Mozak Design Blog

What is Twitter?

Let’s start with a definition from Wikipedia.

“Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.”

Twitter is a micro blog platform. You are limited to 140 characters per post. This forces you to be concise and keep each tweet (Twitter post) to just one topic.

The key to effectively using Twitter is to understand that it is a conversation between people. It is about sharing information. It is not a sales platform although some will disagree with that. I am not saying that you can’t use it to sell but you need to do it the right way.

If all you are planning to use Twitter just as a platform to send out your links forget it now. Just like a blog you need to supply valuable information and build your reputation as a valuable resource.

Do that and when you occasionally recommend something people will be interested. Just send links and very few will continue to follow you.

It works like any type of networking. It is most valuable when you are sorting information about your niche for others. Just like a blog if you find valuable resources from others and let people know about what is valuable to your readers on your blog or followers on Twitter.

Just like off line networking you don’t go to the local Chamber meeting and introduce your business. You talk to people there and ask about theirs. Have an idea that can help them – share it. Do that and you develop relationships that will help your business not because you pitched your business but because you became a valuable resource that others will recommend.

Twitter works the same way. I encourage you to jump in. Start following people whose thoughts you value and begin sharing yours as well.

If you want to follow me you can do so at: http://twitter.com/mozakdesign and I’d be happy to follow you back!

Wordpress Plugin’s In Review: TinyMCE Advanced

Finally you can format your text the way you want!

I remember the first time I sat down to create a post on my new Wordpress blog. It was an exciting moment that quickly changed to frustration. All I wanted to do was change the font size!

Seemed to me like a reasonable enough request. But, I’d be darned if I could figure out how to do that with the default tool bar. Sure I could change from “paragraph” to “Heading 1″ or “Heading 2″ but none of these gave me the results I wanted.

This sent me on a quest for a good wordress wysiwyg editor. After hunting around for a while I discovered two that I liked. One is called “WP Super Edit” and the other is “TinyMCE Advanced”.  Since of the two I prefer TinyMCE Advanced, that is the plugin I will discuss today.

So with out further ado here are some of the features this plugin provides:

1. Change font size and font family !!!
2. Create and editing tables
3. Text justificati0n
4. Text hi-lighting
5. Subscript & superscript
6. Anchor links
7. Search and replace
8. Time & Date insertion
9. Emotions (Smilies)
10. ieSpell checked

40 new formatting buttons in all.

Needless to say this plugin has become a staple in each and every wordpress website & blog I design. To see the plugin installation in action I invite you to watch the video below:

Good Copy Tip #3: Linking within your website

One opportunity that is often missed is linking to internal pages within your website.

This is valuable in several ways:

1. It enables easier creation of scannable pages.
2. It creates Google optimized, topic specific, pages.
3. It allows you to guide readers into older blog posts.

By linking deeper into your website you can provide a readers with simple lists that they can scan; with the option to learn more on that topic if they follow the link. In addition, linking within your website allows you a way to continue using older posts in your blog. Most blog posts are not looked at once they are about 5 posts old. By guiding readers to older posts and series you have written, you are able to maximize your imvestment in them.

Finally, linking deeper into your site helps to guide your guest through your site to the information that interest them the most. This is crucial as web surfers have little patience hunting for what they are looking for.

Good Copy Tip #2: People do not read, They scan

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Often when we sit down to write our thoughts come on in the form of paragraphs. In fact this was how we were taught to write. The problem with this is your website readers have little patience to sit and wade through all your text. They want to be able to scan and quickly identify if what they are looking for exists on your website.

Here is a recipe for scannable text:

1. Break your page content into topic sections
2. Create a Header for your first section. Format it in color and with a large font.
3. Write a 2-3 sentence intro paragraph on the topic. Make sure your line height is set to 1.25x the font size for easier reading.
4. Next utilize numbered & bulleted lists to highlight the key points linking them deeper into your website
5. Finally repeat for your other topics on the page.

By following these tips your website will present your business in a way that caters to the needs of your visitors. By doing so, there is a much higher chance that your website visitors will become clients.

Good Copy Tip #1: It’s not about you

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I often see website homepage text that reads more like an “About Us” page. While the history of your business and all the services you provide have their place in; make sure the homepage is engaging to your viewer. Speak to them. Why have they sought out your business? What needs do they have? What solutions to you offer?

By writing content that speaks to clients on an emotional level you can connect with them. If they feel understood then they will think … Wow, this business gets me – I’d like to work with them.