Simple Ideas for Quality Content

Written by Grant McNamara


What is good quality content for a web site? We can usually recognize quality content when we see it. It is a total package deal;repparttar words used,repparttar 129317 grammar,repparttar 129318 presentation,repparttar 129319 supporting artwork. Daily I receive articles from people giving advice that quality content is one ofrepparttar 129320 golden rules ofrepparttar 129321 Internet. Without quality content your visitors just don’t stay, and never return.

An entire industry has grown to support and help companies develop their web sites to present quality content. There are editors and copy writers, localization experts to name a few. These companies specialize in web sites. They help to develop compelling language, usually designed forrepparttar 129322 visitor who skim reads. They recognize thatrepparttar 129323 visitor might devote two minutes or less, and unless in those few moments they ‘are captured’, they wont read anything in depth and result: NO SALE.

If we can hold these fleeting visitors to actually read our words with some care, and hence take our product offer seriously, our language has to support their initial good impression. Spelling errors, poor grammar, slow loading art, and countless other factors will all debase quality.

Little inconsistencies in our written language bother visitors. For example, hyphenating a word on one page and not hyphenatingrepparttar 129324 same word on a different page. Visitors aren’t necessarily even conscious ofrepparttar 129325 errors; but they are left with negative feelings.

When we first develop a web site we devote considerable resources. We check and edit and test, may be take user surveys and then check it all again. And finally our web site can be described as finished. If only it were so simple. As most people who manage a web site will know, things change. And changes, improvements and enhancements to our web site are usually a continuing effort.

And because we are working mainly with that wonderful tool called language, we’re working with a changing foundation. The Internet itself has added a whole new set of words. Overrepparttar 129326 past few months I’ve been developing an Internet support web site intended to help small businesses (it is http://www.selling-it.com/ ). Throughoutrepparttar 129327 project I’ve been faced with choices about how to spell words. Should I write an e-book or an ebook? Which letters do I capitalize? If I’m a Webmaster why do I run a web site? Is it a Unix or a UNIX or a unix server that I’m using? Will people buy my products using checks or cheques? Technical words like php, .htaccess file and MySQL were all problems. In fact new words and phrases are continuously added to our language.

Then we haverepparttar 129328 traditional problems that English presents. Some words allow two quite acceptable spelling forms; i.e. inquire and enquire. Is it best to use British or American spelling on a web site? Numbers present special problems. Were there 25 enthusiastic testimonials or twenty five?

Initially I tried to rely on my spell checker but sadly it wasn’t much help. I worked hard researching a variety of web sites providing advice on quality content. But no where was I able to find a categorical definition of correct spelling and capitalization of many technology related words. And you bet I tried dictionaries.

Many words are so new that there isn’t a definitive spelling. Onrepparttar 129329 positive side there was a message I could follow. When there isn’t an accepted spelling, and to maintain quality content; spellrepparttar 129330 word consistently throughoutrepparttar 129331 web site. I hope you’ll agree that’s great advice. It certainly simplifiesrepparttar 129332 issue. But I was still left with a problem.

Never, Ever Release Any Of Your Rights To Anyone

Written by Bob McElwain


One ofrepparttar grandest scams onrepparttar 129315 Web, which goes largely unnoticed, is for a web-based bookseller or publisher to require some rights to your work in exchange forrepparttar 129316 service to be provided. Many demandrepparttar 129317 electronic rights, for example.

Don't do it!

Never, ever release any of your rights. Here's why.

The Writer's Goal

Winningrepparttar 129318 writing game means becoming an established author, one who sells a new book every year or two. One who earns enough to live comfortably from his or her writing alone.

The first step toward achieving this goal is to be published by a major house inrepparttar 129319 real world. That is, offline. Most will not even consider your book if you've muddiedrepparttar 129320 water by releasing or selling any rights to it.

Sure, there are exceptions. Some have self-published, then later made a deal with a major house. Andrepparttar 129321 stories make grand reading. But there are not a lot of them.

The Better Plan

If you are serious about writing, grab a copy of "Writer's Market," then read and followrepparttar 129322 rules. While many publishers buy an occasional manuscript directly from an author, your best bet is to find an agent and leaverepparttar 129323 manner of presentation to publishers in capable hands. (An agent is worth his or her weight in gold in helping you decipher a contract!)

It will probably take some time to find an agent. Begin another tale while doing so. And once you find one, while waiting further and hoping for great news, continue writing. Ifrepparttar 129324 agent you found can't make it happen, look for another. But keep writing.

Again, there are success stories of those who bypassed agents and went directly to a publisher. But unless you're one heck of a salesperson and really in tune with what each publisher is looking for, leave it all to an agent, and do what you do best. Namely, write.

How Rights Released Can Bite

Bingo. You've made a sale. A good house, too. You and your agent are jumping with joy. Hey, you're on your way!

But wait one. A few years back, electronic rights were negotiable, and often retained byrepparttar 129325 author. So you released these rights, or part of them, to gain some exposure onrepparttar 129326 Web. But now your publisher-to-be wants them. What for?

Books by major authors are selling in electronic formats. The entire publishing industry is closely tuned in to this rapidly changing part ofrepparttar 129327 book arena.

Okay, back torepparttar 129328 what your publisher-to-be wants. Will they go throughrepparttar 129329 legal hassles and payrepparttar 129330 costs to recover those rights you handed out? Or will they just grab another title fromrepparttar 129331 in-stack? If you were in their position, what would you do?

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