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I Just Want to Be Noticed! Is it Really That Difficult?

Does it seem like the pool of aggressive, talented authors increases by the day, and the need for quality content has never been greater?

Today, the most successful authors go to extraordinary lengths to gain more readers and outlast the competition. Endless new marketing tactics and strategies are being attempted at a steady pace, with authors hopingsomething will stick with audiences.

If there are so many ways to get noticed in your niche, is it really that hard to be unique?

Take a moment to read our top 10 ways you can stand out as an Expert Author.

1. Build Your Story: When your readers wonder who you are, it should be easy to find. Improve your credibility right away by ensuring you’re not a “mystery person” writing articles. Your profile, author photo, areas of expertise, goals and past achievements should be clear for everyone to see. It is also important to have an active presence on relevant social media and include an ‘About’ section on your website.

2. Focus on Your Strengths: Many authors have expertise in multiple fields. While this can be beneficial in the long run, when you’re trying to get noticed starting out, you need to focus on your strengths and master your craft. Think about applying for a technical job. You will have a much better chance at landing the job if you’re an “expert” in one area than if you’re “pretty good” in everything. Stick to what you’re good at and build from there.

3. Getting the Essentials Right: There are essentials everyone must get right in order to achieve success. First, stop focusing on the traffic and instead think about creating a connection with the reader. When writing your articles, you should answer three important pieces of information: why, how, and what. Don’t simply tell your readers what to do, how to do it, and why; create value and purpose. Refer to this blog for more tips on Getting Read: Essentials to Making Your Article Worth It.

4. Act Like a Professional: Some authors try their hardest to get ahead even if it means hurting their credibility. Your personality, attitude and ability to communicate professionally should be at the top of your list to improve. Think about your decisions before you go all-in on your next step, and put yourself in your readers’ shoes to get a clear perspective. You don’t want to turn them off by acting like an amateur.

5. Find Your Voice and Shout: Ok, we’re not encouraging you to scream at your audience here. However, you do need to break out of your shell and learn to be vocal about your writing. You want to be the life of the party with great ideas who gets all the attention, rather than the quiet one in the back of the room. Share your ideas and aspirations with your readers. They want to hear them!

6. Perfect Your Timing: Time management is a skill that takes, well, time to master. What’s more important than using your time wisely is to introduce new articles and products when the time is right. You need to research when your readers are in-tune the most, and when you should pounce on the opportunity to connect with them. Click here for a unique perspective on reaching your audience at the opportune time.

7. User-Friendly “Everything”: This is one of the easiest tips to remember: make every part of your business user-friendly! Whether it’s developing a website, creating a series of articles or asking for feedback on social media sites, your readers should be able to understand and follow everything they see. You don’t want to stand out in a negative way by turning away potential customers! Making things user-friendly for them should be a priority.

8. Embrace Change with Confidence: Oftentimes authors get so comfortable with their routine, they forget that things can change that may negatively affect their work. It’s important to embrace change, as it can come from any direction at any time. Show your readers you are on top of your game by quickly adapting to diversity, and that you already had a plan in place to move forward. Don’t let unexpected changes destroy your progress!

9. Praise Your Competition: There is definitely competition as an author, especially in today’s ever-changing, global marketplace. Have you ever thought about scoping out the competition and giving others in your field praise? This is a strategy that is useful on social media. When you take the time to give your competition respect, you will only receive positive feedback from your audience. You might even hear from your competition and end up working together on a project!

10. Thank Your Readers: If you truly want to stand out in your niche, every now and then you should offer something to your readers for free and thank them for being a part of your journey. Provide an easy-to-package product that they can use, or a special promotion to your loyal followers. If you need some ideas with this, here are 7 Ways to Give Thanks as an Article Writer that can be used right away.

So there you have it! Our list above can be summed up in one phrase: Keep it simple.

When you over-complicate your efforts to stand out among the jam-packed crowd of writers, it will only lead to frustration and backtracking. Refer back to these tips when you’re feeling like nobody is noticing your hard work.

You Asked and We Have Answers!

Two weeks ago we asked for your questions regarding the article writing process, content marketing, grammar, or anything else on your mind.

Why?

… Because we believe it’s important to keep an open line of communication. We want to ensure you have the BEST user experience and make the MOST of your article writing efforts.

In addition, your questions give us ideas for future blog posts. After all, we want to write about topics our readers will find helpful and informative!

With that said, here are the questions asked by you and the answers from the EzineArticles staff.

Question 1 – Asked by Mike Lish:

Now that Google has revised its method of page ranking and SEO, of what practical relevance and effectiveness are linking of my Ezine articles to my website? Will Google recognize this link with enhanced page ranking, and to what degree?

EzineArticles Answers:

As times have changed, search engines no longer weigh the links the same as they did in the past. Instead of ranking links based on how many were placed around the Internet, they judge (or rank) links based on other factors, such as quality content, navigation, relevancy, etc.

Essentially, you will want to focus on building a quality user experience from the beginning to end. It’s no longer about publishing a high quantity of content, but rather building quality content and a transparent web presence. In this era, we believe it’s important to use your articles as a means to display your knowledge and credibility on a certain topic. From there, you may share your articles on relevant social media in order to attract readers’ interest and desire to share the article. In turn, these increased shares and views will result in clicks to your link at the end of the article. Bottom line: People don’t only find your articles from search engines; create content that generates share-ability across the web and you’ll find higher click-through success.

Question 2 – Asked by Cindy S.:

I’m very excited to have earned my manager badge for having my business article accepted! My question is, do clients actually look at these badges or is it just for us to see? How much of our profile do clients actually check out?

EzineArticles Answers:

The EzineArticles badges are bonus tools that you can use to build your credibility as an Expert Author in your niche. You’re welcome to share these achievements and awards on social media as a way to “show off” your efforts to your clients or niche audience. It shows you’re dedicated to your writing and sharing of information. You can learn more about the badges by reading: Share Your Expert Author Awards and Achievements. In addition, you can utilize the link to your EzineArticles Expert Author Profile in order to share a comprehensive listing of all of your articles. Bottom line: Don’t be shy, share your achievements!

Question 3 – Asked by Hafiz Akram:

English is not my native language, so I feel hard to write good English. What you advise me to write in good English?

EzineArticles Answers:

Fear not! We have many writers who are non-native English speakers. In order to improve your English, we recommend you take advantage of the Grammar Tips section of our blog and theEzineArticles Training on our website. In addition, we suggest enlisting the help of a qualified English proofreader. In terms of grammar-checking software, we don’t suggest you rely on this type of software as it’s unable to effectively detect grammar errors that only a human can detect. Ultimately, practice makes perfect! Keep reading and writing and it will come easier over time.

Question 4 – Asked by Jeff Harling:

I have run out of ideas on explaining my business.

EzineArticles Answers:

You’re not alone. It’s normal to feel burnt out from time-to-time, which is why we have many blog posts that help authors generate new content ideas. Here are two of our favorites:

In addition, our Article Template Packages are a GREAT way to help you generate content ideas. I highly recommend the EzineArticles 260 Ultimate Article Template Package. This package provides the best value and comes with two great bonuses as well.

Question 5 – Asked by Manish B.:

Can we post our own article published in EzineArticles to our own blog?

EzineArticles Answers:

Essentially, quality content is the most important factor to consider in this situation. If you submit many duplicate, low quality articles to multiple article directories and multiple blogs, the content won’t perform well regardless of where it’s published. This is considered to be deceptive and spammy.

If the content is genuine, high-quality content and it is re-published on your blog, you will have a higher chance of success. When duplicate content appears naturally, we believe it won’t be penalized as if it was intentionally submitted to an excessive amount of websites purely for the purpose of gaining traffic.

If you do choose to re-purpose your content, it’s important you update the wording and other details so that it makes sense for the platform where it’s published. For more information on how to repurpose your content, review the blog post, ‘Repurpose Your Content the Right Way’ [here].

Question 6 – Asked by Jamee Light:

1. How can you have sub-headings emphasized or made bolder?
2. Can you change a title once it is printed?

EzineArticles Answers:

1. Articles with a clean format are more likely to be read. In order to improve the format of your articles, you’re welcome to add bold or italics to your headings. For more information on what HTML can be used in your articles, we suggest this blog post, ‘Frustrated by HTML? Use This Basic Guide for Writers’ [here].

2. We typically don’t encourage authors to change their title once the article is live because the title makes up the URL of the article. It can also create confusion if the article was already re-published somewhere else. If there’s an error in the title or you feel strongly about changing the title, you’ll need to contact us in Member Support and we’ll be able to update it for you.

For tips on how to write an effective title from the beginning, we recommend these blog posts:

Question 7 – Asked by Claude Nougat:

In our increasingly digitized and visual world, where people seek entertainment on television and video, is there still a place for written fiction? Or should authors prepare themselves to abandon novel writing in order to write film scripts and otherwise participate with their story-telling talents in the world of films, videos and video games?

EzineArticles Answers:

While it may seem the written word is overshadowed with readily-available digitized video, we believe there will always be a place for written content.

Take a moment and think of times when it wouldn’t be appropriate to watch a video: outside in the sun, in a busy waiting room, or driving in your car. These are all reasons the written word will not be abandoned.

We know what you’re thinking, “you can’t read while driving in your car either!” … And this brings us to our next point. In order to meet the changing needs of the audience in today’s busy lifestyle, we suggest making your material available in a secondary format, such as a YouTube video or re-purposed into an audiobook or podcast. With the huge popularity of new podcasts, such as Serial, it’s without a doubt more interest has been sparked for audiobooks and podcasts in general. Bottom line: Everything begins with the written word, where you choose to take it next is the easy part.

THANK YOU to all of those who took time to submit a question!

Are You Being Fast AND Productive or Just Fast?

When someone asks if you’re being as productive as you can as an Expert Author, you may be quick to answer, “of course!” However, if you really analyze your situation and think about your daily routine, it’s likely you’ll find areas that can be tweaked to increase your productivity level.

Many times we don’t realize how much time we waste because of distractions, disorganization, or lack of direction. Though we may feel as if we’re working at a fast pace, it’s possible we’re holding ourselves back by losing our focus along the way.

In order to ensure you’re making the most of your time, we challenge you to re-visit the areas that may hinder your level of production.

Have a look at our tips below on how authors can boost productivity to keep up with those who make it look easy.

1. Set Clear Goals & Stick to Them.
Our number one tip to boost productivity should come as no surprise. Diving right into a project without proper planning and clear objectives will end in mediocre results. First, you need to set goals that are achievable; you need to envision your final product right away, not when it’s near completion. The tips in this blog will help you stay productive and stick to your goals.

2. Delegate Unnecessary Chores.
Most parents give daily chores and responsibilities to their children. In the same light, many authors take advantage of outsourcing tasks in their business. Think about your work; are you doing everything on your own? Similar to setting goals, try writing down all of the daily or weekly tasks involved in your business. Organize them by importance, and when you’re done, you should see a nice list of tasks you can either do away with or delegate to others.

3. Stop Multitasking All Day.
There are days when we feel like we can do everything at once without consequences. Even if you manage to accomplish your goals for the day, if you’re constantly going back and forth between tasks, you’re losing time in the transition. You can also lose ideas in the process! The more focused you are on a single task, the less time it will take to finish.

4. Save it for Later.
You finally have time to work on an urgent project, but come across an interesting article or social media thread that grabs your attention. Instead of saving it for later, you read or investigate it immediately. This is wrong! In order to stay focused, you need to save these distractions for later. They will only lead to more reading, commenting, sharing and lost productivity. There are many great tools to save content to read at a later time. For example, you can use the bookmark tool in your Internet browser; or if you’re on Facebook, there’s an option to save posts for later by clicking the down arrow to the right side of the post.

5. Improve Your Environment.
When you’re working on an important writing piece, you need to prioritize comfort and make the best use of your surroundings. A clean workspace and proper lighting is key! Keep windows to your back to avoid outside distraction. Take a moment to read Creating a Healthy Article Writing Environment for more information to improve your workspace.

6. Set Time Limits on Meetings.
Casual group meetings can be a calming change of pace, but they can also dramatically hinder progress. If you’re in charge of the meeting, set a time limit; better yet, show a visible stopwatch for all to see. You need to be ruthless in managing this gut-wrenching productivity drain so it doesn’t get out of hand. Instead of having weekly meetings, have them twice a month and cover more ground at a faster pace. Any content not meant for the entire team should be discussed within each department separately.

7. Embrace New Technology.
If you think about a problem you’re having with any type of your business, there’s probably an app that will help! There are amazing tools that improve daily office operations such as Evernote that can store and organize your thoughts, information and media. New gadgets, apps and software are popping up everywhere to assist authors with their writing and idea generation. Try out something new once a month, you’ll never know what you’re missing if you don’t actively embrace change and let technology in the door!

8. Set Up Email Rules to Stay Sane.
If you’re familiar with the typical office life, then you’re aware of the burden with emails. It doesn’t matter what software you’re using for your email, you need to be an alert master and set up the appropriate rules to automatically filter your emails. Your eyes shouldn’t have to glance over at every piece of junk mail or question addressed to a different department. Again, let technology ease some of your frustration by blocking out irrelevant content that will break your rhythm.

9. Learn How to Say “No.”
Being a team player is a valuable trait in any business. However, saying “yes” to everything to help out a friend or co-worker is not a long-term strategy. Learn to say “no” when the task could put more stress on your own progress. Make the other person(s) aware of your deadlines and they will respect your boundaries and let you continue being productive. Be nice about it! Smile and suggest an alternative route for them to pursue.

10. BONUS Tip! Turn Off the TV and Your Gadgets.
We saved this bonus tip for last because if it were at the beginning, the majority of our audience would be turned off entirely! Television, smartphones, and other distractions sure have us by the ankles, don’t they? They can completely change our mood from productive to unmotivated and neglectful. Believe it or not, TV and other gadgets are truly a productivity killer. Remember this quote from a successful entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, “Successful people have libraries. The rest have big screen TVs” — Jim Rohn

For a humorous slant on eliminating distractions, check out 10 Distractions that Destroy Productivity: The WRONG Advice.

We challenge you to figure out your own writing tempo and the goals you want to create. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the planning stages of your next writing series or are finalizing the end product. Think about where you can improve your productivity and what tasks you can leave behind you in your path to success.

Follow These Guidelines to Deliver Brand-Specific Content!

Do you write product reviews or discuss brands in your articles? If you do, it’s key the content is EXCLUSIVE to the brand that’s mentioned.

Why?

If a person searches for information about a certain brand and they come across generic content that could apply to multiple brands, the reader is left with a poor experience. For the author, it means they won’t find value in your content or click through to your link.

For that reason, it’s crucial your content is high quality, informative and specific to all brands that are discussed.

First, keep these facts in mind before naming a brand in your article.

DON’T: Write anything negative toward any brand or company.

DON’T: Mention brands in articles on EzineArticles.com in which you have an affiliation or vested interest. This is considered promotional. Refer to our Editorial Guidelines on promotional content here.

DO: Maintain proper brand spelling and capitalization.

DO: Use generic terms when you’re not specifically referring to the brand. In other words, don’t use trademarked terms in place of a generic term unless it’s important to the meaning of your writing. For example:

In the instances when you DO want to intentionally refer to a brand name (for the sake of a product review or other reasons), take a moment to look over your content and ensure it provides enough value that’s specifically related to the product you’re discussing.

What are Ways to Ensure Your Content is Brand-Specific?

Are you still not sure if your article has enough brand-specific content?

Ask Yourself These 3 Questions:

If you answered “yes” or “maybe” to any of these questions, it’s in your best interest to either remove the brand mention(s) or add more exclusive information to the brand that’s discussed.

Keep in mind, your article needs to be legitimately specific and shouldn’t read as if the details were stuffed in for the article to pass review. For more information on how to deliver genuine value that isn’t thin in nature, we suggest this blog post.

Bottom Line:

Ensure your articles are exclusive to any products named in your content and you’ll develop more trust with your readers. In all regards, quality content is crucial to success in article writing. We can’t say it enough!

If it Looks Too Good to be True, Readers Will NOT Enter Their Information!

When the term “squeeze page” comes to mind, it should represent a page where you’re squeezing the best information about your services on one page. It shouldn’t be a teaser page that’s thrown together with little content simply to entice people to share their email address.

Sometimes, even when you have an amazing collection of quality content and products for your readers, it may still seem difficult to get their attention, let alone their trust to share personal information. That’s why you need to make the strongest possible reason that what you’re offering will benefit those who are interested. In other words, if your squeeze page is uninviting, difficult to digest, or seems too good to be true, your readers will be long gone before the page is finished loading.

Our focus in this blog is to help you improve your squeeze page by taking a closer look at your overall link presentation. Read our tips below to help you create a visually appealing page that will have your readers throwing their email address at you for more information.

1. Establish Brand Identity: When a person visits your website, they should instantly notice key traits that make your business stand out. The same should apply with your squeeze page! The sites should complement each other in a way that your readers will instantly recognize your brand. People want to know who is behind the product; and being transparent will help establish your brand identity. The more of your personality you show in your squeeze page, the better it will reflect on your services when the same images appear with a purchase.

2. Build Trust With the Reluctant Reader: Humans are skeptical to share personal information, especially in the wake of large data breaches, countless online scams, fear of email spam, or worse, identity theft. For that reason, it’s important to establish trust with the viewers. Under the email opt-in, include a message stating that you will not share or sell their personal information. You can further extend the trust by including a ‘Contact Us’ or ‘About Us’ section. Whatever it takes to give the reader peace of mind before entering their private information should be one of your biggest priorities!

3. Make an Easy-to-Understand Offer: Ensure your information is easy to understand and your offer is believable. If you are making promises that will ultimately disappoint your readers, take a step back and work on your offer. Make it honest! You need to concentrate on ‘Creating an Effective Call to Action that Gets Results.’ When you think you’ve created the perfect page, test it out on a friend or co-worker to see if they can easily understand what they’re getting in the end.

4. Include a Short Video Featuring YOU: Videos are an excellent way of adding more content to your squeeze page because it gives your audience the ability to actually see and hear what you have to say. Keep in mind, your viewers should be able to start and stop the video at any time, so try and not force it on them right away. As far as video length, 5-10 minutes is enough to get your point across, as you don’t want to drag it on for too long. Make it short and sweet, and think about adding some humor to keep it lighthearted. Put your charisma to work and add video and multimedia elements to grab their attention!

5. Perfect Your Design: Pay attention to color and white space in the design of your squeeze page. You need to have good use of color that doesn’t blind your audience, and a font that doesn’t go off the deep end in the creative department. You’re not putting your graphic and design skills on display; you’re giving your readers a balanced squeeze page that is easy on the eyes. Use bold headlines and 2-3 colors that are in line with your brand. Consistency is key; so align your tips and pictures evenly by surrounding each section with contrasting colors. Avoid excessive white space as it can cause the site to appear under-developed. Instead, ensure your squeeze page is just one page. The reader should not need to scroll excessively, especially if they’re using a small smartphone screen.

6. Replace Testimonials with Statistics: Reviews on products are essential for many buyers to consider making a purchase. However, they aren’t needed on your squeeze page. These kind words from strangers can come across as biased and self-promotional. Instead, include intriguing stats or accomplishments you’ve earned. Why should your readers trust what you have to say? What have you done that will spark their interest immediately? List areas of your expertise or information on what you’re offering to gain their trust.

7. Include an Option to Click to Your Website: Though you want your squeeze page to be the number one way for them to quickly request more information about your services, it could be too soon for some reluctant viewers. A link that leads elsewhere will not drain your traffic, as some sources may lead you to believe. It will, however, help keep visitors around to see what else you have to offer if they aren’t ready to give up their contact information right away. Include a small link to your main website or blog so they can see the full extent of your business.

8. Make it Mobile Friendly: The trend towards viewing websites on smartphones and tablets is increasing by the day. Very soon, your website will NEED to be responsive in order to be considered in the search algorithms. If you haven’t considered updating to responsive web design, it’s time you begin. We recommend reading: ‘Responsive Web Design is KEY in a Quality Browsing Experience’ to get started.

9. Do Away with Pop-Ups: Pop-up ads are annoying and can turn a positive browsing experience into a nightmare trying to close them out. You see them everywhere, and at times they are so frustrating that you forgot what you were searching for in the first place. Our advice for squeeze pages is to leave out the pop-ups, and focus on the page that matters. If you give your squeeze page your best effort and your readers aren’t interested, be respectful and let them move on. You don’t want to be remembered as “the page that won’t go away!” If your strategy absolutely has to include one, only include 1 pop-up with a large X at the top so it’s easy to close.

10. Keep the Opt-In Form Simple: Your squeeze page form should not ask your readers unimportant things like their phone number, occupation or favorite color. Their name and email address are what’s important, so only ask for these two important pieces of information.

Ultimately, people won’t give away their personal information if your message isn’t clear and your squeeze page design is low quality. These quick tips should help you improve the construction of your squeeze page to help convert visitors into customers.

Writer’s block is very real, folks! You can clear your schedule, set up the perfect environment for your ideas to flow, relax and begin writing. Then it hits you … you’re completely out of ideas! You’re squinting more than writing, forcing your creativity to reveal itself. Many times it’s not that you’re out of ideas, it’s that you’ve been sticking to your usual routine and your creativity tank is on empty.

Stop and think about the strategies you’ve used to generate new content. It’s likely the same thing, over and over. Sometimes you simply need to change your strategy. You need to get out of your comfort zone and look for new content inspiration in unusual situations. You won’t have to go far; content for your next article could come from a walk or run down the street.

If you need a boost in this department, we’re here to help. Take a look at our list of fun places to ignite some ideas for you. See if any pique your interest!

1. Yoga Class: Taking a yoga class is a perfect opportunity to get to know people on a personal level. Don’t be shy, place your writing pad on your yoga mat for easy access. Before and after poses, try to whisper questions to those close to you for valuable input. Ask them what they’re feeling, what they’re thinking and if stretching is taking their stress away. Open up your mind by going outside the box for uplifting ideas. Lighten the mood by giving compliments to anyone who shows good form and grace. Namaste!

2. Traffic Lights: The next time you’re stuck at a red light, examine your surroundings to stir up some ideas. Think of the environment around you and write down whatever appears intriguing. Take pictures of buildings and the beautiful nature around you. If there are other drivers next to you, take pictures of them too! Study their faces and take note of their vehicle. Where are they from, and where do you think they’re headed? What kind of mood do you think they’re in?

3. A Junkyard: The expression, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” carries a lot of weight, especially in the mind of a writer. You never know what you’re going to find at a junkyard. Snoop around and see what others have deemed “unwanted.” There is a filthy, mischievous feeling to this practice, sure, but the rewards can be huge. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty, be willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top!

4. Hockey Games: Sporting events can be a thrilling, impressive place to experience hard work and talent in action. Hockey games in particular have a more physical, chilly vibe to them. The risk involved with slick ice, sharp blades on skates, and the chance of a fight all add to the excitement. Attend a hockey game and take in the danger! Listen closely and write how it makes you feel. Do you really feel safe in the bleachers? Be bold and get in on the action; capture the attitudes of the players by standing right in front of the glass if you can!

5. Funerals: While funerals can carry a dark, depressing tone, they can also provide a sea of emotions for your next piece of writing. People are hesitant to speak their mind because of the setting. Use this to your advantage; jot down what you think they’re really feeling and how you could help them. The writing you get from a funeral will be filled with powerful emotions and strong ideas. You may be witnessing the end of someone’s fulfilling journey, but it could start a new beginning for your writing!

6. A Closer Look at Your Neighbors: For those of us with neighbors close by, we all have that one family that seems too good to be true. You never know what they’re up to, but you have a good feeling it’s something interesting. When you have time, scope out your neighbors from your bushes (or other hidden place) and take notes of the action. If you happen to get spotted, just explain that what you’re doing is crucial to your research as a writer. If you can, try and do it from your own yard. Binoculars are very handy in these situations. You need to keep your distance and take in what you can. Do you have a suspicious neighbor you’d like to know more about? Well, you know what to do!

7. Running (Marathons): If you’ve ever walked or jogged for a long period of time, you know your mind can be all over the place on various things. Next time you’re going for a run, or better yet, participating in a marathon, bring a voice recorder! Examine your surroundings and approach other runners on the trail. If they are going at a slower pace (or walking), feel free to stop them to get a piece of their mind for a moment. Ask them questions such as, “Why are you running today?” or “What are you really running from?” Ask simple questions at first, but get more intense later in the questioning. Try and get them to release their energy — it makes for excellent writing!

It only takes one of the above places to open up some creativity to your writing. Even if it’s out of your comfort zone or if you feel strangers’ eyes on you, take a chance. They don’t need to know what you’re up to, maybe they’ll read about it later in your next article!

Have any unique places to add to this list? Feel free to share a few of your own in the comments section.

Access EzineArticles Content on Any Device and it Will Display Beautifully!

We’re proud to say, EzineArticles.com has provided 100% responsive web design for over a year. In other words, regardless of what device is used to open your articles published on our site, the screen size and display is automatically adjusted to create an optimal viewing experience for the reader.

We did this so your articles look great on a desktop computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device. Users can easily read your content from their smartphone just as well as they could read it from their large computer screen.

On the contrary, you’ve likely accessed a website on your smartphone or tablet and noticed it’s difficult to read. The text is too small, the screen size is hard to re-adjust, or it simply looks like too much information and it’s hard on the eyes.

This type of poor user experience is what stemmed the phenomena and need for responsive web design across the Internet.

Brief History of Responsive Web Design

“Responsive web design” is a term coined in May 2010 by Ethan Marcotte.  It’s a way to describe a website layout that’s built to adapt based on the type of device and screen size. Instead of building multiple versions of a website, developers build a site that’s responsive so it looks good on all devices without any special coding needed.

Over time, this type of website design was recommended in order to provide an optimal browsing experience for all viewers. Then, as smartphone and tablet usage steadily increased and replaced a large amount of desktop computer traffic, it started to become a necessity to upgrade websites to be fully capable to support all screen sizes.

EzineArticles.com Stepped Up

As we mentioned, over a year ago, the team at EzineArticles.com got on board and updated our websites to ensure your articles were able to adapt to all different screen sizes.

Though it was labor intensive, we wanted to ensure our users didn’t miss out on any traffic due to an article with poor display. In addition, we knew it was a key component in order to stay ahead of the game and in good standing with the search engines.

The Future is Bright

Now, by the end of April 2015, responsive web design will be even more crucial as search algorithms will be updated to include mobile-friendly content as a ranking signal.

This means websites that are able to automatically adapt and adjust the display for smartphones and tablets will have a step ahead of those who don’t when it comes to search engine rankings.

This is GREAT news to us since we’re already practicing these standards!

For those of you who have already updated your websites to make them mobile-friendly, congratulations! You’re on the right path to service an increase of non-desktop visitors.

If you’ve yet to update your website to make it mobile-friendly, we recommend you check out our blog post titled, ‘Responsive Web Design is KEY in a Quality Browsing Experience.’

Is your website responsive? Share your process!

If Your Links Aren’t Mobile-Friendly, They’ll Soon Drop Off of the Radar!

In an era where a large portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices, it’s no longer recommend to optimize your links for mobile traffic, it’s essential your website is designed to support traffic from a variety of devices with a multitude of screen sizes.

Previously, mobile-friendly web pages were encouraged and could help your ranking. However, now, if you choose not to make your website responsive, it could actually hurtyour ranking.

Mobile-Friendless As a Ranking Signal – Time is Ticking

Google announced they’ll be updating their algorithms to expand the use of mobile-friendless as a ranking signal starting April 21, 2015. See their full blog post, ‘Finding more mobile-friendly search results’ here. Essentially, mobile-friendly websites will be ranked higher in search engine results than websites that aren’t mobile-friendly.

This change simply reflects the needs in today’s evolving web browsing environment. People are conducting searches and accessing websites on a multitude of devices including: desktop computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and even wearables, such as watches.

As an article writer and content marketer, it seems like a no-brainer to want your reader to be able to view your content regardless of what device they’re using. Furthermore, it’s important to ensure their user experience is as high-quality as possible. A page that displays poorly and is difficult to read or navigate means the viewer will spend less time on your site. Essentially, if you don’t optimize your websites, you’re risking a drop in traffic for two reasons: a poor user experience AND a lower ranking signal in search engines.

Make Your Links Responsive, Today!

For the past year, EzineArticles.com has been 100% responsive. We’ve ensured our website has been able to display your articles regardless of what technology readers are using. For that reason, we’re excited about the new algorithm updates as we’re already serving mobile traffic.

We did our part to make your articles responsive, now it’s your turn to ensure the links in your articles are mobile-friendly as well.

If you haven’t already, NOW is the time to make your links responsive. It will help ensure visitors don’t leave due to a poorly designed website while lending a helping hand to your search engine visibility.

For further information and tips to make your website mobile-friendly, we recommend you check out our blog post titled, ‘Responsive Web Design is KEY in a Quality Browsing Experience.’

In addition, we recommend using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your links are sufficient for mobile browsing.

Don’t Just Make Your Site Responsive; Make it a Quality User Experience!

On April 21, 2015, Google updated their algorithms to favor responsive web design and include mobile friendliness as a ranking signal. Since then, the majority of chatter has been surrounding the need to make websites responsive in order to maintain search rankings.

In this post, we’d like to take things a step further and highlight what makes good responsive design and what should be avoided.

First, to build a site with responsive design, there are two approaches:

Regardless of which path you choose to make a website responsive, we want to ensure you’re not forgetting one fundamental element: user experience.

Ultimately, responsive design on its own isn’t the key to conversions; it’s also the quality of your website from the user’s perspective. Ranking in the top of search results won’t do you any favors if a viewer clicks to your site and immediately leaves due to poor design.

With that said, check out these DOs and DON’Ts of good responsive design vs. bad responsive design.

Don’t: Make an exact replica of your desktop version.

Do: Include the key elements of your site and leave out the ones that aren’t necessary. Users don’t expect a carbon copy of your desktop site. In fact, it would be overwhelming!

Don’t: Use a generic, pre-made design.

Do: Maintain your branding throughout. Ensure each page reflects your brand at all screen sizes. Use elements smartphone users are accustomed to seeing. Also, be sure to preserve padding and white space to keep the design clean and easy-to-read.

Don’t: Put all of the content on one page.

Do: Incorporate a clear menu with access to secondary pages. Place your call to action on your main page and ensure the rest of the mobile site is easy to navigate.

Don’t: Use different images for different devices.

Do: Use images that resize within the confines of a fluid grid. This is done using CSS code and will ensure the images on your site don’t look stretched or pixelated.

Don’t: Design your mobile site as an afterthought.

Do: Think mobile-first. Why? Mobile web browsing on smartphones and other devices is replacing desktop traffic at an increasingly rapid rate. If the majority of users are accessing your content on a non-desktop device, make it function in a way that follows mobile norms and touchscreen patterns.

Don’t: Expect to get it perfect on the first attempt.

Do: TEST! Share your site with friends, family members, or test-group customers. Get their feedback. Know what they’re immediately looking for when they access the mobile page and display it prominently.

Keep these tips in mind when building your mobile-friendly website and you’re on the right track to providing a true quality user experience regardless of the device.

Still not convinced you need to make your website responsive? We recommend reading our previous post: Responsive Web Design is Now Necessary to Succeed.

Embrace new technology and step ahead of your competition!

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” – Bruce Lee

Everyone makes mistakes in their line of work, and there’s no shame in admitting them! Becoming an expert in any subject requires hard work and dedication, as well as the right mindset to overcome basic challenges. For some writers, the trouble begins with writer’s block and only gets more difficult when deadlines approach and time is running out. For others, mistakes can happen due to poor planning or giving up too early when an extra push is all that is needed to transform failure into success.

Although there are quite a few mistakes that can be made when starting out as an author, many of them apply to authors with more experience. Check out our list of common mistakes to avoid to ensure you’re on the right track as an Expert Author. You need to be well-prepared for the long and prosperous journey ahead!

In order to have success as an Expert Author, DON’T…

1. Let Your Inner Critic Take Over: Self-doubt is a motivation killer and it can trick your mind into making you stop the progress you’ve made. It wants you to fail; it wants to take away your hard work so you do something else with your time, like take a nap. If you have passion for your writing, you need to stay the course! Just showing up counts more than you know, and it can be the difference in success with your work or letting your inner critic take over. When you feel you’re stuck, or you’ve lost your train of thought, step away for a moment and clear your head. Then come back to it stronger than ever.

2. Fail to Keep Your Readers Engaged: Boring content won’t translate into readers or revenue. Always look for new ideas to spruce up your writing to keep readers engaged until the end. Offer a CTA (Call to Action) by giving instructions to try something on their own. They need to feel your energy and respond to your message. Your writing needs to stand out in the best possible way by giving your audience knowledge they cannot get elsewhere. If you’d like to read a few excellent ways to write quality content and stand out in your niche, have a look at this blog.

3. Write and Edit at the Same Time: There’s a reason why there are first, second and final drafts in writing. You don’t need to get everything perfect right away. Unless you’ve been publishing at an expert level for years, you should use your time wisely and stick to editing after your content is written. Get your thoughts down and sort through the format at a future date. When you’re worried about how each sentence sounds right away, your mind loses focus on providing the best tips. Write first, edit later!

4. Forget to Track Your Results: It doesn’t matter if you’re writing as a hobby or professionally, sooner or later every author wants to see results. These results can range from money, readers/followers, improved reputation or other personal gain. You don’t have to be a mathematician to track your earnings, and social media provides so many tools to keep us informed of how our actions are being received by others. Make it a habit to track your results and adjust your methods according to the rise or fall in stats or viewership.

5. Add Too Much Irrelevant Detail: While it’s important to include the necessary details in your writing, too much background information on the subject can turn your readers off. If you’ve fallen asleep while hearing a lecture that never ends, you know the feeling. Your main content should be directly relevant and straight to the point. Avoid dragging on with details on subjects that have little meaning to the overall theme. Keep it short and simple and your readers will respect you for keeping them interested.

6. Publish Before You’re Ready: A writer needs time to go through their content to make sure all bases are covered before it’s published. When you think you’ve finalized your writing, grab a friend of co-worker to check out your work. An extra set of eyes could spot an error or a confusing sentence that sounded perfect to you. Timing is also important in publishing. Do your research and find out what time of day or week your readers are the most active. This blog highlighting 7 Easy Article Submission Blunders to Avoid will help you double check important areas prior to article publishing.

7. Stop Learning When You Know Enough: Most of us are guilty of overthinking situations, depending on the circumstances. However, learning too much on a topic is NEVER a bad thing. If you ever feel like you’ve achieved the highest status you can in your area of expertise, a reality check could be headed your way. You should never stop learning in your field, especially as a writer, because you need to continue feeding new information to your readers to keep their attention.

8. Stick with the Same Niche Forever: If you absolutely love pizza, by all means eat pizza, but you simply can’t eat pizza every day without developing a craving for something else. If you have a very specific set of skills that fall under one niche, continue focused in this area. However, the best authors slowly branch out to other topics and explore new avenues they never thought they would experience. Remember, the quality of your writing matters the most, so only test the waters elsewhere when you feel comfortable enough to provide valuable content to your readers.

9. Tease Your Readers and Never Get to the Point: Think of a movie or TV show that ends abruptly without clarifying questions from the story. It can be upsetting and may even ruin your day! Don’t try this if you’re giving your audience tips and advice. Your goal is not to be a brilliant storyteller that keeps your audience wondering forever. They’re taking the time to hear what you have to say, so it’s crucial you satisfy their craving for useful material.

10. Quit if Things Get Tough: Everyone makes mistakes from time to time; that is a fact. The important thing to remember is: you’ll never meet your goals if you give up on them. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you’re going through a difficult time in your already established business. When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Believe in yourself and your abilities, acknowledge your fear and face it head on.

How many of the mistakes listed above have you been guilty of committing?

Any one of these could strike at any time, thus delaying your writing goals. Overcome these mistakes by staying motivated, writing engaging content, and trying new approaches. As long as you can admit and learn from your mistakes, you’re on the right path to article writing success!