New Keyword Tool

If you write non-fiction, or if you have a website for your book (you do don't you?), even if it's fiction, I hope you are familiar with the term "keywords". Just in case you aren't, keywords are those words and short phrases people type into search engines. The search engine then looks for them on websites as they try to match a request for information. Keywords are also the basis for the ads that show up on the side of the results page. Basically, in the world of the Internet, keywords are everywhere and if you want to attract visitors you need to have at least a basic grasp of how they work and where/when you need to use them.

Over the years, there have been a variety of tools that help people figure out the most popular keywords are on any given subject. That's important to know because if your website has those popular words in the right places, it will come up high in a search. If you write or post and article on a blog, directory, etc. the same applies.

Today, I found a new tool that works a little differently called Keyword Questions It appears to be a new variation from Wordtracker. It's different in that when you put in a topic or potential keyword, it generates a list of recent questions posed by searchers rather than just phrases.

How does this help you? Type in the topic of your current book or book you're planning to write. Here are just a few ways to use the search results:

1. How many of the popular questions are you addressing? If not many, are you sure people have a need or desire for what you're offering?

2. Pose and answer one or two of the questions within your back cover blurb and use that copy on summary pages on Amazon etc.

3. Make sure your website utilizes the questions or keywords within the questions in the appropriate places including in the text.

4. Even if you write fiction, you may be able to enter locations or other central themes of your book and see what people are talking about and also get blog posts or ideas for hot topics to weave into the story.

What are your keywords & why?

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Of Dust Bunnies & Expertise - How Personal Does A Blog Need to Be?

I got a comment today on an earlier post, and I thought it was a sentiment that others might share, so I decided I'd write a new post for everyone, rather than just reply.

The comment was this: the writer has decided to start a blog soon, but has concern about writing about him/herself (sorry the sig doesn't tell me). Here are a few thoughts:

1. Your blog is yours, no editors involved, it will be whatever you want it to be.

2. Many blogs talk about needing to clean up dustbunnies, listening to favorite music, or the latest art created by the blog owner's cat. If your reason for writing is for fun, to have an online journal to share with family and friends, posting that kind of stuff makes sense.

3. If your reason for blogging is to build an audience, show your expertise and generate traffic to a website, then those types of personal details won't be your focus (have two blogs if you want both styles).

4. You can interject your personality without being overly personal. This can be accomplished relatively easily too, partly because you'll have your own style that will come out once you've posted a handful of times.

Also, if you think of yourself as a teacher, or as simply being in a conversation with your readers, you'll write in first person, but not about yourself, if you don't choose to.

5. If you are writing to enhance your career, it's always good to keep a close watch on what you say and reveal anyway. You never know who could be reading, and what they might do with the information for the good or bad.

Good Writing & God Bless,

Cheryl Pickett
http://www.publishinganswers.com/