Wordzopolis - Marketing, Campaign Planning, Content Marketing, Inbound Marketing , Content Creation, Social Media and Public Relations » Writing

Writing:Guest Writers Needed

Jenn — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:50:09 +0000

I am looking for guest writers for my blog. If you cover the topics of marketing, public relations, blogging, content marketing, inbound marketing, social media, social media marketing, campaign planning or writing, I would like to offer you the opportunity to write for my blog.

Please respond with topic and article length. Original posts only please. Post should be no longer then 750 words.

If you are interested please email me at guestposts@wordzopolis.com

Thank You,

Jennifer

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Writing:Guest Writers Needed

Content Marketing: 18 Sure-Fire Ways Article Writing Helps Your Business

Jenn — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:02:53 +0000

Competition is fierce. We are in the information age and everyone is on information overload. The internet has made it easy for buyers to research your company, products and services before they buy. Buyers are spending more time making a decision before making their purchases. They are checking websites, reading blogs, asking questions on social networks and comparing your prices against your competitors. So how in the hell are you going to get your business to stand out?

One surefire way to stand out against your competition is by writing articles. You can reach your target audience buy writing quality informative articles for your website, blog or publication. A well-written article is a cost effective way to market your business.

Not sure how writing articles will benefit your business.

Here are 18 sure-fire ways that article writing will benefit your business. Writing Articles can:

Help you reach your target audience that needs your products or services
Educate your target audience about your business
Build trust and credibility
Increase website and/or blog traffic
Build your company brand and establish you as an industry expert
Engage prospects and help build relationships
Bring readers back to your site and build loyalty
Help spread the word about your business
Bring publicity to your business
Show prospects how have solve similar problems they are experiencing
Show how your company uniquely deals with their problems
Build links to similar website and blogs
Increase your website or blog ranking
Make readers feel as if they know you
Help you better understand your prospects through the responses you receive from readers
Increase a prospects desire to work with you
Tell your readers what you want them to do next, by giving them a call to action

Article writing is a cost-effective way to market your business online and offline. The largest investment is the time it takes to research your audiences, topics and writing, but it is well worth the time and effort. If you do not have the time or expertise to write, then hiring a professional writer is the way to go. When hiring a professional writer make sure that you do not hire by cost along. Choose a writer who understand your business and industry and can effectively get your message across.

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Your Call To Action:

Are you currently writing articles to market your business?

If so, how has article writing helping your business?

If not, why not?

Content Marketing: 18 Sure-Fire Ways Article Writing Helps Your Business

The 7 Link Challenge #7links

Jenn — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:12:16 +0000

This post is in response to Darren Rowse 7-link challenge at ProBlogger. The idea is to link 7 posts to 7 different themes. This is another one of Darren’s wonderful ideas and a great example of why he is a successful blogger and offers a blog worth following.

Here is my List:

My first post – It is hard to believe that my first post on Wordzopolis was almost one year ago. It has been a bumpy ride that I am still trying to work out blogging consistently. Here is my first post to Wordzopolis in September 2009. Putting a Method to the Marketing Madness. It is a post that I enjoyed writing and it was well received.
Post I enjoyed writing the most: I enjoyed writing What the “The Biggest Loser” can Teach You about Marketing because it is a program that I enjoy watching along with millions of others and it was fun relating success business marketing to the success of the program. Really had a great time writing that post. If I watched more television, I would write most post like this.
A post which had a great discussion: Five Tips for Using Articles to Gain Credibility and Trust from Prospects and Clients. This post had the most comments and I am glad that many people enjoyed the article. Writing articles is a great way to build credibility whether you write for magazines, newspapers or blogs.
A post on someone else’s blog that you wish you’d written: This was a hard choice. I have read so many great posts over the last year, but here is my choice of a post I wish that I had written. 11 Ways to Influence People Online and Make Them Take Action. Not only is this a great in-depth article, but it is one that I wish I put the tips into better use on my blog. He has not updated his blog in a while, but looking forward to when he does..
A post with a title that you are proud of: The Little Me is Strangling the Big Me. I liked this title of this post because sometimes I really feel that my internal negative chatter is strangling my creative energies. It was hard to find a post title I could say I was proud of, my titles tend to be cut and chase titles. 8 tips or how-to’s, not very inspirational.
A post that you wish more people had read: Marketing Campaigns: Defining your Marketing Goals, Objectives and Tactics. This is actually a three part post and I wish more people had read it because it lays out how to simply create and implement a marketing campaign that is manageable and enjoyable.
Your most visited post ever: The Importance of Developing Your Ideal Client Profile and Buyer Personas. Developing ideal client profiles and buyer personas are some of my most popular posts. Maybe in the future I will do more of these posts.

I hope that you will join the 7 Link Challenge. It was great fun and gave me a lot to think about.

Have you joined the 7 Link Challenge?

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The 7 Link Challenge #7links

The Little Me is Strangling the Big Me

Jenn — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:37:40 +0000

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Do you ever feel as if the little you inside of your head is strangling the big you that’s living your life?

If you don’t know whom the little me is…it’s the voice in your head that holds you back from doing the things that you want to do.

Sometimes the little is me so busy talking, I want to strangle her. Sadly, most of the time I feel as if she is strangling the hell outta me. I read a quote on a post one day, don’t remember which one, which said “Write drunk and edit sober.” I love this quote; problem is I’m not much of a drinker so it doesn’t work for me.

You see, the problem I am having with my blog is that I love content marketing and social media marketing, but I tend to find writing about it boring. I want my blog to be educational and entertaining, but the entertaining part is missing for me, so I know it is missing for you.

My mind tells me this should be easy. I have been in the marketing field for over ten years. Maybe, just maybe that’s the problem. I am burned out in some ways and it makes writing another boring post difficult. I love marketing and I love helping people market their businesses. Yet, something is wrong.

I have this overwhelming desire to break free and run naked through the wilderness (well not really, especially not with my body), you know what I mean. Then again, maybe it’s the change of weather that has me antsy and ready to bare it all.

I spent so many years in stuffy corporate America; one of the reasons for getting out was so that I could run free and be myself. Yet here I am still stuffy and writing straight to the point boring information, may as well still be working for the insurance industry.

It’s the little me again, not allowing me to run naked. She is cock blocking the real me. I read this great post 5 Ways to Advance Your Blogging Swagger! I love this post, because it speaks to where I am at right now. I am trying to figure out how to get my swag on and provide useful information for my readers at the same time.

My oldest son (age 14) walks around with his swag on and right about now I admire him for it. It’s so great to be young and confident. I hope that he will always have his swag on without being arrogant and difficult to be around. I hope that throughout the rest of his life he keeps his own sense of style and willingness to be himself without worrying too much, about what others think.

The ironic thing is that in my everyday life I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what others think about me. If you saw the way I dressed or my hair on any given day, you would believe it. Its funny because I generally do what I want to do. I have a great sense of humor and tell great stories. I am outspoken, outgoing, and sometimes outrageous (decided to stick with the “O’s). I am a tell it like it is kind of person, a straight shooter with no chaser.

So what’s a person like me to do to keep from burning out? How do I interject my personality into my blog post when I am writing about white papers? Newsletters? Do I just settle in and write the stuff in a boring way? Even if the information is useful, will you keep returning to my blog if it is boring.

Damn, help a sistah out, what should I do? What do you think?

Are you having trouble getting your swag on?

The Little Me is Strangling the Big Me

Who the Hell Are You, Really?

Jenn — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:52:49 +0000

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Lately I have been thinking about a post I read on Copyblogger called How to Write Your Ass Off by Johnny B. Truant.

The interesting thing about this post is not that his name is not Johnny B. Truant, although I do love this name, but that he uses this name to allow him to write outside of his normal self. Writing under this moniker allows him to write in a way that he would not if he were writing under his real name. It’s something like an actor in character, doing things the character would do that he would not personally.

What really struck me about his post is that I love writing business articles, yet I have not quite found my voice. My writing is much different from the person that you meet. In person I am somewhat loud, outgoing, sometimes outrageous, use profanity, slang and tend to have an anything goes type of attitude. I have yet to find a way to allow some of this into my writing, especially non-fiction writing.

I don’t know if I am afraid that my readers would not enjoy the real me. Maybe the real me is too brash. Maybe I won’t seem professional enough. I don’t know, but I am pretty sure that there is some level of fear holding me back from being anther Johnny B. Truant.

One of the things that I didn’t like about working in professional setting was the stuffiness, along with the office politics. I prefer to be relaxed and at ease, which is why working from home is ideal for me. Luckily, for me, I do not suffer from isolation that many work at home people do. I am fortunate that I do have neighbors around me who are retired or not working for one reason or another. This allows me to walk out my door anytime during the day and have someone to socialize. It is truly a blessing, and then sometimes it can be a curse. Something I find myself spending too much time socializing with neighbors. The great thing is I can always get work done at night when everyone is asleep.

I have been trying to figure out how to make my post more entertaining and useful at the same time. How do I show more personality in my post? How to I tell stories and not just provide dry information? Would my readers mind if I used a curse word? A little slang? Bad grammar? Would they have a better understanding of me? Will they still want to read my posts if I did any of these things? Will they like me?

I keep hearing this is the time of authenticity and transparency, but is the business world really, truly ready for people to be themselves.

So, you tell me.

Questions:

Do you like to read posts with personality even if it the personality is different from yours?

Are you offended when writers shoot from the hip or do you prefer they play it safe?

For those of you who have blogs. Do you let your personality shine or are you hiding trying to be friends with everyone?

Who the Hell Are You, Really?

Blogging Frequently to Gain New Customers

Jenn — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:59:59 +0000

Recent marketing data from Hubspot show that businesses are using blogs to gain new customers. The difference in a business ability to gain additional customers with their blog is weighed heavenly on how often the business adds posts to their blogs.

100% of the businesses, who post to their blog several times a day, acquired new customers with their blogs.

90% of the businesses who blog every day acquired new customers with their blogs.

69% of the businesses who post 2-3 times a week, acquired new customers with their blogs and 58% of the businesses who blogged weekly acquired new customers with their blogs.

The difficulty comes in consistently creating new blogging ideas.

17 Blogging Ideas that you can use to help increase posting frequency.

1. News – The latest news in your industry

2. Reviews: On books or products pertaining to your market

3. Predict industry trends

4. Write about the historical changes in your industry

5. Define terms that people new to your industry may not understand

6. Tips on topics of interest to your readers

7. Write about industry conferences, trade shows, workshops and seminars attended

8. Interview successful people in your industry

9. Answer readers questions

10. Create a survey or contest

11. Publish of list of must read blogs in your industry

12. Allow other bloggers to guest post on your blog

13. Write a frequently asked questions post

14. Update old post and republish with new content

15. Write a post with the best posts in your industry over the last week, with links to the original post

16. Do a weekly roundup of posts on your blog at the end of the week

17. Write a beginner’s guide for your industry or series of posts

I am sure that you can think of many other creative ideas to keep your content fresh for your readers.

What posting ideas can you suggest for readers that have worked for you?

Are you gaining new customers with your blog?

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Blogging Frequently to Gain New Customers

8 Steps to Marketing Your Business with Storytelling

Jenn — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:28:56 +0000

STORY

The mind naturally relates to stories and great storytelling allows the readers to step into the story and envision what they are reading. Using storytelling in marketing your business helps your readers envision the future you are forecasting, their problems solved and the satisfaction they will feel from successfully solving their current problem. Great storytelling engages the reader helping to build trust and credibility in your business. When prospects trust your stories, it helps to move the reader from prospect to client.

8 Steps to Creating your Marketing Story:

Step 1: Selecting a topic or problem

The topic or problem that you select when writing your story should be a topic that is of importance to reader. Do not choose a topic that you think is important but a topic that is currently worrying your prospective reader and needs solving immediately.

Step 2: Choose your audience

Decide exactly whom you are addressing with your story. By deciding whom you are addressing and narrowing your focus towards that reader you can choose words that are relevant to that reader and have the greatest impact upon the reader.

Step 3: Choose your angle

The angle is how you will present the information to the reader that showcases your expertise. This allows you to build trust, credibility, reputation and engagement with your readers.

Step 4: Decide on the problem, solution and benefits of the solution

In this part of the article you are going to tell the reader the problem, the impact of the problem, the process of coming up with a solution, the solution that was decided upon, the implementation of the solution, the results and benefits of the solution. Remember to address a problem that your reader is currently facing.

Step 5: Help your reader imagine a better future

Structure your story so that the reader can see himself as the main character of the story you are telling. Involve the client in the story by helping him to envision the outcome applying to his business and the success he will achieve.

Step 6: Describe the challenges and obstacles that the reader incurs

Every good story has challenges and obstacles that need overcoming. We enjoy novels because they present a seemingly insurmountable obstacle that the main character needs to overcome and tell how the character overcame the obstacle; do this with your storytelling.

Step 7: Describe the difficulty in overcoming the challenges and obstacles

Be honest in telling your readers that it will not be easy, but achievable. Show them how overcoming the obstacle will lead them to greater business success and happiness.

Step 8: Write your story

Write the story and get it out to your readers. Keep the story relatively short, less than 1,000 words.

Great storytelling in your marketing will help create a vision of the future that your reader will desire to achieve. The stories tell of the harrowingly obstacles faced, the creative process of finding a solution, the dedication to implementing the solution, the success achieved from implementing the solution and the satisfaction of a job well done. Write your story showing satisfaction and happiness is achievable with your help.

Do you use storytelling in your marketing?

8 Steps to Marketing Your Business with Storytelling