Month: January 2019

When you are looking for an SEO agency to take care of your web marketing needs, there are a few things you must keep in mind so as to make your transaction worthwhile. There may be a number of them out there. But not every single one of them is able to provide you the quality and quantity of outputs required to make a difference in your popularity online. It is your responsibility as a consumer to educate yourself about your options and how you go about choosing which to get. You cant prevent failure if you yourself are not an active part of its realization.

Initially, you will have to look at the background of the SEO agencies you are considering. Background can tell a lot about the character of a company, what their values and goals are and how you can align your own business with their products and services. Its not safe to just assume that this particular contact will meet your standards. You have to dig deep and figure out if there is something trustworthy or impressive about them. What you want is a marketing ally that can bring you up, not down.

Second, you have to consider their track record as far as their performance goes. Prowess in search engine optimization can be measured, you know. Just take a look at the SEO agencys website and check its standing online. Inspect its features and see how their claims are directly reflected by their packaging. Moreover, talk to their previous clients and ask about their experiences. See, its easy to be sweet-talked into believing certain assurances. But what you need to understand is that words are never as good as tangible proof.

Third, opt for an SEO agency that is flexible not only in the services they provide but also with their payment terms. You cant always assure yourself that you have enough resources to fund monthly marketing campaigns. So you want to arrange something that allows you to start and stop a contract whenever it is convenient for you. There are companies out there that provide monthly renewable service agreements as well as packages. And there are also those that help you in managing your dues by giving discounts and extending deadlines.

Fourth, align yourself with SEO service providers that have shown accessibility in terms of communication and management. When you are dealing with another person and it involves money, you want to be guaranteed that you can depend on them to provide you updates and administrative assistance any time you ask. You dont want to pay the fees and then be ignored every time you want to reach out and request for reports or raise complaints.

Finally, it wouldnt hurt to coordinate with an SEO company that is affordable. The whole reason why SEO is popular is because it costs less than the traditional methods of marketing. It will make no sense if you spend as much if not more on an online campaign as with a radio ad. But of course, make this your last priority. You do not want yourself to limit your options starting with this criterion.

Cabinets can be compared to cars or fashion, because they too follow trends. The numerous different styles and functions for cabinets vary drastically. While trends come and go, you will want to choose custom cabinets which perfectly match the style of your own character, as well as your home’s. Although other interior design elements can be updated to reflect popular trends, built-in cabinetry is a core architectural element that provides for your home’s functional and aesthetic design for years to come. Choosing cabinetry is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your home.

When it comes to home design or remodeling, emphasis is often best started in the kitchen. Since 1956, Knoxville’s Standard Kitchen and Bath has specialized in turning kitchens into the hearts of homes that make homeowners fall in love for the first time, or all over again. Just as history repeats itself, the history made in your home has made loyal repeat customers out of our clientele.

The magic begins in the Standard Kitchen and Bath’s home design center, where quality custom cabinetry is just the start of your kitchen’s transformation into the room you love the most. With premier lines like Mouser and Atlantis, quality custom cabinetry and our team of experienced home designers, we blend function and fashion in a beautiful concert where aesthetics work for you.

The Kitchen-created for the baker, the chef, and the entertainer or for the family who just loves to gather in the kitchen. Kitchen cabinetry is definitely the primary design element in any kitchen remodel. If you have not tackled a kitchen renovation or redesign before, Knoxville’s Standard Kitchen can give ease to an otherwise daunting process. Cabinetry design is generally a focal point in most kitchens, completing the style blueprint of the kitchen design, yet its appearance is only a disguise for cabinetry’s true identity: Functionality!

The bath has evolved from its practical roots to a more intimate sanctuary in which to relax and meditate. A refreshing spa-like environment offers an invigorating welcome at the dawning of a new day or a soothing intermission as your day concludes. Bath cabinetry creates the personal harmony and beauty that are the hallmark of the bath refuge. Immerse yourself in an expansive palette of finishes and wood species to discover the look that calms your senses and soothes your soul.

Personality. It’s what you long for in your kitchen or bath remodeling project, and our Knoxville staff of top notched designers know how to find it in your space. Once you’re in our Knoxville Showplace, you will see that we have established a tradition of excellence in quality, craftsmanship and service that is supported with our lifetime limited warranty. From contemporary to classic, flashy to understated, Standard Kitchen and Bath has a designer to fit your home remodeling needs.

If you are looking for Kitchens Cabinets, visit us at Knoxville Kitchens Cabinets

As I contemplated writing this article, I thought, another one on this dreaded topic (freelance writing rates). “Why can’t we all just get along,” is the motto that is running itself over and over in my head right now.

BUT, I’m going to tackle this anyway. Sometimes, progress just takes a while.

When I started to take on SEO writing projects, it was a new niche for me. So, I researched every aspect of it. Rates, of course, was at the top of the list.

Almost all of the research I did was disheartening. Much of what I read about rates on SEO writing was low – very low. Most of the assignments offered pay like $1-$4 for 350-500 word articles. And that’s not a typo.

If $5 was offered, it was like – woohoo! – a “good rate.” I was horrified and this almost put me off entering the SEO writing niche.

But, with 15 years of freelance writing experience under my belt, and almost a dozen as a small business owner, I had a gut feeling that this was a niche where some real money could be made.

So, why am I telling you all this? Because when it came time to set my rates, I didn’t even try to compete with what others were offering. I took the following into consideration when I set my rates for writing SEO content.

SEO Writing Rates: How I Set Higher Rates – and Got Them!

Contact the Source Directly: Many of the low rates I saw offered were on bid-for-pay sites and forums. And, while I don’t knock these as far as looking for work, from what I could gather, these were frequented by other freelance writers looking to outsource work.

Hence, they were really the middle man. So I targeted the businesses themselves. By targeting the source, I could command higher rates. Experience: I know what I bring to the table as a professional. Experience has taught me that working for pay that I wasn’t comfortable with would only lead to misery. And, I’m not in this to be miserable.

So, I set my rates according to what I needed to make, fully realizing that if I didn’t get work at those rates, then this was not the field for me. Realizing this, I was fully prepared to walk away from the niche – something I think many freelancers are afraid to do.

You have to make a decent wage to feel good about yourself. While we may all occasionally take on projects we wish paid more, there’s no reason to do it day in and day out. So, if you’re working in a sector that doesn’t pay well, don’t be afraid to stop doing it and look for work in other – better paying – sectors.

Charge in the Middle: I charge $25/per 500-word article. For some, this is high, for other’s it’s low. But, it works for me. I can usually write an article in 30-45 minutes. My all-time low was 20 minutes (this doesn’t happen often and the subject matter is topics I’m extremely familiar with). Most articles take me about 40 minutes to write.

This translates into an hourly wage of $75 on the high end, and $33 on the low end. That’s comparable to an average salary of $68K to $156K (hourly rate x 40/hours week x 52 weeks/year).

This is more than many make on full-time, 9-5 jobs. I wanted to charge enough to make what I needed to live, but not so much that I had to struggle to bring in clients. This rate has allowed me to do that, which brings me to my next point …

Why You Should Never Be the Lowest or Highest Bidder

I know I could probably charge more because of my experience and marketing expertise. But, you know what? When you charge near the top, projects take longer to come in. Charge near the bottom, and someone will always beat you out on price.

The rate I charge allows me to seamlessly bring in new clients – and make a more than decent living without stressing. In fact, I’ve recently started to outsource projects because I’m so busy. If I was charging “top dollar,” I don’t think I’d be at this point yet.

How to Set Your Freelance Writing Rates to Bring in the Most Clients

A rule of thumb is, the more you charge, the more you will have to spend to land clients – and the longer it takes for you to land clients.

Furthermore, clients expect more when you charge top dollar. Think about it, if you stayed at the Holiday Inn, would you expect the same level of service you’d get at The Ritz?

The nice surprise here is you can provide your clients with “Ritz” service, while billing Holiday Inn rates. Your referral rates will go through the roof, and when you do decide to raise rates, practically none of them will jump ship because you ask for a few extra dollars.

To be successful in business, you have to consider all components, not just rate. For me, I’d rather be super busy charging mid-level rates, than slow charging top dollar. And that’s exactly where I am.

About the Author: Yuwanda Black is a freelance SEO writer. She blogs at InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com and is the author of How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500-Word Articles.