WordPress Wallpapers: Show Your Love for Design & WordPress
At Envato, we love WordPress. In fact, we love it so much that the entire Tuts+ network and the majority of our blogs run on heavily customized WordPress installations. We want to share that love with the wider WordPress community by creating a gallery site full of beautiful and free wallpapers around the central theme of WordPress. That’s where you come in!
Tuts+ Premium Pack – Vegetables & Fruit
Today we have a unique Tuts+ Premium Pack, which is created in Illustrator by Anastasiia Kucherenko. It’s filled with 16 illustrated vegetables and fruit. Each is completely vector, available in AI and EPS formats. Log in or Join Now to get this exclusive download. Learn more at the jump!
The Ultimate 24-Point Website Copywriting Checklist
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will know that the copy of your website these days must be relevant, informative, sharable and well-written.
But how do you know if you’re writing your website’s copy the right way? This 24-point checklist should help! Hat tip to copywriting expert, Heather Lloyd-Martin for the checklist.
- Is the content based on a customer persona document or readers’ profile?
How do you know how to structure your writing if you don’t know who you’re writing for? Ask your client or supervisor for a customer persona document that outlines who the target customer is and their specific characteristics.
- Is the copy based on keyphrase research or based on a trending topic that resonates with your readers?
It’s tempting to blog about whatever strikes your fancy. The problem is – your readers may not care as much as you do. Base your blog posts and site pages on reliable keyphrase research. That way, you’re giving your readers they content they want to read.
- Is your main CTA (call to action) clear – and is it easy to take action?
Most sites want readers to take a specific action. In a sales environment, the call to action is purchasing a product. Make sure that you tell your reader what you want them to do – and make it easy for them to take action.
- Do you have a secondary CTA (such as a newsletter signup or downloading a white paper.)
Many sites have a secondary CTA. Many times, the CTA relates to lead generation (signing up for a newsletter.) Other times, it could be a link to related products or blog posts. Make sure that your secondary call to action is clear and doesn’t take attention away from the main CTA.
- Does the page include too many choices?
It’s important to keep your reader focused on your primary and secondary CTA’s. If your page lists too many choices consider eliminating all “unnecessary” choices that don’t support your main calls to action. Otherwise, your prospects may overwhelm and not take any action at all.
- What is your main per-page keyphrase focus (focus on two-to-three keyphrases per page.)
Don’t make the mistake of conducting keyphrase research after you’ve written the copy. Run your research first, and then choose the best keyphrases for your page.
- What internal pages will you link to? What’s the anchor text?
This is especially important if you’re writing a “soft-sale” blog post, where the secondary CTA is to send readers to specific product or services pages.
- What are the product/services features and benefits (if you’re writing a sales page.)
People make purchase decisions on the benefits of a product – not the features – so this is crucial. Make sure that you tell your reader how your product/service will make their lives better and satisfy a need.
- Do you have vertical-specific testimonials (if you’re writing a sales page?)
General testimonials are fantastic – they offer third-party proof that your product or service is superior. However, if you are writing a sales page for a specific vertical, always include vertical-specific testimonials. This will help increase your conversion rates.
- Is your H1 headline “clickable?” That is, does it convey a benefit statement or otherwise entice the reader to click-through from the search engine results page?
Readers initially quick-scan your content. Benefit-rich headlines tell the reader “what’s in it for him/her” and entices them to keep reading.Ensuring that your headline is compelling and has a benefit statement is a proven copywriting technique – and too powerful to pass up.
- Does your headline include a keyphrase?
Searchers are following the “search scent” from the search engine results page. When they reach the landing page, they are quick-scanning for their search term (or a variation) – so including a keyphrase in your headline is important. Adding your keyphrase to your H1 headline is also an excellent way to reinforce keyphrase relevancy.
- Did you include keyphrase-rich subheadlines?
Subheadlines are an excellent way to visually break up your text, making it easy for readers to quick-scan your benefits and information.
- Does the content provide the reader valuable information?
Ask yourself if the content answers your reader’s questions and is informative. If you find that you’re focusing more on the keyphrase usage than the actual content, rewrite the page.
- Did you use bullet points where appropriate?
Bullet points help to highlight your content, making it easier for your readers to read. Use bullet points whenever you find yourself writing a list (such as a features-benefits list.)
- Did you use “too many” keyphrases?
If your content sounds “keyphrase-heavy” and stilted, reduce the keyphrase usage and focus more on your readers’ experience.
- Is the “voice” of the page appropriate?
Consider if your tone and feel will resonate with your reader. Your content doesn’t have to sound formal, but it should sound like you talk (or like your sales team would talk to a prospect.)
- Are your sentences too long?
Vary your sentence structure so you have a combination of longer and shorter sentences. If you find your sentences creeping over 30 or so words, it may be time to edit them down – or turn them into individual sentences.
- Are your paragraphs too long?
Long paragraphs without much white space are hard to read off a computer monitor – and even harder to read on a mobile device. Whenever possible, make your paragraphs shorter for easier readability.
- Did you edit your content?
Resist the urge to upload your content as soon as you write it. Put it away and come back to it after a few hours (or even the next day.) Eliminate any spelling/grammatical errors and see what you can do to tighten up the word count.
- Did you edit it again?
Once is never enough. Review your content at least one more time. It’s amazing what you can find to edit the second (or third!) time around!
- Does your Title contain one (or more) of your main keyphrases?
Always include your main page keyphrase in your Title – and work in other keyphrases if they “fit.”
- Is your Title “clickable” and compelling?
Remember that the search engine results page is your first opportunity for conversion. Consider how you can create an enticing Title that “gets the click” over the other search result listings. Remember, you have about 65 characters (with spaces) to work with, so it’s important to write tight.
- Did you create a meta description?
Your meta description is like a short page summary – and it helps encourage searchers to click-through from the search engine results page. Don’t forget to weave in your keyphrases.
- Does the meta description fit the intent of the page?
If you’re writing an article or blog post, the meta description should be informational rather than sales-y . Conversely, if you’re creating a meta description for a sales page, your meta description can be more promotional.
So, there you have it, 24 things to remember when writing content for your own or your client’s website.
Joomla! 1.5.26 Released
The Joomla Project announces the immediate availability of Joomla 1.5.26 [senu takaa ama busani]. This is a security release. The Production Leadership Team’s goal is to continue to provide regular, frequent updates to the Joomla community. Learn more about Joomla! developement at the Developer Site.
Download
Click here to download Joomla 1.5.26 (Full package) »
Click here to download Joomla 1.5.26 (Upgrade packages) »
Instructions
- New installation and technical requirements
- Upgrade from an existing Joomla 1.5 version
- Migration from Joomla! 1.0.x
Want to test drive Joomla? Try the online demo or the Joomla JumpBox. Documentation is available for beginners.
Please note that you should always backup your site before upgrading.
Release Notes
Check the Joomla 1.5.26 Post-Release FAQs to see if there are important items and helpful hints discovered after the release.
Security
- High Priority – Core – Password Change Vulnerability. More information »
- Low Priority – Core – Information Disclosure. More information »
Issues Fixed
None.
Joomla! Bug Squad
Thanks to the Joomla Bug Squad for their dedicated efforts investigating reports, fixing problems, and applying patches to Joomla. If you find a bug in Joomla, please report it on the CMS Issue Tracker.
Joomla! Security Strike Team
A big thanks to the Joomla! Security Swat Team for fixing all reported security issues with this release. Members include: Airton Torres, Alan Langford, Bill Richardson, Elin Waring, Jason Kendall, Marijke Stuivenberg, Mark Dexter, Michael Babker, Rouven Weßling, Samuel Moffatt.
Local SEO – Don’t Miss This Opportunity for Your Local Business
Why is it that so many local businesses keep ignoring SEO?
It continues to baffle me. SEO is proven to work, and with a local focus, is a really cost effective way to drive customers to shops and businesses. Yet business owners continue to throw money away at antiquated marketing strategies and ignore SEO.
I can only put it down to fear and lack of understanding.
So hopefully this post will reduce the fear and help people understand how to do their own local SEO.
In terms of SEO, a locally focused campaign tends to yield much faster ranking results as there’s often less competition in cities, suburbs and neighbourhoods. Less competition also means it’s easier and cheaper to achieve the results you need.
So here goes:
Picking your keywords
The first step is getting your keywords right. There’s no rocket science here. Just find the best keywords that describe your shop, products or services and add “local” extensions.
e.g. “cheap shoes” => “cheap shoes pasadena”
And explore suburb level search terms. They might not be massive traffic terms, but they’ll be easier to rank on, and will often be used by people who are more likely potential customers.
Optimising Your Website
Once you’ve got your keywords selected, it’s time to do your on page SEO. Now I’m not gonna go through a full lesson on how to do on page SEO – we’ve blogged about that many times before, but here’s some obvious ways to boost your local keyword focus:
- Contact Us Pages – Make sure your target terms are featured here
- Website Footer - Your footer is featured across your website, so placing your target terms will reinforce the focus across your whole website.
- Title Tags – Title tags are still a very important on-page SEO element, so make sure your relevant pages have “local” terms included.
- Location Specific Pages – Consider creating web pages that focus on specific areas. You can include information on your experience in the area, why you’re the business to choose there etc.
Building Your Links
As per all SEO campaigns, link building is the foundation of your success. While you should follow all conventional link building techniques, Local SEO offers you some additional link building opportunities.
Local Directories
There are several web directories out there that target specific areas. As Google’s looking for relevant backlinks to measure your authority, seek out the local directories that focus on your area and ensure your business has listings in them all.
Regional communities
Many local and regional areas have groups that feature local businesses. Whether it’s a local chamber of commerce, or a community group, get involved in what they’re doing and try to get your business listed in their site. It’s local focus will help deliver a strong link to your business.
Business Review Sites
There’s plenty of business review and directory sites out there focused on local. Try to get your business featured in all the ones relevant to your industry. E.g. if you’re a restaurant, you might look at adding your business to urbanspoon, or if you’re an accountant, get a link from your accountant association.
Expanding Your Search Profile
While the key is to rank your website for your target search terms in Google, it also good to have other web properties you own rank for those terms also. It’ll help ensure potential local customers find your business.
Google Places
Google Places listings feature at the top of the search results for most local searches. It’s critical that you have a Google Places listing for your business. Within this listing, make sure it include the search terms you’re targeting in your business description.
Social Media
Most businesses are embracing social media in one way or another. So make sure that when you do you consider your local seo when posting information and links back to your business.
And if you needed further convincing the Local Search is important – here’s a handy infographic that details how Local Search has grown and why it’s such an important strategy.
Infographic by MDG Advertising
Quick Tip: Creating a Tri-fold template in InDesign CS5
In today’s quick tip we are going to set up a template for a Tri-fold leaflet, which will be roll folded. Once completed the template will serve as a base to design onto and can saved as a master template for future use. Let’s begin!
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