Archive for March, 2010
March 5th, 2010 | 
Author: As discussed in a previous article WordPress is a very powerful and functional system that goes way beyond just a blog tool and into the realms of a content management system. However out o f the box it lacks some features and functionality hence this article examines a further seven of the key plugins that you can add to your WordPress site to enhance its functionality. Plugins are very simple to add – simply go to your admin page, click on plugins then click add. The plugins outlined in this article can all be added to your site using this straightforward method. To find the actual plugins mentioned here simply type in the name of the plugin to the search box that appears after you have followed the simple steps listed above.
1) Smart 404
A 404 error occurs when someone visits a page on your site that no longer exists, in such circumstances a generic error page is displayed to the visitor. This page, under normal circumstances, does not match the design of the site, it does not give the user much information and it does not look professional. Smart 404 solves all of these problems by allowing you to configure a 440 page that fits with the site design , provides the user with information and generally looks at lot more professional than the generic 404 error page
2) Social Bookmarks
The Social Bookmarks plugin gives your visitors the ability to bookmark your site on a range of social bookmark sites without ever leaving your site. This useful functionality can help build long term traffic as these bookmarks may be followed by other social bookmark site users (the links are also good for search engine ranking). Highly configurable and produces nice graphic output
3) Twitter Tools
Twitter Tools automatically post excerpts of your blog posts to your twitter page (and your twitter tweets to your blog page if you so desire). Another fantastic way to build traffic and links to your site plus once it is configured it is a set and forget utility that just works in the background without any user intervention.
4) Twitter Tools –Bit.ly urls
An extension of the Twitter Tools plugin that adds the ability to post short URLs in the output of the twitter tools plugin. This is important as twitter only allows 140 characters per post so you do not want to use up the majority of these characters with a full domain name rather than the content of your blog post.
5) Wordbook
Works in a very similar way to the Twitter Tools described earlier except it post s to your Facebook pages. Another great way to build traffic and backlinks and all done automatically behind the scenes once it has been configured.
6) WordPress Mobile Pack
This plugin allows users who are accessing your WordPress site via a mobile site switch to a site design / layout that is optimised for such devices. It is more than just a plugin it is also a site layout. Useful for this blogs / sites that may have an audience that uses mobile devices extensively (and lets face it as technology advances this may be everyone !)
7) WP Super Popup
Some people may see this plugin as a bad thing as it generates popup messages for your site (it creates these popups as layer within the existing site design rather than separate windows that a popup killer would terminate). It is highly configurable and provides a really slick way of delivering popups if you decide that you want them on your site.
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If you are a new or budding writer, then you may be wondering how to get started writing articles. The first and most important rule of writing is simply to write what you know. That is not to say that you cannot research subjects to get a better idea of the needed content, but it is always best to have some previous knowledge of the topic before you accept the job.
Many people are terrific writers, but still struggle with how to get started writing articles for profit. As a budding writer, you will likely have to contribute some free writing projects in an effort to get your name noticed. As time progresses and your resume becomes more defined, you will be able to find paid writing jobs without a problem.
Writers not only wonder how to get started writing articles, but also where to submit their completed work. There are plenty of opportunities for talented individuals who have a knack for words, including newspaper reporting, magazine features, website content, press release and newsletter content, etc. If someone were to ask an accomplished writer how to get started writing articles, they would almost always reply by recommending patience, perseverance and promotion. When you decide to become a writer, you will also become a marketing specialist. You will now be in the position of having to sell your work to editors and this can be a very challenging task, but very much worth the extra push.
The best advice on how to get started writing articles would include the recommendation of having a good resume. If you cannot write your own resume, editors will wonder how you will be able to write for them. So, first and foremost, perfect the resume, polish it and make sure that it is without flaw. This means no errors in spelling, punctuation, etc. With that being said, keep in mind that nobody is perfect, so if you notice a mistake after your resume has been submitted, don’t spend too much time worrying about the error. Simply correct the problem and move on to the next opportunity. Truth be told, if your resume looks great, an editor will not disregard it just because you misspell one word or have a punctuation out of place. The next step in how to get started writing articles will be to create a writing sample. If you have been published previously, this will work to your advantage because you can use this as not only a sample of your work, but lend to the popularity of your writing as well. If you have never been published, then write the best article that you can on a subject that is close to your heart.
Still wondering how to get started writing articles? The best way is to just start writing and see where it takes you. Everyone from editors to webmasters are in constant need of content for their publications and websites, so there is no shortage in the writing market. Always keep your expectations in check and don’t expect to get rich overnight. Like any career, it will take time to build and experience is a must. The more you have written, the more you will get the chance to write.
Keen users of Private Label Rights content are delighted to see more and more PLR sites appearing. The proliferation of such sites has, however, given rise to a new problem – the overall quality of the articles users pay for. Good (and reliable) writers are snapped up fast and given ongoing work. Regrettably, some PLR site owners seem to be only concerned with getting a batch of articles uploaded no matter what the quality.
Competition, as we all know, is a GOOD thing. Quite a number of PLR users are now making a practice of signing up to check out the quality of what’s on offer in a new site. If they like it, they stay. If they don’t – they vote with their feet. (Or, more appropriately, with the ‘cancel this subscription’ option at PayPal.)
=== Your Rights as a PLR Site Subscriber ===
Don’t feel that you have to accept the articles you get no matter what the quality. You are entitled to get articles and/or ebooks that have been proofread and edited to correct grammar and spelling. It is the responsibility of the PLR site owner to check that the articles are of an acceptable standard (or to hire someone to do this for them).
PLR users expect to have to tweak and change an article to create unique website content. They should not, however, have to edit every article. We all expect an error to creep in here and there – but an entire batch of articles written by someone whose language is quite obviously NOT English is not acceptable. Nobody wants to have to copy-edit every one of 20 articles before turning them into an e-book!
=== What You Can Do If You Are Not Satisfied With the Quality of PLR Content ===
The first and most obvious option is to cancel your subscription. However, you would be doing everyone a favor if you took the time to contact the site owner to explain why you are not happy. Copy and paste a few examples from the articles to demonstrate the errors.
In the past, PLR site owners have sent back batches of articles to be corrected and/or rewritten when they are not satisfied with the job. In extreme cases, they cut their losses and just hire a new writer. Any PLR site owner who wants to build a profitable and well-regarded business will be interested in working with you on this – they don’t want to lose customers!
If you can’t get any satisfaction, move on. Sample the content of several sites. Ask for recommendations from friends or other publishers before you sign up. (Look for more than one satisfied customer – never forget that some reviews are there solely to get you to sign up via the reviewer’s affiliate link.)
=== Find a Site to Satisfy Your Personal Needs ===
Different sites offer different things. Some sites offer articles and completed e-books, sales letters, and well-produced graphics. Others provide only articles and a few bonus products.
If you are a competent graphic designer and know your way around programs like Photoshop, graphics may not be important to you. (Indeed, you may prefer to create your own graphics so your site looks different to everyone else’s.) Some sites offer ‘extras’ like web hosting and autoresponders, plus ready-made AdSense sites. If you are just starting out, you may like these all-in-one solutions.
Check out the following:
- What you get for your monthly subscription – articles, e-books, e-courses, AdSense sites, graphics, sales letters etc
- The quality of the articles that are immediately available – general style, grammar, and spelling
- The membership cap (how many people have access to the same articles and books?)
- The regularity with which content is posted. (Check out the forum, if there’s one available. Are there constant complaints or queries about when this month’s content will be available?)
- The range of topics covered. You will find that some sites specialize in one subject area, while others cover a broad range of topics. Are you using enough of the monthly content to make it worth your while? There’s not much point in being able to access 200 articles a month if you can use only five of them.
It’s common for PLR users to belong to more than one site. An example: $200 a month spread between four to six sites comes to only $2,400 a year – which is an excellent business investment compared to the cost of hiring your own writer. Well-written, carefully-edited PLR articles are usually well worth the monthly fee. Take the time to assess the content of any PLR site – and stay with the ones that believe in quality control.
If you are a webmaster who is interested in using articles to promote your website, then you will either have the option of writing the articles yourself or employing a writer to produce your articles in exchange for a fee. The latter works very well if you are not a natural-born writer yourself or simply don’t have the time to devote to writing and research. The majority of webmasters are very busy just trying to keep their website updated, operating correctly, answering e-mails and accepting orders. With that being said, there are a number of terrific writers who are looking for employment opportunities. In addition, there are several tips to help you select the perfect one.
Before employing a writer to produce your articles, it is a good idea to request a resume and/or sample of their work. The resume is beneficial for the obvious reasons and the writing sample will give you an excellent idea as to their writing style and whether it will suit your business needs. The next step will be to determine a fair compensation amount and an agreement on payment terms. For example, once you agree to a payment amount, will that be paid in full upfront, at the completion of the project or does the writer require a deposit upfront with the remaining balance due upon completion? Depending on the writer, fees and payment structures may vary greatly. For reasons of expense, it is a good idea to hire only the writer(s) that you can afford. A clear agreement on payment terms will make for a happy and lasting business relationship.
When employing a writer to produce your articles, it is a good idea to explain exactly the type of article content that you are looking for. How many words should the article include? What subject will the article cover? How much research, if any, do you prefer that the writer conduct? If you have any ideas or thoughts on exactly how you want the content structured, be sure to let the writer know upfront. In addition, if you have a specific deadline or just prefer to get the job completed quickly, be sure to inform the writer so that he/she can deliver the work on time. One of the most important thing to look for, when employing a writer to produce your articles, is dependability.
If you have decided that employing a writer to produce your articles is the best approach for your business, then try and select one or several good writers and build an ongoing working relationship with them. It is good to work with a variety of writers but, if you work with too many, the content of the articles will each sound so different that it may become obvious that multiple people are producing the work. If you are promoting your website, then you will want the articles to sound consistently similar so that there aren’t a lot of different styles of writing.
Employing a writer to produce your articles will save you a lot of time that may be otherwise spent promoting your website, developing new ideas and preparing for new changes. Whether you aren’t a writer by nature or simply don’t have the time, employing a writer to produce your articles will make your strategy for article marketing a lot easier.
