Writing Articles

It is not my intention to give you a 5 or 10 step plan to get traffic to your web site. But I do want to talk to you about one of the best traffic generating systems that exists.

Posting your Articles to Article Directories.

And it''s really a surprisingly efficient way to bring in traffic.

Hopefully you''re not saying "But I don''t have any articles". If you don''t, and are serious about wanting traffic, then get some. Either write them yourself, or have them ''ghostwritten'' for you. It is amazingly inexpensive to do this, and the benefit is priceless, and non-stop.

The most well-known place to have articles written ''on the cheap'' is http://www.elance.com

You must believe me when I say that the benefits are endless. Most of us start out reluctant to spend a lot of time posting articles, but when we finally become convinced of the value of the extra traffic, we become believers. Then we kick ourselves for not doing it sooner.

Here''s How it Works:

Let''s say that your web site is about Affiliate Marketing, as mine is. You need to become known as an expert in your field. The best way to do this is by having articles on your content-based web site telling all you can about affiliate marketing techniques.

In addition to pages on your web site, you can become well known even faster by posting articles to Article Directories. They are in the business of providing articles to the Internet public on many different categories of expertise.

People can read them, and even more significantly, they can post them on their own web site, or even use them in their email newsletters. Well how does that help you? Simple.. your name and resource box is at the end of every article, and people will surf over to visit your site from that.

That is how you get extra traffic.

Do all those who read your articles visit your site? Of course not. In fact, only about 3% of readers may visit. This is quite normal, but it does eventually snowball into significant numbers. Here''s How.

When people use your articles on their web sites or ezines, they must also maintain the credits and respect the copyrights of the author. I felt really honoured when I discovered that some of my articles were used the day after I posted them. And you only discover a very few places that your work is used. Most of the time, you can''t know.

The first Directory I posted articles to is Ezine Articles at http://EzineArticles.com/ which is the fastest growing of all of them. By logging in to my members page, I can view how many times each article has been read. What I can''t see is how many times people borrowed my articles, and how many times they were read in that new place, etc, etc.

Can you see how significant this all can be?

One more important point is the question of how long the articles should be. My personal preferences are 800 to 1,400 words. However, 500 to 1,000 is an acceptable range. In fact, if you have a 2,000 word article, you should split it up into 2 parts. That way you get the advantage of one extra page of visibility.

Finally, there is the question of how many directories you should post to.

You need to be aware, that posting articles can be a very time consuming exercise. For that reason, it may be best to test many, but only use a few. The more popular ones are usually better organized and permit article posting in an easy way. Ths includes previewing it before posting it with errors.

Currently, I post to 5 directories but have rejected more th an 20 that were such a drag to use, that I gave up on them. On the easy ones to post to, I can get in and out in less than 5 minutes for one article.

Here are some current favorites:

Ezine Articles
http://EzineArticles.com/

Go Articles
http://www.goarticles.com/

Article Alley
http://www.articlealley.com/

Idea Marketers
http://ideamarketers.com/

PS: What is shocking to discover is that every directory has it''s certain type of reader with differing tastes. An article read 50 times on one directory may be read 200 to 300 times in another one. And the reverse also happens for a different article subject, when comparing the same directories. Instead of 50 and 300, it could be 300 and 50.

This proves that you must post to several directories. Probably 10 to 15 is the most you need. Even 5 is good, but 10 is better. If you change headlines and a paragraph or two, then that can be also good. Let the search engines find you more often that way.

I don''t have enough articles posted yet, but I slowly add more every week or so. My primary target is 25 to 35 articles, and eventually 100 articles.

To find out where some of my work is, just search on Yahoo or Google for "fred farah"

Until next time.

Fred Farah
copyright 2005

The Best Affiliate Products
and Niche Market Strategies for Maximum Profits
Best Affiliate Products', 248, 'Get Traffic to Your Web Site with Articles, Writing-Articles, Writing-Articles articles, Writing-Articles information, about Writing-Articles, what is Writing-Articles, Article Writing Information', 'Get Traffic to Your Web Site with Articles plus articles and information on Writing-Articles

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Within this article today, we will look at SEO copywriting services from a couple of different perspectives.  Within the first half of this article, we'll help you look at good SEO copywriting services and we will use the second half of this article to show you how to develop good SEO copywriting services.

If you are looking for an SEO copywriting services company, there are many to choose from on the Internet today.  When you are looking for an expert within this field, do not take the first company that you come across.  You want to ask certain questions to make sure that his company knows what it is doing and that it has been successful at developing high ranking websites in the past. You want to ask the company how long it has been around and what particular niches it has focused on.  You want to make sure that this SEO copywriting service company can understand your niche so that it can write effectively for both the search bots as well as the people searching for your product or service.  You want to ask for testimonials from a couple of previous clients of the SEO copywriting services company.  Take your time to search the Internet for a couple of different companies that you would like to work with and then compare prices and services of the companies you like.  By doing a comparison as well as checking up on the company for its reputation and pass service, you will be putting yourself in a good position to work with a company that knows what it is doing.

That part of the article focused on how to look for a SEO copywriting services company.  Within the remainder of this article, we will look at ways that you can work to create your own SEO copywriting services company.  This is a very crowded field with many players today so you must make sure that you do something to set yourself apart.  You could be the best SEO copywriter out there but if you do nothing to set yourself apart no one will know the difference.  It may help to focus upon a particular niche where you know that you can write very effectively and with a strong background.  This can be a competitive advantage that you use to market your firm so that companies feel comfortable coming to you.  If you have done little SEO work in the past and are interested in this field due to a passion for the Internet and experience in copywriting, take the time to build a couple websites for yourself.  You can use these as training modules so that when you land a client, you will have some experience from which you can draw on.

Whether you are looking for an SEO copywriting services company or looking to start your own, they key is to make sure that you know how to separate the good from the bad.  Hopefully this article on SEO copywriting services has helped give you some ideas based upon which perspective you are looking into his article at.  The key is to go out and do your research so that you can benefit from the SEO industry as a whole.

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For those of you who are not familiar with the art of copywriting, this article will focus on giving an introduction to the subject and why it is in such high demand today.

The field of copywriting is large and continues to expand every year.  A way to describe copywriting is putting a creative message in front of a consumer. In the book, Copywriting, it is mentioned that copywriting is based upon three fundamental principles.  When you are writing to a customer, there has to be an involvement between the customer and the seller.  You must then make sure that you explain the rewards as far as when the customer is purchasing a product.  The final piece is achievement and that is what you as the writer will be focusing on.  Whenever you write copy, you are looking to have a certain effect upon consumers.  Usually this effect will be for consumers to desire a certain product because they will want to gain certain rewards.  You know that you've achieved your objectives by hitting certain sales goals that have been set for your copywriting.  There are many writers in the world but there is a specific niche for copywriters.  Copywriters are the ones who write messages but mold them in a way that it brings about an interest in a consumer.  With the number of advertisements out there today, consumers will not respond unless it is something that specifically interests them.  This is why it is more important than ever to have a clear focus when you are writing your copy so that you know which particular niche you're trying to hit within the broader population.

There will always be a need for copywriters no matter whether the economy is in a recession or in a boom.  Companies must always put out a message to consumers and as long as this demand is needed, copywriters will be in high demand.  If you are interested in working as a copywriter, you will have many different places to look for work.  You can decide to work for advertising agencies, on the Internet, or be your own boss.  There are many different markets for you in these three that were just listed.

When you are writing copy for a seller of a product, the key is that you must remember to put yourselves in the shoes of the consumer.  This is done through doing extensive research and studying what goes through the mind of that particular consumer.  Each niche or group of people will be different in what will motivate them to do certain things.  By doing this research, you will have a better idea of where you need to go with the message that you are trying to convey to your target audience.

This article on copywriting is meant to give you a broad overview of the field.  The demand for copywriters will always be strong due to the need of companies to send messages to their audiences to buy their products.  If you do not employ someone to promote your product, you will be left behind.  This is why copywriting is such a good field and is in such high demand.

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Article authors who use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) keywords to attract attention and falsely position themselves as experts, are like impurities in the water, clogging up the pipes. This is indeed a sorry situation. Unlike the days when the internet was young, if you want to find good information, you have to filter out the dirt first.

When you do web research using keywords, do you generally have to read anywhere from 4-7 articles on one particular topic before finding one written by an intelligent human being? SEO abuse is making it more and more difficult to locate the people with real expertise and valuable insights. It''s a growing problem, to say the least. But in terms of information-gathering, how do we pick through the chaff and get to the gold?

Use Specialized Terms in Your Keyword Search

When I''m in research mode, in addition to keywords, I use specific and/or specialized terms in my web searches. This helps me scope out authors with real knowledge as opposed to the BS artist looking to make a quick buck. It works for me, and it can work for you as well.

For example, let''s say you''re a writer, and you want to learn the proper protocol for submitting a query letter. If you search using the words ''query letter,'' know what''s going to come up? A million and one hits, the majority of which will be ads, which serve no purpose if you''re trying to learn something new. But if you type in ''query letter'' and ''format'' and ''cover page'' all in the same search box, you may be able to find some really helpful information from publishing experts who know everything there is to know about query letters.

Make Sure Your Specialized Terms are Still Considered Special

It''s worth noting that specialized terms often evolve into keywords as their meaning becomes widespread. Unfortunately, as the evolve in popularity, they devolve with respect to informational value.

In the old days, if I wanted to find a good article about nutrition and the immune system, I might look up ''free radical fighters''. It was something that only real nutrition specialists knew about. In today''s more health-conscious world, the term ''free radical fighters'' is wildly popular. Where it was once strictly textbook terminology, it''s now a "buzz word," used to advertise things like shampoo. As such, it''s become a ''dumbed down'' term; a fancy word that''s being thrown around, and as a result, you see it in lots of places where there''s nothing ''specialized'' at all! Consequently, if I do a web search using this keyword, it''s going to take me several tries before finding detailed information that I can actually learn from.

So: how does this impact information researchers, authors, and the quality of content on the internet? The diligent web hunter should choose his web search words wisely. And the author who wants to leverage SEO with keywords, should also fortify his articles with real and valuable information- including specialized terminology. In doing so, perhaps we have a shot at keeping the internet''s article content informative, relevant, and valuable to the reader.

Authors, Do Your Part for the Future of Internet Communication

Are you an author with real expertise, who''s feeling ''elbowed out'' by folks who use tawdry keyword manipulation tactics to attract attention on the web? Don''t worry about those people, and don''t give up! The dumbification of the internet does not have to be, if we don''t let it happen. Just keep on writing, and do it the smart way- that will both attract visitors through search engine optimization, and provide your readers with real, valuable information they can learn from and use. Include keywords, include specialized knowledge, include it all. Get it out there, get writing, and don''t lose sight of your goals!

At times, you may find yourself swept away on the intoxicating wave of high-speed communication. Seem so easy to just start hammering out any old shpiel about this or that, throw in some popular keywords, call it an article, spread your name around and convince people you''re an expert. Right?

Wrong. Authors, don''t get sucked in by all the hype and sensationalism on the internet. Never skimp on quality for quantity and the hope of instant fame... because if you do, you''ll flare up and be snuffed out in a millisecond. It takes years to build your reputation as an expert, and rightly so. Prestige must be earned, can''t be bought, and won''t ever be yours if you take shortcuts. If you really want to brand yourself as an expert in your field, keeping working, keep learning and keep growing. Your success will come in due time.

If you listen to those who believe in the Laws Of Attraction as applied to internet business, they''d probably say "People with higher aspirations and creative solutions will find each other." Let''s hope they''re right.

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

Dina Giolitto is a New-Jersey based Copywriting Consultant with ten years of industry experience. Her current focus is web content and web marketing for a multitude of products and services although the bulk of her experience lies in retail for big-name companies like Toys"R"Us. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for rates and samples.', 248, 'Article Writing: SEO, Expert Authors and the Dumbification of the Internet, Writing-Articles, Writing-Articles articles, Writing-Articles information, about Writing-Articles, what is Writing-Articles, Article Writing Information', 'Article Writing: SEO, Expert Authors and the Dumbification of the Internet plus articles and information on Writing-Articles

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A lot of great ideas happen when two or more other ideas collide to form something completely new.

Think of this like those old chemistry movies we used to watch in school. You had all of those atoms floating around and when two collided -- bam! A chemical reaction. Maybe something new was created. Maybe something exploded. Or maybe it all fizzled out and nothing happened.

Well, a similar reaction is going on inside your brain or muse. Except instead of atoms floating around they''re pieces of information or other ideas. As they drift about, they occasionally bump into each other. When that happens, you may get a new, third idea. Or a big explosion. Or absolutely nothing at all.

Now, if you have lots of atoms, or information and ideas, you''re going to get lots of reactions. Some will fail. Some will be so-so. And some will be hot -- so hot, so full of energy, they''ll have the power to change the trajectory of a business. Or even a life.

The problem occurs when you don''t have lots of random information and ideas. Fewer atoms mean fewer reactions. On top of that, you still have to weed through the invariable duds. So the odds of landing that one amazing idea drop considerably.

But not to worry -- there''s good news. You can increase your odds of getting those great ideas. Better yet, it''s fairly easy and painless. Below are three ways to get started.

1. Read, read and read some more. I know, I know, I can hear the groans already. "But I already have too much to read. How can I fit more reading in?" Never fear, there are ways to do this. (Remember I did say this was painless.)

The key is to keep it wide and shallow. What does that mean? Well, read lots and lots of different things, but keep it general. Read about sheep farming, finances, yoga, cooking, traveling, dog training, etc. But keep it general -- don''t read deeply. You can even skim if that''s all you have time for.

Start by subscribing to a couple of different magazines and e-zines. General interest magazines are really good for this -- Walt Disney used to read Reader''s Digest. Scatter them around the house -- by the bed, the couch, even the bathroom. I''d put a few in your car as well for those times when you have to wait for an appointment.

When you have a few moments, flip through them. Skim a few paragraphs. See what catches your eye.

You can also buy or rent audio books and CDs and listen while you exercise, drive, do the dishes, etc.

Whatever you do, DON''T read publications related to your industry. That''s for another time. This is brain-feeding time, not keeping up in your profession time.

2. Travel the world. Traveling has so many fabulous benefits for your creative soul I could write an article just about that, but for now I''ll limit my comments to brain food.

When you travel, you open yourself up to lots of new and exciting experiences. New sights, new sounds, new smells, new tastes, new textures. And they all have the ability to form a reaction with something else.

Don''t have time to hop on a plane to India? Take a day trip to a town you''ve never visited. Or, if you can only spare a few hours, seek out a park you''ve never been to or a museum you''ve been meaning to see or even that new cute little shop that just opened. You can always find somewhere new to visit no matter how long you''ve lived in the same city. And if you''re truly desperate, try walking around your neighborhood on the opposite side of the street in the opposite direction you normally walk. (It can help jolt you out of rut.)

3. Open yourself up to new things. Of all of these, this one is probably the scariest. But, it also has the potential to be the most powerful.

Take the time to try new things. Meet people outside your normal circle of friends. Attend associations, nonprofits, hobby groups outside of the ones you usually go to. Listen to speakers on topics you know nothing about. Take a class at a community college about something outside your scope of knowledge. Or even have dinner at an ethnic restaurant you''ve never tried.

Now I''m not just talking about "typical" creative things, like taking an art class or learning to belly dance. If you''re a creative professional, take a class on doing your own taxes or budgeting your finances or repairing your car. (Oooh, I bet all you creative folk felt a chill when I mentioned that.) The point is to really stretch yourself past your comfort zone. Make yourself uncomfortable. It''s not only a great way to grow, but it''s a fabulous way to keep your muse fat and happy.

And that helps keep the ideas flowing.

Creativity Exercises -- Prepare the banquet

Over the next month, I want you do to at least one tactic from each of the above three techniques.

1. Read something you know nothing about. Even if you only spend five minutes skimming an article about quilting when the last time you tried to sew a button on a shirt you stabbed yourself with the needle and got blood all over the material.

2. Travel somewhere you''ve never been before. Even if it''s an antique shop and the most antique piece of furniture in your house is a bookshelf your parents bought from Sears when you were a little kid.

3. Stretch yourself in a different and potentially scary way. Even if it''s attending one of those Home Depot gardening workshops despite every plant you''ve tried to grow didn''t and if your thumb was any blacker it would fall off.

You know how you work better when you''re not hungry, see how well your muse starts churning out ideas after a good meal.

Michele Pariza Wacek is the author of "Got Ideas? Unleash Your Creativity and Make More Money." She offers two free e-zines that help subscribers combine their creativity with hard-hitting marketing and copywriting principles to become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. She can be reached at http://www.TheArtistSoul.com

Copyright 2005 Michele Pariza Wacek', 248, 'Need a Great Idea? Feed Your Brain, Writing-Articles, Writing-Articles articles, Writing-Articles information, about Writing-Articles, what is Writing-Articles, Article Writing Information', 'Need a Great Idea? Feed Your Brain plus articles and information on Writing-Articles

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Introduction

There are two ways to submit to magazine editors.

One is to send the finished article without it being requested. This is referred to as an unsolicited manuscript. Most editors dislike reading lengthy manuscripts, and many magazines specify that they do not accept unsolicited manuscripts which, when received, are consigned to what''s called the ''slush pile'' and seldom get read.

Another, more productive way, to submit to magazines is to send a query letter, in which you pitch your idea to the editor before actually writing the article.

A query letter is a sales pitch: your goal is to convince the editor that your article idea is of interest to her readers and that you are the best person to write it.

Query letters save everybody time. In the time that would have taken you to write a full article, you can write a few query letters which may result in more than one assignment. Query letters save editors'' time because they don''t have to read lengthy manuscripts which may not be suitable for their magazines.

Query letters better your chances of working with the magazine you want to write for. Editors are usually reluctant to ask for a rewrite or suggest substantial changes to a finished piece. Query letters, on the other hand, make it easy for editors to offer suggestions to a proposed idea.

Even if your idea is not quite suitable for the magazine, the editor may like the way you''ve presented your idea and yourself and may still be interested in working with you on a different assignment.

I hope by now you are convinced that query letters are essential to breaking into the writing industry, especially if you are just starting out. So it''s well worth the time and effort to compose an irresistible letter that makes the editor want to see more of your writing.

Your query letter is not the only one the editor will see, so you must do your best to make yours stand out from the crowd and get noticed. A single query letter can make or break your success as a writer. Editors remember names. Make sure they remember yours in a positive way.

If your query letter is professionally written and attention-grabbing, even if your idea may not be quite right, the editor will mentally clock your name. If your query is accepted, and you complete your assignment with a well-written, well-researched and error-free article, she''ll remember you even more. And your next query will be viewed in a more favourable light. This means that a good query is often the beginning of a long-standing relationship between you and the editor.

If you send an unprofessional, poorly-written query, suggesting ideas which do not fit the magazine, the editor will remember you, too. But now she remembers you in a negative way. The next time you send her a query, she may just quickly glance at it and put it in the bin. You may be closing the door to that magazine forever by sending a single bad query. Do you really want to take that risk?

Nothing is guaranteed in life. Even a perfect query letter does not guarantee an assignment. But if you following the 10 steps outlined in this book, you will stand a much better chance of producing a professional query letter that gets read and gets assignments.

Note: To avoid cumbersome writing such as he/she and his/her, I have taken the liberty to refer to an editor as a ''she''.

Step 1: Get the name right

When you receive a letter addressing you as ''Dear Customer'' or ''Dear Home Owner'', do you feel the letter is talking to you directly?

Exactly.

It reads like junk mail that has been sent to millions of other people, doesn''t it? If you send an editor a letter addressing her as ''Dear Editor'' or ''Dear Sir / Madam'', she will get the impression that not much time and effort has gone into the query, and she''d be right.

If there''s one thing all freelance writers should know, it is that your article must be targeted specifically for a particular magazine. In order for your article to fit in with the style and tone of the magazine, the editor will expect you to have read a few issues of the publication.

A query letter beginning with ''Dear Sir'' tells the editor that you have not taken the time to research the publication. If you haven''t read the magazine, you won''t know anything about the audience. And if you don''t know who the audience is, how can the editor trust you to deliver an article that is suited to the magazine? So, if you only do one thing to make your query stand a better chance of success, get the editor''s name.

Larger publications often have different editors for different sections, and it''s important to send your query to the right person. When a features editor receives a short story, she may not have the time or inclination to forward it to the short story editor, and your query will be unread. So take some time to find out if you need to send your query to somebody other than the main editor. You can usually find all the information you need in the masthead.

If you don''t want to spend money buying every magazine you want to write for, go to a large newsagent or the library and look up the names there at leisure. Another way is to ring up the editorial office and ask the secretary.

Bear in mind that magazine personnel changes regularly, so check that the name is still valid every time you send a query letter.

Make sure you spell the editor''s name correctly. Some editors are mad about having their names spelt wrong. Besides, if you can''t get the details of her name right, why should she trust you to get the details of the article right?

It is acceptable to address the editor simply as ''Dear John Doe'' or ''Dear Jane Doe'' rather than ''Dear Mr Doe'' or ''Dear Ms Doe''. Nowadays it''s not always possible to tell someone''s gender by his or her name. In the case of women editor, it is particularly difficult to ascertain if she is a Miss, Ms or Mrs.

Step 2: Know your audience

Imagine this scenario:

You are a 35-year-old career woman. You subscribe to a magazine called ''Women Today''. You like the magazine because you feel that it caters for women like you. It addresses the needs of those who have to juggle between their roles as career women, wives and mothers. It offers fashion tips for your age group and good advice for busy parents. It also has an inspirational short story in each issue.

Now image this:

At the end of a busy day, after the children have gone to bed and all the dishes have been done, you open your ''Women Today'' and look forward to a good read, only to find that the magazine is now full of beauty tips for teenage girls; news about pop bands; advice on what to do on a first date; and the short story is gone.

You would be forgiven for thinking that you''ve brought the wrong magazine, and you''d probably stop buying it from now on and look for another one to fill the void.

Driving readers away is the last thing editors want to do. That''s why most magazines stick to a tried-and-trusted formula that suits the targeted readers.

The moral of the story is that there is no point in submitting the wrong type of article ideas to editors. Your article may be beautifully written, well-researched and error free, but if it''s about teenage pregnancy then it''s not going to get printed in a magazine for the over-50s.

Likewise, article ideas about enjoying one''s life in retirement are unlikely to be accepted by editors of magazines targeted at teenagers. Your ideas must be right for the magazines you''re sending your queries to.

You should read at least two issues of the magazine to get to know the tone, style and the average length of the articles. Again, use a library or a large newsagent if you need to.

Don''t forget to look at the advertisements, which will tell you a lot about the magazine''s intended audience. An article about trendy wine bars is unlikely to be of interest to a magazine advertising stair lifts.

Reading the magazine will also ensure that you''re not trying to pitch an idea that has appeared in a recent issue.

Many magazines now publish their submission guidelines on their websites, so check these out first to get an idea about the kind of articles they want. If you can''t find guidelines on the website, write to the editorial office with an SAE asking for writer''s guidelines. Most magazines will be happy to send you a copy.

The bottom line is, editors only print what their readers want to read. So if you have an idea that appeals to a magazine''s audience, it will also appeal to the editor. And the only way to find out what the readers want is to read the magazine yourself.

Step 3: A grand opening

Make your opening sentence work for you. Make it attention-grabbing and make it a masterpiece. Editors are busy people and you have about 30 seconds to get their attention. If you begin your query with a boring statement, she will simply scan through your letter and move on to the next one. Don''t give her any excuse to stop reading your letter. Present your idea as early in the letter as possible.

Your first sentence can be an intriguing question, an interesting fact, a quote from someone you interviewed, an anecdote, a statistic, a riddle or a joke appropriate to your idea.

Don''t ever begin your letter with:

''Although I have never been published before ?''
''I''m new to writing but ?''
''My mother thinks I should submit this article idea ?''

You get the drift. Comments like these scream amateurism. No editors want to work with amateurs.

Step 4: Get to the point quickly

Don''t over-stay your welcome by waffling on about inappropriate personal details. Editors are not interested in the fact that you struggle to find time to write as a mother-of-two, for example.

Explain to the editor why your article idea is unique and how it is of interest to her and her readers. Include a provisional opening paragraph if possible, but only if you think it will grab the editor''s attention and make her want to know what comes next. Say how you will get the information required to write the article; for example, by interviewing experts on the topic.

If you haven''t worked with the editor before, include brief information about yourself. If you have special qualifications to write about this particular article, make sure you let her know. For example, if you have a science degree and your article idea is about making science interesting to the general public, then say so.

Indicate how long your article will be. Make sure this is in line with the average length of similar articles in the magazine. Make it clear to the editor that the length can be varied to suit her needs.

Make your query a single A4 page. If you can''t condense your idea on one page, you need to work on it more to get it more focused.

Don''t include more than one idea in a query. The only exception is when you''re sending fillers. Even then it should be no more than 2 pages. Number your fillers clearly.

Step 5: Be professional

Professionalism is the key to success. The quality of your writing is of course important, but so is the image you project as a professional writer.

Be businesslike. You may be feeling despondent about having received five rejections in a week, but don''t spill your emotions. At this point, an editor is a potential client, not a personal friend, although she may become so once you have worked with her on a regular basis.

If you can afford it, get a professional-looking letterhead designed and printed at a printer. It need not be too expensive. If you own a laser printer, you can design a simple, elegant letterhead yourself on your computer. Make it minimal. Don''t try to use all the available fonts and colours in your word processor, and resist the temptation to include silly clip-arts in your letterhead. If you want to include graphics, get a logo designed professionally.

Include essential details such as your name, postal and email addresses, telephone and fax number.

Don''t expect the editor to pay for return postage. If you want to get a reply, you must include an SAE.

Editors want articles that are well-researched and error-free. If you query is full of mistakes, editors will doubt your ability to produce high-quality articles.

Don''t rely on spell-checkers solely. Read your query letters out loud; this makes it easier to spot spelling and grammatical errors. Get a friend or relative to proof-read your queries. Don''t send them out unless you know they''re error-free.

Step 6: Be focused

It is probably true that everything has been written about at least once. Your task is to find a new angle. Do you have something new to say about your topic? Or can you say something that''s already been said in a new way?

Don''t write to an editor suggesting you want to write an article about cooking or dyslexia. This is too generic. On the other hand, queries entitled ''Quick Mouth-watering Recipes for Busy Mums'' or ''10 tell-tale signs of dyslexia in children'' are focused.

Editors like ideas that are focused because they can picture how and where the finished articles will fit into their magazines. Make your query focused and editors will love you.

Many magazines have regular sections. If you can indicate to the editor which section of the magazine your article will fit into then all the better. This tells the editor that you have studied the magazine, which will put your in her favour.

Step 7: Mail or email, but no phone

Before you send out your query, check that your submission method is correct. Some magazines will not look at email queries, others insist on them. Do not query by telephone unless you have worked with an editor on a few occasions and are sure that she doesn''t mind.

Sending your query via the wrong method once again shows the editor that you have not spent time studying their publications and guidelines. This will put you on the blacklist and jeopardise chances of acceptance of your future queries.

If you''re querying by email, it is best to paste your query into the body of the email, rather than sending it as an attached document. This is because attachments are notorious for spreading computer viruses, and editors who have not worked with you before will be unlikely to open an attachment from an unknown source.

Emails are great for keeping in touch with friends and family, and we often adopt an informal tone in emails. When you email an editor, however, write it as you would a formal letter. Resist the temptation to use smilies ( ) or abbreviations commonly used on the internet. Don''t over-use punctuation marks, like this!!!!!!! AND DON''T USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IN YOUR EMAIL. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ.

I would also advice against putting the word ''Query'' in the subject line of your email. Editors are busy people. On a day when she is inundated with emails and letters, and faced with a deadline two days away, she may well respond to that ''oh no another query'' by deleting it without reading it.

Step 8: Clips, or no clips

If you''re a published writer, include a couple of your best clips with the query, but only if the clips are appropriate to the idea you''re proposing. There is little point in sending a clip on local history if your query is about fine wines.

If you''ve never been published before, don''t draw the editor''s attention to the fact. If the only places you''ve been published are local church newsletters or obscure websites with dubious reputation, it''s best not to mention them. It''s much better to simply present yourself in a professional manner in your query letter. If you act like a pro, the editor will assume you''re a pro and will treat you as one. Let your irresistible query letter and its professionalism speak for you.

Step 9: Learn from your rejections

It''s waiting time once you''ve sent your query off. Unfortunately editors are busy people and the waiting time can range from a week to three months.

If you haven''t heard from the editor in four weeks, follow it up with a polite letter or email. If you still haven''t heard anything after three months, assume it''s a rejection and move on.

For new writers, rejections can be soul-destroying. Just when you are feeling more confident about your writing, along comes a rejection letter, leaving you in doubt as to whether you are good enough to be a writer.

It''s important to realise that getting rejections is part of a successful writer''s life. It means that you''re making contact with the publishing world. Don''t let rejections stop you from sending out more queries. Be persistent, be professional and you will get published.

While you must try not to let the rejection get you down, you should spend some time analysing why your last query has not produced a positive response before re-submitting it to another magazine. Was it appropriate to the publication? Did you start your query with an attention-grabber? Did you send it to the right person? Did you send it in the post when the magazine insists on email submissions (or vice versa)? Did you include enough information for the editor to make a decision? Did you include an SAE?

Every rejection is one step forward in your writing career. Learn from them and use them to make your next query better.

Step 10: Give it 100%

Some writers, especially new writers, argue that they should be spending their time writing ''something proper'' rather than writing query letters. The trouble is, if you don''t write query letters, your ''proper writing'' may never be published and be read.

A query letter is a sales letter. To the editor, it is an indication of the quality and style of your writing. If she is impressed with what she reads in your query, she''ll trust your ability to write the finished article.

Don''t ever dismiss writing queries as a waste of time. To a writer, nothing written is ever wasted. Think of it as the gateway to your success as a freelance writer. Follow the steps outlined in this book and give it 100% every time you write a query letter. Now all you need are good ideas. But that''s another story.

Happy writing!

- - - - - - - - - -

Appendix:

1. How not to write a query letter

[No Date]

[Do return address and contact details]

ABC Magazine
123 High Street
Another Town

Dear Mrs Smith

I have never written to an editor before, but I have a wonderful article idea about horses. I started riding since I was a child, so I thought I could write an article for your magazine about horses.

I haven''t read your magazine but a friend suggested I should write to you to see if you''d be interested in my idea. I have written a couple of items for the local community newsletter and my family and friends think my writing is not bad.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in my idea. I will give you a call next week to discuss the details.

Emma Johnson

[no SAE enclosed]

2. Example of a professional query letter
[Professional letterhead, or clearly printed contact details]

20 October 2002

Anne Smith
ABC Magazine
123 High Street
Another Town

Dear Anne Smith

What.. what.. should a pa.. pa.. parent do if.. if.. if.. a child st.. started stammering?

Many would simply keep their fingers crossed and hope that the child would ''grow out of it''. However, research shows that while most children do outgrow this problem, some will develop persistent stammering into later life.

Stammering usually begins between the ages 2 and 5, and early intervention is vital in preventing it from developing into a chronic problem. I am confident that your readers, a large number of whom are parents of 2- to 5-year-olds, will be interested in a 1000-word article entitled ''Help! My Child Has Started Stammering''. The article will be an excellent fit for the Toddler Development section in your magazine.

I am a speech therapist and have worked with children who stammer. I will also interview two experts in this field to include the latest findings on childhood stammering.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my idea. I enclose an SAE for your response.

Yours sincerely

Emma Johnson

Mui Tsun is the creator of Inspire Software: the simple yet powerful Character Generator, First Line Generator and Scenario Generator will enhance your creativity, kick-start your imagination and clear your writer''s block. For more information visit http://www.raincatcher.co.uk/inspire.htm Don''t be stuck, be inspired!

For more ideas and inspiration, visit the Rain Catcher website at: http://www.raincatcher.co.uk', 248, '10 Steps to a Magazine Query, Writing-Articles, Writing-Articles articles, Writing-Articles information, about Writing-Articles, what is Writing-Articles, Article Writing Information', '10 Steps to a Magazine Query plus articles and information on Writing-Articles

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How does a writing agency market itself effectively in a cyber reality that''s bursting with free content? Writers these days are having a tough time competing for business. The game is complicated and the rules are changing.

The mini culture of ezine publishing is quite representative of the wider internet; if you write an article about your very own writing boutique, you generally are expected to submit it in the category labeled ''writing''. But the difference between this and other categories is that writers selling their skills as a product are virtually talking into empty space. Where other categories have a tangible target market directly at hand, writers submit articles about writing.

Writing about writing in order to purposefully market yourself is okay if you want to give advice to newcomers to the trade, but you don''t attract any immediate clients this way.

In contrast to all the other categories that have real, often tangible, goods to sell to people who need them, writers market themselves to website developers by directly addressing the issues that concern them, and tend to just ramble on and on about the art of writing instead. A rather pointless exercise unless you''ve already missed your vocation and confuse sound writing with teaching.

A writer likes just to write about reality in all its facets and I can hardly imagine there''s anything more tedious than to write about writing. Unless you have a psychological defect which forces you to continue to talk in metacommunicative terms ad infinitum, but there are not many such people around. I wonder what the defect is and am already itching to research the topic, and write something about it and ? yes, what? Publish it for free, hoping someone will read the byline and say; ''one more please'', or, in a wilder dream: ''We''ll put you on a monthly retainer if you write a few?'' It happens this way, but you have to be lucky. Yet, our traffic numbers simply dictate we flush the ''net with more free articles we believe is an illogical waste-your-brain exercise.

What is the right path for someone to still sell writing skills?

These are the options:

a- Create RSS, XML feeds and syndicate to news services;

b- Prop up the output by including extra resources on existing topics that get good traffic;

c- Regard incoming links as search engine rank boosters rather than direct mega traffic generators;

d- Expand the online presence to include direct marketing, job bulletin boards, forums;

e- Invent something ludicrously insane to get attention and then capitalise on it like crazy.

Ad a- In the time frame of the last six months, I have cringed, bit my teeth and published articles for free on real topics including politics, culture, features, health. They have been posted in a host of freebie ezines, a few highly reputable professional special interest publications and our own ezine which is already RSS compatible. We also publish a ranting and raving blog which is a highly contrarian piece of mostly political fabric that is truly optimised for all outlets in the blogosphere too. It''s worked miracles for our traffic.

Ad b- The output is however still too low to attract continuous traffic. It makes sense to see what the most popular topics have been and expand the coverage by including RSS feeds from other sources and create boutique style news packages out of them that are so specialised they beat the news aggregators. Read our other article The Grassroots of Publishing ? And the Beyond.

Ad c- Targeting the market for content writing by producing solid examples honing the trade remains key, especially because it creates incoming backlinks. These are the so-called non reciprical backlinks which are famous for propping up your rankings in search engines.

Ad d- Small agencies can mimick the news industry without too much trouble and provide better, tailormade, products. They have to ride a fine line however by not abandoning their natural target market (for tailor made hand crafted content, someone''s gotta do it) or by excluding the outside world that''s exploiting the same turf.

Ad e- Instead, making your weak point your strongest is best. If in the jungle, the life saving maxim is ''if you are not strong, be quick'', in today''s internet jungle the writer''s should be ''if you are not big, be different''. Strong conceptual thinking is key in getting visitors to come back. Casting a human eye over aggregator news output and including extra sources as well as some home made articles are the ingredients to create content that''s different and better.

Angelique van Engelen is a freelance writer based in Amsterdam the Netherlands. She runs http://www.contentClix.com and writes tailormade articles and content.', 248, 'Publishing: changing realities (IV), Writing-Articles, Writing-Articles articles, Writing-Articles information, about Writing-Articles, what is Writing-Articles, Article Writing Information', 'Publishing: changing realities (IV) plus articles and information on Writing-Articles

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