Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Beautiful South Africa: Pretoria Botanical Garden

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Tips for Using Press Releases for your Business or Organisation

If you can get a favourable editorial mentioned in a publication or broadcast program that is relevant to your line of work it can be an extremely cost-effective method of promoting your business or organisation.

An editorial piece is more likely to be read and noted than an advertisement and it will carry more authority.
The way it goes about is usually with you producing a press release and sending it to the sort of publication that might be interested in your story. The editorial staff may then use the text from your press release to create a feature, usually backed up by a phone interview with you. If the matter is sufficiently newsworthy, they may send a journalist and perhaps a photographer to talk to you. And who knows; before you know there is an editorial emanating from your press release.

Therefore, a press release can just work for you. Here are some tips on how to get greater mileage out of a press release:

1.       Try to tie your news with some bigger event or story that the publication is already running.
2.       Submit the press release well before the publishing deadline.
3.       Keep the press release short – under an A4 page preferably.
4.       Write to catch the eye and hold the reader’s attention and interest.
5.       Put the most important aspect in the first paragraph, as any editing is usually done from the bottom up.
6.       If possible, include a good photograph or two with the press release.
7.       Follow up the press release by phoning the appropriate editorial department. Although not always a popular strategy with journalists, this could result in editorial coverage.

There you are. Remember; keep the press release short, factual and to the point. But, ensure that it includes all the information a journalist is likely to need to write an article!

Daniel

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

How to prepare for the Festive Season

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eBay Auction tools and secrets :: YouPublish

eBay Auction tools and secrets :: YouPublish

The Freelancer: JOKES!

The Freelancer: JOKES!

Beautiful South Africa: Namaqualand - South Africa

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How to Write a Speech

Before you begin you need:

1. Your speech OUTLINE with your main ideas ranked in the order you're going to present them
2. Your RESEARCH
3. You also need to know WHO you're speaking to, the PURPOSE of the speech and HOW long time is allowed for the speech.

Speech Construction

1. Your speech will have three parts: an opening or introduction, the body where you present your main ideas and an ending.
2. Split your time allowance so that you spend approximately 70% on the body and 15% each on the introduction and ending.

Writing the speech

1.       Write your main ideas out incorporating your examples and research
2.       Link them together making sure each flows in a smooth, logical progression
3.       Write your ending, summarizing your main ideas briefly and end with a call for action
4.       Write your introduction considering the 'hook' you're going to use to get your listeners listening
5.       An often quoted saying to explain the process is:
'Tell them what you're going to tell them' (Introduction), Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) and Tell them what you told them, (The ending)

TEST before presenting

Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Glorious Food For U: Spring Lamb

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The Ghost in the Blogging Machine

Here's a fact that may take you by surprise. Some of the great blogs you read regularly are not, in fact, the work of the named author at the end. Copywriters are finding that blogs are now joining the ranks of SEO web content and article writing in that it is being regularly outsourced to copywriting services. Why? Because often the named authors simply don't have the writing skills to create interesting, engaging copy or the time to blog regularly because of the demands of running a business. So they hand the whole thing over to a web copywriter and then simply sit back and take all the glory.

But don't feel bad for the copywriters. They're used to being the ghosts in the machine - it's what they're paid to do. Discretion and confidentiality is important in the relationship between a copywriter and their clients. They are often writing on very complex and technical subjects on behalf of important people who are considered to be industry experts. To pull this off convincingly, demonstrating a high level of expertise, adaptive writing skills and accurately replicating the client's tone of voice is critical to a successful ghost-written blog.

Why all the secrecy?

Businesses that employ copywriters don't want their customers to know they're outsourcing their blogging (or any of their other web content for that matter) to a copywriting service. It's not a matter of trying to be secretive or pull the wool over the reader's eyes. It's in fact out of respect to the reader. They have invested time and their interest in the personal brand of the named writer. Damage that respect and you risk destroying the connection between the reader and the named author and possibly turning the reader away from the brand altogether.
But readers still expect to see regular blogs from prominent members of an organisation. They want to read about their experiences, their expertise and their thoughts on issues that interest both them and the reader. But if they're a high profile celebrity or business entrepreneur, is it really feasible that they are going to have the time to write this kind of killer blog day in, day out? The simple answer is no. So they hand the job over to a ghost copywriter. Someone they trust to portray them in the best possible light - someone who can present the named writer as an expert in their particular subject yet still maintain that air of approachability.

How can someone else have my tone of voice?

If you read a blog written by the named author and one written by a professional web ghost-writer, you would be hard pushed to tell the difference. So how does a copywriter manage to achieve their client's tone of voice so accurately? It's all down to experience. Web copywriters are professionals. They write day in, day out, usually thousands of words every day. They are usually highly qualified, very experienced and have that ability to adapt their writing to suit each individual's tone of voice. Web copywriters are the impressionists of the Internet. They can mimic the flow, the sentence structure and the tone of their client so accurately that not even their peers can spot the difference. But a web copywriter also knows about brand awareness, social media and positioning. They're actually very talented people with practically no ego. Web copywriters don't mind being the ghosts in the blogging machine. That's what they get paid to do and as it's their living, they have to be good.

Professionalism in your job

So the next time you read an inspirational, engaging and interesting blog by your favourite author don't worry too much about who actually wrote it. Just enjoy interacting with it, responding and perhaps even clicking on the author's link to their website. For those who want to keep up their web profile but don't have time to blog every day, trust your copywriter to do the job for you. That's what they're trained to do. That's what you pay them to do. And that's what they'll deliver for you, on time, every time.



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Sunday, November 21, 2010

What is rocket?

What is rocket?

What Is Podcasting, And How Can Podcasting Boost Your Business?

“So what is podcasting all about?” you might ask. Podcasting is all about audio. You can make an MP3 (or other format) audio file full of valuable content and distribute it via the internet.

Many people and companies produce podcasts on a regular basis, and they have subscribers who are notified every time there’s a newly uploaded podcast.

Users can download podcasts to listen to on their computer while offline or on portable music players. Despite its name, podcasts are not made only for iPods but for any device capable of playing MP3 and other audio types.

Many tech people and those in the internet industry have adopted podcasting as an important way of distributing content and marketing material.

Podcasts allow you to create content that is different from articles and other written forms. They allow your listeners to hear you and even interact with you if the podcast includes a teleconference or phone recording. This will help build trust and boost your credibility, as long as your podcasts are full of valuable information.
Know what is the best part about podcasting? The best thing is that anyone can produce a podcast; you don't have to be a professional audio producer or a techie to be successful with this technique.

Podcasts can be subscribed to via RSS feeds. RSS lets users know when a new podcast is ready and attaches the file to the feed.

If your reader supports podcasting, you can even listen to it in the reader, or automatically download it and listen to it at their convenience. It only takes a bit of imagination to discover what podcasts can be used for - information content, interviews, music clips, news, radio shows, commentaries, webcasts, story telling, instructional and many more uses. The opportunities are endless.

Technology such as VoIP is increasingly being used for podcasts. This adds a whole new level of functionality to podcasting and one that savvy users are taking advantage of.

If you want to make a name for yourself in the internet marketing or affiliate marketing world (or any other industry), then running a weekly podcasting session and encouraging people to join in are effective ways to do that.

People will look forward to your next recording and you can, of course, subtly promote your products and services in the podcasts. As long as you’re providing great value, podcasts make an excellent way to build trust with your customers and prospects, and increase your bottom line.
What are the top benefits of podcasting? They include:

1. Branding

Podcasting allows you to build a brand for your business. This is particularly true if your podcasts follow a similar format each week and have a catchy musical introduction.

2. Asynchronous broadcasting

People do not have to tune in at a specific time as with old-fashioned webcasts. They can listen to your podcast anytime, anywhere.

3. Little effort required

Even the most technologically challenged users are able to use podcasts - they just download the MP3 and play it on their computer or portable device. This makes it highly accessible to anyone.

4. Relationship and trust building

By broadcasting yourself for your audience to hear, you instantly strike up credibility. Once your visitors know that you are a real person because they can hear your voice, the barriers come down and they subconsciously start to trust and like you more.

This is a great way to strengthen the relationship between you and your website visitors and listeners.
Now that you know what podcasting's main benefits are, you can start using it today to grow and promote your business to a new level.



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Saturday, November 20, 2010

SELL YOUR ARTICLE OR CONTENT ONLINE TO WORLD'S PUBLISHER

NewsCollective, which is still in its beta testing, has received a phenomenal response with more than 1500 writers and photographers and 50 publishers registering to avail its services. It was launched on 28th April 2010 as an invite-only website for a very select number of professional writers to start exploring the many tools freely available on the site to build their online identity, create/ upload/ sell articles, manage their professional reputation and build better working relationships with publishers and peers online.

Unlike other sites, where uploading content was a strenuous task for content creators, NewsCollective is a refreshing change. Once approved, professional journalists can upload content on NewsCollective in a matter of few minutes under three categories - Free, Premium and Exclusive. The created content can be latest news, features, analysis, as well as reviews of books, movies, products and any other relevant topic except adult or pornographic content that is explicit in nature.

As NewsCollective is accessed by publishers from all over the world, the preferred language for creating content is English, but the site also provides support to another 12-15 different languages. NewsCollective also provides content creators with the 'Offer for Article' (OFA) feature. Here, content creators can sell content before they its actually written i.e. they can find buyers for the content before writing it. When creating an OFA, details like the OFA title, what the content is about, content submission date, tentative selling price and the last date for receiving offers from publishers need to be mentioned. And if publishers have any further questions, there is a discussion board that can be used to discuss and finalize the OFA agreement. Another benefit for content creators who are part of the NewsCollective community is that they set their own price for content they upload. This gives content creators the right to sell articles at a price that justifies their time and effort put in to create content.

Even better news for content creators is that they don't need to pay anything to register at NewsCollective and still enjoy unlimited access to publishers and sell their content to them. There are no minimum educational qualifications to be a professional journalist on NewsCollective. However, when registering, the journalist needs to be of a legal working age based on their resident country's law. If you are a professional journalist, freelance writer or a photojournalist, now is the time to make use of the NewsCollective platform to increase your presence in the journalism world and interact with publishers without the hassle of worrying about payment issues.

When content is purchased by a publisher - who can buy only when the requisite funds is available in the account - the funds are automatically deducted and transferred to the journalist's account. This ensures that there are no payment related issues and the content creator is also paid for his work. Registering on NewsCollective is easy and contact details and other personal information provided at the time of registration is not shared with any third party or publisher on the site. So, why wait any longer when you can have access to the global publishing world at the click of a button.




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Friday, November 19, 2010

Glorious Food For U: Chicken Tandoori

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What is sexual harassment and how to handle or avoid it

What is sexual harassment and how to handle or avoid it

How to Have a Great Time at a Party

When most people think of fun, they think of a party. It is one of the most common ways to interact with other people and have fun. This being said, it doesn't mean that there are not frequent times when it's a challenge to truly enjoy a party. However, there are ways to effectively handle such times.

There are many ways to have a great time at a party. The most important part is to use your head and put them into practice. Here are some of the most relevant ways:

1. Choose the right parties. Some people love parties with a lot of dancing, some with a lot of talking. Some people love huge parties with lots of people; some prefer a small and more intimate party.
We all have our preference for certain types of parties. Before you say 'yes' to a party invitation, get the details of the party and make sure it's the type you naturally enjoy.

2. Go in a good mood. The better your mood when you arrive at a party, the more chances that it will get even better, faster. Avoid going to a party directly from a long and stressful day at work, having a bad mood.
Instead, get some rest before a party and get yourself in a positive mood before leaving for it: listen to your favourite music, watch stand-up comedy, whatever work for you.

3. Be sociable. We are social animals. We love to interact with other people and to have social activities, even if we may also enjoy a lot a lot of activities done alone. So at a party, let your social animal come out and play.
Interact with many of the people who are at the party, talk to them and get to know the ones you don't know. Even if you're a bit shy, push yourself do to this more than you're conformable.

4. Take initiative. You don't have to wait at a party for other people to entertain you. Take the initiative and make things enjoyable for you. If you want to change the music, try to do so; if you want to make cocktails, go for it.

Keep in mind that a party is an opportunity to have fun, but nobody is going to get you to have fun if you just stand there. Take action, get involved, and you'll have a great time.

Glorious Food For U: Chicken and Nectarine Salad

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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

How to Write Book Reviews

Part of my portfolio is to write book reviews. It is actually rewarding to do it because you also get the opportunity to read a lot of books!

Here are the tips:

1. Read the book. A lot of review writers think they can get around this, but it’s not worth it. If necessary, also read about the book. If the book needs a context, read a little bit of history about the environment or the writer.

2. Assemble your ideas. Instead of just sitting down and telling yourself to start writing, take the time to let things fall into place. Wait a day and think about the book before you write the review. See what sticks in your mind as good and bad. Make lists of what you responded to and didn’t. Keep your audience in mind. It may be that things you liked will not appeal to them, and if you know your audience well, you can recommend something that you did not enjoy.

3. Start writing. Don’t write the review immediately, but write a few sentences. Try to boil the book down to a very simple three-sentence paragraph. A synopsis of the book is essential to a review, but you don’t want it to take up half of the review text! Write an outline or write an opening and a closing. Try to say what you liked most or least about the book in one sentence.

4. Write the body of the review. Now that your brain has started moving, write the meat of the review. Write an opening sentence or two, then move to the summary of the book’s events. If necessary, after that write briefly about the context of the book or the writer and why they may matter. Finally, get into what matters: What you thought. Identify what was good and bad, but more important, tell the audience why. Tell the audience whether you recommend the book or not.

5. Summarize with blurbs. A modern audience, particularly one online, enjoys information stripped down to very simple sentences. Your review can be much more marketable if you write up blurbs in advance instead of making an editor do it. Give a few bullet points with pros and cons and end with recommended or not.

Recently I did a review on a novel by Mark Gimenez – The Common Lawyer – you can read it here.


Acknowledgement: Beau Prichard

The art of writing speeches

A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are used by many senior-level elected officials and government executives, governors, and the president or prime minister of a country. Speechwriters are also used in the private sector, to write speeches or presentations for company presidents and Chief Executive Officers.

A speechwriter must be able to work directly with senior executives, to determine what points, themes, positions, or messages the executive would like to cover. Moreover, speechwriters need to be able to accept criticism and comments on the different drafts of the speech, and be able to incorporate the proposed changes into the draft. Speechwriters have to be able to work on several different speeches at once, and manage their time so that they can meet strict deadlines for finishing the speech on time. Speechwriters must also be able to accept anonymity, because with few exceptions, speechwriters (like ghost-writers) are not officially credited or acknowledged.

While there is a guild called The Speechwriters' Guild for professional writers who specialise in writing speeches, speechwriters do not usually have specific training in the area or field for which they are writing speeches; a speechwriter preparing a speech for a governor on health policy will rarely have a Master of Public Health degree. Instead, speechwriters often have a broad understanding of basic economics, political roles, and policy issues, which makes them a generalist who is able to "translate" complex economic and policy issues into a clear message for the general public. As well, as with many other writing occupations, most speechwriters do not have specific training in their writing craft. Instead, speechwriters often develop their speechwriting skills by combining a general liberal arts education (e.g., in political science, philosophy, law, or English literature) with a variety of work experience in politics, public administration, journalism, or a related field.

Writing a speech involves several steps. A speechwriter has to meet with the executive and the executive's senior staff to find out the broad framework of points or messages that the executive wants to cover in the speech. Then, the speechwriter does his or her own research on the topic, to flesh out this framework with anecdotes, and examples. The speechwriter will also consider the audience for the speech, which can range from a town-hall meeting of community leaders to an international leaders' forum. Then the speechwriter blends the points, themes, positions, and messages with his or her own research to create an "informative, original and authentic speech" for the executive.


Article to read: How to counter Insomnia


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How to counter insomnia

How to counter insomnia

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

What is a Ghost Writer?

A ghost writer is someone who writes a book or articles for someone else. The ghost writer is paid a sum of money to write the material needed and hand it over to the payee. The person who has paid for the work will then assign his name or someone else’s name to claim the work as his own.

There are numerous reasons why someone may employ a ghost writer. Many celebrities from the media or sports world employ a ghost writer to write their biographies. The celebrity may not have the time or the word skills required to complete a book on her own. Someone may also have the idea for a novel or an interesting life story, but may not have the experience to put it down into words.

One of the biggest skills a ghost writer needs is the ability to grasp the personality of the person he is writing for. If the ghost writer is writing for a celebrity, she must have the ability to take on the celebrity's manner. The finished book must read as if the celebrity had written it. The ghost writer must be able to highlight the important parts of the life of the person he is writing about. This may take the form of interviewing the person many times during the time it takes to write the book.

It is not just celebrity biographies that come under the ghost writer’s remit. Basically, anything that can be written and sold can be ghost written. Companies can farm out the content writing of their brochures or websites to ghost writers. The finished product should look as if it has been written by someone who either owns the company or knows the running of the company inside and out.

Many reporters sell stories to a number of newspapers to be used as if the newspaper reported on the story. Politicians often use a ghost writer to write their speeches for them. It is usually a case of the ghost writer having the skills and word dexterity to assist the person she is writing for.

Ghost writing is a big part of the film business. Scriptwriters sometimes bring in uncredited writers to help polish a script. In some cases, entire scripts are sold to other people to be used under the buyer's name.
The work of a ghost writer is a two-way deal. The ghost writer is able to utilize his writing skills and earn money for them. In a lot of cases, ghost writers are able to earn a reasonable sum of money and do something they love, writing.

Fees for a good ghost writer can vary. Ghost writers not only have to be excellent writers, but at many times, good sales people. Large sums of money can be made from ghost writing for celebrities, but writing for companies and websites can also bring in a decent wage. Remember, though, once the book is on the shelf, you cannot take any of the credit for it.

What is a freelancer?

What exactly is a Freelancer?

A freelancer is a person who is self-employed. Freelance work is used in many different professions, but most commonly a freelancer works in the fields of writing and editing, photography, web design, graphic arts, or computer programming. In any given profession, freelancers sell or contract their work to a client rather than being employed by a business.

A freelancer's career commonly begins with a business or agency at which the freelancer gains experience and contacts in a particular field. Often, talented freelance professionals leave their place of employment because their services are in great demand and they can receive better pay as a freelancer. A freelancer can work at home, in the community, or at their client’s place of business.

Businesses find many advantages in using freelancers. A business that needs particular work done, such as copywriting, can use the services of the writer only as needed. This is ideal when the business requires sporadic work or a one-time project. The company is not obligated to provide steady work as it would be for a full time employee. Hiring a freelancer is also economical for a business because the business does not have to provide benefits such as health insurance, personal and sick days, or retirement benefits.

There are also many advantages for a freelancer. A person who is self-employed can usually choose their own work schedule. Income may be greater than when working for an employer. A freelancer is his or her own boss and has the freedom to work independently, usually from the comfort of home. Freelancers also have the opportunity to pick and choose which jobs are of interest.

The down side to being a freelancer is that one must keep track of one's own books. This requires a lot of self-discipline in order to fulfil tax requirements, time management and health and retirement factors. Another disadvantage is that it may be difficult to maintain a steady stream of work. A freelancer is responsible for finding and winning projects. Sometimes, convincing a client to hire a particular freelancer can be a job in itself.

There are many websites that offer to connect clients with a freelancer. These services often have many freelancers who bid on particular projects that clients post. Other services simply post projects and allow freelancers to submit a resume and samples of previous work. A freelancer often can find projects through word of mouth, from a former employer, or from classified ads in print as well as on the web.

Daniel

Introduction

Today I launch a new Blog to introduce my Freelance Services. Please check the page My Freelance Services.

I will use this blog to share interesting aspects regarding my services, jokes, photos, and anything that is appropriate and good in life!

Daniel

Heritage Day 2018: South Africa

My name is Nigel Olifaut. I am a white South African male, proud to be white with my declaration for Heritage Day 24 September 2018: 1....