Adding a Human Element to Your Content

Content marketing has seen a surge in the recent past and it is not letting up. However, not all content marketers get the hang of how to leverage their content. Readers are not interested in just hearing about the opinions of your brand or reading rewritten material from other industry sources. They want to relate to what you have to say. In fact, most readers are looking for solutions and that is what valuable content should provide.

Adding a human element to your content will make you more believable and that is why Google implemented the Google Hummingbird concept. Instead of writing for the search engine ranking with a bunch of keywords or phrases stuffed here and there throughout an article, why not write specifically to benefit the reader? Here are four guidelines to humanizing your content:

1.    A blog is a great way to break into your industry. It is an excellent tool for building relationships, in addition to social media. A blog is more up and personal. You have to post regular content on your blog, though, that your readers can look forward to. In other words, they will know where to come when they need answers or solutions. Make sure you keep your blog topic-specific, which means, you don’t want to have a blog about pets and you are also including articles on dating, unless your furry feline, for example, is dating another pet (just kidding!) A little humor helps too.

2.    Conduct extensive research on the topic that you are writing about. Don’t do this haphazardly. Spend some time to dig deep into the soul of the Internet. Your readers can tell if you put a lot of work into an article or not.

3.    Make sure that your content is properly edited. If you need help in this area, hire a writer and editor like myself. View my prices here. A girl has to eat, right? Once you have written a piece of content, share it with your Twitter followers and Facebook fans as well as other social media platforms such as Google+.

4.    Add infographics, videos and images to your content to make them more visually appealing.

Don’t worry about how many words you have in your article. For the most part, a 500-word article is quite acceptable, but if you end up with 400 words, so be it. Quality is more important than quantity. Remember, you are not writing for an article directory or search engine. You are writing to please your readers. Although not your entire focus, write an attention-grabbing title with keyword included. This will get your reader to pay attention, but write content that informs the reader rather than seduce them. Many copywriters would disagree, but who cares? My ethical obligation is to my readers and it should be the same with you. You want your readers to trust you. No one wants to deal with someone who has ulterior motives or bad intentions. With valuable and interesting content, readers will want to share with their friends and associates.

PAUSE: Take a look at this book written to support the victims of child abuse and view other books written and featured on AMAZON.

Leave your Ego at the Door

This is not about you! You are creating content for the reader and you must have the best of intentions – not necessarily writing to specifically sell a product or service, but writing to share your knowledge and expertise. Of course, your content will eventually sell the product because if this is your only source of income, no one expects that you are just going to be a sucker. You simply can’t, if you have mouths to feed.

Write as if you were the reader. What would you want to read and is your own content worth reading? When you create value, you build stronger connections and relationship with your reader – addressing the issues of concern to the reader. You will become the ‘go to’ person when your reader is looking for similar information.

Conclusion

When you use the appropriate techniques to relate to your readers, content writing becomes easier and is more effective in reaching your desired audience; driving traffic to your website and making you look like the expert and leader you are. Purchase one of my latest book on AMAZON and you, too can enjoy the kind of content created for readers like you.

Targeting the Prospect’s Emotions

When you are writing an article, book, electronic book or web content, the prospect’s emotions should be your main target. Believe it or not, people purchase from emotions. Your content has to be focused on what they are feeling at the moment and how you can solve it. People are looking for you to solve their problems. If you can write content that speaks directly to their immediate situation and give them a reason why they should consider the solution you will be providing, you will get the sale.

The Benefits

A prospect looks for benefits of a product or service. What’s in it for me? This is the question in mind when someone comes to your website or reads your blog and articles. If you list the features of the product or service instead of the benefits it will provide to the prospect, you will lose out on a long term customer. Listing the benefits means that you are going to mention the problem first and then give the prospect the solutions that could fix the problem.

Example:

Let’s say you are selling pills for migraine headaches, your copy headline could read something like this:

Have you ever had an excruciating migraine that you just cannot get rid of?

OR

Your migraine is becoming quite unbearable in your life, isn't it?

Notice, I asked a question. By now, your visitor knows that you understand how ‘unbearable’ and ‘excruciating’ a migraine can be. Those are strong words, but they evoke emotions. Your next words, then would be, “I understand what you are going through because I know someone or I have experienced the very same thing.”

Getting Attention

Now you have their attention. What? You or someone you know has gone through the same thing? That is what the visitor is thinking. So that means you more than understand what they are feeling. You have empathy for the prospect and they can sense it through your words.

Next, you would say something like, “Yes, for years I had been searching for something that would stop this pain forever, but couldn't find it until I discovered…”

This is when you put a name to your product and now you are going to list the benefits that the product provides such as:

•         Name of product helped me and my customers to get rid of the migraines once and for all.
•          It provided the relief that I was seeking and it will do the same for you
•          No longer do I suffer from migraines. In fact, I don’t even remember having them and by this time next week, you will feel the same way I do

Humanize the Content

Now, the prospect views you as an ally and not a salesperson. You have gotten their attention because you put a human component to your product in this case. You identified with the person’s feeling because you or someone you knew was feeling pain, seeking a solution and found it. Do you think you would get the sale or a subscriber sign up after this? Of course, you would.

This is how you target someone’s emotions. You let them know that you understand and that you know exactly what they need to fix it. You are now the expert and they will trust you. In addition, you should provide honest testimonials because this does help.

Conclusion

I hope you take note of what is required to reach the targeted prospects that you are seeking. They don’t care about the product features as much. They care that you care!! Go on over to Amazon to view and purchase books that I have written. 

Why Your Business Needs Fresh Content?

So you have a business online, but you are only featuring your products and/or service and wondering why you are not receiving as many sales as other online marketers. Does that sound like you? Well, instead of sitting around waiting for the next sale, why not reach out to your target market to show them that you really care about them? How? I am glad you asked!

Content – that is what people want first. When someone thinks about buying a product or receiving a service, their first thought process is to search for information about it. Most people will go directly to the search engines to find out more about your product/service. Of course, when they come to your website, you may only have a listing and description of the product/service, but what about a list of the benefits that it can provide to the user? And I am not just talking about telling someone that your product will do this or that. It is more than that.

Let’s say you are selling weight loss tablets on your website, your goal should be about letting the prospect know that you understand what they are going through. So you have to speak to their emotions. If you have a personal story, then tell it! The prospect will be able to see that you are a real person. This will get their attention faster.

A Blog is In Order

You should never have a website without hosting and maintaining a blog. A blog platform where you post regularly will take your prospects away from your main website, but it will get them in a better frame of mind to see that you are not just selling a product, but a brand and providing information that is valuable. Your blog is the area where you build relationships through valuable content.

Your blog is where you talk about issues that people are going through as it relates to your product or service. This is where you post information that your prospect may not easily find. You talk about what benefits your prospect will receive from your product. In some cases, you don’t even mention your product in the body of the content until you get to the last paragraph; where you will include a link to your product and invite the prospect to take a look.

You don’t want your posts to be promotional. People get turned off by this and the search engine’s new algorithm, Google Hummingbird prefers that your posts be conversational and beneficial to what the person searched for.

The Importance of Content

Content is so important to your business. It gives you expert status. When someone reads your content and is able to tell that you have in-depth knowledge and expertise, who do you think they will come to for more information? You, of course! So why are you not writing fresh content? Is it because you don’t’ have time, you don’t know how or you just don’t care? You are leaving money on the table, if you aren't. 

It is better to hire a writer to do the job for you rather than be so laid back that you don’t take the initiative. Outsourcing is not new and you may need to get on board if you want your online business to catapult. With this advancing information age, you cannot afford not to. And, in addition, you will be able to reach a wider audience. While you sleep, people from all over the world will be looking at what you have to say. Lead them with your content. Don’t lead them with your product page.

If you would like to hire my writing expertise or purchase one of my self-published books to support a full-time writer, then please go to my Amazon Book Page by clicking the link. 

Choosing a Quality Writer

I am a full time Freelance Writer with more than 15 years experience in writing and editing:

• Articles
• Ebooks
• Manuals
• Web Content
• Books
• Blogging

Due to my excellent research skills and years of experience, I write on a wide range of niches such as:

• Online Marketing
• Pets
• Dental 
• Business
• Lawn Care
• Home Improvement
• Lifestyle/Travel
• Health
• Fitness
• Relationship
• Dating
• Family
• Social Issues
• Current News

And so much more...

In fact, I have gained so much insight and knowledge over the years, it has made me essentially an expert in several niches. I am also a self-published author. You can find my books at http://tinyurl.com/cplawson. Trial and error has been my friend over the years. I have also learned that in life there will be risks, tough decisions to make, and failure. With failure comes experience so don't be afraid to fail as long as you are willing to learn from it.

Choosing quality over price
There are many online businesses that want to know how to have a strong online presence. In part, you have to market your website, but quality content does play a major role. Some online business owners choose to work with writers who will accept $5 per 500-word article, but while you may be trying to stay within a budget, it can cost you more in the long run. It does no good to have an article stuffed with keywords and doesn't flow or benefit the reader. It is better to pay $15 for a 500-word article that will result in good readership, more traffic and so people can respect what you put out there.

Maintaining a Good Reputation 
An online reputation is just as important as running a business. You want your visitors and readers to see you as the expert. Once you hire a writer, he or she should write content that represents your brand. You will want to choose someone that speaks and writes native English. Of course, there are many writers from the Philippines that write good English and will accept the low price point, but their cost of living is lower than other third world countries. It may sound harsh, but it is the truth.

SEO
Search engine optimization is an important aspect of running an online business. There are companies that do offer SEO writing, but the big companies outsource their work to non-native and native English speakers. With a writer like me, you don't run that risk and you get personalized service according to your specific instructions. None of the work is outsourced. I will do everything myself. I take on the amount of work that I can manage and so your work becomes my priority. Of course, you are not going to get the $5 per 500-word price because my time is also significant and before I write an article, I will do in-depth research, which can be time consuming. Depending on your needs, pricing will start at $18 per 500-word. I will do any amount of revision you need to ensure that you get exactly what you want done.

Writing Samples
I will be posting writing samples on this blog. However, below, you will find links to samples I have already written at:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Cheryline_lawson

http://www.examiner.com/article/shopping-on-a-low-budget-for-the-holidays

http://www.moneyjournal.com/lottery-payout/

http://www.moneyjournal.com/home-mortgage/

http://marketingden.net/forum/social-media-marketing-discusses/6-tips-to-effectively-marketing-using-twitter/
http://marketingden.net/forum/social-media-marketing-discusses/linking-your-twitter-facebook-and-linkedin-accounts/
http://marketingden.net/forum/internet-marketing-den/youtube-video-marketing-essentials/

http://marketingden.net/forum/social-media-marketing-discusses/making-good-use-of-linkedin-network/
http://marketingden.net/forum/internet-marketing-den/why-people-come-to-your-website/
http://marketingden.net/forum/internet-marketing-den/ways-to-improve-your-online-presence/http://marketingden.net/forum/product-creation-for-beginners/making-the-most-of-private-label-rights
http://americanlivewire.com/yosemite-wildfires-force-evacuations
http://americanlivewire.com/measles-texas-church-places-radar

Here are some samples of web pages that I worked on:

http://www.harcourts.com.au

http://www.marketinggiant.org/

http://surfacesinc.biz

http://masonrybysteve.com

http://aaaberdeenhvac.com

http://hammessandandgravel.com

http://imhvac.com

http://truth-moving.com

How to reach me
You can reach me via email at octane360@gmail.com and let me know precisely what you need done. I do check my email throughout the day and so you will get a quick response to your email. Take action today if you are looking for quality content from an expert writer. Send an email NOW!

Writing electronic books

If you have never ventured into the electronic book market, you are leaving money on the table. For one, Kindle Publishing provides an excellent platform for selling your expertise and receiving monthly royalties for the rest of your life. You can also write and offer your ebook (electronic book) for sale on a wide range of other platforms such as Barnes and Nobles, Lulu, BookBaby, your blog, and Amazon. So why aren't you documenting what you already know and what others are searching for?

You should conduct research to see what others are looking for, but if you have knowledge of a particular subject, then you should make this your first ebook since you already have in-depth knowledge about it. People value the information that experts like you can provide. For example, if you have worked in a specific field such as building contractor, you may be able to help people seeking information on:

• How to build their first home
• What to look for when hiring a building contractor
• What licensing is required from your local municipality to build a home
• How to find a building contractor
• How much do you expect to spend in improving a basement

These are only some of the things that you can write about. If you have written various articles on topics related to your expertise, you can use each of them in different chapters of your electronic book. Once you have created your ebook, it is now time to do the marketing. If you have a Facebook or Twitter following, be sure to announce your ebook before you even finish it. When it has been completed, it is time now to write articles and post them to article directories with a link to your ebook at the end of the article. Be sure to give the reader a call to action in the resource box.

Other things to consider
Submit your ebook to all the channels that will accept your ebook, but start with Kindle Publishing. Be sure that you have a captivating cover. If you don't know how to create an ebook cover, solicit the services of a professional. It doesn't have to cost you an 'arm and a leg.' You can go to Fiverr.com and find ebook cover creators that charge a small cost of $5 to $10. It is that simple. You may have to buy an image at iStock Photo. Don't ever attempt to copy and save an image from Google Images because many of those images are copyrighted.

Conclusion
Don't let fear stop you from trying new things. Let your writing do the talking. You can use a pen name and not your real name when publishing your book to stay anonymous. You can do this and you don't even need the required expertise. Once you are good at researching and understanding certain concepts and information, you can write an electronic book that provides value to the readers. Good luck! By the way, visit my book page to see how I did it - Click MY BOOK PAGE here.

Writing as a hobby or paid for your service

If you are a hobby writer, you can turn your writing expertise in a full time business. As a hobby writer, you can write whenever you want and at various different price points. You can even become a regular contributor as a guest blogger or just to get your name out there, but why do that when you have the skills to do otherwise.

A full time writing business is more lucrative and fulfilling. You get to write on a wide range of topics or a specific niche. You also provide information to your audience that can change lives, motivate others, offer important details and show you as an expert in a particular field.

Nothing is wrong with starting out with writing as a hobby, but use this platform to build a readership. Get your name out there so that when you decide to make the full transition, at least, you won't be a stranger.

You can begin by creating a blog and making regular posts such as twice per week. Allow your readers to make comments on your blog posts. Write articles and submit to article directories such as ezinearticles.com. You can use this platform to gain expert and platinum status. Moreover, ezinearticles.com has a high search engine ranking and you can 'ride on their coat tail,' so to speak. You get heightened recognition by being an expert writer on 'heavy hitters,' like ezinearticles.com.

If you do not want to pursue a full time writing career, at least make some money while you use writing as a hobby. How? Sign up as an Amazon affiliate, for example, and sell books on your blog. This may give you the impetus to transition into a full time writing career.

The sky is the limit to what you can do with a writing career. You can write electronic books and sell them on Kindle Publishing. You can write articles for other people. A great place to start bidding for article writing is Elance.com. It may be a bidding war, but you can write a winning proposal to get your bid noticed and picked. Elance.com has free and paid membership so you really have nothing to lose.

You could also think about starting that book you have always wanted to write. The hardest part is getting started because of fear or you don't know how to get it published. There are websites like CreateSpace.com and Amazon.com, which allow you to self publish your work. So again, there is no excuse. Even if you are an hobbyist, you can still get that book out. That will push you to write more and get into the writing arena full time.

As an avid writer myself, I can tell you that I began writing several years ago, but didn't take it that seriously since I had a full time 9-5 job. When my mom died 7 years ago, I had no choice because of the situation she left, to get into writing full time. I had to be able to travel to see my ailing dad often and no company would put up with my frequent departure. So I went back to my writing and the rest is history. I am a self-published author of several books on CreateSpace.com and Amazon.com. I also write articles, web content and electronic books for online marketers, which is also a rewarding and lucrative way of acquiring a full time income.

So I encourage you to look at writing more seriously once you have the talent and skill to do it well. In the beginning, you may have to settle for low pay, but as you build your portfolio, you will land higher paying gigs. So go for it. Please visit my Amazon page to look at some of my books. A writer loves to get feedback from readers. Click to go to MY BOOK PAGE HERE.