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

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

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

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

To unsubscribe visit: http://lists.noblesamurai.com/u/06c7K3Ke

[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. Nigel Brooks NigelAlBrooks.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-8042062-5233187.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] 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.