With the addition and rising popularity of Foursquare.com in the social scene, businesses have entered yet another new world of marketing. In this virtual community, customers aren’t just talking about your business, they’re using it. They can become the mayor, meet their friends, and find the best locations to eat, sleep, drink, and be merry.

The Ups and Downs of Foursquare

This online community/’game’ could easily create a strong customer base for businesses that choose to embrace the concept. As Foursquare recommends on its website, businesses can encourage participation in the community and visits by offering small incentives such as a discount, a free product, or even just advertising the person’s name in store.

Unfortunately, businesses also need to keep in mind that these types of things could also make a huge problem for businesses that don’t put their customers first. If someone has a bad experience, for example, you could potentially lose far more via online word of mouth advertising than ever before.

Tying Foursquare Together With Other Marketing Efforts

Foursquare has the potential to drive a fair bit of interest, particularly in major centers where lots of people are using the system. To get the most benefit from this attention, businesses really need to funnel this attention towards their other marketing platforms as well. This is easily done, and the benefits could be substantial if done correctly.

When someone uses the community to let everyone know they liked a meal from your restaurant, for example, give them a code or special link in store that they can use elsewhere on the web. This could be either for another social network, or for a complimentary business site. For example, if you become a fan on Facebook and message us with this code, you’ll get $20 off your next purchase.

Taking It Beyond Foursquare

Of course, businesses don’t have to use Foursquare to incorporate similar concepts into their marketing plans. Contests can be set up where customers can Tweet you or leave a message on your blog or Facebook page when they’re going to visit. They could leave a receipt number, a secret word, or even just give you a few sentences about their visit. Then, when others find your website, Facebook, or search for you on Twitter/Google, they’ll find this great information.

The secret to this type of network marketing is simple: creativity. Don’t be afraid to do something new and stand out. Even if the concept is a little crazy, the reward will be worth it. Besides, who doesn’t like to have fun once in awhile?

Foursquare, Marketing & Your Business is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

(ByronShell)

Copywriters have a big job to do. They need to write content that brings in traffic using the right words and keep your site at the top of the search results (SEO), but it also needs to convince web visitors to follow your call to action. This often leaves site owners with a conundrum:

Do they post SEO content and make sure their site is found? Or do they post good content and forget about all that SEO mumbo jumbo stuff?

You want to know the secret? Both. It is literally impossible to write good content without some SEO keywords in it because you can’t write about ‘cookies’ without mentioning ‘cookies’ or other related words. And, you can’t have good quality SEO copywriting without good content because if it sounds awkward and has glaringly obvious keywords, it isn’t as high in quality as you think. Even more importantly they have to work together in order for your website to get traffic and convert that traffic into sales, signups, or whatever goal it is you’re trying to achieve.

The following video is done by a good friend of mine, blog consultant and coach Michael Martine. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Michael through his blog and on Twitter, and have been fortunate enough to learn a lot from him. Now, you can too! Here’s Michael’s view on SEO vs good content:

Getting More From Your Online Content: SEO VS Conversion is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

(C O A C H)

Could your website stand to sell more, get more sign ups, and more visitors? Would you like your marketing campaign to generate more sales? Of course! A majority of my clients have this problem. Their website/landing page/product pages aren’t converting. Can better copywriting help boost sales? Well, yes, but not always.

You can have the greatest products and services on earth with a beautiful website and the best copy money can buy, but if your landing page sucks, you’re not going to sell anything. This doesn’t just happen with sales either. Signing up for a newsletter, subscribing to your RSS, and many other goals all suffer if the design is poor.

Bottom line, pretty web pages don’t always sell!! So, if you want to improve your website or landing page, you’re going to want to watch this.

(If you don’t know Tim Ash, Sitetuner’s CEO and landing page optimization specialist, you’ll want to after watching this webinar. Yes, it’s long, but don’t worry. It’s super easy to understand and filled with fantastic tips, explanations, and how-tos on improving landing pages.)

Getting More From Your Online Content: Landing Page Design Tips is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

Is your content really optimized to its fullest potential? I bet it isn’t.
(flickrfavorites)

Most of the time, when people think of good quality content, they often think of an informative piece that’s free of spelling and grammar errors. Well, I’m afraid this isn’t so. One spelling or grammar error, while not ideal, isn’t likely to cause the failure of a post or home page copy.

Instead, a great blog post/article/whatever is optimized in such a way that it brings all of the various elements together seamlessly. And, if you want to see your content get more attention, do a better job of engaging readers, and still get your message across, you’ll want to follow the example set by professional business copywriters and optimize your content in these four ways:

Optimizing Content For Search Engines

Since this is the one people often think of first, I’ll address it first. Search engines work by assessing, comparing, and ranking written content, before matching it to the words a user enters in the search bar (called a query). And, if your content contains the right words, in the right places, it will get found more often and generate more traffic for your website.

So, for example, if I was a New York car salesman who specializes in selling BMWs, I’d be sure to include words and phrases such as ‘New York BMWs for sale’ and ‘BMW auto sales’. Now, don’t go crazy and start shoving the keywords in everywhere, but you do want to make sure the phrase  appears in the piece at least a few times (and variations of it/related words).

Optimizing Content For Your Target Audience

Do you know what makes the difference between your mom and a stranger reading your blog? (yes, ok…besides having similar DNA) Your mom visits because she loves you, wants to show her support, and make you happy. Strangers visit because they have questions and a genuine need for the information you can provide.

That’s right. Visitors want something from you. And if you don’t provide them with whatever it is they want, they’ll leave and likely won’t be back any time soon. However, the trick is that you not only have to provide that value, but you also have to make sure they realize you’ve given them the holy grail they’ve been searching for.
(Eddi 07)
One of the most effective ways to do this is to mention a common problem the target audience would have and express how that person likely feels when dealing with the issue. Then, present the solution, which is often your product, service, or bright idea. Aha! Sneaky right?

Bottom line, always bring everything back to your reader. They’ll relate to you more easily and see the value in your products and services. (See what I did just there?)

Optimizing Content For the Company

What do you want people to think about your company? Do you want to be known for your innovation? Quality? Great price? Expertise? Whatever it is, your content needs to be optimized for it and reflect that same image while getting your message across.

So, for instance, I want people to realize that I’m not only helpful, but also that I know what I’m talking about. What do you think? Is this piece getting my message across? I mean, after all, I could keep all this good stuff to myself, but I’d much rather share it with you so that you can produce better content, and be able to recognize the good stuff more easily.

Optimizing Content For the Website

Website design and great content is a lot like peanut butter and jelly or mashed potatoes and gravy; they make magic together, but only if you add the right amount of each. Otherwise, the end product is just never as good.

Websites are the same. Content needs to match the available space, but the design should also leave the copywriter with enough space to get the idea across! Optimizing content for the website is all about making sure the content looks its best. Ok, ok…fine. The design should look good too!
(Wikimedia)
Let me tell you a story: I used to love watching figure skating. Not only did it have great music, but the women were always so pretty and graceful. I wanted to be one of those girls. Anyway, during one competition, two of the girls had skated very well. So well, in fact, the judges were having difficulty deciding who should win first place. After a fair amount of discussion amongst the judges, they awarded one of the girls first place.

After the show, a reporter who was interviewing one of the judges asked how they had decided between the two girls. The judge replied (paraphrasing here) ‘well, the girls both did really well, but we had to choose one of them. So, we played back the tapes several times, and it was how Kristy (or whatever her name was now) had pointed her finger that became the deciding factor. It gave her the perfect form, and completed her look. When she pointed her finger in that way, we realized her true talent and level of professionalism.’

Ok, so moral of the story: it’s the little things that get ya in the end. Images, the white space between paragraphs, and even the length/shape of the sentences really do matter even if we don’t really notice it at first. And besides, who wants to discover they earned second place just because they didn’t point their finger the right way? It sounds petty, but whether you want to admit it or not, these little things subconsciously affect your opinion.

Now that you know the four ways to optimize content, is your copy optimized like you originally thought it was?

Four Ways To Optimize Website Copy and Online Content is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

When launching a website, the layout often becomes one of the last questions on our minds. Unfortunately, it should be one of the first questions you ask yourself since it will determine the design and structure of the site. I know I didn’t know what to include when I first started, so if you’re not sure, you’re not alone.

(JustinParks.com)

Here’s a quick list and some tips to get you started:

Home Page Content

Every website has a home page. This is the main page everyone will land on when typing your main URL (ex. http://www.example.com/). This page should also tie the rest of the site together, so you’ll want to make sure it’s perfect.

Still not sure? Think of a visitor landing on your website the same as you would if they walked into your brick and mortar store. Will you immediately open your jacket and try selling them watches? No, of course not. You would say hello and introduce yourself, followed by a quick introduction to your company.

Your home page should achieve the same thing. Oh, and don’t forget to include the unique benefits you offer.

Here are some great examples:

Sparkplug.com — Not a lot of copy, but there’s no doubt about what these guys offer, or what they do.
MLSonline.com — The content is broken into easily digestible chunks that clearly outline what you can gain from the site and how.
The Copywriter’s Crucible — You know what Matt’s all about as soon as the site loads up. And the first thing you see is ‘Do you want your marketing to stand out from the crowd?’ Of course you do, but you’ll need to click further into the site to find out how to get it!

(Paul Anthony)

About Page

Consumers have gone back to using the same habits they had a 100 years ago. When they make a purchase, they’re buying into the company as much as they are the product. They want to know who you are and what you’re all about, so give them that!

Start by explaining why your site exists and tell visitors what makes your company different from your competition. Then, give a bit of background about the company, followed by a bit about yourself. The point is to gain trust, and with any luck, make a personal connection with the reader. As for how formal or informal you get, it will depend on your business and the image you’re trying to portray.

Here are some great ‘About’ page examples:

Jason Santa Maria — Not only is it one of the best organized ‘about pages’ I’ve seen, but it also contains all the information I want to know as a new visitor. It’s really quite well done, and manages to maintain the look and feel of the site. Loved it!

David Desandro — Another well written ‘About’ page with fantastic design. There’s no question in my mind as to who I’ll be dealing with when I call or send an email.

(Craig Edmonds)

Contact Page

If you want people to contact you, for Pete’s sake, give them a way to do it. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to an SEO consultant or a web designer’s site only to be impressed and have no way to hire them (note: it’s happened on other service/ecommerce sites…I just decided to pick on these two). And, here’s the secret: make it as easy and accessible as possible. If you can, have the contact form/information on every page!

Ecommerce sites might argue against a contact page because they want someone to buy from them, not contact them. Well, I’m sorry, but even you need a contact page. It adds to your credibility. And, what if something goes wrong? What if someone has a question? What if a website visitor has a suggestion that will propel your business onto the Fortune 100 list?

Here’s some great contact pages…with some suggestions:

Bert Timmermans — This is a stunning contact page. If I had one complaint, however, it’s that I have no idea what to contact them about. Are they open to suggestions? Comments? Complaints? Can I hire them? This page really, desperately needs a few sentences encouraging me to contact the site owner. Social media profiles would’ve been great too!

Frexy — I found it interesting that they had two separate contact forms. While it’s a great idea, I can’t help but wonder if this makes things a little confusing for less Web-wise users. Also, it would have been great to see some social media profiles and a bit more contact info such as a phone number.

Divinewrite.com — I have to give Glenn a lot of credit. I love his contact page. Not only can I connect with him using the medium of my choice, but I can also find his social media profiles to connect with him there. My only suggestion? No contact form…I worry it might discourage some people from making contact. For example, less Web-savvy users might not think to click his email address to send him an email. However, I’ve yet to hear him mention that it’s been an issue.
(Frank Knipschild)

Product or Services Pages

Regardless of whether you’re a service provider or running an ecommerce website, there has to be a page discussing the offering. What do you provide, and what makes it special? Exactly what can the client expect when they hire you or buy from you?

Here are a few great examples to check out:

Studio54 — Again, it’s pretty easy to see the quality the team at Studio54 put out, and it easily expels the worries visitors might have about what to expect when working with them.

Jelly Belly’s BeanBoozled — I LOVE this product page. Not only does it have great copy, but visitors can also get close to the product. I can almost taste those jellybeans!

ThinkGeek — I love ThinkGeek’s web copy on their product pages. (Confession: I’ve spent time just reading the copy on the pages.) Some are just downright funny and engaging because you can actually relate to the ‘stories’. Kudos to their copywriter, for sure!

(Peter Goulding)

Have you come across a website you absolutely loved, or found downright frustrating? Why?

Important Content for a Website — What Pages Should My Website Have? is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

Good copy makes a huge difference to even the fastest readers. It feels different, and provokes a completely different set of feelings. Unfortunately, there’s a huge difference between professional and amateur copy, and while it can take years to learn how to write professional quality copy, there are a number of simple changes you can make to improve your website’s performance.

Here are five of them:

(Photo: Furryscaly)

Spelling and Grammar Checks

It sounds silly, but you’d be amazed at how many spelling and grammar mistakes you can find after you’ve left a piece sit. And, while misspelling the odd word or making an error here or there isn’t life threatening, it can be horrible for readers with an ‘editor’s heart’. (editor’s heart = borderline OCD) Therefore, take some time to check for basic spelling and grammar mistakes. You can even use free online website spellchecking tools to make this easier.

You need to be careful, however. While it’s important to make sure everything’s ‘perfect’, it’s best to consider the time and value of the page before spending too much time on it. After all, the true definition of quality content is the quality of the information and ideas expressed in the piece rather than the actual spelling and technical elements. And, with informal writing styles and blogging, incomplete sentences and the like can actually be more effective. (I know, I know…coming from a writer!)

Improve the Formatting

Studies have proven time and again that online readers skim content. So, use this to your advantage and make your content easy to skim by highlighting the main concepts. This could include bolding important points, using subheadings, and bullet points.

With fonts, it’s nice to have something that looks a little different, but it must be easy to read. Now, some studies suggest using a smaller font encourages visitors to read more closely and others disagree (PDF). I tend to believe it, but be careful; if you make it too small, they’ll give up and go elsewhere. Also, try to avoid light colored text on a dark background if you can.

When defining your paragraphs, make sure they’re short and have a line of white space between them. (As a general rule, paragraphs should never be more than five lines (not sentences) long.) Lastly, use images to give the eye a rest and make the page interesting.

Make the Reader the Focus

(Photo: JJ & Special K)

Ok, I know this is harsh, but unless your visitors are your best friends, chances are they didn’t come to your website to benefit you. Sorry. They came  because you have something that benefits them. They’re looking for something, so why doesn’t your content reflect that?

Instead of listing the wonderful features you’ve added to your ‘new and improved thingamajig’, change your website copy to talk about how your product or service benefits visitors. So, for example, instead of saying your keychain has an automatic tracking device. Say something like ‘Are you tired of spending hours looking for your keys when you’re in a hurry? Then, you need our keychain. The embedded automatic tracking device means you’ll never lose your keys again.’

Find the Reader’s Pain Point

Everyone has something that annoys, irritates, or hurts them. And, if you can figure out what that is and include it in your copy, you’ll notice a huge difference in your website’s conversion rates.

Not sure what I mean? Look at the previous example. How many times has your frustration level gone through the roof because you’re scrambling for your keys at the last minute? Ka-ching! Readers can relate and automatically realize you have the solution they’ve been looking for. They’ll never have to experience that frustration again!

Tell Someone Where To Go and How To Get There

As much as we’d like them to be, website visitors just aren’t very good mind readers. So, if you want them to click a link, buy something, or contact you, you have to tell them. Therefore, make sure your call to action is easy to see and the directions are crystal clear.

BUT, will they be paying for something? Learning more about a product or service? Leaving you an email or signing up for a newsletter? Whatever it is, make sure the reader knows exactly what will happen when they click. In short, everything needs to click (ha!).

These simple fixes can make a huge difference. Try them out on your copy and see for yourself! Just don’t forget to let me know how it goes.

Improve Website Conversion Rates With 5 Easy Content Tweaks is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

Ask anyone who owns an online business or website how to use content to generate links, and they’ll tell you to use article marketing and press releases. Why? Because it works, right? It’s worked for years. Well, it did work, and it does now, but not like it used to. Here’s what I mean:

(New York Public Library)

Traditional Article Marketing and Press Releases

We are all familiar with article marketing content. These basic, every day articles are found in places like Ezine Articles, Article Base, and hundreds of others. They are the everyday write-ups such as ‘how to choose a dentist’ or ‘how to lose weight’ that seem to have filled the Internet.

The process itself is quite simple. Write content that includes your website’s keywords in specific areas. Then, add URLs to your site content using those keywords as anchor text and submit that piece of content to one or more article distribution sites. You get a link for each place you submit it to, as well as an additional link every time someone picks up your content and uses it on another website (so long as they follow the rules and keep your URLs in tact).

Press releases work in much the same way, except that they’re written a little differently. To build links, you write up your news and submit it to one or more distribution sites. Then, as others pick up your content, it gives you more links. Plus, if you have great news, you get the added bonus of having others write about it too. This provides you with a link from the original distribution site, one for each site that redistributes it, and one link from each blogger or journalist who writes about your news.

The Problem With Traditional Content Link Building Methods

This method might still work, but it isn’t near as effective as it used to be. You see, Google isn’t stupid. It knows about this method, and as a result, Google has lessened the effect these links have on website rankings:

• Because these types of distribution sites have so many links coming from them, there simply isn’t enough juice to go around. Many of these links are also to spammy websites, which degrades the quality of the site. Therefore, the links you gain do help, but they’re not as effective as they once were.
• Duplicate content is a significant issue, particularly when submitting to a large number of distribution sites. Google looks at the various URLs, gives the ‘original’ article the most weight and the rest of them seem to disappear. This also lowers the link juice each copy passes on.

(tombothetominator)

There’s more to consider with this type of link building than just the effectiveness of the links. For example, say you’re trying to run a successful online shoe business, and one of your biggest selling points is your consistent quality and attention to detail.

Now, say that the first contact your customer has with your company is one of these quick articles you’ve thrown together and tossed into a bunch of distribution sites. Is that client going to make note of your quality and meticulous eye? Are they really going to be that enthralled enough to click through to your site? What do you think content like this does with your traffic, brand, and the general buzz surrounding your company?

Article Placement Programs and Modern Link Building

Instead of wasting time on methods that are becoming outdated and could very well be useless in another year or two, consider saving your time, money, and effort by putting it into an article placement program.

This type of program doesn’t start with the same old content. Not even close. Instead, you need to start with your goals. Do you want more traffic? Conversions? Links? This will ultimately determine the type of content you’ll create as well as the topic and style you’ll choose.

Once you’re ready to start writing, you’ll want to create something that’s fresh and new. This should either be some kind of link bait piece, which could be light-hearted and fun, or it could be an in-depth reference style post. In short, you want to create something that people want to link to. Don’t expect this to all to take an hour or two either. Instead of worrying about how long it’s taking you, concentrate on the quality of the piece and you’ll be fine.

Distribution of this content type is quite different from what you’d normally do. Instead of sticking it on various article marketing sites, publish it on your own website and use your social media and other connections to give it a bit of a push.

In return, you’ll look good, drive a large amount of traffic, and gain a number of good quality links. In fact, many people have been able to attract far more links using this method because the content does well in the search engines. People will continue to use it as a reference, and it will continue to generate links regularly.

Need a high quality link, but don’t want to spend large amounts of money on it and risk the wrath of Google? Look through the various blogs and websites in your industry as well as complimentary industries and select an ‘authority’ site. They’ll love the free, quality content (which they normally pay their writers for) and you’ll:

• get a link from the authority site.
• attract a large amount of traffic and be able to funnel it back to your website.
• build your authority and reputation.

Honestly, there’s no comparison between traditional article marketing or press releases and the article placement method. Try it for yourself and see.

The Modern Online Content Program — It Just Ain’t What It Used to Be! is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

If I told you I was giving away a few hours of free copywriting, but you would have to choose whether it was high, mid, or poor quality, which would you choose? I’m willing to bet you’d want nothing but the best. When money’s not an object, we all want the very best. If we didn’t there’d be something wrong with us, right?

So, here’s a little food for thought: what would your answer be if I told you that you’d have to pay for it? Would you still be willing to pay extra to have the very best copywriting, or would you go with the lowest quality to get the most content for the least amount of money? Sadly, many business owners will settle for mid or low grade simply because of the price savings. Should they? Or, more importantly, why would you spend more money simply to have ‘the best’?

(photo: joiseyshowaa)

Bring In and Qualify Traffic

Content is a significant component in any SEO strategy. It helps get the page indexed, improves your ranking, and brings in traffic with the right keywords. This is really nothing new.

What many people forget about is that your content helps refine your traffic to bring in the segment of online wanderers who are looking for what you have to offer. This is why the topic and the exact words you use make such a difference. You need to know your market, their pains, their joys, their interests and use that knowledge to attract them to your site.

To Get Conversions

Whether you’re looking for a sale, a link, or a signup, online or offline, all content has a purpose and a goal. You want something from a complete stranger. Hopefully, lots of strangers. But, unless you’re Fabio or Jennifer Lopez and have people beating down the door just to be in your presence, chances are they aren’t going to hand it over willingly. You have to make them WANT to give you their money, links or email address.

It’s sort of like getting a date from the girl or guy you have a crush on. First, you need to get her attention and make her aware of your existence. But, just being alive isn’t enough. You have to get her interested in you so she’ll even give you enough time to ask. Once you’ve got her attention, you need to make her think ‘hey, this guy would be great to go out with.’

(photo: beX Out Loud)

The hardest part is convincing someone to act. That person has to have an idea of what you’re all about and what to expect before he or she would ever consider making a move. This means you need to build the elemental foundation of trust while relaying information about who you are and what you’re all about.

If you’re bumbling around like an idiot, distant, or failing to connect with that person, you aren’t going to get your date (email address, link, or purchase), never mind reaching first base.

Educate

People won’t buy anything without finding out about it. They want to know what it is, how it works, and what they’ll get. But, they also want to know one important thing: what will your product or service do for them?

Just spouting off all the features isn’t going to do it. Quality copywriting uses benefits to prove the value of your products and services. ‘You’ll never go to another dance alone’, ‘It makes doing the laundry fun’, ‘She’ll never complain to you again.’

In addition, you need to demonstrate how you’re different from everyone else. And no, Buster Brown, being charming isn’t enough. Your Unique Selling Point has to have a direct benefit. In short, your copy has to prove to your customer that he or she would be losing out if they didn’t buy from you.

Build Your Brand and Authority

Have you ever read something and thought ‘boy, what an idiot/jerk/genius/etc’? Well, every time you read something, you’re forming an opinion about the author and subject, whether you realize it or not. So, what thoughts does your target audience have when reading your articles or site copy?

If it’s well-written, readers should be forming an important opinion about your business that will help create the foundation of a loyal following. Your Brand. It’s what makes you special to your customers and sets you apart from the crowd. And this loyal following, my friends, is where you’ll make your money. Once you’ve got this, you’ll have one of the most powerful marketing systems on earth.

When you consistently produce high end content that’s well branded, you begin to make a name for yourself. You become known for your quality, which helps to build your authority level in your industry. And like branding, this has a huge effect on your sales. Don’t believe me? What’s the first thing you think about when you read words like these: facial tissue, fast food, beer, and running shoes.

(photo: hyperbolic pants explosion)

Your Voice

One of the toughest aspects of copy is putting it in your voice; it’s a reflection of you. It’s what you’d say to each of your site visitors or interested prospects if you could. At the same time, it needs to speak to your readers.

Accepting poor copy when it’s speaking for you is really no different than having someone quote you poorly in a newspaper, and it can have similar consequences. If you’re putting your name or brand on something, you’re endorsing it.

In amongst all of these requirements, you need to get your message across to your target audience, and it needs to be crystal clear. Do you honestly think someone getting paid a dollar and whipping out 20 or 30 pieces like yours a day can really address all of these requirements? I’m afraid not. Does your copy need to have all of these components?

Well, that’s up to you, but here’s my biased view on the subject: If I’m going to put that much effort into my business, shouldn’t my copy? Wouldn’t degrading the effectiveness of my business with bad content ruin all the time and money I’ve put into it?

Is Quality Copywriting Worth the Expense? is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas

I am so excited to be here and I’m looking forward to meeting you all. I’m also honored to be part of such an elite group of professionals. These guys are the best of the best and the future promises to hold some amazing experiences, opportunities, and memories for all of us.

As for you, my dear readers, we may have already met. I’m the founder and senior copywriter at Angie’s Copywriting, I write for several other blogs, and love social networking hangouts like Twitter. But, if we haven’t already become acquainted, there’s a few things you should know about me:

(Photo Credit: iliveisl)

I am a social media addict.

I love meeting new people and how easily information and ideas flow through these channels. I like finding out what you’re up to, how you’re doing, and what exciting things you’re reading about. I find the ability to connect with others from all over the world benefits everyone and makes the Internet into an unending realm of possibilities. In short, I’m a firm believer in the idea that more heads are always better than one. The more minds you have working on an issue, the better the outcome will be.

I’m a musician turned writer who’s not afraid to get creative.

The way I see it, if you’re going to succeed in this world, you have to be willing to do something a little different. You have to stand up and make others take notice. As a result, I often do things a little out of the ordinary. You’ve been warned.

I have an unending stream of crazy ideas.

Some of them don’t survive the initial stages, and they aren’t always successful in a traditional sense, but I’d like to think that it’s the thought that counts? Right? I’ve always got something new starting and something else ending. In fact, I’m starting to think that I’m allergic to free time…

(Photo Credit: Peter)

I’m a link pack-rat.

Anyone who has seen my Delicious account, follows my Google Reader, or chats with me on Twitter can attest to this. I save the link to anything and everything good I come across, and my accounts are loaded with them. On the bright side, my connections love the fact that I usually have information on whatever obscure topic they’re looking for including Meerkat comparisons, but that’s another post.

I have an information obsession.

I absolutely love learning new things. I want to know why something works, why something doesn’t work, and how to make things better. Interestingly, it’s the general, useless facts that seem to stick with me the most. (Did you know that Handel was seriously hurt in a carriage crash in 1752 and that the Irish Scientist Mary Ward is thought to have become the world’s first auto accident victim when she died in 1869?)

I love branding, SEO, marketing, business, and any other related topic.

Not only do I find these topics fascinating, but I also wouldn’t be the copywriter I am without them. It’s being up-to-date and aware of these topics that sets me apart from others in my industry.

As far as I’m concerned, you can’t do a good job, at whatever it is you do, unless you understand how your work fits in with everyone else’s. You gain an understanding of all the benefits your products/service can have.
This allows you to tailor your products and services and make them far more superior to anything else out there. Make sense?

(Photo Credit sidewalk flying)

I’m a copywriter.

There’s just something satisfying about starting with nothing and coming up with a finished product that meets a company’s goals while bringing them together with their target audience. Their business grows, customers are happy, and I walk away feeling like I’ve accomplished something magical.

The best way I can explain it is like this: Copywriting is a cross between a fine art and science with a bit of mind reading mixed in. And, when it brings everything together — the design, the copy, the brand, the company’s goals, and the right readers — copywriting becomes pure literary magic that connects with people on a unique level. There’s nothing else like it in the world.

So, what can you expect to hear from me here at Cloudmixer? A little bit of everything with a focus on copywriting, and getting the most out of it.

And now that I’ve babbled on long enough (I also tend to write long posts!), hello, welcome, and I look forward to lots of great discussions!

Introducing Angie Haggstrom, Cloud Mixer Author is a post from: Cloud Mixer - Mixing New Media Ideas