The Word Shop Blog

September 28, 2009

Portland Oregon SEO Search Engine Optimization

Portland Oregon Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Company

Jim Hay an established Joomla Business Website Designer has begun to offer his services of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). He specializes in SEO on business websites in the Portland Oregon and Seattle Washington area.

Portland Oregon has its share of Website Designers. Jim Hay SEO pulls his background in SEO/Search Engine Optimization to the table in all the Websites he designs.
Jim Hay SEO develops Business Websites and E-commerce Websites in the Portland Oregon and Seattle Washington area using the Joomla CMS. Joomla is open source script for developing Content Management Systems.
Jim specializes in designing business websites that are engineered to rank well in the search engines and receive lots of traffic.

E-Commerce shopping carts are a specialty of Jim Hay SEO. He uses PDG Software for all his E-Commerce sites.
PDG software is an E-Commerce Software platform that fully integrates with Quickbooks. Being a high end software package coupled with Joomla lends itself to being a extremely powerful website.

His services include:

  • Keyword research
  • Competition research
  • Website analysis
  • Competition website research
  • back link generation
  • blog post submission
  • Content generation
  • Website design

He has 8 years of Internet marketing including Website Design and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

NaNoWriMo.Org

Filed under: Creative Writing — Trish Macqueen @ 8:57 pm

NaNoWriMo.Org

Today, the Word Shoppe took on a special project that involves the local library and a group of writers.  Trish, owner of the Word Shoppe, and an avid writer and copywriter, was asked to form a writers group at the local library and the first meeting was held this morning.  Twelve writers attended this meeting and all the important decisions, involving the group, were decided such as group name, meeting dates and times, and what to learn or share.  These group members introduced themselves and followed it up with what they were hoping to accomplish by joining this writers group. 

Trish, always having been a member of a writer’s group was amazed to find mainly poets, with only one or two short story writers, an nobody working on a novel.  An unusual combination to say the least, but no deterring as Trish believes every writer should be a well rounded writer and at least make an attempt to write in every genre, so with this in mind, she set out to introduce the group to National Novel Writing Month, which takes place in November.  This event runs for 30 days and has the author of the book completing 50,000 words in that 30 days to meet the challenge.  It is a great way to get a book in the works, and after the initial shocked expressions, a couple writers stepped forward wanting to know more, which thrilled Trish.

Trish has also prepared and sent out a newsletter for the next meeting, which will now take place each Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  She is expecting great things from these writers who now belong to the “Scribblers Writing Group” and will be introduced to their first prompt write on Tuesday evening.

As far as National Novel Writing Month, Trish is also encouraging the copywriters and ghostwriters who freelance at the Word Shoppe to try their hand at this unique experience too.  Trish participated last year and managed to make the full 50,000 words three days short of deadline, although because of how busy and active her schedule is, she has yet to complete last year’s novel, although it is relatively close to being done.

For additional information about this writing event, please visit:

National Novel Writing Month

If you would like additional information about being part of writer’s group, or are looking for freelance work, Trish’s Word Shoppe, is always seeking great writers.

To find out more, send email to Trish

July 17, 2009

It’s a Mini Website, Landing Page, Week here….

Filed under: Internet Content — Tags: , , — Trish Macqueen @ 1:57 pm

As content writers, the creative writers, ghostwriters, copywriters, and graphic designers are really put to the challenge when it comes to preparing “Sales Letters”, also known as White Pages, Landing Pages and Mini Websites.

These “Sales Letters or White Pages” challenge each of our departments, here at the Word Shoppe, as it is with a combined effort that we are able to prepare what the client needs to make his product or service sell, and believe me that is the name of this game!

We seem to go in spells around here.  First, we seem to do the mini website’s landing page, and then we write the free e-book content that go along with the landing page to entice people to buy the main product or service.

This week it is all about selling the product and/or service, so our creative writers read over the documentation supplied by our client and put it into a story-type format, before passing it over to our copywriters that have sales and marketing experience, to re-word and edit the creative copy into a killer content that will sell, sell, sell…

Once it is in the “I can sell the product/service format” our ghostwriters step in to put the final spin on things and make sure that what needs to stand out is in larger print, bolded, and often colourized.  Our ghostwriter usually have worked closely with out graphic artists and have experience picking out the important things and providing bulleted items where required, plus they are masters are finessing the final words.

Once the creative writers, the copywriters, and the ghostwriters are in agreement, which sometimes takes some head banging and friendly bickering, the project is passed over to the graphic artists who add the finishing touches, which usually include graphics, product images, videos and audio clips; anything to enhance the product and make it sell.

Once the graphic artists have completed the task, the project is returned to me, and I review it for anything the customer’s client could misconstrue.  Since I am directly involved in the project from start to finish, often completing websites for special clients who have been around a long time, personally, I have a talent for spotting the little annoyances, shall we call them.

These new mini website’s landing page, are turning over a high volume in sales each month, so having the right team working on them seems to make all the different in whether your product or service will boom or bust, and it seems as though my team is batting thousands – in dollars, as new website work just keeps rolling in.

The great thing about this is, my creative writers, copywriters, ghostwriters, and graphic artists are having a fun time dreaming up some pretty spectacular pages that are selling high volumes and producing ecstatic repeat clients for us here at The Word Shoppe.

To find out more, or discuss your next project, Contact The Word Shoppe

July 3, 2009

The Word Shoppe Writing E-Books

Filed under: Ghost Writing, The Word Shoppe News — Tags: , , — Trish Macqueen @ 2:39 pm

This month has been an interesting month here at The Word Shoppe, as many on my ghostwriting team have spent their time researching, compiling, and writing e-books for business people that are now interested in promoting their books sales with the assistance of free downloadable e-books in related subjects.

Today, this type of marketing seems to be a hot item in the online marketing of products and services, and is based on landing page websites that provide a hard sell approach.  These landing pages seem to follow a general layout and are heavily laden with graphics, bullets, and other wow factor, sales strategies formerly used in print sales ads.  It seems the internet has taken on some of the sales ideas often used in print ad copy.  Because of this, working freelance as a graphic artist, designer, copywriter, and/or ghostwriter has become much more interesting, as you have more flexibility and creativity available with each project.

So, this week while my graphic artists/design team was working on landing page websites, my ghostwriting team was preparing the related free e-book giveaways that entice people to purchase the main landing page product or service.

When designing the landing pages, my design team uses a division system starting with the headline block that generally consists of a killer headline that draws the customer in to learn more and is accented with a graphic suitable to the product.  This is probably the most important item of the entire page, as it is the attention getter!

Once designed, the copywriting team gets to work to prepare the content that will be used to keep the consumer reading to the bottom of the page.  This content is upbeat and direct, selling is the key here, so each item, which is often bulleted, needs to have impact and make the consumer want to learn more, read on, and buy.

Following these bulleted items, my copywriters work hard to prepare the testimonial and credentials section with the client providing testimonials about the product, which we then revise to make sound exciting and a must have!

Once completed, the copywriting team moves onto the information area of the landing page, which provides company information that tells the consumer all about the product or service.  While the copywriting team works on this section, the graphic arts team is busy adding the graphics and bullets, check boxes, and starbursts to the testimonial and credentials section.

Here, at The Word Shoppe, each division, graphic artists/copywriters/ghostwriters/and designers, work hand in hand, on these special web projects.  Each division has special expertise, which produces sites that sell, sell, sell….

Once the copywriters, designers, and graphic artists have completed the landing page, it is time for the ghostwriters to step in and perform their magic.  The team of creative and talented ghostwriters are the frontline marketing team.  They prepare the e-books relevant to the product or services sold on the landing page.  These e-books are informative, easy to read, are dabbled with humour, and contain just enough information to make you want to purchase the product or service being offered on the landing page website, which are also referred to as “Mini Sites”.   Once the books have been written and approved by the clients, the graphics team steps back into the project and quickly inserts related graphics into the e-book that tie it the landing page website, so that it is ready to hit the marketplace quickly, instantly setting the tone and making the consumer crave more….sales, the name of the game!

At this stage of the project, the landing page, or mini site, is complete and the e-book has been approved, dressed appropriately, and will be available to download from the landing page in less than two days.  Now, the indirect marketing takes place, and the ghostwriting team is back in action, writing articles ranging from 300 words to 1,000 words, depending on the blog, article directory, or social network requirements where these ghostwritten articles will be posted. 

Often, the copywriting team prepares up to 500 of these individual articles, all passed by the article checker to guarantee originality – no plagiarism allowed at The Word Shoppe, to be used as an introduction to the product and to provide inbound links back to the landing page.  These inbound links help boost the ranking of the mini site, and provide the consumer with information on where to go to, to download their free e-book. 

Of course, being perceptive shoppers they cannot resist the free e-book, after all, it is FREE! Moreover, with that one little step, the free ghostwritten e-book, the sales begin to roll in – another job completed by a team of caring and professional designers, graphic artists, copywriters, and ghostwriters, who aim to please!

For more information, or to discuss your next project with a professional team, contact Trish at The Word Shoppe: the.word.shoppe@gmail.com.  All projects are on a negotiated basis.

June 9, 2009

Was that Guest writer or Ghostwriter?

Filed under: Ghost Writing — Tags: , , — Trish Macqueen @ 8:34 pm

Well, hello there again,

It would seem I am a little behind posting my next blog article in my blog.  Now, the only reason I know this is because my web designer and great friend over at Joomla Unlimited Website Design has been poking me in the ribs again and telling me to get a move on, so here I am and today I am going to tell you about what my company does best…. be invisible!

The Word Shoppe, as you know, has a team of professional freelance writers, who work full-time everyday ghostwriting an unbelievable number of articles and product reviews used by our clients who contract the work, daily, weekly, and monthly, as the content for their blogs, social networks, and online company article e-zines.

Most people don’t realize that companies like “The Word Shoppe” write much of the material that is now being read on the various internet websites, which as a writer and business owner, I find both interesting and somewhat amusing.

Lately, there has been an upward swing in the number of articles my writers have been creating, which has resulted in between five hundred and one thousand; on-going, quality articles posted online each month.  You, the reader, naturally read the article and assume the owner of the blog, website, or article host writes it, but sometimes it is not so, instead a great team of ghostwriters, like mine, creates them.

I, personally, have over 25 years business writing experience, plus an extensive background in graphic design, and the majority of my writers have been creating articles, blogs, and web content for almost as long as I have.

By now you are sitting their thinking to yourself, “How come I have never heard of this company?  Well people, take the hint…I just told you…What my company does best is “Hide Well”. 

You will never read the company name on articles, in fact, unless I guest write… yes, that was guest write, not ghostwrite… an article or blog specifically for someone who has asked me personally to, my name “Trish MacQueen” rarely shows up online. 

Ok, so you typed my name into Google, and you now know I come up listed in many places, but you will also have noticed it is creative writing that has been written for one of the many creative writing communities I belong to.   What can I say, except I love to write!

My ghostwriting team has been doing this a long time and therefore we garner a good wage and are reliable always meeting or exceeding expected deadlines, which in turn, keeps our client list growing and repeat business flowing into us steadily. 

We maintain comparable rates and provide volume discounts, when applicable, and we understand the art of negotiation, but like you, expect to be paid a reasonable fee for the services we provide.  You know what they say…you get what you pay for?  QUALITY matter!  Take note…

So when it comes down to quality, DON’T cheap out…your readers will notice, and soon be moving onto more fertile grounds.

For additional information, or to discuss your next project, e-mail me anytime! the.word.shoppe@gmail.com

June 4, 2009

The Word Shoppe’s New Website and Blog

Hello, 

Welcome to The Word Shoppe’s brand new blog site.  My name is Trish and I am the CEO of The Word Shoppe.  The Word Shoppe is home to some very talented professional writers who work on a freelance and ghostwriting basis.

This year has seen some major changes here, at The Word Shoppe.  Not only have we moved to a new location, but we have also had an entirely new website created, thanks to my great friend, Jim, over at Joomla Unlimited Business Website Design.  This man has designed a fantastic website for us and we are thrilled to death that it is being noticed.  In fact, since it went on line, barely a week or so ago, we have gained several new clients and we could not be happier.  Way to go, Jim….YOU are the Best!

Now the other great news is that we have moved into a new location that, although will require some renovation, will be a wonderful place to work and meet people on a daily basis.  Although much of our work, here at The Word Shoppe, is done online, we still have a small division that is open to the public, locally, to bring in their work and have it done – real communication – handshaking and all lol.

The building The Word Shoppe Copywriters moved into is actually a former Women’s Institute Hall, so, basically, the size of a one floor small church, and at present it is totally open concept. The reason we purchased this hall is that we required more storage space and a place where I was not running between three locations on a daily basis – my office, my studio, and my home.  With this purchase, all of the former locations, are now located under one roof.

The Word Shoppe office now takes up the first 1/2 of the building on the left hand side, and the studio, I am also an international artist, takes up the second 1/2 of the building on the right hand side.  The remainder of the building is where my home resides.  We love it and when the snow comes this winter, I will be happy to pad to my desk in the morning in my slippers and never have to go outside and scrap my car again for the long blizzard drive into my office.  Today, with this building purchase, life is grand!

I am quite possibly one of the luckiest people in this world, as I now work 100% from home, with some of the best people in the world, including my great blog designer over at Joomla Unlimited.  He rocks! 

My writers, all special and wonderful friends, have worked with me for years.  They are dedicated and appreciate the client’s business, as much as I do, and we all work hard to provide copywriting, ghostwriting, business services, creative writing, and great Internet content for our clients who have provided us with much repeat business over the years.  To these people I say “A Special Thank You”.  My team appreciates every one of you, and I personally enjoy the challenge, working relationship, and steady friendships I have established with each of you over the years.  You keep us hopping, always needing it yesterday, but you also keep our creative juices flowing….so kudos to you!

Oh and just in case you have missed how very long this blog is getting to be, did I happen to tell you I am a writer, sometimes a very long winded and gushy one, but always a creative writer, no matter the topic.

Oh, Oh, think I am in trouble….Yep, I can hear Jim over there at Joomla Unlimited saying “Geez Trish, wrap it up…tell them what your blog will be about!”  The man is so pushy…sheesh!

Ok, fun aside, and yes I have a wicked sense of humour, love meeting new people, enjoy great conversations, love a challenge, and oooopppps…..I forgot….this isn’t my application to the dating site is it….Sorry Jim 

Okay, okay…  pushy darn man!  In closing, I hope you will come back often and join me around my blog’s fire pit (simply pull up a chair, beer or glass of wine, and get comfy).  

My blog is where I will be sharing some thoughts on:

• What makes a creative writer and/or ghostwriter
• What makes great content
• The importance of original articles and blog pieces
• A few spelling and grammar hints and tips
• What is important when looking for a writing service provider
• Some of the new projects we are working on
• Some of the wonderful companies we work with (with their permission of course)
• How renovations are coming at the hall (maybe even how my garden grows with a few hints and tips)
• And maybe even the odd item about what is happening in my studio.

There, see, wasn’t that easy?  The torture is over…but thank you for joining me on this long journey.  You now know what I plan to share with you, and how very long winded I can be doing it ….and you’re still here…hmmm…..lol

May you always have happiness, freedom, and health – the rest is irrelevant!

Yours, Trish

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