Why your Mom was wrong...

WOW - what a response!

Already 8,046 savvy marketers have snapped up their
free copy of Rich Schefren's latest FREE report - 'Profit Prophecy'.

If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, here are just 3 of the
COUNTLESS Gold Nuggets you're missing out on…
---
Gold Nugget #1 (Page 27)

"Your mom might have told you 'you can become anything you want
to be when you grow up' – but it was her job to say that.

My job is to tell you that you cannot be anything that you want.
There are some businesses that you'll totally kick butt in, and then
there are others that will end up feeling like a life sentence in Alcatraz..."

Gold Nugget #2 (Page 28)

"When you pick a business based on your interests rather than your
strengths, you are forcing yourself to work harder for less
(because you are forced to learn and earn at the same time)…"

Gold Nugget #3 (Page 24)

"Why on earth would you spend any more time looking for MORE to do?
You aren't even getting done all the stuff you already NEED to get done
– but most Internet marketers are on the lookout for the latest and
greatest "opportunity" to add to their list of stuff that isn't going to get done..."

---
And that's just a small sample of the 'Pure Gold' that's in this report
(I took over 7 PAGES of notes while reading Profit Prophecy!)

More successful online business owners credit Rich's FREE reports
for their success than any other course, seminar, or piece of software
that they have ever invested in...

- This report WILL change the lives of thousands of business owners
around the world.

To make sure you're one of them - Grab Your Copy Now.

Talk Soon,

Eugene

P.S. This FREE report also includes a summary of the best ideas
from Rich's 7 previous reports. It's the closest thing I've seen to
a 'Cheat Sheet' to online success.

P.P.S. Did I mention it's FREE and there's NO opt-in required?

Don't wait - Click here to get your copy now

 

 

Level 1, 234 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria, 3134, Australia

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[EzineArticles] Predict Quality Keywords to Become a Trailblazer

Predict Quality Keywords to Become a Trailblazer Become a Trailblazer Forerunners of their niche, a trailblazer is a pioneer or an innovator who precedes the development of someone or something. How can you become a trailblazer? Nurture your foresight by predicting the next big keyword event in your niche! Predicting Keyword Events A keyword event can be loosely described as a spike in a particular keyword search. This is largely due to seasons, holidays, current events, or evolving trends. Predicting a keyword event means you choose the keywords before they become popular to get ahead of your competition and get a running start in search engine rankings. By carefully selecting keywords before they become popular and organically integrating those keywords into your articles, you can rank higher because there is little or no competition. After the trend hits the mainstream, those keywords will become popular and your ranking will stay high because you've established yourself as the leading authority - a trailblazer. Your article has been out there for weeks or months before your competitors even get started. How to Predict Keywords Predicting keyword events is more than staring into a crystal ball. First, you have to stay on top of trends in your niche to keep afloat. You can't lead if you can't keep up. Next, carefully consider and select new keywords and keyword phrases based on evolving trends in your niche as well as your audience's interests. Here's how to strategically predict keyword events: Empty the Toolbox: When predicting keywords, avoid keyword selection tools (like Google AdWords). If these keywords are being provided to you, they're being provided to others as well. Try to get in when there is a dip (before a keyword is in demand) by using Google Trends to gauge popularity of a keyword over time.   Stay on Top of the News: Subscribe to a wide variety of news outlets. Wherever your audience goes, you should go too. For instance, how does the economy, finance, etc., impact your niche? Should your audience be concerned about trends in other countries? What's the latest international news in your niche? Ask questions. Find answers.   Tune in to Your Audience: If your audience wants something (e.g., answers, solutions, products, services, etc.), someone is going to eventually deliver it. What is your audience asking? Pull keywords from their questions and provide answers.   Spot Buzzwords: Buzzwords are words or phrases that tend to become trendy or fashionable in a specific niche. If you can spot buzzwords and use them before they're hot (i.e., either amplify a buzzword you've seen or create a term that's buzz-worthy), you'll capitalize on the traffic wave as they start to become more widely used.   Capture a Wide Audience: Target both long and short-tail keywords for the trend. As the trend begins, search users may not know exactly what they're looking for yet and benefit from short-tail keywords. As the trend heats up, your audience will branch out to more specific queries and your long-tail keywords will garner more interest. Ensure you have done your research and your keyword predictions have potential to trend. It may take trial and error to see which of your predictions hit or miss, but you can hone your keyword prediction skills over time. In doing so, you can become a trailblazer. Have a question or comment about predicting keywords? Click here to visit this post online and join the discussion! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: What would you like to see next? We'd like to know! To share your questions, comments, and suggestions, click here! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "... 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-8093498-5233187.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.

[EzineArticles] Joiners - How to Use Coordinating Conjunctions

Joiners - How to Use Coordinating Conjunctions Can I Join You? Often used when writing is too staccato, clipped, or choppy, coordinating conjunctions can be used to balance simple sentences. But be careful! Too many conjunctions can result in loose writing that can be considered trite, monotonous, and flavorless. Keep your readers happy and focused by using these coordinating conjunction tips. What Is a Conjunction? For those who need a refresher, a conjunction is a connecting word and is often described as a "joiner." The most popular conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and). However, there are other conjunction families, such as subordinating conjunctions (e.g., that) and correlative conjunctions (e.g., if ... then), waiting to be used (and abused). Coordinating Conjunctions Simple conjunctions used to give equal emphasis between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences of equal rank are coordinating conjunctions. A common acronym to remember this family of conjunctions is FANBOYS (for and nor but or yet so). Coordinating conjunctions join two independent clauses and are usually accompanied by a comma. The soybean farmer loves to go bungee jumping, but he will never go without his lucky hamster. When a coordinating conjunction accompanies two well-balanced (interrelated) independent clauses, a comma isn't necessary. Frederic, the turtle, played the violin and he was often employed by couples on their first date. The coordinating conjunction and is used before the last item in a simple series. Samuel loves his cooking, his family, and his cat. For emphasis, a coordinating conjunction can be used (instead of a comma) to connect items in a simple series. Steven ate 6 hotdogs and 5 hamburgers and 16 steaks - it's no wonder why his bad cholesterol is so high! Coordinating conjunctions are used to join two words or phrases. After reflecting on her favorite superheroes, Jenny realized neither Captain America nor the Hulk wore a cape. Additional Coordinating Conjunction Tips You can use And or But at the beginning of a sentence if the sentence cannot function without it and it isn't connected to the previous sentence. Just don't overdo it! Beginning with a conjunction excessively can make your writing look incompetent. Semicolons shouldn't be used in the presence of a coordinating conjunction unless there is extensive punctuation required in one or more individual clauses. [Learn more] Don't capitalize coordinating conjunctions in titles, unless the word is four or more letters. [Learn more] Loose (Joiners) vs. Simple (Sentences) Make sure your writing is well balanced by employing both simple sentences as well as joiners to avoid appearing too loose (borderline verbose) or too simple (short and choppy). Too Simple ... Bricklaying is a masonry skill. It should be left to the professionals. Most people think bricklaying is a simple task. One day, the time comes to do the actual bricklaying. But it is not as simple as it looks. Too Loose ... Bricklaying is a masonry skill and it should be left to the professionals even though most people think bricklaying is a simple task, until one day, the time comes to do the actual bricklaying, but it is not as simple as it looks. Find balance! For emphasis or to drive a point home, use a simple sentence. For exposition or clarifying descriptions, use joiner sentences. Above all, explore how you can construct an engaging sentence by experimenting with conjunctions, punctuation, and more. A Well-Balanced Version ... Bricklaying is a masonry skill that should be left to the professionals. Most people think bricklaying is a simple task, but the day will come to do the actual bricklaying and that's when they know ... It is not as simple as it looks! Use these coordinating conjunction and well-balanced sentence tips to keep your readers engaged. We'll be exploring more joiners and the conjunction family in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! Have a question or comment about coordinating conjunctions? Click here to visit this post online and join the discussion! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: What would you like to see next? We'd like to know! To share your questions, comments, and suggestions, click here! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "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-8087681-5233187.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.

For the 7,785 who missed out - here's your webinar replay...

Leslie and I have been friends a long time and he out-did himself on this one!
If only GoToWebinar could handle 8000 spots … we would still have filled it!! :-)

But not to worry: Here's the replay
This is one recording you simply MUST listen to all the way through.

Here are just a few of the 484 comments:

• "AMAZING WEBINAR THANKS GUYS!" - George B.
• "Great content - thank you" - Linda W.
• "Fabulous presentation, Leslie!" - Donald C.
• "Tks, great webinar." - Fred L.
• "Bravo!"- Denene J.
• "Thank you -- great content!!!" - Sharyn W.
• "Thank you. Inspiring in so many ways." - Gil N.
• "Great stuff" - Kim R.
• "Thank you from the UK. Great Webinar.
   Will be signing up to Link Liberation." - Elaine J.

Here's the Slide Deck. It includes a great "checklist" of penalty types and what
to do about them.

And The Penguin Killing "Red Pen Test" from Dan Thies.

And check out Link Liberation 3 before the offer expires Saturday.
This is the very same course we use at Noble Samurai.

Wow. What a webinar!

Eugene

P.S. Leslie did leave one thing out - the diagram of how Panda works. I held him to
task after the webinar and he's agreed to send it along tomorrow. He presented for
90 minutes and had 82! slides so I guess I'll give him that one mistake. This time. :-)

Level 1, 234 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria, 3134, Australia

To unsubscribe visit: http://lists.noblesamurai.com/u/undIXsbz

Leslie "disavows" on disavow?

Well, not entirely, but when pressed on the point …
in a bit of warm up sparring before tonight's webinar …
he did admit this:

"Ok, so it's not just a PR stunt.
It does help Google get a key piece of data
and there is one important use for web masters."

That's all I got before he slipped out of the headlock. :-)

Leslie did promise the full explanation is coming tonight plus:

• a diagram of how Panda works so you avoid it and
• a checklist to keep you out of most Penguin problems.

Now for the REAL problem … you won't all fit on the webinar!
But we will make sure everyone that is registered gets access
to the replay the moment it is ready.

This is such an important topic that both our team and Leslie's team
will be recording to make sure you don't miss out.

Register now so we can send you the replay right away, dial in
early so you can get a seat, witness the spectacle live and get your
questions answered at the end.

See you on the webinar!

Eugene

P.S. Here's that link again:
http://noblesamurai.com/c/DisavowWebinarSignup

Level 1, 234 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria, 3134, Australia

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Thousands of Samurai Unite!

Thoms - wow. What a response.

I invited Leslie Rohde into the dojo to "go a few rounds" :) about this
"disavow" news from Google and look what happened.

There are now 2,685 of you Samurai registered for the webinar and
Leslie is reading through 1,376 of your questions - make him sweat!

Here's a sample:

• Is SEO dead? Is it pointless?
• How do we build quality back links? Is it even possible?
• Where does social fit into the new SEO?
• Is the disavow tool useful, how do we use it, and is it dangerous?
• What is working now and what will work in the future?

Submit your own question here
and dial in early on Wednesday to help grill Leslie.

And one more thing … I'll make sure Leslie takes LIVE questions
at the end of our match so show up ready to stump the champ.

Talk Soon,

Eugene

P.S. This event WILL max out so dial in early if you want to catch us
live, but if you don't make it, we'll make sure that all REGISTERED
attendees will get the replay. Register NOW so you don't miss it.

Level 1, 234 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria, 3134, Australia

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Yesterday Google Unleashed New "Disavow" Tool - 3 Things You Need To Do Right Now

Hi Thoms

Yesterday Google dealt (what could be) the final devastating blow which brings SEO (and link-building) as we know it to its knees - the release of their much anticipated "Disavow Links" tool in Google Webmaster Tools...

I've just published a blog post for you that reveals what you need to do TODAY to protect your website, your rankings, and your income from becoming a casualty of the SEO apocalypse that's about to come.

If you have a website, and you have links that point to your website, then you need to read this now.

This announcement by Google is perhaps the most significant upset in SEO history. It makes Google's Penguin update look like a storm in a tea cup!

Read The Blog Post Here

Speak soon,

Eugene

P.S. In my blog post I explain the 3 critical things you absolutely must do TODAY before the full effect of this link tool wipes out your online business...

Read The Blog Post Here

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[EzineArticles] Watch Out for Lumbering Syntax

Watch Out for Lumbering Syntax By Expert Author Request: Keep an Eye Out for Your Subject and Predicate! Syntax (in language) is the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed, structurally rich sentences. Poor syntax is one of the most unnerving errors for any writer and it can cause a chain reaction of misdirecting confusion. Here's an example of poor syntax one Expert Author gave: There is a bottle of milk on the table that belongs in the refrigerator. In this sentence, the table evidently belongs in the refrigerator. Here's the sentence again with clearer syntax: On the table, there is a bottle of milk that belongs in the refrigerator. Depending on the placement (and even word choice), the meaning can completely change, which can wreak havoc on your intention. Sometimes it's best to take a step back and simplify the sentence: Know the subject (or subjects) and the predicate. The subject is the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about. The predicate tells the reader about the subject (what the subject is doing, etc.). For example: Fred and his pet badger run on the trail every afternoon. To identify the subject or subjects, we find the verb of the sentence. In this example, the verb is "run." Who ran? Fred and the badger (our subjects) ran. Therefore the predicate is "run on the trail every afternoon." Next time you're proofreading, watch out for lumbering syntax errors that don't clearly identify the subject like the examples below. Spouse Swap? Walter Cotton is the proud possessor of a brand-new convertible car and also a new wife, having traded the old one for a liberal allowance. Traded in his wife?! What he meant to say ... Having traded his old car for a liberal allowance, Walter Cotton and his new wife are the proud possessors of a brand-new convertible car. Don't Mind If I Do ... Children should have their parents look at their Halloween treats before eating them. Somewhere, a child sobbed as they watched their parents eat all of their Halloween treats. Or it was much worse - the child ate their parents! This might clear things up: Parents should inspect all Halloween candy before allowing their children to eat the treats. Is That Legal? I have a wife and three kids, all under the age of 12. Legalities aside, the reproductive biology of the above statement isn't quite logically sound. What the speaker intended to say ... My wife and I have three kids who are under the age of 12. As you can see in the above examples, lack of clarity and perception of the information can often wreak havoc on the author or speaker's intention. Next time you're proofreading your articles, make sure every sentence clearly identifies your subject (of course exclamations and commands are excused) and your predicate clearly shows what is happening in relation to the subject. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: EzineArticles offers tons of tools, resources, and tips, but we want to know: What would you like to see next? Click here to let us know! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "... the process of writing has been profoundly rewarding!" 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-8066318-5233187.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.

[EzineArticles] Title Power: A Guide to Great Titles

Title Power: A Guide to Great Titles Writing Great Titles for Beginners In an instant, readers weigh, measure, and decide whether they will click-through or move on. What do they use to decide? Your article's title. Writing titles that your audience wants to read doesn't have to be an agonizing process. All you need to do is practice, execute, and monitor the article's performance to see what's working for you. Best Practices of Great Title Writers: Keep an Idea Journal First, a good habit to get into is keeping an idea journal that will double as your title stockpile. Get a notebook and draw a vertical line down the middle of the page. In the left column, jot down ideas, topics, questions, keyword research, etc. In the right column, brainstorm possible titles related to these concepts. Leave no idea left unturned! For reference and inspiration, create a word cloud in your idea journal that addresses all of your audience's wants, hopes, needs, desires, values, emotions, etc. For example, some words might be "Freedom," "Money," "Happy," "Health," and "Free." 10 Title Ground Rules to Keep Your Titles in the Game Next, bear the following ground rules in mind to increase your chances of success: Titles should be written for humans, not search engines. Titles should be descriptive while maintaining brevity. Titles should use proper grammar, capitalization, and spelling. Titles should be relevant to the article. Titles should be approximately 70 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Titles should not be keyword stuffed. Titles should use keywords distributed using the Long Tail method. Titles should be exclusive and original to you.* Titles should use active voice. Titles should use positive power words. * Title Success Tip: To avoid cannibalizing your articles or having your own articles compete for a reader's attention as well as search engines, create original titles for each article. 5 Tips to Writing Titles That Will Get Your Article Read Finally, readers tend to gravitate toward certain titles. Try the following 5 angles in your titles: #1 - 10 Tips ... or 10 Ways ... Readers love to be promised a numerical amount as well as multiple tips or options. #2 - The Secret to ... Mysteries, secrets, keys, and intrigue make the reader feel like you're disclosing privileged information exclusively for their benefit. #3 - Club Members Only ... If your article targets a particular group of people, socially or geographically, let readers know in the title. Examples of this might be womens issues or mens issues, teachers or students, etc. #4 - It's Positively Easy ... Seamless, easy, efficient, and effective - these are words readers like to hear. Focus on a positive message your readers will respond to. Readers are more likely to read "Reupholstering Chairs in Five Easy Steps," than "Reupholstering Chairs in Five Exhausting Steps." #5 - The Question on Everyone's Mind ... From "Where Is" to "How to" to "What Is," use questions your audience is asking to engage their interest. Bonus - What and Why ... "What Everyone Should Know About ..." and "Why" statement titles promise the reader a thorough explanation that will fulfill their needs. Use these beginner title writing tips to get your articles read! Have you tried a title journal or idea notebook? Have any more title tips? Let us know by visiting the comments section of this post online. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Click here for more EzineArticles writing and grammar tips! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "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-8060487-5233187.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.

[EzineArticles] Passive or Active Voice: Which Should You Use?

Passive or Active Voice: Which Should You Use? Who's Your Star Subject? Before you light the torches and chase down passive voice, know this: Passive voice is not poor grammar! It's just a different tone and construction of a sentence. Next to its vivacious counterpart (active voice), passive voice is flat and can often make the most outstanding expert look like a poor writer. The essential difference between passive and active voice is this: In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives or is acted upon in a sentence. While on Mars, the space-walking Martian was waved to by the astronaut. In active voice, the subject acts or performs the action in the sentence. While on Mars, the astronaut waved to the space-walking Martian. See the difference? In the passive voice example, the Martian receives the greeting. In the active voice example, the astronaut delivers the greeting. Passive voice is often indicated by the phrase "by the" and the subject will often be followed by a form of the verb "be" (e.g., is, was, are, am, and been). However, this is not concrete evidence the sentence is passive. Additional characteristics of passive voice include the following: Passive voice is less direct whereas active voice is direct. Passive: A letter is secretly mailed by the old man. Active: The old man secretly mails a letter. Passive voice lacks brevity whereas active voice is concise. Passive: Mimes are loved by audiences. Active: Audiences love mimes. Passive voice is confusing and misleading, whereas active voice is clear and transparent. Passive: Many rovers had been repaired by Martians long before Earth landed on the moon. Active: Martians have been repairing rovers long before Earth landed on the moon. Passive voice will occasionally leave out who or what performed the action, whereas active voice clearly designates someone or something performed the action. Passive: The bowl was stolen between 3:00 and 3:30. Active: Someone stole the bowl between 3:00 and 3:30. Which voice should you ultimately use in your articles? Due to the complexity of the sentence's construction, passive voice can often be too confusing for general audiences. Alternately, active voice can often be considered too abrupt for sensitive topics. Consider how you would handle the subject if you were face-to-face with your audience. Choosing between active and passive voice entirely depends on the subject you want to emphasize. In any of the examples above, the subject is the star of the sentence. Let's return to our first example: Passive: While on Mars, the space-walking Martian was waved to by the astronaut. Active: While on Mars, the astronaut waved to the space-walking Martian. By pointedly leading with the "star subject," you can manipulate how readers understand an event or idea. In both examples, the same action occurs: waving. However, in the passive sentence, the star subject is the space-walking Martian; in the active example, our star subject is the astronaut. An article featuring Martians as protagonists would likely use the passive version. An article featuring astronauts as protagonists would likely use the active version. All in all, if you're looking for concision and better understanding, aim for active voice. Alternately, if you need to tone down your writing, a little strategically placed passive voice won't hurt. Just remember this last tip: An active subject performs an action and a passive subject receives an action. Comments? Questions? Visit this post online! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Click here to discover more EzineArticles writing and grammar tips! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "I really do love EzineArticles." Was EzineArticles always so awesome and I've just been missing it? I'm discovering all kinds of impressive ways EzineArticles is reaching out to its authors with a personal touch. I really do love EzineArticles (and it's not just because I got some really cool gifts yesterday with a handwritten note... but that helps!). Thanks EzineArticles for being the best article directory - far better than any other directory I know of - and thanks for making me be a better writer. Stephanie Morrison SpiritualLifeBalance.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-8047931-5233187.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.

[EzineArticles] Content Planning: Creating Your Brand Identity

Content Planning: Creating Your Brand Identity Build a Solid Foundation with an Identity and a Plan Talk to any leading Expert Author and you will find a plan (big or small) at the center of their success. If you want to succeed and ultimately get more out of your return on time investment, establishing a plan will help you achieve your article writing goals as well as any goal you wish to achieve. In any plan - content plans, strategic plans, etc. - you must first define your backstory via a mission and a vision. Once you've established these focal points, you can begin to establish your brand identity. What do you value? Your brand identity is made up of the visual characteristics unique to you and your organization - on the Internet, that's everything. One of the keys to developing an identity that resonates with your audience is to identify your core values. Core values are the attitudes or beliefs of your organization. These values are not a result of the activities you perform. Instead, the activities are a result of your core values. To define your values, consider the most basic elements of your organization's principles and beliefs. Examples of core values are maintaining a healthy work/life balance, a commitment to sustainability, and being resourceful. Use these values, along with your mission and vision to align members of your organization as well as guide activities (i.e., "this activity" reflects "this value," "this product" reflects "this value," "this article" reflects "this value"). Is your Expert Author brand identity consistent? Cover the bases of your Expert Author identity by ensuring everything points back to your mission, vision, and core values. The following are key areas to review and update: Author Name - Your name must be consistent between your website and your articles. In addition, ensure your name can easily be found on your website for added transparency and brand exposure.   Author Photo - Readers trust someone they can visualize behind the writing and it's critical to your Expert Author identity. Use your EzineArticles Author Photo on your website for an easy visual cue of your brand and to reassure the reader of your connection and authenticity. [Learn more]   Author Profile - Your profile is the #1 spot to discuss your credentials as an authority in your niche, your organization, your mission, your vision, and your values. Provide your readers with a call-to-action that will motivate them to visit your website, blog, or other links you provide on your profile. [Learn more]   Niche - When choosing a niche, avoid the broadest area - the smaller you are, the more focused your niche should be. Start small to build big by establishing your credibility in focused areas. [Learn more]   Relevance - Avoid writing articles that are irrelevant to your niche. All content in your article portfolio should reinforce your brand, not weaken it with subjects irrelevant to your audience. Save personal commentaries and other content of that ilk for a personal blog.   Resource Box - Your Resource Box should succinctly include your name, your vision, a call-to-action, and a link to a relevant page on your website. What are your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)? Once you have a foundation, it's time to take inventory to discover what's working for you and what's not. Identify all of your assets - both online and off. Then perform a SWOT analysis to pinpoint areas of improvement as well as effectively create and achieve goals efficiently. Consider the following by using your mission, vision, and values as a lens: Strengths - Assets and characteristics that give you and your organization an advantage.   Weaknesses - Assets and characteristics that limit you and your organization.   Opportunities - Outside prospects you can use to improve.   Threats - Outside elements that prevent growth or cause harm. Once identified, use this information to realign your goals and build the framework of a seamless content strategy that targets readers. Building a foundation is critical to any successful venture that will resonate with readers. Identify who you are, what you represent, what you value, and be consistent. From there you can identify where you stand and how you can plan to improve. We'll show you more content planning strategies on audience targeting, evaluating, and more in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! Did you miss our first content planning post on developing a mission and a vision? Click here! Questions? Comments? Visit this post online! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Like the EzineArticles' Facebook page for daily tips and insights! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "EzineArticles.com has worked out extremely well ..." The relationship with EzineArticles.com has worked out extremely well. As a consequence of publishing articles on EzineArticles.com, I have built a huge body of material that enhances my credibility and search engine optimization. However, and most importantly, I have been able to use EzineArticles.com as a way of helping others. 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[EzineArticles] Top Punctuation Howlers – Parentheses

Top Punctuation Howlers – Parentheses Most Experts Agree: Use Parentheses with Caution Great for stream-of-conscious writing, parentheses are adaptable to most informal situations and can even on occasion make the reader feel like they're part of your club. It conveys natural interjections that may occur in day-to-day conversations with those you trust, but there is also a dark side to parentheses ... Parentheses can often be jarring, lead to confusion or misinterpretation, contort the meaning of a sentence, and dangerously approach run-on sentence status. In Brief: Use Parentheses Sparingly! Many English language experts will warn writers that parentheses often convey a snarky, sophomoric tone to your writing with its abrupt asides and gossip-like tone. Instead of using parentheses, it's recommended to try writing a sentence in another way or to use commas for nonrestrictive clauses. If you won't let that little warning dissuade you from using parentheses (as so many authors do), bear these guidelines in mind to keep your credibility and intent intact. Quick Parentheses Punctuation and Capitalization Guide The parenthesis should never appear alone - it should always appear with its mate to form parentheses: ( ).* Punctuation never precedes an opening parenthesis if the parenthetical statement occurs within a sentence. The period occurs outside a closing parenthesis if the parenthetical statement occurs within a sentence. The period occurs before a closing parenthesis if the parenthetical statement is a complete sentence and it's independent from the previous statement. *Exception: emoticons ;) Additional Parentheses Rules Use parentheses for asides or interruptions for statements stronger than a comma, but not as intense as a dash. This can be done in an independent sentence or statement dependent on another sentence. The dog thinks the cat forgave him. (He is sorely mistaken.) The dog thinks the cat forgave him (fat chance). Use parentheses to interject exclamations or questions. The dog stole the cat's latest quantum physics theorem. (Believe me, it was a stretch, because that dog doesn't even own a library card!) The cat shipped the dog off to Egypt (or was it Antarctica?) while their masters were away. Use parentheses for comments introduced by namely, e.g., i.e., viz, that is, see, and see also. While the dog was in Antarctica, he attempted to communicate with the natives and failed (that is, the penguins couldn't speak "woof"). Use parentheses around numbers or letters listing items in a series that are part of running text. The cat began to feel remorseful of the poor dog's demise and decided to (1) go to Antarctica, (2) find the dog, (3) apologize to the dog, and (4) return home with the dog. In legalese, numbers are first spelled out and then numerically provided within parentheses. Meanwhile, the dog decided to settle in Antarctica after meeting a colony of fur seals and decided to purchase a bit of ice to call his own: "I, Dog, hereby purchase ice for fifty thousand (50,000) krill." Great for first-person fiction or autobiographical writing, parentheses can engage readers and provide a little more personal insight into your articles. However, if you're aiming for a formal tone, it's best to simplify the sentence and avoid parentheses altogether. Did you miss our last edition of Top Punctuation Howlers? Find out more about the dash here! What would you like to see next? Let us know by visiting this post online and sharing your suggestions in the comments section! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Click here to discover more EzineArticles grammar tips! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "EzineArticles.com is the perfect forum for me to reach people from my target market ..." Ezinearticles.com is an amazing forum for sharing, marketing my businesses, and enjoying the international exposure I need to grow my international speaking business. A Horton AndrewHorton.co.za 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-8029892-5233187.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.