[EzineArticles] How to Use Bounce Rate as a Quality Guide

How to Use Bounce Rate as a Quality Guide What Is a Bounce Rate? A bounce occurs when a user visits a website and exits the page from which they came without having moved to another page on the same website. A higher bounce rate means users leave your website without viewing any additional pages. A lower bounce rate means users stay on your website and have moved to a different page within your website. Keeping track of your bounce rate is a fantastic quality indicator to determine which pages are working for you. Before you become alarmed, know this: a high bounce rate does not indicate failure! A high bounce rate might be the nature of your website. Referential vs. Content-Driven Websites A referential-driven page or website presents information solely for the purpose of providing an authoritative and unbiased resource. Online referential resources may include dictionaries, glossaries, timelines, encyclopedias, etc., and these pages are often static (i.e., they do not require new material to stay fresh). Referential-driven websites typically have higher bounce rates because that's the nature of the website - readers search for the reference material, find the website, and leave. Content-driven websites must stay fresh and constantly provide relevant material. Examples of content-driven websites include article directories, blogs, and news pages. A higher bounce rate on this type of site may be an indicator of poor quality, irrelevant content, poor navigation, and more. Expert Authors Should Aim for a Low Bounce Rate As content providers, Expert Authors who provide high quality content should aim for a low bounce rate (50% or less) and focus on increasing the average time the visitor spends on the site. Unlike referential-driven website providers, content-driven websites want visitors to stay on the website and continue clicking through to different articles or areas of informative content on the website. Using tools like Google Analytics, gather your pageviews, visitors, visitor duration, and bounce rate. Compare pages and determine why one page may be performing poorly and why one page may be performing well. How was the quality of writing? Navigation issues? Keyword selection? Ads on the page? Length of the article? To reduce your website's bounce rate and increase the time on the page/site, use the pages that performed well as a template or theme to emulate on other pages while still providing original content. Additionally, try the following strategies: Update your website with quality content frequently Try out features important to your audience Create interactivity (i.e., two-way flow of information between you and your audience) Give your audience a reason to stick around (e.g., resources, quizzes, games, etc.) Routinely check your links to ensure they are working properly Continue driving traffic to your website via quality articles, social media, etc. Please note: Don't be discouraged by a high bounce rate if visitors stay on the page longer than average (approximately 2 minutes). It could indicate the reader found their information, read the article, and left. However, if a content-driven page is clocking under a minute with a high-bounce rate - let these be key indicators that improvement is needed. Understanding the dynamics and performance of your website is the key to success. Not only will you be able to target your audience by providing the content they want both in your articles and on your website, you will save yourself from the agony of wondering what is wrong with your website and your articles. Questions? Comments? Visit this post online! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Everything you gain in your efforts can be lost in a flash by linking to a poor-quality website or blog. Click here to test your website quality with these 5 Quality Litmus Tests. EzineArticles Member Endorsement "... the positive effects of passive income and name recognition is well worth the effort." Thanks so much for the great publicity. I was amazed at how many articles I already had written when I started digging out all my old notes and speeches. It just took a little reformatting, bringing up to date and filling in here and there to have them ready to send off to you. Even though we are swamped with projects, the positive effects of passive income and name recognition is well worth the effort. Keep up the good work. Judy H. Wright ArtichokePress.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-8024265-5233187.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] Goal-Setting Article Template

Goal-Setting Article Template Meet Your Writing Goals With This Goal-Setting Article Template One of the keys to getting anywhere in life is setting a goal. If your goal is to get from "A" to "B," there are a few things you need to know first in order to get to "B." Which direction is it? What milestones must you achieve before you can get there? What's holding you back? Once you've established what's in between you ("A") and your goal ("B"), you're much more likely to find a way to get there. Goal setting is a powerful exercise because it gets us thinking about our ideal future and what we need to do to make that ideal future a reality. There are goal-oriented milestones in every niche. Use your unique experience and keen insights as an expert to write your own goal-setting articles. Here's how: Introduction - Your niche offers dozens of goals, big and small. In your introduction, consider what you can accomplish by setting goals and share it by explaining the benefits of setting goals in your niche.   List of Goals - Make a list of goals and offer how each goal can be achieved using your experience and insight. A goal is only effective if there's actual thought and planning - don't forget to convey that fact to your readers!   Body Paragraphs - Provide a descriptive timeline pinpointing milestones for each goal. Then recommend how often each goal should be evaluated and explain how to measure the success of the goals.   Conclusion - Recap the goals in your conclusion. This article template is a quick resource to help you share your expertise in a new and exciting way with your readers. Give it a try! Want more article templates? Increase your exposure and your article library simultaneously by downloading EzineArticles' 52 interactive Article Templates on PDF. Click here for more details! Have you written an article using the goal-setting style? Share your article and experiences in the comments section here. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Christopher M. Knight, Publisher http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Get the EzineArticles' Article Templates on the go with the limited edition Deck of Cards: click here! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "I love the templates" I find I love the templates and have a file with copies of all of them. Sometimes I go through them and put Post-it notes on individual templates with ideas/titles/themes - ready for possible development into an article ... it often stirs a memory or fits somehow with an opinion I hold, or an idea that's still deep within my 'think tank.' Christine Larsen CDCraftee.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-7994279-5233187.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.

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[EzineArticles] Article Writing Tips to Retweet: September 2012

Article Writing Tips to Retweet: September 2012 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! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ EzineArticles Member Endorsement "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.

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

Content Planning: Branding, Mission, and Vision 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! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! 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 "... 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.

[EzineArticles] Formal and Informal Writing Examples

Formal and Informal Writing Examples 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! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! 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 "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.