What is Bing’s Subjectship and How does it Compare to Google’s Authorship?

By Natalie @MyWebWriters

Webmasters are always looking for the next great SEO boost. Google Authorship was launched this past year, so it was only natural that Bing would fire back with its own version, Bing Subjectship. Understanding the two and how they compare can help content writers and other authors and readers decide which they prefer from the world’s two favorite search engines.

Google Authorship

Although just a youngster, Google Authorship is proving itself as a successful tool to drive traffic to websites, especially blogs.  Look at the Google search to the right for “Google Authorship.” The photos you see are the authors of the articles.

Since Google added Authorship to its articles, the click-through rates are much higher than they were before.

Bing’s Subjectship

Bing decided to compete with Google via Bing Subjectship. Instead of seeing a picture of who wrote a specific article or blog post, you’ll see a picture of the subject matter.  If I wrote a popular blog post on a famous singer, my picture would show up next to the search result in Google, but Bing would show a picture of the famous singer and the picture might not be one I even used in my post.  Subjectship appears to be in an experimental stage.

This video further highlights some of the differences between Authorship and Subjectship:

After we contacted Bing for more information about Subjectship, we received the following reply.

It’s me again Docs from Bing Technical Support. We apologize for the delay of our response. We would like to provide you an update from our product group about your inquiry on Bing Subjectship. Allow me to discuss this with you.

Bing Support provides assistance for customers needing help with Bing and the features within Bing. We are unable to provide any additional information regarding Bing Subjectship nor any future plans and releases pertaining to Bing.

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in Bing.
Best Regards,

Docs
Bing Technical Support

So which do you find more appealing- a photo of who wrote the article or blog post, or a photo of who the post is about?

Five Party Blogs that Fight Writer’s Block

by My Web Writers

Do you have the day-after-a-holiday blues? While the firecrackers are now just memories, you can still keep your glow burning.   As a writer, it’s important to get out, talk with others, and experience life.  This may sometimes prove exhausting, but it can also spark a new level of creativity and thought.  For light-hearted fun, we compiled a list of five, party blogs that content writers should read- just for fun.  Give some of the ideas in these blogs a whirl next weekend!

1. Shindigz Party:  Not only will this party blog help you come up with fun party ideas, the author, Wendy, offers “excuses” to throw parties!  She highlights ideas for birthdays, weddings, showers, and cocktail parties.  She also find unique party angles for events like National Ice Cream Month and the Olympics.
2. Stumps Prom:  StumpsParty.com is the parent site for the Stumps Prom blog.  The blog suggests ideas to help plan school events like homecoming, prom, or graduation.  Planners use the decorating tips and product highlights to gather ideas for weddings, tradeshow events, and theme parties.
3. Birthday Decorations: Go beyond cake and ice cream at the birthday decorations blog.  Think big, as a writer should, with creative themes and birthday planning ideas.  Borrow tips for girl parties, boy parties, baby play date parties, tween parties, teen parties, adult parties, and over-the-hill birthdays!  Find a wide range of decorating ideas and supply suggestions.
4. Halloween Decorations: For scary, spooky, and fun ideas for the favorite fall holiday, this is the go-to blog!  Other than just decoration ideas, there are crafts and snacks that you can plan to make your Halloween get-together kid-friendly.  Halloween Decorations offers favor ideas and themed Halloween party ideas.
5. Hostess with the Mostess: This is the blog where you can find everything at once—wedding shower ideas, baby showers, birthdays, monthly and holiday parties, the whole nine yards!  You’ll find tips and tricks for planning and organizing parties as well as fun craft ideas that will give your party that final, personal touch.

There are more party blogs out there for you to look at, but these are effective, well-organized, and helpful.  Fight writer’s block and the day-after-a-holiday blues. Sometimes, diversions are just what writers need to spark the next surge of creativity.  Put these blogs to use and start planning your next party!

Update October 23, 2012:  Read how the new, Party Crashers app curates content for spontaneous gatherings.

~Holly

My Web Writers’ Most Popular 2011 Content Topics and Articles

by My Web Writers

When we, at My Web Writers, hunch over our keyboards smithing words – wistfully pausing now and then to glance out windows, we’re envisioning you. We imagine that you’re very dapper, intelligent, and curious.  You’re on the prowl to learn more about the world of content, SEO, social media, and marketing.  We’re on target, aren’t we?  (Ah, a sucker for compliments, too!)

But, which of our articles did analytics say you were most attracted to in 2011?  Which pieces are most useful?  Read on to uncover our most popular 2011 articles and topics from My Web Writers’ blog.

Content with the Most Views and/ or Shares:

1.  Brief Conclusions from the 2011 Google Quality Raters Handbook

Everyone wants the inside track on the Big G!  Pot Pie Girl originally broke this story about an accidental link that appeared on Google’s website.  This link led to a PDF of a training manual for Google rankers with insights into the world of ranking review.  Try not to panic if you missed it.  The manual reinforces white hat, SEO practices and compelling, useful content.

2.  How to Handle Negative Facebook Posts On Your Company’s Facebook Page

In the center of the universal heart is a soft spot.  What do you do when the unkind want to air their complaints publicly?  Inspired by a talk given by Anthony Juliano, from Asher Agency, Pam suggests an overall customer service approach that’s positive and effective when handling negativity.

3.  Hybels, Starbucks, and a Teen; My 2011 Willow Creek Leadership Summit

You like coffee.  Maybe you were curious how coffee, a pastor, and a teenager fit together with a leadership conference, so you read this post?  You might have attended the Willow Creek Leadership Conference and been dismayed that the Starbucks CEO pulled out of his speaking obligation just prior to the event.  I won’t go into the whole dealie deal, again, but if you missed it and are curious (and I’ll bet you are), give it a read when you’re in the car heading to Grandma’s over the holidays.

4.  Create a Table of Contents

Perfectionists tasked with writing manuals found this post helpful. This popular topic navigates Word 2007 and various options for creating tables of contents.

5.  Ten Content Tips for ZMOT (Zero Moment of Truth) Experts

Google’s Jim Lecinski created a fantastic marketing model that identifies current shopping trends.  Content writers and marketers aware of ZMOT found our writing tips helpful for increasing revenue opportunities at the Zero Moment of Truth.

6.  Social Media Brings Others Together

Lauren attended a local TEDx event and wrote about how social media played a part in the event.  This popular article was widely shared and we’d venture to guess by other attendees or TEDx fans.  Google knows the value of your local community.  Consider your own local, story topics in 2012.

7.  Time Wasting Technology- Streamline 2012

For as much as we love technology, it can stifle us.  This topic hit a nerve with many of you.  “What is really important in life?”

8.  Use Your Writing Gifts to Better the World

We love the altruistic.  You shared this article about a missions trip to Nicaragua and then you considered writing for a higher purpose.  Some experiences go beyond words, so I’m delighted we have pictures to share with the article.

9.  Literacy and Your Content Marketing Campaign

Keep it simple.  Search engines want you to consider the general audience when it comes to website content readability now and in 2012.

10.  Google’s Panda 2.5 Update; Deliver the Content Promised in the Meta

This analysis of the Panda 2.5 update suggested that three losing websites had a uniting theme- they under-delivered in the content what they promised to deliver in their meta titles.  Since the posting of this article, Google made additional Panda adjustments.

Thanks for Reading My Web Writers’ 2011 Most Popular Articles!

Your content providers at My Web Writers wish you a very happy holiday season.  What were some of your favorite topics and articles this year?  What did your readers enjoy on your blog or website? Drop a note to us with a link to your post!

~Jean

Corporate Holiday Email Do’s and Don’ts

by My Web Writers

Most individuals receive an onslaught of holiday greetings via email and post starting as early as October and continuing into the New Year. With all of this feverish well-wishing, it can be difficult for one individual email to stand out. This puts added pressure on those responsible for producing and circulating corporate holiday emails.

Some companies use humor to make an impression, while others still question whether or not humor is appropriate for the corporate setting.

According to Small Business Trends , which published data from a 2009 press release  from Hallmark Business Expressions,

in a survey of 2,300 customers, conducted by Harris Interactive, 62 percent expressed interest in receiving humor cards from a company with which they do business and 65 percent said receiving a humorous business greeting card would result in a positive feeling towards the company.

However, Hallmark’s corporate humor collection shrunk considerably in 2011—retrieving only one card on a humor search—suggesting that there has not been a high demand for these types of cards.

A similar phenomenon can be observed on other sites selling corporate holiday cards and email templates. Most humor searches yield few results. The current trend seems to focus on whimsical graphics rather than downright funny text. Polar bears ice skating, cartoon Santas in business suits, puppies and kittens in Christmas wear, porcupines decorated with lights and references to the North Pole are the prevailing forms of humor in this year’s collections. With a few exceptions which feature, flossing reindeer, and a team of children on the naughty list, accompanied by their lawyer, to see Santa. But most of these exceptions are occupation specific.

When selecting an email template or generating your own text, remember that humor should be light-hearted, appropriate and should not target or demean any individuals, groups, faith celebrations or your company in any way. If you feel uncertain about whether or not humor is appropriate in your specific setting, it is probably best to consult a superior or use one of the other strategies below to garner attention.

Make Emails Personal

Personalize your holiday emails by using individual names in the greeting line. “Dear Customer” says “I don’t really know you”, whereas correctly-spelled names show familiarity.

Use Unique Email Designs

Stand out in the crowd with colorful, interactive graphics and unique layouts to support your text. Remember not to clutter your email visually, but rather to focus the reader on the most important information you want to convey. Templates are available online to help you craft and design your own. Templates range in cost from free to marketing programs with monthly rates upwards of $20.

Appeal to Your Customers

A holiday email is an opportunity to thank customers for their loyalty but should also accomplish the following:

1. Remind clients you exist.

2. Attract new customers.

3. Appreciate existing customers.

Remember to include the following marketing components in your holiday emails:

•  links to your website,

• hot items from annual or seasonal catalogs,

• gift guides and any other element that can tastefully showcase your services.

Email attachments need to be less than 2MB, and we recommend that you host documents online when possible.

Update Your Email Contact List

The best way to handle email lists is to update them regularly throughout the year. Be sure that you have the correct addresses, names and titles for all your intended recipients. Do a little research to collect contact information for potential clients to add to your list.

Send Corporate Holiday Emails Early

If your emails are being sent to corporate accounts, it is best to send them in early to mid December. Many people take off for the holidays and you don’t want your email sitting in inboxes until the new year. Retailers should send out holiday emails as early as possibly especially when marketing seasonal goods.

Is an Email Enough?

For many clients or prospective clients, an email is sufficient to convey your thanks, well wishes, and opportunities for future business partnerships. It is also a cost efficient and timely method for transmitting your holiday greetings. However, tasteful gift baskets or another tactile expression may be the way to go with your most important clients. Bribery is never necessary, but remember, you cannot eat cyberspace.

~Lindsey

Write Holiday Devotionals With an Editor’s Eye

by My Web Writers

The fire is crackling, the Christmas tree is lit, and snowflakes are gently falling on the window pane. We’re in the midst of one of the most beautiful and heartwarming seasons of the year, but there are people in the world who are struggling, heartbroken, and searching.

We have the gift of writing, which allows us to share our reflections and encourage others who may really need it this holiday season. Good, salable devotional writing takes a combination of originality, relatability, and genuineness. If you’ve toyed with the idea of creaking open your corporate closet to explore  another genre, devotional writing for religious blogs or publishers is highly fulfilling.  Let’s look at how to write holiday devotions with an editor’s eye.

Devotionals Should Be Original.

No one wants to read the same, old clichés. Most devotional magazines I’ve written for, including The Secret Place, have requested more obscure Bible verses and passages from their writers. Why? Because using uncommonly known Bible passages gives readers the chance to learn something new. When you consider a lesser known scripture verse, editors will be more likely to purchase your submission.  The same applies to the examples you use in your devotion. According to The Upper Room‘s writers’ guidelines, “Very familiar illustrations have little impact and should not be used.”

Devotions Relate to People.

Start with a verse and then link it with an example that will help people relate to it, or vice versa. The example you use could be something from your own life or something you know. Either way, be sure to use descriptive language to draw the reader into your story.

“Use language and examples that appeal to the five senses. Tell what you heard, saw, touched, smelled, tasted. When appropriate, use dialogue to tell your story,” states The Upper Room’s writers’ guidelines.

The Secret Place also recommends that you use inclusive language so that your devotions can reach people from a variety of backgrounds, including men and women, young and old, different races, rural and urban. You should consider using inclusive language in any devotions you write, unless the devotional magazine you’re writing for has a specific audience. In that case, you should focus your writing with that audience in mind. Also be aware of the devotional magazine’s denominational affiliation.

Write Honest Devotionals.

Good, inspirational holiday devotions come from a place of honesty and genuineness. You can’t touch someone’s life through your writing unless you’re willing to reflect on the scripture and write from your heart.

According to The Upper Room, “Good devotional writing is first of all authentic. It connects real events of daily life with the ongoing activity of God. It comes across as the direct, honest statement of personal faith in Christ and how that faith grows. It is one believer sharing with another an insight or struggle about what it means to live faithfully.”

With that in mind, you don’t want to come across as being preachy. Examples of preachy language, as stated in The Upper Room’s guidelines include, “You should…,” “You need to…,” and “We must….” Good devotional writers don’t tell people what to do or what not to do; they relate to people where they are.

When writing holiday devotions, keep in mind that most devotional magazines have early deadlines. If you want to publish Christmas devotions, for example, a devotional magazine may want them in the summer. You can check the magazine’s writers’ guidelines or the Christian Writers’ Market Guide for deadline information. If you have an idea for a holiday devotion but are having trouble getting the right words down on paper, you can always hire a content writer to help you.

~Andrea