tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13162694483748933702024-03-13T07:48:05.588+05:30B2B/SEO CopywritingBetween the Keyword and the Click, are the Words - Take my Word for it! © 2013 www.NoelGama.comNoel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-23118344003820348512010-08-26T12:08:00.002+05:302011-08-06T11:46:51.209+05:30Interview with SuccessWorks, USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.seocopywriting.com/seo-copywriting-certification/interview-with-seo-copywriting-certification-grad-noel-gama/">Click here</a> to read the interview...Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-70252907307624269312009-04-02T11:05:00.001+05:302009-04-02T11:08:43.135+05:30Like Writing for the Web? You'll Love the B2B Market!By Steve Slaunwhite<br /><br />If you think the business-to-business (B2B) market is all about writing brochures, sell sheets, and print ads, think again.<br /><br />B2B is, perhaps, the biggest opportunity for web copywriters.<br /><br />In fact, I know several copywriters who specialize exclusively in crafting emails, websites, landing pages, online ads, and more for business-to-business companies. They rarely, if ever, write a print piece.<br /><br />How is that possible?<br /><br />Well, despite what many writers may think, business-to-business companies allocate a huge chunk of their marketing budgets to online initiatives.<br /><br />Take a look at the statistics.<br /><br />According to eMarketer.com, a respected research firm, B2B companies will spend more than $5.3 billion on Internet advertising this year. That represents a double-digit annual growth that is projected to continue for many years to come.<br /><br />And that only tells part of the story.<br /><br />While most sectors are cutting back on marketing because of the recession, over 60.2% of business-to-business companies are actually spending more this year. A lot more.<br /><br />In addition to online advertising – which is only the tip of the iceberg – B2B companies are investing heavily in updated and new websites, online lead-generation campaigns (emails, auto-responders, landing pages), email marketing, e-newsletters, webinars, podcasts, social media, and more.<br /><br />And here's another statistic that may surprise you. According to a joint study by Hearst Electronics Group and Goldstein Communications Group, B2B companies will allocate 170% more of their marketing budgets to web-based initiatives over the next five years.<br /><br />So, when it comes to writing for the Web, business-to-business is definitely where the action – and the money – is.<br /><br />Now that I've convinced you (I hope!) that B2B is a web writer's paradise, what types of projects can you expect to work on?<br /><br />Well, business-to-business companies need an astonishingly wide range of Internet-marketing materials in their ongoing quest to build brand awareness, generate publicity, get leads and website traffic, and close sales.<br /><br />In fact, that's what I like most about this market. The variety. One day you're writing an email-marketing piece. The next day, you're crafting a webinar script. The work never gets dull!<br /><br />Let's take a look at the most common types of B2B web-writing projects.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Websites</span><br /><br />B2B companies are constantly creating or updating website pages as they change and grow their product lines. In fact, it's not unusual for even a modest-sized company to have a website with hundreds of pages covering dozens of products and applications.<br /><br />And, by the way, the days of the "brochure site" have gone the way of the Dodo. Today, most B2B companies know their websites have to be alive with compelling content, informative articles, and other information that needs to be created and updated constantly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Landing Pages<br /></span><br />Landing pages are used by B2B companies to help generate leads and, in some instances, direct online sales.<br /><br />I find writing landing pages particularly lucrative (and fun) because they're relatively short – typically just a page or two in length. Yet, they pay very well, as high as $2,500.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Email</span><br /><br />Business-to-business companies are, by far, the biggest users of email-marketing communications. They use email for special promotions, lead generation, follow-up, newsletters, and more.<br /><br />Email newsletters, in particular, are great-paying projects for online copywriters. Not only does each issue pay well, but most B2B companies publish at least once a month. That's a steady gig – and a steady cash flow – which is nice when you're a freelancer.<br /><br />And although I don't have any statistics to back this up, in my experience B2B newsletter writing pays a lot better than its consumer counterpart. $1,000-$3,500 per issue for an e-newsletter comprised of an introduction, main article, and promotional product blurb, is not uncommon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">White Papers and Case Studies<br /></span><br />It's easy to think of white papers and case studies as printed documents, because they're often published as PDFs and look like print. But that's just an illusion. White papers and case studies are about as "online" as you can get. They're published electronically, promoted on the Web, and delivered online (usually as a download from the company's website).<br /><br />Ask anyone who writes these special types of marketing pieces, and they'll tell you how fascinating they are. These projects pay extremely well, too. You can expect to get $3,000-$7,000 to craft a white paper, which isn't bad for just 7-12 pages!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Online Advertising<br /></span><br />In all the formats – search engine ads, banner ads, ezine ads – B2B companies advertise on the Internet like crazy. As I said earlier, their spending on online advertising will continue to grow significantly this year, despite the recession.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Webinars</span><br /><br />One of my favorite B2B web-writing projects is the webinar script. Companies use webinars (the Internet's version of live presentations with slides) as a way to create interest in their products and services, generate sales leads, and build brand awareness and publicity.<br /><br />Writing a webinar is interesting and fun. And, seeing your webinar script "performed" on the Internet is a special experience. It's like being a screenwriter and watching the movie you wrote!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Social Media<br /></span><br />Here's a B2B-marketing activity that's growing by leaps and bounds. Business-to-business companies are using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, forums, blogs, and other Web 2.0 techniques to reach and connect with their prospects and customers. And who's writing all the posts, profiles, and comments? Increasingly, companies are turning to freelance copywriters for help.<br /><br />Those are some types of B2B web-writing projects. There are many others. I haven't even touched on podcasts, videocasts, website sales pages, online video, or SEO.<br /><br />So, if you thought B2B copywriting was primarily about brochures and other printed stuff, I hope I've changed your mind.<br /><br />B2B – especially in this economy – is, in my opinion, the best opportunity for those who want to write for the Web.<br /><br />I'd tell you more, but I have to get an email-marketing piece done for UPS!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This article appears courtesy of The Golden Thread, an e-letter from AWAI that delivers original, no-nonsense advice on how to build your freelance copywriting business. For a free subscription, visit http://www.awaionline.com/thegoldenthread</span>Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-56516818862892553582009-03-31T11:11:00.002+05:302009-03-31T11:14:43.872+05:30Should Only "Techies" Write for the B2B Market?By Steve Slaunwhite<br /><br />"I'd love to write for the business-to-business market," a writer explained to me on the phone the other day. "But I'm just not much good with technology."<br /><br />Helen was clearly feeling disappointed. She liked the idea of writing no-hype marketing materials for B2B companies in her state. Fun projects like web pages, emails, newsletters, case studies, and white papers. But her lack of confidence with technology, software, and industrial products and services was holding her back.<br /><br />That's a common misconception many writers have. They think they have to be able to get their heads around stuff like routers, thyristors, PHPs, and other techie things in order to write successfully for the business-to-business market.<br /><br />Not true.<br /><br />You can do great in B2B without ever having to write a marketing piece for a technical product or software.<br /><br />In fact, the majority of business-to-business products and services aren't technical at all. And they're actually quite simple to understand.<br /><br />For example, I recently completed a series of projects for a training company that specializes in executive time-management seminars. For their latest program, I wrote a series of sell sheets, some web copy, a lead-generating direct-mail letter and landing page, two client success stories, and a white paper. (I sure learned a lot about time management that month!)<br /><br />All those projects were fascinating to write, paid very well, and required no particular technical knowledge on my part. You could write about a time-management seminar, couldn't you?<br /><br />And training companies aren't the only type of B2B copywriting client where the projects require no technical knowledge. There are many, many others including:<br /><br />Financial services for businesses<br />Consulting<br />Event planning<br />Legal services for businesses<br />Specialized services (office cleaning, fleet maintenance, etc.)<br />Advertising and marketing<br />Office supplies and furnishings<br />Executive search firms<br />Business travel services<br />Seminar producers<br />Professional and trade publications<br />Information services<br />Commercial versions of everyday products (i.e., washing machines for hotels)<br /><br />This is, of course, only a partial list. There are dozens of types of companies in B2B that are nowhere near technical.<br /><br />I once wrote a website for a special type of electric can opener used in restaurant kitchens. Now, how difficult was that product to understand?<br /><br />Many copywriters build enviable careers without coming even close to anything that resembles technical writing. I know one writer who specializes in e-newsletters for professional service companies, such as law firms, consultancies, and executive coaches. He's thriving in the business-to-business market – really one of the tops in his niche – and rarely, if ever, does he have to pull out his dictionary of technology terms!<br /><br />So don't let a discomfort with technology hold you back from breaking into B2B.<br /><br />If you happen to be comfortable with computer hardware, software, instrumentation, industrial equipment, and other techie products and services, then by all means approach those types of clients. Just know that, to be successful writing for the lucrative business-to-business market, you don't have to.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This article appears courtesy of The Golden Thread, an e-letter from AWAI that delivers original, no-nonsense advice on how to build your freelance copywriting business. For a free subscription, visit http://www.awaionline.com/thegoldenthread</span>Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-3226552701780676202009-03-06T17:25:00.004+05:302009-03-06T17:37:25.350+05:30Effective Human Resources Writing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/SbEQbJtQ4LI/AAAAAAAAAJs/FmuO0eBpmlk/s1600-h/Preview+of+%E2%80%9CPersuasive+Human+Resources+Writing%E2%80%9D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 138px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/SbEQbJtQ4LI/AAAAAAAAAJs/FmuO0eBpmlk/s200/Preview+of+%E2%80%9CPersuasive+Human+Resources+Writing%E2%80%9D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310043494294806706" /></a><br />My new website has finally been launched at www.Effective-Human-Resources-Writing.com after months of keyword and niche research!<br /><br />Currently, it has only the Home page, the About Us page and the Newsletter subscription page. I'll be adding content pages one at a time, slowly, but with original ideas:)<br /><br />I invite you to visit my site and comment on it.<br /><br />NoelNoel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-56122110573910994112008-09-20T10:30:00.000+05:302008-09-20T10:31:14.711+05:30Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs & Copywriting"It's the benefits, not the features, idiot!!" Benfits, Benefits, Benefits! - It's drilled into us, copywriters. <br /><br />But does this really hold good in Third World economies like India? Even in case of B2C, eg., a car - people here get sold on features, not benefits. This is even more true for B2B products/services given the scarcity of resources in such economies. <br /><br />Could the answer be in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? Third World economies typically are at the bottom of the hierarchy - Physiological - Food/Clothing/Shelter. <br /><br />Western countries on the other hand, are already way up the hierarchy - Esteem and Self Actualization - where prospects would be in search of benefits to satisfy their 'wants.' <br /><br />Prospects in Third World economies being at the bottom of the hierarchy, have 'needs' to be satisfied and therefore would search for 'features' in products/services. <br /><br />Comments are invited on my mini hypothesis:) <br /><br />Noel GamaNoel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-39502325945335705102008-07-10T10:47:00.001+05:302008-07-10T10:59:30.189+05:30Solving Client's Biggest ProblemSolve Your Client’s Biggest Problem … Writing One “Page” of Copy<br />by Rebecca Matter<br /><br />There are thousands of companies that share a common problem …<br /><br />Their website is nowhere to be found when a potential customer searches the Internet for a product or service similar to the one they offer.<br /><br />Not only that … they don’t have the knowledge or expertise to fix that “invisible” problem.<br /><br />They know it involves changing their website, but they’re not sure how. They’ve heard of search engine optimization (SEO), but the whole idea of it seems confusing and a bit overwhelming.<br /><br />So instead of making changes to their website in order to get lots of free search traffic, they decide to pay for their site traffic by using pay-per-click (PPC) ads … or they do nothing at all.<br /><br />Or they think SEO means jamming a bunch of keywords into their Web pages, and they make the problem worse. (Indeed, one of the reasons the PPC industry has grown so much over the past few years is the general lack of knowledge about SEO copywriting. But don’t worry, we’ll tackle PPC next.)<br /><br />And although running PPC ads might make sense in some situations, optimizing a website using SEO techniques should be done regardless.<br /><br />For copywriters who can advise and provide their clients with a solution to this problem, the payoff is extremely lucrative.<br /><br />I’ll tell you exactly how lucrative in a minute, but first let’s take a quick look at what SEO copywriters do …<br /><br />In a nutshell, the SEO copywriter’s job is to increase the ranking of his client’s website in Google’s (or another search engine’s) “organic” search results. If you’re not familiar with the term “organic” as it applies to search results, let me explain …<br /><br />There are two ways a web page can appear on a search engine’s results page. One way is if the search engine places it there because the site owner is paying for it with a PPC ad.<br /><br />[Note: If you are unfamiliar with PPC ads, go to Google and do a search for the phrase “running shoes.” Just under the blue bar, you’ll see two headings labeled “sponsored links.” And directly underneath them, you’ll find the PPC ads.]<br /><br />A second way is when the search engine deems a Web page relevant for a specific keyword or phrase being searched. Because search results like these are not paid for, and show up on the results page naturally, they’re often referred to as “organic.”<br /><br />The SEO copywriter’s main job is to improve their client’s organic search results. This is done by strategically modifying the copy to include specific keywords or phrases.<br /><br />This article appears courtesy of The Golden Thread, an e-letter from AWAI that delivers original, no-nonsense advice on how to build your freelance copywriting business. For a free subscription, visit http://www.awaionline.com/thegoldenthreadNoel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-31099523636712255802008-04-21T14:55:00.004+05:302008-04-23T14:33:07.021+05:30Between the Pen and the Sale, are the Words… Take my Word for it!Until very recently, the typical corporate Home page was merely the cyber version of the visiting card and at best, an hastily conceived company brochure floating around in cyberspace, waiting to be ‘found’ by surfers ‘passing by.’ A simple query on Alexa.com would show the dismal ranking of such sites that merely took the bricks and mortar concept of ‘location, location, location…’ to the web.<br /><br />However, on the internet, it’s all about ‘information, information, information.’ Nobody is ‘passing by.’ People go to the internet in search of information using keywords on search engines (SE) like Google. ‘Information’ may or may not be found in the ‘content’ the site provides – very rarely do searchers look for photographs and graphics. Think… when you go online, what do you do most? Does it come as a surprise that while you complain that reading on a computer screen is not easy on your eyes, you do spend most of your time reading text? And when ‘reading’ a magazine offline, you do prefer to look at the pictures first, don’t you? Like you, potential customers do take a second look at glossy corporate brochures and the pictures in them, but research shows that on the internet, most people look for the ‘text’ part of ‘content.’ And I am not even talking about an irritant called flash animation, which happens to be the favourite of many web designers!<br /><br />But there’s more… the text people are searching for must not only be informational in nature – people are not interested in pages of self-praise. The thing uppermost in the surfer’s mind is, WIIFM (what’s in it for me) i.e., ‘benefits, benefits, benefits,’ not merely, ‘features, features, features.’<br /><br />These visitors who arrive on the landing pages of sites as a result of typing in specific keywords, are prospects, a percentage of which may turn into leads when they click on the 'More Info' button.<br /> <br />But don’t take my word for it – not just yet. Let’s put it to the test. Type in your favourite keyword into Google and look up the results page – your site may not be listed at No.1… not on the first page or even through to page 10. But we take comfort from the fact that none of our known competitors figures on these pages as well. But wait… we find another type of competitor – cyber competitors and in our line of business! And, we’ve just discovered that our Home page is another marketplace with tremendous potential.<br /><br />Here’s where keyword research comes to the fore in SE optimization (SEO) and SEO-copywriting. Word Tracker is my favourite keyword research tool, which throws up hundreds of keywords from a few seed words. These keywords, if sprinkled in the text of web pages, make it easier for 'spiders' to find them. As the song goes, ‘it’s only words…’ – or to be more specific, ‘keywords,’ that are vital to humans as well as the SEs. The battle of words is fought on Home turf (pun not intended) and the winner takes it all.Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-22739108180920511482008-03-04T13:09:00.000+05:302008-03-04T13:29:14.809+05:30The Left-side Rule<span style="font-weight:bold;">Why It's Critical to Let Your Web Visitors Know They've Come to the Right Place<br /></span><br />People don't look at Web pages the same way they look at print pages. If I pick up People magazine, I look at the photos first and then the captions. That's not what happens on the Web. On the Web, people don't look at photos first unless it's a glamour-related site. On a regular site, they read the headline first. Why? Because they're driven by a purpose and they want to know if they've come to the right place. So they read the headline and they will either think, "Oh, okay, this isn't what I thought it was going to be," and they'll leave. Or the headline will say to them, "Yes, you're in the right place," and they'll keep reading.<br /><br />That brings me to this …<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Improve Your Copywriting Skills<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Use the "Left-Side" Rule to Make Your Web Copy Easy to Scan<br /></span><br />One of the biggest challenges for an online copywriter is to create a page of copy that can be scanned easily. More specifically, you need to write and design Web pages that enable people to find the information they want – and the information YOU want them to find – with a quick glance.<br /><br />What's the big deal?<br /><br />The big deal is that people don't view and read Web pages the same way that they scan printed materials.First of all, their attitude is different. Web users are goal-oriented. They know what they are looking for. They know what they want. And it's your job to let people know that they came to the right place.<br /><br />Also, Web readers are a lot more impatient than print readers. They are in a hurry. They are unforgiving. Visualize yourself as a typical website visitor – someone interested in, say, kayaking. Picture yourself picking up a kayaking magazine. You kick back and start flipping through the pages. You are relaxed. You take your time. Some articles will really interest you. Others won't. That's okay. The magazine has your complete attention. There's no urgency. If you put the magazine down on a side table while you answer the door or walk the dog, it will be there waiting for you when you get back.<br /><br />Now let's say you read an article about some cool kayak storage racks. Your kayak is taking up way too much room on the floor in the garage, so you want to hang it on the wall. Suddenly, you have a very specific interest. You want to find out where you can buy a "kayak storage rack." You also want to check out the different racks available and their prices. So you head over to your computer and open Google or some other search engine. You type in the phrase "kayak storage racks."<br /><br />Now let's stop for a moment. You may wonder whether I'm painting an accurate picture here. The short answer is yes. While people don't always look for stuff online after reading a magazine, they very frequently use the major search engines to find and research things they are interested in buying. The fact that people use search engines changes everything. Because to use a search engine, you have to enter a search phrase. You have to think about what you are looking for and think of a phrase that will (you hope) take you to a relevant page on a website. As soon as someone types in the phrase "kayak storage racks," they have framed the boundaries of their interest and attention.<br /><br />It is essential that you understand this.<br /><br />As soon as someone types in a search phrase, that person becomes tightly focused in the way they scan the search results and then scan the pages on the sites they arrive at. Remember, when you were picking up that magazine about kayaks, your mind was open. You were a passive recipient of information about kayaking. You were in the hands of the magazine's editors. As a passive observer, you opened the magazine to find out what was inside. When you go to the Web, the experience is utterly different. As a site visitor, you are not passive, you are active. You are in control. You are the boss. You know exactly what you are looking for. You are task-oriented. And in this case, your self-assigned task is to find some kayak storage racks. You read through the titles to the listings on the Google search results page and click on a link that looks promising. In this case, that link will probably include the phrase "kayak storage racks."<br /><br />You then arrive at a page within a website. Probably not the home page. Probably some internal page. And your brain is now programmed for one task only – to find kayak storage racks. You scan the page for text and images that will confirm you are in the right place. This will take you about 2 seconds. If you don't see an immediate match for "kayak storage racks," you will hit the back button. That may sound brutal. But this is what happens. Now that you understand that, let's say you've been hired to write a page about kayak storage racks.<br /><br />But you're a print copywriter, and you have no experience writing for the Web. So you might write the first draft of the page headline something like: "Free up your floor space by hanging your kayak from the walls or ceiling." You're stating the benefit of the racks right at the beginning. Just they way I was taught – and the way you're learning now. But that isn't how I would write the headline for the Web.<br /><br />I'd write it more like this: "Kayak Storage Racks – for wall or ceiling. Save 22% + free shipping." Why? Because I know that my reader's brain is tightly focused on a very specific task and phrase. In fact, I have probably written 20 different pages about storage racks, each of them with its headline optimized for a particular search term. Whatever the term, get it at the beginning of the headline. Because the first three or four words of your headline will get a lot more attention than the last three.<br /><br />Don't believe me? Well, thousands of heatmap studies, which track a Web user's eye movements, have confirmed this time and time again. In fact, whatever your key message is, make sure you place the words and phrases you use to describe it as close to the left margin of the main column as possible. When people scan a Web page, their eye movement and the vast majority of their attention is very tightly tied to that left side. And the further people look down a page, the less they will look at anything that is not close to the left side.<br /><br />What does this mean?<br /><br />It means that my key phrases and benefits will be written at the beginning of every heading, subhead, and link. Don't assume people will read the whole subhead. They will probably just scan the first three or four words. Don't waste space with generic terms. That is to say, if you want to highlight your free shipping offer, don't write a subhead like this: "Order your space-saving kayak rack today and get free shipping." Write it more like this: "Free shipping with your kayak rack if you order today."<br />Everything that matters should come at the beginning of all your scannable textyou're your headline, subheads, links, and captions.<br /><br />(BTW – why did I add the discount and free shipping offer to my headline? Because online shoppers are comparison shoppers. They'll find what they want on your site, and then see if they can find the same thing cheaper elsewhere. So you want to do all you can to keep them on your page … and get them to buy from your page.)<br /><br />There is a lot more to say about creating scannable Web copy, but the "left-side" rule should be enough to get you started.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">– Nick Usborne<br /></span><br />This article appears courtesy of The Golden Thread, an e-letter form AWAI that delivers original, no-nonsense advice on how to build your freelance copywriting business. For a free subscription, visit http://www.awaionline.com/thegoldenthreadNoel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-42267251791852069652008-02-28T21:43:00.004+05:302008-12-11T10:00:06.066+05:30Culture Wise INDIA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/R8beHxZhNmI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EiaZYa8euuk/s1600-h/CultureWiseIndia.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/R8beHxZhNmI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EiaZYa8euuk/s200/CultureWiseIndia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172065447182415458" /></a><br />My book, "<span style="font-weight:bold;">Culture Wise India: The Essential Guide to Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette</span>" is now listed on Amazon.com<br /><br />Culture Wise India is essential reading for anyone planning to visit or live in India, whether for business or pleasure, for a few days holiday or a lifetime. It is guaranteed to help newcomers avoid cultural and social gaffes; make friends and influence people; and enhance their understanding of India and the Indian people. Printed in full color.<br /><br />Product Details<br />Paperback: 224 pages<br />Publisher: Survival Books, Ltd. (July 25, 2008)<br />Language: English<br />ISBN-10: 1905303475<br />ISBN-13: 978-1905303472<br /><br />Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Wise-India-Essential-Etiquette/dp/1905303475Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-45243877891997715692008-02-28T12:35:00.000+05:302008-02-28T12:37:39.090+05:30More on blogging...<div id="simpleology_blog_1f9bd2290ba2ab8e3b3a2a4f7c8243de"><p>I'm evaluating a <a href="http://www.simpleology.com/training/blogging/index.php">multi-media course on blogging</a> from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you <b><a href="http://www.simpleology.com/training/blogging/index.php">snag it for free</a></b> if you post about it on your blog.</p><p>It covers:</p><ul><li>The best blogging techniques.</li><li>How to get traffic to your blog.</li><li>How to turn your blog into money.</li></ul><p>I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.</p></div>Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-80916759852784842532007-03-31T11:20:00.000+05:302007-03-31T12:12:13.018+05:30And now... "Ghost Blogs!"The Internet’s fastest growing graveyard has an estimated 200 tombstones – dead blogs, called “Ghost Blogs!”<br /><br />Blogging, having peaked in October 2006, when 100,000 new blogs were being created each day, is now on a precipitous slide, predicted by Gartner research to level out at 100 million. Other analysts predict a low of 30 million.<br /><br />What started as perhaps the best tool for self-expression and publishing on the Internet, may be dying for the simple reason that their authors have run out of things to say. Others may neither have the time nor the inclination to write anymore. And as usual, the trendy crowd may have moved on to posting home videos on YouTube or to social networking on sites like MySpace where the response from other users is way faster.<br /><br />But here lies the opportunity for serious bloggers who can post good content. It will be easier to be ‘heard’ over the now diminishing ‘noise.’<br /><br />Remember the hit song, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going?”<br /><br />Long live the Blog!Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-29877881055958294802007-03-19T10:11:00.000+05:302007-03-19T10:14:02.490+05:30HR BlogsLess than 2 weeks ago, I had posted a topic on the B-blog, inviting comments from group members on the possibility of using it as an HR tool. <br /><br />Interestingly, all the 3 groups viz., HRI, GiveFactsHR and HR Meet, did not publish my post for whatever reasons.<br /><br />However, The Economic Times carried exactly such an article in its Corporate Dossier section of 16th March '07. The article shows how, 'Indian corporates are now taking the plunge and launching blogs where employees can express their views on just about anything. The result in most cases, has been a torrent of great ideas...'<br /><br />I have again posted on all three groups, inviting comments from members, if the post gets published this time!Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-25111205927470191612007-03-03T15:11:00.000+05:302008-12-11T10:00:06.522+05:30The Business of Business-blogging<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/RevZdVImMqI/AAAAAAAAAC4/O83wN_K3xhQ/s1600-h/B-Blogging.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/RevZdVImMqI/AAAAAAAAAC4/O83wN_K3xhQ/s200/B-Blogging.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038359706056667810" /></a><br />B-blogging, or Business-blogging, is a recent development and is fast growing. <br />A B-blog (short for Business Web Log) is in essence, a website but unlike a website which is a one-way static display of promotional content, a B-blog is a dynamic and highly interactive dissemination of informational content directed at a targeted audience. It is this fact alone that makes blogging a potent MarComm (Marketing Communication) tool. <br /><br />Why B-blog?<br /><br />• B-blogging promotes the products or services of a business by providing expert information to potential customers. <br /><br />• Over a period of time, it can establish the company as the leader in the industry or a consultant as an expert in his field.<br /><br />• It is an excellent platform for the CEO of a company to convey the vision of the organization. <br /><br />• It has a very personal touch. Written in the first person, like any diary entry (unlike a website which is usually written in the third person and may not even be written by the owner of the site) it gives the company a human face – a big advantage in this era of giant corporations.<br /><br />• Conversely, small businesses, including consultancy, can seem bigger and less personal by partnering with business bloggers and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) firms.<br /><br />• Since blogging is interactive, it can provide instant customer feedback, avoiding tedious market surveys and data crunching, a good example being that of Bajaj Auto – “The first review of Pulsar was on our table within three hours of its launch, thanks to bloggers.” – S Sridhar, VP – Marketing, Bajaj Auto, as quoted in the Economic Times of 3rd March, 07.<br /><br />• Quality standards like ISO 9001 prescribe alignment of process improvement initiatives with customers’ needs and feedback. B-blogs can be a great receptacle for feedback from customers.<br /><br />Advantages of B-blogging<br /><br />• Unlike email marketing, which relies on ‘push’ technology i.e., to push content unasked for, B-blogging is not intrusive and with an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, it utilizes ‘pull’ technology which means, users ask for content.<br /><br />• Blogging software is free or very cheap. WordPress is the most popular and can be downloaded at http://wordpress.org/download/. Another favourite is Blogger, which can be downloaded at http://www.blogger.com for free.<br /><br />• You don’t have to buy web space – its free too<br /><br />• No knowledge of writing HTML code is required – only good copy!<br /><br />• You can even hire professional copywriters to write content for your posts.<br /><br />• It enhances SEO, as it does not require complex HTML code which is the bane of search engines. <br /><br />• B-blogging is not only far cheaper than advertising in traditional media like print and television but the material has a much longer life – theoretically, forever!<br /><br />What’s in it for the customer?<br /><br />• A B-blog simplifies the process of browsing in search of articles and any other relevant information on the products and services of the company<br />• Customers – potential share holders – can have a better insight into growth potentials and future plans of the organization much before the AGM<br />• Prospective employees can have a better ‘feel’ of the organization even before they join the company<br />• Readers have the option to leave comments, spurring lively discussions<br />• Readers have the option of signing up to receive new content via email or RSS (or Atom) feeds through syndication services<br /><br />Things to do before launching your B-blog<br /><br />• Define your B-blog’s mission<br />• Get corporate support from the start<br />• Research how customers want to read your blog i.e., RSS v/s email<br />• Test an internal blog first<br />Things to do after launching your B-blog<br />• Make sure you have got a great subject line, and get to the point in the first few sentences<br />• Blog what’s important to customers/readers<br />• Use visual elements if possible<br />• To get consistent traffic, be original. Don’t just echo what everybody else is saying.<br />• Write crisp, neat and natural – not structured like a newspaper article or advertorial, for that matter.<br />• Update or post at fixed intervals e.g., weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Better still, post on specific dates.<br />• Use keywords extensively, to entice search engine robots<br />• Syndicate your blog with RSS service<br />• Cross-promote the blog and the company’s eNewsletter<br /><br />Other innovative uses of blogs<br /><br />Blog to book projects – Personal blogs that attract a huge readership have been spotted by publishers and converted into books. There is even an annual Blooger Award for the best blogbook!<br /><br /><br />Crisis-situation blogs – Blogs to help people keep in touch with the latest developments, rescue operations and information about injured or missing people e.g., Tsunami blogs.<br /><br />Education blogs could play a great role in distance education where students are spread over large geographical areas<br /><br />Fiction-blogs (no, they are not called F-blogs) – As the name suggests, these are fiction novels in-the-making, where a number of authors and/or readers collaborate on a project.<br /><br />It is surprising why politicians have yet not capitalized on blogs – they could call them P-Blogs!<br /><br />Copyright © 2007 Noël Gama<br /><www.noelgama.com>Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316269448374893370.post-49888376818229915532007-03-03T14:51:00.007+05:302011-08-06T11:53:36.659+05:30About the author<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/Rg4KtGUl21I/AAAAAAAAADE/4qVKe80toaw/s1600-h/NoelGama.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047984002236275538" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DGzjo2VqPu4/Rg4KtGUl21I/AAAAAAAAADE/4qVKe80toaw/s200/NoelGama.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0;" /></a><br />
Noël Gama is an AWAI (American Writers & Artists Institute, USA) trained B2B Web copywriter and consultant with more than 20 years experience in the manufacturing industry. <br />
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He is the winner of "Writer of the Year 2007" award of The Writers Bureau (UK), the world's largest writing school.<br />
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His innovative Blog2Book project was launched by the Consul General of Portugal in June 2006.<br />
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His book on writing the obsolescence-free Personnel manual titled, “The Evergreen Redbook” is due for release as the first in the Red2Green series of How-To HRM books.<br />
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He writes brochures, articles, press releases, newsletters, white papers, catalogs, and content for landing pages and web sites.
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And, he writes copy himself – he doesn’t hire junior copywriters. The 'Noël Gama' tag on your copy is a guarantee that each and every word was written by him – an advantage not available from other sources.<br />
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He has been offered a 2-book deal by Survival Books Ltd., UK for their best-selling series. He has signed the contract for the first book, "Culture Wise India" to be released in the last quarter of 2007. The 2nd book is titled, "Living & Working in India" and is due in spring 2008.<br />
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His website: http:// www.noelgama.com<br />
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<br />Noel Gamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07714181721061730952noreply@blogger.com0