Adam Oakley - Express Writers

What You Need to Know About Hiring Top-Notch Financial Content Writers

June 28, 2022June 21, 2022 by Adam Oakley

The internet is the world’s directory for products and services. Whether you need to order groceries, find a dog walking service, or locate a home repairman, a quick online search enables you to compare options and make a decision. One of the best ways to inform potential customers about your services is to produce online content attracting them to your website. Sheer content production alone, though, won’t continuously draw new customers to your business. Instead, effective new content—blogs, business services pages, product reviews—is paired with search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to get your content to the top of a consumer’s search results. Producing content for financial services providers or product sellers is no different. Consumers seeking to establish a new relationship with financial services providers, such as investment or wealth management, retirement planning, or financial planning advice desire an experienced company they can trust. Outsourcing your financial content writing to an experienced writing agency saves your business time, effort, and expense while increasing your market share and customer reach. Why Hire an Online Content Writer? Customers use online content to learn more about a company’s product or service before buying it. But what is “online content”? Everything from your business’s “About Us” webpage to your staff listing and product descriptions is valuable real estate. In an economy where 85% of customers find local businesses online, a strong internet presence is a must. Creating your online content optimized for online web search requires a trained in-house marketing staff familiar with SEO strategies meant to attract new and repeat customers. However, depending on the size of your business, this may not be feasible. Even if you have an in-house staff, budget constraints may limit the resources your in-house marketers can devote to content creation. Outsourcing content creation is beneficial to creating superior, typo-free, and relevant search-engine-optimized content. Perhaps this is why as much as 84% of business-to-business marketers and business-to-consumer owners outsource content writing. What is SEO? An effective writing service provider implements search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Put simply, SEO is the process taken to get a website placed higher in the results provided by an online search engine (usually Google). You can consider SEO to be the free analog to paid advertising. For example, you can pay to have Google provide your website when a potential customer searches for specific keywords. On the other hand, you could optimize your website so that search engines such as Google place it higher on the list of results when a potential customer searches. Consider a blog comparing different types of retirement accounts. The most common are 401(k) accounts and Roth IRA accounts. If someone were searching for the differences between the two accounts, they’re likely looking for applicable income limits, contribution maximums, and investment strategies. If anyone were to find your blog, it would need to outrank other websites comparing these retirement accounts. Using SEO can pull you up in rankings. But SEO isn’t only about strategic keyword placement. It’s also about content and design. Writing Effective Content To make outsourcing your content creation effective, the content must be high quality. A high-quality blog will not only include relevant keywords, but it will also provide a solution to whatever problem it is that readers endeavored to solve. The longer your audience engages with your content, the more favorable the ranking by the search engine. Search engines also emphasize intent: Why did this individual search for this string of terms? Do they want to know how to do something? Are they looking to make a purchase? When your writer understands the target audience, they write more interesting and engaging content. Using Effective Keywords The keywords you choose will drive potential customers to your website. The particular keywords you target aim to attract different audience segments to your site. Imagine that you sell investment management services for clients able to invest at minimum $25,000. Ranking for a keyword like “cheap investment advice,” for instance, might garner thousands of clicks per month. But who would these clicks come from? People who might not have $25,000 to invest! Keyword selection matters because you need to choose specific words that naturally occur to your audience. Hiring a Content Writer in Your Field Consistently publishing online content keeps your business relevant to consumers. For example, an error-free blog written on timely topics adds credibility and authority to your services. When this content pairs with SEO strategies, you make it more likely that consumers or businesses see your posts. Outsourcing financial content writing will benefit your business in the following ways: 1. You can focus on your business. Some small businesses consist of a handful of trusted and capable employees. Mid-sized businesses may have an in-house marketing department dedicated to reaching new consumers. In either situation—and all of those between—outsourcing content creation saves time. Take a 1000-word blog explaining the difference between a certified financial planner (CFP) and an investment broker. While a relatively uncomplex topic, a thoroughly researched and well-written end product requires hours of sourcing and drafting. A content editor would need to review the first draft, while a manager would need to approve the product before posting online. Posting a high-quality blog would require at least two to three levels of review, taking multiple employees away from other tasks. When you outsource content creation instead, you allow yourself to focus on the business of running your business. 2. You keep costs down. Employing a team of in-house marketing strategists is beneficial for businesses with a steady revenue stream capable of supporting multiple salaries. These marketing strategists provide a return on investment by building your client base and brand awareness and developing goodwill and identification in your sector. But what if you could achieve all of these benefits without paying numerous salaries? Not to mention the additional employment taxes, employee benefits, and social security payments that you save on. When you outsource your content creation, you only pay for the final deliverable—your new content. No need to … Read more

11 Content Marketing Trends to Keep An Eye On in 2022

May 19, 2023June 7, 2022 by Adam Oakley

Content marketing is a wildly competitive arena, that’s why brands need to implement strategies that will allow them to stand out from the crowd. Brands need to do whatever it takes to remain relevant and get in front of the right audience. However, when you consider that the content marketing industry is forever evolving, this can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. You don’t want to invest time and money in the wrong places. Luckily, content marketing doesn’t have to be a guessing game. You can better map out your strategy for the year ahead when you consider top content marketing trends and begin incorporating them. Why It’s Important to Monitor Content Marketing Trends Before we dive into the top content marketing trends of 2022, you might be wondering if following what’s trending is worth it. While it’s smart to focus on implementing the strategies you know are effective for your brand, it’s also important to experiment. Being open to trying new things could help you discover other clever tactics for getting your brand out into the world. Here are a few reasons why you want to be aware of the trends: It Tells You What’s Happening in the Industry: Don’t ignore what’s happening in your industry, or you’ll quickly fall behind your competitors. It’s better to be aware of the directions of trends so you can adapt your strategy accordingly. Your Content Marketing Strategy Won’t Get Stale: Doing the same old thing all the time will get boring fast, for both you and your audience. If you’re looking to freshen things up, try experimenting with a new idea. It’ll be exciting to create something different and will give your audience fresh content to enjoy. Then, you can see what resonates most with them. It Could Help You Reach a Whole New Audience: Introducing a new medium to your content marketing strategy (like podcasting when you’ve strictly published blogs) can help you reach a much wider audience. You’ll generate more brand awareness that could lead to massive success. 11 Content Marketing Trends to Keep an Eye On in 2022 For 2022, 66% of marketers expected to increase their content marketing budget compared to 2021. Especially since content marketing is a powerful way to reach your target audience, drive conversions, and grow your business. But to use it effectively, you need to know where to direct your attention. Here are 11 content marketing trends to watch this year: 1. Greater Focus on Value-Driven Content When it comes to your inbound strategy, value-driven content is where it’s at. People are more receptive to content when there’s something in it for them versus when you’re focused on pitching an offering. That’s a turn-off that will send people running from your website. Now more than ever, being of service to your audience is essential. Instead of thinking about what’s in it for you, think about how you can provide readers, viewers, and listeners with content they’ll genuinely enjoy. To do this, create content on topics that will resonate with your target audience. Focus on providing a solution to their biggest pain points. Then, provide tremendous value that will position you as an expert immediately. Show them that you’re knowledgeable on the topic at hand and establish trust. This is a long-term game, but you can reap major rewards. It’ll help you develop a strong connection with your audience, while you step into the role of a thought leader in your industry. 2. Short-Form Video is Getting Top Priority Mirroring the success of TikTok, Meta launched Instagram Reels in 2020 and then brought the feature to Facebook in 2021. All three of these options are focused on short-form video. TikTok allows users to create videos up to three minutes long, although it is also rolling out 10-minute videos. Meanwhile, Instagram and Facebook have kept videos limited to the one-minute mark. Considering both TikTok and Instagram Reels have seen great success, it’s no wonder many brands are jumping on board. TikTok hit one billion active users in September 2021, with creators using it to share entertaining videos, dances, pranks, and more. And since influencers see an engagement rate of nearly 18% (consistently higher than Instagram and YouTube), it seems to be paying off. Over on Instagram, Reels are showing a 22% higher engagement rate than regular videos. If you haven’t yet jumped on board with short-form video on one of these platforms, start thinking about it. Brands can share actionable tips and tricks, helpful advice, or even behind-the-scenes content to build relationships. All are great options to use these one-to-three-minute video platforms. 3. Podcasting is Still a Worthwhile Avenue In 2021, U.S. consumers reportedly listened to 15 billion hours of podcasts. This statistic shows that podcasting isn’t going away anytime soon. And with the introduction of platforms like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces, brands have been sparked to incorporate audio into their content strategies. While Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces offer an easy way to get started with audio content, podcasting is for those ready to get serious about this medium. Podcasting allows you to build a house to store all your audio conversations, which is often preferable when you consider they’ll ultimately expire on Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces. With a podcast, your content can live on for a long time. Podcasting is a fantastic way to generate more awareness for your brand and position yourself as an authority in your field by sharing valuable content. Not only that, but 60% of podcast listeners said they searched for a product after hearing it mentioned in a podcast. So, you can use this to drive sales effectively for your brand’s products and services. 4. Content Audits Will Become a Necessity If you’re not already conducting regular audits of your content, you’re missing out. This is one of the content marketing trends you simply cannot avoid if you want to get the most bang for your buck from the work you’re publishing. Content audits allow you to do a … Read more

What Are Orphan Pages? How to Find & Fix Them for SEO

June 28, 2022May 31, 2022 by Adam Oakley

Whether you’re new to the SEO world or you’re a veteran, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about orphan pages. Or at the very least, you’ve experienced them even if you don’t realize it. These pages aren’t great for website visitors, as they can create a frustrating user experience. Additionally, search engine crawlers aren’t fond of them. Orphan pages create missed opportunities to engage customers and can cause your bounce rate to skyrocket. For those reasons, it’s wise to not only find any lingering on your website but to fix them as soon as possible. Luckily, that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this blog, so you don’t have to worry about orphan pages hurting your SEO ever again. Let’s dive into the tips. What Are Orphan Pages? Before we go any further, let’s talk about what orphan pages are so you’ll know what you’re looking for. Because it’s likely your website probably has at least a few. Essentially, orphan pages are pages on your website that do not link to any other page or section. That means someone who visits your website cannot access these pages without knowing the direct URL. So, if there’s high-quality, valuable content on these pages, visitors won’t be able to see it. And all that hard work you put in will be wasted. You’ll need to keep in mind that search engines like Google discover new pages because a crawler will follow a link from another page or the crawler will find the URL in your XML sitemap. This means search engines cannot find an orphan page because it fails to meet those two criteria for crawling and indexing. And as a result, it won’t rank in search results. Orphan Pages vs. Dead End Pages A “dead end” page is another common term in the SEO world. However, it’s important to note that they are different from orphan pages. Pages are considered a dead-end when they don’t contain any internal or external links. This means the only way to leave the page is to exit the site or hit the “back” button. It isn’t ideal because you want to give visitors plenty of reasons to stay on your site. And it helps keep your bounce rate low. Let this remind you that pages should have links. They need links sending traffic their way and need links directing traffic to other pages. It’s an easy way to set your site up for perfectly optimized success. If you ever see a page without a link, fix it as soon as possible! How to Find Orphan Pages Now that you know what orphan pages are, let’s talk about how to find them. This task will require patience and a tool to help make the process easier. Here’s how to get started: 1. Identify URLs That Can be Reached Through Crawling This first step is going to require the use of a crawler tool. Screaming Frog is a popular option, as it helps you improve onsite optimization by identifying common SEO issues. However, there are other tools available. You may already have an SEO tool in your arsenal that can assist you here. For example, SEMrush and Ahrefs have tools to list crawled pages. No matter which tool you use, make sure it’s set to crawl only the pages indexable by search engines. Now, you might be thinking that sounds counterintuitive. Don’t you want to find the pages that aren’t indexable by Google? Yes, you do. However, this is where you need to start. You see, crawlers have a hard time finding orphan pages because there’s nothing linking to them. So, if you’re using an SEO tool to find them, it likely won’t yield any results. Instead, you’ll begin by getting a list of all crawlable pages, which we’ll then use for cross-referencing in an upcoming step. 2. Use Google Analytics to Obtain a List of All Site URLs As a website owner, Google Analytics is a staple. Not only is it helpful for tracking page views and traffic sources, but it can provide tons of other valuable information as well. And today, it’s going to help you narrow down which of your website pages are deemed orphaned. You already have a list of crawlable pages. Now, you’ll need Google Analytics to give you a complete list of all your site’s URLs. It’s a good thing you don’t have to do that manually. Odds are, there’s some amount of traffic to every page on your website, meaning there’s a record of its existence somewhere inside your Google Analytics. But with orphan pages, their page views are likely pretty low since search engines aren’t sending traffic their way. Once inside Google Analytics, here’s what you need to do. In the sidebar, select Behavior > Site Content > All Pages. This will present you with a list of all the site pages that have received any amount of traffic. You can then sort this based on the least amount of page views. Those pages are likely orphaned since traffic is so low. Next, export this data to a Google Sheet or an Excel file. 3. Compare Both Lists of URLs This is where things get fun, but you’ll need to have some patience to get through this step. You’ll have to spend some time comparing both URL lists you’ve just generated. Look at your Google Analytics list and cross-reference to see if each of the URLs can be found in the list of crawlable links. If the link appears in both lists, nothing needs to be done. However, if the link doesn’t appear as being crawlable by search engines, it’s most likely an orphan page. 4. Analyze the Results of the Audit Next, you’ll want to take a moment to review each one of your website’s orphaned pages. Does the page still serve a purpose, and does it provide valuable content you’d like visitors to see? If so, you’ll want to make some changes to ensure the page can be … Read more

4 Agencies Who Have Used Express Writers

June 28, 2022May 17, 2022 by Adam Oakley

Since Express Writers was founded in 2011, we have had the pleasure of working with tons of incredible clients from around the world. In fact, we’ve served over 5,000 clients since our virtual doors opened. Many of those clients are agencies who decided to outsource their content creation to us. Our team has created a wide array of content for them, everything from long-form blogs to web page copy, video scripts, and more. They entrust us with such an important task because they’ve come to expect the highest quality from our writers and a team that cares about their content from our leadership. Not only that, but they’ve seen firsthand the results that come from publishing valuable online content. And that’s what keeps them coming back to our team time and time again. Sounds great, right? But what exactly has the experience been like for some of the agencies who have used Express Writers? Keep reading to learn about the results four different agencies received. Marketing Labs Saw Their Monthly Website Traffic Double Matt Janaway, CEO of Marketing Labs, made the decision to contact Express Writers upon realizing that the two copywriters on his team couldn’t possibly handle all the work that was pouring in from their expanding clientele. He couldn’t risk them rushing assignments or stretching themselves too thin, nor was he in a position to hire a third full-time copywriter. So, the only option was to outsource. Otherwise, Janaway knew the final product would suffer. As a result, he turned to us, joining the list of agencies who have used Express Writers for their content creation. Janaway had three main requirements for the copywriters who tackled his projects: quality, speed, and knowledge of content and digital marketing. Describes our team perfectly, don’t you think? Here’s what Janaway had to say about reaching out to us: “Our only other real option was to use an alternate supplier for the content due to the scale. I know of some but was impressed with the quality and speed of Express Writers in previous projects. So it was a no-brainer for me.” After contacting us, our team took the reins and got to work immediately. We successfully created and implemented a content plan for the Marketing Labs blog. We even took it a step further by cleaning up and optimizing product description copy for one of their clients. And the results were impressive! Here’s what happened: Website Traffic Doubled: Marketing Labs saw their monthly website traffic double from 25,000 page views to 50,000 page views. That’s one of the most common metrics we see increase with our clients because optimized content ranks higher in search results, ultimately attracting more readers. A Blog Gained Over 2,000 Social Media Shares: As a creator, it’s always a good feeling when you see someone sharing your content on social media. So, you can only imagine how thrilled the Marketing Labs team must have been when they saw one of their blog posts reach over 2,000 social media shares. That’s a powerful way to boost website traffic and generate brand awareness. Their Client’s Revenue Skyrocketed: Our writers thoughtfully crafted new product description and web copy for one of Marketing Labs’ clients as well. That client saw a 77% increase in revenue year-over-year after their content had been successfully optimized. Does it get any better than that? It’s results like this that remind us why we love to create content and serve our clients. After all, it’s our mission to ensure they see a return on their investment every time they work with us. We couldn’t be more grateful for clients like Matt Janaway who entrust us with their content. Ryan Stewart Received an In-Depth, Publish-Ready Ebook When Ryan Stewart of The Blueprint Training turned to Express Writers, he shared that his agency no longer did content creation. Knowing what a huge undertaking it is to create great content, this wasn’t surprising. But when Stewart found himself with an ebook he wanted to publish, he knew he needed to get outside help since his agency’s team members couldn’t take on the job. He came to Express Writers having written 30,000 words that needed editing. He also wanted to add between 20,000-30,000 more words to the ebook by way of ghostwriting. And that’s where our team came in. One of our trained Authority-level writers took on this task. Within three and a half months, we were able to help Stewart complete his ebook and finally get it ready for publication. When you consider the research required and the amount of content that needed writing, that was an impressive turnaround time! Here’s what Stewart had to say about his experience with us: “I can vouch for the quality [of content]. I’m really impressed… You guys have done a tremendous job. Unless you have somebody in-house, it’s definitely worth it to go out and contract a company like Express Writers to get the right stuff done.” Nfusion Solutions Saw Their Content Ranking on the First Page Isn’t it every creator’s dream to see their content ranking on the first page of the Google search results? When that happens, it’s a clear sign that you’ve done your job well. Not only that, but it opens you up to a world of opportunities as more website traffic will surely begin flowing your way. For agencies that use Express Writers, you can expect to see your content begin to earn rankings. Our team previously worked with Joe Bell, the CEO and co-founder of Nfusion Solutions. We helped him develop a content strategy and wrote copy for the company website’s product-specific pages. Although Bell felt his niche was a tough one, our writers tackled his projects with ease. Afterward, he shared with us that, in just a few weeks, his new web pages were already ranking on the first page of the Google search results for their desired keywords. That’s just what optimized content can do for you! It’ll bring in tons of traffic, … Read more

How Does Express Writers Work? Here’s a Look at Our Process

June 29, 2022April 26, 2022 by Adam Oakley

Who knew that when Express Writers was founded back in 2011 that we’d one day become a team of over 90 people, serving more than 5,000 clients worldwide? But you might wonder how Express Writers works if you’re just getting to know us. Our passion for creating excellent content and commitment to quality every step of the way has largely contributed to our success. It’s why our clients turn to us for all of their content needs. And if you’ve been looking for an agency to outsource your content creation to, you can join our other loyal clients. But if you’ve never worked with a content agency before, you might be unsure what the experience is like. Is it the right fit for you? How does one get started with outsourcing to an agency? We want to eliminate any of the barriers between you and high-quality content from our team. So, how does Express Writers work? Let’s take a look at our process so you’ll know what to expect when placing your first order inside our Content Shop. This way, you can see how your order is handled from start to finish, ensuring quality service every step of the way. The Platform: Introducing Our Content Shop Before we start talking about how to place an order, we need to first introduce you to our Content Shop. This platform was painstakingly built to make it easier than ever for you to purchase content from our team. It lays out all of our available services so you can see the different types of content we can create for you, as well as our four content writing levels to choose from. Our General content level is great for basic blogs, while our Expert, Specialty, and Authority content levels can be used for blogging or web page content. However, our writers do more than that. They can also craft ebooks, email copy, product descriptions, social media posts, press releases, and more. Want to get started? Here’s what you need to do: Register for an Account: Before placing an order, you’ll need to register for an account. All content deliveries are made to your account. This is also an opportunity for us to learn more about you. You’ll answer questions about who you’re ordering content for (yourself, your clients, or both), the type of content you’re interested in, whether you want to order content yourself (self-service), or if you’d prefer to make a deposit and have Express Writers fully manage your content. Placing an Order: After you create your account, you’re free to browse the Content Shop and begin adding various types of content to your virtual shopping cart. Choose your preferred content type, word count (where applicable), as well as any other additional add-ons you require, such as meta description or SEO topic research. Once you’re all set, simply complete the checkout process. As mentioned above, you don’t need to choose the “self-service” option where you select and order content on your own. If you need a more hands-off solution, you can get in touch about our “Managed Service” option. It’s a great option for agencies and companies that need to scale up their content output. Our Process: Placing, Receiving, and Creating Orders Now, how does the Express Writers process work? We’ve broken this down into an easy-to-understand four-step process that outlines every stage. It begins by placing your order and ends with you receiving a high-quality piece of content. 1. Choose and Purchase Your Content You begin by browsing our Content Shop and purchasing the content that is best suited to your needs. From there, you’ll receive an input form, which you’ll need to complete before we can start writing. This form provides us with all the pertinent details regarding your order, including: Your project title Content format The brand the content is for and the website URL Your preferred writer industry Keywords to use An outline or any supporting documents, if applicable Things to mention and things to avoid Examples of content you love And the preferred voice and tone for your content This information allows our Content Manager to match the perfect writer to your order. Each of our writers has their own area of expertise which ensures you get someone who can confidently create the content you desire. Plus, a writer who enjoys the content they create is much happier with their job overall. 2. An Expert Writer Creates Your Content Next, we’ll move into the content creation process. One of our expert writers will bring your content to life, always matching your brief and implementing SEO best practices. Should the writer have any questions during this phase, one of our team members will contact you for more details. Be sure to keep an eye out and respond promptly so your deadlines can still be met. Once the writer completes the content, a draft is submitted for editorial review before you even see it. 3. An Editor Reviews the Content While our writers do a great job creating content for our clients, sometimes mistakes happen. That’s why we have editors (or Quality Assistants) who will review your content before it’s delivered. This gives them the chance to correct any typos or other errors. Plus, they will upload the content into Grammarly to check for problems and Copyscape to make sure the content is 100% original. If, for some reason, the content doesn’t meet expectations, we’ll send it back to the writer to make changes. But if an editor approves it, it’ll be delivered to you. 4. Your Content is Delivered Once delivered, the content will appear in your client portal. You then review the content to ensure it meets all of your expectations. If it does, then you’re good to approve the project and publish the content. If you’d like to make changes, you can send it back to our team for revisions with your feedback. This will help the writer to fine-tune the content according to your requests. … Read more

Express Writers History: Where We Are Now and What’s Next

June 29, 2022March 30, 2022 by Adam Oakley

Creating quality content for your website, social media, or other platforms is crucial if you want to stand out online these days. It’s your content that attracts people to your brand in the first place. And that very same content that will keep them coming back for more. Without it, you risk going unnoticed, missing out on potential opportunities for new connections and generating income. That’s why it’s so important to invest in writers who are experienced and highly skilled, allowing them to effortlessly create content that will position your brand as an authority in its field. But the question is, where do you find writers who genuinely know what they’re doing and have a passion for expertly crafting irresistible content? We know that it takes a lot of time to find, hire, and train writers – that’s where Express Writers fits in. Read on to dive into the history of Express Writers. We’ll cover how long we’ve been in business and how many orders we’ve completed successfully, as well as how we help businesses of all sizes. A Brief Express Writers History At Express Writers, our team is committed to providing our clients with only the best content. It’s been our primary mission since our founding in 2011. In that time, we’ve served over 5,000 clients and completed more than 40,000 projects. Our team is remotely located throughout the United States, and we’re always growing. That means we have all the necessary resources to tackle your projects and not only meet, but exceed, your needs for high-quality content. Plus, you can rest easy knowing that we hire writers based on their industry experience, allowing us to handpick the writer that’s best for your project. If you’d like to learn about a few of the core members making up our team (and put faces to their names), visit our About Us page to check out their bios. A Look at Our Best-Selling Services Now that you know a bit about our impressive Express Writers history, let’s talk about some of our top services. This will give you an idea of the services we offer and can help you see how our writers can transform your content. Four Content Levels, Based on Your Needs Brands are looking for different things when they come to the Express Writers team. That’s why we created a model for customizable content to match our clients’ unique needs with their exact vision. As a result, we created four content levels so there’s something for every budget. Here’s a quick overview of what Express Writers has to offer: General, Expert, Specialist, and Authority Content: These are our four different content levels. You can expect quality content at every level, but which you choose depends on your needs. For example, General Blogs do not receive editing, while higher levels do. And for technical industries, you’ll want to choose specialty content. Contract-Free Model: You’re never locked into any kind of contract when working with our team. That means you can order content whenever you need without being tied into a specific number of pieces. Managed Agency Service: We provide content at scale for agencies looking for a team to handle high-volume projects. You can be hands-off as our team tackles all the writing and editing. Our team expertly crafts blog posts, web pages, press releases, ebooks, and more. Just check out what one of our past clients had to say about working with us: “We use Express Writers as an agency for some of our client content projects, including emails, ebooks, white papers, and blog posts. They have it all. High quality, valuable prices, great service, and all the content offerings you could want in an agency!” For Quality Content, Trust Express Writers With over 11 years of solid experience, our team of writers knows how to help you best. We have expert writers with the knowledge and skills to develop content that will attract your target audience and keep them coming back for more. Instead of managing content creation by yourself, outsource it to our team for maximum ROI. Curious how we can help you? Contact us today to discuss your new project.

5 Ideal Examples of Social Media Optimization You Need to See

January 13, 2024November 16, 2021 by Adam Oakley

You’re awesome at social media marketing. You’ve focused on creating timely and engaging posts with great content, so you stand out whenever you post. In this scenario, you’re doing everything right – except for one thing. What did you forget? Still scratching your head? Set aside the content aspect for a second – yes, we know this is difficult, especially if you prioritize quality content like we do – and go back to basics. ….Are your social media profiles optimized? If you don’t know what this means, you need to. To put it bluntly, your content can’t be “king” if your profiles — your social home bases — are a hot mess. These two things – content and presentation – need to support each other. Don’t worry, though – we’re going to dig deeper into why you need to get your profiles on social media optimized. Then we’ll look at five great examples of social media profiles from businesses who are doing it the right way. Why Do You Need to Optimize Your Profiles on Social Media? Profile optimization is how you make your social profiles appear to best advantage to curious and interested users, a.k.a. potential leads. Without optimization on all your accounts, your web presence will look disjointed and choppy, not to mention people won’t be able to find your profiles through search engines. You already know how important it is to be discoverable online, especially if you’re a local business. Applying this to your social media accounts will ensure all of your channels are ripe for the picking for whoever needs to find them. PLUS, you’ll scoop up leads who may be digging deeper into your online presence to find out about your brand and what you stand for. The cherry on top? 🍒 You’ll cultivate a unified look across your web presence that’s professional, recognizable, and consistent. The Easy Guide to Overhauling your Social Media Profiles for Great Optimization Now that you know how important optimization is, we can get down to business. We’ll start at the shallow end of the pool with something very simple: your profile pictures. [bctt tweet=”Overhaul your social media profile in three easy steps? Yep, that’s it. Learn how at @ExpWriters ✨” via=”no”] 1. Unify All of Your Profile Pictures Your profile picture is your online face. People will come to associate your presence with your picture, so make sure it’s relevant to your business as well as eye-catching. A good rule of thumb is to use your brand logo, but you can always buck tradition for your social presence if you have an equally good photo that sums up your brand. (This could be a great headshot of you [or whoever stands in as your brand’s “face”] a variation of your logo, etc.) Whatever you do, employ the same profile picture across all the major platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Remember this picture will appear beside all of your social activity, like comments. As such, don’t choose a picture that’s hard to see when it’s scaled down to a tiny icon (like a detailed landscape picture, for instance). 2. Create an Informative Profile Bio According to Forbes, lots of companies make the mistake of not explaining what they do clearly in their bio. When users visit your social media pages, they’re probably trying to figure out who you are and/or if they should follow you. They can’t make that decision if you don’t provide them with the necessary information. The key is to be specific. If you make birthday cakes for dogs, don’t say your company “specializes in dog treats.” If you’re a tech company peddling coding software, don’t be vague and say you offer “solutions for web developers.” State what you do in terms your readers will glom onto. E.g., “Making Fido’s dreams come true on all of his special days with elaborate, canine-friendly cakes.” Don’t forget to include your location and hours if you’re local. Plenty of people use their smartphones to find out this information about a business on the fly, and it’s frustrating when it’s M.I.A. You may even lose business if someone is checking you out and considering stopping by – but they can’t find your address or hours, so they choose to go elsewhere. Sprout Social summarizes all of the above keys to visual optimization with this helpful infographic: Don’t neglect the next point, however. 3. Sneak in Keywords You can also use keywords in your profile name and description to show up in searches. Choose the most relevant ones and use them wisely to get discovered this way. Other places to sneak in keywords: your headline, photo descriptions, hashtags, the “about” section, and even in your status updates. Try using a variety of keywords in these various areas and see what happens. 5 Examples of Social Media Pages with Optimal Optimization With perfectly optimized pages that are consistent, audience-specific, informative, and engaging, these five different companies and organizations are examples of social media presences that hit the nail on the head. 1. NASA NASA does a lot of things right with their social media profiles. Their Facebook page, for instance, has an eye-catching profile picture and all of the right information to help visitors who want to learn more. Take a look at their Intro section: Not only have they provided a succinct bio that states their mission and purpose, they have also included useful information, keywords, and important contact details. Plus, their Twitter page mirrors their Facebook: They use a similar profile picture and the same header image. This equals perfect continuity and optimization across their brand outlets, creating a seamless experience. 2. Out of Print There’s no question about what Out of Print sells when you land on their Twitter page: “Shop bookish t-shirts, totes, socks, mugs, pins, and more!” This is a straightforward bio that gets the job done while inserting a few keywords and a great hashtag. It also nods to the charitable side of their … Read more

Top 10 Fundamental Strengths Every Great Blogger Should Have

January 10, 2024November 2, 2021 by Adam Oakley

10 Fundamental Strengths Every Good Blogger Should Have

Out of more than 1.8 billion websites, there are over 500 million blogs. Every day, more than 2 million new blog posts are published. However, quality is more important than quantity. How many of those blogs do you think are good blogs, ones that people enjoy reading? Now that you mention it, how do you define a “good” blog? 🧐 Most people can generally agree that a good blog is one that provides regular, relevant content. It can be informative, newsworthy, and/or entertaining, as long as it somehow enriches readers’ lives. Facts are cited and linked back to credible sources, content is unique, and the writer’s perspective is knowledgeable and authoritative. Great blogs inspire conversations. People love sharing content, and when they read a blog that really connects with them, they’re happy to tell their friends and share the content on social media. Good blogs don’t go unnoticed. In fact, they’re often shared among other bloggers in the form of citations and backlinks. But, behind every good blog is an equally good — or great — blogger. Need some help with your blog? Our specialty content service partners you with an expert writer to create in-depth authority content, starting at $140/500w. Understanding Bloggers: The Real, Regular People Behind the Blogs Who is responsible for creating these posts on the worldwide web? Believe it or not, bloggers are regular people, just like you and me. Sure, some of them may be successful CEOs and serial entrepreneurs, but there are equally skilled bloggers who are stay-at-home dads, mommy bloggers, taxi drivers, late-night bartenders, etc. You don’t have to be rich and famous to be a great blogger. What you do need, though, is a particular skill set, work ethic, and unique insights into a topic or industry. The best bloggers have a talent for turning the mundane into the extraordinary through the magic of words. But blogging has evolved into something much more complex than the online diary entries you used to see in the early days. Business blogging has proven to be a lucrative form of content marketing that earns high engagement and conversions while costing 62% less than traditional forms of marketing and generating 3x as many leads. In fact, companies with an active blog have 434% more indexed pages and 97% more inbound links on average. However, the same best practices and rules apply. Being a business owner doesn’t automatically guarantee you can produce good content or mean your blog is any better than the hobbyist posting in his or her spare time. If you want to have a good blog, you need to be engaging your readers in the right way. If you’re struggling with your content strategy, we can help! [bctt tweet=”You don’t have to be rich and famous to be a great blogger. 🤩 What you do need, though, is a particular skill set, work ethic, and unique insights into a topic or industry. Learn the 10 top strengths every blogger needs:” username=”ExpWriters”] What’s a Good Blog? The 10 Most Important Strengths of the Best Bloggers No matter who you are, no matter what you blog about, you should strive for these 10 fundamental strengths that the best bloggers share. 1. Consistency The most popular blogs on the internet maintain their position by posting regularly. What does this mean in terms of a personality trait for the blogger? Although you might assume that a blogger doesn’t have to worry about deadlines, the fact of the matter is every single day is a blogger’s deadline. Bloggers need to be self-motivated to get things done. A consistent blogger is one that draws the admiration of his or her followers. An inconsistent blogger frustrates readers, and failing to update content often is an invitation for your audience to leave. 2. Uniqueness Serial entrepreneur, web designer, and podcast co-host Matt Wolfe said, “There’s a lot of information out there for free, so you’ve got to figure out what makes your information different.” True uniqueness isn’t something you can simulate or copy. It’s something that resides in all of us and just needs the right opportunity to come out. Ask yourself, “Why should people read my blog? What can I offer my readers that my competitors can’t?” This is known as your content differentiation factor (CDF). The best bloggers are those who tap into their innate uniqueness and carry it over to their blog. People love a spectacle, and if you provide one to them, they’re happy to keep coming back for more. 3. Eloquence Sadly, the art of eloquence seems to be lost on many modern bloggers. The successful ones are the light that shines out of the fog. They illuminate how important it is to present your ideas clearly. As writers, our very art – the thing we live for – boils down to how well we represent ideas through our medium of words, how well we connect with strangers, and how we share our insights and imaginations. As a blogger, this is a rare and important trait to have. Those who communicate well reap the spoils. 4. Niche-Based Mindset Niche bloggers develop content within a community that’s based around common interests. Bloggers who tackle the pertinent issues and topics within their niche are usually respected by their peers for what they do. Finding a niche gives you fuel to drive your blog because, in any niche, there are hundreds of thousands of possible topics. The great bloggers know how to use this to their advantage. For example, our blog (the one you’re reading right now), is clear about its specific niche. We are your authority source for practical content marketing advice, and we’re not shy about stating that: (See? It’s right there under the page title.) We know who our readers are. We know what we do best. And we know what kind of niche our expertise thrives in. You should, too. 5. Passion “You should do what you love for a living.” This advice is the … Read more

How to Create Captivating News Content for Your Blog

January 9, 2024October 26, 2021 by Adam Oakley

Creating content isn’t what it used to be 10 years ago. Heck, it isn’t even the same as it was last year. Consider this: Before COVID, Google search traffic was approximately 3.6 billion searches per day. That’s a lot, yes… but since March 2020, that number has been hovering around 6 billion searches per day. The consumption of online content and the number of people relying on Google to find it has never been greater than it is right now. This high demand is changing the content game, which was already competitive to begin with. 🎯 Many content creators are wondering, “How do I write compelling content that’s both indexed by Google and read by my target audience?” If you’ve found yourself asking this very question, you should seriously consider adding news blog posts into your general content marketing plan. Psst… If your content strategy is lacking or simply not performing the way you want it to, we can help! Our content strategy services start at $400 for a full content strategy plan and audit, or a la carte at per-topic pricing. Why Should You Post News Content on Your Blog? Hear me out – content is the most critical piece of the puzzle. It has been for a long time. Google has openly said that content could “likely matter more than any other factor” when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). While you should be dedicated to creating evergreen content that remains relevant long after it’s been published, you also shouldn’t be afraid to supplement those posts with trending news happening in your industry. News content shows your audience you’re relevant and up-to-date with what’s going on. It also provides a great source of value to your audience by demonstrating how industry and market changes are impacting them. [bctt tweet=”Why create news content? 📰 It shows your audience you’re relevant and up-to-date with what’s going on. It also provides value by demonstrating how industry and market changes are impacting them. 💡” username=”ExpWriters”] Interspersing trending news updates among your informative evergreen content, such as whitepapers, will give your blog a well-rounded feeling of authority and relevancy. Need a high-quality whitepaper written for your business? Our done-for-you content services from expert-level writers include whitepapers, starting around $105/page. How to Write a News Blog: 8 Tips to Make Your Content Stand Out Breaking news is often a high-competition playing field, which means you need to bring your A-game if you want to rank in the search engines. These tips will help you create compelling, newsworthy content. 1. Create a Captivating Headline The first, most important part of any news article is creating a captivating headline for the post. This is true for regular and news blogs alike because you want and need people to click on your link. Thus, when you write a headline, make sure it’s informative and lets your audience know what the blog will be about. You should also make sure it has intrigue or even a bit of a cliffhanger so it piques interest and makes your audience want to read the story behind your crafty headline. Two of the best ways to accomplish this: Write your headline as a question (and be sure to answer said question in the article itself). Use second person point of view (you/your) in the headline to directly engage with the reader. When writing your headline, make sure it matches what your content will be about – don’t mislead readers with false promises! 2. Begin with the Facts When you write a news piece for your blog, make sure you start with the facts first. Give readers the information they want at the beginning of your post and summarize the story in twenty to thirty words. People will appreciate this upfront content organization because many simply want the facts before they get to the opinions or editorial version of the story. This isn’t a creative fiction piece, after all. Once you’ve given the facts, you can break them down and discuss them while adding your opinion or explaining how this information will impact your readers. 3. Use Present (Active) Tense News pieces are more powerful and compelling when told in present tense with an active voice. This makes the story feel like it’s happening in real-time, which will have a bigger impact on your readers. It also takes a lot less time for a person to read the present tense version of a sentence than it does the past tense, not to mention it saves on word count when you can cut a majority of past participles such as “had.” Remember: Active voice is always stronger than passive voice. 4. Keep Your Blog Jargon-Free It’s easy to fall into the jargon trap when you’re writing about industry-specific topics. However, it’s a good idea to avoid using jargon in your posts. This will make it easier for your audience to read and comprehend the content. Sure, some of them might know the jargon, but it’s always wise to ensure your content is readable for anyone who happens upon your website. Keeping your posts jargon-free is not only a great idea for news pieces — it’s also a smart practice for all other blog posts you create in the future. Need more inspiration for creating an amazing blog that brings in traffic and leads? Check out our FREE email course, 10 Days to a Better Blog. 5. Always Write Out Acronyms in the Beginning It’s okay to use acronyms in your blog, but make sure you’re always clear and upfront about what they mean. Even if you expect your target audience to be experts in a particular field and know industry-specific acronyms, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to eliminate any potential for confusion. Novices who find your article and want to learn more shouldn’t feel confused, frustrated, or left out when they read your post and don’t know what acronyms stand for or why they’re important. For example, on the Write Blog, when … Read more

How to Create Brand Voice Guidelines for Your Brand

February 7, 2024October 18, 2021 by Adam Oakley

Does your brand have a unique voice, one that demands attention, that tells a story? Does it appeal to your target audience and draw them in? Does it help build relationships with them? Does your brand voice make your audience want to read more of your content? Does it make them more likely to follow you on social media? Does it build trust with consistency and personality? If it doesn’t, you need to rethink your strategy (or create one A.S.A.P.). Because building and maintaining a solid brand voice should do ALL of those things. Despite the advantages of having a specific brand voice, it’s surprising how many companies don’t take time to fully develop their own. 77% of brands have issues with off-brand content and struggle to maintain consistency in branding. They’re either skipping creating guidelines, or creating ineffective ones. Maybe the brand itself needs some work, or, marketers simply don’t know how to develop their brand’s voice. That’s why I’m here with today’s guide on how to create brand voice guidelines. I’ll expand on the benefits and share how some leading companies in unique industries have crafted individual brand voices customers recognize. This set of knowledge is a must for any marketer. Ready? Let’s get into it. 7 Steps to Creating Brand Voice Guidelines 1. Understand WHY Brand Voice Guidelines are So Valuable for Your Organization 2. Analyze Your Content & Audience for Inspiration 3. Start with a Concise Description (Then Flesh It Out) 4. Build Examples, Outlines, & Templates 5. Ensure Your Brand Voice Guidelines Translate Well to Content 6. Refine & Refocus in Small Increments 7. Add the Supplementary Touches [bctt tweet=”77% of brands have issues with off-brand content and struggle to maintain consistency in branding. Are you on the right track? Read this 7-step guide on building brand voice guidelines ✅” username=”ExpWriters”] How to Create Brand Voice Guidelines in 7 Steps Creating brand voice guidelines helps guide and align your company voice with your goals, so it all meshes seamlessly. That way, every time your brand voice is used in content, on social media, on your website, and in emails and communications with your customers, it provides a great experience AND nudges you in the right direction, growth-wise. Let’s break down the seven steps to get going. 1. Understand Why Creating Brand Voice Guidelines Is So Beneficial You’re busy. You’ve got products to sell, subscribers to gain, and numerous other goals to meet. Why should you invest time in creating a brand voice? Because it can help you meet those goals. The bottom line is you want growth. Growth in subscribers, growth in exposure, growth in sales. According to a report from Lucidpress, brand consistency can improve revenue growth by 23% on average. Marketers were also asked about the percentage of growth attributable to brand consistency, with the results heavily skewed upwards. Source: Lucidpress Many of the qualities people want in their company can only come from a well-developed brand voice. If you want to really stand out, maintain a connection with your audience, and achieve reach across multiple channels, consistent brand voice guidelines are the answer. They can offer: Differentiation: Your content differentiation factor is what sets you apart from the competition. This is what will make your brand memorable. Remember, your brand voice is about how you say things, not just what you say. I’ll cover more about how to develop this in sections two and three. Recognizability: Being different isn’t the same as being recognizable, but the two go together. If customers find your brand memorable, they can recognize it quickly. They’ll know your catchphrase, your symbol, or even a single sentence that epitomizes your brand. However you get it across, your brand voice determines how you’re perceived and your memorability. Staying consistent with this presentation helps you stay fresh in the mind of your audience. Reach: Once you’ve got a consistent brand voice, creating content actually becomes easier. Whether you’re doing it in-house or hiring specialists, your brand voice gives you a head start. You’ll automatically have an idea of what format, style, and outline to use whether you’re creating content for a blog, mailing list, app, social profile, or eBook. Your brand will be able to reach viewers no matter where they are or how they prefer to digest information. Your brand voice guidelines help you build a better connection with your audience and serve as a way to streamline content creation. When your ideal audience member falls in love with your brand voice. “YES!” Instantly, your company becomes more efficient and your communication more impactful. [bctt tweet=”Why invest in creating your brand’s tone of voice? According to a report from Lucidpress, brand consistency can improve revenue growth by 23% on average.” username=”ExpWriters”] Now that you know why you should build a brand voice, the next step is understanding how. Before you can set out a detailed set of guidelines, you need a good starting point. 2. Gather Content Samples & Audience Insights for Inspiration To begin, gather samples of your content and see where you stand at the start. Does any of your content make you cringe? Or, do any of your pieces (or even individual parts of them) make you sit up straight and think “This is what I want the brand to be about”? Also known as a content audit or content inventory, going over your existing content can help you understand where you’re going astray with brand voice, where you’re hitting the mark, and what you can do to ensure it stays consistent in all content going forward. Audit your existing content with a checklist tailored to brand voice goals. Focus on the overarching message, headline, and supplementary media in each piece, especially. What picture are these facets painting about your brand? Is it the right picture? Source: Content Marketing Institute This checklist can be altered based on what data you have available. As you can see, a big part of getting insights about your brand and … Read more