Give your Website Zing!

I recently received a request from a fellow member of the WM Freelance Writers Connection on LinkedIn. With Michelle’s permission, I would like to share our correspondence with you. I think that this is really important information for everybody to know:


Hi Ellen,


I would be interested to hear your feedback on my website and blog:
http://corporatewritingpro.com
http://corporatewritingpro.com/blog


Your profile indicates that you’re an NLP Practitioner and both of your websites reflect how much education and competence you’ve attained. If there are any communication issues that you would like to see addressed on my website or blog please do let me know. I am currently in the development phase and would welcome your input and suggestions.

Thank you and I look forward to remaining in touch.


Michelle Baker, PhD
The Corporate Writing Pro
Because communication is key!


My reply:


Hi Michelle,


I read one of your articles and I was impressed with it. That is why I sent a request to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.


I took a look at your website and blog, and there are many aspects that I like about them both. There are also some things that would really brighten them up and bring people in. I know that many professionals think their websites should look "professional" and to them that means lack of color, small writing and very few pictures or personalization of any kind. As an NLP Practitioner I believe this to be a mistake.


Add some color and some zing to your sites! Personalize them with pictures and larger, more colorful writing. Make your posts on your blog short and fun. Blogs are supposed to be fun, and a place where you can express yourself casually. I would like for you to take a look at some of my blogs as an example of what I am talking about. Yes, your website should be more sedate than your blog, but it should still be colorful.

It's always good to change things up and keep people guessing what they will see on there next. My websites and blogs all change templates on a regular basis, along with pictures and personalized posts. Remaining static can stunt your website. Here's a list of some of my blogs. Let me know what you think.

http://www.onlinedating-2day.blogspot.com
http://www.nlp-today.blogspot.com
http://www.hypnosis-today.blogspot.com
http://www.writersentiment.blogspot.com


One thing to keep in mind is to speak (and write) with a positive attitude as much as possible. Wine and roses are wonderful, but beer and daisies can be just as good.

D. Ellen Glover, CHt.


Does your website have any zing? People are attracted to colorful backgrounds, pictures that pop out at you and attention-grabbing headlines. A dull sterile background with small black print that never varies will be quickly passed by and unnoticed. Grab their attention with eye-catching and tastefully creative websites and blogs. You have something important to say so shout it out to the world. Capture your audience at their very first visit to your site and keep them coming back.


Your website makes a personal statement to everybody who visits. Show them who you are and what you have to offer in an imaginative and colorful way. Zap them with zing! You’ll be glad you did.

Popular Blogging Sites

• Google Blogger ranks top on my list. It’s easy, the instructions are simple to follow and you will end up with a colorful, casual and fun look. With 16 templates to choose from, and a number of awesome gadgets to add to the mix, you can make it your own. They don’t charge a thing, so what have you got to lose? Make some extra money by adding Google Ad Sense, so when people visit your site and click on the ads, you get paid.



• If you are looking for a blogging site that’s popular, user-friendly and gives you the flexibility you need, you might want to look into Word Press. You can design your own theme, and add share buttons at the bottom of each post. For a small fee premium themes are available. Your blog can be hosted by Word Press, or you can install it on your website, using your own domain.



• Another popular blogging site is Squarespace. The fee for the basic package is only $8 a month. For a larger fee you get more disk space, custom URLs and other benefits. With lots of template choices and an iphone application, Squarespace might be the right blog hosting site for you.

So, whatever your level of expertise, there’s a blogging site on the web that’s right for your needs. Whether you are eight or 80, you will have fun creating your own weblog exactly the way YOU want it to be.

Free-lancing - A Way to Give Back

The true artist writes in response to a yearning that comes from deep inside their heart and soul. If your writing becomes only a method to turn a profit, it might be time to expand your horizons. Every writer needs an outlet where they can express their true creativity and contribute something significant and meaningful.

If you were to ask yourself why you write, it is doubtful you would say that you do it in the hopes of becoming wealthy. We all have finances to consider, but you can find a balance between producing quality work to make a living and writing to make a difference. The common misconception is that you can only do one or the other, but the reality is that you can do both. When you weigh your options as to where you can best use your God given talent, consider these possibilities:

Write for a Non-Profit Organization


Find a cause that touches your heart and nourishes your spirit. Volunteer your services to a charitable institution, a church or a school. You can help with newsletters, websites and blogs, while also offering to give of your services in other ways. Make yourself available to do office tasks, computer work, or teach classes in your free time. When you put the needs of others before your own, good things will come to you.

Write for Blogs


Even though writing for a blog pays little to nothing, this venue allows you to lend your voice to a cause and speak out about something significant. There are many popular blogs looking for writers, and some of them will pay you according to how much traffic you bring in. The great big plus is that you get to choose the subject of your article. Although writing about insurance, plumbing, the stock market, or interviewing celebrities can turn a profit, blogging about issues that speak to your soul yield more significant rewards.


Create Your Own Blog


You can create a blog about absolutely anything that inspires your imagination. From writing, to reading, to everyday life – there are blogs for virtually everything. You can share a personal blog with close family and friends, or create a public weblog for all to enjoy. The world is your sounding board, so do your best to make your voice heard. How often do you get to tell your story about how you became a vegetarian, lost a pet, found religion or fell in love for the first time?


Advertise your articles

Post a link to your articles on Facebook and Twitter to find an audience. Interesting and meaningful commentary will spread fast when people repost what you have written. There is always a chance that your article may be seen by the right person, and lead to a paying job. One other way of making a profit from your blog is by allowing advertisements to be placed on your page. You get paid by clicks, so it couldn’t be easier.


Guest Blog


Write an article as a guest on someone else’s blog. This will give you a wider audience and get your blog out there. Also, invite other bloggers that have important and profound things to say to guest write on your blog. As you are drawing a larger audience, your message is reaching more people that might benefit from your literary thoughts.


A pay check is great, and we all need our profitable projects and assignments. The objective of freelancing as a career is to support yourself and your family by doing what you love best. But, being paid is an option that you can choose to forgo. After all is said and done, a writer just wants to write for the pure pleasure of putting a pen to paper and creatively expressing thoughts and ideas. The paying assignments will be there when you need them, Open yourself up to the freedom of free!