Sabtu, 29 September 2012

Email notifications from Google Webmaster Tools

Dear Webmaster Tools user,

We know that having a healthy and well-performing website is important to you. To keep you informed about your site's status Webmaster Tools will now automatically send you a notification email if there are critical or important issues that we detect with your site.

We'll only send you email for issues that we think have significant impact on your site's health or search performance which have clear actions that you can take to address. For example, we'll email you if we detect malware on your site or see a significant increase in errors while crawling your site.

For most sites these kinds of issues will occur rarely. If your site does happen to have an issue we cap the number of emails we send over a certain period of time to avoid flooding your inbox.

If you don't want to receive any email from Webmaster Tools you can change your email delivery preferences at https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/preferences.

We hope that you find this change a useful way to stay up-to-date on critical and important issues regarding your site's health.

If you'd like more information about Webmaster Tools and building Google-friendly websites please visit http://www.google.com/webmasters.

The Webmaster Tools Team


© 2012 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043

You have received this mandatory email service announcement to update you about important changes to your Google Webmaster Tools account.

Jumat, 28 September 2012

[EzineArticles] Article Writing Tips to Retweet: September 2012

Article Writing Tips to Retweet: September 2012 EzineArticles.com Logo

Every month @EzineArticles provides well over 100 useful tidbits of information, and training - We've gathered some of the best ones from September right here. Retweet any of them to enhance your article writing efforts.

Just CLICK on  to auto-populate your Twitter status field.


Article Writing and Ideas

  • "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." — Jack London twitpic.com/auklpl
     
  • Success Recipe: Mix 1 part dedication + 2 parts determination. Add passion to taste. Serve with a sense of humor!
     
  • No image necessary: A sign of a good writer is using descriptive language so the reader SEES what you're writing.
     
  • "Writing only leads to more writing." — Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. Is this true for you?
     
  • Inspiration is everything to an Expert Author. What's on your shelf? twitpic.com/as3g1s

Grammar Reminders and Proofreading Tips

  • Common spelling error: "alot" Be kind - give "a lot" a space. twitpic.com/awxyvj
     
  • How you are communicating is as important as "what" you are communicating. Always proofread to ensure clarity.
     
  • Try writing your articles in drafts. Allow yourself mistakes and then revise on the 2nd or 3rd draft. We're all human!
     
  • Discover how to use the hyphen in our next edition of "Top Punctuation Howlers" at ow.ly/dumRR
     
  • Lose the tie - go informal with the dash with these dashing tips: ow.ly/dOtvJ

EzineArticles Tips and Training Snippets

  • Add humor to your articles to be more engaging and make an impression! Here's how: ow.ly/dALrq
     
  • Exercise should be a part of your writing routine! Discover why at ow.ly/drOu6
     
  • Internet audiences are ravenous! Discover 5 basic article templates readers love at ow.ly/dtIGT
     
  • Are your articles mobile ready? Prepare your articles for mobile traffic with these tips! ow.ly/dB9q9
     
  • Targeting a location? Create a keyword map to stay relevant and maintain your credibility at ow.ly/dNROM

EzineArticles Inside Information

  • NEW: Certificate of Achievement for Expert Authors at ow.ly/dLrag
     
  • Add the EzineArticles app to totally amp up your smart phone's convenience and flexibility! bit.ly/ThM8xO
     
  • Want to become one of our "Uber-Authors"? For many, the 1st step is subscribing to Premium. Sign up at is.gd/miLwQA
     
  • Diversify your article inventory with the Reminders Article Template at ow.ly/de9HL
     
  • Doorway pages can take your credibility for a swan dive. Discover why at ow.ly/dBBSp

Motivational Moments

  • Eye on the prize! Knowing your audience and your big picture goal will help you achieve success.
     
  • If you worry about the marketing, it takes all the fun out of writing! More from Terre Ritchie: ow.ly/dBco8
     
  • Expert Author Norman Wilson shares what he would do if he could start over again in his efforts ow.ly/duchP
     
  • What was the best piece of article writing advice you've ever received? Share your answer here: ow.ly/dLv87
     
  • From humble writing beginnings, Sean G Murphy discovered the key to becoming a credible expert: ow.ly/dNTs3

What's your favorite Tweet from September? Let us know in the comments section here!

Penny, Managing EditorTo Your Article Writing Success & Passion!
Penny
Penny, Managing Editor
http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/
http://EzineArticles.com/





EzineArticles Member Endorsement
Harriet Hodgson "Writing for EzineArticles keeps me involved in life and learning. I've written articles on topics I never thought I would write about and enjoyed the challenge."

My articles have been published thousands of times and translated into Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, and many other languages. EzineArticles keeps my name on the Internet and this helps me market my books. Most of all, writing for EzineArticles.com keeps me doing what I love so much - writing.

Harriet Hodgson
HarrietHodgson.com

EzineArticles Newsletter Information
Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support
Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only
To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter:
leave-7983845-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com
ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA
© Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

Rabu, 26 September 2012

Welcome to our Newsletter

Welcome to our Newsletter

Please keep this email for later reference.

Your email address has been added to the following newsletter(s):

* None of them

To update your details and preferences please go to
http://list.isnare.com/?p=preferences&uid=819322c7306f0450b8fcb7eb0df80b34.
If you do not want to receive any more messages, please go to
http://list.isnare.com/?p=unsubscribe&uid=819322c7306f0450b8fcb7eb0df80b34.

Thank you

[EzineArticles] Content Planning: Branding, Mission, and Vision

Content Planning: Branding, Mission, and Vision EzineArticles.com Logo

Maximize your impact in less time with a content plan!

The word "quality" gets a lot of play, but what it means is a little hazy. Those serious about creating a content plan with legs must first take a closer look at the abstract concept of "quality."

Quality includes, but is not limited to value, transparency, accountability, credibility, relevance, and authenticity. Those who aim to achieve quality don't forcibly throw themselves at their audience with questionable practices or create risk for their audience. Instead, these agents of quality adopt a method that increases awareness in who they are and what they do or provide: branding.

What is branding and why is it important?

From names, symbols, logos, slogans, etc., branding differentiates you from other organizations or businesses. It helps you create an identity with which you can shape how your audience perceives your brand. Branding consistently will help build audience confidence, trust, and loyalty. It will also help you save time and money as well as strengthen your organization's sense of self by identifying your mission and vision.

Mission and vision statements are a must-have for content planning. Not only are they used as branding tools to increase transparency, accountability, and authenticity, mission and vision statements are an alignment tool to help plan, position, and meet your bottom-line.

What is a mission statement?

Your mission statement is your bottom-line and guides your plans, budgets, marketing, and more. Mission statements should be straight to the point as well as answer the following questions:

  • What is the purpose of your platform or organization?
  • What value does it provide?
  • Who does it serve?

What is a vision statement?

Your vision statement is a picture of your organization's desired future and is used for goal setting, sharing, and alignment. It should focus on the value you provide and how your organization impacts the world. When writing a vision statement, consider the following questions:

  • What is your organization's cause and effect (e.g., "we do this" and "this happens")?
  • What role does your organization play in the world?
  • What would your organization's headline be 5 years from now?

In addition to the above, your mission and vision statements should:

  • be accurate and reflect your current priorities
  • avoid jargon or insider language
  • be engaging and memorable
  • be evergreen or stand the test of time

Once you have your mission and vision established, you can begin identifying your core values and creating your brand identity (how you want the audience to distinguish your brand). When building trademarks, logos, graphics, etc., use your mission and vision statements to guide your brand development.

Branding is the first step to developing a long-term content plan that will be easy to reiterate, adapt, and develop. In turn you will increase transparency and authority, as well as build awareness and trust by providing quality content and a quality user experience. From audience targeting to measuring to reiterating, we'll show you more content planning strategies in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Questions? Comments? Visit this post online!

Vanessa, Editorial ManagerTo Your Article Writing Success & Passion!
Vanessa
Vanessa, Editorial Manager
http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/
http://EzineArticles.com/



PS: Building your article portfolio is an incredible method to amplify your brand! Click here to try our Top 10 Article Templates to easily organize your thoughts and quickly write quality, original articles!

EzineArticles Member Endorsement
Bruce Kaler M.D. "... establish your voice and brand ..."

The marketing principle of giving away of something of value for free in order to sell something else, resonated with me. It is also a way to establish your voice and brand in a more structured professional manner than typical social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter, et al. They have their place and are useful to an author/writer. However, the growth of the internet creates a huge demand for quality content. I still think the key is to write "quality content". If it is well written, accessible, and of timely interest to people it will get plenty of attention. EzineArticles is a wonderful reservoir of good content on many topics.

Bruce Kaler M.D.
SeattleDoc.com

EzineArticles Newsletter Information
Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support
Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only
To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter:
leave-7977599-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com
ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA
© Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

Senin, 24 September 2012

[EzineArticles] Formal and Informal Writing Examples

Formal and Informal Writing Examples EzineArticles.com Logo

Formal vs. Informal - Who's It For?

Often considered more engaging, informal writing figuratively loosens the author's constricting tie to offer readers familiarity and character. Formal writing, on the other hand, is used to deliver information succinctly and factually.

When determining which style is appropriate, consider how you approach your audience in a face-to-face conversation. For instance, how do you speak with your peers vs. your clients? How do you speak with your boss vs. your spouse? Based on the audience, match up the tone you use verbally with the tone you use in your writing.

In addition to your audience, consider your brand. What style do you want to be the voice of your articles? Do you want to be memorable with a loose, informal approach? Or do you want to create a solid foundation of credibility based on objectivity in a formal approach? What style best represents your brand?

With your audience and brand in mind, try out these tips when writing formally or informally!

Formal and Informal Style Tips and Examples

  • Formal writing favors longer, more detailed sentences to thoroughly convey a thought.
  • The honey badger is a species native to Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent; however, it is most dissimilar from other badger species due to its resemblance to the weasel.
  • Informal writing favors short, simple sentences.
  • The honey badger can be found in Africa. It looks like a weasel-bear hybrid.
  • Formal writing tends to be direct by using jargon to be definitive.
  • The dorsal side and head of the Emperor Penguin is black and sharply delineated from the white belly, pale-yellow breast, and bright-yellow ear patches.
  • Informal tends to be more conversational, as well as uses contractions, abbreviations, figures of speech, slang, and other colloquialisms.
  • The Emperor Penguin has been hot in the news and even the box office. If you're not sure what this lordly penguin looks like, it has a black head, bright-yellow spots around the ears, and a big ol' white belly.
  • Formal writing uses conservative punctuation (e.g., periods, commas, etc.).
  • The tiger (the largest of the cat species) is the third largest land carnivore.
  • Informal writing is generous with abrupt and dramatic punctuation (e.g., exclamation marks, the ellipses, the dash, etc.).
  • The tiger - the biggest cat of them all - is third in line to be the largest meat-eating animal in the world!
  • Formal writing uses an impersonal tone and discusses topics with more gravity.
  • As scavengers, lobsters are omnivores; however, lobsters have been known to resort to cannibalism in captivity.
  • Informal writing uses an emotional tone, first or second person point-of-view, and often discusses topics with humor.
  • Would you consider cannibalism if you and others of your kind were held prisoner for days or weeks without food? The poor lobster - who usually feeds on fish, worms, and other plant life - often does.

TIP: Formal and informal writing styles are not to be confused with passive language. Always use active language!

Article writing is dynamic - meaning two authors of the same niche, writing about the same topics may find success by writing in either style (formal or informal). Discover which style suits your audience and your brand by testing a few of these informal or formal writing styles in your articles. Often the best approach is a balance: formal to maintain authority and informal to maintain interest. So why not give it a try?

Questions? Comments? Visit this post online!

Penny, Managing EditorTo Your Article Writing Success & Passion!
Penny
Penny, Managing Editor
http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/
http://EzineArticles.com/



PS: Take informal writing up a notch by adding humor to your articles. Click here to discover how!

EzineArticles Member Endorsement
Lee Binz "I have grown my monthly newsletter to over 14,000 subscribers."

I started article writing when I started my newsletter in late 2006. At that time, I had about 25 subscribers - mostly friends and family. Since then I have grown my monthly newsletter to over 14,000 subscribers.

Lee Binz
TheHomeScholar.com

EzineArticles Newsletter Information
Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support
Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only
To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter:
leave-7970181-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com
ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA
© Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

Jumat, 21 September 2012

[EzineArticles] Top Punctuation Howlers - The Dash

Top Punctuation Howlers - The Dash EzineArticles.com Logo

The Dash - The Tool for Informal Authors

The dashing and dynamic dash is used when commas, parentheses, semicolons, etc., just don't have the empathetic oomph to convey an idea or interject a thought. However, the overuse of the dash can make your writing appear overdramatic and never ending without the finality of other stops or end punctuation marks.

Similar to the days of old typewriters, in the plain text world of online publication, creating a true dash (—) just isn't possible. To appease dash purists - if it's not possible to create a long dash - two hyphens side-by-side will suffice. However, it's becoming more widely acceptable to use one dash with a space on either side - which we do here.

If you have the fantastic ability to create an en dash (length of an "N") or an em dash (length of an "M"), its usage is indicated below: em dash or en dash.

Use a dash if a sentence contains an appositive (noun or noun phrase next to another noun or noun phrase). em dash

My brother - a nurse by training - is incredible at CPR.

Use a dash if a sentence has a smaller sentence within it that is an abrupt interjection, similar to a parenthetical thought or interjection. em dash

No one would ever suspect Clark Kent - a bespectacled, serious reporter - of being Superman.

Use a dash for asides, explanations, or parenthetical statements. em dash

The villain was last seen fleeing the crime scene - police were hot in pursuit.

Use a dash in the place of a colon for more emphatic effect. em dash

Listen up - while you were out, I earned a doctorate, and won a Nobel Peace prize.

Use a dash for a series within a phrase. em dash

He listed the qualities - organized, team player, and punctual - that we're looking for in a dog sitter.

Use a dash for attribution. em dash

"What would men be without women? Scarce, sir ... mighty scarce." - Marc Twain

Use a dash to indicate a journey from one place to another. en dash

The New York - Paris flight was over 16 hours.

Use a dash to indicate a continuation of an amount (e.g., pages, years, etc.). en dash

On pages 432 - 460, Vlad the Impaler was described to have lived 1431 - 1476.

Here are two more dashing tips:

  • Never use more than two dashes in a sentence, i.e., don't create a run-on sentence with dashes.
  • Dashes are traditionally not accompanied by other forms of punctuation - except when a question mark or an exclamation mark is needed to help convey the parenthetical phrase.

If you're going for an informal tone, feel free to use the dash to spice up your writing. Just don't forget to use these dash usage tips to strengthen your writing skills, as well as maintain your credibility as an Expert Author. We will have more grammar tips in the next few weeks, so stop by the Blog for the latest and greatest tips to error-free articles.

Did you miss our last edition of Top Punctuation Howlers? Find out more about the hyphen here!

What would you like to see next? Let us know by visiting this post online and sharing your suggestions in the comments section!

Penny, Managing EditorTo Your Article Writing Success & Passion!
Penny
Penny, Managing Editor
http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/
http://EzineArticles.com/



PS: Click here to discover more EzineArticles grammar tips!

EzineArticles Member Endorsement
Camille Rodriquez "... profoundly rewarding!"

When I launched a new business this summer, I knew that article marketing and blogging was going to be a huge part of it. Writing articles is truly the best way to become a leader of thought in your industry or within your circle....

Thank you, EzineArticles - You literally changed my life, and the process of writing has been profoundly rewarding!

Camille Rodriquez
PolkaDotImpressions.com

EzineArticles Newsletter Information
Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support
Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only
To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter:
leave-7962531-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com
ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA
© Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

Rabu, 19 September 2012

[EzineArticles] Location Targeting? Create a Keyword Map to Stay Relevant

Location Targeting? Create a Keyword Map to Stay Relevant EzineArticles.com Logo

Avoid Getting Lost in Thin, Irrelevant Content by Creating a Keyword Map

What's one of the fastest growing search trends? Travel searches and local searches.

Warning: Tread carefully! Articles targeting an audience based on a location are only successful if the article is exclusive to that location.

Relevance Matters

A common oversight of many SEO-hungry authors is repeating a keyword phrase that combines a location and a keyword (e.g., "SEO Seattle" or "Seattle Plumber"). Grammar issues aside, the author will pair these phrases with thin, generalized content or content that can be applied to other locations and is therefore irrelevant.

Readers see right through this tactic - they either know their location like the back of their hand or have a set of expectations regarding the location. One sector that has seen an overabundance of irrelevant content due to a poor localized SEO recommendation or a misunderstanding of SEO is that of the service sector.

Service Sector Scenario

Let's say you're a plumbing expert in Seattle, Washington and you own a plumbing repair business that serves clientele within a 30 mile radius of Seattle. Top service calls from your clientele include backed up toilets, blocked drains, ruptured pipes, sump pump issues, etc.

The problem with targeting a Seattle audience regarding your top service calls: All of these topics are applicable elsewhere, i.e., the articles will be considered irrelevant by non-Seattle audiences. Additionally, these topics have a huge audience as well as higher competition to be seen or ranked in search engines. For example, let's say you write an article about why a homeowner should install a sump pump. The article is applicable to more than just a Seattle audience - any city that's not in a desert or arid climate (e.g., Chicago, Illinois and Brisbane, Australia) can benefit from this article.

Create a Keyword Map

Delve further into your experience to find angles specific to Seattle by creating a keyword map, blueprint, or tree.

  • Start in the middle with your main topic (e.g., "Plumbing in Seattle").
     
  • Next, consider what you have knowledge of or experience in from that original idea (e.g., plumbing ordinances, water utility, etc. specific to Seattle). Write down keyword threads off of your main topic to form your next tier.
     
  • Finally, continue writing more specifics off of each thread (e.g., from the Seattle Plumbing Ordinance tier, you might write legal regulations and safety, building regulations, etc.). Repeat process as needed.

Should you still write articles for a more general audience (e.g., blocked drain articles for everyone)? Absolutely. Having a balanced portfolio of articles that targets international audiences as well as local audiences will only add to your credibility and amplify your exposure. Just remember: Relevance matters.

For more tips on writing about a place or location, click here.

Questions or comments? Visit this post online!

Vanessa, Editorial ManagerTo Your Article Writing Success & Passion!
Vanessa
Vanessa, Editorial Manager
http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/
http://EzineArticles.com/



PS: Did you miss our last SEO and article writing post? Click here to discover why doorway pages just don't work!

EzineArticles Member Endorsement
Kym Gordon Moore "You guys are simply the BEST!"

EzineArticles.com is truly a reputable directory article site that gives so many writers an opportunity to publish their work and have it exposed to a huge global audience. You guys are simply the BEST!

Kym Gordon Moore
FromBehindThePen.WordPress.com

EzineArticles Newsletter Information
Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support
Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only
To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter:
leave-7956691-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com
ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA
© Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.