Archive for SEO Copywriting

There’s still no easy way out of this demanding craft

In the last six months, every SEO copywriting blog on the Internet has decided that SEO copywriting no longer means including keywords in your copy because it’s not natural and Google only rewards natural copywriting.

Oops, I just made the mistake of writing a completely natural sentence … Continue

Write less but create powerful headlines

Which of the following headlines do you think will perform better? … Continue

Blending compelling copy with keyword strategy takes practice. Lots and lots of practice.

Online copywriting has made it necessary for us, ah, mature copywriters to update our existing skills to meet new demands. And even if you’re a digital native who learned online copywriting right off the bat, the strategies for creating copy that’s both persuasive … Continue

You too can build a digital publishing empire with this Mequoda marketing method

Did you ever hear the one about the small, special-interest publisher who made more than $2 million from a single, 12-page PDF?

Would you believe me if I told you that content was free?

Believe it. It’s not a fairy tale – it’s a true … Continue

When it comes to SEM, publishers are very, very special

There are literally hundreds of individuals and companies on the Internet who call themselves a search engine marketing consulting firm. One such firm even promises to get you ranked in the first four spots in Google search results without a website – using YouTube and custom-made … Continue

These SEO copywriting tips will help you rank higher, attracting new audience members

SEO copywriting is a unique creature, pairing creative content with technical guidelines. To be successful at the craft, one must strike a chord with the audience members by appealing to their emotions, self interests and mind set, following keyword phrase parameters that have … Continue

Last chance to register for today’s live webinar on crafting breakthrough sales letters

If you don’t know how to write great sales letters, you will fail as a copywriter.

This sentiment resonates even more online. Words are the key to audience development and content marketing revenues online. They are more important than ever before – are you … Continue

Where there’s a search engine, copywriting must follow

Once upon a time at another company, far far away, the editorial director wandered over to the marketing department and asked me to rework the leads in the articles our highly-educated writers were producing. These articles were written about the business side of the biopharma and device industries, … Continue

Join us Dec. 4 for Writing Breakthrough Sales Letters and receive a template you can use for creating killer direct response copy

It’s called copywriting for a reason!

All of the best copywriters steal techniques, subject lines, and calls-to-action from other writers, then they test the copy on their own audiences. … Continue

Our Writing Breakthrough Sales Letters webinar will teach every element to writing emotionally charged sales letters, proven to increase conversions.

Unique selling points (USP) were introduced to marketers more than 70 years ago, and their ability to convince consumers to buy is still strong today.

The main reason unique selling points still work is because they focus … Continue

Good website copywriting doesn’t grow on trees*

I spent years perfecting the art of making my words reader-friendly, clear and informative.

Then I had children, who went to high school and college, where they were forbidden to write words that are reader-friendly, clear and informative. … Continue

Proven methods and a new idea for blockbuster SEO campaigns

A lot of people offer advice about the importance of SEO campaigns and SEO copywriting. And a lot of that advice tells you to start by developing a free report, then research your keywords and finally, write a landing page letter that’s been optimized for … Continue

How to incorporate SEO copywriting exercises into your life

I’m a marketing words geek. I cheerfully admit it. Words that can sell products are constantly in the background of my brain … bubbling around, vying for my attention, waiting to be assigned to just the right product. If a friend convinces me to check out the … Continue

Do not forget the power of blockbuster SEO posts in 2012

We’ve discussed blockbuster posts before.

In fact, Don Nicholas, CEO of Mequoda Group, wrote a great article on the process of writing blockbuster SEO posts in 2011. … Continue

The folks at Investing Daily are some of the smartest direct marketers on the planet. And perhaps better than being smart, they are disciplined. … Continue

How to become the best copywriter you can be

New copywriters often wonder how to become the best they can be. The key is to focus on tried and true elements of copywriting that haven’t changed much throughout the years, even if mediums and platforms have changed.

This article serves as a brief guide to persuasive copywriting. … Continue

You have a keyword universe…now what?

Successful online businesses rely on talented copywriters who understand search engine optimization. In a time when job requirements are changing, especially in the publishing industry, SEO copywriting is a skill that many online business professionals are trying to learn. … Continue

From Facebook to PPC, all online advertisements have some elements in common

Online advertisements have some traits in common. Although the content will always change and be dependent upon industry expectations, there are some elements that should always exist in popular ads.

A recent article on Search Engine Watch points out the five elements used in ad … Continue

Copywriting was once a very coveted skill. Writers would hone their skills for years to develop the right mix of storytelling and emotion grabbing writing that sells a product.

However, after the Internet grew, developed, and became a medium for commerce, the need for copywriters grew. This brought a variety of other professionals to the craft … Continue

Auditing your SEO data with tips from Mequoda Summit West 2012

Metadata has two distinct functions; it helps search engines understand your content, and it helps users engage with it. Without properly designed metadata, search engines and users alike may neglect your content.

At the Mequoda Summit West 2012, we shared a few tips for metadata that … Continue

Have your words work for you, even when you’re not working

SEO is my favorite audience development strategy for two main reasons.

First, when you take the time to focus on your SEO strategy, and you pay close attention to the right keyword phrases, you are targeting the best possible audience members. … Continue

If you’re a regular Mequoda Daily reader, you already know that attaining (and holding) a high Google ranking isn’t easy. Of course, the Mequoda system gives you an edge in this regard, but you still need to feed it with quality content. And lots of it. … Continue

In only 12 lessons, you can grasp the process of writing for search engines.

By now, the question, “why should I write for search engines?” isn’t asked as much as it was a few years ago. Today, online editors are asking how they can learn the best tips for writing for search engines because they get … Continue

Discover the secret behind Blockbuster SEO posts that generate hundreds or thousands of unique monthly page views

If you want to attract a more targeted audience, and receive hundreds or thousands of new page views each month, try following these steps.

First: Open up your Google Visibility Report (GVR). Sort the Keyword Competitive Index (KCI) of all … Continue

4 reasons why you should have a well optimized free report marketplace

If you aren’t offering free download products yet, here’s what you are missing:

An opportunity to start key relationships with the people searching for content on the topics you cover.

The chance to get brand ambassadors to spread … Continue

Don’t forget these SEO tips for Google visibility, or your SEO efforts will be lacking

Aristotle once said, “Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.”

I bet Aristotle would be enthralled by the technology we have today, especially search engines.

I doubt he could … Continue

3 reasons why SEO is necessary for success in online journalism

Last week at the Mequoda Summit East 2011, I took part in teaching our SEO Workshop.

Norann Oleson, Mequoda’s Keyword Specialist, led the first part of the workshop, where she showed the audience how to compile a keyword universe by utilizing the Google Keyword Tool. Attendees … Continue

Are you using the best words to help your audience find your content?

It’s no surprise that words are powerful.

Without words, none of us would be able to communicate concepts, express ourselves or create relationships. Our society would not be able to function. … Continue

There’s Gold in That Content! Manage it.

Many of us create content almost every day for our business or company—or association. But are we keeping track of that content in the best way possible? We know that repurposing is a vital art these days, but in order to do that, we should know where everything is, … Continue

How online copywriting has progressed since its inception – with tweets!

Thirty years ago, copywriting used to be limited to direct mail and print ads. Ten years ago, we started to see an increased focus on online copywriting for websites, landing pages and even blogs. Now, there are several items on every online copywriter’s agenda worth … Continue

7 steps for natural SEO writing

In yesterday’s Mequoda Daily, I discussed what it takes to be labeled as an SEO native.

Like the vast majority reading this article, I am an SEO immigrant. However, unlike most, I’ve spent years understanding, practicing and teaching the SEO writing process. … Continue

Many journalists have a problem with SEO; are their criticisms valid?

I’ve witnessed it in person and read numerous articles on frustrations with SEO.

Many journalists dislike, or fear, SEO – depending on the stage of the career they are in. Some find it to be out of the realm of traditional journalism, and therefore, isn’t relevant. … Continue

Suggestions from the Headline Writing Workshop at the Mequoda Summit West 2011

Last week’s Headline Writing Workshop at the Mequoda Summit West 2011 was a great course to learn new headline archetypes, or refresh yourself on headlines that copywriters have used for years to increase open rates.

If you missed our Mequoda Summit West 2011, or were … Continue

Capture their heart and the sale will follow

Every so often, I receive a direct mail sales letter for some random product. Funny thing is, I find myself analyzing it and picking it apart. What did they do right? What did they do wrong? Would I buy this product?

Do you do that? I thought it was … Continue

Target your keywords, inform audiences and do so in style

Download a free digital copy of our SEO Press Release Guidelines white paper now

The press release will never be the same.

The Internet has transformed the old method of creating press releases. Online publishers or content marketers are able to add modern, media-rich styles to their … Continue

Getting viewers to click on your text ads is easier when you follow these tips

Online advertisements are a topic of discussion these days, not just because of their effectiveness, but also because of changes that are taking place within its industry.

For starters, did you notice that Google recent changed its “Sponsored Links” section of its … Continue

Bringing back a few goodies to refresh your SEO Copywriting memories

At Mequoda Daily, we’re publishing up to four blogs every day and we know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that’s posted. That’s why for this post, I decided to put together a little recap of some of our most popular SEO Copywriting … Continue

Texting Becoming Bigger Part of Business Communications

Melcrum had an excellent blog on Monday about text messaging as a communications channel. Their focus is on internal communications—so Mike Berry, their head of content, worries about “hard-to-reach and non-wired employees, perhaps on production lines, factories or distribution centres”—but there are lessons to be learned for external messaging … Continue

Bring in more revenue with strong text ads

There is an art to writing text ads. This is so for a couple different reasons.

First, text ads have to align with your content if it’s used in an article. Alignment will make more sense to the readers, and if your content is strong and informative, the alignment … Continue

Thoughts for Writing Effective Lines of Copy

Copywriting. Many of us do it every day. But how many of us, in writing our marketing pitches, succeed in coming up with something memorable?

Well, don’t feel bad. Michael Cieply wrote last week that there have been hardly any memorable lines in films in recent years. Now granted, that … Continue

You’ll find better keywords for your SEO copywriting campaigns once you start thinking like your customers

Over 500 changes will be made to Google’s search engine this year. As the algorithm that dictates the search results constantly changes, we will continue to monitor these changes and share our knowledge with you.

If you’re an SEO copywriter, online … Continue

A free downloadable PDF from Google that gives background on Search Engine Optimization

It’s great getting information directly from the source, especially when its valuable information.

Search engine optimization continues to be a beneficial organic means of marketing that publishers, editors, copywriter and content marketers need to understand in order to have their content indexed and understood … Continue

Google couples its search engine with an automatic email generator, enabling online copywriters to monitor keywords, competitors, hackers and plagiarists.

Of all the online robots and applications on tap, my favorite is Google Alerts.

Google Alerts is the online copywriter’s friend. It’s powerful, uncomplicated and free.

Here’s how you can use it to aid your SEO copywriting … Continue

Platforms evolve and so do editing guidelines

The Internet has changed strategies and descriptions behind different jobs. This is nothing new; we’ve all seen it before.

However, this fact can get overlooked from time to time. For instance, have you been paying attention to changes in an online copy editor’s job? It isn’t the same as the … Continue

Has semantic search technology changed the way we write?

“Wouldn’t it be nice if Google understood the meaning of your phrase, rather than just the words that are in the phrase?” – Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, January 2009

It’s been two years since Google* announced the use of Semantic Search Technology, what’s changed?

What is semantic search technology? … Continue

Guidelines and Examples of Blockbuster SEO Copywriting for Digital Books and Reports

The best practices in writing the title of a report or white paper require the copywriter to focus on two primary objectives.

1. Use the targeted keywords to optimize for organic search the report title and any rapid conversion landing pages (RCLPs) or sales letter … Continue

The advantage to writing “fascinations” for bullet points and subheads

Are you a copywriting tortoise or a hare?

I’m a slow starter in the SEO copywriting race. Not a procrastinator, I simply take a while to get up to full speed.

Does that describe you, too? If you’re like me, you believe there’s no single “right way” to … Continue

Nine steps to better SEO copywriting

Do you sometimes have difficulty cramming in enough keywords with some topics? Here are nine steps that can improve your SEO copywriting and make it feel more natural. … Continue

Are there SEO copywriting lessons to be gleaned from the Beloit College Mindset List?

Do you ever feel old and out of touch with popular culture?

I knew I was no longer young when — and this happened quite a few years ago — I overheard two teen-aged girls talking in a music store.

One asked innocently, “Did … Continue

Attract more customers with keyword-rich copy, GUARANTEED!

An important part of SEO copywriting is researching keywords and phrases for all of your copy, whether it’s your website, email newsletters, sales letter landing pages or rapid conversion landing pages. This includes optimizing your headline, subhead, summaries and, of course, the copy itself.

If you sell “pet supplies” and … Continue