Blogging

Building Your Freelance Portfolio with WordPress: Essential Plugin Pack

June 3, 2013 by Angus Shaw 1 Comment

There are many reasons why many freelancers choose WordPress for building their portfolio of websites: It’s easy, reliable and flexible (thanks, of course, to plugins). Okay, maybe you will occasionally be told that Tumblr or Blogger is the better choice especially for those looking for a more casual blogging experience. But for the professionals, WordPress always comes out on top — and for good reason, considering the number of features, tools and free plugins you can access to customize and monetize your content. [Read more…]

Should Writers Engage in Guest Blogging?

May 9, 2013 by Angus Shaw 6 Comments

I’m a writer, not a marketer.

I’ve heard/read that phrase often enough. I’ve even said it myself many times. Writers, they say, have a unique personality in that they want to focus more on getting that jumble of words and ideas in their heads and putting them together in a coherent piece of writing. Whether people read the piece and like it or not is a different matter altogether.

Then guest blogging/guest writing comes into the picture.

The practice has become so popular for many reasons, not the least of which is to market your own content and bolster your brand online. In themselves, there is nothing wrong with content marketing and brand building. That happens in the brick and mortar world as well. But I totally understand why many online writers shy away from the idea of guest blogging.

Some common (negative) reactions are:

Why should I give my content away for free?
Why should I spend time and effort in writing for someone else without getting anything back?
I don’t have time for that.
I write. I don’t do marketing.

As I said earlier, these reactions are rather understandable. That is not to say, however, that writers should not consider guest blogging.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch!

Here’s my reply to concerns such as giving away your work for free. Guest blogging is not really for free! Sure, you may not get paid your usual $100 per article (I wish!), but compensation comes in other forms. Don’t worry, I am not talking about Craigslist-type nonsense like “the good feeling that you’ve helped someone out”. (Though there is nothing wrong with that in some cases!)

Creating connections

You may be the world’s biggest introvert (I can give you a run for your money, by the way), but if you want to get more writing gigs online, you have to create connections. There really is no way around it, unless you’ve hit the jackpot and you land the dream client, the kind that will give you tons of work regularly for good pay. If you’re like many freelance writers, you have to actively seek out work. And you need connections for that, connections that can be made by engaging in guest blogging.

Building your brand

“Building your brand” is a term that may put you off, but it is also an inherent part of freelance writing online. You want your name to be associated with quality writing, often in a certain niche. Having a web site or blog to showcase your work is one way to do it, but that may not be enough. You have to get the word out there. You have to expose your name – and back it up with proof. That’s what guest blogging can do for you.

Sometimes, you have to get out of your writer’s shell.

Sure, writing is lonely work. I don’t know about you, but I write best when I am alone at home. I can also work at a busy coffee shop, but I do surround myself in a self-imposed, even imaginary shell where I am alone.

However, in order to keep work flowing in, we do have to get out of that shell.

Have I mentioned connections?

Yes, connections are needed. We need to interact with others – potential clients, existing clients, and fellow writers. This is essential for many reasons. We need to keep in touch with the world out there in order to be able to produce relevant and timely pieces. We need to get out there to connect with people who may throw some work our way or people who may serve as inspiration.

Marketing yourself may be part of guest blogging, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Look at the situation from a different perspective, and you won’t fail to see the benefits that guest blogging can give you as an online writer. Give it a go?

About the Author

Jackie is the epitome of the introvert writer, but she pushes her limits as she improves on her craft. She has recently gotten involved in guest blogging services, and recommends fellow online writers to keep an open mind.

Images via seojournalist, inc, and petco

Patience and the Long-Distance Blogger

March 20, 2013 by Angus Shaw Leave a Comment

(Photo credit: francescopozzi)

Blogging offers writers great rewards. We get to share our words with others. We educate and entertain. If we’re really lucky, our blogs generate income or interest from book agents. To do any of this, however, you need readers, and in the early days of any blog, readers are hard to come by. [Read more…]

5 Freelance Conferences to Visit in 2012

April 16, 2012 by Angus Shaw 5 Comments

Being a successful freelancer requires that you acquire and maintain the latest information, tools, tips and skills in order to stay successful among the many people setting out on their own in the professional world. While there are tools available to all freelancers via the invaluable resource that is the internet, the physical disconnect between you and your colleagues and customers often leaves something to be desired.

On that note, as a freelancing professional looking to add to their current skill set, there is no better way to combine valuable educational opportunities with the ability to rub shoulders with the best and brightest in your niche than the many fantastic freelance conferences taking place around the world each year.

In the interest of spurring you forward towards exciting experiences and new opportunities, here are five freelance conferences to visit in 2012: [Read more…]

Win a Platinum Listing Package at Blog Search Engine!

November 8, 2011 by Noemi 20 Comments

Do you have a blog? Who doesn’t these days? One of the things about blogging is that you really have to work on keeping your blog alive. You have to bring value to your readers, and more than that, make sure the word gets out about your blog.

While you can rest on your laurels and be content with the readership you already have, why do that when you can continuously get more exposure and attract new followers? This is the idea behind Blog Search Engine, a blog directory under the wings of Splashpress Media, the same group running our beloved Freelance Writing Jobs. Blog Search Engine is a PR6 blog directory which can help bloggers of all kinds to gain more exposure for their pride and joy.

The blog directory is being relaunched, complete with a new design and new packages – from Basic to Platinum. In line with this relaunch, Blog Search Engine is running a contest wherein the winner will get a Platinum Package worth $99.99!

This package gives you a full description of your blog and a backlink, which every other package offers. On top of these, you also get the following perks:

Bloggy Award Review (PR5)
Link on http://xfep.com/uber-blogs/ for 3 Months
Featured link on Eatonweb blog portal (PR6)
Featured Blog display banner for 15 days (BlogSearchEngine.com)

Doesn’t that just make you excited about what such a package can do for your blog? Sure, $99.99 is not to be taken lightly, but with the contest, you can get everything for free! Here’s how to win.

Tweet about this contest and include a link back to the following URL: http://bit.ly/rqPTDL
Copy and paste the full tweet you sent into the comments section on this page.

The contest will run until end of day 11/11/11 and the winner will be announced no later than 11/14/2011.

What are you waiting for? Hit that Tweet button now!

Creating a Stunning Online Writing Portfolio

November 7, 2011 by david 1 Comment

If you are a freelance writer, then it is likely that most of your business comes from clients that you have never seen face to face. A freelancer’s office is, for the most part, online . . . and online is where you “meet” the people you write for. As a freelancer, it is important that you are always looking to grow and expand your business, so as to create for yourself a stable and reliable income. Therefore, you should have a virtual presence to use as a marketing tool for procuring clientele. Your best advertisement is your writing, and the best way of showcasing your writing is through a portfolio. Your writing portfolio should inspire clients to hire you, and should be readily available on the world wide web. Here are some guidelines for creating a stunning online writing portfolio:

Keep it simple. Don’t complicate your viewer’s experience with distracting imagery and superfluous language. Your writing should speak for itself, so let it speak.

Organization. Imagine you are visiting your online portfolio: Is it easy to navigate? Can you understand the exact purpose of the site without having to explore for it? If you can’t answer yes to both of these questions, then you need to rethink your portfolio’s organization. Everything should be readily available to your visitors from the landing page.

Quality versus quantity. Don’t ever put a piece of work on your portfolio site just for the sake of adding content. Remember that one awesome piece can land you a job . . . but ten so-so pieces will only prove that you are a so-so writer.

White space. You need plenty of it. It keeps your portfolio clean, professional, and easy to read. Also, it just looks nice.

Web-hosting. If web design isn’t your thing (after all, you are a writer), then there are many web-hosting services like Vistaprint and Freelance Marketplace that will host your portfolio for a minimal fee, and that provide you with free portfolio templates. Simply fill out your bio, upload your image, and post your example pieces.

Perfect makes perfect. In addition to examine your writing acumen, potential clients will also be sizing up your portfolio as an example of the type of work you do. What does that mean? It means your online portfolio should be mistake-free, well thought out, and executed to the full extent of your capabilities. Your name is on your portfolio, so you need to keep in mind that your portfolio is also an example of your work.

Creating an online portfolio is the next logical step in expanding your freelance writing horizons, and it doesn’t have to be a complicated venture. Follow these guidelines to create an online portfolio that gets attention, impresses visitors, and lands you new and exciting writing gigs.

Guest poster

Leiselotte Weith is a freelance writer who knows the importance of a strong online writing portfolio. When she’s not helping other writers succeed, she can be found writing about personal finance, loan sites and bankruptcy issues.

5 Design Tips For Creating A Tablet Friendly Website

November 4, 2011 by Angus Shaw Leave a Comment

2011 has been the year of the tablet as an increasing number of internet users (millions of people) have begun browsing the web on an iPad, iPad 2, Amazon Kindle Fire or various Google Android based Tablet devices. With the increase in tablet use one thing has become certain, website designers must be willing to create a website that is ready for tablet based user interfaces. Here are a few tips to get you started when designing a website that is both functional for a traditional browser and a tablet.

1. HTML5 Integration

Whether you want to admit it or not Adobe Flash has become a nuisance for tablet web designers. While Flash looks great when used on traditional devices and Google Android based systems it can’t be utilized on Apple devices and therefore your website won’t properly display many videos and other flash based elements. HTML5 integration on the other hand allows videos to play on most devices while providing a less resource heavy option that allows tablet users to save on battery life.

2. Use Adaptive CSS

Tablet users are no longer bound by a fixed resolution and therefore using fixed template sizes limits your ability to create a robust design for your users. In this situation you should consider using Adaptive CSS techniques. If you think of a tablet as a device of limitless output possibilities fluid design elements quickly make sense. One methodology used by professional designers these days is known as adaptive design methodology in which certain CSS and Javascript elements are only shown on browsers that can support them, using this method some users receive a more rich or “complete” environment while other users receive whatever their browser/device can support.

3. Friendly Navigation

When using a tablet many users find it cumbersome to click on small links when navigating a website, for this reason it is a smart idea to create larger than normal categories at the top of your website to ensure easy top level navigation. Another option is to offer finger swiping navigation capabilities to more easily browse through pages found on the website. The most popular example of finger swiping for navigation purposes comes from the Flipboard application which allows users to navigate through posts as if they are reading pages from a book. The idea behind friendly navigation on tablets is to offer easy access to sections with the press of a finger. My personal favorite method for front page navigation is to provide a thumbnail interface in which articles from the websites frontpage are ordered in thumbs which are easy to press because of their increased size over word based links.

4. Tweak Your Form Fields With CSS

This is one of the most overlooked areas of tablet website design I have found to date, while a simple contact form may look perfect on your website there’s a good chance once the forms fields are shrunk down on a tablet or mobile device they will look out of place. The easiest fix in this case is to reduce the number of fields used in web forms however when that is not possible wrapping your contact elements in CSS and designing them around your website design for tablets is a good way to ensure your forms stay fresh and ready for use.

5. Don’t Crowd Your Pages

That three column design that looks decent on your laptop is not exactly tablet friendly. Because your website will scale down on most tablet devices the moment a user loads your website which crams content between left and right sidebars they are already battling to find and zoom in on your content while it competes with other elements. In the case of developing a website that works for both a desktop user and a tablet user the “keep it simple stupid” method is a smart choice to make. As an added bonus when you scale down your sites output you reduce server load which in turn helps pages load faster, an important aspect for many tablet users who may not be connected to high speed internet options at all times.

Tablet devices have “dumbed down” the electronics industry by offering less robust (in some aspects) yet far more functional computing, therefore it only makes sense that the browsing experience on tablets should also be scaled down while implementing more functional design applications. While there are many web design standards you can use to create a useful and enjoyable tablet web browsing experience the options listed above should point you in the right direction to get started.

Do you have any favorite tablet design options you’d like to share with our readers?

What Bloggers Need to Know About Trademark Law

April 25, 2011 by Jonathan Bailey Leave a Comment

There are three major types of intellectual property law: Copyright, Patent and Trademark.

The distinction between the three can often be confusing and gray, but in general copyright protects artistic expressions (literature, movies, photos, music, etc.), patents protect ideas and inventions and trademark protects any “mark” associated with a business.

However, trademark is very different from other areas of intellectual property. You don’t run afoul of the law simply by copying the mark itself but, as a tradeoff, trademarks can protect a much wider variety of things that would not fall under any other area of protection.

Yet, at the same time, trademark often overlaps with copyright, especially when dealing with some logos, and there is a great deal of confusion between copyright and trademark in discussions online.

All in all, trademark is a thorny and often misunderstood area of intellectual property law that demands a closer look, especially if you routinely write about companies or use trademarks in your post.

So what do you need to know about trademarks? Read the basics about trademark law.

Prospecting for Links and Referral Traffic

March 29, 2011 by david 7 Comments

You want links and traffic from some of the more popular, well-known bloggers in your niche. You want to promote your content because you you deserve a bigger audience. You want to make money online and need referral traffic to develop the crutial element needed for success. The problem is you’re not sure how to get those popular bloggers to drop you a link, they ignore your emails and don’t write back.

Maybe they are too busy. Maybe your content just isn’t all that great in the first place. At least those are the sort of thoughts that begin to fill your mind when there is lack of response, right?

What you should do, instead of giving into negative thoughts that will weaken your goal is consider how you might improve your chances, if you were on personal and good terms with that “popular blogger.”

It’s not difficult to get a link if you have something relevant and remarkable. However, it is fairly easy if you have prior contact or a close relationship with that blogger.

Let’s take a moment to explore how you should build a prospect list and use it to develop relationships that will benefit you later on.

Marketers define prospects as potential customers. A valuable prospect is sometimes characterized by their loyalty, spending power or level of interest, as it relates to products or services.

When trying to promote your blog, you should look for prospects with an ability to build your brand while sending you traffic. Prospect development is one of the most tedious processes, so I recommend focusing on a core set of individuals with established influence.

Instead of targeting a large number of bloggers, focus on a few that will ultimately matter most. You won’t be able to please everyone, but you can win the favor of a select few. Concentrate on letting them recommend you to their audience.

Build a List of Prospects

Create a list of keywords related to your website or niche. With that list of keywords, run a search on Technorati. This search will provide a list of websites or blogs ordered according to Technorati authority and favorites.

This list is a rough indication of the popularity of a specific blog, according to the number of links it receives from other blogs.

Once you have a list of relevant blogs, subscribe to their RSS feeds. I have created a separate folder in my reader in effort to organize my prospects. Having a bloggers prospect list is ultimately used as a means to get bloggers to send you qualified traffic or perhaps recommend you to their audience. This will help improve your personal brand.

A prospect list is a method you can use to enhance your ability in getting a favorable response from specific bloggers on yourlist. You will be able to adjust the amount of time invested on each prospect, according to its value and how their content ultimately relates to your own.

The second reason is reciprocation. A great deal of cross-promotion you see online is the result of intentional reciprocation; doing something for someone because they did something for you.

Keeping a prospect list helps you to systematically record and reciprocate favors done for you. This will improve the quality of relationship you have and will help you turn bloggers into friends and future assets that can sometimes be leveraged for your business/website.

You should track your prospects with a goal of acting on their content, along with building a meaningful relationship.

The trick is not to think of yourself as just another reader but as a loyal supporter.

Your goal should be to absorb their content, voice your opinion and then share or promote to others who might benefit from it. The result: You react to the blogger’s content while connecting on a personal level.

My personal philosophy to online networking is simply to make more friends than enemies and always seek a mutually rewarding outcome.

Bloggers are just people – just like you! They react more positively to friends or people they know.

Personally, I never forget a favor and I always remember to reciprocate when I can create a natural fit. This can be done in a number of ways, whether in the form of a vote, a link, a favorable mention, a social share, etc. This has become a personal policy I practice and find it does help in achieving personal goals.

List Management

I use Google Reader to maintain my prospect list and have my prospects broken down into individual folders based on niche or topic I wish to target.

Working on Your Prospects

Submit their content to social websites – When a new post is created, make an effort to promote it via social sites like StumbleUpon. I do this only when I can provide a natural fit and offer value to my contacts.

Collect articles for a link roundup – While the value of the content is obviously most important, I do pay attention to sites I’ve never linked to before. I bookmark articles of interest via del.icio.us and I will reference them at a later time.

Comment – Comments are a valuable networking tool. It’s usually a good idea to refrain from “pitching” any website unless you have commented on it several times. I usually comment more on new prospects and drop by sites belonging to friends just for fun.

Share links – I tend to track large amounts of news. I like to share links to articles with other bloggers, when I don’t plan to write about it. This is a great way to be helpful and to show you’re not just interested in pushing your own content.

Engage in Conversation – Engaging in conversation about a blogger’s article is a great way to show that you do pay attention.

Keep in mind that you can use any platform or method you like for networking as long as you feel you can manage your prospect list effectively.

Networking is a very important factor for success. Anyone who has launched a new website knows how important it is to have a group of supporters willing to give you a little attention from the earliest stages.

My Comment Commitment: If you leave a comment on any of my posts, I will visit your blog and “share it” in some way whether on StumbleUpon, Twitter or Facebook depending on if I can find a nice fit. This is my way of saying thank you!

What exactly is ‘good’ content anyway?

March 22, 2011 by david 14 Comments

This really is a very interesting question because many blogging experts teach the importance of great content and how that one element is paramount above all other factors when it comes to growing a website.

You’ve heard the adage ‘Content is King’ repeated often, right?

Good content is the absolute foundation for most successful blogs. Quality content makes it easier for readers to recommend it to other potential readers. Content makes blog marketing much easier because it naturally supports the processes involved in promoting a website.

Successful bloggers recommend the same thing: Create killer content and learn to market it.

What exactly is great content? And if it’s so important, how do you create it?

It’s my opinion that there are three general elements surrounding content quality.

Content Quality is Subjective

Content quality is subjective because it is tied to the knowledge or experience of both the content creator and reader.

When someone feels an article is good, it is mostly because of their own knowledge and receptiveness to the ideas presented. For a reader who may be more experienced, the same article would appear a bit more amateur.

Content Quality is Comparative

Apart from relativity, the value of an article is comparative. Your article will likely be compared to others on within the same topic. The strength of another article will make yours less attractive. That’s why it’s a good idea to offer something unique.

On the flip sides, the weakness of other articles will make yours more valuable.

Techniques and advice can sometimes be unsuitable for your niche, unless you learn how to utilize them in ways that consider your audience expectations and demands within your industry.

For celebrity gossip and entertainment niches there is more benefit in providing news via short blog posts than trying to write bait posts for Digg type audiences.

Guidelines That Determine Content Quality

Even though content quality is subjective and comparatively determined, you can still create high quality content. One way is to study the popular articles of other bloggers within your same niche. These articles provide a basic measuring tool of possible content popularity.

It’s my opinion, good content contains some of the following characteristics:

Thought-provoking. Present new ideas or give a new look to old ideas.
Entertaining. These posts can come in the form of text, images or video – It’s been said many times – you should be educational or entertaining.
Breaking News. Important for the changes that impact those in the same industry or niche. Be the first to cover news and people will naturally talk about your blog.
Comprehensive. Set the shining example. Bloggers love referencing comprehensive articles because it gives their readers a good starting point.
Well Researched. Multiple links to related discussion on this topic are especially valuable you can insert yourself into an ongoing conversation.
Completely Unique. The less you repeat what others say, the more you’ll stand out.

What are some of the elements by which you measure quality content? Leave your comments below.