It seems like just about everyone has a blog these days.

Do you have one yet? Well, if not (or even if you do), continue reading and see for yourself why blogging is so popular.

What is a Blog?

Basically, it is a web page that contains short articles, known as posts, on a variety of subjects. These posts are arranged in reverse chronological order (that is, the latest comes first) and each one is identified by an anchor tag marked by a permanent link that can be referred to by others who wish to link to it.

Blogs are a means of communication – some just point to other websites, others contain long articles, some are personal diaries, and others promote new technology. In other words, bloggers can write about anything they want.

Why Blog?

Why not?

Through blogs, people can express themselves freely. Writing blogs gives you the power to get what you have written printed immediately. No questions asked.

Another reason why many people are blogging is the freedom of design, layout, and its structure. You can write anything about what you want regardless of what it looks like. Your point is to attract readers in the way you think is the best. That is the power of blogging—giving you the freedom of what you want your blog to look like.

More than that though, blogging can be an excellent way of promoting your business and driving traffic to your website. All you have to do is write a few blogs about your business using carefully selected keywords.

Blogging Tools

Before you begin you need to know about blogging tools. These tools enable you to post your blogs either on your own website or to a certain blogging community. Popular blogging tools are Blogger and WordPress software; web-based tools that don’t require you to install software to your personal computer or on your server.

These are just some of the basic things you need to know about blogging. Remember that blogs give you the power to publish anything you want. And don’t forget to place a link directing to your own website. It can help you generate the traffic you needed.

Sally Ormond of Briar Copywriting also has a blog – FreelanceCopywritersBlog full of excellent copywriting tips.

I get asked this time and time again. Most people I meet start out wanting a non-geographic number as they feel an 0845 or even an 0800 number looks more professional. This is not always a good thing but does have it’s place.

For local businesses, a local number is always best as you demonstrate instantly that you’re in your target market’s area code. A mobile number can work depending on the type of business but usually best avoided for initial advertising as it suggests you’re on your own and rarely in.

If you deal with small businesses, they tend to call from mobiles due to very good mobile packages with included minutes. Most mobiles are charged for 0800 numbers and most 0845 calls are outside their allowance. A local number however is included no matter where you are in the country. If you’re marketing to the whole country, presumably locality doesn’t matter anyway and potential clients shouldn’t be put off by the fact that you’re based many miles away.

If you deal internationally, the 0845 may not work and the 0800 will not be free (yet you will still be charged for receiving). A local number is still best.

If you are a B2C however and tend not to work with other businesses, an 0800 can get good results. Many consumers still rely on mobile so offering a local number as an alternative on your contact page might help capture those people. Other NGN’s can also work depending on the type of business but with scams appearing left right and centre, any variation of 0845 and even 0845 can lead to a lack of trust. I would advise offering a local number as an alternative on your contact page.

Mostly it’s all pennies when it comes to calling various numbers, but these pennies can make a huge difference as to who calls you.

A mobile number suggests solitary worker, hard to get hold of and never in the ‘office’. If I get through, I know I’ll be able to speak straight to the person I want.

An 0800 number suggests a solid call centre. Free to call from landlines but I wouldn’t want to call when out and about as it will cost me. Might be difficult to speak to a specific person. Not sure where they’re located so can’t pre-think a meeting request. Might have to sit through automated services.

An 0845 number suggests a solid call centre. Will cost me every time I call, might be difficult to speak to someone specifically. Not sure where they’re located so can’t pre-think a meeting request. Might have to sit through automated services.

A landline number (locally) suggests a solid office. Free from my mobile, the person I want to speak to is probably near the phone. Handy as their office is just down the road so before calling, I’ll get a list of dates and times we could meet.

A landline number (non local) suggests a solid office. I know where they are, I may not be able to meet them but I know this before calling. The person I want to speak to is probably near the phone.

As a side point: When printing business cards with your name, ALWAYS include a direct line or mobile, a direct email address and optionally twitter, linkedin, ecademy links.

I have a blog which contains loads of articles about freelance copywriting. But for those of you who are new to the art of copywriting, this blog will focus on giving an introduction to the subject and why it is in such high demand today.

Take a look around you. Every where you look someone is trying to market something to you. Therefore 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 and is based on three fundamental principles:

• When you are writing to a customer, there has to be an involvement between the customer and the seller.
• You must 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 want your readers (the customers) to want a certain product because they will want to gain certain rewards – you know the kind of thing, the product will save them time, money etc. etc. etc.

‘Come on, anyone can write sales stuff…can’t they?’

A lot of people would like to think that true but it’s not. There is a specific niche for copywriters. They are the ones who write messages in such a way that it brings about an interest in a consumer.

There are so many ads out there today so consumers won’t 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.

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.

Author – Sally Ormond, Briar Copywriting. A professional freelance copywriter with extensive experience B2B and B2C copywriting across all industries.

Driving home the other night, something scooted across the road forcing me to stop suddenly. I pulled over and found a very friendly king charles with no name tag. I pulled the leash out of the car and had a walk around trying to find someone with an empty lead or at least to see if the little guy would take me home. Instead he happily walked alongside me as if nothing was wrong.

I walked up to the street he appeared to come from and found another small dog owner, asked if they recognised the dog. She told me outright to keep it. The owner regularly lets the dog loose outside the house and he’s been hit by a couple of cars…

I took him home and filed a lost dog report to the police. I couldn’t guarantee this lady’s story and certainly didn’t want to end up in court for theft.

He happily wandered into the kitchen where I decided to investigate. He was filthy, thirsty, hungry, had to keep him and my dog for fighting for food and attention. He rolled over as we stroked him and I watched his black skin turn white as hundreds of fleas ran for cover. These were the biggest fleas I had ever seen, most 2mm long!

I hadn’t started looking for them, they were impossible to miss and no responsible dog owner would ever have let it get that far.

We took him straight up and gave him a soapy bath to get rid of the worse of them, then while my wife was drying him off I ran to the pet shop to grab some strong flea products.

The bath didn’t clear them completely as suspected but they were no longer hoarding. The bath was full of dead fleas and his coat was once again a beautiful black brown and white with all the curls in just the right places. We dusted him down with flea powder and once the half hour passed and he was brushed down, applied some spot-on treatment. (They did say not to use two products but the powder was relatively weak lasting only a couple of days and the chemicals different so all should have been safe.) We kept him contained last night in an effort to keep stray fleas, eggs and larvae in a known area.

This morning he was almost flea free. He’d almost stopped scratching and must have had the most peaceful night’s sleep ever! I found a couple of live ones still, but I really had to search so hoping the spot on treatment will continue working as the 24 hours suggested hadn’t elapsed.

All the while, rooms used were dusted down with the remainder of the flea powder and left overnight for hoovering the next morning. The two dogs were playing happily although occasionally had dominance dances when we were around. When I went to the loo, I got up the stairs, turned round and had too faces looking up at me, it was absolutely adorable!

This morning we had a call from the owner. I tried to address the flea problem politely. (How to tell someone their house is full of fleas without criticising their cleanliness. I know that fleas don’t necessarily mean they’re unclean but I think she took it that way). She casually said that he must have collected them in the street. I just thought that yes, the first ones he did, the other thousands come from neglect and are breeding, nesting and growing into adulthood in your carpets… but I didn’t say anything… She sent her son round to collect and I had no choice legally but to hand him over. I also gave him the rest of the spot-on treatments and again tried to mention about his house being full of fleas. These may have been too subtle but he was reading the packet as he left.

It’s heartbreaking to do that, but in the eyes of the law, that dog is their property and I have no right to decide whether or not they should have him.

I’ve vacuumed the entire house moving all the furniture and looking forward to repeating the process every day or two for 3/4 weeks I didn’t get a thank you, a handshake or anything. More to the point, I feel like I’ve lost a new friend. He was a lost, itchy, dirty little thing who went to happy, sparkling and almost void of those pesky things. I know I did the right thing on all fronts but didn’t want to let him go.

If we find him again (which I suspect we will) I’ll send him to the dog pound. The owner will have to pay them £70+expenses. That will hopefully teach them to keep a closer eye on their animal and if they can’t afford or are not willing to pay, he’ll be rehomed under strict rules to someone who will treat this fluffy bundle of joy the way he deserves.