 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Call Glenn in Sydney Australia on +612 4334 6222 or email glenn@divinewrite.com for a creative advertising copywriter or website copywriter.
|
Frequently Asked Questions about Copywriting & Search Engine Optimization (SEO)Copywriting and search engine optimization (SEO) are foreign fields to a lot of people. Rarely does a day go by when I don't get asked a few questions on one or the other. So I've decided to post this FAQ page in the hopes that it will help people understand the basics, and make them a little more comfortable with the whole domain. These FAQs are divided into three main sections. Click the link that best describes you. I want to hire a copywriter... I want to hire a copywriter...What do you charge? Q: What do you charge?A: We normally charge a fixed price. As every project is different, we can't give you an 'average price'. However, on about 5% of jobs, we work on an hourly rate. Our hourly rate is $250. Back to Questions Q: What's included in your price?A: When we're writing your copy from scratch, you get 1st and 2nd drafts and a Final Version. When we're editing only, or optimizing your copy for search engines only, you get just a Final Version (these items are one-off purchases). Back to Questions Q: What information do you need to quote?A: Because we quote fixed prices, we need to know a bit of detail before we can quote:
Back to Questions Q: What information do you need to start the job?A: In order to write your copy, we need to know the following.
Generally we'll have further questions as we go, which will all be answerable via email or phone. Back to Questions Q: When can you start?A: We can generally start your copywriting project within 2 weeks. Back to Questions Q: How long will it take?A: Again, it all depends on the specifics of the job, how much information you can supply, and how long you take to review the work. A single page of copy, say 400 words, can be turned around in 1-2 days if you're able to supply all the information we need, and you review fairly promptly. Back to Questions Q: What are the deliverables?A: Copy is generally delivered in a Microsoft Word document (.doc file). Back to Questions Q: Can I suggest changes to your copy?A: Yes! By all means. We're not precious about our work. However, if you suggest a change that, in our professional opinion, is unwise, we will advise against it then leave the final decision to you. Back to Questions Q: Do we need to meet in person?A: No. Only in rare cases is a face-to-face meeting required. All correspondence can be over the phone or via email. Back to Questions Q: I'm in another country, can you still write my copy?A: Yes! We work for clients around the world, including USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Tanzania, and Botswana. Back to Questions Q: Is my project too big or too small?A: Probably not. Whether it's a one-line ad or a 200 page manual, we're happy to help. Back to Questions Q: Do you do Google AdWords?A: Yes. We can write your Google AdWords and even manage your entire Google AdWords campaign (including keyword analysis). Back to Questions Q: Do you also do editing?A: Yes. Some clients find it more affordable to write their own copy and have us simply edit their work. This can be a good option, especially for clients on a tight budget. Back to Questions Q: What is copywriting?A: In plain English, copywriting means the writing of the words for your promotional pieces and other communications. This includes brochures, websites, letters, print ads, Google AdWords, articles, scripts, etc. Back to Questions Q: Do you also do technical writing?A: Yes. Divine Write director, Glenn Murray, worked as a professional technical writer for 9 years in the software industry before moving into copywriting. Back to Questions Q: Can you help me with copyright?A: No. Copyright is about legal ownership of a document or other composition and is totally unrelated to copywriting. Back to Questions I want a high search engine ranking for my website...Why are search engines important to me? Q: Why are search engines important to me?A: 85% of all website traffic is driven by search engines. The only online activity more popular than search is email. 79.2% of US users don't go to page 2 of search results. 42% of users click on the no.1 result. For the under-40 age-group, the Internet will become the most used media in the next 2-3 years. Back to Questions Q: How do search engines decide on their rankings?A: IMPORTANT: You cannot pay a search engine in return for a high ranking in the natural results. You can only get a high ranking if your content is seen as relevant by the search engines. Search engines identify relevant content for their search results by sending out ‘spiders’ or ‘robots’ which ‘crawl’ (analyze) your site and ‘index’ (record) its details. Complex algorithms are then employed to determine whether your site is useful and should be included in the search engine’s search results. Back to Questions Q: Can't I just pay for a high ranking?A: No. The biggest concern for search engine companies like Google and Yahoo is finding content that will bring them more traffic (and thus more advertising revenue). In other words, their results must be relevant. Relevant results makes for a good search engine; irrelevant results makes for a short-lived search engine. Most search engines these days return two types of results whenever you click Search:
Back to Questions Q: How do I get a high ranking?A: There are four main steps: Step 1 - Use the right words on your website Back to Questions Q: What is search engine optimization (SEO)?A: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the art of creating a website which is search engine-friendly. This means:
For more information on these 4 elements, download our free 'SEO Secrets' eBook. Many people use SEO to also describe the other ingredient in a high ranking, 'Link Popularity'. Back to Questions Q: What is link popularity?A: Think of the search engines as a big election. All the websites in the world are candidates. The links to your website are votes. The more votes (links) a candidate (website) has, the more important it is, and the higher its ranking. Link popularity is all about how many links you have, and how you can get more. Links to your site tell the search engines how important your site is. They assume that if it’s important enough for a lot of other sites to link to, it’s important enough for them to display at the top of the rankings. Links are the single most important factor in ranking. Generally speaking, the more links you have to your site from other sites, the better your ranking. Back to Questions Q: How many links to my site are there?A: Search Google for "www.yourdomain.com". (Don't search for "link:www.yourdomain.com" as this only returns a subset of the links to your site.) Then on the page that displays next, select "Find web pages that contain the term "www.yourdomain.com" ". When you do it this way, you'll see all the pages that contain your URL. In most cases, the URL will be an active link (or at least it should be... if it's not, you should ask the site owner to make it so). There are also some tools you can use. Back to Questions Q: Are some links better than others?A: Yes! The ideal kind of links are those that:
When a search engine sees a link which satisfies most or all of these conditions, it says, “Hey, this site must be credible and important, because others in the same industry are pointing to it.” Back to Questions Q: How do I get lots of links back to my site?A: There are many possible ways to generate links. Some are dubious (like auto-generation software, and sites set up by webmasters simply to host links to their other sites) and I won’t be discussing them here. Others, like those discussed below, are legitimate.
For more information on these methods, download our free 'SEO Secrets' eBook. Back to Questions Q: What do you think is the best way to get lots of links?A: Article PR. Write helpful articles and let other webmasters publish them for free in exchange for a link in the byline. With article PR, you don't have to pay for the link, you determine the content of the page containing the link, you determine the link text, and the link is more or less permanent. A single article can be reprinted hundreds of times, and each time is another link back to your site! For more information, read How to Top Google with Article PR or visit www.ArticlePR.com. Back to Questions Q: How do I write a good article PR piece?A: See How to Top Google with Article PR Back to Questions Q: How do I get a high ranking using free reprint content?A: See Get a top 10 ranking without paying a cent. Back to Questions Q: How long does it take to get a high search engine ranking?A: A long time! It’s impossible to say how much time you’ll need to spend generating links, but you can be sure it’ll be a while no matter which method of link generation you use. You just have to keep at it until you have achieved a high ranking. Even then, you’ll still need to dedicate some ongoing time to the task, otherwise your ranking will drop. Back to Questions Q: What is the Google Sandbox, and is it real?A: The Google Sandbox theory suggest that whenever Google detects a new website, it withholds its rightful ranking for a period while it determines whether your site is a genuine, credible, long term site. It does this to discourage the creation of SPAM websites (sites which serve no useful purpose other than to boost the ranking of some other site). There is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting the theory, but there is also a lot discounting it. No one has categorically proven its existence. Back to Questions Q: What is the Google Dampening Link Filter, and is it real?A: The Google Dampening Link Filter theory suggests that if Google detects a sudden increase (i.e. many hundreds or thousands) in the number of links back to your site, it may sandbox them for a period (or in fact penalize you by lowering your ranking or blacklisting your site altogether). There is a lot of anecdotal evidence supporting the theory, but there is also a lot discounting it. No one has categorically proven its existence. Back to Questions Q: What SEO companies should I be wary of?A: Be wary of SEO companies that promise or guarantee results in a given timeframe, especially if they won't expand on their methods for generating links back to your site. Back to Questions Q: What tools can you recommend?A: There are many very useful tools to help with your SEO. The following are just selection. All tools are free unless otherwise indicated.
Back to Questions Q: I'm confused about all the terms used in SEO, can you help?A: See our SEO Glossary. Back to Questions Q: What is keyword analysis?A: The first thing you need to do when you begin chasing a good search engine ranking is decide which words you want to rank well for. This is called performing a keyword analysis. Keyword analysis involves a bit of research and a good knowledge of your business and the benefits you offer your customers. For more information, download our free 'SEO Secrets' eBook. Back to Questions Q: Do I need to submit my site to the search engines?A: Theoretically, no. But I wouldn't risk not doing it - especially as it's free. As soon as you register your domain name, submit it to Google! Even if you haven’t built your site, or thought about your content, submit your domain name to Google. In fact, even if you haven’t fully articulated your business plan and marketing plan, submit your domain name to Google. For more information, download our free 'SEO Secrets' eBook. Back to Questions Q: Should I submit my site to the search engines more than once?A: No need. Although some of the search engines allow you to do this, there's really no need. Back to Questions Q: What are directories and should I submit my site to them?A: Directories are websites (or web pages) which simply list lots of website and give a quick description of the website. Some are free and some require you to pay for a listing. Free directories are useful because you get a free link. However, the links aren't worth that much. Paid directories can be good if they're relevant, but they can cost a lot in the long term, so choose wisely. One essential directories for any website is the DMOZ Open Directory Project. Back to Questions I want to be a copywriter...Can I work for Divine Write? Q: Can I work for Divine Write?A: Please visit our Careers page to see our current copywriter opportunities. Q: Can I do work experience with Divine Write?A: Unfortunately not. Managing an inexperienced copywriter and controlling quality takes a lot of time and introduces risk. Back to Questions Q: What does a copywriter do in a typical day?A: This question is very comprehensively answered in A Day in the Life of a Freelance Copywriter. However, to summarize, copywriters do some or all of the following:
Back to Questions Q: What are the working conditions like?A: Most copywriters work either for themselves ("freelancing") or for advertising or web design agencies ("employees"). Freelancers tend to work from home, but may sometimes work at the client's workplace. Employees almost always work at the client's workplace. Conditions for freelancers tend to be pretty relaxed (they're at home, after all!!!). I haven't worked at an agency, but I suspect things are a little different there. Back to Questions Q: What is the pay like?A: I've heard of freelance copywriters being paid by the article at a rate of USD $12 per 600 word article (seems ridiculous to me!). I believe these people were college students looking for a way into the copywriting industry. At the other end of the spectrum, talented freelancers who treat writing as a serious business can earn in excess of USD $100,000 per year. I think that agency copywriters tend to earn somewhere in between these figures, maybe averaging between USD $35,000 - $70,000. Back to Questions Q: What skills do I need?A: A copywriter needs to be able to write very well in many different styles (from short 1-2 line ads through to long 3000 word articles). They also need to be able to adapt to heaps of different subjects (from IT to kitchen surfaces to accounting to nutritional supplements to cars). They need to be organized and hard-working, with an eye for detail and an understanding of writing for different media (website, brochures, radio, TV, etc.). Freelancers need good business sense, an understanding of search engines, some ability with IT systems, and patience. They also need to accept that they're gonna be poor for the first 2 years! Back to Questions Q: What education do I need?A: Formal education never hurts, and often helps. But it's no guarantee of success. If a copywriter has all of the above skills, they won't need formal training in writing. Also, in my humble opinion, you can't train to become a writer; you're either a writer or you're not. Training can sharpen certain skills, and teach new styles, etc., but if you don't have 'the flow' when you start the course, it's unlikely you'll have it when you finish. Back to Questions Q: Do I need a website?A: Yes! The best place for any freelance advertising copywriter or website copywriter to start is to fork out for a website. A website is invaluable because when you cold call and email prospects, you’ll need to direct them somewhere that gives them more information. Back to Questions Q: What should I include on my website?A: Keep it simple, include a portfolio page, add any samples of any sort of copywriting you've done, talk about the places you've worked, the clients you’ve written for, and include any testimonials you’ve received. Make sure you include your address and contact details as well, so people don't think you're a fly-by-night operation. Of course, it doesn't hurt to include a photo either. If you can't say much about your experience, don't say much. It doesn't even really matter if you don't say anything. Remember, just like any other form of advertising copywriting, writing about yourself requires the art of subtlety. If you lack experience, but you’re confident you can do the job, you can be very clever in what you don't say, and most people will read it the way you intended. Back to Questions Q: Should I target agencies?A: If you’ve never worked as an advertising copywriter or website copywriter before, don’t target advertising agencies and web design agencies. They know exactly what they’re after, so if you don’t have a portfolio, you won’t stand a chance. Target end-clients directly. Back to Questions Q: Should I cold call?A: Yes. One of the best ways of generating business in the early days is to cold call potential end-clients. It’s hard work and very time consuming, but you can generate some very qualified leads. For more information on cold calling, take a look at 12 Handy Tips for Generating Leads through Cold-Calling. Back to Questions Q: Should I write samples?A: Yes. If you’re targeting specific clients or industries, don’t be afraid to write a few samples and send them through. You can offer the pieces free of charge (everyone likes something for nothing) or at a discount, or you can use it as an incentive to sign them up for future work. It all depends on the type of work and the type of client. The important thing to remember is that samples are virtually as good as a portfolio to most prospective clients. Back to Questions Q: Do I need an accounts package?A: Yes! Don’t be fooled into thinking you can handle your accounts manually (or with Microsoft Excel). Even if you only have a few clients, you NEED a proper accounts package like MYOB or Quicken (they both offer small business versions). You’ll understand why the first time you do your GST reports or annual taxes. In fact, you’ll understand why whenever you need to chase down outstanding invoices. Home | Clients | Portfolio | Testimonials | Services | About Us | Why Use Us?
SEO eBook | Free Articles | Forum | BLOG | Careers | Pay an Invoice | Contact Us |
|
|
|
|
|
||
| © 2002-2008 Divine Write Copywriting Pty Ltd | Site Map Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy 
| ||