How to Find a Web Content Writer You Like

More than eighty million results. That’s what turned up on Bing when I entered the term content writer. No wonder you feel overwhelmed looking for a content writer. When you work in publishing, writers come to you, but for business marketers and business owners it isn’t easy to find the right person. How do you find someone who knows your business or is willing to invest the time to learn? How do you find a content writer who understands what you want to accomplish? How do you find someone who can deliver web content that will raise your company’s search engine rankings, increase your traffic and generate leads?

Here are five ways you can separate the good content writers from the bad.

1) A content writer should have credentials.

Look at where a content writer’s work has been published. Are the publications or websites familiar to you? Is the content writer focused on the needs of consumers or business? Who are their clients? I would also look for some professional affiliations that identify their areas of interest such as the Construction Writers Association or the International Foodservice Editorial Council .

2) Writing should be clear, concise and understandable.

Check out the content writer’s examples of web writing. Is the copy clear, concise and understandable? Does the writer offer a benefit, answer the visitor’s questions and include a call to action? Is the writing free of spelling and grammatical errors? Can the writer provide examples of blog posts, email newsletters and other online marketing initiatives?

3) A content writer should be creative.

Evaluate web writing samples, and ask for the submitted Word files for the project. You want to find out how much editing was required. Does the content writer make an effort to draw the reader in with a creative headline or lead? Does the content writer offer a unique or unusual perspective? Is the website content unique, or does it look very similar to other competitors in the space?

4) A content writer needs to understand SEO.

Does the content writer have experience in writing copy that is optimized for search engines? Does the content writer research keywords and key phrases for your business? Ask what traffic results the writer achieved? What does the writer’s own website look like? Is it well written and easy to navigate?

5) A content writer should be easy to work with.

Good content writers become invaluable when they are responsive, timely, and take the initiative to develop original content ideas. They welcome your feedback and suggestions. A good writer makes a concerted effort to accommodate your schedule and meet tight deadlines. Ask other businesses, agencies, web developers, marketing and PR professionals in your industry for recommendations. Talk with prospective writers and their clients. For a long-term assignment or if you have ongoing writing projects, I think it’s fair to ask for a small writing sample geared towards your specific needs. Do your due diligence and you will find a writer you like to work with.

And don’t forget to call Content for Biz to discuss your content writing needs.

Pay-Per-Click or Pay-for-Content: Which Strategy is Right for Your Business?

A client recently asked about investing in pay-per-click advertising vs. investing in content to improve organic search rankings. While every marketer’s situation is unique, here are some of the pros and cons of each strategy.

With Pay-Per-Click the Rewards are Immediate

The biggest advantage of pay-per-click advertising is that results are immediate. Paid placement can immediately get your business on page one of the search results for your keywords. So if time is of the essence and you need a quick burst of traffic to your site, there probably isn’t a better investment. However, keep in mind that the results are fleeting. Stop advertising and the traffic stops coming.

Content Marketing Pays Off in the Long Run

Contrast the immediacy of pay-per-click results with the slow but steady return on an investment in content. In addition to the traffic generated today, a blog post carefully written around your keywords will continue to draw traffic long after you pay a writer. For example the post “How to Find Credible Sources for Articles, Blog Posts and Whitepapers,” continues to draw a steady stream of traffic to Content for Biz, since it was first published March 30.

In study after study, organic search results are clicked more often than paid results. Organic search results are perceived to be more relevant and trusted. And over time, quality content can deliver page one placement for your keywords.

Are you hurried or patient? The choice is yours.

The Best Press Release Distribution Service for B2B Companies

Press releases are a great way to boost your website traffic, but they are often underutilized, especially among small- and medium-size B2B companies. Next week I hope to offer some solid proof of just how well they can work. We’re preparing to send out our first press release for Content for Biz next week and I will let you know how successful we are at boosting traffic to our site (www.contentforbiz.com). I plan to test three different press release distribution services to see which one delivers the best results.

I’ve been happy using PR Web for a number of clients, as it is moderately priced ($8-$360) and has generated good traffic for my clients. I have also had good results with PR Newswire, but priced at more than $700 for a national press release, it’s out of reach for many clients. I will also try two free press release distribution services www.freepressrelease.com and www.PR.com, to see if they can really help us stretch our marketing dollars.

Before you select a distribution service, think about your objectives. Is the purpose of the press release solely to boost online traffic, or do you feel you have a shot at print coverage as well? Are you looking for local or national coverage? Are you looking for coverage in trade magazines or mainstream media? Is it important to reach bloggers and search engines? In my experience, it is more cost-effective for B2B marketers to develop their own custom media list if the primary target is the trade press. Move beyond that, and I think a PR distribution service is your best bet.

No matter who your target it is, always prioritize your media list. Identify the top five or 10 media outlets and send them a personal note, customized to meet the needs of the publication or outlet. One of my clients was recently contacted for an upcoming article in Midwest Living, after I sent a short personal email to the editor.

While we’re waiting for the new website visitors to be counted, check out these great resources that will help you find the press release distribution service that’s right for your business.

Mashable “20+ Free Press Release Distribution Sites”

TopSEOS “Top10 Best Press Release Distribution Companies”

What PR distribution services have you found to be cost-effective?

How to Measure Social Media ROI using Benchmarks

Can you measure the results of your social media strategies? Marketers know that social media is a strategy within a larger communications plan. They look at both the quantity and quality of results based on a defined goal and time period. Still, the number one question asked by marketers according to a 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report by Michael Stelzner at Social Media Examiner is this: How do I measure the effect of social media marketing on my business?

The report findings were culled from a survey of 3,300 marketers. It revealed a surprising result: More B2B companies have been using social media longer (52.6% reported 1 year or more) than B2C. Time matters. Those using social media for a year or longer reported improved search engine rankings.

Set these four benchmarks and you are on your way to measuring results that matter.

1. Know Where You Stand Now

Before beginning a social media campaign, find current rankings on all sorts of online content. Get familiar with PostRank. It is one of the largest aggregators of social engagement data in the industry. Enter a feed URL and get statistics on the most popular posts based on engagement points. The site ranks RSS feed items, blog posts, articles, and news stories. This is quality and quantity data that can be used to measure throughout your timeline.

Use Google’s Feedburner and Analytics tools to help analyze your company’s blog traffic, subscriber count, keywords, and trends. Find even more useful statistics at Xinu. These tools are all easily accessible to measure where you are now with your Internet presence. Check them according to your timeline. What do you find? Interpret those results for your business.

2. Measure by quantity
These might include the number of fans, followers, subscribers and friends. Other quantities you might look at are twitter lists, groups on linkedin. Having this data will show you what sites to focus on. It also gives an idea on what topics are popular with your audience. The question is not only how many friends, followers and fans you have, but where did they come from? Present this data in a given period of time.

3. Measure by engagement
What level of engagement you measure depends on your business goals. How much activity is in your forum? Do you have stats on click-through rate to your product pages? How many subscribers to your RSS feeds? Do your fans, followers and friends make comments on blog posts and other social networking accounts? Are they sharing your content via the Facebook Like button or twitter retweets? Do they respond to surveys? Do they stay longer than people who came to you from other sources?

4. Bottom Line Results
By measuring your online presence, relationships, and increased sales you create a trail of data that leads to how each of these areas were enhanced by a social media strategy. Reaching a key audience and establishing meaningful dialogue may or may not increase sales over time. It is always good to know what is working and what is not. Use benchmarks to help you reach your business goals.