Adam Oakley - Express Writers

The Benefits and Dangers of Generating Content Through Curation

January 1, 2021July 25, 2013 by Adam Oakley

No matter how you do it.

No matter how often you try.

No matter how early you get up in the morning, or how many cups of “inspirational” coffee you guzzle while sitting at the keyboard staring at a blank page…

Sometimes you just don’t feel like writing.

The thought of discovering new ways of generating content can be incredibly daunting.

I could say “Don’t worry. It happens to everyone.”

(It’s true – it does.)

But then you’ll just throw in the towel and admit defeat.

And that’s not why you’re here, right?

How You Can Be a Better SEO Copywriter in 3 Steps

January 1, 2021July 23, 2013 by Adam Oakley

3 Ways to Tap Into Your Creativity Like Never Before

Being a better SEO copywriter takes one thing, and one thing only: more writing. The old axiom is to commit to write 500 words every day, and maintain that schedule no matter what you’re writing about, but how are you supposed to come up with consistently great ideas for topics to write about? Content is king when it comes to SEO copywriting, and maintaining consistently great content is the key to success in the online realm, but many business owners can feel more than a little out of his or her depth when trying to keep up with a rigorous writing schedule, even if it is only 500 words per day, if they key to maintaining success is consistently engaging content.

Could The Success of Your Web Content Writing Rely on Your Headline? How to Create the Perfect One

December 31, 2020July 22, 2013 by Adam Oakley

It’s undoubtedly true. Today, the single most important aspect of your web content is your headline. As people cruise through online content at warp-speed, it’s the content with outstanding headlines that are more likely to get recognized. Subsequently, it’s the content creators who know how to develop quality headlines that are likely to reap the highest number of likes, shares, and engagement. While readers want compelling web content writing, the average visitors’ attention span is short, and people are highly unlikely to click on a headline that doesn’t grab their attention, even if the content behind it is high-quality. With that in mind, learning to craft exciting, unique, informative headlines is by far one of the most critical things a content creator can do for their business. Content relies on headlines, and this guide is designed to help you learn to create outstanding ones. Why Do Headlines in Web Content Writing Matter? While it’s easy to dismiss the importance of headlines, they’re more critical to content than most people understand. While 80% of people read a headline, only 20% will go on to read the body content. Because of this, it’s incredibly important for the headline to be attention-grabbing and unique. This is especially true when you take into account the fact that the average human attention span is around eight seconds, one full second shorter than that of a goldfish. With these two things in mind, it’s clear that bold, unique, attention-grabbing headlines are more important today than they’ve ever been before. A quality headline can increase click-throughs and boost engagement, while a dull or dry headline can easily harm your content, encouraging readers to move on to a better, brighter topic instead of staying and engaging with yours. Five Examples of Good (& Bad) Headlines in Web Content To create compelling headlines, it helps to have an example of what a compelling headline looks like. Here are a few we’ve rounded up: The Good: 5 Awesome, Stellar Web Headlines Here are five examples of functional, exciting headlines that get the job done. “How to “Waste Money” to Improve the Quality of Your Life” This headline, which features on the blog of Tim Ferriss, does all of the things you expect a great headline to do: it’s unique, attention-grabbing, and different. While wasting money is often seen as a bad thing, this headline turns that on its, well, head, and makes the reader think twice by claiming it can actually improve the quality of your life. Are you going to click? I would. 😛 “7 Life-Changing Beauty Products You’ll Wish You Knew About Sooner” Are these beauty products good? Are they great? No. They’re life-changing! This BuzzFeed headline makes a big promise and offers value and actionability to the reader, all in one sleek package. Maybe that’s why it has more than 46,000 views. “15 Genius Ways Your Phone Can Help You Sleep Better” This is another BuzzFeed headline that gets the job done. The word “genius” promises readers that these aren’t run-of-the-mill tips, and the article as a whole addresses a common problem: poor sleep. “The Amazing Reason that Medals at the Paralympics Make a Sound When you Shake Them” This is an Upworthy article that does a few things right. In addition to giving readers some new information that grabs their attention (did you know that Paralympics medals made a sound?) this article also promises a bit of information that the reader is unlikely to get anywhere else. “How to Have a Healthier and More Productive Home Office” This IncomeDiary piece promises actionable solutions, which makes people want to read. It also promises benefits that virtually everyone wants: better health and increased productivity. The Bad: 5 Icky, No-Good Headlines While the good headlines are good, the bad ones are really, really bad. Here are five examples of headlines that missed the mark: “How to Write (With Pictures)” The fact that it has pictures doesn’t make this WikiHow article any more compelling. In addition to the fact that its headline is way too vague, it also doesn’t offer the reader any real value, which makes them want to keep looking for something more distinct and unique. “Has Obama Been a Good President?” Whether he has or not, this Odyssey article headline doesn’t do much to inspire the reader. With so many interesting headlines out there, this one falls short of the mark. “5 Strategic Ways to Beat the Competition” Wait – to beat what competition? Where? How? This NaijaPreneur headline is way too confusing, and way, way too vague. “How to Win Summer” Come on FoodNetwork? How to Win Summer? Details, please! This article just doesn’t provide enough specificity to make readers want to click. “22 Ways to be Beautiful” While being beautiful is great (presumably), this Self article headline lacks specificity and doesn’t make up for it at any point throughout. While I might click if it added “Without Makeup” or “In the Morning,” I’m not interested in the generalities. The ROI of a Great Headline: It Impacts All Your Web Writing While a great headline takes some time to write (some experts claim you should spend 90% of your writing time on the headline alone), they’re well worth the effort. Here’s why: when a headline is catchy and expertly-crafted, it draws people both in the immediate short-term and in the much longer term for months and years after its initial publish date. In this way, good headlines are the gifts that keep on giving 5 Proven Web Content Headline Creation Tips Creating great headlines for even better web content writing results can be tough. These five tips can help: 1. Be as concise as possible in your headlines In addition to the fact that headlines longer than about 160 characters get cut off in Google’s SERPs, long headlines lose your reader’s attention at a quick rate. With this in mind, keep your headlines short and concise, and pack them with the relevant information your reader needs to click. 2. Be informative in your headlines Remember those bad headlines we pointed out? Many of them went wrong by simply not being informative … Read more

7 Tips To Deliver Compelling Content Writing that Actually Sells

December 31, 2020July 20, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Company owners strive to create a fresh, modern, unique image for their brands, hoping to gain new followers and maximize their return on investment in record time. Compelling content writing plays an important part in this puzzle, representing the bridge between an online business and its segment of potential buyers. In most cases, words are cleverly combined to create beautiful tales for every single product currently available on the market; but are these stories convincing and inspiring enough to stimulate sales, to harness client engagement, or to grow the online presence of a particular brand? 7 Awesome Tips To Help You Create Compelling Content Writing Somewhere along the road to awesome web content writing, most writers get stuck. What exactly triggers their failure and how can one deliver compelling content writing that serves a higher purpose, generating traceable improvements over a short period of time? Apply a few simple tips helping you avoid major mistakes that could easily compromise your online credibility and your previous efforts. Deliver 100% accurate, fresh informative content on a regular basis Remember that fans usually stop following a company that does not benefit from a solid online presence and neglect the fact that meaningful Web content should be posted and updated regularly. 1) Share and promote only 100% original content, presented in a personalized, appealing manner Your readers have the ability to recognize stolen ideas, especially if they are copy-pasted from your main competitors; not to mention the fact that this practice is penalized by search engines and could even get your site banned. 2) A narrow focus can attract a larger segment of visitors Most readers tend to avoid so-called “generalist” bloggers who seem to have an informed opinion about everything these days. Develop your content writing skills, choose topics that represent you and reflect your purpose in business, and come up with truly remarkable ideas tailored to the expectations of you core audience after doing extensive research and conducting brainstorming sessions. Before trying to address the needs of your readers, discover who you really are, identify and list the attributes that you are trying to highlight, and establish goals that you would like to attain in the near future. 3) Share credible information and define yourself as a trustworthy source It goes without saying that honesty is a non-negotiable term when it comes to delivering excellent content writing. Don’t lie and don’t exaggerate your strengths. For example, don’t affirm that you are the best/most-trusted/most-popular plumbing company in your state, unless real numbers extracted from unbiased statistics can back up your statement. 4) The execution of your content piece is essential Your content writing should display a clear, simple, scannable structure. People don’t want to waste time trying to find the main idea of your text. They want to get to the point fast and with minimal effort. Learn more tips on compelling content at Copyblogger. 5) Turn some of the most common questions into brilliant answers and solve the daily problems of your readers Your readers might comment on your blog posts, asking you to provide the simplest, fastest, most-effective solution to their problem. If it’s a common issue, experienced by most of your clients, you can provide a detailed answer in a future blog post, which will definitely be received with great enthusiasm by your followers. 6) Explore fertile social media ground, looking for new sources of inspiration Find out what has gone viral recently in your field of activity, keep an eye on your fierce competitors, measure their progress, and anticipate their next moves. Spot new trends and become a trendsetter yourself by simply being active on some of the most popular social media platforms. Start out with these tips, grow your knowledge, and keep reading – you’ll be awesome at content writing in no time!

7 Ways To Find Content For An SEO Press Release

January 1, 2021July 19, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Here’s the scenario:

Your company has decided that it needs to publish four press releases a quarter in order to leverage the Internet marketing, content marketing, and public relations opportunities created from online releases.

The question is:

How do you come up with enough topics to create quality releases each and every quarter?

Actually, there are a bunch of ways. And many of them are right under your nose.

Consider the following strategies as you create press releases for your company throughout the next year of operation. By the end of it, you’ll have figured out which work best for you, your company, and your audience, and you’ll be prepared to increase your content marketing initiatives in the years to come.

SEO Copywriting Is Like Fishing: It’s All About the Hook

November 16, 2020July 18, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Good marketing through SEO copywriting is a careful balance – you have to take care of the needs of your current customers without even neglecting the need to always be catching the eye of new leads. If you’ve been neglecting your marketing efforts, believe me, you’re not alone. SEO Copywriting: 4 Tips That Will Hook Readers Every Time One of the easiest ways to drive your marketing car is by constantly adding new and fresh content to your website. If your site doesn’t have a blog page, consider adding one. The benefits you could gain from adding a blog will far outweigh the relatively small amount if time it will take to set one up. For those of you who do have a blog, or are just starting one, you may be struggling to find ways to keep fresh content rolling out on it. Developing a regular posting pattern is definitely advisable, and choose a schedule you can stick to. If that means one post per week, that’s fine. If it’s three, that’s even better. Consistency is key, and over time you can even develop a regular readership. Now, setting a schedule is one thing, but filling that schedule with good SEO copywriting is another. I get it. Sometimes as a SEO copywriter you can start to feel like a broken record, covering the same topic in seemingly every way you can. The key when developing the same tired old topics into fresh material is to attach a hook to every post, and that is what this article is here to help you do. What is a “hook?” “Hook” is a term borrowed from songwriting (and fishing). Put simply, it’s a turn of phrase or particular line that causes a song to be memorable and enjoyable. The band Blues Traveler has a song about this concept (you’ve probably heard it, the chorus (and hook, actually) begins, “The hook brings you back”), and it’s as true in SEO copywriting as it is in music. In copywriting, the hook is the art of the headline. It’s the subtle skill of spinning a topic this way or that, making it seem more inviting, enticing, or informative for the reader you’re looking to grab. In this article we’re going to look at some common tactics for hooking new readers with your newfound SEO copywriting skills. 1. The Problem-Solver Hook If you’re in a business, then chances are your customers all have problems, and they’re probably pretty similar. Spend some time brainstorming, and ask yourself: how do I solve the most common problems of my customers? Spin those ideas into headlines: “Check Engine light in? This may be why.” “Get rid of ants in a week with this home remedy.” “8 amazing hairstyles you can do yourself.” These are just some examples. You may notice that none of these headlines are sales pitches. To the contrary, they seem to be encouraging your readers to fix these problems themselves – and you’re correct! This may seem like the opposite of asking for business, but don’t fret. If you help a reader solve a simple problem themselves, this lends credibility and an air of respectability to you, and later, when that customer has a bigger problem, you’re going to get that call. 2. The Horror Story Hook As a general rule, customers want to do business with a person and not a company. We develop personal relationships with our doctors, not with the receptionists or the clinics where they work. There’s no better way to humanize your business than with a disaster story. Every business has its blunders. Tell your readers about your biggest disaster, and of course include the punchline where you were able to turn the situation around and solve the problem. Your readers will be wowed at your ingenuity, and will love the fact that your sense of humor enables you to share such a disastrous tale. 3. The FAQ Hook You probably hear the same questions over and over again. Creating a series of posts, or even video blogs, addressing these most frequently asked questions will save your customers time when they’re searching for someone to do business with. If you can address the most common concerns without ever speaking with a potential customer, then you’re making a connection with them without even trying! 4. The Newsroom Hook News from the industry that’s relevant to your readers is another great way to spin the same old topics in a new way, and there’s a bonus here: if you’re sharing and reacting to industry news, this is a perfect way for you to use your competitors’ announcements to improve your own search results. Did that dry-cleaner downtown just open yet another new location? Use that as an opportunity to explain that the competition’s rampant expansion is causing poor results, and that your small, family owned dry cleaning shop will always do a better job.

Make Your Readers Love You With These SEO Copywriting Tips

January 1, 2021July 17, 2013 by Adam Oakley

When doing SEO copywriting, it’s easy to get bogged down in the “textbook” methods, and lose sight of the reader.

But writing without your reader in mind is simply a waste of time.

After all, being on the front page of Google isn’t going to do you any good if your content isn’t relevant, compelling, or engaging enough to draw a reader in.

At the end of the day, your goal as a copywriter should be to make readers love you.

That’s not to say you should completely ignore the basic tenets of SEO.

But you do need to find a balance between appeasing Google’s webcrawlers as well as your human audience.

10 Steps to Better Web Copywriting

January 1, 2021July 16, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Web copywriting is an ever-evolving field, and the copywriter needs to be constantly aware of the changing environment of the blogosphere and the Internet in general. New views, shares, and search traffic are a set of moving targets, and unless you have your finger on the pulse of the Internet, you’re going to be a less effective copywriter than you can be.

What a Copy Editor Does and Why You Need One

January 1, 2021July 15, 2013 by Adam Oakley

If you’re reading this, then it’s safe to say that at least part of what you do during your workday, this day at least, involves writing. A staggeringly large number of professions involve writing to a certain degree, whether it’s penning e-mail correspondence as a customer service representative, typing up a new company compliance policy as a general manager, creating a press release as an advertising representative, or writing that novel you’ve always wanted to finish. If you’re writing something that needs to stand up to scrutiny, something that needs to be flawless and persuasive, or compelling and concise, then you just may need to get yourself a copy editor. What’s a copy editor, you ask? A copy editor, put simply, is a your very own grammatical sounding board for all that you’ve spent your time working on. A good copy editor will read over what you’ve written, note places where spelling, spacing, or grammar is incorrect, and will suggest changes to awkward phrases. They will also sometimes let you know if a particular section needs more information, citations, a little tweaking, a little less fluff, or if it’s just plain bad. Now, that sounds a little painful, particularly because you’ll be ostensibly paying this copy editor to pick apart your magnum opus, but believe us when we tell you this: It’s for the best. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest reasons why you will most certainly benefit from all of the pain and discomfort that hiring a copy editor will introduce to your life. You’re too close to the material It’s less a case of “you can’t see the forest for the trees,” and more a case of “you’ve stopped paying attention to the fact that all of the leaves are the wrong color because you haven’t seen a green one since you entered this forest.” A copy editor, first and foremost, is there to be an unbiased third party. You’ve read your copy over and over, you’ve obsessed over it, you’ve been through it backwards. You are absolutely convinced that there is no better way to say what you’re trying to say – but a copy editor hasn’t been swimming in your prose like you have. A fresh pair of eyes is never a bad thing – and in the case of the copy editor, it’s a trained pair of eyes. Your copy editor will find ways to improve your piece. If he or she believes it’s perfect just the way you wrote it, then hire a different copy editor. You know what you mean No one lives in your brain except for you. Phrases, idioms, and awkward sentences may make perfect sense to you but be confusing to someone else. Your copy editor will identify the places that are potentially confusing and will work with you to purge your copy of “I know what I meant” syndrome. Everyone, even the humble author of this blog who has arguably above-average grammar skills, has a few words that always escape their spelling ability, a few holes in their knowledge of the proper use of commas, apostrophes, or semicolons, or other grammatical “quirks” that may seem fine to you but will make you look amateurish in front of a reader who catches those mistakes. A good copy editor will also know what you mean – and he or she will explain it in a way that makes you look perfectly polished and professional. You’re not as thorough as you think. When you compose a piece, you may get an entire train of thought out of your head and onto the page, but usually writers find that on further inspection, we’re not as thorough as we thought we were. A good copy editor will not just inspect your copy for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and clear language – a good copy editor will also think of the questions you didn’t think of, the rebuttals you didn’t consider, and the flaws in your logic. A good copy editor will ensure that the copy that makes it to your customers’ eyes is as complete and thorough as possible, and that makes you look like you’ve done all your homework. So – what does a copy editor do? A copy editor passes over your writing for grammatical accuracy, proper spelling, correct punctuation, clarity of language, eloquence of thought, a proper flow, and finally, ensures that your copy is thorough and well thought out. In short, your copy editor is not here to pick apart your hard-earned creation or to squabble over the nuances of journalistic style guides vs. literary style guides. Your copy editor, if you’ve got a good one, is on your side, and his or her job above all is to make you, your company, and your writing look as good as it can possibly look.

Why Your Business Needs Blog Writing Services

January 1, 2021July 13, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Having a blog is essential in today’s business world. More and more companies are realizing that a business blog is one of the most effective ways of promotion. If your company’s not one of them, you’re going to fall behind – fast.

But creating and maintaining a blog is a lot of work. It might be logistically impossible for you to do it yourself, and you might not yet have the capital to hire a full-time copywriter. If that’s the case, you might want to consider hiring a blog writing service to jump in whenever you need them.