WordPress powers millions of websites around the globe. This free content management system is not only easy to learn, but it provides an astounding number of plugins that help blog writers enhance their site. You can download plugins to optimize your site for the search engines, manage your RSS feed, or create a subscriber list. If you’re not taking advantage of these programs, you’re not getting the most out of your site. Whether you’re new to online content writing or have been blogging for years, here are five WordPress plugins that you need to know about:

1) All in One SEO Pack. “All in One SEO Pack” automatically optimizes your blog for the major search engines, ensuring your site gets indexed by the spiders. Not only does “All in One SEO Pack” generate meta tags automatically, this plugin upgrades your article titles. It works out of the box, so even if you’re a WordPress newbie, you can get started optimizing your site right away. No need to worry about configuring options or reviewing tricky settings.

2) WordPress SEO by Yoast. This is another SEO plugin that can’t be missed. This program makes sure your blog is found by Google, Bing, and Yahoo and it offers several ways to improve your offerings. You can preview snippets of your entries before you publish them, allowing you to double-check if your title is the right length or if your meta-tags make sense. “Word Press SEO” also includes a page analysis option that lets you know if your post is too short or if you’ve forgotten an image for your latest article. Keep an eye on the nuts and bolts of good online writing by downloading this plugin.

3) Google XML Sitemaps. Much like the name suggests, this generates XML sitemaps that helps not only Google, but all the major search engines to better index your website. A well-done sitemap lets spiders to find your web page more efficiently, preventing you from getting lost in the shuffle. Good indexing is crucial to appearing at the top of the search results page, so be sure to add this gem to your blog.

4) WordPress to Twitter. These days you can’t avoid social media and Twitter is one of the fastest growing social media sites. Use “WordPress to Twitter” to create a status update for your Twitter account based on your latest piece or blog post. This plugin uses a URL shortening service to provide a link back to your entry from Twitter, allowing you to catch your readers who are on the go.

5) Google Analytics for WordPress. If you crave Meta data, then this is the plugin for you. Simple to install and brimming with useful information. With “Google Analytics for WordPress” you can take advantage Google Analytics API by authenticating and selecting the site you want to track. Once installed, you’re able to access Automatic Google Analytics site speed tracking, view outbound link and downloads tracking, and track a variety of custom variables that range from author to post type.

Sara Onderdonk is a member of the Content and Article Writers Network of Internet Writers and Bloggers. To learn more about the CAW Network go to http://www.ContentAndArticleWriters.com

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Like many content writers, you probably landed your first few gigs by responding to opportunities posted on sites like Craigslist. Word of mouth, volunteer experience, friends and family all help a writer build a clip portfolio, but to earn a living you need to establish a steady paying clientele. If you’ve acquired some experience, you’re probably started advertising your services on Craigslist or other freelance web sites. You may have created your own personal writing web page so potential clients can view your clips online or check out your blog.

These steps are a good way to begin growing your client base, but to succeed in the long term you need to do more. You’ll want to attract a steady flow of assignments and establish a pool of high-quality clients that will hire you again and again. To ensure you have a regular supply of income, you need a website that will convert potential customers into paying customers. Today’s market is competitive and it’s important to develop a strategy for search engine optimization that will work over time.

Researching your target market and selecting the right keywords enables you to drive traffic to your web page and guarantees you connect with the best patrons for your business. Update your blog frequently to ensure your site is indexed by the search engines on a regular basis and retains a top-ranking in the search results. Treat your site as an chance to market yourself as a professional. Your blog, writer bio, and satisfied customer reference page will provide opportunities to showcase your skill as a writer and convince prospects to choose you for their next project.

Once your business begins to grow, it’s time to consider outsourcing projects. Collaborating with a team of freelance content specialists allows you to expand your business and earn more. There are myriad tasks that you can delegate: updating your blog, writing simple articles, or completing short assignments. When you spend less time on low-level jobs you have the time to focus on more profitable work. You’ll also be able to venture into new niches and ensure a constant supply of fresh material for your clients. Because the freelancers you select reflect on you as a professional, it’s important to hire article writers with a history of providing dynamic, unique content.

Finding individuals that can deliver outstanding copy is a challenge when you don’t have a dependable source. Here at ContentandArticleWriters.com we have a pool of over 100 talented writers with experience in covering a wide range of topics. All submitted pieces are vetted by our editing service to guarantee that you receive high-quality writing that is error-free and completely original. Don’t worry about tackling your increasing workload all by yourself. Let us help you take your writing business to the next level with our proven team of reliable outsource writers.

Sara Onderdonk is a member of the Content and Article Writers Network of Internet Writers and Bloggers. To learn more about the CAW Network go to http://www.ContentAndArticleWriters.com

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As writers, we all know that delivering great content for paying clients is what puts food on the table and keeps us in the style to which we’ve become accustomed to (ie. the happy beneficiary of a basic cable subscription). This restricts you to satisfying your clients’ demands and covering topics and angles that serve your customers, rather than your creative spirit. By maintaining a personal writing blog, content writers and article writers can give inspiration free rein and offer prospects the chance to discover the “real” writer behind the professional content.

Your personal writing blog is just that, personal. A successful blog writer uses his or her blog as a platform to showcase what sets his or her writing apart and so should you. Your blog should have “you” stamped all over it. Cover topics that interest you and take the opportunity to tap into communities of like-minded individuals. If you love skiing, stamp collecting, or sky-diving then share your passion with your readers. Just because you specialize in generating content for the healthcare industry doesn’t mean you can write about your interest in running marathons.

In addition to blogging about what moves you, design your blog to reflect your personality. If you love color, then your blog should be bold and bright. Are you more refined? Reflect that by choosing an elegant layout with a classic color scheme. Easily recognized websites convey personal choice and choice. Just because a three-column layout is standard doesn’t mean you have to use it if you’re a minimalist. Your site should be instantly identifiable as 100 percent authentic you, from the masthead down to the fonts.

The key advantage of a blog is that it gives you the chance to do what you love: write. The more you update your site, the more clearly your voice and style as a writer will emerge. Every entry will be a chance to challenge you as an artist. You can try new techniques, explore different media, and learn what works for you and what doesn’t. The more you contribute to your blog, the more you’ll want to contribute and soon you’ll have a dedicated following eagerly awaiting your next anecdote.

Your blog may be about you but remember to plan and edit your posts with care. You want to highlight your best self as a writer. By putting thought into what you publish, you speak volumes about the quality of writing you can provide to future customers. Readers appreciate thoughtful writing and will be more likely to return to check out your latest update on your attempt at mastering the ancient art of floral arrangement if you consistently offer entertaining new personal experiences and insights.

By keeping a thriving personal blog, you’ll satisfy your personal desire for self-expression. You’ll also give clients a glimpse of the person behind the words and display your range and capabilities as a writer. Your blog is an invaluable marketing tool and can be one of your greatest pleasures. Join the ranks of blog post writers around the world and let your true self shine.

Sara Onderdonk is a member of the Content and Article Writers Network of Internet Writers and Bloggers. To learn more about the CAW Network go to http://www.ContentAndArticleWriters.com

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Are you a professional content writer or interested in writing articles for websites? If you answered “yes,” then you need an editor. You may be an ace author—you know your grammar, love conjuring creative sentences, and can rattle off a dozen synonyms for even the trickiest words. Your prose still needs polishing after you’ve completed your final draft. Even experienced writers benefit from a having their writing reviewed by a second set of eyes. If you hope to write for a living, an editor can be one of your greatest resources:

• Two Pairs of Eyes are better than one. You may have reread your finished piece several times, but it’s possible that you missed a typo or grammatical error. An editor will spot any mistakes you may have overlooked when proofing your own work. Article writers can submit with confidence, knowing that they have a back-up to self-proofing.
• Feedback leads to a stronger finished product. Talented editors don’t just check for misspellings or rogue punctuation marks. Your editor can provide valuable suggestions for overall organization or an effective way to reword an awkward sentence. If your article needs focus or may benefit from exploring a different direction, an editor will bring these issues to your attention.  Content creators from all backgrounds –from press release writers to blog post writers—profit from a fresh take on their writing. Pay close attention and you’ll learn how to circumvent your common bad habits. You’ll also pick up new techniques and strategies to enliven your style.
• Editors have a wealth of information. Editors have their fingers on the pulse of their industry. They can provide you with topic ideas, leads, and discourage you from pursuing a lost cause. These professional readers can let writers know what subjects need more coverage and which ideas have been overexposed. They have a feel for which building trends can serve as inspiration for your next online editorial or blog series. By asking questions and listening to what your editor has to say, you will have a great sounding board to guide you towards exciting new areas of interest.

Behind every skilled article writer is an equally adept editor. Take full advantage of the many ways an editor refines your copy. Every revision provides an opportunity to hone your skills as a communicator. The thorough review an editor performs will clean up your work and teach you new ways to bring your craft to the next level.

Hiring an Editor to Work for You

The average article writer or content writer can’t afford to hire an editor. Quality editors charge at least $25 per hour, more than what an internet writer gets paid for a basic 500 word SEO article and almost as much as what we can get for a content page. It’s a shame, because the writers working in these markets are probably the ones who could most benefit from the services of a good editor. How else can they expect to move on to better paying work? Here at Content and Article Writers, we have come up with a solution. By subsidizing a small group of editors and providing them with steady work, we’re able to lower the price charged to the writer to just $95 per month. For that, you receive editing for up to 10,000 words (a $500 value). Contact us at contentandarticlewriters@gmail.com to learn more.

Sara Onderdonk is a member of the Content and Article Writers Network of Internet Writers and Bloggers. To learn more about the CAW Network go to http://www.ContentAndArticleWriters.com

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Many blog post writers think the key to mastering SEO rests solely in selecting the right keywords. They couldn’t be more wrong. Using the right keywords is important, but the real path to SEO success relies on creating good content that provides value for your readers. Search engines have become better at separating junk content from actual content, so providing quality content is a must for your article to get ranked highly by search engines. Even more importantly, good content encourages readers to return to your website.

The first tip content writers should keep in mind is to write what you know. If you’re covering a subject you know little about it will show. Research your topic and write articles that feature topics you have a strong interest in. When you cover areas that interest you, your energy and passion will come through in your writing. In addition to writing about what you know, providing accurate information is essential to creating value for your readers. Visitors to your website will return often if you offer them quality information. Readers that find your content useful often will link back to your post resulting not only in more visitors, but better search result rankings.

When your goal is to write good content, it becomes easier to weave your keywords in naturally. In order to maintain the integrity on your content, avoid keyword stuffing. The best way to avoid this pitfall is to select 2-3 keywords and use each keyword once in your piece, one keyword per paragraph in the top portion of your piece. Focus on writing great articles and integrating keywords that fit the topic you’re writing about. Keep in mind that blog post tags and categories are a great opportunity to use important keywords without seeming awkward. By choosing keywords with care, internet article writers will be able to attract search engines and readers alike.

The last part of writing thoughtful, well-researched content is to publish frequently and to maintain a high standard of professionalism. Successful writers strive to bring exciting new insights to their readers regularly. The more pages of content your website has, the more likely it is that your site will show up in search results. By publishing new content on a consistent schedule, you give readers a reason to come back to your website and develop trust for your expertise. Updating regularly establishes that you take your writing seriously and encourages the reader to do the same. All your wonderful content can be undone by poor grammar and proofreading skills. Take the time to double-check your work or risk losing your readers’ respect with a careless typo that could have been avoided.

High-quality content is the best weapon you have in conducting a successful SEO campaign. Readers and search engines are savvy enough to separate spam from useful content and will avoid sites that don’t provide the latter. Good content attracts readers, builds a relationship with your target audience, and earns higher rankings in web searches.

Sara Onderdonk is a member of the Content and Article Writers Network of Internet Writers and Bloggers. To learn more about the CAW Network go to http://www.ContentAndArticleWriters.com

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Your prose is breathtaking, sentence structure is beyond reproach, metaphors are all used properly, and there’s an infusion of humor that lightens the mood appropriately. It’s all there, but no one is commenting or even reading your blog post. Why do you think that is? Words are a way to create an image in the mind, but pictures are what capture the eye, and the imagination, for most internet readers. If you don’t have pictures and images in your posts, you don’t have an audience. It’s sad, but it’s true.

We live in a world made up of video gamers, YouTubers, and graphic novel aficionados. To capture their attention, you don’t just need a stock pic or some old clip-art; you need images that reach out and grab, not vulgar or pornographic renditions, but unique and intriguing photos and cartoons that stimulate the imagination. The words will give them the image you’re trying to portray, but the initial glance needs to linger longer than just a few seconds if they’re going to actually get to the reading part.

Every writer knows this, yet there are still many who’ll post only words on their blog. Some may tamper with the theme, thinking it’s cool to have some dark colors or bright pink flowers around the edges, but what about syndication? The RSS feed or autoblog isn’t going to carry the theme to new readers. They will see only words, and they will pass you by. What if these ships in the night are potential clients? You’ll continue to share like Shakespeare for free; another writer will reap the paid rewards.

A picture truly does paint a thousand words, especially on the internet. Flash banners tend to be annoying, but a relevant photo will make folks stop and sit a spell. Couple it with quality writing and you’ll find your blog gets a lot more traffic. If you’re writing for profit, that’s the most important variable in the equation. If you’re writing for cause or effect, you’ll need readers to accomplish your goals. A picture can help you do that.

Do you need help posting a picture or image?

Are you having difficulty incorporating pictures into your blog? Many content writers are great with words and terrible with technology. Article writers tend to rely on the directories they submit to for their images. If you are having difficulty, look for a small box directly over the text area you’re pasting into. Hover your cursor over that box and you’ll see the words “insert image”. Click it, pick an image from your computer where you saved it, and then set the “align” feature to left. The picture will show in the top left of the article, with text wrapped around it, just like we did here.

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Blatant promotion on Facebook will get you nowhere. People aren’t there to look for services or products. If they wanted either they would be surfing on Google. Social media is exactly what its name suggests – a social experience. Guys and gals around the world are going to their home page to check on what other people are doing. Its curiosity, not shopping, that drives social networks, so how do you tap into those huge communities of potential clients? You do it by using one of the oldest forms of marketing on earth. Hang a sign out and let people see it. Eventually, they’ll come to you.

Social media marketing for writers is simple. Let everyone know that you’re a writer. There are small business owners in your friend and follower sections who could use your services. You don’t have to post every day that you’re available; just put a few lines under your name at the top of the page and tell visitors what you do. If you’re looking to elaborate on that, have conversations with friends about new projects you’re working on or writer interests that you have. Even if no one comments, they’re still watching.

Another key to social media is choosing the right networks to belong to. Linked In is the top professionals’ network on the web. They even have writer forums you can participate in to pool knowledge. Content and Article Writers is a social network also, one where you can publish blog posts to highlight your writing skills. If you’re receiving this email, it’s likely that you’re a member of CAW. Have you used your blog yet? Make sure you do. We’ll be inviting clients to the site in January and they will be looking for samples.

Badges are also pretty useful for social media promotion. If you go to the bottom right corner of the Main Page of Content and Article Writers you’ll see a spot where you can create your own badge. Do it. It identifies you as a writer and will bring new clients and writers into our community. The more, the merrier. There’s plenty of work out there for internet writers and we want everyone to know that those writers can be found here.

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It’s as simple as that. If you’re not consistently adding dynamic content to your website, you will not be able to maintain any type of high page rank with Google, Yahoo, Bing, or anyone else who uses an algorithm to order their listings. Submit to all the directories you like, bookmark with social media sites, and add Meta tags to all your pages, but if you don’t increase the size of your website with relevant content writing you will not see significant traffic. Internet marketing professionals and SEO specialists know this, and they’ve known it for years.

The whole point of algorithmic changes by Google earlier this year was to produce more relevant results for web surfers. When you enter a keyword into the search field, you don’t want to see an ordered list of websites that have the most directory links for that keyword. You want to find the products or information that you’re looking for. All Google did with their Panda update was make the content a more important variable than the link count. Yahoo and Bing have since followed suit with changes of their own. What’s the result of all this? You need to add content or lose your page rank.

Content Development Dos and Don’ts

Use your blog. It’s the best possible advice we can give to you. If you have any writing ability at all, start blogging about your company on your company website. You’ll probably get tired of writing after a while and you’ll most likely hit a major case of writing block at some point, but start the process. Once you’ve laid the foundation with a few posts, contact us and we’ll pick it up where you left off. If you don’t have any writing skills, have us start blog post writing for you right away.

Take a look at your site map and develop a plan to add static pages to your site. Valid information about your industry, products, or services is a valued commodity on the web. Our writers know how to create the pages with the proper mix of keywords to score you a high page rank with the search engines. We recommend that you do not attempt to create content pages if you don’t have a working knowledge of recommended keyword density and search engine marketing techniques.

Article writing for directories is still good for link building, but don’t submit the same article to multiple directories. That might get you a few direct hits if anyone sees what you write, but submitting original articles to high PR sites like Ezine, Helium, and Squidoo will give you actual link juice, the necessary accelerant to attain high page rank. Contact Content and Article Writing today to learn more about how to do this. Our team of article writers knows exactly how to get you the results you desire. We’ve been doing it since 2007 and we’ve produced consistently positive results for our clients.

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They say it in real estate, but it’s just as true on the Internet. “Location, location, location.” When it comes to real estate in cyberspace, this means that if you want to get found, it’s critical to post your information in places where people are going to look. But where exactly is that? A good place to start is local search directories. Since the majority of things people do take place in and around the places they live, this means that a good deal of web searching is locally driven. That’s why posting content on local directories can be an SEO gold mine.

Local search marketing is pretty simple: put your content where it’s most likely to convert sales. Of course, part of the marketing model you adopt for your business should be to disseminate info to the places where everyone goes the most. But while sites like Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are highly trafficked social scenes, only a fraction of users will know you exist (and most of those who do will not be in your area). The other part of your marketing model should be to post content in places that only some people will go—but everyone will see. By doing some content development on local search directories like Google Maps and Google Places, you’ll be posting content about your business to local consumers who are highly likely to search the very directories you post on, dramatically increasing the likelihood that those consumers will become your customers.

A great example of a local directory is Leominsterwebsites.com. It’s a guide to local services, recreation spots, entertainment, and shopping that are in and around Leominster, Massachusetts. Consider a restaurant in Leominster that wants to post menus, rave reviews, special promotions, and contact info on the local search directory, for example. Someone reading the content is more likely to try the restaurant because she probably lives in Leominster, or close by—as opposed to the guy in Los Angeles who lives 3,000 miles away and simply friended them on Facebook because he likes the menu.

SEO doesn’t only mean optimizing your website so it ranks well in the Google SERP. It also means optimizing your business itself so its online presence reaches a customer base that’s relevant. And while it’s true that the more global sites on the web give users access to a wider range of information, what’s really most relevant to people is always what’s right next door. If your name appears there, then you’ve snagged a piece of cyberspace with a seriously high property value.

For Writers:

The CAW Directory Project will be coming to Boston, MA on December 15, 2011. To learn more and get involved, go to http://www.contentandarticlewriters.com/service-directories/

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As of June 2011, over 346 million websites existed on the Internet. And if you want to talk about the number of individual web pages or web addresses, the number is significantly larger—like 1 trillion unique URLs on the web as far back as three years ago, according to Google. What does it all mean? That there is massive amount of content out there. The natural question for any business with an Internet presence is how to stand out among the crowd. The answer is simple: quality content. But what isn’t so simple is the realization that content development should come before website creation.

Imagine you had to write some song lyrics. What would be easier: writing lyrics into the confines of pre-existing music, or just simply writing what comes to mind with no restrictions? Obviously the latter would be the easier of the two choices. The same is true for your website content. That’s why content writing should come first: because it’s easier to design a site around your content than it is to try and fit your content into a pre-existing site that can’t handle it. For example, you may have content that’s perfect for sidebars or hover-over pop up windows. Better to create those elements for the content, rather than program them into your design and then struggle to find copy to fill them. Keeping content first keeps you free to say what you need to say without restrictions. And when you’re ready to develop your website, it’s best to choose styles and design elements that work well with your existing content.

That’s where CA Website Creation comes in. A division of Content and Article Writing, CA Website Creation is one of the few content-based web design companies on the web. This means that they design your website after your content writers have created your top-notch web copy, and help you develop and design a site that showcases it best. Even if you have an existing website, CA Website Creation can offer design modifications that will help you incorporate better elements such as sidebars, pop-up windows, additional pages, and different page layouts—all from a content-based perspective.

And if you’re thinking that music is sometimes just as important as lyrics, that’s only true in songwriting. When it comes to websites, content is always king. And why is that, anyway? Because people want information above all else. That’s why they’re searching, and that’s what the search engines are dedicated to giving them. Sure, websites that are artfully designed with the latest technologies are interesting to look at and fun to navigate—but just remember that Craigslist is one of the most popular websites in the world.

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