.: Glenn Murray Profile and Articles
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1). An SEO Glossary - Common SEO Terms DefinedSearch Engine Optimization (SEO) has become an essential weapon in the arsenal of every online business. Unfortunately, for most business owners and marketing managers (and even many webmasters), it's also somewhat of an enigma. This is partly due to the fact that it's such a new and rapidly changing field, and partly due to the fact that SEO practitioners tend to speak in a language all of their own which, without translation, is virtually impenetrable to the layperson.
2). Race and Racism – Some Concepts Defined
Despite adamant claims to the contrary, racism continues to plague many peoples around the world. The first step toward resolving issues of racial intolerance and prejudice is to develop an understanding of the underlying concepts and their labels.
This (rather long) article touches on the following topics:
• Stereotypes, Race, and Racism
• Culture and Cultural Imperialism
• Nationalism and National Imaginary
I hope you find this article helpful.
3). Optimum SEO Keyword Density – A Real-Life Case Study
So you’ve built your website, you know what keywords you want to target (i.e. what words your customers are searching for), and you’re ready to write your copy. You’ve been told that you should use your keywords frequently so that you appear in search results for those words. But what does “frequently” mean?
How many times should you use your primary keyword? This case study helps answer that question.
4). Writing SEO Copy – 8 Steps to Success
We all know that the lion’s share of web traffic comes through the search engines. We also know that keywords and links to your site are the two things that affect your ranking in the search engines. Your keywords tell the search engines what you do, and the inbound links tell them how important you are. This combination is what determines your relevance.
5). The Rise And Rise Of Article PR - What Are The Implications?
The Rise And Rise Of Article PR - What Are The Implications?
6). Writing Benefit-Driven Web Copy – 4 Steps to More Sales
You've identified the benefits you offer your customers, but how do you turn a list of benefits into engaging web copy which converts visitors into customers?
Recently I wrote an article explaining how to identify the benefits you offer your customers (http://www.divinewrite.com/benefits.htm). That article challenged business owners and marketing managers to think in terms of benefits rather than features when writing their web copy.
7). How and when should I submit my website to Google?
As soon as you register your domain name, submit it to Google!
Even if you haven’t built your site, or written an copy, or even thought about your content, submit your domain name to Google. In fact, even if you haven’t fully articulated your business plan and marketing plan, submit your domain name to Google.
Don’t wait!
There are two reasons for this.
8). Jagger, Google Analytics, and the Future of Search & SEO
Two big things have just happened in Google-land: Jagger and Google Analytics. Together, these two events may have changed the face of search forever.
Jagger
First, let's discuss Jagger... Just like hurricanes, Google updates have names. (A Google update is a change to the way Google determines its rankings. Google makes these changes periodically, and they're universally feared because they can impact dramatically on a website's ranking.
9). Some FAQs for Aspiring Copywriters
I get an email at least once a week from aspiring copywriters seeking advice on how to get a foothold in the industry. It's obviously a popular topic, so I thought I'd put some of the more common questions and answers on paper in the hopes that it might provide a bit of an insight.
Q: What does a copywriter do in a typical day?
A: This question is very comprehensively answered in http://www.
10). Fraser Island – Escape Forever
For all its conveniences, modern living leaves a lot to be desired. We spend our days enduring the ever-increasing pressures of work, the city’s oppressive unfriendliness, the daily commuter grind and the aggressive reality of impatient road-ragers.
Is something missing?
Unfortunately, work is a reality for most of us. So too is city and suburban living, dreary weather, pollution, traffic… But it doesn’t have to be all there is to life.
11). Home Business PC Security for Dummies
The Internet is a powerful tool for home-based businesses. If used effectively, it can be your best friend; but if you don’t secure your computer, it can be your worst enemy. I’m sure you’ve had your fill of warnings about the latest killer computer virus. So I’m not going to harp on about the latest threat, or the potential for damage. What I WILL do is provide some protection tips and links for the layperson.
12). Writing Helpful Help – A Minimalism Checklist
User documentation is all too often written by programmers for programmers. It tends to focus on the product’s features, rather than the user’s tasks. Generally, programmers aren’t in the ideal position to be writing user documentation. They’re too close to the bits and bytes, and they’re too far from the user. To them, what the product can do tends to be far more important than what the user can do with the product.
13). Writing Newsletters – Tricks of the Trade
Follow 10 simple rules of thumb, and you’ll soon be writing great newsletters and reaping the rewards.
Company newsletters can be an amazingly successful marketing technique. Whether you want to up-sell or cross-sell, establish your brand or establish your authority, or simply reach a wider market, a newsletter can do the job for you. You just have to make sure you write it right.
14). Confused About Google's Index, Link Dampening, & No. of Links?
I recently received another 'please help' email from a gentleman named Ian who runs an adventure company in Tanzania (http://www.betheladventure.co.uk ). Ian was concerned about the effect of a variety of issues including indexing and link dampening, and was desperate for help. Unfortunately, he had read some fairly misleading articles in the past, so he had a somewhat mixed up understanding of the factors at play.
15). Is the Internet history’s greatest hoax?
For a while there, the Internet and the World Wide Web showed great promise. They whispered sweet nothings in our ears, promising to be the voice of the marginalized, the new democracy, the great equalizer.
But it wasn’t to be, for the Internet has a new master. No, it’s not Google. No, it’s not Microsoft. And no, it’s not even good ole’ Uncle Sam.
16). SEO for CEOs – Search Engine Optimization Unmasked for CEOs
If you’re like most other CEOs, the term “search engine optimization” will mean very little. Either that or it means expense! But it doesn’t have to be that way… If you feel like you’re standing in a dark room handing money to strangers to get you in the search engines, then this article is for you.
This is an article written by a business owner for other business owners and CEOs.
17). Get a top 10 ranking without paying a cent
If there's one thing that Google loves, it's content. Done right, a content rich website is almost guaranteed to rank highly. But how to get that content? You can write it yourself, but that takes a lot of time. You can pay an SEO copywriter to write it for you, but that takes a lot of money. If only there was another option...
What if you could get.
18). No More Estate Agent Fees
Follow a few simple guidelines, and marketing your own home can be easy. And it will save you thousands.
The recent property boom has a lot of people thinking of selling. Unfortunately, the costs of selling can really eat into your profit. There’s nothing we can do about stamp duty, but one cost we can avoid is real estate agent fees. By selling your house yourself rather than paying a real estate agent, you can save you around $20,000 on a $500,000 sale.
19). Successful Documentation Projects – Part 2 of 3 – ‘Specifying’
So you’re responsible for managing a documentation project. You know who your audience is, what they’re trying to achieve, how the product enables them to achieve it, and what the audience requires of the help. Now it’s time to spec out your intentions.
NOTE: This is the second in a series of three articles outlining the key elements of a good user documentation process.
20). Engage Your Customer – Write About Benefits
Think quick. In 10 seconds, can you list the 5 key benefits you offer your customers?
I bet you said “Yes”. But are you sure you listed benefits? If you’ll bear with me for another 10 seconds, I’d like to test out a theory on you.
Recap your answers – maybe even write them down. Now list the 5 main things your business does. In other words, what are your 5 core services? What are the 5 core features of your product?
If your first list looks anything like your second, chances are you’re mistaking features for benefits.
21). Customer Service – the Real Estate Revolution
Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a sales industry. But perceptions are changing. Agents around the country are coming to believe that the key to real estate success is service – not sales.
Competition and technology now give customers almost unlimited choices, so agents are having to work harder and spend more to win listings. They’re discovering that business success comes from repeat business and word-of-mouth.
22). How to Make the Most of Your Website Copywriter
Many people feel uncertain when dealing with copywriters. Like any artform, writing is subjective; instead of black and white, most business owners and marketing managers see indistinguishable shades of grey. But copywriting possesses one key element that most other forms of art don’t – a commercial imperative.
Because the copywriter’s audience is driven by the realities of the business market, so too is the copywriter.
23). 10 Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life
Ever walked into a house that felt like home? Ever reminisced about the best year of your life, and wondered why everything came together for you? It could be Feng Shui.
Simply put, Feng Shui is about creating a harmonious environment. It’s the ancient Chinese Science and Art of placement, intended to improve our health, harmony, longevity, career and wealth.
24). Web Copy – How Much is Enough?
These days, there’s widespread acceptance that a website is an integral part of the marketing plan of any business. Likewise, it’s commonly accepted that web copy is a vital component of any website. But how much web copy is enough?
The pure volume of information available on the Internet is daunting – often counterproductive. There are approximately 550 billion documents on the web, and every day another 7 million are added.
25). PPC vs Natural Search – A Cost Comparison Case Study
The attraction of Pay Per Click (PPC) online advertising is undeniable. Each click costs virtually nothing, you only pay for the clicks you get, and you set your own daily budget so you know exactly how much you’re going to spend. Most importantly, your listing appears instantly.
On the other hand, a high ranking in the natural search results seems unobtainable.
26). Reprint articles hijacked by text link ads - Great for authors!
We all know that online publishers earn revenue from our free reprint articles. They place pay-per-click ads on the web page that contains the article, and the advertiser pays them whenever someone clicks on the ad. Most use programs like Google AdSense which automatically identify the subject of the article and deliver an ad related to that subject.
27). How to Top Google by Writing Articles
Search engines determine their rankings based on two things:
1) Is your site relevant? (Optimized for certain keywords)
2) Is your site important? (Many links back to your site from other sites)
Only when you address both of these considerations are you guaranteed of making an impact. Your degree of success depends on how hard you try and how many other people you're competing against (and how hard they're trying).
28). SEO Trade Secrets - 8 Great Tools for Search Engine Optimization
About 80% of website traffic comes through search engines. And research shows, if you’re not on the first 2 pages, most people won’t find you.
This article isn’t about how to achieve a high ranking. That topic has been done to death over the past few months. We all know the basics now… Submit your site to the major search engines, scatter a generous helping of the right keyword phrases throughout your site in real sentences, then get a lot of other relevant sites link to your site.
29). Reprint article headlines – the reader is secondary
A great headline can be the difference between having your free reprint article published once (on your own website…) and having it published hundreds, if not thousands, of times all over the Internet.
Sure, the content has to be worthwhile; it has to be helpful, informative, and not just a sales spiel. And there’s no denying that a well written article can be very compelling.
30). SEO To Become A Dinner Party Topic
Thanks to a ground-breaking agreement between Dell and Google, SEO may soon be a mainstream topic of conversation. Dell, the world's leading maker of personal computers, has announced that it is testing a pre-installed package of Google software, including a Google-powered Dell home page, Google Desktop Search, and a Google Toolbar.
While the home.
31). Using Free Reprint Articles - Some Questions Answered
Recently I wrote an article discussing the merits of using free reprint articles on your website to increase your search engine ranking. (The article explained how Google loves lots of content on your site, how it loves that content to be regularly updated, and how you can get lots of keyword rich content for your site, absolutely free. See http://www.
32). How to get your customers to trust your website
Research reveals three important facts:
1) The Internet is one of the most important sources of information.
2) The trustworthiness of the Internet is declining.
3) Customers will come back to your site if they trust it.
In the face of a declining trust in the Internet, there’s definitely value in creating a website which can be trusted by your visitors.
33). Successful websites don’t set out to sell
What are websites? Are they sales tools for vendors and service providers, or are they electronic guidance for potential customers? Put simply, are you selling or are you helping?
Your answer to this question may determine the success of your website. So think carefully…
How we define what a website is all depends on which side of the fence we’re on.
34). The Basics of SEO - Some FAQs
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a foreign field to a lot of people. Rarely does a day go by when I don't get asked a few questions on the subject. So I've decided to post this FAQ article in the hopes that it will help people understand the basics, and make them a little more comfortable with the whole domain.
Q: Why are search engines important to me?
A: 85% of all website traffic is driven by search engines.
35). Dot Com Not Listed in Regional Yahoo? Don’t Despair!
If you’re a non-American business with a .com web address, and your regional Yahoo ranking is important to you, then my story might interest you.
Recently my copywriting website dropped out of Yahoo’s Australian rankings. For quite a while, it had been at number 1 for my primary keywords “advertising copywriter”, “copywriter”, and “website copywriter”.
36). Successful Documentation Projects – Part 3 of 3 – ‘Writing’
So you understand your user documentation project and you’ve specced it out. Now you’re ready to write. Here’s some tips to help you on your way. This article isn’t about the actual writing itself; it’s about the things which go along with the writing. (For information on writing online help, see www.divinewrite.com/helpfulhelp.htm.)
NOTE: This is the final article in a series of three outlining the key elements of a good user documentation process.
37). Successful Documentation Projects – Part 1 of 3 – ‘Understanding’
The creation of user documentation is a big component of any software project. Unfortunately, it’s often undervalued and left to the last minute. But that doesn’t mean it should be without a good management plan.
This is the first in a series of three articles outlining the key elements of a good user documentation process. It’s kind of an “ideal” process; very few projects will be able to implement every step, and some will require additional steps.
38). Tech-writers – a necessary evil
New to tech-writing, or thinking about starting? The key to success is recognising that tech-writers are a necessary evil.
Tech-writers are necessary because someone has to write the user doco. The programmers and managers sure as hell don’t want to. This is actually part of the reason that you’re evil, too. In my experience, most programmers and managers think that they could write the manuals if they wanted to… they just don’t want to.
39). Google manipulates search results: A boost for small business?
As more and more businesses strive for a top ten Google ranking, it's becoming harder and harder to achieve. This is especially true for smaller businesses that simply don't have the budget for a big link popularity campaign. But hope may be just around the corner. If a top ten ranking for your primary keywords has been eluding you, then read on!
Google manipulates the results
Google is trialing an 'enhancement' to the way it displays its results.
40). 10 Tips for Aspiring Freelance Copywriters
Every week I receive a couple of emails from people seeking advice on how to get into freelance copywriting. While there’s no simple answer, and no answer which applies to everyone, there are a few tips which I believe will help most people make the move into freelance copywriting, and survive the first few months at least.
1) Invest in a website
The best place for any freelance advertising copywriter or website copywriter to start is to fork out for a website.
41). The New Google Ad Links
You know about Google Adsense, now it's Google Ad Linksfor Google Adsense publishers.[ For who do not yet know what Google Adsense is : "G