04.16.08
Business Success Through Lateral Thinking
If you’re a regular reader of this site you’ll know that I spend a good deal of my time trying to figure out how to create a website that effectively attracks and converts visitors; usually through clicking ads.
Well yesterday I was reading this thread from the Rich Dad forum when I stumbled across this gem by JscottGecko.
“In fact, on over 70% of my sites I want people to leave and leave quickly. But, I want them leaving through an ad or link…
…On the majority of my sites I want my ads to give the impression that the information they will get by clicking is better than what I am offering. Thus they leave.”
Geez, that is brilliant. A highly keyword-targeted story or site that is purposely mediocre so that viewers will need to click ad links to continue their quest.
04.14.08
Headlines – What’s In it for me? WebSite Copywriting
In this segment I am sharing some of my research and ideas about writing headlines. As I went throught this process I realized that the same ideas hold true for writing an AdWords ad so I have broadened the scope of this segment to include those concepts as well.
Web headlines are often seen out of context, such as in search engine results, bookmark text, a link text or in RSS readers. Check out Google News to realized the importance of a headline that is out of context. Therefore they must be more of a complete summary of the story. The headline should be an ultra-short abstract of the full story.
- Put important words at the begining.
- Don’t tease to try and entice users to click [web users have been tricked too often].
- Ask: Will the headline make sense if it is seen completely out of context?
- Think of headlines as your stories first impression with the reader.
The Headline needs to answer the question: “What’s in it for me?”
Headlines that pull in visitors, for AdWords or search results or just page navigation [to get someone to continue reading your story] all answer that question. The best headlines appeal to the reader’s self interest or give news that the reader will value.
Here are two examples taken from the AdWords that were shown on a Google Search for the term ‘Money‘.
1. “$1000 a day from home”
2. “money at home”
Number 1 clearly answers the question, “What’s in it for me?”
Number 2 doesn’t make any sense. It is a classic example of a headline that doesn’t make sense out of context.
The key to writing good headlines is to understand what your reader is looking for and then answer communicate clearly how your story fills that need.
It the next installment I’ll explain the 4 functions of the headline.
04.12.08
A History of Bank Checks
Though it has evolved much over the years, the banking system’s personal bank checks have always been a part of the system. Bank checks have been used as promissory notes here in the present and even as far back as the ancient Roman Empire and the practice of ordering the checks still goes on today.
First Known Bank Checks
The Ancient Romans used the earliest form of bank checks although it was much simpler than the method used today. There is recorded evidence that they used what were called praescriptiones as early as 100B.C. After about four hundred years, bankers in the Persian Empire started using a similar system of credit.
In The Medieval Period
During the middle ages, Europeans also made use of their own bank check system. To prevent theft, the Knights Templar was developed. This banking system would keep a person’s money for them while that person traveled cross-country. The person was responsible for holding a proof of claim draft, which would allow them to retrieve their money. This proof of claim draft was the earliest known form of a paper check, similar to that of today. It is believed that this was inspired from the Muslims that had utilized this method a few hundred years before.
Bill of Exchange System
The roots of the current check system come from what was known as a “bill of exchange” by early bankers. Using this system, early banks would allow people to pay necessary bills using bank mandated orders. This made commerce much easier, as people could participate in trade without the need for a large exchange of gold or currency. Overall, this was a necessary development, as carrying around large amounts of coin was both difficult and dangerous for traveling merchants.
Bank checks in the United States
In the United States, European individuals brought bank checks to existence during the Colonial time. In the early 1700’s, the system was so extremely popular in Europe that the colonists also adopted it. Bank security procedures have become far more complicated over the past decades. The changes made to bank checks are there to protect you, the consumer.
04.11.08
Free Press Release Tips
This page has a free press release template and many tips for how to create good quality press releases.
Is your news “newsworthy?” The purpose of a press release is to inform the world of your news item. Do not use your press release to try and make a sale. A good press release answers all of the “W” questions (who, what, where, when and why), providing the media with useful information about your organization, product, service or event. If your press release reads like an advertisement, rewrite it.
The press release is an often overlooked method of publicty…most people think only in terms of the big “News” and therefore don’t consider press releases.
But the many media outlets in the world have a huge need for filler stories and press releases like, “GardingCentral.com Releases The Top 10 Tips to Get Your Garden Ready for Spring” can drive a pile of visitors to your website and also land you [and your business] on television.
