This Digg post won't boost your business, but it may increase your productivity. Here are some great, free wallpapers to try for your HD monitor. There are some beautiful selections here. Just be sure to do a virus scan before you install them. I chose "Age is Beauty" and one of the crayon wallpapers (you're never too old to color!)
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
Follow me on Twitter: VirtuallyYourz
Find me on Facebook: Dana Neuts
Connect with me on LinkedIn and Biznik
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Learning Twitter & The Golden Rules
I find this blog posting this morning via Twitter. It shares with users the Golden Rules of Twitter. Here are a few quick tips. Please read the full article for a better explanation.
1) You must follow those who follow you.
2) Use hashtags (#hashtags) to make your subject matter easier to follow. For example, if I post something about marketing, I would include "#marketing" in my post so it is easier to find for those who search by topic.
3) Reply: a normal Tweet goes to all of your followers; Retweet (RT): goes to all of your followers but is easier for the intended recipient to find; Direct Mail (DM): private email and the author of the original blog post discourages DMs.
4) Whale: A whale is the Twitter nickname for someone with more than 10,000 followers.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
Follow me on Twitter: VirtuallyYourz
1) You must follow those who follow you.
2) Use hashtags (#hashtags) to make your subject matter easier to follow. For example, if I post something about marketing, I would include "#marketing" in my post so it is easier to find for those who search by topic.
3) Reply: a normal Tweet goes to all of your followers; Retweet (RT): goes to all of your followers but is easier for the intended recipient to find; Direct Mail (DM): private email and the author of the original blog post discourages DMs.
4) Whale: A whale is the Twitter nickname for someone with more than 10,000 followers.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
Follow me on Twitter: VirtuallyYourz
Friday, April 10, 2009
Avoid the Five Most Common Article Writing Mistakes
Nothing turns off readers more than typos, misspelled words and long sentences lacking punctuation. Here are some tips to help you avoid the five most common article writing mistakes.
1. Lack of content. The single biggest mistake you can make is to dilute content by drumming up keyword content. While keywords are important, they should be used sparingly and not at the expense of your content. Ensure that your subject material is well developed and organized efficiently.
2. Grammar and Spelling. Simple grammatical and spelling mistakes can make even the most knowledgeable author appear ignorant or uneducated. To convince the reader of your expertise, it is imperative that your article be articulate, authoritative and error-free. Take full advantage of your word processing Spell and Grammar Check utilities or have the article professionally proofread.
3. Punctuation. Improper use of punctuation (lack of punctuation, improper use of exclamation points, etc.) will detract from the overall quality of the article.
4. EXCESSIVE CAPITAL LETTERS. Using Caps Lock to emphasize a certain word may be appropriate, but overuse of capital letters tends to make the reader question the device: is this article a sales gimmick? Is the author an amateur?
5. Poor formatting. One-sentence paragraphs, run-on or nonsensical sentences, sentence fragments, and excessively long bulleted lists will all reflect negatively on the article’s quality. A properly formatted article will contain, at minimum, an introduction, followed by several paragraphs of 5-7 sentences, each separated by a blank line, with paragraph headings appropriately delineated from the text following, and ending with a conclusion paragraph.
Use of these tips in your article will further enhance your online image, cementing you in your client’s mind as the professional to whom they should entrust their business.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
1. Lack of content. The single biggest mistake you can make is to dilute content by drumming up keyword content. While keywords are important, they should be used sparingly and not at the expense of your content. Ensure that your subject material is well developed and organized efficiently.
2. Grammar and Spelling. Simple grammatical and spelling mistakes can make even the most knowledgeable author appear ignorant or uneducated. To convince the reader of your expertise, it is imperative that your article be articulate, authoritative and error-free. Take full advantage of your word processing Spell and Grammar Check utilities or have the article professionally proofread.
3. Punctuation. Improper use of punctuation (lack of punctuation, improper use of exclamation points, etc.) will detract from the overall quality of the article.
4. EXCESSIVE CAPITAL LETTERS. Using Caps Lock to emphasize a certain word may be appropriate, but overuse of capital letters tends to make the reader question the device: is this article a sales gimmick? Is the author an amateur?
5. Poor formatting. One-sentence paragraphs, run-on or nonsensical sentences, sentence fragments, and excessively long bulleted lists will all reflect negatively on the article’s quality. A properly formatted article will contain, at minimum, an introduction, followed by several paragraphs of 5-7 sentences, each separated by a blank line, with paragraph headings appropriately delineated from the text following, and ending with a conclusion paragraph.
Use of these tips in your article will further enhance your online image, cementing you in your client’s mind as the professional to whom they should entrust their business.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Attracting New Business Through Article Writing
How do you attract new business? A very popular method is writing and distributing online articles, which not only help you establish your online presence, but further cement your expertise within your field. However, it is not enough to simply publish an article with popular keywords. Your article must lure the reader away from similar articles in their search engine results and keep them fixated through the resource box, where they will be directed to your website.
1. Use a catchy title. Captivate the reader with an informative or exciting title. If you were choosing a link among the many Google search results, would you be more likely to read an article entitled “Advanced Golf” or “How to Golf Like a Pro in 4 Visits to the Links”?
2. Write as the expert. If you are the owner of an Interior Design business, do not write about computer motherboards or popular diets. Write about what you know: preferred fabrics for the bedroom or living room, new finishes of paint, current home decorating trends, or flooring alternatives.
3. Maximize the resource box. Unless you would like your article to read like sales copy, do not include any promotional information within the body of the article. Instead, utilize the resource box to its fullest potential. Include your name, company’s name, a brief statement regarding your expertise, and your contact information, including relevant URLs, email and phone numbers.
4. Issue a call to action. Motivate your potential client to action by providing a FREE estimate, newsletter, ebook, tips, or consultation. Your reader found your article due to a targeted internet search, but it is up to you to close the deal!
If writing articles is a part of your marketing plan, ensure that the articles that you write properly reveal the person behind the article, leading to new client relationships.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
1. Use a catchy title. Captivate the reader with an informative or exciting title. If you were choosing a link among the many Google search results, would you be more likely to read an article entitled “Advanced Golf” or “How to Golf Like a Pro in 4 Visits to the Links”?
2. Write as the expert. If you are the owner of an Interior Design business, do not write about computer motherboards or popular diets. Write about what you know: preferred fabrics for the bedroom or living room, new finishes of paint, current home decorating trends, or flooring alternatives.
3. Maximize the resource box. Unless you would like your article to read like sales copy, do not include any promotional information within the body of the article. Instead, utilize the resource box to its fullest potential. Include your name, company’s name, a brief statement regarding your expertise, and your contact information, including relevant URLs, email and phone numbers.
4. Issue a call to action. Motivate your potential client to action by providing a FREE estimate, newsletter, ebook, tips, or consultation. Your reader found your article due to a targeted internet search, but it is up to you to close the deal!
If writing articles is a part of your marketing plan, ensure that the articles that you write properly reveal the person behind the article, leading to new client relationships.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
10 Powerful Tips for Marketing Your Small Business
I love Marketing.About.com. It's a great resource for all kinds of ideas for every kind of business. Here's a great article I found by Ann Marie Rubertone: 10 Powerful Tips for Marketing Your Small Business.1. Print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your targeted market.
2. No single marketing effort works all the time for every business, so rotate several marketing tactics and vary your approach.
3. Use cross promotion to market your business.
4. Answer your phone in a new way.
5. Add stickers and handwritten notes to your print materials.
6. Send a second offer immediately to first-time customers.
7. Use newsletters to focus your marketing on repeat business.
8. Host events.
9. Exchange services.
10. Enclose special offers and promotions in your outgoing mail.
Read the full article here.
Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)