When I tell somebody I’m a copywriter, they look confused. Then, later, they might turn to me with a question about filing a patent, or protecting their rights to digital media. In other words, copy write sounds way too much like copyright and so it’s really hard to make that connection with a prospect who needs a writer, but doesn’t understand that yet.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy and if you would like to see what a good copywriter can do, email Caryn@BAMcopywriting.com or call 315-876-5925.

]]> http://www.bamcopywriting.com/articles/what-copywriters-do/feed/ 0 http://www.bamcopywriting.com/articles/diy-website-for-small-business-owners/ http://www.bamcopywriting.com/articles/diy-website-for-small-business-owners/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:06:24 +0000 caryn http://www.bamcopywriting.com/?p=848 I am pleased to announce that my first book has been published and is available for purchase on Amazon and Createspace. For me, personally, this is a triumphant victory having fulfilled a lifelong goal to publish a book. It is also a milestone, as this book is the first in a series, focusing on the do-it-yourself small business owner.

If you have the time and energy, and are willing to build a web presence for your small business without hiring a professional service provider (or several, for various services) then this entire series is exactly what you’ll need.

DIY Web Site: A Fool Proof Guide to Build Your Own Small Business Website will walk you through creating a website plan (and personal plans!) then simplifying the steps of choosing a domain, hosting provider, and building a website from scratch using WordPress.

Ordinarily, the development of a quality website would involve a coder (web developer), a web content specialist (such as myself), and a graphic designer.

In this situation, small business owners are often spending more than needed on web hosting services and web management services. After working with so many small business owners who were frustrated by the cost and time it took for a webmaster to respond to their needs, and realizing that full-control is more beneficial, I was inspired to write this book and explain exactly how easy it is to build a website from scratch, and maintain it yourself, without any prior training or experience with web development or coding.

Several recommendations are included to make it as easy as possible… you can build a website that looks identical to this one (BAMcopywriting.com) without any training in HTML or coding.

In addition, this book touches on the development of quality website content and SEO (search engine optimization) which opens the gate for future books in this series that will focus on internet marketing strategies, including white hat SEO tutorials and local search marketing.

This first book will help you if:

• You are a small business owner.
• You don’t have a website yet.
• You have a website, but it’s not doing anything for you.
• You want full control of your website, to be able to add/change/update information and pictures as needed.
• You’d prefer to invest $25 and the time it takes to do it yourself instead of a couple hundred (or thousands) of dollars it could cost to hire a professional.

If any of those descriptions fit you, check it out!

I could have spent another 6 months changing my image repeatedly, and still would not have created anything close to what she “whipped together”. The lesson learned is not that hard to figure out. Professionals know their art.

The difference between the time it would take me to get it right (if, that was even possible) and the time it took her is actually several things. Training, skill, and experience may be part of it… but the underlying difference is interest, passion, and raw talent.

There’s something else I’ve learned about graphic designers over the years. We go together, like peanut butter and bananas (or jelly, if you prefer) because I tend to hear the same thing from every graphic artist I work with…

“Thank God! I hate doing that!”

You see… I enjoy writing. I work my magic with words, and it might never be as appealing visually as what you do with circles and triangles, but it is still just as important. The graphic design of an advertisement, brochure, or website works wonders to grab attention… and content seals the deal.

With that being said, it’s not uncommon for graphic designers to also assume the job of proofreading and editing content, or to generate their own. Many types of projects for graphic artists also involve content, and the concept of a professional copywriter is still foreign to most small businesses who just want a brochure published. That’s why I offer a variety of solutions for graphic designers… so you can focus on where your own skills and talents lie, without the headache of dealing with the text portion of your product.

Working with a professional copywriter to manage the content portion will significantly increase the ROI of your project.

If saving yourself the stress isn’t enough, consider the quality of the end product. My skills, experience, training, interest, and passion is in the one thing that often drives graphic designers crazy… so let’s work together!

Here are a few more services you can effortlessly offer clients, without spending a cent of your own!

For Websites:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization), including Keyword Research & Assessment
• Social Media Consulting
• Web Page content
• Press releases (SEO)
• WordPress Website Development
• Planning & Implementing Navigational Paths, Website Architecture
• Internet Marketing (including Strategies & Consulting)
• Email Content

For Print:

• Press Release Writing & Distribution
• Article Marketing
• Sales Copywriting
• Mailers
• Brochures, Rack Cards, and other Collateral
• Ad copywriting (general)
• Slogans, tag lines, short copy

If you want to be that one-stop resource center, I offer a variety of profitable, risk free solutions.

1. Content Affiliate Program for Graphic Designers
   Earn a competitive commission for every sale you refer to BAM! Copy Writing. It’s really that simple!
2. Content Reseller Program for Graphic Designers
   Provide quality copywriting services under your own brand. I will work as a contract employee on an as-needed basis, and you can pocket the profits!
3. Content Outsourcing Solutions for Graphic Designers
   Simply send me those tedious tasks, and I will complete them in a timely and efficient manner. Outsourcing is available for fixed rate payments, on an as-needed basis.
4. Custom Solutions
   Do you have something else in mind? Let’s chat! Call (315) 876 – 5925 to discuss your unique needs and goals.

To discuss the terms of any Partner Solution (for Graphic Designers), please call (315) 876 – 5925 or email caryn@bamcopywriting.com

If your web development services don’t include quality website content development, the long term value of your services may be compromised by ineffective copy. My mission is to ensure that your clients receive the continued value they expect and deserve.

Here are a few more services you can provide through referral or rebranding; and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime!

You code. I write.

Customers prefer the convenience of full-service work (getting the job done right the first time!) over searching for multiple service providers who help with one step at a time. If you want to be that one-stop resource center, I offer a variety of profitable, risk free solutions.

1. SEO & Content Affiliate Program for Web Developers
   Earn a competitive commission for every sale you refer to BAM! Copy Writing. It’s really that simple!
2. SEO & Content Reseller Program for Web Developers
   Provide website content & SEO services under your own brand. I will work for you as a contractor on an as-needed basis, and you can pocket the profits!
3. Content Outsourcing Solutions for Web Developers
   If you don’t need to offer full copy writing services, you can always send me your tedious tasks, and I will complete them in a timely and efficient manner. Outsourcing is available for fixed rate payments on an as-needed basis.
4. Custom Solutions for Web Developers
   Got something else in mind? Let’s chat! Call (315) 876 – 5925 to discuss your unique needs and goals.

To discuss the terms of any Partner Solution (for Web Developers) please call (315) 876 – 5925 or email caryn@bamcopywriting.com

Have you jumped onto the G+ bandwagon yet?

Many individuals are staying where they are comfortable, some have created a Google Plus profile just to check it out, and others are diving in full force.

Whichever group you fall into, that is fine. I am not here to push you into doing something you aren’t comfortable with…

But here are some facts that may (at least, they should) affect your decision if you have a business or brand you’d like to build a strong web presence for:

Google + Fact #1: Over 40 million users and… it’s still new!

G+ was initially available for invitation only in June 2011. It was launched to the public in September 2011.  An article published in October 2011 stated that this newest social networking site had already crossed the 40 million user mark.

Facebook, the largest competitor to G+ and a social network industry leader, took 3 years to reach 25 million users. Just saying…

You can read that article here: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/google-plus-user-base-crosses-40-million-mark/196016-11.html

Google + Fact #2: Google Plus is still new, people!

In case you’ve “checked it out” but haven’t been active on Google Plus (personally, I am guilty of that) it’s important to remember that Google tends to launch early, and update often. It’s not perfect yet. There’s still a lot of kinks to work out, naturally, and it is a new social network so it will take some getting used to.

However, considering the next fact… getting used to it may be more than worth the effort.

Google + Fact #3: G+ is owned by Google, the leading search engine. It goes without saying that this social network will change the way your business, brand, and website optimizes for search engine results and page rank.

I could write an entirely separate, lengthy post that discusses in greater detail how SEO and G+ will correlate. But for now, I will summarize with this: the integration of the “G+1” feature into search results will forever change the way search engine results display.

There’s already been heavy talk of “online filter bubbling” (http://www.thefilterbubble.com/) and Google is included. From the point-of-view of a business or brand, popularity is critical to keep an optimal search engine results placement (SERP.) It has been verified that the Google Plus One feature will affect page rank, and so it’s recommended to include a “+1” button on individual web pages, articles, and posts.

(Note, the +1 feature also works like the “Like” feature on Facebook, also resulting in targeted referrals.)

BAM! Copy Writing on Google Plus

If you look at the bottom of this website, you will see a nifty new button. It’s red, and it says ‘g+’. Clicking this button will take you to this link: https://plus.google.com/114764851191921340541/posts and that is the Business Page for BAM! Copy Writing.

Because it is new, there isn’t much there. Not many “+1s”, not many followers, and not much information or communication. But the important thing is that is exists. The Page feature for businesses and brands is also very new, and there are some things you can’t do in it yet. Those limitations will be temporary as Google continues to grow and improve on the Pages feature, of course.

If you have any questions about setting up a business page on Google Plus, feel free to use the contact form on the left of this page. I don’t charge to answer questions, and it’s simple enough to get started.

The bottom line is this: do you want to wait until the Google + is heavily populated with competing business & brand pages, or do you want to stake your claim now and take advantage of the page rank benefits before while it is still new?

It now costs me much less money, my new website looks amazing, and she even showed me how to add new pictures and make updates myself… saving me even more money! I will strongly recommend BAM! Copy Writing to anyone else that is either unhappy with their current website, or who needs a website at all. Caryn is awesomesauce!” Mike (Owner), Underground Ink

SEO Results!!!

Click on any of the following links to see the search engine results for yourself!

• http://lmgtfy.com/?q=tattoos+auburn+ny
• http://lmgtfy.com/?q=piercings+auburn+ny

See The Website:

]]> http://www.bamcopywriting.com/results/underground-ink/feed/ 0 http://www.bamcopywriting.com/results/benemy-welding-fabrication-2/ http://www.bamcopywriting.com/results/benemy-welding-fabrication-2/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:59:46 +0000 caryn http://www.bamcopywriting.com/?p=803

“We wanted to have a website for Benemy Welding & Fabrication, but we didn’t know what we wanted our website to look like or include. Caryn from BAM! Copy Writing was very helpful in talking to us and she put together a great website that makes it easy for us to show off pictures of our welding and fabrication work.  I love how easy it is to add new pictures, and even though I don’t depend on my website to bring in new customers I feel proud to finally say I have one… and it’s a website I am proud of!” Tina Suhr, Benemy Welding & Fabrication

SEO Results!!!

See the search engine results for yourself!

• http://lmgtfy.com/?q=welding+and+fabrication+finger+lakes

See The Website:

“BAM! Copywriting did an excellent job on the Phelps Chamber’s PhelpsNY.com redesign. Caryn is easy to work with and always looking to improve the effectiveness of the website.”

Bette Collier, Phelps Chamber of Commerce president

SEO Results!!!

See the search engine results for yourself:

• http://lmgtfy.com/?q=phelps+ny

See The Website:

I can’t really tell you where credit for each of these headlines belongs, and you can fact-check on Snopes if you want but I recommend just reading them, laughing about them, and sharing this page with any friends who might need a good laugh.

Obviously I should not get credit for these headlines. I did not write them, and I definitely would not have let (some) of these lines go into print:

• Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
  How is that even possible?!
• Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
  I’m curious, how was the crash supposed to happen?
• Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
  Isn’t that a bit dramatic?
• Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
  What a guy!
• Miners Refuse to Work after Death
  Must be Union.
• Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
  Finally, justice is served.
• War Dims Hope for Peace
  Yeah, I guess I can see how that might happen.
• If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
  Hope this isn’t related to those miners who refuse to work after death… might take a bit longer.
• Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
  I must have missed that class in Common Sense 101.
• Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
  There you have it… your hard earned tax dollars at work.
• Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
  Something stronger than duct tape?!
• Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
  Enough said…
• New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
  …
• Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
  No space dogs to blame it on?
• Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
  Tastes like chicken…
• Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
  Stay in school kids, or you’ll be victim of another chainsaw massacre.
• Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
  Well, they are tall but is that really relevant?
• Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
  Just saying…

Has Mass Publishing Worked For You Yet?

If you are here, now, reading this sentence (Hi!) then you are looking for the missing ingredient. You’re wondering why content marketing hasn’t worked for you yet. Did you forget something? Or did you just take some bad advice?

Internet marketing is almost entirely content based, and yes… article marketing is a great tool that works for SEO and reaching a targeted audience. However, content factories are not where your audience looks for information… and there are no page rank values to throwing your article into a deep pit to be mixed in with thousands of other categories and topics.

I first started my training in content marketing by publishing on ezinearticles, but it never felt right. I would have never reached the point where I refused to write a marketing article for any ezine or general content factory…

If mass publishing had ever worked for only one client…

Luckily, it never has worked for any of my clients and I can say with confidence that it will never work for you either.

On the contrary, article marketing is just another example where Quality trumps Quantity. It will work if you take the non-lazy approach and decide to connect directly with your audience.

The following recipe is semi-silly but also very serious… there are a number of businesses trying to build a strong web presence and messing it up entirely by taking bad advice and substituting generic information, flavorless topics, or other poor quality ingredients.

You Will Need:

• A collection of Information about your target audience, including market research and customer statistics.
  
• A list of fresh Topics. It’s important not to use frozen or canned topics. To check the freshness of a Topic, perform a search on Google. The best topics do not already have a long list of competing results.
  
• A generous portion of Value. DO NOT substitute with generic information.
  
• Optional: one Landing Page dedicated to the fresh Topic.
  
• And now, the secret ingredient: one list of Targeted Publications for direct control and deeper insight into the results.
  

What You Should Get:

How you put those ingredients together is up to you. Whether you bake them, freeze them, or throw them on the grill it’s your choice; and I can only hope your choice will be based on Information about what your audience will respond best to.

You can publish that article on the web and use all the right SEO tactics, but prioritize any ultimate goals first. (Get new leads and convert them into customers, raise brand awareness, introduce your brand as an industry leading expert, just to name a few ideas.) Or you can publish that same article in any print publication… local newspapers, niche magazines… and reach an audience of leads that don’t always turn to on generic web content factories for information. (Can you imagine?)

However you mix it and whatever you do to prepare and serve your marketing articles… In the end, you should have one amazing article that smacks your potential customers in the face. Your article should be so damn good that it gets printed or cut out and hung on the fridge or stuck in a scrapbook. Period.