Rembrandt’s Blog

Search engine optimization (SEO) is much for than adding a few keywords to your site. SEO is a strategic process of researching competitive data, finding the right words to work with your organization’s messaging and providing valuable information.

Of course, you can research some SEO keywords through one of the many free tools like www.keyworddiscovery.com, www.wordtracker.com, or Google. But if you really want to see results from your SEO activities, hire a copywriter who specializes in:

• Finding strategic keywords.
  Discovering the right words to use is a process of studying competitors, target audiences and specific niches. Your SEO copywriter can conduct the time-consuming and appropriate research so you can concentrate on core business activities.
• Writing valuable content.
  Your keywords are not going to do any good unless they appear in appropriate copy on your site. A good SEO copywriter writes valuable content that attracts customers while inserting the right words in the right places for the search engines.
• Adding the right codes.
  In addition to finding strategic keywords and writing valuable content, a skilled SEO copywriter knows how to create “tags” for the backend of your site. These tags appear in the coding of your site. They allow you to add important keywords and control the descriptions that search engines post for your site.
• Testing results.
  If your keywords aren’t working, a good SEO copywriter knows how to test various words to see what works best. Since the Web is constantly changing, he or she can track your keywords and makes the necessary updates on a regular basis.

Search engine optimization is a cost-effective way to bring new customers to your site and boost sales. But using keywords is an art that takes experience, skill and time.

If you want results that will actually make a different to your bottom line, it’s well worth the cost to turn these activities over to an SEO expert.

Have questions about your public relations and SEO copywriting efforts? Please let me know below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks!

The world of traditional media is changing, and if you want to use the full power of public relations to boost sales, awareness and credibility, you need to change with it.

But where do you start?

With all of the news about Twitter, Facebook and other social-media technologies, it can be overwhelming. But if you start with a few changes to your traditional press releases, you can significantly increase buzz online.

Here are three quick tips to get started:

1. Use a Service.

After writing your traditional press release, use one of the numerous services available to add appropriate keywords and make it “search friendly.” Try www.prnewswire.com, www.prweb.com, or www.businesswire.com.

2. Do it Yourself.

Search for keywords using free tools like www.wordtracker.com, www.google.com and www.keyworddiscovery.com. Then, insert the words into your release. You can use a tool like Hubspot, http://pressrelease.grader.com/, to check your work.

3. Hire a Professional, SEO Copywriter.

It takes time and effort to write a press release that will be picked up by the search engines using the appropriate keywords for your target market. While the services mentioned in step one will optimize a release for you, it’s better to have your own SEO copywriter working for you.

Then, you can use the keyword research for your other online copy and marketing materials. And more important, your copywriter can track the process and let you know which keywords are working and which aren’t. This allows you to make quick changes to your copy for the best results.

And although hiring a freelancer may be expensive, you get what you pay for. In the long run, you’ll save time, effort and money. Plus, the results will generate new sales that surpass the cost of hiring a professional.

A Few Simple Changes Can Bring Big Results

Jumping into new PR processes doesn’t need to be difficult. Start by optimizing your press releases for the search engines and tracking the results. And these few simple changes can help you increase site traffic and the bottom line.

Do you need help managing all of your SEO copywriting efforts in blogs, newsletters, Web sites and more? Please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help!

If you’ve entered the world of Twitter, www.twitter.com, you know there is a lot of junk out there… people telling you what they ate for breakfast, what happened at the dentist, the cute thing their child said yesterday… you know what I’m talking about.

Now, many of these Tweets really are for the birds and may make you stop using this form of social media all together. But there is some good information out there and a great opportunity… so if you are using Twitter for your business, here are two things to keep in mind:

1. Are You Providing Value?
Before you start tweeting and obtaining followers, think about what you’re trying to accomplish.

What kind of information can you provide that will help your business build buzz and credibility? Try to provide your followers with interesting tips, news stories, insights, and links that will help them solve their problems.

2. Are You Home?
If someone sends you a direct message on Twitter or comments about your products and services, follow up. The whole point of Twitter is to communicate quickly and succinctly.

If you don’t respond or take part in the conversation, you might as well end your account. After all, you don’t want it to look like you’re out of the office or “not home.” Plus, you’re losing out on a great opportunity to communicate with customers, build loyal followers and obtain valuable information to improve your products and services.

… so how do you get this done?

Have a Dedicated Tweeter.

Twitter can be a key part of your overall marketing strategy. But to be effective, it’s essential to have a person dedicated to your Twitter account. That person can provide valuable content, share important marketing messages, respond to followers, and monitor competitors on a daily basis.

Now, when you take all of this into consideration, Twitter can take some time (which kind of defeats the whole purpose of sending quick messages, doesn’t it?)

But there are services to help you organize the process. Check out TweetLater, www.tweetlater.com, and this list of services to enhance your Twitter experience here.

Before you know it, you’ll have a big Twitter following and get the most out of your account. But one last word of warning… Twitter can be addictive so watch your tweeting time!

Do you have questions or need help with your small business public relations and SEO copywriting efforts? Please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help!
(Also, check out my new PR Program, “Secrets of Becoming a Publicist,” here.)