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Freelance Writers Use Zemanta … Clients Can Too

August 10, 2011 By 2 Comments
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I was interviewed by Andraž Tori, one of the founders of Zemanta, on July 30, 2011. I was introduced to this revolutionary new program from one of the owners of the WM Freelance Writers Connection. Zemanta is easy-to-use and install. More importantly, a blogger doesn’t have to scour the internet for links and pictures. It’s a time-saver!

What is Zemanta? Zemanta is “a revolutionary new platform for accelerating on-line content production for any web user. Any user-created text (a blog post, article or web page) is directly “read” by Zemanta, which recognizes all contextual content. Zemanta then combs the web for the most relevant images, smart links, keywords and text, instantly serving these results to the user to enrich and inform their content. What’s more, Zemanta can be deployed on all major content publishing platforms and web browsers through a simple plug-in.”

What I really like about Zemanta is their attention to customer service. For example, a few weeks ago Zemanta wasn’t working. I wasn’t sure if it was because of WordPress, my hosting company, or the program. I emailed support and someone actually responded to my email. Lo and behold, the program had a glitch which was fixed in no time. This impressed me.

I was happy to be interviewed by Andraž Tori because Zemanta’s management team wants to improve the program; they need and want input from users. I was asked about my experience using the program (so far, so good), how I use the program, what I did and did not like, and how the program could be improved. It was a thorough interview. As a freelance writer, I’m always on the lookout for helpful programs for writers and their clients.

What I like about Zemanta

1. Easy to install and uninstall.

2. Very user friendly.

3. Provides links and photos pertinent to your blog content.

4. Sign up with Zemanta and utilize preferences such as permanently having links open in a new window; submit your website to Zemanta, etc.

If you haven’t heard of Zemanta, try it today. It’s free to use so you have nothing to lose. I downloaded Zemanta for Firefox and Google Chrome (still testing and using the web browser). Again, it’s very easy to install and uninstall if you don’t care for it. If you decide you like Zemanta, let others know about it. Share the knowledge!

Rebecca

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Battle of the Web Browsers: Firefox vs. Google Chrome

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Question: Which web browser is better and faster, Firefox or Google Chrome? I’ve been a loyal Firefox user for many users but have been told Google Chrome is faster and more efficient. I read an article on the internet about Google discontinuing support for the Firefox toolbar. Maybe it’s time for a switch.

Answer: With the onset of Google+ about to take over the internet ‘cyber’ waves, you may want to ‘test drive’ Google Chrome. I am.

I began testing Google Chrome last Saturday and admit it seems faster than Firefox. I’ve used Firefox for many years. Before that, I used Internet Explorer and dabbled with Safari. I’m enjoying Google Chrome because it seems to load my log-ins and websites faster. I don’t tap my fingers on my desk and count, “One, one thousand; two, one thousand; three, one thousand; four, one thousand; and so forth. I can get in and out and do what I need to do without any fuss.

Firefox has served me well, but it seems to be slower than Google Chrome. I appreciate the constant updates from Firefox; however, it doesn’t seem to be faster. Then again, maybe Firefox can’t handle the multiple toolbars I use such as Yahoo, Ping, and AVG. I could probably delete one or two of them. But, I enjoy listening to internet radio; one of the toolbars has an app for it. Google Chrome has many internet radio apps; however, I’m not sure if they’re available on a toolbar.

Change can be good — it can be easy. I imported my bookmarks from Firefox to Google Chrome with ease. I haven’t bookmarked anything with Google Chrome, yet.

I’m amazed at how fast Google Chrome loads. One of the issues I’ve had with Firefox is receiving the following message, “Firefox is still running” when I close Firefox but try to reopen it because I forgot to check one of my email accounts or research something. How can Firefox still be running when I closed the browser? This has been frustrating. When I close out of Firefox and want to reopen the browser — it takes multiple tries before it opens. I haven’t experienced this with Google Chrome. I can close and open the browser without any problem.

I haven’t completely abandoned using Firefox. Like I said, “I enjoy listening to internet radio.” It’s easy to click on the app on the toolbar and select stations or search for new ones. Also, Firefox can be customized more so than Google Chrome. For example, I use add-ons like SEO for Firefox and others. For now, I’ll toggle back and forth between Firefox and Google and keep testing and comparing. Stay tuned!

Rebecca

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Pingbacks: You Don’t Have to Read It, Just Delete It

July 20, 2011 By 1 Comment
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Savvy-Writer.com is my creative, freelance, and ghost writing website. I also have an animal/environmental advocacy and personal development websites, respectively. By the way, creating and maintaining blogs/websites that you’re passionate about is another way to showcase your writing ability. You can submit your blog posts as writing samples to editors and organizations.

Anyway, I use a program called Zemanta which finds links to blog posts and or articles that complement or match your topic. Lo and behold, I received an email from a guy who responded to a pingback that was created because I listed a link to his blog post on my personal development website. The website owner graciously approved the pingback because I didn’t write a negative or condemning blog post. However, he’s more ‘conservative’ when it comes to certain topics. Next time, I will take more time to ensure links and websites match or complement my websites.

Lesson: Before you list links on your website, make sure they complement or match your blog post and or article topic. If you receive pingbacks or trackbacks, you can delete them. Or, you could check them out to make sure they’re not spam. Delete pingbacks and trackbacks that aren’t helpful.

If you receive pingbacks to your blog posts, “Remember, you don’t have to read it, just delete it.” If the blog or website isn’t in alignment with what you’re writing, delete the pingback. There’s no reason to send an email voicing your concern. This will create negative energy and you don’t want that. Do you? However, if the pingbacks are in alignment with your blog and or websites, send an email “thanking” the blog owner for mentioning your blog posts. I receive many emails from blog/website owners “thanking me” for featuring links to their posts and websites on Savvy-Writer.com. Of course, I send the owners emails that have the following words in then, “Your Welcome!”

Rebecca

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How to Make Your eBook Stand Out

July 18, 2011 By 1 Comment
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If you wrote or plan to write an eBook, follow the guidelines outlined below on how to make your eBook stand out. Having and providing readers with great content is half the battle. I know you’ve heard this before, but sales and marketing are part of the equation. Publishing is a business! Remember, you’re not in the business of selling books. You’re in the business of sales and marketing and solving problems.

How to Make Your eBook Stand Out

1. Write an eBook that readers want to read. What problems do people have? What solutions can you offer them? Research and dig to find what people need help with. Of course, if you’ve experienced a problem or got through a difficult time, you can best believe that others have experienced what you did. Write about it!

Make sure your eBook has been edited and proofed before you publish it. Hire an editor

2. Reach out for help. Get together with a group of 2-4 five writers and critique each others’ work. Make sure constructive criticism is the name of the game. Hire an editor (you’ll want to do this anyway) to review your work. Also, check out web-based writing communities such as CritiqueCircle, WritersBBS, My Writers Circle, and other critique groups.

3. Purchase an ISBN number. This is how retailers track the sales of your book.

4. Cover design. Go big, or go home! Make a statement by having a cover design that literally (I know I used literally) stands out. Use bold colors and graphics. You want to grab the attention of readers. However, make sure readers can understand what your eBook is about by creating a ‘targeted’ book cover. This is known as the 2-second test. If they can’t tell what your book is about by looking at the cover, a re-design is necessary. Hire a professional graphic designer or use the services provided by your self-publisher. This way you’ll look like your belong at Barnes and Noble and ‘mom and pop’ bookstores.

5. Think beyond the ink. Thanks to technologies such as the iPad, you can include graphs, illustrations, and video clips. Reading devices will evolve throughout the years. Visit BookBaby and learn about their available special formatting options.

6. No more Word. Alas, you’ll have to convert your Word or Text file to make sure it’s compatible to eReaders. The main file extensions are:

1. EPUB (.epub). Is the most popular and standard format. It allows DRM. Major retailers use this except Amazon.

2. Mobipocket (.mobi). Users can add a blank page within the text for notes, bookmarks, corrections, and drawings. Very cool!

3. Kindle (.azw). This is Amazon’s proprietary format based on mobipocket. It comes with its own digital rights management protections.

The good news is you can use Adobe InDesign (love this) to convert your book to an EPUB eBook. Visit JimAndZetta or ePub Conversion and get assistance with the conversion. Another alternative is to have your distributor/self-publisher convert your eBook for you.

7. Sales and marketing. The most dreaded step for some writers; others embrace the joy of sales and marketing.

Sell eBook here:

1. Apple iBookstore for iPad

2. Amazon (Kindle)

3. Barnes and Noble (Nook)

4. Reader Store (Sony Reader)

5. Google eBookstore (multiple readers)

Use the following marketing tips to spread the word about your eBook:

● Social Media. You’ve heard this before but it begs repeating. Open a Facebook Fan page and actually interact with your fans. Get to know them don’t make it all about YOU because this will deter readers. Hold a contest, say “Thank You” once in a while, chat with your fans, and allow them to have discussions about your eBook. Create a separate Twitter account. You may consider opening a MySpace account since the website is undergoing major changes.

● Create a website. Create a ‘special’ website for your eBook. Blog about it and be open to feedback from readers. You may consider creating a forum on the blog to allow readers to discuss your eBook.

● Schedule a book signing and or readings. Readers love to meet authors. I should know. I volunteered at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona and witnessed many book signings. It’s exciting for readers to meet and speak with authors. You may consider reading your book and having the audience discuss it. You’ll receive a lot of feedback and insight.

● Get to know other writers. Start a group where writers can meet and discuss writing topics such as eBooks. You could always create an online group or find one on the internet.

● Attend conferences and trade shows. Be where the industry is. Networking and making connections can take you and your writing to the next level.

Writing and selling an eBook has transformed through the years. Digitally distributing your eBook is yet another adventure you get to experience within the world of publishing. If you ever feel that self-publishing isn’t for you or worth it, remember that great writers such as William Blake, Walt Whitman, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, T.S. Elliot, John Milton, and many others self-publishing their writing at one point or another. Imagine how many more readers they would have reached through eBook readers. Write on, write from the heart!

Rebecca

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Author Facebook Fan Page

July 1, 2011 By 2 Comments
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In case you don’t know, Facebook has a fan page feature that allows you to communicate with your readers. How well you communicate with your ‘fans’ could determine how successful you and your book will be. Most authors (public figures) are creating Facebook fan pages for their ‘fans’ and aren’t really participating in the conversations that are taking place on the page. This could work against you.

There’s no doubt that a Facebook fan page is a fast and easy marketing tool. You can post your latest YouTube video, links to your latest book, teleseminars and webinars events; radio and television appearances, book signing events; hold a contest, and provide other pertinent information for your ‘fans’ to share with their friends. It’s an easy way to generate income. However, if you’re constantly selling and selling, and not giving your fans anything else, they could leave you and your fan page high and dry.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Author Facebook Fan Page

1. Take an interest in your fans. Let’s face it, without your fans (consumers) your book won’t be #1 on the New York Times Best-Sellers list. Unless, of course, Harry Potter comes along and waves his magic wand to make it happen. Take an interest in your fans. A “thank you” here and there will go a long way.

2. Post relevant information besides your own. It’s all right to post other links besides your own. Who knows, you could end up with a great business partnership because of it.

3. Engage in conversations. What do your fans want? What do they like about your latest book? What don’t they like about it? Be transparent and become a part of the conversation.

4. Stop posting ‘automated’ content on your fan page. If you don’t have time to post thoughtful comments or information, hire an intern or part-time person to do it for you. Fans may not appreciate the ‘coldness’ of your fan page.

5. Be active on your Facebook fan page. How active are you on your fan page? When you create your writing schedule, make sure to include time for social media. You don’t have to spend hours each day — 15 minutes per day will do. Of course, if you’re a social butterfly, be as active as you want to.

Rebecca

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