Today, businesses and individuals tend to check their inbox more often than their mailbox.  News is delivered digitally and the green movement has caused us all to take a second look at the amount of paper we consume.  In many situations, email has become an expected delivery method for both professional and personal letters.

When is it Okay to Email a Letter?

• Prospective Employers: Digital resumes and portfolios are not at all uncommon in today’s marketplace, but even if your prospective employer received a hardcopy of your resume it is usually acceptable to email a thank you letter after the interview.  The best practice is to gather contact information before leaving the interview.  A postal follow-up may also be beneficial in extremely formal situations, but email is fast and convenient for both you and your prospective employer.
• Personal Thank You Notes: Handwritten thank you letters are still considered the proper way to convey your gratitude in most cases, but there are some situations where an emailed thank you note is okay.  Small gifts, favors, or a casual thank you to someone you regularly correspond with digitally are all instances when an emailed note is acceptable.
• Sympathy Letters: Again, handwritten correspondence is still deemed more personal than email when it comes to expressing your condolences.  Close friends and those you regularly communicate with via email will appreciate an emailed sympathy note, but it is still a good idea to mail a letter or make a phone call as well.
• Professional Thank You Letters: Thank you notes to clients, donors, and other business-related correspondence can be emailed if you typically do business via the internet.  Studies have shown that most consumers prefer digital communication from companies and are often more likely to read an email than a post letter.
• Invitations and RSVPs: Birthday parties, informal showers, and casual events are all situations when emailed invitations are completely acceptable.  Formal invites, especially to weddings, should still be sent by regular mail and should be addressed by hand.  It is okay to request digital RSVPs for both formal and informal gatherings, however.

When is Postal Mail a Necessity?

As technologically advanced as our society has become, there is still no substitute for the heartfelt emotions that flow from the tip of a pen.  Taking the time to handwrite a sympathy card or thank you note allows you to connect with your recipient on a much more personal level – these tokens of gratitude and condolence are also memorable keepsakes for many people.

In most cases, personal thank you letters for gifts and notes of sympathy should always be delivered via postal mail.  Holiday cards and birthday greetings are typically best received by post as well, although e-cards are acceptable for close family and friends.  Professional correspondence depends on your typical communication methods with the recipient – an online company’s clients, for example, would expect an emailed letter while an offline charity donor would appreciate a postal delivered thank you.

Before mailing or emailing your letter, consider these tips to help you make the right decision:

• Is the recipient comfortable with email?  Friends and relatives who rarely check their email or don’t spend much time online may not see your letter until months after it has been sent.
• Do you regularly communicate via email?  Clients, family members, and friends who are used to speaking with you in person or over the phone rather than email may not appreciate the sentiments of an emailed letter.  Contacts that you rarely communicate with should usually always receive correspondence through post.
• Does the situation suit the delivery method?  The most important factor to consider is the reason for your correspondence.  Someone who took the time to select a gift for you deserves the attention of a handwritten, post-delivered thank you; an emailed followup would be expected after an online job application or novel query.  

Images by Mattox and 13dede

Interested in your own Tweet Cloud?

It only takes three easy steps:

1) Do you want to analyze your activity for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year?

2) Do you want a small, medium, large or huge cloud (a little or a lot of keywords)?

3) Do you want to post a link of your Tweet Cloud on Twitter? Then click “make cloud.”

Our @PricelessTeam medium cloud above analyzed one year of Tweets and it looks like we’re staying in line with our goal of providing green news, eco-friendly information, writing tips, and sharing a little bit about ourselves along the way.

Advertise

Pay-per-click (PPC) programs like Google Adsense have been around for several years and prove to be an effective way to make money for many websites.  This form of advertising requires very little effort and can easily be integrated into your blog.  The focus of your blog will play a big role in determining how much income you can make from PPC and there are some niches that will not benefit at all from these programs – if your blog is one of those, there’s still hope for advertising-based income.  A blog with steady traffic and good readership can sell ad space to related businesses, often bringing in more revenue than a PPC campaign could generate.  This option typically requires a bit more time and some leg work, but the results can be very satisfying.

Create a Product

Depending on the topic of your blog, a unique product could be your key to a successful online income.  From digital downloads to tangible merchandise, the possibilities for a companion product for your blog are unlimited.  Remember, establishing yourself and your blog as a reliable and trustworthy source for your niche is essential.  Create a cookbook for your food blog; sell homemade wares on your crafting website; compile a review guide for weight loss methods; make t-shirts or notecards featuring your most popular quips and quotes – get creative and build your own online marketplace for your readers.

Promote the Products of Others

Companies and individuals with their own unique products are always looking for new avenues to sell their merchandise.  This form of affiliate marketing isn’t always as profitable as selling your own unique product, but it generally requires much less time and effort.  Programs like LinkShare and ClickBank offer a multitude of opportunities to make sales-based commissions on everything from gift baskets to software downloads.  There are also websites, like Amazon, that allow webmasters and bloggers to pick and choose products for their own online store.  This technique can be a huge success for most websites if it is implemented correctly.

Develop a Membership Site

Everyone loves free information and resources but people are also willing to pay for exclusive, premium content that isn’t readily available.  Lesson plans, recipes, marketing tips, and many other topics make great foundations for subscription-based sites – and can create a healthy online income for you.  Like most money-making techniques, a membership portion of your blog will require steady traffic and loyal readership, as well as careful planning and regular updates.  Problogger has some excellent resources to help you develop a successful membership site.

Flip It

Blog flipping is becoming more and more popular, proving to be quite lucrative for all types of topics.  Some bloggers sell their websites because they no longer have the time to invest in maintaining it, while others establish their blogs for the sole purpose of turning it over to an interested investor.  A blog that is worthy of flipping requires established readership and traffic numbers, a proven potential to generate income, and should already have quality content in place to continue attracting readers.  Typically, a successful blog can return at least 2 years of revenue at the time of sale.

Images: hellori; iprole; meerlap

Do you need help making money with your blog?  Priceless Writers offers blog management, search engine optimized content packages, and original writing services to help you generate a profitable online income from your website.  Contact us for a personalized quote.

Not too long ago, we published a post regarding the ins and outs of capitalization. It seems we’ve attracted a great deal of traffic from people looking for answers that aren’t readily available in the post.

If you have a capitalization question on your mind – let loose and ask it in the comment section below. We will promptly answer your inquiries as soon as we receive notice. And don’t be shy, you never know when you can help a fellow writer facing the same dilemma.

A press release with SEO will spread the word about our special 10% discount for eco-minded businesses.

Overlooked by many companies, press releases offer a hugely effective way of growing your company’s web presence through search engine optimization (SEO). A search engine optimized press release can also help you increase your ranking on Google. Far from simply being a method of sharing your latest news or service, a press release optimized for search engines can offer you an excellent and cost effective way of improving your visibility.

While many people think that SEO simply boils down to having a website and littering it with keywords and meta tags to impress the search engines, it’s a little bit more in-depth than that. Google, Yahoo and the other major search engines are constantly evolving the way their search optimization techniques work. Now you need a combined list of search engine friendly features to help you achieve the rankings your success needs – unique and custom content, social media and blogs are all part of increasing your presence. A search engine optimized press release is also part of this arsenal, and a highly effective one at that.

Why Do I Need a Search Engine Optimized Press Release?

According to respected information portal Hitwise, Yahoo News and Google News are both placed highly in the Top 10 news and media websites. People or companies looking for news stories now prefer to use Google and Yahoo to the likes of CNN, The New York Times and USA Today. It’s a perfect example of how the online news portals have ousted the more traditional methods with the people that matter.

A search engine optimized press release can take advantage of this newest trend. Not only will it share the latest news about your business, but by using an SEO-friendly writing style it will also target the very people you want to attract to your business. Some of the key features this type of press release can offer include:

• Keyword-rich content to rank highly on the all-important search engines
• Links from your keywords to strategic pages on your website.
• Company logo, graphics or even embedded video links to make full use of the social media aspect of the press release.
• RSS feeds so that when your company releases other news statements, the readers of the initial press release will automatically be updated.

The video link example is an excellent method of improving your search engine visibility. Although viewed as mainly a website where users can upload personal videos, Youtube is now the third largest search engine – impressive for a mere video sharing site. Taking advantage of this popular form of media, by uploading a company video and embedding it in your press release, is a sure-fire way to increase your own Google rankings.

Where Do I Distribute my Press Release?

There are many outlets where you can submit your press release for distribution, some with better results than others. However, unless you’re familiar with meta tags and targeted industry keywords, you might lose the effectiveness of the release by not submitting correctly. A SEO writing service specializing in providing optimized press releases and web content should therefore be used, to ensure the maximum success for your company press release.

Image Credit: Julien Tromeur | Dreamstime.com

Online networking takes your business to an international level of competition.

Are you tired of hearing about Twitter and Facebook? I was a skeptic too, but soon learned that it’s hard to overlook or underestimate the power of online interaction on a social level. Millions of people are congregating on the Internet and you don’t have to leave the comforts of your computer chair to tap into this networking energy.

I encourage you to dip your hand in the honey pot and you’ll be surprised at some of the golden opportunities waiting just around the corner. While it isn’t a guarantee you’ll become a success story overnight or even in a couple of months, smart social marketing campaigns have resulted in increased sales, new customers or web visitors, and at the very least, cost-effective advertising.

On a personal note, I’ve been introduced to a wide-range of business professionals, as well as leisure indulgences. From recycled journals and cheap magazine subscriptions to gourmet taffy, I’ve purchased items advertised on Twitter that I would have never found browsing my typical online haunts.

Still wish to resist current trends? There’s more to business networking than just Facebook and Twitter. Other networking platforms to explore include:

LinkedIn: More than 40 million professionals have already established their online identity with LinkedIn without worrying about their next Tweet or updated vacation pics. You can connect with past colleagues and classmates, but your interaction is not on display for the rest of the world to see. Industry experts are available to lend a helping hand, but for the most part, I see this professional network more on the minimalist side of business networking.

StartUp Nation: Expect helpful advice and networking opportunities geared towards small businesses. From getting feedback on a new website design to asking burning business marketing questions, StartUp Nation is an explosion of effective community resources. Set off on a fact-finding mission or simply mingle with like-minded entrepreneurs. Forums are constantly filling with new ideas to spark your own creativity and send you off in the right business direction.

Biznik: Network with indie business owners in a community-wide general discussion forum or ask questions of fellow participants. Unlike LinkedIn, Biznik doesn’t focus on posting resumes and credentials, but instead – concentrates more on the sharing of ideas and building support systems for entrepreneurs.

Ecademy: Allow Ecademy to bridge the gap between you and the next entrepreneur. Gaining access to this online network opens many doors in the business world with the help of blog posts and message-board chats. For a more rewarding experience, the site offers an exclusive BlackStar membership program.

Focus: Sometimes you need a little help obtaining the goods and services to make your business ventures truly shine. With Focus, you gain the necessary assistance in an online community atmosphere to make important business decisions, conduct efficient research, and benefit from the expertise of others.

NetParty: If you live in cities like Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Orlando – then NetParty offers an opportunity for you to mingle both online and offline. Connect with qualified, thirsty-for-success professionals across the Net and then reconnect at happy-hour events about town. Dust off those business cards and get ready to pitch new job openings. Visit the website to find additional participating cities.

Photo Credit: nookiez

What are you doing? If you’re an active member of the Twitter community, then you probably already know that you can enter updates beyond the typical Twitter homepage. Armed with cell phones and other devices, an explosion of Twitter platforms, clients, and applications have emerged. To get you up to speed, consider the following selections:

Tweetie: Full-featured Twitter client for iPhone and iPod Touch – available at the iPhone App Store.

Tweet Deck: An Adobe Air desktop application (currently in public beta) that involves more than one social media outlet with a unique display featuring a columned user interface.

twitterfeed.com: Provide this service with the URL for your blog’s RSS feed and enjoy direct posting to Twitter.

Power Twitter: This Firefox add-on enhances the features found on the Twitter Web interface, such as Facebook status updates, custom settings, and photo uploading.

HootSuite: With an easy-to-use interface, you can use HootSuite to manage multiple Twitter profiles and pre-schedule tweets.

Twhirl: Using the Adobe AIR platform, this social software desktop client runs on both Windows (2000/XP/Vista) and Mac OSX.

How to Shorten Your URL for Twitter

With Twitter, you’re only allotted 140 characters to share your daily gripes, ever-changing activities, and call attention to any information you deem worthy. So, let’s say you’d like to include a link to your latest blog post or an article you found interesting. That can surely eat up your 140 characters. With the following options, you can transform long URLs into shorter links for your Twitter updates:

• Tiny URL
• Tiny.cc
• Firefox’s TinyUrl Creator 1.0.5

While you’re at it, why don’t you follow us on Twitter!

By Kevin via Flickr

During sluggish economical times, it only makes sense to cut back on spending. We’re eating out less, clipping more coupons, and eliminating unnecessary expenses at home – but what about your business?

Chances are, your business has probably taken a hit as consumers tighten their purse strings and you’re left searching for ways to balance lower profits with the expenses required to keep your company operating. Unfortunately, most business owners are starting by cutting their advertising and promotions budget.

Your Business Needs Advertising, Especially Now!

Too often, we overlook the actual benefits our marketing efforts provide. If your current clients have disappeared or decreased their spending, effective promotional tools and affordable advertising campaigns will bring in new customers and can even bring back some of your old ones!

Instead of eliminating your advertising budget, reevaluate your promotional spending and take advantage of less costly methods. For example, a local newspaper ad costs around $90 while posting an ad on Craigslist is free. From my own experience, the free Craigslist ad will typically bring in about 10 times the number of leads generated through the newspaper. Cost effective advertising allows you to increase profits without elevating your expenses.

Affordable Marketing Ideas to Promote Any Business

1. Press release. If you thought press releases were only for startups or restructures – think again! A well-written news release, distributed through the right outlets, can revive your business regardless of what you do or how long you’ve been doing it. Press releases give your company the visibility of a television commercial at a fraction of the price.
2. Build a website. A website is a must for an online business; an internet presence is just as essential for offline companies as well. More than likely, a big percentage of your target audience turns to the internet for their news, weather, and even shopping needs before turning through the Yellow Pages or picking up the newspaper – make sure you and your business are there! There are several free or low-cost alternatives to website design. Even a professional setup can often cost less than a Yellow Pages ad and can be much more worthwhile.
3. Sales letter. Whether you’re looking for new customers or hoping to revive some lost ones, a professional sales letter is your key to increased profits. Home improvement contractors, eBook authors, and local law firms can all benefit from a well-planned sales campaign. A compelling letter that reminds consumers of the advantages of your product or service can do wonders for your business without breaking the bank, whether it’s delivered via post, sent through email, or simply published on the web!
4. Online directories. Before you renew your telephone directory ad, look into more valuable internet directories that typically work much harder for a lot less cash. Free directories are a great place to start! Check with your local chamber of commerce or small business association for possible listings in your area. There are also an assortment of subscription based business directories that can give your company a boost – Angie’s List, Service Magic, and a number of industry-relative websites are some to consider. Ask about limited trials or basic memberships to get a good impression of how the service may benefit you before paying too much.
5. Start a blog. Even if you hire a writer, a business blog is the most cost-effective marketing tool you can have. You can connect with new clients, build upon your relationship with existing ones, and ensure that your service or product stays fresh in your audiences’ minds through a simple blog.

Saving money is important, but building your brand with marketing and advertising is essential to success. There are plenty of affordable and effective tools available to increase profits and sales. Take the time to weigh your options before completely eliminating your promotional spendings.

Need a professional sales letter that demands action, web content that attracts attention, or just advice on starting your blog? Contact us – we’re your original content specialists!

Always remember that writing for online readers is much different than writing for print. In order to attract repeat visitors to your website or blog – you need to promote easy scanning of the text.

Let’s face it – people rarely read an entire blog post or web page. They rarely dissect every word or fully absorb all information. Instead, they scan the page. Certain words, phrases, and sentences will catch their eye. If you’re successful in keeping their attention, you may gain a reader that will digest most of what you have to say. Successful websites learn how to make things easy for readers. They may use:

Subheadings.

Alert your audience to distinct changes in your text. Make the information that is most important to readers easier to find. For instance, a business offering an article on various training tricks for animals could use ‘Dogs,’ ‘Cats,’ and ‘Birds’ as their subheadings. A dog-owner that comes to the site will save a lot of time by easily locating the training tips focused on dogs.

Bulleted lists.

Call attention to significant pieces of information by using bulleted lists instead of burying details in a wall of text.

Highlight keywords.

Lure your reader to certain blocks of text by highlighting certain words and phrases. When you highlight keywords in your text, you can choose to change the typeface or color, or use hypertext links.

A simplified writing style.

Remember to use vocabulary that is easy to follow. Let’s say you’re trying to sell a product. Deliver the most important information to potential consumers in a concise manner. In other words, don’t lose the interest of a reader by using ‘big words’ that typically don’t see the light of day outside of the dictionary.

One idea at a time.

Each paragraph should address one idea at a time. Some readers tend to skip the end of paragraphs. Position the most important information within the first few words.

Short paragraphs.

Long-winded paragraphs not only lose the attention of a reader, but also contribute to a wall of text that smothers key points.

The inverted pyramid.

Take a hint from newshounds and embrace the inverted pyramid approach when writing for the Internet. Deliver the conclusion first, followed by the most important details. Basically, the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘when’, ‘where’, and ‘how’ are presented in the first paragraph. The end of your article, web page, or blog post is then used to give background information. When using an inverted-pyramid writing style, visitors can stop reading at any point and you’ve still impacted their lives.

Regardless of the type of employment you’re seeking, your resume’s cover letter will typically form your potential employer’s first impression of you and your qualifications for the position.

The Purpose of a Cover Letter

A successful cover letter is much more than a simple introduction to your resume. While a resume is full of facts, figures, and employment history – your cover letter will display a great deal about you, your personality, your communication skills, and even your attitude. Chances are, a resume with a poorly written cover letter will see the trash bin before it has the opportunity to be reviewed.

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

While proper grammar, correct spelling, and a professional business letter format are quite important – the content of your cover letter is also crucial to your resume’s success.

Do not:

• Write a quick “Hi, here’s my resume” and call it a cover letter.
  

  A clean, professional font like Times or Arial is best for your resume. Photo by: Francisca

• Simply rehash the points already covered in your resume.
• Use the same generic letter for all employers.
• Fill your letter with complicated vocabulary and long sentences.
• Overly sell yourself – but don’t sell yourself short!

Do:

• Introduce yourself and explain why you’re writing in a professional , but personal tone.
• Take the time to review the position requirements and company information so you can briefly explain why your expertise will benefit the employer.
• Use bulleted lists and short paragraphs to make your letter easy to read.
• Describe how your skills and qualifications make you the perfect candidate for the position.
• Request an interview or meeting to discuss the position further and include appropriate contact information should the employer have questions.

While a well-written cover letter and great resume are often enough to score an interview, you may not always hear an immediate response. Sending a thank you note to your prospective employer, thanking them for taking the time to review your application, will keep your qualifications fresh in their mind and is not at all inappropriate.

Whether you’re needing search engine optimized web content or searching for tips about writing the perfect cover letter, be sure to subscribe to the Priceless Writers Blog in your favorite reader so you don’t miss a post!