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Syndicated articles are one of the best ways to create backlinks, the spine of a good SEO campaign. Article syndication is the act of writing a non-sales article on a subject related to your business, and then syndicating it on a channel where other relavant blogs may re-publish the article and link back to your site. A good article can yield hundreds of backlinks. Here are the basics for article writing:

1) Choose a Good Subject and Title: It sounds easy, but its not. You have to come up with a subject or title that is unique, but still interesting to a wide audience. For example, if you are a Florida Real Estate Agent, you may want to write an article called: “Ten Best Beaches for Fishing in South Florida.” This is unique enough to stand out, but not too obscure. If you wrote: “Top Ten Beaches in Florida”, that is far too broad, and there are probably hundreds of articles already on that subject.

2) Write in Plain English: Just as newspapers are supposedly written at a third-grade reading level, your article should be simple to read as well. And frankly, it should be written by those American or Canadian writer, rather than skimping and hiring a foreign writer.

3) Use Lists and Bullet Points: Most people don’t read an entire article. Give them short bullet lists and nuggest of information to digest. We live in a Twitter, fast-food culture after-all.

4) Don’t Use it as a Sales Pitch: Articles are meant to be informative, not a sales pitch. You are trying to establish yourself as an authority on a subject, so don’t write like a snake-oil-salesman.

5) Use Keywords and Phrases: Embed some relavant keywords and phrases in the article, but don’t overdo it. You only need to use them once or twice. With some syndication services, you can then hyperlink those keywords or phrases back to your website.

6) Byline for Sales: At the end of the article, write your byline and tell people who you are or what you represent. For example….

- by Devin Hansen. Devin Hansen is an SEO expert and freelance writer from CertifiedCopywriting.com.

On-Page Optimization or Off-Page Optimization? Which should you do? Well, when it comes to SEO, you should work on both if you can.

On-Page optimization (optimizing your own site with content and code) is best if you are trying to rank high for long-tail keywords and phrases, such as “Best Real Estate Offers in San Francisco” or the like.

Off-Page optimization (focusing on backlinks) is best if you are working on very popular keywords or short phrases.

Essentially, you should work on both, because Google determines your ranking based on the value of your site to users. They have one goal in mind: “Does this site answer the user’s question or needs?” If your site not only answers the user’s question, but is also considered an authority among other pages (off-page-SEO), then you will rank high.

So once again, the best thing you can do for SEO is increase your on-site content and off-site content (article syndication). And Certified Copywriting offers both of these services.

Currently I’m working on some great new videos for the Williams Island site. I’m making 10 videos comprised of still-shot photos of this luxurious private island in Aventura, FL. One highlights the gardens and grounds, another the marina, then the tennis club, restaurants, and of course the Miami nightlife (Miami is a stone’s throw from Aventura). To make these videos really stand out, we’re using eloquent text from one of my freelance writers, Julia Voss, and then having a local television anchor do the voice-overs. They’ll be posted on Youtube soon, and I’ll put some links.

But why do this? Well, Youtube videos are not only great selling points to prospective clients of Williams Island, but they also help with the SEO. You kill two birds with one stone. Just remember to link back to your main URL.

Chances are you’ve heard of SiteProNews if you are a writer, seo expert, or other internet marketing professional. But if you don’t, you should definitely logon to their site as they are one of the best resources for trends and news regarding SEO and content writing. They are also currently looking for writers to submit articles. So, if you need a few extra bucks and know your SEO, here’s a link to the article submission guidelines for SiteProNews. Check it out.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to get your site visible on the net is to use Google Places.

It will highlight your storefront on Google Maps when people type in your business name.

For example, go to Google and type in: lefigaro rock island. Of course, the site I developed for them ranks first but it also shows the Google Places results as number two.

You can achieve those same results by simply registering with Google Places. Its a great way to increase your SEO without spending any money.

To learn more, visit this link on increasing your seo via Google Places.

Its a really easy way to get your site and business more visibility.

Here’s a brief sample of a basic technical review for seo copywriting. It should include plenty of keywords, but not be stuffed. Also, the writer should have done enough research to convey this technical information so the writer appears knowledgeable of the subject, even if he/she is not:

Windows 2008 Server is Microsoft’s most powerful and advanced server to date. It has new functionality, tighter security, and a user-friendly operating system. This server easily handles all modern workloads, and is prepared for the next-generation of applications and networks.
Windows Server 2008 has several updates to increase the user-experience, as well as ease of server management. Administrators will experience simplified interfaces and new functions, such as automating system administration tasks and unified management across multiple servers. Other upgrades include a new Server Core installation feature, and updated failover clustering wizards.
A cost-saving feature of the new Windows 2008 Server is the virtualization of centralized applications. Now, using Terminal Services Gateway or RemoteApp, administrators can give remote access to basic Windows-based programs located on a terminal server. This eliminates the need to host on the client computer as well as a VPN.
The security of the new Windows 2008 server is tight. It is designed to stop unauthorized network connections or access to user accounts. The server also utilizes an Identity and Access Solution (IDA), a Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) and a BitLocker Drive Encryption. This is the most secure Windows server created.
The Windows 2008 Server is optimized for web hosting. It utilizes Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS 7.0) plus greater control, management and troubleshooting features. It can also combine platform technologies such as ASP.net, Windows SharePoint, and Windows Communication Foundation Web services.
Overall, the Windows 2008 Server is exponentially advanced from its previous version. The new tools and features allow for optimum management and deployment, and will work cohesively with your current infrastructure.

James Frey has been getting railed in the press lately, about his fiction factory, “Full Fathom Five.” You’ll remember him as the author of the part-truth/part-fiction memoir “A Million Little Pieces” — he went on Oprah looking like a wet, whipped poodle and apologized to her and his fans. I felt so bad for him! But damn it took guts to go up there and tell the truth. But really, I don’t care if he made-up some aspects of his life for the sake of story. The REAL tragedy is that we held this unknown writer to higher standards than we do former politicians who outright lie or rewrite history in their books. God-forbid an recovering drug addict lie about getting a tooth pulled in his memoir!

Now his Full Fathom Five book production company is under heavy fire. (Mostly, by big-city journalists who would rather be writing novels themselves and have a bad case of pencil envy.) Frey recruits young, talented writers to ghost-write books for sci-fi series, etc. He gives them an idea and they run with it, or in some instances, they bring up the idea. Whatever the case, they typically get $250 up front and then up to 40% of royalties. Some get a byline, but most don’t. More experienced writers may get bigger up-front fees.

Having written a couple books myself, I can say it took me close to 3 years on each. However, I was heavily editing as I went along. If I were to sit down and crank out a book for some teenage girl to read, knowing that another writer would make it even better, I could whip one out in a couple weeks. They’re not looking for Hemingway, they’re looking for Twilight. Pulp. Nancy Drew, Choose Your Own Adventure stuff.

Its the rate of upfront pay that troubles some people. Yes, it may seem like a pittance, but with the prospect of royalties on the back-end, I say its a great deal! Its a foot-in-the-door if nothing else. This is what the publishing world has come to. Wanting to mass-commercialize books. Chances are these MFA students are never going to make as much royalties on their poems in the New Yorker as they will with a teen-fiction-series.Take the money and appreciate the fact that you are making money with your writing.

The problem is, most writers are too conceited to be happy with such a deal. And then they call Frey conceited, for capitalizing on this industry niche. That which we are most critical, we are often guilty of ourselves.

Frey has the notoriety in the publishing world to accomplish this now. Let him help these young writers make money on their writing, even if there isn’t a byline.

James Patterson has built an empire this way. He has branded his names and used the help of ghostwriters and is living a very comfortable lifestyle. If James Frey can do it too, let him. These ghost-writers are getting good royalties, good experience, and are making connections in the publishing industry. If James starts stealing ideas and leaving them in the cold, then that’s another story. But for now, it all seems on the up and up.

These ghostwriters are like back-up musicians to a great lead singer. If they want to put out their own album, let em. Or, they can play back-up for awhile, make some dough, and then figure out what to do.

Sometimes we writers take our craft too seriously. As though we are the only ones who can flesh out a certain idea. That our ideas are worth more. But like an inventor, we can come up with an idea, but its the company that produces and sells that product that makes the big bucks. Because they have the capability to do it. The inventor gets royalties still! But its a two way street.

These ghostwriters need Frey as much as he needs them.

Show me one writer that wouldn’t “sell out,” and I’ll show you a lifelong waiter.

Our company is now on linkedIn. Check out our profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/devinjameshansen

Here are some freelance writing gigs from eLance.com

Project Name
Category / Estimated Budget Project Description Preview

Looking for a ghost writer for a non-fiction book
Ghost Writing
Between $50,000 and $100,000 I am looking for a qualified ghost writer for a non-fiction book on retirement economics and changing demographics. The author is a European expert in the biology of aging. The book is at the concept … more
Software Technical Writing
Technical Writing
Between $25,000 and $50,000 *Please do not apply if you do not have real-world experience developing technology* **Also, only people residing within Canada or the U.S.A. need apply** We have a need for ongoing technical writing a… more
Writer/Editor
Sales Writing
Between $10,000 and $25,000 I need a Full Time, Writer/Editor to provide/procure content for the web sites, sales pages, articles, newsletters, press releases, magazines, and to manage all publishing deadlines.
Edit, Expand my existing material for a book
Ghost Writing
Between $10,000 and $25,000 What I need or require: help to edit; research bibliography and sources for quotes, etc What I already have versus what the provider will deliver: 10 + short (1-3 page) articles as basis for of the… more
RFP for Journalist or Similar Service Provider
Other - Writing Services
Between $10,000 and $25,000 About the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP) The nonprofit CDCP improves quality of life in the Pittsburgh region through design of the built environment (e.g. buildings, parks and and and … more
ghost write my memoir
Ghost Writing
Between $5,000 and $10,000 I am a writer who isn’t writing. Need help from a smart female writer to focus my thoughts and take the pain out of writing my story. Life story related to years in the advertising business and life in… more
Technical writer/illustrator - transportation
Technical Writing
Between $5,000 and $10,000 Topic or description of what I need written: We are proposing an innovative and effective IETM method to deliver, implement and maintain documentation and information to various sectors in the What I… more
Full Time Article Writer
Article Writing
Between $5,000 and $10,000 We are seeking an article writer to help build backlinks to our sites in the credit card and credit repair niche. Here is what the job will involve: - writing articles about finance, credit, credit… more

Visit Elance for More Information on these Freelance Writing Gigs.

Ceritifed Copywriting is coming up on our Fourt anniversary in 2011. Utilizing freelance writers, with no brick and mortar storefront has proven to be a winning combination. We are proud of all the projects we’ve completed and look forward to many more years of being one of the top seo copywriting companies in the nation, with some of the best seo copywriters around. Thanks to all our clients, past, present and future!