3 Simple Tips To Improve Your Website Ranking

 1: USE KEYWORDS AS A GUIDE, but not the be all end all 

• Keywords are great for giving us an indication of topics that readers are interested in
• Use keyword phrases that point to niche topics, eg. most expensive car, harley davidson rather than generic terms, eg. motorbikes
• It helps to determine preferred word usage eg motorbikes is a preferred search term in Australia and motorcycles in Thailand.
• Don't stuff similar keywords in your article for the sake of repeating it, eg. intentionally repeating camry again and again just because it is a popular search keyword will hurt rather than help. Instead, try placing it in the title and or in the first sentence. Again, don’t force it if the sentence becomes unnatural. 
• You can use a few popular keywords in the same article. Eg. car dvd player, car camera and car audio are popular searches in China. They can be put together for an article about upgrading your car accessories with more emphasis towards China; for instance, adding an example of a Chinese person who had spent thousands pimping up his ride
• Don't let the keywords limit your ideas. Giving readers what they know they want is great, but giving readers what they didn't know they want is better – readers will consider your site as a genuine news provider. Refer TIP #3 below.

 2: SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD

• Facebook, Tweet, Email every article (sharing buttons are available at the bottom of each article).
• Place the link to the site everywhere, anywhere possible - your Facebook account, websites, blogs, email footers, etc.
• Search engines will assume that your site is worth reading if other sites are ‘recommending’ it.
• Online advertising (Facebook, Google) is a useful boost of initial traffic to the site or steady flow if carried out regularly. Be mindful that if this is only conducted once off, your site ranking may just as easily fall if not supported by good content.

 3: CONTENT IS KING! 

• Quality content will organically elevate the site in the search ranking. And when you get to the top this way – the hardworking way - it will be harder for you to fall.
• With good content, readers will naturally spend more time on your site and click on to other pages, both of which are good for your site’s ranking. Your pages will register a low bounce rate, ie readers continues to click on other pages in your site (this can be determined from your Google Analytics, if you've installed it or something similar).
• Readers will also share your site on social networking sites of their own accord, which leads to more links out there leading back to your site (refer TIP#2).
• Duplication of content from other sites is a big NO-NO. Search engines are able to determine which content came first, and the copycat will be deemed as a low quality site. Avoid copying content verbatim unless it is a quote.
• What is good content? Just put yourself in the readers’ shoes:

1. is the information useful, unique or valuable to you?
2. Is it engaging and newsworthy?
3. Does it offer intelligent observation, well-balanced and comprehensive narrative?
4. Does it blow your mind and make you go “WTF! I’ve gotta share this!”

If you get excited writing the content, chances are that your readers will get excited reading it too.


I wrote this '3 Simple Tips To Improve Your Website Ranking' for a client whom I helped set up Automology, a news portal cum blog for the automotive industry. The client contributes articles aggressively and wanted to know how they could improve their site's ranking (hurray for pro-active clients!).

I've picked up a few tips along the way, but at the end of the day, quality content is of utmost important. Hence, hire a copywriter! (pick me! pick me!)

A PSA from W&W for GE13, considering the intense emotions felt by the public

Enough said

I don't owe the rights to this image. I do not know who does (my friend just forwarded the image to me). But whomever she or he is, thanks.

Listen Listen Listen....Nando style

Another witty Nando ad in their usual tongue in 'chick' style, making use of the latest hot topic in the local scene. It's good enough for me to voluntarily click 'like' on their FB page, and decide to go to Nando's for a meal soon.

If you do not understand that, it's in response to this incident:
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/listen-listen-listen-listen-sharifah-zohra-jabeen

Update (17 Jan 2013):
Oh my. It's catching on!

Perception change

I had recently met up with a potential client who told me that they had recently changed their name from Tsunami--. Before she even explained the reason for the name change, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami crossed my mind. Even in that flitting moment, I thought that maybe it was just because I am working on Hotel Tales 2 and had recently met a hotelier who survived the horrific day. I had been researching the event, watching videos and reading up on survivors' accounts, facts and other information.

She went on to explain that it was indeed because of that tragedy that the name brought on such negative images and connotations. 

Prior to the incident, I suppose that 'tsunami' would have been associated with great strength, speed and majesty. Now, it just means death and destruction.

Other phrases or words that has undergone a perception change must therefore include 'twin towers', 'nuclear', 'earthquake', 'hurricane' and so forth. Not that the world had not seen great tragedies before, but because we are now so connected globally that almost all sad events will touch us in our own corner of the earth. So, be wary when naming your company or product. Always know what's going on in the world, especially where your clients are from. And don't be afraid to rebrand if necessary!

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

2012 has been exceedingly kind to me. There are many things to be grateful for on the business front.

I've had opportunities to meet new clients and complete interesting projects. My clients are fun, interesting, adventurous and prompt payers (in fact, some of them urge me to invoice them before I even intend to). They understand, without me even saying it, that small businesses have limited cash flow.

When I started, I wasn't even sure if there was a demand for copywriters that I only registered my company for one year. This year, upon expiry, I renewed the license for 3 years. Not the full 5 years allowed, simply because I do hope to convert this business into a Sdn Bhd eventually.

I've learnt  from my clients that there sorely lack good copywriters in the market (the same as, I believe, good designers) and the good ones tend not to get recognized except for a few. I aim, eventually, to have a large group of skilled writers who look beyond the words on the computer screen, be able to analyse the context that make these words some important, and that their skills are duly recognised and valued (read: paid what they are worth). I've met talented (experienced and aspiring) writers and designers, whom I hope will persevere to see the local industries recognise their worth.

So, 2012 has come and gone without the expected doomsday occurring, but as harbinger of good things to come. I ended it by finishing an online florist website - Pureseed, www.pureseed.com.my (another wonderful client!) and start 2013 with a name development project for one of my very first clients - Kytera. If there was a good time to be a writer, it is now!

Revamped mascot

As I said, I am my worst brand consultant. I can't settle and always itch to tweak, change, add or remove something. But I think this should have been done from the beginning. 

Revealing my revamped mascot!

The Word Artisan

It's a great improvement from my original stick form, and I do not know why I didn't do a better one earlier. And so, yet again, my website has something new and so will my next batch of namecards. Sarcrilege! (for branding).

Do what I preach, but don't do what I do!