Amateur Love Music

Never Underestimate the Value of a Ghost Writer

As you are aware, I occasionally participate in the various
Internet business forums out there on the web. And, occasionally,
I see comments that I cannot let pass without comment. Today
was just such a day.

Here is the message that prompted my typing fingers to get to
work. This post was seen at: http://ozemedia.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/webbbs_config.pl?read=19271

———————————————————–>

Subject: Re: Article Submission Marketing

Affiliate marketing is, after all, supposed to mean more
money for less work and becoming a full-time writer
certainly isn’t my idea of less work.

Heather
———————————————————–>

Here is my response:

Heather,

Article writing and submission works. Of course, if you know
who I am, you also know that I have a reason to be biased.

I run http://thePhantomWriters.com , so I have been involved in
this industry for a long time. In the early days, my business
model was designed around writing articles for people who did
not have the time, skills or confidence to write their own
articles.

From the beginning, I understood full well that the value of
an article is not in the words and the flow, but in the ability
of getting the article in front of the greatest number of
publishers who would actually consider reprinting the article.

I dedicated a portion of my program to developing methods to
get articles written for my clients into the hands of the
largest possible audience.

In November of 2002, I began offering my distribution service
as a stand-alone service. In September of 2003, I stopped
writing articles for clients and devoted my entire business to
growing my distribution service and my distribution reach with
the service. Right now, I am able to reach more than 12,000
publishers and webmasters who have requested to receive articles
for consideration.

As you can see, I really am biased to this method of Internet
promotion. Despite this, the method does work. Until 2004, I
promoted my business utilizing ONLY article writing. In the
early days of 2004, I purchased two long-term ads in targeted
websites. In July of 2004, I opened up my first Google Adwords
account.

When it comes to advertising, I play it very conservatively.
When it comes to growing my distribution reach, I make it a
daily journey. When it comes to writing my own articles to
promote my own business, I try hard to do one article per week
averaged over the month.

Promoting with articles works for me and my business. Promoting
with articles also works for the more than 100 online writer’s
my company represents. If promoting with articles did not work,
then my clients are throwing their money away. Instead, they
keep coming back, and some have made a commitment to themselves
for one article per week to be written and distributed.

I have taken the long way around here, but I have a reason.

While I do not offer ghost writing services at this time, there
are in fact 100’s of writer’s out there in the world who would
be happy to write your articles for you. Many of these writer’s
are very good at what they do.

You might have to pay $300 to get one article written, but if
your time is worth anything at all, this $300 investment will
more than pay for itself down the road.

Remember what Kathy said previously in this thread, “I have
articles that bring me steady streams of traffic even though
the articles were published years ago.”

This applies even to articles I have written. I wrote my first
in March of 1999. My second was written in July of 1999. My
second article has been distributed twice in those five years
and does get published again and again. It was last published
in July of 2004. I have more than 65 in circulation and all of
these articles still generate traffic for my sites.

If you honestly believe that writing your own articles is too
much work, then you should shop around for a ghost writer whose
style you like and whose article topics appeal to your target
markets.

Thank you for listening to my ramble.

Copyright Bill Platt – All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed with article and resource box unedited. If you post this article on a website, you must set the links up as hyperlinks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bill Platt is the owner of http://www.LinksAndTraffic.com

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Screenwriting Essentials: Hero’s Journey and The Interdictor

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

The Hero’s Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.

The Interdictor

One element of the Hero’s Journey (during the stage of the Refusal) is the common presence of the Interdictor – a figure of authority prevents the hero acting under threat of some punishment. The Interdictor is separate and distinct from Threshold Guardians:

In Star Wars (1977), uncle Owen prevents Luke from embarking on his adventure. The reason is legitimate but when Luke disappears to find R2D2, uncle Owen explicitly states that “there will be hell to pay.”

In The Incredibles (2004), both the government and Mr Incredible’s boss prevent Mr Incredible from acting on his instincts. His boss explicitly states that there will be punishment if Mr Incredible does not do as he is told.

In The Matrix (1999), Agent Smith interviews and interrogates Neo, offering him incentives not to involve himself in the adventure. In an explicit act, Neo sticks his two fingers up at Smith.

In Out of Africa (1985), a soldier explicitly tells Karen not to venture out from the farm and find her husband. In fact, he orders he to move to town under threat of physical removal.

The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/

Get Motivated Today With These 4 Essential Pillars of Motivation

I want to give you four wonderful pillars for motivation, four main themes to underpin a healthy sense of drive and inspiration.

- The first main pillar of motivation is to gain recognition from peers.

When soldiers in wartime give up their lives during combat, why do they do it? Is it because of patriotism, a belief in the cause they are fighting for, or a fear of court martial if they do otherwise? Perhaps all these things play a part, but extensive research has shown that what really motivates a soldier to fight well incombat is the desire for the respect of the person who is fighting right beside him. This is much more important than medals or other forms of public recognition. This is similar to what motivates salesmen on the floor of a car dealership, students in a classroom or a team of lawyers trying to win a case.

In the English Premier football league, all the players will tell you the best award that they want to receive is the acclaim of the others players and to receive the players player of the year award.

Think of ways that you can develop recognition from your peers to enhance your motivation. The apply them to your life.

- The second pillar of motivation is recognition from respected experts or authorities.

In my own life, I love the fact that the wonderful multi-selling author in the US has helped me, guided me and become my friend professionally and personally. I desperately wanted to earn his respect.

Has there been someone like that in your life? It is important to realise that a respected expert does not have to be someone who is known far and wide throughout the world. You are the one who establishes the qualifications, though very often people whom you find impressive will be equally impressive to others.

Once you’ve met such a person, or even if you have just seen them from a distance or perhaps read an article about them, stop hesitating and politely approach them and introduce yourself. Unless you happen to catch them at a particularly difficult moment, most successful people are eager to help others and to pass on what they’ve learned.

The great thing about establishing a relationship with a mentor is that you eventually come close to that person that you can sometimes hear them advising you when they are not actually around.

Think about how you can get recognition from a respected expert or authority. You can really stretch this concept to be good parents, local teachers, councillors as well as business people; interpret this in the best way for you.

- The third pillar of motivation is family.

Although the approval of peers and experts may be important to your career, in your life, nothing compares to the influence of your family.

Let me explain what I mean by this with an example of my own; when I had come off stage speaking at an event in Dublin last year, a man approached me and asked me for some advice on the best way to stop smoking, he knew that I was the author of The Secrets of Self-Hypnosis and wanted assistance. My immediate response was to ask him what his reasons were for wanting to stop smoking and he said the following to me:

“My wife is pregnant with our first child and I want to have more after that. I want to be able to enjoy playing and having fun with my children and I want to be a healthy influence on their lives too.”

I spent some time talking to him about some specific techniques and strategies. I have not heard from that man, but I know that he was driven by his family and am sure of his success. Think about your wealth goals; so many of us want to be able to rpovide for our family and for them to have what they want.

So think about the ways in which you your fmaily can motivate you and get that lodged into your mind.

- The fourth pillar of motivation for today is something closely related to number three and that is sharing the wealth and wisdom for the good of your fellows.

To illustrate this pillar, I am going to mention a story I love about Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish immigrant who founded the United States Steel Company in the early nineteen hundreds. When Carnegie died, a yellow sheet of paper was found in his desk on which he had written a note to himself when he was in his twenties. This note illustrated the main purpose of his life. It read:

“I am going to spend the first half of my life accumulating money, and I am going to spend the last half of my life giving it all away.”

During his lifetime, Carnegie’s fortune was estimated a four hundred and fifty million dollars – the equivalent to four and a half billion dollars today. In addition to building Carnegie Hall in New York City, he founded libraries in hundreds of small towns all across America and participated in dozens of other philanthropic activities as well.

When we look at these found pillars of motivation, what do you really see? The thing that I immediately notice is that they all involve other people, whether they are peers, mentors, family members, or simply fellows of the human race. Ironic isn’t it? To be successfully motivated you need this very internal, very unique thing called your motivation. To acquire that innermost quality and set it to work, you need to recognise other people as reasons to believe.

Adam Eason is a UK based, renowned consultant, speaker and best-selling author. Please visit his website for a vast range of personal development resources and to receive your amazing free, instantly downloadable hypnosis session for ultimate relaxation and the sensational free ebook ‘The Happy Brain Manual’ filled with techniques, tips and strategies to make more of your brain: www.adam-eason.com Thank you.

Voip – Voice Over IP and Business: Is It For You?

VoIP allows users to make phone calls using their high-speed
Internet connection. This translates into free, or very low
cost long-distance calling. Because VoIP uses the power of
the Internet, traditional phone companies are left
completely out of the loop. Of course, now that the idea of
VoIP is catching on more and more, traditional phone
companies are developing and offering their own VoIP options
so as not to be left out. From the consumer’s point of view,
this competition is keeping options open and pricing low.
For businesses, this is particularly good news, since many
VoIP providers will want the business of business–this is a
huge market, which providers are aware, of, so the savvy
businessperson will take advantage of this, conduct thorough
research, and seek out the best possible option to meet the
company’s needs.

What are the Pros to Using VoIP?

Cost is a number one factor. If your business does a high
volume of long distance calling, this can be an extremely
affordable way to go. Another positive is that the future of
long distance calling is VoIP. As time passes, more and more
options will be available and the market will become even
more competitive. It is also easy to use, although a
business set-up will be more complicated than a home set-up.

What are the Cons?

One disadvantage that many users report is that there tends
to be an “echo” when using VoIP. How much of a disadvantage
this is may depend on the user. There can also be a slight
lag at the beginning of the conversation.

Another potential disadvantage is that the technology is
fairly new. As VoIP becomes standard, improvements will take
place. In the meantime, it is up to each business to
determine if this is a way to go.

Also, because VoIP operates through your Internet
connection, should you lose Internet service for whatever
reason or power, you will not have phone access until the
service or power is restored.

Is VoIP Right for my Business?

As with any business decision, you should examine your needs
and available services before making a purchasing decision.
VoIP may produce substantial savings, but it could also
produce substantial headaches. Whether or not your company
can navigate potential glitches with minimal interruption is
something you need to determine. Many traditional service
providers offer competitive pricing, and the security of the
existing structure may not be worth the potential problems
with VoIP. It is also necessary to price and compare the
technical requirements; will your existing structure support
VoIP, or will the investment in technology offset the
potential savings?

VoIP Business Options

On the bright side, because VoIP is a growing service, many
companies provide business solutions and the offers and
pricing are competitive. One thing to consider as you
compare options is contract terms. Because the technology is
expanding, it is wise to avoid any long- term contract, as a
better option may come along in the meantime. A variety of
companies offer business solutions. The following list is
just a few:

• Sprint:
http://www.sprint.com/business/products/categories/voip.jsp

• Lingo:
http://www.lingo.com/voip/business/unlimited_internet_phone_
service.jsp

• Quest:
http://www.qwest.com/largebusiness/products/voip/

• Pipex: http://www.pipex.net/products/voip/

How to Get Set Up for VoIP The technology required will
depend on the service you choose. There are three types of
VoIP methods.

• ATA stands for analog telephone adaptor. It connects
to your computer or Internet connection and uses regular
phone.

• IP phones are special phones that look like
traditional phones, but they connect with an Ethernet
connector.

• Computer-to-computer is an easy way to use VoIP and
long distance calls are free; you only pay for the software.
While this method can work in a business setting, it may not
be the best solution, even though it is very cost effective.

VoIP requires a high-speed Internet connection, and for
business purposes, your set-up needs to be able to handle
the additional use that VoIP incurs. Essentially, there is
no “one size fits all” set-up guide for business VoIP
options. The service you choose and your company’s
individual requirements will determine what you will need.

Andrew Kelly is a Technology Consultant who helps keep businesses at the leading edge of technology.

For more great tips and resources on everything VoIP visit:
VoIP Solutions For Your Business

Here’s a Little Know Thing, Part AA

A barrister bookcase is a traditionalistic book shelve that comes from n Great England. Its identifying feature is a clear glass front. This glass face is hinged at the allowing someone easy access to ledgers and other legal documents simply by opening the glass door. A Barrister’s bookcase is perfect for many things. Barrister bookcases were frequently used by attorneys since it was necessary for them to keep on moving. Nowadays, they are also very convenient, peculiarly if one is ever on the move. This is because of the doors. This signifies they can be moved while whole.

More about these glass book shelves

Barrister’s Wood Bookshelves also have the benefit of helping to protect the collectibles from debris. They in fact offer excellant protection in this regard. Except debris, sun is also blockedby adding UV treated glasss. This will reduce the impact of sun impacting This will maintain the books color from withering

This special brand of furniture, despite their many merits, can be rather pricey. Fortunately, their many rewards have moved some producers to start creating replica editions and some in modern versions at very small prices. Some editions have simple looks. These can fit any theme.They can also be trimmed and made into customized storage units.They can be stacked allowing them to be easily used to create creative unit arrangements. Some can be used to create end tables, breakfronts or even breakfast tables.

Avoid Buying Expensive Garden Supplies

Depending on type and location of store, the prices can be very different from one to the next. Some garden centres place themselves at the high end of the garden supplies market and only charge a premium for branded products. Be very wary of this kind of store as huge savings can be made by shopping elsewhere. The choice of where to purchase the best garden center supplies will depend on what types of retailers are available in the person’s area. You may feel comfortable purchasing garden center supplies over the internet to obtain a lower price. All the latest gardening news, information, resources and reviews can be found online at John Lewis Garden Furniture.

If you have been looking for the best garden center supplies for your needs recently, you may have found that garden center supplies cover a wide range of prices from cheap to expensive. Prices can vary greatly from one centres to another and from one brand to another. So where should you start when looking at supplies and pricing? There are many things that can affect the price of purchasing supplies for creating a garden and the decision will depend on your own personal preferences.

If you have an unusual or classy taste then be prepared to pay for it. If you like expensive looking items then usually they are expensive. Generally speaking inexpensive garden supplies does not necessarily mean that the product is inferior. The quality of garden supplies is the most important factor over and above the price.

Why Is it Important to Know Algebra

Algebra is a fundamental concept in Mathematics, which deals with equations, inequalities, fractions and expressions. Being one of the major subdivisions of mathematics, it forms an inherent part of primary education. Concepts in combinatorial mathematics, variables, polynomials and factorization are the main areas which algebra deals with. As you move along advance algebraic equations, you will deal with symbols and set theories which allows you to compute unknown values based on predetermined facts.

Algebra and its Roots of Geometry

Geometry is focused on using algebraic expressions to calculate dimensions of a circle, determining if a curve is a parabola or hyperbola or even pinning down the directrix of a hyperbola. Be it simple operations such as determining the endpoints of a line or finding the radius of a circle, to more complicated operations such as figuring out if a parabola opens up; algebra is most essential for geometry.

Algebra – Solving Equations & Exponents

Equipped with knowledge on how to play around with algebra, solving equations involving linear, quadratic or radicals will be no challenge. Using algebraic expressions one can solve inequalities and even graph systems of linear equations and radical inequalities. If exponents have been troubling your head, a thorough grasp of algebraic expressions will ease the pain allowing you to work through it easily. As in with every other subdivision of mathematics, in algebra too, basic laws and rules can be applied to add, subtract, divide and multiply fractions in order to solve problems.

Evaluate Fractions and Polynomials – Try Algebra Calculators

No matter in which area you find trouble when it comes to math, algebra solvers can assist you. The modern software that supports solving algebraic expressions are able to solve any math problem easily and in no time. Complex matrix equations like inverse matrix and other matrix operations could be solved using algebraic calculators. Thanks to the algebraic solvers, simplifying algebraic expressions, which may involve factoring binomials or involves determination of the greatest common factor , has now been made a very easy job.

Professional Help at an Arm’s Reach

Students often get professional help from tutors who will provide you with a step-by-step solution for your problems. Math tutors are at your disposal for those hard problems which can get you easily bugged. The math solvers that are available in today’s market come with numerous options that will suit your every need. From calculators that cater to a specific type of algebra to ones that scan the entire scope of the subject, you will find a complete answer.

How to Find School Financial Assistance for Left Handed Students

Looking for alternative avenues such as college scholarships to finance a degree can be troublesome and intimidating. University scholarships are unlike the normal student loan because they are a grant for a college education, so it doesn’t have to be paid back. While searching means to finance a college instruction, check the different choices, for instance left-hander grants. Left-Handed Scholarships

A left-handed grant may seem out of the norm, however it’s worth looking at these facts: Bill Gates is a left hander, so is the president of the US, Barack Obama. Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Jimi Hendrix not to mention Winston Churchill were also left handed. Figures suggest eleven percent of individuals are left-handed. Frequently considered to be more artistic and more intelligent, left-handers have frequently suffered from discrimination. Stigmatization is now a thing of the past and left handers are no longer believed to be different, in fact they may even be linked with the exceptional people noted previously.

There are many funds accessible for left-handed students when you look around. The Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship for one thousand dollars is presently available at Juniata College stuated in Huntington, PA. For scholars of Juniata College and it was set up in 1979, this school fund assists many southpaws through university. Many scholarships do have requirements and restrictions. This can include grades and financial needs, but not in every case. Apply for the maximum number of scholarships feasible to give you a greater opportunity of supporting a college education with a minimal level of debt. You should also look at local organisations, clubs and groups connected to hobbies. Grants for southpaw students are only an example; money is even obtainable if you are a child of a ex-serviceman or suffer from a disability, to offer some illustrations.

Rooting out college scholarships may be time consuming, but the advantages will always be worth it. Utilised in conjunction with student loans, they should cut back the unavoidable debt established by a university education. Be really particular and explore each source of funding. Remember there are different options as well as left handed scholarships — make a list of your clubs and societies and utilize your creativity. If you think you may meet the criteria, then go for it, you may keep your student debt to a minimum, additionally you will look forward to a better economic outlook when you finally graduate.

Convenient Ideas to Fit Audiobooks into Your Everyday Schedule

What Clients Love by Harry Beckwith is definitely a good book, but busy life-styles make a convenient time hard to achieve. Frequently we don’t realize that extended journeys to the office and many different activities take up sizable chunks of our precious time. Your favorite pastimes get set to the side for more pressing projects. It’s easy to simply use the hours you spend doing housework to catch up on books you don’t have time to read. With user-friendly media files, you can spoil yourself with Rich Dad’s Advisors: The ABC’s Of Getting Out Of Debt by Garrett Sutton by Download Audio Book Online, or audiobooks brought to life by Elizabeth von Arnim when you are busy doing other things. Today multi-tasking is unavoidable. Audiobooks such as He Comes Next by Ian Kerner by Download Audio Book Online occupy the dead moments in life, whether it’s time passed waiting in a dental surgery or taking the kids to soccer practise. Audiobooks are obtainable to download as mp3 data files these titles include Dr Blair’s Express Lane: Italian by Dr Robert Blair, so make use of your mp3 player and earphones and take the time to hear the current biography, like audio books by L.M. Boston without hauling a heavy book around. The benefits of audible books include the chance to rent or buy many titles and peruse them at your own pace. Need to study Turkish? Why not give audio-books a shot? Maybe the latest business strategies are your thing, you can even find out about religious or spiritual trends. Audio books are obtainable in a huge variety of titles and writing styles. Whether you’re a wine buff, nuts over horror even if your interests lie in health and physical fitness, you can access most audio books now. Many plans are available; it’s easy to take a subscription to a rental plan or buy the title online. Reading will always be an important skill, nevertheless the most convenient way could be the myriad of audio titles available today. Numerous chronicles, for example audio-books narrated by Maggie O’Farrell, can be even better when recounted by the author or a well-known actor. Reading a novel isn’t quite the same experience as savoring audio titles told by John Stewart, including nuances of an actual performance. Hearing audiobooks performed by Gordon B. Hinckley can add more depth to the title and in many cases can mean much more to you than the words on a page. So the next time in future should you are considering purchasing a book you might never get around to reading, please remember an audiobook as another choice.

Successful Documentation Projects – Part 3 of 3 – ‘Writing’

So you understand your user documentation project and you’ve specced it out. Now you’re ready to write. Here’s some tips to help you on your way. This article isn’t about the actual writing itself; it’s about the things which go along with the writing. (For information on writing online help, see www.divinewrite.com/helpfulhelp.htm.)

NOTE: This is the final article in a series of three outlining the key elements of a good user documentation process. (To read the first and second articles in this series, go to http://www.divinewrite.com/docoprocess1.htm and http://www.divinewrite.com/docoprocess2.htm.)

Indexing

Index keywords should be defined while the topic is being written. At this time, the subject matter is clear in the author’s mind, and they are very conversant with all of the intricate details. Indexing during the writing stage also means that your keywords are reviewed as part of the draft process. Some authoring tools don’t really facilitate this kind of approach particularly well (e.g., some don’t allow multiple author access to the files needed for indexing), but at least the keywords should be listed at the end of each draft. (Depending on the authoring tool, this may actually be easier for the reviewers, anyway.) TIP: For further information on indexing, see The Art of Indexing (1994) by Bonura.

User documentation reviews

To ensure that your user documentation is technically correct and readable, you need to get it reviewed by an intelligent selection of people. For a software project, your review list should include a subject matter expert (generally the programmer), the software architect, perhaps the project manager, and another writer. The review requirements will vary with each draft, so your reviewers and review procedures should be documented in your work pracs.

Testing your user documentation

Testing can be performed at a number of levels:

• Each writer should test their own user documentation by following it to use the product. But remember, this kind of testing isn’t very powerful, because there’s a tendency for writers to follow instructions as they think they’ve written them, not as they’ve actually written them.
• The second level is for the testing to be performed by other writers… as part of the peer review.
• The third level is for the testing department to do formal testing on the user documentation. This type of testing doesn’t often happen, but it’s good to try to get it happening.
• The fourth level is/should be conducted as part of Beta testing (see Managing Your Documentation Projects by Hackos (1994), pp.452-453).

No matter what level of testing you use, it should be designed to ensure that the tasks documented are true to the product, and that any online help functions correctly. For the user documentation to pass testing, it needs to satisfy the goals you specified in the earlier stages of the project.

Localising your user documentation

Although localisation is often considered a post-writing activity, it’s best to do it as part of the writing stage. The exact timing may vary project to project, but a good rule of thumb is to get the translators working on the second drafts (but only if you’re not expecting many changes to the draft). TIP: Most translators will probably prefer to work on a sizable piece of user documentation, rather than individual topics sent to them piece-meal, so you should wait ’til you have something of a respectable size to send them – perhaps a whole subject area, as opposed to a single topic.

With localisation, you’re performing a balancing act. If you send the user documentation to the translators too soon, you’ll spend a lot of money on changes to the translations. If you send it too late, it won’t be ready in time for the release of the product.

Managing change

It’s important that you minimise the impact of changes to the product and/or development schedule. To do this, you need to develop a technique which:

1. Identifies the change
2. Estimates the impact in time and/or resources *
3. Informs the project manager

* You can use the same estimating techniques as you used earlier in the project.

Tracking writing progress

It is important to note that the writing stage is not simply about writing. If you track your progress at every step along the way, you’ll be able to see whether you will meet your milestones and deadlines, and you’ll also be able to use this project as a learning experience… to better plan the next one. (You should ensure that all project records are easily accessible for ongoing maintenance and future project reference.)

You should track the time taken to perform every step outlined in this procedure as well as each draft stage, review times, total turnaround times, etc.

Conducting regular team meetings

In order to keep all team members informed of writing progress, you should conduct regular team meetings. These meetings should be a forum for taking a look at your tracking metrics and discussing the estimated percentage complete for the various topics currently under way. If the estimated percentage complete is lower than it should be given the time already spent, then you can act on it. These meetings allow you to identify hitches in the writing progress.

Writing progress reports

Your management also need to be kept informed of the status of the project. You should write periodic progress reports outlining:

• Where the project is at
• What you’ve done over the last month
• What you plan to do over the next month
• Any issues you’ve encountered

Manage Production

The meaning of “production” varies depending on what kind of documentation you’re working on and who the audience is. It can encompass such things as:

• Printing
• Binding
• Product build (when the help is compiled into the product)

Although the production stage generally only requires management, you still need to spend a fair bit of time on proofing and liaising with production people.

Evaluate the Project

The purpose of the evaluation stage is to consider:

• Did the project go according to plan?
• Why? / Why not?
• How individual team members contributed to the overall project.
• How the project manager performed.
• Whether the documentation achieved its goals.

Your tracking metrics will come in handy during this stage; if there were any flaws in the project progress, they should go some way towards identifying them. You might also use the sample evaluation report provided by Hackos in Managing Your Documentation Projects by Hackos (1994), pp.514-518.

Is your documentation successful?

Now that you’ve written and released the documentation, you need to determine whether it has achieved your goals. The only way to accurately do this is to conduct further user research.

TIP: For details on research methods, take a look at Managing Your Documentation Projects by Hackos (1994), User and Task Analysis for Interface Design by Hackos & Redish (1998), Social Marketing: New Imperative for Public Health by Manoff (1985), Designing Qualitative Research 2nd Edition by Marshall & Rossman (1995), and “Conducting Focus Groups – A Guide for First-Time Users”, in Marketing Intelligence and Planning by Tynan & Drayton (1988).

And that’s it! Remember, this process is an ‘ideal’ process. Take the bits that suit you and your project, and leave the bits that don’t.

Good luck!

* Glenn Murray is an SEO copywriter and article submission and article PR specialist. He is a director of article PR company, Article PR, and also of copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com. Visit www.DivineWrite.com or www.ArticlePR.com for further details, more FREE articles, or to download his FREE SEO e-book.