Welcome!

Clipcopy Content Solutions, as the name implies, is all about ‘content‘, especially (but not exclusively) newsletter content. We specialize in what are popularly known as ‘newsletter fillers‘ but which we prefer to think of as newsletter enhancers, such as jokes, amusing verses, witty quotations, unusual facts and anecdotes, quizzes, cartoons, recipes, word puzzles and so on. As well as these, we have a large ‘library’ of articles, many of which are exclusive to us, and which cover a wide range of topics. We are also one of the longest-running sites in our field on the Internet, having started over a decade ago—but our stock of material is still growing month by month.

How The Site Is Set Up

The site is divided into three areas: the ClipCopy area, the members area and the blog area.

The ClipCopy Area

This is where you can get an understanding of what ClipCopy is all about and evaluate it for yourself by viewing and sampling our ‘product’ (see the ClipCopy Area menu to the right). ClipCopy is an easy way (think copy and paste) of enhancing any ezine, hard copy newsletter, online newsletter, or virtually any other publication you might think of. The best place to start is the ClipCopy Main Page link under Site Navigation.

The Members Area

This part of the site is exclusive to members and is where they go to download ClipCopy content plus the various programs, ebooks, etc provided for them (see the ClipCopy Main Page link under Site Navigation). As mentioned in the previous paragraph, non-members can sample ClipCopy by clicking on the links that appear under ClipCopy Area to the right.

The Blog Area

This is where you are now and where all our guidance files are to be found including articles on how to use ClipCopy, news and articles about content in general (and article marketing), as well as things like using and finding different types of content and so on. All blog posts appear in order of posting directly below here (most recent at the top), as well as under Post Categories in the right column (where they are grouped according to topic). Be sure not to miss our Resource Directories too, where you can find hundreds of links to sites that provide content of every conceivable kind (click on the Links tab at the very top of the site).

Filed under: ClipCopy Guidance | No Comments »

Foreword By The Editor

This article, by Hank L. Quesenberry, mainly focuses on the use of submission services that exist to assist in the wide distribution of your articles across the Internet in such a way that you sometimes get greater coverage than you could by just about any other means. Take the trouble to read Hank’s short bio at the end of hiw article too; the links there are well worth following.

Mike Alexander
For all your content needs go to ClipCopy Content Solutions

Submission Services

As someone who has made his living working online for years, I know a little bit about what works and what doesn’t work and for me nothing has worked better than article marketing.

I believe the most effective way to leverage your article marketing efforts is through the use of article distribution services such as ArticleRanks, Content Crooner, ISnare, Article Marketing Automation and Unique Article Wizard.

Multiple Services

I also think that it is important not to rely upon just one such service (even if that service is very good, such as the aforementioned services are) but instead to use multiple services to make sure your articles get on as many different websites as possible.

These services spread my articles out to many websites all over the Internet which greatly leverages the work that I do in writing the article in the first place. I can get hundreds of links back by writing just one article and of course all of those links help increase my search engine rankings which helps bring me visitors who are looking for whatever it is that I’m selling.

Targeted Trtaffic

Targeted traffic is the lifeblood of any Internet business. You cannot make money without drawing people to your pages who are interested in what you have for sale (or whatever is the focus of  your advertising.) For example, if I am selling cat food and my site ranks number one on Google for ‘cat food’, then I will make a lot of money selling cat food to people who are searching for it! It’s a pretty simple concept really.

Article Spinning

Some article distribution services (such as Unique Article Wizard and Article Marketing Automation) allow you to ‘spin’ your articles so that each one can get passed the ‘duplicate content’ filter that downgrades, or delists, articles that are duplicated across multiple domains.

Just as important is the fact that these services allow you to spin your links so that you can link back to many different landing pages with just one article. You can also spin the ‘anchor text’ which can help making them look more natural.

Summary

In my opinion, article marketing using such distribution services is the best way to build links to your landing pages and obviously building links is an essential part of any SEO strategy. This is also why it’s a great way to build up long term income streams.

About The Author

Among the best article distribution services are Article Marketing Automation and ContentCrooner.com Don’t reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Why Unique Article Marketing Software Is Essential To Affiliate … (webmarkmarketing.net)
• Unique Article Marketing- Strategies That Get Results | Laboratory … (labmiddleeast.com)
• Unique Article Marketing Is A Must For Serious Internet Marketing … (wallpapers-nintendo.net)

Filed under: Article Marketing | No Comments »

Foreword By The Editor

The following article by Winson Yeung covers the subject of Writing Feature Articles for new writers fairly comprehensively. Many new writers blanch a bit when they are faced with their first tentative steps into the world of feature writing but it really is not that difficult if you just bear in mind some of the points outlined here. If you enjoy this article, please be sure to follow the links in the author’s ‘bio’ at the end.

Mike Alexander
Click to see some sample ClipCopy newsletter features

Feature Tips

Writing feature articles can be quite a bit more difficult then it sounds, or as easy as pie, depending on your attitude. Many individuals feel that they may have the writing skills necessary to produce a feature article but that they do not have the knowledge or experience to construct an article that is of feature quality. The following lays out some tips that can might help you better create feature articles in the future.

Focus

Each feature article should be written with a specific subject as the focus of the article. The more specialized the article, the more specific the topic and the more general publications will have articles that cover a wide range of topics without being overly complex. Professional journals such as medical publications have very specific guidelines and look for certain types of articles.

You should have a specific demography in mind before you begin writing and it is important to remember who your target audience is. If you are writing about a scientific subject but your audience does not have a particularly scientific background, you may have to change the type of language you use so that everyone can understand the scientific concepts.

Title

Possibly the most important part of your feature article will be the title as that is what draws the reader further into the article. A great article will spark a reader’s curiosity and they are then more likely to read the entire thing. A poor title will mean that your article will barely be read, even if the content is fantastic. The title should present information on the subject of your article without displaying your opinion or the opinion you are supporting in the article. You should write a few different titles before choosing one to make sure you create the best possible title.

Style

Developing your writing style is very important, as an engaging writing style tends to produce articles that many enjoy reading. A dry and boring writing style will put a reader to sleep no matter how informative the content. Even if your writing style is not the best, you can compensate by knowing every angle of your subject and writing about something controversial or having a very strong opinion.

Research

Once you have chosen the publication you should read up on your subject and the style of articles that the publication accepts. If you are writing about energy, then you should read up on the current trends in energy, controversy in that industry and other relating factors. Having a human-interest side or incorporating current affairs is always a plus.

When writing a feature article you should try to use many different types of information. Facts are always important but you should include expert’s opinions, the general public’s opinions, or even perhaps celebrity ideas. You can shed light on some different angles that many people may not have thought about even if they disagree. Audiences love controversy and you will never go far wrong if you add something controversial to your feature article.

Summary

Always remember to let your personality shine through, as this will set your article apart from the rest. You should be trying to improve your writing at every step by exposing yourself to different types of writing styles and reading many articles.

About The Author

Check out this Inexpensive Article Writing Service that have the cheapest rate of $0.0096/word to boost start your Internet Business. Services include UAW Article Writing, Article Writing, Article Marketer Writing + Submission and many more… This and other unique content’ articles are available with free reprint rights.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Improving the Quality of Your Article Writing By Article Rewriter (ronmedlin.com)
• Considering A Career In Article Writing? (webmanmarketing.com)
• I Hate Writing Articles – Isn’t There An Easier Way?! (marketersdaily.com)

Filed under: Article Writing | No Comments »

Putting Pen To Paper

Foreword By The Author

This article is the second in a series on how to become a more effective writer. As mentioned in the first one (Preparing The Ground), a popular way to approach article writing, particularly if you suffer from ‘writer’s block’, is to launch a very clear two-pronged attack. First, prepare the ground and come up with a plan; second, put pen to paper and follow your plan until you come up with the final result. Below are a few suggestions that may be of assistance in putting your plan into effect.

Mike Alexander
Click to see some sample ClipCopy articles

Using Titles

Put some thought into your article titles. People scan the contents of publications by reading titles and if you want your piece to be read then you need to make them as appealing as possible for the readership you are writing for. Many professional writers keep lists of article titles that caught their eye and adapt them later for their own use. Some get their inspiration for article content from working titles. The point about working titles is that they allow you to focus on the subject in hand knowing that your final choice of title might be very different. Very often you will find that your eventual choice of title becomes obvious to you from key words or phrases in the piece before you have finished writing it. Do bear in mind though, that if an editor is going to be involved in the process, she has the right to change the title to fit the style of the publication so your choice may not, in the end, be used. That possibility is very much lessened if you choose a strong title yourself.

The First Draft

The first paragraph is the article opener. This is where you announce what the text that follows is going to be about and perhaps why it’s important. A well-focused opener makes it much easier to stick to the point of the article in the main body. End your article with a summary of… well, basically, what you have already written. Draw a conclusion from the summary that emphasizes the main point, possibly by using an anecdote or a quotation. And finish off the piece with a straight statement about what lessons were illustrated or offer advice to show how to benefit from what was discussed. Some further tips are as follows:

• Keep your readership in mind as you write. This will enable you to write in a style that’s appropriate for them.
• Write as you would speak. Some find the whole process easier if they dictate a whole article first and then edit the transcript. Try using a tape recorder, dictaphone or a speech recognition program if you find that it promotes a better flow. But, most important of all, get it down.
• Don’t worry about grammar or spelling or even whether what you’ve written makes good sense. If it makes sense enough to you, that’s all that matters at this stage. Your first draft should be just that and will need to be edited or fine-tuned before publishing. Expect a third or even a fourth draft before completion.
• Allow sufficient time between completion of the final draft and proofing, preferably overnight. It is quite surprising how easy it can sometimes be to resolve a part that you previously struggled with, given the passage of a little time.

Paragraph Headings

For much the same reason that a degree of careful thought needs to be put into article titles, as mentioned above, it is a good idea to put a similar amount of consideration into paragraph headings. They help to divide the article into a logical sequence of ideas and break up the text into more manageable segments. For the reader, they can also make article scanning easier in the same way that titles allow for easier scanning of a publication. As a bonus, they also make the article more aesthetically pleasing by dividing it up and by incorporating white space between areas of text. A mass of text that is not divided and delineated by white space can be visually displeasing.

Summary

Casual article writing can be a chore or a surprisingly satisfying undertaking. For the non-professional writer, it’s all a matter of preparation, planning and following the plan. Take heed of the guidelines above and those that appeared in the first article of this series (Preparing The Ground) and you will be giving yourself a much better chance of a more pleasing and satisfying result.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Article Title: Keys to Success (stevehartkopf.com)
• Improving the Quality of Your Article Writing By Article Rewriter (ronmedlin.com)
• Article Marketing Blueprint: Here Are The How’s And Why’s (entrepreneurideasclub.com)

Filed under: Article Writing | No Comments »

Preparing The Ground

Foreword By The Author

Anybody who is not an expert article writer but who sometimes gets given the task of creating content for a newsletter or web page, has most likely encountered the experience, at one time or another, of looking at a blank page and wondering “what now?”. And then trying frantically to come up with ideas on what to write about. Welcome to the wonderful world of writing; believe me, you are not alone! Part Two of this series is called Putting Pen To Paper, which concentrates on the practical aspect of actually writing and following a plan.

Mike Alexander
Click to see some sample ClipCopy articles

Writer’s Block

This problem, commonly referred to as ‘writer’s block’, is encountered even by a few of the best-known professional writers and has most probably been around since the very first hieroglyphics. Nonetheless, that is hardly any consolation for all those attempting to conquer it, particularly when there’s a deadline drawing near. The trick, if you can call it that, is actually two-fold: first, prepare and plan your article; second, follow your plan. Below are some recommendations that could be of assistance in the area of preparation and planning of an article.

Researching For Information

Methodical investigation might include public libraries, indices like the Writer’s Market index and the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature (these are two of many in the United States but comparable indices can be found in other countries), the web and various other online services, encyclopedias, dictionaries and yearbooks, etc. Many commercial as well as non-profit associations and similar organizations maintain their own individual directories too, some of which are searchable for a fee but many of which happen to be free to anybody who would like to use them.

Expertise And Authority

Naturally, it can help enormously if you’re an expert, or at least a reasonably accomplished authority, on the topic concerned—but it’s not essential. A working knowledge is usually quite enough if you’re prepared to put a little effort into research. A lot of writers don’t relish this part of their calling but realise the value of it and integrate it into their everyday lives. They make notes of interesting things that take place around them, things they see, things they hear, and so forth. You can do exactly the same simply by always having a small notepad and pencil with you at all times. These people read avidly and soon become skilled at recognizing a well-turned phrase or a fascinating new viewpoint. They embrace the practice of clipping things out of magazines and newspapers any time something catches their eye that might be of use some time later on.

Clipping and Archiving

Cuttings can generate ideas for articles or blog posts, supply material that can be used within a piece, or sometimes get archived for years until their time all of a sudden arrives. Quite a few authors preserve a huge selection of clippings in files and folders, all classified by topic and indexed by source as well as date stamped. A word of caution should you take up this practice though: always double-check any pieces of information which are derived from clippings, particularly if you discovered them on the Internet.

Time For Development

An obvious point would be to always allow oneself the maximum amount of time for creative concepts to develop little by little. That way they can take on structure prior to you committing them to paper. For everybody who is among that rare breed, a born article writer, and who arranges their schedule to allow a lead-in period for concept development, the creative impulses might function perfectly normally in the period appointed for sitting down and composing the final piece. This does not happen however if, like the majority of us, you are not a natural writer (meaning that it may be a thing you like doing, quite possibly a thing you’re regarded as being very good at, but you need to labor over to get it right). Then it can often be really hard if you’re not necessarily ‘in the mood’ at the appointed time. Much better if you permit yourself sufficient time to think about what exactly you’ll write and then go about the assignment as soon as you feel ready and with plenty of time for revisions, proofing etc.

Formulating A Plan

The majority of articles are comprised of a title, meant to command attention; an opener, being the first paragraph and designed to excite further interest; the main body text or the ‘meat’ of the article; plus the closing paragraph, which usually takes the form of a summary, though is not necessarily headed at such. Bearing this in mind, collect all of your clippings, key idea notes, interview transcripts etc. and juggle them around until you decide on an order of inclusion that follows a logical structure. Sketch out the finalized sequence on a sheet of paper. This is your plan and will be the fundamental framework of your article.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Writer (hiremyparents.com)
• I Hate Writing Articles – Isn’t There An Easier Way?! (marketersdaily.com)
• Article Marketing Blueprint: Here Are The How’s And Why’s (entrepreneurideasclub.com)

Filed under: Article Writing | No Comments »

Foreword By The Author

Writing readable articles might seem to some experts to be a case of unnecessary advice but the fact is that many authors overestimate the readability of their own copy. Yet there are a number of free writing aids that can help any writer to produce quality, easily understandable text. Coupled with the other tips here, there is no reason now to ever produce copy that doesn’t say exactly what you want it to say.

Mike Alexander
Click to see some sample ClipCopy articles

Introduction

Readability should be a primary concern for any writer of articles. After all, if what you write cannot immediately be understood, then there is not much point in writing it. It’s not about precisely correct words or grammar or precisely correct punctuation (though all of these things are important) but about writing in such a way as to be clearly understood. In order to be properly understood you need to be precise in some important areas.

Planning

Keep notes and snippets of information somewhere convenient so that they are always easy to add to and easy to find. Plan ahead and arrange the data you want to impart in a logical and easy-to-understand manner. Arranging your material under temporary and concise headings can help you to do this.

Putting It On ‘Paper’

My preferred method of operation is to write a draft without taking account of paragraph layout, using correct words etc. In other words, using my notes, I write it as I would speak it. This allows me to put my thoughts down without too much regard to punctuation, grammar etc. Once the draft is complete, then the editing process can commence. If you find that you tend to wander off topic sometimes, then during the editing process you can decide whether you want to incorporate your wanderings into the article or whether you should use that diversion as the genesis of new article under a different title.

Writing Aids

Spellcheckers are the most commonly used writing aids and are included in most writing applications (such as word processors etc) although I am constantly amazed at the number of people who don’t make use of them. Finding the right word for what you want to say, on the other hand, can be a little more difficult.

Words

The use of incorrect words, or malapropisms, is extremely common nowadays, especially on the Internet. Often, the problem wouldn’t arise at all if only short, popular words were used in preference to longer, less well known ones. On the other hand, if you know the word you want to use will precisely convey what you want to say, then by all means use it, provided you are reasonably sure your readers will also know it. A very valuable tool that can be an enormous help in this area is WordWeb. It is a University of Princeton project and serves as a dictionary, thesaurus and word finder extraordinaire. On top of all else, it is free (although there is a superior version available for sale).

Punctuation And Grammar

These can sometimes be a bit tricky, though they are by no means insurmountable problems. Several of the better class of word processors have built in grammar checkers which also manage to correct punctuation where necessary. Another way of solving many punctuation and grammar problems is to always use short sentences. Apart from that, stick to simple punctuation such as commas (wherever natural pauses occur) and full stops.

Editing

Re-read the completed work after a reasonable break (like overnight). It is surprising how much easier a proper appraisal can be when seen through ‘fresh eyes’. Avoid anything that unnecessarily distracts the reader’s attention from your message. If readers have to keep re-reading a section of an article in order to work out what it means they are being distracted from the message.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 10 Tips To Improve Your Writing Skill (shoutmeloud.com)
• Commas (slideshare.net)
• 5 Ways To Better Proofread An Article (shoutmeloud.com)

Filed under: Article Writing | No Comments »