A Writer’s Frustration
Well, I wasn’t going to post about it, but I think I really need to.
So here’s the story…
While doing some online research the other day, I typed in a very popular keyword and took my chance that all the best matches would be on the first three pages of Google. I mean, that’s how it’s supposed to work right? That’s what we all fight for… our great struggle for organic search content.
Anyway, picking a link from the first results page, I read the Meta description and thought I’d stumbled on someone who really knew what they were talking about. I clicked the link and started reading the page.
At first it seemed as though a few words were misplaced, possibly misspelled. Not a big deal. But as I continued on I was shocked to find that none of the words made any sense.
In fact the original article, obviously put through an article writing application or software, didn’t really have anything to do with the keyword that I had searched.
Here’s an example of the core text:
These are ease mostly compounded into digit contract and uncovering a consort that module do this shouldn’t be a difficulty when hunting for automobile shelter policies online. You crapper revilement downbound on the instance you module be intelligent by lettered where to countenance and what to countenance for. A beatific consort module intend you discover of jams and be there when you requirement them. They module provide you automobile shelter prices without making you see same your bothering them by asking.
Can anyone make out what this is supposed to say? Do you think it has anything to do with networking?
The entire blog is like this, an over thesaurus-ized version of the original.
It’s frustrating because here we all are following the rules and working our butts off to do things “white hat’ and within the vague lines, and a page like this gets a good search engine rank. It’s discouraging, and it reinforces a technique that we aren’t supposed to be using.
I’m not going to say who it belongs to or what the URL is because I don’t want to be sending any traffic that way.
I just wanted to share my frustration.
As a writer, I feel cheated.
Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, squeeze pages, and sales pages, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.
Inspiration, Learning and Free Website Tools
Today was a great day of learning for me.
I’ll share with you what I’ve learned today:
I’ve learned that like other writers and marketers, my website suffers from the “cobblers children have no shoes” syndrome. I’ve neglected my own site and writing because I’ve been so focused on my clients. It’s not a bad thing. It’s a great thing, but I’m not following my own marketing strategy and that is not setting the best example.
I’ve watched Seth Godin’s talk at Google , which was incredibly informative. As a marketer, I understand what he’s talking about, but as someone who needs another 8 hours in the day just to get things done, it’s going to take me a little while to apply his principles. If you don’t know who he is, you should read his blog . While his methods may or may not be relevant to everyone, his openness to new ideas is inspiring.
I’ve learned new things about Squidoo . I’ve come up with a few ideas for lenses and I’ve resolved to try it out.
I have also had a lot of fun with Website Grader . It was passed on to me by a friend, so I’m sending it your way. It’s great tool for analyzing your website structure and figuring out what parts still require work. I use it all the time. Too much probably. They might ban me soon. The other great thing about Website Grader is that is allows you to enter the URLs of your competitors and compare the results of your sites. I have a passing grade, and I plan on really making an effort to improve it over the next couple of weeks.
There are so many interesting and fascinating people to follow and communicate with that it takes real discipline to focus on just one task. We all have deadlines, but everyone once in a while it’s great to step back and look at how far we have come. Give yourself credit for taking the steps toward making your life what you always wanted it to be, and working hard to get there.
I hope to be able to take the time to learn something new everyday.
Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, squeeze pages, and sales pages, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.
One of My Favorite Commercials
So, I don’t have much to say about marketing today.
I’ve been trying to catch up on so many things. I recently added both my Market Moments Newsletter sign-up ,
and a free worksheet on writing a lead for a feature article to my example articles.
It’s little out of character, I wanted to share my favorite commercial.
I’m new to adding You Tube video, so I hope it works.
This is not my favorite of all time, but just one that has recently been added to my list of favorites:
It’s an example of a company making an attempt at audience engagement.
It’s a very good PR move, it follows the lines of the Sick Puppies “Free Hugs” video. I mean who doesn’t want to “Let It Out” every once in a while? How often do we really get the chance?
I admit, its not going to make me run out and buy Kleenex brand tissues, but its a nice change from Puff’s little clay people with the unattached and unruly noses.
What’s your favorite commercial?
Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, squeeze pages, and sales pages, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.
Usability, My Lesson Learned
Anyone who has visited Market to the Moment in the last couple of weeks, will probably have experienced problems with my contact forms. It was my own fault for not checking the fine details, that is prevented them from working properly.
Hopefully, I’ve taken the appropriate steps to remedy the situation.
My own lack of attention to detail reminded me of a similar situation that I had a few weeks ago with one of the associations that I work with. At the time I was frustrated because it seemed like such huge oversight on their part, but now that I have essentially created the same situation, I understand how these things can happen sometimes.
I had received an invitation to register for a golf tournament that is being hosted by the association. It was very flattering, and I was excited about the opportunity to network with other people within the industry. I eagerly began registration process.
The registration required two steps:
- Fill out the Registration Form
- Send a cheque payable to the organization
I was soon at a loss in the process as two items in the package seemed to be missing:
- The Registration Form
- An address to forward my signed cheque
Two huge faults in the usability of their direct mailing.
I know what you are thinking, check the outside of the envelope. I did, believe me. This one was a little beyond my own common sense. The mailing had been forwarded from another association of which they had partnered to reduce the cost of the mailing.
A search of their website also proved fruitless as well. The only contact information was an info@ email address, and who knew how long it would take to get a response.
I resorted to calling the contact on the cover letter. After a lengthy phone call and step by step process of navigating their website, I was finally directed to the appropriate registration form. The phone call closed with a verbally relayed address, which solved the second problem.
Had I not wanted the marketing opportunity that badly, I would have given up much more quickly.
The moral of the story: Usability is a very important factor in communicating with your potential customers.
We can’t just assume that things are working. Pieces get lost in the shuffle, website links can become “un-linked”, and sometimes in our hurry we just forget the most important details.
I learned my lesson after having several test emails bounce back. Not only my own, but those of a generous friend, who is extremely patient.
Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, squeeze pages, and sales pages, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.
Review – Watch, Listen and Click…
While on one of my weekly visits to the library, I stumbled upon a book that I can’t seem to put down. That rarely happens to me. I generally go the library to find a quiet place to work. I have a favorite spot that’s tucked behind the Psych section, where few dare to tread.
Anyway, unforeseen circumstances forced me to change my regular route through the book shelves, and I slipped past a shelf I’ve never seen before. One book in particular jumped out at me, and my hand reached out to it before I knew what I was doing.
The book is called Watch This, Listen Up, Click Here by David Verklin and Bernice Kanner .
The main topic of this book is media, advertising and marketing, and it’s written by two well-known media experts. It is exceptionally well written, and it gives lots of insight into the future of media and advertising.
I have to say, I was amazed at the amount of information and research that went into it. I’m also amazed at the amount of money and time advertisers spend on selling us their products. I think we get so used to seeing ads and marketing materials that we stop paying attention to the ones we believe are blatant, but I don’t think we realize how much advertising has become part of our everyday lives. Verkin and Kanner estimate that we look at “3,000 ads a day,” not counting “the now almost ubiquitous product placements embedded in films, TV shows, and games.”
No wonder we have short attention spans.
My favorite passage is:
In marketing, this is the moment of aperture, just like the guys selling umbrellas outside train exits in the rain. It’s the right product, at the right time, marketed to a prospect with the right mindset.
Market to the Moment evolved out of this thinking.
I’m so excited, and scared to be part of this constantly evolving industry.
If you are interested in taking a glimpse of the future of marketing, I highly recommend this book. It’s great tool for predicting the future of the media we love, and share.
I’m on my third book renewal. Once the library cuts me off, I might have to buy it for my own collection.
Which, of course, will be well worth the money.
Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, squeeze pages, and sales pages, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.
