Web Content Strategy 101

Your web content makes or breaks the profitability of your

site. Here’s how you can develop a strategy to make the most of

your site’s content.

 

Your content is what gets you in search engines, speaks to

visitors, and ultimately decides the success or failure of your

site. Meanwhile, your content has to be updated at least once a

month if you want to get return visitors and search engine

traffic. You need to have a web content strategy for your site

to succeed.

 

Web Content Strategy Components

 

There are four basic ways you can get content for your site.

 

Free-reprint content that you can publish on your site in

exchange for putting a link to the authors' site under the

article. The main benefit of this kind of content is that you

can build up your site quickly.

 

Original content contributed freely by your visitors, such as

message boards and guestbook-style comments. The main advantage

of this content is that it costs nothing and gives you insight

into your visitors. The disadvantages are low quality and the

constant vigilance needed to police it for misbehavior.

 

Original written content that you allow other sites to

republish in exchange for a link to your site. This content is

usually informational articles, whitepapers, and sometimes,

press releases. Exchanging content is an essential component of

getting links to your site.

 

Original written content that's exclusive to your site. You

should have some content that you hold back from republication,

to avoid giving visitors or search engines the idea all your

content can be had somewhere else. This can include FAQs,

"about us" pages, case studies, testimonials, and other content

that other sites would not want to reprint anyway.

 

What Kind of Content to Use

 

So, which of the four kinds of content should you use on your

site? Ideally, all four. That way you'll maximize the amount of

quality content your site can have.

 

Just be careful not to rely too heavily on free-reprint

content. If most of what's on your site isn't original to you,

you'll suffer in credibility, both with your visitors and the

search engines.

 

Here's a good starter content strategy:

 

One-quarter free-reprint content.

 

One-quarter content contributed by visitors.

 

One-quarter originally written content you let other sites

reprint in exchange for a link to your site.

 

One-quarter originally written content you do not redistribute.

 

Scheduling Content Updates

 

Search engines, especially Google, seem to give pride of place

to sites that regularly update their content. Regular content

updates also give visitors a reason to return.

 

In short, if you have thirty web pages worth of content this

month, it's better to post one page each day rather than put

them up all at once. To make sure you do this, schedule an hour

each day for updating your site's content.

 

One way to get regular content updates for your site is to

start a blog, a "web log" in which you write your thoughts and

post news. The one disadvantage is that many web users are

getting tired of blogs, which are often not well written and

contain more opinion than information. Search engines, too,

seem to be featuring blogs in their results less often.

 

Identifying a Content Provider

 

Ever wonder how Bill Gates keeps the MSN and Microsoft sites so

content-rich? Doesn't he get RSI from writing a thousand or more

pages a day?

 

You guessed it: Bill Gates does not write the content for any

of the Microsoft websites. Nor should you write all your own

content. All successful website owners have someone else write

a large part of their content. This person or company is called

a "web content provider."

 

Your web content provider has to be a person or company with

proven experience writing content for the web, rather than just

print content. Ask to see writing samples. You might even ask if

you can commission just a single page to start with, for

evaluation purposes.

 

In short, your web content is too important to leave to chance.

Make sure you have a strategy for getting the best content.

Contact a content provider to develop a web content strategy

today.

Joel Walsh, a professional content writer and
founder of UpMarket Content, recommends you check out their
site to learn more about what you can get from a web site
content provider: http://upmarketcontent.com

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Cover Letter Basics You Need To Know

This http://www.WorkTree.com career article gives you some common

sense advice and tips when writing cover letters.

The cover letter has one primary purpose: to generate interest in

order to land an interview.  With this in mind, writing an

engaging cover letter is crucial.

These 9 tips will help ensure that your next cover letter

attracts ample (positive) attention.

           9 BASIC COVER LETTER TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1.  IT'S EXPECTED.

In nearly all cases, a cover letter should accompany every resume

that you send out. This is a basic part of business etiquette and

failure to do so could make you appear clueless.  As a general

rule, unless specifically instructed to NOT send a cover letter,

it is safe to assume that one is expected.

2. USING E-MAIL. 

It is perfectly acceptable to send your cover letter (and resume)

electronically. When distributing these items via e-mail, make

the cover letter the body of the message and add your resume as

an attachment.  The subject line should include your name and the

position you desire.  Send the message from a job search only

email address that you check at least twice a day.

3. BE UNIQUE.

A canned cover letter screams laziness. Do you really want this

to be a prospective employer’s first impression of you?  It is

expected that you tailor each letter to the specific company.

Tailoring can be as simple as describing what drew you to the

company or mentioning how you enjoyed speaking with the company

representatives at a job fair.

4. AVOID CARELESS ERRORS.

The people who make hiring decisions often have numerous

applicants to consider in a minimal amount of time; they often

must make quick decisions.  A misspelled word or grammatical

slip-up may be all it takes to end your chances of landing an

interview.  Take the time to proofread.  Also, have your most

meticulous friend or family member look over each cover letter.

5. BREVITY IS A VIRTUE.

Ideally a cover letter should be around two-thirds of a page in

length and composed of two to three paragraphs.  Never send a

cover letter over a page long.   Sentences should be precise and

crisp. Avoid flowery words and redundant phrases.  Hiring

managers are busy people. If your cover letter looks like it will

take more than a minute to read, chances are it will be tossed on

the reject pile.

6. ADDRESS IT TO A PERSON.

Whenever possible address your cover letter to a specific person

at the company (preferably someone with hiring authority).  If

you cannot obtain a name, then consider addressing your letter to

the department head of the area that you are interested in (e.g.

Director of Marketing).  Letters addressed to HR departments have

a greater chance of getting lost in the paper shuffle.

7. DESCRIBE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS.

Use the body of the letter to give a quick overview of your

skills and proficiencies.  Describe success you have had in the

past using your talents.  If possible, obtain a job description

of the position you seek.  Using this as a guide, focus on

including your strengths that could benefit the employer and the

job.   Bullet points may be used in order to convey your points

more concisely.

8. REMEMBER THE DETAILS.

Cover letters, just like resumes, should be printed on quality

paper.  Generally this means a watermarked paper with 25% cotton

content in white or ivory.  Print each cover letter on a laser

printer; copies even on good paper will not do.  Sign each letter

in pen (blue ink is preferable).  There should be no smudges,

stains or even correction fluid on your letter.

9. DON'T RE-HASH YOUR RESUME.

Your cover letter should not replicate your resume.  The cover

letter is your chance to add information that does not generally

fit into a standard resume, such as why you want to work for the

company.  Take advantage of this opportunity to distinguish

yourself.

CONCLUSION

Next time you write a cover letter, remember these 9 tips to

ensure that you have the basics in place.  A well written cover

letter will help you get noticed and stand out among the

competition.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sincerely,

Nathan Newberger,

Managing Editor

http://www.WorkTree.com

Helping You Find More Jobs Faster

Nathan Newberger is the managing editor of worktree.com.

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Dental Care For Your Pomeranian Dog

Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not
caring for them properly can cause serious health problems for
your dog.



Dental disease in dogs can cause serious health issues as the
bacteria from infected gums and teeth can "spread" to other
parts of the body and affect vital organs such as the heart,
kidneys and intestines. Tarter or dental calculus starts off
soft but can harden on the dogs teeth. Once hardened, it cannot
be brushed away but requires a dental scaling just like you get
in the dentist chair! If the teeth are left untreated, the
buildup can cause the gums to become inflamed and can also
cause serious infections.





Does Your Pom Have Bad Teeth?



Pomeranians are prone to dental problems. Buildup of plaque and
tooth loss can be severe and cause problems with their daily
routines. To tell if your dog has bad teeth, lift up his lips
and check his teeth at the gumline - can you see tarter? Are
the teeth white or discolored? Does his breath smell? Are there
broken teeth?



All of these can indicate the need for better dog tooth care.
Your veterinarian will probably do a dental check as part of
they yearly checkup and can advise you as to the extent of the
problem, if any.



Providing Better Pomeranian Tooth Care



Bones



Chewing on raw bones can be a good way for your dog to remove
built up tarter but Poms have very small mouths and may not be
able to chew a real bone so you might want to try one of the
manufactured bones that are made specifically for dog dental
care. I would advise against cooked bones as they can splinter
and cause damage to the gums or intestine if swallowed.



Brushing Your Poms Teeth



Brushing is a vital part of dog tooth care and should be done
at least once a week - preferably every day. There are plenty
of flavored toothpastes formulated for dogs that your pet will
love the taste of. You can use a finger brush (a rubber piece
that fits on the end of your finger with bristles), a hand held
brush that looks much like a human tooth brush, or a little
brush that fits on the end of a "ring" which you put on your
finger. My Pomeranian is extremely tiny and I find the "ring"
brush works best for me.



Scaling



This procedure is done by your veterinarian and is pretty much
the same thing as the scaling you get at the dentist. The teeth
are scraped and polished and any loose or badly damaged teeth
are removed. Your dog is put under anesthesia for this
procedure and it is quite costly. Proper brushing will limit
the need for this to be done.



Getting Your Pomeranian Used To Brushing



While it's best to start when he is a puppy, it's not too late
for your older Pom to get good dental care! Start off slowly,
maybe with just a dab of the toothpaste on your finger so he
can lick it off (my dog loves the taste!). Be sure to use a
special paste for dogs and not human toothpaste - human
toothpaste can be harmful to your pet. You can get a paste from
your vet that has enzymes that will help fight the bacteria.
Also, you'll want a soft brush so you do not damage the gums.



Take it one day at a time and gradually get the dog used to you
touching his head and opening the mouth. Each day try to go one
step further - open the mouth, then touch his teeth, then his
gums. Use your finger at first and introduce the brush later.
This can be a a bonding time for you and your dog - eventually
your pet may even look forward to his nightly brushing!



Remember that your Pom is very small so you don't want to scrub
roughly and hurt the dog - just brush gently. You should try to
brush your dogs teeth every day or at least every other day so
that the plaque will not have a chance to harden. While this
may seem like a chore, think of it as an important medical need
for your pet.



Frequent brushing and proper dental care can add years to your
Poms life!Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and webmaster of
http://www.pomeranian-pages.com where you can find out more
about the Pomeranian Breed. Be sure to check out the dog care
section at http://www.pomeranian-pages.com/dog-articles.html

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Small Cabin Plans - Finding A Great Log Cabin Plan Online

Small cabin plans - how do you find that special log cabin plan
that is just right for you? Before the internet, you would buy
some cabin plans books and look through the plans to see if any
appealed to you. If you found one, you could order the log cabin
plan you wanted by telephone or mail. Eventually, your plans
would show up. And you can still get cabin plans this way if
you like.



Fast-forward to today and the internet. Here is how to use the
speed and power of your PC to find small cabin plans or
anything else online. Search online by putting quotation marks
around your search terms so you will get the best results, like
"small cabin plans" or "log cabin plan" and so on. When you
arrive at a plans site, it is important to see what kind of
criteria you can enter so that you only get the kind of plans
that interest you. You should be able to search by:



. Cabin size in square feet
. Number of bedrooms
. Cabin style - log cabin plan, A-frame cabin, etc.
. Number of floors
. 3-D views - are they available?



Small cabin plans would generally be considered cabins that are
under 1,000 square feet, for example. You should be able to only
see plans under that size. The best log cabin plan sites will
have additional features you can include when searching, such
as kitchen layout preferred, special rooms desired, foundation
type and how you want the results sorted - by most popular
plans shown first, largest to smallest and so on.



After you enter your criteria, see what plans are shown. If you
get too few results, maybe broaden your criteria some so you can
see more plans. As you find small cabin plans that interest you,
make note of the plans number in case you want to see it again.
If you find a log cabin plan you really like, then you can
shift your focus to examine the plans company, prices and so
on. Here are questions you should want answers to:



1. How long has the plans service been in business?
2. Can the plans service make changes to the plans for you?
3. What choices do you have in plan formats?
4. How long will it take for your plans to be done and arrive?
5. Can you get a list of materials needed to build?



Remember, rather than try and create brand new small cabin
plans from scratch, you can save considerably if you can find
great cabin plans that have already been built successfully
somewhere. This means the plans will work. Maybe you just need
to make some changes to the plans so they become exactly what
you want. If you can do it this way, it will be cheaper and
faster for you.



As you search online for a great log cabin plan, keep a
notebook of the ideas you get when you see features and
concepts in cabin plans that you like. Finding the best log
cabin plan for your project is so much faster and easier with
the speed of the internet. Your great small cabin plans
probably exist somewhere already, which means you just need to
go and find them.Visit
http://www.yourdreamloghome.com/small-cabin-plans.html to see
great small cabin plans from an online plans service providing
plans for over 50 years. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch
Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com -
learn more about finding a log cabin plan that is just right
for you.

Article Source: http://www.articlepros.com

5 Auto Scams You Absolutely Must Avoid!

People hate car dealers. Of course, there are always nice guys,

but many car dealers just have to cheat their way to profits.

Here are the top 5 auto scams that you absolutely must avoid,

or risk paying way too much for your car.





Scam 1: The Yo-Yo Financing Scam

The dealer sells you a car and allows you to take it home

immediately. You finance your car through the dealer, but a few

days later, the dealer calls and tells you that your financing

has fallen through. You are then told to set up new financing

through the dealer, at a much higher cost to you, and a much

higher profit to them. Avoid this at all costs! If you have bad

credit, don't finance at the dealer. Arrange your own financing.

If you finance through the dealer, never drive off your car

immediately. You should wait at least 24 hours before taking

your new car, so as to make sure financing is complete. This

allows the dealer no way to play the scam on you.





Scam 2: The Window Etching Fee

This is one of the most ridiculous but common scams I've heard

off. Basically the dealer offers to window etch your VIN number

in the window of your car for you, at a price ranging from $300

to $1000. Some people have tried to talk down the price, and

they often succeed, but the dealer still makes a few hundreds

off you. The easiest way to solve this problem? Just purchase a

do it yourself window etching kit at any decent auto parts

store. It only costs $20.





Scam 3: The Dealer Preparation Fee

The dealer charges you a preparation fee to prepare your car.

Some often charge an outrageous $500 or more just to peel off

the plastic protection on the car, test drive the car and put

in the fuses. Most MSRP stickers indicate that these costs have

already been covered by the manufacturer. In fact, some car

dealers permanently print it on the buyer's order to make it

seem mandatory, but one way you can get it removed is by

telling the dealer to add a credit (of the same amount as the

dealer preparation fees) on the next line. If they refuse to do

so, you should simply walk out of the dealership.





Scam 4: The Market Adjustment Fee

In this scam, the dealer tells you that your car is a really

popular vehicle, and so to sell you the vehicle they have to

add "Market Adjustment Fees" of several thousand dollars. This

amount is usually indicated on an orange sticker next to

manufacturer's MSRP sticker. A car may be popular, but if it is

in stock, it is not worth paying extra for it. Many buyers,

especially trade-in buyers, have been ripped off before. They

focus only on what they get for their old car, and so they

don't see the big picture. They may get an extra few thousand

for their car, but they don't notice that they are charged a

much higher Market Adjustment Fee. The dealer sells the car,

gets the trade-in, and makes an extra off the buyer. Never pay

more than the manufacturer's MSRP.





Scam 5: The Extended Warranty Scam

The Extended Warranty scam is quite old but it is still in use.

And many people still do fall for it. Basically, when you take a

loan on your car, the dealer will say that you have to purchase

an extended warranty because the bank requires it for the loan.

Avoiding this scam is very simple actually. Tell the dealer to

write down in black and white that the extended warranty is

required for the loan and they'll most probably find some

excuse to remove the extended warranty. If they refuse to do

so, then please do not buy from that dealership. Actually, the

extended warranty is a great thing to have, but don't ever get

it from the dealer. You can get far better deals elsewhere,

especially online.Don't get ripped off by car dealers!Pete Lance is the founder of

http://www.USGasTracker.org, a premier company which helps the

consumer save money on gasoline. Thousands of gas stations

across the nation are tracked daily to guarantee the lowest

prices on gasoline for any zip code in the United States.

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