Also, these articles are great if you’re confused about SEO. The search industry can be a confusing one because there are many spammers spouting off misinformation to get more sales. But the articles are solid and contain useful advice.

Another reason I like them is because they’re written by Brian Clark, who I consider to be one of the best writers in the blogging field. Brian has a lot of experience as a copywriter both offline and online. He’s able to take complex topics and explain them so that they’re easy to understand.

So, free up some time, grab a cup of coffee, and check out the following articles if you want to know the fundamentals of SEO including why it still matters.

1. Does SEO Copywriting Still Matter?

In this article, Brian gives reasons why SEO is a very effective traffic technique. Over the last couple of years, there’s been a lot of buzz about social media. But Brian talks about a survey that shows that using a search engine is the 2nd most common internet activity after email. With all those people using Google or other search engines, it makes sense to do SEO to maximize your traffic.

Also, Brian talks about the importance of getting links and writing SEO copy.

2. Five Areas to Focus On for Effective SEO Copywriting

In this article, Brian gives 5 onpage elements that you should focus on to improve your rankings. Fortunately, implementing his advice won’t be a time consuming task.

Onpage SEO is easy to do and once you get into the habit of doing it, you’ll see an increase in search traffic.

3. Does Writing for People Work for SEO?

This is my favorite article out of the three. In it, Brian blows up the myth that writing for search engines is different from writing for people. That may have been the case many years ago, but the search engines have gotten much more advanced. These days the best SEO writing methods are geared towards human readers not just search bots.

But make sure to read the article since Brian explains what he means when he says writing for people. It might not be what you think.

1. To Target More Relevant Keywords

Keyword research tools can only go so far. Many people have access to the tools so the search terms you discover are often competitive. On the other hand, reading books seems to be a lost activity. Many people who used to read a lot books are now doing most of their reading online. And you’ll even find bloggers and webmasters that haven’t read one book about their niche.

Therefore, there are many keywords in books that are not competitive while still having some search volume especially if the book has sold well.

2. To Create More Linkworthy Content

One of the keys to creating linkworthy content is finding unique topics. If you only consume online information, there is a tendency for your content to be too similar to other blogs.

You may have heard the term “echo chamber,” which occurs when blogs in a niche write about the same things. You can combat this phenonemon and cause your blog to stand out from the crowd by reading books. Books give you a new perspective about your niche and can inspire you to create valuable, unique content.

Also, you’ll gain a deeper amount of knowledge since books are usually more in-depth than internet content. You can then tap this knowledge to create more resourceful posts than your peers.

3. To Improve Your Credibility

One of the reasons I know Brian Clark (of Copyblogger fame) knows what he’s talking about is he refers to classic copywriting and advertising books in his posts. Books may seem low tech but people are impressed when you can quote reputable authors. Also, your audience will find it helpful if you can give them a list of good books to buy on Amazon.

Being well-read demonstrates your expertise and improves your credibility. It shows that you are well-rounded and can understand your niche from a wider perspective. I am much more likely to trust and follow Brian’s advice than another copywriter who has only read online content.

Over to You

How often do you read books about your niche?

Prior to its brief hiatus (due to software migration) the Perf Marketplace had been an active portal for buying and selling of blogs, software, and related services. The new Marketplace aims to bring this back. With a free-flowing format (forum-based), Performancing hopes that users can have meaningful exchanges of information and fruitful trades of products and services.

Along with the recent free signup promo for the Hive and the reopening of the Jobs board, the Marketplace relaunch is just one of the efforts the Performancing team is doing to ensure a vibrant community of new media professionals. Sign up now for free, or browse the current listings.

PSD2HTML is a well respected company that specializes in converting web artwork to working code, like PSD to HTML. The company ensures that it comes out with quality output by hiring experienced web experts who produce codes that meet their clients’ specifications.

Using PSD2HTML’s services brings many benefits to a client. One of the biggest advantages is PSD2HTML’s commitment to customer service. The company values customers so much that it has implemented a 24 hour live chat option that allows clients to get instant feedback with regards to their project. A click on the live chat button will bring the client immediately to a PSD2HTML staff who can discuss the details of the project. Even though the live chat staff is available only on weekdays arrangements can be made to extend work on weekends if it is necessary.

Feedback can also be obtained by using the other contact options available to the clients. Clients can send messages through an online contact form or they can call PSD2HTML’s telephone number at +1 877 721 8040. This close collaboration with the client is PSD2HTML’s way of ensuring that the client will get exactly what he asked for.

Whatever the markup needs of the client, PSD2HTML can address them. The PSD2HTML website has recently undergone a welcome facelift that has made the site easier to navigate and find the information that clients need. Among the services that PSD2HTML offers are:

• Templates for Wordpress, Blogger and other blog engines
• Dreamweaver templates
• Email templates
• Design to semantic code conversion

The number of services that are being offered is easily more than what are currently made available to developers and website owners. This wide array of services is what makes PSD2HTML so popular and a “go to” place for developers.

PSD2HTML has made using their services easy for its clients. IT has made the whole ordering process more streamlined and easy to follow. A client will gather the files that he will submit to PSD2HTML then fill out the order form. He specifies all of his requirements in the form like browser compatibility and certain compliance parameters. The comprehensive order page enables the client to truly “personalize” his requirements, ensuring that what he gets exactly fits his needs. PSD2HTML allows for an unprecedented level of personalization that few companies can provide. There is actually a space within the order form that lets clients include other details that are not included in the established categories. Any extra information that the client wants to provide can be included here.

The client then completes payment in order to end the ordering process. Payments to PSD2HTML is very convenient because of the number of payment options available. In addition to Paypal and Google Checkout options, the company has recently implemented a new Direct Payment option that will let clients pay using major credit cards. Knowing how much the client will pay is also made easy by PSD2HTML. Getting a final quote is not a problem because each option that the client chooses is priced accordingly and is immediately reflected in the final price. This allows the client to add or delete options on the fly to see which configuration would fit both his needs and his budget.

After the whole process has been completed, PSD2HTML will provide the client with instructions on how the files will be received after it has been converted. The deadline set by the company is guaranteed, which is a big plus for any client since they will know exactly when to expect the final product.

And when it comes to quality, clients should never worry. PSD2HTML has built a reputation for making quality work. In fact, it has recently garnered an ISO 9001 : 2000 certification that proves it adheres to international quality standards.

Traditionally writing was something people did while tied down to a desk. Whether using paper, a typewriter, or a computer, if you were writing, you were most likely at your desk. If you were away from that desk when you thought of a great idea, you’d have to take notes and reconstruct them into an article/story/etc later once you got back to that desk.

Thankfully that’s getting to be less and less of a problem, which is extremely important with the explosion of blogging.

There are many ways to get some writing done from wherever you happen to be when you feel the need or desire to write. There are many ways to blog (or write anything really) instantly, from wherever you are. Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages compared to going and sitting at that desktop system. Let’s look at the three major ways people blog on the go…

Laptops
By far the most popular way to blog on the go, and also happens to be the closest to the desktop experience. So long as you have enough room to set a laptop on your lap or any convenient flat surface, and don’t mind lugging it around with you (less and less annoying as laptops are getting lighter mind you…). Essentially this is like bringing a desktop with you. The main disadvantage of laptops is the space they take up, but if you want all the features, conveniences, and programs you’re used to using on a desktop, then a laptop is the best option. One advantage that the laptop is quickly losing is the fact that it’s no longer necessary to have access to desktop word-processing programs anymore. With the appearance of online “cloud” applications like Google Docs, that give you much of the same functionality from any almost any web browser, it’s easier than even to avoid desktop word-processing programs altogether.

Cell Phones
More and more people are using their cell phones to blog. With the release of the iPhone and other smartphones this has skyrocketed, and will probably continue as they get faster, get bigger/nicer screens, and better keyboards. The greatest advantage of using cell phones for blogging is the portability. It’s also a lot faster to pull out a cell phone and get to writing than it is with a laptop, and you don’t even have to find a place to sit. This portability comes at a cost though. Cell phones are notorious for being horrible to type on. Even the iPhone, with it’s great touchscreen isn’t very well suited for anything longer than a few lines of writing at a time before it starts to get pretty annoying…or so I hear anyway. The web browsing experience is often not the best either, making getting that blog post up more aggravating than it needs to be. The most annoying way to blog in my opinion…though with the use of some software like JoikuSpot you can use your cell phone like an internet hotspot for other Bluetooth enabled devices, a great way to get that laptop online when there’s no nearby WiFi connections.

Bridging the Gap
In between cell phones and laptops there are a wide variety of gizmos, gadgets, doohickeys, thingamajigs, and the like, with an aim to bridge the gap between laptops and cell phones. They tend to have slightly bigger/better screens than most phones, and far superior keyboards (hardware and/or software). For example, the Nokia n810 internet tablet (which I use as an example because I have one and love it), has a great keyboard for its size, and the web browsing experience, while a little sluggish at times, is far more suited to surfing the net than most cell phones, which seriously helps make blogging easier…and still fits in my pocket.

Using a combination of these and other technologies is key to blogging from any place and at any time, but if I had to pick just one I’d have to go with an internet tablet or similar device due to its flexibility of being ultra-portable while maintaining most of the features of a desktop that relate to blogging. But given the option, it’s best to have something from all 3 categories so you’re ready for any situation.

What do you use to blog when you’re away from you desktop or usual workspace?

Someone recently asked me if I intend on selling these e-books seperately, and my response is simple: I hope people sign up to the forum, with the intention of just getting the e-books and end up staying once they see the posts inside the forum.

The three e-books are all about blogging, and the one I am giving away is called Social Media Promotion.

If you’d like to get the other two books, or learn more about all three e-books, please check out my post on Branding David.

I hope you’ll all check it out, and let me know if it was of any help to you.

You can check out Ryan Caldwell’s Performancing post on 10 reasons why you should try Performancing Ads. A recent post by Darren Rowse on problogger.net threshes out some details, and David Peralty gives his opinion on the upsides and downsides of Perf Ads on XFEP. Jeff Chandler has a collection of links and reviews over at performancing.com.

Personally I really like the fact that you can book your own ads into your own sites. This means you can practically use Perf Ads as your ad server, or at least to fill in for those times when ad sales are slow.

Perf ads supports both image ads and text links, so you have the best of both worlds: image ads for brand marketing, and links for search optimization and to get a message across. Performancing also promises early, synchronized payout, and will pay out 60% of revenues. Perf Ads also has an affiliate program, where members can earn $10 credit from every successful referral, and 5% residual commissions from each sale by referrals.

Disclosure: Blogging Pro and Performancing are both owned by Splashpress Media

It’s been a long time since themes.wordpress.net stopped accepting new themes. Since then most theme authors have been distributing their themes from their own sites, without a good centralized place for people to browse, search, comment on, and rate themes. With the success of the plugins directory, we’ve wanted to have those same benefits in a theme directory. Today is the day we start making that happen, with the introduction of wordpress.org/extend/themes/.

Yeehaaa!  Now something for me to check where I know the code would be clean and right.  Love the new skin the site dresses up now,  actually it’s dressed like the WordPress plugins site.  Which I thought was cool and generally useful.  I visited the new page and saw that currently there are 3 themes uploaded… and check this out… 772 downloads so far.  I tried to see how downloads move, hey it jumped from 667 to 772 in 15 minutes.  Not bad at all.

So anyway, is this goodbye to my usual WordPress theme spots?  Maybe not as quickly as I’d like.  I’ll continue the old routes until I see a substantial amount of themes at WordPress.org.  Hoping that it will be sooner than I think.

• Guaranteed $2 CPM, up to $200 per month, during beta period(June 18 – July 18)
• Get in on the ground floor of a new kind of network based on influence
• Access to great brands and advertisers eager to work with you

According to BuzzLogic, their main purpose for this high payout is to get enough interest of bloggers. They expect the beta users to be able to help the BuzzLogicCommunity Team to get feedback the performance of the ads–what’s working, what’s not. BuzzLogic will eventually develop other blogger tools based on influence to help bloggers not only understand their own influence but to leverage that influence to get higher CPMs for ad inventory.

Some limitations of the program, though, are that only traffic from the US will be counted as eligible impressions, and that the beta program will end on July 18th. Still, $2 CPM is an interesting proposition, particularly for blogs that have high traffic.

I’ve been finding myself around WordPress these past days.  Either it’s for a personal blog, a company blog or some other blog I’m working or playing with, it’s all WordPress.  Trust me!

While I’m loving those WordPress themes, I’ve always thought how I could make my own.  Not that I’m artisque or, as they say, ”left-brain gifted”… I’m just curious. 

Received this Google alert today about the release of “WordPress Theme Design” by Tessa Blakeley Silver from PAKT Publishing.  Sold for US$35.99 right here.

Allow me to quote a brief book description below:

This title will take you through the ins and outs of creating sophisticated professional themes for the WordPress personal publishing platform. It will walk you through clear, step-by-step instructions to build a custom WordPress theme. From development tools and setting up your WordPress sandbox, through design tips and suggestions, to setting up your theme’s template structure, coding markup, testing and debugging, to taking it live it reviews the best practices. The last three chapters are dedicated to additional tips, tricks and various cookbook recipes for adding popular site enhancements to your WordPress theme designs using third-party plugins.

Whether you’re working with a pre-existing theme or creating a new one from the ground up, WordPress Theme Design will give you the know-how to understand how themes work within the WordPress blog system, enabling you to take full control over your site’s design and branding.

Check this book out, it might be worth something, specially if you’re just about to make that jump with me and actually do your first theme! 

Oh, and by the way, this book is also designed to help you understand the current theme you’re stuck with!  Unravel the mystery of your current theme!