•.com Not Listed in Regional Yahoo? Don’t Despair!
.com Not Listed in Regional Yahoo? Don’t Despair!
by: Glenn Murray
If you’re a non-American business with a .com web address, and your regional Yahoo ranking is important to you, then my story might interest you.
Recently my copywriting website dropped out of Yahoo’s Australian rankings. For quite a while, it had been at number 1 for my primary keywords “advertising copywriter”, “copywriter”, and “website copywriter”. But then it suddenly disappeared. I clicked through about 10 pages of...
•10 Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life
10 Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life
by: Glenn Murray
Ever walked into a house that felt like home? Ever reminisced about the best year of your life, and wondered why everything came together for you? It could be Feng Shui.
Simply put, Feng Shui is about creating a harmonious environment. It’s the ancient Chinese Science and Art of placement, intended to improve our health, harmony, longevity, career and wealth.
Pronounced, “Fung Shway”, it was a jealously guarded secret for thousands of...
•10 Things You Should Expect From Your Website Copywriter
10 Things You Should Expect From Your Website Copywriter
by: Glenn Murray
As websites and electronic commerce are becoming more and more common, business owners and marketing managers are realising that quality web copy is every bit as important as impressive design. And with the ever increasing importance of search engine presence, the role of web copy has never been more critical.
But in such a relatively new field, customers are still coming to grips with what they can expect of their...
•10 Tips for Tech-Writers
10 Tips for Tech-Writers
by: Glenn Murray
Tech-writing is a tricky business. It’s not a very high profile industry, so there’s not much support around. Follow these 10 quick tips, and you’ll be well on your way to a satisfying tech-writing career.
1) Follow a sensible career path…
STEP 1: Start in a team
STEP 2: Stay only just long enough
STEP 3: Manage yourself
STEP 4: Manage a team
STEP 5: Go contracting (depends on the market)
2) Knowledge is your lifeblood – learn the politics of...
•12 Handy Tips for Generating Leads through Cold-Calling
12 Handy Tips for Generating Leads through Cold-Calling by Glenn Murray Cold calling can be a great way to generate quality leads. You get to speak to the gatekeepers and stakeholders, and you get a great insight into their requirements and influences. But cold calling is an art-form. It can be daunting, it’s always a lot of work, and you always need to make a good impression. So you need to do it right. Following are some tips which will help you do just that.1) Record everythingAlways...
•35% Revenue Increase… from Your Website!
35% Revenue Increase… from Your Website!
by: Glenn Murray
2 Golden Rules for an Engaging Website
35% of visitors fail to achieve their goal when they visit company websites! By following 2 simple rules, you can increase your web-derived revenue by 1/3 or more!
Renowned website usability researcher, Jakob Nielsen, today (Nov 24) published results of his latest study. His test subjects used 139 websites. On average, they failed to find what they were looking for 35% of the time. Shockingly,...
•5 Ways to Deal With ADHD
5 Ways to Deal With ADHD
by: Glenn Murray
With an increasing number of our youths suffering ADHD, stress syndromes, unemployment, depression, drug use, crime and higher rates of youth suicide than ever before, today’s parents and teachers are finding their roles more and more difficult.
According to renowned family relationships specialist, Marguerite Clancy, there are no overnight solutions for issues such as ADHD, but there are a few quick things struggling parents can do now to start...
•Architect or Building Designer – Who Do You Choose?
Architect or Building Designer – Who Do You Choose?
by: Glenn Murray
Thinking of building a new home or complex? Will you use an architect or a building designer?
Both are involved in the design of buildings – their appearance, layout, structure, and so on. But what’s the difference?
The simplest difference is a legal one. To be called an “architect” in NSW, you have to be registered with the Board of Architects of NSW. The title “building designer” can be used by anyone designing...
•Australia's Fraser Island – Escape Forever
Australia's Fraser Island – Escape Forever
by: Glenn Murray
For all its conveniences, modern living leaves a lot to be desired. We spend our days enduring the ever-increasing pressures of work, the city’s oppressive unfriendliness, the daily commuter grind and the aggressive reality of impatient road-ragers.
Is something missing?
Unfortunately, work is a reality for most of us. So too is city and suburban living, dreary weather, pollution, traffic… But it doesn’t have to be all there is to...
•Customer Service – the Real Estate Revolution
Customer Service – the Real Estate Revolution
by: Glenn Murray
Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a sales industry. But perceptions are changing. Agents around the country are coming to believe that the key to real estate success is service – not sales.
Competition and technology now give customers almost unlimited choices, so agents are having to work harder and spend more to win listings. They’re discovering that business success comes from repeat business and word-of-mouth.
And...
•Engage Your Customer – Write About Benefits
Engage Your Customer – Write About Benefits
by: Glenn Murray
Think quick. In 10 seconds, can you list the 5 key benefits you offer your customers?
I bet you said “Yes”. But are you sure you listed benefits? If you’ll bear with me for another 10 seconds, I’d like to test out a theory on you.
Recap your answers – maybe even write them down. Now list the 5 main things your business does. In other words, what are your 5 core services? What are the 5 core features of your product?
If your first...
•Finally… A Finger Fone!
Finally… A Finger Fone!
by: Glenn Murray
Maxwell Smart look out… the Finger Fone is here. Japanese telecom giant, NTT DoCoMo, has developed a real-life finger telephone they call “FingerWhisper”. Just stick your finger in your ear!
Due for release in 2005, the phone consists of just a wrist band – just like a watch. Instead of an audible ring tone, the band vibrates when you have a call. To answer incoming calls, you just tap together your index finger and thumb, and speak into the in-built...
•How to get your customers to trust your website
How to get your customers to trust your website by Glenn MurrayYou’re welcome to publish this article free of charge provided: - you include the byline - byline includes a functioning link to http://www.divinewrite.com - you don’t change the article in any way - you provide a courtesy copy once publishedHow to get your customers to trust your websiteBy Glenn Murray *Research reveals three important facts:1) The Internet is one of the most important sources of information.2) The...
•How to Make the Most of Your Website Copywriter
How to Make the Most of Your Website Copywriter
by: Glenn Murray
Many people feel uncertain when dealing with copywriters. Like any artform, writing is subjective; instead of black and white, most business owners and marketing managers see indistinguishable shades of grey. But copywriting possesses one key element that most other forms of art don’t – a commercial imperative.
Because the copywriter’s audience is driven by the realities of the business market, so too is the copywriter....
•No More Estate Agent Fees
No More Estate Agent Fees
by: Glenn Murray
Follow a few simple guidelines, and marketing your own home can be easy. And it will save you thousands.
The recent property boom has a lot of people thinking of selling. Unfortunately, the costs of selling can really eat into your profit. There’s nothing we can do about stamp duty, but one cost we can avoid is real estate agent fees. By selling your house yourself rather than paying a real estate agent, you can save you around $20,000 on a $500,000...
•Online Anywhere? The Truth About Centrino…
Online Anywhere? The Truth About Centrino…
by: Glenn Murray
Is the futuristic world of connecting to the Internet from anywhere already upon us, or is Centrino little more than a great Intel marketing campaign?
The name “Centrino” is Intel lingo meaning your notebook possesses 3 specific qualities: It’s a Pentium-M, of the Intel 855 chipset family, and it has a Wi-Fi module.
Simple! If you’re a geek…
To the rest of us, “Centrino” means you can connect to the Internet without wires. But...
•Race and Racism – Some Concepts Defined
Race and Racism – Some Concepts Defined
by: Glenn Murray
Despite adamant claims to the contrary, racism continues to plague many peoples around the world. The first step toward resolving issues of racial intolerance and prejudice is to develop an understanding of the underlying concepts and their labels.
This (rather long) article touches on the following topics:
Stereotypes, Race, and Racism
Culture and Cultural Imperialism
Nationalism and National Imaginary
I hope you find this...
•Reprint articles hijacked by text link ads - Great for authors!
Reprint articles hijacked by text link ads - Great for authors!
By Glenn Murray *
We all know that online publishers earn revenue from our free reprint articles. They place pay-per-click ads on the web page that contains the article, and the advertiser pays them whenever someone clicks on the ad. Most use programs like Google AdSense which automatically identify the subject of the article and deliver an ad related to that subject.
But did you know that publishers can do a similar...
•SEO for CEOs – Search Engine Optimization Unmasked for CEOs
SEO for CEOs – Search Engine Optimization Unmasked for CEOs
by: Glenn Murray
If you’re like most other CEOs, the term “search engine optimization” will mean very little. Either that or it means expense! But it doesn’t have to be that way… If you feel like you’re standing in a dark room handing money to strangers to get you in the search engines, then this article is for you.
This is an article written by a business owner for other business owners and CEOs. It explains Search Engine...
•SEO To Become A Dinner Party Topic
Thanks to a ground-breaking agreement between Dell and Google, SEO may soon be a mainstream topic of conversation. Dell, the world's leading maker of personal computers, has announced that it is testing a pre-installed package of Google software, including a Google-powered Dell home page, Google Desktop Search, and a Google Toolbar.
While the home page and Desktop Search will be an undeniable boost to Google's share of the Search market, and maybe even a threat to Microsoft's desktop...
•SEO Trade Secrets - 8 Great Tools for Search Engine Optimization
SEO Trade Secrets - 8 Great Tools for Search Engine Optimization
by: Glenn Murray
About 80% of website traffic comes through search engines. And research shows, if you’re not on the first 2 pages, most people won’t find you.
This article isn’t about how to achieve a high ranking. That topic has been done to death over the past few months. We all know the basics now… Submit your site to the major search engines, scatter a generous helping of the right keyword phrases throughout your site...
•Successful websites don't set out to sell
Successful websites don't set out to sell by Glenn MurraySuccessful websites don't set out to sellBy Glenn Murray - Copywriter *What are websites? Are they sales tools for vendors and service providers, or are they electronic guidance for potential customers? Put simply, are you selling or are you helping?Your answer to this question may determine the success of your website. So think carefully...How we define what a website is all depends on which side of the fence we're on. I suspect that...
•Tech-writers – A Necessary Evil
Tech-writers – A Necessary Evil
by: Glenn Murray
New to tech-writing, or thinking about starting? The key to success is recognising that tech-writers are a necessary evil.
Tech-writers are necessary because someone has to write the user doco. The programmers and managers sure as hell don’t want to. This is actually part of the reason that you’re evil, too. In my experience, most programmers and managers think that they could write the manuals if they wanted to… they just don’t want to. They...
•Them’s The Breaks… Surfing Australia's NSW Central Coast
Them’s The Breaks… Surfing Australia's NSW Central Coast
by: Glenn Murray
Surfing on the Central Coast is more a lifestyle than a pastime. And with 31 official beaches, it’s no surprise!
Buggeries, Half-tide Rocks, The Box, Catho, Ghosties, Moonie, Frazer, Gravelies, The Haven, Macs, Copa, North Avoca, Sharktower, the Pines, Avoca Point, Bushpig, The Bend, Littles, Pellos, Wambie, Shelly, North Shelly, Shelly Point, Forries, Norah Head, Bateau… the list goes on! And let’s not forget the...
•Web Copy – How Much is Enough?
Web Copy – How Much is Enough? by Glenn MurrayWeb Copy – How Much is Enough? By Glenn Murray * These days, there’s widespread acceptance that a website is an integral part of the marketing plan of any business. Likewise, it’s commonly accepted that web copy is a vital component of any website. But how much web copy is enough? The pure volume of information available on the Internet is daunting – often counterproductive. There are approximately 550 billion documents on the web, and...
•Why Use a Property Manager?
Why Use a Property Manager?
by: Glenn Murray
Most experienced property investors use property managers. Why? Because they make you money.
Property management isn’t just about collecting rent. It’s about ensuring your property is always rented, ensuring you have the best possible tenants, and ensuring you’re getting the best possible rent. It’s about keeping the property well maintained, tracking expenses and income, and dealing with the legalities of leases and the rights of tenants.
This is...
•Writing Benefit-Driven Web Copy – 4 Steps to More Sales
Writing Benefit-Driven Web Copy – 4 Steps to More Sales
by: Glenn Murray
You've identified the benefits you offer your customers, but how do you turn a list of benefits into engaging web copy which converts visitors into customers?
Recently I wrote an article explaining how to identify the benefits you offer your customers (http://www.divinewrite.com/benefits.htm). That article challenged business owners and marketing managers to think in terms of benefits rather than features when writing...
•Writing e-Newsletters – Tricks of the Trade
Writing e-Newsletters – Tricks of the Trade
by: Glenn Murray
Follow 10 simple rules of thumb, and you’ll soon be writing great e-newsletters and reaping the rewards.
Company e-newsletters can be an amazingly successful marketing technique. Whether you want to up-sell or cross-sell, establish your brand or establish your authority, or simply reach a wider market, an e-newsletter can do the job for you. You just have to make sure you write it right.
Television, radio, and print advertising are...
•Writing Helpful Help – A Minimalism Checklist
Writing Helpful Help – A Minimalism Checklist
by: Glenn Murray
User documentation is all too often written by programmers for programmers. It tends to focus on the product’s features, rather than the user’s tasks. Generally, programmers aren’t in the ideal position to be writing user documentation. They’re too close to the bits and bytes, and they’re too far from the user. To them, what the product can do tends to be far more important than what the user can do with the product.
It’s a...
•Writing SEO Copy – 8 Steps to Success
Writing SEO Copy – 8 Steps to Success by Glenn Murray We all know that the lion’s share of web traffic comes through the search engines. We also know that keywords and links to your site are the two things that affect your ranking in the search engines. Your keywords tell the search engines what you do, and the inbound links tell them how important you are. This combination is what determines your relevance. And relevance is what the search engines are after.There’s a lot of information...
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