SEO Copywriting > SEO Copywriting Certification

Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Kellie Craft

May 10, 2011 • written by

SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Kellie Craft

Kellie has always had a passion for helping others. For years, she has volunteered at her daughter’s school, writing monthly newsletters and articles for the newspaper, hoping the information she provided would be useful and helpful to others.

After spending over 25 years in the corporate world, the dreaded day had come. The company was sold out to a foreign organization that came in and shut down 90% of the U.S. operation. They moved it overseas. Right then she knew that she had to do something different.

About that same time, AWAI found her. Over time, she took some of the courses…ok, a lot of the courses, and determined her path. What better way to help others? Providing businesses with the correct information they need to become successful online!

So, in 2010, Kellie founded Frog Communications, an SEO-web copy consulting firm, and more recently, Frog Online, Internet marketing strategy and social media management.

With business taking off, Kellie has the opportunity to successfully help others while spending time with her husband, beautiful daughter, and German Shepherd.

What got you interested in SEO copywriting?

I am a very technical person. I spent over 15 years working as a Network Administrator. Making the right adjustments to obtain the best results is what I do naturally, at least when it comes to the Internet!

One day, I was invited to a webinar hosted by AWAI, and presented by Heather-Lloyd Martin. I attended and was fascinated by the information I heard. I especially remember her talking about a certification course she was putting together, but wasn’t ready yet. I knew instantly this was for me. I ended up purchasing a course she has with AWAI, and eventually purchased the web-writing and site audit courses that Pam Foster has with AWAI as well.

What do you consider to be your biggest “take-away” from the certification program, in real-life terms?

I know so many people who “require” a piece of paper or a seal of approval before they will do business with a person. To them, this shows that person has dedicated themselves to taking the time to properly learn what it is they do.

For me, it’s my “seal of approval.” Having this certification brings me self-assurance that I know what I’m doing (which I already knew), and that I’m doing it ethically and correctly.

A big plus – I enjoy having the seal on my websites so my visitors will see that I am a professional and the service they are receiving is genuine.

What SEO copywriting projects are you working on now?

I am currently working with a client who has decided to completely rebuild their website on a different platform so they can manage the content and uploads personally. So, I set them up with a WordPress expert. This is phase 1. Phase 2 is completely re-writing the website; I could not find them anywhere up to page 10 on Google (I stopped looking after that). I am providing a complete SEO and web copy package.

In addition, I have two prospective clients, my chiropractor and my daughter’s dentist. Their websites need SEO revisions and their social media strategies are, well, lacking.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Simple, spending time with my family. I don’t care what it involves – watching a movie, jumping on the trampoline, walking outside with the dog, or going to dinner together. We always enjoy our annual trip to Colorado in August to visit my brother and his family, and go way up in the mountains to enjoy the cooler weather! We love the Telluride area. Our crazy schedules don’t allow for a lot of free time together, so we value it when it happens.

Any words for those considering enrolling in the program?

To quote a famous company (Nike), “Just do it!” This program gives you all the information you need to be very successful with SEO. This is true white-hat SEO copywriting. You will learn how to develop a smart keyphrase strategy and how to apply it to any website, with excellent results!

Heather is the SEO expert – your go-to resource for anything SEO. If you are truly interested in SEO, then this is the course for you. Success loves speed…what are you waiting for?

 

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Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Heather Georgoudiou

April 19, 2011 • written by

Heather Georgoudiou is an in-house SEO copywriter for Revenue Performance, Inc. an internet marketing firm that specializes in the hospitality industry. A graduate of Rollins College, she writes optimized press releases, web copy, newsletters, email blasts, and social media posts.  Heather was the winning candidate for free SEO Copywriting Certification Training last June, with her entry referencing F. Scott Fitzgerald.

What got you interested in SEO copywriting?

I was a non-traditional age college student who always loved working with language. When I graduated college in 2009 my only goal (seriously) was to get a job with the word “writer” in the title.

Unfortunately, that was during the recession and the major newspaper in town was laying off a lot of copywriters, so there was a lot of fierce competition for writing jobs and just graduating, everyone had more work experience than me. I applied for a job at an internet marketing agency, and just kept showing up at the door until they hired me. That was in 2009.

I was the only copywriter so I had to learn SEO techniques on the fly. My first day on the job the owner handed me Heather’s first book, “Successful Search Engine Copywriting,” and I read it cover to cover. I still have the book by my desk, highlighted, dog eared, and working hard everyday.

What do you consider to be your biggest “take-away” from the certification program, in real-life terms?

As an agency copywriter, the most valuable portion of the lessons was being introduced to direct response copywriting strategies such as reaching your target audience, and how to effectively “ask for the sale.”

More “solid gold” stuff I learned from Heather:

  • How to tactfully educate clients on SEO basics and how to handle tough client questions.
  • Scheduling and delegating time for writing tasks (this helped me immensely)!
  • Addressing the five questions to answer before you start web copy (SOLID GOLD):  I do this before I start any web copy!  It saves me bunches of time and always pops out those benefit statements.

I have been able to use the skills I acquired from the SEO Copywriting Certification course to improve my in-house writing across the board, from press releases to web copy to meta-data and emails blurbs.

What SEO copywriting projects are you working on now?

Current projects include:

  • Rewriting company website
  • Building our original content to build credibility within the industry
  • Client projects- hospitality industry: mainly 3 to 4 star hotels and luxury resorts

What do you do in your free time?

My husband is an amazing chef, so in order to balance that I spend several mornings a week at the gym. After college I crated a fiction writers group that meets regularly to support and work on fiction projects. I’m also involved with my church group and do a lot of learning and getting advice from some amazing people, I also play guitar and sing with a gospel group.

Any words for those considering enrolling in the program?

Heather clearly has a passion for SEO and her excitement is contagious. This intense program includes study manual, podcasts, phone meetings, support forums, and Heather’s amazing accessibility for “how to” questions.

If you are serious about breaking into SEO copywriting, Heather is the authority. What are you waiting for? Learn from the best!

 

 

Filed under In-house Content Marketing,SEO Copywriting Certification

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Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Sarah Clachar

April 5, 2011 • written by

To be a good copywriter, you’ve got to combine genuine interest in the product with technical and marketing savvy.  An organic farmer and former health educator, Sarah brings this rich combo to her work as a natural health copywriter and marketer. Some of her expertise in this area – along with that of several of the top copywriters in the industry – is encapsulated in the ebook she co-wrote with master copywriter, Bob Bly, How To Write Irresistible Copy For Nutritional Supplements.

Sarah writes both B2C and B2B, online and direct mail.  Her gigs as a contributing editor to trade magazines like Nutrition Business Journal inform her B2B work.

In addition to copywriting/marketing services, Sarah’s created a special resource for her fellow home business folks – Your Healthy Home Biz.  Here she offers strategies, tips and inspiration for home business owners on how to stay healthy while working at home.

What attracted you to SEO Copywriting?

Marketing natural health products requires lots of content.  Not only are the products information-heavy, we market to a skeptical and knowledgeable audience.

Good information-rich copy is already a mainstay for my clients’ marketing.  It only makes sense that I help them make the best of this with SEO.

Furthermore, my health educator self is always lurking in my copywriting work. I love to help people understand their health better.  SEO copy is a great place to do so.

What do you find most challenging/interesting about SEO copywriting?

There are some particular difficulties in writing SEO copy for the nutritional supplement market.  Because of FDA regulations, it’s illegal to discuss how a product prevents, alleviates or cures a disease. Even when reams of research back these claims.

For compliance, we have to be exceedingly strategic about how we use keywords and structure the site.  For this reason, I end up getting a lot of business because I can combine SEO with regulatory knowledge.

What do you consider to be your biggest “take-away” from the certification program?

I had been doing SEO copywriting for a few years before I found out about Heather’s program.  Previously, when I tried to keep up with the “latest” on SEO, I always got bogged down in information on link-building and technical SEO.

It was very hard to find articles covering the on-page copywriting aspect.

When I found Heather’s program I let out a big sigh of relief.  Finally, a definitive source on SEO copywriting that I could turn to.  Heather’s program and ongoing training gave me confidence that I was doing the best for my clients’.

Specifically, I love the way that Heather provides a comprehensive strategy for keyword research and content marketing.  And I’ve gotten tremendous mileage out of her suggestions for using social media for research.

What SEO Copywriting projects are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a SEO info-rich website that parallels my client’s ecommerce site. As I mentioned before, FDA regulations make it hard to discuss the great research linked to supplements.  This website is designed as a place where we can discuss the research more extensively.

I also just finished the work for a B2B client who had originally outsourced overseas for SEO website copy.  The copy was terrible – nonsensical! After redoing his site, it’s great to see the bounce-rate go down while he continues to hold first-page position for a number of keywords.

My other current projects are closer to home.  I’ve created a site, Fit Family Together,that focuses on family fitness. Along with my site for healthy home business tips, this site gives me opportunities to test SEO strategies that I can bring to my clients’ sites as well.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

As I mentioned in the beginning, we raise most of our food from our small organic farm.  So I take lots of breaks from copywriting to feed the pigs, chase chickens out of the garden, weed, harvest, pick, etc.  Right now we’re in the midst of maple sugaring so I spend a lot of time going into the woods, collecting sap and hauling the buckets back out to where we boil. It’s a great balance to all the sitting desk work I do.

My family loves to mountain bike, hike, ski/snowboard around our New England home.  And over the past couple years, my husband has been teaching us jiu jitsu and kickboxing. A great break from particularly stressful projects!

But along with all this activity, I love the moments when I stand outside my kitchen door, looking out to the pond and the maple grove beyond as twilight comes.  Moments like these make me feel wealthier beyond belief and glad that I can run my business from home on my own terms.

Any words for those considering enrolling in the SEO Copywriting Certification program?

I’ve suggested this program to many people who have sought out my advice on how to get into health copywriting.  Most people who come to me are very knowledgeable about health but don’t know how to turn it into marketing services.

The health copywriting niche is pretty competitive with some very experienced heavy-hitters writing in it. It can be hard to break in.

SEO copywriting is a great place to start health copywriting for two reasons: 1.) The demand for SEO copy is huge right now. And 2.) Less competition. Many good health copywriters haven’t developed SEO skills.

SEO health copywriting is an easier area to establish yourself and quickly get a full-time business going.

Heather is full of SEO copywriting knowledge and she’s a great teacher.  You will come out of her course with confidence that you’ve got “the right stuff”.  Plus, her LinkedIn discussion group and ongoing webinars keep you up to speed after you graduate.

Filed under SEO Copywriting Certification,Tips and techniques

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Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Carole Seawert

March 15, 2011 • written by

Carole is a UK-based, freelance copywriter who writes all kinds of marketing materials, from websites and brochures to mailshots and e-newsletters. She has a marketing and public relations background and was Head of PR at the Financial Times newspaper before embarking on her freelance career.

Over the years, she has written for clients across a range of market sectors, from financial and professional services to public sector, telecoms and hi tech. She also writes a blog, Freelance Factfile, which is an invaluable knowledge bank containing all the information you need to succeed as a freelancer.

What got you interested in SEO Copywriting?

I knew that being able to say I was an SEO writer would add a valuable extra string to my bow. But what was the best way to go about it? I attended a couple of introductory webinars on writing for search engines – that was a step in the right direction. I then bought a 300-page book on search engine optimization but was disappointed to discover there were only a few pages devoted to the copywriting side of it. Then, I came across Heather on Twitter and found out that she had an in-depth SEO course especially for writers. It was exactly what I’d been looking for.

What do you consider to be your biggest “take-away” from the certification program, in real-life terms?

In February, I issued a press release announcing the fact I’d become a certified SEO copywriter. The next day, I typed ‘SEO writer’ into Google and my press release appeared on the first page of the search results! Living proof that, if you employ what Heather teaches, you/your clients will accelerate up the through the rankings.

What SEO copywriting projects are you working on now?

A long-standing client is having his website completely redesigned and I’m rewriting the text so that it will be search engine friendly. And an upcoming project for another client is to write 10 LinkedIn profiles with keyword phrases so they can be easily found when people do a search on LinkedIn.

What do you do in your free time?

Being a writer means I sit too much at my desk. To counteract that, I’m at the gym a lot. I live in London, so I like to spend time making the most of this great city – whether it’s going to new exhibitions, walking in the parks, seeing friends, visiting markets, or just enjoying the buzz of the place. Although I’m a city person, my ideal holiday is staying by an Alpine lake and going for hikes, surrounded by mountain peaks.

Any words for those considering enrolling in the program?

You’ll learn skills that are in high demand and, with your certified SEO copywriter status, you’ll be regarded as a real expert in your field. Just do it!

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Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, George Passwater

March 1, 2011 • written by

No matter where or how old he was, George Passwater’s life always involved a very vivid imagination and a love to find out how things worked. This led him to going out in the world to seek his fortune. When he didn’t become a caped superhero, the leader of a temple of Shaolin Kung Fu monks or win the lottery, he set his sights on more attainable goals.

For over 20 years, he held different positions in technology and creative realms until he couldn’t resist the call of entrepreneurship and at-home Fatherhood. Now as the owner and operator of a successful online copywriting and online services business, Passwater Media, and a Stay-At-Home Dad, George utilizes his trusty tools of laptop and vacuum cleaner to provide both his at-home clients and business clients with what they need, when they need it.

What attracted you to SEO Copywriting?

Well, I am a hybrid of sorts. I was working “online” before the web came along and my first writing piece was a story I created before age 6. I have a natural knack for technical and creative work. In my 20 something years of doing whatever it is I did, I held many job responsibilities including webmaster, programming, systems admin, project management, copywriting, storytelling and some marketing too.

With both sides of my brain in constant battle, SEO copywriting just came naturally to me. I mean, think about it – SEO fulfills my techno, statistical, data weenie side and copywriting quenches my creative thirst to weave the thoughts (or is it voices) in my head into ideas, stories, and strategies into the written word.

A perfect combination of Yin and Yang.

What SEO Copywriting projects are you working on now?

With such a need for qualified SEO copywriters, I have current and prospective projects that include ghost SEO writing, blog writing, landing pages, email campaigns, social media content (after all, social and search are kind of going steady now), developing full- blown content strategies and whatever else I have on my project management dashboard. This doesn’t include new inquiries for work – which I am always happy to entertain!

What do you find most challenging/interesting about SEO copywriting?

Simple – explaining to prospects and even current customers the amount of work involved, why they need it, and the costs (value) of SEO Copywriting. Most understand the search engine ranking thing, but they don’t get why you can’t simply take the copy they have and add a few keywords to it.

They always ask me why do I need to know so much about their business, how it ties into Social Media or why it takes so long to write a web site. I actually had one prospect say that a homepage shouldn’t take more than an hour to write! That one blew my mind.

What have you found to be the biggest “take-aways” from the SEO Copywriting Certification program?

That I’m the real deal.

I have proof that I took the time to dedicate myself to increasing my knowledge and skills from the best in the industry. Heather is all that and a bag of chips – everyone in the industry knows this and when she certifies someone, you can be sure her graduate knows what they’re doing…thanks to the SEO Copywriting Maven.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

All my free time goes to my family. Not only do I own my own business, I am a proud Stay-At-Home Dad. I have two younger children (my inspiration) that rock my world, along with my wonderful wife (my voice of reason and my rock). I also have my other child, he’s a Pug full of awesomeness.

I am also a big supporter of Special Needs parenting and disabilities rights, as my youngest child currently lives with disabilities. Everyday, she inspires me to be a better Father while helping her move any objects that block her path to success. Just as with everything else, I believe you can do anything you want and I know one day my children will become what they want – disabilities or not!

Any words for those considering enrolling in the SEO Copywriting Certification program?

If you’re looking to learn about true SEO copywriting, look no further than Heather’s program. She gives it to you in simple, easy-to-understand lessons along with the personal attention of a well-seasoned professor.

Since Heather is the resource for SEO copywriting, I wouldn’t waste anymore time searching for programs that just spit out false promises. Heather’s program delivers what you need to be successful in this field. (Not to mention, she’s one of the nicest people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting). As I said before, she’s all that and a bag of chips!

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Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Derek Cromwell

February 10, 2011 • written by

SEO Copywriting Certification Grad Profile of Derek CromwellDerek Cromwell is a 30 year old self-professed copywriting dweeb and content marketing nerd – his Twitter background states that much clearly.  He is the founder of Thunder Bay Media, LLC, a company he started in 2009 based in the Metro-Detroit area of Michigan.  From his home office/fortress he provides SEO copywriting and content marketing services to help businesses of any size improve and solidify their presence on the web, boost sales, dominate their market, win traffic, build a better mousetrap, end war and solve world hunger.

Before making a career change to copywriting, Derek spent several years working in Emergency Medical Services in both southeast Michigan and northern Michigan.  His career in EMS was preceded by a 10+ year span working in upper management across several companies including a national internet service provider and two major restaurant chains.

What attracted you to SEO Copywriting?

All my life I’ve loved to write.   I started writing online content back in 2007 for what people now consider “content mills”.  The money was nice but I really loved EMS and had no reason to try to change.  I was working upwards of 80 hours a week and quite happy.

Then someone stuck a pin in the economy and my hours got cut.  Who would have thought people would stop calling 911 to save a buck?  Stuck at home with a family to support, I decided to see what I could do with my writing.  Blogging for bucks led to content marketing for other businesses  That of course evolved into SEO & website copywriting.  I’ve refined my craft on my own for the last year and now I’m here.

I chose this course because – while I felt I had already learned a great deal about SEO and copywriting – I wanted to make sure that I was headed in the right direction.  I knew this course would reinforce my education.

What do you consider to be your biggest “take-away” from the certification program?

There are a lot of people “out there” in the business world but you can break them down into people who are writers and people who need writers.  In both categories you’ll find a large amount of people who know Heather and respect her for her education, experience and what she has to offer.  The badge on my site and my certificate is a way to tell the world that I really know my stuff – that I’m not “just another writer” because I learned from one of the best.

What SEO Copywriting projects are you working on now?

I’ve got a full plate of extremely fun projects, and I’m really digging all the range, the research and preparation to write.  I’ve got slightly more than a dozen clients waiting in line on my production schedule including:

  • Complete site content revamp for a retailer of designer handbags
  • Content marketing for one of the leading travel agents handling Australian trips
  • Complete site content and content marketing for a major branding community that’s getting ready to launch in February (almost done with this one!)
  • 3 other small business site launches that are upstarts
  • Some free consults & optimization with a local wedding photography that’s about to land her on page 1 of Google (she did the most beautiful pictures for a close friend who just got shipped to Afghanistan – was the least I could do)
  • Complete site content for a business networking community based in the Virginia/D.C/Maryland area
  • A major luxury home builder based in Texas that is struggling to rank in their local market

And there’s always more to come.  I get a few new client requests each week through my site.  The line never ends and I love it.  :)

What do you feel are some of your biggest accomplishments since you started copywriting?

There have been a few.  Launching a successful business and keeping it going is a big one, but completely supporting my family so that my wife could quit her job in pharmaceuticals was also a huge step for us.  Now we’re all home and I can spend time with my family any time I like.

I also have to admit that when I got my own website onto page 1 for a number of targeted keywords I practically did backflips.  You can tell clients all day long that you can increase their rank in the SERPs but nothing sells it better than showing off your own site there.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to read, and I have a bookcase full of Dean Koontz books.  I’ve also started soaking up anything related to content marketing.  When I’m not reading I love playing with my two beautiful girls:  My 3 year old Emma and my littlest one Lily who is now 4 months old.  Once a week I treat myself and my wife to a kid-free date night to get us out of the house.  We both love music, comedy clubs, stage performances, fishing and other outdoor stuff.

When I get those precious few moments for myself I enjoy paintball.  I also like to relax with a little mindless video game playing like Call of Duty.

Oh… And I love to cook – I can make a homemade pizza that puts the big name chains to shame.

Any words for those considering enrolling in the SEO Copywriting Certification program?

There’s a lot of junk on the internet that will lead you in the wrong direction when it comes to writing good copy, marketing content properly and doing right by your clients.  To provide the most benefit to the people you work for – whether you have clients or you’re an in-house marketer/writer – you need to take this course.   You will research better, write better and deliver better results for your clients.

We talk until we’re blue in the face about clients investing in their content to get a bigger return on their investment.  Don’t you think it’s a good idea to lead by example and invest in your own business?

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Win a free 3-month subscription to the SEO Copywriting Certificate program!

November 16, 2010 • written by

It’s that time of year. I’ve been sick in bed for five days now (yes, FIVE days) and I’m doing everything I can to feel better. Then I realized – what other way to feel better than by giving away a free, 3-month subscription to my SEO Copywriting Certificate program?

(Not familiar with the Certificate program? Check out the fantastic SEO Copywriting training course review by Ken Horst and the good folks at TopRank Marketing.)

So, here’s what I’m going to do:

Comment on this post and tell me in 75 words or less how receiving a Certificate in SEO copywriting will improve your career and boost your bottom line. So…

If you’re an in-house copywriter or marketer, how would earning a Certificate help your career and your company?

If you’re a freelance Web writer, how would a Certificate transform your business and drive income?

If you’re a journalist, how could learning the SEO copywriting ropes help you gain more readers and improve your online writing skills?

Make sense?

Here are the “rules.”

1. The contest runs from today (November 16th) through November 23rd at 5 p.m. PT.  The winner will be announced on November 24th.

2. Only one entry per person, please. Thank you.

3. If you send me an email telling me why you should win on top of commenting on this post, I will ignore your entry. ONLY blog comments will count as entries.

4. The prize has no cash value.

5. No purchase is necessary.

6. Please make sure that you provide your email address. Otherwise, I can’t contact you to tell you that you’ve won!

7. The winner agrees to let me use their name/picture in future promotional materials.

That’s it!

Let the commenting begin… :)

Filed under Freelance SEO copywriting,In-house Content Marketing,SEO Copywriting Certification

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Interview with SEO Copywriting Certification Grad, Courtney Ramirez

September 14, 2010 • written by

Writing has always been a part of Courtney Ramirez’s life – from short stories in childhood to news stories in high school. After earning a B.A. in English from the University of Southern California and beginning to work in journalism, she found her way to web writing through a combination of terrific coincidences. Combining the Internet with the written word was a perfect solution for this self-professed “geek.” She began writing and blogging about web writing in 2005. Concentrating on articles and ebooks, she learned basic SEO techniques through experience and the resources from her writing clients. She pieced things together as she could, but eventually realized that there was a gap between what she knew SEO could accomplish for her clients and what she was capable of doing. She wanted to be more than just a content writer – she wanted to be a web marketing resource for her clients.

After doing some research on SEO training programs, Courtney decided on the SuccessWorks program because it combined something she was familiar with (copywriting) with something she wanted to learn more about (SEO), rather than just concentrating on SEO. The training rounded out her web writing knowledge and gave her the high level skills she’d been looking for in order to be able to help her clients more. She added creating site plans, meta content creation and keyword research to her list of services, becoming a one stop SEO copywriting service. Under the mantle Six Degrees Content she works on copywriting and ebook writing for a wide variety of industries with the help of two assistant writers.

What got you interested in SEO copywriting?

I’ve always loved the internet — I was on AOL as soon as the free CD hit our mailbox back in the 90s — so finding web writing was a natural for me.  When I first started writing a lot of the emphasis was on the ol’ “send query, wait months, write the article, wait months, get paid” cycle — I knew there had to be a better way.  I took my journalism experience online and started writing basic articles, and then started to learn about SEO as an extension of that.  My clients always provided me with keywords and I was curious about why they chose those keywords — or if they were the best keywords for their purposes.  The more I learned, the more I realized that boosting up on the SEO portion of my training would help me offer more value to my clients.

Are you presently working on any SEO copywriting projects?

We’re working on several — I work with two other writers that cover basic articles and I concentrate on the site plans, more in-depth articles, white papers, etc.  We are working on a site for a plumber and helping him rank for several keyphrases that deal with the area of his services.  We are working with a media company and web designer as their SEO copywriting division and are working on a physical therapy site in conjunction with them.  We create blog posts for a virtual office company on a weekly basis and are helping with an online marketing campaign for a pain relief product.  I’m excited about pumping up the marketing for Six Degrees Content and completing more projects like these!

What have you found to be the biggest “take-aways” from the SEO Copywriting Certification program?

The process of putting together a site plan, fleshing out keyword lists and creating winning meta information were by far the most valuable take-aways from Heather’s course.  I loved the way the process was laid out from start to finish and was easy to apply to my own site as well as my clients’.  I’m a linear thinker, so having the step-by-step plan has been wonderful!

What do you find most challenging/interesting about SEO copywriting?

What I love most about SEO copywriting is creating the balance between what search engines need and what people need.  It’s sometimes a challenge, but I find it enjoyable.  I like learning about new search innovations and getting my “geek” on with SEO.  I like understanding how to create content that motivates readers and pulls in some good search results.  Another challenge, in a different way, is educating people about SEO copywriting and why it’s important to have the right content — and not just “any” content to fill their webpages.

What are you other passions and interests?

I’m really passionate about natural health, so anytime I get a chance to work with a nutritionist, doctor or anyone in the self-improvement field, it’s a real treat for me!  I also love being an entrepreneur and like to help them out with their SEO needs. When I’m not clicking away at the keyboard, I’m reading Mental Floss, spending time with my family and hitting the beach!





Filed under Freelance SEO copywriting,SEO Content marketing,SEO Copywriting Certification,Tips and techniques

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Online SEO copywriting and content marketing training – sale until 9/15

September 8, 2010 • written by

Looking for a great deal on online SEO copywriting training? Until September 15, 2010, I’m offering 25% off the online SEO Copywriting Training. That brings the price down to less than $450 for the three-month training (from $599.)

The training is more than just reading a book or eguide. I hold group conference calls, share ideas, talk about the latest strategies and give you a chance to ask questions. You’re getting customized help without the customized price.

Just imagine how quickly you can make that money back if your content was optimized for search engines and conversions.

It’s a no brainer.  But you have to act now to get the discount.

Sign up for the online SEO copywriting training with coupon code: FC513 for your instant discount.

(Please feel free to forward this post to your colleagues and retweet the coupon code. This could be my last sale of the year, so I want folks to get the best deal!).

Thanks!

Filed under SEO Copywriting Certification,Tips and techniques

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Is SEO copywriting the right career for you?

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There’s something about September that starts folks thinking about changing careers. Maybe it’s because we’re used to “back to school” time and the dawn of an unknown school year. Maybe it’s because we don’t have summer’s sunny distractions. Whatever the reason, I’ve receive five emails from folks considering SEO copywriting as a new career choice. And heck, if Yahoo can consider SEO content jobs like “bloggers” and “content managers” in their Hot Careers list, well, SEO copywriting has to be cool.

Why?  Because SEO has become nearly synonymous with web copywriting and content marketing.  If your clients are asking about search engine rankings, It is no longer enough to know direct response copywriting exclusively, no matter how fabulously well you may excel in the craft.  As the reality of search engine optimization has taken center stage in copywriting and content marketing campaigns, the demand for SEO copywriters has also grown.

Can you make money? Yes? Can you work from home and support your family with your SEO copywriting skills? Yup, I know many folks who do just that. I also know some very savvy SEO copywriters who choose the in-house life, helping lead their company’s SEO content campaigns. In short, you have a lot of options.

If you want to be a freelance SEO copywriter – or work as an in-house writer – here are some things to consider:

  • Know that good SEO content writing is more than just writing. It’s understanding what makes people think, act and buy.  Study the art of art of copywriting and learn how to write in a way that connects with a target audience and elicits an emotional response.  Not only will understanding the psychology behind what you’re writing help your writing be even better, but it also will help your client make more money.  The books Buyology by Martin Lindstrom and Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini, PH.D are excellent. I would also recommend reading  Jonathan Fields’ blog – good stuff, great writing.
  • Know your SEO. Go to conferences, read books, articles, and blogs – in short, learn everything you can about SEO.  SEO copywriting requires the writer to be familiar with SEO principles and best practices, to understand how the search engines work, and to know how to research key phrases and write top-converting titles.  No, you don’t have to be a super-tech. But you do need to know some foundational SEO stuff.  Conferences to consider are Search Engine Strategies, AWAI’s Web Writer Intensive and PubCon.*)
  • Understand that money will not magically drop from the heavens. I cringe when I see sites touting that you can make thousands of dollars a day as a SEO copywriter.  Can you make thousands? Yes. But not at the beginning. Start up is start up no matter what business you run. And if you’re planning to work in-house, the same rule applies – you’ll have to pay your dues before making the dough. That doesn’t mean that you can’t make a very good income. It just means that building a career takes time. For more information, check out these FAQs on becoming a SEO copywriter.
  • Work with experienced writers whenever you can. The best copywriters I know have worked with “master-level” copywriters and leveraged every training opportunity they could find. Why? Because learning how to write is more than reading a book and calling it good. It’s learning what we don’t know and honing our skills. It’s working with a writer one-on-one and having them gently say, “Um, there’s no benefit statement here.”  If you’re a freelance SEO copywriter, find a mentor (for instance, Pam Foster mentors copywriters.) If you work in-house, work with the best writer there (or if you’re the only writer, beg to work with a consultant.) You’ll value your mentor relationship throughout your career. Trust me.

If you’re considering SEO copywriting training as a way to launch (or refine) your skills, I will be offering a discount soon on the online SEO Copywriting Certificate training. Follow me on Twitter @heatherlloyd and you’ll be the first to hear about the discount as soon as it hits the virtual streets. Stay tuned!

*Speaking of PubCon, you can receive 20% off if you register  with coupon code rc-6066515. The super-special early bird rates end 9/10, so  register right now for the best price.

Filed under Freelance SEO copywriting,In-house Content Marketing,SEO Copywriting Certification,Tips and techniques

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