The Value of Keyword Research Before Writing.

I never really understood the value of keyword research until I started writing this blog. I have read numerous 'how to' books and articles on keyword research. I have made and saved lists both long and short, made a stab at what are the really relative keywords, guessed at which would be the best to optimise my work of art with, and congratulated myself on actually getting something down on paper with these little gems - my chosen keywords - scattered liberally throughout the piece.

I know that Google Adsense sends its spiders to crawl across any web page or blog that it appears on, in order to discover what the main gist of the page is, and to decide what type of ads it should place on that page. But I didn't realise until now, how much the spiders rely on the keywords until I saw that the ads Google Adsense placed next to my previous post were all about unblocking drains!!!!

And so, finally, a light bulb moment! The value of keyword research and how you display those keywords on your blog, your lens, your website or in your article allows the search engines to know what you are truly writing about - Eureka!

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together! I think that calls for a cup of tea.

Getting Started With Article Writing

How do you get started with article writing? If you have barely put pen to paper in a creative way since leaving school, then where on earth do you start?

According to those in the know, article marketing is the new ‘Big Thing’ on the Internet. Just find a niche, write an article about it, put your name and link in the resource box and hey presto – your first article is created. Only in reality it is not always that easy!

The first obstacle is actually finding a niche that you know something about. If you are into body building, golf swinging, snowboarding, knitting, dieting, dog grooming, overcoming back pain during pregnancy, or replacing lost hair whilst giving up smoking, then great – but if you are not involved in any of those thing, what on earth do you write about?

What if you have been a busy Mum for the last 10 years who has cooked, cleaned, washed, ironed, and shopped her way through life, not to mention running to school twice a day?

Would anyone be interested in 4 different routes to take to school, or 10 different ways to iron a shirt? Maybe 20 super tips for deodorising the dog or 5 things you never new about unblocking the sink? Not very riveting stuff - although maybe tips for deodorising the dog could go somewhere?

What about my favourite film star – perhaps I could write about him. My 10 favourite fantasies involving Piers Brosnan or my 10 favourite films starring Pierce Brosnan. My favourite James Bond – Piers Brosnan. How to replace your worn out husband with Piers Brosnan. The problem here is that it is mainly the female population that is interested in Piers Brosnan, so you are immediately limiting your audience.

What else do I know that anyone would be interested in reading about? What sort of things do I like to read about.? Why is my head so empty of ideas every time it comes to writing an article.........? Whoa there - negative vibes alert! Lets go back to thinking about Piers Brosnan.

Right, with his image firmly planted in my mind's eye - what can I think of to write about?

• Keeping fit - six packs - abs - visiting the gym - Piers on the rowing machine
• Dating - finding your ideal man
• What women want
• Being over 50 - Piers is over 50 (Sean Connery is over 80 and still gorgeous)
• Staying healthy - eating healthy food and drinking freshly squeezed (with Piers) juice.
• Saltza Dancing Lessons - learning with Piers naturally!

Just half-a-dozen ideas to start with. Then of course, there are all the things that aren't associated with Piers Brosnan. Hair loss, overweight, shy about talking to girls, remedies for spots and pimples, Viagra, a cure for perspiration, straightening out wrinkles..... the list could go on and on..... in fact while the creative juices are flowing I may as well make a long list.

OK, maybe thinking of the greatest sex symbol ever know to woman (well this woman anyway), to think of things to write an article about, is a bit spooky - but you get my drift.

If you are interested in writing articles for profit, but need a little more conventional guidance to get going click here.