Content Writing & Copywriting Blog

Digg Is Introducing Social Networking Features

Sep 19, 2007 4 Comments »

This is another example of what a dominating force social networking is becoming on the Internet. There is tremendous desire to communicate and share content, whether self-generated or recommended. The post titled Digg Getting More Social at Read/Write Web says:

social news site Digg will launch a slew of new social networking features that will put the site in closer competition with services like Facebook and MySpace.

The new social networking features will enable its close-knit community to interact with other members and share links in a more comprehensive manner. Another quote that explains the new features:

“Instead of submitting stories for review by the larger Digg community, users will be able to send — ’shout’ in Digg terms — story links along with messages to particular Digg friends. Friends, or small groups of friends, also will be able to chat or discuss stories on their personal pages with posts to a message board, a feature akin to the ‘wall’ on Facebook.”

Up till now I have been too lazy to look at Digg properly or consider it as a content promotion service but as I blog more and more I think I should pay more attention to social media websites. Have you had any successful experience with Digg?

Technorati Tags: digg, social networking, social media

New York Times Archives Available For Free Now

Sep 18, 2007 No Comments »

New York Times Online has made its archive free now. Previously you had to pay an annual or monthly fee, or you had to be an NYT subscriber. It makes economic sense. Selling paid content on the Internet has always been a big problem and biggest of the content providers have failed to charge for content. Keeping the content free and earning ad revenue is always a better option.

But do people even look at the ads? Normally when you go to a website such as the NYT you are deeply interested in reading the article and you grow an imperceptible blindness towards the banners and ads. Solution? The content and the context should always match.

Anyway, I think it is a good decision. Keeping the content blocked just because many people wouldn’t pay for it doesn’t make sense.

According to this blog post at Read/Write Web even Wall Street Journal under its new owner Rubert Murdoch is planning to make its online version freely available.

Technorati Tags: nyt free, new york times

Does Anchor Text Matter?

Sep 18, 2007 5 Comments »

Brian suggests on his blog that it’s not necessary that you should always have your keywords as your anchor text for links and I totally agree with him. He says, use “Click here” where you want your users to click because it is a much better action word. Many SEO people get carried away with anchor text and even I have recommended the use of anchor text wherever possible but one should remember that where clicks matter readers should be prompted to click and the data he has presented shows that nothing is a greater prompter than the expression “Click”.

So then why so much stress is put on keywords in anchor text

That too has its own significance. Anchor text supposedly tells the readers and the search engines where the link is heading to. It’s like a hoarding in front of your shop telling people in clear words what you are selling. You can also use anchor text when you are writing about a particular subject and you’ve got some more information on a particular phrase. You don’t necessarily want people to click on the link, but they can click it if they feel like. This is a good way of using your keywords as anchor text.

Anchor text is also significant in your navigation. Simply splattering your navigation with lots of “Click here”s will be nonsensical. So there you can have your anchor text. Anchor text should also be used while interlinking. Whenever you get a chance you should link to the other pages of your website and the best way of doing is using the keywords that represent that page.

Other wise, use “Click here to know more about our services.”

Technorati Tags: copywriting tips

8 Tips For Newbie Bloggers

Sep 16, 2007 10 Comments »

Are you starting a new blog or you have a blog you think is quite new (you can define a new blog as having very few posts and near to no traffic — just like this blog)? You may find the following 8 blogging tips useful:

1] Be clear about the blog topic

Don’t start a blog just because all of a sudden you’ve come across this great idea. Be sure of what you want to publish and if that thing interests you because since blogging is a regular affair, unless you have lots of interest (and a lot to say) you are going to run out of steam very soon. In theory this is no big deal, but if you continue this string of behavior you’ll grow a disenchantment towards blogging and conclude it is not your cup of tea. Take your time, do your research, and gather your material. Have ideas stored for say, at least a couple of months.

2] Use a suitable blog publishing software

There are many blog publishing software available on the Internet and most of them are free. Take for instance WordPress. You’ll need to download the latest version and then upload it on your server, under your own domain name. Even if you are not comfortable with installing your own copy of WordPress (many hosting companies these days give you one-click installation facility) you can use WordPress-hosted blog at Wordpress.com, at Blogger, or numerous other websites. My recommendation is that you should publish your blog under your own domain name so that you have control over your content and you don’t have to comply with the editorial policies of the blog hosting websites.

3] Use a good blog editor

These days I’m using Windows Live Writer to create my blog posts and I’ve become a big fan of this so-far-free blog editing tool. Creating blog posts should be enjoyable and easy, so use a tool you feel most comfortable with, even if it is a text-editor like Dark Room.

4] Post regularly

By regular I don’t mean publishing 3-4 posts daily (you can do that if your posts are very small, Twitter-like). If your posts are not very long and not very research-oriented then try to post once daily. In case it takes lots of effort then you can even post on a weekly basis. But try to be regular: these gives people lots of stuff to link to, lots of stuff to read, and it gives the search engines lots of pages to index and rank.

5] Make your blog posts search engine friendly from the start

This will save you lots of time later on. Use proper headings, highlight your crucial phrases and use the appropriate anchor text whenever you link to internal and external links. Define blog post titles that contain your keywords or key phrases. Make sure your blog publishing software create search engine friendly URL when your post is published.

6] Comment on other blogs

Commenting on other blogs (related to your blog) generates targeted traffic and helps you increase your network. When people read your comments on other blogs they become aware of the existence of your blog. Regular interaction on other blogs also gives you new blog posting ideas. It also encourages the blog publishers to visit your blog and leave comments.

7] Reply to comments on your blog

When people leave comments on your blog they are seeking a conversation or a feedback. Give that to them and they’ll come for more. If you don’t respond they’ll think you are only interested in playing your own horn and you are rude. This reminds me…I need to reply to a few comments myself.

8] Link to other blogs

Link to other blogs or their blog posts from within your blog posts. This sends them trackbacks (and these trackbacks create links) and encourages them to link to your posts too.

These tips are a start. You don’t have to follow them at the outset but you’ll get a head start if you do.

Technorati Tags: blogging tips, tips for blogging, new blog, starting a blog

The Impact Of User Generated Health Content

Sep 14, 2007 3 Comments »

An article in the Economist discusses the pros and cons of user generated health content on the Internet. Content means information and information can be both beneficial and harmful. The article says:

On the internet, as the old saying goes, nobody knows you are a dog—or an idiot, notes Dan Keldsen of AIIM, a non-profit association based in Silver Spring, Maryland, which helps companies manage digital information. And too much health information can confuse people

But

a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in Washington, DC, suggests that although user-generated information offers consumers more health options, the upside outweighs the risk, says Pew’s Susannah Fox. Nearly one-third of the 100m Americans who have looked for health information online say that they or people they know have been significantly helped by what they found. In contrast, only 3% reported that online advice had caused serious harm.

I think on an average people are intelligent enough to know what information to take seriously. For instance both my wife and I find lots of useful information on the Internet on how babies grow and what nutrients they need and what are the symptoms of various illnesses. It doesn’t mean we are bringing up our baby daughter on the basis of Internet information but we know at least some things by the time we meet the pediatrician.

Technorati Tags: content publishing, medical content, healthcare content