Thursday, May 19, 2011

SEO and Marketing: Basic Tips and Definitions

Please welcome Karen Cioffi, an awesome lady with a wonderful group of writers in her inspired and fabulous group, VBT Writer's on the Move.

SEO and Marketing: Basic Tips and Definitions

By Karen Cioffi

In its simplest form, promotion is a tool or strategy under the marketing umbrella. The marketing umbrella covers the creation or manufacturing of a product or service, R&D, distribution, and any other elements needed to get a product from creation to the consumer. Promotion creates visibility.

Utilizing online promotion means you will be using the internet, search engines, and SEO. SEO is the process of getting the search engines to find and rank your content. You obviously want a high ranking so when a searcher (potential customer) types in a search term (keyword) your site may be one of those on that first SERP.

Marketing and especially SEO can be confusing and seem like a daunting task to undertake, but once you understand the basics it becomes less intimidating.

SEO and Marketing Definitions

1. SEO – search engine optimization: “the process of creating and adjusting website content with the goal of improving search engine rankings.” (according to Compendium.com)

2. SERP – search engine results page – the page results from a search query.

3. Keyword – “any word or phrase a searcher might use to describe or identify a desired resource on the Internet.” When using keyword in your title, it’s important to use the keyword in the beginning of the title. Rather than use “How-to-Guide for SEO,” opt for “SEO: A How-to-Guide.” (according to Compendium.com)

4. Organic Traffic or Marketing – free strategies, such as Twitter, blogging, article marketing, etc.

5. Paid Traffic or Marketing – utilizing paid/sponsored ads, such as Google adwords, etc.

6. Ranking – your position (how high up) on the SERP: the higher the better. In other words, you want to be on the first SERP, or at least within the first few pages.

7. Anchor text – linking to other websites and/or pages directly from text within your content. This strategy should be used to bring the reader to your products, to other related articles you’ve written, to another site that has useful information pertinent to your post, and/or to link to a site you’re mentioning.

Providing readily accessible information and links through anchor text will give your readers more “bang-for-the-buck.” It will give the reader a broader reading experience, and she will definitely appreciate it – this builds a relationship . . . and trust.

Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter (for authors, bloggers, and businesses), freelance writer, reviewer,
and on the team
of DKV Writing 4 U (http://www.dkvwriting4u.com). She is also the founder and manager
of VBT Writers on the Move, and
co-moderator of a children's writing critique group.

For writing and marketing information visit KarenCioffi.com and sign up for her FREE newsletter,
A Writer’s World. You’ll get TWO free e-books on writing and marketing in the process.

Other sites:
Karen Cioffi Writing for Children & More
http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
http://nothingventurednothinggained.org

You can follow Karen at: http://twitter.com/KarenCV/

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Liz Borino Speaks on the Sequel !!!PRIZE!!!

Welcome Liz to my blog today, everyone! She's a great person and as some awesome thoughts on what goes into writing a sequel. Not only that, but she's going to give a prize package bundle of both books! Expectations and What Money Won't Buy will go to one lucky commenter--so warm up your keyboard and share your thoughts! :)

Writing a Sequel

Expectations was originally planned as a standalone novel. Actually, considering I’m a pantser, it wasn’t really planned at all, but I digress. Then, about a month after I signed the contract with my publisher, Lazy Day, some of my beta readers and I started kicking around the possibility of continuing the storyline. Nothing too serious, just ‘what if’ scenarios. Until, I shot up in bed one morning around 5 AM with an outline of the sequel in my head. I was on fire! I wrote for two and a half hours straight before remembering my caffeine. No, it didn’t make total sense, but I had a viable idea. And from those mess of notes, What Money Can’t Buy was born.

Writing a sequel provided both great and scary things. I knew and loved my characters, we were friends, so the period of ‘getting acquainted’ was skipped. Which is good because none of us are very good at small talk and that period is so awkward. I didn’t need to build a new world. In a word, writing What Money Can’t Buy was initially very comfortable. Maybe too comfortable. What followed were paralyzing fears: What if What Money Can’t Buy isn’t as good as Expectations? I don’t want to disappoint my fans. Then there were practical concerns: How much background do I include? Should people be required to read Expectations before What Money Can’t Buy? The answers? Just enough to remind the reader of relevant events and no, but it does help.

I’m happy to report, What Money Can’t Buy will not disappoint fans and will probably draw in some new readers. And, I’ve started work on the as yet untitled third book.

"Liz Borino is the author of Expectations and it's sequel, What Money Can't Buy. Throughout her education, including a Bachelor’s Degree from Hofstra University, she’s kept her stories to herself, but this only child is all grown up and wants to share them with the world. Her roots are in Bethlehem, Pa, but she loves to experience new cultures. As fun as that is Liz likes nothing better than curling up at home with a good book or her work in progress."

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Just a Few Words...


Mother's Day is fast approaching and I'm missing my mom something terrible. I try not to think about it too much, but with all the commercials on radio, television, and ads coming in the mail, it's hard not to be bombarded by the holiday. Yes, I'm a mom so there is much to celebrate and I do try to focus on the positive. Over the years, I imagine it will get easier.

This weekend I'll be at WRWA's Spring conference and I'm looking forward to seeing great friends and making some new ones. I'll miss those who can't make it there and wish them well for whatever circumstance made them unable to attend.

I'll let everyone know how the event went and hopefully share some fun pictures!!

Warmly,
Jenny:)