A Logical Approach to Writing Articles

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ken Nadreau is an entrepreneur and e-book author. He is also a marketing coach who specializes in effective writing skills and brainstorming niche marketing ideas. Ken and his partner Hubert Daul created a program designed to automate the article submission process. Article Submitter Pro was officially launched in August of 2005.

ABOUT THE EBOOK

In this short e-book, the authors discuss the process of writing and publishing articles to promote yourself as an expert in your field and improve your business. It is written in an easy-to-understand, informal style and offers practical advice on how to approach the writing of an article.

The authors cover the following topics:

* How approaching your article as a teacher is superior to writing sales copy
* The importance of focusing on a particular niche in which you can become an expert
* The critical nature of presentation and why good grammar and spelling are important
* Knowing your audience so you can communicate your information effectively
* How to get inspired and how to inspire others
* How giving away your articles actually increases your recognition
* How to inject your personality into your articles to make them stand out
* How to use keywords and phrases effectively to construct an outline for your article

* How to give people a reason to want your articles
* The importance of having a strong conclusion to an article

In the last chapter, the authors provide a summary of their main points:

1) Keep the goal of gaining readers in mind at all times.
2) Stay focused in order to become known as an expert.
3) Eliminate all the obstacles - such as poor grammar, spelling, and punctuation - that will keep people from reading your articles.
4) Be inspiring, not technical.
5) Remember that people think in “pictures”.
6) Use an outline to keep articles flowing smoothly.
7) Think about things from the audience’s point of view.
8) Conclude your article with the same enthusiasm you started with.

The final chapter also provides a list of helpful web site references that discuss article writing.

Overall, the book covers important concepts for beginners. It’s short and easy to read. The authors work hard to get you inspired, and it provides a list of references for further study. However, the e-book is very basic and doesn’t really cover “logical steps” for writing and publishing other than using an outline. It tends to repeat the same information, which boils down to: give readers something they can use and not just sales copy, target your audience, check grammar and spelling, find a niche market, use an outline to structure your article, and have a strong conclusion. It is a good book for those who have just started to think about article marketing, but more experienced writers will not find anything new here.

And just a quibble from a cranky reviewer: the use of the inspirational quotations could have been better. The quotations were interesting and well-chosen, but they stop after Chapter 1. While this doesn’t take away from the useful information offered by the authors, it was somewhat disappointing. Who wouldn’t want more quotes like this one from Robert Benchley: “It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.”

You can purchase the e-book here:

A Logical Approach To Writing Articles

TraxTime Time & Billing Software

If you work with several clients then you need software to keep track of your hours and your projects. I’ve been using TraxTime for several years and it receives my highest recommendation.

Trax Time has a simple interface that looks like a punch clock. You create unlimited projects (or clients) and press buttons to login and out. A detailed description can be added to the memo function. If you forget to punch out you will be reminded the next time you punch in. Dates, times and memos can be easily edited. A robust report function is provided that I use to send to clients at the end of every month. They can easily see when I worked for them and what I did with my time.

TraxTime is compatible with Windows Vista, XP, ME, 2000 and 98.

Trax Time

Article Friendly Script Review

Do you have a favorite hobby? Do you have a favorite article topic? If you answer yes to either question then you may want to set up your own article directory. One of my virtual assistant clients saw a deficiency in article directories in that none of them focused on her topic of Business Etiquette.

She gave me the task of selecting and setting up software. Having had one disastrous experience with Article Directory, I was pleased to find Article Friendly. It is a similar script with some big differences.

Article Friendly is much easier to install and technical support is friendly, timely and often free. Installation and script customization are both available for a reasonable price. Some of the features I love are:

1. Free Tutorials and Training
2. Easy-to-Use Web-Based Administration
3. Free and Frequent Updates and Enhancements
4. Photo Upload Feature for Authors’ Use
5. Language Translation Feature
6. Links Directory
7. Contact Us Form
8. Article Submissions and Topics Editing Feature
9. Duplicate Article Delete Feature

… and I could go on and on. If you or someone you know wants an article directory then I highly recommend you try Article Friendly.

http://snipurl.com/15cz9

Write an Article-A-Day the Easy Way Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For 22 years, Georganne Fiumara, a successful home-business consultant and mail-order entrepreneur, has dedicated herself to transforming complicated business information into easy-to-understand concepts. She started Mothers’ Home Business Network in 1984 to show women it was possible to work while staying at home to raise a family, and in 1997, she started HomeWorkingMom.com to aid mothers who choose to work at home or who want more flexibility in their careers. Fiumara’s book, How to Start A Home-Based Mail Order Business, is in its 3rd Edition. She has had over 100 articles published in major magazines, including Family Circle, Woman’s Day, and American Baby. Currently, Fiumara writes e-books, online articles, and web sales copy.

ABOUT THE E-BOOK

Fiumara has produced a short, but very useful, instruction manual for the beginning article writer offering a technique for writing a finished article in a single 8-hour workday. She reduces the process to 10 steps:

• Choosing a topic
• Creating a title
• Writing the introduction
• Creating sub-headings and a print-out
• Performing necessary research and making notes under sub-heads
• Transforming the notes and source material
• Writing a conclusion
• Creating a resource box
• Reading the article aloud, editing it, and spell-checking it
• Reviewing her special “Did You?” checklist

Fiumara begins her instruction by noting that “real” writers don’t spend much time talking about wanting to write - they actually do some writing! Her simple and timesaving process for writing articles starts with a little research and some preparation, following up with an easy format to follow when writing. While showing you how to write rapidly is not Fiumara’s chief goal, her system does make writing articles quick and easy. She is encouraging to new writers and notes that becoming a successful article writer has nothing to do with creating long sentences or using big words. Instead, she says, successful writers develop a way of writing that is uniquely theirs, a voice that connects directly to the reader in a consistent and friendly way.

The author lists 10 steps she has identified as proven methods for creating successful articles, with a detailed explanation of each step and concrete actions for each step. For example, when choosing your topic, Fiumara suggests listing the issues and problems that affect or interest the audience you want to attract. She advises asking a question in your introductory paragraph that will be answered in your article. Always write an introduction to your article, she recommends, regardless of what other experts might say, pointing out that the introductory paragraph not only attracts the attention of your audience - it may be the only paragraph that a potential publisher reads!

Fiumara lessens the intimidation you may feel about writing an article by describing her heading-and-subheading method of writing. You first develop a list of headings and subheadings, which you then arrange into an outline you can follow when you actually start to write. After devising your subheadings, Fiumara recommends printing them, with some space following each one. When the outline is printed, she suggests making notes - even just one or two words – that will give you an idea of what you’re going to write about each subheading topic. With the printout and notes, you can begin the research that will flesh out your topics.

The author covers ways to get paid for writing articles by transforming them into e-books or special reports. She also discusses how to become a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is commissioned by someone else to write an article without being named or credited as the author. Creating an Internet blog, which uses a format like a diary or journal with daily entries, acts as a showcase for your articles to editors and other readers. She covers the ins and outs of Google AdSense, which involves placing ads on the Search Engine site and getting paid each time someone clicks on the ad.

Fiumara also discusses several ways to get your articles published online. For example, you can go directly to the e-zines that publish articles about your topic, and you can submit articles to submission sites and announcement mailing lists. The all-important issue of protecting your rights as an author is addressed as well.

In the last chapter of the e-book, Fiumara lets you in on the 5 secrets of successful professional writers. One of the e-book’s three appendices lists useful resources to help you get writing assignments and sell your articles. Another appendix provides a template of “The Write An Article-A-Day Easy System Outline”.

All in all, this is a brief, but information-packed e-book that will be useful for anyone thinking about getting into the article-writing game.

http://www.writeanarticleaday.com/

Got Gurus?

Guru.com is a virtual marketplace where you can post projects in more than 160 categories. Best of all, it’s free!

Simply post your project and review the bids you receive. You’ll receive direct contact info with each bid. Samples of a pro’s work may be available via online profile and you’ll be able to review feedback from previous employers.

Other features include a Discussion Board for general questions and/or comments as well as a Private Discussion Board. This allows communication between employers and pros directly and is not publicly viewable. Keep in mind that Guru.com does maintain a record of what is said on the Private Discussion Boards.

Guru.com uses a SafePay Billing Service where pros create and submit invoices which are forwarded directly to employers. Employers pay Guru.com who then pays the pro. Payment can be made via regular check by mail, e-check or PayPal (via direct bank transfer only). Credit card payments are accepted but pass a 4% fee to the pro you’re paying.

Pros submit W-9 forms for tax reporting purposes and Guru.com issues 1099 forms each year to both the professional and the IRS at no cost to the employer.

Visit http://www.guru.com/emp/employers.cfm to post your writing project. You just may find your your perfect employee!

Article Writing Secrets Review

Article Writing Secrets is a nifty little e-book about article marketing. This e-book is best for those who are starting out in article marketing or for those that want extra techniques to help draw more of an audience for their articles.

The topics covered by Article Writing Secrets are:

The absolute fastest and easiest way to pump out as many high quality, rich content articles as possible

Exactly where to go to find inspiration, ideas and knowledge for your articles (these are some great resources you can use in order to never be stuck for things to write about)

The easy and simple way to insure your articles look like they were written by professionals, and insure they get accepted to all the ezines and newsletters.

A proven way to make over $1,000 with just one article!

Exactly how to write great, content and key work rich articles to generate huge profits from Google Adsense.

Exactly how to use your content rich articles to profit from affiliate programs and how to write these articles to make sure they get maximum response from their readers.

How to and where to find the best affiliate programs you can promote with your articles

The simple and extremely easy way to use your articles to create a free report, so you can promote the affiliate programs you signed up for (this is a great way to get people to buy what ever it is you are promoting)

Exactly how to write great articles to generate a viral monthly income!

You can purchase this e-book from my website at:

http://www.articlewritingsecrets.com/

Turn Words Into Traffic Review

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jim Edwards is the author and co-creator of several e-books, software and information products. He has developed, marketed, and operated online businesses, both for himself and clients, since 1997. Jim also writes TheNetReporter.com, a syndicated newspaper column that focuses on helping people with no technical background use the Internet for fun and profit.

Dallas Edwards has worked for 35 years to help large and small organizations operate more efficiently. He has written numerous books and hundreds of articles teaching people how to follow his proven writing methods.

ABOUT THE EBOOK

This is a very detailed, highly interactive e-book that is big on practice and short on theory. The authors have included short assignments at the end of each chapter so readers can actually apply the methods they teach. You can read the whole book first and then go back and do the assignments, or you can do them as you go along and end up with a finished article by the time you’ve finished the book.

The authors claim to have tried everything mentioned in the book and have proved their instructions to be successful by their own experience. They have shown how writing articles and promoting your business with them is the best way to drive traffic to your web site - for free.

Step-by-step, Jim and Dallas teach how to write a polished, professional-grade article and how to use it to attract lots of targeted traffic to your web site. They show how to generate money by:

• Offering free articles that your web site visitors recommend to others
• Having e-zines publish your articles for their subscribers
• Having affiliates publish articles that market your web site
• Getting Search Engines to index your articles

Plus, they show you how to submit your articles to article announcement sites.

The e-book is divided into 3 parts.

Part 1 Focus: Article writing process generalities and how to create your article. Topics covered in Part 1 include:

• Targeting your audience
• Brainstorming article topics
• Deciding the outcome for your article in advance
• Ways to make the subject of your articles “irresistible”
• How to outline the points you want to discuss in your article
• How to organize these points into a useful structure
• Selecting your writing style
• Writing you article by expanding on your outline points
• Editing you article so that in gains maximum attention
• Polishing the article so that it can stand alongside any “professional” article

Part 2 Focus: Specific techniques for using your articles for web site promotion by getting them physically ready for distribution. Topics included in Part 2:

• Formatting the article’s text
• Information needed when submitting your article
• The authors’ favorite tool for formatting text quickly
• How to create a reader-compelling resource box
• How to create a “simple” auto-responder

Part 3 Focus: Specific strategies and tactics for promoting articles, divided into 11 sections of very specific details and steps to take to ensure the widest possible promotion of your articles. Part 3 topics include:

• General principles for approaching people to publish and post your article
• Promoting articles directly to e-zines
• How to promote articles to article announcement sites
• Promoting articles directly to web site owners
• Using free online tools to promote articles to Search Engines
• Creating mini-courses for your own subscribers
• Building business by placing articles in your affiliate “Tool Box”
• Making your article “viral” by offering free reprint rights
• Developing your own article announcement list
• Marketing your articles even if you don’t write them yourself
• Applying creative methods that will make money and save time

The e-book also includes links to useful web sites offering additional information on covered topics. Acknowledging that web page creation and posting them to the Internet is beyond the scope of their e-book, Jim and Dallas generously refer readers to sites that will help them do just that, which alone makes this e-book a valuable and worthwhile resource for beginning article marketers.

“Turn Words into Traffic” concludes with the authors again stressing that everything discussed in their e-book is taken right from the “front lines” of their experiences with online business, with each technique and strategy tested. “No theory, no fluff”, they say, just factual information about what you can do - exactly - to promote your business with articles online.

You can purchase “Turn Words into Traffic at:
http://www.ArticleSubmissionSites.com/turnwords.html

Search Engine News Review

One of my duties for a client is to read and digest Search Engine News each month and to apply what I learned to her site. I also get to use this information for myself and other clients so it is a blessing all around.

Planet Ocean has been publishing Search Engine News for ten years on a subscription basis. They cover all the major search search engines and any other news pertinent to search engines. They take questions from their subscribers and include special reports on a regular basis. Just this month, for example, they included a portion of a special report entitled “Squidoo! A Funny Sounding Website that means BIG Business for You!…” The report is split between June and July subscription and subscribers can obtain archived copies of the previous issues and reports at any time. The Squidoo report is fun and filled with lots of great information…

Some of the search engine issues Search Engine News covers includes new search engines, search engines being bought, sold or going out of business. They cover functionality and all of their information is based on solid testing.

I don’t recommend that small businesses become obsessed with search engines because the traffic they provide can disappear with no warning. However, if you want to keep on top of the industry to get what traffic you can then you need to subscribe to Search Engine News.

http://www.SearchEngineNews.com

Article Design Secrets Revealed

This ugly little (28 page) $7.00 e-book is a treasure trove of information on how to maximize your article marketing efforts. Let’s face it … you spend a great deal of time writing and submitting articles. One area we haven’t focused on much is the use of keywords in your title, body and byline. This e-book will guide you through the steps to determine this information.

The author covers the essential steps of determining your audience, the keywords that will attract that audience, designing your article with keywords, designing your byline so you get the maximum click-through and submitting your articles to directories.

I spent about a half hour reading this e-book and got several ideas on how to get more out of my article marketing. The author even includes a free piece of software called Article Author Resource Box Automator. This little gem formats an html resource box with keywords imbedded for you. This is called “anchor text linking”. However, be careful; some article directory sites will only allow you to use a plain text link like http://www.articlesthatsell.com with no html formatting.

I highly recommend this e-book. You can buy it by clicking the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/yplaq5

Review Of The Attractor Factor

The Attractor Factor by Joe Vitale is an important book for business owners and entrepreneurs.

Joe Vitale, also known as “Mr. Fire”, is a prolific writer, teacher, speaker and consultant. Long known as an “Internet Guru”, Joe is unique in that he combines spirituality with marketing to create wealth of any kind for himself and his clients. Joe has written several best selling books in print and on-line. His extensive client list includes the Red Cross, PBS and Doubleday Books.

The Attractor Factor is written for anyone who is sick and tired of working hard and never getting ahead. Do you want to pay off your bills, travel to exotic locations around the world or buy a ranch in Wyoming? Those dreams and more can be attained by practicing what Joe Vitale teaches in The Attractor Factor.

In the beginning of the book Joe speaks a truth that few will ever acknowledge. You can navigate through life the easy way or the hard way and which way you go is determined by your choices. Joe emphasizes that you have the power to change your life because you are in charge and the decisions you make will determine the path you take. You are ready to continue reading further once you embrace this concept.

The rest of the book elaborates on the five step formula Joe developed for creating wealth. You will learn about each step in depth and are given several success stories to illustrate the step worked for others. This book is chock full of anecdotes and stories of people actually using the information Joe teaches in the book.

Also included in the book are exercises, checklists and additional resources such as books, websites and audio programs to help you achieve your goals. Joe writes in a very friendly and warm voice that encourages readers create abundance in their life and to embrace their dreams. I selected this book to help me grow my business and personal wealth and I’m sure I will read it over and over again. The most important thing I learned? Anything is possible with the information contained in The Attractor Factor.

You can buy The Attractor Factor at Amazon.com by clicking here:

http://tinyurl.com/aqhv4

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