PUBLISHER NOTE: If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know about the upcoming freelance writing seminar this month. Details.
Many have inquired about what will be discussed at the seminar. So, in order to answer your questions and to get you prepared for what to expect, I started a series of posts entitled "40 Days to a Successful Freelance Writing Career."
To start at the beginning, click here. And, welcome to the blog. Now, on to today’s post . . .
Freelance Writers: Keywording Your Site So You Get FoundI know, I know, more tech stuff . . . BUT, I beg you not to tune out, as this is critical to the success of your website (which you do have, or are planning to get, right?).
I hate all this techiness too, but the thing is, once you learn a little about it and apply a few simple principles, it can work wonders for your online sales (eg, acquiring clients, selling products, etc.).
POST CONTINUED BELOW
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FREE E-Report: How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer! Simply send in your email address and the report will be emailed to you absolutely free.
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So, on to today’s topic which is, how do you know which labels/keywords to use. Remember in yesterday’s post when we discussed how using the proper labels can make your site rank higher in search engine results.
Well, if you’re stumped for which phrases people who might be interested in your freelance writing services might use to find you online, following are a couple of tools you can use to help you figure it out – machines (or, at least software programs) really do think!
Yahoo Keyword Selector Tool: This can be found at http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/.
You simply type in the term you want suggestions for, and it will give you: i) Related searches that include your term; and ii) the estimated number of times that term was searched on last month.
Google Keyword Tool: This can be found at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.
I like this one better because it lists so many more phrases from which to choose. When I typed in “freelance writing” for example, it returned 175 keyword phrases I could choose from.
And, Google shows you a stat called “Advertiser Competition,” which is the statistics showing the relative amount of advertisers bidding on that keyword. It also offers a few other stats that help you in deciding which keywords to choose. No wonder they’re the search engine of choice.
In my opinion, this is the only keyword search tool you will ever need.
So, now that you know where to find keywords/labels/tags, what should you do with them?
Well, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, you can start by using them to label your blog posts more concisely.
Other uses:
Formulate articles: if you use article marketing (and if you don’t have a lot of money you should), pay attention to the key word list and try to naturally weave some of the most popular phrases into you article.
Notice that naturally is highlighted. Please, please, please don’t write unnaturally just to fit a certain term in – it’ll sound contrived and it takes away from your credibility (ie, they’re just writing this for good search engine positioning).
Perform research: Use the keyword list to guide you in your marketing choices. For example, I noticed that the phrases “writing employment” and “write for money” had pretty good search activity, but not as many advertisers were bidding on that term.
So, it might be a good idea to write articles using those phrases. You have a good chance of popping up high in the results because these terms don’t have as much competition as, say, “freelance writing.”
These are just two ways you can use key words to improve your online marketing efforts.
While most freelance writers could care less about this type of behind-the-scenes technology, if you’re going to create several income streams from your writing – and plan to use the internet as a marketing tool – it’s vital that you learn the basics of internet marketing.
Tomorrow's Post: How to Make Money Interviewing Experts for Your Newsletter (Website, Ebook, Blog, etc.)
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FREE E-Report: How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer! Simply send in your email address and the report will be emailed to you absolutely free.
**********************************************************
So, on to today’s topic which is, how do you know which labels/keywords to use. Remember in yesterday’s post when we discussed how using the proper labels can make your site rank higher in search engine results.
Well, if you’re stumped for which phrases people who might be interested in your freelance writing services might use to find you online, following are a couple of tools you can use to help you figure it out – machines (or, at least software programs) really do think!
Yahoo Keyword Selector Tool: This can be found at http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/.
You simply type in the term you want suggestions for, and it will give you: i) Related searches that include your term; and ii) the estimated number of times that term was searched on last month.
Google Keyword Tool: This can be found at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.
I like this one better because it lists so many more phrases from which to choose. When I typed in “freelance writing” for example, it returned 175 keyword phrases I could choose from.
And, Google shows you a stat called “Advertiser Competition,” which is the statistics showing the relative amount of advertisers bidding on that keyword. It also offers a few other stats that help you in deciding which keywords to choose. No wonder they’re the search engine of choice.
In my opinion, this is the only keyword search tool you will ever need.
So, now that you know where to find keywords/labels/tags, what should you do with them?
Well, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, you can start by using them to label your blog posts more concisely.
Other uses:
Formulate articles: if you use article marketing (and if you don’t have a lot of money you should), pay attention to the key word list and try to naturally weave some of the most popular phrases into you article.
Notice that naturally is highlighted. Please, please, please don’t write unnaturally just to fit a certain term in – it’ll sound contrived and it takes away from your credibility (ie, they’re just writing this for good search engine positioning).
Perform research: Use the keyword list to guide you in your marketing choices. For example, I noticed that the phrases “writing employment” and “write for money” had pretty good search activity, but not as many advertisers were bidding on that term.
So, it might be a good idea to write articles using those phrases. You have a good chance of popping up high in the results because these terms don’t have as much competition as, say, “freelance writing.”
These are just two ways you can use key words to improve your online marketing efforts.
While most freelance writers could care less about this type of behind-the-scenes technology, if you’re going to create several income streams from your writing – and plan to use the internet as a marketing tool – it’s vital that you learn the basics of internet marketing.
Tomorrow's Post: How to Make Money Interviewing Experts for Your Newsletter (Website, Ebook, Blog, etc.)
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What’s in Inkwell Editorial’s Newsletter? There are freelancers who make very good livings at what they love. Inkwell Editorial's newsletter features these successful professionals who put to rest the phrase, "starving freelancer." Subscribe to read all previous issues.
Current Issue: For all you artists our there (illustrators, cartoonists, photographers, this one is for you). I interviewed successful cartoonist Dan Rosendach. He’s been a freelancer since 1976 and lays out some very interesting marketing tactics for keeping the business rolling in.
Next Issue: 10/17. Sue Fagalde Lick, author of Freelancing for Newspapers, has graciously agreed to be interviewed. Whether you are an experienced or inexperienced freelance writer, this is one market that eagerly accepts freelancers, as Sue outlines in her book.
Gain clients, web traffic and brand awareness. How? Let us interview you for our popular newsletter? Full details. Read the first issue here.
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Copyright Notice: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. Freelance success stories, e-courses, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Get the e-report, How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer -- free! Log on to http://www.freelancewritingwebsite.com/ for details.
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