/s320/ModernCookery_frontcover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Eliza Acton’s Modern Cookery. Eliza Acton was the premier cook of the early 19th Century. Her recipes were used by all other period authors, including Mrs Beeton. This is the full text of her book (with all the images), including all the additions to the American addition. Also presented are classic modern versions of her recipes, like Christmas pudding. Learn why modern cookery writers rate Eliza Acton so highly.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008HVCPEI">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008HVCPEI">Amazon.co.uk</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWtN4WwLDyEziwS4yyPdfy2UMgYOdMg2iJXiD-2_TtERFGLtCuEhnWsahTO_igRbllA6T-MbsyefMAataLa_6m-4Ctgp6g8KyHEJJaYhuzAe9H0Fowa9nJvJgkEtIWO5ZnkKwThiXtz7_/s1600/cooks-guide-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWtN4WwLDyEziwS4yyPdfy2UMgYOdMg2iJXiD-2_TtERFGLtCuEhnWsahTO_igRbllA6T-MbsyefMAataLa_6m-4Ctgp6g8KyHEJJaYhuzAe9H0Fowa9nJvJgkEtIWO5ZnkKwThiXtz7_/s320/cooks-guide-cover.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
Charles Elmé Francatelli’s The Cook’s Guide. Charles Francatelli was the premier chef of the mid 19th Century. He is the chef that those who re-construct Victorian recipes turn to first. Here the complete text of his 1860 book, the Cook’s Guide is presented in its entirety in digital form. As well as the book you get an introduction to Francatelli and modern versions of a number of his recipes that you can cook at home, and which help show you how to adapt Francatelli’s recipes to your own cooking. Francatelli is the forgotten celebrity chef... discover why he was so famous in his own time and why he should be re-discovered today.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWDWOEK">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AWDWOEK">Amazon.co.uk</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GINABMbjobhjYwoRBCeNPpf6pvBD3VTggffdbQhuQXil07xqMNTaosUYPOTKqfoG0PqNUSBQYpDnMfkZjWyE75s-dVIdnlHUPZrzcip-fP55cEC9DhLD11w6Q5W4uV-jdX0DTRQ5nDdV/s1600/the-recipes-of-africa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GINABMbjobhjYwoRBCeNPpf6pvBD3VTggffdbQhuQXil07xqMNTaosUYPOTKqfoG0PqNUSBQYpDnMfkZjWyE75s-dVIdnlHUPZrzcip-fP55cEC9DhLD11w6Q5W4uV-jdX0DTRQ5nDdV/s320/the-recipes-of-africa.png" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
The Recipes of Africa is a collection of recipes from each and every region and country on the continent of Africa. With well over 1000 recipes it represents one of the largest collections of African recipes brought together in one place.<br />
Buy now on <a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?printsec=frontcover&id=FJxlWwrVcKcC">Google</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
===================================================<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
Apologies if that looked like a bit of an advertisement, but I wanted to show you exactly the type of thing I include at the end of my books, as this can be a very powerful advertising technique to get the information 'out there' about your books. And it works just as well for pdfs, .mobi and other book formats.<br />
<br />
There is an image of the eBook, a brief description and links to its Amazon sales pages (or SmashWords if you sell on SmashWords, or wherever your sales outlets are). Every six months or so I also go through my old catalog and update or extend my eBooks. This keeps the content fresh and corrects an mistakes introduced by the typo gremlins during the publishing process.<br />
<br />
Now, as I'm amending a book I also add a final chapter on 'other books by the same author' that includes the information given above.<br />
<br />
Then I write a press release about the book, maybe I discount it for a few weeks to go with the press release. Anything to induce a buzz and to get people buying.<br />
<br />
I've also made book excerpts or combinations and published those in various places and in various formats. Each time I include the 'other books by...' chapter at the end and add the information you see above.<br />
<br />
A little self publicity never hurt and more sales always means more money in your pocket.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
I'm currently working on my latest recipe book on Cupcakes, Muffins and Fairy Cakes, which I hope to get published next week. Once that book is done I will be taking you all the way through the eBook publishing process using that book as a guide.<br />
<br />
The text is all written and I am just adding the images and the cross-references for the index now, so look out for the new book announcement next week!<br />
<br />
Over the past year I have learnt quite a bit more about eBook publishing and getting sales, so it's time I began sharing that information.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-81465001409000130372013-03-11T09:06:00.002-07:002013-03-11T09:08:02.922-07:00Press Releases for Book Marketing<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
Yes, you read the title correctly: '<b>Press Releases for Book Marketing</b>'. I've been on-line with my own website and products for over 10 years now and during that time I have come to respect press releases as one of the most powerful marketing tools out there.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Press Releases for Internet Marketing:</h3>
Today, with the internet, press releases are not only a means of getting the information about newsworthy events into the hands of journalists. They are also a means of disseminating information over the internet and of providing links to the sites and products that you want to promote.<br />
<br />
Also, because they are structured, a press release is an effective and proven form of communication. If you structure and write your press release properly then it's recipients (most notably reporters and bloggers) know that it will contain all the information that they need to evaluate the news value of the story and then to cover it.<br />
<br />
A properly-written press release tells the reader about what you're announcing and why they should care about it. It also provides links so that they can learn more information, if interested.<br />
<br />
Because Google and other online search engines aggregate and re-publish press releases, this means that your news releases are not just read by the media (journalists and bloggers), but also by your target readers (ie everyone else). In essence it's a free (or at least potentially cheap) form of advertising.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_82tLUYkObb9Qjt0xg-FW3fDJ-BGh0Ps2ctWDpPB4Ewy5M8AxmW1TOlaiVyTq_mmCRv5Une-l8aAKHxIHhYCBorXykfM5-WqpTfsNiXtsGvQ3APij4_pXSRDu5QbvjS7RHcqEh5ZaSMiq/s1600/press-hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Press hat for press releases" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_82tLUYkObb9Qjt0xg-FW3fDJ-BGh0Ps2ctWDpPB4Ewy5M8AxmW1TOlaiVyTq_mmCRv5Une-l8aAKHxIHhYCBorXykfM5-WqpTfsNiXtsGvQ3APij4_pXSRDu5QbvjS7RHcqEh5ZaSMiq/s1600/press-hat.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
Press releases also help build links back to your content (your profile page, website and book pages). The more links you have on the web, the more likely it is that your content will be found and the more popular (in search engine terms) your content will be. Anything that helps people find your books is good, as it's this that ultimately drives sales.<br />
<br />
How do you get a press release published? Well, for this you need a press release wire service. There are several free ones (just perform a web search for 'free press release'). I've used PRlog.com personally.<br />
<br />
If, however, you want an industrial-strength wire service, then <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/" rel="nofollow">PRNewswire</a> (http://www.prnewswire.com) is definitely one to consider. Now, they are large and have a long reach, but they can be expensive (some of the paid services can cost $300 or more), but they do offer a free service that you can experiment with first. They also have what they call 'circuits'. These are essentially distribution areas which can be local, national or international. Now, in my experience, for most press releases the local circuit gives you 80% of the benefit as your press release is still published to the major on-line databases.<br />
<br />
Of course, just by submitting a press release does not mean that you will automatically get press coverage. Rather, you have to be proactive and follow-up to ensure that this is the case. Sometimes I will submit a press release to get more links out on the web, and in which case I will not follow up. But, if you want more coverage then you will have to follow up on your press release.<br />
<br />
To do this, you will have to follow up with journalists and writers in your area of expertise. For example, say I just wrote a book: 'Caveman Recipes: Stone-age Diets for Weight Loss'. Now there are probably hundreds of health reporters and even cookery writers who would like to learn from your wisdom. You can find them by searching on google or you can use the print version of <a href="http://us.cision.com/products_services/bacons_media_directories_2009.asp">Bacon's Media Directories</a> (http://us.cision.com/products_services/bacons_media_directories_2009.asp). This will list the health and lifestyle reporters at the major daily newspapers (but it costs a hefty $650). You could, of course, always call your local library to see if they have a copy in stock!<br />
<br />
So, what should go into your press release? Basically anything that's newsworthy... If you have just published your book, that is newsworthy, or if your book is currently on promotion, then that is newsworthy too. Maybe you have a website and that's hit a particular milestone or you have a new section. All these things are newsworthy and merit a press release. It's even better if you can tie your book into a news story of the moment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGy7RpUAoAuzfchMsWH5RrYmXS8VM1Gp9aT5HAqK_uwHhi6FilLTuHExWtC9ZyByGdtVXe-Twj-JwIOi9swj_X18cbj0DmholV_pzXd23L4yhZ53CPZwWMeHI6GvKdwBbfMhD8Xw86fj5/s1600/newspaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Extra! Extra! Newspaper for press releases" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGy7RpUAoAuzfchMsWH5RrYmXS8VM1Gp9aT5HAqK_uwHhi6FilLTuHExWtC9ZyByGdtVXe-Twj-JwIOi9swj_X18cbj0DmholV_pzXd23L4yhZ53CPZwWMeHI6GvKdwBbfMhD8Xw86fj5/s1600/newspaper.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
Take for example the current horse-meat scandal affecting Europe. Now, personally, I have no problem with eating horses, the problem comes in that horse meat has been sold as beef. Horse meat is much cheaper than beef, as there is no real market for it. It's one of the ironies in Britain at least, that people have found that horse meat is much cheaper than other meats, so for the first time people are actually buying it. Say, for example, I produced a book: '1001 way to prepare horse meat'. Now this would be newsworthy for the publication of the book, but it also ties in with a major news event. So I might have a press release title: 'Cookery Writer Shares Best Recipes for Horse Meat'. The remainder of the press release would then have to include information that would make it valuable to receive press coverage. In this instance I would probably make it a little humorous as the lighter side of the story is likely to be most successful.<br />
<br />
The other factor to note is that a press release is very stylized with a definite format. Because journalists are used to looking at press releases with this style, you MUST adhere to it. Below are the typical sections of a standard press release.<br />
<br />
<h3>
How to Write a Press Release:</h3>
HEADLINE: This summarizes the high-level message that you are announcing in your press release. This must be compelling to get people to read the whole press release. Headline words are typically written either in ALL CAPS or in Initial Caps.<br />
<br />
SUBHEAD: This is the subheading of your press release. It provides, in a single sentence, additional information that will help convince readers about why the story is important. It is typically written in Initial Caps. For the horse-meat story above, the subhead might read: 'The Horse Meat Scandal Means That You Have Probably Been Eating Horse Meat For Years: Renowned Cookery Writer Tells You Straight, How to Prepare and Dress This Cheap and Tasty Meat'.<br />
<br />
DATELINE: This is essentially the time of publication of the press release and follows the format: City, State — Date. The Dateline immediately precedes the body of the first paragraph of your press release.<br />
<br />
FIRST PARAGRAPH: This usually follows a common phraseology. (Typically something along the lines of: 'XYZ announced today...'). A well-written first paragraph tells the reader what the announcement is about, why it's important and who should care.<br />
<br />
SECOND PARAGRAPH: This provides more detail, or in some circumstances can be a personal quote. If using a personal quote, then this should follow a strict format: 'First sentence' said [your first and last name], author of [booktitle]. 'Second sentence. Third sentence.'<br />
<br />
THIRD PARAGRAPH: Provide more detail, if needed. For non-fiction works, this is where you summarize any valuable knowledge and inform the reader about what they'll learn from your book. If writing fiction, this is where you provide some of the juicy details about your storyline and any challenges faced by your characters.<br />
<br />
BOILERPLATE: This is where the author biography, goes and you summarize where your readers can purchase the book. Here your should add links to your author profile page (whether on Amazon or Smashwords), your book pages and your personal website or blog. Also provide information about which major retailers are carrying your ebook. Also provide contact information like your email address (but obfuscate this to prevent spam).<br />
<br />
CONTACT INFORMATION: Even if you add your contact information in the boilerplate, ensure that the press release also contains a separate section for contact information (an email address is fine). Make sure you obfuscate the email though, to prevent it from being picked up by spam spiders.<br />
<br />
Below is an example of a press release that I have just submitted myself.<br />
<br />
====================<br />
<br />
THE BIG BOOK OF SPOUP RECIPES<br />
<br />
With Over 1000 Recipes Author Dyfed Lloyd Evans Has Brought Together Soup Recipes From Across the Globe, Starting from the Soups of Our Stone-Age Ancestors to the Most Modern Fusion Soups.<br />
<br />
Manchester, UK. March 8, 2013<br />
Manchester author Dyfed Lloyd Evans has published The Big Book of Soup Recipes that brings together over 1000 soup recipes from across the globe, starting with the earliest soups and outlining the history of soups and soup making. Along with all the soup classics you also get soup recipes from around the globe. A mix of the familiar and the totally new.<br />
<br />
For a limited time (Friday, March 15 through Sunday, April 21) an electronic book version of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7OI7EE" target="_blank">The Big Book of Soup Recipes</a>, normally priced at $9.95, will be available to the public for only $3.99 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7OI7EE">Amazon.com</a> (visit: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7OI7EE">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7OI7EE</a>).<br />
<br />
While many recipe books have been published about soups, that most nutritious of dishes, none have given soups in their historical or global context and this book does both. This book keeps traditional soup recipes alive, but also gives an insight (with recipes) into the history of soups from the stone age to the modern day.<br />
<br />
Originally from North Wales, Dyfed Lloyd Evans has travelled extensively in Africa and Asia and has cooked all over the world. Since 2002 he has been running the Celtnet Recipes (http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/) website and since 2010 he has been writing and publishing recipe and cookery books.<br />
<br />
Contact:<br />
Dyfed Lloyd Evans<br />
dyfed at celtnet dot org dot uk<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
###</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(the three hashes above is the standard symbol for 'end of release' and this should be centred)</div>
<br />
=================<br />
<br />
<br />
As an adjunct to writing press releases, I also recommend that you joint HARO (Help-a-Reporter-Online). This is an on-line community of experts that journalists can contact for information and advice about stories. The journos get a free expert to talk to, but in return you get a plug for your book (free publicity!).<br />
<br />
Authors can also use HARO for research purposes. Because it's a community of experts, you can find out who to contact if researching a particular topic. To find experts you can even post a query to the HARO list. This is an amazing resource that you really should make use of.<br />
<br />
Just remember, though I have used an eBook as the example, the same strategy will work for physical books as well, or any product in fact... as long as they are sold online.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-83371869268097620422012-11-12T10:37:00.001-08:002012-11-12T10:37:51.739-08:00Earn Extra Income Selling your Phogtographs<h2>
Selling Photographs for an Extra, Passive, Income</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
Yes, I know this is a writing blog... so what am I doing writing about pictures and selling pictures?<br />
<br />
Well, if you are a writer, whether online or in print, then at some point you will have needed to source images for your articles, eBooks or print books.<br />
<br />
Any writers are also photographers and it's not often realized that those places where you source your images can also be used to sell images. This can give you an excellent passive income stream. Below are some of the biggest sites that you can use not only to source your images from, but also to use to sell your own pictures.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.123rf.com/#gwydion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">123royaltyfree</a> — Earn 50% on each photograph downloaded. They also have an excellent affiliate program: refer new customers and earn 15% of their purchase or subscription; refer new photographers and earn 10% of the price of each of their photos downloaded.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bigstockphoto.com/" target="_blank">Bigstockphoto</a> — Make between 30 cents and $3 per image sold. They also have a list of photos that they need and submitting photos in those categories will increase your earnings.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.clustershot.com/" target="_blank">Clustershot</a> — You are free to submit any photos without the fear of not being approved and you can set a price or be open to offers. For each photograph sold, the site gets 12% of the sale price and you get the rest automatically via PayPal when your account total reaches $100. You can, however request an earlier payout but they will charge a small fee for payments of less than $100.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.crestock.com/" target="_blank">Crestock</a> — Initially you earn 20% commission for each photograph sold and prices range from $5 to $15 per photo. However, as soon as you hit 100 sales, you’ll earn 30% commission. Of course, the more images you upload the more you’ll sell. This site has a very fast and easy uploading process.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/sellimages" target="_blank">Dreamstime</a> – Sell your stock images and get 30-60% from each sale you make.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fotolia.com/" target="_blank">Fotolia</a> — Get paid an average of 50% on each image downloaded. The site pays you via PayPal or MoneyBooker. This is great for international photographers as wire transfers are offered in countries where PayPal and MoneyBooker are not supported.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/" target="_blank">Istockphoto</a> — Earn 20% on prices that range from $1 to $20 per image. You can, however, make up to 40% if you offer them an exclusive on your images. This site also allows you to sell Audio, Video, Flash content and Illustrations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.photostockplus.com/" target="_blank">Photostockplus</a> — They offer 85% commission on all sales. You can host private galleries and you set your own prices. However, you pay a 3.25% processing fee on each sale made.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://picable.com/" target="_blank">Picable</a> - Upload your photos and you get monthly royalties from them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shareapic.net/" target="_blank">Sharepic</a> - Upload and unlimited number of pictures, create unlimited galleries and get paid 22 cents per 1000 picture views. You can add Bidvertiser code for payment and payout is in 7 days after you reach your first 1000 views.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shutterpoint.com/" target="_blank">Shutterpoint</a> — ShutterPoint offers the highest payout rate on the internet. 85% of the image's cost for a Full Royalty-Free License and 70% for Standard Royalty-Free License. When you reach $50 you can get a payout via paypal or by check.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/" target="_blank">Shutterstock</a> – There are three ways to make money with this program: refer photographers (earn 3 cents per photo sold by photographers you refer); refer Stock Buyers (make 20% off their subscriptions); and submit your own photos for sale (earn 25 cents every time one of your images is downloaded). Once you reach $500 in earnings, your commission goes up to 30 cents per download.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stockxpert.com/" target="_blank">Stockxpert</a> — You get paid 50% of each sale via PayPal, MoneyBooker or by check. This means you can earn $7.50 for each XXL size image download and $10 after each super high quality vector download! You can even earn $50 per sale by offering extended licenses for your images.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.veer.com/" target="_blank">Veer</a> — You set your own prices For every image that’s sold on a standard or product license and you will receive a royalty of 30%. If you allow your image to be downloaded on subscription, you will receive 30 cents per download. Once you make $10 in royalties, you will be paid via PayPal.<br />
<br />
So, if you have any good quality photographs lying around upload them now and convert them into another source of income to help support your writing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-58469356725203539182012-11-06T05:13:00.002-08:002012-11-06T05:13:21.143-08:00How to Make Extra Money as a Starving Writer<h2>
How to Make Extra Money as a Starving Writer</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
Compared with just about any other form of work, writing is a very strange business. You can work for months on a project only to have it sitting on a publisher or an agent's desk for months — and even then it might be rejected. If you go down the self publishing route, you can still be waiting a month or two before the paycheques start coming in. And the first ones will be small, unless you have been busy promoting your book.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So you need to spend lots of time and effort just to get the ball rolling with your writing and your first paycheques will probably be quite small. This means that to survive, particularly in the first months, you need some additional or external revenue and income streams.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
In previous articles I have discussed some money-making methods, these being:</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/earn-money-from-hard-copy-publications.html">How to Earn money from Hard-copy publications</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/15-quality-job-boards-for-freelance.html">15 quality job boards for Freelance writers</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/09/todays-post-is-about-financial-side-of.html">Know what to Charge for your Writing</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/08/print-on-demand.html">Print on Demand Books</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHkW6HqtbrXqwyhKbV3s1uJwKl4Ua2_jKrGJhd9q07O71581Z50TbLwjhXQcgoTyFraSqvHTvE2se_JixmyZ-JEqkHcHlirKZRjze309xZV2rf9rZNbEVDLFOlVqIIl9fgL6gH83G929p/s1600/make-money-online.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHkW6HqtbrXqwyhKbV3s1uJwKl4Ua2_jKrGJhd9q07O71581Z50TbLwjhXQcgoTyFraSqvHTvE2se_JixmyZ-JEqkHcHlirKZRjze309xZV2rf9rZNbEVDLFOlVqIIl9fgL6gH83G929p/s1600/make-money-online.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div>
On another of my blogs I have information on how you can make quick (and not so quick) money by <a href="http://techspotref.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-websites-are-best-investment-in.html">investing in websites for income</a>. The same blog also has an article on <a href="http://techspotref.blogspot.com/2012/10/fifteen-ways-to-make-quick-cash-on.html">Fifteen ways to make quick cash on the Internet</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you are a writer today, and particularly if you are internet savvy, then you will be using the web and you should have your own blog and maybe even your own website.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I came to writing (at least for profit) through running my own website and I began writing the last time my income took a nosedive. I needed to diversify my income base and writing was that diversification for me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It led to a whole range of other things and expanding my knowledge base also expanded the range of things I could write about and increased my income.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The secret for anyone who is working on-line is to never, ever, depend on any single income stream. The more income sources you have (particularly if a number of those are passive income streams) the better. Then you know that no matter what happens, you will always have some kind of income coming in.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For a guide to how to broaden your income sources, have a look at this article on: <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/101-ways-money-online.php">101 ways to make money online</a>. Some of the methods are instant, some are long-term, but using them will always allow you to expand your portfolio of income sources and increase your revenue streams.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Remember, even if you are a writer, you can employ your skills in an array of different directions and many of these will earn you both passive and active incomes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The more you do the more you will get and the more secure your future will be. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-19761352911770200492012-10-30T10:08:00.000-07:002012-10-30T12:23:15.420-07:00Submitting eBooks to Google Books for Free Promotion<h2>
Submitting eBooks to Google Books for Free Promotion</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJEvefse9kVNYRQwdwCA2VUhMXvnZTcS6BkyoXtIi1fIx9QAIyfeSAVqGce7JIN9mWEQdDB2G3x14BR9uU1YIKtEhrW7uks2isAo-gcfQY43d6Gnwrkn5je_vXRx4trE0Z3CrrwODgtSL/s1600/google-books-logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJEvefse9kVNYRQwdwCA2VUhMXvnZTcS6BkyoXtIi1fIx9QAIyfeSAVqGce7JIN9mWEQdDB2G3x14BR9uU1YIKtEhrW7uks2isAo-gcfQY43d6Gnwrkn5je_vXRx4trE0Z3CrrwODgtSL/s1600/google-books-logo.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div>
I'm always on the lookout for new ways to promote and sell my writing products. But some methods are so obvious that you doubt your own sanity when you finally remember and implement them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Google Books</h3>
<div>
Google books was one of those events for me. We are all aware of Google books, the book previews that sometimes pop up when you do some searches.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course, Google runs these and I always thought that it was always linked to their book digitization program. Whilst this is true, they also allow authors and publishers to upload eBooks or add physical books that are then digitized and previews and searches are made available through Google.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the books made available you can specify how much of the book anyone can see (20% is typical), they add a link to the purchase page for the book and you get the earnings from any clicks to ads associated with your book preview.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Google will also provide you with a 'search inside this book' system to embed in your own website.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Basically it's a fantastic and FREE way for you to get additional exposure for your book.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The system was originally devised for print books and books with ISBNs. However, if you download Google's Java uploader application then you can add your eBooks to the system even if they do not have an ISBN.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I would suggest that you really do need an AdSense account for this to be most worthwhile.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But if you want to sign in then go to the</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount?service=printpublisher&hl=en_GB&ltmpl=books&continue=https://books.google.com/partner/signon">google books sign-in page</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, whilst you are there, you can sign up for Google Play, Google's equivalent to the Apple Store where you can add your eBooks in ePub format for sale through Google.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
E-Junkie</h3>
<div>
E-Junkie is another hidden gem of the internet. Basically it's a product listing, shopping cart and digital delivery system that works with PayPal, Google Checkout, ClickBank and many others. It also integrates with eBay</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.e-junkie.com/?r=230369" target="ejcom" title="Shopping Cart by E-junkie"><img alt="E-junkie Shopping Cart and Digital Delivery" border="0" src="https://www.e-junkie.com/linkimg/909fb0d456d8e6e2af6bb7e6945fd2f8230369/1.gif" /></a></div>
<div>
This is an excellent system if you want to simply add a secure purchasing system to your website or blog to sell your own eBook products.<br />
<br />
And that is the real beauty of the system is that it can also be integrated into Blogger or other blogging systems with a simple cut and paste system. You do not need to add or configure a large shopping cart system, the <a href="http://www.e-junkie.com/?r=230369">E-Junkie site</a> handles that for you.<br />
<br />
You can also upload your content to their site and they handle secure downloads for you so that you content cannot be stolen.<br />
<br />
You get a 1 week free trial and after that prices start from only $5 per month paid via PayPal. It's one of the cheapest and best systems I have come across. They also let you run your own affiliate program via their system.<br />
<br />
It really is pretty cool.<br />
<br />
So <a href="http://www.e-junkie.com/?r=230369">find out more about e-Junkie today</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-54606377479865641592012-10-28T03:28:00.002-07:002012-10-28T03:28:31.238-07:00How to Market and Sell your Books<h2>
Marketing and Selling your Own Books</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction</h2>
Like many writers and authors, I love the creative, writing, process but hate the marketing that goes with it. However, if you do not market, you can never sell.<br />
<br />
When I wrote my first cookery eBook for sale on amazon (The Big Book of Christmas Recipes) I assumed, erroneously, that just putting the book on Amazon would be enough to make sales. But I was completely wrong. People actually need to be able to find your book and to do that you actively need to market your book.<br />
<br />
The truth is, once your book is published it becomes a <i>product</i> it is just line any other product at this point. Unless people know about it, it will never be found and bought. Even if you do not create a product for sale, as a writer you are still marketing yourself as a product and the same principles apply.<br />
<br />
With my first couple of books I was really just hoping for the best... It was only when I wrote my third book for Amazon, The Big Book of Curry Recipes that I realized I had to get serous about its marketing. Truthfully, I really did not know what I was doing and the past six months have been as extreme learning curve.<br />
<br />
In fact, I started this blog to document some of my experiences. Since I started, I have 8 eBooks selling on Amazon, I have an eBook selling on my own site and I have a book that I am finishing for a standard print publisher. Essentially I now have experience across the board of publishing with all the different highs, lows and excitements they offer.<br />
<br />
Amazon is great, as they basically help with the advertising because of their large system. Though to get your book noticed takes time and effort on your part. But they have a +60 payment schedule, so you are paid 60 days after the month when you accrue any income. It takes a few months for sales to begin taking off, so do not expect masses of instant income. So it will probably be 4 to 6 months before you start getting regular and decent payments. Also, if you are European Amazon.com only offers cheque payments in US$ and not direct bank transfers, which is a bit silly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Marketing Books</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBbriowPCzqnSG1_h0Oab81Rwojwjo5Qd5eyaG7DppfL9tQ5gd1yQTvcXvnE8sCj02SdyqIAoGt7NBBEKq6PgtRwXsWjd4zUv0Lk0dwFA3V445Yl07LTkVN_eMpY4AmHRrla5zkZOCcN6/s1600/121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBbriowPCzqnSG1_h0Oab81Rwojwjo5Qd5eyaG7DppfL9tQ5gd1yQTvcXvnE8sCj02SdyqIAoGt7NBBEKq6PgtRwXsWjd4zUv0Lk0dwFA3V445Yl07LTkVN_eMpY4AmHRrla5zkZOCcN6/s320/121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Selling your own eBooks can be a great way of making money, as you get all the profits. But, you are selling from a single page on your own site and getting enough traffic to that page can be a real problem. The benefits can be huge, but you need to spend time and money on advertising to make any decent sales.<br />
<br />
Publishing a book through a standard publishing house might be a doddle... or so you might think. But if you are a first-time author the are not willing to spend any real money on marketing your book. So, in reality, you will have to do the same effort as for Amazon eBooks to get your book sold.<br />
<br />
In all cases, a large chunk of the sales and marketing will come down to you. Below are some of my favourite methods for promoting my eBooks. I will concentrate on the eBook that I am selling myself on my own site, as that was the hardest to market. It also means that I've had to use the broadest range of marketing techniques for this eBook.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
How to Market your Books</h2>
Writing your landing page is a major part of your success. Tell people about your book and what's in it. Point out why it's unique and what the benefits are. Give something away, a sample chapter is good, so that people can see the quality of your writing and production. Ensure the buyer that their purchase is safe, tell them a little about yourself and give them a guarantee. For example, see my Recipes of Africa sales page.<br />
<br />
Once you have your sales page, you need to get people over to it so that they can buy. Publicize the page through your usual social media channels. Write about the book on your blog. Put an ad to your eBook on your blog's side-bar. If you have a website, do the same thing there. If you are selling through Amazon, make sure you author page is filled out and point people to it.<br />
<br />
Use small ads to bring a wider audience to your product. Craigslist is excellent for this. If you have the money, buy ads through Google's AdWords program. You will have to pay money each time someone clicks on an ad (typically a few cents) but, typically, the sales you make will far outweigh the cost of the ads.<br />
<br />
If your book is applicable to a certain trade or industry then ads in industry magazines and publications can also pay dividends. For this it's best if you have a short and snappy URL for your landing and sales page. For example, the URL to my African recipes sales page is: <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/buy-afro-ebook.php">http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/buy-afro-ebook.php</a>. However, I have created a special redirection directory that is more memorable as: <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/afro-book/">http://www.celtnet.org.uk/afro-book/</a> it is this that I use in print publications and on places like Craigslist, as it's much more memorable and looks more professional.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Get Links to Your Sales Page</h2>
<br />
Next use the standard marketing methods to get more links to your sales page. Use your Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and StumbleUpon pages. Add links to any blogs and websites that you own.<br />
<br />
Now use standard internet marketing techniques to add more links. There are a number of directories of eBooks on the web where you can add links to your sales page. Write articles about your books and add links to your sales page and use those links when you make blog comments.<br />
<br />
Write guest blog posts (particularly if you write on the subject of your book) and add a link back to your book sales page.<br />
<br />
Give out free copies of the eBook and ask for reviews (with links back to the sales page). Have a competition or give out free copies to the first 20 people who visit your sales page (anything to create a 'buzz').<br />
<br />
Write an eBook and give it away. Make certain that you add links to any products you sell in that eBook. Let others give the eBook away on their sites as well (this is an excellent way of creating a 'buzz' on-line).<br />
<br />
This is a lot of work, but if you do not do these things then you will not get any sales.<br />
<br />
<b>Traffic = Sales</b> and <b>Sales = Money</b>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The take-home marketing quote here is:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today's action = Tomorrow's success<br />
<br />
And because I need to practice what I preach, here is the information about one of my books:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/buy-afro-ebook.php" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Recipes of Africa eBook" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcm3gs3ClN2tC6BOiopvT2MEWe9shPEN5pkPpXN-K8YLFC-jvEa6-MQgFHwKGM8T2B6cd3mBIXXklivI-MW_9TnlDiUINOhiKCDd8DybzDkkTeazuf-p5z1cWZLi3d-pG6yA_RZUSMDU/s1600/africa-recipes-cover-small.gif" title="Recipes of Africa eBook" /></a></div>
<div>
This publishing and marketing information page is brought to you in association with <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/buy-afro-ebook.php">the Recipes of Africa eBook</a>. With over 1000 recipes covering each and every country in Africa, this is the most comprehensive book of African recipes available anywhere.<br />
<br />
If you love African food, or are just interested in African cookery, then <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/buy-afro-ebook.php">the Recipes of Africa eBook</a> is a must-buy. You get information about every region of Africa and every African country along with a selection of classic and traditional recipes from that country.<br />
<br />
This is a must-get book for anyone interested in food. Learn about a continent that to this day remains mysterious to many people. The recipes presented here are written by someone who has travelled extensively in Africa and who is a published Author. The book is a properly-produce and published eBook and the collection is immense.<br />
<br />
Don't delay, get yourself a copy of <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/info/buy-afro-ebook.php">the Recipes of Africa eBook</a> today!</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-70015829761377728592012-10-27T00:37:00.002-07:002012-10-27T00:37:23.806-07:00Ten Ways to Make Your Blog Posts More Popular<h2>
Ten Ways to Make Your Blog Posts More Popular</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
<b>You've written your blog entry, you have edited and re-edited it. It's free of the standard errors, you have a nice photograph and you have divided it into readily-digestible and scannable pieces with sub-headings. Basically your blog article is absolutely as good as you can make it. You put it on your blog... and, if you are like 97% of all blog owners it gets completely ignored.</b><br />
<br />
There's some high-level mathematics to do with networks as to why this is the case (it's the same mathematics that defines why some people are popular and some not). Because Google is the main search engine, Google drives this. In general, Google ranks web pages based on how unique the content is and how popular the content is.<br />
<br />
To be found by Google in the first place, you need a link to your page. For Google to think your page is popular then you need lots of quality links to your page. This is what the internet experts call off-page SEO.<br />
<br />
This article takes you through ten ways that you can share or publicize the link to your blog post to make it more popular and more visible on the web.<br />
<br />
<h3>
1. Share Your Posts</h3>
If you are using Blogger, then you have an option to add Twitter, Facebook and Google+ 'shares' for each of your blog posts. Make sure you have a Twitter, Facebook and Google+ account at the very least. I would also suggest a Pinterest and StumbleUpon account too. You will need to manually add your page to Google+, Pinterest and StumbleUpon. I would suggest also manually submitting to Twitter and Facebook. You can also get more Facebook and Tiwtter 'likes' by using your blog's RSS feed.<br />
<br />
This will give you a number of links. Also be active in these social media sites and you will gain followers and your content will be distributed even more.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2. Use Blog Directories to Make your Blog More Popular</h3>
More links = more visitors. The formula is very simple. One way of getting more links to your blog is to submit it to blog directories. But always make certain that the directories you submit to is well established, has a good reputation and is human-reviewed.<br />
<br />
A few to get you started include:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogcatalog.com/">Blog catalog</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogexplosion.com/">Blog Explosion</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogflux.com/">BlogFlux</a><br />
<br />
<h3>
3. Article Directory Submissions</h3>
Submitting articles to article directories can also help with the traffic to our site. Both by providing links and by providing direct traffic. eZineArticles is an excellent site for this. Also try Triond and Helios. Basically create a précis (summary) of your blog post and add links (in Triond you can embed in the article, at eZineArticles you need to add at the end of the article in the form of an Author signature).<br />
<br />
<h3>
4. Use Correct Anchor Text</h3>
When you link to your article from another site, you will be doing so via a link called a back-link of the form <a href="url to your site">anchor text</a>. The 'anchor text' is where you put what's known as the anchor text. You should use descriptive text to your page here and not generic text like 'click here' as this text helps tell search engines what your site is all about.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5. Use Pinging Services</h3>
Most blogging systems create a summary of each blog post in a feed known as an RSS (really simple syndication) feed. This feed is designed to make it easy to publish information about your blog and it posts. There are services like Pingoat, Ping-o-Matic and Googleping that will automate these for you. Googleping is my favourite as you can bokmark the ping page for automated pinging later. Basically these send a 'ping' to RSS feed aggregators to say that your blog has a new post. This can give you hundreds of links and will tell anyone who follows your blog that a new entry is available.<br />
<br />
<h3>
6. Submit your Site to Search Engines</h3>
If your blog is new then it is probably a good idea to send information to the main search engines to say it's available. But if you already have links coming into your site and you use the other methods above it's unnecessary. And you do not need to do it more than once. But for your information, the links to the main search engines are below:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/addurl/">Add your url to Google</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bing.com/webmaster/SubmitSitePage.aspx">Submit your site to Bing</a><br />
<a href="http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit/">Submit your page to Yahoo</a><br />
<br />
<h3>
7. Yahoo Answers</h3>
This has been one of my favourites for a while. Sign-up to yahoo then spend a little time answering questions on Yahoo! Answers. Each answer allows you to put one link in your answer.<br />
<br />
<h3>
8. Google Webmaster Tools</h3>
Add Google Webmaster Tools to your site and you will be able to better monitor your site. You can also use this to tell Google about your RSS feeds (for quicker indexing) and to create sitemaps (lists of all your pages and their URLs).<br />
<br />
<h3>
9. Twitterfeed</h3>
This is one of my favourite sites. This allows you to automatically add your RSS feeds and send them to both Twitter and Facebook as updates. Each time you write a new post it will automatically be sent to twitter and facebook as a new entry.<br />
<br />
<h3>
10. Social Networking with Friends</h3>
Urge your friends and family to submit your new articles and content to their favourite social networking pages. Also, add a section at the end of your article urging your site visitors to share your blog post.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>If you benefited from this article about creating popular blog posts, please share it. As always, thank you for visiting and leaving your comments.</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-34843343998578763162012-10-25T03:59:00.000-07:002012-10-25T05:32:45.963-07:00How to Write Articles for On-line Publishing 4: Making and Keeping Loyal Readers<h2>
How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing 4: Making and Keeping Loyal Readers</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
If you are like me, you are an independent writer with few means. Big sites and those with deep pockets can afford to hire writers to produce their content and SEO experts to market those articles and get backlinks for them. The rest of us, however, need to both write the content ourselves and perform the SEO to get visitors to our sites to view the content we have created.
Internet marketers say that you should spend 1/3 of tour time writing content and 2/3 of your time promoting and marketing it. But how realistic is that? Particularly if you need to make a living?
Personally, I have a large website that I need to extend and I have three blogs that need fresh content. I also write for another site and produce recipe books. It ends up that I put in at least 16 hours in an usual day and that's just to juggle everything that I have going at the current time.
There is little time for extraneous things like link-building, SEO and social networking. In a normal day there's almost no time left over for these things. When it comes down to it, the best bet is to keep the people who like my content and regularly visit my sites eager to read more of what I write.
The secret is to keep the readers that you already have... But how do you do that?
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Earn your Readership's Respect</h2>
<div>
<div>
Let's face it, many articles written online are sheer, unadulterated, drivel. They ramble, they have no real point to them and impart no useful information. What's more they are full of spelling and grammatical errors. It's also why rates for authors are often low and why many people, particularly the on-line community do not value us. We get judged by the lowest common denominator.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, just because the standard is so low, that is a real opportunity for any writer who takes their craft seriously. If you have standards and value the product you create then you will already stand out from the crowd. Anyone who produces well-researched, well-written and well-edited articles for on-line publication will begin to stand out, and quite quickly too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you are doing all the work yourself, then producing four or five top quality articles per week will give you far better returns than if you are churning out six or seven half-baked sloppy pieces every day. The poorer writing requires more SEO work to get visitors. Fine if you have the time and the team, but if you are working for yourself you will not have the opportunity. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It difficult to earn a good name, that is true, but once you have a name for producing quality content you will also begin to get loyal readers. And loyal readers will tell their friends and other people. You will start to get a 'buzz' about your work and the advertising will be done for you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Pay Attention to the Quality of Your Work</h2>
<div>
What distinguishes an excellent writer from a mediocre or even a good one is the overall quality of the work. It's paying attention to the small details. As a writer, everything you write and publish is a reflection of who and what you are. You should know how to spell and how to put together a sentence, even if you are writing to your friends on Facebook of sending a Tweet. The people who want to hire you will check these out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You computer is your friend here. Always use a spell checker and if your system has a grammar checker use that as well. If English is your first language, you should always be able to write perfect, comprehensible, sentences. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Personally, I am bilingual with English just edging into second place. This is a disadvantage in one way, as some things do not come naturally to me. It is an advantage in others, as I have a fascination for language and have taught myself to read Old, Medieval and Elizabethan English, abilities I use to their full when translating historic recipe books to modern English. This has been excellent for my overall vocabulary. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You don't have to translate from historic English, but you should always read as much as you can and extend your vocabulary as much as possible. This means that you writing will not get stale and you can more easily re-word sentences to vary your style and make the content you produce more readable.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Making Articles You Write Your Own</h2>
<div>
There is so much content on the Internet today, that everyone faces the problem of copying from other sites. Wikipedia might be an useful resource, and it is licensed under a creative commons license, but if you copy wholesale from Wikipedia you will be found out and your reputation will suffer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best way is to read several sites or content sources about a topic and then re-write the article in your own words. Personally I like to read up to 10 different sources and then I will write the article in my own words.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My personal plan of attack is this:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>sketch out the article</li>
<li>research the article</li>
<li>write a first draft of the article</li>
<li>edit the article to a second draft</li>
<li>leave the article over night, but re-check my research</li>
<li>edit the article fresh the next morning</li>
<li>edit the article to a fourth draft</li>
<li>give the article one more check before publishing</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This way I ensure that the information in the article is accurate and it's gone through sufficient steps to ensure that the article is always written in my own words.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The more knowledge you can present and the better you can present it, the more you will be known as an authority and the better your reputation will be. And a good reputation means loyal readers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Keeping your Writing Attractive</h2>
<div>
Providing plenty of original content, all of it well written, will keep people coming back to your blog or your website. Also provide your content in an easily-digestible format. Add images where it's appropriate (Wikimedia Commons and Flickr are good sources of content that you can use as long as you give a link back to the original creator). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If your reputation is good then you can also get images by asking for permission from other site owners. Most likely they will say yes, as long as your reputation is good and you give a link back to their site. After all, if you have a good reputation it will also reflect well on them for providing the image to you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep reading, make the occasional guest posts and comment on others' blogs. This also helps maintain your reputation and gives you backlinks.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Social Networking for Increased Readership.</h2>
<div>
Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are all places where you can interact with other people and showcase your work. Some of this can be automated, but some of it requires active participation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Blog commenting in your niche can also be an excellent place to interact socially with other writers or those who share the same interests as you. Personally I use twitterfeed.com to automatically send the content I write (via an RSS feed) to both Twitter and Facebook. I also manually add my content to Google+ and I claim my authorship of all content on Google+ so that my picture and links to my bio appear next to the content.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you use lots of images then Pinterest is an excellent source of social networking as well. It's all about engagement. However, social networking can be an extreme time sink. So be careful how you use it. Typically I allow myself an hour in the evening to perform all the day's social marketing and networking. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Keep Old Content Fresh</h2>
<div>
Don't let old content lapse. When you have the time look over it, re-edit and improve it and where necessary update it. Then post abut your updates. This keep old content fresh and means that it's available again for new readers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The more of your content that you can keep current the more money, overall, you will earn. It's about making the most of your time and your effort. In addition, if you look over older content you will find errors that you did not spot before and you can fix them. This will improve your reputation and the ranking of those articles.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We all have text blindness now and again. The more familiar you are with a block of text the more your brain skims it and ignores the errors. But if you leave the content so that you forget it then you can re-examine with fresh eyes. You will be surprised at just how many errors you find. Also, the more you write the better your craft of writing will be.<br />
<br />
See this article on <a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/keeping-old-blog-content-fresh.html">keeping older content fresh</a> for more information.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
A Brief Note on SEO</h2>
<div>
If you are writing about a certain topic, then think of a short phrase that describes that topi. Those are the keywords for your article. The more you salt those keywords into your article the more chance there will be that someone searching in Google for those terms will find your article.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ensure you use the keywords in your title and one of our subtitles. Place the keywords a couple of times in your article introduction then use the keywords again every 150 words or so in the article body.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't be slavish about this, it is more important that your article reads well rather than its being stuffed full of keywords.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But just think in terms of your target audience for a minute. I wrote this article as part of a series on how to write text for on-line publishing. Someone looking for such an article might use search terms like: 'writing internet articles', 'how to write internet articles', 'writing for websites', 'how to write articles', 'tips for internet articles' etc. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you want to perform on-page SEO then you will think of all these search terms and then place them in your article body. This will help the Search Engines know what your article is about and will help people using those terms search for your article.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Conclusion</h2>
<div>
Here are the main take-home messages from this articles:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Keep your articles fresh and well written to attract and keep a loyal readership</li>
<li>Pay attention to the quality of your articles, ensuring that your content is top notch and that your English spelling and usage are up to scratch</li>
<li>Pay attention to sentence structure and the rules of grammar</li>
<li>Expand your vocabulary to make your articles more readable</li>
<li>Plan your article, do your research then edit and re-edit before publication</li>
<li>Original work is what earns respect</li>
<li>Engage in social networking to let people know about your articles and to engage with your readership</li>
<li>Recognize the importance of keywords and how to use them</li>
</ul>
<div>
Whilst spelling and correct grammar are very important, remember that English is a global language. There are many styles and idioms of English. American and British English differ (and I have seen many Americans comment on 'incorrect' spelling in British English articles without realizing that there are differences). My own English is slightly idiosyncratic in that I use 18th century spelling for some things (use of 'ize' rather than 'ise' for example).</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Indian English is different again and African use of English is very different (my wife is West African so I know the idiom well). You may be an expert in your own form of English, but do not instinctively criticise the usage of others unless you are absolutely certain.</div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-articles-for-on-line.html">Back to part 3 of this article series...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-71032391725914528252012-10-24T01:41:00.000-07:002012-10-25T04:01:46.288-07:00How to Write Articles for On-line Publishing 3: Ideas<h2>
How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing 3: Ideas</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
Welcome to the third part of my series of articles on how to write content for publishing on-line. In the first section we covered the basics of <a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-article-for-on-line.html">how to lay out an on-line article</a>. In the second section, the main topic was the <a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-article-for-on-line_20.html">developing of skills and technique</a>. In this third article the topic covered is the one that should be the easiest, but which actually proves to be most difficult for many first-time writers — ideas.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<h3>
Writing Articles for On-line Publication: Finding Ideas.</h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWwwsWBs4VAsvbwQNs3cgDVyM3HQq4S_yGCkixyMLRrMftVBAONMRil_ILZZVjg3uL0SzMxy0M4uit_wACeUfur7-VRx7JHRvw5kyGhWzbogpXFWYl8bogTGJ290HTFNJxWnEjPj05ecq/s1600/writing1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWwwsWBs4VAsvbwQNs3cgDVyM3HQq4S_yGCkixyMLRrMftVBAONMRil_ILZZVjg3uL0SzMxy0M4uit_wACeUfur7-VRx7JHRvw5kyGhWzbogpXFWYl8bogTGJ290HTFNJxWnEjPj05ecq/s1600/writing1.jpeg" /></a></div>
Ideas are the foundation of all articles. They are the concept or topic around which the article is researched and then written. There comes a time in every writer's life when ideas evade them. Sometimes it's lack of focus, sometimes it's tiredness or being jaundiced. But for new writers, most especially, it's most commonly not being practiced in the art of writing. Ideas for what to write are all around us and the more we look and listen the more ideas will be found there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ideas are easy and there are few topics you can't write about. The problem is that so much content is being produced these days, few topics have not already been covered on the internet. What you bring to that topic is your unique perspective and style. You can make the subject entertaining and worth reading about, or give it a slant that makes it read uniquely.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The truth is that only people who put their own personality into their writing and make it unique and individual stand out from the general crowd.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Can you Create Brand New Content?</h3>
</div>
<div>
The answer to this is always yes... the better researched an article is, the more likely you are to find something that others missed (especially as sources are often just skimmed for internet articles). Never just go to one source (Wikipedia being the classic example). Though many articles in Wikipedia are well researched and come from multiple authors, the majority are the work of one person. They may have a personal agenda, there may be an aspect of the subject they do not know. Whatever the reason, most Wikipedia articles are incomplete.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When researching an article choose at least a dozen different sources of information and read them thoroughly. That way you can synthesize everything you have written and come up with an article that is totally your own and totally original. The subject may have been covered hundreds if not thousands of times before, buy your view on it will be completely unique. And it will be valuable because of that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The more sources your read, the more rounded your article will be and the more authoritative it will sound. Reading a large number of sources and synthesizing them also means that you are not re-hashing what's already out there, you are filtering the information through your own brain and producing a completely new view of the subject.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This way you own the topic or story and make it completely your own.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Writing Articles for On-line Publication — Ideas — Use your Life</h3>
</div>
<div>
Your own life is always the best source of ideas. You have lived it and it will have the ring of truth about it. Even if you are writing about something else, if you can inject something from your own life and experiences it will give that note of veracity that you cannot get elsewhere.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I grew up on a farm and I obtained work writing for a pet and livestock website both writing descriptions of the animals and writing reviews of the animals. The descriptions might have been a little dry and academic, but I wrote the reviews based on my own experiences... these were peppered with anecdotes and real experiences.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also recently wrote an article about a new drug found in black mamba venom. Now, the article came from the field of academia, but it was written for a general audience and as I had worked with black mambas in the past I was able to add my own experiences about how scary these snakes are and their behaviour. This has become one of my most viewed articles.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Both my wife and I love chillies and I grow strange and uncommon chillies in the house. I wrote an article about chilli growing, how you look after the plants, how you fertilize the flowers and how you keep the hot peppers protected through the winter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Those are just some of my experiences. I also write about wild food on my recipes blog and once a week I like to go out foraging. Then I write about my experiences, with a picture if possible and a recipe that I made from what I foraged. The experiences go directly into the blog and I get a very easy article out of it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And, as you can see, I have just illustrated this article with my own experience. Something that makes this article unique and which you will not get anywhere else. This article is now unique and it really wasn't hard to do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Writing Articles for On-line Publication — Ideas — Read, Read, Read</h3>
</div>
<div>
The importance of reading for all authors cannot be over-stressed. You do your research by reading, you find out what others are writing about and you hone your style. Reading lets you know what others are writing about and what topics are hot right now. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Reading is also what makes you an expert in a field. If you write about science, photography, cookery, cars, gaming... whatever your interest is... then you should subscribe to at least a couple of magazines in that field. This is not to copy the content (that is plagiarizm), but to find out what topics are hot and to get the scoop on new developments in the field. This is how experts become experts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By reading you also find out the upcoming trends or upcoming events in a given field. Be that fashion, trade shows, technology events, etc. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Reading also gives a vital boost to those who’re less versed in the rules of the English language and correct punctuation. These are vital elements of writing knowledge which are often lacking in many internet articles.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Writing Articles for On-line Publication — Ideas — TV and Radio</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a writer, you no longer have the luxury of watching the TV or listening to the Radio simply for enjoyment. Whatever you see or hear might lead to an idea for an article. Maybe a local news story leads to a thought about a new story. You could develop a crime report into a story about unsolved crimes in your region. Maybe a report on a new technology provides an idea on a story about how new technologies are developed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps a feature on a daytime show gives you ideas about an unusual hobby people have. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just remember that once your article is published it can have a lifetime of many years. Do not make the mistake of following the current Internet trend for making fun of the dead, the dying or the sick. Once your articles are published they go out into the world where anyone, and indeed, everyone can view them. Your handling of a story, no matter how despised the subject or individual covered, reflects on you — the creator — not them. Remember to make use of your humanity and pay respect to the people about whom you write.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep your eyes open for subjects being researched, and news and reviews about the weird and wonderful. Ask yourself what spin you can put on stories in the news. What ideas do they give you? Maybe that piece on global warming and weather weirding can give you an idea about a story in your area or even a global survey of extreme weather effects?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Writing Articles for On-line Publication — Ideas — Make your Day Job Work for You</h3>
</div>
<div>
Just like your life, your work and your hobbies are a goldmine of writing ideas. Maybe you can use something from your current or your previous work. Perhaps your are a wonderful cook or a green-thumbed gardener. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
IF you are studying for a qualification, can you give advice to others on how to study?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Are you a mother, or a stay-at-home dad? Write about your experiences, others would love to hear about your insights.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Based on your experience you will have literally hundreds of article ideas (in fact the articles will already be written in your own head) based on your personal experiences.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For example, I started my website, Celtnet based on writing about <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/celtic/">Celtic Gods</a>, and interest of mine. This led me to writing about <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/">ancient and historic recipes</a>. The recipe section of the site grew until it became the website for <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/african-recipes.php">African recipes</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over four years I grew an interest into a hobby and a hobby into a way of making a living. All because I started writing articles that interested me. The writing snwoballed and I ended up with a large website.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Basically I became an expert in my hobby and my hobby became my day job. My website is now the go-to place for African Recipes, <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/britain.php">British Recipes</a> and <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/wild-food.php">Wild Food recipes</a>. Which is not something I expected when I started out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And there is another secret. As a writer, you do not have to write for other people to make money. You can also write for yourself.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<h2>
Conclusion:</h2>
<h3>
How to Write an Article</h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Put a little of yourself in everything you write.</li>
<li>Use multiple sources for researching your articles.</li>
<li>Real life will provide you with your best and most original ideas</li>
<li>Prolific reading gives you ideas for writing and improves your writing</li>
<li>Use stories in the media to come up with new ideas</li>
<li>Use the experiences of your day job to inform others</li>
<li>Use your hobby as a source of articles.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-articles-for-on-line_25.html">On to part 4 of the article series...</a><br />
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-article-for-on-line_20.html">Back to part 2 of this article series...</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-1498160918451350922012-10-20T01:47:00.001-07:002012-10-25T04:02:39.440-07:00How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing 2: Developing your Skills and Technique<h2>
How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing 2: Developing your Skills and Technique</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
The first part of this series on How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing was mostly about presenting your content in a way that internet readers can easily scan and digest. This second article goes more into the nitty-gritty of writing the content itself.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Develop your Writing Skills</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWwwsWBs4VAsvbwQNs3cgDVyM3HQq4S_yGCkixyMLRrMftVBAONMRil_ILZZVjg3uL0SzMxy0M4uit_wACeUfur7-VRx7JHRvw5kyGhWzbogpXFWYl8bogTGJ290HTFNJxWnEjPj05ecq/s1600/writing1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWwwsWBs4VAsvbwQNs3cgDVyM3HQq4S_yGCkixyMLRrMftVBAONMRil_ILZZVjg3uL0SzMxy0M4uit_wACeUfur7-VRx7JHRvw5kyGhWzbogpXFWYl8bogTGJ290HTFNJxWnEjPj05ecq/s1600/writing1.jpeg" /></a></div>
There are tens of thousands of articles being published on the internet every day. But when you go and look at them, the truth is that most are just a bit 'samey'. The content is superficial, the language is often a bit stilted and many are variants of other articles already on the internet.<br />
<br />
If you can write unique content that's well written, correctly spelled and grammatically correct, they you're already a long way towards getting your content noticed. The other thing is to find your 'voice'. Your writing should reflect who you are. It should flow naturally and have something of your character and personality in it.<br />
<br />
Talk to your site's visitors... For me, that is part of the key. Write as if you were having a conversation with a site visitor. Make your work easy to understand and get your points across. This really will make your work stand out. So many sites buy their content and it's always written in the third person and impersonal. It may be grammatically correct and in proper English (or, more likely, American). But to my mind it's bland filler.<br />
<br />
If you can write good English with a distinctive voice then you are already head and shoulders above the competition. To me this is one of the reasons that blogs are so successful today. Blogs have a personal voice and they address the site's visitor. They do not contain mass-produced filler content. Each one is unique.<br />
<br />
But even if you have the voice, there are always things you can do to improve your writing. You need to write clearly and succinctly, but you also need to vary your expressions and language. Try not to use the same words in adjacent, or even in the same sentences. This means broadening your vocabulary so that you can use as many synonyms as possible (different words with the same meaning).<br />
<br />
English is one of the world's languages with the broadest vocabulary of words. Of course, you do not have to be Shakespeare (the English speaker with the largest known vocabulary) you can buy a thesaurus. This is a collection of words and their synonyms. Most modern computer systems also come with in-built thesauri that you can use.<br />
<br />
Here's a very simple example to illustrate what I mean:<br />
<br />
My mother and father are the best, most supportive, mother and father that anyone could wish for.<br />
<br />
My mother and father are the best, most supportive, parents that anyone could wish for.<br />
<br />
This is a very simple example, I admit, but it demonstrates clearly how using a little thought and eliminating the repetition makes the sentence read so much better. If you use Microsoft Word for your writing then you can right click (or Command Click) in the centre of a word to bring up the thesaurus.<br />
<br />
It may be my Welsh heritage, but I prefer using a book to look up words, be it my trusty Oxford English Dictionary or my Roget's Thesaurus (if you are American, use the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Lay your Article out Nicely</h2>
The internet is a visual medium and web designers are really only just getting to grips with that. It may have its own design rules, but producing web content is like producing any other content and layout is a very important part of that.<br />
<br />
If you can, use pictures or video to bolster your words. The importance of images on-line cannot be stressed enough. Google will use them to illustrate search results if available, sites like Pinterest use them to link to pages. Web surfers love them and they draw the attention to your content.<br />
<br />
Of course, not all articles are suited to illustration. This article would be a good example of one that does not need illustration. But on my main site, when I am writing about <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/ancient/wild-food-guide.php">Wild Foods</a>, for example illustrations and pictures are critical. They are needed to help identify the plant and are needed to show which part of a plant is edible.<br />
<br />
When using images they need to be appropriately scaled and optimized for delivery over the internet. Internet surfers are impatient and images can increase web page download sizes significantly. This is a big topic, and I will deal with images in a later article.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Use Good Grammar in your Writing</h2>
Whenever you are writing then you should always use good grammar. The truth is that good grammar is the foundation of all good writing. No matter what medium you are writing for, getting the grammar correct is an essential part of generating excellent content.<br />
<br />
If your grammar is not that great, use on-line English courses. You will also have access to your computers built-in grammar check. Use this if you are not certain. They are not perfect, but they will point out the major errors. Just do not follow them slavishly. Under certain conditions you can break certain grammatical rules if breaking them makes the text flow better.<br />
<br />
Others will probably disagree with me on this point, but I am a poet first and a writer of prose second. Poetry is about the sound and flow of language and to achieve that you may need to subvert the rules every now and then. Still, if you do not know the rules in the first place, you will not know that you are bending them so you cannot truly judge the effect you are achieving and why.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Above all, Be True to Yourself</h2>
Your writing worth is judged by what you say and how you say it. The most important feature of your writing should be the ability to clearly transmit your thoughts to your reader. It is not about being clever and using long words (unless you are writing technical articles where words have more specific meanings than in general conversation).<br />
<br />
If you are a writer then you want people to follow what you write and be hungry for the next instalment. To do this you have to put yourself into your writing and you need to not only express yourself clearly, you also need to put your personality into your words.<br />
<br />
Paint the scene with your words. This is both about clarity and being vivid in your writing. If you are describing something try and make that come alive for your readership.<br />
<br />
Make your article useful, ensure it solves a problem for your users.<br />
<br />
Give your site visitors something to laugh at. Humans find humour very important in forming bonds of friendship.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Sketch, Research, Edit and Re-edit</h2>
An article is a product and it needs to be designed just like any other product. That might sound a little mechanical for what is thought of as a 'creative' process. But if you are writing for a living, following a proper writing methodology allows you to get far more done with better results.<br />
<br />
This process works with any kind of writing, but it is even more important for technical or factual pieces where the information you present absolutely has to be correct.<br />
<br />
I typically start by selecting a topic and then making a quick sketch of the article and the topics I want to cover. After that I go away and do my research. I note the research sources and I read everything carefully.<br />
<br />
Once all the research is done, I sit down and write the first draft of the article. After that I compare the article to the research material to make certain that all the facts are correct. I then go back to the article and edit it for spelling, grammar, content and flow.<br />
<br />
But don't make the article too dry. Put in your own thoughts and experience into the article. If you have an illustrative anecdote, include this as well.<br />
<br />
Even after you have published your article, review it and its content every now and then. Things change and you may find that what you thought was a fact is no longer so. There are also domain experts out there, one of these may point out a flaw in what you have written. If this happens, thank them, research what they said and if it turns out to be true go back and amend what you wrote.<br />
<br />
Your articles are your store-front and you need to be know as someone who produces accurate, well written and grammatically correct content.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Don't Forget to Read</h2>
Just as there are rules to writing, it cannot be forgotten that writing is an art-form. And the way to study the art of writing is to read. All good writers are avid and voracious readers as well.<br />
<br />
The act of reading will improve your vocabulary and it will help improve your skills. By reading in your own domain you see what topics are hot and you can see what successful writers are doing. You find out what topics they are covering and how they craft their articles.<br />
<br />
If another writer is successful, then emulating them can give you a leg-up for your own content.<br />
<br />
Reading also gives you insights into the fine craft of writing. It will help you spot the difference between good and bad sentence structures or great and mediocre writing. Even if you just start our as a mediocre web content provider, reading will help you hone your skills to become a fine writer and eventually a great writer.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Don't forget to write.</h2>
Even if you do not have a project on the go at the moment, write every day. Get in the habit of doing writing exercises. These can be anything you like, but all the better if they are not part of your normal writing routine. I tend to write poetry first thing in the morning, then I edit the previous day's articles and then I write new content.<br />
<br />
This gives each day a structure and prevents me from going into a rut. I've also found this to be by far the best way of overcoming or eliminating writer's block.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Summary:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Learn new words and extend your vocabulary. Use thesauri to stop yourself from repeating words in the same or adjacent sentences.</li>
<li>Pay attention to the layout of your articles. Break your work up into easily digestible and scannable chunks. Attractive layout and proper use of images makes web content far more attractive.</li>
<li>Use good grammar. Check and re-check your spelling and grammar in each article you write.</li>
<li>Express yourself as skilfully and clearly as possible. Make certain that your work is easy to read and understand.</li>
<li>Ensure you get your facts right. Do your research before you write your articles then check the facts you present in your article against the original sources.</li>
<li>Keep on reading. The more you read, the better you will write.</li>
<li>Don't stop writing. Even if you have no assignments, write for fun.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-articles-for-on-line.html">On to part 3 of the article series...</a><br />
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-article-for-on-line.html">Back to the First Part of this article series...</a><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-25056777943636921862012-10-19T01:14:00.000-07:002012-10-19T01:14:02.717-07:00Adsense for Search as a Blog Revenue Stream<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<b>It's not just placing ads on your site that allows you to earn money from AdSense. There is also AdSense for search. For this you place a code snippet, provided by Google that enables in individually-coded search panel for your blog or site.</b><br />
<br />
Basically, AdSense for Search places a search box on your blog or site that allows your visitors to find information posted on your site, or on related sites. This then calls up a page of results with ads and you earn money from clicks and purchases on those ads. It's an additional revenue stream that you get just for putting a small code snippet on your pages. What's not to love?<br />
<br />
<h2>
Implementing 'Adsense for Search' on Your Site:</h2>
1. Ensure that the search panel is easy to find. Top right of every page is the recommended location.<br />
2. Put a search box at the top and at the bottom of your pages. This ensures that there is more chance of one being used.<br />
3. If you can, integrate the results pages into your own site. That way, the users stay longer on your pages.<br />
4. For the results pages, arrange the ads at the top of the page (particularly if you're putting the results in your own content).<br />
5. Customise the search results page so that it matches with the colours of your site. If you have a header or banner, add this to the search results page.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
How to Get the Code</h2>
This can be a little fiddly to implement, so I have gone through all the stages on this blog for you. The steps below are based on how I implemented the code for this site.<br />
<br />
First log in to our Adsense account then click on 'Adsense for Search'. This will bring up a page that has the following parameters:<br />
<br />
Search type — this allows you to select your own site and any other sites of interest, or you can choose the entire web. For me, the option you chose depends on the maturity of your site and how much content you have. It also depends on how many sites you have. But if you are just starting out on your blog, use the default of the 'entire web'. You can always go back and adjust the settings later.<br />
<br />
Optional Keywords — these keywords affect the precise niche in which the search results come back in. This is important if you use the 'entire web' option above. For example, is you run a food blog and you want people to search for pots, then without keywords you may get back cooking pots, but you will also get plant pots. But if you use the keywords 'cookery, recipes, food, chefs' for example, they you only get back results for cooking pots. This provides your site's users with a much better experience as the search results are geared exactly for what they're searching for.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Set Site Language and Country</h2>
<b>Set a Channel</b> — with any ad-based system, particularly in Google, it's always good to add a custom channel. That way, when you later change your search system you can compare what you had and what you've changed to see which system works best for you.<br />
<br />
<b>Look and Feel</b> — Customize the search box and the results page to fit in with the look and feel of your blog or site. Always make sure that the search box itself is as long as practical to allow for complex queries.<br />
<br />
<b>Where the Results Page Opens</b> — If at all possible, open the results within your own site, as this means that visitors stay for longer on your site. Now it's not possible to do this by default on Blogger and if you want to do this you need to set up one of the 'pages' in blogger to accept the results. This is quite complicated and beyond the scope of this article, but it can be done. However, to keep things simple, if you are using the Blogger platform open the search results on Google instead (don't worry, you can still monetize the results).<br />
<br />
If you have chosen the option to open the results in your own page, go to your blog or website and create a blank page where the header and sidebars are populated, but the body is open. If possible use a standalone page, but if you cannot, create a blank post page and give it a title like 'Recipes Google Search'. Anything that is related to your site will be fine.<br />
<br />
Publish the page, but keep it open.<br />
<br />
For Blogger users, you can either create a stand-alone page or you can open in Google.<br />
<br />
Look and Feel of the Search Results — There is a huge array of ways that you can customize the search results. Indeed, there is a palette of over 200 colours to choose from. Play around with these until the search results look exactly as you want them to.<br />
<br />
If you are publishing directly to Google you will also be asked if you want to add a custom logo to the search results page.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Almost Finished</h2>
Now click on the box to agree to Google's terms and conditions, name your search (you need a different name for each one) then click on 'submit and get code'. If you are not publishing to Google you will also need to paste in the URL for your results page.<br />
<br />
You will get a small snippet of code divided into two pieces. The first piece of the code defines the search box and the second snippet of code defines the results page.<br />
<br />
Now paste the search box code into your Blog or Website template. Top right for the first search box and bottom for the second are the best places.<br />
<br />
After this paste the second piece of code into your search results page and save this. Publish everything and your search system should be good to go.<br />
<br />
If you are using Blogger and you want to show your results in Google, then you will just get a single piece of code. This needs to be pasted into your Blogger template code.<br />
<br />
Go into your blog’s layout page and ‘add a gadget’.<br />
<br />
Choose the ‘HTML/JavaScript’ gadget.<br />
<br />
Add this where you want the search panel to appear on your blog (we said the top right hand is the best place for it to be).<br />
<br />
Paste the code you copied from the AdSense for Search page into the ‘content’ space of your HTML/Javascript gadget and save this.<br />
<br />
You now have a fully-functional search system enabled for your blog or site and the search results are linked to your AdSense account. You now have another way to monetize your blog or website.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-1984606346547962972012-10-18T00:13:00.000-07:002012-10-18T00:13:37.881-07:00Make AdSense Work for You — Tips for Small-scale Bloggers<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<b>There are lots of sites out there aimed at large-scale blogs and sites that will teach you how to make $10 000 or more every month from Google's advertising platform, AdSense. For this you need either a couple of large authority sites or a network of blogs or small niche sites, each with lots of content. You can achieve this, but you will need to buy content. That is beyond the scope of this article. Here I will focus on helping small-scale bloggers to make their first check from AdSense. </b><br />
<br />
The information given here has been taken directly from Google's website (text and video tutorials) and from my own learnings over the years (I have over ten years' experience with AdSense now). I've also used this Blog as my test-bed to make certain that what I say is still current.<br />
<br />
<h2>
1. Where to Place your Ads</h2>
Lost of research has been done on how people look at web pages and where their eyes linger. These regions are called 'hotspots'. There is also the experience of what happens when a person first comes to your website.<br />
<br />
The truth is that ads perform better if they're the first thing that an user sees on a web page. The best place to put ads, in terms of getting clicks, is if they're the first thing that you site visitor sees — that means 'above the fold', before they are forced down to read the main content of your site.<br />
<br />
However, having a page with nothing but ads on it will put lots of people off and they may well leave your site. Admittedly, I have put an ad at the top of this page, as an illustration of several points I am going to make. But it's only a single ad. Typically I will put an ad in the header and an ad on the left hand side, but other ads will be embedded in the text.<br />
<br />
This means there is real text for people to read and to draw them into the article. But sometimes I will put the first ad lower down and use a picture where the rectangular ad is on this page. Though an ad on the top left of the page works very well as it's the first place a human eye goes to glean information. This is the way we read human faces and we transfer that method of scanning to everything we do.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Place your Ads in your Text</h2>
Placing your ads within your text makes it far more likely that a site visitor will take note of your ads (by contrast, if you place ads on the right-hand sidebar they will typically be ignored). Now, most Blogger templates won't directly allow you to do this. But, you can add code and HTML in your Blogger article (just hit the HTML button to turn on code editing).<br />
<br />
If you embed your ad in a floating 'div' you can then make your text flow around your ad even in Blogger:<br />
<br />
<br />
If you embed your ad in a floating 'div' you can then make your text flow around your ad even in Blogger:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">xxxxxxxxxxxx</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"></div></span><br />
<br />
Just put the AdSense code between the two lines of code above (where the XXXXXes are) then paste into the HTML of your blog where you want the ad to go. This version of the code aligns to the left and allows the text to flow around it. Change the 'left' to 'right' if you want the ad on the right hand side of your page. Also change the 340px to be the width of your ad with a little margin. For example, if you ad is 160 pixels wide, then set: width: 165px.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<h2>
Place an Ad at the Bottom of Your Content</h2>
<br />
The best performing ads are typically at the top and in the middle of your content, but it's always good to put an ad unit at the bottom as this catches those readers who make it all the way through your article.<br />
<br />
Place a links ad by your site's links. This is one that I particularly like. As well as the large display ads Google also has 'link ads'. These are small ads that are just a series of links. They are either vertical or horizontal. The vertical ones work well in the section that you use for your site's links. The horizontal ones work well in the header or footer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
2. Make your AdSense Ad Units Perform Better</h2>
In general, the bigger ad units tend to work better. I use 336x280 large rectangles, 160x600 vertical banner and 728x90 horizontal banners in the main. Basically you want your ads to look prominent, but you do not want to swamp your content with ads. It's a bit of a balancing act and only trying different sizes and formats within your blog will let you get ads that you are happy with.<br />
<br />
Don't over-filter our AdSense ads. Google allows you to exclude (block) certain content or certain providers when you set-up your AdSense account. This allows you to exclude some of the more family unfriendly ads (like gambling). But the more you filter, the fewer ads your site will get and the worse the ads will pay. Typically I use filtering to exclude ads from advertisers that pay peanuts for advertising space.<br />
<br />
Describe and Promote your Site. In your AdSense account, Google allows you to describe your site (or sites). You can also create channels, or groups of ads for specific topics or pages. I use these for my <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/halloween-recipes.php">Halloween</a>, <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/thanksgiving-recipes.php">Thanksgiving</a> and <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/christmas-recipes.php">Christmas</a> content on my main website. Then I say that the pages that these ads are on will be about this holiday content. This gives me better and more focussed ads for those pages.<br />
<br />
The more information you can give an advertiser about yourself and your site's content the more likely they are to pick your site to show their ads on.<br />
<br />
Enable Text, Image and Video Ads. It is often tempting to just use text-based ads on your site, as there are more ads. But image and video ads may actually make you more money. They are dynamic and stand out, and the advertiser pays more for these ads, so you will earn more per click. In addition, the more the ads change the less likely your site visitors are to ignore the ads because they have become over-familiar with them.<br />
<br />
<h2>
3. Find out which Ads Work Best for Your Site</h2>
Test, Test and Test Again. Because you can give even individual ads their own channels in AdSense you can see a report for how each and every ad performs on your site. This means that you can easily test ad formats and ad placement.<br />
<br />
Each and every site is different and what works for my content will not work for yours. The only way you can find out what types of ad perform best for you is to test, test, test. Look at the stats the AdSense system provides. Find out which pages and which ads are performing best then adjust your ads and ad placement based on your content.<br />
<br />
I have a friend running a second-hand camera blog where the really tiny ads work best (though this is a rare occurrence).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Conclusion — To Recap</h2>
Here is a checklist for you when placing Ads on your site<br />
<br />
Are your AdSense units up and running?<br />
Have you placed the ads on your site's hotspots?<br />
Have you enabled tracking and analysis so you can do everything to optimize your ads?<br />
Have you set up channels for your individual ads and pages?<br />
Have you described your site and channels fully?<br />
<br />
For extra income, have you enabled AdSense for Search on your site? (The next article will cover this in detail).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-72266152162412616162012-10-17T04:12:00.000-07:002012-10-17T04:12:58.165-07:00Keeping Old Blog Content Fresh<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<h2>
Keeping Old Blog Content Fresh</h2>
<br />
<br />
One big problem with blogs is that the content is time based, older content gets shuffled to the base of the pile as new content gets written.<br />
<br />
It's very easy, as a result, for older (but still relevant) content to become 'stale'. There are several ways of combating this. If some of your pages fall into a them then write a blog post about them, provide links to all the pages in the theme then place a link to the master page you've just created on your navigation bar.<br />
<br />
Another way to bring old content back to peoples' notice is to write an update about it. This is particularly important for content that gets lots of visitors.<br />
<br />
On my <a href="http://celtnet-recipes.blogspot.com/">Celtnet Recipes Blog</a> site, I have a post about <a href="http://celtnet-recipes.blogspot.com/2008/10/cooking-with-rowan-berries.html">Cooking with Rowan Berries</a> that has received over 3000 views. This is one of the most popular posts on the whole blog and so I keep the post fresh by adding a link page to all my wild food recipes and by posting new updates like a new rowan berry post whilst linking back to the original article.<br />
<br />
This keeps that old post fresh and keeps the number of views going up.<br />
<br />
If a post is successful, then it's successful because people like it and it's providing good information. Help people find the post and increase its overall popularity by adding links to it in articles you write and in your other on-line properties. The more links, the more popular it is and the better it will rank in the search engines.<br />
<br />
You do check on your blog's pageviews don't you... and you do know which pages are getting most traffic, right?<br />
<br />
If a page is popular put a link to it on your links section or, even better, create a Pages of Note or Popular Pages section on your sidebar and add links to all your popular pages there. In essence, this is basic blog SEO. If you've done something well, make sure people know about it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-74781156719533806362012-10-17T03:15:00.000-07:002012-10-17T03:15:28.774-07:00Earn Money from Hard-copy Publications<h2>
How to Earn Extra Income as a Writer
</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<br />
If you are a writer, then you are a writer...<br />
<br />
Personally I divide my time writing copy for on-line, eBooks and physical print books. Physical print books are great because you get an advance, but they can also create real headaches as your manuscript can be lying on an editor's desk (or in their inbox) for months before they get around to it. And even then you may get rejected. My worst so far has been 13 months' wait.<br />
<br />
Whilst you are waiting, you are not earning. This means that you need to earn money some other way. Earning on-line is always good, but sometimes you can hardly get more than $10 for an article or a blog post. There are also on-line job boards where you can go for job offers (see my article on <a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/15-quality-job-boards-for-freelance.html">15 quality job boards for freelance writers</a> to see a list of these).<br />
<br />
<br />
But remember that the good-old print publishing industry is still out there. There are still thousands of magazines of all kinds that need new and fresh content on a regular basis. You can write for them as well.<br />
<br />
Most have an on-line version of the magazine with contact details. Typically you will need to buy a few back copies of the magazine to see the style of articles they require and what topics they cover. This way you can gauge what type of content they publish and properly target your submission by writing on topics they like and use the house style.<br />
<br />
Always check a few back copies to determine what they publish and make sure you know the current editor's name (this way you send your material to the right person). You can also make certain that they actually do accept unsolicited material for publication. There is no point sending an article to a magazine that will not accept it, or which only use in-house authors.<br />
<br />
Below are links to comprehensive lists of magazines from the US, UK and Canada:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.isubscribe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">UK magazine listing</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.world-newspapers.com/health.html" rel="nofollow">US magazine listing</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.peoplesearchpro.com/journalism/mags/canada.htm" rel="nofollow">Canadian magazine listing</a><br />
<br />
<br />
This way you have plenty of material to research where you can submit your articles to. There will be familiar names in there, as well as newer publications that you may never have heard of, but which are well worth checking out.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-29596663898700472142012-10-16T05:26:00.000-07:002012-10-20T01:46:25.482-07:00How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing<h2>
How to Write an Article to be Published On-line
</h2>
<div style="background: #fff; float: left; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 340px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-5615065193501084";
google_ad_width = 336;
google_ad_height = 280;
google_ad_format = "336x280_as";
google_ad_type = "text_image";
google_ad_channel ="";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "0000FF";
google_color_url = "000000";
google_color_text = "000000";
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</div>
<h3>
Introduction</h3>
<br />
The basic rules of writing an article to be be published on-line are the same as writing an article for anywhere else. Pick you topic, research your topic then write out your article in an orderly fashion. Set the article aside for a while then go back and edit or rework the article where needed.<br />
<br />
However, if you are writing for an on-line publication like a blog, an article directory or a website there are some differences that you really need to be aware of. People surfing the web for information tend to skim article content more than when reading printed articles.<br />
<br />
This article goes through some of the basic methods to write better on-line articles. Making more readable for your audience and giving you more views and more revenues as a result.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Best Practices for On-line Articles</h3>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWwwsWBs4VAsvbwQNs3cgDVyM3HQq4S_yGCkixyMLRrMftVBAONMRil_ILZZVjg3uL0SzMxy0M4uit_wACeUfur7-VRx7JHRvw5kyGhWzbogpXFWYl8bogTGJ290HTFNJxWnEjPj05ecq/s1600/writing1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWwwsWBs4VAsvbwQNs3cgDVyM3HQq4S_yGCkixyMLRrMftVBAONMRil_ILZZVjg3uL0SzMxy0M4uit_wACeUfur7-VRx7JHRvw5kyGhWzbogpXFWYl8bogTGJ290HTFNJxWnEjPj05ecq/s1600/writing1.jpeg" /></a></div>
People coming to websites looking for content are often looking for something specific. At other times they are just casually 'browsing' to look for something interesting. This means that on-line articles are frequently very quickly scanned for something useful. For your articles to be enjoyed, you need to make them as accessible to rapid skimming as possible. This means that you need to break your on-line articles in readily-read blocks with images, headings and subheadings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Below are some of the best practices you can use for on-line articles:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Use Pictures to Illustrate your Articles</h3>
<div>
A picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes. A good picture can be used to illustrate a point without using too many words. Humans are visual animals an it takes much less effort to process a picture (or even a drawing or chart) compared to the same information written out in words.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are lots of on-line picture libraries for free and paid for content. But the truth is that lots of these look stage and unreal. It is always better if you can provide your own photograph. This is fresh content, it looks fresh, it is unique to you and you own the copyright. It is also something else that you could potentially sell.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All journalism courses tell prospective authors to always carry a camera with them. And, you can consider blogging and article writing as a form of journalism. I write lots of information about wild food and the natural world and whenever I step out of the house I always have a camera on me. It's even easier to do this these days as mobile phones have such good cameras.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When illustrating your articles, it's usual practice to put the first image on the top left of the frame. This is fine, but don't put any other images on the left hand side of your page. In the West we scan pages from left to right and if you put any content on the left that breaks the flow of text this makes the page much more difficult to read.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Separate your Articles into Distinct Sections</h3>
<div>
Because the majority of your site's visitors are only just scanning your pages, make this easier for them by breaking your text into well defined sections. Give each section a meaningful header and make the header stand out by using bold or even a different font.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Giving your article well-defined and meaningful headers also helps with SEO as these headers are also defined as headers in the code and the search engines will mine them for keywords.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The practice of splitting your article into 'sections' will also help with your writing. Each section should be a well defined topic. If you were writing lots of run-on paragraphs these sections (your main thoughts on a topic, in effect) would be scattered through the text and hard to find. If they are easy to spot then the effect is more focussed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Always Edit your Copy</h3>
<div>
When you write an article you should always go back to edit the text of the article. If you are going to be a writer and an author, then you need to understand that writing is a craft. No-one writes perfect copy every time. Only by going back over what you have written can you improve the spelling, grammar and overall flow of your work. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also remember that the more closely associated you are with the text the more difficult it is for you to spot the errors in it. Personally, I like to write something on one day and edit it lightly. Then I leave it and edit it again the following day when I can look at it with fresh eyes. Most articles go through at least four rounds of editing and even then some errors fall through the net.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The better your article reads and the fewer mistakes there are in it, the more likely it is that someone will take it seriously and will sit down to read the whole thing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Use Bullet Points for Easier Skimming</h3>
<div>
Bullet points make it very easy to skim the main salient points of an article. This allows you to express yourself as succinctly as possible. Bullet points also allow you to highlight the main point in an article so that a reader has easy access to them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Use Revision Blocks</h3>
<div>
Though not always necessary, I would say that these are essential for tutorial or instructional articles. This ensures that your reader can always take something away from your articles. If the reader does not have enough time or inclination to work their way through the main text body of the article, you can still provide the main points for the reader to take away.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This has two purposes. First of all, it sets you up as an authority. Your work is well researched and worth reading. Second, it encourages the reader to come back and read your copy properly. If the revision blocks have good content, then the entire article will have good content too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Conclusion</h3>
<div>
Writing on-line content is always all about getting people to read that content. You want users to come back, you want search engines to index your content and you want people to post links to your content. The more useful and well written you can make it, the better.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Revision Points:</h4>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Use pictures to illustrate the main points of an on-line article</li>
<li>Write your articles in logical sections based on the main ideas</li>
<li>Bold headings make the article easier to skim and help with SEO</li>
<li>Edit and re-edit your work until your are happy with it. The better it is written, the more likely it is to be read.</li>
<li>Bullet points help a reader skim through an article to glean the most important concepts</li>
<li>Revision blocks give a summary of your article that anyone can easily access</li>
<li>Break up the left hand margin of your text as little as possible. Doing so makes the article harder to read.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #2a1804; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.316667556762695px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If you liked 'How to Write an Article for On-line Publishing', please share it on your favourite networking sites. As always, thank you for visiting Dyfed's Adventures in Publishing and for leaving your comments. If you have any questions please leave them in the comment box too. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-write-article-for-on-line_20.html">On to Part 2....</a><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-73319562088806784062012-10-04T07:17:00.000-07:002012-10-04T07:17:16.820-07:0015 Quality Job Boards for Freelance Writers<br />
<div>
Let's face it, finding jobs as a freelance writer can be tough. But there are jobs out there, if you know how to find them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am a writer, and I have been where you are now. But I am also a researcher, it's in my nature and in my training as a scientist. So, when I was looking for jobs, I did my research, looking for anywhere and everywhere that writing jobs could be found. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I looked at forums, jobs boards and specialist writers' sites. I tried them out, wrote them up and filed them away. Now, for the first time, I am going to share the information I have gleaned with you and here you will find the best of all the job boards where authors and writers can find work.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As well as descriptions of each site and what you can expect there, I've also tried to give some information on the quality of jobs posted and the frequency with which those jobs are updated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
1. <a href="http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/category/writing-gigs/">FreelanceWritingGigs.com</a></h2>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
FreelanceWritingGigs is one of the best websites out there for freelance writers. It is a general writing site where writing resources and guides are added almost daily. It also has a 'writing gigs' category that regularly features jobs from various job boards.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is updated daily and most of the jobs are well-paying. However, quite a few of the jobs posted are taken directly from Craigslist.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
2. <a href="http://freelancewritersden.com/">Freelance Writer's Den Junk-free Job Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This has to be one of the best of all the available writers' job sites. The site and the jobs board was created by Carol Tice and each job is vetted to remove the junk and low-paying jobs. This means that the job quality here is very high and it's updated just about every day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is one drawback, in that membership is $25 per month. But for the lack of spam and low-quality jobs this is worth paying. The fee also means that you tend to have only serious writers here, so your chance of actually getting a job is much higher.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Carol is a serious writer who maintains that no writer should be paid less than $50 per article and this is a rule she applies to the board. So you get much better paying jobs here as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am a member of this site myself, and I get a significant portion of my earnings from this site.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
3. <a href="http://jobs.freelanceswitch.com/">FreelanceSwitch Jobs Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The FreelanceSwitch site has to be one of the most popular freelance writers' site on the internet. The jobs board is also very popular. It's mostly aimed at programmers and developers, but there are a large number of writing jobs posted. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are a number of resources available, like an hourly rate calculator and eBooks. You can even subscribe to the jobs RSS feed. However, one drawback is that need to pay $7 just to apply for a job.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The jobs and pay rates are excellent, but new jobs are not posted very frequently.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
4. <a href="http://www.krop.com/#!/">Krop Jobs Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Though mainly aimed at web designers and programmers, there are a number of writing jobs on here. The jobs are all of good quality, but are not updated that frequently.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is an excellent search engine and you can find writer-related keywords using search terms like: "writer", "copywriter", "content writer", "article", "freelance writer", "technical writer" etc.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can also subscribe to the jobs via email, based on the keyword searches so that you only get notified of articles that are potentially of interest to you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
5. <a href="http://www.sologig.com/All+Jobs?kw=writer&loc=">Sologigs Jobs Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a jobs board for professionals. However, there is a writer-related category. This is a very active jobs board with a lot of offers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most of the offers aren't bad, but you will have to weed out a few silly ones before applying.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
6. <a href="http://www.writingcareer.com/writingjobs/index.php">WritingCareer Jobs</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is updated very frequently, but a lot of the jobs are taken from other freelance bidding sites. This means that there is a whole range of pricing, some of them being silly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You will need to do quite a bit of digging, but there are a few quality jobs available as long as you did hard enough.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
7. <a href="http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/q-writer">SimplyHired</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a general freelance directory that has a writing section. Writer jobs are only added occasionally, but the jobs that do come up are of high quality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is a comprehensive search system and an alerting system. So you an sign-up and then set up an alert when a job that might interest you comes along.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
8. <a href="http://www.flexjobs.com/search?search=writer">FlexJobs Writer Jobs</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a premium jobs board that offers professional jobs. They are updated very frequently and there are plenty of offers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is a paid-for jobs board, however, and you will be required to pay a monthly fee of about $5 before you can apply for jobs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are lots of jobs here and they cater to most specialities.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
9. <a href="http://www.freelancewriting.com/newsletters/morning-coffee-freelance-writing-jobs.php">FreelanceWriting.com</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is another quality site with lots of freelance writing jobs. The jobs pay well and are updated every Tuesday. Either visit the site every Tuesday to look at the new jobs. Or, more conveniently, subscribe to the newsletter and get the jobs postings delivered straight to your inbox.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Job offers on this board invariably pay well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
10. <a href="http://www.ed2010.com/jobs/whisperjobs">Whisperjobs</a> </h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are lots of jobs which are updated frequently. However, quality can be very variable and you should be careful which jobs you are applying to, so that you are not under-paid.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
11. <a href="http://www.freelancer.com/affiliates/gwydion/">Freelancer.com</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Freelancer is a general freelance site. Jobs are updated very frequently (sometimes by the minute). The sign-up process is lengthy and you have a limited number of jobs you can apply to each month (unless you upgrade your account by paying).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jobs can be very variable, from the high-quality to the poorly paying and there is a bidding process that typically lasts a week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
12. <a href="http://jobs.problogger.net/">ProBlogger Jobs Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you are a blogger then the problogger jobs board is one of the best sources of employment. New jobs are added regularly (typically 1 new job a day).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The majority of the jobs are blog related, but you do get more general writing jobs appearing every now and then. Most pay rates are reasonable. But, like all general jobs boards you will see some people offering little or nothing for jobs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
13. <a href="http://www.journalismjobs.com/">JournalismJobs.com</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a freelance job board that mainly caters for journalistic-style work, but which also a number of quality general writing jobs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately, the jobs are buried within the site. It's best to use the search function to find them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
14. <a href="http://www.bloggingpro.com/jobs/">BloggingPro Jobs Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is very similar to the ProBlogger board mentioned above, but with more general writing jobs. Pay typically isn't that bad (depending on skills, of course).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
15. <a href="http://www.virtualvocations.com/jobs">VirtualVocations.com Job Board</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whilst not as sophisticated as the other jobs boards listed above, it does contain a lot of offers. It might take a while for you to find exactly what best suits you, but the jobs are there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Be Realistic</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Applying for jobs on the boards above is a great move towards increasing your income. However, you really should understand that applying for a job is no guarantee of acceptance.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The boards are very popular as it is, and you are probably reading this post along with thousands of other people. The secret to getting a good offer is to apply to as many of the jobs on the board above as you think you're qualified for. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Like everything in this life, you have to put the effort into the jobs boards to get results. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you know of any other jobs boards, then please use the comment system below to bring them to others' attention.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Quite a lot of effort has gone into producing this article, please help spread the word about it by posting to Google+, Facebook and Twitter. This ensures that more people benefit from it and it helps to motivate me to write more content.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-68941088592708674482012-10-03T01:15:00.000-07:002012-10-03T01:15:20.824-07:00Kindle eBook Profits, the Guide to Writing Kindle eBooks that Sell and to Marketing ThemI don't often endorse products on this blog, but sometimes, just sometimes, products come across my desk that I really cannot ignore.<br />
<br />
As someone who regularly publishes eBooks on Amazon for the Kindle platform, I was astonished when the eBook <a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1148779&c=cart&aff=227717&ejc=2&cl=224410" target="ej_ejc">Kindle eBook Profits</a> was brought to my attention. From the blurb, this looked like the eBook everyone who wants to publish successfully on Amazon really needed.<br />
<br />
The cover price of $45 was a bit steep, but I decided to give it a go to see what was on offer. The tagline for the eBook says that it's: <i>The Complete, Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write a Successful Kindle Ebook from Start to Finish</i>.<br />
<br />
But enough of the hype, what does the book actually provide, and is it for you?<br />
<br />
The book comes from the viewpoint of how you can write a book for publishing via the Amazon eBook store that will sell. Think of it as teaching you to be a ghostwriter for your own product.<br />
<br />
The book goes through how you can do your research to find what information people are actively searching for so that you can find a topic to write about where people are hungry for the book.<br />
<br />
Once the book is written on that topic, you are taken step by step on how to produce a kindle eBook, and then you are taken through how to market your book so that it gets noticed.<br />
<br />
Marketing topics covered include:<br />
<br />
How to Beat the Top 10 Positions for Your Kindle eBook Category<br />
Do These 5 Things to Get People to Buy Your Book<br />
How to Get Your Book to the Bestsellers List in a Category<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1148779&c=cart&aff=227717&ejc=2&cl=224410" target="ej_ejc"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibONN7Me7-4ScdDb4pcR4fJNuP4HqyVakOkuuANvDEDWJFTxfP4MEg47EE2wGQ2mXbRx4bDcF4HkyMM3MggEu7BXRzku5aqx1GyWOvQTSiQK3smNMWb0bFSVUDjC9y2-p5EnlZeiKsPJkN/s320/481031.jpeg" width="247" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1148779&c=cart&aff=227717&ejc=2&cl=224410" target="ej_ejc"><img alt="Buy Now" border="0" src="https://www.e-junkie.com/ej/ej_buy_now.gif" /></a>
</div>
<br />
This information is gold. The eBook is marketed as: <i>the ONLY guide you’ll need to start earning a RECURRING income from Amazon </i>and I have to agree. Marketing is the area that typically lets us authors down and here you get a complete guide as to how to effectively plan the launch of your book, as well as marketing it for the long term.<br />
<br />
The marketing techniques contained in <a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1148779&c=cart&aff=227717&ejc=2&cl=224410" target="ej_ejc">Kindle eBook Profits</a> are a must-read for every author. The style of writing a book to a topic guaranteed to sell might not be my kind of writing. But if you really want to make money, it will almost certainly work.<br />
<br />
This book is not cheap, and it's not long, but I guarantee that you will glean important information from it. And if you are like me, it will begin to pay for itself in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
I urge you to get a copy of <a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1148779&c=cart&aff=227717&ejc=2&cl=224410" target="ej_ejc">Kindle eBook Profits</a> right now and start putting into practice the information contained therein.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-90761603432172448352012-10-01T08:54:00.002-07:002012-10-01T08:54:37.223-07:00Ninety-five Dofollow Blogs to Help SEO Campaigns<br />
Many internet marketers and webmasters know that adding comments to blogs where links are allowed is an excellent way of both getting their sites known and of building 'link juice'. However, many blogs use the 'nofollow' tag so that even if you post a link there page rank will not be passed from that blog to your site (this is what's called 'link juice'). Going through all the blogs that allow comments and which allow links is tedious and then you have to check whether or not the link is a 'nofollow' or 'dofollow' one.<br />
<br />
But not to worry, the hard work has been done for you. Here are forty blogs, with links that all allow you to post links with your blog comments and which all have the 'nofollow' attribute so that you links will help improve the page ranks of your own site.<br />
<br />
Computers and Internet:<br />
1. Blogs With Wings (http://blogswithwings.com/)<br />
2. BizChickBlogs.com (http://www.bizchickblogs.com/)<br />
3. Associate Blogger (http://www.associateblogger.com/)<br />
4. Inzone Internet (http://inzoneinternet.com/)<br />
5. New Media Bloggers (http://blog.newmediabloggers.com)<br />
6. Internet-Business-Review.net (http://internet-business-review.net/)<br />
7. Trusted Affiliate Marketer (http://www.trustedaffiliatemarketer.com/)<br />
8. Make Money Online Beginners (http://internetwealthlab.com/blog/)<br />
9. Make Money Blogging (http://www.brandonconnell.com/)<br />
10. WebMaster Success (http://webmaster-success.com/)<br />
11. Organic SEO Marketing (http://brandyorrange.com/)<br />
12. Learn Google Adsense & SEO (http://adsenseurdu.com/)<br />
13. Precise Internet Marketing (http://preciseinternetmarketing.com)<br />
14. TechJaws (http://www.techjaws.com)<br />
15. DoFollow Blog (http://dofollow.info/category/blog/)<br />
16. Omega Web (http://www.omegaweb.com/)<br />
17. Keep Up With The Web (http://keepupwiththeweb.com/)<br />
18. Search Engine Optimization and Social Media News (http://blog.seooptimizers.com/)<br />
19. Niche Marketing Blog (http://www.marketingsyndrome.com/)<br />
20. Get the Best Free Web Traffic (http://getfreetraffic.co.cc/)<br />
<br />
Health and Wellness<br />
21. Quest for Balance (http://www.questforbalance.com/)<br />
22. What To Know About Things (http://whattoknow.org)<br />
23. Creative Personal Development (http://www.wellbunny.com)<br />
24. Healthy Diet Weight Loss (http://www.drkalsweightlosstips.com/)<br />
25. MyDiet.org (http://mydiet.org)<br />
<br />
<br />
Technology:<br />
26. Mobilespace (http://www.mobilespace.in/)<br />
27. Tech-Freak Stuff (http://techfreakstuff.com)<br />
<br />
Business:<br />
28. Successful Internet Marketing (http://nine95.com/)<br />
29. Penny Seeds (http://pennyseeds.com/)<br />
30. Green Home Blog (http://www.greenhomedesign.co.uk/)<br />
31. VBS Insight – Small Business Information (http://vbsinsight.visionsbiz-online.com/)<br />
32. Your Virtual Assistant (http://www.thevirtualasst.com/blog)<br />
<br />
Recipes and Cooking:<br />
33. Simple Malaysian Recipes (http://www.seleramalaysia.com/)<br />
34. The Chef’s Cookbook (http://www.thechefscookbook.com/)<br />
35. Daily Shot Of Coffee (http://www.dailyshotofcoffee.com/)<br />
<br />
Writing:<br />
36. University Eight (http://www.universityeight.info/)<br />
37. Freelance Writers Club (http://freelancewritersclub.com/)<br />
38. Corner Scribe: Write Well. Get Published (http://www.cornerscribe.com/wordpress)<br />
<br />
General:<br />
39. The Blog About Everything (http://theblogabouteverything.com/)<br />
40. 113Tidbits Of Smack And More (http://113tidbits.com/)<br />
<br />
Other Blogs:<br />
41. http://newcritics.com<br />
42. http://www.thebayrental.com/<br />
43. http://www.thevirtualasst.com/<br />
44. http://www.serradinho.com/<br />
45. http://www.interviewquestionshq.com/<br />
46. http://www.techatlast.com<br />
47. http://www.smartbloggerz.com<br />
48. http://www.theblog.ca<br />
49. http://www.graphicdesignblog.co.uk<br />
50. http://www.articlesnatch.com/blog<br />
51. http://pixelheadonline.com/blog<br />
52. http://www.howtowakeupearly.com<br />
53. http://www.currybet.net<br />
54. http://www.howtowakeupearly.com<br />
55. http://www.communityspark.com<br />
56. http://www.peterleehc.com/blog<br />
57. http://www.ecommtips.com<br />
58. http://tucsonseosolutions.com<br />
59. http://www.memwg.com<br />
60. http://www.howtospoter.com<br />
61. http://www.seotops.com<br />
62. http://www.organicseo.in<br />
63. http://www.reviewerofsites.com<br />
64. http://infodotnet.blogspot.com<br />
65. http://www.tlmarketing.net<br />
66. http://www.dollarsblog.com<br />
67. http://www.affiliatebestprograms.com<br />
68. http://www.yimto.com<br />
69. http://dmiracle.com<br />
70. http://www.voice-broadcast.com<br />
71. http://www.extremejohn.com<br />
72. http://www.bloggodown.com<br />
73. http://tycoonblogger.com<br />
74. http://techpatio.com<br />
75. http://www.ruhanirabin.com<br />
76. http://sighnetdollars.blogspot.com<br />
77. http://zebida.com<br />
78. http://followlist.com<br />
79. http://www.blogengage.com<br />
80. http://newcritics.com<br />
81. http://blog.mofuse.com<br />
82. http://www.bloggingjunction.com<br />
83. http://weblogtoolscollection.com<br />
84. http://www.netchunks.com<br />
85. http://www.seobythesea.com<br />
86. http://rumahabi.com<br />
87. http://bytesizecss.com/blog<br />
88. http://www.marketingblagger.com<br />
89. http://www.bluehatseo.com<br />
90. http://workathomemomrevolution.blogspot.com<br />
91. http://www.powerdosh.com<br />
92. http://niceblogger.com<br />
93. http://www.dumblittleman.com<br />
94. http://cashtactics.net<br />
95. http://ez-onlinemoney.com<br />
<br />
Using the blogs adding here, adding comments and links will help improve the page rank and overall ranking of your own site or blog. As always, do not spam these blogs, add comments that help the discussion, then add your own comment.<br />
<br />
Commenting on the blogs above will significantly improve your SEO.<br />
<br />
Play nice, otherwise these blogs may not be 'dofollow' in the future and you will be spoiling this resource for the rest of us.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-173267985879945832012-09-29T02:24:00.000-07:002012-09-29T02:24:02.301-07:00Preparing an eBook for PublishingYou have written your book and it's a real stunner. You have the text in MS Word (or OpenOffice, or equivalent) and now you are ready to get your eBook off the ground.<br />
<br />
You've converted it to ePub format (eg with Smashwords' aggregator and you have uploaded your book onto the Amazon kdp books page). Now you sit back and wait for the sales to flood in... but nothing happens.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's a slow start, so you wait a week. But still nothing happens. So you reckon this whole writing thing is a con and you give up.<br />
<br />
I've heard this story over and over. Indeed, I fell into this trap myself with my first book. Thankfully it was a volume of poetry that I knew would not sell much anyway.<br />
<br />
But can you spot the fundamental mistake made in this scenario?<br />
<br />
Authors are writers. They love writing and the book is their 'baby' and they expect everyone else to love it as much as they have. And if you have written a book then you have spent months living and breathing that book to the exclusion of all else. The book has been your whole life.<br />
<br />
It's easy to forget that as far as the rest of the world is concerned the book might as well not exist. If you're a beginner writer, then you will not be a household name and no-one will know about your book at all.<br />
<br />
So, if people do not know about you, how are they going to know about your new book?<br />
<br />
The truth is that if you are an author, then you need to make yourself into a brand and you need to market your book. This is the only way that people will find out about you and what you write. If you do not do that then you will not make any sales.<br />
<br />
You are the authority and your book is your business and sales mean an income. Even before you start writing you book you need to establish yourself as a 'name'. Improve your exposure and brand awareness by starting a website or a blog. Write about what you love (even better if this is the subject of your book), get your name recognized.<br />
<br />
Just before you are ready to publish your book begin marketing. Write about it to local newspaper, write about it on your blog, submit on-line press releases. Offer discounts on your blog or site to the first 100 that buy it. Get people to write reviews (especially before publication).<br />
<br />
One the book is out, write articles about it, put links to sales pages on your web and your blog.<br />
<br />
The more you market, the more your book will become known and the more sales you will make.<br />
<br />
Remember, you are not just an author, you are a business.<br />
<br />
So, if you are preparing an eBook (or any kind of book for publication) get your marketing right before anything else.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-86422930388199231752012-09-28T13:01:00.001-07:002012-09-28T13:01:30.488-07:00Yes, You Can Be an AuthorI have been writing for years... more than twenty now, if truth be told. I began by using poetry to alleviate stress and that evolved into writing short pieces mainly for my own enjoyment. Over the years I amassed mounds of paper, then piles of floppy disks, piles of CDs and now piles of DVDs.<br />
<br />
In 2004 I got my first domain and my writing went on line. I was still writing for my own enjoyment in the main, researching things that interested me and putting the findings up on the web. I began with Celtic stuff, translations and research on Celtic gods in the main.<br />
<br />
This evolved into writing historic recipes and the <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/">Celtnet Recipes</a> site was born. I kept on adding content and used the site to learn PHP and MySQL as well as honing some of my writing skills. But the main thing was to put up more and more content and to research things that interested me in more and more detail. Historic recipes evolved into wild food recipes then a specialization in African recipes and the site kept on growing.<br />
<br />
The first year I made no money from the site, the second year I got a cheque every now and then from Google and the third year I was getting a cheque almost every month.<br />
<br />
I had so much content that I did not know what to do with it. Then, a couple of years ago over a couple of beers I showed a friend a lot of what I had written and he came out and asked my: <i>Why haven't you written a book?</i><br />
<br />
To be honest, the thought had never really struck me. But that conversation planted the seed in my head. I dug out some of my early writings and went through them. Finally I decided to gather together a volume of poetry that I titled 'Memories of Myth and Man'. I put together a small print run and sold the copies to family and from my website.<br />
<br />
All the copies sold! Of course, poetry will never make anyone rich, but it did bolster my confidence. I started putting together a volume of Christmas recipes. This I put together as an eBook and solid it for Amazon's kindle platform.<br />
<br />
I was a real novice then and, basically, I sold nothing. This year I re-visited the entire scenario, wrote 7 other books and began selling them on Amazon for kindle, whilst actually putting effort into marketing them.<br />
<br />
It does take a lot of effort to get a book from where it's written down on a page to where it can be published and marketed. It's not just the writing, it's the editing and re-editing then the typesetting and finally the publishing (it does not matter whether you are publishing an eBook or a physical book, the process is essentially the same.<br />
<br />
<br />
I learnt a lot during this time, and here are some of the main lessons:<br />
<br />
1. Start small. Whenever yo do something new there is always a steep learning curve. It's better to do the learning using a short book or pamphlet rather than a full volume. Shorter books are easier to complete and get published. You are less likely to get disheartened and you are more likely not to give up.<br />
<br />
2. Enlist the help of people with experience. If you know anyone who has published before, enlist their help. This will save you a lot of heartache and mis-steps along the way. Otherwise you will have to find out all the traps and pitfalls for yourself.<br />
<br />
3. Be prepared to deal with disappointment. When you put your heart into something only to hear, "We're not interested," it is easy to take it personally. But, you must continually remind yourself that this is part of the package deal in self-publishing. For every "yes" you receive at least five "no's" (or so it seems). Learning to humbly and graciously accept rejection, not let it get you down, and keep pressing forward is an absolute must in self-publishing, especially at the beginning.<br />
<br />
4. The more you market, the more you sell. You can publish an excellent book, but unless people know it's available, you cannot expect many buyers. The good news is that the possibilities for marketing are endless. Check out all the books on marketing your local library offers and all the articles on marketing available on-line. These will give you some great starter ideas. Send out an e-mail to friends, family, and business associates announcing your book's publication date. You could even offer a limited-time pre-publication special. Join self-publishing groups and let them know about your book. Ask others to promote your book. Submit on-line press releases just before your book is published. Be pro-active and do not be afraid to try novel ideas!<br />
<br />
Remember, even when you have finished your book, the journey is not over. If you do not market, you cannot sell.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-54402688679020067852012-09-27T15:11:00.003-07:002012-09-27T15:11:47.821-07:00Using Writing Exercises for Focus<br />
I heard a story once about the great American author, Sinclair Lewis. He had been asked to give a lecture on writing to a group of college students. He walked up to the podium, gripped the sides then addressed the assembled students: "Looking out at this gathering," he addressed the students, "makes me want to know how many of you really and truly wish to become writers?"<br />
<br />
Instantly, every hand in the room shot upwards. Lewis gazed at each and every one of them for a minute and then he tidied his notes, folded them and put them all away, saying: "If that's true, then the best advice I can give you is to go home and start writing." He then turned on his heel and left the room.<br />
<br />
He was pointing out the one thing every writer should know, that the first secret of writing is to sit down and actually write. For many that means setting out some kind of writing schedule and sticking to it. The next step is to actually figure out what to write.<br />
<br />
Whether you use a computer or an old-fashioned pen an paper (I use computers for most things, but always a fountain pen and paper for poetry) for many writers just being faced by a blank piece of paper they freeze, like a rabbit caught in headlights. The brain locks up and 'writer's block' overcomes them. Unable to start they stare at the screen and the brain goes into freefall.<br />
<br />
It's in this kind of situation that writing exercises really can help. For me, I try and write poetry, and this poem, entitled 'Blank Paper' is something I wrote whilst facing this exact same situation:<br />
<br />
<b>Blank Paper</b><br />
Paper — accusing blankness<br />
bewails the wood from which it's made<br />
Cries: 'who are you to think<br />
you can create your art<br />
on rolled-out pulp?<br />
Engender novelty<br />
on slaughtered wood.<br />
<br />
You can reed more of the <a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/archive/powm16.html">Blank paper poem</a> on my poetry site.<br />
<br />
Writing exercises really can help and many writers incorporate them into the very beginning of each day. The aim of a writing exercise is to allow you to open your mind and to allow you to hone your skills and experience. You are taking time to write for writing's sake. You are now writing 'for real' in that there is no editor to please and no deadline to meet. You can write about anything you want, in any style you want.<br />
<br />
Indeed, for a writing exercise it's better to write about something completely different than what you normally write, to free up your mind. Typically they should only take between 10 and 15 minutes and then you can turn to your normal writing schedule. After a couple of days I like to go back to the exercise to edit and go over what I wrote before.<br />
<br />
Use writing exercises in your writing schedule, as a natural part of your writing discipline; use the exercises often and watch your writing improve.<br />
<br />
A writer I knew and who used writing exercises religiously called them 'mini-meditations' where you can think, feel and express yourself about something completely tangential to the everyday. It's like clearing away the cobwebs to give yourself a clear view before you start work.<br />
<br />
Often they will give you a new view of things, a new perspective that can actually help you with the remainder of your writing work. They can even give you a new clarity of expression.<br />
<br />
Of course, not every exercise blows your mind every time. Sometimes you are just not ready for the challenge presented, but even then, the seed is planted. Sometimes you are simply not up for doing a writing exercise, which is okay too. Again, simply reading can set some new thoughts in motion. And that is why I like to review, edit and analyze what I have written before.<br />
<br />
It's all part of the process of honing the art of being a writer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
<table style="width: 70%px;">
<tbody>
<tr><td>If you enjoyed the poem fragment given here, then it is available in complete form as part of my eBook <em>Memories of Myth and Man</em> which contains over 60 poems and illustrations, many of which are not on this site, and is sold via Amazon (so you know your purchase is secure and safe) for only 99 cents. Sales of the eBook go towards supporting this site. The eBook is also available to borrow via Amazon's Kindle Owners' Lending Library. <br /><br />
You can find the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006AWG01K">Memories of Myth and Man on Amazon</a> and you can also find <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006AWG01K">Memories of Myth and Man on Amazon.co.uk</a>.
</td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" height="240" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="NO" src="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/archive/poems-ebook.php" style="border: none;" width="120"></iframe>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-79766357570112096932012-09-24T02:35:00.000-07:002012-09-24T02:35:26.120-07:00Earning Money from Articles — Part 2 Article Revenue Share Sites<br />
<b>Introduction:</b><br />
<br />
Welcome to my second article on making money from articles. This article deals with Revenue Share article sites. Those sites where you post your content and you take a share (typically 50% of the advertising revenue that your article generates).<br />
<br />
This will never make you rich, but writing a number of articles will bring you a residual income every month. How much you earn depends on how many articles you submit and the precise topics of those articles. The ones to target first are the ones where you can add your own URLs either to the article body or to an author signature associated with the article.<br />
<br />
This way you get a residual income from pageviews to your article, you get referral traffic and you get link juice to your own site or to the affiliate products you are marketing. Even if you are purely an author, this is a great way of getting more links to your author blog, twitter feed or Amazon author page.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my favourite article revenue share sites:<br />
<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://contributor.yahoo.com/join.html?refer=1655656">Yahoo! Contributor Network</a> (formerly AssociatedContent). Here you are paid on a performance basis and they give you tools to help drive traffic to your articles. My overall experience is that the site’s potential for freelance on-line writers is there. But they do not buy your articles (at least for non US contributors). Still, this is a Yahoo! company, so exposure and link juice to any URLs you add to your articles is excellent.<br />
<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.helium.com/">Helium</a>. The problem with Helium is that articles are listed in categories according to the rating they receive by other members of the site. As a result only a couple of the 15 articles I submitted came up in the first five in their lists of articles with the same topic. This effectively means that unless your are part of the 'clique' of the site your articles are never seen and they can never be sold. There are article topics that you get paid for, but they only give $1 and most of these articles you have to research. I have given up on helium.<br />
<br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://www.hubpages.ccom/">Hubpages</a>. This is one of the classics and I have had hubs for a long time. The site has great spontaneous response to your input. It shows you other hubbers’ activities which enrich your experience with the site. It shows your statistics clearly and allows you edit your work instantaneously. You may add pictures or advertising capsules (segments) anytime you like. For those who are keen to make a passive income here, they make it easy for you to become affiliates to Google Adsense, Kontera context link, Amazon.com and eBay.com. It can be hard to get some hubs noticed and I tend to submit spun content there. However, hubs can be profitable for diligent and money-conscious writers who put effort into search engine optimization (SEO) and write hubs around the more profitable Google Adsense Keywords.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://www.lifetips.com/">Lifetips</a>. Only for US authors at present. They sign-up writers as 'Gurus' in their particular fields of expertise (from accounting, acupuncture…, to writing and yoga). You can share your 'lifetips' and be paid up to $10 per tip, or allow them to compile your tips into an ebook or a printed book. They will market the book and award you your royalty at an agreed percentage.<br />
<br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/referral/dyfed01">Sqidoo</a>. This is very similar to hubpages, except that articles are called 'lenses'. Unfortunately, for the beginner, the competition is really hot. Unless you do something nice and get recommended by one of the editors, your writing gets lost in the ocean of lenses created every day. Still, there are many other lens producers who will share with you how interesting and addictive publishing at squidoo.com is. I am sure it will turn out great for many of you who try it hard and long enough. One of the issues is driving traffic to your lens so you need to be proactive about that. Also writing seasonal content seems to be a good way of getting noticed. A few of my recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Hogmanay have been picked up.<br />
<br />
<br />
6. <a href="http://www.triond.com/">Triond</a>. I have just joined Triond and had my first couple of articles published. They have an interesting model, whereby the site acts as a portal that distributes your writing to various sites and blogs that cover a whole range of topics. Triond accepts articles on all topics and sorts them out to distribute through the appropriately themed article sites. You can even write in a language of your choice (other than English) and they’ll find the right place to publish it. They also try to find an image to match your content and attach this to it. It should be noted, though, that they are very strict about duplicate content. You are likely to have your article declined even if it has been partly duplicated somewhere on the internet (or possibly, in print). Still, their reputation is that they are very efficient at paying authors. I am getting to like Triond and this is one site I will be sticking with.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7. <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/">Seeking Alpha</a>. They require articles about stocks, investment and stock tips. If your article is unique and you submit to them only then you get $10 per article per 1,000 page views. They also have other work from home jobs that you can check out, if interested.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
<br />
I have tried to present sites that actually pay you here, and where possible I have presented sites that I use myself in my on-line campaigns. Where I was not able to use the site (because it's for US authors only, I have indicated this and tried to speak with someone who really uses the site).<br />
<br />
None of these sites will directly make you rich (no site will do that) but they will help you get your name known and they will help bring traffic to your own site. You can also use them to provide a cascade of links (squidoo and hubpages to triond, triond to your main site, for example) that can help in your link-building campaigns.<br />
<br />
This is based on personal experience, and sites I do not like may be ideal for you. So give them a try and see what happens.<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-30108123494578220042012-09-23T04:00:00.000-07:002012-09-24T02:37:11.947-07:00Earning Money from Articles — Part 1 Getting Paid Directly for Your Articles<br />
Article writing is a great way of getting backlinks to your websites and of promoting yourself as an author and an expert in a given field. If you are a writer or want to make a living from freelance writing on the web then it's an excellent way of promoting your work and yourself as an author.<br />
<br />
If you want to make money from articles, then there are three main models:<br />
<br />
1. Sites that you can sell your work to, or which will help you directly market your work.<br />
<br />
2. Revenue share sites. You post your content and you take a share (typically 50% of the advertising revenue that your article generates).<br />
<br />
3. You submit articles to article directories. You do not get paid for the articles, but the links in them promote your own site or affiliate partnerships. These are intended mainly to drive traffic to your sites or your affiliate partners.<br />
<br />
Which one you chose depends on what model you are trying to use to earn a living on the web. Many internet marketers like a combination of 2 and 3 and they submit to revenue share sites that allow you to either add your own links to the content or where you can put links in an author signature.<br />
<br />
The first model is probably the most difficult to break into, and you need to write very well, but it is this area of freelancing that I will be covering in this article. Below are 10 sites that are some of the best sites and systems that I have come across. These actually, really, do pay you for your articles:<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Article Sites that Pay You Directly (and Immediately) for Articles</b></h3>
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.constant-content.com/">Constant Content</a>. The editorial requirements are quite stringent, but once you get used to the house style then you can easily submit. It can take a long time for articles to be accepted (5 or more days) and you can initially only submit 3 articles, then 6 per day after the first article is reviewed. You set your won price points ($20 to $30 per article is typical), but the site takes 35% of the total earnings. There are wants and if you write for those, your articles are reviewed quicker. The slow start can be a problem, but this site has real earnings potential.<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/article-writer.html">Article Content Provider</a>. It can take a while to be accepted and they pay $10 per article and $100 for blog postings.<br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://www.developertutorials.com/writers.php">Developer Tutorials</a>. Developer Tutorials is a programming/web design blog. You can submit articles to Developer Tutorials on anything from programming to web design, and you will be able to get $30-$50 for list articles, and $50-$100 for tutorials. For those looking to increase links, Developer Tutorials also allows you a bio with a link back to your blog. So, you can easily build your portfolio, and as a result expose your work to thousands of people.<br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://www.stretcher.com/menu/writers.cfm">Dollar Stretcher</a>. Dollar Stretcher is an online website that is in need of freelance writers to submit articles on saving money and living frugal. They pay $0.10 per word! Average articles range from 500-700 words and up.<br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://www.sitepoint.com/write-for-us/">Sitepoint</a>. Sitepoint is currently one of the leading websites online when it comes to web development, and they are interested in paying quality freelance writers to contribute to their growing network. Your article must be over 1,500 words, and upon acceptance, you will be paid a $100 flat rate. If your article does really well and is able to generate up to 100,000 page views you will be paid $250 more.<br />
<br />
6. <a href="http://net.tutsplus.com/about/write-a-tutorial/">NetTuts+</a>. Net Tuts+ is for good coders who want to share their experience with others through their writing. You will be paid up to $150, depending on the quality, for every tutorial that is accepted.<br />
<br />
7. <a href="http://psd.tutsplus.com/about/write-a-tutorial/">PSD Tuts+</a>. PSD Tuts+ — if you’re an expert at Photoshop, or if you have some cool tricks you think a lot of photoshop users will love to read about, you can create a tutorial and submit it to PSD Tuts+. For this kind of tutorial you will be paid anything from $50 to $150.<br />
<br />
8. <a href="http://forums.digitalpoint.com/">Digitalpoint Forums</a>. Digitalpoint forums is an excellent forum to sign up for. They will not pay you for anything, but they have a jobs offered and wanted section and this is an excellent place to get writing job leads.<br />
<br />
9. <a href="http://www.postloop.com/invite/dyfed13">Postloop</a>. With postloop, you sign up, pass an editing test, then you have to write 10 posts on their own forum. If you pass, you are allowed to write posts on a range of blogs and you get paid for each post you make. OK, this is not a great earner, but if you have the odd hour or two of an evening to spend on it it can be good.<br />
<br />
10. <a href="http://www.worldstart.com/writers-guidelines/">World Start</a>. World Start is another great website providing freelance writers with several options to make money from their writing. There are various payment options you can get with them. They have the $25 option for 250 words article, the $40 option for 400 words articles, the $45 option for 600 words articles and the $50 option for 800 words articles. They pay for computer tip related information.<br />
<br />
I hope this helps in your quest to making a living from writing.<br />
<br />
On to <a href="http://dyfed-adventures-publishing.blogspot.com/2012/09/earning-money-from-articles-part-2.html">Part 2 of the Guide to Earning Money from Articles</a>...<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6938576869815566933.post-84946313024854896182012-09-13T11:36:00.000-07:002012-09-13T11:36:01.941-07:00How to Write an Article from Scratch<br />
If you are a writer, even if you are an expert in some domains, you will always get topics or article titles offered to you that you are unfamiliar with. Alternatively, you may be offered a block of articles to write or you may be asked to write an article on a topic that you know nothing about.<br />
<br />
Here is my guide to writing an article from scratch:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Do your Research.</b><br />
<br />
You know the general topic or area you want to write about... but you are not completely familiar with the domain or topic of the article. The first thing to do is to perform some basic research. Google is invaluable for this, as are domain-specific websites and blogs. For more general information, and to find out what kinds of things puzzle people then Yahoo Answers is a great resource.<br />
<br />
Remember that this is only general research. You are trying to get a feel for the topic that you want to write about. You are trying to learn the terminology of the field and trying to get a feel for how easy (or hard) it will be to write an article in this area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. Brainstorming</b><br />
<br />
You now have a basic understanding of the area you want to write about. The temptation is always to use the information you have gathered and dash-off a quick article. But if you use your down time... or when you are cooking or driving or last thing in the day to think about the topic you have just researched you can produce an outline for an article in your head.<br />
<br />
You may even come to the realization that you can spin several articles from the information you have researched. This way you already have an outline for the article (the skeleton if you will) in your head.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. Outline your Article</b><br />
<br />
By now the framework for your article will be in your head. I like to do this next step on paper, so I can doodle... that is producing an outline. This is basically a map of the main topics and ideas you want to cover in your article.<br />
<br />
Now, the temptation is to just sit down at your computer and to write the article there and them. But if you write an outline first then you can find out your own strengths and weaknesses in the area you want to write about.<br />
<br />
Writing an outline also helps you tease out the main topic areas in the subject you researched. This way, you might end-up with ideas for five or six articles, not just one. The more articles you can spin from a single area of research, the quicker you can write them.<br />
<br />
Once this is done, I go back and I write the headings and the main bullet points of the topics I want to cover in each of those articles. This may sound tedious, but it definitely helps with the next point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4. Do your research once more</b><br />
<br />
The first time, you were performing general research on the entire subject matter that you thought you could write an article for. Now you have five or six concrete ideas for distinct articles. You need to do a little more in-depth research for these topics.<br />
<br />
This means that you have the proper coverage of your subject matter. I use Google for this and I always try and mix general information sources like Wikipedia with more in-depth sources like academic papers, trade journals and manufacturers' sites.<br />
<br />
A broad overview is always best and will give more depth to your writing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>5. Start Writing</b><br />
<br />
Now it's time to hit the computer. One you have done your more in-depth research, sit down and just start writing. I find that the words almost flow through me without my own volition. The topics and areas I have researched come together and the article itself takes shape.<br />
<br />
How you sit down to write is very much a personal thing. I know of many writers who need complete silence and the absence of all distractions. They even unplug their computers from the internet before they type a single character. Others have music playing softly in the background.<br />
<br />
I always have the internet available, as I might have a fact I need to check. Sometimes I have music on, sometimes I have the TV. This is my barometer... when the words are flowing well, then all time seems to stop and all external distractions disappear. Typically, I know that something good has been set down when I look up and it's 30 minutes later and I have no idea what happened in the programme that happened to be on.<br />
<br />
As long as the information is sin my head, I can typically write a 500-word article in 10 minutes and 5 articles an hour is well within my capabilities. But then I write constantly. I work on a few recipes every day, write a new article for one of my blogs (like this one), write a couple of guest reviews or forum posts and write some animal breed or species information for an on-going assignment I have.<br />
<br />
Once you have the writing bug, more often than not it's taking a break that's a problem, not the writing itself.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Review and Edit</b><br />
<br />
Yes, I know its boring, but it is very important, especially if you write as a stream of consciousness. You need to go over your work and correct any obvious typographical and grammatical errors. Now go over the article again and make certain that it hangs together and that the text flows and reads easily.<br />
<br />
Finally, check it just one more time and ensure that any facts stated in the article are correct.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>7. Review your Title</b><br />
<br />
The article's title is the advert that first draws peoples' attention to your writing. You nee to go over the title a few times and polish it. Make it the best advertisement for your article's content that you can.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Accept the Article as it is</b><br />
<br />
Being a writer means being a perfectionist and part of that is going over and over your article, polishing it a little more every time.<br />
<br />
However, at some point, you need to accept that the articles is as good as you can make it. It is good to improve the article, as much as you can, just do not go over-board. Eventually you have to stop work on the article and you need to sell it. After all, that is the reason you wrote it in the first place.<br />
<br />
<br />
In my writing I try to practice what I preach and this article is, itself, a case in point. It's getting on for 1500 words in length (a good length for any article) and because it's written about something I both know and love it was written in just over 25 minutes.<br />
<br />
If I can do it with this article, I can do it on a regular basis. And, so can you!<br />
<br />
Next on the agenda today is to get a book proposal sent to an agent. There are all kinds of writing and the more of them you are involved with, the better your earnings will be.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13533673943034329399noreply@blogger.com0