Content Is King - but a holiday is good, too

Just back from a grand holiday in Portugal. It makes a difference to last July when I was feverishly finishing the manuscript to meet the publisher's deadline at the time. Thanks to those who sent email in my absence ... responses are on the way.

Search Engine Strategies - Presentation

As always, the Search Engine Strategies Conference, in London, was excellent. Lots of food for thought.

For anyone who might be interested, here is a link to my "Writing for Search Engines" presentation which seemed to be quite well received.

Richard Leader's review

In a review on his blog, Richard Leader kindly writes:

"Mill writes like a copywriter - the text is punchy, catchy and pithy. What is unusual about this book is the concentration on all forms of online copy - web pages, emails, ads, writing for search engines, product catalogues and even SMS messages. And that's a good thing. "

The full review is here:

http://kendoddsdadsdogsdead.blog-city.com/

PS: I'll leave it to Richard to explain the name of the blog!

Review at What's New In Marketing

A review by John Ling has been published on the What's New In Marketing site.

"This is a superb, must-read book for anyone involved in producing online content."

Thank you, John!

What's New In Marketing (WNIM) changes on a monthly basis and sends out an HTML Newsletter around the same time - well worth signing up for it.

Win a free copy

For interest, a free copy of the book is also being given away each month via MediaCo.

Search Engine Strategies - London

I've been invited to speak at the Search Engine Strategies Conference in London (June 1-2).

Along with Heather Lloyd-Martin, I'll be covering the subject of Writing for Search Engines.

So, if you happen to be there, too, I hope you will be able to attend the session (Day 1, 4.30pm) and that you'll also come up and say "hello".

Now released...

As per the email to those who asked to be notified and the News Alert sent to What's New In Marketing subscribers, I'm pleased to advise the book has now been generally released.

As well as other outlets, it's available from the Publisher and Amazon.

Thanks.

Happy Birthday, Mum

70 today!

As said in the book's Acknowledgements page, "While she is now in a different zone – distanced, particularly from the family she cherishes – and whether or not the book is considered to be good, bad or indifferent, she’d be proud of me for writing [and getting to the end of] it. And woe betold any reviewer who criticised it!

"Thank you, Mum - Frances Simpson Mill - the great many games of Scrabble and countless crossword challenges must have contributed, too."

And, if possible in your other world [I do hope so], Happy Birthday!

In the "shops" soon...

I believe it will soon be possible to order the book via Amazon. When it is, I'll advise those who have so far asked to be notified. The number of requests has been excellent, thanks.

This may be partly due to the good and pleasing positioning this site is gaining in MSN search results.

For example:

Phrase - Page - Position

content is king - 1 - 1
copywriting ads - 1 - 1
copywriting book - 1 - 1
copywriting online - 1 - 1
editing online - 1 - 1
email marketing copywriting - 1 - 2
guide book copywriters - 1 - 1
guide book marketers - 1 - 2
internet editing - 1 - 4
online copywriting - 1 - 1
online copywriting book - 1 - 1
online sub editing - 1 - 2
sub editing - 1 - 2
website content planning - 1 - 2
writing editing online - 1 - 1
writing for search engines - 1 - 1
writing online - 1 - 1
writing websites - 1 - 1

Stop the presses! (No, don't)

As an Editor, on occasion, I did have to say "Stop the presses!" - to change a key story. (Quite exciting, really). But I wouldn't, or couldn't on this occasion.

Yes, I, finally, have also received hard copies of the book. Phew!

It doesn't - in any way - compare to when my sons [special mention to Scott and Ross] were born ... but it's good to see the book successfully delivered.

And I believe it will soon be generally available.

A link will also be provided here when it is.

:-)

This is d-day for publication

Yes, March 21, 2005, was the most recent date of publication provided by Elsevier. And I'm pleased to say I received this email from them today:

"We are expecting our advance copies Wednesday/Thursday. This includes your copies which will be sent to you immediately upon delivery."

Site Design

I've finally finished and uploaded the new version of the site. Ironically, I still haven't managed to develop the look and feel of this blog to match the design. I'm not sure it matters, but one of those days maybe ...

Designs on a new look

Still working on this ...


A larger version can be previewed here.

No, I won't give up the day job but the panels looked too heavy, man!

PS: Comments have been turned off for now due to spamming.

Content Is King - new site design

I'm working on an alternative design for this site. Partly to amuse myself but also to then add a customised blog.

Your views, as always, are appreciated.


A larger version can be previewed here.

Content Is King - Groundhog Day

I may be starting to sound like a stuck record ... but the publication date has changed (oh, yes) again!

My friends at Elsevier today advised: "A problem has occurred with the production of the book ... we are doing all we can to get it out as quickly as possible ... we have agreed a printing time of two weeks with the printers and the corrections are already being made at the typesetters.

"Therefore, we should have bound copies of the book by the 21st March."

I guess it happens. Thanks, for now, for all of you who have asked to be notified when the book is available. Your interest is humbling.

PS: A piece of trivia...

The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."