<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" ><channel><title>CompuKol Connection &#187; Blogs</title> <atom:link href="http://www.compukol.com/blog/category/blogs/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://www.compukol.com</link> <description>When you need results, our expertise eclipses the competition!</description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2</generator> <item><title>Grabbing Your Readers Through Incredible Storytelling</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/grabbing-your-readers-through-incredible-storytelling/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/grabbing-your-readers-through-incredible-storytelling/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 05 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Article Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Newsletters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[effective writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketing writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[writing skills]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2804</guid> <description><![CDATA[The power of the written word is the first (and one of the most important) bridges between you and your  readers. Your content must not only be well written but must also entice the reader and compel them to continue. No related posts.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>The power of the written word is the first (and one of the most important) bridges between you and your&nbsp; readers. Your content must not only be well written but must also entice the reader and compel them to continue.<span id="more-2804"></span></p><p>You have heard the term &ldquo;Content Is King&rdquo; on many different occasions and in many different contexts. You can do so much with words in a positive direction or a negative direction. It all depends on how you spin it. Before you take any action whatsoever to reach out to your readers, you need to make sure that your content will touch them and that they will want to establish a connection with you and will want to continue to interact. You may have the most brilliant ideas of all time but if&nbsp; you are not able to express them in a way that is extraordinary, they won&rsquo;t do you much good. The connection must be an emotional one. The emotions will drive your readers to ultimately make decisions about buying what you are selling at some point in the future. There are some critical steps that you need to follow in order to entice your readers through your incredible storytelling.</p><ul><li><strong>Use authentic, sincere, informal language: </strong>If you have any hope of reaching your readers through your content, you must always maintain authenticity and sincerity. Your readers will <em>always </em>be able to tell if you are being insincere and they will act accordingly. Part of that authenticity means that you have a deep understanding of your readers as people and focus your content on their wants and needs. You need to make your readers understand that you have the full intention of solving their problems or at least making them feel good by reading what you are sharing with them. You should try not to inject too much technical, dry information into your content. It should be a pleasure for them to read.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>Use language that allows your readers to visualize: </strong>It is important for you to remember that you have 3 seconds in which to capture your reader&rsquo;s attention. If you are not able to do it in that amount of time, you will lose them. Not only do you need to capture their attention but you also need to entice them to continue reading until the end. You should make your content as visual as you possibly can so that your story is one that they not only read but one that they can see with their mind&rsquo;s eye as well.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>Always write in the active voice: </strong>Writing in the active voice strengthens the power of your words. When the verbs that you use are active and strong, it has a much greater impact on the reader. Active language leaves no possibility of ambiguity. The meaning of what you are writing will be crystal clear. Active language is also easier to read and is more engaging for your readers. It is important to remember that when most people read, they are not reading every word. They are skimming the content to see if there is something that grabs their interest. People don&rsquo;t have a lot of time in their busy lives and the more compelling your content is, the better your chances will be of enticing them to read on.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>Give them a call-to-action: </strong>With each and every word that you write, you must give your readers a way to get in touch with you. The way to do that is through a call-to-action. You can give them an Email address or phone number with which to contact you. Also, it is important as part of the call-to-action that you ask them to do something, such as signing up for your business newsletter, asking for&nbsp; your free white paper, etc. You will be establishing your relationship with them and you will be building it from there.</li></ul><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>The way that you seduce your readers is through your content. Everything that happens after that is a result of what you offer them and how you influence them. Your storytelling must be exceptional. Good storytelling will go a very long way. Your content will unite your audience through common interests. If you content is incredibly well written and tells a compelling story, your readers will keep reading your content, will return to you over and over again, and will eventually turn into loyal customers.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com" target="_new">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center"><a href="http://www.compukol.com/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="http://www.compukol.com/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div><p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/grabbing-your-readers-through-incredible-storytelling/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Emotionally Engaging Your Online Readers</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/emotionally-engaging-your-online-readers/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/emotionally-engaging-your-online-readers/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Article Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Online Communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Emotions]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2726</guid> <description><![CDATA[Content is King. Your words influence your readers and cause them to take some particular action. The action is determined on how you make them feel. If your content touches them emotionally, they will react with feelings. No related posts.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>Content is King. Your words influence your readers and cause them to take some particular action. The action is determined on how you make them feel. If your content touches them emotionally, they will react with feelings.<span id="more-2726"></span></p><p>There is nothing worse than content that is boring or that doesn&rsquo;t make you think or feel. If it just sits there, it is a huge waste of time and you won&rsquo;t be inclined to read anything else that the author has written. Why would you? Business content (traditionally) can be thought of as dry and boring. However, there is absolutely no reason that your business content has to be that way. If you don&rsquo;t build relationships with your readers, they won&rsquo;t come to trust you and to consider you an expert. You won&rsquo;t be top of mind for them when they actually reach the point where they are ready to buy. On the other hand, if your content is exciting, compelling, and touches your readers in some emotional way, they won&rsquo;t forget it and they certainly won&rsquo;t forget you and what you can do to help them.</p><p><strong>Connecting with your audience</strong></p><p>No matter what, you must always connect with your audience. If you can&rsquo;t do that, you will not be able to establish any kind of relationship with them. If you are not able to find a way to connect with them, no matter how well written your content is, it won&rsquo;t get you anywhere. If you don&rsquo;t change your approach, your words will be pointless. You must find a way to engage with your audience (hopefully from the beginning of your relationship). You want them to stick to you as though you are the only person in the universe who could possibly do what you do as well as you do it.</p><p><strong>How to create fabulous content</strong></p><p>Creating fabulous, compelling, influential content is not nearly as difficult as you might think it is.</p><p><strong>Tell a story: </strong>People love stories. Everyone has one, including you. Your story, just like all stories, should have a beginning, a middle and an end. It is easy to express emotion through your story. Your story should convey your values and it should clearly express all that you hold dear. A story is an incredibly effective vehicle for successfully bringing your point home. Your stories should be at the heart of your communication strategy and they should be the reason that you are offering what you are offering. It is important to take a close look at your business and to figure out if your stories are at the heart of your message. If they aren&rsquo;t at the heart of it, you need to change that and make sure that that is exactly where you put them. Not only do&nbsp; you need to connect with your audience but you need to connect with them in some really profound way. People won&rsquo;t relate to you and your business unless whatever you have experienced (which you will express through your content) makes them connect with that experience emotionally. The chances are very good that they will. It is your job to make sure that your content expresses that in the most effective way possible.</p><p>As you are trying to figure out if your story is at the heart of what your business represents, you should ask yourself some questions:</p><ul><li>What specific story truly defines you?</li><li>How does your story really relate to what you are trying to accomplish with your business?</li><li>How does your story touch your audience members emotionally?</li><li>Are your audience members able to retell your story?</li><li>Is&nbsp; your story powerful enough for your audience members to be influenced enough to reach out emotionally to others on your behalf?</li></ul><p>These are not necessarily easy questions to answer but if you can accomplish all of this, you will be successful. If you want something meaningful to result, you need to be able to really give something meaningful of yourself. Feeling for feeling.</p><p><strong>Consider your content a gift to others</strong></p><p>As you are writing your content, consider it a gift to others. When you give a gift, you don&rsquo;t want anything in return. Your &ldquo;gift&rdquo; should not try to sell anything (at least not directly) to anyone and it should be very valuable to those who are reading it. It should be offered with no strings attached. Your content will not just be your story but will be a story that you share with them. It will touch them in some profound, emotional way. Sharing your story is an extremely human, emotional, personal thing to do.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>Emotional engagement with your online readers is critical to the success of your business. It is extremely important for you to understand why you must touch them in the most effective way possible and to really understand how they feel and why they feel the way that they do. If you are able to accomplish that, the value of your content itself will increase dramatically. The more compelling your story, the more interaction it will trigger with other people. If you can get inside of your audience&rsquo;s heads and hearts, your business will be more successful than you ever would have imagined.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center;"><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div><p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/emotionally-engaging-your-online-readers/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Editing Your Content After It Was Posted</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/editing-your-content-after-it-was-posted/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/editing-your-content-after-it-was-posted/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Editing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2638</guid> <description><![CDATA[There seems to be some controversy when it comes to whether it is appropriate to edit your content after you have already posted and syndicated it online. It depends on your approach and your reasons for editing  after the fact. You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-editing-web-content/' rel='bookmark' title='The Importance of Editing Web Content'>The Importance of Editing Web Content</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/content-creation-is-so-much-more-than-blogging/' rel='bookmark' title='Content Creation Is so Much More Than Blogging'>Content Creation Is so Much More Than Blogging</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/an-easy-approach-to-writing-online-content/' rel='bookmark' title='An Easy Approach to Writing Online Content'>An Easy Approach to Writing Online Content</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>There seems to be some controversy when it comes to whether it is appropriate to edit your content after you have already posted and syndicated it online. It depends on your approach and your reasons for editing&nbsp; after the fact.<span id="more-2638"></span></p><p>If you have an obvious reason for editing after your content has already been posted (such as typos or important information that you didn&rsquo;t include in your original post), it is perfectly acceptable.&nbsp; On the other hand, if you have posted an article that caused people to react in a negative way and you revised the content in order to satisfy those people and dilute some of the controversy, that is something else. It is acceptable if you revise the content based on your having rethought your original communication. In other words, if you feel that you were wrong in the first place to write and post what you did and you are revising it to correct an error, that is perfectly fine. However, if you are revising it only to please other people, you are compromising your own values and that is not a good thing to do because others will not respect you the way you deserve to be respected.</p><p><strong>Transparency is critical</strong></p><p>If you choose to revise your content, it is very important for you to be transparent with your readers about it. Being transparent means that you don&rsquo;t just quietly remove your content from wherever it was posted online, revise it, and put it back, hoping that nobody notices the difference in the different versions of the article. The difference may be if the content that you are revising has other people&rsquo;s comments attached to it or not. If other people have not left comments, it isn&rsquo;t as important as if they have left comments. The reason is that if you revise the content after comments have been left for you (and others) to read, you are making your readers who left the comments look foolish. And that is just not fair to them. In that case, you run the risk of new readers reading your revised content and reading the comments that were a reaction to the version of the content that came before the revisions not understanding how the readers who left the comments could have felt the way that they did. It doesn&rsquo;t create a good situation.</p><p><strong>Be discriminating about what and when you revise content online</strong></p><p>First of all, if decide that you are going to revise your content after the fact, you should state that at the beginning of the revised article. You need to explain to your readers why you felt compelled to revise the content and, if appropriate and necessary, apologize for having done so. It is always important for you to demonstrate integrity to your readers and if you aren&rsquo;t honest about what you are doing with the content, you are inadvertently demonstrating a lack of respect for them. If your readers don&rsquo;t feel that you respect them, they most likely won&rsquo;t continue to read the content that you are sharing with them. If you want to approach the situation in the correct way, you should either explain the reason for your revisions or move on and write an entirely new article. People will have a lot more respect for you and will be much more willing to read whatever you are sharing going forward if you approach it in that way. Also, the negative press will be forgotten much more easily if you handle it properly.</p><p><strong>Taking constructive comments into serious consideration</strong></p><p>On many occasions, when it comes to your readers&rsquo; comments on your posted articles, the information that they are sharing is valuable and really does help to improve upon what you originally posted. It is critical that you don&rsquo;t dismiss any of the comments that you receive because there is a great potential that each one contains valuable nuggets of information that will help your business in some way.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>It goes without saying that the best time to revise your content is before you ever post it online. However, it is important to keep an open mind about it and to realize that there are exceptions to the rule at times. It is up to you to decide if you feel that revising it after it has already been posted will make it better or worse. Whatever you decide, make sure that you always have integrity, honesty, and that your readers understand that you are sharing your content with them in order to help them in some way and to add something positive to their repository of information.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div><p>You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-editing-web-content/' rel='bookmark' title='The Importance of Editing Web Content'>The Importance of Editing Web Content</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/content-creation-is-so-much-more-than-blogging/' rel='bookmark' title='Content Creation Is so Much More Than Blogging'>Content Creation Is so Much More Than Blogging</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/an-easy-approach-to-writing-online-content/' rel='bookmark' title='An Easy Approach to Writing Online Content'>An Easy Approach to Writing Online Content</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/editing-your-content-after-it-was-posted/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>4</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Giving Longevity to Your Online Content</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/giving-longevity-to-your-online-content/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/giving-longevity-to-your-online-content/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Online Communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[content syndication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[effective writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2692</guid> <description><![CDATA[Content marketing (and content itself) is a basic, fundamental, critical contributing factor to the success of your business. It is at the heart of communications with your business connections and without it, you couldn’t relate with anyone on any level. No related posts.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>Content marketing (and content itself) is a basic, fundamental, critical contributing factor to the success of your business. It is at the heart of communications with your business connections and without it, you couldn&rsquo;t relate with anyone on any level.<span id="more-2692"></span></p><p>With online business interactions, an unbelievable volume of content is necessary if you want to make any kind of a dent at all. Starting with the basics, the first thing that you need is top-quality writing on topics that challenge, compel, and fascinate other people. You need to produce scads of excellent content. Of course, the more great content you share with other people, the more they are going to crave. Next, you need to post and syndicate it properly and appropriately. Fresh content is necessary at all times. You need to be on top of your game at all times. Now that you have those critical elements in place, you need to figure out a formula that works for making the content live longer.</p><ul><li><strong>Distribute your content carefully: </strong>Because of the fact that social media is constantly doing something, it is critical that you always share what you feel is important and valuable with your online business connections. It is acceptable to give a synopsis if the context is appropriate. Shortened versions of your content can really pique the interest of your readers and entice them to want to read more. Of course, eventually you will want to share much more; however, you should strategize cleverly so that you get maximum interest from the people on the receiving end. After a short while has gone by, by all means give them more.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>Existing ideas, new packaging: </strong>You should constantly be looking for new ways to express time-honored ideas. The ideas will stand the test of time. However, the presentation of those ideas are what you should try to freshen up. There are several different types of content for which you can use the same approach, such as blog content, newsletter articles, etc. A fresh presentation of already-existing blog articles might be to combine them in an eBook on a topic that they share. The chances are very good that the content that you have already written can be synthesized in a way that brings new value.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>Blow your own horn: </strong>It is perfectly appropriate for you to share your victories with other people. The purpose of doing that is not to show how wonderful and talented you are but rather to give other people the benefit of your experience so that they can learn from it and will hopefully be celebrating victories of their own. Another thing that you should consider is taking the action that resulted in a positive outcome and repeating the process with the same results. If something works, there is no reason for you not to repeat it. That is another way to build success. This will make your job as content creator easier over time.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>Repurpose: </strong>You should look at content that has done well and update and refresh it so that you can share it with other people. You may want to commit to doing this at somewhat regular intervals, such as every 6 months or every year. Because you are evolving, the spin that you give your content is bound to be somewhat different after the initial writing. People will be very interested to read what you have to say.<br /> &nbsp;</li><li><strong>One man&rsquo;s treasure: </strong>You don&rsquo;t exist in a vacuum. You don&rsquo;t pull ideas exclusively out of your own head. You get ideas from all around you, including many ideas from other people. Nuggets of treasure exist in some of the most unlikely places. You just need to know how to recognize them and be able to use them effectively.</li></ul><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>It is a lot easier than you think to breathe new life into your content and to give it a healthy and long lifespan. You have a great deal to offer other people and if you present your content in fresh and innovative ways over time, people will continue to want to read what you are sharing and will return to you over and over again for sage advice and guidance. If you constantly offer people valuable content, they will continue to support your efforts. Remember that your content&rsquo;s value should benefit other people and if they can walk away from what you share a little bit wiser, they will remember it for a very long time.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/dropdown.js"></script><div id="skypeTransparentDrp"><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent-head"><a href="skype:compukol?call" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Call" title="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/call.png" width="143" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpCall" alt="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="#" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Switch" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/down.png" width="30" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpArrow" alt="" onmouseover="skypeTransparentDrpDown()" onmouseout="skypeTransparentDrpUp();" /></a></div><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent" style="display: none;"><a href="skype:compukol?chat" title="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/2.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-2" alt="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?add" title="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/3.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-3" alt="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?userinfo" title="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/5.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-5" alt="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?sendfile" title="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/6.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="31" id="SkpTranspBtn-6" alt="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a></div></div><p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/giving-longevity-to-your-online-content/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Content Creation Is so Much More Than Blogging</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/content-creation-is-so-much-more-than-blogging/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/content-creation-is-so-much-more-than-blogging/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Article Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[content syndication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marketing writing]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2683</guid> <description><![CDATA[Many people are confused about the notion of what it means to blog versus what it means to create content. Think about the two as different sizes of plastic containers. Blogging fits neatly in the smaller container. No related posts.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>Many people are confused about the notion of what it means to blog versus what it means to create content. Think about the two as different sizes of plastic containers. Blogging fits neatly in the smaller container.<span id="more-2683"></span></p><p>Content creation covers a much broader range of writing than blogging does. Blog writing (as the name states) is a specific type of writing. Blog articles are generally short articles (between 500 and 1,000 words each) on any topic that you can think of. Blog articles can be on business topics or they can be on more informal, more personal topics. The language in business blogs tends to be more formal and more grammatically perfect. Actually, no matter what sort of blog writing (or any writing at all) you post, the content should always be well written and error free. Having mistakes (grammatical, punctuation, spelling, etc) is very distracting to your readers. If they are distracted by errors in your writing, they will think that you don&rsquo;t have enough pride in what you are sharing and won&rsquo;t bother to read subsequent content that you post.</p><p><strong>Don&rsquo;t pigeon hole yourself</strong></p><p>If you are a writer who writes different types of content, it is smarter not to label yourself as a blog writer. Blog writing is just one of the many types of writing that you are capable of producing. You write content. Your content will carry you very far if it is well written, insightful, interesting and compelling. As a content writer, the goal of your writing is to engage your target audience, position yourself as a subject matter expert (SME), and figure out how to give your readers what they need so that their problems will be solved (WIIFM, What&rsquo;s In It For Me?). WIIFM is a marketing concept that should constantly be at the forefront of your mind. It must never be about how great you and your business are. It must always be about how you are able to help the other person. If you always keep that in mind, you will never run out of fresh ideas for your content.</p><p><strong>Fierce competition</strong></p><p>Another good reason not to limit yourself when it comes to online writing is that you will have an easier time finding your hook, which will allow you to stand out and beat the pants off of your competitors. There are a <em>huge </em>number of bloggers on the Internet and you can&rsquo;t be &ldquo;just another blogger.&rdquo; You need to have some unique quality, which will make people pay attention to you and which will make them choose to read your content more readily than someone else&rsquo;s content. Never allow yourself to be placed in a box. Your ideas need to be truly compelling to other people.</p><p><strong>You have the power</strong></p><p>As a content writer, you have a tremendous potential to influence other people. The more valuable information you share with other people on products, services, brands, businesses, etc, the more they will be inclined to take your words seriously. The reason for this is that you have proven your trustworthiness and credibility and other people know that they can count on you to be honest and to always steer them in the right direction. Your readers will come to respect you and will become loyal to you before you know it.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>Content creation is so much more than blogging. While blogging is extremely important and is a very effective online tool in your armamentarium, it is not the only important and effective way that you can express yourself. There are many different approaches to expressing opinions that are interesting to other people and the information that&nbsp; you share is valuable and educational. As a business owner, you have information that will benefit other people and that is exactly why you should be sharing your content. The analogy for blog writing versus content writing would be website versus web presence. They are both extremely important; however, the website fits into a box that fits into the web presence box just as the blogging box fits inside of the content creation box.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div><p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/content-creation-is-so-much-more-than-blogging/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Art of Corporate Blogging</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-art-of-corporate-blogging/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-art-of-corporate-blogging/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category> <category><![CDATA[corporate blogging]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2629</guid> <description><![CDATA[Blogging for business is a strong and wonderful reality. Just because the content is geared toward business people doesn’t mean that it can’t be compelling, interesting, informative and educational. Your content serves as a vehicle to help others in many ways. You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/tips-for-b2b-blogging/' rel='bookmark' title='Tips for B2B Blogging'>Tips for B2B Blogging</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/blogging-101/' rel='bookmark' title='Blogging 101'>Blogging 101</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/why-blogging-is-so-important-to-your-business/' rel='bookmark' title='Why Blogging Is so Important to Your Business'>Why Blogging Is so Important to Your Business</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>Blogging for business is a strong and wonderful reality. Just because the content is geared toward business people doesn&rsquo;t mean that it can&rsquo;t be compelling, interesting, informative and educational. Your content serves as a vehicle to help others in many ways.<span id="more-2629"></span></p><p>When it comes to blogging, it isn&rsquo;t enough to write a blog article once. As a business owner, you have a commitment to blogging on a regular and consistent basis. There are many different ways in which you can present your content so that it is appealing to other people and so that those people keep coming back to your content over and over again to try to glean as much wisdom from your writing as they possibly can. At the same time, you need to get your readers to connect with your writing on an emotional level.</p><p>There are many different elements that make up a good blog post.</p><p><strong>Speaking to all target audiences at once</strong></p><p>It can be challenging when it comes to consistency among blog posts. Your blog article must have the same voice from beginning to end and if that is achieved, your writing will be effective for many different audiences at the same time. The level of expertise within your blog should also be consistent throughout. If you are addressing a complicated issue, you should put in a lot of details that address that issue. Your assumption, in that case, should not be that your audience members need a &ldquo;101&rdquo; course first to be able to understand what you are discussing.</p><p><strong>The length of your blog posts</strong></p><p>Your blog posts should not be extremely short or extremely long. Somewhere between 500 and 1,000 words is perfect. You will see that the length of your articles will vary depending on how much you really have to say about any given topic. You need to remember that a longer article is perfectly acceptable if your are speaking clearly and concisely. On the other hand, if you start to repeat yourself and that contributes to the length of your article, it is not acceptable. In that case, you need to find a way to edit your article so that the information that you are sharing should really be there.</p><p><strong>Interesting and compelling content</strong></p><p>There is nothing worse (or more destructive) than trying to read an article that is boring and not valuable in any way. If you don&rsquo;t really have something valuable to say, don&rsquo;t say anything. It is better to wait until you really have something worthwhile to share than to just put some words (any words) on a page and call it an article. As you are writing your blog article, ask yourself if&nbsp; you would be willing to share the article with other people if you were the reader. If the answer is yes, you are on the right track.</p><p><strong>Perfection isn&rsquo;t always necessary</strong></p><p>You don&rsquo;t really have to work your blog posts until they are perfect in every possible way. You need to be the most concerned with earning the interest of your readers and making sure that you are constantly offering them a solution to their problems. If you are able to achieve that, they will continue to want to read whatever you are posting.</p><p><strong>Exciting title and first paragraph</strong></p><p>If you are able to grab your readers with the title and first paragraph (or teaser paragraph) of your blog article, chances are good that they will read the rest of the article. You only have three seconds from the time that they first start reading to make them want to continue reading. If their interest is not held for more than three seconds, you will lose them altogether.</p><p><strong>Search engine optimization</strong></p><p>It is critical that your content is optimized for the search engines. If it isn&rsquo;t, nobody will be able to find&nbsp; your content and if they can&rsquo;t find it, they can&rsquo;t read it. Make sure that your content has rich and effective keywords that will make it as easy as possible for people to find you.</p><p><strong>A call-to-action</strong></p><p>Having a call-to-action at the end of your blog post is critical. If you don&rsquo;t have one, how do you expect people to find you so that they can interact with you after they have read your blog post? Your call-to-action should never be a hard sell. You should include an Email address and perhaps a phone number. Then, it is up to your readers to decide whether they want to reach out to you.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>Corporate blogging is not that different than other types of blogging. The language may be a little more formal and the topics will be different but if the writing is exciting and compelling, it will have a positive effect on your readers. They will be interested in what you have to say and they will want to get involved in a discussion with you. People love to share their thoughts and opinions with other people. The more you offer other people, the more interested they will be in what you have to say.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/dropdown.js"></script><div id="skypeTransparentDrp"><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent-head"><a href="skype:compukol?call" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Call" title="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/call.png" width="143" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpCall" alt="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="#" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Switch" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/down.png" width="30" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpArrow" alt="" onmouseover="skypeTransparentDrpDown()" onmouseout="skypeTransparentDrpUp();" /></a></div><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent" style="display: none;"><a href="skype:compukol?chat" title="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/2.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-2" alt="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?add" title="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/3.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-3" alt="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?userinfo" title="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/5.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-5" alt="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?sendfile" title="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/6.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="31" id="SkpTranspBtn-6" alt="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a></div></div><p>You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/tips-for-b2b-blogging/' rel='bookmark' title='Tips for B2B Blogging'>Tips for B2B Blogging</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/blogging-101/' rel='bookmark' title='Blogging 101'>Blogging 101</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/why-blogging-is-so-important-to-your-business/' rel='bookmark' title='Why Blogging Is so Important to Your Business'>Why Blogging Is so Important to Your Business</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-art-of-corporate-blogging/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>5</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Art of Conversation and Social Media</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-art-of-conversation-and-social-media/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-art-of-conversation-and-social-media/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:00:22 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Business Relationships]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Networking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Online Communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Networking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conversation]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2623</guid> <description><![CDATA[The success of social media is completely dependent on relationships. Relationships flourish because humans converse with each other on an ongoing and consistent basis. Without conversations, social media would not exist. Everyone must converse to make social media work. You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/heredity-influences-your-approach-to-social-media/' rel='bookmark' title='Heredity Influences Your Approach to Social Media'>Heredity Influences Your Approach to Social Media</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/social-media-in-the-mainstream/' rel='bookmark' title='Social Media in the Mainstream'>Social Media in the Mainstream</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/social-media-impact-on-small-businesses/' rel='bookmark' title='Social Media Impact on Small Businesses'>Social Media Impact on Small Businesses</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>The success of social media is completely dependent on relationships. Relationships flourish because humans converse with each other on an ongoing and consistent basis. Without conversations, social media would not exist. Everyone must converse to make social media work.<span id="more-2623"></span></p><p>It really doesn&rsquo;t matter who you are or how popular or famous you are. Social media works exactly the same for all people across the universe. If social media is going to work for you, you must commit to being consistent and reliable with your conversations that you have with other people online. You may be a person who can handle conversing with numerous people at once or you may be more comfortable with conversing on a regular basis with a smaller number of people. The most important thing is that you are committed to conversing on a regular and consistent basis so that you can build relationships with your online connections that will last a very long time and that are of mutual benefit.</p><p><strong>Not bad, just different</strong></p><p>Contrary to what some people think, conversing through social media has not detracted from face-to-face conversations. It has simply take on a different form. The conversations that take place through social media are often quick and to the point. Many people prefer that to taking a long time to get to the point. It is definitely valuable to learn how to converse in different ways. That is part of what keeps the relationship interesting and fulfilling. It is a misconception that if you converse through social media, you are not able to have a deep, personal relationship with another person. You most certainly can have a relationship that is just as valuable. Eventually (in most cases), you will start to converse with other people with whom you share an online relationship in person. At that point, your relationship will have blossomed to the next level.</p><p><strong>Blogging as a form of conversation</strong></p><p>Blogging can be legitimately viewed as another form of conversation. You write a blog article and share it with people in your social media communities. Your followers read your article and start to discuss some aspect of the article. The definition of conversation is a &ldquo;combination of interaction, spontaneity that follows the rules of etiquette.&rdquo; If you read blog articles that other people write and you react to those articles in writing, you are having a conversation of sorts (although, perhaps not in the traditional sense). In fact, you may find that people will be much more inclined to converse with you than they would if you were interacting with them in person. Many people are bolder when they converse in writing because it isn&rsquo;t quite as frightening or as risky.</p><p><strong>Using various social media channels to converse</strong></p><p>The popularity and &ldquo;user-friendliness&rdquo; of social media makes is very easy for people to converse and for many people to have relationships in general. For example, Facebook and Twitter make it especially easy for people to have interesting and valuable conversations. With Twitter (because of its 140-character maximum per tweet), you converse about all sorts of interesting things in short spurts. With the limited amount of time that people nowadays seem to have for having conversations, it is perfect. Facebook is another excellent social media tool that makes it very easy to have online conversations that are valuable and compelling.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>Social media is definitely here to stay. If you recognize it as part of your everyday business (and personal) life and you figure ways that you can integrate it appropriately when it comes to relating to other people and conversing with them on a regular and consistent basis, you will be opening yourself and your business up to a whole new aspect of communication and conversation and you will be more successful for it.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, <a href="http://www.compukol.com/about/lets-have-coffee/" target="_blank">let&#39;s have coffee</a>.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center;"><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/dropdown.js"></script><div id="skypeTransparentDrp"><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent-head"><a href="skype:compukol?call" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Call" title="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/call.png" width="143" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpCall" alt="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="#" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Switch" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/down.png" width="30" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpArrow" alt="" onmouseover="skypeTransparentDrpDown()" onmouseout="skypeTransparentDrpUp();" /></a></div><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent" style="display: none;"><a href="skype:compukol?chat" title="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/2.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-2" alt="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?add" title="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/3.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-3" alt="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?userinfo" title="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/5.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-5" alt="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?sendfile" title="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/6.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="31" id="SkpTranspBtn-6" alt="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a></div></div><p>You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/heredity-influences-your-approach-to-social-media/' rel='bookmark' title='Heredity Influences Your Approach to Social Media'>Heredity Influences Your Approach to Social Media</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/social-media-in-the-mainstream/' rel='bookmark' title='Social Media in the Mainstream'>Social Media in the Mainstream</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/social-media-impact-on-small-businesses/' rel='bookmark' title='Social Media Impact on Small Businesses'>Social Media Impact on Small Businesses</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-art-of-conversation-and-social-media/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>14</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Formatting Article Titles for Submission</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/formatting-article-titles-for-submission/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/formatting-article-titles-for-submission/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Article Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Content Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[effective writing]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2525</guid> <description><![CDATA[If you write and submit a lot of articles to business directories,  you are aware that there are usually strict submission guidelines that need to be followed. All parts of the article are included, including the title. No related posts.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>If you write and submit a lot of articles to business directories,&nbsp; you are aware that there are usually strict submission guidelines that need to be followed. All parts of the article are included, including the title.<span id="more-2525"></span></p><p>Many of the article directories have specific rules about article titles and if they are not adhered to, your article will most likely be rejected. The rest of your article may totally be top notch but if you don&rsquo;t follow the rules regarding the title to the letter, you won&rsquo;t get anywhere. It is a shame that if your article is rejected because of a formatting issue. Your title must attract real people and encourage them to click on the link and read your article. You need to make sure that your article title is as interesting as possible.</p><p><strong>Don&rsquo;t underestimate the power of a title</strong></p><p>You need to recognize how important titles are and how much thought you need to put into writing them. No doubt, you are spending a lot of time and putting in a great deal of careful effort into writing the body of your article. Are you devoting the same kind of care to your article title? If you are haphazardly putting your title together without too much thought, you are making a mistake. Of course, since you have put all of that wonderful effort into writing your article, you don&rsquo;t want to do anything that would cause it to be rejected because of a technicality.</p><p>There are some standard formatting rules that need to be followed:</p><p><strong>Title case</strong></p><p>Your titles should always be in sentence case. Sentence case means that the first letter of every major word in the title (not articles like &ldquo;the&rdquo; and &rdquo;a&rdquo;). You shouldn&rsquo;t ever use all capital letters in your title. All capital letters just doesn&rsquo;t look professional.</p><p><strong>Impeccable spelling and grammar</strong></p><p>If you have any grammatical or spelling errors in your title, the decision maker at the business directory probably won&rsquo;t even bother reading beyond the title. He or she may think (and justifiably so) that if you don&rsquo;t care enough to ensure that there are no mistakes in your title, why would you care about the rest of it. It makes your content seem like it is mediocre at best. Errors can easily result in your article being rejected. One of the critical places to put strategic and effective keywords or key phrases is in your title. The keywords and key phrases will be picked up by the search engines. If, on the other hand, you have errors in your title, people who are searching for you won&rsquo;t be able to find you and that defeats your purpose entirely.</p><p><strong>The length of your title</strong></p><p>The goal of the article title (always) is to let the reader understand what your article is about. If you don&rsquo;t have enough words in your title, it will be very difficult for your readers to understand what your article is about and to make an informed decision about whether they want to continue reading. A large number of publishers have a minimum word count for the title of two words. Your title needs to be long enough to communicate clearly what your article is about.</p><p><strong>Punctuation</strong></p><p>You shouldn&rsquo;t use quotation marks or most other punctuation marks in your title. Many punctuation marks are not compatible with html and they will be lost in the translation. Additionally, you shouldn&rsquo;t put a period at the end of your title because it causes the reader to pause and you don&rsquo;t want them to pause. You want to have a continuity and a flow that is not interrupted. Readers are easily distracted anyway. You don&rsquo;t want to do anything that causes further distractions. Many article directories will reject your article because of a period in the title.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>As small of a thing as the title of your article seems, it isn&rsquo;t small at all. There is a great deal of thought that goes into the title and writing it so that it entices your readers and compels them to continue reading the rest of your article and then interacting with you and building a relationship with you that will last for a very long time. Remember, you must always write the title with the objective of getting the article accepted for publication and, at the same time, enticing the reader and causing them to want to keep reading what you are writing.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, let&#39;s have coffee.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div><p>No related posts.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/formatting-article-titles-for-submission/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Effective Concepts for Your Blog</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/effective-concepts-for-your-blog/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/effective-concepts-for-your-blog/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[content syndication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[effective writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[get your message across]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media Marketing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[writing skills]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2571</guid> <description><![CDATA[Your blog is for your business but it is also intended to grab the attention of your target audience, which is not such an easy thing to do. You need to write exciting and compelling content that captures their attention. You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/effective-blog-writing-styles/' rel='bookmark' title='Effective Blog Writing Styles'>Effective Blog Writing Styles</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/finding-effective-and-compelling-blog-topics/' rel='bookmark' title='Finding Effective and Compelling Blog Topics'>Finding Effective and Compelling Blog Topics</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/running-out-of-blog-topics-not-anymore/' rel='bookmark' title='Running Out of Blog Topics? Not Anymore'>Running Out of Blog Topics? Not Anymore</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>Your blog is for your business but it is also intended to grab the attention of your target audience, which is not such an easy thing to do. You need to write exciting and compelling content that captures their attention.<span id="more-2571"></span></p><p>It doesn&rsquo;t make any sense to spend a great deal of time on research, thought, and subsequently, writing your content if nobody but you actually reads it. In this day and age of technology, everyone is constantly being bombarded with vast amounts of content on every topic imaginable. So much content is being fed to people that they don&rsquo;t know what to do with it on many occasions. If people read everything that came their way, they wouldn&rsquo;t have time to do anything else in their professional or personal lives. With that concept in mind, it is very important that the content that you are writing and sharing with other people is so strong and compelling that it is constantly being kept at the top of the pile of important things to read.</p><p><strong>A brilliant opening paragraph</strong></p><p>The first thing that you need to consider is your opening paragraph. This paragraph is also called a teaser paragraph because it teases the reader just enough to want to continue reading. Remember, you only have three seconds to capture the attention of the reader enough for them to want to read on. So, you better make it really good. It is critical to your success as a content writer that you share content that is thought provoking and really grabs your readers. Considering that the first few sentences of your opening paragraph are the ones that will be picked up by the RSS feeds, they must really pop. When people scan an article, their eyes move across the page. That is why using bold type and bullet points or numbers is so effective. Once the reader&rsquo;s eyes have moved across the page, they tend to look down the page as opposed to scanning subsequent lines horizontally.</p><p><strong>Use emotion</strong></p><p>Whatever your content is about, there must be an emotional element to it. People react with feelings. Knowing that, you need to make sure that you use keywords and key phrases that affect people emotionally. Whatever the reason other people have for taking an interest in your content, they definitely have a reason. Your main objective when it comes to relating to other people is to help them to solve their problems. If you can do that, you will not only be building meaningful, lasting relationships with them but you will also be gaining loyal clients at some point. If you use the most effective keywords and key phrases, there is a guarantee that you will touch your readers. It is also very important that you speak to your readers at a level that is comfortable for them. Don&rsquo;t use big words merely because you feel that it makes you seem impressive. If you use words that they don&rsquo;t understand, what good will it do for you? If you use simple, straightforward language and the concepts of what you are trying to say are ones that they can relate to, that is really the best approach to take.</p><p><strong>WIIFM (What&rsquo;s In It For Me)?</strong></p><p>When other people read your content, they are spending the time to do that because they are looking for a solution to their problems. They aren&rsquo;t interested in how great&nbsp; you and your business are. They aren&rsquo;t even too interested in what you have accomplished so far (in your business or otherwise). All they need from you is to help them make their problems go away. If you are considering writing something that you think is interesting but that doesn&rsquo;t really benefit them in any way, it isn&rsquo;t worth writing. People want to learn&nbsp; from you and they want to be excited by what you are offering. If you want to maintain the relationship with them, give them something that they can walk away with. Strong relationships are ones where the two people trust each other and feel that the other is credible.</p><p><strong>The presentation of&nbsp; your content</strong></p><p>There are several different approaches that you can use when it comes to capturing the interest of your readers. You can write from the perspective of vulnerability. This will show your readers that you are human, just like them. At the same time, you should always come up with a moral (or solution) to your story. This is the educational part for them. If you taught them something the first time that they read your content, the chances are great that they will keep learning from you. It is definitely worth their while to check it out each time. However you choose to present your content, it needs to touch them in some way and they need to feel that their lives have improved in some way because of it.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>With the amount of information that is available online today, everyone must be choosy when it comes to deciding what to read (and write). You must write content that is valuable, engaging, and educational, and magnetic. Your content should never be about what you can gain personally. It should always be about how you can help the other person to benefit. Their needs are what come first. Remember that if they benefit, you will benefit as well.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, let&#39;s have coffee.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/dropdown.js"></script><div id="skypeTransparentDrp"><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent-head"><a href="skype:compukol?call" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Call" title="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/call.png" width="143" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpCall" alt="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="#" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Switch" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/down.png" width="30" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpArrow" alt="" onmouseover="skypeTransparentDrpDown()" onmouseout="skypeTransparentDrpUp();" /></a></div><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent" style="display: none;"><a href="skype:compukol?chat" title="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/2.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-2" alt="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?add" title="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/3.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-3" alt="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?userinfo" title="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/5.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-5" alt="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?sendfile" title="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/6.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="31" id="SkpTranspBtn-6" alt="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a></div></div><p>You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/effective-blog-writing-styles/' rel='bookmark' title='Effective Blog Writing Styles'>Effective Blog Writing Styles</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/finding-effective-and-compelling-blog-topics/' rel='bookmark' title='Finding Effective and Compelling Blog Topics'>Finding Effective and Compelling Blog Topics</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/running-out-of-blog-topics-not-anymore/' rel='bookmark' title='Running Out of Blog Topics? Not Anymore'>Running Out of Blog Topics? Not Anymore</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/effective-concepts-for-your-blog/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Importance of Online Exposure</title><link>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-online-exposure/</link> <comments>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-online-exposure/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Carolyn Cohn</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Branding]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Online Reputation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reputation Management]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[online exposure]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.compukol.com/?p=2572</guid> <description><![CDATA[The way that people build exposure is very different than what used to be. Before the technical revolution, people would meet for coffee or lunch and get to know to each other. Now, they connect online. Their exposure is critical. You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-online-communities-for-business/' rel='bookmark' title='The Importance of Online Communities for Business'>The Importance of Online Communities for Business</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/syndicating-your-content-how-to-achieve-ultimate-exposure/' rel='bookmark' title='Syndicating Your Content: How to Achieve Ultimate Exposure'>Syndicating Your Content: How to Achieve Ultimate Exposure</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-a-logo-in-social-media-marketing/' rel='bookmark' title='The Importance of a Logo in Social Media Marketing'>The Importance of a Logo in Social Media Marketing</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<style type="text/css">#followform{padding-top:5px;text-align:left}</style><p>The way that people build exposure is very different than what used to be. Before the technical revolution, people would meet for coffee or lunch and get to know to each other. Now, they connect online. Their exposure is critical.<span id="more-2572"></span></p><p>People are still having coffee; however, not necessarily together in person. The relationships that people are maintaining are still just as real as they have ever been. It is just that they are being maintained in a different way. When it comes to online exposure and connecting with other people through the Internet, you have the power to reach many more people at once and you can get your message to them effectively. Online communications have taken over where face-to-face communication used to be. It is; however, important to understand that online interactions and face-to-face interactions should work in tandem. One without the other doesn&rsquo;t have the potency and won&rsquo;t achieve the successful results unless they work together. This is the age of instant gratification. People want information and they want it now. Not only do people want it that way but they expect it and that is how they function comfortably.</p><p><strong>The preferred news source</strong></p><p>People need to be informed of what is going on in the world. In fact, some people are positively addicted to it. One of the main sources where people like to turn is the Internet for that type of information. Many people like to use several different sources for news and the Internet is definitely counted among those sources. Many, many people use the most popular search engines to get their news (such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing, to name a few) several times in any given week. The way in which the news is presented online is very convenient to readers also. The topics are clear and concise and the resources are easily identified. When news is presented online, there are usually links that lead to other interesting information.</p><p><strong>Advertising and promotion</strong></p><p>Advertising and promotion online has an array of possibilities. It is presented differently than it would be with traditional advertising; however, it is no less effective. If your promotional content is presented compellingly and properly, it will grab your readers and will entice them to continue to read whatever you are sharing with them. Even if your readers are not immediately led to your website, they can still have valuable content at their fingertips that will expose them to what you and your business represent and what you are offering.</p><p><strong>Writing different types of content</strong></p><p>If you write a blog article and you post and syndicate it, you don&rsquo;t need to worry about how long it will be available to people who are searching for information within the confines of the topic about which you have written. The article will be available online for a very long time to come (months, and possibly even longer). The more information that originated with you online, the stronger your reputation and online exposure will be.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>It is obvious that the Internet is here to stay. People have gotten so comfortable with using technology and with interacting with one another online. It certainly is much more serious than a passing fad. As a business owner, it is important that you recognize the reality of the Internet for what it is. You must also recognize how important your online exposure is to your success. How you present yourself online will give your reputation unlimited power.&nbsp; It is a powerful and really incredible tool that has the ability to help you and your business to become even more successful than you have been up to this point.</p><p><em>We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, let&#39;s have coffee.</em></p><div allign="center" style="text-align: center; "><a href="/about/lets-have-coffee/"><img alt="Let's Have Coffee" border="0" height="119" src="/wp-content/uploads/cofee.png" title="Let's Have Coffee" width="477" /></a></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/dropdown.js"></script><div id="skypeTransparentDrp"><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent-head"><a href="skype:compukol?call" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Call" title="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/call.png" width="143" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpCall" alt="Call me! - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="#" id="skypeTransparentDrp-Switch" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/down.png" width="30" height="31" id="skypeTransparentDrpArrow" alt="" onmouseover="skypeTransparentDrpDown()" onmouseout="skypeTransparentDrpUp();" /></a></div><div id="skypeDropdown-transparent" style="display: none;"><a href="skype:compukol?chat" title="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/2.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-2" alt="Chat with me - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?add" title="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/3.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-3" alt="Add me to Skype - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?userinfo" title="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/5.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="26" id="SkpTranspBtn-5" alt="View my profile - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a><a href="skype:compukol?sendfile" title="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/transparent_dropdown/6.png" onmouseover="skpBtnOvr(this)" onmouseout="skpBtnOut(this)" width="173" height="31" id="SkpTranspBtn-6" alt="Send me a file - CompuKol Communications: Offline" /></a></div></div><p>You might also like:<ol><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-online-communities-for-business/' rel='bookmark' title='The Importance of Online Communities for Business'>The Importance of Online Communities for Business</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/syndicating-your-content-how-to-achieve-ultimate-exposure/' rel='bookmark' title='Syndicating Your Content: How to Achieve Ultimate Exposure'>Syndicating Your Content: How to Achieve Ultimate Exposure</a></li><li><a href='http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-a-logo-in-social-media-marketing/' rel='bookmark' title='The Importance of a Logo in Social Media Marketing'>The Importance of a Logo in Social Media Marketing</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.compukol.com/blog/the-importance-of-online-exposure/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>
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