Writing Better for Google’s Panda Update

Google notified the internet they had multiple rollouts for new algorithms designed to read everything published across the web. The new algorithms will be installed over time, one at a time, until the final modifications have been made to how anything written for the web is evaluated for page ranking.

With the release of the Panda Update in February 2011, writers noticed some rather frightening modifications with ranking pages. Although the search engine alterations were working for the greater good to destroy sites that were taking advantage of how search engine optimization and page ranking were evaluated, some great sites were penalized in error. Webmasters and bloggers will certainly find this information useful in getting back the terrific page rank they deserve.

No matter where your work is published online, Google’s Panda update will crawl it and effectively make an evaluation to determine where to rank it. Use the tools and techniques discussed to create better blog posts, articles, copy, editing and all online info.

Take this material and apply it to content being submitted to writing sites or with freelance writing gigs and find great search engine optimization along with page rank as well as increasing the appeal search engines will find with your passive writing income substance.

These are points to make that will make writing better for Google’s Panda Update;

Quality, quality and more quality

Quality over quantity has always been a mantra for freelance writers that are successful with their online writing career. This is a trend Google is setting for websites, blogs and other writing platforms around the internet. In order to continue a great page rank and seo make certain you have quality relevant articles that convey significant info to any reader.

Avoid any duplication

Check for original information and avoid any duplication. Each and every article should be written with original, relevant and quality content. Verify your writing using Copyscape or a similar tool. Even without a conscious choice of writing similar content, if Panda believes it is a duplicate they will set a penalty.

Reduce keyword percentages

Google is avoiding search engine optimization through the eyes of a machine and working more toward reviewing sites and information in the same way a human evaluates one. Reduce your keyword and keyword phrase percentages and increase original content for better word flow. This is especially true if you have high keyword percentages.

Reduce ad to content ratio

Too many ads on a page will hurt you with the Panda algorithm. Although ads are usually how a lot of writers make their bread and butter, having a high ad to content ratio is not what will endure you to the new updates. In fact, lower ad to content ratios is a good thing.

High page rank with lower ad ratio means more people or readers see your content and more sales will be made with fewer ads. In the end you can make more money online with your writing with fewer ads.

Don’t have any empty pages

Multiple pages with a website or a blog are not necessarily a bad thing. Pages with little or no content are a bad thing with Panda. If you have additional pages outside of your main landing page with little or no content, delete them or update them to add more quality content.

In conclusion

There were a number of wrongs that needed to be set right with numerous online writing. Anyone using black hat seo and other improper activities to make page rank, should have been weeded out with the adjustments made by the search engine. There were bad guys punished, but unfortunately some good guys were also hit hard.

Published articles and other writing was penalized in error, sites were dinged that should not have been and writers were shocked to learn their quality content no longer stood up to standards for editors and writing sites they had been a member of for a number of years. Google is working hard to correct some of these wrongs and in the meantime going forward a writer should protect their own interests with complying with the new standards that have been set.

Keep these points in mind for Google’s Panda Update to make subject matter and writing easier to withstand the algorithm standards established with Panda and see success with freelance writing income around the internet no matter where your articles are published.

any writer with an interest in writing better for Google's Penguin rollout should read this article
http://makingblogswork.blogspot.com/2012/11/writing-better-for-googles-penguin.html

pic is courtesy of ravisuave.in

Best Way to Write a Persuasive Article

Persuasive articles are great for anyone with the desire to create content that drives readers to complete a task. Whether the task is buying a product, using a service or reading your work and wanting more, the art of persuasion is an important skill to have for any freelance writer.

Some writers have an innate skill to form persuasive writing ideas. Freelance writers with natural tools for designing persuasive speeches, copy writing or sales copy have a skill that makes the right words come easy.

Others without a natural talent for articles which convince readers of a fact or concept will learn to become proficient at it with the right knowledge. No matter how you slice it persuasive writing will help you keep a reader’s interest.

The expertise for these types of articles comes with conveying material to a reader and making them believe it from a viewpoint that you present based on the info presented to support it. 

Benefits of Being Persuasive

Readers are searching for relevant information and come to your blog or website to locate it. Providing your audience with info, details, tips, data or answers to questions gives them a way to finally reach their goals. Even though readers are seeking more info they still want to be enlightened, encouraged, interested or engrossed with the material you present for their reading pleasure. Persuasive writing gives them all of this and keeps them wanting more.

These are some of the best ways to generate persuasive pieces of writing;

Why Write to Persuasive

A number of writers will ask what the point of articles to persuade is. Persuasive writing strategy is used in a lot of formulas for writers. You write to entice a reader to buy a product, use a service, favor your flavor of journalism or reporting of facts or even a belief that you convey over another writer.

In return a reader will become a customer or help you construct an audience. All of these actions will lead to wanting more and this is the direction you need to take your articles to make more money online.

Avoid Keeping a Reader Waiting for Answers

Giving a reader a teaser piece of content is not part of most persuasive writing strategies. When someone lands on a piece of text they expect to locate an answer. Therefore, the intro, summary, body and even the title should provide it as soon as possible. Keep it simple and get to the point with persuasive articles.

Evidence Should Support the Topic

Staying with true information is the most important aspect of persuasive writing. Valid info is easy to support and substantiate. Readers believe facts and data that confirm or corroborate statements that are made, expertise shared or knowledge communicated.

The Latest is the Greatest to Share

The latest and newest info in a particular subject matter is the best. A reader wants to know they are getting the cutting edge and freshest take on what is going on. When you share originality with an audience this supports credibility and expertise on a subject. Be original and relevant when you share for the best reader reward.

Avoid Being too Formal

No one wants to read academic writing if they don’t have too. Make your reader enjoy whatever you convey without becoming too formal with your writing.

On the other hand, be careful of being too personal. You can be personal without being too personal. Remember the reader is there to find an answer to a question, not hear your most intimate secrets in the process.

Persuasive speeches are those that bring the reader into the conversation on a personal level and keep them there with great info in an easy going manner that is relaxed to examine and effortless to absorb.

Editing to be Persuasive

Editing your work to ensure you have delivered the best work possible is always appreciated and the favor returned by a grateful audience.

Always keep text in an active voice. Editing your grammar as well helps articles stay direct and concise which makes for easier reading. Get rid of words which don’t add anything to the content, to a reader’s enjoyment or knowledge or emotion.

In conclusion

Persuasive writing is a necessary tool to keep in the arsenal of every freelance writer.  Some writers enjoy this particular way of constructing content and subject matter more than others. However, for any writer that doesn’t, learn how to write a persuasive article or two, you never know when you may need it.

Review of the Writing Site Guru

Freelance writers earn a large part of their income from clients that need writers to produce written content. Writers spend an enormous amount of their time connecting with clients through online job boards and job writing sites. Online job writing sites across the web have advantages and disadvantages that should be reviewed to make certain a freelancer will get the resources they need to make more money online.

Guru is highly competitive in the writing job site industry. There are a number of benefits that writers see with Guru. Though there are also some disadvantages which can make this site on the list of resources to bypass for writing gig services for a number of authors. This article outlines both rewards and shortcomings seen with Guru.com so writers make an informed decision about their writing career.

Guru advantages

Payment for connection services

Payment for connecting clients with freelancers is customary for sites like Guru. Freelancer.com and Elance, similar industry favorites, also require payment for linking clients and freelancers. The fee charged by the company is not excessive when compared with others in the marketplace.

Being competitive with connection fees makes Guru have an advantage over some other sites like Odesk.

Variety in jobs

Guru offers more than simply writing jobs. This web industry leader is a haven for a multitude of different freelancers searching for online jobs. Not only are writing gigs in their employment listings, but there are also opportunities for employment for web developers, web designers and various other online jobs that permit workers to earn a lot of money working online.

Freelance writing is an asset within itself. Though, various freelance writers are also freelance editors or freelance web designers in addition to other abilities. This means multiple talents will get income for an assortment of jobs from the same online site which is definitely a benefit.

Website navigating

Guru’s website is easy to navigate and move around. It’s simple to enroll for membership, check earnings and look for jobs and other detailed services the site furnishes members.

Members create a profile for client review that emphasizes expertise and achievements as well as other marketing efforts to create an attractive summary of what a worker offers. This makes certain a client and freelancer both link up in a manner beneficial for both parties. The right worker for the right job builds a great fit.

Easy and simple navigation around a site is always a benefit. In addition, Guru has announced enhancements to their current site that freelancers and clients will find positive.

Payment for freelancer jobs

Payment for freelancer jobs will be done one of two ways. One method is a monthly membership fee. A flat fee is paid every month whether a freelance takes no jobs or ten. The other method is a percentage of each job taken.

The percentage payment ranges from between 5% and 10% depending on the task. Numerous writers elect a percentage form of payment founded on the amount of jobs taken each month. A flat fee paid every month may not be financially beneficial based on the amount of jobs taken and the pay received for each job.

Having more than one type of payment for freelancer jobs gives some flexibility to writing gigs not seen with comparable writing job sites.

Escrow account

Clients put money for freelancer jobs in an escrow account. Monies are held until jobs are completed and then released. This means that freelance writers are assured of payment since fees are paid up front to the writing site and the writing site pays employees.

Some online job writing sites elect to have clients pay writers directly. For a writer that has worked on a project and not received payment, the escrow offered by Guru is a safety net that cannot be ignored as an advantage.

Online invoicing

An online invoicing system is wonderful for a lot of employment. Jobs can be reimbursed for one flat fee or an hourly fee for services. Online invoicing ensures valid tracking of services delivered by freelancers and secures valid payment is received after jobs are completed. This is a win/win situation for both contributors.

Guru disadvantages

Project fees for jobs

Project fees for jobs are advantageous as well as a shortcoming for the site. Fees of up to 10% are steep for most freelance writing gigs. A monthly flat membership fee may not be worth the cost when compared with the money made from writing gigs.

Although percentage fees of 5% are competitive with comparable sites, the maximum of 10% is much more than some sites like Elance or Odesk. The 10% percentage fee for jobs is a disadvantage of Guru.com.

Bidding for jobs

Jobs are awarded through a bidding process. Freelancers bid to compete against each other to gain a job. The bidding practice usually means the lowest bid will win and get a freelance writing gig. However, the bids are not visible to everyone participating which makes it difficult to determine where a freelancer’s bid lies in the bidding procedure before a job is won.

International competition for jobs can make the income received extremely low for a number of writing jobs. Higher bids will generally not win freelancer writing gigs.

Unequal treatment for monthly paying members

Members are complaining that members paying the monthly fee are receiving preferential treatment when it comes to winning freelancer jobs. Freelancers electing to pay a percentage instead of the monthly flat fee protest they are secondary consideration when it comes to attaining jobs through Guru’s bidding practice.

There is verification or written confirmation that the site is practicing this method.

Description of jobs

Job descriptions are receiving negative reviews and comments. A lot of members indicate the descriptions and outlines for writing gigs are extremely vague. The unclear explanations for job details provided make it difficult to bid and after successfully winning a bid valuable time is lost verifying info with clients to make certain a job is done correctly to the client’s satisfaction.

A number of workers feel this process should be changed so bidding is more transparent for the jobs posted and time is saved afterwards asking questions and attempting to get more info.

In conclusion

Guru.com has a number of advantages that freelance workers searching for writing gigs can find useful compared with other comparable sites. Even with the number of disadvantages Guru is still in the top level of writing site platforms to help freelance writers make more money online.

How to Become a Great Freelance Travel Writer

Good travel writing starts with the basics. The basics of any great writing are quality relevant information conveyed to readers through terrific content and material. The same basics for all freelance writing apply to travel writing as well other genres. There are several ways to become a great freelance travel writer.

Great travel writers aren’t born. A great travel writer is made just like any other niche writer. There are several things that can make a freelance writer one of the best travel writers around the web today. One of the best ways to start is expanding your knowledge around travel journalism and redefining what is a travel writer. Learn to be a writer for travel journalism and make a great career for freelance writing.

What is a travel writer?

Lots of freelance writers have narrowed their definition of a travel writer. Freelance travel writing jobs incorporate more than simply a narrow definition of travel journalism. Travel journalism jobs are more than reviews of destination spots, vacation exposes, guide books and excerpts for travel magazines. Freelance writers interested in travel writing should redefine what travel journalism jobs are comprised of.

There was once a time when a travel writer was identified as the epitome of freelance writers. These were writers receiving free trips to faraway beautiful vacation spots and writing about how great the experience was. Getting paid to take a first-rate vacation sounds wonderful.

A writer that didn’t have an enormous portfolio of credits published to their name with visits to faraway countries in addition to a network of contacts was out of luck to locate travel writing jobs. Any writer unlucky enough to miss out on being published in a travel magazine was out of luck to find travel writing gigs. This is not the case anymore. The future is bright for today’s travel writers.

Travel writer blogs

Blogging is a resource that a number of writers use for nearly any genre, including travel. Hundreds and thousands of writers maintain blogs. They created wonderful quality work in posts to blog platforms. Blogs deliver all sorts of travel resources. Writers can blog about travel they have experienced personally, places they want to travel, places that others have been, the best places to travel or even where not to travel. How about the best cities to live and work in abroad?

Posting terrific quality relevant content around the web on blogs have connected a number of freelance writers with remarkable freelance writing gigs that include book deals,  free offers of travel or even magazine print opportunities.

Every writer may not get rich from travel blogging, but you can certainly make a decent living if you are a great freelance travel writer with a blog.

Social networking

Social networking is never to be overlooked for any genre, including travel writing. Connecting with others that share the same online interests will help a writer overturn a lot of rocks they failed to look under for travel writing income.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter permit freelance travel writers to link up and share information related to travel writer grants, travel writing examples along with general information and lots of other material necessary to make better travel writers.

Not only will social networks connect writers with other writers, but it can also share travel writing with readers and editors with an interest in travel journalism. These are links which can expand a travel writing career in more ways than one.

Where does inspiration come from?

Believe it or not travel writing doesn’t necessarily mean going somewhere exotic. Fun in the sun is wonderful. Though, most work from home freelance writers with expertise in travel never has the opportunity to go to Bora Bora.

It’s possible that a travel writer only relates info from the County Fair or the various farmers’ markets visited during the summer months. Find inspiration from all sorts of places and redefine the historical definition of travel.

Inspiration can strike when and where you least expect it. Imagine travel as really any time you move. Whether you have a weekend getaway to a local resort or a family reunion, any location is travelling for someone. Any place is someplace that someone will be interested in hearing about. As a travel writer remember that its quality relevant information being delivered which adds to a reader’s experience that can make the difference.

Read

Reading is how good writers get better. Reading expands knowledge, expertise and ability. Whether a writer reads information online or off, gaining more education on any subject is useful. The more you read and write the better writer you will become.

Knowing what to read helps with choosing something that will be beneficial to your travel writing. Take in travel magazines, books and any source of travel information. Travel writers are reading to understand what readers are identifying as popular, what other terrific veteran travel writers are sharing with their content plus finding ways to immolate ideas and innovation with your own travel writing.

In conclusion

Travel writing is more than numerous writers believe. Redefine your idea of travel writing to become a great freelance travel writer. Networking shares resources, will find readers and connection you with other travel writing journalists that help a writing career. Read more to gain more to share in our writing. Find inspiration wherever you can to become a great freelance travel writer.

 

 

brief discussion from an actual freelance travel writer. He shares some finer points of the job

Real Writing Jobs Review

Real Writing Jobs makes the claim they are actually a source of a lot of leads for freelance writing gigs. This online company connects freelance writers with clients or customers. This company is one of many found around the web today with the same job description. Numerous people want to know if this is a real source of writing gigs or if Real Jobs is a scam.

A number of these writing job websites do offer legitimate writing jobs and will make a connection for a fee even as others offer services free of charge. While countless of these sites are real writing job sources with great pay, others are actually a writing job scam. How to tell which sites are actually authentic can sometimes be nearly impossible.

How does the site work?

Freelance writing job sites such as Real Writing Jobs use software to gather data from freelance writing job boards, writing job sites and other sources where freelance writer jobs are posted. After signing up for Real Writing Jobs the member site will display this data for members.

The majority of freelance writing jobs found in this manner are real freelance writing jobs. Unfortunately, they are also low paying for a lot of work. Website and blog owners will advertise writing jobs where writing projects consist of articles created around a specific niche or genre. Food writing jobs, magazine writing jobs, freelance editing writing jobs, speech writing jobs even travel writing jobs will be promoted. Doing a lot of work for little or no pay is no one’s ideal work environment.

Writers want to make certain they don’t get caught up in imagining they will get rich quick off of this type of income source. Even with advertising that writers will receive hundreds of dollars for one or two articles the reality is the average writing project marketed in this environment is pennies on the dollar for writers working with Real Writing Jobs.

The best writing jobs are for categories that most freelance writers don’t specialize in such as medicine, research writing or technical writing. These writing niches are reserved for extremely experienced writers that generally have impeccable references and network most of the opportunities they see. The average freelance writer usually will not see these high paying freelance writing jobs.

Freelance writers must understand that while the web provides the freedom to work from home and other advantages such as expanding a client base it also has drawbacks. The drawbacks include expanding the competition.

Overseas writers can compete for the same jobs a lot cheaper which will drive the price per coveted writing gigs down. Lower prices is certainly great for customers, but makes it that much more difficult to find high paying freelance writing jobs online.

Is Real Writing Jobs a Scam?

Real Writing Jobs is not a scam in the sense they do provide the services they offer. Freelance writers will find they are connected with real writing jobs online for freelance work. Though, the service is not free of charge to use and the question become whether the price is worth the product or service delivered.

Is the website Real Writing Jobs a scam or legitimate source of employment for freelance writers searching for writing projects to earn a great income? The reviews of Real Writing Jobs.com haven’t been great for a number of reasons.

Complaints with Real Writing Jobs

Real Writing Jobs reels a lot of writers in with the offer of a 10 day trial at an inexpensive $2.95. The 10 day trial ends and there is a per month charge of $47. Freelance writers trying to make a living writing online would rather not have to pay a monthly fee while attempting to increase their income.

A lot of writers that sign up with the writing job site find out about the monthly fee the hard way. Not paying attention to when the 10 day membership passes or reading the small print with reference to the recurring membership cost.

A lot of writers feel the monthly cost of nearly $50 does not justify the service provided. Remember, this writing job site is merely gathering information already available online and bringing it conveniently to one place. This is information any writer could locate on their own. There is nothing magical about the data shared. Additionally, there will be info missed and not gathered for review. Every writing job board and resource is not reviewed. There are a number of real writing gigs from legitimate sources not brought into the query.

A writer searching for real online writing jobs can review the same sources, such as writing job forums, job search engines, writing job sites and other networking opportunities for writing work for the identical data.

Advantages of Real Writing Jobs

There are a couple of advantages of Real Writing Jobs that should be shared. Real Writing Jobs does make it convenient for a writer that has time constraints when it comes to searching for writing jobs. Even though the listing is not 100% complete for all online writing jobs, a great number of jobs are gathered together all in one spot for review.

The writing job website does deliver a money back guarantee. A 10 day money back guarantee is offered with the confidence members will find a job. If a member does not find a job a 10 day no questions asked money back guarantee will be supplied.

In conclusion

Real Writing Jobs is a legit website that gives a freelance writer job resources. There is a fee of almost $50 a month for the service of convenience. The site will bring writing jobs to a member, essentially connecting writers with a resource to find a job. If a monthly fee for the convenience of job hunting suits you, try the service. If not, the same service can be done for free of charge by manually searching the same writing sites, freelance writing job boards and other prospects writers use to make a great income doing freelance work they love.

How to Write a Things to Avoid Article

Have you noticed around the web there are more articles and information on what to do to improve a situation than how to avoid a bad situation? This proves the point that more people look for ways to improve a position than avoid hurdles that wouldn’t place you in that situation to begin with and why writers shy away from things to avoid articles.

Some chalk it up to writing for keywords and keyword phrases and the difficulty built with forming an article or blog post for avoiding something. However, it may be more than that. Individuals surfing the web would rather read from a point of view of what to do rather than what not to do. A number of writers simply will not create valuable content from the point of view of what not to do. Though, valuable material and subject matter is sorely missed because of this fact.

Taking the time to write a great negative article to put a positive spin on it can bring more readers than most writers imagine. There is a constructive way to convey a “things to avoid” article to readers in an attractive format. Using the right article template will certainly help with that.

Use Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism is a bonus for readers. Formatting writing content with a personal note of constructive criticism will help to fashion writing content more appealing when writing a “things to avoid” article. In addition, revealing some expertise in the area builds a sense of trust and downplays the negative aspect of writing this particular type of resource for readers.

Use Positive Wording

Although a title may seem negative with for “things to avoid” articles, a writer can still keep wording positive. Use positive words to lead the fight. Stay away from words like “but”, “never”, “cannot” or “do not”. It can be difficult when writing with a flow that captures the context of the information being shared. Though, it is certainly not impossible. Careful editingcan help with this tactic or strategy. Proofreading goes a long way with this type of writing.

These are some quick hits on technique and tips to follow with a “things to avoid” article;

Your title-you can make your title include your “things to avoid” without using negative wording. Keep connected with your keywords and keyword phrases

Intro-find ways to make the reader understand the benefits or advantages of avoiding a person, place or thing and how you will help make this happen

Body-this is where expertise and touching on professional experience come into play. A brief overview should begin the body portion of the article. Avoid getting long winded and keep it to a maximum of six sentences. The personal connection maintains a trust factor with a reader while constructing credibility.

List-this is an option that works exceptionally well with “things to avoid” articles. List the person, place or things with great examples or instructions to follow which benefit a reader

Conclude-wrap up the article on “things to avoid” with a short couple of paragraphs that outlines advantages of following the information provided.

In conclusion

Make certain that quality content is provided that a reader will actually profit from. An article outlining “things to avoid” should be as important as other articles composed from the opposite stand point. Original quality information in a “things to avoid” article is vital to building a wonderful freelance writing portfolio and making more money online as a writer.