Niche Blogs with Quality Content

by My Web Writers

From tech talk to celeb gossip to political pundits, there is an audience for almost anything on the Web, and that’s good news for niche bloggers. But in recent years, so many bloggers have hit cyberspace with their specialty knowledge and interests that it can be difficult to find quality content. And like anything else on the web, content and utility are key. So we’ve gone surfing to find some hidden and not-so-hidden gems in the blogging world. Here are the niche bloggers who have captured our interest and keep us coming back for more.

Desserts for Breakfast

While dessert for breakfast may sound more like a child’s dream than a grown-up reality, blogger Stephanie S. manages to strike a balance with recipes that are both elegant and indulgent. Each post pairs a decadent breakfast recipe with an array of stunning images of the finished product and effectively showcases Stephanie’s talents as a food and travel photographer. Salt roasted pears with cajeta, Concord grape sorbet, apple cider doughnuts, and lemon fritter-sticks and nutmeg pudding are just a few of the treasures on this site. If you don’t like to cook, Desserts for Breakfast is worth a visit simply to enjoy the artwork, though not a site to view on an empty stomach. You might get hungry.

Cool Hunting

This trend-tracking blog looks at the latest in technology, fashion, travel, food and culture. It is described as a place for creative minds to splurge on inspiration. But it has definitely become the spot to get a jump on what’s in and what’s not. What the site does well is generate current content using eclectic forms to showcase the products along with vibrant graphics. One recent post interviews Garrett Colton, the owner of the store St&ndard Goods in LA, while another reviews moleskin luggage tags ($10) and the Oaxacan duffle bag ($495). Part of the draw is that you never know what will show up, but it is predominately high-end items. With this wide variety of ideas explored, organization is key. Older blogs have been archived and users can easily search past posts from the highly organized menu bar. This site also earns stars for its integration of media, specifically the mini-documentaries posted weekly.

Marketing to Women Online

Holly Buchanan is generating useful content for online marketers targeting a female audience. Buchanan’s posts explore female communities that are under or misrepresented in online marketing. She offers food for thought about groups of women with buying power that are often overlooked. Likewise, the posts consider problems with current advertising practices. Her post, “Women Mock American Apparel ‘Plus-Size’ Campaign”, is a tutorial in what not to do when marketing to plus-size women. Her own insight is enhanced with media links and sources. This kind of thoughtful and confident material provides a good platform to market her book and consulting services.

 A Hamburger Today

After a quick perusal of the A Hamburger Today blog spot, visitors will find that the hamburger has far exceeded its station as the crowning glory of the fast food world. To the novice, the blog is an educational source bringing readers up to speed on important terminology and categorization in the burger world. A more seasoned visitor will have not trouble identifying various regional burgers, distinguishing the slider from the mini burger and so on. They may use the blog as a resource for recipes instead. For those in the know, this site offers reviews on new menu items in restaurants across the country, discusses grilling styles, and even provides a forum for discussion. Needless to say, the content is solid and generates interest from advertisers.

These are the blogs we’re buzzing about, but we’re on the lookout for more, so feel free to share your favorites with us.  Of course, if you’re in need of an article writing service for your blog,  we can help.

~Lindsey

Improve Customer Service & Reduce Complaints with Web Content

by My Web Writers

Resolving customer issues is a reactionary approach to customer service. No matter how quick you respond and how pleased the customer is with the solution, you still had a service issue that inconvenienced the customer and cost you money.

Too many companies still think online customer service is providing a toll free number, email address or online chat.

Let’s move from resolving to reducing customer complaints by using service-focused website content.

Make It Simple to Find Your Hours and Location

I was meeting a colleague for lunch and went to the restaurant’s website to find the address. Their beautiful home page had an email address and phone number at the bottom. Why make the customer call or email and add an unnecessary customer contact? Or worse yet, lose a potential customer because they gave up.

After scouring the page I found a “Facility Info” link that led to the information. Eliminate the issue by putting the hours and location on the home page or at least change the “Facility Info” link to the more clear “Hours & Address.”

Idea: Make the right website content easily available. If the customer can’t find it, it’s as if it was never there.

Provide Helpful How-To Website Content

I was vacuuming recently. Then the handle wouldn’t lock in place. I tried several ways to fix the problem. No luck. Went online and searched for “XXXXXX handle won’t lock”. An independent store website detailed the simple fix. Three minutes later I was back in business. They now have a good chance of getting future business from me. That’s superior customer service.

Idea: Anticipate a customer service issue and make the solution available 24×7 online. Don’t make me call or bring it to the store for a simple fix. You ultimately may fix it, but you would have inconvenienced me.

Don’t Assume You Know Your Customer Complaints

Our roles grow as our company grows. We used to handle all the customer interactions ourselves. Now we are busy with vendors, hiring, payroll and many other demands. Make it a priority to schedule regular time to listen to your team.

How are they resolving customer complaints?

How would they eliminate the problem from occurring in the first place?

What is being said online about your company?

Do you make it easy for your customers to contact you personally? In-store and online?

Idea: Develop an early warning system to find customer complaints. Identify the top 20% reasons that cause 80% of complaints. Address customer confusion reasons with new website content designed to make the purchase decision and buying process easier.

There’s Not Enough Time in the Day

“Everyone already has too much to do. How do we develop new content and keep the business running?” Bring an experienced, skilled writer to the project. You’ll get a fresh perspective and content that leads to a better customer experience.

Idea: Visit My Web Writers to learn how to get started.

~Don

Tips for Writing Online Product & Service Reviews

by My Web Writers

Effective reviews for online products and services express an air of authenticity, contain accurate and detailed information and maintain professional quality and businesslike mannerisms, throughout the analysis of the product or service being reviewed. To achieve these requirements, authors of reviews will benefit from the following tips, which are employed by educators, business professionals and marketing specialists. Common strategies for effective review writing include developing clear organization, separating fact from fiction or opinion, expressing accurate and thorough knowledge of the product or service, and communicating clearly and succinctly throughout articles reviewing products and services being considered by consumers for consumption.

Know the Company:  Prior to writing any product or service review, it is necessary to know about the business behind the product or service being recommended or refuted, in a professional analysis of it. There are several reasons to investigate and research the company for which reviews are written, among them is to authenticate viewpoints expressed therein. Poor business practices lead to unsatisfactory consumer relations, regardless of how good a product or service may appear individually. By considering a larger scenario, one that includes overall customer satisfaction and loyalty, reviewers are able to provide potential consumers of a specific product or service, with more thorough and accurate data, informing them of a broader range of pros and cons to consider, before exchanging funds for the product or service being reviewed.

Set the Tone:  As a professional writer, it is important to set a businesslike tone when composing product and service reviews. Therefore, approaching each review as an individual writing assignment, as opposed to a retailer or consumer sales pitch, is necessary for author credibility. Introduction paragraphs for reviews should remain unbiased, laying a foundation and setting a tone where readers will engage in the article, filled with thoughtfully considered, detailed information. By constructing a product or service review in this manner, authors empower their audience, so they can openly form personal judgments based on sound and accurate information, provided by the author throughout the review.

Be Genuine and Authentic:  It is hard to fake being genuine and authentic. Product and service reviews purveying an authoritative message, indicate a particular clarity and passion about the item or service being weighed against its competition.

While these reviews should remain professional in tone, they also are required to express a certain legitimate and trustworthy disposition, one that if challenged, proves to be valid, reliable and without prejudicial sentiment.

Express Knowledge-based Familiarity with the Product or Service:  Product and service reviewers should avoid filling their reviews, with lots of fluff and meaningless product or service details. Instead, the primary focus should consist of useful information that will encourage and allow consumers to become informed about the product or service, incorporating consequential specifics, which will ultimately impact product or service consumption. Details like functionality, durability, customer satisfaction and warranty information should be stressed primarily, with less emphasis being placed on purchasing information, product or service features and ascetic qualities.

Summarize the Purpose of the Product or Service:  Quality product and service reviews answer the who, what, where, when, why and how of the product or service in question, within their article.  Effective reviewers are seasoned researchers, maintaining the ability to leave prospective consumers with full knowledge about the item or service being discussed, which requires answering essential questions buyers need and want to know. Therefore, genuine reviews will tailor their articles to the intended target audience, describing what is being sold, where and when it can be purchased, why or why not it should or shouldn’t be purchased and how it will or won’t benefit prospective consumers.

Describe the Product or Service:  Product and service descriptions inform potential buyers with precise detailed information about the product or service being reviewed. This information should include product size, features, assembly requirements, included or excluded items like batteries, hardware and light bulbs, service timelines and availability, pros and cons related to product or service, consumer expectations, product or service dependability, as well as scam alerts related to similar products or services, authenticating the particular product or service being reviewed.

Analyze Intention and Effect of Product or Service:  Carefully constructed product and service reviews include an analysis of the intention of the product or service, with its potential to achieve that intention, and its ability to live up to developing a reputation and following for the product or service.

Company intention must be considered when analyzing a product or service, so that an accurate assessment pertaining to its effectiveness can be made when critiquing it. If a company makes bold claims about a product or service, reviewers should make a concerted effort to determine if those claims are valid, thereby providing telling information about the effectiveness of the product or service in question.

Provide an Honest and Fair Critique of Product or Service:  Conclusions for reviews must add an honest and fair critique, based on the above stated information, backed up by facts, research and personal reflection, which weighs both the pros and cons, as well as positives and negatives, while considering the value and worth of the intended product or service for potential consumers. This is the reviewer’s stamp of approval or mark of dissatisfaction, intended to influence prospective buyers, of the product or service being reviewed; it must be stated with authority, remain professional and be irrefutable for the author of the review to substantiate credibility with businesses and consumers alike.

~MJ