Making Your Words Count

Hi Folks,

Happy New Year! That belated statement infers the assumption that it was all good for everyone and I know that in this world of gazillions, someone, somewhere, did not make it through. I know that in some home there’s one less light shining. To you I say, may God bless you and I pray that you feel His presence even more now than ever. He can console the inconsolable if you let Him. And on the practical end, if you need help with mailing out thank you cards or anything like that … I’d be happy to help.

It is important for those of us who managed to make it through unscathed, to realize that we made it through because of God’s grace. Once we realize that we indeed live in a state of grace, that realization should affect us in a positive way so that even the words we speak show our appreciation for the life we live, be it far from our childhood expectations or not … but where there’s life, there’s opportunity–opportunity to make our words count:

• Don’t hate…congratulate!
• Don’t hoard…share!
• Most of all…approach each day with passion.

Whatever we’re passionate about, that’s what we do, that’s what we speak about. I’d like to encourage you to make those words count in 2012. Put in a good word for someone else, remembering that what you sow you will reap.

And for those of you not on the spiritual pathway … another way of making your words count: think choosing keywords.

Two or three instances of use of one word or phrase within a page makes it a keyword and searchable on the search engines. Making it bold or a link makes it pop more readily on the page.  Also making the keyword relevant to the topic of your site and the post increases your ranking on the search pages.   A word of caution. You don’t want to overdo it.  Using too many keywords in your meta description is called stuffing and you will be penalized for that by achieving the opposite effect of lowering your ranking instead of raising your ranking..

Just a little SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to think about as you set about making your words count for 2012.

Homework Assignment: To find out if you’ve been making your words count, do a googlesearch using words you’d like your readers to use to find you and see if and where you turn up. If you’re not in the first three pages (and I’m being generous here) some rewriting is necessary of your web copy so that you get the results you desire. Contrary to the movie, “Field of Dreams” just because you build it, they will not come.

Til next month,